Steve Haywood

Current affairs TV producer, journalist and author, his monthly column in Canal Boat magazine is outspoken but honestly said. He brings to light a lot that those interested in canals should know.

My apologies to Steve for the photo which sees him after hard work on a hot day (see below).

We met on the Walsall Canal just North of Walsall town centre on 2 June 2009. He had taken part in the BCN Explorer Cruise aimed at getting boaters to visit the less used stretches of the navigation, terminating in Walsall.

He was travelling north up the 8 Walsall Locks the day after the event finished. Unfortunately, so many boats had used this are of canal on previous days that water had run very low, causing his famous boat Justice (pictured regularly in his column) to ground. In fact, so low was the water that Steve had to go to higher locks and open the paddles to fill the lower ones. He managed to do all this and free himself from the entrance to Lock 6, single handed. He had some help from a passer-by and myself in opening and closing the gates, but that’s all. Undaunted, Steve took the whole thing in his stride like a master boatman and knew what to and how to do it – pretty cool and impressive!

The picture above is of Justice grounded – Steve had already left the boat and secured it awaiting the increase in water level.

Steve was very friendly and kept a commentary going of how he was going to get himself and his boat up the locks.