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1 Issue 168, October 20191

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Richard Parry and Coun Jacky Smith cut the ribbon to officially open Lock 15 on the Grantham Canal, from the bow of Three Shires. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Making history as sixth lock reopens

By Janet Richardson

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GRANTHAM Canal’s Lock 15 has welcomed its first boat in more than 90 years following a three-year restoration project.

Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry and South Kesteven District Council chairman Coun Jacky Smith cut the ribbon from the bow of Grantham Canal Society’s trip boat

Three Shires to officially reopen the lock on Friday, September 13.

The sixth lock to be restored on the canal, it is part of the Woolsthorpe flight near Stenwith where the canal descends across the Vale of Belvoir and is overlooked by the historic castle, home to the Duke of Rutland.

The lock, designed by canal engineer William Jessop more than 200 years ago, had been derelict since

the 1920s. Since summer 2015 volunteers have been dismantling the lock after the walls moved and crumbled.

They have laid new foundations, completely rebuilt the walls, created new moorings and lifted in new oak lock gates.

Welcoming dignitaries, supporters and volunteers to the ceremony, GCS chairman Mike Stone said: “It is coincidental that we can mark our 50th year

with the opening of yet another lock.”

He thanked the Canal & River Trust which enabled the project to proceed, the National Heritage Lottery Fund for its confidence in a small local society and willingness to fund the project and the ‘priceless’ volunteers from the Grantham Canal Society and Waterway Recovery Group.

• Continued on page 2

Carbon neutral goal

Partnership approval

RYA backs UN initiative

THE Humber region – famed for its maritime history and its access to inland waterways – is now aiming to become the world’s first zero carbon economy, writes Geoff Wood. By doing this it hopes to attract global investment for environmentally friendly industries and technology. Lord Haskins, chairman of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “If we can achieve this goal of becoming carbon neutral on Humberside, it would make a brilliant example for the rest of the country and also the world.”

LEGENDARY sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnson has endorsed the Merchant Navy Association (MNA) Boat Club partnership with the RNLI to promote the Respect the Water campaign on the UK’s inland waterways. MNA Boat Club members have been invited to become RNLI-MNA “ambassadors” to promote the RNLI campaign aimed at reducing fatalities as a result of drowning. In 1969 Sir Robin Knox-Johnson became the first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.

THE Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has stepped up its commitment to sustainability activities by becoming a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and renewing its environmental policy.

The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. The RYA will be making the principles part of its day-to-day operations. The RYA’s policy highlights its commitment to complying with applicable legislation, preventing pollution and minimising risks to the environment.

2 NEWS

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WELCOME WE ARE in the midst of an Indian summer as I write, with blue skies and warm temperatures during the day and that ‘back end’ chill starting to creep in at dusk as the nights draw in.

But as boaters try to make the most of the late-season sunshine, the lack of rainfall in some areas is causing water levels to drop, resulting in lock restrictions in some areas.

Wellbeing seems to be the buzzword at the moment and perhaps some of our politicians should use the parliamentary prorogation to experience the calming influence of the canals and rivers before facing the stormy waters ahead.

I have experienced two contrasting areas during the past few weeks, visiting Burnley where I enjoyed a gentle cruise along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal on board Kennet in glorious sunshine, see report on page 20, and Manchester where I walked down the Rochdale Nine with north west regional director Daniel Greenhalgh, see feature on page 15.

In comparison the shire counties of middle England illustrate how diverse our network is. Friday the 13th was certainly lucky weatherwise as I visited the Grantham Canal for the reopening of Lock 15 in the beautiful Vale of Belvoir overlooked by the castle on the hill. And it stayed balmy for the Braunston Literary Festival the following day.

Although it still seems weeks away, we give a nod to Halloween in our October edition with the story of the search for a picture of mid-19th century Rugeley murder victim Christina Collins, on page 14, and spooky destinations for half-term holidays on page 60.

But in the meantime enjoy the autumn and the wonderful colours to be seen along the waterways at this time of year.

Making history as lock reopens in society’s 50th year • Continued from page 1 Mike also thanked the local communities all along the canal and further afield who had supported the project with donations large and small totalling some £100,000 over the past five years.

Also the following people who had been particularly influential and without whom this project may not have started let alone been successfully undertaken: Kevin Mann, Ian White and Railway Paths, Lucie Holmer, Kally Barot, Paul Sheerdown, John Brydon, staff of South Kesteven District Council, Karen Rice, David Fairbanks, Judy Jones, Alan Stephens and last but by no means least the staff of Belvoir Castle.

Mike added that the restoration of the next lock (14) was progressing and invited guests to go and take a look at the work in progress. The restoration of the two locks is part of a project which was awarded a £830,500 grant by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

He concluded: “You may be

Coun Jim Harker from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Three Shires makes her way through Lock 15.

surprised that initial discussions and project planning commenced about 10 years ago.”

He said the Canal & River Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund now had an opportunity to be involved right from the start and contribute to a new project – further lock restorations – and what better than to complete the Woolsthorpe flight restoring Locks 13 and 12!

“We and you cannot leave a task half completed! I throw down the gauntlet!

Which of you will pick it up?”

Richard Parry said he was very proud to see this major lock being used by a boat for the first time in more than 90 years. “Today this is all about the volunteers and the work you have done.

You have grown in number, confidence, capability and ambition. It is a great achievement by everyone involved.”

Coun Jim Harker, deputy chairman for England, Midlands and east, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said he had

first visited the lock five years ago and saw what a derelict site it was. “What a transformation, it is not just preservation but true restoration.”

He referred to the canal’s ability to help people enjoy better wellbeing and said NLHF, which is 25 years old this year, was very pleased to play a part.

He also thanked everyone who plays the lottery, adding that without them, none of these projects could be helped in this way.

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Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk

Assistant editor Sarah Spencer sspencer@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Group advertising manager Sue Keily Advertising sales team leader Tania Shaw – tshaw@mortons.co.uk

Grantham Canal Society chairman Mike Stone throws down the gauntlet for further restoration plans.

Newly restored Lock 15 with Belvoir Castle in the background.

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Work will continue over the winter at Lock 14 before new gates are lifted into position next summer. PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON

Restoration in progress at Lock 14.

Towpath work will enhance wildlife habitats THAMES Water and the Canal & River Trust have pledged £70,000 to improve a canal towpath in Thatcham, Berkshire.

Pathways on the 2km stretch along the Kennet & Avon Canal are being resurfaced and the bank strengthened, while new vegetation will be planted to encourage wildlife at the site.

Sara James, Canal & River Trust senior

environmental scientist, explained: “These targeted improvements will help smooth the journeys of everyone using the towpath, whether they are on bikes, buggies or on foot.”

Thames Water will pay £50,000 towards the work, which began in early September, with the rest coming from the trust. Eight locations will be improved, comprising about 75m of

the towpath.

Large stones will be removed and the towpath surface will be smoothed where tree roots have protruded on to the pathway.

Clay or soil-filled sacks will also be used to strengthen the bank and planted alongside new vegetation including reeds to provide more greenery.

The work will last about six weeks

and more than 15 Canal & River Trust volunteers have already come forward to help with tasks including filling the sacks and laying the new path surface.

The stretch of the towpath passes

by Monkey Marsh Lock, one of only two remaining turf-sided locks on the canal, with most of the others having been replaced by brick or stone sides.

The lock provides a home for wildlife including water voles, birds, fish and invertebrates and the work aims to enhance these habitats.

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Councils aim to tackle Thames mooring problems

NEW powers could be used by councils along the River Thames to prevent unauthorised mooring and tackle associated antisocial behaviour problems.

Spelthorne Council is consulting on a proposal to introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for moorings in the area and further afield.

A report to Spelthorne Borough Council’s Cabinet in July identified “the unreasonable and persistent nature of some mooring, without consent, which is having a detrimental effect on people living in the locality”.

Elmbridge and Runnymede Borough Councils are also consulting on a similar plan with a view to making a consistent Order for the River Thames in all three boroughs.

Coun Richard Barratt, portfolio holder for environment and compliance at Spelthorne, said: “With increased enforcement in Kingston and Richmond displacing boats into Surrey, the problem has grown, resulting in an increase in the number of complaints received in all three Surrey boroughs.

“Further displacement is anticipated in future years, as mooring areas and marinas within London are developed, which is why we need to act.

Great asset

“The Thames is a great asset to us and we are determined to protect and enhance it for the benefit of residents of Spelthorne.”

Mooring enforcement in Spelthorne is carried out by the Joint Enforcement Team (JET) in Neighbourhood Services.

The team has reported an increase in boats overstaying at moorings provided at its parks and open spaces, in particular those at Lady Lynsey’s Lawn, Kings Lawn and Shepperton Lock, according to the council.

They have also noticed an increase in boats mooring in non-designated sites, particularly along Thameside, Laleham and Flowerpot Green, Sunbury.

Both these sites are owned and managed by the council.

In 2018, the team completed 58

periods of mooring enforcement and issued a total of 54 overstaying warning letters.

In addition, they dealt with two boats at Staines Bridge by way of a Community Protection Warning Letter and subsequently a Community Protection Notice (CPN) due to antisocial behaviour comprising fly-tipping, littering and using a chemical toilet in full view of the passing public.

One of the boats moved after the warning letter, the second upon the issue of the CPN. The team has also issued notices to six boats under the Refuse Amenity Act 1978 to abandoned or suspected abandoned vessels on council-run sites and this culminated in one vessel being removed and disposed of at expense to the council.

Weekly complaints

It also receives “weekly complaints from residents, park users and the council grounds maintenance teams about the amount of rubbish being left at the mooring sites”.

Coun Vivienne Leighton, chairman of the River Thames Task Group, said: “Engaging with local riverside authorities is a key aspect of the Task Group’s remit which this proposal delivers.

“We will work in partnership with Elmbridge and Runnymede on this joint initiative to protect mooring sites. Each of the three boroughs, while different in scale, has been facing an increase in antisocial behaviour associated with unauthorised moorings and this needs to be addressed for our residents.”

New Reach volunteers decide project is sunk VOLUNTEERS dedicated to restoring a stretch of canal that once served as an important trade route have decided they can no longer carry on.

Halesworth New Reach Working Group (NRWG) in Suffolk has “reluctantly decided” that it can no longer carry on “for the time being at least” with efforts to restore the waterway.

It was dug in 1760 as part of the Blyth Navigation to provide a direct link between Halesworth and the sea at Southwold Harbour.

A “final newsletter” from the group stated: “Local conditions, including some opposition, have restricted our work so much that any constructive progress has become virtually impossible.

“When we set up the New Reach Working Group a few years ago,

funded by a sponsored canoe trip, we hoped that one day the canal could be restored for local amenity use.

“Since then we have made extensive proposals for how the waterway could be improved, including desilting, raising water levels and providing access for boating.

“This was done in the spirit of similar efforts made in the 1990s but resistance from wildlife groups and other bodies has shown that this is not apparently what people want.”

The statement said that a recent handing over by the Environment Agency of Blyth river conservation to Suffolk Wildlife Trust meant that in future boating throughout the Blyth had become “even less certain”.

It continued: “This is a great pity.

In our view, Halesworth needs more recreational amenities and visitor

attractions to ensure its survival as a prosperous market town.

“The New Reach restored as an amenity waterway would greatly add to the quality of life in Halesworth, especially given the proposed addition of some 600 households.”

NRWG has agreed to divide the assets of the group, including its work punt and petrol strimmer, between the River Waveney Trust and Halesworth Millennium Green.

“We think that this best reflects the original aims and objectives of our group,” said the statement.

“We would like to thank all our supporters, both financial and otherwise, who over the past few years have made our work possible and given us so much encouragement.

“We are only sorry that we could not, for the present at least, make the vision of a flourishing New Reach a reality.”

The Blyth Navigation opened in 1761 and had a significant impact on the development of Halesworth, enabling the export of goods, especially grain and malt, to developing markets via coastal shipping.

Autumn reflection…

Consultation

The consultation can be completed until September 30, 2019. A copy of the Report and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the Council’s website.

A PSPO is legislation that allows a council to address a particular problem in a particular area that is detrimental to the local community’s qualify of life.

The order works by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone.

Fixed penalty notices can be issued for a breach of a PSPO.

Thanks to boater Neil Simm of Viking cruiser Ruby 2 for sharing this superb early morning picture which he snapped approaching Bridge 9 on the Trent & Mersey Canal while heading towards Stone.

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Reservoir ‘sightseers’ warned after emergency A WARNING “not to go sightseeing in the bottom of the drained reservoir” has been sent out by the Canal & River Trust following the Whaley Bridge dam emergency.

“We’re still getting reports from our contractor Kier and concerned residents that people are still trying to access the reservoir and climbing and even removing fencing,” said a spokesperson for CRT. “Please don’t go sightseeing in the bottom of the drained reservoir. It’s also a working site with plant and machinery in operation.”

Signs have been installed all the way round advising people not to walk in the silt and the CRT is also planning a number of site visits for local people to access the dam and hear the latest news and updates.

Experts are yet to fully understand the extent of the works required at the dam

and, although it is still speculation at this early stage, it is anticipated that repairs may be in the region of £5 million to £10 million and the CRT will be reviewing how this work is to be funded once the full cost is established.

Investigations into what caused the partial failure of the dam at Whaley Bridge are starting “in earnest”, said the CRT, which manages 72 reservoirs across the country.

Daniel Greenhalgh, CRT director north west, found himself thrust into the spotlight of the world’s media as the drama unfolded after a period of very heavy rainfall on July 31 in the Derbyshire High Peak area.

The spillway at Toddbrook Reservoir was put at risk of collapse, with the exact cause still unclear.

The reservoir provides water to the Peak Forest Canal and on to the Macclesfield Canal at Marple.

Daniel said: “It was a phenomenal effort by everyone involved to get to the stage where we could make it safe and drain the reservoir down. Our sole focus was making it safe.”

About 1500 people were evacuated and emergency repairs secured the dam.

“I am really proud of the response.

The community of Whaley Bridge was resilient, understanding and patient. I attended a public meeting of about 400 people all wondering when they could go home,” said Daniel.

“The sense of community spirit there was amazing, the local football club had people 24 hours a day helping to feed people as well as other organisations such as the sailing club and church mission.”

He added: “We need to harness that community spirit and engage them with what we are doing going forward.

“Our focus was making it safe and we

are about to start our investigations in earnest. A lot of people want to know the next steps and timescales but the key thing is to understand what happened and make sure we engage the community to keep them informed as we come up with a project to get the reservoir back in action.”

Toddbrook Reservoir project manager Rob Jowitt said: “I want to reassure everyone living in Whaley Bridge and surrounding areas that the dam wall remains safe, with the reservoir near empty.”

He said high-powered pumps on site continued to do their job by keeping water levels very low.

“Over the past weeks we have been doing a number of important tasks.

These include raising the weir level at the inlet structure and moving satellite pumps to the main pumping site.

“Independent experts have been appointed to carry out the investigation into what caused the damage to the dam spillway. We will report back in due course.”

CRT will now be holding a drop-in surgery at the Transhipment Warehouse every Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm.

Days or hours may be extended pending on the level of demand and the

CRT may also look to provide specific specialist themes during these times, again depending on the interest.

The water resource prospects for the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals to the end of the boating season were assessed and the CRT was confident that thanks to resources available in Bosley, Combs and Sutton, normal, unrestricted navigation would be maintained.

It was also anticipated that planned winter stoppage works in the region would still go ahead due to the “positive impact” they would have on water resources in the long term.

It was too soon to say what the impact on the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals for the 2020 boating season would be, with the prospects depending on factors including how well the reservoirs recharge during autumn and winter.

“Clearly losing the supply from Toddbrook (which provides 28% of the total reservoir resource to the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals) will have a significant impact, however the trust is working on plans to mitigate this as soon as possible,” said a spokesperson.

A number of events and art exhibitions are being planned for Whaley Bridge in relation to the emergency response.

Whaley market supports dam heroes WHALEY Bridge’s most recent food and arts market had extra purpose to it, with special stalls celebrating the volunteers and emergency services who sprang into action during the summer’s dam emergency.

The ‘FAB’ (food and arts at the basin) market is held three to four times a year to raise funds and awareness of the Whaley Bridge canal group.

Members are working to conserve Whaley Bridge basin, the Grade II listed Transhipment Warehouse and the canal towpath up to bridge 32 of the Peak Forest Canal.

September’s FAB market had an extra aim – telling people ‘Whaley Bridge is back up and running and please come and visit now the threat of failure of Toddbrook reservoir dam is over’.

The market certainly seemed to help, with the town buzzing and many people making their way to

the canal Wharf. There they found a good eclectic mix of attractions from pie, cake and cider sellers on the food side, to plenty of artists in a variety of mediums from paint to textiles on the arts side.

Extra displays and stalls celebrated and thanked people from the voluntary and emergency services, including one featuring work by young artist Ellie Kerr.

Ellie, whose home is in Whaley but she is away at university, felt she had to do something and has produced a series of artwork under the title ‘Keep your Chinook up’.

From Ellie’s first painting of the helicopter that dropped bags of aggregate on to the dam, the range has expanded to prints, mugs and tote bags.

Ellie’s mum, Ann, and two of her friends, Alison and Amanda, were there in the Transfer Shed selling these

mementos of the near-disaster to add to the £7000 they have already raised.

The money will be donated to the voluntary and emergency services involved in the days following the evacuation.

Meanwhile up at drained Toddbrook reservoir all was peaceful and quiet though the footbridge over the spillway is closed to the public and the pumps used to empty the water out are still in place just in case, but are silent now.

The next Whaley Bridge FAB will be on December 14, when Father Christmas will be welcoming children on to his magical floating canal sleigh.

More details of the Whaley Bridge canal group can be found at https:// www.whaleybridgecanal.org/ And Ellie has a good online presence under the title of ‘Art is Mental’ for anyone who fancies a ‘Keep your Chinook up’ memento.

Ellie Kerr’s mum, Ann, left, and two of her friends, Alison and Amanda, in the Transfer Shed selling the young artist’s work to add to the £7000 they have already raised for the emergency services.

The busy wharf with moored narrowboat Anne at the FAB market.

Drained Toddbrook Reservoir is all quiet now. PHOTOS: COLIN WAREING (COLIN AND CAROLE’S CREATIONS)

Selling in the shed at the indoor food and art market held in the Grade II listed canal Transhipment Warehouse at Whaley Bridge.

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Coast to coast canoe trail project reaches climax A FIVE-YEAR youth project by the Canal & River Trust to create England’s first coast to coast canoe trail reached a climax with a series of celebrations.

These included five festivals and the end of a canoe relay over the Pennine hills across the entire 162-mile route.

The trail stretches from Liverpool in the west to Goole on the Humber estuary.

Hundreds of people attended youthled festivals in Burnley, Leeds Dock, Blackburn and Goole, winding up with the finale at Liverpool Waterfront.

Relays set off from Goole on Wednesday, August 14 and Liverpool’s Eldonian Village the following day, meeting up near the Canoe Trail’s mid-point in Burnley on Friday, August 23.

Having fun at the eastern end of the route. PHOTOS: CRT

Special commemorative paddles carried on each leg will be placed into a permanent celebratory artwork on the canal towpath nearby.

Funded by a £1.3 million grant from the Desmond Foundation, the trail is known as the Desmond Family Canoe Trail and has provided new training and volunteering opportunities for thousands of young people aged 16 to 25 on both sides of the Pennines.

Community canoe hubs have been created in Sefton, Wigan, Burnley, Castleford and Goole, with plans for extra hubs in Skipton, Leeds and Blackburn.

Several of the young people have become so engaged in the project they have trained as youth leaders and hope to carry on with the project after it officially winds up next year.

In partnership with British Canoeing, two new detailed trail leaflets have been produced for would-be canoeists, kayakers and paddle boarders, giving top tips on how to negotiate the route, which follows the 127-mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Britain’s longest single canal, and 35 miles along the Aire & Calder Navigation through Yorkshire.

The eastern and western canoe relay teams meet in Burnley on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

The new trail leaflets being launched at the Burnley event by canoe trail young leaders, left to right, Erin Lashley, Jordan Burns and Andrew Whittaker.

The first covers the western side – Liverpool’s Eldonian Village to Reedley Marina near Burnley, and the second maps out the eastern side from Burnley to Goole, dividing the route into a series of shorter day trips.

This new grand waterway adventure is not for the faint-hearted. It involves carrying canoes around 91 locks, including the 21-lock Wigan flight and Bingley’s famous Five Rise Staircase, and paddling under the summit of the Pennine hills through a mile-long tunnel at Foulridge.

To help paddlers, a number of canoe access improvements have been made at Liverpool’s Eldonian Village and Wigan, with further work planned for Castleford and Goole.

New canoe signage will also help people find their way along the coast to coast waterway route.

The Desmond Family Canoe Trail project was the brainchild of the CRT. Danny Matley, canoe trail project manager with the CRT, said: “The celebrations over the sunny August Bank Holiday have attracted hundreds of people, who learnt more about the trail and enjoyed music, food and canoe taster sessions.

“Since the project launched in 2015 we have supported thousands of young people in a range of activities, not only giving them the chance to get out on the water in a canoe, but also to learn a range of valuable new skills.

“Thanks to the trail initiative, young people have found new ways to engage with their local communities and grown in confidence as they’ve acquired environmental and waterway skills, working on their neighbourhood canal.

“The amazing legacy from this brilliant project is a Coast to Coast Canoe Trail, every bit as challenging and engaging as Alfred Wainwright’s famous Coast to Coast Walking Trail.

“Of course, paddlers can do just as little or as far as they wish along the 162-mile route, but we are certain this new cross-country waterway trail is set to capture the imagination of every canoeist, kayaker and paddle boarder with a taste for adventure.”

Anyone interested in a new adventure on the water can pick up the Desmond Family Canoe Trail leaflets at venues across the route.

Alternatively you can download maps – go to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ the-desmond-family-canoe-trail

Enjoying the beauty of the coast to coast canoe trail.

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Walk uncovers city’s watery past A GUIDED walk delving into Lichfield’s historic connections with water attracted more than 150 people as part of a Heritage Weekend.

Lichfield Heritage Water Walk was jointly organised by Lichfield Waterworks Trust and Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.

It began at Speakers’ Corner, on the

city’s Dam Street, and followed the line of a tunnel under the city that carried water to Sandfields Pumping Station.

The waterworks were built to pump clean water to the Black Country during the Industrial Revolution, saving thousands from cholera.

The tour, held on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Heritage Weekend,

The Lichfield Heritage Water Walk reaches Sandfields Pumping Station.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Walkers cross a temporary bridge over Lock 18 at Fosseway Heath. The bridge allows visitors to do a circular walk following the towpath and nature walks on both sides of the canal.

stopped at Sandfields Pumping Station to view the Cornish steam beam engine, the only surviving one of its type in the world in this condition.

The walkers then moved on to view the trails and towpaths of the Fosseway Heath section of the Lichfield Canal, before catching a famous Midland Red bus, loaned by Aston Manor Road Transport Museum, to take them to the restored Gallows Wharf, near London Road, to see part of the recently exposed towpath wall dating from 1797.

And added to the success of the Heritage Weekend, Lichfield has attracted international interest with a YouTube video blog featuring the city’s canal restoration getting more than 400,000 views.

‘Digging Deep’ is number 187 in a series of vlogs called Cruising The Cut, David Johns’ diary of life aboard a traditional narrowboat.

David first introduced his 77,000 followers to the restoration in August when he was on the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford and he pointed out the surviving remains of the Lichfield Canal, originally the Ogley Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal.

He decided to make a vlog of the work of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, the volunteers who have taken on the task of restoring the seven-mile length of the canal from Huddlesford to Ogley Junction.

The vlog has attracted more than 1500 comments. Donations to the trust have been sent from as far afield as the US and Australia following its release.

The video blog, number 187 on the YouTube channel Cruising The Cut and subtitled ‘The £40 million canal restoration in central England’, can be viewed at https://youtu.be/ j6_nZYR2nK4

Boat rope keeps big cats happy

R-r-r-rather nice! A Sumatran tiger enjoys playtime. PHOTO: BUYROPE.CO.UK THE Wey & Arun Canal Trust was only too pleased to see some old maritime rope put to good use – by a couple of Sumatran tigers.

The trust organised a collection of unwanted rope to send to Shepreth Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire, where it is to be used by big cats including Sumatran tigers Kelabu and her mum Ratna.

Keeper Alice Vasallo from Shepreth Wildlife Park said: “We use rope to make enrichment to keep our animals stimulated, which is a very important part of keeping animals healthy, both physically and mentally.

“In particular, we are aiming to make a giant scratching post for our tigers and lynx that could help them replicate some natural behaviours in the wild.”

The collection was organised by rope supplier Buyrope.co.uk, which realised that maritime rope could make the perfect plaything for big cats.

It has been supplying the wildlife park with coir boat fenders and contacted the trust to see if it too could help.

Wey & Arun Canal Trust chairman Sally Schupke said: “The Sumatran tiger is now critically endangered, with a population of less than 400 in the wild, and the trust was only too happy to aid its conservation.

“The members of our boat team soon managed to collect a good amount of old rope and fenders.

“We now look forward to hearing how the tigers are enjoying their new toys.”

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Appeal gathers pace in race to save historic tug AN APPEAL launched in a bid to prevent a piece of waterways heritage being lost has raised £8000 and attracted a flood of support.

A group of dedicated volunteers is aiming to raise £35,000 to save historic tug Wheldale and her ‘Tom Puddings’ after the closure of the Yorkshire Waterways Museum in Goole in May. The museum, which housed the iconic tug, educated visitors about the Aire and Calder Navigation – however, it was hit by funding cutbacks.

The volunteers set up the Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society with the immediate goal of raising money to purchase Wheldale and the three remaining floating ‘Tom Puddings’ from the administrators and then repairing the vessel to keep it on the water.

A JustGiving page has seen £7956 donated, and the appeal is also gaining support in other ways.

David Scrimgeour, public relations officer for the society, said: “Our first challenge has been to make sense of the process of selling off the museum’s assets to pay the creditors.

“Administrators Revive Business Recovery have been keeping us informed of progress. Considerable interest has been shown in the museum building and two vessels have already been sold.

“Our volunteers have been working with Revive to ensure that the iconic tug Wheldale and other museum assets are properly looked after.

“Liquidation is not a fast process, which is just as well as we strive to raise sufficient funds to acquire Wheldale and her three ‘Tom Pudding’ compartment

Wheldale after restoration complete with jebus at front, towing the three ‘Tom Puddings’. PHOTO SUPPLIED boats, so that we can preserve her for Goole and Yorkshire.”

Buying Wheldale would be just the starting point, as the 55-tonne tug would need to be taken out of the canal to be surveyed and repaired. But no crane in Goole docks is capable of lifting her.

Space would also be needed to store her for some time to allow volunteer engineers to work on her.

David said: “Alternatively a local dry dock would be needed, but we are struggling to find a suitable location.

Discussions are ongoing with our supporters and we fully expect to find a way forward.

“Given that we solve that problem, the society would be able to have Wheldale certified and insured for carrying passengers ahead of recommencing public trips around Goole docks.

“That was where another challenge emerged as we do not expect to be able to

moor Wheldale and have her embark passengers at the closed museum. Goole port operator ABP has stepped in to kindly grant the society permission to moor Wheldale by the No.5 Coal Hoist in the port and local marina Goole Boathouse has offered to allow the public to access Wheldale through its site where they will also find catering facilities and toilets.”

He added: “So far so good, but we still need to acquire Wheldale to turn this vision into a reality. Donations and fund raising ideas would be most welcome.”

Wheldale and her three compartment boats are a reminder of the revolution in coal transportation which made the town the hub for exports of Yorkshire coal around Europe and the world from the mid-19th century.

Wheldale rarely sailed far from Goole, the famous exception being when she took part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on the River Thames in 2012.

Book relaunch aims to boost appeal funds A DRIVE to save the Wheldale will be boosted by the relaunch of a book to raise funds for the appeal.

Author Mike Clarke has generously given permission for the Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society to relaunch his book Railway on the Water.

This will support the society’s bid to purchase the tug Wheldale and the three remaining floating ‘Tom Puddings’.

The demise of the Yorkshire Waterways Museum in May 2019 has meant that those crucial heritage vessels have been put up for sale and could be sold to buyers outside of Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society wants to ensure that does not happen.

A paperback edition of Railway on the Water will be produced, retailing at £12.50, which will be available through the society and local outlets including the Goole Times.

A hardback ‘coffee table’ edition is also planned.

This prestigious limited edition should appeal to business sponsors, who will have the opportunity to have their vitally important support for Yorkshire’s industrial heritage acknowledged on the dust cover and in the society’s other publicity material.

First published in 2015, the

revised and extended edition of Railway on the Water is the definitive history of the revolutionary mode of coal transportation which made the port of Goole the hub for exports of Yorkshire coal around the UK and Europe from the mid-19th century.

William Hammond Bartholomew, engineer of the Aire and Calder Navigation Company, had invented the system based on compartment boats, known as ‘Tom Puddings’, each carrying around 40 tons of coal, pushed or pulled by a tug, looking as if they were indeed a train of coal wagons on the canal.

Arriving in Goole, each ‘Tom Pudding’ would be lifted out of the dock by a hydraulic coal hoist and tipped into the hold of a collier for onward transportation down the river Ouse to the Humber and beyond.

So successful was Bartholomew’s patented system that it was in use until 1986.

After 122 years of operation it was estimated that around 55 million tons of Yorkshire coal were carried from the county’s coalfields and exported through Goole.

For further information and to place advance orders for Railway on the Water, contact David Scrimgeour on 07702 678128 or david@scrimgeour.biz

The Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society now has a Facebook page.

Even if you don’t have the means to make a donation to the Save the Wheldale campaign you can still help by liking, sharing and following it.

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Queen’s Award given to Erewash volunteers

By Janet Richardson

THE volunteers who fought to keep the Erewash Canal open and have been involved in its upkeep and restoration for half a century have been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association (ECPDA) president Jim Stevenson was presented with the commemorative crystal by the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Willie Tucker during a celebration at the New Horizon Church Centre opposite the association’s headquarters in Langley Mill on August 27.

Receiving the framed scroll, ECPDA chairman Norman Cornwell spoke of his pride at collecting this award on behalf of all the people who had formed the association more than 50 years ago and fought to keep the canal open, all members past and present and everyone who had helped restore the Langley Mill Lock and Great Northern Basin.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the equivalent of the MBE and is awarded to groups of people. The citation read: “Preserving, restoring and maintaining the Erewash Canal, its buildings and structures to benefit all.”

Ld Lt Willie Tucker said that the

Guests take a closer look at the displays after the presentation.

PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON

preservation of such awards was one of his most pleasurable duties. “You are meeting people and presenting awards to people who richly deserve them.”

He told ECPDA members: “In 10 years I have presented less than 10 of these in Derbyshire. You join a small and unique band of organisations recognised in this way by HM the Queen. The assessment process is extremely rigorous and this is the highest award that can be granted to any local voluntary group.” It was first introduced by the Queen in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of her accession.

The Erewash Canal was completed

in 1779, its main purpose to link the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire coal fields to the River Trent. From Langley Mill, where it has a junction with the Nottingham and Cromford Canals, it is 11.75 miles long and has 14 locks.

ECPDA was formed in 1968 to fight a threat by British Waterways to close the canal and has been a completely volunteer-led organisation. It not only saved the canal but restored the Langley Mill Lock and the Great Northern Basin where its first successful boat rally was held in 1973. The canal was upgraded to cruising waterway standard in 1983.

Ld Lt Tucker continued: “Many of the volunteers have long experience in canal restoration and as many become elderly have embarked on a programme of training younger volunteers to carry on this work. This award is for everyone involved in any way with ECPDA with warmest thanks and appreciation for everything you have done in this part of this wonderful county.”

Guests at the celebration also included the Mayor and Mayoress of Amber Valley Borough Council Coun Jock and Mrs Angela Walker, Derby County Council chairman Coun Robert Parkinson and Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry.

Celebrating the award are, from left: Mrs Jill Tucker, Cadet Warrant Officer Melissa Doody (Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet), ECPDA president Jim Stevenson, Lord Lieutenant Willie Tucker and ECPDA chairman Norman Cornwell.

Montgomery team overcoming obstacles

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RESTORATION of the Montgomery Canal has taken another step forward with an application for planning permission to rebuild Schoolhouse Bridge – the last road blockage in Shropshire.

Volunteers from local canal groups have been working together for the last three years under the banner Restore

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the Montgomery Canal! and have been planning to remove the obstruction, raising funds and designing a new road bridge.

The planning application, put forward by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, is a vital step in reopening this section of the Montgomery Canal.

With plans advancing, the project team is looking to recruit volunteers to join them as project manager, site manager and general foreman.

Their roles will be to work with the existing members of the team to plan the site works and then to manage construction next summer.

These part-time posts might suit a retired person or possibly someone selfemployed who would enjoy something worthwhile between other jobs.

Michael Limbrey, chairman of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, said: “For the last few years volunteers of the Shropshire Union Canal Society have been restoring the derelict canal to Crickheath Basin with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

“But Crickheath is not a real canal destination so the local canal groups have been working together as Restore the Montgomery Canal! to carry the restoration further.

“Schoolhouse Bridge is the first project for the appeal: our plan is to rebuild the bridge next summer using volunteers as much as possible – that way we can keep the cost down.

“We have raised most of what the new bridge will cost but we are still looking for donations so we can reach our target.”

He continued: “It is probably 60 years since Schoolhouse Bridge was knocked down and rebuilding it is vital to the restoration. We think it could cost up to a million pounds to use contractors, but with volunteers we hope to rebuild the bridge for a third of that figure.

“The bridge must of course be finished to highway standards acceptable to Shropshire Council and at the same time meet the requirements of the Canal & River Trust.

“Our Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal has been supported by charitable

Major clean-up results in a huge load of rubbish!

ONE of the country’s biggest ever canal clean-ups produced a haul of 1.8 tonnes of rubbish.

This included 809kg of plastic waste, removed from a 10-mile stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Bicycles, traffic cones, spare tyres, safes, men’s underpants, shoes and even the inside of a fridge were among the discarded items.

Almost 300 colleagues from Asda House took time out to help tackle the plastic pollution crisis, supported by Canal & River Trust.

Many took the opportunity to get afloat on the water by canoe and boat.

Rubbish and plastic waste collected over the five days in September by Asda and CRT was taken to a nearby responsible waste disposal company in Leeds. Maltings Organic Treatment Ltd weighed the rubbish daily and the company will also be recycling the plastic items into a bench.

Colleagues originally predicted the amount of plastic collected throughout the week would be enough to make one bench, however the 809kg actually equates to nine.

The recycled plastic bench will be installed next to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the next couple of months, as a lasting legacy of the work carried out

by Asda and CRT. Chris Brown, Asda’s senior director for sustainable business, said: “I’d like to thank all my colleagues from Asda and the team from Canal & River Trust for working really hard throughout the week – which I know will make a difference to the local community who can enjoy our waterways in the city, litter-free.

“At Asda we are dedicated to tackling plastic waste across our own trusts and private donors, many of whom are making regular payments to our appeal and at the same time our civil engineering volunteers have been working on the detailed design for the bridge, using surveyors and consultants.

“This is probably the most significant volunteer-led project of the Montgomery restoration. Our volunteer team has been working for three years with plans to rebuild the bridge, with the assistance of consultants and contractors on technical issues from ecology to layout and structure.

“We are grateful to the Canal & River Trust for help in drawing this information together for the planning application.”

Michael said there was now a need to build up the volunteer team and find experienced volunteers to help with project management and the site work over the next 18 months.

“This will be a most exciting and worthwhile project and our volunteers will be achieving a valuable contribution to the canal which will be enjoyed by many for years to come,” he said.

“The new bridge will comprise in-situ and precast concrete elements with reinforced earthworks, road surfacing

Asda employees and CRT made an ‘amazing’ difference to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal by removing almost two tonnes of rubbish. PHOTOS: CRT business, but we also hold litter-picks in communities across the UK to remove plastic and other litter from our local environments because we know it’s important to our customers and colleagues.”

Sean McGinley, Yorkshire & NE director at CRT, added: “It’s amazing to see what lurks beneath our waterways and I wonder how some of these items have ended up in our waterways.

“Our charity spends around £1 million a year dealing with litter and fly-tipping, money that could be better spent elsewhere. We’re delighted to see the difference Asda volunteers have made and hope the experience has helped people to get to know their local canal and how we look after it.” and drainage, kerbing, safety railing and bricklaying. The main bridge arch will be designed, fabricated, delivered to site and installed by contractors, while other contractors will design and supply supporting gabions.

“Finally, a county council-approved contractor will undertake the road surfacing. With as much work as possible by volunteers, we shall be looking for teams of navvies to join us on one of next summer’s most exciting projects.”

He added: “Rebuilding Schoolhouse Bridge will remove a major obstruction to restoration so we will be able to work on the rest of the canal to the Welsh border at Llanymynech – all part of our ambition to reinstate the connection between the national waterway system and the 11 miles of restored canal centred on Welshpool.”

Full details of the posts are on the website www.

RestoreTheMontgomeryCanal.uk Donations to help with the project can be made through the website too.

The project team will welcome help from qualified and experienced volunteers who can help with the construction in 2020. Email contact@ montgomerywrtrust.uk

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Kind hearts help secure Sylvia’s path to success A CHARITY walker has successfully completed a 145-mile walk along the Grand Union Canal.

Sylvia Keris walked around 11 miles a day from Birmingham Gas Street Basin to Little Venice at Paddington in London, raising around £2500.

This was in aid of The Rotary Foundation’s End Polio vaccination programme and UK charity The Buddy Bag Foundation, which provides a backpack of essential items for children entering emergency accommodation.

Sylvia, a member of the Rotary Club of Eccleshall Mercia in Staffordshire, started on August 1 near the newly renamed Black Sabbath Bridge, walking the towpaths to link on to the Grand Union Canal junction at Digbeth and then onwards down to London, ending on August 13.

On some days she was accompanied by friends or walkers from different Rotary clubs, but on other days she was alone.

She said she never felt unsafe or lonely, due to the “wonderful reception” she received from boaters and other towpath users, who waved her along, offered drinks or kindly offered sponsorship towards her walk charities.

Some narrowboats were seen in different locations on several days, with their journey speed about the same as Sylvia’s walking pace.

Sylvia said walking the Grand Union took her through some spectacular canal scenery, including picturesque countryside marinas, pretty locks, rural villages and canalside pubs

Being waved off from the towpath near Solihull.

Supporters and charity representatives gathered to see Sylvia off from Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. PHOTOS SUPPLIED and cafes; as well as through urban industrial areas and busy towns.

The weather was particularly kind, with predicted forecasts of rain only occurring for a short burst on some days, or else it poured overnight – once she had safely arrived at the homes of Rotarians who were offering her accommodation.

The main challenges, she said, were some very narrow towpaths with eroded canal banks on some stretches and high undergrowth/ nettles beside some pathways. Also, finding the diversions over Braunston and Blisworth tunnels, as well as two long diversions through industrial estates and city streets on the final stretch from Yeading to Paddington, where the towpaths were being repaired and blocked off to walkers. So Sylvia calculated her Grand Union walk was just over 150 miles!

She received a warm welcome at the end and after a cup of tea and relaxing bath went on to her last night host’s meeting at Ealing, Hanwell and Northfields Rotary club, where she was the after-dinner speaker, in the presence of Rotary’s London District Governor, ambassadors of Buddy Bags charity and guests.

Sylvia thanked everyone who supported her, and it’s not too late to donate at http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/sylviakeriswalk Or you can send a cheque made payable to ‘Rotary Club of Eccleshall Mercia’ by contacting Sylvia at sylviakeris@yahoo.co.uk

Shropshire Union’s 250-year history scoops best book award A BOOK on the canals has won a prestigious publication award.

The Association for Industrial Archaeology has given its Publication Award for 2019 to Peter Brown for his book The Shropshire Union Canal.

The association’s president, Professor Marilyn Palmer, said: “The judges were all impressed by the scope of the book, which is far more than a straight canal history.”

The well-illustrated book gives the history of the canals of Shropshire, west Cheshire and the Welsh border counties from 1768 to 2018.

Peter said: “I’m delighted to have won this prestigious award. I look upon the canals as businesses and also as part of local history, promoted by local people for local purposes.

“I’ve tried to assess whether they succeeded in their aims and what their effect has been on the local community.”

The book, which was reviewed in Towpath Talk last year, is available through the website of the Railway & Canal Historical Society (www. rchs.org.uk/shop) or from the Canal Book Shop, Audlem.

AIA president Marilyn Palmer presents author Peter Brown with his award. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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River Weaver back in business after repairs INNOVATIVE repair projects on two massive locks along Cheshire’s River Weaver have secured the full length of the navigation from Winsford to Runcorn for boaters.

Over the last year, the Canal & River Trust has carried out emergency repairs to both Saltersford and Marsh locks, both capable of accommodating 1000-tonne sea-going coastal ships.

Saltersford Lock, near Northwich, opened for business again after a scheduled repair project in January revealed unexpected problems with the lock structure. The repairs saw divers employed to carry out underwater concreting and other challenging construction tasks.

Ian Draycott, a chartered civil engineer with the CRT, explained: “The lock is mainly constructed from Runcorn red sandstone and key parts are formed from more durable Anglesey marble.

“The underwater concreting works are highly unusual and were made particularly challenging by the reduced visibility of the River Weaver water.

“Our site team has been very innovative, patient and professional to achieve a successful outcome

Saltersford Lock, near Northwich, with one of the first boats to use it after reopening.

PHOTO: CRT

– which now thankfully has allowed the lock to reopen.”

Marsh Lock, near Runcorn, which connects the River Weaver with the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, reopened in April after a two-month repair programme to mend a large timber lock gate, badly damaged by a boat collision in June 2018.

The boat failed to stop as it entered the lock and smashed into one of the massive 7.5m long gates, causing it to fracture and the heelpost to split.

Marsh Lock is a vital link from the Weaver into the Ship Canal, so trust staff managed to work out a safe way of operating the damaged lock before the gate underwent extensive repairs.

These involved the innovative use of airbags in a challenging lift manoeuvre of the 32-tonne gate – a technique more commonly used in offshore salvage operations – as well as precision surgery to restore the wooden lock gate.

Trust operations manager Steve Maguire said boaters would be delighted they could now cruise along the full length of the Weaver Navigation without having to stop at Saltersford Lock.

He said: “Structures on the Weaver Navigation are more than 100 years old and they are big – constructed to carry sea-going ships involved in the local salt industry.

“When a lock needs work it is a significant challenge for our engineers. Both these locks have required innovative solutions to repair the various problems and keep them operational. The trust’s engineering teams have done an amazing job.

“Operators of the trust’s Anderton Boat Lift passenger boat and the 1903 steam ship ‘The Danny’ will both be pleased they now have the run of the river for visitors, not to mention a delighted fleet of narrowboat owners and holidaymakers.”

For more information about visiting the River Weaver Navigation or the Anderton Boat Lift visitor attraction, check out the CRT website www. canalrivertrust.org.uk

Robbie Cumming loves being free to roam.

TV fame for boater who chose cruising the canals over career

A MAN who headed to London in search of a career but found canals instead is to feature in a new BBC series.

Robbie Cumming is to star in Canal Boat Diaries – five half-hour programmes made

by BBC England. It’s airing on BBC1 across the Midlands and the north of England at 7.30pm, November 9 and the entire series will air nationally on BBC4 from the week after. It’s also available on iPlayer.

Robbie, like thousands of ‘Millennials’, went to the capital to pursue a dream of becoming an illustrator. However he soon found living in the city expensive and struggled to find work.

A friend offered him a sofa to sleep on – in a narrowboat on Regent’s Canal – and this changed everything.

Since then Robbie has saved up and bought his rustic narrowboat Naughtie Lass, which was built in Birmingham in 1981.

Robbie’s determined to cruise every mile of our inland waterways and document life on board.

He now makes enough to get by from his YouTube channel Robbie Cumming’s Voyage Logs, but he’s not inspired by the tourist hotspots – he’s more

Robbie is at home on the waterways that tourists often don’t see. PHOTOS SUPPLIED at home on waterways visitors rarely see.

While many liveaboard boaters stay close to their jobs or hometown, Robbie is free to roam.

His boat is basic but has everything he needs.

“I live like a Victorian. I often cook my spuds in the log burner and wash from a bowl in the galley,” he said. Last winter was a challenge; generating energy from solar panels left him with little power. “My friends and family thought I was living the dream, but lack of space, condensation and a frozen toilet was a nightmare.”

R o b b i e ’s Yo u Tu b e subscribers are a loyal lot (80% over 45, 75% male). They regularly donate small amounts when he releases new videos

and this funds his modest lifestyle, his travels and future videos – which are all filmed and edited on his iPhone.

Robbie composes his own music and all the soundtracks to his videos.

His contemporary YouTube channel is one of a number of popular travel logs exploring Britain’s inland waterways.

During 2019 he continues his adventure, hoping to explore the gritty Trent and Mersey Canal in the Midlands, spending time in inner-city Stoke-on-Trent, before cruising the Macclesfield, Huddersfield Narrow, Rochdale, and Leeds and Liverpool canals.

Canal Boat Diaries is produced by Stuart Woodman, and the executive producer is Tony Parker.

Episode 1, April: Shardlow to Etruria Junction, Stoke-on-Trent.

Exploring the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Episode 2, May: Froghall Basin to Bugsworth Basin.

Exploring the Caldon, Macclesfield and the Upper Peak Forest canals.

Episode 3, June: Marple Junction to Aspley Wharf, Huddersfield. Exploring the Peak Forest and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Episode 4, July: Sowerby Bridge to central Manchester. Exploring the Rochdale Canal.

Episode 5, August: Barton Swing Aqueduct to Liverpool Docks. Exploring the Bridgewater and Leeds and Liverpool and the Liverpool Canal Link.

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Saturn out of orbit for dock spruce-up THE very special boat Saturn was given plenty of ‘tender loving care’ when she was docked for regular maintenance.

Saturn is the last surviving wooden Shropshire Union Canal fly-boat, built in Chester in 1906.

Her job was to rush cheese and produce, fresh from farms in Cheshire and Shropshire, to the markets of the industrial towns and cities, running day and night.

Saturn is run and operated by the Shropshire Union Fly-Boat Restoration Society, a registered charity with the aim of educating future generations about the history of narrowboats, horse-boating and our waterway heritage. The project is run entirely by volunteers.

Every two years Saturn is docked at Ellesmere on the Canal and River Trust Dock, with the latest one completed in August. During the docking Saturn was completely emptied of all her running gear and equipment, then given plenty of ‘TLC’ by a team of volunteers, including washing and painting the hold and painting most of the cabin exterior plus the bow and stern.

Thanks went to all the Saturn volunteers and supporters, including: Ade Polglase from A P Boatbuilding for the specialist care and ongoing maintenance plan; Dave Linney for managing and directing the volunteers; Charlotte Hopwood from Seawood Signwriting for signwriting the cabin sides; Craftmaster Paints; Canal & River Trust for the docking of Saturn and the use of the dock and facilities.

If you would like to know more about Saturn or are interested in volunteering, check the website: http://saturnflyboat.org.uk

Saturn was given a complete overhaul by a team of willing volunteers.

Saturn has been expertly restored to again grace the canals of north west England.

Painting most of the cabin exterior was part of the job. PHOTOS: BOB JERVIS

Trust achieves excellence again DUDLEY Canal & Tunnel Trust has been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the sixth consecutive year.

The award is given to attractions that consistently earn great reviews and high ratings from visitors.

Celebrating the popularity of Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust are, from left, Megan Keary (heritage engagement officer), James McPhee (skipper), Becci Cooper-Sayer (volunteer co-ordinator) and Holly Langley (heritage engagement officer).

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Attractions with consistent success also earn a place in the coveted TripAdvisor Hall of Fame.

“We’re delighted to have achieved the Certificate of Excellence yet again and secured our place in the Hall of Fame,” said Traci Dix-Williams, chief executive of Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust.

“It is great for all the staff and volunteers to be recognised for their hard work and know that our visitors are thoroughly enjoying their time with us.”

She added the Hall of Fame accolade was given to those attractions that had achieved the certificate of excellence for five consecutive years, so the accomplishment showed the ongoing hard work that was happening at the canal trust.

“We’re proud to be one of the Midlands’ favourite visitor attractions,” said Traci. “It’s wonderful to see our unique and special underground experience praised so highly by our visitors.”

Visitors wishing to experience the tunnels and caverns for themselves can take a boat trip.

Prices start from just £6.50 for children and £8 for adults, which includes a free return for a year if visitors are able to Gift Aid their ticket. Entrance to the Portal building is free. Discover more on the website www.dudleycanaltrust.org.uk

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AROUND THE BRANCHES WITH IWA’S GEMMA BOLTON

Support for improvements to Exeter Ship Canal bridges IWA West Country Branch has supported an application to improve bridges across the Exeter Ship Canal.

IWA West Country Branch, along with the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal, is supporting a funding application that would bring benefits to boaters, cyclists and pedestrians in Exeter.

The application was made at the end of July to the Department for

Transport’s National Roads Fund Programme to fund improvements to the A379 Exeter Outer Ring Road.

The key aspect of this involves replacement of the existing steel swing bridge and the bascule bridge that take the A379 dual carriageway across the Exeter Ship Canal, both of which are approaching the end of their lives and need renewing within the next 10 years.

Representations have been made for the height of the bridges to be raised to enable more boating to take place without the bridges being opened and to facilitate cyclists and pedestrians passing under the bridges rather than having to cross the busy four-lane carriageway.

If the application is approved, construction could start in 2025 and be completed by 2027.

Action over Bridgwater refusal THE West Country Branch of the IWA has called for a reversal of a decision

by Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Scheme project board.

The Branch has sent out a press release to the media, local councils and other interested parties, expressing its ‘serious concerns’ that a formal request to reserve land within the bypass channel as part of the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Scheme has been refused by the project board.

This land would enable future construction of a lock and approach channels for navigation when the barrier is closed.

IWA has been in discussion with Sedgemoor District Council and the Environment Agency for more than three years, to retain some of the bypass channel land-take in public ownership.

All issues raised by the EA were overcome thanks to input by an IWA consultant engineer and it was believed that the land would be reserved.

IWA West Country Branch, supported by the national organisation, has called for a reversal of this decision. Radio interviews and media coverage have been secured

and it is hoped that local council and community support will push the project board to reconsider.

Boat on the River Parrett.

PHOTO: JULIAN GIBSON

IWA responds to HS2 developments

The existing steel swing bridge and the bascule bridge are approaching the end of their lives. PHOTO SUPPLIED

IWA BRANCH DIARY FOR OCTOBER 2019 Anyone intending to attend one of these events for the first time should contact the organisers beforehand and wear suitable clothing and footwear. If staying all day take a packed lunch unless other arrangements are indicated.

EAST

Sunday, October 13

IWA Lincolnshire Branch supporting Sleaford Navigation Trust: Volunteers will carry out

a variety of tasks to maintain the navigable section of the Sleaford Navigation. Contact: Mel Sowerby on 01522 856810 or workparty@ sleafordnavigation.co.uk

MIDLANDS

Sunday, October 6 and Tuesday, October 15 IWA Northampton Branch: Work

parties on the Northampton Arm. 10am-2pm. Work usually includes a variety of tasks such as painting, vegetation clearance and litter picking.

Contact: Geoff Wood geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk.

NORTH

Thursday, October 10

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust: Work

party on the Uttoxeter Canal at Crumpwood. 10am to 3pm.

Contact: Steve Wood steve. wood@waterways.org.uk or 07976 805858.

Thursday, October 17

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society: Work

party on the Cheshire Locks, Trent & Mersey Canal. 10am to 3pm. Contact: John Lawson John.lawson@waterways.org.uk or 07940 878923.

Saturday, October 19

IWA Manchester Branch: Work party

in Greater Manchester. 10am to 4pm. Tasks will include vegetation clearance, litter picking, painting and pulling rubbish out of the canal.

Contact: secretary@manchester-iwa. co.uk or 07710 554602.

Tuesday, October 22

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch supporting Burslem Port Trust: Work party on the Burslem

Arm, Stoke-on-Trent. 10am to 3pm.

Contact: Steve Wood steve.wood@ waterways.org.uk or 07976 805858.

Saturday, October 26

IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch: Work party alongside the

Shropshire Union Canal. 10am to 4pm. Work will include painting and vegetation clearance.

Contact: Jason Watts jason. watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

SOUTH

Tuesday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 29 IWA Oxfordshire Branch supporting Banbury Canal Partnership: Work parties on the

Oxford Canal near Banbury. 9am to 1pm. Contact Colin GarnhamEdge: bcpontheoxford@gmail. com.

WEST

Every Saturday IWA West (Taunton):

Country

Branch

Work parties in the Taunton area. 10am – 1.30pm. Please let us know if you are intending to join us, by 6pm the day before. Contact: Steve Bulgin stevebulgin@icloud.com or 07855 794256.

Every Tuesday & Saturday IWA West Country (Bridgwater):

Branch

Work parties in the Bridgwater area. 10am – 1.30pm. Please let us know if you are intending to join us, by 6pm the day before.

Contact: Mike Slade mike.slade@ waterways.org.uk on 07977 263840.

For further information on any of these events, please contact Gemma Bolton on 01494 783453 or email gemma.bolton@waterways.org.uk Details can also be found on IWA’s website at www.waterways.org.uk

IWA planners have responded to the latest HS2 high-speed rail line developments.

In August the Government announced a comprehensive review into the whole HS2 project, including its benefits and impacts, affordability and efficiency, scope and phasing, and the ability to deliver.

A report is due by ‘the autumn’ and a decision on whether or how to proceed expected by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, various preparatory works continue, including archaeology, demolitions and utility diversions, Phase 2a has been passed by the House of Lords and changes to Phase 2b have been announced.

IWA has submitted a response to the latest consultation on design refinement proposals for Phase 2b, Crewe to Manchester and West Midlands to Leeds, which closed on September 6.

The proposed changes affect the Coventry Canal at Polesworth, the Erewash Canal at Sandiacre and Stanton Gate, the unrestored Nottingham Canal, and the Aire & Calder Navigation near Fishpond Lock.

Although there are some benefits for the waterways from these changes, there are additional impacts and several earlier concerns remain unresolved.

To read more, and to download the full text of IWA’s response, see www. waterways.org.uk/lichfield/news

IWA gives views on red diesel THE IWA has added its response to the Government’s consultation about red diesel, alongside those already submitted by individual boat owners, boatyard operators and diesel suppliers.

Its submission to the ‘HMRC Consultation on the Implementation of the Court of Justice of the European Union judgment on diesel fuel used in private pleasure craft’ outlines a number of problems that the IWA believes will arise as a result of the implementation of the ruling.

The ruling means private pleasure craft will no longer be able to use red diesel on UK waterways.

“The key concern is that boatyards on the UK’s inland waterways, most of which currently only sell red diesel, will be faced with the choice of either installing an additional tank to supply white diesel, or changing from supply of red diesel to white diesel,” said a statement from the IWA. “It is likely that the majority of boatyards and marinas would continue to sell only red diesel, particularly those that operate a hire boat fleet or have residential moorings.

Consequently, owners of privately owned pleasure craft needing to

refuel their boats with white diesel will struggle to find a boatyard that sells it.

“The likely use of portable fuel cans or generators would present significant safety and environmental risks arising from the inevitable spillages and the use of generators in confined spaces and in urban areas.”

The IWA has asked HMRC to mitigate these problems by: • Continuing with the current arrangements, which were reached after a significant period of consultation and discussions in 2008, until the situation regarding the UK’s membership of the European Union is clearer.

• Adopting the longest possible transition time to implement the ruling to allow sufficient time (including raising finance) for boatyards to install new or convert existing tanks, and for boaters to undertake any necessary modifications to their vessels.

• Providing written confirmation that HMRC will allow existing red dye in fuel tanks to fade naturally, and to allow time for existing stocks of red diesel purchased prior to any change to be used up without having to waste and dispose of any dyed fuel.

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14 NEWS FOCUS

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Hunt for missing image of murdered newlywed ALTHOUGH it is 180 years ago that three boatmen brutally raped and murdered Christina Collins on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Rugeley, historians are still searching for a picture of her that is known to have existed.

Christina was only 37 when she died. Her gravestone in Rugeley churchyard states: “To the memory of Christina Collins, the wife of Robert Collins, London, who having been most barbarously treated was found dead in the canal in this Parish on June 17, 1839, aged 37 years.

This stone was erected by some individuals of the Parish of Rugeley in commiseration of the end of this unhappy woman.”

The Canal & River Trust information board at Brindley Bank opposite the Bloody Steps.

boat as a passenger at Preston Brook.

She had intended to join her husband of only a few months who had just moved to London to find work. She had little money and travelling by canal was the cheapest form of transport.

The journey turned out to be a nightmare for Christina, who walked along the towpath on more than one occasion to avoid the lust and lechery of the drunken boatmen.

She was last seen alive at Hoo Mill Lock and her body was found floating in the canal at Brindley Bank early the following morning.

Her body was carried up what are still known as Bloody Steps to the Talbot Inn, which no longer exists, where a post mortem examination was carried out.

The steps are a fairly modern replacement but are said to be the site of several ghostly occurrences over the years.

At Woodend Lock the men had told the lock keeper that their passenger was deranged and had committed suicide several miles back, a story they repeated half an hour later to the Pickfords clerk at Fradley Junction.

The story aroused his suspicions and the men, still in a drunken state, were eventually apprehended at Fazeley Junction when another Pickfords agent called for their arrest. They were taken to Stafford gaol and stood trial the following year.

Two of the men – James Owen (39), a married man from Brinklow and George Thomas (27), a single man from Wombourne – were hanged while the third, William Ellis (28), also from

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Fradley Junction, where a Pickfords agent’s suspicions were aroused after the boatmen claimed their passenger had committed suicide.

The canal company house at Fazeley Junction, where the boatmen were arrested and transported to Stafford gaol. PHOTOS: LES HEATH Brinklow, was transported to Australia.

It was reported at the time that 10,000 people turned out to watch the execution at Stafford gaol.

After the post mortem examination had confirmed the ferocity of the attack on Christina her body was laid to rest in St Augustine’s churchyard in Rugeley beneath

a gravestone paid for by local inhabitants.

Being close to the canal her grave attracts many boaters but knowing what she looked like would add a whole new dimension to the sad story of her brutal murder.

Who knows, perhaps one day her missing portrait will be found.

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No one knows what Christina looked like although modern-day boaters are aware of her grim fate thanks to a Canal & River Trust information board opposite the Bloody Steps close to the Trent aqueduct.

In the mid-19th century photography was still in its infancy and no photographs were taken of Christina, although a picture of her brother Alfred was taken and is still held by his descendants.

According to a newspaper article at the time, a portrait of Christina and a picture of her husband Robert were found in her trunk after the attack. These were given to her grieving husband but have not been seen since.

Christina, known to have been a petite and attractive woman, left Liverpool in June 1839 and joined a Pickfords canal

By Les Heath

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15 NEWS FOCUS

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Around the regions

As it entered its sixth year of operation, the Canal & River Trust restructured its waterway regions from 10 to six.

In this series, we talk to the new directors of the regions and Wales, about their roles and plans for the future.

By Janet Richardson

OUR tour of the Canal & River Trust’s regions concludes with the North West in Manchester where I met Daniel Greenhalgh, one of two regional directors recruited from within the organisation.

To get the feel of this very diverse region and see some of the projects in action, we walked down the Rochdale Nine flight of locks from the third (Lock 86) to Duke’s Lock 92, some of the features shown in the photos on this page.

What started as a 12-month secondment, during the restructure of the Canal & River Trust’s regions, evolved into a permanent regional director’s role for Daniel, who has now been in post for nearly 18 months and says he has loved every minute since – despite the challenges which the region has faced.

But as many of these involve the network’s infrastructure, they are second nature to a civil engineer who was head of projects when he was asked by the trust’s chief operating officer Julie Sharman to step into this role.

One of two reach poles that have been installed in conjunction with the Manchester Water Safety Partnership.

When Daniel left school he went into the RAF and travelled around the world.

“It installed in me a work ethic and team ethos which I have carried through,” he told me. “I went on to university to do civil and structural engineering at Leeds, then joined British Waterways in 2005 after working for some big contractors for a couple of years.”

Based at Warrington, his work included bridge inspections, project work and repairs – “a perfect grounding” – before moving up to contract management including the dredging and priority projects programme.

Daniel has been building and reshaping his team in the North West and there are still a few vacancies to fill. He has also been developing good relationships with stakeholders and customers.

The region encompasses six counties (Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and part of Derbyshire) and five cities (Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Chester and Preston) and the numerous waterways which serve this northern powerhouse.

“We have got a huge region in terms of waterways with big structures.”

These include the Anderton Boat Lift, the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, looked after by a specialist team, the Lune Aqueduct, tunnels and reservoirs.

It is one of the latter which has thrown up the latest challenge, with the partial collapse of the dam spillway at Toddbrook Reservoir causing the evacuation of the nearby town of Whaley Bridge. “We have been through some really tough times with more challenges than we wished for. As I came into this role, the Middlewich breach had happened in the March (2018) so that branch was closed.”

This was followed by the discovery of a problem with Marple Lock 11, just days after the flight had reopened following repairs to Lock 15 during the winter of 2017-18 and causing a further lengthy closure before finally reopening in May this year.

Helping to make Manchester a greener place with these floating gardens planted by the Friends of Rochdale Nine.

Lockside planters at Lock 87 Princess Street.

New safety fencing has been installed at Tib Lock 89 following recent drowning tragedies.

North West regional director Daniel Greenhalgh at Duke’s Lock 92 on the Rochdale Canal.

Culvert 29 at Melling on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal caused a lot of issues for people going in and out of Liverpool; Marsh Lock on the Weaver Navigation was damaged in a boat collision and a student drowned in the Rochdale Canal in Manchester.

“We also had problems everywhere because of the drought. This all happened in a three-month period, it was a baptism of fire with every issue you could possibly face,” Daniel continued. “The key thing is we still managed to do so much for the waterways and well-being in what was a really difficult time.

“The team did achieve so much. While facing the problems we had, for instance the Wigan Flight was shut due to water shortages, we tried to juggle all sorts of things such as bringing stoppages forward. We didn’t know when we would be able to reopen the locks but tried to deal with the certainties we had.”

Different perspective

Daniel referred to the support he had received from people like Nigel Stevens, Mike Carter and Audrey Smith. “By speaking to people I could either get a better answer or explain some of my thinking and rationale and get to the best solution. If we were not sure, we would ask for help. Sometimes our customers see things in a different perspective to us but I think we are moving in the right direction.

“I have got somebody walking the canal today with one of our customers to understand what they are getting at.

This is something I am really keen for us to do in the region.”

And then following heavy rainfall in the High Peak district of Derbyshire on July 31, the Toddbrook dam spillway was put at risk of collapse, causing a crisis that involved the emergency services and armed forces being mobilised to help with the reinforcement of the damaged section and lowering the water levels in the reservoir which feeds the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals.

Daniel found himself in the media spotlight, talking to the press and TV

Construction work has caused a temporary closure of the towpath between Locks 89 and 90.

PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON

crews as the drama unfolded and was broadcast around the world (see full story on page 4). Project manager Rob Jowitt is giving regular updates at www. canalrivertrust.org.uk.

On our walk down the Rochdale Canal flight, we looked at some of the projects under way in the city.

“Manchester is vibrant and we have got a massive opportunity to make the canal relevant to the communities here,” said Daniel. “We want to help make the canal corridor cleaner, greener and safer, more people will use it and it will naturally become a nicer, safer experience.”

Volunteer groups such as Friends of Rochdale Nine – Dukes Lock to Ancoats – have helped to install floating gardens and lockside planters in trials to see how the community reacts.

“We are looking to inject a green view to make a more pleasant environment.

Some are trials to see how the community reacts. More people are walking down here now and monthly community days are a call to arms for volunteers and community groups.”

Safety barriers have been erected at Tib Lock (89) – the scene of recent drowning tragedies – and reach poles have been installed there and at Lock 87 (Canal Street) in conjunction with the Manchester Water Safety Partnership.

“We have a great opportunity in Manchester to align what we want to do and see where we have common ground and work together. We can’t do any of this on our own; we need our customers, colleagues, stakeholders, the business community and local government.

“The shared ambition is to make it a great place to live, work and grow up and we need everyone to come along with us to tackle issues such as graffiti, antisocial behaviour and drugs etc. We need to do what we can to make things better, find our own aims and make things better for the community that lives here.”

And it’s not just Manchester. The region also includes Liverpool’s South Docks complex and the Liverpool Link.

“We want more people to use it, if you go down there into the city you are in the prime location.”

Referring to the facilities for boaters and people using the complex, Daniel continued: “We are the ones who make it clean and maintain it. It is our role in making it great.”

Other key focus areas are in Sefton and the towns of Blackburn and Burnley along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal which include areas with high levels of deprivation. “We are trying to put more resources into well-being and how we make some of our most challenging areas into a green flag waterway.”

And it is not just about the big attractions such as the Anderton Boat Lift and visitor centre and the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.

“Places such as Audlem, Greenberfield and Lune are destinations in their own right where people can enjoy the countryside and stop for a picnic. Some of the rural locations we have got are absolutely beautiful and we will put a lot of focus on that over the next few years.”

Daniel accepts that you can’t get everything right all of the time and that there are challenges around the number of stoppages affecting the waterways in the North West. “A lot of people who use the towpath and our waterways are quite forgiving if things don’t go right but we need to listen to our customers who are out there day in and day out. Sometimes I don’t think we listen hard enough to some of the feedback we get.”

One of the approaches is to train ‘mystery shoppers’ to gauge how the trust engages with its customers and Daniel said they would be taking a more proactive stance on how it listens at events such as user forums.

Referring to a presentation given to members of the AWCC (Association of Waterways Cruising Club) with chief executive Richard Parry and head of customer service support Jon Horsfall, he added: “We got some really good feedback. If we can get it right ourselves, we can listen to our customers and give them a great service. We are on the way to becoming a fantastic region.”

A Canal & River Trust volunteer helps boaters through Lock 88.

16 PETS

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Pets on the cut Bring me Sun shine Alison Wilkerson finds a gentle giant who loves to chill out by the canal.

ON A gloriously sunny afternoon, walking back from a canalside pub, I was excitedly but calmly greeted by an extremely friendly large dog.

This handsome boy was called Sol (Latin word for Sun) which was rather appropriate considering the weather, and named by his owner Liz as she loves planets and is currently in the second year of her Earth Sciences Degree.

He is only two years old and half labrador, half staffie; however he looks like his doggie mother, who has mastiff in her genes. Liz has had him since a puppy and watched him being born. She is friends with the owner of his mum so regularly sees her along with his sister, which is so lovely to hear.

Both Sol and Liz live on a 2001, 70ft narrowboat which was built by M & P Steelcraft Ltd Wiltshire and is powered by an Isuzu 40hp engine. Liz has owned the boat, her first boat, for 10 years. It was purchased from a friend and she lived on it for a few years, rented it out for a while, and then moved back on it around three years ago.

Liz grew up near a canal and had friends in the boating community so her decision to live on a boat was no real surprise to anyone. Sol loves his canal life although he is not that keen when cruising due to the engine noise which he is wary of, so prefers to be inside.

Sol is a laid-back dog and a gentle giant who loves to chill out, especially on the inside sofa or on the towpath on a nice day but knows his boundaries and how far he can walk ahead, as he loves walking. He also loves dogs and loves to play with his mates, of which he has loads.

He is fine with cats too; however, he prefers bicycles to ‘slow down’ and is actually scared of frogs and goes all

Sol loves to chill out on the towpath. PHOTO: ALISON WILKERSON ‘wobbly kneed’ in their company, which also happened when he unfortunately fell into the Grand Union’s Bluebells Lock, Marsworth, while following Liz. Luckily the lock was empty and he landed on the cill. He was immediately rescued, thank goodness, and has not repeated that lock adventure.

Food-wise, he had a splendid canine diet including natural charcoal biscuits from a farm shop and the occasional bone but does partake in human food and is well disciplined around it, unlike some dogs I have met who will steal a chicken leg at the earliest opportunity.

He will steal toys, including one incident when he came out from the stern of a friend’s boat, firstly with a toy frog (no wobbles this time), then went back for a toy pig and finally a toy hedgehog! Needless to say, he loves toys especially teddy bears as well as tennis balls and sticks, come sun or rain.

Buster, our boating buddy Barge Beagle – sniffing out good finds for crews with canines

FOR those choosing to boat with a dog, life is not all plain sailing! Not only do our canine companions offer unconditional love and friendship, they can also cause heartache and mishaps aplenty. The life of one such dog, a beagle named Buster, is now the subject of a popular book.

Boating with Buster introduces us to Alison Alderton’s world of boisterous beagles and bothersome boats. It follows Alison, her husband Roger and their beagle on adventures through England, Ireland and Northern Europe as far north as Scandinavia – no mean feat in their small Dutch barge called Lily!

Early chapters include Buster’s first experience of hired narrowboats on the Ashby and Lancaster canals and even a canoe trip on the River Severn.

However, it is their first journey with Lily to the River Soar where Buster finds himself in deep water, a dramatic opening to the book.

Later exploits increase in daring from the challenges of the tidal Trent, including rounding Trent Falls on a trip to Ripon, to their first sea voyage when crossing the Wash to explore the Fens.

It was here while waiting a change of tides on Blackguard Sands that this following excerpt is based: Buster ran and splashed through the shallows; all thoughts of sea sickness extinguished from his mind. He claimed the sandbank as his own, chased off the seals and guarded his patch by barking as they continuously bobbed their heads

Buster’s first narrowboat holiday on the Ashby Canal. PHOTOS: ALISON ALDERTON

in and out of the water, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder.

The two-hour break gave Buster the chance to let off steam; he ran until he became a tiny speck, the sun picking out the sprays of water his paws threw up, encircling him in a shower of silvery, sparkling dots.

“Crazy dog.” Roger was setting up the barbecue but Buster’s barking had distracted him. We watched as he sent a small flock of seagulls into the air,

jumping after them as they screeched and reeled. With a sausage sizzle under way, Buster was quick to return, exhausted, damp and covered in sand but as happy as I had ever seen him.

He was soon asleep, recumbent at my feet, imitating the beached seals he had chased off earlier.

Later, a change of fortunes takes them to Ireland where they partake in several milestone boating events including the reopening of the Royal Canal. As Buster matures, other opportunities allow progress through Northern Europe to Scandinavia and the climax of the book.

Enhanced with photographs, maps and barge art illustrations, Buster’s story flows through the waterways in this colourfully portrayed, moving book of adventurous boating and canine companionship.

Boating With Buster – The Life and Times of a Barge Beagle

by Alison Alderton Available as a full colour soft back or ebook from Troubador and all good bookshops h t t p s : / / w w w . t r o u b a d o r. co.uk/bookshop/travel/ boating-with-buster/

Pet pics

ISBN: 9781789014389 eISBN: 9781789012279 Follow the travels of Lily and the barge beagles on social media at: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ lilyandthebargebeagles/

Henry the basset hound reflects on the fore-end artwork. Thanks to Sheila Wellman for sharing her photo.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ lilyandthebargebeagles/

Buster with Lily at Torksey, River Trent.

To be in with a chance of winning one of two copies we are giving away, visit www.towpathtalk.co.uk and enter your details online before October 31, 2019.

Terms and conditions apply. There are no cash alternatives available. The winners will be the first two names drawn at random. To view the privacy policy of Mortons Media Group Ltd (publisher of Towpath Talk) visit: www.mortonsmediagroup.com/privacy Closing date October 31, 2019

Alternatively, fill in your details on the form below and return to: Towpath Talk October 2019 Book Competition Morton Way Horncastle Lincs LN9 6JR

Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First Name Michelle Rodgers of nb Toad from the Lancaster Canal tells us their sprocker, Poppy, thoroughly enjoyed her trip crossing the Ribble Link on to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

If you have any pet pics, email them to editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

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