Marsh Charitable Trust – Marsh Lead Volunteer Award with the Canal & River Trust

Marsh Lead Volunteer Award with the Canal & River Trust

This Award is run in partnership with the Canal and River Trust.

The Award recognises 6 volunteers throughout the UK who have made a valuable contribution to the Canal and River Trust and is an opportunity to thank outstanding volunteers. These volunteers contribute their time and skills which are a huge asset to the organisation.

Nominations for the Award are submitted to the Canal and River Trust and are judged by a panel consisting of Canal and River Trust and MCT representatives.

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Keith Brazewell, Phil Garner, Mark Neale, Deborah Evans, Luke Clarke, Paul Motte, and Pete Smith 2026

Keith Brazewell – East Midlands

Keith has volunteered for over a decade at Sawley Lock, Nottingham, contributing thousands of hours in a highly demanding operational environment. He leads and supports a large team of volunteer lock keepers, ensuring safe and effective daily operation of the lock. Keith is relied upon for technical tasks, problem-solving, and covering gaps to maintain continuity of service. His knowledge, reliability, and calm leadership have made him a vital point of contact for both volunteers and staff.

Phil Garner – West Midlands

Phil makes a significant contribution to volunteering in the Hatton and Warwick area through both leadership and practical support. He leads the operational support team, managing rotas, organising training, and supporting taskforce delivery alongside extensive administrative work. Phil regularly volunteers up to four days a week and has contributed well over 12,000 hours in total. His reliability, attention to detail, and willingness to take on complex responsibilities are central to the smooth running of local volunteer activity.

Mark Neale – London and South East

Mark leads regular volunteer activities at Brent Reservoir, Greater London, coordinating a wide range of practical conservation and maintenance tasks. He has played a significant role in improving habitats, access, and the overall condition of the site through consistent, well-organised sessions. Mark also supports multiple task managers across London, contributing his time and skills wherever needed. His calm, dependable leadership creates a positive experience for volunteers and ensures high standards are maintained.

Deborah Evans – North West

Deborah plays a vital role in supporting volunteers across the North West, combining hands-on operational work with extensive people support. She helps ensure volunteers are confident and ready to contribute by guiding them through training, systems, and key processes, often providing one-to-one support. Alongside this, she undertakes significant physical work on the waterways, including extensive lock maintenance across the network. Deborah’s consistency, reliability, and willingness to step in wherever needed make her an essential and trusted presence.

Luke Clarke – Yorkshire and North East

Luke is a committed Lead Volunteer who provides consistent leadership and practical support across his local waterways in Leeds. He plays a key role in coordinating volunteer activity, offering guidance, and ensuring tasks are delivered safely and effectively. Luke supports other volunteers through mentoring and problem-solving, helping build confidence and capability within the team. His dependable presence and hands-on approach contribute significantly to the smooth running of volunteer operations.

Paul Motte – Wales and South West

Paul has been volunteering for 5 years and plays a key role in the smooth day-to-day running of the volunteer lock keeper operation. He supports volunteers with structure, guidance, and hands-on leadership, helping ensure activities are well organised and effective. Paul has also taken on a wide range of additional roles, contributing over 3,200 volunteer hours across operations, education, and engagement. His reliability, experience, and willingness to step into complex roles make him a central figure within the local team.

Pete Smith – National Teams

Pete is Lead Volunteer for Leicester South and a key contributor to the National Volunteering team. He led the rollout and development of Assemble, managing the Document Hub and supporting champions across the Trust. Alongside leading over 40 volunteers locally, he has transformed volunteer lock keeper training and assessment, combining deep operational knowledge with strong IT expertise to benefit volunteers and staff nationally.

Previous Winners

Angela Varley, Malcolm Gray, Florence Sefton, Nick Henry, Steve Shersby, Martin Gillate, and Mike Groves

EAST MIDLANDS

Angela Varley

Angela has been working with the South Leicester team since 2020. Her first volunteering role was focused on updating Trust signage. She then became a lock keeper and the lead volunteer running a weekly Taskforce. Led by Angela, the team has painted all 21 locks on the Leicester line and carries out numerous improvements and enhancements to the canal corridor. Angela supports Trust staff to run events, manages schedules in Assemble and provides outstanding support to the team. She vastly important, well respected and liked within her team of volunteers.

WEST MIDLANDS

Malcolm Gray

Malcolm has had a lifelong passion for canals and has been involved with them since the 70’s supporting the Trent & Mersey Canal Society and The Inland Waterways Association. He has volunteered for the Trust for close to 12 years and in that time has provided Lead Volunteer support to numerous Trust colleagues. His knowledge and leadership skills have been vital in the proactive management of water, support for his fellow volunteers and his safety and organisational skills have been boundless. He supports community engagement regularly leading talks about the canal network.

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Florence Sefton

Florence has played an integral part in the team that deliverd and launched the London STEM programme over the last year. She helped in the delivery of the Trust’s first ever education session on site at Tottenham and Riverside Lock. Following on form this she has helped to develop GIS fieldwork sessions in corporation with trust colleagues that have been delivered inside the Olympic Park. She has also trained as a paddle instructor to assist in delivery of ‘STEM on the water’ sessions and is always willing to support education sessions for the Trust.

NORTH WEST

Nick Henry

Nick has been a volunteer for over four years, demonstrating exceptional skills, leadership, and dedication. He’s gained numerous qualifications and consistently supports the operations team, easing their workload. His expertise spans practical tasks like hedge laying and habitat management, and he leads groups with charisma and care. Nick’s commitment is evident in his 450+ hours this year alone, often working in demanding conditions. Nick is always willing to help and provides the team with his leadership support whenever needed.

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST

Steve Shersby

Steve has been a dedicated volunteer for three years, leading training and assessments for Volunteer Lock Keepers across South Yorkshire. He contributes over 500 hours annually, supporting operations at Mexborough Top and maintaining the lock area with care. As a certified CAATs assessor, he ensures high standards and smooth coordination of commercial craft movements. Steve’s leadership, reliability, and technical expertise make him a vital part of the team. Respected and well-liked, his commitment and attention to detail are truly invaluable to the Trust.

WALES AND SOUTH WEST

Martin Gillate

Martin has been a volunteer with the Trust since 2013, leading and inspiring volunteers across Kennet & Avon East. As a Lead Volunteer, he manages communications, coordinates urgent tasks, and supports countless Trust events and campaigns. His hands-on work includes lock keeping, boat handling, and canal maintenance, earning him a reputation for reliability and skill. Martin’s dedication, cheerful nature, and deep involvement in multiple teams make him a pillar of the volunteer community. His impact is profound and his nomination for a Marsh Award richly deserved.

NATIONAL TEAMS

Mike Groves

Mike has been a volunteer with the Trust for over 12 years in countless roles providing support to a multitude of different teams. This nomination for Lead Volunteer of the Year is focused on his support for the Direct Services Team and the recruitment and development of new volunteers within the team. Providing invaluable support to the Volunteer Leader Mike has enabled rapid and effective recruitment into the team over a very short period of time.

Barbara Sharples, Paul Richardson, Tina Jones, Sally Hodnett and John Thomlinson

NORTH WEST

Barbara Sharples

Barbara has been a Lead Volunteer for many years and was a founder of the Hyndburn Towpath Taskforce. She has created an amazing team of volunteers who perform numerous tasks in their local area. She leads the team on both a personal and professional level and her strength, knowledge and can-do attitude is second to none. Barbara has moved with the times and mastered the use of new systems and taught others to use them as well. She is a great Ambassador for the Trust, creating important local relationships and securing funding for the Trust’s activities.

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST

Paul Richardson

Paul has recently taken up the role of Lead Volunteer on the South Yorkshire Navigation and has been supporting the Trust for 4 years. He is also a Lock Keeper at Thorne Lock, assisting passing boats, cutting the grass, completing general Lock maintenance and caring for the new garden. Paul is dependable and is always ready and willing to help, especially in times when the canal is at risk of flooding by assisting with lowering flood defence gates. He consistently supports the Trust with over 1,000 hours a year and is someone who goes above and beyond for the benefit of the Trust and local community.

EAST MIDLANDS

Martin Pearce

Martin brings a wealth of expert skills and knowledge from his professional experience in the engineering and aerospace industry to his role as Lead Volunteer. He has advised on the installation of a new operating system for the River Trent non-tidal locks and uses his technical expertise to anticipate issues and organise corrective works. Martin’s vast knowledge, his integrity and tenacity are invaluable to the team. He has been a positive Ambassador for the Trust and for volunteering and nothing is too much trouble for him.

WEST MIDLANDS

Tina Jones

Tina has made a massive difference in her role as Lead Volunteer. She produces a monthly newsletter which is informative and provides recognition and appreciation to her team. She has built a team that show tremendous team spirit, with social meet ups and a variety of learning events. Tina is a brilliant advocate for volunteers and gives everyone in her team support and advice. She is a proactive and driven member of the team and has implemented processes for new starters to make sure they are given a comprehensive and supportive induction and that they feel confident in their new role.

WALES AND SOUTH WEST

Sally Hodnett

Sally has volunteered for the Trust for over 10 years and contributed over 31,000 hours through her volunteering. She brings her skills and experience as a qualified teacher and extensive local knowledge about the canal to her role. Not only does she lead school and group visits, but she has also helped to develop curriculum-relevant activities and sessions. Sally’s commitment is clear to see, and she has been recognised through feedback from teachers about the excellent quality and relevance of her sessions. Her contribution is outstanding and she has made and continues to make a huge difference to her team.

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

John Thomlinson

John has been volunteering for over 11 years and helped the team successfully run many events that would not have been possible without his support. He takes the time to understand each task he is faced with thoroughly and briefs his fellow volunteers on how to approach it safety and efficiently. John consistently goes above and beyond to fit in volunteering around his full-time job and commitments as a carer. His positive outlook has been amplified and created a ripple effect through the team, ensuring every volunteer has a rewarding and enjoyable experience.