Volunteer is full of praise for lock-keeping role

A volunteer lock keeper is encouraging others to try their hand at the role after an appeal for more people to operate tidal locks.

Mr Nick Bingham, 64, of Carlton-on-Trent, said he had enjoyed every minute of his time working on locks along the River Trent for the Canal And River Trust.

He mainly works at Newark Town Lock and Nether Lock, but has also helped at Hazelford and Gunthorpe.

Mr Bingham, a former chartered accountant, has a keen interest in rivers and used the locks many times when living on a narrow boat.

He said he wanted to do something useful in his retirement and decided to volunteer as a lock keeper in November 2015.

“I found I had reached a stage with nothing to do, and then I saw an article advertising for volunteer lock keepers,” he said.

“It was perfect for me because I love the rivers. In 2016 I volunteered for more than 1,000 hours on the locks.

“I like the outdoors and meeting new people and I have enjoyed every minute.”

The Canal And River Trust is looking to recruit more help for its tidal locks.

Volunteers are needed at Cromwell, Torksey and West Stockwith on the River Trent, as well as at Boston Grand Sluice on the River Witham.

Tidal locks differ slightly to other locks as they need a lock keeper on duty all year and are operated with a button due to their size.

The volunteers would primarily assist passing boaters, welcome visitors and help keep their site tidy.

'You are meeting new people daily'

Mr Bingham trains newcomers in the art of lock keeping.

“Everyone has to go through fairly thorough training before they are allowed on their own on the locks because they can be dangerous,” he said.

“With the influx of water coming in at a fairly high rate, making sure everything is done right is important.

“The actual operation isn’t difficult but we go through it time and again to make sure volunteers are happy.”

He said there was a strong social aspect to the job, with volunteers meeting new people every day.

“As well as operating the lock, the other main part of the job is to be a point of information in terms of what services are available,” Mr Bingham said.

“You are meeting new people daily. There is a very good social side and it is a good all-round thing to be involved in.”

The Canal And River Trust organises regular social meetings with the volunteers, including boat trips on the Nottingham Princess near Colwick.

For more information or to apply to volunteer as a lock keeper visit
the Canal & River Trust website.