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The main theme of the event, decided long before it was thought that the Save our Waterways campaign woulod still need to be running in May was Canals combating congestion, and the event's main focus was on freight on the waterways, especially in London.

This did not prevent there being a significant SOW presence at the event, with an article by Mike Stevens in the programme brochure and plenty of publicity for SOW over the PA system. Quite a number of campaign banners were in evidence on individual boats and elsewhere around the site.

The campaign against the cuts was the main focus of IWA Chairman John Fletcher's speech at the opening ceremony, and this theme was followed-up by Murad Qureshi (Chair of the Mayor of London's Waterways Commission), who opened the event.

Report & photos by Mike Stevens