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Hi everyone I’m trying to locate a barge owned by my Irish grandfather who brought up lots of children (one of them my dad of course!) whilst carting goods along the local canal network. He left Oxford Uni to marry a Lancashire Lass called Winifred and I am trying to find the roots! He never returned to his native shores but his barge was named after him, William, I believe (Cos his name was William) He called himself a ‘carter’ (once found on a marriage certificate, now lost) and moved goods between Stoke-on -Trent and Liverpool, as well as some trips along the Leeds/Liverpool canal. And the only evidence I have is the name of the boat “William” and Boatmaker, Joseph Rayner, Runcorn! (From a picture hung on my wall). I only have one photo of my father. All this was purveyed to me at my fathers funeral, where I met all my uncles from Runcorn, Frodsham and Northwich! It’s the only link I have to my ancestry from Ireland! if anyone can suggest how I can ‘dig’ for info on the boat, (It has a feint number, a name and a maker) it would help a lot. If I can attach a photo, I will. I believe it is a barge if anyone can enlighten me!? I only need one good single lead to start delving. I feel I have a long interesting journey of discovery ahead of me and am enthralled by the whole subject of life on the canals, especially as it relates to my profession! Thanks for reading! Kind regards Sent from my iPad Laurence O’Neill FCILT, MBA(Dist.), BSc (Hons), FACA Fellow & Institute Champion, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transportation Visiting Lecturer, Keele University CONFIDENTIAL: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, or are not the intended recipient, please delete it from your system. Disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. Thank you.

Many of you will be aware that there has been a wish to reopen the Bridgewater canal link to the Manchester Ship Canal, for a very long time. Not much more than a dream...till now! The demolition of the silver Jubilee Bridge approach road has made the dream a reality. Outline planning permission has been applied for and a consultation process begun. We plan a lift, some traditional locks and an inclined plane, along with visitors centre etc. If you visit Runcorn Locks Restoration Society website, you will find links to a leaflet, explaining the project and also a link to a survey. http://unlockruncorn.org/ We would like to hear the opinions of boaters aswell as local residents so please will you have a look and fill in the survey online. For those of you who are local, there will be an opportunity to find out more by attending our open day on Monday 31st August. 11.00-2.00, at Percival lane, Runcorn, WA7 4UY, where there will be guided walks of the project area. For further updates, we are on facebook too. https://www.facebook.com/groups/unlockruncornsupporters