Our President and Vice President
Eric Wood, President
Eric founded the Trust in 1988 and played a crucial role in shaping its mission, championing the restoration of canal links across the West Midlands. After retiring from teaching in 1985, he dedicated himself to reconnecting the Birmingham Canal Navigations, Coventry Canal, and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. He served as the Trust’s first chairman until 2001 and continues as our active and much-loved president.
Sir David Suchet CBE, Vice President
Sir David Suchet CBE is an English actor known for his extensive work on stage and in television, including his iconic portrayal of Hercule Poirot. A passionate narrowboater, he has supported LHCRT since 2000 and served as the figurehead for one of our most challenging achievements – the construction of the M6 Toll bridge where it cuts the lines of both canals. As our Vice President, he continues to champion canal restoration and amplify the Trust’s profile far and wide.
Our Patrons
Chris Coburn MBE
Chris spent his working life developing products to enable inland boating to be environmentally sound, spearheading the introduction of international standards (ISO 8099 small craft toilet waste retention systems). He retired as owner of LeeSan Marine Sanitation in 2014. He has been involved in projects associated with the restoration and development of the canal network for many years.
Robbie Cumming
Robbie is a world-renowned narrowboater, presenter, iPhone filmmaker, song writer and guitarist. He is the star of Canal Boat Diaries, a much-loved series filmed aboard his 42ft canal boat The Naughty Lass. The series began on BBC Four and now airs on the U channel, following his solo journeys across the inland waterways. With a down-to-earth style and creative flair, Robbie shares the challenges and joys of life afloat, through his everyday adventures.
Our Ambassadors
Steve Court
The man behind Court above the Cut, a YouTube channel focused on canals, heritage and restoration. A plumber by day, Steve spends much of his spare time supporting canal projects across the country and sharing their stories online. His videos blend aerial footage with on-the-ground rambles, rich in local history, nature and engineering. Steve is also an Ambassador for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, using his platform to celebrate the beauty and legacy of Britain’s waterways.
Nigel Hallam
Nigel, known as Narrowboat Nige, runs a popular YouTube channel sharing life afloat and canal restoration updates. Based on his boat in the Barton area, he brings both lived experience and technical insight from his career as an assurance and safety advisor in railway civil engineering. His videos regularly highlight LHCRT’s work, and his long-standing support helps connect canal heritage with a wider audience—locally and beyond.
Carl Knibb
An internationally recognised artist who has won many art competitions, including first prize in ‘Capture the Cathedral’ in 2017. Carl has appeared on ITV’s Love Your Weekend, where he taught Alan Titchmarsh to paint a landscape. Carl has written several articles for The Artist magazine, and his work regularly features in international publications such as South African Artist and the French Practique des Arts. Carl Knibb Art is based in Carl’s studio in Quonians Lane, Lichfield.
Roy McFarlane
A poet, playwright and and former youth and community worker, Roy grew up in Birmingham and spent most of his life in the Black Country, surrounded by canals. He has been Birmingham Poet Laureate, Starbucks Poet, Birmingham & Midlands Institute Poet in Residence, and Canal Laureate. In that role, he explored how people connect with their local canals, and how national and global histories are reflected in the development of canals, making them not just waterways but living histories.
Joss Musgrove Knibb
Joss is an author, poet and historian. She is former editor of Citylife in Lichfield and Citylife in Rugeley magazines. Her books include: First Lines—a compendium of First World War letters from the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, and Lichfield in 50 Buildings, a guide to the city’s history and architecture. She’s a member of the Lichfield Garrick Theatre’s Development Group and hosts the Garrick’s Top Hat Open Word Spoken Mic events. She also runs the Word Perfect Creative Writing Group.