Timothy West, Supporter of Restore the Montgomery Canal! fund-raising appeals, Vice-President of Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust
Like many in the world of waterways, members of the Restore the Montgomery Canal! team were saddened by news of the death of Timothy West. Timothy West was a Vice-President of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, part of the Restore the Montgomery Canal! group, and had visited the canal on a number of occasions and had supported the group’s fund-raising appeals.
Michael Limbrey, Chairman of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, said,
“Timothy West was a great friend of the waterways for so many years. With his wife Prunella Scales they cruised many of our waterways and others further afield for the popular Great Canal Journeys TV series. Their journeys showed why so many enjoy our waterways for their peace and tranquillity, the heritage of locks and bridges from a pre-industrial age, and the trees, plants and wildlife you can see along any canal.
“We were delighted to welcome Tim and Pru to the Montgomery Canal with boat trips at Llanymynech Canal Wharf and on a member’s unique steam launch which Tim later travelled on at the renowned Historic Narrowboat Festival at Braunston in Northamptonshire.
“When we came to rebuild the last blocked highway bridge in Shropshire Tim and Pru supported our fund-raising appeal describing the Montgomery Canal as one of our most beautiful and historic canals. The appeal was hugely successful and the new bridge was completed earlier this year. With the bridge finished, they continued to suport fund-raising asking for donations to help our volunteers to reopen more of the canal towards the Welsh border: the derelict section we call the Shropshire Gap.
“Our waterways have lost a great supporter and we send our sympathies to Timothy’s family and friends.”
Feature image: Timothy West with Tim Coghlan (Left) and Montgomery Canal restoration team 20180628 (©Julie Arnold)
Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust Background
The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust – a registered charity – was formed in 1980 to promote the restoration of the canal. Members include Shropshire Council, Powys County Council, the Inland Waterways Association, Waterway Recovery Group and Shropshire Union Canal Society. The Friends of the Montgomery Canal is the membership section of the Trust.
The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust is part of the Montgomery Canal Partnership which includes the Canal & River Trust (which owns the canal), Shropshire Council, Powys County Council, Natural Resources Wales, Natural England, Heritage England, Cadw, the Inland Waterways Association and Shropshire Union Canal Society.
Through a mixture of paid and volunteer labour, over 60% of the Canal has now been restored with the latest restoration being to Crickheath, Shropshire, majority funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. In Wales, 4.4. miles of restoration are being undertaken from Maerdy to the border at Llanymynech, largely funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Restore the Montgomery Canal! is promoted by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust in partnership with the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, the Shropshire Union Canal Society and the Shrewsbury District & North Wales branch of the Inland Waterways Association. The appeal is now focussed on supporting the volunteer work parties of the Shropshire Union Canal Society who are working to restore the canal from Crickheath to Schoolhouse Bridge and beyond to the Welsh border.
Restoration of the canal in Wales has been boosted by grants from the UK Levelling-Up and Community Renewal Funds which will cover two of the blocked bridges on the closed section south of the Welsh border at Llanymynech, bank and channel repair and new nature reserves. This work is now under way.
