Please note that the shop and wharf are now operating on Winter Hours, nominally between 10 am and 4 pm. The access site will be closed by 4 pm (or maybe earlier). Please also note that during this time the site may not be consistently accessible from the road, in the event of bad weather or illness for instance. The site, however, is of course always accessible from the canal.

Over the course of the weekend of 5th to 6th September 2026 nearly 600 visitors came to the wharf to take part in ACA’s Diamond Gathering. Aside from a heavy shower on Sunday, the weather was sunny and pleasantly warm throughout. Gates opened at 10 am and the event was formally opened on Saturday at 12 o clock by Paul Lees, the Chair of NWLDC. He arrived on the bow of Waterloo Sunrise accompanied by an accordionist.

Paul gave a brief speech outlining the history and aims of the restoration. As he stood on the stop gate, The Coat Tits, a folk group from Swadlincote, played a few tunes, which included a song they had penned specifically about the Ashby Canal. They performed a second set later in the afternoon.

Throughout both days RAM carried visitors to bridge 62 and back. The boat trips were essentially free of charge, but passengers were invited to drop a donation into the ACA’s Buckby can when they disembarked.

People mingled at the wharf, eating, drinking, reminiscing, inspecting the display of bricks and asking questions about the restoration plans at ACA’s mobile stand.  In general visitors were just glad to have an opportunity to meet up and be outside again without having to worry about the oppressive heat of the previous months. Shire Catering were rushed off their feet with food orders, as was the shop – so that the caterers could concentrate on cooking the food, we had decided on a voucher system, which meant that the BBQ food had to be purchased via the shop, making the shop busier than ever.

Sunday saw a raffle draw take place at 3 pm with three lucky winners.

Overall, the Diamond Gathering was a huge success, not least due to the unerring assistance of our volunteers. A substantial amount of money was taken in the shop and the feedback from the public, both in person and on social media, has been very positive.

In spite of the unseasonly cool weather for May, and the occasional heavy shower on the Sunday, it was a productive, busy and successful Moira Canal Festival for the ACA, with much interest shown in the canal. A sizeable amount of bric a brac was also sold.

The ACA held their AGM at Measham Leisure Centre on 14th April 2026 with 20 people in attendance. Chairman Peter Oakden reviewed the past year whilst Treasurer Bob Taylor outlined the financial position. The ACA committee had earlier proposed to raise the annual subscription rates for the first time in eleven years and these rate increases were ratified by those attending.

The AGM lasted 30 minutes and it was followed by an informative and witty talk by historian John Parry on Burton’s Trent Navigation in the 18th Century. Through the short-lived Bond End Canal, of which now only Horninglow Basin is in water, there was to be a direct connection with the original proposed route of the Ashby Canal.

The Chair of North West Leicestershire District Council, Paul Lees, accompanied by the Deputy Chair of NWLDC, Jenny Simmons, were in attendance for the official opening of the restored shop at Snarestone Wharf.

The shop front has been given a fresh look and made more sturdy with double-glazed windows and wooden panels, following storm damage earlier this year. The work has been carried out entirely by volunteers with the materials generously supplied by local businesses.

Before opening the shop Paul took time to admire the display of Buy-a-Bricks and find the brick donated by NWLDC.

After the ribbon had been cut the dignitaries, now accompanied by Wendy May, Principal Economic Development Officer for NWLDC, retired to the on-site office for a brief talk on the restoration by Peter Oakden and Orest Mulka from the ACA.

21 members and 4 non-members attended the AGM at Measham Leisure Centre. Chairman Peter Oakden outlined the current situation and gave a summary of the events that had taken place in the past year, assisted by the Honorary Life Member and former Treasurer, John Roddis, who was standing in the for absent Secretary.

The 30 minute AGM was followed by a return visit by Shirley Horton from The Magic Attic in Swadlincote. She gave a witty and informative presentation titled “Another One for the Road”. As the name suggests it was largely about local pubs and inns, the origins of their names and how they came to be located where they are.

Tom M., aka Droney Maloney, is resident on the Ashby Canal and has taken these atmospheric photos with his quad copter camera. You can see more of Tom’s work on the Ashby Canal Association Friends Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210818989100866

As part of a series of walks through The National Forest, local residents Carol and Richard Higgott, have made a series of entertaining and informative short films tracing the route of the Ashby Canal between Moira and Shackerstone.

You can access their footage here:

Only a small number of supporters have been members of the IWA for fifty years or more. The ACA is a corporate member and this is reflected by a logo on our letterhead.

As a thank you for our support, and in recognition of our loyalty, the ACA has received a commemorative gold-coloured plaque in celebration of this anniversary.

Both the IWA and the ACA have changed in many ways since their inception, but at heart both parties continue to ensure the protection and restoration of our waterways for our future generations to enjoy.

The ACA looks forward to continuing to support the IWA over the coming years.