hind, but for the moment this newly invigorated, focused and confident IWA is a joy to behold. One of the things they have been addressing is the tricky question of how do we identify as all part of one big organisation and yet keep our own I would like to think that every edition of Navvies identity. We have been working quite hard on this gives you something to think about. Sometimes for point because, although its nowhere near as important as making sure we actually have a clear vision good reasons, other times maybe not. But I do and a definite plan of how we are going to get hope that some of this edition hangs around your there, sometimes you do need to make sure you little grey cells even longer than normal. look the part if you are going to be taken seriously. Several pages of this Navvies are dedicated to remembering an amazing person – Mick Beattie. I’m pretty pleased with the results, which were I was on a Canal Camp when Mick passed away in unveiled at the IWA AGM in September, and here is my personal take on all of this. August. In many ways that was probably the best To me the sticking point about having a place to be, in the company of people who knew ‘single brand’ for the whole organisation was twoand loved him and surrounded by reminders of fold. Firstly, WRG have worked very hard to build what he had brought to the organisation. up our reputation in a way that was thoroughly Mick’s funeral was a mix of laughter and sorrow as favourite memories (some of which you linked to our logo and it didn’t seem sensible to can read on pages 34-35) were brought to mind by throw that away. Secondly, it kept coming back to some wonderful tributes. One of the most impres- this concept of a parent organisation, and that doesn’t quite seem to fit these days. Because, to be sive eulogies was from Mick’s employers, Land & blunt, WRG is 47 years old and even though IWA Water, who truly captured what it was to know and enjoy the company of Mick. There were all the has got 20-odd years on that, it still puts us as pretty mature, no matter how much we might points you would expect (and that feature heavily in pretend we are still the stroppy teenager. this Navvies) – the humour, the friendship, the love, But with some new Trustees and some the Pernod, the charm, the loyalty and the constant renewed appreciation of how important restorainspiration. However, the point that really stood out to me was just how much they appreciated Mick as a tion is to the IWA, it really does feel like a family mentor for, well, pretty much anyone and anything. affair now, and that is what I like about this new Whether it was formally or informally Mick always logo – it’s just an indication of the family you are found the time to help you get better at just about in – your identity is still there in the words alongside the logo, be it IWA, EWL or WRG. We don’t everything. More than anything Mick believed in the sheer pleasure of doing a job well and doing it have to try and shoehorn the IWA and WRG logos together whenever we print a leaflet, send a letter right. Even more than that Mick, believed that or paint a van. We just need the family logo and everyone should have that pleasure. It’s a skill that WRG absolutely relies on and then add our clear identity. Read the rest of Alicen’s article to see we probably don’t recognise and appreciate it whether you think it all makes sense. But just to enough. So can I thank everyone who has ever be clear – we are still Waterway Recovery Group, taken five minutes out of their working day to help pass on their skills and experience to another they are still the Inland Waterways Association, our kit is still red and nobody is being made to volunteer. Formal training has its place (and, as the founder of the WRG Training Weekend, that’s surrender old T-shirts just because they don’t match the new style. (It also goes without saying that a lot another thing we have Mick to thank for) but the of clever people have checked out whether it thing that really helps us grow is the constant works when reversed, printed large, printed small, reassurance that whilst on site we are surrounded in greyscale, wrapped round a pump. etc). by people who can help us get better. So apart from having a ‘family’ logo to Anyone who has read Navvies for more than signify what we believe in and who we are part of, a few months will know that I’m often commentyou might be thinking that none of this ‘rebrand’ ing on our parent organisation’s ability to indulge will affect what we do; after all, we have a great in ‘navel gazing’. I’m often rather dismissive of this but it seems that they may well have called my message and so we should continue to push it as bluff this time. On page 16 you will find an article far and as wide as possible. Which is true, but hopefully, as IWA gets its act together and from the chaps at Head Office describing how achieves an ever better profile, we will automatiIWA is starting to address the question of ‘Who cally gain by association with this new brand. are we and what are we doing?’ Now the real Enjoy the rest of this edition – it’s been a proof will be at the next IWA Trustees meeting cracking summer with some great work. See you at where all of these lofty phrases will be distilled the Bonfire Bash/Reunion to start it all again ! down to (hopefully) some decent campaigns that Mike Palmer everyone who values the waterways can get be-
Chairman’s bit
page 4
