Towpath Talk - February 2021 - Preview

TOWPATH

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

1 Issue 184, February 20211

The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users

80 PAGES

TALK

FREE

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Moored narrowboats are reflected in the mirror-like basin of the Ashby Canal Centre, Stoke Golding.

OWEN’S COAL RUN BID

PHOTO: GRAHAM NUTTALL

P8

PADDLER BILL’S PLASTIC PICK

P19

SIR DAVID’S WINTER WARMER

P22

BOAT REVIEW: OUR HOUSE

P46

PAUL’S SEEN IT ALL

P71

BOATS FOR SALE Starts on

P25

On reflection…

Guidance for boaters during the national lockdown

THE Canal & River Trust has updated its guidance after the latest national lockdown came into effect on January 5.

All navigation in England and Wales should be limited to essential use only. Boaters who are not currently occupying their boat should not take short overnight breaks on their boat during the period.

Those living aboard are advised to limit their navigation, moving only a minimal amount to access essential facilities or services when necessary.

Boat licence terms and conditions regarding moving every 14 days will be suspended until the restrictions come to an end.

Towpaths remain open for people to enjoy exercise and being in the outdoors, close to nature. Enjoy your local canal but please follow the advice around social distancing at all times, keeping your distance from both other people and moored boats where people may be living aboard.

CRT’s employee-operated locks,

bridges and tunnels in England are open only for emergencies and essential services such as water, pump-out or waste, until the restrictions are lifted.

Passages should be booked in advance.

The work and ministry of waterways chaplains at this time is especially important, especially for those who are isolated and financially challenged by the crisis. Visit www.waterwayschaplaincy. org.uk for the latest information.

As boating is generally limited during the winter stoppage season,

the trust does not propose to offer any further extensions to licence fees. And the Environment Agency is unable to offer any discount on the Gold Licence which is a joint agreement between EA and CRT. To buy or renew a boat licence, please use the online web licensing portal at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk where possible. Pump-out cards can be bought from the online shop. Boaters are asked to only think about visiting one of CRT’s offices if they have no other options.

Hawkesbury canal village

Brokerage expands

Repair programme

PLANS have been submitted for the first phase of a multi-million-pound canal village on the site of the former Hawkesbury Golf Course. Proposals include 204 homes, site access, a community building with possible cafe, allotments, orchard, open spaces and park provision, including a BMX track, cycle and pedestrian routes, landscaping and associated highway works. Despite local objections and a petition opposing the development, planners at Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council have recommended approval.

CASTLE Boat Sales, the brokerage division of Castle Marinas, is opening three new offices.

Two of these are at the company’s own marinas at Crick, Northamptonshire, home of the Crick Boat Show, and Cropredy, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. The third office is at the newly acquired Brinklow Marina near Rugby, where the brokerage will form part of a refurbishment plan. The expansion comes shortly after the company’s launch in October 2020, following strong boat sales.

THE Canal & River Trust is investing £10 million on a four-month repair programme on the Yorkshire and North East waterways. Continuing until March, it will include lock gate replacements, dredging and flood resilience measures as well as repairs being carried out on the Figure of Three Lock on the Calder & Hebble near Dewsbury and Rochdale Canal towpath, both badly damaged in last year’s storms. Virtual open days can be viewed at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

2 NEWS

WELCOME AS I write we are expecting to get bombarded by Storm Christoph with the threat of gales and flooding across the country.

The Environment Agency has issued 48 flood warnings and 174 flood alerts this morning in England alone with a further 53 flood alerts and 11 flood warnings in Wales and five flood alerts in Scotland.

I heard a worried listener from Hebden Bridge on the radio talking about the last time they were flooded and I didn’t have to go back very far – to our April 2020 edition – to see a photo of a stricken narrowboat on the Rochdale Canal following Storm Dennis.

The reality of the first lockdown had already started to hit home with the news that many of the summer’s boating events had been cancelled.

Who would have thought then that we would again be in lockdown and facing similar uncertainties almost a year on?

Looking on the brighter side, at least the days are starting to get longer and people are starting to plan ahead – see positive news about holiday bookings on page 48.

While travel restrictions have again kept people at home for the time being, taking their daily exercise along the towpath has over the past year led to an inevitable rise in litter, prompting the Canal & River Trust to step up its Plastics Challenge to tackle waterways pollution.

Strictly Come Dancing winner and keen paddleboarder Bill Bailey has joined the campaign, see the report on page 19.

If you’ve turned to comfort food to keep your spirits up, Sir David Suchet’s 1980 weekend recipe for a Norfolk Hotpot will set the mouth watering.

See Tim Coghlan’s entertaining feature on pages 22 and 23 about Hercule Poirot’s winter warmer!

And in our what’s on guide on page 21 are some virtual events you can take part in.

In the meantime keep warm and stay safe.

TOWPATH

TALK

Janet

Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Group advertising manager Sue Keily Advertising sales team leader Tania Shaw – 01507 529489 tshaw@mortons.co.uk Advertising sales representative Chris Heaton – 01507 529354 cheaton@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Chris Abrams Production editor Pauline Hawkins Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Contact us Customer services 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: MondayFriday 8.30am-5pm. help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466. Fax: 01507 529495 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Published by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 523456. Fax: 01507 529301 Printed by Mortons Print Ltd. Tel. 01507 523456 Next issue – February 25, 2021

Karen takes the helm at Waterways Ombudsman Committee

THE Waterways Ombudsman Committee has appointed Karen McArthur as its new chairman, taking over in January from Kevin Fitzgerald at the end of his term in office.

He has been a committee member for six years, the last three as chairman during which he helped to establish a strong governance structure.

Kevin also oversaw the revalidation by the Ombudsman Association and approval of the scheme by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) as a Consumer ADR body under the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015. He was instrumental in the appointment and establishment of a new ombudsman and welcomed the Avon Navigation Trust as a scheme member. In addition, Kevin created two new observer positions on the committee to help promote an open and transparent service.

Commenting on his term of office Kevin said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the Avon Navigation Trust, the Ombudsman and all the committee members over the years to ensure the Waterways Ombudsman Scheme provides a professional service to all who need it. The work has been varied and interesting and the standard of complaint handling across the scheme members has improved throughout the

years. I wish Karen and the committee every success in the future.”

Portfolio of roles

Karen has been a committee member since March 2019. Her background is in corporate leadership and she has a wealth of experience in non-executive positions with a portfolio of roles balancing consumer protection and advocacy with a commercial outlook. She also has a breadth of experience including across regulated sectors.

Commenting on her appointment Karen said: “I look forward to working with the Ombudsman and the committee to increase the access to our dispute resolution service across more waterways.

Our aim is to improve the customer experience for all waterway users and to drive up standards of customer service.

The committee and I will continue to work to ensure the service we offer is robust, open and transparent and accessible to all. “ I would like to thank Kevin for all the work he has done to put together a strong governance structure and team that will help us to flourish.”

The Waterways Ombudsman scheme deals with complaints about the Canal & River Trust and the Avon Navigation Trust, which are referred to the Ombudsman after completion of each trust’s own complaints process.

The Waterways Ombudsman Committee oversees the work of the scheme.

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Pandemic setback for kayaking challenge ARMY veteran Sgt Edward Mackenzie and his team of kayakers have been forced to postpone a special challenge due to the coronavirus situation.

The six-man team had been due to kayak from Liverpool to London in April – a distance of 280 miles – using the Trent & Mersey, Coventry and Oxford canal network and along the River Thames to Putney Bridge.

They are aiming to fund a tribute at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas near Lichfield honouring veterans lost to suicide.

The statue, to be called the Elysium Memorial, is expected to cost around £100,000. It is to be named Elysium which in Greek mythology is the paradise to which heroes to whom the gods conferred immortality were sent and will feature three QR codes – one for each service, with a digital record and biography for each person being commemorated.

Sgt Mackenzie said: “It is with great sadness that I announce the postponement of the kayaking expedition from Liverpool to London, due to start on April 1. This is due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty of what the situation will be by then.

“The safety of both my team and of those that I would like to support me along the 280-mile route are paramount as well as all the places that I have planned to stop on each day.”

He stressed: “This is only a postponement and by no means a cancellation. I plan to move the expedition to August 19-30 as I think

that we should all be in a better place by then. In the meantime, my team and I will continue to fundraise and spread awareness the best we can under the current climate. I am hoping that by then I will have formed this into a charity.”

Virtual ideas

Sgt Mackenzie also has ideas that he can do virtually, such as cycling the 280 miles of towpaths that are part of the original route and is spearheading the fundraising drive.

He served 24 years in The Highlanders and has for the past two years been a reserve in the Royal Signals.

“Over the last 26 years I have lost 16 friends – whether in service or veterans – from one regiment, The Highlanders (now the 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland).

“I know there are many reasons why people take their own life but in the case of service personnel the chances are high, that is because of what they have seen or done during military life.”

Sgt Mackenzie said the memorial would honour those who had served in all the three forces – The Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force.

The other members of his team are: Corporal Dave Wood, Staff Sergeant Jon Greaves, Sgt Sean Ivey, Craig Robinson and Lou Connelly.

Their trip will take in 186 canal locks and take an estimated 149 hours – just over 12 days at 12 hours of kayaking a day.

For more information and to donate visit www.elysiummemorial. co.uk

Thanks for our new home

By Tim Coghlan

FOLLOWING the Evison family’s completion of their purchase through Braunston Marina of their new liveaboard home – the 61ft narrowboat Lullaby – the marina was delighted to receive a thank you picture from daughter Eden, eight.

It showed the narrowboat Poppy and the message read: ‘Thank you very very much for helping us find the perfect boat!’ Father Gareth was quick to point out that Poppy was the boat Eden wanted to buy for herself to live on!

The family recently sold their house, and Eden, her parents and younger sister will now be living afloat on the southern Grand Union Canal in the Milton Keynes area.

Father Gareth and daughter Eden with their new home-afloat, the 61ft narrowboat Lullaby, which they had just bought through Braunston Marina. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

Independent publisher since 1885

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

Independently proven pick up: 34,450 copies

Karen McArthur is the new chairman of the Waterways Ombudsman Committee. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Eden’s thank you picture.

NEWS 3

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Retrace the route of the Melksham canal

The culvert at Ruskin Avenue. PHOTOS: WBCT WALKERS looking for new ways to enjoy their physical exercise during the pandemic restrictions are invited to learn more about the local history on their doorstep.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has updated its popular leaflet which retraces the route of the former waterway through Melksham.

This illustrated trail, available on the charity’s website at www.wbct. org.uk/walk-leaflets, takes around an hour and includes several sites where the remains of the canal are still visible today.

The walk begins at the southern end of Melksham and follows some of the original towpath adjacent to the canal, which is now buried behind homes in Kenilworth Gardens.

It continues to Spa Road where the hump in the road is the site of the former bridge over the waterway.

On one side is Wharf Court standing on the site of the former Melksham Wharf, and on the other side is Rope Walk where a rope factory loaded its goods on to barges to be transported to the Thames and beyond. It was also where grain and coal were unloaded for local residents and businesses.

Wilts and Berks volunteer Brian Wright at Lowbourne Bridge.

It continues along Sangster Avenue and Pembroke Road into Ruskin Avenue and towards the Army Cadet Force building, where the large embankment took the canal above Clackers Brook – the culvert below is still in good condition.

The trail continues to the parapet of Lowbourne Bridge, which is the most significant structure to survive in the town, before continuing north along Forest Road, Murray Walk and Methuen Avenue where it ends near the former Melksham Forest Lock and lock keeper’s cottage, now demolished.

Canal trust volunteer Brian Wright said: “The pandemic restrictions mean people are keen to make the most of local walks, so we hope the canal trail will provide a new route for them to enjoy as well as generating interest in our ongoing restoration campaign.

“Much of the original line through the town has been lost under modern roads and housing so we hope to gain planning permission to utilise the River Avon instead.

“This would help to provide a new link between the Kennet & Avon Canal to the south and the historic line to the north where we’ve already bought some of the land and started clearance work.

“Our ultimate aim is to connect the Melksham stretch with the line which has already been successfully restored between Lacock and Chippenham, providing a major new asset for recreation, wildlife, tourism and employment.”

The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

Visit www.wbct.org.uk

Maid’s £35,000 Covid lifeline to weather the winter THE last paddle steamer built in the United Kingdom has been thrown a £35,000 lifeline to weather the winter in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

Balloch-berthed Maid of the Loch has been awarded the cash by the Wolfson Foundation, a charity which has already given a £1.2 million grant towards the restoration of the Loch Lomond, 1953, Glasgow-built railway steamer.

John Beveridge, Loch Lomond Steamship Company’s chairman, said: “We are very grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for this generous grant.

It has allowed us to re-employ one member of staff and will help us get through this difficult winter period.

“We were open to the public for only 10 weeks in 2020 because of coronavirus restrictions and lost a great deal of revenue as a result, although we managed to recoup

some of our losses via a crowdfunder.”

Paul Ramsbottom, the Wolfson Foundation’s chief executive, said: “Our funding is intended as a mark of solidarity at an exceptionally difficult time for all heritage organisations.

“We are delighted that our funding has had an immediate and practical impact. We all look forward, once again, to seeing the Maid of the Loch sailing serenely across Loch Lomond with a full load of passengers.”

The Loch Lomond Steamship Company hopes to reopen the ship to visitors later this year, as and when travel and other restrictions are lifted.

In 2019 her engines were returned to steam for the first time since 1981, when she was taken out of service and her public rooms were restored to their 1950s finery. The company’s ultimate

aim is to operate the steamer on Loch Lomond once again as a significant heritage and tourist attraction.

Maid of the Loch, moored at Balloch Pier, will weather the winter thanks to a £35,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation. PHOTO: HUGH DOUGHERTY

Cheshire’s over 55s invited to beat winter lockdown blues THE Canal & River Trust is launching a new 12-week Well-being at Home programme for Cheshire residents.

Starting in early February, the charity’s Active Waterways Cheshire team invites the county’s residents aged over 55 to join a free weekly one-hour health and fitness session delivered direct into people’s homes.

The aim is to help participants beat the winter lockdown blues, improving their mental and physical health by joining in gentle exercise, mindfulness and relaxation activities, experience virtual canal and river walks, plus an opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the county’s rich waterway heritage.

This online series builds on previous successful guided walking programmes organised around Northwich, Macclesfield, Chester, Nantwich and Ellesmere Port which helped to connect people over 55 to others in their community, explore their local area, get fit and make new friends.

More than 65% of those taking part thought the face-to-face sessions had encouraged them to become more active. Many discovered picturesque new local walks and a few have decided they would like

An Active Cheshire member solo walking along the towpath.

PHOTO: CRT

to take their involvement further by volunteering with the Canal & River Trust.

Anika Neill, Active Waterways project manager with the Canal & River Trust, said: “We are thrilled with the success of earlier programmes and the difference they have made to so many people’s lives. We recognise many older people have lost confidence in going out and about as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Many of our participants are experiencing loneliness, having been forced to isolate from friends and family. The group activities have been designed to bring people under similar circumstances together.

“Sadly due to this current lockdown we can’t get out

on to our beautiful Cheshire canals and rivers at the moment, so our focus will be on experiencing virtual walks instead and then encouraging participants to discover outdoor walks on their own doorstep.

“Research shows us that life truly is better by water so we would encourage anyone who wants to improve their health and well-being to get in touch and join us on these weekly online well-being sessions.”

Making friends

Retired teacher Anne Hales took part in an Active Waterways programme a few months ago. Anne said: “Being new to the area, I joined the programme looking for something to help me explore the area. I’m a diabetic and overweight.

I needed to exercise for my physical health but I led a sedentary lifestyle after retiring.

“Taking part in this programme has enabled me to make friends with a group

of like-minded walking companions from the local area. Getting out and about after Covid restrictions was also good for my mental health. It’s helped me discover my local waterways and I’ve now taken an active role in continuing the group walks beyond the programme, at Anderton Boat Lift.”

Supported by £222,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England, Active Waterways Cheshire is a key initiative within Sport England’s plan Towards an Active Nation and focuses on the county’s many beautiful waterways – part of the 2000 miles of canals and rivers cared for by CRT. Sport England research shows that inactivity among people over 55 is responsible for just as many deaths as smoking. In Cheshire and Warrington just over 40% of the population (c.370,000 people) are over 55 and of these 53% (nearly 200,000) do less than two and a half hours of gentle exercise per week.

This latest online Well-being at Home programme begins the week of February 8, 2021. Prebooking is essential by registering on the website: www. canalrivertrust.org.uk/activewaterways For enquiries please call 07990 612700.

For more information or to get involved, go to the Canal & River Trust website www.canalrivertrust.org. uk/activewaterways or email the Active Waterways team on activewaterways@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

4 NEWS

New year makeover for Caen Hill flight Traditional green oak is being used to reline the gates.

Repair work taking place inside one of the locks.

A MAJOR programme of work is under way on the four highest locks at the Caen Hill Flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

It’s a massive challenge that involves draining the adjacent side reservoir ponds (used to store water to operate the locks) down to around 0.5m deep.

This allows the Canal & River Trust’s engineering team to descend the 5.5m (18ft) into the locks to repair the brickwork. In keeping with the locks’

PHOTOS: CRT/CLARE GREEN

heritage, the team will use traditional lime mortar, as was used when the locks were built in 1810.

Mark Evans, director for the Canal & River Trust for Wales & South West, explained: “This year the trust is spending £70k on the repair work at Caen Hill. This winter work is crucial to keep the flight in peak condition. It is iconic for so many reasons – a feat of engineering from the heyday of the

canals and one of the country’s longest continuous runs of lock flights.”

The Caen Hill Flight, at Devizes in Wiltshire, is described as one of the wonders of the waterways. Its 16 locks form a giant watery staircase allowing boats to travel up, and down, the steep hillside.

Being among the busiest locks on the canal network, they require constant attention and this year the Canal & River Trust is focusing on the pinnacle of the

flight – locks 37 to 40. The lock gates, scarred by the bumps and scrapes of thousands of fenders, will be relined using traditional green oak.

The towpath at Caen Hill remains open and the flight is planned to reopen to boats on March 19, 2021.

Mark added: “It continues to be breathtaking – both to those on the towpath enjoying the view during part of their daily exercise today and to boaters negotiating

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Caen Hill facts and stats • John Rennie, Caen Hill’s engineer, was a celebrated canal engineer but also the engineer for, among many others, London Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.

• The side reservoir ponds were an innovative idea designed to store the water needed to operate the locks. Each time a boat passes through a lock it takes 270,000 litres of water (1000 bath tubs full).

When originally dug out, the side ponds each held five million litres of water (one million gallons).

• Even with the side ponds, water still needs to be pumped back up to the top of the flight. This is done by a back pump at Foxhangers. It is capable of returning 32 million litres (seven million gallons) of water per day to the top of the flight. That’s one lockful every 11 minutes.

• The wooden gates are 5.5m (18ft) tall, each weigh around three tonnes and the metal ones 1.5 tonnes.

• When full, the locks are 4.9m (16ft) deep.

• The millions of bricks needed to build the locks were made from clay dug locally on the hillside between the towpath and main road.

• Lock keepers are needed to guide boaters through the flight. It takes around four hours for a boat to move up, or down, the locks. through the locks in future months.

“The safety of our colleagues also remains a priority, with this project being safely carried out within the Government’s coronavirus guidance.”

Pandemic shows value of canal restoration

AS WE endure another lockdown, you would be forgiven for thinking the chairman of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust would be feeling rather downbeat about the coming year.

Fundraising events have had to be called off, boat trips cancelled and working parties stood down. However, Sally Schupke, who has chaired the charity restoring the 23-mile canal spanning Surrey and West Sussex for more than 10 years, is full of optimism.

She says although the pandemic has been tough on the trust’s finances, members and supporters, it has brought into sharp focus the importance of its aim of creating a green corridor to be used for leisure.

“During the pandemic so many people have appreciated the green spaces on their doorstep. In uncertain times a walk along the canal towpaths and the nature park at Shalford in Surrey have brought us calm.

Seeing the beauty of nature and being out in the open air have been a lifeline for many,” she said. “I can’t see that changing as we come out of this dark period.”

She added that the numbers of people visiting the longest restored section at Loxwood were well above average throughout the year, along with other picturesque areas such as Lordings Lock near Wisborough Green and Hunt

Paddlers and walkers enjoying the special feeling that being by the canal provides. special feeling that being by the canal provides and importantly getting some respite from being at home and having some necessary exercise.”

benefits of canal restoration, though, but those 150-plus volunteers who have given up

their spare time to join working parties which in normal times run almost every day of the week.

“Having to shut down working parties has been a blow,” Sally admitted. “For volunteers it’s not just about the maintenance and restoration work itself – although that is important to them – but the social side of working together in a team, the camaraderie. Volunteering can be so good for your mental wellbeing as well as physical health.

“Due to social distancing we had to limit numbers working over the summer when working parties were allowed to once again operate, and we were even turning people away who had offered to volunteer.

“We hope that when we get back to normal we will be able to welcome even more volunteers to our working parties.”

Circular walk

Sally Schupke: appreciating green spaces.

Nature Park in Shalford. “We have seen everyone from families with young children to older people thankful for the easy and flat walking, kayakers, paddleboarders, cyclists and horseriders, all enjoying the

The trust’s ambition is to bring back to life the canal that once provided a waterway route from London to the south coast, and Sally says the goal is one that the trust remains focused on in 2021, opening up more sections where it can. It hopes to open a circular canal walk in Birtley, near Bramley, some time this year, providing another scenic area to explore.

It hasn’t only been the public who have experienced the

A tranquil winter scene on the Wey & Arun Canal. PHOTOS: WACT

Sally also hopes that the public will continue to support the trust through donations and membership to help it bounce back from the fall in revenue in 2020.

“We plan to hold fundraising events when we can and operate our boat cruises from Loxwood as soon as restrictions are lifted in the spring.

“Tickets for our trips that were run with reduced capacity throughout the summer, autumn and over Christmas were in big demand and we can’t wait to welcome passengers back when we can.

“The pandemic has showed that the restored canal brings a lot of people pleasure, both on and off the water, and we want to make sure that continues.”

To keep up to date with news from the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, visit weyarun.org.uk

NEWS 55

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Veolia confirms £75,000 grant towards Dudley winding hole project AN ambitious plan to restore the Dudley No 2 Canal into a working canal has taken a significant step forward thanks to a generous £75,000 grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust.

Work is planned to start at the beginning of March on a winding hole to allow boats to turn and enter and exit the soon-to-be-restored canal.

It will be an attractive calming water feature in the heart of Selly Oak, to be used by all canal users including canoeists, paddleboarders and anglers. It will also be a convenient destination for trip boats to and from central Birmingham – a pleasant 55-minute journey along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, a beautiful green corridor not yet seen by many residents.

Lizzie Cooke, head of grants, Veolia Environmental Trust, said: “Veolia is

delighted to support Lapal Canal Trust with £75,000 funding for the winding hole project at this crucial stage.”

Lapal Canal Trust chairman Dr Andrew Hardie said it would enable them to start constructing the winding hole, before moving on to the next phase of the canal restoration through to Selly Oak Park.

Canal & River Trust West Midlands director Adnan Saif added: “The winding hole will open great opportunities for all kinds of water-based activities and will serve to increase the vibrancy and visitor attraction in Selly Oak and wider canal network.”

The project is supported by the Community Partnership for Selly Oak and forms part of CP4SO ambitious plans to preserve the many attractive old buildings in Selly Oak.

Wrenbury Lift Bridge. PHOTOS: CRT

Historic Wrenbury Lift Bridge given £150,000 upgrade

THE Canal & River Trust has upgraded a historic canal lift bridge in the village of Wrenbury, near Nantwich in Cheshire, to give it modern safety controls.

A £150,000 project has resulted in much easier operation for boaters on the Llangollen Canal, as well as introducing extra security measures for motorists using the single track road bridge between Nantwich Road and Cholmondeley Road.

Darren Spann, project manager, explained: “This is a busy crossing point for both boats and cars so it is vital the lift bridge operates with modern safety standards and is kept in good working order.”

The manual swing-arm barrier, which stops traffic during a boat crossing, has been replaced by an automated

drop-arm barrier at both ends of the bridge. New waterside safety fencing has been erected and a new bridge control pedestal, installed on the towpath side, will make it much easier and safer for boaters to raise the automated lift bridge.

Darren added: “Wrenbury Lift Bridge (no 20) is one of a number of distinctive drawbridge-style crossings on this narrow canal, which allow the road to remain at the same height as the canal.

Originally built to carry coal, iron and limestone, the Llangollen Canal has now reinvented itself as a leisure destination and a haven for wildlife.”

The project, which was delivered by contractors AmcoGiffen, started at the beginning of November 2020 and was completed the week before Christmas.

The plan for the winding hole. PHOTO: LAPAL CANAL TRUST

The new boater control pedestal.

CRT project manager Darren Spann, right, and Oliver South of AmcoGiffen at the Wrenbury Lift Bridge.

6 NEWS

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Cheshire shipping lock gets £450,000 upgrade

THE Canal & River Trust has been carrying out a vital £450,000 repair project to a Grade II-listed shipping lock on the River Weaver Navigation in Northwich.

With the lock expected to reopen from the end of January, the three-month winter programme has involved major work to upgrade the ‘smaller’ lock at historic Hunt’s Lock, replacing the two 11-tonne lower gates and re-planking the upper gates with oak.

Replacing them has been a massive and complex task, with the small lock being constructed on an island in the middle of the River Weaver. Trust engineers were unable to get a crane large enough over to the island to lift the lock gates. Only a small crane, able to remove the footbridges from the gates and the gates’ quadrants (hinges), was sufficiently lightweight to be floated over to the island on a pontoon.

Project manager Simon Harding beside the re-boarded lock gates. PHOTOS: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

Once the lock gates were detached, they too had to be floated on six airbags and towed down the river by tug to the trust’s Northwich repair yard, about 400 yards away, where they were lifted out of the river by a large crane.

Once the engineers move off site, the trust has a team of volunteers who will be involved in landscaping and improving the iconic double lock, which is a popular pedestrian route connecting Kingsmead and Sir John Deane’s College to Hartford.

Project manager Simon Harding said: “Structures on the Weaver Navigation are over 150 years old and they are huge – constructed to carry 1000 tonne, sea-going ships involved in the local salt industry.

“Access to Hunts Lock has been incredibly difficult, and the depth and complexity of the lock structure has meant we’ve had to bring in a team of divers to help.

“In 1887, the depth of the lock was increased to enable larger vessels to pass through, but this was done by increasing the height of the lock walls and

An aerial view of the work at Hunt’s Lock. lowering the bottom of the lock chamber.”

Although the gates remained the same size, but with added fittings, extra timber and ironwork had to be adapted to fit the new lock gates.

Eighty percent of the cost has been funded by a grant from the Heritage Stimulus Fund, administered by Historic England as part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which is designed to protect heritage sites and support jobs and access to culture and heritage.

The lock gates had to be floated on six airbags.

Leicester’s waterways see £1m improvement A MAJOR programme of improvements to Leicester waterways has entered its latest phase.

As well as benefiting boaters, the £1 million works by the Canal & River Trust to improve the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal are intended to make it easier for people living and working nearby to feel the health and wellbeing benefits of being by water and provide a welcome boost to the local economy.

Regional director Phil Mulligan said: “The investment that is being put in over the coming months really demonstrates the importance of Leicester’s waterways, which help to connect communities and provide vital routes that link people and businesses.”

Work started in December on the first phase of the project, which was expected to take 17 weeks. This involves 1.5km of towpath between Kings Lock and Aylestone Mill Bridge. The path is currently muddy and uneven in wet weather and the improvements will see the path widened with a new all-weather surface.

Better access points are also being created at Packhorse Bridge to link in with wider improvements being made in the area, particularly the new Marsden Lane ramp being built by Leicester City Council.

The new path will link in with other local walking and cycling routes, including the Great Central Way and the Marsden Lane ramp, creating attractive circular routes for local people to explore.

A muddy towpath in Leicester.

Boaters should have better access to local attractions.

PHOTOS: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

A further phase due to start in January has improvements including a new surface to Blue Bank Bridge, which forms part of the busy route linking the Great Central Way with Everards Meadow. There are also plans to create better access down on to the canal towpath as well as improving signage to make it easier for people to find their way around the area.

CRT will also be creating new visitor moorings near the bridge, giving visiting boaters the opportunity to moor up and explore Everards Meadow and other local attractions.

The final aspect of the improvements comes further north with new boat moorings to be created at the city’s historic Memory Lane Wharf, enabling boaters to stop off and explore the city.

This will involve six to eight residential moorings and four to six secure visitor moorings created with electric hook-ups, water point and waste facilities. The plans have been drawn up in consultation with the Inland Waterways Association. The improvements are being funded through the Local Growth Fund following a successful bid by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), Leicester City Council and CRT.

NEWS 7

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Restoration project gains from canal trust closure

THE Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canals Trust has donated more than £22,000 to the Chesterfield Canal Trust which will go to the Rewatering Renishaw project.

Formed in 1984, the Barnsley Canal Group relaunched as the Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canals Trust in 2000 but for a number of years support has dwindled.

The new Barnsley local plan does not include the restoration of the canals in the borough. Without that support, the prospect of a through restoration, estimated to cost a nine-figure sum, appears to be very unlikely.

It was therefore with great regret that the trust’s council of management decided to wind up the trust and cease operations. Members considered that their remaining cash assets should be transferred to an active canal restoration project where they could be put to good, practical use and chose the Chesterfield Canal Trust as recipients. This was approved at their AGM in November.

Mike Silk, company secretary of the Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canals Trust said: “Despite our disappointment at having to close our trust, we are convinced that helping to keep the restoration work of the Chesterfield Canal Trust moving forward is the best use for the resources we are passing across. We wish the trust every success with its plans for full restoration, which

The stretch at Renishaw pictured in 2010 when it was first restored, but there was no water supply. will benefit local communities as well as all users of the route of the canal.”

Permanent waterspace

The Rewatering Renishaw project seeks to make good 500m of canal which was restored through Renishaw, Derbyshire in 2009, as part of a housing development, but which has not been maintained. It will also extend the channel by a further 500m which will be transformed into a permanent waterspace that local people can celebrate and enjoy.

Besides putting 1000m of canal in

water, the towpath will be resurfaced to be suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.

There will be a circular 2.5km surfaced route incorporating the Trans-Pennine Trail and 11 picnic benches, two of which will be suitable for wheelchair users.

Signage to encourage users of the Trans-Pennine Trail to explore the canal and the village will be installed, along with 12 cycle stands to allow cyclists to secure their bikes.

Peter Hardy, chairman of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “The Chesterfield Canal Trust is very sad to

The water slowly leaked and evaporated away, leaving it as in this 2020 photo. PHOTOS: CHESTERFIELD CANAL TRUST see one of our fellow restoration trusts having to be wound up. We believe that canal restoration is a wonderful vehicle for bringing much-needed economic regeneration to our communities.

Recent events have re-emphasised the need for these green spaces for health and well-being.

“We are deeply grateful to the officers and members of Barnsley, Dearne &

Dove Canals Trust for choosing us as the recipients of their remaining funds.

They can rest assured that the money will be put to very good use.”

This Rewatering Renishaw project is part of Phase 1 of the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s ambition to restore the canal to full navigation by 2027, which is the 250th anniversary of the canal’s original opening.

8 NETWORKING

Teams join forces for litter pick on the Erewash Canal

THE Friends of Cromford Canal teamed up with the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association in December for a litter pick along the Erewash Canal between Langley Mill and Ilkeston.

There were four FCC volunteers – two started at Potters Lock, Ilkeston and walked back towards Langley Mill, until they met the other two who had started at Langley Mill and were working with the ECP&DA workboat Pentland, manned by three ECP&DA volunteers.

The first area was next to the KFC, at Lock No 1 of the Cromford Canal at Langley Mill, which had a lot of mixed litter, as expected. Pentland’s crew had a difficult task to recover a motor scooter that had been dumped on the opposite bank to the towpath.

They got it half into the boat but the back end was too heavy to lift so Pentland was positioned alongside the towpath and two of the litter pickers helped to eventually get the motor scooter on board.

The wreckage of an angler’s tent was pulled out of the hedge bottom complete with the carrying bag and a bit further down the towpath an angler’s heavy coat had been dumped for some reason.

Just before Eastwood lock, a full bag of litter and a large supermarket bag was left on the canal edge, for collection by Pentland on the return trip. An hour later, this bag was recovered from the water by a Canal & River Trust volunteer who was walking the canal. Someone had decided it was funny to dump it back into the canal, with the bag floating off.

At Eastwood lock the crew set about clearing litter in the lock runoff and the FCC volunteers carried on towards Shipley Lock, trying to retrieve the litter in the hedgerow safely, a difficult task.

ECP&DA chairman Norman Cornwell retrieved a stylish golden bottle which at one time had held vodka and must have cost a lot. John Barker and Baz Bazley

Collecting rubbish from the canal bank.

The crew on workboat Pentland try to retrieve the motor scooter.

ECP&DA chairman Norman Cornwell with the golden vodka bottle. were working from Potters Lock, Ilkeston and found a large amount of coffee cups dumped in the hedge bottom at one point.

This was obviously a gathering point for customers from the local coffee house and filled several bags, which were deposited next to the council bin, for collection. Also recovered on this section was a picnic basket (a bit cold for picnics) and a storage container with a broken lid.

In total, 11 bags of rubbish, plus the angler’s tent, a large piece of wooden panelling and other bulky items including the motor scooter and the now obligatory supermarket trolley were recovered.

Just before Christmas, FCC work party leader John Barker was made aware of eight bags of builder’s rubbish that had been thrown over the wall on Coach Road, Ironville. This is an area that the Friends of Cromford Canal has adopted and had cleared all the rubbish previously. He arranged with the bailiff to collect the rubbish, which was made up of floor tiles, with the FCC trailer and taken away for correct disposal.

The litter pick was held under the Covid-19 regulations and the FCC Covid-19 Risk Assessment.

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Blacksmith to tackle coal route challenge for veterans’ charity FORMER Army reservist turned blacksmith Owen Thomas is planning to carry a bag of coke more than 400 miles later this year to raise money for a veterans’ charity.

He is hoping to set off in September with the 20kg bag of blacksmithing coke from his Fire Born Forge at Stoke Bruerne, his route taking him along the Grand Union, Kennet & Avon and Leeds & Liverpool canals.

Owen explained: “This task combines my love for Britain's canals, blacksmithing, raising awareness of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among our veterans and raising money for a brilliant initiative in the veterans’ forge.”

Based in the Purbeck Hills near Corfe Castle in Dorset, the Veterans Forge CIC (Community Interest Company) was founded by exsoldier Will Spicer who discovered the therapeutic and rehabilitation qualities that blacksmithing can offer and hopes it will become a centre of excellence.

Having spent five years living on a boat on the Grand Union Canal and serving a total of 10 years in the army reserve, Owen decided to retrain as a blacksmith and took over the forge at the old tug store in Stoke Bruerne.

He continued: “Every year

runners pass my forge competing in the CIC Race from Birmingham to London Canal Race along the Grand Union Canal and it has been my wish to compete in the race for the last few years.

“However, due to the date of the race, I have never been able to participate, so it got me thinking that to celebrate blacksmithing, the historical coal routes of Britain’s canals and raise money for the Veterans’ Forge I will be covering more than 400 miles.”

He will be recording his progress on the Facebook group Forging Ahead for Veterans and sponsorship donations can be sent to: The Veterans Forge CIC (Santander), sort code 09-01-29 account number 2178366.

Owen Thomas outside his forge at Stoke Bruerne. PHOTO: JULIE WEBB

The recovered scooter.

Volunteers planting 420 saplings behind the completed winding hole.

PHOTO: WAT

Trees planted near new winding hole

The rubbish haul included the obligatory supermarket trolley.

PHOTOS: FCC

DURING December 2020, volunteers from the Wendover Arm Trust planted 420 saplings in the area behind the completed winding hole which forms part of Phase 1 of the restoration.

The saplings were kindly provided by the Woodland Trust and comprised a wide variety with goat willow, crab apple, hawthorn, hazel and downy birch.

This follows a previous planting of 130 trees near the former pumping station at Whitehouses in 2019.

They have registered with Plant Britain crusade which was started by BBC Countryfile in December 2020.

The trust has now cleared and relined the canal to Bridge 4 and rewatering of this section is planned for the spring. This will

add a further 246m to the 960m already in water from Drayton Beauchamp.

A further 852m needs completing to join up with Phase 1, which is fully navigable from the junction with the Grand Union Canal.

Considerable costs will be incurred to complete this section and the trust is seeking funds from various potential avenues.

Peter the sweeper smashes fundraising target VOLUNTEER team leader Peter Killan, whose towpath sweep in aid of a local hospice was featured last month, smashed his target before Christmas.

The Uppermill Community Action (UCAN) team leader had embarked on singlehandedly clearing leaves in November for a good cause to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Peter initially aimed to raise £1000 for the Furnish with Love – Give the Gift of Comfort Appeal at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

He said before Christmas:

“I hit my target and finished clearing the three-quarter mile length of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath from Wade Lock Uppermill to Wool Road car park Dobcross.”

At the time of writing, donations to Peter’s JustGiving page were approaching £5000, almost five times the original target of £1000. The addition of Gift Aid will produce a total of nearly £5800 which will go towards buying furnishings for the Patient and Family Lounge in the new In-Patient Unit at the Oldham hospice.

Peter said: “The new lockdown has meant that the hospice will now be unable to restart any fundraising events before spring at the earliest, and probably much later, with a devastating effect on income.

“As the JustGiving page has clearly continued to attract donations and, in order to continue to support the hospice, it has been decided to keep it open for donations for the time being. Everyone, especially those who use the towpath, is encouraged to support this appeal for the

hospice as it is needed more than ever at this time.”

He added: “Very many thanks to all of you who have sponsored me so generously and to those who are still to do so.” www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/Peter-Killan

Right: UCAN team leader Peter Killan at the finishing point, having completed clearing the leaves from the towpath in Uppermill to raise funds for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. PHOTO: UCAN

NEWS 9

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Characters of the Cut Alice Griffin chats with the retired midwife whose new ‘baby’ is a narrowboat for hire.

Tiller Girl: the ‘floating Jaffa cake’.

WHEN Melanie Franklin-Pryce took flexi-retirement and was looking to find a way to spend her hard-earned pension to create a second income, she settled on self-catering accommodation as a good option and began to explore cottages in Yorkshire.

Until, that is, her narrowboatdwelling son gave her other ideas. “My eldest son, Ben, who bought a narrowboat a few years ago as a liveaboard said: ‘Mum, a narrowboat would be better!’ He felt it would be easier to maintain and hire out being closer to home, so off we went to have a look.”

Having spent 45 years working with the NHS – firstly as a cardiac ICU nurse and then a registered midwife – looking at narrowboats was a bit of a change for Melanie, but it only took two viewing trips to Castle Marina in Nottingham back in 2018 to find her dream 57ft semi-traditional narrowboat.

“Searching the internet looking at average costs and what type and standard of narrowboat was available was mind blowing, but we felt this particular one fitted the bill for my idea of a luxury retreat. It had lots of potential.”

Within a week the deed was done and Melanie’s retirement dream was taking shape.

“I must admit to waking a few times in the night with thoughts of, ‘what have I done, that’s a lot of money to spend!’ but on the whole I couldn’t wait to get started on the refurbishment.”

The first steps of the journey were cruising her purchase to its new home of Sawley Marina and changing the name to reflect that she was Melanie’s investment, rather than husband John’s. Tiller Girl was born!

The learning curve was steep but as Melanie tells me: “I pulled up my big girl knickers and faced it head on!” Throughout 2019 the interior was given a makeover

befitting of a luxury hire boat and with son Ben on hand to offer advice and support – as well as a brother and nephew who Melanie Franklin-Pryce has are marine engineers – launched a new career as a Melanie took it in her hire-boat operator. stride, even learning the ins and outs of how to service and soon welcomed her and look after a Beta Marine first guests on July 27, with engine and keep the electrics others continuing to flow in and batteries working. throughout the summer.

“It was difficult to say the least Positive comments also and so much to take on board flowed, including about that I must admit to feeling Tiller Girl’s image: “Sapphire overwhelmed and having doubts blue and orange are not the as to whether I could ever manage colours I imagined my hire the boat maintenance. I thought boat to be, but we have had my midwifery studies were hard, so many wonderful comments but this was a different kettle of about ‘the floating Jaffa cake’ fish!” Melanie persevered though, that she will remain as is and spending many hours researching I have built our image around and making boat manuals her this colour scheme!” chosen bedtime reading until When Tiller Girl is not home everything was ready to go. to guests, Melanie and John love to make the most of her Sudden stop themselves. “We enjoy the As we all know, though, 2020 slow pace, outdoor life and took an unexpected turn and wide range of folk we meet on Tiller Girl’s official launch the water.” There’s no doubt was put on hold. “Covid-19 the love Melanie feels for her reared its nasty viral head and investment has helped make everything came to a sudden Tiller Girl special for others, stop,” Melanie tells me. Without too. With lots of little extras the promise of holidaymakers, such as afternoon tea provided funds ran low and the planned on guests’ first day and gifts exterior paint job had to be for those celebrating special cancelled altogether. However, occasions, she really does offer Melanie remained positive the personal touch.

Now fully retired from the NHS just this month, and with Tiller Girl her fulltime job, Melanie is looking forward to a busy summer sending lots of lovely guests out on canal adventures. “If someone had told me four years ago when I semi-retired from the NHS that I would own and run a narrowboat holiday business instead of looking after mummies and babies, I wouldn’t have The forward cabin. believed them for a moment!

PHOTOS SUPPLIED And yet here I am running – single-handedly – Tiller Girl Narrowboat Holidays.” It seems Melanie has replaced one baby with another and with her continued care and attention, I’m positive this new career will be just as fulfilling!

Instagram: Narrowboattillergirl Facebook: tgnarrowboat Website: www.tillergirl.com

Afternoon tea is provided on guests’ first day.

Alice Griffin is a writer and intermittent boater, currently spending time in the Scottish Highlands.

I n s t a g r a m : alice_is_in_wanderland www.alicegriffin.co.uk

10 NEWS

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Accountant’s new role adds up to training skills

As we start a new series featuring the work of NCBA Community Boats, Madhu Walsh shares her first experience as an assistant trainer at Hillingdon Narrowboat Association.

I LOVE to teach. Nothing beats the buzz you get from spending a few days working with a bunch of inquisitive and enthusiastic students with a common interest in boating and then sending them home armed with tools to be able to go boating either on their own, with a group of friends or within their capacity as a group leader for an organisation.

So how did an Indian girl from Finchley end up becoming an assistant trainer at Hillingdon Narrowboat Association (HNA) in less than two years from qualifying?

Well, on a whim I bought a 35ft Springer narrowboat called Lady Rose (a mid-life crisis?),

The Three Bridges training team. PHOTOS: NCBA for leisure cruising with friends and family. However, with my only previous experience on the water being a waterbus trip on the Thames and a pedalo on the Serpentine about 10 years prior, I really had no boating experience or knowledge of boats! So I thought to myself, now I’ve got to learn how to steer her and look after her. So I signed up on a training course at HNA which I found from my Scout contacts.

In July 2014 I achieved my National Community Boats Association (NCBA) Boat

Handling Certificate. This then gave me the boating bug and I wanted to expand my boating experience so volunteered to crew for HNA. I also wanted to take groups out for HNA so decided to sign up for the NCBA Certificate in Community Boat Management course (CCBM) in October 2014.

The course as run by HNA was a four-day residential trip going round the London Ring. It was intense but very rewarding as I gained valuable boating skills and knowledge.

I also wanted to take my boat out on the Thames so I signed up for an RYA VHF Radio course, only to find out that I didn’t need it for my boat as she is too short.

Once I got confident in boating I was fortunate enough to be asked to assist on a boat move going from the Cape of Good Hope at Hatton all the way to Newbury on the Kennet & Avon via Brentford on a Dutch barge.

What a lucky girl I am! Having experienced engine problems on the barge, I decided I wanted to know more about the ins and outs of my boat itself so signed up for an RCR/RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance course. Having gained these boating qualifications in a relatively short time I was a more confident boater.

So, when I got asked if I would like to become an assistant trainer at HNA I jumped at the chance. I love boating and it’s thanks to HNA’s excellent training that I am a more confident boater in the first place so I saw this as an opportunity to be part of a great team delivering a great course.

My challenge was to teach the technical knowledge I had learnt from my courses and practical experiences to date and finding a way of

Madhu Walsh on board the Hillingdon Star.

delivering it to the students, all the while learning from my peers on how they teach themselves.

The thought of training 10 students was daunting and I was nervous but I drew experience from being in their shoes three years ago and realised how far I had come and wanted to impart that achievement to them.

Meeting the group was fantastic; there was a boat owner looking to learn basic boating skills to manage her boat, like myself three years prior, experienced boaters looking for qualifications to take their groups due to new regulations and even one person who just wanted to find out if narrow boating floated her boat as she was considering buying one – a real mixed bag.

It soon became apparent that we would need to cater for different needs and adapt the course according to their individual needs.

The set-up was fantastic too.

Paul was the lead trainer on one boat and Dave a senior trainer on the other boat; I floated (not literally) between the two. This gave me a chance to work with all the students each day.

The course started on Thursday night where Paul gave a PowerPoint presentation of the work HNA does and what the course would entail. The students then introduced themselves and their reasons for joining the course.

Each student then took part in a learning-style questionnaire and we all discussed the findings.

The evening ended with a meal and trip to the nearest pub.

We set off from HNA’s boathouse on Friday morning after splitting the group into two teams of five and I found myself right in the thick of it straight away. It soon became apparent who was experienced and needed very little tuition on steering and who needed a little more help.

Every night we had a group debrief. ‘How did it go?’ ‘Did you enjoy it?’ ‘What did you learn?’. This was a great way of finding out if the training model was working and what could be improved or kept the same.

We also exchanged experiences and stories and found this a

very productive way of informal training and learning about the olden days as well.

Dave related some interesting stories and tips about boating on a working boat – I will never forget what thumb pins are ever again or what they were used for (to hold back the butty boat in the lock)!

On day two we went to Ducketts Cut (Hertford Union Canal). I had never been there before so Paul and Dave both thought it would be a great opportunity for me to train the students on turning left into the cut (blind leading the blind came to mind). However I used my knowledge of turning to teach them and was relieved when they came through with flying colours.

On day three I taught them winding on the River Lee. We had strong winds which worked both for us and against us and taught them essential skills when winding the boat. They learned quickly what can go wrong, like stemming up (going aground); however, they also learnt valuable skills to recover.

Unquestionably going out on the Thames was the highlight of the course and every single student thoroughly enjoyed that challenge. They were exhilarated by the end of the two-and-a-halfhour journey.

The main challenge for me was at the Hanwell flight (eight locks) and made me the most nervous as this was where everything I and my peers had taught the students came to fruition. Needless to say they all shone and coped very well. It might have been because I was armed with a clipboard so they knew they were under the cosh but I believe this only made them better.

At the top of the flight the students took a well-deserved rest by going through the theory aspects of any items that they hadn’t come across, i.e. lift bridges, with Paul. While they did their theory Dave and I finally got a chance to do some boating to Cowley.

At Uxbridge Paul called the end of formal training and the students were then told to bring the boats home while the trainers all took a well-deserved rest knowing that the whole team had been exemplary and the trainers felt confident that each and every one of them would look after their group and boat respectively in the future.

Was I tired at the end?

Absolutely! However, seeing the transformation in the students who had no previous experience and building on the knowledge of those who had was simply overwhelming.

It was strange with the boot being on the other foot and I have no doubt some of the students will follow in my footsteps.

Thanks HNA for making this boring Indian accountant into an NCBA qualified boater!

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Derek Bent retires after six decades around boats

By Colin Wareing

WELL known all across the inland waterways, but more so to the boaters who use the western end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Derek Bent has announced his retirement from commercial carrying after some 60 years.

Although not from a boating family, he started helping out and working on boats back in the 1960s and has owned various boats over the time he has been carrying on the Leeds & Liverpool and Bridgewater canals from the mid-1970s onwards on his own account.

With the boats, starting with Weaver – bought following a family hire boat holiday in 1972 – through to the one he owns now, Ambush, Derek has always tried to find work for them, sometimes more successfully than at other times.

He’s had spells back on the bank, lorry driving or a stint working for British Waterways as a bridge keeper at Plank Lane near Leigh.

Derek carried grain to Trafford Park from Seaforth for a while and a couple of loads over from Seaforth to Selby, one of these being the last commercial load to work the entire length of the Leeds & Liverpool canal.

Derek Bent, in the hi-vis jacket, serving customer Dave.

PHOTOS: COLIN WAREING, COLIN AND CAROLE’S CREATIONS

In the 1990s Derek owned a Leeds & Liverpool short boat, Irwell. He had also bought Viktoria, an ex-H & R Ainscough’s dumb boat.

Viktoria was part of a fleet of barges built for Ainscough’s to carry imported Canadian grain from Birkenhead and Liverpool docks to canalside mills in Burscough and Parbold. Viktoria’s motor Ambush alongside the narrowboat Ferret in Burscough on December 20 during Derek’s last scheduled fuel run before retirement.

boat had been Ambush and when a opportunity arose to do a deal Irwell and Ambush swapped owners.

While still lorry driving for a living Derek fitted out Ambush with a diesel tank and pump.

He then spent his weekends selling fuel, liquid and solid in the form of coal, to boaters on the Bridgewater Canal.

Having been based at various yards in the Wigan area, the two boats Viktoria and Ambush have been based at Crooke to the west of Wigan in recent years and the fuel runs have concentrated on the western end of the Leeds & Liverpool canal.

The last weekend before Christmas 2020 Derek and his young helper Lee Parkinson did a fuel run from Crooke to Haskayne with Derek telling all his customers that would be his last run.

However Ambush isn’t being laid up yet as Lee is taking over running the operation. Lee has been crewing for Derek for a good few years and comes from a line of working boatmen. His dad, Tom, was one of the last boatmen to carry coal from Bickershaw Colliery near Leigh to the power station in Wigan.

Derek will still be there in the background, answering the phone, doing a few deliveries by road in his van and supporting Lee but he feels it’s now time to stop throwing 20kg bags of solid fuel about and handling 13kg gas bottles.

Derek and Lee can still be contacted on 07837 428588 or via Facebook.

11 NEWS 11