ENTHUSIASTS have formed a new society they hope will help to safeguard and foster the traditions of the rivers Severn and Wye.
The Severn and Wye Heritage Society was founded at a meeting held at the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester last week.
A steering group was also elected to study a number of options for constructing a trow - the workhorses of the two rivers over several centuries.
A possibility could be a trow based on the famous Wye boat, the Good Hope, which featured on the cover of Severn Traders, the book written by Colin Green, of Caerleon, and published by Neil Parkhouse of the Archive Shop, Lydney.
But there are a number of other ideas which will be discussed at another meeting to be held early next year.
Officers have been elected to serve on a temporary basis, initially for six months.
Stephen Wright, of Framilode will be chairman, and Brian Bailey, of Frampton, treasurer. The role of secretary will be shared by Jim Simpson and Paul Bartlett, of Brockweir.
"It was a well attended meeting and we discussed a number of issues relating to the two rivers. It is early days but it could be very interesting on a number of fronts," said Mr Parkhouse, a member of the trow steering group.
Membership was fixed at £5 a year (£2.50 for retired people) and further details are available from Mr Parkhouse at the Archive Shop.