Aegre November 2007

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AEGRE Nov - Dec. 2007

N o . 11 8

The jou rnal of the Eas t

Midlan ds R

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egion o f

Aegre is published Š 2007 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association. 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 Carol McDonald, c/o 68 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester Chairman LE7 7JG Tel: 07932 156539 E-mail:<home@hubberlugs.goplus.net> Dave Carnell. Contact address as above. Lincolnshire Branch Chairman Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman

Nancy Johnson, 37 Eastmoor, Cotgrave, NG12 3NU Tel: 0115 989 9612.

South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch Chairman

Mavis Paul, 116 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield S10 5RZ 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.

Members

David Johnson, 37 Eastmoor, Cotgrave, Nottingham NG12 3NU Tel: 0115 989 9612. Ian McDonald, c/o 68 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester LE7 7JG Tel: 07932 156539 E-mail:<home@hubberlugs.go-plus.net> Malcolm Fielding, 1 Vicarage Way, Arksey, Doncaster DN5 0TG Tel: 01302 873127

Editor for Aegre:

Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ Tel: 01507 602713. email: aegre@humbhony.demon.co.uk

Collation & despatch

N&D Branch Members.

Printing

Mintas Printas, Hyson Green

Picture credits:

See page 29. Cover picture: After the flood, from Malcolm Fielding

Inland Waterways Association: Registered Office, 3 Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth WD3 1LT. Registered as a Charity No: 212342. Tel: 01923 711114. Fax: 01923 897000 Website: http://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 published as being of interest to our members and other readers.

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AEGRE Nov. - Dec. 2007

Contents

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Colophon

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The editor’s Bow Button

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From the Region Chairman

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Obituary - Royston Torrington

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Floods in the Sheffield Area

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News from Lincolnshire

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South Forty Foot Really Beginning

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The Sheffield Canal

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It was a Dark and Stormy Night

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Floating Pennywort

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National Festival, St. Ives

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News from South Yorkshire and the Dukeries

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News from Leicestershire

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New Publications Reviewed

27 28 29 30 30 31 32

News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Picture puzzle - just for fun 13 Journals Received, and Picture Credits Annual General Meeting notifications Answers to Picture Puzzles Canal Societies and Trusts in the Region Regional Diary Dates

Next issue probably to be published in March 2008. Contributions to the editor by the end of January 2008 please. The space on the right is for local contact information. Page 3

No. 118

The Editor’s Bow Button What a dramatic year. First of all we seemed to be heading for drought, then a few days of exceptional rain gave consequent floods. Various canal related events around the country have been alternately blessed with good weather or cursed with thick mud, and in the background all the time worries about financial and management issues affecting the network or charges for moorings and licences. All these are covered later in the issue, or have been ventilated widely in national publications, but I would like to start by mentioning a point that sometimes gets forgotten. I believe that broadly speaking our engineers in this country involved in waterway projects and maintenance do a good job. They may be limited of course by finance, or by a phrase I learnt long ago "Reason? There's no reason - it's management policy", but if you read about events in other countries - dams collapsing and suchlike - we are not too badly off. This was brought to mind by an opportunity to explore some of the Danube earlier this year. I had thought of this "navigation" as one of the best engineered in the world, especially in the German and Austrian sections, and certainly if you look at some of the lock and hydro-electric installations it is. But they still get flooding in a city like Passau, often as a result of very predictable events like snow melting in the springtime. Our picture shows the Town Hall in Passau with flood level markers from as recently as 2002. What they do try to do, however, is ensure that street level premises in the flood zone are only used for small workshops or the like with furniture that can be quickly moved out if flood threatens. Our other surprise was an approach to relieving road traffic problems - and costs. The vessel Han Asparuh , or H if you prefer, was carrying a seven lane traffic jam down the river with just the usual skipper and mate in charge. I couldn't actually count the vehicles on board, but it was a lot. OK, not possible on a narrow canal, but interesting nevertheless. At this time of year it seemed appropriate to include some sort of holiday greeting, but it is difficult in today's world to know exactly what to say without falling foul of some quasi-official body, Page 4

thus risking my own “Health and Safety�. So I read the terms of my Professional Indemnity Policy yesterday, and finished up with the following:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, Road transport by water my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter / summer solstice holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious / secular persuasions and / or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that it is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee. By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her / himself or others and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher. Disclaimer: Only ethically harvested trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced. My very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year (did I really say that?) to you all. Peter Page 5

FROM THE REGION CHAIRMAN The IWA National Waterways Festival at St Ives finally enticed me onto the River Great Ouse in July and August. We first tried in 1976 but we were denied the opportunity of going to the Peterborough National by the drought and being locked in on the Chesterfield Canal for two months. We then changed boats, with the new boat being too long to pass the Middle Level locks until these were extended in the late 1990s. East Anglia was luckier than Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull and the River Severn area in not seeing any serious flooding but the increased flows curtailed boating on the rivers Nene and Great Ouse for several weeks in total. Although some new properties seen near the flood plain were taking precautions to keep the ground floor above flood water level others seemed to be far less concerned and could well be an impediment to flood waters. The railway bridge accident at Ely caused the Environment Agency to close this section of the river Ouse during parts of July and August, but the alternative route of the New Bedford River was used by all the early visitors. It would seem that for various reasons of headroom for cruisers and lack of water at low tide the New Bedford River is little used these days, but after studying the rise and fall over one tide and using the experience gained from many years of navigation on the River Trent we had a safe and interesting voyage. The EA lock keeper at Denver tried to get me to change my intended departure time but we had a splendid trip despite there still being some “fresh� coming down. It seems to me that the local boaters should investigate publishing modern navigation instructions. I was very impressed by the Great Ouse. The many EA and Great Ouse Boating Association moorings were well maintained and used, and we were never looking long for a suitable mooring. However, the River Nene is a different matter with very few moorings, but I understand that the EA is trying to create some new sites. On September 15th IWA Council held an all-day workshop to discuss restructuring the Association, and in particular how this would affect the Council itself. There is a particular challenge in finding the right structure for the Association, as IWA has an Page 6

active membership but is a company limited by guarantee, a registered charity and, in addition, is registered with the Financial Services Authority. Council is aware of the views of many members through the previous consultation exercise, and one of the challenges they face is that a wide range of opinions are held. Council members considered these views, and their own, about how well IWA conducts its business work currently. The way forward was decided to be a smaller group of Trustees, rather than the present Council of 24; enhancement of the role of national committees; and an improved method of coordination between national and branch roles, which would not include a formal Region structure. There are some agreed steps which make sense on their own, such as greater delegation to national committees, and Council is implementing these without unnecessary delay. Council is, however, keen to ensure that members are fully consulted and not simply presented with a fait accompli at an AGM. As such the Association welcomes members’ views on the current thinking and will be formally consulting as the process and thinking evolves. Members wishing to put forward their own views on the current proposal can write to Council, c/o Jo Gilbertson at IWA Head Office or e- mail: structure@waterways.org.uk Although the current thinking is to reduce the region input and put more of the communication direct to the national committees and Head Office, there is a serious shortage of volunteers to staff the branch committees in East Midlands Region. For several years the support at local IWA branches, and to a lesser extent canal societies, has deteriorated, and although the total membership has not changed very much, the willingness of volunteers to attend meetings and work on committees has reduced considerably. It is important that if the IWA is to continue its national and well-appreciated position there must be strong local support and I would urge you all to consider taking a role on the branch committees at the Annual General Meetings in February 2008 (see page 30 for details). Another year has flown and though I shall not be able to attend meetings at all branches this Christmas I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and thank you all for your support of the Association. John Baylis Page 7

Royston V F Torrington I am very sorry to report the death of Royston Torrington at the age of ninety. Royston was born in Derby and on leaving school joined the Derby Borough Fire Brigade. With the outbreak of the Second World War he was seconded to London Fire Brigade where he spent the rest of the war. On returning to Derby he was steadily promoted, ultimately becoming Chief Fire Prevention Officer for the whole of Derbyshire. Royston joined the Inland Waterways Association in the 1950s and by 1961, as chairman of the then Midlands Branch, he was leading the campaign to save the Derby Canal. Although this campaign failed, in 1968 he joined with other locals from the Erewash Valley to campaign against British Waterways’ proposals to close the Erewash Canal between Langley Mill and Tamworth Road, Long Eaton, as well as parts of the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Leicester Section of the Grand Union. The Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association was formed with Royston as the first Chairman and, after small boat rallies around Ilkeston, the ECP&DA restored the Great Northern Basin at Langley Mill. After the GNB opening rally in Spring 1973, Royston retired as chairman and became the first president of the ECP&DA, a post which he held until his death. In January this year he spent part of his ninetieth birthday celebrations at Sandiacre cottage with the ECP&DA, after more than 34 years of involvement. Next year the ECP&DA are holding a Boat Rally at Langley Mill to celebrate 40 years of the ECP&DA and 35 years since the opening of the basin; unfortunately Royston will now miss these celebrations. He was also a founder member of the old Cromford Canal Society, where he was regularly seen operating the horse-drawn boat at weekends. He was also very interested in the Caldon Canal and the Churnet valley. Royston was elected to IWA Council in the early 1960s and was Chairman of the old Midlands Branch, which covered Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire as well as what is now the West Midlands Region, until the IWA reorganization in 1974. He then decided to retire from active IWA work and did not take office in the new East Midlands Region; however he continued his elected term of office until 1976. In 1967 Royston was the Chairman of the IWA National Rally when it was held in Abbey Park, Leicester; and then again in 1974 when the National was on Victoria Embankment in Nottingham.

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Royston was a real gentleman without whose lead in the 1960s we could well have lost much of the East Midlands canal system. The esteem in which he was held was clearly demonstrated by the number of his old colleagues and friends at his memorial service in the packed Mickleover Methodist Chapel. John Baylis

Royston nailing the IWA manifesto to the Derby Canal lock gate at Sandiacre in April 1961 while Michael MacFarlane holds the boat steady. Page 9

Floods in the Sheffield Area Who would have thought that 2007 would be one of the weirdest years for freak weather? In April most of us thought we were in for a scorching few months. Thoughts of the long hot summer and the droughts of 1976 were in many people’s minds. It just goes to show how wrong we could be and how unprepared we still are in this country for freak weather. Mid-June we were going on holiday to France for two weeks. No television or newspapers, so upon returning to England we were confronted by heavy rain, another bomb scare and widespread floods. We live a couple of miles from Bentley Toll Bar; needless to say the whole area was like returning to a war zone. How did British Waterways cope with this situation? Well overall they, like everyone else, could do nothing to alter the weather. This year has seen the whole weather cycle turned upside down. Rain in the early part of the year saturated the ground, and then came the very hot weather during April / May. The wet weather gave trees the water they always want but the hot weather encouraged excessive tree growth. Then came the really heavy rainfall of June; this coupled with the saturated nature of the ground made many trees ultra top heavy. Without solid ground around the root system they were easily uprooted, with many falling into the rivers and canals. This in turn led to sluices, by-washes and run-offs becoming blocked, which in turn led to water backing up. The many Victorian bridges with small bridge holes, although soundly built, caused blockages because larger sized debris could not pass through them. In this area the River Don, already swollen by heavy rain at its source in the Pennines, was also being fed by other heavily swollen tributaries, namely the rivers Rivelin, Loxley, Sheaf, Porter, Doe Lee, Rother and the Dearne. The sitPage 10

uation was not helped at all because of the impending collapse of the retaining wall of Ulley Reservoir. To relieve that pressure hundreds of thousand of gallons of water were being pumped out of the reservoir into the River Rother and subsequently into the River Don. The Canal above the Tinsley Flight was generally unaffected by the rain but below Number 11 Lock on the Tinsley Flight it was a completely different story. At this point the canal joins the Don until Jordon Lock when it reverts back to a man-made canal, rejoining the Don at Ickles where the Rother joins the Don. The canal channel hereabouts witnessed the unusual feature of a tidal wave running towards Rotherham from Sheffield and another one running from Rotherham towards Sheffield, with the result that the Blackburn Meadows area was flooded. Number 12 lock has a fall of approximately six foot and the water level on the lock reached above the footboards of the lock gates. In fact the only parts of the lock that could be seen were the ends of the balance beams and the tops of the hand rails, consequently the whole area below was totally submerged in water. Heroic efforts were made by many people at Ickles to prevent boats being swamped at their moorings and sinking. At Doncaster the level of the River Don rose to alarming heights. It became an urgent matter to relieve the rising water levels to stop villages along the course of the River Don being totally flooded. The Stainforth and Keadby Canal was used as a pressure relief channel. But the use of this canal was governed by the tides of the River Trent. Water could only be let out of the canal into the Trent when the tides were below the level of the Keadby Lock gates. The township of Thorne and its surrounding area are low lying, so are susceptible to flooding, which had to be avoided if possible. All in all this was the time that everyone needed to pull together and generally they did. Financially this freak weather could not have come at a worst time for British Waterways and the Environment Agency. Government cuts do not take into account any unforeseen occurrences. The estimated cost to British Waterways in the Yorkshire Region alone is over ÂŁ3.7 million pounds. This Page 11

just highlights the folly of the Government action. BW and the EA are forced to go cap in hand to Government to be bailed out of a situation that was not of their making. Applications for financial help are being sought from Europe; hopefully they will be successful, enabling repairs to the hundreds of damaged structures to be started as soon as possible. To conclude, I would like to pay tribute to everyone who tried their best to help in the emergency in any way they could. Thank you. Malcolm Fielding

News from the Lincolnshire Branch From Dave Carnell The Branch AGM will take place at 7.45 p m on Monday February 4th 2008 at St Mary-le-Wigford Church Rooms, Lincoln. The venue is adjacent to Lincoln Rail Station, St Mary’s Street, where free car parking is available. After the meeting Mary Powell will give a presentation and up-date on the Fenland Link and other works in the Partnership programme. The following committee members retire by rotation; Mrs Chris Martin; Mr David Pullen; Mr Andy Martin and Mrs Anne Martin. All are prepared to stand for re-election. We would welcome other nominations for the committee who meet bi-monthly to discuss the business concerning the IWA aims and objectives within the County. Nominations are required 14 days prior to the AGM and should be sent to the Branch Secretary Penny Carnell (address inside the front cover of this magazine). ********** Lincolnshire Waterways Partnerships projects continue to improve facilities for boaters, walkers and cyclists. The re-vamp at BW Lincoln Depot aims to provide a new facilities block, boater operated pump-out, improved lighting, access for the disabled, and security for vehicle access to the long term moorings. The completion date is Easter 2008. Two further lengths of the Water Rail Way cycle route and foot path from Lincoln to Boston have been completed to Southrey and Stixwould. There remains one final section to Anton`s Gowt near Boston to complete this very popular long distance route. With the national drive to provide more off-line moorings, marina developers and local land owners who had expressed interest in diversifying were Page 12

met. Three sites, two on the River Witham and one on the Fenland Link at the South Forty Foot Drain have been disclosed. All of these are in the very early stages of consultation. Due to these proposals, the Lincolnshire Development plans for a site at Chapel Hill on the Kyme Eau have been dropped, due to a conflict of public money being spent in competition with commercial activities. The funds set aside for Chapel Hill are being spent on improving and extending moorings along the River Witham and River Ancholme. In addition to this IWA has asked BW and EA to identify and encourage property owners with waterside sites to develop or lease these for affordable moorings with basic facilities. On the Fenland Link, design is progressing on the Boston connection, with works due to start early in 2008 for completion by the end of that year. Expressions of interest for the connection to the River Glen are being drafted for submission to funding agencies. This will enable the necessary studies and consultations to begin. In previous reports I have referred to new mooring facilities being provided by the Brayford Trust and the Lincoln City Council. To put it mildly things have not gone smoothly with this project. Contracts were awarded prior to confirmation of all monies being available. One contractor became insolvent. Notices to quit moorings were issued to allow work to commence without the promised alternatives being notified. Many other issues arose, and IWA called a meeting of all interested parties. Following this two members of the Council’s Brayford Management Committee have resigned. The renewal of the Brayford Trust’s lease of the Pool is subject to serious discussion with the Charity Commissioners and Companies House. The indicated price of the moorings, with no facilities other than a pontoon mooring, is more applicable to London and the South Coast: a swingeing rise of over 160% with penalties if not paid 12 months in advance was demanded. We await the decisions of senior council officials and elected members at a date to be determined. The Sleaford Head of Navigation bridge, slipway and winding hole are progressing, and contracts have been signed. Due to the District Council having a change of heart over the loss of one tree and requiring an in-depth environmental study on the concrete river channel, we are extremely grateful to the County Council for managing the whole project. This has enabled the volunteers to concentrate on a bid to EMDA (East Midlands Development Agency) to replace the mitre gates at Bottom Lock. To pass into the second round of bidding a points system was used. We failed to reach the 60 required by Page 13

just three points. The officers of the LWP were impressed with the application and are in the process of identifying other means of funding. You will no doubt see other reports about BW and their consultations on proposed funding increases. Once again it is “hit the boaters�, who account for just 3% of the users of the inland waterways. Please respond to this consultation and suggest they negotiate with local authorities to recover monies from other users of the towpaths through their rates. It is their residents and businesses that benefit from the tourism generated by these users. The document is available on www.britishwaterways.co.uk/accountability/consultation/completed consultation reports.html. or request a copy by ringing their customer services on 01923 201120. At a recent User Group Meeting, BW countered complaints from users as to why promised works had not been done, by quoting their financial position. They stressed that they wanted to encourage volunteer users to help. Brilliant there are plenty willing and able. However they insist that volunteers must be supervised by one of their staff and regarded as employees for Health and Safety purposes. Their staff do not work weekends, when volunteers are normally available. There is a set of criteria for being accepted as a self-supervising group. These entail submitting management procedures; reporting and investigating incidents procedures; training or experience on types of equipment, certificates and acceptance; and understanding the risk assessment for each task you are asked to do. The only person who can give approval for this is at Watford. To date only the Cotswold Canal Trust have cracked the system. Meanwhile many volunteers are unable to contribute because BW do not have the staff to supervise them until this certification has been achieved. Very recently I have made contact with Tony Stammers, BW national Safety Officer, and we are discussing ways of progressing a national scheme to enable volunteers to work unsupervised. At the October ResCom meeting we discussed this matter and it was suggested that Regional Training Days be held to enable volunteers to receive the training and certification required to meet BW criteria. A date for a meeting with Tony Stammers is being arranged to progress this. That’s enough from me. I hope you and yours have a very happy and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. Dave and Penny Carnell. Page 14

South Forty Foot Really Beginning

On Saturday 20th October 2007 IWA's National Restoration Committee met at the Ferryboat Inn, Langrick. Following the morning's business Mary Powell from Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and John Adams of the EA gave up-dates on the Fenland Link Boston connection. This was followed by a site visit. Our photo shows from left to right: Stuart Burt, Mary Powell, John Adams, Vaughan Welch and Martin Ludgate of WRG at the South Forty Foot discharge arch, which will be used as the new lock from the Boston Haven. Preparatory works have now begun to re-route services and provide site accommodation ready for the civil works to commence later this year.

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THE SHEFFIELD CANAL by J W BELL This account was found in some papers recovered from the old canal company offices at Sheffield Basin in 1989. The date of writing is unknown, but it would have been written during the heyday of steel production in Sheffield, maybe the 1930-40’s. I reproduce it here as written, as a matter of interest. It is entitled simply “Sheffield Canal“. Malcolm Fielding Sheffield, great “steelopolis”, is one of the most inland cities in Great Britain, a place, the sailor would say, filled with mere landlubbers. But if you had come with me the other day, you would have found that it is not so far from the sea as some folk think. From its very centre a busy waterway stretches to the great sea-port of Hull and the oceans beyond. I found this by walking through an archway only a few paces from a policeman on duty at one of the city’s busiest junctions. By passing under that arch I was in the territory of the Sheffield and South Yorks Navigation Company. There, less than half a mile from Sheffield City Hall, I discovered I was at Sheffield’s waterfront. There were two wharves, boats loading and unloading, all the bustle and all the atmosphere of a sea-port. I felt that, with just a little imagination, I might even smell the sea. Then I met Mr E Mennell, keen, informative transport manager of the canal company. From him I learned how Sheffield comes to have this artery to the ocean trade routes. He upset some of my ideas of history in the process. You were probably taught - as I was - that the father of British Canals was James Brindley, who in 1760 began to make an artificial waterway for the Duke of Bridgewater from Worsley to Manchester. But the history of the route from Sheffield to Hull goes back beyond 1760. It begins with Cornelius Vermuyden, famous Dutch drainage expert, who came to England in the middle of the 17th century to repair the Thames embankment. While in England, he was given the job of draining certain Royal estates, among them Hatfield Chase on the boarders of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Part of his scheme went wrong and led to flooding instead of draining. Undaunted, Vermuyden cut a deep channel from the flooded area into the Ouse at Page 16

Goole. That, according to Mr Mennell, was the first step towards making inland navigation a practical proposition in South Yorkshire. Far-seeing men realised the possibilities arising from what Vermuyden had done, delved into the matter, and in 1722 a survey was made of the River Dunn - now known as the River Don, the backbone of the South Yorkshire canal system. In 1726 - 34 years before Brindley began - an Act of Parliament was passed for the “Improvement of Navigation on the River Dunn�. Through the years development went on, new channels were made, bends were straightened, and from the twisting background of the Don what we might call the modern arterial canal evolved. Such is the venerable historical framework of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company, formed in 1895. But I found it is a firm which does not content itself with living on its history. Interested as he is in canals past, Mr Mennell became even more enthusiastic when he showed me what is being done today. All the latest methods for loading and unloading have been studied and where successful have been permanently introduced. The most up-to-date types of mobile cranes have been employed; and one device which caught my attention was a simple but still ingenious machine by which one man can lift and move quite easily a two hundredweight drum of carbide. But like many progressive people the canal company have found there are still cases where complete mechanisation is a second best, where a judicious mixture of the human element is essential. This, for instance, is the case with a grain hoist which is partly operated by man-power. No entirely mechanical device, Mr Mennell told me, has yet been found to do the work so well. In an hour, the hoist will take twelve tons of grain in sacks from a boat up to a third storey warehouse. This article on the history of the Sheffield Basin will be concluded in our next issue. Editor Page 17

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night ... This happened at 3.50 am on Monday 20th August at Great Haywood. We were moored about 50 yards south of the footbridge, below the lock. When the tree came down the noise was so loud and fantastic that we thought that there had been a train crash on the nearby railway. A tree had pinned the boat onto the bed of the canal and it was estimated to be 65 feet long and some 20 tons in weight. We went back to bed and then phoned Freephone Canals at about 06.45, and British Waterways at Fazeley later to make sure that the message had been passed on. We were told that a team was being put together under Richard Hughes. In the meantime two British Waterways operatives arrived to assess the situation. At about 10.00 a.m. a crew together with a work-boat and chain saws arrived to saw the tree into sections that they were able to handle. This took them some three hours. By this time there were 22 boats waiting to go up and 40 boats waiting to come down. We were on our way again by midday after carrying out repairs to the boat and dismantling the pulpit that was completely destroyed. Everyone commented that the men from British Waterways handled the situation in a most confident and amiable manner. They even managed to raise a laugh in spite of the damage to our boat. We have requested an estimate for our insurance company but do not yet know the cost. This was a holiday incident that we would not like to repeat.

Nancy Johnson

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Floating Pennywort Floating Pennywort (or Hydrocotyle Ranunculoides) is becoming the most pernicious of the alien weed species on the English rivers. It is a North American plant used in aquaria and has been introduced to the river system, probably by the careless disposal of waste water. Without the natural constraints of its native habitat it spreads extremely rapidly in English waters, up to 10 inches per day, and can rapidly cover a complete water area. Initially the plant became a problem on the River Lee near London and then on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, which is now managed by the IWA. It is well established on the River Weaver and during this summer I reported two small areas on the River Cam and the River Nene to the Environment Agency. The weed was initially noticed on the River Soar at Aylestone weir in December 2005. By December 2006 it had reached Mountsorrel, and by October this year sightings of small growths had been seen at Kegworth and Redhill. With luck the growth dies down in the winter and can be greatly reduced by heavy frosts, but with the recent warm winters total die-back has not been possible. On the River Soar in 2005 BW removed about 15 tonnes dry weight (150 tonnes when harvested wet). By 2006 this had increased to 360 tonnes dry (3600 tonnes wet) and in 2007 to August 240 tonnes dry (2400 wet). Unfortunately in June and July the rain and flood flows not only prevented boats harvesting the weed, it also washed the weed further down river and the BW initiative over the past two months has probably more than doubled the earlier yield. Most of the weed is piled on the land, hopefully above flood water levels, where it seems an appetizing meal for cows. Before growth restarts in February/March BW hope to treat the hopefully small residual growths with herbicide before any rampant growth of the warmer summer weather. One of the problems of the River Soar is the range of weir streams and back-waters where harvesting boats cannot navigate. In these areas the work is being done by the Environment Agency; often by hand or land-based machinery with funding from the fisheries budget. So far the BW spend has increased from ÂŁ4000 in 2005 to an estimated ÂŁ25,000 this year. Both the BW User Group and the EA Regional Fishery, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee members are concerned at the effect of the weed on navigation and fishing, and both organizations are trying to prevent the weed taking hold on the River Trent below Thrumpton Weir. BW, the EA and the local district councils are continuing their efforts to control the weed and welcome any help from boaters and anglers to help with manual removal and notification of new growth areas. John Baylis

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Inland Waterways National Festival, St Ives. No, not St Ives in Cornwall but the place where the traveller was going when he met a man with seven wives! St Ives, Cambridgeshire, in fact. A beautiful little place, well worth a visit by boat, by train or by car. The Sleaford Navigation Trust had booked a space for a stall for sales and promotion of the Slea quite close to the location of the display tent for the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. The weather at home at the end of August had been good and we thought it a bit strange to get an ominous message from a member of the Trust who had travelled to the Festival by boat to “bring your wellies!” We duly passed it on to others who reacted similarly. “Bit odd but we might as well.” What a good thing it was we got that message! We arrived at the place where we should have erected our gazebo to find it under water. Large areas of the site were in the same condition and as soon as a few vehicles had driven through, the best description of the situation was a mud wallow to gladden the heart of the most discriminating pig! We quickly made the decision that if the LWP would have us we would be delighted to share their tent. Thankfully they offered us accommodation and we worked together to promote jointly LWP and SNT. One slight problem remained. By now vehicles were not allowed on site and all the leaflets, sales stock, display boards, etc. for both of us still had to get to the tent. We were indebted to some muddy, cheerful and pretty tired members of Waterway Recovery Group who helped us carry everything from the comparatively dry car park to the site. We felt we’d worked pretty hard to get the stuff there and set up, but they went on to help all the other exhibitors in the same way. They really are special people! In spite of everything the site opened to the public on time and the weekend was a great success. The mud began to dry up and the whole experience passed into folk lore. Had the festival at Wakefield been muddier? Was it worse than Burton?

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We made it on to television! UK Boating’s cameraman passed by and stopped to interview Mary Powell and me about the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and the new lift bridge for Sleaford. Check out www.ukboating.tv where I think the clip is still accessible. Now it might have been the plum bread that made him stop or it could have been the sight of a Trust member washing Mary’s muddy feet! We did explain that we were keen not to lose the support of an important funder! Thanks to everyone who helped and who came to see us to show their support for Lincolnshire Waterways. In the euphoria that follows hard work, we all agreed to do it again next year. Let’s hope that Autherley will be as successful and a bit drier underfoot! Chris Hayes

South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch I do hope you enjoyed your summer boating, one thing can be said: there wasn’t any lack of water this year. On the 14th October we held another very successful canal clean up. Around 27 people attended, unfortunately not many from the IWA. The ones that did turn up had a very enjoyable morning followed by excellent pie and peas. The Christmas social will be on the 5th December. Please give me a ring (0114 268 3927) if you want to attend to order your pie and peas or your vegetarian option. The AGM is on the 20th February. This doesn’t take long but it would be nice to see some more members attending. There are also places on the committee; please give me a ring if you would like to discuss before committing yourself. This will probably be the last meeting before Christmas so I hope you all have a good one. Hope to see you at one of our meetings. Mavis Paul Page 21

News from Leicestershire Branch From Carol McDonald Can I start these notes with an appeal to all readers? The Melton & Oakham Waterways Society (MOWS) is working towards re-connecting Melton Mowbray with the main system by restoring the navigation along the River Wreake. Much preparatory work has been done and a very useful collaboration with other parties has been formed, initially to get a walk along the line of the navigation re-established. As far as getting boats up the river is concerned, the problem starts as the Wreake joins the Leicester Navigation at Syston Junction, as the hideous bridge has a very limited air draft. In many ways, it may be fortunate that the bridge also has steps at both ends of it and has a central pier that restricts the flow of floodwater. SUSTRANS is a charity dedicated to establishing sustainable transport links throughout the country, principally in the form of cycleways. These routes must be accessible to the disabled and steps clearly prevent this. As part of their latest plans for the extension of their routes, the replacement of this old bridge is a key objective for SUSTRANS. To gain funding for all their schemes, SUSTRANS has established the plan "Connect 2". This covers schemes throughout the country and they are bidding for major lottery funding. The application is one of six projects competing for the Big Lottery Fund Living Landmarks: The Peoples Millions, with up to £50m available to the winner. The winner is decided by people’s votes on television in December. I understand that people are allowed to vote more than once, but first off, please register with "Connect 2" so that they can keep you posted about when they need the votes. Not just that, but please get your friends and family to do so too. It costs nothing but could bring about a very big improvement in the prospects for MOWS without it appearing as “ Another Waterways Project” because that is not how the bid is to be worded. So, please log onto www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/about_connect2/ as soon as you can so you don’t forget, and help get this show on the road. Social Meetings There had been no meetings since the last issue of Aegre until October 11th when our secretary, David Hastie, gave us a most informative and enjoyable illustrated report on the Coal & Cotton Rally held in Liverpool. David & Waldy took their boat Schnucki on this breathtaking trip that Page 22

included a passage along the River Mersey, through the Albert Dock and into Salthouse Dock. They were part of a flotilla of 60 boats, tucked into just a small corner of this huge dock, and were royally looked after by BW. He reported that the last section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal created numerous problems with weed and other debris necessitating frequent trips down the weed hatch. BW will need to tackle this problem urgently before the new canal link opens next year, if boaters are to be attracted to visit Liverpool and the new link. His slides showed some of the rapid progress being made to the new canal link which passes the "Three Graces" and will connect to the Albert Dock. He said that the ten days they spent in Liverpool was too short a time to explore the city fully, and it should become a great destination for boaters to visit in future. Next year sees Liverpool being the European City of Culture, with even more reason to visit, and the Tall Ships Race starts from there too. David & Waldy were able to see over a couple of these magnificent boats as they paid a publicity visit in advance of next year’s event. One thought struck me on looking at how little of the dock was filled by the 60 participants; a future National could probably fit in just the one dock though you would have to cross a lot of boats to get to yours. They reported on the whole of their trip which started from the Loughborough Festival at the beginning of May. They took in the Anderton Lift and the Weaver, plus a trip into Manchester. All of us who heard and saw their story were invigorated by this report. Loughborough Wharf The wharf was officially opened on October 2nd by the new Waterways Minister. Reports received were of a good piece of PR by BW and a useful opportunity to exchange views of the waterways with the Minister. IWA was represented by John & Wendy Evans plus David Hastie. and Beryl McDowall was also there representing RBOA. The Page 23

development is not to everyone’s liking, and the taller building for the private luxury flats has still to be started. The new artwork looks interesting; it will be worth a visit to interpret the work and its relevance to Loughborough. There has been discussion in the past as to whether there will be sufficient space to wind a full length boat. Reports from opening day are that this is possible. The other problem is that the ground level to the front of the new sanitary station is very high. Apparently there is supposed to be a floating pontoon in front of it but BW are not able to afford this at this time. Foxton The new swing-bridge across the start of the Harborough Arm is now installed and operational. After initial problems, the sanitary station is fully operational too and the major works in the first phase have now been completed. The remaining work is to install the interpretation boards and Beryl McDowall, with assistance from John Evans, has been involved in numerous meetings getting the details right.

Our photo opposite taken by David Hastie shows the view from the new observation platform. A Foxton Waterway Festival is being held next year to celebrate the completion of this first phase of work. Please note the dates of June 14th/15th 2008 which is one week after our Leicester Festival. BW have also started some much needed piling and towpath improvement on the length from Foxton to Debdale. Page 24

Leicestershire Branch Social Programme 2007 - 2008. Thursday, 13th December, 2006 Our Christmas Social this year will be a meal at The Brookside in Barkby. This will give everyone the opportunity to have a chat in a friendly village pub. The cost will be ÂŁ12.00 per person. Prior booking is essential. Booking forms available from Beryl at meetings or by emailing beryl@nbwasp.co.uk Thursday, 10th January, 2008 Following the success of last year's event, we are again holding our own version of Flog It! Mike Edwards is organising an auction. This will be an opportunity to have fun and raise money for branch funds, whilst ensuring unwanted or unused items (e.g. Christmas presents!) go to a good home. To submit items for auction, contact John Evans on 01509 416647. Thursday, 14th February, 2008 Branch Annual General Meeting, followed by an illustrated talk by a member of The Grantham Canal Restoration Society Ltd., who will update us on progress on the Grantham Canal. Meetings for the remainder of the 2007-2008 programme will depend on the outcome of the Annual General Meeting. Saturday/Sunday, 7th / 8th June, 2008 Riverside Festival/Boat Rally on the Mile Straight, in Leicester. attractions, both on and off the water, with something for everyone.

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Many

Where to find us: Meetings are held at Oadby Granville Tennis Club, at 7.30 p.m. unless otherwise stated. It is on the A6, near to the Racecourse Roundabout. Coming from Market Harborough direction, the entrance to the club car park is immediately after the last set of traffic lights before the Racecourse Roundabout. Coming from Leicester, the entrance to the club car park is on the `wrong' side of the dual carriageway. Continue travelling out of Leicester on the A6, until you reach the second set of traffic lights after the Racecourse Roundabout. Turn left here into ASDA Car Park, turn round in the car park, then turn right, back down the A6 towards Leicester. The entrance to the club car park is on your left, immediately after the last set of traffic lights before the Racecourse Roundabout.

New Publications Reviewed Narrowboat on the Trent by John Lower. Published by Richlow, PO Box 3994, Sheffield S25 9AZ. ISBN 978-0-9552609-3-3 ÂŁ4.50 A new high quality publication from this source is always welcome, and this time John Lower is aiming at a very specific market: "the many narrowboaters who have little or no experience of river navigating but who perhaps yearn for a change, a challenge". This is much in small compass. Just forty pages in A5 format, but filled with useful information and advice from the phases of the moon to anchors and how to deal with them. Information on moorings and mooring is brief but to the point, with just a mention of nearby pubs and shops. The book is well produced, with colour pictures instead of the soot and whitewash things often seen in pilot books. Demonstrating careful and recent research, it also offers updates via the website www.richlow.co.uk. Since it is aimed at "tidal novices" accustomed to using maybe just a headlight in a tunnel, a few minor points could be expanded: the discussion of navigation lights could mention the arcs of visibility (a car sidelight painted green will probably not do) and bridges are not mentioned, although dredger daymarks are described. On VHF it would be worth mentioning also the Ship Portable Radio Licence, as some boaters may not wish to make a permanent installation. Overall, a very worthwhile investment for anyone thinking of going out on the Trent. To quote John "Respect the river, don't fear it". PH Page 26

News from Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch What a summer that was. Did you get caught in the floods, drought and sunshine or the wind and storms? We had a bit of everything. We attended the annual Owthorpe Fair with our publicity stand, and although the sun came out on the day we had to pitch the tent in another location due to the state of the field. The Nottingham Riverside Festival was the usual hectic week. The best illuminated boat was won by Carl Needham on n/b “Queen Bee” from Castle Marina. A visitor from the Lancaster Canal came second and highly recommended on n/b “Port Carlisle”. Les Allsop produced brilliant plaques to celebrate the occasion featuring the bicentenary of the Nottingham-born water engineer Thomas Hawksley. This event however is producing so many problems and complaints due to noise and unruly elements that our future involvement is under question. On the weekend of the 6th &7th of October we decided to change the venue of the Goose Fair Gander and joined our friends at the Colwick Boat Club. This swelled the numbers and we at last made a financial profit on the evening, with sales of Christmas cards, a raffle and again event plaques by Les in the form of a beautiful kingfisher, music by Dave and food by Mavis & Brian. Steady progress is being made on the Grantham Canal. The Waterways Recovery Group is again expected to carry out work at a Camp from 26th Dec to 1st Jan. Notts. County Council has recently engaged a manager to help with their project around the Holme Pierrepont Centre. Let’s hope that this has a knock-on effect for a new entrance/exit for our canal. Due to continued vandalism the work on Borrowash Bottom Lock has come to a stop. Despite the police being aware of the problem, they have failed to deal with it. After a public meeting in Borrowash it was decided to investigate possible solutions, but don’t hold your breath yet. A new DVD is to be made with the help of a local film company from Duffield. Please support their efforts and purchase when it becomes available. The Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association are celebrating their 40th Anniversary with a boat rally at the Great Northern Basin on 23/26 May 2008. Please support this event as it should be a good weekend. They also have a new web-site that’s worth a visit; the address is www.erewashcanal.org.uk. British Waterways have submitted an application for a new sanitary station and other extensive work at the Meadow Lane Lock. This should be an interesting stop-over place if we also get more moorings on the river. Our AGM is scheduled to take place on February 15th 2008 at 7.45 pm at the Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford. Please give some thought to joining our committee, we are getting desperate to extend the membership. Here’s wishing everyone a happy Christmas and New Year. Nancy Johnson

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Just for Fun Puzzle Spot 13 Having given the crossword a rest for the time being, it has been replaced by a photographic challenge on the page opposite two more well known locations with a distorted image. I started last time with a couple of readily recognised sites, but here are two more difficult to identify. I hope you enjoy this feature, good luck. Answers on the next page. Malcolm Fielding

Journals Received. We have received copies of these journals from our colleagues in the various societies, partnerships, and trusts. Many thanks to all concerned. Anyone wishing to subscribe to any of these could contact the appropriate address, given on page 31. The LWP Newsletter is free, call 01522 550615. Navigation, from our neighbours in West Midlands Region. The Cuckoo, from Chesterfield Canal Trust. The Packet, from Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society. The Portal, from the Friends of the Cromford Canal. Grantham Canal News, from the Grantham Canal Partnership. LWP newsletter from Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. The Wharfinger, from Louth Navigation Trust.

Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance Aegre: Tony Pitman; John Lower; Peter Stone; Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Brian Dominic; Beryl McDowall; Nancy Johnson; Norman Osborne. The picture on page 9 has a very long history; acknowledgements are due to R W Dudley, David Bolton, Waterways World and John Baylis.

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Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the East Midlands Region of the Inland Waterways Association and its constituent Branches will be held as follows. Lincolnshire Branch. At St. Mary-le-Wigford Church Hall, Lincoln, on Monday, February 4th 2008 at 7.45 pm. Leicestershire Branch. At the Oadby Tennis Club, Oadby, Leicester, on Thursday, February 14th. 2008 at 7.15 pm. Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch. At the Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, on Friday, February 15th 2008 at 7.45 pm. South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch. At Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, Doncaster on Wednesday, February 20th 2008 at 8.00 pm. East Midlands Region. At Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, Doncaster on Wednesday, February 20th 2008 after the conclusion of the South Yorkshire & Dukeries AGM. AGENDAE 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting 3. Matters arising. 4. Report of the Chairman. 5. Report of the Treasurer and presentation of accounts. 6. Statement of committee size 7. Election of Committee members. 8. Address by Member of Council. 9. Any other business. Nominations for election to a committee must be in writing, signed by the proposer and the seconder and containing the consent of the nominee. They should reach the relevant Branch or Region Secretary not less than 14 days before that meeting.

Answers to the puzzle pictures from this and the last issue of Aegre Issue 117 top picture: The Bratch Locks, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal; bottom picture: Cadbury's wharf, Knighton, Shropshire Union Canal Issue 118 top picture: Foxton Inclined Plane, Leicester line, Grand Union Canal; bottom picture: Drayton Manor Footbridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Page 30

Canal Societies in the EM Region Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Friends of the Cromford Canal Grantham Canal Restoration Society Louth Navigation Trust Melton & Oakham Waterways Society Old Union Canals Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Judy Andrews, 39 Hill St., Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8EN Tel: 01226 743383. www.bddct.org.uk Keith Ayling, 16 Pinchfield Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham S66 1FD Tel: 01709 700223 www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk C/o Jeffery Jones Partnership, 43 St Peter’s Churchyard, Derby DE1 1NN Tel: 01332 576037 Lesley Reaney, 318 Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, Derby DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 601699 www.derbycanal.org.uk Howard Smith, 1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 9384129

www.erewashcanal.org.uk. Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk Mike Kelley, 50 Beech Avenue, Alfreton, Derby DE55 7EW Tel: 01773 833425 www.cromfordcanal.org.uk Chris Tizzard (may have changed), Tel: 0115 953 1153 www.granthamcanal.com John Stanbridge, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 610539 www.louthcanal.org.uk Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0AH Tel: 01664 563563 http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?W CI=SiteHome&ID=6595 36 The Ridings, Desborough, Kettering NN14 2LP Tel: 07010 705103. www.fipt.org.uk/Local.htm Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk 1 Pinfold Cottages, Back Lane, Little Haywood, Stafford ST 18 0UL. Tel: 01889 882770 www.trentandmersey.btinternet.co.uk

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Regional Diary Dates 2007/8 All members of any branch, visitors, and non-members are all welcome to attend South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Branch Usual Venue

Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, off Wheatley Hall Rd., Doncaster. For details call Mavis on 0114 268 3927

Dec. 5th

Christmas social, with pie & peas.

Feb. 20th

AGM and social evening. 8 pm. See page 21. Leicestershire Branch

Usual Venue

Oadby Tennis Club, close to Leicester Racecourse at 7:30pm. For details call Beryl on 07710 029247. More information inside on page 25.

Dec. 13th Jan. 10th Feb. 14th Jun.7/8th Jun.14/15th

Christmas meal in Barkby. Book in advance. Flog it! Auction AGM and talk on Grantham Canal. Riverside Festival Foxton Festival Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford at 7.45 p.m. For more details call Linda on 01949 860867 Christmas Social, plus a talk by John Wilkinson. Chris Hayes on Lincolnshire Waterways AGM and a speaker from the RNLI Bob Williams on Lichfield and Hatherton canals Lincolnshire Branch St Mary-le-Wigford Hall: near Lincoln railway station

Usual Venue Dec. 21st Jan. 18th Feb. 15th Mar. 21st Usual Venue Feb. 4th

AGM and social evening, with talk by Mary Porter. 7.45 pm. See page 12. Page 32

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