I was very pleasantly amazed to see this thread, over a few pints I have often regaled people with the tale of Bouncing Billy Barker from my youth. The most frequent response is "eh up, old motor mouth is spinning another load of old waffle". Although I never saw the canal jump performed myself, my Dad did and I think won a few quid on the successful completion of Bouncing Billy's endeavours, if I'm not mistaken he once jumped the Bridgewater canal near Barton Bridge, possibly during my early years in the late fifties.