**FREE**Towpath Talk December 2024 issue

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www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

CRT promises faster response to waterway repairs in 2025 THE Canal and River Trust has promised to speed up its response to waterway repairs in 2025.

The trust has set new targets for emergency repairs and maintenance on the UK’s canal and river network.

In addition, it plans to recruit a new volunteer trustee to its board who can be the voice of waterway users and help hold the CRT to account.

At its recent AGM, head of boating and customer services Matthew Symonds said the priority will be to improve navigation and target issues that predominantly affect boaters. These include: • A ‘paddle pledge’ with a target to fix newly reported broken paddles as soon as possible and no longer than four weeks, and clear all outstanding issues by 2026.

• More greasing and clearing vegetation from locks and moving bridges, with more work scheduled earlier in the year.

• Increased grass cutting over the next three years and ensuring grass is cut at locks and mooring sites.

• Quicker response to broken boater facilities and a review of busiest refuse sites to improve provision and reduce issues; and better recycling provision, with segregated collections introduced in 2025.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “Keeping our canals open for

boating is paramount: without navigation the canals as we know them today would not exist, and neither would the tremendous benefits that navigable canals bring to communities both on and off the water.

“However, many boaters have told us that they’re not satisfied with the service they receive and want to see our efforts focused on the things that matter most to them. We need to change this and make sure that we demonstrate to boaters that their needs are at the heart of what we do.

“This means regular and improved engagement with boaters, and actions that prioritise navigation and reinforce our commitment to the boating community: looking at how we can address some of the problems that boaters tell us about.

“We’ll be publishing a new set of performance indicators around navigation, and we hope boaters will be able to see how we’re making progress on the things that matter to them, and in caring for the network.”

The trust will engage with boaters with more face-to-face forums for them and will publish a 12-month calendar of the meeting dates. It will also explore ways to make it easier to access up-todate navigational information and to report issues via a requested Boater App. The trust has published its Better Boating Plan.

To view it, go to the CRT website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ boating/better-boating

Essential repairs under way on historic River Severn lock

By Lucy Wood

THE Canal & River Trust is undertaking essential repairs to the Grade II-listed Holt Lock on the River Severn in Worcestershire.

The top and bottom gates of the 180-year-old lock are being repaired as part of a £280,000 project to maintain and improve the structure for boaters navigating the river. Work includes improvements to the lock cills and replacing loose brickwork and the lock ladders that run down into each chamber.

After initial inspections by divers in September, the lock has been drained so the work can be carried out.

A 100-tonne crane has been assisting with the removal and reinstallation of the

lock gates, which each weigh 6.5 tonnes.

Holt Lock is located close to Holt Fleet Bridge, a Grade II-listed cast-iron arch bridge that was designed by famed civil engineer Thomas Telford. The lock was constructed in 1844 and is one of six on the 42½-mile River Severn navigation. It was originally built to take craft carrying up to 150 tonnes.

The work this autumn is an important project to keep the river navigable to boaters travelling between Stourport and Gloucester where the river is connected to the docks by Gloucester Lock, which is also due to be inspected and repaired this winter as part of the trust’s annual winter repair and conservation work to protect the nation’s waterways.

CRT construction manager Mark

The lock gate is lifted at Holt Lock.

PHOTO: CRT

Inside the drained Holt Lock.

PHOTO: CRT

Millions to be spent on West Yorkshire reservoir upgrades

THE 225-year-old Hill Top Reservoir (known locally as Slaithwaite Reservoir) in West Yorkshire is due for a multimillion-pound restoration in 2025 to ensure it can cope with the pressures of climate change and hold more water.

The Canal & River Trust held a consultation into the works, which are yet to be finalised, to ensure the public were informed of the project as it develops next year and into 2026.

Essential maintenance and upgrade works are required to

strengthen the centuries-old structure against the impacts of climate change and improve the performance of the reservoir by increasing the capacity of the spillway to hold more water and reduce leakage.

Ground investigation works are currently being carried out until January 2025 to inform the final plans. The public footpath at the top of the reservoir (from Holme Lane to Bank Gate) will remain open at this time.

From spring 2025, the main project is expected to start, with

Abraham said: “We have used large pumps to pump water out of the chamber to allow us to build scaffolding and provide access to complete the work. We are installing steel dams that have been specially designed and fabricated for the lock gates as we address previous issues with leakage.

“The works have been timed to strike the balance between avoiding the summer months while getting work done before the periods of typically higher river flows on the Severn which would flood our sites. Once completed, not only will the repairs have helped to maintain this historic structure, but they will also deliver improvements for the boaters who use the lock when navigating the river for many years to come.”

construction work due to begin on site (subject to the permitted development application being agreed). Completion is due in autumn 2026.

Sean McGinley, Yorkshire and North East regional director at Canal & River Trust, said: “Our reservoirs feed our canals and maintain water levels along the inland waterways.

Their function is proving increasingly important to help us manage water levels during more frequent extreme weather conditions brought about by

climate change, with drier summers and wetter winters.

“Originally constructed in the late 18th century, this reservoir, like much of our historic network, requires ongoing maintenance and upgrading to meet present-day standards.

“Our charity is undertaking a significant programme of investment to improve our large reservoirs across the country.

This work will secure the longterm future of Hill Top Reservoir as an important resource for the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.”

Situated in the village of Slaithwaite in Huddersfield, the reservoir opened 225 years ago. Built by renowned canal engineer Benjamin Outram to supply water to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, the reservoir remains an important water feed to the canal and is a wellused leisure resource for the local community, popular with walkers and anglers.

The trust is working hard to minimise the impact of the project to all reservoir and canal users. During the construction

phase there will be times when the water levels in the reservoir will be significantly reduced for safety reasons, and this will be carefully managed and monitored. There will also be temporary footpath closures in place. Latest updates will be shared through onsite signage and online: www. canalrivertrust.org.uk/ slaithwaite-reservoir Latest updates will be shared on the webpage: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ slaithwaite-reservoir

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these invaluable contributions in years to come.”

Award ceremonies took place in each of the Canal & River Trust’s

six regions during October. Find out more about volunteering for the CRT at www. canalrivertrust.org.uk/ volunteer

Awards celebrate volunteer excellence on nation’s canals

By Lucy Wood

DEDICATED teams and individuals who give their time free to the Canal & River Trust have been honoured.

Recognition has been given to those who work on the CRT’s 250-yearold navigable network in the charity’s annual volunteer awards, which reflect the diversity of

achievements made to keep these waterways open and alive.

Awards for Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Lead Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year were made.

Christine Mellor, head of volunteering at the CRT, said: “Our volunteers are at the heart of everything

Award recipients Yorkshire and North East Individual: Philippa Gibbons.

Team: Chesterfield Canal Towpath Taskforce.

Young Volunteer: Antonia Geldard.

Lead Volunteer: Paul Richardson.

North West Individual: Karryn Brooks.

Team: Wigan Water Safety Education Volunteers.

Young Volunteer: Adam Kearsley.

Lead Volunteer: Barbara Sharples.

Wales and South West Individual: Siou Coleman.

Team: Planned Canal Maintenance Team, Eastern Kennet & Avon.

we do, and I’d like to thank everyone who’s chosen to give their time volunteering on the canals.

“We simply couldn’t keep our waterways navigable and alive without the incredible dedication, enthusiasm and skills of our volunteers. They play a huge part in protecting these vital spaces,

Lead Volunteer: Sally Hodnett.

West Midlands Individual: Judith Foulkes.

Team: The Hatton Coir Roil Project Team.

Young Volunteer: George Dunn.

Lead Volunteer: Tina Jones.

East Midlands Individual: Rob Westlake.

Team: The Beeston and Meadow Lane Towpath Taskforce.

Young Volunteer: Cameron Fletcher.

Lead Volunteer: Martin Pearce.

London & South East Individual: Andy Gee. Team: Milton Keynes Offside Vegetation Project.

Young Volunteer: Peter Brookwalker.

Lead Volunteer: John Thomlinson.

whether by getting stuck into practical work, helping boaters through locks, inspiring the next generation of canal supporters and even providing invaluable assistance during our response to flooding brought about by climate change.

“It’s amazing to see what we can achieve together, and it really shows how canals can bring people and communities together.”

The awards scheme, in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust, a grant-making body supporting registered charities, is open to all its volunteers across regional and national teams. Recipients this year include volunteer lock keepers, towpath taskforce teams who have transformed their local areas, education volunteers who have taught children about water safety, people who have been instrumental in the charity’s response to floods, a team which has led on tackling overgrown vegetation,

The West Midlands region. PHOTO: SUPPLIED and another that has delivered wildlife improvements.

Brian Marsh OBE, chairman at the Marsh Charitable Trust, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with the Canal & River Trust once again to deliver these awards, recognising those who give their time to volunteer on our nation’s waterways, enhancing their heritage and supporting the well-being of those that use them.

“We would like

to congratulate the individuals and volunteer teams who have been recognised and look forward to continuing to highlight

The Wales and South West region. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Volunteers work to restore the Monty and close Shropshire Gap People are being encouraged to take part in a nationwide plastic pick alongside the waterways of England and Wales.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Making a difference and keeping the towpaths pristine are among the aims of the volunteers fighting plastic pollution.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Get rid of plastic and shout about it YOUNG volunteers did their bit to keep the waterways plasticfree with a massive half term clean-up.

Families were out and about across the canal and river network, picking up rubbish to keep the towpaths pristine – and sharing their work on social media.

And the organisers are hoping families, and especially youngsters, will keep up the good work right through the winter.

The Canal & River Trust is encouraging people to keep up litter picking every time they visit the waterways

as part of the #PlasticsChallenge.

They are asking them to make a positive impact by doing a litter pick at a local canal: • Visit your local canal and carefully collect any plastic you see • Dispose of it safely and sustainably by taking it home to recycle • Spread the word!

Take pictures of your pick and use #PlasticsChallenge on social media to encourage others to get involved.

Richard Parry, chief executive at the Canal

& River Trust, said: “Plastic pollution is a modern-day menace, but there is something families can do for free, on their doorsteps, to make a difference.

This autumn, join thousands of people from across the world, including our fantastic colleagues and volunteers, in fighting plastic rubbish. It’s one of the loveliest times of year to visit the canals, as the turning leaves transform them into glorious corridors of orange, brown, red and gold.

But sometimes the rustle of fallen leaves

is actually the sound of a discarded crisp packet or a piece of plastic. Don’t let plastic become part of our nature.

“Autumn is a great time to get involved – come along for a walk and, if you find any litter, pick it up and take it home to recycle.

Get creative and find a picturesque backdrop to showcase your action and share the results with us! Being by the water makes people healthier and happier so, whatever you choose to do, a trip to your local canal is the perfect way to enjoy an autumnal afternoon.”

MORE than 40 people from 22 different groups saw recent work completed on the Montgomery Canal and were shown plans for future projects.

They were attending the Northern Canals Association meeting at Llanymynech, on the Montgomery Canal, hosted by the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS).

The bulk of the day was taken up by visiting the canal itself, looking at the 1980s restored section at Carreghofa.

It is hoped that this short section of the canal will soon

be linked again with the main canal system.

Michael Limbrey, chair of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, David Carter, chair of the SUCS and John Dodwell, chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, outlined the history of the restoration, the present works being undertaken and future plans.

The visitors also saw the newly built Schoolhouse Bridge and the restored tramway wharf at Crickheath, before seeing SUCS volunteers covering the Terraseal

Delegates at the Northern Canals Association November meeting saw Shropshire Union Canal Society volunteers lining part of the waterway with blocks. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

lining with blocks, between Crickheath Bridge and the farm crossing. Another group were covering the sides with rip/rap (broken stone), where emergent vegetation will be able to thrive once the canal is rewatered.

Finally, the delegates saw Williams Bridge 96 where a vertical lift bridge is to be installed, under the Levelling Up Funding.

The next meeting of the NCA is on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Beggarlee, hosted by the Friends of the Cromford Canal.

The group saw the unrestored Williams Bridge 96, which is included in future plans. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Family backs campaign for boating children’s right to education access

Calls are being made for the creation of a charter to protect the right of the children of constant cruisers to a reasonable journey time to school – and the campaign is being taken to Parliament and on TV.

By Lucy Wood

THE call for a children’s charter comes as a mass survey of water users revealed that hundreds of boaters are missing out on access to vital services such as healthcare and banks due to the lack of a fixed address.

As reported in October’s edition of Towpath Talk, the Canal & River Trust’s firstever census sampled almost 10,000 boaters – representing a third of current boat licence holders – and the results revealed the stark reality of living on the water for some. The lack of a fixed address means boaters can struggle to register Five-year-old Vincent Hemsley-Murphy with his parents Christina to vote, apply for school and Tom. PHOTO: SUPPLIED. places, find a GP, access healthcare and open a bank account – things that They’ve leaned on us quite heavily already and people with permanent addresses take for granted. strongly recommended that we get a home mooring Now, access to education for the children of if we want our son to attend school.” constant cruisers is under the spotlight as a family The CRT had been monitoring the family’s cruising has spoken out about their struggle to abide by CRT pattern in the spring due to concerns about it not regulations while ensuring their young son attends meeting the trust’s requirements for boaters without school. The five-year-old has sometimes endured a home mooring. Following a review of boat sightings, miles-long journeys there and back – round journeys in June the trust deemed the family’s boat as not of about three hours – because of the family’s having engaged in genuine navigation during that ‘restrictive’ cruising plan imposed by the trust. licence period, meaning Christina, Tom and Vincent They are backing their local waterways chaplain’s had to either remove their boat from the waterways appeal for the CRT to introduce a children’s charter or apply for a home mooring licence. protecting the right of a child to access to their school Appeal within a reasonable journey time.

Christina Hemsley and Tom Murphy said their After an unsuccessful appeal, they turned to their son Vincent benefits hugely from living on the water, local waterways chaplain for help and resubmitted surrounded by nature and wildlife, and loves going to an improved cruising plan that comprised 18 school, but that he gets exhausted from travelling to planned moves to 14 different catchment areas in and from school when their CRT-approved cruising six months over a 30-mile range, cruising between pattern demands they journey further away from it Hertford, Bishops Stortford and Stonebridge. The – and that their lifestyle choice should not have to be CRT accepted this in July and granted a six-month compromised to meet the trust’s rules, as interpreted restricted licence, which has recently been renewed through the British Waterways Act 1995. The family to the standard 12-month licence as the family are based around the River Lee on their narrowboat, has been judged to have complied with the trust’s and Vincent attends school in Hertford. guidelines.

“This is about the rights of a child,” said Christina.

“We had no choice but to comply with the CRT’s “Vincent is a hardy boy, but he can only take so much. interpretation of the law as, in our opinion, we Unfortunately, it feels like the CRT makes constant were under threat of homelessness, despite having cruising incompatible with attending a school. a young child on board. The amended cruising plan

brings us into areas with reported high crime levels have one thing in common, after all – that we want in the darker winter months, and I believe it is likely our waterways to thrive.” to endanger our child, but we see no other way to Narrow Escapes comply,” explained Christina.

“We do genuinely cruise between places and Christina, Tom and Vincent have also agreed to have lots of people welcoming our boat when we film for the Channel 4 TV show Narrow Escapes, come back to an area. We are speaking out because highlighting the support the waterways chaplaincy we believe that constant cruising simply cannot be has given them. incompatible with access to education via a school.”

Advice on CRT’s website reads: “The law and our Christina, who has a job in Woolwich, said that licence conditions explicitly say that boaters without as an adult she can endure long travel times to and a home mooring – our continuous cruisers – must from work, but that expecting a child to do the same ‘bona fide navigate.’ You’ll need to continually is “unreasonable, and could have long-term effects move from place to place on a journey, rather than just shuttling back and forth between places and on our son.”

“We don’t have a car and are reliant on public remaining in a small area.” transportation,” she added, “which means one The British Waterways Act 1995 does not set a journey for Vincent can sometimes be 90 minutes – minimum distance or range for constant cruisers; the and that’s before he starts his school day.”

CRT has made what it considers a ‘fair interpretation’ Now, the family are planning to attend an open of this law and advises that if people remain in a day at Parliament with the National Bargee Travellers small area of the network, such as a range of just 20 Association (NBTA) to raise awareness of the issue. miles, it will begin its enforcement process as this is Their concerns are backed by Lorraine Newman, not considered as genuinely navigating around the senior waterways chaplain for the south east. trust’s waterways. It advises that boaters who are not She said: “I’ve noticed an increase in numbers of continually moving from place to place on a journey people having difficulties with licence renewal, and should obtain a home mooring, particularly if they my caseload involving this specific issue has risen have obtained employment at a specific location or dramatically in recent times. if their children need to go to a particular school.

“Vincent is sometimes travelling three hours in “Perhaps you’ve found some work, or your children a day to go to school – and he’s five, he’s only just need to go to a particular school. If you need to regularly started going. I was a schoolteacher before I joined stay in one place, or a limited area, then obtain a home the chaplaincy and know that children this young mooring,” the CRT website continues. “Living aboard get so tired after a day’s learning. Imagine adding as a family can be a challenge, especially if the boat a three-hour round journey to a child’s day and it doesn’t have a permanent place to moor, but some becomes a welfare issue. boaters do raise their children on the water. We urge “I believe the CRT should create a children’s boaters to talk to us if they need help balancing their charter – recognising lifestyle needs with the the right of a child to licence requirements.”

As reported in get to school within a reasonable journey time Towpath Talk, a – just as the trust protects quarter of boaters who people with disabilities, responded to the CRT’s for example. It should census said they had be acknowledged that difficulties accessing children need schooling healthcare, and nearly and have a right to it, half experienced issues and that they need a claiming benefits. reasonable journey time.

Matthew Symonds, “I urge the CRT to head of customer service give the education of support, said: “While our charity provides children in boating guidance and a range of families the same protection and privileges support options for those as other recognised who are struggling, we rights. For example, a need the organisations boater with a disability is who provide the services entitled to what the CRT – national government, terms as ‘reasonable local authorities, doctors’ a d j u s t m e n t s ,’ surgeries, financial depending on individual service providers, circumstances, to enable and g ove r n m e nt to stay continuously The October cover of Towpath Talk, departments – to take cruising under the highlighting boaters’ concerns raised in the steps to address the gaps in their provision.”

Equalities Act. We all Canal & River Trust census.

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Raising awareness of waterways accessibility issues

By Lucy Wood

ACCESSIBILITY was at the top of the agenda at the Accessible Waterways Day London 2024.

The Accessible Waterways Association collaborated with UCL East to host the successful day at a brand-new and fully accessible venue in Stratford, East London.

Tracey Clarke opened the event with an explanation of why she and husband Tim founded the association and how they hope to develop it in the future.

All the directors of the AWA are themselves narrowboaters: Tim and Tracey constantly cruise their boat around the UK, with their companions, Tracey’s guide dog Loki and Tim’s hearing assistance dog Ozzie.

Tim said: “There was a good attendance from a number of stallholders and canal-using members of the public.

The relaxed day was punctuated by short talks and presentations, with plenty of opportunity for discussion.

“The Canal & River Trust once again presented its accessible mooring bollard.

Attendees were invited to test it out, and a number of very useful conversations ensued with regards to how it will work.

It was confirmed that the CRT is hoping to get an initial production bollard made very soon, and then this can be tested ‘in the wild’ and put the theory in to practice.”

Exhibitors at the awareness day were: • Accessible Boating, which runs boat trips on the Basingstoke Canal for those with all disabilities • Bruce Boats, which rents out fullyaccessible boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal • Canal & River Trust • Canal Dream CIC, an award-winning arts organisation organising events on London’s waterways • Drake Marine Engineering, which converts canal boats to be wheelchair accessible • Rewilding Healthcare creative arts and health research project • Waterlife, which builds tailor-made houseboats with accessibility in mind • Waterways Chaplaincy, who support people on the UK’s waterways.

“Everyone who attended found the day to be a useful exercise,” Tim added.

“Many conversations, both as part of the talks and during the informal times, proved valuable, showing just how important it is to get together and chat.

“Future developments include a series of podcasts continuing the conversation theme, which will hopefully provoke further discussions.”

Find out more about the AWA at www. awa-uk.org.uk

A waterways chaplain creates their own badge on the UCL Trellis-funded Rewilding Healthcare stall.

PHOTO: AWA

The AWA team (from left): Tim Clarke (with Ozzie), Teresa Tunnicliffe, Carl Jones, Tracey Clarke (with Loki), Lindsay Sedge, Tim Sedge and Joseph Cook (UCL). PHOTO: AWA

A guest gets ready to lasso the new prototype accessible mooring bollard with Marcus Chaloner, the Canal & River Trust’s head of placemaking and design, and Dick Vincent, the trust’s national towpath advisor. PHOTO: AWA

Tim and Tracey are being featured on Channel 4’s Narrow Escapes, which follows the lives of canal boaters around the country.

Here, Tim is being filmed at the awareness day. PHOTO: AWA

Underground tourist attraction looks to future with new boss

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which hosts tours in a network of historic tunnels and caverns under the town, is now under the leadership of new CEO Paul Crofts.

Mr Crofts said: “I am absolutely thrilled to join the Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust and look forward to working with the board, staff, volunteers and community to continue the excellent work, based on the amazing legacy the trust has developed over its many years.

“The trust offers a truly unique experience, delivered by an incredibly passionate group of people – something that we should all be proud of regionally. Having joined from the Black Country Living Museum, I understand the historical and cultural significance of preserving the area’s heritage, particularly recognising the role of its canals and unique geology, along with acknowledging the

stories of the people, past and present, all of which make the Black Country what it is today.”

Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust is a unique heritage attraction located in the heart of the West Midlands.

It offers visitors “an unforgettable journey” through a network of historic limestone tunnels and caverns, carved beneath the town of Dudley. A spokesman added: “Our guided boat trips provide a fascinating insight into the region’s industrial past, showcasing stunning underground scenery and historical features.

“Our site includes a visitor centre with interactive exhibits, a gift shop, and a cafe, ensuring a memorable day out for families, school groups and history enthusiasts alike.”

Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust is part of the Black Country Global Geopark, which celebrates the geological and cultural heritage of the region.

New CEO of the Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust Paul Crofts (right) with members of the trust team. The trust provides unique boat tours in a network of tunnels and caverns under the town. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Awards celebrate work done

by Canal & River Trust staff

A new bridge has relinked the Trans Pennine Trail after three decades.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The structure has been installed as part of £6 million Chesterfield Canal restoration works. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

New bridge relinks Chesterfield Canal trail after 30-year wait

A NEW bridge has finally relinked the Trans Pennine Trail as part of £6 million works at the Chesterfield Canal in Derbyshire. The bridge replaced an old brick structure, which was knocked down 30 years ago, and is the first phase of the canal restoration programme.

The new Trans Pennine Trail bridge, weighing 40 tonnes and measuring 38 metres, was lowered into place after being delivered to the site in two halves.

The project has been managed by the Chesterfield Canal Trust. It is the first phase of a £6 million canal restoration scheme. Most of the money will come from the Staveley Town Deal, a £25.2

million investment in Staveley through the Government’s Towns Fund, covering 10 projects in all.

Ivan Fomin, chair of the Staveley Town Deal, said: “This is not only a huge milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust but also for the Staveley Town Deal. Work to restore the canal is one of our key projects and will help attract more visitors and improve outdoor facilities for residents. There has a been a lot of hard work to get to this point and I want to thank all the staff and volunteers at the trust for their efforts.”

O’Brien Contractors readied the site and installed the massive bearing structures.

CTS Bridges delivered the two halves of the bridge on

October 8. These were welded together and painted before the final lift took place.

O’Brien Contractors director Tony Mitchell said: “The installation of the bridge marks the continuing works towards the reinstatement of the Chesterfield Canal and O’Brien Contractors are proud that we have been able to contribute to this.”

Next year, a length of canal will be reinstated under the bridge along with a new lock and another accommodation bridge at the bottom of Bellhouse Lane. There will also be a pumping system and Bellhouse Basin will be restored. The towpath will be upgraded to a multi-user trail, stretching over two kilometres

all the way across the Doe Lea Valley to Renishaw.

Finally, the whole area will be planted with wildlife friendly vegetation and a seating area will be installed for people to enjoy the tranquillity of the newly restored canal. You will be able to follow the progress of the works as they happen by going to the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s website.

Rod Auton, publicity officer for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “This is an incredibly important achievement for the trust. It proves to our supporters and to potential funders that we can take on huge engineering challenges and bring them to fruition.”

Safety check carried out on one of the UK’s longest and ‘most haunted’ tunnels ENGINEERS braved the spooks and spectres to inspect the Harecastle Tunnel in Staffordshire to ensure it is safe for thousands of waterway users to navigate.

Officials from the Canal & River Trust inched along the Harecastle Tunnel, one of the longest canal tunnels on Britain’s historic canal network, to carry out a vital inspection

A canal boat exits the Harecastle Tunnel, recently surveyed by Canal & River Trust to ensure its safety for the thousands of boaters who use it each year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

of the Grade II-listed structure on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Kidsgrove.

At more than one-and-a-half miles long (2676 metres), the Thomas Telford-built tunnel is a key point on the Trent & Mersey Canal, still navigated by thousands of canal boats each year, making it important for jobs and local tourism as well as the environmental and wildlife benefits that today’s navigable canals provide.

Jonathan Muir, senior tunnel surveyor at Canal & River Trust, said: “Built two centuries ago, Harecastle Tunnel is a marvel of the Industrial Revolution. It is vital that we give it the care and attention that it deserves, with every part of the network an important piece of the jigsaw to keep the canals open and alive.

“Inspecting the tunnel means travelling slowly through the tunnel, tapping the old bricks to ensure their structural integrity, measuring the profile of the tunnel to check for any movement, and monitoring for any leaks or cracks. The inspection will determine what maintenance and conservation repairs our charity needs to programme in.”

The surveyors travelled on a boat with a specially mounted platform to enable them to inspect every inch of the tunnel, said to be the most haunted on the canal network.

Harecastle Tunnel is one of the five

CANAL & River Trust staff gathered recently for the organisation’s annual internal awards. The awards, held at the Anderton Boat Lift, celebrated the work the charity does to keep its canals navigable and available for boaters and local communities.

There were finalists in each of the categories, which included the best Small Project and best Large Project, awards for Customer Service, Community Engagement, and one celebrating Innovation.

Finally, each year a special award is given for a person or team going above and beyond in showcasing the trust’s values with the Clive Porter Values Award.

The winning projects included a moorings initiative on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, an innovative plasma cutting machine that is able to further drive efficiency at the charity’s lock gate workshops, the development of a boater support network in Northamptonshire, the work of mooring rangers in London, a 200-mile externally funded habitat improvement project in the West Midlands, and a project where the trust was able to facilitate work with a local school to support vulnerable students in Leicester.

Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, said: “Our awards showcase the huge range of work that goes on every day to keep our canals open and alive.

“We all see the challenges our ageing 250-year-old canal network is facing, and our colleagues and volunteers are on the front line, safeguarding navigation and the benefits that brings, helping meet the needs of our boating customers, and finding ways to save money by being more efficient and embracing new technologies.”

Small Project Award

A project creating much-needed permanent moorings on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal between Rodley Bridge and Skipton received the Small Project Award. The volunteer team used a cost-effective technique using over-pile rings rather than setting mooring rings into concrete. This established eight new berths at Dowley Gap, with a further six to come at Bradley.

Large Project Award

The Large Project Award went to the Unlocking Biodiversity project, funded in partnership with Severn Trent, a two-year project to improve over 200 miles of priority habitat across the West Midlands.

The works range from water vole habitat installations and reedbed creation to wildflower seeding and

longest fully navigable canal tunnels in the country. It was hand dug using pick and shovel and Thomas Telford had the tunnel lined with millions of locally made 19th century bricks.

There are two tunnels at Harecastle.

The first tunnel, now disused, was designed by the ‘Father of the Canals’ James Brindley and completed in 1777.

However, as demand for coal and freight increased, its limited capacity became a problem, and the second Telford tunnel was commissioned.

Construction started 200 years ago in 1824, and the tunnel opened in 1827.

hedgerow restoration. With the help and support of the charity’s fantastic volunteers, almost 100 miles of habitat enhancements were delivered in the first year.

Customer Service Award

The Customer Service Award went to the Mooring Ranger Team in London which works tirelessly to support boaters. In addition to managing moorings, the team helps plan and assist with big events such as Cavalcade and responds to challenging issues, such as engaging with people who are rough sleeping to support in getting them rehomed and working with police and local authorities to respond to reports of antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping.

Community Award

A partnership with Leicesterbased Orchard Mead Academy to use the canal for a programme of activities to support some of their most vulnerable students at risk of school exclusion received the Community Award. In all, 24 girls engaged with the trust and canal through a programme of canoeing and bushcraft sessions which, according to the school’s safeguarding team, had more impact on the students than any other intervention. Engaging young people in this way will enable the trust to access wider external funding grants to unlock the potential of the canal network to support community well-being.

Innovation Award

In the trust’s lock gate workshops, which make around 130 lock gates every year, the introduction of a new plasma cutting computer numerical control (CNC) machine secured the Innovation Award.

While plasma cutting of sheet metal with handheld machines was already in use, the CNC capability gives greater accuracy and provides the ability to cut multiple shapes, designs and components in a fraction of the time.

Clive Porter Values Award

The Clive Porter Values Award, in memory of the trust’s towpath ranger killed on the Grand Union Canal in 2021, celebrated licence support officer George Dickinson, described as “the beating heart of the waterways that run through the south of the East Midlands”. Seeing a need within the boating community, he worked with the outreach team from West Northamptonshire Council, often in his own time, to facilitate the launch of a boating community support network.

Harecastle Tunnel has the reputation of being one of the most haunted canal tunnels in Britain, home to the infamous Kidsgrove Boggart.

It is said that a woman arrived in Kidsgrove on her way to join her husband in London.

She accepted a lift with some boatmen and was murdered for the valuables in her luggage.

Her body was hidden in a culvert off the main tunnel leading to Goldenhill colliery, known as Gilberts Hole. The story goes that when her body was found, she had been beheaded.

8

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH IWA’S AMY TILLSON

IWA welcomes acclaimed journalist as chairman of Heritage Advisory Panel

IWA is delighted to announce the appointment of Hugh Pearman as the new chairman of its Heritage Advisory Panel. As an experienced and celebrated journalist, editor and author, he brings a background gained in a distinguished career and a deep commitment to preserving the architectural and engineering heritage of Britain’s inland waterways.

Hugh spent more than three decades at the forefront of architectural journalism. From 1986 to 2016, he served as the architecture and design critic for The Sunday Times, and later as editor of the RIBA Journal from 2006 to 2020. His latest book, About Architecture, explores engineering and architectural achievements including those related to canal heritage. His extensive contributions to media and heritage have included roles on Arts Council England’s architecture advisory group, co-founding the RIBA Stirling Prize in 1996, and chairing the Art for Architecture initiative at the Royal Society of Arts from 2000-2004. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2001 and his contributions to

architecture and the arts were recognised with an MBE in 2019.

Beyond his professional life, Hugh is a long-standing IWA member with a personal enthusiasm for the heritage of Britain’s inland waterways, providing planning and architectural guidance for the Association’s London Region.

He is the current chairman of a campaigning architectural heritage charity, The Twentieth Century Society.

Hugh Pearman, new chairman of the IWA Heritage Advisory panel.

PHOTO: SARAH M.LEE

Commenting on his appointment, Hugh said: “The waterways network is a precious and rich working historical resource, available to all, linking urban and rural locations. It exists today because of the time and effort of the thousands who have worked to save and enhance it since IWA’s founding.

It is now at a vulnerable moment.

We need to be on high alert and make the strongest possible case for it as a key national heritage asset.”

The IWA recognises the challenges facing the UK’s waterways today. Historic structures are ageing, climate change is exerting pressure on water management, and funding for conservation remains uncertain or inadequate.

Hugh’s leadership arrives at a crucial moment as the association works to safeguard the waterways from degradation or loss.

Under his guidance, the IWA Heritage Advisory Panel will continue collaborating with navigation authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that conservation and celebration of the network’s heritage remain a priority.

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COLIN WAREING Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO:

eams for 2019 are revealed ’s TTop TTeams k’s T k 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 taking the title by a short head.

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

probe Boats gunshot 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 Chesterton the told reporters thatt shots, coming from moored at Browns side of the river, were fired at boats five about for on Field, Fen Ditton, and this went no injuries were minutes. Cambridgeshire Police said reported and enquiries were continuing.

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 donation finalists will receive a £100 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.

• Continued on page 2

found on a boat moored Ouse bodies t achievemen f nd 100-dayCommunity of two men were fou Action Network (UCAN) THE bodies were called UPPERMILL after starting 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 meeting point is 10am at the canal bridge Killan on 01457 Street but this can change. Contact Peter 878361 or peterkillan@hotmail.com

Y k city centre. Emergency services in Yor 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. alk went to press.

Tal tth T been identified when Towpath

11/12/2019 10:17:16

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Lichfield branch – vegetation management EARLIER this month, IWA Lichfield Branch’s intrepid team of volunteers began their seventh consecutive year of winter vegetation management. This year they have been given a variety of tasks in addition to the usual cutting back of the overgrown vegetation. Repainting bridge names and numbers, removing ivy and other such growth from bridges and

weed from lock walls are just a few of the variety of jobs they will be undertaking. They are currently on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Armitage and will be heading for Fradley before heading south on the Coventry Canal.

If you see them, please say hello.

IWA’s volunteers work Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and if anyone is interested in joining in the fun, please email: lichfield@ waterways.org.uk

IWA signs the way at Reach Lode A Lichfield Branch volunteer hard at work. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

IWA-CRT Annual Restoration Conference 2025 THE 2025 Annual Restoration Conference, jointly organised by The Inland Waterways Association and Canal & River Trust, is taking place on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

With its collections and archives focused on Britain’s inland waterways, including canal boats, traditional artefacts and h i s t o r i ca l photos, the National Waterways Museum will provide a unique and exciting location, with the chance to visit the Island Warehouse, the Power Hall and the blacksmith’s forge where the ironwork for the canal and its boats was made.

The conference is a valuable chance for those involved in waterway restoration to experience new insights into the important topics facing restorations today. Delegates will have the opportunity to network, and attend in-depth sessions and workshops led by experts across the field.

The conference will run from 9.30am with an optional tour of the museum in the afternoon.

More information including the programme of the day will be published in due course, together with a booking link.

Email: verena. leonardini@ waterways.org.uk or call 01494 783 453 (ext 607) for more details.

IN THE 1970s, the banks of the lodes connecting Burwell and Reach were leaking due to the shrinkage of the Fens, and were now flooding the land that they were constructed to drain. As the Swaffham Bulbeck and Bottisham lodes were also leaking, it was going to cost a lot of money to repair, so one proposal was to demolish the highlevel lodes and create a new low-level system.

As this would have meant that navigation by boats would cease, the boating community and IWA started to campaign to keep the lodes open.

Eventually the navigations were saved.

IWA Cambridge Branch (now Great Ouse) adopted Reach as a focal point. Reach still has a pub and the village puts on a big fair on the first bank

holiday in May each year. For many years, the branch had a boating rally and barbecue while the fair was on. It also had a sales stall at the event, mainly to promote IWA. In 1984, two signs were erected on the Hythe showing the connection with the River Cam. Amazingly, both remained intact until 2023, almost 40 years. Eventually one post snapped and the other sign was not in the best condition, so it was decided that new ones would be made. So over the 2023/4 winter, branch member Peter Webb made replacements, which were installed over the summer.

Information sign

by Peter Webb.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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.

December 1 & 17 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, for details

December 21 & 22 Volunteer on the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal

IWA Manchester Branch will be working with Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society at Prestolee at its regular work site, Nob End locks, near Prestolee Road, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1AD.

The group works from a base in the blue cabins near the top of the locks, adjacent to the summit pound.

Location: Prestolee Road, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1AD. Parking: Please park on Boscow Road as there’s no parking at the locks.

Time: 10:00 am.

What’s provided: Tools and gloves.

What to wear: Suitable clothing for the tasks and sturdy footwear.

Remember: Pack your lunch and drink.

If you are travelling by public transport Radcliffe is the nearest Metrolink stop, from which there are frequent buses to Little Lever. Kearsley

is the nearest railway station.

December 13 - 10.30 am to 2.30pm.

Burslem Port Friday

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 take waterproofs in case of rain and a packed lunch if staying all day.

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

9

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Characters of the Cut

Paddy Screech – Word on the Water, The London Bookbarge

By Alice Elgie

WHEN Paddy Screech and his friend, that point we were very much running it Jon Privett, were moored together in for love and we were very poor!” Paddy Springfield Park, Hackney back in 2010, said. With bookshops closing down, they found themselves discussing ways high street rents high and Amazon and to ensure they would never have to leave Kindle flooding the market, the future for the canal again. books might have seemed bleak had it not “It’s not enough to just live on a boat, been for the three friends’ unshakeable Paddy, you’re going to have to (and I think confidence that people loved their you’ll want to) make your living from the bookshops and wanted them to thrive. canal. Someone who lives on a boat and “Bookshops are more than just a place makes their living from a boat is a bargee, to buy your books, they’re a place to have a whereas a boater is just a sort of hat!” was selection of books curated to you by other humans. They’re also meeting places for Jon’s quote at the time.

At that point Paddy’s plan was to run people who love books and thoughts and a bookshop from his 40ft cruiser stern things of the mind, as well as community narrowboat but with the interest of Jon, environments where people can begin to who was selling second-hand books build up friendships and connect.” on Embankment Bridge and the High It seems many people did feel the same Pavement in Angel, they started to hatch because when, in 2015, the bookshop a grander plan. was at risk of closure after a permanent Paddy explained: “Moored opposite mooring space was declined in favour us was Stephane Chaudat (also known as of other developments, 6000 supporters Noy, French for knower) on a beautiful came to the rescue, signing petitions and 1920s Dutch barge. We went over and writing emails. The outcome was they were managed to persuade him to think offered a permanent mooring at Granary about letting us lease his boat to use as a Square, just behind King’s Cross, which bookshop. However, he saw the potential enabled the business to finally work in a in the same way myself and Jon did and said we should build a stage on the roof and make it into an events space as well.”

Noy was soon all in and so the three friends began their floating adventure: Word on the Water, The London Bookbarge.

For seven or eight years they continuously cruised their shop through the waterways of Central London, In 2015, the bookshop was at risk of closure when the River Lea, along mooring space was declined in favour of other the Regents Canal and developments, but 6000 petitioning supporters Limehouse Cut. “At came to the rescue.

A performance taking place on the roof of Word on the Water.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

From left: Stephane Chaudat, Jon Privett and Paddy Screech.

bit more of a sustainable way and Paddy is certainly grateful for the community spirit generated: “People really care about bookshops and they have no intention to let them disappear.”

When I talked with Paddy about the importance of keeping the written word alive, he mused: “We’ve had this infinite speeding up and shortening of the way that we ‘consume media’ in the last decade so I think books are vital because it's such a deep engagement. You spend so much time with someone, sometimes some of the greatest thinkers and writers in human history, so you have to go at the correct speed. You can’t rush it.”

The organic growth of this bookshop has also not been rushed, which is a beautiful thing to observe. From its early days of being continuously cruised and sometimes pulled for miles by rope — even legged the traditional way through Islington tunnel! — because the engine didn’t work, to where it is now: a vital counterpart to modern technology. “I like to think we fill the human-sized spaces, where real people can meet each other and form communities and see live performance; the sort of things that don’t happen on the internet.”

Very sadly Jon Privett died a year ago, which was a huge shock. Paddy said: “Jon was a world-class curator and the Bookbarge would not have been possible or happened without him. He taught us pretty much everything we know and his loss is incalculable.” However, alongside Noy, and also Jon’s daughter, Meg

Ferreira — herself a gifted curator who keeps up tradition by helping to choose books to go on the shelves each week — Paddy has every intention of keeping Word on the Water afloat. “It feels like it’s our responsibility to keep the shop going until the end of time, so we can try and pay a fitting tribute to Jon.”

For more information:

To visit: Granary Square, Regent’s Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW Instagram: @word.on.the.water Facebook: Word on the Water — The London Bookbarge Website: www.wordonthewater.co.uk

A retail outlet and performer venue with towpath appeal.

Inside, the boat has a very homely feel to its retail area.

Word on the Water by night, an inviting sight.

Alice Elgie is a writer and yogi who shares words about her nomadic life, along with journalling and mindfulness courses to inspire and heal, on her blog: slowintotheseasons. substack.com

A giant Scots pine weighing 21 tonnes was craned out of the Grand Union Canal by the Canal & River Trust after it came down during a recent storm. The tree had to be removed by a crane seated on specialist steel matting. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Massive tree blown into canal is hauled away in rescue mission A MASSIVE tree weighing 21 tonnes has been cleared from the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal near Blaby – reopening the waterway for boaters.

The huge Scots pine, which had come down in stormy weather, was blocking the canal and preventing boaters and local people from being able to use the canal and towpath. Because of the size of the tree, the Canal & River Trust had to bring in a crane and seat it on steel matting so it could be removed safely without damaging the canal bank and surrounding area.

The charity invested several thousand pounds in the removal, with local colleagues working alongside contractors to get navigation back open.

Richard Walker, contract manager at Canal & River Trust, said: “Trees falling into the canals can present us with some real challenges. Not only can they block navigation for boats, but they can cause significant damage and, because towpaths were built for horses to tow boats rather than heavy modern-day machinery, this can present several access considerations.

“We carry out proactive tree works outside of the nesting season and remove windblown branches and trees from our nationwide network of canals year-round. With winter approaching, and a changing climate that is bringing more frequent and severe storms, we will be on hand over the months ahead to keep navigation open.

“Our amazing canal network is 250 years old and is open to the elements. We welcome people’s support, through volunteering, donating, or spreading the word about our charity, to help us keep canals alive for years to come.”

10

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Discarded supermarket trolleys are a regular occurrence.

Jim Elliott, otherwise known as the Canoe River Cleaner. Jim’s work means he gets up close to nature and wildlife.

Take a walk – and more – on the wild side with the Canoe River Cleaner An environmental campaigner is on a one-man crusade to make his local waterways cleaner – and educate people in the process.

By Lucy Wood

NATURE lover James (Jim) Elliott regularly takes to his local waterways in a canoe to clear litter and fly-tipping, conduct wildlife surveys and more, all the while promoting the well-being benefits of being outdoors.

Known as the Canoe River Cleaner, he conducts a regular cleaning roster of rivers, ponds, canals and other waterways in North East Lincolnshire and the wider Lincolnshire area. Aided by a team of volunteers nicknamed Comrades, he litterpicks banks and ditches and clears water of debris while piloting his canoe.

“I am hell-bent on keeping our blue and green spaces tidy,” he said. Jim has removed countless items from his local waterways – from litter, rope, bicycle

A pile of traffic cones.

frames, supermarket trolleys and fishing line to more unusual items, such as an abandoned scooter and even an advertising sandwich board. “I have dredged up all sorts – a 27-yearold crisp packet, Halloween decorations, a Kinder Egg still in its wrapping, a stolen pedalo… even an Atomic Kitten CD!” The heaviest item he’s ever removed from the water is a large iron railing.

But since starting the Canoe River Cleaner after being made redundant during the pandemic, his mission has now become a highprofile force for good in his community, using his activities to educate and inform.

“I get asked a lot if children throwing a trolley or the odd bottle into the water annoys me and to be perfectly honest it doesn’t. As a

serial litter-picker, you have to switch off from these things while you’re sorting the job in hand otherwise you’d blow a gasket. To assume that all children are at one with nature and aren’t going to make silly mistakes while growing up is naïve; there’s time for them and we do our best to influence, educate and inspire.

“The same can't be said for some adults, and it is people who deliberately fly-tip that really get my negative energy flowing. To make a conscious decision to leave litter in an area of beauty with a high concentration of wildlife is downright disgusting.

I’m sure I’m not alone in my disdain for fly-tipped waste.

“One of the best parts of the job is being so close to – and being tolerated by – our amazing wildlife. There really is beauty around every corner.”

This summer marked the end of Nature Hub, a project that saw Jim offer nature-based activities including river cleaning to home-educated children. He also took a group of children out on to the water of the River Freshney, in his hometown, to learn about biodiversity and wildlife corridors.

Through sponsorship, part time nature-based work and the generosity of people who value

One of Jim’s awareness campaigns is about highlighting how dangerous balloon releases can be to the environment and for wildlife.

ALL PHOTOS: CANOE RIVER CLEANER

what he does, former car salesman Jim has turned this into a fulltime occupation. He has also established a not-for-profit well-being organisation, the All Things Good and Nice CIC, and has also teamed up with environmental conservation group PickWalks to litter-pick on land.

“Soon after starting my canoeing and litterpicking endeavours, I quickly realised that spending time outdoors particularly in nature helped me mentally. To be honest, I’m the best version of myself that I’ve ever been,” he said.

“We provide activities which keep children connected with nature and reconnect adults

who may have lost it.

Together with helping those who need to get back on track, I am a massive advocate for early intervention and working on ways to prevent individuals from sliding down a slippery slope which they struggle to get back from.

Activities include litter picking, one-on-one canoe trips, children’s wildlife i-spy walks, and family walks.”

Jim is proud to be an advocate of respecting nature and the environment and said that humans are privileged to share rivers with wildlife.

“On a routine tidy of the River Freshney in my hometown, I recently came across one of the most upsetting sights since I started my efforts – a male kingfisher tragically caught in discarded fishing wire, leading to its untimely death.

This area is littered with overhanging trees and as a result lots of abandoned fishing lines are often cut loose after getting snagged or, even worse, carelessly discarded. I do my best to manage this, but sadly I was too late in this instance.

“Carelessness and disregard for the environment cause unnecessary suffering.

I believe we should all work together to protect the wildlife that makes our rivers so special.”

Thanks to a funding grant, Jim is currently leading a project providing bespoke, one-to-one canoe trips for people with compromised mental

health who need extra support in a quieter environment. Through All Things Good And Nice, he provides nature-based activities for adults and children around Lincolnshire every Monday of the year.

“I’ve personally benefited so much by using nature as a wellbeing tool, and I’m really excited to introduce people to its healing powers, and to view our rivers’ rich biodiversity from a seldom seen perspective,” he said.

“I’m always looking at ways to promote good practice when it comes to looking after our blue and green spaces, and I feel there’s no better way than to get out there and show people what beauty surrounds us. It’s on our doorstep, and we need to look after it.”

He is also involved in other environmental initiatives; he recently became a certified riverfly monitor through The Riverfly Partnership, able to conduct regular surveys along watercourses.

“The presence of these lower-down-the-foodchain species, such as mayfly and freshwater shrimp, are a good indicator of water quality and can ascertain certain environmental conditions such as pollution and low flows.

Results can serve to raise the alarm before things get worse.”

One of his major awareness campaigns

– and a personal bugbear – is about the dangers of releasing balloons into the environment. He has created a map (https:// thecanoerivercleaner. co.uk/balloon-map/) re cording where discarded latex and foil balloons – released for events including memorials, birthdays and gender reveals – have fallen back to Earth.

“It’s terrible for wildlife,” Jim explained.

“These things might look like fun, but they’re a nightmare for the environment.

From choking hazards to entanglement, balloons can be deadly for animals, especially birds and aquatic life. It’s worth reminding people to keep celebrations eco-friendly and avoid sending more of these party poopers into the wild – the wildlife will thank us.”

Jim’s Facebook page, which is filled with stunning photography and informative videos from the seat of his canoe, is a thriving community resource – and this hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Soft drinks brand Soda Folk created a root beer in his honour, which is available all over the UK. Although he operates mainly in North East Lincolnshire, he hopes his endeavours – in which he is supported by his wife Lindsey, daughters Lily and Hazel and son Isaac – will encourage like-minded people around the

Jim towing an abandoned pedalo.

country to do similarly.

“I’m simply a guy with a canoe keeping rivers tidy for wildlife and local residents,” he added. “People who regularly use our country’s waterways will know first-hand just how important it is to respect our environment and the joy that being at one with nature brings.

“I used my sales skills to navigate my way on to radio stations, TV and other mediums to try and forge some sort of living from what had now become more than a passing hobby. Thankfully, what I am doing is universally accepted and championed. I don’t have superpowers, and you certainly couldn’t save the world with what I’ve got, but people like it and have come on board.

“I love what I do but inevitably, we all have bad days. Stumbling upon a wheelie bin full of litter that someone has taken the time to push in the water constitutes a bad day. This can take a while to sort and often leaves you wet, tired, and despondent that we have people who literally go out of their way to decimate our blue and green spaces.

“Luckily, most days are good, and litterpicking can be very rewarding – even just the act of being in the moment and enjoying the meditation it provides. Even when the summer brings the algae bloom, the act of removing debris and reeds that act as anchor points for the algae is tiring, but that sense of achievement keeps me going. “ Wa t e r w a y s will always need maintenance, and I’ve made it my mission to do just that. I’m a firm believer in controlling what you can control and being a ‘doer’.”

Find out more about the Canoe River Cleaner at https:// thecanoerivercleaner. co.uk or https:// www.facebook.com/ thecanoerivercleaner

11

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Lobby group fears change to Smoke Control Area laws will penalise liveaboard boaters

A LOBBY group fears new legislation to control what fuels can be burned will be used to clear boaters out of certain areas.

The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) believes boaters will be penalised unfairly by organisations and local authorities, who may use the Smoke Control Area legislation to either prosecute or move them out of the waterway.

The change to the Clean Air Act means the same rule applies to households when burning wood and coal in open fires and stoves. Wet wood and traditional coal are prohibited as part of a drive to cleaner air.

An NBTA spokesman said: “The NBTA is extremely concerned about this development.

Unlike houses, boat dwellers do not generally have an alternative way of heating their homes.

We rely on our stoves to keep warm in winter; without them our homes would effectively become uninhabitable.

“In addition, liveaboard boaters will have no way of telling whether they are in a Smoke Control Zone or not, as these zones are not generally signposted either at the boundaries or elsewhere.

Boaters could enter a Smoke Control Zone with their stove alight, not knowing that smoke controls are in force or that they have crossed a local authority boundary, and be fined, especially if they have no smokeless fuel on board.”

The NBTA, which represents ‘itinerant boat dwellers’, whose home is a boat and do not have a permanent mooring, is concerned its members and others will fall foul of the law as they don’t always have access to approved fuel and may not understand how the law is being applied by the local authority whose area they are cruising in.

The concerns come as Defra surveyed boat users to understand the use of solid fuel burning behaviour among the inland boating community.

It said the data gathered will be used to strengthen the evidence base on the types of solid fuels being used and the kinds of appliances in operation.

A Defra spokesman said: “The survey will also be used to understand the level of awareness among boaters about Smoke Control Areas, including determining whether boaters are aware that local authorities can include moored vessels within these areas (subject to local consultation) under the Environment Act 2021.”

The NBTA advises all boaters to carry at least one bag of smokeless fuel, adding that in some Smoke Control Areas, the use of a small quantity of clean dry kindling to start a fire is allowed, but after this, only “approved fuel” can be used.

Smokeless fuels are approved by Defra. Wood, timber or logs cannot be used for heating in a Smoke Control Area unless you use a Defracertified stove (also known as an exempted appliance), and only burn good quality, dry wood.

Non-exempted appliance users can only burn approved solid fuels.

The NBTA spokesman added: “Itinerant liveaboards may be unable to comply everywhere they travel because the regulations regarding Smoke Control Areas may vary between local authorities and the regulations regarding exempted appliances and approved fuels are slightly different in England, Scotland and Wales.

Indeed, boaters may well be unaware that there has been any change in the law. In addition, boaters do not usually have an alternative to using kindling to light their stoves.

“Many liveaboard boaters, especially those who rely on collecting fallen wood for heating, cannot afford to heat their homes with smokeless fuel, which can be significantly more expensive than other fuel. However, the percentage of boaters and the proportion of emissions they cause compared to the general population are minuscule given their relative numbers.

“There is a danger that this will be used as a tool to remove boats from areas where the local authorities are opposed to boat dwellers, or where local residents are hostile to liveaboard boaters.”

The NBTA is seeking meetings with both Defra and the Local Government Association with a view to developing guidance for local authorities on how to avoid a disproportionate adverse impact on itinerant boat dwellers being created by smoke control regulations; how to ensure consultations on Smoke Control Zones reach itinerant populations; and how to ensure boaters can tell when they are entering a Smoke Control Zone.

To find out more about Smoke Control Areas, visit: gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules and to find out which fuels and stoves are approved, please visit: smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/index.php

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12

December 2024

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criminal Exploring your canal ancestry: Researching ancestors

Criminal ancestors

In the latest in her family history series, Nicola Lisle looks at how you can trace ancestors who fell foul of the law

IF YOU’VE hit a brick wall with any of your alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal at Stone, and ancestors – such as names suddenly disappearing her story inspired Colin Dexter’s 1989 Inspector from census returns – it’s possible they had strayed Morse novel, The Wench is Dead. from the straight and narrow.

Not all crimes were quite so dramatic, but they Crime was rife among canal boatmen, ranging were prolific. Boatmen plundering their own cargoes, from drunkenness, fighting, vandalism, poaching and either for themselves or to sell, was widespread, and other petty pilfering to rioting, house-breaking, arson many became ingenious at finding ways of escaping and murder. Punishments included imprisonment, detection by the toll offices. Siphoning off a small execution or transportation. quantity of beer from a barrel and topping it up with The most high-profile crime on the canal network water was a favourite, as was stealing tea, sugar, coal was the alleged rape and murder of 37-year-old and other useful commodities.

Christina Collins, a dressmaker from Liverpool, Thieving from other boats’ cargoes, stealing whose body was found in the canal at Brindley from warehouses and private dwellings around Park, Rugeley, on June 17, 1839, two days after she the canal, and poaching from private estates were set off for London aboard a Pickford’s canal barge. also common.

The crew – 39-year-old Captain James Owen, Drunkenness was another everyday problem, George Thomas (27) and William Ellis (28) – were often leading to fighting and vandalism. The later convicted of her rape and murder and sentenced Derby Mercury of February 24, 1813 reported to be hanged at Stafford that 21 men, ‘chiefly Gaol, despite protesting boatmen’, appeared their innocence. Ellis before the magistrate in Manchester charged was reprieved on the with ‘riotous conduct in eve of the execution the streets of the town’. and sentenced to Some boatmen transportation for life instead. were guilty of cruelty Christina was buried to their horses. In in St Augustine’s 1858, Thomas Witton Churchyard, Rugeley, – described in the and her headstone Birmingham Post of records how she was March 23, 1858 as a ‘barbarously treated’ ‘rough, ill-looking and ‘found dead in the fellow’ – was sentenced canal in this parish on to six months in prison June 17th 1839, age The temptation to plunder cargoes like

by Birmingham Police 37 years’. A wooden these displayed at London Canal Museum Court for beating his horse ‘in a most savage sculpture was later was too great to resist for many boatmen. erected in her memory PHOTO: NICOLA LISLE and brutal manner’.

If your ancestor fell foul of the law, there are plenty of records to help track him or her down. A good starting point is The National Archives’ guide: www. nationalarchives. g o v. u k / h e l p - w i t h your-research/ research-guides/ criminals-and-convicts This resource gives detailed information and links relating The former Oxford Gaol – now a tourist attraction – was a grim to prisoners held in place to be incarcerated for any local boatmen found guilty of prisons or on prison breaking the law. PHOTO: NICOLA LISLE hulks through registers, statistics, correspondence and more. The most If your ancestor was transported, see www. useful records include: nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/ · Criminal registers for England Wales 1792-1892 research-guides/criminal-transportation for (series HO26 and HO27), which can be searched information and links. Records are searchable via online via www.ancestry.co.uk or www.findmypast. the ancestry site. The majority of records relate co.uk; details include date and place of trial, to transportation to Australia from 1776; early sentence if convicted and personal information transportation was to North America and the West about the prisoners.

Indies, but few records from this period have survived. · Prison hulk registers and letter books 1802-1849 Local record offices hold records relating to local (series HO9), searchable via the ancestry site. prisons and courts, and you may find local family · Criminals, convicts and prisoners 1770-1935. historians have produced useful transcripts or Search findmypast for Home Office records collections. Oxfordshire Black Sheep Productions, including criminal petitions (HO18 & HO19), for example, has published transcripts of Oxford various prisoner/criminal registers and statistical Quarter Sessions and transportation sentences returns (HO23, HO24, HO26 and HO27), judges’ from Oxfordshire courts, as well as Oxford Gaol reports 1784-1830 (HO47), Newgate Prison Prisoner Portraits 1870-1881, compiled from The Calendar 1782-1853 (HO77) and Calendars of National Archives and local archives.

Prisoners 1868-1915 (HO14).

Another useful site is Black Sheep Ancestors · Photographs of prisoners. Photographing (www.blacksheepancestors.com), where you can criminals became compulsory in 1870 with the search prison, convict, execution and court records. passing of the Prevention of Crimes Act. Records have survived from Pentonville and Wandsworth prisons Further reading and Oxford Gaol and are searchable on findmypast.

David T Hawkings, Criminal Ancestors (The · Calendars of prisoners tried at Assizes and Quarter Sessions (HO140). Prisoners tried before History Press, 2009) 1915 are available online via findmypast; records Stephen Wade, Tracing Your Criminal Ancestors (Pen & Sword, 2009) from 1916 onwards need to be viewed at The National Archives.

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December 2024

Gerry Heward aboard a Dutch barge at the WHH base, Springwell Farm on the Grand Union Canal near Rickmansworth. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

WHH barges moored at the McAlpine construction site at Kings Place, King’s Cross, beside the Regent’s Canal.

Gerry Heward: starting out

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

IT IS my unshakeable belief that the fact that we still have a functional commercial inland waterways system is largely down to individuals and not to the people who are entrusted with running them – the navigation authorities.

Wood, Hall & Heward (WHH: a well-established home counties inland waterways company) depicts the surnames of three such individuals who bring flair and dedication to the waterways, keeping carrying alive and providing a springboard for what one can only hope will be a climate change-driven renaissance.

Recently retired Gerry Heward rightfully occupies this month’s spotlight. Growing up in Yorkshire, a bus ride into nearby Halifax crossed the derelict Halifax Arm of the Calder & Hebble Canal where, in the distance, working boats were still visible.

School saw dinghy and later some lumpy-water sailing, while study for an applied biology degree – commencing in 1972 at Brunel University – quickly led to affordable accommodation on a somewhat tired, wooden butty called Mary, moored beside what was then known as Uxbridge Marine, on the Grand Union Canal.

Fellow (mature) students, Tam and Di Murrell, were at that time also operating ‘a pair’ between

Brentford and Boxmoor on what was known as the ‘lime juice run’. The Murrells, long since retired to the Continent on their Dutch barge (where for a while they ran helmsman courses) were waterways carrying stalwarts for which they deserve considerable recognition and a piece in their own right.

The butty morphed into a wooden ex-fishing boat, which enjoyed a sojourn on the mud of Leighon-Sea (where its owner briefly worked for a carpet company) before the pair returned to Uxbridge and what was now the Uxbridge Boat Centre, intent on divesting itself of a yard full of decaying wooden vessels to which Gerry somewhat grudgingly lent a hand.

That done, he combined his fortunes with the activities of the William Press Company which at that time held a rather bizarre contract emptying redundant sewage settling ponds at Perry Oaks: a potential ‘soft landing’ of sandy lagoons at one end of Heathrow’s main runways!

For a year the chance to drive the latest agricultural tractors and spreading equipment proved irresistible until a chance reunion with the

Murrells, now at Bull’s Bridge, came with the offer to assist with their new contract running grain from Tilbury up to Allied Mills at Town Lock, Addlestone.

Familiar with the ‘crinkly stuff’ below Teddington Lock, Gerry was an obvious candidate and, although the flow stuttered a bit in the early days, a pattern was eventually established employing a 300-ton Dutch barge on the run from Tilbury to Waltonon-Thames, where the grain was transhipped into narrowboats Rigby and Piktor (later replaced by Leonie and Bicester) for onward carriage along the much shallower Wey. To avoid the expense of transshipment, this approach was later modified by employing two vessels that could navigate both the Thames and the Wey: the Annie (a Dutch barge) and the Clinton – a 70ft x 14ft Humber barge: both craft carrying in the region of 70 tons, with five round trips a fortnight attainable.

Although the lime juice run finished in 1981, the Murrells were still into everything carrying, including trip boats, before stabilising mainly on waterways infrastructure maintenance tasks: a forerunner of what WHH was ultimately to be founded upon.

Work for Gerry at this time revolved around estuary, coastal and even short sea trips, largely carrying aggregate and roadstone, although for good measure fertiliser and bauxite found its way into the mix: trade which was largely plied around the Thames estuary and north towards Harwich.

In 1987 he left the Murrells to study at Henley Business School for an MBA before joining a Greek Cypriot software company – Brainstorm – predominantly engaged in telecoms work: something of a niche area in those days.

Interestingly, upon graduating with a second Left: Pusher tug Scouser at Kings Place construction site on the Regent’s Canal.

Hippo and a Hiab installing an electricity pole for UK Power Network on the River Lea.

Loading cladding panels for Kings Place construction site at King’s Cross on the Regent’s Canal.

degree awarded by Brunel, Gerry went on to work part-time for Henley until he was 65.

In 1995 he was contacted by Tim Wood, who was part of the Allied Mills grain-carrying scene from its inception, now with a workshop at Springwell Farm – beside the Grand Union, a little south of Rickmansworth – and owned by one Charles Hall.

The nimble-witted among my readers will already have combined the appropriate surnames and guessed what’s coming next.

For Gerry it arrived somewhat more sedately in the form of a languid message along the lines of, “there are a couple of work flats sunk in the river at Staines and I think I know the owner. Do you reckon they’re worth having?”

To be continued next month…

Leeds & Liverpool Town Class, ‘short boat’ Clitheroe, loaded with one-tonne bags of aggregate at Dobbs Weir on the River Lea.

Loading steel beams into a barge at Wharf Road for Kings Place construction site.

15

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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December 2024

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Charity begins at home Sally Clifford meets the family helping to bring the festive spirit to the Safe Anchor Trust.

CHRISTMAS comes but once a year and the McGurty family are among those helping to spread the festive cheer.

In the warm and cosy confines of the cafe at Shepley Bridge Marina in Mirfield, West Yorkshire – home to the Safe Anchor Trust – volunteers are busy preparing refreshments ready for the throng. Even the heavy rain is failing to dampen the spirits of this invaluable workforce who dedicate their time to help keep the charity afloat – and not just at Christmas. For them it is an all-year-round commitment.

Volunteering is certainly a family affair for the McGurty clan. One corner of the cafe is dominated by trestle tables topped with a range of festive gifts, from plush stockings to sweet treats.

Stocking and selling gifts from the Christmas shop is a role Janet and her father, Les, have enjoyed for more then a decade – only relinquishing their duties during the Covid pandemic.

For Janet and Les it’s all about the people they meet – and supporting a worthy cause.

“The atmosphere,” says Janet, in response to her reasons for getting involved. “And the people,” says y Les. “It’s also a nice feelingg to be able to help.

While they are here they are having a lovely time.”

“It brings people joy and makes money for the Safe Anchor Trust,” Janet adds.

Launched in 1995, the

Father Christmas with Margaret McGurty ready to distribute gifts to visitors to the Safe Anchor Trust. charity’s aim is to provide enjoyable and therapeutic boat trips for those in the community who are disadvantaged through physical or mental disabilities; social isolation, age or social deprivation.

Les and Janet aren’t the only McGurtys involved in the operation. Over in the ggrotto, twinklingg with festive lights at Shepley Bridge Marina,

The Safe Anchor Lady sets off on the Santa Special Trip.

The Lady Victoria all trimmed up to transport visitors for the festive celebrations at the Safe Anchor Trust.

Janet’s mum, Margaret, has donned the Christmas Queen costume to assist Father Christmas in greeting children and distributing presents after they disembark from their trip along the Calder and Hebble Navigation from Mirfield town centre aboard two of the charity’s fourstrong fleet, Safe Anchor Lady, a 54ft broad beam boat specifically designed for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues, and the 36ft narrowboat Lady Victoria, a replica of an Edwardian River Thames launch.

Margaret explains her involvement began after visiting the marina for a narrowboat trip following the marriage of granddaughter Kerry McGurty-Moore, Janet’s daughter, to fellow volunteer Michael Moore. She began volunteering in the kitchen and helped with bookings before activities were curtailed due to the Covid pandemic.

“We really missed it,” says Margaret, recalling the restrictions brought in during lockdowns.

Seeing normality resumed made Christmas 2023 all the more special – especially for Kerry and Michael’s children, William and Lizzie, who were happily tucking into refreshments in the cafe alongside other young customers – some of whom have been coming on the Santa Special boat trips here since they were born.

“It’s just different, and the people – it’s the same faces and everyone is really friendly,” says one visitor, who was pledging further support with her purchases from Janet and Les’s stall.

Close by, Kerry was manning the raffle for which she had sourced an extensive range of prizes from generous businesses.

Kerry’s introduction to the Safe Anchor Trust, which led to her mum and grandparents’ involvement, came through her husband.

Michael explains he was introduced to the Safe Anchor Trust as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Gold award – he now works for the DoE – and is also a volunteer with the Safe Anchor Trust. For Michael and son William, who both have autism, spending time here has a calming effect and brings many well-being benefits.

Through their involvement friendships have also been made.

Kerry recalls when she and Michael

The Christmas grotto at Safe Anchor Trust ready to welcome its young visitors. PHOTOS: SALLY CLIFFORD

Janet, Les and Kerry bring the festive spirit to the Safe Anchor Trust. married in 2014, in their home town of Huddersfield, some of the volunteers formed a guard of honour with wooden spikes (lock levers) specially decorated for the occasion.

William’s christening celebrations were held at the marina.

“It’s our second family – it means the world,” says Kerry, adding: “and you get to meet new people.”

Kevin Thorburn, a volunteer and trustee of the Safe Anchor Trust, says: “Thirty-three different Safe Anchor Trust volunteers, of all ages, were involved over the weekend, including several different generations of different families.

“It’s a privilege to bring excitement, fun and happiness to so many people whatever their age.”

Kevin also expressed his thanks to Father Christmas. “We are so lucky that Santa had time to ‘drop in’ and help us celebrate Christmas at Safe Anchor Trust. It’s an enjoyable and fun way for our volunteers to interact with the local community.

“Everyone enjoys themselves – and how many people can say that they got to meet the ‘main man’? Whether you are a volunteer or a visitor, everyone has a smile on their face.”

For more information visit: www. safeanchor.org.uk

Cruise with Claus on the Chesterfield Canal CHILDREN and adults can cruise with Santa Claus from four different locations on the Chesterfield Canal this Christmas.

For just £10, you will get to

cruise with Father Christmas.

Children will get a present and adults will get a drink and a mince pie.

The Chesterfield Canal Trust will be running these cruises on

The Chesterfield Canal Trust is running trips on four boats on several dates in December.

all four of its tripboats spread over nine days.

In Chesterfield, the John Varley II will be doing Santa Special trips on every Saturday and Sunday from November 30 to December 22, and on Monday, December 23. All leave from Tapton Lock, on the Tesco roundabout in Chesterfield, S41 7JB. In Staveley, Madeline will be doing Santa Special trips on every Saturday and Sunday from December 7 to 22. All leave from Hollingwood Hub on Works Road, S43 2PF. In Shireoaks, Hugh Henshall will be doing Santa Special trips every Saturday and Sunday from December 1 to 22, and on Monday, December 23.

All leave from Shireoaks Top Lock, next to Shireoaks Marina, S81 8LP. Finally, in Ranby, Seth Ellis will be doing Santa Special trips every Saturday and Sunday

Children and adults enjoying Santa cruises on the Chesterfield Canal. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED from December 7 to 22, and on Monday, December 23. All leave from the Chequers Inn at Ranby, DN22 8HT. Last year, the trust carried

nearly 2000 happy Santa fans, so you will need to book soon to avoid disappointment.

All bookings will be taken online. To book, search for

Chesterfield Canal Trust and follow the links.

If you are unable to book online, ring 01246 477569 for assistance.

17

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Waterways a blaze of colour and light as boating communities celebrate Diwali MIDLANDS waterways were a vision of colour and light as two Diwali events provided dazzling displays.

Both free events were organised by the Canal & River Trust, and saw stunning light shows at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre and Galton Bridge near Smethwick on the Birmingham Mainline Canal to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights.

At Leicester, light artist Sola created a shimmering LED Waterfall of Lights that cascaded next to the River Soar, with colourful lights reflected on to the surface of the water.

The evening also saw an illuminated paddleboard session by the Wild Women Outdoor group and other Diwali events.

The Smethwick Luminaire took place beneath the Grade I-listed Galton Bridge

and featured the revival of the Festival of Lights.

The light projections shone on to the iconic cast-iron Galton Bridge, creating a stunning canvas. Reputedly the highest single-span bridge in the world at the time, it was built in 1829, spanning the Birmingham Mainline Canal.

Floodlights were positioned on the canal towpath to create a cinematic display that bounced off the bridge and surface of the water.

The event, originally conceived as an alternative to fireworks, offered an inclusive, eco-friendly way to celebrate without noise, pollution or firework litter.

The event was scheduled a little later to minimise potential disruption to local bat populations along the canal, whose activity decreases with colder weather.

Lutfur Rahman from the Canal & River Trust said: “Reviving the Luminaire added a special touch to this year’s festivities.

As a charity we’re really grateful to the sponsors and community partners that have made the event possible.”

Kelly Alcock, community events co-ordinator for the Canal & River Trust, said: “The Leicester event was an amazing spectacle, bringing the River Soar to life with a kaleidoscope of colourful lights.

“It was also a fantastic community occasion, helping to create lasting memories for families by encouraging them to experience nature by water while enjoying the life and colour of Diwali.

“As a charity we’re really grateful to the sponsors and community partners that have made the event possible, and we can’t wait to welcome local people along.”

An amazing light show lit up Galton Bridge near Smethwick on the Birmingham Mainline Canal as part of Diwali.

It was one of a number of events celebrating the Hindu festival. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Emergency repairs to the Grand Union Canal and River Soar prevented flooding of houses and the merging of the two waterways. The Rothen Group was able to bring in a digger and make vital repairs to the banks and towpaths. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Vital repair work stops canal and river merging after flooding EMERGENCY repair work to the UK’s longest canal and adjacent river has prevented the two waterways from merging.

Recent heavy rainfall meant flooding from the River Soar found its way into the nearby Grand Union Canal and the increased pressure on canal walls meant vital repairs were necessary.

The remote location of the flashpoint meant any repairs needed to be done from the waterway.

Marine engineering firm Rothen Group was able to repair the damaged area using a digger on a pontoon, a tugboat and hopper.

Rothen Group founder Ian Rothen said: “The towpaths and banksides around these waterways provide flood protection for the nearby area. Consequently, the erosion of canal walls in these areas can have a catastrophic effect on local housing and businesses.

Had these works not been carried out, more of the bank would have crashed and led to a real risk that

the river and canal would merge, with the buildup of silt in the river seriously disrupting life in the area for the foreseeable future.

By successfully completing this project, we have been able to avert this situation.”

When a member of the public drew down the section between Lock 37 and Lock 38 to create a barrier between the overflowing River Soar and nearby properties, water pressure supporting the pilings dropped. In turn, the sides of the canal could no longer withstand the strain from the overflowing river water and subsequently flooding into the empty canal.

As a result, damage occurred to the canal walls and towpath that required immediate attention.

If this existing bank protection were to fail completely, considering the increasing frequency of extreme weather events – the risk of the canal and larger River Soar bleeding into each other would increase.

Volunteer task force targets Gloucester waterway A VOLUNTEER army is helping to preserve the historic Gloucester Docks and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

Called the Gloucester Task Force, the group will carry out a variety of tasks in the area. They were recruited at a welcome session held in September.

Once the broadest and deepest canal in the world, the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal still stands out from other navigations because of its sheer scale and impressive engineering.

Its rich history in acting as a bypass to protect boats from a treacherous stretch of the River Severn is still alive today, with Gloucester Docks a stunning Victorian inland port, and home to the popular Tall Ships Festival.

The Canal & River Trust is looking for people to carry out many roles, including people who have a passion for teaching and inspiring young people to support the Trust's Explorers Education Programme.

This role offers the

opportunity to bring the waterways and their heritage to life for children and schools through events, visits and the National Waterways Museum.

Aaron Batsman from Canal & River Trust said: "We have a whole host of volunteering opportunities for people to come and join us and play a part in caring for our canal, educating others about our work and enabling boats to navigate through our immense swing bridges.

"It's a great way of

learning new skills and meeting people, as well as helping us keep canals alive. We already have an amazing team of volunteers who have made a huge difference, and we look forward to meeting anyone interested in Gloucester’s canals on Saturday."

The canal boasts 18 historic swing bridges running down its entire length from Gloucester to Sharpness. Volunteer bridge keepers are needed to keep these bridges open for boats to navigate the

canal, speaking to people and keeping them safe while operating the bridges.

The National Waterways Museum Gloucester is a popular visitor destination in the heart of the docks.

The museum needs volunteers to act as guides and talk to visitors, sharing their passion for local history, the docks and what the waterways has provided for people and wildlife for more than two centuries.

If you would like to get involved, visit canalrivertrust.org.uk

Floating reed beds are launched into the Gloucester Docks as part of a volunteer project to enhance the waterway. The Canal and River Trust is calling for more helpers to carry out a variety of tasks on the historic waterway. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

18

December 2024

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Too much grey hair on the canal?

Phil Pickin poses a question that many groups associated with the waterways grapple with... what to do to overcome an ageing membership.

DURING the IWA’s recent AGM in Leicester, the issue of membership came up. This was not unexpected, and the subject wasn’t discussed simply out of a desire to increase the number of IWA memberships. It was to talk about the average age of the association’s membership.

Now, for anyone who has attended a meeting of just about any voluntary organisation recently, this will not be an unusual topic of discussion. I’ve been involved with a number of such organisations recently, some of which I’m a member of, and they are not just ones involved in the waterways. But almost every one of them has raised the issue of the lack of ‘young’ members.

The term ‘young’ is somewhat subjective as it can mean different things to different people. As

For many, this is the image of the waterways.

someone who is hurtling towards his state pension despite the best efforts of successive governments who have moved the goalpost further into the future, even I have been described as a ‘younger member’ in the not-so-distant past. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t like to speculate on the average age of my fellow members (I won’t mention the name of the organisation).

The problem of the ageing membership of a club or society is one thing, but in the case of the waterways it also seems to be an issue with those taking part in the activity. Yes, as we all know, families do hire boats for holidays on the canals, but with our climate becoming ever more unsettled, young families are finding it increasingly difficult to choose the one decent week of weather we seem to get every summer. The chances of finding it are getting slimmer and slimmer, so it’s hardly surprising that many families opt to holiday abroad.

But in an effort to bring some balance to this issue, we should also acknowledge that the number of young people opting to live on the waterways does seem to be holding up. The view across the canals is not an unbroken sea of grey hair. I’ve no idea as to accurate and up-to-date figures, but from the number of vloggers, bloggers and social media accounts detailing their moves onto the waterways, there would still seem to be quite a bit of interest from this group of boat owners.

A lot of these young people have had to move onto the water out of necessity. With house prices rocketing, no matter if you are renting or buying, there is little wonder that the lure of a boat they can own and live on is so strong.

We all know what the problem is... the question is, how do we solve it? It seems that it isn’t just a case of tempting younger people onto the waterways; it is how to get them to become part of organisations and groups such as the IWA and other waterwaysfocused organisations.

As we know, the excellent Waterways Recovery Groups do attract young participants, but this

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

For Boat Owners And Marine Industry Professionals: Convener For The Boat Safety Scheme Advisory Forum (BSSAF)

This year’s IWA AGM in Leicester. PHOTOS: PHIL PICKIN interest doesn’t always last. So, how do we hang on to them?

A couple of my local wildlife societies and groups have youth member groups.

These have reduced membership fees (or, in some cases, brought in free membership).

As a result, the groups seem to be attracting interest. To help this further, some of these groups have recruited the skills of the younger members to run them and make full use of social media skills. The thinking is that new Events like the Braunston Rally show that the waterways still has a members are more broad attraction. likely to take notice of someone their own age rather than someone in the hope that the situation can be addressed, as attracting younger people is both important and not who looks like one of their grandparents.

Of course wildlife does have some major something that will happen overnight. advantages over the waterways in that it has a The waterways do have an image of being for far higher profile in the mainstream media. older people; it is slow, it does rain, and it can be In addition there are a number of younger expensive. But it is part of that natural world many people who have gained a high profile and younger people show a keen interest in protecting. regularly post content on the state of the natural There is new technology being utilised on the world. Could it also be that some sections of the system in electric propulsion, power storage and public see the protection of the natural world management, and there is increasing use of online as more important than the protection of the services to support users and keep them connected. waterways? This is despite the canals and rivers It is moving forward, but it has to do this with playing a major role in the natural world. It is more than a passing glance to the past as it is probably heresy to say that in a waterways the most traditional of lifestyles. It is a difficult publication, but could that be the wider public’s conundrum that I, as a fully paid-up member of perception, including the young people we so the grey hair group, hope can be tackled. desperately need to attract?

If you would like to comment on the issue of I don’t have an answer to this problem. But the attracting younger people onto the waterways, drop point of this column is to open up the discussion us a line at editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

Are you passionate about boating safety and skilled in bringing together diverse voices?

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is seeking a BSSAF Convener to lead our Advisory Forum, representing various navigation, industry, and user stakeholders.

Role Overview: As Convener, you’ll engage with various navigation authorities, industry professionals, and boat owners to uphold safety standards across the UK’s waterways. You’ll play a key role in representing stakeholder views and fostering productive discussions.

Key Details: • Part-time, Voluntary with expenses covered.

• Must be skilled in communication and group management.

• Engage with a broad network to help shape safety standards across UK waterways.

• Facilitate discussions, drive consensus, and contribute to crucial safety initiatives.

• Run at least three attended forum meetings a year.

For further information or to apply, please visit: www.boatsafetyscheme.org/volunteer/

Waterways events do attract visitors from across the age range.

19

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

New poem and artwork inspired

by Sheffield & Tinsley Canal

By Lucy Wood

THE Canal & River Trust charity and The Poetry Society have announced details of a new collaborative arts project inspired by the historic Sheffield & Tinsley Canal.

Canal Works is a crowd-sourced poem by acclaimed poet Warda Yassin, and it has inspired a striking new installation

by Sheffield-based artist Grace Visions, which has been recently installed near to Grade II-listed Bacon Lane Bridge, made famous by the 1997 film The Full Monty.

The initiative is part of the Arts Council-funded Waterlines partnership between the Canal & River Trust and The Poetry Society. Waterlines aims to highlight the cultural and historical significance of waterways, creating new poetry inspired by Britain’s historic canals and rivers. The project also received additional support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Warda Yassin, who

served as the Canal Laureate for Sheffield in 2020/21, engaged with young writers’ groups to explore the people and history of the canal.

Her creative process included a unique wordfishing boat trip along the waterway and extensive walks along the canal towpath. By immersing herself in the area’s natural beauty and rich history, Warda collected words and phrases that reflect the canal’s integral role in South Yorkshire’s industrial heritage to weave into a rich tapestry of verse.

“I took several long walks along the Sheffield to Tinsley canal towpath, collecting inspiration,

words and phrases,” she said. “I also researched its history and came to realise how integral canals have been to South Yorkshire’s industrial history and the movement of freight.”

Sheffield-based artist Grace Visions has brought Yassin’s poem to life for visitors to the canal through a newly commissioned large scale art installation.

It incorporates an evocative line from the finished poem, capturing the essence of the canal as ‘upside-down sky.’

Grace encourages viewers to consider the connection between natural and manmade environments and shows how art can enhance well-being and reshape our relationship with our surroundings.

The line from Warda Yassin’s poem, immortalised in Grace’s art installation. PHOTO: CRT

“By intertwining art and poetry, I aim to create a space where people can pause and consider their relationship with nature, finding beauty and exploring the wonders of the canal,” she said.

“I chose the line in the poem as I felt it evoked personal memories of visiting bodies of water and the colourful skies reflected in them.”

Sean McGinley, regional director at the CRT, said: “Thanks to Arts Council England and players of People’s Postcode Lottery funding we have been able to develop this project to encourage new audiences and local communities to explore the canal and appreciate why it is vital we keep our waterways open and alive for all to enjoy.

“A source of creative inspiration over the centuries, our waterways continue to inspire new generations of artists, writers and poets.”

Billie Ma n n i n g , learning and participation co-ordinator at The Poetry Society, said its partnership

with the CRT ‘exemplifies the power of collaboration in storytelling and art’: “By working closely with young writers and engaging with the community, Warda has created something that resonates deeply with Sheffield and Tinsley’s collective history and environment.

“The poem and artwork are now accessible to the public, encouraging visitors to reflect on the canal’s narrative and cultural legacy, and enjoy the beauty of art in

learning programme both online and face to face.

Annette Simpson, learning & skills team manager at Canal & River Trust, said: “We are pleased to improve our Explorers website, which provides teachers and group leaders with valuable resources to inspire children about the wonders of our waterways. We want children to learn more about the environment and to experience the physical and mental benefits that being in nature can bring.”

Highlights of the Explorers site include: • Free learning resources: teachers can download themed learning bundles that cover subjects such as history, geography, art, and science – all at no cost.

• Water safety for all ages: the site provides essential safety guidance to be given to toddlers through to teenagers, ensuring that young people stay safe near water.

• Challenge Badge for Girlguiding and Scouting groups: children can work towards earning their own canal and river badge by completing fun, waterwayrelated activities, which can be signed off by group leaders.

• Educational visits: teachers and group leaders can request free visits to one of the trust’s educational sites, where Explorers volunteers lead hands-on learning experiences by the water.

• Games and interactive tools: designed to enhance classroom learning or provide fun at home, the site offers a range of educational games to engage children in topics related to the environment, history and waterways.

To find out more about the Explorers, visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ explorers

Boaters issued ‘cruise it or lose it’ challenge BOATERS are being urged to get cruising to the farthest parts of the UK waterway network as part of a challenge to keep waterways open.

The Inland W a t e r w a y s Association (IWA) Silver Propeller Challenge aims to get cruisers out to some of the least-visited places on the canal and river network.

The IWA believes by visiting some of the quieter spots, boaters

will help keep all waterways alive and looking pristine.

An IWA spokesman said: “Most parts of our waterways are vibrant, busy places enjoyed by millions of people every year but there are still many locations where you would be lucky to see even one boat in a week, let alone in a day. If there are no boats, whole sections of waterways will lose their charm and appeal for everyone.

This challenge aims

to encourage our members and others to visit and use those places that aren’t reached as often as others.”

To take part in the challenge, boaters need to visit 20 different places on the IWA list. The places fall into three categories: • Cruise it or lose it – these are places on waterways which see very few visiting boats and are located in many instances at the end of a waterway.

• Knocking on the door – these locations are where navigable waterways meet restoration works, proposed link projects and currently unnavigable sections.

• More please – or maybe moor please – these places are on restored sections of canals.

Boaters simply have to visit 20 different places, take a photo of themselves with their boat and, once they have all the pictures,

dialogue with nature.”

Two short films about the project are now available to watch online at https://youtu. be/pVH4dhgCbgQ and www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hdrFEZQVVQk

To read Warda Yassin’s poem, visit //bit.ly/ canalworkspoem and to learn about the Waterlines collaboration between the CRT and The Poetry Society, visit www. waterlines.org.uk

Artwork by Grace Visions on the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal. PHOTO: CRT

New website aims to educate kids about UK canal network A NEW website aims to educate children and adults alike about the UK’s waterways.

The Explorers programme provides a range of free material for primary schoolaged children, parents and teachers.

Funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery, it will encourage children to connect with nature and enjoy the physical and mental well-being benefits of outdoor learning, while building vital skills that contribute to nature’s recovery.

Developed in-house by the trust, the new Explorers website provides teachers, families and group leaders with access to a wealth of free, curriculum-linked resources designed to inspire children’s curiosity about canals, rivers, and the natural world. With interactive tools and opportunities to book in-person educational visits, the website acts as a hub for engaging with the Explorers

Sheffield artist Grace Visions at the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal, working on the artwork. PHOTO: CRT

submit them on the IWA website. Boaters can use photos taken since 2018, as long as they are identifiable.

Each participant will get a silver plaque.

To find out more about the challenge, please visit: w w w. waterways.org. uk/waterways/ using-thewaterways/ silver-propellerchallenge

WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER

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.

From November 18 - January 6 Stafford riverway link artefacts exhibition: The display of

artefacts unearthed by SRL volunteers. Codsall Library (South Staffordshire District Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, Staffordshire, WV8 1PX) from Monday, November 18, throughout December, until Monday, January 6, 2025.

December 1 IWA Towpath Walks Society: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross -

Granary Square – Camden. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi sign, next to Pret a Manger) at 2.30pm.

Normal charge £20; concessions, students and accompanied children 16 and over, £15; 8-15 £5; under 8s free. Prior booking recommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com December 10 Christmas Social: Cath Turpin,

The lives of people who worked on narrowboats in the 20th century, 7.45pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Meeting at the Holiday Inn, Lower Mersey Street, Ellesmere Port, CH65 2AL. IWA Northampton branch social meeting: Kay Andrews, Challenging

the myths and misconceptions of the history of canal folk art, 2.30pm.

Conference Room, 1st Floor, The Boat Inn PH, Stoke Bruerne, NN12

7SB. Car parking and moorings are available, and the meeting room is accessible by ramp and stairlift.

All meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month.

December 13 IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire: Christmas quiz, Stoke-

on-Trent Boat Club, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent ST9 9DU. CHECK TIME, Non-IWA members very welcome, admission free, donations to waterways causes welcomed.

December 15 IWA Towpath Walks Society:

Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross – Granary Square – St Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi sign, next to Pret a Manger) at 2.30pm.

Normal charge £20; concessions, students and accompanied children 16 and over, £15; 8-15 £5; under 8s free. Prior booking recommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com December 30 IWA Towpath Walks Society:

Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross – Hitchcocks Hackney. Meet Warwick Avenue at 2.30pm. Normal charge £20; concessions, students and accompanied children 16 and over £15; 8-15s £5; under 8s free. Prior booking recommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@walks.com

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South west waterway restoration inches closer thanks to volunteers

HARD-WORKING volunteers are steadily extending their restoration of a former waterway between Chippenham and Melksham.

The Wilts and Berks Canal Trust hopes to connect it to the stretch which has already been restored at Pewsham Locks before continuing south to ultimately join with the proposed Melksham Link which would reconnect with the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Howard Wilson, work party organiser with the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the trust, said: “This is a very exciting moment.

“There’s more work to be done but it demonstrates our continuing progress in bringing this wonderful waterway back to life.”

Once the work is complete, Naish Hill will be connected to the Pewsham stretch where the charity already has a wharf and is currently rebuilding a dry dock and carpenter’s workshop.

This would create around a mile of canal and towpath, boosting the popularity of the charity’s summertime boat trips.

The longer-term aim is to continue the restoration along the bottom of Bowden Hill before joining the River Avon

north of Melksham, where narrowboats would use the river to pass through the town centre before joining the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington.

“The Naish Hill section was completely overgrown, so we had to clear several willow trees which had self-seeded in the canal bed,” added Mr Wilson.

“These trees are being reused for the creation of dead hedges to provide important habitat for small mammals and nesting birds, as well as forming a barrier to protect newly planted woodland from deer.

“In due course we will also be removing the weeds which

Wilts and Berks Canal Trust work party organiser Howard Wilson alongside the newly cleared Wilts & Berks Canal at Naish Hill. It is part of a larger restoration project which eventually will link with the Kennet & Avon Canal. PHOTO: JUSTIN GUY

£200k resurfacing project on Gloucester bridge completed

By Lucy Wood

WORK to lay a new road surface on High Orchard Bridge, which carries St Ann Way over the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, has been completed by the Canal & River Trust.

The lifespan of the road surface on the bridge had expired, and it required resurfacing to safely allow vehicles and cyclists to cross over the canal. Working with contractor Kier, the trust has removed the old road surface, made repairs to road plates, and resurfaced the road with

specialist resin material.

A three-week road closure was in place while the improvements – costing more than £200,000 – were carried out. The pavement and canal towpath remained open, and boats below the height of five metres were able to use the navigation. Now the bridge has reopened, vessels above this height can navigate through the bridge when it is lifted.

The CRT’s Neil Owen said: “As the gateway to allow tall ships to navigate in and out of Gloucester, High Orchard Bridge is an important structure in the city and on

the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

“The improvements will benefit road users who cross the canal over St Ann Way, and we worked seven days a week to deliver them quickly and minimise disruption. This follows the work undertaken by the trust earlier this year to make repairs to the bridge so it could be safely lifted for the ships entering Gloucester Docks for the Tall Ships Festival.

“We are grateful for people’s patience while the work took place to deliver these safety works and improvements.”

Montgomery Canal work comes in under £285k budget THE restoration of the Montgomery Canal has been done so efficiently the volunteer-run organisation behind it is able to spend more money on further work.

The Shropshire Union Canal Society’s contract to rebuild Crickheath Tramway Wharf and restore nearly 400m of the Montgomery Canal was delivered under the £285,000

budget and ahead of schedule.

It means the society is now able to restore another 130 metres of the historic canal as part of the initial budget.

Project manager Tom Fulda said: “I put this success down to relentlessly frugal purchasing and our ability to attract a skilled volunteer workforce.”

The work is being funded from the Shropshire Council

Rural Prosperity Fund (RPF) which sets stringent conditions for completion of the work.

As all work funded by the RPF must be complete by April 2025, further work must be paid for from the Restore the Monty Appeal.

If you want to get involved or help with a donation please visit: https://shropshireunion. org.uk/get-involved

are clogging the areas still in water and will need to repair a broken culvert, but the clay lining is intact. This bodes well for its full restoration.”

The Naish Hill section was partially cleared almost 20 years ago but couldn’t be maintained due to the charity’s limited resources focused on Pewsham Locks, which attracted the majority of grants.

However, the branch has been steadily recruiting more volunteers and hopes this latest project will inspire fresh support from the local community, enabling it to be fully restored.

“We hope our latest achievement will encourage even more people to join us.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved, from the physical work of excavating the canal and creating new wildlife habitats, to equally important roles in fundraising, events and marketing.

“We also have plenty of ways in which local companies can play their part, from corporate volunteering to donations for new tools and equipment – there’s something for everyone.”

Get in touch at www.wbct. org.uk if you want to help.

Heritage award for Montgomery Canal restoration work A RESTORED bridge on the Montgomery Canal has won a top honour for its engineering.

The recent reconstruction of School House Bridge on the Montgomery Canal has been recognised at the 2024 Institute of Civil Engineers West Midlands Awards.

The work – carried out

by Shropshire Council with Montgomery Canal Reconstruction Ltd, Maccaferri Ltd, Beaver Bridges Ltd, Macrete Island Ltd and Mea Ltd – was highly commended for the Heritage award, and won Best Small Project of the Year 2024 award.

Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “This is great news and deserved recognition for this important and fantastic work.

“Reconstruction of the bridge will enable the full

reopening of the canal up to the Shropshire border.”

Originally constructed between 1794 and 1821, The Montgomery Canal runs 33 miles from Frankton Junction in Shropshire to Newtown in Powys. The canal was abandoned following a breach in 1936 and legally closed in 1944. Since 1969, work has been ongoing to restore the canal.

School House Bridge was demolished in the late 1960s and replaced with an earth causeway across the canal bed. Its restoration was the key obstacle to reopening the final dry section of canal remaining in Shropshire.

The new bridge is 6m high, 10m long and 6.5m wide and was constructed with the innovative Flexiarch system, alongside Maccaferri Terramesh reinforced soil embankments and gabion wing walls.

The School House Bridge on the Montgomery Canal has been awarded Best Small Project of the Year by civil engineers.

It forms part of restoration work to reopen the canal to the Shropshire border. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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December 2024

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Scenic Grand Canal Greenway opens

By Alison Alderton

THE Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Coun Tony McCormack and Mr James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, carried out the official opening of the Grand Canal Greenway in the presence of Offaly County Council elected members, Oireachtas members, Offaly County Council management team, led by chief executive Anna Marie Delaney, and invited guests.

Ireland’s latest Greenway spans 70km across Co Offaly, from Edenderry in the east to Shannon Harbour in the west. Given the flat gradient, it’s perfect for cyclists and walkers of all ages and abilities as well as families seeking leisurely strolls amid breathtaking scenery. The next phase of the project will be to further develop the ‘discovery and recovery’ points along the canal. These are the many points of interest alongside the route where visitors can stop, learn and rest in addition to grabbing some refreshments at regular intervals. This project commenced in 2017 with the initial €170,000 provided

by Offaly County Council. It was subsequently funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (ORIS Scheme), the Department of Transport and the latter stages by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The project has been delivered in partnership with Waterways Ireland.

At the opening ceremony, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Coun Tony McCormack, expressed his pride in the Grand Canal Greenway’s inauguration.

He highlighted the economic, health and social benefits it brings to the county, confirming: “It’s a fantastic day for the region. I often emphasise how much Offaly has to offer, now people can experience our warm welcome first hand.”

Minister James Lawless with Cathaoirleach Coun Tony McCormack, Offaly County Council chief executive Anna Marie Delaney with deputy Carol Nolan, elected representatives and Offaly County Council staff and invited guests from community, Darragh Jordan and Ella Henson of Gallen Community School, Waterways Ireland, TII, Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Transport at the official opening of the 70km Grand Canal Greenway in Offaly. PHOTO:SUPPLIED Minister James Lawless TD said: “The opening of the Offaly section of the Grand Canal Greenway represents an exciting development for County Offaly. About €9 million has been spent delivering the scheme for the Offaly section of the Grand Canal Greenway route. This route offers 70km of safe, accessible active travel infrastructure and will encourage greater levels of travel via cycling

and walking rather than private car use among leisure users, tourists and commuters”.

Chief executive Anna Marie Delaney spoke of how this is an “exciting development for Offaly and enhances the tourism potential for the wider midlands region”. She thanked “our funding partners, our elected members, who, along with Waterways Ireland, had the

Minister James Lawless, accompanied by Cathaoirleach Coun Tony McCormack, Ella Henson and Darragh Jordan, 5th year students in Gallen Community School, on a scenic cycle on the newly opened 70km Grand Canal Greenway in Ferbane, Co Offaly. PHOTO:SUPPLIED

WIN

dedicated vision to deliver our 70km of safe, accessible active travel infrastructure and will encourage greater levels of travel via cycling and walking and provide enhanced permeability along this greenway.”

Driving growth through tourism in Offaly and the wider region is a key priority for Offaly County Council, as outlined in the launch of Offaly’s Tourism Strategy earlier this year.

Ms Delaney commended the local and regional contractors involved in this project, including Tower Ltd, Lakeland Civil, Rathcabin, and the council’s roads department, led by director of services Tom Shanahan, senior engineer Barry Lennon, district engineers John Mitchell, John Connelly and Joe Harte and the planning department, led by acting director of services Andrew Murray.

“Their dedication ensured the project’s successful completion, averaging at €128,000 per kilometre.

This achievement highlights how local councils are delivering for their communities, promoting good governance, and

serves as an exemplar to all funding partners that Offaly provides excellent value for money in project delivery,” concluded Ms Delaney.

Accompanying Minister Lawless and Cathaoirleach Coun Tony McCormack for a cycle on the greenway were Darragh Jordan and Ella Henson, 5th year students from Gallen Community School, Ferbane. Garrett Buckley, the school’s principal, stated: “Our school is dedicated to fostering an environment where students can achieve their full potential both academically and personally. We are delighted to have this wonderful and accessible development on our doorstep – it will provide a creative and educational outlet for our school and enhances our wider community.”

This 70km Grand Canal Greenway infrastructure accounts for the delivery of around 20% of the National Cycle Network targets up to 2025.

Meanwhile, tourism officer with Offaly County Council, Olive Farrelly, confirmed: “The Grand Canal Greenway is a cornerstone of Offaly’s tourism strategy, enhancing our county’s appeal as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Our latest tourism asset not only showcases our historically rich landscapes but also supports our commitment to sustainable tourism and community wellbeing. We are excited to see both locals and visitors alike enjoy the unique experiences our county has to offer – everyone is ‘Offaly welcome’ here.”

Acting director of services for planning with Offaly County Council, Andrew Murray, highlighted that the council is continually enhancing the Grand Canal Greenway through Pathfinder projects that demonstrate sustainable travel initiatives. These efforts align with national, regional and local goals for

sustainable mobility under the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).

Key milestones include the completed link between Edenderry Harbour and the Greenway, and the ongoing development of a strategic connection between Boora Discovery Park and the Greenway, set for completion this year with funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Additionally, the link from Ballycommon to Kilbeggan Harbour is designed to

connect to the Old Rail Trail in County Westmeath at Streamstown, providing future connectivity to the Royal Canal.

Construction is also progressing on Offaly County Council’s first significant Trailhead amenity at Ballycommon.

This facility will feature 52 parking spaces catering to all demographics, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, public lighting and new pedestrian facilities. These works are funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

All Aboard on a trip along the Union Canal.

By January 2024, All Aboard had clocked up more than 1000 hours on the canal and more than 200 trips. PHOTO: PEOPLE KNOW HOW

Future of charitable boat uncertain

By Cicely Oliver

REGISTERED charity, People Know How, has been forced to close due to the drastic changes across the fundraising landscape in Scotland and uncertainty over long-term funding. The difficult decision means that all members of the staff team face redundancy.

Formed in 2013, the organisation ran services and campaigns in Scotland, placing people at the centre of all it did to improve well-being, overcome barriers and solve social issues. This was done through collaboration with other charities, universities, businesses, government and other bodies and projects such as All Aboard, commended in Scottish Parliament and featured on radio and TV. All Aboard is the canal boat commissioned and run by People Know How in collaboration with Polwarth Parish Church on the Union Canal.

The boat hosted canal trips from its mooring at Polwarth pontoon and provided a unique space for community groups and organisations as well as volunteering opportunities.

The project also formed the basis of research into how canal boats can be used as a tool for community cohesion, education and outdoor learning. A decision as to the future of the vessel is still to be made.

TO ENTER A GO WINDLASS RATCHET WINDLASSES

GO Windlass is giving away one of their reversible Ratchet Windlasses with polycarbonate revolving handles, which normally retail at £94.99. 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. The windlasses are available at www.gowindlass.co.uk and until January 1, GO Windlass is offering a discount of £5 when entering a coupon code of ‘XMAS5’

Full T&Cs apply. Competition closes at 23:59pm on December 20, 2024. 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 fill in the form 4. Sit back, relax and wait!

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

23

24 MARINAS & MOORINGS

December 2024

#where you moor

Competition time...

WIN a £250 chandlery voucher!

Do you have a favourite photo capturing the beauty of our marinas? Share it with us: 1.

2.

3.

Post your favourite photo from in and around our marinas Use the hashtag #LoveWhereYouMoor Tag @LakelandLeisureMarinas

Entries are open until 31st December 2024. The winning photo will be announced in early January, so get snapping!

M

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le

!

MOORINGS available

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

rin g

b s a v a il a

Image: Roydon Marina Village, Essex

Scan for more info

ewards Club

Annual moorers are eligible for our Rewards Club!

MARINAS & MOORINGS 25

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Blisworth Marina A marina that offers you a choice

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.

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

For Boat Sales please visit our website Blisworth Arm NN7 3FG www.blisworthmarina.co.uk info@blisworthmarina.co.uk 01604 879827

CAEN HILL MARINA

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

• 248 berths located on Kennet & Avon canal • Near to Devizes Wiltshire T: 01380 827062 E: caenhill@land-water.co.uk

SHAKESPEARE MARINA • 250 berths located on river Avon • 10 mins walk from Stratford-upon-Avon • Rise and Fall pontoons • Waters & elec hook ups to each berth • Free wi-fi • Laundry • Showers

www.droitwichspamarina.co.uk Tel: 07970 626807 or 01905 317250

• Fuel sales • Pump out • Lakeland Leisure boat brokerage T: 07714 095005 E: shakespeare@land-water.co.uk

NORTHWICH QUAY • 50 berths located on river Weaver 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

• Centre of Northwich, Cheshire T: 07967 461038 E: northwich@land-water.co.uk

26 MARINAS & MOORINGS

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Discover Our Idyllic Retreat & Enjoy Summer With an abundance of wildlife, peace, tranquillity and our experienced team on hand, you can relax and enjoy your own little piece of heaven.

Secure your berth on the Llangollen Canal, the most beautiful canal in the country!

Call 01270 524571 or email sales@swanleybridgemarina.com Swanley Bridge Marina, Springe Lane, Swanley, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8NR - www.swanleybridgemarina.com

Our boat yard facilities are located canal side, on the main line outside the Distillery

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

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

MARINAS & MOORINGS 27

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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

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

www.leicestermarina.co.uk

Berthing available for leisure and winter 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

Leicester Marina, Pinfold Road, Thurmaston LE4 8AS

Call us on 0208 026 0890 or 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

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

At the heart of the Shropshire Union

TTouring ouring Park park

Holiday LWagons odges Glamping

Long and short term moorings

www.overwatermarina.co.uk

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

fully serviced moorings engineering workshop cafe

28 MARINAS & MOORINGS

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

TPIF

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

EAST MIDLANDS BOAT SERVICES - WILLOW MOORINGS Moorings Available for cruisers and narrowboats at £4.60 per foot, per month.

Residential moorings available at £325.00 per month for Narrowboats only.

Powered slipway for boats up to 40 foot and a second slipway for small boats. Slipway can be hired for DIY work or we offer services for Antifouling, Painting and General Servicing. We also have a Boat Safety Examiner on site.

Located on the A6, adjacent to The Otter Public House.

WINTER 2024/25 MOORINGS SPECIAL OFFER FOR TOWPATH TALK READERS 6m moonths ffoor tthhe pprr iicce ooff 5 Valid for November only

(Please quote – TPW11 for this special offer)

01509 672385 www.eastmidlandsboatservices.co.uk Kegworth, DE74 2EY

HAREFIELD MA HAREFIELD MARINA ARINA

PLUS FOR BOOKINGS OF 3 MONTHS OR MORE, RECEIVE:

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

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

FREE Welcome Breakfast for two at our award winning The Boathouse Cafe*

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

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

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

One days cruising from the Thames.

PYRFORD & HARTFORD INLAND MARINAS

PROTECT YOUR BOAT THIS WINTER WINTER MOORING OFFERS ON THE RIVER WEY & RIVER GREAT OUSE With premium marina facilities and two fantastic locations, we have the perfect place for your boat to see out the winter months as safely and conveniently as possible.

Protect your boat from flooding and cold weather, as well as gaining access to the warm, friendly boating communities at Hartford Marina on the River Great Ouse or Pyrford Marina on the River Wey. Whether you have a narrowboat, widebeam, barge, or river cruiser, our facilities are ideal for all. Take advantage of our short-term winter tariff to protect your boat this season.

CONTACT US TODAY TO BOOK YOUR WINTER BERTH

HARTFORD MARINA, RIVER GREAT OUSE

Onsite parking Electricity and water to your berth Launderette, showers and toilets Staff onsite 7 days a week Onsite or closeby restaurants Easy transport links to major towns and cities PYRFORD MARINA, RIVER WEY

01480 454677

01932 340739

hartfordmarina@tingdene.net

pyrfordmarina@tingdene.net

MARINAS & MOORINGS / PRODUCTS & SERVICES 29

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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

TRADLINE ROPE AND FENDERS Treat your boat this Winter

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

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

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

For current offers see

www.tradline.co.uk

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

'''0* "0 0$

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# 5 & " ( & $ 2 ( " Some slots available for 2024

( " & "/ ▪ ) ( – ""$ ' " $ 0 ▪ " & & ▪ -& 2 # . ' . ". # 4 " & ▪ ! ## ▪ "# ▪ % "$ & ("

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+ 5 & " – ( 2 " 2 " 1$ $# – Long term moorings available.

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+ ( # $ " ( 2 / – 5/ " (. 5 #$ ( 5$ (

Prepare for the boating season 9” x 6” Chrome Louvre vent £19.95. Other sizes available.

Rain caps and chimneys available from stock

Integrated fridge - £742.00, Integrated freezer - £740.00 delivered

4 x 4 ltr Elsan Blue £65.00

Mooring accessories in stock

30 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

December 2024

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 31

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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

COMBINATION RESCUE LADDER/GANGPLANK

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) stores securely on your roof with the free ladder lock supplied. £125 + £30 p&p to any location on UK mainland or free collection (Please call us)

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)

BROLLY-MATE

Hands-free attachment that slides over the tiller bar.

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

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

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

£25 + p&p

PROP-MATE Keeps your weedhatch clear

Half cleaned mushroom

£22 + p&p WHAT’S IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FUEL TANK? STOP PAYING TWICE TO GET YOUR TANK CLEANED BY USING COWBOYS TO DO THE JOB, COME STRAIGHT TO TANKBUSTERS, FUEL CLEANING SERVICES!

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

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.

Magnet filter bowl

Rust on magnet

Rust & diesel bug on magnet.

07974 808277 bruce@tankbusters.co.uk www.tankbusters.co.uk

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INVERTER GENERATORS THE PERFECT GENERATORS FOR YOUR BOAT! IIG950D G9 950D

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PRICE CUT WAS £262.80 inc.VAT

Model IG950D IG1200D IG2000 IG2200A

Max Output 800W 1100W 1800W 2200W

Running time at ¾ load 5.3 Hrs 5.5 Hrs 4.5 Hrs 7Hrs

Dimensions mm 392x203x353 444x234x391 488x285x463 542x288x486

£

.80 inc.VAT

PRICE CUT WAS £514.80 inc.VAT

Weight 9.3kg 12.4kg 19.3kg 26.6kg

Outputs 1x 12V DC (4a), 1x 230V,13Amp socket 1x 230V,13Amp socket, 1x 12V DC (5a) 1x 12V DC (5a), 2x 230V,13Amp sockets 2x 13Amp, 230V sockets

Fuel tank capacity 2.1L 3L 4.5L 6.1L

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IG950D, IG1200D & IG2000D recommended by ukcampsite.co.uk

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NEW 500 PAGE CATALOGUE OUT NOW

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.

32 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Hempsted Historic Dry Dock 50% OFF UP TO

DRY DOCK SPACES E AVAILABL !

W O N CALL

ANODES W ALL HULL BL ITH & ANTIFOUL ACKING ING. FOR A QUOT CALL ATION TODAY

• Hull Blacking & Antifouling • Fabrication & Repairs • Painting & Sign Writing • Electrical • Plumbing and Gas • Paint and Boat Care • Inboard & Outboard Servicing • Fenders and Ropes • Engine Spares & Repairs

Visit us and see the largest Indoor working dry dock and well stocked Chandlery on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal You’ll find us just 1 mile along the canal from Gloucester Docks or at

338 BRISTOL ROAD, GLOUCESTER GL2 5DH

01452 415430

Email: office@hhdd.co.uk www.hempsteddrydock.co.uk

ONLY

£35

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The Rise and Fall of King Coal

Messerschmitt ME 328 Development & Politics Dan Sharp explores the complex history of the ME 328, a failed Nazi secret project, with extensive research and rare illustrations.

ONLY

£30

From its origins in prehistoric swamps to its early primitive mining methods and to coal’s role as the mineral that fuelled the Industrial Revolution.

A Definitive History Of Shergold And White Silver Star Of Porton Down This book chronicles Silver Star’s unique buses and operations, enriched with rare photos and archival material, evoking vivid memories.

£39.99

Westland Aircraft & Rotorcraft:

Secret Projects & Cutting-Edge Technology This book unveils Westland’s innovative aerospace projects, with detailed insights and rare images, perfect for aviation enthusiasts.

Enjoying Birdwatching In Lancashire And Cumbria

Talyllyn Railway Recollections Part 3

David Hindle’s book inspires bird watching and nature walks in North West England, highlighting its beauty, history, and conservation.

The Talyllyn Railway, a preserved 1865 slate line, offers a nostalgic journey through Wales, thanks to dedicated enthusiasts and volunteers.

ONLY

£10.99

ORDER NOW: www.mortonsbooks.co.uk Or call 01507 529529

WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR LATEST BOOKS?

Mortons Media Group is preparing to launch a new range of non-fiction books from railway, military and aviation history to consumer issues, hobbies, crime, and politics.

If you would like to hear more about our upcoming book releases and special offers, sign up to our newsletter.

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB! AND RECEIVE 10% OFF! To view the privacy policy of MMG Ltd (publisher of Mortons Books) please visit www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 33

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

DO YOU LIVE AFLOAT? 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?

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.

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

Sponsored by All Wills and Trusts.co.uk

Hebden

A comfortable seating solution for limited space!

Fully pocket sprung | sofa or sofabed | including modular footstool space saving | two seating positions for optimal comfort.

Simple & Stylish Space Saving Solutions for Narrowboats!

01274 800334 • info@sofabedbarn.co.uk

www.sofabedbarn.co.uk

smlmarinepaints.co.uk

01285 862 132 SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION

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SCAN TO FOLLOW US FOR NEWS & UPDATES

SAVINGS ON ALL PREMIUM PRODUCTS FORMULATED FOR THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION & FINISH

OUNT

FOR ALL R EADERS

USE CODE:

TOWTALK10

34 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

S

TR

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December 2024

AY E TH

WHARF

Coventry Canal

Lichfield

LT

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

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

J.D. BOAT SERVICES GAILEY LTD

The Wharf, Watling St, G ai l ey, St aff s ST19 5PR 01902 791811 enq@j dboat s.co. uk www.j dboat s.co. uk PLEASE NOTE:

Sp e c i a l i s in g i n b o a t r e s t or a t i on a n d r e p a ir Cabi n Ref i t s • W oodwor k • Pa i n t wo r k • St eel wor k

En g i n e s • El ec tr i c s • So l a r Pa n e l s • Hy b r i d Pr o pu l s i o n Ha r d s t a n d i n g • DI Y f a c i l i ti e s • St o r a g e

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

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES 35

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES 37

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FERRYING FLOCK TO SONIC FEAST

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Welford Wharf, at the end of the Leicester Line’s wildlife. Beyond is the historic pub, The Wharf Welford Arm, was once busy serving nearby Inn. PHOTO: ROBIN JONES lime kilns. It is now

TRAINING ON THE DROITWICH CANALS

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P11

BOAT REVIEW: THE MOLE

P46

Young anglers

P23

STOCK BOATS

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Rare plants

Gauging Lock

PROMISING to be the biggest people in almost 20 years, angling event for young RESEARCH is under way the of Young People and Fishing National Celebration plants in the Montgomeryexamining two species of rare THE Brentford Toll Staffordshire & Shropshire will take place on the they are the long-stalked Canal. Types of pondweed, the Grand Union House and Gauging Lock on Canal over the weekend Canal will be open to potamogeton praelongus of September 16-17. It visit over and the weekend of flat-stalked potamogeton has already attracted September 9-10 as part friesii, which are a part of 275 Potamogetonaceae of the Open entrants and is open to the House Festival. One family – a group of aquatic anyone aged from seven of London’s smallest museums, to comprised of more plants 20 years old. Everyone than a hundred species worldwide. it is based in the Grade II-listed Toll House who participates will take The research will home a medal or trophy, and there will also be the chance to look at developing different a Guru goody bag and meet some of the volunteer ways to lock keepers. special event certificate a Open House Festival signed by six former world naturally cultivate these plants, which improve is a two-week champion anglers. water celebration of quality, provide shelter London’s homes, architecture for aquatic organisms and act neighbourhoods. as a primary food source and For more information for waterfowl and fish. visit opencity.org.uk and click on open-house-festival-2023

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Starts on

a rural haven, great for

safeguard waterways

ALMOST 40,000 people have and give his assurance already signed a petition that the – please add in Government will support of the Fund Britain’s intervene, and circulate your signatures Explaining why now is the far and wide. Let’s time where necessary, to Waterways campaign. to act, the petition refers of its grant funding from 2027, ensure deliver a hefty The petition at change.org Britain’s rivers and canals 10 Downing pile of pages to to the waterways’ recognised this will impact on maintenance Street this autumn. benefits remain fully open, navigable, and risk canal closures. urges Prime Minister to well-being, “Also, please download, Rishi The Environment Agency print helping to regenerate projects Sunak to ensure his government safe and accessible for all. both rural also maintains Started by Inland Waterways and proudly display a window and urban takes action to help safeguard more than 600 areas and boat-based sticker. Whether you are Association chief executive miles of waterways including afloat tourism and Britain’s canals and rivers Prof or on dry land, now Sarah Niblock, these will send contributing leisure activities the Rivers Thames, the petition is out a and for future generations.

Medway £2.5 billion to the and striking message.”

Wye as well as the Anglian economy each year.

Itcallsonhim toacknowledge aimed to send a clear message The sticker, a copy of which to the heart of government waterways. It received less the many social, economic The Canal & River Trust than can be seen on page 78, relies half the funding and about what is at can be on central government stake. environmental benefits needed to grant support its maintenance that “The Fund Britain’s She said: downloaded at www.waterways. the inland waterways funding Waterways plans to make org.uk where there is also up provide petition is now a link quarter of its income nearly a for this year. Scottish Canals also LIVE and visible to the to maintain has more petition. than £70 its network. But if CRT loses 40% maintenance work million of outstanding.

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39

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Shared ownership boat Tech: Red Snapper

P40 Holidays and Leisure P41 Winterising Tech

Update to mooring structure

Staff from Overwater Marina celebrate being crowned TYHA Inland Marina of the Year 2024. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

North West marina voted best in the UK

A CHESHIRE marina is the best in the UK – according to members of The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA).

Overwater Marina, near Audlem and next to the Shropshire Union Canal, was crowned TYHA Inland Marina of the Year 2024 at the Southampton International Boat Show (see more on the boat show on page 43).

The awards, sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnson, honour the dedication and passion of marinas and their teams across the

UK and worldwide.

Jon White, general manager of TYHA, said: “These awards are incredibly special because they are voted for by berth holders themselves. They truly celebrate the cream of the crop, marinas that offer unbeatable service and an extraordinary experience for berth holders and visitors alike.”

The family-owned Overwater marina and holiday park has 230 narrowboat moorings, a boat workshop and slipway, a cafe, caravan

site, holiday lodges and luxury railway-themed glamping wagons with wood-fired hot tubs.

The marina is home to the Audlem Lass Boat Service – a volunteerrun water taxi which provides boat rides from the marina to the bottom of the Audlem flight of locks and back.

There is also the Overwater Wheelyboat, which provides boat trips for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.

Co-owner Janet Ma u g h a n said: “Overwater owes its

success to the brilliant team we have in place – they share our determination to make everyone welcome and provide the very best customer service.

“They’re a great team to work with and one of our proudest achievements is how much the tourism spend impacts so positively on Audlem and the surrounding areas.”

For more details about Over water Marina go to https:// www.overwatermarina. co.uk/

THE team at Aqueduct Marina has changed how moorings work, with simple monthly payments, no hidden fees and without being tied to a longterm contract.

Aqueduct Marina has also introduced a new range of Exclusive Mooring Rewards to boat owners who choose to moor their boats at the awardwinning Cheshire marina.

These are designed to provide boat owners with the best experience possible.

Phil Langley, Aqueduct’s chief operations officer, said: “We know that exceptional service levels within a luxury marina combined with the best location in the country to cruise from is everything our

moorers want. This knowledge, combined with our new longterm contract-free moorings and rewards pack, only enhances your experience with us and makes boating moments into lifetime memories.”

The rewards pack, worth more than £1100, is available to moorers from day one.

Aqueduct Marina encourages boat owners to use such rewards as: a free slipway and a week's free storage on hardstanding; a free one-hour boat health check covering all of your boat’s main systems by one of its engineers; a 10% saving off diesel and a 10% discount in the chandlery for your entire stay, plus many more rewards.

P42 P44

Moorers at Aqueduct Marina also have the opportunity to enjoy the Cruise Moor Scheme, which offers a 20% reduction in mooring fees if you also visit one of the independent marinas taking part.

But not all of the benefits are water-based, with a complimentary night’s stay on the campsite, a night's stay on one of the touring pitches or a night in one of Aqueduct’s luxury bell tents for either you or your family.

To find out more, have a look at the videos within the mooring section on the Aqueduct Marina website, which gives you a full walkaround tour of the marina and details of the rewards pack. Go to www.aaqueductmarina.cco.u uk for more details.

Aqueduct Marina has changed how moorings work with new payment structures and mooring rewards to boat owners. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Groups join forces to get more people out on Midlands waterways TWO organisations have joined forces to promote the 110-mile canal network in the Midlands.

The Canal & River Trust charity and Active Black Country have unveiled the Black Country Canals Strategy 20242029 setting out ambitions to maximise the potential of the region’s iconic and world-famous navigable canal network.

Developed in collaboration with local authorities, canal stakeholders and with community input, the strategy aims to get more people on the water and also the towpaths that run alongside the 250-year-old network.

The aim is to make the canals a vital hub for walking, cycling, leisure and cultural activities.

Henriette Breukelaar, regional director, Canal & River Trust, said: “Eighty per cent of people in the Black Country live within a mile of a canal, with these amazing legacies from our industrial past able to serve us in so many ways today.

“Usage of the canal towpaths in the Black Country first rocketed back in the pandemic when more people than ever before discovered these amazing green spaces on their doorstep. And just recently, the community showed their love of canals when they came together to raise much-needed funds for our charity to help respond to the recent wildlife-damaging canal pollution event in Walsall.

“With the right investment to upgrade towpaths, improve accessibility and to support wildlife, we can improve the lives of millions of local people, create

Visitors to the 2024 Electrika boat show. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Electric boat show gets power for 2025 event

The Canal & River Trust has joined forces with Active Black Country to promote the region’s waterways and get more people enjoying the surroundings. PHOTO: SUPPLIED new business and leisure opportunities and help mitigate against the effects of climate change.

“Canals are old, however. They are an amazing connection with our past but need investment to ensure they remain alive for this and future generations to benefit from. So, with the support of our volunteers, funders and partners, the strategy reflects a shared vision to enhance the 110 miles of waterways that weave through the Black Country.”

Active Black Country CEO Ian Carey said: “Improving canal infrastructure and accessibility can attract new businesses, enhance the visitor experience and support community regeneration and economic growth.

“We are committed to making these navigable canals accessible to all and

maximising opportunities for local people to find it easier to be physically active. By creating spaces where people can connect with nature and engage in cultural, social and sporting activities on the canal network, we can encourage more Black Country residents to enjoy healthier lifestyles and a better quality of life.”

To rejuvenate the canal network and ensure the plan remains adaptable and aligned with local and national priorities, the strategy’s implementation will be overseen by a steering group including representatives from Canal & River Trust, Active Black Country, each local authority, Black Country Transport, Integrated Care Board, West Midlands Combined Authority, Transport for West Midlands and Sustrans.

ENTHUSIASTS will be switched on next year as Electrika 2025 showcases the best in electric boat power.

Visitors to the show, which will take place at Brinklow Waterside and Marina near Rugby on July 11-12, will be able to see a variety of electric and hybrid boats and even take a trip on an electric boat.

Organised by electric narrowboat builders Ortomarine and Aquavista Waterside and Marinas, the event has moved from its original May date. A wide variety of serial hybrid, parallel hybrid and all electric narrowboats will be on

display, along with an extensive list of exhibitors all specialising in electric propulsion.

A full programme of talks is being developed and it is planned to have an electric trip boat, live demonstrations and a large community of experienced electric narrowboat owners to answer any questions and dispel common misconceptions.

Entrance to the show will again be free of charge and the online ticket reservation system will go live in December.

Visit https://electricka.uk for all the latest information.

Stands at the 2024 Electrika boat show. Next year’s event will take place in July at Brinklow Waterside and Marina. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

40

December 2024

Do you want to be part of a new shared ownership boat scheme in 2025?

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

The wine cellar in the galley floor is a nice touch.

Phil Pickin reports on the first shared ownership boat from Aqua Narrowboats, with work starting at the beginning of 2025.

THE start of a new year is traditionally the time for embarking on new projects. Gym memberships are bought, diets started, and new hobbies are begun. January 2025 will see Derbyshire-based boat builder Aqua Narrowboats start work on its latest project, a shared ownership boat. The new boat is expected to be ready for its new shared owners in July/August.

As well all know, narrowboats are expensive, and that’s hardly a revelation; but for prospective boat owners who hanker after a brand-new narrowboat, the cost of the object of their desires has to be one of the major obstacles to overcome.

As most boat owners will tell you, buying the boat is only the start of the often significant drain on an owner’s personal finances. Running costs (maintenance, licence fees, insurance, moorings and fuel) can all add up, so it’s not surprising that shared ownership boats can prove to be a viable alternative to owning your own outright.

Aqua Narrowboats tells us that its shared narrowboat ownership is designed to offer a costeffective way to get a brand-new, bespoke boat for a fraction of the price.

The scheme will have 12 freehold shares, providing buyers with a 12th share of the boat, but Aqua is keen to point out that its scheme isn’t timeshare. Each share guarantees four weeks of

Plenty of storage in the bespoke TV unit.

The double bedroom.

PHOTOS: AQUA NARROWBOATS

The dinette and galley. holiday a year with an option to purchase more than one share.

The 2025 boat will have a broadly similar specification and layout to the recent bespoke build Dilly Dally and will offer accommodation for up to six people. The main difference from the boat we are featuring here is that the new boat will be slightly longer at 59ft and will have a lengthways bed. The shared boat will also have a full inventory of kitchen items, Roman blinds, porthole bungs, a sofa bed, a TV, a vacuum, a microwave, Wi-Fi sim router and an aerial. The scheme will also include the cost of the haulage and craning when launched.

The specification of Dilly Dally and the shared ownership boat includes a reverse layout of stern, galley

kitchen, dinette, saloon, bathroom, bedroom and be capable of sleeping up to six people. Both boats have cruiser sterns and 43hp Beta diesel engines.

Two gas lockers double as seating. The flooring is easy to clean throughout.

Both boats are fitted with brushless motor bow thrusters and cratch boards and covers. The windows will be double glazed and the interior of the new boat will be fitted out in either oak or oak and ash. Under the gunwales, the boat will be lined in solid oak or ash T & G timber instead of the more usual veneered plywood.

The galley kitchen will have a quartz work surface, a sink with filtered water tap, gas hob and full size oven, fridge, microwave and built-in wine cellars in the floor.

The extending dinette can seat up to six people, and the table has an electric lift, so it can easily be raised or lowered to form an extra bed. The saloon is fitted with stainless steel radiators and undergunwale lighting, and there will be a custom-built TV unit, a Bubble diesel stove and a sofa bed that can sleep another two people. The walk-through bathroom includes a full-size 800mm quadrant shower and macerator toilet, quartz surfaces and a number of storage cabinets.

The bedroom features an extending double bed, wall-mounted reading lights, wall cupboard storage and stairs storage. The stairs lead up to the well deck

and the bow, which has full-width storage lockers that also double up as seating for up to four people.

As for costs, each share will be £19,750, and as mentioned before, share-owners can buy more than one share. The first payment is a £950 reservation fee, which, at the time of writing, is now being accepted for the January 2025 build. This share price is then split up into a seven-step payment plan, details of which are on the Aqua Narrowboats website. The company tells us that the anticipated yearly maintenance cost will be approximately £1600 per year, which is for boat management, maintenance, licence fees and moorings. However, special family shares for people who need to plan

Modern and stylish galley.

41

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Lynch Motors introduces first drop-in electric hybrid marine drive Having featured Lynch Motors earlier this year in a feature that looked more generally at the company’s efforts to help the waterways decarbonise, Phil Pickin reports on the latest addition to its range – the Red Snapper.

The new share boat will look the same as Dilly Dally when launched in the summer of 2025.

The comfortable sofa provides somewhere to relax and watch TV. for school holidays will contribute an extra maintenance fee of £275 a year but come with the benefit of first-choice school holidays when booking your weeks. The shared ownership narrowboat will be managed by BCBM. Justin Hudson-Oldroyd, managing director of Aqua Narrowboats, said: “This will be our first shared ownership narrowboat; it gives 12 people a chance to jointly own a brand-new, top-of-therange bespoke boat. We realise there is such a huge leap from the cost and experience of a

Walk-through bathroom.

narrowboat holiday to individual boat ownership.

Therefore, we think this opportunity will be popular with our customers who love the quality of our bespoke narrowboats but would prefer to share the cost and responsibility of ownership with other like-minded owners.

“It will also provide a perfect stepping stone for those owners that may also wish to purchase their own boat in the future “ See more details at Aqua Narrowboats’ website: www.aquanarrowboats.co.uk/shared_ownership

HAVING shown the Red Snapper drop-in drive at a number of events throughout the past year, Devon-based Lynch Motors has now officially launched the product on the market.

The company calls the new product ‘pioneering’ because it uses the boat’s existing engine to enable it to become hybrid electric. As a result, there is no need to replace the existing engine, and the motor efficiency will reduce costs.

According to Lynch, which has been building electric motors in the UK for more than 30 years and which we featured in a recent issue of Towpath Talk, the Red Snapper only requires 100mm space on the prop shaft to enable it to be fitted. The company goes on to say that “as far as we are aware is the first solution of its kind on the market”. The new product has been designed to be installed on a wide range of boats, including sailing craft, yachts, pleasure craft and narrowboats (up to 75hp and subject to engine bay size).

Trevor Lees, MD of Lynch Motors, together with his team of engineers, designed an early prototype some years ago.

Since then the company has been refining the design until it felt ready to launch it on to the market. According to Lynch, testing has gone well, with the company already having a couple of happy customers using Red Snapper for their boat’s propulsion.

Lynch says that the Red Snapper is designed to generate the power needed to match the typical cruising speed of marine vehicles powered by a combustion engine on inland, national and international waterways. Higher engine speeds are then expected to be available to help recharge the battery source when operating the electric motor in generator mode.

The new product is manufactured at Lynch Motors’ Devon site, and, as you would expect, it complies with waterways legislation.

The company explained that the new product is “highly efficient, reliable and quiet to run” and stated that users can expect up to 93% efficiency from this 48 volt system, which is available in three modes which will enable users to select the correct one for a given application.

One of the main advantages of hybrid propulsion is in overcoming the concerns expressed by many at the possibility of running out of electrical power when there is little opportunity to recharge.

Red Snapper, electric hybrid drop-in marine drive system.

With a hybrid electric system, boaters get the benefits of electric power, with the added reassurance and, some may say, the flexibility of a hybrid system, combining electric battery power with traditional power.

One of the main reasons many people look to move from 100% diesel to a more environmentally friendly solution are the lower emissions that come from running an engine less. If the resultant fuel cost savings are used to offset a move to HVO fuel, the resulting drop in harmful emissions cannot be overstated. In addition, a boat user and the surrounding environment will also benefit from a reduction in noise.

Lynch Motors tells us that its team of engineers is there to help anyone with a project that utilises its product range, an offer that is likely to be of

particular interest to those looking to move over to an electric motor for their boat.

The Red Snapper price starts at £8750 plus VAT and comes with a two-year extendable warranty. Anyone interested in converting to a hybrid system will probably need an additional battery pack. The specification of this will depend on Amp power, how long you want to run with electric propulsion and any other power demands you may have on board.

It is good to see more and more products and innovations coming on to the market to satisfy the interest in– and the need for – a move towards reducing carbon emissions.

The questions often relating to this move are ones of cost and reliability, and although the price tag for the Red Snapper isn’t to be sniffed at, it is a lot less than a total refit and conversion. As for reliability, Lynch is a well-respected company with a good track record, which will measure many considering such a major conversion. Conversions like this should also ensure that the environmental cost of scrapping what could be a perfectly good working engine is avoided.

For more information on the Red Snapper, visit the company’s website at: www. lynchmotors.co.uk

Lynch Motors’ new Red Snapper. PHOTOS: LYNCH MOTORS

44

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Winterising your narrowboat

AS WE head towards the winter season, River Canal Rescue has put together some winterisation tips for boaters who may be leaving their narrowboats until the spring, reducing the likelihood of costly repair bills.

Cooling systems

Just like vehicles, any ‘closed loop’ cooling system needs to have antifreeze added and replaced (per manufacturer’s guidelines). Not only will this minimise the risk of splits or fractures associated with freezing water, but it will also improve the engine’s cooling efficiency and minimise corrosion risk to the engine.

Where raw water (drawn from the river) cooling systems are in place, drain down by briefly running the engine when out of the water to ensure the system is empty. If afloat, the quickest and simplest solution is to ‘shut off’ the inlet valve (seacock) and

drain as much water from the system as possible.

Where no drain plug is available, disconnect a hose, drain the water from the system and leave it disconnected.

Although this will not empty the system completely, it will allow for expansion should the water freeze and reduce the risk of ruptured pipes.

It is also worth insulating any accessible tight bends as this is where fluid will collect even after draining. Once you’re ready to start cruising again, reconnect any pipes, refill the system and open the seacock. If the engine is winterised or the seacock is closed, clearly mark the engine and its controls; it should prevent accidental operation.

General checks

Check lockers, cockpit and other areas to ensure all drain holes and plugs are clear of debris, leaves, dirt etc. These areas block

easily and, in heavy or prolonged rain, can cause a vessel to take on water, causing corrosion where the water’s left sitting or, even worse, sinking.

Always test the bilge pump and if possible, invest in an automatic one – it’s far more reliable than a manual. Many sunken vessels would still be afloat if they had an automatic pump fitted. An automatic bilge pump immediately responds to water ingress with the float switch dictating when it should pump. Should a leak develop from the cooling system, hull or other source (or there’s a build-up of rainwater), this will keep your vessel safe.

Regular checks to ensure batteries are charged are vital.

Test the battery charge levels before leaving the boat and when you return or before a long journey. Heavy rainfall, leaking stern glands and issues with weed hatches can result in water

Accessible Thames boat launched after £68,000 fundraiser A NEW wheelchair-accessible boat that allows disabled users access to the River Thames has just been launched.

The latest Wheelyboat will be used by Accessible Boating Thames to provide day trips and will even allow users to drive it themselves.

Launched at Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School, the Accessible Explorer will provide a host of experiences for the disabled.

The new V20 Wheelyboat is fully accessible and provides wheelchair users, and those with other mobility issues, the freedom to board and operate the boat independently and safely thanks to its spacious level cockpit. Its watertight hydraulic bow door lowers to form a ramp allowing roll-on, roll-off boarding from a pontoon or jetty. There’s even a drive-from-wheelchair console which enables people with the severest of disabilities to drive the boat themselves.

Gavin Tisshaw, chairman of Accessible Boating Thames, said: “This is a momentous occasion for ABT – securing our own Wheelyboat will make such a difference and ensure we can continue to help those that need our services. We are immensely grateful to all those who have helped us raise the funds to make this purchase.

“Our volunteers do a fantastic job for the local community – and we offer a variety of river-based opportunities ranging from

The newly launched Accessible Explorer takes its first voyage on the Thames. PHOTO: SUPPLIED family picnic afternoons to full sailing opportunities, bellboat sessions and Duke of Edinburgh trips. Our services are accessible to all those that need them. This group currently includes Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, families of those with any form of disability, and of course individuals and groups with physical or mental disabilities.”

The Wheelyboat Trust is a registered charity, dedicated to providing mobility impaired people, young and old, with the opportunity and freedom to participate in waterborne activities all over the UK. To date, the trust has built and supplied more than 230 Wheelyboats across the UK and Europe.

Mr Tisshaw added: “Wheelyboat trips for families have and continue to be very popular as it can be almost

impossible for families to access these shared experiences.

“Our oldest passenger last year was a 98-year-old with severely restricted mobility and our youngest a one-yearold with special medical needs.

Wheelyboat picnic afternoons have also proved very popular with dementia action groups.

They can picnic under our large stretch tent and enjoy 20 to 30-minute trips on the river in small groups.”

Claire Lovelock, from Manor Green School which has used the boats, said: “At Manor Green School we have been lucky enough to enjoy incredible trips both bellboating and on Wheelyboats to allow our SEND users opportunities they wouldn’t have had without this amazing team at Bisham.

“We are very excited to try out the new boat.”

Outlets lower to the water can be catastrophic. PHOTO: SUPPLIED ingress that quickly fills the boat and causes it to sink. If batteries go flat at a critical point it can be devastating. Greasing the stern tube before leaving the boat will prevent water ingress. Although most stern glands leak once the propeller turns, the grease acts like a seal while not in use.

Water in a boat will cause it to be lower in the water, placing outlets – such as those for a shower, sink or air vent – nearer to the water level (leading to catastrophic results!).

Ensure boat mooring pins and ropes are secure, yet slack enough to deal with the normal rise or fall of water levels. Where possible attach a long rope to a tree or higher ground, so that if flooding occurs, or the boat becomes loose in high winds, the additional rope could provide a much-needed safety line. In extreme weather or prolonged rainfall, visit the boat regularly to adjust mooring ropes and check bilge pumps and batteries are coping with the situation.

It’s also a good idea to run the engine for an hour every time you visit as this pushes oil around the engine and prevents rusting, plus it tops up the battery if left running long enough (beware of doing this if you’ve drained the cooling system!). Spray terminals with a siliconefree lubricant and grease all available grease points on the engine and drive, plus electrical connectors.

Also lubricate linkages and gear/throttle slides; this will prevent rusting/corrosion and give these components a longer life.

Generators

If not in use, store in a gas-tight locker – the same

regulations as Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) apply.

Water and heating

Freezing temperatures can cause split or fractured pipes which, if left over a gradual period, can lead to complete or partial flooding.

Drain down the water system (including drinking water and cistern) and leave taps in the open position. Most water heaters have a screw plug at their base and can accommodate an old-fashioned cycle pump which makes the emptying of water that much quicker. Taps should be left open because if any water is left in the system and it freezes, the pressure on the pipes will be less due to air coming out of the taps.

An unnoticed pipe split and flooding will almost certainly lead to sinking which may not be covered by insurers (not all cover frost damage and a gradual incursion of water may not be classed as accidental). If covered, insurance policies normally insist ‘machinery is winterised according to manufacturers’ recommendations’. If not available, the advice of a qualified engineer should be sought. Taking no precautions is asking for trouble.

Lag your hot and cold pipes and top up antifreeze in keel cooling and other sealed heating systems (such as radiators connected to the boiler). This is the single most important thing to do, whether your narrowboat is being used over the winter period or not.

Protecting possessions

Remove or put out of sight any alcohol, valuables and electrical items. If you have a secure mooring this might not be such an issue, but if in doubt, take it out.

Invest in decent locks; your insurance policy requires this and it’s more likely to deter thieves. Ensure all windows and access points are firmly closed and locked before leaving the vessel and visit regularly. Prevent the theft of external items, such as mushroom vents, solar panels and chimneys, by fixing them with extra-strength sealant and investing in security shear nuts.

Ask neighbouring boaters to call if they have any concerns.

Diesel treatment

Excessive water in the tank can lead to water feeding through the fuel system (RCR regularly removes large quantities of water from fuel tanks in the early cruising season). To prevent this, regularly check your filler cap seal and replace if worn, cracked or damaged. The cap sits lower than the deck so if it’s been raining, wipe away excess water before opening the cap.

Either leave the tank empty during winterisation and remove any water on your return or leave the tank full and treated. Fuel treatments remove water and deal with contamination such as diesel bug – where enzymes, bacteria etc live off the water in diesel and affect the diesel properties. Inactive boats are more at risk of growth developing in the fuel tanks.

Freezing weather & ice

If the boat’s encased in ice and you’re worried about the effects on the hull, take care… breaking the ice can result in more damage than simply leaving it.

The only time the ice should be broken is if you need to move, and this should only be undertaken with caution. The stress on the hull from a large surface area of ice is huge and at a minimum will cause damage to the blacking.

To find out more about ABT please click here: www. accessibleboatingthames.org Left: The Accessible Explorer is officially launched at Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Preparation for winter is a wise choice to make. PHOTO: DAVID MERRETT – CC BY 2.0

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

45

46 BUILDERS

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

BOOK A BUILD SLOT FOR 2025 AND GET 3 MONTHS FREE MOORINGS

FOR SALE - TOP SPEC 60FT EXTENDED CABIN INCLUDES 12 MONTHS FREE MOORINGS *T&CS APPLY*

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 47

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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 St St JJohns ohns R Rd, d, L Liverpool iverpool L L20 20 8 8BH BH

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

• 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 Our website is packed full of images of past and current builds, visit: www.xrandd.co.uk

50 years combined experience

48 BUILDERS / BROKERAGE

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Formation Plastics Dedicated team FP Technologies

Focuses on building bespoke HDPE canal boats Pioneering the future of canal boating, one boat at a time

BEAUTIFUL BOATS BUILT TO LAST

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

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.

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.

Boats are built to order to any stage of completion – from a bare hull or superstructure to luxuriously fitted and finished.

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 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.

Now confirmed - 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.

The new era of canal boat design For more information, please tel: 01274 299055 www.formationplastics.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

BROKERAGE 49

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

F I N D

T H E

O N E

There’s plenty of choice at Aquavista Boat Sales. With over 130 narrowboats, wide beams, dutch barges and cruisers for sale nationwide, you’ll find the one! £ 59,9 5 0

£ 6 5 ,0 0 0

O R I O N N A R R O W B O AT S Name: Amy Jackamaz Moored at: Cropredy

Name: The Admiral Moored at: Sawley

CO L E C R A F T

6 2 ’

Name: Hazelwood Moored at: Cropredy

£ 59,9 5 0

CO L E C R A F T

6 3 ’

£ 59,9 5 0

£ 5 8 ,0 0 0

6 0 ’

B U R S CO U G H B O AT S 6 0 ’ Name: Hyacynth Moored at: Sawley

£ 5 8 ,0 0 0

L I V E R P O O L B O AT S 5 8 ’

S TA N I L A N D

Name: Kipple Moored at: Sawley

Name: Willow Grouse Moored at: Sawley

Start your journey to a new boat with us. We can also help you find the perfect residential or leisure mooring too. Call 01159 077 406 or email us at boatsales@aquavista.com.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit aquavista.com/boat-sales to see more boats.

5 5 ’

50 BROKERAGE

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

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

FOR SALE JOSS

REDUCED £54,950

56ft/17.06m Trad Style 2004, Hull by Price Fallows, F/O by Bollington Wharf, 2 Berth.

ZION

FOR SALE

FOR SALE LADY VIOLET

£59 950

60ft /18.3m Trad Style 1991, Hull by Colecraft, F/O by Owner, Russel Newbery DM2 Engine, 2 + 4 Berth

CUT DIAMOND

£33,000

45ft /13.72m Trad 1987, Hull by Colecraft, Fit Out by Colecraft, 2/4 Berth

FOR SALE

FOR SALE CHILLI PEPPER

£35,950

40ft /12.2m Cruiser Style 1977, Hull by Hancock and Lane, 2/4 Berth

£54 950

MANATEE

£35 950

57ft /17.38m Cruiser 2010, Hull by Orchard Boat Builders, Fit Out by Orchard Boat Builders, 2/4 Berth

42ft /12.8m Cruiser Stern 1999, Hull by MCC Stenson, Fit Out by MCC Stenson 2/4 Berth

REDUCED

FOR SALE

HONEY B

£55,950

56ft /17.07m Cruiser Stern 2004, Hull by Reeves, Fit Out by Aynho Port Dock Services, 2/4 Berth

HALCYON WATERS

£54,750

58ft /17.68m Cruiser Style 2004, Hull & Fit Out by G & J Reeves, 4 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 • DIY Facilities • Engine Repairs & Servicing • Painting & Signwriting • Rope Fenders • Refits & Alterations

BROKERAGE 51

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

Your Boat • Our Expertise Over 28 years of experience selling individually inspected, well presented boats from your own mooring anywhere in the UK, or from our base at North Kilworth Marina, LE17 6HY

NEW AND READY TO TAKE AWAY

42’ cruiser, traditional layout, electric propulsion £140,000

60’ reverse layout narrowboat available Spring 2025 £155,000

70’ trad with traditional layout, diesel propulsion, full refurbishment £109,950

Whether you are buying or selling our website is packed with information and updated daily

LOOKING FOR A NEW CUSTOM-BUILT NARROWBOAT? WE WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU BUILDING YOUR DREAM BOAT! COMPLETION FOR SUMMER 2025

BUYING A USED BOAT

Standard fee of 6% + VAT with a loyalty discount for returning customers

Pre purchase & hull surveys. Insurance and Valuation Surveys

07963 974793

www.ovationboats.co.uk Unit 5 Redhill Marina, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire. NG11 0EB

01788 822 115 • admin@abnb.co.uk

Staniland Marina, Lock Hill, Thorne, Doncaster DN8 5EP

Tel: 01405 816992 www.stanilandmarina.co.uk On the Stainforth & Keady Canal, convenient for all waterways in the north

Soar Valley - Galaxy Class 60 – 2018 60 x 12 Soar Valley Steel Boats Galaxy Class Widebeam. Vetus 65hp.

Constructed in standard 10-6-4 steel, this liveaboard cruiser is ideal for a couple downsizing. £139,995

Staniland Marina Boats For Sale

Tim Tyler 50’ Narrowboat. Louis & Joshua Lined and owner fit out in good order. 2 berths, ideal for couple to cruise the waterways. Blacked September 2024, ready to go! Located Boroughbridge Marina. Viewing essential! £47,995

Dunstons of Thorne - 61 Sheffield Keel – 1952 Sheffield Keel by Dunstons of Thorne. Powered by a 4cyl 4L BMC with a PRM Gearbox. Over-plated in Feb 2024, she is presented and an ideal liveaboard project £29,999

P & D Boats - Sea Hunter Viper – IN STOCK Brand New 2023 P & D Boats Sea Hunter Viper rigged with a Tohatsu 30hp outboard and snugly sat on a galvanised road trailer. £14,995 REDUCED TO SELL

SouthWest Durham Steelcraft 30’Widebeam.

Unique vessel with small wheelhouse and Lister Diesel inboard. Small project boat with great space aboard. Well worth viewing, located Staniland Marina. £19,995

Four Winns 205 Sundowner. 1997. Single Volvo Penta 5.7 V8. Excellent condition cuddy cabin cruiser, perfect for weekends away, currently lying Boroughbridge Marina. £13,995

Salter Bros - 30 Sedan – Well presented Salter Brothers 30’ ex-broads cruiser with 32hp BMC Diesel engine on hydraulic drive. Believed commissioned in 1980, this 30’ sedan is spacious and ideal for a family for holidays £19,995

Colvic - 26 Northerner – Very Well presented Colvic Northerner 26’ River Cruiser. Refurbished in 2020 to a high standard, this well respected cruiser has had very little use in its 50 year history! Powered by BMC 1.5 Diesel on shaft. £12,995

52 BROKERAGE

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

£129,950

LUXE MOTOR DUTCH BARGE 'Nautical Tramp' | thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

BURSCOUGH 70' X 12.5'

COLLINGWOOD 70' WIDEBEAM

VIKING CANAL BOATS 65' X 12' 06''

VIKING CANAL BOATS 60' X 10' 06''

'Horatio Conkerhead' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Dreamcatcher’ hartfordboatsales@tingdene.net

'Treacle Mine' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Persephone’ pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£154,950

£169,950

£179,950

£189,950

LIVERPOOL BOATS 60' X 12'

COLLINGWOOD 60' X 12' ENC. BOW

PENDLE NARROWBOATS 60'

COLECRAFT 60' SEMI CRUISER

'Elegant Fowl' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Spark’ pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

'A New Chapter' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

'Buggerlugs' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

£144,950 £169,950

£119,950

£135,000

£99,950

AQUALINE BOATS 60' SEMI TRAD

SEA OTTER 51'

PRO-BUILD 52' NARROWBOAT

R & D FABRICATIONS 62'

'Weyward Lady’ pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

‘Forget Me Not' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

‘Goosander' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

‘Cropredy' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£74,950

£67,950

£62,950

£39,950

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 53

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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 26

£17,995 VIKING 23

Centre Cockpit, Length 26ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 1990, 6 Berths in 2 cabins, LIFT OUT COCKPIT SIDE FOR EASY ACCESS, cooker, toilet, shower, hot and cold water system, 12 and 240 volts electrics, CREAM LEATHERETTE CUSHION COVERS WITH BLUE PIPING, powered by a Mercury 15hp 4 stroke outboard engine, BSC 2027, original white gelcoat (not painted), hull polished and new antifouling, includes new mooring ropes, clean fenders, etc, FREE DELIVERY within 250 miles or local mooring available.

£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 Cruisers

Show Boats Now Available to view at our indoor showroom.

Prices From £32,995.

Including Outboard Engine PLEASE CALL FOR LATEST OFFERS

SUPERB VIKING 275

£57,995 VIKING 24

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.

£47,995

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

NEW VIKING 23 NARROW BEAM NOW IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY 4 Berths, Hiline Spec boat with Folding windscreen for low bridges, cooker with 2 ring hob, grill and oven, fridge, hot and cold water system, shower, electric flush cassette toilet, 12 and 240 volts electrics with battery charger, powered by a 20Hp 4 stroke outboard engine

SPECIAL SUMMER PRICE OF £47,995, BOOK YOUR VIEWING NOW.

David Mawby Narrowboat Sales are open by appointment at Shardlow Marina, London Road, Shardlow, Derbyshire, DE72 2GL

MARGARET

£89,000

Length 70ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 2012 by Soar Valley Boats with a Centre Cockpit, powered by a Canaline 52Hp, Wheel house, bow thruster, solid fuel stove and diesel heating, etc, well appointed spacious boat

JON GLEN

£19,995

Length 30ft, Beam 6ft10ins, built 1982 by Colecraft, Bukh diesel engine, cruise stern, solid fuel stove, shower, 4 Berths (double and 2 singles), gas water heater, 12 and 240 volts electrics, current Bsc, etc.

MILES AWAY

£51,500

Length 53ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 2010 by Dursley & Hurst, Cruiser stern, powered by a Vetus M4 Diesel engine, standard layout, solid fuel stove, diesel heating, rear pram cover, cross double bed + dinette, Well appointed boat, BSC Novermber 2027, etc.

MERLIN THE MAGNIFICENT

£53,000

Length 54ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built 2004 by South West Durham Steel Craft with a Semi Trad stern, powered by a Beta Marine 38Hp diesel engine, reverse layout, Reflex diesel heating, fixed double and L shaped dinette double, rear pram cover, inverter, charger, etc, current Bsc

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

54 BROKERAGE

December 2024

New stock arriving shortly

UNDER OFFER REF 10570 – Abel’s Ark. 45 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £34,950.00

Traditional boatyard, with traditional values

RE 10572 – Lilybel.

65 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £67,950.00

SOLD REF 10573 - Daisy.

30 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £29,999.00

REF 10574 - Calluna.

34 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £29,500.00

REF 10575 - Home Free.

60 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £69,950.00

REF 10577 - Tilly Ho Jo. 62 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £64,950.00

UNDER OFFER

REF 10578 – Daisy 2.

35 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £22,950.00

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

REF 10579 - Horace.

8 foot semi traditional stern narrow boat. £53,950.00

SOLD REF 10580 - Perfick.

56 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £26,950.00.

REF 10581 - Lincoln 70 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £44,950.00.

REF 10582 - Derwent.

70 foot cruiser stern narrow boat. £39,950.00.

10583 - Wright Away.

50 foot traditional stern narrow boat. £41,950.00.

BROKERAGE 55

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

T: 01926 813757 E: boats@calcuttboats.com www.calcuttboats.com Tomlow Road, Stockton, Southam, Warwickshire.

CV47 8HX CELTIC QUEST

£52,000

WHOLE OF THE MOON

£28,000

2000 57ft – Alexander Hull with a Riverview Boats fitout Powered by a Barrus Yanmar – shire 2003 BSS Until Sept 2028.

EDEN

£45,000

34ft 2005 - Eastern Caravans & narrowboats hull and fit out powered by a barrus shire engine

THE HIVE

£21,000

SOLD 2000 65ft – Dale Narrowboats with owner fitout Powered by a Nanni diesel with a PRM150.

2017 31ft – Powered by an Beta Marine with a TMC Gearbox Boats Safety until April 2025.

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.

56 BROKERAGE

December 2024

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

BUY, SELL OR MOOR WITH US

Browse our boats here

Experience a new lifestyle...

M350 FLOATING LODGE | £199,500 | BARTON MARINA, STAFFORDSHIRE BALANCE LUXURY, SPACE AND PRACTICALITY - A NEW WAY TO ENJOY LIFE ON THE WATER!

Featured Narrowboats...

“HEWIS” - £59,995 50FT TRADITIONAL | TATTENHALL MARINA

“CAT’S WHISKERS” - £68,000 57FT SEMI TRAD | GREAT HAYWOOD MARINA

UNREGISTERED COLLINGWOOD - £99,500 60FT CRUISER STERN | SAUL JUNCTION MARINA

Featured Widebeams...

“CRAZY DIAMOND” - £129,995 60FT WIDEBEAM | ROYDON MARINA VILLAGE

“YEMAYA” - £115,000 59X10FT WIDEBEAM | ROYDON MARINA

“MEERU” - £120,000 60X12FT6” WIDEBEAM | SHAKESPEARE MARINA

Featured Project Boats...

“XEMXIJA” - £39,000 65FT SEMI TRAD | BARTON MARINA

07513 708099

07354 902086

“WATER RAT” - £20,000 27FT CRUISER STERN | ROYDON MARINA

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Alvecote Marina Narrowcraft Boat Sales – Dry Dock - Repairs

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RUFUS 3

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SARAH JANE

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57ft, 2003 Liverpool Boats Trad, stylishly refitted 2023. Isuzu Marine engine, Victron energy inverter.

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60ft, 1992, Jonathan Wilson, Trad narrowboat with Beta Tug engine. Good Hull survey from Feb 2024.

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CAVALIER

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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

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Need a Survey or Boat Safety Examiner?

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COLIN WAREING Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO:

eams for 2019 are revealed 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 taking the title by a short head.

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

rr. The 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 all Chandlers at Braunston and 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 a gone that extra ave 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.

• Continued on page 2

found on a boat moored Ouse bodies t achievemen f nd 100-dayCommunity of two men were fou 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 side of the river, were fired at boats on for about five Field, Fen Ditton, and this went were injuries no minutes. Cambridgeshire Police said 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 meeting point is 10am at the canal bridge Killan on 01457 Street but this can change. Contact Peter 878361 or peterkillan@hotmail.com

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 and suspicious be to appear not The men had not examination was due to take place. alk went to press.

Tal tth T been identified when Towpath

11/12/2019 10:17:16

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December 2024 www.towpathtalk.co.uk

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ON IRISH WATERS WITH ALISON ALDERTON 63

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New roadmap unveiled for sustainable development of cruise hire sector

THE National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, has unveiled a comprehensive study to rejuvenate and sustainably develop the cruise hire sector in Ireland.

Developed in collaboration with various groups such as Waterways Ireland, the Irish Boat Rental Association and local authorities along the Shannon and ShannonErne navigations,

the study outlines a roadmap for the sector’s development up to 2033, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021. A key

recommendation from the study is to transition cruise hire fleets away from diesel to engines powered by electricity or hydrogen.

Some have already successfully transitioned from

Carrickcraft hire fleet, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim. PHOTO: FÁILTE IRELAND

diesel to hydrogenated vegetable oil this year, a practice being positively viewed by the wider sector.

The roadmap also recommends adopting eco-friendly practices and infrastructure improvements to minimise environmental impact; expanding and enhancing existing marinas to meet increasing demand; enhancing customer experience through the development of interactive maps; and fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders for successful implementation.

Fá i l t e I re l a n d recently brought key stakeholders together in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, for the

First Responders unveil first solar-powered AED cabinet on Irish waterway

KILCOCK Community First Responders recently unveiled a solar-powered cabinet and defibrillator on the Royal Canal Greenway, between Kilcock and Ferran’s Lock, in memory of their dear friend and colleague Michael ‘Mick’ Duggan who died late last year.

This is the first time an automated external defibrillator (AED) has been installed on a waterway in Ireland and would not have been possible without Waterways Ireland, Kilcock CFR and others working collaboratively.

In what was a moving occasion Kilcock CFR co-ordinator Bernie Downes welcomed members of Mick’s former Dublin Fire Brigade watch, colleagues from the

The solar-powered AED cabinet. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

National Ambulance Ser vice, Community Engagement, fellow CFRs from the local area, Colm Reilly of WI and, the HSE, local Gardaí, sponsors and, most importantly, Mick’s family.

She spoke about how important Mick was to everyone and how appropriate the AED was as a memorial to him.

It combined his love of running and his dedication to helping others. She also paid special tribute to committee member David Walsh, who worked closely with WI and other partners to ensure that the project was completed.

Mick’s friend and DFB colleague Jim Sergeant spoke powerfully about his professionalism as a firefighter paramedic, his passion for keeping active whether it was triathlons,

First Responders at the AED cabinet. From left are: James Kenny, David Walsh, Bernie Downes, Mary Comey, Cathal McCauley, Brian MacLochlainn.

Gerard McGeeney is not in the picture. PHOTO: SUPPLIED golf or cycling and his friendship. A lone piper opened and closed the ceremony while Kilcock CFR treasurer Mary Comey read a poem dedicated to Mick.

The solar-powered cabinet and AED is an important link in the chain of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest and this will be a lasting tribute to a

wonderful former mentor, colleague and friend.

Great credit is due to sponsors Dublin Fire Brigade, Heart Safety Solutions, Emergency Care, HSE Kildare and the National Lottery for making all of this possible and to Waterways Ireland for its co-operation and support on this first for Ireland.

Friends and colleagues of the late firefighter paramedic Michael ‘Mick’ Duggan gather at the ceremony which was opened and closed by a lone piper. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

inaugural meeting of an implementation group to discuss the execution of the plan.

This meeting marks the beginning of a collaborative effort between cruise hire operators, the Irish Boat Rental Association, Waterways Ireland, the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland and local authorities located along the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway to help the cruise hire sector to develop more sustainably in the future.

The full feasibility study, Future Development and Greening of the CruiseHire Sector, can be viewed online via the Fáilte Ireland website at: www.failteireland.ie

Bio fuel, Shannon Cruising, Banagher.

PHOTO: TOURISM IRELAND/RICHARD WATSON

IWAI mourns loss of two past presidents MEMBERS of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) are mourning the recent loss of two past presidents.

Ruth Heard, who died on October 5, was the first female president of the association, serving from 1981 to 1983, and also the editor of Inland Waterways News (IWN), the association’s members’ magazine.

Ruth is probably best known, however, for her published works penned under the name of Ruth Delany, from her first marriage to Vincent Delany, one of the IWAI’s founding members.

Writing extensively about the waterways, her works include: The Canals of the South of Ireland written with Vincent Delany in 1966, The Grand Canal of Ireland (1973 and 1995), A Celebration of 250 Years of Ireland’s Inland Waterways (1986), which was subsequently updated and republished in 2004 as A Celebration of 300 Years of Ireland’s Inland Waterways,

By Shannon Shores (1987), Ireland’s Royal Canal (1982) which was updated and republished with Dr Ian Bath in 2010 to coincide with the reopening of the Royal Canal, and the Shannon Navigation (2008).

Ruth Heard was instrumental in bringing the World Canal Conference to Ireland for the first time in 2001, was involved with the waterways committee of the Heritage Council for many years and also had connections with the world of Irish sailing and maritime. As a keen photographer and movie maker, Ruth Heard documented her many years on the water, capturing the changes and developments as they took place.

A collection of her works form part of the Waterways Ireland archive and can be viewed at: www.archive. waterwaysireland.org

The death of Peter Hanna, past president (1987-1989), also in October this year, came as final preparations for the IWAI Naas Rally were in full swing. Peter was a campaigner and instrumental in a number of battles to preserve the waterways of Ireland, one being the reinstating of the Naas Canal, a branch line of the Grand Canal.

When the Naas Canal was finally reopened to navigation, it was Peter who led the procession of boats along it.

The loss of these two key figures of the association has created a flurry of discussion, debate and memories across social media, making it obvious to see that the world of the inland waterways has sadly lost two of its very greatest advocates.

The late Ruth Heard.

PHOTO:SUPPLIED

64

December 2024

A pitstop at Stopham

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Spinning a web of intrigue: autumn spiders An orb web suspended across the vegetation at the canal’s edge. Elasticity of the material allows for movement without breaking if the wind is blowing. PHOTOS: KEVIN THOMAS

By Kevin Thomas

The White Hart, Stopham. PHOTOS: ALISON ALDERTON

Barge Beagle – sniffing out good finds for crews with canines

By Alison Alderton

TOWPATH

TALK

STOPHAM Bridge, n designated as an nt, Ancient Monumen spans the River Arun some 2.5 miles (4km) west of Pulborough in West Sussex. Now closed to vehicles, it stands on a quiet and picturesque lane leading to The White Hart gastro pub and, just across the bridge itself, the entrance to the Stopham House Estate.

The Saxons are believed to have built the first bridge at this location but the present stone bridge dates from the early 1420s. The central span was destroyed during the English Civil War and was later replaced by a wooden drawbridge allowing access to sailing barges navigating the river.

The Arun Navigation was opened in 1787 and the drawbridge, replaced by a higher navigation arch in 1822, allowed Sussex barges measuring 70ft in length by almost 13ft in width to pass with their mast lowered to reach Newbridge Wharf, the terminus just west of Billingshurst.

In 1816 the Wey and Arun Canal was opened, connecting the navigation at Newbridge via the River Wey to the Thames and the national inland waterways system.

Stopham Bridge was badly damaged by military vehicles in the Second World

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Enjoying lunch at The White Hart.

War but was later repaired and vehicles crossing it were controlled in each direction by traffic lights. The tailbacks on the A283 at busy times necessitated the construction of a replacement bridge which, located just 100ft upstream of the old bridge, was finally completed and opened in 1986.

Having arrived by car and enjoyed a short walk along the Arun valley, Barge Beagle was ready for a spot of lunch at this historic location. The 16th century White Hart gastro pub, nestling beside the east bank of the Arun, affords great views of Stopham Bridge and, as located within the South Downs National Park, is a popular pitstop for tourists. Taking up seating on a large decking area, our small group enjoyed a tasty meal (the ploughman’s lunch is highly recommended) washed down with fine wine and Sussex Ale while Barge Beagle eagerly tucked into his own lunch, a large bowl of fresh water and thoroughly enjoyed the fuss made over him by the staff!

As this was probably going to be our last al fresco meal before the winter set in, we lingered, enjoyed

Highly recommended ploughman’s lunch. the autumn sunshine from the wooden decking area in the pub garden overlooking the river and vowed to return. The White Hart Inn, however, is currently up for sale so if you want to enjoy the excellent cuisine served in this gastro pub you had best hurry along now!

Happily replete after our fine lunch, we were lucky enough to see a pair of paddlers in kayaks appear from under the navigation arch of the old bridge.

Just downstream of here is the site of Pulborough Paddles where canoes and kayaks are available for hire.

I think that Barge Beagle may have this doggy-earmarked as a future outing – watch this space!

AUTUMN is probably the best month for seeing spider webs along our towpaths and surrounds, mainly because the morning dew visually enhances what would normally be an almost invisible web. Our most common orb web spiders are the garden spiders, sometimes referred to as ‘autumn spiders.’ During my early morning September to October canal walks along the stretch of the K&A in the west country near Devizes, the shrubbery, fences, gates, moored boats and much else are invariably festooned with these glistening orbs hanging like sparkling diamond necklaces.

The spider species responsible for this delicate architecture belong to the Araneidae family. When I took the photos used to illustrate this article, I didn’t go out of my way to photograph the actual spiders because I was more interested in their web architecture.

Nevertheless, their webs are absolute feats of natural engineering as some of my photos well illustrate. Reading up on them, I learned they only take about an hour and a half to build one of these beautiful architectural marvels of nature, and the name orb-web derives from the beautiful circular shape.

Constructed from ground level up to a height of about 2m, the webs are made with one intention only: to catch food by way of small flying invertebrates. After the web has been constructed, extreme patience by the spider is the key to success, as it sits waiting in the middle of its web. If it suddenly feels the vibrations caused by a struggling insect, the spider hastens

across and wraps the prey tightly in silk, to stop any further movement.

Thereafter, it finishes the exercise with a venomous bite. Humans, however, need not fear because garden spiders are completely harmless to us.

The lifespan of a garden orb weaver is about 12 months and the female lays her eggs, encased in a fluffy silken cocoon, during late summer to autumn. The egg cocoon is attached to foliage. Spider silk is incredibly lightweight, and a single strand of silk long enough to stretch all the way around Earth would weigh less than 500g of sugar. It’s also as strong as Kevlar, the material used to make bulletproof vests (The Wildlife Trust). The common orb web spider is greyish-brown with a distinctive white cross pattern on its back. Perhaps, next time you see a dew-laden orb web, linger for a moment and marvel at just how fascinating nature is.

Moored narrowboats make for ideal orb web anchor points as is well illustrated by this web spun around the control lever on a narrowboat.

A play on birds

Useful information:

The White Hart Pulborough Road Stopham West Sussex www.thewhitehartpulborough.com Pulborough Paddles www.pulboroughpaddles.co.uk

KEN Norman has been a continuous cruiser on NB Daedalus since December 2021. He has worked variously as a 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 65

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Canal closed for 15 months

The Kelpies 10 celebrations included pipers and pipe bands, Clydesdale horses (the inspiration for sculptor Andy Scott’s original design) and an evening concert. PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS

Celebrations at the reopening of the road bridge at Bonnybridge in May 2019. PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE THE eastern side of the Forth & Clyde Canal is closed to navigation between locks 3 and 16 until March 2026 to allow for lock gate replacement and maintenance.

Lock gates at five locks – 7, 9, 11, 14 and 16 – will be replaced during this major operation, which will allow a thorough investigation of the locks themselves and other repair and maintenance work.

Locks 3–16 sit between the Kelpies and Falkirk (locks 1 and 2 are the sea locks giving access to the canal from the Firth of Forth and the River Carron, with lock 1A sitting at the foot of the Kelpies). The canal remains open to navigation westwards from the Falkirk Wheel. Boaters moored at the Kelpies were given the opportunity to relocate during the closure.

The canal had previously been closed to navigation between locks 3 and 16 earlier this year when boat movements were suspended because of insufficient water supplies. The low water levels allowed detailed underwater inspections during which significant issues were identified with the gates at lock 11 in Camelon, Falkirk.

Further investigation has revealed serious problems with other locks in this section.

The Forth & Clyde was a source of controversy from its first conception, when two schemes were proposed: a canal to carry goods to and from Glasgow, or the creation of a commercial route between the Forth estuary in the east and the River Clyde in the west. The less parochial view won. Construction of the canal started in the east in 1768 under engineer John Smeaton. The line of the canal crossed unstable ground and the locks were constructed on pitch pine timber

Leaky lock gates on the western side of the Forth & Clyde. Shortterm repairs have been made at some locks. PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

rafts. Wooden floored locks are not unusual but it’s rare to find the timbers running under the lock walls for added stability, as is the case here. Some of the timber floors are in poor condition, with significant holes.

While these are Lock 9 on the Forth & Clyde, location of a sinkhole in relatively easily the towpath earlier this year. PHOTO: CALLUM FREW repaired, the condition of the timber hidden canal-related organisations) which beneath the lock walls is unknown. urged Scottish Government funding IWA discussions with Richard of the repairs needed to the bridges Millar, Scottish Canals’ chief operating at Bonnybridge and Twechar. Serious officer, revealed that while funding is issues with both bridges had effectively in place for the lock gates, money still closed the canal. The campaign, which needs to be found for the cost of their saw support from local authorities installation and to cover any issues along the canal, MSPs and the public, uncovered as work is under way on culminated in an extra £1.6 million to this highly unusual construction. repair the bridges and reopen the canal.

The Forth & Clyde Canal, finally The extended closure of more than a year has been imposed because opened coast-to-coast in July 1790, of this considerable uncertainty. is a tribute to both contemporary Current diving investigations can only engineering prowess and the determine the extent of lock-related restoration work undertaken as part works and the state of the visible of the Millennium Link project, when sections of the timber flooring. the canal was restored and reopened Scottish Canals has been in in 2001. An important part of the touch with Transport Scotland to original vision behind the project, and demonstrate that navigation is a the National Lottery funding, was the public rather than a private benefit and canal’s role as a transit canal, allowing therefore deserves financial support leisure vessels to move between from government. This position is Scotland’s east and west coasts. As we supported by RYA Scotland, the approach the 25th anniversary of the Lowland Canals Association and the canal reopening, we should remember IWA. The IWA agrees that the Scottish that 25 years is generally seen as the Government should recognise the useful life of a lock gate. There are 39 value of navigation to the public as a locks across the canal’s 34 miles, few general principle, together with the of which have received significant value of the Forth & Clyde Canal as a attention since the reopening. sea-to-sea link.

Scottish Canals has joined the IWA’s Fund Britain’s Waterways, a coalition of organisations representing thousands of users and supporters of the inland waterways campaigning for an increase in government funding and promotion of the huge economic, environmental and well-being value provided by the canals and inland waterways. As Sue O’Hare, chair of IWA’s Navigation Committee, said: “…

The circumstances surrounding the Scottish Lowland Canals are unique but the need for funding is universal.”

Those familiar with the Lowland Canals will remember the campaign

by Keep Canals Alive (an alliance of Lock 16 at the start of the Falkirk flight. PHOTO: CALLUM FREW

The head of Bella the Beithir, centrepiece of the artworks commissioned by Scottish Canals for the Stockingfield Bridge site.

PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS

Award nominations across the Lowland Canals THE team responsible for Kelpies 10 has been shortlisted for a national award recognising the best council events team in the UK. Falkirk Council and Scottish Canal’s Kelpies 10 event, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Kelpies sculptures, has been shortlisted for the Best Events Team – Council Award at the 2024 National Outdoor Events Association Awards. These annual awards recognise excellence in the UK events industry with an awards ceremony at the end of November.

Kelpies 10 took place in April this year at Helix Park, Falkirk, celebrating the Kelpies’ impact on the local community and Scottish heritage.

The event was enjoyed by more than 10,000 visitors. Since opening, the Kelpies and Helix Park, through which runs the Forth & Clyde Canal, have seen more than seven million visitors and earned tourism awards.

Heading west along the canal, Make It Glasgow has been nominated for the Glasgow Times Community Champion Awards 2024 for the Arts Champion of the Year (North West). The awards celebrate everything that’s great about the city and its people. The winners of each heat go through to a final judging, all

to be announced at the grand final in December.

Make It Glasgow is a community interest company (a not-for-profit business) established by artists Louise Nolan and Ruth Impey who were, alongside artist Nichol Wheatley, responsible for Bella the Beithir and her colourful tiles, one of the artworks commissioned by Scottish Canals to surround the new bridge at Stockingfield Junction.

Also nominated for a Community Champion Award, this time the Environmental Champion of the Year (North West) is Hamiltonhill Claypits Nature Reserve. Running between Firhill and Applecross basins on the Glasgow Branch of the Forth & Clyde, the nature reserve is a much-loved greenspace just north west of Glasgow city centre, giving access to nature and amazing views of the city. The area was part of the industrial hub centred on the canal and the source of the clay used to seal this branch of the canal. Firhill basin was originally created for the storage and transport of timber, with several sawmills in the area. Applecross basin is the current site of Scottish Canals’ headquarters, and the location of the 18th century workshops that once formed the terminus of the canal.

The Claypits were officially opened to the public in 2021. Seen here are funders, partners and Glasgow City Council elected members celebrating with a tree planting.

PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS

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Visitors enjoy the festive celebrations at York’s Christmas market. PHOTO: MAKE IT YORK

Christmas comes to York. PHOTO: MAKE IT YORK

Days Out - York

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 York, with close links to the waterways and a city centre that has plenty to offer visitors.

By Sally Clifford

FROM its impressive walls to its magnificent minster, York is a city embraced by history. Fascinating chapters document the city’s foundation during the medieval period to its invasion by the Vikings in 866 and its development down the decades, making it one of the UK’s most popular cities for day trips or staycations.

In York there is plenty to see and do all year round, but this historic city really comes alive at Christmas.

Setting the festive scene is the sight of 75 alpine chalets pitched up along Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square from November 14 to December 22 for York’s award-winning Christmas Market.

Crafts, artisan products and seasonal treats are just a flavour of the creations on offer as visitors immerse themselves in the festive spirit by strolling through charming streets made all the more atmospheric by the celebrations.

The Shambles, the most iconic of all York’s streets and, possibly, one of the

Clifford’s Tower, the largest remaining building of York Castle in York.

PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

city’s most photographed destinations, is apparently also one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe.

Meandering along its narrow cobbled street, the Christmas illuminations casting a warm and cosy glow, you get a real sense of stepping back in time, passing properties characterised by their overhanging presence which are continuing their purpose to serve.

In medieval times meat would be traded here, but today the shopping range has expanded with boutiques, cafes and shops among the many perfect places to purchase gifts and stocking fillers for Christmas. Central to the city’s characterful buildings is the most iconic of all – York Minster.

Built on the site of a Roman fortress, there has been an ecclesiastical presence here for nearly 1400 years.

This impressive cross-shaped ‘cathedral of the North’ was the original vision of Archbishop Thomas of Bayeux

The impressive Foss Barrier protecting York from future flooding. PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD

York’s historic walls bathed in an atmospheric glow. PHOTO: MAKE IT YORKAN and was brought to life by skilled stonemasons for whom the ornateness and intricacy of its creation must have been a labour of love.

Built between 1080 and 1100, it formed the footprint of the current cathedral. The remains of its transept and nave walls, discovered and exposed by archaeologists, can be viewed, along with many other interesting artefacts, in the minster’s undercroft museum showcasing 2000 years of history.

Delving deeper into York’s past, the archaeological dig during the mid-Seventies to early Eighties in the city’s Coppergate unearthed evidence which provided a well-preserved record

of the Viking Age – a story now told through the Yorvik Viking Centre which was established on the site 40 years ago.

Within this world-famous attraction, visitors can travel through time on a ride through reconstructed Vikingage streets and experience life in 10th century York. Galleries showcasing Viking artefacts can also be viewed, giving a greater insight into this fascinating chapter in the city’s history.

Further exploration of York’s past can be found in a walk around the city’s historic walls. Dating back to the 13th century, they are understood to be the longest medieval town walls in England and the most complete. It takes around

The Shambles in York is a historic street popular with visitors.

PHOTO: MAKE IT YORK

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www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

The Towpath Ang gler Our monthly look at the angling scene

By David Kent

The city’s impressive architecture is among the many sights to see. PHOTO: MAKE IT YORK

Children next to the Mallard at the National Railway Museum, York. PHOTO: ELEANOR BENTALL

An overview of York’s Lendal Bridge, designed by civil engineer Thomas Page, who also designed London’s Westminster Bridge. PHOTO: MAKE IT YORK two hours to navigate the walls, measuring 3.4km in length, giving an overview of some of the city’s finest buildings, including the four main fortified gateways’ ‘bars.’

Taking a break from the busyness of the town, the serenity of the River Ouse provides the perfect escape. Flowing 60 miles from York to Goole and the River Humber, this important waterway is popular with paddleboarders and trip boats.

Woodlands, and Millennium Bridge, the footbridge built in 2001 spanning the River Ouse and popular with cyclists and walkers, are some of the sights to see and explore.

Meeting the River Ouse, the River Foss opened as a navigation in the early 19th century. In 1987 the installation of the Foss Barrier was a necessary response following the floods in 1982. When the River Ouse is high, the 16.5 tonne gate is lowered to form a seal with the river bed and

prevent water backing up from the Ouse and into the Foss.

Just as York’s walls protect the city from the past to present, the Foss Barrier is fulfilling its important flood prevention role into the future.

Although no longer in demand for commercial transportation, it, like many waterways, continue to serve a pleasurable purpose.

It was the arrival of a faster form of overland transport – the train – that led to the decline in commercial traffic along the canals. The National Railway Museum in Leeman Road, York, celebrates the history of the railway while showcasing some of its iconic loco legends. Interestingly, the museum is part of a five-year project – Vision 2025 – involving a £55m transformation of the National Railway Museum, York, and Locomotion in Shilden to become the World’s Railway Museum.

So let your journey to York begin….

FACT FILE: Things to do nearby: McArthur Glen Designer Outlet York: www.mcarthurglen.com Castle Howard: www.castlehoward.co.uk National Railway Museum: www.railwaymuseum.org.uk Sutton Bank National Park Centre: www.northyorkmoors.org.uk Beningbrough Hall: www.nationaltrust.org.uk Dalby Forest: www.forestryengland.uk Ellers Farm Distillery: www.ellersfarmdistillery.com Hollywood Bowl & Golf York: www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk Piglets Adventure Farm: www.pigletsadventurefarm.com Little Skipwith Carriage Rides: www.littleskipwithcarriagerides.com Visit York: www.visityork.org

HAVING reported several times over the past year on the frustrations (putting it mildly) my club colleagues and I have suffered trying to find some sort of resolution to the numerous problems caused by the excessive flooding since 2022 I am delighted to say that, just in the last week, there has been some significant progress. Whether this is due to my ongoing pressure on certain organisations or whether it would have happened anyway I cannot say – but the result is I am happier now than I have been in all that time. Clearly, there is still much to do but enough has been achieved in this short period of time to help rebuild the confidence in our membership who were beginning to talk with their feet. Fingers crossed that we can now get the whole project over the line very soon.

Last month I spoke about the presentation given to CRT Council setting out the findings of the Boater Satisfaction Survey. Interestingly last week my wife and I called in our local for a ‘swift half’ and got into a conversation with another couple who, I know, have owned a narrow boat for some years.

I mentioned the survey in which, apparently, they had participated. It was a really interesting conversation and I was able to learn from them about the boaters’ perspective generally.

One thing we all agreed on was that it definitely needs a fully collaborative approach to ensure that the outcomes fulfil as many of the priorities identified by the survey but also that the approach taken is balanced in order to ensure that no sector becomes disadvantaged and, very importantly, that due care is afforded to the ecology and, indeed, the whole waterway environment.

All the major events are now pretty much done and dusted for the year. It seems all were highly successful and those taking place on our canals were particularly good. All credit to the organisers and the venues themselves.

On the subject of events, I was talking the other day with a coach who confirmed he has been very busy. Interestingly, though, he said he was getting better and more consistent turnouts for his coaching events than he was for the junior matches he runs. He was unsure why this was although he believes that cost plays a big part. He went on to say that some of the adults who bring the youngsters see the sessions as a free babysitting service and become quite

abusive when it is pointed out that, in order to maintain a required supervisorto-participant ratio the adults are expected to remain with the youngster.

The strange weather continues to really affect fishing. We have had high pressure since before the last full moon and there is a widely held view that this is suppressing catches virtually everywhere. Wherever you look, the only decent sport to be had is only coming in the last couple of hours of daylight. Even on a match on my local canal 10 days or so ago many anglers had packed up biteless. Those who sat it out did catch a few right at the death and the eventual winner put more than 10lb of bream on the scales. By contrast, a good friend who lives near Sheffield fished on the canal at Stainforth on Sunday and caught 102 fish and went home very happy.

My own recent form has been up and down, to say the least. Having been pretty busy I have only managed to get out at weekends on club matches.

Thankfully I seem to be able to catch a few whatever the venue but not enough although I have picked up a couple of sections along the way. When fishing on commercial venues in recent weeks I have noticed many anglers are already deploying winter tactics. This generally means lighter tackle, little or no feed and smaller hookbaits.

It is now dark before 5pm so evening sessions are effectively over until the spring. Even so, if you can fish the last couple of hours of the afternoon then I believe fish are there to catch. The “old faithful” maggot is coming into its own as the go-to hookbait. It does seem to be working across all venues. That said do not ignore sweetcorn as your bigger bait. Feed sparingly and the fish should move in at some point.

Although temperatures are remaining strangely high for this time of year make sure you wear an extra layer and, of course, take your flask.

Tight lines.

New partnership with property giant is the right move!

By Lucy Wood

The beautiful York Minster. PHOTO: CHAPTER OF YORK

THE Canal & River Trust has announced a new partnership with Rightmove as part of the UK’s largest property platform’s sustainability initiative, Go Greener.

Rightmove is pledging £50,000 to support the trust’s Environmental Fund, which supports environmental projects to protect and enhance its navigable waterways, ensuring cleaner, greener spaces for people and nature. Rightmove employees will also be active in their own communities by volunteering their time to help make the trust’s work possible.

The CRT’s fundraising director, Maggie Gardner, said: “We are excited to partner with Rightmove, whose sustainability strategy aligns with our vision of living waterways

that transform places and enrich lives. Nine million people live within a 15-minute walk of a canal, and working with Rightmove will help us make a real impact for nature and local communities near where people live.”

Jennie Barker, chief people officer at Rightmove, added: “We are committed to protecting the environment and helping everyone work towards a more sustainable future. This partnership allows us to contribute to the protection of vital green and blue spaces, which bring so much value to communities in England and Wales.

“Our employees are keen to volunteer and get involved, supporting the charity’s incredible work, and helping to create cleaner, greener waterways for everyone to enjoy.”

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December 2024

The Wet Web

By Helen Gazeley

Already thinking about where to cruise in 2025?

How about exploring the lesser-known canals north of Birmingham and maybe winning a trophy?

The Birmingham Canal Navigation Society’s 24-hour marathon challenge has taken place almost annually for the last 25 years, but dates back to the 1960s. Its intention today is just as it was 50 years ago – to encourage cruising of the lesser-used stretches of the network to help keep them open and navigable.

Jon Pegg, who has organised the challenge for three years, is keen for more to take part. “The event suffered the double knock of the previous organisers retiring and then Covid,” he explains.

“Before Covid about 35 boats a year took part. Last year there were 25. We’re hoping for 30 this year.”

It’s a game of strategy and planning. Several months ahead, participants receive score sheets giving the miles, locks and bonus rating for each section of the 100-mile BCN network, as well as maps, canal guides and the final destination, and can plot their route. Contingency planning is recommended too, in case of a stoppage or too long a queue at a lock flight. Weighting is given to different boats, to iron out advantages gained

Boats gathering for an afternoon of festivities at Tipton Stables at the end of last year’s 24-hour marathon challenge.

PHOTO: BCNS

by size, and this year boats with a deeper draught will also gain extra points, with the intention of encouraging vessels that will help against silt.

Then, over the May Bank Holiday weekend, participants launch into 24 hours of sustained (speed limits strictly observed) cruising, to garner as many points as possible over a 30-hour period (six

Last year’s mascot Barney the Dinosaur, ready for transfer to a passing participating boat at Ryders Green top lock. It’s all part of the fun and not always Barney. “One year we had a pot of noodles,” says Jon. PHOTO: BCNS

Geoff Courtney reports on prices achieved by railwayana memorabilia at specialist auctions in recent months.

Loch Awe in Argyll was the subject of a railway carriage print issued

by BR in 1956 that went under the hammer for £90 at a sale held by Great Central Railwayana on September 7. PHOTO: GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA

questions and decorating your boat. “Some people go to great lengths,” says Jon, recalling a fabric shark installed in a bow. Others just put up bunting. “We reward anyone who makes some effort,” he adds.

In fact, you could win a trophy without travelling very far at all – a miniature trolley is awarded to the boat that brings in the largest haul of rubbish scooped up along the way.

For a flavour of the event, take a look at Cruising the Cut’s videos Nos. 301 and 302, in which David Johns takes part in last year’s event (www.youtube. com/@CruisingTheCut). Despite the sense of jeopardy the videos engender in the siltier sections of the Walsall Canal, Jon says reassuringly: “Everybody made it back. The event is meant to be a challenge but not put you in danger.”

For more information, visit the BCNS website: bcnsociety.com/bcns-marathon-challenge or perhaps you’d like a more leisurely approach to this year’s cruising? If so, take a look at the society’s Explorer Cruises, which escort groups of narrowboats to hidden gems of the BCN.

Jon Pegg’s Vulpes passing Moorcroft Junction. This is the site of the proposed restoration of the Bradley Arm and a bonus photo opportunity. PHOTO: BCNS

Heritage under the hammer CANALS, inland waterways, lochs and lakes, and the Norfolk Broads, were a favourite theme of posters and carriage prints issued by the ‘Big Four’ railway companies GWR, SR, LMS and LNER in the post-Grouping era between 1923 and 1948, and also by BR after the railways were nationalised in 1948. They were often the work of some of the country’s top and most respected artists, and as such those that have survived have gained a following among many waterways and railwayana collectors.

Leading the recently sold selections was an early 1950s BR poster of Bristol’s

hours’ rest must be taken). “It probably puts more boats on the northern reaches than most other times,” says Jon. “You can tell by the reaction of the locals that they don’t get many visitors.” And the Walsall Canal, in particular, is where those determined to win should head. “There are weeds and low depth and locks can be quite awkward, but you can score up to four times more points on the Walsall.”

It's not really about winning, though. “The main thing is the camaraderie,” says Jon. Once you arrive at the designated endpoint around 2pm on Sunday, jollifications run for the rest of the afternoon and winners of various categories receive their trophies. “It’s competitive, but there is a lot of help between boats. It appeals to a wide bunch,” says Jon, who has taken part himself.

“Some groups bring friends each year. There are continuous cruisers, family groups, prominent BCN members. No one cares who you are or what your boat is.”

Additional points can be acquired through taking photos, finding answers to treasure hunt

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Clifton suspension bridge and the adjacent River Avon by Leslie Wilson that sold at Great Central Railwayana auction on September 7 for £750, while following at £320 was a 1956 BR poster

by William Douglas McLeod (18921963) featuring Loch Shiel west of Fort William and its shoreline Glenfinnan Monument erected in 1815.

A third item of artwork in the sale was a BR 1956 carriage print of Loch Awe in Argyll, which at 25 miles is Scotland’s longest freshwater loch. It was the work of James McIntosh Patrick (1907-98), who is regarded by many as the country’s finest landscape painter

A bid of £65 secured this 1928 Bradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers of England and Wales.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

of the 20th century, and sold for £90. Also in the auction was a GWR cast iron notice warning against riding bicycles on the towpath without a permit that went under the hammer for £120.

The canalia/railway combination was also in evidence at a collectors’ auction held by Lacy Scott & Knight of Bury St Edmunds on August 23,

when a carriage print featuring an express train beside a canal was among a collection of four such prints that sold as a single lot for £30.

The train, hauled by a London & North Western Railway 2-4-0 locomotive, is passing a narrowboat named Sarah that is cruising on a canal parallel with the railway. It was painted by C Hamilton Ellis (190987), and the location identified on the print is near the village of Brinklow in Warwickshire, indicating that Sarah is on the Oxford Canal.

Paperchase Auctions continued the theme at its quarterly postal and email sale that ran from October 14-29, when a BR Midland Region Eden Valley poster sold for £160.

It was the work of leading marine artist Claude Buckle (1905-73), and depicted a couple admiring the view of the winding river from a bridge and a fisherman below.

This auction did however, buck the poster trend, with a Bradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers of England and Wales handbook that went to a new home for £65. Compiled by Henry Rodolph de Salis, it comprised no fewer than 455 pages and a map, was first published in 1904 and subsequently in 1918 and 1928, and it was the latest

version that was sold by Paperchase.

Hillingdon-born de Salis (1866-1936), spent 11 years researching for the book, travelling 14,000 miles on his steam yacht Dragon Fly. The prices quoted exclude buyer’s premium of 15% (+VAT) at Great Central, 22.5% (+ VAT) at Lacy Scott & Knight, and 12.5 % at Paperchase.

This BR poster promoting the Eden Valley in Cumbria, featuring a sightseeing couple and a fisherman, sold for £160 at a two-week Paperchase auction that ended on October 29.

PHOTO: PAPERCHASE AUCTIONS

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TALKBACK

A passage in time

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 Waste of resources

Curdworth tunnel is of a narrow bore. PHOTO: TIM BARTLETT – CC BY-SA 2.0

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, around 42 miles of tunnels were constructed in England and 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 bridges and 337 aqueducts there are also 55 tunnels,

Netherton tunnel North portal in use.

PHOTO: TINA CORDON – CC BY-SA 3.0

ranging in length from just 25 yards to more than three miles, along the 2000-plus miles of our inland waterways.

Let’s take a look at this month’s offering…

Netherton tunnel – Dudley No 2 canal:

3027yd, started 1855 and opened 1858.

This was the last significant tunnel to be built in the Industrial Revolution canal age and was significant for having gas lighting

installed, as well as twin towpaths. The gas lighting was later changed to electric in 1915 but the tunnel is now unlit. A significant consequence of having this lighting installed was that 24-hour passage through the tunnel was possible.

Another benefit of twin towpaths and good lighting was that the horses drawing the boats through the tunnel could see where they were going and tow ropes did not need to be adjusted when boats passed each other.

Seventeen shafts were sunk for the construction of the tunnel and eight of these were left after construction was finished to provide for ventilation. The air vents along the top of the tunnel are known locally as ‘pepper pots’ due to their shape and one of these ‘pepper pot’ air vents is actually in the middle of Aston Road roundabout. It has been possible to view all of these ‘pots’ as part of the Netherton Pepper

Pot Trail.

The tunnel has a 17ft navigable width and is parallel to the Dudley tunnel being located under the same ridge, but unlike Dudley, which is narrow and erratic, due to advances in engineering techniques Netherton is wide and straight and took only three years to dig as opposed to Dudley which took eight years. As a testament to the surveyors and builders the tunnel is also so straight that it is only a maximum of 1in out of perfect alignment along its entire length.

It is brick lined throughout and took a total of 23 million bricks and 53,000 cubic yards of puddling clay, with half a million tons of rock spoil being removed.

During its construction 18 men were seriously injured and there were nine fatalities. Of these, five were hit by skips falling down the shafts, with one worker falling down

Dear Towpath Talk, We have recently returned home after an extended cruise on our narrowboat Dart.

In August I received an email from a CRT licence support advisor asking me to move on as (and I quote), “it looks like your boat may have been moored in the same general area for more than 14 days.

Please remember that when you’re cruising you should be on the move every 14 days”.

During the previous 14 days we had cruised from Stourport to Gloucester then on to Sharpness and back to Gloucester. A distance of almost 80 miles, or four times the required annual movement for a continuous cruiser. At no time did we overstay on a mooring. In fact, we could have stayed for 14 days at some of the mooring sites but only stayed for 24-48 hours.

In the meantime, two boats on the Upton-on-Severn pontoon mooring, which has always been a 48-hour mooring, were moored

a shaft, one drowning in the sump water, and two who were hit by rocks that fell during the tunnelling.

Because of the many mines already in the area, work on the tunnel was difficult and a lot of necessary strengthening added to the overall cost.

It was for this reason that after its opening a special tunnel toll was charged to help recover the extra outlay. When passing through, it should be possible to see chainage (distance) markers still visible on the eastern wall.

The tunnel was closed in 1884 for repairs to a section after it had been damaged by subsidence and it subsequently reopened

when we came down river and were still there when we went back up (i.e. – over two weeks later). One was occupied by someone who seemed to have taken up residence.

Why is CRT wasting resources chasing the wrong people? I don’t think it has money to waste. It is also very annoying at a time when the charity needs all the support it can get. I emailed the licence support advisor to ask for an explanation. I did not even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement.

Is it any wonder that boaters give such a low rating to CRT? Graham Myatt

Overfiring stoves

multi-fuel

Dear Towpath Talk, Reading the article by Ben SutcliffeDavis on getting your multi-fuel stove ready for winter. I made a simple overheat alarm using a room thermostat and a battery that sounded a siren if the wind got up overnight and the stove overfired.

It was quite sensitive to a small rise in the temperature near the stove and gave you the chance to shut the stove down before it got too hot.

It is tricky to set an airflow to keep the stove in overnight, and to account for the wind getting up. The obvious solution would be that a stove’s airflow is controlled by the stove itself. Food for manufacturers’ thoughts.

Kind regards Terry Rittey

on April 23, 1885. Two hundred yards was reconstructed to a larger dimension and because of this a warning gauge is fitted at the tunnel mouth to prevent a false impression as to the actual size of boat that can pass through and thereby avoid boats getting stuck inside. Both portals of the tunnel were Grade II listed in 1987.

On another nautical note, the Netherton area has a tradition of anchor and chain making and it was here that one of the anchors for the Titanic was cast which needed a team of 24 horses to tow it by boat out of Netherton!

Curdworth tunnel – Birmingham & Fazeley

Canal (subsequently part of the BCN): 57yd

long, completed in 1789.

This was the only purpose-built tunnel on this canal and is of a narrow bore with a towpath which allows access through the tunnel, although at one end subsidence has meant that the water level is often the same height as the towpath!

Rather oddly, despite being a narrow tunnel with room for only one boat to pass through at a time, there is a notice at the entrance saying ‘please keep right’!

Unlike many tunnels this one is also open to canoes and unpowered craft. It was Grade II listed in December 1995.

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River Canal Rescue – the first 25 years

By Phil Pickin

IT IS almost 25 years since River Canal Rescue was launched, so to mark this significant anniversary, we asked Stephanie Horton, boss of the Stafford-based business, how the company began, and what the future holds…

TT: Could you tell us about your background, particularly in relation to engineering?

SH: After my kids started

school I opted to return to education and completed a foundation degree in engineering, and won an award as I hit over 90% grades.

I then applied to a number of universities, including Brunel and Loughborough, and won a scholarship with Loughborough, achieving a 2.1 in electromechanical power engineering (the only girl on the course).

I also completed a sandwich year and won the Sir Siemens Medal recognising top engineering students.

After I left university, Trevor, CEO of RCR, kept having a recurring dream about launching an inland waterway breakdown and emergency assistance company, and as I had a few months between starting at Alstom as an application engineer, we spent the time developing his business idea.

While this was going on, I started at Alstom and made a name for myself in power (quality of our supply).

I was headhunted by both LEM and ERA as a consultant in London – travelling around the world to investigate and resolve power quality.

In 2007, I eventually moved to head up RCR. It’s worth mentioning that my granddad was a ship’s engineer and my dad had me handing him tools

and getting my hands dirty from an early age. When Trev and I first met, we started and ran a custom motorcycle shop. So, as you can see, I’ve always been involved in engineering.

TT: Did you have any involvement in the waterways prior to RCR? SH: Trevor’s friend bought a

boat in 1997, and they both went out on it.

On his return, it transpired we were proud owners of a wooden ‘captain’s pinnace’ having paid £800. It was fitted with an old Anglian petrol engine.

It was during the following months of renovation, and when out on the Trent, Trevor questioned what did other people did when they had issues with their boat – was there anything like the AA for boats? It is from there that the idea of RCR grew.

TT: What was the reaction from the waterways community when you started RCR? SH: Everyone said that it had

been tried before and would not work – there was an insurance company offering £250 cash towards expenses, there was CBass – an association of boat builders that would attend callouts…but was set up to support each other and costs could be really high and wait times could also be days.

Sam at Foxton handled most callouts and travelled across the country.

TT: How difficult was it to recruit the engineers when you started?

SH: This element was not

difficult; as a new company offering training and support, it was not a challenge.

However, it took us a long time to get the numbers needed to actually pay for engineers, so the directors of the company were the ones out on the road for the first few years.

TT: I see from the website you no longer run training courses. Why did you decide to stop offering these?

SH: We stopped doing these

in 2019 as we recognised that running them at the weekend and taking two engineers off the road was not financially viable.

This turned out to be a good decision as Covid hit the following year. However, we are relaunching these (weekdays only) from our Stafford base from January.

We are also offering engineer training, as there is a lack of training specifically for the inland waterways, and training for insurers, as there is a lack of understanding about life on the waterways, the support needed and issues that result in claims.

BY THE time my written word makes it into print, you will be reading this in late-November or early-December and no doubt looking forward to Christmas. The TV will be full of retrospectives and revues of the events of this year and

I wonder whether you will be looking forward or backward, with respect to your boating experiences.

The initial optimism that accompanied the change of government in July has now evaporated with a budget that did not contain anything that would indicate that the battle for funding of the waterways is won. In fact, the treatment of charities and additional burdens on them indicates that the Canal and River Trust will actually be further constrained as it has to get used to the new employment framework and perhaps the removal of some VAT exemptions. Now, it is not just inflation and a reducing DEFRA grant that will impact the amount of money available for core maintenance of the canals and rivers, so ‘cash strapping’ is sadly going to get even tighter than before.

Cost reduction

To reduce some costs, the trust is offloading some of its

TT: How do you think things will look in another 25 years?

SH: We are a very tech-focused

company; our database, rolled out in 2002, was state of the art and is the envy of many companies that visit us.

We’re in the process of looking forward and working with new initiatives, AI and other systems to make our services interactive and supportive.

We’re working with companies

to develop new technologies, and develop new engines and propulsion methods that don’t rely on an infrastructure we’re never likely to get funded. We train our engineers on all types of new technologies and will develop services and systems needed to support these in the future, with options to change membership cover in line with customers’ needs.

We also hope to be rolling out a coastal version of RCR and have other initiatives, yet to be finalised, that will better empower boaters, such as remote engine monitoring, online videos

and how-to guides. Right now, we’re focusing on ensuring our membership service is exclusive and unrivalled, and that people want to join to become part of a club with additional benefits, and not just because of the breakdown and rescue service we offer.

We’re even looking at insurance, and if we can offer customers better support and products. Many current suppliers have been bought out, and with so much movement in the insurance market, boaters could be in for some changes to policies and coverage.

TT: Would you like to outline the other services RCR now offers and what was the motivation to offer them?

SH: We offer engine servicing,

because many people do not have access to engineers or know who to trust, with a guarantee and set pricing, giving customers peace of mind that the work is carried out to a specific level and is something they can afford.

We also offer engine inspection, providing customers with an unbiased report on the work needed on their boat. We get lots of requests to provide these services on new purchases too, as we focus on elements that keep the boat moving, which is not always included in a survey.

Canal Contracting was developed to offer customers access to engineering facilities nationwide – it deals with issues outside of breakdowns with a guarantee and a single point of contact. Key Diesels is a separate arm to RCR and offers a supply of engines, gearboxes and injection systems. Bilgeaway, the world’s first truly environmentallyfriendly bilge filter, has had a slow start, and Covid stopped a

Looking forward to 2025…

NABO general secretary Peter Braybrook comments on some more topical issues.

lot of promotion. We’ve not really had the opportunity to really drive it; an amazing product which is still waiting to get off the ground.”

property portfolio. By the time this is published, its holdings at Sharpness Docks will have gone under the hammer. The property portfolio was given to the trust to provide income to enable its core charitable

RCR’s managing director Stephanie Horton shows off the company’s 2025 calendar.

is being disposed of when it returns in excess of 10% in income from rents.

We have been told that the sale has been through rigorous tests to ensure that it is in the best interest of the trust and the reserve price will ensure in excess of market value will be achieved. However, like

“It appears that more and more are now resorting to shorter cruises or cruises in a restricted area. There has been some analysis of the boat movement data which we are looking forward to unravelling.” objectives to be achieved.

Maintenance of navigation is, of course, one of these.

Maintaining and safeguarding heritage is another.

NABO has written to the trust to express disquiet that a heritage asset such as this

many offers in the cheaper supermarkets, once it’s gone its gone.

The canalside heritage will be in the hands of those who no doubt will see development potential rather that heritage considerations.

AGM

NABO’s annual general meeting is held in November and we will be looking back over the past year. Part of this will be a review of canal usage and a discussion on the future use of canals.

The extreme weather and other problems that have plagued the canals and river in recent years have led to boat owners using their boats in different ways. Many have found it impossible to plan a long cruise because of the possibility that they will be stopped by an infrastructure failure in some way or other.

It appears that more and more are now resorting to shorter cruises or cruises in a restricted area. There has been some analysis of the boat movement data which we are looking forward to unravelling.

Fund Britain’s Waterways Westminster Cruise

One planned cruise will take place next year. Fund Britain's Waterways is planning another cruise to Westminster next May. There are some who will

be making this a very long cruise from the very north of the connected system in North Yorkshire to the Thames via the IWA Cavalcade in Little Venice London at the beginning of May. It is hoped there will be a flotilla of boats undertaking this cruise and holding publicity events en route to keep the funding topic in the public eye.

Looking forward to 2025

Personally I am planning another foray into the canals of Birmingham and the East Midlands next summer. Looking back on this year we really enjoyed our time we spent in the West Midlands and feel that we have not explored the east as much as we could. So we are planning to visit the Nottingham area and maybe the Erewash Canal as well, before returning home via the River Soar. Whatever you are planning I hope that you have a relaxed and enjoyable time. That is why we boat, isn't it?

I wish you a very happy Christmas and a boating full New Year with hopes that you are not iced-in on the New Year's cruise!

www.towpathtalk.co.uk December 2024

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December 2024

“I love our drafty house and our hefty heating bill.” (said no one ever) There’s another way.

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