The IWA may not agree with the opinions expressed in this publication. They are, however, published as a matter of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed can be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in this publication.
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IWA IPSWICH BRANCH YOUR COMMITTEE Chairman Gerry Crease chairman.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk 07747 840982
Secretary Carole Green secretary.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Treasurer Spencer Greystrong treasurer.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk 07597 862793
Membership Dale Green membership.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk 07850 960635 You will notice that we have a distinct shortage of people willing to serve on the committee We have discussed the problems we face trying to get extra people and have asked IWA HQ for help.
Judith Pope, Volunteer Engagement Officer from IWA Head Office is currently working on a recruitment strategy and we shall see what happens!
The picture on the front cover is Woburn Abbey, one of the places we visited on our weekend away More about that later on in the magazine.
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN As you will see from the diary, due to a lack of support from members and a severe lack of members willing to help with the committee, not a lot is happening socially. Your committee is working hard with Judith, from IWA HQ, to try & improve things but without your help things will not change. Please consider spending a few hours a month to help your branch improve. Thank you, Gerry Crease
DATES for your DIARY Given the very small number of people who are willing to come to any of our winter meetings we have decided that we can no longer justify the cost of hiring a meeting room. We would be very happy to start them up again if we could get some idea of what the membership would like to see.
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Some of our events over the past 12 months. On the 10th September 2016 a small group walked the river from Stowmarket to Great Blakenham, followed by an excellent meal at the Chequers. The 14th October saw an extremely interesting talk by the Stowmarket Local History Group about the explosion in the Safety Gun Cotton Factory on the 11th August 1871 when 24 people died and 75 were injured. Such a shame that so few people turned up to see the presentation. On the 11th November we held our annual Fish & Chip Supper which was well attended. Charles Stride gave us a fascinating insight to his cruise on the Danube. We held our AGM in the Community centre at Needham Market on 10th February. I’m afraid it was poorly attended and perhaps the decline in Branch membership numbers (393 down to 355) might explain why we are unable to attract people to our meetings. Our Annual Dinner, ably organised by Gerry Crease and his wife Patti was held at the Cedars Hotel, Stowmarket on the 25th March Here’s a few pictures.
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A few pictures of our branch members at the annual. dinner.
Dale and Carole hold urgent discussions about the future of the branch.
Gerry really wanted a pint or three but had to make do with orange juice.
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Weekend Away 13/14th May2017 We had to ask the Suffolk/ Norfolk contingent to make a really early start as we were due to pick up two IWA members from our North & East London Branch before our first stop at Stockwood Discovery Centre near Luton. This centre is owned and operated by Luton Culture, a charitable trust. Entry is free and it has some very interesting displays and picturesque gardens. In the afternoon we headed to Bedford for a trip up the River Great Ouse on the “John Bunyan� a 50 seat boat operated by the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. 6
After a relaxing evening and night at our hotel in Milton Keynes and, of course, the full English we took the coach to our next destination, Woburn Abbey. I nearly forgot to mention the young lady who managed to set the toaster on fire before we left! After our coach had taken us for 2 mile drive through the Woburn Deer Park we were free to wander around the gardens and house. We had our lunch in the Duchess Tea Rooms before heading off to Bletchley Park, the home of Enigma. This is a fascinating place that tells the story of Winston Churchill’s ‘geese that laid the golden eggs but never cackled.' We finally arrived back home around 8.00pm
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We have two Waterway Recovery Group work camps in our region this year. The first is at Geldeston Locks from 5th to 12th August. The work will involve repairs to the lock walls.
The second is a two week camp from 12th to the 26th August where the work involves repairing Ebridge Weir on the North Walsham & Dilham Canal
Our branch covers Norfolk and Suffolk, and the wonderful waterways they each contain. We fundraise for the waterways and also support the River Gipping Trust at weekly work parties. If you'd like to get involved with the branch we are currently looking for volunteers to help in the following areas Branch Chair Branch Secretary Newsletter Editor Website Administrator If you have another way you'd like to help, or think the branch can help you, please get in touch! The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk Registered in England No. 612245. Registered as a Charity No. 212342
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