Formerworkingboat Pacific mooredontheBridgewaterCanalfortheannual LymmHistoric TransportDayinJune. Pacific is aformerStewartsand Lloydscanaltugbuiltby Yarwoodsandlaunchedin1934.Sheisnowpreservedinprivateownership.Shewasamong anumberoftugsthatStewarts andLloydsusedtotowBirminghamCanalnavigation‘Joey’boatsloadedwithcoalminedintheCannockareatothecompany’ssteeltubeworksat Coombs WoodintheBlackCountry. PHOTO:COLINWAREING
By TimGreenfield
THEDRIEST spring since 1893andhot,rainlessJune and July have made some of England’s waterwaysa no-gofor boaters. Andthere is noendin sightforthe water-starvednetwork asthe Canal&RiverTrustwarned
boaterstoplanahead to avoid problems.
Accordingtothe MetOffice, 2025 sawthedriest spring formorethan130 years. In addition,someofEngland’s regionsare nowofficiallyin droughtconditions.Low water levels across thecanalandriver networkmeansomevessels
THE Canal & River Trust has welcomed a Welsh Parliament debate on safeguarding the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Members heard how the canal generates £30 million annually and supports vital wildlife, tourism and local well-being Concerns were raised over new restrictions on its water source from the River Usk Emergency measures are in place, but long-term solutions are needed A rally before the debate showed strong public support
cannotusethe waterwaysand lock usageisbeingrestrictedin someareas. Many boatershave reported runningagroundand havingtore-route due to water depthin someareas.
Thetrust is advising that wateravailabilityacrosssome partsofthe canalnetwork is understrain withlowriver flows
andreduced waterholdings in thecharity’s canal-feeding reservoirs.
Alex Hennessey,national boatingmanager at Canal &River Trust, said:“The conditions we’veseensofar this yearareputting pressure on thewater suppliesneeded to facilitatenavigation.
ANEW webappfromthe Environment Agencymakesit easierthan ever to report waterpollution andodourproblems across England. The ‘Reportanenvironmental problem’ service,now live on gov.uk, complementstheexistingphonehotlineand letsusersquicklyflag issuesviamap,textand, shortly,photosorvideo. Regularriverusers andcommunitiescannowactfastwhen spotting pollution.
“Thelackofrainfallisthe primarydriverfor lowflows and, in some areas, thisis compounded by essential reservoirrepairs required by legislation, whichare temporarilyreducingtheir waterstorage capacity.”
•Continuedonpage2
MELTON & Oakham Waterways Society (MOWS) has received a £9800 workboat, funded entirely by the Severn Trent Community Fund Built by JT Fabrications, the new 4.8m boat replaces Badger, the group’s ageing vessel With a more powerful engine and improved design, it will support yearround maintenance on the Rivers Eye and Wreake MOWS volunteers are now fitting out the boat ahead of launch
THIS summer’s relentlessdry spell –following the driest spring since 1893 –has left largestretches of ourcanal network strugglingunder the weight of watershortages. As ourleadstory outlines,the Canal& RiverTrust is battlinglow reservoir holdings,environmental constraints and soaringevaporation ratestokeep waterwaysopen. Boatersacrossthe countryhavefacedgroundings, detours,and now, widespreadlock restrictions.Volunteersand CRTstaff alikeare workinghardtomanage traffic and conserve everydropof water. We urge all boaterstoplan ahead,sharelocksandhelpsafeguard what remains of ournavigable waters duringthis critical period.
In lightofthesechallenges, it’s moreimportantthaneverto champion innovation and care on the cut–whichiswhy entriesare now open for the 2025 Sustainable Boating Awards.Theseawards, runjointly by the Inland WaterwaysAssociation and TowpathTalk,celebratethose making arealdifference in reducing environmental impact.
Nominations (maximum 1000 words, with up to sixphotos) should be submittedtoIWATTsustainable awards@waterways.org.uk by August 30.Winnerswill be honoured at the IWAannualmeetingon September27. Let’sshine alight on the boatershelpingtopreserveour waterwaysfor the future. Enjoythe edition.
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•Continuedfrompage1
Alex Hennesseywentontoexplain:
“The trustisnow alsorequired to complywith modern legally bindingenvironmental conditions in place to protect rivers and streamswhich canlimit thefeed of waterintothe canalnetwork, further reducing historic sources of water.
“The canalnetwork hasa constant demand for water. While boat passagethrough locksisan obvious useof water, evaporation andtranspiration cansee canals loseasmuchasaninchofwater on hotsummerdays. An underlying ‘sweeteningflow’isalsoalways needed to supportecology and avoid canals turningstagnant.”
Whilethe majority of thenetwork is open andfullynavigable,there arecurrently restrictions in placeon certain canals.Mostly, thismeans reducedlockoperatinghours, whichare intendedtoextend water suppliesand navigationfor as long as possible this summer.Insome instances, lowwater supplymeans that boat passagethrough lockshas been temporarilysuspended. Amap of the affectedareas canbe found on the Noticessection of the trust’swebsite:filter by reason: ‘Low WaterLevels’ andselect‘MapView’ While navigation restrictions currentlymostlyaffect northern waterways, thecontinueddry
weather meansthatrestricted lock openingtimes arenow being introducedelsewhere, including sections of the Grand Union and Oxfordcanals,and in some parts of the Midlands The trust’svolunteer lock keepers have been helpingtomanageboat
trafficatlockflightstoensurewater suppliesare used as sparinglyas possible,and the trustcontinuesits programme of water-saving repair workstoincreaseall availablewater flows into the canalnetwork. Waterlevels arebeingreviewed dailyand the trustsaysitwill remove,orintroduce,watersaving measures as necessary. If it rains enough to allowsafe navigation,restrictionswillbelifted immediately: this is likely to require sufficient and prolongedrain over severalweeks rather than asudden, very heavydownpour.
Mr Hennesseyadded: “We know howfrustrating navigation restrictions are. We’regrateful to boatersfor their supportand patience,including thosewith deeper draughtedvessels.We’re asking everyone to be extra vigilantthis summer;sharing lockswhereverpossible, doublechecking that paddles arefully closed,and planningroutes carefully. Theseall make areal difference in helpingconserve waterand sustainingnavigation for everyone.”
CANALrestoration charities have slammedthe Canal& RiverTrust after it revealed anew wayofworking with organisations that repair and renovate waterways.
CRTsaysitwill not supportnew projects at the expenseofnavigations it already maintains and will charge charities who do work on itsproperty.
Butthe Wendover Canal Trust, whichhas been responsiblefor restoration of thewaterways in Buckinghamshireand has completedmanyprojects, says thetone of the proposals are“negative”and take no accountofworkwhich benefits the national charity.
It addedthat in some projects the CRTshould be fundingthe restoration trusts “rather than the other wayround”.
In addition, David Martin, chairmanofthe Friendsof the CromfordCanal,hit out at the CRT, saying its plans hadhalted vitalrestoration work on thecanal.
He said: “Thenextphase
(accommodation bridge andlinktoBeggarlee locks) is nothing butstopped and held back by the overly complicated processesthat the Canal&River Trusthas in place; my exasperation with that body hasnow passed boilingpoint. I don’t knowhow anyone gets anywhereintoday’s world! Even communication with the trustisasurprisingly difficult process; it’s like we existinanother time zone!
“Lastyearother canal societies did warn me aboutthe overly complex processesthatCRT nowhas in place andhow frustrated theywerewithitall.”
Wendover CanalTrust chairman CliveJohnson said:“Rather than seeking to make moneyfromcanal restorers,CRTshouldraiseits game in justifyingcontinued statefunding.It’snot enough to keep talking aboutcanals, boatsand navigation; CRT should be talkingmuch more about2000 milesof free-access open linear park throughdeprived
areas, thelistedstructures whichtheymanageand theenvironmental and wildlife benefits of what they provide.”
Mr Johnson argued that therewas acasefor restorationorganisations not to be chargedbythe CRT, given the work they do: “Thecanal system wouldnot existinits currentformand popularity,had it not been fordecades of the voluntary effortsofnumerous voluntarycanal groups.”
In astatement, theCRT said it acknowledgedthe passion and desireofmany restoration societies to restore closed canals back to afull navigable standard. Thereare clearsocietal and economic benefitstorestoring and expanding theavailabilityof the canalnetwork
It added: “Any restoration maycome with increased maintenance or water demandsuponthe trust and thiswill need to be considered when approving anyrestoration; in this way thetrust will ensureno
fundsorresources aretaken away from thosenavigations it already maintainsas navigable and that it has the resource and waterto maintain anynewly restored canals to thesamestandard as the rest of the network.
“Restoration projects will often be acomplex undertakingand, in many cases, will be considered amajor civil engineering project. Such work needs to complywithrelevant legislation, and this requires skills,knowledge, experience andtime Although thetrust is awarethatrestoration societiesmay be resourced with the skills to deliver such work,the trust strongly recommends that professional supportwith theappropriate insurance in placeissourced to deliver the work or elementsofit.
“Any organisation wishingtoundertake restorationworks on trust property will need to satisfy therequirementsand competency checks which aredescribed within this plan and thetrust will require cost reimbursementfor anywork/staff time.Acost estimate canbeprepared basedupona projectscope of worksand thetrust may have to procurededicated resourcestodeliver itspart in arestoration.”
TheWendover Canal Trustsaidthere needed to be moredetail on what CRTchargingwould look like, addingthatsome of the wording“appearstorequire restorerstowrite CRTa blank cheque for whatever you choose to charge”. In addition,CRT is asking restoration trusts to fully comply with all healthand safety, and otherlegislation whichthe Wendovertrust says could deter volunteers from helpingonprojects CRThas stated that it is lobbying the Government for moreresources butin themeantime, it must use its resources in the most effectiveway,ensuring existingwaterways are maintainedand navigable.
BOATERSare finallyusing the closed section of the Walsall Canal, 11 months after it waspoisonedwith deadlychemicals –but there is still no indication of any prosecutions
Remedial work has costmorethan£500,000, involvingdredgingtoremove some of the 4000 litres of zinc cyanide solution which leaked from Anochrome Ltd, north of OckerHill,intothe Wyrley andEssington Canal.
Henriette Breukelaar, directorfortheWestMidlands at the Canal&River Trust, said:“After many monthsof closure, Iamdelightedto reopen the Walsall Canalto ourboatingcommunity. It hastaken significanttime and resources to remove the toxins,and Ithank boaters for their patience duringthe clean-up.”
The EnvironmentAgency said it is not unusual for investigations to take months to conclude, addingthatitwould not be able to commentonthe case for severalmonths Aspokesman said: “We will not hesitate to take decisiveaction againstthose responsible for pollution incidents.Theinvestigation into thespillage that affectedthe Walsall Canalin August 2024isasignificant investigation whichinvolves multiple agencies. While the canalhas nowreopened,
we arecontinuingtogather statements and evidence This includes monitoring the impact of boat trafficto assess the harm caused by the spillage.”
Ms Breukelaaradded: “This incident hashad alasting impact on the canal’secology, butour team acted swiftlyto contain the pollution and preventfurther damage to wildlife.Theclean-up hasso far costour charityhundreds of thousands of pounds that would have been used to repair ourcanals.Wewill seek to reclaim this money from the pollutingcompany and invest it in caring for the canals in the West Midlands “Wewill continue to closely monitor the canaltoensure no further harm comes to wildlife.The extraordinary scale andnatureofthis pollutionincident means we can’t be certain how long it will take forfish and other wildlife to fully recover. We will therefore continue to closelymonitor thecanal to make sure we remain on trackto seethis beautiful and much-loved stretchofcanal make afull recovery for boatersand local communities to fullyenjoy.”
In August 2024, achemical spillage caused up to 4000 litres of highlytoxic zinc cyanidesolution to enterthe canalatPleck.To containthe pollution, a12-mile stretch wasinitially closed to the
publicand boaters.
Teamsfromthe Canal& RiverTrust,the Environment Agency, Walsall and Sandwell councils, the UK Health andSafetyAgency, the emergencyservices, Severn TrentWater and contractorsonbehalf of the polluter worked to limit the spread of the spill and protect thecanal’s ecosystem. The closurewas quicklyreduced to aone-mile-long stretch from PlecktoWalsall Top Lock at Birchills and the towpathwas reopened severalweeks laterwhen chemical levels were at a consistently safe level.
Thecanal hasbeen dredgedtoremove cyanidecontaminated silt,further reducing risks to wildlife and aiding ecological recovery About526 tonnes of silt have been removedand safely disposed.
Coun Adrian Andrew, associateleader at Walsall Council, said: “Despitethe situation, thisreopeningis somethingtobecelebrated Iknowour canals are importanttomanypeople, and it is agreat relief theycan nowbeenjoyed once more.”
The EnvironmentAgency canprosecute without referringtothe Crown Prosecution Service.Earlier, theagencysaid no decision on enforcementwould be made untilthe clean-up was complete.
VOLUNTEER lock keepersare needed to helpkeepastretch of the UK’s longestcanal open thisyear.
People arebeingurged to donateaday aweektooperate the Gargrave stretchof the Leeds& LiverpoolCanal,located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales Lock keepersare ‘the faceofthe waterways,’and thisiconic role hasbeen afamiliar featurefor hundreds of yearson Britain’scanals.With many people enjoying their localcanal and towpathasaplace to escape andrelax,modern-day volunteer lock keepersare an invaluablepartofthe visitor experience,said the Canal&River Trust.
Offeringafriendlywelcome,they provide localinformation and assist with a varietyofimportant tasks,includingwater management, environmental and heritage maintenance tasks, and assistingboaters andpublicpassing through the area.
Andy Salt,volunteeringleaderatthe trust, said: “Gargraveisabeautifuland popular spot on the Leeds&LiverpoolCanal,closeto the summit.Itcan be vulnerable to changes in waterlevels,somonitoringand helping to manage waterlevels is an important part of the volunteer lock keepingrole and helpingtolookafter,repair, paint, mow, plantalong thesix locksatGargravetokeep them lookingtheirbest.
“You don’t need experienceofboating or workingonthe waterways. The most importantthings areenthusiasm,a willingnesstolearn,and afriendlymanner. It’s agreat opportunityfor anyone wholoves beingoutdoors, is lookingfor something differenttodo, andisinterestedinkeeping the traditionoflockkeepingalive.”
The role worksona shiftbasis between Apriland October, assistingfor aminimum of one dayaweek. People of all ages above 18 and experiences areencouraged to apply, with trainingand induction sessions provided. Anew welfare unit in Gargrave at Higherland Lock,nearthe boater facilities in themiddleofthe village,isbeing installed for the volunteer team
Sean McGinley, directoratthe Canal &River Trust’sYorkshireand NorthEast region,added: “Volunteersare ahugely importantpartofenablingour charity to continue to preserve and protectthis national treasure, while helpingtocelebrate the canals’colourful history andbring their stories to newaudiences.Ifyou are interested andthinkingofjoiningus, our message is ‘yourcanal needsyou’.”
Volunteering on the canals provides its ownhealth benefits. Canals have been proven to have apositiveimpactonpeople’s mental well-being. Astudy last year by King’s College London showedpositive associationsbetween visits to canals and rivers and mental well-being, as well as a positiveexperience for feelings of safety and social inclusion relativetoother environments
Aboutone million peopleinYorkshire live within a10-minutewalk of trustmanagedwaterways,but many don’t realisethatthe locks, bridges, aqueducts andtowpaths,together with the habitat for wildlife,are looked after by acharity Forfurther information, search ‘volunteer lock keeper Gargrave’onthe Canal& River Trustwebsite:wwwcanalrivertrust.org.uk/ volunteer
By Lucy Wood
DRIVERS have been urgedtotake care afterthe bridge locatedon the Staffordshire&Worcestershire Canalbetween Dimmingsdale Lock and WightwickLockwas struck by a vehicle for the fifth time in 14 years. The Canal&River Trustiscarrying outurgentrepair work,estimated to cost£80,000, to the badlydamaged parapet. Repeated collisions have taken aserioustoll on thebridge’s original masonry, promptingthe trusttocall on motorists to slow down and takeextra care when drivingover historiccanal bridges.
CRTsenior projectmanager Paul Ardill said: “The region’scanals area national treasure;partofour shared
heritage.Every time abridgeisstruck by apassing vehicle, it chipsawaya pieceofheritage that we cannever fullyreplace.This latest strike has caused significant structural damage to the bridge’s masonry, prompting urgent conservation andrepair work whichwill takeweeks to complete.”
The bridge is one of about2800 such structures maintainedbythe trust. Most were built in the 18th and 19th centuries,longbeforethe adventofmodern vehicles,making themvulnerable to strikesbywide or speedingtraffic.Thetrust is urging allroadusers to observesignage, reduce speedand take extracare when approachinghump-backedor
narrow canalbridges
Paul added: “Vehicle strikescostus, acharity,morethan£1million ayear, with many incidents goingunreported. On this occasion we do have the driver’s details so we canclaim some of ourcosts back from their insurance company. However, often ourbridges aredamaged in hit-and-run incidents, leavingustopay the bill.
“Ifeveryone drivingoverthese bridgestookthingsslower, we could save pricelesspiecesofour canal historyfrombeingbadlydamaged.”
As this issuewenttopress,the road, canaland towpathremainedclosed while debris wasremoved, and the bridge made safe
TheCanal &River Trust, workingin partnership with Sandwell Council, has reopenedthe 129-year-old WrightsBridge after extensiverepairs.
Locatedonthe Dudley No.2 Canal, the bridge connects localpeople to theOld Hill railway station and hasbeenclosed forseveral yearsdue to safetyconcernsabout the bridge deck and its structural supports.Constructed in 1896, it wasoriginallymanufacturedby renowned steel-maker Dormon Long &Co, whichalsobuilt SydneyHarbour Bridge ThankstofundingfromSandwell Council’s TownsFund, the bridge hasbeenextensively repaired and now offers an easy walkingand cyclingroute acrossthe canal.
The 14-weekproject involved replacingand repairingthe worn-out wooden sections of bridge deck and its steelsupportingbeams. Wherepossible,sections of the bridge were kept,preservingasmuchofthe original bridge as possible.Thesupportingbrick walls were alsorepaired,and the bridge accessramps have been resurfaced Awardedin2022, the TownsFund grantwas an investmentof£2.3 million aimedatimprovingcanal towpaths.The CanalNetwork ConnectivityProject has
improved four-and-a-half miles of towpath improvements alongthe NethertonTunnel BranchCanal, the GowerBranchCanal,the OldMainline Canaland theDudleyNo. 2 Canal.
HenrietteBreukelaar, director forthe West Midlands at Canal& RiverTrust,said: “It’swonderful to seethis bridge back open after beingclosed for many years. We thank Sandwell Council and The Rowley Regis TownsFund Boardfor theirsupport in gettingthis importantcommunityamenity back in use. “Asacharity,weare facingsome challengingfinancial times,and supportlike this allows us to carryout repairslikethis withouthavingtodivertthe moneyneeded to keep ourcanals open.”
Coun PeterHughes,Sandwell Council’s cabinetmemberfor regeneration and infrastructure,said: “Bymakingthe bridge safe and reopeningittothe public,weare reinvigoratingthe area as aplace to visit, enjoy,and useinour everyday lives.”
Formoreinformation on The CanalNetwork ConnectivityProject, visit https://regeneratingsandwell. co .uk/s andw el l_pr oj ec ts / canal-network-connectivity/
THE Canal&River Trust hascarried outdredgingat GloucesterDocks as part of its vital work to manage Britain’s mostinland port
Thecharity hasspent £3 million in the last three years on dredging the dockstoallow boatsand tall vessels to freely navigate and moor in the heart of Gloucester, locatedabout 35 miles from the mouth of theBristol Avon.Thedredging programmeisestimated to have removedabout 2500 cubic metres of silt –enough to fill an Olympic swimmingpool.
Thedocks form part of a vitalsupplychain providing half of thedailywater supply for residentsand businesses in Bristol. Waterispumped from theRiver Severn into GloucesterDocks,and along the Gloucester&Sharpness Canal. Unfortunately, this also brings tonnes of silt into thedocks from theriver,and theCRT carries outanannual programme of dredging to remove it
Environmental company Land &Water hasundertaken thelatestwork, usingadigger
mountedonabarge.Thesilt is then loadedontoa hopper and transported down the Gloucester &SharpnessCanal to asitenearParkend Bridge for safe disposal.
Paul Fox, asenior project manageratthe trust, said:
“Every year we dredge huge amounts of silt from Gloucester Docksaspartofour ongoing programme of maintenance
“The build-up,causedby waterpumpedinfromthe Severn, is monitored by regular surveyssoour charitycan take action to remove it and ensure craft areabletoenter and navigate thedocks,including forthe popularTall Ships festival,whichisnexttaking place in 2027.
“Good progress has been made to maintain thedepths requiredwith acouple of barge loads of silt being removed each day during the work.”
The docksare settowelcome thousands of visitorsagain this summertoenjoy beingby thewater andsurroundedby history,includingthe popular National WaterwaysMuseum Gloucester.
ByLucyWood
A£3MILLION towpathimprovement scheme is beingundertaken along twocanals in the Huddersfield area. Workinginpartnership with the West Yorkshire CombinedAuthority and Kirklees Council, fundingwas securedbythe Canal& RiverTrust to improvethe towpathalongthe Huddersfield BroadCanal,from AspleyBasin in Huddersfield to Cooper Bridge,wherethe canaljoins theCalder &HebbleNavigation. Meanwhile,resurfacingofthe historic towpathbetween Marsden andSlaithwaiteonthe Huddersfield
Narrow Canalisinthe final stage of afive-year, three-phase project. Aswell as the towpathupgrades,a new ramp hasbeenconstructed at Scarwood Bridge to improveaccess to the towpath.
The routes arebeingresurfaced with atar and stone chippingfinish. This will provide adurable all-weather surface to enable morepeople to walk,wheel, scootand cyclemore often, as well as complementingthe
naturalenvironmentssurrounding the canaltowpaths
Other improvementsinclude better accessfor people with mobility difficulties and for pushchair users, wideningthe towpathwhere possible to assist usewhileretainingheritage features,grass verges,and native plants and treestosupportwildlife habitats, repairstothe canalwalls and new mooringbollards for boaters.
Mark Robinson, theCRT’s enterprise manager, said: “We knowthesecanal towpaths are well used by the localcommunity and it’s fantastic to seethesetwo towpathimprovement schemes under construction.
“The canals in the Huddersfield area were vitalto theIndustrial Revolution and, thankstothe hard work of the trustand ourvolunteers, they arestill navigatedbyboats today, as well as providingmuch-loved walkingand cyclingroutesfor the localcommunity.”
The schemes arebeingdelivered by the trustinpartnership with Kirklees CouncilandWestYorkshireCombined
Authority. Theywill enable more puddle-freejourneysonfootand by bike,aswell as improvingaccessibility for wheelchair and pushchair users, and boostingeconomicgrowthby providingaccess to employmentand education opportunities
ThefundingcomesfromWest Yorkshire’sActiveTravelFund, which is grantfundingprovided by Active Travel England to supportlocal transportauthorities with producing cyclingand walkingfacilities
Worksonthe HuddersfieldNarrow Canalbegan in June and areexpected to continue untilOctober 2025. The towpathproject on the Huddersfield BroadCanal startedinmid-June and is expectedtofinish in January 2026. Both theHuddersfield Broad and HuddersfieldNarrowcanals’ towpaths will remain open with restrictions,meaning that people will be escortedthrough the sitessafely.
Lastsummer,boaters,local residents,businessesand other users were invited to sharetheir feedback on the proposals,whichinformedthe scheme’s designs
Tardebigge TopLock, which is undergoing vital repairs. It is part of the UK’slongest flight of locks, on the Worcester &Birmingham Canal. IMAGE: SUPPLIED
ACROWDFUNDING campaign to repair the215-year-old Tardebigge TopLockonthe Worcester& Birmingham Canal to halt its collapse hassofar raised £1500.
The restorationofthe Grade II-listedstructure is needed to ensurethatthe importantpiece of canalheritage is protectedand for the continuedsafe passage of boats, as well as for the thousands of walkersand cyclists whouse the towpatheachyear.
Opened in 1815, the Tardebigge flight of lockscarries the Worcester& Birmingham Canal 220 feet uphillovertwo-and-aquartermiles.With 30 locks, the TopLockisparticularly deep becauseitwas the site of an 18th century experimental vertical boat lift beforeitwas replaced with aconventionallock. The canalwas originally used as transportation of porcelain pots and Cadbury’schocolate, andisnow popularwith leisure boats, cuttingintothe heartof Birmingham at GasStreetBasin.
EmilyHarris, seniorproject manageratCanal &River Trust, said: “TardebiggeLocks is our longestcanal lock flightand is apopular routefor boatersand people wantingtoexplore their localcanal.
“Our canals areanational treasure.They matternot only to thelocal communitiesbut to everyone else as well –because
canals enhancethe natural environment, theyhelp to mitigateclimate change,and they areintegraltoour future water security and supply. Emergency workslikethese at Tardebigge Lock highlighthow vulnerable theycan be,and howimportantit is that theyare properly protected.
“All the donations to this crowdfunder will be gratefully received and will make adifference to this importantstretch of canal.” Youcan donatehere: www. crowdfunder.co.uk/p/lock
Having been in active service transportingboats for more than 200 years, movementin the ground adjacenttothe lock caused one of its walls to bow meaningthe lock andtowpath have been closed since March. Specialistconservation teams, archaeologistsand engineers have drainedthe lock of waterand have been workingtocarefully dismantle thedamaged section of wall. The team hasbeenfocusing on cleaningand salvagingthe original historicbrickssothey canbereused as part of the restoration and ensure thelock’s historiccharacter is preserved. The trustaims to raise£10,000 to help coverthe cost. Support from the publicwill go directly towardsthe work needed to remove and cleanthe historic bricks,aswell as purchasing new bricks and the materials needed to rebuild the lock walls
GlandŵrCymru,the Canal &River Trust in Wales, announcedthe appointment of FayJones-Pooleasthe newchairofthe advisoryboard thatoversees its charitable activity in Wales. It also published areport highlightingthe significant contributionWales’shistoriccanals make to the nation’s economy,communities, heritage andenvironment.
MRSJones-Poole,directorofexternal affairs at the CrownEstateand the former MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, joins thetrust as it workstosafeguardthe 76 milesofcanals it caresfor in Wales.This work includes managingthe impact of climatepressures and rising costs in lookingafter thecenturies-old man-made canals.
An immediatefocus is theMonmouthshire &Brecon Canal, avital wildlifecorridorthat contributes £29.5 million each year to the Welsh economythrough boatingand other activitybut whichisfacinganexistential threatdue to new environmental regulations that limit the waterthe trustispermittedto putintothe canalfromits historicsource, meaningitcould rundry in futureyears.As previously reported in TowpathTalk, temporarywater supplyhas been secured from DŵrCymruWelsh Waterbythe trust for2025, buta long-termsustainable solution is urgently needed with the supportofthe Welsh Government.
In Wales,the trusthas raised more than £12 million since 2012 from public andprivate partners alongsideabout £28 million it has alsoinvested. Butasthe climatechanges, it said, canals arefacingrisingpressures Stormsand floodsare damaging historic structures,includingtowpaths, bridges and culverts,while droughts arecausing brickworktocrumble and threateningkey watersupplies. Meanwhile, rising costsand reducedgovernmentalsupport arestretching the charity’sresources to the limit
RichardParry,outgoingchief executive of the Canal&River Trust, said: “I am delighted to welcome Faytoour charity. Herpolitical and commercialexperienceisimportant as she joins at apivotal time,with the canal network deliveringsomuchbut constantly fightingthe unrelentingpassage of time and requiringinvestmenttomakeitresilientto climatechange.
“The futureofthe Monmouthshire& Brecon Canalisunder seriousthreatdue to
new environmental regulations that limit the amount of wateritcan abstract from the River Usk. Ourcharity hassecured atemporary emergencysupply, butthis is expensiveand not sustainable in the longterm.
AMONTHS-LONG protestat the leveloffundingfor the UK’s waterwaysisenteringits final phase. An intrepid flotilla of boatstookthe Fund Britain’s Waterwaysmessage aboutthe desperate need for cash for rivers andcanals straight to the heart of Westminster –gaining public supportalongthe way.
Thegroup of 13 vesselsleft thecapital in Mayand tackled acrossingofthe Wash before entering the Fenland and Middle Levelwaterways.They covered600 miles and 365 locksduringtheir journey, whichstartedinSouth
Yorkshireatthe end of Marchwith a26-strong flotilla.
In astatement,FBW said: “The Wash is not natural territoryfor narrowboatsand to seeagroup of 13 boatsmakingthe crossing is highlyunusual,demonstratingthe determination of the campaigners to draw attention to the importance of their cause.
“Fay and the WelshBoard will help our charityasweseekalong-term solution, without whichdry weather could force sections of the canaltoclose, threatening thelocal economy, environmentand visitor experience.”
MrsJones-Poole said joiningGlandŵr Cymruasavolunteer on athree-yeartermisan ‘honour,’ adding: “Thecanals have been part of Wales’s storyfor morethantwo centuries,and todaytheyremainuniquelyvaluable as havens for wildlife,places to improvewell-beingand as contributorstothe economy. Without our intervention, theseman-made habitats simply would notsurvive
“Weare committed to doingeverything we cantoachieve asustainable futurefor thesespecial places –keepingthem safe, resilientand maximisingtheir valuefor people, nature andthe Welsh economy. I’mpassionateabout securing the ongoing supportour canals need and,inparticular,I’ll be lookingfor atimely solution for the Mon &BrecCanal, whichruns astone’s throw from my home.It’sanirreplaceable part of Welsh life andweneedthe Governmentand partnerstoworkwith us to safeguardthis national treasure for futuregenerations.”
The first-everOur Work In Wales report is available to read on GlandŵrCymru’s website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/wales
“Peoplestill flocktoenjoy the beauty and tranquillityofBritain’s waterways, from holidaying on hire boatstosimplystrollingalong their towpaths.Behind everyvisitor is an arrayoflocal businesses, from pubs andhotels to specialist marine companies, the successofwhich is heavilydependentonhaving in place well-managed,clean and navigablewaterways
“This is whyevery effortmust nowbemade to retain, if not boost, the stretchedresources ournavigationauthoritieshave to maintain the waterwaysand all theassociatedeconomic, environmentaland social benefits theyprovide.After yearsofinsufficientfunding, the inland waterway network faces jeopardy andmanycommercial opportunitiesare left untapped.”
FBWsaiditwas concernedat thecuts made to Defra’sbudget,
as thefunder of theCanal &River Trustvia theEnvironmentAgency and is callingfor afresh approach to fundingthe waterways. “How Defrawill manage itsresources and what impact its budget cuts mayhaveonnavigationauthorities is notyet known.Whatisclear is that public supportfor the Fund Britain’sWaterways coalition continues to grow –aswitnessed by the supportfor the different phases of this year’s FBWcampaign cruise.”
HazelOwen, leader of the flotillaand chair of the AWCC (Association of Waterways CruisingClubs) and amember of the FBWsteeringgroup,said: “The journeyofthese boats and their crews hasnot been straightforward buthas required dedicationand tirelessefforts, surmountingobstaclespresented by failinginfrastructureand other challengingeventsalongthe way.
“Theperseveranceand shared mission of the boatersspeak for all who care aboutthe preservation andfutureofBritain’s beautiful and historicallysignificantwaterways, not onlyboaters butmillions of other people too. Theyare united in seekingawareness, action, and change.”
Joost Smeele is thankfully well on the roadtorecoveryafter he collapsednear thehistoric Bingley Five Rise Locks. “Now Ihavebeen introduced to the people whosaved me,I have a second shot at life… and awhole new group of friends!”hesaid
By Lucy Wood
THE quick-thinkingactions of bystanders have been praised for comingtothe aidof theBingley-born61-year-old,who hadtwo moreheart attacks on the waytohospital after collapsing at Beck Lane.
Canal&River Trustvolunteersand staff were amongthe first on the scene after being alertedbytwo runnerswho found Mr Smeele unconsciousand calledthe emergency services.Volunteer lock keeper and trained first aider RichardBreeseassistedwith CPR, while MeganDarley, theowner of Five Rise LocksCafé, retrieveda defibrillator and helped useitbeforeparamedics arrived.
Richardrecalledofthe incidentinMay: “We’djustreturnedfromhelpinga boat down the lockswhen twoguyssprinteddowntoget hold of the defibrillator outside thecaféand askedifanyonecould do CPR. Ijustdropped everythingand rushedtohelp.This wasthe
By LucyWood
WORK is rampinguptorepair astretch of embankmentonthe Huddersfield Narrow Canal, betweenMossley and Stalybridge, which slipped following heavyrain earlier this year TheCanal &River Trusthas secured agreements with severalthird-partylandowners and installedand upgradedmorethan1000m of tracktoaccessthe remote locationofthe slip site,whichsits on anarrowshelf abovethe RiverTame. Platforms have alsobeencreated in the canaland belowLock11and the trust’s engineers have finalised arepair design.
Work is nowunder waytostart reinstating theembankmentusing about1400 tonnes of stone-filledmeshbagsthatinterlock andcreate astrongretainingstructure. Theywillbeput in place usinga 40-tonneexcavator and then overtopped with soil and vegetation.
first time I’ddone CPRfor real –Iwentinto auto-pilot mode and just gotonwithit.
“I’veseenJoost acoupleoftimes since. It’s fantastic to seehim back outenjoyingthe canal. He’s making an amazingrecovery.”
YorkshireAmbulance Service arrived on scenewithin minutes andstabilisedMr Smeele,who hadtwo more heartattacks while travelling to BradfordRoyal Infirmary.Hewas latertransferredtoLeeds General Infirmary
“I’vealwaysbeenfitand healthy and neverconsideredmyselfatriskofcardiac arrest,” said Mr Smeele.“Ihaveno
recollection of the incident, butwhen my heartstopped,Ihad limited time before that became permanent. The prompt action from bystandersiswhatsaved me.Every one of us should be confidenttoperform CPRand useadefibrillator if required.”
Megan, who recentlybecamethe new owner of Five Rise LocksCafé, having worked at the waterside hotspotfor the last 10 years, added: “I’m just so glad Icould help –it’ssomethingI’llnever forgetand shows howimportant it is to have accessto this life-savingequipment.”
The workstorepair the embankmentare scheduledtobecompleted by mid-August, and work to reinstate the surroundingarea, includingthe removalofaccesstracksand tree planting, will continue until October. Afurther towpathclosurewill be required,between ScoutTunnel and Lock 9, with localdiversions signposted
StuartSutherland, asenior projectmanager at the CRT, said: “Weare pleased to getthe repair worksunder wayand areaimingtohavethem completed by the middle of August at the latest. There aresomeunique challenges involved in a repair of this scale and remotelocation,but we have developed robust plans to completethis work as quicklyand safelyaspossible.”
THE CamConservancyhas warned that it may ‘becomeunviableand inoperative’ without intervention.This is acrisisthatthreatens not onlyCambridge’s riverusers,but also the city’seconomyand safety. However, this isn’t containedtoone area
TheCam Conservancy’ssituation is symptomatic of avulnerability that could threatenthe entirewaterwaynetwork,along with communities and businesses nationally. Around GreatBritain, navigation authorities arebucklingunder mountingfinancial pressuresand climatechangeimpacts.
IWAsupports the CamConservancy’surgent call for acomprehensivenational review of waterwaysinfrastructure. Ourriversand canals arenot just recreational assets -theyare vital for localeconomies and the environment, an irreplaceable part of ournational heritage,and must be well-maintainedtoprevent flooding and risk to life Forthis reason, IWAisleading theFund Britain’sWaterways coalition of more than 160 organisations to campaign forsufficient fundingtosafeguardthe future of ourwaterways
THE busy riverside in Langport, Somerset, wasthe focusfor the first Waterway Recovery GroupCanal Camp of 2025.
Ahistoricmarkettownalongthe River Parrett, Langporthas become apopular destinationthankstoits riverregeneration project, completed in 2020. In fact,ithas become so popularthatits riverside paths were alreadyworn down
WRG’sbrief wastoupgrade and improve the network of paths that runalongside a half-mile section of riverfromBow Bridge to Huish Bridge,includingCocklemoor,anopen meadowbetween town andriver.A groupof 10 WRGvolunteersattendeda10-day camp
THE Inland WaterwaysAssociation (IWA) invites boatersand canalusers and enthusiaststoAgden Bridge this August bank holiday in supportofrestoring the BridgewaterCanal. This is following the majorbreachofNew Year’s Daythatleft a crucial section of the waterway impassable While the breach wasnot due to poor upkeepithighlights astark and growing reality: Britain’shistoricwaterways are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climatechange. More frequentflash floods, intenserainfall, and prolongeddry spells areplacingserious strain on even the bestmanagedstretches of canal.
during theEasterweekend With theirmini digger,dumperand roller,plus barrowsand hand tools,the team widened and relaid thepaths using acombination of original andnew path materials.Unfortunately,theyran outoftime to completea sectionofthe BowBridgeend Gerard Tucker,Langport’stownclerk, helped organisethe camp.“We estimatethe paths areusedbyapproximately240,000 people peryear, which meanstheyare subject to alot of wear and tear,” he said.“Theyneeded resurfacing and making widersothatpeople arelesslikelytowalkonthe grass. “WRGhad helped previously with our
project-removing silt from aslipway and clearing trees-soweasked IWAwhether they could help again.”
IWA’sShrewsburyand NewportBranchheldtheir 50th AGMonMay 30. Branch Chairman MichaelHaig’s review of activity in the branch area highlightedthe openingofSchoolhouse Bridge on theMontgomery Canaland themorerecent ‘topping out’ ceremony nearby at Crickheath.He also reported thebranch’s plannedgrantstoassist theShrewsbury& Newport Canals Trustatthe historic Wappenshallsitenear Telfordand continuing concern aboutthe stateof the ShropshireUnion Canal embankment towpathin Nantwich. Michael then reviewed theroleofthe branch as an active part of IWA. The associationwas formed after thewar as acharity to protectBritain’s national network of navigablecanals andrivers, includingthose
nowmanaged by the Canal &River Trustand others such as waterwaysmanaged by the EnvironmentAgency.
Todaythe association’s focusisonfundingtokeep thesewaterways open; preservingtheir heritage ‒both the structures which decaythrough time or are damagedbyunsympathetic developmentand changing weatherconditions as well as the heritage skills and knowledgethat sustain them; and restoration whichhas been actively supportedby theassociationfor many years.
Anotherfocus is sustainableboating where Michaelpointed outthat electrically poweredboats wouldneeda widerelectrical charging infrastructureand wouldbenefit from more dredging butcurrently, he said,the keytomore sustainableboating is hydrotreated vegetable
oil(HVO) as it is safe and does notrequire engine modifications. However, HVOisall imported,isnot widely available, andis subjecttoa confusingtax regime.The association is workingwithbodies such as theRoyal Yachting Associationand British Marine to increase the stocking of HVOand press the Governmenttoclarify its taxation treatment. Michael concludedwith three pressing issues which currentlyconcern the association: thehugecost anddifficulties forthe water supplytotheMonmouthshire andBreconCanal and, also in SouthWales,the threat of demolition of AberdulaisAqueduct‒ a protectedhistoricstructure ‒overthe RiverNeath,and, lastly,the majorbreachof theBridgewater Canalin Cheshire.
PLEASE contact the branch to register yourinterest if you would like to attend awork party.Itisadvisable to wear stoutshoes, old clothing, andto take waterproofs. Apacked lunchand refreshments are also advisable.
broome45@gmail.com
August 1, 15 &29: 10.30am -2.30pm Burslem Port Regular work partyonthe Burslem Arm of theTrent &Mersey Canal, run in partnership by IWANorth Staffordshire &South CheshireBranch &the Burslem Port Trust. Meet at Luke St, Burslem. Alltoolsandequipmentwill be provided. Volunteers areadvisedtowear old clothes,stoutshoesandto bring waterproofs in case ofrainandapackedlunch if staying allday.
Pleasecontact Dave Broome beforeattending: 07974 966253 or dave
August 21
CheshireLocks Monthlyworkpartyonthe
CheshireLock flight of the Trent &MerseyCanal, between Kidsgrove and Wheelock. Meet at the Broughton Arms, Rode Heath,Stoke-on-Trent,UK Meet at 10-00 a.m. and work through until3-00 p.m.Ifyou areable to stay all day,please bring apackedlunch anda drink. Be suretowear oldclothesthatyoudon’t mind getting dirty and marked with paint. Stout footwear is appropriate
andbring alonga waterproofintheeventof rain.ContactTonyWalker: 07708 320470 walker tony31@gmail.com August
Nicola Lislecontinuesher family historyseries with advice on what to do when you hita genealogical brick wall.
HAS the trail for one of your ancestors gone cold?Haveall attempts to find further details in the familyhistory records drawnblanks? If so, you arefar from alone! It is incredibly frustrating butcan alsobeanexcitingchallenge to track down that elusiveancestor. So,how do you smash through that brickwall?
First, don’t despair.Thereare often avenues that you hadn’t considered exploring. Usethe records of other ancestors to seeifyou canfind nuggetsofinformation aboutyourmissing ancestorand hopefully pickupthe trail again.
Thereasons for hittingbrick walls are many,but themostcommon ones arise from information beingrecordedincorrectly. Most boatingfamilies were illiterateand relied on otherstofill in official formson their behalf, often resultinginthe names enteredbeing incompleteormisspelt.Others deliberately gave falseinformation, due to distrust of authorityortohide ‘dodgy’details,suchas illegitimacyoracriminalpast.
Missingrecords alsoaccount for many brick walls.A missing birth certificate,for example, meansthatdetails of parentagemay notbe available.With abit of luck, though,itmight be possible to find this information elsewhere.
How to track down missing ancestors Thereare numerouspossiblewaystosmash through thosebrick walls.Hereare afew ideas.
•Itmay be tedious,but the best starting pointistocheck throughall the information youhavegathered so far. Make sure you have copieddetailsfrom official sourcescorrectly,including dates, spellings,etc.Readthrough all your notescarefully;there mightbe somethingyou hadpreviously missed, or detailsthatseemedinsignificant mightnow be the breakthrough youare lookingfor.Lookcarefullyatdates of births,baptisms,marriages and deaths, as these mighthelp to pinpoint dates for yourmissing ancestor. Even if you don’t getadefinitedate, the details you havesofar mightatleast narrow things
down alittle,makingthe wayforward abit clearer.
• Checkwhether newrecords have become availablesince your original searches.Genealogists areconstantly adding newlydigitised recordsto online resources, so it’s worthchecking regularly for additional material.
• Trysearchingusing differentspellings and name variations.This often throws up some new possibilities,which can then be checkedagainstother records
• Talk to family members– they might remember detailsabout recent ancestors or have theinformation you need squirreled away somewhere. Ordersofservice for weddings, baptisms and funerals canbeparticularly useful. Relativesmight alsobeable to identify people in photographs,and will perhaps knowthe occasion and thedate.
• If youhavecreated atimeline, as suggestedinthe last articleinthis series,study thisagain to seewhether thereare anypointersastowhy an ancestormight have disappeared from therecords.Theopeningofanew canal, for example,might indicateapossible changeofemploymentand relocation to adifferentpartofthe country.
• Consider otherpossiblereasons foranancestor’sdisappearance, such as military service, emigration, imprisonment, transportation or aspell in thedreadedworkhouse.
• If the records youare after aremissing,
or yourancestorisn’t mentionedinthe records,think of alternativesources that mighthavethe informationyou need Bishops’transcripts,for example, are worthconsultingifparish records are missing. Wills oftenconfirmfamily details that would normallybefound in birth,marriageand deathcertificates Otherpossiblesources include companyrecords,boatregisters,toll records, union records,electoral rolls, directories, coroners’reports,prison records, school records, obituaries, passengerlists,memorialinscriptions and oral records.
• Trysomeofthe less obviousresources –parishnewsletters or company newsletters,for example.Anything that mentionsyourancestor, or an eventorplace associated with him, canhelp to narrow down your search
• Familyhistory societies canbehelpful in tracking down missing ancestors, so tryinvestigatingthoseconnected to your ancestor’sarea.
Formostofthe abovesuggestions,yourbest resources arelocal archives,TheNational Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk),The WaterwaysArchive(www.canalrivertrust.
org.uk), Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) and Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk). At some pointyou mayhavetoaccept that thereare no existingrecords for yourelusive ancestor, butmoreoften than not something canbefound.Leave no stoneunturned, and youmight be pleasantly surprised with what you find!
ADEDICATED team of volunteersintheCotswoldsis making remarkable progress towardsa long-helddream –reconnectingthe historic Cotswold Canals to the RiverThames.Spearheaded by theCotswoldCanals Trust(CCT),thisambitious restorationproject aims to re-establish thewaterway link from theRiver Severn to theThames, creating acontinuouscanal route through the heartofEngland.
Basedatthe trust’sEastern DepotinDriffield, South Cerney,the team is working on Phase2ofthe restoration, acrucial section that will ultimatelyreconnect the canaltothe RiverThames at Inglesham. The work spans the picturesque Cotswold WaterParkarea, involving essentialconservation tasksthatblend traditional craftsmanshipwithmodern restorationtechniques.
Over the summer months, theteamhas been hard at work despitechallenging weather conditions.The recentlyupgradedfootbridge over theRiver Churn –nowfitted with rampsand non-slip decking–has dramatically improved access for volunteerstransporting
tools and materials.Muchof thedepot’s people poweris currentlyfocusedonatowpath upgrade at South Cerney, with crews bravingheavy showers and high temperatures to maintain momentum.
At Inglesham,another key location, volunteershave clearedthe canalbed and adjacentditches and are nowrebuilding thehistoric spillweir.Theteamusesa flail mowerand anewly restored industrialmower –donated and repaired over winter –tokeepthe vegetation in check.
Supportfromnational organisationslikethe Waterway Recovery Group(WRG) hasbeen instrumental.InMay,the WRG’steamprovideda significantboost to the
project. WRG’sNewbury groupalsoreturnedinJune to rebuild wing walls at WeymoorBridge, digout for newconcretefoundations and preparefor afullsummer work camp that will continue this transformativework. Each stagebringsthe projectcloser to restoring this lostwaterway–not just as anavigation routebut as arichcorridor for nature, heritage and recreation. Visitors arewelcome at CCT’sCotswold Lakes VisitorCentre, wherethey canlearn moreabout the projectand howtoget involved.Every step forward is poweredbyvolunteers–and everyhelpinghand takes the canalone step closer to its historicreunion with the Thames.
By Lucy Wood
TV personality Robbie Cummingwentback to whereitall beganfor the sixthseries of CanalBoatDiaries.Television viewers have been taken through some of themost beautiful countryside and canalscapesthe south of England hastooffer in the new series of Robbie Cumming’sCanal Boat Diaries on the U&Yesterday channel.
Onboardhis narrowboat home, Naughty Lass,filmmaker Robbie hasexplored the OxfordCanal, RiverThames and other waterwaysofsoutheast England, andhis journeytookhim back to London wherehis boatinglife beganadecade ago.
Alongthe way, he facedchallenges like fluctuatingriver levels,low bridgesand winter stoppages,met fellowboaters,delved into localhistory,explored landmarks linked to the Profumo Affair and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and tackledquietercanals like the Basingstoke, dealingwith water shortagesand obstacles.Healsomet fellow boater TimothySpall. With mishaps, repairs, and stunningscenery, Robbie’s adventures over 10 episodes arefullofsurprises, history, and breathtakinglandscapes.
Robbie exclusivelytold TowpathTalk: “The best thing aboutlivingonthe water formepersonallyisthe feeling of freedom –tomoorupinquiet places whereIcan get my firepit out, practisemyknife throwing, and just chill outawayfromall the stresses of the world.
“I don’t care abouttravellingthe worldas thereissomuchtosee hereinthe UK and nowhereelsehas this cultureofnarrowcanals that I’mmostdrawn to,but if Ihad to choose, I’dpickthe Maldives or theSeychelles,
although I’mprettysureIwouldn’t be able to take NaughtyLass with me!”
Hislatestsmall screen adventureended on the Aylesbury ArmCanal, wherea tricky, leakystaircase lock nearly flooded his narrowboat –addingunexpecteddrama to the final stretch of hisjourney.All episodes of CanalBoatDiaries series sixare available to watchinfull on U, UKTV’s on-demand player,and Robbieisalsoontourwith his liveshow, CanalBoatStories –for dates, visit https://robbiecumming.com.You canalso listentohim on the airwaveswithhis Canal Boat Podcast.
By Lucy Wood
AHAUNTINGepisode in the history of aShropshire waterway hasbeen immortalised by canalartist Mike Connell. BirminghambasedMikereadthe tragic storyofGeorgeBenbow’s untimelydemiseatthe helm of the narrowboat Usk in 1887 and wassoinspired that he decided to create illustrations of Usk at various stages of itslife
In one drawing, the Usk passes through Wappenshall Junction, on the Shrewsbury &Newport canal. Mike said: “I thought it would be interestingto do an illustration of the narrowboat beforeitset off on its fateful journey down the Trench armofthe canaltoHadleyParklock, wherethe terrible accident happened.”
Crickheath,probablyinthe 1890s,where it layquietly until work by the Shropshire UnionCanal Societyto restorethe Montgomery Canalbegan,asreported in TowpathTalk in October last year.
George Benbow was skipperingthe narrowboat, with 13-year-old William Evanson as hiscrew. It appears that as theboat passed under thelockgate, Benbow did not duckand washit and killedby the counterweightbox
From then on,the Usk was dogged with areputation for beingsounlucky –and hauntedbyBenbow’s ghost –thatmanyboatmenwould notworkaboard. It was finally abandoned, and sank on theMontgomeryCanal at
As duskfell on July 26, 1887, Usk,the last boat of the day, wasslippinginto HadleyParkLock. The lock is on theTrencharm, just southofWappenshall Junction, and wasunusual becausethe bottom gates hada guillotine mechanism with thegates goingupand down with acounterweight boxrather than swinging side to side
Adiggerworking on the canalchannel at Crickheath TramwayWharf came across ironwork from anarrowboat deep in theearth.All the woodwork hadlongsince rotted away butthe iron skeleton remained bent but not broken.
Accordingtothe society, the sunken vessel is almost certainly the Usk
Now, artistMikehas interpreted thelegend on paper, adding: “I just hope that my drawings will bring the storyofpoorold George Benbow to alargeraudience and quieten his restless spirit.”
By AliceElgie
ONE of the SevenWonders of the Waterways, Standedge Tunnel in the Pennine hills at the topofthe Colne valley is known around the world as the longest,highest, deepestand… wonkiest tunnel in Britain.Withthis fame it’s no wonder staff at the tunnel’s volunteer-run Watersedge Cafe arerightly proudofthe addedcharm their establishmentbringsto this landmark
Lead volunteer,Charles Jones,told me: “Wehave nowbeenoperatingfor 12 months and it hasbeena greatsuccess. We have built up ourclientele,offering simple home-made hot food and cakesatareasonable price and with ourengaging staff who enjoy interacting withthe public and each other, thecafeisknown for its happyatmosphere.”
The FriendsofStandedge arosefromamaintenance volunteer groupwho approached Canal&River Trusttosee if theycould reopen the cafe after its closurein2024. Charles explainedhow things unfolded: “The Friends of Standedgecame aboutwhen funds were needed to help payfor the little ‘extras’ not suppliedbythe CRT. It began with people in the team producingarticlesfor sale to the public such as seasonal items and this broughtina little income each year,sowe puttogether ourconstitution, stated ourpurpose, opened a social enterpriseaccount and startedrunningour ownlittle fundraisinggroup.”
Opened in 1811 after taking an arduous17years to complete, Standedge Tunnel is steepedinhistory with the
buildingthat houses thecafe believedtohavebeenbuilt at the same time to housethe tunnel keeper andreservoir keeper.However,when the new train tunnels were built in the1800s thedemiseof the tunnel as abusiness, andofthe people who were employedtoliveand work there, wasset in motionwith thetunnel officiallyclosing duringthe Second World WarbyanAct of Parliament. The last boat to pass through, other than maintenance boats, wasatripbythe IWA foundersin1947. However, it’s notall doom andgloom as nowvisitorsfromaround the worldcome to seeand experiencethismagnificent gemsituatedbetween Marsden in West Yorkshire and Diggle in Oldham, GreaterManchester.
Regularinduction
‘discovery’trips into the tunneltakehalf an hour andare laden with plenty of history.Thereare monthly ‘through’trips which,for nearly twohours,takethe visitor all the waythrough thetunnel, as well as canoe trips guided and supported by trainedstaff,sothere’s plenty to entice visitors alongside the fresh filtered coffee and now-famous breakfastbaps! “Itisclear to us that the cafe andthe boat trips areinterdependenton each other andwould not do as well if either of us were to close,”Charles tells me,and thissense of community supportisarealjoy to witness.
Fallingintodisrepair in the1970s,the cafe building received anew leaseoflife when HuddersfieldCanal Groupbegan the difficult
By Alison Alderton
AFIVE-YEAR investment programme to improve and enhance Hull’s infrastructure, preserve its historyand helpkeepthe citymoving, is to be reviewed by Hull City Council Following detailed inspections acrossHull, thisincludes areportwith a focusonfountains,statues, monuments andbridges, bringingtogether capital spendingmaintenance and inspections to ensurelongevityand conservation of the city’s assets with the following recommendations:
challenge of gettingthe tunnel–and the wholeof theHuddersfield Narrow Canal–reopenedin2001 and nowThe Friends of Standedgehelp keep the area thriving. Avariedbunchof volunteers, which includes a retiredpostmaster, nurseand dinner lady,the onething they all have in common is alovefor Standedge. In just ayearthis commitmenthas seen the cafe not onlythrive with itshome-cooked menu of bacon baps,hot soup, cheese toasties, hotcoffee andfreshlybaked cakes, butone of its rooms has nowbeenopenedasashop and informationpoint,and thereare plans for aheritage antiquities spacewhere visitorscan findout more aboutthe history.Proceeds from the cafe aredivided betweenprojects solelyfor thebenefitofimproving visitorexperience in thearea, as well as supporting CRTin
Theidentificationand prioritisation of schemes, particularly in relation to the city’s bridges, including strengtheningschemes for Hessle Road Flyover, Sutton Road Bridge,SuttonRoad Flyoverand NorthBridge as well as the replacement of bearings on Ennerdale Bridge,Stoneferry Bridge andMillenniumFootbridge. Newprovisiontowork specificallywith specialist contractorstoundertake cleaningregimes,structural repairsand general maintenancefor statues and monuments
raisingfunds for anew tourist boat,whichwillensurethe tunnelisavailable forthe next generation to explore.
Charles is rightlyproud of their achievements:“We have re-establishedthe cafe as aplace to meet,greet andeat andwenow have plenty of regularcustomers wholovethe area andthe tunnel as much as we do.”
Ongoingtesting, cleaning and maintenanceregimes for Hull’s fountains. SafetyworkstoVictoriaPier andthe RiverHull Walkway and exploringfeasibilityfor their replacement. Oneofthe keyareas of thereportrelates to Hull’s bridgesand the need for repairsand upgrades.The RiverHull alone has13 openingbridges on the16 milesofthe navigableriver These worksare needed to maintain theiruse into the future as well as ensuring allusers remain safe as they travel around the cityofHull.
In particular,though, it’s the four-legged visitors who holda specialplace in the cafe’s team’s heart: “Weare especiallyfond of ourfourlegged (historiclink to the tunnel!) friends,somuchso that this year we areputting together ourfirstdog show.” My guessisjudgeswill be favouringwonkytailsto match the wonkytunnel! Website: Canalrivertrust. org.uk/standedge-tunnel Facebook: Watersedge Cafe at Standedge, Marsden
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•Drive-linesand stern gear,service andmaintenance
Jonathan Mosse’smonthly look at freight development on the inland waterways.
DAVIDCameron’sfirsteverappearanceat Prime Minister’sQuestions,in2005,was memorable for his quip aboutthe then Labour Prime MinisterTonyBlair that “he wasthe futureonce”.
But, on alesspersonalised note, he could equallywell have been talkingabout Britain’s inland waterways, apointthatwas pickedup and expanded upon at arecentParliamentary Reception whereChris Lipscomb, operations directoratLogistics UK,set the scene, summingupthe role that the waterwayshave played in the past,highlightingtheir potential forthe future.
“It’sapleasuretojoinyou at this ParliamentaryReception, hostedbyRobert Wynn &Sons,who areavaluedand awardwinningmemberofLogistics UK.They were namedWater Businessofthe Year at the 2023 Logistics Awards ceremony.
“Logistics UK represents the logistics sector,includingbusinesses, smalland large, spanningcoastal and inland waterwaysand other maritime,road, rail and aviation modes as well as many customersoffreight services “Wemeetatanimportanttime for our sector,withlogistics increasinglyunderstood to be afoundational enabler of growth and economic resilience,and keytodeliveringthe government’sambitious housingand clean energy targets
“Ifthere’sany part of oursectorthat symbolises both the rich history and theexcitingfuture of logistics,it’sour coastal and inland waterways. Britain’s waterwayshelped powerthe Industrial Revolution.
“Our canals were built to link our portstoour cities,to move the coal and steelthat powered our economy, and to connect communities with the goodsthey needed beforemotorways andmassrailways even existed.
“Inland waterwaysand coastal shipping were thefoundationofthe logistics sector in the UK –asectorthatnow contributes £185 billion annually to the economyand employs 2.7 million people
“Today,inlandwaterways move more than 40 million tonnes of freightayear, with the RiverThames handling over half of that,and the UK’sdomestic coastalshippingmoves around twicethat– taking pressure off our congested roads,reducingcarbonemissions andservingasavital alternative for heavy, bulkyand critical goods.
“Yet,water freightoften remains overlooked
in policy, investment and planning. If we areserious aboutimproving pr od uc tivit y, de ca rb onis in g transportand ensuringresilience in supplychains, we must make full useof everymodeavailable to us –includingour rivers,canals and estuaries.”
This parliamentary reception was an important opportunity to recogniseand celebratethe achievements of Robert Wynn &Sons, their partnersand clientshad made in thefieldofabnormal indivisibleloadtransport over thepasttwo decades.
It wasalsoanopportunitytohearfrom leadingfigureswithin theinland waterway freightcommunity, sharingtheir unique insights as to howinland waterwaysand coastal shippingcan play agreater role within atruly integrated and sustainable national freightcarryingnetwork
Another beneficiaryofthe ingenuityof Robert Wynn –the company’s twospecialist vessels, TerraMarique and Inland Navigator,
able to operateintandem,piggy-backfashion –was the former DeeEstuaryharbour master GraemeProctor startedbysayingthat he thought the deliveryofboilers from the Port of Mostyn to ShottonPaper Mill would neverhappen. He considered that the Dee wastoo shallowfor the TerraMarique,the channel toonarrow, mooringacrossthe channeltounload,end on, toorisky and difficult to achieve
However, he confessedthatstepbystep each issuewas addressed, researched and a solution found. Asurveyofthe Deeshowed that therewas sufficientdepth of waterand so they laid afew extrabuoys to mark the deep-water channel.Thechannel wasindeed wide enough for the TerraMarique to navigate safelyand by carefullyworking outthe tide times theywereabletofind awindowofslack waterlongenoughtounload the vessel Graeme thoughtthe tidal window would allowone unit off,not several; however, Wynns informedhim that allthe units would come off in one move.And so it wasthatthe cargowas delivered without ahitch. In this instance TerraMarique wasableto fulfill the contract alone,but wherealoadhas first to be carriedacrossa largetract of open water, and she is thenunable to accessthe unloadingpointduetohersize,herholdcanbe flooded and hersmaller,loadedsistervessel, floated aboard.Theprocessisthen reversed onceshe gets as closetoher destination as she is able:www.robertwynnandsons.co.uk/ our-fleet/terra-marique
By Lucy Wood
VOLUNTEERSatthe cross-border canal wharfatLlanymynech welcomedagroup of enthusiastsfromManchesterand another from Stourbridge. The popular visitor centreoffersshortnarrowboattrips on theMontgomeryCanal on theborder betweenEngland and Walesand is apopular destination for visitorstothe area
The volunteerswho runthe centreare keen for moregroups to visit to find outabout the wildlife and heritage of thearea, as well as restoration work currentlyhappeningon both sides of the border
BrendaStevenson, of StourbridgeU3A CanalGroup,said: “Wehad awonderful dayvisitingthe MontgomeryCanal and we areparticularly grateful for the welcomewe
receivedfromvolunteersatLlanymynech CanalWharf
“Weare one groupwithinthe U3A,which is an organisation forthosenolongerin full-time employmenttoengageinmany activities –our mottoisto‘live, learnand laugh.’ We do this whileincreasing friendship with ourcolleagues.”
Ivor Caplan, alsofromthe group, added:
“Our visit to Llanymynechand Welshpool wasagreat example of afull daytrip, during whichweincreasedour knowledgeofthe industrialheritage of the area.Wethoroughly enjoyed exploringthe site andindulgingina trip on apassenger boat.”
Llanymynech CanalWharf alsorecently welcomeda groupfromthe Manchester branchofthe Inland WaterwaysAssociation Graham Deakin, from Llanymynech Canal
Wharf, said: “Our narrowboat is moored on the historiccanal which wasbuilt to carry lime and other goods to the Severn Valley area,Cheshire, Manchesterand beyond. It wasgreat to welcome 12 people from that greatcityand talk with them aboutcanal developments.”
Larger groups canbeaccommodatedby splittingintogroups of 12, with one groupon the boat while anothervisits Llanymynech Heritage Area or the visitor centre.Graham added: “Visitscan be arranged to suit your group. The boat canaccommodate two people who usewheelchairs. We canalso offer lightrefreshments or arrangecatering, if required.”
Formoreinformation,visit https:// the mon tg ome ry ca na l.or g. uk/ group-trips-at-llanymynech-canal-wharf
By Lucy Wood
ABRAND-NEWpublic sculpture hasbeenunveiledatWelshHarp/ BrentReservoir,incorporating heritage artifacts from the oncein-a-generation workswhich took place therelastwinter. It wasunveiledby theDeputy MayorofBrent, Coun Kathleen Fraser,alongside theartist, Phil Neal, and localschools involved in its design.
The sculpture, ametal boat with asail in the shapeofa harp, wasinspired by old newsreel footage of powerboatingonthe Canal&River Trust-managed reservoir in the late 1920s –30 yearsbeforeits designation as one of the country’sfirstSites of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSI). The boat is designedtobeused as abenchand will be installed laterthissummer overlooking thewater at Neasden Recreation Ground. Until then, it will be sited at Welsh Harp Sailing Club on the oppositeside of the reservoir.
As well as fabricatingthe boat, mast,and sail, Phil used pulley wheels and chains –which until last year operated the sluices on the reservoir buthad reachedthe end of their workinglife –togive the impression of thespray and movement of the boatsinthe newsreelfootage.
The project, whichwas made possible by supportfromplayers of People’s Postcode Lottery, is part of the trust’sCommunity Rootsprogramme in Brent. It will provide alastingreminder of the works, whichinvolved drainingthe reservoirofthe equivalent of 400 Olympic-sized swimmingpools of waterto accessapparatus locatedatthe 19thcentury valvetower
Theworks also required manythousands of fish to berescued andtemporarily rehomedelsewhereonthe CRT’s network. The reservoirisbeing restockedwithnativespeciesto protectits importantecosystem whichsupports internationally
importantpopulations of birds includingthe greatcrested grebe and common tern.
Phil said: “I wastotallyinspired by the filmofordinarypeople, dressedintheir Sunday best,with sometimes three outboard motors attachedtotheir little boats, goinghell for leather around a
By LucyWood
The RoyalAlbertDockand SalthouseDock marinasinLiverpoolhavebeenawarded their fifth international Blue Flag in arow
The Canal&River Trust, whichlooks after 36 hectares of waterspace at Liverpool’s SouthDocks,receivedthe awardafter the marinasgainedtop marksfor high standards in environmental information, management, safety, and boatingservices.
The waterquality thereisofthe highest standardtoo and is home to an arrayof wildlife includingthousandsofblue mussels, hundredsofeels and,duringthe summer months,thousands of moon jellyfish
Thetrust’s NorthWestharbour manager, Andrew Goudie,said: “Weare absolutelydelightedtobeawarded this prestigiousinternational Blue Flag award for the fifth year in arow and to be the first marina owner in England to receiveit. We are extremelyproud of ourcolleagues,volunteers andpartnerswho look after Liverpool’sSouth Dockstothe very higheststandard.
“Researchhas shown that beingbywater makesusfeelhappier and healthier,and this awardreallyhighlightshow awaterspacecan make aplace come alive through water-based activities,daily exercise, or spendingtime lookingatthe arrayofwildlife.”
Sean Morrison, estate managerat RoyalAlbertDockLiverpool, said: “This achievementreflects the dedication of everyone involved in upholdingthe dock’s environmental standards.Weremain committedtopreservingthe beauty and biodiversity of ourhistoricwaterfront, and receivingthis recognition for the fifth year in arow highlights the collaborativeefforts that make the dock asafeand welcoming destination for all.”
Nowinits 38th year,the International Blue Flag Awards schemeisthe world’smost recognised accolade for beachesand marinas, which assure visitorsthat theyare clean, safe,and meet thehighest environmental benchmarks.
figure-of-eightcourseonthe Welsh Harp.Thedetail cutout of the sail interpretsdrawingsof localfloraand faunabythe local schoolchildren Iworkedwith.
“When my sculptureis installedinits final location, Ihopethatlocal people will make the connection with the harp-shaped sail, and that they will appreciate the opportunity to sitona boat in this amazing urbanopenspace,looking outat the boatswhichsail there today.”
RosDaniels,the CRT’sdirector for London andthe South East, added: “These time-worn objects,whichhad reachedthe end of their workinglife, are more than simply scrapmetal. Theyare pieces of localhistory which tell thestory of howthe RiverBrent,fed by theSilk Stream andthe DollisBrook, wasdammedtocreatethe body of waterwesee heretoday,and whichhas played an important role in the life and leisuretime of generations of localpeople.”
TheRoyal AlbertDockand Salthouse Dock moorings aresituatedonLiverpool’s world-famous waterfront,neartothe Pier Head and citycentre, and attract millions of visitorsevery year.Both marinasconsist of fingerand linear pontoons,withupto60 vessels accommodatedinAlbertDockand 46 visitor canalboatmoorings, and20long-term moorings in SalthouseDock.
By Lucy Wood
SEVENTY-YEAR-OLDChris
Stanburyhopes to achieve not one, buttwo worldrecords –bywalking almost2500 miles in fivemonths and navigatingcanals formuchof the journey.
Chris, who livesfull-time on a pink-coloured eco-friendlyelectric narrowboat called Elektra,started hiswalk at the mostwesterlypoint of mainland Englandinearly April. When he reaches John O’Groats, the keen walker will turn around and walk back to Land’s Endvia adifferentand moredirectroute, reachingthe Cornish landmarkon August Bank Holiday Monday
“I want to achievesomething memorable following my 70th birthday andmywalkaimstoraise £70,000for the charityHopeand Homes for Children, whichwill
help transformthe lives of children currentlyinorphanages,” said Chris, who is alsoknown as the PinkHat Man becauseheisusuallyseen wearingone.
At the time of this issuegoing to press, Chrishad already raised morethan£16,000, with many donations beingmade by people he is meetingalonghis route. Hope andHomes forChildrenhas been workingtoimprove the lives of children in orphanages since 1994 and is supported by famous names includingactorsDame KristenScott Thomasand Gary Oldman and broadcasters NataliePinkham and Nick Hewer.
Thecharity said that today, morethan5.4 million children areconfined in orphanages, even though80% of thoseare notorphans.Theorganisation is workinginninecountries with
teamsofskilledchild protection professionals to getthesechildren back to their families
Chrishas spentmonthsplanning hisonce-in-a-lifetime trip which could earn him twoworld records –one for beingthe oldest person to walk from Land’s EndtoJohn O’Groats and back again (known as LeJoGLe), and theother for being thefastest,asnoone hasclaimed the record in the past
Thechallenge involves him walking1344 milesand atotal ascentofmorethan140,000 feet on hisway up through Britain. His return walk will cover1097 miles andalesschallenging82,033 feet of ascent!
The routewill takeinsomeiconic paths including the Cotswold Way, the JubileeWay,Wales CoastPath, all 268 miles of the Pennine Way, the West Highlands Wayand the entire
lengthofthe LancasterCanal, where hisnarrowboatiscurrently moored
“Byusing long-distance paths and national trails,Iamhopeful that most of theroute will be reasonably well marked and well walked.That shouldmeanlessfightingmyway through brambles and blocked footpaths!” he said
Chrisiskeepingsupporters updatedvia Instagramand YouTube. In oneofhis videos,he said. “I’vemet loads of interesting people again. It just keeps on happening!”
Youcan help Chrisreach his targetbydonatingonline at www. justgiving.com/page/lejog70
Youcan followhis journey at www.instagram.com/ pinknarrowboatand www.youtube com/@PinkHatMan, and trackhis progress at https://share.garmin. com/Elektra
as he embarks on his fundraising –and hopefully record-breaking –trek. PHOTO:
THOUSANDSofvisitors
will attend aspectacular VictorianFair on July 26 and 27 to celebratethe 150th anniversary of Anderton Boat Lift, the world’s first major commercial boat lift known as Cheshire’s Cathedral of Canals. Raisingthe roof at this unique scheduled monumentinNorthwich, the Canal& RiverTrust will transport visitors back in time to 1875 at the free family festival, when historicalactivities and events,includingVictorian games, circus entertainers, fairground organs and slot machines,jugglers, aerialists,stiltwalkers, illusionists and circus workshops,will be on offer. Guidedtours and food will be available and for a small fee, guests canbook one of the popularboat tripsalongthe RiverWeaver Navigation or join aLego ‘makeand take’ workshop
to create an exclusive 150th anniversary modelof the boatlift to take home.
JonHorsfall, the trust’s NorthWestdirector, said: “Wewould love to seeas many people as possible join us to celebratethis special anniversary.AndertonBoat Lift took the canalworld by stormwhen it formally openedtoboattraffic on July 26, 1875. It wasa huge success and attracted distinguished engineers, scientists and
guests from alloverthe world to marvel at the ingenuityof itscreation.
“Today it is an incredibly importantpartofour industrialheritagebut preservingitasaworking monumentisincreasinglya challenge.A majorplanned upgrade hasbeenpostponed due to spiralling costsand therehas been aproblem with the lift gatesfor the last sixmonths.Weare hopeful thiswillbesortedout by our
to 4.00 pm Heritage Boats, Crafts,AnimalRescueCharities,Food
charity’sengineersverysoon andthe boat lift canresume itstaskoftransportingabout 3000 boatsa year between thetwo waterways. It would be wonderful if this could happen in time for its big birthday celebration.
“Whateverhappens we will enjoyafantastic anniversary celebration for atruly unique andmuchlovedhistoricstructure.”
Designated one of the SevenWondersofthe Waterways, Anderton Boat Lift wasdesignedby engineerEdwin Clarkto connect the Trent&Mersey Canalwiththe RiverWeaver Navigation 50 feet below. Thelift hassuccessfully carriedboats betweenthe
twowaterways for mostofits 150 years. It wasconverted to an electric system of pulleys and counterweights in 1908 buthas onlybeencompletely outofaction for acouple of decades in the 1980s and 1990s due to safetyconcerns aboutcorrosion.
At the turn of the millennium,morethan£7 million wasraised to fund amajor restoration and the boat lift beganoperating againonMarch 26, 2002, with an official opening the following year by King Charles,thenPrince of Wales, on April28, 2003. Since then, it hasattracted thousands of visitorstoNorthwich to marvel at the incredible engineering masterpiece and
enjoy atripaboardthe Edwin Clark boat,namedafter the lift’s designer. TheVictorianFairwill be open 9.30am-4.30pm each day. During the main summer season,Anderton Boat Lift and visitorcentreis open sixdaysaweek(closed Thursdays), 9.30am-4.30pm, offeringfourfascinating guided boat tripsaday along the RiverWeaverNavigation. Thereisachargefor boat trips,but entrance to the visitor exhibition, shop and café arefree. During the rest of the summer season, visitorswill be able to enjoy a hostofother fantastic events, includingthe Steampunk Lift Off Weekender on September20/21.
If you want youreventlisted in our free monthlyWhat’sOnsectionemailyour entrytoeditorial@towpathtalk.co.uk or usethe events form at www.towpathtalk.co.uk/events Please check with organisers whether theeventisgoing ahead before settingout on yourjourney
StaffordRiverwaylink artefacts exhibition: Thedisplay of artefacts unearthedbyStafford Riverway Link volunteers at theBaswich Site is at BaswichLibrary(Lynton Avenue,Baswich,Stafford, ST17 0EA) untilAugust30.
BuckinghamCanal Construction, conservation andgreen gymwork partiesonTuesdays, Thursdays,and thesecond Sunday of each month. All equipmentprovided; please wear suitable clothing Contact: athina.beckett@ buckinghamcanal.org.uk
Aug3
IWATowpath WalksSociety: TheRegent’sCanal: King’s Cross-GranarySquare-St Pancras.MeetatKing’sCross (meet by taxisign, nexttoPret aManger) at 2.30pm. Normal charge £20; concessions, students and accompanied children aged 16 and under,£15; aged 8-15, £5; under-8sfree. Priorbooking recommended. Contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or london@walks.com
Aug17
IWATowpath WalksSociety: TheRegent’sCanal: Little Venice-Camden. Meet Warwick Avenue at 2.30pm.Normal
charge £20; concessions, studentsand accompanied childrenaged16andunder,£15; aged 8-15, £5; under-8sfree. Prior bookingrecommended. Contact LondonWalks: 0207 624 3978 or london@walks.com
Aug24
IWATowpath WalksSociety: Four Hundred Yearsofthe New River, ManorHouse (Finsbury Park,exit6)at2.30pm.Normal charge £20; concessions, students and accompanied children aged 16 and under,£15; aged 8-15, £5; under-8sfree. Priorbooking recommended. Contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or london@walks.com
By Lucy Wood
THE Canal& RiverTrust has publishedaseries of free regional online Places to VisitGuides Co nt ai ni ng maps,information aboutvisitor facilities andfree activities,the guideshelppeople getthe most out of visiting more than 100 different sitesthroughout the trust’shistoric navigablecanal network.
and well-being benefits of spendingtime by water.
By LucyWood
From hidden gems and rural retreats to UNESCOWorld Heritage sites, iconic lock flights and museums,lastyearmore than 10 million people visited the charity’s2000-mile network of canals and rivers to relax, picnic, exerciseand more.
NickyLister, from the CRT, said: “Wewanttoencourage morepeople to visit ourcanals, rivers,reservoirsand docks so theycan experience the physicaland mental health
“Our canals provide free and low-cost familyfriendlydays outbythe water, andthe chance to have some fabulous waterside experiences.Even in townsand cities, people canspot avarietyofbirds, animals,insects and plants along ourcanals and rivers.And from locksand bridgestotunnels and aqueducts, thereare thousands of historicstructurestomarvelat.”
The eightfreePlaces To Visit Guides coverLondon, South East, South West,WestMidlands,East Midlands,North West,Yorkshire and the NorthEast, and Wales and areavailable to download at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ free-guide or topick up at Canal &RiverTrust Visitor Centres–and turn to page 43 for amore in-depthlookat oneofthem
THERE is better access to the Monmouthshire& Brecon CanalatGilwern thissummer thanksto pathwayimprovements and an upgraded wheelchair-friendlypicnic area.
GlandŵrCymru, the Canal& RiverTrust in Wales,made theupgrades thankstoMonmouthshire County Council’s access improvementscheme, fundedbythe UK Government’sshared prosperity fund.
Theworks arepart of thecommunity-led celebrations forthisyear’s 225th anniversary of the canal, the construction of whichbegan near Gilwern in 1796.
David Mo rgan, developmentmanager for Wales at GlandŵrCymru, said: “Asa charity, we want to make sure that everyone canenjoy ourcanals, and the improvements to the pathways and picnic site
at Gilwern will enable all canalloverstoreapthe benefits of spendingtime by water.
“Weare grateful to MonmouthshireCounty Councilfor supporting this projectand ourBrecon225 anniversary celebrations, which will seeusmark this specialanniversary for the northernsection of the Monmouthshire&
Brecon Canalthroughout theyearwitha series of communityevents.”
TheMonmouthshire &Brecon Canal, known affectionately as the Mon& Brec,began life as twoseparatecanals –the Monmouthshire Canaland the Brecknock &Abergavenny Canal.
Although thetwo were joinedin1812 at
Poinymoile,the Brecon 225 celebrations mark the anniversaryof the completionofthe northern Brecon Canal 12 yearsearlier,when the first cargoofcoalreached Brecon BasinonChristmas Eve1800. To discover more, seefutureissues of TowpathTalk and visit https://canalrivertrust. org.uk/wales
Jeff and MandyDowsetthavebeen fortunate enough to turn theirboating lifeintoaprofession, as Sally Clifford foundout.
JEFF DOWSETThas built and converted many boatsoverthe years. Perhapshis proudest achievement, of the 30 or so he has produced, wasthe record-breaking boat whichhas provided afloating home for him and wife Mandyfor nearly 20 years. “I built ourboat whichisthe biggestboateverbuilt on land,”explains Jeff, asemi-retired designengineer
Measuring23.4m long(80ft) with a4.95m beam,the waterways cruiser is sixinches longerthan the previous record-breaking craft –afishingboatbuilt in Castleford –accordingtoJeff.Christened Dick Stockwin afterthe manwho taught Jefffor his commercial Navigation Captain’sticket, the couple’s impressive floatinghome took three yearstocompleteand wasscratch built mainlyonland.
Mandyexplains the substantial houseboat, boastingthree bedrooms and twobathrooms amongits split-levellivingspaces, was40tonneswhenitwentinthe waterand weighed120 tonnes once complete. Moored on the River Calder in West Yorkshire, itslocation is perfectasthe couple arejustafew
paces from their workplace. Walkingto work fits perfectly with the couple’s environmental consciousness. Livingamonga menagerie –two donkeys, nine geese, twoMuscovy ducksand chickens as well as thesurrounding wildlife,a kingfisher andswans –Jeff and Mandyare keen to protectthe environmentand have introduced some recyclinginitiatives on the one-acresitewhich is alsohome
to MethleyBridgeBoatYardand Chandlerywhich they established in the late Eighties
Basedonahistoricwharf dating back to the 1930s,the Castlefordsite waslatterlyusedasanelectricity substation beforecomingintothe couple’s possession in thelate Eighties. ForJeff, acquiringthe site came outofnecessity.“Ihad a German Second WorldWar torpedo boat andI needed to do some work so Idecided to build aboatyardhere.”
Eventuallytheyboughtthe site, after initiallyleasing it,and, after securing planningpermission, were able to turn theredundantsubstation into thechandlerywhichMandy runs. This go-toshop stocks everythingto meet boaters’ needs, butwith limited spacetostock everything they want to sell, the couple came up with an ingeniousrecyclingidea. Outside the shop is The Jumble Shed –an upturnedcraft that would have been scrapped after becomingsurplus to requirements at the end of itsworking life.“It wasa fisheriesprotection cruiser, an oyster bedprotectionboat in its day,”explains Jeff.
Originally theboathad awooden hull whenitarrived at Methley Bridge Boatyard 20 yearsago Jeffbuilt anew hull and, after severalowners, he boughtitback and with its sailingdaysoverhe repurposed it into The Jumble Shed.
“I needed asecond-hand department becausethe shop isn’t bigenough,”saysMandy. Sheexplains boatersoften donate items they have accumulatedtoThe Jumble Shed.Aswell as making it more affordable for customers to purchase,italsohelpstoraise charitable funds that go towardsthe RoyalNational Lifeboat Institution.
Helpingothersisatthe heartof thecouple’senterprisingethos “Thereisamyriadofboats built herebydo-it-yourselfers,”saysJeff “Wehavenever been driven by commercialism.Weare theretolet people achieve their dream– it is moreofacottage industry.”
To fosteron-site community spirit,Jeff spentthree yearsbuilding the clubhouse wheretables and chairs areneatlyset outwithinwalls decorated with photographsofJeff’s boat builds andpastand present boatersthereoverthe years.
Moored nexttotheir floatinghome is a1960s former British Waterways dredgerwhich Jeffacquiredfour yearsago.“When it came to us there
was60tonnesofstone in it.Wetook theinteriorout andwalleditinto units,”saysJeff,explaininganother self-purposing project.
He installedalift into the 65ft longby16ft wide craftenabling easy accesstothe 30 storageunits withinfor boaterstostore surplus equipment. Jeffhas hadahandin many of theboatbuildsonthe yard Inspired by his railway interest,the stand-out ‘Stanier’bearing the worksno73831, is a38ft former Springer.Previouslyusedasa narrowboat down South,the boat is nowunder newownership “Itwas builttolooklikea train,” says Jeff.
Walkingaround the site,seeingother boat builds in progress,itisevident the couple arekeentopassonthe enjoyment they experiencedintheir ownfloatingprojects.“It makesyou proud. Thatisone of life’s pleasures –turningsomethingintosomething usable.It’slikethose TV programmes wheretheyconvert somethingand giveitanew leaseoflife.That is what we aredoing,”saysJeff
By Phil Pickin
MEMBERS, past andpresent,along with dignitaries,staff,families, contractors, suppliers, the local communityand boaters, joined in thecelebrations forRiver Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary
Theymarkedthe occasion with an outdoorevent held at the Stafford Riverway Link site,closetoRCR headquarters.
StaffordBorough Mayor, Coun JennyBarronand her consort, AldermanRay Barron, attended and were said to be impressedwith the ‘essential’service provided by managing directorStephanie Horton andher team to theboating community.Other attendees includedSir Gavin Williamson CBE, MP for Stone,Great Wyrley and Penkridge,and localcouncillor Ann Edgeller,who were said to be equallysurprisedbythe ‘unique’ 24/7, 365 days ayear’ breakdown andemergency assistance service RCRoffers.
Visitors to the June 8event enjoyedfive livebands and took advantageofthe numerous craft, food and drink and prizedrawstalls providedbyRCR,local companies and rovingtraders, anumberof whom were moored on the nearby Staffs &Worcs canal. Activities for
children includedaninflatable slide and visits fromthe police,fire service and St John Ambulance
The eventalsoprovidedvisitors with an opportunitytolearn more aboutnarrowboatengines from RCR’sKey Dieselsteam, as well as pickthe brainsofengineersonall things boat related.
In her openingspeech, Stephanie explainedhow thecompany launched in June 2000, afterher
partner,CEO Trevor Forman, hadarecurring dreamtoprovide breakdowncover forboats and even dreamt the name andlogo. From 100 to 20,000-plus members, Trevor,adiagnosticmechanicand Stephanie,anelectro-mechanical powerengineer,werejoined by friend andmechanic,Pete Barnett(nowdirector/chief rescue co-ordinator).
In the first year,theysupported
100 members.Today,RCR has around 40 staff,supportingsome 20,000 members,and in 25 years, Stephanieestimates the company hasrespondedtomorethan60,000 callouts.She comments:“Little did we envisage that 25 yearsonwe wouldhavemadesuchanimpact and driven so much change.” In addition to its core service,RCR also offers maintenance andelectrical coursesaswellasservicing.The companyalsohelps boatersmanage insurance claims and access specialistmarineservice providers, supplies new and refurbished engines, and hasdeveloped an offline mappingtool, Waternav,as well as theenvironmentallyfriendly bilge filter,Bilgeway.
At atimewhen industry is finding it achallenge to recruit engineers, RCRhas done aconsiderable amountofworktotrain the next generation, and, as aresult, it is nowone of the UK’stop 100 apprenticeship employers. Thisis in addition to awards for customer service,businessgrowth, innovation and pollution prevention.During the anniversary celebrations, Stephanie toucheduponthe nearby fireworks factoryfire in 2014, which gutted their premises,leavingstaff workingfroma temporaryoffice
untilthe new HQ opened in 2016. Sheemphasised: “Wewould not be here withoutthe hard work and dedication of ourstaffand the incredible loyaltyofour members… many of themare heretoday and have been with us since we started.”
Hearingabout the 25-year celebration, Matthew Symonds, head of boatingatthe Canal&River Trust, said: “River CanalRescueis one of the keyorganisations working on ourwaterways.When boaters runintounforeseenincidents, RCR, likethe fourth emergency service,isonhand to help when it’s mostneeded.This is one of the many reasonswhy it is oneofthe few companies pre-authorised by us to undertakerecoveries. We look forward to continuingour strong relationshipasitcelebratesthis majormilestone.”
All proceedsfromthe 25th party will go to the StaffordRiverwayLink –a charityworking to connect the Staffs& WorcsCanal with the rivers Penk/Sow,enabling navigationon to Staffordtowncentre. After the anniversarycelebrations,Stephanie confirmedthateventslikethis could become amoreregular event, saying:”Therewas an overwhelming requestfrommembers andlocals to runthe eventagain nextyear.”
GeoffCourtney reports on prices achievedbycanal and inland waterways memorabilia at three specialist auctions in recentmonths, two of which turned the spotlight on theManchester Ship Canal
THEHIGHESTprice was£580at aTalismanRailwayanaauction on May17for nameplate Dunkirk from an 0-6-0T that operated on the ManchesterShip Canal’srailway system from new in 1913 until being scrapped in 1966, while cabside numberplate57fromthe same engine sold immediatelyafter the
nameplate, for £200.
Work on buildingthe 36-mile canal, whichlinks Manchester with theIrish Sea, startedin1887, andonopeninginJanuary1894 it wasthe largestriver navigation in the world. The sevenyears of construction is extraordinarily quickcomparedwithBritaintoday,
whereeven themostbasic of transport projects seem interminable in construction despite the avail ab ilit y of modern eq ui pme nt that wouldhavebeenunheard in the Victorianera.
section notclosinguntil April2009.
Oneofthe keyelements of buildingthe canal, whichatits peak involved no fewer than 17,000 navvies,was the temporaryrailway
that broughtinall the construction materials and equipmentusing 180 locomotives and6000 trucks and wagons,and this remainedinuse for freightand passengertrainsafter thecanal wasopened, with the final
By Phil Pickin
THOSE of us who regularlyattend boat showswill undoubtedly have seen the Torqeedo stand at many of theseeventsoverrecentyears Within the leisuremarine sector, the company hascarvedout aniche supplyingelectric outboardsfor a rangeofinflatables and RIBS
Butthe Munich-based company hasamuchwider productrange that caters for both commercial andrecreationalboatusers and produces both inboard and outboard electric motors. And in April, the company announced the launchofone ofits latest projects to transport tourists alongthe Seine
La PerleNoire is said to be the first of anew generation of electrically poweredtourist ferries to be launchedinParis and Torqeedo hasequipped the vessel with a fullyintegratedelectric-hydraulic propulsion system.Theproject has been undertaken in co-operation with the Breton specialistfor hydraulic propulsion technology, Hydro-Armor
Designed to offer electricpoweredriver cruises on theSeine,
La PerleNoire hasbeendesigned to accommodate up to 60 people. However, the main attraction of this new vessel hastobethat La Perle Noire represents anew generation of sustainablevessels in Paris. The company feels that it demonstrates that luxuryand sustainabilitycan seamlessly coexist, accordingto Matthias Vogel, head of theglobal market,customer and service division at Torqeedo. He said: “Our aim wastoenable ourguests to enjoyuptotwo hoursofcruising on the Seine without theneed to recharge.Toachieve this,we equipped La Perle Noire with six batteries with atotal capacityof 480kWh.Pairedwiththe HydroArmorhydraulic system,thisset-up provides anefficient and practical pathwaytowards low-emission propulsion forships of thissize.”
The vessel weighs 70 tons,is22.5 metreslongand is poweredbythree high-performanceoutboardmotors developed by Hydro-Armorusing Torqeedo’s Deep Blue 100i motors and sixDeepBlue Battery 80s.The electrical energy generated by the Torqeedo motorsisusedtobuild up hydraulic pressure to drive
the propeller.Inaddition, abow thrusterpowered by another Deep Blue 50 motorensures maximum manoeuvrabilityinthe narrow passages of the Seine.All power for both propulsion and onboard systems is suppliedbythe sixDeep Blue Battery80s with acapacity of 80 kWheach. The system is complementedbya 40m²solar roof, whichprovides additionalenergy
duringsunnyhours to further increase the range.
La PerleNoire is in fact a prototypeofthe Frenchcompany SeineAlliance,whichspecialises in the developmentofinnovative projects in the field of river andmaritime transport,with a particular focusonsustainable tourism and environmental technologies.TheSeine Alliance
Thecanal, which incorporates fivelocks, remains busy carrying commercial traffictothis day, and is also open to narrowboatsand other leisurecraft subjectto certain requirements and conditions.
Asecond item of memorabilia featuringthe canalwas a1915 Port of Manchester plan of thecanal whichsold for £26 at aPaperchase Auctions’ sale in mid-Aprilcoupled with acirca 1920s Port of London from Westminstertothe Sea publication.The same auction also featured aBradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers of England andWaleshandbookofinland navigation by HenryRodolph de Salis that fetched £60, and acirca late-1920s LNER Clydeand Loch Lomond Sailings illustrated guide with fold-outmap that went under the hammerfor £19.
Anyartwork by Frank Mason (1875-1965) invariably attracts bidders’ interest,and this was illustratedwhenaBRWestern Region carriage printofa variety of sailingcraft at Dartmouth by this highlyrespected marine artistsold for£90 at aGreat CentralRailwayana auction on June 7.
Theprices quoted exclude buyer’spremium of 15% (+ VAT) at the Talisman and Great Centralauctions, and12.5%atthe Paperchase auction.
is said to be committedtothe ecologicaltransformation of urban waterways, includingpioneering propulsion concepts andsolutions. With many of the UK’s toptourist hotspotshavingriversrunning through them,manyofwhich offer rivertrips and tours, it would be good to seethem look into the benefitsofusing electric vessels like La PerleNoire
We are open sevendaysaweek Café, marina shop &chandlery
We also haveour ownVillage Green –aplacetosit, relax and takein thebeauty of the marina
High-specification shower/toilet facilities, elsan disposal point
Dry dock maintenanceand repairs
Pump-out station,diesel, electricity, gas, coal,logs &sticks, water point
Located on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal Offervalid until theend of July2025
Alders Lane,Whixall,ShropshireSY13 2QS
Marina Enquiries: 01948 880420
Email: enquiries@whixallmarina.co.uk www.whixallmarina.co.uk
Subject to terms and conditions
The ideal location forexploring East Anglia’s Waterways Town centrelocation inparksurroundings
Office hours: MondaytoFriday 9am to 5pm Saturday &Sunday10am to 4pm www.visitanglianwaterways.org www.northamptonmarina.co.uk
Afamily owned marina setinrural Worcestershire, but minutes away from the M5,gives all boaters great travel opportunities.
The238 berth marina is locatedonthe DroitwichCanals, ideally situatedfor greatcruising albeit fora shortbreak or long holidays.Itiswithin easy walking distanceofthe SpaTownofDroitwich.
This marina offers you
■ Securityfor youand your boat
■ Full length jetties, in anon flood environment
■ First class facilities, including luxuryshowerblock and launderette
■ Shop and Chandlery
■ Elsan, Pumpout,Diesel,Water
■ Boat Blacking options available
■ Hardstanding,Service Area, andCranage Padfacilities
■ Calor GasStockist
■ CaravanMotorhome CL site
The View Restaurant is nowfully open www.theview-eat.co.uk
• •Enjoy privateaccess to atraditional 200 acrebeef andsheep farm
• •Dogs run free in designatedareas
• •Watch the changing seasons,the wildlifeand the animalsonthe farm
• •Enjoy the completepeace,freedom and tranquillityofbeing in thecountryside
• •Accesssome greatlock free cruising forday trips, weekend or longer voyages
• •Easy access to motorway network, busesand trains
• •Onsitelaundry,Hairdressers
• •Members benefit with adiscountatour popular Restaurant
It goes withoutsaying....
• •A secureplacetomooryourboat, andpark your car
• •Luxurious showers,communal areas, pump out andfuel etc.
• •FreeunlimitedWIFI
• •Electricityand water connections
• •Pump-out,fuel,coal,wood and gas available
•Flood proof moorings
•250 berthslocated on river Avon
•10mins walk fromStratford-upon-Avon
•Waters&elec hook ups to each berth
•Freewi-fi •Laundry •Showers
•Fuel sales •Pumpout
•Lakeland Leisureboat brokerage T: 07967 461057
E: shakespeare@land-water.co.uk
QUAY
• 50 berths located on river Weaver
• CentreofNorthwich, Cheshire T: 07967 461038
E: northwich@land-water.co.uk
£310,000 AVAILABLE NOW
Imaginewakinguptothe gentle rhythm of water, panoramiclake views, andthe rolling MalvernHills beyond.
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Setonthe tranquil banksofthe RiverSevern,Upton Lake offersa rare blendofarchitectural elegance andnatural beauty.
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With nine alreadysoldonphase one, this is your last chance to join this exclusivefloating home community on theRiver Severn—justin time forsummer.
Step into somethingextraordinary. Book your privateviewing today.
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GooleMarinaislocatedina basin connectingtothe Aire andCalderCanal and close to thecommercialportofGoole in theEastRidingofYorkshire.The marina provides an idealbasefor cruising thewaterways of Yorkshireaswellasgivingeasyaccesstothe Humber Estuaryand theNorth Sea.
We have amarinabasin to accommodate 150 boatsofvarious lengths& widths We canaccommodateall typesofcraft from Cruisers to Narrowboatand Barges Alltypes of moorings,gardenmoorings to floating pontoons,which canbeaccessed24hrs aday
Ournew Marina Café,CoffeeDock, is nowopentothe public Open Monday –Saturday 9amuntil 3pm. Everyone welcome!
Prime moorings in the centre of Birmingham’s Canal system. Secure site, with all services available,and easy access to the livelycityof Birmingham.Justa2 minutewalk to the fantastic nightlifeofrestaurants, clubs and bars.
MooringinSherborne Wharfisquiet and peaceful, with long-term residents whohaveestablished alifehereinthe Marine.Wehavebeen hereinBirminghamfor over 30 years.
Services arebasedonthe main line outside theround houseand Distillery Pub,with asmall chandlery, coal,diesel,gas and pumpout available on a dailybasis.Please note pump outsare notallowed after11.30am.
Boatservices,we have adry dock that can be hired forblacking,surveys ormechanicalworkrequired. We have contactfor boat surveys, gas inspections andrepairs.
Moorings Available forcruisers and narrowboatsat£4.60 per foot,per month. Residentialmoorings available at £325.00 per month forNarrowboatsonly. Poweredslipway for boatsup to 40 foot andasecond slipway forsmall boats. Slipway can be hired forDIY workorweoffer services forAntifouling, Painting and General Servicing. We also have a Boat Safety Examiner on site. Located on the A6, adjacent to The Otter Public House. 01509 672385 www.eastmidlandsboatservices.co.uk Kegworth, DE74 2EY
•Iver(Slough Arm) and Northolt (Paddington arm)
•Secure siteswithprivate parking
•Delivery of gas,solid fuel and diesel direct to your boat
•Electricity,water,elsan and pump out
•Showersand laundry
•Chandlery
•Mechanical, electrical, and carpentry work undertaken
•Craning, grit blasting and blacking
•Two partepoxyhull treatment
•Fuel polishingservice
sales@high-line.co.uk 01753 651496 www.high-line.co.uk
FORSELLERS
•Free moorings
•Sales location with establishedfootfall
•Open 6days /week
•Trade Plates for unlicensedcraft
•Pre sales preparation andrepairs
FORBUYERS
•Free guidance and advice
•Comprehensive handover
•Secure clients bank account
•ABYAqualified brokeragestaff
•Industrystandard documentation
PRIVATE BUYER’S SERVICE
•Ifyou are buying privately,wecan offer the following services:
•Advice on allaspectsofpurchase
•Provision of documentation
•Secure Clients bank account
•Bespoke service –asmuch or as little as you want, priced accordingly
kb@vcmarine.co.uk 01753 652502 /07860 480079 www.vcmarine.co.uk
Toilets, Tanks,Hoses, Clips, Gauges, Deck Fittings, Vent Filters and everything you needplus Advice &Guidance Only LeeSan truly specialise in toilets
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▪Docking Monday to Monday
▪Stayaboardyourboat. Marina Services
Coal –Chandlery-Diesel- CalorGas Pump out– Engine Servicing– Boat repairs- Temporarymooring
Second hand narrowboatspurchased forcash, please call fordetails sales@leesan.com T: 01295 770000
Since 1946 Kellett have been designing and producing awide rangeofquality framed aluminium windows for boats, trains, locosand manyother varieties of commercial, industrial vehicles and buildings.
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60Years of “REFLEKS” Sales have exceeded 100,000worldwide (CommercialShips to LeisureBoats) We have supplied all of the UK and many Exports- including several systems to Antarctica.
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Weare the onlymembershipassociationset up,in1963, to protect the interestsoflive-aboard boaters.Weneed your supporttobeableto continueour work.Sojoinus, in promotion, development, representation and protectionofour chosen lifestyle.Interested?
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TINGDENE Group has completed the acquisition of Farndon Marina, near Newark, addingmorethan 300 berths to its growingnational marine portfolio
This marksan importantmilestone for Tingdene Marinasasitexpands its footprintto11 marinasinthe UK and establishesa presence on the RiverTrent for the first time
St ra te gic all y lo cate dw ith na vi ga ble accessthrough Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, Farndon Marina further strengthens Tingdene Marinas’ waterwaysnetwork and underscores
Tingdene Group has completed the acquisition of Farndon Marina, near Newark, adding morethan 300 berths to itsgrowing national marine portfolio.
its commitment to providinghighquality facilities and services to theUK’s boatingcommunity.
Tingdene Group managingdirector IanColliersaid:
“Farndon Marina is a strong strategicfitfor
ourgroup,enhancing both ourgeographic reachand our customer offer.We aredelightedtoadd such awell-regarded andwell-established marina to our portfolioand look forward to working
TYPICALLY, the boating industryhas reliedon nuts and bolts for fixtures, sealing, and repairs, but modern boatingisstarting to utiliseadhesives.We’ve spoken to AndySabine, an adhesiveexpertfrom Eurobond Adhesives, to learn howadvanced adhesives canbeusedinthe marine industryand why you should usethem.
Whyuse adhesives rather than nuts andbolts? Adhesives arenow the preferredchoice for many manufacturersin differentindustries.The advancementinchemistry means that some adhesives arenow stronger than welding, removingthe need for drillingholes whichcan weaken the structureor risk damaging materials.By eliminatingmetal fasteners, youare also reducingthe risk of corrosion. Adhesives aregoingtooffer amuch lighterweightoption than traditionalfixings, helping to keep weight down to
improveefficiency. Wherecan adhesives be used on canalboats? Adhesives canbeused all over the canalboat -suitable for useabove and belowthe waterline, externallyand internally, andeveninthe engine bays.Whenchosen correctly, theyare going to help by providing greatwatertightseals,
with theteamon site to supportberth holdersand develop the marina further.”
Pr ev io us ly managedbythe Ainsworthfamilyfor more than 59 years, the site offersawide rangeofamenities, includingmodern washroomfacilities, secure parking, fuel, pump out, chandlery, boat servicingand repair,aslipway, and arestaurant.
Paul Ainsworth, the sonofthe founder who hasmanaged the businessfor the past 16 years, added: “This hasbeenmore than just abusiness –it’sbeenpartof ourfamily’sidentity for decades.Iam delightedtohandover the helm to another fa mi ly -o wn ed
preventingleaks,and protectingagainst water ingress. Theyare agreat choice in termsofthe flexibilitytheycan provide as well,accommodating the naturalflexingand movementofboats
Canyou useadhesives for boat repairs?
Yes, is thesimple answer. However, thereare plenty of thingstothink about when choosing the correct adhesive, such as where it’llbeused, if it will be in constantcontact with waterorsunlight, and how strong the bond needsto be.Eurobond’s rangeof adhesives canbeusedin many ways:torepair holes in the hull under water, or repair agasketonthe engine,thereisalwaysa solution!
Won’tadhesives degrade or be affected by the water/environmental factors?
Good question!Inshort, some do and some don’t It againdepends on whereitisusedand what it’s used for.For example, you need to make sure the chemistryinthe adhesiveiscompatibleto
groupthatshares ourpassion for the waterwaysand ourdedication to servingthe boating community. I’dlike to thank everyone who hassupported us over the yearsand look forward to seeing Farndon Marina thriveaspartofthe Tingdene Marinas network.”
Th is la te st acquisition extends Tingdene Marinas’ offeringofmarina berths,boatsalesand customer services into akey boating region and is in line with Tingdene Group’svision to provideanintegrated national networkof marinasthatdeliver consistency, value andcommunity throughout theUK.
the environmentand the jobit’srequired to do.Itis always recommendedto speaktoa technicalexpert first to make sure you are usingthe rightproduct Aquickfive-minute conversation with the right person canworkwonders
What products would you recommend?
There’sawide range of adhesiveproducts available foruse in the marine industry. At Eurobond we offer MS polymers, adhesive tapes, and engineeringand structural adhesives to suit all requirements. By workingin partnership with product designers and production and manufacturing teams,itallows us to fullyevaluate specific projects.Understanding the performancecriteria needed means we can select themostappropriate adhesive to meet your exacting demands Formoreinformation aboutadhesives in the marine industry, contact AndySabinedirectlyon 07792531341 or visit www. eurobond-adhesives. co.uk
BRITISHMarinehas launchedtwo new accredited trainingcourses to enhancewater safety awarenessand emergencyresponsefor thoseworking closetothe water’sedgeacrossthe non-tidal inland and tidallyaffected marina sectors.
The Inland WaterSafetyManagementand Marina WaterSafety Management coursesare designedtoequip individuals with the knowledge and practicalskills to operatesafely within three metres of water– whetherfromariverbank,dockside,oraboarda vessel. Both aredelivered by leadingindustrytrainersatBirmingham and Midland Marine Services Ltd, partneredbyAtlantic Crestfor the tidal marina course,and areaccredited by the InstituteofSearch and Technical Rescue
Theseone-day modular coursesare ideal for those in awide rangeofroles,includingworkboat, passengerand trip boat crews, marina andboatyardstaff, customer-facingpersonnel, rangers, wardens,and anyone responsible for safetyand emergency preparedness in awaterside environment.
The Inland WaterSafetyManagementcourseistailored to thoseworking in thenon-tidal inland waterwayssector, outside theremit of theDEFRA Flood Rescue ConceptofOperations and CDMRegulations.Itprovides agroundedunderstandingof water-relatedrisks,incidentpreventionstrategiesand emergency response, includingpractical rescue techniques and decisionmaking under pressure.
The Marina WaterSafetyManagementcourseisdesigned specifically for staff workingintidally affectedmarinas and harbours,offering the same robust trainingbut adaptedfor the unique challengesposed by coastal environments,including changingwater levels,reduced visibilityand dynamic tidal conditions
Manj Mahey, head of trainingatBritishMarine,said: “Working near waterbringsunique challenges and risks,and it is crucial that everyone –frommarinastafftoboatcrews –ispreparedwith theright training. These courseshavebeendeveloped in response to feedback from ourmembers and representaproactivestepin raisingsafetystandards in the industry. Whether you areonthe riverbank or in atidal marina,knowing howtoprevent incidents and respond effectivelycan save lives.”
Eachcourseisled by experiencedinstructorswithrealworldbackgrounds in maritime operations,riskmanagement and emergencyresponse, ensuringthat participants gain both theoreticalknowledge and practical,actionable skills
Course information: Oneday,£230 plus VAT(British Marine members); £345 plus VAT(non-members). InstituteofSearch andTechnical Rescue accreditation.Contact Vicki: training@ britishmarine.co.ukorfor more info visit:www.britishmarine.co.uk
Pricesarefortwopeople(onecouple),andareinclusiveofalltaxes,meals,drinks (includingwineandspirits).YourtripstartsinNorthKilworthearlyafternoon,and finisheslateafternoonthenextdayatMarketHarborough(off-season)orFoxton Locks(summerseason).TransportbacktoNorthKilworthisincluded
BRITAIN’S beautiful 3000-milenetwork of inland waterwaystakes canalboat holidaymakers through some of our best-lovedcountryside.Thereare places to moor up in quiet backwaters for the perfectrural retreat, and the chance to visit historiccountry pubs andfarmshops along the way.
Drifters(www.drifters.co.uk) offersthe choice of 500 boatsfrom40locations in England,Scotlandand Wales.Ahead of the August bank holiday,ithas published aguide to itstop sixbank holiday weekend ruralretreats.
Boat through the Warwickshire countryside to Napton
From theDrifterscanal boat hire base at Stockton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, it takes just over two hourstocruisetothe villageofNaptonon-the-Hill. Here,alongside the Oxford Canal, aherdofwater buffalo canoften be seen grazing. Napton VillageStoressells productsmadeatthe localBuffalo Farm, includingburgers,sausages, meatballs, steaks and ice cream. It also sells other local produce in its bakery anddelicatessen, includingveg boxesand home-made meals,cider and cakes.
Navigate through Cannock Chase to Fradley
On aweekend breakfromGreat Haywood on the Trent& Mersey Canal, boaters cancruisethrough the Staffordshire countryside to FradleyJunction and back, passingthrough the Cannock ChaseArea of OutstandingNatural Beauty.Before headingout,the Canalside Farm Shop at GreatHaywood is perfectfor stocking up on localproduce. It sells avariety of food sourcedfromthe area’s farms,including sausages (madeusing free-range pork), fruit,vegetables,free-range eggs and baked products.Thejourney to Fradleyand back travels 25 miles, through 10 locks(fiveeach way), and takes about12hours
Isolated from the main canalnetwork,the beautiful Monmouth &Brecon Canalruns through theBannau Brycheiniog(Brecon Beacons) National Park and offersanescape to thecountry with incredible mountain views.Ona weekend breakfromGoytre
Wharf, near Abergavenny, boaterscan cruise lock-free to Llangynidr and back.Theroute goesthrough aseriesofsmall villages with historicpubs, includingthe Lion Innat Govilon, deep in the Welsh countryside.
Boat through the Leicestershire countryside to Stoke Golding
From the Driftersbaseonthe Coventry CanalatSpringwood Haven, it takes about five-and-a-half hourstocruisetothe historicvillageofStoke Golding. The route takesboaters throughthe Leicestershire countryside alongthe lock-free Ashby Canal. StokeGoldinghas one of themost beautiful churches in England, and there’s achoice of pubs,includingthe WhiteSwan. Before headingout,boaters canstock up on localproduce at the PoplarsFarmshop and café,nearNuneaton, selling fruit, vegetables, honey, cheese,eggs,poultryand jams
Navigate through the Shropshire countryside to Chirk
On aweekend breakfromBlackwater Meadowonthe Llangollen Canal, boaters cancruisethrough the Shropshire countryside to Chirk. The journeythere andbacktakes about11hours andthere areonlytwo lockstopassthrough each way. Boaterstravelacrossthe stunning Chirk Aqueduct,crossingthe border from England to Wales,then through ChirkTunneltoChirk Marina,where boaterscan moor up to visit the National Trust’sChirkCastleuponthe hill. There’sa café at the castle and alsoa choice of canalsidepubs, includingThe Bridge at ChirkBank
Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon
From theDriftersboathirebaseat Brewoodonthe ShropshireUnion Canal in Staffordshire, it takes aboutfive hours to reachthe smallvillage of Shebdon. The journeytoShebdon takes holidaymakers through 13 miles of scenic countryside andwoodland and aseriesofsmall villages and hamlets,includingWheaton Astonwith its HartleyInn, Gnosall with its Boat Innand the Junction InnatNorbury Wharf. Canalfeaturesencounteredalong the wayinclude Stretton Aqueduct, WheatonAston Lock,CowleyTunnel, ShelmoreEmbankmentand Grub Street Cutting. The journeythere andbacktakes about11hours
TheUK’slargest canal charity Canal &River Trust has published afree guide, Places to Visit in the SouthEast, with maps,information about visitor facilitiesand free activities, and ways to get themost out of visiting the region’scanals and rivers this summer.
LAST year,morethan10million people visited thecharity’s 2000-mile network of canals and rivers to enjoy walking, cycling, running, boat trips,fishing, wildlifespotting, feeding ducks,watchingboats go through locks, paddleboarding, museum visits,sampling food and drink at acanalside café or pub, and marvellingatsome of theworld’sfinest examples of workingindustrialheritage RosDaniels,Canal &River Trust’sdirector forthe South East, said:“Ourcanals provide free andlow-costfamily-friendly days out by the water, and the chance to have some fabulous waterside experiences this summer. Even in city centres, people canspota variety of birds,animals,insects and plants alongour canals and rivers.And from locksand bridges to tunnels and aqueducts,there arehundreds of historicstructures to marvel at “Wewanttoencouragemorepeople to visit ourcanals,rivers, reservoirsand docksso theycan experience the physical and mental health and well-beingbenefits of spending timebywater and findout moreabout the work of ourcharity to care for the nation’s world-famous historicnetwork.”
The Canal &River Trust’s free South Eastguide provides information on the following locations:
Aldermaston Wharf
Once abusyplace for loadingand unloading canalcargoes, Aldermaston Wharfonthe Kennet &AvonCanal is nowapictureoftranquillity and the perfectplace to explorethe Berkshire countryside.Visitorscan watchboats going through Aldermaston Lock,chat with thetrust’s volunteer lock keepers, have acanalside picnic while watchingout for kingfishers, herons,coots andswans,and enjoy atraffic-free cyclerideto Woolhampton, well-known for itscoachinginns
AylesburyCanal Basin, Waterside Exchange Street
AylesburyCanal Basin, at theend of the Aylesbury Armofthe Grand Union Canal, is agreat startingpointfor watersidewalksand bird watching.Visitorscan enjoya trafficfree walk or cycleride alongthe towpathto seetwo rare staircase locks(1.5 miles/2km), stroll to CircusFieldBasin to view the colourful narrowboats, takea boat trip alongthe canal, explorethe historicmarkettownofAylesbury, and relaxwith awaterside coffeeatthe café
Banbury
The OxfordCanal passes through the historic market town of Banbury, offeringthe chance to connect with history and nature.Visitors cantakeaboattripalongthe canal, stroll alongthe towpathtofind asculpture,a poemona lockgate anda bridge namedafter
waterwayschampionTom Rolt,enjoy atrafficfree cycleride to Cropredy (4.7 miles/7.7 km), visit BanburyMuseum,and walk to Banbury Crossinthe centreoftown.
Once abusyinland port and the centreof boat buildingactivity, todaythe historic market town of Berkhamstedonthe Grand Union CanalinHertfordshiremakes for a fascinatingday out. Visitors canstroll along the towpathtosee boatsgoing through the locksand theCanadiantotem pole that marks thesiteofanold boat building yard,explore theruins of BerkhamstedCastle,whichwas built by one of William the Conqueror’s knights,enjoy adrink and bitetoeat at one of the canalside pubs,and visit the nearby Ashridge estate woods.
The RiverStort winds its waythrough Bishop’s Stortfordand is agreat routefor country walks. Visitors canwander alongthe towpath and enjoy the wildlife and watchboats going through the locks, partakeinaacanalside picnic overlookingWaytemoreCastleMound, head southtoRushy Mead Nature Reserve, whichisahaven for reedbedspecies,and pause for adrink in one of the waterside cafes or pubs
Once home to abusyindustrialcanal wharf, the historicvillage of Kintbury on the Kennet &AvonCanal is nowa pictureoftranquillity. Visitorscan takeahorse-drawn boat trip alongthe canal, enjoy astroll alongside and watch boatsgoingthrough Kintbury Lock,set
off on atraffic-free bikeride,havea waterside picnic or visit one of the villagepubs.
NewburyWharf, WharfStreet
An inland port back in the day, Newburyon theKennet &AvonCanal in Berkshireisagreat place to spend time by the water. Visitors can enjoy aboattrip, relaxwith apicnicinVictoria Park,visit the Kennet &AvonCentreinthe wharftofind outabout the history of the canal, stroll alongthe towpathtoTownBridge, and walk or cyclealongthe towpathtoThatcham Nature Discovery Centre (0.8-mile/1.2km).
Oxford, Worcester St Car Park
Just minutes from Oxford CityCentre, the Oxford Canaloffersaplace of peaceand tranquillity Visitors candiscoverthe many quirkybridges, including the historicRewleyRoadSwing Bridge,lookout forthe nowclosed Oxford boatyard whereLyrameets ‘gyptians’inPhilip Pullman’sTheNorthern Lights,and follow the towpathtothe Thames Path and continue to Christ Church Meadows,onceofthe most famous riverlandscapesinthe world.
Reading, The Oracle Riverside carpark
The Kennet &AvonCanal sweeps through Reading’stowncentre, and County Lock is the perfectplace to relaxand watch boatsgo by.Visitorscan talk awalk alongthe towpath to where the RiverThames joinsthe canal, relaxwith acoffeeand watchthe boatsgo by,lookatthe floatingreedbeds in Abbey Quarterinstalledtoincrease biodiversity,visit the burial place of King HenryI at Reading AbbeyRuins,and followthe Heritage Walk from the Oracle Shopping Centre
Thrupp,Canal Yard, Canal Road
The peaceful hamlet of Thrupp lies on the OxfordCanal and is agreat place for watching boatsand familywalks. Visitors cantakea stroll alongthe towpathpastthe charming rose-covered canalside cottages, look at the ‘drawbridge’ lift bridge,enjoy awaterside picnic,visit one of the canalside pubs or cafés, and followthe towpathtothe historicvillage of Shipton-on-Cherwell (0.6 miles/1km)
The four reservoirsatTring were built to supplythe Grand UnionCanal and arenow aSiteofSpecial Scientific
Interest (SSSI).Thewatersofthe reservoirs attractmanyplants, fishand insects, and largenumbers of breeding,wintering and migratingbirds.Aswellaswatchingboats go through the locks, visitorscan choose from three way-markedcircularwalksto follow, discoverbirdhidestosit in and watchswifts and commonterns duringthe dayorpipistrelle bats huntingfor insects in the evening, and visit acanalside pub or café
Nestledinthe Buckinghamshire countryside,WestonTurville Reservoir,a Site of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSI),isa wildfowl wonderland andthe perfectplace to getclosetonature. Visitors canspotteal, tufted duckand bittern, followthe 1.2-mile (2km) pathwayaround the reservoir, geta licence to go fishing,and watchthe boats from Aylesbury SailingClub The Canal&River Trust’sfree‘Places to Visitinthe SouthEast’ guide is available to download at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ free-guide
WITH pressure to cutcarbon emissions and rising fuel prices,more boatersare consideringswitching theirdiesel or petrol-driven engines to agreener electricalternative.
While this is agoodoption, it’s importanttobeaware that many systems on the market arehigh voltage and could compromisesafety, especiallyiftheydonot conformto European Commission standards
The infrastructurefor pure electric motorsisalsoextremelypoorinthe UK, so choosing the rightsystemto matchusage and cruisinghabits is key. So,whatsolutionsare available? RiverCanal Rescue talksusthrough theoptions…
Pure electric
Theseboats requirea plug in to charge, and alackofinfrastructurecan quickly result in vessels runningout of power and becomingstranded or onlyhaving shortcruisingranges, whichdefeats the objectofhavingaboat.
Parallel hybrid
Theseelectricboats have anormal diesel engine,plus an electricengine andbatteries (the diesel engine is onlythereto recharge the batteries oncethey’redepleted). Thisisagood option for vesselsthatwanttobenefit from greenenergy butdonot want to be restricted by rangeorthe needto stopand recharge.
Serial hybrid
Theseelectric boatsutiliseanelectric motor with abattery bank,but insteadofadiesel engine to recharge
depletedbatteries,there’s agenerator
Generally, this system is more efficient, however, it does require aspecialistgenerator to supplythe correctchargefor the batterybank (you can’tjustbuy asuitcase-style generator). If your batteries arelow, you’ll need to stop and recharge using thegenerator,which canimpact your cruisingrange.
Batterybanks
Electric boatsneedbattery banksto powertheirmotors, and different typesofbatteries have contrasting efficiencies and power(something we’ll coverinanother article). Thesame applies to charging systems and batterymanagement systems –vital for electric boats. Everyelementmustbebalanced accordingtothe individual boat and your requirements.One size does not fit all, so research what your boat needs, and what propulsion system and supportingbattery arrangementisright for you.
Synchronous energy
This is whereseparatebanksare used for propulsion and domestic housesupply. Generallymore useful for liveaboardboats,it’skey to ensure thepropulsion and house banksare physically separated. If not,you risk the housebank depletingthe propulsionbank.
Asynchronous energy
This is whereonlyone bank of batteries is used for both the house and propulsion requirements
When making any modificationstoyour boat, it’simportant to talk to the experts and know exactly what’sthe best option for your particular vessel. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
–usefulwhen there’sa balanceduse of energy.However,there’s ariskif you usetoo much batteryinone area, it candepletethe bank and leave powerfor theother useunavailable
Lithium batteries
Becomingpopular,but alackof understandingand knowledge aboutchargingand temperature requirementsmeanDIY installationscould potentiallyplace vessels andownersatrisk.
Thesebatteries compriseaset of four cells, so typically3.2Vto make the 12V.They need to receive aconsistent charge (unlikelead acid which cantolerate variable chargingfromanalternator) and canonlyaccept charge between temperatures of 0C-45C.
Lithiumbatteries react violentlyto exposuretodampair andtherefore pose ariskofexplosionwhich will occurifnot managedcorrectly When they explode, they’renearly
TO CELEBRATE RiverCanal Rescue’s 25th anniversary, managingdirectorStephanieHortonisgivingawayprizes everymonth throughout theyear. ForAugust, one Towpath Talk reader canwin an engine service,including labour andparts,worth £260.
The service is available from SeptembertoMarch, when an RCRengineerwillcome to youand undertake:
•Engine oilchangeupto 5l
•Fuel filter replacement
•Oil filter replacement
•Gearbox oil topup*
•Antifreeze check*
•Battery check–startercoldtestand charge state
•Fan belt checkand adjustment*
*Replacementisundertakenatanadditional cost for parts and labour
Towinthisprize,simplyemailyourname,address,and phonenumbertoTTcompetition@rivercanalrescue. co.uk,writing August servicewin in the subjectline, and you’ll be enteredintothe prizedraw.
Entries closeat23.59 on 31/08/25 and the winner will be drawnon01/09/25. The winner will be notifiedwithin 14 days of theclose of entries. The draw is final,and no correspondence will be enteredinto. Entryisfreeand open to residents of the UK aged over 18. Only one entrypermitted perperson, thereisnocash alternative, andthe prizeisnot transferable.Byentering, youagree to be boundbyall the rulesand agreethat your name andcountymay be released if you win.
impossible to control as theysuffer from ‘thermalrunaway’–not even submersioninwater will extinguish them.Due to thesefactors,abattery managementsystemisimperativeto manage and reduce risk associated with thesebatteries
Most off-the-shelf products from largesuppliersprovide packages and, in some cases, supplyanelectric motor with lithiumbatteries;includingall the features needed to ensuresafe operation. It’s importanttonote that most insurancecompanies will not covervessels with lithium batteries installed; some will if they’reinstalled by an ‘authorised installer,’ so checking and updating your insurancepolicy is imperative
Switching over
We arereceivingmoreenquiries aboutreplacing engines,indicating that boatersare keen to make that switch.However,people must do
their research.Someoptionsinclude inefficientimportedelectric motors requiringhigher voltages to work efficientlyand traditional high voltage 230V or three-phase motors that rely on 48V or higher batterypacks.Whenused with an inverter,theyexceedthe Low Voltage Directivethreshold, potentially puttingboats andownersindanger. The Government’s LowVoltage Directivesays72V andbelow is considered safe and 50V and below is ultra-safe.Thereare rumours amongsome high voltage electric motor suppliersthattheyare pushing to have this valuereduced, i.e., high voltage wouldbeclassed above24V If yourvesselwas constructed after 1998, then changingfroma diesel to electric engine requires aPost Construction Assessment. Currently, there’s onlyone company undertaking this –HPi Verification Services,and at acostofupto£6000, it’s potentially the mostrestrictiveelement to moving to agreener solution.
OVERWATER Marina andHoliday Park,located near Audlem, hastaken asignificantstepin improvingsafetyfor its moorers and visitors by introducing What3Words location stickers in the marina,touring park and glampingsite. Thismeasure is designedtohelp emergency services locate individuals quicklyand preciselyinthe event of an incident.
Eachelectricalbollard and facilities pointinthe marina and the caravanand glampingsiteis nowfitted with aclearly visible stickerdisplayingits unique What3Words address, asimple, three-word code that pinpoints an exact 3m-sq location anywhere in the world. In the eventofan emergency, userscan quote the three wordstoemergency services to provide an accurate and immediatelocation, helping to reduce response times and improveoutcomes
“Safetyisofparamount importance to us,” said marina
managerDavid Johnson. “By usingWhat3Words, we aregiving ourberth holders, caravanners, glampers andvisitorsasimple yet powerful tool to ensuretheycan be found quicklyinanemergency. Ourrural surroundings are beautiful, butwith the diverse layoutand size of the marina,it’s not alwayseasytoexplain your location. This solves that problem instantly.”
In addition, the Overwater Marina teamiscurrently fundraisingfor an external defibrillator cabinet. While a defibrillator is already available on-site, thenew cabinet would make thedevice accessible 24/7 to the public and emergencyservices. “Weare committedtogoing the extramilewhen it comes to our customersand health and safety,” addedmarinaownersJanet and AngusMaughan.“Installingan external cabinet will make our defibrillator accessible at any time of dayornight, potentially savinglives in critical situations.”
"The whole experience wasmadeeasier by Aquavista. Ifelt like they representedmybestinterests at all times."
Sellingyour boat?We’re here to be your trustedguide and represent your best interests in the sale of your boat.Being proactive in finding youthe rightbuyer, explaining thewhole processclearly and keeping youuptodatealong the wayiswhatyou canexpect.
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REF10595 -Rana Pioppi. 55 foot traditionalstern narrow boat. £44,950.00.
REF10584 –Ocker. 70 foot traditional sternnarrowboat. £44,950.00.
REF 10588 -Uncle Albert. 30 foot traditional sternnarrowboat. £9,999.00. SOLD
REF 10590 -Percy II. 45 foot traditional sternnarrowboat. £44,950.00.
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REF 10594 -Amor. 55 foot traditional sternnarrowboat. £51,995.00.
REF 10597 -Buckden. 71’6”traditional historic narrowboat. £59,950.00.
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This winter,our 2,000 mile networkof250-year-oldcanalsfaces aperfectstorm of extremeweather,risingrepair costsand shrinkinggovernmentsupport. Last winter alone,eightstorms in three months cost £10 million in emergency repairs. Ourteams are stretched to thelimitasmorestormshit this season.
We urgently needyour donation now, so thatwecan be readytoreact when thenext emergency happens. With your support,wecan carryout vitalrepairs,aswell as restore canalsand makethemmoreresilient to extremeweatherinfuture.
Established in 1974, Colecraft have gained the experience and expertise to ensure thatthe boat we build for you will lastfor years to come.
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We buildnarrowbeam and widebeam boats for private and trade customers and arepossibly the largest supplier of steelshellsto other boat builders/fitters.
Our latest trip boats include Crusader Comunity (Widebeam with Hybrid propulsion -full MCA certification), Electra (Narrowbeam withelectric propulsion -12passengers) and Kingfisher Mark (Widebeam with electric propulsion
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Our welders arecoded to meet MCA requirements
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DECKING
ORIGINALLY foundedby
St.Ciaráninthe mid-sixth century,the monastic site of Clonmacnoisecontains the ruins of acathedral, sevenchurches,two round towers,three high crosses and alarge collection of early Christiangrave slabs. Standinginaprominent position overlookingthe watersofthe Shannon and therichgrasslandsofthe Callows,Clonmacnoise is one of the hidden heartlands’mostpopular touristdestinations and is abouttoundergo a significant redevelopment projectsupportedbythe EU Just Transition Fund.
The Office of PublicWorks (OPW) recentlyannounced measures to improve the visitor experienceat Clonmacnoise. To ensure continuityofservices and awelcomingenvironment duringthis transitional period,itwillprovide a
temporarycafé service on site,including picnic tables with parasols, offeringshadedseating complementedbytasteful landscaping. Thesefeatures aredesignedtoenhance visitorcomfortwhile full constructionworks are ongoing. Thebroader redevelopment, dueto commenceinlate2025, will transformthe Clonmacnoise VisitorCentreintoa modern, sustainable and fully accessiblefacility, significantlyimproving interpretation,energy efficiencyand overall visitor engagement.
TheformerFáilte Ireland (National Tourism DevelopmentAuthority of Ireland) buildingwill serve as thetemporary ticketdesk duringthe worksand play akey role in maintaining on-siteservices and communityengagement. In the future, this building
will be adaptedtoinclude a dedicated education space, aChangingPlaces facility, andnew interpretive displays.
Boatersare notexpected to experience anyaccess issues to the site,which duringboating season canbereached from the floatingjetties managedand maintainedbyWaterways Ireland.
In correspondence with TowpathTalk,anOPW representative stated: “The plannedworks at Clonmacnoiseare not expectedtoimpact the boat moorings alongthe River Shannon. Visitoraccesswill be maintained throughout the durationofthe project. Whilethere maybesome temporaryadjustments to entryand exit points, everyeffort is beingmade to minimisedisruption, including for thosearriving by boat.”
INLAND Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is urging anglerstoreportany sightingsofPacific pink salmon in Irish rivers this summer.
The fishhas appeared in unprecedented numbersinmultiple riversystems in Ireland’s west,northwest and southwest in previous years, and posesathreattonativespecies.It predominantlyhas atwo-yearlifecycle, and mayreappearinriversthis year,and every second so-called‘odd’ year thereafter
Dr Michael Millane,senior research officer at IFI, said: “The potentialpresence of largenumbers of this non-nativespecies posesacompetitiveand disruptivethreat to the survival of nativeAtlantic salmon andsea trout. Theyalsoposeathreatto estuarine and coastal marine fish species, andthe ecosystems they depend on.Weare appealingtoanglersand other waterusers to quicklycontact us regardingany encounters theyhavewith pink salmon. As these fish die afterspawning, some dead specimens could alsobeseenalongour rivers.”
Speaking to TowpathTalk reporter Alison Alderton, the IFI communicationsteam
stated:“IFI hasnot yetthisyearconfirmed thediscovery of Pacificpink salmon in waterways. However, giventhe two-year life cycleofthisspecies,weanticipatethat some mayreappearinriversagain this year.”
IFI hasissuedaguide to help identify pink salmon at www.fisheriesireland.ie/ fish-species/pink-salmon-oncorhynchusgorbuscha. Anglersorthe public canreport findings to the IFI’s 24/7 phone number on 0818 347424 or viainfo@fisheriesireland.ie Theyare alsoasked to:
•Photographthe fish.
• Retain the salmon and don’t putit back into the water(even in rivers only open forcatch-and-releaseangling)
• Recordthe date and location of capture, andits length/weight.
•Tag the fishand presentittoIFI staff, andanew tagwillbeissuedtoreplace the tagused.
MORE THAN €177,225 in fundinghas been awardedto145 County Offalycommunity groups and organisations under theLocal EnhancementProgramme 2025. It will supportlocal groups with ongoingrunning costs andsmall-scalecapital expenses.
Among thosetobenefit will be twoGrand Canal-based canoeclubs,the Daingean Canoe Club,which wasestablishedin2024 with support from theTidyTown’sCommittee,and Tullamore CanoeClub,whichdates from 2003 and operates from the former lock houseatLock27.
THE bright redbistrobarge Riasc,a familiar sighton Dublin’scircularline of the Grand Canal, is on the market.
The 60ft-longvesselwas oncepartofIreland’s inland waterwayscommercial transport fleet butwas laid up in the 1960s whenthe canals closed to commercial traffic. It waslater purchased and restored by the owners, andshortly afterwards began welcomingguests aboard.
During its 25-plus yearsin operation, the La Peniche bistroand café business housed within Riasc has built up aloyal customer base by offeringintimate floatingdiningexperiences, eventhostingand canal cruises
BasedatMespil Road, Dublin 4, or found plying the waters betweenhere andRanelaghBridge, diners canenjoy ameal whiletakinginone of the
city’smostvibrantand attractivequarters famed for the likes of poet Patrick Kavanagh and playwright BrendanBehan.
Thesale offers any prospectivepurchasersthe opportunitytoacquirean already well-established and fullykitted-out business with scopetoexpand in areassuchasthemed entertainmentand cruise itineraries.Full details can be found at www.property.ie
MEMBERSofthe Heritage Boat Association (HBA) planningtocruisethe Barrow this season have seen their cruisecut short.
As previously reported in TowpathTalk, theflotillaof16craft hadsuccessfully reachedCarlowontheirjourney south to Waterfordand Cheekpoint. However, further navigation endednearMilfordwhen the way through washindered due to siltingand lack of dredging,which resulted in at leastone bargegoing aground.
This left the flotillanochoice buttoretrace their steps,signalling adisappointingend to an adventure whichdrewmanypeopletothe waterside to view thesehistoricalcraft and meet theircustodians
Meanwhile,manybusinessesare suffering as,ineffect,the through-route of the Barrow is closed to navigators,the siltingresulting in theresimplybeingnoway through for the majority of boaters. Anyon-wateractivities canand do takeplace withinnavigable
sectionsbut naturallythis is restrictive, particularly for hirecraft operators. The lack of dredging hasbeena hottopic of late,with many Irish newspapers and social mediachannels reportingonthe issue. Among thosetocomment on the sorryconclusion of the HBAflotilla’scruiseincludedthe CEOof Carlow County Council, Coilín O’Reilly, and Coun MichaelDoran, who described it as ‘a bigblow.’ Maintenance worksare nowunder way, albeittoolatefortheHBAflotilla,andformpart of the WaterwaysIreland Barrow Navigation ScheduledMaintenanceProgramme –A Five-YearStrategic Framework, whichcan be viewedatwww.waterwaysireland.org
Many participants of the HBAflotilla have since joinedthe Grand Canaland travelledwest, wheretheyhavetaken part in theInlandWaterways Associationof Ireland(IWAI)ShannonHarbour Rally. You canfind outmoreabout the association on itssocialmedia channels andatwww heritageboatassociation.ie
Good readsfor dog days
RELAXING with agoodbook beneaththe dappled shadeoftrees duringthe dogdaysofsummer are times to treasure. Your dogwill welcome acoolspotfor time to lounge and takeasnooze. While your canine companion is busy doing that,hereare some of our favouritedog tales to help you whileawaythe hourswith your four-legged friend…
The Classic BargeBeagle’s dog-eared -excuse the pun-copyof ThreeMen In A Boat by Jerome K Jerome is aprized possession and the mostfrequently revisited tome on ourboat’s bookshelf. It whims ic all y recalls apunting adventure on the RiverThames undertaken by three friends,J,Georgeand Harris,and amischievous Fox Terrier calledMontmorency. I envy those abouttodiscoverthis Victorianclassic of punts, men in blazersand strawboaters,boating mishapsand doggymischief in the quintessential English countryside. It hasstood the test of time,been made andremadeintovarious films,and used as the base for severaltelevision series butfor me, theoriginalnovel remainsthe best Amust-have book for those who boat with dogs.Available in anumberofdifferentformats, including aversion forchildren, from bookshops and onlinestores.
few surprises thrown in, includingthe rescue of ahawkfrom the RiverThames and asheep from Lough Swilly.
Agreat book of real-lifestories with a centreplateofphotos publishedinsupportof theRNLIand available from the RNLIshop at https://shop.rnli.org/ products/rnlisaved-fromth e-w av espa pe rba ckbook
of mind, it tells of his abandonmentand subsequentrescue, beforerevealingto readersmoreabout what it is liketostar alongside Paul and Bob. Topics such as Ted’sfavourite foods, howhewhiles away the time when he is not in shot of the camera, and nottomention Ted’sthoughtsabout his fishing companions arecovered andmake this alaugh-out-loud book.Thereare some charming illustrations andafew photos too.
The Brave If youenjoytruestories,the recentlypublishedRNLIbookof animal rescues mayjustfitthe bill. The charityrescues many dogs each year,and Animal Rescues of the RNLI–Saved from the Wavescoversjusta handfulof them,but it isn’t just ourdomestic pets that areinvolved;thereare a
The amazingadventures coveredinBoating With Buster will appeal to those who harbourdreams of travellingfar and wide on the waterways of Europe with their canine companion. From thecanals of England to Ireland, through Northern Europe and into Scandinavia, itcapturesa time when us Brits were free to come and go as we pleased,now sadlyshattered by the outcomeofBrexit. It is alarge book with lots of colour photos, illustrations, maps and pretty canalart BoatingWithBuster–The Life andTimesofa BargeBeagle,byAlison Alderton, is available in soft back and e-bookformatsfrom Troubadorathttps:// troubador.co.uk/bookshop/travel/ boating-with-buster-IrDO
Ted, APawtobiography –My Adventures on Gone Fishing,is available from all good bookshops in both hard andpaperback formats.
The postwar‘Yangtese Incident’ involvingHMS Amethyst is well-documented, butperhaps what many do not realiseisthat alongsidethe humancrewwere also animals-a dognamedPeggy and amischievous youngcat known as Simon. In his shortlife, Simonnot only travelledmany nauticalmiles,but he also witnessedconflict first-hand. Throughout histime on HMS Amethyst,Simon provided thecrewwith companionship and lightentertainment, scoopingice cubes from jugs of drinking waterbeinghis party piece,and he played avital role in keeping down the number of rats on board, whichwerehavinga devastating impact on food supplies
Lee Senior
UNBELIEVABLY late summeris uponus, and it is noticeable how the nights aredrawing in now.
Pinky-purple flowersare commonplace in thecountryside duringlatesummer.
Alongside canals and waterways, the striking deep pink flowered rosebaywillowherboften dominates the showduringJulyand August.It canlookquitespectacular en masse as it oftenis. It is common alongside railways too.
Ragged robin is another coveted pink,rathermoredelicate, wildflower in bloom during mid to late summer.Itiscommon in meadows and wildflower patches at thesideofroads,as well as canals andrivers. Purple loosestrife is another plantthat flowers around now.
Less favourably,the highly invasive Himalayanbalsamis showing off its purple-pink flowers to good effect. Around the country, some volunteerscome together to chop this weed down duetoits invasive habit.
On ourboats and in ourgardens, containersand window boxesstill invariably need watering,twice a dayinsome cases.
Thereisstill time to sowthe seed of saladplantssuchasradish,mixed saladleaves(includinglettuce, mizuna, rocket) and spring onions for harvestingduringautumn before the weather turns toocold.
Outdoors,tomatoplantsneed their tops pinchingout this month andalsoany side shoots.This is to restrict furtherunnecessary growth whichisn’t needed so late in the summer. As the lowerleaves turn yellow, it is alsoagoodidea to remove them as well from the bottom upwards. This improves airflownearthe ripeningtomatoes. If youhavesome good-sized containers, then growinga few overwinter onions in themwillwork well. Theyare available to purchase viamail order and in garden centres nowfor planting in Septemberand October.
FollowLee on Instagram: In st ag ra m. com/ lee_senior_gardening
The TV spin-off Viewersofthe BBCprogramme Gone FishingWithPaul Whitehouse and BobMortimer will need no introductiontoTed,a blackPatterdale crossbreed terrier whose‘voice’isbroughttolife by Paul himself as he accompanies theduo on theirfishing expeditions.This book is told through Ted’seyesand delves into his life in more detail. In atongue-in-cheek frame
Theonlycat to receive the prestigious People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals(PDSA)Dickin Medal, awardedtohonour acts of animal braveryinwartime,itis humblingtothink that even during timesofwar when pets themselves areterrified, theycan stillprovide humans with comfort, warmth and reassurance. Simon Ships Outby JackyDonovanisavailable from Amazon.
The 2025 EdinburghCanal Festival, held in June, sawthe Union CanalinEdinburgh at the centre of thepopularannual celebration.
LARGEcrowdsenjoyed acanoewater polo tournament, canoeand kayaktastersessions,live music, artand familyfriendly activities, and the chance to spot the residentmermaid. This year therewas even a beer createdespeciallyfor thefestival by Campervan Brewery–anapricot and peachScottish gose beer
Thefreefestival is organised by Fountainbridge Canalside CommunityTrust (FCCT), amember-ledorganisation dedicated to making the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh abetterplace to live, work,dobusiness and visit.Rachel Sedman, FCCT’s development manager, describes the festival as abit likea communityopenday, wherepeople canvisit organisations,stalls and communitygroupsfromthe localarea, all celebrating the canal. Rachel said:
“This year’s festivalwas a huge successthanksto ourincredible volunteers, localorganisationsand the amazingcommunity spirit.We’re thrilledtosee so many people enjoying theUnion Canal, and we can’twaitfor even more excitementatthe raft race in August.” This year, boat trips and the everpopularraft race will take place on August 23. Keep an eyeonthe Edinburgh CanalFestival website at edinburghcanalfestival. org.uk for more details Ahighlightofthe festival wasthe Port Edgar Dragons who’d paddled their dragon boat the 32 miles from the FalkirkWheel, along the canaltofinishinLochrin Basinduringthe festival. This long-distance paddle challengewas undertaken to raisemuch-needed funds forthe club,tosecureits future. As well as members of the group, acouple of
THE closureand drainageofthe Falkirklock flightonthe Forth&Clyde Canal, for lock gate replacementand installation of abywash, hasgiven arareviewofthe lock chambers and structures usuallyhidden underwater, includingthe original stonemason’smarks
The stonemasons each hadtheir ownunique symbol whichwas carved on to thestonesthey laid to keep acount for accuratepaymentand as aformofqualitycontrol to allowattribution of specific work to aparticular stonemason. Oneof the stones revealediscarvedwiththe year 1770, whichiswhen the engineer John Smeaton was overseeingconstruction of the canal. Although marksonstones have been found on early Egyptian and Romanstructures,the practice startedinScotland duringthe Middle Ages,appearing on medievalbuildings from the 12th and 13th centuries.Towards theend of the 16th century,all Scottishmasons had to registertheir name and mark when they joinedaguild.Discovery of thesemarks helps historians better understand theoriginal construction of the canals,although putting names to the stonemasons basedonthe marks is difficult.Scottish Canals would welcome anyinsightsfrommembers of thepublicwho have records of stonemasons intheir families to help in discovering individual stories.
experiencedpaddlersfrom Australia, one from Canada and newbievisitorsfrom Aberdeen took part.Port Edgar Dragons is the only cancer survivors’ dragon boat groupinScotland. Establishedin2010 with theaim of helpingthose recovering from breast cancer,the organisation welcomesanyonewishing
to trythe sport, hashad any cancer diagnosis,together with family,friends and anyone interested in supportingthe team.Port Edgar Dragonsare usually foundonthe UnionCanal betweenBridge8 Hub social enterpriseand Ratho.Find outmoreat portedgardragons.co.uk whereyou canalsodonate.
ASINKHOLE hasappearedon the towpathwestofBellanoch SwingBridgeonthe Crinan Canal. The section of towpath betweenBellanochand Crinan SwingBridgeisclosed while Scottish Canals investigates. At the time of writing, there arestill restrictions on the Crinan –onlyvessels with a freshwater draughtof2mand belowwill be allowedontothe canal, with boatsbeing locked in groups andpassage through thesea locksatCrinanand Ardrishaig availablefor just two hourseithersideofhightide. Scottish Canals is updating
the situation regularly andhas implementedthesechanges to normaloperation following the extremelydry autumn and winter 2024 resultinginthe Crinan Canal’sreservoir levels beinglower than usualfor this timeofyear. Seescottishcanals. co.uk for moreinformation Meanwhile,thereis temporarydisruption on the UnionCanal after avehicle struck bridge 47 at Kettlestoun, just west of Linlithgow. The towpathisclosed to pedestrians and no boatsare beingallowed under thebridgeuntil thearea hasbeenmadesafe
SINCE the startof April, volunteer lock keepersfrom Go Forth& Clyde have completed more than 100 boat movements on the Forth& ClydeCanal betweenlocks 17 and 20 –that’s more than 1000 hoursof volunteeringsince the startofApril this year!
Go Forth&Clyde, acharity based beside lock 16 in Falkirkonthe Forth
&Clyde,isagroup of volunteers, all workingfor the benefit of the canal, the local communityand the environment Theorganisation offers volunteering opp or tu nitie s, runs events and activities and day boat hireaboard JaggyThistle,a 32ft self-drive na rr ow bo at availablebetween Marchand October.
The volunteer lock keepinghas long been part of Go Forth&Clyde’s activities.They usuallywork betweenlock3 at the Kelpiesand lock 20 at Banknock butare currently onlylocking boats through locks17-20 while the Falkirk flightisclosed. Visitthe websiteat goforthandclyde or g. uk for information.
AS WE approach the 25th anniversary of the Lowland Canals’reopening in 2001,itmay be hard forsome to imaginea time when thesewaterways were practicallyimpassable.
Between1975 and 1990, the Drambuie CanalMarathon saw teams navigate small, powered inflatable dinghies alongthe canals,atthe timefilled with mud, weedsand rubbish
Inspired by aRound London Inflatable Marathon in 1972, an earlierScottishrace in 1973 involved teams headingwest on theUnion CanalfromCalder CrescentinEdinburgh to the KelvinAqueduct in Maryhillon the Forth&Clyde,transferring to theRiver Kelvin and finishing in KelvingroveParkinGlasgow Army lorries portaged boatsand theircrews around theM8near Broxburn, and from the Union CanaltoLock16onthe Forth& ClydeCanal.
With sponsorship from Drambuie and (from 1977) organisation provided by the LinlithgowUnion CanalSociety, therace became aregular event. The routewas then reversed, startingonthe Forth& Clydeat Temple Locks, west of Maryhill in Glasgow,and finishingin
LochrinBasin, the Union Canal’s terminus in Edinburgh.
The race wasfor inflatable boatswith an outboard of no morethan5hp.Eachteam consistedoftwo in theboatand afurther twoteam-mates as back up,but who weren’t allowedto help with portage. The eventwas atimedtrial,withtimekeepers hidden in bushes alongthe route. Go toofast, tooslow, or succumb to foul play,and penalty points were added.
Therewas ahighpercentage of dropouts due to broken engines and crew exhaustion. Contestants hadtodealwith the stink of thederelict waterways, sometimeshavingtoleap into the silt to haul their boat becauseoflackofwater.The biggesttestwas carryingthe boat, engine,fuel, spares,food and drinkaround the locks, particularly the Maryhillflight, andthe old Falkirklocks,where thecontestants hadtocross the drownedculverts.
Teams came from all walks–canalcommunities, army,fire brigadeand police,fromfactories and from British Waterways–with many goingontosupport the canals andcampaignfor their restoration.
Our series is dedicated toshowcasing unique days out near special canals. Whether you’re intogongoozling (watching boatingactivities), leisurely towpath walks, wildlife spotting, boat trips or even retail therapy, our canal system hassomethingfor everyone. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Cromford,a bustling settlement in Derbyshire
By SallyClifford
APICTURESQUE place,renowned as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.Itwas the developmentofSir RichardArkwright’s world’sfirstsuccessful water-poweredcotton mills in 1771 and the pioneering factory system that ledtothe developmentofthe pretty villageofCromford.
Nestledneartothe Peak District in theheart of the DerwentValley Mills WorldHeritage Site in Derbyshirewith the RiverDerwent flowing through,Cromford provides the perfectescape.
The historic complex of industrialbuildings and the homes,pubs,schooland shops that followedare alastingreminder of the purpose-built communitythe Prestonborn industrialistcreated to accommodate his expandingworkforce duringthe
cotton-producingheyday.
Today, CromfordMills givesaninsight into the impact one man’sinvention of a waterframe to spin cottonhad on industry, and the world. The site’s Grade Ilistedstatus protects and preservesits importance both in the past and presentwhile ensuringSir RichardArkwright’s legacy livesonfor future generations to enjoy
Youcan take your timemeanderingaround thesite, nowowned by theArkwright Society, and takeaneducational tour around the buildings, repurposed as visitorcentres and attractions in this once industrious part of the world. Thereare independentshops and artgalleries to browse,while pubs and cafes provide the perfectrefreshmentopportunities
CromfordMills alsohosts acalendar of events throughout the year includinga beer festival, makers’markets and antiques and
vintage fairs. Thosewho want to further their explorations of this pretty place cansaunter alongwell-troddenpathwaysthrough picture postcard scenery. There areplenty of routes to choose from,including the pathway tracingthe remnants of the waterway once running through Engineered by William Jessop,with help from Benjamin Outram in the early 1790s, CromfordCanal ran14.5 miles from Cromford to Langley Mill where it met the Erewash Canal with thebranchtoPinxton. Although the canaleventuallyfell into disuse, thankfully, the Friends of CromfordCanal aresupporting itsongoing restorationand, in 2014, adopted twosections of the waterway at the Lower Hartshay sectionand the stretchfromCodnor Park Reservoirthrough Ironville to Lock 5.
Birdswood is the historicnarrowboatthat runs regulartrips betweenCromfordWharf andLeawood Pump House, builtin1849 to pump waterfromthe RiverDerwent into CromfordCanal.Thewaterwayishome to diverse species of wildlife.Interestingly, the stretchofcanal from CromfordtoAmbergate is designateda Site of SpecialScientific Interest BetweenWhatstandwell and Ambergateisa LocalNatureReserve
BlackRocks,atthe topofashortsteep climb, is an outcropofAshover grit leading to waymarkedwalksthrough the Forestry
FACT FILE:
Things to do nearby…
Chatsworth House: www.chatsworth.org
Heights of Abraham: www.heightsofabraham.com
Peak Rail: www.peakrail.co.uk
White Peak Distillery: www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk
Great British Car Journey: www.greatbritishcarjourney.com
Poole’sCavernand Buxton Country Park: www.poolescavern.co.uk
Bolsover Castle: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Peak Wildlife Park: www.peakwildlifepark.co.uk
Denby Pottery Village: www.denbypottery.com
The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop: www.bakewellpuddingshop.co.uk
Gulliver’sValley Theme Park: www.gulliversvalleyresort.co.uk
Useful website: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside www.visitmiddevon.co.uk
Commission woodlandsof CromfordMoor. Pickupthe High Peak Trail and followthe former trackofthe Cromford &HighPeak Railway Co,takinginHighPeak Junction whereit meets the canal. Workshops,preserved from the railway days,and an information centreoccupythis area Trek further into thearea’s industrialpastwith avisit to Middleton Top. The last surviving completewindingengine house wasbuilt by the Cromford& High Peak Railway Co and contains its original pair of beam engines,built by the ButterleyCompany,tohaul wagons up and down steephills
Savour the vantagewith apicnic at one of many places including Redhill Quarry Nature Reserve. Allthingssteam andvintage will be showcasedwhenthe Cromford SteamRallygets under wayon August 2-3. Within thesurrounding natural playground AbrahamHeights provides asky view experience to see thelandscape rolling beneathyour feet in acable carjourneythrough theDerwent Valleytothe summit of Masson Hill wherethe 238-year-old storyofthe Heightsunfolds.Above and belowthis 60-acresiteare further fascinatingthings to seeinatourof the undergroundilluminatedcaverns
accompaniedbyprofessional guides, as well as exhibitionsand heritage gardens to view. Situated in the heartofthe Peak District and surroundedby1000 acresofparklandonthe banksof the RiverDerwent is the Duke and DuchessofDevonshire’sbeautiful statelyhome –ChatsworthHouse Boasting worksofart spanning 4000 yearsand offeringapacked programme of events throughout the year,thereisplenty to seeand do at Chatsworth Summeristhe season for outdoor exploration andthe sights and sceneryonoffer at Cromfordmake it the perfectDaysOut destination.
By David Kent
LAST month Ireferredtothe Fisheryand AnglingAction Plans whichweredevelopedmorethana decade ago. There wasagreat deal of harmonyatnational levelabout theplans with different sectors seeingthatbenefitsmay accrue across thespectrum. However, theharmonyand intent wasnot takenforward by the waterways; so much so that many of theideas andpossibleprojectssimplyfell betweenthe cracks.Eventoday this lack of buy-in by regions on certain things is,sadly, all too obvious. We all knowonlytoo well that theCanal &River Trustisnot in thebestplace yetwithregard to thelongterm, so policy and planningishavingtobeseverely prioritised.That said, thebestway for the trusttoensurethatits future is healthyistocarry everyone along together andnot causeany sector to become disaffected Equallyweall must accept that total collaboration is theway Ihavenoticedthatthere have been anumberofdewatering emergencies in recentweeks. Iguessthatthesearise from all sortsofcausesincluding vandalism and,sometimes,a malfunction of alock. Over the yearsmylocal canalhas suffered such dewateringsand onereason for some of theseseems to have been inappropriateoperation of the lock.I recall that the ‘culprit’ in acouple of these hadbeena hireboat. To be honestIdonot knowwhatlevel of instruction is usuallygiven to those hiring aboatorwhat the intentions of some of those people might be,but givenwhatdamageand disruption mightensue perhaps this is somethingtobereviewed. In one of thoseinstances afish rescue wasnecessary.Inanother case awhole pound, scheduled to be used for anational championship, hadtobechanged at the last minute.
Isuspect that the weather we have experiencedinrecentweeks onlyexacerbatesthe potential problems that dewateringscan cause. Watertemperaturesare high,oxygenlevels on aknife edge,flowsare minimal. Adda seriousloweringofwater levels and the potentialfor damage to the wholecanal ecologyis massive.
Talkingofthe weather,itdid seem that things were beginning to settle abit afew weeksago but then we have hadrecentweeks with daytime temperatures up to 33 degreesand 19 or 20 overnight, whichhavenot been the best for ourcanals.That said, the weather maywellhavegiven rise to multiple spawnings.Sowith luckthe population recruitment in some fisheries maybe tremendous,evenproducinga
recordyear. Good though this maybe, it must be noted that morefish places moredemand on the dissolved oxygen levels which, as most know,can lead them to crashand possibly cause afish kill.
Speaking to variouspeople andlooking at resultsitdoes seem that decent catches are nowbeingrecordedatlots of venues.With regard to canals the Shroppieisstill as consistent as any. Howevertop weightsaround 10lb appear to be the normjust now. Ourrivers, not surprisingly, areverylow at presentsothe fishingis, perhaps, not as might normallybeexpectedatthis time of year.Iwas talkingwith one of my bailiffs who hadhad an overnightsession on his section of the Trenttosee in the opening of thenew riverseasononJune 16 targetinghis favouritefish,the barbel.Hecaughtnot one barbel butdid catch 43 breambetween 4lband 11lb. Afabuloussession under anycircumstances. Some of thecommercialfisheriesare also producingsome spectacular weightsnow that spawningis outofthe wayfor the mostpart. Agoodfriend travelleddownto avenue in the West Midlands to fish an open match.Heweighed 123lb and came ‘nowhere’ . Since gettinghome from holiday in late MayIhavehad very mixed fortunes.Justafter getting home,Ifishedatwo-day festival for anglersover60. Iwon my lake on Day1and wasthirdonDay 2. Becauseweights were close, that gave me 7thplace overalland a nice brownenvelope. Ihavethen hadacoupleofmatches which arebestforgotten and then last week Itookpartinateam knockout qualifier.I wonthe match individuallybut my team missedout by just one point. I have two‘interesting’ matches coming up this weekendwhichI am lookingforward to Iamsuremanyofyou will be able to grab theodd session in the comingweeks.Ifso, please remember,while fish seem to be feedingwell everywhere, to be careful aboutfeeding. Sometimes the fish want plenty,othertimes not so much.Trial and erroris theanswer. Bigger baitsare also workingtoo.Ifyou do ventureout, takegreat care to stay safe in the hot conditions. Tightlines.
By Helen Gazeley
SOMETHING remarkable hasbeenquietly unfoldingnorth of the border,and the vital player at its centre? The Forth& ClydeCanal. Once athrobbingarteryoftrade and profit beforeits decline and closurein1963, it is once again helpingtoshape the futureofGlasgow The Forth&Clyde is at the centreofanurban regeneration project to thenorth of thecity. Until now, intractable floodwaterand drainage problems,partlythanksto aseweragesystematfull
designcapacity, have stymieddevelopment. This projectisopeningup110 hectares of land andthe promiseof3000 new homes
It’s inspiringonanumberoflevels.The simplest explanation of what it does is that, when storms threaten, the levelofwater in the canalislowered by as much as 10cm, creating an extra55,000m3 capacity, whichallows surface watertodrain from thesurroundingresidential and businessareas and prevents flooding.
Thefullpictureofwhat is TheNorth Glasgow Integrated Water Management System, universallyknown as the Glasgow SmartCanal, involves an intricate, integrated system of automated watercontrol outstationsthatmonitor waterlevel, flow, and quality,along with drainage ponds, granite channels,underwatersensorsand automatic lock gatesand weirsthat aregovernedby softwarewhich uses areal-time hydraulic model -adigital twin of the physicalnetwork -topredict howmuchwater storagewillbe required and directs feeder and discharge sluicepositions to preparethe canaltotakeup to 80% of the predicted volume of excesswater
At thesame time,water wastagehas to be minimised,canal trafficmustkeepmoving, and timingisofthe essence; reducingthe level of thecanal by 10cm takesabout 18 hourswith all sluices open. Notdoingitin time risksflooding; doingittoo early increases the chance of inaccurateforecasting,and too much waterisremoved.
Forafull and awe-inspiringdescription of howthe system works, read the articleby Debbie Hay-Smith,principalengineerwith engineeringfirm AECOM, oneofthe partners in the projectalongside Glasgow CityCouncil, Scottish Water, Autodesksoftware, and Scottish Canals (waterprojectsonline.com/ case-studies/smart-canal-2022). More info
By Colin Wareing
DESPITEthe breach on the BridgewaterCanal,there wasa good attendanceof oldworking boatsmoored in Lymm forthe annual TransportDay Therewereabout 20 former or replicavessels moored alongboth sides of the canal, which complementedthe steam traction engines in the adjacentcar park.Many of theboats’ownersare members of the Historic Narrowboat Club,withthe majority of the boatsatthis gatheringcomingfromthe former Midlands carriers. The Transport Daywas part of the annual Lymm Festival on June 19-29, whichalsoincludedarts, music, and ascarecrow trail.
on theITcan be foundinAutodesk’svideo explaining digital twin software,introduced by PeterRobinson, Scottish Canals’chief engineer (youtu.be/SEUH9xcH3OM).
The projectwas designedand developed to be environmentally and financially advantageoustoo.Costing£17 million and designedtolast60years,it’sestimated to have saved75% of the costofa standarddrainage solution -whichcould have involved atunnel beingdrivenunder Glasgow.Itticks boxeson climatechangeadaptation, net zero climate contributions, biodiversity andcommercial opportunities
Asignificant plus for theproject is that, accordingtoRichard Millar,chief operating officer of Scottish Canals,interviewedbythe Glasgow Bell (www.glasgowbell.co.uk),the smartcanal will bringinincome by charging residents through Scottish Waterfor their connectiontoit. In effect, it pays for itself
It’s notwithout controversy, though.The canalcrosses some of the mostdeprived areas of Glasgow,and the urbanrenewal hasbeen
criticised for displacingresidentsfromnewly desirable areastomakeway formixed income developmentsthatare mainly privately owned. Millar is quoted as keen to ensure the projectisnot aboutthe gentrification of the canal.
So,isthereroomfor identical projects in England? Possibly not -one of theForth & Clyde’sadvantagesisits 30km-longsummit poundwhich acts as areservoir -but that doesn’tmeanthatthe canals aren’t earmarked for their potentialincontrollingwater issues The Rochdale Canalisalready alleviating flood risk to aWestYorkshirevillage by carrying overflowtoa floodplain, whilethere is aschemeindevelopmenttotransferwater south from the Midlands.
Glasgow’s SmartCanal is thefirstofits kind in Europe.Meanwhile,inJanuary,the Canal &River Trustannouncedthatits first Climate Adaptationreporthad been handed to the Government. After decades of beingseenas aquaintremnant of history, ourcanals are beginningtoleadthe way.
There’smore to tunnels than meets theeye on our canal network. John Souter’sseries continues to explore thewondersofour extensive range of canal tunnels.
TO FACILITATEthe efficientworking of the canalnetwork,about 42 miles of tunnels were constructed in England and Wales,ofwhichabout half arestill open.This is morethanthe combined length of allothercanal tunnels in the worldand doesn’t include the extra approximately47miles of underground canalat Worsley as part of the BridgewaterCanal. As well as 583 locks, 2963
Bath No. 1tunnel –59 yards/54metres, completed 1810, with atowpath (see also the BathNo. 2tunnel, 55yds/50m).
Together with the Bath No.2tunnel, thesetwo are collectivelyknown as the SydneyGardenstunnels,with BathNo. 1alsobeingknown as the Cleveland House tunnel. The portals at either end of both tunnels arevery differentincharacter,both having averyplain portal at one end and averyornate one at the other,done in large part to enhance the corporate imageofthe canalcompany to thosegenteel visitorstothe spatownwho were likelyto seethe tunnels,but onlyfrom one end!
The featureoverthe inner portal of Bath No.1isa representationofHafren, a feminine waternymph,while that over the inner portal of Bath No.2is an Adam-style depiction of Father Thames and theseportals areboth Grade II-listed ClevelandHouse,an imposing buildingstanding over Bath No.1tunnel, was formerly the headquarters of the Kennet &AvonCanal, and thereisashaft within the tunnel that runs up into thehouse so that,allegedly, messagescould be sent from the offices abovetothe boats below. It seems that this is a myth,withitbeingsuggested that the shaft wasmorelikely used for the lessglamorous purposeofrubbish disposal!
502yds, opened 1810, no towpath.
Alsoknown as the Savernake tunnel due to its proximity to SavernakeForest, it is the onlytunnel on the Kennet
bridgesand 337 aqueducts, thereare also55tunnels, ranginginlengthfrom just 25 yardstomorethan threemiles,alongthe 2000plus miles of ourinland waterways. Let’stakealook at this month’s offering…
&AvonCanal section and one of three on the complete Kennet &Avon canaland rivernavigation. Work startedin1794, and by 1804, afterchangingplans toroute the canalaround Croftentoshorten its length, its engineer John Rennie hadtoadmit that the cost hadexceededhalf amillion pounds and would still need £150,000 to complete! In 1805, Parliament authorisedthe raisingofthe extrafundsand work was restartedinthatyearand completedin1809. It was namedthe Bruce tunnel after Thomas BrudenellBruce, 1stEarlof Ailesbury, alocal landowner and companyshareholder, although interestinglyit wasBruce whocomplicated construction by refusing to allowadeepcuttingfor the canalbecause he felt it would spoil thenatureofhis land and insistedthata tunnel be built instead. Amonumentalsizedinscribed stonetablet wasplacedabove the tunnel’s Eastportal expressing the canal company’s thanksto theBruce familyfor their support. More thantwo million bricksweremade locallytobeusedinthe liningofthe tunnel and other construction-related buildings nearby Despitethe size of the tunnel(thecross-section isthe second largestafter Netherton), therewas no towpath includedand so unpoweredboats were hand-hauledthrough by means of chains fixed along the tunnel walls and which canstill be seen in place.The tunnel wasbuilt with awide bore,the reason beingthat itwas to accommodatethe wide ‘Newbury barges’used on the rivers Kennet and Avon. Initiallyprosperous, this successended abruptly when in 1841 the Great WesternRailway opened aline immediatelybeside thecanal. TheGWR subsequentlyboughtthe
Your chance to write to us on anytowpath topic: Towpath Talk,POBox 99, Horncastle, LincsLN9 6LZ or email editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk
Historic bridge given new lease of life
canaland proceededto superviseits decline but despitemanythreats of closure, thecanal was eventuallyreopenedby thelateQueen Elizabeth II in August 1990 after extensiverestoration. Adisused railwaytrack passes over the topofthe tunnel andtherewas once astation on the topofthe tunnel hill.
Hincaster tunnel –380yds/348m, completed 1817, abandoned 1955, no towpath.
Work began on thecanal in 1793 butdue to numerous delays, the northern section, includingHincastertunnel, wasn’t openeduntil June 1819, although the actual tunnel wascompleted on ChristmasDay 1817, construction havingstarted in May1813. The principal reason for buildingthe canal wastotakecoalfromthe Wigan&Worsley coalfields northwardsand bring limestone from Cumbria south,although another purposewas for it to be in closecarryingrange of the Sedgwick GunpowderWorks at Kendal.
Althoughthe tunnel is of stonebelow thewater level, aboveitislined with approximatelyfourmillion bricks.This wasunusual for thetime, as although bricks were used in similar projects further south,this wasa first in the north of England. The clayfor thebrickswas sourcedlocally, aboutthree miles from the site
With no towpath, boats were hand-pulledthrough by meansofa rope fixed to thetunnelwall, and the horses hadtobeled over the hillvia ahorse path. The Westmoreland Gazette
Dear TowpathTalk, Ireadwith interest the article on ‘Historicbridge given new leaseoflife’ in thelatest Towpath Talk,but some of the information is not strictly correct. The legacy Peter Andrews left was, in fact, to be used to replacethe bridge further alongthe towpathwhichcrosses a furtherand laterentrance to BraunstonMarina. This bridge cannot be used by people in wheelchairsor thoseunable to climbthe steps each side,together with parentspushing prams and pushchairs. For severalreasons,the trustees decidedtouse the money on bridge 91A
So,all thetimeand money spentonthis bridge (whichcould have been repaired by CRT funds,ifreallynecessary) does nothelpthe above mentionedmembers of
wasquotedatthe time of the opening of the tunnel as sayingthatittooka Corporation Bargeabout eightminutes to be haled (hauled) through usingthe rope.Sound couldbeheard from oneend of thetunnel to
thecommunity that was intended; youcannot proceedfurther in either direction on the towpath. Theonlybeneficiary appearstobeBraunston Marina (the single file bridge was, Ibelieve, erectedfor pedestrians to getoverthe newly-cut entrance when the marina wasextended).
Regards, Margaret Hills
Grants lock failure
Dear TowpathTalk, Abouttwo weeksago I passed through Grants, wheretherewas anotice pinnedtothe balance beam saying that therewas abees’ nestinthe vicinity. While I waited forthe lock to fill, Ihad agoodlookround to locate it and noticed that the bees were nesting inside the bottom gate balancebeambetween the twogatepaddles
Realising that a developingnestherewould
theother,itreported, andthat an ‘experimentwas triedby twogentleman –asentence, pronounced in lowtone of voice by one of them, was distinctlyheard by the other, at the distance of 378 yards.’
lead to the bees hollowing outaspace for the nest, therebyweakeningthe structure, IcontactedCRT to tell it wherethe nest wasand warn it that the beam wasbeingdamaged. My particular worrywas someone crossing the bottom gatemight grab the safetyrail,onlyfor it to breakoff, causingthemto fall, so Iurged thetrust to do somethingabout it quickly. Igot areply thankingme for bringing thematterto its attention. Less than twoweeks later, aboatcame into the full lock andstruckthe balancebeamwhere the bees were nesting, causing it to disintegrate. Did CRTundertake anysafety critical remediation work following my contact? Now thenavigation is closed at Banbury.
Yourssincerely, Geoff Branner Secretary, Thrupp Canal CruisingClub
Through the efforts of the Lancaster CanalTrust, theRoyal Engineerswere persuadedtorepair both portalsofthe tunnelin1980 and it is nowa scheduled ancient monument, which unusuallyalsoincludes the adjacenthorse path
By Sally Clifford
BROADCASTING from boatsisn’t groundbreaking.Lastyearmarkedthe60thanniversary since the first pirateradio broadcastonRadio Caroline,the Britishoffshore radiostation wherepirateDJs were making soundwaves –among them BBCbroadcastinglegends,Tony Blackburnand thelateJohnnieWalker.
The confines of aship mayafford morespace, butbroadcastingfromabarge canand is being done –inBlackburn, Lancashire. BenPearson, community producer with DriftCommunity Barge, explains theproject wasofficially launchedatthe end of 2024. “Probablyabout ayearago we putout an open call foraudio commissions on the Superslowway,”saysBen Launchedadecade ago, theSuperslowwayis an arts andculture organisationbased in East Lancashire and covering the 25-milestretch of the Leeds&LiverpoolCanal betweenPendleand Blackburn. The aim,saysBen,was to animate spaces alongthe waythrough arts and culture.
SoundartistLucia Scazzocchioresponded to the callout and suggestedsettingupa radio station on abarge.“Ihavehad thisfantasy of puttingaradio station on abarge for along time,” says Lucia, whowas inspired by the businessesoperatingfromboats closetowhere she waslivinginLondon at the time.
Lucia, who setupSocialBroadcastsa decade agowhichcombines communityengagement, radio making andparticipatory artpractice to makesound projects,suggested atemporary weekend broadcastonabarge and, with the
help of Blackburn with Darwen Council –who owneda barge– alongwith RibbleFMand the Superslowway,the ideabecameareality.
“The bargewas refitted andmade into aradio studio and it canbeusedfor podcasts as well. Over three to four months I worked closelywiththe Superslowway to bring it to life andwelaunchedwithanall-day radio show last August,” recalls Lucia.
Sheexplainsdiscussions were held to find outhow theradio bargecould be used for thecommunity andtrainingwas delivered through workshops.They were alsosupported by localrestaurant, Calypso, for their inaugural
broadcast. “I initiated it as asound artist, but it hasnow become a community radio station, whichis fantastic,” says Lucia.
“It’sabout bringing peopletogether but alsoenablingpeople to tell their stories and be heardand having differentwaystodothat.”
Pop-up events also formedpartofthe launch and will featureinthisyear’sprogramme of events acrossthe EastLancashirecanal including Blackburn,Nelson and Burnleyas theorganisationaimstoshowcaselocal talent and amplify the voice of the localcommunity.
“Itisverymuchabout lookingatwhat skills andattributesthe localcommunity has, helpingtoempower thosepeopleto showtheircreativeskills and to shinea light on some of theheritageaswell as bringing back to life areasonthe canalthathavebeen disused,” explainsBen.
Creatingcommunitygardens to brighten up areasare just some examples of other projects theSuperslowwayhas undertaken over the years.
“TheSuperslowwayworks acrossPennine Lancashireand thecanal is what connects the four townsand districts that we work in,” explainsBen.
“Itseemedtomakesensetopromote the canaland if thereisaway of making sound and amplifyingvoices from the community alongthe canalitfits with ourethos.
“Thethingthat is reallyinteresting, and reallyunique,isthe bargecan move and the canalgoesthrough anumberofdifferent communities in Blackburn. Havingthe bargeis helpingtobring thosecommunities together.”
Christened Bill Hunt after the recordbreaking Lancastrianweightlifter,little is known aboutthe barge’shistory,although it is understood to date back to the early Eighties.AccordingtoBlackburn with Darwen Council, it wasinitiallyusedfor the council’s Recreation and Play Services for youth trips and activities.
Bill Hunt’s daughter,Pat Phizacklea, says herfatherwould be ‘thrilled’ thebarge was namedafter him
Patrecalls attendingthe launchofthe radiostation andparticipating in abroadcast abouther late father,who wassomewhat of acelebrityaround Darwen during his weightliftingdays. Amongthe recordsher father held were for grip strength including leverage feat. He wasalsothe worldrecord holder forherculean hand balancingand was an undefeated British Olympic lifter
Patsaysher father also toured the country with his balancingact beforethe Second WorldWar andwas amentorfor many young weightlifters. “Hewould be reallythrilledwith the boat becausehewas always interested in people,” says Pat.
NABO general secretary Peter Braybrook comments on some moretopical issues.
WE ARE in themiddleofa heatwave and theredoesnot appear to be anycloud on thehorizon.This is good in that the waterproofs remain packedawayand the sun hatsand suncream arein full use. However, the lack of rain in the springtime and the continuingdry weather mean that waterlevels in some canals aresolow that they arenot navigable and others areunder lock timingrestrictions to
conserve water. The nature of theserestrictions means that boatingisrestricted to thehours in themiddle of the workingday when the sunand heatare at their highest. Thisisagreat disadvantage to boaterslike me whoabsolutelyadore the earlystartand boating in the cool of the morning. SunriseinJune canbe as earlyas4am andthe balmynightsprovide ideal conditions to make an early start. Oneisthenfrustrated that the lockswillnot be open until 10am. Theyclose at 2or3pm.Wehavetojoin the queue thatformedafter the closurethe daybefore. The advantage is that boats areforcedtoproceed in a one-up,one-down manner, thus ‘sharing’the water from the boat navigatingin the oppositedirection. The leakinggates andby-washes still run24hours aday.
Aquick look at the Better Boatingdashboardreveals some progress toward the targets that the Canal& RiverTrust hasset itself to cleardefects as theyarise
and carryout planned preventativemaintenance
The latter wascarried out on 100% of lockswith more than 450 of them maintainedbyvolunteers. Thereisalsosomeprogress toward clearing the backlog of 140 paddle repairsby spring 2026 although this is slower than anticipated. Thecombination of only one usable paddle and leaky locksismakingitdifficult to make alevel, leadingto the temptation to usethe boat to ‘help’openthem
This method canofcourse hasten thedeterioration of thestructure.This type of ‘boatdamage’ is blamed for abalancebeamfalling in twoonthe OxfordCanal Acasefor preventative maintenance rather than the expenseof‘wait till it breaks’? The trustreports that 26 of this year’s 38 new paddle defects have been fixed,96% of them within four weekswhich is pretty good going. Fallen treesare alsobeingpromptlyremoved and navigation restored in atimely manner.The dashboardsays: “Boating should feel easier foryou,
with ourlocks andswing bridgesbettermaintained andeasiertouse.You should alsosee fewerunplanned stoppagesthatdisrupt your cruising.”Let the trustknow if thisisnot your experience.
Thetalk is that cruising numbersare significantly down again this year with Foxton Lock keepers recording400 fewer boats up to June this year than theywould normally expect. It is evident that many boatersare not out and aboutastheyusually areatthistime of year.That goesfor us as well. We are watchingthe levels on local waterwaysasweare heading north to Birmingham for another Birmingham Canal Navigation Society explorer cruise.Wereallyenjoy cruising in companyand as we getolder,assistance with the lock flights is more and moreappreciated. The hindrances to boating aremanybut thespate of canalfailures continues to worry. TheMacclesfield Canalisparticularly affected. This hadbecome
an importantlinkbetween the northand south as the BridgewaterCanal breach is unlikelytobefixedbefore theend of 2026. Butwhile CRTisrepairingbreaches betweenbridges 26 and27 and belowBosleyBottom Lock,anew sinkhole has appeared on theBosleyflight adjacenttoLock3.Another available routebetween northand south hasbeen blocked by the failureof the Keadbyraildrawbridge whichaccordingtoNetwork Rail apparently cannot be operated at temperatures above21C.TheCanal &River Trust, who assert the priority righttonavigation over rail, cannot do anything about it.Manyboats that were stopped by thefailurehad to takeafour-daydiversion viaGoole andTrent Falls Thereare many who do not favour thetidal RiverTrent butinthese circumstances, moreand moreboaters are relyingonit.
Industrial actioncalled off Following ameeting betweentheir union and the EnvironmentAgency an agreementhas been
reachedwith lock keepers for RiverThames staffing levels and their proposed industrialaction hasbeen calledoff.
June wasa busy month for NABO as we hadtoanswer questionsfromthe CRT Commission on the Future of Boat Licensing following up on oursubmissions earlier in the year and arecentmeeting. The commission is expected to report to the CRTtrustees in September. However, this maybedelayed as the commission sifts through morethan8000 replies to its survey and follows up on suggestions and comments. Well done to everyone who took the requestfor evidence seriouslyand interacted with the commissioners. We saygoodbye and thank you to RichardParry who leaves CRTafter 10 years as chief executive. We wish himwell in hisretirement andhopetosee him in a new capacityatthe helm of aboat. He will have the time to enjoythe fruits of his labours. If youdobecome a boat owner,Richard,you can join us at www.nabo.org.uk
