Northampton Arm maintenance and a very big litter pick
The Summer months have seen us back to our normal schedule of lock painting and various bits of vegetation management. Despite the dry summer, bramble growth around the lock by washes seems to have been worse than usual so we have had the strimmers out to those. It was nice to see that the CRT contractors were doing a neat job of the locks this year. It seems that we have an experienced couple of men doing the work, and they are given a time allowance to do a pretty good job.
Continued on page 10
Some of the Litter picked up with the help of the Northampton Wombles and our Volunteers
waterways.org.uk/northampton
On 6th October this year, Campbell Robb joined CRT as their new Chief Executive following the departure of Richard Parry in the summer. He has an interesting employment background working with several national charities including Shelter, so hopefully a judicious appointment.
But what a tricky job he has taken on! We, as users and visitors to the inland waterways, understand that the system is facing complex and urgent challenges. Years of underfunding has impacted routine maintenance and repairs, and examples of failing infrastructure such as the Toddbrook Reservoir and Anderton Boat Lift are becoming increasingly common. This summer has seen unprecedented water shortages and navigation closures as our weather patterns change.
Mike Wills, National Chair of IWA, said that we, as IWA, “extend very best wishes to Campbell Robb for every success. His role is vital, and his effectiveness will be wished for by all who value the future of our inland waterways”.
Now there is plenty of water in our canals we can return to cruising again, with the exception of winter closures. Enjoy your time whatever you are doing whether its boating, fishing, walking or cycling. Don’t forget to let me know and share your adventures with other like minded people. Why not make it your New Years resolution to send me your experiences good or bad including any mishaps - we all have them sometimes!
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year .
January
13th 2pm IWA Northampton Branch
Meeting at The Boat Inn
Stoke Bruerne.CRT
Chief Investment Officer
Stuart Mills, and guides us through how the Canal and River Trust is funded.
Well, what a summer it was! Everyone was complaining about the lack of rain – gardeners, farmers, anglers, not to mention boaters, boating businesses (whether hiring or selling boats or equipment for them) and hospitality outlets who rely on good summer takings to tide them over the quieter winter months. The Met Office declared 2025 as the hottest summer since records began in 1884 and the spring as the driest in 130 odd years. I can’t remember a time when our inland waterways were so affected by the lack of water in canals, rivers and reservoirs resulting in closure of much of the system – but maybe I haven’t been boating long enough!
As I write this, there has been some rain and much of the system is open once again, albeit with limited time windows at lock flights. However, reservoir levels remain well below where they should be at this time of year so there remains cause for concern. Fingers crossed for some heavy downpours or maybe a few inches of snow though I guess we would soon be moaning!
NATIONAL AGM. Did you go to the AGM in Nottingham at the end of September? Unfortunately, I was unable to go due to a diary clash. At this meeting, the launch of an interesting initiative The Waterways Risk Index was announced which was described as a “pioneering mapping system unique to IWA which will identify the most urgent challenges facing the network”. The hope is that the evidence collected for this index will strengthen IWA’s voice in Parliament, the media and among communities. With reduced government funding and the weather anomalies experienced in recent years, this can only be a good initiative which can hopefully help safeguard our waterways for the future. Look out for further details on this initiative.
COTSWOLD CANAL TRUST.
Congratulations to the Cotswold Canal Trust who have secured an award of £6.46 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which will help restore the canal between Stonehouse and Saul and reconnect the Stroudwater Navigation to the national canal network for the first time in over 70 years. I suspect my boating days will be over by the planned opening in 2029,
so I won’t be able to enjoy this restoration from the water – but maybe a visit by road will be on the cards
BRANCH MEETINGS. Our October meeting was well attended with Tim Coghlan sharing his extensive knowledge of Waterways Artists. Several attendees brought along a favourite picture to share.
November’s meeting took place at the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust and Museum but sadly it was poorly attended. We were treated to a detailed, informative tour of the Inclined Plane site which is no longer available to the public (except via pre-arranged tours) due to Health and Safety considerations. Perhaps the weather put you off?
Also in November, we held our annual dining event – which used to be a dinner in the evening, but this year was a luncheon. This change was being trialled after falling numbers for an evening event and happily numbers were up for the luncheon. The Boat Inn did us proud with a super menu and excellent service in a lovely canalside setting.
WATER TRANSFER SCHEME.
Are you aware of this scheme which involves using the Grand Union Canal primarily to transfer water from the Midlands to the Southeast which suffers from water shortages. It is a joint project between two water companies, Affinity Water and Severn Trent, and CRT which aims to deliver a reliable water supply for the future in the Southeast and which, we are told, will also secure future water availability for canal navigation. This is obviously a mammoth undertaking, and the scheme is still at a very early stage of development. There was a public consultation recently and further ones planned for 2026. They are keen to listen and understand the views of people living and working on the canals along the water transfer route as well as those using them for recreation, access to nature and travel.
Helen Westlake, our Branch Planning Officer, has been attending numerous meetings and consultations already and has voiced concerns on local issues such as the impact on Braunston and Blisworth Tunnels. She will keep us all informed about progress of this Scheme as Draft Plans are hopefully being published in February 2026. All that remains for me to say now is have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2026 with lots of boating/time spent by our waterways
TASK PARTY DATES
November 12th. December 10th. January 14th. February 11th.
In the Autumn, a member of the Northampton Litter Wombles contacted us to say that they had noticed that the boat, which had been swept up on to lock island opposite Carlsberg Brewery at the Northampton end of the Arm, had been removed but that a large amount of rubbish had been left behind.
After a bit of thought and planning (and a reconnaissance trip around the back of the Island by Roger Ireland) we had a plan to take the CRT tug and flat down the arm from Gayton, fill it up and return. (We did consider using our own boat Watford, but it was above Watford Locks at the time, and has a much smaller deck for rubbish.) It’s great for offside vegetation cutting though!
A crew led by Roger set off from Gayton at 9.00 Saturday 1st November. We stopped to clear the offside vegetation at the ‘narrows’ above and below lock 14 and some overgrown trees in odd places. Finally mooring above lock 17 at around 3.30.
9.00am Sunday saw Roger taking the boat down through lock 17 and round the back of the Island. By 10.00 we had large number of volunteers of our own and from the Litter Wombles. After a safety briefing, we had the group across the lock island to the area. In an hour, an enormous quantity of rubbish was bagged and loaded on to the boat. There was so much that we then offloaded some at the lock for the Wombles to arrange disposal through their Council contacts.
With the boat still heavily laden, but at least manageable, the boat crew set off back up the Arm. At lock 11 we hit the back of a queue of boats going up the flight. The boats in front were trying to sort out empty pounds but succeeded in flooding the towpath. We eventually made it to Gayton Junction with just enough light to unload, mostly into the CRT Skip, but some nearby (as arranged beforehand with CRT). Job done and a well-earned rest after for all!
Our winter plans include finishing the by wash clearing, and bringing Watford down to the Arm in January for more offside work. .
Come and join us at our Task Parties - dates are on page 9. All safety equipment and tools are supplied. For more details contact Paul Lynam (details on page 30).
John Faulkner Award
Bernard Morton said: Our JohnFaulknerAward is named after a long -standing member of our Branch who left us a substantial legacy a few years ago. This legacy has been used to help fund work carried out by various volunteer groups and to contribute towards projects on our waterways such as the new footbridge over the River Nene at Thrapston. The Award recognises the work of people who have contributed significantly to the endeavours of our Branch.
This year our John Faulkner Award goes to a group of hardworking, dedicated volunteers based at Watford Locks, who are represented by Dave Weller at our luncheon today.
It came to our notice at the end of 2023 that CRT had a workboat, known as 4000602, that was surplus to their requirements – a rather decrepit and forlorn workboat whose final years had been spent on the South Oxford Canal.
Dave Weller receiving the John Faulkner Award from Chairman Bernard Morton on behalf of the team at Watford
In February 2024, she was transferred to our Branch with the aid of a CRT community grant and brought to her “home mooring” at the top of Watford Locks – quite a difficult journey for those involved in the depths of winter.
Over the next 18 months, she was fully restored by a core team of volunteers – Dave Weller, Dave Lee, Steve Sherwood, Roger Ireland, and Colin Sherwood – and renamed “Watford”.
Since her refurbishment, she has been kept busy supporting local groups of volunteers. She was used to cut back a fallen tree near Crick Tunnel, to scrape the lock gates and walls at Watford Locks, and to move over 200 bags of stone for the Daventry Towpath Taskforce.
During January February and March this year, “Watford” was used to cut back offside vegetation on the Northampton Arm supporting our own volunteers who put in over 550 volunteer hours doing this. She also facilitated extensive cutting back of overhanging trees between locks 16 and 17 on the Arm.
We were all proud when “Watford” was invited to attend the Braunston Historic Boat Festival this year where she took part in the processions – good publicity for our Branch.
We hope that “Watford” and its gang of hardworking volunteers will continue to operate most effectively on the waterways in our Branch area for many years to come.
To join for next year contact Maria Hobbs e-mail maria.hobbs@waterways.org.uk before 28th February. Help raise
Obituary
Jonathan Brown
7th November 1945 –
27th October 2025
My partner of twenty-five years Jonathan Brown passed away in a nursing home after a very long illness on Monday 27th October. He was seventy-nine years old and would have been eighty in a few weeks time.
I met Jonathan when he joined me on a BCS work party in 1999 at Cosgrove and for a long while we were just friends. Later he got more in volved with the BCS and at one time was on the Committee and was also equipment officer for the BCS for quite a while. For several years he helped me run the BCS market stall where we attended many festivals supporting the BCS including several at the IWA Nationals and at Braunston and many local festivals usually raising around £2,000 each year for the BCS. Even when he could no longer carry out the practical tasks on the work parties he continued to help me by bringing equipment to site.
Our last trip on our boat Brown Trout was to the IWA Burton on Trent Festival of Water in 2022 where he won first prize for the best illuminated boat.
He also did a lot of volunteering work for Milton Keynes Parks Trust as a Ranger and Flood Site Warden where we both won long service awards from them.
There was a fantastic turn out at the funeral held on Wednesday 19th November with one hundred and five people in attendance so a big thank you for all those BCS and IWA members who joined me to help celebrate Jonathan’s life
Athina Beckett.
When you go cruising again let me know about your trip so we can all share in your experiences. This is where you can suggest new places to visit or to avoid.
Write a report about your cruise, let others know the good and not so good places to moor, eat, drink, places of interest worth visiting and anything else that might help others to enjoy that area. Let us know of any mishaps or interesting things that happened on your journey. Include pictures of your cruise, unusual things scenery and anything else that you want to add. I am looking forward to receiving your reports.
Or maybe you could tell us about the boats you’ve hired or owned.
Send your articles and stories to tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk
VISIT STOWE HILL WHARF FOR ALL
Proprietor Robert Gudgeon
• Full Repaints
• Hull Blacking/Stern Gear
• Inspection and Repairs
• Engine Repairs and Maintenance
• Complete Fit-Out and WoodworkAlterations
• Plumbing Installations and Repairs
• Electrical Installations and Repairs
• NEW — Fuel Polishing Service
• Stockists of Morris Oils and Grease
• Full range of Batteries always available (please let us know your requirements)
By road we are easily found, a few yards off theA5 at Stowe Hill towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26
ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN, FROM SIMPLE TASKS TO COMPLETE FIT-OUTS
YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES
ALAN FIRTH - THE ODD LOCKARTIST
Part 2
Tim Coghlan recalls the life and works, and his own personal memories, of canal artist Alan Firth 1933-2012 – once described by the IWA as ‘probably Britian’s best known waterways artist.’
Alan used his time in Coventry to continue his exploration of the canals to the north of the city, and to paint them, for which he began to build up something of a reputation. In an interview in 1981 he said, ‘I met the late Joe and Rose Skinner on their boat Friendship at Sutton Stop. One of my great pleasures was spending an evening drawing on their boat and talking about their life on the cut.’ But strangely, although Alan probably joined others going boating here and there – how else could he have acquired his extensive knowledge of the waterways? – he never owned a boat, nor even went on a hire boat holiday, which the young ‘twins’ were always begging him to do.
Once I start painting, I’m away!
Alan contentedly at work in his studio. (Alan Firth Estate)
Once retired, Alan threw himself into his art – and to make it pay, he began publishing prints and greetings cards of his popular paintings, doing his own framing in his bungalow loft which he had converted into a workshop, and doing the rounds of canal shops and attending waterway rallies. He had long before turned the far end of his sitting room at the back of their house into his studio. He had bought the house because it had a large modern window
View
from the Room.
The open countryside that Alan looked across whilst working in his studio. The two Chestnut trees in the centre were incorporated variously into many
Alan’s chosen technique was to paint in gouache, a thick water-based paint, which dried quickly. A favourite tool, which he mastered to perfection, was using an airbrush, allowing him to create his misty effects. His problem was that he struggled to finish and let go of a work – he was always dissatisfied –and in consequence he never had any of his works on display in his house.
Terry Stroud recalled that he had once attended a rally at Moira Furnace on the Ashby Canal, where he had a stand. When walking around he spotted a canal society stand that was selling off one of Alan’s original paintings very cheaply because it had suffered some water damage, and the owner had given it to the society to on-sell. The painting was probably the largest painting Alan ever did. It was a classic Firth – a working narrowboat somewhere on the Leicester Line, passing under a canal bridge at night with the moon rising through the bridge-hole. That moon, the left-hand side of the bridge, and the water flowing down to the left-hand corner all had watermarks of varying degrees. Terry later took the painting to Alan when he was going to see him at his studio, and Alan said he would repair the picture there and then. The moon was no problem, and quickly sorted, the watermark to the bridge was painted over with ivy, and then Alan airbrushed and redid the water – just like that. Then when he had finished, Alan commented, ‘I never liked the way I did the water in that picture. I’m glad you brought it back.’
I acquired Braunston Marina in receivership and in a rather sorry state in
1988. In the spring of 1989 we formally reopened the marina, including making the old rope shop into a shop selling chandlery and a mixture of canal items. My then general manager, who had been with the company before I acquired it, knew Alan of old – as I did not. He was a great enthusiast for Alan’s canal-ware range and wanted to make something of a splash with it for the formal opening of the shop which was to be done by former working boatmen Jim and Doris Collins – now working for me. This we did and in so doing I first met Alan, and over the years perhaps got to know him as well as anyone else involved with the canals. I always enjoyed chatting to him when he came in to deliver his stock, and finding out what paintings he was working on.
Hoar Frost Grand Union
A typical canal winter scene of which there were many by Alan. Here are a pair of loaded Samuel Barlow boats are heading south down the Grand Union, the motor steered by husband and butty by the wife, who is wearing something like traditional boatwoman clothes. No other crew is apparent. The tree on the left looks very similar to one of those outside Alan’s studio window. (Alan Firth Estate)
In 1991, I started the Braunston Boat Show with Simon Ainley, the dynamic manager of British Waterways’ Braunston office, with whom in many ways we were able to achieve so much. The event proved a runaway success that grew rapidly. Each year we built on the previous year, adding new attractions. Amongst the staff of British Waterways Braunston office, was Helen Harding who was the local publicity officer. She was also a trained artist, and a member of the Guild of Canal Artists. This was an organisation founded in the 1980s by a group of artists who were also waterways enthusiasts, with
Alan Firth a founder member. British Waterways made 1993 nationally into the big year for the canals – the bicentenary of 1793, the year of Canal Mania, when most of the Acts for new canals were passed through Parliament. As part of these celebrations, Helen suggested that the Braunston Boat Show should sponsor a marquee for the Guild of Canal Artists in its office car park, which we did with very encouraging results. I cannot recall one of the wellknown artists of the time who was not there. It was a veritable feast of canal art.
An extract from the Wedgwood brochure for its Waterways By Moonlight with the Between the Locks plate. It was one of a set of eight collector’s plates that would use Alan’s circular paintings. The commission was probably the high-water mark of Alan’s artistic career. (Wedgwood)
Alan of course, was there very much to the fore, smiling and in good form, as besides his usual canal-ware, he had recently landed himself with a jammy prestigious contract with Wedgwood. This was to make eight canal paintings, collectively to be called Waterways By Winter Moonlight, which would be reproduced on eight-inch round wall plates. These would then be sold as collectors’ pieces. Wedgwood did a lot of that sort of thing at that time, their collector leaflets being a standard insert in Sunday newspaper colour supplements. People could subscribe for the set, to be issued one at a time over a period of time, so they could be paid for in instalments. The first one was now out, entitled Between The Locks, with the blurb proclaiming it ‘An evocative new collector’s plate inspired by a living part of our heritage that harks back to an age greater than our own.’
On Alan’s stand was an example of that plate and with it, and very much bigger – about eighteen inches in diameter – was his round painting for that plate. It was my first encounter with Alan together with an original of his works, and we had a long and enjoyable talk about it. Alan told me he had used a photograph of former working boatmen Jim and Doris Collins, whom I now employed, approaching Lock 2 on the Braunston Flight.
The photograph, taken in 1961, came from Mike Webb’s great booklet collection of photographs called Braunston’s Boats. Alan had used his artistic license to set the scene by moonlight, in thick snow. The boats are breasted up, and Doris is snug below in the cabin, one assumes making the evening meal, while Jim steers on into the night. Who was going ahead to open the lock is not made clear. Ugly Sixties add-ons to Braunston have been removed. Instead there are substituted Alan’s beloved trees seen from his studio window. Alan told me he retained the selling right to the eight paintings, once the whole plate selling saga was over, and offered the painting to me for £750 on this basis. At the time I and the marina were up to our necks in debt, and I turned down the offer. It was one I have always regretted – like Alan with that Lowry
The years continued and the Braunston Boat Shows came and went, during which time I saw quite a bit of Alan and enjoyed his new paintings coming through. Then at the May 1998 Braunston Boat Show, I went and visited Alan’s stand and said that in October of that year, I would have owned Braunston Marina for ten years. As the bank had been paid off, I could now spend that £750 on commissioning a painting from him to celebrate that milestone, which often in earlier times had seemed impossible to reach. What I would like was a large painting of the marina as it might have looked like back in its working days. It would remind me always of my Braunston days.
The final part in the next edition.
WHILTON MARINA CHANDLERY
us
The Branch is collecting old printer, and/or inkjet cartridges for recycling. I would be most willing to take them off your hands. This form of recycling may not generate large amounts of funds but, as they say, every little helps.Please bring them to the Branch meetings or please email me to arrange collection on sandie.morton@waterways.org.uk
IWA Northampton Branch has a Facebook page. It is at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or engage in discussion on what’s happening.
Please
BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY
It has just been confirmed that WRG will be joining us again this Christmas working at our Cosgrove site. Arriving on Saturday 27th December and staying until Wednesday 31st December, this will be the third time they have held their Christmas Camp on the Buckingham Canal. Work will include clearing trees overhanging from the tow path and working on the bed of the canal from the narrows up to the oil pipe line plus other tasks
Other news the BCS is set to acquire a new work boat called ‘Wendover’ from CRT in spring 2026. The boat will enhance BCS capabilities for piling and other restoration tasks. Maintenance plans for the existing boats (Diana, Louise etc) are being expanded to ensure their operation readiness for future work.
Discussions are taking place to finalise CRT approval for a dredging task at Lionhearts Cruising club in Milton Keynes. It is hoped to start the work in February 2026.
Water Transfer Schemes (Affinity & Anglian) A meeting was held on 21st November to discuss the affinity Water’s Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme which aims to move up to 115MK/a day from the Midlands south-
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wards towards London and northern Home counties and the BCS is working in partnership with Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust and MK Canals on this project. Terry Cavender has also had meeting with two local MPs Chris Curtis MK North and Callum Anderson, Buckingham and Bletchley.
Otherwise work continues at our Bourton Meadow site where one of our volunteers has just completed his Gold DOE award after spending a year working with us on site. At present we have others working at Bourton Meadow also taking their DOE and even the daughter of one of our volunteers wanting to start her DOE work with us in the New Year.
Like last year this year we have received plenty of assistance from outside companies joining us for a day’s volunteering. This year we had thirty companies working alongside our own volunteers which is a record number.
Anthina Beckett
The finished landing stage
Branch Chairman
Bernard Morton
07785 375787/ 01604 858294
E-mail: bernard.morton @waterways.org.uk
Vice Chairman, & Membership Secretary
Geoff Wood
E-mail: geoff.wood @waterways.org.uk
Branch Secretary
Sandie Morton 01604 858294
E-mail: sandie.morton @waterways.org.uk
Treasurer
Maria Hobbs
Email maria.hobbs @waterways.org.uk
Joint Task Party Organiser
Michael Butler
E-mail: michael.butler @waterways.org.uk
Newsletter & Archivist
Tony Clarke 07305 893924
E-mail: tony.clarke @waterways.org.uk
Committee Member
John Pomfret
E-mail: john.pomfret @waterways.org.uk
Committee Member Catriona Butler mail: Catriona.butler @waterways.org.uk
