Great interest in Crystal

THERE has been great interest in Crystal, the lock keeper at Foxton, since Victor wrote of her time at the locks.

Not only from boaters who well remember her, but those who wish there was a "proper'' lock keeper there now instead of volunteers, although helpful, as unpaid volunteers cannot of course have the know-how or the passion of someone to whom it was a way of life, as it certainly was in Crystal's case.

Well remember

Here's a photograph from Terry Brown of lock keeper Crystal, together with Jackie shown  steering their boat through the locks, two more boaters that well remember her help locking through the flight.

Our regular contributor T. Lang, also remembers her, telling 'the first time we tackled Foxton we were both quite overawed with the flight, but the lady lock keeper, that I came later to know as Crystal put us at our ease and gave the best instruction we have ever had at working locks.  What a difference now'.

A pleasure to know her

Another contributor Helen Cripps also emailed us telling: 'She was a marvellous character, and it was a pleasure to know her and a great loss when she and her husband left, both of whom we came to know well'.

Happy times indeed, alas now long gone.