President: The Right Honourable the Earl of Powis
Vice Presidents: Tony Hirst OBE, Stuart Sim OBE, Mrs Pat Wilson
Council of Management:
The Society is a registered charity and limited company, run by a council of management. The council and society as a whole is run entirely by volunteers. The trustees forming the council are:
David Carter (Acting Chair and Restoration Project Manager)
David started canal restoration on the Peak Forest Canal in the sixties. He has worked with the Society on the Montgomery Canal restoration for 24 years, the last nine of which as project manager. He is a retired Chartered Engineer having previously worked in the construction industry and academia.
Tom Fulda (Crickheath South)
Tom joined Council in 2021 and is currently coordinating pre-construction activities for the Society’s next restoration phase on the Montgomery Canal at Crickheath South. He has a background in manufacturing operations, logistics and business consulting. He lives on the Montgomery Canal in Pant.
Pat Tolster (Health & Safety)
Before retirement, Pat was a Health, Safety and Environmental manager for a large multinational engineering company. He joined the Society in 2014 as a trustee with the responsibility for health, safety and environmental advice, guidance and documentation. He lives with his wife near Ironbridge and has travelled extensively on the canal network for over 20 years.
Ian Hendley (Treasurer and Secretary)
Ian joined the Society as an active boater in 2002 and became a trustee in 2004. He has been involved with most aspects of Society activity from restoration and enhancement work parties to lockwinds and boat rallies. He has served as the membership secretary and remains our treasurer.
Clive Robinson (Fundraising)
Clive retired from his position as MD of a diversified farming business in 2015 and has been a volunteer and trustee for SUCS from 2016. He has been a narrowboater for thirty years and is a keen gardener and DIYer. He leads fundraising and is now developing an interest in local history.
Fred Barrett (Publicity Officer and Minutes Secretary)
Fred is a retired secondary school teacher and former Brewood Parish Councillor. He has been a regular volunteer with the Society since 2008 and became a trustee in 2012, taking on the role of Publicity Officer. He lives next to the Staffs and Worcester Canal, close to Brewood on the Shropshire Union.
Richard Feeney (Membership Secretary)
Richard lives in London and is retired, having previously had a career in IT. He’s been a restoration volunteer since 2015 and membership secretary since 2019. Having had a long-standing interest in the Montgomery canal from afar, he decided to attend a work party as a one-off and forgot to stop coming.
Peter Richards
Peter joined SUCS after retirement, has been a trustee since 2007 and, with wife Judith, lives on the Montgomery by Prices Bridge. He established the canoe launching pads on the English section, was treasurer for four Maesbury Canal Festivals and organised the first five Montgomery Canal Triathlons, based on an idea from Judith.
Chris Hesketh
Chris joined SUCS in 2012, started volunteering on the Montgomery restoration in 2015 and became a trustee in 2021. He is particularly involved with surveying of the restoration works and supports planning for the next phase. He and his wife particularly enjoy walking the canal towpaths and cycling on the quiet lanes of Shropshire.
Steve Clews
Steve Clews is a Chartered Marine Engineer who finished his career working in Oil and Gas industry Engineering Standards. He has experience of working for a volunteer-led charity through involvement in the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway and is a director of four companies.
Steve Palmer
Steve moved to the West Midlands from Pembrokeshire in 2007 and joined the Society in 2015. He has been an avid volunteer ever since, with a particular interest as a volunteer in leading the team on lining and blocking. He has recently become a trustee and now lives in Wrexham.
Rich Hamp (Society Archivist)
Society Archivist.
