Endeavour - May 2023

Endeavour Northampton Branch Newsletter — 2023

Wootton Brook Towpath Improvments on the Northampton Arm Northampton IWA volunteers along with Cummings Power Systems carried out further improvements on the Wootton Brook Towpath near lock 13.

Continued on page 10

waterways.org.uk/northampton Printed by Colour Image. Phone 07368 291216 email colourimage@aol.com

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With all the work that has been done on the Northampton Arm around Lock 17 and the island this partly sunken boat does not look good.

As reported in the Northampton Chronicle in April. Residents have reported the boat to the anti-social behaviour to the Police, West Northants Council, Environment Agency and Canal River Trust but nobody wants anything to do with it! Residents say its an eyesore and children are playing on it.

This area has been greatly improved by the volunteers and the upkeep is ongoing, residents also go out and litter pick on their own accord to help with keeping this area tidy and litter free. The volunteers mow the grass on a regular basis so that it keeps tidy.

When the Branch first adopted the Northampton Arm ten years ago this island was covered in stinging nettles and completely overgrown. Now people go there and have picnics, BBQ’s and enjoy the space by the canal. We couldn’t have done it without volunteers This is just one part of the Northampton Arm that I have mentioned but the whole length has been greatly improved for both walkers, cyclist, fishermen and boaters.

If you haven’t been down the Northampton Arm for a while you should go and see the difference that the Branch has made with volunteers giving up their time twice a month. Why not come and join us at a work party everyone is friendly and you get out in the fresh air and doing something for everybody to enjoy. Dates are on page This year it’s our tenth anniversary of adopting the Northampton Arm look out for the celebration 3rd September. Details in the next Endeavour

IWA Northampton Branch has a Facebook page. It is 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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DIARY DATES May 27th –29th June 24th-25th

July 22nd-23rd

August 5th –6th

Crick Boat Show at Crick Marina Braunston Historic Boat Rally and Canal Festival Grand Union Canal Braunston Details www.braunstonmarina.co.uk Cosgrove Canal Festival and Craft Fair, Grand Union Canal Cosgrove. Details buckinghamcanal.org.uk Fenny Stratford Canal Festival Details rcta.org.uk/events/#!event/2023/8/5/fenny-stratfordcanal-festival

September 3rd

Tenth Anniversary of Northampton Arm Adoption Details in next Edition of Endeavour and on web when available

Work Party Dates are on page 9 SAVE THE DATE 2nd December Branch Annual Dinner Details in next Endeavour IWA Northampton Branch web site www.waterways.org.uk/northampton Please visit it regularly to see any updates

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GRAND JUNCTION BOAT COMPANY GAYTON JUNCTION BLISWORTH ARM NORTHAMPTON NN7 3EF

01604 858043 www.grandjunctionboats.co.uk Email: info@grandjunctionboats.co.uk ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

MARINE ENGINEERS ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL PLUMBING & HEATING CRANE OUT HULL BLACKING & SPRAYING IF PREFERRED DIY SLOTS AVAILABLE HULL GRIT BLASTING WITH QUILL MACHINE OVERPLATING & STEEL WORK STERN GEAR BARRUS SHIRE AGENTS BETA AGENTS WEBASTO AGENTS CHANDLERY

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Branch Chairman’s Jottings

by Bernard Morton Well, here we are with April coming to an end and the weather still chilly and windy.

March, we are told, was the wettest for 40 years but the water authorities are already urging caution as this apparently followed an exceptionally dry February (did anyone notice that?).

It remains to be seen what restrictions are placed on our boating this summer.

Sandie and I are planning to head north to Lincoln, York and Ripon taking in the Chesterfield Canal on the way. So, fingers crossed that the northern reservoirs have been filled to the brim!

PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS CAMPAIGN. In Mar ch, IWA launched its Protect our Waterways campaign stating that it is “deeply concerned about the threat to our waterways posed by funding cuts” and that “the condition of the waterways continues to deteriorate while government funding is decreasing”. Government funding for CRT is currently £52.6m a year but this has been seriously diminished with inflation. In view of the fact that the Government has missed its deadline to announce the level of future funding after 2027 there is real cause for concern.

A number of events are being planned seeking backing not just from boaters but from all other waterways users (walkers, cyclists, anglers, canoeists, paddleboarders and even swimming groups). For further information about the campaign see https:// waterways.org.uk/campaigns/protect-our-waterways FORTHCOMING CELEBRATIONS. No, not the Cor onation but the 10th Anniversary of the Branch’s Adoption of the Northampton Arm. Our adoption started in July 2013, exactly one year on from the formation of CRT and the Committee felt that the huge amount we have achieved on the Arm deserved to be recognised and celebrated. Plans are in their infancy at the moment, but we have provisionally earmarked Sunday, 3rd September for this event. We are envisioning a gathering at the Memorial Garden by Locks 6 & 7 with refreshments. Invitations are going out to CRT staff, local dignitaries, press and all our volunteers (past and present). Further details will be in August’s Endeavour.

ANNUAL BRANCH DINNER. A note for your diar ies her e! Our Annual Branch Dinner will take place at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne on Saturday, 18th November 2023. We have listened to requests that we avoid Bonfire weekend and the Remembrance weekend so this year’s will be a little later than usual – but hopefully far enough away from Christmas festivities. Further details about menus and booking information will be in August’s Endeavour.

BRANCH MEETINGS. As you will know, we have been in something of a quandary about the future of our Branch Meetings due to numbers declining sharply

8 since Covid. We took on board criticisms of The Walnut Tree as a venue (eg. too cold, poor acoustics, expensive, too dark/poor weather) and revamped our offering by moving to the Conference Room at The Boat Inn at Stoke Bruerne and also to have a mix of afternoon and evening events. Those of you who have been to this season’s meetings have been pleased with the venue change and the introduction of afternoon sessions for the winter months.

Lynda Payton took over as our Meetings Organiser and came up with some imaginative speakers/entertainers. We have also stepped up our publicity utilising social media and posters around the locality. However, I’m sad to report that attendances have remained somewhat disappointing, ranging from 28 down to 9 (with 3 of these being Committee members). There seems to be no evidence that afternoons are more or less popular than evenings – but they do seem to attract different attendees, which can only be a good thing.

Although The Boat Inn has generously allowed us to use the room free of charge, we still have to pay some of our speakers and it is rather embarrassing for them to be faced with only a handful of people.

After much discussion by the Committee, we have decided to give next season (Oct 2023 – April/May 2024) another try utilising the same venue and mix of afternoons and evenings. As December has traditionally had a low turnout, we will not plan a session for December 2023 and move the Quiz Night to March, after our brief AGM. Further details will be in August’s Endeavour.

It will be a case of “use them or lose them” I’m afraid!

As I’ve read through this, it has become clear to me that August’s Endeavour is an edition you won’t want to miss with news of our 10th Anniversary “do”, our annual Branch dinner and next season’s meetings all to be unveiled.

Whatever you are doing until then, be it celebrating the Coronation, boating or enjoying our waterways, I hope that the weather improves markedly. Stay safe!

We extend a warm welcome to the following who have moved to the Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour Mr.Graeme Truluck

We look forward to meeting you at our Branch events 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 aWith all the rain that we have had n 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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TASK PARY DATES NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTIES DATES

June 4th, 20th. July 2nd, 18th.

August 6th, 15th. September 3rd, 19th.

Contact: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY WORK PARTY DATES Every Tuesday, Every Thursday and second and last Sunday in month Contact athinabec@aol.com or phone 01908 661217/07721 319404 STOKE BRUERNE CANAL PARTNERSHIP WORK PARTY DATES June 14th July 12th.

August 9th.September13th.

Contact: stokebruernecanalpartnership.org.uk

BRAUNSTON CANAL SOCIETY TASK PARTY DATES June 8th,24th. July 13th, 29th.

August 10th, 26th September 14th, 30th.

Contact Clive at braunstoncanalsociety @gmail.com or phone/text Clive on 07817 435911.

10 Continued from front page Over five days with another 96 meters of towpath completed which now takes us up to almost Lock 13.

90 Volunteer visits that totalled up to 486 volunteer hours over the five days.

Of these Cummings Power Systems contributed 195 hours plus the funding of the project.

Thanks to the Canal River Trust for all their involvement.

The next stage is planned form Sunday 8th to Thursday 12th October.

Come and help if you can, we are always looking for more volunteers.

Nearly reached Lock 13 This will be completed next time in October

Volunteers from Cummings Power Systems loading a powered barrow

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A letter to the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from a Branch Newsletter October 1981 Dear Prime Minister, 8th September 1981 British Waterways Board: 1982/83 Budget I am taking the liberty of writing to you personally in order to express the extreme concern of my Association about the deteriorating state of the waterways under the control of the British Waterways Board and to make a special request for an increase in Government grant.

As the national voluntary organisation campaigning for the retention andrestoration of waterways and representing the various types of waterway user, the IWA is of the definite opinion that, unless action is taken very soon, there is a very real danger of a complete breakdown to Britain’s waterway system. This is part of the national heritage, is used by a large and increasing number of people, provides employment for a wide variety of private firms and is a valuable tourist attraction. All this is at risk. On the other hand, for a a relatively small sum of money this deterioration could be halted and reduced.

Consultants appointed by the Government reported in 1977 a maintenance backlog on BWB waterways of £60 million; allowing for inflation and further deterioration since, has now become £120 million. I understand that the British Waterways Board are applying for an increase of £17 million per year in their annual grant for the next 10 years, in order to deal with this maintenance backlog and so enable them to fulfil the duty, imposed upon them by the 1968 Transport Act, to maintain their waterways in a suitable condition.

We fully support BWB’s application for this increased grant. However, we realise that, under the present circumstances (including the proposed wide-ranging consultancy study to assess the whole of BWB’s operations), the Government may unfortunately feel unable to commit itself to such long-term funding. In this event, we would most strongly urge the Government to make a £10 million increase in grant for the year 1982/83 in order to enable BWB to carry out at least the most urgent and essential repair—including Blisworth Tunnel, Boddington Reservoir and Netherton Tunnel. These three structures, being on main routes (details are given on the attached sheer), are causing great concern to waterway users, particularly the hire boat industry.

I very much hope that you will feel able to accept this request for an additional £10 million for the British Waterways Board for the year 1982/83. We would be very pleased to supply any further details or to discuss the matter with any members of your Government.

Yours very truly, John Heap National Chairman Nothing changes CRT are still trying to get a decent amount of money from the government. Ed

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THE FALKIRK WHEEL (AND KELPIES) THE EASY WAY For some time, I have wanted to visit the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies – in fact, ever since Bernie refused to make a detour as we were returning from a wedding near Inverness!

We have talked about making a short trip to Edinburgh several times since but never got around to booking anything. Thinking about a Christmas present for Bernie last year, I saw a 3-night boutique hotel offer in Edinburgh on Wowcher and purchased it. On opening the envelope, he realised straight away that he had been stitched up.

Trip planning proceeded apace with us choosing early March in the hope of decent weather and deciding to fly from Luton rather than driving. We thought we’d give public transport a go but hire a car if necessary.

On arriving at Edinburgh airport early afternoon, we located the tram service which took us into the city centre in under an hour. Setting off in search of our hotel, Bernie was soon attracted to a pub called The Conan Doyle – an interesting place with various items of memorabilia and details of Sir Arthur’s life … and some good local ales of course! We were helped on our search for the hotel by some very friendly locals who spotted us checking Google maps on our phones and offered their help.

Our first two days were taken up with visiting Edinburgh’s sights – the castle, the Royal Mile, a cat café, and the Holyrood Parliament building. We also visited the Tourist Information Centre to enquire about the best ways to get to the Wheel and the Kelpies. After much deliberation and computer searches, we were advised to get a train to Falkirk High station and then to get various bus routes.

On our final day we set off by train for Falkirk High pleased to find out our Senior Citizen Railcards worked in Scotland (unlike our bus passes!). The journey only took half an hour, and we exited the station looking for a bus stop – none to be seen.

However, there were two taxis waiting. We thought it worth finding out how much it would cost to visit the Wheel and the Kelpies by taxi. We were surprised to find out that the driver would take us to both for £15. On the way to the Kelpies, he took the time to point out some local areas of interest for us.

The Kelpies are situated in The Helix Park, an ecopark which transformed 350 hectares via a £25 million grant from Big Lottery in 2007. Designed to commemorate the working horses that pulled barges of iron ore, coal etc from Falkirk’s iron works to the industrial areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh they completely dominate the area being some 30 metres high. It took just 90 days to construct what would seem to be a giant 30,000-piece steel jigsaw. On a lovely bright, sunny March day, they were a truly magnificent sight. An extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Kelpies Hub (a turning point) were constructed to allow boats access. The whole site was officially opened by Princess Anne in July 2015.

Our taxi driver had waited for us and took us onto the Falkirk Wheel next. It was a short drive and much easier than going by bus. He offered us his phone number so we could ring him when we had finished our tour so he could pick us up and take us back to the station for an extra £5 – great service!

13 Unfortunately, due to the cold temperatures and the canal being frozen, the trip boat had curtailed its journey so we were only able to go into the low level gondola and complete one turn without exiting at the higher level. The captain of the boat was a very amusing character who kept us all entertained. The Wheel replaced a flight of 11 locks which linked the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal and were closed in 1933.

In the early 1990s the concept of a boat lift was put forward, but it was not until 1998 that work started on the £84.5 million Millennium Link project to re-join the two canals. The Wheel was constructed in Derbyshire, dismantled, and transported by lorry (35 lorry loads) to Falkirk. It stands 35 metres tall and, unbelievably, it takes only 1.5kWh of energy to turn – the same amount as it would take to boil 8 electric kettles as the Captain assured us!

It was claimed to be the world’s first and only rotating boat lift when officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002. Is that still true?

We completed our shortened boat trip, had some lunch, and then rang for our taxi ride back to the station. Our driver had already returned and was waiting in a car park, having been home to have lunch and see his dog. We were soon back at Falkirk High station. Our total taxi fare was £20 but we were so pleased to have been conveyed door-to-door and not having to wait around for buses that we handed over a generous tip.

So, we had had a very enjoyable day visiting two very impressive constructions alongside two canals that we would never have been able to visit via our boat Inca – we certainly travelled the easy way!

The Falkirk Wheel

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We are again holding our own very special annual canal event – the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally - now back firmly in its regular slot over the last weekend in June.

This year it’s the 24th – 25th, June, with music legend and steam enthusiast Pete Waterman now firmly committed to taking the helm and opening it, so save the date!

We have held the Rally since 2003, bar the loss of two years due to covid. This year, will be our 19th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally. We are now putting all the final Tim Coghlan with Pete Waterman preparations in place. With the threat to at Braunston Marina government funding, the waterways need to have something to celebrate – something to look forward to – and hopefully this event will be a showcase for our wonderful waterways heritage.

Our initial soundings of owners of these historic narrowboats, is that they can’t wait to come. We have already received an encouraging number of early bookings, and they just keep coming. This could well be a vintage year. These leviathans of our canal-carrying past are THE making of the Rally, which, as for some years now, will probably be the largest gathering of them anywhere on the waterways.

Replica steam tunnel-tug Hasty will be towing Kildare

15 The Rally was originally conceived late in 2002, to celebrate the completion of the then major restoration works to the steam narrowboat President, with the first Rally being held in June 2003. Narrowboats deteriorate in a water environment, and require regular maintenance, especially when old and steam-powered. President ran into trouble again in early 2019 when its boiler was condemned, requiring a new boiler and associated works. Besides the £80,000 needed, there was also the problem of finding a manufacturer to build it. Once there were hundreds of these boiler manufacturers across the UK, but now only a handful remain. The other problem has been the spec. and finding an engineering design company able and willing to produce one. Nearly four years on, the Friends of President have now all the preparations in place and fingers crossed, the boat will be back on the water in steam by the end of this year, and attending the 2024 Rally – the 20th we will have held.

We had very much hoped works could have been completed in time for this year’s Rally, but disappointingly it just won’t happen. But we have devised a Plan B to keep the activist Friends of President on-board. President’s butty Kildare will attend, after a makeover in the docks at Braunston Marina, where the boat has just arrived.

Kildare will be towed during the Rally by the replica steam tunnel-tug Hasty, which is a regular attendee at the Rallies. Pete Waterman will be at the helm for the opening with a little help from the Friends of President, who will then steer the pair in subsequent parades. As all of this is new, in the week before the event, enthusiast from the Friends of Raymond will be trained on all aspects of handling that pair of boats in the parades. We are very grateful to the owner of Hasty for allowing us to use his boat in this way, who for good reasons cannot be with us!

Our music-impresario for some years now, Janul, is already networking the amazing musicians she produces each year for the famous beer tent - the Dry Dock Inn – a mini-Glastonbury, without the mud. Alarum Theatre are also onboard with their latest production based on the centenary of the 1923 Braunston Boatmen’s Strike. We are also seeing a very positive response from trade exhibitors and likewise the canal societies and the canal artists’ tent, whom we seek to support through free space and the publicity the event gives them.

We are fortunate to be able to hold the event in our marina, including parking, with use of the canal outside for the parades of historic narrowboats, thanks to the CRT. The Rally is very much an outdoor event, with the five odd thousand people who traditionally attend, spreading themselves out along the mile or so of towpath to watch the parades. So we should be able to hold the event in safety. Here’s hoping we have you on-board!

Putting finishing touches before going on parade

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VISIT STOWE HILL WHARF FOR ALL Y

Proprietor Robert Gudgeon welcomes you to Stowe Hill Workshop

Full Repaints Hull Blacking/Stern Gear Inspection and Repairs Engine Repairs and Maintenance Complete Fit-Out and Woodwork Alterations Plumbing Installations and Repairs Electrical Installations and Repairs NEW — Fuel Polishing Service Stockists of Morris Oils and Grease Full range of Batteries always available (please let us know your requirements) By road we are easily found, a few yards off the A5 at Stowe Hill towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26 • • • • • • • • • •

ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN, FROM SIMPLE TASKS TO COMPLETE FIT-OUTS

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YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES

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Stoke Bruerne: New canal-bank seats for the passer by Tim Colghlan Writes: Two benches have been installed at Stoke Bruerne to commemorate the lives of two of its well-known canal and community activists, David Blagrove (1937 – 2016) and Roy Sears (1945 -2018). The funds to purchase the benches and pay for their installation came from the David Blagrove Community Trust, which was set up after David’s death in 2016. This followed a very successful appeal which raised a considerable sum to make it possible.

David’s daughter Sarah Borondy, Chair of the Trust said: ‘The Trusts vision was to enrich local communities and to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth through experiencing the UK canal and waterways network. Its aims were also to enhance the local landscapes and heritage, whilst encouraging and supporting the local communities. So for the trust to provide the funding for the two benches just seemed a fitting end to celebrate all that the trust has achieved over the last 7 years. The Trust’s trustees and it’s stalwart members have agreed it’s now time to close it, in this final act of commemoration.’

Some forty people attended the formal opening of the benches, including Richard Parry , CEO of the CRT, who only a few months before had attended the unveiling of the kingfisher mosaic at nearby Cosgrove.

The bench ribbons were cut

by Sarah and Roy’s wife Chrissy. David’s is appropriately at the edge of the Green, where the sitter can at once see the canal museum, and then across the canal, David’s former Smiling through: Sarah Borondy, daughter of David home Wharf Cottage; and Blagrove and Chrissy Sears when it is moored at Stoke on Roy Sears newly opened canal-bank seat Bruerne, the historic narrowboat Sculptor, which David did so much to support. Roy’s bench is on the towpath halfway to the tunnel entrance.

Prior to cutting their respective ribbons, Sarah and Chrissy both gave short tributes to the two men respectively. Following Sarah’s cutting of the ribbon, Tim Coghlan, a close friend of David’s, who had delivered the eulogy at David’s funeral, read the Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh’s poem, Lines W ritten on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin. This concluded appropriately with:

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‘O commemorate me with no hero-courageous Tomb – just a canal-bank seat for the passer-by.’

David came to Stoke Bruerne by chance in 1963, when he was a ‘gentleman’ working-boatman, who had previously been an articled clerk to a firm of London solicitors. He found himself frozen-in there for three months in the Great Freeze of 1963, and fell for that canal-side village. He returned in 1966, now married, and as a newly qualified ‘O’ Level history teacher with an appointment at a nearby secondary school. By chance the semi-derelict Wharf Cottage came up for sale at that time, which he and his wife Jean bought and did up. They lived in it for the remainder of their lives, with working boats various moored outside it.

David was a man of many talents. Besides being a boatman, he was a canal author, musician, painter and event-organiser. When the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne was in danger of being closed in 2006, he co-founded the Friends of the museum, which in 2008 organised its first of many successful annual Stoke Bruerne At War events to raise funds for the museum.

Roy Sears had moved to the house next door to the Blagroves in 1981, achieving what he had always wanted, which was to have his narrowboat moored at the bottom of his garden. He was a specialist printer, retiring in 2008. He helped design and print various things for the village over the years, including the canal festival programmes, and the village Christmas cards. He was a founder member of the Friends, and an active participant in its fund raising events. He held the post of the Stoke Bruerne representative on the then CRT’s Museum Management Board. Following David’s death, Roy was very active in the formation and early running of that Trust. In 2018 he was tragically killed in a motor accident.

Following the conclusion of formalities, the party retired to the The Boat Inn, where David in times past was often to be found in the old bar, beloved of the working boatmen. Here he would hold informal jam-sessions, with him signing songs – many of them his own – and accompanying himself on his accordion. Other friends joined him, also playing their instruments and lustily joining in the singing. It was said that when David was in that mode, he never bought his round, but the entertainment he gave was great. In his funeral eulogy, I quoted that line from Kitto’s The Greeks: ‘The Greeks regarded the greatest achievement in a man’s life to be remembered after his death, with affection, by his friends.’ This comment could equally have applied to Roy.

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Head office has moved New Address

16B Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham HP5 2PX

When you go cruising again let me know about your trip so we can all share in your experiences. This is where you can suggest new places to visit or to avoid.

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 mishaps or interesting things that happened on your journey. Include pictures of your cruise, unusual things scenery and anything else that you want to add. I am looking forward to receiving your reports.

Or maybe you could tell us about the boats you’ve hired or owned.

Email your articles to me, tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk

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WHILTON MARINA CHANDLERY Well Stocked Chandlery, Diesel, Pump out, 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 work parties have now split into two separate groups working in different areas of the canal. I work on alternative Thursdays and on the second Sunday of each month at our Bourton Meadow and Hyde Lane Nature Reserve sites. Most of the work at these sites involves keeping hedges trimmed, the towpath strimmed bench seats painted and any excess of reeds removed from the canal bed. So the work parties are mainly for people who like an environmental project.

Terry Cavender works at our Cosgrove site on Tuesdays and Thursdays where most of the work involves working with excavators, dumper trucks and working from our work boats Louise and Percy dredging the canal.

Recently we received a small grant which has enabled us to plant a small orchard at Cosgrove close to Bridge One and also install flower beds and planters by Cosgrove lock The main task at Cosgrove over the next few weeks will be to install piling along part of the canal after Bridge One, hopefully to fix several leaks in the canal bank. Once these leaks are fixed the plan is to raise the water in the canal from Bridge One onwards to navigation level.

Again we are always looking for more volunteers at all three sites so if any Northampton volunteers have any free time please make contact.

Work boat Louise dredging at Cosgrove

Athina Beckett

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29 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

CLASSIFIEDS

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

(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

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

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

The Boat Inn Stoke Bruerne Food and drink available

The new seasons Branch social meetings will resume in October Details in next Endeavour The next edition of Endeavour will be published in August 2023

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

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

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

Newsletter & Archivist

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

Committee Member Catriona Butler E-mail: catriona.butler @waterways.org.uk

Non-Committee posts Website and Media Officers Gail Anscombe Email: gail.anscombe@waterways.org.uk Lynda Payton Email: lynda.payton@waterways.org.uk

Tony Clarke 07305 893924

Branch Meetings

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

Lynda Payton E-mail: lynda.payton @waterways.org.uk

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

Vacancies Publicity Officer and Grants Officer

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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