Cargoes Summer 2010

Summer 2010

Newsletter of Guildford & Reading Kent & East Sussex Oxfordshire and Solent & Arun Branches

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Re-enactment of the Cressy Cruise What a glorious day it was in Banbury on the last Saturday of April to send off the Tom Rolt Centenary Cressy Cruise Re-enactment being undertaken by Oxfordshire Branch Chairmen Ron Heritage supported by (and largely planned and organised by) his wife Mary on their narrow boat Heron. Special guests included Councillor Tina Wren (Town Mayor of Banbury), Sonia Rolt, Rose Skinner (who, with her late husband Jack, was the last of the "Number Ones" on the Oxford Canal), Jeff Whyatt (representing British Waterways) and Clive Henderson. Castle Quay Shopping Centre, sponsors of the event with Tooley’s Boatyard and Inland Waterways Association, hosted the day organised by Banbury Town Council and IWA. It was a busy scene with plenty of action, boats and onlookers. There were many canal enthusiasts meeting old friends and new. Everyone was entertained in the sunshine by a lively band. There were colourful teams of Morris Dancers from Chinewrde, Nancy Butterfly and Masons Apron. North Oxfordshire Academy students (who are to publish Mary’s daily reports) demonstrated a number of pub games referred to in Tom Rolt’s “Narrow Boat” A group of Banbury canoeists were on the water paddling up and down and adding colour and movement to the scene.

The starting signal, a cacophony of boat horns, sounded at noon and the flotilla led by the special guests on Dancing Duck with Mathew Armitage at the helm preceded Heron followed and supported by Jupiter (Tony & Christine Crawford), The Great Escape (Peter Darch & crew) and Kings Vanquish (David & Barbie Harris) as they set off for the first night’s stop at Cropredy.

Chris Wardley

Clive Henderson, Cllr Tina Wren, Rose Skinner and Sonia Rolt with two students from North Oxfordshire Academy flanked by Mary & Ron Heritage aboard Dancing Duck [Photo: Peter Silver]

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Editorial In this first edition of Cargoes following the series of AGMs in February/March we are listing in the centre pages those who have agreed to serve the Region/Branches in various capacities. We welcome the few new faces that have appeared, their involvement is very much appreciated. Although the majority of vacancies are seemingly filled, any members willing to join their Branch Committee should not be deterred from volunteering here and now on a co-opted basis. Let there be no doubt that the continuing viability of our Committees depends on there being sufficient members available to ease the transition so that long-serving incumbents can retire from office. This applies equally to the Cargoes Editorial Team where offers of help would be more than welcome.

Branches in the South East Region continue to play a significant part in supporting and publicising this year’s National Festival at Beale Park. The start of Ron and Mary Heritage’s Tom Rolt Centenary Cruise from Banbury on 24th April was a major event and their travels will provide excellent publicity for IWA in general and the National Festival in particular over the coming weeks and months. Planning for the Festival continues apace with further public meetings scheduled for Henley Rowing Museum (on Wednesday 19th May) and (finally) at Pangbourne Village Hall (on Tuesday 29th June) at 7 for 7.30pm. As always, more volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs over the Festival weekend, so if you can help please contact Ann Myall at ann.myall@btopenworld.com or 01488 682504. This year’s Festival could prove one of the key factors in the competing demands for scarce financial resources following the General Election.

We are pleased to see that the new Region and Branch Websites are taking shape and that recent past editions of Cargoes can now be seen ‘on line’. Soon, no doubt, the e-petition system, suspended during the election campaign period, will be up and running again.

Finally, on the restoration front, it was good to see that a further milestone had been reached on the Wey & Arun Canal recently with the reopening of Devil’s Hole Lock – another fine achievement by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust barely a year after the opening of the B2133 crossing and the new Loxwood Lock.

Cargoes Editorial Team Cover Photo: ‘They’re off!’ Ron & Mary Heritage set out on the Tom Rolt Centenary Cruise on their narrowboat Heron, led by Dancing Duck with special guests aboard.

[Photo: Peter Silver]

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From the Region Chairman Introduction April has arrived and the weather has started to improve although Easter was a little disappointing with heavy cloud and a biting wind. We took our narrowboat out for a short trip, the first since last autumn, in order to shakedown any problems in advance of my month trip during June. Thankfully she seems to have survived the cold winter without any difficulty. I’ve continued my exploration of waterway projects within the Region with a trip to the Chichester Canal to see the outstanding obstacles to reconnecting the canal basin to the sea. I also paid another visit to the Wey & Arun at a meeting to discuss the completion strategy. We walked a section of the canal route in Bramley, near to the connection with the Wey navigation, where I hope to see increasing activity over the next few years. The navigable length at Loxwood has also seen a significant boost with the formal reopening of Devil’s Hole lock on 17th April.

AGMs The four week period from late February was a busy time with all four Branch AGMs together with that for the Region. Getting members to volunteer for work on committees continues to be a problem across the whole of IWA with a number of Branches in difficulty and one (Hertfordshire) had to be closed down. Trustees are aware of the problem and recognise the need to avoid overloading Branches with too much bureaucracy. However I am happy to report that all four Branches in SE Region have viable committees for at least another year. Having held the reins as a temporary chairman for Guildford and Reading Branch for a year I am delighted to report that I have managed to recruit new members for that committee and one of them, Gareth Jones, has agreed to become the chairman. Gareth will have an opportunity to introduce himself later in Cargoes.

Future of the Waterways In the previous edition of Cargoes I outlined the various initiatives under consideration for management of the waterways. The BW 2020 vision of a move to the third sector, probably as a charitable trust, was cautiously welcomed by IWA. This looks set to become a reality given the announcement in the budget together with all party political support. Whilst there is still much work to be done to flesh out the detail it could well be renamed a 2013 vision! Looking beyond BW waters you may well ask about the other waterway management bodies including the EA. I have taken the lead in promoting the long held IWA vision of a single body managing our inland waterway system which we now refer to as an

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inland waterways conservancy. This has been widely briefed and whilst there is yet no consensus what is clear is that fundamental changes seem likely and the opportunity exists to realise the long held vision.

As I write this the general election campaign is underway and the result will be evident by the time you read this. Whatever the outcome is it is clear that lobbying the new government will be an essential role for IWA in the coming months. Times are tough but the unique heritage of our waterway system is well worth fighting for. However you enjoy the waterways I hope you all have a very pleasant summer.

Paul Roper

National Festival & Boat Show 2010 Hundreds book their space at the Festival!

Over 400 visiting boats are booked in already for the IWA’s National Festival & Boat Show at Beale Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend and bookings are still coming in thick and fast. Waterspace Director, David Pullen, would like to reassure people thinking of coming that everyone will be within half a mile of the main Festival site so people need not worry about lengthy walks back to the boat after enjoying evenings on site with friends. The large campsite is, of course, just a short stroll away from the main Festival site.

The Dutch Barge Association are planning to bring along over 40 of their members who will be assembled in the Beale Park lake again – making a great show for the public with their lovely craft, colourful flags and bunting.

Historic Boat bookings are also increasing and they will make a great feature next to the Historic Wharf which is being built adjacent to the lake. With a crane, wharf buildings and historic artefacts – the whole area will recreate the “waiting for orders” picture from the busy cargo carrying times.

Campsite bookings currently number over 100 and with the early camping opportunity plus optional electric hook-up, many are taking advantage of this great deal. With the other incentives including £3 off adult entry to Beale Wildlife Park and 10% off Didcot Steam Railway admission plus admission to the free waterways holiday prize draw, courtesy of UK Boat Hire, the whole package offers great value to Festival visitors coming by boat or with a camping unit. Don’t forget – advance ticket purchasers also get added value as well as saving money!

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Trade space is booking fast too and there will be a fantastic range of products for visitors, including new boats of course and everything to go in them. We also hope to have a Boat Jumble this year and possibly an auction area.

With daytime entertainment including arena events, model boat displays, vintage vehicles, live music, WOW activities for the children including canoeing, there is something for everyone.

The Festival team would also like to thank Waterways World, River Canal Rescue, UK Boat Hire, Mastervolt, Calor, New Boat Company, the Environment Agency and West Berkshire Council for their support. If other companies would like to be involved please contact us.

Booking forms can be downloaded from the Festival website, www.waterways.org.uk or book on line. Don’t forget that the Festival booking fee includes all daytime and evening entertainments and there are great savings to be made by booking before 31 July 2010.

IWA’s Beale Park Festival will take place alongside the Beale Park estate, Lower Basildon, Berkshire on the River Thames over the August Bank Holiday weekend, 28 – 30 August 2010 and is a great three day celebration of the inland waterways.

The Festival is also unique in that it is totally organised and run by volunteers who are members of the IWA and other waterway related organisations.

For further information please visit our website www.waterways.org.uk and click on Events.

Gillian Bolt

Salisbury Group Our Salisbury correspondent, Myra Glover, writes: For our first meeting of the New Year Liz Payne, chairman of the Cotswold Canal Trust, came to update us with the restoration of the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal which will see the connection of the River Thames and River Severn.

Liz talked about the various areas of the canals and the restoration that has already been completed and what needs to be done in the future. We particularly liked to see the “then and now” pictures so we could visualize how much work has already been carried out. Little did we realize the complexities of the task, in particular the fund-raising aspect, after the withdrawal of British Waterways from the scheme.

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Then there are the engineering challenges, passing under the A38, crossing the motorway, reopening the tunnel, not to mention making all the necessary contacts with the landowners. We heard how the canal will run through the Cotswold Water Park and how it will become a feature in this area. We intend to follow the progress of the restoration closely.

Denis Dodd, our February speaker, is lucky enough to live in a wharf cottage on the Grand Western Canal at Nynehead. He began by telling us about the canals in the south west peninsular and in particular the Grand Western Canal, the route of which runs along the side of his cottage. The GW canal had a 207-foot change in height, had no less than seven lifts and was a tub boat canal, each boat carrying eight tons.

A most spectacular structure is the remains of one of the lifts on Denis’s land. This design of lift was at the forefront of technology at the time to be commercially successful. It comprised of two caissons that balanced each other and today one of the chambers has been excavated to reveal a large expanse of masonry. A section of the canal below has been dug out and is in water.

The canal crossed a carriageway on a cast iron aqueduct, the carriageway leading to the estate of Nynehead Court. The route of the canal can clearly been seen and followed as a public footpath. We were shown various structures on the Nynehead estate including a decorative three arch stone bridge over the River Tone and the remains of a turbine house. We then viewed another cast iron aqueduct where the GW Canal crosses the River Tone. The GW Canal was designed to join up with the River Exe and hence reach the south coast; this section was never completed as railway competition stopped further work. The canal did, however, link up with the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal, which in turn joins the River Parrett on its journey to the Bristol Channel.

On a later date, a group of Salisbury IWA members made a visit to view this section of the Grand Western Canal where Denis showed them the canal that we had previously seen in his presentation. Now they were able to walk along the short section of canal in water to view the remains of the lift. They saw how much restoration has been completed and now could visualize the lift in its working state. They went on a 3 Km circular walk around the Nynehead estate viewing the structures that Denis had mentioned in his talk and he even explained how he wants to dig out the wharf that is in his garden.

Denis’s enthusiasm inspired our members and hopefully more restoration work will be carried out in the future.

For the March meeting, Ron and Mary Heritage gave us a power point presentation about the trips they had undertaken in their narrowboat “Heron”.

The first journey took them down the tidal Thames in 2006 from Limehouse Basin to Gravesend accompanying NB Jubilee on the “campaign cruise”. We were taken through choppy tidal waters past the Millennium Dome, through the

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Thames barrier, under the QE2 Bridge and past Tilbury. On route they became involved in a Thames barge race where their navigation was hampered by numerous old wooden barges with their magnificent dark red sails. On arrival at Gravesend they had to pick up a buoy and wait for the small tidal window to enter the lock into Gravesend dock. The campaign’s aim being to bring publicity to the basin development and the necessity for the restoration of functional lock gates.

In 2007 they attended the Coal and Cotton Rally in Liverpool docks. This was to celebrate 600 years of cargo transport in the docks around Liverpool where cotton had been imported in tall ships and coal transshipment. The only route from the south to the north docks was via the River Mersey Due to development this was the last occasion where boats would have to lock onto the Mersey to make the journey between docks. The 60 narrow boats on the rally were escorted onto the Mersey opposite Birkenhead to travel from the south to the north docks on this wide stretch of the Mersey estuary.

In 2009 Ron and Mary hired boats in order to explore the Scottish waterways. We were shown the waters between Edinburgh and Glasgow in a hired narrow boat, along the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal which are joined by the Falkirk wheel. We were then taken north to the Caledonian Canal where, this time, in a hired fibreglass cruiser from Inverness, they headed southwest across Loch Ness to Fort Augustus where we were shown the staircase locks before returning across Loch Ness without sighting the Loch Ness Monster!

Forthcoming events Thursday 15th July sees our annual Boules & BBQ evening at The Green Dragon, Alderbury starting at 7pm.

Our Autumn programme is as follows (more details in Cargoes nearer the time): Thurs 16th Sept The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race Thurs 21st Oct “Green and Silver” - the book by Tom Rolt in which he describes his journey through the Waterways of Southern Ireland.

Thurs 18th Nov “Lydney’s lost fleet”.

Thurs 16th Dec Christmas dinner at The Green Dragon.

Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on 01722 710322 or from Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

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Guildford & Reading Branch News Chairman’s Report As I start my tenure as your Branch Chairman, it is clear that following the General Election the new government will face huge economic challenges and a need for significant belt tightening. IWA has concerns and I have written to all 24 outgoing MPs in our area to express them. The new MPs where there is change will also receive a letter. Their response will be communicated to you.

Closer to home you have a new committee who are anxious to reenergise local activity. Our thanks should go to Ray Carnell and Mike Lewis who stuck with it and Paul Roper who came on board and worked very hard to fix things and build a new committee. Thanks also must go to Dick Harper White who has for many years worked tirelessly for the Branch and its causes. He and Jean are taking a thoroughly deserved and earned retirement. It was a pity that they were unable to be at the well attended Branch AGM so that they could be thanked personally. The AGM put in place the new committee as well as reporting on the substantial new local government authority funding for the Basingstoke.

This summer Ray and his team of helpers will be out and about attending festivals and rallies through the area. He is always looking for helpers, so please volunteer. We have had a Branch committee meeting where roles and responsibilities were decided. I will report further as these and I bed down.

Suffice it to say we do intend to be active with Branch events and promoting relationships with the specific canal and navigation groups in our area. John How is taking on the Thames, Mike Lewis continues with the Wey, Paul Roper, while no longer routinely attending branch meetings will, with Ian Bell and Verna Smith, continue on Basingstoke Canal issues and I will do the Kennet and Avon (east) and the Surrey end of the Wey and Arun.

We do have Branch trips planned for the Basingstoke and the Wey & Arun.

The latter has yet to be finalised but the former will be on the evening of 28th July. Paul Roper will be in the boat and will talk and answer questions on IWA matters. See separate Cargoes article (on page 12) giving full details and booking arrangements – do please support this event which is open to other Branches and to Canal Society Members. There are a maximum of 50 places so early booking is advisable. Details of the Wey and Arun event to be held in September will be in the next Cargoes.

Now, perhaps, a few words about myself. The earliest record of me and canals is a very old photograph of me as a child sitting on the cabin of a working boat travelling up the Audlem flight in the 1950s. I joined the K & A Trust in the 1960s and became branch treasurer when John Gould was

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secretary and lived in Newbury Lock cottage. I organised the sponsored walk that paid for the first lock restoration in the Newbury area. I was also involved with working parties to the Avon overseen by David Hutchings. Bill Fisher was Branch Chairman and after a spell of commercial narrow boating had just started horse drawn trip boat working at Newbury. It was nice to meet up with him again when recently we holidayed on the K & A. Always in hire boats I have covered a good deal of the network excepting the Pennine canals. I have also visited the Broads, the French waterways, sea sailed, been involved with Puffers and for the last 15 years been a regular with Thames Barges. This year as well as a trip on TB Centaur, I will have trips planned on the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow and the Mon and Brec.

There is much to be done in our area to build on good work over many years.

The Basingstoke and the Kennet and Avon after heroic restorations must not be allowed to slip back. Work on the Wey and Arun must continue. The Wey and the Thames are beautiful and very serious waterways but they will not remain so without investment. We must be vigilant and active. We must be seen. We need to make a difference but we must work with others and enjoy our activities.

Gareth Jones

Branch AGM A well attended Branch AGM in mid-March saw the election of a new Committee (reported elsewhere in this Cargoes) and a power-point presentation on the current Basingstoke Canal situation by Paul Roper (acting Branch Chairman) in response to a Member’s request to raise the subject under IWA Byelaws. After the interval a welcome was extended to Ian West, Chairman of IWA Festivals. In a year in which the National Festival is again to take place in the Branch area (at Beale Park) and when Festivals were marking their Diamond Jubilee, it was particularly fitting that Ian should be the Guest Speaker. He gave a wide-ranging talk about Festivals and what they had been seeking to achieve over the years since the very first at Market Harborough in 1950. In explaining the factors determining location, he pointed out that whatever the potential of a site might appear on paper, the ultimate financial success of a festival was often down to the vagaries of the English August Bank Holiday weather. It was also clear that his was a never ending job with the next year’s location having to be settled well over a year ahead and one year’s wind-up meeting being closely followed by the next year’s inaugural one. The huge nature of the volunteer effort needed was also apparent and members were left with the challenge of deciding what they might do to make this year’s event a great success and an occasion worthy of Tom Rolt’s centenary.

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Sales & Publicity Stand The Branch Stand was once again in action early in April when we attended the Woking Canal Festival at Bridge Barn over the Easter Weekend. A quiet Saturday was followed by a much busier Easter Sunday. Although there was a noticeable lack of boats, in was good to see Jeff Holman (our former IWA Guildford Branch Chairman from the 1970s) there with his splendid narrowboat in the livery of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway which was a centre of attraction along the towpath. There was also plenty of interest in the land based activities with musical entertainment and performances by Morris Sides and the Karen Clarke Dance Group.

Further events around the Branch include: Beale Park Boat Show from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th June (In conjunction with Middlesex Branch. Sales Stock supplied by Head Office) Weyside 2010 at Byfleet Boat Club from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th June Reading Waterfest on Saturday 19th June Guildford Festival Boat Gathering on Saturday 3rd July Goring & Streatley Regatta on Saturday 17th July Newbury Waterways Festival on Sunday 25th July National Waterways Festival & Boat Show at Beale Park from Saturday 28th to Monday 30th August Weybridge Thames-Side Festival on Saturday 4th September Fox & Hounds Rally at Fleet on Saturday 25th September Again we would remind members we need volunteers to help on the Branch Stand with both Sales and Publicity, the latter being especially important not only during the lead up to this year’s National Waterways Festival but also at the event itself. Since the last Cargoes was published I’m pleased to report several donations of waterways books and maps for the Branch Sales Stand but more are always welcome. If you can help in any way or have items you would be willing to donate, please contact me on 01483 282806 or Email iwacargoes@hotmail.com.

RC

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Cruise on the Basingstoke Canal As mentioned in the Chairman’s Notes, the Committee would once again like to organise some social events around the Branch area – something that has been lacking for a number of years. We shall be starting with an evening cruise for members and friends aboard the John Pinkerton along the Basingstoke Canal on Wednesday 28th July. This will be a two hour trip leaving Odiham at 7pm with a fish & chip supper at the halfway point. There will be a pay bar on board. The cost, including the supper, will be £12 per person.

If you would like to join us, please send your name, phone number and Email address together with a remittance (for the full amount due) payable to ‘IWA Guildford & Reading Branch’ plus SAE to Gareth Jones Hill House Farm Misbrooks Green Road Beare Green Dorking RH5 4QQ. Expressions of interest or further enquiries in advance of a firm booking may be made by Email to hhel@btconnect.com or phone 07850 819 071. The closing date for applications is end June but tickets will be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis so early booking is recommended.

Gareth Jones

Reading Water Fest On Saturday 19th June Reading Borough Council and the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust will be holding the ever popular Water Fest, this year celebrating its 21st anniversary.

Entertainment will include traditional music and dance throughout the day, as well as a number of boat parades that will work their way along the river together with a best-dressed boat competition, canoeing demonstrations, a duck race and a boat tug of war on the water too.

Along the Water Fest 'craft avenue' you can browse among the hand-made products and in the Riverside Walk you can visit the many charity information stands that run along the towpath.

In Forbury Gardens there will be traditional dance and folk inspired music on the special stage throughout the afternoon. Also Water Fest goes even greener in 2010, by welcoming friends from Forbury Fever. They will host an array of stands about climate change and environmental issues in the gardens.

For more information contact 0118 937 2771 or follow us on facebook.

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Weybridge Thames-side Festival The Festival, brought together by the Weybridge Society, takes place on Saturday 4th September along the Thames-side waterfront with FREE boat trips, live bands and entertainments on the lawn and market stalls along the wide towpath.

This summer’s Environment Agency engineering contract for 200 metres plus of improved visitor moorings in Weybridge will provide a ‘Gateway to the river Wey’ of almost the quality of those recently finished at Teddington. It is only the latest of a number of improvements along the Weybridge Waterfront. Other elements of interest to walkers include better ‘disabled’ access to the Shepperton/Weybridge ferry linking two lengths of the Thames Path, picnic tables and recent landscaping on Elmbridge Council’s waterfront park at Walton Lane and a new ‘public sculpture’ provided by Weybridge Society.

Aims of this Festival are to draw attention to – to thank and celebrate – these physical improvements and encourage the general public to enjoy the amenities.

Perhaps also taking up physical water-based activities with one of the participating clubs – which include two clubs each for rowing and canoeing.

There will be capacity for about 50 boats to book in to the Festival, which dressed overall should bring back memories of the previous IWA rally at the site in 1975 – pictures of which are on the Festival website On Friday night boaters are invited to a ‘bash’ in Weybridge Mariners Clubhouse on the opposite bank – a club ferryboat will operate. The weekend will end with Sunday’s Annual Veterans Cruise of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships to these new moorings.

We hope many IWA members will ‘book-in’ to be with us on their way back downstream from Beale Park.. A FREE Vintage shuttle-bus service to the site will be running from the Railway station and two bus stops in the High Street at the Library and the Ship Inn, but you could just walk!

Boaters details from:- harbourmaster.festival2010@weybridgesociety.org.uk Brian Roberts

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Fox & Hounds Rally Saturday 25th September sees the Basingstoke Canal Boating Club’s annual rally at the Fox & Hounds pub at Crookham, Fleet.

Following on from the success of previous years this end-of-season gettogether will once again feature a variety of stalls and participants in and around this canalside venue. At the time of writing confirmed events include the appearance of the Steamboat Association with their beautiful boats, Fleet Morris team and the much appreciated barbecue team courtesy of Simon at the Fox & Hounds.

Sadly the Deepcut flight is closed for 2010, but we expect a good turnout from club members on the Hampshire pound.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

Steve Dallen

Kennet & Avon Canal Events Saturday 19th June: Reading Water Fest - see separate item for details.

15th July and 30th September: A special Exhibition celebrating 200 years of the Kennet & Avon Canal is being staged at the West Berkshire Museum in Newbury. The exhibition will be open Thursday to Sunday each week.

Sunday 25th July: Newbury Waterways Festival will take place at Victoria Park, Newbury with over 30 boats expected to assemble for the event and the park becoming packed with stalls, sideshows and live entertainment.

Organised by the Newbury Branch of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, the theme for this year’s event will be "2010: A Canal Odyssey" - to reflect the need to look forward as well as back in the Canal’s 200th anniversary year.

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River Thames News April EA Working Group Meeting Our Thames Representative, Tony Davis reports: Transport and Works Order: This has at last been confirmed and will assist in the better regulation of the river by EA. Boaters may see some changes in the way licences are administered. EA did not get the clear cut ruling they were seeking to be able to insist on registration of boats on "private waters" connected to the Thames though they are intending to test this legally (of course once out on the river the registration applies).

Working with Volunteers: EA Thames have been pressed for some time to see how they might recruit and use volunteers for certain tasks. There was no clear cut proposal before the meeting, but we had a very good presentation from Thames 21, who operate an impressive range of volunteer schemes in the London area.

Customer Charter: This has now been published and can be seen in detail on their website. Though not perfect, it was generally welcomed. This is to be an annual publication and there will be changes next year in some parts.

Capital Works programme: This looks like being around the ÂŁ5m mark for 2010/2011 and I have details of what is proposed if anyone is interested.

Charges and Deals: There were notifications of higher charges for pumpouts, overnight moorings at locksites, electric hookups, etc. Their proposals were ameliorated slightly after discussion. From now until the end of September EA have introduced a special Teddington to River Wey Transit Licence of ÂŁ10, for all sizes of boat (see following article for further details).

Olympics at Dorney: Discussions are taking place between a number of bodies, but as yet there is still no clear cut agreement that full and unrestricted navigation will be allowed along the river at this time. Watch this space.

Lock Chain Cleaning: A small matter but an ongoing discussion of particular concern to rowers and canoeists who need to hang onto them. They are difficult to access and clean, and I suspect that lockkeepers are reluctant to attempt this. Steam cleaning and other experiments are taking place, and as yet it is unresolved.

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Wey – Tideway Transit Licences Good news from the EA who have confirmed this new arrangement for this season. Cost is £10 for a one way trip, any boat, any size, any type (so long as it conforms to River Wey dimensions), trip to last no longer than 24 hours, purchasable by cash or card, on demand, at any of the 3 locks that are passed through, valid this year to 30 September. EA have done this in response to customer demand, and should be thanked.

Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group Richard Davenport our MWRG correspondent reports: The council appointed Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead (PRoM) incorporated plans to restore the town’s waterways into its draft 20 Year Area Action Plan (AAP) for Maidenhead town centre, which was issued for consultation in January this year. The consultation responses confirmed strong public support for the emerging plans - including for the waterway elements - as well as the support of statutory consultees such as Natural England and the Environment Agency. The draft AAP takes the concept of the waterway beyond MWRG’s initial Baseline Plan (small boats into and around an enlarged town centre ‘Ring’), with other developments potentially building off the waterway. The aim is to make the waterway and new waterside areas into a major feature of the rejuvenated town centre, which will better reflect the town’s Thames Valley setting. The updated AAP is due to be adopted by the Royal Borough in few months time and will then go for government inspection by the end of the year, before to being incorporated into the overall Local Development Framework.

The Maidenhead Waterways Group has in the meantime been tendering for a consultant to manage the Environmental Impact Assessment and other work needed to support a planning application for its Baseline Plan (small boats) expected by the end of the year. A Preferred Bidder has been selected and contract negotiations are underway for a staged agreement commencing with the key Flood Risk Assessment work. The overall contract is being framed around a detailed Project Brief plus the outcome of a formal Screening and Scoping Opinion which we sought from the council, which sets out the environmental impacts/studies/ etc that need to be fully assessed to support the planning application. The contract will be split into stages and implemented as funding constraints allow.

More details of the Maidenhead Waterways project can be seen on the Group's web site at www.maidenheadwaterways.org

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IWAKES Branch News Chairman’s Report AGMs are not usually popular events but this year our AGM was great. If you weren’t there you missed a treat! And that’s not simply because my wife and I were, unusually, on the winning team in the Quiz, truth compels me to admit that was due mainly to having one or two very knowledgeable members on our team. If you’re reading this you know who you are! The important bit is that we were privileged to host the Region AGM, which gave us the chance to meet our colleagues from the outermost parts of our Region. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who braved the weather and the traffic to come so far, we enjoyed having you.

Our Branch Committee was re-elected and we are fortunate in having such a group of committed like-minded people, however there is always more that we could be doing.

So if you fancy helping us in some way – let’s hear from you!

In our Branch area we have a varied range of waterways and two challenging restoration projects. The Sussex Ouse project is aiming one day to restore navigation and to improve flood protection for Lewes, while the Thames and Medway Canal project is aiming to protect original canal features and enhance the immediate environment. Each project has its own management committee and we report regularly on the progress of these steadily proceeding restorations.

We have built a strong relationship with our local Environment Agency office which is responsible for most of the waterways in our area. John Morgan, our chief contact, has just retired and we wish him well and welcome his replacement.

I hope you will find something of interest in our future programme and I look forward to meeting you.

Mike Hannan

Past Events Region and Branch AGM This was held at Maidstone on 25th February with about eighteen present. Branch Chairman Mike Hannan thanked Dave Harman, his wife Jean and Mike Phipps for enveloping and addressing the magazine. Dave was also congratulated on being awarded a Richard Bird Medal for his work and sustained membership over fifty years.

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Iwakes Past Events (Cont’d) Also congratulated was Roy Sutton for gaining the Cyril Styring Trophy for his work in connection with our two on-going restoration projects. Roy had the Trophy with him and it certainly is a magnificent piece of silver. We were saddened to learn of the recent death of member Julia Hones.

South East Region Chairman Paul Roper said there is still a big threat to all waterways, and we should be forever on our guard, to ensure we don’t lose any more or those related buildings of interest. IWA hoped BW would move to the third-sector.

‘Waterways for Everyone’ had been put on the back boiler because of the imminent election. Paul said it was a good time to be in the IWA and we MUST keep pushing the Association’s profile. Paul congratulated the team who put Cargoes together, and thought it a thoroughly good Newsletter, Ray Carnell, the Editor, was amongst the audience to hear the praise. The election of committee members closed the Region AGM. At the Kent and East Sussex AGM, a discussion ensued about membership; most members present seemed to think they were down slightly on numbers. Branch Chairman Mike Hannan thanked our Programme Secretary Sue Schwieso (and her husband Les, for his help). The boat trip on the Allington Belle had been a great success and Graham Ingram was thanked. Also thanked was the Wilderness Boat Gathering for the opening, in glorious weather, of the new slipway at Allington, which was ably organised by Bernard Snell and Joyce his wife. Mike Hannan thanked all his Committee, without whom his job would have been impossible.

Bernard Snell, our Treasurer (with his wife, Joyce, who is the financial wizard) said they had enjoyed their tenure, but would like to relinquish the post by next AGM 2011.

Les Etheridge, National Treasurer, was present and said HQ was pleased at the way Joyce and Bernard kept the books. Two Committee members were re-elected.

All this high-powered stuff was followed by a light hearted Quiz prepared by Martin Ludgate and run by Paul Roper and his ‘Glamorous Assistant’. The scores at the end were so close that the winners weren’t worth mentioning; enough to say we enjoyed ourselves.

Talk on ‘The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation’.

On an evening in January 50 people gathered at the Strood Sailing Club,to hear a talk about The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation given by Roy Chandler, Chairman of the Essex Waterways Limited Board of Directors. The Navigation might have closed completely four years ago, due to neglect and lack of funds had IWA Chelmsford Branch not stepped in to keep it afloat.

(Continued on page 19)

IWA South East Region

South East Region Committee Chairman: Paul Roper ‘Cranborne’ , Baughurst Road, Baughurst, Tadley, Hants RG26 5LL Phone: 01189 813381 Email: paul.roper@waterways.org.uk Secretary: Philip Riley Wincombe Cottage, Broad Oak, Hook, Hants RG29 1AH Phone: 01256 702109 Treasurer: Vivien Wright Committee Members: Gareth Jones (Chairman, Guildford & Reading Branch) Mike Hannan (Chairman, Kent & East Sussex Branch) Ron Heritage (Chairman, Oxfordshire Branch) Mike Laishley (Chairman, Solent & Arun Branch) Ray Carnell (Cargoes Editor) Roy Sutton Chris Wardley

IWA Guildford & Reading Branch Chairman, Kennet & Avon and Wey & Arun (Surrey): Gareth Jones Hill House Farm Misbrooks Green Road Beare Green Dorking RH5 4QQ Phone: 07850 819 071 Email: hhel@btconnect.com Secretary and Basingstoke: Verna Smith 63 Avondale Ash Vale Aldershot Hants GU12 5NE Phone: 01252 517622 Email: verna.smith@virgin.net Acting Treasurer and River Wey: Mike Lewis Basingstoke Canal Stakeholders Rep: Ian Bell Sales Stand and Publicity: Ray Carnell Planning Officer and River Thames Liaison: John How

IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Chairman and River Rother: Mike Hannan Trumpeter, Water Lane, Headcorn, Kent. TN27 9JN Phone: 01622 890586 Email: mcfhannan@btinternet.com Secretary and ‘Cargoes’ Contact: Roy Sutton.

79, St Leonards Park, East Grinstead, West Sussex. RH19 1EG Phone: 01342 317569 Email: RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk Treasurer and Thames-Medway: Bernard Snell.

Membership Secretary:

David Harman.

Social Secretary: Sue Schwieso

River Stour: Roy Newing.

Dartford & Crayford: Ken Bishop.

River Medway: Graham Ingram.

Royal Military Canal: Vacant

IWA Oxfordshire Branch Chairman: Ron Heritage ‘Arbre’ Main Street, Fringford, Oxon. OX27 8DP Phone: 01869 277400 Email: Oxfordshire@waterways.org.uk Treasurer: Ann Yeatman Events/Volunteers Co-ordinator: Mary Heritage Planning Officer:

Chris Wardley

Other Committee Members: Vivien Wright Terry Yeatman Tasks carried out by non-committee members: Membership Secretary: Anne Clark Social Secretary:

Sue Wardley

Thames Representatives: Chairman of RUG 3. (Stanford- Cleave) Member of Waterways Working group, R.Thames Alliance and R.Thames Mooring Group : John Dalton Member of River Users Group 1 & 2: Trevor Tate

IWA Solent & Arun Branch Chairman and Itchen Navigation: Mike Laishley 16 Park Avenue, Widley, Waterlooville, Hants. PO7 5DW Phone: 023 92325000 (evenings) Email: mike.iwa@ntlworld.com Secretary and Shoreham Slipway Group: Brendan Whelan Hillyfields, Sopers Lane, Steyning, West Sussex. BN44 3PU Phone: 01903 816012 Email: b.whelan@mistral.co.uk Treasurer and Cruise Organiser: Andy Berncastle EA and Wey & Arun Rep: Tony Pratt Chichester Canal and Southern Canals Association: Linda Wilkinson

Other waterways organisations Chichester Ship Canal Trust

www.chichestercanal.co.uk

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

www.katrust.org

Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group Southampton Canal Society

www.sotoncs.org.uk

Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust

www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk www.sxouse.org.uk

Thames & Medway Canal Association Wey & Arun Canal Trust Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

www.maidenheadwaterways.org

www.thamesmedway.co.uk

www.weyandarun.co.uk www.wbct.co.uk

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Past Events – Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation (Cont’d from Page 18) The Navigation runs for 14, mostly beautiful, miles being a conservation area with a towpath throughout and with no main roads nearby it is a very tranquil oasis. Originally It was a private canal and in 1985 Chelmsford IWA started campaigning to bring the navigation back into the public domaim. They carried on until 1992,when people started taking notice. The Basin, which had not been dredged since the canal opened, was restored and oak trees were brought from local woods for new lock gates.

The Navigation is now wholly owned by IWA, with the original Company still existing to keep the Act of Parliament alive. Essex Waterways plant and maintain willow trees beside the canal, for making cricket bats which bring in some revenue, as do the very popular moorings that are kept in very good order.

The locks at Sandford, Cuton, Springfield, Stonehams and Papermill are maintained one per year. New lock ladders have been fitted and moorings are now provided at the locks. New services have been supplied at Heybridge Sea Lock, and other locks along the line. The Damgate at Heybridge is unique and when busy in the summer time it can hold a dozen boats; there are also a couple of pubs and other facilities nearby at Heybridge. Grass cutting, repairing banks and towpath work is carried out by moorers and other volunteers, including WRG. Lots of work is being done, seen and unseen, and the Navigation is beginning to take on a really attractive appearance. Essex Waterways Ltd apply for every grant that’s going, putting this down to their success.

Plenty of questions were asked of Roy Chandler and we made a donation to The Susan Trust that aims to restore and preserve the lighter “Susan”, built in 1953, for the public’s benefit. As this is the only example of a working, wooden, purpose-built lighter for use on the Navigation, her design follows that of earlier horse drawn lighters that from 1797 carried a variety of cargoes between Chelmsford and Heybridge.

Angela Acott

Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust In 2010 the volunteer working parties of the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust will not be sitting back and resting on their laurels following the progress made last year. In 2009 restoration of the east chamber wall was completed together with both the upper and lower wing walls. The next stage of restoration involves the badly damaged west wall and will require an equal determination and effort from the volunteers. This wall is likely to present more problems and challenges than previously encountered, however pre-restoration season meetings and site visits have been positive and work will begin as soon as weather conditions improve and the site can be accessed though the neighbouring private estate.

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SORT (Cont’d) Depending upon the weather this spring, initial work involving clearance of the west wall bank and building a safe working platform, will begin during April. Paul Morris, the project manager, is hoping for a dry summer allowing for the maximum amount of work to be achieved during the working season through to September.

New volunteers are always required and will be made welcome on site by Paul and his team. If you are able to help please contact info@sxouse.org.uk or call Ted Lintott on 01444-414413; Ted co-ordinates the volunteer working parties and will also suggest ways you can help even if you feel unable to get involved in the actual site work.

Terry Owen

Thames and Medway Canal Association Brian Macknish (Chairman of the Thames & Medway Canal Association) reports: Riverside Leisure Area – Great Expectations Over the next 6 months the local Council will be working to improve the Riverside Leisure Area and the Thames and Medway Canal. The works are being funded by the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency as part of the Thames Gateway Parklands Initiative – a scheme to enhance parks and open spaces, improve local landscapes and increase access to the countryside. We hope that the improvements will be just the first phase of works. We are actively developing further projects that, subject to funding, will be carried out next year.

The canal is to be restored from Mark Lane to Shornemead Crossing. Work is well under way at Mark Lane and gabions are in place for the slipway to be installed between them with a docking point alongside. The new footpath between the service road and the canal is being constructed and the south bank, against the railway, is being profiled and levelled. The two crossings put in to allow access for equipment to the far bank have been removed and one more, robust, crossing is now in situ and will carry more traffic until the far bank is complete.

The installation of the pump at Denton New Cut has been started with the laying of an access road to the site and marking out the area of works. Already a chamber has been finished at the weir end and piling is about to commence at the canal end. The swing bridge has had footings and gabions installed to replace the derelict timbers that were falling away thus letting the bank fall into the canal. Halfway between the swing bridge and Shornemead Crossing, near the fixed bridge, where profiling of the canal took place so that spoil could be used for making up levels elsewhere; water has gathered and one can see how bright the future looks for further restoration.

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The Canal Association keep a presence on site by removing rubbish, tidying up the cycle route and footpath and improving the visual aspect along the length to Higham Wharf to enhance users visits, of which there are many. A surprising number of users stop and ask questions about the canal, points of interest and finish up with one or other of the leaflets prepared to pass on information. Some even finish up joining and helping. This restoration project is on the move after 34 years of promotion, lobbying, presentations and hard work by members of The Thames and Medway Canal Association. Now is the time to keep this interest and momentum.

‘Discover Gravesham’ events

Tuesday 1st June: 9am to Noon: Talk/tidy somewhere along the canal.

For location ring:- Brian Macknish 01732 823725 or David Rouse 01474 362861 Friday 4th June: 7pm: Evening stroll from and back to The Ship and Lobster, Mark Lane. Approximately 2 miles.

Sunday 6th June: Noon to 4pm:

Display at St. Mary’s Church, Lower Higham

Medway Navigation The EA have completed all landing stages from Oak Weir lock to Allington and the river is fully open!, although at this time they are advising of strong stream due to heavy and consistent rainfall. There are now eight permanent finger pontoon moorings available at Allington Lock for craft up to 8 metres. A canoe trail guide for the river, provided by the EA, is available from Allington Lock.

John Morgan the Waterways Manager is retiring in April we wish him "all the best & happiness" and thank him (and all his fine team) for contributing to the quality of the navigation. Lets look forward to a good summer and successful boating season.

During the winter a fellow boater and I visited Sheridan Marine at Moulsford on the Thames. For anyone owning a Freeman boat, Seagull outboard or Watermota (Ford based) engine craft this chandlers/boatyard is invaluable, friendly, experienced and very, very helpful. I purchased 2 new wheelhouse opening, glazed, hatches to replace the sliding fabric Weathershields which were fitted as original (now obsolete and leaking although having been refurbished). The new ones fitted perfectly despite the fact that the roof has two contours left to right and fore to aft. The tinted macrolon matches the boat’s colour scheme also; my fellow boater purchased a large amount of useful spares for his Sea Tiger engine.

Graham Ingram

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Piling for landing stages at East Farleigh on the Medway Navigation [Photo: Philip Munslow – reproduced courtesy of The Environment Agency]

Future Events Saturday 28th to Monday 30th August: 10am to 6pm daily: IWA National Festival at Beale Park: The IWAKES stand will be there with display boards from Thames & Medway Canal Association and Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust.

The Autumn programme includes meetings on Thurs 21st Oct (at Strood Yacht Club), Thurs 18th November (at Haywards Heath) and Thurs 9th December (at Gravesend Sailing Club). Also, on Saturday 20th November at Gravesend Sailing Club, a talk on “Grand Canal of China” by Liam D'Arcy Brown. Further details of these meetings will be given in the next edition of Cargoes.

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Oxfordshire Branch News Chairman’s Report The AGM took place in March attended by 17 members from the Branch. We were pleased to welcome the S.E. Region Chairman, Paul Roper and his wife, Celia.

Unfortunately due to a misunderstanding over the venue Peter Strong from Jericho Boatyard Trust was not in attendance. Despite this disappointment and the low attendance the evening went well; many issues were discussed with actions agreed.

Committee members are voted on for a 3 year period and as all of the existing members are within this period there was not a requirement to vote on additional members. However as both Mary and myself are in our final year and will not be continuing afterwards, it seemed wise to elect new members in order that they could gain experience and be offered support while the “old ones” are still around. Our committee now has two new members, Chris Wardley and Jerry Yeatman, both of whom have worked closely with us over the past year. You will find elsewhere contact details of your committee and those who have agreed to undertake specific tasks in order to ensure the branch works effectively.

One of the committee’s main objectives this year is to ensure we keep in contact and that you are kept informed. We needed to send out about a cancelled event during the snow earlier in the year, for example, and the easiest, quickest and cheapest way for us to do this was via the e-mail system; so far only 50% of our members have provided e-mail addresses. Let me reassure you we, your committee, does not have access to these addresses, as under the Data Protection Act they remain within the IWA Membership dept and under the rules of the Association they are not passed on to others. If we want to make contact, the Department distributes the information and notices for us. Your address is strictly confidential. So please, in order for us to fulfil our promise, if you have not already done so, or may have changed your address since originally sending it, will you contact the IWA Membership secretary at www.waterways.org.uk and let them have your latest address? It can be a different one from your usual one if you wish.

Before this edition of Cargoes is published Mary and I, on ‘NB Heron’, along with Tony and Christine Crawford, on ‘NB Jupiter’, will have embarked on the re-enactment of the “Cressy” Cruise. By the time you read this we hope to be on either the River Soar or the Trent and Mersey Canal, heading for Fradley Junction. ‘Heron’ will have a tracking device on board so you will be able to follow us on the IWA Website. We will be sending back pictures and descriptions of the events we attend, people we meet and places we visit as we follow the route Tom and Angela took in 1939. The cruise

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officially ends at the Beale Park National Festival but we will be back in Oxford for the Heritage “Open Doors” weekend before returning home mid September.

With my best wishes for the summer; let us hope it is a good one and we can all get a bit of sunshine to provide the “feel good” factor.

Ron Heritage.

Past Events Talk by Roger Squires on; ‘Cruising the Thames in his narrow boat – Jubilee.’

At the meeting on Wednesday February 10th, Roger, the past Commodore of the St Pancras Cruising Club described, with a flotilla of club boats, how, they cruised around the creeks of the Thames and into the Royal Docks. Every year the Club arranges cruises of these waterways to exercise the public right of navigation for leisure craft.

This is not an easy task as the area is tidal, with mud flats on which the unwary can go aground when the tide is low, low bridges to hit when the tide is high, half-tide barriers, large ferries and freighters that create turbulence and huge wash to rock a small boat.

In addition there is the usual rubbish including half submerged supermarket trolleys to foul the propeller!

Excellent slides showed the various creeks; Dartford Creek, Crayford Navigation and Barking Creek with its mill, sewage treatment buildings (some Victorian), and wharves for the unloading of steel and timber from Rotterdam. The next slide showed Deptford Creek at the mouth of the river Ravensbourne which is crossed by a ‘sinuous’ bridge carrying the Docklands Light Railway. The Bow Creek is on the Greenwich meridian and has the Millennium Dome adjacent to it, and then the Brentford Creek where a low bridge that prevents boats from passing when there are spring (exceptionally high) tides. We were amazed at the enormous size of the Royal Docks; even the entrance lock these docks would accommodate 250 small boats, in contrast to the Oxford Canal’s single boat locks or even the Grand Union Canal’s double locks!

It was interesting to see the location of well known landmarks so close to these creeks and docks. London City Airport’s very short runway is within feet of the Royal Docks so it could be quite alarming to be on a boat at the moment a plane was landing! Such an event was shown on a slide. The Excel Centre can be seen as can the new buildings of the University of East London; the Olympics rowing course will be in the Royal Docks, while the site for the Olympic Stadium is nearby. Finally, Roger’s illustrated and enthusiastic talk gave us a vivid impression of London’s lesser known waterways which will no doubt inspire some of our members to explore.

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On Wed, 14th April, Dr Martin Barnes CBE, FICE, talked on “Thomas Telford” Martin Barnes spent much of his childhood in Birmingham exploring the canal network.

This interest and his admiration of Thomas Telford, who was a designer and builder of canals, bridges, roads and churches, led his career as a civil engineer. He joined the IWA in 1954 and, as a young man, took part in a rally at Banbury in 1956. His journey from Birmingham was in a ‘boat’ whose hull was made from an ex-army bridge building pontoon; it was built in Dudley and propelled by an outboard engine. He, and a friend, built the cabin on the way to Banbury and they won the prize for “the most meritorious journey”!

Thomas Telford was an innovative designer and project manager and became the first President of The Institution of Civil Engineers in 1820. He came from a poor family in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire, where his father, who died in 1757 shortly after he was born, was a shepherd. He trained as a stonemason and worked in London and Bath. With no formal education it is amazing the extent of his achievements in the design and construction of the largest structures ever built and that still function today.

His finest, early work, was the Pontcysyllyte Aqueduct on the Ellesmere canal, opened in 1805 when Telford was the County Surveyor for Shropshire. His canals included the Caledonian which was the first publicly funded engineering project, the Wolverhampton to Birmingham and the Shrewsbury to Chester/Ellesmere that cotinued on to Ellesmere port. He also designed and built St Katherine’s Dock (London) that allowed ships to unload their cargo from the tidal Thames for the first time.

He designed and built the world’s first road suspension bridge at Conway and later the bridge over the Menai Straits. He also designed a new road (subsequently known as the A5), from London to Holyhead, thus transforming the connection to Ireland that became necessary after the 1800 Act of Unification. It is less well known that he built 32 churches in Scotland and was the architect for St Mary Magdalene at Bridgenorth.

Above all, he was also a good administrator and excellent at selecting, training and managing young people to take responsibility for decision making. This was essential as he was often in London and the project(s) were hundreds of miles away.

Considering the difficulty of communications, lack of roads, primitive equipment and poor terrain, Thomas Telford’s achievements cannot be underestimated.

Martin’s illustrated account vividly reminded us to appreciate the structures that we pass under, over and through on our journeys through Britain’s waterways.

Sue Wardley

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Oxford Heritage ‘Open Doors’ Weekend – 11th/12thSept This event takes place in the Pocket Park at Hythe Bridge opposite the Worcester Street car park. We will be running free boat trips and children’s crafts. So we require skippers, with minimum of Helmsman’s Licence, crews, waterside assistants, lock keepers and children craft helpers. I do not expect people to work for long hours and later will draw up a rota of helpers using shifts of 2-3 hours. If you are able to spare some time please let me know, preferable sending an e-mail as we will be away throughout the summer on the ‘Cressy Cruise’; my e-address is ronmary.heritage@btinternet.com. A phone call will suffice; my mobile number is 07896 701065.

If you wish to bring your boat and stay for the weekend we will be taking over the 48hr mooring just above Isis Lock. Please let me know as I need to organise the moorings.

Mary Heritage

Banbury Canal Day 3rd October This year we will once again be acting as Harbour Masters for this event, running free boat trips and possibly children’s crafts (if we have enough material left from Oxford).

Helpers are required for the above duties, plus the lift bridge.

This year, once again, we have a ‘Boaters Bash’ with supper on Saturday evening. A bonus for volunteers who bring their boats, there will be no charges for mooring below the lock, plus 2 tickets for the ‘Boaters Bash’ @ £10, i.e. half price. Again I do need to know if you can help and wish to bring your boat.

Please do come and join in. It is all good fun with lots to see, and do, in between the “working” time. Many hands make light work as the saying goes.

Mary Heritage

Forthcoming Events Wed 8th September Gillian Bolt: A talk on “Tom Rolt” in his centenary year.

Details of further meetings, on the second Wednesday of the month, will be given in the Autumn Edition of Cargoes.

Meetings are held at the Sports and Social Club, Yarnton Rd, Kidlington,OX5 1AT. 7.30pm for 8.00pm, new members and visitors will be made most welcome.

For directions phone Ann Yeatman - Tel: 01865 372552.

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Solent & Arun Branch News Chairman’s Report Our AGM at Arundel was well attended; we concluded the formal business with an update on the national situation by the Region Chairman Paul Roper.

Although there were no changes to the Solent & Arun Committee at the AGM, we would still welcome anyone who wants to join us. We meet at various locations across the area, at a time and date convenient to all, and members of the committee have other roles as well, such as: Andy plans the majority of the Cruises, whilst Brendan is on the Shoreham Slipway Group. Tony is our representative on the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, and Linda is involved with the Southern Canals Association and, finally, I am involved with the Itchen Navigation project. If you feel you would like to come along to a meeting then please get in touch.

For the second part of the evening we were joined by members of the Arundel Boat Club and enjoyed an illustrated talk by Liam D’Arcy Brown on the Grand Canal of China. His knowledge is not just the waterway but the whole Chinese culture and this made for a fascinating and entertaining evening. If you get the chance to hear one of these talks then go along, you won’t be disappointed.

Mike Laishley

Past Events The Small Boat Cruise - River Arun to Pallingham On 25th April six craft took to the water at Pulborough on a lovely spring day for our annual cruise to Pallingham on the River Arun. With no major obstacles, but there were plenty of low branches reducing the headroom, which I believe was as a result of the winter’s snow fall. The trip was uneventful, and with plenty of water, we all reached Pallingham Farm safely, moored for lunch and stretched our legs whilst inspecting the start of the Wey & Arun Canal. Every year before the cruise we ask, and receive, permission from the landowner to stop here.

On the return trip we stopped at the White Hart at Stopham for a drink; it is a great place for watching the river. These days it is good to see so many other people enjoying the river, mainly using canoes. We then all recovered at Pulborough, where I realised I had the first sun burn of the year!!

Mike Laishley

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Forthcoming Events Small Boat Cruises Sunday 13 June: Port Creek Port Creek, next to the A27 dual-carriageway, is what makes Portsmouth into an island. Tidal, with low bridges, we again attempt the challenge of navigating it in the time-window when there is both enough depth and enough headroom. For the confident harbour cruiser, a muddy launch at Fareham around 09.00 for a 12-mile cruise (using main channels, shorter if confident navigationally) through Port Creek eastwards to Langstone (Ship Inn), to recover at the good slipway there. High Water is at about 13.00. For the less bold, meet at Highbury, to launch directly into Port Creek near the railway bridge, from 10.30, to get away at 11.00. Explore Port Creek in both directions and either recover at Highbury (or Hilsea), or head east to Langstone (6 miles). Lift available to recover cars if necessary from launch site.

Sunday 26 September: Beaulieu River High Water at Beaulieu is at about 13.45. Meet and launch at Buckler’s Hard from 11.30, or earlier if you fancy going down river first. Access is via a private road to the Marina; beware humps and check in to pay slip/harbour dues and get parking instructions in this lovely but busy spot. Cruise up to Beaulieu for a picnic lunch at the quay, or sample the pub or café, or just browse among the ice creams and giftware, admiring any New Forest ponies. Return to Bucklers Hard at leisure, but don’t run out of sea-water; it should be OK to leave Beaulieu up to 15.00 latest.

Please contact Andy Berncastle on 02380 273599 or hilary.berncastle@btinternet.com if you plan to take part or have any queries – or just turn up on the day!

On all cruises, all take part at own risk.

Andy Berncastle

Chichester Canal Trust The Chichester Canal is owned by West Sussex County Council, but leased to us, the Chichester Canal Trust, so a partnership has been formed between WSCC, Chichester District Council, the Canal Trust and Premier Marinas, who own the marina along side the canal at Birdham, where the canal enters Chichester Harbour.

In March the partnership engaged a Project Manager to enable us to overcome the problems of the two road crossings, so that we can reach the harbour. We are looking to have a moving bridge at one crossing and for the other we propose to move a lock

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from one side of the road to the other, which will give sufficient headroom under the very busy West Wittering road. Some of this work will of course be carried out by contractors, but there will be plenty for volunteers. If you are not already a member of the Canal Trust and you would like to be part of this ‘push’ to get the Canal open from Chichester City to Chichester Harbour, within the next three years, now is the time to get involved, so why not join now? Maybe you have one of the many skills we are looking for or perhaps you would like to be an ‘armchair member’, whichever, we would welcome you just the same. For more information please call Linda Wilkinson on 01243 576701 or e-mail canal.linda@uwclub.net. I look forward to hearing from you.

Linda Wilkinson

Forthcoming Events Sunday 27th June 7.30pm: Mikron Theatre Company present: “Striking the Balance” at Donnington Parish Hall, Stockbridge Road, Chichester. Tickets £7.50 Sunday 4th July 10.30am: Guided walk from Birdham Sea Lock along the towpath to the Canal Basin, Chichester. Approx: 4 miles. Parking in the Public Car Park, Chichester Marina.

Wednesday 7th July 7.30pm: A talk: “Past, Present and Future of the Chichester Canal”. Tickets on the door £4.00 Saturday 19th July 10am: Guided walk along part of the Old Portsmouth & Arundel Canal from Barnham to Huston. Meet Barnham Court Farm, Barnham.

Approx 5 miles.

Sunday 11th. July 10am to 4pm:

A visit to the 1820’s cast iron Poyntz Bridge (now open). This includes a guided walk at 2.30pm around the historical basin.

Further details of the above from 01243 576701 or canal.linda@uwclub.net Linda Wilkinson

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Southampton Canal Society Forthcoming Events Thursday 1st July

Power point presentation on the Itchen Navigation by Ali Morse, Project Manager for the HWT

Thursday 22nd July

AGM followed by a “Social Evening” with wine and cheese

Thursday 2nd Sept

We welcome back Wildlife photographer Dennis Bright with the ‘Sparrow Hawk’

Friday 8th Oct

Day Star Theatre presents “The Worst Summer Ever” (we hope not!)

Meetings are held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Southampton SO16 7JZ starting at 7.45pm Angela Rose

Wey & Arun Canal Trust News Double Celebration at Loxwood Saturday 17th April was a very special day for the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (WACT) with a double cause for celebration, at Loxwood, on the Sussex/Surrey border.

First, a new addition to the trip boat fleet, the 12-passenger Josias Jessop, was named at Loxwood Lock by Lady Egremont, the wife of president Lord Egremont. It was Lord Egremont’s ancestor, the third Earl of Egremont, who had been the driving force behind the building of the Canal in the early years of the 19th century. Josias Jessop was the engineer whom the third Earl had commissioned to survey the route.

The boat has been converted and refurbished by WACT volunteers, and with her inboard diesel engine should offer a quieter and smoother ride than her predecessor, John Smallpeice.

Secondly, following the naming ceremony, the VIP party travelled on another trip boat, the 30-seater narrowboat Zachariah Keppel, along the half-mile of newly-filled canal to the rebuilt Devils Hole Lock. Devils Hole is the most northerly stone-built lock on the canal as the rest, en route to the River Wey, are built of brick. During WW 2 the Canadian Army, practiced laying explosive charges, on the remains of the original

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lock, in preparation for the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. The result of these activities was that the upper part of the lock chamber was completely demolished and has had to be rebuilt by the volunteers; this also provided an opportunity to lengthen the lock.

It was fitting that the rebuilt lock was reopened by a Canadian Army representative, Colonel Paul Rutherford, Senior Army Adviser to the Canadian High Commission who cut the ribbon on the bridge over the lock. Before doing so he paid tribute to the volunteers responsible for restoring the lock, and the rest of the canal, saying: “I have enjoyed a wonderful day in beautiful weather, visiting the reopened section of the Canal and the ‘volunteer’ restorers can be very proud of what they have so far achieved”. The event was also attended by a party of Canadian WW2 veterans, many of whom had been involved in building the nearby Dunsfold airfield.

At Devils Hole, the magnificent turn out of supporters and local people were able to enjoy snacks and a glass of wine while the Guildford Friary Band played. After a performance by Broadwood Morris Men, the VIPs returned to Loxwood for a celebratory lunch aboard the Trust’s largest trip boat, the 50-seater Wiggonholt.

After the formalities a rally of a number of boats, from canoes up to 23ft, trailable, canal cruisers enjoyed the extension to the navigable section, and there were further performances from the brass band and the Morris Men. As commented earlier, the weather was magnificent, with no evidence of the clouds of volcanic ash that were reportedly drifting from Iceland. Coincidentally the opening of the canal in 1816 occurred soon after a previous instance of ash from a volcano that caused severe climatic disruption.

The 38th Annual Poddle Over the years, a substantial amount of money has been raised through an annual sponsored walk, which has become known as the ‘Poddle’. The 38th Poddle, will take place on Sunday 13th June with the start/finish at the Village Hall in Bramley, Surrey.

The walk is open to anybody raising a minimum of £15 sponsorship; the route will be well marked and a detailed guide provided. The 12-mile route is in two parts; the morning leg offers splendid views, particularly from St Martha’s Hill, while the return part passes through a section of the Hurtwood which promises shade if the weather is hot and again provides some good views. The mid-way stop will be at Blackheath Village Hall where a free lunch will be provided for all entrants.

Walk organiser Jo Holcombe says: “The object of the walk, apart from raising funds for the Canal’s ongoing restoration, is to provide an opportunity for walkers to visit different sections of the Canal each year and to explore the surrounding countryside”.

For further details, and to obtain a Sponsor Form, please telephone the Wey & Arun Canal Trust on 01403 752403, email to office@weyandarun.co.uk or write to Wey & Arun Canal Trust, The Granary, Flitchfold Farm, Loxwood, Billingshurst, RH14 0RH.

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Wilts & Berks Canal News Martin Buckland of the Abingdon Branch of W&BCT writes: While I was at an industrial archaeology conference at Chippenham in April, I spotted a copy of the Wilts & Berks Act of 8th June 1821 which was to incorporate the North Wilts Canal (Swindon to Cricklade) into the existing Wilts & Berks Canal Company.

I later acquired the copy which was of particular interest because it was inscribed, on 27th June 1821, by Ambrose Goddard who was a leading light in Swindon affairs.

The Public Enquiry into the proposed Thames Water Reservoir near Abingdon will open in mid-June for about 10 days though the result will not be decided for several weeks or even months. If the Inspector finds in favour of the reservoir, the auxiliary draw-down channel to be used in an emergency, would also form the channel for the canal from the reservoir, under the A34 and Drayton Road and down to the Thames. It should be noted however, that the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has no view about the need for the reservoir and is not a statutory consultee.

Brian Stovold of East Vale Branch of W&BCT writes on forthcoming events: Wed 9th June, 7.30 pm for an evening circular walk celebrating: ’The 200th Anniversary of the opening of the W&B Canal’. Come and enjoy a family friendly evening walk around Childrey and West Challow, learning a little of the history of this waterway and see some of the more recent locations of restoration work. Distance: about 3 miles. Allow around 2 hours (I talk a lot). Meet at West Challow Village Hall Grid Ref 366884. Wear suitable footwear.

Sat 19th June, 10.30am for an extended circular walk around East and West Challow, Childrey and Sparsholt and back via Grove. After the success of last year’s longer walk join me on a stroll out to the villages returning by way of the canal path, where permitted. Distance about 9 miles. Allow 5 hours ( including possible stop for lunch).

Suitable footwear is recommended. Meet at the Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage Thurs 24TH June: another evening celebratory walk to explore the Grove Lock Flight, from top to bottom, by way of the public footpath. Be prepared for nettles! Meet at Grove Recreation Ground Grid Reference: 398895.

For more information on the walks contact Brian Stovold on 07946 524 828.

Wichelstow Canal Fest, 12th Sept: Plans for this event at West Leaze, Swindon are coming together. There should be trip boats plying the long stretch of canal which includes the restored Beavens Arched bridge and the very new road bridge for the new Wichelstow Estate.

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Canal Paintings An art display by Michele Field in Annie's Tea Room, Canal Road, Thrupp, 0X5 1JZ Open daily 10am to 5pm ample parking. A paradise area for walkers.

26th – 27th June: Braunston Historic Boat Festival, come & visit the Guild of Waterways artists in the marquee & enjoy the art show.

28th - 30th August: IWA National Waterways Festival at Beale Park, come and visit Michele’s stand in the Premier Marquee.

Please feel welcome to visit and view Michele's paintings at her home in Oxfordshire.

To arrange an appointment Tel: 01865 371188. Browse through her website to see a varied display of artworks for sale at www.britishartists.co.uk/michele_field.

The Mikron Theatre Company Once again the Mikron Theatre Company will be travelling the country’s canals and rivers, bringing live theatre to waterside venues for their Summer Tour.

Their latest production ‘Striking The Balance’ - fighting all the way for equal pay - is set against the turbulent backdrop of the 1960's, 70's and 80's, when three working women take on the might of a discriminatory establishment. Fast-paced, inventive, and a whole lot of fun, this new Mikron show, complete with original music, takes you on a moving journey, introducing a host of colourful characters - including special guest appearances from Labour's ‘Red Queen’ and the Conservative’s ‘Iron Lady’ herself. Inspired by the heroic stories of machinists from Dagenham, cleaners from Belfast, dinner ladies from Yorkshire and cooks from Liverpool, ‘Striking the Balance’ chronicles the continuing struggle for Equal Pay. In ‘Pedal Power’ Mikron's talented team of four freewheelers, pedals its way through 100 years of history, charting the amazing story of the socialist cyclists of the National Clarion Cycling Club, to the last day of business at a Manchester cycle shop in the 21st Century. The two tales are interwoven with laughter, tomfoolery, rousing songs and sheer ‘Pedal Power’.

The following is a list of dates, productions and venues around the area: Wed 23rd June 7.30pm PP C The Two Brewers, St Peter Street, Marlow, SL7 1NQ Fri 25th June 8pm STB C The Bounty, Riverside, Bourne End, SR8 5RF Sat 26th June 7.30pm PP C The Angel on the Bridge, Henley, Oxon RG9 1BH

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Sun 27th June 7.30pm STB Parish Hall, Donnington, Chichester, PO19 2QJ Tickets £7.50 from 1 Chidham Lane, Chichester, PO18 8TL Tel: 01243 576701 Tues 29th June 8pm PP C ) Blubeckers at The Rowbarge, Station Road, Thurs 1st July 8pm STB C ) Woolhampton, Reading, RG7 5SH Sun 4th July 7.30pm STB Caversham Court, Reading. Details: 0118 9390771.

Mon 5th July 7.30pm STB C Goring Lock, Goring, RG8 9AE Tues 6th July 8pm PP Waterfront Café, Benson, Oxfordshire OX10 6SJ Tickets £10 must be booked in advance. Details - Tel: 01491 838435 Wed 7th July 7.30pm STB C The Plough Inn, Long Wittenham, Abingdon OX14 4QH Thurs 8th July 7.30pm PP C Plough Inn, Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, OX2 8BD Fri 9th July 7.30pm STB C The Ferryman Inn, Bablock Hythe, Witney, OX29 5AT Sun 11th July 7.30pm STB C The Queen's Head, Eynsham, Witney, OX29 4HH Mon 12th July 7.30pm STB C Boat Inn )Thrupp, Kidlington, nr Oxford, Tues 13th July 7.30pm PP C Boat Inn ) Oxford OX5 1JY Wed 14th July 8pm PP C The Great Western Arms, Aynho, Banbury OX17 3BP Thurs 15th July 8pm STB Tooleys Boatyard, Banbury Museum, Banbury OX16 2PQ Tickets £10 (£8 Concessions). Booking on 01295 272917 Fri 16th July 7.30pm PP C Heyford Wharf, Lower Heyford, Oxon OX25 5PD Sat 24th July 7.30pm STB ) Wharf House, Sun 25th July 7.30pm PP ) Cropredy, OX17 1PG Tickets £10 (£8 concessions), for further details tel: 01295 750633 Sun 22nd August 7.30pm STB C Fox and Hounds, Church Crookham, GU51 5NP For ‘Gift Aid’, please use the special blue envelopes provided so that your Gift Aid donation can be claimed. Should more information on any of the above performances, or other matters, be required visit the Mikron web site: www.mikron.org.uk.

Key: STB – ‘Striking the Balance’, PP – ‘Pedal Power’, ‘C’ – No tickets needed but at the end of the performances there will be a collection.

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Wey & Arun Celebration

Crowds gathered for the reopening of Devil’s Hole Lock on the Wey & Arun Canal - see report on Pages 30-31 [Photo: Courtesy Wey & Arun Canal Trust]

Paddle Steamer Cruise South London Branch is organising a cruise aboard the Kingswear Castle on Saturday 12th June. Leaving Chatham Dockyard at 11.00 hrs and travelling up river to New Hythe before returning down river to Darnet Ness. Estimated return arrival at Chatham at 17.00 hrs. Fare is ÂŁ20 per person (party rate for 10 or more). Bookings to Alan Eggby as soon as possible please on 020 8764 8194 or Email: alan_eggby@lineone.net. ____________________________________________________________________

Inland Waterways Association Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA Editorial Team: Ray Carnell and Cecil Ives, iwacargoes@hotmail.com Next issue: Autumn 2010, Copy Date: 15th July.

Soak up the atmosphere at this year’s Saturday 19 June 2010, 11am - 5pm Along the Kennet and Forbury Gardens, Central Reading

General enquiries: 0118 937 2771 www.reading.gov.uk Boaters enquiries: 0118 942 7708 Pr

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