Towpath Talk - October 2013 - FULL ISSUE

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Issue 96, October 2013

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MORE HISTORIC BOATS AT ALVECOTE GATHERING

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GHOSTLY GOINGS ON AT SHARDLOW P12

The sun shines on the Ashby Canal for the On the Water open day at Trinity Marina. See report on P4. PHOTO:WATERWAY IMAGES

‘Fair access’ boating guidelines planned for Kennet & Avon

DEVON BREACH REPAIRS AHEAD OF P15 SCHEDULE

THE Kennet & Avon Waterways Partnership is seeking views from boaters, businesses, local authorities and other canal users on ideas for improving fair access to moorings on the canal between Devizes and Bath.

All those who use and enjoy the popular canal are being asked for feedback to help it develop a 12 month pilot project.

Tamsin Phipps, chair of the Trust’s Kennet & Avon Waterway Partnership,

BOATS ARRIVE AT NEW MARINA P58

IWA festival’s Chester date THE Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has announced that it will hold the National Campaign Festival on the Shropshire Union Canal in Chester over the weekend of June 6-8, 2014. Hosted by IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch, the festival will be held in the Tower Wharf area, and the aim will be to promote use of the neglected Dee Branch arm. Boat booking and trade stand forms will be available shortly, from the festival secretary, Lesley Taylor. Please email lesley.taylor@waterways.org.uk for more information and to register your interest. Space is limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

540 BOATS FOR SALE Starts on

said: “The aim of the Towpath Mooring Plan is to improve access to moorings for everybody, give boaters more confidence that they are complying with their licences, and better accommodate the needs of people who live on this section of the canal.

“We hope that providing greater clarity on cruising and mooring guidelines, based on locally defined terms and supported by improved communication, will bring about a new

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and mutually beneficial culture of trust between boaters and the charity.”

Among the proposals people are being asked for their views on are: ● Work to identify stretches of the canal between Bath and Devizes as places that boaters should be recommended to cruise between ● Ideas for creating a local appreciation of what constitutes a bona fide journey in these places ● Setting up a panel of experienced

Pumps off to save energy

THE Canal & River Trust has joined forces with Open Energi to turn off water pumps on the Kennet & Avon Canal at times when the National Grid needs to ‘borrow’ electricity to cope with major surges in demand. The technology earns the trust approximately £17,000 per year, as well as contributing to CO2 footprint savings. The Open Energi equipment works in tandem with the trust’s own pump control systems to provide a second by second grid balancing service, which does not compromise the trust’s requirement to pump water.

and respected local people, the Waterway Partnership and Canal & River Trust mooring manager, to impartially assess enforcement cases that arise ● Agreeing local guidance between boaters and the Canal & River Trust to improve understanding of, and adherence to, local mooring requirements and trust policies for boating in the area.

Continued on page 2

Towpath upgrades THE Department for Transport has announced a £10 million investment into improving more than 37 miles of towpath along the canals in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Work will include resurfacing worn out towpaths, installing easy access ramps for pushchairs and mobility users, plus upgrading signage.

There will also be some repairs made to canal bank walls, making it easier for boaters to moor along the many miles of canal in city centres.

The project is due to be completed by 2015.

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WELCOME ONE of my objectives is to visit as many of our inland waterways as I can and last month I went to one of the more remote outposts – the Grand Western Canal in mid-Devon.

Although this eleven and a quarter mile waterway is not linked to the network – it was built as part of an over-ambitious scheme to link the Bristol Channel with the English Channel – and towpath walkers and cyclists outnumber boats, it is a country park, nature reserve and popular visitor attraction.

The canal hit the national headlines last November when a major breach sent torrents of water into the valley beneath and one of the purposes of my visit was to see the progress of work to repair and restore the embankment in time for next year’s canal bicentenary and IWA National Trailboat Festival, see report on page 15.

Owned and managed by Devon County Council, the canal and country park has a recently opened visitor centre at Tiverton Basin where the centrepiece is a life-size boat horse.

This is particularly apt as the basin is also the home of the Tiverton Canal Co which operates the only horse-drawn barge in the South West and I enjoyed a memorable trip… but more about that in a future issue.

With strong winds already blowing leaves off the trees, it looks like summer’s over and it’s time to batten down the hatches.

TOWPATH

TALK

Janet

Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk Publisher Julie Brown Display advertising Richard Sinclair rsinclair@mortons.co.uk Nikita Leak nleak@mortons.co.uk Classified advertising Stuart Yule syule@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Tracey Barton Divisional ad manager Tracey Glover-Brown Direct sales executive John Sharratt Group production editor Tim Hartley Production manager Craig Lamb Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Managing director Brian Hill Contact us General queries 01507 529529 help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466 Fax: 01507 529495 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Advertising Tel: 01507 524004 Fax: 01507 529499 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 – October 24, 2013

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Are towpath improvements going to attract the wrong users?

THE announcement that the Department for Transport is investing £10 million in improving nearly 40 miles of towpath along the canals in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, although broadly welcomed, has set alarm bells ringing with boaters in view of the growing hostility towards boaters and walkers by cyclists.

Towpath Talk correspondent Bob Clarke contacted the Canal & River Trust with a series of questions as to how the trust proposed to reduce the tension between cyclists and other users with particular reference to cyclists’ speed which leads to aggressive and confrontational attitudes.

We have had several letters from boaters, some of whom claim they have been threatened with violence as well as being verbally abused while working locks, using water points with hosepipes on the towpath and even while mooring up.

Huge increase

The huge increase in numbers of walkers and cyclists using towpaths not just for pleasure but on community and recreational riding has seen the Canal & River Trust carrying out wide ranging improvements to towpaths in the Central London area.

The London scheme is supported by Transport for London (TfL) and improvements have been completed on the Grand Union Canal’s Paddington Arm towpath to manage the growth in usage. There the towpath has been widened to a minimum of 1.8metres and been treated with a ‘tar spray and chip’ surface which the trust claims has proved to slow

cyclists down. The same treatment has been given to the Lee Navigation at Tottenham.

On the Regent’s Canal, Islington, chicanes and low profile ‘speed bumps’ have been installed on the towpath which, says the trust, is the busiest of all towpaths with 1000 visitors (cyclists and walkers) at peak morning and afternoon commuter times.

Also under way on the London towpaths are measures aimed at reinforcing the point of pedestrian priority as part of a trust’s campaign ‘Share the Space: Drop the Pace’.

The trust is now monitoring visitor numbers as well as cycle speeds at over 30 locations in the areas. And to try and deal with what it calls the ‘Lycra clad brigade’ who don’t want to slow down, the trust is working with the LCC, Sustrans and other agencies to find additional routes which could sustain higher cycle speeds.

On the point of aggressive attitudes by cyclists, a trust spokesman said: “Abusive people have no place on the towpath but unfortunately there are a few vandals and mindless idiots. We will not tolerate this and we are working with the police and local authorities to find ways which can solve this.”

Right of way

The trust freely acknowledges that towpath usage and behaviour continues to be a growing problem. A frequently asked question is: “Do pedestrians have the right of way?” The trust’s answer to that is unequivocal: “Towpath pedestrians have priority – that’s those stepping on and off their boats, working

the locks or simply out for a stroll. Canal cycling has to be considerate and the challenge is getting people to come and visit but be considerate to others when they get there.”

Although speed limits have not been imposed, in London where the growth in cyclists is highest, CRT is currently undertaking a study funded by TfL to understand the speeds being travelled. “Ultimately we have not stipulated speed limits on towpaths due to problems enforcing them. Cyclists should use common sense with primary consideration for pedestrians. Anyone in a hurry should use alternative routes.”

The trust has assured us that as the result of their current schemes being monitored and analysed: “We will take lessons from existing campaigns and apply them to other parts of the country where we can.”

That comes as good news to canal users in the Brindleyplace area where not only is the area now a major tourists area with bars, restaurants and exhibitions but boaters frequently run the gauntlet of abuse while working up and or down the several substantial lock flights on to the Birmingham Summit The Inland Waterways Association national chairman, Les Etheridge, had this to say: “The IWA wants everyone to enjoy the inland waterways to the full. We believe that positive management of cycling is preferable to a free-for-all situation and that commuter and recreational cycling should only take place where the safety of the rider can be assured and it does not compromise the safety and enjoyment of other users.”

Water point upgrade across the network

More boats for sale online at Towpath Trader

NEW water points springing up around the network are meeting a mixed reaction from boaters.

Brian Jarrett, who sent us this picture, asks, ‘what was wrong with the nice black and white cast iron ones?’

It has also been pointed that the tap is too low to get a water can under, but the Canal & River Trust expalins that they are designed for hosepipe connections.

A spokesman told us that 85% of the 880 stand-alone water points will be improved or changed by early 2014.

Upgrades include: installing doublecheck valves to prevent backflow and possible cross-contamination; insulated covering, which will help to prevent taps freezing during the winter and locks so that the water points are properly secured.

CRT project building surveyor Gareth Scott said: “This is good news for all those who rely on our water points. It’s also good news more generally because it means we’re going to spend less time making unplanned repairs to frozen or damaged taps, and more time on planned projects that make the waterways better.

“Some of the taps have heritage value, and where this is the case we have our workshop teams making exact heritage fittings.”

SINCE its launch in May, Towpath Talk’s dedicated boat and equipment sale website Towpath Trader has been attracting lots of interest.

Published by Mortons Media, the site is a welcome addition to Towpath Talk’s growing classified business offering a unique service to private buyers and sellers as well as those in the trade.

It’s easy to use and navigate and listing takes just a few minutes. Private sellers can advertise for free and for the trade, there are a number of packages to suit all needs including print and website combos which also include excellent loyalty discounts for series bookings.

Sellers can use photos, videos and featured listings to ensure they achieve the best visibility possible for their items for sale.

Visit www.towpathtrader.com to see what it’s all about or to list your items for sale.

For more information about the site or to discuss trade adverts, contact Richard Sinclair on 01507 529459 Continued from page 1

One of the new secure water points. PHOTO: BRIAN JARRETT

Judicial review does cover entire Guidance – nBta RESPONDING to Stillwater’s comments (Last Word, Issue 95, September) that a Judicial Review into the Canal & River Trust’s Guidance for Boaters Without Home Moorings will only cover one of four listed items, Nick Brown of the National Bargee Travellers Association reiterates that the Guidance will be reviewed in its entirety.

He points out that the Order made by Lord Justice Jackson on July 23 states: “...2.

Permission to proceed with the claim for judicial review be granted pursuant to CPR rule 52.15.

“3. This permission is limited to the claimant’s claim that the 2011 Guidance document does not

comply with section 17 (3) (c) (ii) of the British Waterways Act 1995”.

Permission was granted on the central issue, namely whether the 2011 Guidance reflects section 17 (3) (c) (ii) of the 1995 Act. Mr Brown explains that the issues that will not be judicially reviewed are not ‘items in the Guidance’, they are: whether the Guidance violates the rights of boaters under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and under the Equality Act 2010; and whether CRT can issue such Guidance and rely on Section 43 of the Transport Act 1962 to incorporate it into the Terms and Conditions of the boat licence.

‘Fair access’ boating guidelines planned for Kennet & Avon The consultation, which concludes on Friday, November 29, has been sent to all boaters known to have been using the Kennet & Avon Canal over the past 12 months, as well as canalside businesses, local authorities and local interest groups associated with the canal. Following the consultation, and subject to any changes resulting from it, there will be a 12 month pilot of the plan.

The working group that put together the proposals included Emma Fearnley (K&A Trade Association), Terry Fell (angler representative), Sandra Fry (boaters with moorings representative), Andrew Harry (boater representative), Ken Oliver (Wiltshire County Council), Alida Robey (facilitator community resolve), Richard Wright (local community representative).

For more information about the proposals and the consultation visit http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/aboutus/consultations/current-consultations

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Stopping up the leaks in historic aqueduct

by Bob Clarke

WORK has been completed on a 169-year-old aqueduct to stop water leaking onto a road and pavements in Great Barr, Birmingham.

The £120,000 project follows complaints over the years from pedestrians and motorists. The escaping water caused potholes in the road surface and, in winter, sheets of ice on the pavements and road with icicles hanging from the brickwork above pedestrians and other road users.

Specialist teams drilled holes in the side of the towpath which were then injected with resin. Once set the resin stopped all the leaks The work was carried out by the CRT West Midlands Waterways whose principal engineer Ian Lane said the aqueduct had been causing problems for a number of years but that the latest treatment should solve the problem.

Built in 1844, the Grade II listed structure carries a section of the Birmingham Canal Navigations over Spouthouse Lane.

Hunger march for hospice THE devastating news that her goddaughter has an inoperable brain tumour spurred Lockgate Cafe proprietor Sandie Coleman to take on a double challenge.

Not only is she aiming to lose four stones in weight by March but she is then embarking on a Himalayan trek to raise money for the Rainbow Hospice for children and young people at Leicester.

Sandie’s Himalayan Hunger March will have its own Just for Giving, Facebook and Twitter accounts and she hopes it will also spur people on to hold their own events such as a sponsored silence or car boot sale to boost the fund as part of a Daventry versus Cancer campaign.

“I am getting a committee of people together and will be flying out for the trek on April 24 next year,” she told Towpath Talk.

In the meantime Sandie, who also lost a nephew to leukaemia, is attending her local Slimming World meeting although she admits it is difficult, especially with the tempting food in the popular cafe at Whilton Marina.

Choosing a collection box to stand the test of time

THE Canal & River Trust has challenged some of the brightest design students in the country to come up with iconic designs for a collection box that will hold its own in the 21st century.

Now three shortlisted designs are being put through their paces this summer at the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire.

Visitors to the scheduled monument, known as the Cathedral of the Canals, will decide the winner by virtue of the one which raises the most money.

In May, the trust challenged product design students at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design to create a collection box that was fit for the 21st century while capturing more than 200 years of social history that was fuelled by innovation, industry and the colourful characters who lived and worked on and alongside the canals.

The three strongest designs, chosen by a panel of judges, were developed as prototypes and are now in place at the Anderton Boat Lift. The collection box that raises the most money will be taken into production by the trust and used by its fundraisers across England & Wales.

The shortlisted boxes are a ‘quacking’ design (literally) by Joshua Keogh; one crowned with waterway-inspired knots

by Joseph Ewusie and a moving water wheel created by Saffie Pluck.

Ruth Ruderham, head of fundraising at Canal & River Trust, said: “It is important that the final collection box stands the test of time and appeals to the parents and grandparents of the future, as well as the child on the towpath today.”

Jane Penty, product design stage leader at Central St Martins, added: “Each of the three designs selected

The three shortlisted designs.

PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

engages users through a different aspect of this history and it is a great learning opportunity to test these ideas against the public’s real response. We are really looking forward to the results.”

Central Shires partnership launches its 10 year plan

by Harry Arnold

COMMUNITY groups, local authorities, schools, and local businesses have all been urged to play their part in ensuring a bright future for the Midlands historic canals and rivers after an influential group of volunteers unveiled their 10 year plan for the waterways at a recent public meeting.

This first annual meeting was hosted by the Canal & River Trust’s Central Shires Waterways Partnership, a group of leading figures working together for the benefit of the people and businesses that use and enjoy the region’s canal network.

The partnership introduced the first draft of its 10 year strategy aimed at protecting the waterways for future generations, getting more people actively involved and using the region’s canals and rivers as a means of improving the quality of life in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and North Warwickshire.

In particular the plan looks at how waterways of these

Members of the CRT Central Shires Waterways Partnership – including canoeing representatives launch their 10 year plan at Barton Marina. PHOTO:WATERWAY IMAGES

Midlands counties can contribute to all areas of day-to-day life from attracting jobs and tourism to promoting healthy lifestyles, helping people develop skills and encouraging people to feel good about where they live.

The meeting, held on September 4 at The Waterfront at Barton Marina near Burton, was attended by people from a wide range of organisations and covering a number of interest groups including local authorities, angling clubs, canoeing groups, canal restoration trusts and of course boaters. Among the guests were the mayors of Tamworth, East Staffordshire and North Warwickshire as well as Ian Dudson, the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire and the new Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry.

Great challenges

Charlotte Atkins, chairman of the Central Shires Waterways Partnership said: “Our waterways were once the lifeblood of the region, connecting the Midlands industries with the rest of the country and ports and harbours across the world. They were the reason that entire settlements sprang up and so very strongly shaped the way our region looks today.

“We believe that it’s now time to put the waterways back at the heart of our communities and use them as a means of tackling some of the great challenges that our region faces. The waterways have huge potential to boost the local economy and to help people lead healthier lifestyles, to gain new skills and simply just to feel a sense of pride in where they live.

“This is where our 10 year plan comes in and we’re really keen now to hear what local people think of our ideas and to give their thoughts on how they would like to see the region’s canals and rivers improved and enhanced. It’s a great opportunity for people to make a difference and I encourage them to get in touch.” ● The 10 year plan for the CRT Central Shires waterways can be found at www.canalriver trust.org.uk /noticeboards/central-shires-waterways People are encouraged to give their views by emailing enquiries.centralshires@ canalrivertrust.org.uk before October 31, 2013.

IN BRIEF Otter refuge

THE Environment Agency has installed eight specially designed landing points for otters along an 800m section of the River Welland in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Last summer an otter cub was seen struggling to hang onto a chain link fence in a bid to get out of the channel, which is sheet-piled on both sides.

The refuge platforms are made up of 1m sq plastic pontoons which can be filled with ballast to determine how high or low they sit in the water.

These have been fixed to the piles to allow otters to climb out of the water to rest.

Christine Potter

THE death occurred recently of long standing Birmingham Canal Navigations Society member and social secretary Christine Potter.

Well known to many on the waterways, she was a founder member of the Goldsbrough Boat Owners Club and served as its secretary until ill health forced her to retire.

A thanksgiving service for Christine’s life was due to take place on September 20 at St John’s Church, Harborne, Birmingham.

Nelson’s Wharf

WILLOW Wren Training has been granted planning permission to reinstate Nelson’s Wharf on the site of the derelict cement works on the Grand Union Canal at Stockton, Warwickshire. The approval includes offside bank reinstatement, restoring the initial part of the derelict canal arm, provision of mooring for the training fleet of narrowboats and the building of a new training centre.

Work will start as soon as possible and it is hoped to be operational by spring 2014 when the business will relocate from Rugby Wharf.

Canal documentary

CELEBRITY canal supporters actor Timothy West, his wife Prunella Scales and son Sam West have been in the Calder Valley for a Channel 4 TV documentary about the Rochdale Canal.

Locals who took part in the filming included Todmorden Angling Society secretary Ray Barber, members of Hebden Bridge Little Theatre’s cast for its forthcoming play Kindertransport and Tony Pollard and his team at Grandma Pollard’s fish and chip shop, Walsden.

The programme is due to be screened on Channel 4 or More 4 next spring.

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On the water at Trinity Marina

By Harry Arnold

Children’s book writer Janet Roberts with Chico Chugg the cheeky Jack Russell. See review on P61.

PHOTOS:WATERWAY IMAGES

A ONE-DAY ‘On The Water’ event – hosted by Trinity Marinas, Power Train Projects and British Marine Federation (BMF) Midlands – brought a considerable number of visiting public to the marina on the Ashby Canal in Hinckley on August 10.

Trips on the canal, with an opportunity to actually steer a narrowboat with Ray Bowern of Canal Transport and canal artist Dusty Miller, proved extremely popular with all ages; as did paddling in canoes both large and small with the younger participants.

A fairground also kept the children happy and a wide range of stalls, including a farmers’ market, gave visitors the chance to buy goodies like cakes and biscuits or to participate in craft sessions, or tombola. An unusual charity fundraiser was to guess the number of balloons crammed into the cab of a huge new John Deere tractor.

Also on show afloat were two unusual businesses. ‘Bakin Butty’ is a new venture by baker Carl Heer who has fitted out a narrowboat as a bakery and is running outings from the marina during which the passengers will be

Carl Heer aboard his narrowboat fitted out as a bakery. taught how to make bread and cakes; including what is described as their own luxury lunch.

Janet and Mike Roberts live on a narrowboat from which they publish children’s books – written by Janet – featuring the adventures of Jack Russell terrier ‘Chico Chugg’ their canine crew member. Chico was there to meet his fans and promote his latest adventures (see review on P61).

Trinity Marina had a full range of its services on show, including the Power Train range of marine

engines and boats for sale. BMF backed up the event with displays and literature on all aspects of the marine industry.

In complete contrast to the peaceful pace of the waterways, for the petrolheads, there was a display of hot cars including GT Caterhams, Lotus and MGs. The sun shone and there was a good atmosphere which surely sold the idea of going boating to many visitors.

Alvecote gathering attracts more historic boats

By Harry Arnold

TOPPING last year’s total by six, no less than 59 historic narrowboats – out of a grand total of 90 visiting craft – packed out the available marina spaces and the banks of the Coventry Canal over the

August Bank Holiday weekend for the 2013 Alvecote Historic Boat Gathering.

The popularity of this 2013 gathering – the third in the annual series – has securely confirmed its place in the calendar of regular events supported by historic narrowboat owners and crews.

Notable among this year’s visitors were the well-known faces of veteran enthusiasts who had previously owned some of the boats – in fact originally bought them out of carrying fleets: real confirmation that the Alvecote gathering is something worth going to.

Boats, crews and visitors below the Samuel Barlow pub.

Historic narrowboats gathered at Alvecote for the 2013 Heritage Boat event. PHOTOS:WATERWAY IMAGES

Steam engines and samosa’s at Slough festival THE weekend of September 7-8 saw the unusual sight of 14 boats navigating the Slough Arm to attend this year’s festival, including three trip boats.

Waterside fishing experts were also at hand to give novices a guide to their sport.

The marquee was full of interesting stalls which included delicious jams and fudge to handmade greetings cards, wood carving and turning which gave a wonderful aroma as you entered the tent.

Outside at the arena, birds of prey delighted the audience, miniature traction engines gave rides and the IWA was there to guide anybody who wanted to know more about the cut.

The Friends of Slough Canal were busy tempting onlookers with hot samosas while hoping to improve membership.

Along with the boats the focus was again on music, the Samuel Barlow pub being the ideal venue; not forgetting its continuous supply of food, from breakfasts onward, and decent beer. No less than nine bands entertained boaters and visitors throughout the weekend. I don’t think it is being sexist to say that possibly the most attractive and interesting was a ladies’ barber shop singing group, Barbarama.

Winner of the major trophy for the best turned out historic boat – Les Lapworth Award – was Michael Pinnock on Emu. This is voted for by anyone

attending the event; visitors getting one vote and crews of historic craft having two votes per boat. Alice, the widow of Les, presented the award.

Michael and Emu also won the winding (turning) competition – previously a succession of ad hoc manoeuvres which was formalised this year – during which some competitors created what might be described as dangerous hilarity. The prize for Saturday evening’s illuminated boat parade – free docking and hull blacking – was won by one of the non-trad entrants Dream Catcher.

Stover Canal Society open weekend THE weekend of August 17-18 saw the Stover Canal Society hold a very successful and well attended open weekend. The society was joined by stalls from several organisations such as the RSPB, The Ball Clay Heritage Society and the Devon Wildlife Trust.

Since a similar event two years ago, the society has been extremely busy constructing bridges and improving towpaths which are now incorporated as part of the Templer Way between the popular long-distance footpath from Haytor on Dartmoor and the port of Teignmouth.

In order to continue the progress made by the society, long-standing volunteer John Steer spoke of the need for willing volunteers to come along to the regular working parties that put so much essential manual labour into the canal’s restoration. ● Further details of the society’s activities can be found on www.stovercanal.co.uk or from secretary Di Smurthwaite on 01626 368858.

The Stover Canal Society stand attracts visitors during the recent open weekend. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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Boaters flock to Fairport’s Cropredy Convention

By Polly Player

LAUDED as ‘Europe’s friendliest music festival’, Fairport’s 37th annual Cropredy Convention took place between Thursday and Saturday, August 8-10.

Cropredy village played host to around 20,000 music fans, including a large number of boating festivalgoers.

Around 100 boats moored along the South Oxford Canal near to the village, including several trading boats that enjoyed a brisk passing trade over the course of the festival.

Alice Cooper headlined on the opening night in his only UK gig of 2013, with a dramatic stage show that set the bar for the remaining acts over the coming days.

Friday’s entertainment included the Levellers and 10cc, with Saturday being the most heavily attended day, and the only date for which one-day passes were available. After an incredibly well received set on the final afternoon by the Peatbog Faeries, Nik Kershaw took the stage in the early evening, before a last-minute guest appearance by comedian Jasper Carrott. Fairport Convention themselves (and friends) topped off the evening, bidding their guests goodnight at around midnight.

As well as the ticketed festival itself, Cropredy village ran a fringe event, including live music at the village’s two pubs. Acid-folk group Leatherat gave a

Sue Cotton and her trading vessel The Herb Boat, which did a brisk trade over the course of the convention. PHOTO: POLLY PLAYER highly anticipated performance at The Brasenose Arms on the Saturday afternoon, filling the pub and grounds to capacity and at least partially contributing to both the Brasenose Arms itself and the nearby Red Lion completely selling out of beer by 10pm!

Sadly, the conclusion of the festival weekend was somewhat marred by the discovery of a man’s body in the canal near to Slat Mill Bridge on Monday, August 12, with police treating the death of the currently unnamed man as ‘unexplained but not suspicious’.

See page 11 or call 01507

529529 for details

Historic vessels make for a colourful spectacle at Audlem transport festival

By Sue Cawson

EVERY year Audlem village on the Shropshire Union Canal has a transport festival, which now also has a historic canal boat section.

Organised by the owners of Audlem Mill shop, the Historic Boat Festival is becoming one of the most popular of this type of event, this year hosting 38 traditional narrowboats over the weekend of July 27-28.

The boats stretched from the road bridge and along what the boatmen called the ‘town pound’ and on down to the bottom lock.

There was a large variety of different classes of historic craft including three ex-Clayton’s tar boats Towy, Spey and Gifford, the latter owned and run by the Boat Museum Society. A regular visitor to the event is Saturn – the last remaining fly-boat – operated by the Shropshire Union Fly Boat Restoration Society and worked in partnership with the Canal & River Trust (CRT).

Many of the boats there were in full working trim, looking spectacular with brasses gleaming and demonstrating a wide variety of liveries from Fellows Morton and Clayton, GUCCCo, Cowburn and Cowpar to name a few original companies.

Just room to pass opposite the Shroppie Fly pub and the Mill.

PHOTO: BOB JERVIS

The whole event is very informal; turn up, tie up and enjoy the weekend.

The towpath was well trodden with visitors examining the boats and learning about the different vessels’ trading histories.

Everyone was fascinated by Jim McDonald’s Elizabeth, a very early narrowboat that was converted to a pleasure craft in 1936 and is more yacht-like than narrowboat in style.

Boat crews enjoyed it so much that there are already entrants booked in for next year’s event. A big thank you must go to the CRT volunteer team who manned the locks. With so many boats attending it could have caused mayhem for the passing boats, but all went smoothly.

newvenue is outstanding success foralrewas canal event

By Harry Arnold

Canoes and moored boats alongside the Alrewas Canal Festival. PHOTO:WATERWAY IMAGES

THIS year’s Alrewas Canal Festival – held over the weekend of July 26-28 – took place on a new site, the small towpathside field adjacent to Bagnall Lock; convenient for both the canal and the village’s main street.

It was again largely a music event with bands, singers and other solo performers providing a range of entertainment every evening and on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Locally produced food and drink were the main attractions with ales from the award-winning Burton Bridge Brewery and local Woody’s ciders, a Packington Pork hog roast and barbecue and snacks organised by village groups.

Moored visiting boats lined the Trent & Mersey Canal right through the village and people were able to get on the water through canoe lessons from the Royal Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club.

Boats are the stars of fabulous day out at Dewsbury THE fifth annual Dewsbury Canal Festival was hailed a major success, writes Geoff Wood.

There was a good turnout of narrowboats along the Calder & Hebble Navigation.

The boats attracted a lot of attention.

But there was much more besides including crafts, fairground rides, live music, a bouncy castle and face painting. Free boat trips were also provided on the day by the Safe Anchor

Trust of Mirfield and the Calder Navigation Society.

Becca Dent, spokesman for the Canal & River Trust said: “It was a fabulous day and there were a lot of positive comments.”

Ex-FMC and Thomas Clayton boats moored below Audlem road bridge.

PHOTO:WATERWAY IMAGES

l Our contributor Harry Arnold, with his wife Beryl and dog Molly, had just arrived at Audlem to cover the festival, when Molly, on a lead, was set upon by two Staffordshire bull terriers. Beryl intervened and her hands were bitten. The immediate result was an ambulance trip and the rest of the day at Leighton Hospital. The long-term result is that the wounds have fortunately healed very quickly. Due to her long hair Molly was not injured, although somewhat traumatised.

All the Arnolds would like to thank everyone who immediately rushed to help, called the emergency services (even the police armed response unit arrived), administered first aid and did all the right things; particularly Peter, Danny the butcher and their friends on the boats.

Also subsequently for the card from the boaters and the many enquiries about Beryl and Molly they have had. Grateful thanks to everyone.

6 NEWS

IN BRIEF New member

CHERWELL district councillor Ken Atack has been appointed as a new member of the South East Waterway Partnership. He had a career of 40 years in the UK banking sector before retirement and is currently the council’s lead member for financial management. Ken has a keen interest in waterways and lives with his wife Sandra near Cropredy in a house once lived in and used to make ropes by George Eaves for use on the Oxford Canal in the 19th century.

Strategic partners

MARINA trade body the Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) has been recognised as a strategic partner by the World Association for Waterborne Transport, known as PIANC. Originally in the UK but not in 27 countries, TYHA has established global credibility for its work in supporting and developing the marina industry.

Its recently reviewed Code of Practice is recognised as a leading work for marina operators, ultimately ensuring that the boating consumer has a safe and comfortable experience when berthed in a marina.

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Operation Starburst on the canals of Manchester THE Manchester Branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), working in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, is planning another weekend canal clean up event in the Manchester area over the weekend of October 19-20, 2013.

It will follow on from last year’s event, which commemorated the 40th anniversary of ASHTAC. This year, the event is to be branded Operation Starburst, with a starburst effect created as volunteers work in five different locations based on a central meeting point.

Ian Price, chairman of IWA Manchester Branch said: “The name, Operation Starburst, was chosen to reflect the concept of working on different canals around a central meeting point, as well as continuing the theme from the even larger scale events that took place over 40 years ago. Operation Ashton took place in 1968, and this was followed by Ashton Attack (ASHTAC for short) in 1972 which saw 1000 people working on the canals in this area.

Those events contributed to the reopening of the Cheshire Ring in 1974.”

Steve O’Sullivan, volunteer co-ordinator for the Canal & River Trust said: “The meeting point will be Portland Basin at Dukinfield Junction, the junction of the Lower Peak Forest and

Moorings poll

IN OUR latest online poll we asked readers if they have had any problems finding overnight moorings. Two thirds of responders agreed they had. This month we are asking about your most recent visit to a canal or river. Join in at www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Some of the volunteers pulling rubbish out of the Lower Peak Forest Canal at last year’s event. PHOTO: ALISON SMEDLEY

the Ashton Canals, as this provides an ideal meeting point for volunteers, who will be ferried out from there to five different locations nearby. No work will need to be carried out in this area following the successful clean up last October by IWA and CRT volunteers, as well as dredging works being carried out this summer by CRT.” These days, while inland waterways are highly valued by communities for leisure and for wildlife, in some areas they are subjected to fly-tipping and vandalism. Waterway volunteers coordinated by IWA have become renowned for canal clean ups around the Birmingham Canal Navigation each year and elsewhere such as Milton Keynes. This Manchester annual event builds on this and gives volunteers a chance to take part in a canal clean up in the north of the country. The improvements, both to navigation and the overall appearance of the canal and towpath, will benefit all users of Manchester’s waterways.

The five proposed locations, where rubbish and debris will be pulled out of the canal and put into workboats, are: Hyde (on the Lower Peak Forest Canal), Stalybridge (on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal), Ashton Locks on the Ashton Canal, and Newton Heath and Failsworth on the Rochdale Canal. Volunteers are encouraged to go to Portland Basin first for signing in and a health and safety briefing, before being ferried in minibuses to one of the locations.

Work, which will involve pulling rubbish and debris out of the canal with grappling hooks, as well as litter picking for those who prefer a lighter task, will take place between 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 19-20. Volunteers are advised to wear stout footwear and bring waterproofs in case of rain. ● For volunteers from further afield wishing to make a weekend of it, basic accommodation will be available.

Further details are available from Alison Smedley, IWA branch campaign officer, by email alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk or phone 01538 385388/07779 090915.

Find out more about the Inland Waterways Association at www.waterways.org.uk People wanting to know more about volunteering with the Canal & River Trust can look on the internet at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

The new artwork on the old lock gates. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Artwork celebrates waterway’s historic past

A NEW piece of artwork by local young people has been unveiled at Savile Town Marina in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. The Canal & River Trust, with Artworks Creative Communities, have been working with the youths to get them involved with their local waterways.

Using rap as a means to explore creative writing, they created two pieces of poetry which been translated into metalwork panels which have been installed on to the old canal lock gates which are positioned at the marina entrance. The poetry reflects the area’s historical and present relationship with the Calder & Hebble Navigation running through the town.

Maidenhead ring scheme going places thanks to loan

By Elizabeth Rogers

AN AMBITIOUS scheme by Maidenhead Waterways to create a 2km ring in the town centre has been boosted with the news of a £1.6 million loan from the Government’s Growing Places fund.

The restoration group aims to have water flowing freely through two side channels of the River Thames, the York Stream, which has a shallow flow and is to be widened and deepened and the wider Moor Cut which is not presently in water.

It is part of the Maidenhead Area Action Plan, a major project for the town centre which includes the Chapel Arches area through which one of the

channels runs.

Planning permission for the restoration scheme was granted in late 2012 and an application for the first stage of a development that includes houses, flats, shops and other facilities was approved in August.

Developer funding will provide contributions towards the

An artist’s impression of the Chapel Arches area.

ARTWORKS: MAIDENHEAD WATERWAYS

restoration scheme and the eventual repayment of the Growing Places loan.

Now known as Maidenhead Waterways, the restoration group was formed about six years ago and its members put forward a scheme which they realised was ambitious. But it has now reached the stage where it has been able to place contracts for the detailed design and related issues, and has the prospect of a start on the first stage in 2014.

Richard Davenport, chairman of the trustees, said that the opening up of the streams would benefit the new developments by providing a waterside setting and acting as a catalyst for improvements in the town. It will bring into Maidenhead the riverside ambience which it currently lacks, and will bring opportunities for navigation and leisure activities.

● For more information visit Maidenhead Waterway’s website at www.maidenheadwaterways.org A video of the waterway route with a narrative and series of images explaining what is proposed can also be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRjTYxQDbec

RYA SPOTLIGHT 7

www.towpathtalk.co.uk The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and narrowboats and personal watercraft.

Your chance to have your say

Tony Roome, chairman of the RYA’s Inland Navigation Panel, urges boaters to make their views known.

WHAT a summer. While we move on into summer’s swan song, the Canal and River Trust (CRT) has announced that it is looking for ideas for improving fair access to moorings on the canal between Devizes and Bath to help it develop a 12-month pilot project.

Among other things, the trust is looking to agree local guidance between boaters and the CRT to improve understanding of, and adherence to, local mooring requirements and its policies for boating in the area.

We would strongly urge all local and visiting boaters to engage in this consultation. It’s your chance to get your views across and ensure that you are fairly represented in whatever decisions the trust makes going forward. The consultation started on Friday, August 30, and ends on Friday, November 29, 2013.

If you want to read more about the proposals and consultation then you can find all the relevant documentation at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Red diesel

The UK’s tussle with the European Union over red diesel continues with the Government announcing in July

IN BRIEF Thanks to kind boaters

MAUREEN and Terry Paris-Jones of nb On Golden Pond Again would like to thank all the kind boaters who came to their rescue on Sunday, August 18, when they were moored just outside Braunston. They told us: “Our little dog was attacked by two large dogs, without your help she would not have survived; also a big thank you to Owen the farmer who took her to the vet. We did not get to thank you at the time as we were both in a state of shock.” Special thanks also go to Kelly and Simon, new owners of The Barley Mow at Newbold-on-Avon for running them to vet’s etc. Mia is now fully recovered and has had all the stitches removed.

Major Trent dredging

THE Canal & River Trust is spending £1 million dredging sections along a 72km length of the River Trent between Holme Lock, south of Nottingham, and Marton near Gainsborough. It is the first major dredging campaign on the river for over 10 years and will see an estimated 25,000cu m of mud, silt and gravel dragged up from the river bed.

Chichester sea link?

Tony Roome looks at current issues affecting boaters. PHOTO: RYA that it intends to challenge the EU’s view that the UK should cease to supply red diesel to recreational boat users.

Those of you who live on board your boats and are dependent on diesel for heating and electricity generation will know that you are entitled to buy diesel at the reduced rate of duty for this purpose, in the same way that householders are.

A change to white diesel would mean that you would have to fit a

second fuel tank if you were to avoid having to pay the full rate of duty on domestic fuel usage. Even then, the availability of red diesel waterside on the inland waterways would be reduced significantly.

We don’t believe that this is acceptable and so we have worked constantly on your behalf to ensure a continued supply.

The Government has for several years supported leisure boating and

the industry that serves it over the continued availability of red diesel for use in private pleasure craft in the UK; and we are pleased that the Government has decided that it should challenge the European Commission.

We will continue to work with HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) and the BMF (British Marine Federation) on this issue and we await with interest the Commission’s response to the UK’s position.

CHICHESTER District Council was due to discuss plans to open Chichester Canal to navigation from the sea at its meeting on September 24 following a recommendation by the council’s cabinet. Coun Myles Cullen said he thought it would be a very attractive attribute for locals and for tourists.

Torfaen bid success THE Monmouthshire, Brecon and

Abergavenny Canals Trust has been successful in a bid for £64,000 from the Social Community Economic Fund for further restoration and development projects in the Torfaen area.

8 NETWORKING

SOCIETY NEWS Balsam bash

THE Swansea Canal Society was supported by members of IWA South Wales Branch on their recent Himalayan Balsam work party.

All the Himalayan Balsam along the towpath from Coed Gwilym Park to the Pontardawe playing fields (about half a mile) was pulled up on the Saturday, with more work being carried out on the Sunday.

Volunteers were able to use the Swansea Canal Society’s new rough terrain trolley, donated by Vale Inco Nickel Works.

Concrete call

THE Chesterfield Canal Trust is appealing to supporters to buy a cubic metre of concrete for £80 which, if gift aided, is worth £100 to the trust. It will be used in the construction of Staveley Town Lock where great progress has been made with the help of the Waterway Recovery Group. To buy, visit the shopping page at www.chesterfield-canaltrust.org.uk (Chesterfield Canal Trust e-newsletter No 54).

Passengers’ progress

THE Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust’s recently launched community boat John Bunyan has already made a big splash in Bedford and has carried its 1000th passenger. The 60 seater boat operates public cruises on the River Great Ouse to Kempston, Cardington and Great Barford and is helping to promote the trust’s long term plans to link the river to the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes.

Cotswold walk THE Cotswold Canals have been

chosen by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for the latest walk in its Discovering Britain series.

The walk entitled ‘Cloth, coal and canals’ was launched to coincide with Stroud Festival of Nature and the Stroud Walking Festival. The walk features Ebley Mill and the Cycle Trail which appeared as Cotswold Canals Walk four in the trust’s first volume of walks and has been updated to include historic detail and modern enterprise.

Good citizen

DROITWICH Waterways Trust volunteer Tom Pedlow has been named 2013 Good Citizen by the town’s Rotary Club. He was chosen for his contribution to the operation of the Droitwich Waterways Trust and its community boat Pamela May. Club president Roger Harris said Tom looked after the servicing and maintenance of the boat, his skills as a welder, plumber, electrician, carpenter, mechanic and maintenance manager all exhibiting a high level of professionalism.

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Help stop the vandals spoiling sculptures

by Bob Clarke

A CALL has gone out from Dudley Canal Trust for users – on boat, cycle or foot – to call the police on 101 or 999 if damage is actually being done – to combat vandalism on the Dudley No. 2 Canal running through Netherton.

The canal towpath has had a number of metal sculptures installed over a two mile stretch depicting various aspects of the area’s industrial heritage. The sculptures have been set in substantial concrete bases – but that hasn’t stopped local yobs from daubing paint on them.

One, which records the making of the Titanic’s anchor at Noah Hingley’s factory at Netherton, had the words “Who cares?” painted on it.

Happily volunteer members of Green Team, Dudley, who have a long standing partnership with the trust stepped in and cleared the graffiti. The group is made up of adults with learning difficulties and the trust general manager June Hodgetts said: “We are extremely grateful to them for helping us maintain the canals, towpaths and landmarks along the way.

Members of the Green Team cleaning graffiti from the Hingley sculpture.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

“They should be incredibly proud of the improvements they make for the benefit of all those wanting to enjoy the Dudley canals.”

The Green Team Dudley, run by support workers Wendy Bourne, Jane Mott and Neil Whitehouse, benefits its clients by involving them in healthy lifestyle activities and providing a valuable social circle for those accessing the service. It also helps the community by engaging in conservation projects for the good of Dudley town.

Sharp focus on Pennine waterway

by Geoff Wood

HUDDERSFIELD will be the venue for canal society representatives from both sides of the Pennines in October, with one trans-Pennine waterway being brought in sharp focus.

The annual meeting of the Northern Canal Association will be held in the town hosted by the Huddersfield Canal Society.

Chairman Alan Stopher said it would be an opportunity for them to show off the interest to enthusiasts of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal which

runs 20 miles from Ashton-under-Lyne to Huddersfield through the Standedge Tunnel.

The society supports the canal from its headquarters in a former woolbase – the canalside Transhipment Warehouse at Dobcross on the Greater Manchester side of the waterway. It publishes its own magazine and operates trip boat voyages for visitors.

Society members are immensely proud that the canal has been restored to full use after a huge restoration project supported by lottery funds and local authorities.

Dudbridge Locks restoration reveals Second World War relics FOLLOWING the dredging of Dudbridge Locks on the Stroudwater Navigation, a steel helmet, possibly once worn by an air raid warden, was recovered from the silt.

A second find was somewhat more sinister... a live hand grenade was discovered in the excavated material.

Bomb disposal experts from the Royal

Logistics Corps attended and disposed of the grenade by a controlled explosion on nearby open land.

Land & Water’s senior site manager Chris Spencer said: “We have been finding lots of bottles, probably from the Victoria Tap pub close to the locks. The hand grenade was certainly a bit different though!”

We’re hereto helpWithyour print needs Here at Towpath Talk, we know that many of our readers are active members of clubs and societies, perhaps even playing a role in the organisational side.

We know too, because many of us have been there ourselves, that getting a club journal, magazine, leaflet or poster produced and printed can be both costly and time consuming.

That is why we would like to introduce you to our parent company’s in-house print and mailing services, and to tell you that by working with us here at Mortons Media Group we think our contract print and mailing team can save you money.

Whether it’s a leaflet advertising an event you have planned, a calendar, a

● To find out what our enthusiastic and friendly staff can do for you, contact Lorraine Noble-Thompson at lnoble-thompson@mortons.co.uk, or call her direct line on 01507

Slough friends seek more volunteers AT THE August committee meeting of the Friends of Slough Canal, Professor Olivia Corcoran of the University of East London gave a presentation on her work and interests as related to Slough’s waterway.

Professor Corcoran lives locally and owns a narrowboat moored at High Line Yachting, Iver. Among the subjects covered in her talk were: aquatic biodiversity; industrial pollution and water quality monitoring; impediment of navigation by blanket weed; antisocial behaviour;

and the desirability of involving boating communities in both the maintenance of the canal and its promotion to potential new visitors.

Two new committee posts were suggested: schools officer and conservation officer. The friends are experiencing difficulty in maintaining their committee at its present level so volunteers for these posts would be very welcome. For information telephone the Friends on 07542 168444 or visit Facebook Group Friends of Slough Canal.

Three Choirs Festival week at Gloucester

Volunteers wanted for Foxton Locks Festival

VISITORS to the recent Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester looked to The Wharf House for plenty of hospitality.

The biggest international star was concert pianist turned conductor and director, Vladimir Ashkenazy, who chose to make The Wharf House his home during the festival and held several dinners, rather than defecting to Cheltenham.

Late night celebration dinners were also hosted for other leading composers, conductors and officials of the festival which is held once every three years in Gloucester.

Festival organisers were doing their bit to keep The Wharf House firmly on the map just outside Gloucester at Over’s canal basin, where all profits go towards the restoration of the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal.

HAVE you got what it takes to help organise and run the Foxton Locks Festival in 2014?

Following the highly successful event in June this year, Foxton Inclined Plane Trust is seeking volunteers. As well as people who can recruit and manage the entertainment side, those with a good working knowledge of electrics, particularly generatorpowered, are needed to run the music stages and lighting.

These volunteers will need to be well organised and prepared to attend planning meetings on a monthly basis and be available for the festival weekend in June or July.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting event and help to raise the profile of Foxton Locks and the Inclined Plane, then email festival@fipt.org.uk or telephone the museum on 0116 279 2657.

Tributes paid to canal scene artist

ONE of the most accomplished of Britain’s waterway artists for many decades, Harley Crossley died on August 23, aged 77, at the family home near Sherborne in Dorset, writes Peter Silvester.

Harley was born in Southampton, but was evacuated to, and brought up in, Yorkshire.

However, he returned to Southampton to finish his education and to work, which was in the docks area.

This is where his love of marine subjects originated, and Harley started to paint them. His prolific output over the years included watermills and windmills (an early interest), ships and dock scenes, landscapes, seascapes, busy street scenes, and canals and waterways.

Unusually, Harley Crossley used only palette knives for his painting in oils, using the ‘wet on wet’ technique, which accounts for his unique mastery of his medium. A regular at IWA ‘Nationals’ for very many years, it was a delight to see Harley create an amazing canal scene in a relatively short time.

Many years ago, Harley was one of the founders of the Guild of Waterway Artists. His paintings are to be found in private and public collections around the world.

Latterly, Harley did very few canal paintings, but concentrated on commissions of ship portraits from shipping lines, and on teaching painting on cruise ships around the world, always accompanied by wife Barbara who taught needlework crafts.

In 2010, Harley was commissioned by Cunard to paint its new ship Queen Elizabeth. He was also commissioned in the same year to do a painting of the Hebridean Princess for presentation to the

newsletter or a glossy brochure, our digital press and experienced staff can take on jobs of all kinds, big or small, and help you to both produce and deliver your printed communications.

And they won’t charge you the earth to do it, either.

At Towpath Talk, we are heavily invested in promoting and maintaining interest in the inland waterways and we know just how vital it is to support the clubs, societies and groups who do such fantastic work to encourage our unique passion at grass roots level.

Harley Crossley (inset) and his painting of Audlem Wharf. PHOTOS SUPPLIED Queen when she chartered the ship for her annual family holiday.

It was only a few months ago, shortly before he fell ill, that Harley and Barbara stayed with us at Audlem Mill by the Shropshire Union Canal for the last time. On another visit a year or so earlier, they had presented us with a wonderful painting of our canal boat. We were friends for many years, and know that the canal world will be a lot less colourful without Harley’s painting, but his work will live on.

Not too long ago, a book was published: From Ocean Liner to Cruise Ship – The Marine Art of Harley Crossley.

Needlewoman who taught both youngsters and boaters THE funeral took place recently at Kislingbury Parish Church, Northamptonshire, of Brenda Walker, who retired from a lifelong teaching career to become known to Grand Union canal boaters as ‘the craft lady’, writes Tom Price.

Brenda, who had been deputy head of Kislingbury primary school, set up the Anchor Cottage Crafts shop at Buckby Wharf and continued to teach the needlework crafts she loved as well as selling souvenirs and ice creams to passing narrowboaters.

Soon after launching the shop she became foundersecretary of Whilton and Buckby Locks Association, which was formed during the recession some 25 years ago to attract tourists to support local businesses. For 10 years she played a major role in helping it to develop into an open association with members including

The ‘craft lady’ Brenda Walker. PHOTO SUPPLIED residents of the local area as well as boaters from many parts of Britain.

Born in Macclesfield, she taught at several schools, including Duston, before taking up her final teaching post at Kislingbury.

Brenda continued to be keenly associated with local arts and crafts activity up to her sudden death in August, aged 83, at her home in Brackley. She leaves three sons.

NETWORKING 9

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Training with the gentle touch Geoff Wood meets the female skipper who believes both halves of a boating couple should be able to operate the boat and the locks for safety’s sake.

NARROWBOAT operators often move their boats along in a gentle way as befits a gentle pastime. But there are a few that race along like Mr Toad, producing bow waves which wear away the banks and damage the wildlife.

These characters are in the minority. But careful and not so careful could learn a thing or two from Lee Davies, one of the few women skippers trained to a high standard to instruct others.

Lee, who is based in Wigan but whose business Findaskipper operates throughout Britain, was originally a nurse. Even though with Lee there is a gentle hand at the tiller, she likes things shipshape and she is not likely to stand any messing from her charges.

Her operating ground during the summer months is the fertile Lancashire plain north of Ormskirk. Rich soil seems to produce garden centres with the profusion that many areas have of pubs. But it is also very convenient for the Leeds & Liverpool Canal where Lee can instruct and keep in touch with the world of waterways.

In the genes

Lee is now in her fifties and is very experienced as a skipper and trainer. But her boating line goes a long way back. There is obviously something in the genes as Lee’s grandma’s brother sailed coal boats on the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

Lee herself became hooked when she went to a boat rally at Apley, Wigan and got chatting to people on the boats there.

The enthusiasm grew and soon Lee was saving hard for her own narrowboat while working as a nurse.

She said: “I was really careful with my money because my aim was to get my own boat and sail her.”

Lee was successful and managed to scrape together

enough money for a 30ft Springer. Sometime later she had an extension fitted which increased the length by another 15ft. And sail she certainly did, taking the little boat on the Leeds & Liverpool, the Trent & Mersey, the Shropshire Union and many other waterways.

Lee enjoyed those times while she was boating and still working part of the time as a spinal injury nurse. She met many people and these included a man who operated a trip boat who explained how he had studied and obtained the licence required for the work.

Lee followed in his footsteps and since 1989 has been a professional boater able to skipper boats with an excess of 12 passengers.

She said: “I had been bitten by the bug. You either like or don’t like the boats. I love the boats.”

Community boats

Lee took to the life as an official skipper like a duck takes to water and with the enthusiasm she first had for life aboard narrowboats.

And with her newfound qualification she set sail in a trip boat at Milton Keynes, later another on the Shropshire Union and later skippering boats in the Chester area. In addition she was worked on the Aire & Calder and the South Yorkshire Navigation, again sailing passenger-carrying boats.

Sometimes Lee returned to full-time work ashore but the magnetism of the canals always drew her back.

All the way Lee was gaining valuable experience and notching up an impressive list of qualifications which took her forward not only as a skipper but also as a trainer.

In these recessionary times, many of the community boats that Lee used to sail have stopped operating and moored up awaiting better days.

But Lee has never wavered with her love of the waterways, even when the going has got harder. She said: “Life on the canals is quiet and it is peaceful. It beats driving down the motorway at 70mph. It is a complete wind down and it is quite different from anything else.”

With the boat training comes much more of a concentration of skills, and Lee firmly believes that a little instruction on taking the bends and dealing with locks can greatly add to her customers’ enjoyment of the voyage. And she says a short course is not expensive for boaters.

IN BRIEF Waterways history

THE eighth Waterways History Conference will take place at the Arts Block of the University of Birmingham on Saturday, October 26.

Subjects include English Canals and the Scottish Connection; Charles Wye Williams and the Anglo-Irish trade; John Hore, man of mystery; Thomas Eyton and the Shropshire and Shrewsbury Canals; Bull and Bough and the Smethwick Summit; The British Canal Shareholders Database Project and Waterways History Research: Progress, Prospects and Limits. Cost is £19 including coffee and lunch, registration from 10am.

For a booking form/programme contact Christopher Dick on 01865 726017, email cpdick@o2.co.uk

Portas boost Skipper and trainer Lee Davies at the helm beside the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Lancashire.

PHOTO: GEOFF WOOD

There is also a safety angle and Lee quotes an example where a man who was the only one who had learned to steer the boat suddenly had a stroke even though he was only 38. His wife had only operated the locks and had no idea how to move the boat so they had to get help. Luckily some other boaters came to the rescue and helped get the victim hospital treatment in good time.

But Lee argues that with a little instruction and both man and wife fully trained in operating both the locks and boats, there would have been much less scope for what could have been a disaster.

Lee’s philosophy as a trainer and skipper will remain sailing with the gentle touch. And she is currently the only female senior trainer with the National Community Boats Association. ● For further information contact Findaskipper on mobile 0758 205 0773 or email: boatmaster.lee89@yahoo.com

THE Bedford Town Team of volunteers has used part of its Government-awarded cash to encourage visitors to Bedford to get on board community boat John Bunyan. Local businesses have been given free family tickets entitling two adults and two children aboard the river trip to encourage customers into their premises. The chairman of Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Graham Mabbutt, said his organisation was delighted with the support of the Bedford Portas team.

A big thumbs up

HOLIDAYMAKERS have given the Broads a big thumbs up on the traveller review website TripAdvisor.

The area, which has National Park status, has won a Certificate of Excellence which is awarded to attractions that rank in the top 10% worldwide for traveller feedback. NWT Hickling Broad, Broads Tours River Trips, Fineway Leisure and Wroxham Barns also received top ratings.

10 VOLUNTEERING

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WORK PARTY ROUNDUP WITH IWA’S ALISON SMEDLEY

Work parties in the Churnet Valley IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch’s last two of their four Himalayan Balsam work parties on the Caldon Canal in the Churnet Valley took place during the first half of August. These work parties were organised by IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and supported by Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust and Canal & River Trust.

On Thursday, August 1, volunteers met at Basford Bridge, Cheddleton, to work upstream towards Cheddleton Locks. The volunteers were pleased to discover that there was considerably less Himalayan Balsam along this stretch after last year’s efforts.

After lunch the volunteers worked in the other direction, pulling up all the Himalayan Balsam between Basford Bridge and the new visitor moorings (recently installed by the Canal & River

Trust), leaving this stretch of canal relatively clear of the plant.

On August 11, volunteers met at Consall Forge on the river section of the Caldon Canal and worked upstream towards Oakmeadowford Lock. This was the third year of pulling up Himalayan Balsam along this stretch and it was encouraging to note how little there was along the sections that had been tackled previously.

CRT’s aluminium trailable boat was brought along to both sessions by volunteer leader Stuart Collins, and this provided an invaluable aid to getting at the plants that were growing out of the water’s edge. Much Himalayan Balsam remains on the offside along the river section and plans for using a larger work boat are being considered for next year.

A feature of all four of the work

FORTHCOMINGWORK PARTY EVENTS Sunday, October 6

IWA Warwickshire Branch: Hatton Locks, 10am-3pm. Work will include strimming and cutting back vegetation on the offside. Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes and stout shoes. Meet at 10am at the CRT maintenance yard, Hatton Locks, Birmingham Road, Warwick CV35 7JL. Non-members are welcome. For further information or to let us know that you would like to come along, please email info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk

Saturday/Sunday, October 12-13

Volunteers on the Caldon Canal pull up Himalayan Balsam with steam trains passing by. PHOTO:ALISON SMEDLEY parties pulling up Himalayan Balsam in the Churnet Valley this year has been the wide age range, with youngsters attending all four sessions. The age range over the four sessions went from six to 70 plus.

Pulling together at Beeston Lock

Tackling the menace of Himalayan Balsam

THE Beeston Cut in Nottingham was identified last year as having a lot of Himalayan Balsam on the flood bank on the offside of the canal. Discussions took place to see whether volunteers could do something about it, but it was concluded that the bank was too steep and that the only practical way of dealing with it would be for it to be sprayed with weed killer.

The Canal & River Trust, the

THIS summer, well over 100 volunteers from The Inland Waterways Association took part in 14 Himalayan Balsam work parties on 12 different sites on 10 different waterways (Swansea Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal, Caldon Canal, Pocklington Canal, River Trent, Lancaster Canal, Grand Union Canal, Calder & Hebble Navigation) across eight different counties. On this page are reports from of a few that took place during August.

Some of the 12ft high Himalayan Balsam tackled by the Beeston work party. PHOTO:ALISON SMEDLEY

Environment Agency and Broxtowe Borough Council agreed to share the costs and this year the Himalayan Balsam growing on the bank has been sprayed, following a check that morning for nesting birds carried out

by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

As part of the arrangement, a work party jointly organised between CRT and IWA Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch was then put together at fairly short notice to pull up some of the Himalayan Balsam growing in the surrounding area, particularly along the banks of the River Trent in the vicinity of Beeston Lock.

So on Thursday, August 8, a group of volunteers met at Beeston Lock and spent the day pulling up some of the tallest Himalayan Balsam that the volunteers (some of whom have pulled up Himalayan Balsam in other parts of the country over previous years) had ever seen. Most of the plants stood at over 12ft in height and huge piles of pulled-up Balsam were left to rot down at the end of the day.

Volunteers included longstanding IWA members, CRT volunteers, an undergraduate student writing a dissertation about invasive plants and volunteers from the nearby Canalside Heritage Centre project who had originally contacted IWA about the problem last year.

Good turnout at Lune Aqueduct bash IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch had an impressive turnout on Saturday, August 3, for its Himalayan Balsam work party at Lune Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal.

In total 16 volunteers attended the event to help clear the area of the invasive plant. It was good to see that two of the volunteers had been

encouraged to attend the event through posters displayed on the towpath.

Working from 10am to 3.30pm the volunteers cleared the area despite difficult terrain and awkward brambles. The group is now interested in carrying on the work next year over a number of weekends in order to tackle a larger area.

Bollard found beneath the undergrowth IWA Northampton Branch held a work party on August 18 at Lock 17 on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal.

Earlier this year, the branch adopted the 4¾ mile long Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal as part of Canal & River Trust’s adoption scheme and this is believed to be the largest canal adoption in the country.

The work carried out included strimming and general vegetation clearance, and the landing below the lock was lengthened revealing a bollard, long buried under three foot high undergrowth. Boats up to 70ft in length are now able to land crew easily (rather than just the 40ft previously). Shrubs and trees adjoining the lock landing were cut back to create an improved margin depth along the length of the landing and improve access to the lock.

Floating debris and weed was also removed above the lock; and litter picking, edging and weed clearance were undertaken. It was good to see the paintwork completed at the first task party at the lock a month earlier still looking bright and shiny.

IWA Oxford work party volunteers find Orange balsam A SUCCESSFUL work party was held by IWA Oxfordshire Branch on Sunday, September 1, when 20 people gathered at the Oxford Canal’s Hythe Bridge Arm for a day’s volunteering.

After a health and safety induction, work commenced in the ‘pocket park’ at the end of the arm adjacent to Hythe Bridge Street, including litter picking, vegetation clearance, pulling rubbish out of the canal and painting the balance beams of the ‘capstan’ sculpture.

Other volunteers litter picked and cleared some overhanging vegetation along the towpath of the arm.

Meanwhile, at Isis Lock, more volunteers painted the railings near the lock and others were weeding and clearing the lockside of litter and leaf debris.

Despite concerns in the planning for the event over where volunteers were going to park, in the end it wasn’t a problem with all the volunteers opting to arrive either on foot, by boat, train, bicycle, motorcycle or on the park-and-ride bus.

Orange balsam, not as vigorous as the Himalayan variety but still an invasive plant that crowds out native plants, was removed from the end of the arm.

Worcester Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society supported by IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch: Monthly work party weekend at Tardebigge Lime Kilns, 10am-3pm each day. Meet at the Canal & River Trust depot at Tardebigge, Worcester & Birmingham Canal (New Wharf, Alcester Road, Tardebigge, Bromsgrove B60 1NF). Contact Bill Lambert w.lambert@ntlworld.com

Sunday, October 13

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust: Monthly work party on the Caldon Canal, 10am-3pm. Towpath improvements at Denford on the Caldon Canal. Meet outside the Holly Bush pub, Denford Road, Denford, near Leek, Staffordshire ST13 7JT. Please wear stout shoes and old clothes and bring waterproofs and a packed lunch if staying all day. Contact Bob Luscombe on 07710 054848 or email bob.luscombe@waterways.org.uk IWA Northampton Branch: Monthly work party on the Northampton Arm. Meet at Lock 17, Far Cotton, Northampton. Contact david1.higgins1@btinternet.com

Tuesday, October 15

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society: Monthly work party on the Cheshire Locks, Trent & Mersey Canal, 10am4pm. Painting and vegetation clearance, location to be confirmed. Please wear stout shoes and old clothes and bring waterproofs and a packed lunch if staying all day.

Contact Bob Luscombe on 07710 054848 or email bob.luscombe@waterways.org.uk

Thursday, October 17

IWA Warwickshire Branch: Lapworth, 10am to approx 3pm. Tasks include lock painting, litter picking, veg clearance and path work. Meet at Kingswood Lock, Lapworth, Solihull B94 5RB. Contact Brian Bayston by phoning 01926 831508 or emailing info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk

Friday, October 18

IWA Lichfield Branch: Rugeley, 9.30am-12.30pm, tea/coffee/biscuits/cake provided. Mowing/strimming training and practice. If arrangements in place, then we will start to build up the canal wall at the far end from the aqueduct using lime mortar and reclaimed bricks. Levelling of area. Litter picking. Meet at the bottom of the steps by the aqueduct, accessed along the renovated footpath between Albany Drive and the pumping station, off Wolseley Road, Rugeley WS15 2HP. Contact Margaret Beardsmore on 07581 794111 or email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk

Friday-Sunday, October 18-20

IWA Milton Keynes Branch: Bi-annual canal cleanup though Milton Keynes from Fenny Stratford to Wolverton. Contact David King davidjsking@talktalk.net

Saturday, October 19

IWA Warwickshire Branch supporting Canal & River Trust Towpath Taskforce: Lapworth, 10am-4pm. Tasks include lock painting, litter picking, veg clearance and path work. Meet at Kingswood Lock, Lapworth, Solihull B94 5RB. Contact Brian Bayston by phoning 01926 831508 or emailing info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk

Saturday/Sunday, October 19-20

IWA Manchester Branch – Operation Starburst: 10am-4pm each day. Work will involve pulling rubbish out of the canal and litter picking, with volunteers working in five different locations based on a central meeting point of Portland Basin, Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 0QA. Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes, stout footwear and bring waterproofs in case of rain. All tools will be provided. Overnight accommodation available for those travelling from a distance can be booked via the Waterway Recovery Group website. Contact Alison Smedley, IWA Branch Campaign Officer, on 07779 090915 or email alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk

Sunday, October 20

IWA Warwickshire Branch: Canal cleanup, Warwick, 10am-1pm. Work will include removing rubbish from the canal, litter picking, vegetation clearance and removing graffiti from bridges, so volunteers are advised to wear old clothes and stout shoes.

Meet at the Tesco moorings by Emscote Road Bridge (Br 46) where the CRT will provide grappling hooks, litter picking tools and black bags. For further information or to let us know that you are planning on coming along, contact Brian Bayston 01926 831508 or email info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk

Saturday, October 26

IWA Manchester Branch supporting Canal & River Trust Towpath Taskforce: Monthly work party, location varies in the Greater Manchester area, 10am-4pm.

Tasks include painting, vegetation clearance, pulling rubbish out of the canal and litter picking. Contact Ian Price chairman@manchester-iwa.co.uk or phone 07971 444258.

Sunday, October 27

IWA Oxfordshire Branch volunteers working at Isis Lock.

PHOTO:ALISON SMEDLEY

Included in the rubbish that was pulled out of the end of the arm (mostly rotting vegetation and litter) was a bicycle in full working order as one of the party then demonstrated by riding it around the grassy area. At the end of the day the bicycle was taken a safe distance away from the canal (to avoid it being thrown back in) for someone to hopefully ‘adopt’ and give a new home to.

IWA South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch: Canal cleanup at Tinsley, Sheffield, 10am to 1pm. All volunteers advised to wear suitable footwear and have waterproofs with them. Gloves, litter pickers and bags are provided by the CRT. Meet at Tinsley Marina. Work party will be followed by pie and peas for those who order in advance. Details from Mavis Paul, 07725 464611, email mavis.paul@waterways.org.uk IWA Lichfield Branch: St Augustine’s Field, Rugeley, 9.30am for coffee, 10am12.30pm, tea/coffee/biscuits/cake provided. Clearing of ground scrub, note we are not removing trees and will be careful of hedgehogs and any other wildlife. Meet at the Rugby Club House, Rugeley. Contact Margaret Beardsmore on 07581 794111 or email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk For further information on any of these events, please contact Alison Smedley, IWA Branch Campaign Officer, Telephone: 01538 385388/07779 090915 or email alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk or Stefanie Preston, IWA Branch Campaign Assistant, Telephone 01494 783453 or email stefanie.preston@waterways.org.uk Information can also be found on IWA’s website: www.waterways.org.uk

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11

12 HERITAGE

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The spectres of Shardlow As Hallowe’en draws near, Les Heath visits a popular canal destination with a ghostly past.

HUNDREDS of boats travel through Shardlow on the Trent & Mersey Canal every year.

Well known as one of the country’s finest examples of an inland port its preserved warehouses, associated buildings and a plethora of hostelries are just a few of the reasons why many choose it for an overnight stop. But few realise that there is a sombre and somewhat sinister background to this attractive facade.

Once a bustling transhipment complex with a wide range of businesses to support the carriers it is hardly surprising that energies from this past era linger on in some of the original 18th century buildings.

One such building is the canalside Malt Shovel inn, built in 1799 when the canal opened. The inn, which had its own brewery, is said to be haunted by several spirits. One story involves a onelegged pedlar who was caught sleeping on the premises by an irate landlord who clubbed the poor fellow to death.

This incident is said to have taken place in part of the building which later became a bottle store and is now part of the pub where boaters relax with a pint.

While it was a bottle store one landlord went to investigate noises down there, thinking it was a member of staff. He found nothing and none of his staff had been anywhere near.

A local man, George Gilbert, who was born in 1817, appears to indicate that the pub was haunted even in his childhood.

“I never heard of anyone who had seen it,” he wrote in his memoirs. “But all kinds of unearthly noises were heard in the lonely hours of the night and whenever I had to pass it I used to whistle as loudly as I could and my hair must have very often stood on end for I could feel it lift my cap on my head, the creeping sensation I cannot even now forget.”

He also tells of the ghost of a horseman with his head underneath his arm on a lane outside the village and of a Cavalier who died in a nearby Civil War skirmish

The Lady in Grey – a former restaurant where the presence of a girl’s ghost was ‘felt’.

Workmen feared to enter the ‘creepy’ Clock Warehouse.

– a story which is well documented. In an outbuilding at Shardlow’s historic boatyard a strong smell of fresh tobacco smoke can still be detected regularly, even though no-one has been inside.

In a village that once had 13 pubs and three breweries it was inevitable that there were several victims of drink when the port was at its peak. For one man, however, ending his days in the canal came too soon and he is said to be seen at night walking along the canal bank close to the spot where he fell in.

Grey lady

One of the best known ghost stories involves a building which was formerly a restaurant known as The Lady in Grey.

This is one of 50 Grade II listed buildings in Shardlow making it Britain’s most complete surviving example of a canal village. From a population of 200 in 1780 it had soared

to 1306 by 1841. The choice of The Lady in Grey for the name of the former restaurant was something of a marketing gimmick – ‘stealing’ the name of a grey lady who used to haunt the nearby Shardlow Manor – and probably still does.

The ‘real’ ghost at the now dilapidated former restaurant is Jeanette, a member of the Soreby family. They were important canal carriers and built the house when the canal opened before selling out to Joshua Fellows in 1860.

Jeanette Soreby’s ghost is still searching for her mother’s jewels which were bequeathed to her but were hidden by her jealous sisters. In its restaurant days, staff and customers often felt someone pushing past them.

Whenever workmen were making changes in the building she was said to appear in Victorian dress to see if they had uncovered the hidden jewels.

The original lady in grey is still said to roam Shardlow Hall.

Workmen also reported strange happenings during the demolition of the Grove Hospital (formerly Shardlow workhouse) in 2007. A blue grey mist was said to surround the building, icy blasts of air came from nowhere and orbs of light floated along the empty corridors.

Workmen were also reluctant to tackle the re-roofing of the famous Clock Warehouse because of strange feelings that they described as ‘creepy’.

The Clock Warehouse is opposite the Shardlow Heritage Centre which is housed in the former salt warehouse.

The centre certainly has its own atmosphere – but it is one based on the hard work of its team of volunteers.

Visitors will notice that looking down from the wall of the centre is a faded photograph of the Soreby family showing a young Jeanette and her sisters whose actions have always prevented her from resting in peace.

The Malt Shovel – haunted since the 1800s.

Heritage Boat Museum project reaches a crossroads

By Elizabeth Rogers

Consuta at work this year as an umpire launch at the Henley Women’s Regatta.

PHOTOS COURTESY THE CONSUTA TRUST

Donola in the late 1960s.

PLANS to establish a Thames Heritage Boat Museum near Reading have suffered a serious setback with the refusal of planning permission.

West Berkshire Council turned down the outline application submitted by the Beale Park Trust on behalf of the Consuta Trust on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Trustees are now considering whether to appeal within the next six months or submit a new application. Trustee Brian Smith explained that surveys are currently being carried out that will determine which course to take.

The aim of the project is to provide a home initially for three vessels: Consuta, an umpire’s boat for rowing races in regattas; Cygnet, owned by the Thames Boat Trust; and Donola, which is currently in storage with the National Maritime Museum, near Swindon.

All have interesting histories, which Mr Smith explained.

Consuta was designed by Samuel Saunders who lived in nearby Goring and later went on to be one of the founders of the Saunders-Roe company on the Isle of Wight. It was restored in 2001 and was in use this year at Henley Women’s Regatta. The boat dates from 1898 and was developed as a lighter craft made of a new type of plywood for use by the umpires to reduce the effect of its wash on the rowing boats.

Cygnet is regarded as being one of the oldest steam boats in this country. It was built in 1870.

Steam-propelled Donola, formerly the Lodona, originally belonged to a member of the Palmer family, of Huntley & Palmer biscuit-manufacturing fame, in Reading. In 1923 it was taken over by the Thames Conservancy as one of its inspection boats but has been in storage for the past 20 vears.

The aim is to provide covered wet and dry dock facilities at

Beale Park, where other historic craft may also be accommodated eventually.

“We want to establish a place to keep the boats here, and also create a little museum for early Thames powered boats from the 19th century,” added Mr Smith. “The museum could show how the history of boating on the Thames developed.

There are many stories to tell.”

In the public consultation on the planning application, Basildon Parish Council, the parish of which Beale Park is part, supported the proposal. The council received 52 letters in favour from members of the public and none against.

Cygnet, which dates back to 1870.

NEWS FOCUS 13

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Wheelyboat launched at Maunsel Lock

Rivertime operates throughout the summer.

Thames charity gives people time on the river

by Elizabeth Rogers

MORE than 2000 people with disabilities have been able to enjoy trips along the River Thames this summer, aboard the specially designed Rivertime, which is operated by the Rivertime Boat Trust, based in Henley.

For the past five years the boat has been making some 200 journeys, between April and October. It can accommodate 12 passengers, some of whom are carers.

Its facilities include a hydraulic lift for wheelchairs, flexible seating in the large saloon, a galley with microwave and beverage facilities and central heating. A ramp provides easy access from the towpath.

The glass fibre boat is a 43ft AlphaCraft cruiser with a 12ft beam. It has a permanent professional skipper, Lucy Herbert, who is accompanied on each trip by one of the trained volunteer crew members. More than 40 people are involved in the charity as volunteers, 15 of whom are qualified to deputise for the professional skipper. The charity has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Through the season, the boat operates from several different moorings, beginning from that at Eynsham Lock in April, when there are trips along stretches to Oxford and Abingdon.

Moving downstream, it has moorings in subsequent months in Caversham and Henley, before moving on to journeys towards Windsor.

The boat has a close association with the River and Rowing Museum in Henley, and a popular outing with children is a trip on the boat followed by taking part in the activities at the museum.

“We are always looking for new ideas,” said Simon Davies, who with his wife Pat is one of the founders of the charity.

A group of Rivertime’s young passengers. PHOTOS COURTESY

SIMON AND PAT DAVIES

They are now retired from their own business on the Thames, which ran 20 boats.

Fundraising for the Rivertime Boat Trust began in 2006, and the boat was launched in 2008, by the actor David Suchet.

Among its passengers are children from special schools, senior citizens’ clubs, and families with a member with a disability. “We cater for the whole disability spectrum,” said Mr Davies.

Enquiries about bookings can be made to 01628 780700 or by email to skipper@rivertimeboattrust.org.uk

families boating holidays at prices they can afford.

“We believe the future of canal holidays is best served by allowing as many people as possible to experience the waterways and that means keeping our prices down so that they compete with the option of a foreign holiday.

“At the same time, the market has changed from being one where people book in January for a week or two weeks in the school holidays to something much more flexible and sometimes last minute. We can take bookings just a week or two before the holiday – although you do need to book earlier if you want a particular week. We try to be flexible as well as more price sensitive.”

The chance to take the latest boat out on its first weekend cruise will

The boat to be named, undergoing restoration. PHOTO SUPPLIED

go to the person who suggests the best name. Anyone wanting to investigate the sort of names favoured by the decision-makers at Norbury can check out the names of the existing at the company’s website or pick up a brochure.

“The latest boat will be going out for the first time next March and spring is a lovely time to explore the Shropshire Union Canal,” said David. “This will be a great boat for families, even for two families sharing, and that means a real holiday at a price more people can afford. A short break can work out at less than £50 a head.”

There is also an opportunity to buy Prince, which is up for sale at £42,000, as an investment to be operated by Norbury as a key part of the fleet.

The Mk.III wheelyboat was designed and developed by The Wheelyboat Trust, a small national charity dedicated to providing disabled people with access to waterborne activities.

At 5.3m long it is a versatile craft with a carrying capacity of eight people including wheelchairs.

It is fitted with a drive-from-wheelchair console enabling people even with quite severe impairments to experience the thrill of driving the boat themselves. As well as supplying the wheelyboat, The Wheelyboat Trust helped raise the funds to build and equip it.

Chris Whitcombe, Maunsel Lock Canal Centre owner said: “We are really pleased to now have the wheelyboat based here at Maunsel Lock and are very much looking forward to enabling more people to access and enjoy the wonderful canal and the surrounding environment”.

Situated near North Newton, Bridgwater, Somerset, Maunsel Lock Canal Centre and Tea Shop is run by Chris and Val Whitcombe and along with their trip boat Maunsel Lady family members of all ages can enjoy the tranquillity of canal life.

The wheelyboat following its launch at the Maunsel Lock Canal Centre. PHOTO SUPPLIED ● For more information on Countryside Mobility South West visit: www.countrysidemobility.org/ For information on the Wheelyboat Trust visit: www.wheelyboats.org/ and for the Maunsel Canal Centre and Tea Shop visit: www.maunsellock.co.uk/

Hairy biker backing Ferret appeal

By Harry Arnold

Holiday prize for best boat name NORBURY Wharf is bucking the trend and introducing yet another boat to its fleet for the start of next season.

Specialising in ‘recycling’ boats to keep prices down, the team sometimes rebuilds them from burnt-out shells.

The latest addition sank in a lock last year and has been undergoing restoration ready for the start of the 2014 season.

It is a 70ft, 10 berth boat and the company is offering the chance to take the restored boat out on its inaugural cruise to the person who comes up with the best name for the new member of its fleet.

Manager David Ray said: “By investing our skills and experience in bringing boats like this back into tiptop condition we can offer

A WHEELCHAIR accessible ‘wheelyboat’ has been launched at Maunsel Lock Canal Centre and Tea Shop in Somerset.

The wheelyboat is designed to provide disabled people with hassle-free and independent access to waterborne activities and will enable disabled adults and children to participate in boat trips along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

The event included a ribbon cutting, a champagne boat launch and boat trips.

The wheelyboat has been supplied through Countryside Mobility South West, a scheme that is working to make the region a truly ‘accessible’ visitor destination by improving access to the countryside for people with limited mobility.

The scheme has been supported with a grant from Natural England as part of its Access to Nature programme, funded from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme.

Additional funds were provided by Maunsel Lock Canal Centre, Nineveh Charitable Trust, Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, Frognal Trust, Norman Family Charitable Trust, Good Neighbours Trust, Arundel Rotary Club and Suzuki GB.

TELEVISION ‘Hairy Biker’ Dave Myers is backing a fund-raising appeal by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) to help volunteers conserve the historic motor narrowboat Ferret.

The boat was built in 1926 by W J Yarwoods at Northwich, Cheshire, on the River Weaver, for the famous fleet of Fellows, Morton & Clayton (FMC). Later it became a part of British Waterways’ (BW) Anderton based carrying fleet.

Ferret was bought from BW in the early 1960s by canal carrier Jack Taylor and sold for conversion to North West waterway enthusiasts the Clark family who cruised aboard it for many years.

They sold the boat and with the setting up of the Nottingham Canal Museum Ferret was deconverted and fully restored in FMC colours to her historic working condition by boatbuilder Malcolm Braine as an exhibit with the butty Ilkeston.

With the closure of the Nottingham museum both boats were transferred to become part of the collection off historic canal and river boats now cared for by CRT at the National Waterways Museum at

Ellesmere Port.

Ferret is now in need of another complete overhaul to give it a new lease of life. Public donations will help trainees and volunteers at the Museum’s Heritage Boat Yard restore the boat and get it back in the water.

When Myers visited the National Waterways Museum recently he said: “I had a go at some simple restoration tasks and got an idea of the skill and time involved in restoring these precious boats. By donating to this appeal you will help the volunteers and young trainees at the Heritage Boatyard continue this important work.

“You will help keep vital heritage skills alive and ensure future generations can enjoy and learn from our wonderful heritage.”

Every penny received will be spent directly and entirely on the Ferret project.

For example, £5 could pay for new bolts. ● For more details about how to give and what donations will be used for visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ restore-a-boat

Ferret on its way to Nottingham after restoration work by boatbuilder Malcolm Braine.

PHOTO:WATERWAY IMAGES

14 ANNIVERSARY

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Golden celebration at Lichfield Cruising Club

Club members gather for a picture on the footbridge. PHOTOS:WATERWAY IMAGES

Harry Arnold visits the club for a very special anniversary LICHFIELD Cruising Club (LCC) has celebrated the 50th anniversary of the association with its mooring site at Huddlesford Junction on the Coventry Canal of two of its oldest members – Janet and Bryan Ralph.

The club’s main moorings are in the remaining arm of the Wyrley & Essington Canal – closed in 1954 – where it joins the Coventry Canal; now generally known as the Lichfield Canal in the campaign for full reopening by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (L&HCRT).

After the closure, and a Coventry Canal Society in 1959, a number of local Fradley based boaters – with the

assistance of the then lengthsman who lived in one of the Huddlesford Junction cottage – began mooring in the arm; under the auspices of the northern section of the canal society.

The organisation’s years of activity and support for the national waterways campaign are too long to detail, but briefly the expanding number of moorers at Huddlesford became part of the Tamworth Cruising Club in 1965, then in 1978 formed themselves into the Lichfield Cruising Club.

During this long history the club has considerably expanded from the original leased section (dating back to British Transport Waterways) which includes the two cottages which are now its clubhouse.

It has bought surrounding land, established extra moorings on the main line of the Coventry Canal and built a dock by Cappers Lane Bridge which was recently rebuilt as part of the L&HRT restoration scheme.

Foresight and enthusiasm

Commodore Ray Hartshorne presents Janet and Bryan Ralph with commemorative gifts from the club.

In talking about the club Commodore Ray Hartshorne told me how much it owed to the foresight and enthusiasm of past and present members in establishing and maintaining such a good organisation.

Membership currently stands at 160, with 65 boats moored on the Huddlesford site.

There is a shortage of mooring here but expansion could come with L&HCRT restoration plans, in which LCC members are keen participants.

In making a formal presentation to Janet and Bryan, Ray outlined their life

in the club and service to boating, which includes many years of fundraising for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, particularly in the provision of boats for ports on the North Wales coast. Bryan is a past club commodore and Ray described the couple as “the glue that holds Lichfield Cruising together”.

He also made comparisons with life 50 years ago. Such things as petrol costing 4s-2d a gallon and Dr Who being the newest series on TV. He could have added that it was also just 50 years since I first travelled the Coventry Canal and photographed the junction and the moorings in the arm.

Among the guests were the commodores of Tamworth Cruising Club, emphasising the past link, and from somewhat further away in Yorkshire, Strawberry Island Boat Club.

Representatives of Holyhead Lifeboat also came along to thank Janet and Bryan for the particular efforts they put into raising funds for this boat.

The sun shone and bands played, adding to an already warm and friendly atmosphere. Demonstrating the current surge in popularity of the ukulele, tutor Jo Stevenson’s ad-hoc band of players Go Ukulele Crazy – which includes Commodore Ray – provided rousing afternoon music. A barbecue followed and evening entertainment from another local folk and ceilidh musicians Chase Mist.

Altogether a great day’s celebration of how good companionship with a group boating friends can span 50 years with ease and make the time fly by.

Lichfield Cruising Club’s main moorings in what was the surviving Huddlesford Junction arm of the Wyrley & Essington Canal – now called the Lichfield Canal. Photographed on the afternoon of August 28, 1963, and exactly 50 years (to the hour) later on August Bank Holiday Monday, 2013. PHOTOS:WATERWAY IMAGES

Jo Stevenson’s Go Ukulele Crazy provided great afternoon entertainment.

INSET: And the Commodore played too.

Food came from the club’s own barbecue.

The bar is the popular focus of the clubroom.

Burntwood folk and ceilidh band Chase Mist were the evening entertainers.

NEWS FOCUS 15

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Getting the Grand Western Canal ready for its 2014 milestone

Working to repair the embankment and trim the profile of the canal.

Janet Richardson visits the £3 million project to restore the Grand Western Canal following last year’s major breach WORK to repair a breach of the Grand Western Canal which sent torrents of water on to neighbouring farmland is ahead of schedule, thanks to recent dry weather.

It had been hoped to complete the restoration work by midJanuary with the ultimate aim to have the canal in full operation for next year’s bicentenary celebrations and the IWA National Trailboat Festival over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

But if the weather holds up, it could be done this side of Christmas, according to Mark Baker who manages the canal and country park for owner Devon County Council.

Since the breach, half a mile of canal channel has been closed between Greenway Bridge and Rock Bridge, with a half-mile long towpath diversion in place between Swing Bridge and Watton Bridge.

Work on the £3 million project got under way on July 8 on the reconstruction of the section of canal at Halberton which breached on November 21, 2012, following a huge amount of rain falling on already wet ground. It was estimated that more than 16 million litres of water flowed through the 23m breach.

Mark explained that it was caused by adjoining watercourses overtopping and filling the canal with more water than could be released during the torrential downpours.

Work so far has focused on rebuilding the embankment and building up the bed of the canal towards its final profile, which is now a recognisable shape near Swing Bridge and the location of the breach itself. The area west of Swing Bridge has also been re-profiled due to minor overtopping and erosion that occurred at some point in the past century.

The embankment is being rebuilt within its existing footprint, but raised slightly in order to provide additional protection against future overtopping and the towpath between Greenway Bridge and Rock Bridge is being widened explained Mark who is happy things have been going so well.

He said they had been working long hours – six days a week from 7am to 7pm.

Canal manager Mark Baker of Devon County Council with Peter Davies, construction director for South West Highways.

The main contractor is South West Highways. Construction director Peter Davies told me they have experience of canal work having previously worked on the Bude Canal. Site manager, Jacobs, has done work for British Waterways (now Canal & River Trust) and the local contractor is John Luffman Trading Ltd. One of the downsides of the dry weather meant that water had started to evaporate on the Tiverton side of the breach.

At the time of my visit in late August, water was pumped into this side of the canal to maintain water levels for canal users and the horse-drawn barge.

Mark explained that 1030m of 8in pipe, each length weighing 50kg, had been laid by hand to pump water into this side of the canal to maintain levels for users and the horsedrawn barge.

The red soil shows where 16 million litres poured through a 23m breach on to the farmland below.

Final shape

The pump in the dam at Rock Bridge. PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON

The next phase of the project will be to continue to trim the profile to the final shape ahead of the installation of an impervious liner throughout the length of the embankment.

A heavy duty polyethylene liner will be used. This material will be covered and hidden and the repairs will eventually blend in with the existing canal.

While the upper part of the embankment has been constructed with locally sourced crushed limestone, the lower level has been rebuilt using the original embankment material that was deposited into the ‘lagoon’ area during the breach. This material was quite variable in composition and so to improve its suitability a process known as ‘lime stabilisation’ has been used.

The process consists of ploughing powdered lime into the sandy/clay fill which has dramatically reduced the volume of material that had to be brought into the site. As well as using strengthened fill material, horizontal layers of geotextile mesh have been laid in the embankment to further enhance the embankment’s stability.

Mark added that the funding from Devon County Council was not just to repair the breach but to futureproof the canal so it shouldn’t happen again.

An alarm system to warn of high water levels has already been installed with two remote water monitoring instruments at either end of the canal.

The stop plank system which can be deployed in an emergency has been upgraded and a lot of hydrological work has been carried out.

“There will be a lot going on over the next two or three years including tree work, an asset management plan and inspection regimes for all over the infrastructure,” Mark added.

The pipeline carrying water to maintain levels at Tiverton.

The de-watered canal above the breach site at Halberton.

The damaged towpath will be widened.

An opportunity to repair the walls of the old wharf near Rock Bridge.

Looking down on the site from Swing Bridge.

16 COMPETITION

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WIN! FOR YOUR BOAT! A WATER LEAK DETECTOR

A WHOPPING 50 GIVEAWAYS FROM

RIVER CANAL RESCUE AND TOWPATH TALK! Worth

Imagine the moment of panic as you wake up early, put your feet onto the floor only to find they, your flooring and a number of your possessions are soaking wet.

Inland waterway assistance firm River Canal Rescue attends, on average, one call out a week from boat owners suffering a water leak.

A leak in your cabin is usually caused by a domestic water pipe which has come loose or sheered, but it can also happen if there’s a hull breach or a failed shower pump. Unfortunately, it’s always easy to jump to the worst conclusion.

As most boats are not supplied with bilge pumps in their domestic areas, when problems do occur, the first time you’re likely to be aware something’s amiss is when water comes through the floor or the boat is listing.

If you install a water leak detector, you’ll reduce the likelihood of a soaking and the need to call out River Canal Rescue or make an insurance claim. The compact alarm has a two metre cable with a sensor at its tip. Simply position the sensor in the bilge, weed hatch or under the shower - anywhere it may be difficult to detect a water leak - and hook up the alarm in a central area so you can easily hear it.

The battery will last for a year (it’s a simple watch battery) and sound for many hours. With simple installation and the ability to fit into small spaces, this gadget offers a real warning of problems before they become critical.

£e1ac5! h

HOW TO ENTER:

River Canal Rescue has teamed up with Towpath Talk to give away 50 water leak detectors, worth £15 each. In order to win one of these handy gadgets, simply complete the coupon below or enter online, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw.

If you’re not lucky enough to win one of the prizes, the water leak detector can be purchased for £15 plus £1.50 delivery from River Canal Rescue, simply visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk and click on online chandlery or phone 01785 785680.

Send complete forms to: TPT Oct-13 RCR water detector competition, Mortons Media Group, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR

Or, enter online at

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

For full terms and conditions please visit our website www.towpathtalk.co.uk The winner will be the first name drawn at random from the correct answers entered. No cash alternatives are available.

Closing date: Wednesday October 23, 2013.

First name ...............................................................................Surname............................................................................................................

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Please note: Mortons Media Group Ltd will pass your details onto River Canal Rescue, who on occasion, may contact you by post/phone/fax/email regarding information relating to current offers of products or services which they believe may be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive such offers please tick this box ❏ On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may decide to email/fax you regarding information relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription offers) which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you do not wish to receive such offers, please tick this box ❏ On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties, that we deem to be reputable, to contact you by post/phone/fax/email regarding information relating to current offers of products or services which we believe may be of interest to our readers.

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58 CROPREDY MARINA

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Boats arrive daily as new Cropredy Marina opens CROPREDY Marina, situated on the beautiful south Oxford Canal just north of Banbury, has now opened its moorings and those boaters lucky enough to secure a place in the main basin are arriving by the day.

Berths are still available in the smaller basin but are being taken up quickly.

The new marina, privately funded by Tim Langer, operator of the already successful and wellestablished Crick Marina, took just a year to build.

Work on the 249 berth marina, which offers secure moorings and full canalside services, was carried out by experienced waterway contractor Greenford Ltd.

Tim said: “I am absolutely delighted with how the marina is looking and it will only get better with time and as the final landscaping is completed.

Work on the small basin is progressing well and as with any large project there is still snagging to be done and minor works to be completed.”

“I think the marina really complements the local environment and would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have been involved with the project. I look forward to it becoming part of the Cropredy community going forward.

“From the outset customer interest in the marina has been huge. The main basin is now full, but

The tranquil setting of Cropredy Marina where boats are arriving daily.

there are still some berths available in the smaller basin. To be over 75% booked so soon is fantastic – the bank’s valuer had forecast just 30% at this stage.

Without exception, everyone who sees it says what a fantastic marina it is.

“I would encourage anyone interested to get in touch with harbour master Dave Fox as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

Boat owner Mike Cross said: “For me Cropredy Marina has everything – a great central location from which to cruise, friendly customer service, competitive prices, access to local amenities, near a lovely village, and just an overall great feel to it – a really fantastic marina!”

For those wishing to visit the marina, the office is open daily from 9am-1pm and 2-5pm. Contractors are still working on the small basin so please park where directed and report to the office on arrival.

For further information on the marina or to reserve a berth please contact harbour master Dave Fox on 07976 687974, email cropredymarina office@yahoo.co.uk or visit www.cropredy marina.com

Harbour master David Fox is responsible for the day-to-day running of the marina.

He said: “Cropredy Marina is a great place to work and be based, with secure moorings and full canalside services. Add this to its central location for cruising, quiet rural setting and the fact that the attractive village of Cropredy and its facilities are just a short walk away and you can see why the main basin is almost full now.

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming people to the marina.”

David, married to Penny, has been boating since the 1980s and five years ago purchased his own boat.

BOATYARD & MARINA NEWS 59

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insider

The Beacon boating ‘family’ gathering

PAST and future customers and the staff of Beacon Boats held a gathering at Barrow upon Soar on Saturday, September 7 to view a line-up of boats and to discuss all matters boating at the Soar Bridge Inn. Owners of boats going back nine years since the inception of Beacon Boats were invited to attend the gathering which was enjoyed by all. Boats and owners had travelled from far and wide on the canal network with one crew making an epic crosscountry journey from the Llangollen canal arriving with just enough time to polish up their boat before the other owners arrived for a viewing.

It really was a family occasion – many owners already knew each other having viewed other boats before making their own commitment to buy and it was a great chance to get together again to swap stories about canal trips and common interests. The strong family resemblance in the boats was noticeable despite varying specifications, layouts and a variety of different internal fit out materials.

Many boats share a common hull builder and the distinctive lines of the XR&D shell were evident while all of the boat fitting over the last nine years has been done to a high standard by Neil & Ally from Beacon Boats. The distinctive Beacon Boats colour scheme of black, red and cream is a well-known feature but what may be surprising to some is that it has only been applied to half of the boats in the fleet. Despite opinion to the contrary owners do get a choice of colour!

One for the album: the owners get together.

Beacon Boats and its owners gathered at Barrow upon Soar. PHOTOS SUPPLIED All of the Beacon Boats ever built are with their original owners which shows the owners’ satisfaction with the quality and workmanship of the boat as well as the flexibility of the boat builder and attention to detail during the fit out. Many boats acknowledge the builder and are proud to have the builder’s name and build number as a feature in the signwriting or as part of the boats name. Nb Seventh Heaven was the seventh boat built while nb Triskaideka is Greek for number 13 which shows that the owners have no superstitions at all!

The Canal and River Trust kindly arranged to reserve moorings above Barrow Deep Lock on the River Soar Navigation for boats attending the gathering – many passing boaters and walkers must have been wondering what was going on with boats breasted up and so many photographers, amateur and professional, on the towpath.

The newest boat in the fleet is undergoing fit out at the Burton-on-the-Wolds workshop and boat owners took a chance to visit the workshop to see the work completed so far.

They are now looking forward to future gatherings which might be arranged on a regular basis by a Beacon Boats Owners Club.

Many customers attended the evening social get-together, hosted at the Soar Bridge Inn in Barrow, enjoying time to talk, share experiences, eat, drink and make merry! A narrowboat cake was included in the buffet, much to the customers’ delight.

Beacon Boats would like to thank all customers for their support.

Private showers are in demand at new marina WITH two thirds of the phase one berths sold at Kings Orchard Marina, work has now started on the remaining berths and the main facilities building.

This will be brought to completion by main contractor Greenford over the next few months and will enable the new marina, operated by Pridewater Estates Ltd, to build up its stocks of coal, gas, chemicals and other items for resale and provide moorers with diesel and high speed pump-out. The first four private showers and toilets were rented out within the first few weeks and there is already a waiting list for the final five which should be completed later this year.

Cropredy Marina Getting Afloat Bits & Bobs

P59 P60 P61

Reviews P61 What’s on P62 Products & Services P64

Behind the tradition is internet power

Norbury Junction – traditional but also electronic.

IT WOULD be difficult to find anything more traditional than the boatyard at Norbury Junction. Old waterways buildings surround a traditional wharf with cranes and a lovely Shropshire Union bridge leads the way north.

The business is traditional as well, a hire fleet, day boats, a trip boat, a paint shop, dry dock and chandlery, everything for the boater, in fact.

Yet Norbury Wharf Limited is not so much dieselpowered these days as internet-powered, according to managing director Simon Jenkins.

He said: “Over the past few years we have found that our business has had to become more and more responsive to the demands of the electronic age. Our customers want to do business online and we now try to duplicate many of the things we do here in the electronic world.

“Apart from a daily blog of our doings, we book our

hire boats, day boats and even the trip boat using our new website. We are also active on Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis to keep customers in touch with our latest deals and the price of our diesel.

“We now have videos of all our hire boats online with YouTube so that people can learn about their chosen boat even before they book it, as well as watch our instructional videos on boat handling.

“We produce a monthly electronic magazine that goes out to a long list of our subscribers and we even have a webcam on the wharf so that our customers can watch us going about our business on their laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

“Of course you can’t black a boat’s bottom, service the engine or fill it with diesel electronically – although I sometimes wonder when it will happen – so customers also get the enjoyment of visiting us in these beautiful surroundings.”

Moorers enjoy their ‘bring your own’ picnic.

It was a baking summer at the Caen Hill Marina

One of the private showers and toilets at Kings Orchard Marina. PHOTO SUPPLIED

A FANTASTIC summer of activities at Caen Hill Marina got under way in June with a charity bake off raising £50 in an hour eating and enjoying cake.

This had been preceded by a ‘bring your own’ picnic with moorers bringing their picnics and enjoying games including a Maltesers and teaspoon race and the balloon between the knees race.

In July the marina had its own beer festival with 10 real ales and three ciders which was another success. And when the weather tried to put a damper on the proceedings everyone helped to save the beer and move it under shelter where the party carried on.

The end of season party was due to take place on Saturday, September 21 with a beer festival, band and burgers.

Bake off winner Josie Close with her certificate. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Classic car show drives visitors to Mercia Marina

Moorers Angie Blatherwick, Helen Varley and Mary Holmes collecting for the Nightingale Macmillan cancer unit. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

HUNDREDS of people turned up in baking temperatures to enjoy a display of classic cars at Mercia Marina.

The day proved so popular that the South Derbyshire marina has already pledged to make it an annual event.

Around 90 classic cars, including 25 Rolls-Royces, were on show at the marina’s 74-acre site near Willington, with additional entertainment provided by a live swing band and some expert marshalling of the crowds by Burton Sea Cadets.

Three of the marina’s moorers – Angie Blatherwick, Helen Varley and Mary Holmes, also took advantage of the numbers by raising more than £240 on behalf of

Mercia Marina for the Nightingale Macmillan cancer unit at Royal Derby Hospital.

Tony Preston, sales and marketing manager for Mercia Marina, said: “This was something completely new for us, so we didn’t quite know what to expect. It turned out to be incredibly popular and the cars on display were real attention grabbers.”

Bottles of champagne were awarded to the owners of cars voted best in show, with several award categories including best prewar car, best postwar car, best prewar Rolls-Royce and best postwar Rolls-Royce.

The overall winner was a Jaguar XK120, dating from around 1950.

Around 90 classic cars included 25 Rolls-Royces.

60 GETTING AFLOAT

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Buying second-hand

– bargain boats or dodgy deals?

The balance between price and condition In the eighth article of his series looking at what turns ordinary people into boaters, Peter Underwood looks at buying a pre-owned boat.

IF YOU were a car dealer selling a second-hand car, you would clean it, polish it, touch up the paint and present it in the best possible light to get the maximum price wouldn’t you?

Even estate agents these days give careful advice to sellers about making sure their home has neutral colours on the walls, is clean and smells fresh before potential buyers are given a viewing.

So why do so many of the people who sell second boats – either brokers or owners – happily offer for sale scruffy, often dirty vessels showing all the signs of neglect?

When you begin your trek around the brokers and private owners offering boats for sale, do not expect to be dazzled by cleanliness, shiny paintwork and spotless engines. In fact, if you find a boat like that, I would look at it very closely, simply because the trade as a whole is so bad at presentation that you have to wonder what is being hidden.

The plus side of that approach is that you will see boats warts and all and it should be easier to identify potential problems.

We will deal with all the things you need to bear in mind while on your boat search later, but I want to make one key point before we do.

If you are buying a boat today all the power is in your hands – this is a

buyer’s market. There are more boats for sale both with brokers and privately than I can remember in nearly 20 years of boating.

The recession has meant that many families are finding it difficult to spend the £3000 or so a year it costs to keep a boat licensed, insured and moored and need to turn their investment into cash.

That means that boat dealers with ready cash are offering anything up to half the asking price and still making deals.

In that context this is the best possible time to buy a second-hand boat – if you are willing to haggle and haggle.

Make an offer

Once you see the boat you like, do not assume that the asking price is the real price. Make an offer. It may well be that the dream boat you thought you couldn’t afford is now within your reach, especially if you are a cash buyer.

Brokers across the country will admit privately that any seller who overestimates the value of his craft and refuses to accept offers is likely to see his or her vessel on the broker’s books for a very long time.

Well before you set off you will have gone through the business of narrowing down the sort of boat you are looking for – length, width, layout, style etc. So you should be comparing like with like.

RIGHT: In Towpath Talk you will find plenty of brokers and private sellers, but make sure they meet all your criteria.

Unfortunately, second-hand boats are not like cars, with ownership registered on some central computer; nor are they like houses with the deeds stashed at the Land Registry. That means you need to be able to trust the people you may be buying from.

If it is a broker it will help if the firm belongs to one of the trade associations with an enforceable Code of Conduct such as the British Marine Federation (BMF), the Boat Retailers and Brokers Association (a group within the BMF) or the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA).

It’s worth asking if the broker operates a properly administered client account and whether the money you pay over will be kept in this account during the brokerage transaction?

You should ask whether there is marine finance on the boat and the detailed arrangements for it being paid off before the boat becomes yours.

Check the paperwork

Knowing who really owns a boat, especially an older one, can be difficult so ask about title documentation. It could have a Part I Registration, Builder’s Certificate if it is newish or there could be previous bills of sale.

Evidence of compliance with the Recreational Crafts Directive and the VAT status is also helpful but above all make sure you are satisfied with the seller’s title documents before you sign a binding agreement.

There are standard BMF/ABYA contracts and when you are buying second-hand you really need to make sure any contract is subject to an independent survey.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea if the contract included a specification and inventory so that there is no future argument about whether a specific item of kit is included. Some brokers offer extras, like an opportunity to moor, but don’t overestimate the value of such perks – marina berths are not in short supply these days.

If the boat is out of the water make sure you know who is going to pay for it to be craned back in.

Finally it is important to spell out when you will become responsible for licensing and insuring the boat.

All those precautions make sense but I would flag up that buying a secondhand vessel is very much a case of buyer beware – you will have little or no comeback on the broker or previous owner unless they have actually misled you in some way, and even then it could take a court case to get satisfaction.

That is not said to put you off – merely to drive home the need to ask all the right questions and make sure you are happy with the answers.

If you are not a mechanic it may be worth getting one to check over the engine and gearbox as some older craft have some weird and wonderful kit in the engine room.

Check the batteries (three leisure and one starter battery is standard) to make

sure they are still working well and look for a battery management system and an inverter to convert 12v battery power to 240v if you want to run mains equipment on board.

You have to go over the paperwork that comes with the boat. A vessel less than four years old must have a certificate Recreational Craft Directive (Class D Inland Waters), which says it’s built to laid-down standards.

Boats more than four years old must have a Boat Safety Certificate, which is a bit like an MoT and confirms the basic safety systems – engine installation, ventilation, heating, gas, electrics and fire extinguishers – are all as they should be. ● Next month: The cost of equipping and running your boat

Make sure your boat is up to the job you want it to do, and that means getting a survey before aiming for waterway wonders like the Foxton flight of locks.

The right questions to ask Most of the questions are basic – you will know as soon as you step on board whether the boat has been well looked after.

Check the paintwork, look at the fridge, cooker, heating system and shower – are they all in good working order?

Make sure there are central, fore and aft ropes, and that they are staying on the boat, along with a windlass and mooring pins.

Oh, and if the boat is out of the water make sure you know who is going to pay for it to be craned back in.

You need an expert to check what you can’t see or don’t know about.

Primarily this is the thickness of the hull and whether any repairs are needed.

Having said that, even surveyors make mistakes and when we bought our ex-hire boat we were assured the hull was sound only to be told five years later that it was very thin on the edges of the bottom plate thanks to wear when it was operated as a hire boat.

Ask when the boat was last ‘blacked’ in dry dock, with the hull protected with several coats of bitumen.

Some brokers offer moorings with a sale – but marina berths are not in short supply these days.

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BITS & BOBS I’M ABOUT to get a lot of respect; I’ve commandeered the remaining sticks and coal in the bow box, set out the barbecue and donned my grill master apron. Beautiful British lamb cutlets on offer and time to squeeze in a final season barbecue. Life in the Midlands is so good.

If it rains, we move the frying inside on our grill pan, if it shines we start the vegetables on the inside grill pan and finish them off on the outdoor barbecue to grab all of that smokey flavour. One way or another, we end our fall chugging in a blaze of glory.

Lamb kebabs

Marinate overnight, prep time 15 minutes, heat coals 30 minutes, grill time 15 minutes, serves 2-4 (double the amount of rice for four).

Marinade Mix together equal parts of HP and soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, vegetable oil, spicy mustard, and brown sugar. Coat and cover the fillets and marinate overnight. In a pinch, just use vinegar and oil salad dressing.

Kebabs ● 4 lamb cutlets (1 per skewer), cubed ● 4 large onions, quartered ● 1 rasher bacon per skewer ● 2 medium aubergine, sliced ● 2 sweet potatoes, cubed ● Cherry tomatoes ● Oil to wipe down the grills ● 1 onion to season the grills Rice ● 1 cup Basmati rice ● 2 tbp each oil and butter ● 1 yellow onion, diced ● 1 tbsp Chinese 5-spice ● 2 star anise ● Juice of 1 orange ● 1 tin coconut milk and 1 tin water ● ½ jar fire-roasted red peppers Plus half of the juice

by Rexx & Phill

October top tip

We have several BBQ tips for grilling that we picked up from other grill masters. We set up our coals so that there is a direct and an indirect heating capacity. Once the charcoal begins to grey, push it into a large mound on one side of the BBQ and a lower, small mound on the other side before you set the rack in place. It is a neat trick for finishing off or heating on low (especially those things in foil packets). Slice an onion in half and rub it over the hot grill before you BBQ; it adds a surprise flavour.

Day before: Marinate the lamb.

Day of cooking: Outside, get your coals ready but do not light. Back in the galley, prepare the rice. Add oil and butter to a frying pan. Fry off the onion, add the spices, and tip in the rice. Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

Assemble your kebab fixings to take outside for assembly while watching the fire. I light the coals while Rexx puts the grill pan on to heat. Wipe the barbecue rack down with oil, mop off with kitchen towel. Then, once they heat up, rub the grills with the flesh of half an onion for flavour. Drain and pat the lamb dry.

Thread the lamb and onion chunks on one set of skewers, alternating the meat and the onion chunks and interweaving the bacon strips. Thread alternating aubergine, sweet potatoes, and cherry tomatoes on their own set of skewers; through the side-hatch doors; hand off the skewers of vegetables to Rexx for grilling (7 minutes per side) in the galley. Grill the meat (7 minutes per side); finish it off with a coating of HP sauce, move the skewers to one side of the grill to char slightly while you fill the rest of the grill with the vegetable skewers which Rexx has grilled inside; it only takes a minute or two for them to take on char and colour as well.

Somehow Rexx has gotten the table ready and delivered the skillet of rice.

Red Beans and Rice

Prep time 10 minutes, cook time 30 minutes, serves 4 I’m pooped from a delightful trek to the charity book shop. I have a plan for a simple dinner that involves reading while the cornbread bakes and then doing a simple assembly of leftovers for the main meal.

Red Beans and Rice ● 6 spicy sausages (stripped casings) ● 1 tin chilli ● 1 tin kidney beans ● 1 cup cooked rice ● 1 tin chopped tomatoes ● Leftover carrot salad Cornbread ● 75g all-purpose flour ● 150g cornmeal (polenta) ● 1 tbsp caster sugar ● 2 tbsp baking powder ● 1 tsp salt ● 3 eggs lightly beaten ● 250ml/8oz milk ● 2 tbsp honey ● 4 tbsp butter

NOW that autumn leaves are falling, it is a good opportunity to make leafmould which is a wonderful soil improver.

Simply gather handfuls of deciduous leaves and store them in heavy duty bags. Leave the bags in a discreet corner to rot down for 12-18 months. The end result is a marvellous free, brown crumbly soil conditioner.

Garlic cloves give better yields when subjected to the harsh frosts of winter.

Plant the individual cloves this month, just slightly below the soil level for the best results next year. No protection from frost is needed.

Dwarf family apple trees take up very little room and will grow happily in a large pot. Up to three different varieties can be found on one tree, a fantastic

Books, DVDs and other items for possible review should be sent to:

Towpath Talk, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

Hurray – Chico Chugg is back Reviewer: Gay Armstrong

A TREAT is in store for all Chico Chugg fans – the second children’s book in the popular series is now out with another great story about life on board a narrowboat from the perspective of a lovable Jack Russell.

Chico Chugg The Hero follows on from the first in the series The Misadventures of Chico Chugg.

In his latest story, Chico Chugg has lots of fun getting into all sorts of mischief with his family the Chuggs and all his doggy friends.

Author is Janet Roberts, a retired primary school deputy head. Several years ago she gave up her job, sold her house and bought a narrowboat. She now lives aboard with her husband Mike and Chico their Jack Russell, spending her time writing books and touring primary schools promoting literacy.

In 2011 her first book The Misadventures of Chico Chugg was nominated for the Peoples’ Book Prize and got all the way to the finals.

When she visits schools Janet encourages the children to write their own stories and puts some on the website www.chicochugg.com The book is suitable for primary school age children from about seven or will make lovely bedtime reading for children from five upwards. Chico Chugg The Hero by Janet Roberts is published in softback by Barking Books UK priced £6.99.

ISBN: 978-0-9574594-1-0

Around London in a small boat Reviewer: Elizabeth Rogers

All that remains is to deliver the platter of kebabs and leave everyone to their own devices. It is like synchronized swimming but that is the fun of it. There is never any lamb left over but we make twice the amount of rice that we need and use it in Rexx’s Red Beans & Rice below.

Honey-butter Cream together equal parts honey & butter Cornbread: Preheat the oven 200C (400F) Mark 6. Grease and line a 22cm/8½in round cake tin, and set aside. Stir all of the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the eggs, milk, honey and butter. Stir into a smooth batter. Bake (30 minutes) until golden brown. Invert on a wire rack and lift off the lining paper. Allow to cool, and cut into wedges. Serve with honey-butter on the side.

Beans and Rice: Bring a deep-sided frying pan up to sizzle temperature; add sausage and fry (15 minutes).

Remove half of the sausage crumbles for another meal. Add all of the rest of the ingredients to the remaining sausage. Stir to mix and simmer until heated through. Beans and rice should be done when cornbread is done. I like it when that happens.

Gardening Afloat

Lee Senior’s topical tips for growing your own fruit and veg in the month of October

REVIEWS

space saver for boats and smaller areas.

Autumn is the best time to buy barerooted trees, to plant up yourself before the onset of bad weather.

Finally, strip any remaining unripe green tomatoes from your plants, as they are unlikely to ripen outdoors now.

Instead try ripening them on a windowsill or in a drawer with other ripe fruit such as a banana. Making green chutney is a viable alternative if you have a lot of unripe fruit.

Next spring I’ll be back with more top tips for growing food in small spaces!

TWENTY-nine locks, 85 bridges, two tunnels – one that included half a mile of darkness under the pavements of north London – two aquaducts and a tidal barrier were encountered by Steffan Meyric Hughes in his journey around the capital city in a small dinghy.

The author, for whom boats and living near the River Thames were part of his life from childhood, had the idea of seeing his home city from its waterways and making a circumnavigation which he describes in Circle Line: Around London in a small boat.

The idea became a reality when he set out from a boat club in Surbiton on his 10-day odyssey, camping or staying with suitably-located friends overnight.

To his descriptions of his journeys he adds recollections of his boating experiences on other occasions to those of his meetings with some of the people who live beside the river and canals and of the occupational hazards such as a non-starting motor and a broken oar.

He was surprised that so few people asked him the question ‘Why’ when they met him en voyage, so at the end of the journey he asked the question of himself.

The reasons for his setting out were: that he liked being in small boats, being outdoors and walking in the city, thus his travels on the water was like a better version of a long city walk. And on his journey he learnt a great deal about London.

Circle Line, Around London in a Small Boat by Steffan Meyric Hughes is published by Summerscale Publishers Limited, priced £8.88.

ISBN: 978-1-84953-293-8

It’s calendar time again Reviewer: Gay Armstrong

WHETHER we like it or not, time flies, and we’re rapidly getting to the back end of 2013.

That means diaries and calendars for 2014 are appearing – and a beautiful and practical calendar comes from the studio of Robert Cartwright Photography.

Called Canals around Stafford, it features stunning and atmospheric photographs of views along the Trent & Mersey, Staffordshire & Worcestershire and Shropshire Union canals.

The calendar is clear and practical with important dates marked and room for appointments and reminders.

Great for a present, either to someone else – or yourself!

The Canals around Stafford calendar and a range of greetings cards can be viewed on www.ccstafford.co.uk. It is priced £7.99 and £1 for postage and packing from Robert Cartwright Photography, 12 Dearnsdale Close, Stafford, ST16 1SD, telephone 01785 254283.

East Midland canals through time Reviewer: Gay Armstrong

A FASCINATING collection of photographs tell the story of a region’s unique canal system in the latest title in Amberley Publishing’s successful Through Time series.

East Midland Canals is the second of two excellent books on the history and development of canals in the Midlands.

Author Ray Shill takes the reader on a journey from the early river navigations through the era of thriving mining and industry to the present day canal system and conservation schemes.

Taking in the Soar, Trent, and the cities of Derby, Leicester and Nottingham this valuable book traces some of the many ways in which East Midland Canals have changed and developed over the last century.

East Midland Canals by Ray Shill in softback from Amberley Publishing is priced £14.99.

ISBN: 978-1-4456-1149-5

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WHAT’S ON

Bicentenary boat gathering celebration at Wootton Wawen

OCTOBER 2013 sees the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Wootton Wawen Aqueduct on the Stratford Canal.

In celebration of this, an informal gathering of boats will take place over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday, October 1920, with a re-enactment of the opening planned to take place at midday on the Saturday.

The gathering will be led by, but is by no means confined to, four groups of local boaters – comprising members of Stratford upon Avon Canal Society, Inland Waterways Association Warwickshire Branch, Black Buoy Cruising Club and MidWarwickshire Yacht Club.

There will be no limit to the numbers of boats that can attend – although the mooring capacity within the basin at Wootton Wawen is limited.

Depending on boat size, some 20-30 boats can be accommodated within the basin itself, after which the moorings will extend up and down the

canal as required. Although the event is informal and free, early completion and return of a boat entry form will help us to manage the space available – particularly the limited space within the basin itself.

The weekend’s activities will not only form an ideal climax to a superb summer season of boating in 2013, but will also be a great portent of things to come in 2014 – not least a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the re-opening of this beautiful Warwickshire waterway.

For those arriving on Friday, October 18, The Stratford upon Avon Canal Society extends a warm welcome to attend its October meeting – held in the nearby Wootton Wawen Village Hall. The meeting will start at 7.45pm and will comprise a talk on Water Supply Management in Times of Drought and Flood

by Adam Comerford – CRT’s group hydrology manager. http://www.stratfordcanalsociety .org.uk/meetings.html

● Entry forms and further information from: clive.henderson @waterways.org.uk or ian.fletcher@waterways.org.uk .

Please use ‘WW 200’ as the subject title of your email.

WHAT’S ON IN OCTOber Throughout the month

Waterways art display by Michele Field: Annie’s Tea Room, Thrupp, nr Kidlington. Open 10am5pm. www.saa.co.uk/art/michele

October 3

Birmingham Canals Navigations Society: Living afloat by Ivor Caplan. Titford Pumphouse, Engine Street, Oldbury B69 4NL, 7.30pm. Contact Phil Clayton 01902 780920.

Southampton Canal Society: ‘Why archives?’ by Elaine Kirkby, K&ACT archive administrator who will explain the role of an archivist. Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth, Southampton SO16 7JZ, 7.45pm. Visitors welcome. Contact 02380 675312, www.sotoncs.org.uk

October 6

Banbury Canal Day: Dance, folk music, boat rides, theatre, working forge and chandlery, continental, arts and crafts markets. Canalside 10.30am-5pm. www.banbury.gov.uk IWA Towpath Walks Society, London: Four Hundred Years of the New River. Starts Manor House tube station (Finsbury Park exit) at 2.30pm.

Costs £9, £7 student/concs. Contact Roger Wilkinson 0208 458 9476.

Humberside Autumn Boat Jumble: Carlton Towers, Snaith, nr Goole DN14 9LZ. Opens 10am; adults £3, child/parking free. Contact 01803 835915, www.compassevents.co.uk West of Scotland Boat Jumble: Irvine Water Sports Club, 66 Harbour Street, Irvine, Ayrshire KA12 8PY. Opens 10am; accompanied children/car park free. Contact 07749 312150.

October 8

IWA Chester and Merseyside: Two films Mersey Ferries and Liverpool’s Last Tram presented by Ron Martin of Merseyside Tram Preservation Society. Tom Rolt Conference Centre, National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port CH65 4FW. 7.45pm. Bar and coffee-making facilities available.

IWA Middlesex: Richard Thomas on ‘Wonders of the Waterways’. Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge UB8 2QX. Doors and bar open at 7.30pm for 8pm start. Members and guests welcome. Middlesex.socials@waterways.org.uk

October 9

Email details of your event to: dsharp@mortons.co.uk or send details to: What’s on, Towpath Talk, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR

Compiled by Janet Richardson

IWA Warwickshire: The Lapal Canal Project, an update by Peter Best, chairman of the Lapal Canal Trust. The Sports Connexion Leisure Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore CV8 3FL. 7.30pm.

South London IWA: Scottish Lowland Canals by David Bowker. The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP. 7.30 for 8pm. Contact Alan Smith 0208 255 1581, 07774 890750 or email alan.smith@waterways.org.uk

The hare and the tortoise THE Puppet Barge returns to Little Venice with a new show for half term from October 28 to November 2.

There will be performances each day at 3pm of The Hare and the Tortoise and other tales from Aesop

brought to life with drama and humour. Staged with beautiful lighting and carved marionettes, it is suitable for everyone down to three years of age.

All he fears

Presented at the Suspense London Puppetry Festival, All He Fears takes to the Puppet Theatre stage from Saturday, October 26, to Sunday, November 3, with performances at 7.30pm on Monday to Saturday and 3pm on Sundays.

Suitable for adults, the play, especially commissioned and written by Howard Barker for the marionette stage, follows the fate of Botius, a philosopher of circumstances, who brings down upon himself, by an appalling intellectual collusion, everything he dreads.

The combination of the puppet work and the writer’s dramatic language creates a powerful and haunting piece of theatre.

The fall of Botius.

Aesop’s fables are brought to life by the Puppet Theatre marionettes. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

● The Puppet Theatre Barge, which opened in 1982, is described as ‘one of London’s more elusive treasures’.

It is an established 55-seat theatre with all modern facilities and provides the ideal setting for the magical and imaginative shows produced by this famous company.

Contact the box office on 0207 249 6876 or online at www.puppetbarge.com Ticket prices are: children and concessions £8.50; Adults £10.

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.

October 10

October 22

IWA Leicester: ‘Joeys, Joshers and James – a BCN miscellany’, a talk by Phil Clayton from the BCNS on the history and development of the Birmingham Canal Navigations and the work of the BCNS. The Gate Hangs Well, Lewin Bridge, Fosse Way, Leicester LE7 1NH, 7.30pm.

Members and non-members welcome.

Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society: Annual General Meeting. The Wilmot Arms, 49 Derby Road, Borrowash, Derby, 8pm. Admission £2.

October 23

IWA Chiltern: ‘Evelyn’s War, the life of an Idle Woman’ by Tim Coghlan. New venue – Little Chalfont Village Hall, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Bucks HP8 4UD. 8pm. All welcome to attend.

Contact 01932 248178.

October 11

IWA West Riding: ‘Confessions of an ex-IWA magazine editor’ by John Greenway. South Pennine Boat Club, Wood Lane, Mirfield WF14 0ED. 8pm. Contact 0113 393 4517, kandal@btinternet.com

October 11-13

National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port: Beer festival organised in conjunction with Liverpool Organic Brewery. Friday/Saturday, noon-11pm; Sunday, noon-4pm. Tickets can be booked in advance from reception or by calling 0151 335 5017.

October 12-13

National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port: How to paint your boat with Phil Speight. Two-day course £95 per person with maximum 20 people.

Book in person at reception or call 0151 335 5017.

October 13

Grantham Canal Society: Discovery Day, GCS canal depot, behind ‘Dirty Duck’ pub, Woolsthorpe by Belvoir NG32 1NY. Boat trips, duck race, live entertainment, demonstrations and stalls. 10am-5pm. www.granthamcanal.org Kent Autumn Boat Jumble: The Friars, Aylesford Priory, Aylesford ME20 7BX. Opens 10am; admission £4, accompanied children/car park free.

Contact Chaddock & Fox Promotions 01329 661896 or 07771 962495, www.boat-jumbles.co.uk

October 16

River Foss Society: ‘Leetham’s Flour Mill’ by Rob Shorland-Ball. Open meeting at Strensall and Towthorpe Village Hall. 7pm. Contact June Card on 01904 766196, junecard700@gmail.com IWA Lichfield: ‘Canals, boats and barges – from tub boats to trows’ by Tony Condor, former curator of the Waterways Museum, Gloucester.

Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield WS13 8AY. 7.30 for 7.45pm.

October 17

IWA East Yorkshire: Stories and pictures of the Driffield Navigation presented by David Hamilton.

Methodist Church Hall, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 4BD, 8-10pm. £2 including refreshments.

Contact roger.bromley@ waterways.org.uk 01482 845099.

October 24

Waterways Craft Group members demonstrating traditional skills at the National Waterways Museum.

October 18

IWA Notts & Derby: ‘Canal & River Trust – 12 months on’ by CRT East Midlands waterway manager Sean McGinley. Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7HY. 7.45pm. Contact nottsandderbys@waterways.org

October 19

River Foss Society: Walk from New Lane/Lilling Low Lane crossroads to Farlington, 10am.

Contact Bob Jowett 01904 764702, bobjowett1@btopenworld.com

October 20

IWA Towpath Walks Society, London: Grand Union Canal: Uxbridge – Cowley – Little Britain.

Starts Uxbridge tube station (High Street exit) at 2.30pm. Costs £9, £7 student/concs. Contact Roger Wilkinson 0208 458 9476.

National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port: Waterways Craft Group meets on the first floor of the Island Warehouse to demonstrate traditional crafts of the inland waterways.

Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association: Sandiacre Lock Cottages, Lock Lane (off Longmoor Lane) open from 2.30-5pm.

Admission free but donations appreciated.

South Wales Boat Jumble: Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, signposted from M4. Opens 10am; Adults £3, child/parking free. Contact 01803 835915, www.compassevents.co.uk

October 21

IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcester: The Hereford & Gloucester Canal, talk by Dick Skeet. Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AW, 7.15 for 7.30pm. Contact Chris Osborn 01299 832593, jcosborn@btinternet.com

IWA Chester & Merseyside walk: Wimboldsley, from the Verdin Arms, Nantwich Road, Middlewich CW10 0LW. The walk is about four miles, mainly level, and takes in a length of the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal and the remote countryside to the east of it. OS Explorer 267. Map Reference 685622. Starts 10.15am, open to non-members. Lunch can be booked on morning.

October 26

St Pancras Cruising Club: Spooky Cruise to Kensal Green followed by Halloween party on return to SPCC. Contact cruise co-ordinator Andrew Phasey on 07850 753633 email: theoldmainline@fastmail.fm

October 27

National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port: 1940s themed weekend for all the family including tea dances and beetle drives with a Victory party on Saturday evening. Tickets are free for each session but numbers are limited so please collect in advance. Period allied forces dress encouraged.

Suffolk Autumn Boat Jumble: Trinity Park Showground, Ipswich IP3 8UH. Opens 10am; Adults £3, child/parking free. Contact 0207 7394 7646/07780 800257, www.rotaevents.co.uk

October 28

IWA Milton Keynes: ‘Marinas and all that jazz’ by Richard Goosey, MD of Willowbridge Enterprises.

The Milton Keynes Pavilion, Worrell Avenue, Middleton, Milton Keynes Village MK10 9AD (accessed off Tongwell Street V11). Free admission. Contact Rodney Evans 01908 376449 rodneyevans48@gmail.com

October 30-31

National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port: Halloween Masquerade and Murder Mystery Spectacular, 6pm. Adults £5, accompanied children (under 16) £2.

WHAT’S ON 63

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New first aid courses from MMS

By Phil Pickin

CANNOCK-based Birmingham & Midland Marine Services has recently announced an addition to its existing NGB approved training programmes. The newly developed course combines HSE Approved First Aid at Work and HSE Approved Manual Handling courses and is aimed at canal and river users in either the commercial or voluntary sectors. The emphasis is on crush injuries, near drowning and other waterways related injuries.

The delivery of this new course has been designed to follow the guidelines and criteria of the nationally recognised Level 3 QCF Award which meets the 1981 Health & Safety Regulations. The syllabus also includes manual handling and fire awareness training in the marine environment and covering situations including crush injuries, major impact trauma, acute lifting accidents and fire on board situations. The additional one day manual handling course is graded at a Level 2 QCF award and meets

HSE recommendations.

Core topics within the first aid course include resuscitation, secondary assessment, recovery position in limited spaces, chronic medical conditions as well as specialist burns, all delivered in a manner to ensure course participants understand relevance to inland and open water scenarios. The HSE approved course furthers the basic first aid techniques covered by the RYA’s one day first aid course and complements the existing portfolio of other BMMS courses accredited by governing bodies including the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency, Inland Waterways Association, National Community Boats Association and the Royal Yachting Association.

The four-day courses will be initially Midlands based on October 7-10, November 11-14 and December 16-19, 2013.

Companies and organisations requiring a group booking, or indeed anyone requiring further information, should contact the BMMS operations manager, Mr Gray, via the website: www.midlandmarine.co.uk

Anniversary weekend at Stourbridge STOURBRIDGE Navigation Trust hosts its 30th anniversary open weekend on October 19 and 20.

Attractions will include a boat rally, boat trips along the Stourbridge Town Arm and a evening boaters’ entertainment.

There will also be a display of vehicles in Canal Street including steam engines and organs with society stalls and children’s rides too. A large craft

fair will be held in the Bonded Warehouse.

Boat entry is £10 and the event is free to the general public. ● For boat and trade bookings contact Colin Clements on 01384 395216; vehicle enquiries to Chris Dyche on 01384 375582.

Halloween hauntings

DARE you be scared aboard the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s tripboat John Varley hearing ghostly tales of the towpath on Thursday, October 31.

Come to the Hollingwood Hub, Chesterfield S43 2PF, dressed up

for the 40-minute trips at 6pm, 6.45pm and 7.30pm and bring a torch. Trips cost £6 each, no concessions, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Prepayment and booking essential, ring 01246 551035.

Murder mystery spectacular

A Masquerade & Murder Mystery Spectacular will take place on October 30-31 at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port.

Starting at 6pm on both evenings, this promises to be a thrilling and totally interactive event for all the family.

Step into a live action murder mystery event that will take you across the museum grounds, exploring every dark corner for clues, interviewing suspects and collecting goodies along the way.

Cost is adults £5, children (under 16) £2, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Glow in the dark puppets MAKE it a Halloween to remember with all the family on the special children’s boat trips through Dudley’s underground caverns.

During the hour-long trips, you’ll meet the Groovy UV Entertainments Company and its amazing ‘glow in the dark’ Halloween puppets. There’ll be incredible lightshows, great family

entertainment and the kids are guaranteed lots of fun. There’ll be great prizes for the best fancy dress costume.

These events are always very popular and places are limited, so early booking is strongly advised. Contact Dudley Canal Trust on 0121 557 6265 or visit www.dudleycanaltrust.org.uk

Spooky Ship Shadow puppets CHILDREN can create their own spooky ship shadow puppet for Halloween at a drop-in workshop at Cutty Sark, Sammy Ofer Gallery in London on October 31.

This activity, inspired by Cutty Sark’s journeys to India, also includes the chance to see it come to life in your very own puppet show.

Suitable for all ages, the workshops will take place from

11.30am to 1.30pm and from 2-4pm. Admission charges apply (activities free with entry) £12 for adults (£9.50 concessions) and £6.50 for children aged 5-15.

Family tickets are priced at £20 (1 adult and 2 children) or £29 (2 adults and up to 2 children).

Tickets can be purchased online at www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark or by calling the bookings line on 0208 312 6608.

Tunnel trips

A WEEKEND of Halloween activities will take place at London Canal Museum, King’s Cross, on Saturday and Sunday October 26-27 from 4.30-9.30pm.

Take a unique Halloween trip through Islington Tunnel on board one of London’s community narrowboats specially decorated for the occasion with a friendly witch among the crew.

Be prepared for some surprise sights in the darkness of the 192-year-old tunnel. You may also meet a witch on your journey or before or after it! Kids receive sweets on board and a free glowstick.

Places are limited on each trip. Babies are counted even if they are carried in arms. The Canal Museum Trust sells boat trip places as agent for the Camden Canals and Narrowboat Association. Online booking is recommended at http://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/tunnel There will also be special activities for children in the museum including 20-minute ghost storytelling sessions on the hour from 4.30-8.30pm and the chance to explore the ‘corridor of fear’. Advance booking is not required for a museum visit without a boat trip. The museum is situated at 12-13 New Wharf Rd, London N1 9RT.

Spooktacular fun THE Queen’s House at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, will be hosting a spooktacular family fun day on October 31 from 11am-4pm.

Put on your scariest fancy dress and join us for a spooky, fun-filled day this Halloween at the bewitching Queen’s House.

There will be ghostly activities and scary entertainment for all, and prizes for the best costume.

This event is suitable for all ages; admission £12 per person, £40 for a family ticket (two adults and two children), free for under 3s. ● The museum is a short walk from the Cutty Sark DLR and Maze Hill and Greenwich train stations.

The closest tube stations are North Greenwich (to change to local buses) and Canary Wharf (to change to DLR), both on the Jubilee line.

For updated information prior to visit please visit http://www.rmg.co.uk or call 0208 858 6565.

64 PRODUCTS & SERVICES

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Learning how to paint your boat

FOR many the choice is simple, you find a professional boat painter, book a slot, wait your turn and pay your money.

Find a reputable painter and you’ve every reason to expect a top class job.

The downside – a considerable hit to the wallet, and for good reason.

Even a relatively minor scratch, if it can’t be buffed out, will probably entail repainting a whole panel. This means considerable prep work, several coats of none too cheap paint and above all time. And as we all know, time is expensive.

Well, help is now at hand through the initiative of one of the country’s top professional narrowboat painters.

Based at Debdale Wharf on the Grand Union Leicester Line, John Barnard has been steadily building an enviable reputation for the quality of his work having previously worked with and ultimately acquired the business from Dave Mundy.

Now operating from his own fully equipped, climate controlled workshop at the back of the marina, it’s perhaps not surprising that John’s become aware of the demand for a bit of professional advice from passers-by.

He explained: “On a regular basis I got guys popping their heads around the door asking things like ‘how do I deal

with this rust patch’, or ‘the sand’s lifting on my gunnel’ or ‘there’s damage on my roof’ or they’ve bumped this, scratched that or scraped the other.

“Obviously you try to help people out but after a little while I thought well, I might as well teach people how to do this properly because they’re going to be tackling these jobs anyway, so let’s see if we can help them finish a job that they can be proud of.”

Supported by Craftmaster paints and utilising the superb new all-weather facilities at Debdale Wharf, John bit the bullet and decided to launch his new painting school. Exhibiting at Crick Show, his calendar rapidly started to fill and he’s now sold out well into October.

A couple of satisfied customers from the first two-day course were David and Colin. As David said: “I was one of those people popping my head around John’s door, so when he told me about his plans for the course, I immediately put my name down.

“It was amazing what John managed to pack into the two days. There were four of us and we all had slightly different goals for what we wanted to achieve in the time available. One guy was interested in patching repairs, another in the more decorative aspects and me – I wanted to know how to

Course participants gain hands-on experience in the all-weather facilities at Debdale Wharf. PHOTOS SUPPLIED tackle a full repaint. The advantage of keeping numbers limited was that John could dedicate sufficient time to cater for us all.”

Colin on the other hand said: “One of the best things about the course for me was the inside knowledge you get of exactly what materials to buy and where to find them at the keenest prices. For example, go into your local DIY store and ask for 800 grade sanding pads and all you’ll get is blank looks. Now I’ve not only learnt what I need to be using to get the best results, but I also know that if I’m stuck I can give John a call and he’ll just pop what I need in the post.”

A variety of two days courses are on offer ranging from the introductory course described above to a specialist course in signwriting which John runs in association with acclaimed signwriter Phil Speight. Prices start from £240 for a weekend course including lunch and refreshments.

➔ Formoreinformation John Barnard Painting School for Narrowboats (07598 865684, jbarnard@hotmail.co.uk)

Helping people to finish a job they can be proud of.

Not just for boats

‘Which Marina’ charts the way to inland berths THE website www.whichmarina.com has a new, free mapping tool enabling boaters to research marinas in any given area and then plan their journey using the fully detailed marine charts.

The site is operated by the Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) which has teamed up with electronic chart company, Navionics, to provide a detailed listing of all its members on a full set of global nautical charts.

Whichmarina.com users can use ‘Geolocation’ to locate their computer

or portable device and then display details of local marinas with Gold Anchor ratings as well as using Google’s ‘Panoramio’ service to offer a full database of photos taken in the area.

TYHA General Manager, Gareth Turnbull said: “The new mapping tool makes it incredibly easy to plan a passage and locate suitable marinas, all from within one site. We’re pleased to say we are offering this new service free from any charge or subscription.”

Restoring colour and shine to your boat’s hard surfaces SUNSHINE, bad weather, airborne pollutants and salt water can cause gel-coat, GRP and superstructure paintwork to become dull and lifeless.

Bullet Polish has developed Bullet 357 to easily remove oxidation, swirls and light scratches from all paint finishes. Formulated from the manufacturer’s expertise in the American paint industry, Bullet 357 is gel-coat safe, safe for all types of paint and very user friendly.

In addition Bullet 357 can be applied by hand or with an orbital polisher and leaves a brilliant, swirl-free surface that maximises gloss and reflectivity.

Too much wax build up from previous polishing can give paintwork a white ‘bloom’ too, so remove it with panel wipe then use Bullet 357.

Once you have removed any problems in your paintwork you can then use Bullet Spray Carnauba Wax, an ‘all-in-one’ hull, deck and cabin coating for all previously polished surfaces of your boat. This ready to use spray Carnauba Wax is suitable for all hard surfaces including paintwork, chrome, glass fibre, gel-coat, stainless steel, brass and mirrors. ● Midland Chandlers is an authorised stockist of the complete range of Bullet Polish Europe Ltd products.

SMOKIE joe’s chimneys and bird cowls are now regularly spotted on the waterways and the range has now been expanded to include cowls for household logburners.

David Cook, proprietor of Smokie joe’s, explained: “A number of boaters told us that they experienced the same problems at home, with their logburners, that our cowls had solved for their boats – downdraft, lack of draw on the fire and heavy rain washing wet, smelly soot down the flue and into the burner.

“So, we set about examining the different sized flues that are used on the household burners, and increased the sizes of cowls and housings to fit accordingly.” They now offer both the bird shaped cowl and the ‘standard’ cowl to fit all major flue sizes.

David added: “We were also contacted by a couple of glamping (posh camping to me and you) holiday companies who now have installed bird cowls on the flues of the in-tent logburners and we are now working with a new company who make garden clay pizza ovens.”

Smokie joe’s will also continue to manufacture and supply chimneys to fit a 4¾in collar, with cowls to fit even though a lot of chandlers are discontinuing the size as demand falls. www.smokiejoes.co.uk

Alarm could save your life A SIMPLE electronic device costing only a few pounds should be fitted to all boats and yachts to drastically reduce the risk of long term health problems or even death from Carbon Monoxide fumes, says company boss Martin Clayton.

Martin, business development and strategy director at GTi insulation and draught proofing specialists of Dunoon, Argyllshire, warns that every fuel burning appliance used in boating gives off potentially lethal Carbon Monoxide (CO) fumes.

And a blocked flue or lack of ventilation seal cause a build up of CO fumes with tragic results.

“A CO detector alarm costs as little as

£19.99, with a battery that will last seven years and can save your life,” he said.

“We particularly recommend them for people staying on boats or yachts which often have fairly basic heating and cooking arrangements which can be particularly dangerous.”

The CO detectors are lightweight and unobtrusive in size (approx.

11x7x3cm). They are Kitemark certified to quality standard BS EN 50291-2 making them great for both domestic and portable use.

Available from www.safeeco.co.uk the digital Fire Angel CO-9X costs £25.99 and Fire Angel CO-9D £19.99, including postage.

Formoreinformation ➔ telephone 01369 702070, email info@gti-limited.com or visit www.gti-limited.com

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Dream Narrowboats Distinctive bespoke live-aboard specialist

It’s our business to make you a narrowboat to be proud of...

Our standard spec for every narrowboat...

s Vetus 4.17 engine with 3.5kw travel power s Victron 3000 inverter/charger s Vetus flush toilet with 215l waste tank s Vetus accumulator tank/ water pump s Morso Squirrel multi fuel stove s Full size washer/dryer s 12v fridge and 12v freezer s Full size shower s Solid ash (20mm) above gunnels & ceiling s Solid oak (18mm) floor throughout

Please contact us for a viewing, brochure or any query you may have tel Pauline on 01270 501047/07817 935639 email: dream_narrowboats@hotmail.co.uk Based in Middlewich Please call for directions

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For Sale

41ft SE SEA OttER aluminium cruiser narrowboat, 2007, 780 hours, extras fitted inc bow thruster, Webasto diesel c/h, cratch cover and a new “Wilsons of Kinver “ rear cover, mascerator toilet, accoustic insulation, m/wave, TV/DVD player, radio, cruising pack, anchor, chain, life rings, pins, lock handle, boat hook, uprated electronics, batteries, 6 berths, Nanni 29hp diesel engine, early viewing recommended, £55,000. Tel. 07884 108180.

Merseyside.

BIRCHWOOD CENtRE COCKPIt 33ft, 1978, aft cabin with ensuite, portaloo, wheelhouse,sleeps 3, galley with cooker and fridge, 11ft 6in beam, would make live aboard. Bargain at £17,000 or offers. Tel. 0115 7526274. Notts.

BLACK SAB 2003, 50ft trad stern, built by Price Fallows, ideal liveaboard or extended cruising, includes countryside mooring £25,000 ono; priced for quick sale. Tel. 07725 52645.

50ft NARROWBOAt for cheap share. kalegu@hotmail.com. Warks.

52ft CRUISER StERN NARROWBOAt 1992 by Shotbolt Engineering, rev layout, full covers, c/h to 3 rads, pump-out toilet, shower and vanity unit, lounge with sofa bed, Old Dutch diesel stove, Mitsubishi K4 engine, starter battery and 3 deep traction Trojan batteries, last blacked 12 months ago, new anodes fitted, BSS til 17, licensed til Jun 14, ready to cruise. Tel. 0789 5065648. W Yorks.

ALICE BLUEGOWN 58ft, 2005, completely refurbished, multi-fuel stove, gas ch, master volt 2kw invertor and battery management system with 130 amp 2nd alternator. Tel. 07917 445529. Bucks.

AtLANtA 24 cabin cruiser, 1988, 9.9 outboard electric start, good cond, new BSC when sold, anti-fouled and engine service Sept 12, nice starter boat!! Priced to sell. Tel. 07989 724110. Derbys.

AURORA 39ft Springer cruiser stern, Lister SR2 diesel engine, cabin sleeps 3, classic fuel burner, camping gaz stove, Morco gas heater, BSC 2016, last hull survey was 2011. Tel. 07855 501048. Northants.

BARNABY 1982 cruiser stern, 30ft Springer powered by Barrus Shire 1002, 3 cyl 25hp engine, plenty of extra power for river work, ready for cruising, moored Stourport basin, £14,000. 07780 790710. Stourport.

BARRUSSHIRE SPRINGER NARROWBOAt 1982, 30ft cruiser stern, 3 cylinder engine, 25hp, cassette toilet, shower, multi-fuel stove, fridge, oven, all equipment inc ready for cruising, BSS 2017. Tel. 07780 790710. glen_caulwell@hotmail.com moored at Stourport-on-Severn.

BROOM CRUISEMAStER 44ft, 12ft beam, GRP 1977, Thorneycroft 2.5, multi-fuel stove heating, 4 cabins, galley, head with shower, front well with seating and canopy, Norfolk broads, £36,000. Tel. 07760 353270.

Norfolk.

fREEMAN 33 SEDAN 1981, spacious 6 berth cruiser, twin Ford Sabre 120hp diesel engines, clean, well maintained, many extras, full s/steel deck rails inc sides, BSS Jan 2017, £29,950. Tel. 0113 2558393 or 07768 651090. S Yorks.

NAUtICUS 27 Canal cruiser, inland waterways, inboard diesel engine Ford marine, new oil seals and drive couplings to outdrive, hull cleaned and repainted. Please contact for more pics. BSS cert till 2/6/14. Email: hello546music@gmail.com Moored in Cheshire.

GRP BUCKINGHAM 30ft centre cockpit, 1981, BSC licence May 14, 5-berth, 5ft headroom, 20hp mariner elec start outboard, hob, grill and oven, hot/cold water, wood burning stove, all nearly new, soft furnishings with mooring, well worth a look, £6750 ono. Tel. 0781 6035201.

Lancs.

NORMAN 18ft CRUISER Honda 1.5 outboard, 2-berth, hob and grill, Safety Cert 2015, new canopy, twin rubber, solar panel, gas heater, porta potti, £3400 ono Tel. 01858 575766.

Northants.

HANCOCK & LANE NORSEMAN 50ft, 1980, 4 berths, re-bottomed, front & back decks replaced, amateur total refit, recent new Beta 1505 engine, just repainted, 150 gal water, £20,000 ono. Tel. 01827 708350.

Tamworth.

CANAL NARROWBOAt 28ft, 2005, excellent condition, it has a up to date service history, BSC or MoT was done late 2012 to be retested 2017, been reblacked 2013. Tel. 07799 5284444. Warks.

IRON RIVEtED NARROWBOAt 54ft, Lister LR/50, as new, licence 2014, BSC 2015, blacked 2012, live aboard, £18,000. Tel. 07938 060459.

Kennet & Avon.

CRUISER StERN 40ft , built in 1991, good condition, BSC 2016, license Jul 14, blacked Feb, new engine 800 hours only, 2013, fully equipped, ready to cruise, £20,000. Tel. 07703 473202. Llangollen.

LOOKING tO SWAP 57 x 10 wide beam, built in 2011, finished to very good standard for a 57ft narrow around 30/40k with cash to match the value of my boat. Only serious offers please. Only serious offers please Tel. 07525 146833. Notts.

CRUISER StERN Narrowboat built 1997, current BSS cert expires Jul 17, hull exc cond, surveyed and blacked Apr 13, engine refurbished, elecs renewed and new anodes fitted Apr 13, £15,000. Offers invited. Tel. 07814 822161. Coventry.

CRUISER StERN NARROWBOAt 49ft, by Kingfisher Marine 1989, bottom overplated 2007, hull survey Jun 13, bottom anti-fouled Jun 13, top repainted Jul 13, BSC Jul 17. Tel. 07950 240210. Cambs.

DARtLINE NARROWBOAt 38ft, 1994 cruiser, lovely condition inside and out, just been painted and reblacked, engine serviced. Ready to go, £22,950. Tel. 01244 336484.

Chester.

EMMELINE Semi-trad narrowboat from Heritage, reverse layout, Paris model, 62ft, 2008, BSS cert May 2016, bottom blacked Aug 13, shower, 4-berth, ideal live aboard, exc cond, £64,000. Tel. 07866 133777. Leics.

NORMAN 22 ,all new from hull upwards,1” oak floor, new back decking,new bed new blinds,marina 55 engine,for more pics,email me, including furnisher, just wants painting.

Tel. 07906 826160. Derbys.

NORMAN CABIN CRUISER 23ft, recently refurbished, 3/4 berth, Honda 15 elec start outboard motor, sep toilet compartment with cassette toilet, BSC til 2017, license til Oct 13, £6,000. Tel. 01785 823487. Stafford.

PRINCESS 32 1975, twin Volvo petrol, Boat Safety till 2015, v tidy boat, p/x considered, moored at Boroughbridge marina, worth viewing, £15,000. Tel. 07531 146160. N Yorks.

SARK 43ft CRUISER 1991 cruiser stern built by Stenson, professionally painted by John Sanderson and reblacked, 40hp Lister engine, 1900 hrs, Alde gas heating, lined in oak/mahogany, £36,500. Tel. 01384 591071. W Mids.

SEAMAStER 30 GRP cruiser, 6 berths in three cabins, twin diesels, gas heating, two heads, calorifier, fridge, etc,four batteries, anchor, ropes, fenders, ready to go. £15,000 for quick sale. Tel. 07594 956921. E Yorks.

SEMI tRAD NARROWBOAt 57ft, 2005, Price Fallows shell, Halco fitout, BSC 2017, 2500 hrs on Beta 38 engine, fixed double, dinette, fridge, washing machine, diesel c/h, woodburner, cassette wc, exc cond, blacked 2012, £49,950. Tel. 07973 661581. Wilts.

SHEtLAND 535 with road trailer and Yamaha 9.9hp outboard, BSS until March 2015, £2150. Tel. 07790 635233. Shrops.

SHEtLAND fAMILY fOUR a great little starter boat for someone who is new to boating, this boat is in great working condition and ready for immediate use, recently waxed and anti-fouled July 2013, engine fully serviced May 2013, Safety Cert til Jul 14, lovely interior, well looked after, £2900. Tel. 07802 193770.

MALLARD DARtLINE 1994, 38ft, cruiser stern narrow canal boat, recently blacked and painted to good standard, Isuzu engine 42hp, 2 berth, new BSC, lovely cond all round, £26,750 ono. Tel. 01244 336484.

Cheshire.

RIVERVIEW NARROWBOAt built on an Alexander shell, serviced every 250hrs/annually whichever comes first, bottom blacked every 2 yrs, licensed till Feb 14, BCS 2016, £49,500. Tel. 07850 281311 for further details. k2kck@btinternet.com Leics.

SPECIAL NARROWBOAt 40ft but blanked off at the stern so that it can be extended to 70ft, fitted out and usable with out board or connected to 60ft mother boat also on sale for £40,000, £30,000. Tel. 07598 831752. London.

MARINER 520 Retro offers luxury/space, many extras, folding canopy, rope fenders etc, with 15hp outboard, takes 8 board river/6 sea boarders, reduced due to ill health, £6500. Tel. Dave 07768 187923. E Yorks.

RIVEtED IRON WORKING BOAt 1909, new bottom and footings 2005, counter rebuilt 2010, Dorman 2DWD engine, Epping Range, 2 x 600 gallon diesel tanks and pump in hold, hull survey 2010, £30,000 no offers, no time wasters. Tel. 07913 761871. Oxon.

SPRINGER CRUISE StERN 36ft, 3 berth, recently painted, BMC 1.5 diesel, full size cooker, diesel heater, shower, fridge, water heater and cassette toilet, open plan layout, BSC to Aug 15, £16,000 ono. Tel. 01332 391658. Derbys.

NARROWBOAt Dutch barge style, built by Piper Boats 2001, 4 berth, s/f stove feeding 3 rads, shower and sink, galley with Wallas diesel hob and oven, bow thruster. Tel. 07980 315709. W Yorks.

RUSHtON LADY 45ft cruiser stern narrowboat, built 2000, 4 berth cross fixed d/bed and dinette, will convert, pump-out toilet, shower.

Beta marine engine, moored Rufford, £25,000. Tel. Peter Eccleston 01772 681920. Lancs.

SPRINGER NARROWBOAt 30ft Lowena Vetus Mitsubishi 3 Cyl Engine with ZF automatic gearbox, lovingly restored, panelled throughout in pine, moored on River Avon at Wyre Piddle Pershore. £14,550. Email: peter_johnson59@hotmail.com

SPRINGER NARROWBOAt Springer, 1991, 27ft narrowboat, cruiser stern, BSC 2015, 3 berth, exc cond, ready to cruise, Thornycroft 2cyl engine, c/w marina mooring if required at Welford. Tel. Jim 07769 642473. Northants.

VIKING 23ft 4-berth, exc order, Honda 20, full s/h, full cooker, mains + 12v fridge + electrics, light oak woodwork, 13 years old, with mooring on Lancaster canal, £17,000. Tel. 07779 776508. W Yorks.

StEEL CABIN CRUISER Inboard Yanmar, clean & tidy, one d/bed, c/w purpose built 1 year old trailer, fits all canals, 2 x capacitor batteries, gas fridge/cooker/oven/fridge, great cond, £8950 can deliver. Tel. Steve 07768 211612. Gwent.

WIDE BEAM 55* 10.5ft, 2006, trad style with 60 sq ft cruiser stern, twin berth king size bed, new 12v fridge and 2* 80w solar panels, large water/diesel/pump out tanks, elec toilet, 7kw multi-fuel fire, washing machine, 2.5kw sterling inverter, Barrus 50 engine PRM gearbox, £64,000. Tel. 07771 638570. Herts.

StOWE HILL CLASSIC 52ft, semitrad, 1990, 38hp Beta engine new 2009, mooring at Thrupp, Oxford Canal, 2+2 berths, continuously maintained, hull blacked and new anodes 2013, BSC Dec 14, £47,500.

Tel. 01525 242280. Oxon.

WIDEBEAM CRUISER StERN 57ft, beautiful ash woodwork throughout, 2 beds, masses storage. Mooring available, details on website at www.emex.co.uk £79,500. Tel. Brian on 07881728622. bgl@blueiq.co.uk Berks.

tINCAN 57ft long, 45hp Yanmar diesel, built 2010, 12v/220v inverter, mint cond. Tel. 07886 131644. Glos.

tRAD NARROWBOAt 62ft Stoke on Trent, built 2003, live aboard with full Mikuni c/h + wood/coal stove, 4 berth, blacked Jun 12, BSC til Aug 14, c/w many extras, £58,995. Tel. 07809 705814. Herts.

tRAD StERN NARROWBOAt 36ft, 1985, BSC 2016. lic 04/14, Farrymann twin diesel. More photos on request, wood burner, full size cooker, porta potti, new bed settee, fridge, shower. Tel. 01905 620613. Worcs.

tUG NARROWBOAt 58ft, 2009, Gardner 4L2 engine developing 40hp @ 1000 revs, deck, s/f stove, Eberspacher to 3 rads, blacked Aug 13, £69,950. Tel. 07864 026116. S Yorks.

tUG StYLE NARROWBOAt 50ft for sale. Built 2000. Brand New fit out. New Beta 38 within engine room.

Wood burning stoves in back and front cabins, 1600 Inverter, Speed Wheel. 4 Berth. Just Blacked & New Anodes, C of C to 2016. Reduced to £36950. Tel. Ann or Dennis 0161 4296925; 07786 696228.

WORKING BOAt 1909, riveted iron, new bottom and footings 2005, counter rebuilt 2010, Dorman 2DWD engine, Epping Range, 2 x 600 gall diesel tanks and pump in hold, £30,000 no offers; no time wasters Tel. 07913 761871. Oxfordshire.

37ft NARROWBOAt Lister 3 cylinder, 27hp Canal Star, 4 berth, 2 cabins, permanent made up bed in cabin, 2/2 settee berths, make second double, m/wave, fridge, cooker, s/f stove, VHF, £23,950. Tel. 01482 812816. W Yorks.

31ft X 9.1/2 MOTOR CRUISER 31ft x 9.1/2 motor cruiser make RLM twin Perkins diesel, z drives 4 yrs CoC, ideal for river or sea, offers over £19,000 or swap for narrowboat. Tel. 07882 191948. Cheshire.

60ft LIVE ABOARD Professionally fitted out, 2.2 Barras engine-serviced Jul 12, loads of storage, prof repainted & blacked Oct 12, BSS cert to Aug16. Residential mooring available, £59,950 ovno. Tel. 07932 458951. Leics.

32ft STEEL NARROWBOAT cruiser style, BMC 1.5, 12v fridge inverter, s/f stove, £6000. Lying N Shroppie. Tel. 01743 855492. N Wales.

40ft NARROWBOAT all steel, 12 month's licence, 4 years Safety Certificate, unfinished, easy project, £13,000 ono. Tel. 07706 577100. W Yorks.

CREIGHTON CRUISER 1972, 32ft Creighton, refurbished canal cruiser, Perkins original engine, drive overhauled 2012, two cabins 4/6 berth new Morco water heater, new cassette toilet, shower, DVD player, radio/CD, 1000 watt inverter, fridge, cooker, home from home, ready to sail away, fitness ticket till December 2015, licence till April 2014, £9250.

Tel. 07921 887374. Mooring available in Cheshire.

FIBROCELL SEA BEE 3 outboard motor, £150. ono Tel. 07719 402983 anytime. Notts.

LES ALLEN 40ft trad 2-berth, £26,000. Tel. 07940 472635. Beds.

MOTOR SAILOR solid mahogany, oak, Iroko, 4 berth, 35ft, 84hp diesel engine, saloon, back cabin, sleeps 4, satnav, VHF, CofC, £9500. Tel. 07704 409857. Lincs.

R&D TRAD 47ft, complete refit internally, new upholstery, mattresses, port holes throughout, 1.8 BMC, rebuilt 2013, needs blacking and outside paint, p/x 60+ ft trad, £25000. Tel. 07907 315604 for full spec. Cambs.

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NORMAN CRUISER 23ft, 10hp Honda outboard motor, build 1984, good cond, recently reupholstered, new porta loo, £6995. Tel. 07772 801182. S Yorks.

NORMAN CRUISER 20ft cruiser, Honda 9.9hp engine, 2 x 2 berth sink and portaloo, BSS 2017, good condition, £2000 for quick sale. Tel. 0116 2302322. Leics.

P/X NARROWBOAT 70ft Kingsground fit-out, residential mooring available Worcester, for widebeam plus cash. Tel. 07973 399308. Worcs.

RINNAI BTU 150 REV 58E, instantaneous water heater, as new; Volvo Penta £110 outboard, serviced late last year 9-9H spare motor, £60. Tel. 0114 2461170. S Yorks.

SHETLAND 2x2 1.5 BMC diesel, new fuel pump injectors, starter, alternator, lift pump, prop de-coke, head gasket etc, 4 years BSS on trailer, p/x swap possible, £3495. Tel. 07848 986071. W Yorks.

SPRINGER NARROWBOAT 1982, 30ft cruiser stern, Barrus shire 3 cyl engine, 25hp, cassette toilet, shower, multi-fuel stove, fridge, oven, all equipment inc ready for cruising, BSS 2017. Tel. 07780 790710. Stourport on Severn.

TRADER 41 1989, twin caterpillar 260hp, aft deck controls, aft canopy, fully equipped, Avon RIB, 15hp outboard, berthed Turkey, usual value £120,000, bargain at £60,000. Tel. 01405 869542; 0090 536 886 0731.

E Yorks.

LADDER CHASSIS 46ft long, will carry 60ft boat, steering axles f&r, towable, available now, we used it to tow 60ft narrowboat no problems!

Tel. 01772 690666. Lancs.

MORSE CONTROL ALLOY HOUSING, paint worn but could be polished for nice effect, mechanically sound, £50. 07811 314112. Leics.

WHALE PUMP new, still boxed, £35.

Tel. 01932 707165. Surrey.

Parts For Sale

ENGINE SUMP OIL PUMP all brass, £20. Tel. 07811 314112. Warks.

HONDA 100 ENGINE 4 stroke, 10 hp outboard engine, can be seen running on boat, £400. Tel. 01509 646479. Leics.

2X HURTH GEARBOXES HBW100 condition unknown, HBW50 dismantled but complete, clutch was slipping, £30. for bot Tel. 07794 203949. .

BMC 1.5 engine, £400.50; BMC 1.8 diesel fuel pump, new, £400.50; Seagull long shaft, 2T petrol pull start, £200; Colette gas cooker, 3 hob, grill, oven, £90.Tel. 07527 726047. Shrops.

6 ROUND FENDERS approx 23” dia brand new and never used, collect from near Mansfield or Mercia Marina, £16 each. Tel. 01623 823662.

Derbys.

ADVERC battery management system, good working order, £50. Tel. 07807 571420. Clwyd.BOAT WINDOWS new, unused, made by Wesley Marine Ltd, clamp in type, green p/coated finish, 6 windows DBV 30” x 19”, arched tops and 4 port holes, 12.5”, one with obscure glass, £550; buyer collects. Tel. 07985 734731. W Yorks.

BRASS FT HEAD OF Water Gauge 6’’ dia, highly polished, suit vintage engine room, £15. Tel. 07776 393427. Collect Northants/Warks.

BRONZE PROPELLOR 20"/21", left hand screw 11⁄2"-1" taper shaft, in good order, been rebalanced, £80 ono. Tel. 07801 023443. Cheshire.

3KW PURE SINE-WAVE inverter with remote control, v good working order, £450 ono. Tel. 07807 571420.

Clwyd.

w w w .nationalnarrow boatsforcash.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM CANAL NAVIGATIONS original cast iron bridge plate, 34 x 19", notice of insufficient weights, limits beyond ordinary traffic of the district by order, vgc, rare historic object, £250. 01252 713054. W Surrey.

BOAT WINDOWS for sale, new unused by Wesley marine, in green p/coated finish, clamp in type, 10 windows in all, 6 x 30" x 19" arched top and 4 x 12.5" portholes, £550. buyer to collect Tel. 07985 734731. W Yorks.

DIESEL GENERATOR air cooled, diesel, CE 150 9001, electric start, 2/115v outlets, 1/240v outlet, 3.8kw constant, 4.2kw max, only run four hours, £420 ono. Tel. 07801 023443.

Cheshire.

GARDNER 4LK diesel engine, completely stripped and rebuilt to a very high finish by Gardner trained engineer, with new and exchange parts, aluminium flywheel housing and solid mounts, polished aluminium and chromed pipes, ideal for a narrowboat. Tel. 01254 202341. Lancs.

HONDA VERTICAL STARTER for BF75/100, £30; Honda workshop manual for B75, £10; Teleflex CC33 (heavy duty) engine control cables, gc, one 3.5m long and one 3m long, £12 each. 02920 735335. S Glam.

LISTER HA3 gearbox, reduction box and silencer, £2500. Tel. 01283 810005. Derbys.

TRAILER 95” long, 60” wide, box size 54” x 42”, spare wheel, drop down tailgate, will stand on end for easy storage, £125 ono Tel. 01924 273783. W Yorks.

GLAZED ROOF PANEL toughened, glass brass anodised, 50cm x 50cm, new, £40 ono. Tel. 01939 236129.

Shrops.

HURTH GEARBOX HBW50-2P with backplate and driveplate CBR & D22B8, £250; propeller 17X12 1.5in shaft, £200; bell housing for BMC 1.5, £75. Tel. 01283 810005. Derbys.

KINGFISHER ENGINE Model KD14, twin cylinder horizontal water cooled 4-stroke diesel 12hp, electric starter, good cond, £375. buyer collects. Tel. 01252 547057. Hants.

KINGFISHER GEARBOX Model (MA100), will fit Kingfisher (KD26), gwo, £120 ovno; buyer collects. Tel. 07974 980692. Lincs.

KINGFISHER STARTER MOTOR fits Kingfisher KD26, good working order, buyer collects, £55. ovno Tel. 07974 980692. Lincs.

POLAR END CAP A/636 for manifold, nearly new, unused, £25. inc post. Tel. Jane 07940 308006. E Yorks.

SELLING UP loads of bits and bobs for sale, gearboxes, generator, alternator, anchor, buyers market. Tel. Dave 0777 3502529 for details. Man. KIPOR DIGITAL GENERATOR Camp mate, KGE 980TC, £120. Tel. 07765 335344. Macclesfield Canal.

LISTER FREEDOM Blackstone gearbox, 2-1 reduction, £3500. Tel. 07563 188944. Staffs.

OLDER MODEL SINGLE LEVER Morse control in good condition. ideal to replace your worn out unit or as a small unit for general use, £.00 Buyer collects (East Yorkshire) or delivery at cost £30. Tel. 077100 38070. .

PORT HOLES solid brass, (marine grade), quality craftsman made, brass screws/nuts, Neoprene gaskets, laminated glass, 51/2in dis, set 4 (pigeon box), £80; set 2 91⁄2in dia, £55. Tel. 01252 713054. W Surrey.

PRM 260 D3 drop centre gearbox, 3-1 reduction, low hours, £300. Tel. 07576 675853. Berks.

SINGLE LEVER MORSE CONTROL Older model, good cond, ideal to replace your worn out unit or as a small unit for general use, £30 buyer collects Tel. 7710038072. E Yorks.

STARTER BATTERY TYPE 334 12v, 700 CCA 95AH, h/duty narrowboat or cruiser, battery purchased in error, new with 4 year guarantee, also fit Land Rover, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan narrowboat size and terminals as picture £75 buyer collects Tel. 02380 404541; 07812 398142. Hampshire.

PartsWanted WANTED! SEALAND traveller toilet basin and seat, any model/any age!

Will pay of course. We have everything we need for our new pump out but now need the final part! Also interested in other similar gravity discharge/dump through basins. Tel. 0757 8066804. Middx.

Miscellaneous

CANAL WATER BARREL Roses, Castles and Diamonds, painted by Alan Barnet, £130. Tel. 07713 177304. Coventry.

AUTOMATIC SATELLITE DISH (Travel sat), perfect working order. £350; buyer to collect. Tel. 07766 590383. Cheshire.

BT ROLATRUC 2,300kg capacity, pallet pump, truck, £50. Tel. 07717 660185. Staffs.

GLEMBRING c/h hot water diesel drip heater, s/s body, chimney and day tanks, 2 rads 1000 by 500, 3 rads 400 by 500, £195. Tel. 07884 480638.

Derbys.

KINGS AVON 1 twin tub washer for boat or caravan, vgc, £35; one single tub mini wash, good cond, £20; Cyclapse folding bike, 6 gears, good cond, £40. Tel. 01909 530634. Notts.

EPPING STOVE c/w flue (27in approx), collar & chimney, good cond, little used, Offers. Tel. 07870 313088.

Northants.

2-SEATER SOFA custom made, craftsman built sofa by Duresta, arms fold down to convert to single bed, coil sprung hardwood frame (25 yr guarantee), exclusive hardwearing material, immac, 3 years old, rarely used, cost £500 Seen on boat. Tel. 07732 684008; 07930 319176.

Notts/Leics.

ADULT MOUNTAIN BIKE folding frame/pedals etc, 21-sp Shimano gears, twist grip change, Shimano disc brakes, f&r suspension, 26" wheels/alloy rims, met blue, like new, £60. Tel. 01252 713054. W Surrey.

BATH white fibreglass, inc taps, 61cm wide, 122cm long, 36cm high, good cond, £40 ono. Tel. 01327 879461. Northants.

BUOYANCY AID 3 medium body weight 38kg - 64kg + 1 extra large body weight 76kg + good cond as expected for safety items, £30. Tel. 02380 404541; 07812 398142.

Hants.

BUBBLE CORNER DIESEL STOVE 4kw back boiler, fully controllable to regulate temp, exc cond, completely cleaned, still plumbed to show how it functions, £550 buyer collects. Tel. 07988 097869. W Yorks.

ELECTROLUX FRIDGE RM212 mains/12v/gas, clean cond. Tel. 07794 203949.

FREEMAN BACK CUSHION and Freeman window, £20 each. Tel. 01932 707165. Surrey.

HONDA OUTBOARD OWNERS MANUAL, good condition, £8. Tel. 01932 707165. Surrey.

JCB PETROL CHAINSAW hardly used, £50 ono. Tel. Dave on 07773 502529. Man. LARGE AMOUNT of canal and river maps to sail from Calais to the Med by many routes plus many other helpful books, many are new but all are in a good useable condition. For details, Tel. 07954 584998. S Yorks.

MACERATOR TOILET brand new, white ceramic, c/w lid and connecting cable to 12v power, was installed on friends boat but never used, £150 ovno. Tel. 07541 830658. Walsall.

6KW MOTOR used once, bow lamp reg'd, dry suit, 5ft 7", never worn, Tel. 01244 378779. Chester.

THETFORD CASSETTE TOILET swivel bowl, Model C200cw, clean and tidy, requires cassette, £35. Tel. 07884 480638. Derby.

MOUNTAIN BICYCLE fully folding frame/pedals etc, metallic blue, adult size 26” alloy wheels, 21-sp Shimano gears, Shimano disc brakes, s/stand, superb, as new, f&r suspension, £60.

Tel. 01252 713054. W Surrey.

PRINT: Edward Heath on Morning Cloud, framed, 32" x 25", signed by Edward Heath and artist Robert Taylor, No 504 or 850, £110 ono. Tel. 01433 631564; 07903 093630 buyer collects. Derbys.

ROYAL PORTA POTTY brand new, never used, 9in, 12v TV, with boosted aerial, boat hook 3.9 propane windlass, bottle (full), small 12v fridge, one new fender, 2 Butane gas heaters, with refills, 1.12v heater, 3 good mooring ropes, bottles, toilet fluid, £180. ono the lot Tel. 07749 545812. Notts.

SHORLINE FRIDGE 12v, good working condition, ice box and salad box, white with brushed s/s silver door, 855" high, 500" wide, 600" deep, £150. Tel. 07805 762411; 07906 962414. Oxon.

SMALL SINK s/s, £8; chrome taps, £4 each all new. £8. Tel. 01932 707165. Surrey.

TORNEAU used, for semi-trad stern narrowboat, black, gc, size approx 1050 x 1050 plus doorway drop, only £30. Tel. 07541 830658. Walsall.

WASH BASIN and vanity unit inc taps, white gloss, unused, exccond, 40cm wide, 83cm high, 22cm deep, £60 ono. 01327 879461. Northants.

WINDOWS 21” x 36”, bow top, in black, good condition, £200 ono.

Tel. 07973 302248. W Mids.

WORKTOP AND TABLE TOP clothes washer and Creda spin drier, both 240v, but been used via inverter over last 3 yrs, both like new, proper working order. Tel. 07929 856764 and ask for May. Notts.

XM QUICK FIT adult life jacket, inflatable manual, red, worn once, £25; Seago childs 40kg life jacket, inflatable, automatic, worn once, £15. Tel. 01594 541320; 075800 96651. Glos.

Wanted THE BOAT SHOP UK Leighton Buzzard. We buy boats in any condition, boats needing welding work or refitting, cash available for the right boats. Tel. 07971 305880; 07742 260961. (T).

NARROWBOAT WANTED to rent or buy, attractive terms offered, moored in marina. Tel. 01908 397208. Bucks.

DUTTON DOUBLE long reach windlass. Tel. 01455 212226; 0777 3498939. Warks.

GOOD GENERAL HAND with most nautical skills, would like involvement in boat/ship restoration or recycling, - even abandoned hulks!!

Retired and willing to travel. Tel. 01722 323388. Wilts.

GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Swap 4 bed house in Spain for 60ft narrowboat, house is 1 hour inland from Malaga in a white village, all amenities nearby, 360 degree views from large top terrace. Tel. 07925 340130.

LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED BOAT USERS to share a privately owned canal boat for a minimum of 2 years, price based on 4 weeks - 2 in summer and 2 at other times. For further details tel. 07809 374430.

Northants.

LOST CAT: Westport Lake visitor moorings, Stoke-on-Trent, since night of 1 August, black, about 2 years old, female, no tail, microchipped. If you had a stowaway or spot her please text or tel. 07860 870789. Staffs.

HAPPY WANNABE BOATING couple, looking for a live aboard narrowboat, to rent/lease/buy 57ft-70ft 4 berth + West Midlands based (have poss mooring available), we are looking to live on it permanent, not short term. Tel. Graham 07903 883971.

MIDDLE-AGED BOATING COUPLE relocating to the UK are seeking a furnished flat/house to rent from private from October 2013 until we have found our dreamboat to move onto.All areas considered. Please email us at: mcummins@web.de NATURE LOVING GENTLEMAN Retired, own canal boat, would like to meet a nice genuine lady, age unimportant, likes car boots, antiques, Tel. Tony 07717 257867. Lincs.

PROJECT NEEDED anything considered, fire damage, water damage, unfinished project or just a neglected boat. Immediate payment. Tel. 07940 579012. Warks.

RETIRED BOAT BUDDY male/female required to accompany female for cruising GU over the summer/autumn, own boat not essential. Tel. 07855 501048. Northants.

SOUTHERN BASED MALE boat owner, 60, seeking younger fit and active male boating buddy. Tel. 07745 479294. Surrey.

TRAD NARROWBOAT 50ft, 1999, BSC 217, good condition, exchange for cruiser, stern narrowboat, cash either way, why? Tel. 07944 845322 for more details. Notts.

TWO RETIRED GENTS from South Africa have rented a 6 berth canal boat sailing from Sawley marina near Lung Eaton for 3 weeks starting 1st Sept We need a maximum of four suitable companions. Please reply if interested tel. 01642 641859.

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BOAT BUILDER

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BOAT SHARE

CANOPIES

Boat Safety Scheme BOATS ROSS Examinations,covering Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. Mob: 07966 625758 for full details or email rossboats@ntlworld.com. www.rossboats.com RO495454L

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ENGINES

FENDERS

HEATING

DIESEL FIRED HEATING ENGINEER

For sale: Gardner 3LW fully restored. We also have 2LW, 4LK, 4LW, 5LW and the LX's. Tel: 07802572441 www.tangentengineering.co.uk

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MOORINGS Secure offline freehold mooring land FOR SALE, boats and shed for sale, 5 miles from London freeholdmooring@yahoo.co.uk 07598 831752 MA496364L

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MOBILE MARINE ELECTRICIAN

ALVECOTE MARINA

Rural moorings set on the Coventry canal • • • • •

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Lee turns his tasty dream into reality

THE summer sunshine has made an eye-catching boat on the River Lee a very welcome sight to hot passers-by.

After a complete strip down and repaint, the appropriately renamed Ice Dreamz arrived at her mooring on the edge of the Lee Valley Country Park in time for owner Lee Heron to make the most of the remaining weeks of the summer holidays to sell ice creams.

He believes his is the only boat on the network selling soft ice cream following eight months and a lot of blood, sweat, tears and advice from fellow boaters at Stansted Abbots marina where the transformation took place. He also welcomed the support of the Canal & River Trust which found him a mooring.

Lee told Towpath Talk: “My advice to anyone looking at a boat renovation would be to do the homework first; it is far more intense than you could imagine but well worth it.”

Having persuaded his father, who lives on the canal, to sell ice cream from his

narrowboat it didn’t take Lee long to spot the potential and a gap in the market so he bought an almost 40-yearold Norman 23 cruiser, Countess Beryl, for £1250.

It took him about a week to get up and running with slight modifications to the interior, a good clean and the addition of a soft ice cream machine.

“After a slow year and a few teething issues with the engine I decided she was overdue a diesel conversion and had a 1.7 Isuzu engine transplanted from a Vauxhall Combi van. At the same time I gave her a much needed rub down and coat of paint in red and white.

“Although she still looked fresh following my second year I really wanted to pull her out of the water and paint the bottom of the hull and antifoul.”

So, in December 2012, Lee had the boat pulled out and proceeded to strip the paint off the hull which opened up a huge can of worms. “I stripped eight layers of paint off the hull by hand with

Work in progress.

the help of a bladed scraper. I then decided to replace the rubbing strakes and fender that protects the rim of the boat. It was a lot of expense and work but I finally got down to a surface I could work with, I then proceeded to rub her down to the gel-coat.”

It was at this stage that Lee noticed an oil leak from the rear z-drive and after a struggle he took it to an Enfield z-drive specialist to have sorted. He also replaced the propeller and gaskets.

“I then proceeded to undercoat and antifoul the hull and at this stage I was thinking just a light rub down and repaint for the cabin and replace the

Lee’s £1250 purchase – Countess Beryl. window rubbers. Again this was taken to its limits and I rethought the whole thing and decided to strip right back. So again, rain, snow and shine, I spent a lot of man hours stripping her back and putting her in primer. At this stage the hull had its topcoat and was placed back in the water where I finished painting the top half and replaced the windows.

I then leatheretted the back deck, added

the vinyl decals keeping the muchloved ‘mind that duck’ pun, added chimes and away I went.

“Looking back I would do it all again; the transformation is incredible – at times I thought about giving up but I am so pleased I didn’t.”

As well as the soft ice cream, Lee also serves 24 different flavours of snow cones, assorted drinks and light snacks.

A welcome sight for hot passers-by. But it’s a case of mind that moorhen, rather than duck, after one decided to build a nest.

From the Medway to the Middle Level , but what had changed?

Reader Dave Biggs returns to fenland waters after four years away.

HAVING spent four years on the Medway on our narrowboat Rise’n’Shine I thought it was time to bring it back to the Middle Level.

Having secured home moorings, we arranged for Jackson Transport of Stanground, Peterborough, to haul us by road to his Nene boatyard for a Boat Safety Certificate, blacking and general tidy up.

On Saturday, April 27, we went back on board, stayed at the yard and, after making arrangements with the Middle Level lock keeper, we set off at midday on the Monday to cruise the boat around the Middle Levels and to its new mooring.

The lock keeper was very helpful; the gate to the Nene was waiting open and there they were all ready to see us through, we didn’t even need to leave the boat. The day was typical of this year’s spring and summer, not quite raining but dull, overcast and cold.

After an uneventful afternoon’s cruising we moored for two nights at Aspline, Whittlesey, public mooring. I

have always liked Whittlesey with its nice array of shops and eating places.

We had a day to check out all the boat and make sure that after the Medway and salt water all was well. It is amazing how much damage salt water can do to a boat.

Setting off we went through Aspline Lock, a nice easy lock with wonderful moorings each side. It is well looked after and maintained, as is everything found in this part of the country. Next stop was March town centre. What a difference four years make, new moorings at the country side of the town, alongside the park and it looked like another mooring was being installed near the doctors’ surgery. In the centre of March there were a few moorings left – it is very popular being the main link route from the River Nene (Grand Union Canal and beyond) to the Great Ouse and Ely, St Ives, Huntingdon, even one day when the Bedford to Milton Keynes is completed, a great ring back to the Grand Union Canal.

Welcome sight

March was a welcome sight. We stayed overnight before checking out the home mooring and then decided to cruise round the system. We retraced our previous route towards Whittlesey, but this time turning on to the Old Nene toward Benwick and finally Ramsey. At Benwick a coalition of parish council, Middle Level and Peterborough Branch of the IWA have installed a really nice 48 hour mooring, we didn’t use it this time but will in the future; we cruised on to the lovely town of Ramsey.

Arriving late afternoon we found the total opposite to March at the turning point. All the old moorings have been ripped up, with no effort to replace them. Turning was tight, with a liveaboard moored in the turning circle. There is only one place to moor at night and this could obstruct turning of boats. If March puts out a great welcome to the boating fraternity it was totally different with Ramsey; it might as well put up big signs ‘boaters

not welcome’. A pity for the town is nice with two supermarkets, another minimarket in town itself with a very good fish and chip shop, teashop, baker, hardware shop that sells almost anything, and various other shops. A real missed chance for the town and district council. At Ramsey there is also a marina at Bill Fen about halfway down the cut which has a chandlery and somewhere to stop for repairs. So come on Ramsey let’s see some improvement at the riverfront.

So far, other than the one at Ramsey, we had not seen another boat on the system; that is a pity when there is so much to offer. Setting the engine gear we set off along the Forty Foot. Still nice to see how many people and drivers wave as they passed us by, yes it’s 4mph on this system. Nice and slow and gives you time to watch the world go by and admire the scenery. Turning at the end of the Forty Foot it was onto to the 16 foot. You can no longer get onto the Old Bedford and Salterslode due to long term closure by the Environment Agency of the locks. It has been something like 10 years of closure of this right of navigation.

We stayed the night at Three Holes, once again a 48 hour mooring supplied in partnership by the parish council, Middle Level and Peterborough IWA. Another very nice mooring with a little shop selling the usual foodstuffs and papers; it also supplies hot snacks and drinks. Run by a young couple, it is well worth stopping off and calling in.

The next day we travelled about two hours to March and onward to our home mooring.

Well, after an absence of four years, we were welcomed back with the friendliness that the area is well known for. If you’re ever passing through the system put a few days aside and you will find that it will be well worth it. There are pubs where you can get a drink and food, quiet rural cruising and nice people. ● Have you had a memorable journey you would like to share? Write to Towpath Talk, see address details on P109, or email: editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

104 BOAT SAFETY/ON SCOTTISH WATERS with Hugh Dougherty

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Staying safe on your boat With autumn upon us and winter just around the corner, Clive Penny of the Association of Boat Safety Examiners looks at ways to stay safe when using solid fuel stoves.

THE Boat Safety Scheme website has lots of useful information about how to stay safe when using solid fuel stoves and has guidance that is supported by the Solid Fuel Association (SFA), HETAS, the Stove Industry Association, and the Solid Fuel Technology Institute (Soliftec).

Using information that has been gathered about solid fuel stove incidents, the BSS points to the risks.

Over-firing

Each year boat fires are caused by solid fuel stoves ‘over-firing’.

When the fire intensity picks up and races away, usually the air supply is closed down to reduce the roar of the fire. But if the fire races out of control, this is ‘over-firing’. As the fire roars, the flue gases gain heat and then speed as they go up the chimney. Matters get worse until the appliance glows red and then two things can happen: ● Any build-up of soot and tar in the chimney, can catch fire, and/or ● The super-hot stove or chimney can set light to furnishings, fabrics or other objects nearby.

Air control is the key to preventing over-firing.

Before leaving the boat for a period, or retiring for the night, or travelling

through a tunnel always check that the appliance air controls are set to prevent over-firing.

In standard, normal conditions you may be used to controlling your stove, but air control can be affected: ● If your stove has a lower ash door which can be opened separately from the main door don’t leave it open even for a short time even while taking the ash out. ● Damage that allows air to enter the fire box will affect your ability to control the air supply to the fire. See the section on use and maintenance. ● Stormy or gusty weather, with winds whipping across the chimney top and flue gases being sucked out with a draw two or three times the normal strength. ● Take account of the wind effect when setting the air control and it’s best not to leave the fire unattended.

Carbon monoxide

CO is a highly toxic gas that affects people at low doses and kills quickly in higher concentrations. Stove flue gases have very high levels of CO. They can be 100 times higher than the levels of CO from a gas burner. CO cannot be seen or smelt so you need to follow clues to check if you are at risk.

If you suspect a problem, the first step is to ask ‘do I feel ill on my boat, but not ashore?’

Early symptoms of CO poisoning are easy to mistake for other problems; headaches, mood swings, feeling sick, dizzy, tired or confused or having stomach pains and being sick.

These are often taken for signs of colds and flu, or feeling run down.

While you may feel okay, for medical or lifestyle reasons, other crew members can be affected by CO before you. If you think you are being poisoned, don’t delay, see a doctor and say you may have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.

If it is confirmed you are being affected, get a properly qualified person to find the source and fix the problem before the appliance is used again.

Even if you feel fine, don’t ignore signs of early problems:

“These are the key questions at the top of the review – how safe is hire-boating?

What are the biggest risks? What, if anything, should we do to reduce them?

“We aim to share the answers and get your input at the forums.”

The forums are taking place during early November in Coventry (7th), Oxford (11th), Wroxham (13th) and Leeds (14th).

By the end of the event, participants will have: • Shared their knowledge and experience of hirer safety.

• Had the opportunity to influence the BSS hire boat requirements and navigation authority hire boat licensing conditions relevant to hirer safety.

• Helped to define the roles and responsibilities that the navigation authorities, hire operators and the hirers themselves have for safe boating.

properly;

● Are the flames lazy and weak? ● Do you have a strong smell of smoke

when it’s on?

Too hot for too long

We use stoves in our boats to provide heat by both heating the air and circulating that around the cabin(s) and by just sitting by the stove and enjoying the heat radiating from it.

The heat, in the wrong circumstances, can cause problems.

Remembering to keep seats, tables and other furniture away will help prevent fire, but it’s not the whole story.

Other homely objects such as soft furnishings, books, waste paper baskets, dogs’ beds and log stacks also need to be kept away from the stove.

Don’t hang pictures, blinds, swags and even paraffin lamps directly above a stove.

BS 8511 Code of practice for the installation of solid fuel heating and cooking appliances in small craft.

If you are adding a stove to your boat or replacing an existing one, install it safely, take account of the fire and carbon monoxide risks linked to introducing a solid fuel stove.

And; even if you are refitting the cabin and keeping the stove… the information on how to stop wood and other combustible surfaces next to the stove from catching fire should be of interest to you.

Remember also that stoves consume huge amounts of air so you need to recalculate your boat’s ventilation requirements.

Follow the stove manufacturer’s instructions for installing in a boat, but if these are not available, you can find good advice based upon the BS 8511 Code of Practice at www.soliftec.com/Installation.htm A stove installed in line with BS 8511 will not just improve the safety of you and your crew, it will also likely save you money because stoves having an insulated chimney will mean you will burn less fuel.

Forums for boat hire operators THE UK’s inland waterway navigation authorities are inviting boat hire operators and other interested parties to participate in a general review of hirer safety, and especially to attend regional open forums across the UK. The review, which is limited to selfdrive, powered hire boats, with or without overnight accommodation, has the intention of striking an appropriate balance between the roles and responsibilities of the navigation authorities, hire operators and hirers in ensuring hirer safety.

The outcomes will influence the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) standards for hire boats, which were last reviewed in 2002, as well as ensuring that safety-focussed licensing conditions for hire boat operators are proportionate.

The review is being administered through the support committees of the BSS started in July this year.

Vince Moran, chairman of the BSS Management Committee said: “I would encourage every hire boat operator to get involved and come along to one of our forums if possible.

“You will hear about our interim review results and we would like you to share your valuable hirer safety experiences.

● Is the stove difficult to keep burning

This article is just an overview of some of the advice available on the boat safety scheme website www.boatsafetyscheme.org All of the articles from this series can be found on my website: www.canalelectrics.com Your local member of the Association of Boat Safety Examiners can be found at www.ABSE.org and will be happy to answer any questions you may have and assist in any way they can.

Stove use and maintenance

Keeping safe with solid fuel stoves, means spotting any early signs of trouble; keeping an eye on things when using the stove and taking action if you suspect problems – don’t let it ride.

Stay safe with these four simple points: ● Can you improve the area around your stove, or the chimney, or does the stove need renewing, if yes, plan how you’ll take the next opportunity to meet best practice; ● Keep an eye on the stove and chimney for the earliest signs of trouble, and don’t delay taking any action; ● Take care operating your stove, use it as the instructions state; ● Make and take the time to maintain the stove.

And don’t forget to sweep the chimney.

Pledge to sink canal TV ‘pirates’ SAILORS on Scottish canals and houseboat residents have been warned not to sail close to the wind when it comes to having a TV licence.

Bosses at TV Licensing in Scotland and Scottish Canals have joined forces to remind those tuning in to keep on the right side of the law and pay their TV dues on the water. And they say they’ll sink the TV ‘pirates’ when they find them flouting broadcast laws.

A spokesman for TV Licensing in Scotland said: “An estimated 15,000 people in the United Kingdom live on a

BSS management committee chairman Vince Moran: Forums will tackle key safety questions.

boat. It’s important that they understand the law applies to them when it comes to watching or recording TV programmes.

If they’re found watching programmes on board without a licence, they might well get a sinking feeling as they realise they’re at risk of prosecution and a fine of up to £1000.”

Katie Hughes of Scottish Canals said: “Living on a canal boat doesn’t mean you have to live without modern luxuries such as television; and, as such, residential boaters need to comply with regulations like getting a TV licence.”

New code boosts responsible towpath use

PHOTO SUPPLIED

● To find out more about the hirer safety review and, if you are a hire operator to find the link for the event booking form go to www.boatsafetyscheme.org/hirer-safety-review-2013 . Bookings should be made by Thursday, October 17.

Any hire operator who cannot make the events will have another opportunity to provide their views in an open public consultation on any proposed changes, planned for the spring of 2014.

Crinan creature comforts coming

NEW Crinan creature comforts in the shape of enhanced public facilities at Crinan Basin are on the way thanks to a £360,000 investment in a ‘greenfriendly’ block with toilets, showers, laundry room and an outside terrace.

The new building will be fully accessible to disabled users.

Work has started on the low-carbon technology facility which is partfunded by the Sail West-Malin Waters project, linking north-west Ireland with western Scotland, and is expected to be opened in midOctober.

The building has been carefully designed to fit in with the picturesque

basic surroundings at the western end of the canal and canal chiefs say it will enhance the experience of sailing on the Crinan Canal.

Project manager Rebecca Furner said: “Limiting the environmental impact of the project is a key aim of Scottish Canals. I am confident that the new facilities will encourage more canal users and visitors to come and enjoy everything Crinan has to offer.”

Phase 2 of the project covering a new waste treatment plant to service all of the buildings in Crinan is at the design stage. It will eliminate waste water discharge into the sea at Crinan Basin entirely.

Bowling along: satisfied cyclist towpath users on the Crinan Canal. The code aims to enhance the towpath experience for all users. PHOTO: HUGH DOUGHERTY A NEW code boosting responsible towpath use has been launched by Scottish Canals after the body joined forces with Edinburgh City Council, Sustrans, Spokes and Living Streets Scotland to publish the document, the first of its kind in Scotland.

The code encourages all users, including walkers, runners, horse riders, cyclists and boaters, to respect one another on the towpath environment and to enjoy their towpath experience safely.

Alasdair Smart, Scottish Canals Lowland Canals waterways manager,

said: “The code of conduct is a formal document to encourage everyone, no matter how they choose to navigate the paths, to enjoy the routes safely.

Whether you’re travelling by hoof, boot, boat or bike, the towpaths offer a fantastic environment for leisure and exercise. A little consideration and common sense allows everyone to enjoy them.”

The code also offers tips on what to do if users see an animal in distress, or how to volunteer to help improve towpaths further.

● A copy of the full code can be downloaded at www.scottishcanals.co.uk

ON SCOTTISH WATERS with Hugh Dougherty 105

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Sun shines on Kirkintilloch Canal Festival

Festival flotilla was curtain raiser for more

SUNSHINE and record crowds brought the Forth & Clyde Canal to life at Kirkintilloch in August when the town hung out the flags for its annual canal festival.

A series of events, boat trips and keep fit drives came to a climax on Saturday and Sunday, August 24-25, when the town’s marina went en fete, with everything from canoeing through to archery, an army assault course for children, a funfair, rescue displays, jiving and even canal board games delighting the crowds.

Three boats, two from the Forth & Clyde Canal Society and one from the Seagull Trust, were busy ferrying pleasure trippers up and down the canal, while the marina was packed with a variety of crafts, ranging from top-of-the-market cruisers to traditional canal barges.

Rhondda Geekie, East Dunbartonshire Council leader, said: “This year’s canal festival was absolutely fantastic with more visitors coming than ever before to enjoy the interesting and exciting activities on offer.” The council says it’s already planning next year’s festival along with its regular range of partners including Scottish Canals, the canal societies, Cumbernauld College, Police Scotland and local voluntary organisations.”

A packed marina for festival time at Kirkie.

A canal board game in action. Easier, says Iain, than building real canals!

Iain Nisbet shows that playing canal board games is fun. PHOTOS: HUGH

DOUGHERTY

A 30-strong canal boat flotilla which made its way from Linlithgow to Edinburgh Quay to mark the Edinburgh Festival in August was the curtain raiser for a number of similar cruises over the coming year.

Lowland Canal Volunteers teamed up with Scottish Canals to run the festival event which included an overnight tieup at Edinburgh.

Richard Millar, Scottish Canals head of enterprise, said: “The Edinburgh Festival is one of the biggest events of its kind and the flotilla was a perfect way to highlight the appeal of Scotland’s canals to an international audience.”

Now the same successful team is planning similar flotillas to mark the opening of the Helix sealock and canal extension in April 2014; a sail up the Forth to Stirling to reclaim the river as a navigable waterway and a parade of boats up the Clyde to Glasgow to mark the Commonwealth Games next August.

Ronnie Rusack of the Lowland Canals Volunteer Group said: “We have had a fabulous few years showcasing the revitalised Forth & Clyde and Union

In festival mood: the Festival Flotilla nears Edinburgh Quay.

PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS

Canals and celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Falkirk Wheel, and we are keen to use these events as a springboard to establish regular flotilla events. These flotillas have proven to be a great way of promoting the value and attractions of the canals and are a tremendous way of bringing boaters together.”

Canalside listed buildings probe HISTORIC Scotland, the government body charged with safeguarding Scotland’s heritage, and Scottish Canals are to launch a probe into the number of canalside buildings which should be listed.

Under the microscope in listing survey: Scottish Canals’ own HQ at Applecross Street in Glasgow. PHOTO: HUGH DOUGHERTY

The organisations are to put a total of 80 under the microscope, with half of that number owned by Scottish Canals and the remainder in private hands.

Historic structures include Bona Lighthouse on Loch Ness, the Union Inn at Falkirk and the Scottish Canals headquarters buildings at Applecross Street in Glasgow.

Dr Sabina Strachan, Scottish Canals heritage team leader, said: “The project will enable both partners to better understand the importance of the canal buildings in our care. It will complement baseline condition surveys and together form a strong basis as we implement our 25-year heritage strategy published earlier this year.”

Historic Scotland and Scottish Canals expect to publish their new, listed buildings survey results in 2014.

Communication is the key to canal use harmony

Festival trippers on board the Forth & Clyde Canal Society’s Gipsy Princess.

Canal College students get to work SCOTLAND’S unique Canal College recently became fully afloat thanks to the Scottish Waterways Trust and the Scottish Rural College joining forces to combat youth unemployment in Edinburgh and Falkirk.

The first students got down to work on their Scottish Vocational Certificate Level 2 in Landscaping and Amenity Horticulture as well as a Scottish Qualifications Authority Certificate in Work Readiness. The unique £468,189 scheme is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Union, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Canals and will also help

improve the canalside environment.

Volunteers began work on the shallow excavation of the historic Falkirk Lock Flight, made redundant by the Falkirk Wheel and on creating a new gateway in Edinburgh linking Calders with the Union Canal. Both projects were 14-week programmes.

Karen Moore, Scottish Waterways Trust chief executive, said: “Canal College is a fantastic opportunity for young people who want to get on the path to work but need some help, whether that’s developing new skills, gaining more confidence or boosting their CVs with practical experience

and a clutch of awards. The college will benefit the canal and its surrounding communities too.”

Volunteer mentors over the age of 25 are also being sought to help teach skills and to work with the young people involved. Alan Forrester, Scottish Waterways Trust Canal college chief, said: “We’re keen to hear from anyone with the skills to help us teach tree and vegetation management, stonework, wildlife conservation, trail creation, engineering or maintenance. If anyone can help or wants to know more, please contact me on 07768 951740.”

A NEW Lowland Canals Key Stakeholder Group has been set up in Scotland to forge a multi-use agenda for the Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland Canals.

The group’s first meeting was held at Kirkintilloch in July when representatives from the fresh and salt water, boating, angling, walking and cycling communities met Scottish Canals board members Geoff Aitkenhead and Martin Latimer.

A variety of organisations and groups, including RYA Scotland, the Forth & Clyde Canal Society, the Seagull Trust, Ramblers Scotland, Glasgow Watersports and the Scottish Coarse Angling Federation, got round the table to chart out the future.

The group has now agreed to meet three times in its first 12 months to keep stakeholders closer to the board and management of Scottish Canals.

Martin Latimer of Scottish Canals who chaired the meeting said: “This was a very productive session and we had a mature discussion around how to

manage the competing demands of all those who want to enjoy canals and towpaths across the Lowland waterways.

“To do this effectively, we need to get everyone with a vested interest in the Lowland Canals together and not only communicate better but discuss areas of conflict and concern that are brought out by multi-use.”

Andy Carnduff from RYA Scotland backed the group. He said: “An excellent review was carried out by a wide range of stakeholders and we talked about a number of cross interests, subjects and challenges, as well as discussing a way forward to ensure that conflict was minimised and benefits maximised.”

The group was told that 22 million people visit Scottish Canals annually; 47% are walkers and 21% cyclists, both categories up by a factor of three compared with eight years ago. And projects such as the Helix and new canal at Falkirk, due to open in 2014, and further towpath improvements across the network are likely to further increase usage over the next few years.

Canal sediment to power the future

Surface greenery and sediment dredged from Scottish canals will be used to power the future. A weed control boat at work on the Forth & Clyde Canal. PHOTO: HUGH DOUGHERTY

SEDIMENT dredged from Scotland’s canals will be used to power the future thanks to a ground-breaking project involving Scottish Canals, the University of Strathclyde and the Scottish Environmental Technology Network.

The sediment and greenery will be used to create construction materials, animal feeds and biogas under a twoyear Knowledge Transfer Partnership which will see the end of dredged materials being sent to landfill. Scottish

Canals is to take on a recent graduate, with part funding from the Technology Strategy Board, to push the project forward.

Canal chiefs say that the cost of disposing of canal sludge would rise significantly over the next few years without taking the new, green approach. Canals have to be dredged regularly and have surface vegetation removed to keep them open for navigation.

Lowland Canals Key Stakeholder Group members pictured at their first meeting are, from left: Martin Latimer (Scottish Canals’ Board member), David Brown (local boater from Auchinstarry), Ron Woods (Scottish Federation of Course Angling), David Thomson (Ramblers Scotland), Geoff Aitkenhead (Scottish Canals’ Board member), Jim McLachlan (F&C Canal Society), Andy Carnduff (RYA Scotland) and Alistair McKenzie (Glasgow Watersports). PHOTO: SCOTTISH CANALS

106 TOWPATH TREASURES

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Skipton Basin The Gateway to the Dales Words: PHILLIPPA GREENWOOD Photography: MARTINE O’CALLAGHAN

THE Yorkshire Dales is the prized hiking haven for woolly hats and walkers at the heart of the Pennines. It is also where boaters can cruise one of Britain’s most extreme canals, the Leeds & Liverpool.

Perched on the edge of the National Park, the tiny characterful Skipton is known as the Gateway to the Dales with the canal running straight through the centre.

Skipton wasn’t discovered by the canal builders – its heritage goes back as far as the 7th century when Saxon farmers called it Sheep Town. Its peace and quiet was

Boats for hire in Skipton Basin.

butted aside when the warmongering Normans built a castle there in the 12th century. The castle still stands looking over the High Street and the canal, but battles are thankfully kept in the past. It’s claimed that the fortress that can be seen today is one of England’s best preserved, all thanks to Lady Anne Clifford who, in the 17th century, rebuilt some sections.

Out of sight of Skipton there’s a nearby quarry with lorries that trot to and fro, but the old quarry once used a horse tramway that ran all the way to the castle. There, chutes were used to drop quarried rock into boats to be carried on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Today, Skipton’s clean air, cobbled streets, Georgian houses, brightly coloured narrowboats, markets and fairs have become its attraction. Skipton has been a hive of activity on market days ever since Norman times and tourists bulk the crowds who amble around the canal basin. The canal was originally an addition to the town as a commercial transport route; today it adds boaty charm and unrivalled appeal that makes it one of the Dales’ most charismatic towns.

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal strolls away from town in two directions – both venture into some of the most uplifting countryside anywhere on England’s canals. The charm of Skipton is only rivalled by the temptation to keep following the canal.

Boating along Springs Branch.

Adapted extract from Britain’s Canals, a National Treasure in 100 Must-See Objects by Phillippa Greenwood and Martine O’Callaghan – published by Coolcanals July 2012.

Skipton Basin and the entrance to Springs Branch.

Walking along Springs Branch past the historic Corn Mill.

www.coolcanals.com

TOWPATH TREASURES/ANGLING 107

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The Towpath Angler

David Kent

Our monthly look at the angling scene

The canal swing bridge in Skipton.

Day boat hire from Skipton.

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal outside Skipton.

FACT FILE Skipton Canal Basin The canal basin is in the heart of Skipton. It’s a hub of activity with a market, boats, cyclists and walkers, and of course gongoozlers.

Location Skipton.

OS Grid ref: OS SD987516 Canal: Leeds & Liverpool Canal How to get there By train Nearest train station is Skipton National Rail Enquiries 0845 748 4950 By bus Traveline 0871 200 2233 By car Public car parks nearby.

On foot The Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath runs through Skipton Basin and it’s also possible to follow the towpath along the Springs Branch beneath Skipton Castle.

By boat Nearest boat hire: Pennine Boat Trips, Skipton.

Day boat hire. See below for boat trips. 01756 790829 www.canaltrips.co.uk Pennine Cruisers, Skipton.

Holiday and day boat hire. See below for boat trips.

01756 795478 www.penninecruisers.com Snaygill Boats Holiday & day boat hire. Skipton. 01756 795150 www.snaygillboats.co.uk Boat Trips: From Skipton Basin, boat trips take you along the Springs Branch of the canal beneath Skipton Castle (the 900-yearold castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in England) or along the main Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Pennine Boat Trips, Skipton, offers one hour guided boat trips with commentary. Special themed cruises, private charter & day boat hire also available. 01756 790829 www.canaltrips.co.uk Pennine Cruisers, Skipton, offers 30 minute boat trips.

Longer skippered trips, holiday and day boat hire and experience packages also available. 01756 795478 www.penninecruisers.com Moorings There are plenty of visitor moorings available along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal through Skipton.

Local Tourist info Skipton Tourist Info www.skiptononline.co.uk Local website www.skiptonweb.co.uk Canal & River Trust Use the Canal & River Trust website to find specific local information. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

THE annual family holiday period has, as usual, meant that the number of meetings has been kept to a minimum. That is not to say that things have not been happening.

The Canal & River Trust continues to develop its commitment to angling. Recently the manager of the National Angling Strategy has been appointed and, having been privileged to be a member of the interview panel and greatly impressed by the quality of the candidates, I am sure that the angling activity within the CRT will go from strength to strength in the future.

Alongside this a process is under way to identify an angling ‘champion’ in each waterway unit. Up to now anglers and angling clubs, unlike other user groups, have effectively had no one in their local units to contact, so this development will massively improve lines of communication locally.

September is a busy month with meetings of the Members Council and National User Forum scheduled along with some additional workshop sessions. The Angling Advisory Group does not meet again until the end of October but already there are a number of potential agenda items on the table. I spoke last month about the crossovers between some of the advisory groups and the need for them to work more closely together. It seems likely that the angling and environmental groups may take a lead on this.

In August I talked about Angling Trust’s successes in securing more and better action on avian predation.

I specifically mentioned the cormorant problem which is far from going away. Indeed I look daily from the front of my house towards the River Trent and I can honestly say that I have never seen so many through the summer months as I have this year. A couple of weeks ago I walked the lower section of my local Erewash Canal and saw three birds come in to feed which is a real shame considering that the canal is just starting to recover after the devastating pollution a year ago.

Competition scene

On the AT competition scene things are going quite well. Only yesterday we staged the Individual National

Championship involving 170 anglers on the Trent & Mersey from Branston downstream. While being far from spectacular it produced a string of steady canal-type weights all through. It was a precursor to the Division 1 National on September 7 which will include four sections from Rugeley to Armitage and six sections from Branston down to Stretton. Cooperation from the CRT locally has been excellent especially with regard to signage and the promise of matchday support, all of which should lead to a trouble-free day.

Going back to the recovery of the Erewash Canal I am pleased to say that one or two anglers have been kind enough to report to me that catches are improving – still mainly small silver fish but with the odd better skimmer bream and perch showing up. As we approach winter it is the intention to organise a small competition principally to ensure that the anglers fish seriously, and hard, in order to get a reasonable fix on what is actually in there.

I guess it is true to say we are now past the summer. Indeed several mornings and evenings recently have been positively autumnal. Fishing everywhere seems much more settled as a result and the fish are, perhaps, happier to feed now that the really high temperatures are gone. I have had good reports once again from the South Yorkshire area canals, the ‘Shroppie’ and many of the West Midlands canals so if you are thinking of wetting a line it might be a good time to go.

My own form continues to fluctuate. I had a win a couple of weeks ago and a couple of section wins in the past week but more often than not it seems I finish one fish short of the main prize list. As I said last time the autumn is often good for me so hopefully in the coming months I may have a few good news stories. Good luck.

The one that didn’t get away LOCK keepers at Torksey on the junction of the River Trent and Fossdyke Navigation were faced with an unusual sight when the lock drained recently – a large carp was trapped in the gates.

The lock was promptly refilled and attempts were made to dislodge the huge fish with a pole but to no avail, it was stuck solid. The keepers then opened the gates and went in with a small rowing boat.

They gently emptied the lock until the fish was at water line and then pulled it out! Once free, the carp swam off.

One of the lock keepers pulls the carp free from the lock gates.

Thanks to Linda and Andy Jesney of Ladyline Hotel Boats for sharing this fishy tale and photo.

108 WET WEB

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The Wet Web

This month Helen Gazeley finds classical music in a most unusual venue – the local pub.

THE incessant thump of too much bass through low-slung speakers or the melancholy lyrics of a folk duo are probably the musical experiences that most of us have come across in a

pub; but the journalistic licence that allows two instances to make a trend leads me to predict an altogether different ambience spreading to hostelries: classical music.

Skipton Building Society Camerata gives an informal performance of chamber music.

Over the next few weeks Skipton Building Society Camerata is presenting The Classic Pint in The Narrow Boat, Skipton.

The professional orchestra, the first to be based at a secondary school (Skipton Girls High), has, since its creation in 2004, played in unusual venues around the country, including shopping centres and The Globe Theatre.

Artistic director Ben Crick says: “We’re really keen to play in pubs as we like anything that breaks down the barriers that prevent people engaging with classical music. We feel that the slightly rarefied atmosphere of the concert hall puts some people off.”

So every fortnight until November 12, the Camerata will be performing some of the best chamber music ever composed after a short introduction on what will be played. See skipton camerata.com or call 01756 707606. Go to all six concerts (each lasts about an hour) and you’ll be taken through a chronological history of the string quartet. “Classical music in its purest form can be a fantastic thing in everyone’s life,” adds Ben, “and events like this spread that message.”

He’s not the only enthusiast for the unconventional venue.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (www.oae.co.uk 0207 239 9370), which performed at the Proms this year and regularly appears at the South Bank and abroad, is running its second Night Shift series in pubs after a successful

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performs music designed to arrest the attention of pub clientele. crowd-funding venture raised £1600 to support it. Luckily two are within easy reach of waterways at the Hatchet Inn, Bristol, on October 22 and the Monarch, Camden, on the 23rd.

It will be playing Haydn’s more striking movements, as well as brand new pieces composed to arrest a pub’s clientele. Like Skipton, the OAE relishes the venues. “It appeals to the musicians because you’re closer to the audience, more informal, so the audience is less reluctant to get involved,” says press officer Matthew Grindon. They perform on period instruments with the bonus that the music they choose would originally have been performed in this sort of atmosphere. If you’re not sure it’s your cup of tea, this post www.theguardian.com/music/ musicblog/2012/feb/06/classical

-music-in-a-pub might make your mind up.

Anyone wanting to explore further the informal presentation of classical music might also like to check out the Yellow Lounge yellowlounge.co.uk although irritatingly you seem to have to sign up to their newsletter in order to find out what’s happening. Speaking of irritating websites, the Canal & River Trust’s Damien Kemp, who sends out its Boaters’ Update newsletter, is asking for comments on the website’s Boating Section canalriver trust.org.uk/boating What’s right or wrong with it? What topics lack information? Damien says: “Recent correspondence with river-based boaters tells me that we don’t have enough river advice and information. Is this a widely held view? If so, is a good

A pint with the classics – are we seeing a new trend? idea to crowd-source the information ie use boaters’ collective knowledge to write a section of the website dedicated to river boating?” contact damian.kemp@canal river trust.org.uk.

➔ Formoreinformation Do you have a favourite website?

Email Helen at helengazeley@aol.com

Cyclists are a towpath menace AFTER two years planning to coincide with retirement we’ve just completed a five-week cruise from Braunston including the Four Counties ring, Llangollen, Montgomery and Caldon canals during one of the hottest July’s on record. It was very enjoyable apart from a few issues including the perennial mooring pins being pulled out or even severely bent in the hard ground by inconsiderate passing boaters and gangs of drunks which became quite menacing at times, but the worst was one I hadn’t expected, the stress of cyclists, especially on improved towpaths.

We encountered hundreds who all thought they had the right of way; only one actually stopped for anyone. Nearly all were doing more than 15mph and despite their lack of noise only two gave a warning. Time after time we had to jump out of their way. With a trad stern there was nowhere to sit on the boat so unless the towpath was very wide we were never able to sit outside or let our dog out despite the heat inside the boat. Just two of the worst incidents:

On a remote stretch of the Caldon I was sitting by our boat on a very thin strip of grass with our dog by my side when suddenly six black Lycra clad cyclists shot past the back of my chair within inches. Heads down, they were doing at least 40mph. I didn’t hear them coming and if either of us had moved a few inches there would have been an almighty accident.

Waiting for a remote lock on the Llangollen with eight other boats, we were using our middle ropes. The towpath was unmade and quite thin with a steep drop behind to a stream below. I was about to step back to pull the boat in when my wife screamed at me not to move.

A woman, followed by a child, and then a man with two dogs on ropes cycled past my back, again within inches. They weren’t going fast but they didn’t give way and we just avoided what would have been a nasty accident. I called out but just got abuse.

As we travelled home we saw £000s being spent on more towpath upgrades presumably by the CRT with our money even

though they are spoiling our enjoyment of the canals. I really started to wonder if I wanted to continue boating under these circumstances. It wasn’t until we reached areas where there were still unmade stretches of towpath that we, and other boaters, started to enjoy the canals again!

I’d like to know what we could do if ever there’s a serious accident involving a bike. We’d probably come off worst and how would we get to a hospital from a remote location, let alone get us and the boat home. And how could we identify a cyclist and sue for compensation when they don’t even have any registration? I’ve since been told that the towpath has a 10mph limit and cyclists must give way.

No-one seems to have told them that. The CRT must start putting up many signs stating this and enforcing the limits as well as stopping the upgrade of any more towpaths. I don’t mind sharing the towpath but I do mean sharing, not being taken over.

Mike Webb By email

Where could a diagonal lock be built?

I HAVE to take issue with Terry Fogarty’s letter (Talkback, Issue 95, September). I am at a loss to understand the ‘massive potential’ of his project. Can someone please tell me how his ‘diagonal’ lock (which is in effect an inclined plane, invented over 100 years ago) is going to ‘solve’ this country’s problems?

It may be a novel idea but in the absence of new canal build where are his locks going to be built?

‘All over the country and the world’, he says but the only opportunity I can see currently is the MK-

Bedford link. Installation anywhere else would require the demolition of listed structures that have worked perfectly well for over two hundred years.

I can’t help feeling that his letter, filled with emotive words and phrases, is just smoke and mirrors and of little, if any, substance. To solve this ‘country’s problems’ we need a couple of trillion £s not an inclined plane, or am I missing something, does it print money?

Maffi Oxford NB Milly M

109

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TALKBACK

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Towpath Talk, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

Painting an awful picture

★ Silky Star Letter ★ TOWPATH TALK has joined forces with Silky Marine Products to celebrate the great letters and pictures we receive from our readers with a star prize each month The lucky winner will receive a tub of Silky Cream Cleaner, Silky Deep Cleaner Ready to Use and Silky RX Enzyme Toilet Odour and Waste Reducer, worth a total value of more than £25 from the new range of Silky Marine Care and Maintenance products launched earlier this year.

Silky Marine Products are specifically formulated to work in sequence to remove dirt and residue specific to the boating environment, and include the widely regarded classic Silky Cream Cleaner.

When a boat’s surfaces have been cleaned to a high standard using the Silky cleaning range, the valet and polish products bring out the shine which is then sealed for the season with the unique polymer technology of Silky Protect.

Available to the public through www.silkyproducts.com and selected retail outlets, Silky Products have been manufactured in Slaithwaite near Huddersfield for more than 40 years.

A highly rewarding way of life I WAS very interested to read your article covering the 40th anniversary celebrations of Tranquil Rose by Harry Arnold (News, Issue 95, September). The article ended by pondering why all three remaining pairs of hotel boats are currently for sale, a question which needed answering and here is our reply.

For John and I at Bywater, our reason is the arrival of our son, who, although a wonder and joy in our lives has made our hotel-boating existence rather complicated, (as I did for my parents in 1977). Neil and Corinne of Canal Voyagers are pre-empting our situation and want to sell before children arrive. David Owen on Duke and Duchess has given over 15 years’ service as a hotel boat skipper and has simply decided it is time to retire to a warmer climate.

It is a sad coincidence that we have all reached this point at around the same time, not least for our loyal and passionate guests who I know will sorely miss their regular dose of hotel boating should buyers not be found. Yes, there are other operators that they could look at travelling with and we would encourage such a transfer, but for many of our guests there is an enjoyment to be had with pair boating which is missing from the cruising on a single boat: the skill of the crew at towing and bow hauling a butty round the network; the number and spread of guests across two vessels; the social dynamic of four crew; the wider conversation round the dining table and so on.

So enjoyable is this particular method of hotel boating that 65% of our guests this year have been with us before and 13% came by recommendations. We have one guest who remembers me as a baby when my parents were hotel boating with Tsarina and Tsarevna in 1978. In answer to Harry’s final questions then, the reasons that this 60-year-old industry is down to its last few pairs for next season, have nothing to do with a lack of guests and more to do with a difficulty in finding new operators willing to do the job. Yes, hotel boating is a demanding industry to work in but I have never once been driven to throw food at my guests. I have, however, been brought to tears, on a number of occasions, by their

The Bywater hotel boats. PHOTO SUPPLIED

I HAVE just read the above article and am amazed that you would print such offensive and derogatory piece (Last Word, Issue 95, September). I have been a liveaboard boater for many years and have complied with everything asked of me by British Waterways/Canal & River Trust and what the law requires. The article paints an awful picture and the information it puts forward to the public is misleading and untruthful.

While there may be people who live aboard their boats claiming benefits, it is certainly not the case for everyone. I personally have a full time job and support my wife and two children without benefits.

I also manage to find the time to collect our timber from a locally managed woodland and leave the towpath trees intact. I am sure you considered this article before printing but did you consider how many liveaboard boaters actually read this publication too? As I think this is nothing short of racism and propaganda.

Jason Balchin By email

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Hanna’s father Stephen and late mother Sue with their dog Jethro in the early days of owning their own hotel boat Tsarina on the Llangollen Canal. PHOTO:WATERWAY IMAGES warmth and generosity, particularly since the birth of our son.

When things have gone wrong, as they invariably do, our guests have always been understanding and adaptable. There are many stories of past challenges, both hilarious and desperate, that are recounted with fondness by regular guests and previous operators: the evening’s main course being inadvertently dropped overboard an hour before it’s due to be served, fridges dying, oven doors exploding, unplanned moonlit cruises to a meeting point with paramedics, gearboxes going bang, crew members going down with appendicitis, stoppages, flooding, drought, and so many more.

I am reminded each year by one of our regular guests just how much fun she had in 2007 when, in our escape from flooded Stratford on Avon we got stuck the wrong side of a fallen tree for 48 hours, during which time we ran out of water. She remembers how we still managed to serve the four-course evening meal, eking out the last of the water with no signs of the fact that no washing up could be done and that we still managed to get her to Banbury on time at the end of the cruise.

Every season will be filled with challenges and they must be dealt with in between locks, chambermaiding, cups of tea, cakes in the oven and with a permanent smile on your face. But it is a highly rewarding way of life and I can’t help feeling that the new boats are missing something. Not least the many more miles of narrow canals that they are unable to explore but the small things such as watching a butty gracefully and silently glide into a lock, to have guests that become friends, to work as part of a close knit team, to boat with skill and efficiency, the bubble like nature of being on a boat with no television. The new luxury boats should be applauded for attracting onto the water those guests who like a more luxurious feel to their holidays, but those of us that pair boat remain passionate about this much misunderstood form of boating and find it highly rewarding, we just need some new people to pick up the mantle.

Hanna Rees-Jones Bywater Hotelboat Cruises

● Due to a high volume of letters in the postbag this month, some letters have been held and will appear in the next available issue Would ‘Disgusted of Retford’ please supply his or her name and address in order that the letter can be considered for publication. This information can be withheld at the writer’s request.

In response to Barry Chapman’s letter (Talkback, issue 95, September), let’s get the boos and hisses out of the way – yes we’re continuous cruisers.

We also get fed up of unlicensed boats and those boats that don’t move, but unfortunately whatever you choose to do in life, someone will try to spoil it for you.

I don’t really see that the ‘hobo’ boats can be blamed for making boats slow down, I suppose you don’t complain about passing the pristine boats on off-side moorings because they’re more your social standing.

By the way ours is the green boat with wood, two wheels for the Shroppie shelf, bags of coal and fluffy duck on the roof, no paint on the rubbing strakes, badly needs blacking, but it is licensed, insured, has a valid boat safety certificate and does 900 plus miles between January and December. Sorry it’s not polished, but we’re too busy abiding by the continuous cruiser rules.

In future, don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s your choice to be in a marina or on a linear mooring, just as it’s ours not to be.

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

I doubt very much that we will see Mr Chapman breaking ice on the Oxford Summit in February or March, but if we do, he’ll get a cheery wave, as we love this life all year round.

Tracey and Barry Wesson Wb Greenfinch

Fighting flawed parking tickets I THOUGHT the article (News, Issue 95, September) about how District Enforcement will manage Thames moorings, was hilarious.

Private parking companies cannot issue fines.

They have no legal power to do so. In most cases, all they can do is issue a speculative invoice, period.

They are not in a position to enter a contract if they don’t actually own the land. Any losses are the landowners and are due to him which, for a free car park, are zero.

If any reader would like to find out more about fighting PPC ‘tickets’ (and council tickets, which are frighteningly often unlawful or flawed) please feel free to visit the forums at www.pepipoo.com John Kirkwood By email

A menace on the waterways SADLY it would appear we have a menace on our waterways masquerading as boaters. This menace was prevalent at Bramwith Sanitary Station on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal prior to the weekend of the late August Bank Holiday insomuch as both the locks of the ladies and gents toilets were super-glued to prevent their use. This has resulted in the Canal & River Trust having to respond on a Bank Holiday, drill out the locks and order new ones.

This is a totally unnecessary drain upon the trust’s funds that we will ultimately all pay towards.

Anybody who has a key – boater, fisherman, cyclist or walker – can use these facilities they are NOT solely for boaters or those on Long Term moorings nearby. Hence the reason those individuals who vandalised the toilets did not glue the water point, shower or sluice locks, they were targeting those needing the toilets only. Anybody who visits the trust’s property can use these facilities. We all need to do our bit to encourage visitors to our waterways.

Ted Milsom MV Shark

No excuse for overflowing rubbish I WAS very disappointed this morning (Sunday July 14) when going to Greensforge on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, to use the facilities e.g., rubbish and Elsan disposal. To everyone’s astonishment, the amount of rubbish overflowing the bins (photo attached), all over the floor.

In all the years that we have used these facilities, we have never seen it in this state. The stench was indescribable. What is happening? We pay our licence fees to help pay for these but judging by the amount of rubbish there, it looks as though a collection hasn’t been made for quite a few weeks.

We know that we have more than the usual amount of boats using this part of the canal, due to the Wolverhampton 21 being down but that is still no excuse, for that amount of rubbish. More collections should be made to accommodate for the extra demand. Where is all our licence money going?

Brenda Banks By email

Trolley ‘art’ on the Paddington Arm IT WAS nice to see the cleanup of the Tesco basin reported in your latest issue (Volunteering, Issue 93, July). I have a damaged prop from reversing in that very area. This week my wife and I have been cleaning up the Paddington Arm just around our boat. This site is a popular picnic spot so the modern art display has caused some interest (photo attached).

Brian Broad Nb Intibane

A sledgehammer to crack a nut I SYMPATHISE with Rachel Mann (Talkback, issue 95, September), regarding the loss of wild plants and flowers along our canal towpaths.

I too find the current cutting regime excessive. What was once a showcase for wildflowers and biodiversity has declined drastically over recent years.

The canal is special because it supports many waters-edge loving plants that don’t grow elsewhere.

I have been recording and mapping these on my local Rochdale Canal and sending details to my local council, Calderdale and British Waterways ecologists for many years.

Recently, my British Waterways/now Canal & River Trust contacts have kindly agreed to revise the local cutting regime to avoid key wildlife/plant hotspots, using post markers. Of course moorings and lock areas will still be cut regularly to ensure boater safety.

This will mean some areas only get cut (full width) spring and autumn, instead of the usual eight times a year ‘urban’ cut. A ‘rural’ cut is usually less.

The current contract with cutters seems to be a ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’ – many areas get treated as ‘urban’ that don’t need it.

When you consider how vast the canal network is, it is a huge loss to our plant biodiversity and wildlife in general.

Hopefully CRT will look into reviewing current practice.

Ms P Fincham Todmorden, West Yorkshire

Mail thrown in bin I HAVE used the Poste Restante service all over the canal network, but at Swindon on the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal, my mail was opened and thrown in the bin, so I would advise not to use said post office for mail.

G Cook By email

Editor’s note: The UK Poste Restante service enables you to pick up your mail from most branches of the Post Office in the UK and post offices in larger towns abroad. You can also store your mail for up to three months if it’s a letter and two weeks for any other mail in the UK.

110 THE LAST WORD

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happy birthday dear Canal & river Trust

But what has it meant for moorers at Gas Street Basin?

HAS it been a happy first year for the customers of the Canal & River Trust?

Has it been the worst of times or the best of times for boaters on the inland waterways? Well everything has changed and yet nothing has changed; for while a revolution to charity status, we mainly have the same people. What has been the effect of the last year on the ground at the moorings in Gas Street Basin? Let me review the year.

We have gained trustees into whose hands are placed authority and

responsibility. The election of the trustees was a little complicated. On the plus side we have seen a number of trustees, such as John Dodwell, very active around the waterways; on the negative side we have another level of authority which has had to weld in with the directors and senior management.

Are there too many trustees?

I am not sure. There’s no doubt that there are too many levels of authority for we have also gained waterway partnerships. These partnerships have

undoubtedly been a success raising money for the waterways which would never have been possible under the old regime. The problem I see with the partnerships is where they fit into the overall structure and what authority they have. In theory they are advisory but at least one partnership chairman gives the impression that he is in charge of the waterways in his area. As I understand it, the partnership members are nominated and elected by the chairman; does this mean that the local waterways can be influenced by a single strong personality and his close associates?

Where these trustees and partnerships fit into the scheme is complicated and I was surprised to discover that old British Waterways and the new trust do not have a detailed organisational chart.

Senior managers know the departments they are responsible for, the various managers know their responsibilities and the people employed by them, but an overall, detailed, structural chart no one can furnish me with. We therefore have directors and managers with complicated titles and job descriptions but nowhere is there an order of battle as to who fits in where. While this may appear academic, it is important, for without such a chart you cannot gain an overall view of the organisation and therefore are unable to say if you need so many press personnel, commercial people or communications staff.

Legal battles Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry (right) visits Gas Street Basin with maintenance manager Ian Darby, local supervisor Pete Sherwood and West Midlands waterway manager Dean Davies. PHOTO: DAVID SCOWCROFT

Not the most truthful of statements “CRT no longer wishes to meet with boaters.” That was the incorrect – in fact totally untrue – headline that appeared on the Canal World Discussion forum website last month. The article, written by someone called Cotswoldsman, accused Canal & River Trust operations director Vince Moran: “The trust no longer wishes to engage directly with boaters but will revert to only attending user group meetings it can control.”

That is complete rubbish and nothing better than cheap-jack rabble-rousing.

Towpath Talk has checked his claims and the trust (and Mr Moran) has flatly denied Cotswoldsman’s claims.

From what I have been told (by several sources), some of the Canal World brigade had a series of meetings with the CRT – even though it is not a user group in the accepted sense.

Neither does it have member subscriptions, committee or even a constitution. No doubt the CRT was trying to be helpful but ran into criticism from several quarters – including the IWA – which said the trust was out of order and the Canal World group wasn’t a user group.

Now it appears Mr Moran has stopped holding those informal meetings and it seems that is what has upset Cotswoldsman. Mr Moran has said there’s no question of refusing to engage with boaters and added: “All I said was rather than setting up more meetings, how can we make our established user groups more effective with more people involved?”

I think it is high time that an unqualified apology is due from the

Canal World crowd for such an appalling example of how to take things out of context.

But Cotswoldsman still hadn’t finished. With almost sycophantic zeal, he says of the new CRT chief executive: “I am sure that within the next few months he will be very aware of boaters’ opinions… he is a breath of fresh air.”

Just what is he up to? First of all he quotes Mr Moran totally out of context and then serenades the chief executive.

Staff meetings before customer care is a bit much Some CRT suit (or dress) in the North West dropped something of a customer relations clanger by deciding to close all the River Weaver locks for two hours once a month through the season. And when asked why, the trust unashamedly said the closures were necessary to enable staff meetings and briefings to be held.

I certainly don’t think the closure timings (9am to 11am) were particularly intelligent and were obviously dreamed up by someone with little or no idea of how boaters operate.

But at the end of the day I suppose that comment can sum up a fair number of CRT personnel.

First thing in the morning is usually when most boaters like to get cracking and knock off a few miles before lunchtime with local sightseeing occupying some of the afternoon. Why on earth the staff meetings could not have been held towards the end of the day is beyond me.

Anyway the CRT said there had not been any complaints and if there

The lingering problem of ‘continuous cruisers without a home mooring’ which are neither cruising nor on a bona fide journey continues to stagger on. The world and his dog has been consulted over the problem but little

had been then there would have been a rethink.

But the last word goes to a leading (and quite irate) IWA spokesman who acidly observed: “CRT is supposed to be a leisure industry so why close the locks for a staff meeting at the time when they are likely to get greater usage – such as in the peak summer holiday season?”

Last chance for iwa to find festival success?

After all the hype over the Inland Waterways Association’s festival at Cassiobury Park, Watford, what a flop – certainly from an attendance point of view – it was. No doubt there will be a grand inquest as to what did and did not go wrong but maybe the IWA should look at itself. The festival has run on roughly the same format for years and it is now tired… very tired.

Which brings me to a point I have made over a number of years regarding the IWA. After the Watford fiasco, does it realise its own members are fed up with the format and this year, despite good weather, just didn’t bother to turn up. In fact with the Canal & River Trust looking more and more like BW Mark 4, the IWA should seriously look at rebranding itself corporately as well as its activities.

With next year’s festival likely to coincide with the Stratford-upon-Avon annual River Festival, bumper crowds (given average weather) are guaranteed – Stratford itself has huge visitor numbers without holding special events. Coupled to that is the fact that the funding will come from local authorities. So, given that scenario, if

has been achieved. Long legal battles have been convincingly won by the trust and I believe it has been accepted by most cruising boaters that the ‘Terms and Conditions of the Licence’ are reasonable and should be enforced.

The attitude of the trust appears to swing from prosecution of individuals to clutching the over-stayers to its bosom for a warm hug. In the meantime the same boats continue to moor around London, Birmingham and Bath, shuffling a little here, hopping from bridge to bridge there and overstaying three deep on visitor moorings.

Listening to boaters throughout the country, the impression gained is that enough consultations have been made, the rules are sufficient and legal action now should be taken.

At the beginning of the trust I did experience new attitudes, almost a charm offensive – briefings, meetings and access to the directors were all in evidence. Some of the inherent secrecy of the old British Waterways appeared to have evaporated with directors and senior managers being more approachable and willing to listen. This has somewhat faded of late. A typical example was the annual general meeting; this in the old BW days was a quiet, controlled affair with invited guests only, held in obscure places with little notification. Then for a couple of years it was held in Birmingham at the centre of the waterways; anyone could ask to attend, indeed I saw people just turning up and being admitted. This year the AGM passed me by. I heard it had been held at Ellesmere Port; what went on – no idea. There has been little reporting on the meeting and certainly no invite came my way; did it come your way?

the IWA manages to foul up next year’s event it simply will not get another chance for 2015.

Next year is an important year for the town, canal and river. It marks the 50th anniversary of the re-opening of the South Stratford Canal by the Queen Mother and the 40th anniversary of the re-opening of the River Avon between Evesham and Stratford. Such a shame that the man who oversaw both schemes is no longer with us – namely the legendary David Hutchings.

I hope that some form of acknowledgement of his efforts is made during the event.

The media relations element of the Watford festival was less than impressive both on the quality and quantity of information prior to and during the event. I would suggest the IWA closely examines any agency wishing to act in a PR capacity – there are some ex-journalists and PR practitioners within its membership and I would suggest they are roped in.

Certainly I don’t want a repeat of last year’s so-called communications.

Where does the CRT stand in all this?

It should have been upfront with the IWA at the festival but it was nowhere to be seen – something I am glad to say that did not escape the notice of the chief executive Richard Parry.

The Stratford IWA Festival will have to be highly professional – more so than in recent years – given the guaranteed crowds that will be there. And therefore I expect the CRT to back the IWA. After all they’re all in it together… or are they?

I’ll say to the IWA again… foul this one up and you could lose hundreds of disgusted and disappointed members – and I’ll be one of them.

The main success appears to be in the area of volunteers. I have experienced volunteer lockkeepers at various lock flights and been grateful for their assistance. I have seen litter picking volunteers and eager volunteers including company day outs visiting Gas Street Basin. All this is to the good; whether it needed a change to charity status to achieve this volunteer level, I am not so sure. The downside has been the ‘chuggers’ – sorry, charity fundraising executives who litter the towpath attempting to sign people on to The Friends register. I did ask how many ‘Friends’ we have to date; the trust is getting back to me – at some point.

We have changed the pilot in the shape of the chief executive, Richard Parry, who appears to be a charming man interested in the waterways and is out meeting waterways users. A shame he has not got a boating background but let us give him time, see if he can make a difference. It appears we are not allowed to know his salary – too sensitive.

In the last year at Gas Street we have obtained new No Mooring signs to prevent boats encroaching on to the moorings; new digitised electric bollards which we did not ask for, do not trust and don’t want; and, oh yes, a new key to the security gates. No locks – just a key which arrived in December; I write at the end of August and still the locks have not been fitted.

No promised new water tap, no requested extra electricity bollards and little maintenance.

Let us hope the second year of the trust is better all round.

Spare key for a lock that does not exist anyone?

TowpaTh TiTTer CONTINUING our light-hearted look at life on the cut with a contribution this month from Les Heath.

Fishing for attention – spotted all alone on the Grand Union Canal near Uxbridge.

If you have a suitable photo or anecdote we can share with our readers, please send it to Towpath Talk, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR or email: editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk And don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter @towpathtalk and on Facebook

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