Ivan Cane receiving an award from Trust Chair Sue Kirrage	Black Swan Pub Community Theatre

Friday 22nd March 2024 – Held at the beautifully reburbished Black Swan Community Theatre in North Walsham, we saw retired Trust Chair, Ivan Cane give his final presentation to trust volunteers, members and specially invited guests.   The audience of over 90 interested persons listened intently to his talk whilst watching his fascinating slide-show about the history and more recent restoration of Norfolk’s only locked sailing canal “From Conception to Restoration 1826 – 2026.

Comments included “well I didn’t know that!”, “I’m amazed” and “wonderful evening”.

The enthusiastic applause for what has been achieved by the the Trust volunteers, working in support of the canal proprietors, was heart-warming.

At the end of the evening, we watched a film about the “Light Craft Navigation” project created by Jonno Parker, of BlueSky Productions.  Jonno has created many films of work on the Old Canal Company section, which are now an important historical archive of these canal restoration projects.  An informative and interesting slide show of the Light Craft Navigation project also ran during the interval.

We would like to thank several local companies who provided Vouchers for Raffle prizes, creating delighted gasps from ‘raffle ticket watchers’ when hearing the generous donations.  Thank you to Ernest Doe, The Craft Bakery, and the Shambles Cafe Bar Bistro, plus our very own volunteers who donated raffle prizes, for helping to make our fund-raising raffle a huge success.

The NW&D Canal Trust would like to thank everyone who volunteered, participated and asked questions, helping to make this an exciting and successful evening.

All agreed that the Black Swan Pub and Community Theatre was a great choice of venue and we look forward to returning in the future.

THANK YOU to you ALL.

(A longer report with photos will appear in the NW&D Canal Trust membership newsletter “Quagmire” due out in May 2024).

 OUR next event is the Ceilidh on the 27th April, details which can be found on the above poster.  We look forward to seeing you there, either listening to the fantastic Occasional Ceilidh Band or on the dance floor – or maybe both?  Phone Barry to book your tickets.