Having become fascinated with canals from an early age, Graham Wigley and some friends set up the Birmingham and Midland Canal Carrying Company in 1965, based at Gas Street Basin in the city centre.  Sixty years later, Graham is still moored there, making him probably the longest serving residential boater in the city. 

In this illustrated talk, Graham will share the story of his early interest in canals, the state of the network in the 1950s and 60s and his experiences trying to make a living carrying commercial freight cargo by water.  Later Graham’s work switched towards camping and party boats (which is another story) but he was still undertaking occasional contract carrying to worksites for Network Rail within the last ten years.

Graham’s life has spanned the last years of commercial traffic on the canal network, the decline and regeneration of the city’s canalside, and the rise of leisure boating.  His collection of photographs and recollections of living through that period offers a unique insight into an aspect of Midlands life through a time of change. 

How to get there:
From New St Station, follow signs to Moor St station. When you get to Moor St, go down the hill to the side of the station towards the multi-storey car park. At the car park, go left under the railway bridge. Immediately after the railway bridge turn right onto Shaws Passage, which is quite short. The Warehouse is on the corner at the end of Shaws Passage – walk round the corner onto Allison Street. Allison Street can also be accessed from Digbeth High Street.

Organised by Birmingham Co-operative History Group