In the summer of 2008 we visited Crofton Pumping Station along the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire. My cousin Roger Jackson (an engineer) is one of the volunteers who look after the wonderful beam engines that were built and installed two centuries ago to pump water for the Kennet and Avon Canal.

And they are still needed today, as this newsclip (with my cousin Roger speaking to camera) illustrated in July 2009. In this other BBC newsclip, the background is provided – an electric pump had failed, leaving parts of the canal low on water, and stopping all canal traffic.

Roger and his wife Ann sponsored a special steam day in 2008 that Steph and I visited. A great day out. Just click on the image below to watch a video that I made.