THE December issue of the monthly magazine The Fifty Eight, named after the 58 locks from Tardebigge to the river Severn at Worcester, was a commemorative one to celebrate the society's 35th anniversary.

Longstanding members sent in stories and memories of "the old days" when most boaters owned plastic cruisers with outboard engines.

Nowadays many members have narrowboats specially built for leisure cruising, although a large number are walkers, cyclists, photographers or historians.

Anyone interested in canals and heritage can attend meetings, held on the first Tuesday of each month at The Boat and Railway, Stoke Works, at 8pm.

The next meeting will be an illustrated talk by member Colin Scrivener.

The society's charity narrow boat Cecilia is undergoing some maintenance during the winter and will be ready to give people with special needs holidays and day trips by the spring.

For more details, visit www.wbcs.org.uk or contact David Wheeler on 833359.