Towpath Talk - August 2022 - Preview

1 Issue 202, August 2022

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FINDING A SHADY SPOT AT GNOSALL C-FEST

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Starring role Actor and canal enthusiast Timothy West (right) with Nick Lake steering the motor Nutfield into Braunston Marina to formally open the 2022 Historic Narrowboat Rally. His wife Prunella Scales co-opened it on the butty Raymond being towed behind. Full report and more photos on pages 4-5. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

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Canal closures could impact on summer cruising plans THE unprecedented high temperatures and prolonged dry spell has resulted in the Canal & River Trust taking action to manage the very low water levels, particularly in the north of England.

These have included the closure of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals until these have recovered enough for safe navigation, plus the temporary closure of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal between the Wigan Lock Flight and Gargrave.

Reduced operating hours have also been introduced on the Rochdale Canal to manage the limited thirdparty water supply and should there

be no improvement in the position, the trust may be forced to close the canal at short notice.

Unless there is a significant improvement, temporary closures will come into place from August 1 of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Caldon Canal, Hazelhurst Flight. The trust is also keeping an eye on riverfed stretches of navigation which are subject to river flow.

A spokesman told Towpath Talk: “The rest of the network is largely holding up well. A huge thank-you goes to the teams out managing resources – including, of course, our

amazing volunteer lock keepers.

“A combination of a dry spring that has continued into a hot, dry summer and essential reservoir repairs across the region, meant the amount of available water was already less than usual.

“Restricted use was introduced at several lock flights in April and volunteer lock keepers have been helping to manage boat traffic at lock flights to ensure water supplies are used as efficiently as possible.”

CRT chief operating officer Julie Sharman said the heatwave was the last thing they wanted. “Unfortunately,

British Marine moves

Restoration conference

WAVE International and Aycliffe Filtration MD Paul Gullet has been appointed the new president of industry trade association British Marine. He takes over from Ian Cooke, who has served in the position since 2020. Alongside Paul, Robert Parton, MD of Aqueduct Marina, has been voted in by the council as British Marine’s president-elect.

THE 2023 Waterway Restoration Conference run

by IWA and the Canal & River Trust will be held in Chesterfield on Saturday, March 18. The event, from 10am-4pm, will focus on the sustainability of your restoration and explore your journey to operation with keynote speakers from Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Canal Trust.

Hazelhurst bridge project

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the ongoing essential repair works at our reservoirs to safeguard them for the extreme weather that is likely to become more common due to climate change, coupled with far less rainfall than we needed, have meant that there just isn’t enough water for navigation.

“We appreciate what an impact this has on boaters in the area and we are sorry that this will affect cruising plans this summer. If anyone is experiencing any problems please get in touch.”

To find out more about stoppages and water levels affecting navigation, please visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/ notices.

THE Canal & River Trust is starting an 11-month £2 million project to rebuild the historic Grade II Listed Hazelhurst Bridge on the mainline of the Caldon Canal, near Endon in Staffordshire.

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2 NEWS

August 2022

WELCOME​ I AM writing this column the day after the UK experienced its hottest day on record – just a few miles from here at RAF Coningsby.

Luckily I was able to continue working at home, cooled by a fan, but was wondering how those of you on boats – especially those unable to moor in a shady spot – were coping with the intense heat.

Despite warnings, there have been tragic incidents where people have tried to cool off by swimming in open water and then got into difficulties.

The Canal & River Trust also asked boaters to conserve water where possible and be aware that swing bridges and other structures could be prevented from working properly.

Hopefully by the time you read this column, temperatures will have returned to their normal range and we can all make the most of the summer holidays.

As we return to a busy calendar of events, it is great to see people enjoying themselves at waterways gatherings such as the Braunston Historic Boat Rally, the Gnosall C-fest and the Middlewich FAB Festival – see reports on pages 4, 5 and 6.

I was delighted to see that Wigan volunteer Peter Baxter had won British Marine Lock Keeper of the Year Award, see report on page 8, having met him a few years ago when he was one of our Volunteer of the Year prizewinners. And judging by some of the lovely comments on our Towpath Talk Facebook page, many of you were too.

On this page you will see an article about an online survey we are asking our readers to take part in – you could win vouchers to spend at Midland Chandlers or a subscription to Towpath Talk – please share your views and help us shape our future editions.

In the meantime stay safe and cool.

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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 – August 25, 2022

Westminster Reception marks a decade of Canal & River Trust AROUND 50 parliamentarians (MPs and peers) joined the Canal & River Trust at a reception at the Houses of Parliament ahead of the charity’s 10th anniversary.

It showcased how, under the trust’s stewardship, canals now have more boats than ever before and are used by more people than at any time in history. The event was a celebration of the renaissance of canals which are playing a vital role improving community wellbeing and tackling health inequalities, as well as supporting jobs, local economies, and nature recovery.

Attendees heard about the continued need for funding and support to safeguard the waterways, with the 250-year-old ageing and vulnerable network exposed to changing weather patterns and how a more resilient network will help society mitigate the effects of climate change in the years ahead by providing sustainable transport routes into towns and cities, delivering flood mitigation, water transfer, a supply of green energy, and improved biodiversity especially in urban areas where such rich blue-green space is at a premium.

MPs pledged their support for the trust’s work to protect the nation’s fragile industrial heritage, access to the outdoors, wellbeing improvements for communities and wildlife benefits that it provides.

Allan Leighton, chairman of the Canal & River Trust, commented: “The Canal & River Trust was launched in July 2012. Its formation saw the largest ever transfer of public assets into the charitable sector and it was the start of the next exciting phase in the 250-year story of the canal network.

“No other charity brings so much free, open and accessible blue and green space to the doorstep of so many and, over the past decade, we have been able to broaden our reach, engaging more deprived communities living along waterways in urban areas and making the canals and rivers inclusive and available for all.”

He added: “MPs were given an update on the increasing role of volunteers, partners and supporters in helping the trust protect and preserve the nation’s waterways and how, with continued support, we can avert decline and continue to enable them to serve society in ways that the great

canal engineers of the industrial age could never have envisaged.

“As we continue discussions with government about future funding for canals, I would like to thank the MPs

and peers who attended and heard all about the role waterways are playing to level-up constituencies, making them greener, healthier and more prosperous places to live.”

Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, with Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry at the 10th anniversary reception. PHOTO: CRT

HNBC celebrates capital success

LONDON’s Limehouse Cut had a slightly different look to it at the end of May when 31 historic boats came together for one of the Historic Narrow Boat Club’s ‘campaigning’ gatherings.

Like Brownhills and Hebden Bridge in previous years, the London event had the dual purpose of shining a light on a less frequently boated or lesser appreciated part of the system while showcasing historic boating to the general public The meticulous organisation by Michael Pinnock, Nicola Day, Sue Cawson and Ray Butler, meant that everything went off without a hitch, despite initial concerns

about negotiating the capital’s crowded waters.

After a Friday evening of wetting whistles and whetting appetites, the weekend proper kicked off with visits to the House Mill at Three Mills Tide Mill, followed by an evening slide presentation from Tim Lewis – The Limehouse Cut & Environs in Old Photographs, a fascinating glimpse into the working past of the area and the many trades and industries that had once flourished along the banks of these waterways.

Sunday and Monday allowed for members to cruise around the Bow Back Rivers − a rare opportunity to visit waterways seldom

available to the public.

There were variously routed circumnavigations around the Olympic Park but all allowing great views of the huge stadium, now home to West Ham United, and of Anish Kapoor's extraordinary sculpture, Olympic Slide.

No HNBC gathering is ever complete without the quiz and Peter Oates, having had two years of Covid-enforced no quizzing, set a particularly fiendish one to round off an excellent event on Sunday night.

Having ventured this far into the capital some members took advantage on the Monday by heading onto the Thames and the Lee & Stort, with

a few even venturing down to a rather choppy Gravesend!

Nick Grundy reports: Over the years we have been nearly everywhere possible with the fulllength Beatty (built for Samuel Barlow by Yarwoods in 1937) but we had never been through the Thames Barrier at Woolwich. The HNBC weekend tied in with a St Pancras Cruising Club trip to Gravesend along the Thames estuary, so here was the perfect opportunity to write another chapter in Beatty’s remarkable cruising history.

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Historic boats moored on the Limehouse Cut. PHOTO: HNBC

The boat was well prepared for a tidal passage and we had a glorious early morning run downriver with six other boats, passing through the Thames Barrier at 6.30am, then under the QE2 bridge at Dartford before arriving at Gravesend where we moored on the inside of the floating jetty. After the day and evening at leisure, and a busy night adjusting fenders and ropes to cope with passing ships’ wash, we were set for the return trip the next morning.

It was wind over tide which made for an

uncomfortable hour or so.

We departed on the first of the flood tide which involved a tricky crossing to the north bank of the river with rolling waves and even a few white horses!

The boat coped well in these conditions, but the amount of movement is certainly an unusual sensation in a narrowboat.

We returned safely upriver to Limehouse − a five-hour run and with the photos to prove it.

Many thanks to St Pancras Cruising Club for the excellent planning and organisation. We made some new friends and feel a real sense of achievement.'

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Group marks the Montgomery Canal bicentenary – a year on

Grants awarded for Wendover Canal project

Visiting the site are, from left: Stephen Hearn; Coun Penny Hearn of Tring Town Council; Clive Johnson, chairman of Wendover Canal Trust; site manager Mikk Bradley, WCT and Coun Graeme Elliot, portfolio holder for corporate services, Dacorum Borough Council.

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Chairman Michael Limbrey addresses the Montgomery Canal Forum at Newtown. PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN CANAL supporters, council representatives and other interested parties met recently at the Montgomery Canal Forum in Newtown.

Delayed by the pandemic, the forum marked last year’s bicentenary of the final opening of the canal to trade in Newtown. While most of the engineering works had been completed earlier, it was not until 1821 that the final water supply and other arrangements were in place for regular narrowboat trade. This continued until the canal was suddenly closed in 1936 due to a breach in the bank at the northern end of the canal.

The forum opened with an update from Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chairman Michael Limbrey who highlighted the powerful strategy for the canal which is held as an example to other restorations across the country.

He showed that the strategy manages restoration not just for boaters, or for its valuable collection of canal-age locks, bridges and other structures, nor just for its special habitats, but for the all the benefits the canal can bring the area. The presentation highlighted all these and the benefits for recreation and well-being for visitor and local communities.

Jason Leach, head of external

programme delivery for the Canal & River Trust, which owns the canal, spoke about the highly successful restoration of the Droitwich Canal in Worcestershire and the benefits that had brought. He then described the preparation under way for projects under the £15 million UK Government grants for the canal.

Val Hawkins, chief executive of Mid Wales Tourism spoke about the canal in the context of tourism which is such an important part of the region’s economy.

It had been planned that the forum would be held in Open Newtown’s new Riverside Venue, the centrepiece of a project by the new Open Newtown community group which is re-energising the town’s green spaces.

Unfortunately the building was not finished in time but Stuart Owen from Open Newtown was able to give an enthusiastic presentation of the group’s achievements and ambitions for the town.

Michael Limbrey said: “While the forum looked back to the completion of the Montgomery Canal to Newtown 201 years ago, really we were looking forward to all that is about to happen along the canal as it comes back to life. With over half now reopened and the towpath open for all 35 miles, the emphasis is now on reconnecting the

isolated section in Welshpool with the national canal network.”

Jason Leach described the planning under way for projects under recent UK Government funding. Those works will include extensive new nature reserves specially constructed for the restoration adding no less than 17 acres of significant new space for wild plants and wildlife.

The coming months will see the start of the long-awaited Schoolhouse Bridge project in Shropshire removing the canal’s last highway blockage in England and the Shropshire Union Canal Society work parties completing their lottery-supported project to reopen the canal to Crickheath Basin, the next point where boats can turn.

Michael concluded: “We could not have the achievements so far, nor what will be happening in the near future, without the huge support from the local community and further afield.

“Supporters from the local area and right across the country took part in the Montgomery Canal Triathlon in May, volunteers from far and wide have come to join restoration working parties and in the same way supporters from Scotland to the South Coast have made donations to the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal. We are grateful to them all.”

DACORUM Borough Council has worked with Tring Town Council to award grants to Wendover Canal Trust for canal restoration.

It has given £135,000, while Tring Town Council gave £20,000, towards a project to remove waste from Wendover Canal, which will later enable it to be relined and rewatered.

The grants have been matched with a legacy from a former resident of Little Tring.

The restoration project includes the removal of 5500cu m of household waste. This was tipped for 10 years from 1918 to 1928 into the closed canal at Little Tring by the then Tring Urban District Council.

Tip waste consists mainly of ash and stretches for 270m and is one of the final barriers to rewatering the

Boat Lift hosts Queen’s Baton Relay

THE Anderton Boat Lift hosted the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay on the first stage of its tour through Northwich.

Three different runners held the baton aloft as it was transported around the site of the world’s first boat lift in blazing sunshine, watched by hundreds of local schoolchildren and their families.

At the top of the lift, it was transferred to a boat on the Trent & Mersey Canal to travel 50ft down onto the River Weaver Navigation.

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Wendover Canal; its removal will be a significant milestone. It will also allow the re-opening of the towpath through the area currently containing the waste, avoiding the need for walkers, runners and cyclists to divert down the busy Little Tring Road.

For the first time in 100 years, there will be a continuous towpath from the Grand Union Canal to Wendover.

Wendover Canal Trust chairman Clive Johnson said: “We’ve been worrying for so many years how we could afford to safely and legally dispose of this waste blocking the canal and I am looking forward to it being taken away this summer.

“I am really pleased that Dacorum Borough Council has been able to help us clear this barrier to local people enjoying this historic canal.”

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The baton is transferred at the top of the Anderton Boat Lift. PHOTO: CRT then formed a guard of honour as they accompanied the boat a short way along the river to Winnington Bridge, where it was passed back onto land to continue its journey through cheering crowds in

Northwich Town Centre.

The event was hosted by Cheshire West and Chester Council and included the final leg of the Schools Baton Relay around Northwich with children from Comberbach Primary School.

4 NEWS

August 2022

The formal joint presentation to the Friends of Raymond by Timothy West and Prunella Scales of a cheque for £1000 from Braunston Marina. The Friends of Raymond and the Narrowboat Trust both received that amount as joint main beneficiaries of the rally. PHOTO: SIMON AINLEY

Happy birthday Pru – seen enjoying her 90th birthday card from the Friends of Raymond. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

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The butty Raymond passing the Roach in the packed but good-humoured narrowboat parade. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

Sunshine and stars bring out the crowds at Braunston

By Tim Coghlan

AFTER an absence of two years due to Covid, the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally finally went ahead again in its traditional slot over the last weekend in June.

It was the 18th time it has been held since the event was started in 2003 and transpired to be one of only a few canal rallies to be held this summer as other events elsewhere were cancelled.

Perhaps because of this, the attendance by both historic narrowboats and visitors alike was well up on the last event held in 2019. A total of 81 historic narrowboats attended, versus 71 at the last one, coming from all corners of the waterways. And the numbers would have been much higher but for mechanical problems, perhaps to be expected with these old canal leviathans.

Now successfully revived, the annual Braunston rallies remain by far and away the largest rally of historic narrowboats anywhere on the inland waterways.

Most disappointingly for this year was the absence again of President, the last surviving steam narrowboat, where the problem of building a new steam boiler to modern standards continues. President with its butty Kildare were to have been the stars of the rally, with music producer and steam enthusiast Pete Waterman at the helm. But that has now been put on hold for next year. However, their loyal supporters, the Friends of President, did take a stand in the

Narrowboats on parade. The tug Sandbach, surrounded by boats going in all directions. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

Owners past and present: Former working boatman Jim Hambridge, left, on Cassiopeia, the narrowboat he worked with his parents in the 1950s. With him is present owner Mick Poyser, who has been responsible for much of its restoration. PHOTO TIM COGHLAN exhibitors’ marquee, where they were able to inform people about the state of progress.

Fortunately our resident marina celebs, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, agreed to stand in for the opening on our resident pair of former working narrowboats, Nutfield and Raymond, both of which had received a major winter makeover by the Friends of Raymond, and looked quite splendid.

It was the fourth time that Tim and Pru had done the honours since 2013, the opening taking the established format of the chosen pair of boats entering the marina from the canal under the famous Horseley Ironworks bridge to a peel of bells from Braunston Church – ‘the Cathedral of the Canals’. And serenading the pageant was fine

Best boat in show: Otley. Owner Pete Harrison said that while he was responsible for the design, most of the restoration work on Otley had been carried out by Brinklow Boat Services. “I am very grateful to them.” PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

music from Daventry Brass.

Tim was at the helm of the Nutfield, assisted by Nick Lake.

Pru was in regal form on a chair on a specially built temporary platform at the rear of Raymond’s hold, from where she could wave to the crowds. She had turned 90

two days before the rally and this milestone was acknowledged with Daventry Brass playing Happy Birthday, to which all joined in.

In the hold of the Raymond other celebrity guests included Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry and retired chairman Tony Hales, who still continues his passion for the waterways and has attended every rally since 2009.

The winning historic narrowboat for this year’s Nurser Award Buckby Can for the Best in Show, as voted by the historic

narrowboat owners, was the magnificently restored Otley, which was one of 10 historic narrowboats making their first appearances at the rally – an encouraging sign that restoration projects continue.

As well as the Buckby can, owner Pete Harrison also received £250 in Midland Chandlers vouchers, generously sponsored by them.

The rally seeks to be both a rally of historic narrowboats and a waterways festival, with a variety of entertainments

reflecting this theme. The Guild of Waterways Artists was again provided with its own marquee, sponsored by the rally and 10 of its members had their works on display, including the great canal artist Dusty Miller, who was also signing his new book on his life as a waterways artist.

There was also a trade marquee shared with a number of canal societies. Societies were also located outside, as were a number of good causes like the RNLI, who were given free space.

Entertainments included the canal-travelling Alarum Theatre, with their new play, I Dig Canals, about female volunteers who were involved in the heroic restoration projects in the 1950s and 60s.

Live music in the beer tent was organised by Janul and children were entertained by Professor Diamond’s Punch & Judy Show.

There was a new villain for this year – Boris Johnson – who is eaten by the crocodile and disgorged as Eton Mess!

On the Sunday evening, to close the event, the rally sponsored

Pete Harrison, whose boat Otley was judged best in show, with the traditional Buckby can and a voucher for £250 to spend at Midland Chandlers who donated the prize, following the presentation by marina general manager Graham Newman and MD Tim Coghlan. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Waiting to parade: A whole armful. Historic narrowboats moored in the Old Oxford Arm at Braunston Marina. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

Polishing up his act. A historic narrowboater preparing his boat for the parade. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN

Professor Diamond’s Punch & Judy Show had a new villain!

PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

NEWS 5

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Traditional canalware artist Christine Wood demonstrating at her stand in the marquee. She can usually be found on Saturdays outside Tradline Rope and Fenders at Nursers Forge, Braunston Marina. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON a candle-lit choral concert by Fiori Musicali of Spanish 17th century music – their equivalent of our Elizabethan music – across the meadows at the ancient church of Wolfamcote. This was to raise awareness of this redundant church and funds for its preservation.

The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally is sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk and is supported by the Canal & River Trust. Braunston Marina will be hosting the event again next year on the same last weekend in June, 2023.

Artist Dusty Miller signing a copy of his book The Canal Paintings of D C ‘Dusty’ Miller which was launched in the Guild of Waterway Artists Marquee with Peter Silvester of publisher CanalBookShop of Audlem Mill. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Heatwave greets the second C-Fest at Gnosall A lot of interest in the items on sale.

Visitors and traders on the towpath in Gnosall.

Report & photos: Phil Pickin

THE July heatwave was under way when the boats arrived for the second canal festival to be held in the village of Gnosall on the Shroppie in Staffordshire.

A mix of historic and trading boats took up position along the towpath in the picturesque location between two pubs within the village. With free parking close by, it isn't difficult to see why this event is quickly becoming popular with canal enthusiasts and the wider public.

Despite the first event being held in 2019, this is only the second event to take place as two fell victim to the pandemic.

As a result, there was an air of welcoming both boaters and visitors back to the event.

Despite the possibility that visitor numbers could have been impacted by both the meteorological and the

economic climate, most traders, be they first-timers or returners to the event, said they would come back next year. Many traders noted the organisation of the event as one of the reasons for coming back.

The C-Fest is not just a waterways-based festival having, as it does, a number of talks and musical events taking place in various venues around the village. Several waterways charities and associated organisations are also represented at the event by setting up their stands in the grounds of the nearby Navigation pub.

For one attendee, who has since stopped trading, this year's event was to be their last festival. The crew of Little John passed a handwritten note to the organisers in which they praised the event. They described it as ‘chilled and friendly’ and as a

Traders and visitors think it’s nice to be back. ‘quintessentially village affair’, one that is ‘all the better for it’.

With comments like that and with a number of the trading boats stating that they ‘would come again’, it looks like C-Fest is cementing its place on the waterways calendar.

For more information, visit h t t p : / / w w w. gnosallcanalfestival.co.uk or search for C-Fest on Facebook.

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6 NEWS

August 2022 August 2022

Working boat Bargus has just turned in the junction of the Wardle and the Trent & Mersey canals in Middlewich. Bargus was built by Harland and Wolff and launched in 1935 for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. She is now a fuel boat, delivering gas, diesel and coal to boaters on the Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union canals for Four Counties Fuels Limited.

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Gangplank Spirits and Preserve s has a lineup of samples for passing festivalgoers to try.

Middlewich returns for a FAB time Words & photos: Colin Wareing

THE Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival is a long-established event, celebrating its 30th year in the Cheshire town. Its anniversary had been delayed by the enforced two-year break.

Musicians and boaters gathered to make it a great weekend. A big stage was set up in the park in the middle of town, with The Waterboys headlining this year.

The main folk stage was this year in the civic hall, with lots of fringe gigs and impromptu jamming sessions popping up around the pubs of the town.

The boaters were back out in force, including a good number

of working boats, some still earning a living for their crews.

Other boats, preserved for the fun and nostalgia for the old days, gathered near Town Wharf.

Further along the Trent & Mersey Canal nearer the Big Lock the floating traders had a good weekend, with many reporting that Saturday had been the best day.

Among the traders were folk that had attended in past years along with a few newer ones making their first forays into a full summer of trading.

Preparations have already started for next year’s 31st MFAB. Dates are already in discussion – follow middlewichfabfestival. co.uk for updates.

Cheshire-based singer Marc Gollins doing a set at one of the fringe gigs at The Big Lock pub in Middlewich. The Big Lock is so called as it is the only one on the northern end of the Trent & Mersey Canal that is wide enough to take two narrowboats at the same time.

Former working boat Tench moored alongside fuel boat Halsall. Tench is a former Fellows, Morton & Clayton motor boat built by Yarwoods and launched in 1936. She is now preserved in private ownership. Halsall was also built by Yarwoods and launched in 1936 for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. She is still working, now as a fuel boat, delivering gas, diesel and coal to boaters on the Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union canals, working for Four Counties Fuels Limited.

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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,

Talk. tth Tal 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 from told reporters thatt shots, coming 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

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Historic working boats, motor Minnow and butty Ilford, pass through Middlewich during this year’s Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival.

An impromptu jam session from members of the Northwich Uke Club around and on the back deck of a narrowboat moored at Middlewich during the long-established Folk and Boat Festival.

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The single-cylinder Bolinder semi-diesel engine on the 1934 working boat is restarted after Minnow and its butty Ilford have dropped down through Kings Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Middlewich.

NEWS 7

www.towpathtalk.co.uk August 2022

The interior showing archive cabinets and meeting room layout.

Peter Williams and his sister Geraldine speak of the Rice family.

Cutting the ribbon are, from left: past president John Dolan, president Kay Baxter, past president Carmel Meegan and past president Alan Kelly.

IWAI HQ Dunrovin.

The presentation to members of the Dunrovin Development Committee.

Past president Alan Kelly, IWAI president Kay Baxter and Inspector of Navigation Paddy Harkin.

PHOTOS: IWAI/PADRAIG DEVANEY

New IWAI Dunrovin headquarters officially opened

By Alison Alderton

A NEW milestone has been reached in the history of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) with the official opening of its new headquarters to be known as IWAI HQ Dunrovin.

The opening of IWAI HQ Dunrovin, which is situated at Coosan Point on the shores of Lough Ree’s Inner Lakes, finally fulfils the wishes of Cynthia Rice who bequeathed the Dunrovin property and site to the Athlone branch of the association in 1997.

A quarter of a century later on Saturday, June 25 – International Day of the Seafarer – Dunrovin was reborn in partnership

with the RNLI, resulting in a state-of-theart permanent lifeboat station alongside IWAI’s new headquarters.

A crowd of nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate the official opening. Among the guests were no fewer than 10 IWAI past presidents whose terms of office dated all the way back to 1984.

There were speeches from Peter Williams and his sister Geraldine, the grandchildren of Colonel Harry Rice, the founder member of the IWAI. Peter and Geraldine spoke of Harry, his first wife Peggy and second wife Cynthia and shared a personal view of the family whose legacy stands proud today on the site of their former summer home

– Dunrovin. In a special moment, an inscribed stone which Harry and Peggy had placed in the garden of Dunrovin back in 1948 was presented to the IWAI. The official duties continued with words from Martin Donnelly, the chairman of the Dunrovin Development Committee, and a speech from IWAI president Kay Baxter. Members of the committee, which has been awarded the prestigious Endeavour Cup for its dedicated service to the project, were then presented with personalised certificates from the president.

Following the speeches, Kay Baxter along with past presidents Alan Kelly, John Dolan and Carmel Meegan (whose terms of

office covered the Dunrovin development project) cut the red ribbon and declared IWAI HQ Dunrovin officially open.

The final duty was to hoist the IWAI

flag, marking a permanent and visible presence for IWAI in its new home on the very site where the association was founded in 1954.

IWAI presidents (past and present) outside IWAI HQ Dunrovin.

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88 NEWS

August 2022 August 2022

MP visits Leighton Buzzard towpath improvement works A £500,000 project to improve the towpath on the Grand Union Canal has been visited by the local MP to inspect the work in progress.

South We s t Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous was invited on site to see how the towpath improvements – a project undertaken by the Canal & River Trust working with walking and cycling charity Sustrans – will provide a traffic-free, accessible route.

He said: “Canals are an important local resource and these improvement works will make this stretch Visiting the towpath impro vement works at of Grand Union Canal Leighton Buzzard, from left: project manager towpath more accessible Spencer Green, London & South East regional to walkers, cyclists, director Ros Daniels and MP for South West families and people with Bedfordshire Andrew Selou s. PHOTO: CRT mobility requirements.

“I’m delighted (Mentmore Gardens). enhancements where that as a result of A second 2.1km possible, including the Department for section to be improved hedge laying, vegetation Transport’s Active will run north from Lock and tree management.

Travel Fund the Grand 27 (Leighton Lock) to I can’t wait to invite Union Canal towpath Bridge 110 (Sandhole Andrew back later in right here in Leighton Bridge) in Old Linslade. the summer to see the Buzzard is going to Here there will be completed works.”

The project builds benefit from targeted surfacing improvements, improvements and more vegetation trimming on previous towpath people will now be able and biodiversity i m p r o v e m e n t s to visit the delightful enhancements. undertaken by the trust canal environment.”

CRT London & South in Leighton Buzzard The L e i g h t o n East regional director in 2015, between Buzzard towpath Ros Daniels said: Leighton Road and improvements, which “Canal & River Trust Leighton Lock. are due to be completed ecologists and heritage It will add a further

by August 23, will advisers are involved 2.9km of improved improve, resurface and in the design of the towpath, resulting widen a 780m section works here at Leighton in a 4.1km stretch of of towpath running Buzzard to ensure they continuous high quality through south from the B4032 are sensitive to local towpath Leighton Road Bridge wildlife and heritage Leighton Buzzard and 114 to Bridge 115A structures, making surrounding areas.

Volunteer lock keeper wins national award

WIGAN-BASED volunteer Peter Baxter has won a prestigious national award for his volunteering with the Canal & River Trust on the Leeds & Liverpool in Greater Manchester.

The British Marine Lock Keeper of the Year Award was presented to Peter at Wigan Top Lock. He was chosen ahead of hundreds of others nationwide who support and assist boaters and other visitors to the waterways. The winner is voted for by members of leisure marine trade association, British Marine Inland Boating.

Peter said: “I’m delighted to receive this national award for something I love doing and on my local canal. It’s a really interesting role, where no two days are the same. I’ve learned so much and love being outdoors, it’s great for my well-being.”

He has been volunteering for waterways and well-being charity Canal & River Trust since 2015 and has accumulated more than 6000 volunteer hours.

CRT North West regional director Daniel Greenhalgh said: “Peter and his fellow lock keepers, many of whom are volunteers, are the ‘face of the canals’ and play a vital and iconic role. Lock keepers have been a presence on Britain’s canals for hundreds of years; although the role has changed over time, today they help to look after the nation’s beautiful waterways, assist boaters on their journeys, provide information and

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‘sandwich’ of four layers of waterproofing materials. It is then ‘paved’ with building blocks to weight them down.

These layers are put down as huge overlapping blankets which are 6m wide and stretch 14m from the towpath, down and across the channel, to the top of the offside bank.

There are still another 160m to do, but given recent progress, the end of August could still see the completion of the lining process, then all efforts will be directed toward surfacing the 330m of accompanying towpath.

Machine-based work continued with channel shaping next to Crickheath Basin.

It is expected to see this section filled and water-tested before Christmas, with the official opening taking place next year. Advanced planning is taking place for the next project beyond Crickheath Bridge which will begin in 2023.

Further on down the canal toward Llanymynech, the Restore Group is gearing up for the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, which it hopes will begin in the near future.

Beyond this in Powys, government funding is in place for restoration from Llanymynech to Maerdy, which it is hoped will begin later this year.

Lock keeper of the year Peter Baxter, centre, receives his award at Wigan Top Lock from Nigel Hamilton, chairman of British Marine Inland Boating, with, right, CRT North West regional director Daniel Greenhalgh. advice to visitors on the towpath and maintain historic locks.

“We are hugely proud of Peter and the other volunteers who look after the Wigan Lock Flight on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. The support of volunteers and the community, together with the continued backing of government and other funders, is vital for the Canal & River Trust as we strive to protect and preserve the waterways for the benefit of those in the North West and beyond.”

British Marine Inland Boating

chairman Nigel Hamilton added: “We at British Marine are delighted to present this prestigious award acknowledging the hard work of the lock keepers across the UK. “With the rise in staycations, more and more people are taking to the water and the safe operation of locks and the friendly service offered by lock keepers is very important to our hirers.

Lock keepers with their friendly, helpful service enhance boaters’ enjoyment of the UK’s unique and wonderful waterways.”

Narrowboats ascending the Wigan Flight.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The heat is on for Monty workforce

THE fortnightly programme of restoration is continuing on the Montgomery Canal near Crickheath.

On a blisteringly hot Friday, volunteers from the design consultants Arcadis boosted the workforce numbers, which laid the foundations for a surprisingly prolific weekend session.

Another 40m of lined channel was added to that already completed. In the region of 4000 blocks were used.

As part of the restoration activity, a length of channel is lined with a

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Cutting the lining mat into lengths.

Block laying in the sun.

The triumphant gang.

PHOTOS: SU PUBLICITY

​ un shines on the S lock painting team

THE Uppermill Community Action Network (UC AN ) volunteers were all feeling rather blessed at their recent activity morning thanks to the glorious sunny weather which made it ideal to continue painting at Wade Lock.

Working with the Canal & River Trust (CRT), the group likes to think this important asset really does contribute to the beauty of Uppermill and to the sense of well-being of village life.

As always, a thorough litter pick also took place alongside the canal and the final activity of the morning was the regular balsam ‘Bashing’.

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glanduliflora)

is a widespread invasive species which is difficult to control and, while looking attractive with its pink and white flowers, tends to crowd out native plant species.

Each summer, before it produces seed, UCAN spends some time alongside the canal ‘bashing’ the balsam – pulling up the Himalayan balsam from the base of the plant – to prevent it from setting seed and spreading further along the canalside.

Volunteers had been unable to carry out this

task for two years owing to the pandemic but, with regular attention, their approach should reduce the growth on this site in future years.

Painting the gates at Wade Lock on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. PHOTOS: UCAN

Work parties will take place in August on Thursdays 11 and 25. UCAN is always pleased to welcome new volunteers and anyone who would like further information should contact Peter Killan on 01457 878361 or email peterkillan@hotmail.com

CHARACTER 99

August2022 2022 www.towpathtalk.co.uk August www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Characters of the Cut Lena Rodriguez, Infinity Boat Covers

By Alice Griffin

ORIGINALLY hailing from the Spanish Atlantic coast, Lena Rodriguez grew up in a culture very much entwined with boats and the sea. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that she has spent the past nine years as a continuous cruiser aboard her 40ft narrowboat, Infinity, here in the UK. Having moved to the UK in 1999, Lena also spent time in the Netherlands – another location known for its canal history – and boats seemed to be written into her future. “To me, seeing boats as homes was very natural and it was a dream of mine to get myself on to the water once I came back to the UK from Holland.”

Lena spent some time researching but the shift into doing didn’t happen until she sadly lost her mother unexpectedly. “That changed my perspective, of how to live life in the present as tomorrow is not guaranteed. Dreams are to be lived.” Very quickly she obtained her helmsman qualifications and travelled around until the right boat appeared.

Nowadays Lena lives happily aboard with her two babies: a cat named Whiskey Boo and, rather unexpectedly, a mischievous duck called Howie! “I have raised Howie since he was two days old and he causes the most hilarious reactions from passing boaters when they see him looking out of the window!”

Howie arrived on the scene during lockdown when Lena noticed his abandonment.

“In the evenings I gathered the whole family together as I threw food into the water, but his mum and siblings kept pushing him away.” In the end, Lena decided to step in and he has since been raised aboard.

“Several issues have become apparent over time as to why he was ousted by the family. He does not fly, or like water.” Lucky for Howie he is now living his best life with a constant supply of cherry tomatoes and Lena’s loving attention!

Having the company of her furry and feathered friends is important as Lena works from her boat, too, under the business name, Infinity Boat Covers. “I repair boat covers

One of the cratch covers Lena has made. PHOTOS SUPPLIED and custom make new Lena Rodriguez and her feathered ones.” While Lena had friend Howie. considered doing this when she first moved aboard, her idea didn’t fully year that make up the seasons.” take shape until Covid hit.

I can personally vouch for “As we were moored at the the joyfulness that is Lena, as same place for a few months, well as for her super sewing fellow boaters saw me making skills. She recently spruced up the cratch covers for my boat my extremely tired cratch cover and also for my partner’s boat with new panels and zips when and slowly they started asking we were lucky enough to cross me to work on theirs.” Lena paths on the Grand Union for soon applied for her trader’s a second time. Within two licence and two years later days she had wandered along feels blessed to still be growing the towpath to see me, taken her business. away our cover and returned it renewed. I was so blown Wandering spirit away with the quality, as Lena isn’t always in one place well as Lena’s warm, honest though as she has a true nature, I asked her to do some wandering spirit. “The only time extra repairs before we both I have spent in the same mooring continued our journeys in was during the pandemic. We opposite directions. were in Leighton Buzzard and Covering anywhere between while I loved it there, after a while Leighton Buzzard and that same tree is in the same Whilton Marina (including place, and you end up seeing the the Northampton arm) and same people day in, day out and taking the occasional job in you just feel like you are going to West London and surrounding die a bit inside because routine is areas, Lena is always open to a killer, at least for me.” requests! “It is my passion As someone else with a gypsy for this amazing lifestyle that soul, this resonates deeply, as motivates me to keep trading. does Lena’s love for nature. “I’m I feel I have something to offer pagan, nature is my church so it my community and feel so makes sense that I feel more at blessed to help.” home and at ease surrounded by Lena has met and made countryside. There is a magical many meaningful connections connection to the environment and friendships through her that allows me to discern the work and travels and I, for one, little changes throughout the hope you readers will also have the pleasure of experiencing Facebook: her warm character on your own journey!

Infinityboatcovers Alice Griffin is an author and poet with a gypsy soul. She leads seasonal e-courses to bring us back to nature and ourselves, whilst wandering the waterways aboard her narrowboat, Melody. www.alicegriffin.co.uk

Canal photographer Kev Maslin with his image of coal boat Roach at Tipton.

Photographer marks birthday with Historic Dockyard exhibition scoop BLACK Country waterway photographer Kev Maslin visited Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent recently to attend the launch of a new photo exhibition just in time for his 60th birthday.

Mr Maslin, of Great Bridge, Tipton has been taking pictures of his local canals for some 35 years and now specialises in historic narrowboats.

Many of his subjects were originally built in the 1930s and once carried cargo to local industries.

The exhibition, which is set to run until the end of summer, is organised and supported by the Chatham Historic Dockyard and features large

general admission charge.

“And, of course, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to promote historic narrow boating, coal boats and the Birmingham Canal Navigations, as my two contributions featured ex-Fellows, Morton & Clayton narrowboat Roach, at both Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin and Factory Junction at Tipton.”

He added: “Narrowboat Roach is herself something of a local celebrity, as she is used to deliver coal and gas to customers around the waterways of the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire along with her owner, Rich.”

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Lena at work on her narrowboat Infinity.

prints of images that have been included in the 2022 edition of the National Historic Ships UK calendar, plus a few others which were entered for its annual photographic competition.

As part of its remit, National Historic Ships UK includes narrowboats more than 50 years old in its register.

Kev said: “It might be a long way from home – 170 miles to be precise – but it was worth the trip just to see the extensive docks complex and its exhibits.

“I was told that entrance to the photo exhibition in the magnificent No.1 Smithery building is included in the

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10 NEWS

August 2022 August 2022

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F​ riends climb back in the pedalo for canal fundraiser

PEDAL power has once again been driving two Warwickshire fundraisers who travelled 10 miles along the Grand Union Canal – in a pedalo!

Friends Alex Pearson from Stratford and Emma Brayne from Warwick navigated tunnels and locks as part of their intrepid challenge, in aid of local children’s charity Molly Ollys.

The pair were joined on their journey by Alex’s canine

Walking the same route along the canal towpath is 72-year-old great-grandad Tony Cunningham from Coventry, marking the halfway point of his 10 miles a day walk for the charity every day throughout 2022.

He has already raised more than £4500 for Molly Ollys.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

companions Archie and Chester and are hoping to beat last year’s total of £2000, including match-funding by The Morrisons Foundation.

Alex, a community champion for Morrisons in Leamington, said: “At the store we really want to support our local charities and this supports so many children in both our community and around the country.”

Their fundraising event took place on June 15 – a significant

A butterfly release by charity founder Rachel Ollerenshaw to mark the anniversary of her daughter Molly’s death.

date for the charity – as it was the 11th anniversary of eightyear-old Molly Ollerenshaw’s death. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the charity founded by her mum Rachel Ollerenshaw, who said it was a bittersweet day for her.

Alex and Emma, who have had the support of Leamington Boats and the Canal & River Trust, pedalled between The View at Wootton Wawen and Hatton, where Molly’s family live.

They only stopped en route for a quick drink and snack at the Fleur de Lys in Lowsonford.

The end of their challenge was marked by a poignant release of 20 butterflies outside the Hatton Locks Café. Alex’s friend David Fletcher and Emma’s husband Adam Brayne offered moral support and lock-keeping duties along the route – as well as raising money themselves.

Alex said afterwards: “We found it harder this year. We also got very wet in Shrewley Tunnel.

It was very dark, foggy and scary in there.

“We brushed against the side of the tunnel and loads of spiders

At the time of going to press the challenge had smashed its £1000 target, having raised £1193. To support Alex and Emma, donations can be made via: https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/pedalo10mission?newPage=True

fell in the boat and neither of us like spiders so we had to come out of the boat and brush them off.

“I never train. I just wing it.

But pedalling down the canal is not something you can really train for.”

Emma added: “People do say we’re completely barmy but we do it all with love and pride. It was harder this year because it was a longer distance and even though we didn’t have as many locks, they were spaced out and not in our favour.

“But it was really lovely to go through all the little villages and see all the places we don’t normally see.

“We’re planning to do something again next year but not involving a pedalo this time. We’re going to think of something even more unique!”

In the final lock.

Emma Brayne and Alex Pearson with Alex’s two dogs Archie and Chester set off from Wootten Wawen.

About Molly Ollys Emma and Alex complete their 10-mile challenge.

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Molly Ollys emotionally supports children between birth and 18 who have life-threatening illnesses. It does that through its Olly The Brave therapeutic soft toy and award-winning books, as well as donating wishes to children who are facing unimaginable challenges.

Between 2017 and 2020, the charity funded Birmingham’s first paediatric palliative consultant as there was no such consultant for the region. That position has now become permanent and is currently funded through the NHS. Since Molly Ollys started more than £3 million has been raised to emotionally support children across the UK. Anyone wishing to donate can do so at https://www.mollyolly.co.uk/ learn-about-donating/

Emerging from Shrewley Tunnel.

​Canal cruise a hit with Ukrainian scout group ANGEL Community Canal After a combined picnic Boat Trust, a charity based in and games session the return Islington, has been providing journeys were just as tuneful day and residential boat trips with several enthusiastic for community groups on its boat renditions of Ukraine’s winning Angel II of Islington for more than Eurovision hit.

40 years.

One of the leaders said: “We Recently it provided free loved everything. Thank you trips for an especially deserving It’s not hard work when for making the children smile group. After hearing of their work it is fun.

– the children said it was such in raising funds to supply trauma a happy day, ‘the best day ever’.” kits to send to their countrymen on the front line the trust was proud to be joined by the 1st To find out what funding may be available for your community group visit the London Plast, a Ukrainian scout group.

Skipper Phil Gavigan said: “The strength website www.angelboat.org or contact to carry on through adversity should be an the skipper at phil@acct.org.uk example to us all. Several of these young people have had to flee their war-torn homeland, leaving family and friends behind.”

Over a very warm and pleasant weekend in June, 48 cubs, scouts and leaders took to the canal like the proverbial ducks to water, many of which were seen during the trip.

Split into four groups, each enjoyed a threehour trip between Islington and Little Venice, learning about our historic canal system and how to operate the canal locks, as well as enjoying the wildlife along the route.

Their voices rang out with song throughout the trip, bringing smiles and cheers of Some very happy scouts presented a encouragement from passers-by on the towpath and they made particular use of the signed flag to Angel II of Islington to acoustics in Islington Tunnel. mark their joyful day. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

NEWS 11

August2022 2022 www.towpathtalk.co.uk August

PART OF MIDDLEWICH CANAL CENTRE

LD

B

O TS A O

The River Avon Poet Laureate Alison Bergqvist feels the muse on board Tess.

A new bard of the Avon THE Avon’s sparkling new “I don’t know a lot The little ANT book of Poet Laureate admits she about poetry, but even I can appreciate the was lost for words when quality of Alison’s work the Warwickshire river’s Written on and about and the fact that our guardians offered her the the Warwickshire Avon river inspires her so is role of her life. But not for long. very worth celebrating Somerset-based Alison by making her our first Bergqvist, who’d hardly Poet Laureate,” he said. written before being mightily moved by boating Life changer on the beautiful river twixt Alison had planned just Tewkesbury and Stratfordto share her musings upon-Avon, says verses with friends and family poured out for The little and admits that the news by ANT book of River Poems. that her audience will Alison Bergqvist She is also poised to craft swell immensely was a The River Avon’s Poet Laureat e for the Avon Navigation life-changer.

Trust’s (ANT) special “It is the most exciting thing that has ever events, kicking off with happened to me,” added her own launch, which was disappointingly delayed Avon Navigation the retired literacy and by the pandemic.

Trust’s The little ANT book dyslexia support worker who Boxes of the books were of River Poems: Written on inherited a love of poetry delivered in 2020 just before and about the Warwickshire and wildlife from her late Alison’s birthday… and Avon by Alison Bergqvist. father John. the first lockdown, which PHOTOS: ANT “I thought pootling up and down the Avon would be also shut off the trust’s merchandising outlets. boring, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Now two years and more/ And water “I love every minute, there’s inspiration galore/ Under Avon’s ancient bridges,” quoth everywhere and the poetry gushes out,” said Alison, right on cue.

Alison, who lives in Wells but also loves her “But time stands still/ By river and mill/ And spiritual home on Tess, moored at Barton. my words as ardent as ever!”

ANT also has a new vehicle to promote The It’s a wonder that the book ever happened little ANT book of River Poems: Written on and at all. A long-time, RYA-qualified sailing about the Warwickshire Avon. enthusiast, Alison wasn’t that keen when The trust has launched former trip boat partner Chris suggested cruising the Avon on William James as its River Avon Welcome his little Hardy 20 River Pilot Tess. Meanwhile Centre (RAWC), based predominantly at ANT chief executive Clive Matthews cheerfully the Avon gateway at Tewkesbury, which is admits he’s a poetry newbie. travelling the river to greet visitors and locals.

But Alison immediately fell in love with the The £4 book, which will raise funds for the ever-changing Avon, the verses started flowing charity, will be on sale on board as well as via and Clive was hooked.

ANT’s website www.avonnavigationtrust.org

River Poems

Boats Wanted!

We’re having an extremely busy time for boat sales and as a result we now need more boats to sell Call for details

Tel: 01270 760 799 Boatfinder Brokerage Services

@BoatfinderBS

Middlewich Canal Centre is home to the following family of companies

Lottery boost for Cromford Canal volunteers DERBYSHIRE waterways charity the Friends of the Cromford Canal has been awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund towards the purchase of a new volunteer welfare unit.

FCC’s executive secretary Richard Handley said: “This is brilliant news. The very

welcome donation will be used towards the creation of a new volunteer welfare unit which, once complete, will become a fantastic resource for our volunteers.

“It will allow them to have an office and kitchen area, a toilet and a drying room while working on the canal away

from local facilities.

“The welfare unit will benefit our hard-working volunteers when engaged on strategic restoration and conservation work along the canal.”

For more information about the aims and achievements of the FCC, visit www. cromfordcanal.org

WWW.CANALCENTRE.COM

12 IWA ROUND-UP

August 2022

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH IWA’S AMY TILLSON

Himalayan balsam bash marks return of monthly work parties IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch now has all three of its regular work parties up and running again, with work parties at Burslem Port having recommenced earlier in the year and a Himalayan balsam work party on the Uttoxeter Canal in June marking the relaunch of those events.

Monthly work parties on the Cheshire Locks on the Trent & Mersey Canal started up again last year in partnership with the Trent & Mersey Canal Society and continue to work their way along the flight, carrying out vegetation and painting tasks on this navigable waterway on the third Thursday each month.

Work on the Burslem Arm, a restoration project in Stoke-on-Trent held in partnership with Burslem Port Trust, has seen vegetation management including dead hedging and sapling removal, along with

backfilling of the path edging carried out since these work parties started up again, taking place once or twice each month on Fridays.

The relaunch of a monthly work party on the derelict Uttoxeter Canal on Monday, June 20 saw Himalayan balsam removed from a long stretch

of the former towpath close to Alton.

Volunteers from Canal & River Trust joined IWA and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust members for an enjoyable day of pulling up this non-native invasive plant. These work parties will generally take place on the third Monday of each month.

Himalayan balsam being cleared from a long stretch of the former canal towpath near Alton, Staffordshire.

PHOTO: ALISON SMEDLEY

IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch collaborated with Canal & River Trust and the BCN Society in organising a spectacular parade through the centre of Birmingham on Saturday, June 25.

More than 60 boats cruised from the recently opened Roundhouse through Gas Street Basin to the Mailbox. The parade was led by Atlas, one of a pair now run jointly by BCNS and Coombeswood Canal Trust, followed by the CRT heritage fleet Nansen, Swift and the pair Scorpio and Leo

with, among others, Caggy, a BCN icebreaker named after a legendary boatman.

Other boats of interest in the parade included Doris Katia which led the narrowboats in the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant and APT Wanderer, whose extensive cruising includes the Mersey, Ribble, Wash and Trent Falls.

The parade gave the large crowd an entertaining afternoon with local musicians and emergency services adding to the fun as well as showing visitors to Birmingham the value of its canals.

The Birmingham boat parade passing through Brindleyplace. PHOTO: CRT

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, old clothing and take a waterproof. You may also want to take a packed lunch and any refreshments.

Stoke-on-Trent. 10.30am-2.30pm.

Painting and vegetation clearance.

Contact: Dave Broome 07974 966253, dave.broome45@gmail.com

Thursday August 18 IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society: Monthly work party on

the Cheshire Locks (Trent & Mersey Canal, Kidsgrove to Wheelock).

10am-3pm. Painting and vegetation clearance. Contact: John Lawson 07940 878923, john.lawson@ waterways.org.uk IWA Manchester Branch: Work parties will resume in September.

New mooring rings are planned for the River Soar. PHOTO: IWA IWA Leicestershire Branch has supported Canal & River Trust to secure £885,000 funding from Charnwood Borough Council for new towpath upgrades and moorings with rings on the River Soar through Loughborough.

The moorings will be just before the T-junction and bridge at Schwabisch Hall Way. There will be 16 mooring rings interspaced with fishing pegs. They also hope to have one disabled mooring included. The work will be carried out in the winter works in 2022-23.

Fenny Stratford Canal Festival

Boating parade showcases region’s canals

North West Friday August 12 IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Burslem Port Trust: Work party on the Burslem Arm,

New mooring rings for Loughborough

Contact Barry McGuinness b.mcguinness1@googlemail.com for details.

East Sunday August 7 and Tuesday August 16 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 geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk Tuesdays IWA Milton Keynes Branch: Regular

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. Contact Pat Durham on 07510 195918 or email pat.durham@waterways.org.uk West Tuesdays & Saturdays IWA West Country Branch (Taunton & Bridgwater): Work parties in the

Somerset area. 10am-1pm. Contact Mike Slade: mike.slade@waterways. org.uk on 07977 263840.

Branch talks and socials

In addition to work parties, IWA branches host local waterway talks, walks and socials to share the wonder of the waterways. Many of these are open to anyone who wants to come along. Find something that’s on near you at waterways.org.uk/events

JOIN IWA Milton Keynes Branch for a free canal festival in Fenny Stratford on the weekend of August 6-7 from 11am-5pm.

It will be held between Bridge 96 (Watling Street) and Bridge 97 on the Grand Union. Use What3Words to find the entrance at final.wrong.stone.

There will be a floating market, model boats, craft stalls and trips on community boat Electra.

Leek may get its mooring basin on the Caldon Canal IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch has long supported the creation of a new mooring basin as a public amenity for boaters, visitors and residents at the end of the Leek Arm. The canal currently terminates in a less-than70ft winding hole, that is reducing further with silt carried down the Rudyard Lake feeder. Previously the canal turned through 90 degrees and crossed the now filled-in and listed John Rennie Aqueduct over the River Churnet.

It then continued toward Leek through what is now a derelict site. Outline planning permission for this site was granted in 2014, including an area for a marina.

A series of recent planning applications sought to progress the site, with the developer requesting removal of

planning conditions regarding constructing a marina/basin and connecting it to the Caldon Canal, stating that it is not feasible or viable for them to commit to fulfilling this obligation.

The branch objected to this obligation being removed. The planning application for removal of the condition was considered by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council planning committee on May 12, 2022, where councillors unanimously showed support for a new mooring basin as an integral part of the proposed development.

While the obligation for the developer to construct the marina, link to the Caldon Canal and install a footbridge over the aqueduct was removed, the developers are now obliged instead to reserve

land for the marina and subsequently transfer this to the council (or other body), landscape and maintain the area as public open space until the transfer takes place and contribute £815,000 towards the costs of a marina and/or canal basin.

IWA representatives along with the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust have been in separate dialogue with the council about their plans to seek funding toward delivering improvements to the canal at Leek as envisaged in the Local Plan. They have also worked to put Canal & River Trust’s Enterprise Team in touch with the council team so that the goal to create an accessible mooring basin as part of a new waterside for Leek might be realised.

Keep Sedgemoor Tidy Award for IWA West Country Branch THE West Country Branch was recently nominated for an award from the Keep Sedgemoor Tidy campaign. Mike Slade and Ray Alexander attended an awards ceremony on Friday, July 1.

This was held at the Canal Centre, which is adjacent to the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal on the outskirts of Bridgwater and following a reception and dinner they were presented with an award by the chairman of Sedgemoor District Council. Ray Alexander said: “The real credit for this goes to the almost 100 IWA registered volunteers who work at various locations in Somerset and do a tremendous job on the waterways.”

Mike Slade, left and Ray Alexander, right, receive the Keep Sedgemoor Tidy award from Peter Wyman, Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset and chairman of Sedgemoor District Council Coun Alan Bradford. PHOTO: SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL