Pennine Dreams - the story of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Author: Keith Gibson
Ken Wright reviews the book by our very own restoration boss, Keith Gibson, recently published in softback by Tempus Publishing Ltd:
"There's a book in everyone" is more than likely an incorrect quotation. Certainly, if I added up all the words I've written for magazines and newsletters over the last 50 years I could probably fill a couple of volumes. But to do what Keith has done, start with a blank sheet of paper and tell the story of the Huddersfield Narrow, is tantamount to setting off up Kilimanjaro, at least!
But he has succeeded and in fine measure. Exactly 150 pages plus useful appendices and a comprehensive index, the book is everyman's guide to the canal, the story being told as TWO dreams. The first dream was that of crossing the Pennines in the first place and the opening fifty pages give us that history in detail from the building, through the working years to decline, decay and vandalism (genuine and official!) and ending with the formation of the Inland Waterways Association and the first stirrings of the restoration movement.
The second dream was OURS! The formation of the Society and the early campaigns to get people's attention and stop planning blight followed by the early attempts at restoration by volunteers, then the increased activity through government employment schemes. Money matters keep intruding, necessarily, and are deftly handled so that we realise their importance but do not allow them to divert us from the main thrust of the book.
The central section covering the formation of the Joint Committee, partnership working and the eventual Millennium funding success I found particularly interesting - and I was closely involved at the time! What I mean is that Keith has logged every stage in its logical sequence, making it a useful reminder of what we went through over a three or four year period and, I predict, being a valuable aid to restoration groups in the future. As an aside here we must remember that we were trail-blazers; the later restoration schemes have had and are having a relatively easier run, learning from our experience.
The last fifty or sixty pages concern the last run to completion, the openings and teething problems, the Lottery on TV, and a bit of general backslapping.
All the above may sound a bit academic and possibly boring. It is not; Keith has brought the subject to life by mentioning names at every conceivable opportunity. This book is as much about people as about what they were doing. There are references to 121 separate people in the Index and Appendix 2 is entitled "Restoring the Canal - Cast of Players". Appendix 1 is a fantastic bit of fact collecting - a complete run-down of every bit of restoration, starting at Ashton and running sequentially through to Huddersfield making any item easy to find. What the problem was, how it was solved and who solved it is also listed.
This book is eminently readable; I did it from cover to cover over two evenings. Mind you, there was a bit of self-interest in there; my name features 15 times, only beaten by Keith Gibson, David Sumner, Steve Whitby, Slaithwaite and Standedge Tunnel! And, not unusually, I provide the comic element with a photograph I submitted to get my Staley Wharf plaque, having got there by dredger and tug!
I haven't mentioned the pictures. There are dozens of photographs, some we have seen often before but no worse for that and many more are new and excellent. There are 130 of them altogether and they make an interesting story in themselves.
Keith has a way with words that, to my mind, puts this book in a class of its own. If I am biased, I don't care - try it and see for yourself.
by Ken Wright