Volume 8 | Issue 2 June 2024
1. Ralphy Miles A fond farewell to a muchmissed colleague.
2. Work Party news 6. Event news NWDCT in the Press Ivan Cane’s presentation Ceilidh
10. Boating News: Powerboat training Boat Trip leaflet 17. The Canal Festival Canal Festival Report
19. Thank you
21. From the Trust Chair
23. Contacts Map, Officer roles
The newsletter of the North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust
Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 1180474
Contact: Secretary@nwdct.org
Website: www.nwdct.org
Ralphy Miles: A volunteer first, a Trustee, an Officer and a Gentleman and a valued colleague with experience in company ownership and business management, bringing to our team a wealth of ideas of how to improve our systems. Liaising with canal owners he bought his own intimitable sense of diplomacy and delicacy dealing with tricky situations.
My forever memory is being encouraged to greet ‘european’ style and not being one for closeness –especially after catching covid last year – this took a little while to get used to.
Ralphy’s cheery soul and enthusiasm for the NW&D canal recovery project and his willingness to become involved will be forever missed. Ralphy was a great volunteer, ideas man and an a sset to the Trust.
After your short illness may you now rest in peace Ralphy, our dear colleague and friend. JK.
This Spring the work parties have been busy on all five pounds of the canal
Pound 1 – Smallburgh
The work over the Winter continued into the Spring on maintaining the channel of the canal.
Most of the work was undertaken using the Sue B work pontoon on which the electric weed harvester is mounted. Fallen trees were removed and reed cut so that the Sue B is able to traverse the whole of the pound
The picture shows the floating platform moored just below Honing Lock with the channel of the canal in the background
Pound 2 – Honing
The island of Honing lock and both sides of the lock have been cut. Some of the arising brash and reed were used to reinforce the paths at either side of the canal, which were in very poor condition.
A future work party will work from within the lock chamber to remove vegetation growing from the walls and the channel itself. This is another opportunity to use the equipment purchased as part of the light craft navigation project.
The picture, taken before work started shows a work party leader in his natural habitat (with the lock walls in the foreground and considerably overgrown.)
A work party visited the length of the canal between the Dee Bridge below Honing Staithe and Honing Lock. A survey by canoe showed that several of the overhanging trees were too low to allow canoes from Canal Camping to pass easily under them. The survey was also a chance to monitor that no nesting birds would be disturbed by the work party the following day.
The subsequent work party saw two volunteers in chest waders walk from the Canal Camping site to Honing Lock lightly cutting back the vegetation to allow the canoes to pass underneath the canopy more easily. The water depth varied between 0.5 and 1m. Two further volunteers worked from the bank to remove cut material.
A work party at Honing Staithe cut some of the grass and other vegetation on the staithe itself. Over half the staithe and adjacent road bank are left uncut to encourage wildlife. Work was also done on the canal walk which is still rather wet in places after the rainfall of the winter and spring but the plan is to reinforce the paths as at Honing lock.
A large tree has fallen across the staithe entrance and will need to be removed. To facilitate this the area at each end of the trunk was clear cut and reed removed from within the channel of the staithe itself. The photo above shows the Trust’s small trailer parked on the staithe
Once clear, it is hoped to use the staithe to launch a platform destined to be moored above Honing Lock and use quants to take it down the canal where the access is very limited by land.
It took three visits to Briggate to cut back vegetation around the lock, the island and the mill pond.
As always, a check was made for any wildlife prior to starting work and only the southern half of the site was cleared. The work exposed the spillway for the mill stream and part of the mill pond itselfchallenging work even with chest waders.
The verges on both sides of the road were cut back and ivy removed from the walls of the old mill buildings adjacent to the road
The cut material was stacked on site.
Some notices were erected near the lock for the North Walsham Canal Company.
There was some emergency work for the OCC to repair a culvert adjacent to the road at Ebridge Mill. The damaged pipework was removed and an open channel created to allow water to flow through the road culvert and under the mill.
Further work will be required to landscape the area.
The grass cutting season has started with cutting along the tops of the banks and the area around the mill pond.
Working with the OCC, the Trust has purchased and been installing new fencing and gates at Ebridge near to the spillway and also to the south of Spa Common bridge.
It is hoped that the gates and signage will encourage the general public to treat the access to the top of the banks in a sensible way and avoid the recent problems.
The work on Pound 5 has been limited recently whilst detailed planning is undertaken for the rewatering of the pound. This required a lot of paperwork and expense for the owners.
It is hoped that there will be plenty of work on this section in the future
In the meantime, the Trust volunteers have been able to cut the vegetation around the completed lock and the access to it.
The work party volunteers have also been doing a good job at the depot. The units have to be kept clean and tidy and the equipment stored and maintained.
North Walsham and Dilham Canal in the Press, with photos from 9th June
“Boasting stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife and a fascinating heritage, it ’s a one-of-a-kind setting in Norfolk and a delight to explore.”
This quote is from Sherree interviewing me for the KL magazine https://www.klmagazine.co.uk
In my role as Chair, I value reporting what the Trust is doing in the maintenance and restoration of the canal, in support of the proprietors. It’s always helpful to share accurate information with the wider public about the unique NW&D Canal. I spoke about the tranquil section from Wayford Junction up to Honing lock owned by Dilham Hall Retreats, where canoes, kayaks and paddle boards are offered for hire. https://www.dilhamhallretreats.co.uk/
I explained that members of the public can park, launch and paddle this section for a small fee. We had a peep into one of the luxury glamping pods and visited the idyllic waterside Camping Meadow.
The proprietor, Luke Paterson (right) generously provides the Canoe Hire Meadow for ‘The Canal Festival’, organized by the volunteers of the
NW&DC Trust. Luke is seen here planning with me for this year’s festival on 7th & 8th September.
The Trust weed harvester will be busy on this section of the navigation over the coming months.
I went on to describe the stunning upper section, between Ebridge and Bacton Wood Mill locks, where, thanks to the generosity of The Old Canal Company (OCC) members of the Trust and members of the public enjoy fishing, model boating, paddle sports as well as wild swimming. Many local people, as well as visitors, enjoy taking a stroll along the canal bank, spotting the wildlife. The magazine photographer also took pictures of visitors launching kayaks and paddleboards. With other passengers he boarded the Trust-owned trip boat “Ella II”. He got some great shots of a trust work party cleaning lock gates and cutting grass around the lock. A heron flew up in front of the cameraman at Bacton Wood Mill lock.
There were action shots of Baldie’s Boards, https://www.baldiesboards.co.uk who were out on the water giving lessons at Ebridge Mill Pond The Old Canal Company have given consent for Captain Baldie to offer paddle craft hire and for their qualified instructors to offer coaching sessions here over the summer.
What we captured on that Sunday was a thriving blue and green canal corridor, valued by so many, while respecting the environment and wildlife.
I hope the article in the magazine, when we get to read it, reflects the beauty of this very special place that we are privileged to help restore and maintain. Sue Kirrage
Friday 22nd March 2024 – Ivan Cane, retired NW&DC Trust Chair and one of the original East Anglian Waterways Association canal restoration enthusiasts, becoming involved as one of the early volunteers for the North Walsham and Dilham Canal restoration group (2008), eventually becoming the Trust Chair overseeing our Trust becoming a CIO in 2018. (Charitable Incorporated Organisation - No. 1180474).
Held at the beautifully refurbished Black Swan Community Theatre in North Walsham, Ivan Cane gave his final presentation providing exciting, informative descriptions of each slide to Trust volunteers, members and specially invited guests These included all four Canal proprietors, North Norfolk MP
Duncan Baker and North Walsham Mayor Bob Wright
The audience of over 90 interested people listened intently to his fascinating slideshow and talk about the history and the more recent restoration of Norfolk's only locked sailing wherry canal “From Conception to Restoration 1826 - 2026”.
Comments included "well I didn't know that!” “I’m amazed” and “what a wonderful evening”. The enthusiastic applause for what has been achieved by the Trust volunteers, working in support of the proprietors, was heart-warming
At the end of the evening, we watched a film about the "Light Craft Navigation" project created by Jonno Parker, of BlueSky Productions. Jonno has created many films of work on the Old Canal Company section, which are now an important historical archive of this canal restoration project.
An informative and interesting slide show created by Chris Heath, with further details of the Light Craft Navigation project ran during the interval.
The Trust would like to thank those local companies who provided Vouchers for Raffle prizes, creating delighted gasps from 'raffle ticket watchers’ when hearing the generous donations. Thank you to Ernest Doe, The Craft Bakery, and Shambles
Cafe, plus our very own volunteers who gave raffle prizes, for helping to make our fund-raising raffle a huge success.
The NW&D Canal Trust would like to thank everyone who volunteered, participated and asked questions, helping to make this an exciting and successful evening. This years ‘Top Gate’ award went to David Murray and ‘Bottom Gate’ to Ivan Cane.
All agreed that the Black Swan Pub and Community Theatre was a great choice of venue and we look forward to returning in the future.
Julie Kelleher, Trust Secretary.
Saturday 27th April 2024 – saw a ceilidh hosted by Barry & Monica Mobbs at Honing Village Hall
WOW! What a great night.
I have never attended a Ceilidh before but those who attended were the right numbers to fill the hall. Dancing a “reel” or a “square” or “jig” and in response to the “callers” sequence of dance moves the dancers were supported by the excellent band of musicians
As the event was arranged for the end of the month of April many turned up dressed for a fairly cool hall, but as the evening fun moved along OFF came the jumpers and top layers. What surprised me most was the range of ages, from the mature silver haired like myself, to parents and teenagers plus young children, we even had a new born safely carried by their family.
The Honing Village Hall bar was a perfect place for a cool glass of a favourite, refreshing tipple which The Trust, event organisers and the band thoroughly enjoyed and made full use of.
Sadly, I was busy folding raffle tickets so unable to partake, but in reality, I knew that after 2 minutes of dancing I would have been as red at the top I was wearing. I also had to leave early to ensure no doggie accidents at home. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
But, seriously, thank you to Barry (Trust Treasurer) and Monica for arranging this event. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the side lines watching all the dancers enjoying themselves.
Photo left: Our trust Chair Sue, encouraging participants to select their raffle prize – JK
Becoming certified in a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Power Boat 2 (PB2) course.
On a cold and sunny Tuesday in March, four NW&DCT members (three Trustees and myself) approached The Nancy Oldfield Trust in Neatishead with anticipation and a little amount of nerves – well, me anyway, considering I ’d never steered a boat before, but the blurb said no experience necessary, but advisable - eek.
We were heading to undertake the two-day training necessary to be assessed as competent to hold the Royal Yachting Association Powerboat 2 qualification. We met our instructors, Paul and Dave, had coffee and a chat about what the course would entail. We all donned our wet weather gear (yes, our Chairperson Sue was under all those layers), put on our buoyancy aids, and ventured to the jetty where a plethora of craft was sitting. We were instructed on the extensive checks that needed to be carried out before even putting the boat into gear, introduced to the 2 different vessels for the day and off we ventured towards Barton Broad.
Such patient instructors. Sue and Chris were paired with Paul, and The Captain Baldie and myself went with Dave.
The sun didn ’t shine for long, and the rain certainly pelted down, then stopped, then pelted, then stopped etc. etc. (you get the gist of our typical March weather in Norfolk). The trickiest weather factor was the wind that was strong enough out in the middle of the Broad to turn our boats without any help from us!
We were instructed, then practiced coming alongside the jetty on the Nancy Oldfield pontoon, moored in the middle of the broad. Then practiced coming in against the wind, with the wind, and then to a targeted spot on the jetty, with an imaginary boat moored in front of us. Thankfully my imaginary boat was ‘moveable ’ , but I got it in the end.
We discussed how to tie the vessels up, practiced our knots (two turns and a half hitch, reef knots, etc) then a demonstration of how to attach a boat to the jetty with ‘springs ’(four ropes tied in a certain way to allow the boat bow or stern, so as not to hit the pontoon when tied up). Then we picked up a buoy and anchored to it, then rather tiredly returned back to base.
The Friday, we all arrived again with wet weather gear and went through the same routine checking the boats were in correct condition to go out – but these were different boats!
One was a beautiful wooden sailing boat with a mast and a lovely tiller, so different from the craft used on day one.
Again, we ventured out in our pairs under instruction from Paul and Dave, again I partnered The Captain Baldie who was quite experienced as he ’s a well-known pirate at heart. Dave, very patiently sat alongside me and instructed on 360 degrees turns in the length of the boat, picking up poor ‘Joe ’the dummy who has ‘fallen ’ overboard, practiced reversing round two buoys in a figure of eight (yes, we had to
bail out the boat as The Captain Baldie managed to take on a large amount of water – good practice, even if not the intended practice of the day) and then we got to tie the two vessels together, using the spring line technique, and escort it to Gay ’s Staithe in Irstead. Many more manoeuvres and handling practice and it was time to head back to base.
After a written ‘quiz ’(not allowed to call it a test as I fall to pieces at tests), and a discussion on the answers, it was time to wait for the verdict. Paul and Dave left the room, we readied ourselves for the end of the day and were called one by one to discuss how we thought we ’d got on, and how Paul and Dave felt we had done. At the end of the day, we were all presented with our licenses – WOW we’d done it!!
Congratulations Sue, Chris and The Captain Baldie, and thank you Paul and Dave.
The Boating Team is out regularly on the Trust ’s trip boat Ella II. We are taking trip bookings, for a s mall donation, on the nearly two-mile return trip from Ebridge towards Spa Common on the beautiful, peaceful North Walsham & Dilham Canal.
This section of the canal is owned by the Old Canal Company and the Trust help to maintain it – aren ’t we privileged to be able to enjoy it.
If you ’d like to take a trip on Ella II, please phone Darren on 07415 905 357
We all welcome the opportunity to take the boat for a trip out with you.
Carol Horner, Boating Team member
So, we made it!
Carol (Aqua Women), Sue (Chair), Chris (Projects) and myself (The Captain Baldie - Boating and Events) took our RYA PB2 training and test over a 2-day course at The Nancy Oldfield Trust just near Barton Broad.
I had the advantage as I had been manning motorised craft for the past 4 years (all self-taught) but every day is a school day and I learnt so much over the two days training. What impressed me most were my crew mates, one of which I knew had never skippered a powered vessel before.
For me, being a bit of a pirate, I took most manoeuvres at a slightly higher speed than most, this became apparent when I was doing reverse manoeuvres and took on more water than anyone else had managed in a good few years! After a quick bale out, we were set challenges from rescuing dummies to coming alongside a jetty in all cross winds.
Happily, we all passed with ease but our journey didn’t stop there.
The goal of doing the RYA PB2 was to become licensed skippers, so we could take the helm of the NWDCTs trip boat that will be back in service this year! The lovely Ella II.
We have all been practicing hard getting to know this wonderful little vessel, putting her through various manoeuvres in different conditions to hone our skills and get a feeling of joint unity with this wonderful boat.
ELLA II is named after the last Norfolk trading wherry sailing the canal. She’s 21ft, electrically propelled with a solar panelled roof. Based at Ebridge lock on the Happisburgh Road out of North Walsham, she can take mixed parties of up to 12 people from Ebridge to Spa Common and back.
Captain Baldie (Trust Boating Officer)
Some people call it the Smallburgh Pound others the Wayford Pound, which ever you prefer the first element of the canal from Wayford Junction to Honing Lock will be the site of this year`s Canal Festival based at the Canoe Field, Oak Farm where Dilham Hall Retreats hire canoes and paddle boards and the Newun replica wherry can be taken as a trip boat.
Working within the strict regulations set by the Environment Agency EA the North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust NWDCT volunteers are using the work boat /weed harvester the Sue B to increase the navigable length of this first part of the canal.
At last year’s Festival only downstream from Tonnage Bridge to the Junction with the River Ant and the Broads was accessible to all craft; the branches of fallen trees, submerged trunks, the summer`s weed growth and the resultant silting made the channel above Tonnage Bridge almost un-navigable to all but the lightest craft.
Over the quiet winter period the NWDCT volunteers have been maintaining the original section to Wayford Junction as well as striking upstream to recreate a navigable channel up the pound. Working upstream towards Honing Lock the volunteers have used the weed harvester to remove sunken tree trunks and cut back the branches from the Alders and Willows that have uprooted from the bank. Then, with the timber reduced the weed harvester was able to cut the canal vegetation, elevate and store the weed on the vessel and later place it on the bank. Freeing the canal bed of weed growth means that some of the silt that has been trapped in these mini reedbeds will flow downstream with the current.
The work is not yet complete, but the Newun or other large trip boats can now reach and turn at the East Ruston Junction, and it is hoped to reach a winding hole near to Honing lock within our allotted time.
After nature`s free-for-all that we call springtime, the volunteers will be able to gently return to maintain the channel, perhaps removing a dead tree blown across the canal, so that the much-extended navigation will be ready for the Canal Festival in September. David Batley
THANK YOU WORSTEAD FESTIVAL for the generous grant.
In July of 2023, two of our volunteers David and Christine Batley represented the Trust at the Worstead Festival and were delighted with the numbers of visitors to the North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust stand. They were able to tell many people about the aims of the Canal restoration and answer many interesting questions. A particularly pleasing element for us was that so much interest came from local people, who were intrigued to learn what benefits the Canal on their doorstep could offer them.
In September 2023 we were invited to apply for a Grant from the Worstead Festival Committee. We explained how the grant would help us to achieve the plan to restore the waterway for the benefit of the local community, including enhancing and maintaining the wildlife corridor that is such a local asset. Environmentally friendly light craft navigation, such as canoes, paddle boards, dinghies are permitted as are the two ’trip’ boats.
There is much interest in the benefits from the work of the trust volunteers in restoring and maintaining the canal waterway and the environs in an environmentally aware approach. We are going ‘greener’ and ‘bluer’ working in close
association with the four canal owners. The restoration to date of a large stretch of the upper end of the Canal at and above Ebridge mill pond enables folk to enjoy canoeing, wild swimming, wildlife spotting, model boating, relaxing, paddle boarding, walking and fishing. From Wayford Junction at the Dilham end, through to Honing Lock is also open, for a tranquil, peaceful experience, with launching for a small fee, payable to Dilham Hall Canoe and Paddle Board Hire, to assist with the expense of maintaining the access along the lengthy private track, Oak Road in Dilham.
Sue our Trust Chair operating the newly purchased brush cutter with David B looking on as safety ‘banksman’.
David B was soon heavily involved in clearing the reeds at Briggate millpond.
What a difference your grant has made to our volunteers’ work!
Our volunteers on work parties are very grateful for the addition of an environmentally quieter and battery driven (not fossil fuelled) Stihl Brush Cutter, purchased through our successful Grant application to Worstead Festival. The Grant, topped up by another generous donor, has permitted us to purchase spare batteries and a charger for this great piece of equipment.
Heartfelt thanks to all Worstead Festival Committee and Volunteers - wishing you good weather and great success at your Festival this year, on 27th and 28th July 2024. We hope to see many of you at our own Canal Festival in late Summer - to be held over the weekend of 7th and 8th September 2024.
Sue Kirrage and Julie Kelleher, Trustees
Congratulations to all our hard-working volunteers. Welcome to those new members and volunteers who have joined us over the last few months. Much has been achieved all along the Canal very visibly over the last several months, as the Work Party photos and reports show.
Recent examples of cleaning Ebridge Lock gates, before and after, are shown below. Volunteers were also out in force on 9th June grass cutting around the lock.
However, the Trust supporters will rarely see the hours of work by a very few ‘back office’ volunteers, for example the wonderful social events of Ivan’s talk and the Ceilidh. We are now working hard preparing for the Canal Festival on 7th and 8th September.
Yes, it’s fun and rewarding, but the administration does take time and effort. I hereby encourage all of our readers and supporters to think about whether you can offer a few hours, perhaps once or twice a week to help us with, for example memberships; or maybe once or twice a month typing up the meeting minutes. There are other roles in the admin team and at present it mostly falls on one set of extremely capable, but overloaded shoulders, our brilliant Julie Kelleher. If you are comfortable with ICT and communication, we’d love your help.
Please call me if you’d like to meet and chat about how you might give us the help we need behind the scenes, as well what you already do to support our efforts.
Sue Kirrage, Trust Chair - 07770 661 784
Farewell to Ralphy Miles, much missed.
In memory of Ralphy, we will be re-creating “Ralphy’s Trail”, his unique idea last year of using Yellow Ribbons along Oak Road, Dilham to guide visitors to The Canal Festival. Please enjoy the challenge this year of following Ralphy’s Trail and tell us how many ribbons you counted when you arrive (prizes on offer).
Ralphy (JFDI) will be long remembered for all those things he said and did for so many people, sometimes quietly, sometimes direct and to the point (never afraid to do what was right or what needed doing), always with good intent and generous heart. He was perceptive, intelligent, wise and humble. He was our friend and great company, with a cracking sense of humour and the right degree of irreverence. The range of his skills was exceptional. No challenge was too much, his engineering brain was always working on how things might be improved, mended or designed anew. In carpentry, electrical engineering and construction he could turn his very skilled hands to almost any challenge. His family speak fondly of Ralphy in “Passport mode”, (recalling him organising the family on trips abroad in almost military fashion).
As one of our Trustees, as our Boating Officer and more recently Grants Officer, he was a great colleague working as part of the Trustees and Officers Team leading and organising events and fully immersing himself, working long hours to research and plan. He so enjoyed taking people out on trips on the canal, skippering Ella II, our trip boat up at Ebridge (Pound 4 of the canal) and helping crew for Graham Pressman on The Newun. He had also been very supportive of Graham in the build of The Newun.
In summary, I’d like to quote from what Dominic his son read at Ralphy’s funeral:
“In February this year his surgery had failed and he had to have another major operation to save his life. He never fully recovered and spent the next few months fighting to get back to the life he knew and loved. This time he didn’t bounce back. After cheating death 3 times in the last 6 years his fight was over.
But what a life he had. He left school at 15 with no formal qualifications and took an apprenticeship at a local garage, learned engineering and became a manager at a prominent Engineering firm. Later he took the plunge and started his own company Alphr Technology. He was married to my mum for over 50 years, had 3 kids and
took on Michael and Glen our cousins as his own. He travelled the world and truly lived his best life. He imparted his knowledge to anyone who would listen. His advice and guidance I’m sure was gladly received by many. He made me the person I am today and I know I’m not the only one that can say that. So let’s celebrate the man that he was. Funny, Witty, insightful and at times inappropriate.”
Sue Kirrage, Chair chair@nwdct.org
Website: www.nwdct.org
Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/www.nwdct.org
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NWDCT
Mailboxes are ****@nwdct.org (**** role title as below)
Officers
Boating
Captain Baldie
Chair Sue Kirrage
Fishing Tom Webster
Liaison
David Revill
Membership Julie Kelleher
Projects
Chris Heath
Secretary Julie Kelleher
Treasurer
Barry Mobbs
Walkways Andrew Fryer
Vacant Officer roles:
• Grants and Funding
• Press and Media
• Wildlife and Environment
• Work Party Co-Ordinator
If you have an interest in volunteering with us in any of the roles above, please contact us on secretary@nwdct.org for more details.
If you know someone that would like to become a member, please ask them to contact membership@nwdct.org