1405 museum matters w by Friends of the Canal Museum

MUSEUM MATTERS MAY 2014

Newsletter of The Friends of The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS David Blagrove

ell! It has certainly been a busy ‘ spring this year! Not everything has gone as smoothly as we would normally expect in the world of the Museums & Attractions Partnership and here at Stoke the huge task of overseeing the refurbishment, relighting and rewiring of the Museum has largely fallen to Louise, who, it must be said, has done a superb job. Starting with the unexpected loss of David Henderson in January, the M&A Partnership has Volunteers, from left, Lorna York, Rose Grahaghan, Brian Mayland and Olive Minney with CRT’s James been beset with a sea of unforeseen Clifton at the Museum reopening (Photo; KD) personnel troubles, but it does appear that things are now turning Constable, our Honorary Curator, and is the corner. The latest weekly update well worth a look. It can be found on from CRT not only gives an account of CRT’s website under the title ‘News’. the Museum reopening ceremony on Our volunteers and honorary curators 30th April, but also has a picture of and the CRT’s own staff worked like Louise at the start of a short video trojans in order to get the displays up presentation about the revitalised and in position before the final opening. Museum. This last stars Louise, Richard As I said at the opening ceremony, my Parry, Chief Executive CRT and Mike part in it was merely to say ‘well done chaps’, but I say it again with full In this Issue sincerity. Chairman’s Jottings 2 Anyway the reopening ceremony went The Original Idle Woman 7 Jack James 10 very well. Richard Parry was most Council Matters 15 complimentary about our input, Louise Canal Family Festival 16 was given full recognition of the part FoCM Diary 17 that she has played and, most Museum Reopening 18 interestingly for me, the Grand Flagpole Recomissioning 20 Junction Canal Company’s Roll of Village at War 22 Honour, 1914-18, recently A personal memory of Robin rediscovered in Brentford, was Smithett 23 installed in a case with due ceremony.

Cover Picture: Richard Parry (Chief Exec CRT), Louise Stockwin, David Blagrove and Lorna York on Sculptor at the reopening . (Photo: SD) © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS David Blagrove

The interest for me is that Lorna York and I have been working for some months on a project to rediscover those men and women of the canals and of Stoke Bruerne who played their part in the Great War. Bearing in mind that the population of Stoke in 1911 was 331 and Shutlanger was smaller, at 323, the fact that at least 102 men and women from the two villages served in that War would have meant that the male population between the ages of 17 and 45 was reduced to virtual nonexistence, while many women were also engaged in war work. For much of that war the two villages must have been virtually populated by the very young and the very old, at least during the day. All classes were affected and one of the most remarkable results of the war was a dinner held in July 1919 at Stoke Park and given by Colonel Vernon, the then owner, for every man who had served and survived the war. Vernon himself had been awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry in leading his battalion during the Somme battles and he and his wife duly entertained some 80 men at Stoke Park House. One of the surprises of the Reminiscence Day (see below) was the emergence of a printed menu card produced by the grandson of one of the men concerned. Similarly the effect upon the canal was severe. From my researches into Braunston’s records it is plain that © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

before 1914 quite a number of boating families had settled in the village and had homes ‘on the bank’ with their

The Roll of Honour (Photo: LS)

children attending the village school while the menfolk, unmarried or older women worked the boats. All this changed as men rushed to join up, and the ensuing shortage of labour caused many women to leave their homes and work on the boats bringing their children with them. Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd, then the main carriers on the Grand Junction Canal, were forced to pay a war bonus in order to keep men at work (and also to compensate them from being awarded white feathers by civilians who thought they should be in uniform). It was not until after the slaughter of men on the Somme in 1916 that the Government took action to organise the canal system to cope with wartime. Although the railways had come under Government control from the 4th of August 1914, the canals were not so controlled until 1917. Many boatmen who had joined up in the early www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 3

CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS David Blagrove

stages of the war, including our own Jack James, were ‘combed out’ from the front line and sent to work on the

men and women that we can identify as the tribute of a later generation to those who so willingly went to serve their country, and of course to those who never made it back home after the war. There were eighteen men and one woman from Stoke Bruerne and Shutlanger who gave their lives and a similar number of GJCC workers. They should not be forgotten.

In other ways this has been a busy time. The Museum refurbishment was sparked Volunteers and local councillors enjoying the reopening of the Museum on a lovely spring day (Photo: KD) off by our obtaining, through the efforts of Lynda Payton, a substantial Arts Council French and Belgian canals or to the Grant for overhauling the lighting; now cross-Channel barging services based the efforts of Lynda and Helen at the new port of Richborough in Kent, Westlake on behalf of the Stoke or even to such exotic places as the Bruerne Canal Partnership are Tigris and Euphrates. The reasoning beginning to bear fruit as the was that such men were far more Interpretation Project gets under way. valuable doing these skilled jobs than During April a Reminiscence Day was being shot at or sent ‘over the top’. In held in our marquee on the Museum the meantime, at home, the GJCC’s Green, and this was a remarkable Roll of Honour, now in the Museum, success. Many persons came forward shows how the administration of the with useful recollections and canal as well as its traffic labour force mementoes, including the menu card suffered. Lockkeepers, engineers, traffic mentioned above. Since then the clerks, carpenters, bricklayers, tug project has moved towards finalising the drivers and even noble Directors, such design of the Interpretation Panels and as Viscount Churchill, were away a seemingly endless stream of e-mails serving, so the increased traffic of has been flying into my computer from wartime merely served to exacerbate the consultants and others concerned. maintenance problems. It is our It is early days to be making much intention to produce a display comment, but the results of all this commemorating the efforts of all the © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS David Blagrove

should begin to be apparent later on this summer. It is hoped that all will be completed by the time of the Village at War event in September.

side performing a special North Western-type clog dance, children from the village school singing and the Secretary of the Royal Society of St

Readers will recall that the editorship of this journal changed during the winter when Kathryn Dodington took over from Lynda Payton, who had been in the editorial chair since our foundation. Kathryn bought No 2 Canalside last year and since her arrival has entered into the life of the village and the Friends The New Zealand Flag flying from the recommissioned alike with gusto. One of her flagpole to commemorate ANZAC Day (Photo: KD) first actions was to take in hand the matter of the flagpole by top lock, which George, Rodney Wardlaw presenting a has been without halyards for many St George’s flag to the Morris side to be years and furthermore could not be duly hoisted. Rain and a chilly evening lowered to replace these because failed to dampen spirits and about 150 someone at BT had strung wires across people were present to see the the canal in such a manner as to ceremony. Kathryn has now taken upon prevent this in the meantime. It herself the guardianship of the pole and happened that soon after her arrival at flags and has instituted a custom of No 2 Kathryn was asked, in the course raising an appropriate flag on certain of a courtesy call from BT, whether important days. The first such occasion there was anything more they could do was, appropriately enough for Kathryn, for her and her answer was ‘yes’. The who originally hails from New Zealand, upshot was that after some little on Anzac Day, 25th April, when the New persuasion BT’s engineers eventually Zealand flag was hoisted. turned up in early April and removed Work on Sculptor continues apace. the offending wires, a result that the Since the New Year volunteers have Canal Partnership had been trying to replace rotten panelling in the cabin and achieve for some years. On St George’s rubbed the woodwork down for Day a ceremonial recommissioning took repainting, the inside of the drawers, place with the Rose & Castle Morris © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS David Blagrove

table etc. undercoated and the area round the cabin doors grained and varnished. At the time or writing rewiring is greatly advanced and should be completed shortly and at last completion of all the cabin works is in sight. On 1st May the boat left for her first lengthy voyage of the season, having been loaded with all manner of gear for the IWA Gathering at Braunston Marina. The next outing will be to the Crick Show at the second May Holiday, at which CRT have asked for the boat to be present. She should be in first class order by then. Several new volunteers have joined us during the winter and our thanks are particularly due to Iain Dunkley for expert carpentry work in the cabin and Mike Gardner for

work on the electrics. Finally, although not part of the Friends organisation (most of its members are our members), I might mention the work of the Volunteer Group. These meet once a month (as from May this year on the first Wednesday of the month) and the current task is tidying up the area round locks 14 and 15 (the two top locks) ready for the Family Festival in June. New volunteers are always welcome; all that you need do is to turn up on a volunteer day at 9.30, or either ring me on (01604) 862174 or e-mail dblagrove@dialstart.net. There is plenty to do; the next date will be 11th June.

A DAY OUT WITH THE FRIENDS? A day trip by coach is planned for members and friends to visit the Kennet and Avon Canal for the Crofton Beam Engine Gala, together with a stop at the Devizes Canal Museum.        

See the Crofton Beam engine at work Enjoy all the other attractions over the Gala weekend. Visit Devizes Canal Museum Refreshments available at both sites Normal parking charges will apply at the Museum. Coach from Stoke Bruerne on Saturday 27th September Depart 9am, return 7pm approx. Cost approx. £22 per person There are 53 places available. If you would like to reserve a place to go on what promises to be a very special trip, please email Denis Atkinson dvkinson@talktalk.net with number of places required. First come first served!

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THE ORIGINAL IDLE WOMAN Kathryn Dodington

As Della is indisposed at the moment, in place of the next article about Sister Mary I thought you might be interested in an article written for her Oxford College by my aunt who was the original Idle Woman.

hen I started boating in 1941 the snow was deep on the ground and there were no women skippers. When I left the water for the bank this summer, practically the whole system of inland waterways had been covered by amateur boatwomen trained by two of my early ‘mates’. An advertisement for the first of these brought applications in a number and variety that surprised me; they ranged from ballet-dancers to moneylenders and from sailors to ‘service-dodgers’. It was two years before I attained the competence and social standing of a professional boatwoman, and my experience was gained at the cost of long hours, some spent in the heavy work of handling cargoes, anxious moments at the tiller, and exposure to all weathers.

Stowing the cabin strings at Tipton Green – April 1941 (Photo: IWM)

She took slack to Worcester, spam to Nottingham, sugar to Wolverhampton, and flour to Tipton, sauce to Wigan, coal to Oxford, copper and aluminium to Birmingham, shell-cases to the Potteries, grain to the Mersey, and RAF stores to the Bristol Channel. Each cargo had its own peculiarity, and each canal its rule of the road. On some ‘cuts’ boats keep to the right, on others the left, on some empty boats must give way to loaded ones, and on others uphill takes precedence over downhill traffic.

The romantic features of boating have already had their share of publicity, but details of the work done by boats and boat people are usually left behind the curtain of obscurity which veiled the canals and everything to do with them until AP Herbert published his Water Gypsies. In four years our Heather Bell carried more than 7,000 tons of cargo.

Our usual round trip started with loading 352 sacks of flour at Worcester for Tipton. In the first fifteen miles there are 36 locks. If these were against us, we had to draw them off as well as fill them, which meant double work for us both. Novices used to complain of having been made to run half way to

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THE ORIGINAL IDLE WOMAN Kathryn Dodington

Birmingham. At the top lock we would thankfully take the shining handles or ‘windlasses’ from our belts where we carried them and stow them in the cabin for ahead of us stretched a 15-mile ‘pound’, with three tunnels, the last 1¾ miles long. There is no lighting in these tunnels, so we carried a headlamp. If another boat had just gone through, her smoke reduced visibility sometimes to 15 feet, which made steering difficult, as the boat is 71 feet long.

Mother’s lock live the families who have given their name to the place, but ‘Ammonses’ is no longer kept by a Hammond. At Tipton the flour was unloaded in a couple of hours and then we set off for Cannock Chase for slack. Here we made friends with the day or ‘Joey’ boatmen who have homes ashore, and never go far from the collieries. I have been glad to know the Black Country, which looks at its best from the water, and its inhabitants – kind people with a good sense of humour.

Another trip we often did was to go empty to Sharpness for grain. We locked down into the Severn at Worcester, keeping a good look-out for the petrol tankers which ply up and down the river, and whose crews are always ready to give us a tow: their 160 horse-power was a big help to our 10 if we were trying to reach Heather Bell at Tipton Green Top Lock – April 1941 a tie-up before dark. In the (Photo: IWM) summer the river is lovely, though At the Bar Lock we would give our you have to be careful to avoid the tickets to the toll-clerk, hear the latest shallows: in the winter there is boating news, fill the water-can and sometimes too much water for comfort, perhaps stop for the night at a tie-up. especially if you run across the tide as These recognised stopping places well, because the Severn is tidal as far which usually boast a lock, a shop, a as Tewkesbury. village inn (the ‘boozer’) and a stable, are often called after lock-keepers, At Gloucester we locked up into the some still alive, some living in the Docks and Berkeley Ship Canal with its memories of old boatmen, and others low white bridges rather like those over long since forgotten: at Gill’s, Dutch canals. Sixteen miles further on Parkerses, Dick’s, Denny Merril’s in Sharpness we loaded bulk wheat © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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THE ORIGINAL IDLE WOMAN Kathryn Dodington

from the silo, and if we had time we would brush up our French, Norwegian, or Dutch with the sailors there. In Sharpness before D-day there was a grand array of ships, all flying the B flag: ‘I am loading or discharging explosives’. We were glad to hear that of the sixteen ships, which went to Normandy sixteen came safely back. Fog, wind and ice were our worst enemies. It was on a foggy December evening in 1941 that the Darleydale – the biggest tanker on the river – ran into us. We sank in 8 feet of water in 8 minutes, having luckily salvaged enough blankets to spend the night in moderate comfort on the floor of a Gloucestershire cottage. ‘Fishers History of Europe’ stood up well to its three days immersion. At Whitsuntide or in August we used to go down the Shropshire Union Canal. If locks had to be repaired, they were generally done then, and boat after boat took her place in the queue waiting for the work to be finished. Those were blissful days with time to paint, shine the brass, scrub the cabin, or decarbonise the engine at one’s leisure, and afterwards to yarn with the boat people or play the accordion, knowing for once that there was no more work to be done. Then when the ‘stoppage’ was over, everyone set off again in a mad hurry, often going all night to make up for lost time. Twice we went ‘fly’ like © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

Heather Bell unloading flour at Tipton – April 1941 (Photo: IWM)

that from Ellesmere Port to Wolverhampton: thirty-three hours nonstop, with about an hour’s sleep each. Day and the fields of Cheshire changed slowly into night and the sandstone cuttings of Shropshire. Dawn came at the top of Audlem locks, and the first boat we’d meet would say: ‘What, you two girls been night-‘owlin’ again?’ I shall miss the cut and all my friends there, but it is a community that does not change and it is nice to know that Big-Mouthed Bella, Sam and Flo, ‘Stickemup’ and Soapy Joe, young Ada and all the rest of them will probably be about when I go back every now and then. www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 9

JACK JAMES A serialised biography by David Blagrove – Part 8

t would be about this time that Jack and Ashby Light Railway, which was had two mates, one called George, similar to an American ‘inter-urban’ who kept an ancient muzzle-loading railway, running as Jack said across shotgun for the replenishment of the boats’ supplies, the other known as ‘Sailorman’ or ‘Sailorboy’, since he had been a merchant sailor. The Ashby Canal was notorious for the weed that grew on the bed. It rolled up underneath a boat forming what the boaters called ‘rolls of oakum’. George would stand on the foredeck as the boat went along armed with a spear on a long stick. Between Hinckley and Shackerstone the canal was wellstocked with fish, tench, perch and High Bridge Wharf c1924 (Image courtesy David Blagrove Collection) pike particularly. George would harpoon the rolls of weed in which fields between Burton-on-Trent and fish had managed to get themselves Ashby de la Zouch. It closed following entangled. On arrival at the colliery the General Strike of 1926. basin at Moira he would lay the fish out on an old washing tray and sell them to Sailorman was, Jack once told me the miners, which would give him a ‘few ‘breasted like a woman’ and was ‘stout coppers’ pocket money for his evening and stocky, a good swimmer and a drink. Sometimes the boatmen would fighter too’. In other ways Sailorman go to nearby Swadlincote, where there was quite a character. Jack was told by was a pub, or else Jack, if he had a ‘few several Fellows, Morton & Clayton coppers’ to spare would, in his own steamboat crews who knew him that he words, catch a tram ‘across the fields to had once swum through Braunston Burton-on-Trent and have a night there, Tunnel for a bet. This was when there then finish up in the pub on the way was a pub called ‘The Anchor’ at the back with the miners and have a singtop of Braunston locks where horse song and a bit of step dancing.’ Like boats waited their turn for the tunnel many boaters of the time, Jack could tug. The story went that Sailorman met play a melodeon, which was always a the tug in the tunnel, which must have useful accomplishment, since a pub caused some consternation. The pub musician would rarely have to buy his closed in 1916, so the swim must have own beer. The ‘tram’ was the Burton been before then. He was only with © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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JACK JAMES A serialised biography by David Blagrove – Part 8

Jack two or three months before he joined another boatman to run three boats to the Oxford Portland Cement Company, then based near Bletchingdon on the Oxford Canal. This job involved taking coal southwards to the cement works, where it was unloaded into the boiler house with

with a boatman’s belt and set off. On the way he met Jack James’ boats coming back from Oxford empty and told him about the wager. Later Jack learned that Sailorman had completed a round trip with the beer and won the bet.

In 1923 Jack married Emma Bray, then aged twenty, daughter of Joseph Bray, a boatman from Yiewsley, near West Drayton in Middlesex. The Bray family worked boats from the Coventry coalfield down the Grand Junction to the London area and so their routes would have coincided with Jack James’ regular runs in the section between Braunston and Marston Junction. Boat people’s The Simonds Brewery in Reading shown in an old courtship in those days brewery advert showing the K&A passing through the tended to be circumscribed by brewery centre c1920. Note the narrow boats in evidence the routes that the parents’ (image courtesy of David Blagrove Collection) boats took and meetings were frequently confined to the odd shovels and wheelbarrows, and then occasions that the respective families’ loading with bags of cement which were boats were tied up together, although delivered to a warehouse near the ‘top other stratagems, such as catching o’ the old thirteen’ (Farmers Bridge trains, and later buses, to meeting locks) in Birmingham. The unloaders places were often brought into play. Not were refreshed with beer, brought in surprisingly courtship was sometimes a one or two gallon stone jars in a cane prolonged affair. Jack’s apparent basket from the ‘Three Pigeons’ pub, regular tying at Marston Stop Lock some distance down the canal. The might have had something to do with unloaders betted Sailorman that he the matter. Suffice it to say the couple could not swim along the canal to the were married at Bedworth Parish ‘Three Pigeons’ with an empty two church on 2nd April 1923. The curate, gallon stone jar for filling. He stripped John Thomas Owen would appear to off his shirt, strapped the jar on his back © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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JACK JAMES A serialised biography by David Blagrove – Part 8

have been familiar with the ways of boat people, for the certified copy of the marriage certificate is evidently completed in his handwriting. Both Emma and Fanny Jackson, who were witnesses have crosses and ‘her mark’ by their names, but the signature of Jack duly appears, although the copy is in the curate’s handwriting.

proprietorial manner on the cabin top, his legs partially obscuring Hubert Hawkins’ name on the cabin side. By this time narrow boat traffic on the River Kennet was not common and the arrival of the boat seems to have caused a stir locally, for a number of local boys and a girl are also to be seen in the background looking on curiously. Barge traffic still passed from the Kennet to the Thames, but the one-time common coal traffic from the Midlands to industrial plants in Reading and the Kennet Valley had ceased. Exactly where this load went to is not known, but Jack evidently made some useful contacts at Reading, for he was eventually to return there on a permanent basis.

For the meantime Jack seems to have returned to the Oxford Canal and taken on another Jack, his wife Emma and sister Millie (on towpath) at boat with the assistance of Blakes Lock, Reading c 1924 (Image courtesy of David Milly. His first child, John, was Blagrove Collection) born the following year, his Jack’s new married status meant that birth being registered at Foleshill (north he now reverted to a single boat, of Coventry and the parish that includes appropriately named Jack, which Hawkesbury Junction) and thereafter Hubert Hawkins dispatched to Reading the couple produced another five: with a load of coal. This was George born 1925, Doris and Thomas presumably loaded at Moira, for a both born 1928 but not twins, Noel born photograph of the boat in Blakes Lock, 1932 and Christine born 1938. All the Reading, apparently shows it loaded latter children’s births were registered in with large housecoal. His sister Amelia Reading. By 1928 Jack had saved (‘Milly’) appears in the picture on the sufficient to achieve the ambition of all towpath leading the horse, Emma is independently-minded boatmen, the steering and Jack is sitting in a ownership of his boats. He appears to © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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JACK JAMES A serialised biography by David Blagrove – Part 8

have acquired two boats from his father, for Jack had two boats registered under the Canal Boats Act in that year. The Two Brothers was registered at Banbury on 20th February 1928 presumably named for Jack’s first two

the Kennet, once a mill headstream and known as ‘The Jack o’Newbury stream’. It was entered from the Kennet immediately above County Lock (No. 106) and from Bridge Street by a lane running west immediately south of the bridge over the main river. Today the Reading Inner Distribution road runs above the site, but it is still partly visible. The entry to the ‘Jack o’Newbury stream’ meant dropping the boats stern first from immediately above County Lock. A shoal had built up by the The Brewery Gut plan shows the same area in more detail, including entrance to the the tortuous path that the boat horses had to follow through the centre stream making of Reading (Image courtesy of David Blagrove Collection) the approach difficult for loaded boats. There was sons and Thames Valley on 23rd April however a railway siding on the 1928. If they were indeed bought from opposite bank and sometimes a friendly his father they must have been formerly engine driver could be persuaded to Doris and George Henry, but which is drop a long towline over his coupling which is not certain, although Doris was hook and pull a loaded boat over the formerly called Two Brothers. George shoal. Although there was a good James changed it to Doris, so Jack may towpath on the Kennet above Reading, have merely changed the name back to the river through the town had none its original one. It would appear that between Bridge Street Bridge and High Jack had based himself in Reading from Bridge about a quarter of a mile 1925 onwards. In 1928 his name downstream save for a short, isolated appears on business correspondence length of about a hundred yards. This is as ‘The Wharf, Bridge Street, Reading’. still the case today but the stream has This was in fact sited on a backwater of © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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JACK JAMES A serialised biography by David Blagrove – Part 8

been considerably widened and an awkward bend above High Bridge has been eased. The Kennet is a stream that is fed from chalk country and also has a considerable hydraulic gradient, which means that although it takes a good deal of rain to raise the water level, it flows much faster than the Thames and when the stream becomes strong it does so for much longer than a river draining clay country. Consequently the ‘Brewery Gut’ or ‘Gullet’, as this stream is called, is a very dangerous stretch of water for novices. In former times it was even more dangerous for horse-drawn boats. These had to negotiate the ‘Gut’ downstream by drifting with a ‘log’ or weight over the stern, and in times of strong current by winding below County Lock and drifting stern first with the weight off the fore end. Coming upstream a very long line had to be floated down from above Bridge Street Bridge, using a float kept nearby for this very purpose. There was a snatch block cemented into the wall of a building on the south side of the bridge and another on the bridge abutment close to the spandrel of the arch; the towline was run through these and the horse set off along Bridge Street at right angles to the river. The towline passed in front of house doorways imprisoning the occupants until the boat had come up through the bridge. Jack Garner, who married Amelia, told me how his father had lost a boat loaded with plaster of Paris when the towline parted in a flood

and the boat was swept backwards against a wall at the foot of the ‘Gut’ and broke its back. This was in 1904 and in 1950 the motor boat Columba narrowly escaped a similar fate. In the 1920s matters were no easier when the navigation was controlled by the Great Western Railway, who had no inclination to do anything to assist a rival form of transport, although obliged by law to keep the navigation open. Because of the difficulty of approaching his new premises from downstream, Jack acquired a tug to move craft through the ‘Gut’. This was not a particularly grand vessel, being no more than an ex-ship’s clinker-built lifeboat fitted with a single cylinder water-drip Bolinder semi-diesel engine, but it certainly did the job. Moreover both locks between his wharf and the Thames were long enough to accept two narrow boats abreast and a tug.

www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Mats origins are in Australia where Page 14 he predominantly worked within the tourism industry so, it’s an exciting time for both Mat, me and

The Friends of The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne may not agree with the opinions expressed in this newsletter, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official statement unless so stated.

Latest - Welcome to Mat On Friday 16th May, Mathew (Mat) Bradley joined The Canal Museum team to manage the day-to-day operation at Stoke Bruerne with Louise, working alongside Anna, Becca, Charlotte, Emi, Grace, Sarah and Shivani.

COUNCIL MATTERS David Blagrove

Financial Matters

ollowing the recent serious illness of our Treasurer, Rick Thake, I have temporarily taken control of the finances of The Friends. This is not a satisfactory position and it would be appreciated if another member would be prepared to take this matter on, possibly permanently.

David Blagrove, Jenny Copeland and Denis Atkinson at the award presentation (Photo: LS)

At a meeting of Council last November it was decided that an annual Award should be made to a member of The Friends who, in the opinion of Council, had performed outstanding service on behalf of the Friends during the preceding year. It was subsequently unanimously decided that the current award should go to Jenny Copeland, who initiated the idea of our most successful Village at War event back in 2008 and who has continued to play an important role in the organisation of the event each subsequent year. Since Jenny was out of the UK at the time of our AGM, the award was made to her at the first Council meeting after her return, in January last. The Award Trophy consists of a turned wood bowl, which is held for a year, with a miniature version for keeps. The Award is open to all members © Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

In the meantime I can report that the finances of The Friends are in reasonable shape and the position, as at the 20th May 2014, is as follows: Balance at Bank on behalf £26,119.54 of the Charity account Balance at Bank on behalf £13,859.67 of the Company account Business reserve account £1,051.71 Cash in hand £0.00 Total liquid assets £41,030.92 Additionally the Friends £4,227.99 have assets of The sum in the Trading Company's account is to cover setting up expenses for the Family Festival and Village at War events and to provide a float. This, plus any profits from the events, will be returned to the main Charity in the form of a donation from the Trading Company after the events concerned. David Blagrove, Chairman

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FAMILY FESTIVAL Lynda Payton

2014 FAMILY FESTIVAL Lynda Payton

ÂŠ Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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FAMILY FESTIVAL Lynda Payton

CAN YOU BAKE A CAKE, MAKE A PROMISE OR DONATE AN ITEM FOR OUR AUCTION? At the Stoke Bruerne Family Festival this year we are having a Boaters Auction combined with an Auction of Promises     

so as well as donations of boaty bric-a-brac, we need promises of all sorts of things we can auction to raise funds to help The Canal Museum. These could be a service you can offer or couple of hours of your time, for example gardening, decorating or boat servicing, or you might be able to offer a boat trip, a meal or a weekend away in your holiday home. We will also have a Sales, Cake and ‘Find the Wine’ stall – and could really do with cakes and help for an hour or two running them. If you can volunteer an hour or two of your time or can donate something please contact Sandie Morton (01604) 858294 or Lynda Payton (01604) 861205 We look forward to seeing you there

Thank You!!! For full details please see www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/sb-family-festival

FOCM 2014 DIARY June

1st Canal Museum 14th / 15th FoCM 22nd Mikron Theatre

Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club Canal Family Festival ‘Troupers’ - Museum Green

08:00 10:00 14:00

Heritage walks for Grandparents / Grandchildren Pirate Weekend Wildlife Safari

14:00

Village at War Roses and Castles Painting

10:00 10:00

Illuminated Boats and Christmas Carols

16:00

August

7th Canal Museum

16th / 17th Canal Museum 28th Canal Museum

10:00 14:00

September

13th / 14th FoCM 20th / 21st Canal Museum

December

6th FoCM

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MUSEUM REOPENING Both photos: SD

Jack James’ two daughters Christine Ratledge and Doris Osborne at the Museum reopening

Richard Parry, David Blagrove and Louise Stockwin reopening the Museum

www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 18

MUSEUM REOPENING Both Photos: KD

Visitors on the Museum Green for the reopening

Richard Parry (CRT), David Blagrove (FoCM) and Wendy Capelle (CRT)

ÂŠ Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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THE FLAGPOLE Both Photos: JR

Steve Bignal (Squire of Rose and Castle Morris) receiving the flag of St George from Rodney Wardlaw (Royal Society of St George)

Children from Stoke Bruerne Primary School providing entertainment

ÂŠ Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 20

THE FLAGPOLE

Rose and Castle Morris side dancing at the flag raising (Photo: JR)

Rodney Wardlaw (Royal Society of St George) with Rose and Castle Morris men and David Blagrove (Photo: SD)

ÂŠ Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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VILLAGE AT WAR

ÂŠ Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

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FOND MEMORIES OF ROBIN SMITHETT Mike Partridge

The flowering cherry at top lock, Stoke Bruerne (Photo: KD)

ehind the photograph of this tree lies a story of which few people are aware. Since meeting Robin in 1994, each year he would wait for the ideal opportunity to take a photograph of this tree. I was given the task of informing Robin when it was at its best and in full bloom. As the buds began to open each year, I would call Robin and inform him they were on their way. Eventually the tree would be in full bloom and I would tell Robin, as he would have to drive from Hereford. Unfortunately each year an obstacle to prevent Robin securing an image of this tree occurred. Robin would either be too busy photographing in other areas and missing the moment, the strong ÂŠ Friends of The Canal Museum 2014 Registered Charity No 1121146

winds would sometimes get there before Robin and on one occasion I had telephoned Robin, he was on his way, I was arranging lunch for us both; he planned to take the photograph before lunch, unfortunately on his journey we experienced a tremendous thunderstorm, coupled with strong winds and hail. I looked out of my window to find all the blossom had disappeared from the tree; a soggy Robin was standing amongst the fallen blossom like confetti at a wedding. He looked at me, chuckled to himself and enquired as to whether I had the kettle on. This tree is my abiding memory of Robin. www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 23

FOCM COUNCIL 2014 Chairman David Blagrove (01604) 862174  also member of the Curatorial Group & Trustee Vice-Chairman Lorna York (Trustee) Treasurer Rick Thake (treasurer@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Minutes Secretary Denis Atkinson Membership Secretary Jenny Copeland (membership@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Publicity & Website, Grant Funding & Awards Lynda Payton (01604) 861205 (publicity@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Newsletter Kathryn Dodington (editor@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Museums & Attractions Partnership John Alderson Volunteer Co-ordinator Trevor Allum Other Museum Manager (ex-officio seat) Jenny Copeland (Trustee) Bill Mann (Catering) Michael Butler (Village at War)

Photographic Credits LS KD JR SD IWM

Louise Stockwin CRT Kathryn Dodington FoCM James Rudd NN12 Steve Dean Imperial War Museum

Events Sub-Committees Trevor Allum, Dennis Atkinson, Michael Butler, Jenny Copeland, David Daines, Bill Mann, Sandie Morton, Museum Manager, Mike Partridge, Lynda Payton, Victoria Powell, Terry Richardson, Graeme Scothern, Laura Sturrock, Rick Thake, Helen Westlake, Liam Whitby. Non-Council Posts Roger Hasdell Terry Richardson Brian Collings Rose Granaghan Laura Sturrock

Assistant Newsletter Editor  Assistant Publicity Officer Curatorial Group  Winter Talks Organiser Trustee