1602 museum matters s

Museum Matters March 2016

Newsletter of The Friends of The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

A note from the Editor Kathryn Dodington MY SINCERE APOLOGIES for there being no November issue of Museum Matters and this one possibly being late. As some of you will know, I had the misfortune to slip over whilst volunteering at the Museum and, as my consultant said, I hit the bullseye first time and managed to snap the top of my hip off. He said I was too young to have a replacement BBC 'Flog It' presenter Paul Martin with Friends Vicehip so the current one was Chairman Lorna York on the backend boards of Sculptor repaired and that involved recently (Photo: KD) screws and plates and sitting quietly (not my best subject!) for some seven weeks whilst under the care you to all those who visited me in NGH, took of Northampton General Hospital (NGH). I my washing home and returned it in pristine was allowed home on 23rd December and it condition and kept me just on the has taken much longer than I imagined to acceptable side of sane. become independent again. This is also an opportunity for me to say a heartfelt thank As you will alll know our Chairman, David, has not been in the best of health. He and In this Issue Jean are doing as well as can be expected and we wish them both well in David's A note from the Editor 2 continued recovery.

Village at War 2015 3 Ron Hough 4 Not to be outdone Vice-Chairman Lorna FoCM News 5 York has been struggling with her teeth (I Carols on the Cut 6 am not sure how many times they have Sculptor to the IWA Rally 1988 7 been in and out!). We wish her well in her Photos from recent events 10 recovery too.

Sculptor update 18 Not really a good report from the health side FoCM Diary 2016 19 of things.

Cover picture: Sculptor alongside at the Top Lock during the recent Winter Open Lock weekend (Photo: KD)

Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Village at War Lynda Payton FINE WEATHER and an action packed programme of forties entertainment drew in huge numbers of visitors to Stoke Bruerne’s 8th Village at War Weekend on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September.

Organised by the Friends of The Canal Museum, the event was supported by more individual reenactors and living history groups than ever before, many travelling A German prisoner of war being marched off during long distances to take part in the the 2015 Village at War (Photo: KD) popular vintage event and providing plenty for visitors to see and do. completed the colourful scene with one of With almost the whole village taking part, Stoke Bruerne’s regular passenger boats the community pulled together to produce masquerading as HMS Charlie complete an atmosphere buzzing with true wartime with anti-aircraft guns and turrets. There spirit. The Primary School was busy was even a model boat carrying munitions running the Nippy Tea Rooms, there was a competing with its larger counterparts for 40s Fashion Parade at the Church and the the attention of visitors in the canal basin Village Hall hosted dance classes and an outside the Museum. All indications point to afternoon tea dance. Old favourites a record breaking financial result for the glamorous singer Lola Lamour and George Friends charity, with village organisations Formby (aka Paul Casper) were joined by and charities such as Help the Heroes and several new artistes to keep both the troops Greyhound Rescue, also benefiting. and public entertained royally and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight obliged During the Weekend a new book ‘Care on with a dramatic Spitfire flypast on both days the Cut’ written by Dr. Della Sadler-Moore, and for good measure, a Dakota aircraft Lorna York and Christopher M Jones, also graced Saturday and there was an about the life of Sister Mary Ward BEM, unscheduled but welcome flyby by the Red nurse to the long distance boatmen and their families who lived at worked at Stoke Arrows on Sunday.

Bruerne, was launched. The book, in Churchill, Field Marshal Montgomery and paperback form, is on sale at the Canal George VI were kept busy delivering Museum shop. rousing speeches and inspecting the troops, and on the water, a number of historic boats, some in wartime livery, © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Ron Hough Tim Coghlan THE DEATH OF canal boat painter and sign writer Ron Hough, on 11th December, 2015, at the age of 81 marked the passing the last of those master craftsmen who had both painted the old working boats in the twilight of canal carrying, and brought that tradition into the new era of canal leisure boating.

Ron Hough painting David Schweizer's boat Helvetia (Photo: DS)

Ron was born on 3rd October, 1934 in Birmingham, into a family of working boatmen, but in a house and not on the canal. He was the youngest of four children.

His parents soon moved to Braunston because his mother wanted her children to have a proper education in the village school.

At the age of 16, Ron began working for canal carriers and boat-builders Samuel Barlow at Braunston, as an apprentice in boat building and repairs. But he was soon attracted to the yard’s tradition for boat painting, especially that of its foreman, the legendary Frank Nurser. Nurser took Ron under his wing in his remaining years there until he retired in 1952, at about which time Ron was called up for two years National © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

Service. By then he was master of his trade and, on his return from National Service, he became self-employed, working around the waterways, including Samuel Barlow, and the new world of canal leisure boating, mainly focused on Michael Streat’s Blue Line Cruisers. When the work was not there, Ron would turn his hand to being a house painter and decorator.

He continued working as a canal boat painter into his seventies. His charge rates were modest, as he said he had all he needed to live on, and liked working. In 2002 he painted the restored wooden narrowboat Raymond for the Friends of Raymond. He told them how happy he was to be painting the Samuel Barlow's livery again - it was the livery on which he was trained and the one he thought was the finest on the cut.

Ron was married in Braunston Chuch in 1958 to a London girl, Yvonne. He had met her walking the village towpath when she had come up to visit her sister who lived in Braunston. He was buried in Braunston churchyard, only a short distance from his mentor Frank Nurser.

Ironically, despite his parents being working boatmen, and painting working and leisure canal boats for over sixty years, Ron never had his own boat. He only very occasionally went boating with a village friend, and only for a day. He never spent a night afloat.

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FoCM News AT IWA NORTHAMPTON Branch rallies you may have noticed a tall, large elderly gentleman and his boat Johan. He was John Faulkner, who sadly died in December at the age of 87.

Although not recently active in the Branch, John was one of its early members when it was first formed as the Eastern Branch of the IWA in the late 1960s. When the Branch was host to the 1971 National Rally of Boats in Becket's Park. John, who worked for local builders’ merchants Martin and Partners, was involved with providing facilities, especially water pipes etc. Also he was a valued member of the Branch Committee from the 70s through to the early 2000s.

More recently he had been a keen supporter of The Friends of The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne and various canal restoration societies. He extensively cruised the system each summer, singlehandedly since his wife Joan died, although he did seek help with the locks as he later had mobility problems. As far as I know, the only time this caused him any difficulty was when he was not allowed to take his boat through Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow because he would be unable to climb up to one of the access shafts in an emergency!

Financial Update The Village at War event held in September was one of our most successful ever with a surplus of over £16,000.00. So a very big thank you to all those who supported this event.

The Carols on the Cut event in December proved much more popular than expected with a record turn-out.

We had terrific support from our ViceChairman, Lorna York, who gave the surplus from her book ‘Care on the Cut’ to the Friends. This was quite a substantial sum and we are very grateful to her.

We also ventured into new territory by selling Christmas Cards and Calendars.

These have done well and are still available in the Museum shop.

From our surplus we have been able to upgrade some of our cooking equipment and have bought a marquee from IWA. We have also paid for new cloths for Sculptor.

In all, last year was extremely successful and, with the support of the community, this year can be just as good.

Brian Everest, Treasurer

Rodney Hardwick © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Carols on the Cut THE 2015 ILLUMINATED BOATS and Carols on the Cut was very successful – perhaps too successful with the usually expected numbers of between 300 and 500 dwarfed by the estimated 3,000 people who attended. We are not quite sure why it was so well poular but have put it down to ‘Social Media’ and the Christmas Market being well advertised.

There were some problems with parking but, in conjunction

came as a complete surprise.

The illuminated boats looked wonderful, being escorted back by the passenger boat Charlie. The best lluminated boat, Frieslan – owned by Tim Carter - was judged by John Best (Chairman of the South East Waterways Partnership) and Vicky Martin (South East Waterways Manager).

As usual Stoke Bruerne Primary School did us proud with their carols, as did the Buckingham Ukulele Band and the Rock Choir (Sunday at the Navigation). We are indebted to Andrew Woodward of the Boat Inn for leading the carols.

Julian Tann at the Navigation ran an excellent Christmas Market on both days of the weekend which helped attract visitors.

Local MP Andrea Leadsom unveiling an Interpretation Panel (Photo: LP)

with Canal & River Trust, we have spoken to the Parish Council and are taking forward ideas to address the issues raised. It’s not an issue with the other two events run by The Friends as they are in warmer times with access to extra car parking but a dark night with wet ground does add to the complications of providing adequate parking. The numbers which attended

CRT Chief Executive Richard Parry was pleased to attend and gave the event his 'thumbs up'.

In conjunction with the event, SE Waterways had their annual Volunteer event, Ark Stained Glass (at the Old Stables) was formally opened by local MP Andrea Leadsom and Andrea also kindly formally unveiled the Stoke Bruerne Interpretation Project panels. A very busy day all round.

The Rock Choir at the Navigation (Photo: LP) © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Taking Sculptor to the 1988 IWA National Rally Julia Cook IT WAS A RATHER GUSTY and uncompromising morning as we left Stoke Bruerne with Sculptor, the Waterways Museum’s latest floating exhibit, restored in wartime livery by Ian Kemp of Ellesmere Port. We had high hopes of an enjoyable and straightforward trip via the Shroppie, Trent and Mersey and Bridgewater Canals, to the Castleford National Rally in Manchester, taking the ex Samuel Barlow’s Sunny Valley along with us.

almost three days of diligent effort on the part of Jonno Hewitt, of Union Canal Carriers, to see us on our way again. Very frustrating.

Tuesday lunchtime saw us away, and Helen Smith, having joined, meant three adults in the crew. We decided to try and push on to the rally despite being told we would never make it.

Taking the ‘short cut’ up the North Oxford, Coventry and Trent and Mersey we made pretty good progress, clattering up to Atherstone Top Lock at about eleven on the Tuesday night. Any problems we now did have were caused by the height of the motor’s cratch, left up because part of the crew was living under it! Pooley Hall Bridge was the first place we tasted the fun to come and we very soon learnt to take down and replace the deckboard, planks, cloths ropework etc in record time.

Wednesday night saw us tied up on the aqueduct just north of Rugeley, too tired to go on any further. On Thursday we noticed a leak in the fuel pump which, to his own and everyone else’s surprise, Laurence managed to fix with some borrowed ring spanners!

On the Friday morning we tackled Harecastle Tunnel, finding it much improved since our last visit with similar boats, but still, to my mind, rather claustrophobic. Onwards and downwards we found Thurlwood memorable both for its

An image of Sculptor taken by Julia's brother, Laurence, during the trip

As we reached Braunston that first Friday evening it was apparent that the engine (a Lister HA2) was not at all well. In fact it took © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Taking Sculptor to the 1988 IWA National Rally Julia Cook missing steel lock, and because Helen was bitten by a rather incautious passing mongrel. At Hassall Green we had to wait for a queue to clear following a stoppage and at Wheelock endured a strong pong of muck spreading or similar. We tied up at Middlewich in the dark and driving rain.

racking experience, having an audience of what seemed thousands. It is at such times I expect to fall in or get a line around the blades. But we crept onto the Rochdale Canal with no problems, saying goodbye to Helen on the way up as she had to return to Braunston. We now left the cratch down on the motor, essential on the Rochdale and Ashton Canals.

Saturday we were off bright and early and by the time we got to the Bridgewater Canal the sun was shining, giving us the chance to polish both the boat and ourselves. We all looked like something a Victorian reformer would have worried about, kids, adults and dogs alike! We Sculptor, with a good load of coal on and Julia and Nick Hill on the counter. Julia's children on the back end boards (Photo: LC) arrived at the rally in the early evening feeling somewhat triumphant, and At the Marple flight of locks one of the dogs after finding our moorings, spent our first fell off a bridge onto me on the motor below. evening ‘out’ since we’d left Braunston, Neither of us was more than bruised, but boasting of our adventures and having a the dog behaved impeccably for the next thoroughly good time. couple of hours. We were by now tailing David Blagrove on Hesperus and Leonids, During our short stay on the rally site much having arranged to load both Sculptor and interest was shown in Sculptor and several Hesperus at Andy Rothen’s wharf at people looked over her with a keen eye. Atherstone.

Leaving the rally site was a rather nerve© The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Taking Sculptor to the 1988 IWA National Rally Julia Cook At Macclesfield we picked up Chris Port who moved into what had been Helen’s summer residence, under the cratch, and

hire boat at 6:30am in appalling weather …. cold, driving rain, and at such times I am glad to be on a traditional boat and a fire to keep the feet warm and doors to close behind. We left Sunny Valley at Great Hayward as she was due to go to the rally at Stourbridge, and with a sense of ease and speed now we had no butty we went on to tie up at Fazeley Junction.

Friday, away by 6:15am, it was chilly Sculptor being loaded at Andy Rothen's wharf (Photo: LC) and damp and me about for the first two spent the night below Bosley Locks, not hours. I picked up a bladeful below recommended if a warm and welcoming Glascote, including a picture complete with and frame …. apparently hostelry is required. However, emergency glass supplies were found in the motor’s table undamaged! We caught up with David in cupboard and a merry evening ensued Amington and wenton to the top of Atherstone, where we were told ‘You can’t once the kids were abed! tie there, Andy’s waiting for someone to Wednesday morning saw us away at 6 am load!!’, but all was soon resolved. We (sore heads and no sign of Chris!!) an hour speedily rebuilt the cratch and tidied up as later than I had hoped as now I knew we’d some chaps from various local papers miss the first bunch of boats in Harecastle came to see BWB’s first narrowboat Tunnel. We went through with the second loading coal for many a year. Many lot and had to queue at the top of the Stoke interesting questions were asked and flight, time pleasantly spent in the sunshine several intelligent answers given, until with the crew of another pair. The rest of the finally one chap looked at me, and asked day we had to go lickety-split until gratefully Laurence ‘Is she in period costume?’ … tying up at the bottom of the Stone flight. unable to contain his mirth, Laurenced replied ‘Yes … 1970.’ Cheeky blighter … I On Thursday we were beaten away by a was in my everyday clothes. © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Taking Sculptor to the 1988 IWA National Rally Julia Cook Loaded by mid-afternoon we were joined by several other working boat junkies who came with us as far as the Anchor in Hartshill where we had a meal and a pleasant evening … a good stop for children with a wonderful, if expensive, play garden.

8pm where I was met by Paul, my husband who had had no letter or card from me or the kids for over two weeks, and who had difficulty recognising us from the coal!

Saturday morning began misty with a promise of sunshine to come.

We experienced very little of the problems we’d been told to expect coming round the pound. We pulled Hesperus through a bridge-hole and stopped ourselves in the bridge nearest Marston Junction. Once round Sutton Stop of course, we had no more worries and just plodded on to Braunston tying up late below the bottom lock.

This article was in the Museum's files and it is believed it has not had the publicity it deserves.

So, the end of an epic voyage! altogether lovely boat is Sculptor.

An

Sunday, being the last day, we allowed ourselves a lie in, not much of a luxury in a motor’s cabin with two adults (Laurence on the floor with the dog) and three kids. We endured long delays at both Braunston and Buckby flights, but used them to good effect by selling some smokeless coal to passing pleasure boats, who wanted to know if this was to be a regular BWB service (what a good idea!).

We clattered triumphantly into Stoke Bruerne at about © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Carols on the Cut

Tim Carter's small Dutch barge Frieslan taking part in a very well attended Illuminated Boats event prior to Christmas (Photo: LS)

The Buckingham Ukulele Band playing at the Carols on the Cut (Photo: LP) Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Stoke Bruerne Interpretation Project

Although the Interpretation Project is a Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership enterprise, it is important historically as it helps interpretation of the Stoke Bruerne canal corridor for visitors. Sculptor was used to deliver some of the heavy goods to site (Photo: KD)

Sculptor delivered this part of the Interpretation Project to site alongside the Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve below Lock 15 (Photo: KD) Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Stoke Bruerne Interpretation Project

The first Interpretation Panel complete - this was achieved on 4th November.

From left: Rob Westlake, Lynda Payton, Helen Westlake and Sam Samuells (Photo: KD)

A close up of the Boathorse Road Interpretation Panel (Photo: KD) Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Stoke Bruerne Top Lock - Then and Now

Stoke Bruerne Top Lock, still with the stables at the Boat Inn. The image is from a postcard purchased via eBay. Can anyone date this image?

Still very much recognisable as the same place. The poplar trees are in better shape, the stables have gone and the flagpole seems to be more substantial (Photo: KD) Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Village at War 2015

Lola Lamour and Paul Casper with other entertainers on the Alhambra Stage (Photo: KD)

The Dakota - FZ692 ‘Kwicherbichen’ - from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displaying on the Saturday of the Village at War weekend in September (Photo: RW) © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Village at War 2015

Barry Argent's Fish class former working boat Perch, well loaded, taking part in Village at War event (Photo: KD)

A packed canalside with people enjoying the 2015 Village at War (Photo: RW) Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Around Stoke Bruerne

Sculptor leaving her moorings on a crystal clear winter's morning en route for Blisworth for the BBC programme 'Flog It' (Photo: JB)

A view from the bottom of Top Lock during the CRT's Winter Open Days (Photo: KD) Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Sculptor Update Kathryn Dodington A QUIET TIME FOR Sculptor recently due to the colder winter weather.

However during that time Sculptor's 80th birthday was acknowledged - not bad for a working boat designed for perhaps a 30 year life - but she was one of many ordered between 1935 and 1937 that remain in use today as the Braunston Historic Weekend bears out.

Sculptor's 'tongue-in-cheek' 80th birthday banner (Photo: KD)

Sculptor has also undergone her 4-yearly Boat Safety Certificate inspection which was a bit of a challenge but we are indebted to Mike Carter and the Sculptor team for making it all happen in time.

The Sculptor team have plans in place to attend a number of events this year, including Crick Boat Show, Braunston (in support of IWA Northampton) and the Braunston Historic Weekend. If you would like to join the Sculptor team, please let Stephanie in the Museum know.

Sculptor has, very recently, taken part in the BBC programme 'Flog It'. It was a very early start, for the team had to be at Candle Bridge in Blisworth (facing south) for 8am, so departed Stoke Bruerne at 6.30am in order to wind at Gayton and be back at Candle Bridge on time.

Lorna York. They then moved on to interview Bob Nightingale at the forge and finally spent some time in the Museum. The date of transmission is not yet known.

Membership subscriptions JUST A REMINDER that annual subscriptions are now due for the 1st April 2016 renewal. There has been no increase in subscription fees, with the rate remaining as follows: Individual member Joint members Joint members (over 60) Family membership Concessionary rate *

£15 £20 £15 £20 £15

* Students and those over 60

Sculptor then brought the BBC team back through the tunnel whilst interviewing © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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FoCM Diary 2016 March-2016 17th

FoCM

Winter Talks 19:30 Mary Matts talking about Foxton

FoCM

Winter Talks 19:30 Lorna York talking about Sister Mary

CRT

Roses and Castles Painting Course

10:00

Family Festival

10:00

Village at War

10:00

April-2016 21st

May-2016 7th/8th

June-2016 18th/19th

FoCM

September-2016 10th/11th

FoCM

Stephanie Furniss STEPH HAS RECENTLY JOINED the Museum staff as a Destination Manager, sharing the responsibilities for running the Museum with Louise. Steph's main role lies with the tearoom, for which she has a great deal of expertise.

Steph and her husband Steve (who runs a boat related business at Weedon) own the historic pair of boats Bootes and Crater, so she comes to the Museum with a great deal of historic boating experience.

She and Steve ran the hotel boat Tranquil Rose for a number of years before moving to The Wharf at Llangollen.

Steph with 1-year-old daughter Eliza in the Canal Museum (Photo: KD)

Do pop in to the Museum and introduce yourself to Steph if you are passing.

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. Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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FoCM Council Chairman David Blagrove, MBE 01604 862174 - also member of the Curatorial Group and a Trustee Vice-Chairman Lorna York - also member of the Curatorial Group and a Trustee Treasurer Brian Everest (treasurer@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Minutes Secretary Roger Hasdell Membership Secretary John Alderson (membership@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Publicity & Website, Grant Funding & Awards Lynda Payton 01604 861205 (publicity@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) and a Trustee Newsletter Kathryn Dodington (editor@friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk) Volunteer Co-ordinator Trevor Allum Other Museum Manager (ex-officio seat) Michael Butler (Village at War ) and a Trustee Events Sub-Committees Trevor Allum, Michael Butler, Jenny Copeland, David Daines, Roger Hasdell, Bill Mann, Sandie Morton, Mike Partridge, Lynda Payton, Victoria Powell, Terry Richardson, Graeme Scothern, Louise Stockwin, Laura Sturrock (also a Trustee), 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

Š The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

Photographic Credits KD LP LS LC DS JB RW

Kathryn Dodington Lynda Payton Louise Stockwin Laurence Cook David Schweizer John Bannister Rob Westlake

FoCM FoCM CRT IWA FoCM

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