It was with great sorrow that we learned of the passing of our previous Chairman, Graham Whorton on 26thJanuary 2012
A long standing member of the BCN Society, Graham offered his services as Chairman at the end of 2007. He immediately oversaw the celebrations for the 40thanniversary of the Society and the 1858 Dudley Canal improvements. In 2009, Graham was instrumental in securing the future of the BW Heritage Working Boats Atlas and Malus by bringing them under the joint management of the BCN Society and the Coombeswood Canal Trust. He was particularly successful in encouraging participation by members from both organisations, allowing him to step back and leave the day to day details to a like minded group.
Graham continued to involve the Society in many other organisations and activities such as the Birmingham and Black Country Half Marathon, for which the Society provided floating drinks stations along the canalside route and resurrecting the BCN 24 hour challenge. He was also instrumental in ensuring that the Society was the first such organisation to obtain Self Supervising Work Party Status from British Waterways.
Despite bouts of ill health, Graham was active in organising and participating in the Societies Rallies and Work Parties, notable the successful Pelsall Rally of 2011.
Graham was approached by Tony Harvey of British Waterways to assist with a new project being launched by the IKON Gallery.
All involved in this project, particularly the young people, found him to be extremely helpful and supportive in acquiring a suitable boat and passing on his boating experiences and benefited greatly from Graham’s input.
All who knew Graham will be aware that we have lost a good friend of the waterways.
(Originally posted in January 2012)