WHAT’S ON 67
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Art aboard the slow boat
THE idea of using a narrowboat or other canal vessel as a floating art space is not unusual these days, though this one is a bit different, being used by the Ikon Gallery as a floating and travelling studio. A drop-in session was held recently opposite The Roundhouse on the BCN Main Line near Sheepcote Street Bridge in Birmingham for a drop in session; Colin Wareing went along for a look.
The Ikon Gallery is based in the former Ozzells Street School in Birmingham and the 70ft narrowboat is on loan from Sandwell Council and has recently had a repaint. She is very striking in her new colours of blue and yellow, the livery being designed by Lamorna Conlon, a member of Ikon Youth Programme, and the colours are not unlike those of the British Waterways carrying
fleet from the 1950s and 60s. From August 24 to October 4, the artist in residence on the boat has been James Lomax, who works in sculpture and installation and hails from Banbury. He has been working with local people in the Ladywood area of the city, which includes the Icknield Port Loop of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, off the main line.
James Latunji-Cockbill, who is part of the organising team, with artist James Lomax and the ‘slow boat’ opposite the Birmingham Roundhouse. His work has been recording through photography, with the help of people off the bank, the brownfield remains of the industry that used to line the canal loop. He’s been enjoying working with the people, especially the youngsters of the area, helping many discover the canal and get on the water for the first time. James plans to use this to drive his work back in his studio over the next year and it will be interesting to see what he creates. Another James, recently married James Latunji-Cockbill,
Ikon’s floating art studio moored at Sheepcote Bridge, Birmingham. PHOTOS: COLIN WAREING
WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER October 1
West of Scotland Boat Jumble: Open 10am. Irvine Water Sports Club, 66 Harbour Street, Irvine, Ayrshire KA12 8PY, opens 10am. Admission £4, accompanied children and car park free. Contact Bill Aitkin 07749 312159. Solent Boat Jumble: The Royal Victorian Country Park, Netley, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 5GA (Junction 8 M27), opens 10am. Admission £4, accompanied children and car park free. Chaddock & Fox Promotions, contact 01329 661896 or 07771 962495. IWA Towpath Walks Society, London: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross-Granary Square-Camden. Starts King’s Cross taxi rank at 2.30pm. Costs £10, £8 student/concs. Contact Roger Wilkinson 0203 612 9624. Dogdyke Steam Drainage Station: Beam engine in steam, display and museum in old engineman’s house, 1.30-4.30pm. Tea and home-made cakes in grounds. Off the A153 Sleaford to Horncastle Road near Bridge Farm, Tattershall, Lincolnshire, along farm track. Entrance and parking free, donations welcome.
October 3
Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society: AGM and talk on The Danny – restored Mersey tug by Ray Hines. Whitefield Garrick Society Theatre, Bank Street, behind Porada Restaurant, suggested parking at Whitefield Metrolink car park. 7.30pm, members and non-members welcome. Worcester Birmingham & Droitwich Canal Society: Coal For The Ashby by Glyn Phillips. The Meeting Room, Alvechurch Boat Centre, Scarfield Wharf B48 7SQ, adjacent to The Weighbridge pub, 7.45pm. Contact Denis Pike 07870 939121, www. wbdcs.org.uk
October 5
If you want your event listed in our free monthly What’s On section email your entry to jrichardson@mortons.co.uk or use the events form at www.towpathtalk.co.uk/events. As always please check with organisers on the details of the event before setting out on your journey.
River Canal Rescue: Electrics course with Howard Williams. RCR head office, Baswich, Stafford (by Bridge 101, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal). Two-day course £150. Contact 01785 785680, enquiries@rivercanalrescue.co.uk or visit www. rivercanalrescue.co.uk/rcr-courses/
October 8
Kent Boat Jumble: The Hop Farm, Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6PY (Junction 4/M20 or Junction 5/M25), open 10am. Admission £4, accompanied children and car park free. Chaddock & Fox Promotions 07719 62495 or 07887 771451.
October 9
River Foss Society: Five-mile circular walk, Mill Green via The Durham Ox. Meet at the car park of The Durham Ox, Crayke, 9.30am. Contact Bob Jowett 01904 764702, bob.jowett1@ btopenworld.com
October 10
IWA Chester & Merseyside: Paddle steamers, pelicans and Pinot Grigio – Australia’s River Murray by Ray Buss of Chester Canal Heritage Trust and the Saturn Project. Holiday Inn (Mercer Suite), Ellesmere Port CH65 2AL, 7.45pm. www.waterways.org.uk/chester
October 11
IWA Warwickshire: Update on Progress by Bob Williams from the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. The Sports Connexion, Rytonon-Dunsmore CV8 3FL, 7pm. www.waterways. org.uk/warwickshire River Foss Society: Talk by the Environment Agency on invasive species (Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed etc). Strensall Village Hall, 7pm. Open meeting, non-members most welcome.
Southampton Canal Society: Cheryl Butler, The Itchen Village, Itchen Ferry and the Diaper Family. 7.45pm-9.50pm at Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth, Southampton SO16 7JZ, 7.45-9.50pm. Visitors welcome. Contact Angela, 0238 067 5312 scs@sotoncs.org.uk IWA Leicester: Talk by Adrian Lane on the history of the Grand Union Canal through Leicester. The Gate Hangs Well, Syston LE7 1NH, 7.30pm. Non-members always welcome. Contact Andrew Shephard 07710 362952, andrew.shephard@waterways.org.uk
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire: 7.45 for 8pm start. A pictorial view of a life as a waterway writer, photographer and campaigner by Harry Arnold MBE. Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent ST9 9DU, 7.45 for 8pm start. Contact Barbara Wells 01782 911004 / 07710 418908, socialsec. nssc@waterways.org.uk
October 7-8
October 14
Friends of Cromford Canal: Horse day and Leawood Pumphouse. Depart 11am or 2pm from Cromford Wharf (single or return), 12.15pm or 3.15pm High Peak Junction (single only). Booking advisable 07552 055455, sales@birdswood.org
is part of the organising team from the Ikon Gallery who explains that when Mr Lomax’s residency comes to a close a returning artist, Mahtab Hussain, will be using the boat to work on documenting the lives of people who live overlooking the canal in tower blocks. The boat is crewed to various waterways events by members of the Ikon youth programme, and will be heading to the BCNS end-of-season rally at Titford Pool from November 3-5 where she will become a floating cinema for the weekend.
October 13
River Foss Society: Litter pick in and around the Foss Basin. Meet at Foss Island Road Bridge, opposite Halfords. Work gloves and stout footwear advised. Contact Barry Thomas 01904 490081, barry1thomas@googlemail.com
October 15
Suffolk Boat Jumble: Trinity Park Events Centre (A1156), Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 8UH, opens 10am. Indoor/outdoor event, admission £4, accompanied children and car park free. Contact 07780 800257, www.rotaevents.co.uk IWA Towpath Walks Society, London: Grand Union Canal: Little Venice and Paddington Green. Starts Paddington, Bakerloo Praed Street exit at 2.30pm. Costs £10, £8 student/concs. Contact Roger Wilkinson 0203 612 9624.
October 16
IWA Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire: Montgomery Canal restoration update by John Hamp. Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen B62 8AW. 7.15 for 7.30pm, visitors welcome. Contact Dave Pearson 01299 404273 / 07527 197842, dave@daveapearson.com
October 18
IWA Lichfield: Estuary Crossings, illustrated talk by Ian Fletcher about narrowboating on tidal waters. Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield WS13 8AY. 7.15 for 7.30pm. www. waterways.org.uk
October 19
IWA Chester & Merseyside: Autumn waterways walk, approximately 3.5 miles, starting from the Ring O’Bells Pub, Daresbury Lane WA4 4AJ, meet at 10am for 10.15am start. All walks open to members and non-members, dogs also welcome. End back at the pub for lunch. Contact 07746 955931 derek.smith@waterways. org.uk IWA Milton Keynes: Steam Narrow Boat President; a detailed history presented by Richard Thomas. Royal British Legion Hall, off Melrose Avenue, West Bletchley, MK3 6PU, opens 7.30pm. www.waterways.org.uk
October 20
Trent & Mersey Canal Society: The International Guild of Knot Tyers and knot work including demonstrations of both boating and decorative knots by Ian Rogers. The Big Lock, Webbs Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9DN, 7.30 for 8pm. Contact Gillian Watson 01606 835606 IWA East Yorkshire: The North York Moors Railway presented by John Bailey. Methodist Church Hall, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 4BD, 8pm. Contact 01482 845099, roger.bromley@ waterways.org.uk
October 22
South Wales Boat Jumble: Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, Glamorgan SA13 2TJ, open 10am. Admission £3.50, accompanied children and car park free. Contact Compass Events 01803 835915 or 07831 337951. Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association: Sandiacre Lock Cottages, Lock Lane, Sandiacre (off Longmoor Lane) NG10 5LA, open 1.30-4.30pm. Admission free but donations towards costs of opening appreciated. Access for disabled people is limited. Contact Glyn Stenson 07809 251441 / 0115 854 3306, glynstenson@ hotmail.com
October 24
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society: Annual General Meeting. Wilmot Arms, 49 Derby Road, Borrowash, Derby, starts 7.30pm. Admissions £2 (members), £3 (visitors).
October 25
IWA Chiltern: Treasures from the Thames with Malcolm Head. Little Chalfont Village Hall, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Bucks HP8 4UD, 8pm. Contact John Brice, john.brice@waterways.org.uk
October 26
IWA Lancashire & Cumbria: From Yorkshire to Lancaster by boat by Andrew Cummings. St Chads Parish Centre, 235 Town Lane, Whittlele-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ, 7.30pm. Parking and bar available. Contact: 01257 274440 lancsandcumbria@waterways.org.uk
October 28
St Pancras Cruising Club: Halloween Cruise to Kensal Green Cemetery followed by party at St Pancras Cruising Club. Advance booking not required. Contact cruise co-ordinator Sophie Charalambous, email: vicecommodore@ stpancrascc.co.uk
October 28-29
Friends of Cromford Canal: Horse day and Leawood Pumphouse. Depart 11am or 2pm from Cromford Wharf (single or return), 12.15pm or 3.15pm High Peak Junction (single only). Booking advisable, contact 07552 055455, sales@ birdswood.org
October 29
IWA Warwickshire: Hatton Offside Clearance. Meet at Oaklands Farm Dog Kennels CV35 7DZ, 10am-1pm. www.waterways.org.uk