Long before Priscilla, Queen of the Canal became a shared dream, Adam’s connection with Britain’s waterways had already begun.
His fascination started at an early age. There was something irresistible about the combination of peaceful water, working locks, towpaths and centuries of history. The waterways offered both an escape into the countryside and a glimpse of the extraordinary network that once helped power Britain.
But Adam did not simply want to enjoy these special places—he wanted to help protect them.
From appreciation to action
At the age of 19, Adam began volunteering with the National Trust on the River Wey and Godalming Navigations in Surrey. His work took him to Newark Lock, one of the most picturesque locations on the navigation, overlooked by the atmospheric ruins of Newark Priory.
Volunteering meant practical, physical work. Adam helped cut back vegetation, clear overgrown areas and maintain the towpaths so they remained safe and accessible for walkers, boaters and everyone who came to enjoy the waterway.
Armed with tools—and usually faced with considerably more undergrowth than expected—the volunteers worked together to keep this historic landscape open and welcoming.
It could be tiring and occasionally muddy, but it was immensely rewarding. At the end of each session, Adam could look back along a cleared towpath and see the difference the team had made.
A different relationship with the waterways
Working beside the River Wey gave Adam a new appreciation of what it takes to care for Britain’s navigable waterways.
The tranquillity experienced by visitors does not happen by accident. Behind every clear towpath, functioning lock and well-maintained stretch of navigation are people carrying out practical conservation work—often supported by dedicated volunteers giving their time in all weathers.
That experience changed Adam’s relationship with the waterways. They were no longer simply beautiful places to visit; they became living pieces of history that needed active care and protection.
The people behind the work
One of the most enjoyable parts of volunteering was the sense of community.
The group brought together people of different ages and backgrounds, each with their own reason for being there. Some were passionate about boats and waterways, while others simply wanted to support a special local place. What united them was a willingness to work together and make a visible difference.
Conversations flowed as readily as the river—although usually with occasional interruptions for stubborn branches, tangled brambles and the important matter of tea.
Those shared days demonstrated something that would remain important to Adam: waterways are not only about boats or destinations. They are also about the communities that form around them.
Where the journey began
Looking back, Adam’s time at Newark Lock was an early chapter in a much bigger story.
The experience strengthened his interest in conservation, volunteering and the heritage of Britain’s waterways. It also helped establish a connection that would continue through later boating holidays, further volunteering adventures and, eventually, the ambitious plan to build an all-electric narrowboat.
Priscilla may still lie ahead, but the journey towards her began many years ago—beside the River Wey, with a pair of clippers, a stretch of overgrown towpath and a determination to leave a special place a little better than he found it.