I have just read Allan Richard's article about boats being hung-up, and the episode at Hillmorton where the volunteer nearly sank a boat.
I have discovered that there are two types of lock volunteers, ex boaters who know what it is all about and non boaters who don't, so it must have been the latter at Hillmorton, but I always ask the volunteers if he was/had been a boater, and if not, one of us always stay by his/her side in case anything happens.
I had the impression that the obvious non-boater volunteer we met at Braunston locks just wanted a bit of authority, as he was laying the law down somewhat as I would not do what he told me, which was to tie my boat securely with two ropes when going down even though there were two nearly full length boats in the lock, and I could well see a securely tied rope hanging us up as the lock emptied, and neither would the other boater tie his securely either, she trying to explain the danger to the volunteer, who stormed off and left us to it muttering that he had had training and knew what to do, but he obviously did not.
Some volunteers are helpful in winding a paddle or opening/closing a gate, but it is best to keep your eyes on them at all times if non-boaters.
Gerard Grainger