In my youth, I was drawn to rivers and canals. I enjoyed fishing, I built a canoe then purchased a dinghy which I sailed on the River Thames at Reading.
The local Kennet & Avon Canal was another environment – so neglected and overgrown and distant from the world I knew in the late 1960s – it was heaven.
In 2010, I'd taken early retirement and was volunteering with a local charity. A local cycling and walking project I had been engaged with was complete. I saw a BBC news item stating British Waterways were recruiting volunteers as lock keepers locally. The welcome session hosted by Sue Blocksidge at Hatton was a great success. The nine attending were a friendly bunch and I thought they would be interesting to get to know.
I've been a VLK mainly at Wilmcote ever since, but also at Hatton and Lapworth; as a Canal & River Trust helmsperson, I've navigated most of the canals in the West Midlands.
During the 'closed season' I've regularly participated in building nest, bat and owl boxes.
Boost for wellbeing
As a retired individual, I quickly came to realise that my social world had shrunk greatly. The camaraderie offered and physical working in a team seemed too good to be ignored. Social interaction is a major contributor to wellbeing. The Trust welcomed my offer of experience gained in a successful career, hence the use of Teamup shared calendars within in the team.
After two open-heart procedures, three potential fatal virus infections (requiring hospitalisation) I'm still here. Whilst I have a great debt to the NHS, volunteering has greatly contributed to my recovery and wellbeing. Delivered by family, friends and a social network of boaters, walkers, staff and fellow volunteers, it continues to give great joy and entertainment.
