Lichfield Branch

Outgoing Chairman’s Report

As I write this there is brilliant sunshine outside and a cool easterly breeze but it definitely feels like spring, which is great. Hopefully this means we can all get out in warmer weather to enjoy our wonderful waterways.

As I mentioned in the previous magazine, at the AGM in March I stood down from the committee and hence the Chairman/Secretary roles. I will still be editing this magazine, producing posters and looking after the web site so I am still involved.

For those of you who do not come to our monthly social meetings or go on the walks this seemed to be a good time to introduce our committee. They have all been around for a while but some will be taking on new roles from the latest committee meeting on April 5th.

Chairman—Adrian Wedgwood

Having moved from the Home Counties in 1959 to Burton upon Trent to start a lifetime career in the Brewing industry, mostly with the then mighty Bass Brewers, my wife Maz & I have moved around Britain including Lancashire, living beside the Staffs & Worcs canal in Stafford, at Bradford on Avon and returning to Barton under Needwood in 1992.

Our 'boating' started in the 1960's with holidays from Preston Brook to Llangollen & to Worcester steering a 72ft. converted wooden Bridgewater tar boat. Since then with long hires we've cruised most of the connected system including the tidal Thames & Trent. Our 'swansong' cruise on the Caldon was covered last year by articles in both Towpath Talk & Waterways World.

My ancestral family linkage to our wonderful canals inspired me to join IWA & attend our Branch meetings joining our Committee in 2021 as Minutes Secretary. My other interests include CAMRA, Morris dancing & church bellringing.

As your Chairman, my limited understanding of IWA & CRT and need to look after Maz, my disabled wife (its our Diamond Wedding Anniversary next year) will be reinforced by Neil Barnett as Deputy Chairman and my highly experienced colleagues on your Committee. We'd welcome more to join us.

I'm looking forward to getting to know more of our members and to leading the Branch into greater success particularly attracting more people to our meetings.