Towpath Talk May issue 20 PAGE PREVIEW

The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users

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Issue 211, May 2023

CRICK BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

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Boats old and new in the marina. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

A fun day out for all the family THE 2023 Crick Boat Show offers a fantastic day out by the water for all the family.

Held across the late May Bank Holiday weekend, May 27-29, at Crick Marina, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, it is the UK’s biggest inland waterways festival.

This annual event, organised

by Waterways World in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and Crick Waterside

Please contact us to discuss the different types and specifications to suit your layout and requirements or come and see us at our canal side premises at Hillmorton Locks.

& Marina, is expected to attract more than 26,000 visitors.

As well as being the canal world’s biggest marketplace, showcasing the inland waterways industry with in excess of 200 exhibitors, Crick Boat Show has more than 30 new boats to view, plus used boats and free advice seminars on boat ownership and technical masterclasses.

Other attractions include free

boat trips, live music, children’s activities, a real ale bar and a wide variety of food and drink stalls.

Entry to the show is free for children aged 16 and under on the Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday Monday.

For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, visit www. crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970, Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

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Lots to see at the Crick Boat Show. PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN

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The top 10 things g to do at this year’s show: Enjoy a boat trip – visitors to Crick can take a free boat trip along the Grand Union Canal aboard canal boats run by volunteers from the LNBP Community Boating. The half-hour trips run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show.

Visitors can book their free trip at the Trip Boats Marquee on the quayside when they arrive at the show.

2. Listen to live music – Fifteen live bands will be performing throughout the show in the Real Ale Bar for the show’s music festival in association with Aquavista. Dr Feelgood will headline on the Saturday evening (May 27), and Mercury: The Ultimate Queen Tribute will headline on the Sunday night (May 28). Evening entertainment, which is included in the price of the same day ticket to the show, runs from 7.30pm to 11.30pm on Friday, May 26, Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28.

very latest in boating products and services, as well as crafts, gifts, clothing, jewellery and hats.

1.

3.

Climb aboard the latest luxury boats – dozens of luxury new boats will

be on display, showcasing all the latest lifestyle extras, space-saving ideas and green technology. From king-sized beds, baths and drinks fridges, to underfloor heating, electric engines and solar panels.

4. Step back in time – thanks to the Historic Narrow Boat Club (HNBC), eight historic boats will be on display at the show, giving visitors the chance to see how the working boat families lived when canals were the transport

6.

Visit the Canal & River Trust’s T ‘national treasures’ exhibition – national waterways

Dr Feellgood d is th he headline act on Saturday evening.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

arteries of the Industrial Revolution.

Historic boats on display will include the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum’s 88-year-old Sculptor, back at Crick for the first time since her year-long restoration. Built in 1935 for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company, as well as transporting cargoes such as coal and cotton from London to the Midlands, Sculptor played a key role in fighting fires in London during the Second World War. 5. Enjoy some retail therapy – with over 200 exhibitors from across the canal world, as well as dozens of new boats to look round, Crick offers shoppers the

charity the Canal & River Trust w be celebrating the 2000 will miles m of national treasures in iits care, including 1000 wildlife cconservation sites, with a special eexhibition in the Canal & River Trust Marquee. Visitors can get T boating advice, find out about the b rrecreation, health and well-being opportunities available to them o on their local waterways, and o discover ways to get involved to d support the charity’s work.

7.

Take a boat handling lesson

– two-hour boat handling training sessions with RYA accredited trainers from Watercraft and the Narrowboat Skills Centre will be taking place at the

Ultimate Queen tribute act Mercury will be on stage on Sunday evening. PHOTO SUPPLIED

LNBP Community Boating will be giving free boat trips. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON Show (May 27-29). Lessons will cover the basics of casting off, mooring up, boat etiquette, rope handling, boat jargon and lock navigation. Sessions are charged at £39 per person. Places are limited so advance booking via crickboatshow.com is essential.

8. Get some expert advice on boating

– the show’s free Boat Ownership Seminar programme features advice from Waterways World’s technical editor Mark Langley for both new and experienced boaters. Seminars include advice on buying a new or second-hand boat, living afloat and boat maintenance.

And there will be masterclasses from a number of exhibitors, with topics including managing water on the canal network with Adam Comerford, national hydrology manager for the Canal & River Trust.

9.

Vote for your favourite boat

– visitors to the show can vote for their favourite boat and the result will be announced mid-afternoon on Monday, May 27. Sponsored by Haven-Knox Johnston, there are two categories to vote for: one for the most admired narrowboat; and one for the most admired widebeam. Everyone who votes is entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Marks & Spencer voucher. The winning exhibitors receive a trophy and a bottle of champagne.

10. Enjoy exclusive access on Trade & Preview Day – visitors to the show’s

Trade & Preview Day in Association with LeeSan on Friday, May 26, can book a boat tour online in advance. Tickets are priced at £25 each and are only available in advance. Availability is limited to 1000 tickets. Trade & Preview Day visitors will receive a gift bag, hot drink and access to the VIP marquee.

The ideal location for exploring East Anglia’s Waterways with easy access to the canal network

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The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users

84 PAGES

TALK

TO TOWPATH

Issue 211, May 2023

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Spring blossom at Braunston Marina where preparations are under way for the 19th Braunston Historic Boat Rally and Canal Festival in June. See preview on page 23. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

MUSEUM VOLUNTEER’S FINAL CANAL JOURNEY

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BUILDING BEST-KEPT SECRET AT BRADFORD

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BOATS FOR SALE Starts on

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Census paints a picture of canal life in the 21st century THE Canal & River Trust has published the results of its first Boater Census of the 35,000 boats licensed on its waterways in England and Wales.

It is intended to offer a snapshot of life on the waterways in the 21st century, 250 years after the network opened to navigation.

The census data will help inform the trust’s work and that of others, such as health

service providers and local authorities, to make sure boaters are considered and their needs are met through decision-making, policy and services.

Almost 11,500 boaters, around a third of current boat licence holders, responded. The split between boaters with and without a home mooring, at 76% and 24% respectively, is broadly

representative of the make-up of boats on the trust’s network.

Thanking everyone who responded, national boating manager Matthew Symonds said: “There are more boats on our waterways than at any time in their history and it is more important than ever that we, and other agencies, understand the needs of the boating community.”

The typical boat on the trust’s waterways is a steel narrowboat with fixed beds for two people, and pull-out beds for two people or more. While most use gas for cooking (89.8%) and a solid fuel stove (66.8%), more than half the respondents have invested in solar panels (59.3%).

Continued on page 2

IWA boss leaves

Annual snapshot

Towpath work

THE Inland Waterways Association has announced the departure of Dave Pearce who had been its chief executive since January 3. Trustees wished Dave well for the future and expressed gratitude for his contribution.

IWA’s work to protect and restore the waterways continues and in the short term the association is being led by Les Etheridge, Sue O’Hare and Nick Dybeck, who can be contacted at ceo@waterways.org.uk

BOATERS have until May 5 to take part in the Canal & River Trust’s Annual Perceptions Survey. A randomly selected third of its boat licence holders have been invited to submit their views on the trust and the upkeep of its waterways in this annual snapshot. The results will be published in late spring and further surveys will be sent to a sample of boaters during the summer months.

WORK to improve the towpath in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, is due to start in May and take about 15 weeks. The £900,000 project will transform what can be a muddy towpath, making it suitable for all-year-round use. The path will be widened with a new all-weather surface and the mooring for visiting boats will be improved. Sections of the towpath will be closed with temporary diversions in place.

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2 WELCOME/NEWS

May 2023

WELCOME THE lengthening days are a harbinger of the lazy hazy crazy days of summer and it’s great to see a full programme of events back on the calendar.

Hopefully we can at last put behind us the effects of the pandemic and a contemporary ‘winter of discontent’ with its disruption due to numerous strikes although unfortunately the ‘cost of living’ crisis is still with us. But liveaboard boaters in some areas can at last start to claim energy payments, see story on page 3.

With three bank holiday weekends in May, lots of you will be getting out on the water and the towpath and there’s sure to be parties, flags and bunting galore for the King’s coronation on May 6.

Annual events during the month include the IWA Canalway Cavalcade over the early May bank holiday weekend, the Moira Canal Festival on May 21-22 and Crick Boat Show at the end of the month where our team will be handing out our June edition to visitors.

The Erewash Canal & Preservation Development Association will also be celebrating its 55th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the reopening of the Great Northern Basin at Langley Mill over the spring bank holiday weekend and see our What’s on guide on pages 20-21 for details of other upcoming events.

Our team of contributors have already been out and about; Les Heath visited a floating market at Great Haywood and Phil Pickin attended the West Midlands Canal Users Forum – reports from both of these on page 4. While further north Sally Clifford went along to see a flotilla recreating a historic journey along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, see page 5 and Colin Wareing visited the Toddbrook Reservoir open day, report on page 8.

And there’s lots more to read in this Crick preview edition – enjoy.

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 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 – May 25, 2023

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Census paints a picture of canal life in the 21st century Continued from page 1 Cassette toilets (57.5%) are the most popular, followed by pump-out (33.8%), with a minority choosing composting loos (8.8%). Almost a third (31.9%) of respondents have experienced mechanical problems with their boat in the past 12 months.

The census asked boaters about the challenges they faced due to living on a boat. Accessing important services is a theme, with respondents having issues accessing health services (31.7%), financial services (16.3%), and financial help such as benefits (11.7%).

Additionally, 21.7% report challenges around education and work. Many boaters also reported that their day-today activities are limited because of a long-term health problem or disability.

Pets are popular on boats, with 47% of respondents saying there is an animal on board, 75% specifying a canine companion(s) compared to 29.6% owning cats and 4.4% naming another animal. In contrast, just 5% of respondents had a child under 16 living aboard.

Matthew added: “From the conversations we have on the towpath,

we know that some boaters face specific challenges, for example around employment, accessing financial services and support, registering with health services such as doctors’ surgeries, or boating with a disability.

“The Boater Census has provided us with the data we need to illustrate the work we do to other organisations who may not be familiar with the practicalities of life afloat and will add strength to our arguments that boaters need targeted support.”

Boaters took part in the anonymous online survey, which was open for 10

weeks, by completing a questionnaire online or over the telephone.

Invitations to take part were sent to current licence-holders by email, text message or post and they were asked to complete one survey per boat.

Roving traders were included but other business boat licence holders were not.

Results include a large amount of qualitative data, which will be analysed section by section and published in a separate report in summer 2023.

The Boater Census can be read online in the enjoy-the-waterways section at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

The historic bridge has been returned to its original Indian Red colour. PHOTOS: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

Seeing red at historic Camden landmark THE Canal & River Trust has completed a £533,000 10-week project to repair the Grade II Listed Interchange Basin Towpath Bridge on the Regent’s Canal in Camden and has repainted the bridge Indian Red. Built in 1846, the historic bridge, known locally as ‘Dead Dog Bridge’, is an important local landmark carrying the Regent’s Canal towpath across the canal basin beneath the Camden Interchange Warehouse (‘Dead Dog Tunnel’) and is the busiest canal footbridge in the country with over one million walking and cycling visits per year.

The bridge repairs have been enabled by an award from Postcode Earth Trust thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The work, which began in mid-January, has included repairs to the bridge’s wrought iron lattice parapets; cleaning of the underlying cast iron beams and cleaning and repointing the abutments and approach parapets.

Ros Daniels, the Canal & River Trust’s director for London & South East, explained: “The Interchange Basin Towpath Bridge, known

locally as Dead Dog Bridge, is a key route for people using the canal through Camden and with over one million visits each year, is one of the busiest bridges on our network.

“Our engineers have worked with specialist contractors to carefully repair, clean and repaint the bridge’s historic parapets and repoint the abutments. “The works will ensure this historic bridge continues to carry millions of visitors enjoying the Regent’s

Canal in Camden for many years to come.”

Built at the beginning of the 20th century by the London & North Western Railway (LNWR), the massive Grade II Listed red brick Interchange Warehouse in Camden was designed to bring together canal, rail and road transport in one covered building, with three layers of storage.

Phil Emery, Canal & River Trust regional heritage adviser, explained: “The

Canal & River Trust is the third largest custodian of designated heritage assets, with a dedicated team of specialist heritage advisers ensuring that all the works respect heritage conservation best practice.

“In recent years, the bridge’s striking ironwork has been painted black and white but, working with a specialist to analyse the paint layers, we discovered the original colour was most likely to have been Indian Red.

Phil Emery and Ros Daniels from the Canal & River Trust talking to journalists at a recent photocall.

“The name refers to pigment used to create the paint colour, made from ground haematite ore obtained in Bengal, the historic region divided between modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.

“This paint colour was used by railway companies, including the London & Birmingham Railway Co (L&BR) which originally owned the Interchange canal basin, whose entrance the bridge crosses.”

The entrance to the Interchange Dock became known as Dead Dog Tunnel because, historically, debris – including dead animals – accumulated here at the end of the 26-mile lock-free stretch of the canal flowing into central London.

Dead Dog Tunnel has featured in a number of films, including the 2015 Bond film Spectre, where it was used as a double for Q’s top secret underground workshop.

Today, the Interchange Building is a co-working office space. Using the Interchange Dock, iRecycle transports waste from the Interchange Building by barge to the Powerday recycling centre in West London.

NEWS 3

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2023

Canal volunteers improve popular path to Lacock An aerial view of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s Darnford Lane ongoing work.

Funding secured for next phase of ecology park Work party organiser Howard Wilson on the towpath near Reybridge, with the overgrown canal to the left. PHOTO: JUSTIN GUY A COUNTRYSIDE walk between Chippenham and Lacock has been made much easier following repairs to a former towpath.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has already restored a significant stretch of the waterway from Pewsham Locks to Double Bridge, making it a popular spot for walkers, runners and cyclists.

However, the public right of way then crosses a stile and passes alongside an unrestored section of canal before reaching fields on the edge of Reybridge. This part of the route was often muddy and slippery during wet weather.

Volunteers with the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the charity have now improved the drainage and laid a new surface along more than a hundred metres of the original towpath.

Work party organiser Howard Wilson said: “The restored canal is very popular with the local community who enjoy the scenic route through open countryside towards Lacock.

“We’ve made huge progress in breathing new life into this section, with a bridge, wharf and benches, but people have sometimes been frustrated by the path beyond which was less accessible whenever it rained.

“Now, thanks to the support of the landowner, we’ve been able to carry out some major improvements.”

Volunteers installed a drain to remove excess water from the derelict section of canal and prevent it overflowing, and spread recycled hardcore and scalpings along the right of way. They also repaired the stile at the Pewsham end of the path.

Howard added: “We’ve already

had lots of positive comments from grateful members of the public who thanked us for our efforts, and we hope it will encourage even more people to walk this route and learn more about the history of the waterway and how they can support its restoration.”

The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the entire 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.

New members are always welcome. Visit www.wbct.org.uk

LICHFIELD and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust has secured a £250,000 grant from Biffa Award for the next phase of its Darnford Moors Ecology Park project.

It will restore the canal channel from Darnford Lane to the lift-bridge, providing habitat improvements with wetland margins and hedgerow corridors.

LHCRT chairman Carole Mills said: “This is excellent news for the trust and our volunteers! The grant from Biffa Award will have a huge impact towards getting another 250m of canal into water, creating a vital space for wildlife and community enjoyment of the natural environment.”

Phase one of the project is already under way but this largest funding from Biffa Award will form phase

two, taking the canal another step forward in water from Darnford Lane, connecting at a later stage with Huddlesford Junction on the Coventry Canal.

While LHCRT’s volunteers have been preparing the site, Onsite Central Limited has been awarded the contract to carry out the work with Bluetech Waterfront Solutions Ltd overseeing the contract.

Biffa Award grants manager Rachel Maidment said: “Through our Partnership Grants Scheme we are able to make significant grants to projects that introduce, conserve or protect our wildlife, paving the way for nature’s recovery on a large scale.”

The work is scheduled to be completed, with the canal in water, by the end of the year.

Applying for energy payments in Buckinghamshire LIVEABOARD boaters in the Buckinghamshire Council area have until May 31 to apply for a £400 non-repayable energy payment through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Residents on the following moorings can apply: Aylesbury; Soulbury Three Locks (Leisure); Marsworth (Towpath); Cooks Wharf (Pitstone); Seabrook Lock Leisure

(Cheddington); Circus Field Basin (Aylesbury); College Road (Aston Clinton); Marlow Lock moorings ; Uxbridge Leisure; Denham Marina; Bourne End Marina and Pitstone Wharf Marina.

To apply residents need an email address and phone number (if they have one) and bank account details – a UK current account in the claimant’s name. If

not registered for Council Tax residents will need to upload proof of address, such as a bank statement or tenancy agreement, as part of their application.

Updates about the

progress of the application will be given by email or letter within six weeks and if eligible, the council will arrange a one-off payment that does not need to be repaid.

If you need help with the application email: a l t e r n a t i v e f u n d i n g @ e b s s . b e i s . g o v. u k or ring 0808 175 3287, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk

A close-up of the canal channel. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

4 NEWS

May 2023

Brisk trade at floating market

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Report and photos: Les Heath

BIGGER and better than before. That was the opinion of visitors flocking to the floating traders’ market at Great Haywood in Staffordshire.

The four-day event on the Trent and Mersey Canal over the Easter weekend

attracted almost 30 floating traders’ boats along a half-mile section of the towpath. The stunning backdrop of Shugborough Park added to the appeal.

Buyers were impressed by the wide range of goods for sale and trading was brisk until the weather turned on the fin fi nal day.

Young passengers meet an Easter Bunny during one of the boat trips. PHOTO: LAURA EVANS

Egg-citing fun at Chichester Canal Crowds begin to arrive.

Cushions galore for animal lovers.

C

A splash of canalside colour by the trading boats.

Finance dominates discussions at West Midlands canal users’ forum

By Phil Pickin

THE combination of inflation and the uncertainty surrounding the Canal & River Trust’s ongoing funding continue to dominate the thoughts and discussions at the trust. This was certainly the impression gained at the recent West Midlands User Forum, held in Bromsgrove.

Around 32 attendees welcomed the return of West Midlands regional director Adnan Saif after his long absence from meetings of this type. As with previous forums, this one was co-ordinated by Tom Freeland, boating and customer services manager, and included a good number of staff covering many areas of CRT operations in the area.

One of those was national hydrology manager Adam Comerford who outlined, in some detail, the impact that last year’s drought caused on the waterways. The ongoing lack of water within the system could also have an impact in 2023 if the lower-thanexpected rainfall persists.

He did, however, outline that reservoir levels are recovering partly due to the snowfall earlier this year. To add to the financial burdens CRT has to contend with, he also talked about the trust’s need now to apply for and pay for abstraction licences, something previously not required. At £1500 per application, the cost of these licences quickly adds up.

Possibly as a result of the recent media

CRT West Midlands regional director Adnan Saif addresses the West Midlands User Forum. PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN

attention given the pollution problems across most of the UK’s waterways, Adam also covered the trust’s work in ensuring that any water accepted into the canal system from treatment plants is as clean as it can be. It was interesting to learn that when CRT takes water of this type, it receives a payment, so it would seem that it is in the trust’s interest to continue to use this water to help bolster levels.

With water being a resource that is sometimes in short supply, there is a need to address leakages and try to avoid the costly pumping process as much as possible. Adnan highlighted

One of the slides shown by regional operations manager Richard Preston showing work done on the West Midlands canals.

PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

the often hidden cost of pumping water using electric pumps. Facts and information like this make these forum meetings worthwhile attending for anyone interested in the canal system and its use.

Charles Hughes, environmental scientist and invasive species project manager, also provided some interesting facts and figures, including the removal of 400 tonnes of floating pennywort from a section of the River Soar. Another of these hidden costs would be the disposal of this plant matter, both in the direct financial cost and the environmental impact of using enough trucks to remove it.

He said that in some cases, plant matter of this type is taken by local landowners who use it to condition adjacent fields. When this isn’t possible Mother Nature would seem to have, once again, come to the rescue with the use of weevils to eat and breed within the pennywort.

Charles outlined the extensive testing undertaken to ensure the introduction of these weevils does not negatively impact our indigenous wildlife. Thankfully it doesn’t and is significantly cheaper than using contractors to remove the vegetation.

The meeting also covered the work of the fisheries team and the significant income the fishing rights generate. This sum would be even more if CRT owned all of the rights across the waterways, a fact few people were aware of. But the use of the waterways by anglers and boaters can only be achieved through the work of the team, including many volunteers, under the management of Richard Preston, regional operations manager.

He covered the work of the team and contractors, who are aiming to keep the system working despite the best efforts of those who use the canals as a dumping ground. He outlined the removal of 87 tyres, eight washing machines, five microwaves, 72 fridges, two ovens and two motorbikes from the local canals since the beginning of the year. These items are in addition to a number of cars that have also ended their days in the canals. All of this work costs the trust more money, a resource that is in short supply.

The theme of finance, or the lack of it,

CHICHESTER Canal is a wonderful place for families to explore at any time of year. But this Easter, it welcomed more than 400 children with their families for Easter Bunny boat trips.

The Chichester Ship Canal Trust, the volunteer-led, selffunded charity behind the canal, has recently joined the Family Arts Network and was delighted to have offered these Easter trips for the local community.

With six enthusiastic teenage bunnies – working in a pair per trip – there was lots of fun, music, dancing and small treats to keep everyone entertained. Laura Evans, a customer, said: “Twenty-five years ago, we were the children on the Easter trip and now we can take our little ones… such a lovely tradition that we will definitely be keeping up! Everyone was so lovely, thank you.”

There are lots more activities planned for families and for adults during the year, so be sure to keep an eye on the canal Facebook page (@chichestershipcanal) for upcoming events.

A trust spokesperson said: “Thank you to our customers for your excellent support, and of course thanks to the hard-working canal volunteers and the amazing bunnies!”

Two of the six Easter Bunnies who worked as a pair each trip. PHOTO: DAVID RICHARDSON

Two of the cars which ended up in the canal. PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

was, once again, the underlying issue of this and many other meetings CRT has held. So when the subject of the proposal to introduce a policy to charge canalside events from June 1 arose, it naturally sparked some lively comments.

Adnan Saif confirmed the plan but gave the impression that there could be a degree of flexibility in how it is implemented. Some of those who attended felt it would penalise groups, such as theirs, with having to raise further funds to run such events.

To close the forum, Adnan talked about thee tru ust’ss finaancciaal chaalleengges and d echoed the views aired by chief executive Richard Parry a few weeks earlier as they both stressed the seriousness of the situation and that some difficult decisions would need to be made over the coming months and years.

According to Adnan, the Defra grant amounts to around 30% of CRT’s budget.

An amount that, if it were to disappear, would dramatically impact the waterways. The tone of these comments gave the impression that, potentially, some decisions may not be popular but sadly necessary.

NEWS 5

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2023

Members of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society aboard Kennet ahead of the journey to Skipton.

Members of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society are joined by members of the Craven Cruising Club and Airedale Boat Club who followed Kennet in a flotilla on the journey to Skipton.

Kennet departs from Bingley’s landmark Five Rise Locks for the journey to Skipton as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations.

Flotilla recreates historic journeyy An important milestone was marked on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal on Easter Saturday. Sally Clifford went along.

Exhibition

Following Kennet’s 14-mile journey, the boat was moored in the canal basin in the centre of Skipton where she remained open to the public over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, allowing visitors to view the onboard exhibition about canal people and boats, along with video and photographs of events from the 200th anniversary of the canal in 1973.

Built in 1947, Kennet is a River Class Leeds & Liverpool Canal short boat – so called due to its maximum size for the locks from Wigan to Leeds. It is understood to be one of only a few surviving of its kind, travelling the length and breadth of the canal.

Canal and industrial historian Mike Clarke, president of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society which he was instrumental in setting up in 1997, explained the 14ft 4in by 62ft 6in boat (depending on how you measure the length) could carry around 50 tons.

THE gathering crowd for the departure of the heritage boat Kennet symbolised the significance of the occasion.

Leading the flotilla of 12 boats – piloted by members of Craven Cruising Club and Airedale Boat Club – out of Bingley’s landmark Five Rise Locks, Kennet, the floating museum now maintained and operated by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society’s volunteers, was recreating an important chapter in waterway history.

For it was on this day, Easter Saturday, 250 years ago that two barges loaded with coal set off from Bingley to Skipton where the coal was sold at half the price previously charged. They were the first boats to carry goods on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, and the reduction in cost demonstrated the important part the canal would play in Yorkshire’s economic growth.

Interestingly, events were documented by the 18th century diarist Elizabeth Shackleton, who wrote at the time of a Mr Leach of Mike Clarke, president of Riddlesden taking coals the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in one of his new boats Society. PHOTOS: SALLY CLIFFORD to Skipton.

UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED

Flagship

Named after a navigable river, Kennet’s importance, and the part it played in the development of the economy through its role carrying cargo along the canal, is acknowledged through its inclusion in the register of National Historic Ships UK. In 2016, the bicentenary year of the completion of the

Boats followed Kennet in the flotilla from Bingley’s landmark Five Rise Locks.

Kennet’s arrival in Skipton during the 250th anniversary celebrations on Easter Saturday. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY MIKE CLARKE, LEEDS & LIVERPOOL CANAL SOCIETY.

canal and the first complete crossing, which Kennet and a flotilla created in the October, the boat was selected as the National Historic Ships UK Regional Flagship, the first time the accolade was granted to an inland waterway boat.

Following the boat’s inclusion in the British Waterways Lease and Acquisition Scheme in 2008 for the transfer of redundant heritage craft to suitable organisations, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society made a formal application under the scheme and the lease was signed in 2009.

The ownership of Kennet was transferred to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society in March 2011 – the same year the canal society was awarded a project grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve and refurbish Kennet for future generations to enjoy. On board, visitors embark on a journey through photographs and other memorabilia used to create a floating

interactive museum which is helping the society educate and raise awareness of the important part Kennet, and the canal, played in our history.

Said Mike: “It has been incredibly successful. We have won five national awards and local awards for the work we do.”

With such a rich and fascinating history, there is always something to celebrate on the canals according to Mike and, judging by the turnout on the towpath for Kennet’s departure on this special anniversary, it is appreciated by passers-by as well as those such as the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society volunteers. Among them is the society’s ‘chairmum,’ Freda Childs, who donned clothing befitting the recreation of this historic occasion.

“We are trying to add value to people’s experiences of the canal. It is a pleasant environment to be in, but there is so much more to see if you know where to

look and you can interpret what is there,” said Mike.

The areas of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire were the bedrock of industrial economic development, according to Mike.

“Textiles, for the first 100 years, made 10 times more money than coal and three times more than iron and steel.

They were incredibly important, and so I always say the Leeds & Liverpool is the canal that put the ‘great’ into Great Britain because of the area where it started,” added Mike.

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society is keen to recruit more volunteers.

For more information, or to get involved, visit www. leedsandliverpoolcanalsociety. co.uk

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6 NEWS

May 2023

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New addition to Boatmobility fleet Report and photos: Phil Pickin

COTSWOLD Canals Connected and the National Lottery Heritage Fund have recently sponsored a new accessible boat for their partner, Cotswold Boatmobility.

This new addition will enable the Boatmobility team to continue to provide opportunities for a greater number of people to enjoy activities on and along the Stroudwater canal.

CrowdsgatheredatEbleyMillinStroud on a cold and blustery day to see Jan Thomas, chair of Cotswold Boatmobility, unveil the new boat Symphony, the second wheelchair-accessible boat for the Stonehouse-based charity.

Volunteer-run Cotswold Boatmobility aims to make boating accessible for all with wheelchair-accessible boats and katakanus, an amalgamation of a catamaran and canoe.

Participants typically have mobility, mental health or learning issues and, without the charity, would struggle to get on to the water.

The official launch event involved a ribbon-cutting ceremony, trips along the canal on the new boat, talks

Cotswold Boatmobility’s newest boat, Symphony, taking to the water on launch day. from representatives of Cotswold Boatmobility and Cotswold Canals Connected, as well as a wider progress update on the canal project.

Jan Thomas said: “We are extremely grateful to Cotswold Canals Connected for its continued support over the years and for now generously sponsoring a new boat. It is so important for us to work with local organisations which share our values of prioritising inclusivity and accessibility.

“With the addition of the boat, we will now be able to put on more trips and get even more people to experience the wonderful Cotswold canals. Our sessions have been significantly increasing in demand and we are in need of more volunteers so we would love to hear from anyone interested in helping us.

“Boating or caring skills would be useful, however training can be provided to those interested.”

Chris Mitford-Slade, Cotswold Canals Connected project director, added:“ The Cotswold Canals Connected project is not only for restoring the canal, but for creating inclusive and thriving communities. Cotswold Boatmobility is a vital part of the Stonehouse community and plays a huge part in getting people,

The first guests aboard the new boat.

who would be otherwise unable, out on the canal. We are pleased to play a part in helping the charity expand and look forward to seeing it widen its opportunities. We are also very grateful for the support from the National Cutting the ribbon to officially launch Symphony.

Lottery Heritage Fund who provide both funding support and strategic advice to the project team.”

If you are interested in getting involved in the work of the charity or to simply find out more about the Cotswold Canals Connected project, visit www.

Cotswold Canals Connected is a cotswoldcanalsconnected.org or follow Cotswold Canals Connected on partnership of organisations led by Stroud District Council and the Cotswold Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Canals Trust, which are restoring the canal network.

The section between Thrupp and Stonehouse is now complete.

The next stage, which includes this project, will restore a further four-mile section between Stonehouse and Saul Junction, providing a connection to the national w a t e r w a y network.

Members of the Chesterfield Canal Trust work party and local residents after a vegetation clearance session with, second right, local MP Lee Rowley.

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Narrowboats moored on the Leeds

West & Liverpool Canal at Parbold, W

By Janet Richardson

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COLIN WAREING Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO:

eams for 2019 are revealed k’s TTop TTeams T k’s Towpath Talk a s, we bid farewell awn AS A new decade dawn t th to 2019 with the results of our Towpath Top Team award which has been k Top Talk r r. running throughout the year.

With four teams shortlisted for the final with vote it was a veryy close-run contest t volunteers ty the Grantham Canal Society taking the title by a short head.

Such was the support also for from Crusader Community Boating first Blisworth that we are awarding our a rd – something Community Boat awa f the we had alreadyy been planning for r r. coming year. of Commended are the Friends the River Nene and the Waterways Chaplaincy’s Martin and Fiona Buck.

Award presentations to our finalists

r The r. will take place in the new year. off a winning team receives the hire day boat carrying up to 10 people, generously sponsored by ABC Leisure Group Ltd. The runner-up will receive a £100 voucher to spend at Midland four Chandlers at Braunston and all donation finalists will receive a £100 towards their volunteering organisation the from Mortons Media Group Ltd,

alk.

Tal tth T publisher of Towpath Our thanks go to the readers who rose of to the challenge of finding a group a gone that extra ave unsung heroes who have f their local stretch off towpath, mile for a association or ays canal or river, waterways a our judging ave community boat – and gave the panel a difficult job of shortlisting four finalists.

• Continued on page 2

found on a boat moored Ouse bodies t achievemen f nd 100-dayCommunity of two men were fou probe Action Network (UCAN) THE bodies Boats gunshot were called UPPERMILL Y k city centre. Emergency services after starting in Yor investigating damage to narrowboats POLICE are Officers were after gunshots were fired in Cambridge. a December 5, at around 10.15pm, ay, called on Thursday, f m shots fro after nearbyy residents reported hearing near boats on the what was believed to be an air rifle the window of one River Cam. Photographs off holes in a since been published. One resident ave of the boats have Chesterton the told reporters thatt shots, coming from moored at Browns side of the river, were fired at boats five about for on Field, Fen Ditton, and this went no injuries were minutes. Cambridgeshire Police said reported and enquiries were continuing.

achieved its 100-day volunteering milestone 2300 hours of out in 2015. This included more than who, according voluntary work achieved by local people to, crafting to UCAN, “care about, and are committed environment”. and maintaining our beautiful local and for the positive Thanks were given to all supporters, work parties will feedback from the community. The next 8 and 20. The usual be on January 4 and 23, and February on Moorgate meeting point is 10am at the canal bridge Killan on 01457 Street but this can change. Contact Peter 878361 or peterkillan@hotmail.com

at around 8pm to Lendal Bridge on the River Ouse said officers on December 4. North Yorkshire Police f two men for attended “after concerns were raised with their touch in their 60s who had been out of bodies. Fire .” Upon arrival officers found the family.”

The deaths and ambulance services both attended. although did were being treated as ‘unexplained’ a post-mortem not appear to be suspicious and The men had not examination was due to take place. alk went to press.

Tal tth T been identified when Towpath

11/12/2019 10:17:16

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Project to restore Renishaw missing link A DISUSED section of the Chesterfield Canal is to be restored by Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Canal Trust for the benefit of local residents, visitors and wildlife.

The mile-long section in Renishaw, which lies close to the original canal alignment, is landlocked and virtually empty of water.

Work is needed, subject to planning permission, to make the structure watertight and rebuild the overflow-weir so it is ready to connect to further sections of the canal when they are restored.

A temporary pumping system would need to be installed to supply water from the River Rother to the canal and the towpath resurfaced to make it suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.

Further work is also proposed to resurface a further 915 metres of towpath to provide a circular 2.5km surfaced route incorporating the TransPennine Trail. New picnic benches, signage and cycle stands would also be installed.

The original canal was completed in 1777 and stretched 46 miles in total, providing navigation between the River Rother at Chesterfield and the River Trent at West Stockwith in Nottinghamshire. The section in Renishaw was rerouted in the 19th century with the building of railways.

This latest project – which is being carried out by the council and the trust as part of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership – is part of a wider ambition to make the whole route from Chesterfield to Kiveton navigable with nine miles yet to be restored.

Coun Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and environment, said: “The Chesterfield Canal is an important part of our county’s industrial heritage, built as a trade route at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

“As well as improving the area visually, restoring the Renishaw link will bring opportunities for recreation as well as improving biodiversity. And it will take us one step closer to opening up the whole route to canal boats which would bring further economic benefits from the increase in tourism.”

The restoration is expected to

cost around £400,000 with the council contributing £200,000, the canal trust providing £150,000 and the remaining £50,000 being funded by the Inland Waterways Association.

The work will be done by volunteers from the trust.

Peter Hardy, chairman of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “We know that local residents are keen to see the rewatering of the canal around Renishaw and this project has been made possible thanks to the close co-operation between the trust and Derbyshire County Council. It’s also thanks to the enthusiasm of local people who will join with us to create an area they will be proud of for walking, cycling, fishing and watersports.

“The improvement in biodiversity and an increased sense of well-being will undoubtedly follow the completion of the works, which we anticipate will start this summer.”

The channel that was restored in 2009 but never had a feed, leaked and fell into disrepair. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

8 NEWS

May 2023

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Public brave the cold weather for open day at Toddbrook oddbroo Report and photos: Colin Wareing

THE Canal & River Trust and main contractor Kier recently offered members of the public a unique behindthe-scenes view of the two-year, £15 million restoration project that will bring the reservoir back into active use.

It follows the overtopping of the existing spillway over the dam wall and damage to the front face of the dam by an extreme deluge on to the local hills back in July 2019. This led to a partial evacuation of the town of Whaley Bridge while the water levels in the reservoir were quickly lowered by installation of a series of high-capacity pumps.

The reservoir was pumped nearly dry and now the infrastructure around the dam is being improved with an extra spillway being built. The concrete face of the dam is being removed and replaced with a grass bank.

Groups of around 20 people were hosted during the day on an hour’s visit to view the construction site from the safety of the walkway along the top of the dam. Each was accompanied by members of the Kier project management team to explain what is going on around the site. This includes driving piles into the ground to form the new spillway and channel along the north side of the dam, along with work below the dam to remove any excess water that comes over the spillway.

There are about 30 people working on the site including a specialist contract that has people trained to work in confined spaces as there have been shafts sunk up to seven metres deep into the ground to access and maintain some old coal mine drainage systems that run under the area.

A good mix of folks took the chance of

A group of visitors at the end of the Toddbrook dam where they are e quizzing the project team as they finish their trip out over the dam walkway. They had all received a safety briefing and were provided with hi-vis jackets.

the visit, with locals well represented, as were members of the Toddbrook Sailing Club who used the reservoir for their activities but at present are sailing on Errwood and Combs sailing clubs’ waters.

Further public open days are being

planned as the work progresses. The aim is to have the water back in the reservoir by the end of 2024, when it will once again be available to feed the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals as it was built to do.

On the Friday a superb turnout of 21 society volunteers was complemented by three volunteers from CGI who planted some hedging kindly donated by the company.

While a number of volunteers attended the usual bonfire others took the opportunity to completely clear a 200m stretch next to Crickheath Bridge of brash and then carefully replanted snowdrops that had colonised the channel. The Sunday work party welcomed four members of the Dry Stone Walling Association from Cheshire who are keen to help with repairs to the tramway wharf.

Thanks to the CGI volunteers planting hedging donated by the company.

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Steel sheet piling is being driven into the ground along the northern side of the reservoir as part of the work to form a new spillway.

This will be the first way any excess waters will flow out of the reservoir instead of flowing over the top of the main dam wall.

The round concrete shaft in front of the green cage provides access to work on the old coal mine drainage system that runs under the site.

New charge for third-party events

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Project manager Tom Greenwood answers questions from visitors.

The view from the walkway on the top of the dam towards the hills.

The green-sided building in front of the houses is the welfare unit for the site workers. These houses had not been long completed when the overtopping of the dam occurred. The area within the fence will all be landscaped and a new playground installed.

Progress at a great pace SHROPSHIRE Union Canal Volunteers’ continued restoration of the Montgomery Canal south of Crickheath Bridge has been best characterised by the three Ps: plant, progress and pace.

Thanks to excellent weather conditions, diggers and dumpers have been used to maximum effect and even the task of cleaning them at the end was very quick and simple.

As well as the remaining trees from a previous vegetation clearance, the redundant 10in concrete drain, headwalls and chamber that have been in place since closure in 1942 were removed and more than 110 metres of channel were site stripped.

Kieran, the mascot of the Kier group, who is more used to being around younger people during visits to local schools.

Members of the Dry Stone Walling Association visit the site.

PHOTOS: SUCS PUBLICITY

THE Canal & River Trust will be introducing a charge from June 1 for third-party events taking place across its estate to help cover costs.

A £95 +VAT administration fee (the cost to the trust of processing applications) will be charged for all events, apart from small free community events with fewer than 25 people attending.

There will be further charges for large-scale and commercial events.

According to the trust, this will help with the additional cost of hosting the events as well as providing a contribution to the much wider task of maintaining the core fabric of the historic waterways.

Visits by school groups and educational bodies such as Scouts and Brownies will continue to be facilitated through separate trust channels and without charge.

CRT chief operating officer Julie Sharman said: “The popularity of

our historic canal network means it hosts many organisations using it for a range of events – often for promotional or commercial interest.

“So that vital funds aren’t diverted away from our core purpose of protecting and preserving the network, the introduction of a charge will help offset the costs of processing and facilitating thirdparty events.

“This includes covering the cost of reviewing risk assessments, event management plans and insurances, plus considerations specific to the operation of our canals, their heritage and environment.”

The introduction of charges for applications received from June 1, 2023 brings the trust in line with similar not-for-profit landowners.

Applications can be made using the planning an event page on the Canal & River Trust’s website at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

CHARACTER/NEWS 9

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2023

Applying the name to a newly painted boat.

Characters of the Cut

Working under cover.

Darren Williams, signwriter – a family affair

By Alice Griffin

FOR Northamptonshire-based signwriter, Darren Williams, his trade runs in the family with both his uncle and older brother inspiring his path.

“My uncle Dave was a pub signwriter and I remember as a little boy watching him in his workshop. I was fascinated by what he could do with a brush and paint, his illustrations were amazing.”

With this inspiration firmly in mind, and with a consistent love of art at school, Darren eventually followed in his older brother's footsteps to train at commercial company, Publicity Blinds.

“My brother was head signwriter and despite the boss not believing brothers should work together, he decided to give me a chance, for which I’m very grateful!”

During this time back in the early 80s the precision and talent of signwriting didn’t come from computers, but from a steady hand. “We made signs for shops all over the country, up to 15 a day! The vinyl paint we used ate into the blind material so if a mistake happened, it went in the bin.” It turns out that this varied and high-pressure environment gave Darren the perfect grounding for a career that would lead him into narrowboat signwriting.

“It was around 30 years ago that my dad got talking to a guy who owned a boat at Whilton Marina and told him he had a son who was a signwriter. The guy said, ‘If he does it cheap, he can paint my boat and put his sign outside for business.’” Darren hasn’t looked back.

"I would say 70% of my work is now narrowboats.” It’s no wonder he is busy as his adeptness at this art is second to none. “When I paint a boat I take my time because I want it to be perfect but I’m so used to working at speed that people often ask, ‘How do you do it so quickly?’ But I’ve done every letter 100s or maybe even 1000s of times and they're now imprinted on my brain.”

Despite never specifically studying narrowboat art, Darren is constantly inspired. “I’m forever looking at boats as I walk around marinas. You never stop learning!”

Whether it’s scroll work or flourishes, he’s constantly logging design elements that might eventually be incorporated into his own style. He also has several books that he consistently flicks through, such as one on the history of signwriting by Tony Lewery.

Commissions

“I also enjoy looking at and learning from early Victorian signwriting and honours boards in churches. They’re so old and I’m endlessly fascinated about who the artist might have been.”

Having carried out commissions for Northampton Guildhall, there could even be a future signwriter looking at

Another example of Darren’s work. PHOTOS SUPPLIED Darren’s work with the same interest!

There is a worry that signwriting – like many creative professions – will die out in the shadow of robots, but Darren is convinced there will always be a place for traditional signwriters on the cut. “I think the art will become rarer, particularly with shop fronts and vans, but with boats I believe it will always be there because there is a respect for the traditions of the waterways.”

Darren’s views on machines are that they are clinical and too perfect. “With something hand-done – anything bespoke actually – there is always more character because of the love and attention that has gone into it.”

Although he laments that whether the tradition continues or not will ultimately come down to whether modern-day kids will be interested in learning it.

Darren believes that anyone with a natural creative flair would have an advantage if deciding to go into signwriting, but shifting from horizontal painting to vertical is where the practice is. “Painting vertically was alien to me, I thought I would never get the correct wrist movement, but years and years later it’s second nature!” He has certainly fine-tuned his craft to work on boats from all walks of life.

“I once painted a boat for a casting director and another for an actor who I recognised from The Bill!” he tells me. You would think it would be quite nerve-racking, painting the final touches on to someone’s boat, but Darren assures me he has no fear.

“No job fazes me as I have more than 40 years’ experience,” he says. “How time flies.”

Nowadays Darren simply feels privileged at being able to add the finishing touches to a boat owner’s pride and joy and despite working in many boatyards and marinas, it’s out on the towpath where he’s happiest. “In the summer there is nothing nicer than being on the cut signwriting a boat.”

Website: dwcanalboatsignwriter.co.uk Alice Griffin is a writer and yogi with a gypsy soul. She leads nature-inspired journalling, yoga and meditation courses as she wanders by water and road.

Website: www.alicegriffin.co.uk Instagram: @wanderingalicegriffin

Signwriter Darren Williams outlining the letters on a historic narrowboat.

Carefree Cruising to the rescue MIDDLEWICH boat share operators Carefree Cruising recently came to the rescue of Alan Price’s planned trip to Kenya.

One of more than 20 volunteers from Everton In the Community, Liverpool, he travelled to Nakuru, Kenya, in April as part of a 10-day trip organised by African Adventures.

They visited two schools in the city to assist with teaching and help with building maintenance. This work included building a

toilet for one school while work in the second school involved an extension to the classroom provision. They also painted a bedroom used by residential pupils and provided mattresses and pillows.

Alan and his fellow volunteers took a large amount of donations of second-hand clothes and shoes as well as providing food packages for the poorest members of the school community.

He said the trip had been

very successful although humbling and upsetting at times. “It was like a massive roller coaster, it was very hard work but enlightening and the children just wanted to be with you.”

Nakuru is the third largest city in Kenya but is a very socially and economically deprived area. Many of the families live on or near the city refuse tip and have to pay rent for the privilege!

This was Alan’s second visit to Nakuru and the

cost of the trip, including accommodation, inoculations and malaria tablets was over £2250 and was entirely self-financing.

Carefree Cruising stepped in to help. Alan is a part owner in both NB Alcedonia and NB Lilaea and Carefree director Artie Chalmers readily stepped in to offer a muchneeded boost by providing sponsorship to Alan.

Further information is available from www. african-adventures.co.uk

A child volunteer painter – they like to help!

Some of the rented homes on the city tip at Nakuru.

The Carefree Cruising logo printed on the volunteers’ T-shirts.

One of the two narrowboats in which Alan has a share. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

10 NEWS

May 2023

Community boating charity gears up for new season A CANAL boating charity on the Northamptonshire and Warwickshire county border is looking ahead to this year’s new boating season and securing its long-term future by seeking new volunteers.

LNBP Community Boating, a non-profit charity which provides residential trips from moorings at the historic canalside village of Braunston in Northamptonshire, has a series of roles it is looking to fill as it embarks on another busy few months on the region’s canals.

Formed in 1981, LNBP operates two full-size canal boats for the purpose of weekend and midweek residential trips and short breaks by community groups and organisations such as the Scouts, Guides, church and social groups, and schools.

With the new boating season, the charity has a series of volunteer roles available for the months ahead and also with one eye on the future in mind.

These roles include additional boat skippers to the current team, maintenance technicians, ‘meet and greeters’ and fundraising assistants.

Speaking about the opportunities, vice-chairman Alan Cobbold said: “LNBP has always been reliant on and grateful for the effort of our volunteers who give their time to

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Volunteers sought for electric boat

Electra’s volunteer crew. PHOTO: LINDSEY PATRAIKO

A young passenger learns how to operate a lock’s paddle mechanism.

Two of the boat skippers. ensure the smooth running of the organisation and the canal boat experiences we provide.

“However with several of our longstanding members either now retired or due to stand down in the next few years, we are keen to welcome new volunteers to our organisation to fill these positions and take us forward up to and beyond our 50th anniversary.”

The volunteer roles with LNBP are generally only a few hours’ commitment each month with any expenses reimbursed. With exception to the boat skipper roles where a Certificate of Canal Boat Management (CCBM) qualification or equivalent is required, experience is always useful but not necessary as training can be given.

Alan added: “While we are

keen to encourage and welcome new volunteers of all ages and from all backgrounds, we are particularly keen to hear from anyone aged between 18 and 30 to breathe new energy into the organisation.”

To find out about current

volunteer opportunities with LNBP and how you can play a part, email marketing@lnbp. co.uk or call 07783 002073. For more information about LNBP Community Boating, visit www. lnbp.co.uk or find the charity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

LNBP’s team of volunteers. PHOTOS: LNBP

FOR SALE: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WITH ACCOMMODATION

The property is particularly suited to anyone with boating experience as we serve diesel, carry out pump-outs, provide gas bottles etc to boaters on the River Witham.

This property is available as Freehold Price £440,000 plus stock.

For more details please contact David Wilson at EM&F (Midlands - East) on 01858 469469 quoting ref: M34834G

social media, marketing, outreach, fundraising and project management – great opportunities to learn new skills in a friendly, supportive team.

Lindsey Patraiko, volunteer social media manager, agreed: “I volunteered because it was unique and exciting, and I wanted to enhance and develop my social media skills and use my creativity. If you haven’t got a lot of time, there are also a number of short tasks that can be quickly completed.”

Volunteer co-ordinator Gill Kirkup, who also volunteers as a cabin host, said: “I’m the first port of call for anyone interested in volunteering for Electra and really enjoy meeting new people and finding out about their interests.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to visit Electra’s website https://www. bmkwaterway.org/electra/ volunteering/ or email the team on volunteers. electra@bmkwaterway.org for further details.

Be Water Aware SURREY Fire and Rescue Service has joined other services across the UK to help promote the National Fire Chief Council’s national #BeWaterAware campaign.

In 2020 nearly 50% of people who accidentally drowned did not intend to enter the water.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is asking everyone to take extra care when around water, especially as the weather is improving and people are more likely to be out and about near waterways.

What are the risks?

A 3-bed house with small private garden and two bathrooms, a 1-bed s/c flat (currently let to a single gentleman) above a thriving convenience store with attached small Chandlery store and Post Office (the only one for around a 5 mile radius). The site consists of a small fuel station including the sale of red diesel (the only red diesel on the River Witham), white derv, petrol and Kerosene (Heating Oil). Situated approximately 5 miles NW of Boston town along the River Witham and feeding a lovely friendly community consisting of five smaller villages/hamlets in the immediate vicinity and is the only shop and garage in the area.

ELECTRA, the community boat on the Grand Union Canal, is seeking more volunteers.

The accessible, all-electric community boat, run by volunteers from the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, already has 49 but more are needed as demand for cruises has doubled since the boat was launched in 2021.

Volunteer chair, Denise Taylor, said: “Electra volunteers are a friendly bunch who work as one big team, creating and delivering a range of enjoyable cruises on the Grand Union Canal. Some people crew the boat, others work behind the scenes to get everything ready, and some people do a bit of both!”

Sue Morrison, lead cabin host, added: “We are recruiting now for cabin hosts, to welcome and chat with guests and serve a range of food and drinks from the on-board Galley Bar.” Informal interviews were due to be held in April and training in May/June, ready for crewing from July.

There are also shore-based vacancies in customer liaison,

Drowningis among the leading causes of accidental death in the UK. The rescue service wants to prevent unnecessary and accidental deaths by making people aware of the risks and dangers when around water, what to do if they fall into water and how to help someone who is in trouble in water. Many people underestimate the depth, speed and temperature of the water.

The effects of cold-water shock and not knowing how to self-rescue can cause even the strongest swimmers to drown. Even on a warm day the temperature in open water can remain very cold, causing a physical reaction which can make it difficult to control breathing, cause panic and make it difficult to swim.

Why is this important?

As the weather improves, the service is faced with an increased number of calls to help people in trouble in water. Awareness really can save lives. Surrey has many bodies of water, including large lakes and the River Thames and all need to be treated with respect.

Surrey Fire and Rescue’s top tips for staying safe in and around water: · Never swim alone. · Don’t drink alcohol when undertaking water-related activities, it impairs judgment

Firefighters training for water rescues.

and your ability to swim. · Avoid walking routes near water, especially if you have been drinking alcohol. · Avoid jumping straight into open water; this can cause potentially fatal cold water shock, and you never know what is under the surface. · Actively supervise children in and around water – drowning can happen fast and silently. · If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, don’t panic, extend your arms and legs out and float on your back until the effect of cold water shock passes. · Never enter the water to try and rescue someone, call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service.

More information on water safety can be found at www.surreycc.gov.uk – search for outdoor safety.

A Surrey crew on the water.

PHOTOS: SURREY FIRE & RESCUE

NEWS 11

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2023

Open day at historic canalside cottage Report and photos: Les Heath

PART OF MIDDLEWICH CANAL CENTRE

Queues outside the cottage on open day.

The cottage before restoration started.

MORE than 50 years ago the roof of a derelict cottage by the side of the Cromford Canal collapsed into the ruined shell, leaving little hope of any future restoration.

But after four years of hard work by teams of volunteers the fully restored cottage has begun a new lease of life which started with an official open day.

Extensive TV coverage the night before the event, combined with a bright spring day, attracted large crowds of visitors who queued patiently for conducted tours of the historic Derbyshire dwelling.

Known as Aqueduct Cottage, due to its proximity to the stunning stone structure taking the canal over the River Derwent, the building was constructed shortly after the canal was built.

It is believed it housed a canal lock keeper who controlled a stop lock at the entrance to Lea Wood Arm which starts outside the cottage.

The short branch, also known as the Nightingale Arm, enabled narrowboats to reach lead smelting works, cotton mills, stone quarries and a sawmill owned by Peter Nightingale, the great-uncle of Florence Nightingale.

The arm, financed by Nightingale out of his own pocket, was cut in 1802 2 when there then became thee need for a lock cottage at itss junction with the main canal.

exist in the original cottage is electric lighting both in the upstairs activity room and to illuminate new information panels on the ground floor.

The lights are powered by a battery hidden under the staircase which will eventually be charged by solar tiles incorporated into the roof of the outside privy.

Restoration of the privy is expected to take all summer.

During the five-hour open day visitors were also able to view the ‘top garden’ used by past tenants to grow fruit and vegetables.

The path to the walled enclosure was completely overgrown and forgotten about until a few years ago.

Visitors also had the opportunity to view work carried out on the Leawood Arm entrance and volunteers are now hoping to obtain a pre-used lock gate from the Canal & River Trust to complete the restoration.

During the day the wildlife trust manned several stands and provided a range of activities.

An added attraction was the trip boat Birdswood which delivered visitors from Cromford to the open day and which will be running trips to the cottage throughout the summer.

Lighting the way

More than 7000 hours off volunteering by members off the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Cromford Canal have resulted in the amazing restoration that many thought would never materialise.

The canal came into its own during the restoration when, because there are no roads to the cottage, some of the materials arrived by boat.

One feature which did not

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Middlewich Canal Centre is home to the following family of companies Stalls manned by Wildlife Trust members showing the restored path to the ‘top garden’ behind the cottag e.

Trip boat Birdswood passing High Peak Junction taking the first visitors to the cottage on open day.

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12 IWA ROUND-UP

May 2023

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AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH IWA’S AMY TILLSON

BCN clean-up weekend in Tipton IWA response to CRT licence fee consultation

THE IWA submitted the following response to the Canal and River Trust’s consultation on licence fee increases: Regarding overall price rises, bearing in mind that CRT is dependent on a Government grant that is not inflation linked for a good part of its income, we appreciate that the trust has no option but to try to raise more from other sources to compensate. However, increasing the licence fee beyond inflation risks pricing boaters off the system, or simply being unable to pay, which could result in a net loss.

In response to the options for apportioning the rises across boat licence payers, we have some concerns: We do not support the proposal to raise licence fees for continuous cruisers above those with home moorings. Firstly, as set out in The British Waterways Act 1995 there is only one Pleasure Boat Licence.

Added to this, it is not possible to define continuous cruisers, which is

the term used in the consultation. Some boaters never have what might be called a home mooring so continuously cruise all the time, others continuously cruise much of the year then tie up in a marina for the winter, some boaters have home moorings that are not on the CRT system and many other possible combinations.

The proposal to charge more for continuous cruisers would be an administrative nightmare, open to abuse and highly divisive within the boating community. Dividing the community like this is especially detrimental at this critical moment, when the whole waterways community needs to come together to show Government how our canals and rivers are valued and need to be adequately funded.

IWA does support the proposal to charge by area, as this would bring it in line with EA registration fees and make Gold Licence administration more straightforward.

We would like to see CRT achieving a

Canal restorers’ public showcase in demand THE 1903-built steamship Daniel Adamson (the ‘Danny’) looks set to be full when it hosts the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) restoration showcase in late July.

All the canal societies currently undertaking waterway restoration projects in the North West and Wales have been invited to take stands. At the time of going to press these were close to capacity with 11 firm bookings and four more societies waiting to respond.

Jim Forkin, chairman IWA Chester and Merseyside, said: “ We ran the first roadshow in Liverpool in 2019 and that proved very popular with the public and now with so many schemes developing in the North West we decided to get all the societies together again.

“The promenade deck of the Danny is an ideal exhibition

space and families can enjoy this nationally important vessel with its Art Deco lounges at the same time.”

Suitably close to junction 12 on the M56 motorway, the event will see stands from as far afield as the Lancaster Canal, Shrewsbury and Newport and Plas Kynaston (Near Llangollen) from Wales and volunteers will be available to answer all the public’s questions.

Local canal societies will include the Runcorn Unlock team with exciting plans at the end of the Bridgewater Canal and Sankey Canal Restoration Society.

Timed to coincide with the school holidays, the event will take place on the weekend of July 29-30 and the organisers believe it is an ideal event for families to encourage children to understand the unique industrial heritage of

the UK. With society’s focus on ecology and well-being, the event will show the canal’s role as well as the importance of the canal to the local economic development.

The teams will be showing that the North West is playing its part nationally in an industry that created £2.6m for the UK economy and generates substantial funds during restoration with orders being placed for materials and plant hire. The Danny was a £5m project supported with £3.8m from the National Heritage Lottery. Admission will be free and free parking is available a short distance away. There will be a small snack bar selling light snacks, tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks. The vessel is moored by the side of Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge on the A56 close to Frodsham.

considerable increase in the non-boating income from all those who currently enjoy the waterways and whose benefits will suffer if they deteriorate.

Looking at the income from CRT’s 21/22 annual report, boating brings in around £24m from licensing plus £20m from moorings and other commercial boating activities. As against this, income from CRT ‘Friends’ has remained constant at around £3m despite the large investment that was put into establishing this support.

Alongside this, we will continue to campaign for local and national government to recognise the many benefits, including health and wellbeing, that the inland waterways provide to a large part of the population and fund them accordingly.

The benefits freely enjoyed by those local to waterways are the reason for national and local government to help fund the costs of keeping waterways in good condition so the benefits are not lost.

Volunteers clear Firepool Lock gates ready for River Tone visitors BRIDGWATER and Taunton volunteers recently worked at Firepool Lock to help get the gates to open correctly as there was a problem getting them to open to sufficient width to get a boat through.

They will need to return in the coming weeks to reopen the channel through from the canal to the River Tone. It will be great to have boats back on the river again.

They are keen to add more volunteers to the teams. If interested contact Mike Slade: mdslade8@ gmail.com or ring 07977 263840.

THE 2023 Birmingham Canals clean-up weekend took place on March 25-26 on the Walsall Canal in Tipton.

It is an annual event which aims to help keep the less well-used parts of the BCN and Black Country Network from getting choked up with rubbish and becoming impassable for boats.

This year was no exception as Waterway Recovery Group volunteers used grappling hooks to recover shopping

trolleys, tyres, bicycles and even more exciting treasures from a section of the Walsall Canal between the basin and Ryders Green locks.

WRG volunteers are supported each year by volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association, Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, Dudley Canal Trust, Coombeswood Canal Trust, Canal & River Trust, Friends of Tipton Cut and local residents. IWA’s volunteer manager

Jenny Hodson and events and restoration hub co-ordinator Verena Leonardini also attended the event.

By working together, volunteers can have a significant impact as a single BCN clean-up can remove 30 to 60 tonnes of rubbish from the canal!

Events like this can help to combat plastic pollution, littering and fly tipping, which are just some of the threats facing our waterways, as highlighted in the #ProtectOurWaterways campaign.

Hauling au g rubbish ubb s out of o the t e Walsall a sa Canal.

Ca a PHOTO: O O IWA

New head office for IWA IWA has relocated to a new head office as the 15-year lease on Island House ended this year.

The team didn’t have far to move as the new head office is conveniently located in Chesham. Although a redirect has temporarily been put

in place for any mail sent to the old address, please make sure to use the new address below going forward: IWA Head Office, Unit 16B, Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 2PX.

Volunteers working on the gates at Firepool Lock. PHOTO: IWA

Get involved – work party dates

PLEASE contact the branch to register an interest if you would like to attend one of these work parties. It is advisable to wear stout shoes and old clothing, and take a waterproof. You may want to take a packed lunch and refreshments.

EAST May 14 and 18 IWA Northampton Branch: Work

parties are usually held one weekday and one Sunday a month, along the Arm, 10am-2pm. The tasks usually include vegetation clearance, weeding, litter picking and painting at locks. Contact: Geoff Wood at geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk for details.

Tuesdays IWA Milton Keynes Branch: Regular

waterways.org.uk

work party at Fenny Lock on the Grand Union Canal. 9.30am-1.30pm.

Work can include vegetation clearance, gardening, litter picking and painting. Work parties are dependent on weather being agreeable. Contact: Pat Durham on 07510 195918; email pat.durham@

WEST Tuesdays & Saturdays IWA West Country Branch (Taunton & Bridgwater): Work

parties in the Somerset area, 10am-1pm. Contact: Mike Slade at mike.slade@waterways.org.uk; 07977 263840.

Jeff Steele receives the Victoria Cup from the IWA West Midlands regional chairwoman Helen Whitehouse. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Award to branch stalwart IWA Lichfield presented its Victoria Cup award to branch member Jeff Steele at the recent annual meeting.

The prestigious cup is awarded annually to a nominated member within IWA’s West Midlands region, who

has shown outstanding commitment to further the aims of the association, particularly relating to volunteering in this case.

Jeff has worked tremendously hard organising and leading the offside vegetation

cutting team during what have been particularly challenging times.

Under his leadership, team members increased their volunteering to more than 1600 hours over the winter thanks to Jeff ’s hard work and dedication.

13

www.towpathtalk.co.uk May 2023

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14 FREIGHT

May 2023

It’s a bit odd

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

Grabbing Camden’s waste out of the barge at Powerday’s recycling wharf. PHOTOS:

Aboard one of WHH’s Bantam tugs, the crew assemble for the day’s work.

JONATHAN MOSSE

filming support! Proudly inscribed on its boats and plant, all smartly turned out in a grey, white and blue livery, are the words ‘Tailored Engineering’ which clearly reflects the fact that in this business, one size certainly doesn’t fit all!

Rubbish disposal

“WHAT we do is a bit odd” – so goes the summing up of Wood Hall & Heward’s (WHH) commercial manager when pressed to describe the scope of his firm’s activities.

First the easy bit: WHH Barges is a specialist in floating plant hire, water transport and infrastructure support, predominantly in the London area.

The firm can supply tugs, barges, workboats and floating plant complete with competent, qualified personnel to operate all these craft and their equipment. It owns and operates a large and diverse fleet of specialist vessels designed to meet a range of customer requirements on the UK’s rivers and canals and is based beside the Grand Union Canal, just south of Rickmansworth.

Underpinning its activity is the firm’s motto: ‘Take the load off the road’ which is, in turn, ably supported by the three founding directors’ total of more than 90 years’ experience. Tim Wood, Charles Hall and Gerald Heward started the company in 1997 to fill a gap in the market for a knowledgeable and professionally run inland waterways workboat, freight and infrastructure support company.

The fleet of 60 vessels includes large and small tugs, crane and HIAB barges, hoppers, pontoons, work-flats, welfare, safety and rescue boats. Tasks undertaken are varied and range from waterside civil engineering, through tug and towage contracts, to utilities support and towpath cable installation and maintenance, and can even include

I recently joined Lee (the aforementioned commercial manager) Toby and Chris early on a sunny spring morning in Little Venice aboard one of their ubiquitous Bantam tugs, all set to pick up a loaded rubbish barge that had been discreetly hidden around the corner, away from the view of visitors to Browning’s Pool.

Rubbish disposal is probably one of the least glamorous jobs that the company undertakes but essential to the smooth running of any densely populated urban area. This particular consignment had been generated by the activities of Camden Market and spent the night midway between its origin and the recycling centre at Willesden.

Filled to the gunnels with DMR (Dry Mixed Recycling to the uninitiated) the barge was soon lashed in front of the tug just in the nick of time, before a broody duck took it into its head to construct this year’s des res.

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Progress is stately to say the least with this kind of cumbersome load ahead.

But before too long we were tied up at Powerday’s wharf ready for unloading, filling two large, high-sided skip lorries as the crew refuelled with bacon and egg butties from a nearby cafe.

This is not waste, bound for landfill, but a commodity that Powerday proudly proclaims will be ‘powering the future’ as, in its baled form, it will fuel energy from waste plants across the UK. One of two weekly runs from Camden Market, this job makes something of a contrast with the activities of Scouser, another WHH Bantam tug and barge combo working nearby. As most boaters will be aware, towpaths are heavily used for utilities and throughout the London waterways there are miles of permanent ducting. This team was working with contractors preparing to upgrade the underground electricity supply and represents but one example of the civil engineering undertaken.

Above ground, and therefore more obvious, is the support WHH provides for

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building projects that fringe the capital’s waterways, bringing in materials and taking away spoil.

Christmas 2022 was particularly busy for the company with the canal bridge carrying the West Coast Main Line out of Euston Station up for renewal.

Steel for constructing the bridge deck came in by barge while the demolished elements of the old masonry were ferried away.

Servicing waterside construction sites ensures the practicality of waterborne freight in the capital but at every turn WHH, in common with commercial carriers throughout the UK, is seriously handicapped by the shortage of remaining wharfs, most of which have become submerged under housing development. There are, for instance, fewer than half a dozen left on the total 22-mile length of London’s Grand Union Paddington Arm and Regent’s Canal put together.

‘Odd’ or otherwise: ‘different’ might be better! WHH clearly fulfils an important commercial niche on the waterways, embracing a wide span of expertise, employing the skills of a dedicated and highly professional team.

Manoeuvring tug and ‘tow’ past moored boats on the GU Paddington Arm.

Hitching up the rubbish barge ahead of the Bantam tug.

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18 HERITAGE

May 2023

Barge trust celebrates 75 years THE Essex-based Thames Sailing Barge Trust has been in operation for 75 years.

Originally the Thames Barge Sailing Club, it was the brainchild of solicitor, sometime engineer and wartime seaman, Hugh Vaudey.

In 1947 he coerced some Greenwich residents to join him in his ambition to launch a sailing barge and form a barge sailing club.

After a few initial meetings it was decided to foster the practice of sailing working craft and maintain one or more

Thames sailing barges on the London river for weekend sailing at a nominal cost. The aim was also to preserve draw ings, plans, prints, photographs and models of these working craft.

The club’s first barge was Spurgeon, chartered for four months from June 1948.

Subsequently the club owned the sailing barges Arrow, Asphodel, Westmoreland and currently the two sailing barges Pudge and Centaur which are based at Maldon and

are both recognised as Dunkirk Little Ships.

The Thames Barge Sailing Club became The Thames Sailing Barge Trust, a charitable trust, in May 2003 to assist with the raising of funds through grants and donations to keep both barges sailing.

This year sees the completion of a five-year project to restore and refit Pudge which has been partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

She will be sailing from Maldon by the end of April.

Nutfield and Raymond at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally.

PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Braunston pair among NHS-UK grant recipients A RECORD number of applications tug Kerne and Aire & Calder barge has been received this year for Fusedale H – which each receive the National Historic Ships UK’s £1000 – and Gloucester light ship Small Grants Scheme which offers Sula, given a grant of £700. grants to vessel owners towards The NHS-UK Small Grants conservation projects.

Scheme is funded by the It has awarded 16 grants, the Department of Digital, Culture, highest number ever, of up to Media and Sport, as well as from its £1000 or 50% of the total cost Historic Ships Insurance scheme ( ) of the project, whichever is the with Winter & Co (Marine). lesser. These are made to vessels on the National Register of Historic Vessels for conservation management planning, surveys and remedial works. The Braunston pair of Nutfield (motor) and Raymond (butty) have each been awarded £750 for remedial work.

Other recipients of grants towards remedial Humber Keel barge Comrade also work include: Humber Keel received a grant for remedial work. barge Comrade, Liverpool PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Five boats added to National Historic Ships UK registers FIVE narrowboats, including two butties, have been added to the National Historic Ships UK registers.

They are: Tamarack (1896) – built as a day boat by Bantock, Thomas & Co for carrying coal; Star class Woolwich butties Uranus and Argo,

both built in 1935 by Harland & Wolff for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company; Lutra Parva (1967) constructed from wood by Dobson Boat Builders, Yorkshire and Tortuga (1968) built by Canal Line for use as a hire boat.

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Berkhampstead returns to work

By Phil Pickin

SHREWSBURY & Newport Canal Trust (SNCT) has loaned the recently restored workboat Berkhampstead to the Gnosall Towpath Recovery Volunteers, according to the summer issue of S&N News.

The unpowered boat is being used to transport gravel and other materials from Norbury, on the Shropshire Union Canal, to the location of the restoration work between the Cowley Tunnel and bridge 36.

In all, 39 people have volunteered to help with the restoration work, including a number of young people undertaking their DoE Awards.

Work involved the removal of mud and other debris from the towpath and replacing this with a mix of stone, gravel and ‘dust’ that will, in time, compact down to form a new surface for the towpath. The gravel has been acquired from a number of sources, including the Canal & River Trust, donations from villagers and from builder’s merchants – funded by the profits from the first C’Fest held in the village.

Some of this material was transported to Gnosall in cars, but as the project progressed, the need to use something more substantial became apparent.

Loaded with eight one-tonne bags of gravel, plus three tonnes supplied

by CRT, Berkhampstead has been bowhauled along the canal to the work location. S&N News reported: “As the gravel was used up, the boat was restocked with gravel already stored at points on the towpath in Gnosall.

“On one occasion, as the canal was quiet in Gnosall, an innovative way was found to restock the boat by mooring below Bridge 34 and pouring stored gravel down a chute straight into storage bags.”

The path is looking good. PHOTO: GNOSALL TOWPATH RECOVERY VOLUNTEERS Berkhampstead was built in 1927 and has survived for around 90 years.

The last owner of the boat, and its tug Bainton, was Roger White, who donated them to the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust.

They are now based at Norbury, where the restoration continues when Berkhampstead isn’t being used to deliver restoration supplies.

Weekly work parties have been taking place to restore the matched pair

since they arrived at Norbury. Although Berkhampstead, the butty, has been extensively restored, a lot more work is needed on Bainton.

Work has just started to restore the engine; however, a new fundraising drive has recently begun to raise the remaining £20,000 needed to complete the restoration. Anyone wishing to donate is asked to visit https ://www.givey.com/ theshrewsburynewportcanalstrust

Building the path. PHOTO: © MARTIN WRIGHT

Bowhauling Berkhampstead. PHOTO: JOHN MYERS

Pouring stored gravel through a chute from the bridge.

PHOTO: JOHN MYERS

Appeal launched to save ‘Ricky butty’ A CROWDFUNDER has been launched to restore Starcross, one of the last ‘Ricky butties’.

Built in 1932 by WH Walker & Brothers of Rickmansworth, Starcross is an F-type butty, built as a working boat for haulage of goods and coal connections.

She was previously owned by the Welsh Legion where she was used for volunteers to reside in while working on canal restoration. She had also previously been towed

by a buddy Ricky, tug boat, and pulled by horse.

Starcross is made from oak, 75% of the hull having been replaced. She was restored at Bates boatyard, Bourne End, and is now insured, BSS-compliant, registered with the Canal & River Trust and powered with an outboard engine.

Her current owners have been her guardians for two years. She was exhibited at the London Canal Museum last November where people

came on board and heard her story, which was very well received, as she was in good order.

Unfortunately, her owners were putting the finishing touches to her last month after recently getting the outboard engine repaired, when she unexpectedly sank at her moorings.

Thanks to initial funds raised, they were able to raise her again, but now need to inspect her to find out why she sank, and make sure she

is shipshape and ready to cruise the nation’s waterways once more.

The owners hope to get Starcross back to her former glory so she can take part in community events; Scott is a qualified mentor and would like to pass on traditional wooden boat building techniques.

At the time of going to press, £1084 of the £8000 target had been raised. Visit www.gofundme.com and search for Starcross.