Peter Daines

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Summary

Based on an interview recorded on 15 September 2016. It reflects the interviewee’s life and memories at that time.

In this remarkable interview, Peter Daines reflects on a lifetime—over 70 years—of canoeing on the River Wye. From his first adventures as a ten-year-old with a cousin’s homemade canoe in Tupsley, Peter’s love for the river has endured. He recalls the early days of canvas canoes patched with Bostik, days when you’d be lucky to see another paddler all day.

Peter’s knowledge of the Wye is encyclopaedic. He explains its geography, history, and infrastructure, including the bridges and the historical removal of weirs to create the Wye Navigation in the 17th century. Over the decades, he’s seen everything from folding canoes to fibreglass innovations, and paddled with scouts, students, and even international groups like Norwegian and Dutch Sea Scouts.

In the 1960s, Peter began leading week-long river expeditions with school groups, blending canoeing with camping and hill walking. He offered the full experience—tents, meals, instruction—and created unforgettable memories for generations of children. In later years, he and his family ran a canoe hire business from their riverside home, embracing a lighter-touch approach but always grounded in safety and respect for the river.

Peter’s stories are rich with humour and humanity: rescuing stranded animals, retrieving stolen rucksacks, and waking to find gifts of eggs left by grateful landowners. His reflections also touch on challenges such as river access, tensions with anglers, and the increasing regulation of canoe hire.

Through it all, Peter’s passion for the river remains undimmed. His hope for the Wye? More access points, greater understanding between users, and the continued freedom to explore its waters. As he says, “It’s not the river that’s dangerous, it’s how you use it.”