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1 Issue 192, October 2021

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CRICK SHOW BACK LIVE

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BATTERY BIKE REVIEWED

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BOAT REVIEW: BREEZE

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Shardlow success A busy scene at the first Shardlow Inland Port Festival with trading boats moored between two of the oldest pubs in the village – the Malt Shovel and the New Inn. Full report on page 5. PHOTO: LES HEATH

Body cameras for frontline towpath staff TAKING THE TIP TO BOATERS

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THE Canal & River Trust is to start using body-worn cameras for its customer service employees whose role includes day-to-day interaction with those on the towpath.

They will initially be used daily by the boat licence customer support team in the trust’s London & South East region in response to increased concerns about the potential for confrontation, abuse or harm while conducting their work.

Body-worn cameras have been used

in specific instances by the trust’s boat licence customer support teams across the network since 2019. The development will now see cameras issued as standard for day-to-day duties, including interacting with towpath visitors, assisting boaters and when issuing notices or other written communications.

Cameras have become increasingly familiar in other areas of society, for example on trains, hospitals and retail settings. Many frontline emergency

services deploy them across their workforce in response to an increase in threatening and abusive behaviour.

Many trust colleagues frequently work alone on the towpath so, alongside other procedures, the body-worn cameras will be a tool to support them while they go about their daily jobs. The use of bodyworn cameras will provide legally admissible evidence if the trust needs to act against those who abuse or threaten colleagues or customers.

While instances of poor behaviour are rare, like other areas of society it is on the increase and CRT will not tolerate assaults on employees, volunteers or contractors and other customers.

Offenders will be dealt with robustly and the trust will seek to bring criminal proceedings against those responsible where necessary. The use of body-worn cameras was due to get under way in late September with a potential roll-out elsewhere on the network in due course.

Winter moorings

National conference

Plastic-free standard

THE Canal & River Trust has published a list of sites it will be offering for winter moorings in 2021-22.

They are divided into eight price bands and this year 64 mooring sites will drop a price band or see a price freeze, while 42 mooring sites will see a price rise.

Available from November 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022, the mooring permits will be charged at a ‘per metre, per month’ rate and from 6am on October 1, bookings will open on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sites and prices can be found at canalrivertrust.org. uk/winter-moorings

BRITISH Marine’s new national conference Innovate for Success 2022 will be held at the National Motorcycle Museum and National Conference Centre (NCC) in Birmingham on March 15-16. It will provide a pre-season focal point for UK marine businesses to come together, network and collaborate. Launching the conference at the Southampton International Boat Show, British Marine’s Paul Martin said the organisation was keen to see a wide cross-section of delegates and participating companies there. Expressions of interest are invited at www.britishmarine.co.uk/NationalConference

JOINT RYA and British Marine environment programme the Green Blue has linked up with the Final Straw Foundation to launch a Single-Use Plastic Free Accreditation. Aimed at inland and marine clubs, training centres and boating businesses, the new standard will highlight responsible, innovative products and practices by organisations in the recreational boating industry. Three levels of certification will determine an organisation’s dedication to eliminating single-use plastic items from its activities. For accreditation criteria and guidance visit finalstrawcertified.org

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WELCOME IT’S hard to believe we are already on the October issue and summer will have given way to autumn by the time you read this.

But before we batten down the hatches, let’s reflect on the events that have gone ahead and given people the chance to meet up again in person.

The return of Crick Boat Show was one of the highlights and I enjoyed chatting with some of our readers who called at our stand as well as the opportunity to browse around the boats and trade stands, see report and photos on page 4.

Les Heath went along to the first Shardlow Inland Port Festival which proved a great success and could become an annual event. You will already have seen his atmospheric picture on the front page and there is a report on page 5.

The IWA celebrated its 75th anniversary at the Festival of Water at Perdiswell Park in Worcester on August Bank Holiday Monday with more than 100 boats moored along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, see report on page 12.

On the same day I visited Whilton Marina for the 50th anniversary open day, see report on page 43.

Accompanied by my son-in-law and two grandsons I was on my way to Stockton to start a four-night break with Kate Boats, arranged through Drifters.

It was great to be out on the waterways again and to visit Braunston where the cancellation of the last two historic rallies due to the coronavirus restrictions has left such a void in the calendar. See my feature on pages 48-49.

My thanks to Kate Boats and Tim Coghlan and staff at Braunston Marina for helping us to make some great memories – the family can’t wait to get afloat again!

Ash dieback hits trees along the canal bank

NATIVE ash trees in Britain have been devastated by ash dieback disease and those growing along the Wey & Arun Canal are no exception.

It is forecast that the disease, caused by a fungus imported from Asia, will kill about 80% of ash trees across the UK and both young and mature trees are affected.

Dying and dead trees can pose a risk to the public and canal users as their branches become brittle and trunks pappy, making them unstable, so the Wey & Arun Canal Trust brought in an arboricultural expert to survey the Loxwood stretch to identify those trees suffering from ash dieback and create a plan for their safe removal.

Independent arboricultural consultant Mark Welby inspected the canal from Barnsill Bridge to Gennets Bridge and has provided the trust with a comprehensive guide to the condition of trees in that area.

As a result all ash trees that appear to be in decline as a result of ash dieback have been identified for removal over a three-year period. Those that appear to be healthy will be left in the hope some may have a degree of resistance as a small percentage of ash trees will be tolerant to the disease.

A tree felling licence has been

obtained from the Forestry Commission and over the coming winter months trust volunteers and contractors will be out along the towpath. A trust spokesman said: “We aim to keep disruption to a minimum, but please bear with us while we carry out these necessary works.”

Earlier this year more than 100 native saplings were planted along the canal thanks to a donation from the Woodland Trust.

Ash dieback symptoms

● Leaves develop dark patches in the summer. ● They then wilt and discolour to black. Leaves might shed early. ● Dieback of the shoots and leaves is visible in the summer. ● Lesions develop where branches meet the trunk. These are often diamond-shaped and dark brown. ● Inner bark looks brownish-grey under the lesions. ● New growth from previously dormant buds further down the trunk. This is known as epicormic growth and is a common response to stress in trees.

SOURCE: WOODLAND TRUST

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Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Group advertising manager Sue Keily Advertising sales team leader Tania Shaw – 01507 529489 tshaw@mortons.co.uk Advertising sales representative Chris Heaton – 01507 529354 cheaton@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Chris Abrams Production editor Pauline Hawkins Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Contact us Customer services 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: MondayFriday 8.30am-5pm. help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466. Fax: 01507 529495 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Published by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 523456. Fax: 01507 529301 Printed by Mortons Print Ltd. Tel. 01507 523456 Next issue – October 28, 2021

Tree works at Loxwood on the Wey & Arun Canal.

Felled logs showing evidence of ash dieback lesions. PHOTOS: WACT

Pulling Stratford back to the Midlands ONCE upon a time, a 22ft riveted iron maintenance boat lay abandoned and sunk at the bottom of the disused Stratford Canal.

When the canal was restored, so was the boat, which was named Stratford and taken to the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.

A pre-pandemic review of its historic boats caused the museum to decide to donate 13 of them to various canal charities, and Coombeswood Canal Trust was lucky enough to be nominated to receive Stratford.

Delayed by the pandemic, the transfer was set to start on September 21.

A group of volunteers from Hawne Basin are bow-hauling Stratford the 87 miles and 67 locks from the museum to the home of Coombeswood Canal Trust at Hawne Basin in the West Midlands – a journey expected to take about 10 days.

En route the gang will collect donations for two charities: Cancer Research UK and Newborns in Need – a Birmingham-based charity which offers support to families of

Watch out for Stratford being bow-hauled to Hawne Basin.

PHOTO: CRT

premature babies.

Once established in her new home, Stratford will be a welcome addition to the work party team which strives to help to maintain the Dudley No 2 canal as a community asset.

Steam over the Nene

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A period scene is recreated over the River Nene as a steam locomotive leaves Wansford station on the Nene Valley Railway with narrowboat Kings Fisher moored beneath. The visiting locomotive is London Midland & Scottish Railway ‘Jubilee’ class No. 45596 Bahamas, which usually lives in Yorkshire at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. PHOTO: TOBY JENNINGS

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Victory in fight to preserve canal restoration route

VOLUNTEERS from the Inland Waterways Association and the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust are celebrating after a local authority turned down proposals for a development which would have blocked the future restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal in Staffordshire.

Among the hundreds of people supporting the campaign for the restoration to be saved were Sir David and Lady Sheila Suchet, well-known canal supporters.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council planners rejected the application for 48 new houses and restoration of a Listed farmhouse, partially on a greenfield site which has not been allocated for housing in the Local Plan.

Over 300 objections had been submitted with many citing the future restoration of the canal as their primary objection.

Alison Smedley, deputy chairman of IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch, said: “We are just relieved that common sense has prevailed. There is no other viable route available for the canal – the alternatives put forward by the developer simply don’t stack up.

“We don’t object to part of the site being developed for housing, as allocated in the Local Plan, provided the development allows for the future restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal and also doesn’t undermine the stability of the Caldon Canal embankment and its retaining wall.”

The first lock and basin of the canal at Froghall were restored in 2005 in a partnership project between volunteers, British Waterways and local authorities, backed by European funding. The proposed development site is next to this

popular location, which is always busy with visiting boaters, tourists and walkers.

With no route allowed in the plans for future restoration of the canal, the development would have prevented the rest of the Uttoxeter Canal from ever joining on to the navigable Caldon Canal and the inland waterway network.

The planning committee was unanimous in refusing the application, for a wide range of reasons including: the application not meeting the aspirations for mixed use of the site; flood and transport concerns; the integrity of the adjacent Caldon Canal embankment; the appropriateness of the design of the houses for a rural location; and the harm to the future restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal.

The two waterway charities have been campaigning about the impact the development would have on the canal restoration since the planning application was first placed seven months ago, and in that time have seen support from across the country from boaters and others keen to see the canal restored one day.

Rupert Smedley, who spoke on behalf of the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust at the planning applications committee meeting, said: “An opportunity exists for the developers to embrace the canal and benefit from it throughout the former Boltons Copperworks site.

“Examples exist across the country and within Staffordshire where developers have done just this, such as in Lichfield, and we remain very willing to meet with the developers to discuss alternative plans for the site that would allow for the future restoration of the canal.”

Uttoxeter Basin and the first lock of the Uttoxeter Canal at Froghall, restored in 2005. The site proposed for development is immediately behind the photographer. PHOTO: ALISON SMEDLEY

The main feature of Froghall was the historic copper factory. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Boat refloated on the Rochdale Nine

Words and photos: Colin Wareing

A TEAM from River Canal Rescue was recently called out after a narrowboat sank in Lock 92 of the Rochdale Canal.

It is believed to have taken on water when the rudder was caught between the two bottom lock gates as they closed.

In common with most of the locks known as the Rochdale Nine through the middle of Manchester, there is no bywash to take the water around the lock, resulting in quite a flow of water over the top gates which could have contributed to the sinking.

The RCR team closed off water ingress routes into the boat – doors, windows and hatches – with plastic sheets and covers held in place with strong magnets.

Three high-capacity pumps, capable of pumping up to 10,000 litres per hour, were used to pump

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out the water from the boat.

As the boat slowly refloated, the last of the water was pumped out with a smaller pump.

Right: Pipework being passed down into Lock 92 on the Rochdale Canal to pump out water from the sunken narrowboat.

Nearly all the water has been pumped out of the boat and it sits in the lock as the equipment is starting to be tided up for return to the RCR vans.

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Show comes back to life

CRICK Boat Show is back – although it took place in the middle of August rather than its usual slot over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Following a ‘virtual’ show earlier in the year, the live event enabled people to once again see the boats on the marina for themselves and browse around the trade stands.

Although there were noticeably fewer stands – and activities such as the boat trips and the children’s playground were missing – the show still had a buzz as people enjoyed the opportunity to meet up again and enjoy the atmosphere.

Usually full of activities and demonstrations, the Canal & River Trust marquee mainly provided welcome seating for showgoers to take a break this year.

Show director Peter Johns said

afterwards that although visitor attendance was, as expected, a little lower than in previous years it certainly did not feel like that at times. The show had felt busy and vibrant with a relaxed atmosphere and the usual queues for boat viewings, he added.

“It was terrific to see exhibitors and visitors engaged in conversation from the very opening of the show almost to the end. The weather forecast had looked very threatening for the weekend but in the end the worst held off and the rain did little to dampen spirits.”

The visitors’ choice for their favourite boat at the show was LarkRise from Oakums Narrowboats with Grace from Ovation Boats, runner-up.

With the usual bank holiday weekend taking place slightly later next year for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, provisional dates for the show are June 2-5, 2022.

Show regular: Nick Wolfe’s Aldgate.

Exhibitors from every aspect of inland boating around the quayside.

Although inside stands were more spaced out there was still a buzz in the marquee.

Ovation Boats’ Grace was runner-up for the favourite boat in the show in the visitors’ vote.

Although not running the usual boat trips the London Narrow Boat Project had community boat Guinevere on show.

People once again had the chance to see boats for themselves.

Demonstrating roses and castles painting in the Canal & River Trust marquee is Terence Edgar of Canal Art by Terence.

PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON

Visitors queue to view one of the static exhibits.

Purton in the line-up of visiting historic boats for the first time since 2017.

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Kempston Mill landing stage gets go-ahead

The John Bunyan at Kempston Mill where work is to start on a landing stage. PHOTO: BMKWT

Canal traders along the towpath in the village.

First Shardlow Inland Port Festival proves great success Words and photos: Les Heath

A TWO-DAY celebration of Shardlow being the best-preserved inland port in the country was so successful that it is destined to become an annual event.

The first Shardlow Inland Port Festival attracted numerous visitors to the historic village which is situated near the start of the Trent & Mersey Canal.

It is considered to be Britain’s most complete surviving example of a canal village and has the best-preserved

examples of canal architecture going back to the 1770s.

This includes warehouses, merchants’ houses, workers’ cottages, docks and public houses.

To celebrate this unique situation the residents came together to organise a festival focused on the canal towpath throughout the length of the village.

The old warehouses provided a suitable backdrop for a flotilla of working boats and a floating market of trading boats selling a wide range of goods

Working boats outside one of the port’s earliest warehouses. The crane was installed by a local brewer to lift barrels into the building.

ranging from leather items to crystals.

Shardlow’s historic pubs played an important part in the celebrations which included craft stalls, puppet shows, funfair, boat trips, Morris dancing and a theatre performance.

Shardlow heritage centre had a busy weekend with many visitors taking advantage of the centre’s history trail, discovering that the waterside community had grown from 200 in 1780 to 1300 by 1841. Now, 180 years later, Shardlow is enjoying yet another lease of life.

There was enough room for a few traders to moor on the opposite side to the towpath.

STOPS OD

THE Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has announced that its long-awaited plan to build a landing stage at Kempston Mill has now been given the green light to start work.

Planning permission for the landing stage was granted back in January 2019 and the project is being built in partnership with Bedford Borough Council and the Environment Agency.

It is hoped the construction of the landing stage at Kempston Mill will encourage more boats to make the journey to the head of navigation on the River Great Ouse. The arrival of more boats will bring visitors into Kempston, boosting the local economy, especially for local pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Commenting on the project Julian Armitage, from the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, said: “Research has shown that an active waterway is even more attractive to visitors, so we hope that the new landing stage will help put Kempston on the map, making it a destination for visitors both on and off the water.

We are sure that once it is built, the landing stage will be a very positive addition to the river at Kempston Mill.”

This news comes off the back of the recent announcement that Kempston Mill Bridge is now under council ownership and will be repaired later in the year. In the longer term

the council hopes to replace the bridge and has included it in a bid for government ‘levelling up’ funds.

The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has pledged up to £135,000 to support this bid in anticipation that a new bridge can be raised slightly to allow boats to pass underneath it. This would enable the trust to achieve its ambition to bring more pleasure cruises up to Kempston Mill, including the John Bunyan boat which it operates.

With a new and raised bridge at Kempston Mill, the John Bunyan and other larger boats of a similar length will be able to pass underneath and turn around further upstream. At the moment the John Bunyan has to stop its cruises slightly downstream in order to turn safely.

Work on the landing stage will begin in October and should be completed by the end of the year.

Julian added: “We are aware that any building work causes some level of disruption but we are working with our contractors to ensure this is kept to a minimum. The vast majority of local people are very supportive of this project and understand that there might be some short-term upheaval in order to achieve long-term gain.”

It is hoped that upon completion of the landing stage and renovation of the bridge, that new walks and cycleways will be created for local people to enjoy.

The site of the landing stage at Kempston Mill. PHOTO: BMKWT

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Wooden Canal Boat Society says thanks to NHS and care workers

A TAMESIDE-based group is looking forward to saying a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to National Health Service workers thanks to a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery.

The Wooden Canal Boat Society, whose 107-year-old butty Hazel is based at Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne, will be using the funding to take some of the people who kept the NHS going throughout the Covid pandemic on much-needed well-being trips completely free of charge.

Hazel’s skipper Chris ‘The Boatman’ Leah explained why they applied for the funding: “During lockdown, Wooden Canal Boat Society members found it frustrating that they have been unable to operate their well-being boat Hazel at a time when record numbers The Wooden Canal Boat Society is a registered charity which aims to save and restore historic wooden canal boats and put them to work for the community.

Like most charities it has struggled through the pandemic and is now faced with a great backlog of work

of people have needed mental well-being support.

“As restrictions have lifted, thought has been given to how the boat can be of most benefit.

When we were awarded the £10,000 National Lottery Awards for All grant we knew we could use it to enable Hazel to carry on with her work of providing leisure time on the waterways, starting with giving NHS and care workers, who have been adversely affected by the crisis, time afloat and a small oasis of calm and tranquillity in their stressful lives.”

Anyone wanting to book some time aboard Hazel, travelling the canals of the North West, should contact The Wooden Canal Boat Society on 07860 944969 or by sending an email to hazelthewellbeingboat@ gmail.com

Forget me Not and Hazel tied near Marple Aqueduct, Peak Forest Canal.

Hazel at Guide Bridge, Ashton Canal.

on its fleet of six wooden narrowboats.

Anyone interested in helping with boat maintenance, sales (charity shop and online) or crewing please get in touch.

Wooden Canal Boat Society, 173, Stamford St Central, Ashton under Lyne OL6 7PS; www.wcbs.org.uk

Hazel approaches the swing bridge at Fools Nook on the Macclesfield Canal. PHOTOS: CHRIS LEAH/WCBS Hazel the well-being boat: Built in 1913 to carry salt, Hazel is a butty (unpowered boat). She is usually towed by the 1927-built motorboat Forget me Not. Converted for residential use in 1951, Hazel was fully restored and refitted between 2011 and 2016. She can accommodate 12 guests for a day trip and

up to eight overnight. Based at Portland Basin in Ashtonunder-Lyne, the boat travels mostly on the Ashton, Peak Forest and Huddersfield Narrow canals. Volunteer crews take care of steering and lock working, though guests are welcome to join in if they wish – Covid rules permitting.

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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 Top Team award which has been k Top 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

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,

Talk. tth Tal 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 Chesterton the from told reporters thatt shots, coming 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.

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 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

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Chichester Canal photo competition winner Donna Trethewey, left, with canal trustee Dorothy Cox, Ashley Gardner of Imber Court Photo Training and right, runner-up Nikki Holden. PHOTO: JANET OSBORNE

Focus turns on winners of canal photo competition CHICHESTER Ship Canal Trust’s 2021 photography competition, open to all amateur photographers, attracted a high calibre of entries.

FIrst place went to Donna Trethewey who won a voucher kindly donated by Imber Court Photo Training, for a one-to-one session with them. The runners-up prize of four tickets for a scheduled boat ride on Kingfisher went to Nikki Holden. All entrants’ photos are displayed in the Canal Heritage Centre.

A special prize of cake and soft drinks was awarded by the canal trust to five clients from Apuldram Centre for adults with learning disabilities. Having taken part in a creative arts and photography course run by Michael Norris, the Apuldram activity co-ordinator, the course attendees were inspired to enter the trust’s competition.

This year saw 102 entries of great quality

with photos ranging from canal wildlife, rowing boats, canal architecture and sculpture, through to people enjoying themselves.

A presentation was held on August 24, when Dorothy Cox (canal trustee) and Ashley Gardner (Imber Court Photo Training) met the winners and presented them with their prizes.

Ashley, who led the panel, commented: “Imber Court was delighted to support the canal trust with its competition and we are very happy with our selection, which we felt truly reflects our beautiful Chichester Canal.”

Congratulating the winners and thanking Ashley for Imber Court’s prize donation, Dorothy added: “We are grateful to all the entrants for their interest and contributions; the standard was high again this year. And a special thank you for the entries from the Apuldram clients.”

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Briefing cyclists before the start.

Successful Montgomery Canal Triathlon enjoyed by all

AFTER the difficulties of planning through the coronavirus restrictions the Montgomery Canal Triathlon on Saturday, September 4 proved a great success.

While many of the 117 entrants were from Shropshire and Montgomeryshire, others came from across the British mainland, some more than 200 miles to reach the canal. The oldest to complete all 28 miles were aged over 80 and the youngest was under 10 years of age.

Run by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, the event started at the new and unfinished Severn Space – Gofod Hafren, under development by Newtown’s new community trust Open Newtown.

Local MP Craig Williams, an enthusiastic supporter of the canal, started the entrants off with the assistance of Newtown Mayor Richard Williams.

From Newtown participants cycled 12 miles along the towpath (part of national

Welshpool Mayor Coun Allison Davies with canoeists in the town lock.

cycle route 81) to Belan Locks, south of start of the final 9½ miles on foot to the on the A483 and three more at minor Welshpool. This section involved three finish at Schoolhouse Bridge, Crickheath, roads as well as the border crossing crossings of the A483 where the canal south of Oswestry. This section included at Llanymynech. was blocked after closure, supervised by two more road crossings at blockages Christine Palin, chairman of the volunteer marshals.

Friends of the Montgomery Canal, said At Belan, bicycles were swapped for that despite all the challenges the event canoes for a 5½ mile section through was a great success. There was praise Welshpool. Welshpool Town Lock, for the area the canal runs through, the first on the canal to be restored, with many saying they are now looking was bypassed by the more hasty who forward to the next triathlon. carried their canoes past the lock; “On their journey participants could others went through the lock in their see restored canal, blocked bridges canoes, carefully managed by the and a derelict section which has to be volunteer team – quite an experience rewatered: the reopened 12 miles of in a small canoe. canal through Welshpool with road Welshpool Mayor, Coun Allison blockages north and south and in Davies, came to cheer the canoeists Shropshire a couple of miles of dry and derelict canal. through the lock at Welshpool “We hope that the recent Powys and discussed with town council colleagues the opportunities the canal County Council bid for Levelling Up offers the town. funds will allow more work on the The canoe section finished at Competitors excited to reach the finish. section to the Powys border and that Crowther Hall Lock which was the PHOTOS SUPPLIED we shall soon be able to bid for funding

for the canal in Shropshire too.

“The reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge is planned for next year. To keep the cost down volunteers will be used where possible and we are delighted to have had offers of help from triathlon entrants. We are always keen to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer.”

Previous triathlons have enabled the Friends of the Montgomery Canal to make substantial donations to the restoration appeal fund and more were received at this year’s event.

Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chairman Michael Limbrey also congratulated the Friends of the Montgomery Canal on their management of the event.

The organisers are grateful to Tesco and Morrisons who provided chocolate and cereal bars to help people on their way and to Montgomery Water for essential bottles of water.

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Gate collision causes K&A closure

A COLLISION with one of the gates at Lock 24 on the Kennet & Avon Canal led to a recent stoppage, writes Kevin Thomas.

The lock, west of the Caen Hill Flight and a short distance from Rowde Bridge, was badly damaged on the upper (ground paddle) side.

It is understood that a narrowboat without a bow fender had collided with the gate which had been partially lifted free of its hinges and pushed aside.

It happened during a busy summer weekend and a number of boats on both sides of the Caen Hill Flight had to put their cruise plans on hold.

A floating crane had to be brought in during the following week so that repairs could take place.

Tuel Lane lock keepers win national award THE team which operates Britain’s deepest lock have won the annual British Marine Lock Keeper of the Year Award.

A presentation took place recently at the Tuel Lane Lock, at Sowerby Bridge on the Rochdale Canal, to the team who work and volunteer for the Canal & River Trust.

This annual award is open not only to lock keepers, but to all waterways staff who have offered outstanding assistance to waterways users and

Tuel Lane Lock on the Rochdale Canal at Sowerby Bridge is almost 20ft deep.

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The damaged gate at Lock 24 lying at an angle following the boat collision. PHOTO: KEVIN THOMAS

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is voted for by members of leisure marine trade association, British Marine Inland Boating.

It was presented by BMIB members Susan and Nigel Stevens of Shire Cruisers which operates 20 holiday hire boats across Yorkshire’s waterways.

Director Nigel Stevens said: “With more people than ever choosing staycations this year, we’re having a bumper season. Boating is such a fantastic way to see Yorkshire – not only all the different places, but also from a different angle.”

CRT Yorkshire & North East regional director Sean McGinley added: “Lock keepers, many of whom are volunteers, are the ‘face of the canals’ and play a vital and iconic role within our charity. We are hugely proud of the team and to be able to bring this award home to Yorkshire is even better!”

Lead volunteer Ian Kelshaw, who is part of the winning team, said: “I didn’t have any connection to canals before I started volunteering at the trust over five years ago and now I’m part of a brilliant team of lock keepers doing something I thoroughly enjoy.

“It’s a really interesting role, where no two days are the same. Helping look after Britain’s deepest lock, it captures your imagination and attracts lots of boats and visitors just coming to have a look and see what it’s all about – it’s great!”

Tuel Lane Lock on the Rochdale Canal in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, is one of the trust’s most remarkable locks, lowering and raising boats almost 20ft (6m) as they make their journeys over the Pennines.

Unusually, because of the depth

Members of the winning team from Tuel Lane Lock, Sowerby Bridge. From left are: Tim Holroyd, Andrew Cottrill, Cath Munn, Gary Gigan, Ian Kelshaw with plaque, Bob Laycock, Richard Parfitt, Mike Brennan and Pete Burton. of the Tuel Lane Lock and its proximity to a canal tunnel, members of the public are not permitted to operate the lock mechanisms themselves.

Instead, the award-winning lock keepers help crews to negotiate the gates.

The lock is so deep because it does the work of two. Built in 1996 during restoration of the Rochdale Canal, it replaced a pair of earlier locks to enable the canal to tunnel under a road built on its original level and provide a more efficient route.

Right: Lead volunteer Ian Kelshaw: “No two days are the same.”

PHOTOS: CRT/STEPHEN GARNETT

Work parties on the Cromford Canal

FRIENDS of Cromford Canal have been busy over the summer months at Ironville and Codnor Park Reservoir where the work party has been replacing fencing.

At the beginning of the year, the fencing was damaged at the site of the old Lock 1/ Pinxton Arm Bridge. When this was repaired, it was found that a large number of fence posts were in need of replacement.

Several work parties later, 60 posts and a number of top rails were replaced, going down to Lock 3. Also replaced were posts and some top rails in the fence at the Lock 2 access slope from

the Market Place, Ironville.

Moving on from there, the volunteers started repairing the low fence on the angling stretch of the abandoned Cromford Canal and the reservoir, which has also taken several weeks. Sixty posts and numerous top rails have been replaced on this stretch.

At the time of writing 584 hours had been taken on the project, replacing posts and repairing fencing.

At one point in the proceedings there was a shortage of top clamp plates, which had long delivery time on ordering from the suppliers, so

the ever-resourceful volunteers made them out of scrap plate.

All other materials and parts for this project have been supplied by the Canal & River Trust.

Balsam bashing

At Poyser’s Bridge near Ambergate, a group went balsam bashing on the far side of the canal. The volunteers had also been asked to go down to the end of the channel, but found the work had been done by an unknown person and all the pulled balsam had been taken away, saving them a job.

Overgrown vegetation has

been strimmed and cut back on both sides of the channel at Lower Hartshay and the party cleared the steps to the A610 in the CRT section as well as a large amount of balsam.

There has also been some strimming and weed clearance at other locations including Cromford Wharf, Pinxton Wharf, along Lock 4 at Ironville and the lock keeper’s garden.

At Sawmills, FCC helped Gill Hurst and her group to clear some of the vegetation from Lockwood’s Bridge for about 400m along the towpath. The overgrown hedge was cut and the mass of ivy on the bridge was also cut back on a very hot day.

Some strimming was done at

Langley Mill as a preliminary to core holes being bored for the Beggarlee extension.

The FCC work party volunteers have installed two more memorial benches to go with the first one, at Codnor Park Reservoir, Derbyshire, in memory of a young man from Underwood, Nottinghamshire.

His family had picked the sites for the benches, which provide very good views of the reservoir and the canal.

If you would like to join the work parties, please contact John Barker, email: work@ cromfordcanal.org

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Characters of the Cut Claire Marcia Burgoyne: Shanti Tea Boat

cafe side was just as and when I felt like it WHEN Claire Marcia Burgoyne on a nice day.” When of the Shanti Tea Boat returned lockdown hit though, from her travels in India and Claire recognised how Thailand she had no idea the cafe could support which direction life was going her growing need to to take her in. Until, that is, she adapt and survive both spent time at daughter Lucy’s financially as well as waterside home on the Aire & mentally and despite Calder Navigation. not seeing herself “We were watching a boat as a natural baker, it cruise past the window when became something Lucy said: ‘Mum, that would to do as well as an suit you, living on a boat,’ and item to sell alongside I thought to myself: ‘Actually, her teas. “I started that’s a really good idea!’” making simple sponge Taking inspiration from cakes and it grew from their conversation Claire soon there,” she says. joined various boat forums and This growing Claire Marcia Burgoyne loves her it wasn’t long before she fell in pastime ensured new life afloat. love with the idea of living on Claire didn’t feel the canals. “My dream was a l o n e t h ro u g h to run a cafe and travel the lockdown. “I’ve always enjoyed coal burner for cooking and system, being as self-sufficient chatting with people and find heating water.” With no fancy as possible.” that living on a boat, everyone coffee machines or big catering It took a while for Claire to wants to stop for a natter about refrigerator, Claire keeps her find the courage to jump fully your life.” Now she absolutely menu simple and prepares though and she spent her first loves all elements of her little everything fresh daily but this year afloat still commuting up business and so has decided to more nature-infused way of and down the M62. However, keep it as it is, incorporating all living is not without hardships, when driving anxiety set in her passions into one venture. as she shares with me.

One of Claire’s captivating "My main struggles are she knew it was time. “The feeling of wanting to be freely offerings is her afternoon tea regular footfall, keeping enough travelling on my boat grew and pamper sessions where water on board, and generating stronger and one day I thought, customers are served homelight in the winter months.”

‘I can’t do another winter on baked treats alongside organic However, compare this to the this motorway’.” So utilising the loose teas after enjoying previous stressful commute, skills she already had, Claire a 30-minute Indian head and they become hardships finally took the leap. massage and 20-minute foot Claire can well manage – Claire has been a fully and leg massage. I imagine especially with the boating qualified massage and holistic customers literally float away community and faithful fourtherapist for more than 20 years, in a state of bliss! legged friend, Marley, by her training in Thailand, India and And that’s what Claire’s goal side. “As a traveller you have the UK. Her venture began as a is: to bring people back to to trust people immediately holistic therapy boat; however, nature. “I don’t like being ‘out in order to manage and the the combination of desire and there,’ it’s too fast and intense. boating community has proved necessity saw things soon When you’re in nature on a boat to be about genuine connection grow organically. it’s a slower pace and I want to – boaters will always come out “The shop side started when share that unique experience.” to help!” people asked me to make Claire also enjoys the diversity The unique vibe of the Shanti things as I like to do various of boat life, how it changes Tea Boat is certainly a welcome crafting and the through the seasons, how addition to the towpath and it you have to plan forward seems daughter, Lucy, was with water and electricity. right, because for Claire too, “You feel more alive, more living on a boat has turned out in touch with nature. You to be the best life ever. are busy, but connected to everything you do,” Facebook: she says.

This love and ShantiTeaBoatcmb appreciation for her Instagram: shanti_ surroundings is reflected holistics_shantiteaboat in Claire’s environmental stance. “I like to be as Alice Griffin is a wandering eco and environmentally friendly as possible. writer and intermittent My main source of boater, currently living an outdoor yurt life in the power comes from my Highlands of Scotland. solar panels during the www.alicegriffin.

In the winter months, Claire uses summer months and her multi-fuel burner for cooking in the difficult winter co.uk Instagram: months I use my wood/ alice_is_in_wanderland and heating the water.

By Alice Griffin

Claire’s dog Marley in front of the Shanti Tea Boat.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

A selection of organic loose teas.

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Making memories on the South Yorkshire Navigation

In our regular feature on the work of the National Community Boats Association, skipper of Adams Ark, Steve Scotthorne, describes how a second generation of young people are experiencing life on board.

CARLTON in Lindrick Youth Centre supports young people from Bassetlaw, which is at the north of Nottinghamshire, bordering with South Yorkshire.

Many are living below the poverty line in this old mining community which has struggled like many other areas since the closure of the pits.

With the help of the youth workers and other agencies, the centre offers fun and informative activities that will help young people to reach their potential and in turn upskill the

employment in the area.

The youth centre has had a relationship with Adams Ark community barge for many years and is now taking children of the first young people to whom it gave the experience of life aboard in the 90s.

My relationship with Adams Ark started in 2011 when fellow youth worker David Hamilton introduced me to the skippers and trustees on a training weekend.

Since then, I have not looked back and now sit as a trustee on the board of the National Community

Boat Association (NCBA), but I’m at my happiest when skippering the barge full of young people.

I attended a skipper training weekend to gain my NCBA community boat skipper’s certificate and since then have run residentials on Adams Ark every year until 2020 when, like most projects, we had to stop because of Covid.

Adams Ark’s main mooring is at Snaygill boat yard in Skipton which gives an excellent location for weekend and five-day cruising incorporating the locks at Gargrave, the Foulridge Tunnel and Bingley Five Rise to the east.

This year has seen us change our activities as we opted to keep the barge on the South Yorkshire Navigation moored up at The New Inn at Stainforth, with the kind permission of the landlord there, who serves a great pint and an

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The crew of Adams Ark including the young people from Carlton in Lindrick Youth Centre.

excellent meal to hungry skippers.

This year’s trip would include two groups of young people over eight days travelling from Stainforth to the Sheffield Victorian basin and back. This was also a learning curve for me as the skipper as I had never been into Sheffield before with a boat.

On Monday, August 16 the group met at the youth centre with all their kit and with parents waiting eagerly to pass on their kin after weeks of isolation.

The trip to Stainforth included the A1, M18 and the new Hatfield Bypass which passes the now mothballed Hatfield colliery. This was the first chance of passing on our knowledge when to our amazement a young voice in the back pointed towards the colliery and asked: “What is that?”

On arriving at Adams Ark, we loaded our kit and supplies, went through the NCBA safety talk and fitted lifejackets. We then set off toward Barnby Dun and had soon mastered the first swing bridge and headed towards Bramwith Lock.

John, the local Canal & River Trust lock keeper, made the young people feel at ease as they negotiated the workings of this lock.

We shared the lock with Ethel, a local community boat giving day trips along this stretch – it was good to see her out on the water again.

After thanking John for his help we carried on towards Doncaster; the young people enjoyed working the road bridge at Barnby Dun. Then through Long Sandall lock which is usually manned but today the young people had their first chance to work the mechanised lock. We were soon through Doncaster town lock and now on the River Don. Sprotbrough was going to be our stop for the first night, but not before we had the chance to pass under the A1.

The weather was kind to us and soon we moored up by the Boat Inn. We all had a walk up into the village, where we found a park with a zip wire that kept everyone occupied for a couple of hours.

After dinner, prepared by the young people, the rest of the night was taken up with starting our art project for the trip, which takes the form of a circular piece of art that everyone will have contributed to.

August 17

After an unusually quiet night we were up at 8am; after everyone was washed and dressed, beds put away and a good helping of bacon and egg butties we set off towards Conisbrough. This part of the River Don is aligned with the Trans Pennine Trail, so although you are out in the countryside, there are always plenty of people walking past to wave to.

After about 40 minutes you come across the Conisbrough Viaduct – a very impressive sight. Opened in 1909, it was part of a connection between

Adams Ark moored for the night at Sprotborough.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

the Hull & Barnsley Railway and those of the Great Northern and Great Eastern. It consists of more than 15 million bricks and features some beautiful decorative brickwork.

The young people were now becoming proficient at steering the barge and mooring up – they had mastered the locks although some still needed work on the rope throwing.

We soon reached Mexborough Low Lock and left the Don to carry on up the Mexborough New Cut; we would soon be at Swinton Lock to use the facilities and meet the volunteers and staff of that project.

Swinton Lock Activity Centre is a community-based charity developed in 2004 to meet the education and social needs of the communities in Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley and Dearne Valley. They focus on those who through disability, social and economic disadvantage face barriers to accessing these opportunities elsewhere.

(Swinton Lock is always looking out for new and existing volunteer skippers and crew where full NCBA training will be given.)

They made us feel most welcome and gave advice on the trip ahead. Our main concern was where we would be able to get a pump out for the toilet, but they very kindly offered to sort us out on the return trip if needed.

We moved on through the lock and along the Kilhurst cut and rejoined the River Don at the flood lock. We would soon be entering the industrial areas of Rotherham and Sheffield, where the young people had chance to visit the Parkgate Shopping Centre for some down time and our thoughts were now where to find a safe place to moor up for the night.

We had a few issues navigating Rotherham Lock as the sides had been damaged and that night we moored at Ickles Lock accompanied by a couple of people magnet fishing.

August 18

By the time Nigel the lock keeper had arrived to unlock the lock

Working one of the paddles at Bramwith Lock under the watchful eye of the lock keeper.

we were all washed and fed and looking forward to mastering the Tinsley Flight, with the reward of a trip to Meadowhall if all went well.

We made our way to Tinsley Bottom Lock, passing the old iron works. This is where we met Dave and his crew of lock keepers who would see us all safely up the flight.

All the way up the team made sure the young people were safe and entertained, telling stories of days gone by and the history of the flight.

This is one of the times the NCBA and CRT come together to enhance young people’s enjoyment of our waterways, not only here but on all the canals and waterways.

What did surprise us was how many activities CRT was actively doing on this stretch of canal.

We met a young lady from the trust working with vulnerable families providing activities for the children and refreshments.

There were also gentlemen instructing young people in fishing from the banks, all, like Adams Ark, creating memories and empowering young people.

Moving on towards the Sheffield Basin, to the great delight of my co-worker Kat, we passed the place where the scene from The Full Monty was filmed when they were balancing on the car in the canal. Again, we found ourselves explaining the film to some young people.

That evening the young people had their trip to Meadowhall and the cinema. This rounded off the first stage of our trip and after breakfast the next morning we would be swapping groups and starting on our return trip.

August 19-22

The return trip was as eventful as the first with young people having the time to learn new skills and knowledge of the South Yorkshire Navigation. Cooking, baking, budgeting, self-hygiene, and the challenges they faced, would help set them up for life.

There is a chance that we may create new interest where young people will progress into future NCBA skippers but the most important thing for me is the memories that they will take forward, and hopefully get a chance to talk about and encourage others to become involved.

This trip would not have been as successful as it was had it not been for the volunteers and trustees of the CRT, NCBA, The Friends of Adams Ark, the help of people at Swinton Lock, Paul, the skipper of LB Hardfeet (A & G Passenger Boats Ltd), Sue, Kat, and Kath (youth workers) and all the other boat users and friends of the waterways.

Special thanks go to my crew, the young people of Carlton in Lindrick Youth Centre.