 the inland waterways association (iwa) was formed in 1946 as a registered charity in the united kingdom to campaign for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and sensitive development of british canals and river navigations. notable founding members included l. t. c. rolt and robert aickman. ==history== ===early years=== the association was sparked off by a letter sent by robert aickman to tom rolt following the publication of rolt's highly successful book, narrow boat in 1944 describing the declining and largely unknown world of the british canals. the inaugural meeting took place on 15th feb 1946 in london, with robert aickman as chairman, charles hadfield, vice-chairman, tom rolt honorary secretary and frank eyre as treasurer. a pamphlet called "the future of the waterways" was produced by rolt and the first action took place in 1947 when the rolts aboard cressy challenged the great western railway who owned the stratford-upon-avon canal and had replaced the lifford drawbridge at kings norton junction by a "temporary" fixed bridge which prevented navigation. after a question in parliament by lord methuen, the bridge was raised to allow cressy to pass.  an inland waterways exhibition was organised at heal's mansard gallery in london which was so successful that it was taken on a one month's tour of provincial art galleries. by now the iwa had attracted a galaxy of talent, including as president, the writer and parliamentarian sir a.p. herbert, and as vice-president the naturalist peter scott. scott's wife elizabeth jane howard was part-time secretary, working in the aickman's flat in gower street. the council included [[georg
1946_establishments_in_the_United_Kingdom Canals_in_England Clubs_and_societies_in_the_United_Kingdom Organizations_established_in_1946 Transport_associations Transport_charities_based_in_the_United_Kingdom Waterways_campaigners_of_the_United_Kingdom Waterways_organisations_in_the_United_Kingdom