Museum Matters - July 2018 by Friends of the Canal Museum

MUSEUM MATTERS August 2018

Roy Sears 13th September 1945 to 6th June 2018

Newsletter of The Friends of The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

Chairman's Jottings Mick Butler

At the moment there is very little to report on the positive side. Fortunately, the Museum and the café - sometimes even to overflowing - have been doing very well thanks largely to the wonderful weather, but behind the scenes it is very much a status quo situation. As I have explained previously, while the now soon-to-be-completed Canal & River Trust management re-organisation has been under way, a virtual complete stop to progress on any future developments has been in force. To a large extent this is understandable but, oh dear, isn’t it frustrating. By now The Friends were hoping that substantial progress would have been made on the Trust's sizeable Heritage Lottery Fund grant application. Unfortunately, the bid is on hold although I am assured it will be reinstated again very soon, hopefully before the end of the year. We all want to see a modernised and refreshed Museum with new and imaginative exhibits, other attractions and amenities, including a lift to the upper galleries, but patience still has to be the watchword. I will keep you posted. I know only too well that CRT people all the way from the very top are batting on behalf of the

In this Issue Chairman's Jottings FoCM News Sculptor update Roy Sears Canal & River Trust reorganisation

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Museum, well recognising that the entire Stoke Bruerne canal corridor area is a key element in the Trust’s overall grand plan. In the meantime, we just have to maintain a general watching brief on things, carrying out minor, yet essential, maintenance tasks to the exhibits, helping to look after Sculptor and undertaking the boat’s occasional trips to local canal events. The Sculptor team would dearly like to do more but acknowledge that the restraints now placed upon them are, I would like to describe, for the future 'greater good'.

Sculptor being measured for new cloths we are keen to continue with the maintenance the boat requires to protect our previous investments (Photo: KD)

You will find in this issue of Museum Matters reports of some of the things that have been happening, will happen and are planned. There is also a tribute to Roy Sears, an influential presence in the setting up of The Friends group who, very tragically, died in a road accident in early June. I only came to know Roy in recent years but soon realised what a genuinely

Cover picture: Roy Sears 13th September 1945 to 6th June 2018 (Photo: Christine Sears)

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Chairman's Jottings Mick Butler

lovely gentleman he was - friendly, sincere, dedicated to whatever activity or cause he was involved with. To say he will be greatly missed is the understatement of the year. I can only endorse all the good things that are being said and written about him. Christine, we have truly lost someone very special. We are all thinking of you and your family.

Roy and Christine Sears ready to enjoy a Village at War event (Photo: LS)

Moving forward, The Friends’ Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 7.30pm on Thursday 22nd November. It will be held, as usual, in the café at the Museum. After the business session, which we try to keep to within half an hour, there will be an informal reception with light refreshments. Please let us know in advance of your intended attendance so that we can cater accordingly. It would be nice to think we shall have a few new names put forward for election to The Friends’ Council. If you are © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

interested and would like to know more of what is involved, please get in touch with me for an informal chat. My contact details are on page 16. Now perhaps I am saving the best till last! None other than our Village at War Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, 8th-9th September. This is our 11th year of being at war and over the years the event has firmly established itself as one of the most popular and successful re-enactment occasions in the country. The re-enactors really do throw themselves enthusiastically into the occasion - we see the same faces every year, joined by new faces and also new entertainment. The public love it too in their thousands. Let’s hope for a fine weekend. At the time of writing the sun is still shining. Although we dearly need the rain, rain gods please be kind to us this year! And if anyone wishes to get involved in a volunteering role over the weekend, please liaise with the Museum. We can always find a job for you. Remember, The Friends as a group always welcome your thoughts and contributions.

Don't forget to come along and enjoy our Village at War (Photo: KD) www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 3

FoCM News Financial Update By the start of the year, reserves stood at around £80,000. There have been only small items of expenditure on running costs for the charity and on the rope exhibit in the Museum. Sculptor was taken to the annual Historic Boat Show at Braunston and we are very grateful to the organisers who have now donated £1,000 to the The Friends. Works are needed on on various parts of Sculptor and discussions are ongoing about these. We have indicated a sizeable donation to CRT to help with these costs, but we await a decision regarding timing. Paul Lynam, Trustee and Treasurer.

FoCM Events Table Top Sale - On Bank Holiday Monday 27th August there will be a table-top sale on the Museum Green alongside The Museum. It will be under cover if the weather is inclement. If you'd like to declutter and sell some unwanted gifts or bric-a-brac, book space at just £5 per table, or just come along and have a browse. All proceeds to The Friends of The Canal Museum (registered charity no. 1121146). Donations from sales of items also welcome. To book a table, or for more information, contact Lynda Payton 01604 862501 or email friendsofmuseum@btinternet.com

Over and Under the Hill - There is another chance to experience a journey through Blisworth Tunnel with a historical commentary on trip boat Charlie and walk back over Blisworth Hill in the company of knowledgeable heritage guides. The walk distance is about 2 miles and duration is about 2 hours. Places are limited and the price is £6 for adults and £4 for children. The walk and boat is organised by Stoke Bruerne Boat Company and Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership in conjunction with The Canal Museum and the Canal & River Trust. To book contact Stoke Bruerne Boat Company on 07966 503609 or email enquiries@stokebruerneboats.co.uk Village at War, Stoke Bruerne - It's almost that time again. Over the weekend of 8th & 9th September, Stoke Bruerne will once again be going back in time to the 1940s. This will be the 11th year this award winning re-enactment event has been staged and as usual the village will be packed with vintage entertainers, a black market, military and vintage vehicles, living history groups, individual re-enactors, fashion parades, memorabilia displays, fly pasts, tea dances and much much more. This popular event raises funds for The Friends of The Canal Museum and also benefits other not-for-profit groups and charities, so please come along and support it. Weekend passes are £10 (accompanied children under 16 free) including free entry to the Museum and parking. For more information check out the website at www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/ vaw-2018 or telephone 01604 862229 www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 4

Sculptor Update Kathryn Dodington Sculptor has had a relatively quiet summer so far. We took Sculptor to the Crick Boat Show and this time had different moorings on the other side of the marina. We had a huge success in showing people Sculptor and talking about her history – we estimate we engaged with about 1,200 people over the three days.

had us back in Stoke Bruerne around midnight. Rob and Kathryn recovered Sculptor a couple of days later.

The return trip was challenging. We had to wait until Raymond was moved as we were on a long finger mooring with very little room to swing Sculptor into the marina proper. However, we were away by 09:00 and made good progress through Crick Tunnel to the top of Watford. We enjoyed, if that’s the right word, 4½ hours waiting at the top of Watford whilst boats in front of us, and ascending the flight, took precedence. This not only meant that we missed our usual ‘sausage sandwich’ at the bottom of Buckby but also, with great help from Steve and Steph Furniss at Grand Union Narrowboats in Weedon, left Sculptor safely with them as pushing on would have

We are currently in discussion with Canal & River Trust about Sculptor’s maintenance – there is a concern that despite The Friends of The Canal Museum wishing to help financially with this, we don’t seem to be able to agree when this maintenance should be carried out. It is important to note that Sculptor belongs to Canal & River Trust and they have strict legal guidelines as to what can and cannot be done and the way in which anything is done but there are things that desperately need attention to protect The Friends' investment in Sculptor following a period during which British Waterways and Canal & River Trust did not invest sufficiently in her.

We had a lovely weekend at the Braunston Historic weekend mixing with other historic boats and, perhaps, more importantly, mixing with like-minded people. We had the pleasure of the company of Sue and David Daines on Cyprus for the return trip together with our curatorial person Steve Bagley – it was Steve’s first time through Blisworth which he thoroughly enjoyed. Tim Coghlan kindly donated £1,000 to Sculptor's causes – Tim has been incredibly generous over the years so thank you to him and to Braunston Marina. That Sculptor's ongoing maintenance is concerning The money is allocated to Sculptor Friends and the Sculptor volunteers (Photo: KD) and remains so.

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Roy Sears Helen Westlake Roy Sears lost his life tragically as a result of a road accident early in June. A resident of Stoke Bruerne for over 50 years, Roy was a huge inspiration and driver of canal and village improvements for many years. Roy served on Stoke Bruerne Parish Council from around 1990 – 2013. He masterminded the funding and introduction of a new street lighting system for the whole village, using traditional designs. Roy’s love of music and the village led him to become a driving force behind the organisation of a number of concerts in St Mary’s Church around the time of the millennium, to raise funds to establish the new church floodlighting and the refurbished church clock, both of which were causes dear to his heart and which he pursued with his trade mark doggedness and enthusiasm.

Roy in the engine room of his beloved narrowboat Hoperidge (Photo: BM)

Roy represented the Parish Council on the Stoke Bruerne Environmental Working Party from its inception in 1993 till 2005 and later was the representative on its successor, the Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership from 2008 – 2013. He actively supported numerous schemes along the canal corridor, e.g. the inception of the Lock 14 footbridge, countless varied Museum improvements, the opening of the Museum tea rooms, the introduction of a blacksmith into the previously derelict forge and many more. Roy encouraged, cajoled, persuaded and bent the ear of any and everyone who might be in a position to help achieve the projects in which he so passionately believed and, as a result, was often successful against the odds. At any and every fund-raising or celebratory event, he and his wife Christine generously opened their beautiful canalside garden for strawberry teas, champagne and musical entertainment. One of the present Partnership’s members, Kathryn Dodington, stated that "he will forever remain in my memory as a true gentleman". In addition to his prolific support for canal and village related matters, Roy was gifted in art and design and a lover of music. I first came across Roy as a key instigator behind an amazing festival organised jointly by Stoke Bruerne and Shutlanger in 1989, for which Roy did much in the way of publicity including programme design in his distinctive canal sign-writing style. Roy’s skills came to the fore many times in subsequent years. For example, he designed publicity material for Stoke www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Page 6

Roy Sears Helen Westlake Bruerne CE Primary School, helping them achieve attendances which ensure the future of the school. After ceasing to work for Avon Cosmetics, he set up Stoke Classics which marketed ceramics in canalware style, including a plate to commemorate the reopening of Blisworth Tunnel. He loved Measham ware and the lamp in that style with which I was presented when I left SB Parish Council will always remind me of Roy. Roy was also instrumental in setting up The Friends of the Canal Museum. Lynda Payton, on behalf Roy dressed to the nines for a recent Village at War of the present Committee, recalls (Photo: LP) that Roy "was at the public meeting in 2006 which saw the formation of The also headed up a campaign to register the Friends of The Canal Museum. In fact he green opposite the school as a formal seconded Chairman Tim Boswell MP's Village Green and personally installed the resolution that David Blagrove and I set up post and chain fence around it and later a steering group to establish the Friends. planted the black mulberry tree there in No surprise then that Roy joined the commemoration of The Blisworth tunnel steering group and then the committee of reopening. He strongly supported the the Friends itself, serving at one point as the village school and the introduction of new elected representative of the Museums play equipment on the Playing Field. Management Board when the Museum was under the operation of The Waterways Latterly, after the death of David Blagrove, Trust." MBE, Royâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energies turned towards the setting up of the David Blagrove Trust, of On the Parish Council he also promoted the which he became joint Chairman. Bill retention and improvement of public Mann, the remaining joint chairman, writes: transport, urging villagers to use the "His latest project was being a key figure in service, leafleting every household the setting up of the David Blagrove Trust. regularly and constantly urging NCC and David passed away in August 2016 and left bus companies to improve the service. He behind a huge legacy which Roy was keen ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Roy Sears Helen Westlake to carry on. Like David, he was enthusiastic about giving young people team building experiences using the canal and its infrastructure. He believed that working as a team could expand their vision and sow the seeds that would help them through their lives in understanding other opinions and considerations. Like David, Roy was also determined to promote the well being of the village community. These two aims became focused in the David Blagrove Trust, in which Roy played a fundamental role. Roy, with his wife Christine was the main driving force of the Trust’s first fundraising event which was a resounding success. I am pleased to say that at our last meeting the trust elected to combine both the legacies of David and Roy and carry them forward. Roy will be sadly missed."

Outside of Stoke Bruerne, Roy enthusiastically supported a wide range of other canal or rail linked projects. This is reflected in the family’s request for any donations in his memory to be made to the Cotswold Canals Trust or the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Trust. Roy was a man of many talents, unfailing energy, enthusiasm and dogged determination to see projects through to completion, polite, generous of his time and chivalrous to all. To measure his contribution to the canal and village at Stoke Bruerne is an impossible task. He will be hugely missed.

Roy masterminding a bus trip in aid of the David Blagrove Trust (Photo: BM) © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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New Canal & River Trust structure As some of you will know, there have been some organisational changes within Canal & River Trust, following an announcement in December 2017. You may also have seen that we relaunched our brand in May and so it has been quite a busy time for the Trust. How does it affect Stoke Bruerne and the Museum? Stoke Bruerne has moved into the East Midlands region which starts at the Iron Trunk aqueduct, extends as far west as Braunston Turn, does not include the north Oxford but extends northwards by way of Norton Junction and the Leicester Line to Nottingham, Derby, the rivers Trent and Soar and east into the larger river-based waterways. Specifically they are the Leicester Line and its arms, Ashby Canal, Grantham Canal, Nottingham & Beeston canal, River Witham, Fossdyke Navigation, Trent and Mersey Canal, Northampton

East Midlands Regional Director Phil Mulligan (Photo: Canal & River Trust)

Reporting structure The Regional Director (as the previous Waterway Managers are now known) is to be Phil Mulligan (Phil starts on 28th August). In the meantime that role is being caretaken by Jenny Whitehall who has been with Canal & River Trust and British Waterways for some 40 years. Graham Boxer, as Head of Museums, reports to Stuart Mills, the Chief Investment Officer.

Arm, River Soar, Erewash Canal, River Trent, Upper Trent and the Grand Union Canal. The Museum remains ‘as was’ in that the collection is under the care and control of Graham Boxer as Head of Museums, and specifically Margaret Harrison as Collections Manager. Everything other than the collection and Stoke Bruerne in general remains with the Region. The whole site is considered to be an important visitor attraction for the Trust which the Region are keen to develop. © The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

Village at War Richard Parry (Chief Executive), Julie Sharman (Chief Operating Officer), Jenny Whitehall and Phil Mulligan have all indicated they will attend this year’s Village at War event – not all four on the same day we hope – so there may be an opportunity to meet them informally.

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ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Braunston Historic weekend

Accepting Braunston Marina's very generous cheque for ÂŁ1,000 on the counter of Sculptor is (L to R) Rob Westlake and Matthew Harris with David Suchet, David's wife Sheila Ferris and Tim Coghlan (Photo: Braunston Marina)

Sculptor and Cyprus breasted up ascending Braunston flight after the Braunston Historic weekend (Photo: RW) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Registered Charity No 1121146 Page 12

Canal Museum

The new Rope and Knots exhibition board in the Museum put togther by Lorna York, Brian Collings, Lynda Payton, Brian Mayland and Rodney Hardwick (Photo: LP)

Phil Underwood and Nancy Potts, otherwise known as Bonnet and Belt, performing in the marquee at Stoke Bruerne recently (Photo: LP) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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Craft Day

Laura Sturrock entertaining a family with her book binding stall. The Craft Day was very successful and plans are being worked on for another in 2019 (Photo: LP)

Traditional rug making and fender making were on display at the Craft Day (Photo: LP) ÂŠ The Friends of The Canal Museum Registered Charity No 1121146

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2018 Events August 1st

Teddy Bear's Picnic