WRG North West

It isn't (quite) true that WRG North West is a bunch of egghead geriatrics, but this must be one of the few groups where a PhD in Astrophysics is as socially useful as a pump or a shovel! Many of the members of WRG NW started in canal restoration a number of years ago when canals were derelict, mud was mud and green woolly bobble hats were green woolly bobble hats. NW has been everywhere - seen it, done it, got the experience!

"... so laid back they've probably fallen over!" (Malcolm Asquith)

WRG NW is based in Manchester and, as well as organising (if you can call it organising!) working weekends (if you can call what they do work!), they also raise lots of money to fund their work by means of 'Paperchases' - waste paper collections. This might well be the most fun you can have in Crumpsall on a wet Saturday in February, but the fish and chips are free to those who turn up to work.

The north-west is also home to most of WRG's plant and equipment and the legendary John Palmer (aka 'Bro') presides over 'container days' (nothing to do with basket cases) where our plant is maintained (given another coat of red paint). Only serious tea drinkers need apply.

For the terminally confused, NW also hold the famous Ad Hocs (committee meetings at which nothing is ever decided and the agenda hasn't changed since 1970 - nor have the minutes). Dates of these arcane events are not published, so the only way you can get to experience one in the flesh (yuk!) is to join NW and get on their mailing list.

But seriously, they're a fine bunch of people and it is worth joining them because they're clever enough to work out what effect that will have on their average age.