In 1939 Tom Rolt, a founder member of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) travelled through the waterways of Britain in his boat Cressy and recorded his experiences in a book "Narrowboat" published after the war.
That book inspired Robert Aickman and others to form the IWA and jointly to fight to save the canals which were rapidly becoming derelict. Without their campaigning the canals would have been lost forever.
They were successful and we largely have them to thank for the benefits which the canals bring so widely for everyone and to Audlem in particular, today.
He stopped at Audlem and mentions the town as "a group of old houses, inns and shops clustering about a church perched on a mound". A description which many of our canal visitors might still agree with. He bought "Chorley Cakes and homemade treacle toffee" and continued on his way.
The medallion will be incorporated in their display stand with those collected at other celebrations along their way and be shown en route to, and at, their final destination at the "IWA National Festival and Boat Show" at Beale Park on the River Thames over the August bank holiday weekend.
We hope that civic leaders, a friend of Tom Rolt and people from Audlem will join us at the ceremony at 2.00 pm on Sunday 4th July.
Janet & Denis Farmer
Social Secretary & Treasure
IWA, Shrewsbury D & N Wales Branch,
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