About a Tunnel Keeper

[Geoffrey Hammond]

Chatting with a friend recently, we chanced to talk about the many canal trips we had been on in the 70s and 80s and how certain characters on the waterways could never be forgotten.

 

Most memorable for us was the tunnel keeper at the south end of Harecastle. Our memories might have played us false, but he seemed always to be on duty, was quite short, quite stern, in total command and was friendly and jolly helpful once approached politely.

 

Others will know more:

 

What was his name?

 

Is he still alive?

 

Was there ever an article about him in a waterways magazine - I feel that he must have had wonderful stories to tell.

[Hugh]

Could it have been Bill Appleby as featured in April 1977 Waterways World? Although that said he took over from his father . . . in 1972 I think

 

Hugh

[Geoffrey Hammond]

Many thanks.

 

1977 would certainly have been a year I went through, so it sounds like the right man.

 

I'll try to find the copy of WW; I'm delighted there exists an article about him.