British pathe Film

[Max Sinclair]

Canal restoration

A short film showing

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.

 

Young volunteers set about restoring a disused canal.

 

L/S of an overgrown canal. Various shots of volunteers at work - building bonfires of old branches, chopping down weeds. A small crane is used to lift big bits of debris from the canal. M/S of two women stone bricks. Various shots of volunteers from the Royal Engineers and the R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) laying cement.

 

A girl is seen dolling out sandwiches - the volunteers only payment for their hard work. M/S of a girl eating a sandwich, looking over a bridge over the canal.

 

The volunteers are seen lowering a new lock gate into the canal. C/U of the man operating the crane lowering the gate.

 

A pulley contraption is used to lift buckets of bilge from the bottom of the canal. High angle shot of men on the canal bed filling buckets of bilge. C/U of a boy painting a post. C/U of a bilge bucket on the pulley.

 

and all organised by David Hutchings

[Hairy-Neil]

Health and safety would have a field day and probably environmental health with the girl dishing out the sandwiches....

[Guest]

Nice film - left me wondering how often forces personnel got involved in canal restoration?

[Max Sinclair]

Nice film - left me wondering how often forces personnel got involved in canal restoration?

The Royal Engineers were very helpful to us on the Droitwich, dredging through the town using a fleet of vehicles from Long Marston, and building Lock Gates at their Chepstow unit.I wonder if it was because in the 1940's I shared a mess billet with Harry Everard who became Major General Commanding Western England!

David Hutchings also organised prisoners from Long Lartin who became reliable workers learning to lay bricks. Perhaps C&RT could follow his example, it was Union objection that created difficulties.I only remember David having one problem when one of the lags borrowed the bus to go to a football match. I hope everybody who watches this film will say Hello to David and thank him for his miracle working.You will gather he was my hero.

Edited October 17, 2012 by Max Sinclair