Tower and Town, May 2026 (view the full edition)Canal Trust 75th Anniversary75 years ago, the Kennet & Avon Canal was officially closed to navigation and its future looked bleak. Fortunately for us, a small group of enthusiasts formed what was to become the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. They spent subsequent decades campaigning, fundraising and volunteering until the day in 1990 when the whole canal was reopened by Queen Elizabeth II.  Today, the Trust is busier than ever. It runs six trip boats, a fleet of wheelchair-accessible holiday boats (known as the Bruce Boats) at nearby Great Bedwyn, a youth narrowboat, a museum, cafes, visitor centres, and Crofton Beam Engines housing the oldest steam pump in the world still doing its original job in situ! The Trust is powered by over 400 volunteers spread over 87 miles of waterway from Bristol to Reading. This year there will be some very special celebrations for its 75th birthday: one of the Bruce Boats, Hannah, will travel the length of the canal in June, with celebrations at every stop, culminating in a triumphal entry to Reading Waterfest on 27th June. The full itinerary is here: https://katrust.org.uk/ka75/ Locally, the big weekend is 20th/21st June: there will be a special steaming weekend at Crofton and a Midsummer Fete at Great Bedwyn on the Sunday afternoon. The boat Hannah will welcome visitors interested in finding out more about the Trust - not just what it has achieved in the past, but what our hopes for the future are, too. There are plans afoot for a new reception building at Great Bedwyn, development of the Wharf Building at Devizes, and improvements to our fleet of passenger boats, along with supporting the Canal and River Trust in keeping the canal open and navigable, and enabling as wide a range of people as possible to enjoy everything the canal has to offer. We invite you to be part of this in our special 75th year: you could consider becoming a member, suggesting corporate sponsors, making a donation, volunteering your time, or visiting and supporting our attractions. Have a look at our website to find out more https://katrust.org.uk/ Ali Cannon |