Without fanfare or celebration a major anniversary has quietly been reached in Marple this Millennium year. A milestone that would have most towns hanging out the flags and bunting has barely been acknowledged in the local community. The achievement is all the more significant because it would not have happened without strong public support many years ago, so it is ironic that it appears to be passing almost unnoticed now.
"Few things so beautiful in their origins as this Canal, which it be known, with its locks and its aqueducts, the grandest of which last is the stupendous erection near Stockport which by the bye filled my mind when a boy with wonder, constitutes the grand work of England, and yields to nothing in the world of the kind, with the exception of the Great Canal of China". From "Wild Wales" by George Borrow.
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On Saturday 15 May 1999 the Silver Anniversary of the re-opening of Marple Locks was celebrated. The event was a double celebration as it is also the bi-centenary of keying in the arches on the Grand Marple Aqueduct. The event was organised by British Waterways, who brought their boats Lindsay and Keppel to Posset Bridge for the day and free boat rides were available. In addition to the boats there was a marquee in Memorial Park with historical displays and stalls manned by canal interest groups. David Brindley was exhibiting his photographs in the marquee and selling the acclaimed volume "There's Froghall up the Caldon", written by himself and local author Jack Turnbull.
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Over the Easter weekend of April 9th -12th 2004 there was a gathering of boats above Marple Top Lock to celebrate 30 years of the restoration of the Marple Locks and 30 years of the Cheshire Ring.The wooden narrow boat "Maria" was on hand after being horse-drawn from its Ashton base to celebrate being 150 year old! In readiness for this anniversary, Maria was restored to its original condition, with the removal of the roof that was added when the boat was converted for carrying passengers. Maria was built at Jinks' yard, next to Marple Top Lock in 1854.
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On the afternoon of 14th April 2003 a commemorative information plaque was unveiled to celebrate the life of the late Dr Cyril Boucher, a former resident of Marple and a leading force behind the restoration of Marple locks. Dr Boucher was also a staunch supporter of the restoration of the national canal system and regular lecturer for the Marple branch of the Workers Educational Association.
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