The Canal & River Trust is the charity that administers the majority of navigable waterways in England and Wales, and Richard Parry has been at its helm for over seven years. In conversation with editor Bobby Cowling, he discusses the trust’s achievements and setbacks to date, how both the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and climate change are posing new challenges to its work, and his vision for its future.

Regular Waterways World contributor Andy Tidy discusses life as a roving trader in 2020 and his passion for waterways history, particularly the canals of the West Midlands. 

Marina owner and waterways heritage champion Tim Coghlan discusses the challenges of running a boat business this year, the changes he’s observed during his 32 years at Braunston and his celebrity boating friends.

A year into the role of national chairman of the Inland Waterways Association, Paul Rodgers discusses his vision for the future of the charity, the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and his fairly recent introduction to canal cruising

Actor Sir David Suchet, best known for playing Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, is an avid boater and prominent champion of waterways restoration. In conversation with the WW team, he describes being a trial-blazing liveaboard boater in the 1970s, his passion for waterways history and his recent acquisition of a narrowboat.

Cartographer Richard Fairhurst discusses his passion for mapping our inland routes, along with his career in waterways journalism, his interest in canal restoration and his recent outings aboard his 40ft narrowboat.

Drawing on her experiences of running a narrowboat bookshop, author and WW deputy editor Sarah Henshaw discusses life as a roving trader on the inland waterways, along with some of her other boat-based adventures.

Popular waterways vlogger and TV star Robbie Cumming discusses the making of the second series of his BBC programme, ‘Canal Boat Diaries’, and the challenges and delights of solo boating. His conversation with editor Bobby Cowling was recorded outdoors at Gas Street Basin in September 2020. (Photo: Tim Smith)

Celebrated waterways artist Rob Pointon talks about the inspiration he takes from Britain’s canals and rivers, and his year exploring them aboard a narrowboat