At this year’s Annual General Meeting held at De Montfort University in Leicester, we introduced the Sustainable Boating Awards, in partnership with Towpath Talk. These awards highlight individuals, organisations, and businesses making a positive impact on sustainable boating. The IWA National Awards 2024 were also presented at the AGM. These awards aim to recognise members and other waterway campaigners who have contributed to the Association’s work and made the inland waterways a better place.
The results from the IWA National Awards 2024 are as follows:
Sustainable Boating Awards:
NON-COMMERCIAL AWARD 2024
Awarded to the individual, charity or community organisation that, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most valuable contribution to sustainable boating during the last twelve months.
Kay & Paul Sumpner, ENB ‘Old Nick’
…for their outstanding work promoting the online exchange of information about electric boating, including organising Electrika – the first inland waterways boat show for electric boats.
COMMERCIAL AWARD 2024
Awarded to the business that, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most valuable contribution to sustainable boating during the last twelve months.
Mothership Marine
…for their innovative electric propulsion systems and sustainable boat fit outs, featuring larger propellers and fitting large PV cell arrays.
The judges were also impressed by their use of recycled materials in their fit outs.
COMMENDATION 2024
Ortomarine
…for their work in developing monitoring technology for electric boating and their willingness to share information with others to allow electric drives to develop faster, including access to the data from their trials on the Severn, and for their support of Electrika.
IWA National Awards
RICHARD BIRD MEDALS
For members of the Association whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period.
• Pete Fleming
A key volunteer with the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG), Pete’s contributions to IWA’s Canalway Cavalcade are invaluable, particularly his dedication to event planning and volunteer leadership. He takes on key planning roles for the event build up and is on-site to lead the workcamp volunteers for the entire weekend. Pete is pivotal in ensuring everything runs smoothly and is invaluable to the team and organisation. Pete was unable to attend as he was at a Waterway Recovery Group Weekend Camp.
• Emma Greenall
A long-standing WRG volunteer, Emma has played strategic roles behind the scenes, ensuring the success of IWA Canalway Cavalcade.
Emma has confidently stepped into several strategic roles for Canalway Cavalcade, both behind the scenes and on the ground during the weekend event. She has been key to ensuring Cavalcade runs successfully and is a great asset to the team and organisation. Emma was unable to attend so alternative arrangements will be made to present the award.
• Peter Hill
Recognised for his 18 years of outstanding service as editor of Aegre – the East Midlands news magazine, championing incorporation of IWA corporate image and brand identity to enhance the Association’s profile.
• Bernard Morton
Acknowledged for his inspirational leadership of the Northampton Branch, bringing out the best in his team. None of Northampton Branch’s achievements would have been possible without his exemplary leadership skills, along with his support and encouragement of the Committee.
CHRISTOPHER POWER PRIZE
For a person, society or trust who has made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an inland waterway.
There is a cash prize associated with this award, which is given to the waterway restoration group associated with the winner, where the winner is a named individual. The aims and objectives of the group must be consistent with IWA’s aims and objectives. The trophy, a carved wooden otter, was presented to the Association by Volvo Penta.
Ali Bottomley (Womble)
Ali’s dedication to the WRG Training Weekend has been extraordinary, having an amazing impact on both WRG and other canal restoration volunteers and societies.
BRANCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
For the IWA Branch which, in the opinion of a panel consisting of the National Chair, Deputy National Chairs and Chief Executive, has made the greatest progress and achievement in promoting the Association’s aims and objectives during the past year. All Branches are considered, without need for nomination. The award consists of a silver salver, donated to IWA by former National Chair David Stevenson for the purpose in 1998.
Northampton Branch
Celebrated for their exceptional work on the Northampton Arm, transforming it into a thriving space for boaters and walkers, while supporting local schools, artists, and community groups. With its seventeen locks, the Arm is one of the longest adopted stretches of Canal & River Trust managed waterways. Working closely with local partners, schools, artists and corporates, the Branch has ensured the waterway has benefitted from painted and ceramic murals, a mosaic trail, new benches, towpath resurfacing, and the installation and maintenance of defibrillators.
CYRIL STYRING TROPHY
This is the Association’s premier award. For an IWA member who has, in the opinion of trustees, made an outstanding contribution in furthering the Association’s campaign.
Ray Alexander
Ray’s decades of service have transformed waterways across the Southwest and nationwide. His tireless commitment, knowledge, and leadership have earned him the Association’s highest honour. Ray demonstrates that in fighting for the waterways there must be a blend of hard work, patience, knowledge, loyalty, being with the right people at the right time, and producing technical and promotional documentation to a high standard.
The waterways have benefitted enormously from Ray’s long involvement. He has been a consistently influential and reliable champion and a highly respected representative of the Association.
IWA is incredibly proud to recognise these champions for their vital contributions to our waterways.
