The Quintessential Eccentric Englishman

Oh, really out of my comfort zone here!

This is Peter Buck. He holds the position of Engineering Director with the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Limited. I had the great pleasure of meeting him at lunch time today at part of the renovated Lichfield Canal. Here a veritable army of eccentric English people have devoted their time (and other things) to renovating this pound between two locks.

The water ends in the distance, approximately 100 metres away. Where we are standing the lock is filled with water but minus its lower gate. Above the lock is completely drained. In the distance is the A38 trunk road. Formerly the canal went straight on, but that was before this section of A38 was built. This is but one of a multitude of practical issues that the Trust must overcome if it is to realise its ambition to make the canal navigable again.

Having spent a delightful few minutes with Peter I am under no doubt that they have answers to all of these issues. I well remember thatbefore the M6 Toll was built they gained concessions to meet this ambition. If you have cause to drive along the road between T5 and T6 you may have noticed a bridge above you with no ends! This was a condition of the permission for the construction of the road and is an aquaduct should they be able to reconstruct this part of the canal.

I am sure Peter won't be offended if I suggest that this project, should it be successfully completed, will probably be after his (and my) lifetimes. I just love the fact that what appear to be insurmountable odds are no deterent. It's what made Britain great.

p.s Thanks for helping to send the cygnets to spotlight. They are certainly getting a lot of attention.