Going above and beyond on the Grand Union Canal

We spoke to George to learn more about his remarkable career.

For almost two decades, George has worked in our boat licensing team, first for British Waterways and later for the Trust. A former village police officer, George is responsible for more than 60 miles of the Grand Union Canal between Braunston and Cosgrove. He’s proud to manage his stretch much as a community policeman would, watching out for his locals, and nipping any problems in the bud.

“I’ve got a fantastic stretch of canal,” George tells us, “it’s a beautiful patch and it’s very rural. We’re basically in the centre of the canal system, so you get a real mix of visitors, including boaters, walkers, cyclists and tourists.”

A big part of George’s role is helping boaters to follow the conditions of their licences “You have to keep an eye out for unlicensed boats and anyone causing a problem,” says George. “I’ve always preferred the personal touch, so I never go in heavy-handed. I like to go out and speak to the people to try to encourage them to do the right thing or find out what the issue is and see if I can resolve it. If I can help I always will, and I never turn people away.”

George cares deeply about the people and communities he serves, working closely with some of the most vulnerable members of society, often in their darkest hours. Over the years, his generous, hands-on approach has earned him a reputation within the local boating community for being firm but fair. He knows most of the boaters by name, and if they ever find themselves in a spot of bother, he’s their first port of call.

“George is the beating heart of the waterways that run through the south of the East Midlands,” says boating & customer service manager Sarina Young, who nominated George for his award. “He always tries to achieve the best possible outcome for people, but the choices he has to make are often difficult and unpalatable. Nevertheless, he has the quiet strength of character to work through them with compassion and pragmatism.”

It was George’s compassion for the people he fondly refers to as “my boaters”, that prompted him to team up with West Northamptonshire Council earlier this year. Together, with their outreach team, he began working on a pilot scheme to give members of the local boating community better access to health, wellbeing, and support services.

So far, the initiative has been a big success, providing food banks, mobile health centres, and help and advice to a community that can often find itself isolated and ignored. “It was such a lovely thing to provide for the boaters,” says George. “It’s almost like a parallel universe on the canals, and boaters don’t always have the same access to services as the rest of society.  Those that took part really benefitted from it.”

George was surprised and thrilled to pick up this year’s ‘Clive Porter Values’ award for his contribution to the scheme. Clive, like George, was a much-loved member of our boat licensing team, whose dedication and generous spirit touched many lives. Sadly, his life was cut short in 2022, following a tragic incident on the Grand Union Canal, near Broughton in Buckinghamshire.

George knew Clive personally and was proud to call him his friend. “I got to know Clive really well,” he tells us, “so, to be put forward for the award meant a lot to me, because Clive was such a great bloke. He was a credit to the Trust and he tragically died doing his job. To be presented with the award that carries his name and to be associated with Clive in this way, was a proud moment, I have to say.”

The ‘Clive Porter Values’ award is handed out every year to an individual who truly embodies the values of the Trust but George, humble as ever, was keen to point out that it couldn’t have happened without the support of WNC, the local Waterway Chaplains, The Hope Centre in Northampton, the boaters who volunteered to help and, last but not least, his supportive line managers Sarina and Nick Steele. We can’t think of a more fitting recipient than George, who has devoted the last 20 years of his life to keeping our waterways safe and fighting the corner of some of the most marginalised members of society.