Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire

I hope everyone is out and about enjoying the good summer weather as it has been unusually clement for either towing path or boating ventures recently. So it seems a long time to take my mind back to recall our AGM last February. The review of the previous year highlighted our fund raising activities, attendances at events and canal clean-ups. It was also good to report that last year the Branch donated £1000 to local waterways causes. £500 went to the Canalside Heritage Centre at Beeston on the Nottingham Canal to enable them to start engineering plans for a mooring in the adjoining derelict old river lock – which should increase visitor numbers and help sustain their long term income. £500 was also donated to the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association to help them purchase Sandiacre Lock Cottage and then install new toilet facilities - helping to secure the future of this historic cottage for generations to come.

At the AGM we were also joined by Region Chairman, David Pullen, who gave an interesting report on IWA’s new marketing vision and objectives for the short and long term. Not as dry a subject as it might sound, as the background and reason for the new logo and how well it had all been thought through became abundantly clear. Perhaps a key piece of information for the Branch came towards the end of proceedings, when committee retirees were mentioned. For the last few years the Branch has been managed by three stalwart committee members and two additional “behind the scenes” volunteers fulfilling important roles but sending in reports rather than attending meetings. Of the three stalwarts, one is moving out of the area so will not be able to continue and the other two, after 18 and 20 years in post, for family and personal reasons announced they would continue for twelve months but would then stand down from committee at the following AGM in February 2019. It was therefore clear to the audience that prior to the next AGM a new committee needed to be recruited otherwise the branch would close.

So your scribe is making a plea to you, dear reader, if you have any spark of interest, however small or large, in keeping the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch afloat please contact me. Note you will not be thrown in at the deep end as Treasurer. Brian White and I will be in post until next February and will still be around after that to provide knowledge and help if required. Three key roles required are Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. When there is even a small core group of people, none of these committee roles are onerous, so this is a good opportunity for you to try your organizing skills, Go on, try flapping those wings and fly to new heights. Contact me.

Our March Social meeting was “Getting About” - a history of the transport of people and goods from place to place, an illustrated talk by local historian, Bob Massey. Quite a look back through time to Roman carts, forest tracks developing into roads, stagecoaches, inns and stables before moving on to turnpikes, canals, railways and the modern roads we have today. An interesting evening.

In April we were warned to “Be Careful What You Wish For” an illustrated talk on the progress of restoring the Cromford Canal and trip boat Birdswood by Mike Kelley of Friends of Cromford Canal. This was a clear indication that restoring canals in the twenty-first century requires business acumen and a significant number of people. Mike explained that a trip boat with more than 12 passengers and crew like Birdswood needed to comply with stringent Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulations in terms of crew training, boat operation and maintenance and formal inspections. This was high cost, which meant the boat had to be operated intensively, which meant a significant number of people were required to market, promote and crew. Similar conditions apply to maintaining the canal you have in water as well as new restoration. The more you succeed in restoration endeavors, the more you need to do to sustain even a steady state. Be careful what you wish for. Volunteers they may be, but professionalism is the name of the game.

In May our Social gathering went outdoors and we were treated to a guided circular walk along the Nottingham Canal and River Trent near the Canalside Heritage Centre in Beeston. Our guide explained the points of historical interest along the route, whether turnover bridges, scandals of Royalty, some history of Boots (The Chemist) and Clifton Hall. Then as we returned to the Heritage Centre, refreshments were available and were followed by an illustrated talk on restoring the derelict cottages and developing them into the centre we see today. Finally we had a brief visit to the centre’s museum. What better way is there to occupy a summer evening in May?

The late May Bank holiday weekend also saw us in attendance at the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association’s 50th anniversary Boat Rally at Langley Mill. It was my great pleasure, along with Region Chair David Pullen, to represent IWA at the opening ceremony beside the Lock outside the Great Northern Basin. A special occasion and a great honour, made more memorable by the Brass Band in full voice rising in the Lock in two pristinely turned out working narrow boats. This was our first opportunity to exhibit IWA’s new logo and branded gazebo. The marketing team have done a really good job designing the new logo and gazebo. The gazebo was so much easier to erect and take down, yet was a brilliant backdrop to promote IWA with prominent logo and a fabulous map of the waterways network printed on the inside of one of the panels. It was great to see so many people and boats supporting the event which was a triumph for ECP&DA. (See also David Pullen’s column on page 9 for further information. All Erewash photos courtesy of Heather Nettleton). The picture of the Bar overleaf was in the main marquee which accommodated a stage for the band, open mic entertainments and charity sales stands. The front of the bar shows the top row of 27 casks of beer and cider. By Monday afternoon the Bar was dry.

Looking ahead we are planning a Lock Wind at Derwent Mouth Lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal in Shardlow. The date is Saturday 21st July and if you wish to take part we would value help. Don’t be shy about coming along, it’s good fun and for a good cause. This year we are planning to raise funds to aid the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society in their project to restore the first section of the Derby canal along the Draycott Mile. Their plans are well advanced for the restoration of their very first section, but funds are still tight and every penny will count. This would be an especially good event for a prospective new Branch Chair or Secretary to come and meet the current committee members and some stalwart volunteers in an activity environment…...so come on down.

We are also planning a Canal Clean-up on a Sunday in September but as yet planning is not complete. One thing is sure; we will need lots of people to make it a success. It will be on the Nottingham Canal and the plan is to start at 09.30 hrs at either Sainsbury’s near Castle Marina or Beeston Lock in Beeston. Car parking should be available in Sainsbury’s car park or if at Beeston, roadside on the nearby roads. If you are interested in another fun day out please keep your eye on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch page of the IWA website or do get in touch by emailing nottsandderbys@waterways.org.uk for further information nearer the time.

On the Social front our season of evenings is being planned. Our next meeting will be on Friday 19th October with the speaker to be confirmed; November 16th will be an illustrated talk about the trials and tribulations of supplying water to the whole canal network by Canal and River Trust’s National Hydrology Manager, Adam Comerford. If you want to know why the canals are sometimes short of water, this is your chance to find out and query, why? December 21st will be our Christmas Social with buffet, including an illustrated talk but the speaker is to be confirmed. The events will take place at our now usual venue at Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7HY.

So from October put the evening of the third Friday in the month in your diaries and see the calendar of events at the back of this magazine. Do come and join us, everyone is most welcome, I look forward to seeing you there. Don’t forget if you want to be Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or fulfil other roles for the Branch, we need you. Please get in touch.

Mike Snaith