Waterways World 38 years ago

The first issue of Waterways World was dated Spring 1972 and cost 20p. The first photograph of a narrowboat is on page 9; the "free canal holiday" was to be taken aboard a cruiser; the phrase "narrow boat" didn't appear until page 19 of a 48-page magazine. How times have changed!

Can you identify the front cover photo location? Answer at the bottom.


Another illustration of how we've moved on is the article headed "Womans World" (sic). The editorial earlier in the magazine says "Woman's World gives the female slant [...] starting with a look at women at working parties."


The article starts:

"There were no skirts to be seen at

Ashton on the cold, grey morning

of March 25th, but that doesn't

mean that the women of the canal

fraternity are shrinking violets when

it comes to getting dirty.  They were

there of course, but beneath the

mud it was often difficult to tell the

men from the girls.  Indeed this is

one place where Women's Lib.

comes into its own, and jobs are

allocated regardless of sex - every

woman playing an important role

in this, the biggest ever voluntary

working party to be held on our

inland waterways."

Nowhere does it explain what "Ashtac" stands for. Ashton Camp?* And isn't the font used for the title similar to that used by rock bands such as Yes in the Seventies?

Four issues later (December 1972) "Woman's World" had vanished.

The description of the front cover photo, taken by Harry Arnold, reads: "Looking up (sic) the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal after last year's National Rally of Boats".

*(edit) Ashtac could stand for Ashton Attack, according to Jim of Starcross. Thanks Jim.