Barge Operator John Branford. 21st September 2020

Fifth-generation barge operator John Branford, 75, along with his son Jonathan, 32, are taking their first load of sand up the Aire and Calder Navigation, having won his long-running battle with the Canal and River Trust. This will be the first commercial traffic on the stretch for 19 years with this load heading for Knostrop, Leeds, and according to those in the know John has "saved the barge industry in the North".