Jack Dalby presented at the East Challow Scout Hall, details of the history of the Wilts & Berks Canal, which was created to improve regional access to coal and agricultural markets. The project struggled with high costs, railway competition, and water shortages, leading to its eventual decline and formal abandonment in 1914.

Jack Dalby, widely considered the "Godfather" of the Wilts & Berks Canal restoration, was instrumental in reviving the abandoned waterway. After surveying the canal's remains in 1969, he authored a definitive historical book in 1971 that ignited interest in its preservation. His 1977 slide show sparked the creation of the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group, where he served as its inaugural President. Known for his energetic personality, Dalby's legacy endures through a lock named in his honor and book royalties that continue to fund the Trust today.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Journals/ Magazines⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast highlights the Trust's 2025 "momentum," celebrating over 40,000 volunteer hours worth more than £1 million. Key milestones include the first complete clearing of Uffington Gorse in a century and new water-filled sections in Swindon. The hosts also address the SESRO reservoir threat, which risks £25 million in annual benefits, while championing the 70-mile "Blue-Green Corridor".

⁠⁠Journals/ Magazines⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠