Introduction;

This book is our personal account of ten years involvement with inland waterways in the 1960s, which fall under four headings.  In Conversion we look to give today’s readers more insight into the major differences between and the difficulties of the early 1960s inland waterways situation, compared with the sophisticated and highly organised boat building and leisure industry today.

At this time, the canals themselves were in considerable disrepair. Cruising in a boat of this size on many waterways was adventurous, as our daily logbook and this narrative show.

Campaigning is the story of our personal and deep involvement in the battle to keep the Ashton and lower Peak Forest Canals open as part of an integral route which became known as the Cheshire Ring.  In the 1960s, waterways were in ever present danger of closure. Organisations dedicated to waterway renewal fought a long uphill battle with British Waterways to prevent permanent closure of many canals.  It is perhaps ironic, that for the first time in many years, these canals and others are again under threat, which makes the principles and methods underlying the 1960s campaigns highly relevant to the situation today.

   Margaret & Ted Hill