Towpath Talk May 2025 issue **FREE**

The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users

Issue 235, May 2025

One stop shop for maintenance, repairs & refits

01926 492968

See page 37 for details

www.kateboats.com

88 PAGES Flotilla will take cash message

PRINCESS ROYAL AT LONDON CANAL MUSEUM P7

into the heart of Westminster

NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION P15

CRICK 2025 SPECIAL EDITION SPLASH! P53

SUSTAINABLE BOATING AWARDS 2025 LAUNCH P84

BOATS FOR SALE Starts on

The Fund Britain’s Waterways London-bound armada get ready to leave Keadby in Lincolnshire. The flotilla of craft is expected to grow as more boats join the campaign en route to the capital. PHOTO: DUNCAN WRIGHT

AN ARMADA of boats will arrive in London in May with a simple message to government – “put money into waterways”.

Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) is hoping more boats will join the protest cruise into the capital and drive home the need for more investment in the UK’s rivers and canals.

Hazel Owen, chair of the Association of Waterways Cruising

Clubs and a member of the FBW steering group who will lead the flotilla, said: “The need for greater investment in our waterways has never been clearer.

“This flotilla is not just about boats; it represents the voices of everyone who cares about the future of our canals and rivers. We must show parliament that we are serious about safeguarding these

precious resources.”

The flotilla left Keadby in Lincolnshire on April 1 and progressed upstream, joined by further boats at West Stockwith and Gainsborough.

Campaigners are hoping other boats will join the cruise as it makes its way to the Palace of Westminster, arriving on May 7.

FBW says the flotilla will be

carrying a crucial message: our canals and rivers are both valuable and valued but need adequate funding.

This event is the first of many leading up to the main Campaign Cruise at Westminster. The FBW flotilla will continue its journey drawing attention to the ongoing need for investment and support for Britain’s inland waterways.

Kennet & Avon winter repairs complete Stroudwater Canal on BBC Countryfile Recognition for canal volunteer

P23

THE Canal & River Trust has finished winter repairs on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Maintenance work is done year-round, with major repairs from November to March. Lock gates were replaced at Caen Hill Lock Flight and Wootton Rivers.

Additional repairs were made at Crofton, Copse Lock, Colthrop Lock and Sheffield Lock. An open day at Caen Hill Locks attracted more than 400 visitors. In total, 159 repair sites were planned across England and Wales over the winter.

With over 150 boats for sale online.

ONE of the country’s largest canal restoration projects has featured on BBC Countryfile. Viewers saw the positive impact the Stroudwater Canal project and its volunteers had made on local communities, wildlife and heritage preservation. Six miles of canal have been restored, with another four miles under restoration. The award-winning project has transformed local areas into well-used bluegreen corridors. Cotswold Canals Connected Project Team helped BBC Countryfile plan the episode.

A Northamptonshire canal volunteer received recognition in the Heritage Heroes Awards for celebrating the UK’s canal heritage. Kathryn Dodington, a volunteer with Canal & River Trust since 2014, was a runner up in the Lifetime Achievement category. She has volunteered in various roles at Stoke Bruerne, home to the country’s first canal museum. Kathryn has contributed to various activities and events related to the canals. Full story and picture on page 5.

R

T TO SELL YO N U A W

F I N D F I N D

C H O I C E , T H E O N E .

NARROWBOAT? CASH SALE Instant funds in your bank account

Let’s go

aquavista.com/boat-sales

BROKERAGE FROM 5%+VAT (Minimum charge applies)

Call today

PART EXCHANGE Your boat with one from our marinas

FOR YOUR FREE VALUATION

Northamptonshire

Cheshire

01327 842577

01270 528251

Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 2NH

Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6DD

www.whiltonmarina.co.uk

www.venetianmarina.co.uk

2

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Mon & Brec could still run dry despite emergency measures

Welcome to the May edition of Towpath Talk

As spring breathes new life into the towpaths, this month’s edition of Towpath Talk brings both celebration and concern for our cherished waterways.

In Wales, the much-loved Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal has been thrown into crisis.

The long-term future remains uncertain, and the call for sustainable government-backed solutions has never been louder.

Meanwhile, a very visible protest is making its way from Lincolnshire to London. The Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla is heading to Westminster, rallying support and demanding urgent investment in the entire inland network. More than a demonstration of boats, it’s a moving symbol of unity – a flotilla carrying the hopes and voices of boaters, walkers, nature lovers and communities who rely on these historic routes.

Our message this month is clear: our waterways matter. They need care, investment and long-term vision – before temporary fixes become permanent failures.

Despite that, there’s plenty to celebrate this month on our news and feature pages.

Enjoy the edition!

Dan

Editor Dan Clare tteditorial@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Group advertising manager Sue Keily skeily@mortons.co.uk Advertising sales Emma Hansom – 01507 529453 ehansom@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Chris Abrams Production editor Pauline Hawkins Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Contact us Customer services 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: MondayFriday 8.30am-5pm help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466/01507 529451 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Published by Kelsey Media Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent ME18 6AL Printed by Mortons Print Ltd Tel. 01507 523456 Next issue –Thursday, May 22

KELSEYmedia Conditions:Editorial is accepted subject to availability of space,and editorial policy on content and insertion cannot be guaranteed.The publisher retains the right to edit material submitted. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy through accurate and clear copy, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions.

Independently proven pick up: 34,450 copies

THE Canal & River Trust in Wales, Glandŵr Cymru, has secured an emergency short-term supply of water from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) for the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

But it says there may not be enough water to keep the canal open for boaters during the coming months.

In its website Boaters’ Update, the canal charity said: “We’re calling on urgent support to help secure the future of the Mon & Brec, after legislation came into force that severely restricts the supply of water that feeds the canal.

“For 225 years the principal feed of water to the Mon & Brec has been from the nearby River Usk. But the changes in legislation, brought in to provide protection for the environment around the Usk, now place strict limitations on the water that can be drawn from it. This makes real the unthinkable prospect that the canal could run dry when river levels fall.

“Clearly, ensuring the canal has enough water is essential for boaters and also to sustain the numerous boating and other tourism jobs in South Wales that rely on it. The canal is an important destination that brings millions of visitors and millions of pounds into the local area. The prospect of it running dry for periods whenever river levels drop would also be disastrous for its wildlife, which after 225 years forms an important ecosystem in its own right.”

The trust has acted to stave off the prospect that the canal could run dry in the coming days, after restrictions to its historic water supply from the River Usk came into force at the end of last year, exacerbated by the unseasonably dry start to 2025.

The impact of the limited water supply on the canal is already being felt with water levels along its 35-mile length dropping dramatically in recent days and the prospect of this worsening considerably in the days ahead.

CRT said on its website: “Unbelievably for March, we have already had to begin limiting

Emergency measures have been implemented to prevent the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal running dry. PHOTO: SUPPLIED the water that we draw from the River Usk. We’re acutely aware of the possible impact on boaters and businesses that depend on the canal.”

Glandŵr Cymru has been in urgent talks to secure a temporary solution to safeguard the much-loved canal while a sustainable longterm solution is sought with the help of the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and DCWW. As an emergency measure the canal charity has diverted money away from planned maintenance and repairs to secure a ‘stop gap’ water supply.

If the canal were to dry out, the effects on the historic structure and thriving ecology could be catastrophic, and jobs and tourism in south Wales irreparably impacted.

Mark Evans, regional director of Glandŵr Cymru, said: “The emergency short-term supply of water we’ve secured is vital to ensure that the integrity of the canal itself and all that it supports isn’t lost. Our charity is uncertain how long this stop-gap measure can last – it depends on rainfall and other factors – but it will help secure the canal for the coming weeks.

“Buying water at commercial prices is not a sustainable solution to the situation created by the new legislation, nor is our charity in a

position to fund capital costs for additional infrastructure work.”

Finding funds for this water to be pumped into the canal will have consequences for the charity’s programme of maintenance, introducing risk across the canal network.

Richard Parry, Canal & River Trust chief executive, added: “It isn’t sustainable for a charity to shoulder the full financial burden of this new legislative requirement. The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal has never before faced such restrictions to its water supply or had to pay for the water it needs to stay open for the public to enjoy and for the nature that depends upon it to thrive.

“While this ‘sticking plaster’ solution buys us some time it is unfortunately short-term only. The pressure remains to urgently find a viable long-term solution for the canal. We will continue to call on the Welsh government to help secure a more sustainable future for this beautiful canal that brings so much to the area. We also welcome the prospect of an informed debate in the Senedd, following the highly successful petition that has quickly passed the threshold of signatories needed, showing the strength of public support for the canal and want to thank everyone who has signed it.”

Northern Canals Association looks to a busy year ahead THE NORTHERN Canals Association looked to the future and the past at its recent meeting.

The association heard about various restoration projects ongoing and planned in the region, including a new bridge and trip boat.

The meeting was held at Langley Mill, in the Amber Valley, Derbyshire, where 57 members heard about the history of the Cromford Canal from Dave Ratner, a trustee of the trip boat Birdswood, and then saw various improvements on the River Erewash.

Mr Ratner spoke about the restoration of the Cromford Canal.

Opened in 1794 and joining with the Erewash and Nottingham Canals at Great Northern Basin, Langley Mill, the 14.5-mile-long canal rose by 14 locks to the summit at Ironville with a further 2.25-mile branch to Pinxton, Notts. Beyond this and the 1.75-mile Butterley Tunnel, a further 13.5 level miles takes the canal through the lovely Derwent Valley into the southern Peak District of Derbyshire.

A huge collapse of the Butterley Tunnel in 1900 effectively split the canal in two, leaving only the southern section open to through traffic. Despite a minor revival in trading from 1939-45 the canal was eventually abandoned in 1969. Early restoration during the 1970s and 1980s was focused on the northern, scenic section from Cromford to Ambergate.

With the 1938-built ex-butty Birdswood now converted to electric, running between Cromford Wharf, site of the Weighbridge Shop, and Leawood Pumphouse/High Peak Junction, 70,000 passengers have been carried since 2013. Restoration and maintenance continues on both ‘halves’ of the canal amounting to 3903 working party volunteer hours in 2024.

Later the visitors enjoyed a Walk Through Time with David Martin, pausing at the various landmark restorations over the decades, from the first lock to the latest extension, awaiting permission from CRT for a bridge to the boatyard.

Members of the Northern Canals Association visit the Beggarlee on the Erewash in Derbyshire extension during their March meeting.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Next, Chris Broome led a visit to the land drainage and flood storage compensation scheme currently nearing completion beyond the site of the proposed new staircase locks.

Necessitated by the proximity of the River Erewash to the canal and the undesirability of yet more flood water making its way, unimpeded, down to the Erewash/Trent/Soar River confluence, so often in the news for flooding already, 2000 cubic metres of water need to be accommodated here. Impressive mounds of earth

and drainage outfalls currently mark the spot but will, in time, blend in with new surroundings. Fortunately for everyone, the promised rain held off and conditions under foot remained largely bearable.

For the NCA Ivan Cane announced that applications to host the Wilderness Boat Club AGMs up to 2028 had been received, however, the WBOC was more than happy to provide craft for smaller events where boats would help to enhance an event.

3

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Lancaster Canal reopens to boats after £1.6m breach repair THE CANAL & River Trust has reopened the Lancaster Canal to boaters following a £1.6 million project to repair a breach at Hollowforth Aqueduct.

The canal at the Grade II-Listed aqueduct at Woodplumpton breached in July last year, causing extensive damage where parts of the embankment, towpath and sections of aqueduct wingwall washed away.

The trust’s project team created a plan to rebuild the embankment, reinstate the canal towpath and the footpath underneath the aqueduct, and sensitively repair and restore the aqueduct, using original archive drawings to replace all the masonry in its original position.

The complex repair works, which cost the charity £1.6 million, have included several measures, such as a land drain and bentonite clay liner

on the canal bed, to prevent a breach in the future.

Jon Horsfall, North West director at Canal & River Trust, which cares for 2000 miles of historic canals across England and Wales, said: “We’ve been working hard on site since last summer to repair the breach and get the canal back open for boaters and towpath users as quickly as possible. Hollowforth Aqueduct is a piece of living heritage, and we’ve taken care to protect its historical aspects while repairing the damage to make it safe for the future.

“We’ve kept boaters at the forefront of our thinking as we’ve carried out these works, creating an unusual three-sided dam to allow boaters to navigate across the aqueduct before the navigation was closed for the repairs to get under way.

“Thankfully, all that hard work has paid off, the

complex repairs have been completed, new measures have been put in place to prevent a breach in the future and navigation has now reopened for boaters.”

The repair has been particularly challenging for engineers as the breach was located away from local roads

and required a temporary track to be built to the aqueduct, and along the bed of the drained canal, so that materials could be brought to site. The temporary access ramp, stone used for canal access and 100 tonnes of waste material, along with two porta dams, have now

been removed and navigation has reopened to boaters.

Renowned civil engineer John Rennie designed Hollowforth Aqueduct, using an ingenious engineering solution of three barrelshaped stone pipes, to carry the Lancaster Canal over New Mill Brook in the 1790s. John

Engineers working on the Lancaster Canal repairs after it was breached last year.

The waterway has now reopened to boaters after the £1.6m works programme.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Rennie later went on to design the iconic Lune Aqueduct, near Lancaster, and also the Caen Hill Lock Flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, one of the seven wonders of the waterways.

Mr Horsfall added: “The Lancaster Canal, which is extremely popular with boaters, walkers and cyclists, is more than 200 years old but, like so much of our historic canal network, it has endured centuries of use and been battered by the elements, which have taken their toll on one of the country’s few coastal canals.

The breach and costly repairs demonstrate the scale of the challenge our charity faces in keeping canals alive.

“We would like to thank everyone, especially boaters and the local community, for their patience and support while these complex works have been carried out.”

TV star aligns with Saturn at historic waterway festival A TV STAR will be the celebrity auctioneer at a weekend waterway celebration at the National Waterways Museum over Easter weekend.

Simon O’Brien, award-winning TV presenter and former Brookside actor,

will do the auctioneering on the Sunday of the four-day festival at Ellesmere Port from April 18-21.

On display will be the horsedrawn boat Saturn, the last-surviving Shropshire Union Flyboat, at

The historic flyboat Saturn and the mare Flower will be at the Easter Historic Boat Gathering Festival at the National Waterways Museum. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

the annual Easter Historic Boat Gathering Festival over the bank holiday weekend.

Hosted by the Canal & River Trust charity, the four-day festival offers visitors the opportunity to get up close to fascinating old working boats as well as modern narrowboats and enjoy a fantastic range of waterwaythemed activities and music.

Chris Done, visitor services manager with the Canal & River Trust, said: “The 2025 Easter Historic Boat Gathering promises to be a fantastic celebration of our wonderful canal heritage.

“This year we’re delighted to welcome the Ellesmere Port Mayor Coun Paul Donovan and TV celebrity Simon O’Brien to our special annual gathering of boat enthusiasts. It’s wonderful that the mayor has chosen the museum to be one of his chosen charities this year. We’re very grateful for his support.

“The mare Flower, who towed the Saturn flyboat for the first time last year, was a real hit with the crowds and we are thrilled to welcome her back again to give visitors a rare insight into the lost world of horsedrawn canal boating.

“For families, there is a special children’s trail, activities and a boatthemed playground.

“We hope this spectacular waterway festival will be the launch of a fabulous summer season for everyone.”

On Good Friday, Coun Paul Donovan will be at the museum from noon onwards to greet the arrival of the traditional Easter boat convoy, cruising from Chester to Ellesmere Port along the Shropshire Union Canal, featuring more than 40 historic boats, including Saturn pulled by nine-year-old Flower.

Simon O’Brien will be the celebrity auctioneer at a special auction of privately donated canal artefacts,

B U Y A N D S E L L W I T H O U T T H E H A S S L E Why buy from us?

Why sell with us?

New boats come on sale weekly

Free valuation

We’ll help find a mooring at one of our 29 marinas

We get your boat on sale quickly

2 months free RCR membership

Fast-sell marketing exposure

A range of training options including discounted Helmsman courses

Benefit from our network of 29 marinas and thousands of boaters looking to buy

organised by the Shropshire Union Fly-boat Restoration Society at 2pm on Easter Sunday to raise money for Saturn.

Over the four-day festival, the National Waterways Museum site, located at the junction of the Manchester Ship Canal and the Shropshire Union Canal, will host a wide range of special attractions, from craft workshops and children’s activities to lock demonstrations and steam engines working in the Power Hall.

From May to September, visitors can enjoy a range of special events.

The Canal & River Trust would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in volunteering at the museum.

For more information about visiting and to book discounted tickets, visit the museum website www.canalrivertrust. org.uk/places-to-visit/ national-waterways-museum

Let’s start your journey today.

Call 01159 077 406 or email boatsales@aquavista.com. To find out more, visit aquavista.com.

4

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

School students tackle climate change and flooding head on Students from two East Midlands schools tackled climate change and the dramatic effect it can have on waterways head on during a recent journalism workshop at the University of Lincoln. The group, from Cleethorpes Academy and John Spendluffe Technology College in Alford, Lincolnshire, created a story package on flooding which included a video, podcast, digital story and social media. Here is their story…

Flooding is occurring so often in Lincoln that dedicated volunteers are now needed to help with clean-ups, the Canal & River Trust has said.

People are being sought to offer a hand with clearing debris, rubbish and silt each time the city’s Brayford Pool overtops.

It comes after torrential rain in January led to flooding that saw underpasses filled with water, walkways turned into rivers and roads become fords.

Stephen Hardy, communications manager with the trust, said: “We need volunteers. When the flood waters subside, they leave behind a lot of debris, a lot of rubbish, a lot of silt on towpaths and that’s not safe for people to enjoy the waterway.”

He also said that flooding across the UK had cost the trust £10 million more than it had budgeted for last year.

The Brayford itself has flooded five times in just 12 years with some experts suggesting large swathes of lower Lincoln could

even be underwater by 2050.

Andrew Armstrong, a technical specialist at the university who lives on a houseboat, said the flooding had become worse in the three years he had lived on the water.

He said of January’s flood: “Unless I took my socks and shoes off and rolled my trousers up, I wouldn’t have been able to get to work.

“The harbour master came with planks of wood and made a bridge for me.”

Jack Mooney, vice-president of the University of Lincoln Rowing Club, said: “Water rises and gets inside the boat club. It’s a nightmare.”

He added: “Last year two to three months of training was called off and training time went out the window.”

To read the story, watch the video and listen to the podcast, please click here: www.lsjnews. co.uk/calls-for-volunteers-aslincolns-flood-crisis-grows

Right: School students interviewing Stephen Hardy, communications manager with the Canal & River Trust. The trust has called for more volunteers to assist with cleaning up after flooding incidents. PHOTO: CALLUM EVANS Below: The Canal & River Trust has called for more volunteers to assist with cleaning up after flooding incidents. PHOTO: CALLUM EVANS

Canalside project needs £5000 to restore Lincolnshire canal history

Lincoln’s Brayford Pool, which has suffered flooding in recent years. PHOTO: CALLUM EVANS

School students interviewing Jack Mooney, vice-president of the University of Lincoln Rowing Club, which has been unable to train because of flooding on the city’s rivers in recent months. PHOTO: CALLUM EVANS

THE GRANTHAM Canal Society is asking for the public’s help as it bids to restore the historic Canal Wharf and Weigh House at Muston Gorse, near Bottesford in Lincolnshire.

The building is derelict and needs full renovation.

So far, a Crowdfunder has raised £735. The society aims to restore the structure, creating a vibrant visitor attraction for the community, history lovers and canal walkers alike. The society plans to use volunteers to do the work but hopes fundraising will provide the historic building materials needed.

In addition, the group plans to erect a sculpture depicting the original wharf crane.

The Duke of Rutland’s Grantham Canal Wharf, located at Muston Gorse

near Bottesford, was accurate accounting for efficiency of transporting historically connected to various commodities, goods to Belvoir Castle, Belvoir Castle via one of including coal, fertilisers, reducing costs and England’s earliest horse- building materials and improving accessibility to essential supplies drawn railways, established agricultural products. in 1815 by the Butterley The establishment of beyond coal. If you can Ironworks Company. the Grantham Canal and help, please go to: www.

While coal was a primary its associated tramway crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ commodity transported significantly enhanced the gcsweigh-house to the castle, the tramway also carried other essential supplies. The Grantham Canal played a significant role in regional trade, bringing in materials such as fertiliser (notably night soil from Nottingham) and building materials.

Additionally, the canal facilitated the movement of agricultural products, including ground corn, rolled oats and malt for local beer production.

At Muston Gorse Wharf, a weighbridge The Canal Wharf and Weigh House at Muston was installed to measure Gorse, near Bottesford in Lincolnshire. The the weight of goods Grantham Canal Society is hoping to restore being transported. This the historic building and has set a £5000 target. infrastructure ensured PHOTO: SUPPLIED

5

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Rare ‘puffer’ saved by £234,000 grant

A RARE Clyde puffer boat which is on the National Historic Ships Fleet Register has been saved from ruin – but is still short of its cash target.

The Canal & River Trust is hoping the public will help fund the remaining £20,000 needed to rescue and preserve the vessel at the trust’s National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port.

The 66ft canal boat, whose classification as a ‘puffer’ derives from the puffing sound made by her steam engine, was built in Glasgow in 1902. Named Basuto, the boat is on the National Historic Ships Fleet Register, of similar importance to the Cutty Sark, HMS Victory and SS Great Britain.

Steve Bagley, manager of the trust’s National Collections, said: “We are very grateful to National Heritage Memorial Fund for making this grant, which will help preserve this important boat for the nation.

“Basuto is the oldest known surviving inland ‘puffer’ and has had a fascinating life, starting out on the Forth & Clyde Canal carrying pig iron, then moving to Ireland, back to Scotland, down to Liverpool, over to Widnes, then Manchester Docks, before travelling to Ellesmere Port in 1981.

“Originally built to ensure canal transport could compete with railways, Basuto has been modified several times, served through two world wars and worked as a valued

cargo vessel on many of Britain and Ireland’s larger inland waterways for nearly 80 years. She takes her name from Basutoland in Lesotho, a landlocked country in South Africa, which was once part of the British Empire. She is unique and her personal historical journey gives us a valuable window into our nation’s history – a story which we will be telling the public as part of new interpretation displays to accompany her rescue.”

Basuto has been moored in one of the museum’s basins for more than 40 years and the trust has secured the grant to ensure that vital maintenance is undertaken to secure the rare boat for future generations.

The £254,000 project involves carefully craning the boat out of the water on to the museum slipway and her new, permanent home, resting on a metal support frame. The

exterior will be carefully cleaned, before the frame, deck, wheelhouse and hold covers are repaired and repainted to make her watertight against the weather, as part of a longterm conservation plan.

The trust is hoping to raise the remaining £20,000 of project costs with a special crowdfunding appeal launched in April.

The National Heritage Memorial Fund was set up in 1980 and supports the acquisition, preservation and maintenance of the UK’s most outstanding heritage.

Simon Thurley, chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said: “As the oldest known surviving inland ‘puffer’, Basuto’s story takes us on a fascinating 80-year journey on the UK’s waterways. We are delighted that it will find a new home on a slipway at the National Waterways Museum.

“The National Heritage Memorial Fund exists

to save the UK’s most outstanding heritage and make it publicly accessible, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. We are delighted to count Basuto as part of the growing and timeless collection of UK heritage that belongs to all of us.”

The plan is to lift Basuto out of the water in late spring and complete the repairs, preservation and conservation works by the end of this year, in time for the boat to be the centrepiece of celebrations to mark the museum’s 50th anniversary in 2026.

Known locally as the Boat Museum, the National Waterways Museum site is located at the junction of the Manchester Ship Canal and the Shropshire Union Canal. It displays a fascinating collection of historic boats, waterways artefacts and steam-driven machinery, as well as telling the story of Britain’s canals.

The Basuto, a rare Glasgow puffer boat, will be preserved thanks to a £234,000 grant. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The toilet fluid with staying power...

Keep safe with Elsan To find your nearest Elsan supplier visit www.elsan.co.uk

Volunteer recognised for role in celebrating Northamptonshire’s canal heritage A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE canal volunteer is celebrating after receiving recognition in the Heritage Heroes Awards, organised by the Heritage Alliance.

Kathryn Dodington, who has volunteered with national charity Canal & River Trust since 2014, has been selected Kathryn Dodington, who as a runner-up in the Lifetime has received recognition Achievement category of the in the Heritage Heroes awards, which recognise the Awards, organised by invaluable role that volunteers the Heritage Alliance, for play in protecting and her work with the canals over the last 11 years. celebrating the UK’s heritage.

Kathryn, who has a long family PHOTO: SUPPLIED history on the canals, has held several volunteer roles with the trust based around the historic canalside village of Stoke Bruerne – home to the country’s first canal museum. Not only has she volunteered with historic boat Sculptor which is moored outside the museum, but Kathryn has also helped to research and develop interpretation panels, delivered hundreds of historic walks and talks with groups, run ‘pop up museums’ and family activities on the towpath and played a leading role on public events such as Village at War, craft and heritage days, floating markets and illuminated boat parades.

Speaking about the award, Kathryn said: “Volunteering has been a very important part of my life and I’m very grateful to be recognised in this way. The inland waterways have always fired my imagination, especially the history of them, and I hope others will be inspired to help protect them for future generations.

“Two people who are in the forefront of my memories, and who did so much to teach me about the history of our inland waterways, are the late David Blagrove and my very good friend, Lorna York. Their words always ring in my ears: ‘You have to search down a number of rabbit holes to get the real and accurate story.’ How right they were and are.”

Linny Beaumont, regional director for Canal & River Trust in the East Midlands, said: “We’re delighted that Kathryn has received this recognition, which is so richly deserved for the incredible contribution she plays on the nation’s historic waterways.

“As a charity it’s our job to keep our historic canals alive and Kathryn certainly does that, helping to celebrate the canals’ colourful history and bring their stories to new audiences. It’s a privilege to work with Kathryn and we’d like to congratulate her for this recognition.”

Now in their 15th year, the Heritage Heroes Awards aim to celebrate the exceptional contributions of volunteers in the UK heritage sector. The awards are run by the Heritage Alliance, thanks to the generous support of Ecclesiastical Insurance.

6

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Toxic leak: canal recovery work cost hits £500,000

THE COST of essential remedial work to the Walsall Canal after it was poisoned by 4000 litres of highly toxic sodium cyanide and zinc cyanide has reached £500,000.

The Canal & River Trust revealed it has diverted funds to manage the aftermath of the leak and added there was no date for the reopening of the canal to boaters.

Anochrome Ltd was identified as the source of the spill of 4000 litres of sodium cyanide into the water north of Ocker Hill to the Wyrley and Essington Canal in August last year.

The company, which offers specialist surface coatings and describes itself on its website as an “environmentally aware organisation”, is under investigation by the Environment Agency to establish the cause of the spill.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We are undertaking a thorough investigation into the serious chemical spill incident in Walsall and our enquiries are proceeding. Pollution of this kind is unacceptable and the impact on wildlife and the environment can be severe.

“We are unable to provide further comment in case it prejudices any future legal proceedings.”

Meanwhile, the Canal & River Trust has begun removing contaminated silt from the canal in a major dredging operation. This is a crucial step in the canal’s ecological recovery, required by the An engineer tests the water from the Walsall Canal as recovery efforts Environment continue on the waterway. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Agency, and a major step towards reopening the “We’re delighted that dredging of the foundation of the canal’s waterway to boats. the Walsall Canal starts this week; ecosystem.

This marks a significant this is a major milestone in the “So far, we have spent around milestone in the recovery of the canal’s recovery. half a million pounds of charitable canal. Around one mile of the “The awful spillage of cyanide funds, covering costs such as staff canal in the Pleck area of Walsall into the community’s wonderful time, dam installation, materials, has had to remain closed for boats and historic canal has left this contractors, and lab testing. This is a for the last eight months. section ecologically devastated, huge resource that has been diverted Henriette Breukelaar, regional wiping out wildlife, including from other essential activity to keep director, Canal & River Trust, said: the microorganisms that form the region’s canals open and safe.”

Emergency repairs mean Britain’s longest canal lock flight stays closed

TOWPATH

TALK

URGENT repairs to the longest canal lock flight in Britain will keep the locks closed until August.

The Canal & River Trust is undertaking urgent works, costing £500,000, to Tardebigge Top Lock on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal after investigations revealed that the 200-year-old lock wall is in need of restoration. The work is vital to keep the flight open and available for boats.

Engineers from the charity had

GUARANTEE DELIVERY From just £22

TEL: 01507 529529 QUOTING: TPT02

hoped to carry out the heritage repairs alongside other planned maintenance work on the lock flight this winter. Unfortunately, thorough investigations show that the work can’t wait, and an extensive and costly repair is required immediately. The problem was initially highlighted by boaters who were having trouble navigating the lock. This type of feedback plays a valuable part in supporting the trust’s rolling inspection programme.

The trust is working closely with the Bromsgrove and Redditch Council conservation team to agree the scope of the restoration work. The trust expects to invest more than £500,000 in these necessary works.

Henriette Breukelaar, West Midlands’ regional director at Canal & River Trust, said: “Tardebigge Locks is loved and much used by boaters and walkers alike. I appreciate that many people will be very disappointed that we have had to close the site during the summer months. Our charity

will undertake the necessary works to a very high standard and in line with the heritage considerations of this Grade II-listed site. Please be assured that completing the works and reopening the canal and the towpath as soon as possible is our absolute priority.

“This illustrates some of the challenges we face in maintaining this amazing working heritage: a 2000-mile network of canals that are open to the elements and vulnerable to a changing climate.

We’re out every day working to keep the canals open for navigation and the thousands of centuries-old locks, bridges and tunnels safe and in good working order. All this comes at a cost, and we welcome people’s support, through donating, volunteering, or spreading the word about our charity, to help us keep canals alive for years to come.”

The charity is stabilising the bricklock wall. The lock is a heritage listed asset, and the works will be done with the utmost care, dismantling the minimum number of historic bricks. Once the necessary Listed Building Consent is in place, the

structure will be expertly rebuilt reusing as many bricks as possible.

The navigation will remain closed until the repair work is completed.

The trust will provide regular updates on progress on its website.

The exact timeline of the works will not be known until the wall has been dismantled and full investigations completed. Indicatively, the trust expects the flight to remain closed until the end of August. Ascending the flight, the last winding hole is above Lock 23: boats will not be able to turn around beyond this point.

The towpath will also be closed with a diversion in place using local footpaths.

Tardebigge has 30 locks carrying narrowboats 220ft uphill and downhill over two-and-a-quarter miles. The top lock is particularly deep because it was the site of an experimental vertical boat lift before it was replaced with a conventional lock. Opened in 1815, the canal was dug out by hand for the transportation of porcelain pots and Cadbury’s chocolate, and is now popular with leisure boats, cutting into the heart of Birmingham at Gas Street Basin.

Local people are also being invited to get involved with caring for the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, including at Tardebigge.

The trust is looking for conservator

A major pollution incident was declared at the time and, while the towpath has since reopened, the canal has remained closed to boats and devoid of wildlife.

A Crowdfunder launched by CRT raised £25,000 and will help with the recovery of the area.

“We are grateful for the support of our partners and the generosity of the public, particularly those who contributed to the Crowdfunder. This will help ensure the canal remains a vital part of the local community and, hopefully soon, can fully reopen,” said Henriette.

“We understand the closure has been frustrating for boaters and the local community, and we hope the dredging will move us closer to reopening the canal. We will continue to provide updates.

Our priority remains the safety and restoration of this important waterway, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while we carry out this critical work.”

The dredging is expected to take several weeks, after which the sediment and water will be tested once again. The test results will determine if further steps are needed and when the canal can reopen. volunteers to help the charity clear weeds, reeds and overgrown bushes along the region’s towpaths and locks, making a huge difference while learning more about the canal. More information here: www. volunteer.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Part of the emergency £500,000 Worcester canal repairs.

7

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

HRH The Princess Royal, patron of the London Canal Museum, with Martin Sach, chair of the London Canal Museum on the quay outside the museum, standing next to the narrowboat Long Tom, which the museum co-owns with the Angel Community Canal Boat Trust and uses for trips along the Regent’s Canal.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

London Canal Museum’s right royal recipe for success

HRH The Princess Royal visited the London Canal Museum where she saw first hand the work of volunteers and the exhibits on show.

The museum, located near King’s Cross, is devoted to the history of London’s canals and Princess Anne is its patron.

During the visit, the princess met front of house volunteers and other

Marina hosts MP visit

WHITE Mills Marina at Earls Barton was delighted to welcome local MP Stuart Andrew who visited the family run business as part of a constituency factfinding tour.

Of course, no official visit would be complete without a ribbon-cutting ceremony, so White Mills arranged for Stuart to officially mark the start of the Marina’s Phase 3 development by doing the honours and cutting a ribbon.

Once complete, Phase 3 will see the creation of a dedicated boaters’ community hub that will include new showers and toilets as well as a reception area overlooking the marina where boaters can socialise and relax.

Reflecting on his weekend visit to the Northamptonshire marina, Stuart said: “It was a real pleasure to visit White Mills and see how busy the boathouse cafe was with lots of people enjoying the sunshine. The improvements currently being carried out to the communal spaces at the marina will ensure it continues to benefit visitors for years to come.”

Marina manager Georgina Wickham said: ”It was lovely of Stuart to come and visit. It was clear he was genuinely interested in finding out more about small, family run, rural businesses like White Mills.

Hopefully he will come and see us again once the extension is completed.”

helpers who demonstrated Victorian cooking and ice cream making.

Princess Anne asks a question at an ice cream making demonstration hosted by London Canal Museum volunteer Mandy, in period dress as Mrs Agnes B Marshall, a Victorian celebrity chef and entrepreneur. PHOTO:

From left are marina manager Georgina Wickham, Rt Hon Stuart Andrew and Ben Skinner (director).

SUPPLIED

Work continues apace on Montgomery Canal restoration VOLUNTEERS from the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) are inching the Crickheath section of the Montgomery Canal closer to Schoolhouse Bridge.

During a recent work party, volunteers laid 3500 blocks to line the canal, completing 135 metres towards the bridge.

Their work was approved by Jason Leach, head of external programme delivery at Canal & River Trust, who performed a health and safety audit, declared the performance as “impressive” and commented favourably on volunteer engagement and site tidiness.

SUCS restoration project manager Tom Fulda said: “This next section,

WIN

the final part of Phase 1B, takes us a further 135 metres towards the Schoolhouse Bridge. Once complete, the remainder of the works will be undertaken from the Schoolhouse Bridge end of the site, and we shall relocate to a compound by the bridge later in the year.

“More than 3500 blocks were used, each laid by hand. Blocks finish just below water level and admittedly the banks above water level still require completion, but nevertheless this is a work party record length, certainly for the current project and possibly the greatest of all time.”

Elsewhere, and after a long wait for suitable weather conditions, the

haul road alongside the re-watered section completed last year was removed and the site restored to its original condition. Although still bare, these re-watered sections no longer look like a building site and

will green up rapidly over summer.

The banks will be reseeded in the next few weeks with a blend of local native grasses and wildflowers.

The society’s current restoration programme, which began in 2023,

aims to complete the Crickheath South section and bring a linking-up of the canal from the Llangollen Canal to Welshpool.

The SUCS is always looking for new volunteers and members. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should see shropshireunion.org.uk/ work-party-schedule for details of dates and contacts.

Volunteers from the Shropshire Union Canal Society hard at work laying blocks to line the Montgomery Canal near Schoolhouse Bridge. The restoration is part of a longterm project to link up the canal with Welshpool. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A GO WINDLASS RATCHET WINDLASS & LUXURY LEATHER HOLSTER TO ENTER Win a GO Windlass Ratchet Windlasses AND a Luxury Leather (GOHolster) shoulder holster of your choice.

GO Leather Holsters are UK hand made with luxury leather, glued, stitched with polished chrome studs fittings. The windlasses with polycarbonate revolving handles normally retail at £94.99 and the new and fittings. leather shoulder holsters at £46 inc p&p. These are pump-action windlasses that allow boaters to raise lock paddles at the most optimal angle and stance for the boater and the layout of the lock at hand. The GO Windlass also has a fixed socket for the controlled lowering of lock paddles while allowing smaller circular movements for the shoulder.

Alternatively grab a DISCOUNTED bargain windlass and holster at the GOWindlass Crick Boat Show Stand Sat 24-26 May in the Waterways World Marquee.

WORTH OVER £94

Windlasses and *ALL New Leather Holsters* are available now at www.gowindlass.co.uk

Full T&Cs apply. Competition closes at 23:59pm on June 24, 2025. There are no cash alternatives available. The winner will be the first name drawn at random. Winners will be contacted via an official Mortons email. We never ask for bank details. Terms and conditions apply. To view the privacy policy of MMG Ltd (publisher of Towpath Talk) please visit www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

1. Head over to www.towpathtalk.co.uk website 2. Click the win tab 3. Click on the competition and fill in the form 4. Sit back, relax and wait!

8

May 2025

BCN clean-up

THE annual BCN clean-up took place around the Old Main Line Canal in Tipton, West Midlands on March 15-16. This was the first time this group had cleaned this section of the canal for decades.

The group welcomed back many volunteers who hadn’t attended in a few years, upping the numbers of volunteers to more than 55 from all over the UK. The teams were ably assisted by the volunteers of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society who supplied the vital workboats to remove the debris once it had been pulled out of the canal.

Organiser Chris Morgan, from Caerphilly in South Wales, was pleased with the two days’ work and thanked everyone for their support.

“Over 20 tons of debris

was removed from the canal, including safes, bikes, mattresses, pushchairs, traffic safety equipment, rolls of barbed wire, many types of tyre, one of which was claimed to be the biggest the volunteers had ever pulled out in 25 years of this event taking place.

It is sad to see the amount of plastic that comes out with each pull.”

The team would like to thank the Canal & River Trust and its crews on their workboat for their valuable help and assistance with supplying work gloves and tooling for the volunteers. For the 10th year in a row the volunteers stayed overnight at the Malthouse Stables Activity Centre owned

by Sandwell Council, which has always supported this event.

Sustainable Boating Awards IWA and Towpath Talk are pleased to announce that their Sustainable Boating Awards will be awarded again in 2025. There will again be two categories, Commercial and Non-commercial, and nominations should be submitted to IWATTSustainable.Awards@ waterways.org.uk by the end of July. Last year’s winners, Mothership Marine in the Commercial category and Kay and Paul Sumpner in the Non-commercial, will not be eligible unless nominated for a different, or significantly enhanced, achievement.

The winners will be announced and awards presented

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

at the IWA AGM. The date and venue for this are yet to be announced but it is usually the last Saturday in September.

Guidance to nominators: Last year’s nominations included some which were rejected by the judges as, although interesting, were ideas rather than achievements.

Others were rejected as being, in the opinion of the judges, exaggerated in their claims. Nominators are requested to avoid these traits. Also, last year’s nominations had a heavy technical/electrical bias so, given the number of diesel engined boats likely to be around for many years, nominations for promoting the more environmentally friendly use of such boats, including the use of HVO, would be particularly welcome.

Lichfield offside vegetation volunteers complete another season Volunteers from the Lichfield Branch have just completed their seventh consecutive winter dealing with the encroaching offside vegetation. Back in October 2017 they began the joint IWA/ CRT operation, and each winter they work from a 45ft workboat,

coupled with a 60ft ‘hopper’ boat accommodating a large wood chipper, and using a variety of tools and implements including the long reach pole chainsaws and hedge trimmers.

The operation can only run from October until the end of February to

minimise the disruption to nesting wildlife. To cover more miles within this limited timeframe, their remit is to concentrate on any protruding vegetation that compromises navigation such as on bends; bridge approaches; narrow sections; and opposite popular mooring spots.

IWA Canalway Cavalcade 2025

More than 55 volunteers from all over the UK helped out at the annual BCN clean-up, which took place around the Old Main Line Canal in Tipton, West Midlands in March. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice on May 3, 2025 for the full Early May Bank Holiday weekend. Each year IWA celebrates the best of life on the waterways in London and its community at IWA Canalway Cavalcade.

Boat bookings are now full with a waiting list to fill any cancellations. Please contact Mike Moore on mike. moore@waterways.org.uk or 07545 546865 for boat booking enquiries.

There’s something for everyone at IWA Canalway Cavalcade, a vibrant canal festival in the heart of London’s waterways. Whether visiting by boat or on foot, it’s a splendid day out for you and your family. Soak up the atmosphere surrounded by colourful craft of all shapes and sizes, alongside a multitude of unique stalls, an onsite bar and delicious foods for all appetites.

Each year we celebrate the best of life on the waterways and its community with eclectic

GUARANTEE DELIVERY

TPT delivered to your door for only £1.83 an issue

TOWPATH

FREE

Issue 171, January 2020

TALK

waterways users The UK’s Number ONE read for all

96 PAGES

FREE INSIDE

2020 YEAR PLANNER YOUNG VOLUNTEER EARNS AWARD

Winter waters

P3

NEW APPEAL FOR PRESIDENT

P4

NARROWBOAT’S UNUSUAL CARGO

p24

Narrowboats moored on the Leeds

West & Liverpool Canal at Parbold, W

By Janet Richardson

BOAT TREKKER AT FINAL FRONTIER

P25

FOR BREAKING NEWS & BOATS FOR SALE visit our website

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

ATS FOR SALE A BOATS Starts on

P63

COLIN WAREING Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO:

eams for 2019 k’s TTop TTeams T k’s Towpath Talk a s, we bid farewell awn AS A new decade dawn t th to 2019 with the results of our Towpath op Team award which has been Top kT Talk r r. running throughout the year.

With four teams shortlisted for the final with vote it was a veryy close-run contest t volunteers ty the Grantham Canal Society head. short a by title the taking

Such was the support also for from Crusader Community Boating first Blisworth that we are awarding our a rd – something Community Boat awa f the we had alreadyy been planning for r r. coming year. of Commended are the Friends the River Nene and the Waterways Chaplaincy’s Martin and Fiona Buck.

Award presentations to our finalists

are revealed

r The r. will take place in the new year. off a winning team receives the hire day boat carrying up to 10 people, generously sponsored by ABC Leisure Group Ltd. The runner-up will receive a £100 voucher to spend at Midland four Chandlers at Braunston and all finalists will receive a £100 donation towards their volunteering organisation the from Mortons Media Group Ltd,

alk.

Tal tth T publisher of Towpath Our thanks go to the readers who rose of to the challenge of finding a group aave gone that extra unsung heroes who have f their local stretch off towpath, mile for a association or ays canal or river, waterways a our judging ave community boat – and gave the panel a difficult job of shortlisting four finalists.

2 page • Continued on

found Ouse bodies t achievemen 100-dayCommunity of two men were ffound on a boat moored probe Action Network (UCAN) THE bodies Boats gunshot were called UPPERMILL Y k city centre. Emergency services after starting in Yor investigating damage to narrowboats POLICE are Officers were after gunshots were fired in Cambridge. a December 5, at around 10.15pm, ay, called on Thursday, f m shots fro after nearbyy residents reported hearing near boats on the what was believed to be an air rifle the window of one River Cam. Photographs off holes in a since been published. One resident ave of the boats have the Chesterton told reporters thatt shots, coming from moored at Browns boats at fired were river, the of side on for about five Field, Fen Ditton, and this went no injuries were said Police Cambridgeshire minutes. reported and enquiries were continuing.

achieved its 100-day volunteering milestone 2300 hours of out in 2015. This included more than who, according voluntary work achieved by local people to, crafting to UCAN, “care about, and are committed environment”. and maintaining our beautiful local and for the positive Thanks were given to all supporters, work parties will feedback from the community. The next 8 and 20. The usual be on January 4 and 23, and February on Moorgate bridge canal the meeting point is 10am at Killan on 01457 Street but this can change. Contact Peter l.com 878361 or peterkillan@hotmai

at around 8pm to Lendal Bridge on the River Ouse said officers on December 4. North Yorkshire Police f two men for attended “after concerns were raised with their touch in their 60s who had been out of bodies. Fire .” Upon arrival officers found the family.”

The deaths and ambulance services both attended. although did were being treated as ‘unexplained’ a post-mortem not appear to be suspicious and The men had not examination was due to take place.

Talk went to press. tth Tal been identified when Towpath

11/12/2019 10:17:16

To save you having to track down a copy every month, take advantage of our special offer

Delivery from just £22 This great deal means you will pay just £1.83 for your copy to be delivered to your home.

That’s cheaper than chips!

Call 01507 529529

QUOTE OFFER CODE: TPT01

www.classicmagazines.co.uk/TPT01

live music around the site, special boating activities like the legendary illuminated procession and kids’ entertainment for all ages. You’ll also find amazing art from local schools on display and plenty of opportunities to get involved at IWA Canalway Cavalcade. IWA is currently looking for volunteers for the event – could you be one? Contact cavalcade.volunteer@waterways. org.uk for more information.

Event opening times: Saturday and Sunday 10am until 6pm (plus illuminated boat procession from 9pm Sunday) and Monday 10am until 5pm.

Save the date: The popular Ware Boat Festival is set to return on July 4-6. Last year had to be cancelled at the due to unexpected maintenance work but thanks to IWA Lee and Stort branch, planning is under way for a weekend of boating activity and fun this year. The boat festival is an integral and important part of the wider Ware Festival running throughout July. Volunteers very welcome, contact mike.newman@waterways.org.uk

Work Parties

PLEASE contact the branch to register your interest if you would like to attend a work party. It is advisable to wear stout shoes, old clothing, and to take waterproofs. A packed lunch and refreshments are also advisable.

May 4, 11 and 20 Northampton Branch Work parties are usually held one weekday and one Sunday a month, along the Northampton Arm. The tasks usually include vegetation clearance, weeding, litter picking and painting at locks.

Contact Geoff Wood: geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk May 2 and 16 - 10.30am to 2.30pm Burslem Port Regular work party on the Burslem Arm of the Trent & Mersey Canal, run in partnership by IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch & the Burslem Port Trust. Meet at Luke Street, Burslem.

All tools and equipment will be provided. Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes, stout shoes and to bring waterproofs in case of rain and a packed lunch if staying all day.

Please contact Dave Broome before attending: 07974 966253 or dave. broome45@gmail.com

day, please bring a packed lunch and a drink. Be sure to wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and marked with paint. Stout footwear is appropriate and take a waterproof in the event of rain.

Contact Tony Walker: 07708 320470 or walker. tony31@gmail.com

May 15 Cheshire Locks Monthly work party on the Cheshire Lock flight of the Trent & Mersey Canal, between Kidsgrove and Wheelock. Meet at the Broughton Arms, Rode Heath, Stoke-on-Trent.

We will meet as usual at 10am and work through until 3pm. If you can stay all

May 17 & 18 - 10am - 4pm Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal IWA Manchester Branch will be working with Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society at Prestolee at their regular work site, Nob End locks, near Prestolee Road, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1AD. Contact Barry McGuinness: 07875 999825.

9

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Characters of the Cut Christine Wood – Traditional Canalware

By Alice Elgie IT SEEMS like Christine Wood was blessed with the right name for her trade, busy as she is painting not only traditional canalware but also restoring interesting, unusual and antique pieces of furniture.

She shared with me: “When I was 14 I saved my pocket money and bought a wood turning lathe and eventually went on to study fine craftsmanship and design in wood at Rycotewood College, Thame. My first job was working for a toymaker who also specialised in musical instrument making and I then went on to restore early country furniture in Burford, before setting up my own workshop in Braunston.”

Narrowboats initially came into play at a very early age as Christine remembers a school trip on the Kennet & Avon when she was seven years old: “I loved it and bought my mother a plant pot painted with roses.” Fast forward to 1990 and aged 23 Christine bought herself a new narrowboat shell, fitting it out at weekends: “At the time I was living and working in Oxfordshire but house prices were unattainable so I decided on a narrowboat shell instead.” This project ignited the beginnings of her interest in canal art but when in 1996 Christine began working for Rex Wain at Brinklow Boat Services and met well-respected boat painter and sign writer, Ron Hough, that interest increased tenfold: “I would visit him in Braunston to collect work he painted to sell in the shop at the boatyard and I became fascinated with his work.

When he retired I decided to teach myself how to paint.”

Starting out with the book Flowers Afloat, by Tony Lewery, Christine practised every day: “I found myself drawn to Frank Nurser’s work. He taught Percy Foster, Dennis Clark, Ron Hough, George Crawshaw and others over the years and you can see his influence in all the painters that were apprenticed to him.” This passing down of painting styles

A steady hand is a must for this job.

The detailed paintwork is intricate and beautiful.

Christine, happy in her work – a good eye for detail and a steady hand is required.

Christine, proudly displaying her wares. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

through generations happened up and down the country with each boatyard having its own excellent sign writers, painters and decorators. Christine’s work is heavily influenced by the ‘Braunston style’ of painters who worked at the Nurser Brothers’ Boatyard; however, with time and practice her own individual style has developed and she now specialises in traditional painted decoration, restoration of painted ware, wood graining (also known as scumbling) and back cabin decoration.

Christine told me a little more

about this work: “The back cabins were made from whatever wood was to hand, which was then ‘scumbled’, a traditional technique used to make a painted surface look like real wood. A plain sheet of plywood can be scumbled to look as though it were panelled and made from tongue and groove boards, so a simply fitted back cabin made mostly from plywood can be made to look as though it is constructed in a traditional way and decorated to look very attractive.”

Having a background in woodwork has certainly helped broaden Christine’s skillset and in her own furniture restoration workshop she uses many techniques such as marquetry, re-veneering, re-polishing,

turning, steam-bending. This experience with antiques transfers effortlessly to painting canalware: “Furniture restoration requires the repairs to be colour matched and ‘antiqued in’ so that they are not visible. Similar techniques I have developed work well when I restore old painted items matching colour and finish. Over the years paint lifts and deteriorates especially when applied to galvanised metal such as hand bowls and water cans.

These were items used every day so understandably the paintwork would get damaged but I can colour match and copy the original painting then ‘antique in’ paintwork to match. The best restoration you do will not be seen.”

Keeping crafts like this alive and well on the canals is hugely important and Christine is certainly a beacon for doing so, as well as perhaps an inspiration to try your own hand at artistry? Her advice to anyone interested in learning to paint roses and castles would be to begin looking into the history of canal painting, as well as purchase a copy of Flowers Afloat: Folk Artists of the Canals. She also has some further tips: “Study artwork at

museums such as Stoke Bruerne, Foxton, and Gloucester Docks.

Study the layout, colours and styles of roses by artists such as Frank Nurser, Ron Hough, Frank Jones, Isaiah Atkins, and go on a course, preferably with a well-respected and influential canal boat painter such as Phil Speight.”

You can catch up with Christine for more inspiration and buy her canalware; most Saturdays you’ll find her on her stall outside Tradline Rope & Fenders in Braunston Marina.

Website: www. traditionalcanalware.co.uk Facebook: Christine Wood, Traditional Canalware Instagram: @traditionalcanalware - @thewoodrepairshop Upcoming shows: Braunston Historic Boat Rally, June 28/29 (outside Tradline Rope & Fenders stall).

Alice Elgie is a writer who splits time between a narrowboat on the waterways of England and a cottage in France. She shares words about this life on her blog: slowintotheseasons. substack.com

Anderton Boat Lift refurbishment delayed due to rising costs

A selection of lovely items available from Christine.

MAJOR refurbishments to the Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre – which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year – won’t begin until 2026 at the earliest due to rising costs.

A lottery grant awarded in 2022 will now not be sufficient to fund the required work and a new application for existing funding is due to be made.

The Canal &

River Trust said the development grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund now needs revisiting due to rising costs in the construction sector. It said the cost of the works required, primarily to the refurbishment of the boat lift, have increased and there have also been some necessary changes to the scope of the project.

The trust is currently

in discussions with the Heritage Fund regarding the next steps. The work that has been completed so far will remain relevant, all statutory consents obtained will continue to be valid, and donations received will support ongoing maintenance of the boat lift.

It is anticipated that there will be a 12 to 18-month delay to the start of the main works,

subject to a successful grant application which will be submitted in due course. This will mean that the Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre is scheduled to operate as usual during the 2025 and 2026 visitor seasons which include the programme of exciting anniversary events planned over the coming months as the 150th anniversary of the boat lift is celebrated.

10

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Scale Lane footbridge reopens

By Alison Alderton

Cottam Power Station viewed from the River Trent. PHOTO: ALISON ALDERTON

Another one bites the dust!

By Alison Alderton FURTHER demolition to the former Cottam Power Station on the banks of the River Trent in Nottinghamshire has taken place.

Cottam Power Station was commissioned in 1968 and capable of generating enough electricity for 3.7m homes. It was originally designed to be operational for 30 years but had its life extended to 2019, when it was finally closed for good – decommissioned

by EDF Energy.

On March 20, the seventh explosion in a series of blasts undertaken in controlled conditions finally brought down the main chimney stack in what has been described as a ‘high profile event’ requiring the presence of the police.

Other structures, including the iconic cooling towers which, for many years, have been used as a way-marker for boaters travelling on the tidal River Trent, will be brought down by explosive demolition at a later date with complete demolition of the

site expected in early 2026.

The Trent Valley once housed 13 of the 78 power stations in England and Wales, generating a quarter of the power needed for the two countries as well as providing hundreds of jobs at both the power stations and Yorkshire collieries.

Love it or hate it, the so-called Megawatt Valley – the powerhouse of Britain – is slowly being transformed before boaters’ eyes and, as it happens, changing the face of this once mighty commercial river valley forever.

THE Scale Lane swinging footbridge over the River Hull has reopened to pedestrians and cyclists following its closure late last year.

The bridge was closed to the public in December 2024 when essential repair works to its swing mechanism were scheduled to take place. However, a routine inspection identified several bearings also needed replacing to ensure the long-term operation of the structure.

As several river traffic movements were anticipated for the months following, and by law, vessels have priority over pedestrian traffic, Hull City Council made the decision to swing the bridge and retain it in an open position until a full repair programme could be carried out by a specialist contractor in the new year. During this time people were directed to alternative routes across the River Hull such as the Millenium Bridge.

The work was initially expected to be completed by the end of February but due to the complexity of the structure four extra days were added to the timeframe.

The apostrophe-shaped swing bridge has a rotating mechanism which enables it

to swing open horizontally to allow large boats to pass and was the first bridge in the world to allow pedestrians to remain on the bridge while in motion. It is also cantilevered, which allows it to curve upwards, to facilitate passage for smaller boats.

Designed by Renato Benedetti and opened in 2013 at a cost of £7 million, the bridge spans the River Hull Harbour between Hull’s Old Town and an industrial area of the city, and also forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail cycle link to the Hull ferry terminal. It has been awarded several accolades and was listed as one of the 30 most impressive bridges in the world by Popular Mechanics magazine.

Scale Lane footbridge is one of 13 opening bridges on the 16 miles of the navigable River Hull – no other city has as many opening bridges over such a short distance of navigation and these are a true spectacle to see in operation.

The council will now consider the contractor’s recommendations and plan a maintenance scheme for the Scale Lane footbridge to be implemented later this year. A comprehensive plan to ensure the structure’s longevity and safety will also be developed.

Scale Lane footbridge, River Hull. PHOTO: BERNARD SHARP - CC BY-SA 2.0

FOR SALE: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WITH ACCOMMODATION

A 3-bed house with small private garden and two bathrooms, a 1-bed s/c flat (currently let to a single gentleman) above a thriving convenience store with attached small Chandlery store and Post Office (the only one for around a 5 mile radius). The site consists of a small fuel station including the sale of red diesel (the only red diesel on the River Witham), white derv, petrol and Kerosene (Heating Oil). Situated approximately 5 miles NW of Boston town along the River Witham and feeding a lovely friendly community consisting of five smaller villages/hamlets in the immediate vicinity and is the only shop and garage in the area.

The property is particularly suited to anyone with boating experience as we serve diesel, carry out pump-outs, provide gas bottles etc to boaters on the River Witham.

This property is available as Freehold Price £475,000 plus stock.

Eric Siecker at Transworld M&A Advisors. 01733 979037 or 07464 092273.

Email: esiecker@tworlduk.com

11

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Bins could save CRT money

Phil Pickin looks at an unexpected way to help CRT save money while also helping the environment.

ANYONE connected with the waterways will be aware of the financial woes that CRT is having to endure. As a result, the organisation is looking at every aspect of its operation in an effort to save money that includes the bins! The situation hasn’t quite got to the stage of rummaging through the bins to find something of value; it is more the value of the processing of the waste itself that can help the charity save significant amounts of money over the coming years.

From March 31, new legislation came into effect that means most businesses will have to arrange separate collections for different types of waste. The biggest change is that connected with food waste. This will now need to be separated from general waste and other recyclables. As a result of these changes, all of CRT’s customer service points with waste facilities will have to provide separate bins for dry recyclables (things like paper, card, metal and plastics), glass bottle jars, etc, food waste and general waste. To help with this, CRT has placed large stickers on the bins to help users know what sort of waste should go in each one. The plan is to have all these collection facilities at collection points by this summer.

To facilitate this, CRT is embarking on an improvement programme to upgrade a number of its sites to enable them to comply with the new legislation, so it is expected that boaters will be able to see some of these

improvements over the coming weeks. Part of these improvements is the installation of as many as 500 new bins, but with businesses of all types having to comply with these new rules, there is a delay in the delivery of the new bins.

The new Simpler Recycling legislation will, it is hoped, help the country as a whole meet its commitments to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill. Businesses that fail to meet their obligations to the new legislation can face financial penalties, and this is where the boating community comes in to help CRT save money. If boat users can make sure that they follow the rules when it comes to the disposal of waste (and not dispose of rubbish in the wrong bin), CRT can avoid paying the penalties when the waste is collected by the nominated contractor. If a visual inspection by a contractor shows that the waste is ‘contaminated’ with the incorrect waste, CRT can be charged more to deal with the waste, something the charity is keen to avoid.

With the peak of the 2025 season still to come, it remains to be seen if all the bins will arrive and, when they do, if people will use them correctly. Let us hope that these new facilities are used as intended and that penalty charges are kept to a minimum.

For more information on the implication of Simpler Recycling visit CRT’s website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

PART OF MIDDLEWICH CANAL CENTRE

Come and see us at the

CRICK BOAT SHOW on Sat 24th to Mon 26th May Trade and Preview Day Fri 23rd May

Boatfinder will be there with our sister companies Elton Moss Boatbuilders, Bickerstaffe Boat Company, Carefree Cruising and Kingslock Boat Yard.

Call for details

Tel: 01270 760 799 Boatfinder Brokerage Services

@BoatfinderBS

Middlewich Canal Centre is home to the following family of companies

WWW.CANALCENTRE.COM

12

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Shannonbridge – a port in transition their canoes (new canoe trails in the area are expected to be developed soon) while a potential berth for a tour boat operator has also been noted in proposals.

A welcome increase in tourism is anticipated with the installation of the new jetty which has thrown up other concerns including the disposal of domestic waste from boaters and the possible need for parking facilities for bicycles and cars. All of these issues will need to be addressed.

It is good to know that Shannonbridge will now be accessible to more boaters and that a new future in tourism awaits this once industrial setting. The heart of Shannonbridge is typical of the region, linear in fashion with one main street housing shops and pubs on both sides. This leads down to the waterfront where it crosses the never still waters of the River Shannon on a spectacular 16-arch stone bridge dating from 1700. On the opposite shore, a Napoleonic fortress looms over the river https:// shannonbridgefort.ie/ now housing a restaurant and exhibition where visitors can learn more about the site and surrounding area.

There is, and always has been, plenty to do at Shannonbridge and with the promise of easier access for boaters it is set to thrive and refashion a new future for itself.

THE EU Just Transition Fund is helping to transform Ireland’s hidden heartlands with work forging ahead over recent years on numerous projects along the River Shannon corridor. Shannonbridge, once in the centre of the peat harvesting area of the midlands and probably the area which took the greatest brunt of the effect of Bord na Móna disengaging from peat production, is one of the latest River Shannon ports to undergo some major changes.

A longtime favourite destination for boaters, Shannonbridge frequently struggles to accommodate visiting boaters but with a proposed 50% increase in berthing this may change the fortunes for this interesting port of call. It was announced in March 2024 that Waterways Ireland (WI) planned to extend the existing harbour area to create more berths as part of its Shannon Masterplan. More recently, Offaly County Council has granted planning permission for 108 metres of new floating jetty on the eastern bank of the Shannon at Shannonbridge.

The new jetty will provide safe mooring facilities for cruisers and smaller boats which currently, during peak times, find themselves having to double up in order to visit Shannonbridge, which is not ideal on a flowing river. The new jetty will also include a section to allow paddlers easy access both on and off

Shannonbridge, one of the latest River Shannon ports to undergo some major changes. PHOTO:

ALISON ALDERTON

Other sites of interest nearby include the monastic site of Clonmacnoise, accessible either by road or river, and while in the area it would be a shame to miss out on the delightful River Suck offering navigation to the town of Ballinasloe. An increasing number of greenways are also accessible, making Shannonbridge ideally suited as a new hub of tourism in the Shannon valley.

Offaly County Council has warmly welcomed the recent announcement made by Darragh O’ Brien TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, outlining that €1 million in funding from the EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 has been awarded for the upgrading of the Dalton Centre in Shannonbridge.

The Dalton Centre, on the site adjacent to the West Offaly Power

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Station, was formally transferred by the ESB to Offaly County Council in May 2024 with the chief executive, Anna Marie Delaney, advising that it will allow the local authority to deliver tangible and meaningful benefits to the local communities in West Offaly in response to their needs.

The Dalton Centre is a large 1200 sq m industrial building on a four-hectare site and has only ever been used to house archive material belonging to the ESB. An Expression of Interest was run by Offaly County Council in September 2024 so as to identify potential uses for the building, which would in turn provide a much-needed boost to the local economy in Shannonbridge and the surrounding areas.

Ms Delaney recently reiterated Offaly County Council’s commitment to the former peat communities

in West Offaly who have been most impacted by the cessation of commercial peat harvesting and the closure of peat-fired power stations in the county in recent years. With the assistance of the EU Just Transition Fund, an upgraded building and site will now be offered to parties willing to enter into a long-term lease. Interested parties must be committed to economic diversification or training which supports the development of skills that are now required for the new and emerging businesses within the low carbon economy.

The EU Just Transition Fund developments are certainly ones to watch and with other Shannon ports, such as Banagher, also heading for a ‘makeover’ the transformations will change the face of Ireland’s hidden heartlands forever.

Get 12 issues of Towpath Talk delivered to your door from just £22 a year. THAT’S £1.83£1.16 THAT’S A COPY JUSTJUST £1.16 A COPY

CALL 01507 529529 LINES OPEN WEEKDAYS 8.30AM TO 5PM OR VISIT WWW.CLASSICMAGAZINES.CO.UK SUBSCRIPTION FORM

MAY 2020 2025 FEBRUARY

To subscribe to TPT simply complete the form below and return to: TPT Subscriptions, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ

Payment method 1.

One Year (UK)

£22 (Direct Debit)

Other payment options: UK (One Year) EU (One Year) Rest of World (One Year)

£28 (Credit/Debit Card/Cheque) £40 (Credit/Debit Card/Cheque) £46 (Credit/Debit Card/Cheque)

Payer’s details (must be completed)

FROM ONLY

£22 £14

A YEAR

Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name

DIRECT DEBIT

Instruction to Bank/Building Society to pay by Direct Debit: I would like to change/take out a subscription for £22 per annum (UK only) Account in the name of Account number

Sort code

Name of Bank/Building Society Address

Surname

Email

Postcode

Telephone

Please pay Mortons Media Group Ltd direct debits from the account detailed in the instructions, subject to the safeguards of the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Mortons Media Group and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. Originator’s ID number: 830390

Mobile

Year of Birth

Address

Signature Postcode

2. DEBIT/CREDIT CARD Visa Please debit my:

Delivery details (if different to above) Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name

Date

Reference number (office use only) Mastercard

Switch/Maestro

Card number:

Surname

Address

Start date Postcode

To view our full privacy policy please visit www.mortonsmediagroup/privacy.htm, you will be able to unsubscribe from communications at any time

3 digit verification code Signature 3.

/

Expiry date Switch issue number Date

CHEQUE I enclose a cheque made payable to Mortons Media Group Ltd

/

13

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Engine & Boat Maintenance Courses Boost Your Engine Maintenance Skills: Join Our Two-Day Course, Suitable for All Levels!

RYA Certification Available for £15.

Course Includes: • Diesel Engine, theory and operation • The Fuel System, operation, service and maintenance • The Air System, requirements and maintenance • The Cooling System, types, operation and service • The lubrication System, service and maintenance • Basic electrical system • Drive-lines and stern gear, service and maintenance

To book your place contact the office now on: 01785 785680 or email enquiries@rivercanalrescue.co.uk

Course Completion: you will be able to: • Service your engine • Check electrical circuits • Conduct basic repairs

£300 PER PERSON

2 Day Course

www. rivercanalrescue.co.uk

Ditch the map, it’s on the app!

Covering all UK waterways Route planning Request RCR advice or Assistance Offline access to all POI’s

FREE APP

14

May 2025

Boxing clever

Jonathan Mosse’s monthly look at freight development on the inland waterways.

ONE of the most fascinating non-fiction books that I’ve read, in the past couple of years, is called The Box: or How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller.

It recounts that, in April 1956, a refitted oil tanker carried 58 shipping containers from Newark to Houston. From that modest beginning, container shipping developed into a huge industry that went on to make the boom in global trade possible.

So much for the big picture. How might this scale for the UK inland waterways freight sector? Well, right now it doesn’t: not in realistically economical terms at least.

If we take those waterways of the North East, the ones we often focus upon as the current backbone of commercial waterways carrying, their most frustrating dimension is the typical width of the craft navigating them. These are obviously built to the gauge of the locks – 200ft x 20ft – and the reality is therefore a beam of 18ft, give or take.

That ground-breaking April 1956 shipment was of containers bearing little relationship to today’s ‘Boxes’, being 8ft wide and 33ft long. Ultimately, the current standard of 20ft and 40ft length was arrived at, presenting inland freight shippers in the

UK today with a tantalisingly small misfit ‘twixt a 20ft box loaded lengthwise… and the lock gauge.

Short of devising some form of gigantic planing device for the inland waterways to enjoy all the benefits of containerisation – and ultimately compete on a level playing field with road transport – something must give. And, in recognition of harsh economic reality, it won’t (certainly in the early days) be increasing lock width or increased barge beam!

So, let’s take a trip back to first principles and past waterway examples of the concept embodied in the development of containerisation: in essence, minimising the handling of goods from production to delivery. Which, from the off, mandates a multimodal mindset.

Tom Puddings

In 1863, compartment boats called Tom Puddings – each carrying 35 tons of coal – appeared on the Aire & Calder Navigation: an operation that was to last until 1985. They were towed full in trains of 19, could be transported empty by rail into the heart of collieries set back from the waterway and, upon arrival at their destination, lifted by hoist and tipped into awaiting ships.

Fast forward to September 1974 and British Waterways introduced the BACAT system – standing for Barge Aboard Catamaran – on to the North East waterways. These were 55ft x 15ft dumb

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Typical Unit Load Devices (ULDs) for aircraft loading. PHOTO: TENNEN-GAS. CC BY-SA 3.0 barges, able to carry 140 tons and, as the name suggests, designed to be carried across the North Sea aboard a catamaran mothership for onward transport inland on the European waterways’ system.

Sadly, these were quickly blacklisted by the unions, who saw in them a serious threat to their continued dockside employment.

The concept of floating cargo containers, in the form of LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) actually preceded BACAT by some 10 years and, although a very similar idea, were on a considerably larger scale, each unit measuring 61ft 6in x 31ft with a payload of 370 tons. These only proved economic

under certain very specific conditions and, in turn, owed their origins to the USA’s Second World War Seabees, which effectively pioneered the concept.

Now where does this leave us today? Basically, with a rich history representing a mix of failures and successes in the world of floating modular standardised shapes… the latter far outweighing the former. Except nothing here totally ticks today’s multi-modal box!

Liquids and loose bulk are fine: they can be pumped, grabbed or ‘conveyored’ between modes… but that leaves an awful lot that languishes in the comparative comfort of a 20ft or 40ft container.

Russian dolls

Let’s, for moment, think nesting Russian dolls.

We’ve agreed that without significant investment the Box is not, at least in economic terms, going to find a place for the time being in the hold of an inland waterways barge.

However, if its contents are already containerised in smaller units – and the airlines’ example of ULDs is a strong contender – the breaking down of the contents of its 20ft or 40ft cousin is suddenly not too onerous a demand, especially if upon disembarkation, onward transport is going to be aboard 10-ton electric delivery lorries, smaller vans and last-mile electric cargo bikes. These final two examples following another deft ‘un-nesting’ (or two) of the Russian doll concept!

And what exactly are ULDs? A Unit Load Device naturally: thinking outside the Box is rapidly becoming a prerequisite of an approaching net zero existence!

The nesting Russian doll concept: containers within containers within containers… PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

BACATS moored opposite the Tower of London – 1975. PHOTO: MIKE CLARKE

ULDs could easily replace quarry materials in a typical barge hold.

PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

That tantalising difference between lock gauge and the 20ft TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

15

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Snap to it and win a prize!

THE ever-popular National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition is back for a 16th year. The competition theme is Craft & Crew this time and there are some fantastic prizes to be won, as well as the chance to be featured in the 2026 calendar and accompanying exhibition at Historic Dockyard Chatham.

National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) is hoping for entries which reflect the wide variety of historic craft, big and small, afloat and ashore. Photographers may also interpret the theme by capturing the traditional techniques and skills essential for maintenance or highlighting the people that

operate and care for these wonderful vessels.

Visit the events page at : www. nationalhistoricships.org.uk/events to discover some of the many maritime and inland waterways events being hosted this year. In a country threaded with navigable waterways, where one is never more than 70 miles from the coast, there are many opportunities to explore this year’s theme and take a winning photograph!

The competition is open from May 1 to August 31, 2025. For more information and to enter visit: www.nationalhistoricships.org. uk/photocomp

The 2017 winner: butty boat Ilford breaks the September dawn by Teresa Fuller.

Braunston Historic Rally by Tracey Welch.

Overall runner-up in 2021: Danny on the Weaver by John Eyres.

Explore UK Narrowboat Insurance Get a quote

*Features are subject to exclusions and limitations. For more information about the features of our GJW Direct insurance, please refer to the relevant policy document.

16

May 2025

Darlings back for May canal festival

THE Moira Canal Festival is to be held over the weekend of May 17-18, once again on the banks of the Ashby Canal at Moira, north-west Leicestershire.

The grounds of the impressive Moira Furnace act as backdrop to the event; the headline act this year will be the D-Day Darlings, finalists in Britain’s Got Talent, with their evocative mix of old wartime and traditional songs.

Geoff Pursglove, member of the organising committee since the beginning, is pleased that the Darlings accepted the invitation to sing at Moira. “They were very popular when they came a few years ago; and it was one of our most successful events – the good weather helped as well!”

Aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight have been invited,

along with local band Gun Money, children’s entertainment, Morris dancers, stalls, displays, bar and refreshments. And don’t forget Mother Duck and her Ashby Canal Duck Race!

The cost is £6 for adults and £3 for children, with profit from the event going towards maintaining the restored Ashby Canal between Moira and Donisthorpe, as well as supporting the long-term aim to restore the Ashby Canal from Snarestone to Moira. This will allow Measham, Oakthorpe, Donisthorpe and Moira to once again be connected to the national waterways network.

The Ashby Canal was abandoned progressively over the years from the first closure in 1944 at Moira to the last closure at Snarestone in 1966, due to the impact of local coal mining. With all the coal mines now shut, there are well-advanced plans to restore the canal to Measham, and ultimately to Moira, where it will have a fine terminus at the Moira Furnace and Conkers Waterside. For more info: www.moiracanalfestival.com

The Moira Canal Festival returns this year.

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

WHAT’S ON IN MAY

If you want your event listed in our free monthly What’s On section email your entry to editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk or use the events form at www.towpathtalk.co.uk/events Please check with organisers whether the event is going ahead before setting out on your journey.

May - June Stafford Riverway link artefacts exhibition: The Display of Artefacts unearthed by Stafford Riverway Link Volunteers at the Baswich Site is at Brewood Library, Newport Street, Brewood, Staffordshire, ST19 9DT, from April 29 until June 21.

RCR maintenance course: Two-day maintenance courses, running at RCR Stafford HQ on: April 23/24, May 7/8 and 21/22, and June 11/12 and 25/26. Course costs £300, plus £15 for RYA certificates. Tailored courses are also on offer to groups and clubs, with discounts for boat clubs.

May 3-5 IWA Canalway Cavalcade: At London’s Little Venice for May Bank Holiday weekend, to celebrate the best of life on the waterways in London and its community. For boat bookings contact Mike Moore on mike.moore@waterways.org. uk or 07545 546865 or for trader enquiries contact: cavalcade. trade@waterways.org.uk May 4 IWA Towpath Walks Society: Regent’s Canal: R Tyburn, Little Venice. Baker St (Baker St north/ Lords exit) at 2.30pm. Prior booking recommended, contact London

Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com May 10 IWA Towpath Walks Society: The secrets of the Northern Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Meet: Stratford (Westfield/QEOP exit) by the Pret a Manger sign) at 2.30pm.

Prior booking recommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com Stafford Riverway Link Work Party: Baswich, Stafford, (What3words: elbow.Inner.spoil) on site from 10am-4pm. For more info contact John: 01785 226662 email thistlejohn@outlook.com May 13 IWA Northampton branch social meeting: Unknown (Guide) Guided walk and visit: The Royal Ordnance Depot, Weedon. Meet at Visitor Centre, The Depot, Weedon, NN7 4PS at 2.30pm.

May 17-18 Moira Canal Festival: Held on the banks of the Ashby Canal at Moira, north-west Leicestershire. Aircraft invited from Battle of Britain Memorial flight, local band Gun Money, entertainment, Morris dancers, stalls, displays, bar, refreshments. Mother Duck and Ashby Canal Duck Race! www.moiracanalfestival.com

May 18 IWA Towpath Walks Society: Four Hundred Years of the New River.

Meet Manor House (Finsbury Park exit: exit 6) at 2.30pm. Prior booking recommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com May 24-26 Crick Boat Show: Britain’s biggest waterways event. Held at Crick Marina in Northamptonshire and is expected to attract more than 26,000 visitors. For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, visit www. crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970.

May 25 IWA Towpath Walks Society: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice, Camden. Meet Warwick Avenue at 2.30pm. Prior booking recommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com May 25/26 Stafford Riverway Link Open Weekend at the Baswich Site, Stafford, ST18 0YJ. Free admission and parking. www.staffordriverway-link.co.uk For more info contact John: 01785 226662 - thistlejohn@outlook.com

Moira Canal Festival • Food Stalls • Children’s Activities • Model Boats Sat & Sun • Now in its 14th year

2025

17th 18th May 2025

• Dog Show on Monday • Fun for all the family • Arts & Crafts

Vines Park WR9 8LB

Friday 2nd May 5pm - 11pm Saturday 3rd May, Sunday 4th May 10am - 11pm Monday 5th May 10am - 5pm

• Real Ale & Cider Bar all weekend

• Around 50 different beers and ciders

Join us at the 22nd Moira Canal Festival at the historic Moira Furnace, on the banks of the restored Ashby Canal!

• Live Entertainment every day

For our contribution to VE day events in May we are pleased to welcome: Finalists in Britain's Got Talent D Day Darlings (UK's Premier Wartime Act, recreating all the old wartime songs!)

• Canal boat rides during the days on ‘Pamela May 2’ • The ‘Great Droitwich Duck Race’ 4.30pm Monday

Boats, Battle of Britain Flypast, Morris dancing, Music, Children's entertainment, Historic vehicles, Wide range of stalls and exhibits, Entertainment marquee, Bar, Refreshments – And don’t miss Mother Duck and her Duck Race!

Private/Hire

Boats Welcome

Trading

Boats Welcome

* FREE ADMISSION * LATE NIGHT BAR * FAMILY EVENT strichardsfestival.co.uk ¦ wbdcs.org.uk ¦ Facebook

A day out for all the family!

Put the date in your diary!

Visit the website: www.moiracanalfestival.com General enquiries: moiracanalfestival@outlook.com Moira Canal Festival, Furnace Lane, Moira, DE12 6AT (Programme subject to confirmation)

Adults £6, Children 5 and over £3

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

17

18

May 2025

Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum. ALL PHOTOS: NICOLA LISLE

Brunel display in the museum.

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Interactive display of the bridge in the museum.

Museum Focus: a tale packed with suspense Nicola Lisle visits the Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum to discover the fascinating story behind Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s iconic masterpiece.

OFFICIALLY OPENED just over 160 years ago, on December 8, 1864, the Clifton Suspension Bridge was one of Brunel’s final projects, completed five years after his death and standing as a lasting tribute to his engineering genius.

An instant scene-stealer, this elegant structure commands the attention as it sweeps majestically across the Avon gorge, providing a vital river crossing between Bristol and Somerset. In an ITV broadcast in March 1956, John Betjeman likened the bridge to a ‘gigantic insect’ that stretched ‘delicately across the sky’.

The story of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is brought to life at the museum at Leigh Woods, on the Somerset side of the bridge. The former visitor centre was granted accredited museum status by the Arts Council in October 2024, and features detailed information about the bridge, from original concept and design to construction and ongoing maintenance, as well as

Another view of the suspension bridge.

interactive displays, old photographs, film footage and objects of interest.

Although Brunel rightly gets the credit for the bridge, it was actually Bristol wine merchant William Vick who first mooted the idea of a bridge across the Avon at Clifton, the narrowest part of the gorge, in the mid-18th century. At the time, there were only two ways of crossing the River Avon in Bristol – Bristol Bridge in the city centre and the Rownham Ferry at Hotwells spa. With both bridge and ferry struggling to cope with increasing volumes of traffic, Vick’s proposed bridge would, he felt, be ‘a great publick utility’.

When Vick died in 1754, he left £1000 in his will to the Society of Merchant Venturers, with instructions to invest the money and use it to build a new bridge once it reached £10,000. Inspired by the building of an iron chain suspension bridge at Berwick-uponTweed – the first vehicle bridge of its kind in Europe – a committee was established in 1829 to resurrect and develop Vick’s early plans, despite the investment at the time only standing at £8000.

An application to Parliament to amend the terms of Vick’s will from a toll-free stone bridge to an iron toll bridge was approved in May 1830. Fundraising for the bridge began, with investors to be reimbursed from toll income. On October 1, 1829, a competition invited the submission designs for ‘an iron suspension bridge at Clifton Down’, intended to be the longest and highest suspension bridge in the world.

Among the 22 entries received were four designs from a 23-year-old Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Renowned engineer Thomas Telford was invited to advise the committee on the entries, and he dismissed Brunel’s designs as they ‘would certainly tumble down in a high wind’. A second competition announced in October 1830 saw Brunel prevail, and he was appointed project engineer.

Work began on the new bridge in June 1831, with investor Sir Abraham Elton of Clevedon Court declaring that it would be ‘the ornament of Bristol and the wonder of the age’.

Just four months later, though, work ceased

One of the bridge towers. after an outbreak of rioting in the town saw investors panicking and withdrawing funding. It was four years before work resumed, and even then the project was constantly hampered by financial constraints and structural problems. The bridge was finally completed in 1864 – too late, sadly, for Brunel, who died in 1859 and never saw the completion of what was arguably one of his finest achievements.

The Brunel display is one of the highlights of the museum, featuring a model of the man himself as well as information about his early life, his training as an engineer, how he learnt his trade and his many achievements. The museum also offers include heritage tours of the bridge and tours of the underground vaults. Walking across the bridge, of course, is a must, both to experience the bridge itself and to enjoy the spectacular views of the Avon gorge below.

A two-year refurbishment project is currently under way to restore the wroughtiron chains and metalwork, apply modern protective paint and install a modern architectural lighting system. You can find out more from an information board on the bridge as well as on the official website.

Visitor information:

Clifton Suspension Bridge and Museum Bridge Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PA www.cliftonbridge.org.uk Open: Daily, 10am-5pm Admission: Free On site: Small gift shop Getting there: No.8 bus from Temple Meads, or a 40-minute walk from the city centre. Some pay and display parking in Clifton

Information lectern near the Bristol side of the bridge.

19

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Braunston Marina Weekend 28-29 June, 2025

Rally to be opened by POIROT - actor and canal enthusiast and supporter David Suchet

20

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

‘Moor’ than 50 years at Braunston Marina Part 1: The purchase of Pamela’s prize

The average boater will moor at the same marina for 10 years, although not necessarily with the same boat. Braunston Marina’s longest staying moorers, Tony and Pam Havard, have enjoyed its surroundings for more than half a century. Tim Coghlan tells their fascinating story…

THE Havards arrived at Braunston Marina in April 1967, by an interesting route and a tale worthy of the telling. They are now on their third boat, their first narrowboat, The Honey Pot, which they acquired way back in 1978 and is, give or take a few yards, moored in roughly the same spot. In a sense, their boating almost covers the whole of the history of leisure boating on the canals, including all the owners of Braunston Marina – Blue Line, Ladyline and my now 37-plus years here.

Tony began life in the Welsh Valleys in a small village near Llanelli. At the age of 15, he moved to Rugby to take up an electrical engineering apprenticeship with British Thompson Huson, then the largest engineering factory in the UK, with 20,000 employees, whose working day ended to the sound of a shrill steam-whistle – which had come off the famous RMS Mauretania, when it was broken up in 1935 and the fittings sold. The factory’s exit would create a spectacular sight as, in their thousands, the workers poured out into the surrounding narrow terraced streets on foot and bicycle, with those going further afield jamming the traffic in Newbold Road.

At the factory, Tony later met Pam, who was on a design engineering apprenticeship and once both qualified – and with Tony now earning £12 10s per week – they were married in August 1958 in Newbold church which had once stood within yards of the Oxford Canal.

Forty years on at Braunston Marina: A free dry-docking, blacking and engine service for owners (right) Tony and Pam Havard’s third boat the Honey Pot in 2007. Marina yard hand Julian Mander – who had worked at the marina since 1990 – stands by his handiwork. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN Their boating days now began with their honeymoon on a Broads hire cruiser, called appropriately Lucky Days. They were back two years later with their baby daughter, Tonia – named after Donald Campbell’s wife – and they were hooked. The wooden cruiser they hired was called the Naiad which means a water nymph, a name that appealed to Pamela and it is to appear again in this story. A favourite pastime of theirs was to cycle or bus over to the new Braunston Marina, founded by the pioneering Michael Streat in 1960 in what had been the old working yard of the Samuel Barlow Coal Carrying Company and the adjoining two canals’ reservoirs. Here the Havards would picnic and watch the canal cruisers coming and going and dream of owning one.

Winning by more than a Whiska

Broads cruiser Naiad: The boat on which the Havards holidayed in the summer of 1960 with their daughter Tonia.

They were later to rename their second canal cruiser Naiad after it, which means a water nymph. PHOTO: HAVARD COLLECTION

Lady Luck was to smile on them in the most unexpected way. Pam had a thing about doing competitions and in early 1967 she entered the national Whiskas for Cats: The Great Store Robbery competition, winning first prize with her completion of the

slogan ‘I buy Jellymeat Whiskas for my cat Sixties frock and bun hairdo. The story made because…’ with the answer ‘It’s PURRFECT!’. front page news in the Rugby Advertiser, which The prize was ‘Half an hour to take all you described how ‘the couple amazed onlookers can from your grocer’s (helped by one other with their obviously planned approach, for person)! Keep all the groceries you take (or they did not pick up goods one by one – they their cash value)!’ swept the shelves at roughly 50 items at a time!’

Rugby Co-Op was chosen for The Great An army of shop assistants, of various Store Robbery – the event to be staged at 6pm ages, were working from the start of the on Saturday, April Fool’s Day, 1967, when the competition at all checkouts. But they simply shop would have been closed for an hour. could not cope and at the end of the half an The game was simple. At the entrance to the hour’s Robbery the trolleys were stacked back supermarket, Pam and Tony were each given halfway down the shop, with Tony and Pam a large empty supermarket trolley and, on now lying collapsed on the floor. Tony was the command ‘Go!’, they were off to fill them and bring them back to the checkout, whereupon they were given another and so on until at the end of half an hour they were told to stop. The goods would be rung up in the checkouts and they could either keep them or take the cash value, provided they hadn’t damaged them. They were not allowed to touch drink, frozen food or medicines.

Once the ‘Robbery’ was under way Tony went mad, as did The Great Store Robbery in progress: Tony trolleys the Pam, despite her cans, while staff and directors look on. PHOTO: RUGBY ADVERTISER

21

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Pamela’s Prize: In the summer of 1967 Tony (left) stands holding the boathook, with dog and friends. Four adults, two children and a dog would somehow manage to canalcruise aboard this little 19ft boat. PHOTO: THE HAVARD COLLECTION

Beating the clock by a WHISKA: Time called and £1364 19s 1d richer. Tony was bruised from head to foot by falling cans and Pam’s fingernails were ripped off and bleeding, but they had done it. PHOTO: RUGBY ADVERTISER bruised from head to foot from the falling cans and Pam’s fingernails were ripped off and bleeding. But they had done it!

Then the store manager finally announced that the ‘bill’ was £1260 – more than a year’s wages for Tony as a car worker. In fact, it was to be still more to come. A week later Pam received a letter from the advertising agency Hobson Bates telling her that, ‘You will be delighted to hear that under stress of the Robbery one of the machines failed to give the correct final total, so the cheque I have enclosed is for £1364.19.1d.’ It was time to buy that ‘dreamboat’!

Braunston Marina - Pamela’s Prize

Having won the competition, but before doing the actual Robbery, Pam and Tony had gone on a reconnaissance visit to Braunston Marina to see what boat they might buy.

The following Saturday, they were off to Braunston Marina, where they had now made an appointment with legendary Blue Line salesman Peter Harris, who had a reputation for falling into the marina, so carried away did he get with his enthusiastic sales patter when standing up on those very tender little boats.

He was so used to getting soaked that he didn’t even bother to change, and just carried on.

“He was always smart – wore a tweed jacket and that sort of thing – but he needn’t have been because he was always wet. He was such a smashing bloke. He used to laugh when he fell in, as if to say, ‘Oh God, I’ve done it again.’“ Harris sold them there and then what Pam and Tony had already set their hearts on years ago as their ‘dreamboat’. It was a second-hand 19ft Dolphin for the princely sum of £495. “We wanted a boat that looked nice,” recalls Pam. “It had a wonderful big chrome bow rail and

looked very smart. But we then had a year of banging our heads. Having not had a boat before we didn’t realise you couldn’t stand up properly.”

The boat was described as four-berth, but in fact there were only two inside the cabin, both in the bow, with a small and primitive galley and enclosed toilet with sliding doors either side of the hatchway. The remaining two berths were outside on the large cockpit under the canopy which could enclose it completely. It was called Marden, but once they had bought it, they immediately renamed it Pamela’s Prize.

They also became moorers at Braunston Marina, which was where they had wanted to keep their boat. The mooring charge was the then-modest sum of 10s 6d per week. On Sunday, April 23, 1967, Pam and Tony were ready to go and made their maiden voyage – a day’s outing to Napton and back.

Once afloat the Harvards soon discovered the Napton Reservoirs above Calcutt Top Lock, which was then open countryside. Leisure boating was still in its infancy, and there were no linear moorings, which now run almost hard from Wigrams Turn to the lock. The marina below did not exist, and the top lock shop was now abandoned and starting to fall down.

The mooring above the top lock was then a popular spot with boaters for picnicking and barbecues and making communal bonfires to sit round in the evenings. “Our crowd from the marina used to go there, and we became great friends – especially with Jean and Ray Pennycuick who had a Dawncraft called Gay

Cruising on the Oxford Canal: The first canal guide th he Havards ever bought, and still in their po ossession. It was produced by Brritish Waterways affter the Oxford Ca anal had been re eprieved and BW W was anxious to encourage its leiisure use.

Lady. We used to have Daft Hat Day, when we would all wear silly hats. Ray was always varnishing. You never saw him without a paintbrush in his hand. He made a hat like a tin of varnish with a paintbrush sticking out of it. It was that sort of silliness, but it was great, wasn’t it?” There were also the clean waters of reservoirs to go swimming in – absolutely taboo today – and boating on them for the children in blow-up rubber dinghies. And Pam and Tony found a way of cooking without banging their heads. The stove and gas bottle were just taken out and reassembled on the bank.

Learning the ways of the Cut

From fellow boaters they soon began to learn some of the ways of the Cut. The first was that as there were then no BW sanitary stations and none at the marina, Tony recalled: “Before that last run in for home, and preferably after dark, we would moor up somewhere in the country and empty the contents of the chemical toilet over the towpath hedge. The hedges on the way to Napton grew ever so well. There were many good jokes about this.

“We used to take our home-made wine, we always made our own home-made wine then.

Clover was the nicest, but also elderberries and sloes – all sorts of stuff – which we picked off

the canal-side hedges and all over the place.

We didn’t have a lot of money and we couldn’t afford to moor outside the Rose & Castle in Braunston (now the Mill House) and go in with the other boaters. Instead we used to moor outside and drink our own wine. Cheeky that!”

They ventured further afield down the Oxford to Cropredy, which was still very much a country village. Where the canalside bungalows now sprawl to the north was just fields and grassy banks where they would sit and picnic. Pam recalls: “It was so different.

People today rave about Cropredy, but we don’t like it now.” But they were restricted as to where to go. “We didn’t go that far actually because Tony couldn’t have a lot of time off work.” (He was now employed as a temporary landscape gardener and the job would not see him through the winter.) “We used to try to go out on a Friday night and be back Sunday, but you just couldn’t go that far as you only had a day out and a day in. And really we just so enjoyed it by Napton Reservoir.”

Braunston Marina wore two hats. While being the first marina on the canals, it was also the base for what was to become the last working carrying fleet on the canals. Tony and Pam got to know the remaining working boat families quite well, chatting to them when they both happened to be in the yard. “We used to get on well with them.” Percy Collins painted a bottle for them, which Pam made into a lampshade and they still have on their current boat, and Arthur Bray took them on a tour of his back cabin on the Raymond.

The marina was one for all seasons. “In the winter it used to be nice because everybody got their boats out and had them in the car park because it was all cruisers then. People used to come and paint the bottoms and all that sort of thing. No one had work done by the yard apart from probably engine work.

“When we first started canal boating, people away from the boatyard thought we were mad.

“What do you want to go on the mucky ol’ cut for? You don’t want to have anything to do with them boaties!’ But we loved it.”

22

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

St Pancras Basin, London A thriving area weaving together history, community and a love and respect for canal heritage.

By Alice Elgie

OPENED in stages from 1816 onward, The Regent’s Canal was built to link the Grand Junction Canal’s Paddington Arm with the Thames at Limehouse and for 140 years the canal transported coal, goods and building materials from the major industrial cities of the North to the capital.

Nowadays this history is hidden beneath a green oasis of calm amidst a busy city, and yet it is still remembered and celebrated. One place where this is particularly so is St Pancras Basin, which is perhaps why in 2024 it was deemed a perfect location to film an episode of Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year!

Built by the Midland Railway Company in 1869, the basin (formerly known as Midland Railway Basin) was used as a location to load coal mined in the Midlands coalfields, from railway wagons to waiting barges, from where it is believed to have been distributed throughout London. It eventually fell into disuse but in 1958 was given a new lease of life and reopened for pleasure craft.

Professing to be a ‘friendly canal community in the heart of London’ it certainly lives up to this expectation, home as it is to many long-standing and committed members.

Hon vice-president, Sasha Keir, joined St Pancras Cruising Club (SPCC) in 1983 when her mother, Denise Keir, bought a flat in Camden. Sasha shared with me: “A friend sold us his wooden cruiser, which was moored at St Pancras.

The boat was called Rackwick and was very dilapidated but having just set up a theatre costume business in Clerkenwell, joining the club seemed a good way to make friends that weren’t work-related.”

Sasha has been a loyal member from that day on and, since 1996, has also played an active role in neighbouring Angel’s yearly canal festival, originally alongside Beryl Windsor who has since died.

This event was first launched in 1986 by local resident, Crystal Hale, as a way to save City Road Basin from being infilled and built over. She started the festival as a party in her back garden and it

St Pancras lock as it is today.

ended up funding the creation of Islington Boat Club and the Angel Community Canalboat Club. Sasha told me how this has grown: “It is a true community party celebrating the canal environment and the values of neighbourhood. It’s like an urban village fete; very family oriented and free to attend. There’s a regatta with lots of have-a-go boating activities, Punch and Judy, juggling, live music and Morris dancing. It is always on the first Sunday of September and this year is going to be held on the 7th.”

This enthusiasm for maintaining and celebrating our canals is strong and offers a clear example for potential future members of SPCC. Relatively new member and vice commodore of the club, David Leppard, discovered the club when he retired from full-time work: “I was looking for voluntary positions and found an opportunity to be a lock keeper at St Pancras. The training I undertook was administered

by Andrew Phasey who was vicecommodore at SPCC at the time, so one thing led to another.”

When David commissioned and launched his own narrowboat in 2020 he automatically became a full member of this diverse and vibrant community: “Members come from all walks of life, from London cabbies to artists, retired professionals to carpenters, TV producers to musicians.” No doubt it’s David’s natural curiosity for the industrial heritage of this location, as well as his knowledge of the area gained through his professional work pre-retirement as a commercial

Above: St Pancras Waterpoint relocation. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED BY SPCC property consultant, which has led to him also becoming a guide who gives talks and presentations to the public on the historic Waterpoint, relocated to St Pancras Basin in 2001.

Built to supply water to steam trains visiting the station, it was designed by the office of architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Scott was behind the magnificent Midland Grand Hotel that forms the frontispiece of St Pancras and the Waterpoint’s ornate brickwork and elaborate detailing indicative of this style was deemed too precious to be lost when, in 1997 it was threatened with demolition due to the development of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. English Heritage intervened and an elaborate plan was hatched that saw the building separated into sections and moved 700 metres by road on a transporter to its new home overlooking the basin.

David told me: “Nowadays we hold

a lease on the Waterpoint which requires us to open the building to the public on a minimum of six days a year.” Visitors to these open days are in for a treat as they get to step back in time and find out more about this unique piece of architectural and engineering history.

In addition to open days and regular club events all held in the new clubhouse opened in April 2024, built and paid for by memberships, SPCC has also gained a reputation for their yearly Thames cruises. Sasha Keir told me more: “SPCC began their Thames cruises in the late 1980s with the first using the old ship lock at Limehouse before it closed. That event saw 42 boats in the lock at the same time!” Since then there have been at least two good opportunities each year to cruise the Tideway from Limehouse to Brentford and as the club became more experienced

Alice Elgie is a writer with a passion for our waterways, both past and present. She lives for part of the year on a narrowboat where she relishes the nature and community found on the canals: slowintotheseasons. substack.com they felt confident in inviting other boats to join them. “Our Tideway programmes are published well in advance to other clubs and have become regular events. The cruise is always preceded by a full briefing, usually at the Cruising Association clubhouse at Limehouse, so that the event is as safe as possible.” With a 100% safety record I would certainly be happy to hop aboard myself!

It seems that St Pancras Basin is as thriving in 2025 as it was in 1869, albeit for different reasons.

Without a doubt it is the committed members, with their love and respect for the waterways – both past and present –that have kept this landmark firmly on the waterways map.

Special thanks to Tony Hay, hon secretary of SPCC, for his time.

Further info: www.stpancrascc.co.uk Left: SPCC volunteers at the Angel festival control point with the Mayor of Islington, 2023.

The basin as it is today.

Lock keeper, Fred Plant, June 1963 – the last lock keeper at St Pancras lock.

23

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Spreading community spirit: Spirit of Endeavour volunteers Sally Goodman, Andy Hayford, Cameron Wilson and David Berry. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

Spirit of Endeavour Sally Clifford meets the charity spreading community spirit with enjoyable boat trips through a picturesque part of Yorkshire.

KNOWING the benefits a tranquil boat trip along the canal can bring to those who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity is a positive reminder of their purpose. Positive feedback is always appreciated, but one particular piece of correspondence had a profound impact on this voluntary ‘workforce.’

For lifelong boater

Andy Hayford, skipper and volunteer with the community boating charity, Spirit of Endeavour, the letter received from the family of one of its previous passengers evokes emotion as he pauses briefly recalling its contents.

Written by a passenger’s daughter who had accompanied her mum’s care home group on the boat trip, she spoke of her mum’s enjoyment of being back on the water again. “Her mum and dad had a boat for most of their life – it was their joy.

She said how her mum hadn’t stopped talking about the trip. She said: ‘You gave my mum the best day of her life,’” Andy recalls.

Care home and community groups are among the regular passengers taking trips along the 10-mile stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal through the picture postcard setting of Skipton where Spirit of Endeavour is based. The charity’s custombuilt 53ft widebeam boat has the capacity to carry 12 passengers, including four wheelchairs, to destinations including Gargrave and Kildwick, with a special fish and chip trip to Bradley stopping by Bizzie Lizzie’s fish and chip shop in Skipton town centre. Trips run from April to October.

The vessel, Endeavour, was originally purchased

Final journey: Richard’s Endeavour carrying the charity’s founder, Richard Clarke, on his final journey. PHOTO: SALLY GOODMAN

Flying the flag: The memory of one of the charity’s late founders, Richard Clarke, lives on. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD and operated by SCAD – Skipton and Craven Action for Disability. It relaunched as a community boat charity in 2021 thanks to the foresight of one of its late founders, Richard Clarke. Following Richard’s death in 2023, the boat – which carried his coffin along part of the waterway he loved through Bingley for his funeral – was renamed Richard’s Endeavour.

It was an emotional but fitting occasion as Sally Goodman, the charity’s first and only female skipper, recalls. “They took him through his favourite stretch of woodland. It was a very fitting send-off for him and they decorated the boat in all his favourite flowers,” says Sally.

“Richard was passionate and we are all passionate about enabling people to get out on the canal who wouldn’t normally be able to get out. Our core markets are nursing homes and care homes, special needs groups, community groups and families.”

Sally has first-hand experience of the benefits the trips bring, having accompanied her husband who is in a care home with dementia.

She says the trips are particularly stimulating for those spending time within

At the helm: Sally Goodman, the charity’s first and only female helmsman. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

the same four walls, or who haven’t been on a boat before. “They get to see this lovely scenery and it is a nice break for the carers too. It’s a tonic,” says Sally.

Last year the charity transported around 1000 passengers but it is always looking to expand those numbers – along with volunteers, skippers and helms. Currently there are around 36 specially trained volunteers, ranging in ages, who operate on a flexible basis to deliver trips seven days a week during the season.

Fellow skipper Cameron Wilson, who has spent his life around boats, volunteers with the charity with his wife Estelle. They also run kayaking and sailing activities with Bingley Sea Scouts, and see the many benefits volunteering brings. “There will be a sense of accomplishment. They have good quality training and they become skilful crew members.

They get something out of the fact they are volunteering,” says Cameron.

Richard’s Endeavour is also available for hire – the day I visited the boat was beautifully decorated to welcome a bridal party for the post ceremony reception, a celebratory two-and-a-halfhour boat trip to Bradley. It is

the first wedding the charity has hosted in its current form – volunteer David Berry’s daughter Beth held her wedding reception on the boat when it was under the auspices of SCAD four years ago.

Chatting in the spacious confines of the cabin, with its compact kitchen where passengers can bring and prepare their own food and refreshments, David talks of the charity’s plans to eventually replace the 23-year-old boat. Despite charging for trips, the charity remains a non-profit organisation solely reliant on volunteers.

All funds raised cover the boat’s maintenance and mooring costs which is why the charity is actively seeking funding to purchase a new custom-built craft. “It is hard because we are trying to keep the price very affordable.

Everyone’s budgets are tight so we charge the minimum we can afford to keep the charity running. It is a difficult balance,” says Sally.

But for passengers and the volunteers, it is worth it. “It is an escape from four walls – a getaway from the monotony of day-to-day life,” adds Sally.

For more information, or to get involved, visit www. spiritofendeavour.org.uk

Scenery: Richard’s Endeavour sails through picturesque scenery at Niffany, Skipton. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

24

May 2025

Electrical reconciliation IWA Sustainable Boating Group member Jonathan Mosse continues his off-grid boating series.

NOW is as good a time as any for a wee bit of reconciliation. I don’t mean making up with all those people on my moorings that I’ve recently fallen out with! No, simply taking the opportunity to set my electrical demands over the winter, against what I’ve actually generated over the same period from the sun.

Last year, give or take, everything balanced out nicely. Around the shortest day, when things appeared somewhat electrically sketchy, having 30kW of (largely unused) battery storage capacity saved the day and demand was nicely balanced by supply over the most challenging months of December and January.

Not so this year where the same two months clocked up nearly a 50kW deficit between them and I had to go out on a leccy scrounge to my fellow moorers!

Why the difference? Several factors really which, when taken together, explain the deficit. Dominant was generally less sun than during the identical period last year, and that in combination with a change in mooring site, where there was noticeable shading at the beginning and end of the short period of sunlight these two months will only provide, no matter where you are.

As for actual numbers: at the end of October 2024 the batteries were brim full which meant that, with only 15kW produced in November, I was able to make up for the shortfall in the 37kW I use on an average monthly basis.

Consequently, I was still in credit at the beginning of December (during which my panels produced a positively miserly 10kW) to the tune of five or so usable kilowatts, leaving

A supply and demand snapshot on a totally sunless day in mid-March.

PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

me to borrow 32kW! January proved to be not quite so sad, providing 16kW (and the need to borrow a further 21kW) while in February I almost broke even at 32kW: just 5kW adrift of my requirements!

With a March total already at 50kW, and still a week to go until the month’s end, I can

‘Green fuel’ ship leaves traditional vessels in its wake THE WORLD’S first dualfuelled ammonia-powered ship arrived at the Canal & River Trust’s West India Docks last month, marking an important step forward in maritime decarbonisation.

Fortescue’s Singaporeflagged vessel Green Pioneer arrived in the UK to demonstrate the viability of ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel. The vessel is the first of its kind, powered by four-stroke engines, two of which are capable of being fuelled by ammonia and diesel.

The Canal & River Trust

was delighted to host this trailblazing vessel in the heart of London where it showcased how the maritime industry is adapting to achieve decarbonisation and net zero goals. The visit demonstrates the international reputation of Canal & River Trust’s West India Docks and its ability to handle high-profile shipping.

Jamie Jackson, Canal & River Trust harbour master for West India Docks, said: “It was my pleasure to welcome Fortescue Green Pioneer to London. I am

proud of the work our team is doing at West India Docks to enhance its reputation as a leading London port for a wide range of customers, from superyachts and warships to innovative vessels like Green Pioneer.”

Ammonia, a zero-carbon fuel, has the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions when used for shipping.

An ammonia-powered vessel exemplifies how shipping can become more sustainable, an ambitious but essential mission fully backed by UK Government.

confidently predict that I will now be motoring again, through to November. So that’s a deficit of 57kW I’ve clocked up in total over the past winter.

It also means that I could cease to rely on my HVO-fired stove for cooking, heating and hot water… well, certainly the former!

However, having grown rather ‘nesh’ in my old age – in combination with Scotland’s somewhat cooler climate – the stove stays lit for another month and I can think about repaying some of that borrowed electricity.

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

This is actually an interesting concept worthy, I feel, of further exploration. With the possible option to plug into a landline, for the two to three electrically barren months of a year, usually goes the need to pay a daily standing charge: another reason to develop a borrowing/repayment strategy.

From day one of my move to being off-grid, I wired a fused outlet into my boat’s electrics so I can now start feeding leccy back to my kindly neighbour, even metering it as we go to determine the point of equity! There is no doubt that by late spring, she will have been paid back with interest …

I will also splurge with the load dump I have installed, which allows me to heat copious quantities of hot water in my calorifier with the surplus power. But the overall concept is intriguing: that of sharing energy, not just with the grid but also between other boats on a mooring.

Beyond this very ‘local’ approach is the possibility of importing power, not only from the obvious direct boat-connected sources of sun and wind, but also from an electric vehicle (EV) and a domestic dwelling, which might in its own right be enjoying renewable electricity from roof-mounted solar panels.

For this form of power synergy to become reality, there is just one, as yet unmentioned, ingredient required: Vehicle to Load (V2L) functionality installed in the boater’s EV. Now becoming common on EVs, V2L can be viewed as providing a useful ‘electrical wheelbarrow’ for carting leccy from one application to another, whether it be grid-generated or fullfat organic from wind or solar!

While we’re becoming used to plugging our EVs into a home or public charger, the concept of using the battery capacity of the EV in its own right – to do things other than just getting from A to B – is still very new. However, pretty much overnight, it allows us to maximise the use of our renewable generation and storage capacity across multiple uses and, potentially, locations.

For six months of the year there can be an average daily surplus of 3kW which could go towards a typical 9kW daily propulsion requirement.

PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

Green Pioneer, which was berthed at the Canal & River Trust’s West India Docks last month, showcasing its use of sustainable energy. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Output from 880kW of bi-facial PV panels, mid-March, on a predominantly cloudy day. PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

BOATING DIRECTORY All your boating needs from marinas to products and services

BOATING DIRECTORY 25

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE, CALL EMMA ON 01507 529453

DON’T FORGET TO BOOK YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE CRICK ISSUE (Distributed at the show).

Deadline: Wednesday 7th May 2025

ADVERTISERS INDEX MARINAS & MOORINGS Blisworth Marina Droitwich Spa Marina Fradley Marina Geomac Harefield Marina Hill Farm Marina Lakeland Leisure Estates Leicester Marina Northampton Marina Overwater Marina Sherborne Wharf Swanley Bridge Marina Tewkesbury Marina Tingdene Marinas White Mills Marina Yelvertoft Marina PRODUCTS & SERVICES Anglo Welsh BBL Batteries Beta Marine Birmingham & Midland Marine Services Bristol Boats Debdale Wharf Marina Elite Furnishings Evesham Marina Filter Mania Harworth Heating Heating South West High Line Yachting

26 26 31 30 31 31 28 26 27 30 29 27 26 29 27 30 41 33 31 35 33 41 40 39 39 35 33 36

Hillmorton Boat Services JD Boat Services Kate Boats Kinver Canopies Lee Sanitation Limekiln Chandlers Machine Mart Midland Chandlers Miracle Leisure Products Multicell Nautical Training Norbury Wharf Otherton Boat Haven Ownashare Cruising Pillings Lock Marina Predator Batteries Realdiesels Redhill Marina Redhill Marina Residential Boat Owners Association Shoreline UK Streethay Wharf Symphony Coatings Tankbusters Tradline Rope & Fenders Travelsat Wessex Chemical Factors INSURANCE & FINANCE Craftinsure Noble Insurance

44 41 37 38 33 40 45 32 41 46 39 45 44 39 42 34 43 40 45 37 35 43 43 43 37 44 37 47 47

£380 £120 Inland Waterways Crew £120

www.bookwhen.com/rya

• Fenders • Bannister Ropes • Fencing/Decking Ropes • Ropes & Twines • Craft • Mooring Lines Get Knotted have NOT gone away, they have just moved their production facility to their home workshop.

We aim to continue producing traditional ropes and fenders to the same high standard and competitive prices.

Contact: William Henstone on the contact info below or we can meet you if you prefer.

Tel: 01926 410588 email: enquiries@getknotted.co.uk www.fragrantfenders.co.uk Warwick Top Lock, Lower Cape, Warwick CV34 5DP

www.foxboats.co.uk 01354 652770

* Boat Blacking * Welding * Joinery * Painting * Day / Holiday Hire

* Coal / Diesel / Calor Gas * Moorings 25ft - 70ft * Elsan / Pumpout / Water * Toilet / Laundry Block * Chandlery

Based in Cambridgeshire, at the heart of the Middle Levels, between the Rivers Nene and Great Ouse

DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR JUNE ‘25 ISSUE!

Booking deadline: Wednesday 7th May 2025 Contact Emma on 01507 529453

26 MARINAS & MOORINGS

www.leicestermarina.co.uk

Berthing available for leisure moorers Please enquire for prices: 0116 2606166 or office@raynswayproperties.co.uk The marina offers you: • Diesel • Gas • Coal • Pump out and Elsan • Laundrette • Shower/Toilet Block • Paint bay

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

C V on rick us a isit St Bo t th an at e d W Sh W ow 24

ONE OF LEICESTERSHIRES HIDDEN GEMS AND A HAVEN FOR PEACE AND QUIET

May 2025

A marina that offers you a choice

Leicester Marina, Pinfold Road, Thurmaston LE4 8AS

A family owned marina set in rural Worcestershire, but minutes away from the M5, gives all boaters great travel opportunities.

The 238 berth marina is located on the Droitwich Canals, ideally situated for great cruising albeit for a short break or long holidays. It is within easy walking distance of the Spa Town of Droitwich.

Set in beautiful countryside at the junction of the River Severn & the River Avon in Gloucestershire. Flood protected moorings, water and electric at berths, fuel, pump-out, and staff on hand 7 days a week. Gantry crane and work area for blacking.

MOORINGS AND BOAT SALES For viewings and information please call 01684 293737 or email: sales@tewkesbury-marina.co.uk

WWW.TEWKESBURY-MARINA.CO.UK Follow Us

Blisworth Marina Cruising mooring - Go cruising for 3 months and get 20% discount Pay for 2 years and get a discount of 10% on 2nd year

This marina offers you ■ Security for you and your boat ■ Full length jetties, in a non flood environment ■ First class facilities, including luxury shower block and launderette ■ Shop and Chandlery

■ Elsan, Pumpout, Diesel, Water ■ Boat Blacking options available ■ Hardstanding, Service Area, and Cranage Pad facilities ■ Calor Gas Stockist ■ Caravan Motorhome CL site

Widebeam berths available

www.droitwichspamarina.co.uk Tel: 07970 626807 or 01905 317250 For Boat Sales please visit our website Blisworth Arm NN7 3FG www.blisworthmarina.co.uk info@blisworthmarina.co.uk 01604 879827

Droitwich Spa Marina Ltd Hanbury Road, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 7DU info@droitwichspamarina.co.uk Tel: 01905 317250 Mobile: 07970 626807 www.droitwichspamarina.co.uk

MARINAS & MOORINGS 27

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Northampton Marina

TPIF

The ideal location for exploring East Anglia’s Waterways Town centre location in park surroundings

Award winning, family run marina on the River Nene in Earls Barton.

Call us on 07867 580129 to arrange a visit or to make an enquiry.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday & Sunday 10am to 4pm www.visitanglianwaterways.org www.northamptonmarina.co.uk

Discover Our Idyllic Retreat

t: 01604 812057 e: info@whitemillsmarina.co.uk

www.whitemillsmarina.co.uk *For full terms and conditions, please visit our website

28 MARINAS & MOORINGS

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

re We A

re ’ u Yo

r u o o t d e t i v in

2025

. . s t n e Ev

ndly!

Dog Frie Crick Boat Show: 23rd - 26th May Visit our stand, tour our boats (including a brand new widebeam built in partnership with Kingsground - winner of last year’s “Favourite Boat in Show”), meet the Lakeland Leisure team and find your dream boat.

Barton Marina Open Day: 21st June Experience live music, food and drink, meet the friendly team and boating industry experts, explore our top of the range facilities, view our residential and leisure moorings, visit our neighbouring businesses around the marina, and check out the boats and floating lodges for sale! bartonmarina.co.uk

Roydon Marina Village Open Day: 19th July After the resounding success of last years event, join us again to enjoy live music, stalls, varied food and drink options, view our available moorings, meet the knowledgeable team, industry experts, and browse the new and used boats and lodges for sale! roydonmarinavillage.co.uk

Visit us at

Image: Tattenhall Marina, Chester

• First-class Moorings

Spain

• New & Used Boats For Sale • 8 Sales Locations & 5 Inland Marinas

Proud to be part of the Lakeland Leisure family View all of our currently available boats at lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk

MARINAS & MOORINGS 29

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Sherborne Street, Birmingham B16 8DE 0121 455 6163 / 0121 454 5367 www.sherbornewharf.co.uk or email@sherbornewharf.co.uk

Moorings available, special rates for new customers

Prime mooring’s in the centre of Birmingham’ Canal system. Secure site, with all services available, and easy access to the lively city of Birmingham.

Just a 2 minuet walk, to the fantastic night life of Restaurants, clubs and bars, Places of interest, the International Convention Centre, also known as the ICC, off the famous board street, in Birmingham, the new library, the Cresent theatre, The Ikon gallery for art, all just a short walk away, 3- 4 minutes, All public services are available from the streets outside and you can jump on the tram from Board street. Wolverhampton, or to new street. The choice is yours.

Mooring in sherborne wharf, is quiet and peaceful, with long term residents, who have established a life here in the Marine. We are an established Company, who have been here in Birmingham for over 30yrs, friendly neighbours who get together and enjoy summer evenings on the towpath socialising, sharing the evening sun and a drink, responsibly, Service’s are based on the main line outside the round house and Distillery Pub, with a small chandlery, coal, diesel, Gas and pump out availabe on a daily basis, please note pump outs are not allowed after 11.30am, the facilities are small but can supply you with what you need.

We have no onsite parking, however parking can be found, to rent with in the access to the site and around the Marina privately.

Boat services, we have a dry dock that can be hired, for blacking, surveys, or mechanical work required. We have the contact for boat surveys’ gas inspections and repairs should they be required.

CONTACT US ON 0121 455 6163 FOR ANY ENQUIRES

DISCOVER

THE FREEDOM OF BOATING

HARTFORD MARINA | PYRFORD MARINA | THAMES & KENNET MARINA | UPTON MARINA | STOURPORT MARINA

Your perfect narrowboat marina awaits. Enjoy premium facilities, onsite boat sales, berth holder benefits and direct access to major inland waterways with Tingdene Marinas.

Turn your boating dreams into reality today.

BOATS, BERTHS & BENEFITS www.tingdeneboating.com | 01933 422479

PRICES

FROZEN Until March

2026

30 MARINAS & MOORINGS

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

CAEN HILL MARINA • 248 berths located on Kennet & Avon canal

Inland canal boat marina, Northamptonshire

Leisure Moorings at reasonable rates

• Near to Devizes Wiltshire T: 01380 827062 E: caenhill@land-water.co.uk

SHAKESPEARE MARINA • Flood proof moorings

• 250 berths located on river Avon • 10 mins walk from Stratford-upon-Avon • Waters & elec hook ups to each berth • Free wi-fi • Laundry • Showers • Fuel sales • Pump out • Lakeland Leisure boat brokerage T: 07967 461057 E: shakespeare@land-water.co.uk

NORTHWICH QUAY • 50 berths located on river Weaver • Centre of Northwich, Cheshire T: 07967 461038 E: northwich@land-water.co.uk

Situated in the rolling countryside of Northamptonshire on the 23 mile lock free summit of the Grand Union Leicester section - Yelvertoft Marina is set in beautiful tranquil countryside, within 5 minutes of the M1 J18, yet without noise or inconvenience of major traffic.

www.yelvertoft-marina.co.uk Email: office@yelvertoft-marina.com Tel: 01788 822292

At the heart of the Shropshire Union

Touring park Touring Park

Holiday Lodges Glamping Wagons

Long and short term moorings

www.overwatermarina.co.uk

Coole Lane, Audlem, Cheshire, CW5 8AY telephone 01270 812677

fully serviced moorings engineering workshop cafe

MARINAS & MOORINGS / PRODUCTS & SERVICES 31

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Hill Farm Marina

FRADLEY MARINA 07941 167 087

South Stratford Canal The View Restaurant is now fully open www.theview-eat.co.uk

Private, tranquil moorings nestled in the Staffordshire countryside just a stone’s throw from historic Fradley Junction on the popular Trent and Mersey Canal.

• Enjoy private access to a traditional 200 acre beef and sheep farm • Dogs run free in designated areas.

• Watch the changing seasons, the wildlife and the animals on the farm • Enjoy the complete peace, freedom and tranquillity of being in the countryside • Access some great lock free cruising for day trips, weekend or longer voyages • Easy access to motorway network, buses and trains • Onsite laundry, Hairdressers • Members benefit with a discount at our popular Restaurant

• 60 full length moorings • Water and 16amp electric • Modern shower block • Car Parking • Electric Gates • Workshop & Slipway • Elsan • CCTV • Laundry • Fuel • Nationwide Boat Sales brokerage Our workshop and slipway is taking bookings for blacking • painting • servicing • surveys • repairs • new boat fit out • interior remodelling • furniture & cabinet making To contact the workshop please call Fradley Narrowboats on 07542 824262 or email fradleyboats@gmail.com

www.fradleymarina.co.uk |

fradleymarina | 07941 167 087

HAREFIELD MA HAREFIELD MARINA ARINA

Bridge 180, Grand Union Canal, Harefield UB9 6PD Tel: 01895 822036 muskmarine@hotmail.com www.harefieldmarina.co.uk

It goes without saying....

• A secure place to moor your boat, and park your car • Luxurious showers, communal areas, pump out and fuel etc.

• Free unlimited WIFI • Electricity and water connections • Pump-out, fuel, coal, wood and gas available

Please watch the progress www.hillfarmmarina.co.uk email info@hillfarmmarina.co.uk or call David on 07971 118953

Facilities include:- Pump out - Chandlery - Boat sales/ - Slipway brokerage (up to 65ft) - Covered wet dock - Engine inboard/ outboard repairs - Water and electric - gas and coal points - Diesel

200 secure, non residential rural moorings in secluded countryside setting 5 mins from M25/M40.

One days cruising from the Thames.

Your needs . . .

Seagoing

Saildrives

Inland Waterways

Marine Generating Sets

Spares & Support

37 years of customer centred focus, listening to needs and delivering long term value solutions.

Specialists in customer advice and support at all points of a products life.

Superb after-sales service via our network of approved engine installers and spares stockists.

D I E S E L

14 to 98 HP Greenline keel cooled diesel propulsion engines with mechanical or hydraulic gearboxes. Full hydraulic drive option available.

Super silent acoustic housings, 3.5 or 5.0 kVA travel power and bow thruster options available.

REDUCE CO2 BY UP TO 90%! Compatible for continuous use with HVO fuel.*

H Y B R I D

43 to 98 HP Greenline keel cooled diesel propulsion engines with single or twin 48v hybrid electric drive motor/generator(s).

*If other FAME bio fuels are used or mixed use of Diesel, HVO or FAME bio fuels may occur we strongly advise to make use of our alternative fuel kit option. Available for new or retro fit-able to existing engines.

E L E C T R I C

E-Drive electric propulsion, 14kW & NEW 21kW constant electrical propulsion power.

Fully integratable with 48v battery management inverter charger systems.

Fully integratable with BetaGen/BetaSet generators.

5 year combustion engine & 3 year E-Drive self-service warranty, recreational use only terms & conditions apply.

. . . our tailored solutions delivering reliability and peace of mind

www.betamarine.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1452 723492 Email: sales@betamarine.co.uk

32 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 33

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Only LeeSan truly specialise in toilets Looking for a water-free Toilet option ?

Incineration toilet adapted for when nature calls

Miller Business Park, Station Road, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 4DA

Now powered by Electric, Gas and Diesel

New Concept Boats 2025

20ft

sales@leesan.com T: 01295 770000

bristolboatsltd@gmail.com 07423 818675

BBL BATTERIES

LEADING BRANDS - QUALITY PRODUCTS - SERVICE EXCELLENCE

DEEP CYCLE

ENGINE E START

SOLAR

CH HARGING

BATTERY

Bristol 0117 955 0535

bristol@bblbatteries.co.uk

Exeter 01392 254 418

exeter@bblbatteries.co.uk

WWW.BBLBATTERIES.CO.UK

Plymouth 01752 338 501

plymouth@bblbatteries.co.uk

Swindon 01793 616 646

swindon@bblbatteries.co.uk

Truro 01872 270 011

truro@bblbatteries.co.uk

SALES@BBLBATTERIES.CO.UK

34 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

REVOLUTIONISING THE BATTERY INDUSTRY Predator Batteries are proud to introduce an extensive range of specially selected Lead Acid and Lithium batteries, designed for the Marine market. The Lead Acid range starts with the popular flooded Leisure battery, upgrades to the 'AGM Predator DPX' and concludes with the ultimate Carbon Gel Technology - 'Quasar' from Eternity Technologies. In Lithium choose from the standard 'value for money' range, or upgrade with the ultimate in Lithium power - the fully waterproof IP67-rated 'Predator XBH/67' for complete safety and extended life.

Visit our website to review your options: www.predator-batteries.co.uk

DPX

AGM

The Predator DPX range features advanced AGM batteries with Carbon and Tin additives, enhancing Engine starting and Bow Thruster power and deep cycle capability, hence their dual-purpose designation. They provide excellent OUR 3 FL AGSHIP RANGES

The Quasar range from Eternity Technologies offers the ultimate Lead Acid QUASAR

CARBON GEL

value for money with extended life.

battery. Carbon Nano Tube technology (CNT), extra deep cycle, fast recharge, starting ability, and the very best for long distance cruising boats and Live-on-Boards (often not connected to shore power)

IP67

LITHIUM

Predator XBH/67 – the ultimate in Lithium technology.

Fully waterproof up to a depth of 1 metre, Bluetooth, Cold Climate Heating, CANbus and RS485 battery monitoring integration. Available in 12, 24, 36 and 48V options.

WATERPROOF TO A DEPTH OF 1 METRE

Special Towpath 10% Online Discount, use Voucher code: TOW10

Consumer and Trade enquiries welcome Tel: 01458 781726 / 07368 373549 (Technical Hotline) Email: enquiries@predator-batteries.co.uk

To view and buy from our comprehensive range of batteries, visit us online www.predator-batteries.co.uk

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 35

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

AY S AT E R W B L E AND W A Y A IN L T O R S A V A IL R – G IN UC T T R A IN L A D Y IN S T R A O B W – NARRO N COURSES MA HELMS

Birmingham & Midland Marine Services Ltd provide specialist skipper, coxswain & water safety training; Plus: Commercial inland, Openwater marine support to industry.

SE SER R V IC ES

B OAT TRA IN ING CO M MM MERCI E RCI AL & LLE EII S SURE URE Narrowboat, Workboat, Passenger boat and Powerboat training courses are available via our RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman, RYA Powerboat, MCA Boat Master, and InSTR Rescue boat schemes.

RYA First Aid & VHF SRC by appointment.

O CC U PAT PATII O NAL N AL WAT ER SAFE SA F ET T Y & RE RES S CUE TRA T RAII N NII NG NG Co ur s es d el ive re d vi a t he O ut rea c h Re s cu e a n d I ns t i t ute of Se a rch a n d Tec hni c a l Re s c u e. DE F R A & C D M Regu lat i o n s 2 015 compli an t & HS E en do r sed s c hem es .

CO M M ERCI A L S ER V ICES P lea se s ee t he web si te

12 Vo V Volt lt DC Fr F Fridges idges s F eezers and Fr Freezers ffrom om Capacities fr 34 to 270 Litres T p Rated fo To fforr Top Energ r y Eff rg ffi ff ficiency y Energy Efficiency Built and Te T sted Tested in the UK

ad ders ers The Industry Leaders in DC Refrigeration n Since 1996 Contact us for more information on 01902 544329 or office@midlandmarine.co.uk

Or visit our website: www.midlandmarine.co.uk

Spring into action with a Bubble Stove Stoves, Cookers & Boilers + Accessories

Visit our website for the full range of solid fuel & oil stoves

www.harworthheating.co.uk 01302 742520 contact@harworthheating.co.uk

www.shoreline-marine.co.uk w ww ww. ww w.shore r lilin re ine-mari rin ri ine.co.uk

01903 73 7 733877 3877

36 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

FULLY SERVICED CRUISING AND RESIDENTIAL MOORINGS AND FULL BOATYARD SERVICES • Iver (Slough Arm) and Northolt (Paddington arm) • Secure sites with private parking • Delivery of gas, solid fuel and diesel direct to your boat • Electricity, water, elsan and pump out • Showers and laundry • Chandlery • Mechanical, electrical, and carpentry work undertaken • Craning, grit blasting and blacking • Two part epoxy hull treatment • Fuel polishing service

sales@high-line.co.uk 01753 651496 www.high-line.co.uk THE BOATYARD MANSION LANE, IVER, SL0 9RG

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

NARROWBOATS AND WIDEBEAMS FOR SALE IN WEST LONDON FOR SELLERS • Free moorings • Sales location with established footfall • Open 6 days / week • Trade Plates for unlicensed craft • Pre sales preparation and repairs FOR BUYERS • Free guidance and advice • Comprehensive handover • Secure clients bank account • ABYA qualified brokerage staff • Industry standard documentation PRIVATE BUYER’S SERVICE • If you are buying privately, we can offer the following services: • Advice on all aspects of purchase • Provision of documentation • Secure Clients bank account • Bespoke service – as much or as little as you want, priced accordingly

kb@vcmarine.co.uk 01753 652502 / 07860 480079 www.vcmarine.co.uk

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 37

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

DO YOU LIVE AFLOAT?

TRADLINE ROPE AND FENDERS Treat your boat this Spring

Are you worried about the future of your lifestyle?

We are the only membership association set up, in 1963, to protect the interests of live-aboard boaters. We need your support to be able to continue our work. So join us, in promotion, development, representation and protection of our chosen lifestyle. Interested?

Our mooring line kits make a fantastic set of starter or replacement ropes. Choose your rope lengths and choice of 7 colour combinations. Fully spliced with an option for mooring chains

For current offers see

www.tradline.co.uk

See more information on our website www.rboa.org.uk. or telephone 0330 057 7180 to find out how to join and get involved in the safeguarding of the future freedom of living afloat.

Annual membership from only £30.00.

Tradline Rope & Fenders, Braunston Marina, Northamptonshire NN11 7JH Tel: 01788 891761. Email: tradline@btconnect.com

The Residential Boat Owners’ Association Studio 2 Waterside Court Third Avenue Burton on Trent DE14 2WQ

Sponsored by All Wills and Trusts.co.uk

CLEAR BIO TOILET FLUID

100% biodegradable, non -hazardous hazardous to

The e natural solution

people, pets & the e planet.

when wh hen nature calls!

available Eco-refills ava ilable

For caravans, motorhomes, motorhome es, boats & narrowboats.

Breaks down wa waste, stops

Cassette waste/flush tanks. tanks.

odours, mould & limescale.

Lubricates seals

www.wessexboatstore.co.uk

Kate Boats

One stop shop for your boat!

The same skills that keep our hire boat fleet running reliably and looking good can be available for your boat.

• Blacking • Welding • General engineering • Engine servicing • Engine replacement • Painting from touch up to a complete repaint • Electrical repairs and installations • Gas safe engineer on site • Heating repairs and replacement • Internal repairs and refit • BSS and hull surveys organised

Bookings for all aspects of work now being taken for 2025

www.kateboats.com 01926 492968 (Stockton Top Marina, Warwickshire)

38 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

PAYMENT PLANS NOW AVAILABLE

kc

inver anopies

more, we’ve got it al d n a s r l co v ve o c t ered Boa Not everyone offers the same benefits So, why choose Kinver canopies to make your boat covers?

• Doorstep discount permanently available • Offers for associated marinas and boat builders • Exceptional Customer care • Full vehicle fleet so warranty work is quickly addressed • Our own range of after-market cover care • Customer payment plans

• Decades of experience • 5 star Google reviews • Full payment on completion only • Minimal deposit required to secure order • We don’t charge an extra milage fee • 5 year material guarantee

Product Launches

Raised Semi Trad

Pram Hood

Framed Cratch

Come and chat with us at our stand on the Quayside at the Crick Boat Show (Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon)

Book in to our Masterclass in the Crick marquee - Saturday 11.50am - 12.20pm, where we will explain choosing the right boat cover, material and designs. Plus aftercare and repair including our exciting new product launch details.

Boat cover and cleaning tips talk at The Aquavista, Tiller and Tankards stand - Sunday 11.15am (Quayside)

“Design and Craftsmanship to be proud of.“ sales@kinvercanopies.co.uk

www.kinvercanopies.co.uk

CALL NOW

01384 394469

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 39

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

https://ebay.co.uk/str/filtermanialimited

Barrus Shire with Yanmar 3cyl Series Engine Air / Oil / Fuel Filter Kit ……………………....£40.00

Canaline 38 52 with Kioti Engine Air / Oil / Fuel Filter Kit …………………...……..£38.00

Beta Marine 28 38 with Kubota 05 Series Engine Isuzu 28 70 (original style not inc. 70HP) Air / Oil / Fuel Filter (without Primer) .… £36.00 Air / Oil / Fuel Filter (without Primer) Kit.. £28.00 Sample kits shown, filters & kits for many more engines. Huge Cross Reference Database!

API CC Engine Oils—Quality Leisure & Start Batteries In Stock!

FilterMania Limited, Unit 8 Rose Business Centre, Wolverhampton Road, Acton Gate, Stafford. ST17 9HQ Tel: (01785) 226969 &/or email: sales@filtermania.co.uk

Nautical Training run RYA and non-RYA courses for: • Inland waterways, Narrowboat Cruiser • Powerboat NEW BASE Based at Mercia Marina - Willington, Derbyshire Farndon - Newark , Nottinghamshire

• Classroom courses including Diesel engine, VHF first aid and navigation • Online courses including CEVNI and ICC

Shared ownership the affordable way

• Assisted passages and deliveries as well as own boat tuition and bespoke courses

Ownashare manages a fleet of narrowboats which operate on a shared ownership basis.

This means that owners of 1/12th shares can enjoy at least 3–4 weeks’ holiday afloat each year, school holiday weeks are available at a small premium.

Contact us for more information:

Tel: 07800 902323 for more details

Email: courses@nautical.training www.nautical.training

moorings • boat sales chandlery • marina services

www.ownasharecruising.co.uk

a t Stock And New Build Boats

www.eveshammarina.co.uk

One Bedroom Eurocruiser

£174,950ex vat

• 60’ x 12'.6'' • 2 Berth • New boat

One Bedroom Eurocruiser £174,950 ex vat WITH

2

YEARS

FREE MORNING

Evesham Marina Kings Road • Evesham • WR11 3XZ info@eveshammarina.co.uk

visit www.eveshammarina.co.uk

01386 768500

Offered for sale with 2 years free riverside mooring to help get you onboard To celebrate the opening of our new riverside moorings we are offering two years free mooring on this One Bedroom Eurocruiser widebeam Subject to T's and C,s Features include

Rear canopy, Skylight, bottle fridge Dishwasher and Bow thruster

40 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

REDHILL MARINA RATCLIFFE-ON-SOAR NOTTINGHAM NG11 0EB Your one stop for all your boating needs

Slipway Boat lifts up to 70 tons Pressure washing Sandblasting Welding & fabrication Blacking & two packing

Painting Servicing Boat sales Transport Chandlery Moorings

Call us today on 01509 672770 We are only too happy to help

Dry dock available for full 7 day bookings.

Now booking for 2025!

Dryy dock services: ▪ DIY dry dock – free pressure washing included.

▪ Electricity included ▪ Clean off service available; ▪ Blacking service available ▪ Anode fitting ▪ Checking stern gear ▪ Hire for surveys ▪ Docking Monday to Monday ▪ Stay aboard your boat.

Marina Services Coal – Chandlery- Diesel- Calor Gas Pump out – Engine Servicing – Boat repairs- Temporary mooring Second hand narrowboats purchased for cash, please call for details.

PLEASE NOTE:

Our standard curtain lining includes a Teflon finish for added protection from moisture and soiling

01827 313334

info@elitefurnishings.co.uk

NARROW FURNITURE FOR NARROWBOATS

Monday to Thurday- 9:30am – 5:00pm Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Canal Yard, York Street, Stourport- on – Severn, DY13 9EH TEL: 01299 821111

British Made anodes available from stock

Chimneys from £30 in stock Black or Stainless steel.

Fire accessories International Intertuf 16 & two pack products

Elsan Products

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 41

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Boat Maintenance & Repair Work Undertaken Fully qualified, experienced and conscientious staff, providing quality work at a fair price.

Boat painting, hull blacking, surveys, engine servicing, repairs, gas safety check, boat safety certification, batteries, pump out, diesel and gas Trevor Basin, Llangollen Canal, Denbighshire, LL20 7TT - 01978 821749 Whixall Marina, Llangollen Canal, Shropshire, SY13 2QS – 01948 880996 Great Haywood, Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire, ST18 0RJ – 01889 881711 Bunbury, Shropshire Union Canal, Cheshire, CW6 9QB - 01829 260957

CLEANING’S A PLEASURE WITH MIRACLE LEISURE! LADDER-MATE

COMBINATION RESCUE LADDER/GANGPLANK

Wootton Wawen, Stratford Canal, Warwickshire, B95 6BZ - 01564 793427

Have you fallen into the water and struggled to get out?

Most accidents happen in or around locks.

Getting out of the water is hard with wet heavy clothes.

The bank sides are high and no hand holds to get out.

This versatile lightweight (LADDER-MATE) could be the answer . £130 + £30 p&p to any location on UK mainland or free collection (Please call us)

Bradford on Avon Marina, Kennet & Avon Canal, Wiltshire, BA15 1UD – 01225 864923

anglowelsh.co.uk

A FULL RANGE OF CLEANING PRODUCTS

Brass-mate (Brass polish) Miracle Wax Polish (Boat polish) Wash’n’Wax (Shampoo) Miracle Brass Brite (Tarnish Remover) Weather-Mate Gel (Brass Protection) Port Hole Mask (Magnetic)

Cotton Stockinette (Cleaning Cloths) Canopy Klean Bilge & Hull Cleaner Full range of Tiller Pins

Over 100 tillerpins in stock visit www.tillerpins.co.uk www.miracleleisureproducts.co.uk e: sales@miracleleisureproducts.co.uk Telephone: 01902 686569 or Dawn 07909 086868

The Ullmate Hull Proteclon Solulon

BROLLY-MATE

Hands-free attachment that slides over the tiller bar.

This is an attachment that slides over the tiller bar when it is raining and you can pop the brolly in the top of the tube secured by a thumb screw.

Choice of sizes.

from

£25 + p&p

PROP-MATE Keeps your weedhatch clear

Half cleaned mushroom

£22 + p&p

THE MIDLANDS’

BEST EQUIPPED

MARINA & BOATYARD EXCLUSIVE

MOLTEN ZINC METAL SPRAYING

Protect your boat’s hull with our exclusive zinc plasma metallisalon & two pack epoxy blacking

• Replaces the need for convenlonal blacking • Protects against all types of corrosion • The only truly effeclve solulon for proteclng against microbially induced corrosion (MIC) • Heated undercover workshops mean all year round availability • Recommended by surveyors Now available, • 10 year warranty

0116 2793034 info@debdalewharf.co.uk www.debdalewharf.co.uk

extensive hardstanding area fully serviced

42 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Pillings Lock Marina

The Marina

The Workshop

Moorings Starting From £150

Crane Lift & Launch

Residential & Leisure Moorings Available

Grit Blasting, Two Pack Epoxy & Blacking

Diesel, Coal & Gas Available to Purchase on Site

Lift for Surveys

Showers & Laundrette Restaurant & Office Open 7 Days

Quote this advert for 10% off the above services

Brokerage Free Moorings Terms Apply

Pre-Bookable Viewings Guidance & Advice on all Aspects of Buying & Selling

WWW.PILLINGSLOCKMARINA.CO.UK FLESH HOVEL LANE, QUORN, LE12 8FE

enquiries@pillingslockmarina.co.uk 01509 620990

workshop@pillingslockmarina.co.uk 01509 620990

PILLINGS LOCK MARINA

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 43

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

REALDIESELS LISTER-PETTER DIESEL ENGINES AND SPARE PARTS SPECIALIST

UK’s Largest stock of Lister-Petter engines and gearboxes.

Unrivalled knowledge, experience and after sales support.

Having your tired old engine or gearbox repaired?

In the long run our options are likely more cost effective: Reconditioned service exchange or recondition your existing unit; Factory low hours and good used units also supplied.

All engines and gearboxes are supplied fully tested and with warranty. If yours is past it’s best, call or email us to find out more.

Used one micron filter bag & 100ppm water removal filters with saturated diesel being filtered

WHAT’S IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FUEL TANK?

+44 (0)121 377 6029 mail@realdiesels.co.uk www.realdiesels.co.uk

S Magnet filter bowl

Rust on magnet

Rust & diesel bug on magnet.

STOP PAYING TWICE TO GET YOUR TANK CLEANED BY USING COWBOYS TO DO THE JOB, COME STRAIGHT TO TANKBUSTERS, FUEL CLEANING SERVICES!

FOR MORE INFORMATION 07974 808277 bruce@tankbusters.co.uk www.tankbusters.co.uk

Ag e fue nts r l ca c l e q u ll f ea ire or nin d de g for tai – ls

WE FILTER TO ONE MICRON AND REMOVE WATER TO 100 PARTS PER MILLION (PPM) AND BETTER THAN REFINERIES. THAT’S FUEL CLEANING AT ITS BEST.

CREATE A MASTERPIECE Craft your perfect narrowboat finish with Symphony Narrowboat Paint’s premium signwriting enamels. Experience exceptional flow, vibrant colours, and lasting durability.

info@symphonynarrowboat.co.uk

symphonynarrowboatpaint.co.uk

TR

E

AY E TH

WHARF

Coventry Canal

Lichfield

LT

D

Your One Stop Shop for all your boating needs Steelwork | Stretching | Chandlery | Timber Work | Shot Blasting Mechanics | Boat Safety | Electrics | Paintwork | Gas Safe | CCranage

Highest Quality work at a Traditional Working boatyard

7

DAY CALL OUT

Bottom Blacking | Full DIY service available 3 day slip, undercover plus 3000 psi hot wash £350 + VAT Telephone 01543 414808/07824 848444 office@streethaywharf.co.uk www.streethaywharf.co.uk

44 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

BRIDGE 70, OXFORD CANAL

Family Run Business Full or Partial Repaints - 2 pack spray painting or hand painting (over 300+ to date) Blacking 2 pack or Intatuf 16 (£12.50 inc vat per foot) or DIY available Full or Partial new boat fit out Woodwork - furniture & cabinet making, interior repairs & refit Electrical repairs and installation Gas/Heating/Plumbing repairs and replacement Steelwork, overplating, and welding repairs Engine servicing and replacement inc stern gear repairs/replacement Bow thruster installations and repairs We offer a full mobile engineer service So whatever you need, we can fix it.

Just pop in to see boats in build and paint or ring for an informal chat - see how we can help!

Tel: 07966 403132 hillmortonboatserv rvices@outlook.com v

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 45

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

UNIT TO LET

Traditional boatyard, with traditional values

RARE OPPORTUNITY

The Wharf, NORBURY JUNCTION Staffordshire ST20 0PN Telephone: (01785) 284292 E-mail: info@norburywharfltd.co.uk

REDHILL MARINA

One stop shop for all your boating needs

7200ft2 (120ft x 60ft) unit

DRY DOCKING AND BLACKING from £20.00 per foot.

Suitable for BOAT/MARINE USE BOAT BUILDING, STEEL WORKS, FITTING & REPAIRS

Liveaboards are welcomed

PAGE 6

TO VIEW 3 RANGE OF OUR BOAT FOR SALE S

- Easy access to the boat is provided by our specially constructed bridge which reaches out to either the bow or stern of your boat. Free 240V hook-up is provided while the boat is out of the water.

SPACE FOR 2 TO 3 WIDEBEAM BOATS AT 70ft POA Please call the Redhill Marina office on 01509 672 770

❖ LIVEABOARDS WELCOME ❖ DOGS AND CATS NO PROBLEM ❖ FREE ELECTRICITY WHILST ON THE DOCK

www.norburywharfltd.co.uk

Email: enquiries@redhill-marina.co.uk

EASY TO USE WEBSITE

BRITAIN’S TOOLS & MACHINERY SPECIALIST

TURN TO

21,000

NOW OVER

PRODUCTS ONLINE!

friendly stores nationwide open 7 days trade & public

www.machinemart.co.uk

find your local store online

CALL & COLLECT EASY AT STORES TODAY WAYS CLICK & COLLECT TO OVER 10,500 LOCATIONS BUY... CALL: 0115 956 5555

RELIABLE SOURCE OF POWER FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS

INVERTER GENERATORS

THE PERFECT GENERATORS FOR BOATING

SINE WAVE TECHNOLOGY

110 & 230V

Controlled electrical output ensures the delivery r of clean and stable power – vital when running sensitive electrical equipment such as TVs, computers & tablets.

MODELS AVAILABLE

3.6L

4 STROKE ENGINES

2.2kW

Not to be confused with noisier oil burning 2 stroke units

QUIET RUNNING

ON ALL THE MODELS FEATURED IN THIS ADVERT

PRICE CUT £

G2300 IG 1061230 2 01

389.00 exc.VAT 466

£

£

IG IG1100 G110 00 01 10611103 010611103 .80 inc.VAT

PAY Monthly • SPREAD THE COST OVER 12, 24, 36, 48 OR 60 MONTHS • ANY MIX OF PRODUCTS OVER £300 • 19.9% APR

5 MINUTE APPLICATION SAVE £££s ON THIS WEEK’S

£

PRICE CRASH

SEE ONLINE FOR LATEST DETAILS 36644

£

279.00 exc.VAT 334

Model IG1700F

£

Max Output 1700W

£1095.00 inc.VAT

IG1900 010617117 .80 inc.VAT

Running time Dims. at ¾ load mm 8 Hrs 390x450x440

£

329.00 exc.VAT 394

Weight 22kg

912.50 exc.VAT

£

Outputs 2x 230V, 13A output sockets

.80 inc.VAT

SAVE OVER

£331

WAS £1426.80 inc.VAT inc.VAT HONDA EU22I 2.2KW 010611096 - see online for full spec

Fuel tank capacity Order Code: 010617095 0.9L

exc.VAT £249.00

WAS inc.VAT

FOR THE FULL RANGE OF INVERTER GENERATORS SEE:

machinemart.co.uk

NOW inc.VAT £298.80

IG1100

1050W

2 Hrs 50 Mins

425x250x405

13.4kg

1x 230V, 13A Socket, 1x 12V Socket, 2 x USB

12L

010611103

£279.00

£334.80

IG1900

2000W

5 Hrs

500x307x465

20.0kg

2x 230V, 13A Socket, 1x 12V Connector Socket

5.6L

010617117

£329.00

£394.80

IG2300

2200W

6 Hrs 15 Mins

500x307x465

21.0kg

2x 230V 13A, 1x 12V Connector, 2 x USB, 12V DC*

5.6L

010612302

£389.00

£466.80

IG4000

3800W

4 Hrs 25 Mins

488x285x463

52.8kg

1x 12V DC (5a)2x 230V, 13A sockets

4.5L

010617130

£895.00

£1078.80

£1074.00

IG8000

7500W

8 Hrs 15 Mins

755x770x610

114kg

1 x 230V 32A, 2x 230V 13A, 1x 12V cigarette, 1 x 5V USB

26L

010617135

£1699.00

£2230.80

£2038.80

MOTOR OIL - 1 LITRE 051130101

7 exc.VAT

£ .99

£9.59 inc.VAT

5 LITRE FUEL CAN 070519970

19.98 exc.VAT

£

£23.98 inc.VAT

Calls to the catalogue request number cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Calls may be monitored. All prices correct at time of going to press. We reserve the right to change products and prices. All products subject to availability, E&OE.

46 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

INSURANCE & FINANCE 47

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Narrowboat insurance made easy Boats have been our passion for over 20 years, so we understand the joys and challenges of owning a narrowboat. Get a quote online today with our simple process, and see how much you could save.

Get an online quote today, visit: craftinsure.com/Towpath25 call 0800 988 8164

15131

SCAN ME © Copyright Craftinsure Limited 2025. Craftinsure Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Firm Reference Number 309693. Registered in England and Wales Number 04386107. Registered office: The Royals, Altrincham Road, Manchester M22 4BJ. Policies available to UK residents only. Trustpilot rating correct as of 04.02.2025.

48

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

WILL YOU HELP CANALS

WEATHER THE STORM?

MORE EXTREME WEATHER EMERGENCIES

AGEING CANALS

SHRINKING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

RISING REPAIR COSTS

This winter, our 2,000 mile network of 250-year-old canals faces a perfect storm of extreme weather, rising repair costs and shrinking government support. Last winter alone, eight storms in three months cost £10 million in emergency repairs. Our teams are stretched to the limit as more storms hit this season.

We urgently need your donation now, so that we can be ready to react when the next emergency happens. With your support, we can carry out vital repairs, as well as restore canals and make them more resilient to extreme weather in future.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY

Give online at canalrivertrust.org.uk/donatestorms Scan to donate

Call 0330 002 1844

Canal & River Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7807276 and registered charity number 1146792.

49

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Top Six Canal Holidays p50 RCR Competition Cotswold Canal Trust Tours p51 Crick Special

p52 p53

End of an era as popular River Trent marina goes on the market

By Alison Alderton

Business as usual

FARNDON Marina on the River Trent is to be sold. Owned and developed for more than 50 years by the Ainsworth family, it the first time the marina has been on the open market.

Set in the Nottinghamshire village of Farndon, the marina site spans 25 acres and has berthing for more than 300 boats. Surrounded by woodlands and agricultural land, which offer a good range of walking trails, it is a haven for both flora and fauna. In the springtime the marina grounds are awash with colour from the blossom of the mature cherry trees surrounding the site, making it a delight to visit even if you are not a boater.

Within the grounds there is a modern office building housing a chandlery and successful boat sales centre, workshops, boat lift, a ramp allowing the launch and recovery of craft by trailer, hardstanding and more.

From Farndon Marina boaters can explore the River Trent

Main reception building at Farndon Marina. PHOTO: ALISON

ALDERTON

Farndon Marina. PHOTO: ALISON ALDERTON upstream towards Nottingham and beyond or head downstream passing through Newark-onTrent to join the tidal waters which provide access to many of the north-eastern waterways and beyond the North Sea.

Speaking to Towpath Talk, a long-term berth holder at Farndon Marina said: “It is the end of an era. The Ainsworth family have looked after my boat for more than 20 years and provided me with a home from home. It is a

Silver service as LA Marine turns 25 LA Marine, a specialist marine and shipping law division of Lester Aldridge, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a significant leadership transition and a renewed vision for the future. The team started 25 years ago, led by Russell Kelly, and has grown into the south coast’s pre-eminent dedicated marine law firm.

Now led by partners Linda Jacques, Philippa Langton and Nicky Nelson, LA Marine is setting a new benchmark for inclusivity while upholding the exceptional legal expertise that has defined the firm for decades.

As one of the first dedicated marine law teams on the south coast, LA Marine has built a strong presence in Southampton and Bournemouth, with additional reach in London and across the world. Recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers for its excellence in shipping and leisure marine law, the firm is

Philippa, Linda and Nicky at LA Marine. PHOTO: SUPPLIED known for delivering London-level expertise at competitive regional rates.

Linda Jacques, an experienced partner at LA Marine with more than 20 years at the firm said: “Our history is built on deep industry knowledge and a commitment to supporting our clients with practical, commercially focused advice. This next chapter sees us continuing to grow in response to a fast-changing maritime landscape.”

Alongside Linda is

Philippa, bringing extensive experience from London shipping firms and senior in-house roles, including time in Shanghai. Nicky, the newest partner, has a background in commercial shipping, previously working with renowned organisations such as the RNLI. Their combined expertise enhances LA Marine’s ability to deliver strategic, pragmatic legal solutions.

With an exceptional

breadth of experience across all practice areas, somewhat of a rarity in the industry, they are further strengthening service standards from a clients’ perspective.

“We are a team that values bespoke, practical advice over unnecessary complexity,” said Philippa. “Clients appreciate our ability to cut through legal jargon and provide solutions that work in the real world.”

As the industry faces unprecedented challenges, including substantial environmental r e g u l a t i o n s , geopolitical pressures and technological advancements such as AI and autonomous vessels, LA Marine is actively helping clients negotiate their way through these changes.

For more information about LA Marine visit: www.lesteraldridge.com/ sectors/marine

sad occasion but after all the hard work they have put into making this place the success it is today they deserve some quality time to enjoy their own pastimes. I wish them the very best.”

Farndon Marina is being sold through Christie & Co; for more details visit: www.christie.com

Meanwhile it is very much business as usual for Farndon Marina, where an upgrade to the existing pontoons is currently under way along with essential tree maintenance and the planning for the annual open weekend event on May 17 and 18. The event promises a wide range of both water and landbased activities for visitors including hands-on boat demonstrations. There is also an opportunity to support the RNLI by entering a prize draw to win a Rebel Raider 330 RIB package. Discover more at: www.farndonmarina. co.uk

Three more for Cruise Moor CRUISE Moor is delighted to announce three more independent family run marinas have joined its unique mooring scheme.

Lechlade, Shepperton and Fox Narrowboats are the latest trio of marinas to sign up to the scheme, bringing the grand total of participating marinas to Cruise Moor to nine.

Officially launched in 2024 at Boatlife in Birmingham by Aqueduct (Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union), Dunchurch Pools (North Oxford Canal), Droitwich Spa (Droitwich Junction Canal), Overwater (Shropshire Union Canal) and White Mills (River Nene), the scheme which offers boaters one free week’s mooring at each participating marina has been set up to encourage more boaters to get out and about and explore the waterways network. Fenny Marina on the southern arm of the Oxford Canal became the sixth marina to join late last year.

Ian and Jules Lindsay spent four years looking for their own marina before buying 100-berth Lechlade Marina in 2018. With its large slipway it is a popular launch point for Wilderness, Sea Otters and other trailable boats wanting to cruise the Thames.

Ian said: “To join a scheme which actively promotes independent family run marinas is brilliant for us. We all care deeply and

value our customers, so by joining Cruise Moor it is another way of showing our customers how much we appreciate them.”

Ian’s sentiments are echoed by Paula Syed who, with her sister Tracey and daughter Emily, operates their 200-berth marina Fox Narrowboats on the Middle Levels which was founded by their father in 1980. Paula is a firm advocate of independent and family run businesses. “Everyone should be encouraging all boaters to use the entire waterways network. Hopefully Cruise Moor will help do exactly that especially as more marinas sign up. We are very happy to be part of this exciting new initiative and look forward to welcoming boaters to our part of the waterways network.”

The third family run marina to join the scheme is the 400-berth Shepperton Marina located on the River Thames between Shepperton and Sunbury locks.

Marina manager Lisa Harris added: “We were drawn to join Cruise Moor because of its strong commitment to supporting boaters and independent marinas alike. The initiative not only promotes responsible mooring practices but also provides wellmaintained mooring spots. By partnering with independent marinas, Cruise Moor helps boost independent businesses while making it easier for boaters to explore beautiful waterways.”

50 HOLIDAYS & LEISURE

May 2025

01606 833668 Middlewich, Cheshire Puffer Steamboat Holidays Cruise the sea lochs and canals of Sco otlan nd’ss Wesst Coast in an oriigin nal steam powered Clyyde Pu uffe fffer.

Tel: 07780 936407 Visit: savethepuffer.co.uk

bearBOAT

Trainiing

Widebeam & Narrowboat Holidays on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Six of the best bank holiday boating rural retreats

BRITAIN’S beautiful 3000-mile network of inland waterways takes canal boat holidaymakers through some of our bestloved countryside. There are places to moor up in quiet backwaters for the perfect rural retreat away from it all and the chance to visit historic country pubs and farm shops along the way.

Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of 500 boats from 40 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and canal boat holidays

Also RYA Inland Waterwayss Helmsman Courses from £30 00 07969 901383 admin@bearboattraining.co.uk www.bearboat.co.uk

Training Centre

CANAL FEVER

(With apologies to John Masefield)

I must go back to the cut again To the locks and the open sky And all I ask is a narrow boat And the skipper standing by A warm pub or a wet field Laughter and locking And sleep tight in the silent night And the bunk gently rocking…

Rosemary MacPherson

Bywater

www.bywaterhotelboats.co.uk

What better way to experience and explore the varied landscape of the inland waterways than by taking a fully crewed and catered cruise in the comfort of our traditional pair of canal boats, Kerala and Karnataka?

rosie@bywaterhotelboats.co.uk Tel: 07380941042

are pet friendly.

To celebrate the forthcoming May bank holidays, Drifters has published a guide to its top six bank holiday weekend rural retreats…

Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon From Drifters’ boat hire base at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire, it takes just over five hours to reach the small village of Shebdon, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The journey to Shebdon takes canal boat holidaymakers through 13 miles of scenic countryside and woodland. The canal passes through a series of small villages and hamlets, including Wheaton Aston with its Hartley Inn, Gnosall with its Boat Inn and the Junction Inn at Norbury Wharf. Canal features encountered along the way include Stretton Aqueduct, a lock at Wheaton Aston, Cowley Tunnel, Shelmore Embankment and Grub Street Cutting. The journey there and back takes around 11 hours.

Boat through the Warwickshire countryside to Napton From Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Stockton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, it takes just over two hours to cruise to the village of Napton-on-theHill. Here, alongside the Oxford Canal, a herd of water buffalo can often be seen grazing. In 1999, the Buffalo Farm at Chapel Green started milking 20 water buffalo, and it’s now home to 140 cows and 100 young buffalo. Napton Village Stores sells the farm’s buffalo burgers, sausages, meatballs, steaks and ice cream. It also sells other local produce in its bakery and delicatessen, including veg boxes, homemade meals, cider and home-made cakes.

Navigate through Cannock Chase to Fradley Drifters’ base on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood is deep in the Staffordshire countryside. On a weekend break, boaters can cruise to Fradley Junction and back, passing through Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The journey takes just half an hour. Before heading out, the Canalside Farm Shop at Great Haywood is perfect for

PENNINE CRUISERS

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon on the beautiful Trent and Mersey Canal, Great Haywood. PHOTO: DADEROT - CC0 1.0 stocking up on local produce. The shop sells a variety of food sourced from local farms, including home-made sausages made using free-range pork, fruit, vegetables, free-range eggs and baked products. The journey to Fradley and back is 25 miles, through 10 locks (five each way) and takes around 12 hours.

Cruise through the Brecon Beacons to Llangynidr Isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park and offers an escape to the country with incredible mountain views. On a weekend break from Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, boaters can cruise lock-free to Llangynidr and back. The route goes through a series of small villages with historic pubs, including the Lion Inn at Govilon, deep in the Welsh countryside.

Boat through the Leicestershire countryside to Stoke Golding From Drifters base on the Coventry Canal at Springwood Haven, it takes around five-anda-half hours to cruise to the historic village of Stoke Golding. The route takes boaters through the Leicestershire countryside along the lockfree Ashby Canal. Stoke Golding has one of the most beautiful churches in England and there’s a choice of pubs including the White Swan. Before heading out, boaters can stock up on local produce at Poplars Farm shop and cafe near Nuneaton, selling fruit, vegetables, honey, local cheese, eggs, poultry and jams.

Cruise through the Shropshire countryside to Chirk On a weekend break from Blackwater Meadow on the Llangollen Canal, boaters can cruise through the Shropshire countryside to Chirk. The journey there and back takes around 11 hours and there are only two locks to pass through each way. Boaters will travel across the stunning Chirk Aqueduct, crossing the border from England to Wales. Then through Chirk Tunnel to Chirk Marina, where boaters can moor up to visit the National Trust’s Chirk Castle up on the hill. There’s a cafe at the castle, and a choice of canalside pubs, including The Bridge at Chirk Bank.

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www. drifters.co.uk

01756 795478 | info@penninecruisers.com

of Skipton

www.penninecruisers.com

Pennine Cruisers of Skipton

30 Minute Boat Trips

We have 2 need Day Boats “Wallace” & “Gromit” for 2025

Running every day from 10.30am.

No need to book simply turn up an nd pay the skipper. £5 per passengerr.

Day Boat Hire

We offer every service a private boatt owner could need. Gas, Diesel, pumpout, repairs and maintenance, with fully stoccked Chandlery shop. We also have dry and wet dock. Anything from an engine servvice to a full re-paint, no job is too small, simp ply get in touch to discuss any work you may require.

New trip boat currently in build.

Enjoy a day out with a difference sailing the Leeds Liiverpool Canal. Prices from only £70.

Again no experience needed.

Boat Services

THE BOAT SHOP, 19 COACH STREET, SKIPTON | BETWEEN BRIDGES 177 & 178

HOLIDAYS & LEISURE 51

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Black Country boaters have talent!

By Lucy Wood

Visitors to this year’s Black Country Boating Festival are being invited to hone their special and unique skills to take part in the event’s first ever talent show.

THE festival takes place in September, so there’s plenty of time for would-be participants to rehearse for this new addition to the event programme, which promises to bring an extra spark to an already vibrant and entertaining weekend of canalside fun.

Open to performers of all ages, the show invites singers, dancers, comedians,

musicians, magicians and more to take to the stage and showcase their skills.

Festival organiser Ross Harrison said: “The Black Country Boating Festival has always been a celebration of community, heritage and great entertainment. This year we wanted to give visitors the chance to get involved and shine on stage.

“Whether you’re a seasoned performer, a budding superstar or just want to have a laugh, our Fun Talent Show is all about enjoyment and bringing people together. This is your chance to be part of something special.”

Taking place in Bumble Hole Nature Reserve, Netherton, the talent show will be a highlight of the festival’s final day, ensuring the weekend ends on a high note. Prizes and special recognition will be given to standout acts, but above all, the emphasis is on fun and participation.

Now in its 39th year, the festival – taking place this year on September 12-14 – is one of the region’s most popular annual events, attracting thousands of visitors for a weekend of live music, historic narrowboats, craft stalls, food and family-friendly activities.

For more information, visit www.bcbf.com

Visitors flocked to the 38th annual Black Country Boating Festival in 2024. PHOTO:

ALEX FLASHWOOD

Explore history, nature and canal restoration with guided tours and boat trips COTSWOLD Canals Trust has launched its 2025 season for both guided walking tours and boat trips.

Visitors and locals alike can take part in a variety of exciting, volunteer-led experiences that showcase the rich history, wildlife and ongoing restoration of the Cotswold Canals.

All proceeds from the trips and tours go directly towards supporting the restoration efforts of the canals, making these activities an ideal way to explore the stunning landscape while contributing to the ongoing environmental work.

Guided walking tours

Cotswold Canals Trust will offer a series of guided walking tours from May to September on Saturdays and some Wednesdays, starting at 10.30am. Each tour is led by passionate volunteers who will share fascinating insights about the canal’s history, its restoration process and its importance to the local community and wildlife.

Tour options: • Walk 1: Our Industrial Heritage Route: Wallbridge to Ebley, Stroud Duration: 90 minutes (+ 30 m i nu te s re tu r n ) Highlights: The last operational mill in the Stroud Valleys, the Dudbridge hydroelectricity scheme, the iconic

Adventure boat trips are setting sail from Saul Junction! Enjoy a peaceful cruise along the historic canal, soak in the stunning scenery, and learn how our canals will hopefully be reconnected once again. PHOTO: MIKE GALLAGHER

•

•

•

Enjoy a leisurely, informative, volunteer-led walk along the beautiful canals. Discover the history, wildlife and ongoing restoration efforts that are bringing these waterways back to life.

PHOTO: MIKE GALLAGHER

Ebley Mill and stories from canal barge workers.

Walk 2: The Challenge of Restoration Route: Stonehouse to Westfield Bridge Duration: 90 minutes (+ 30 m i nu te s re tu r n ) Highlights: The Ocean railway bridge, embankment and bridge replacement at Bonds Mill, the restoration of Eastington locks, and the challenge of crossing the M5.

Wa l k 3: Na t u r e and Env i ro n m e nt a l P re s e r vat i o n Route: Fromebridge to Saul Junction Duration:90minutes(+30minutesreturn) Highlights: Fromebridge wetland nature reserve, restoration of Occupation Bridge, the merging of the canal with the River Frome, and the Gloucester and Sharpness canal.

Walk 4: Mills and Locks Route: Wallbridge to Stroud Brewery Duration:90minutes(+30minutesreturn) Highlights: The historic Stroudwater Navigation, restored locks and former mill sites, ending with a refreshing visit to Stroud Brewery.

Boat trips

In addition to the walking tours, the Cotswold Canals Trust is also offering its popular boat trips for the 2025 season. These volunteer-led

trips offer a unique opportunity to explore the canals from the water, with several routes available from April to September.

Boat trip options: Adventure at Saul Junction • Dates: Wednesdays in June and July Ju n e 11, 18 and 25 July 2, 9, 23 and 30 Times:Departingat2pm–two-hourtrips Accessibility: Fully accessible Walk-ins: Welcome on most trips, pre booking is advised Private Charters: Available by request, £60 per hour (two hour minimum), max 12 passengers. Requires at least 14 days’ advance booking • Perseverance at Wallbridge Lock Dates: Saturdays, April - September Departing: 10am, 10.45am, 11.30am, 12.45pm,1.30pm,2.15pm,3pm,3.45pm Walk-ins: Welcome on most trips (except 3.45pm, pre-booking required) • Inglesham at L echlade (private charters) Dates: May - September Duration: £60 per hour, max 12 passengers Booking: Requires at least 14 days’ advance booking • EndeavouratEbley(privatecharters) Dates : May October Duration: £60 per hour (two hour minimum), max 10 passengers Booking: Requires at least 14 days’ advance booking

Booking and more information

For more details, including booking information, dates, times and prices for both the walking tours and boat trips, visit the Cotswold Canals Trust website at www. cotswoldcanals.org or for private charter boat trips, contact trip.boats@cotswoldcanals.org Whether you prefer to explore the canals on foot or by boat, these experiences offer a wonderful way to connect with the environment, learn about the area’s rich heritage and support the Cotswold Canals Trust in its important work.

Perseverance out in action with public boat trips along the Stroudwater Canals. PHOTO: MIKE GALLAGHER

About Cotswold Canals Trust

The Cotswold Canals Trust is a charity dedicated to the restoration of the Stroudwater and Thames & Severn Canals, working to reinstate a vital link in the national canal network. The trust is committed to preserving the heritage, biodiversity and natural beauty of the canals while providing recreational opportunities for the community and visitors alike.

The Tudor Arms Situated adjacent to Patch Bridge on the Gloucester/ Sharpness Canal

Serving Real Ales and Home Cooked food all day 14 Guest Rooms suitable for one night or more and ideal for visiting friends and relatives

01453 890306 enquiries@thetudorarms.co.uk www.thetudorarms.co.uk

The Leigh Arms • Moor at Bridge 208 on the Trent & Mersey Canal • Real Ales served • Children’s play area • Traditional British and Authentic European Dishes The Leigh Arms, Warrington Road, Little Leigh, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4QT. Tel 01606 853327

www.leigharms.co.uk

52

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Win a place on a Loo with a view… and a fresh scent too!

River Canal Rescue maintenancee coursse ADVERTORIAL

TO CELEBRATE River Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary in 2025, managing director Stephanie Horton is giving away prizes every month throughout the year. This month, Towpath Talk readers can win a place on one of RCR’s boat and engine maintenance courses worth £315.

The two-day course covers how to maintain diesel engines and the systems within a narrowboat, such as propulsion, cooling, engine servicing and fault finding, and is led by RCR’s Kerry Horton and Dave Bull. You’ll also receive a certificate and a Narrow Boat Engine Maintenance and Repair book.

Run at RCR’s Stafford HQ, the course runs twice a month, with dates available throughout the year.

For your chance to win year-long cruising peace of mind, simply answer the question relating to the image: What does this part operate? Email your

entry to: TTcompetitio on@ rivercanalrescue.co.uk k

Entries close at 23:59 on 31/5/25 and the winner will be drawn 1/6/25. The winner will be notified within 14 days of the close of entries.

The draw is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Entry is free and open to residents of the UK aged over 18. Only one entry permitted per person, there is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable. By entering you agree to be bound by all the rules and agree that your name and county may be released if you win.

THE sun has started to shine at long last and you’re no doubt starting to plan your next narrowboat adventure.

Wessex Boat Store has everything you need to get your boat shipshape for the season, including its Blue Bio Clear toilet fluid.

A clear version of its popular eco-friendly Blue Bio toilet fluid, Blue Bio Clear is the perfect companion for days out and holidays to keep your boat fresh and clean.

Blue Bio Clear has been

The new ‘convenience sized’ 500ml Blue Bio Clear. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

made so that it can be used in the waste and flush tank, holding tank and grey water tank, meaning you save money and storage space with this one bottle of m u l t i -p u r p o s e fluid. It’s also safe to use in septic tanks.

Blue Bio Clear is effective at cleaning the flush tank and keeping it mould and limescale free, and the new clear version of the formula means there is no risk of staining. Oh, and it smells really nice too… in case you were wondering!

As it is formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and biocidefree, Blue Bio Clear stands out as an environmentally friendly solution. By harnessing the power of natural bacteria, this innovative product effectively breaks down sewage, significantly reducing its impact on the environment.

Unlike traditional chemical toilet fluids that contain harmful substances, Blue Bio Clear is non-hazardous and 100% biodegradable, making it the friendly chemical toilet fluid that works and a safe and sustainable choice for waste

The 3.25 litre sized Blue Bio Clear– clean flush, clear conscience.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

management.

One of the key advantages of Blue Bio Clear is its reliance on natural processes to treat sewage.

Instead of relying on harsh chemicals that can harm ecosystems, this product works in harmony with nature by utilising beneficial bacteria to break down organic matter.

Blue Bio Clear is not only effective but also easy to use. Simply add the recommended amount to the sewage system, and let the natural bacteria work their magic. This userfriendly approach makes it a popular choice for both residential and commercial applications.

Blue Bio Clear is a gamechanger in the world of sewage treatment. Its innovative formula, which is free from harmful chemicals, makes it a safe and effective solution for breaking down sewage and reducing environmental impact.

Waterways firm makes a splash with marina improvements A WATERWAYS business has made a splash by making improvements at a Staffordshire marina which it bought last year.

The Rothen Group – owned by husband and wife Ian and Charlotte Rothen – acquired Fazeley Marina, near Tamworth, in August.

The company’s main business is carrying out maintenance work across the canal network and, since acquiring the marina, it has been busy carrying out extensive works to improve it.

Works have included bolstering

facilities for the use of those mooring their boats there, as well as improvements on the waterway itself.

Charlotte said: “We already owned Mancetter Marina near Atherstone, where the company is based, and were looking to add a second marina in a strategic location to our portfolio.

“Fazeley Marina is on the junction of the Birmingham and Fazeley canals, so was ideal. We invested a lot in Mancetter Marina, and our plan was always to do the same at Fazeley.”

An aerial view of Fazeley Marina, which was acquired by The Rothen Group last year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The Rothen Group’s canal maintenance work across the canal network includes tasks such as piling, dredging the waterways and maintaining canal banks, towpaths, steps, bridges and more.

The company held the contract to maintain Fazeley Marina when it belonged to its previous owners, so it was well positioned to continue making the necessary improvements after acquiring it.

Charlotte said: “Fazeley Marina has 70 berths, good car parking and services such as toilets and showers, and we’ve added washing and drying facilities to the services provided. Boat owners either use the marina to store their boats, ready to take them out, or to live on them for short periods, so good facilities are important.

“We worked on the jetties to make them good as a quick fix, as they were falling apart, and we’ve made various improvements on the waterway itself. Our aim will be to undertake full jetty replacement over the summer months to give a long-lasting solution.”

The Rothen Group worked with Leamington Spa-based Blythe

Charlotte Rothen of The Rothen Group with Nick Watts from Blythe Liggins Solicitors, who worked together on the acquisition of Fazeley Marina. They are pictured at Mancetter Marina, where The Rothen Group is based. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Liggins Solicitors to secure the deal to acquire Fazeley Marina.

Charlotte said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Blythe Liggins, and the company has worked with us as we have grown.

“Nick Watts from Blythe Liggins worked with us to secure our first

marina, so it was great to have him on board to help with the acquisition of our second.”

For more information about The Rothen Group, visit www. therothengroup.co.uk and to find out more about Blythe Liggins Solicitors, visit www.blytheliggins.co.uk

CRICK BOAT SHOW SPECIAL 53

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Dozens of luxury ry y boats will be on show.

PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

A fabulous weekend of fun for the whole family!

Crick Boat Show facts & figures • • • •

The 2025 Crick Boat Show presents an exceptional opportunity for a family outing by the waterfront.

CRICK Boat Show will be held across the late May bank holiday weekend (May 24-26) at Crick Marina, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, with an exclusive Trade & Preview Day on Friday, May 23.

The event, sponsored by Haven KnoxJohnston, is the UK’s largest inland waterways festival. Organised annually by Waterways World in association with the Canal & River Trust and Crick Waterside and Marina, it is expected to attract more than 26,000 visitors.

Apart from being the most significant marketplace for canal enthusiasts with more than 200 exhibitors on display, the show offers a fantastic day out with more than 30 new boats to view. There are also used boats, free boat trips, free advice seminars on boat ownership and technical masterclasses. Other attractions include free boat rides, live music performances, children’s activities such as games and crafts sessions and a beer festival alongside food stalls offering an extensive range of refreshments.

Peter Johns, publisher of Waterways World and show director, says: “We’re looking forward to welcoming people to our 2025 Crick Boat Show, to be held over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Crick Boat Show is firmly established as the top destination for waterways enthusiasts looking to buy a new boat, upgrade or improve their existing boat, for newcomers wanting to get afloat for the first time and for those seeking a day out by the water.

“Now in its 26th year, the show hosts the largest display of new inland boats, both narrowboats and widebeams, and for three days it becomes Britain’s largest chandlery when more than 200 exhibitors bring together

the complete range of equipment and materials for inland boating.”

Matthew Symonds, national boating manager for the Canal & River Trust, added: “Every year Crick Boat Show, the UK’s biggest inland waterways festival, celebrates Britain’s fantastic network of canals and rivers. We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to Crick for a fantastic day out by the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line in the Northamptonshire countryside.”

Adult tickets are £19 on the gate from Saturday to Monday, or £17.10 if purchased in advance; entry for children aged 16 and under is free. Three-day adult tickets are £43 on the gate, or £38.70 in advance.

Tickets for the Trade & Preview Day on Friday 23 are only available in advance and are

• • • • Happy customers aboard the trip boat at Crick. PHOTO: SUPPLIED priced at £27.50 each. Preview Day visitors will have access to an exclusive online bookings system for boat viewings that day and will also receive a gift bag and a free hot drink.

For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, visit www. crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970, Monday to Friday (9am to 3pm).

With more than 200 exhibitors at the Crick Boat Show, there’s something for everyone. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

• • • • •

More than 26,000 visitors expected to attend More than 200 exhibitors 32,000m2 exhibition space Dozens of food stalls and a real ale marquee with live music 15 bands and entertainers Trip boats offering free boat trips for more than 1000 people 30 boats exhibiting, including historic working boats 15 hours of free seminars on boating More than 350 camping pitches Moorings for up to 100 visitor boats on the Grand Union Canal Located at Crick Marina, West Haddon Road, Crick, Northants, NN6 7SQ Free car parking for all visitors Directions by road: From M1 Junction 18, take the A428 towards West Haddon, bypassing the centre of Crick village.

A chance to enjoy some retail therapy at Crick.

PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

54

May 2025

DISCOVER

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

SEE US ON

THE FREEDOM OF BOATING STAND LB HARTFORD MARINA | PYRFORD MARINA | THAMES & KENNET MARINA | UPTON MARINA | STOURPORT MARINA

Choose your perfect location and turn your boating dreams into reality with Tingdene Marinas. Enjoy boat sales, premium onsite facilities and access to the best of the UK’s inland waterways.

BOATS, BERTHS & BENEFITS www.tingdeneboating.com | 01933 427808

We are so looking look king forward forwa rd to seeing new and a familiar familiiar year , please do o faces this year, u on our come and see us stand!

we will be displaying a w wide selection of windows, shower doors and other herr products!

Happy to answer any y queries and provide free e no obligation bli ti quotes t on n th the day!

www.wesleywindows.co.uk wesleymarinewindows@gmail.com 01636 704363

We Wesley esley M Marine arine W Wi Windows indows W attends a ttends

CRICK C RICK BO OA AT A T BOAT SHOW SHOW 20 02 25 5 2 2025

55

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

kc

THE SECRET TO REMOVING UNWANTED DAMP & MOULD

inver anopies @

The ultimate compact portable cooler

ore, we’ve got it al rs and m l co v t cove ered Boa

Where to see us

OUR STAND ON THE QUAYSIDE FRI, SAT, SUN & MON MASTERCLASS MARQUEE SAT at 11.50am AQUAVISTA’S TILLER AND TANKARDS SUN at 11.15am

NEW PRODUCT RANGE sales@kinvercanopies.co.uk

CALL NOW

www.kinvercanopies.co.uk

01384 394469

Grab our Crick OFFER - £280.00 Order now to grab this great offer!

Brand new Green Model Black or White Call 07767 262477 or Email: transcool@iiequii.com Crick Deal

From Blasting to Blacking, we provide a comprehensive service!

Is your boat looking tired? Does it need re-painting or re-blacking?

Does it have pitting to the hull that needs over-plating?

Does your water tank need treatment?

At Bluewater we shot blast and re-paint old boats as well as our new ones!

We have treated many boats over the years for rust and pitting on hulls that have not been shot blasted when built. Many owners are unaware of the effects mill-scale and corrosion can have on their hull. If left untreated it will cause pitting and will eventually result in over-plating.

Click on this QR Code to learn more.

Special Offer on Narrowboats!!

Shot blast & two pack epoxy blacking below waterline = £6,995 Shot blast above & below waterline, two pack epoxy blacking & a two pack paint system on superstructure = £16,995 Base plate included. VAT not applicable.

Including crane and transport from Calcutt Marina, Grand Union Canal.

Roof one colour, cabin sides one colour with coachline, under gunnel one colour and non slip decks and roof.

Wide Beams - POA

SEE US AT THE

DISCOVER THE INGENIOUS DESIGN BEHIND OUR HIGH QUALITY THERMAL BREAK WINDOWS THAT HELP IMPROVE THE COMFORT OF YOUR BOAT. • Don’t let damp and mould compromise your health.

• Save on energy bills without sacrificing comfort or safety.

• Say goodbye to indoor chills and outdoor heatwaves.

• Enhanced security features for added peace of mind.

• Personalise your windows to match your boat’s colour scheme.

2025 STAND WW62

“

Just wanted to say how pleased we are with the new boat windows. The reduction in drafts, outside noise and the elimination of condensation is a game changer. The fitters were great guys, who were polite, courteous and tidy. A credit to Channelglaze.

Sally Holloway , N/B This Is Me

TO FIND OUT MORE CALL US ON

”

0121 706 5777 Call us on 01926 811699 or e-mail sharonwarner.bluewaterboats@gmail.com to learn more We have one remaining build slot for a bespoke narrowboat or wide beam build, whether it be a diesel or electric propulsion. Act fast and contact us before the Crick Boat Show to discuss your vision.

Your steel water tank probably resembles a mixture of rust flakes and paint debris and will be rotting from the inside out, which results in pitting both sides of the hull which makes this a vulnerable area.

Bluewater Boats offers a comprehensive solution for rejuvenating your water tank by shot blasting the interior to remove harmful contaminants which puts the water pump and filter under strain. After this thorough cleaning we apply a durable two pack water tank paint. Restoring your tank to a safe drinking water standard whilst significantly enhancing the longevity, ensuring it is maintenance free for years to come.

See us at Crick Boat Show

56

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

nd Come a at see us k the Cric Show

Claim your free gift by mentioning Towpath Talk

Power Your Journey with Onboard Solar

Solar panel packages for Narrowboats, Barges and Widebeams.

Caravans, campervans and van installations too

Narrowboat sofas, sofabeds and dinette seating More images on our Facebook page

Expert installation & support Professional fitting & expert advice Offering a comprehensive range of solar panel packages tailored to suit your needs

Simple & Stylish Space Saving Solutions for Narrowboats!

01274 800334 • info@sofabedbarn.co.uk

www.onboardsolar.co.uk 07757 110 917

www.sofabedbarn.co.uk

ON DISPLAY 24TH - 26TH MAY

We are coming to Crick Boat Show _________

Leading diesel and hybrid propulsion systems ranging from 30 - 90hp

Complete hybrid power and propulsion packages

Leading products in power generation and storage

Book now to speak to our experts Discuss your power and propulsion needs

Three Powerful Brands.

Your Choice of Power and Propulsion Shire | Hybrid Marine International | WhisperPower - Supported in the UK by Barrus T: 01869 363636 E: marine@barrus.co.uk www.barrus.co.uk

Powered by

57

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Formation Plastics Dedicated team FP Technologies

Focuses on building bespoke HDPE canal boats

H NOW IN THE WATER H

The size is 40`x 10` and built using 20mm for the base of the boat 15mm for the sides and 12mm for the upper sections.

The process they use is called extrusion welding

See us at Crick Boat Show 2025

which is typically done on thermoplastics due to their response to heating. Unlike other types of plastics which burn when heat is applied, thermoplastics liquefy and harden again upon cooling.

World’s first HDPE canal boat exclusively at the Crick Boat Show 2025.

Extrusion welding is typically used to join components such as tanks and pipes. In trenchless construction, sections of thermoplastic (most often polyethylene) can be extrusion welded together to form a monolithic pipe structure to be inserted into the host pipe for rehabilitation.

In other applications, extrusion welding is ideal for applications that require lengthy welds to be made

in a single run. Although most commonly done on HDPE sheets, extrusion welding can be performed on other thermoplastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

This canal boat is ready to be a sail away, at present the interiors are not all complete, for future projects formation plastic have the help and expertise of a multi award-winning yacht and naval architect

We will be exhibiting at Crick Boat Show 2025.

To avoid disappointment, please call now to book an appointment For a select few special introductory offer to get your slot booked for 2025 Speak to us today to reserve your slot at this special introductory offer price.

Pioneering the future of canal boating, one boat at a time

For more information, please tel: 01274 299055 www.formationplastics.co.uk

Thinking of buying or selling a boat?

T Come and see us at Crick Boat Show – for expert advice and a friendly chat. With 30 years of professional service in the industry, ABNB is here to guide you every step of the way.

Your Boat • Our Expertise

Marine Breakdown Assistance 24/7 across the UK Inland Waterways.

• NO callout or hourly charges.

• NO restrictions on age, make or size of your boat.

• Home start • Crew relay • Breakdown assistance • Boat recovery A £30 surcharge applies to all callouts within the M25

JOIN TODAY! ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FROM

ONLY

£75

rts Cover *Replacement Pa cified parts including

Covers a huge range of spe gs, starters, gearbox & drive plate, couplin e.** mor y man and alternators

*Excluding Retainer Cover, RPC can be added for £75. **Excludes Consumables such as cables, filters, rubber components and the like that require routine wear and tear replacement.

01785 785 680 | www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

58

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

KINGS LOCK Marine Distribution We are the UK’s biggest Vetus distributor in sales but more importantly support. If we sell it we have more than likely fitted the item at some point.

STOCKED AND READY FOR YOU

We supply to the biggest and the best boat builders.

We have dedicated kit for the following installations • • • •

Bow thrusters Bow and stern thrusters Bow pro kits (brushless motors) Stern gear kits

• • • •

Toilet kits Engine fitting kits Hydraulic steering kits Complete E-Line propulstion kits (Hybrid kit)

All of our kits include all of the associated parts to fit the items. Please call for a price.

01606 737564

sales@kingslock.co.uk

www.kingslock.co.uk

Booth Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0JJ • Tel: 01606 737564 • Visit: www.kingslock.co.uk

CRICK BOAT SHOW SPECIAL 59

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

A day of boats and fun at Crick - something for all the family. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

One of the many historic boats on display at Crick Boat Show. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

THE 2025 Crick Boat Show is the UK’s biggest inland waterways festival and offers a fantastic day out for boat owners, aspiring boat owners and all who love being on or by the water.

The annual event is expected to attract more than 26,000 visitors. As well as being the canal world’s biggest marketplace, showcasing the inland waterways industry with more than 200 exhibitors, Crick Boat Show offers visitors dozens of boats to view, free boat trips, live music, children’s activities, a real ale bar and a wide variety of food and drink stalls.

Enjoy a free trip on an electric boat Visitors to Crick can take a free boat trip along the Grand Union Canal aboard ABC Boat Hire’s electrically powered day boat Day Break. The half-hour trips run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show. Visitors can book their free trip at the trip boats marquee on the quayside when they arrive at the show.

Top 10 things to do at Crick Boat Show

Here are the top 10 things to do at this year’s show:

Celebrate 25 years of Crick Boat Show at the Crick Awards To mark the show’s 25th anniversary, on the evening of Friday, May 23, the first Crick Awards Ceremony will take place in the Masterclass Theatre. The awards will celebrate the exhibitors, visitors, volunteers, Crick Show team and the inland waterways industry as a whole, with eight award categories, including Best New Product and Longest Serving Volunteer.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Get expert advice on boating The show’s free Boat Ownership Seminar programme features advice from Waterways World’s technical editor Mark Langley for both new and experienced boaters. Seminars include advice on buying a new or second-hand boat, living afloat, boat maintenance and greener boating.

View the latest new boats from the UK’s top builders of canal boats More new boats (narrowboats and widebeams) will be on display in one place than at any other time anywhere in the country, showcasing all the latest lifestyle extras, space-saving ideas and green technology. From king-sized beds, mood lighting and solid oak kitchens, to underfloor heating, electric engines and solar panels.

Vote for your favourite boat Visitors to the show can vote for their favourite narrowboat and widebeam boat at the Haven-Knox Johnston marquee on the quayside. Everyone who votes is entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Marks & Spencer voucher and voters can also enter a draw to win a year’s free boat insurance from HavenKnox Johnston. The result will be announced mid-afternoon on Monday, May 26.

The Crick Awards will celebrate the exhibitors, visitors, volunteers, Crick Show team and the entire inland waterways industry. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Take a boat handling lesson Two-hour boat handling training sessions with RYA accredited trainers from Watercraft and the Narrowboat Skills Centre will be taking place at the show (May 24-26). Lessons will cover the basics of casting off, mooring up, boat etiquette, rope handling, boat jargon and lock navigation. Sessions are charged at £45 per person. Places are limited so advance booking is essential via www.crickboatshow.com Listen to live music Fifteen live bands will be performing throughout the show in the Crick Tavern for the show’s music festival sponsored by Aquavista.

ABBA Revival will headline on the Saturday evening (May 24), and Dann Budd as Robbie Williams will headline on the Sunday night (May 25). Evening entertainment is included in the price of the same day ticket to the show.

Sample real ale and cider Choose from more than 50 cask ales, 20 ciders and perries, and 20 gins at the Real Ale & Cider Festival in the Crick Tavern marquee, sponsored by Lee Sanitation.

Step back in time Thanks to sponsorship from Norton Canes, the Historic Narrow Boat Club (HNBC) will be displaying some historic working boats at the show, including the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne’s cargo carrying Sculptor and the tug/icebreaker Sandbach.

Find out what it takes to keep canals alive National waterways charity Canal & River Trust is hosting a series of afternoon Spotlight Talks in the Canal & River Trust marquee where visitors can find out more about the amazing 2000-mile network of canals and rivers in the charity’s care. Topics will include how locks are kept topped up with water and volunteering with the trust. The charity will also be hosting a Boater’s Forum on Saturday, May 24, and Disabled Boaters Forum on Sunday, May 25, where people can ask the boating team questions and find out more about its Better Boating Plan.

CRT volunteers in Wolverhampton. Visitors to the show can find out more about what it takes to keep canals alive in their series of afternoon Spotlight Talks.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

60 CRICK BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

ABBA Revival to headline entertainment at Crick Boat Show

Tribute band ABBA Revival will take to the stage at Crick Boat Show on Saturday, May 24, part of the event’s Crick Music Festival, sponsored by Aquavista.

DANCING queens, dig out your disco dresses! If you want to know the name of the game, read on…

ABBA Revival, recently voted the UK’s Official No.1 ABBA tribute act by the Agents Association of Great Britain, will perform on Saturday, May 24 at Crick Boat Show.

And there’s more star-studded singing and showmanship as Dann Budd will perform as Robbie Williams on Sunday, May 25, with his band of musicians The Eleventh Hour.

Peter Johns, publisher of Waterways World and show director, says: “We’re looking forward to welcoming people to the 25th Crick Boat Show, now the UK’s largest inland waterways festival.

“Live music is an important part of the show’s atmosphere, and we’ve got some fantastic headlining acts booked for this year’s Crick Music Festival, sponsored

by Aquavista. ABBA Revival will bring pop-tastic disco to the stage and dance floor on the Saturday night and on the Sunday night Dann Budd as Robbie Williams will entertain you!”

Across the four show days, Crick Boat Show will host a total of 15 acts, performing a wide selection of music live in the Real Ale Bar

from 1pm each day. Evening entertainment will run from 7.30pm to 11.30pm on Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25.

The show will open from 10am until 6pm

ABBA Revival, recently voted as the UK’s Official No.1 ABBA tribute act by the Agents Association of Great Britain, will perform on Saturday, May 24.

Dann Budd will perform as Robbie Williams on Sunday, May 25, with his band of musicians The Eleventh Hour.

Save with Crick Boat Show advance tickets

ADVANCE tickets are on sale for the 2025 Crick Boat Show, saving 10% on the entry price.

As well as being the canal world’s biggest marketplace, showcasing the inland waterways industry with more than 200 exhibitors, Crick Boat Show offers a fantastic day out with more than 30 new boats to view.

Peter Johns, publisher of Waterways World and show director, said: “Crick Boat Show is firmly established as the top destination for waterways enthusiasts looking to buy a new boat, upgrade or improve their existing boat, for newcomers wanting to get afloat for the first time and for those seeking a day out by the water.

“Now in its 25th year, the show hosts the largest display of new inland boats, both narrowboats and widebeams, and for three days it becomes Britain’s largest chandlery when more than 200 exhibitors bring together the complete range of equipment and materials for inland boating.

“Our Trade & Preview Day is exclusively designed for those who want to speak with boating related exhibitors – from boat builders to equipment suppliers. Friday, May 23 offers a maximum of 1000 pre-booked visitors the opportunity to talk in-depth with these companies and to see the boats before everyone else.”

Matthew Symonds, national boating manager for the Canal & River Trust, added: “We look forward to welcoming thousands of

on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25, and until 5pm on Monday 26. On Trade & Preview Day (Friday 23), the show will be open from 10am until 6pm.

visitors to Crick for a fantastic day out by the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line. Visitors to the Canal & River Trust marquee can discover more about the boating, recreation and well-being opportunities our waterways offer today, as well as the work of our national waterways charity to maintain 2000 miles of canals and rivers in England and Wales.”

For Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26, adult tickets are £19 on the gate, or £17.10 if bought in advance. Entry for children aged 16 and under is free on Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26. Three-day adult tickets are £43 on the gate, or £38.70 in advance.

Tickets for the Trade & Preview Day on Friday 23 are only available in advance and cost £27.50 each.

All advance tickets will be sent out in May and delivery is free of charge. Advance tickets can be ordered online or by phone until noon on May 16.

Camping pitch prices start at £45 for one night for a 6m x 6m pitch for a tent and car.

Mooring costs start at £1.35 per foot.

For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, visit www. crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970, Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Preview Day visitors will have access to an exclusive online bookings system for boat viewings on Friday, May 23 and will also receive a gift bag and a free hot drink. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

BOAT SALES 61

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

BOAT SALES OFFERING AN UNRIVALLED SELECTION OF BOATS FOR SHARED OWNERSHIP

We’d love to chat about how Shared Ownership really could be so affordable for you.

www.bcbm.co.uk 01270 811500

TOWPATH

TALK

Your essential monthly guide to boat builders, brokers and private sales

NEXT ISSUE DEADLINES:

June ’25 - Weds 7th May July ’25 - Weds 4th June Call Emma now to book your advertisements on 01507 529453

To advertise in this section please call: Emma on 01507 529453

BROKERAGE

Norbury Wharf

KnowleHall Wharf ‘Building individual boats

63

ABNB

65 Swanley Bridge Marina 73

Alvecote Marina

71 Tingdene Marinas

Aquavista Watersides 62

• BESPOKE BOAT BUILDING • REFITS • SERVICING • REPAIRS • REPAINT • DRY DOCK

68

for individual people’

We specialise in building beautiful bespoke Narrow and Wide beam boats, combining traditional craftmanship with contemporary design and technology.

Kenilworth Road, Knowle, Solihull B93 0JJ. Tel 01564 778210

www.knowlehallwharf.co.uk

SOAR VALLEY STEEL BOATS

BUILDERS

BCBM

73

Bosworth Marina

65 Aintree Boat Co

74

Braunston Marina

69 Colecraft Engineering 73

Calcutt Boats

67 Collingwood Boat Builders

David Mawby

66

74

Lakeland Leisure

64 X R&D Boatbuilders

75

Builders of bespoke, proven quality Narrowbeams, Widebeams and Dutch Barge style steel shells All our boats are 10, 6, and 5mm specification

35ft shell for sale, window apertures can be cut to suit your plan, please ring for details!

Narrowboat, Widebeam and Dutch Barge shells built to order and available from any stage up to fully fitted.

D.I.Y facilities available Stainless steel water tanks and waste tanks also available built to order

Red Hill Marina, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottingham NG11 0EB

01509 678955

www.soarvalleysteelboats.co.uk

.co.uk

Sell or Buy your boat • Contact the team • 01788 822 115 • admin@abnb.co.uk

62 BROKERAGE

May 2025

Trust us. did .

Lisa "The whole experience was made easier by Aquavista.

I felt like they represented my best interests at all times."

Selling your boat? We’re here to be your trusted guide and represent your best interests in the sale of your boat. Being proactive in finding you the right buyer, explaining the whole process clearly and keeping you up to date along the way is what you can expect.

We’re part of the UK’s largest marina operator – so you can trust that we know the market and how to get the best deal for you.

Trust us to sell your boat. Call 01159 077 406 or email us at boatsales@aquavista.com aquavista.com/boat-sales/sell-my-boat

Let’s go

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

BROKERAGE 63

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

New stock arriving shortly

REDUCED

Traditional boatyard, with traditional values REDUCED

RE 10572 – Lilybel.

65 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £59,950.00.

REDUCED REF 10575 - Home Free.

60 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £65,500.00

REF 10573 - Daisy.

30 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £24,999.00

UNDER OFFER REF 10580 - Perfick.

56 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £26,950.00.

REDUCED REF 10584 – Ocker.

70 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £49,950.00.

REF 10587 – Muddy Waters.

58 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £64,950.00.

REF 10588 - Uncle Albert.

30 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £9,999.00.

REF 10589 - Alice.

56 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £56,950.00.

REF 10590 - Percy II. 45 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £44,950.00.

REF 10591 - Hummingbird.

52 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £25,999.00.

REF 10592 - T4 the Tillerman.

65 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £64,950.00.

REF 10593 – Woodsey 50 foot semi traditional stern narrow boat. £29,950.00.

64 BROKERAGE

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

BUY, SELL OR MOOR WITH US

e I n t a t o g i v a N

MAY!

Scan to view all of our available boats online!

Barton-under-Needwood, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE13 8DZ | 07513 708099 barton@lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk

Great Haywood, Staffordshire ST18 0RQ greathaywood@lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk | 07354 902086

M350 | £188,000

LOUISE | £45,000

LEAP OF FAITH | £67,000

LOUIS JOSHUA | £139,995

OWL | £45,000

BLACKBIRD | £59,000

2 BERTH FLOATING LODGE

64FT6” TRADITIONAL

69FT NARROWBOAT

58FT SEMI TRADITIONAL

60FT TRADITIONAL

£59,000 | 61FT SEMI TRAD

Roydon Marina Village, Roydon, Essex CM19 5EJ roydon@lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk 07801 962636

Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire GL2 7JY | 07748 036638 saul@lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk

DERBY RAM | £79,995

MADNESS | £165,000

STEADFAST | £42,000

CAM | £64,995

CHLOE JANE | £54,995

SUN RAY | £33,500

70FT TRADITIONAL

70FT WIDEBEAM

48FT TRADITIONAL

71FT TRADITIONAL

68FT TRADITIONAL

33FT CRUISER STERN

Shakespeare Marina, CV37 9LE | Caen Hill Marina, SN10 1SS | 07354 902085 shakespeare@lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk

Newton Lane, Tattenhall, Chester CH3 9NE andy@lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk 07585 956804

Snea

view! k pre

NEW HIGHGROVE

NEW “THE ELM” BY ELTON MOSS

HOXTON 2.1 | £189,950

LEAH ROSE | £42,500

BEZIERS | £65,000

EMMA | £125,000

£209,995 | 58FT NARROWBOAT

£219,000 | 65FT WIDEBEAM

70X12FT3” WIDEBEAM

55FT TRAD | CAEN HILL

49FT WIDEBEAM | CAEN HILL

60FT CRUISER STERN

Visit lakelandleisureboatsales.co.uk to browse our full range of boats.

BROKERAGE 65

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

GUARANTEE DELIVERY

TPT delivered to your door for only £1.83 an issue To save you having to track down a copy every month, take advantage of our special offer

Your Boat • Our Expertise Our long established team are highly skilled at selling individually inspected, well presented boats from your own mooring anywhere in the UK, or from our base at North Kilworth Marina, LE17 6HY

Delivery from just £22 This great deal means you will pay just £1.83 for your copy to be delivered to your home.

That’s cheaper than chips!

Call 01507 529529

QUOTE OFFER CODE: TPT05

www.classicmagazines.co.uk/TPT05

Bosworth Marina & Bosworth Marina Boat Sales Bosworth Marina is a luxury Marina offering excellent facilities.

1. Moorings with full length pontoons, water & electric 2. Day Boat Hire (for up to 10 people) 3. Boat Sales 4. Showers, toilets & laundrette 5. Diesel, coal, gas, pump out, elsan, rubbish disposal & recycling

6. Shop, chandlery 7. Lounge 8. Secure car parking 9. Social events 10. Idylic locatation & close to the lovely market town of Market Bosworth

Renowned brokerage We sell boats wherever they are located We also offer a cash sale service for your boat Open & transparent service Competitive rates Comprehensive advertising exposure

Boat For Sale Blue Belle - 58ft x 13ft Widebeam 2014 Price £82000

Tel: 01455 291111 Email: enquiries@bosworthmarina.co.uk Email: boatsales@bosworthmarina.co.uk www.leicestershiredayboathire.co.uk www.bosworthmarina.co.uk www.bosworthmarinaboatsales.co.uk

66 BROKERAGE

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

David Mawby Ltd NOTTINGHAM LANE, OLD DALBY, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE14 3LX T: 07721 382619 E: davidmawbyboats@gmail.com W: www.davidmawbyboats.co.uk

Quality River and Canal Motor Cruisers are available to view by appointment at our Leicestershire indoor showroom. Over 20 years experience and 2,500 boats sold.

VIKING 24

£47,995 SUPERB VIKING 275

Length 24ft, Beam 8ft, Built 2022, 4 Berths, HiLine Spec including cooker (2 ring hob, grill an oven), fridge, shower, cassette toilet, warm air heating, hot and cold water system, 12 and 240 volts eletrics, Lift out cockpit sides for easy acces, Bsc 2026, powered by a Tohatsu 30Hp 4 stroke outboard engine, all original gelcoat (not painted), hull and superstructure fully polished, new antifouling, includes new mooring ropes, clean fenders, etc, FREE DELIVERY within 250 miles or local mooring available, great saving on new

£57,995

Superb Viking 275, Built 2023, HiLine Spec with folding windscreen, Length 27ft6ins, Beam 9ft2 ins, Rear access door, 6 Berths, bow thruster, hot and cold water system, cooker, fridge, shower, cassette toilet, heating, 240 volt mains, etc, powered by a Mariner 40Hp (only 7 hours from new) Bsc 2027, MANY EXTRAS, FREE DELIVERY within 250 miles.

New Viking Cruisers

Show Boats Now Available to view at our indoor showroom.

Prices From £32,995.

Including Outboard Engine PLEASE CALL FOR LATEST OFFERS

SHETLAND SAXON

£12,995. VIKING 23

Length 21ft 6ins, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 1989, 4+2 Berths, cooker, pumped water system, separate toilet, recent new side linings, floor carpet and head lining, Cream leatherette cushion covers with black piping, excellent canopy (new 3 years ago), powered by a Mariner 25Hp 4 stroke outboard engine with power lift, Bsc 2029, all original gelcoat (not painted), hull and superstructure fully polished, new antifouling, includes new mooring ropes, clean fenders, etc, FREE DELIVERY with 250 miles.

£18995

Length 23ftm Beam 6ft10ins, Built 1990, 4 Berths, cooker, toilet, fridge, hot and cold water system, 12 and 240 volts electrics, recent NEW CREAM LEATHERETTE CUSHION COVERS, SIDE LININGS, FLOOR CARPET, excellent canopy, powered by a Suzuki 15Hp 4 stroke outboard engine (new 2021), Bsc 2027, all original gelcoat (not painted), hull polished and new antifouling, includes new mooring ropes, clean fenders, etc, FREE DELIVERY within 250 miles or local mooring available

NEW VIKING 26 CENTRE COCKPIT NARROW BEAM NOW IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY, 6 Berths in 2 cabins, HiLine Spec with folding windscreen, cooker with hob grill and oven, fridge, shower, cassette toilet, hot and cold water system, warm air heating, 12 and 240 volts electrics, battery charger, powered by a 20Hp 4 stroke outboard engine

Priced at £54,995 BOOK YOUR VIEWING NOW

David Mawby Narrowboat Sales are open by appointment at Shardlow Marina, London Road, Shardlow, Derbyshire, DE72 2GL

NARROW ESCAPE

£53,000 TASSI

Length 57ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 2006

by Taurus Narrowboats with a Trad Stern, powered by a Vetus 42Hp Diesel engine, standard layout, 4 Berths with fixed double and pullman dinette, Bsc 2027. Recent New Paintwork, open plan living area, Central Heating.

£29,995 APHRODITE

Length 45ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 1989 by Colecraft with a Trad Stern, powered by a Lister Petter Diesel engine, Bsc 2027, Fixed double, etc

£25,000 JUDY B

Length 50ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 1980 with a Boatman’s stern, powered by a Yanmar inboard Diesel engine, traditional layout with fixed double to rear of boat, solid fuel stove, etc, current Bsc

£62,000

Length 57ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 2009

by Tyler Wilson with a Semi Trad Stern, powered by a Vetus 42Hp Diesel engine, 2 Bedrooms, standard layout, solid fuel stove and diesel heating, 12 and 240 volts electics, current Bsc, etc

Narrowboats URGENTLY required for brokerage or outright purchase.

(Free valuation, free storage, fast payout on completion, competitive rates, terms apply) Please contact David on 07721 382619

Website: www.davidmawbyboats.co.uk

Email: davidmawbyboats@gmail.com

BROKERAGE 67

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

T: 01926 813757 E: boats@calcuttboats.com www.calcuttboats.com Tomlow Road, Stockton, Southam, Warwickshire.

CV47 8HX CELTIC QUEST

£52,000

GODLYNS FOLLY

£45,000

2000 57ft – Alexander Hull with a Riverview Boats fitout Powered by a Barrus Yanmar – shire 2003 BSS Until Sept 2028.

PATIENCE

£38,500

1997 47-ft Davenshire Boat with owner fitout. Powered by a Beta 1505 and PRM gearbox. Boat safety until Feb 2029.

2010 44ft Whilton Marina Ltd hull with Liuyang Eurostarboat Manufacturing fitout.

Powered by Barrus Shank 35H engine and a Shanks MA100A gearbox.

BROC MOR

£25,000

1984 56ft Hancock and Lane powered by a BMC 1.8 engine with a PRM150 Gearbox. New Boat Safety with Sale.

Marine Engines Specialists in servicing, rebuilding and spare parts for BMC. Our respected quality re-manufactured BMC 1.5 and and 1.8s marinised for keel cooling from £2820 If it’s BMC we have what you need Call us now!

A range of high quality re-built gearboxes are also available.

Reliable central heating and hot water for boats of any size

www.dieselheating.com

ORDER ONLINE FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY

www.calcuttboatsshop.com Open 24/7 for all your BMC and Hurricane spare parts and all your other chandlery needs online.

MARINA MOORINGS Moorings available in our award winning marinas, more information available on our website.

68 BROKERAGE

May 2025

£179,950

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

WAS: £199,950

VIKING CANAL BOATS WIDEBEAM 65' x 12' 05'' 2023 | Unnamed | thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

WIDEBEAMS

BURSCOUGH 70' X 12.5' 'Horatio Conkerhead' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

COLLINGWOOD 70' X 12'

COLLINGWOOD 70'

'No Problem XL' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Fields of Gold' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Dreamcatcher’ hartfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£110,000

£154,950

£144,950

£169,950

TYLER WILSON FINESSE 70' X 13'

LUXE MOTOR DUTCH BARGE

SAGAR MARINE MINI-LUXE REPLICA

LUXE MOTOR DUTCH BARGE

'Northern Spirit' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Heliox’ thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

Lady Macbeth thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Nautical Tramp’ thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

£275,000

£189,950

£149,950

£129,950

BRIDGEWATER BOATS 67'

COLECRAFT 60' SEMI TRAD

BOURNE BOAT BUILDERS 52'

LES ALLEN & CO 42'

'Vigornia’ pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

‘Linnea' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

'Hollie' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

‘Jude II' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£59,950

£119,950

£64,950

£29,950

COLLINGWOOD EMPEROR 60' X 12'

DUTCH BARGES

NARROWBOATS

B E R T H AT A N Y T I N G D E N E M A R I N A G U A R A N T E E D * W I T H A L L C R A F T S O L D !

LARGE CHOICE OF USED & NEW

WIDEBEAMS, NARROWBOATS & DUTCH BARGES Contact one of our specialist widebeam & narrowboat sales offices today!

CONTACT US 7 DAYS A WEEK:

Walton Marina | 01932 221689 Hartford Marina | 01480 274707 Pyrford Marina | 01932 343275 Upton Marina | 01684 593111 Stourport Marina | 01299 827082 Thames & Kennet Marina | 01189 477770

01933 551622 | BOATSALES@TINGDENE.NET | WWW.TINGDENEBOATING.COM

*subject to availability

BROKERAGE 69

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Tel: (01788) 891373 Fax: (01788) 891436

Braunston Marina Ltd The Wharf Braunston Nr. Daventry Northamptonshire NN11 7JH

On the Internet: www.braunstonmarina.co.uk Email: sales@braunstonmarina.co.uk

SOLD TWILIGHT

£25,950

36ft (10.97m), Traditional Narrowboat, 1994, Built by Stoke-on-Trent Boat Building, Beta/Kubota 3-cyl diesel engine, 2/4 Berths.

UNDER OFFER CUT DIAMOND

REDUCED ZION

SOLD £31,950

40ft /12.2m Cruiser Style 1977, Hull by Hancock and Lane, 2/4 Berth.

KINGFISHER

FOR SALE £39,950

72ft/22m, Trad Style, 1991, Hull and Fit \out by Pat Buckle. 2/10 Berth.

ALEXANDRA NO 4:

£54,950

60ft/18,29m, Trad Style, 1999, Hull & Fit Ot by Sirius. 2/4 Berth.

SOLD PHANTOM

£33,000

30ft/9, 15m Cruiser 1999. Hull by Sea Otter. F/O by Sea Otter. 2/4 Berth.

FOR SALE TEAL

£29,950

45ft /13.72m Trad 1987, Hull by Colecraft, Fit Out by Colecraft, 2/4 Berth.

FOR SALE £53,500

60ft/18.29m Semi Trad 2000, Hull by G T Boatbuilders, Fit Out by Blue Haven Marine, 2/6 Berth.

KINGFISHER No 14

£69,950

62ft (18.90m), Traditional Style, 1986, Hull by Colecraft, Fit out by Wharfside Boat Fitters, 2/5 Berth.

THEREARE MANY GOOD REASONSWHYYOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER LETTING US SELLYOUR BOAT.....

Here are just two:  

We have a proven record for high and quick turnover of boat sales founded on our famous and prominent location An excellent and efficient purchasing procedure for our buyers backed up by our comprehensive boatyard facilities and services, and attentive, caring staff.

CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

BOATS URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR SALE THIS SEASON

A SMALL NUMBER OF WIDE BERTH MOORINGS ARE AVAILABLE! • Moorings • Narrowboat Sales • Steelwork by Arrangement • Chandlery • Pump Out • Laundrette • Diesel • Calor Gas • Dry & Wet Docks • Blacking • Engine Repairs & Servicing • Painting & Signwriting • Rope Fenders • Refits & Alterations

70

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Need a Survey or Boat Safety Examiner?

DELTA MARINE SERVICES

Marine Surveying

♦ Pre-Purchase Condition Survey ♦ Valuation ♦ Insurance Condition Survey ♦ New Build/Conversion Project Supervision & Consultancy ♦ Damage Assessment ♦ Litigation Advice & Claim Assessment ♦ Areas covered 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 14

Mob. 07831 355543 Tel. 01926 499337

www.delta-marineservices.co.uk

BOB HURST Your Local BSS Examiner

based at South Kilworth

Phone: 07720 424396 Email: robert.hurst.bss@ btinternet.com Areas Covered 9 & 10

Alan Buckle Boat Safety Scheme

Pete Davidson BSS Examiner Most private craft examined.

East Midlands based.

Areas covered 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,11 07988 739136 pete@bss-examiner.co.uk www.bss-examiner.co.uk Boat Safety Scheme Examinations Nick Pritchard,

Examiner

MIMarEST, ABSSE,

Covering Central England inc., Warks., Leics., Northants., Oxon., Bucks., Beds., Cambs., Lincs., Staffs.

Independent friendly service Covering the Midlands and surrounding areas.

Nick Pritchard t/as Boatserve (Est. 1984) Tel: 07974 940616 Email: nick.pritchard@boatserve.co.uk, www.boatserve.co.uk

07856 686363

bsswithalan@gmail.com

Dave Freeman

Over 25 years experience on the inland waterways

Marine Surveys & BSS Examinations For a Competitive Quote & Prompt Service

Tel 07918 677782

Covering all Areas Based Bridge 69 Trent & Mersey Canal dave.freeman@boatsafety schemeexaminations.co.uk

RHYS KILLIN Dip.S.C.Sur

BSS Examiner BSS Examination from £190

Covering areas 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Tel 07748 861795 rhys_k1@yahoo.co.uk www.rhyskillin.co.uk

☞

☞

Services

is an independent company providing professional and comprehensive support services to Narrowboats and Inland Waterways vessels.

Based in Northamptonshire we are ideally placed to offer our services.

Our services include: • Hull condition, Pre-purchase, Insurance and Valuation surveys.

(Accredited YDSA member) • Marine consultancy.

Northamptonshire and surrounding areas.

AREA COVERED: 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14

07903 945196 boats@jgmarine.co.uk www.jgmarine.co.uk

Narrowboat Surveyor

Whitmore Marine Surveys

& Boat Safety Examiner

Michael Clarke

Andrew Whitmore Dip Mar Sur I.I.M.S.

Dip.S.C. Sur AMIMarEST Areas covered: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 • A Friendly and Professional Service • Fully Qualified & Insured • Ultrasonic Pre-purchase & Hull Condition Surveys • No travelling Charges - All areas covered Northampton based

01604 858 868 07944 856 351

info@northernstarmarine.co.uk www.northernstarmarine.co.uk

BSS Examiner, Marine Surveyor & Marine Technical Consultant Powerboat, Inland Waterways Helm and Diesel Engine Instructor

Narrowboats, Widebeams, all steel craft, GRP and Aluminium.

Areas covered 11,12,15,14,10,9,6,7 Call or email for a quote and availability 07966 446420 aiw62@yahoo.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL EMMA ON 01507 529453

BROKERAGE 71

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Alvecote Marina Narrowcraft Boat Sales – Dry Dock - Repairs

The No.1 choice for hull blacking - Base plate blacking now available.

BOATYARD SERVICES

• Engine and Heating Servicing • Breakdown Callout and Repairs • Gas, Electrical and Plumbing Specialists • BSC’s & Safety Examination Work • Engine Sales and Installation • Traditional boat painting • Specialists in Historic engines and craft • Boat Brokerage • Diesel Tank Scrubbing and Bug Removal.

MOORINGS

• Marina Moorings • Long and short term Moorings • Coal, Gas, Diesel & Pumpouts

DRY DOCK

• Hull Blacking • Base Plate Blacking • 2 Pack Epoxy Coating • Microbiological Hull Treatments • Anode Replacement • Cabin Painting • Welding • Surveys DRY DOCK BOOKINGS AVAILABLE – BOOK YOUR BASE PLATE IN FOR BLACKING TODAY!

BOAT OF THE MONTH

RUFUS 3

£49,500

60ft, 1992, Jonathan Wilson, Trad narrowboat with Beta Tug engine. Good Hull survey from Feb 2024.

SUNFLOWER

TA-RA-A-BIT

£38,500

50ft, 1997, Charlie Fox. Cruiser stern. Just arrived, be the first to see.

SARAH JANE

£64,950

DILL

£29,950

SIGRID

£48,500

57ft, 2003 Liverpool Boats Trad, stylishly refitted 2023. Isuzu Marine engine, Victron energy inverter.

£42,500

1996 Trad by Black Country Narrowboats, KD26 Engine, New Survey , New BSC, Just Blacked.

TRANQUILLITY

£29,950

Nimbus Narrowboats, 1997 Trad, Beta Marine 1505 Engine, 2 Berth.

42ft Trad 4 berth, 1981 by Colecraft. Excellent condition, Hull shotblast and 2 pack epoxy, BSS expires: 11/2025. 1 owner from new very reluctant sale!

CAVALIER

£19,950

Just Arrived. 45ft, 1988, Eggbridge, traditional, BMC 1500, 2 berth, project boat. Full internal pictures and spec coming soon, now available for viewing.

48ft, 2007, Viking Afloat. Just Arrived, very well maintained craft with a versatile 2 + 2 berth layout.

Ideal family boat or for a couple.

VISIT US AT Alvecote Marina, Robeys Lane, Alvecote, Tamworth B78 1AS Tel 01827 898585 narrowcraft@alvecotemarina.co.uk Tuesday - Saturday 08.30 - 17.30. Sundays & Mondays by appointment

For latest info and offers, follow us on twitter @AlvecoteMarina ON THE COVENTRY CANAL - ONLY 5 MINS FROM J10 M42 BY ROAD

www.AlvecoteMarina.co.uk

72 BROKERAGE

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

BROKERAGE / BUILDERS 73

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Are you a regular hirer?

Shared Ownership with BCBM could really work for you.

It makes such good financial sense because you own a percentage of your boat and that means you only contribute that same percentage towards running costs.

Shares to suit all budgets from £750 in a wide choice of boats, giving you 4 weeks holiday every year.

BEAUTIFUL BOATS BUILT TO LAST

TAKI N DEPO G SITS FOR O UR NEW EST BOAT

Quality Boats

Established in 1974, Colecraft have gained the experience and expertise to ensure that the boat we build for you will last for years to come.

All our boats are custom designed and built to individual requirements.

For Shared Ownership

Boats are built to order to any stage of completion – from a bare hull or superstructure to luxuriously fitted and finished.

We build narrowbeam and widebeam boats for private and trade customers and are possibly the largest supplier of steel shells to other boat builders/fitters.

Our latest trip boats include Crusader Comunity (Widebeam with Hybrid propulsion - full MCA certification), Electra (Narrowbeam with electric propulsion - 12 passengers) and Kingfisher Mark (Widebeam with electric propulsion 12 passengers).

Our welders are coded to meet MCA requirements.

01270 811 500

bcbm.co.uk

Purchase with confidence, sell with ease Buying

First Class

Knowledgeable & experienced in helping

Selling

A first class team delivering unrivalled

you purchase your dream Narrowboat

Giving you peace of mind when

guidance & customer service

sales@swanleybrokerage.com 01270 524 855

selling your Narrowboat

74 BUILDERS

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Tel: T e l: 0 0151 151 2 298 98 9 9602.

602. sales@collingwoodboatbuilders.co.uk sales@collingwoodboatbuilders.co.uk www.collingwoodboatbuilders.co.uk www.collingwoodboatbuilders.co.uk 72 7 2 SStt JJohns ohns R Rd, d, Liverpool Liverpool L20 L20 8BH 8BH

ONLY £1K DEPOSIT TO SECURE YOUR BUILD SLOT

THINKING OF BUYING A BOAT? VISIT OUR FACTORY AND SEE OUR FULL RANGE OF BOATS!

AVAILABLE NOW EURO CRUISER MK2

ABODE MK2

SHEARWATER MK2

HOXTON MK2

From Hull only to fully fitted narrow & wide beam boats built to your own design 57ft cruisers fully fitted from £125,500 Aintree Beetle range starting from £45,000 PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE

WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD YOUR DREAM www.aintreeboats.co.uk 0151 523 9000 | info@aintreeboats.co.uk Units 14-16, Brookfield Trading Estate, Brookfield Drive, Aintree, Liverpool L9 7AS

BUILDERS 75

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

• Narrowboats • Widebeams • Dutch Barges • Bespoke • Offering Shells & Sailaways

Lee and Garry welcome all their customers, whether first time owners or old friends, a quality shell built to your specifications at affordable prices

Now you can find us on facebook, search

‘X R&D Boatbuilders’

Come and see us at Unit 67, Road A, Boughton Industrial Estate, Boughton, near Newark, Notts. NG22 9LD D Call 01623 863576 or Garry 07830 720879, Lee 07723 021798

1

Marina

Audlem, Cheshire

2

Rural tranquility with an abundance of wildlife, located between the Watford and Foxton lock flights.

Blisworth Arm, Blisworth, Northampton NN7 3FG Telephone: 01604 879827 www.blisworthmarina.co.uk E-mail: info@blisworthmarina.co.uk

OverWater

m oo Le rin is gs ure av ail ab le

Our website is packed full of images of past and current builds, visit: www.xrandd.co.uk

Northamptonshire, NN6 7XT 07401 297 253 www.crickwharf.co.uk mooring@crickwharf.co.uk

www.overwatermarina.co.uk

Waterways Association

21 miles of lock free cruising

Grand Union Canal, Leicester Section

3

4

3

Fenny Marina South Oxford Canal

01270 812677

Audlem, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AY

Image supplied by The Inland

CRICK WHARF MARINA

Beautiifull • Peaceffull • Friiend dly At the heart of the Shropshire Union Voted Marina of Distinction

50 years comb ined experience

www.craftedboats.co.uk Tel: 01295 770461

TO PROMOTE YOUR MARINA ON THIS PAGE CALL EMMA ON 01507 529453

2 4

1

76 CLASSIFIED BALLAST

May 2025

CANALIA

CLEANING PRODUCTS

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

HEATING

BOAT BUILDER

CANOPIES COURSES

BOAT PAINTERS INSURANCE

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

GRAPHICS

BOATS WANTED

INSURANCE

CLASSIFIED 77

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

INSURANCE & FINANCE

MOORINGS

RESTORATION INSURANCE

MAIL FORWARDING

MAPS

LED LIGHTING

MOORINGS

LIGHTING

MAIL FORWARDING

SERVICES

SERVICES

78 CLASSIFIED

May 2025

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

TRANSPORT BY ROAD

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

TRANSPORT BY WATER

SURVEYORS

TRANSPORT BY WATER

WINDOWS SPARE PARTS

TRANSPORT BY ROAD

ON IRISH WATERS WITH ALISON ALDERTON 79

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Granite wall clean-up brightens riverside

DUBLIN City Council has undertaken a major cleaning programme of the Liffey Quay walls. More than 6km of granite quay walls between The Custom House and Heuston Station were cleaned as part of a wider drive to enhance the riverside.

Dublin’s quay walls are an impressive legacy of the 18th and 19th centuries and are constructed of Leinster granite, while the riverside is further dominated by a series of beautiful bridges.

However, the quays are also busy traffic routes and the impacts of traffic fumes and general wear and tear had diminished the appearance of the walls in many places.

Stephen Coyne from

Dublin City Council said, “Some sections of the quays closer to the city centre are cleaned regularly. However, this is the first time in a long while that we have tackled the full length of the city quays.”

The work was confined

to the road-facing side of the walls and was undertaken in phases and at night to minimise disturbance. A further phase of work, scheduled for later in spring, will see the impressive granite and cast-iron balustrade at Inns Quay, in front of the

Four Courts, refurbished.

In 2023, the council commissioned repainting of the balustrades of three nearby bridges with an historically appropriate colour; this will be continued in Inns Quay, with its impressive 220m sweep of balustrade.

Liffey Quay walls undergo major cleaning programme. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Pictured (from left): Bangor RNLI crew member Christine Bell; Bangor RNLI helm Gareth Whan; Gareth Morrison, RNLI head of water safety: Bangor RNLI crew member Katherine Lindsay; Claire Flowers, Girlguiding Ulster CEO and Felicity Atwell, Girlguiding Ulster deputy chief commissioner. Front (from left): Faye Charington, 1st Comber Guides; Evie Bell, 1st Comber C Brownies; and Charlotte Maidment, 14th Bangor Rainbows. PHOTO: LEWIS MCCLAY/THE HYPE FACTORY

Guiding girls to stay safe around water THE RNLI and Girlguiding Ulster have announced a new partnership that aims to teach and empower young girls to stay safe in, on and around the water.

The partnership, which was recently launched to coincide with International Women’s Day, will see the rollout of an engaging water safety education resource.

Aptly titled ‘Mayday’ to reflect the emergency procedure used internationally as a distress signal at sea, the new resource focuses on four key safety messages and has been developed so that all age sections of Girlguiding can use it (Rainbows 4-7, Brownies 7-10, Guides 10-14 and Rangers 14-18).

It is hoped that thousands of girls across Northern Ireland will now take on the challenge in their Girlguiding units and in doing so have fun while learning lifesaving messages.

All members who complete the challenge will be awarded a new Mayday badge.

To mark the start of this partnership, a group of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers visited Bangor RNLI where they met volunteers, got a tour of the station and learned more about how the lifeboat crew respond when their pagers go off and there is an emergency at sea.

Killian O’Kelly, RNLI water safety education manager, said: “We know that educating young people about water safety is fundamental to saving lives and is a core part of the RNLI’s prevention work. Reaching more young people with our water safety messages means we are collaboratively working to save more lives now and in the future.”

GALWAY’S Eglinton Canal has won the Best Trail/Waterway in Ireland Award at the All-Ireland Community and Council Awards 2025.

The Galway City Council’s project – The Eglinton Canal Active Travel Scheme – involved the rejuvenation of the canal’s historic towpath, the construction of new crossings and the addition of traffic calming measures to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists. The works have resulted in a pleasant car-free city centre trail with seamless connections to some of Galway city’s major attractions including the Galway Cathedral, the University of Galway, the city centre and the famous Spanish Arch.

Galway City Council took home the award at the All-Ireland Community and Council Awards 2025 national ceremony which was held at the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork earlier this year. Now in its 19th year, and considered the Oscars of the local government sector, the award scheme, hosted by Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) and IPB Insurance, recognises and celebrates communities and the country’s 31 local authorities working together.

Originally constructed to link Lough Corrib to the sea at Galway, the Eglinton Canal is now no longer navigable for motorised craft but is used for kayaking and by anglers.

Galway’s Eglinton Canal. PHOTO: OLLIEBAILIE - CC BY-SA 4.0

Parade of boats

THIS year marks the halfway point of the 2020s Big Cruise (2020s BC) project hosted by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) which aims to promote the canals of Ireland throughout the decade.

The Kildare branch of the IWAI organised a parade of boats along the Grand Canal near Sallins

Eglinton Canal wins national award

on Saturday, April 12 when members of the association took to the water in a variety of craft signifying the start of the 2025 boating season. In doing so they demonstrated the importance of Ireland’s canals and how having boats moving along them brings them to life.

Meanwhile the Dublin

branch, with support from the Royal Canal branch, will be embarking on the Green & Silver route, Ireland’s only circular inland route which takes in the Royal Canal, the Liffey, the Grand Canal, the River Shannon and the Camlin River. Participants will start their journey from Richmond Harbour, at the Shannon end of the Royal Canal, in April and slowly

make their way along the canal, pausing en route to promote the association and use of the canals at various towns, with the aim of reaching the capital city to partake in the main IWAI Dublin rally.

To join any of these flotillas or rallies, boaters must be a member of the association. To find out more or to join the IWAI visit: https://www.iwai.ie

Go for it and Row for It!

WATERWAYS Ireland (WI) and Rowing Ireland (RI) have formed a strategic partnership to grow on-water recreational participation in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Beginning with supporting our young people, the partners are developing plans to increase engagement with women in sport, older people and people with accessibility challenges.

The first initiative to be undertaken as part of the partnership is the WI’s Row for It League which involves around 2400 young people from clubs across the island, participating in a rowing league over the next six months. This is an exciting opportunity for these teenagers to compete against teams from across the country in five league events – held in Limerick, Castleconnell, Carlow and Athlone – before culminating in the final event in Carrick-on-Shannon in August 2025.

John McDonagh, chief executive of WI, said: “Rowing, organised through the huge number of clubs across the waterways provides significant local,

The Waterways Ireland Row for It League was launched by WI chief executive John McDonagh and Rowing Ireland chief executive Michelle Carpenter at the bi-annual Erne Head of the River event, hosted by Enniskillen Royal Boat Club. PHOTO: SUPPLIED easy access to leisure and competitive sport with social, health and well-being advantages for all the participants.”

RI chief executive Michelle Carpenter said: “The Row for It League not only strengthens the bond between our clubs but also encourages more young people to experience

the joy of rowing in a structured and competitive environment.”

Follow Rowing Ireland and Waterways Ireland on Facebook and Instagram to view the league events and other opportunities to participate in rowing activity on Ireland’s inland waterways.

80 GREAT OUTDOORS

May 2025

A walk along the Stourbridge Canal

By Lee Senior

TOWPATH

TALK

THE Stourbridge Canal is a Black Country gem. At 5.8 miles (9km) long, this diminutive canal makes up for its lack of size with its rich history and contrasting scenery.

The DNA of the Stourbridge area is its glass-making heritage spanning more than 400 years.

Today, the towpath still provides fascinating examples of glass making and other industries such as brick, coal and iron.

It is a quirky fact that the town of Stourbridge isn’t directly situated on the canal which takes its name!

However, all is not lost as the town is accessed by the Stourbridge Town Arm (1.2 miles long) branch at Wordsley Junction.

Our walk along the Stourbridge Canal begins at Black Delph Bridge on Delph Road, Brierley Hill, DY5 2TZ. Adjacent is Dudley Canal No 1. Along the towpath, Leys Junction (connecting the Fens Branch) is three-and-a-third miles away.

We head out along a wellsurfaced towpath and soon reach former brickyard basin bridges 2 and 1. Relatively modern housing is never far away from this section of the canal. Soon after there is a short walk to a supermarket for supplies, at Seven Dwellings Bridge. With one mile completed, we go under the Silver End railway bridge which carries the Stourbridge JunctionDudley railway line over the canal.

Inevitably the canal takes on an industrial feel for much of the next 2m (3.2km) to Leys Junction.

There are a number of tower blocks visible near Silver End and more housing adjacent to the towpath.

Happily, at the waterside there is plenty of greenery to enjoy with birch trees and ivy making frequent appearances. We pass more industrial units that lead us to Leys Junction where the short Fens Branch bears off to the right.

We bear left, soon reaching Lock 1 (top lock) of the Stourbridge Lock Flight comprising 16 locks that joyously lie in wait for us. We continue, gently walking downhill

GUARANTEE DELIVERY From just £22

TEL: 01507 529529 QUOTING: TPT04

The remarkable Red House Glass Cone. PHOTO: ANDY WEBB

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Get out for the count!

LEADING wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, has revealed the dates of this year’s highly anticipated Big Butterfly Count, which will take place from July 18 to August 10.

The annual citizen science programme, which is now in its 16th year, attracts tens of thousands of people out into their gardens, local green spaces, canal towpaths or the general countryside to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies and helping to track trends and inform conservation action.

After declining numbers of butterflies resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide butterfly emergency last year, it’s more important than ever that people take part in 2025.

Last summer’s Big Butterfly Count results were alarming. Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute count in 2024, a reduction of almost 50% on 2023’s average of 12, and the lowest in the history of the Big Butterfly Count.

Butterflies are indicators of a healthy natural environment, and with half of Britain’s butterfly

species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, it’s never been more important to understand how our insects are responding to the changing landscape, climate and pollution, and to take action to protect them.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble, we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Last year, nature sounded the alarm call, and we were able to respond, securing a complete ban from the Government on particularly toxic neonicotinoid pesticides on crops in 2025. Now we are calling on people across the UK to get involved once again, to enjoy 15 minutes out spotting and counting butterflies, and helping us to see how butterflies are faring this year.”

For more information visit: www. bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.

Walk route shown in orange. PHOTO: OPENSTREETMAP UNDER THE OPEN

DATABASE LICENSE

as we negotiate the flight. Nearby the Buckpool Nature reserve is adjacent to the towpath with an easy link to it for those who want to explore further.

The next mile or so to Wordsley Junction is a sheer delight and my favourite of the walk so far. As we progress through the flight, wellkept grassy areas abound and there are magnolia and other shrubs and trees to enjoy. There is also a gradual change of emphasis with fewer industrial buildings and more green spaces. By the time Locks 8 and 9 are reached the remarkable Red House Glass Cone comes into view.

Lock 12 adjacent to Dadfords Bridge is named after Thomas Dadford Junior, the engineer who supervised the building of the canal in 1779.

Between locks 12 and 13 is the historic Stourbridge Glass Quarter. Here the 100ft high Red House Glass Cone, a Grade II listed structure, has an amazing conical shape which is arguably the standout feature of the canal.

Red House was one of a number of glassworks built alongside the canal, strategically positioned to use the water for transportation.

Today Red House is a visitor attraction and it has a coffee house too (check opening times). Also in the Glass

Quarter is the Stourbridge Glass Museum.

Lock 16 (Stourbridge bottom lock) is reached and this almost immediately leads to the very pleasant Wordsley Junction. Here a lovely white fingerpost tempts us with the Stourbridge Town Arm. The branch (which leads to the town centre) departs to the left as we stay straight ahead for Stourton.

Upon leaving Wordsley Junction we go over the Wordsley Aqueduct, above the River Stour. The Stourbridge Canal is increasingly rural now, almost unrecognisable from when we left Black Delph.

There are lots of green fields and grasslands and longer-range vistas to enjoy, such are the joys of towpath walking!

The end of the canal comes at Stourton Junction as we join the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Before that comes a series of four attractive locks. Stourton Lock 1 is the top lock and Stourton Lock 4 is the bottom lock. The junction (bridge 33) denotes the end of our memorable walk along the Stourbridge canal.

Pleasing features of the towpath are the smart bridge names that adorn the bridges in a consistent and attractive style throughout.

The towpath surface is generally good and distances are modest, all of which makes walking the Stourbridge Canal a worthwhile activity to do at any time of the year.

Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count returns in July and August this year.

A play on birds

KEN Norman has been a continuous cruiser on NB Dædalus since December 2021. He has worked variously as banker, training consultant, groundskeeper and comedy promoter.

After a few hours cruising each day Ken enjoys creating these frivolous cartoons ‘A Play on Birds’. See more on Instagram: @play_on_birds

SCOTTISH WATERS WITH CICELY OLIVER 81

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

Forth & Clyde Canal reopening recognised in parliament EUAN Stainbank, Labour MP for Falkirk, tabled a motion in parliament to mark the Millennium Link and the forthcoming 25th anniversary of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

THE canal was fully opened between the east and west coasts in 1790 as a commercial route between the Forth and the Clyde.

Canal traffic significantly declined after the Second World War, reduced to pleasure boating, fishing boats and tankers carrying oil products between Grangemouth and the west.

The canal was remaindered, navigation rights removed, and the canal officially closed in 1963. After campaigning and funding from the National Lottery and other organisations, the Millennium Link project saw the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals restored.

Both canals officially

reopened in 2001, with the Falkirk Wheel reconnecting the two canals, reinstating the canal link between Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2002.

The parliamentary motion read: “That this House congratulates Scottish Canals on the 25th anniversary of the reopening of the Forth & Clyde Canal in 2001 as part of the Millennium Link project; notes that this £83.4 million project was one of the largest canal restoration efforts in Britain, reconnecting the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals; recognises the significant cultural and economic benefits brought

Euan Stainbank, MP for Falkirk (centre) presents a framed copy of an Early Day Motion he tabled to parliament celebrating the Millenium Link.

He is pictured with Maureen Campbell, chair of Scottish Canals Board, and John Paterson, CEO of Scottish Canals. PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS by the construction of the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift, and The Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures; further acknowledges the revitalisation of local

Historic Tall Ship undergoes restoration THE first phase of restoration has taken place on Glasgow’s Tall Ship Glenlee has been part of a year-long £1.8m project funded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

This grand old ship started life as a cargo vessel before moving to Italy, followed by 47 years as a sail-training vessel for the Spanish Navy, circumnavigating the globe several times during her 128 years in service. Then called Galatea, the ship was saved from scrap by the Clyde Maritime Trust, returned to the Clyde in 1993 and was re-registered under her original name of Glenlee. She’s a steel-hulled, three-masted barque and one of the many Clyde-built ships – the only steel square-rigged cargo vessel remaining in the UK – and one of only five such Clyde-built vessels in the world. The ship is now a museum celebrating Glasgow’s merchant, maritime and shipbuilding traditions. Glenlee is based alongside Glasgow’s Riverside Museum on the Clyde. Find out about visiting at thetallship. com/glenlee.

In other tall ship news, the Tall Ships Races are heading for Aberdeen on July 19-22 this year. The race starts from Le Havre in France on July 4 and winds its way from France to Scotland and Norway before finishing in Denmark. Visitors to Aberdeen will be able to enjoy four days of celebrations and free events.

Visit www.tallshipsaberdeen.com for information.

communities and the creation of a marine hub; and commends Scottish Canals for their ongoing commitment to preserving Scotland’s waterways and heritage.”

Get ready for Edinburgh’s Canal Festival PLANNING is in full swing for the annual Edinburgh Canal Festival, being held on June 21.

The annual festival celebrates canalside groups and activities, when residents and visitors are invited to explore the Union Canal between Lochrin Basin and Harrison Park with lots of free activities and entertainment.

The event is organised by Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (FCCT), which is currently looking for volunteers to help operate its canal boats – an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new friends and make a real impact on local heritage. Re-Union Canal Boats, part of the FCCT, currently operates private hire and trips on its three boats, Lochrin Belle, Waterwitch and Kingfisher.

All profits go to supporting local community activities. Visit edinburghcanalfestival.org.uk

Disappointment for Govan Graving Docks campaigners A LONG-STANDING campaign to achieve imaginative development on Glasgow’s A-listed Govan Graving Docks site has been thwarted by a Glasgow City Council decision to grant planning consent for more than 300 flats.

Campaigners want to protect the future of the docks and bring much-anticipated heritage, tourism and ship repair jobs to the historic site.

The Clyde Docks Preservation Initiative (CDPI), which has been campaigning for more than a decade, is encouraged to note that more than 60 conditions have been attached to the planning consent, while the developers have promised to sensitively respect the unique heritage status of the site.

Positive developments include

a recently approved public park and the upcoming restoration of number 1 dry dock as a ship repair facility. The CDPI still has concerns and raised several points where it believes planning policy may not have been fully applied, as well as issues with the Environment Impact Assessment. A statement from the CDPI concludes: “Our campaign has been long running and we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the years in whatever way.

However, there is much still to be done to protect the future of the docks. We’ve lost the battle today, but we assure you that the war is far from over.”

The docks were built between 1869 and 1898 when dry docks numbers 1 and 3 were the deepest in Britain. This was at a time when thousands of large ocean-going vessels were using the port of Glasgow and being built and refitted on the Clyde, with Glasgow known as the shipbuilding capital of the world.

Govan Graving Docks. PHOTO: IAIN MCGILLIVRAY/DUNMAGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Falkirk Five route launched

A NEW 5km active travel route has been launched in Falkirk.

Visitors can walk, run or cycle the circular Falkirk Five route which loops from the Falkirk Wheel via the Union Canal, Lock 16 in Falkirk and the Forth & Clyde Canal.

The route features six tiled benches and bike racks to allow visitors to rest and enjoy views along the canals. As reported in February’s edition, the benches were tiled by Make It Glasgow, a community

interest company aiming at building community around Scotland’s clay heritage. Make It Glasgow ran workshops with local schools and groups and produced the tiles which were transported from Glasgow to Falkirk along the canal. Artist Louise Nolan from Make It Glasgow said: “We hope these benches, made by many hands with an abundance of stories and memories, wildlife and rich history bring more people out to enjoy the canal network.”

Lock gate replacement and maintenance continues

The 128-year-old Glenlee at home on the River Clyde.

PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

IN Falkirk, the first phase of the Falkirk Lock 16 bypass works is well under way, with the water levels lowered and fish rescues undertaken.

New lock gates will be installed at Lock 16 once the bywash works are complete.

This work is part of the larger project to upgrade the locks along the Falkirk flight of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

While the upper gates will be manufactured from steel, other replacement gates will be made of ekki (a tough hardwood) and manufactured in the

Netherlands. Lock 16 is the first of the 11 locks that will undergo gate replacement and refurbishment during 2025–26. Scottish Canals are also installing a lock bywash at Lock 20 at Wyndford on the Forth & Clyde, where work was due to be completed in April.

On the Caledonian Canal, lock gates at Corpach have been cleaned and 600 bolts replaced. At Fort Augustus, upgrading of the lock gate cills on locks 1-5 was due to be completed in time for the planned reopening

to boat traffic through the canal at the end of March.

Also on the Caledonian, maintenance at Gairlochy swing bridge has seen the old hydraulic system (which supports the bridge deck) replaced with an electrical system to improve reliability and, in the event of a fault, reduce the time to bring the bridge back into operation. There are also environmental benefits as Scottish Canals will no longer need to monitor for oil leaks or dispose of oil from the hydraulics.

Work on the Fort August lock gate cills, showing the scale of the locks.

The Caledonian Canal was engineered by Thomas Telford and first opened in 1822, taking 12 years to build.

PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS

82

May 2025

Ripon Cathedral is a focal hub of the city and the community.

PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

The magnificent Markenfield Hall which has been relatively untouched by time. PHOTO: MARKENFIELD HALL

Days Out - Ripon

Our series is dedicated to showcasing unique days out near special canals. Whether you’re into gongoozling (watching boating activities), leisurely towpath walks, wildlife spotting, boat trips or even retail therapy, our canal system has something for everyone. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Ripon, with close links to the waterways and a city that has plenty to offer visitors.

duty which, to this day, continues under the auspices of a team of hornblowers who have apparently never missed the nightly ritual in more than 1000 years.

Ripon’s marketplace bears many hallmarks of its rich heritage. One structure sure to fascinate visitors who have an interest in bygone transportation is the cabman’s shelter.

Dating back to 1911, and of Edwardian design, the wheeled shelter’s Grade II listed status symbolises its importance as a rarity in preservation and as a reminder of its time as a shelter for drivers to have a brew and a rest in between navigating journeys with their horse-drawn cabs.

Immersed in history, many traditions form part of the fabric of this beautiful city whose 7th century cathedral, consecrated by St Wilfrid in 672AD, remains the focal hub of the community.

Ripon Cathedral has had a presence in the city for more than 1350 years. It is understood to be the oldest structure of any cathedral in England still in use today.

Throughout the year the cathedral hosts a busy programme of events including annual fairs, the Spring Fair in late March and Christmas Fair in late November, along with music concerts.

Open daily, admission is free and

THE sight of the bellman arriving in Ripon marketplace is one of many traditions still acknowledged in this North Yorkshire cathedral city.

Every Thursday at 11am the ceremonial bell ringing announces the opening of the market where traders pitch up with their stalls selling everything from fresh veg and fish to fashion and household goods. The tradition began in the 1300s and is one of many ceremonial roles keeping the bellman busy all year round, from civic occasions to

starting the Bell-Ringer Handicap at the famous Ripon Racecourse, renowned as Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse and a fixture in Ripon’s history for more than 300 years.

Another observation of this medieval city’s traditions is the Ripon Hornblower. Dating back more than 1000 years, this tradition is observed by the blowing of the horn at 9pm from all four corners of the obelisk in the market square. This ancient crime prevention role was originally carried out by the wakeman, who would blow the horn to set the ‘watch.’

In 1604 the hornblower took over the

Shops and refreshment stops line Ripon’s quaint cobbled streets.

PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

Learn about how justice was served in the Courthouse Museum.

PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

By Sally Clifford

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

The obelisk in Ripon marketplace.

PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD pre-arranged tours are available. It was the cathedral that led to Ripon’s city status, yet its quaint streets and compact layout is perhaps more suited to that of a town.

Ripon’s landmarks and locations educate visitors in a fascinating story of its past.

Relive life in Victorian England at the city’s three museums. Explore the inner workings and learn about what life was like for workers in The Workhouse Museum. Experience the Victorian version of Law & Order at the Prison and Police Museum and see how justice was served at the Courthouse Museum.

The city’s beautiful Spa Gardens are a reminder of Ripon’s short-lived spa town legacy. Interestingly, Ripon’s spa is understood to be the very last of the English spas to open.

Other industries contributing to Ripon’s economy in those early years were sawmills, tanning and corn milling.

Ripon Canal, linking the city to the Rivers Ure and Ouse, provided an important thoroughfare along with the Leeds and Thirsk Railway. Interestingly, although abandoned in 1956, Ripon Canal was restored through

83

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

The Towpath Ang gler Our monthly look at the angling scene

By David Kent

Explore the peace and tranquillity of Ripon’s canal. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

The beautifully preserved cabman’s shelter in Ripon marketplace. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

FACT FILE: Things to do nearby…

Newby Hall & Gardens: www.newbyhall.com Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden: www.nationaltrust.org.uk Ripley Castle: www.ripleycastle.co.uk Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre: www.falconrycentre.co.uk Lightwater Valley Family Adventure and Theme Park: www.lightwatervalley.co.uk Brimham Rocks: www.nationaltrust.org.uk How Stean Gorge: www.howstean.co.uk Stump Cross Caverns: www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk Thorp Perrow Arboretum: www.thorpperrow.com Markenfield Hall: www.markenfieldhall.com Ripon Spa Gardens: www.northyorks.gov.uk local support and, subsequently, provides a renewed importance as a pleasure route bringing boaters into the city.

This 2.3 mile stretch of water travels from its junction with the River Ure at Oxclose Lock to the Ripon Canal Basin. The basin is flanked by some historic buildings and is also the base for Ripon Scenic Cruises where visitors can take a narrowboat cruise to explore this tranquil stretch of Ripon’s beautiful waterway. Water is fed into the basin by the River Skell. Ripon Canal connects to the River Ure and River Ouse navigations and then on to the canal network.

The city’s location makes it perfectly placed to access and explore the beautiful landscape beyond.

Walking along the towpath’s green corridor or cycling can expand your explorations of the many locations close by. The stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Park is only a short drive away. Markenfield Hall, the magnificent medieval moated family home, is another stunning location and hosts talks, tours and teas for short periods of time throughout the year. Check out the website to find out more about opening times.

With so much to see and do, Ripon provides the perfect location for a day or a longer stay…

Ripon’s beautiful canal basin. PHOTO: ALEX SENIOR

All aboard! Visitors can enjoy narrowboat cruises along Ripon Canal. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

They’re off! Place your bets at Ripon Racecourse.

PHOTO: RIPON RACECOURSE

AS I wrote the April article five years ago, we were all fearing the worst… as the country began effectively ‘shutting down’ due to the dreaded Covid virus! I remember expressing great concern that it could be the proverbial long haul and, in many ways, it has been. Over time, there were numerous ‘strains’ of the Covid virus, often affecting some victims of the previous strains. Indeed, many people are still suffering a variety of symptoms collectively called ‘long Covid’ which, it seems, the medical profession is finding difficult to resolve.

Thankfully, due to the case brilliantly put to the Government

by Angling Trust, we were back on the bank by August of that year. We were able to show very clearly that angling was the perfect way by which people could spend time outdoors, with all the benefits that this activity brings. Of course, the rules relating to hand sanitisation and social distancing rightly remained in place but with appropriate rule changes and careful management, fisheries and clubs were able to recommence activities. It is a fact though, exactly as it is in the world generally, that some changes had to stay… although I do not detect that this has impeded people’s ability to enjoy being on the bank.

Coincidentally, I went to fish a match last week and while waiting to draw my peg I chatted to an angler of similar age to myself who had had Covid twice in the space of a few months back in 2022. It seems he is all clear now although it has left him less able to walk far. He vindicated what I said in March: that many people are fishing today who would not otherwise be, without having access to commercial venues where convenient angler parking is seen as essential. Something, I believe, all fishery owners should give serious thought to.

Last week saw the spring meeting of CRT’s Fisheries & Angling Advisory Group. As usual it was a hefty agenda which generated some excellent discussion among the members. One topic which pretty much appears every time is Invasive Non-Native Species and, in particular, zander. While the group remains unanimous in its condemnation of illegal transfers, it recognises how vitally important it is for clear and correct messaging to help innocent anglers not to make mistakes. I feel sure that this issue will continue to do the rounds for some time especially when not all the relevant agencies, including the regulators, are on the same page.

Let’s Fish and the future role of CRT in coaching and management of angling development again had a lot of meeting time. It will be interesting to see just how it pans out in the coming three years or so. As I have done

previously, I expressed my great concern that the key organisations involved in this crucial element of development effectively remain in competition with each other rather than working together for the greater good of anglers and the sport generally.

The weird weather patterns continue to impact on our sport.

This prolonged period of very high pressure which has brought 15 degrees in the daytime and zero overnight has played havoc. Fish are normally ‘waking up’ at this time but even as recently as last weekend I heard of multiple ‘blanks’ from everywhere as anglers simply failed to attract even one bite. Two matches were held on my local canal during March where one tench won the first and two tench won the second. On talking with my long-time friend who lives in South Yorkshire, where he spends much of his time on the big canals up there, it seems much the same.

Unfortunately, I have not heard anything from the usually reliable Shroppie this month. The forecast for this week again shows really good daytime temperatures with slightly higher values overnight but until this cycle changes, I am struggling to see too much improvement. Indeed, we are not too far away from the time of year when the fish should begin spawning but with average water temperatures struggling to exceed eight degrees it could be a late season this time.

Having just completed a very busy period dealing with club stuff I have begun to get a bit more time to fish myself. I have fished a couple of local open matches recently, finishing fourth in one and sixth in the second. I learned a few things on both occasions which I can hopefully put to good use. I began both events very defensively and while catching an early fish each time I then waited several hours to put anything else into the net. The change I made was to adopt a more positive approach particularly with feeding and it did seem to pay dividends. My club programmes begin this month which means I should be out most weekends so I will tell you next time whether my strategy has worked.

The clocks have gone forward and the evenings are now longer so this could be a good time to try and grab a couple of hours. I think cautious feeding may still be the way for a while yet but it will be a case of trial and error. Tight lines.

84

May 2025

The Wet Web

their staff to solve problems as a team. “This develops all our colleagues,” adds Andy, “and also hopefully gets quicker countermeasures in place, which will add better value for boaters.”

Standardising work is also a Lean feature. “This may

seem counterintuitive across the canal network because there are so many elements that are different from canal to canal or lock to lock,” says Andy, “but our challenge is to break the work down into manageable elements and standardise where possible, so that best practice can be applied across the network.”

Perhaps one of the bestknown elements of Lean is the emphasis on finding small steps that make daily work more efficient – continuous improvements that save time, effort or materials. “We’ll be encouraging everybody to identify areas for continuous improvement, to make those improvements where they can, and to involve wider teams where this is necessary,” says Andy.

“Through small steps we will make a big difference, and by improving how we share and celebrate good ideas across different sectors of the trust, it will encourage people to step forward with their own ideas.”

Early indications of the

Lean effect so far, says Andy, have been more efficient meetings, more time for productive work and an enthusiasm for more coaching. “The key is that people think about their own area, and the improvements they can make themselves, to their daily work,” says Andy.

“That’s really powerful stuff.”

Of course, the big question is whether a Lean system will make a noticeable difference to boaters. Andy feels results will be felt gradually, more as an evolution, rather than a revolution. “We’re looking at all elements of the work we do and how it impacts on our customers, and we’re building the thinking into, for example, the work on the Better Boating Plan.” And, as the CRT increasingly uses Lean to analyse work practices and the harnessing of resources, “canal users will hopefully see that we are better able to address concerns and make improvements more quickly and with less disruption”.

The Sustainable Boating Group is a small group of IWA members, experienced boaters, owning a wide range of leisure craft, who are passionate about ensuring that leisure boating is

sustainable into the future.

It published its Vision Paper in November 2020 and IWA’s Green Boating Guide in 2022 as well as a range of articles for inland waterways publications and presentations at

Crick Boat Show and to other interested parties.

For further information and to download IWA’s Guide to Greener Boating visit www.waterways. org.uk/campaigns/ sustainable-boating

the opinion of the judges, exaggerated in their claims.

Nominators are requested to avoid these traits. Also, last year’s nominations had a heavy technical/electrical bias so, given the number of diesel-engined boats likely to be around for many years, nominations for promoting the more environmentally friendly use of such boats, including the use of HVO, would be particularly welcome.

The closing date for entries/nominations

will be July 31, 2025. The winners will be announced and awards presented at the IWA AGM. The date and venue for this are yet to be announced but it is usually the last Saturday in September.

Last year’s winners, Mothership Marine in the Commercial category and Kay and Paul Sumpner in the Non-commercial, will not be eligible unless nominated for a different, or significantly enhanced, achievement.

By Helen Gazeley

THERE’S no getting away from the fact that, love it or hate it, the Canal & River Trust comes in for a fair amount of criticism. Last year’s Boaters’ Survey revealed that their satisfaction with the charity had fallen again, this time from 54% to 46%. There’s also no doubt that CRT is having to cope with a steep reduction in funding. Could it make better use of its resources?

Well, moves are afoot.

Enter Andy Glyde, project lead, operations and maintenance, who is heading up the application of Lean, initially focusing on the operational teams and staff looking after CRT infrastructure. “These are the areas to which the vast majority of our funds are committed,” says Andy, “and have the largest number of personnel.”

For those who haven’t come

across Lean, it’s a business efficiency system, most famously employed by Toyota in Japan. First developed for the car production line, its application has grown over the decades to encompass all aspects of all businesses.

For Andy, Lean seems like a natural progression.

“I’ve always worked in either internal or external audit, where everything that we do is an attempt to find areas that could be improved within a business.” When Steve Dainty joined as finance director and started briefing the leadership team on the Lean principles used at his previous place of employment, Andy’s interest was piqued.

One of the core elements of Lean involves analysing the so-called Eight Wastes. For the original Toyota production line, these were unnecessarily

transporting materials; excess inventory; unnecessary worker movement; waiting – for information or materials needed to continue work ; overproduction; overprocessing, where a task takes longer than it should because of unnecessary steps or excess quality; and defects, where work has to be scrapped or redone. An eighth waste was added later – the non-use of employees’ skills and knowledge.

“Of the work we’ve done so far,” says Andy, “one of the key wastes that we’re trying to eliminate is the waste associated with not fully engaging our colleagues and using their skills and knowledge to make improvements.” To combat this, Andy and his team have worked with managers to help them engage more with

Sustainable Boating Awards 2025 The Inland Waterways Association and Towpath Talk are pleased to announce that the Sustainable Boating Awards will be awarded again in 2025.

IN A world of climate change and energy crisis, there is a common consensus that new and pioneering ideas, strategies, projects, technology and infrastructure must be investigated, explored and implemented.

We all have a duty of care to the planet. This is why the Sustainable Boating Awards scheme was launched in 2024: to encourage readers, contributors and advertisers alike to get their thinking caps on and make nominations for the awards – the brightest and best contributions to sustainable boating should be recognised, however large

or small they may be. It’s not the size of the project that matters; it’s the intention and results behind it.

With the above in mind, entries or nominations are now being sought in respect of individuals and organisations or businesses who are deemed to have made the most valuable contribution during the previous calendar year. There will again be two categories, Commercial and Non-commercial, and nominations should be submitted by the end of July.

Nominations and entries

There are two categories for

the awards: Group one: Non-commercial – This category is for individuals or groups representing charity or community organisations.

Group two: Commercial – This category is for waterway related businesses.

In terms of criteria, the award will be made to the category winners which, in the opinion of the judging panel, have made the greatest contribution to making inland waterways boating more sustainable in the previous calendar year (2024).

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Andy Glyde, project lead, operations and maintenance at the Canal & River Trust, is heading up the implementation of Lean working practices.

PHOTO: CRT

Submissions

In the first instance, send your written nomination (not exceeding 750 words – and up to three photographs may be included) via email to: IWATTsustainable.awards@ waterways.org.uk

Guidance to nominators

Last year’s nominations included some which were rejected by the judges as, although interesting, were ideas rather than achievements. Others were rejected as being, in

85

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

A passage in time There’s more to tunnels than meets the eye on our canal network. John Souter continues his new series, exploring the wonders of our extensive range of canal tunnels.

TO FACILITATE the efficient working of the canal network, approximately 42 miles of tunnels were constructed in England & Wales, of which about half are still open. This is more than

the combined length of all other canal tunnels in the world and doesn’t include the extra approximately 47 miles of underground canal at Worsley as part of the Bridgewater Canal.

As well as 583 locks, 2963

GRAND UNION CANAL Blisworth tunnel – 3056yd/2795m, no towpath.

to branch away from the old one at a point which is now known as ‘Buttermilk Hall’.

It’s a wide bore tunnel and 19 shafts were sunk from the hilltop in its construction resulting, including with the end portals, in 40 different faces being worked simultaneously. The result was a tunnel 16ft 6in wide, 11ft 3in from water level to centre height, and 5ft 9in deep.

It’s the third longest tunnel in the UK and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the ninth longest canal tunnel in the world! It also has the distinction of being the longest freely navigable tunnel in the EU and the longest in the world where boats of up to 7ft width can pass at all points inside.

Due to the failure of the first excavation attempt a toll road was built over Blisworth Hill, but when this couldn’t cope with the volume of traffic a double-track tramway was built linking the termini at either end by horse-drawn wagons. This became the first ‘railway’ to be built in Northamptonshire. Goods were unloaded from waiting boats on to the tramway wagons which were then drawn over the hill to be

WORK started in 1793, ending in failure just three years later due to quicksand, flooding and collapses because of poor materials. During the construction 14 workers were killed in just one collapse and in total 50 lives were lost.

After this failure William Jessop suggested the alternative of building 29 locks to take the canal over Blisworth Hill but his proposal wasn’t acceptable.

As the original tunnel siting proved to be wrong, engineers Rennie, Barnes and Whitworth proposed a new tunnel on a different route.

Construction began again but as a consequence of the previous problems and due to a shortage of money the work was delayed, with the canal finally opening in 1800; although not the tunnel where work didn’t restart until 1802. This second attempt was successful and the now shorter tunnel opened in March 1805. This new, straighter tunnel was planned

bridges and 337 aqueducts there are also 55 tunnels, ranging in length from just 25 yards to over three miles, along the 2000+ miles of our inland waterways. Let’s take a look at this month’s offering…

reloaded on to boats on the other side for the onward journey.

When the tunnel finally opened in 1805 the tramway was largely removed with the tram rails being reused as a railway to Northampton until the branch canal – the Rothersthorpe flight – was opened.

The tunnel was closed in 1980 for extensive repairs, costing £4m and taking four years to complete. This major rebuild involved the lining of the tunnel with pre-cast concrete rings used as a test for similar rings which were subsequently going to be used in the building of the Channel Tunnel. One of these rings can still be seen on the ground near to the tunnel south portal.

The Midlands to South East canal network connection was closed during the whole of this period until the tunnel reopened in August 1984.

Boats were originally poled through the tunnel but this was soon replaced by legging.

Professional registered leggers were given brass armbands to wear to show their official status and they

Tourist narrowboat reversing out of the Blisworth Tunnel. PHOTO: LES HULL - CC BY-SA 2.0

TALKBACK

Your chance to write to us on any towpath topic: Towpath Talk, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ or email editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

Time for a national licensing review?

Dear Towpath Talk, As a long-time liveaboard boater, I just wanted to add my voice to the ongoing discussion about CRT licence fee increases and how they’re being implemented.

While I completely understand the massive financial pressures that are facing the trust, many of us also feel the current system is starting to create a two-tier network – especially for continuous cruisers and those without a home mooring. The recent changes to differential pricing feel like a big step away from inclusivity and further toward a more commercialised model of waterway use.

I, like many, would love to see a more balanced conversation about how we fund our canals fairly,

were housed in huts next to the Boat Inn at Stoke Bruerne and at Blisworth Mill, thus enabling either end working.

In 1869 the professional leggers were replaced by a steam-driven engine which hauled boats through on a continuous wire hawser. This engine was then replaced in 1871 with steam tugs which survived until 1936, and in those smoky steam-boat days a curved brush installed on a separate boat was used to regularly sweep the archway of the tunnel.

without pushing out the very people who live on them and care for them each day.

Could there be a national review of some kind that includes ALL stakeholders – boaters, traders, leisure users and the CRT – to find a sustainable path forward that protects both access and heritage?

Thanks for giving space to these important conversations – Towpath Talk is a great read!

Kind regards, Laura McKenzie

Dear Towpath Talk, Just a quick note to say how much I enjoy each issue of the paper every month. Whether it’s news from the network, historical snippets or tips from fellow boaters, there’s always something that brightens the day and

sparks conversation on the towpath.

I’ve been involved with the canals in one way or another for many years now – cruising, mooring, volunteering here and there – and I’m constantly reminded of how special these waterways are. They offer a unique way of life and a sense of community you don’t often find elsewhere.

Of course, there are always plenty of challenges that come along with life on the waterway – maintenance, funding, access – but it’s all ‘part and parcel’ and I truly believe that with care and collaboration, the network will continue to thrive for generations to come.

Keep up the good work, and thank you for giving boaters a voice.

Warm regards, A Thompson

During August 1928, in just one week, 169 boats were hauled through by the tug between 5am and 6.30pm, a journey time of one hour for a tow of six boats, and it was not uncommon for a train of up to 20 boats to be hauled through at a time.

Having been made redundant, the leggers were either found alternative work or pensioned off. One 75-year-old legger who had spent 44 years legging on his back in the darkness was given the princely sum of five shillings a week in pension, the equivalent today of 25p!

Some of the vents were initially closed off after construction but were subsequently opened up when, in 1861, two men were suffocated by fumes after the introduction of the steampowered tugs. The steamboat Wasp entered the Blisworth side just after 6am and when it emerged two of the men on board were dead and all the others had collapsed from the fumes. During the journey the wind in the tunnel was from behind so the crew were in the smoke the whole time.

Of the two who died, one was on board and the other, the steersman, became unconscious and fell overboard. His body wasn’t found until midnight later that day. Two other

men collapsed and fell on to the boiler and although they survived they were both severely burned. One other fell overboard after being overcome but managed to swim to the tiller and haul himself back on board. It was only on emerging from the tunnel that the boat ran to a standstill among the reeds where it was subsequently spotted.

After the accident a new ventilation shaft was sunk known as the Buttermilk Hall air shaft. Eerily there have been some reports that boaters passing through the tunnel have experienced a sense of suffocation and heard the wailing and splashing of the dying crew members, or even seen a candlelit fork in the tunnel, the navvies having dug the tunnel by candlelight.

As you pass through the tunnel it’s possible to see metal plates set into the wall sides which mark the distance travelled as you work your way through the tunnel.

In 2005, as part of a bicentenary celebration, there was the legging of the Fellows, Morton & Clayton boat Sunny Valley through the tunnel while a ‘boat horse’ was led over the top of the tunnel hill by enthusiasts dressed in appropriate costumes.

Long live waterways

the

86

May 2025

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

‘Calder Cleaner’ Lee tackles river pollution

Sally Clifford meets the angler who is raising awareness of river rubbish and forming an army of people to help keep the waterways clean.

Lee Murrell is a man on a mission. The ‘Calder Cleaner’ is helping to clean up his local river network and encourage others to follow his lead.

Sitting on the riverbank as a seven-year-old with his grandfather, who introduced him to fishing, Lee has witnessed changes within the waterway and the natural environment around him – and in many ways it isn’t for the better.

Although Lee hasn’t fished as frequently as he used to do, he describes himself as a barbel and chub fisherman – he has noticed a difference in his catches which he believes is down to the changes in the river quality.

“The barbel in the River Calder are big and that, for me, confirms what I think, that they aren’t spawning efficiently every year or, if they are, they are over predated,” says Lee. His distraction from fishing is tackling the issues which need addressing to enable the fish and surrounding habitats to thrive. The stark reality of the rubbish finding its way into the River Calder can be

found in the water and trees lining the riverbed and it isn’t a pretty sight, as Lee explains.

“One of the things I find, no matter where I set foot on the River Calder, is sanitary towels.”

Lee explains how sanitary products find their way into the water course through the combined sewage outlet when the river floods.

Sediment, which Lee explains is choking the clean gravel, is another problem impacting on fish stocks.

“Most species of fish require clean gravel to spawn efficiently but sanitary products and sediment are making it so they can’t spawn efficiently,” says Lee. Seeing such sights switched the father-of-two’s attention to raising awareness to help prevent pollution and protect the river network, and the species living there, for the sake of the next generation. With his mindset on educating people, and to think before they flush, Lee spent 18 months developing his vision into reality and, in December, officially launched The Calder Conservation Group CIC with two voluntary directors. Since then he has hosted collaborative clean-ups with Friends of Wellholme Park in Brighouse and the Wandering Wombles in Halifax.

A Boxing Day litter pick held at Hebble Trail, in Halifax, was supported by 24 like-minded people who, like Lee, are keen to make a

difference to their community.

“The interest in the environment is out there and the willingness to get involved is out there,” says Lee. The Hebble Trail event led to the removal of 50 bags of litter along with loose waste and aluminium cans. Another productive clean-up in Sands Lane, Dewsbury, saw the removal of two-and-a-half ton bags’ worth of plastics, six bags of aluminium cans, two trolleys and around 40kg of nitrous oxide cans.

“Single use plastics are not going away any time soon, so if we can change where they end up that will make a massive impact,” says Lee. Tyres and car parts are among the more unusual items Lee has discovered during his clean-ups.

“It sickens me to see our waterways like that,” says Lee. He expresses his appreciation to the many businesses that are supporting him on his clean-up missions including Avocet Hardware, Brighouse, who allow campaigners to use their yard as a collection point; AVA Waste in Halifax; Calder Valley Skip Hire; Atlas Distributions, Brighouse; Syn Bar, Brighouse, the Shears Inn, Halifax and Calderdale Council.

Lee also hopes to run river days and litter picks with young people providing opportunities for habitat surveys; kick sampling as well as focusing on the history of the river and the important part it plays.

Man on a mission: Lee Murrell with some of the rubbish found during the clean-up at Red Beck, known locally as Brighouse Beach. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD “I remember when I was at school we did kick sampling and found river flies and spoke about them.

We have some stretches of water in mind to talk to the kids about what the natural substrate should be on the river, sand and gravel. One of the stretches has a weir which leads you into its industrial past and why weirs were put in,” says Lee. He enjoys being on the water and often uses his canoe to assist with

his clean-ups which, he says, give him a sense of fulfilment.

“I would like to see a future in the rivers for my little lad and generations like him. The more we can educate the next generation, that is where the future is,” says Lee. “We want to educate community members to be involved and empower the next generation.”

To get involved with the group you can find them on Facebook.

Does CRT have a ‘wait till it breaks’ policy?

NABO general secretary Peter Braybrook comments on some more topical issues.

WELL, for once the weather report is very sunny and we are all wondering why we are not out in our boat!

Hopefully, we will be able to get away later in the year.

When you read this, we will be out and about and looking forward to a good summer cruising. However, as I write, that will certainly be difficult for some people, as there are now four canals closed by infrastructure failure.

There is the huge breach

on the Bridgewater Canal near Lymm that will take at least 18 months to fix.

There is the lock wall and embankment failure on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal that will also take a long time to fix although designs and approvals are progressing along with specifications and tendering processes going ahead. At present programme unknown.

Tardebigge Top Lock wall collapse/bulge requires a rebuild and its heritage status at Grade II listed requires red tape approvals of the designs for rebuilding. The lock flight will not be reopened this summer. And a collapsed culvert on the Macclesfield canal has drained a section and will require considerable attention. Boating on the Cheshire Ring, Four Counties ring and Worcestershire ring, all popular tourist rings, are obviously out for this year.

Three of the failures are on Canal & River Trust’s waters and two have been reported to the trust by boaters well ahead of the final failure.

Is there a ‘wait till it breaks’ policy?

NABO has had meetings

with senior customer service officers in the trust and a serious attention to Planned Preventative Maintenance has been discussed. The trust is putting together proposals to bring PPM forward as a priority within its Better Boating programme. We are looking out for the promised ‘dashboard’ on which the trust will post details of its progress in the various areas of least customer satisfaction and have promised a boater’s app on which boaters can monitor stoppages and report issues.

I am not an expert on lock wall inspection. However, I have, in the past, let CRT have photos of brickwork falling into the lock and large holes in the inner brickwork skin of lock walls.

As far as I can see they only get worse. In the future I will be able to do this on an app.

Will that get action better, I wonder? Whirlpools on the Macclesfield were, according to social media, reported nearly 10 years ago. How far ahead does the trust need to know of a defect before PPM is implemented? NABO still believes that there is a ‘wait

till it breaks’ attitude within the trust and it is this that needs to change.

This summer we are going to cruise the Birmingham Canal Navigations again.

As last year we will be in company. None of us are getting any younger but as we get older we are gradually slowing down and looking for ways to enjoy our boating in a gentler way. Our cruising day is getting shorter, we are looking to work fewer locks and the BCN is a great place to do both. Getting there and back will take in at least one flight each way and we hope that we will have crew and get help on these. But in general the single locks of the BCN are ‘easy’. Except that we are warned that some lock beams are very dodgy, particularly on the Brades locks where photos of the beams make them look as if they have had severe attacks by woodpeckers. We will avoid them. PPM should already be in its way.

Another issue of great concern is to do with the sustainability of boating a long time into the future.

This week the government

issued its Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy with a ‘call for evidence’ for the cost of ensuring decarbonisation of vessels below 400 tons such as inshore fishing vessels, yachts and inland waterways craft. Yes, that is something boat owners should be concerned about. The intention is to decarbonise the inland fleet by 2050. I am unlikely to be around then but I fear for the younger generation of boaters, especially those with a green agenda who have opted for an ‘off grid’ lifestyle on the canals. The plan is to overtly outlaw diesel engines, solid fuel stoves, diesel-fuelled boilers, propane cooking and heating, diesel or petrol generators etc. The reasoning is that sustainable alternatives are available.

Boats can accommodate batteries, boats can have solar panels on the roof, boats do not cruise for long voyages so can stop to recharge. My boat is 40 years old and its engine is 60 years old. Both the hull and the engine have recently been fully examined

and pronounced to be in excellent health. There is not a single pit on the hull and the only problem on the engine was an oil leak from an outdated oil filter housing. So why should I spend £15k-£20k on fitting a hybrid power train with the associated floor and ballast refit to accommodate the batteries? I say hybrid because I cannot imagine that the cash-strapped trust is going to spend huge sums installing charging infrastructure that can offer the facility to cruising boats every four to six hours.

But what I can do is continue to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This reduces CO2 emissions from my BMC 1500 engine by up to 80%. I have been using it now for two boating years and have had no problems with it. However, this ‘green’ alternative has not apparently got across the civil service desks of the Department of Environment and Rural Affairs or the Inland Revenue. In my opinion it is the ideal alternative, not just for boat use but for road use as well.

87

N A

S E O L L T YO T

U

R

W

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2025

NARROWBOAT? CASH SALE Instant funds in your bank account

BROKERAGE FROM 5%+VAT (Minimum charge applies)

PART EXCHANGE Your boat with one from our marinas

Call today FOR YOUR FREE VALUATION Northamptonshire

Cheshire

01327 842577

01270 528251

Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 2NH

Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6DD

www.whiltonmarina.co.uk

www.venetianmarina.co.uk

88

May 2025

, u t i w g i r o m a . o z b z u a b i c e y t s i a u m s o c r u Cho o v l l ’ u o y o , n k s we u r c a e k a t o t . s o n a c w an c u o u o y y h a w d i n A a m f o , t l a o e b a l v tee l r u o y r o f o p s c e e. f o v r e u o p y e e g t l i t w g t i v r ’ u e s W y t r p and we’r

Find more than just a mooring, find freedom, together with Aquavista. aquavista.com/find-freedom

www.towpathtalk.co.uk