A VOLUNTEER from Semington is supporting a national campaign which encourages people to get more involved in their communities.
Howard Wilson is a member of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, which aims to restore the former waterway through the local countryside.
He joined the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the charity seven years ago and says his only regret is that he didn’t do it sooner.
Now he’s sharing his experiences as part of national Volunteers’ Week, which runs from Monday 3rd June to Sunday 9th June.
Howard, aged 66, worked for the Met Office for 37 years but was keen to stay active when he took early retirement.
He often walked along the Kennet & Avon Canal near his home, where the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has an information board at the former junction of the two waterways.
He’d often enjoyed canalboat holidays, so he noted the details and attended his first work party just two weeks after retiring, and now plays an important role in his local branch.
“When I first joined the charity, I wasn’t sure what skills I would bring but I’ve found my management and IT experience to be very useful,” explained Howard.
“I’m now involved in developing and maintaining the branch pages on the Trust website and managing our photographic archive and social media. I also help to produce leaflets, posters and other materials.
“I’ve stayed involved with the physical restoration too, as a work party organiser responsible for supervising tasks for other volunteers. It keeps me busy but I thoroughly enjoy it.”
The charity has arranged for Howard to attend training courses on quad bikes and dumper trucks, as well as bricklaying and other courses.
This has enabled him to support a wide range of recent and ongoing projects, including the rebuilding of a dry dock and waiting wall north of Lacock and the ongoing maintenance of the section of canal which has already been restored.
His voluntary work with the Trust has also led to him being featured in national waterways magazines and interviewed on BBC Wiltshire.
“I would encourage everyone to try volunteering if they have a few hours to spare,” says Howard. “The team is great and new members are always welcome. My only regret is that I wish I’d joined sooner!”
The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Melksham with Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon. Several sections have already been restored.
Visit www.wbct.org.uk for more information.
