Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council (IWAAC)

The IWAAC was established by the 1968 Transport Act to Advise the Minister of Transport, and the British Waterways Board, on the leisure use of waterways. The Council paid its first visit to Scotland in 1969, when it looked at the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals, and was seriously critical of their condition, even as Remainder Waterways (a description under the 1968 Act). I met them through my involvement with the New Glasgow Society, an amenity body. The Scottish member at the time was Cliff Hanley, then a well known author and broadcaster (and, incidentally, author of the words of ‘Scotland the brave’). When his term of office ended in 1974, I was appointed to replace him – and remained a member of the Council for the next 27 years. (JH)

Scottish Inland Waterways Association

"The Scottish Inland Waterways Association was formed as an outcome of a conference on the Union Canal organised by Basil Skinner of the Extramural Education Department of Edinburgh University, held in 1971, at a time when the integrity of the Union, compromised by the culverting of the waterway through Wester Hailes, was under serious threat. In the concluding discussion it was proposed that a Union Canal Society be established. I argued that it would be more useful to found a society to promote Scottish canals in general (and especially the Forth and Clyde and Union canals), and this was accepted.

It formed a useful pressure group and focal point for canal enthusiasts, and carried the torch for canal activists until the formation of the Linlithgow Canal Society, the Forth and Clyde Canal Society, the Falkirk Canal Society, and the short-lived Winchburgh Union Canal Society. Most significantly, from the Seagull Trust’s point of view, it brought the Rev. P H R Mackay, into a formal relationship with others interested in Scottish Canals, and in particular with the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals.

Subsequently I took a very active part in the group that drafted the constitution of SIWA. It was through SIWA that I got to know Hugh Mackay. I became a member of the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council (IWAAC) in 1974, and through that was brought into closer contact with Hugh." (JH)

The formation of SIWA was also very important in that it, very significantly brought Hugh Mackay into a formal relationship with others interested in the well being and the development of Scotland's canals. Hugh became editor of SIWA's Newsletter, which he used tirelessly for propaganda. It became customary for the Chairman of IWAAC to meet Hugh, among others, on his regular visits to Scotland. (JH)

Boating for the Disabled

"There were two strands of thinking about canal boating for disabled people that emerged in the later 1970s. On the one hand there was Clare Hanmer, who commissioned a boat with a wheelchair lift in memory of her brother Peter Marchant, to operate on the canals in the Midlands of England. On the other there was the Heulwen/ Sunshine boat on the Montgomery Canal, supported by the Prince of Wales's Committee, and intended not only to cater for disabled people, but to build up pressure on the relevant authorities to restore the Montgomery to navigation.

Hugh Mackay in some manner unknown to me became aware of Clare Hanmer's initiative (perhaps through the IWA). At about the same time, or possibly slightly earlier, I heard about the Heulwen/ Sunshine boat through IWAAC, one of whose members, Charles Quant, was a member of the Prince of Wales's Committee. I immediately thought of the relevance of the concept of combining boating for disabled people and pressure for canal restoration to the Lowland canals.

Hugh brought Clare Hanmer to meetings in Glasgow and Edinburgh in January 1977, to tell about her initiative. I was at the Glasgow meeting, bringing to it my knowledge of the Heulwen/ Sunshine boat. " (JH)

Establishing the Seagull Trust

"There was general agreement following these meetings that a Trust should be established to try to establish boating in Scotland for disabled people, initially on the Lowland canals. Major Simon Campbell, manager of the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh joined the steering group, and it was he who suggested the name 'Seagull Trust' referring to the apparently effortless flight of these birds, an analogy to the freedom which canal boating can give. When we divided up responsibility within the nascent Trust we agreed that Hugh should be Secretary, and that I should be Chairman, largely on the grounds that as Hugh was retired he could devote more time to the day-to-day business of the Trust than I could.

We approached the Royal Bank about securing the services of a recently-retired bank manger as Treasurer, and that is how Norman Simpson came to be our Treasurer.

Through his Order of St John connections Hugh brought in Ronnie Williamson, and hence the acquisition of Clare Hanmer's first boat, which became the St John Crusader. The need for a base for this vessel brought Ronnie Rusack into the life of the Trust.

Other early Trustees included Stanley Ross-Smith, Lady Pansy Mar and Kellie, Peter McCann of Glasgow City Council, Jane Clark of the Scottish Sports Council and Forbes Marr of the Lothian Region Planning Department.

Within a short time the success of the Ratho-based operation led to initiatives to establish branches at Kirkintilloch and Falkirk, with boats designed by Yarrow Shipbuilders (under the auspices of Dr Brian Baxter, Chief Naval Architect) and built at Yarrows and at Govan Shipbuilders. I took the lead in founding the Kirkintilloch and Falkirk branches." (JH)

Culmination

As Chairman for the first 15 years of the Trust, it was a great privilege to see the Trust grow and prosper, and I would pay tribute to all those – Trustees, branch members, volunteers, donors and well-wishers who made that success possible. Since I retired as Chairman the Trust has gone from strength to strength. I believe it has delivered a high-quality service to all its many guests over the years, has provided a fruitful interaction between disabled and able-bodied people, and been pivotal in creating a climate of opinion favourable to the canal restoration that has culminated in the completion of the Millennium Link. And the Millennium Link has improved the experience the Trust has been able to offer its guests, a virtuous circle. (JH)

In 1997 John R Hume, our Honorary President and former Chairman was honoured with an OBE on the New Year Honours List. (NS)