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In 1960 a protest cruise was held at Dudley Tunnel to counter proposals for its closure.
On this subject Max Sinclair writes:-
"In 1960 one of the Midland Branch members found out that British Rail were going to infill the northern portal of the tunnel with an embankment to replace a faulty bridge. They claimed the tunnel was unusable. One foggy Sunday a fleet of boats gathered at the Park Head portal with an old wooden Joey packed with members and Peter Froude and Robert Aickman on Saturn . With cries of "Abandon hope all ye who enter here" they set off to spend much of the day in the tunnel. The local press were present and gave good coverage which led to the awareness of this wonderful complex and the formation of the Tunnel Trust."
Max Sinclair's photograph shows Aickman standing on the roof of Saturn steered by Peter Froude as it heads into Parkhead Lock.
The Dudley Canal Trust was founded in 1964.
In 1970 a working party was in action to clear rubbish from Parkhead locks on the Dudley Canal. This was also the year that these voluteers became the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG).
At Easter 1973 on the Dudley Canal 320 boats and nearly 5,000 people gathered to mark the reopening of Dudley Tunnel.
In 1978 IWA National Rally was intended to be held at Windmill End on the Dudley Canal but at short notice was switched to Titford Pools on another part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations because of the Netherton Tunnel needed urgent repair works.
in 1990 a group of inland waterway enthusiasts formed the Lapal Canal Trust.
IWA National Festival was held at Windmill End on the Dudley Canal in 1991. 768 boats arrived and the police estimated that 385,000 people visited.
In 1996 IWA National Festival was held at Windmill End on the Dudley Canal.
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