One of my most embarrassing moments happened shortly after I joined Avon in New York, during my first company dinner.

Adjacent to the locks is the point at which the former Wilts and Berks Canal joined the Kennet and Avon.

Hays joined Avon in 1945 as an engineer in the Suffern, NY manufacturing plant.

He joined Avon in 1998 as Vice Chairman and COO and eventually served as CEO of Avon from 1998-1999.

He was with Dennison manufacturing in Manhattan before joining Avon, where he was a vice president when he retired in 1971.

"There's a broad threat from the growing realization by other multinationals that companies are being successful there," said Mr. Evans, a Canadian who joined Avon in Montreal in 1966.

A short stretch of the canal where it joins the Kennet and Avon at the Dundas Aqueduct was restored during the 1980s, and is used for moorings.

Mr. D'Amico joined Avon when he got tired of having to wear a guest name tag at company events with his wife, Katrina, who is also a sales representative.

She joined Avon in 1994 as head of product marketing, and has served as CEO since 1999.

In 1978 Spence joined Avon and Somerset Police and was posted to South Bristol.