Museum Matters August 2014 by Friends of the Canal Museum

Museum Matters August 2014

Newsletter of The Friends of The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

David Blagrove MBE Lynda Payton OUR Chairman, waterway enthusiast, lifelong campaigner and local IWA member, David Blagrove has been appointed an MBE in The Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday Honours List. The citation reads: Order Of The British Empire, Civil: Member David Richard Blagrove, Volunteer. For services to Restoration of the UK Waterways. (Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire). For over sixty years David has dedicated a huge proportion of his life to the restoration and promotion of the waterways, starting in the 1950s when, still at school, and as a member of the Kennet & Avon Canal Association, he helped set up the Reading Branch of the Association and began campaigning for its restoration and eventual re-opening, which took place in 1990. In 1961 he became joint owner of Enterprise an former working boat

In this Issue David Blagrove MBE Chairman's Jottings Jack James Images from recent events Sculptor update Village at War FoCM News Researching Sister Mary Mathew Bradley Family Festival Update

2 5 9 13 21 23 24 25 28 29

Living Waterway Awards

30 31

FoCM Diary

David preparing for an outing on his beloved Sculptor (Photo: KD)

converted to run as a passenger boat operating on the remaining navigable section of the River Kennet at Reading and commercial carrying at the same time. The following year he assisted with the setting up of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, formed out of the previous Association, and was an early Council Member of that Trust. On leaving a job in London, David went to work for the Willow Wren Canal Carrying Company, initially as a sub-contractor and later with a pair of boats. During the big freeze of 1962-63 he fetched up in Stoke Bruerne, where he lives now. In the spring of 1963 he joined the Thames Conservancy as a Relief Lock Keeper, finally leaving full

Cover picture: Richard Parry (Chief Exec CRT) congratulates David Blagrove on the award of his MBE at the Stoke Bruerne Canal Family Festival (Photo: KD)

ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 2

David Blagrove MBE Lynda Payton time employment on the waterways after marrying Jean in 1964 in order to train as a history teacher. He moved to Stoke Bruerne in 1966 and took up a post at the local secondary school. He continued to carry freight part-time until retirement.

the Association at a public inquiry at Blisworth over the routing of the Blisworth Bypass and its effect on the Northampton Arm. David has held a number of posts, serving as an IWA Council member between 1981-90 and being appointed as a Vice President in 1991. In 1990 he was a founding committee member of what is now the Commercial Boat Owners Association, serving as Vice Chairman until 2006 and frequently represented CBOA at meetings of the Parliamentary Waterways Group at the House of Commons. He is a Vice-

David a few years (perhaps) ago - boating on Elton and music

Having joined the Inland Waterways Association in 1960, he helped set up the Northampton Branch in 1971-2, serving as its Chairman from 1972-78 during which time the Branch campaigned for the retention of grain traffic to Whitworth’s Mill at Wellingborough, organised a series of boat rallies, including the 1971 ‘National’ in Northampton which saw over 600 boats attending, and gave evidence at a public inquiry into the diversion of the A5 which bisected the line of the Old Stratford Canal making the restoration of the Buckingham Arm more difficult. In 1983 he both gave evidence on behalf of IWA and represented © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

David welcoming guests to the 2013 Village at War event (Photo: KD)

President of this Association. He is also an Honorary Life Member of the Narrowboat Trust (set up in 1970) and contributes to a website chat forum for the SMJ Society www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 3

David Blagrove MBE Lynda Payton (Stratford upon Avon Midland Junction Railway). Another interest he champions alongside waterways! More recently, in 2005/6, David co-founded a new volunteer group, The Friends of The Canal Museum, set up to help support the then ailing Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, and still serves as its Chairman. At the same time he joined a re-invigorated Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership working

contributor of numerous articles and columns for magazines and newsletters directed at the waterway and railway communities, as well as delivering interesting talks in his own inimitable witty style. Many of you will agree with me I’m sure. David’s honour is overdue and well deserved recognition of sixty years of a life dedicated to our waterways. Well done David!

A Day out with The Friends Sadly this event has had to be cancelled as there was not enough support to make it viable from a financial point of view. The Old Stables - tidied up on a 'Canal Adoption' day (Photo: KD)

on a number of projects including the production of an award winning Conservation Plan in 2008, and currently a Development Plan. He is also responsible for the setting up an operation of the Stoke Bruerne Canal Adoption Group under the auspices of the Partnership. You might well think that all this is enough to be going on with – but any spare time David left over has supported a secondary career as an accomplished historian, author of many books about the railways and canals, musician and songwriter, keeping the traditions and oral history of the waterways alive. He is also a regular © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

For those of you who did express an interest - thank you for doing so. Denis Atkinson

Village at War - Help Please If you can help on the day pleae make yourself known at the control point which will be shown on the map in the programme. If you can help with donations of cakes etc please deliver them to the village hall on the day.

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 4

Chairman's Jottings David Blagrove SO far this year has been a difficult one for both ourselves and the Museums and Attractions Partnership of CRT with whom we constantly interact. The M&A have been beset with problems, not least being the sudden loss of David Henderson, as well as the extensive refurbishment of the Museum building and staff illnesses. They now seem to be well on the way to recovering. For ourselves, several Council members have retired or are about to do so and consequently we are in need of fresh blood on Council. I am delighted to record the fact that Barbara Everest’s husband, Brian, has agreed to take over the financial running of Village at War for this year, which is a great weight off my shoulders, but we urgently need a replacement for Sandie Morton, who has been one of our stalwarts on Council from the beginning and who has been Membership Secretary. Likewise Jenny Copeland, who originally came up with the idea of the Village at War event, has also decided that the time for retirement has come, while Rick Thake, our Treasurer, is still recovering from his sudden illness of last January. Meanwhile two more stalwarts will be relinquishing their responsibilities after the AGM. Denis Atkinson, who has been our long-suffering Minutes Secretary for several years, has intimated that he would like to retire this year and Lynda Payton, whilst not exactly wishing to retire, needs to shed some of her responsibilities in view of her commitments elsewhere in CRT. So, as the ancient typist’s exercise used to say 'Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party' (and in this obviously we include women!). There is no need to wait for the AGM. There is plenty to do, as will be made plain below, and any volunteers can be © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

instantly co-opted and their appointment confirmed at a later date. If you live within reasonable travelling distance of the Museum I should like to hear from you. My telephone number is (01604) 862174. Before turning to other matters I would like to pay tribute to those retiring members for the work that they have done. As well as losing these valued members of Council, we have also lost the services of our Honorary Curators, Mike and Sue Constable, who are also taking a wellearned retirement. Without Mike and Sue we should not have been able to have obtained the essential accreditation of the Museum that has opened the door to better funding and to establishing a more secure future. Both of them were professional museum curators and could quite reasonably have said that they wished nothing more for the last five years or so than to be left in peace to enjoy their

David with Jenny Copeland and Denis Atkinson - both of whom are retiring (Photo: LS)

retirement from the profession. Instead they agreed to come on board and mastermind the whole process of accreditation. Their wise counsel will be www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 5

Chairman's Jottings David Blagrove missed and on your behalf I wish them a proper and peaceful second retirement. I occasionally hear mutterings about the amount of money that The Friends have in the Bank and what do we intend doing with it? The answer is not that some members of Council have plans for a retirement home in the Caribbean, but that until recently our energies were centred on keeping the Museum in existence. This thankfully is no longer an issue and now is the time to move forward. There were plans back in the 1990s for expansion of the buildings, which had to be shelved because of financial constraints. Maybe now is the time to take these down and dust them off. The Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership, of which we are active members, has prepared a Ten-Year Plan for the canalside in consultation with CRT and South Northants Council, and these include developments of the

Wearing lifejackets on Sculptor is a must when underway (Photo: KD)

Museum infrastructure. Of course such developments are expensive but the principle of match funding means that we can make a significant contribution towards any such project. At present we have some £40,000+ in funds, but putting this towards match funding and using volunteer labour can turn this to a many times greater figure. This is always provided that The Friends can keep going as a viable organisation, and this means more hands to the pumps, especially on Council and its various subCommittees. The July Council meeting was in fact dedicated entirely to the question of where we are going, and members unanimously voted for working towards an ever-more improved Museum and facilities. Since the formation of the Canal & River Trust two years ago there has been a considerable, and welcome, upsurge in volunteering in all parts of the organisation, not least the Museums and Attractions Partnership. However, and in my view inevitably, concerns have been raised over the application of some of the Health and Safety considerations. In particular those volunteers who maintain and operate Sculptor on behalf of the M&A Partnership have raised concerns over such matters as the wearing of life jackets when both operating the vessel under way and working on it at its moorings. To this end a meeting with the Partnership was scheduled for 4th August. At this point it is as well to draw members’ attention to a Bill, currently before Parliament, with the rather ponderous title of 'The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill 2014-15'. This is a Government Bill, which essentially means www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 6

Chairman's Jottings David Blagrove that it reflects the policy of HM Government rather than a Private, or Private Members' Bill, which reflects an individual or corporate concern. The Parliamentary website gives a summary of this as 'A Bill to make provision as to matters to which a court must have regard in determining a claim in negligence or breach of statutory duty'. Without going into the detail of the provisions, which are in any case subject to change during subsequent readings of the

period and many more to the Middle Ages, for human nature changes little over the centuries. It is a judge-made law based on the principles of common sense, reasonability and precedent and is always capable of being amended and updated according to current circumstances. Frequently it has been incorporated into Statute Law, which is the law made by Parliament, a body elected by the free people of England. Most Continental Law on the other hand is based on the Code Napoleon, a series of laws imposed upon conquered countries by an unelected dictator. In some respects this has its advantages, especially when it comes to making sure that the populace does as its Government wants it to, but its disadvantage is inflexibility. It is probably reasonably evident that my preference is for our system.

Bill before it receives the Royal Assent, probably next year, it appears to me that what the Bill attempts to do is to re-assert the ancient principle of English Common Law known by the Latin phrase 'volenti non fit injuria'. Passing over the question of why an English principle should be expressed in Latin, the phrase effectively means that putting oneself deliberately in peril does not make a case for an injury claim. This ancient principle, in which the application of common sense was an integral part, has been overlaid by more recent Euro legislation and here a quick resume of the two legal systems is of relevance.

If the above Bill becomes law it will have a profound effect upon the status of volunteers. It will not alter the Duty of Care that must be exercised, but hopefully it will go some way towards relieving organisations such as CRT from constantly looking over their collective shoulders for ambulance-chasing solicitors.

The Common Law of England has, like so much of our way of life, evolved over many hundreds of years, some of the principles going as far back as the Anglo-Saxon ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

The Family Festival was once again a great success. I leave it to Lynda to report on it elsewhere, but our thanks are again due to Lynda and her team for once more delivering the goods. Preparations are well advanced for the Village at War event of 13th-14th September. So far this summer has been an exceptionally good one, although the Festival weekend could have been better. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope that September will crown Mick Butler and his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work with some good weather. www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 7

Chairman's Jottings David Blagrove previously). Mick was until fairly recently a driver on the Severn Valley Railway and his reply to my apology for the state of the bilge was 'It is nothing compared to getting under a steam loco!' The boat has made several forays this year. In May it went to Braunston for the IWA Rally and a few weeks later to Crick for the Boat Show. In June it returned to Braunston for the Working Boat Gathering and in July to Cosgrove in support of the Buckingham Arm Restoration. Several training runs have been undertaken. It is hoped that regular movements will take place during the winter season, so here is yet another activity in which volunteers will be welcome.

The Red Wheel for Blisworth tunnel in place (Photo: KD)

You will read elsewhere in this newsletter about the Red Wheel Plaque, to be inaugurated on 22nd August. To this end the Volunteer Group has had two sessions round the Tunnel end clearing intrusive vegetation and opening up views of the portal and horse shelter. Our CRT Organiser, Miriam Tedder has meanwhile been in Switzerland taking part in an Iron Man Triathlon. This involved a lake swim, a Marathon run and a bike ride all in mountainous country. Miriam completed the course in 12 hours, 55 minutes and 58 seconds, which is a very creditable result. Work continues on Sculptor. The rewiring is more-or-less complete, thanks to Mick Gardnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sterling efforts. He has also fixed the electric bilge pump which required a good deal of rootling about in a mucky bilge (although it is now very much cleaner than ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

The Museum has a new recruit in the shape of Mat Bradley, who has been appointed joint manager of the Museum alongside Louise Stockwin. For some reason Stoke Bruerne is acquiring a definite Antipodean flavour, for, like our Editor, Mat comes from the other side of the globe. He has already settled in as though he has always been at the Museum, so this is as good a place as any to wish him every success in his career with us. Finally I have been taken aback by the number of congratulations and good wishes following the last Birthday Honours. I know that the initiative came from my colleagues within the Friends and IWA. All I can say is that there are many others whose work has never been recognised, and I am pleased to accept the Honour on behalf of these unsung heroes. So, enjoy what remains of the summer and please, if you possibly can, come and give us a hand, even if it is only helping out at Village at War for an hour or so. www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 8

Jack James A serialised biography by David Blagrove - Part 9 WHETHER Jack had made his acquaintance during his previous visit to Reading I am not certain, but certainly by 1928 he appears in a loose form of partnership with Alfred William (Bill) Chivers and his brother-in-law Jack Garner. Bill Chivers was of Jack’s father’s generation and towards the end of his life claimed to be the 'last of the Kennet & Avon bargemen'. This was not strictly true, but he certainly was the last bargeman to live afloat on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Bill Chivers at that time owned a barge called Marjory, capable of carrying 70 tons, and his contribution to the partnership was this and some dredging equipment. Under the business name of Thames Transport the partnership set about matters in as business-like manner as could be expected from what were essentially transient principals. Printed stationery and invoice forms were produced, there were premises of a sort in Bridge Street and the accounts and legal affairs such as contracts were placed in the hands of a Reading solicitor. Much of the work was ballasting, done in a similar fashion to the work mentioned before at Kings Weir. Reading was an expanding town and there was a ready market for building supplies so the partnership was kept busy. Jack and his brother-in-law provided much of the muscle power while Bill Chivers used his local contacts to find outlets for river-dredged ballast. The dredging equipment would be mounted on one of the narrow boats and the two men would fill approximately one boat per day, say thirty tons, then the two would set off behind the tug for Reading, where the ballast would once again be manhandled onto the wharf. Jack Garner © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

told me of some of their exploits. Jack James had the bright idea of seeing what gravel might be extracted from the River Loddon, a tributary of the Thames which joins the main river just upstream of Wargrave. The Loddon has never been officially navigable, but the two Jacks found that they could work some distance upstream from the confluence with the Thames by pulling the boats stern first with the tug. In this fashion they were able nearly

River Loddon joining the Thames (Photo: Geograph.org.uk)

to reach the A4 Bath Road. Once while they were working here there was heavy rain and both rivers had what locals call 'a flush'. The two boats were loaded and the two men went aboard the tug leaving their wives to steer the loaded pair. They set off downstream but, just as they were crossing the Shiplake Weir stream prior to getting into Shiplake Lock the Bolinder went out. The whole ensemble began to be swept downstream towards the piers of Shiplake Railway Bridge and the two women pumped their tillers frantically as the bridge loomed nearer. They narrowly missed the piers while the two husbands struggled with and cursed at the engine. Finally, just before they passed the George & Dragon at Wargrave the engine decided to fire and www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 9

Jack James A serialised biography by David Blagrove - Part 9 they managed to struggle back upstream towards Reading. The Loddon episode ended when an irate landowner came upon Jack James happily dredging off his riparian property early one morning. The landowner asked Jack how he had got the boats there and when he explained he was told that he either ought to be given a medal or a jail sentence. Jack took the hint and departed. Another cargo handled by the partnership was scrap metal. In 1925 the Great Western Railway rebuilt the bridge across the Thames at Appleford. Jack James’s boats were used to remove the scrap girders and to take them to a firm of scrap merchants in Reading called Jacksons. At this time a boatyard near Reading Bridge was building a large wooden pleasure steamer, Queen of the Thames. This was

Shiplake Railway Bridge (Photo: Geograph.org.uk)

the largest wooden steamer ever to be built for the Upper Thames and one of the girders was used to strengthen the new steamer’s hull. This boat lasted in service until 1962 and the girder was evident in the main saloon to the very end. In the mid-1920s the growth of internal combustion engines in road vehicles saw © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

thousands of horses made redundant. Many of these wretched beasts were slaughtered for pet food and Jacksons acquired the horseshoes. These they sent to Cohens at Limehouse for export to Germany and Jack’s pair was the means by which the scrap shoes reached Regents Canal Dock, as Limehouse Basin was then known. This was quite an experience, since the loaded boats had to travel down the tideway from Teddington, their only motive power being the little tug. The Lighterman’s Company was jealous of its privileges and insisted that the boats be crewed by a Registered Lighterman, but on Chivers’ advice the brothers-in-law successfully claimed the 'East and Westabout' concession. This little-known right dated from Stuart times when London was beset by plague. The bargemen of the 'west country' (i.e. from upstream of Staines, the boundary of the City of London’s jurisdiction over the river) continued to bring food and supplies into London when other workers refused. In thanks for this service King Charles II granted the 'west country' bargemen the right to use their own labour over the City’s waters. Other work undertaken at this time included carrying racing shells to the various regattas held on the Thames, working a narrow boat converted into a houseboat through the entire length of the Kennet & Avon Canal as far as Bath, and salvage jobs on the Thames. This last was not over popular with the wives since they seemed mainly to involve recovering craft late at night at weekends. Jack James told me that he would be employed by establishments such as Skindles Hotel at Maidenhead, then a very fashionable rendezvous for 'the www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 10

Jack James A serialised biography by David Blagrove - Part 9 fast set' from London. These places often had punts and skiffs which would be hired out to young bloods, who would pay in advance plus a hefty deposit for the privilege. 'Of course' said Jack, 'They’d have a ‘friend’ wi’ them. Actresses, they called ‘em, but I reckon they was not exactly on the stage'. The aforesaid young bloods would leave the girls to their fate once they had had what they wanted and the two Jacks would be deputed to go out after dark with the tug to recover the abandoned vessels, very often finding a comatose 'actress' still aboard. Emma and Milly were highly suspicious of what went happened on these occasions, though both the husbands pleaded innocence. The ballast work was hit by the financial crisis of 1931 and other work became considerably scarcer than it had done in the latter 1920s. Consequently it seems that the partnership began to fall on hard times. Chivers is recorded as having taken a small load of 'sundries' to Newbury in May 1934 and as assisting with the passage through the whole canal of pleasure steamers: Gaiety in March 1929, en route to

Skindles Hotel Maidenhead

Evesham; Hurley, also en route for Evesham in February 1932 and Jubilee from Evesham to London in July 1936. © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

The London Stone - marking the boundary of London at Staines (Image: © Spelthorne Museum)

Apart from this he had very little work and a group of Manchester scouts hired his barge Doris for a holiday travelling from Thatcham, where he moored his barge, to Semington and back in August 1935. Jack James and Jack Garner had little or nothing to do with any of these exploits. Being based at a fixed place at least allowed the older children to attend school at nearby Katesgrove. Sadly this hard but stable existence was brought to an abrupt end when the solicitor, to whom the partnership’s affairs were entrusted, defaulted with the financial assets, leaving the James and Garner families almost destitute. Being boaters though they managed to extricate themselves from this distressing situation, but the price was that Jack Garner was left with a boat and the tug while Jack James returned to Oxford with the other boat to see what work might be available there. Subsequently Jack Garner went to work for a firm of contractors in Reading and he, Milly and their children moved ashore to a house in nearby Upper Crown Street. The contractors bought the tug and removed the Bolinder. Although Hubert Hawkins was still in business in Oxford, the trade into Oxford www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 11

Jack James A serialised biography by David Blagrove - Part 9 Basin was visibly flagging by 1938, when Jack James returned. Indeed the Canal Company was negotiating with Sir William Morris, later Lord Nuffield, over the sale of the terminal basin for the site of Nuffield College. However a new opportunity arose with the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. This Company had been formed as a subsidiary of the Grand Union Canal Company, which in turn was formed in 1929 from an amalgamation of older canal companies led by the Regents Canal Company of London. The Grand Union Company now controlled a system of waterways stretching from Limehouse and Brentford in the south to Birmingham and Nottinghamshire in the Midlands and at an early stage had begun a programme of modernisation of boats and waterways as

to this expansion had had to be called in 1937 because the Company was experiencing problems in finding sufficient work and crews for the new boats. A number of ex-Number Ones had already been recruited and so when Jack applied for a job he was welcomed with open arms.

The Red Wheel The proposal came up at Friends council meeting when discussing a statue in memory of Jack James. The prices were rocketing and it was suggested that a ‘blue plaque’ would be a suitable alternative but that these were now not being approved due to the high cost and the high numbers of suitable people to acknowledge. It was then suggested that a Transport Trust ‘Red Wheel’ might be appropriate so the Transport Trust were approached. Red Wheels, we were advised, were for engineering excellence and that Blisworth Tunnel would be a very worthy recipient. It had been proposed some time ago but for various reasons it had not been progressed.

County Lock Reading c1910. County Weir is to the left, the lock left of centre and the 'Jack o' Newbury' Stream on the right beyond the guard rails. See p13 of last issue of MM (Photo: DB)

well as acquiring a number of subsidiary companies to deal with varying transport matters. The Carrying Company essentially dealt with the narrow boat traffic between London and the Midlands and had expanded greatly during the 1930s. A halt © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

It has now been progressed and on 22nd August it was unveiled; 22nd August marked the 30th Anniversary since the reopening of the tunnel in 1984. The Red Wheel is attached to the west-facing wall of the forge at the request of CRT. Permission to place it on the south facing southern portal was considered but as it is a Grade II listed structure the west-facing wall of the forge was seen as the best option. www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 12

Canal Family Festival

Aquarius and Ilford, fully laden with loose loaded coal, with crews Glyn and Rosemary Phillips and Roger and Teresa Fuller graced the Canal Family Festival (Photo: KD)

Holland, Ilford, Aquarius, Sculptor and Southern Cross prior to the Family Festival (Photo: KD) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 13

Canal Family Festival

Kate Saffin entertaining guests alongside Ilford (Photo: LP)

Champagne and strawberries at Hoperidge Cottage courtesy of Roy and Christine Sears (Photo: LP) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 14

Red Wheel event for Blisworth Tunnel

Charlie, kindly provided by the Stoke Bruerne Boat Co, delivering the guests who boarded in Blisworth (Photo: RW)

The Red Wheel showing its position relative to the southern portal of the tunnel (Photo: KD) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 15

Red Wheel event for Blisworth Tunnel

The fabulous cake (made locally) to celebrate the Red Wheel event (Photo: KD)

L to R James Clifton (CRT), Lord Leiutenant of Northamptonshire, David Laing, the Hon Sir William McAlpine Bt (President of the Transport Trust) and Dr Nigel Crowe (CRT Head of Heritage) (Photo: KD) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 16

Red Wheel event for Blisworth Tunnel

Tunnellers all - L to R John Woods, Roy Slocombe and Colin Mackenzie, who all had an important part to play in the rebuilding of the tunnel 30 years ago. The photo also shows the reopening sign, beautifully reconditioned by FoCM member Rob Westlake (Photo: MR)

L to R Dr Nigel Crowe (CRT Head of Heritage), Lord Leiutenant of Northamptonshire, David Laing and the Hon Sir William McAlpine Bt (President of the Transport Trust) cutting the cake (Photo: SD) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 17

Red Wheel event for Blisworth Tunnel

The Lord Leiutenant of Northamptonshire, David Laing and the Hon Sir William McAlpine Bt (President of the Transport Trust) unveiling the Red Wheel (Photo: SD)

L to R Dr Nigel Crowe, James Clifton, Lady Judy and Sir William McAlpine, Lord Leiutenant David Laing, Stuart Wilkinson (Chairman of the Transport Trust) and Peter Stone (Transport Trust) (Photo: SD) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 18

Canal Family Festival

The Vikings arrive in Stoke Bruerne aboard Sickle (Photo: LP)

Alan and Cath Fincher's Sickle as the Viking boat at the Festival (Photo: DW) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 19

Candid Camera

One of the many vintage motorcycles to visit the Museum during the year with Sculptor in the background (Photo: KD)

A sight not seen often - Julia Cook's pair of boats (Towcester and Bideford) well laden approaching Stoke Bruerne top lock (Photo: KD) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 20

Sculptor Update David Blagrove WORK on completely restoring Sculptor continues, largely thanks to Rob Westlake (woodwork and general cabin refurbishment) and Mike Gardner (engine and electrics, including some very mucky work in the bilges, which are now clean!). At the time of writing the bilge pump, cabin lights and headlamp are now all controlled from the steering position and a new fuse board has been installed. Mike is trying to source a suitable bulb for the engine room light. Rob continues to repair broken shuts, a task not unlike painting the Forth Bridge. Tom Stewart and Richard Cox have removed the steel cages from the ballast tanks (which have now been transferred to our Asset List for storage purposes) and the

Sculptor (2nd out from the bankside) with fellow historic boats at the Braunston Historic rally (Photo: KD)

back end of the hold is now looking much tidier. Weather permitting some touchingup of paintwork is due this month and a dry dock at Braunston has been booked for late September.

Remaining work includes rubbing down and repainting the inside of the hold, repairing the gunwales and making the cabin gunwales and handrails safer for the crew, completing the repaint of the cabin and renewing the exhaust lagging in the engine room. Much of this should be accomplished during next autumn, but assistance is always welcome. This summer the boat has attended the IWA Rally and the Working Boat Gathering at Braunston in May and June respectively; the Crick Boat Show; the Buckingham Canal Society's event at Cosgrove and has undertaken several crew training runs locally. The team consists of all the abovementioned, plus Steve Dean, Phil Kidd, Bill Mann and Lorna York and myself and I am happy to report that the commitment of everyone to the cause of restoring the boat to first class working condition remains undiminished. We have enjoyed a very useful meeting with CRT about Sculptor covering such subjects as Health and Safety, training, finance, next year’s rallies, proposed winter maintenance and working with other CRT historic fleets – a very useful evening. Sculptor's blog is availabe to view at www.nbsculptor.blogspot.co.uk

Kathryn Dodington meanwhile keeps the workers provided with sustenance and regularly updates the blog.

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 21

ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 22

Grab your gas masks - Stoke Bruerne is off to war again FOR the seventh successive year Stoke fire boat in London during the latter part of Bruerne is all set to return to the 1940s with the war. the Village at War Weekend on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September. The Mick Butler and his Village at War Team weekend will kick off early on Friday would appreciate any help members (or evening (12th) for boaters with the fabulous Lola Lamour singing nostalgic songs of the 40s in The Navigation pub (table booking advised on (01604) 864988) and continues with village hall tea dances, firepower demonstrations and battles, vintage and military vehicle displays, a Black Market (get your nylons here!), reenactments from living history groups such as the The crowds enjoying last year's event (Photo: KD) Pitsford Home Guard, Women’s Land Army, Dogs Army, Allied Assortment, UK Tank Club, Trucks, Troops non-members!) can give with setting up, and Stores and the Tommy Atkins Society help over the weekend or taking down E-mail the team at and in the skies, the Battle of Britain afterwards. villageatwar@friendsofcanalmuseum.org. Memorial Flight. uk or telephone Mick on (07806) 632798 to As usual the canal will be full of working offer assistance (volunteers get free narrowboats many of them decorated in full passes) or just turn up on the day at the 1940s style. During the war the canal Control Point. played an important role in transporting essential supplies from the Midlands to the The cost of entry is £5 per person + £3 per London area and, story has it, that part of car for parking. More information can be on our website at our Gold Reserves were shipped from the found Bank of England to Liverpool during the www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/ invasion scare of 1940. Our own Museum village-at-war-2014. exhibit, Sculptor,moored outside the Museum was even called into service as a © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 23

FoCM News

Lest We Forget

Financial Matters

MONDAY 4th August marked 100 years since the declaration of War at the start of WW1. The Royal British Legion suggested a ‘Lights Out’ event to commemorate the declaration of war. We had a lovely small ceremony at the flagpole with the flag at half-mast and a number of candles burning. Both the Spice of Bruerne and the Boat Inn helped by turning out their external lights. We spent a lovely hour in our own thoughts and looking up at the stars. A very moving experience.

THE profit from the Family Festival was £4,098.00. This quarter we have paid the final instalment on the timber for the new bottom for Sculptor (£2,500.00) and have additionally spent £527.62 on parts and equipment, the greater part being on updating the electrics to conform with Boat Safety Regulations while at the same time preserving the outward appearance of the 1940s. The finances of The Friends are in reasonable shape and the position, as at the 5th August 2014, is as follows:

The scene at the top lock at 23:00 on Monday 4th August (Photo: NH)

Charity Account:

£23,315.95

Company Account:

£16,555.72

Business Reserve:

£ 1,051.71

Cash in hand:

Total Liquid Assets:

£40,923.38

Assets of:

£ 4,300.00

0.00

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

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 24

Researching Sister Mary Dr Della Sadler-Moore I start with an apology because this final article was promised for the previous edition of MM but unexpectedly I was taken ill so the article did not materialise. Thanks to Kathryn for stepping in with a most interesting article which revealed more on the Idle Women. Nevertheless during illness, and at a time of great need much was achieved regarding the Sister Mary research, in the main attributed to my receiving a visit to the Black Country by Lorna, where she took my mind off my troubles through cogitating and contemplated on the Sister Mary research we had arrived at to date.

mom, on talking to Lorna, recalled her first secretarial job being located next to top lock at The Delph, describing vividly how she regularly spent time eating lunch with the office girls whilst sitting on the balance beam (also news to me).

The content being ‘mapped’ on David's and Jean’s conservatory floor (Photo: DSM)

During Lorna’s visit we travelled around the Black Country Canal Network (in the car) seeing the ‘Cut’ from roadside stops as opposed to boater views. Lorna was able to meet my parents (Kath and John), and from a casual conversation with John the issue of boaters being in our family was raised (news to me). As you can imagine this set Lorna’s cogs in motion, the outcome of which was a wonderful birthday present for my dad, a set of files containing evidence of the families boating heritage, along with a hand crafted ‘magnifying glass’ bought from EBay which Lorna suggested to my son. I am now proud to announce I am the fourth generation on the bank of an owner boatman family who operated from The Delph, Brierley Hill in the Black Country. My © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

My last article promised an explanation of the content of the display boards (produced by and referred to internally at the University of Wolverhampton as ZAP boards), delivered to ‘The Friends’ last Easter, now on display in the education room of the museum. Their content was delicately mapped out on the floor of David's and Jean’s conservatory using the early data that had been unearthed regarding Sister Mary’s life. After discussions with Lorna and David regarding the proposed content and layout of the display boards, I duly returned to the University. More planning and floor work then took place in my office, and I pressed the button on my computer, transferring all www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 25

Researching Sister Mary Dr Della Sadler-Moore the files to the marketing department. A couple of weeks then passed and ‘magically’ the two display boards arrived. On opening them I recall being ‘thrilled’ so I asked an office colleague to take a picture. My questions for readers are: 1 Have you seen the display boards? 2 Have you looked closely at them?

National Records Office, Northampton Central Library (twice), Birmingham Archive (twice) and on numerous occasions to Northampton Records Office. Additionally at Stoke Bruerne and Braunston Canal Festival I was able to discuss Sister Mary with first hand recipients of her care and collegiality. After all these visits and data collection I have spent a number of weeks cataloguing and cross referencing the sources of information. Announcing another ‘canal’ researcher is on board.

Della with the Sister Mary display (Photo: DSM)

I suspect most people say no to at least one of these questions, so I would suggest they are well worth a closer look. Their contents clearly depict the basis of the Sister Mary story in Stoke Bruerne from which the pending ‘Care on the Cut’ book has evolved. The Sister Mary research journey has continued. Since previously reporting on the research journey I can confirm we have been to Ellesmere Port Waterways Archive, Kew © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

We are happy to announce that Chris M Jones has joined us in the production of the ‘Care on the Cut’ book. Chris is the canal illustrator / artist who does the wonderful artwork on the front of the quarterly magazine ‘Narrow Boat’. Chris is also a phenomenal source of information on canal history, a friend of Lorna and an all-round nice chap. Chris is writing specific sections in the book, advising on technical aspects of boating heritage and producing the illustrations. The so-called ‘Idle Women’? Much data has been revealed on this journey which links Sister Mary and the Grand Union Canal with the boatwomen crews recruited in World War II. This section of the book will be quite interesting to some readers as it re-interprets aspects of ‘common understanding of these somewhat temporary/transient crews’. In researching the World War II aspect of Sister Mary’s contribution to canal boater’s welfare, I came to ask myself questions www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 26

Researching Sister Mary Dr Della Sadler-Moore regarding the title ‘Idle Women’. Where does this label come from? What specifically does it mean? At a number of canal boat festivals over the last couple of years I have heard a variety of renditions to the public as to the women boaters, so I would welcome any theories you have on these questions before the book is published. Outside ‘expert’ help from within the nursing community. In a number of previous publications about Sister Mary it is reported she had one limb shorter than the other, walked with a limp and therefore wore a raised surgical boot. This was confirmed and its cause revealed

when she appeared on This is Your Life. As a result of my Registered Nurse background and contacts within specialist nurses in Orthopaedics at the University of Wolverhampton, ‘experts’ from the Royal College of Nursing were contacted and are now advising Lorna and myself regarding Sister Mary’s orthopaedic condition, leading us to additional reference materials pertinent to the years when she underwent treatment for a limb deformity. The pending book. The ‘Care on the Cut’ book is well underway, the central focus being the journey family boaters took from Birmingham to London and back again, where they would have passed through Stoke Bruerne regularly. The Amos family, from whom Sister Mary originated, had a five generation presence in Stoke Bruerne from1851 to 1968. I leave the rest to your imagination. This is a fascinating account of one family’s presence, in one village in one county which needs to be told to the current and forthcoming generations. It is an account of social mobility, enterprise, caring and working class boaters which has not previously been told in a single and coherent format. Appeal for additional information.

If anyone feels they would like to contribute their stories pertaining to Stoke Bruerne or their care by Sister Mary please contact me Handing over the Sister Mary display boards to DellaSM@wlv.ac.uk.

David Blagrove and Lorna York with Sculptor at Stoke Bruerne (Photo: DSM)

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 27

A new face - welcome to Mat Bradley I moved to the UK just before Christmas last year with the plan of doing some travel, and gaining experience working in the tourism industry abroad. After staying with some friends in Milton Keynes, I was lucky enough to land a role with the Canal & River Trust. I’ve now been working with Louise and the team at the Canal Museum for around three months.

Suddenly our rice farm in the middle of nowhere was inundated with Japanese study groups and educational tours. My dad started working as a tour guide for the Japanese visitors, and my family hosted countless homestay groups from Japan. This sparked my interest in the tourism industry and in the Japanese language and culture.

I grew up on a rice farm, about 30km outside a small town called Leeton in western New South Wales, around 750km west of Sydney. Mat Bradley Leeton is in the (Photo: MB) centre of the ’Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area’, where a network of thousands of kilometres of irrigation canals divert water from the Murrumbidgee river to irrigate farms growing rice, cotton, wine grapes and citrus fruit.

After graduating High School, I moved to the city of Albury-Wodonga, on the New South Wales-Victoria state border, to study Tourism Management and Japanese at university.

The canals I grew up around were certainly different to what you’ll find around Stoke Bruerne. While you’ll never see a single boat or lock on the irrigation canals of home, I have fond memories spending summer swimming in the irrigation canals and catching yabbies... and trying to stay out of the way of the snakes! In the mid 1990s the rice industry in Japan experienced a major supply shortage and Japan started importing Australian rice. © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

Since university, I’ve spent three years teaching English in Japan, and immediately before relocating to the UK, was working as Tourism Development Coordinator for the City of Wodonga back in Australia.

The type of canals Mat is used to (Photo: MB)

I’m enjoying my time here in Stoke Bruerne, and with Louise, and looking forward to working on ensuring Stoke Bruerne and The Canal Museum is appreciated as the beautiful and historically significant site it is.

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 28

Some rampaging at the Family Festival RAMPAGING vikings, historic and model boats, clog and Morris Dancing, displays of traditional canal crafts, music, theatre, a bustling market and much more. Despite the rain showers our Family Festival attracted a good crowd over the weekend of 14-15th June raising a record sum of between £4-4.5k. This year’s festival had a real celebratory feel spurred on enormously by the release of The Queen's Honours List at midnight on Friday and the welcome news that our Chairman David Blagrove had been awarded a much deserved MBE for services to restoration of the UK Waterways.

dropped by including Canal & River Trust CEO Richard Parry who was on hand to congratulate David on his award; as well as

There was some rampaging on the canalside (Photo: LP)

Acting SE Waterway Manager Neil Owen and two judges from the Living Waterways Awards 2014. Following on from this, we are pleased to be able to report that the Friends have been nominated as one of the Finalists for an award. Read more about this on page 22 of Museum Matters.

Liam Whitby proving that not all Vikings are frightening (Photo: LP)

This year’s Festival was more family orientated than usual featuring a circus workshop with tuition in juggling, clowning and walking a low wire trapeze as well as popular games like hook-a-duck and a colouring competition and as a result there were a lot more children in evidence. We also had huge community involvement with village gardens open to the public and lots of historic and trading boats on the water. Over the weekend quite a few visitors © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

The Family Festival Sub-Committee would like to thank all our members (and nonmembers!) who gave up their time to help out with the advance planning or on the day running various activities, stalls or car parks and to all the residents of Stoke Bruerne who pitched in to help and put up with extra visitors in the village over the weekend. We are particularly grateful to all the individuals and businesses who either donated auction prizes (which raised a whopping £427 on its own!) or made donations back to the event. There are too many of you to name individually, but you know who you are – THANK YOU! www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 29

Living Waterway Awards WE are pleased to be able to report that the Friends have been nominated as a Finalist in the Tourism & Recreation category of the Living Waterways Awards 2014 for eight years of 'Events' staged in Stoke Bruerne since our founding in 2006, as a direct result of which we have now raised a total of over ÂŁ66,000 towards our work helping to support the Museum. The events include our annual Open Weekend/Gala/Family Festival and Carols & Illuminated Boat Parade which have been staged every year since 2006, the Village at War Weekend which was first held in 2008 and one off fundraising events such as our Octoberfest, Barn Dance and Auction of Promises. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Armouries, Clarence Dock, Leeds on 24 September 2014 which our Chairman David Blagrove and Mick Butler Chairman of the Village at War Sub-Committee, hope to attend on our behalf. Keep your fingers crossed!

Friends of The Canal Museum inspired events

Illuminated boats and Christmas Carols (Photo: JR) Village at War (Photo: KD)

Canal Family Festival (Photo: LP)

ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 30

FoCM Diary 2014/15

September-2014 13th / 14th

FoCM

Village at War

10:00

18th

FoCM

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

20th / 21st

Canal Museum

Roses and Castles Painting

14:00

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

October-2014 16th

FoCM

November-2014 20th

FoCM

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

27th

FoCM

AGM at the Museum

19:30

December-2014 6th

FoCM

Illuminated Boats and Carols

16:00

19th

FoCM

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

Winter Talks Speaker To be confirmed

19:30

January-2015 15th

FoCM

February-2015 19th

FoCM

March-2015 19th

FoCM

Speakers have yet to be confirmed for the winter talks. The Friends website (http:// www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) will be updated as speakers confirm their commitment to present so please kep an eye on The Friends website. 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. The Friends of The Canal Museum accept no liability for any matter, errors or omissions contained within this newsletter. We will however gladly publish corrections if notified. The Editor reserves the right to shorten or modify articles published in the interests of space or clarity. ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

www.friendsofthecanalmuseum.org.uk Page 31

FoCM Council 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

Photographic Credits

LS Louise Stockwin CRT KD Kathryn Dodington FoCM NH Nigel Heath (www.ShotSport.co.uk) Volunteer Co-ordinator SD Steve Dean FoCM Trevor Allum DB David Blagrove FoCM LP Lynda Payton FoCM Other DW Diane Whitby FoCM Museum Manager (ex-officio seat) JR James Rudd About My Area NN12 Jenny Copeland (Trustee) MB Mat Bradley CRT Bill Mann (Catering) RW Rob Westlake FoCM Michael Butler (Village at War) MR Malcolm Ranieri Transport Trust Events Sub-Committees Trevor Allum, Dennis Atkinson, Michael Butler, Jenny Copeland, David Daines, Bill Mann, Sandie Morton, Mike Partridge, Lynda Payton, Victoria Powell, Terry Richardson, Graeme Scothern, Louise Stockwin, Laura Sturrock, Rick Thake, Helen Westlake and Liam Whitby. Non-Council Posts Roger Hasdell Asst Newsletter Editor Terry Richardson Asst Publicity Officer Brian Collings Curatorial Group Rose Granaghan Winter Talks Organiser ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

Laura Sturrock

Trustee