He describes himself as a "wet scientist" having worked in water chemistry and ecology since leaving university. It was just this sort of analytical mind, coupled with a passion for industrial history and a wealth of boating experience, that made John Pomfret the go-to man to compile a directory listing not just all the inland waterways of mainland Britain, but their navigation authorities and distances to boot. The directory, which is available on the Inland Waterways Association's website, is the culmination of years of exhaustive work. Its latest iteration identifies over 7,000 miles of inland waterway, of which over 5,000 miles are currently navigable. Many not linked to the main network support large numbers of inland recreational (and in some areas residential) craft, and include waterways used for freight carriage.
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