34 members made it to Hebden for our 13th year of meetings: still not running out of topics.
This time we were entertained (again) by Dorothy and Brian Burrows, informed by Margaret Hill (eg about stiles, of which there are four kinds: step-through, climbing, combination and mechanical), and exhausted by David Garside (illustrating five ancient routes across the Pennines – he’s walked them all, and more). And that was just before lunch.
Afterwards our guest speaker was Bill Froggatt, our Terry Keegan Award winner in 2014, now working for the Canal & River Trust on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Its 127 miles and 91 locks were completed in 1816 – it is thus celebrating its bi-centenary this year. He took us along the canal and its branches, illustrating mileposts and describing current restoration works. It was a valuable perspective reminding us that we are but a part of a wider network appreciating our travel heritage.
Finally Christine Minto illustrated her own canal travels at home and abroad, with some excellent photographs.
JHS/August 2016