Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Limited

On January 30th 2002 Chairman Brian Kingshott and Vice-Chairman Phil Sharpe were delighted to welcome David and Sheila Suchet to the West Midlands, to see for themselves the progress that has been made thanks to the enormous success of The David Suchet Appeal.

Sheila Suchet, Brian Kingshott, David Suchet, Phil Sharpe and Laurence Hogg at Churchbridge

During a rain-soaked conducted tour of the CAMBBA motorway construction site at Churchbridge they had concrete evidence that the culverts under the BNRR are now being built.(see photo)

David and Sheila shelter from the rain before touring the site

David Suchet in front of Culvert155 at Churchbridge

This was followed by a visit to Walsall Town Wharf, where our hero boarded nb. Barnet along with his good friend Laurence Hogg. Local press and TV were there to record the event, and Malcolm Boyden of Radio WM broadcast a live interview with David.

David takes the helm of nb Barnet

After a break for lunch the next visit was to the BW workshops at Bradley, where waterway manager Roger Herrington and the workshop manager Terry Ray were pleased to show David and Sheila around.

To conclude a very busy day David then took the stage at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock where he once again pledged his commitment to the restoration of the Lichfield and the Hatherton canals. He was pleased to receive on our behalf a cheque for £20,000 presented by Richard Drake, national chairman of the IWA.
David presented Roger Hanbury, chief executive of The Waterway Trust with a cheque from LHCRT for the sum of £130,000 raised by the David Suchet Appeal to pay for the culvert at Churchbridge.

Richard Drake presents the IWA donation of £20,000

David Suchet on behalf of LHCRT presents Roger Hanbury of The Waterway Trust with a cheque for £130,000

A special edition of "The Missing Links" video, produced by Laurence Hogg and presented and narrated by David Suchet, was launched. David has personally signed the cover of every copy, and it was very quickly sold out. However, more copies are now available and can be obtained through the Trust. (See our Sales page)

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