East Yorkshire Branch – January Newsletter

East Yorkshire Branch

BRANCH NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2012

The joys of winter cruising

2012 A Year of Change New Year Greetings I trust that all our readers had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking forward to enjoying our waterways, with all the different interests they satisfy, in the coming year. As we face this year of change I hope we will see signs of new interest and appreciation from the general public of all our waterways have to offer and that they will support the new charity.

Canal and River Trust At the time of writing the government funding for the new waterways charity has not been finalised. There is already a substantial backlog of maintenance work needing to be carried out; any budget cut can only add to this which may result in poor towpath maintenance which will be to the detriment of those who enjoy the waterways for walking or cycling. I think back to the hazardous towpaths of the 1970s.

The Market Weighton Canal Your Branch has neglected this since the Market Weighton Canal Society seemed to have disbanded though we did have a Friday evening walk from the Humber to Newport some years ago. There are signs of a re-awakened interest with hope for improvements in the Newport area. The Branch committee is keen to be supportive of any developments.

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Some special events Thursday 19th Jan 7.30pm Cottingham Civic Hall. National Trust EY Yorkshire Waterways Museum and social history of inland waterways.

Skidby Mill 10.00am to 5.00pm daily Canals in East Yorkshire, a display of photographs etc.

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Beverley Beck Boating Association.

Back in 2003 the west end of the Beck had been transformed with new housing developments on both banks, but the Beck itself was in a sorry state.

The local authority had raised £2.5 million in funding to restore it to its former glory. It was to be dredged, piled, where the bank was badly eroded, and have new paths with planting along the banks. Of more interest to us was the refurbishment of the lock and new moorings in the boatyard.

Several boat owners were watching developments with interest and some concerns. Although we welcomed improvements to our facilities we soon realised that the people making the decisions were not boaters and didn’t realise that this was an ancient waterway with long-standing navigation rights.

It is very difficult to make a lone voice heard, and more importantly listened to, so we decided to form an association of people with an interest in the Beck as a Navigation and as a place for boats. This was the start of Beverley Beck Boating Association. We are unusual as we do not own or lease our moorings, but we do enjoy the full support of the boatyard owner, who has generously provided us with two portable buildings, one we use as a clubhouse and the other as a very well equipped workshop.

We feel that we were successful in our aims and are on most people’s circulation list on matters relating to the Beck. One of our members produces tidal predictions for the whole of the River Hull which have proved to be uncannily accurate and are used by most local boaters. These can be accessed on our website BBBA.org.uk Our main focus now is on the social side of boating. We are a small group of approximately 50 members and try to arrange at least one tidal cruise and several cruises up the river to North Frodingham for games, food and refreshments. However we are organising something special for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, so watch this space, or better still be adventurous and come up to join our celebrations! You will be guaranteed a warm welcome.

We are grateful to John Austin for this article. We expect to include an article on the restoration of Beverley Beck in our April issue.

Please support the combined litter pick along Beverley Beck at 1.30pm on Sunday 27th May (in time for the special Royal Jubilee event the following weekend).

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A Year in the Life of New Horizons The year started very early in boating terms because New Horizons had spent the winter at Goole Boathouse and needed to get back to Melbourne in time for the new season of work on the Pocklington Canal. The boat spends most winters at Goole undertaking essential overhauls, repairs and maintenance so that when she returns to her home waters she is able to fulfil her role as an important fundraiser for PCAS and additionally to raise public interest and awareness of one of the most beautiful waterways on the network.

Her stay at Goole had been prolonged a little by the severe winter which had delayed some of the work; it was impossible, for example, to take her out of the water for painting until the frozen waters of the marina had melted. Inevitably, this unforeseen delay meant that it was touch and go whether she would be able to get back to Melbourne in time for the official start of the season, which had been scheduled to start on April 3rd. Just in time, however, New Horizons arrived back at her home mooring and after a final flurry of activity by a small working party to make sure she was as ready as she could be the season got underway on time.

From then on through 2011 the boat was in frequent use with her usual Sunday afternoon “trips round the lighthouse�, or in this case Melbourne Arm, to No 6 swing bridge and back! These trips are becoming increasingly popular for families in the area, who make it part of a family day out with some making two or three visits during the year. A highlight of this short trip for many children is the chance to have a go at steering New Horizons (under close supervision, of course) and some of them have become quite proficient, although the smaller ones still find it difficult to see over the roof and rely on the PCAS steerer for keeping the boat in the centre of the cut.

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As many of you will know the Society also offers the exclusive use of New Horizon to parties or groups who might like to take a longer trip and 2011 has seen the boat being used by a variety of groups. These included such diverse organisations as the Yorkshire Country Woman’s Association, the Royal Airforce Association, a Camera Club and the Guides Association, to private parties celebrating a family event - a significant birthday, an anniversary, a graduation and so on - or just as an excuse to have a great day out on the canal.

PCAS was particularly happy to welcome the East Yorkshire IWA Branch in June for a trip to Gardham Lock and mention must also go to British Waterways – soon to be revitalised as the Canal & River Trust – who took the decision to use New Horizons as a venue for one of their Management meetings. Organised by the BW NE Waterways Manager, Jon Horsfall, the July visit was very successful with the serious business of the meeting taking place through the morning while the boat remained at its Melbourne moorings. After a welcome buffet lunch we enjoyed a pleasant run down to Gardham Lock returning to Melbourne in the late afternoon.

It was an ideal opportunity for PCAS to show those from BW in Leeds what the Pocklington Canal has to offer and I am sure they were suitably impressed and we hope that some good may come out of such successful outings.

While speaking of the longer trips which are on offer - trips which can take three hours or so to Gardham Lock or up to a full day if exploring the canal from Melbourne to the start of the navigable section at East Cottingwith - it is worth mentioning that for those who would like to explore the lower reaches of the canal but are not members of an organised group, there is a solution. In the last couple of years we tried an experiment where we organised Open Trips where individuals can book to join one these longer cruises – normally a trip to Gardham Lock. The experiment has been successful and in 2012 we will be running at least four such trips during the season. Please have a look at the web site for booking details.

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Passenger numbers through 2011 – in total we carried 2022 people on New Horizons – which has been similar to 2010, with many Sunday trips running to our maximum capacity of 12 passengers, but it is pleasing to note that takings are again up on previous years, due in large part to the hard work put in to operating New Horizons by all the volunteers who give their time to make it all work.

However, we are always looking for more volunteers so if you feel that you can help, either with New Horizons or indeed in any other way, please get in touch with one of the PCAS committee members.

Another experiment we tried this year has been to provide facilities to gift aid any donation and this has proved to be a great success and something that we will continue in 2012.

After another very successful season which came to a close on 30th October, New Horizons is once more “resting” at Goole Boathouse and when she leaves in March she will be ready once more to provide an enjoyable experience for our visitors.

The first Sunday trips start on the first Sunday in April – April 1st. Hopefully we will be able to welcome you to the Canal at least once during the year and if you would like to have more details please visit our web site where there are lots of details about the history and restoration of the canal, and also details of New Horizons, including the Open Trips.

The web site can be found at:www.pocklingtoncanalsociety.org or alternatively get in touch with any of the PCAS committee who would be delighted to give you more information.

We are grateful to Howard Anguish for this article.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS The AGMs of the East Yorkshire Branch and the North East and Yorkshire Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held consecutively at 8.00pm on Friday, 16th March 2012 at Cottingham Methodist Church Hall.

Agenda i)

Apologies for absence

ii) Approval of the Minutes of 2011 AGM iii) Matters arising from the Minutes iv) Chairman’s report v) Secretary’s report vi) Financial report vii) Election of Committee members viii) Any items requested beforehand by members ix) Report on Region and National matters Secretaries:Mrs Chris Stones

Mr David Swabey

41 Keswick Gardens

18 Scottow Drive

Cottingham

Great Ayton

Hull

Middlesbrough

HU6 8TB

TS9 6DR

Tel: 01482 875894

01642 722910 7

Future meetings at Sneaton Castle The meetings at Sneaton Castle in Whitby were an attempt to offer an opportunity for members of the old Northumbria Branch to feel part of the East Yorkshire Branch. Attendance has usually been about twenty but the vast majority of those present had travelled up from Hull and were already attending the monthly meetings at Cottingham. With the formation of the North Yorkshire Branch it was felt that these meetings at Whitby should be a combined meeting between the two branches or should cease to be held.

We do want to have contact with our members in the northern section of the branch area but, with the apparent lack of interest, we wonder if there is a demand for them.

We will be discussing with the North Yorkshire Branch as to the possibility of having combined meetings with a sharing of the cost. We would like to have comments from those who have attended and any members who would be interested in starting to attend.

If there is sufficient interest the two branches will arrange a meeting on a Saturday in May, possibly 12th or 26th, but

it is up to you to let us know.

It is a good venue. A visit to Whitby is always enjoyable but it is not reasonable to rely so heavily on members from Hull travelling up to Whitby for half a dozen members from further north.

They have been good social occasions, it is good to meet old friends and share views but we do need support.

If you are interested please contact Tony Martin on 07588 236597 or Barry Robins on 01482 658254 If we go ahead we will include details in the next Branch newsletters.

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Waterways Conference

The Waterways Partnership (East Riding and North Yorkshire) held a conference at Bishop Burton College in November.

The Partnership has been formed as part of the Rural Development Programme for England which is funded by money from the European LEADER project. Details can be found at www.ruralprogrammeseastyorkshire.co.uk/leader/fundedprojects/waterways-partnership Members are from the National Bodies such as British Waterways, Natural England, The Environment Agency, IWA as well local Canal Societies, Wildlife Trusts, and many other waterways- connected groups. Their task is to identify local waterway projects and eventually apply for funding to enable them to be carried out. It could be of great benefit to Waterway Groups requiring funding, to visit the website and become a part of the Partnership if they have not already done so.

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Your local branch attended and staged a small display pictured above.

IWA Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering 2012 Saturday 30 June- Sunday 1 July As part of the 5th Leeds Annual Waterfront Festival the West Riding Branch of the IWA are hosting a Boat Gathering on the Aire and Calder Navigation at Thwaite Mills Watermill Museum, Stourton, 2 miles south of Leeds city centre. Boats can arrive Friday 29 June and stay till 3 July for a small charge.

Saturday and Sunday sees fun, free festival events all along the regenerated waterfront through Leeds - including at cool venues such as Granary Wharf and Clarence Dock – with live music, food and drink, dance, arts and crafts, as well as ‘on the water’ activities including walk-on-water balls, canoe sessions, heritage boats and boat trips. The Festival also incorporates the Leeds Dragon Boat Spectacle, where teams in fancy dress and colourful 40ft boats compete to raise money for local charities. There’s something for everyone to enjoy! Plans are well in hand for a variety of events and stands at the Gathering site to compliment those elsewhere. There’s a vintage bus to connect venues, childrens’ activities, craft and produce stalls, and usually a classic car rally. Canal Societies and restoration groups are invited to have a publicity stand at Thwaite Mills.

Further details and boat-booking forms from elaine.scott@waterways.org.uk

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Marian Stearman March 1932 – October 2011 An appreciation by Mary Bielby Marian was born at Eston and brought up in Middlesbrough. She met and married Fred while working at ICI and they moved to Norton where Pat and David were born.

Their first canal holiday was in 1968. Over the years of hiring boats they became hooked on canals and bought and fitted out their own shell. Fred and Marion joined IWA in 1970 and became founders of the Northumbria Branch where Marian served as Branch Secretary for 30 years. She was both efficient and supportive and for her many years’ service she was awarded the Bird Medal by IWA. She was one of those who fought and won the battle to have a lock incorporated in the Tees Barrage thus keeping the river navigable from Yarm to the North Sea. Marian was a Christian and was a founder member of the Boaters Christian Fellowship (BCF) and was active in many BCF events throughout the canal network. Many people were helped and encouraged by her faith and her practical expression of it.

Through her talks and slideshows on waterways themes many will have come to appreciate the heritage and leisure opportunities offered by our canals.

Thank you Marian for all you did, for the friendships you forged and the lives you touched.

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BRANCH PROGRAMME Winter/Spring 2012 Venue (unless Cottingham Methodist Church Hall, Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD stated otherwise) 8.00-10.00 pm. Use entrance down side of church.

Friday 20th January

‘The History, Role and Functions of Trinity House, London’ by Howard Anguish

Friday ‘RNLI (The Oddball Station) th 17 February by David Steenvoorden Friday 16th March

Branch and Region AGM followed by ‘Residential Boat Owners Association’ by Roger Yorke

Friday 20th April

‘Lincolnshire Waterways’

by John Lowther

Friday 18th May

‘Beverley Barge Boatowners Association’

by Iain Campbell

Sunday 27th May

Litter Pick along Beverley Beck Meet at Foresters Arms at 1.30pm

Friday 15th June

Our evening out enjoying the light nights Details in the April Newsletter

July

Our full day out. Details later.

For more information about the Inland Waterways Association use the website www.waterways.org.uk or contact Barry Robins on 01482 658254 or 07885941983. For more information on the above meetings contact Roger Bromley on 01482 845099. The Branch email address is roger@roger.karoo.co.uk This newsletter is edited and produced by Barry Robins, 90 Carr Lane, Willerby, Hull HU10 6JU Note: The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Association and should not be construed as such unless so stated.

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