From the Editor, Dave Smallshaw

Well, my appeal for a little activity from our membership fell again on stony ground which means that the onus on helping safeguard the waterway still falls on a few willing hands. People are pretty quick to admonish us when we miss a trick or fail to react with venom to something or other that threatens the return of the waterway to navigation. The simple answer is that there is only so much a small band of warriors can achieve. To really impose ourselves on the local scene we do need an influx of new blood to help out in searching out all these things. Wringing hands and wistful smiles will do little to help our aims.

We continue to work with the leisure services of St Helens Council in our joint project at Stanley Bank and there are some interesting topics we are involved in the future months. There are many other things to do besides getting oneself wet up to the armpits in mud at a work party weekend, with research projects to be done on industrial heritage, community history and wildlife trends. Please contact us if you're at all interested.

On the subject of heritage we would like to record our congratulations to St Helens History Society on their 50th anniversary this year. Founded by the late Professor John R. Harris, they have an interesting theme for the celebration in a day of lectures on Saturday, October 17th, at the Lowton Civic Hall. The topic is "Trade, Transport and Town" based on the Professor's book, "St Helens, a Merseyside Town in the Industrial Revolution". Tickets are £15 (including lunch) or £8 should you just wish to hear the talks. For bookings or further information please contact Norma Creswell on 01744 754962.

Finally, for those who missed the truly splendid talk by Jamie Quartermaine on the Birth of the Port of Liverpool, which we held last season, there is a chance to hear him again on November 16th 19.30 at the Friends Meeting House, St Helens where all will be very welcome. It's also open to those who wish to hear the entertaining archaeologist again too!

Finally don't forget to fix the last Thursday of the month in your diaries for the new season of open talks at our regular venue. Once again all are welcome on these evenings and your support would be greatly appreciated here as well. Details of the start of our 2009/2010 Season are given at SCARS Talks on our website.

Best Wishes,
Dave

Index for this issue     Index of all Canal Cuttings issues      Home Page

Site design and content © 2002 - 2009 Sankey Canal Restoration Society
Canal Cuttings Editor: David Long Site design: Phil D.Long