Roger Hadlow very kindly left us £5,000 in his Will in memory of his father, Charles.
Charles was a British Waterways district inspector who worked on the Grand Union Canal and later the Warwick District. Through his work, he became friends with Stoke Bruerne lock keeper Jack James, who had a unique and special collection of canal memorabilia. As the collection expanded, Charles and Jack came up with the idea of using the old corn mill as a museum, and in 1963 the Waterways Museum opened with Charles as curator and Jack as janitor.
Today, many of Charles' photographs are still housed in the museum, and his personalised legging board proudly hangs near the café.
We are truly grateful for Roger's gift, and it will be used to support the museum’s learning and development centre, passing on the story of canals to school children and young people. It’s a truly fitting tribute that continues a family legacy of preserving canal heritage for the next generation to enjoy.
