Representatives from all levels of support - I.W.A., both national and local, British Waterways, local Councils, major donors and contributors - attended a reception at the nearby Boat Inn. Sadly, neither Sir John Smith of The Manifold Trust nor David Suchet, who both did so much to make this dream a reality, were able to join us but sent their congratulations and very best wishes.

CAMBBA gave permission for one coach to make one journey to the aqueduct for the purpose of unveiling the new road sign telling the world what is up there, surely becoming the first to carry passengers on the new M6 Toll motorway.

Chairman Brian Kingshott welcomed everyone to the Lichfield Canal Aqueduct and invited Dr David Fletcher, retired Chief Executive of British Waterways who was very influential in securing the installation of the culverts at Churchbridge, to unveil the road sign. Waterway magazines and local press were there to record the historic event with Carlton TV including excellent coverage in their evening news.

Brian Kingshott and Dave Fletcher reveal the new road sign

Dave Fletcher and Chris Coburn rejoicing in the Government White Paper "Waterways for Tomorrow"

After the unveiling and short speeches from Brian Kingshott and David Fletcher, the coach party joined other guests at the Boat Inn for an excellent buffet lunch. Special presentations were made to two exceptional donors who were described as being "top of the premier league". David Fletcher and Chris Coburn were presented with specially engraved glass plaques in recognition of their outstanding support in achieving canal crossings of the M6 Toll motorway, also accepting plaques for Sir John and David Suchet in their absence. Sir John and David Fletcher joined Chris Coburn and David Suchet in being awarded honorary Life Membership of the Trust.

David Fletcher congratulated the Trust on attaining a splendid achievement through difficult times as a shining example of perseverance. Chris Coburn added recollections from his early involvement with the Lichfield & Hatherton through the "Progress Appeal", and how this had been instrumental in bringing about a change of Government policy to the benefit of all waterway restorations.

More Good News
After all the excitement arising from the arrival of the aqueduct and the granting of further ERDF funds for the Lichfield Canal, it is nice to be able to report two further items of good news, albeit of a very different nature and rather more modest. But it does amount to a breakthrough in helping the Trust to prove its Green credentials.

The first item resulted from Jan Horton's appeal for support from the West Midlands Co-op. In September they generously awarded us a grant of £250 to spend on environmental recovery along the canals. Accordingly this has been used to purchase a Stihl chain saw. This will greatly reduce the backbreaking effort needed to re-lay the many kilometres of neglected hedgerows we need to recover over the next few years. Our grateful thanks are offered to the West Midlands Co-op for their generosity.

The second success is also related to canal environmental recovery. In the previous issue of Cut Both Ways, I described our attempts to introduce native British bluebells in the broadleaf copse established by Trust members near to the Darnford Lane lift bridge. This recovery programme was submitted to the West Midlands Wildlife Trust for consideration for an award.

The awards, offered in partnership with Npower, are divided into three categories: Schools, Business and Community. In regard to the latter, they state: "Local and community groups are often best placed to help protect the wildlife in their area; local groups really can make a difference in protecting biodiversity. The Community award is open to all kinds of groups from those actively conserving a local site such as woodland or place of worship to those helping to protect a particular plant or animal in their locality. We would like to hear from your group if you have taken part in an innovative conservation project in your area."

The good news is: we won it.

David Suchet Appeal
Since that momentous occasion in January 2001, when David Suchet launched the Appeal towards the cost of canal crossings on the M6 Toll, with the addition of some major grants, the cumulative Appeal total has exceeded £320,000! All those funds have now been spent with monies from the Manifold Trust and allowing for some ongoing pledge income to complete the motorway crossings.

Although the budget still shows a shortfall of £15,000 we hope that will be largely covered by VAT recovery which will effectively bring the David Suchet Appeal to a conclusion. Well done everybody - members and non-members - for your wonderful generosity in achieving that target, especially before the road is opened to traffic!

Land Fund
Emphasis on expenditure is now focusing sharply on the need to purchase various pieces of land to reassemble the routes of our two canals. We are now relaunching the Land Fund through a flexible scheme of donations which will suit all levels, whether by a single sum, or regular giving following the Suchet habit, and of course taking advantage of the Gift Aid scheme for tax recovery.
Please click here to go to the Land Fund Donations page.

ERDF grant
Regular readers may still be keeping their fingers crossed after reading page 19 in the last edition. Well, it was worth it! The Government Office for the West Midlands has just announced that we have been successful in securing an extension to the existing European Regional Development Fund grant of £267,250 for the Hatherton Canal by another £512,330 towards the Lichfield Canal.

Vice Presidents
The news that both David and Sheila Suchet have been appointed as vice presidents of the IWA is very welcome and well deserved. David and Sheila have been of immense assistance to the Trust in publicising our project and funding the motorway crossings and David's vice presidency of The Waterways Trust now gives him a wider role in supporting waterway restoration and development projects. Paying tribute, John Fletcher, IWA national chairman said "I am delighted that David and Sheila Suchet have agreed to become vice residents of the Association. There can be few people who have so effectively used the wider media to galvanise public support to the waterway cause and the dramatic progress on the Lichfield and Hatherton canals is testament to their skills as well as to the Canals Trust."