Of mud and the Mon&Brec...

My canal camps

Helping the Waterway Recovery Group to restore canals

2018 marks the tenth anniversary of my first-ever WRG Canal Camp. Since then, every summer except for 2010, when I was writing up my MA dissertation in Canada, I've managed to take part in at least one canal camp.

Apart from a single camp on the Swansea Canal, and another on the Stover Canal in Devon, all my camps have been on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, north of Newport and west of Cwmbran. I discovered this area when working on an archaeological excavation at Caldicot Castle, and was staying in Chepstow. And I discovered the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) while walking along the Grand Western Canal, near Wellington in Somerset, and coming across the remains of a boat lift at Nynehead. On it was a plaque telling me that the structure had received the attentions of volunteers from the WRG. I searched online for the WRG, and decided to sign up for a canal camp. I was instantly hooked.

Since 2008 I have taken part in 19 camps, working as Leader of 12. I led what were probably my last camps on the Mon&Brec Canal in September 2019.

Thank you!

Throughout all these canal camps I have enjoyed the company of a huge variety of fellow volunteers. I've many happy memories of working alongside cheerful, energetic and fun people of all ages and from all backgrounds. Your good natures, support and positive attitudes have added hugely to my experience, and I have learned a lot. Many of you have put up with my leadership and have somehow survived! I hope your earplugs muffled a litle of my snores! You all acted in safe and responsible ways in every camp for which I was responsible. I've been very lucky to have been aided by some great people as Assistants and Cooks — I couldn't have done without you. I hope all of you know how much you have contributed and are proud of what you achieved. The folk at WRG HQ, the various Duty Directors and other WRG management volunteers have always been both helpful and understanding. So, thank you all very much indeed!

Ralph helping to repair a leaking aqueduct

2008

My first canal camp was spent a few metres from an elevated section of the M4, helping to repair a leaking aqueduct. I also laid my first-ever bricks...all four of them! It doesn't sound very exciting, but it was, and I was hooked! A big thank you to Rob Daffern for encouraging my new enthusiasm, and for showing me what good leadership is like.

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2009

On a stretch of canal west of Cwmbran, I helped clear vegetation, dig out a blocked bywash channel and repoint a retaining wall.

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Ralph and the building foundation he worked on

2011

At Drapers Lock, we learned how to use lime mortar to repoint the stonework of both an overbridge and the lock chamber. I also met Ayushi, who was to become my cook and Assistant Leader on some of the camps I later led.

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2012

In 2012 I stayed for two camps, acting as Assistant Leader on the first. It was to be a wet couple of weeks, but we survived and did some splendid work. We also spent several days commuting westwards to lend a hand to local volunteers restoring the Swansea Canal

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2013

I led a canal camp for the first time, with Katie as my Assistant. We demolished a "bullnose" and disturbed a wasp nest. We also hacked at vegetation, moved tonnes of stone and constructed a weir.

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2014

There was only one camp, which I led with Ayushi as my Assistant, on the Mon&Brec in 2014. We carried on rebuilding the bullnose, as well as all the usual vegetation hacking and repointing.

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2015

Another double camp year, with me leading the first week, again with Ayushi as Assistant. We worked mostly below Shop Lock, achieving some great work.

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2016

A rather different couple of camps. This year we were focused on what lies beside the canal, creating pathways for what will become a picnic site. We also carried out a little archaeology.

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