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The Queen and the lock keeper

23rd Aug 2005

Tony ‘Wally’ Wright, lock keeper at Atherstone Locks on the Coventry Canal, had a grand day out on July 7th when he was a guest at HM The Queen’s Royal Garden Party.

Tony won the 2004 Lock and Bridge competition and was nominated by British Waterways to attend the garden party this year. He and his wife Theresa were overjoyed to receive their invitation to Buckingham Palace.

Unfortunately the date of their royal appointment coincided with the London bombings, but Tony and Theresa still enjoyed their day.

"Meeting the Queen and being at the Palace was a wonderful experience which we wouldn’t have missed – despite the police marksmen lined up on the roof," recalled Tony.

And Tony will be back at the Palace later in the year for an even greater honour. In June this year it was announced that the lock keeper, who has been with British Waterways for almost 25 years, was appointed MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

As well as his usual lock keeping duties, Tony gets involved in a number of initiatives to help the local community. Working with the police, he started the Junior Atherstone Angling Club and every year he holds a number of waterside walks for children from urban areas like Birmingham and London. He is a big animal lover and has rescued numerous animals, including ducklings and a deer, from the canal.

Tony is also known far and wide for the accuracy of his weather reports, which he displays in a prominent position on his notice board – together with a countdown to Christmas.

"I’m proud of what I’ve got and I love my job," Tony commented. "In fact, I’m proof that if you work hard in British Waterways you will get the rewards. I want to say a big thank you to Tony Harvey, Paul Barker, Dean Davies, Michael Carrington and Mark Hines who have helped me so much. But the biggest thanks of all have to go to my wife, Theresa."

Last updated: 22/10/2008