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Joseph Young, Towpath Ranger


This month we caught up with Joseph Young, Towpath Ranger for the Regent's Canal in London.

Joseph Young is London's first ever Towpath Ranger, employed by British Waterways to help all visitors enjoy the Capital's canals.

Rises in fuel prices and an awareness of our own carbon footprint have encouraged many commuters to get on their bikes and travel to work along the towpaths. Whilst the credit-crunch has forced budget conscious Londoners to ditch their gym membership in favour of free activities, such as running and power walking. Consequently, more and more people are making use of their local waterway.

Unfortunately a minority of users fail to appreciate that the towpath is a shared resource. But Joe's role is to encourage cyclists and pedestrians to share the towpath amicably.

• Which 5 words best describe you?
Patient, loyal, laid-back, inquisitive, active

• What one thing would you take with you to a desert island?
A frisbee

• What’s the best thing about your job?
Engaging with the local community, and being on my bike all day.

• Is there any part of your job that you don’t enjoy?
Getting drenched by the rain, although it hasn’t happened that often so far, and if it does rain I can always pop into one of the cafes along the canal.

• What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?
Yak trainer (it says it in my Dr Suess book that I wrote when I was four years old, so it must be true).

• What is the last book you read/film you saw?
Book – 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche
Film – 'Australia' (it’s nearly as bad as they say).

• What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t stand under a tree when there’s a wasp’s nest in it, in case it falls on your head.

• What makes you smile?
Kath & Kim – it’s nice, it’s different, it’s unusual.

• Where would you most like to be right now?
Snorkelling off an island in the South Pacific.

• Tell us a joke
Just a little late for Christmas:
Q: What’s the difference between Santa Claus and a can of baked beans?
A: Neither of them have a beard, except for Santa Claus.
(It's from 'Henry's Cat')

Last updated: 14/01/2009