Go to a canal camp

Volunteers from all over the country (and world) join the group to provide labour, equipment and also publicity to restoration schemes and the group are always looking for more help at their ‘canal camps’. We caught up with John Hawkins, who is a dedicated member of the group having been on camps for many years. In his spare time, John prints their monthly magazine, Navvies, which has a circulation of 2000.

Q. Where did the idea for the Waterway Recovery Group come from?
A. The idea came from a gentleman called Graham Palmer over 30 years ago. The concept was that there were so many people in the Inland Waterways Association who could do the work, rather than just help projects out financially, thus the Waterways Recovery Group was formed. It was originally called Navvies.

Q. How is the group made up?
A. The national organisation is made up of sub-groups – the BITM (Bit in the Middle), WRG North West which is based in Manchester, WRG South West and London WRG. The regional groups mean people don’t have to travel, although if you live in the North West, you can still go along to work parties in the South West.

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Q. What happens on a canal camp?
A. People apply beforehand through our annual brochure where you can get all the details of where the canal camps are being held. You turn up on the appropriate Saturday with clean clothes, dirty clothes, sleeping bags etc where you will be met by the camp leader or the assistant and everyone is then introduced to each other. They have a quick chat and the rest of the day is spent sorting out the kit which normally arrives by transit, trailer and minibus from various parts of the country. If it’s summer, we tend to have a meal and then go off to site, maybe have a talk from the local canal society and a video if possible.

On the social side of things, sometimes there might be a visit to another canal or other facilities nearby like bowling alleys, cinema, swimming and the inevitable pub!

We also give instructions on various types of kit and teach skills such as bricklaying so that people can learn skills along the way.

On the camps, you’re always expected to assist with the cooking or preparation of vegetables and the washing up afterwards. Some people like to do different tasks such as cleaning the hall when the camp is over, cleaning and checking the kit at the end and packing it back into the van before it moved onto the next camp wherever that might be in the country.

Q. You mentioned the hall, is that where people stay during the camp?
A. During the camps, we normally stay in village halls, scout huts and so on. The accommodation is pretty basic and your bed is what you make of it. There are generally two to three wash basins although these days we try and get facilities with on-site showers or with community halls nearby with shower facilities and just bus people back and forth.

Q. Are any of the camps different to the usual bricklaying etc ones?
A. Well, we also run camps for the National Waterways Festival and the Trailboat Festivals. The Waterway Recovery Group are highly involved in setting them up, putting up fences, running in cables, helping erect tents and marquees, making sure traders get on and off the site safely. During the festivals, the WRG also act as car park attendants, helping on the gate, taking money and clearing up the inevitable littler ready for the next day.

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Q. What type of person goes on canal camps?
A. No type of person really goes on a camp; you get such a variety of people, a mixture of ages and nationalities. It’s great opportunity for people to get away from their everyday jobs and lives.

Q. Are there any age limits for taking part in the camps?
A. You have to be over 18 and under 70, due to health safety reasons, but it is possible to get special permission from the camp leader if you are not in that age bracket.

Q. Are there any other health and safety precautions?
A. People always watch a health and safety video which you watch even if you’ve seen it before. People can then ask any questions and they sign a form to say they have watched it and also read and understood the health and safety booklet. If there are any specific issues of that camp, then they are also explained at this point. Jobs are always explained to people in fairly easy terms and we always tell people that if they are not certain to always question what they’re being asked to do. There’s also always spare equipment so people don’t have to continue using a tool if it’s broken.

Q. What makes a successful camp?
A. Whether a camp is successful or not is down to each individual and the personality of the group. It’s also down to what each person wants to get out of it. You just need to knuckle down and get on with it.

Any day is a success because you’ve achieved something. It may only be a little part in a big cog, but at the end of the day, it all goes together to complete a big job.

Find out more about the Waterway Recovery Group

Canal camp images, with thanks to the Waterway Recovery Group

Last updated: 22/10/2008