Aegre June 2009

AEGRE June / July 2009

No.123

The journal of the East Midlands Region of

Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 1

Aegre is published Š 2009 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association.

Chairman, WRG

John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208 Mobile 07889 444190

Vice-Chairman & Treasurer

Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138

Leicestershire Branch John Evans, Highfields Farm, Woodhouse Road, Quorn, Acting Chairman LE12 8AL Tel: 01509 416647 Lincolnshire Branch Chairman

Dave Carnell. Contact address as above.

Northampton Branch Chairman

Bill Joyce, 20 Shakespeare Drive, Burton Latimer, Northants.

NN15 5QT. Tel: 01536 724337 (home), 07808 571101 (mobile)

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch

Contact Mike Snaith; details below

South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch Chairman

Mavis Paul, 116 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield S10 5RZ Tel: 0114 268 3927

Secretary

Vacant

Members:

Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main Street, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7EU. Ian McDonald, c/o 68 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester LE7 7JG Tel: 07932 156539; email:<home@hubberlugs.go-plus.net> Malcolm Fielding, 1 Vicarage Way, Arksey, Doncaster DN5 0TG Tel:01302 873127

Note: As we are in an interim phase of organisation, to help members all associated IWA branches are included in the above list.

Editor for Aegre: Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ Tel: 01507 602713; email: aegre@humbhony.demon.co.uk Printing: This is the web version Picture credits: See page 24. Cover picture: Shardlow Heritage Plaque, see page 7

Inland Waterways Association: Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342.

Tel: 0845 4501146 Website: http://www.waterways.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers.

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AEGRE June / July 2009

No. 123

Contents The Editor’s Bow Button The Region Chairman’s Notes East Midlands Transport Heritage Gains National Recognition British Waterways - User Groups The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam News from Lincolnshire Branch Mike Stone gets Piles News from Leicestershire Branch Redhill National Festival & Boat Show Progress News from Northampton Branch Chesterfield Canal Festival Keith Ayling Canal stoppages 2009 - 10 Picture Credits Norwood Tunnel The John Varley Memorial News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch River Trent freight movements More Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam British Waterways Customer Meetings Regional Diary Dates 2009 Mikron Travelling Theatre Canal Societies and Trusts in the present EM Region

4 5 7 9 10 11 13 14 16 18 20 22 23 24 24 25 26 28 28 29 30 31 32

Next issue probably to be published in November 2009. Contributions to the editor by the end of September 2009 please.

The space on the right is for local contact information.

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The Editor’s Bow Button These last few weeks have been quite hectic but also quite positive. In other parts of this Aegre you will read about events in the past and in the future, but it has been fascinating to visit the various sites and see the hard work being put in by many volunteers and of course the professionals as well. We went to the Kiveton event by train, since the station was so convenient and there were warnings about shortage of car parking space. A rather rattle-trap Northern Rail bus-on-rail-wheels took us on time to the station and we staggered out to be welcomed by smiling faces and counted in.

The organisers had made very good use of a limited site, and all the usual stands and rides were there, as well as food and drink. The ceremonial opening took place on time, and then there was a chance to wander round and look at the boats. For your editor the most impressive bit was on the side of the big marquee - a display of very professional drawings showing the plans for the completion of the link through to Chesterfield. I had just been reading a fascinating book by a professor at UMIST called “Managing Construction Projects”, and it was clear that the work on the Chesterfield would have met with his approval.

Other visits included passing by the site at Redhill several times - it is after all close to a communication hub - and it seems a very pleasant spot. The small café makes first class bacon butties. If you have perhaps been put off by the idea of the big cooling towers, there is no need. They don’t make a noise and from many parts of the actual river at boat level you can’t see them. Although the M1 is not far away, only the most sensitive ears can hear it, and the occasional train might do a distant toot-toot. The new rail station is very convenient, so no need to worry about taking a car, and there is also a shuttle bus from the airport.

Although last year held elements of doom and gloom affecting the waterways, this year we could see that much work has been moving successfully forward in spite of the problems. Just to finish off, can I point out that the re-organisation of the IWA regions and branches offers many new opportunities to get involved, and to “steer the boat” in perhaps new directions. In particular our Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire branch would welcome a call from anyone interested, not necessarily to do any specific job, but to bring a fresh view on what the branch should be doing, and indirectly to influence the Association as a whole.

Best wishes with good weather to all, but just sufficient rain at night to keep the canals supplied. Peter Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 4

The Region Chairman’s Notes The last four months have been the busiest I have seen in the East Midlands Region for a number of years and it seems fairest to go through them in chronological order. After just over three months work, Morrison Construction finished the heavy civil engineering work of rebuilding the off-side wall of Woolsthorpe Top Lock on the Grantham Canal. There remains the landscaping work which will be carried out when the earth has dried out, probably at the end of the piling job reported by Mike Stone on page 13. Our thanks to the executors of Charles Fredrick Woodman, Lincolnshire County Council and the East Midlands Development Agency for the bulk of the money. Now we are aware of the final cost of the works I can follow up some promised personal donations to complete the payments.

The cruise up the Black Sluice Drain was the fulfilment of a suggestion I made to Lincolnshire County Council thirty five years ago for its first Subject Plan; that the Black Sluice Drain should be re-opened as part of a new nontidal route from the River Witham to the River Nene. Part One is now complete and we got well past the Environment Agency suggested limit of navigation but were stymied by the scaffolding under Kingston Bridge which was being re-built. I hope the next bit of the link does not take so long. Dave Carnell has reported the improvements to Cowbridge Lock on the Witham Navigable Drains. I was prepared to fit mooring rings on the Maud Foster Drain in Boston but the EA has not yet given permission; to my mind this is the best of the three moorings in Boston. The shallow water on the Upper River Slea and Billinghay Skirth was not repeated on the Witham Drains, where the section below Anton’s Gowt Lock was eight inches over normal level. This made for an easy cruise up the Medlam Drain to New Bolingbroke, but made the Newham - Castle Dyke impassable as we couldn’t get under the low bridges.

The changes of alignment of IWA regions and branches went ahead smoothly at the end of April. We are sorry to lose the South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch and wish them well in the enlarged North East Region, however we are pleased to have Northamptonshire Branch on board following the demise of Grand Junction Region. British Waterways seem to have taken the hint from IWA and have started yet another reorganisation and we are sorry to Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 5

lose Caroline Killeavy, former manager of East Midlands Navigations, who has moved up to Watford to take over Customer Relations. This re-organisation was not cut and dried, and we await consultation internally and with users before we know which waterway unit the Leicester Section, the River Soar and the Lower Trent & Mersey Canal will be managed by, and who will be the new managers. The old Central Shires unit based at Fradley is being re-formed and could take over some or all of these sections.

From Lincolnshire we cruised to the Chesterfield Canal for the IWA National Campaign Festival at Kiveton Park. The Chesterfield Canal has some of the most beautiful waterway in the country on the final locks from Shireoaks to Kiveton Park and the derelict summit Norwood Tunnel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great pity that some boaters give up at Shireoaks and miss the best of the canal. The Campaign Festival was well supported by boaters and visitors from all parts of the country and most newcomers were fascinated by the final sets of staircase locks. I suspect that they will be back again before long. The Festival was attended by civic leaders of the county and all four district councils through which the canal passes, and I hope this support will be a good omen for the next stage to by-pass most of Norwood Tunnel and to get under the M1 motorway. The Festival was excellently organised by the Chesterfield Canal Trust with support from the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and both Clive Henderson, IWA National Chairman, and Ian West, Chairman of IWA Festivals Ltd. who attended by boat, were very pleased with the support the festival received from the 10,000 visitors.

A few weeks of relative peace and then the IWA National Festival at Redhill on the River Soar. I know that a number of you have already volunteered to help set up, help at the event, or dismantle afterwards but the organisers will always welcome additional volunteers to lighten the load. I hope that I will see many of you there whether coming by boat or by train or by car. Finally, the Nottingham and Derbyshire Branch is trying to get started again and has arranged a series of social meetings in the Autumn at Rushcliffe Arena; I hope that many of you will come to support their efforts and revitalise the branch.

John Baylis Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 6

Our cover story - East Midlands Transport Heritage Gains National Recognition A major new initiative has been launched to highlight Britain’s rich and globally important legacy in the development of transport and present it to a wider audience - and East Midlands waterways are at the forefront of it, including the historic port at Shardlow!

more widely. So the Trust is taking bold steps to change this, through a programme called ‘Our Transport Heritage’, or OTH for short.

An exciting new web-site www.transportheritage.com already carries information on over 600 locations nationally, and is expected soon to become the preferred point of reference for students, teachers and those planning a holiday or stimulating day out – in addition to transport enthusiasts and historians.

Highlighting the great achievements of our forebears will help to encourage Shardlow Canal Port [Photo Peter Stone] future generations to consider engiThe Transport Trust is a national neering, logistics and related careers. charity committed to promoting the The second aspect of the scheme preservation of Britain’s heritage in involves unveiling prestigious ‘Red all modes of transport and is conWheel’ plaques at the sites of greatest cerned that, whilst major icons such significance – along the lines of the as the Forth Bridge and ‘Cutty Sark’ English Heritage ‘Blue Plaque’ may be household names, much of our heritage is overlooked, and some scheme but highlighting key locations is at risk. Also, much of the story of of engineering and transport importance. Nominations are being considBritain’s unique role in the developered for their importance, rarity, ment of transport is known only by public awareness and access or ‘the generations that grew up with steam’ and needs to be communicated ‘something interesting to see’.

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built environment e.g. Roman roads or turnpike roads and toll houses. Finally, a ‘Red Wheel’ will exceptionally be awarded to remind the current generation of an important former use of that location, which has since been obliterated

Patron Prince Michael of Kent admiring the 'Red Wheel' for Bugsworth. [Photo Brian Gooding]

On the awareness criterion, the Trust will rank a ‘hidden gem’ higher than a site already nationally recognised.

Most sites will be unique but a few may be chosen because they are particularly good regional examples of an important category within the

The first ‘Red Wheels’ were unveiled in Derbyshire just before Easter, at venues including our historic Shardlow Canal Port and the almost unknown Ticknall Tramway – an early 19th century feeder to the Ashby Canal, designed and built by Butterley-based Benjamin Outram. Further local waterway plaques are already in the pipeline for Bugsworth Basin & the Peak Forest Tramway and for the often-overlooked Whaley Bridge Wharf,. ‘Red

Literally a 'hidden gem' - one of the oldest railway tunnels in the world, at Ticknall [Photo Peter Stone]

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Wheels’ will roll out nationally later this year. For further information – or to sponsor a ‘Red Wheel’ – please contact Peter Stone on 0115 9232046 or at peter.stone@transporttrust.com.

The Transport Trust and National Trust unveiling party at Ticknall, led

by TT President Sir William McAlpine (4th from left). Photo Reg Banks.

British Waterways - User Groups The Spring British Waterways User Group meetings both featured presentations by two companies on generation of hydro-electric power on the River Trent. Schemes at Sawley and Gunthorpe are well advanced and present little problem to boaters.

Indeed that at Sawley could well do something that BW tried some years ago and that is to slightly raise the weir level. Summer abstractions of drinking water from the upper Trent and Derwent have reduced the flow, and hence the head at Sawley Weir, causing problems with the Derby Motor Boat Club slipway and the quality of angling on the lower Derwent. The small increase proposed should restore the summer level to

that of the 1980s when Ted Wharmby was lock-keeper at Sawley.

The most contentious proposed hydro scheme is that at Holme Lock, where BW would like to use the old small lock for power generation. This lock has the deepest fall on the River Trent but the sluices are owned by the Environment Agency and hence would not bring any income to BW. When the small lock was stabilized by filling with gravel some years ago BW did this as a temporary measure until repair money could be found; that promise to IWA has now gone by the board as power generation means an on-going income. However, that is probably not the main issue. IWA Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 9

and others are concerned that the flow to the generator will need to be down the narrow channel to the big lock, and this could cause problems for boats waiting to use the lock. Also, as most of the summer flow is used by the canoe slalom course this could suffer from reduced flows. At present the developer has withdrawn the planning application to Rushcliffe Borough Council.

duced by the raised weir and there should be no problems with increased flooding. The anglers are concerned at possible damage to fish by passing through the turbines, but we were assured that efficient screens would prevent fish and rubbish reaching the turbines.

On the Chesterfield canal we have had meetings with British Waterways to discuss the stop bars on the tail gate One scheme that was briefly discussed paddles, particularly at Shireoaks but has not yet been progressed is at Locks; we are assured by Neil Harvey Cromwell. This weir has the largest that these will be raised as a trial. We flow, and probably the greatest gener- have also raised the problem of no ating capacity, of any on the River foot boards on the tail gates of the Trent. I was concerned that raising locks above Cinderhill. These were weirs, as at Beeston some years ago, originally far too wide. Boaters commight increase flooding and that an ing to the Campaign Festival from the inflatable weir or Obermeyer gate sys- Midlands felt narrow foot boards were tem, which could be quickly lowered required and we hope to have a meetin times of flood, would be an advan- ing with Tony Stammers (BW Safety tage. However, I was assured that the Manager) to re-discuss the problem. generator could take the flow proJohn Baylis

The Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flotsam and Jetsam The Melton and Oakham Waterways Society are now issuing a Newsletter, and would be happy to send it to any Aegre readers who would like to receive an e-mail copy.. Just send a request to Linda Hulme at lindandmick@btinternet.com and it will arrive.

We have given coverage to the exciting new opening of the Black Sluice Navigation here, but there is a fuller account with lots of colour pictures in the March 2009 Newsletter from the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. Again an e-mail to Andy Jee of their team may well find a copy remaining. Try andrew.jee@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

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News from Lincolnshire Branch Still at Boston, the opening of the new Lock Link, from the Haven to Black Sluice Navigation, took place on March 20th. The three craft taking part were required to enter the lock the day prior. An EA Launch, and a Spalding Water Taxi launched in the Port of Boston Dock whilst NB “Scrimmager“ used the route through Grand Sluice, down the tidal haven to the mooring pontoon outside We mentioned in the last edition the the new lock, and was the first NB to problem of a metal grid, shortening enter it. Due to the short Grand the length of Cow Bridge Lock. FolSluice Lock, only forty-one feet, lowing discussions with the Witham longer boats have to wait until the tide Fourth I.D.B. Engineer, this has now and River Witham water levels are been removed and deflector plates fit- the same. This provides a window of a ted to the guillotine cross girders. few minutes on each in-coming and These were designed and suggested to out-going tide. The new Black Sluice the I.D.B. by John Baylis and myself. Lock tidal radial gates cannot be Lincolnshire Branch IWA are to make opened until the tide is higher than the a contribution to the works carried out Black Sluice navigation. This leads to by the I.D.B. workforce. an amount of waiting time at either lock, depending on the direction of Still on the Boston Drains, the protravel. posed installation of mooring rings on the Maud Foster Landing Steps has The opening was well attended by the now received `Listed Structure` conpublic, dignitaries and the media who sent from Boston Borough Council. saw water rescue demonstrations by Land Drainage consent has been the Fire Service and local canoeists. applied for to the EA. Requests to The EA have inherited the navigation remove brick debris from this water responsibilities and are making a visicourse have been declined, as they do tor boat charge of £10 per day or £36 not accept navigation responsibility per week. The duty lock keeper is for this waterway, and the debris does now able to accept the fees and regisnot cause any flood control concerns. ter visiting craft. 24 hours notice is Time for some research into historical required to pass Grand Sluice and vice records! versa on the return trip. Facilities are non-existent on the Black Sluice. A Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 11

for larger craft. However, armed with details of all the incoming fen drains, all boats travelled a further three miles to the B1397 Risegate to Dowsby Road. Here we were thwarted by a floating scaffold platform across the waterway used for bridge repairs.

Boats up to 62 feet winded in the adjoining drain outlets.

When transiting the Haven caution is required. On our exiting Black Sluice we met five Boston fishing boats in the narrows near the railway swing bridge. Ships of several thousand tonnes also turn near the lock.

Scrimmager in the lock water point at the new lock is 86 metres from the mooring. Refuse disposal will be available when the lease is let to caterers at the visitor centre.

The toilets and showers can only be accessed by a key from the lock keeper by paying a £10 refundable deposit. Provision of facilities are being investigated at Swineshead, where a riparian land owner has expressed an interest in a development.

Accompanied by seven other East Midlands based narrow boats, “Scrimmager” returned over Easter and in the old campaigning spirit tested the waters and pubs at Hubberts Bridge and Swineshead. The available guidance notes indicated Donnington High Bridge on the A152, a distance of 8 miles, as being the limit Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 12

To celebrate the opening of the Water Rail Way a number of activities were held on April 25th, along the route from Lincoln to Boston. To add interest boats were locked through several times at Bardney and Anton’s Gowt Locks. Hundreds of cyclists and walkers turned out to enjoy a pleasant sunny day. That same evening a barbecue was held at Bottom Lock on the Slea Navigation. This was to celebrate the new works done on the lock with boaters, invited representatives from the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and land owners who had assisted with transporting equipment over their private access roads to the site.

Fifteen boats attended a May Day gathering in South Kyme village, participating in activities with the villagers. Due to excessive silting at Cobblers Lock some boats adopted a “push me pull you” system. The EA

With the improved works on the Slea, canoeists are using the full length of the river and have requested our assistance in obtaining permissions to install launching platforms to enable them to portage around the derelict locks. IWA supports the national British Canoe Union campaign for Access to Water, and riparian land owners hold the key to supporting applications to the EA for these structures.

Barbecue on Slea

are reluctant to dredge channels due to their environmental colleagues objecting, something that must surely change following the severe flooding caused. With the Water Framework Directive consultation coming to a close, this situation will not improve unless objections are raised by other navigation and water-based leisure interests.

With the National Waterways Festival being so close to our Branch we will be pleased to welcome you to the stand being run by the Lincolnshire Waterways Parnership and the Slea Navigation Trust for a chat, a drink and a slice of Lincolnshire Plum Bread.

Enjoy your waterways. Dave Carnell.

Mike Stone gets Piles Not everyone would be pleased to get piles, but for Mike Stone, Chairman of the Grantham Canal Society, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cause for real celebration. For work started last week on a new steel piled mooring wharf at Woolsthorpe.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once the landing stages are in place we may be able to accept boats on the four mile length from Woolsthorpe to the A1. It is planned to make an announcement about the acceptance procedure for such craft as soon as the works have been completed and Grantham Canal Society are getting approved by British Waterways. The two new landing stages. A third new construction of this wharf is a major landing stage is planned at the A1 piece of work and a sign of real end, but funding has not come progress in our endeavours to breathe through yet. British Waterways new life into the Grantham Canal and require the landing stages so that there create a living, working, communityare designated mooring places for vis- based environment,â&#x20AC;? said Mike. iting craft.

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one of the best bits of boating is finding a good mooring in beautiful surroundings, putting the kettle on – then sitting back with a cup of tea to watch the world go by. We will all feel a great sense of achievement this year when we see boats moored up on the canal - and next year hopefully alongside our own trip boat – and a lot of relaxed, smiling boaters.”

The Woolsthorpe and Harlaxton landing stations will cost more than £50,000. Grants have been generously provided by WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Network) and the East Midlands Development Agency. The Society is also extremely grateful to British Waterways which, as landowner and waterway authority, has “This summer, boaters will really start waived its fees. The work is being carto enjoy the benefits of our work,” ried out by Morrison Construction said Mike. “As every boater knows, Ltd. This will be the first of two new wharves, each offering 20 metres of mooring space. Work on the second wharf will start this week at Harlaxton. Construction at Woolsthorpe will take about a month, while the work at Harlaxton should be completed as you read this.

News from Leicestershire Branch The Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival was as popular as ever with an estimated 100 boats present. As usual we had our stand there and although I don’t think we recruited any new members, we had quite a few interesting and genuine enquiries. We also raised some funds by selling a selection of second hand books and running a ‘treasure hunt’ as a way of capitalising on a local water colour scene that had been generously donated to the branch. Our thanks to two Davids (Stevenson and Brewer) and their respective wives for their gifts and efforts. We took the opportunity to promote the forthcoming Leicester Riverside Festival as well as the ‘National’ which, being on ‘our’ river this year generated considerable interest.

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As I write, plans for the Leicester event are well in hand but it will be history by the time you read these lines. We can only hope for fine weather.

Following a few misunderstandings and some ‘polite persistence’ the Branch has been represented on the Steering Committee for The Emerging Strategy for the River Soar and Grand Union Canal. The document (on which comments were invited in the previous issue of Aegre) is currently being prepared in it’s third and final form. It will hopefully be endorsed by all the Local Authorities concerned and is to be officially launched in the Autumn. Watch this space.

We are in the process of putting together our programme for next winter.

The experiment of having variable days and venues has been met with very mixed reactions but overall has not proved sufficiently popular to out-weigh the disadvantages and increased hassle for the organisers. We are currently investigating some suggested locations, close to Leicester, in which to hold regular meetings next winter, with one or two gatherings further afield. Any comments and suggestions in this connection will be gratefully received.

At the time of writing the National Festival is fast approaching and the regular monthly meetings have certainly served to illustrate the huge contribution that so many people make in terms of time and effort. More volunteers are urgently needed not only during the event itself but in the build-up and knock-down periods before and after the weekend. As the Festival is so close to ‘our patch’ this year I really feel that it is incumbent upon us to encourage as many members as possible to offer their services, be it for an hour or two, a day or two or for the whole three weeks plus! If you are able to help please contact me as soon as possible or call the Personnel Manager, Ann Myall direct on 07789 955794. She will be delighted to hear from you and is sure to find a job that you are comfortable performing for however long you can spare.

Whether you are boating, angling, walking, cycling, or just ‘arm-chair cruising’, make the most of what you’ve got while you’ve got it… and enjoy the summer!

John Evans (Acting Chairman, Leicestershire Branch) Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 15

Redhill National Festival & Boat Show Progress

Site preparations are well under way with road access improvement surrounding the site including a footbridge under construction to enable access to the campsite, along with newly built pontoons on the moorings.

We have over 200 craft booked in including many historic boats, with space for up to 300, so keep those bookings coming. These will all be moored as close to the main site as possible and will include mooring on the west side (towpath) of the river, with our team constructing specially designed landing stages to moor the craft safely, along with the use of a manned chain ferry to transport people from one bank to the other.

Public transport does not get easier than this year, so come via the new East Midlands Parkway Railway Station that is adjacent to the Festival site, directly in front of the cooling towers.

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There is very easy access by car from the A453 and the M1 (junction 24) via the station road, so just watch for the signs East Midlands Parkway Railway Station and they will take you direct to us.

My last note is a plea for volunteers who are still needed in all fields, whether you can help with construction or just a few hours over the Festival weekend. Each and everyone makes this event possible so please if you are able to help give Anne Myall our Personnel Manager a ring on 07789 955794 or 01488 682504. She will be very pleased to hear from you.

From Sandy Jones

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The top or south end of the site, from Ratcliffe Lock News from Northampton Branch All change, new region, new chairman. I was chairman of the old Grand Junction Region until its demise at the end of April. Northampton Branch covers quite a bit of waterway, the Grand Union Canal from Braunston and Welford on the Leicester Line in the North to Cosgrove in the South, and to Thrapston on the river Nene in the East. We did have a few miles of the Oxford Canal around the Cropredy area but we handed that over to Oxford branch.

We come with a certain amount of baggage. As a branch we share joint support of Buckingham Canal Society along with Milton Keynes Branch as the canal runs more or less along the county boundary. Last year Hyde Lane Lock was rebuilt thanks to the landfill tax and many of the stumbling blocks seem to be reducing. We have the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum in the branch, and that is very dear to our hearts. Lynda Payton (previous Northampton Chairman) is the IWA voice on the Friends of the Museum. At the moment their working boat “Sculptor” is in need of a new bottom and with other repairs needs £20,000 spending on it. Lynda is also the IWA representative serving on the Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership.

Blisworth have also formed a canal partnership and have invited IWA to send a representative. We await Navigation Committee approval for Alan Andrews a branch committee member to represent IWA. The Daventry Canal is also on our patch and the branch is very supportive of this exciting new build project, funded by the local council. A boat-lift is among the proposals.

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In April the members carried out a clean-up on the lower end of the Northampton Arm and the Westbridge Arm of the River Nene Over the May Day weekend we held our annual Boat Gathering in Northampton Town centre. The number of boats was down but we still made a surplus of about £1,000, divided into £500 to the Sculptor appeal; £300 to the Friends of Raymond; £100 to Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and £100 to Northampton Sea Cadets, subject to approval. On May 12th Beryl Mc Dowell gave a presentation “My life on Working Boats”; this was our last indoor meeting until September. Spring bank holiday saw the Crick Boat Show, and many of our members helped on the IWA Stand.

The Friends of the Museum in conjunction with the branch held a weekend at Stoke Bruerne on June 13th –14th and will hold a repeat of the successful Village at War weekend October 3rd – 4th . These were found to be good fundraisers last year. Northampton and Milton Keynes will be supporting Buckingham Canal Society when they hold a lock ransom and weekend rally on July 18th -19th.

The branch publishes our own branch newsletter “Endeavour”; you can read that on line on the web-site www.waterways.org.uk/EastMidlandsRegion/Northampton/LocalNewsletters .

Bill Joyce, Northampton Branch Chairman

Stoke Bruerne scene

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Chesterfield Canal Festival On Saturday May 23rd the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr. Shaukat Ali, attended the IWA National Campaign Festival; he was accompanied by the civic leaders of all the other county and district councils through which the Chesterfield canal passes.. He made a short speech, as did John Nuttall from British Waterways, Robin Stonebridge the new Chair of The Chesterterfield Canal, and Geraint Coles, Project Officer for the Chesterfield Canal Trust described the work done and the future proposals.

Over the last decade huge strides have been made restoring thirty one locks and over five miles of the canal between Worksop and Kiveton Park. A further five miles and five locks field Canal Trust, John Edmonds the Chair of The Inland Waterways Advisory Council and then Clive Henderson the national chairman of The Inland Waterways Association declared the festival open. All the speakers expressed their support for the complete restoration of the ChesAegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 20

have been restored at the Chesterfield end of the canal. A huge development based around a new canal basin is under construction in Chesterfield. The aim now is to complete the missing nine miles between Staveley and Kiveton Park. This includes an alternative to the old Norwood Tunnel that collapsed over a century ago. Work is progressing on several sites such as Staveley and Renishaw and studies and plans exist for the rest.

The eventual aim is to create a link with the South Yorkshire Navigation at Rotherham by canalising the River Rother. This would create a Three Counties Ring to rival the many cruising rings on the other side of the Pennines and in the West Midlands.

The Festival was organised by the Chesterfield Canal Trust and Chesterfield Canal Partnership with the support of the Inland Waterways Association, British Waterways, the Land Reclamation Trust and the local community.

Rod Auton.

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KEITH AYLING

CANAL STALWART RETIRES was the heading in the Yorkshire Post when it reported on the retirement of Keith Ayling, the Chairman of the Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd. Keith had been at the helm of the Trust for the last eighteen years.

He led them through the change from being the Chesterfield Canal Society to the Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd., and has steered the Trust through crises, disappointments and triumphs.

The greatest triumph, I feel, was being involved along with partners in the restoration and re-opening of the canal above Morse Lock and its march onwards to Kiveton Park and the portal of Norwood Tunnel. I first met Keith at the 1988 IWA Campaign Rally. He was then looking after the car parking. Later he was elected Chairman of the Trust where, through his commitment and knowledge, he won the admiration and trust of many organisations involved with the canal.

Keith can now relax and pursue his desire to cruise as much of the canal network as possible without the responsibility of chairing one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost Canal Trusts.

Malcolm Fielding.

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Canal stoppages 2009 - 10 At the BW national stoppage meeting it was decided that the 2009-10 list would be basically available on the Web, but that the printed version would be available on request. In order to save members some time or trouble I list the stoppages planned for the IWA East Midlands Region, with the usual reservations about this kind of advance information.

Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nothing Chesterfield Canal - Nov 30 to Dec 11 Retford Town Lock 59 Fossdyke Navigation - Feb 1 to Feb 12 Torksey Lock 1 Witham Navigation - Nov 9 to Nov 20 Stamp End Lock River Trent Nov 9 to Nov 20 Sawley Flood Lock 1 Feb 1 to Feb 12 Cranfleet Flood Gates Erewash Canal - Jan 4 to Jan 29 Environment Agency Sheet Stores Flood Gates Trent & Mersey Canal Jan 4 to Mar 12 Stenson Accommodation Bridge 20 Jan 11 to Feb 19 Weston Lock Bridge 8 River Soar - Nothing Grand Union Leicester Section Nov 2 to Nov 20 Watford Locks 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7; Nov 7 to Dec 18 Bridge 32; Jul 1 to Nov 30 Bridges 40 - 41 towpath only; Nov 23 to Dec 18 Foxton Locks 8 - 17 ; Nov 2 to Nov 20 Dunns Lock 34 to Gees Lock 36 John Baylis

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Norwood Tunnel Four centuries of challenge.

Appearing just in time for the festival at Kiveton, a new book by Christine Richardson covers the history, and sometimes drama, of the tunnel at the summit level of the Chesterfield Canal. The tunnel still prevents boats getting through to Chesterfield from the Trent, and is the subject of plans to solve the problem.

With numbers of archive photographs and drawings, the book shows the development from initial plans, to success, decline due to mining subsidence and now hopefully reconstruction, all in a fascinating short tale. The soft-cover book is produced to Richlowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usual high standards, and is a worthy addition to the series of guide and history books produced by this team.

A5 format; 36 pages with maps and illustrations. Price ÂŁ4.50 from Richlow at PO Box 3994, Sheffield S25 9AZ or www.richlow.co.uk.

Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance Aegre: Paul King; Paul Birtles; Tony Pitman; John Lower; Peter Stone; Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Brian Dominic; Beryl McDowall; Nancy Johnson; Norman Osborne; David Pullen, Dave Scott, Mike Snaith, Andy Jee, Dilys Britt and John Baylis

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The John Varley Memorial In a lead-in to the festival in May, The Rt. Hon. Kevin Barron, MP for Rother Valley, unveiled a plaque dedicated to John Varley on Saturday February 28th in the presence of the then Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham. The plaque is on the wall of The Old School House at Harthill near Rotherham. In a short speech, Mr. Barron praised the work of the Chesterfield Canal Trust and urged support for the final few miles of restoration.

John Varley was the chief on-site engineer for the building of the Chesterfield Canal from 1769 to 1778. He is one of the forgotten heroes of the early Industrial Revolution. During construction, John Varley would have been constantly riding on horseback up and down the 46 miles of canal supervising the works. The most difficult part would have been the Norwood Tunnel.

This was more than one and a half miles long. It took four years to dig. At the time it was the longest canal tunnel in the country.

John Varley later worked on canals in the Nottingham, Leicester and Huddersfield areas. He died exactly 200 years ago in February 1809 and is buried at All Saints Church, Harthill.

The photograph shows, from left to right, Dave Fox, Keith Ayling (both Chesterfield Canal Trust), Cllr. Ann Russell (then Mayor of Rotherham), Rt. Hon. Kevin Barron (MP for Rother Valley), Cllr. Pat Russell (then Mayoress of Rotherham), Christine Richardson, David Trickett (both Chesterfield Canal Trust).

From Rod Auton Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 25

News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch resplendent in the FIPT logo and colours, with fund raising activities set up inside ready to go, but with the entrance neatly blocked off with a ribbon awaiting the official opening.

Once everything was ready Mike gave a brief speech explaining the purpose of the IWA, the purpose of the ExxonThe presentation Mobil VIP scheme and the reason why the FoxOn Easter Monday the remaining comton Inclined Plane Trust had been chomittee members of the Nottinghamshire sen to receive the award.

He then led and Derbyshire Branch presented the the countdown with the crowd before a Foxton Inclined Plane Trust (FIPT) with bemused Brian White (acting Branch a new marquee, or more specifically, Chairman) cut the ribbon, declaring the the funding to support the purchase of Marquee open. such a marquee.

After some further photographs Mike and Brian were given a tour of the whole site by Philip Cross, FIPT chairman. It was clear that much fund raising still needed to be done before the plane could be restored but that activities were continuing apace to promote restoration. Philip informed us that consultants were currently active in collecting and collating information which could then be used to put together an application to one of the Lottery funds.

If all goes well and the consultant’s Easter weekend saw official opening report is favourable the FIPT hope to be and inaugural use of the marquee with putting in a bid to the Lottery fund Mike Snaith and Brian White on hand at sometime in 2010. However, there the opening ceremony. It was a surpris- were still many steps after that before ingly warm day which found marquee, full restoration could be achieved.

Aegre Jun/Jul 2009 Page 26 One of our committee members, Mike Snaith, works for ExxonMobil who have a scheme to support any employee involved in volunteer work in their local community. Mike applied for an award under the ExxonMobil Volunteer Involvement Programme (VIP) scheme and was awarded £750. This money was paid into Branch funds and then donated to the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust – who used it to purchase the marquee.

Looking down the plane It was great to see all the hard work done over the recent year or so, clearing the whole site of the plane, restoring the upper arm, all the clear out and restoration of the lower basins.

If you have not been recently you really should go, you can now get a clear feel of the real scale of the plane, what the Victorian engineers had achieved at the end of the nineteenth century and what a magnificent restoration could be achieved at the beginning of the twenty first century. Go to the lower basins, look up and imagine what a spectacle it would be to see one of those big caissons glide towards you as the one to the other side climbs gracefully upwards.

Wow!

The Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch has been largely inactive since the Annual General Meeting in 2008, with only Brian White and myself holding the fort and handling planning and local canal society matters. With support from Jerry Sanders and Helen Whitehouse of the IWA Promotion and Communications Committee we have arranged meetings at the Rushcliffe Arena in the autumn. At the first meeting Clive Henderson, IWA National Chairman, and Harry Arnold the well known canal journalist will be speaking.

We hope that many of you will attend.

The dates of further meetings are given in the Region Diary on page 30.

Mike Snaith

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River Trent freight movements There will be major freight movements on the Trent on dates up to March 27th 2010, and these will need other traffic to be stopped. Large-scale equipment is to be transported on the river between Gainsborough and Cottam Power Station, and it will be necessary to restrict access to other river users at times when this transportation is in progress. Approximately eighteen movements will take place throughout the year. Times and dates can be checked from Cromwell, Torksey and West Stockwith Locks or the other contacts listed below. Telephone numbers are: Cromwell – 01636 821213 Torksey – 01427 718202 West Stockwith – 01427 890204 Chris Martin / Simon Gent, 01636 704481 More Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam

The eighth edition of the famous “Inland Waterways of Great Britain” from Imray Laurie is announced. We may be too late for the early order discount, but try ilnw@imray.com.

Another new book is “Britannia rules the Cut” by Andy Wood, about the time when the Royal Navy had a small fleet of canal vessels. A surprise to me and I suspect to many. Enquiries to Countyvise Ltd., 14 Appin Road, Birkenhead, CH41 9HH. Northampton Branch remind members that their newsletter is available on the main IWA web site.

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British Waterways Customer Meetings In 2008 BW chief executive Robin Evans undertook a series of customer meetings around the country. These were additional to the regular programme of business unit user groups, the centrally run WUSIG (waterway user & special interest group) and BWAF (British Waterways advisory forum). Customers welcomed the opportunity to ask questions of a director, particularly so with increased boat licence fees and the mooring tender trial as current hot topics.

The 2009 programme represents an opportunity to explain BWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 strategy and to hear customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; views about the future structure of the business. Weekends have been chosen as they are most convenient to customers. Directors Simon Salem and Vince Moran will be on the road this year, together with Sally Ash & Caroline Killeavy (boating development & customer relations). Some meetings have already been held, but in our area the next are at Redhill:

IWA Festival & Boat Show, Festival Theatre, Redhill Marina, Notts, NG11 0EB Sat 29 August Morning (10.30 am) with Simon Salem and Caroline Killeavy.

IWA Festival & Boat Show, Festival Theatre, Redhill Marina, Notts, NG11 0EB Sun 30 August Afternoon (2 pm) with Vince Moran and Sally Ash.

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Regional Diary Dates 2009 All members of any branch, visitors, and non-members are all welcome to attend

For more information on events: For SY&D events contact Mavis Paul on 0114 268 3927.

For Nottinghamshire events contact Mavis White on 01636 671726 For Leicester meetings contact the Social Secretary, Beryl McDowall, on 07710 029247 or email beryl@nbwasp.co.uk.

For Lincolnshire events contact Dave Carnell (see inside front cover) or Steve Hayes on 01522 689460 or email sleaford.navigation@ntlworld.com.

For Northampton events contact Graham Treagus on 01604 870515 Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch Diary Dates 2009 Usual Venue : Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford at 7.30 pm.

Sept 18th Clive Henderson, IWA National Chairman, will give a brief talk on national matters affecting the IWA with a Questions and Answers session, followed by Renowned waterways photographer and journalist Harry Arnold will present “The Changing Face of the Waterways” a wide-ranging look at the waterways network in ‘before & after’ photographs from his Waterway Images library – with comments and anecdotes from Harry.

Oct 16th Details Later Nov 20th Details Later Dec 18th Christmas Social, plus a presentation by member, John Wilkinson, “A continental boating holiday on the River Rhone” Friends of the Stoke Bruerne Museum in conjunction with the Northampton branch will hold a repeat of the successful Village at War weekend on October 3rd – 4th . With Milton Keynes they will be supporting Buckingham Canal Society when they hold a lock ransom and weekend rally on July 18th and 19th.

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Mikron Travelling Theatre Each season we welcome the Mikron Theatre to the region - here is a summary of their more local dates. For more information call them on 01484 843701.

Mon 17th August 7.45pm Harborough Theatre, Church Square, Market Harborough, LE16 7NB Tues 18th August 8pm Sir John Moore School, Top Street, Appleby Magna, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 7AH Thurs 20th August 7.30pm Barton Marina, Barton Under Needwood, Burton Upon Trent. DE13 8DZ Fri 21st August 8pm Clock Warehouse, London Wharf, Shardlow, DE72 2HL Sat 22nd August 8pm Black Horse, Bolton Lane, Hose, nr Melton Mowbray, LE14 4JE Sun 23rd August 8pm Swan in the Rushes, The Rushes, Loughborough, LE11 5BE Mon 24th August 8pm Swan in the Rushes, The Rushes, Loughborough, LE11 5BE Tues 25th August 8pm Victoria Hotel, Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1JG Weds 26th August 8pm Black Horse, Bolton Lane, Hose, nr Melton Mowbray Fri 28th August 7.30pm Quorn Church Rooms, Church Lane, Quorn LE12 8DP Sat 29th August 3.30pm and 7.30pm; Sun 30th August 3.30pm IWA National Festival 09 - Main Theatre These Festival performances are part of the attractions at the Inland Waterways Association’s National Waterways Festival & Boat Show to be held on the River Soar at Redhill Marina near Ratcliffe on Soar from 29th to 31st August 2009 .The location is close to the confluence of the Soar with the river Trent, and the junctions with the Erewash and Trent and Mersey canals, just south of Nottingham.The show is available only as part of the festival entrance fee.

Advance Ticket: Price £7 adult, £6 concession, £20.00 per three day ticket (No evening). Gate price: £8.50 /£7.50 /£22.50 (No evening).

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Canal Societies and Trusts in the present EM Region Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Friends of the Cromford Canal Grantham Canal Society Louth Navigation Trust Melton & Oakham Waterways Society Old Union Canals Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Martin Bloomfield, 18 Barncliffe Crescent, Lodge Moor, Sheffield S10 4DA Tel 0114 2295355 www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk C/o Jeffery Jones Partnership, 43 St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Churchyard, Derby DE1 1NN Tel: 01332 576037 Lesley Reaney, 318 Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, Derby DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 601699 www.derbycanal.org.uk Howard Smith, 1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 9384129 Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk Patrick Morriss, The Shieling, Dukes Road, Lower Hartshay, Ripley, Derby DE5 3RP Tel: 01773 742895 www.cromfordcanal.org.uk Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375 www.granthamcanal.com John MacDonald, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 610539 www.louthcanal.org.uk Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0HP Tel: 01664 503330 www.waterways-society.co.uk 36 The Ridings, Desborough, Kettering NN14 2LP Tel: 07010 705103. www.fipt.org.uk/Local.htm Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk 1 Pinfold Cottages, Back Lane, Little Haywood, Stafford ST 18 0UL. Tel: 01889 882770 www.trentandmersey.btinternet.co.uk

For information on the Societies and Trusts in the Northampton Branch area please contact Bill Joyce, details on page 2.

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