Issue 288 25 05

Explore UK Narrowboat Insurance

WAteRWAYs edItOR: Ross Stokes Tel: 01283 742962 r.stokes@wwonline.co.uk

ARt edItOR: Claire Davis

AdVeRtIseMeNt MANAgeR: Laura Smith Tel: 01283 742956 l.smith@wwonline.co.uk

AdVeRtIsINg desIgN: Jo Ward

AdVeRtIsINg PROdUctION: Samantha Furniss s.furniss@wwonline.co.uk

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For press enquiries contact: pressoffice@waterways.org.uk

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Nothing printed in Waterways may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated, otherwise IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. Although every care is taken with advertising matters no responsibility whatsoever can be accepted for any matter advertised. Where a photo credit includes a note such as CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence; full details at www.creativecommons.org

P4 Welcome

From our National Chair, Mike Wills

P6 News

Round-up of the latest happenings at IWA and beyond

P10 Photo comp winners

Check out the four stunning winning entries in the 2024 IWA Photo Competition

P12 campaign update

Your chance to get involved with our latest activities

P14 A woman of substance

We chat to 88-year-old Audrey Smith about her lifelong devotion to our inland waterways and the work of IWA

P18 Pioneering Women

A fascinating insight into the lives of three women who helped shape IWA

P22 Anderton Lift crisis

22 years after it was deemed “good for 99 years”, the landmark needs more work

P26 Branch focus

The work and activities of IWA’s Lichfield Branch

P28 canal camps

A round-up of the achievements of our ever popular camps

P32 summer walks

Two walks for a nice summer’s day

P35 IWA events

Important dates for your diary 14 26 18 22

2. IWA lobbies national and local government and works with other organisations to repair, improve and protect our waterways heritage

3. Restoration is kept high priority through IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group

4. IWA campaigns to defend the waterways from unwelcome development

5. IWA branch Canal Clean-ups keep many waterways clear of rubbish

6. over 10,000 days of volunteering each year will be supported with the right training, tools and materials

7. IWA provides training in traditional and work site skills for the waterway restoration sector

COVER PICTURE: IWA Photo Competition winner NIgEl EssERy

Welcome from Mike Wills, IWA National Chair

Have you ever searched for a photograph in a family album, or delved through negatives or slides looking for perhaps an only halfrecalled memory? In compiling this issue, our editorial team had reason to look for an image of Angela Rolt, one-time wife of IWA founder Tom Rolt.

Angela was a very good photographer, usually uncredited. The further price to pay was she spent her time behind and not in ont of a camera so images of her are rare. We are really pleased to have traced the picture of her which took a bit of persistence and archival delving.

They had di cul finding one, reflecting the o en-unseen and overlooked contributions by women in many an area. It led me to think that, while our members are probably versed in the vibrant lives of our early founders, with our 80th anniversary coming up next year, it’s good to recall how we started, who we are now and, of course, how these inform where we are going.

This is why we asked Kate Sa n to write about Angela, as well as Ray Aickman and Elizabeth Jane Howard. By all accounts, they played a vastly underappreciated part in IWA’s early formation and subsequent foundation.

I hope you enjoy Kate’s piece incorporating the early documented history of IWA, a Heal’s exhibition, both insightful and delightful correspondence, and a surprising connection to Thomas the Tank Engine.

I didn’t know about the Heal’s exhibition and, further, what a huge success it had been: visited by thousands who were suddenly fascinated by the world of canals. I was at Heal’s recently and noticed there are now three emp floors. Might it be time for another canal exhibition? Would we draw thousands of people now?

We surely still do, with Canalway Cavalcade a racting thousands and returning to London’s Li le Venice on

Saturday 3rd May for the full early May Bank Holiday weekend. Please come and say hello to us on the stand and celebrate the best of life on the waterways and in our communi , keeping the spirit of our founders and their vision alive.

28-29 June, 2025

Waterways APPG holds first working meeting

The Waterways All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) held its first working meeting in Parliament on 21st January, chaired by Lord German. The usual chair, Labour MP for Sefton Central Bill Esterson, was called to the chamber minutes before the meeting started.

The APPG noted with deep sadness the recent passing of Baroness Jenny Randerson, who had been due to attend. Her longstanding support and love of the waterways have been appreciated.

The APPG discussed concerns over the growing crisis facing the UK’s inland waterways network, citing recent breaches on the Bridgewater and Huddersfield canals as evidence of worsening infrastructure decline.

Members emphasised that, despite the significant economic, social and environmental benefits of the waterways and the tireless contributions of volunteers, chronic underfunding is leading to increased structural failures, posing both safety risks and financial burdens.

Discussion focused on the critical need to safeguard the network’s future. The group also outlined key priorities for the coming year, including environmental management, flood defence and sustainable freight solutions. The Bridgewater Canal breach was cited as a stark reminder of the financial and operational challenges posed by ageing infrastructure.

The fragmented ownership of the network and the responsibilities of private navigation authorities in maintaining infrastructure were also discussed.

The APPG committed to progressing discussions on climate resilience and waterway funding, with plans to bring the issue to a Westminster Hall debate to drive Parliamentary awareness and action.

As secretariat, IWA hopes the now 24-strong group will unlock the environmental, social, economic and cultural potential of the UK’s rivers and canals by boosting local economies, promoting sustainability and connecting people to nature.

Peel Ports Bids to impose an annual fee on boaters on the River Clyde

The Peel Port Group recently announced that it will impose an annual fee on all leisure craft operating on its waterways, including Loch Fyne which provides access to the Crinan Canal.

The group owns Clydeport which functions as the harbour authority for 450 square miles of waterway in and around the River Clyde and its estuary. The charge, which came into effect in April, will apply to boats between 6m and 24m in length within the Clyde jurisdiction north of Irvine, and to permanent berths and visitors. The charge is £120 per annum and £90 for the summer.

Clyde Ports is somewhat elusive as to the nature and purpose of this charge, but has described it as a conservation fee and, when pressed, suggested that it could be used for the salvage of wrecks and the like.

However, getting any further detail is difficult as it has twice declined to attend the Scottish Cross Party Group for Recreational Boating & Marine Tourism to provide an explanation and engage further with the boating public and their representatives such as IWA, RYA Scotland and British Marine.

Not only do blue water sailing clubs operate in and around the Clyde, it is also a focus for some of the best coastal sailing in the UK, attracting visitors from other parts of Britain and from the Continent. It is a significant contributor to Scotland’s tourism income and there is a strong feeling that imposing a charge will have a negative effect for the area.

Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde and Convenor of the Cross Party Group, recently sent an open letter to Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports, citing concerns that such a fee will restrict freedom to sail in Scottish waters and have a negative impact upon marine tourism.

Stuart has also set up a public petition to make more boaters aware of Peel Ports’ plans and put pressure on the port authority to reconsider.

“To be frank, the sector views the idea of a conservancy fee as a ‘cash grab’ by Peel Ports. We feel that the rationale for introducing this charge does not stand up to scrutiny,” Stuart said. “There is a perception among boating organisations that Peel Ports is treating them with contempt, furthering the anger felt about these proposals. This isn’t just about boaters in Scotland, it’s about people who sail from other parts of the UK, or even Europe, to enjoy the Clyde. There is huge concern that this fee will put them off doing so.”

There is also concern that a conservancy fee will result in progressive increases in charges in coming years.

Stuart’s petition can be viewed at change.org/p/peelports-clydeport-should-abandon-conservancy-fee-plans

The issue is to be discussed at the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism.

Pictured (from left): Lord Michael German, Abtisam Mohamed MP, Uma Kumaran MP, Wendy Morton MP, Baroness Llin Golding. Not pictured but present was Sir Gavin Williamson MP.

IWA supports campaign to protect the route of the North Wilts Canal in Swindon

A proposed housing development in Swindon threatens to jeopardise a scheme to restore the Wilts & Berks Canal, an ambitious 70-mile project to recreate a cross-country navigation network.

Opened in 1810, along with the North Wilts Canal in 1819, the Wilts & Berks Canal was formally abandoned by an Act of Parliament in 1914. It has always been known by the shortened form of the county names to reflect the wording in the original Act of Parliament.

After its abandonment, ownership of the canal was returned to adjacent landowners and local authorities, and some sections of the canal were sold. The main line route of the canal runs from Abingdon on the Thames to Semington on the Kennet & Avon Canal, with branches at Calne, Chippenham, Longcot and Wantage. The North Wilts Canal runs from Swindon to Cricklade.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has been making great progress on several fronts, with backing from partner organisations and help from IWA’s Waterways Recovery Group. For example, in Swindon, new sections of canal are being built by developers as part of council planning conditions. With so much good work being done in Swindon, it is disappointing that plans to redevelop the Oasis site, north of Swindon station, with up to 700 new houses, don’t take into consideration the planned canal restoration. This has prompted IWA to make a formal objection to the planning application.

The Oasis site includes where the North Wilts Canal is planned to be restored to link up to the Thames & Severn Canal route at Cricklade. As the national campaigning body promoting restoration of the waterways network, IWA supports the vital work of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, which is an IWA corporate member.

The plans for the Oasis site ignore the needs for reserved routing for the re-establishment of the canal through this part of Swindon. The proposed development would preclude throughrestoration for several generations, denying local residents of the many benefits of a restored Wilts & Berks Canal. It would also be a serious setback to plans to reconnect Swindon to the rest of the national waterways network.

In its objection, IWA stated: “We urge the Planning Committee to reject these applications until modified (in a comparatively minor degree) to permit the eventual rebuilding of the canal through this area. We understand that the developers have been aware of this opportunity for over a decade but seem to have ignored the needs of a restored Wilts & Berks Canal in the detail of their plans. It is therefore for the planning authority to protect this route. The current plans should be rejected until they incorporate an effective future route for a restored canal.”

IWA argues that it is well established that canals can be an excellent feature in new developments, giving the community walking and wheeling routes, potential for water sports being adjacent to a leisure centre, and helping nature recovery by creating a blue-green corridor for wildlife. IWA hopes that the council will seize this opportunity, not just because it will enable Swindon to be well connected by water again, but also because of the benefits to local people and their physical and mental health.

This case shows the importance of vigilance by local people and organisations. Waterway supporters are encouraged to report any such threats to restoration to their local IWA branch, IWA’s Chesham office or the relevant local restoration society.

Bridgewater update

The serious breach on the Bridgewater Canal on New Year’s Day received widespread coverage, but what’s the situation now?

The ultimate owner, Peel L&P, has managed to free the boats that were trapped between the stoplogs and the breach. It has done this by installing coffer dams to isolate the breached section, then refilled sections between the stop logs and the coffer dams enough for the trapped boats to float. Now that they have been removed, it’s meant the trapped boats have been able to leave the area. This is good news for the relevant boats, but the canal is not just for boaters. It serves as a key through-route, and its closure disrupts both leisure and commerce. The longer this breach remains unfixed, the greater the economic damage to local businesses that depend on canal traffic, tourism and associated trade.

What IWA wants to see from Peel is a public commitment to funding, to produce and publish a timeline, and generally communicate far more widely, openly and effectively.

Businesses and individuals who rely on the canal need a clear timeline for repairs and reassurances that Peel will take responsibility. Undeniably, the final repair bill will be high, but Peel is the ultimate owner via the Bridgewater Canal Co, and it is the company’s responsibility to make the canal safe and navigable as quickly as practicable.

IWA submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to relevant local authorities which established that the Bridgewater Canal Trust (effectively a consortium of local authorities with Bridgewater Canal Co, formed after the 1971 breach) is no longer active and is campaigning for Cheshire East Council to take a proactive role in making sure that essential waterways infrastructure is properly maintained.

IWA North West Region Chair, Sir Robert Atkins, wrote to Peel Holdings requesting it to publish its plans. Nobody doubts the massive scale of the works required to reopen the canal and the high costs involved. While Peel Ports has committed to repair the breach and to reopen the canal, with a stated target date of September 2026, we have been asking for more transparency. Even though it cannot be blamed for the heavy rains that caused the breach on New Year’s Day, it is ultimately responsible for the repair.

IWA will continue to engage with Peel Holdings and request more transparency regarding its plans.

Sustainable Boating Awards

IWA and Towpath Talk are pleased to announce the launch of their 2025 Sustainable Boating Awards 2025. There will again be two categories –Commercial and Non-commercial – and nominations should be submitted to IWATTSustainable.Awards@waterways.org.uk by the end of July. Last year’s winners, Mothership Marine in the Commercial category and Kay and Paul Sumpner in the Non-commercial, will not be eligible unless nominated for a different, or significantly enhanced, achievement.

The awards will be presented at the IWA AGM. The date and venue for this are yet to be announced but it is usually the last Saturday in September.

Guidance to nominations

Some of last year’s nominations were rejected by the judges as, although interesting, were ideas rather than achievements. Others were rejected for their exaggerated claims. Nominators are requested to avoid these pitfalls. Also, last year’s nominations had a heavy technical/electrical bias. Given the number of diesel-engined boats still likely to be around for many years, the judges welcome nominations promoting environmentally friendly use of such boats, including the use of HVO.

IWA spending review submisson

The UK’s rivers and canals are home to thousands of boats, from leisure cruisers to working barges delivering freight. They are also vital green-blue corridors, enjoyed by millions of walkers, cyclists and nature lovers. However, most boats still rely on fossil fuels. IWA wants boating to be more sustainable and, even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions from boats is very small, we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

This is why IWA’s Sustainable Boating & Freight Groups has made a submission to the Treasury’s 2025 Spending Review, focusing on the supply and taxation of alternative fuels.

While new boats are being built with electric or hybrid engines, most existing boats still run on diesel. Alternative fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) are cleaner but remain stubbornly expensive and difficult to access. Bankside charging infrastructure for electric boats is also limited.

What needs to happen?

To make sustainable boating a reality, IWA is calling for:

• Affordable, cleaner fuel tax incentives and more availability of HVO fuel.

• More charging points Investment in bankside charging for electric and hybrid boats.

• Joined-up government support A clear strategy that helps boaters transition to net zero without unnecessary cost and complexity.

The case for government action has only grown. By simplifying the fuel supply landscape, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring a coordinated policy approach, the government can bring in a fair and practical transition towards net zero for leisure and commercial inland boating.

IWA AWARDS OPEN

Nominations for the IWA National Awards are now open. It is time to say thank you for the contributions that we simply could not do without, from fundraising efforts to restoration endeavours.

Nominations for the awards are invited from members, branches, and regions and should be sent to awards@waterways.org.uk or posted to Awards Panel c/o IWA Head Office, Unit 16B, Chiltern Court, Asheridge Rd, Chesham, HP5 2PX.

The deadline for nominations is 31st May. Nominations are considered by an Awards Panel nominated by Trustees and recommendations made to Trustees for final approval. The award winners will be announced at the national AGM. Visit our website waterways.org.uk/about-us/national-awards to learn more about the award categories and nominations process.

IWA 2025 TRUSTEE APPLICATIONS OPEN MAY 6th

We are seeking applications from candidates who demonstrate the experience, enthusiasm, and skills that will be needed over the three years (from October 2025) to fill vacancies and complement the existing trustees on the IWA Board.

The role of the Association’s Trustees is to optimise the charitable benefit achieved in fulfilment of its charitable objectives. As a member of the Board, an individual Trustee’s role is to use their skills and judgement to work collectively with the other Trustees to:

• ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit,

• comply with the charity’s governing document and the law,

• act in the charity’s best interests,

• manage the charity’s resources responsibly,

• act with reasonable care and skill, and

• ensure the charity is accountable.

Skills set

We are particularly seeking applications from individuals who are skilled in the areas of health and safety management, funding and the environment but we welcome applications from individuals with any experience they believe is valuable to the Association.

Knowledge and/or experience of Inland Waterways is important. Candidates must be passionate about our campaigning for sufficient funding for Britain’s waterways, for the sustainable operation of navigations and the restoration of closed waterways as well as all our work to make the waterways great places to live, work, travel and play.

Although many meetings are held on-line we feel it is important to meet in person and to visit sites and events from time to time.

The application pack will be available on IWA website from 6th of May and applications close on the 9th June. This pack will include information about the roles and responsibilities of Trustees, a Skillset Framework for you to complete, and contact details for the Chair of the Panel (Ian Sesnan Deputy Chair Restoration) in case you wish to discuss potentially applying.

Applicants should submit a CV and a covering letter. waterways.org.uk/trusteerecruitment

BCN Clean-up report

The Annual BCN Clean-up took place around the Old Main Line Canal, in Tipton, West Midlands on 15th-16th March. This was the first time this group had cleaned this section of the canal for decades.

The group welcomed back many volunteers who hadn’t attended in a few years, upping the numbers of volunteers to more than 55 from all over the UK. The teams were ably assisted by the volunteers of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society which supplied the vital workboats to remove the debris once it had been pulled out of the canal.

Organiser Chris Morgan, from Caerphilly in South Wales, was pleased with the two days’ work and thanked everyone for their support. “Over 20 tons of debris was removed from the canal, including safes, bikes, mattresses, pushchairs, traffic safety equipment, rolls of barbed wire, and tyres, one of which was claimed to be the biggest ever pulled out in 25 years. It is sad to see the amount of plastics that come out with each pull.”

The team would like to thank the Canal & River Trust and the crews on their workboat for their valuable help and assistance with supplying work gloves and tooling for the volunteers. For the 10th year in a row, the volunteers stayed overnight at the Malthouse Stables Activity Centre owned by Sandwell Council which has always supported this event.

Abstraction licences and the Mon & Brec Canal

IWA is urging the Welsh government to work with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to reconsider water restrictions to safeguard water levels on the River Usk and the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. Paul Thomas, IWA’s South West and South Wales Region Secretary, has met with senior CRT members and Cllr Peter Fox, Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, to discuss the situation.

IWA argues that canals must be fully integrated into any water management strategies. This goes beyond how they function for canal users and their role as historic infrastructure because they are also critical public assets.

The River Usk provides water via a feeder to supply the Mon & Brec. An abstraction point on the Usk filters water through a sluice and on to a settling pond, from where the water is moved 1km down to the Mon & Brec as part of a network of feeders where abstraction licences are needed to control the water. Extraction licences have been limited to a daily maximum.

CRT has agreed to pay Welsh Water up to £100,000 per week for it to release reservoir water to top up the canal via the river as a short-term measure, but CRT has had to postpone some vital canal repair works to fund this. The Mon & Brec Canal issues represent a larger problem, and the problem needs solving before more of our waterways experience the same.

A Senedd councillor has instigated a petition on the matter which currently has more than 11,000 signatures.

Waterways Photography Competition winners

The results are in for the 2024 IWA Photography Competition, showcasing extraordinary talent across four categories that celebrate our waterways in distinct ways

These photographs not only celebrate the skill of their creators but also show the vital importance of protecting and appreciating our waterways, and will be used in our future campaigning activi . A huge thank you to all who entered.

The Wintry Waterways category

Winner LES FITTON captured the quiet beau of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the snow (above).

Nature meets Navigation category

Winner NIGEL ESSERY

highlighted the delicate balance between in astructure and natural habitats with this striking image of a heron at Cosgrove (right).

Fun on the Water category

ANT YOUNG’s winning photo of boating in Oxford cleverly uses forced perspective to give a charming toy-like quali to the image (above).

Paddlers Paradise category

PAUL DENNAN’s artistic vision of urban paddleboarding in No ingham combined with the cyclists on the towpath captures how vital our waterways are for active travel and recreation (le ).

CAMPAIGNING for our future

The IWA needs your support more than ever. Here’s how you can help our cause…

Better By Barge: A smarter, greener future for freight

IWA’s Freight Group has authored a new report highlighting the untapped potential of our inland waterways as a sustainable alternative to road freight.

Better by Barge makes a compelling case for shifting freight transport from congested roads to the country’s 5,000 miles of navigable rivers and canals, helping to cut emissions, improve air quality and reduce congestion.

With the UK striving to meet net zero targets, the report demonstrates how moving freight by barge offers substantial environmental and economic benefits. A single freight barge can carry up to 1,500 tonnes, removing the need for up to 75 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from the roads. This shift could reduce carbon emissions from freight transport by as much as 76%, while also making urban areas cleaner and safer by cutting air pollution and traffic accidents.

“Waterways already exist as a national transport infrastructure, and they have the capacity to handle more freight,” says IWA’s freight group chair, Gerry Heward. “This report proves that moving goods by water is not only cost effective but also significantly reduces carbon emissions and urban air pollution.”

The report also draws attention to the social and health benefits of reducing HGV traffic in cities, where high-density populations suffer disproportionately from poor air quality. Logistics UK Water Council’s Pamela Mounter called the findings “timely and relevant”.

To make the most of the UK’s inland waterways, Better by Barge recommends:

• Government investment to improve capacity and encourage modal shift

• Support for low-carbon fuels like hydro-treated vegetable oil to aid the transition to net zero

• Protection of key freight sites from redevelopment pressures

• Reintroducing Freight Facilities Grants in England to help businesses connect to waterways

• Expanding the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme to make water freight more cost-competitive

• Investment in training to build skills in the water freight sector.

Better by Barge underlines that inland waterways have an essential role to play in the UK’s journey towards a greener future. With the right policy support, investment and infrastructure, shifting more freight onto water is a practical and achievable step in tackling climate change and congestion.

waterways.org.uk/about-us/news/better-bybarge-a-smarter-greener-future-for-freight

Water freight offers significant enviornmental and economic benefits.

One more push

The recent spate of waterway closures paints an overall picture of a agile and agmented network, demonstrating starkly how important it is for the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign to maintain momentum. Both membership and signatures on the petition have been increasing again, driven by social media coverage of the various current issues on the waterways. The FBW campaign cruise for 2025 is making the most of the window of opportuni to target politicians and the public before the outcome of the government’s spending review is announced in June.

FBW Campaign Cruise 2025

The first group of boats heading for Cavalcade and the Palace of Westminster set o om Strawberry Island Boat Club at Doncaster on 29th March. As they progressed upstream along the Trent, they were joined by boats om the Chesterfield Canal at West Stockwith on 1st April and the combined flotilla cruised to Gainsborough, where they were greeted by more boats as well as supporters on land and passed through the bridge with horns sounding.

Next came Newark on 2nd April, where the boats were led through the town by local waterways personali Les Reid. The flotilla continued on along the Soar and Grand Union, and will congregate at IWA Canalway Cavalcade and then cruise to Westminster on 7th May, where Parliamentarians and FBW personnel will gather on the terrace to view the boats standing o the Palace of Westminster, and FBW supporters will spread the message on Westminster Bridge.

A erwards boats will head north to Boston, some via the Thames and the Oxford Canal and some back up the Grand Union Canal. A Wash crossing to Wisbech is planned for 8th June, with the aim of streaming drone coverage to the IWA Harborough 75 event (see page 35). The cruise will conclude with visits to the Middle Level Navigations and other Anglian waterways, ensuring coverage of waterways managed by as many navigation authorities as possible. The Strawberry Island boats will eventually return a er 20 weeks.

How you can help

To support FBW’s “one more push”, we are asking supporters to do the following:

• WRITE TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL POLITICIANS, mayors and MPs, highlighting the benefits of waterways, the threat to them, the FBW campaign and the opportuni for Parliamentarians to watch the campaign cruise om the terrace of the Palace of Westminster at 11am on 7th May.

• SUPPORT EVENTS ALONG THE ROUTE, particularly the Westminster campaign cruise on 7th May where we need supporters on Westminster Bridge as well as boats in the flotilla. Photos can be sent to info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk for the website.

• SUPPORT FBW POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA by liking and sharing posts with the hashtag #FundBritainsWaterways and post on social media yourself.

• NOMINATE VOLUNTEERS for the FBW stand at the Crick Boat Show on 23rd-26th May (email info@ fundbritainswaterways.org.uk).

If you would like to join either the Westminster Cruise or the Wash crossing, please email Andrew Phasey at theoldmainline@fastmail.fm or call him on 07850 753633.

Flotilla in Hazelford Lock River on theTrent.

Flotilla on the Trent.

STEPHEN BUSBY

Fund Britain's Waterways update

Dressed up for the launch party at SIBC.

Audrey Smith OBE

Ross Stokes chats to the IWA’s first female chair who has devoted much of her adult life to protecting the future of our canals and rivers

How did your lifetime association with our waterways begin?

In 1960 I married David. We were both working locally so we bought a house in Bradford. David was a vet and I was a teacher. He took me to visit the Leeds & Liverpool Canal where his grandfather had been lock-keeper at Bingley Five Rise. In fact, David’s mother was married from the lock-keeper’s house.

What was your first boat?

In 1964 I gave up teaching and had my first child, Nicholas. We bought a 22ft fibreglass cruiser shell for self-fit-out. Two years later my second child Gillian was born and shortly after Muffin was launched at Ainsworth’s boatyard, Bingley. Our first

long trip was Bingley to Wigan Top Lock and back. We spent weekends on the boat and a two-week holiday each year. In 1968 Jonathan was born. That year we cruised from Bingley to Llangollen, Chester, Ellesmere Port and back to base. The boat was very cramped so we sold it and took delivery of a Creighton 32 for self-fit-out. In 1970, Muffin too was launched. We were now living in Wetherby so we explored the river navigations of the North East, visiting Selby, York, Ripon and the Driffield and Pocklington canals.

What was it like boating on the canals with a young family?

We would bundle the three children off in the car on Friday evening and then

get settled on the boat. We would boat Saturday and Sunday till mid-afternoon. The great treat was to find a Little Chef as we drove home and have pancakes and use the loos to change the kids into their jimjams so they could fall asleep in the car. By the time we got home they were fast asleep so we carried them up to bed.

How did you get to become involved with IWA?

David and I attended a North East Branch IWA campaign rally in Huddersfield Basin in 1970. We had gone just out of curiosity. We were impressed by what we saw and what we heard and how we were treated, so we signed up there and then.

Audrey Smith receives the Cyril Styring award from Ivor Caplan in 2018.

“It was probably the most fulfilling period of my life. I got to meet so many committed volunteers and attended local campaign events all over the country”

In 1977 you moved to the Ribble Valley…

Yes, that was my fault. I was appointed head of the Senior School of Preston School for the Deaf.

So tell us a little about your teaching career

I did a maths degree and taught at a girls’ grammar school for a while. After my degree I had studied for a year at Manchester University where there was a very leading-edge unit for teaching the deaf.

Any reason for following this line?

There is congenital deafness on my mother’s side of the family. I had a deaf uncle and a deaf cousin, so that probably had an influence. Also, teaching bright young girls is a bit tight in a way. Grammar schools were small at that time and the girls were well behaved so there were no challenges. But working with the profoundly deaf in a culture that believed children should not sign and only lip read and speak was a different kettle of fish. With my experience of members of the family, I knew how valuable signing was. So it was much more interesting.

You obviously need to keep busy because you also chose to involve yourself with the local branch of IWA Yes, I became more involved with IWA, serving as branch chair till 1986, then moving up to become IWA NW regional chair.

Why was that time so special for our waterways, particularly in the North West?

In the 1990s the waterways in the North West were buzzing! Local societies, supported by IWA NW, were campaigning for the restoration of the Rochdale, the Huddersfield Narrow, the Sankey, Castlefield Basin in Manchester, the Anderton Boat Lift, the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal and – to crown it all –the Ribble Link Trust was formed to connect the Lancaster Canal to the national network.

As IWA NW regional chair I attended the meetings of all of these groups and was so impressed by the vision and enthusiasm of those involved. We should acknowledge those in charge at British Waterways’ various offices in the North West at that time – they too were enthusiastic and supported the volunteer sector whenever they could.

We had Bernard Henderson as chair of British Waterways and Dave Fletcher was the CEO. They moved in good political circles. And as I moved up the IWA ladder, they became personal friends. Later during my term as national chair, Bernard made sure I got into places where IWA usually didn’t get to. There was a real can-do attitude at British Waterways at that time.

Was there much funding available? You didn’t need that much funding to campaign. The six or seven societies in the North West would all get together in one venue. We were an event in ourselves.

So what sort of things were you campaigning for?

Well, one thing was Castlefield Basin. Central Manchester Development Corporation was talking about filling it in. The bottom lock of the Rochdale was also under threat.

In 1994 you were appointed IWA's first female chair. How did that come about?

One day I received a letter from the IWA treasurer at the time, Ray Carter, asking if he could nominate me for the position which had been vacated by David Stevenson. I didn’t know if I wanted to but it almost caused a divorce in our house. I felt affronted when my husband said he would rather I didn’t take the role. Normally he was supportive. He thought the job would impact on our boating time.

This stalemate lasted for about three weeks. We had gone down to Oxford with our daughter Gillian to stay with our son Jonathan. David and I ended up sitting in the rain in a churchyard discussing the situation, but hadn’t come to an agreement. Then on the drive home, Gillian said: “Do you know, Dad, if Mum doesn’t do it she’ll always wonder ‘what if’ and she’ll blame you for not knowing.” When we went to bed that night, David said to me, “If you want to do it I’ll back you.”

Audrey Smith and Scamp, Ribble Link.

Audrey at granddaughter Rhiannon’s Masters graduation in 2023.

John Fletcher John Fletcher

So did your new role impact on your boating activities?

We did manage to continue boating because we vowed to a end every national festival by boat. We went to so many things as a pair. It was great.

How would you describe your time as chair?

Daunting, challenging, tiring yet exciting, and satis ing. It was probably the most fulfilling period of my life. I got to meet so many commi ed volunteers and a ended local campaign events all over the country. I also met many influential people such as leaders of other organisations, including British Waterways, the Environment Agency, the Broads Authori , the Royal Yachting Association, as well as MPs, members of the House of Lords, senior civil servants and the waterways media.

IWA's head offices were in London at the time. Was that a problem?

Our head o ce was at 114 Regent’s Park Road. It had been there for the best part of 50 years. It was clearly chosen for its prestigious address and its proximi to the great and the good but it was quite a challenge for me. Every trip required driving to Preston and catching the main line express to Euston, then travelling by Underground and walking to 114. All in all, it took around five hours. A day trip was not an option so I decided to travel down one day, pack the next two or three days with meetings/events, then travel home. The o ce was quite archaic. Nobody had computers. It was unbelievable.

In 1997 you were appointed to the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Committee…

This was originally set up by the government which wanted an advisory body and it had an independent chair. There were about 10 on the commi ee covering all aspects of the waterways. There was someone om the British Marine Industries Federation, the Royal Yachting Association and so on. Scotland was also represented.

One of our primary roles was to visit and inspect particular waterways and report back to the government. We would go away for two or three days at a time on these visits which increased my understanding of the wider issues. We were able to influence navigation authority policies and government policy too. I very much regret the demise of this body.

Was IWAAC successful?

Well, we got the Falkirk Wheel. Couple that with the millennium projects: the trans-Pennine canals that needed restoring, such as the Rochdale, came out of it. These things were backed by IWAAC and IWA, along with BW. They were heady days, very di erent to today.

In 1999 you received a pleasant surprise in the post!

Yes, a le er om 10 Downing Street advising that the Prime Minister was recommending my name be submi ed to the (then) Queen for approval to be appointed an OBE in the forthcoming Birthday Honours. I still have the le er. It was strictly confidential and I only told my immediate family before the o cial announcement was made in the papers. Even now I find it hard to believe. The day at Buckingham Palace was magical. I was delighted that (then) Prince Charles performed the ceremony. We had a lovely chat about Slater Terrace in Burnley and about progress on the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.

There was some concern about the timing as it clashed with a holiday in New Zealand

Yes, l had made a pact with David that we would spend three months in New Zealand catching up with his relatives upon stepping down om my role as chair of IWA.

You are now 88 but still actively involved in IWA

In 2016 I was appointed chair of Lancaster Canal Restoration Partnership. We secured around £4m to restore structures and to enhance around 10km of towpath. I stood down as chair in 2021 but am still actively involved.

Where do you live?

I am still in the house on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal that David and I built. We project-managed the build while I was national chair of IWA, believe it or not. We moved in on 26th April 1996 in the middle of IWA Golden Jubilee year. How I did it, I have no idea.

What about your own personal enjoyment of the waterways?

I like to walk along the towpath opposite my home. I don’t have a particular favourite waterway but I do enjoy the view om my house which overlooks the canal and towpath with a hill and trees in the background.

Describe a perfect day on the water

Ever since we first started boating, we had a routine that became a tradition. David always cooked a full English breakfast, and it still happens now all these years later with my son on his boat.

What is the appeal of our waterways?

It’s the slowing down, the switching o , not doing things at the speed of a car, just relaxing. David (who died in 2018) always thought it was lovely doing 3mph rather than zooming down the motorway. I also like the fact that each canal has its own character and s le. If someone blindfolded me and put me on a waterway, I would know where I was when I opened my eyes by the bridge. Each is unique and lovely. I can’t believe that something built all that time ago is still standing. But it might not continue to be if we are not careful.

Muffin No 3 heading for Preston Dock lock in 2002. JOHN FLETCHER

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Industrious women

KATE SAFFIN reflects on the contribution of three remarkable women to the early days of IWA

When I was invited to write an article about the women involved in IWA in the early days I accepted, not fully appreciating that, despite having done a lot of research and creating two podcasts about those women and that period, a book was more appropriate than a mere couple of thousand words.

I have been intrigued by Angela, Tom Rolt’s first wife, since first reading Narrow Boat, from which we learn so very little about her. Even her photographs weren’t used, although they did provide the basis for the woodcut illustrations. I learned a little more when I encountered Rolt’s autobiography, Landscape With Canals

The chance to learn more came with the I Dig Canals project in which we (Alarum Productions) recorded the stories of women who had helped save the Black Country canals between the 1960s and 1980s. By then I had also read IWA history, Race Against Time by David Bolton, so knew that somewhere there were letters written by Angela because he quotes several. And so the hunt to know not just Angela, but Ray Aickman, Robert’s wife, and Elizabeth Jane Howard, the first paid secretary to IWA and famously, Robert’s mistress, began.

Angela and Ray met on 11th August 1945 on Tom’s boat Cressy at Tardebigge, the first meeting between the two couples, following a flurry of correspondence between Robert and Tom. Robert, Tom and Angela were all enthusiastic supporters of the idea Robert had pitched for ‘a society of some sort’. At this stage I’m not sure how Ray felt as this was probably her first encounter with a boat or a canal. However, her later enthusiasm is clear from the amount of work she went on to put in.

opposite: Angela Rolt (picture courtesy of National Waterways Archive, CRt).

BeloW: Angela and tom Rolt pictured with boat-owner George smith at a promotional rally at little Venice.

Angela Rolt

From their letters it is clear Angela and Ray quickly formed a close friendship. One thing that they had in common, probably recognised in each other but may never have discussed, is that both had experienced a catastrophic bereavement. Ray’s mother had committed suicide and Angela’s sister, Diana, had died suddenly on 5th December 1932, aged 23. The death certificate (signed by the Harley Street physician and her father), the short abrupt notice in the Times and hasty funeral (“strictly private”) in Brookwood cemetery miles from her home, suggest Major Orred wanted as little notice taken of it as possible. I wonder if Angela, who was 17 at the time, was even allowed to attend. I also suspect that this loss contributed to the Major’s violent refusal to agree to Angela and Tom’s marriage.

On the face of it he was appalled that his daughter, who had aristocratic forebears and had been presented at court in 1934, should marry a ‘garage mechanic’, but he may also have been terrified of losing his second daughter – which of course he did, by being so incalcitrant. There was, apparently, no contact between them after a furious row in which Angela was summarily dismissed from the house, although she did maintain some contact with her mother. She fled to Banbury and joined Tom on the nearly complete Cressy. They married in July and set off on the journey that resulted in the publication of Narrow Boat and the letter from Robert Aickman that would launch IWA.

Ray Aickman

Aickman’s papers are all lodged with the National Archives at Kew. I spent several days there with one of our volunteers. Armed only with the permi ed pencil, notebook and camera, we trawled through increasingly bulging files, taking photos and mouthing “Look at this bit!” to each other at intervals.

To sit down and open the folder labelled ‘Correspondence and Papers of Robert Aickman’ PRO 30/82/1 1945 and see those first le ers which started a movement that hasn’t ended yet, was a breathtaking moment. And seeing the first handwri en le er om Angela to Ray was even more exciting. I felt I could almost touch her.

Her pen flies across the paper, usually blue Basildon Bond, and it feels as though she can hardly keep up with everything she wants to say.

And while the two men move sedately om Dear Mr Rolt and Dear Mr Aickman through Dear Rolt, Dear Aickman to finally, Dear Tom and Dear Robert, Angela hurtles straight into…

Tuesday

My dear Ray (please do call me Angela), Thank you so much for your card saying you will be with us om November 19th - 24th.

I will bring various foods such as sugar, fats, bacon, eggs and anything else you ask me for…

She then goes on to discuss various theatre options for the visit ending up with… This le er is incredibly muddled – I don’t mean that we insist upon going to the theatre – only if you had something in mind it would be nice to all go together!!

THURSDAY

Your card arrived this morning so most of my le er is redundant!

This appears to be her first le er. Unfortunately she rarely dated le ers, so there is an element of guesswork as to exactly where each one fits. Ray is clearly writing to Angela at this stage (late 1945/early 1946) as there are references to rationed items that Angela might take to London and, on one occasion, a girdle that Ray might purchase on Angela’s behalf. However, her le ers have not survived.

It is only sometime a er the first meeting in February 1946 at which IWA was formed (Ray took the minutes) that we start to see more le ers om Ray and get a glimpse of her warmth, self-deprecating humour and tremendous patience. Something which she clearly needed living with Robert.

Born Edith Ray Gregorson in 1914, Ray was an only child who seems to have had a lonely childhood. She married Robert (whose own childhood hadn’t been any easier) in 1941. All accounts are that it wasn’t a great success. Nevertheless they worked together at the Richard Marsh literary agency. She authored two children’s books – Lemuel (1947), a story about a tree kangaroo, and Timothy Tramcar (around 1950) – and was instrumental in the early success of The Railway Series by Reverend Wilbert Awdry who went on to write the Thomas The Tank Engine series.

Initially Ray was ping all of Robert’s le ers but soon the workload was overwhelming. For the next five years their correspondence was to keep the Post O ce in almost full-time employment. As well as all the faint carbon copies, postcards and le ers, there is plen to remind us that there were no easy methods of copying in those days – numerous original le ers, reports, articles and pamphlets were sent between the two households accompanied by “I enclose the le er om…” and “Thank you for returning the pamphlet…”

Jane Howard

When Robert and Ray needed help with their business they approached Jane Howard, who they knew was looking for work. They o ered her a job for three mornings a week in 1946. In an interview with TV producer David Barker in 2010, Jane describes how the job came about:

Well, I had le my first husband and I didn’t approve of women, healthy young women, taking money o men because they didn’t want to live with them any more so I didn’t have any money and I had to start earning some. I had a half-wri en novel but I had no idea if anybody would publish it, so I did all kinds of jobs you know, like modelling for Vogue, a certain amount of broadcasting. I’d done it all through the war, continui announcing and things. And Robert and Ray o ered me this job for £2 10s a week. I went three mornings a week I think… and I worked very hard for my money, but I was very grateful for it. It was, um, solid…

ABOVE: Ray Aickman pictured with husband Robert in 1946.

LEFT: A letter from Angela to Ray in the National Archives in Kew.

At the same time, Angela and Ray are still doing plenty of work although much of it is only visible via oblique references: Tom writing to Ray thanking her for the draft bulletin; a mention of Angela meeting Sonia Smith for a trip to Braunston – that “she will report back”; Robert referring to “Ray’s considerable influence with the National Trust” which they hoped would support and join IWA council.

Once Jane is in place and the membership grows, Ray starts to take a bigger role, especially in the planning for the exhibition of canalware and art at Heal’s, and there are more letters from Ray to both Tom and Angela.

Like Angela, Ray simply spills out her thoughts on to the paper, except she is typing rather than writing, often adding “Please forgive appalling typing”. As she also typed all of Robert’s letters, she must have had a good typing speed and accuracy as he had a somewhat idiosyncratic approach to correspondence which was to simply dictate without any pausing or editing, and expected the typist to keep up. Jane later described it as “nerve-wracking” but presumably Ray was used to it.

The exhibition brings some of the most entertaining of the letters. Both Ray and Angela seem to have thoroughly enjoyed the process of gathering artefacts. Angela writes:

I know where there is a large BOAT TEAPOT. It is in quite good condition and the handle of the miniature teapot on the lid is to be mended. Does Robert think the Association should buy this for use at IWA parties etc? The price is £7.10.0. I may say this is a bit of under the counter. The owner tried to tell me it was Rockingham and valuable. I disillusioned him and the price tumbled.

Ray is juggling all the promotion:

My dear Tom and Angela

... I delivered the lists to Heal’s today, 555 names in all. They seem to think this is quite wonderful and are full of jubilation at the prospect of not having to turn the staff out. Mr Eaton was rather shifty about who was paying for what. But it seemed to end in our paying half the addressing fee, and all stamps. He is sending us a formal letter about this.

Pause here when I answer the telephone. Lord Methuen to say he is coming in tomorrow with a couple of drawings.

Fearful session with FUTURE [a magazine] all afternoon… [they are] going to use some of Angela’s photos at a Guinea a crack. I have made an appointment for A to see her and/or the Art Editor at 3:30 on Thursday next, 9th. Could A bring up any further photos she may have of boat life, painting, the panels and so on? Have we any pictures of derelict factories on the canals? They like people at work, not just scenery.

I hope your Bulletins reach you. The darn people made two typing errors which had to be corrected by hand and in all the copies. Such fun.

No new exhibits.

Just off to the Opera Love to you both

On top of everything, Angela seems to have taken on organising a library for the association. On 30th October she writes to Robert from Banbury, where Cressy was in dock. It was not going well:

My Dear Robert,

Am sending first instalment of books for IWA library. More to come when our things are finally delivered back to us.

I have removed my very early and ancient copy of Bradshaw’s Guide as I am hoping to unearth a better copy in some second-hand bookshop.

We are on the dock, Herbert has torn a large hole in the side of the boat. He assures us many such holes will have to be made. We had a terrific heartto-heart standing in inches of mud at the bottom of the dock this afternoon.

The Heal’s exhibition was a huge success, visited by thousands fascinated by the world of the canals that they had never seen. Herbert managed to restore Cressy to a semblance of waterproof and Tom and Angela were able to set off for a long-awaited trip to the Llangollen. And although both Tom and Robert were brilliant and dynamic visionaries, there is no way they would have got IWA off the starting blocks without these three remarkable women (and several others who joined in a little later).

Jane Howard on the roof of narrowboat Beatrice with her first husband Peter Scott steering.

Jane Howard and Robert Aickman on an early campaigning cruise.

DÉjÀ vu at Anderton?

Anderton Boat Li faces a major fundraising challenge to remain operational, yet 22 years ago its restoration was heralded as ‘good for another 99 years’.

SANDY WRIGHT, who recently published a booklet about the 1983-2003 restoration campaign, hopes lessons can be learned

It is purely a coincidence that I wrote my booklet at this time of concern over Anderton Boat Li . I began work on it in early 2023, simply wishing to record for posteri the herculean e orts of the campaigners at the time. I had been out of touch with waterways ma ers for over 20 years, so was shocked to hear that the li was once again in danger.

Initially, I was angry that the campaigners’ work appeared to have been disrespected by lack of maintenance since the li reopened in 2003. I now realise that parallels can be drawn to many other waterway restorations around the country.

I compiled the booklet on behalf of the Trent & Mersey Canal Socie . Back in the 1980s and ’90s, TMCS was foremost in the ba le with British Waterways to ensure that the Anderton Boat Li was fully restored, not closed permanently or replaced with a skimpy alternative link between the Trent & Mersey Canal and Weaver Navigation. Various forms of the la er were proposed by BW during the first eight years of the li ’s closure.

“My hopes now are two-fold. Firstly, that funding can be found to revitalise the li once more. Secondly, that lessons can be learned to secure a sustainable future both for the li and for other restoration projects.”

My research included meetings with Ted Thompson, whose late wife Christine, a tireless TMCS commi ee member, kickstarted the campaign and never gave up until the li ’s o cial reopening by (then) Prince Charles in 2003. I also accessed archives of BW, the Anderton Boat Li Development Group, TMCS and the late William Rowley (assistant manager at BW’s Northwich Repair Yard om 1981 to 1989).

The campaign saw various groups come and go – including Anderton Boat Li Development Group, Anderton Boat Li Trust and Friends of Anderton Boat Li – but TMCS was the constant driving force.

Design and restoration

Anderton Boat Li was in its second incarnation when it closed in 1983 due to safe concerns. The first design, built in 1875 with a large hydraulic ram below each caisson, was slimmer and shorter than the second. In 1908, engineers basically built over the first to convert the li to overhead pulley operation.

It is the 1908 design, with structural A- ames and gear wheels alo , that gives the li the iconic look it had when listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1976. That listing meant any repairs or alterations could only be made with English Heritage’s consent.

Numerous restoration schemes came and went. BWB repeatedly tried to push through the idea of operating a single caisson with a width limit of 7 rather than 14 . The campaigners were having none of it. Imagine the queues if only one boat at a time could use the li .

Another sticking point was the amount of replacement, rather than restored, material English Heritage would allow. A higher proportion of ‘replacement’ was needed to give the necessary structural strength for an overhead pulley system. Eventually, in 1997, a solution was agreed: switch om overhead pulley to a lighter-weight hydraulic ram system (as originally built), but integrate key parts of the 1908 structure to retain the li ’s iconic look.

The o cial reopening came in 2003, when BW declared the li “good for another 99 years”!

TMCS members present a petition to 10 Downing Street in 1985, accompanied by Neil Hamilton MP and his wife, Christine. Pictured are (l to r) Harry Arnold, Neil Hamilton, Pat Osborn, Peter Smith, Ken Foy, Chris Thompson and Christine Hamilton. TED WICKENS

Anderton Boat Li : The Restoration Campaign Years is a 32-page, illustrated booklet available via the TMCS online shop for £3 plus postage. trentandmerseycanalsocie .org.uk/shop

It was easy to lose track of the number of surveys and consultant reports, broken promises and false starts along the way. At times, I wondered whether there was some brinksmanship in play and, certainly, some public relations spin on behalf of BW.

I wrote the booklet as a time-lined anatomy of the campaign, along with personal commentaries, to provide both a historical record and possibly a trip down memory lane for some. But I now wonder whether it might also provide a hindsight perspective to reflect on where time, e ort and money were wasted.

My hopes now are two-fold. Firstly, that funding can be found to revitalise the li once more. Secondly, that lessons can be learned to secure a sustainable future both for the li and for other restoration projects.

I’d like to think, for example, that an ongoing maintenance budget is allocated for each restoration and protected against spending elsewhere. Back in 1997, a maintenance endowment was part of a £10.6m funding bid to the Lo ery Commission for Anderton Boat Li . If that endowment had been allocated and invested all those years ago, how much could it have been worth now? Would it have paid for the ongoing maintenance since the reopening, making the current fundraising campaign unnecessary?

Gearwheels from atop the lift were stored for many years in the compound below, while the restoration campaign raged on.

At Big Lock, Middlewich, TMCS regularly set up its caravan-based shop to raise funds and public awareness of the lift campaign.

IWA Lichfield Branch BRANCH FOCUS

Lichfield Branch continues to be one of IWA’s most vibrant and active branches. Waterways in the IWA Lichfield Branch area include the Ashby, Birmingham & Fazeley, Coventry, Rushall, Sta ordshire & Worcestershire, Trent & Mersey and Wyrley & Essington canals. There are also the restoration schemes: Ashby and Lichfield & Hatherton canals and the Sta ord Riverway Link.

The branch has just completed its seventh consecutive winter dealing with the encroaching o -side vegetation. Back in October 2017, IWA members first joined forces with the Canal & River Trust, where each winter volunteers work om a 45 workboat, coupled with a 60 ‘hopper’ boat accommodating a large wood chipper to tackle the vegetation using a range of tools and implements including long-reach pole chainsaws and hedge trimmers.

The operation can only run om October until the end of February so as to minimise the disruption to nesting wildlife. In order to cover more miles within this limited time ame, the remit is to concentrate on any protruding vegetation that compromises navigation such as on bends, bridge approaches, narrow sections and opposite popular mooring spots.

Bridge number paint (Coventry Canal).

FBW event at Fradley Junction.

Pictures: Lock Wind event at Barton Lock.

In addition to this, members hold occasional bite-sized volunteering opportunities, usually consisting of half a day dealing with any issues on the towpath sides and predominately vegetation management. The scrutinising of local planning applications a ecting navigations in their area remains a key part of the branch’s activities, resulting in many successful outcomes over the years.

Other activities include monthly social meetings in Lichfield with a guest speaker, a pre-Christmas meal at a local hostelry in December, and bimonthly walks encompassing one of the local canals.

Every August a ‘lock wind’ at Barton Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal is held where members assist boaters, sell cakes to raise funds, and recruit new members.

Over the last two years the branch has staged four Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign events at Fradley Junction and Great Haywood.

In order to further expand its activities, IWA Lichfield Branch is looking for more volunteers, either for helping behind the scenes with running the branch, or for physically volunteering with outdoor activities. Volunteers can do as li le or much as they choose. Please contact Neil Barne at lichfield@waterways.org.uk if you are interested in finding out more.

Off-side vegetation cutting (Staffs & Worcs Canal).

Overhanging tree (Trent & Mersey Canal).

Tackling the off-side undergrowth.

Towpath tree trimming.

Off-side vegetation cutting (Trent & Mersey Canal).

Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camps 2025

As usual the WRG canal camps were booked up in record time. Here’s a round-up of the teams’ activities this season.

17th-26th April River Parre

THE WORK: Almost 600m of existing footpaths on Cocklemoor, adjacent to the River Parre in Langport, Somerset, are to be improved by widening and resurfacing. Surfaced access routes are also to be created om the main footpath to two disabledaccessible fishing platforms.

THE REASON: In recent years, the River Parre has gained a new lease of life and become a focus for recreation with rowing, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing and wild swimming all popular. Cocklemoor has become a popular destination for this activi as well as providing space for riverside walking and picnics. However, this increased activi is pu ing significant pressure on the paths and in astructure, which now need upgrading.

THE RESTORATION: The Parre Navigation was a series of river improvements carried out in the early 19th century to allow boats through-access om Bridgwater to Thorney. It had a relatively short life with the arrival of the railways and today the focus is on leisure activities and a local communi boat – but who knows what the future could hold?

5th-19th July Wey & Arun Canal, Rooks Hill Bridge

THE WORK: Starting on a project to build a new traditional-s le brick arch bridleway bridge (and later a new lock), including creating formwork, reinforcing, pouring concrete, bricklaying and machinery work.

THE REASON: Following completion of the two new li -bridges and restored canal at Birtley, the Wey & Arun Canal Trust is keen to extend this section southwards. The new lock and bridge, replacing missing structures, represent a major step in this direction.

THE RESTORATION: The Wey & Arun Canal Trust aims to reopen the entire through-route om the River Wey navigation above Guildford to the River Arun and the South Coast. Several significant lengths have been completed, including the Loxwood Link length of around 3 miles and five locks plus shorter sections om Malham to Newbridge, on the summit at Dunsfold and elsewhere.

9th-16th August

Louth Navigation

26th July-9th August

Lichfield Canal

The Work: The camps will be continuing the channel construction along the section of canal between Tamworth road and Gallows Wharf, including steel piling of the banks, excavation of the channel to final depth and placing a concrete base to keep the channel watertight.

The reaSon: Planning permission was granted for this section of the canal in 2024 and significant works are underway to extend the in-water section of the Lichfield Canal through to Gallows Wharf. The works are divided into three phases, with the Lichfield & hatherton Canals restoration Trust working on phase 1 and the WrG Camps taking place on phase 2. a new road-bridge is also due to be constructed by the local authority in the coming year, removing the last main obstacle to connection on this length.

The reSToraTIon: The Lichfield Canal was constructed in the late 18th century as part of the Wyrley & essington Canal, with 30 locks over 7 miles connecting the Birmingham Canal navigations to the Coventry Canal. The Lichfield & hatherton Canals restoration Trust is working to restore the Lichfield and hatherton canals, plus a derelict branch of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Together, the two canals will restore northern links into the BCn and bring a wide range of benefits to the local communities.

The Work: Continuing on from the successful camps in 2023 and 2024, WrG will be returning to Ticklepenny Lock to continue the restoration of the brickwork. This will involve lots of bricklaying, brickwork repairs, pointing and the casting of manufactured coping stones – a classic lock restoration camp!

The reaSon: Ticklepenny Lock is an unusual structure with scalloped walls. It had deteriorated almost to the point of collapse, so in conjunction with the Louth navigation Trust, WrG volunteers have worked to stabilise and repair this lock in recent years and will be continuing this year.

The reSToraTIon: The Louth navigation followed the river Lud downstream from Louth town before heading north as an artificial canal to Tetney haven at the mouth of the humber. It survived as a drainage channel, but the locks fell into dereliction. Since 1986, the Louth navigation Trust has been dedicated to preserving the waterway and encouraging regeneration of the canal corridor – including renovating the historic warehouse at Canal head, holding events and publishing walking leaflets. The ultimate aim is to restore the locks and reopen the waterway to navigation.

Wey & Arun Canal works.

Wey & Arun Canal works.

9th-23rd August

Cotswold Canals, Weymoor Bridge

The Work: extending the reinforced concrete channel walls away from Weymoor Bridge, extending the walls constructed in 2024. Tasks include building and installing formwork, reinforcement, and casting the concrete. The same mix of timber shutters and system shutters used in 2024 will be employed. if work on the concrete walls progresses well, the camps may also make a start on the inner towpath wall, which will be built in concrete blockwork.

The reaSon: Last year’s camps diverted the existing stream through a new culvert crossing underneath the canal. a reinforced concrete channel is required to form the walls and base of the canal as it narrows and passes under the bridge and over the top of the culvert.

The reSToraTion: Cotswold Canals Trust aims to reopen the route from the Thames at inglesham to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Saul, with a phased approach. Phase 1a from Stonehouse to Brimscombe is largely complete; work is in hand on phase 1b to reconnect this to the canal system at Saul. Phase 2 will restore the eastern end from inglesham to the Cotswold Water Park (including Weymoor Bridge). Finally, phase 3 will tackle the difficult central section from the water park to Brimscombe.

23rd-30th August

Neath Canal

The Work: Working north of resolven Basin, the camp will be upgrading two water overflow points, including excavating the towpath, installing a concrete foundation and building a trough in concrete blockwork. This will be capped with concrete lintels and the towpath improved. Further up the canal, the camp will fabricate and install two timber lock tail bridges.

The reaSon: Being the Welsh Valleys, the canal can see a lot of water in high rain. The existing pound above resolven is relatively long and has no formal overflow capacity. Several drainage pipes were installed previously to help manage the excess flow, but this is insufficient and so new culverts with greater capacity are to be installed.

The timber tail bridges on many of the existing locks have been condemned or removed, and the new bridges will allow access to the off-side for maintenance. By working with the Ty Banc Canal Group, the WrG camp will help to train the locals in this crucial activity so they can undertake a programme of complete replacement along the canal.

The reSToraTion: The neath Canal ran for 13 miles and 19 locks and was primarily used to transport materials from the valleys to the docks in neath and Swansea (the latter via the separate Tennant Canal). The Ty Banc Canal Group is working to promote community engagement and activity on the canal, and the camp will be arriving as the group’s festival takes place at resolven Basin. in the long term, the target is for both the neath and Tennant canals to be fully restored, and possibly to link them to the Swansea Canal and create a small network of waterways in this area of South Wales.

Neath Canal.

Taking it slowly alongside our waterways

This issue we’ve teamed up with Slow Ways, a not-for-profit group which has crowd-sourced a national walking network for everyone to enjoy. Our two featured walks, both from the Slow Ways national network, follow waterways.

We agree with Slow Ways that it’s absurd that there are many, many places in Britain that people can’t get to under their own steam. So many of the roads, from country lanes to motorways, will have started their lives as walking routes, going to all the places people want to go. But bit by bit they became too dangerous for pedestrians and anyone wanting to travel on foot has to find another way.

Britain is dotted with signposted rights of way – on maps at least – but there is no way of knowing in advance which ones still exist on the ground, are fun and enjoyable, or are a good practical way of reaching your desired destination. Where there are known trails, like coastal paths, national trails or other named and signed trails, more people use them. Slow Ways aims for every town to be connected by good, direct, accessible routes.

The Slow Ways network links 2,500 cities, towns and large villages with suggested walking and wheeling routes. The routes have been drafted by volunteers, and then other people can walk them and review them on slowways. org. There are 2.5 million words of review guidance already, with each one letting walkers know exactly what to expect.

That’s nearly 10,000 routes, totalling 140,000km. Two-thirds of Slow Ways’ routes have options that have been reviewed at least once, and one-third have been verified, meaning that they’ve been walked and positively reviewed at least three times. There are 4,000 routes that have received a four- or five-star rating! It makes sense that Slow Ways’ routes make the most of waterways wherever possible. Towpaths and riverside walks are often established routes that go right through the centre of towns.

They’re often the nicest routes, generally flat and accessible, and provide an escape from busy life but with a long history of being practical transport routes. Thanks to IWA volunteers and others, many of these paths are well maintained. By definition, Slow Ways’ routes all go from the centre of one settlement to the centre of another, so they offer the best chance of finding public transport and accommodation plus cafés and pubs – ideal for linking together to create longdistance walks or for finding one that can be reached by train or bus. Or in fact your own boat, if you have one.

How to get involved

Slow Ways needs your help to get the network verified. All you need to do is go to the website, slowways.org, and enter

a place you’d like to explore. Find a route that looks good, check out the reviews to see if it sounds good for you, and then give it a go. Then leave your own review to help out the next person.

Slow Ways will soon be launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a new, stronger platform that will allow it to add thousands more routes too – shorter ones, circular ones – all to help you get from wherever you are to wherever you need to go. To do this it will be working with thousands of organisations to map the best routes for their own needs and interests.

This could be everything from PTAs mapping all the best routes for children to get to school, to a council mapping the best wheelchair-accessible paths, to otterspotters noting the best walks to be in with a chance of spotting an otter yourself.

Walk 1

new Mills to Whaley Bridge

Reviewer May Oz writes: “We left Whaley Bridge past the interesting transshipment warehouse and headed along the pleasant towpath and crossed the branch line via the stepped footbridge. (There is also a cobbled path down, which then goes through a small tunnel under the canal, as an alternative.) Halfway along this short route is Furness Vale, with a station, pub and other facilities. There were some good views across the Goyt Valley, including the Sheffield line railway viaduct. We left the canal near to the Swizzels factory (sweet smell present and correct) and crossed to the fascinating area around the Torr Vale Mill and Millenium Walkway. I’d love to explore this area another time. The geography of the deep Goyt ravine necessitates a stepped descent to a footbridge and a steep slope up the other side, passing New Mills Central Station on the way up to the town centre finishing point. This is a great route, as long as you are okay with steps and cobbled slopes.”

Planning your walk

DIstAnce: 3 miles (5km)

Photos

New MIlls

whaley brIdge

furNess vale

Walk 2

South Harefield to Uxbridge Reviewer Aamwalk writes: “I walked this from Uxbridge to South Harefield and did so to visit one of the nature reserves that is along the route. It was midJune so paths were all dry. This is a straightforward route to follow through lovely tranquil surroundings with lots of wildlife. Two regular TFL buses also link the two ends (U9 and 331), the latter also going via Denham Station. You can explore the green spaces that form the Colne Valley Regional Park in this area along the route, though not always signposted. There is the (from South to North) Uxbridge Alderglade Nature Reserve, Denham Country Park (with visitor centre), Denham Lock Woods, Frays Meadow, Harefield Place Nature Reserve, and Denham Quarry Woodlands. So lots of opportunity to extend the walk by exploring them. From Uxbridge it is a short urban walk to the Grand Union Canal where you join the path on the west bank at the Swan & Bottle pub. You then follow the canal path and, at the very steep bridge, the Slow Ways route follows the Colne Valley path through the Denham Quarry Woods. (This adds more variety to the walk than staying on the canal path.) The path is the quiet access road, but does leave it at stages, as it goes through the woods past the fishing lakes. So it was cooler than on the canal. You can leave the path at different points at South Harefield village.”

Planning your walk

Summer Events 2025

Market Harborough 75

Foxton

Saturday 7th-Sunday 8th June

IWA Canalway Cavalcade

Li le Venice

Saturday 3rd May

IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Li le Venice on Saturday 3rd May for the full early May Bank Holiday weekend. Each year we celebrate the best of life on the waterways in London and its communi at IWA Canalway Cavalcade.

There’s something for everyone at this vibrant canal festival in the heart of London’s waterways. Whether visiting by boat or on foot, it’s a splendid family day out where you can soak up the atmosphere surrounded by colourful cra of all shapes and sizes, alongside a multitude of unique stalls, a real-ale bar, and delicious foods for all tastes.

With live music, special boating activities like the spectacular illuminated night procession, and kids’ entertainment – including some amazing art om local schools on display – there’s plen to see and enjoy at this year’s IWA Canalway Cavalcade.

This waterways festival celebrates the 75th anniversary of the IWA Festival of Boats & Arts at Market Harborough in 1950.

Hosted by IWA’s Leicestershire Branch, in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, the Old Union Canal Socie , Harborough District Council and Foxton Museum, the weekend will feature historic and private boats, floating traders, land-based stalls, food, ice cream, music and other entertainment. A highlight will be a cavalcade of boats to Market Harborough on the Saturday.

IWA was formed in 1946, but it was not until the 1950 Festival of Boats & Arts, held in Market Harborough, that the campaign to save the inland waterways really became established as a national crusade. The festival is generally thought to be the tipping point of the waterways revival, triggering the mass participation of a volunteering spirit which is still unique in the world.

The 1950 festival was held at Union Wharf, Market Harborough, a location chosen as being central to the waterways system and accessible to all shapes and sizes of inland waterways cra . The rally would bring together a varie of di erent cra owned by members of the Association, and encouraged them to travel along the many diverse routes to Market Harborough. The initial aims of the rally were to inspire new members to join, and focus a ention on the dire state of the waterways, aims that are still relevant 75 years later.

The inspiration for the event came om the very successful Vintage Sports Car Club rallies that had been organised by Tom Rolt, one of the founding members of IWA. The event received enthusiastic support om the Harborough Council, which commi ed its full support. The rally developed om being merely a boat rally into a festival of boats and arts with a range of land-based a ractions – exhibitions, films, theatre productions – a development inspired by Robert Aickman, the association’s co-founder.

The festival was a huge success and a racted some 120 cra and an estimated 50,000 visitors over the six days. A trophy was awarded to recognise the boat coming the longest distance as well as trophies for the best turned-out boat and other achievements.

This year’s event can’t be located at Market Harborough, as Union Wharf is now a hire-boat base and has permanent mooring for private boats. Instead it will be at Foxton, with land-trading stalls, food, music and canal societies all in the event field adjacent to the main line and Bridge 60.

Bookings are now being taken for historic and private boats, floating traders and land traders at iwaharborough75.org.