Towing Path Topics, September 2015

Towing Path Topics The newsletter of the Lancashire and Cumbria Branch of the Inland Waterways Association

September 2015

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Towing Path Topics are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of its North West Region or of the Lancs and Cumbria Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers.

Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter.

No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgment.

Cover Illustration: 'Our Bridge' The bridge to which North Lancs & Cumbria Branch (as it was then) contributed spans the Ribble Link at its junction with the Lancaster Canal.

Line drawing by Celia Lockley from a photograph taken by David M Smith.

The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.

Editor:- David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk

Copy date for next edition 12th December 2015

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Contents Page 5 Farewell from Region Chairman 7 Trailboat Festival on Lancaster Canal 10 Meccano bench on MB&BC 11 Welcome to new members 12 L&LCS Photographic Competition 14 Living Waterways Awards 15 Report of the balsam bash 16 Do not Walk on the Water – Part 2 18 Grouse 19 News 21 First pleasure boats at Farleton 22 Branch committee 23 Meeting venues 24 Branch programme 2015/16 Summary of upcoming events September 7th Open meeting of L&LCS re events to mark the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal (page20n) 15th Closing date for L&L photo competition (page12) 24th Branch meeting in Colne (see back cover, page 24) 26th National AGM at Salwarpe Village Hall, Salwarpe, Droitwich, Worcs WR9 0AH at 10.30am. The event starts with 2 short presentations prior to formal business at 11.30am.

October 29th Branch meeting in Preston November 26th Branch meeting in Colne December 12th Copy date for January edition of TPT January 2016 28th Branch meeting in Preston 3

Welcome to the late summer edition of your branch newsletter, my second as editor. Thank you to those of you who made kind comments made about my first effort. If you held back your criticisms or comments waiting for this one please let me have them, it’s for branch members, if you don’t find it useful or enjoyable there is not much point publishing.

Thank you to our contributors, especially Frank Sanderson of the Lancaster Canal Trust for his report on the Trailboat Festival including the photos. John Hewerdine sent the Wilderness Boats photo and also part 2 of his ‘Don’t walk on the water’.

Congratulations to the team that has worked so hard to create the learning experience that is ‘Kennet’. They have been shortlisted for the Canal & River Trust Living Waterways Award. Also shortlisted is the IWA’s Balsam Bashing campaign. Thank you to those branch members who helped at our bash in Haslam Park as part of that campaign.

Farewell to Alan Platt who is retiring as our Region Chairman. Alan has been a good friend of this Branch during his 6 years in post, regularly travelling from his home in Wales to our committee meetings where his input has been much valued. He has sent his final contribution. We wish him well.

This edition contains details of our branch programme for 2015/16.

Again we are alternating between venues in Preston and Colne to make it easier for people to attend. We hope that more of you can attend this year. Thanks to Wendy Humphreys for finding the speakers and arranging the programme.

You will see that next year, 2016 will see a very important event – the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. We hope that our branch can make a significant contribution to any events planned but as always that depends on whether branch members volunteer to help. Usually such help can take as much or a little time as you wish so please try to help if you can.

Oh yes, one or two more committee members would be very welcome but I won’t harp on that again.

David Faulkner 4

Farewell from the Region Chairman A wise man once said, and if he didn’t he should have, that the purpose of history is to learn from the past and repeat what went right and avoid repeating what went wrong. As I probably get more things wrong than right, I tend to avoid looking back. Within the IWA there is an occasional tendency to look back too much as we have a long and glorious history, but the important thing is always to look forward to where we’re going.

The future is challenging for the IWA as we live in a rapidly changing world, especially as far as communication is concerned.

In my working life, things evolved from typewriters to telexes, faxes and then emails and we are now bombarded with information, news and opinions from all sides. The IWA must change and adapt, which is not easy for some of us. I personally am not a user of social media, but recognise that is has an important place in the today’s world, and if the IWA is to survive and prosper it must embrace this and other innovations, and those of us of a more mature age must try and adapt or make way for those who can.

All of which leads into me breaking my own rule and looking back over the last six years since I became your Region Chairman in this my last piece in your magazines before I relinquish the post.

First let me say that it has been a pleasure and a privilege to hold that position, chiefly because I have made a lot of friends and met a lot of people I otherwise wouldn’t have. I’ve leant that the different branches in the region each has its own character and personality, dependant on the people who make it tick and that means that each branch is good at some things and not so good at others. The IWA nationally must and does recognise that and accepts that a branch can only do what it is capable of doing and always remember that we’re all volunteers and will only do what we enjoy doing.

Over the last six years I suppose the biggest change to the waterways has been the transfer of most of the national system from British Waterways to the Canal and River Trust.

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Nationally we recognise that much of the system is still run by the Environment Agency and while we have agreement in principle that this will be transferred over to CRT, there is a long way to go to achieve the reality. That doesn’t directly affect our region but we do have in the middle of the patch the small matter of the Bridgewater and Manchester Ship Canals owned by a private company. I would love to get Peel and CRT talking about say linking the Weaver to the Bridgewater via the restored Runcorn Locks to make a circular cruising route.

I think we can all agree that the canals under CRT management are much better off than under the old BW, the condition of the track has improved, they are more engaged with restoration, there are fewer assets at risk of falling down and the more stable funding system has created more certainty. The organisation has been compared with a tanker making a U turn, which takes some time and a lot of space but there has been a great improvement, not least in their preparedness to listen to and work with others.

All is not perfect yet; I was disappointed that the Press Release of their recent annual report claimed the HS2 realignment near Fradley as a victory for CRT without mentioning the initiative and joint working with the IWA on that project. The Montgomery restoration on the new length opened last year was referred to without giving credit to the work by Shropshire Union Canal Society, and there is a tendency to imply that CRT invented volunteering on the waterways. Our disappointment at this has been expressed at the highest level; let us hope the real partnerships that work together, both nationally and locally are not forgotten by the media men.

We sometimes get criticised for working with CRT, but I wonder whether we’re supposed to query everything they do or work with them to get it right. I sit on the local CRT partnership and can reassure you that I do not just sit there and agree blindly with the utterances of CRT management, and to be fair to them, that’s not what they want.

So generally things are better than they used to be, but there are still things that need improving, both with CRT and with IWA, and I’ll carry on working towards them.

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You will have a new Region Chairman in Mike Carter after the National AGM on September 26th, and I do hope a lot of you can make it there. I will stay on the Region Committee to help or hinder him, nationally I’m still on Finance committee, and I’ll stay active in my home branch, so I hope to carry on seeing you all.

So thanks very much for everything, keep up the good work, and see you around on the cut.

Alan Platt

Trailboat Festival The IWA National Trailboat Festival, organised by the Lancaster Canal Trust in association with Countryfest took place at Crooklands, near Kendal May 30 to 1st June. 2015.

Trailboats from all corners of the English canal system supported the event by travelling over 6,000 miles, and the organisers are truly grateful for their support.

The event opened on Saturday 30 May with a welcome from Chairman Richard Trevitt. He acknowledged the help of Christine Knipe and her staff, who run Countryfest, and the fact that so many had travelled so far to support the event. The entire weekend was an outstanding success.

Events included guided walks on the Gunpowder Trail, boat handling competition, an illuminated parade of boats, including the local Bendrigg Trust outward bound group.

The culmination was a cavalcade along the full length of CRT’s newly dredged canal - led by the Lancaster Canal Trust boat 'Waterwitch', and waved on its way by local MP Tim Farron.

On reaching Stainton, CRT head Richard Parry, handed the flotilla flag to Bendrigg Trust canoes with a party of disabled children.

They sailed the remainder of the watered section from Stainton to Sellet Hall which is not yet joined to the main canal because of a leak that needs investigation.

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Local MP Tim Farron waving off ‘Waterwitch’ to lead the cavalcade along the canal.

View of the end of the festival site

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Part of a letter from Taunton, Somerset I am writing on behalf of members of the Wilderness Boat Owners’ Club who attended the National Trailboat Rally at Crooklands to thank you and your committee for all you did to ensure that all of us had a good time during our weekend on the Northern Reaches.

It was evident that a lot of hard work had gone into coordinating everything. The involvement of CRT ensured that the canal was dredged and the banks were strimmed. It was so good to be able to see the edge of the bank when we were mooring up! The cooperation of the organisers of the Westmorland Country Fest must have been a great advantage, and we were very pleased to have such a large event to wander round and to enjoy the displays.

The number of people coming along the canal bank and showing interest in the boats and the canal was very pleasing, and it was great for us to be able to extol the virtues of boating and the lovely Lancaster Canal in particular. What a lovely part of the world you live in (if a bit cold!).

The visit to the stone walling was a great idea, as were the walks on the Gunpowder Trail and to Hincaster Tunnel – please will you pass on our thanks to our guides, who made the talks very interesting.

We look forward to the day (I hope not too far away) when we won’t need to transfer our boats by road from the main Lancaster Canal, but can come from Tewitfield by boat and cruise onward to Kendal through Hincaster Tunnel. We hope that our presence at Crooklands may have helped in part to that aim.

There’s more giant Meccano at Nob End! This time the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society has added a Meccano bench in the newly created viewing area for the locks. The money came from donations made at two funerals last year; the two who died were John Lynn and Philip Wakerley.

John was a member of the Society’s Council, and Philip was simply someone who loved the canal.

The bench was made by Folsana in Bolton, and then galvanised and painted locally.

The pic shows Paul Bowerman (Canal & River Trust), Steve Dent & Sam Kennion (Canal Society) at the back.

Sitting on the bench are Liam Curtin (artist who designed all the Meccano structures at Nob End) and Paul Hindle (Chairman of the Canal Society).

If you want to see pictures of the award-winning Meccano bridge go to Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society: www.mbbcs.org.uk

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New Members Welcome to the following new members to the Branch.

Mr F & Mrs S Sanderson, Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

Mr P Bolton, Hoddlesden, Darwen.

Mr N Boyce & Family, Eccles, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

Mr C Cooper & Family, Holbeck, Barrow-in-Furness.

Ms H Davis Ribbleton, Preston.

Mr A G Woodward & Family, Newbiggin On Lune, Kirkby Stephen.

Mr R Clarke & Family, Farington Moss, Preston.

Mr S Marzetti, Strathaven, Lanarkshire.

Mr N & Mrs J Smith, Armathwaite, Carlisle.

Mr A Casson & Family, Distington, Workington.

Mr D L Finnis OBE JP, Annan, Dumfriesshire.

Mr K Rushton, Burscough, Ormskirk.

Mr A Johnson & Family, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Mr P Kissack, Armathwaite, Carlisle, Ms K Lainson, Crag Bank, Carnforth.

Apologies again to those of you who were not included in the last edition.

If you have joined recently you will be included in our next edition.

We don’t receive much information about members new to the branch (in future we won’t even get addresses because of data protection restrictions).

If you would like to tell us something about yourselves please do so. If you have a boat with an interesting name why not tell us about it? (My favourite is ‘Cirrhosis of the River’ but I don’t suppose we want to go into that).

Alan Platt’s boats were named after Beethoven overtures 'Coriolan ' and 'Leonore'. He says one local to his moorings was called 'Flat bottomed Girl' after the Queen song ''Fat bottomed girl'.

If you have spotted amusing names of boats let us know.

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Photography Competition to source pictures for

Leeds & Liverpool Canal 2016 Calendar Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Completion of the Canal The Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society is holding this photographic competition which is open to all amateur photographers. There are 6 categories with 2 winners from each category.

All pictures are to feature the Leeds & Liverpool Canal based on the following categories:      

Heritage Wild Life Leisure Boating Canal Infrastructure Humorous

All pictures are to suit a landscape format.

Prizes The overall winner’s picture will be used on the cover and will receive 6 Canal Heritage Books and a Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society Sweatshirt.

The photographers of the 12 pictures used in the Calendar will each receive 3 Canal Heritage books 12

Entries Entries can be either a print of professional quality (minimum size – A5) or a digital file with a print resolution 1800 pixels x 1200 pixels (300dpi) or at least 1MB. Each entry is to be accompanied with name, address, tel. no., where the picture was taken and the category (or categories – maximum of 2 for each entry) Each person may enter up to 12 entries.

Please send your entries in one of the following ways: 

Email as attachments (up to 8 MB per email) to leeds.liverpool.canal.soc@gmail.com



By Post in a Ridged Envelope to L&LCS, 2016 Calendar, c/o 2 Cross Lane Mill, Bradley, BD20 9QB th

Competition closes on 15 September 2015 and the winners will be notified during week commencing 5th October 2015 and publicised on the Society’s Website - www.llcs.org.uk/

Please Note As well as featuring in the calendar, your photo entries will help us to th

promote the 200 Anniversary of the completion of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in 2016 along with the Society’s future marketing and promotional material, by allowing us to use of the photos (including in a modified form). Photos will be credited where possible.

(There are various terms and conditions that you can access on the website, the main one is that you are giving L&LCS the right to use your images how they choose, but they will not pass them onto anyone else. Ed)

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Living Waterways Awards finalists announced Launched by the Canal & River Trust in January, the Living Waterways Awards seek to recognise the most inspiring and exciting waterway-based improvement projects across the UK. Tony Hales, chair of the Canal & River Trust, explains: “The Living Waterways Awards celebrate the individuals, communities and organisations that have done the most to make a difference to the nation’s rivers, canals, lochs, lakes, reservoirs and docks, making them exciting places to live, learn and spend time.

“After a series of visits and assessments, which saw the expert judges travel from Sandwich to Enniskillen and from Glasgow to Devon, we are thrilled to announce the shortlist of finalists.”

From exciting events and inspirational sculptures, to innovative education projects and pioneering environmental initiatives, finalists are listed under seven award categories: 1. Art & Interpretation: The Helix, Falkirk/Grangemouth; and Monkland Canal, Glasgow.

2. Contribution to the Built Environment: Postle’s Bridge, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct; and Sandwich Town Tidal Defence Scheme.

3. Community & Volunteering: Greening the Regent’s Canal, London; and Row the Erne, Enniskillen.

4. Education & Learning: Canal College, Falkirk & Edinburgh; Dewsbury Waterlinked, Dewsbury Arm of the Calder & Hebble Navigation; Pewsham Locks Centenary Celebrations, Wilts & Berks Canal; and The Kennet Project, Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

!!

5. Natural Environment: Duck Broads Reed Bed Restoration, Norfolk; Inland Waterways Association Himalayan Balsam Campaign; River Tale Restoration, Ottery St Mary; and Wolvercote Lakes, Oxford.

6. Recreation & Tourism: Leeds Waterfront Festival; and Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow.

7. Restoration & Historic Environment: Cotswold Canals Restoration, Stroud; Lichfield Canal Heritage Towpath Trail; and Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, Cheshire.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in October.

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Balsam Bashing In the previous edition we gave details of a Balsam Bash planned for Haslam Park, Preston in July. It duly took place – 4 branch members (Janet & Tony Dunning, Madeline Dean and your editor) plus members of Friends of Haslam Park and the Green Party turned up and were helped and supervised by 2 park rangers.

We had our safety briefing (mad dogs, needles and other stuff), donned our high viz tabards and gloves and set off to do some plant pulling. (Why high viz you ask. Two reasons – it advertised the IWA in large letters and after a while it made it easier to spot each other in the undergrowth.)

Pulling up Himalayan Balsam is very easy. It has virtually no roots so if you are struggling to pull it up you’ve got the wrong plant. The lack of roots is one of the reasons this invasive species is a problem – it dies off in the winter after crowding out all the native plants and there is nothing to stop canal and river banks being washed away.

We filled umpteen large bags with the pesky plant which were then crammed into the rangers’ van to be carted off for composting.

They had to make several trips, oh we certainly bashed that balsam!

It’s fairly easy work and very satisfying. A lot of the time the plants are so tall you don’t even have to bend down and they pull up so easily.

A tip (learned the hard way) – Himalayan Balsam and stinging nettles often grow near each other - wear long sleeves.

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Do not Walk on the Water – Part Two John Hewerdine In the last edition of Towing Path Topics, I spoke of our decision to retire to a property on the Leeds Liverpool Canal, at the bottom of Johnson’s Hillock, near Chorley.

Having made the move from Farnham in Surrey, we now wanted to fulfil our dream and have a narrowboat moored up outside our new Lancashire home. We visited a large number of brokerages and inspected many craft. I fancied a traditional narrowboat with its maximised living space. I had recently navigated with a friend on a shared cruiser-stern boat in February and had experience of standing at the tiller in the cold. Meanwhile my wife was determined to “live the dream” in glorious summer sunshine. Yes, you guessed, the compromise had to be a semi-trad.

We planned to buy second-hand but didn’t want a rust bucket with an engine which had encountered too many tidal waters where salt water can somehow manage to take the shine off anything made of metal. Yes, we wanted a craft which ticked all the boxes and was just nicely run-in. The reality was that the number of boxes to be ticked rapidly increased as we enjoyed inspecting boats up and down the country. Each narrowboat we saw had one or two features which we really liked and promptly became “must haves”.

The result was that, after many enjoyable trips to brokers, we discovered that no semi-trad existed which ticked all our boxes.

Dot and I came to the inevitable conclusion that, if we managed to find a bit more cash, we might do better by looking at modest boat fitters, with a view to affording a new build. We inspected the lower end of the spectrum of talented boat fitters, still around eight years ago. Triton Boat builders, near the Barton Swing Aqueduct, at Patricroft, close to Manchester, had been in business for many years and so our business went to Bernard, a likeable fellow who said yes to all our questions and had a friendly foreman Terry, his son-in-law.

I drew up a specification for our boat. This was based on specs we had seen for off-the-shelf new builds but included all the extras we had liked on boats we had seen. We also added a few extras that 16

we didn’t feel we needed but which might help to sell the boat, if we

fell out of love with it after one season. Things like diesel central heating and a bow-thruster. More about these items later perhaps.

One thing that helped us to choose our fitter was that Bernard liked the wood-burning stove which we had bought in an antique shop in Briquebec, Normandie, five years before.

Bernard was prepared to fit it. Our stove was somewhat “non standard” (as boat stoves go) but was related to “an old friend”. It is a petit Godin, little brother of the stove we had installed in our French farmhouse thirty years ago.

More of the stove too, if you care to read my contribution in the next issue.

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Before my first edition of TPT I sent out an email asking for any points that members might like to raise. Linda responded on a subject guaranteed to get blood boiling. Ed Sorry - can only think of a grouse at the moment....discarded doggy doo bags!

In some places along the towpath the habits of dog owners leaves a lot to be desired. They bag up the mess, then hang it on the nearest bush, hedge or dump it in the undergrowth. Whilst this is a most infuriating and deplorable habit ( not knocking all dog walkers - I have one too), it is noted that there are very few waste bins around for dumping said doggy doo bags properly.

Being a regular user of the Glasson Arm, I've noticed that it's particularly bad around the bridge just after lock 6 (descending towards the Glasson basin). It seems as though dog walkers come up from the basin just far enough for the pooch to perform - I'm assuming they go back then to the comfort of their car!

When my kids were younger (14+) they regularly practiced their canoe and kayak skills along this stretch of canal. Their group leader had them collecting rubbish along the towpath as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award voluntary service. To return with 3-4 bags of rubbish - largely filled with abandoned doggy doo bags was not uncommon.

I can't help but wonder what the Duke of Lancaster would think if she knew this wonderful waterway and towpath was being so disgustingly littered.

Grouse over.

Kind regards, Linda Wilson NB Graydees Dream

If you have any grouses of your own pass them to the editor. We don’t want this newsletter turning into a version of the TV programme Grumpy Old Men/Women (why not you ask) but it can be good to get a grouse off your chest and it’s comforting to find that others get irritated too.

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News from Canal and Rivers Trust and elsewhere Memories of a Wartime Canal Boatwoman This new book, with the memories of Nancy Ridgway, the only female volunteer captain of a boat on the canal towards the end of World War II is now available. There is an introduction looking at the story behind the boatwomen training scheme on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, with a good number of photos. The book is published for the National Waterways Museum, who obtained the transcript of Nancy’s story. It costs £4.99 and copies are available on ‘Kennet’.

Also available on ‘Kennet’ are copies of the L&LCS brief history of the canal and Geoff Wheat’s book on Canal Transport Ltd, both at £3.00.

(Item taken with permission from ‘Clogs & Gansey’, the L&LCS newsletter.)

‘Kennet’ will be at Eanam Wharf on 12th – 13th September for the Blackburn Heritage Weekend.

Email address for queries: friendsofkennet@gmail.co.uk Report from IWA Trustees Meeting held on 8th August 2015 Rory Stewart, the new Waterways Minister, had been very encouraging at the Parliamentary reception on 7th July and promised a meeting with IWA in the autumn. Richard Benyon, the former Waterways Minister and prospective chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, had also been very supportive. .

NB Rory Stewart is MP for Penrith & the Border – within our branch area.

The unveiling of the Aickman Blue Plaque has been fixed to take place on 10th September. Peter Ward, chief executive of UK Warehouse Association (the present occupants of 11 Gower Street) has offered the use of their board room, which is thought to have been Robert Aickman’s office in 1946, and David Suchet has agreed to join Les Etheridge and make a speech.

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Doesn’t time fly?

This summer marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of the restored Kennet and Avon Canal by the queen.

The Kennet & Avon Canal was opened in 1810, after 16 years’ hard work by famed waterway engineer John Rennie. Major structures include Scheduled Ancient Monument Caen Hill Lock Flight, Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts and Bruce Tunnel. Providing a link from the River Thames at Reading to the River Avon in Bath, the 87-mile waterway crossing Wiltshire, Berkshire and Somerset is one of the greatest achievements of the canal restoration movement. (CRT)

L&L Canal 200th ANNIVERSARY OPEN MEETING L&LCS are holding an open meeting for anyone or any organisation interested in celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the canal that took place in October 1816.

Monday 7th September 2015, 6-30pm At Graham & Brown, Design & Marketing Centre, Stanley Street, Blackburn, BB1 3BW Please let us know numbers attending – Email leeds.liverpool.canal.soc@gmail.com or Tel: 01535 630597 If you read this in time please inform anyone you know who might like to attend.

With all this talk of 200th celebrations it is worth remembering that in the 1960’s there was a real threat that the canal would be closed (canals were not fashionable back then, we had to be modern).

The IWA held a national rally in Blackburn in 1965 to publicise the folly of closing what was then the only trans-Pennine waterway still open. We can take some credit for the fact that we still have a complete canal to celebrate. Ed

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First pleasure boats at Farleton on the Lancaster Canal for 60 years.

Walkers on the Farleton section of this lovely canal, cut off in the 60s by the M6, were delighted to see pleasure boats once more.

Launched at Farleton Turnpike Bridge 156 from a friendly farmer’s field, organised by Colin Ogden, of Old Lanky Boaters Group. An experiment to test the water in preparation for bringing back some of the spectacular events that used to take place on this section.

Boats were operating from Dukes Bridge 155 throughout the day.

Colin said “It has been a pleasurable and worthwhile event and to see the surprise and pleasure on peoples’ faces and to hear their comments is very gratifying” Talks are taking place with Burton and Holme Parish Councillors with a view to reinstating the Holme Dingy Race, and walkers, cyclists and neighbours were very enthusiastic and pleased that this is being considered.

Malcolm and Christine Stephenson, of the nearby Dukes, an old public house, the first passengers for many, many years were delighted with the trip.

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L&C Branch Committee 2015 Chairman (Temporary) Vice Chairman

Alan Davies Colne Vacant

07785 232985

Secretary

Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston Wendy Humphreys Darwen Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston Shared by Secretary and Chairman Vacant Vacant See Treasurer See Treasurer

07946 702274 01995 672230 07763 561572 01254 703553 07946 702274 01995 672230

Treasurer Membership Secretary Environment and Planning Publicity Sales Social Secretary Lancaster Canal Restoration Partnership Leeds and Liverpool Canal Lancaster Canal Trust Region Chairman (ex officio) Wild over Water Web Master Editor – Towing Path Topics Without portfolio

Shared by Treasurer and Chairman Helen Thomas Carnforth Alan Platt Caerwys Vacant Martyn Clapham Nelson David Faulkner Blackburn Tony Dunning Egremont

01524 735504 07860 250152 01352 720649 07710 468303 07912 249265 01254 249265 07730 113894 01946 820875

Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk We no longer publish addresses.

If you want to write to us please use the editor’s address (and note that has changed recently, seepage 2) 22

Venues for branch meetings Preston St Andrew's Church Hall, Tulketh Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, PR2 1ES (off Blackpool Road) Bus services from Preston Bus Station: - 68 (Stagecoach) to Tulketh Road, St Andrew's School (drops you opposite); 31 or 61 (Preston Bus) to Newton Road off Blackpool Road (walk on to next road [100 yards], turn left, hall on left) By road: From M6 Junction 32, turn onto A6 south towards Preston, take next left onto B6241 Eastway, turn next left to pass under A6, then turn right to continue on B6241 Eastway / Lightfoot Lane / Tom Benson Way. At next roundabout take second exit (of five) B5411 Tag Lane / Woodplumpton Road to next mini-roundabout. Take second exit (of two) B5411 Woodplumpton Road until traffic lights are reached, then turn right onto A5085 Blackpool Road. At traffic lights turn left onto A5072 Tulketh Road; the Church Hall is the first entrance on the left. There is reasonable off-road parking for up to 20 vehicles.

Colne Peter Birtwistle Community Centre, 14 Keighley Road, Colne, BB8 0JL From the roundabout at the end of the M65 in Colne turn left onto the A6068 (Vivary Way) towards Skipton and Keighley. Go through the first roundabout (N Valley Road) and traffic lights (Windsor Street) until the second roundabout, turn right onto the A56 (Skipton Road, Town Centre) away from Skipton, and at traffic lights turn left into the B6250 (Keighley Road). The Community Centre is on the right within 200 yards, beside the junction for Peter Birtwistle Close.

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Branch programme Date Thursday 24/9/15

Venue Colne

Speaker Paul Hindle Chairman of the Manchester Bolton Bury Canal Society www.mbbcs.org.uk

Thursday 29/10/15

Preston

Richard Trevitt Lancaster Canal Trust

Joint Meeting with Lancaster Canal Trust -Lancaster Canal Past, Present and Future

Thursday 26/11/15

Colne

Gillian Bolt Secretary Chester and Merseyside IWA

The Canal de Midi

Thursday 28/1/16

Preston

Matt Taylor CRT

The work of CRT volunteers

Thursday 25/2/16

Colne

AGM Alan Platt

Talk on the Montgomery Canal

Thursday 31/3/16

Preston

Audrey Smith OBE

50 years on the Cut

Thursday 28/4/16

The venue for this meeting will be announced later, we are looking for somewhere special!

Mike Clarke Leeds Liverpool Canal Society

This will be a major joint meeting with the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society; the canal is 200 years old in 2016!

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The Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Through Time

Celebrating 200 years of the Leeds Liverpool Canal