Cargoes Winter 2010

Winter 2010

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

Awards at this year’s National Waterways Festival

Awards at this year’s National Waterways Festival

Awards at this year’s National Waterways Festival

Ron & Mary Heritage, with their trophies as winners of a special IWA award, alongside the Cressy Memorial Cruise display

Ron & Mary Heritage, with their trophies as winners of a special IWA award, alongside the Cressy Memorial Cruise display

Ron & Mary Heritage, with their trophies as winners of a special IWA award, alongside the Cressy Memorial Cruise display

John Ross with the Canal Boat award to the Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society for the ‘Best non-commercial stand’ [Photos: Ray Carnell]

John Ross with the Canal Boat award to the Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society for the ‘Best non-commercial stand’ [Photos: Ray Carnell]

John Ross with the Canal Boat award to the Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society for the ‘Best non-commercial stand’ [Photos: Ray Carnell]

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Editorial In this edition of Cargoes we cover the culmination of a very busy year for the Region and also the news of significant developments regarding the future of our waterways.

The diversity of operating authorities for the Region’s waterways will doubtless make for interesting times ahead. Our Region Chairman, Paul Roper, who is now Chairman of the Navigation Committee, has been at the centre of things and his wide-ranging report is on pages 4 and 5.

The Region’s involvement in this year’s National Festival was significant.

Congratulations are due to Ron & Mary Heritage for their special award for recreating Cressy’s historic voyage of 1939 and also to the Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society for their success in winning the Canal Boat Award for the ‘Best non-commercial stand’. (see photos opposite and report on pages 7 and 8).

As to Cargoes itself, we have been trying to maintain standards of quality and size despite rising costs. One of the economies recently introduced has been the central posting of copies direct from Head Office at Chesham which offers a significant saving on postage (as well as providing a welcome relief for the Branch despatch teams). We are pleased that these revised arrangements seem to be working satisfactorily.

Recently we were reminded about IWA’s Website and the need to make full use of its facility to access individual Region and Branch sites. Some developments in that direction are covered in this edition of Cargoes. It is hoped that in due course full use of the Websites will enable members to access a comprehensive diary of events across the Region – this is just one example of how the Website can enable the dissemination of up-to-date information that it is impossible to achieve in a quarterly Newsletter. Copies of the more recent editions of Cargoes are on the Region Website that can be accessed via the main IWA site at www.waterways.org.uk.

Finally, in this Cargoes you will find details of the various Branch AGMs and also the Region AGM which is being hosted by Solent & Arun Branch in conjunction with their own AGM. Do make a note of the dates. As ever, we hope that more members will heed the call to get involved and so lighten the burden on the dedicated few who battle on to keep the ship afloat. In the meantime we wish all our readers the compliments of the season.

Cargoes Editorial Team Cover Photo: Mayor Barry Cheyne of Elmbridge Borough Council arriving by Andrews Slipper Launch at the new Thames Path Ferry Steps for the opening of Weybridge Thames-side Festival (see report on pages 13 & 14) [Photo: James Bell]

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From the Region Chairman National Festival I set off for the August bank holiday National Festival allowing plenty of time to cruise from my home mooring at Weltonfield to get to Beale Park. Given the number of boats going I expected significant hold ups but the journey was easy. Instead of queuing at the bottom of Napton I found all the traffic coming towards me departing the Cropredy festival so all the locks were empty with willing crews working the gates as they queued to come down. The water held out on the South Oxford summit although I met a worried BW lengthsman climbing up the bank to inspect the Clattercote reservoir.

The Thames was, as always, idyllic with lock keepers to assist boats through and everyone was friendly. Well nearly everyone as one large plastic cruiser coming the other way complained about having to wait a long time to fill up with water at Abingdonthe scarcity of facilities on the upper Thames is well known. My return journey took a little longer as I travelled back with the main pack and had a long delay at Somerton deep and also Napton - but the weather was gorgeous and I still managed to find moorings near to welcome hostelries.

What of the festival itself? Well the boats all turned up and we all enjoyed ourselves.

There were plenty of displays and stalls but regrettably the public failed to turn up in the numbers hoped for. There will be some more soul searching into whether we can successfully combine three functions: a boat gathering; a trade show and an entertainment venue for the wider public. Time will tell but I’ve already booked my boat in for Burton on Trent next year. Don’t forget we are trying a new date on the Friday Saturday, Sunday 29-31 July 2011.

IWA AGM I attended the national AGM at the End of September. The location at Market Drayton holds fond memories for me as it was the destination for my first ever canal trip in 1968. I could not have anticipated then that a post A-level holiday would later turn out to be an all embracing passion. We were all made very welcome by the host branch Shrewsbury District and North Wales.

As usual the officers meeting in the morning created most interest and I gave a half hour presentation on the state of play with the proposed waterway management changes. Despite the austere public sector funding climate I was upbeat about the prospects for a successful outcome which will almost certainly represent the biggest change in waterways management since 1948! Much of what is proposed is exactly what IWA has been campaigning for over decades. As I write this article the

5 government has just announced that BW will be moved into a new charity which is welcomed by IWA. It remains 50:50 whether the EA navigations will be included although this has considerable support, including the Minister, there are a number of practical issues to resolve which DEFRA seem to be prevaricating about and it may be there is just too much to sort out given the very tight timescales now being talked about. This was once a BW 2020 vision but it is now expected to be in place by April 2012! Not surprisingly I had to respond to a large number of questions from the audience.

Also in the morning session Clive Henderson led a debate on the role of Regions and Branches. This issue has been rumbling on for some time. Some regions and branches are very active, usually those with well defined canal corridors in the midlands and parts of the north. The key point is that one size does not fit all and some branches struggle to achieve all that is expected of them but nevertheless make a valued contribution to the work of the Association.

The formal AGM itself comprised the usual corporate essentials including the formal state of the nation address by Clive Henderson and also acceptance of the accounts.

Few delve too closely into the IWA finances but you should all be aware that times are tough and IWA like many other charities are struggling to live within the income from subscriptions. One solution is of course to increase the membership and there are plans for a new initiative on this. Meanwhile we have to cut our cloth and economies are being sought in head office and the various committees.

Navigation Matters I have now formally taken over as chairman of the Navigation Committee, a job I have been shadowing for the past year. There are some major issues to deal with in addition to waterway management changes such as the BW mooring policy and the difficult issue of how to handle the live aboard boaters who do not have a mooring but choose to live in one locality. A local mooring strategy is being trialled at the western end of the K&A where the problem is most acute but the solution will not be easy or quick. There is also a raft of other issues: the condition of BW sanitary stations and the reliability of their pump out machines; policy for towpath surfacing and how to avoid high speed cycle tracks; and the move to low sulphur diesel where boat owners need to be aware of the implications of higher biodiesel content from January and the probable need to start using a fuel additive. Regrettably this is yet another expense for boaters.

Paul Roper

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South East Region AGM The Annual General Meeting of the South East Region of The Inland Waterways Association will be held on Tuesday 29th March 2011 at 7.30pm at the Norfolk Centre, Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9PA An Agenda based on IWA Byelaws will apply as follows: 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval (following amendment if necessary) of the Minutes of the last Region AGM held on 25th February 2010.

3. Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items).

4. Report from the Region Chairman 5. Presentation and Adoption of Accounts 6. Election of members of the Committee 7. Any item for discussion of which the Region Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the AGM

Branch Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East Sussex, Oxfordshire, Guildford & Reading and Solent & Arun Branches of The Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows: The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place at 7.30 for 8pm on Thursday 24th February 2011 at St. Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent.

The Oxfordshire Branch AGM will take place at 7.30 for 8pm on Wed 9th March 2011 at the Social Club at Kidlington Football Club, Yarnton Rd, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1AT. The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 21st March 2011 at the Byfleet Boat Club, The Boat House, 4 Old Parvis Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6LE. The Solent & Arun Branch AGM will take place on Tuesday 29th March 2011 at the Norfolk Centre, Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9PA. This meeting will commence once the South East Region AGM, which starts at 7.30pm, is completed.

7 The Agenda for the Branch meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws as follows:

AGENDA 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Approval (following amendment if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year 3. Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items) 4. Branch Chairman's Report 5. Branch Treasurer's Report and Accounts 6. Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary. Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM) 7. Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM

National Waterways Festival Despite adverse weather conditions on the days leading up to the event, everything was in place at the opening thanks to the dedicated efforts of the site team. The popularity of Beale Park as a venue for the National was amply reflected by the presence of some 500 visiting craft, over 400 camping units and 244 exhibitors.

Located within IWA’s South East Region, it was appropriate that Region should make a significant input to the event. Besides the presence of Stands from the various Branches, there were also those representing canal societies and trusts with waterways in the Region’s area. Of particular note were the K&A Canal Trust, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Kennet & Avon Canal, which was to be found at Barry’s Wharf (with its replica wharf buildings) and the Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society who had an impressive display in a large stand for which they received the Canal Boat Award for the best non-commercial stand.

The Oxfordshire Branch presence focused on the arrival of Ron & Mary Heritage aboard their narrowboat Heron after their epic cruise around the waterways system as a re-enactment of the Cressy Cruise to celebrate the centenary of Tom Rolt. Their

8 efforts were duly recognised with a special award, in the form of a plaque and china mugs, presented by the National Chairman and the Festival Chairman. It was felt that the re-enactment cruise had been the catalyst to so much which had happened during the year, raising the image of IWA with National and local press coverage and through involvement with and from other Branches. The thousands of leaflets distributed and the wealth of information given out had brought the attention of ordinary people to "their" waterway. It had enabled many more to recognize the objectives of IWA and the part they can play with membership and support.

As mentioned elsewhere in this edition of Cargoes, the allocation of £2,000 to the Region, as hosts for this year’s festival, was being donated to the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust (SORT) and the presentation of the cheque by Region Chairman, Paul Roper, took place at the event.

At the end of the three days, members involved could reflect on a job well done and, even if the numbers of public attending might have been greater, recruitment figures, at least, were encouraging. Burton-upon-Trent beckons for next year’s National with a return to Shobnall Fields when it will be interesting to see the results of the switch of dates to the end of July.

RC

Salisbury Group At their September meeting, Salisbury members welcomed Keith Bennett of the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race organisation who gave an enjoyable and entertaining presentation on this famous race.

The race which was started in 1948 by 4 scouts from Devizes covers 125 miles and 77 portages around locks etc, now attracts world wide entrants from as far as New Zealand in a variety of canoes and kayaks with ages from 15 to 68.

Originally the four scouts took 102 hours and carried their own camping equipment for the journey, but the current record stands at 15 hours 17 minutes 45 seconds with detailed and meticulous planning to start from Devizes at precisely the right time to join the tidal Thames on the outgoing tide.

So if you have a few hours or the whole Easter weekend spare next year the organisers are always looking for volunteers.

Tony Fry

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Programme of Events Thurs 18th Nov We welcome Paul Barnett back, on this visit he will be talking about “Lydney’s lost fleet”. On this occasion we cross to the other side of the River Severn to see the Lydney ships graveyard. From the hustle & bustle of a 1930s dock, engaged in the transhipment of Forest steam coal, through to its eventual decline in the 1960s.

Thurs 2nd Dec Waterways quiz at Chilworth Village Hall organised by Southampton Canal Society with Questions set by last year’s winning team - Salisbury IWA. Thurs 16th Dec Christmas dinner at The Green Dragon, Alderbury. Bookings, please, to Myra Glover by 9th December.

Thurs 29th Jan 2011 "I didn't know Australia had any Canals" is the response most members of the Australian Canal Society get when they admit membership of this antipodean group. Well enlightenment is at hand, Martin Smith from the ACS will give a brief outline of Australia's canal/waterway history from its inception with a community service project to the expansion of Sydney Airport. Much of the story resembles a compressed version of the UK experience of political manipulation and railway competition, but with water skiing & aeroplanes thrown in.

Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at The Green Dragon, Old Road, Alderbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 3AR starting at 7.30pm when visitors will be warmly welcomed. Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on 01722 710322 or Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841

Waterways at Christmas This year’s selection of IWA Christmas Cards again includes pictures by well known waterways artists in the Region. From Garth Allan we have ‘Riversdale, River Shannon’ whilst Michele Field’s picture is of scene somewhat nearer home and is called ‘Thrupp Basin in Winter, Oxford Canal’. To add interest the original of this painting was on show for sale on Michele’s stand at this year’s Beale Park National Festival.

If you haven’t yet got your Christmas Cards there is still time – you can see the complete range at www.iwashop.com and then place your order. Don’t forget there is also an attractive 2011 Calendar available price £3.60.

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Guildford & Reading Branch News Chairman’s Report As another season on the water draws to a close we are thinking of our winter activities and preparations for the 2011 season. With a re-formed committee we have we hope made a promising start. At National level every day brings news and fresh developments on the waterways. We have, thanks in particular to Ian Bell and our new webmaster Pete Nicolls, a ready source for news . So watch that website.

A busy season of waterside festivals culminated in the National at Beale Park. The message needs putting across as money is short both for HM Treasury and our own National organisation where until recently strong reserves have allowed us to live beyond our means. There will have to be belt tightening but we are adding new G & R members so keep up the good work as we need a strong message and finance. This is an exciting phase in waterways and the life of IWA. The Branch meeting at Dapdune Wharf was well supported and very interesting. It is reported in more detail elsewhere. We will be putting in a link from our website to help the Perseverance Appeal which John Gibson of the National Trust has successfully extended. Next we visited Surrey and Hants for a talk by Ron and Mary Heritage the Oxfordshire Branch Chairman and his wife. In December we shall be taking part in the Southampton Canal Society’s Annual Quiz. This will be followed by a social event in January, details on the website in due course. The AGM will be on 21st March at the Byfleet Boat Club as usual. After the formal proceedings there will be an illustrated talk on Thames Barges by David Gibson of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust.

This year was the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Tom Rolt and next is the 100th Anniversary of the last passage through the Thames and Severn Canal. For many years led by the Cotswold Canal Trust supported by IWA the Western end of the link has been in the process of restoration. It is fitting that at this time Inglesham Lock the first at the Eastern end has been acquired and will be restored aided by a National Appeal on the part of IWA . Your Branch will be looking to support this and the Perseverance appeal with some of the modest funds at its disposal.

We will have our usual full programme of attendance at waterway festivals and I am sure we are all planning waterway activities for 2011. My own plans include a week on the Leeds and Liverpool in late May followed by a week on the Rochdale in early July.

Unfortunately cruising on the Basingstoke will be limited, in spite of the best efforts of Surrey and Hants Canal Society and IWA. Despite the large capital grants by both County Councils, the Basingstoke Canal Authority remains almost moribund. Its torpor

11 only seems awoken by some particularly interesting weed or by an intrepid boater who presents himself at the first lock - padlocked of course. The boating prevention rangers then spring into action with seemingly the expressed intention of minimising progress.

The Basingstoke Canal is not well regarded nationally. I regret I do not see this as acceptable and with the Surrey and Hants Canal Society will continue to press for action on the ground to ensure that the canal does what a canal is supposed to do and permit the passage of boats. It is time the weed watching and paper shuffling ended and the real work began.

After the success of the Pinkerton Cruise last summer we plan a repeat. We also plan to visit the Wey and Arun for a day trip and general update. We are considering a cruise on either the Paddle Steamer Waverley on the Thames or the Kingswear Castle on the Medway. There is the possibility of a weekend charter on a Thames Barge in the Medway , Blackwater or out of Ipswich. Also a day charter of the Norfolk Wherry Albion which given the distance will involve overnighting around the Broads . These are all just ideas at present, so do let me know what you think. Feed back is needed to me, the Editor or other Branch Committee members so that we know what you want, do not want and a likely take up . When we understand that, planning will be done in more detail and we will be in touch directly and via Cargoes and the website. Do also attend the AGM - another useful way by which we can tell you what is happening and hear from you.

Gareth Jones

G&R Branch Website I would like to publicly thank all of those of you who responded to my email asking for a volunteer to take over the running of the Branch page on the IWA website.

I had 16 members who offered their services and so from just hoping to get someone I then had a very difficult selection decision to make. Clearly most of the people could do the job and having been in email contact with all of them and having managed to speak to most on the telephone and some in person at the National Rally I would have liked any one of them to do the job!

Anyway after much deliberation I finally asked Pete Nicolls to take on the role. Pete lives in Reading, works in communications and IT and lives on a narrow boat. He has already brought our Webpage to life. Thanks Pete glad to have you on board (sorry about the pun).

We would like to make the website a source of information about all waterways events that are planned in the Branch and as starting point to find links to all the waterways and groups that are active on these waterways. Our webpage can be found from the IWA website at www.waterways.org.uk then from the Regions & Branches tab click on South East and then Guildford & Reading.

Ian Bell

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Sales and Publicity Stand So our season of outside activities which started last March finally came to an end with the Basingstoke Canal Boating Club’s Fox & Hounds Rally at Fleet on 25th September (see report from Steve Dallen on page 15). Prior to that we were at the Beale Park National over the August Bank Holiday weekend and then, on the following Saturday, at the Weybridge Thames-side Festival.

At the National we had a steady flow of visitors, some to buy books and maps, some to try their luck on the Lock Game and others simply to chat about the waterways and IWA. Weatherwise our greatest problem was the wind although a heavy squally downpour mid-afternoon on the Sunday proved to be a real test for our weather defences. Thanks to a fine team of helpers we were able to keep the Stand fully staffed throughout the weekend. Overall takings of just over £300 may not seem a lot for all the effort expended but there is always the unquantifiable gain in publicity for the Branch and its waterways and for IWA in general.

With but a few days grace before the next event, we decided that at Weybridge we would concentrate our resources on publicity (including the display about the Cressy Cruise re-enactment and Tom Rolt Centenary) plus the Lucky Locks Game. It proved a wise move as three of us were kept fully occupied for the five hours during which the festival was on. (A full report by Brian Roberts is on pages 13 and 14).

Readers will have been interested to see that our Branch Stand featured in Jim Shead’s article ‘IWA at Work’ on page 36 of the latest edition of Waterways. It is, however, due entirely to our dedicated band of helpers that we have been able to cover such a variety of events this year. No doubt it will soon be time to start planning next year’s activities though hopefully it will prove somewhat less hectic than 2010 has been. More details in the next edition of Cargoes.

Ray Carnell

Wey Barge – Perseverance IV It was pleasing that some 20 people braved the elements to attend a re-launch of the Guildford & Reading Branch Social Meetings with a talk about Wey Barges and the ‘Perseverance IV’ as guests of the National Trust at Dapdune Wharf in September.

The scene was set by Jonathan Hills, a Trust Volunteer, with particular interest in the Perseverance project. He introduced Jem Bates, a Master Barge Builder who had, some years ago, been engaged in the work to restore another Wey Barge, The Reliance, which is a land-based feature at the Dapdune Wharf Visitors Centre.

13 He outlined some of the history of Barge Building at Dapdune from the mid-1890s when the Edwards family arrived from Honey Street on the Kennet & Avon Canal. He went on to explain that following his initial survey of Perseverance, he had been able to take steps to ensure that she remained afloat but a full assessment of her condition would not be possible until she had been craned out of the river. He said that ideally the planned restoration work would take place at Dapdune Wharf, where Perseverance IV was built and where the project could be a feature of ongoing interest. The intention was that she should be kept in use on the river. We were told that negotiations for the National Trust to acquire the barge from the Museum of London were at an advanced stage and the Museum would also be passing to the Trust the money that had been set aside for disposal of Perseverance should that have proved necessary. This meant that the immediate pressure of the original September deadline for raising the necessary initial funding of ÂŁ200,000 was removed and it was hoped the appeal would get a fresh impetus in the Spring with a possible corporate Trust event.

At the meeting, it was good to see John White, son of Steve White – one of the last Captains of barges operating on the Wey. John not only crewed on the barges but also worked with Ray Edwards on barge building and repairs at Dapdune in the 1960s, thus providing a tangible link with the current project to save Perseverance IV. The enthusiasm of those involved was clear for all to see but members were left in no doubt as to the magnitude of the task. The Branch Chairman thanked the Trust for their hospitality and wished the project well.

Ray Carnell [Since the meeting we have learnt that ownership has indeed been transferred from the Museum of London to the National Trust with an initial sum towards the project. So far almost a fifth of the original appeal figure has been raised and the Trust intend to launch a major fund-raising campaign early in the New Year. In the meantime donations towards the restoration project can continue to be made through www.justgiving.com/perseveranceIV. Ed]

Weybridge Thames-side Festival Our former Region Chairman, Brian Roberts, acted as coordinating chairman for this event in which seven sports clubs along Weybridge waterfront joined together on 4th September to hold a one-day Thames-side Festival to celebrate the completion of Environment Agency works after a 3 month diversion of the towpath which at this point is part of both the Thames Path and Sustrans Route no.4. The approaches to the landing for the ferry between Shepperton and Weybridge were upgraded by adding new steps and easy-gradient ramps. The safety of the 24 hour visitor moorings was improved by modifying the banking and providing 220 meters of new proper landings with alternating bollards and rings. If the experience of the new moorings at Wallingford

14 (finished earlier this summer) is any guide, these moorings will be of benefit to turnover in Weybridge shops. They are also of strategic benefit to boaters that arrive too late for entry to the river Wey Navigation, by allowing a secure overnight wait.

Encouraged by a free vintage bus service to the site from Weybridge Rail station and the High Street and free trip-boat rides, over 4000 residents took up the invitation to walk the re-opened towpath. The new moorings – finished just in time for the August Bank Holiday the previous week-end – were full with large and small river cruisers, narrow and wide canal boats moored two and more abreast. Each sports club demonstrated their skills on water – two clubs each for rowing, sailing and canoeing.

The tennis club gave informal coaching to youngsters and hosted bar tent, hog roast and the band on their lawn. 25 market and local society stalls were strung along the towpath, all combined with good weather to create a great family day out without too much expense.

Main sponsors were local Estate Agents - Curchods - and The Waterways Trust, with FullerCV and our HSBC local bank. Proceeds supported the local Sam Beare Hospice.

Crowds returned at dusk to watch an illuminated boat parade and the weekend was completed by the annual visit of the Dunkirk Little Ships on the Sunday.

Weybridge Moorings – before and after EA works

[Photos: James Bell]

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Fox & Hounds Rally The Basingstoke Canal Boating Club's annual rally at the Fox & Hounds, Fleet, went ahead as usual during September, and once again seemed to buck the trend weatherwise with glorious blue skies until mid-afternoon, when the clouds rolled in.

A steady stream of onlookers enjoyed the usual atmospheric show courtesy of the Steamboat Association of Great Britain with their beautiful craft. Various waterways Stalls could be found along the towpath and the Fleet Ladies Morris Team gave us an entertaining display.

This event was a first for new pub landlord Chris Wells, who kept everybody well fed and watered with a wonderful and varied barbeque.

Again next year? Most certainly, with Chris keen to see the event develop. So with the 21st anniversary of the canal re-opening looming large, expect bigger and better things as we near this milestone in the canal's history.

Steve Dallen

One man and his dog at this year’s Fox & Hounds Rally [Photo: Ray Carnell]

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S&HCS Social Meetings The new season of social meetings at Chobham got off to a fine start in October when Ron and Mary Heritage gave an illustrated talk on their waterways adventures from Kent to Fort Augustus and spanning several years. Starting with IWA’s diamond jubilee year (2006) aboard their NB Heron, they became involved in a number of events accompanying IWA’s NB Jubilee in her final year with the Association.

On their campaigning trip down the Thames to Gravesend from Limehouse Basin they were glad to have had the expert advice of Roger Squires on successfully navigating the entrance to the Basin.

In 2007, again aboard Heron and along with some 60 other narrow boats, they took part in the Coal and Cotton Rally in Liverpool Docks.For the third of their annual cruises they hired boats to explore the waterways of Scotland. We saw pictures of the Union Canal, the Falkirk Wheel and a tranquil Forth & Clyde Canal followed by shots showing the wide expanse and variety of craft on the Caledonian Canal. In thanking Ron & Mary, David Millett said that members would now be looking forward to a show featuring Heron’s major Cressy re-enactment cruise this year in commemoration of the Tom Rolt Centenary.

The meeting was also pleased to mark the 80th birthday of the Society’s former Chairman, Robin Philip Coventry Higgs, OBE, who was born on 28th October 1930.

For the occasion Mark Coxhead produced a splendidly iced fruit cake which was Robin cutting the cake under watchful eye much appreciated with the mid-meeting of Peter Coxhead [Photo: Ray Carnell] refreshments.

An enjoyable evening was however tinged with sadness at the news of the death of Runnalls Davis who had regularly given illustrated talks on waterways related subjects over a number of years and was always a popular speaker.

RC

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Future programme The programme of talks continues on the third Wednesday of each month at the Parish Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Station Road, Chobham. Meetings start at 8pm and coffee/tea and biscuits will be available during the interval. Non-members welcome.

Wed 17th Nov: Ron and Myra Glover - 'The Ups and Downs of the Belgian Canals' Ron and Myra will be returning and will start on the River Moselle in France and continue via Maastricht in Holland into Belgium. On the Canal du Centre they rise through four lifts to the Canal de Charlerois. These lifts run parallel with the recently opened lift at Strepy Thieu. They then turn towards Brussels and descend on the Ronquiers Inclined Plane. The steel works at Charleroi are also passed through.

Wed 15th Dec: Patrick Moss - 'The Somersetshire Coal Canal' The Coal Canal is an almost forgotten waterway near Bath, the history of which is intertwined with the Kennet and Avon Canal (they received assent on the same day in 1794) and the Wilts and Berks Canal. The talk explores the history of the canal's twin main lines, the surviving lengths of the canal and the hopes for the future.

Wed 19th Jan 2011: Liam D'Arcy Brown - 'The Grand Canal of China' Liam will present an illustrated talk on the fabric and history of the canal and people who live and work upon it. He is an experienced writer and has considerable knowledge of China. He is the first westerner, in over 200 years, to travel the full length of the canal, all of 1114 miles. As well as the history, he will cover the construction, route, politics plus both the historic and current use.

Wed 16th Feb: Roger Squires - ' The Suez Canal - Past and Present' Roger recently cruised through the Suez Canal on a northbound daylight convoy. He will share this experience with us and will start the evening by telling us about the history of the various earlier links between the Med and the Red Sea. He will highlight the various enlargement works undertaken on the current canal since it was nationalised by Egypt.

Wed 16th Mar: Roger Clay - 'The Hidden Avon' Roger from the Stratford and Warwick Trust will talk about the stretch of the River Avon above Stratford-upon-Avon up to Warwick with a description of the proposed restoration scheme. There will be some slides of the existing navigation as well.

Wed 20th Apr: John Ross - 'Roses and Castles - Canal Boat Decoration' Wed 18th May: Pablo Haworth ‘The Making of the Forth Bridge at Walton-on-Thames' For further information on this talks programme, please contact David Millett on 01252 617364

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Woking Illuminated Boat Procession This year’s Illuminated Boat Procession is taking place on Saturday 27th November when the Mayor and Mayoress of Woking will be joining the assembled craft at the town wharf in Woking at around 5pm for the cruise to Bridge Barn. The event is organised by the Byfleet Boat Club and the Surrey & Hants Canal Society.

River Thames News The EA’s Thames Lock Improvements Programme continues and full details can be obtained by visiting the Website at www.visitthames.co.uk/winterworks where it is also possible to download a handy map showing where and when the works are taking place. The list below gives closures expected to apply for December and beyond but the programme is subject to change.

Northmoor 1st Nov to 20th Dec �

New lock rubbing timbers and chamber repairs

Sandford 6th Dec to 11th Mar 2011

Replacing the tail lock gates and hydraulic hoses.

Repairs to ram trench anchors

Culham 6th Dec to 20th Dec�

Re-positioning the lock gate pedestals and replacing

Clifton 4th Jan 2011 to 1st Feb

Re-sheeting the lock gates

Mapledurham 4th Jan to 28th Feb

New lock rubbing timbers and repairs to tail Bullnose

Hambleden 4th Jan to 28 th Feb

Replacing the lock gate hydraulic hoses.

Inspecting and painting the lock gates and pintels

Hurley 1st Nov to 28th Feb 2011

Replacing the lock gates and refurbishing the lock

Temple 1st Nov to 18th Dec�

Re-sheeting the lock gates and re-fixing anchor plates

Romney 10th Jan 2011 to 11th Feb

Upgrading lock gate control system and hydraulics

the lock gate hydraulic hoses

Tony Davis reports that having noted that the lock rebuild at Hurley was going to entail a full winter closure, we did try to get EA to open it at Christmas/New Year, but they could not do so.

19

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Meetings Both the Newbury and Reading Sections of the Trust hold a series of autumn/winter monthly meetings to which non-members are always welcome. The programmes of meetings continue as below.

The Newbury meetings are on the last Wednesday of the month at The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf at 7.45pm prompt (doors open 30 mins before). Admission is free. There is adequate public parking alongside the venue, at present costing £1 for the evening. Newbury meetings are as follows: Wed 24th Nov: Claverton Pumping Station and the Burbage Crane Project

by George Eycott and Peter Dunn.

Wed 26th Jan 2011: K&A Reminiscences by Bill Fisher.

Wed 23rd Feb: Crossing Germany West to East by Ron & Myra Glover.

Further information from the Newbury Branch Secretary 01635 580356 or Email: kact.newbury@virgin.net.

The Reading meetings are held at All Saints Church Hall, Downshire Square, Reading RG1 6NP (off the A4 Bath Road, Reading end) at 7.30 for 8pm start. A donation is requested towards the hire of hall and provision of refreshments.

Reading meetings are as follows: Fri 26th Nov: Christmas ‘party’ (bring some food!) and QUIZ Fri 28th Jan 2011: ‘The Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley’ - Jean & Ken Fostekew Fri 25th Feb: ‘Malta’ – Ian Clay & Peter Drew-Clifton For further information on the Reading meetings contact John or Pam Swift on 0118 941 5540 or Email: swift.john21@gmail.com.

More details can be found on K&A Trust website: www.katrust.org.uk.

20

IWAKES Branch News Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust (SORT) The Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust (SORT) is the proud new owner of a 2-tonne dumper, courtesy of IWA’s National Festival at Beale Park.

Each year, IWA offers a grant for the Region hosting the National Festival to give to local waterway projects. This year, with the festival being held at Beale Park, IWA South East Region has given a grant of £2,000 to SORT to help fund the purchase of a replacement 2-tonne dumper.

SORT has been restoring Isfield Lock, north of Lewes in Sussex, since 2006. The first two years were spent emptying 140-years' worth of silt and debris from the lock. 2008 and 2009 saw the eastern wall of the lock chamber renovated and restored along with the upper and lower wing walls on that side. The plan for 2010 was thus to make a start on the western wall of the lock chamber, but this is a much bigger job. The western wall is in a poorer state of repair and partly collapsed, so more excavation and strengthening work is needed. SORT has a suitable tracked excavator, courtesy and property of the Isfield project manager Paul Morris, but the aged dumper they had been using until now has expired. SORT was left with the prospect of hiring in a suitable dumper for the work season at significant cost to their meagre restoration fund. They just couldn't afford this expense, so a number of the working party members decided that the best way forward would be to club together and buy a used 2-tonne dumper in reasonable condition and hold it in shared ownership until such time as SORT could buy it from them.

It turned out that used 2-tonne dumpers are very scarce and many are snapped up and exported to eastern Europe. However, Paul Morris and Ted Lintott of SORT eventually managed to track down a suitable machine and the deal was done. The Benford Model 2000 was cleaned, repainted and fitted with a new handbrake and rollover bar and has been in constant use all season, saving SORT a considerable amount in hire fees - money better spent on the materials needed for the restoration work. The receipt of the grant cheque from IWA allows the working party members involved in the initial purchase to be quickly refunded and allows the materials needed for restoration to be purchased. Work on the first section of the western wall at Isfield has proceeded extremely well and could not have been achieved without the dumper.

Bob Draper, Chairman of SORT, said “We are very grateful for this generous grant from IWA. As a very small society, money is always tight and because of this constraint our plan for the west wall at Isfield had to be phased over at least three years to try to allow our funds to keep up with the costs of restoration. The availability of our own dumper has speeded up the whole process and since SORT has not had to

21 fund the dumper sufficient money remains available to keep up with the demand for materials, although our Treasurer still has a permanent worried expression! Added to that, the dumper should give excellent service for many years to come.”

Paul Roper, IWA SE Region Chairman said “I am delighted to offer this grant to SORT. As a member of IWA’s Restoration Committee I visited Isfield lock three years ago and I am aware of the good work going on there. Hopefully this grant will help keep the momentum going on this challenging project”.

Bob Draper (rt) receiving IWA’s cheque for £2,000 from SE Region Chairman Paul Roper [Photo: Courtesy SORT]

Fletching Weir Fletching Weir, on the Ouse just upstream of Isfield Lock, has been demolished by the Environment Agency (EA) after a section failed. A press release issued by EA on 30th September was titled ‘Collapsed weir leads to river restoration’ and went on to state ‘A weir known to be several hundred years old collapsed without warning in the middle of August..’. In fact the weir had been identified many years ago as in a dangerous state but no repairs were carried out by EA. It also said ‘The support we have received from those living nearby, landowners and the fishing club has been amazing’. Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust (SORT) replied to EA noting both the riparian farmer and the householder adjacent to the lock had expressed strong opposition to demolition.

It further said ‘The benefits to local wildlife are clear’, though there has been insufficient time to assess whether this is the case and despite SORT having been requesting an Environmental Impact Assessment ever since EA made clear (four years ago) their intention to demolish the weir.

22 Isfield Lock Restoration With a successful summer now behind them the working parties have closed down the site at Isfield Lock on the River Ouse for the winter. The previous report spoke of the great progress being achieved in the next phase of restoration, the west chamber wall, during a dry early summer. That progress was maintained throughout the season and the target set for 2010 was reached before the autumn weather and rains arrived.

The restoration of the west chamber wall requires the removal of much soil from behind the damaged wall to a depth of 3m and replacing it with reinforced concrete, before demolishing the damaged and unstable chamber brickwork and re-building with a mix of reclaimed and new bricks. Back-filling the lock bank completes the work. The 2010 target was to complete about 5m of the wall and this has been achieved.

The next section of chamber wall now awaits the volunteers in 2011 when it is hoped to repeat the progress made this year with another 5m length. Scaffolding is already in position in readiness for the work to begin. That progress will once again require the regular attendance at the site of the restoration team led by Paul Morris and coordinated by Ted Lintott, as well as a repeat of the fine weather experienced this year.

If you think you can help please contact Ted on 01444-414413. We are also always pleased to welcome new members to the Trust, so if you wish to join us in any capacity then ring Bob Draper on 01825 763857, or e-mail him at: membership@sxouse.org.uk.

Terry Owen

Isfield Lock West Wall Reconstruction

[Photo: courtesy of SORT]

23

Thames & Medway Canal Since the last edition we can report completion of the slipway at Mark Lane and now landscaping is to give this area a grassy finish with shrubs. The pump installation has been completed and we wait for Network Rail to allow EDF to install power and start pumping. There is plenty of water available but it is flowing into the Thames through the sea valve; Network Rail seems to be very slow in granting a way-leave to EDF to install the final piece of the jigsaw and start pumping. We wait and wait!

Our static displays appeared at the Medway Model and Train Exhibition, the Gravesend Model Train Exhibition and the Higham Library open day. We will also be at the ‘Full of Life’ event at The Civic Centre Gravesend. Maureen and Brian Amos, Angela and David Acott, with occasional others, went recently to the RSPB day at High Halstow. It was an excellent day with many and various stalls and a lot of interest was shown. We will also shortly be at Woodville Halls, Marling Cross Library Homework Club and St Joseph’s School, Gravesend.

The towpath is getting busier and the team continue to cut back vegetation to allow cyclists to use it without getting tangled up in the brambles, fallen trees and bushes.

We had some foragers picking the sea beet by the bucketful and they seemed highly delighted at the amount of 'harvest' that was available. Litter and fly tipping is still a problem but not as bad as it used to be. We reported the dumping of brochures to Beaverbrooks the Jewellers and, after several emails, received a generous donation for our troubles. Reporting dumping can have its rewards.

On 1st September David Rouse led another walk around our favourite area along the sea wall of the Thames and back along the Canal, all blessed by good weather. Over thirty members of the St Mary’s Active Retirement Association took part after Brian Macknish had previously given them a talk.

Councillor Conrad Broadley has had the basin, locks and walls at the river lock Grade II listed and started to instigate proceedings to apply for some Heritage Lottery Funding to go towards more restoration. The listing of the ‘Canal Lock’ (in addition to the ‘River Lock’) is important so its preservation and restoration must be taken into account in the proposed development of the Albion Peninsula.

Brian Macknish and Angela Acott

24

Medway Navigation The season is now closing after a considerably good year. Apart from a slight grounding in a couple of usual places prone to silting, "Abigail" has come through another term relatively unscathed. The Medway Navigation is possibly as good as it has ever been (certainly for a long time!). Let’s all hope the funding cuts and other proposals in the "pipeline" won’t detract from this.

The BSS certificate will be coming to us soon: if not in the coming year it should certainly be 2012. The number of boats that will need to be "tested" will be probably more than the available labour can cope with. I hope the EA will take this into some sort of consideration for those not able to comply straightaway; I believe they will accept a first refusal in the first year, which means that by the following year all boats "may" have had time to comply by having any necessary work completed.

All events this year have been lucky weather-wise and were well attended, once more showing the ‘better kept navigation’ results in it being more popular.

Graham Ingram

Dartford Creek Dartford’s ‘Exciting’ Project is Up the Creek For the past five months an ‘Exciting’ Project has been underway on a £600,000 project to improve flood defences and upgrade the footway alongside the Dartford Creek downstream of Welcome Mill (Glaxo Smith Kline) and upstream of Dartford Lock. The ‘Exciting Dartford’ website at - www.dartford.gov.uk/exciting/ DartfordCreekproject.htm – describes the project in detail with all the drawings. The project stabilises some eroded sections of riverbank and tackles failed, or inadequate, floodwalls with a combination of bio-defences and newly piled walls. It upgrades the waterside footpath, with a long section ‘cantilevered’, over the Creek, and provides public access over the water at another point with a ‘jetty-like’ structure. It also includes clearance of some dense vegetation and new planting.

However, the project will not significantly change the present appearance of the Creek, which is muddy for most of the time and a fly-tip for the rest. Nor will it uplift the value of the adjacent land (which is mostly former industrial and crying-out for a combination of commercial and residential development, being within a half mile of Dartford Station and town centre). This is a tragedy since much of the land was purchased about five years ago by SEEDA with development very much in mind. At that time a leading proposal was that Dartford Lock should be restored to create a level pound between the Lock and Welcome Mill that would have branches leading to moorings outside residential developments. Additionally, there would be a marina, chandlery, waterside café and pubs for the visitors that would be attracted by the boats; and there would be boats because it would be the only safe haven between Limehouse and Gravesend. There would be a slipway allowing novice boaters to enter the non-tidal water retained behind the refurbished lock and weir.

25 The Inland Waterways Association brought the Flagship IWA Narrowboat “Jubilee” to Dartford on 16th July 2006, when Dartford Councillors were shown how re-impounding the Creek by restoring the Lock would be viable and be cost effective as it would maximise uplift of adjacent land and create numerous job opportunities related to leisure and boating. Subsequently the proposals were considered in the Dartford Core Strategy (2006) and the Dartford Town Centre Area Action Plan (2007). However, what has finally emerged from a partnership of Environment Agency, Dartford Borough Council and SEEDA is the present ‘exciting’ scheme, which is far less ‘exciting’ or beneficial than were the proposals for restoring the lock.

It seems much of the pressure to implement the present ‘exciting’ scheme came from Environment Agency adherence to the European Water Framework Directive, which prioritises mudflats over employment opportunities. Adopting this scheme also provides improved flood defences that Environment Agency would otherwise have had to justify and fund through its own budgetary approval procedure. The ‘exciting’ scheme will also improve the footway for visitors, which is a good thing, since years of neglect of this waterside public footpath by Dartford Borough Council and Kent County Council Highways left it narrow, muddy and potentially dangerous.

However, the scheme will actually impede future use of the Creek by boaters since the cantilevered walkway is a hazard to navigation in a tidal waterway. No boat could possibly land at the jetty as it provides only one point to tie up, which is impractical on a tidal waterway. The jetty is simply an obstruction (not that the Creek presently lacks other obstructions). Mike Hannan, Chairman of the Kent & East Sussex Branch of IWA said “It is hugely disappointing that the lack of vision of the partners on this supposedly ‘exciting’ project has swept away the chance to truly re-invigorate the land alongside Dartford Creek whilst simultaneously creating navigation problems for the few boaters that will now be attracted to visit Dartford”.

[IWAKES Branch Press Release]

Cantilevered Walkway over navigation – a hazard to any boat in a rising tide

26

The Royal Military Canal by Paul Vine A new edition of this book in softback has been published at £16.99 for 224 pages. It is available from IWA sales on 01494 783453 or www.iwashop.com.

IWAKES Minutes Copies of IWA Kent and East Sussex Branch Committee meeting minutes are available via email from the Branch Secretary, Roy Sutton. Unfortunately, the list of email addresses was recently lost. So the last circulation was to recipients as listed two years ago. If you have previously received IWAKES minutes and wish to continue to do so and did not receive them on 7th August then please send an email to RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk . New recipients are also welcomed.

Roy Sutton

Future IWAKES and Other Events Thurs 18th November: 7 for 7:30pm, Peter Brandon (a prominent Sussex historian), will talk on: “History of the Ouse Navigation” at Perrymount Methodist Church, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath. (See Map in Autumn Cargoes): Joint IWAKES meeting with the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust. All are welcome.

Sat 20th November: 7:30 for 8pm, Liam D'Arcy Brown talks on: ‘Grand Canal of China’. In 2006 this travel writer traversed the entire length of the Grand Canal in China, the world's longest man made waterway. This meeting will be held at Gravesend Sailing Club, The Promenade, Gravesend: (See Map in Autumn Cargoes).

(This is a TMCA event to which all are welcome).

Thurs 9th December: 7:30 for 8pm, IWA and TMCA joint get-together with Bernard Snell presenting ‘Canada’ at Gravesend Sailing Club, The Promenade, Gravesend: (See Map in Autumn Cargoes). Nibbles afterwards.

27 Wed 19th January 2011: 7:30 for 8pm, ‘The Thames Path’ by Peter Adams who has an intimate knowledge of the subject. Held at Gravesend Sailing Club, The Promenade, Gravesend: (See Map in Autumn Cargoes).

(This is a TMCA event to which all are welcome).

Thurs 27th January 2011: 7:30 for 8pm, ‘The Panama Canal’: by Roger Squires, at Strood Yacht Club, Knights Road, Strood: (See Map in Autumn Cargoes).

Thurs 24th February 2011: 7:30 for 8pm, IWAKES AGM followed by Les & Sue Schwieso’s recent trips, at St Nicholas Church Hall, Poplar Road, Maidstone: (See Map): Wed 16th March 2011: 7:30 for 8pm, ‘Invaders, Explorers and Shipbuilders’: Jeremy Bratch will tell, amongst other things, why the Archbishop of Canterbury was murdered at Greenwich Yacht Club. Held at Gravesend Sailing Club, The Promenade, Gravesend: (See Map in Autumn Cargoes).

(This is a TMCA event to which all are welcome).

Maps for the venues of the meetings listed can also be found on the IWAKES Branch Website via www.waterways.org.uk.

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings.

[

Maidstone Map]

St Nicholas Church Hall, Maidstone

28

Oxfordshire Branch News Chairman’s Report October and home at last. It seems as if we have been away for ages, which I suppose we have given that we went in April and it is now October. Not having cruised all that time of course for it included visits to the National Festival, Oxford “Open Doors” event and Banbury Canal Day. What an exciting year it has been for us and our colleagues, Tony and Christine Crawford, who accompanied us in their boat “Jupiter”. As Chairman of the Oxfordshire Branch I think I can safely say that we have put the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) on the map. So I guess, as that is what we set out to do, we have achieved our objective. We have spoken to thousands of people as we have travelled round, and tried to point out to them the importance of the waterways to everyone, not just boaters, explaining the need for their support when it comes to issues such as funding. Although many find it hard to believe that only 5% of people enjoying the waterways are boaters; we can now easily believe this as we met so many ordinary people just everywhere.

We must give praise to all the IWA members and people from other Associations who regularly give their time as organisers and/or volunteers to all sorts of gatherings right across the country. We met many of these enthusiasts at the events where we were invited to stop. The National Festival at Beale Park was again something the organisers can be justifiably proud. I looked around at that Festival and can honestly say it was quite spectacular; nothing, in my opinion, could have been done better.

The efforts put in by all concerned, not just at the event but in the year leading up to it are quite amazing.

Mary and I are proud that our efforts during this centenary year were recognized and that we received an award at the National Festival. We really believe that:“Without the Cressy cruise in 1939, and subsequently Tom’s book ‘Narrowboat’, highlighted his concerns and determination that the waterways should not be allowed to deteriorate and ultimately disappear. The campaigning by Tom and others led to the eventual formation of the Inland Waterways Association, that has enabled us to enjoy these fantastic waterways today. May they be there for many years to come so that our children, grandchildren and the generations that follow can enjoy their benefits; they are unique and part of England’s Heritage”.

Ron Heritage

29

Past Events “Reflections on Green and Silver” At the Branch meeting on Wednesday 8th September, the speakers were Gillian and Peter Bolt who discussed Tom Rolt’s travels on the Irish waterways, it was entitled: “Reflections on Green and Silver “.

Gillian and Peter are great fans of Tom Rolt and his writings. They made two trips to Ireland, as a result of reading his book “Green and Silver” that described his three month trip, in 1946, with his first wife Angela. This book helped with the successful campaign to prevent the construction of low bridges over the River Shannon, which would have prevented navigation. This in turn led to the formation of the IWA in Ireland and, thence, to a major public investment in the restoration of Irish canals.

Gillian and Peter’s first trip in 2003 was in Le Coq, a converted ship’s lifeboat with a central wheel house. They spent a week following part of Tom Rolt’s route up the Grand Canal from Dublin, along the Royal Canal to Athlone. Their second week’s trip in 2004 was on a 44ft Dutch Barge Deidre, capable of 10 knots – quite different from a narrowboat’s normal four knots! This time they explored other parts of the Rolt cruise/itinerary, using “Green and Silver” partly as a pilot. Their explorations included the Rivers Shannon and Boyle, Loch Erne and the town of Enniskillen. They found derelict castles, beautiful landscapes, delightful people, clear blue skies and the Irish rain.

Gillian’s talk was illustrated by slides and punctuated by amusing anecdotes from Peter and quotations from “Green and Silver”, Tom Rolt’s book, gave us all a very entertaining and informative evening. Finally Gillian asked members to buy the new guide to Irish Waterways, the proceeds of which were to be given to the Inglesham Lock appeal. The meeting was honoured by the presence of Tom Rolt’s widow Sonia who was escorted by David Stevenson, past chairman of IWA & IWA International.

Sue Wardley Ian Smith and NB ‘Gilbert’ At the Branch meeting on Wednesday 13th October the speaker was Ian Smith who many of us have met on NB ‘Gilbert’ as he attends the Banbury Canal Day event each year. This year in addition to “just being there” he ran fender making workshops for our members. Six people took up his offer and all enjoyed the experience and Ian’s comment on their ability at our meeting was very complimentary.

He started his very relaxed, humorous and most enjoyable talk by explaining about his childhood, spent in Birmingham near to the canals to which he was drawn. There were very few boats about in the 1950s but the cut provided an open space and an

30 interesting playground. He met and married Cas who, fortunately, was also interested in, and had knowledge of, boating. They had three children and at that time lived ashore, but followed their lifelong ambition to live afloat and “Towpath Trading” was born.

Ian then turned his attention, and ours, to “a year in a towpath traders life” that outlined the events and festival they visited, telling tales of the friends and colleagues whom they regularly (though not frequently) met to share a beer and have a gossip. He intrigued us with many anecdotal tales, some funny, some worrying but could also be maddening or heartening. He shared his concerns and sadness about the changed behaviour of some boaters that I think we have all experienced, such as queues at locks when no-one comes to help.

He emphasised that Towpath Trading does not make one wealthy as last year has, by everyone’s account, seen less income generated at all the events. During the winter he does a variety of jobs to subsidise his income that allows them both to follow their dream of cruising the system in the summer.

Ian answered questions from the floor before closing what had been a very entertaining talk and Jane Hall, who had made a fender at one of the ‘fender making’ workshops in Banbury, thanked him for his talk, and for running the workshops which all participants had enjoyed.

Mary Heritage

Oxford Heritage Weekend “Open Doors” Oxford “Open Doors” is part of the National Heritage Weekend when the Preservation Trusts throughout the UK open the doors of buildings which are not normally open to the public.

We ran the waterside part of the event in Oxford for the first time last year at the request of the Oxford City Canal Partnership, who wanted to draw people’s attention to the waterways within the City; they are, after all, just as ‘Historic’ as many of the buildings. Undoubtedly the week-end was highly successful, once again, and the City was heaving with people; estimates suggest there were over 50,000 visitors in all.

For us, running the waterside part of this event, the boat trips were the obvious draw.

This year we had 3 boats running from the lower end of the Oxford Canal at Hythe Bridge, along the arm through Isis lock, down Sheepwash Channel to the Thames where they turned and returned. Mark, a local historian who takes people on Canal walks, provided us with “crib sheets” and the boat crews were then able to point out places of historic interest as they cruised along. We estimated that we gave over 700 people trips; feedback was good from all the passengers. The children's craft and face painting was popular and helped to keep the children occupied while they waited.

31 They were all very well behaved and watched with interest as the boats arrived and the waterside volunteers “winded” them in the very short space available.

FOXCAN (Friends of Oxford Canal) are supporting the restoration of the Terminal Basin in the City Centre and had much of interest to show the public, including recent surveys carried out which show the basin, still mainly intact, under the Worcester St Car Park.

The people at this event are very different from those attending the Banbury Canal Day, our next event, as a high percentage are overseas visitors whereas in Banbury they are mainly locals.

Mary Heritage

Banbury Canal Day

Despite the poor weather this year Banbury Canal Day was nevertheless a success story with lots to see and do, and the crowds still turned out.

There were the usual boat trips and, as always, the “taxi” rides to Sovereign Wharf proved extremely popular and ran with full numbers on board all day. Hook Norton Brewery tent and the horse rides were well supported, as was the dancing.

Unfortunately the children’s crafts we had planned had to be abandoned as we had difficulty finding an appropriate location for them. The books and fenders sold like hot cakes.

Banbury Canoe Club ran their Bellboat Regatta below the lock. There were four catamarans each with five paddlers and a steersman. They did not seem to notice the rain and a large number of kids had a great time.

Hook Norton Brewery gave rides [Photo: Brian Holmes]

Sadly the food market was not as well supported as in other years and the few stall holders, who did turn up, looked sparse in the large area allotted to them.

Finally, a huge thank you to all our volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the day. Despite the weather they all remained smiling.

Mary Heritage.

32

Oxfordshire Branch on the web Oxfordshire has set up information on their section of IWA’s website. You can find there details of forthcoming meetings and events and reports of those that have taken place. British Waterways draft winter restrictions on the Oxford Canal is also there as is some information about government and others plans for new developments affecting the Canal. There is more, why not take a look it’s all in Regions and Branches/Oxfordshire.

Your committee is trying to expand and develop the information provided so if you have anything of interest to members in the Branch or any ideas about what could be shown then please send them to Chris Wardley at: planning.oxfordshire@waterways.org.uk Chris Wardley

Forthcoming Events You are invited to join us on the following dates: Wed 8th December: Skittles night with sausages & chips and mince pies. This event needs to be booked with Ann Yeatman (see contact details below).

Wed 12th January 2011: Ron and Mary Heritage - “Highlights of 2010 Re-enactment of Tom Rolt’s ‘Cressy’ Cruise” Wed 9th February: Dr Colin Lee, Principal Ecologist, Aspect Ecology, Banbury “Ecologists and the waterways”.

All property developments, including those for marinas, require “Environmental Assessments”. What are these and what is their role?

Wed 9 th March: Annual General Meeting – see separate notice for details.

Wed 12th April: Roger Leishman or Nigel Williams – “The Wendover Arm Trust” Unless otherwise stated the above events are held at the Social Club at Kidlington Football Club, Yarnton Road, Kidlington, OX5 1AT 7.30pm for 8.00pm. New members and visitors most welcome.

For more details or directions phone Ann Yeatman - tel: 01865 372552.

33

Solent & Arun Branch News Chairman’s Report In this issue there appears the official notice for the Branch AGM to be held on Tuesday 29th March 2011, this time it is also our turn to host the Region AGM. The reason this is published so early is to give members the opportunity to put an item on the meeting agenda, as required by IWA’s byelaws. These byelaws have evolved over the years to allow fewer formal meetings and more use of E-mail, etc, thus saving a great deal of travelling, always a problem with the geographical size of the Branch.

We always try to arrange meetings to coincide with other events to reduce the demands on people’s time. Details of a guest speaker at the AGMs will be in the next edition of Cargoes.

The Solent & Arun Committee is now as small as it can be whilst still functioning, with just four members; we urgently need new members to enable us to keep going.

Please consider whether you could help out; in the current climate the waterways are going to need all the help they can get. As I'm writing this piece it has just been announced that British Waterways is to become a charity.

The Beaulieu cruise took place on a sunny but chilly day, with several boats on the river and a welcoming committee to meet us at Beaulieu. It was uneventful, but it was great to meet some members who had come along although, unable to boat.

The next edition of Cargoes will contain details of our cruising plans for next year; we are so fortunate to have such beautiful rivers to cruise in our Branch area. Out of the Arun, Hamble, Beaulieu and Adur one would be hard pushed to pick a favourite, as they are all glorious and unique.

Best wishes for Christmas and a very happy new year, Mike Laishley

Southampton Canal Society Quiz We would like to field a team at the Annual quiz at the Southampton Canal Society on Thursday 2nd December, and are looking for Branch members to take part. It is always a great evening with an American supper to finish, if you are interested and would like to take part, then please contact M. Laishley on: 023 92325000 Mike Laishley

34

Southampton Canal Society Changes at the Top Angela Rose reports that Paul Herbert, their Society Chairman for over 9 years, has stepped down. Paul’s hard work and dedication through these years has been much appreciated. Alan Rose is taking over the role, with Paul acting as Vice Chairman.

Forthcoming Events Thurs 2nd December: “Inter-Society Canal Quiz”, followed by an American Supper, questions set by IWA Salisbury.

Thurs 6th Jan 2011: Members Photographic evening Thurs 3rd Feb: Alan & Jane Inder’s presentation of the Talyllyn Railway Meetings held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Southampton SO16 7JZ starting at 7.45pm Angela Rose

Southern Canals Association The Southern Canals Association is a group of canal societies, roughly, south of Milton Keynes who get together twice a year to visit canal projects to see how they achieve their restoration, and from which we can learn something, plus a winter get together at Devizes for a day of presentations on topics that are relevant to restoration groups. There are usually about thirty of us from about a dozen or so different canal societies. We try to fit as much as possible into a day to make the visit worth while as some of us will have travelled for a couple of hours.

The last meeting that took place was on the Wilts and Berks Canal near Wootton Bassett where we looked at a couple of very interesting sites under restoration, followed by lunch then some presentations in the afternoon. This is the usual pattern for our visits. Our next visit in the spring will be to the Mon & Brec Canal to see progress at Fourteen Locks.

If you lead a restoration group that we do not know about and would like to join us please call Linda on 01243 576701.

Linda Wilkinson

35

Wey & Arun Canal Trust News The Wey & Arun Canal is benefiting from two generous grants from IWA. In August, Paul Roper, presented a cheque for £4,000 as a contribution towards restoring a section of the summit level near Dunsfold in Surrey. As mentioned in the last Cargoes, this amount was available in recognition of the National Festivals held at Beale Park in 2003 and 2006. The cheque was received by members of the Trust’s mid-week working party, who have been carrying out clearance and maintenance work at this location.

The section of canal near the Three Compasses Inn is known as the Dunsfold cutting, thought to be the most significant piece of heavy engineering along the canal route and the source of much anguish for the original builders. Between Compasses Bridge and the A281 at Fast Bridge, the Canal is already navigable (although shallow in places) and has hosted an annual Small Boats Rally for the past few years. To the south of Compasses Bridge, as far as Tickner’s Heath Bridge, the canal route is clear of blockages after two causeways were removed during the 1990s, but is heavily silted. The award will allow a start to be made on restoring this section to fully navigable condition.

Paul Roper, with members of the Midweek Working Party at Dunsfold, presenting the Trust with IWA’s cheque for £4,000 [Photo: Janet Phillips]

36 A further grant, of £2,000, has been agreed by IWA’s Restoration Committee. This will assist with funding preliminary studies on the northern section of the canal route, in the Shalford and Bramley area, where the original canal joins the River Wey. The study work includes a Flood Risk Assessment, which is now being carried out for the Trust by specialist consulting engineers Water Environment Ltd of Wimbledon.

Chris Harrison, the Trust’s Bramley Link Project Manager, said “Not only is this grant a considerable boost to the Trust’s ability to finance the work, but it demonstrates that IWA is fully supportive of the Trust’s objectives of implementing the Bramley Link Project. This welcome news comes at a time when the newly published Bramley Parish Plan includes an encouraging endorsement of the Trust’s proposals for the Bramley Link Project.”

Bramley Autumn Meeting Bramley Village Hall was filled to overflowing with upwards of 150 canal supporters attending the Trust’s autumn meeting; Sally Schupke, Chairman, reviewed their activities over the past six months. Looking to the future she said it was clear that as more of the Canal was restored, so a greater part of their funds had to be directed at maintenance – Baldwin’s Knob Lock was due for attention and Lordings Waterwheel was being refurbished. The meeting heard about several prospective developments.

The proposed visitor centre for the Loxwood wharf was explained by Will South of Fordingbridge plc. Their environmentally-friendly initial design had been viewed with some enthusiasm by local planners. A substantial anonymous donation would allow the project to go ahead, the cost of the initial study having already been funded by a donation.

Chris Harrison (Bramley Link Manager) said it was encouraging that recently published statistics indicated that some 65% of local residents were in favour of the Canal’s restoration, an improvement from the 50% ascertained in 2004 from responses at the Trust’s two-day exhibition at the village hall. He mentioned that the lease of Gun’s Mouth Island from the National Trust would be the focus of the Trust’s activities at the north end of the canal and that, nearby, the Doris Hunt Memorial Park would be developed. He also indicated that investigations were to be carried out at Gosden Aqueduct and there was positive news on the possibility of resuming water supplies from Vachery Pond.

John Talbot, Chief Engineer, reviewed the Dunsfold Section proposals to reinstate navigation from the Three Compasses to Tickners Heath Bridge with the object of operating a small trip boat on that section. A number of obstacles had to be overcome but he was pleased to record the receipt of a £4,000 donation from IWA (see previous item) and the expectation that Wilderness Boats would fund a slipway at the Three Compasses.

37 Eric Walker gave the Loxwood update. Progress was being made with the project for brick facing of the parapets at the Loxwood Bridge which was now at the design stage. Southlands Lock had received planning permission subject to a number of conditions, and access arrangements had been agreed with the landowners.

During the meeting several references were made to the Trust’s latest comprehensive publication ‘A Guide to Restoration Progress on the Wey & Arun Canal’ containing a wealth of information and 10 detailed sketch maps showing details of work on the Canal from Gun’s Mouth on the Wey to the junction with the Arun at Pallingham.

This publication is available, priced £4.80 (incl p and p) from: John Wood, 24 Griffiths Avenue, LANCING, West Sussex BH15 0HW, cheques should be made payable to: W&A Enterprises Ltd.

Wilts & Berks Canal News Abingdon Branch Report In tandem with many similar events throughout the country, 11 September was National Heritage Day when many buildings that are not normally open to the public are made accessible. The Trust was invited by the Vale of White Horse District Council to participate by way of an exhibition to celebrate the opening of the Wilts and Berks at Abingdon 200 years ago. The actual date was 10 September 1810 so we were only a day late.

A couple of days before there was a moment of anxiety as the room we had been allocated in the Guildhall was changed and we were now to be in the foyer. An ideal location but we had been relying on the tables in the original room to display the posters, and all the Trust’s display boards that had been used at the Wichelstowe Canal Fest. The Vale came up trumps and provided enough boards and tables so that the whole set of 19 posters and maps could be shown.

In addition to the display I, garbed in the charity shop version of a traditional boatman, gave a talk on the Wilts & Berks, updated to cover the naming of the new trip boat ’Dragonfly’ by our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, two days previously. This was followed by a guided walk over the town sections of the historic route and then down to Jubilee Junction. ‘Salter’s Steamers’ had been asked to run two special trips from the town to the Junction, and there we met their steamer, ‘Wargrave’ that turned by nosing into the Junction and then going astern to complete the turn.

38 Attendance at the display was constant, and frequent, with our members fully occupied explaining what is happening with the restoration programme. The Tourist and Information Office run by the Town Council reported very great interest in all three events and the Vale staff said that many visitors had come to the Guildhall just to find out what was happening on the canal front.

Around thirty people came to the talk, 14 were on the walk and we gave away some 400 copies of the brand new walks leaflet. Attendance at the talk and walk could have been potentially much higher judging from the pre-enquiries but there were so many excellent visits to be made around the town that people clearly had to prioritise their choices. The subject of the proposed Thames Reservoir was the most frequent item of discussion, though the Trust’s disinterest in whether the reservoir was needed was always emphasised, but equally the benefits that could accrue were described.

At least one new member was recruited and I have been invited to give the talk to a local branch of the WI. The displays will be re-erected in both the Abingdon Museum and the Library for several weeks. Talking solidly for six hours was taxing but the success of the day was not in doubt. My thanks go to Angela Ford, Elsie Cole and our new member, Jane Bye, for their help in manning the stand.

The Event Organiser wrote shortly afterwards to say: "Many thanks for adding so much to Heritage Day. I was very impressed by the displays in the foyer and the number of people you got to the lecture as early as 10:30am."

Martin Buckland

South London Branch Meetings South London Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30 for 8.00 pm at The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP. Admission to the talks and presentations is free to all, members or non-members, although we do request a contribution towards room hire and refreshments. The programme for the next three meetings is as follows: Wed 12th January 2011. Presentation: ‘Wildlife and Waterways in Central America’

by Alan and Christine Smith Wed 9th February. Presentation: ‘Canal through the Desert’ by Roger Squires Wed 9th March.

AGM followed by Alan Snowdon’s film about Venice

39

Sue and Brendan Whelan with Mike Laishley on the approach to Beaulieu during the Solent & Arun Cruise (see page 33) [Photo: Phil Clarke]

The Inland Waterways Association South East Region: Chairman Paul Roper ‘Cranborne’ Baughurst Road, Baughurst, Tadley, Hants RG26 5LL Phone: 01189 813381 Email:paul.roper@waterways.org.uk Guildford & Reading Branch: Chairman Gareth Jones, Hill House Farm, Misbrooks Green Road, Beare Green, Dorking, RH5 4QQ Phone: 07850 819 071 Email: hhel@btconnect.com Kent & East Sussex Branch: Chairman Mike Hannan ‘Trumpeter’, Water Lane, Headcorn, Kent TN27 9JN Phone: 01622 890586 Email: mcfhannan@btinternet.com Oxfordshire Branch: Chairman Ron Heritage “Arbre”, Main Street, Fringford, Oxon OX27 8DP Phone: 01869 277400 Email: oxfordshire@waterways.org.uk Solent & Arun Branch: Chairman Mike Laishley 16 Park Avenue, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO7 5DW Phone: 023 92325000 (evenings) Email: mike.iwa@ntlworld.com Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA. Editorial Team: Ray Carnell and Cecil Ives iwacargoes@hotmail.com Next issue Spring 2011 Copy date 15th January 2011.

The old and the new The old and the new The old and the new

Butty ‘Betelgeuse’ operated by Pete Boyce – a regular at Banbury Canal Day (see report of event on page 31) [Photo: Brian Holmes] Butty ‘Betelgeuse’ operated by Pete Boyce – a regular at Banbury Canal Day (see report of event on page 31) [Photo: Brian Holmes] Butty ‘Betelgeuse’ operated by Pete Boyce – a regular at Banbury Canal Day (see report of event on page 31) [Photo: Brian Holmes]

Water Zorbing was an added attraction on the lake at the Beale Park National Festival [Photo: Ray Carnell] Water Zorbing was an added attraction on the lake at the Beale Park National Festival [Photo: Ray Carnell] Water Zorbing was an added attraction on the lake at the Beale Park National Festival [Photo: Ray Carnell]