LUCS takes a pragmatic view
ELSEWHERE on the Union Canal, LUCS (Linlithgow Union Canal Society) has cancelled the society’s annual fun day and ever-popular cardboard boat race.
Mike Smith, vice-chairman at LUCS, said: “It is indeed unfortunate that the fun day and cardboard boat race have been cancelled. I cannot remember this happening previously.
“But so much preparation is required leading up to the event, not only by LUCS members and volunteers but the many other charities and community organisations who participate, not forgetting the cardboard boat race entrants who are already designing and building their craft, that it’s only fair we give everyone as much notice as possible.”
LUCS is not taking any bookings for this season and is offering refunds or vouchers for next year to anyone who has already made reservations.
Beyond the immediate consequences of the lockdown, other issues include expired boat licences which can not be renewed, Boatmasters’ licence holders unable to renew medical certificates and maintenance difficulties with the dry docks closed.
However, LUCS is working hard to keep its volunteers motivated and connected so that when the canals reopen, boat and premises maintenance can be addressed and LUCS will then be able to offer the public the boat trips, museum and canal experience for which the society is so well known.
LUCS operates Scotland’s only canal museum, which holds a collection of around 4000 images. Laura Volkmer, who is undertaking a joint PhD with the University of Edinburgh and the Museum of Scotland, is creating an online archive of the images. She contacted LUCS asking if she could work in the museum as part of her PhD research, having visited the Manse Road basin on a canoe trip.
The project was just getting started when the lockdown hit and Laura is now working on the project from Bavaria and having regular online meetings with the LUCS team. A fully catalogued and indexed online collection of historic photographs, free for all to see, will be the result of this perseverance. Visit LUCS online at https://www.lucs.org.uk/