The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users
104 PAGES
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
P58
WINTER WORKS GET UNDER WAY
TALK
TOWPATH
Issue 146, December 2017
Under the plough
P5
An autumnal scene at Plough Bridge (No 83) on the Coventry Canal near Huddlesford Junction where it meets the Lichfield Canal. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
BOAT REVIEW: ONE OF THE FAB FOUR P56 TOAST TO 50TH HIREBOAT HOLIDAY
P65
LOOKING FOR A FRIENDLY MARINA?
Find your ideal location using the map in our feature
Turn to
P54
BOATS FOR SALE Turn to
P67
Boost for canal trust’s £1 million appeal A £1 MILLION campaign to build a canal tunnel under the Cross-city railway line has raised £400,000 less than a year after its official launch. Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s David Suchet Tunnel Vision appeal was formally launched in January by renowned actor and vice-president of the trust David Suchet. The trust wants the tunnel built at
Tunnel checks
the same time as construction of a tunnel for road traffic as an extension to the Southern Bypass. The news of the ongoing success of the campaign comes after the Department for Transport agreed to allocate £5 million towards the £17.3 million cost of the final phase of the bypass linking Birmingham Road with London Road. Other funding for the bypass project, which
TWO Llangollen Canal tunnels recently went under the spotlight for three-yearly inspections. Canal & River Trust engineers used a boat to travel through the 421m Chirk and 174m Whitehouse tunnels to assess any structural changes and check for leaks, cracks and damaged brickwork. Their observations will then be analysed to decide if any major repairs are needed. The tunnels contain more than a million bricks, with much of the surface sealed in clay to make them waterproof.
is scheduled for completion in 2020, is coming from Staffordshire County Council, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) with a contribution from a housing developer. • Continued on page 2 RIGHT: An artist’s impression of the canal tunnel under the Crosscity railway line. IMAGE: ANDREW WOOD
Charges to rise BOAT registration charges for Environment Agency waterways will rise for the first time for three years in 2018-19. Charges for any powered boat kept, used or let for hire will increase by 5.7% (Thames), 7.5% (Anglian) and 10% (Upper Medway); unpowered boats (not houseboats) and those registered with British Rowing or British Canoeing, will increase by 7.7% and the Gold Licence will increase by 3.8%. They will apply from January 1 on the Thames and April 1 for all other waterways.
Peak flow
WORK has started on a £250,000 project by the Canal & River Trust to improve the water flow to the Peak Forest Canal. Expected to last 12 weeks, it will involve installing new pipes from Black Brook river which will increase the water flow to the canal. Other works will include rebuilding the 200-year-old canal wall in the middle arm of Bugsworth Basin. The new feeder pipes will provide up to 3.5 million litres of water to the Peak Forest Canal each day.
2 NEWS/COMMENT
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
WELCOME
Don’t miss out! Get 12 copies delivered to your home for less than £1 a copy
THE first chilly weather of the season is a wake-up call for us to stock up with fuel for the cold months ahead and make sure that boats are winterised. Stoppages are well under way and I was accompanied by University of Lincoln journalism student Hannah Brown for a visit to the Chesterfield Canal where a £200,000 restoration and repair programme is taking place over the coming months. See Hannah’s report on page 5. We also dropped in at Hollingwood Hub where the local Tesco community champions presented a cheque to the Chesterfield Canal Trust, see page 8. As we approach the season of goodwill, it is great to see support from businesses for volunteers’ efforts such as TSB’s for the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust on the same page. Harry Arnold wraps up the outdoor events including reports on the Overwater RNLI festival and Autumn Boat Share Show on page 16 and if you’re venturing out in the evening, towpath astronomer Brian Jones gives you a guide on what to look out for in the night sky on page 63. The Santa specials and other festive events will be in full swing by the time you receive this edition – check out our What’s On guide both in paper, starting on page 61 and online at www.towpathtalk.co.uk for regular updates. And if you’re still looking for Christmas present ideas for your boating friends and family, check out the second of our gift guides, starting on page 58. Although our January edition should be with stockists in Christmas week, I will take this opportunity to bring festive greetings to all our readers.
TOWPATH
TALK
Janet
Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Advertising sales team leader Tania Shaw – tshaw@mortons.co.uk Advertising sales representatives Stuart Yule – syule@mortons.co.uk Christopher Heaton – cheaton@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Tracey Barton Divisional advertising manager Sue Keily Production editor Pauline Hawkins Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Contact us Customer services 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm. Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466. Fax: 01507 529495 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Advertising Tel: 01507 524004. Fax: 01507 529499 Published by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 523456. Fax: 01507 529301 Printed by Mortons Print Ltd. Tel. 01507 523456 Next Issue – December 21, 2017
Independent publisher since 1885
Conditions Editorial is accepted subject to availability of space, and editorial policy on content and insertion cannot be guaranteed. The publishers retain the right to edit material submitted. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy through accurate and clear copy, but the publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions.
Independently proven pick up: 34,450 copies
See page 14 or call 01507 529529
A century of service THE retirement of three key members of staff marks the end of an era for the Canal & River Trust’s North Wales & Borders Waterway. Between them Wendy Capelle, Howard Griffiths and Neville Preece have notched up nearly a century of service to the canals. Waterway manager Wendy Capelle, who is based in the Northwich office, leaves in December after 18 years’ service, just before her 60th birthday on Christmas Day. As a qualified management accountant, she initially joined British Waterways in the finance department, but for the last eight years has been at the helm of North Wales & Borders, leading a team of up to 60 staff looking after canals and navigations in Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales. She said: “I have loved working for the trust. I’ve worked with some great people and I’ve appreciated all the opportunities I’ve been given in different roles. The charity is doing some great work to improve the nation’s waterways and make them a special place to visit, and I will miss being part of the enthusiastic team making this happen.”
Hard to beat
Howard Griffiths, 59, has just retired as customer service supervisor for the Llangollen and Montgomery canals. Based out of the Ellesmere office, he has lived all his life on the Montgomery Canal, mixing work and • Continued from page 1
Boost for canal trust’s £1 million appeal Welcoming the news that the last phase of the bypass is scheduled to be completed by the end of the decade, trust chairperson Christine Bull said: “We are pleased to have this confirmation that the bypass tunnel will go ahead as it means ours will too. “The 2020 completion date means we know how long we’ve got to raise the money for the project and we are confident we will do so.” Describing the tunnel as one of the major missing links for the canal going through Lichfield, LHCRT engineering director Peter Buck said: “This tunnel will not only create a canal link but will also be a vital link for the community. “There are some proposed housing developments on both sides and this will be the safe community link for getting underneath the railway.” To find out more about the David Suchet Tunnel Vision Appeal visit http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/suchet. htm where you can find several ways to make a donation.
pleasure in a career spanning 39 years caring for his local waterways. His father was also a canalman for 24 years and Howard has remarkably spent his entire life living in the same lock keeper’s cottage at Aston Locks, near Oswestry, where he was born, raised, married and brought up four daughters of his own. Howard said it was the people – friends, colleagues, customers – who have helped to make his job extra special. “All the teams I have worked with have been top notch. Our job involves the Llangollen Canal which is one of the busiest waterways in the country and the Montgomery – one of the quietest and most peaceful, well-known for its nature. You get to know everyone and when the sun’s shining and everything is going well, it’s hard to beat it.” His colleague Roger Birch now steps up to be supervisor.
Number of roles
Neville Preece, 62, who will retire in early 2018, is the supervisor for the southern section of the Shropshire Union Canal, based out of Norbury. He first started working on the waterways 41 years ago as part of the dredging fleet on the River Weaver Navigation, which was then still used by commercial cargo vessels. Over the years he has taken on a number of roles from length foreman and harbour master to a supervisor in Chester. He recalls: “The waterways were very different
PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST
when I first started work. Hundreds of coasters travelled along the River Weaver to ICI at Winnington, near Northwich, every year, carrying soda ash, chlorine, cement and raw talc. They then went via Marsh Lock into the Manchester Ship Canal and sailed to Scotland, Ireland and beyond. “I love talking to people. Every day is different. It is the sort of job that if you like it, you’re here for the rest of your life.” Experienced waterway manager David Baldacchino will take over from Wendy, with interim responsibility for North Wales & Borders from January 1, 2018.
Danny is flagship of the year THE Daniel Adamson was named as the National Historic Ships UK’s 2017 Flagship of the Year at a recent ceremony held at the Corporation of Trinity House, London. Daniel Adamson Preservation Society chairman Dan Cross received the award from HRH the Princess Royal. It recognises the commitment of a team of volunteers from Liverpool, Manchester, Runcorn, Widnes, Warrington, Wirral and Cheshire, who have worked for more than 15 years to see the ‘Danny’ restored with the help of £3.8 million from The Heritage Lottery Fund. It now
Nature reserve
Meanwhile, at Fosseway Heath, a short distance from the tunnel’s location, work has been taking place to build a nature reserve on the route of the canal. The creation of the Fosseway Heath Nature Reserve and Wetlands has been made possible by the awarding of an £18,500 grant from the Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving body funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Trust volunteers were joined by students from Queens Croft School and a team from the Waterway Recovery Group to progress the restoration of this section of the canal. The students helped to clear overgrown vegetation from the south towpath and canal bed for access to the area and it was established that a 100-metre section of the towpath had been lost and taken into possession by the adjacent farmer. The solution to this problem is to create a boardwalk structure within the canal round the missing section of towpath and make this area into a wetland environmental habitat. A towpath wall base was constructed followed by the building of the lower courses of the new south towpath walls. Suitable gorse plants were excavated for transplanting into the side slopes of the Valley Nature Trail to encourage development of environmental habitats and wildlife to flourish in this area. This work is expected to be completed by next October.
North Wales & Borders stalwarts Howard Griffiths, Wendy Capelle and Neville Preece.
DAPS chairman Dan Cross receives the award from HRH the Princess Royal. PHOTO: NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS REGISTER
offers a new way to steam across the North West waterways in a 1903 steam ship which boasts an opulent Art Deco interior. Dan Cross said: “The awards this year were presented by our own patron, Paul Atterbury, and were handed out by the Master of Trinity House, HRH the Princess Royal and it was a proud day for me representing the project and all the volunteers who have worked so hard. I accepted a certificate and Her Royal Highness seemed genuinely interested in the ship and I have to say her speech, which she delivered without notes, showed an extensive knowledge of historic ships and the positive effect they can have on the communities where they are based. “At the end of the awards, I took the opportunity to present Trinity House with a framed print of a painting of the Danny. I made the presentation to The Princess Royal at the end of the awards. Needless to say the painting proved very popular and Her Royal Highness asked several good questions about the ship and the project, which was very gratifying.”
The Danny is soon to announce a new programme of cruises for 2018 which will include cruises along the River Weaver from Acton Bridge and Sutton Weaver and cruises from Albert Dock across The Mersey to Cheshire. Cruises will last from 90 minutes to full days. An atmospheric image entitled ‘Butty boat Ilford breaks the September Dawn’, won the photographic competition for Teresa Fuller. The £1000 prize will go to a vessel of Teresa’s choice on the National Register of Historic Vessels. Judge Paul Atterbury said: “Having had a long-term attachment to Britain's inland waterway network, I am delighted to see a canal boat as the overall winner. For decades, so much of our ordinary trading life depended upon pairs of narrowboats making their way slowly through the landscape. This scene, exceptional and romantic today, would have been commonplace 80 years ago." The competition has been supported this year by Classic Boat, Adlard Coles Nautical, Fat Beehive Ltd and Waverley Excursions Ltd.
Friends of President win Marsh Team Volunteer Award THE Friends of President have been awarded the Marsh Team Volunteer Award for their efforts in operating and maintaining historic steam narrowboat President and its butty Kildare. The team received a prize of £1000. Now in its seventh year, the award scheme recognises outstanding volunteers in the conservation or operation of historic vessels in the UK. The presentation took place at National Historic Ships UK’s annual awards ceremony at the Corporation of Trinity House, London, in the presence of HRH the Princess Royal. Friends chairman Nick Haynes received the award and said afterwards that it had been an honour on behalf of all the volunteers that keep the Friends of President going and are ensuring the continual survival of this unique pair of boats. “A special thanks to Irene de Boo, of the Black Country Living Museum, for recognising our contribution, submitting the nomination and attending the ceremony with me. Focus is now on completing work on President's boiler and getting the pair back out on the network next spring,” he added.
The Marsh Volunteer Awards are supported by the Marsh Christian Trust.
Nick Haynes, chairman of Friends of President and Irene de Boo, head of collections at the Black Country Living Museum, being presented with the Marsh Award by the Princess Royal. PHOTO: NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS REGISTER
NEWS 3
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
Historic narrowboat heads for new home By Harry Arnold
ONE OF the boats at the recent Black Country Living Museum Historic Boaters Gathering was a particularly fine example of the love of traditional narrowboats by enthusiasts when their original working days are over. I first met Cliff Sherwood in the 1960s when he acquired Bellatrix and he and a number of then young friends extensively repaired the wooden bottom on the Norbury dry-dock under the supervision of veteran BCN boatbuilder Len Walton. Bellatrix was built in 1935 by W J Yarwood of Northwich as one of 12 Star Class boats ordered by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co of composite construction (iron sides and wooden bottom) fitted with an original Russell Newbery DM2 engine,known in boatmen’s parlance as a ‘Little Northwich’. She only worked for GUCC for three years, as in 1938 she was sold to the Wulfruna Coal Company of Wolverhampton where she was used as a tug, towing two Joey boats between the Cannock Coalfields and their coal yard every day and never
Executive reshuffle among CRT top brass THE Canal & River Trust has announced a number of changes to its executive team aimed at simplifying how it works. Boating will now be the responsibility of Julie Sharman, who takes on the role of chief operating officer and will be accountable for all day-to-day operations, performance and service delivery, and for local engagement through the trust’s waterway teams. Julie has a wealth of experience as a chartered civil engineer and, in a past role as waterway manager, has been focused on customer service. She had been director of asset management since 2016. Stuart Mills takes on a wider role as chief investment officer, responsible for the trust’s main income streams including charitable fundraising and will also be responsible for museums. Heather Clarke becomes strategy, impact and engagement director, with responsibility for brand, marketing and public affairs, in addition to her current responsibilities for strategy and planning. Simon Bamford becomes asset improvement director, responsible for delivering the trust’s long-term asset programmes – both through the trust’s Direct Services teams and its contractors. Mike Gooddie becomes people director and Sandra Kelly remains as finance director, with no change to the scope of their roles. Ian Rogers, who has been overseeing boating, will be leaving after three years with the charity.
passing through a lock. This trade ceased in 1965 and Cliff bought her in August of that year. He converted her to a passenger boat, operating on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal from 1969 to 1980. De-converted, Bellatrix has remained in her working condition until the present day. She has the original iron riveted cabin and engine installation, diesel tanks, mud box, sea cocks etc. and some of the original cabin fittings. Registered as a National Historic Ships, she has certificate No. 2091. Of her 82 years, Cliff has owned Bellatrix for 52 of them – more than she spent in the 30 years of carrying – and has kept her immaculately. But with age coming on (his, not the boat) he very reluctantly decided that he had to part with her and in September sold her to David Poole of Hull. The BCLM Gathering, featured in Towpath Talk last month with a front page photo showing Bellatrix on the left-hand side, was a nostalgic farewell, before the boat headed for north-west waterways. Bellatrix has however gone to a very good home as David Poole and his family already own another couple of narrowboats, the ex-FMC Owl
Bellatrix at the BCLM Historic Boaters Gathering, with new owner David Poole on the left, his son Chris Poole, Cliff’s grandson George Dunn, and Cliff Sherwood. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES and ex-Samuel Barlow’s Ian. But he also owns the ex-Leeds & Liverpool canal wide-boat Ribble, also built by W J Yarwood. One of his future plans is to see Bellatrix alongside Ribble at the old Yarwood’s Northwich dock.
Middle Level Bill back on the parliamentary agenda THE Middle Level Bill, which ran out of time in the last Parliament, has been given the go-ahead to proceed through its parliamentary process, with the House of Commons voting in favour following a debate in October. It will proceed to the House of Lords before going to an Opposed Bill Committee for consideration of the remaining objections. Middle Level Commissioners (MLC) are the navigation authority for the Middle Level Navigations, which comprises 100 miles of navigable waterways in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. The Middle Level Bill would update the legal framework which currently
governs their navigation function. The Inland Water ways Association (IWA) has welcomed the revival of this Bill, which would bring MLC into line with other larger navigation authorities by enabling better waterway management powers and increased provision of facilities in connection with their navigation function. Among other powers it would enable the commissioners to levy charges in respect of vessels using the Middle Level waterways, including the ability to charge where vessels overstay time limits in force at a mooring place. It would also enable the removal of sunken, stranded and abandoned
vessels and it would enable requirement of vessels using the commissioners’ waterways to have insurance and a boat safety certificate, which is currently not the case. As an Opposed Bill, there is the potential for it to be defeated, and IWA members and supporters are therefore encouraged to write to their MP to express their support for the Bill, particularly if living in the constituencies which include the Middle Level Navigations. These constituencies are: North West Cambridgeshire (Shailesh Vara MP), North East Cambridgeshire (Stephen Barclay MP) and South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss MP).
The changing landscape of the Nene Valley COMMUNITIES in the Nene Valley will benefit from a five-year landscape partnership project launched in November. Supported by a £2.6 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant, Nenescape will comprise 16 projects delivered by 11 partners over the next five years. Activities will provide opportunities for local people to develop skills, improve access to the water, restore wetland and wildlife habitats, uncover and celebrate the area’s history and develop tourism. Project delivery manager Amanda
Johnson said: “Bringing together so many people and their connections to the valley through this project is a fabulous opportunity and we are thrilled to be receiving this support from Heritage Lottery and our partners. There’s so much to be celebrated along the River Nene.” To launch the project, a specially commissioned piece of music called ‘Nene’, written by celebrated composer Benjamin Till, was performed by Northampton Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT) of which he is a former student. The piece explores the landmarks,
history and flow of the river from source to sea and will be performed by a 500-strong choir and 200-strong orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth proms and Peterborough and Northampton in March 2018. A programme of volunteering opportunities and a community grants scheme will support projects in the Nene Valley from Weedon Bec to Peterborough. Nenescape welcomes involvement from anyone with interest in the wildlife, heritage and landscape. www.nenescape.org
IN BRIEF
Wharf discovery A PREVIOUSLY unheard of wharf and the bywash culvert pinpointing the exact location of Charlesworth’s Lock were discovered during the annual Bonfire Bash Weekend by IWA's Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) on the Uttoxeter Canal in Staffordshire. The 80 WRG volunteers from across the country, joined by volunteers from Caldon and Uttoxeter Canals Trust, carried out major vegetation clearance along the line of the old and overgrown canal and towpath at Alton during the weekend of November 4-5. It is hoped that this work will help the trust establish a walking route along the length of the Uttoxeter Canal.
Final stage
THE Canal & River Trust is reminding all boaters and boating groups to take part in the final stage of its consultation on the future of boat licensing. More than 6000 responses have been received so far but CRT wants to ensure that everyone has a chance to have their say. Boaters have until December 18 to respond to the consultation. For more information visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk and click on national-consultations
Towpath attack rumours POLICE in Calderdale have issued a statement querying rumours of a number of attacks and assaults on the Rochdale Canal towpath at Hebden Bridge, writes Geoff Wood. A Calder Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team spokesman said: “Calderdale officers have received a number of enquiries regarding reported incidents near to the canal in Hebden Bridge and the surrounding area. We have not had any reports of incidents as described on social media reported to us and would urge any victims who have been attacked but not reported it to come forward so we can investigate and where appropriate, take action.”
Name change
THE BoilerHouse at Foxton Locks is to be rebranded as the Canal Museum @ the BoilerHouse. This is one of several investments planned to improve the museum and increase visitor numbers.
Boating heritage THE Wooden Canal Boat Society played its part in the recent Heritage Open Days around Britain, writes Geoff Wood. Boats were on show to the public at the society's moorings at Portland Basin, Ashton-under-Lyne. Many volunteers dressed up in costume to help demonstrate what a canal worker's life was like in the wooden boat era of yesteryear.
Water power
THE biggest hydro-electric plant in Yorkshire has opened beside the River Aire in Knottingley, near Wakefield, writes Geoff Wood. The owners say the £7.5 million scheme will provide energy to the area for 100 years. Helping launch the project was England and Yorkshire cricketing legend Geoffrey Boycott.
4 NEWS
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
Safeguarding the story of the canals for future generations
Leeds & Liverpool Canal short boat George is used for outreach purposes.
Visitors can use their smartphone to meet a character and find out more about the slipway.
The gateway to the sea via the Manchester Ship Canal.
The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. By Janet Richardson
THE recent lifting of 11 historic narrowboats and barges at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, signalled the start of a major conservation programme. As reported last month, the project received a £314,000 Arts Council England Museum Resilience Fund Grant and has been supported by the Boat Museum Society and the Canal & River Trust. I met the trust’s head of museums Graham Boxer during a visit a few days before the lift took place in October. He has worked in the heritage sector for 30 years during which he has set up five new museum projects and led the restoration of St George’s Hall in Liverpool.
The Porters Row cottages are one of the museum’s most popular attractions, dressed to recreate homes from the 1830s, 1900s, 1930s and as pictured, the 1950s. PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED
Prior to joining the Canal & River Trust in April 2015, he was director of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester and had experience of artsfunded programmes. But he had little prior knowledge of canals. Describing his role as an ‘exciting challenge’, he said: “It has been a bit of a learning curve. I am passionate about museums and it is the trust’s ambition to make the museum financially sustainable for the foreseeable future.” The original National Waterways Museum was established at Stoke Bruerne in 1965 with the Llanthony Warehouse at Gloucester following in 1986-7. But in the meantime the Ellesmere Port site was being run by a group of volunteers dedicated to collecting and saving as many historic boats as they could. People could see the industrial decline taking place and were looking for suitable sites for a museum about canal boats, Graham explained. When the Telford Warehouse burnt down in 1971, a group spent their weekends working on saving the rest of the site and the museum (then known as the Boat Museum) opened in 1976 – a 40th anniversary exhibition was staged in 2016. “Ellesmere Port’s role is significant to the story of industrialisation in Britain,” Graham explained. “There was nothing here before the canal was built to join the Mersey and Severn rivers; Liverpool was just across the Mersey and it was booming in the 18th and 19th centuries.
“Mersey flats brought cargoes here to load into narrowboats. Because of later industrial decline people have forgotten how important the site then was. It was probably one of the largest inland waterway dock complexes in the UK and today is still one of the most complete.” Following the Toxteth riots in 1981, Government funding to the area included a £4 million grant for the Boat Museum which in 1985 became European Museum of the Year, attracting some 120,000 visitors a year in the 1980s. But the National Waterways Museums started to lose their way in terms of direction and visitor numbers and in the late 1990s were combined and the national archives collection was moved from Gloucester to Ellesmere Port.
Fresh approach
“I was appointed to use my experience and expertise to bring a fresh approach in the running of the museums and what was needed to make them thrive,” Graham continued. “The first year here I was not too worried about marketing impacts as there was so much to get right. We closed Ellesmere Port during the winter to make some enhancements and focused Gloucester on the refurbishment of its displays.” A two-year Heritage Lottery-funded project provided both an opportunity and a challenge. “We saw what a modern museum should look like and what it could do. Help has also been received from the Esmee Fairburn Trust and the Association of Independent Museums (AIM). Among the major improvements has been the refurbishment of the slipway and its interpretation for visitors using digital technology, including augmented reality. “This is a new and dynamic method for our visitors
to use their smartphone or tablet to meet a character, based on a real dock worker, who tells you about the site,” Graham explained. Other changes include the refurbishment of the cafe and a new interactive display in the Island Warehouse. A recent £1 million project at Gloucester also saw a complete redesign of the museum, with new displays on two floors and an entrance foyer. Resilience funding will enable the boats in the national collection to be conserved to museum standards, including those at Stoke Bruerne. “These museums and their displays need to survive for future generations to enjoy,” Graham stressed. “It is an important story to tell. We forget how central the waterways were to the industrialisation of Britain, they were built for a real hard economic purpose. “How do we capture and tell the story of this site? We have the most significant collection as well, put the two together and you have got something which is pretty special.” Previously known as Whitby Locks, the Ellesmere Port site grew in importance following the building of the Wirral Line of the unfinished Ellesmere Canal in 1797, and was then joined to the Chester Canal to become part of the Shropshire Union. The Manchester Ship Canal followed about 100 years later. “The town gasworks were in a corner of the site,” Graham continued. “We call this canal town because it was a town built on the canal. We can tell the whole story of the waterways here and have to find a unique ingredient to make it work for our visitors.” This includes the events which bring the site to life, such as the annual Easter gathering of historic narrowboats. The Russell Newbery Register is holding its 2018 rally at the museum and a replica of Leeds & Liverpool Canal short boat George is used for outreach purposes.
Ambitious project
Head of museums Graham Boxer at Ellesmere Port. PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST
Mersey flat Mossdale is now conserved on dry land.
The dry dock will be returned to working order for work on the museum’s own collection and it will also be available for hire. It is not about restoring the collections but conserving them as much in their original materials as possible. “We want to demonstrate how they worked, it is really important to have that
activity around the site,” Graham said. Corporate hire and catering are all very important to help the museum develop income streams and funding is being sought for a feasibility study into the creation of a new building on the site to house the boat collection and provide a dedicated research and study hub. “It is a very ambitious project, it will be expensive and will not be achieved overnight but we have to start this process now,” Graham added. “The waterways are part of the story of Britain which has been underplayed, industrialisation could not have started without them. “ A 10-year vision and plan will be created for the Canal & River Trust’s museums which are internationally significant visitor attractions on the waterways. “We are right at the start of trying to find that way forward and want to try and get that completed by early next year so we can do a feasibility study during 2018 and look to start work in 2019. But projects of this scale take a long time to get off the ground,” Graham said. “But in the meantime we are open to visitors and they can still come and have a great time. We have had some lovely reviews on Trip Advisor and in social media, people say they can see the difference.”
A couple of reviews
Gloucester: The whole experience caught me by surprise since I didn’t expect so much of unknown history and insight into a unique way of life to be packed into this short visit. It was equally entertaining for my three-year-old toddler who enjoyed himself as he took in the sights and engaged in the activities. Ellesmere Port: Very interesting insight into our past and the changing and developing transport infrastructure during the industrial revolution of Britain. Something for everyone of all ages at this museum, it is cleverly designed to be enjoyed by everyone. There is a good cafeteria with a decent selection of food and beverages available at a reasonable cost. A day isn’t enough time...
NEWS 5
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
Lock gates are replaced as part of £200k project By Hannah Brown
THORPE Low Treble Lock on the Chesterfield Canal near Thorpe Salvin has been receiving a makeover as part of a major winter overhaul. Work is expected to take three weeks to complete and includes new bottom gates at Lock 26 (top), lock ladder and leak repairs. Canal & River Trust site supervisor Tony License said: “A lot of money was spent on restoring the canal, so this work is important as we don’t want it to go back to how it was.” To install the gates the site team dammed the top of the lock with wooden planks and then let the water down to the level of the lower pond. The old gates were removed from the lock by crane and the new gates were then lowered in their place. The new oak gates are around 3m tall and each weigh 820kg. Made at the trust’s Bradley workshop in the West Midlands, they should last for 25 years. The installation is part of a £200,000 repair and restoration programme on the Chesterfield Canal this winter. East Midlands waterway manager Sean McGinley said: “The Chesterfield Canal is an important part of the area’s rich heritage and each year it’s enjoyed by thousands of people either on the water or the towpath. “These works, that are taking place over the next few months, are all about caring for the canal so that it can continue to play an important role in people’s daily lives for many years to come.” Other works taking place on the canal include restoring brickwork at Whit Sunday Pie Bridge near Retford after it was damaged by a vehicle and also repairing brickwork within the canal wall near Misterton.
The crane needed by the team to lift the new gates marks the secluded spot and can be seen from far away.
The water was dammed with stop planks to allow the workers to access the lock.
The new bottom gates in position at Lock 26. PHOTOS: HANNAH BROWN AND JANET RICHARDSON
The new gates weigh 820kg, but the old gates weighed about a ton due to the water they had absorbed.
Site supervisor Tony License shows reporter Hannah Brown the old gates that had been in the lock since 1993.
NEWS 6
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
IN BRIEF Bridge protection
THE listed mediaeval Newbridge, on the A415 near Abingdon, has received extra protection from lorry damage with a camera system, writes Elizabeth Rogers. One of the two oldest surviving bridges across the River Thames, it already has an 18-tonne weight limit and to enable more effective enforcement, Oxfordshire County Council has installed a new ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) system. In September, 83 written warnings were issued to the keepers of vehicles filmed crossing the bridge. Drivers caught on camera flouting the regulations could be fined up to £1000. Advance warning signs on approach roads direct HGV drivers to alternative routes.
Red diesel
THE European Commission still intends to take the UK Government to court over current laws allowing leisure boaters to purchase red diesel. According to the Inland Waterways Association this is despite an agreement made with HMRC in 2008 allowing boaters to buy red diesel for propulsion while paying the required standard rate of tax, with a form of self-declaration allowing the portion used for heating and lighting to be purchased at a lower rate of tax. The European Commission is accusing the UK of failing to fulfil its obligations on fiscal marking of gas oils and kerosene.
Fly tipping
AN INVESTIGATION is under way after a huge pile of industrial rubbish was discovered near to the entrance of the Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, writes Geoff Wood. It is understood that the Lowlands Road site is privately owned and responsibility for a clear-up of the mountain of rubbish will rest with those accountable. Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council , the Environment Agency and Staffordshire Police are working together to try to find where the large-scale problem has come from.
Green Flag award
THE entire length of the Kennet & Avon Canal has been awarded the Green Flag – the benchmark national standard for public parks, beaches and green spaces. At 87 miles it is the longest Green Flag designation to be awarded, beating the previous longest which were the Macclesfield Canal in Cheshire at 26 miles and the Shropshire Union Canal between Middlewich to Audlem at 22 miles.
Canalside homes
PLANS by Skipton’s Merrit & Fryers to build a row of five, three-storey terrace homes on its former canalside loading bay have been narrowly approved, writes Geoff Wood. The scheme received strong objections at a recent planning committee meeting of Craven District Council, including from nearby residents and from both ward councillors, but was eventually approved after lengthy debate.
Link could be back on the agenda By Janet Richardson
THE Environment Agency and Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board have been holding drop-in sessions in south Lincolnshire to gauge community opinion regarding the reclassification of smaller watercourses with low flood risk from ‘main river’ to ‘ordinary watercourse’, known as de-maining. This was ahead of a formal consultation with, if all goes to plan, the transfer of the watercourses involved from EA to BSIDB set to take place in July 2018. Although the drains involved in this joint project are not navigable, they are in the South Forty Foot Catchment which join the main drain, where the Act of Parliament of 1765 still permits navigation and includes part of the route of the proposed Fenland Waterways Link. This ambitious scheme to link Lincolnshire and the River Witham with Cambridgeshire and the River Great Ouse, connecting the cathedral cities of Lincoln, Peterborough and Ely with the market towns of Boston, Spalding, Crowland and Ramsey has been on the back burner since funding dried up after the first phase was completed in early 2009. This connected the Haven at Boston with the South Forty Foot Drain with the opening of the Black Sluice Lock. The second and third phases of the project involving the connection of the South Forty Foot Drain with the River Glen at Guthrams Gowt and with the Glen above Surfleet Seas End Sluice along Vernatt’s Drain are said to be ‘back on the agenda’. Katharine Samms of the Environment Agency’s flood and coastal risk management team told me at the Billingborough session that Anglian Water is working with a number of organisations in the South Forty Foot Drain catchment to progress the
Completed in 2009, the Black Sluice Lock connects the Haven at Boston with the South Forty Foot Drain. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON Water Resources East project. This is primarily a water supply project, but it could bring benefits for navigation. Formed through the project, the South Lincolnshire Water Partnership brings together public water supply, flood risk management, agriculture, environment, business, tourism and leisure sectors in the area. Some small-scale dredging work has been carried out on the South Forty Foot Drain and it is hoped to continue this next summer extending navigation for smaller boats. BSIDB chief executive Ian Warsap explained that the drain is navigable as far as the A52 Donington
High Bridge but following de-silting operations, it should be possible in theory to travel a further 7.5km to the pumping station at Black Hole Drove but the difficulty is turning a boat there. “We are looking at the process of how to link in with the River Glen, it will happen but I don’t know how far in the future,” he added. IWA Lincolnshire chairman Dave Carnell also visited the Billingborough drop-in and said afterwards that they are looking at the possibility of bringing some boats to the area next spring once possible restrictions to navigation have been explored.
WWF investigation finds many rivers polluted with sewage By Phil Pickin
THE World Wildlife Fund recently published a report entitled Flushed Away which looked at the state of the rivers of England and Wales. This nine-month investigation was designed to give rivers a “health check”, and the result of it may come as something of a shock to river users. The investigation found that 40% of the rivers in England and Wales were polluted with sewage. It goes on to say that although the levels detected are legal, they feel the levels of treatment are “not sufficient to protect river health”. Results go on to say that there are more than 18,000 sewer outflows across England and Wales and that 90% of them discharge raw sewage mixed with rainwater into rivers. Overflows too would seem to be causing a problem with between 8 and 14% discharging sewage into rivers at least once a week. According to the WWF, these overflows are only supposed to
discharge into the rivers during extreme rainfalls when water threatens people’s homes. A total of 1902 pollution incidents were reported by the nine water and sewerage companies operating in England alone, a first rise in incidences since 2012. There was also an increase in the most serious pollution incidents, all of which were associated with sewage. A result of all this pollution, according to WWF, is the rapid growth of algae which, in turn, starves the river of oxygen. This obviously has a dramatic impact on the animals that live and feed in the rivers. The report goes on to say that improvements have been made over the last five years and that almost a third of the sewer outflows are now monitored and that the Environment Agency plans to dramatically increase this number by 2020. They also point out that the water industry has an initiative called 21st Century Drainage which assesses the ability of the sewage system to cope with demand.
But despite this WWF is looking to keep the pressure on the government to speed up progress and is encouraging the public to email their MP to demand action.
Stringent targets
An Environment Agenc y spokesperson said: “There have been dramatic improvements to water quality over the last two decades but there is more to do to continue this trend and protect the environment in the future. “We have set more stringent targets for the water sector, stated they must do more to reduce pollution incidents and in the most serious cases taken enforcement action, leading to record fines.” The agency was also keen to point out that “officers can be deployed 24/7 to respond to river pollution incidents. Anyone who spots suspected pollution in rivers should call 0800 80 70 60 so we can stop the pollution spreading, limit any damage to the river ecology, investigate to find
the source and take the appropriate enforcement action.” When asked the EA also commented: “It is inaccurate for WWF to conclude that untreated or raw sewage is spilling into rivers. There is a difference between untreated sewage and partially treated waste water.” Waterways users will undoubtedly be concerned about the state of our rivers as well as our canal system, not only for the good of the environment and wildlife but also for human health. Anyone using the system puts themselves at higher risk of coming into contact with river or canal water, some of which can contain diseases such as leptospirosis, septicaemia and hepatitis A. These are all linked to sewage pollution and can sometimes be fatal, so it’s in everyone’s interest that the water is as clean and pollution free as possible. The WWF campaign can be found at www.wwf.org.uk/ updates/40-rivers-england-andwales-polluted-sewage
RYA SPOTLIGHT 7
www.towpathtalk.co.uk The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and narrowboats and personal watercraft.
Guide groups go green on board! NA R ROW B OAT I N G is becoming ever more popular among the younger generation and Girlguiding, the UK’s largest girls-only youth organisation, is certainly seeing the opportunities it can provide to its groups. To add further value, guide leaders and other youth leaders can now get their hands on a selection of fun, interactive and informative activities to do with their groups while out on the UK’s inland waterways. Alison Selby, guide leader and RYA inland waterways instructor for Castaway Canal Boats, has been working more closely with The Green Blue, the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine’s environmental initiative, to develop a range of activities around narrowboating and the environment. Kate Fortnam, campaign manager for The Green Blue says: “Guides are part of the next generation of inland boaters and these activities provide a great opportunity to increase the guides’ awareness of their environment when boating and equip them with a range of practical ways to minimise any impact their recreational boating may have on the environment.”
Activities include Freshwater CSI (core set of indicators), water quality testing, litter surveys, alien shapes, quiz questions and puzzles around Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). INNS are any wild species not normally resident and not a regular visitor to Great Britain. They have the ability to cause damage to the environment, the economy and our health. They can also block up waterways and can damage boat engines and props. Through the INNS activities the guides learn how these species can be spread around UK waters by boating activities, including hitching a ride on boat hulls, anchors and propellers or being carried in ballast and bilge water. They also discover how to prevent species from being spread. This can include removing any visible plant or animal matter from the boat’s equipment such as fenders, the rudder and ropes before leaving a mooring and disposing of them in the nearest bin. From performing water quality tests, the guides can learn about the importance of not letting cleaning products containing chlorine, bleach
and phosphates enter the waterways where they can lower the water quality and impact our wildlife. Alison comments: “Each time I take a group of guides out on a narrowboat, they are always surprised to discover that the shower and sink water goes straight out into the waterways and they soon realise the importance of using the eco-friendly washing-up liquid and shampoo we have on board.” Through using The Green Blue’s boating and environment activities, guides such as The Green Guide to Inland Boating and The Green Guide for Inland Boat Hire Companies, Alison is keen to demonstrate to and encourage not only her guide groups, but other inland boaters to adopt environmental best practice when boating on our inland waterways. If you are interested in delivering an environmental activity with a youth group while out on the water or want to find out ways to make your inland boating more environmentally sustainable visit www.thegreenblue.org. uk or contact Kate Fortnam, campaign manager, at kate. fortnam@thegreenblue.org.uk.
Young people enjoying a canal trip. PHOTO: RYA
Start the season at the 2018 London Boat Show RYA members can once again claim their free ticket for any day of the London Boat Show which takes place from January 10-14, 2018, at ExCeL. They will also be able to buy up to three additional tickets at the discounted price of £12 each (a transaction fee of £1.95 applies for purchased tickets). Also, up to four children, up to age 15, will be admitted free with every adult ticket presented. RYA membership development manager Conor Swift said: “Thousands of members took advantage of the free ticket offer to the 2017 show and we are confident that the 2018 show offer will be just as popular.” Back for its 64th year, the London Boat Show returns in January celebrating everything you can do and enjoy on the water. Incorporating the all-new Boating & Watersports Holiday Show, visitors will be able to get into the holiday spirit and plan their next water-based getaway. New attractions include the Lock & Waterside Pub, Beach Club & Activity Pool, Classic Boat Collection, Legend’s Theatre and Practical Boat Theatre. Login to the London Boat Show member benefits page on the RYA website for full details on how to claim your ticket. To make any additional ticket purchases www.rya.org. uk/go/lbstickets
8 NETWORKING
SOCIETY NEWS Pentland progress
READERS may remember our report on ex-BW workboat Pentland moving to its new home with the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association at Langley Mill earlier in the year. Work continues with steel hull panels being replaced following the removal of some very corroded steel and although ECP&DA is a long way from refloating the boat, it is making significant progress. The engine has been removed and is being rebuilt, some new parts being necessary, while it is planned to replace the propeller with a larger version. (Erewash Outlook, autumn/winter 2017)
Bicentenary appeal
THE Pocklington Canal Amenity Society’s Bicentenary Appeal has reached its target of £250,000, and is now closed. It benefited from an award of £106,400 from the Tony Harrison Bequest, which took the total past the target. A canal enthusiast and a consultant engineer to the Inland Waterways Association, specialising in hydraulics, Tony Harrison was a frequent visitor to the Pocklington Canal. PCAS will shortly be launching its next appeal for the restoration of Sandhill Lock, to start once the Bicentenary Project is completed. (Double Nine, autumn 2017)
Footpath rangers MELTON & Oakham Waterways Society is seeking local volunteers to become footpath rangers along the Wreake Valley Way, a heritage and environment trail between Melton Mowbray and Cossington Meadow near Syston. Rangers take regular walks along short sections of the route in their local area looking out for maintenance issues and helping to publicise the trail. There are no fixed hours and all equipment and training is provided. Contact Paul Dadford on 07870 238688. (MOWS Newsletter, autumn 2017)
Busy Birdswood
THE Friends of Cromford Canal’s popular tripboat Birdswood has carried over 25,000 passengers in just four seasons. Built in 1938, it carried coal from Birmingham to London in its early days but is now a key attraction for visitors to Cromford. Converted to electric power, so as not to pollute the nature reserve upon which it cruises, Birdswood is also horse-drawn several days a month. A Certificate of Excellence was recently awarded by online TripAdvisor due to this project being the number one of nine attractions in the Cromford area.
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
Canal trust banks on the TSB in charity partnership LICHFIELD and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust has been given a fundraising boost after being chosen by the city’s TSB branch as its local charity partner for 2017/18. TSB has given more than £1.7 million to local causes across Britain since its local charity partnerships launched in 2015. Christopher Hunt, TSB’s Lichfield branch manager, said: “Our Local Charity Partnership programme is all about working in partnership to help support the local causes that are the lifeblood of many communities across Britain. “I am thrilled to welcome Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust as our new Local Charity Partner which is close to our hearts here in Lichfield— we can’t wait to get started.”
LHCRT chairperson Christine Bull said: “Their support will make a really positive impact on our charity and the work we do here in Lichfield.” The trust is currently campaigning to raise £1 million to build a tunnel under the Cross-City railway line. If the David Suchet Tunnel Vision appeal is successful the work will be carried out in 2020, at the same time as a tunnel is constructed to take the proposed Lichfield Southern Bypass extension under the line. To date the appeal has raised £400,000. The trust also has many volunteering opportunities, particularly at its Tamworth Road, Summerhill and Fosseway sites. To see more details of the Tunnel Vision appeal and volunteering opportunities, visit www.lhcrt.org.uk.
TSB Lichfield staff members and Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust volunteers outside the TSB branch in Conduit Street: (left to right) Julie Bolton, Emma Dance, Christopher Hunt, Joanne Adamson, Christine Bull, Bev Marshall, Aileen Salter and Dora Hancock. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Enthusiasts’ donation boosts restoration fund WITH the new Compasses Bridge at Alfold finished, a donation from waterway enthusiasts has boosted the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s other initiatives in the area. Its focus is now on restoring more of the canal’s summit level to navigation. The £1000 given by North and East London branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) will go towards other projects being planned for this Surrey section of the Wey & Arun. A cheque was presented to trust chairman Sally Schupke by IWA branch chairman Tim Lewis. Tim was with other volunteers from the London Waterway Recovery Group who spent a weekend working on final landscaping tasks at Compasses Bridge, which is at the Alfold entrance to the Dunsfold Park aerodrome and business complex. “My IWA branch was looking to make a donation to a worthy cause and contributing to the progress of the Wey
‘Every little helps’ volunteers as store presents cheque By Hannah Brown
Sally Schupke receives the donation cheque from North and East London IWA chairman Tim Lewis. PHOTO: WACT & Arun is certainly worthwhile,” he said. “We are delighted at the progress being made in Surrey. Sally said: “We are really grateful to North and East London IWA for their donation, and for the efforts of their members on Waterway Recovery Group working parties. They make a huge contribution to the project.”
Frank’s 70-mile trek tops his target
SUPERMARKET shoppers have helped to raise £2000 for the Chesterfield Canal Trust. As part of the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme, in which shoppers are charged 5p for single-use plastic carrier bags, the trust has been presented with the money to help with improvements to its Hollingwood Hub site. Kath Auton, membership secretary and volunteer coordinator, said: “Six years ago everything here was derelict. Donations like this and our hardworking volunteers have changed all that. The Tesco community champions really look after us. They have provided refreshments for our festivals and at Christmas they have given us mince pies for our Santa trips. “They are absolutely fabulous and we are very grateful.”
Tesco community champions Jane Calvin, left and Karen Pearson, right, present the cheque to Kath and Rod Auton of Chesterfield Canal Trust. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
Jane Calvin and Karen Pearson, community champions from the local Tesco Extra Store, presented the cheque on behalf of Tesco. The money will be used by the trust to resurface the car park opposite Hollingwood Hub.
By Geoff Wood
VETERAN walker and canal enthusiast Frank Carter has been putting his best foot forward to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. Frank, 70, who has an arthritic knee and is a member of the Huddersfield Canal Society, walked 70 miles around the South Pennine ring of canals and kept a diary of the sights and sounds. He told Towpath Talk: “I enjoyed every minute of walking the canals despite the arrival of very wet weather for a while which did disrupt my schedule considerably. I set myself a target of £1000 and am delighted to have exceeded that by 36% as I’m currently up to £1365.” His walk was due to take place the September before last, but it was postponed while his wife received treatment for an illness. After starting on Huddersfield Broad Canal at the Aspley Junction, he often met other walkers and canal enthusiasts such as the friendly couple of litter pickers who had collected two bags of litter along the way and were making
Frank Carter at the Diggle portal of the Standedge Tunnel – on a very wet day! PHOTO SUPPLIED
A highpoint of Frank’s walk – the Rochdale Canal summit. a determined and admirable effort to ‘Keep Huds Tidy’. As a keen photographer Frank had his Nikon with him, so took many photographs along the way. He said: “After finishing the walk, I decided to put the photographs to good use so have now prepared my own 45-minute photographic DVD with carefully chosen music included. “Not having previous experience in doing this I had to overcome several problems and hitches, but the preparation is now complete and I have in the last couple of weeks sold six copies which has increased my sponsorship by £45.” Before the start of his walk, Frank also held a Rochdale Canal photographic exhibition in Sowerby Bridge Parish Church which raised £300 for the Jo Cox Foundation. Along his walk Frank was able to sample the delights that the canalside pubs, restaurants and cafes had to offer. A highpoint was when he reached the summit of the Rochdale Canal at 183m above sea level. “I then began my descent, passing 10 locks on the way towards the town of Littleborough and on to Rochdale,” he said.
ACS president Jan Roden, front row fifth from left, with members at the gathering. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
Oz and UK members meet up at the Globe THE Australian Canal Society recently held its 2017 UK Gathering and lunch on the Grand Union Canal at the Globe Inn, Linslade. Welcoming everyone to this year’s event, attended by 34 Australian and UK members, ACS president Jan Roden congratulated ACS and IWA Ipswich Branch member Chard Wadley on his recent award of the IWA Cyril Styring Trophy (reported last month). She updated the members on activities taking place in Australia and in particular the society’s 30th anniversary in May 2018, when some events will be planned to celebrate this landmark.
Pipps Ford Lock where the IWA Ipswich branch and the River Gipping Trust are working. Following the gathering, Jan Roden visited the Ipswich Branch in East Anglia, and IWA member John Finch took her to see Pipps Ford Lock, where the branch and the River Gipping Trust are currently undertaking extensive work.
NETWORKING 9
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
Mark Holdsworth in The Narrowboat Sessions studio. PHOTO: NOAH PRICE
Characters of the cut Noah Price meets the man behind the musical internet sensation, The Narrowboat Sessions. MARK Holdsworth, 56, a retired, ex-forces engineer, has held two passions close to his heart throughout his life – narrowboats and music. In 2014 he decided to combine the two in the form of The Narrowboat Sessions. It is a platform where unsigned artists, regardless of their age or background, can showcase their original acoustic material. Mark films and records their performances and then posts them up on the internet. This simple concept has brought about a level of success he could never have predicted. “It’s gone bonkers,” he says heartily, “I love it but it has taken over my life.” With more than 11,000 members on The Narrowboat Sessions Facebook page and over 200 subscriptions on its YouTube channel, Mark is receiving more and more applications from up-and-coming artists every year.
A pure fluke
He explained how the idea was conceived: “It was a pure fluke,” he said, “it all started when me and a few friends were just having a jam on the towpath one day, and then it started raining. I suggested that we went inside and carried on jamming in there.” It was this decision which made Mark and his friends realise that the front of his boat, the Cariad IV, had the makings
of a good performance and recording space. “The beautiful thing about this boat,” he explained, “is that it has a 9ft long cratch and because the canvas slopes down on the sides of it there’s no reverb or resonance in there. It flattens the sound completely like a professional recording studio.” It is this design and the ingenious addition of a sleeping bag – tucked into the roof for extra acoustic padding – which has made The Narrowboat Sessions possible. But it was his friend, the late Maggie Boyle, a well-established folk-singer and musician, who gave the project the kudos it needed to make its next step.
All for a good cause
“I managed to persuade her and her ex-husband, Steve Tilston, to do a narrowboat session. I filmed it and then a month after that I put the video up online and it went viral.” Sadly, Maggie died later that year of cancer but it was her support for the project and her contribution which has helped it grow ever since. Mark originally intended to create and release a double album every year, comprised entirely of a number of recordings from The Narrowboat Sessions. However, there has been a delay on the release dates due to the sheer workload of the
project. The 2014 edition is now available for purchase on The Narrowboat Sessions website and the 2015 album will be out before Christmas. But nothing has changed about the main objective behind the project. As a tribute to Maggie, all the profits gained from the purchases of the albums will be donated to Cancer Research. The sales of the first album have already raised £3200 towards the cause.
Finding amazing talent
Some of Mark’s friends, although respectful of his noble intention, have tried to convince him that he could draw an income from the project. But “music has always been more of a love to me than an income,” he says. “We get all these nice people, with amazing talent, coming to our boat. We help them and they help us to raise money for Cancer Research. And I get a free gig! What more could you ask for?” The window of opportunity for artists to perform on his boat has come to an end for this year. But next year Mark and his crew of friends and family will start off touring from the middle of May right up until the end of September. He has already been as far as Liverpool, London and Birmingham. This time he plans to scout around the Midlands canal network offering the platform, once again, to more undiscovered gems to shine through The Narrowboat Sessions.
EXHIBITION LAUNCH AT LONDON CANAL MUSEUM
The new exhibition featuring London’s lost canals, previewed recently (What’s on, Issue 144, October), was officially launched at the museum where it will be on show until April 2018. Pictured are members of the exhibition research team John Stredwick (team leader), Brian Johnson, John Robinson and Anthea McTurk. PHOTO SUPPLIED
10 COMMUNITY BOATING
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
The National Community Boats Association is a national body for community orientated boating organisations.
A unique award? In this issue Derek Stansfield, former director of training for the NCBA, looks at the Certificate in Community Boat Management and discusses the uniqueness of this award. ONE of the questions I am asked, quite frequently, is ‘What is the difference between the NCBA’s Certificate in Community Boat Management (CCBM) award and this award or that award? In answering I am always careful to say: ‘It is better than …’ etc. as it is not really comparable to any other award and this is the uniqueness of it. Designed around the turn of the millennium, the award is specifically aimed at community boating groups. In the early days this was predominately with young people but has now grown to encompass the community in its widest sense as demonstrated in past articles in these pages. The syllabus has changed little in that time, nor has the structure, although it is no longer linked to the Open College Network. The CCBM is the last in a set of three courses leading to competence as a captain of a community canal boat and is recognised by the Maritime Coastguard Agency as one of the
qualifications for demonstrating the competence for being a skipper of a boat of up to 12 passengers on Category A and B waters. It also prepares captains for what to find out and do before captaining a boat in an unfamiliar situation. The course is for people aged 17 and over, although a certificate cannot be awarded until the age of 18 has been reached. Candidates need to have reached the standard set in the boat handling course before they attend a course and also need to know something about handling groups. There are seven units to the course and these are: 1) Taking over a boat 2) Health, safety and environmental management 3) Group arrangements 4) Practical boat handling 1 5) Boat handling theory 6) Practical boat handling 2 7) Discussion, appraisal and development plans Each unit has to be successfully
completed before a certificate is issued. The course must take place on a boat meeting the NCBA standards and delivered by an NCBA trainer. The minimum length of the course is 20 hours and must be of at least two days’ continuous training and assessment. Preliminary work can be undertaken over a period of time but no longer than one year.
Total package
So, what is special and unique about the award? Well, it is a total package about skippering a boat and Lorraine Grainger, chairman of Hillingdon Narrowboat Association, says: “I personally believe that the CCBM is a unique product which has its own space. “Dealing with the whole package from boat handling, including the basic boat maintenance skills, understanding the crew/passengers, safety – we could have 10 individuals up at lock side – and behaviour on the canal, both as a boater and understanding other towpath users. “Therefore, the total management of the water space and its facilities are covered.” The practical boat handling 2 section
Practical boat handling is part of the course. PHOTO SUPPLIED deals with the more advanced skills of boating, including crew deployment and most importantly dealing with emergencies – from simply going aground to the more serious of a fire on board and evacuation of the boat. Community groups come in a number of different guises, from children with behavioural difficulties to the elderly in care homes and indeed those with special needs, such as blindness or terminal illness. A skipper has to be prepared for meeting the needs of any of these groups and the course includes an element for undertaking risk assessments so that
these groups can enjoy the waterways both safely and with a quality experience. This award then caters towards a particular sector of waterways provision in that of community groups, in all their forms, although it may be adapted for other waterway users. As previously mentioned it is the last of a series of three awards in the NCBA qualifications structure. The other two are the Community Crew Certificate (CCC) and the Boat Handling Course (BHC). While these two may be comparable with other awards I believe the CCBM is unique in its structure, content and application.
The NCBA has a progressive training and qualification structure for inland waterways at all levels.
Lincoln tripboat Oliver is a hit with visitors By Les Heath
A WATERBORNE taxi service, a Santa’s grotto and a history lesson on water are just three of the floating attractions now being offered to visitors in Lincoln. The tourism-boosting ideas are centred around the mini narrowboat Oliver which first began running trips through the famous Glory Hole more than two years ago. From modest beginnings (Towpath Talk, February 2015), the venture has gone from strength to strength and now boasts a varied selection of cruises to suit all-comers. One of the most notable is a floating taxi service between the nearby village of Saxilby and the city of Lincoln – the first of its kind since the 1960s. The trip includes a lunch stop at either The Pyewipe Inn or Woodcocks, which are both canalside pubs along the route. People can return by bus or stay on board for a round trip.
One of the most popular trips at this time of the year is when Santa is on board Oliver. The vessel is totally transformed and becomes a floating grotto. Behind the venture is Christine Ellerby, now often known as Captain Christie, who simply loves her new role. “It is so rewarding to see visitors enjoying themselves,” said Christine. “Everyone on board gets a present from Santa – even the adults, who seem to enjoy it more than the children.” Christine first bought the cafe boat Moonraker which she still operates successfully from the centre of Lincoln but now spends a large part of her time skippering Oliver on a variety of trips. “The history trip is really popular,” said Christine, who provides customers with useful information sheets during the cruise. “Lincoln is so rich historically and the cruise also takes in the Fossdyke – the oldest canal in
Oliver passing through Lincoln. PHOTO: LES HEATH the country built by the Romans to link Lindum (Lincoln) to the River Trent. “We get so many questions and occasionally there are some we cannot answer but we are immediately on the phone
to someone who does know the answer.” Oliver is also kept busy during the evenings with a curry evening on Mondays, bingo buffet on Tuesdays, pies peas and chips on Wednesdays,
ghost story night (with chocolate cake) on Thursdays and a lovers’ evening on Saturdays. Sunday is reserved for a relaxing trip along the Fossdyke to the Pyewipe pub. Operating from the Brayford Pool in Lincoln, Oliver is also
available for private cruises. But the new and successful venture means that for the first time in more than 50 years people can now travel between Lincoln and Saxilby by bus, train or boat.
Bruce Trust gets £25k boost from Freemasons BERKSHIRE Freemasons has given a £25,000 grant to the Bruce Trust which is based at Great Bedwyn Wharf on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Founded by David and Louise Bruce in 1988, the trust has a fleet of four specially designed, purposebuilt, widebeam canal boats for hire for self-catering, self-steer holidays by disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people along with their family, friends or carers. To date more than 20,000 disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people have enjoyed canal-cruising holidays.
“We are thrilled with this generous award from Berkshire Freemasons,” said founding trustee David Bruce. “It will help us to pay for the major refurbishment projects we have planned in order to further enhance our fleet of four boats.” The Community Awards are a major part of Freemasonry’s 300th anniversary celebrations. This is the largest award from Berkshire Freemasons and was voted for by more than 3500 people in the county. Leader of Berkshire Freemasons Martin Peters said: “This is the first
occasion we’ve asked the public to help us decide how to spend our money. We are very pleased that so many people from Berkshire took part in the vote.” The Masonic Charitable Foundation is distributing £3m to 300 charities across the country, with the public vote deciding on the range of awards from £4000 to £25,000. The £3m fund is being administered by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which obtains all its funding from Freemasons, their families and friends.
COMMUNITY BOATING 11
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
Celebration cruise for Thames volunteers THE Environment Agency recently held a day of celebration to mark the significant contribution made by its community of volunteer assistant lock keepers and volunteer boatmen on the River Thames. Hosted by French Brothers Ltd on board their passenger boat The New Queen of the Thames, the day recognised the support of volunteers over the last year, and since the scheme was launched in 2010. Almost 100 of the current complement of 245 volunteers attended the event. While cruising between Windsor Promenade and Bray Lock near Maidenhead, the volunteers took part in workshops to identify possible improvements to the scheme and enjoyed the company of fellow volunteers from a variety of lock sites between Lechlade and Teddington. The trip closed with awards for service being presented to volunteers by Barry Russell, the Environment Agency’s Waterways manager for the River Thames. Demetri Somarakis has been the Environment Agency’s Thames volunteer team project manager since 2011. He said: “With many now in their seventh year, our volunteers are an integral part of the wider waterways team within the Environment Agency and they enhance the positive experience our boater community have on the Thames. “Together, our volunteers have now provided more than 28,600 days’ service since we launched this pioneering initiative in 2011. And under the expert guidance of our full-time professional lock and weir keepers – whose invaluable role cannot be underestimated – they help us to provide levels of service to our boating customers which I doubt can be matched by any other waterway in the UK, if not the world.”
Thames volunteers taking part in a workshop during their celebration cruise. PHOTO: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Working outdoors
To apply to become an Environment Agency River Thames volunteer assistant lock keeper, members of the public need to be able to commit one full day each week to work at an allocated lock local to them. No experience is necessary, but applicants must be reasonably fit, enjoy working outdoors and enjoy working with the public. The main activity is helping boaters through the lock, but other tasks including site maintenance such as tending lawns and flowerbeds. John Stevenson from Woodstock, Oxford, who has been volunteering at Eynsham Lock since 2013, said: “I absolutely love it! The people you meet are always in a happy mood and it’s a great way to stay fit – far better than going to the gym. I just don’t want to give it up. I thoroughly recommend it!” French Bros managing director Chris French said: “We are a family business who have been
operating on the Thames since 1978. We run trips, services and private charters in the middle Thames and are very happy to be hosting this event once again. “The River Thames volunteers are a fantastic, helpful bunch who work alongside the experienced lock and weir keepers. They always offer assistance to my crews. They provide an important addition to the safe operation of the locks and positively contribute to the smooth passage of boat traffic on the Thames.” The River Thames volunteer team of the Environment Agency is keen on hearing from anyone who is interested in helping on the Thames for summer 2018. Training will be provided for all successful candidates, as well as a selection of branded uniform. For more information or to request an application pack email thames.volunteers@ environment-agency.gov.uk or call 020302 59628.
POWER POINTS PROPOSED ALONG OXFORD CANAL By Elizabeth Rogers
OXFORD City Council has been discussing a suggestion for the installation of electric power points along the Oxford Canal. This ideal has been put forward by Coun Liz Wade, whose St Margaret’s Ward includes the canal area. The scheme would not only aid boaters by providing electric power via charging points as an alternative to their running their diesel boat engines to generate power, but also benefit residents in reducing the air pollution in the area. Coun Wade described a scheme in which Islington Borough Council in London and the Canal & River Trust have installed such points along a heavily polluted stretch of the Regent’s Canal. A similar scheme in Oxford could assist in improving community relations between boaters and land-based residents, said Coun Wade. The Islington scheme was able to obtain funding through the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from its air quality fund, but this would not apply in Oxford as pollution levels in this area have been measured as well below the legal limit. They could however be higher in autumn and winter. Other sources suggested by Coun Wade
could be funding from the Canal & River Trust, to which she suggested application should be made, and from the council’s own funding benefits from S106 payments from developers.
Air quality
The council is already in discussions with the Canal & River Trust on the issue of air quality. Coun Wade told Towpath Talk that the scheme in Islington, which she has visited, has 11 power-point-carrying bollards, but in Oxford two would be sufficient as each could have four power points, thus providing power to eight boats. She described a project in Oxford as a ‘medium-term’ one. She also told the council of another scheme in Islington, a proposal for an ‘eco-mooring zone’, with special rules to discourage smoke and diesel emissions. Boaters would sign up for these free pre-booked moorings, with terms and conditions to use only electricity and not cause nuisance from any burning of solid fuel for heating. These moorings would be monitored, with boaters not abiding by the terms excluded from future bookings. “The ‘eco-mooring zone’ is a proposal being consulted upon as part of the emerging London Mooring Strategy, which we need to keep an eye on to see what could work in Oxford,” Coun Wade added.
12 IWA ROUND-UP
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
AROUND THE BRANCHES WITH IWA’S GEMMA BOLTON
Milton Keynes
What’s the strangest thing ever hauled out of a canal? This elephant could be head of the list!
North & East London THE Inland Waterways Association often gets asked: “What’s the strangest item to have been hauled out of the canal on one of your work parties? Well, the Milton Keynes Branch may have the answer. Forty-six volunteers supported the branch’s canal clean-up, clocking up more than 400 hours of effort. Walkers cleared the towpath and hedges of litter and larger items of rubbish while volunteers working from a ‘pan’ (shallow-draught workboat) cleared the non-towpath side of the canal.
As always on the twice-annual event, an amazing but depressing variety of items was recovered including an engine, washing machine, glass-fibre dinghy, double mattress, a toilet, rucksack, numerous bikes, motorbikes and supermarket trolleys. There were also timber, plywood and fencing panels, plastic sheeting, the usual bottles and cans, a garden heron ornament and a headless plastic elephant! The haul of rubbish amounted to an estimated 8-10 tonnes.
Peterborough branch members John Faben, Bernard Keane, Sylvia Keene, Roger Mungham, Dave Venn, Sean Hill, John Revill and Chris Howes at the first work party of the season. PHOTO: IWA
Northampton A GROUP from Cummings Power Systems joined IWA Northampton Branch to improve the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal. The 24 volunteers planted 2000 bulbs and vegetation clearance was carried out on the bypass weirs and channels by six of the locks. Mosaic slabs were installed at locks 5 and 6 and the area was spruced up, with litter removed and the grass mowed.
The hopper crew in action. PHOTOS: LES FRANKLIN
IWA WORK PARTIES IN DECEMBER
Peterborough THE beginning of November marked the first of IWA Peterborough Branch’s season of work parties, to clear more of the banks of Horseway channel. Future work parties will see volunteers carrying out maintenance of Horseway Lock. Chairman Chris Howes observed: “We’ve introduced Saturday work parties for those branch members who told us that they can’t do weekdays, but wouldn’t mind doing the odd bit at weekends.” Organiser Dave Venn added: “We were pleased with a strong turnout for our first, and particularly delighted to welcome our ‘eldest member’ Bernard Keene! Remember, tea, coffee, tools and encouragement provided. All welcome!”
OBJECTIONS have been raised to three separate planning applications in London, which would withdraw wharf access and change the face of the Regent’s Canal. IWA North & East London Branch has supported the Friends of the Regent’s Canal in objecting to proposals at Bangor Wharf in Camden, Holborn Studios and Regent’s Wharf in Islington. There are a number of ways you can help stop these developments from happening. Visit the Friends of Regents Canal website for more information: http://friendsofregentscanal.org/
Anyone intending to attend one of these events for the first time should contact the organisers beforehand and wear suitable clothing and footwear. If staying all day take a packed lunch unless other arrangements are indicated.
East Wednesdays December 6, 13, 20, 27 and Saturday December 9 Who wants to go shopping in the canal? One of 40 shopping trolleys found on one day by IWA Warwickshire Branch on their canal clean-up. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
Warwickshire THREE hours, one mile, 80 volunteers and more than 40 shopping trolleys sums up IWA Warwickshire Branch’s clean-up of the Grand Union Canal between Tachbrook Road (bridge 41) and Clapham Terrace (bridge 38) in Leamington Spa. IWA volunteer numbers were swelled by Sydenham scouts, 3rd Warwick Scouts, University of Warwick student volunteers, Canal & River Trust regular volunteers, local boaters and residents. In addition to the trolleys, 28 cycles, three motorbikes, more than 20 tyres, a complete sign from a pay and display car park, a street sign for Llewellyn Road, several pushchairs, a pram, sundry barriers and road works paraphernalia and a mooring ring embedded in concrete were all hauled from the water. A litter pick produced over 20 sacks of rubbish.
IWA Ipswich Branch supporting River Gipping Trust: Pipps Ford (Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8LJ) or Baylham Mill Lock (Mill Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8LG), River Gipping. Meet at 9am to continue clearing storm damage to Pipps Ford or carry out maintenance at Baylham Mill Lock, finish at 3.30-4pm. Contact Martin Bird 01394 380765, restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk
Sunday December 10
IWA Lincolnshire Branch supporting Sleaford Navigation Trust: Volunteers meet on the second Sunday of the month to carry out a variety of tasks to maintain the navigable section of the Sleaford Navigation. 10am-3pm. To confirm date and location contact Chris or Steve Hayes 01522 689460, workparties@sleafordnavigation.co.uk
Wednesday December 13
IWA Peterborough Branch: Clearing vegetation on Horseways Channel and carrying out maintenance of Horseways Lock, 10am-3pm. Access is via, and by permission of, Allpress Farms, Byall Fen Drove (B1093) PE16 6XQ. Contact David Venn 01366 324102, david. venn@waterways.org.uk
North Saturday December 2 and Tuesday December 26 IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch supporting the Burslem Port Trust: Twice-monthly work party on the Burslem Arm, Stoke-on-Trent, 10am to 3pm. Meet at Luke Street, Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 3LY. Contact Steve Wood 07976 805858, steve. wood@team.waterways.org.uk
Thursday December 14
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust: Monthly work party on the Uttoxeter Canal at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm. No parking at site so please meet at 9.30am Volunteers with some of the rubbish pulled out the canal at Leamington Spa.
at Denstone Village Hall, College Road, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5HR for a lift or, if on foot, meet on site at Bridge 70 at 10am. Contact Steve Wood 07976 805858, steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk
Saturday December 16
IWA Manchester Branch: Monthly work party at a venue to be confirmed in Greater Manchester, 10am-4pm. Tasks will include vegetation clearance, litter picking, painting and pulling rubbish out of the canal. Contact 07710 554602, secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk
Thursday December 21
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society: Monthly work party on the Cheshire Locks, Trent & Mersey Canal. Meet at Church Locks 47 and 48 adjacent to All Saints Church, Lawton ST7 3DD at 10am. Contact John Brighouse 0780 887317, john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk
Saturday December 30
IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch: Monthly work party in the Chester area working at various locations alongside the Shropshire Union Canal, 10am-4pm. Work will include painting and vegetation clearance. Contact Jason Watts, jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Midlands Sunday December 3 and Tuesday December 19 IWA Northampton Branch: Northampton Arm adoption, fortnightly work party 10am-2pm. Work includes a variety of tasks such as painting, vegetation clearance and litter picking. Location dependent on work completed at the previous work party. Contact Geoff Wood at geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk
South Tuesdays December 19 and 26
IWA Oxfordshire supporting Banbury Canal Partnership: Meet at 9am, work until around 1pm. Contact Colin Garnham-Edge, bcpontheoxford@gmail. com
For further information on any of these events please contact Gemma Bolton on 01494 783453 or email gemma.bolton@waterways.org.uk Details can also be found on IWA’s website at www.waterways.org.uk