Endeavour - August 2019

Endeavour Northampton Branch Newsletter — August 2019

SCHOOLCHILDREN AND ART GROUP HELP US CREATE MURALS UNDER MOTORWAY BRIDGE Sandie Morton writes...In July, the Branch was delighted to welcome Richard Parry once again to the Northampton Arm to unveil our fourth artistic installation along its 4 ž mile length. This time, he came to unveil two 70 metre long murals under the M1 motorway bridge on the Arm. Last summer, the first of these murals on the towpath side was brought to life by Year Six children and staff from Delapre Primary School, led by Marvin from Lemon Pop Workshops, who designed a colourful Historic Timeline of Northampton under guidance from Branch members.

Continued on page 10

Just part of the mural under the motorway bridge waterways.org.uk/northampton Printed by Colour Image. Phone 07821 894521 email colourimage@aol.com

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At the end of June, Linda and I set off down the Grand Union Canal heading south from Stoke Bruerne. The weather had improved considerably — in fact the Saturday must have been one of the hottest days of the year.

We went down the Wendover Arm. The Wendover Arm Trust have done a great job and it’s well worth making the trip down. There are moorings at the end with a winding hole and we were surprised to see a lifeboat from a cruise liner moored there.

There were more unusual sights on the canal to captivate us, like the totem pole at Castle Wharf Berkhamsted on the south side of the canal near Castle Street.

It is a Canadian totem pole and was given to John Alsford when he owned the timber yard where it stands. The yard and canal trade has now gone and has been replaced by houses, but the pole is still there.

Just after Berkhamsted another unusual sight really did shock us! We noticed a car on the back of a boat but, on closer inspection it was fixed and was part of the boat.

We wondered how did they steer? If you sat in the car you wouldn’t be able to see where you were going with the roof box just in front of you.

This led me to wonder what unusual sights have you seen on the canals?

Please send any photos and description to me and I will share them in future issues of Endeavour. Also share recommendations of good pubs restaurant or takeaway near the canals you visit. This is your magazine so why not be part of it?

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DIARY DATES September 7th –8th Village at War Stoke Bruerne including the Northampton Branch’s Mini Boat Gathering (See pages 9, 25 & 27) 19th 7.45 IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting at the Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue MK3 6PU. David Tucker presents videos of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

October

15th 8pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth. Speaker: Tim Colghan — Life and times of

Aubrey Berriman, Shipwright to Raymond

November

12th 8pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth. Speaker: Phil Mulligan — CRT Up-date 16th 7pm IWA Northampton Branch Annual Dinner at the Boat Inn Stoke Bruerne. See page 12

NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTY DATES September 1st, 17th. October 6th, 15th.

November 3rd,19th. December 1st, 17th.

Contact: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932 BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY WORK PARTY DATES September 5th, 8th, 19th. October 3rd, 13th, 17th, 31st.

November 10th, 14th, 28th. December 8th, 12th, 26th.

Contact athinabec@aol.com or phone 01908 661217/07721 319404 STOKE BRUERNE CANAL PARTNERSHIP WORK PARTY DATES September 11th. October 9th. November 13th. December 11th.

Contact: stokebruernecanalpartnership.org.uk

IWA Northampton Branch web site www.waterways.org.uk/northampton Please visit it regularly to see any updates

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Branch Chairman’s Jottings

by Bernard Morton Unusually, I have not yet managed to get away on any long boating expeditions – we had plans, but health issues have thus far prevented an “escape”. Instead, I have had the pleasure of being able to attend a number of waterways events that normally I would have missed.

WELFORD ARM ANNIVERSARY. In May, Sandie and I headed to the Welford Arm (sadly by road, not boat) to join the celebrations for the 50 th Anniversary of the re-opening of the Welford Arm organised by the Old Union Canals Society. The Welford Arm marks the northernmost boundary of our Branch area and is a stretch of waterway that we have enjoyed many pleasant diversions from the main line over the years for overnight stays and visits to the The Wharf Inn. What I hadn’t appreciated until the anniversary celebrations was the history of the Arm and its subsequent restoration.

The Welford Arm was completed in 1815 and was important in that it supplied water to the canal system from reservoirs constructed nearby. During the 1820s lime burning in a complex of limekilns was developed with coal brought by canal from the Derbyshire coalfields and the lime burnt taken back by the returning coal boats.

The lime burning at Welford ceased in the late 1930s with coal carrying continuing until 1946. Once this trade ceased, the Arm fell into disuse. By the mid 1960s the lock was non-functioning, and the Arm was badly silted up to an extent that its ability to transfer water into the rest of the system was severely impaired.

Following a campaign by the Old Union Canals Society, local IWA and others, BW changed its policy of neglect and in 1967 initiated an 18-month project of restoration – one of the first to see a collaboration with local volunteers. The Welford Arm was re-opened on 17th May 1969.

Remains of the lime kilns can be seen following an archaeological examination in 2003 which was complicated by the dumping of spoil from the winding hole excavation!

CRICK BOAT SHOW. The Cr ick Show was a gr eat success this year and the weather was perfect (at least on the Saturday when we went). IWA had a good display stand which was manned by Branch members Geoff Wood, Sandra and Keith Tidey whilst we were there. My thanks to you three for doing this and to any other Branch members who helped over the weekend.

ART ON THE ARM. In J une, I had the pleasur e of welcoming Richar d Par r y to the Northampton Arm for the unveiling of the giant mural under the M1 bridge.

This is the fourth such visit by Richard since 2015, each time for the unveiling of a different art installation. Also present on this occasion were Branch members and

8 volunteers, members of the Blisworth Art Group, staff, children and parents from Rothersthorpe C E Primary School and CRT staff. At the M1 bridge there are actually two 70 metre murals. The one on the towpath side was completed last year and is a historical timeline of Northampton. The mural on the offside was completed a couple of weeks before the unveiling and shows our canal through the seasons.

Sandie, who has masterminded all four art installations on the Arm, has written a more detailed article which is on front page I am pleased to report that the murals were much admired on the day and we have received many compliments from users of the Arm during their creation and subsequently. They have certainly enhanced a previously dark, dismal area! If you haven’t been along the Arm recently, I can recommend a visit as there is lots to see and admire.

Whilst Richard was with us, he took the opportunity to mark our adoption group exceeding 10,000 hours since our adoption of the Arm began in July 2013. He presented personalised certificates to Mick Butler and Geoff Wood, our two hard working, inspirational adoption co-ordinators and one for the Branch which he presented to me as Chairman. Richard was full of praise for all our work on the Arm and the results we have achieved since our adoption began. I think it is still the largest adoption on the system!

BRAUNSTON HISTORIC BOAT FESTIVAL. Once again, Tim Coghlan and his team staged the always impressive Historic Boat Festival at the end of June.

Sandie and I attended on the Sunday to help man the IWA stand – our usual joint undertaking with Warwickshire Branch. The Festival was blessed with hot, sunny weather which I gather was almost too hot for some on the Saturday. I’m sure the well-stocked beer tent proved a popular retreat from the sun’s rays.

Tim supports various charities that attend from the monies raised and he presented us with a cheque for £200 which will be split equally between Warwickshire and our Branch. Our grateful thanks to Tim and Braunston Marina for this donation.

COSGROVE FESTIVAL. Most r ecently, we visited the Cosgr ove Canal Festival and Craft Fayre which is organised annually by the Buckingham Canal Society.

Again, the weather was kind, at least on the day we went, and there was a good turnout of trade boats selling a wide variety of goods, even real ale! It was good to see lots of people out on the towpath enjoying the event and finding out about future plans for the restoration of the Buckingham Canal.

9 And that is a summary of what I’ve been up to since my last Jottings, in lieu of boating. Now, let’s look to the future …

MINI BOAT GATHERING AT VILLAGE AT WAR. As we have not or ganised a Boat Gathering for some years due to falling attendance/lack of interest, we have decided to try something a bit different with an interesting incentive to tempt you along. By collaborating with the Village at War organisers, we can offer free moorings in the Long Pound and free entry (normally £10 per person) to the weekend in exchange for help either setting up the site on the Friday or dismantling it on the Monday or help over the Saturday/Sunday. I can reassure you that you will still have plenty of time available to enjoy the event. In addition, we are holding a 40s style Dinner at The Boat Inn on the Saturday night with a “ration book” menu – period dress optional! We hope you will join us for a fun evening and, of course, you are welcome to join us by road for the dinner. Further details and a booking form are on our Branch website or email tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk or phone 07305 893924.

ANNUAL BRANCH DINNER. I have been r eminded that this is the issue of Endeavour where we announce our annual Branch Dinner in November. This will again be at The Boat Inn at Stoke Bruerne on Saturday 16th November – further details and booking form for this are enclosed. There will be a guest speaker (TBC) and the draw for the 100 Club will take place during the evening. Numbers are limited to 50 so please book early to avoid disappointment.

AND FINALLY … J ust a r eminder that our monthly Br anch social meetings will resume on Tuesday 8th October 2019 and will take place on the second Tuesday of each month through to May 2020. Catriona Butler has been hard at work organising some interesting speakers and Tim Coghlan will entertain us on 8 th October with a talk entitled “The Life of Aubrey Berriman, Shipwright to the Raymond”.

Happy walking, cycling, fishing, boating … and remember, closing lock gates and paddles really does help conserve water in our canals to help fish and other water dwellers … and allows us boaters to keep on the move.

VILLAGE AT WAR MINI BOAT GATHERING We are having a mini Boat Gathering in conjunction with Stoke Bruerne’s Village at War on 7th –8th September. Moorings will be in the long pound from Thursday.

There will be free entry into the Village at War if you volunteer to help as a steward, (or entry for the weekend is £10) there are 3-4 hour slots so chose when you can help!

We have organised a 1940s dinner at the Boat Inn, two courses with tea/coffee and mints for £17.00 on the Saturday night there will be a raffle so if you could bring a prize it will be appreciated.

Booking forms on webpage for mooring/volunteering and dinner, or email tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk or phone 07305 893924

10 MURALS UNDER MOTORWAY Continued from front page This was featured in last August’s Endeavour This year, during three of the coldest, wettest days in June, we tackled the offside wall with the help of a class of Year Five and Six pupils from Rothersthorpe CE Primary School. We were supported by CRT who provided their Welfare Van (with toilet) and a bridge across the lock (to allow safe access for all) and some of our loyal volunteers. The project was funded by Cummins Power Systems in Daventry who regularly send staff to join in with our Task Parties.

The design work was carried out by Blisworth Art and Craft Group to a brief for a nature-themed mural showing the environment of the canal. A small group of artists came down to the site the weekend before the children were due and, on seeing the enormity of the project, proposed a mural showing changes through the seasons.

They set about sketching outlines for main features such as large trees, a bridge, animals and plants.

The children and some staff arrived by coach on the first day, full of enthusiasm and eager to get started. After a brief explanation of the mural and safety notices, the work started. The children applied themselves most diligently and worked alongside members of the Blisworth Art and Craft Group who were able to both inspire and advise them on techniques. The children came up with their own ideas of what should be included so it was a truly collaborative undertaking between the schoolchildren and staff, the local artists and Branch members and volunteers.

Maggie Turton from Blisworth Art and Craft Group said “It is a pleasure for members to be invited to help the children design and paint the mural, especially when art subjects in schools have been seriously reduced”.

Work continued over the next two days and, despite the unseasonably cold wet weather, the children’s enthusiasm did not wane at all. Rothersthorpe Head teacher Nicola Fountain said: “The result is impressive and will brighten up visitors’ days as they walk, run or cycle past, as well as providing people on canal boats an improved view of the area. We are very proud of our children.

They really impressed us with their focus, resilience and community spirit”. All of us present over the three days wholeheartedly agreed with these sentiments.

11 Once the three days working with the children were over, the artists and volunteers turned up to touch up small parts of the mural and to add some finer details. One inevitable problem of working under the motorway bridge was running water coming down small sections of the walls. Nothing could be done about this, especially as there had been almost constant rain, so it was a case of making the best of it and getting the whole mural sealed as soon as possible. It was encouraging to see that the timeline mural, using the same materials and sealant and completed last year, had stood well up to the rigours of the British climate.

Having completed the murals, we set about organising the unveiling which had to be before the school holidays began. Richard Parry had already promised, when launching the mosaic trail last April, that he would come and unveil the murals and we reminded him of this when we met him at the Welford Arm celebrations. Once he had confirmed the date, invitations were sent out to children parents and staff from Rothersthorpe school, to local MPs, councillors, Branch members and volunteers. Press releases were also organised for local press and waterways publications.

CRT provided their Welfare Van and a marquee just in case of rain. The Branch organised refreshments. One dilemma we had was how to arrange the “unveiling”.

Anyone who has seen the motorway bridge will know what a large area had to be covered (some 25 feet). Mick Butler came up with the ideal solution by borrowing the camouflage netting used by the Friends of the Canal Museum for the Village at War. On the morning of the unveiling, Mick and a few volunteers came up with an ingenious rope arrangement ready for Richard.

The event was attended by about 50 people. Sadly, the MPs didn’t appear, no doubt because they were all very much occupied with their party’s leadership turmoil! Before the unveiling ceremony, Richard spoke warmly about the Branch’s achievements on the Arm saying: “I’m so pleased to be back here to celebrate another achievement by this amazing adoption group. I’m so proud of what you are doing here to make this one of the most beautiful places I get the pleasure of coming to.

The murals will make such a difference to people travelling along this section of canal”. High praise indeed.

As mentioned above, this is our fourth art installation on the Northampton Arm. It

12 all started in 2015 when the Branch decided to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the Arm with a large mosaic panel featuring a waterways theme.

This was sited on the wall of the sanitation block at the junction of the Grand Union with the Arm. Richard Parry was present to mark this important milestone and unveiled the panel.

The second installation was a colourful mosaic bench located at Lock 17 which brought together builders from the nearby housing development, local residents, borough councillors, Branch members and volunteers and CRT staff. This was unveiled in 2016 by the Mayor and Richard Parry and is well used by the locals and passersby.

Our third art project was a mosaic nature trail designed to link the two earlier installations. Two panels at each of the 17 locks were made – one featuring a nature picture with a letter and the other a waterways themed picture. Collecting all the letters which make a phrase and submitting this on a form will earn you a certificate of achievement.

The idea behind all this Art on the Arm has been to provide added attractions to encourage more visitors to enjoy this special place for leisure and recreation, whether by boat, bicycle or on foot, whilst not detracting from the natural environment.

So, are the murals under the M1 motorway bridge the end of our artistic endeavours?

Sadly, the graffiti keeps making an appearance in new places along the Arm. Who knows … maybe watch this space!

I will finish with a huge thank you to everyone who was involved in this project and the previous three – too many to mention individually but you know who you are.

Our guest speaker TBA The second draw of 2019 for the 100 club will take place at the dinner To enter next years draws please contact paul.lynam@waterways.org.uk Payments must be made by 31st January Numbers for the dinner are limited to 50, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

A booking form is included in Endeavour and is also available on the Branch web site, www.waterways.org.uk/northampton

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14 HMRC ANNOUNCES CONSULTATION ON DEMISE OF RED DIESEL FOR PRIVATE PLEASURE CRAFT IWA is appealing to boaters and boatyard operators to respond to an HMRC consultation following the announcement that private pleasure craft in the UK will be prohibited from using red diesel. The consultation, about the likely timescales required for implementing the change, follows the statement in the Spring Budget that HMRC would seek evidence on the impact of the government’s proposal to comply with the judgment made last year by the European Court of Justice.

IWA met with HMRC officials late last year, along with British Marine, the Cruising Association, and the Royal Yachting Association; with all four boating representative bodies putting the case that a change to using white diesel would create insurmountable problems for boat users and the industry.

The implementation of the ruling would mean the end of the use of red diesel for any leisure boating. Whilst red diesel could continue to be used for heating, it would have to be in a separate tank, and there would be no dispensation for any proportion of fuel used by the engine for generating heat and light. Commercially operated boats would still be able to use red diesel, as would residential boaters with proof of fixed moorings, but boats without a home mooring who are continuously cruising would be required to use white diesel.

IWA considers that it is not practical for most boats that use the inland waterways to have two tanks; that inappropriate modifications would raise safety concerns; and that many diesel suppliers would simply not supply both red and white diesel due to the costs of installing additional equipment. IWA is particularly concerned that this change may encourage people to take measures that could adversely impact the environment and safety, such as increased use of generators in confined spaces or spillages from containers of fuel purchased away from the waterways. IWA is also concerned that the increased costs faced by both boat owners and boatyard operators will make an already expensive pastime unaffordable to some existing boaters and to many potential new boaters.

IWA will be taking up the offer from HMRC for further meetings during the consultation, and encourages all boating organisations, boatyards, diesel suppliers, and boat owners to respond to the consultation and provide evidence of the practical implications of the proposals.

The consultation runs until 9th September and can be found on the Government website: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementation-ofthe-court-of-justice-of-the-european-union-cjeu-judgment-on-diesel-fuelused-in-private-pleasure-craft

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8th October

Tim Coghlan

12th November 10th December 14th January 11th February 10th March

Phil Mulligan John Pomfret Roger Butler Richard Thomas Chris R Jones

11th April 12th May

Mike Partridge John Pomfret

Life and times of Aubrey Berriman, shipwright to Raymond CRT Regional Update Christmas quiz A west Midland Circuit, 49 years ago Story of the Panama AGM — The story of Raymond, The Last wooden working boat Tales at the tiller River Waterways of NE England

To all our readers of Endeavour the Speakers Organiser for our Northampton Branch, I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big Thank you to all of our speakers for the 2018/2019 season.

As

Every subject was interesting and delivered enthusiastically by all Speakers and I think we owe a lot of gratitude to them as their time is given up voluntary and some travel from quite a distance. So, Thank you from myself and on behalf of the Northampton IWA Branch.

It goes without saying, Thank you to our members who come along to the monthly meetings, sometimes in extremely challenging weather conditions, to listen to the talks and I sincerely hope you will find the new season’s talks as interesting and hopefully full of facts and figures along with photos etc!

Please, if you haven’t attended any of the monthly meetings, maybe the new season will entice you along to our very friendly venue where you will be welcomed with “open arms” so to speak.

Many thanks and I look forward to seeing you in October!

Catriona IWA Northampton Branch now has a Facebook page. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or engage in discussion on what’s happening.

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R.I.P. SAM SAMUELLS 1934-2019 It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Sam Samuells, a loyal Branch member, keen boater and personal friend, writes Bernard Morton.

Sam died peacefully at his home in Stoke Bruerne a few weeks short of his 85th birthday with his wife, Lynda Payton, and daughter, Rowan, at his bedside. He suffered a major stroke back in 2016 and battled courageously to regain his mobility and speech, supported hugely by Lynda. In recent months, he had been told he had cancer, a diagnosis he bore with his usual stoicism.

Sam was introduced to our inland waterways and narrowboating when he met Lynda in 1995. Within a week of their meeting, Sam found himself taking part in the Northampton Branch Boat Gathering!

Previously, he had enjoyed sailing and sea fishing in oceans around the world. Sam made the transition from yachts to narrowboat easily and really enjoyed “skippering” Shepherd Moon on holidays around the system. We had the pleasure of accompanying them on Lexa for some of these, most notably a cruise down the River Cam to Cambridge and the River Great Ouse to Bedford. Sam always impressed us with his energy and physical stamina which belied his years and he was a regular attendee at the Adoption Group task parties on the Northampton Arm up until his stroke.

Lynda was heavily involved with IWA Northampton Branch from 1997 onwards, originally as newsletter editor and, later on, a stint as Branch Chairman, before taking on our website and publicity. So, it was no surprise that Sam should gradually find himself drawn into Branch activities. He joined the Boat Gathering Sub Committee where he served as Bar Manager for several years. This role necessitated a tour of local breweries and the sampling of their ales to select suitable stock for the Gathering Bar. As Sam always said, “It’s a tough job but someone has got to do it!”

Not only did he serve as Bar Manager, he also devised the quizzes at our Gatherings for a number of years, causing a lot of head scratching for participants.

Such was his enjoyment of “quizzing” he found himself recruited to our Branch Quiz Team during the years of the InterBranch Quiz, when Northampton Branch gave a good account of themSam on the back of the boat at Stoke Bruerne in 2006 selves.

17 In 2006, he became something of an waterways “activist” when he became involved in IWA rallies at Stoke Bruerne and Braunston to protest at government funding cuts to British Waterways and the Environment Agency. He and Lynda also took part in the Save Our Waterways Protest Cruise past the Houses of Parliament when their boat was boarded by the River Police! They apologised for having to board Shepherd Moon to search the cabin in case of bombs etc and said they fully supported the cause.

Sam’s funeral service was held on the canalside at Stoke Bruerne on 14th August in accordance with his wishes.

Shepherd Moon being boarded by River Police on the River Thames

Drained pound on the Northampton Arm This is the pound between locks 4 and 5 as you can see the lift bridge below lock 5.

This is not a pound that has leaks, so it is either bad boating techniques or has been deliberately drained. This happened on the first weekend in May.

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SUNSHINE AND STARS BROUGHT OUT THE CROWDS FOR THE 17th BRAUNSTON HISTORIC NARROWBOAT RALLY The very successful 2019 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally was held over the warmest June weekends for several years, with Saturday’s temperature into the eighties. It was almost too hot for some, but great for the real ale sales at the Dry Dock Inn – the quayside beer tent, a meeting point for boaters old and new, and offering fine views of the parades of former working narrowboats.

But at the beginning of June, things did not look so good. There were threats of water shortages, before the surprising rain from Spain arrived. There were also emergency lock closures, especially on the Rochdale Canal, where a number of historic narrowboats had gone for an earlier event, before coming down to Braunston. All bar one managed a Colditz escape, before encountering another emergency closure on the Coventry Canal which the CRT put all their energies into repairing. Then an historic wooden narrowboat got stuck in a lock on the Napton Flight, which the CRT again sorted. So it all came right in the end.

Despite increasing compe- IWA Chairman Ivor Caplan steering the Coventry Canal tition from similar canal Society’s Panther into Braunston Marina, after opening the events going head-to-head, 2019 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally. He is assisted by a total of 71 historic nar- Tony Mann of the Coventry Canal Society. The Chesterfiled rowboats attended this, the Canal Trust’s Python, steered by Ivor’s wife Joan, follows closely behind. (Tim Coghlan) 17th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally, coming from all corners of the waterways The annual Braunston rallies remain by far and away the largest rally of historic narrowboats anywhere on the inland waterways. As David Daines - owner of the 1935 Yarwoods narrowboat Cyprus said, ‘Braunston remains the premier event, and it is the first we put in our diary, every year.’ He and his wife Sue have never missed one of them.

21 The rally was formally opened by Ivor Caplan, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association, steering the former Fellows, Morton & Clayton (FMC) narrowboat Panther, into the marina from the Grand Union Canal and declaring the Rally open.

Panther is now owned and operated by the Coventry Canal Society. Ivor was assisted by his wife Joan, both wearing traditional boatmen costume, she steering the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s former FMC narrowboat Python.

These narrowboats have led similar lives. They were both built in 1929 for FMC by Yarwoods of Northwich, and so are now celebrating their 90 th birthdays. They were also built in the ‘P’ batch of that year – boats were built in batches of up to four at a time, and each was given a sequential letter, with the boats named accordingly – hence Panther and Python. In time they became canal maintenance boats for British Waterways and were shortened to their present length.

Both are now owned by active canal societies, and are used for educational purposes, and volunteer canal maintenance and restoration.

Before the official opening each canal society was presented by their respective steerers, Ivor an Joan, with a cheque for £1,000 from the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally – part of over £6,000 donated to canal and local causes.

All in a good cause. Ivor and Joan Caplan presenting a cheque for £1,000 to the Chesterfield Canal

A number of celebrity guests Trust team, beside their working narrowboat joined in the opening, which Python. (Janet Richardson) this year included Timothy West and Prunella Scales. They steered respectively the 1936 pair of former Grand Union Canal Carrying Company’s narrowboats, Nuneaton and Brighton. These are owned and operated by the Narrow Boat Trust, with the primary objective of continuing canal carrying with a pair of working narrwboats. Other guests included Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & River Trust, and Tony Hales OBE, retired Chairman of the Canal & River Trust. Tony still continues his passion for the waterways and has attended every Rally since 2009 – always attired in traditional boatman costume.

This year he was joined by his wife Linda, likewise attired, and both adding to the colour of the occasion.

Prior to the Rally opening, a plaque was unveiled on the ‘Braunston Wall of Fame’ in memory of the Aubrey Berriman, the shipwright to the wooden butty Raymond, which was built by Samuel Barlows in 1958 at what is today Braunston Marina. Aubrey died earlier this year aged 93. The plaque was unveiled jointly by his daughter

22 Julie and son David. Timothy West and Prunella Scales attended the ceremony, and each gave readings, including an extract from David Blagrove’s classic book Bread Upon The Waters, in which Aubrey received a mention, working as foreman in the large dock in 1962.

A video of the plaque unveiling and the Rally as a whole is now on the Braunston Marina home website home page.

The winning historic narrowboat for this year’s ‘Nurser Award Buckby Can for the Best in Show as voted by the historic narrowboat owners’, was to Sarah Malcom, Sarah Malcom on her historic narrowboat Princess Anne being owner of the beautipresented by Tim Coghlan with the Nurser Award Buckby Can fully turned-out for the ‘Best in Show’. She also received £250 in vouchers Princess Anne. She sponsored by Midland Chandlers. (Paul Bennett) also received £250 in Midland Chandlers vouchers, generously sponsored by them. Both boat and owner were attending the Rally for the first time. It was also the first time that a womanowner has won the award since it began six years ago. But what is more remarkable is that Sarah has only owned the Princess A nne for just under a year.

Sarah is quick to acknowledge the enormous restoration works carried out by the two previous owners. They had restored by the boatman’s cabin to its original look, removing the full length cabin conversion, which had been added to the boat in 1968, when it ceased being a working boat, and was converted to a house boat, and the length reduced to 57’6”. But in her short period of ownership, Sarah has taken the project forward. She wrote to me modestly after winning the award, ‘I have got a lot of routine maintenance done, as well as some steel work on the foredeck, gunwales and in the engine room. I am going to have a lot more jobs done by the Brinklow lads’. The original elm bottom is to be replaced with sapele hardwood, so maintaining the boat’s composite bottom. Work will also be undertaken to the gunwales and diesel tank, and more. ‘But the ball park figure to take the boat back to its original length is about £35 / 40K, so that’s quite out of the question!’

The story of the Princess A nne is an interesting one, like that of so many other old working narrowboats attending the rallies. It was built by Harland & Wolff in 1935 at Woolwich to the GUCCC Star Class design, with iron sides and a composite bot-

23 tom of elm and iron, which somewhat rarely it still retains. The boat was named Plato, and worked for the GUCCC until 1941, when it was sold to E. Probert & Sons. It was sold again in 1946 to T & S Elements of Birmingham, and became a tug on the Birmingham Canal Navigation, being reduced in length to 60’, and renamed A nnie Eliza. In 1948 the engine room was extended to house a 2L2 Gardner engine and gearbox, which are still in use. Around 1950, following the birth of Princess Anne in August of that year, the boat’s name was changed in honour of her. In the recent restoration of the boatman’s cabin, the livery was changed to back to that of T & S Elements – a livery now rarely seen. Sarah says she will be definitely coming to next year’s rally, when she hopes to have the boat’s hold back under cloths. ‘That will really put the cat amongst the pigeons!’ she says with glee.

The Rally seeks to be both a rally of historic narrowboats, and a waterways festival, with a variety of entertainments reflecting this theme. Sue Day gave a display of horse boating with two of her horses in the Stop House garden. The Guild of Waterways Artists were again provided with their own marquee, sponsored by the Rally, and eleven of its members had their works on display, making this the largest-ever exhibition by their members since these rallies began. There was also a trade marquee shared with the number of canal societies. Canal societies were also outside, as were a number of good causes like the RNLI and the local Air Ambulance, who were given free space.

Other entertainments included the canal-travelling Alarum Theatre, with their new play, Acts of Abandon which received its ‘world premier.’ Also giving a live performances were Theatre in the Dock and The Boat Doctors with their show They Built Boats in Banbury. For the second year, children were entertained by Professor Diamond’s Punch & Judy Show. There was a new villain for this year - Boris Johnson who because of his wickedness, is eaten by the crocodile and disgorged as ETON MESS. There was also a group of Morris Dancers – Mortimer’s Morris. Music was provided in the famous beer tent – the Dry Dock - by a number of groups. On the Sunday evening, to close the event, the Rally sponsored a candle-lit choral concert by the Elizabethan composers Byrd and Tallis, across the meadows at the ancient church of Wolfamcote to raise awareness and funds for the preservation of this redundant church. Tim and Pru attended.

Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina said, ‘For me what was most pleasing was the number of boats that came which had never been before, and the comments from so many owners that it is events like the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally, which inspires them to restore and maintain their boats which are such an important living and moving part of our canal heritage. Each year I hear the same gratifying story, which makes organizing the Rally so worthwhile. The Rally has come a long way since the first one in 2003, when 29 boats attended – which seemed a lot at the time.’

The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally is sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk, and is supported by the Canal & River Trust. Braunston Marina will be hosting the event again next year on the same last weekend in June – 27th – 28th June, 2019.

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READ ALL ABOUT IT …

“It” is the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal and you can now discover some of the background and history of this Arm on three newly installed interpretation panels – at Locks 1, 14 and 17.

This is a project the Committee has been working on for a couple of years in conjunction with Sarah Douglas from Red Kite Environment, who had previously been involved with similar projects at Stoke Bruerne and other waterways locations across the country.

When the Branch received the John Faulkner legacy, interpretation panels were suggested as a great enhancement to the Arm, particularly in view of the housing developments at Locks 14 and 17 and the increased visitor numbers from these areas, whether by foot or cycle.

Interpertation panel at Lock 14

25 Geoff Wood masterminded this project from initial discussions and site visits with Sarah to the last bucket of concrete laid by our volunteers at Lock 17. Various drafts were produced along the way with layout and wording undergoing much alteration until a final version was agreed. CRT gave permission and undertook a siting survey. Planning permission from Northampton Borough Council was required (and granted) for the panels at Locks 14 and 17. Throughout this whole (sometimes frustrating) process Geoff was persistent and focused – thank you Geoff!

The panels are A1 size in a lectern style with metal legs. They are produced in GRP which is robust (and vandal proof, we hope!) and guaranteed against severe fading for 10 years. Each panel features a map of the Arm, with a “You are here” marking, and describe some of the features (eg. Lift bridges and the crane at Lock 17) and wildlife that can be seen in the immediate vicinity. They also draw attention to the mosaic Nature Trail at each of the 17 locks.

Hopefully, they will be read and enjoyed by many for a long time to come. Yet another great reason to visit the Northampton Arm by boat, on foot or cycle!

Sandie Morton

Stoke Bruerne's 12th Village at War Dust off your gas masks, dig out those ration books and prepare to be transported in time. Stoke Bruerne's 12th Village at War Weekend is all set to have you dancing and singing-along to all those 40s songs. This year there are no less than eight entertainers, old faces as well as new, and an army of re-enactors to entertain you and the troops.

It all happens over the weekend of 7th and 8th September when Churchill, Field Marshall Montgomery and Bomber Harris will be kept busy inspecting the troops and delivering rousing speeches. As well as tea dances at the Village Hall, vintage fashion parades at the Church, the school will be transformed into a ‘nippy’ tea rooms and fields around the village centre will be filled with black markets, memorabilia, military and vintage vehicles and displays. On the Friday night for those arriving early, there will be Lola Lamour at The Navigation pub, and on Saturday evening for those staying on site, a swing dance at the Village Hall and music by duo Bread & Dripping at The Boat Inn. This years event has a completely new focus with a new organising committee led by Kathryn Dodington comprising village groups and villagers as well as members of the Friends. For the first time, the Branch will be holding a mini-boat rally over the same weekend at Stoke Bruerne with moorings in the Long Pound. Any members that help with the running of the event will receive free entry to the events (Saving £10 per person) The weekend raises much needed funds for the work of the Friends in supporting the Canal Museum and the historic boat Sculptor. Local scouts will also be helping out for the first time. For more information including a downloadable programme, please visit http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/vaw-2019

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Lock 4 Number Plaque About 6 months ago on one of our regular Task Parties we were working on the top end of the Arm and one of our volunteers pointed out that the lock number plaque was missing on lock 4.

On closer inspection it was apparent that the plaque had been wrenched off with some force and I would imagine taken by some misguided collector.

We looked in the Gayton store to see if there was a replacement and talked to CRT but with no luck.

When the bottom gates of lock 1 were changed during the winter stoppage the lock number plaque was removed and refitted to the new gates.

Looking at the back of the plaque, we discovered it was manufactured by The Royal Label Factory based in Buxton. This company concentrates on traditional signage and retains many of the casting patterns it developed in the 1930s for County and Town Council signposts and fingerposts. Its history goes back to 1874 and it’s known to have supplied plant labels for Queen Victoria’s Sandringham Estate. At the height of the cast road sign boom in the early 1950s, the RLF employed 100 people at its then HQ in Stratford-on-Avon.

In 1986 The Royal Label Factory was taken over by Leander Architecture who are still in business and also based in Buxton.

On contacting Leander Architecture and speaking to the owner Ted McAvoy imagine my surprise when he said yes they could supply a replacement and they had all the original patterns.

The replacement was ordered, funded by the Branch and duly turned up 4 weeks later.

It was then passed over to Dave Lee and John Bannister, two of our regular volunteers and Neal Cave from CRT to use their handywork to fit the new plaque.

They took a number of precautions to ensure that the plaque stays in place this time.

This was a very good example of the Branch and the Trust working closely together to achieve a very good outcome.

The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated, otherwise the Association accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine.

Neither the editor nor IWA can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the magazine, and opinions stated are those of individual contributors. We will, however, gladly publish corrections if notified. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify articles published in the interests of clarity or space.

The Inland Waterways Association is registered as a charity (No. 212342)

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RICHARD GILL

BSc, MABSE

30 YEARS WORKING ON THE WATERWAYS

Grand Union, Oxford & Leics Canals Rivers Nene and Thames RING: 07889 10 99 39 rgbarcos70@btinternet.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRUISE, LONG OR SHORT Write a report about your cruise, let others know the good and not so good places to moor, eat, drink, places of interest worth visiting and anything else that might help others to enjoy that area. Let us know of any miss-haps or interesting things that happened on your journey. Include pictures of your cruise, unusual things scenery and anything else that you want to add. In the last August edition Bernard and Sandy Morton told us about there trip along the K&A. In November John Pomfret explained the Northern canals. So let me have yours for others to enjoy.

We extend a warm welcome to the following who have joined Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour

NEW MEMBERS Mr N Allen & Mrs J Partridge, Haywards Heath, W est Sussex Ms K Andrews, K ettering Mr P & Mrs S Hickerson, Northampton Mr N & Ms M Cutler, Daventry Mr G & Mrs L Johnson, Northampton Mr G Manzie, Y elvertoft

MEMBERS MOVED TO THE BRANCH Mr L & Mrs S P White, Basildon, Essex Mr D & Mrs L Poddington, Sk elmanthorpe, Huddersfield Mr R & Mrs V Wakeling, Braunston

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Now fully open

WHILTON MARINA CHANDLERY 

Diesel



Pump out

Well stocked chandlery  Groceries Pay us a visit, just browse and see what we have to offer 

Open daily 9am –6pm ALL YEAR ROUND Tel 01327 844639 E-mail: marinachandlery@gmail.com

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BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY The BCS held it's annual festival over the weekend of 20th - 21st July with 27 trade and private boats in attendance and canal stalls on the towpath. Cosgrove Village Hall was fully booked with Craft stalls as well. Saturday morning proved to be a little quiet as the weather forecast had not been great but by Saturday afternoon when it hadn't rained the people came out and Sunday proved to be very popular. We even managed to hold our fish and chip supper outside Saturday evening on the 'island' next to the lock with a beautiful sunset and music proved by Innocent Hare a local group from Stony Stratford.

Amongst the boats present as well as Raymond and Nutfield who nearly always attend our festival this year we were joined for the first time by working boat 'Roger'. This was the first time in about twenty years that Raymond and Roger had been reunited!

Altogether a very successful festival the only down side being that a boat had sunk in the Three Locks on Saturday blocking the canal and therefore all the Wyvern hire fleet which would have passed our way couldn't get through so our takings on the 'lock assist' were down this year.

Work on Cosgrove bridge has continued with help from several our side companies these include three visits from Santander and five visits from Network Rail. Altogether this year we would have had sixteen outside company visits by the end of the year.

So far this year two concrete pours have then place on the new part of Bridge One at Cosgrove. On Thursday 8th August our third concrete pour will take place completing most of this type of work although a lot more 'brick laying' work will be needed before the bridge will be completed.

Work has also continued at our Hyde Lane Nature Reserve site where the whole area was recently strimmed and solar panels installed so that the this site will be in water in the summer as well as in winter..

Most of the future work parties will be at Cosgrove and all IWA members would be very welcome to come and see the progress being made on Bridge One .

Athina Beckett BuckinghamCanal Society

33 All advertisements must comply with the requirements of the Trades Descriptions Act and avoid misrepresentation of goods offered for sale. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 requires that businesses seeking to sell goods must clearly indicate this in an advertisement.

COMMERCIAL RATES 1/4 Page (box) £12.00 +VAT 1/2 Page (box) £25.00 +VAT Full Page £40.00 +VAT Other sizes by arrangement

10% discount for 4 issues paid yearly in advance 5% discount for 4 issues paid quarterly

CLASSIFIEDS (suggested donations) £1.50 for 22 words, 15p each additional word £3.50 for box around classified advertisement (nb. telephone numbers count as one word) £3.50 for photographs

Regular Branch Social Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May inclusive at

THE WALNUT TREE INN, BLISWORTH, at 8pm

All members and non-members welcome Food and drink available

NEXT MEETINGS 8th October Speaker: Tim Coghlan — Life and times of Aubrey Berriman, shipwright to Raymond

12th November Speaker: Phil Mulligan (CRT) — Regional Update

10th December “Christmas Quiz” with John Pomfret The next edition of Endeavour will be published in November 2019

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Branch Chairman Bernard Morton 07785 375787/ 01604 858294 E-mail: bernard.morton @waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman, Joint Task Party Organiser & Membership Secretary Geoff Wood E-mail: geoff.wood @waterways.org.uk

Branch Secretary Sandie Morton 01604 858294 E-mail: sandie.morton @waterways.org.uk

Joint Task Party Organiser Michael Butler E-mail: michael.butler @waterways.org.uk

Planning Officer Helen Westlake E-mail: helen.westlake @waterways.org.uk

Branch Meetings Catriona Butler E-mail: catriona.butler @waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Paul Lynam E-mail: paul.lynam @waterways.org.uk

Newsletter & Archivist Tony Clarke

Non-Committee post Website and Media Officer Gail Anscombe E-mail gail.asncombe @waterways.org.uk

07305 893924 E-mail: tony.clarke @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member John Pomfret E-mail: john.pomfret @waterways.org.uk

Vacancies Publicity and Grants Officer Committee Member

The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers.

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