Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Edward (Eddie) G Thomas MSc (Dev Mgt) BSc(Eng) CEng FICE

Born Feb 1940.

Civil Engineer, formerly with Consultants, Overseas Governments and UN on Water Resources Development Management and Feasibility & Design of Barrages, Canals & Water Supplies, and presently a volunteer Director & Chairman of Overseas Engineering Charity & Company on Small Dams, Irrigation and Groundwater Projects in Africa and South Asia.

Engineering Director of Wilts and Berks Canal Trust since February 2006 and Member of EngCom for two years before this. I have especially tried to strengthen the membership of EngCom with the aim of professionally supporting the Trust's overall planning and engineering work. In this regard EngCom continues to work closely with the Trust's former Chief Executive and Regional & Restoration Directors, on the planning and design of the smaller engineering projects (done in-house or with individual consultants) and on the specification and supervision of the larger studies and projects (undertaken by outside Consultants and Contractors).

General interest in the engineering of navigation canals, focussed particularly on the Wilts & Berks Canal. Especially interested in jointly working with the eastern end of the Thames Severn Canal with a view to seeing towpath access and navigation from Lechlade, through central Swindon to Wootton Bassett and beyond, within my lifetime.

Intention (if re-elected) would be to continue to operate closely with the newly co-opted Co-Engineering Director, until either February 2010 or the next AGM, before handing over to the Co-EngDir (if he agrees) or to a newly recruited Co-EngDir. I would like to focus thereafter, as an ordinary EngCom Member, on the North Wilts Canal and its link with the T&SC, and also the W&B Canal in the immediate vicinity of Swindon.