In 1948, John Knill purchased the steel-working boat Columba and her butty Uranus to start a carrying business on the canals of England. Despite many owner/operators leaving, Knill accepted work whenever available and made several epic runs carrying salt from Middlewich to Newbury or Reading. In the 1950s, more boats were acquired, and the carrying business grew until they were eventually sold off several years later. Knill’s trials and tribulations during these years are vividly recounted, along with his involvement with the infant Inland Waterways Association.

Sir John Knill had wanted to share his fascinating story for nearly fifty years and self-published the book in 1998. This second edition was published over 70 years after Knill began his canal-carrying business.