| Max Sinclair - Restoration Man | - Max Sinclair was born in Ombersley Rd, Worcester, in 1930
- He went to the Royal Grammar School from 1938 to 1948 and then did his National Service in the Royal Engineers, where he was a training officer at Merebrook Camp, Malvern and Army Cycling Officer
- He started work in Smethwick at GKN Ltd and for most of the time cycled from Worcester daily
- He became Club Captain in the Worcester St Johns Cycling Club and in 1952 created a new club record for the 12 hour Time Trial of 228 miles 594 yards
- In 1954, Max became secretary of The Worcester Model Engineers when they constructed the track at Diglis, whilst at the same time he helped start the Festiniog Railway restoration from Portmadoc, getting the first train running in 1955
- This interest led him to start saving Industrial Narrow Gauge Locos from the scrap heap, and he was involved in 13 engines altogether
- When his 6 children became bored with the Welsh rain, the family started canal boating for their holidays, and canal boating led to Max trying to save the waterways which were under threat
- For 20 years Max was Chairman of The Droitwich Barge Canal restoration society and he's now Life President, spending his time researching the Salt Trade history
- In the 1970s, Max was Chairman of Worcester Civic Society when they saved Huntingdon Hall from destruction
- In industry, he was Sales Manager and then Director in some major companies, very involved with the Motor Industry
- When he left, he helped start the Black Country museum, and when Avoncroft Museum had trouble with their windmill, he spent the next fifteen years restoring it, also producing flour for the local shops; the mill appears in Rosie and Jim, and the Landmarks TV programme
- Max now lives in Lower Broadheath
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You can see a gallery of Max's images of the Stourbridge Canal back then by clicking on the link on the right, under 'See Also'. Max writes: In the late 1950s miles of the English Canal system were so badly maintained that the passage of boats became almost impossible. Lock gates were vandalised and burned and brickwork pushed into the canal from locks and bridges. In 1961 the Inland Waterways Association planned to hold their 1962 National Boat Rally in Stourbridge. In preparation, members of the Midland Branch arranged an exploratory cruise from the Staffs and Worcs Canal up the near derelict Stourbridge Canal and into the Stourbridge Arm which enters the town. This waterway was originally designed to continue north of Bromsgrove and then turn south to Worcester.
 | | Climbing the Stourbridge Canal, 1961 |
Financial problems stopped construction in Stourbridge and the Worcester to Birmingham canal became the major waterway. The flotilla made their way with difficulty up the Locks removing tons of rubbish and sealing the gates with tarpaulin sheets. Turning into the Stourbridge arm, we were greeted by some of the volunteers standing on dry land in the middle of the canal. A local ready-mixed concrete company had tipped all their washings into the canal forming a hard scour. As our 'Vesta' was the most powerful boat, we were 'volunteered' to attack the bank and with enthusiastic hauling on a long rope from the towpath we charged into the wall of spoil. It was not long before we became well and truly stuck. After several rammings, we finally broke through and with the help of 'Dane' and its wonderful Bolinder Engine flushing the scour alongside us, we were pulled back to allow the smaller boats to crawl into the town. 'Dane' then towed us backwards to the Stourbridge canal as the light failed. We arrived back at Ashwood Basin at midnight - this seemed to be usual in those days of obstructed canal cruising; all the children were sleeping in the boatmen's cabin. A month later, in company with Phil Hutchings' motor boat, we climbed the Stourbridge canal up to Netherton Tunnel fighting leaking locks and on to Oldbury, taking three days. Returning on Phil's motor bike took quarter of an hour. We were the last boats to pass up the canal which continued to collapse until a massive campaign by the IWA - despite British Waterways opposition - reopened the flight to Dudley and Netherton Tunnels, which now receive thousands of visitors. Stourbridge is now worth a visit to see the restored historical buildings. | 
