Towpath Talk - 20 PAGE PREVIEW of the June issue

Deliveringsocialchangeintheboatingcommunity

THEAccessibleWaterwaysAssociation (AWA)hassecuredsupportandfundingfrom UnLtdtohelpbuildlastingsocialimpact. iswillsigni cantlyhelptowidenthe positivesocialimpactinmakingBritain’s inlandwaterwaysaccessibleforall.

AWAfounderTraceyClarkesaid: “ e nancialawardmeanswecan setuponaprofessionalbasis.But theadditionalsupport,mentorship andguidanceofferedbyUnLtd willbeabsolutelyinvaluable.” eassociationistotallyindependent fromanyofthewaterwaysauthorities. Muchofthenavigablenetworkwas builtmorethan200yearsagowhen

Bridgeclosure

theneedsofdisabledpeoplewere simplynotaconsiderationandmany ofthestructuresandbuildingsare listedorsubjecttoconservationorders. atheritagepresentschallengesto adaptationanddevelopment.

However,AWAbelievesthatitishigh timeforhistorytogivewaytoprogress, butinsuchawayastoretainandenhance thatpreciousheritagesothateverybody canenjoyandappreciateitequally. ereisabigneedto ndwaystowork within,aroundandinsympathywiththat heritageinsteadofdismissingadaptations asimpossiblebecauseofitsconstraints.

Traceyisregisteredasseverelyvision

Fisherytenders

THETempleFootbridge,whichispartofthe ames PathnearMarlow,hasbeencloseduntilfurthernotice duetosafetyconcerns.AccordingtotheEnvironment Agency’s amesWaterwaystheconditionofthe bridge’sdeckboardsappearstohavedeteriorated morequicklythananticipated.EAisworkingwiththe relevantagenciestoputanemergencydiversionin placebutcouldnotsay,atthetimeofgoingtopress, whatthetimescaleforrepairswillbe.

impairedandlivesa oatwithhusband Tim,whohasahearingimpairment,and twofurrycrewmembers:Loki,Tracey's yellowlabradorguidedog,andOzzie, Tim’spugmix,whoisintrainingtobe hishearingassistancedog.

Shesaid:“Livingwithanimpairment amongsuchasociablecommunityas thatoftheboatingworldinevitablyleads todiscoveryofevermorepeoplewho arealsoinasimilarsituation.

“ isaccumulationofknowledgeled metosetupaseriesofmeetingsandthen aFacebookgroupcalledIWAF(Inland WaterwaysAccessibilityForum).”

eaimofIWAFistobeaforum

THEmanagementoftwocommercial sheriesisbeing putouttotenderbytheCanal&RiverTrust.Itisinviting existingandpotentialnewlicenseestoapplyforthe opportunitytohelpmanageBlytheWaters,amixed shery totallingeightacresinWarwickshireandNasebyReservoir, Northamptonshire,whichisstockedpredominantlywith specimencarp.Peopleareinvitedtocontactthetrustby Sunday,September1toregisterinterestineither shery andtoreceivefurtherinformation.

fordiscussionamongfellowdisabled peoplewhowanttoenjoythe waterwaysinanyway,butwhoface extrachallengesbecauseofdisability. isinturnledtothesetting-upof regularonlinemeetingseverytwo monthsbetweendisabledboatersand relevantmembersofCanal&RiverTrust (CRT)sta esemeetingshavebecome popularandconstructive,leadingtosome progressiveaction. isincludesdesigning somenewmooringbollardsthatwillbe installedbyCRTatstrategicsitesaround thenetwork,wheredesignated‘accessible moorings’willbecreated.

Continuedonpage2

EnvironmentDay

WORLDEnvironmentDayonMonday,June5willbe celebratedwithalunchtimeloopwalkfromButler’s CafeatKirkstallForgenearLeedstotheRiverAire andtheLeeds&LiverpoolCanalandback.It’sa simple, atwalk,idealforbeginnersorthosestarting toget t.Itwilltakeplacefrom12.30-1.30pmand willgivewalkerstheopportunityto ndlocal,free andaccessibleenvironmentontheirdoorstep.For informationvisitwww.canalrivertrust.org.uk

BoatersmooredinSalthouseDockjointhefestivalatmospherefortheEurovisionSongContestbydecoratingtheirboatswithgailycoloured buntingwhileonthedocksideabovethemstreetfoodvendorshavesetuptheirstalls.Moreonpage3.

PHOTO: COLINWAREING

WELCOME

WHATamonthithas

been!Atthetimeof writingwehavehadtwo bankholidayweekends withanothertocome,aCoronation andtheEurovisionSongContest.

Allthesehavebeenre ectedinthe eventswehavereportedoninthis edition.ColinWareingcaughtupwith boaterswhohadtravelledthrough theLiverpoolLinkforthisweeklongevent,seereportandphotoson nextpage;wehaveaspreadwitha Coronation avouronpages4-5and PhilPickinvisitedtheNorburyCanal FestivalontheearlyMaybankholiday weekend,seepage16.

Butthebadnewswasthatthe organisersoftheMoiraCanal Festivalhadtopulltheplugonthis populareventbecauseof ooded groundconditions,seeLesHeath’s reportonthenextpage. iswas especiallydisappointingasithad beenadvertisedandpromotedin ourpaperandpromisedtobeagreat opportunityforvisitorstoenjoyand supporttheAshbyCanal.Betterluck nextyear.

Alsothecostoflivingcrisisisstill withusandagroupofboatershave beentakingtheirEnergySupport Schemecampaignbywatertothe capital,seeSallyCli ord’sreporton page7whiletheCanal&RiverTrust andNABO(NationalAssociation ofBoatOwners)continuetolobby theGovernmentovertheplightof liveaboardboaterswhohaveyet toreceivesupport,seeLastWord, page86.

Astheshowseasongetsintofull swing,wehaveour nalpreviewin therun-uptotheBraunstonHistoric BoatRallyinwhichTimCoghlan tellsthestoryofthreetugswhich shouldallbepresentattheeventto beo ciallyopenedbymusicmogul PeteWaterman.Seepages22-23.

Hopefully,asthesayinggoes,the worldwillsmellofrosesinJune–and withit,theweathertomatchaswe getreadytofullyenjoythesummer holidayandeventseason.

Deliveringsocialchangeintheboatingcommunity

Continuedfrompage1

Outofthesemeetingshasalsocome theideaofaBoaters’BlueCardscheme whichinturnledtothebirthofAWA, initiallytobetheadministrativebody fortheBlueCardScheme.Fromthere, theconceptoftheorganisationhas developedandwillnodoubtcontinue toevolve.

Traceyadded:“AWAwouldalsolike toacknowledgethesupportweare receivingfromtheCanal&RiverTrust (CRT)anditsgenerouso erinfunding theinitialprintrunoftheBoaters’ BlueCards.”

eBoaters’BlueCardsare15cm squaredurablecardsforoptional displayinthewindowseitherside ofaboat. eywillservetoinform passers-by(bothonotherboatsand

onthetowpath)thatthereisaperson aboardwhomayperhapsbelessaware of,orlessabletoreactto,approaching hazardsetc.

Aclear,neutrallogosimplystates: DisabledBoaterAboard.Itdoesnot identifytheperson’simpairment. atis entirelyuptotheindividualiftheywishto displayanadditionalcardorstickerthat showsanemblemappropriatetothem. iscardwillnot(yet)grantany entitlementtomooringconcessions oranyotherbene ts.Itwill,however, servetotellothersthatthereisaperson aboardwhomightappreciatealittle extraconsiderationand/orassistance. iswouldincludeinforminglock keepersandothersta ofthevarious waterwaysagenciesthatthebearermight needorbegladofsomeextraassistance

inworkingthelocksorotherstructures.

MembershipofAWAisopentoall wholivewithdisabilities,impairments oraccessibilityissues,andwhowantto enjoytheInlandWaterwaysandtheir surroundingenvironments.Thismay beasaboater(eitherlivingaboardor holidaying),ahire-boatowner,anangler, acyclist,agongoozler,awalker/wheeler onthetowpaths,oravolunteerorsta memberofthemanywaterwaysauthorities.

Memberswillgetamembershipcard whichwillentitlethebearertosome bene tsanddiscounts. esewillbe addedtoandannouncedinthemembers onlysectionofthewebsiteasAWA continuestonegotiatea liationswith shops,pubs,restaurants,chandleries, marinasandotherorganisations. ereisalsoanoptionforcorporate

membership,whichisopento businessesandotherorganisationsand willincludeacomprehensivedirectory entrytopublicisetheservicestheyo er. iscanbeenhancedbysubscribingat di erentlevels.Moreinformationcan befoundatwww.awa-uk.org.uk

AbouttheAWA’saims:

• tobeahubofinformation, supportandassistancetodisabled peoplewhowanttoenjoythe canalsandrivers.

• toworkwiththevarious waterwaysauthorities(Canaland RiverTrust(CRT),Environment Agency(EA),BroadsAuthorityand manyotherorganisationstodo whateverispossibletomakethe UK’snetworkofcanalsandrivers, andtheirsurroundingenvironments, accessibleforeveryone.

• tobetheadministeringbodyof theBoaters’BlueCardScheme. •toofferconsultancyservicesto ensurethataccessibilityneedsare fullyandproperlyconsideredwhen newbuild,remedialorupgrading worksarecarriedoutonthe waterways.

UnLtd-TheFoundationforSocial Entrepreneursisacharitable organisationsetupbyseven organisationsthatpromotesocial entrepreneurship.Visitwww.unltd. org.uk

HistoricalmooringscontradictWaterSafetyZones–NBTA

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THERiverLeeinLondonhas longbeenamulti-usespace sharedbyallkindsofcraft, statestheNationalBargee TravellersAssociation.

Butitclaimsthatinrecent years,theCanal&RiverTrust hasemphasisedtherightsof someriverusersoverothers.

NBTAhasdrawnattention totwositesnearrowingclubs whichCRThasproposedto designateasWaterSafetyZones.

Thesetwozones–one ontheLowerLee,running throughHackneyand

TottenhamineastLondon, andtheotherfurthernorth inBroxbourne,Hertfordshire –willpreventitinerantboat dwellersfrommooringin theselocationsforthe14days whichapplyelsewhereon thewaterways.

CRThasclaimedthat thesezonesaremerelythe enforcementof‘existing rulesandregulations’and thatthese‘nomooring zones’havehistoricallynever beenmoored.

ButNBTAstatesthatboats

andlargebargeshavebeen usingandmooringonthe Leeformanyyearsandhas publishedphotographsof boatsandindustrialbarges mooredatsomeofthese locationsontheLowerLeein eastLondon.

Textmessage InFebruaryCRTbegan removingmooringrings andhistoricbollardsineast London.Atextmessageto boatersrequestingthemto removetheirvesselsstated

Allthatisleftofoneofthebollards inHomerton. PHOTOSSUPPLIED

thatthetowpathatMarshgate Bridge15,nearHomerton, wasalreadya‘nomooring’ zoneandthattheboatswere blockingnavigation.

FrankiePerrywas mooredinthespotopposite Matchmaker’sWharfwhen shereceivedatexttellingher thatthemooringringsand bollardswouldberemovedat 9amthenextmorning.

“Itdidn’toccurtomethat therewereanymooring restrictionsinplace;there werenosigns,it’snotbya

bridgeorbend,thenavigation iswide,andtherewere mooringringstotieupto,” shesaid.

NBTAalsoclaimsthatthe tworowingclubsthatlie withinthesezoneshavebeen pushingCRTtoimplement mooringrestrictionsfor yearsandhaveremovedbars designedtohelppeopleout ofthewaterinanemergency.

CRTsubsequentlyissueda statementthatithadinformed theclubinvolvedthatsuch actionswereunacceptable.

AWAfounderTraceyClarkewithLoki,heryellowLabradorguidedog. PHOTOSUPPLIED

Thisphotographtakenbetween1950and1969showsbargesunloadingatHackneyPowerStation, nearMillfieldsParkinClapton,nowthesiteofarecyclingcentre.

Boaterstravel toLiverpoolfor Eurovisionvibes

Words&photos:ColinWareing

THEstagingofthisyear’sEurovision SongContestinLiverpoolbecamea city-widefestivalwhichincludedafan zoneonthepierheadandaroundthe LiverpoolLinkwhichconnectstheLeeds &LiverpoolCanaltotheAlbertDock.

Passagethroughthelinkandamooring inSalthouseDockhadtobebookedwith theCanal&RiverTrustbeforearrival, withallpassagesandmooringspaces beingbookedupwithindaysofthe announcementthatLiverpoolwastohost theeventonbehalfofUkraine.

Despiteafewmechanicalissues withHandcock’sswingbridgeonthe wayintoLiverpool,everyonewhohad bookedtogoseemedtohavemadeitin fortheweekendthankstothevolunteer lockkeepersontheStanleylock ight.

efanzoneopenedtothepublic atnooneverydayso,asasecurity precautiontothefansandboaters,all boatmovementalongthelinkhadto becompletedbeforehand.

Oncethecanalboatshadnavigated throughtheLiverpoolLink,theymoored inSalthouseDock,partoftheAlbertDock complex. ereboatersjoinedinthe festivalatmospherebydecoratingtheir boatswithgailycolouredbuntingand reportingagreatandnoisy nalweekend.

Wellworththee orttobeabletosay ‘Iwasthere’forwhatwillhopefullyhave beenaonce-in-a-lifetimeevent.

Floodedgroundcauses cancellationofMoira CanalFestival

ByLesHeath

ORGANISERSofMoiraCanal Festival,whichshouldhavetaken placeonMay20and21,weresaidto beheartbrokenaftercancellingthis year’seventbecauseofbadweather.

Astatementbythecommittee explainedthattheyhadmadethe decisiontocanceldueto ooded siteconditions.

estatementsaid:“Regrettably, afterasitemeeting,wehavebeen forcedtocancelthefestivaldueto poorsiteconditionscausedbysevere rainoverthelastcoupleofweeks.

“Wearenotcon dentthatthesite willhavedriedoutenoughtosafely holdthefestival.”

Withonlyfivedaystogo thecommitteeexploredother Leicestershiresitesandnewdatesbut

werenotabletomakeitworkfor2023.

GeoffPursglove,chairmanof AshbyCanalTrust,saidhewas disappointedwiththedecisionbut therewasnootheroption.

Topreventanydamagetothe site,healthandsafetyissuesand theforecastofmorerainbeforethe event,itwasdecidedthatithadto becancelled.

efestival rststartedin2000 andthiswasthe rsttimeithasnot goneahead.

Proceedswouldhavegoneto theAshbyCanalTrustwhichhelps withthecanalatMoiraaswellas supportingtherestorationofthe mainsectionofcanal.

Thefestivalcommitteehas alreadyputforwardprovisional datesfornextyear’sfestival–May 18-19,2024.

Anarrowboatpassesthroughthefanzoneonthemorningasthebig screensadvertisedthatthepopgroupTheLightingSeedswouldbe performingtherelaterintheday.Thispicturewastakenfromagalleryin theMuseumofLiverpoolLifeunderwhichtheboatisabouttopass.

SomeofthecanalboatsmooredinSalthouseDock.

AwidebeamemergesfromtheCunardTunnel,bottomofpicture.To theleftistheRiverMerseyferryterminalwithanocean-goingcruise shipdockedatthecruiseterminalbehinditwhiletotherightisThe RoyalLiverbuilding.

We’vegotourselves aCoronationconvoy!

EVERYyearSwarkestoneBoatClub organisesanannualcruiseanditjust sohappenedthatthisyearitcoincided withthecoronationofKingCharlesIII andQueenCamilla.

Theeventwasactuallyplanned severalmonthsagoandthedates arrangedforthoseboaterswithwork andothercommitments.“Whenthe Kingthenorganisedhiscoronation,we decoratedourboatsaccordingly,”said cruiseorganiserFraserChatburn.

“OneboathadcharactersofCharles andCamillainthefrontcratchwindow andanothercarriedchildren’sdolls depictingablack-hairedRosieand red-hairedJim,whichwereconfused withMeganandHarry!”

eclubisa liatedtotheAWCC (AssociationofWaterwayCruising Clubs)andhasitspremisesontheTrent &MerseyCanal,betweenShardlow andWillington.Itactuallymoorsmany ofitsboatsonwhatwastheDerby& SandiacreCanal,whichisintheprocess ofbeingrestored.

Everyyearseveralmembersgroup togethertohavetheirannualcruise, whichoftenincludesaBBQnightand boating-relatedquiz. epurposeof thesecruisesisverymuch‘teamwork’

toassistsolocruisersandthoselessable topushgatesatlocksandmooringup.

For2023,BostoninLincolnshirewas chosenforwhatwouldbeachallenging destination.Withjust11days,80hours ofcruising,over200milesandareturn totalof44locks,thiswasonafew members’bucketlists!

iswasthe rsttimethattheclub hadusedtidalwatersaspartofthe annualtrip. iswastheRiverTrent betweenCromwellLock,justnorthof NewarkandTorkseyLocktothewest ofLincoln.

“AllthelocksontheTrent&Mersey aremanualdoublelocks,”Fraser explained.“ epleasurewasforall ve narrowboatstosharetheelectriclocks thatarefoundbetweenNottinghamand Lincoln,mostofwhichareelectrically operatedandoftenmannedbyCanal& RiverTrustvolunteers.

“ ismeantthatduringthetidal areas,whichplannedaroundincoming andoutgoingtidesatHull,allmembers wereclosetoeachother.”

Severalreststopswerecalculated betweenthestartand nishingpoints, whichincludedtheCountyStepsat Nottingham,NorthHighamonthe Trent,SaxilbyontheFossdykeand

KirksteadBridgeontheRiverWitham. RestdayswerespentatBostonand Newarkuponreturn.

ChairmanPaulHarringtonadded: “ eclubistinycomparedwithmost clubs,butFraser’sannualtripsare highlyanticipatedbymostmembers, eveniftheyareunabletojoininthe convoythemselves.”

eclubhasmooringspacesfor23 boats,oneofwhichisdedicatedtothe residentmoorer-cum-caretaker.Ithas asocialside,whichincludesseveral smallercruisesthroughouttheyear, gamesnightswithintheclubhouse andBBQevents.Recentlytheclubhas developeditsownFacebookpage.

osenarrowboatscruisingwere: PaulHarringtonon Cornerstone;Fraser andKarenChatburnon SImmerdown; JacquieandPaulBirtleson Sapphire; PaulThornleyandKathSmithon ElizabethEthel andIanandSallyHarper on Kotare2

Avideooftheconvoypassing underKirksteadBridgecanbe viewedonourFacebookpageat www.Facebook.com/TowpathTalk

SallyandIanHarperon Kotare2

TheconvoyoffivenarrowboatsapproachesKirksteadBridgeontheRiverWitham.

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

A‘royalwave’fromclubchairmanPaulHarringtononboard Cornerstone.

PHOTO: JANETRICHARDSON

ClubchairmanPaulHarrington wearingthecrown!

KathSmithandPaulThornleyon ElizabethEthel atBoston.

CharactersofKingCharlesand QueenCamillainthefrontcratch windowof Cornerstone

JacquieandPaulBirtleswith Sapphire.

CruiseorganiserFraserandKaren Chatburnon SImmerdown

Areststop below therailwaybridgeover theRiver Witham atGrand Sluice, Boston.

Coronationawardfor Cheshirevolunteer

ACANALvolunteerfromNantwich hasbeenrecognisedbytheKingand Queenaspartoftheo cialCoronation celebrationsinconjunctionwithRoyal VoluntaryService.

TrevorDobson,whohasbeen volunteeringforsixyearswiththeCanal &RiverTrust,hasbeenrecognised forhiscontributionandcrowneda CoronationChampion. isfollows acall-outtothenationtonominate theirvolunteerheroes,whichresulted in5000entries,withnominationsmade forindividualsaged14upto103.

Hesaid:“Iwassurprisedand delightedtobecomeaCoronation Championandhonouredthatthe trustnominatedme.Volunteeringfor thetrustislikea‘freegym'because oftheexerciseIgetwhiledoing somethinguseful.

“Ihavebeeninterestedinthecanals sincemyparents rsttookmeona cruisein1965and,nowthatIhave soldmyboat,Iamprivilegedtohelp keepourhistoriccanalnetworkin goodshape.”

Trevorhashadavastimpactonthe nation’scanalssincehe rststartedas avolunteerlockkeeperwiththetrust. Hehasboughtcommunitiescloser tonature,workingwithteamsacross thecharityandisago-tovolunteer supportinglocalteamsinCheshire.

Hisworkhelpingtolookafterthe canalsandtheirtowpathsmeansthat themanythousandsofpeoplewhouse thecanalsacrossCheshirehavebetter

accesstothehistoricwaterways,and tothesightsoftheboatsandwildlife alongthem.

Overthelast veyearsTrevorhas givencloseto2000hoursofhistimeto thetrust,andhealonehassurveyedan impressive112milesoftowpath.

WiththesupportofQueenCamilla, apassionateadvocateofvolunteering andpresidentofRoyalVoluntary Service,theCoronationChampions Awardswerelaunchedtorecognise exceptionalvolunteersfromacross thecountryatthismomentouspoint inhistory.

RichardParry,chiefexecutive atCanal&RiverTrust,said: “CongratulationstoTrevorforthis well-deservedaward.Heisafantastic ambassadorfortheCanal&RiverTrust andaninspirationtoall.

“Hehelpstobringthelocal communityclosertonatureandensure thousandscanenjoyourcanalsand theirrichwildlifesafely.Volunteerslike Trevorhelpustoensurethatourcanals willbeavailableforfuturegenerations toenjoy,andI’mdelightedthathis contributionhasbeenrecognisedby eirMajesties.”

ArightroyaldayatLichfieldclub

SUCHisthemake-upofthe membershipatLich eldCruising Clubthatthemajorityofmembers werearoundin1953forthe CoronationofQueenElizabethIIand recallthedaywell. Nosurprisethen,thatwhen aclubeventwasproposedto celebratetheCoronationofKing Charlesllltheoverwhelmingvote wasforastreetparty,andwhata partytheyhad.

A‘basin-ful’ofCoronationentertainment

CHICHESTERCanalvolunteers kickedo theCoronationcelebrations ontheFridaywithaToasttothe Kingcruise,departingfromthe canalbasin.

Visitorsenjoyedlunch,drinksand listeningtoChichesterFringevocalist Georginasingingsomebeautiful melodies.PassengerAngelaBendy said:“Anamazinglunchandwhat agreatwaytostartourCoronation celebrationweekend.”

Saturdaywasadayofffor volunteerstocelebrateorjustrelax withfriendsandfamily.Andthenon Sunday,happyboattrippersenjoyed aspecialcreamteaandlotsofvintage hilaritywithDollyandGracie.

Georginawasbackinfullvoice againwithsomeveryrecognisable vintagesongs.Volunteersreturnedon Mondaytoshowcasealltheexcellent workthattheydo,aspartoftheKing’s ‘BigHelpOut’initiative.

Despitethechillyweather,asteady owoflocalpeopleandvisitorsfrom furthera eldstoppedbytolearn moreandthetrustislookingforward toanin uxofnewvolunteers.

ere’slotsmoreentertainment (onando water)planned,sodokeep aneyeopenonwww.chichestercanal. org.uk/eventsandonsocialmedia @chichestershipcanalonFacebook and@chichestercanalonTwitterand Instagram.

PHOTO:CHICHESTERSHIPCANALTRUST

edaystartedwiththe Coronationparadeandthe WestminsterAbbeyservice beingprojectedontothe club’sbigscreeninthe clubhouseandwasenjoyed byaround40members. eafternoonsawthe memberschangingin readinessfortheparty withlotsofred,whiteand bluefeaturing. eclub’s marqueewassetoutready fortheeventandlooked amazingwithtableslaid withthebestchinatea serviceandcakestands. Sixtymembersenjoyed anafternoonteaof sandwichesandcakes,and ofcoursetheteapotswere workingovertimeforthe true1950sexperience. Drinkswereprovided, andtheclub’spresident proposedtheloyaltoast.

ACoronationcakewascutby clubchairwoman,JoanSurplice, accompaniedbytheclub’spresident, KenHudson.

Intheeveningmemberssettled intothebarandtookpartinaroyal quizwhichwasenjoyedbyall.Asis usualwithLCCthewholedaywas plannedandrunbyvolunteersfrom theclub’smembershipwhoprovided awonderfulandmemorableevent.

TrevorDobsonvolunteeringatHurlestonLocks.

PHOTO:CANAL&RIVERTRUST

Volunteercrewmemberson boardtripboat Kingfisher.

marquee. PHOTOSSUPPLIED

Members enjoying afternoon tea in the marquee PHOTOS SUPP

LichfieldCruisingClubchairwomanJoanSurpliceandpresident KenHudsoncuttheCoronationcake.

Ground-breakingceremony atSchoolhouseBridge

THElong-awaitedreconstruction ofSchoolhouseBridgeonthe MontgomeryCanalisnowunder wayfollowingthecuttingofthe rstsodbyCounVinceHunt, chairmanofShropshireCouncil.

Hesaid:“Thishasbeena longtimeincomingandwill advancethejoiningofbothends oftheMontgomeryCanalwhich iswonderfulfortourismin Shropshireandwillbeamuchneededeconomicboostforthis partofthecounty.”

Theeventwasattendedby representativesoftheRestorethe MontgomeryCanalteam,which haspromotedtherebuildingof thislasthighwayblockageonthe canalinShropshire,withother canalvolunteers,localproperty owners,thecontractorsanda councillorfromthelocalparish council.Sadly,CounJoyceBarrow wasunabletoattend.

MichaelLimbrey,chairman oftheRestoretheMontgomery Canalgroup,said:“Weare delightedthatourcontractorsare startingtorebuildSchoolhouse Bridgealmostsixyearstotheday afterwelaunchedourappealfor theproject.

“ erehavebeencomplications ontheway–aworldwide pandemicwasone!–sothestart

CounVinceHuntprepares tocutthefirstsodwith, fromleft,MichaelLimbrey, chairmanoftheRestore theMontgomeryCanal! groupandDonHowellof BeaverBridges.

islaterthanwehadhoped.”

Hecontinued:“Rebuilding thebridgeisa£1millionproject, thebiggestvolunteer-ledproject oftherestorationsofar.Weowe ahugethankyoutosupporters intheareaandacrossGreat Britainwhohavesupportedthe projectwithmonthlydonations andindividualgifts,grants andlegacies.

“ eappealhasalsoreceived generousdonationsfromthe

InlandWaterwaysAssociation, theFriendsoftheMontgomery CanalandtheShropshireUnion CanalSocietyaswellasmembers oftheRestoretheMontgomery Canalgroup.Wehavealsobeen assistedbyagrantfromTarmac LandfillCommunitiesFund, suppliesfromTGBuilders Merchants,Oswestry,andsupport fromShropshireCouncilandthe Canal&RiverTrustwhohave helpedourteamgettheproject toitsstartandbyBeaverBridges whowillbecarryingoutthework forus.” eworkwillcontinue untillatesummer.

Significantstep

Michaelsaidthatthebridge reconstructionandthe openinginJuneofthesection toCrickheathrestoredby volunteersoftheShropshire UnionCanalSocietywould togethermarkasigni cantstep fortherestoration.

“Thestartofthisproject dovetailswithotherkey restorationeventstaking placeonthecanal,suchasthe LevellingUpGrantfunded worksinPowys,wherethe rst sectionofdredginghasbeen completed,andinShropshirethe

formalreopeningofthecanalto CrickheathWharf(abouthalfa milefromSchoolhouseBridge) onJune2.

“ isistheculminationof manyyearsofworkbyvolunteers oftheShropshireUnionCanal Societyassistedbyfundingfrom theNationalLotteryHeritage Fundandothers,includingcanal societies.Welookforwardtothe daywhenwecanrealisethe ambitionsoflocalauthorities, communitiesandbusinessesas boatsfromacrossthecountry visitthebordersofShropshire andPowys.”

RichardHinckley,Beaver Bridgessalesdirector,said: “Asalocalbusinessweare veryexcitedtobeconducting theseprestigiousworkswith theMontgomeryWaterway RestorationTrustandto continuetheexcellentworkto dateandcontributetothefuture legacyofthecanal.”

Withindaysoftheevent,the contractorhadremovedtheold roadembankmentwhichhad blockedthecanalfor60yearsor moreandisthemainobstruction onthederelictsectiontothe WelshborderatLlanymynech.

CaldonCanalhasreopenedtoboatsduringbridgerebuild

THECanal&RiverTrusthas reopenedtheCaldonCanal toboats,whilethe£2million projecttorebuildtheGradeII listedHazelhurstBridgenear EndoninSta ordshirecontinues. This12-monthproject, whichhasbeenenabledby anawardfromthePostcode EarthTrustthankstofunds raisedbyplayersofPeople’s PostcodeLottery,isexpected tobecompletedinAugust.

Overthewinterthecanalwas closedtothrough-navigation fromthejunctionwiththe LeekBranch(Hazelhurst Junction),runningsouth-east toCheddletonLock,butwas reopenedinApril.

CRTprojectmanager IanBoggesexplained:“On weekdays,passagebeneath HazelhurstBridgeisavailable twiceadayfrom9-10am,and from1.30-2.30pm.”Restrictions havebeenextendeduntil FridayJune16.

“Asthetowpathremains

closedfromthejunctionwith theLeekBranch(Hazelhurst Junction),runningsouth-east toHazlehurstAqueductuntil mid-July,forboatstravelling westourcontractorswill facilitatetheoperationsofthe adjacentlocksothatboaters don’thavetogetofftheir boats.Boaterstravellingeast willbeabletooperatethe lockthemselves.

Headded:“Onweekends andbankholidays,unrestricted passageisavailableevenings from5pmandmornings until7.30am,andboaterscan operatethelocksfromboth directionswithoutassistance.

etowpathonthemainline (throughthelocks)remains closedfromHazelhurst JunctiontoHazelhurst Aqueduct,however,boaters willbeabletogetonando tooperatealllockswithinthis fencedsection.

“ ereisasmallrestriction inheightforboatstravelling

underHazelhurstBridge. A2.1mminimumheightis stillavailable,equatingtoa reductionofaround30cm.” epublicrightofwayon theaccesspathwaytowardsthe bridgefromLeekOldRoadis closedforthedurationofthe works.Footpathandtowpath diversionsignsareinplace.

HazelhurstBridgeisan accommodationbridgethat providesaccessacrossthe CaldonCanalforfarmers, residentsandliveaboard boaters.Italsoprovidesaccess forthe Canal&River Trustfor maintenancework. ebridgewasirreparably damagedinMarch2020 followingthedrainingofthe canalupstreamforrepairs toHazelhurstBottomLock. eCanal&RiverTrustis rebuildingthestructure, matchingitsformerlocation, form,scaleandcharacter, includingusingmanyofthe originalstonecopings.

RebuildingtheHazelhurstBridgeontheCaldonCanal.

PHOTO:CANAL&RIVERTRUST

AnaerialviewoftheworkatSchoolhouseBridge.

Removingtheoldroadembankment.

PHOTOS:BEAVERBRIDGES

Takingtheslowwayin thefightforafair deal

Continuouscruisersare takingtheirEnergySupport Schemecampaigntothe capital.SallyCliffordfinds outmore…

THEslowpaceoftravelwillnotdeter theirintention.

Regardlessoftheweeksittakes the otillaof oatinghomeowners navigatingthecountry’swaterwaysto reachthecapital,theyaredrivenby adeterminationforwhattheyseeas fairness.

RetiredprimaryschoolteacherAnita Weedy,wholastyearswappedbricks andmortarfor WattWay,herspecially built57ftfullyelectricnarrowboat, cameupwiththeideaforaslowcruise toLondontohighlighttheplightof

continuouscruisers,likeher,whoare unabletobene tfromtheEnergyBills SupportSchemewithouta xedaddress.

“Isoldmyhouselastyear,Ihavepaid mytaxesallmylifeandmovedontoan electricnarrowboatandsawtheadverts ‘HelpforallUKhouseholds’andfound IwasnolongerentitledbecauseIlive onaboat.Ithoughtthatisn’tfair,” explainedAnita.

Shesaidtheplanwasforthe otilla tobeinBraunstononMay21,to commemorate100yearssincetheGreat CanalStrike.Anitahopedotherboaters wouldjoinherfortheslowcruiseto LondononMay22.

Anita’s‘CalltoAction’videoison TikTokand‘NotAllHouseholds’isher otillaFacebookpage.

JoiningAnitaareconstantcruisers KimandDaveMarshallwhosecruiser stern, Porthceri, becametheir oating homein2022.

eretireesfacethesameescalating livingcostsaseverybodyelseanddon’t thinktheyshouldmissoutonthe schemebecauseoftheirlifestylechoice.

eyhaveinstalledsolarpanelson theroofoftheirboattohelpreduce energycosts,buttheysaytheincreased costoffoodandfuelhasplacedagreater nancialburdenontheirlivingcosts.

“Coalhasmorethandoubled,

andthatisonlyfora25kgbag,nota hundredweightbag,”saidKim.

Petition

BackinJanuaryalmost5000peoplehad signedapetitionlaunchedby eNational BargeeTravellersAssociation(NBTA).

PamelaSmith,NBTAchair,said:“ e EnergySupportSchemewasannounced almostayearago–supposedlytomitigate theworstexcessesofthecostoflivingand fuelcrisesforeverysinglehousehold–and

yetaftermonthsofcampaignsandappeals byitinerantcommunitiesforinclusionthe Governmenthasnotonlyfailedtodeliver thismuch-neededsupporttoboaters,but hasspeci callyexcludedthemfromthe payments.”

Shesaidmanyboatersarestillfacing massive nancialhardshipstokeepup withtherisingcostoffuel.“Itisdeeply unfair,withourcommunitybeingleftout ofwhatwassupposedtobeauniversal schemethatmanyofuswillpayforanyway withourtaxesoverthecomingyears.”

Anitahopestheslowcruisewillhelpto raisethepro leoftheirplight.

“It’saboutgettingnoticed,”saidAnita, whohopestohandinapetitiontoNo10 DowningStreet.

“ isisourhousehold.Itmaybea oatingboatbutit’sourhome,”saidKim. “Youcan’tjustsaybecauseyoudon’t liveinbricksandmortaryoucan’thaveit. Wehavethesameoverheadswithheating andenergyandeverythingelse.”

Lobby

eCanal&RiverTrustiscontinuingto lobbytheDepartmentforBusiness,Energy andIndustrialStrategy(BEIS),makingthe casethattheEnergyBillsSupportScheme needstoincludeallthoselivingonboats –seestoryonpage86.

etrustisadvisingboaterswhoare strugglingwiththecostoflivingtogetin touchwithitswelfareteam.To ndout morevisitwww.canalrivertrust.org.uk

ADepartmentforEnergySecurityand NetZerospokespersonsaid:“Weknow thisisadi culttimeformanypeople facinghighenergybills,includingthose livingonboats.Weunderstandsome householdsmaynotbeabletoprovide proofofaddressandtheGovernmentis keentosupportthem.

“Weareworkingtoestablishwhether thereisanacceptablemethodforthese householdstoprovideproofofeligibility whileprotectingpublicfundsagainst potentiallyfraudulentactivity.”

PamelaSmith,chairoftheNBTA, holdingtheNBTAbannerat TolpuddleMartyrsFestival,2022.

PHOTO:NBTA.

AnitaWeedy,organiseroftheslow cruisetoLondon. PHOTOCOURTESYANITAWEEDY

KimMarshallandhusbandDave whoarejoiningtheslowcruiseto London. PHOTO: SALLYCLIFFORD

Claydonationaids canalrestoration

THErestorationoftheChester eld Canalwillshortlytakeagreatleap forwardthankstoahugedonationof clayfromSuonLtd.

ChesterfieldCanalTrustwillbe spending£5.3milliononmajorworks withitsshareoftheStaveleyTownDeal. evalueoftheclayrunswellintoseven guresandthetotalvolumeis160,000 cubicmetres.ItiscurrentlyatFoxlow, justnorthofBarrowHill.

etrustisgratefulforthiswonderful gesturebySuonandalsotothe ChatsworthSettlementwhichhas waiveditsrighttotheroyaltiesthatit heldupontheclay.

TrustdevelopmentmanagerGeorge Rogerssaid:“Purchasingandtransporting suitablematerialsfromothersources wouldbeprohibitivelyexpensiveand

TOWPATH

GUARANTEE DELIVERY

Fromjust£19

TEL:01507529529

QUOTING:TPT02

ThehistoricStaveleyPuddlebankwhichstretches acrosstheDoeLeaValley. PHOTOSUPPLIED causeuntolddisturbancetothe localpopulation.”

NicholasWood,estates directorforChatsworth, said:“Weareveryhappyto havebeenabletosupport theChesterfieldCanal Trustwiththisproject,and wehopeitwillhelpenable futuregenerationstoenjoy thecanalformanyyears.”

Asubstantialsectionwill berebuildingthehistoric StaveleyPuddlebank. isisamassivestructure 800mlongthatstretches acrosstheDoeLeaValley.

Itwasoriginally constructedin1776out ofclaydugbyhandand movedinwheelbarrows

bynavvies.Whereit crossedtheriverDoeLea thebankwas10mhigh.It waspartiallybulldozedin 1972,hencetheneedto remodelit.

IvanFomin,chairman oftheStaveleyTown DealBoard,said:“It’s fantastictoseeproject sponsorsworkingtogether toachievetheoverall objectivesoftheTown Deal. isisanimportant donationthatwillhelp ensurethecanalcan continuetobeenjoyedby localpeopleandvisitors, whilemakinguseofthis naturalresourceinthe localarea.”

FORSALE:BUSINESSOPPORTUNITY WITHACCOMMODATION

HedgeplantingalongtheCromfordCanal. Right:Replacingcopingstonesonthe bridgeatSawmills. PHOTOS:FCC

Schoolpupilshelptoplantacanalsidehedge

WORKpartieshavebeenbusy atthesectionoftheCromford CanalatLowerHartshay, whichisownedbytheFriends ofCromfordCanal.

Afurther400whipsof hawthornandblackthorn wereplantedtocontinue theprocessofcreatinga newhedge,400havingbeen plantedlastyear.

Duringthelastweekof April,eightchildrenfrom AmbergateSchoolwentto LowerHartshay,Derbyshire withtheirteachersand planted100whips.

Despitesomeonedeciding toremoveplasticshields fromsomeoflastyear’s plantingsthereisnowplenty ofgrowthcomingthrough. ewhipsaresourcedfrom theWoodlandTrust.

Watervoleweresighted earlierthisyearonthe adjacentsectionofcanal ownedbytheCanal&River Trust. eywereonceavery regularsightonthissection

butasewagespillintothe canalafewyearsagois thoughttobethereasonfor theirdisappearance.

FCCfundedadeliveryof drycoirrollstoHighPeak Junctioninmid-Apriland somewereusedimmediately betweenAqueductCottage andGregory’stunnelto re-enforceanareaofthe towpathedgethatwas showingsignsoferosionand possibleleakage.

Furtherworkwillhavetobe conducted,butnotuntilthe nestingseasonisover. e coirrollshavebeenasuccess overtheyears,withthe rst batchdeliveredin2016for locationsalongthelength fromLawnBridge,Cromford, toHighPeakJunction. Followingfurtherdeliveriesa totalof1kmhasbeenlaidand isnowfullyestablished.

AtSawmills,near Ambergate,workhasbeen takingplaceonthestone bridgetoreplacecoping

stoneswhichhavebeen missingforalongtimefrom thestructure. ebridgewas builtbytheMidlandRailway inthe1840s.

MastermasonRobert Shacklockhadsourcedthe correctstone,whichhe broughttosizeand nished themo tolooksimilartothe originalsstillinsitu.

eteam rsthadtounload theblocksandplacethemin positiononthebridge.From lunchtimeonwardstheFCC teamofvolunteersdidthe limemortaringto nisho thejob. e nishedrepair looksgood.

Thiscomplementsthe worklastyearontherebuild ofthecanalwallatWaterloo Farm,ontheoriginallineof thecanaljustacrosstheroad fromthebridge. ewallwas originallybuiltin1794and waspartofabridge. anksgotoLockwood’s Haulage,Ambergate,forits supportforthisproject.

TowpathdelightforCrickheath

A3-bedhousewithsmallprivategardenandtwobathrooms,a1-beds/cflat(currentlylet toasinglegentleman)aboveathrivingconveniencestorewithattachedsmallChandlery storeandPostOffice(theonlyoneforarounda5mileradius).Thesiteconsistsofasmall fuelstationincludingthesaleofreddiesel(theonlyreddieselontheRiverWitham),white derv,petrolandKerosene(HeatingOil).Situatedapproximately5milesNWofBostontown alongtheRiverWithamandfeedingalovelyfriendlycommunityconsistingoffivesmaller villages/hamletsintheimmediatevicinityandistheonlyshopandgarageinthearea. Thepropertyisparticularlysuitedtoanyonewithboatingexperienceasweservediesel, carryoutpump-outs,providegasbottlesetctoboatersontheRiverWitham.

ThispropertyisavailableasFreehold Price£440,000plusstock.

SHROPSHIREUnion Canalvolunteershave beencontinuingthe restorationofthe MontgomeryCanal southofCrickheath BridgenearOswestry. eire ortinMay wasspreadacrossawide varietyofactivitiesand experiencedvariable weatherconditions;the oneconstantbeingthe incredibleoutputand progressmade.

Workcommenced onthetowpath improvementsnext toCrickheathBridge whicharesupported byagrantfromthelocal council. e nished specificationforthe towpathwillberesolved whenthisareais completed,butthisnew surfaceprovidesalevel, self-drainingpathinthe meantime,byremoving triphazardsfrommud andtreeroots.

Onthisoccasion, afour-dayworkparty hadbeenorganisedto includebankholiday Mondayfeaturing e CoronationBigHelp

Outevent.Itwasby nomeanscertainthe workswouldbe nished inthistime.

Intheevent,the towpathimprovements werecompletedin barelymorethantwo days.Aremarkable e ortandcompliments resoundedfrompassing pedestriansandcyclists.

Muchtimeand e ortwasspentduring thisworkpartytidying upoftheprevious workscompoundby CrickheathBasin.Two largesoilheapswere levelled.

Repairstothewharf wallcontinuedand receivedconsiderable focuswithagood numberofthesociety’s regularvolunteers gettinginvolvedand pickingupskillsfrom theexpertDryStone WallingAssociation volunteers.

Withseveralother tidyingupjobs completedondayfour theopportunitywas takentore ectonthe progressmade.

Workingonthewharfdrystonewall restoration. PHOTOS:SUCSPUBLICITY

The250mofnewtowpath.

ShropshireUnionCanalSocietyisalways lookingtoencouragenewvolunteersand members.

Interestedpersonsshouldvisit:https:// shropshireunion.org.ukfordetailsofdates andcontacts,alsofornewsandinformation.

CharactersoftheCut

GrantHebblewhite–happyeverafter

ByAliceGriffin

WHENGrantHebblewhiteretiredfromthepolicein August2021after30yearsofservice,hewaslooking forarelaxedlifeclosertonature,aswellasawayof livingthatwouldallowhimtomovearound.

“Ilovetheproximitytonature,thepeople,and thefreedomnarrowboatlifegivesme–theability togoo anywhereIlike,whenIlike.I’mnotone forstayinginoneplaceforlongsothislifestyle suitsme!”

Grant’sboat, EverAfter,isa50ftreverselayout withcruiserstern,builtin2016.“ emainselling pointsformewereage,layoutandthepotential tomakeitmyowninside.”InitiallyGranttookon amooringforayearontheRiverNene.“Iwanted goodaccessibilitytogetworkdone,aswellasthe opportunitytoadapttolivingonboard,pickingup advicefromotherboaters.”

DespitehavingenjoyedhistimeontheRiver Nene,Grantisleavingitbehindtomoveontothe canalsystemandcruiseforawhilebeforesettling onasmallmarinaasabase.“AsPappyto ve grandchildren,Ineedtobelocaltomydaughter forawhiletohelpwithchildcare.”

FirststopwillbetheGrandUnionCanal,which Grantgrewupalongside.“Itwasalwaysthere whenIwasakidandIusedto shonit,walkand cyclealongit.”Iimaginethiswillbeveryrelaxing, consideringGrant’smaidenvoyagebringing EverAfter fromRamsey,Cambridgeshire,backto Northamptonshire.“Iwasonmyownhavingnever drivenanarrowboatandhadtodo29riverlocks–it wasanexperiencetosaytheleast!”

Wildlifephotography

Grantintendstospendmuchofhistime,though, indulginginphotography.“Myinterestin photographycamefromanearlyagewhenmy grandpausedtotakemeoutwitha35mmcamera aroundthelocalparkinNorthampton.” is inspiredinGrantaloveofphotographingnature andhenowtakeshiscameraeverywhere.

“I’llalwaystakeitwithmewhenI’mwalkingmy cockerspaniel,Meg,andthisisoftenwhenIsee thebarnowl.” erehavebeenmanywonderful momentscaptured,liketheprivilegeofgettingup closetoaking sheronthebowofhisboat.

“ erewaswordofaking sherinthemarina andasIknowhownervoustheyare,Icameup withtheplanofputtingabranchonthebowofthe boathopingitwouldseeitasa shingperch.”It didn’ttakelongforGrant’splantowork.“Oneday IwassittinginthesaloonwhenIheardchirpingso IlookedtothebowwhereIsawamaleking sher.

“Isetupmycameraonatripodwithablack binbagcoveringthebowdoorsothenexttimehe cameIwasabletogetsomelovelyclose-upshots. IcouldhardlybreatheasItookthephotographsas itwasonlyaboutfourfeetawayfromme.”

Aswellasbeautifulphotossharedon Instagram,inthelastyearGranthasdecidedto startdocumentinghisjourneyonYouTube.He sharedwithmewhyheseesthisasanimportant

thingtodo.“Mymothersu erswithAlzheimer’s diseaseandsocan’ttellmemuchaboutherearly lifenow.Myvlogwillhopefullyremainformy familytoview,areminderofwhereitbegan–my daughtersometimeswatchesmyvideosatnight whilefeedingherbaby!”

Grantalsoenjoystheprocessof lmingand editinghisvideosandhopestogrowhisskills ashecontinues.“Ihopeothersinterestedin narrowboats,orjusto -gridliving,willenjoy them.”Watcherscanalsogetafewtipsinthe kitchenasthecookingsectionofGrant’svlogis apparentlyquitepopular!

“Foodandcookingareanotherpassionof minesoIdoenjoy lmingthesevideos.Although Itrynottomake‘howto’videos,they’remorelike a yonthewallviewofmylife.”

Havingenjoyedalongcareerinthepolice, workinginalotofdi erentdepartmentsfrom patroltoCID,Grantintendstonowsitbackand enjoyretirement.“Myplansaretoenjoymyboat, travelasmuchaspossibleandindulgeinmy latestinterestofpainting,bothinwatercolour andonmyiPaddigitally.”

Soundslikeahappy EverAfter tome!

YouTube:@narrowboateverafter Facebook:@narrowboateverafter Instagram:@narrowboat_ever_after

AliceGrif nisawriterandyogateacher withagypsysoul.ThroughherSlowInto theSeasonscourses lledwithnature,yoga, meditationandjournallingpractices,she inspirespeopletolivetheirmostauthentic life.Website:www.alicegriffin.co.uk Instagram@wanderingalicegrif n

Grantoftenseesthebarnowl.

GrantHebblewhitetakeshiscameraeverywhere.

Grant’snarrowboat EverAfter

CockerspanielMeg.

Akingfisherclose-up. PHOTOS:GRANTHEBBLEWHITE

Crewsoughtfornew Londontripboat

TWOLondoncharities,TheAngel CommunityCanalBoatTrust,better knownasAngelBoat,andtheLondon CanalMuseum(LCM),havejoined togethertobuyandoperatea45ft narrowboatnamed LongTom eboatwillruntripsontheRegent’s CanalfortheLondonCanalMuseum threedaysaweekfromBattlebridge Basinandprovideasecondboatforthe AngelBoat,basedatCityRoadLock,to runtripsforthelocalcommunity.

Tosupportthis,experiencedboaters arenowsoughtwhowouldliketoact asvolunteerskippers. eywillbe trainedfortheCCBMquali cationand anyoneinterestedorwhowantsfurther informationshouldcontacttheAngel Boatatinfo@acct.org.uk

Soonafterthetwoorganisations rst realisedthattheybothhadtheneedfora less-than-full-timetripboat,aboatcame upforsalenearOrmskirk,Lancashire, ontheLeeds&LiverpoolCanal.Itwas

apurpose-designedpassengertripboat usedforregularcreamteacruises.

Unfortunatelythebusiness wasclosingbecauseofpersonal circumstancesunrelatedtotheboat itself. erefollowedanepicwinter journeytoLiverpooldocksbycanal, thentoWatfordbyroadwhereroutine workwascarriedoutonthehull,and a nalcanaltripintoCentralLondon.

eboatwillberunandmanaged bytheAngelBoatwithits50yearsof experiencerunningacommunityboat.

LCM,withtheidealstartingpoint forpublictripsonBattlebridgeBasin,a fewminutesfromKing’sCross,willrun regulartripsthroughIslingtonTunnel, aswellastripstoLittleVeniceand VictoriaPark.

eAngelBoatwilltailortripsto suittheneedsandrequirementsofits communityhirersandwillbeableto continuetoo ertripswhenitsmain boat,the72ft AngelIIofIslington,isout onresidentialtripswithyouthgroups.

Volunteersfrombothorganisations carriedoutsomeminorinternalrepairs andinstalledsomenewequipment obtainedinreadinessforpassenger service.Being45ftlongtheboatiswell suitedtoshort-distancework,beingeasyto turnatmanyplacesontheRegent’sCanal.

Theboathaslargewindowsfor viewing,apantryforservinghot drinksandpreparedfood,andatoilet. SupportedbytheLCM’seducation officer,itisidealforeducational groupsandyoungpeopleaswellasfor introducingthenot-so-youngtothe Londoncanals.

ecanalinLondonisnowaccessible toall–althoughonceuponatime trespasserswouldbeprosecutedand thename‘LongTom’isanickname reportedlygivenbybadlybehaved childrentoacanalpolicemanwhoused tochasethemaway. www.angelboat.org

Visitormooringsavailable atGloucesterDocks

THECanal&RiverTrusthas con rmedthatvisitormooringsin GloucesterDocksareonceagain availablefollowingprogressmade withdredgingtoremovethebuild-up ofsilt.

Aspartofa£1millionongoing dredgingprogrammethesiltwas boughtintothedockslastyearviathe RiverSevernwhenwaterlevelsinthe riverwerehistoricallylowduetothe exceptionallydrysummer.

MollyRichards,areaoperations managerfortheGloucester& SharpnessCanal,said:“Weare

pleasedtohavereopenedthevisitor mooringsforboatsinthedocks.

“Withdredgingongoinguntil earlyJune,andafurtherprogramme startinginSeptember,thetrust’s teamisonhandtoadvisevisiting boatersthebestplacetomoor.”

etrusthasremovedmorethan 19,000cubicmetresofsiltfromthe dockssinceNovemberanddredging isbeingtargetedtoaddresskey priorityareasforcustomerstoensure anavigablechannelacrossthedock, andforberthsinVictoriaBasinand theBargeArm.

smhicks@btinternet.comwww.travelsat.me.uk

IhavejusthadtheMaxviewRoamsysteminstalledanditis brilliant!Inowgetdownloadspeedscomparabletobeing inahouse,andthat’sa500%increaseinspeed.Thedevice isdiscreteandexpertlyinstalledwithatestbeforeIbought toensurethedevicewasworthhaving.AllIcansayis,Iwish I’dknownaboutthisalongtimeago.Absolutelybrilliantand recommendingittoallmyfriends!

The72ft AngelIIofIslngton.

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

Newtripboat LongTom setsoff fromBattlebridgeBasin. PHOTOSUPPLIED

EnteringIslingtonTunnel. PHOTOSUPPLIED

Newmooringbollards inLoughborough

Wordsandphotos:LesHeath

DELIGHTEDboaterswere quicktotakeadvantageofa newsetofmooringbollards alongasectionoftheSoar NavigationinLoughborough, Leicestershire.

Tennewbollardshave recentlybeeninstalledanda further14areplanned.

Untilnowboatersmooring alongthisfavouritestretch closetoLoughboroughtown centrehavehadtousemooring pinsonthegrassedbank. e newbollardscomplement theongoingextensiveworks toimprovethetowpath throughoutLoughborough.

CadetslaunchnewSoarwheelyboat

ANEWwheelchairaccessiblepowerboat hasbeenlaunchedontheRiverSoarin LeicestershirebylocalgroupFSBulwarkNavy CadetForceandtheWheelyboatTrust. enewboat–aCoulamWheelyboatV17 –willenablechildrenandyoungcadetswith anytypeofphysicalorcognitivedisabilityto takepartinwater-basedactivitiesfromtheir unit’sHQforthevery rsttime,o eringequal opportunityforall.

DerryHand,chairmanofthetrusteesof FSBulwarkNavyCadetForce,said:“Wehave longwantedanaccessiblepowerboatandare thrilledthatourunitcannowprovideequal opportunitiesandexperiencestoeveryone,but especiallythosewhomaynothavepreviously hadthechance.

“Now,anydisabledchildoryoungcadet canenjoyandexploretheRiverSoaralongside theirable-bodiedcadets;FSBulwarkisavery communityorientedunitandtherearemany

othergroupsnearbywhichI’msurewillbene t fromusingourWheelyboattoo.”

Named Lilibet afterthelateQueenElizabeth II,anameunanimouslyvotedforbythecadets andtheirparents,theboatwaslaunchedover theEasterweekendandtookhermaiden voyagewatchedbymorethan100people.

eseincludedexcitedcadets,proudparents andlocaldignitariesgatheredatheadquarterson thebanksoftheRiverSoarofFSBulwarkNavy CadetForce–ayouthcharityencouragingcustoms andtraditionsoftheRoyalNavyandRoyalMarines.

DeputyLordLieutenantLtColDavid Youngcutaceremonialribbonandgavea shortspeechbeforethecadetssetsailinthe sunshineforanafternoonontheriver.

Lilibet isfullyaccessibleandprovides wheelchairusers,andthosewithothermobility issues,thefreedomtoboardandoperatethe boatindependentlyandsafely.

Shealsohasabowdoorthatlowerstoform aramp,whichenablesroll-on,roll-o boarding fromeitherapontoonorjetty. enewboat alsohasadrive-from-wheelchairhelmandis poweredbya15hpoutboardmotor,suitedto theleisurelyboatingrequiredbythecadetson theRiverSoar.

TojoinFSBulwarkNavyCadetForce andtousethenewWheelyboat,visitthe group’sFacebookpage:@FSBulwark, orcontactthegroupviabulwark@ navycadetforce.co.ukor07913352447.

Ifyouwouldliketodiscussobtaining aWheelyboatforpublicorprivate use,orwantto ndoutmoreabout TheWheelyboatTrust,visitwww. wheelyboats.org

Comeandseeusatthe onSat27thtoMon29thMay

Tr ad e and Prev ie w Da y Fr i 2 6th M ay EltonMossBoatbuilderswillbetherewithoursistercompanies BoatfinderCarefreeCruising andKingslockBoatYard.

Callfordetails

Tel:01270760160

BoatfinderBrokerageServices@BoatfinderBS

MiddlewichCanalCentreishometothefollowingfamily ofcompanies

Thenewmooringbollardsinuseimmediatelyafterinstallation.

CadetsenjoyingtheboatontheRiverSoar. PHOTOS:TRAVISEATO

Sitespreparedforafurther 14bollards.

DeputyLordLieutenantLtColDavid Youngcuttingtheceremonialribbonon thenewCoulamV17Wheelyboat Lilibet

FundBritain’sWaterways: newactiongroupformed

REPRESENTATIVESfromarangeof waterwaysorganisationsrecentlymet virtuallytodiscussfundingforthe inlandwaterways.

emeetingonMay5wasjointly initiatedbyIWAandtheNational AssociationofBoatOwners(NABO) andwaschairedbyIWAchairman LesEtheridge.

Hisopeningremarkscovered thefundingchallengesfacingthe EnvironmentAgency(EA),Scottish Canals(SC)andCanal&RiverTrust (CRT).EAhasbeengivenhalfofthe revenueandathirdofthecapital gures itconsidersnecessary.

SCestimatesthatthereismorethan £70millionofoutstandingworksonthe LowlandCanalsplusurgentneedson

theCrinanandCaledonianCanalsto keepthemnavigable.

CRTisstillwaitingforthelongpromisedannouncementaboutfuture funding.Itisalreadysu eringfrom itsfundingnotbeingin ationlinked, withmonetarycutsalmostcertaintobe imposedinthenearfuture.

Itwasagreedthattheoutlookis bleakandnotjustforthesethreemajor navigationauthorities. emeeting agreedthatthisimpactsonthegeneral publicaswellasboatingbusinesses andboaters.

erewasoverwhelmingsupport toformagroupcalledFundBritain’s Waterwayswhichwillallowmany organisationstoworktogetherto in uencethepoliticaldecisionmakers.

iswillformanimportantpartof IWA’sProtectOurWaterwayscampaign. Supportfromthegeneralpublicwas agreedtobevitaltothesuccessofthe campaignandtheintentionistowiden thegrouptoincludeallthosewhoenjoy andbene tfromtheinlandwaterways. Suggestionsarewelcomedastowhich organisationsshouldbeinvolved(email protect@waterways.org.uk). eneed tomovequicklywasagreedandfurther detailswillbeannouncedassoon aspossible.

IWAwillcontinuetoworkhard toensurethatthemessageofthe waterwaysfamilyisheardloudandclear bynationalandlocalpoliticiansandis delightedbythelevelofsupportfor thisinitiative.

CanalthroughMiltonKeynesgetsaspringclean

VOLUNTEERSfromthe

IWAMiltonKeynesBranch organisedacanalclean-up throughMiltonKeynes fromFennyStratford toWolvertonoverthe weekendofApril21-22.

Findsincludedfour shoppingtrolleys,five bicycles,anelectricscooter, halfatelegraphpole,a fridge,asolarpaneland a20ftlengthofpolythene sheet.Theclean-upis heldeveryyear,helping toensurethatthecanal throughthecitystayssafe andattractiveforallcanal users,whetheronthewater oronthetowpath.

TheIWAvolunteers werejoinedbysta and volunteersfromCanal& RiverTrust,ParksTrust (whichcaresforlocal parks,woodlandsand lakesinMiltonKeynes), BuckinghamCanalSociety, theElectraCommunity Boatteam,OracleUKand WyvernShippingCompany whichalsoprovides sponsorshipsfortheevent.

TheCanal&River Trustprovidedtwoboats: Claydon,apoweredshallowdraughtworkboatsuitable forcollectingrubbishfrom thenon-towpathside,and anunpoweredhopperto

receivealltherubbish. ehopperwasmanned byacrewwhoused grapplinghookstotrawlfor submergeditems,andwas towedby OceanPrincess, skipperedbyJamesGri n ofWyvernShipping.

BuckinghamCanal Societybroughtitstug Shoveler andworkboat Louise,withhydraulicgrab, toassistthehoppercrew withfallentreesandlarge itemshauledfromthewater.

JamesGriffinwrites:

“MuchofFridaywasspent trimmingoverhanging

branchesandremoving treesthathadfallen halfwayacrossthecanal. BuckinghamCanalSociety’s workboatprovedveryuseful toliftthetreesintothe hopper.

“OnFridayafternoon Louise burstahydraulic hosebuttheyquicklyhad itrepaired.Bytheendof Saturday,thehopperwas wellfullandwehadtostack rubbishonthedecksat bothends.”

Thetowpathparty consistedmostlyofParks Trustvolunteers,joined

bycontingentsfromthe ElectraCommunityBoat teamandfromOracleUK, whoalldidasuperbjob. etowpathhaulwaslight, assomecanalsidetownand parishcouncilsarenowalso holdinglitterpicks. econvoywasledby theteaboat,Dianeand AndyWittsaboard Diandy, whosesuppliesofhotdrinks andcakesweremuch appreciatedbyall. anksforajobwelldone areduetoallwhotookpart intheclean-upinwhatever capacity.

Towpathupgrade pavestheway forcelebrations

IWANorthamptonBranch’sTowpathAdoptionGroupcompleted96mof towpathimprovementsatWoottonBrookover vedaysattheendofApril. Ninetyvolunteersspentatotalof486hoursoverthe vedays.Ofthese, CumminsPowerSystemscontributed195hours,plusthefundingofthe project. eCanal&RiverTrustwasalsothankedforitssupport. ebranchcelebratesits10thanniversaryoftheadoptionofthe NorthamptonArmthisyear,solookoutforcelebrationsofthefantastic workthatmembersofthebranchhaveachievedinthattime.

AweekendofboatingatWare

IWAWareBoatFestivalreturns fromFriday,June30toSunday,July 2foraweekendofboatingactivity andsocialising.Theboatfestival isanintegralandimportantpart ofthewiderWareFestivalrunning throughoutJuly.

JoinIWALeeandStortbranchin thebeautifulandhistoricmarkettown ofWareontheupperreachesofthe RiverLee,overlookedbytheunique andiconicVictoriangazebos.

You’ll ndactivitiesprovidedas partoftheboatfestivalincludinga riversidebarbecueonFridayevening; themedboatparadeandboathandling competitiononSaturdayafternoon followedbyHaslam’shijinksquizin theeveningandonSundayariverside boaters’service,co eeandcakes.

ereisplentymoretoseeanddo

astheboatfestivalrunsalongsidethe widerWareFestivalactivities.

eriverhasplayedakeypart inthedevelopmentofthetown, inparticularprovidingameansof transportforagriculturalproducts–especiallymaltedgrainsfromthe140 malthousesofthe19thcentury–into theheartofLondon.

Beforethen,itrepresenteda boundarybetweentheDanelaw andAngloSaxonlandsand–further backstill–providedacrossingpoint oftheRiverLeafortheRoman ErmineStreet.

Everyoneisinvitedtoattendthe festivalandwillreceiveawarm welcome.Bookingisnowopen, nd detailsonlineathttps://waterways.org. uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/ events/ware-boat-festival-2023

PLEASEcontactthebranchtoregisteraninterestifyouwouldliketoattendoneof theseworkparties.Itisadvisabletowearstoutshoesandoldclothing,andtakea waterproof.Youmaywanttotakeapackedlunchandrefreshments.

EAST

June4and20

IWANorthamptonBranch: Work partiesareusuallyheldoneweekday andoneSundayamonth,alongthe Arm,10am-2pm. etasksusually includevegetationclearance,weeding, litterpickingandpaintingatlocks. Contact:Geo Woodatgeo .wood@ waterways.org.ukfordetails.

Tuesdays IWAMiltonKeynesBranch: Regular workpartyatFennyLockontheGrand UnionCanal.9.30am-1.30pm.Work canincludevegetationclearance, gardening,litterpickingandpainting. Workpartiesaredependenton weatherbeingagreeable.Contact:Pat Durhamon07510195918;emailpat. durham@waterways.org.uk

WEST Tuesdays&Saturdays

IWAWestCountryBranch(Taunton &Bridgwater): Workpartiesinthe Somersetarea,10am-1pm.Contact: MikeSladeatmike.slade@waterways. org.uk;07977263840.

Trimmingoverhanging branches.

PHOTOS:JAMESGRIFFIN

Volunteersworkingonthetowpathimprovement.

PHOTO:IWA

AfestiveriversideatmosphereatWarein2019. PHOTO:MIKENEWMAN

Workboat Louise helpswithatree.

channelwiththeminimumofinfrastructure.

Waterwaysfreightpentagram

JonathanMosse’s monthlylookatfreight developmentsonthe inlandwaterways.

BOILEDdowntothebareessentials, wharfage,‘track’maintenance,crew/ trainingandthecostofcarbonarethe keypillarssupportingfreightonthe inlandwaterways.Apartfromboats, thatis!

is,then,formsa‘pentagramof needs’whichIintendtoexamine ingreaterdetailoverthecoming monthsplacingwharfage,asalways,in poleposition.

Which,inthe rstinstance,leadsone toquestionwhymorelocalauthorities arenotasenlightenedasLeedsCity Councilwhichhasadetailed,written policyprotectingcanalwharfsandrail sidings.So,whenACMarineAggregates recentlycameupwithaproposalto developpermanentwharfagetoserve itsbusinessinLeedsitwasmetwiththe council’sfullbackingasthefollowing responseclearlyillustrates:

DoesLeedsCityCouncilsupportAC Marine’sproposals?

Yes,itisanobjectiveoftheLocalPlan topromotethesustainablemovement offreightandmakebetteruseofthe watertransportationnetworkthatwe arefortunatetohaveinLeeds.

Eachyearoveramilliontonnesof aggregatescomesintoLeeds,muchof itonlorriestobeusedtomakeconcrete fortheconstructionindustry,soit’s muchbetterforLeedsifthiscanbe movedbybarge,ratherthanHGV.

Thecouncilhasmadeaclimate emergencydeclarationtoworktowards becomingacarbonneutralcityby 2030.Astransportisoneofthegreatest emittersofcarbon,weneedinitiatives liketheoneputforwardbyACMarine Aggregatestohelpusachieveour carbonneutralcommitment.

Aswellasalltheotherbenefits thatitbrings,suchasreducedroad congestion,fewerroadaccidentsand lessairpollution,marinesandand gravelreducetheneedforland-won aggregatethatcomesfromquarries, ofteninthenationalparksandother ruralareasandwhichthenhastobe

movedbyHGV. emarineaggregate canbemovedfromtheHumberPortsby bargeintoLeeds,whichismuchbetter fortheenvironment. ereareonlyafewplacesleftwhere itispossibletoo oadmaterialsbrought inbybargeandinthecentreofLeeds thereislotsofpressurefornewhousing ando cedevelopments.

So,weaimtosafeguardthefewsites thatwehaveleftsotheyarenotlostto otherusesandtoretaintheopportunity fortheloading/unloadingoffreightfrom thecanal.

WhatdoesthecouncilmakeofCRT effortstoexpandwharfagespace?

eCanal&RiverTrusthasgivenus itssupporttosafeguardthewharfat KnostropDepotforfreightpurposes andwehavesharedaspirationsfor increasingthemovementoffreighton thecanal.

Wearepleasedthatthereisinterest inusingthewharfspaceforitsintended purposeandit’sgreatthatLeedshasthe infrastructuretogiveustheoptionto movefreightinamoresustainableway.

Weknowthatinthepastcouple

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ofyearstheCanal&RiverTrusthas workedhardtoremovethebarriers touseofthecanalforfreight,suchas carryingoutdredgingandotherworks. eproposalbyACMarineAggregates willincreaseincometothetrustandwill bringsigni cantbene tsforLeedsand fortheenvironment.

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Waterwaysfreight:apentagramof needs.

KnostropDepotWharf.

Duetoalackofdredging,thisinauguraltripuptheAire& CalderNavigationrequired90tonstobeoffloaded.

TheHumberEstuaryoffersawell-dredgedandmaintained

NorburyCanalFestival –biggerthanever

Reportandphotos:PhilPIckin

AMIXofsunshineandshowersgreeted visitorsandstallholdersatthisyear’s NorburyCanalFestival.

eannualeventtookplaceoverthe earlyMaybankholidayweekendon thetowpathatNorburyJunctiononthe ShropshireUnionCanal.Despitethe weatherbeingsomewhatunpredictable, agoodnumberofvisitorstookthe opportunitytovisitmorethen30stalls andaround36boattraders.

Unfortunately,theweatherwasn’t kind,withrainfallingalmostthroughout theseconddayofthethree-dayevent. Asaresult,the eldbeingusedasacar parkhadtobeclosed,andwithlittle alternativeparkingavailableinthearea, theruralroadssoonbecameclogged withtra conBankHolidayMonday. enumberoftraderswasupon previousyears,makingthefestival thelargestever,accordingtothe Shrewsbury&NewportCanalTrust (SNCT),organisersoftheevent,which isusedtoraisefundsfortherestoration ofthecanalsbetweenNorbury andShrewsbury.

Visitorsfoundplentyofitemsono er fromthestallholders,includingawide rangeofgifts,clothing,food,drinkand jewellery.Anumberofcharitystallsalso attended,aimingtomakethemostofthe popularevent.

Awiderangeofactivitiesand attractionswereono er,includingalpaca

trekking,abouncycastleandtripsonthe canal. eNorburyWharfCafeprovedto bepopular,asdidthemanyfoodvendors sellingawiderangeofsnackstovisitors. Livemusicalsoentertainedfestival-goers throughoutthethree-dayevent.

Workboats Bainton&Berkhampstead attractedattentionfromvisitorsonwhat couldbetheirlastNorburyFestivalfor sometime,asbothboatswillhopefully endupinthebasinatWappenshallWharf in2024.Itishopedthatbythen,thebasin willbeinwaterandrestorationofthese historicboatscanbegin.

EventsliketheNorburyCanalFestival provideanidealopportunityforthe generalpublicto ndoutmoreaboutthe waterwaysandhowtheycanbothenjoy andprotectthem.Soitwasgoodtosee thelocalIWAbranchandSNCTwereon handtohelpanswerquestionsfromthe generalpublic.

So,despitethesometimeslessthan favourableweather,theNorburyCanal Festivalprovedtobeaspopularand colourfulasever.Atleastonthisoccasion, itwasn’tjusttheboatingcommunity thatgotmuddyonthetowpath,thereby ensuringallvisitorsgainedthecomplete waterwaysexperience!

Whenaskedhowtheweekendwent, SNCTchairmanBernieJonessaid:“ e weathercouldhavebeenkinderforour festival.ButthegreatBritishspiritshone through,andthevastmajorityofvisitors reallyenjoyedit.”

Big40fortheBaldwinTrust

THEBaldwinTrust’s40thanniversary seasonbeganonApril1withsmiles andballoonstomarktheoccasion.

Ithasbeenoperatingfullyaccessible narrowboatcruisesalongthe Leicestershirewaterwayssince1983, whenthetrustwasstartedbyBert Halseyandhiswifeasawayofproviding respitetothepatientsoftheBaldwin WardatLeicesterFrithHospital.

etrustcurrentlyoperatestwo narrowboats: Dandelion ,from BarrowBoating,and HalseyonDays fromLeicesterMarina.Bothboats arewheelchairaccessibleandcan accommodateupto12people.

Manylocalcommunitygroups havebene tedfromtripsalongthe canalsandrivers,withoneuser recentlycommenting:“Itwasso tranquiltravellingataslowpace, enjoyingeachother’scompanyand theriverwildlife.”

Allcruisesarecrewedbyfully trainedvolunteers;stopsalongthe routecanbearranged,andyouare welcometotakeyourownpicnicand refreshmentstoenjoy.

Ifyouwouldliketosharethis experiencewithfamilyandfriends, youcanseeavailabilityandbook onlineatwww.baldwintrust.co.ukor emailweb@baldwintrust.co.uk

etrustisalwaysseekingnew volunteerstotrainascrewand skippers,andtoassistwiththe runningofthecharity.Ifyouwould liketolearnanewskill,meetnew peopleandspendtimeonthewater, thenitwouldlovetohearfromyou.

Norburyprovedpopulartothose visitingorjustpassingthrough.

Celebratingthe40thanniversaryofTheBaldwinTrustonboard HalseyonDays PHOTO:BALDWINTRUST

Boattradersseemedtobedoing goodbusinessovertheweekend.

Someoftheboatsattractedtheattentionofacameracrew.

Moretraderscouldbefoundmooredontheothersideofthebridge closetothewharf.

Norbury’stripboat,the ShropshireStar,makesitswaypastthetradersandmooredboats.

Theeventprovidedanopportunity tocatchupwitholdfriends.

Puttingthewaterwaysonthecurriculum

Theirprominenceinhistoryiswelldocumentedandnow canalsareplayinganintegralpartinthecurriculum,as SallyCliffordfindsout.

STRETCHESofwaterwhichatone timecontributedtoBritain’sindustrial economyarebecominganinvaluable partofthecurriculum.

MuchimportanceisplacedonSTEM (Science,Technology,Engineeringand Mathematics),whichbroadenskillsets applicabletomanyworkplacesand professions,andthankstothecharity, theCanal&RiverTrust,canalsare helpingtocontributetothedeliveryof thesesubjects.

etrust’sresponsibilityforalmost 2000milesofcanalsandriversacross EnglandandWalesmakesitanatural STEMpartnerineducation.

AnnetteSimpson,learningandskills managerwiththeCanal&RiverTrust, explainedthecharitybegandelivering itsSTEMprogrammeinsecondary schoolseightyearsago. Itstartedthroughapartnershipthe trusthadworkingwithstudentson Rolls-Royce’sgraduateprogramme.

Sincethen,theroll-outofboththe STEMprogrammeforsecondaryschools andtheExplorersprogrammethetrust providesthroughpracticalsessionsand onlineresourcesforprimaryschools hasledtoincreasingdemand,with morethan100,000childrenandyoung peoplebene tingfromtheprogrammes thisyearalone.

Reallifeexamples

Annettesaidresearchhasfoundit’s justasimportantforyoungchildrento beexposedtopotentialfuturecareer choicesassecondaryschoolscholars.

“Wehavereallifeexampleshappening allthetime,stoppagesandenvironment workswherechildrencanseereallife examplesofthingsthatinspirethem tothinkaboutwhattheycoulddo,” sheexplained.

Understandingbiologicalhabitats, calculatingthephysicsofwater managementandlearningabout modernecologychallengesarejustsome ofthewaysthetrustcandemonstrate tochildrenandyoungpeoplehow STEMappliestotherealworldthrough itsprogrammes.

Focusingonecologyandwildlife conservation,therecentframework workshopdeliveredatschoolsinthe WestMidlandswasdevelopedaspart ofthetrust’sWaterways,Wildlifeand Wellbeingprojectandfundedbythe GreenRecoveryChallengeFund.

Morethan500schools,serving childrenfromadiverserangeof backgroundsandwithincloseproximity oftheWestMidlands’networkof canals,participatedinthe18-month programme.

Aswellaslearningaboutthetrust’s workandvolunteeringopportunities, pupilsparticipatedinaQ&Awitha seniorecologist. eyalsotookpartin practicalbasedactivitiessuchaswater safetysessions,watersamplingand tacklingpollution.

Duetothecloselinkswithgeography, mathsandsciencetheworkshops tailoredperfectlywithincurriculum teachingtime.Arecentevaluationof theprogrammefoundtheworkshops provedparticularlybeneficialin engagingandraisingtheaspirationsof morechallengingstudents.

Annetteexplainedsomepupilsthrive inaninformalenvironment,learning hands-onskillsoutdoors.

“Beingoutdoorscansparkaninterest andimprovestheirbehaviourand attainment,”shesaid.

“Andiftheycanseetheendresultof theirlearningtheyaren’tjustlearning foritsownsake.Iftheywanttobean ecologistorawaterwayoperativethey canseethepurpose,theycanengage moreandworkharder.”

eworkshopsalsoexposedstudents topotentialcareersinvolvingissuesthey werealreadypassionateaboutsuchas climatechangeandprotectingwildlife, andequippedthemwithtransferable employabilityskills–communication, problemsolvingandteamworkare amongthemanyskillstheycangain.

Learningabouttheimportantpart canalsplayedinthedevelopmentof theWestMidlandsenabledpupilstobe

betterconnectedtolocalheritageand theenvironment.

eimpacttheworkshopshadon pupilswasalsoacknowledgedby teachingsta .Oneteachersaid:“So muchofwhattheteamatCanal& RiverTrustdoesre ectswhatIteach mybiologyA-Levelstudentsabout biodiversity.Understandingwhatgoes onlocallytosupporthabitatsand wildlifewilladdrelevanceandhelpme bringtheselessonstolife.”

eworkshopshavealsoinspired schoolstoexplorethecanalsasplaces providingfurtherlearningopportunities beyondtheclassroomfor eldtripsand localstudies.

Testimonytotheirsuccess,demand forthetrust’sSTEMprogrammesare increasing,butthedeliveryisdictated

bytherelianceonfunding.

“Weknowdemandisthereandwe candeliverlotsmoreandweknow itisbene cialtochildrenandyoung people,”saidAnnette.

etrust’saimistoreachasmany youngpeopleaspossibletocontinue thecharity’simportantworkandalso toaddressthepotentialshortageof engineersinfuture,assheexplained: “STEMissuchabroadchurch.Weknow thereareshortages,weknowit’shard recruitingpeoplesoitisessentialforus asanorganisationtoencourageyoung peopletothinkaboutSTEM.

“It’sgreatforsocialmobility, encouragesresilience,itbene tsusas anationandtheyoungpeople.”

Formoreinformationvisit canalrivertrust.org.uk

PupilslearnabouttheTees BarrageaspartoftheSTEM workshopprogramme.

TheDiglisBasinprovidesaneducationalvisitaspartoftheSTEM workshopprogramme. PHOTOS:CANAL&RIVERTRUST

Historicboats onthemove

Heritageunderthehammer

GeoffCourtneyreviewsthelatestcanaliascenewithreportsonthreeauctionsthatsawall mannerofmemorabiliaincludingacanalcompanylocomotivenameplatefindnewowners.

TOPofthetreewasabrassnameplate

Jeanie thatsoldfor£1700ataGW RailwayanaliveonlineauctiononMarch 11.ItwasfromManchesterShipCanal No.34,an0-6-0TbuiltbyHudswell Clarke&CoofLeedsin1904,10years afterthe36-milecanalopened.

Acabsidebrassnumberplatefrom anotherManchesterShipCanal0-6-0T builtbyHudswellClarke,No.51 New Zealand,wentfor£190. islocomotive, whichwasbuiltthreeyearsafter No.34andworkedonthecanalrailway throughoutits59yearsinservice, waswithdrawnin1966,whendiesels replacedsteamontheline.Railway memorabiliasuchasname,cabside number,andworksplatesthathavea connectionwithcanalcompanieshave anenthusiasticfollowingwithinthe transportcollectionssector.

Athirditemofinteresttoinland waterwaysenthusiastsatthesame auctionwasaBRWesternRegion‘Rosson-WyethegatewayoftheWye’poster thatsoldfor£500. eartist,Frank Sherwin(1896-1986),depictedleisure craftand shermenontheriverwith thetowninthebackgrounddominated bythe14thcenturyparishchurchofSt

Mary’s,whichhasa205fthigh spireandisoneofthelargest churchesintheDioceseof Hereford.

Twoitemsofcanalia thatfeaturedinTalisman Railwayana’sMarch18 auctionwereaLondon& NorthWesternRailwaySt Helens(Sankey)Canalcast ironsignthatsoldfor£400 andamarinelampthatwent underthehammerfor£150. Thesignwasatleast100 yearsold,andwarnedvessel captainsofa40shillings(£2) penaltyifadrawbridgewas leftopen,whileanyperson whowilfullydidsowouldbe ned£5.Asimilarsignison displayatStHelensWorldof GlassMuseum.

ThenameplatefromManchester ShipCanalsteamlocomotiveNo. 34thatsoldatauctionfor£1700.

Crowdfunderappeallaunched forChesterfieldworkboat

THEChester eldCanalTrustrecentlylaunchedaGoFundMepageaimed atraising£2000formaintenanceofitshistoricworkboat Python Builtin1929,itisoneofonlyfourremaining‘josher’narrowboatsandis paintedinBritishWaterwayslivery.

Sincethetrustreceivedtheboatin2009,volunteershavefullyrestored Python whichisnowusedtopromoteitswork.Itwasfeaturedonarecent episodeofRobbieCumming’sCanalBoatDiariesTVseries. isyeartheboatisduetobedockedforhullmaintenancesoadditional fundsarerequired.Atthetimeofwritingtheappealhadalreadypassedits goalwith90donationstotalling£2150.

BirthdayboostforClydesteamer

Report&photos:HughDougherty

APRIVATEdonorhasgiventhe

FriendsofTSQueenMarya£1million boostastheClydesteamercelebrates its90thbirthdaythroughout2023. ecashwillallowthecharity, whichsavedtheformerWilliamson Buchanan,LondonMidland& ScottishRailway,BritishRailwaysand CalMac-ownedshipfromscrapping andtookherhometoGlasgowin 2016,topushaheadwithplansfor fullrestorationtosailingorder.

Friendschairman,IanSim,said: “Wearedelightedtoreceivesucha boosttoour nancesbyadonorwho wishestoremainanonymous.

andsupporters,markingthe90th anniversaryofthelaunchoftheship’s hullatDennyBrothersofDumbarton in1933.

Theworksplatefromatugthat sankin1942,theyearitwasbuilt, thatfetched£100atauction.

Thecopperandbrass marinelamp,stampedLNER DED(DocksEngineers’Dept), wasfrom Telford,adredger ontheRiverHumberatHull

Thismarinelamp fromdredger Telford wentunderthe hammerfor£150at auctiononMarch18.

builtbyLobnitz&CoofRenfrewin 1926.LobnitzoriginatedfromCoulburn Lobnitz&Coestablishedin1874,and oneofitsships, SSShieldhall,survives asavolunteer-runpleasurecruiseron theSolent. is1753tonvesselisthelargest workingsteamshipin theUKandispartofthe NationalHistoricFleet. Finally,ashipbuilder’s brassworksplate,oneof 500lotsinaliveonline auctionheldbyGreat CentralRailwayanaon March4,wenttoanew homefor£100.Itwas fromatugthatsankin theBristolChannelin 1942,theyearitwasbuilt bymarineandgeneral engineeringcompany Amos&SmithofHull thatwasestablishedin 1874,coincidentallythe sameyearastheoriginal Lobnitzcompanythat built Telford .Prices quotedatallthree auctionsexclude buyer’spremiumof 15%(+VAT).

“Thedonor’sgenerositywill allowustoliftalltheexistingtimber decksandreplacethemwithsteel, somethingwhichwehavetodoto conformtomodernrequirements toallowustosail.Workwillalsobe doneonthewheelhouse,captain’s cabinandfunnels.It’souraimto returnthismuch-lovedsteamerto sailingorderandthe QueenMary will operateasacruiseship,delighting daytrippers,andalsoasa oating college,teachingmarineandheritage skillsaroundthecountry. isboost bringstherealisationofourplans verymuchcloser.”

TheannouncementonApril 16camejustweeksafterPrincess Anne,thePrincessRoyal,patron oftheship’srestorationcharity, wasprincipalspeakerataprivate receptioninGlasgowformembers oftheFriendsofTSQueenMary

ShepraisedtheFriendsfortheir visioninsavingtheClydesteamer fromcertainscrappingandsaid thatshewassurethattheship, whichhasalonganddistinguished career,wouldsailagain,servingthe nostalgia,touristandeducational marketsequally.

Anddemonstratingco-operation between TSQueenMary and PS Waverley,theFriendsofTSQueen Maryhavecharteredtheirship’ssister Clydesteamerfora90thanniversary cruisefromGlasgowScienceCentre toGourockandreturnonFriday,June 23,leavingat7.15pmandreturningto Glasgowat10.30pm.

Ticketsare£38foradults and£19forchildrenincluding aspecialanniversaryprint exclusivetothecruiseand areavailablefromwww. waverleyexcursions.co.uk/book

PHOTO:TALISMANRAILWAYANA

PHOTO:GWRAILWAYANA

PHOTO:GREATCENTRALRAILWAYANA

AStHelensCanalsignwarning vesselcaptainstoensure drawbridgeswereclosedthatsold for£400.

PHOTO:TALISMANRAILWAYANA

RoyaltyClassnarrowboat Victoria,built1931andFMCnarrowboat Stafford,built1895,preparetodescend StokeBruerneTopLockNo14onApril29.

PHOTO: GRAHAMNUTTALL

Python promotingChesterfieldCanalTrustattheBraunston HistoricBoatRally.

PHOTO:SARAHSPENCER

TSQueenMary atherGlasgowScienceCentreberth.The steamercharity’splanstohavetheshipsailagainhavebeen boostedenormouslybya£1manonymousprivatedonation.

AdelightedIanSimannounces the£1mdonationwith TS QueenMary inthebackground.

Exploringyourcanalancestry:boatbuilders

NicolaLislecontinuesher familyhistoryserieswith adviceontracingboat buildersinyourfamily.

SOFARthisserieshaslookedmostlyat thepeoplewhoworkedandlivedonthe waterways.Butwhataboutthepeople whobuiltandrepairedtheirboats?

Boatbuilding rmswereoftenfamilyrunbusinesses,passeddownthrough thegenerations,sotrackingdownone ancestorassociatedwiththebusiness willoftenleadtoinformationaboutother familymembers.

Ifyouareluckyenoughtohavean ancestorassociatedwithanyofthewellknownboatbuilding rmsitshouldbe fairlyeasyto ndoutmoreaboutthem.

AquickonlinesearchforWJYarwood &Sons,forexample,revealsthatfounder WilliamJamesYarwoodwasbornin1851, wasanapprenticeatanironfoundryand laterablacksmithbeforefoundinghis owncompanyinNorthwichin1896.

Thecompanybuiltboatsforthe ManchesterShipCanalCompanyand theGrandUnionCanalCompany,among others.DuringtheSecondWorldWar, underthemanagementofYarwood’s sons,morethan100vesselsweremade fortheAirMinistry.AYarwood’smotor boat, Sculptor ,builtin1935,isnow mooredoutsidetheCanalMuseumat StokeBruerne.

Otherfamousboatbuildingcompanies includeNurserBrothersofBraunston, foundedbyWilliamNurser(1837-1899) in1876,andTooley’sofBanbury,founded inaround1901byGeorgeTooley(18691940).Bothspecialisedinbuilding woodennarrowboats.Tooley’sboatyard,

whichdatesfrom1778andformerly belongedtotheOxfordCanalCompany, isnowtheoldestcontinuouslyworking boatyardintheUK.

Manyofyourancestors,though,will undoubtedlyhaveworkedforoneormore ofthemanylesser-knowncompanies, andtherearenumerouswaystotrack themdown.

Findingrecords

Censusreturnsandbirth,marriageand deathcerti cates(discussedearlierin thisseries)givedetailsofoccupations, soyoucandiscoverorcon rmwhether anyofyourancestorswereinvolvedin theboatbuilding/repairbusinessand wheretheywerebased.Notethatthey won’tnecessarilybedescribedasaboat builder;theymightappearasboatmaker, boatmanufacturer,mechanicalengineer, carpenterorblacksmith,amongothers. Ifyouknowthenameofthecompany yourancestorownedorworkedfor,the

NationalArchivesDiscoverycatalogue (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. uk)isagoodresource.Enterthename ofthecompanyorindividualtoseeif

therearerecordsavailableandwhether theyareheldattheNationalArchives orelsewhere.

Asearchfor‘AHWatly,boatbuilder’, forexample,revealsthatarecordof boatsbuiltisheldintheCairdLibrary andArchiveattheNationalMaritime Museum. erearemorethan900boat buildingcompaniesorassociations listed,ofwhicharoundone-thirdareheld attheNationalArchives.

Localrecordofficesmayhold informationrelatingtoboatbuilders intheirarea.Companyrecordsare particularlyusefulastheywillhavesta detailssuchasfullname,address,date ofbirth,datesofserviceandpossibly sicknessrecords,disciplinarymatters andsoon.

Employeesmayalsobementionedin companyminutesand nancialrecords. Lookalsofortollrecords,boatregisters andinspectionsandapprenticeship records,allofwhichmightinclude

ImagineanUnlimitedSupplyof CleanWateronYourBoat.

WaterFreedomfiltrationsystemstake waterfromacanalorriverandfilterit toremovesediments,hydrocarbons, pesticidesandheavymetals,plusa rangeofothercontaminants.

Pathogensarezappedwithultra-violetlight. It’slikehavingaminiwatertreatmentplanton yourboatandmeansyoucanfillyourtankin minutes,empoweringyoutotakelongshowers orevendailybaths,aswellasproviding stress-freeuseofdomesticappliancessuch aswashingmachinesanddishwashers. Ourcustomerstellusit’slifechanging.

detailsofboatbuildingcompaniesand theiremployees.Youmightalso nd boatbuilderslistedinstreetandtrade directories,alongwiththeiraddresses andotherdetails,whilenewspapers, familypapersandoralhistoriesarealso worthexploring.

TheWaterwaysArchivesat EllesmerePort(https://collections. canalrivertrust.org.uk/home)also includesrecordsofboatbuilders.A searchforNurserBrothers,forexample, showsthatthearchiveholdsmorethan 30photographsandacollectionof certi catesofregistration.

NationalHistoricShips(www. nationalhistoricships.org.uk)isan excellentresourcefor ndingoutmore aboutyourancestors’boats.

Searchforaboatname,andifitstill existsyouwillgetthenameofthebuilder andthedatebuiltalongwithotherdetails suchasvesseltypeandfunction,current useandlocation,dimensions,abrief history,previousnamesandmore.

Youcanalsosearchbyboattypeand location,whichisusefulifyou’renot sureoftheboatname.Forexample,a searchforcanalboatsinDerbyshire revealedthreeresults: Seal (Alfred Hickman,Bilston,1873,currentlyonthe ErewashCanal); Beech (Fellows,Morton &Clayton,Uxbridge,1935,currently atLangleyMill);and Ramillies (Harris Brothers,Netherton,1960,currentlyat LongEaton).

Finally,TheEurekaPartnership (https://eurekapartnership.com) hastranscribedandpublishedboat inspectionsandregistrationsfor Berkshire,Gloucestershire,Oxfordshire andWarwickshire,aswellastheOxford CanalMiscellany,allofwhichmightyield detailsofboatbuilders.

TheforgeatTooley’sBoatyard. PHOTOSNICOLALISLE

Tooley’sBoatyardinBanbury.

Festivalfunfor allthefamily

THEChester eldCanalTrustwillhold itsfestivalatStaveleyTownBasinS43 3XZonSaturdayandSunday,June24 and25,from10am-5pm.

erewillbefreeparkingnearby withparkingfordisabledvisitorson site. erearealsoseveralbusroutes thatpasswithing200metresofthe site,thewholeofwhichisaccessible towheelchairs.

Allfourofthetrust’stripboatswillbe inaction;twoofthemhavewheelchair lifts.PleasleyValeCanoe&Activity Clubwillberunningcanoeingsessions andchildrenwillbeabletohaveago onamini-digger.

Freeentertainmentwillinclude music,danceandstreettheatreallday, bothinthebigmarqueeandoutside bythelock.

etrust’sdevelopmentmanager GeorgeRogerswillbeholdingQ&A sessionsinthemarqueeaboutthe plansfortherestorationofthecanal.

Inaddition,therewillbebirdsof prey,children’srides,waterwalking balls,bumperboats,spinningBumper Carz,Newfoundlandrescuedogs, wildlifegroups,facepainting,craft stalls,charitystalls,lotsoffoodstalls andarealalebar.

erewillbeseparateconcertson theFridayandSaturdaynights,starting at7.30pm.Fridaywillseethereturnof

theever-popularSwingCommanders, whileSaturdaywillfeature Chesterfield’sownWonderWhys. Ticketsforbothconcertsareavailable fromtheChester eldCanalTrust websiteatwww.chester eld-canaltrust.org.uk

OnMonday,June26,therewill bea otillaofallfourtripboatsfrom StaveleyBasinrightupthecanal toTaptonandback,withstopsat HollingwoodHubandTaptonLock, covering10milesand12locks.

AndonTuesday,June27,there willbeaWhat,WhereandWhen RestorationWalktoshowhowthe canal’sroutelooksatpresentbeforethe majorrestorationworksstartnextyear. etrustisverygratefultoMarkham ValeandDerbyshireCountyCouncil forgivingpermissiontousethesite. Admissionwillbe£6,freeforunder 16s.Emailfestival@chester eld-canaltrust.org.ukorring01246477569for furtherinformationorifyouwouldlike tohaveastallortakeaboat.

LotstodoatLeicester RiversideFestival

LEICESTERRiverside Festivalreturnsto thecityoverthe rst weekendinJune. Spreadover BedePark,Western BoulevardandCastle Gardens,itfeaturesfun onando thewater. Enjoylivebandsand music,afunfair,food stalls,streetmarket, artsandcrafts,beer tentandmore.

eRiverSoarand

MileStraightwillhost colourfulnarrowboats, boatrides,canoesand demonstrations. It’sfreetotakea boat,or£25totrade.To

registeryourinterest pleaseemailfestivals@ leicester.gov.uk Makeanoteinyour diaryforJune3-4.It's suretobeafun-packed weekendnottobemissed!

Forfurtherinformationgotovisitleicester. infoandfollowtheeventonsocial media:twitter.com/leicesterfest facebook.com/leicesterfestivals instagram.com/leicesterfest/

Colourfulhammocksforfestivalvisitors. PHOTOSSUPPLIED

Allstarlineup attheCropredy Convention

FAIRPORT’sCropredyConvention three-dayopen-airmusicfestival recentlyannouncedthecomplete lineupofactsbookedforthis summer’sevent.

Ittakesplacealongsidethe SouthOxfordCanalatCropredy fromThursdaytoSaturday, August10-12.

efestivalwillfeatureitsusual eclecticmixofacts–everything fromacousticfolktorockandprog andallthingsinbetween.

eCropredyteamisdelighted toannouncethatthefabulous NileRodgers&CHICwillheadline

onThursday,August10.The Cropredyaudiencecanexpect anunforgettableshowfromthis multi-awardwinningsongwriter, composer,producerandguitarist. Otherhighlightsinclude10cc headliningontheFriday,Toyahand RobertFripp,KikiDeeandCarmelo Luggeri,GilbertO’Sullivan,theUK farewellperformancebyStrawbs andathree-hourheadlinesetfrom hostbandFairportConvention. Fullticketandbooking informationisontheFairport Conventionwebsite:www. fairportconvention.com/faqs

VisitorsenjoyingthesunshineatStaveleyTownBasin.

Paddlesportsare alwaysapopular attraction.

SpinningBumperCarzfunfortheyoungervisitors.

C

Learntodriveamini-digger. PHOTOSSUPPLIED