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Towing Path Topics Newsletter of the Inland Waterways Association Lancashire & Cumbria Branch

January 2018

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 Photo: A peaceful scene on the Lancaster Canal (er, no actually, see page 25)

Photograph acknowledgements: Page 11 IWA Pages 15, 16, 17 John Hewerdine Page 18 Wendy Humphreys All others by the editor

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 April 2018 2

Contents Page 5 Report from the Branch Chairman 8

Report from the Region Chairman

Supporters for 50 years

Lancaster Canal Bi-Centenary update

Dunningsâ€™ award

Lancaster Canal Trust news

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership (LCRP)

Branch walk on the Lancaster Canal

Botany Bay Canal Fest

Canal & River Trust news

Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society news

Report of branch social programme so far

The Flower Bowl

Waterway Recovery Group news

2018 Branch AGM agenda and 2017 minutes

Branch committee then social programme

Forthcoming dates Jan

13 & 14 Lancaster Canal working party see LCRP 17 LCT social event 18 Branch social meeting Feb 8 Kennet meeting see LLCS 10 & 11 Lancaster Canal working party 22 Branch AGM March 14 & 15 Lancaster Canal working party 29 Branch social meeting April 26 Branch social meeting Details of the above events are elsewhere in this edition. 3

Editor’s piece Welcome to our January edition. This is the one that has the formal calling notice for the Branch AGM in February. We hope that you can attend. There is plenty of positive news; not only about past events but also stuff happening this year. We use e-mail to give you up-to-date information about events so if you have an email address and you haven’t given it to us please do so. You won’t be inundated with messages. Unlike some other organisations (do you find ‘unsubscribe’ rarely works or is it just me?). It was good to see that Janet and Tony Dunning’s hard work on behalf of the IWA has been recognised and interesting to see that we have so many members who have clocked up 50 years in the Association, well done to them. (I’ve done 40 so a bit to go yet). I will use this opportunity to once more thank Wendy-Humphreys for the great job she is doing as Branch Chair and for everything she sends me to print. There wasn’t much response to my ignorance about the flowers in the last edition. Thanks to Celia Briar for identifying the blue ones as native geraniums however. Did you find the autumn colours a bit disappointing this year, and later than usual? The cover photograph was taken when I was looking for some autumn shots but as you can see I was way too early. At least I came across the work to build Barton Grange’s new facility, it will be worth a look once it opens I think. As well as our own social meetings we have been invited to join the Lancaster Canal Trust’s event on 17 January, I hope this reaches you in time. (see page 34). Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018. David Faulkner 4

Members new to our branch Welcome to the following people who have recently joined the IWA or transferred to our branch. Mr M & Mrs E Bell – EDINBURGH Mr A & Mrs L Olsen – BLACKPOOL Mr R & Dr J Platt – CARLISLE Mr N Quirk – HELENSBURGH Mr D & Mrs A Whitcombe – MILNTHORPE Mr B Crawley – CARNFORTH Mr R Davies – KIRKINTILLOCH Mr G Ridland – MAUCHLINE, Ayrshire Mr D Stuart – INNERLEITHEN If you have joined recently you will be included in our next edition. If you joined months ago and you haven’t seen your name in print please contact the editor - something has gone wrong.

Branch Chairman’s report Well here we are again, another edition of Towing Path Topics and as I write Christmas is approaching and I ought to wish you a happy Christmas and a happy New Year, however due to the time spent in producing and circulating the magazine it will probably be the New Year before you receive this edition! So belated best wishes to everyone and I hope 2018 is a good year for you, the IWA and your branch. Since the last edition your committee has been very busy, we have had the Canal Fest at Botany Bay at the August Bank Holiday weekend. The weather for that event was really good and it brought out lots of people, many of them stopped at our stand to talk about the canal. We hope to attend again in 2018. 5

We also had a walk on the Lancaster Canal in a very muddy September and of course our branch social meetings. Members of your branch committee have attended many meetings, including liaison meetings with Canal and River Trust, IWA Region meetings, Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership meetings and Lancaster Canal Trust meetings. 2016 was a very exciting and busy year because of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Leeds and Liverpool canal and 2019 promises to be even more exciting as it will be the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster canal. Canal and River Trust have appointed Tony Entwistle to coordinate and manage the celebrations and planning is already starting, so 2018 will be another busy but exciting year as all the planning for 2019 continues and steps up a pace. You will remember that our branch has applied to hold the National IWA Trail Boat Festival on the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster canal in 2019 as part of the celebrations. At the time of writing I havenâ€™t heard whether our bid has been successful, but I am very hopeful and will be in touch with members by email as soon as I hear! And then of course there is the new IWA logo and Vision which were launched at the National AGM, there were mixed opinions on that at the AGM, but it means a different look for the front cover of the magazine as well as a need to replace branch materials and clothing. The branch committee continues to meet every 2 months to carry out the business of the branch and we always have lunch first. However, we are only a small committee which limits what we can achieve. At the AGM this year one of our members, Les Fragle will be resigning from the committee. We are very sad to see Les go and his leaving creates a big gap, so we are looking for a new secretary, membership secretary and planning officer. If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch with me or the other committee members and we can let you know what those jobs entail (you wonâ€™t be expected to take on all 3!). I know that I have asked for help before, but committee member numbers have reduced to such an extent now that the remaining members will struggle to

carry out the work of the branch without your help. We are also still looking for a sales officer, the more people we have the more we can do. So, if you want to see your branch succeed and thrive please join us. I couldnâ€™t finish my report without giving my thanks to all the committee members who give up their time to help run the branch, without them my job would be impossible. My special thanks to Les for all the hard work and support he has given over the years, he will be missed. Also thanks to Sir Robert Atkins our Region Chair who attends our meetings when he can to offer his help, support and good ideas. Then there is David Faulkner who is our treasurer and magazine editor, both of which roles he carries out really well. My thanks also to Audrey Smith who works tirelessly for the IWA both locally and nationally, Audrey has a wealth of experience and knowledge and our branch is lucky to have her. And last but not least Tony Dunning, ably supported by his wife Janet. Both Tony and Janet work hard for the branch, in particular by supporting social meetings and sales events and also for IWA nationally. Their long term hard work and support for the branch and the IWA was recognised at the National AGM when they were awarded a Richard Bird Medal; congratulations to them both. I would also like to thank all the members and volunteers who have turned up at events to help us; it is much appreciated and makes running events possible. The social programme of meetings has started and I think we will all agree that the meeting venue is very good and makes the meetings a pleasure to attend. Those of you who havenâ€™t been yet please try to come along; we have a varied programme of speakers and there is plenty of opportunity to chat with fellow members. There is also the raffle which is a bit of fun but helps pay for the cost of venue hire and speakers, we are always on the lookout for raffle prizes so if you have any items to donate they would be very welcome. I hope you all have a happy 2018 and hope to see as many of you as possible at the AGM in February. Wendy Humphreys 7

Region Chairmanâ€™s Report I was present at the IWA AGM a few weeks back when the initial proposals for the revamping of the organisation were presented. These proposals are long-overdue and will go some way to making the IWA fit and ready for the 21st century. Inevitably, I suppose, some members focussed on the change of logo and expressed irritation and criticism about the â€œunnecessaryâ€? rebranding, preferring to stick with the tried and tested image. That is entirely fair and understandable. But I nail my colours to the mast. I have been an IWA member for some years and I have also been the Minister for the Waterways. So I have seen the activities of the IWA from different perspectives. We need our organisation to be engaged with Government, the Local Government Association, MPs and the public in a much more professional and informed manner. Groups similar to us, like the National Trust, the RSPB, CPRE and many others, command the ears of that target audience and do so with considerable success. Our case often goes by default and it must change. That is what the revamping and rebranding is all about. The logo is important as a sign of what we stand for but, in the overall scheme of things, not the most important. Rt Hon Sir Robert Atkins Chairman, North West Region ratsmep@sir-robertatkins.org 01995 602225/07770 254444

Congratulations and thanks to our stalwart supporters Celebratory plaques are being sent to those who have been members of IWA for 50 years or more, each plaque will be posted after the New Year, with a letter from Ivor Caplan, IWA Chairman. The following members of the current Lancashire and Cumbria Branch will be receiving their plaques. Congratulations and thanks for your loyalty. Mr R L Dean Mrs J M Hindshaw Mr J Davey Mr and Mrs D Gibson Mr and Mrs J Staziker Mr H Beltway Mr and Mrs P R C Daniels Professor J H Farrington Mr G J Biddle Mr R Womersley

Lancaster Canal Bi Centenary 2019 2019 will see the bicentenary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal and plans are already being made to have a year of celebrations. There have been a couple of consultation meetings and Canal and River Trust have appointed Tony Entwistle to plan and coordinate the events. The organisers want to learn from the hugely successful 200th anniversary celebrations for the Leeds & Liverpool canal held in 2016, borrow some ideas, create new ones and of course do it better. (No offence to the Leeds & Liverpool). 9

A small committee has been appointed with representatives from the various organisations with an interest in the canal including Lancaster Canal Trust and IWA Lancs. and Cumbria. I will be representing our branch and look forward to helping with what will be a very exciting time. I will of course need help and if anyone has any ideas or time to give I hope they will let me know. The first consultation meeting was held at The Storey in Lancaster and was attended by over 40 invited guests. This meeting was to introduce the bicentenary to local stakeholders and to let them know that Canal and River Trust is committed to delivering a year-long celebration of the Lancaster Canal. The ideas collected at that meeting have been collated and some core ideas and projects have been identified as well as lots of support projects. There is lots more work to be done of course and there will almost certainly be new ideas, but preliminary ideas include hosting national competitions, holding roadshows and involving schools and other education establishments as well as a whole lot more exciting plans. The events will include the whole of the canal from Preston to Kendal. A preliminary/draft timetable has been drawn up and preparatory events will start in spring 2018. I look forward to representing IWA Lancs. and Cumbria in the planning and organising of the celebratory year and to the year itself and will of course keep members informed of what is happening. Wendy Humphreys

The Dunningsâ€™ award Janet & Tony Dunning received the Richard Bird medal at the September national AGM. The medal is awarded to members who have brought significant benefit to the association over a sustained period of time â€“ that is certainly Janet and Tony. They are seen at most of our events running the sales stand having come down from Egremont in Cumbria with their well travelled caravan. Plus helping at national events in various capacities. Itâ€™s good to see their loyalty and hard work recognised. Our photo shows them with Les Etheridge, National Chairman (then)

Lancaster Canal Trust The Lancaster Canal Trust continues to work hard towards the restoration and regeneration of the Lancaster Canal. There is a strong, dedicated board of trustees who meet monthly to plan work, share ideas and carry out the business of the trust. I regularly attend the trustee meetings to represent the views of our local branch and to offer what support I can. Peter Jones, one of the trustees also attends our branch committee meetings to help support us and to keep us informed about the work of the Trust. I believe these reciprocal arrangements are working well for the branch and the Trust and will become even more important as we move into the planning for the 200th anniversary year and then into the year itself in 2019. The Trust operates a trip boat, Waterwitch during the summer and some members of your branch enjoyed a trip after our September walk. For those of you who want to know more about the work of the Trust they have an excellent and always improving website at www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk please have a look at that as it will tell you much more than I can about the work of the Trust. The Trust also has a facebook page and can be found on Twitter and Linkedln for those of you who do such things! The Trust holds regular work parties at least monthly and they are achieving a lot especially at Hincaster Tunnel, they could always do more of course with more volunteers! They are now beginning to plan and work towards the opening of the First Furlong, again more details can be found on their website. One item of recent good news is that Waterway Recovery Group have agreed to hold a work camp there over Easter 2018, which should help a lot with getting the work done. Wendy Humphreys 12

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

Canal & River Trust, Cumbria County Council, IWA, Kendal Town Council, Lancs County Council, Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancaster City Council and S Lakeland District Council

The following is taken from the LCRP December newsletter Towpath Trail – support from CRT and Lancaster University LCRP's Chair, Audrey Smith OBE was privileged to be given the opportunity to brief Canal & River Trust National Trustees about LCRP's plans and progress on a recent Trustee visit to the North West. The Trustees were impressed with LCRP's successes and congratulated all partner members for their hard work, dedication and grant contributions to date. LCRP have been selected by Lancaster University as a 'client' for 3rd Year Marketing Students to complete their final year consultancy project. Seven students joined Helen Moriarty, LCRP Project Manager, on a Towpath Trail walk to understand the vision and challenges ahead. The students are tasked with creating Brand Guidelines, based on thorough market research, to promote the Towpath Trail and associated events and activities. Mud-free towpath access LCRP are a step closer to creating mud free sections of the Towpath Trail thanks to Sport England who have provisionally approved LCRP’s £150,000 Community Asset application. Sport England have awarded £7,500 of advance funding to develop the project together with an experienced Sport England consultant. This work will provide Sport England with the information required to make a final decision on the full £150,000 application. LCRP will work with Canal and River Trust to explore appropriate sections of Towpath for improvement. 13

'The Lanky' Launch with Canal & River Trust Chief Executive Richard Parry, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust, joined LCRP partners and supporters during The Lakes International Comic Festival to walk from Hincaster to Kendal with 'The Lanky’ author Oliver East. Oliver spoke about the creation of the book and the heritage it highlights. A signed copy was presented to Richard Parry who was impressed and supportive of 'The Lanky' and the wider Towpath Trail project. Copies of The Lanky are available for £10 via LCRP's Project Manager via LCRP.helen@outlook.com. Stainton, Sedgwick & Hincaster Heritage Lottery Project Update Together with Canal & River Trust, LCRP have submitted a £1.5 million application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair Stainton Aqueduct and provide interpretation and community activities in Hincaster, Stainton and Sedgwick. If successful the project will support a Full Time Project Officer for two years to coordinate community activities and interpretation projects to celebrate the canal heritage of the area. The Heritage Lottery will make their final decision in March 2018. Volunteer Opportunities Both Canal & River Trust and Lancaster Canal Trust host regular events to enable volunteers to physically support the canal we all love. To join Lancaster Canal Trust's regular weekend work camps at either Stainton or Hincaster (January 13th & 14th, February 10th & 11th, March 14th & 15th) email chair@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk to register your interest, all equipment and protective clothing is provided.

Lancaster Canal Walk at Crooklands, September 2017 The small group who turned out for this walk had met earlier to share food and chat at the Crooklands Hotel, which was very pleasant. We were then introduced to John, our guide, from the Lancaster Canal Trust, unfortunately some of the group had to turn back early as instead of the canal walk we were expecting the walk was to look at the Gunpowder Trail. 14

A message for the branch organiser to be a bit clearer next time! Those of us who are reaching a certain age can manage a few miles on the flat, but the slightest incline can however be too much for some, and so it was that nine branch members, at the start, became five before very long. Although those who turned back did enjoy a little walk and a coffee at the Crooklands Hotel.

At the beginning of the walk, examining the plaque and monument to IWA member Ian McBean Soon we were scrambling up and down the contours, checking on the main feeder, the T-Beck, and learning that not only were coal, charcoal and limestone the main cargoes on the Lancaster Canal but that gunpowder made a significant contribution to the local economy too. Yes, gunpowder was big business in Cumbria and the factories abounded just North and East of the old tramway junctions with the Lancaster Canal. The T-Beck also provided water power for the many mills which had been constructed with running water an essential requirement. With around 350 gunpowder factories, all needing fuel in and transport out, the canal was an important artery for their businesses. Canal transport was safer than the railways. Presumably, when contracts were being signed, the motors and butties which carried gunpowder were not newer craft fitted-out with steam engines!

The final part of our walk took us up the hill to a huge residential caravan site which in 1898 had been the Gatebeck Powder Works. The ascent to this location was confirmation to the reduced party that those who had retraced their steps at the beginning must have had telepathic insight into the future. Their decision to retreat early had been a wise one. The original group of walkers then became re-united for a short trip on Waterwitch, the Lancaster Canal Societyâ€™s trip-boat. Another Canal Society member kindly took the helm as we made our way up and down part of the Crooklands re-watered section. We passed the local County Showground which was shared by the IWA and the County Show, for the 2015 Trail-boat Festival and the hope of our intrepid group was that it will be in use again for the 2019 Lancaster Canal Bi-Centenary.

Ready for the boat trip 16

Waving off the boat trip Thanks to John Hewerdine for the article and pictures Botany Bay Canal Fest On Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend there was a Canal Fest at Botany Bay near Chorley. There were lots of stalls including people selling local produce and handmade items. Canal and River Trust were there as well as RNLI and others. There was a stage with live performances, including folk music, dancing and other entertainment, classic cars, a fun fair for the children and lots of boats. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal Societyâ€™s heritage boat Kennett was moored alongside, and we are told that they had a record number of visitors. The IWA Lancs and Cumbria Branch stand was there and we had a really good two days. We entertained some children with our WOW activities, raised money for our branch, sold Restoration Raffle tickets and spoke to lots of people about the work that the Branch does, hopefully some may join the IWA. 17

There is no doubt that the event was helped by the weather, there was brilliant sunshine both days and that definitely brought out the crowds. Many thanks to all the volunteers who came to help us.

The stand set up ready for visitors.

Our volunteer banners received a lot of interest. 18

Celebrating Waterways On 22nd November, Canal and River Trust hosted an event at Barton Grange. This was attended by officers and trustees from Canal and River Trust, members of the North-West Partnership and invited waterways enthusiast guests. The event was held to allow trustees to hear from waterways enthusiasts and to celebrate the work of the Canal and River Trust, but mostly it was an opportunity to network and chat to people in an informal way . The trustees had also spent the day looking around our local waterways with a particular focus on the Lancaster Canal and although the weather was not very kind they did manage to see a lot of the canal and hear about the potential of the regeneration of the Northern Reaches.

Changes in the North-West After four and a half years’ service, Chantelle Seaborn, waterway manager for the North-West, has decided to leave the Trust at the end of December. Stephen Higham, Enterprise North team manager, will be taking on the role of waterway manager in an interim capacity. He and Chantelle have started a handover process. Julie Sharman, chief operating officer at the Trust, comments: “During her time with the Trust, Chantelle has achieved many things, notably leading the award-winning celebrations to mark the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Bicentenary in 2016. I am sorry to see her go and very much thank her for her contribution and wish her every success in the future.” Chantelle Seaborn comments: “I’ve really enjoyed working for the waterways and have been lucky enough to work with some amazing colleagues and partners. Now is the right time for me to take up the next challenge of my career in the new year, however Stephen is well placed to take forward the real progress that is being made.” 19

The following is from another CRT press release: CANAL CHARITY LAUNCHES NEW PONTOON IN WIGAN Boaters and canoeists are set to benefit from a new £80,000 pontoon at Wigan. This joint project between Canal & River Trust and the charity’s Desmond Family Canoe Trail programme is great news for boaters and canoeists exploring the historic Leeds & Liverpool Canal. The 30-metre long pontoon is next to the Trust’s new office at Trencherfield Mill in a perfect spot for getting to the restaurants, bars and shops in Wigan town centre and to nearby transport links. Twenty metres of the pontoon have been designed for boaters to use, with 10 metres built at a lower level suitable for kayaks and canoes. The entire pontoon is DDA friendly. Boaters will be able to moor on the pontoon for up to 24 hours. There is a water point available in the vicinity and in the coming months the Trust is aiming to install a waste facility and CCTV. The Desmond Family Canoe Trail is the longest of its kind in the UK, stretching for 162 miles from Liverpool to Goole along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Aire & Calder Navigation. The pontoon will offer canoeists paddling the trail a convenient point to disembark and take a break at Wigan – about a quarter of the way along the route from Liverpool – and is next to the project’s canalside Wigan hub on Pottery Road, where the team run canoeing sessions and activities for young people aged 16-25 years old Greg Brookes, programme manager for Canal & River Trust’s Desmond Family Canoe Trail, said: “We wanted to create a new hub on the 162-mile trail in Wigan on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Wigan’s perfectly positioned for canoeists to stop, stock up and relax in. We wanted a new pontoon here to enable canoeists easy access both onto, and getting out of, the water.

“This pontoon is also an important resource for boaters who want to get to Wigan Pier and a place to moor during their visit to our office in Trencherfield Mill. As a charity we are continually looking for opportunities to improve the waterways, with help from everyone who uses them, lives on them or visits. This is a good example of the type of enhancements we can make if we work together.” For further information about the Desmond Family Canoe Trail and how to get involved please contact the team at: Coastto.Coast@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

Desmond Family Canoe Trail is the longest of its kind in the UK. It will stretch for 162 miles connecting Liverpool to Goole along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Aire & Calder Navigation. Travelling through Wigan, Blackburn, Burnley, Leeds and Skipton it will take the average paddler between 7-10 days to complete. Nearly 2,000 young people (15-25 years old) from some of England's most deprived communities will be helping to create the country's first ever coast to coast canoe trail. Over the five years it will take to build, the volunteers will help to design the Trail, organise and run a year-round programme of activities for their community. They'll also improve the environment along the trail, planting new community gardens and habitats. In the face of 21% youth unemployment across the country, this project will give young volunteers the experience they need to find employment in the future. The project is being developed thanks to a generous £1.3 million donation from The Desmond Foundation and has the support of British Canoeing and Canoe England. @CRTCanoeTrail

Kennet Meeting Message from Harold Bond, Kennet Coordinator for the L&LCS: Hello - after our successful year with Kennet, the Trustees discussed the ongoing work of Kennet and requirements to keep her in good running order. The Trustees are now planning an open meeting for all to discuss every aspect relative to Kennet's requirements going forwards, based on our last 6 yearsâ€™ experience. This will be on Thursday 8th February at 7-00pm at 2 Cross Lane Mill, Bradley, BD20 9QB. RSVP to email address below or ring 07730 070 723 Please make every effort to attend this important meeting. Looking forward to seeing you there. Kind Regards Harold

Website: http://www.llcs.org.uk Email: leeds.liverpool.canal.soc@gmail.com Branch social programme We started the season with a talk at the end of September from Richard Trevitt from the Lancaster Canal Trust, the meeting was very well attended and Richard gave a very interesting talk about the Lancaster canal and the work of the Trust. 22

At the end of October our speaker was Andrew Hemmings and the subject was “From Lancashire to Yorkshire by canal – a journey in 1958”. Andrew is an author and researcher, he has written a book with David Swidenbank and his talk was based on this book. The book was about a group of sea cadets who made the journey in 1958 and we were very fortunate to have one of the sea cadets, Ben Lynch, who happens to be Andrew’s brother in law, at the meeting to chip in with Andrew’s talk and to answer questions about the trip back in 1958. This meeting was well attended and my thanks to those who helped sort out the initial IT problems! Our November talk was from Jonathan Smith and the subject was WRG vans. Jonathan is an IWA trustee and National Treasurer, he is also the son of Audrey and David Smith and we were fortunate that Jonathan agreed to give the talk to us during one of his visits to family as he lives “down south” and Lancashire would otherwise be a bit too far to come. The talk was really interesting and gave a history of WRG vans over the years, closely entwined with a history of WRG and IWA. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the rest of the social meetings and at the AGM. Wendy Humphreys

We finished the 2017 programme with a Christmas meal at St Chad’s on the evening of 14th December. There were 20 of us (reduced by some last minute cancellations) including our regional chairman in his capacity as a branch member. We enjoyed a 3 course meal and faithfully wore our party hats to go with our Christmas jumpers. There was no formal entertainment but there were some very short speeches of the thank-you variety and Ruth Symonds presented us with a cheque for £24 raised from plants she had been selling to Wheelton Boat Club members throughout the year. Ed NB See back page for the remaining events of the 17/18 programme. 23

The Flower Bowl If you get bored cruising along the Lancaster Canal (and who doesnâ€™t with no locks for excitement?) there will soon be a new attraction next to bridge 47. The Barton Grange garden centre are building an entertainment complex aimed at the over 40s; due to open in June 2018.

Work under way at the end of October 2017 24

Called the Flower Bowl (geddit?) it will have an ice curling rink; ten pin bowling; cinema with 3 screens; covered outdoor crazy golf course; restaurant; fish and chip restaurant; ice cream and coffee shop plus 2 golf simulators. There will be a large undulating grass covered roof. Eventually they would like to graze sheep on the roof. The farmer opposite wasn’t too impressed. The garden centre closes at 5.30pm, this will stay open until 10.30pm. He was intrigued by the suggestion that sheep may graze on the roof. Judging by the wording of the website I think this is someone’s bright idea rather than a definite possibility. (Perhaps sheep imported from the Lake District where they are used to heights and sheer drops? Ed) Cover photograph This month’s cover photograph shows bridge 48 on the Lancaster Canal, it is just north of Bilsborrow. It looks peaceful but the busy A6 is a few yards to the left and 350 yards to the right are the M6 and the West Coast main line.

A bit further North of bridge 48 the railway gets really close.

WRG’s 2018 CAMPS PROGRAMME AIMS TO SEE 950m of CANAL BACK IN WATER Waterway Recovery Group’s (WRG) 2018 Canal Camp programme will feature 28 Canal Camps across 13 different waterways. More than 400 volunteers are expected to sign up to the week-long residential camps, which in 2018 will include four sites where the project is close to completion or return to water, as well as three family camps.

The aim of the programme is to support the admirable work being carried out by local canal restoration groups to help return even more canals back to navigation. The four projects close to completion are: · Borrowash Bottom Lock on the Derby Canal, where volunteers will undertake technical restoration work on the partially restored lock; · Fosseway Heath on the Lichfield Canal which will see volunteers restore over 100m of retaining wall and towpath; · the Montgomery Canal where volunteers will be working between Redwith Bridge and Pryces Bridge, focusing on repairing a leaking section of a recently restored canal and on the · Lancaster Canal where volunteers will be re-lining a section of ‘the first furlong’. Once these four projects are finished 950m of canal will have been returned to water. Following the success of WRG’s first family volunteering weekend in 2017, three further weekends are planned in 2018 - on the Grantham Canal, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and Uttoxeter Canal. Families with children aged between 8 – 14 will have the opportunity to experience canal restoration first hand. Mike Palmer, WRG Chairman said “Canal Camp volunteers have the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and enjoy new experiences. WRG Camps aim to give a significant boost to local restoration societies through an influx of volunteers over a single week or series of weeks and allow substantial progress to be made over a short space of time. Our volunteers both seasoned and new can be found restoring locks, re-lining canals, creating towpaths, removing vegetation and uncovering archaeological artefacts. 2018 is set to be an exciting year for us.” To book a space on a 2018 Canal Camp or to find out more about the full programme go to: https://www.waterways.org.uk/wrg/canal_camps 27

IWA LANCASHIRE & CUMBRIA BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch will be held at St Chad’s Parish Centre, 235 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ on Thursday 22nd February 2018 starting at 7:30pm. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the previous AGM held on 23rd February 2017. 3. Matters arising from the minutes. 4. Chairman’s Report. 5. Treasurers Report and Presentation of the Accounts. 6. Election to the Committee: Under the three-year rule Tony Dunning retires from the committee and is willing and eligible for re-election. Under the three-year rule Les Fragle retires from the committee and is standing down. Nomination Form – Lancashire & Cumbria Branch Volunteer / Nominee

Please print

Signed

Date

Address

Telephone Numbers

Home

Mobile

E-mail Volunteers / Nominees must be an IWA member of this branch and in good standing. 28

Please return this form before Monday 19th February 2018 to: Les Fragle, Brock Cottage, 6 Thistleton Road, Thistleton, Preston, PR4 3XA or by e-mail to lancsandcumbria@waterways.org.uk or presented to the above at the start of the AGM. Under the bylaws volunteering / nominations can be accepted from the floor at the AGM. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 23rd February 2017 in the St Chadâ€™s Parish Centre, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley. 1.

Present: Wendy & Derek Humphreys, Tony & Janet Dunning, Audrey Smith, David Faulkner, Maralyn & Jim Nott, Barry Horner, Gordon & Pat Clapham, Dorothy & John Hewerdine, Yvonne Hargreaves & Les Fragle.

Apologies: Geoffrey Oxley, Janet Ramsey, David Finnis, Ruth Symonds, Pete Simonds, Keith Tassart, Bill & Ann Knox, Sue & Dan Thurston, Robert Dick, Robert Irvine and on behalf of Forth & Clyde Society, Celia Briar, Beryl Boycott, David Hargreaves, Martyn Clapham, Madeline Dean and Gillian Smith.

Opening Statement: The meeting commenced with the announcement that Mike Carter, who was a very active member of the waterways community and recently the Regional Chairman, had passed away the day before following several months of battling cancer. Those in attendance held a minute of silence in recognition of this very sad news.

Minutes of the AGM held on 25th February 2016 in Peter Birtwistle Community Centre, 14 Keighley Road, Colne: The minutes were accepted as a true record, Proposed: Audrey Smith, Seconded: Tony Dunning.

Matters Arising: There were no matters arising.

Chairman's Report (Wendy Humphreys): Wendy gave an excellent report (attached as Appendix 1) 29

Treasurer’s Report (David Faulkner): David started by thanking Wendy for the excellent handover from her time as Treasurer, to Audrey for handling all the Leeds Liverpool plaques and to Janet and Tony for promoting branch sales at the various events. David then gave a summary of the accounts (attached as Appendix 2). For 2016 we had a surplus of £366.33 against a loss of £528.55 in 2015 although in that year £500 was given out as donations. The Northern Reaches fund will be reduced by £2000 once our cheque in support of the LCRP Project Officer is cleared. The Branch funds include a legacy of £1000 which is earmarked for the installation of mooring bollards on the canal in Chorley. The bank has informed us that they will not be paying any interest for the foreseeable future. There were no queries and the accounts were accepted, Proposed: Tony Dunning, Seconded: Derek Humphreys.

Election to the Committee: Alan Davies has stood down from the committee. All the remaining current committee members were prepared to continue, the meeting accepted that and they were all reelected.

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting. Following the meeting Audrey Smith gave an interesting talk about the history of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership (LCRP), the excellent progress that has been made since the appointment of a Project Officer and the plans for the future. NB I have not included appendices 1 & 2 to save space. They will be available at the meeting and I can send you a copy if you wish. Ed

Branch Committee Chairman

Wendy Humphreys Darwen

07763 561572 01254 703553

Vice chairman

Tony Dunning Egremont

07730 113894 01946 820875

Secretary & Membership Secretary

Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston

07946 702274 01995 672230

Treasurer & Newsletter Editor

David Faulkner Blackburn

07912 249265 01254 249265

Environment and Planning

Shared by Secretary and Chairman

Publicity

Audrey Smith

Sales

Janet & Tony Dunning

Social Secretary

See Chairman

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partâ€™ship

Audrey Smith & Wendy Humphreys

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Audrey Smith Wheelton

Lancaster Canal Trust

Peter Jones

Region Chairman (ex officio)

Robert Atkins

01995 602225 07770 254444

Wild over Water & Web Master

Janet Dunning Egremont

01946 820875

01257 274440

NB Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk We no longer publish addresses. If you want to write to us please use the editorâ€™s address (p 2). 31

This is what itâ€™s all about even if you just walk the towpath you want to see boats

Lancaster Canal Trust - Social Meeting for Members and Guests Wednesday 17 th January 2018 at the Longlands Hotel, 7pm for a 7.30 start I hope you will be able to join us for a social evening that promises to be both interesting and entertaining. There will be a presentation of the work of the trust, a lot has been happening recently and there are exciting plans for relining the First Furlong in the new year that we want to share with you. There will also be a presentation from Tony Entwistle, Canal and River Trust, Development and Engagement Manager who will be telling us about the emerging plans for the celebrations in 2019 of the 200 th anniversary of the opening of our canal. In addition, Dr Andrew Churchill from University of Central Lancashire and a colleague will show a short film of his efforts to follow the path of the canal from its current terminus in Preston to the former basin, including walking through car dealership, play areas, brambles and the university buildings. He also has a short presentation of a photo project he ha s undertaken. And of course, there will also be an opportunity to catch up on news and chat to other members. We look forward to seeing you there. Robin Yates Chairman

Venue for branch meetings St Chad’s Parish Centre, 235 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ. It is behind the former Red Cat pub, easily accessible from Junction 8 of the M61 (take the first left turn for Wheelton off the A674 then first left); junction 3 of the M65 (take 2nd right turn for Wheelton off the A674 then first left) or take Town Lane from Whittle-le-Woods (From A6 turn onto Shaw Brow or School Brow, a few yards along Chorley Old Road turn right onto Town Lane, St Chad’s is about a mile on the left). (My satnav finds it without problem, Ed) There is ample parking in the car park

We usually meet on the last Thursday of the month (except January, see back page), at St Chad’s Parish Centre which has a very pleasant meeting room and a bar. You are welcome from 7.00pm for a drink and a chat, the meetings start at 7.30pm

Branch social programme 2017/18 Date

Speaker

Topic Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

Now 18/1/18 Not 25/1/18

Helen Morriarty, Project worker

22/2/18

Speaker to be advised

Annual General Meeting

Malcolm and Barbara Bridge

Ampere in Ireland, or “Mummy is that a submarine?”

29/3/18

Helen was appointed as Project Officer for LCRP just over a year ago, she works part time but has worked wonders since her appointment. She is enthusiastic about the Lancaster Canal and will tell us all about what is happening with the Restoration Partnership.

We haven’t got a speaker yet, but we will make sure we have someone interesting and topical to talk to us after the AGM.

Malcolm and Barbara are long time members of IWA and also do a lot for WRG North West. They are known to many of us and have helped at our trail boats festivals in the past. Apparently, the reason for the second title will become clear during the talk!

26/4/18

Bob Pointing

Lancaster bi-centenary: events, activities and celebrations planned Bob is the chair of the North-West Partnership and has spoken to us previously, plans for the celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal should be well underway by April 2018 and Bob will keep us up to date with all the latest ideas.