Alan Williams, who died, aged 75, on the 31st of October, 2024, was a kind, hard working, soft spoken man with a dry sense of humour. He will be very much missed by all his family, his friends and fellow volunteers.

He began volunteering with the Swansea Canal Society in 2011 at a Canal and River Trust event entitled ‘The Big Clean Up’. It was a two day affair designed to litter-pick the whole length of the canal in water. It was a noble aim but there was still much untouched as we all packed away our tools on the second day. Alan suggested that ‘little and often’ was the answer and that a weekly get together of Canal Society volunteers was the ideal solution. Thus began the Tuesday Work Party we all cherish. ‘From tiny acorns mighty oaks may grow’.

Alan was a great lover of nature. The canal side is adorned with bird and bat boxes, the vast majority of which were built in the ‘cottage industry’ of his back garden. He and his beloved wife Janet also provided shrubs, bulbs, and saplings for the growing number of wild flower and ornamental gardens along the canal. Indeed, only a week before his sad passing he turned up at my door with a very large bag jam-packed with tête-à-tête daffodil bulbs. Next spring we will see his spirit in their flowering.

He and Janet have given so much to the Swansea Canal Society. Alan meticulously organised all the Christmas and Waterways Recovery Group celebratory meals for many years and Janet continues to raise money for the Society with her craft needlework and cake baking.

Thank you Alan, thank you Janet.