10 years ago, Stuart was working within the timber trade. Whilst approaching retirement, Stuart told colleagues he would like to do his dream job – being a lock keeper.
Stuart has made this dream come true and volunteered straight away as a volunteer lock keeper. A role Stuart has now been doing for 10 years. Stuart still believes that this is his dream job. Stuart enjoys being in the outdoors and helping boats through the locks.
As a keen boater himself, he imparts his knowledge and experience to those new to boating and lock keeping, but says he has also learned a lot from being a volunteer.
Stuart has also been working on a taskforce alongside customer operations team colleagues, this has included making towpath repairs, completing pre-planned maintenance and reactive repairs. Stuart especially enjoyed completing offside vegetation management over the last winter, working from the workboat alongside colleagues.
Dream come true
Stuart has benefitted from volunteering by way of the health benefits of staying fit and healthy. Volunteering with the trust has kept Stuart in the outdoors and being active. Volunteering has also expanded Stuart's social circle and improved his wellbeing.
Stuart did not know much about the Leeds & Liverpool Canal prior to joining the trust. He saw an advert for volunteering and took a walk down to Stanley Flight and got chatting to trust colleagues. He now feels like part of the furniture and is a real ambassador for the trust.
Written about Stuart by Neil Holladay, volunteering team leader
