AEGRE
August 2005
NO 111
Inland Waterways Association East Midlands Region Committee Chairman WRG
John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, Mansfield. NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208
Vice-Chairman & Treasurer
Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End Goxhill. DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138
Leicestershire Branch Chairman
Carol McDonald, 30 Lutterworth Road, Leicester. LE2 8PF Tel: 0116 283 0834
Lincolnshire Branch Chairman
Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End Goxhill. DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman
Nancy Johnson, 37 Eastmoor, Cotgrave, Nottingham. NG12 3NU Tel: 0115 989 9612.
South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch Chairman
Mavis Paul,116 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield. S10 5AZ Tel: 0114 268 3927
Secretary
Graeme Wade, 9 Swan Drive, Sturton-by-Stow, Lincoln. LN1 2EA Tel: 01427 787727.
Region Planning Officer
Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70, Main Street, Gunthorpe, Nottingham, NG14 7EU. David Johnson,37, Eastmoor, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3NU. Tel: 0115 989 9612. Ian MacDonald, 30 Lutterworth Road, Leicester. LE2 8PF Tel: 0116 283 0834
AEGRE Editor:
David Pickup, 19 Rowanwood Drive, Gonerby Hill Foot, Grantham, Lincs. NG31 8QT Tel: 01476 567744
Collation: Printing:
N&D Branch Members. Terence Balchin, Inkers.
Cover Picture
Newbold Tunnel, Oxford Canal.
Inland Waterways Association, Registered Office, 3, Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth, WD3 1LT. Registered as a Charity No: 212342 Tele: 01923 711114 Fax: 01923 897000 Website: www.waterways.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers.
AEGRE August 2005
NO 111 Contents
Page. 2
From The Editor.
4
Region Chairman's Notes
5 6
Chesterfield Canal River Witham & Navigable drains
8 10 11
IWA National Trailboat Festival Progress on the Grantham Canal Nancy's Nostalgia
13 15 17
British Waterways Report The Canal Saint-Martin, Paris. Around The Branches
17 20 23
Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Leicestershire
25 27 IFC IBC
South Yorkshire & The Dukeries Crossword Puzzle, Just for Fun No.6 Officers Of The Region. Canal Societies in the Region.
OBC
Region Diary
Next Issue: To be published November 2005 Material: To the Editor by end of October 2005 Articles are by the Editor unless stated otherwise.
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From the Editor Only a few months now to the Pickups setting off on their voyage of discovery and so much effort is going into preparation for the epic. Basil has his passport, his Master and Mistress have their ICC Certificates and Constellation II (C2) has lots of toys like radar and GPS plotter. So all being well next summer we will be cruising the waterways of Burgundy sampling the local wares and enjoying the ambience of the Common Agricultural Policy; which leads me to the main point of my piece this edition: money. As I write there seems to be chaos in Europe with a growing feeling in the dark blue of the armed forces that the re-enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar may turn out to be a second run of the real thing. The problem of course is all to do with a Byzantine budget system which seems to have become a ‘let’s all give money to France club’! And lest you think I’m now straying into dangerously political territory, it does have a significant relevance to boaters around Europe. European Union, for the most part has been a boon to boaters, as it has to other travellers/tourists etc and one of the most pleasant boons has been the lower tax levels in Europe, especially on those things that boaters hold dear; booze, fags and fuel. The former matters to some of us more than others and the other two have also risen in price recently but generally speaking the pleasures of life are a bit cheaper over there. Ah, I hear you cry, fuel is more expensive on the Continent than it is in the UK. Yes it is, if you’re talking about the red diesel issue, but not for anything else. So the one thing where it is a bit cheaper over here we are particularly sensitive about! Hence we have the present ‘Save our Sport’ campaign sponsored by many of the boating interests. It is a delicate subject and not an easy one to put over to the British tax payer who can’t quite understand why private boating should be subsidised. The history of the exemption is complex and I’m not sure I understand it but the present situation is that diesel fuel for boating is taxed at roughly half the level of road diesel. This makes, with the present high fuel prices anyhow, a litre of boating diesel cost 40-50p (Only 40p at Farndon Marina – perhaps I can get a reduction in mooring charges for this plug!) whereas road diesel costs about 95p per litre. We get this privilege due to a derogation from EU policy which says all fuel for travel purposes should be taxed at the same rate. This derogation is due to end in 2007 and so we could find we are paying road diesel prices for marine fuel. 2
If you have a 200 gallon fuel capacity as ‘C2’ does this is a horrifying prospect. But the sympathy I get from my non boating colleagues is limited. The perception is that all boaters are old and rich. (I leave it to individual readers to decide which of these categories they are in – perhaps both) They may have a point – a glance through the line up of cars at Farndon doesn’t help in this argument – Jags, Mercs, Beamers, and at least one Ferrari and a Bentley. So how may those of us who haven’t got cars in any of the above categories best make our case. One that springs to mind is that we must attract more young people onto the water – if we don’t then the coasts and the waterways will become the haunts of knackered old boaters like us. And we can’t attract youngsters into a pastime (not a sport!) when they are already saddled with student loans, and massive mortgages, if we then find one of the few aspects which is a little cheaper on the water is suddenly made prohibitively expensive. So all the interested parties must fight their corners and try to encourage government to see the case for, if not keeping the present arrangement, at least only raising the tax to the average level of that on the Continent (@ 60p litre). The Pickups for one, if the tax is raised to punitive levels, may not bother bringing C2 back to the UK. And I’ll bet we’re not the only ones to consider this.
Editor’s note After this edition contributors should send their pieces to my home address as I leave my present employment this August.
Region Chairman’s Notes The Editor raises the possible increase in the duties on diesel oil for use on private pleasure boats in line with taxes in the European Union. The IWA, Royal Yachting Association and the British Marine Federation have been and are campaigning against this with the Government as we believe it will lead to less outlets as well as more expensive diesel being for sale on the waterways. Also those who presently use red diesel for heating on boats will either need to fit two separate tanks or pay much more than the cost for house heating oils; that is if the boating outlets bother to stock and sell both types of oil. 3
For details of the full report look on the IWA Website at www.waterways.org.uk and please write to your Member of Parliament expressing your concern at the increase in duty on diesel oil for private pleasure boats. Also in David’s notes you will see that he is retiring and taking his boat to Europe next year. My thanks to David who has been the Editor for thirteen years, this makes him the longest serving Aegre editor. Despite possible communication difficulties with him working in Surrey we seemed to work fairly well and it kept him out of mischief on at least some of his nights away from home. This means that after the November edition of Aegre we are looking for a new editor. If anyone is interested please talk to me about the job and what it might entail. I am pleased to welcome Carol McDonald as the new chairman of Leicestershire Branch. Carol is the wife of former Chairman, Ian McDonald and has been a committee member for most of the life of Leicester Branch. Carol and Ian won two awards in the kitchen department at last years IWA National Waterways Festival with their new boat Lily Pad and she well known on the Leicestershire waterways. Our best wishes to Carol. Also on the committee front, Graeme Wade has announced his retirement yet again from the East Midlands Region Committee but this time I think he means it. The secretary’s main job is taking the minutes at the four or five meetings we have each year and reminding me who needs electing at the AGM. There is little outside correspondence. Anybody interested please give me a call. I have returned to the Chesterfield Canal this summer, the Turnerwood area is one of the best bits of canal in the country. There were a good number of visiting boats from the Yorkshire waterways on their way south for the summer, but there was still plenty of room and solitude if you wanted. This canal has bad reputation for weed but I keep going steadily and never had to clean the propellor once this year. The response to boaters mooring at Kiveton Park and attending the Trailboat Festival in Chesterfield was very poor and my thanks to the two boats that did make the effort. One of the things I noticed particularly this time was the new (and some of the old) mileposts on the canal and I am grateful to John Lower to reprint the article on Page 5 from Cuckoo Spring 2005. Following this we went to Doncaster and Sheffield in June. It is very impressive how the Strawberry Island Boat Club has come on and how 4
welcome they made us. When we held the Sheffield Rally in 1971 they had only just been formed and were a good supporters. The Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation however has not kept up with the times and maintenance for boaters and fishermen seems to be a thing of the past. At the surroundings of the new big locks the grass had been mowed, but the only BW worker we saw was Dave at Tinsley who does an excellent job looking after the flight and working boats up and down the locks. Although there are 14 locks (including Jordans, Holmes and Ickles) we were through in about 3 hours with very little fuss or rushing about. We have now cruised the Calder & Hebble and part of the Rochdale Canal, but our intention to cruise that way to Preston Brook was curtailed by the breach. By the time you read this I hope we will have crossed the Huddersfield Narrow Canal for the second time and are at Preston Brook. I look forward to seeing you there.
John Baylis
Chesterfield Canal The Chesterfield Canal Trust has embarked on a project to replace the milestones which were once a feature of the canal. Only a handful of the originals still existed, mainly In the Retford area. The original milestones were on the offside of the canal and those remaining are not always visible in the undergrowth, the new stones are behind the towing path. We have had a wonderful response to the Milestone Replacement Project featured in the last edition of Cuckoo! The hope that all missing milestones could be in place on the restored section of canal in Rotherham. and Nottinghamshire by the end of 2005 will be realised thanks to a most generous response from members. The article certainty touched a chord, with sponsorship for all the outstanding stones being received during the first quarter of the year. We also have a replacement milestone, number 12, sponsored for installation at Killamarsh and this will be installed shortly. The Trust's order for milestones was for nine stones, numbers 12, 26, 30, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39 and 45. With the installation by Three Valleys volunteers of milestone 7 on March 8th. and finding sponsors for milestone 9, eastward progress is also moving on apace along the unrestored Derbyshire stretch, in fact the only missing milestones along the entire canal are now numbers 10, 11, 13 and 14. Of these, number only 10 can realistically be replaced at the moment. 5
So if anyone wishes to sponsor this particular milestone, 89 metres northeast of Forge Bridge on the approach to Killamarsh from the west, please let me know, Milestone 11 will be replaced during the Killamarsh restoration through the town and 13 and 14 were possibly never sited, being on the top of the Norwood Tunnel. A decision on whether we should place milestones on the tunnel-top will be made soon. Other news has been the installation of milestone 23 on March 16th. together with its thought provoking plaque. (Why thought provoking? You will need to walk between Manton Turnover Bridge and Osberton Lock to find out.) What also marked the installation out was the use of the canal to convey the stone to its location. Narrowboat "Pebley" owned by founder member Richard Allsopp readily took the strain out of the task of moving the milestone the best part of a mile- the work party was more than grateful for this help. With no turning point close-by, the only way back to the moorings in somewhat windy conditions, was to reverse the boat the same distance. This called for handling of the highest order but with Richard at the helm this was never a problem. We have learnt that there is a wharf at Cadeby Quarry (on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation) so collection of the nine stones on order could be by boat, we are currently trying to locate a suitable craft, is there one owned by any of our readers? To have the ability to deliver stones directly to their locations would be a great advantage.
David Trickett
River Witham and the Navigable Drains. On a bright sunny Thursday afternoon n.b. Scrimmager left Brayford Pool, Lincoln heading for the Witham Navigable Drains at Boston. Travelling along this wide, deep river we met only one other crewed narrow boat on the moorings at Washingborough. Seven miles from Lincoln we arrived at the new pontoon moorings at Fiskerton. These have been installed to enable boaters to visit a wetlands nature reserve being created following the removal of some 200,000 tons of clay to build up the flood banks along the Witham towards Bardney. Both are part of the Lincolnshire Partnership Project. During the evening we observed a variety of wildlife, mainly water birds with their offspring. A barn owl, patrolling its territory in search of supper,momentarily came to rest some 20 yards from us! 6
Friday started fine and sunny, at Bardney Lock we moored to allow a B.W. tug and pan to work through the lock. The pan contained the old pontoons that had been replaced at Chapel Hill mooring, the entrance to Kyme Eau and the Sleaford Navigation. A short time later we met a B.W. crane boat making its way back to the Lincoln Depot. By the time we reached Anton's Gowt, the entrance to the Witham Navigable Drains we had only seen three other powered boats and one small wooden cabin boat under sail. By now the temperature had reached 23 degrees, we decided to walk into Boston via the multi-user path which forms part of the Lincoln to Boston Water-Rail Way, being developed by the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. A two mile walk thoroughly recommended but not while the temperatures are extreme. Boats arriving from the Continent through Boston's Grand Sluice are met by a B.W. lock keeper at the new 'Gateway" to Lincolnshire facilities. Visitor moorings at Boston are ample for GRP cruisers, there only being three moorings suitable for narrow boats. Returning to the boat we decided to moor for the night on the piled moorings at Anton's Gowt Lock and availed ourselves of a meal at the nearby "Malcolm Arms" Inn. Saturday emerged sunny but very blustery. Anticipating the arrival of other boats we checked out the little used lock to ensure that every thing was in good working order and left the head gates open to allow arriving craft to enter having noted that the water depth gauge was 4" above ODN (Ordnance Datum Newlyn) giving ample water but with the equivalent reduction in headroom. The boats having locked through travelled along the Frith Bank Drain to Cowbridge Lock where we were met by two helpful and enthusiastic"gongoozlers" who assisted the boats through this unusual lock. The boats then travelled into the centre of Boston on the picturesque Maud Foster Drain under the A52 road bridge to find sufficient room to wind and return to the Packet Boat steps to moor. The steps on the east side are to be fitted with safety handrails and lockable gate that can be opened by a B.W. water-mate key providing easy access to Boston's market place and shopping centre. Leaving Boston we headed along Stonebridge Drain and finding a sunny sheltered spot enjoyed an evening B.B.Q. On Sunday we continued along the Drain to a winding point at the junction of East Fen and West Fen Catchwater Drains to the interest of local residents and motorists. Returning to Cowbridge Lock around lunchtime and, continuing along Medlam Drain, we passed a water hens nest with a solitary egg in it. Continuing to New Bolingbrook Drain we turned and were able to view the 7
Carrington Steam and Vintage Tractor Rally. On our journey back to the junction with West Fen Drain we were amazed to see that the water hens egg; had hatched. Having travelled along West Fen Drain and into Newham Drain we reached Anton’ s Gowt Lock where we moored for the evening before setting off for the return to Lincoln on Monday morning. N.b. "Puffin" from Copt Heath intended stopping off at Kyme Eau, entry to the Sleaford Navigation before continuing up the River Witham. With the recent concerns of congestion and undue delays at some of the honey-pot sites of the waterways we would suggest that boaters consider visiting these quiet and peaceful waters that are to become a route connected to the Fenland Link project.
Dave Carnell
IWA National Trailboat Festival The IWA National Trailboat Festival was held at Tapton Lock Chesterfield over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. The weather was excellent over the weekend and the festival organized by the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and chaired by Howard Langley was an excellent event. Our thanks go to Howard and his team from the Three Valleys Partnership who organized the car parking and site and to the Chesterfield Canal Trust for the trip boats and organizing the real ale bar with Chesterfield CAMRA. The National Lottery Awards for All, gave us the opportunity of free entry to site and helped to pay for the entertainment and the brochure, the surplus will go towards the Chesterfield Canal restoration. Holding the Festival in Chesterfield saw the landscaping and re-seeding of the site and the provision of water points and a sanitary tank sluice facility which had been financed through Derbyshire County Council. The slipway which had rather awkward kink at the top end that made it difficult or even impossible to launch boats on large trailers has been straightened and widened. New mooring rings have been fitted along the concrete coping from the lock past the slipway and further mooring rings fitted in the grass bank up to the railway bridge. The rings were made and supplied by East Midlands Waterway Recovery Group. The highlight of the festival as far as the Chesterfield Canal Trust was concerned was the launch of their new trip boat Seth Ellis. This, and the old boat John Varley, were busy all weekend and helped towards paying for the 8
cost of Seth Ellis as well as its transport from and to the connected section of the Chesterfield Canal. The Rev. Seth Ellis Stevenson was instrumental in persuading the canal promoters to include Retford in Brindley’s original design but due to lack of space the Trust decided on the shorter name. The Seth Ellis will be officially unveiled in Retford on July 26th. Our national chairman John Fletcher and his wife Margaret were on site all weekend and presented some national awards at the Saturday opening. John presented the Kenneth Goodwin Trophy to Keith Ayling for its continued and solid progress at both ends of the pivotal Norwood Tunnel. The Trophy is presented to the society or trust engaged in the restoration of a waterway, which has made the most significant progress in achieving its objective in the previous year. During 2004, the Trust completed the restoration of the Chesterfield end of the canal to Mill Green Bridge in Staveley, the 'Five Miles', and has made considerable progress on the next section up to Constitution Hill Footbridge, which sets the scene for the derelict section between Staveley and Killamarsh, the subject of a £250,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund, achieved through the offices of Derbyshire County Council. In conjunction with the new Chesterfield Canal Partnership Development Manager, the Trust held a highly successful open day in Killamarsh to ascertain local perceptions of the six route options available in this very sensitive area. John also presented the Waterways Companion Award to Councillor Walter Burrows, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, for the vision and drive that has led to the purchase and reopening of more than five miles of canal between Chesterfield and Staveley. The Council has continually supported the Chesterfield Canal Partnership as both its lead member and employer of its manager, and other support that has enabled the Chesterfield Canal Trust to make such a strong impact. The Waterways Companion Award is presented to the local authority or similar public policy body or official of the same which has provided the most significant assistance to an IWA branch, canal society or trust in progressing a waterway restoration scheme.
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Progress on the Grantham Canal On Monday, July 18th. at South Kesteven District Council offices in Grantham I had the pleasure in presenting to Bill Whalley (left in picture), Chairman of the Grantham Canal Restoration Society, the Christoper Power Prize for 2004. Christoper Power was a young working volunteer who died suddenly in the 1970's and his parents endowed a sum of money with the IWA; the proceeds are now about ÂŁ750 annually. Waterway Recovery Group recommend nominations to IWA Council and the award is given to the person, society or trust that has made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an amenity waterway. The award and a similar amount from the Grantham Canal Partnership has been used to purchase a new small aluminium work boat. The boat was present at the presentation and formed a stage for the photographs. In 2004 the GCS hosted a WRG Canal Camp when the side weir at Plungar was rebuilt. The WRG Bonfire Bash at Cropwell Bishop followed and finally a stump pulling exercise at Woolsthorpe. This year the WRG Canal Camp has aready been held when bridges 8 and 19 were removed. These bridges were originally swing bridges but were fixed by fitting concrete beams following closure of the canal in the late 1930s. In a few cases due to farm reorganization or changes in land use some of these accommodation bridges are now redundant. Their removal not only is step towards restoration to navigation it also can improve the security of offside property.
John Baylis 10
Nancy's Nostalgia No.19. (As Nancy is at such a tender age, anything previous to 1983 is narrated by her Granny)
The Trent & Mersey Canal circa 1957 If you looked at a really old map of England you couldn't help but see the aptly named "Grand Trunk Canal". Nowadays we call it the "Trent and Mersey". The main line of the canal is 93 ½ miles long and leaves the Trent Navigation at Derwent Mouth near Shardlow and curves through Stoke and the Potteries to join the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook, not far from Runcorn. Turning off at Etruria in the Potteries is the 17½ miles long Caldon branch to Frogall. Near Northwich, the Anderton Lift connects the canal to the River Weaver Navigation. Other junctions are at Fradley for the Coventry Canal, Great Haywood for the Staffs and Worcester Canal, Hall Green for the Macclesfield Canal and Middlewich for the Shropshire Union. An Act of Parliament in 1766 gave permission to "Construct a canal from the River Trent at Wilden Ferry to the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap". The famous pottery manufacturer, Josiah Wedgwood, cut the first sod of the new waterway in July of that year. The Navigation was one of the final projects of the canal pioneer, James Brindley before he died. The main supply of water comes from Rudyard Lake near Leek in Staffordshire, which holds in excess of 120 million cubic feet. Further supplies are available from the reservoirs at Knypersley and Stanley and from the Macclesfield Canal. A number of other feeders and dykes also enter the canal at different points and at one point the River Trent helps to swell the flow. For the first 17 miles at the start of the canal and for 16 miles at the end, wide beam boats can use the navigation but for the most part use is restricted by the 7 foot wide locks to boats of narrow beam. Between Kidsgrove and Chatterley the canal disappears into Harecastle Tunnel, a mile and half long under Golden Hill. The tunnel used today is the one cut by Thomas Telford and completed in 1827, but alongside is the older tunnel cut by Brindley. When this was in use the boatmen had to lie on theirs backs on "legging boards" with their feet in the air and "walk" along the low ceiling of the tunnel. 11
Due to mining subsidence, the towing path became unusable and for many years boats were pulled through by an electric tug. Now that most boats are mechanically powered, towing is no longer necessary and extractor fans have been installed to draw out exhaust fumes. There are three more tunnels at the north end of the canal. Saltersford at a quarter of a mile long, Barnton at about a third of a mile and Preston Brook about three quarters of a mile long. These were the first tunnels ever built by man for waterway transport. At Stone there is a small boatyard used by British Waterways for the repair and updating of old horse-drawn railway boats, once used in the Black Country. They are named after railway stations, starting at "Alsager" they are working through the alphabet and are now at the letter "K" for Kingston. Foreman Joe Gripton has four men working with him and they have to be "jack of all trades", they are refitting the steel hulls, painting and graining, polishing and preparing the craft for work. The maintenance of the canal is made difficult by the many occurrences of ground subsidence. Around the Northwich, Middlewich and Sandbach area it is mostly due to brine pumping during the extraction of salt and in the Stoke, Burslem and Trentham area it is due to coal mining. Subsidence has been so bad at Thurlwood near Hassal Green that it has caused the lock masonry to crack dangerously. A new innovation in the shape of a prefabricated all steel lock is on its way in an attempt to solve the problem, once and for all. Section Inspector Mr J Morris and his thirty men from the Fradley Depot were involved in an extensive weed cutting programme when help arrived in the form of the first ever mechanical weed cutter and elevator. They had already cut the weeds in the 9 miles from Burton to Fradley by hand and were about to start on the next 13 mile stretch from Fradley to Great Haywood when it was delivered. The machine is similar to a launch with cutting blades at the front. At the back is the engine and propelling paddles. The cut weeds float down the canal to an elevator floating between two pontoons. They are then whisked out of the canal and onto the bank. It is the only weed cutter at work for British Waterways. Apart from coal, most of the other goods carried are for the pottery trade. This is transhipped at Weston Point Docks on the river Weaver and travels to the Potteries via the Anderton Lift. Other goods carried are gas 12
tar, flour, grain. salt, gravel, copper and spelter (ever heard of it?). In all, some 100,000 tons of traffic a year is moved mainly between Preston Brook and the Potteries. Pleasure craft are hired from bases at Stone by the Canal Cruising Company, from Kidsgrove by Coronation Canal Cruisers and at Burton by Messrs Dobson. Favourite destinations are the picturesque Llangollen branch on the Shropshire Union Canal and Upper Peak Forest Canal. (Information gleaned from various publications around 1957)
British Waterways Report Congratulations to Mark Westaby, Chris Johnson,Neil Fahey, Richard Sear and Nigel Linley at Torksey Lock on the Fossdyke Navigation for winning the BW Lock & Bridge Competition for the Northern Waterways area. We are sorry to hear the Leila Griffiths, the East Midlands ecologist, has left BW as she has moved south with her partner. Leila has been very helpful with tree management by Waterway Recovery Group on the Cromford and Grantham canals and she has been on the steering committee for the Cromford Canal ecology study. Richard Bennett taking over Leila’s work for the time being and he is looking at a tree management programme for the Chesterfield Canal in the winter 2005-6. On the Chesterfield Canal a number of sites are being examined for dredging in 2005-6 above Gringley Top Lock and at Smiths Bridge as well as some other sites. I have suggested to BW a number of sites where additional visitor moorings could be made by back filling piling, grass cutting, fitting mooring rings and minimal dredging. Not all boaters want to moor outside pubs and prefer the quieter moorings where they can walk the dog and have a peaceful night. On the Grantham Canal Kevin Mann has been appointed Restoration and Regeneration Manager, based with BW at Newark, the post being supported for two years by the local authority members of the Grantham Canal Partnership. Kevin is not new to canals as he worked for the Groundwork Trust in the mid 1990s and with IWA was instrumental in the Binnie & Partners engineering feasibility study on the Langley Mill to Ironville section of the Cromford Canal. 13
John Baylis
The Canal Saint-Martin, Paris. On a weekend trip last year to Paris we discovered, quite by chance, the 4.5km Canal Saint-Martin whilst waiting for a train on the Paris Metro. The Boulevard Richard Lenoir is actually built over the canal with the Bastille Metro Station abutting the canal tunnel entrance. In March we made a return visit and made for the canal as soon as we had unpacked. The Paris Metro has the simplest of systems to get around, far easier than the London Underground. Each line is colour coded and numbered with termini. All you do is pick up a free map look for the line colour, number and terminus, which gives you your direction of travel, and away you go. We boarded our boat. The Marcel Came at Port de L' Arsenal by the Opera for a 2 ½ hour trip to Parc de la Villette, Immediately you enter the 2km Youte du Temple. This tunnel passes under the site of the Bastille and its 52m high monument The first thing the onboard guide tells passengers on the upper deck is to stay seated as you don't want to lose you head (no pun intended). The tunnel is wide and has a towpath throughout, although pedestrians are barred from using it. It is hard to believe that just above you is the central reservation of the Boulevard Richard Lenoir with its gardens, art markets and guarded ventilation holes that also give the tunnel its light Notices in several languages at each end inform you that you have only 18 minutes to navigate through. What happens after that time who knows, as know one seemed to be logging boats in or out. Within a few metres of emerging from the tunnel you come to the first lock, called Ecluses du Temple, named after an old Paris priory founded in 1128. All the locks have the same rise or fall, approximately 8 metres, and are double staircase, along with the swing bridges are all manned. Boats have to rope up in the locks. With three sets of paddle gear per gate it does not take long to empty or fill each lock. On some locks the lock keeper will open the paddles slowly to ease turbulence but on others they just open them up fully with the resultant mad in rush of water. As with many locks, especially the staircase variety, there are always plenty of spectators around watching the boating activity and Paris is no exception. The canal, which is owned by the City of Paris and not the French equivalent of BW, is part of the cityscape, laying between tree lined avenues on both banks. Parisians pass the time of day in the pavement cafes and bars or play table tennis on the many tables built under the trees. 14
Between the locks there are swing bridges, there are often short delays because they are close together, but who cares when there is so much atmosphere around to absorb. The next set of locks called Ecluses des Recollets, was featured in the French film Hotel du Nord, whilst in this area a short extract from the film soundtrack is broadcast over the public address system. The canal makes a turn and you enter the last two sets of locks and another short tunnel. On the bend at 122 Quai de Jemmapes was the little house, where the Italian mason Perrugia lived. He stole Leonard Da Vinci's portrait of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in August 191L It was discovered in this house in December 1913. The Voute Louise Blanc, as the tunnel is called, still has its towing mechanism in situ and was used until the 1950's. You leave the locks and immediately enter the vast Bassin de la Villette, This basin is 700m long by 70m wide. Looking back into a small inlet you can see the Rotonde de la Villette. This rotunda building replaced the original one built around 1785 as a tollhouse, it burnt down in 1871. It was later rebuilt and now houses the Paris Archaeological department The Paris city fathers want to restore the basin to it’s nineteenth century look. There are warehouses that maybe sympathetically restored and could end up as trendy flats or bistros (seems familiar). At the Pont levant de Crimee there is a lift bridge very similar to the Locomotive Bridge on the Huddersfield Broad Canal in Huddersfield again this was operated for us. After the Pont levant de Crimee on both banks 15
there is a vast centre for sciences and industry an amusement park for children and a music centre plus the old cattle market awaiting redevelopment. The Canal Saint-Martin ends at a canals crossroads ahead is the Canal de l'Ourcq with the Canal St. Denis crossing the Canal Saint Martin. The first lock on the Canal St. Denis has a fall of 10m the deepest in Paris, At the time of writing (April 2005) the cost of the trip was adults €14, senior citizens €11, children 6 to 12, €8 and under 6's free. There is a fixed rate of €14 at weekends and bank holidays. The trips run daily at 09.45 and 14.45 from Port de L'Arsenal and Basin de la Villette. We enjoyed the trip it was different and can recommend it to anyone interested It is away from the usual tourist areas and normal boat trips that ply the River Seine.
Malcolm Fielding
Ovation Boat Services BSS Boat Safety Examinations East Midlands & Surrounding Area Tel. 01509 812225, Mobile. 07963 974793 chriswilliams.ovation@ntlworld.com www.ovationboatservices.co.uk
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Lincolnshire Branch Chairman:
Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill, Humberside. DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138
Branch Chairman’s Notes In my last report I mentioned the work being carried out, by the Environment Agency at South Ferriby tidal locks on the River Ancholme. The work is suffering from mechanical teething problems with the "Rotork" electric winches tripping out under load when opening and closing the lock gates. It is anticipated this will be overcome before the Ancholme boating season takes off. Still on the Ancholme the restricted draft on craft reaching Bishops Bridge has been confirmed and at the Ancholme User Group meeting the EA Waterways section was asked to seek funding from their section that handles the industrial Trent-Witham-Ancholme water supply and is responsible for depositing the silt in the river. The provision of a launching slipway at Brandy wharf, promised for 2005, is no further on, due to a dispute over access and a maintenance agreement over a small section of road.
Louth Navigation Trust. The Consultants report is now complete and has identified a number of points that need dealing with. The LNT Steering Committee are dealing with these and are to meet with the Local Authority Planning and Development Officers to identify a way forward. Due to the Louth and Horncastle (HATCH) projects being in a local authority area that has not previously experienced such developments it has been agreed the two groups should work together and produce a strategy that is acceptable to the authority. The June meeting of the Northern Canals Association is being held in Louth on Sunday June 19th and their AGM is on July 7th.
HorncastleandTattershall-ConingsbyCanalHeritage. (HATCH.) The Consultants reports are complete and copies have been provided for comment to those who subscribed, enabling the study to be carried out. A presentation given on June 9th. answered a number of question raised and the way to take this feasible project forward is being examined. The local history society has requested a presentation on the canal. This is to be at 7.30pm on October 12th. at the Methodist Church School Room, Dogdyke Road, Coningsby. All are welcome to attend.
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Sleaford Navigation. With the government reinstating British Waterways ÂŁ2.5 million to this years budget it is hoped that BW will be able to make a contribution to the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership money to carry out dredging, improving landing stages and renewal of lock gates on the lower part of the navigation. Presently the navigation is closed due to missing paddles on the gates having disintegrated. The Trust work parties continue on the second Sunday of each month, details of the place and work being carried out can be obtained from Mel Sowerby on 01522 856810. A WRG canal camp is laying a new surface to the footpath from Cogglesford Lock along the section purchased by the Trust, June 25th. to July 2nd. Also London WRG are visiting on the weekend of August 6-7th. to raise a Bailey Bridge near South Kyme. Extra helpers are welcome. Please contact Christine Hayes on 01522 689460. By the time Aegre is published the Navigation House in Carre Street, Sleaford will be open to visitors. Reports received on the work indicate it will be well worth a visit to see the period settings and interactive display. On July 10th Cogglesford Watermill is open with a Craft Fair, demonstrations and refreshments. During this time 11am to 4pm the Trusts work party will be taking place near the mill. Why not combine the two?
Boston Navigable Drains. The campaign cruise in these waters was blessed by very good weather, ample water and very little weed to cause problems. The long standing issue of gaining access from the Maud Foster Packet Boat steps into Boston has been partially resolved in that a gate is now in position on the east side steps. A handrail is to be fitted down the steps and a BW watermate compatible lock fitted to the gate. Readers may be aware of the hydraulic winding gear saga on the River Nene guillotine gates and EA' s solution to prevent "kick-back" injuries by removing the winding handles and fitting a large disc in their place. A similar type of gear is fitted to Cowbridge Lock but the Internal Drainage Board solution has been to fit a warning notice advising users to hold the handle before releasing the locking pin. Common sense does still prevail in some areas.
Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. In the March Aegre I mentioned a planning application by Sustrans to develop Bardney rail bridge as part of the Water-Rail Way Lincoln to Boston multi-user path. The application, having been held on file, has been resubmitted. Our previous concerns about the surface water draining onto passing boats, the climbing frame type safety rails etc. had not been 18
amended. Our concerns were again expressed, alas to no avail, the plans were passed with only an amendment to the security of BWs long term moorings being addressed. The planned "Gateways" to Lincolnshire developments at Boston, new lock keepers office and boater facilities, at Torksey the new visitor centre, and now visitor boaters facilities at Saxilby are all completed and receiving praise from all users. The new moorings at Fiskerton provide very quiet rural moorings and once the nature reserve is accessible will provide ample opportunity to study the flora and fauna. Also funded by the LWP is a three year £450,000 project to restore degraded river and drains habitats and increasing angling and angling participation. This includes the River Witham and its tributaries between Boston and Lincoln and the Navigable Drains in the Boston area. As part of this REEL, (Recreation and Environmental Enhancements in Lincolnshire) we have been consulted on the proposal to install 120 recycled plastic fishing stances on the EA's Stone Bridge Drain. The design and positioning of the stances is such that they will not impede the movement of boats. Our only concern is that the Drain has been piled using asbestos material. This surely must be taken into consideration in developing recreational fishing. A LWP Workshop was held on April 25th. at Woodall Spa. At the combined morning and evening sessions over 140 people, representing all types of outdoor pursuits attended. Chaired by Nigel Sheppard of BW presentations were given by Mary Powell on developments to date and an insight to future aspirations. This was followed by EA’s John Adams, presentation on the Boston Barrage part of the Fenland Link. The Lincolnshire section of the Link is to be developed first with the South Forty Foot Lock being refurbished followed by the Barrage between the South Forty Foot and Boston’s Commercial Dock entrance. The presentation was supported by an excellent display panel. The outcome of the workshop was very positive from all interests. The Partnership and Mary Powell in particular, being compliment on their work.
Brayford Pool. Many comments have been made regarding the state of Brayford Pool and its lack of facilities and disturbance caused by patrons of the many bars that have sprung up on the north of the Pool. The Brayford Trust, who manage the Pool on behalf of the City Council have been trying for some years to obtain funding to rectify this. Due mainly to the short lease remaining applications to funding bodies have failed. The City Council have appeared reluctant to renew the lease and have recently announced their intention not to do so. Decisions on its future have yet to be announced..
Dave Carnell. 19
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman: & Secretary:
Nancy Johnson, 37 East Moor, Cotgrave, Nottingham. NG12 3NU. Tel: - 0115 9899612
Branch Chairmans Notes Summer at last, I suppose that you are all enjoying your boating and whatever else you find to do on our Canals and Rivers. Unfortunately we have not yet had chance to indulge but we are hoping to get a week on the canal after I have persuaded my better half to make a new windscreen for the boat, time will tell. The Cleanup on the Erewash Canal was held on March 5-6th. As always the harvest was unbelievable, two pans and numerous black bags full of rubbish. You would think that after having collected so much the previous year there might be less the following year, but no such luck. On March 26th we attended the annual Pie & Pea Supper at Sandiacre Lock Cottage, the pies seem to taste better every year: many thanks to Carole for her kind invitation. We held, what is now regarded as an annual clean up on the Grantham Canal during the weekend of April 3rd. This was a great success with just about the right number of people turning out to cleanup the stretch from the Trent to Hickling. British Waterways gave invaluable help by providing men and transport to take away all the rubbish. I must say that we get a better class of rubbish on the Grantham Canal compared to the rubbish on the Erewash. May be its because it is a more rural canal. We were all tired and hungry by the time we got to Hickling, looking forward to a congenial lunch time chat in the Pub and guess what, the Brewery had chosen this very week to close the Pub for refurbishment. We are now looking for a new organiser. We shot the last one. For a long time now we have been members of what was “Agenda 21”. This has now been renamed “React 21 ”and is a joint initiative between Rushcliffe Borough Council and the community to further the aims to enhance the environment. Our work on the Grantham Canal was recently recognised and at a reception held at the Grange Hall, Radcliffe on Trent we were awarded a certificate for “Protecting and Enhancing our Environment” On May 7th we joined the Friends of the Cromford Canal” on a bus trip to the Black Country Museum organised by Sheila Smith We had a fantastic day out and for those of you who have never been or like us who had not 20
been for about ten years, the trip is well worthwhile and the boat trip into the tunnel is like something out of “Disney World”. May was a very busy month and the trip to the Black Country Museum was quickly followed by events every weekend, May 14th saw us at Woolsthorpe helping the G.C.R.S. cleaning up and re-organising the work compound, it had got to the point where we could not find anything, similar to our garden shed at home. We spent the weekend painting, building a shed and having a general tidy up. May 21st and 22nd we took the display stand to the Belvoir Steam Festival and on the 28th we went to our National Trail Boat Rally on the Chesterfield Canal. May 29th. we had a day off and went to the Crick Boat Show. British Waterways have now re-established the Grantham Canal User Group Meetings, to be held only once a year. The first one was at the “Dirty Duck” in Woolsthorpe on June 8th. This meeting was well attended and we had lots of time to ask lots of pointed questions. The meeting, under the Chairmanship of Nigel Shepherd, the British Waterways’ Customer Services Manager was a very amiable and open discussion, a far cry from meetings of years ago. The Grantham Canal Restoration Society has been awarded our Christopher Power Prize. This is a cash award to the value of some £700 awarded each year to the Person, Society, or Trust considered to have made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an amenity waterway. Mainly due to the work of Colin Bryan who organised extensive work that was carrier out by the Waterways Recovery Group. Mike Palmer, Chairman of WRG said “the Society has actively sought out best practice and encouraged training and working with other groups to improve standards. Its members have pulled together to give restoration efforts a vastly improved public profile. We now have volunteers clamouring to lead the WRG camps”. We are still in urgent need of able volunteers to lead the local work parties at weekends and the wrinkly workers on weekdays. These parties are essential to carry out the small, less strenuous jobs like grass cutting, setting hedgerow whips and painting. Waterway Recovery Canal Camps are also already arranged for the week commencing July 2nd. During this time we hope to remove bridge No.8 at Bassingfield and Bridge No. 42 at Harby. These are insignificant bridges that are no longer required and their removal will make general maintenance easier and also allow the weed boat access. The purchase an aluminium boat with an electric motor is also under consideration for future use on work parties. We are looking for funding anticipated in the region of £1400. Please dig deep. 21
We received a formal request from the newly formed “Derbyshire Waterways Partnership” and have agreed to join them after already having attended the first two meetings. The idea is to present a united front and Judy Flack has already compiled a video that can be used in presentations to interested parties and potential fund holders. We are also discussing the idea of an avenue of display stands at the IWA National Waterway Festival at Preston Brook. The Derby and Sandiacre Canal has launched a “Brick Appeal” to enable the completion of the building of Borrowash Bottom Lock and we have already donated £150. They have also carried out a Hedge Laying Project with the WRG team from Essex with the support of Derby City Council. It is nice to see and also essential that these multi agency projects are promoted. The project at Swarkestone is making progress and the purchase of the necessary land has been agreed in principle, also preliminary design work for the section at Spondon is in hand. The Friends of the Cromford Canal will again be holding their annual sponsored walk on Sunday September 11th. starting at Langley Mill at 9.30 a.m. This walk can be done in sections for the less ambitious, or even to show your face at Cromford and walk back to the Pumping Station is better than nothing. After the Engineering Study carried out by Binnie and Partners “the Friends” have now raised the funding and are ready to carry out an Ecology Study. The IWA contributed £5,000 towards this and they should now be a step nearer to some more physical restoration work.
Forth-coming events: October 8th & 9th: - Goose Fair Gander Boat Gathering near Sainsburys on the Nottingham Beeston Canal. Evening entertainment by “Boat Folk” at the Grove Pub on Castle Boulevard at 7.30 p. (Side entrance, upstairs room) Booking In forms available from, Mavis 01636 671726 or Nancy 0115 989 9612, boat entry fee £10.00. Refreshments available and entrance fee of £2.00 for those unable to come by boat. Although we value your membership subscriptions please give some thought to some active contribution. We need brave men and women to volunteer; we also need you to just turn up at events.
Nancy Johnson
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Leicestershire Branch Chairman:
Carol McDonald, 30 Lutterworth Road, Leicester LE2 8PF. Tel: 0116 283 0834
Branch Chairman's Notes Streph Howse sadly died a few weeks ago just before his 81st. birthday. He was our founding Treasurer and was mainly responsible for us holding most of our meetings at the Tennis Club in Oadby as he was a driving force behind that club for many years. He ran the bar at our meetings for many years until his eyesight failed, but was still at nearly every meeting guiding his barman and his wife Anna. Anna has been the stalwart supplying most of the coffees. His funeral was very well attended and was enlightened by a wonderful address by his daughter bringing laughter to the church. Anna said he had 81 wonderful years and 8 lousy weeks at the end of it. A donation to the heart charity specified by the family has been made by the Branch. On September 10th & 11th we have decided to run the Leicester River Festival again this year following detailed discussions with Leicester City Council during which we were assured of suitable support throughout the Council. We were determined that the efforts made by boaters over the previous 2 years should be rewarded by the Council giving full support in the form of good publicity and land based activities. For boaters the format is as before with allocated moorings on the mile straight. There will be the usual communal eating session on Saturday evening with the branch providing a source of heat for the food, before our illuminated boat procession. We managed 19 boats taking part in this last year and would like to beat that figure this year. A small fireworks display will conclude the procession and we are hoping to have musical accompaniment to the evening’s festivities. We hope to arrange a simple non-denominational service on Sunday morning, and above all want boaters to come along and enjoy themselves. Booking forms from Ian McDonald, 30 Lutterworth Road, Leicester LE2 8PF. £10 entry fee and a dated rally plaque. Despite concerns from visitors to Foxton before Spring Bank Holiday weekend that The Foxton Locks Inn might not open on time thanks to modern building and shopfitting the pub served 200 dinners to invited guests on the following Thursday night and with David Stevenson we were the second paying customers on the following morning. The publican admitted that on Wednesday they thought they would never make it, but the 23
licensing authorities were able to undertake their inspection the following day and all was go for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. I understand that they have become corporate members, but it could be they were confused between the IWA and the Foxton Incline Plane Trust, but if they aren’t IWA members yet I will ensure that they are encouraged to join, they certainly are willing to display material for us. We wish them luck, it’s great to have a pub open again down there as I’m sure the crowds over the Bank Holiday weekend agreed. As an aside to the above I note in “Union”, the magazine of the Old Union Canals Society, the following. After also musing about when the Inn would open and whether David Stevenson would get his 5 real ales on tap there goes on:- “Bridge 61” will come along later “as and when” as smaller concerns haven’t the financial clout the bigger concerns have. It will be ideal for the casual drinker who is out for a stroll or a more serious ramble and doesn’t want to hang about too long.’ Interesting. By the bye, “Union” is a thoroughly good read each issue, OUCS membership Secretary is Tony White at 5 Bollington Road, Oadby, Leics LE2 4ND. The Loughborough Canal Festival was very well attended again this year and the Branch stand was there doing business with “Splat the Rat” and “Penny Dropping” together with a new game put together by Bill Teesdale our latest committee member. He had people rolling a basketball down two ropes trying to get it into a bucket. Kids of all ages enjoy these simple games and as long as we have enough people on the stand to run them they bring in a few pennies and attract people to the displays. Everyone who helped on the stand said how much they enjoyed it and much interest was expressed in the reports of Foxton. We also took up the quiz offered by Lichfield Branch and managed to get into a healthy profit by some keen selling. The amazing thing about Loughborough is how it has good weather nearly every time. It was touch and go this year as it poured overnight Friday and Saturday including some thunder I am told. Yet, when it mattered, the sun shone and the crowds flocked to the displays. A new feature this year was a very good prize for the best illuminated boat in the Saturday night procession. I am pleased to report that Branch members Pat & Terry Hind ran away with the cash, congratulations. Congratulations too to the organisers on a superb show and also to my committee of which 8 members were present on their boats.
Carol McDonald 24
South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch Chairman
Mavis Paul, 116 Sandygate Road, Sheffield, S10 5RZ. Tel: 0114 268 3927
Branch Chairman's Notes I hope you are all having a good summer; the weather has certainly been kind to us, by the time you read this it will probably be almost over, but I hope you have enjoyed all you have been doing. The branch committee at the moment is just ticking over. Due to the lack of someone to take on the branch sales stand we have had to abandon going to the usual events this summer. Hopefully we will get some new committee members who are willing to take on this role and this situation will not last too long. We are still managing to arrange the social events even though no one has come forward to take on this role. The barbeque in June was a success, we had good weather and some of the members from Strawberry Island joined us, everyone seemed to enjoy it. Our next social meeting will be on Wednesday October 12th, the speaker will be Geraint Coles - Chesterfield Canal Development Manager. The talk will be on “The Future for the Chesterfield Canal" The social on December 7th. will be our Christmas bash. Pie and Peas will be available cost about ÂŁ1.60 and there will be the usual quiz and a game of boatle. Please ring me nearer the time if you require pie and peas. All Social meetings are held at Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster. If you want to attend and are not sure where this venue is please give me a ring and I will send you details. After the last successful canal clean-up on April 10th another one has been arranged for November 6th, at the time of writing this we are only in the planning stage. Details of where we are meeting should be available after the September 21st. so anyone who would like to join us please give me a ring after this date for time and place of where we are to meet. Hope to see you at some of our meetings.
Mavis Paul 25
Across 1 3 6 7 10 14 15 16 19 22 23 24 25
---- Green Locks, Shriopshire Union Canal (4) The tide runs strongly from here to Great Yarmouth (4) Lock 22, River Nene (5) Bridge 98 Grand Union, main line -5 The Standedge Tunnel (3.25 miles) runs from Diggle to - - - - - - (7) There used to be one of these canal side at Swinton S&SYN (4) Between bridge 105 & 106 the S&W crosses the River . . . (3) Kenny &---- Canal & Navigation (4) Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (7) The power behind NB "President" (5) Beer should be this at every pub (2 & 3) You shouldn't do this on the waterways (4) This river is the gateway to the Middle levels Waterways (4)
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Down 1 2 4 5 8 9 11 12 13 17 18 20 21
- - - - Bank, the Lancaster Canals nearest point to the sea (4) This canal will save you sailing round The Mull of Kyntyre (6) Aire and . . . . . . Navigation (6) One of Germany's major river navigations (4) The Chesterfield Canal boats were called this (7) Where the S&SYN meets the Dearne & Dove Canal (7) Head quarters of the Trent & Mersey Canal were located here (5) These boats worked 24 hours to deliver the goods (3) - - - House bridge, Caldon Canal (3) Generic name for man made water courses (6) He designed the Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster (6) I am a well known canal side pub or you can find me in the night sky (4) Residential suburb of Manchester on the Bridgewater Canal (4)
Answers To Just For Fun 5 Across 1 Lune 3 Bars 6 Drown 7 clerk 10 Bruerne 14 Bond 15 Ebb 16 Adur 19 Fradley 22 Crowd 23 Swale 24 Tees 25 Tyne
1 2 4 5 8 9 11 12 13 17 18 20 21
Down Lark Newark Allens Sam Melbury Charles Ebbed End Odd Crowle Medway Trot Sloe
Malcolm Fielding 27
Leawood Pumphouse in Steam August Bank Holiday August 28 - 29th. & October 1st- 2nd Access by footpath over river bridge to High Peak Junction and then down towing path from car park on the road from Cromford to Holloway and Crich.
Most Urgent An able or not so able person is urgently required for the post of Work Party Organizer for the Grantham Canal Restoration Society. Further details from Nancy Johnson, 37 Eastmoor, Cotgrave, Nottingham. NG12 3NU Tel: 0115 989 9612.
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Canal Societies In The EM Region Barnsley Dearne & Dove Canal Trust
Milton View, 39 Hill St, Elsecar, Barnsley. S74 8EN Tel: 01226 287571
Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd.
16, Pinchfield Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham, S66 1FD Tel: 01709 700223
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust.
Sawley Bridge Marina, Sawley, Long Eaton, Nottingham. NG10 3AE Tel: 01332 873459
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society
318 Osmaston Park Road, Derby. DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 368746
Erewash Canal P & D Association
1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham. NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 938 4129
Foxton Inclined Plane Trust
Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Foxton, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 279 2657
Friends of the Cromford Canal
50 Beech Ave., Alfreton, Derbys. DE55 7EW Tel: 01773 833425
Grantham Canal 6 Elms Court, Bassingfield, Nottingham. Restoration Society NG12 2LG Tel: 0115 969 6239 Grantham Navigation Association
213 Melton Rd, Edwalton, Nottingham. NG12 4AF Tel: 0115 923 1417
Louth Navigation Trust
Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth, Lincs. LN11 ODA Tel: 01507 606044
Melton & Oakham Waterways Society
Sysonby Knoll, Ashfordby Road, Melton Mowbray. LE13 0AH Tel: 01664 563563
Old Union Canals Society
2 Nithsdale Crescent, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 9HA Tel: 01858 461483.
Sleaford Navigation Trust
10 Chelmer Close, North Hykeham, Lincoln. LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460
Trent and Mersey Canal Society
Brownsfield Cottage, Brownsfield Lane Lichfield. WS13 3EH Tel: 01543 255410
Region Diary All members of any Branch (and also non-members) are most welcome to attend any of the events shown below.
South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Branch Venue:
Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, Off Wheatley Hall Road. Doncaster. Time: 8.00
Oct 12
Geraint Coles - Chesterfield Canal Development Manager will talk on "The Future for the Chesterfield Canal" Canal Clean-up. Meet at Tinsley Marina 10.00 Pie and Peas will be available cost about ÂŁ1.60 with the usual quiz and a game of boatle
Nov 6 Dec 7
LeicestershireBranch Venue: Social Secretary Sep 10-11 Oct 12 Nov 10 Dec 8
Oadby Tennis Club, Oadby, close to Leicester Racecourse (except where otherwise stated). Beryl McDowall, Tel:- 07710 029247
Leicester Festival of the River 2005 A look at continental waterways with slides by David Stevenson 7-30 at Coalville Town Bowls Club, Whitwick Road, Coalville. (By Council Offices) Work of the British Waterways Patrol Officer by Steve Cropper. 7-30 at Oadby Tennis Club, Oadby, close to Leicester Racecourse. Christmas Social in a pub venue yet to be decided Further details from Beryl nearer to the time.
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Venue Time Sep 11 Oct 8-9 Oct 2 Nov 18 Dec 16
Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford. 7.45 pm Friends of the Cromford Canal sponsored walk. Start Langley Mill 9.30. Contact Sheila Smith 0115 938 4129 Goose Fair Gander Rally. Outside Sainsburys on Castle Boulevard. Contact Mavis 01636 671726 People I meet by IWA National Chairman John Fletcher. Talk by Caroline Killeavy on her role as General Manager for British Waterways East Midlands. The Chesterfield Canal by Mick Golds followed by Christmas Social Buffet.