This plaque was unveiled by the national chairman of the Inland Waterways Association, Audrey Smith, in 1996 - the Association's Golden Jubilee Year - to record its lengthy and successful campaign for the increased use of and improvement to Manchester's waterways. It commemorates all the annual boat rallies in Castlefield, the National Boat Rally held in 1988, the International Waterways Festival held in 1993 and the jubilee "Waterways for All" event held in 1996.