21 February 2025
by Nickie SandersThe Esme Dowling Award, established in 1998, celebrates the dedication and outstanding service of lock keepers and bankside staff who go above and beyond to assist boaters. Named after Esme Dowling, a revered lock keeper on the Oxford Canal at Napton, the award continues to honour those who provide exceptional support to the boating community.
This year’s award winners, the Hanbury Lock Keepers, were nominated by Catherine Armstrong, Chair of the Midlands Association. Praising their commitment, Catherine said:
"The Hanbury Lock Keepers are a wonderful group of gentlemen and a couple of ladies. Daily, they attend the top three locks at Hanbury Junction throughout the main boating season, offering invaluable assistance to boaters, including those training on our hire boats. Their enthusiasm, friendliness, and willingness to help make our canal a truly welcoming place. Even when our handovers run late, they never hesitate to stay on past their home time to ensure boats make it through safely. Their dedication, often in challenging weather conditions, is truly commendable."
Beyond their hands-on support, the team takes great pride in maintaining the locks, planting flowers, litter picking, and managing water levels, ensuring the area remains pristine and inviting for all. Their efforts exemplify the very best of the waterways community.
The winners of the Esme Dowling Award are announced each year at the British Marine Inland Conference, where their contributions are formally recognised and yesterday (20 February 2025), the winners received their award at a special presentation held at Droitwich Spa Marina. This year, the award was presented by Catherine Armstrong and British Marine President Robert Parton in recognition of the team’s exceptional service.
"It has been a real pleasure to present the Esme Dowling Trophy, especially as someone with a personal interest in inland canals. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning spent with the Hanbury Lock Keeping Team, getting to know them and celebrating their hard work.”
Robert Parton, President, British Marine.The 2024 Esme Dowling Award winners are:
James Cowlishaw, Alan Cotton, Mike Egan, Gary Bown, Trevor Byng, Steve Mitchell, Marlene Newcombe, John Plaskitt, Richard Wachala, Alan Gilmour, John Herring, Tony Robinson, David Mills, Andy Bishop, Steve Sheppard, Gary Dunn, Keith Saunders, Stuart Benson, and Mel Simkiss.
"I’m immensely proud of the Hanbury Lock team. Their dedication and passion shine through, making this award so well deserved. A fantastic example of the invaluable role our volunteers play in the Trust."
Andrew Keast - Area Operations Manager (CRT)"We volunteers love what we do, and it’s fantastic to have our efforts recognised. Volunteering is incredibly rewarding, and this acknowledgment means a lot to us."
James Cowlishaw - Lead Volunteer Hanbury LocksBritish Marine extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Hanbury Lock Keepers for their outstanding service and unwavering dedication. Their hard work ensures that boaters continue to enjoy a smooth and welcoming experience on our waterways.