Julia Bradbury is 1,000th member

TELEVISION'S Countryfile presenter, Julia Bradbury has become the 1,000th member of the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust.

It was the trust's Chairman, Bernie Jones, who was delighted to announce that the trust's membership has reached 1,000 for the first time—and that Julia Bradbury has agreed to become the 1,000th member.

Canal heritage

The BBC Countryfile presenter has been responsible for building appreciation for the country's canal heritage with her DVD, Canal Walks, and she has donated signed copies, along with other signed items, to aid the trust with its fund-raising. Members were given the opportunity at the AGM to get their hands on the signed items through a raffle.

Of having such a large number of members, Bernie exclaimed:

"Reaching the 1,000 member mark is a great milestone in its own right, but to have Julia Bradbury add her backing is the icing on that particular cake! She has done so much to increase people's understanding of the key part canals play in our national heritage. Her generosity will directly benefit the trust in its efforts, and we must thank her for her support."

Time and effort

Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust members are committing huge amounts of time and effort in their aim to re-open the waterway which ran from Norbury Junction, (pictured) on the Shropshire Union Canal, to Shrewsbury before finally being abandoned in 1944.

Studies have shown that a re-opened canal would have economic, tourism and health benefits for Shropshire and Staffordshire.