Chelmsford Branch Magazine

Chelmsford Branch Magazine

Happy New Year!

January

2011

Chelmsford Branch CommitteeMembers Editor Wendy Hodkinson purple_boater@hotmail.co.uk

01371 876383 Distribution Stuart Thurston

livestu@live.co.uk 01702 529553/07831450505 Publicity & liaison Paul Strudwick

Paul.strudwick@unpact.co.uk 01245 358342 Other Committee members

London Region Acting Region Chairman Roger Squires Roger.squires@waterways.org.uk 02072320987 Secretary Robin Bishop robinbishop@tiscali.co.uk 02084522632 Images in the magazine are taken by the writer of the associated article unless otherwise stated.

Front cover Roy Chandler Disclaimer: The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine.

Chairman Jan Thurston (as below) Webmaster & Catering Stuart Thurston livestu@live.co.uk

01702 529553 Planning Conservation and Youth Essex Waterways Ltd Roy Chandler roy.chandler@waterways.org.uk

01245 223732 Chris Chandler Secretary chrismchandler@hotmail.co.uk Treasurer John Gale

Features in this Edition Page Page Page

3 Editor’s Comment 4 Chairman’s Chatter 7 Social Diary

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8 Bats

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9 BW’s Future 11 Mink

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16 The Queen Elizabeth

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18 River Canal Rescue 21 Heybridge history feature

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22 WRG Events 25 Wey and Arun

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27 :Life Jackets 30 Canal Camps on the C&B

Pate

36 WRG Calendar

01376 334896 Acting Soc, Secretary Publicity & liaison Paul Strudwick (as above) Molly Beard co-opted member Mollyanddouglas@tiscali.co.uk

01702 554992

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

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Editor’s Comment We begin this New Year as a branch within the London Region, having moved from Eastern Region. You may already have received the newsletter which includes details of the other branches that you may wish to keep for future reference. This has been prepared at Region level.

Both in the newsletter and this magazine there are the details regarding the AGM’s due to be held next year.

It has been, as in most other places in the country, a very cold end to last year. Heybridge Basin was iced over leading to lock traffic movement being disrupted. The main advantage was, of course, the beautiful views. Roy supplied the image for the front page. It was a shame that the London WRG weekend on the navigation had to be cancelled. Let us hope the January Essex WRG does not meet the same fate. On the whole the weekday volunteer work has continued though there has been a bit of taking cover in the canoe store to avoid some of the worst of the weather.

Many of you will no doubt have read that there have been further decisions made at government level about the new charity replacing BW. These changes are

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

Hoe Mill Lock Roy Chandler not going to take place overnight and there are still a lot of loose ends, not least what is going to happen to the Environment Agency.. More information can be found about this later in the magazine.

As you know, Paul Strudwick is organizing the socials for the moment. This is going to include a sponsored walk and more details will be available soon. We hope that this will be both a fun event and an opportunity for you to show your support for the work being done on the navigation.

I would like to thank all the people who have supplied material for the magazine and assure you that articles you send are appreciated.

Maybe when the cruising season gets underway you might be able to send in something about your experiences. The magazine is being downloaded onto the waterways website and you may like to visit it as the pictures look much better in colour!

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Chairman’s Chatter I’ll start by wishing you a happy and healthy New Year for 2011, and I hope all the resolutions you’ve made come to fruition.

prefer to do a “ job share” if taking a position alone worries you.

Whatever you offer will be much appreciated by us all.

It was great to see so many of you at our Christmas Social.

Although our speaker’s Sat Nav went into a “dead spot” and left them lost, at least it didn’t seem to dampen the evening as you were all socialising and chatting and I had to bring you to order to start!!

I am very pleased to see you are making friends. We want you to enjoy the company at meetings, as well as the content of the information from speakers.

We are now officially in the IWA London Region. I am attending the London Region Committee meeting in late December, so I will be able to report back in the next Magazine I am taking this opportunity to ask you to offer to help with some committee work. In most instances It has the same stalwarts for the 15 years plus, since my involvement who have been there and age is creeping up on some! It would be great to have a fresh view on items at committee. You will not be ‘pushed into’ anything you don’t want to do. You may IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

As you know Paul is covering the position of Social Secretary to the end of the year, but please could someone offer some cover if not the whole position of Social Secretary? I know some of you attend nature and historical clubs, so if you feel that the speakers would interest us, please would you send details to Paul or me.

Thank you for supporting the IWA in the stage of re-organisation of British Waterways and it hopefully becoming a Trust.

Your commitment helped to stop the Government selling off BW assets/buildings. Keep the good work up and thank-you again to those of you who volunteer work on Essex Waterways even in this cold winter weather.

Jan Thurston Chairman

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Fund Raising

Regional News London Region expanded, after the last IWA reorganisation, to embrace areas outside that of the GLA boundaries. This widened the remit quite considerably but had the advantage that it embraced the whole of the Lee and Stort as well as a significant section of the Grand Union Canal. We became more outward looking!

London Region see it as a privilege now to welcome the Chelmsford Branch into the fold; the more so in that it includes within its boundary the only waterway managed by the IWA. Your former Region Chairman, Doug Beard, needs full credit for his role in that positive advance.

London Region has organised a 'Central Social' for many years. It was a natural progression at the time when the original London Branch became three Branches.

Simply to say that, if any Chelmsford Branch members are ever 'up in town' on the third Tuesday in the month, they will be warmly welcomed at the Central Social, which is held in the Pirates Club at Camden alongside the Regents Canal. We hope you can call in sometime.

Thanks go to Roy Cox for organising the collection of foil again this year. A total of ÂŁ62.35p has been raised. This foil is collected at each meeting so do get saving it and bring it along.

New Members Update

We welcome the following new members: Stuart Abbott and Wendy Spink Grays Sammuel Fenn Chelmsford D. Nicholls Basildon Dennis Padfield and Jane Bowden Chelmsford

Roger Squires Acting Region Chairman

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

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SOCIAL DIARY

Social Meetings are held at Moulsham Mill 7.45pm for 8.00pm start.

Everyone is very welcome.

Don’t know where this is? – find the Chelmsford side of the flyover on the A1060 and the Tesco Home store plus on your left going out of Chelmsford. Turn as if going to the store but drive straight ahead of you – ample parking.

You might notice that a different person is doing the events programme at the moment. This is because Janine had to step down due to other commitments. I agreed to organise this years’ events but it is not something I am good at or a role I am comfortable with. The branch does need someone to take over organising our events if we are to carry on with interesting meetings that we have grown used to over the years. If you think you could take over the job why not give me a ring on 01245 358342 to talk over what’s involved or talk to our chairman.

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

I am going to try out a couple of ideas this year to see if they work.

You will notice that after the AGM I have scheduled a Quiz Time and Social Evening. Many years ago, when we met at Primrose Hill, we used to hold something like this on a fairly regular basis.. We need teams of 1 to say 6 people to battle it out to try and answer some simple questions on the canals and general knowledge.

There will be a small prize for the wining team.

We are also extending the social scene this year with a sponsored walk from Chelmsford to Paper Mill Lock. We will be organising transport back to Chelmsford. I can’t say too much about this at the moment but if our plans come together this could be using an interesting mode of transport.

Paul Strudwick; Acting Social Secretary

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Meetings at Moulsham Mill 13 January 2011 Paddling Around the Essex Coast Inland spas of Essex (Witham, Hockley); Rise of Coastal Spas & resorts (Scarborough, Brighton); Transport & the paddle steamer (Thames Estuary); Piers; Rise of seaside towns & villages of Essex (Mistley, Dovercourt, Harwich, Walton, Frinton, Clacton, Southend). This is illustrated with slides of old postcards and pictures David Brown 10 February 2011 Thames Sailing Barges Talk about the work of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust David Gibson 10 March 2011 AGM. And Quiz Time and Social Evening Teams of 1 to say 6 people to battle it out and answer some

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

simple questions on the canals and general knowledge.

There will be a small prize for the wining team.

14 April 2011 The North Walsham and Dillhan Canal Talk about the work that is going on to restore The North Walsham and Dillhan Canal a little known canal in Norfolk which connected the Broads to North Walsham.

Ivan Cann 12 May 2011 Holiday of a lifetime Stewart will be giving us a talk about the holiday he and Janice (our Chairman) took a little while ago.

12 June 2010 Branch Walk from Chelmsford to Paper Mill Lock Sponsored walk Minimum Sponsorship ÂŁ1.

Meeting at Springfield Basin Wharf Road Car Park at 09:30.

Return trip by Historic Bus (all details to be confirmed nearer the time)

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.Bats,

Bats and more Bats (Salix alba caerulea)

Those who enjoy a game of cricket would have been heartened to see the scene at Hoe Mill at the beginning of November as the cricket bat willow trees that had matured to the required size were cropped. The wood is some of the best in the world. It is good to find that while most of the wood is exported to India for manufacture into bats the Indians themselves, despite considerable efforts, have been unable to match the quality of the wood. It is the particular conditions in which they are grown, ideal for willow that ensures they are just right for the job.

Willow is best grown near fresh water streams and where the soil is of good quality lying over clay.

They are planted in rows about 10 metres apart as this ensure they have plenty of light and air. They are fast growing and are harvested when the right size of 120cm at the circumference measured 150cm above the ground and 12 metres high. This can be at any time between twelve to 20 years. They are a soft fibrous wood. In the IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

early years of growth all side shoots have to be removed so the wood grows.

There has been a big problem regarding the export of cricket bat willow because the insecticide usually used was banned in April.

Something had to be used to avoid foreign insects being introduced into India, The insecticide is methyl bromide. In an industry where 100,000 clefts are exported from East Anglia and Essex each year then this was very worrying.

Happily, exporting has now resumed.

The logs you can see in the pictures will be taken to the saw mill and sawed into 70cm lengths and then each piece is split into two using a wooden wedge. Each of these pieces is called a cleft.

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The wood is then further roughly sawn into the shape of a bat. The next stage is to dry the wood. This takes 9-12months. To make the wood hard enough it is pressed.

The V shape in the bat has to be cut with a special machine. The final shape is completed by skilled workers and a cane handle is added with a rubber grip. Some bats are still manufactured in this country. The cricket bat factory at Great Leighs was established in 1894!! In India, Kashmir, some 10.000 people are employed in cricket bat manufacture.

The lorry belongs to the company JS Wright and Sons who are the oldest and largest suppliers of cricket bat willow from Anglia and the Chelmer Valley.

Further information can be found on www.cricketbatwillow.com

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

British Waterways The Future On the 29th October a Public Bodies Bill legalised the setting up of a charitable organisation that will replace British Waterways. The practicalities of making this change will be made easier because the laws that now apply to BW will continue to apply to the new body.

Nothing has been finally decided about what is to happen to the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency. The problem with the EA is said to be the need to disentangle the different rolls as they have responsibility for flood control and some waterways. The IWA has welcomed the setting up of this charity as it is in line with policy objectives which have always looked at having a single organisation running the inland waterways system.

One problem that people were concerned about was what would happen to the property portfolio run by BW as the money from this is needed to help make the plans financially viable. If these are not included then another source of funding would have to be in place.

There is not the time to gradually develop sources of finance in the same way as a charity like the National Trust has done as the waterways are there in total now and need enough money to pay for

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the upkeep and developments needed immediately.

We have all heard the term Big Society used by the government to explain their thinking on what is taking place. It is a term that makes their plans to cut the countries massive financial black hole look exciting and challenging.

These changes are certainly in line with this concept as it is hoped that the old BW attitude towards the use of volunteers will change.

amount is sufficient to replace lock gates at half the required rate if it is taken that a replacement rate is where a lock gate lasts for 20-25 years. There are some 5000 gates in total to maintain! At the present rate of spending it is estimated that canals will deteriorate. Some 40 million is needed in addition to maintain the condition of the waterways, let alone bring about further improvement.

Our waterways are far from safe!

Robin Evans from BW stated there would be a new governing body of seven trustees three of whom would be from the original board and the rest chosen for their particular knowledge of setting up such a charity and this new trustee board would be organised by April 2011. The idea is that for the first year BW and the new charity will work together.

Many people are concerned that funding will not be in place.

One beam of light is that a new team is being organised with Defra to identify what needs to be done.

Following a conference on 15th November, Waterways Minister, Richard Benyon MP promised that the new waterways charity

It All Costs Money! would not be financially worse off and that there was to be a long term funding contract lasting 10-15 years. We do have to take this statement in the context in which it is made. This year the total BW spending was 89.2 million pounds, a fall of 12.4 million compared to the previous two years. This IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

What will be interesting is to see how this takes place in practice and not least what will happen about what many people see as overpaid top executives of BW. On 2nd December, at British Waterways’ AGM there has been discussion and publication of

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objectives for the New Waterways Charity (NWC is the name being used provisionally until a permanent name is chosen). The objectives have the approval of the IWA who have campaigned for the last 60 years for such an organisation. It is especially pleasing that an objective is the restoration of the canals, not just maintaining the status quo.

Also under discussion has been the nature of the role of the IWA in this and it has been agreed by the trustees that IWA should act as a ‘critical friend’ to the NWC and work to represent the boaters and the other users of the waterways.

Just how much money can be raised by the new charity is very much an unknown. Much will depend of the success of marketing strategies in order to convince the public that they need to support this new charity in terms of funding both through membership or similar schemes that will be used, fund raising and volunteering.

What is certain however that any one interested in the waterways can not just sit around and think everything is sorted and money will just flow in!

Editor

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

Mink – a problem predator It is always heartening to have some good news and the doubling of signs of water voles on British Waterways’ navigations was a feature of the news in November 2009. Mark Robinson, British Waterways’ national ecology manager, said “Canals and rivers are ideal wildlife corridors that support a vast array of wildlife, including bats, newts and otters.

Whether you are in the middle of a city, or somewhere more remote, you are almost guaranteed to see some exciting wildlife on the waterway.”

But it is also sobering to realise that there are massive problems for species like the water vole. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) state that “Invasive species represent the second most significant cause of species extinction worldwide after habitat destruction.”

Globally invasive species cost an estimated £914 billion and are the cause of half all extinctions.

On our waterways one of the most destructive of these invasives is the North American Mink. It is present throughout the Chelmer and Blackwater and has resulted in a devastating loss of water voles.

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effect on water voles but prey on waterside birds and wildfowl, predating eggs, young and even adults.

The photos are (above) of mink trapped on the River Colne in August 2010, (right) a mink monitoring raft at Hamford Water (Walton Backwaters) and a water vole.

In the Eastern Region water voles had declined from nearly 75% occupation in 1990 to less than 10% (possibly as low as 5%) by 2006. A 2007 survey of the River Blackwater by Water for Wildlife revealed that only 3 sites out of 57 still had water voles.

Contrary to popular belief, the problem with mink predates the animal rights releases by at least 3 decades. Mink were breeding in the wild by the mid 1950s after escaping from poorly maintained fur farm enclosures and were present in every county in England by 1971 after a woefully underfunded attempt at control was finally abandoned by MAFF. Mink not only have a devastating IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

Mink may be mistaken for otters, a native animal which feeds primarily on fish. However mink are half the length (55-65cm); a cat sized animal with very dark fur. Otters can be 1.2m (4’) long, weigh ten times as much and have lighter fur across the throat and belly.

Water voles are now fully protected but are themselves

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easily confused with brown rats and may be eradicated because of this. They are the same size as a medium sized rat but do not have the prominent ears and long scaly tail of the rat. Piles of cut vegetation with distinctive 450 angled cuts at the ends, and brown ‘tic tac’ shaped droppings are the best indication that voles are present.

The best habitat for water voles is slow flowing water with good emergent and bank side vegetation cover for feeding and protection from predators. Banks are essential for burrowing so hard engineering such as steel piling or concrete causes real problems.

Coir rolls and willow spiling are good alternatives where there are bank erosion issues. Where livestock such as cattle poach long sections of bank and over graze the emergent vegetation, habitat swiftly becomes unsuitable for voles. Fencing can easily protect the riverside allowing voles to recolonise and banks and vegetation to recover.

To combat the threat of mink, an Eastern Region landscape scale project, co-coordinated by the Wildlife Trusts and partner organizations, has been established to remove mink from catchments. Water voles can quickly re-establish themselves once mink are absent but the effort IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

has to be conducted on a whole catchment scale to be effective.

In 2011 we intend to extend the Essex mink control area onto the Chelmer and Blackwater and are looking for support in monitoring the floating rafts that need to be positioned along the Navigation.

This important work requires the co-operation of landowners, individuals and organizations to have any chance of success.

While the water vole has suffered a dramatic decline over the past 20 years, otters have enjoyed a recovery. From total extinction in 1986, they have now re-colonised from the population on the River Stour and gradually moved south catchment by catchment. By 2003 a total of 31 of the 252 otter survey points were positive for signs of otter. In 2009 this had risen to 110 in 2009. Otter droppings (spraints) containing fish bones and scales are deposited on locks and other prominent objects such as tree roots and overhanging branches along the navigation along with other feeding remains such as mussel shells and fish remains.

Otters are nocturnal so they rest up during the day in hollow tree root systems, abandoned burrows or even in the crown of willow pollards. More surprising is that they spend a great deal of the day resting above ground in tall riverside herbage.

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A major obstacle to the spread of otters is the busy Essex road network and there are four to five road deaths each year as otters cross roads, usually in times of flood, when they cannot cross under river bridges. However otters do not like swimming under the type of culverts found under the A12 and other roads in the county even in low water so it is important to identify any accident black spots and try to build ledges into these structures that can allow otters to walk under them. Otter ledges are routinely built into new bridge structures now, but many old crossings are still deadly.

Finally crayfish nets have been responsible for an increasing number of otter drowning in the Eastern Region. Crayfish nets must be licensed by the Environment Agency, however their use is not encouraged as removal of large non-native species of crayfish can result in a population explosion among the smaller individuals that would normally be cannibalised by the larger ones. Non-native crayfish are much larger than the native white-clawed crayfish and the American signal crayfish not only out-compete them but carry a plague that is deadly to other species. Another issue is that crayfish can undermine banks causing a great deal of damage.

Darren Tansley - Water for Wildlife Officer IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

So what can we do now?

The most urgent action is to remove mink from the waterway allowing our native species to recolonise.

We can provide equipment and training but we need partners on the ground to ensure the continued monitoring of the Navigation.

Careful management of the backsides is also essential.

A collaborative approach to find wildlife friendly solutions that still allow people to enjoy the waterway for recreation is essential and we are happy to help guide this process. If you are interested in taking part with the rejuvenation of the Chelmer’s wildlife then please get in touch. We cannot afford any further delay.

Essex Waterways Ltd is already supporting mink trapping at Heybridge Basin on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation where much of this year’s duckling population has disappeared. Mink rafts have also been installed elsewhere on the Navigation.

Roy Chandler Director and Chairman Essex Waterways Ltd

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Stop Press Wildlife on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Contact Details Essex Waterways Ltd will be working with Essex Wildlife Trust to enable this project to rejuvenate wildlife on the Navigation.

If you wish to become involved, please contact Colin Edmond, Navigation Manager.

07966 375351 colin.edmond@waterways.org.uk

Darren Tansley - Water for Wildlife Officer Essex Wildlife Trust Abbotts Hall Farm, Gt Wigborough, Colchester, CO5 7RZ T. 01621 862995 M. 07889 088453

E. darrent@essexwt.org.uk

Essex Waterways Ltd. (EWL) knew that obtaining grant funding in 2010 would be difficult due to the general economic conditions.

The year saw however several major projects implemented upon the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation that were funded directly by others and these have previously been reported.

EWL was very grateful to have received a ÂŁ10,000 grant from Essex Environment Trust during the year towards the cost of the piling work carried out at Paper Mill Lock, Little Baddow.

EWL have now heard that they have been awarded a grant of ÂŁ45,000 from the Essex County Council Life Raft Fund. The grant relates to various projects for repairs and improvements along the Navigation. It is particularly pleasing that in these times of restricted funding and cut backs, Essex County Council acknowledge the importance of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation as a tourist and leisure asset to the County.

Roy Chandler Director and Chairman

Essex Waterways Ltd The body responsible for maintaining and operating

the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

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The Queen Elizabeth

Having spent nearly three weeks cruising aboard the new ‘Queen Elizabeth’ I thought that rather than bore you with my holiday experiences, as good as they were, there might be some interest, amongst us boat and ship anoraks, in this new cruise ship’s technical specifications and other interesting aspects.

Firstly her dimensions were enormous, and although not the largest ship on the seas, had an overall length of nearly 294 metres and beam of nearly 37 metres (Approx’ 1000 x 100 feet respectively). It had a draft of 8 metres and displacement of 47,000 tonnes.

Internally it contained 12 passenger lifts serving 12 decks and / Staterooms and numerous leisure and catering facilities.

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

All of this size and weight took some moving at some 20 knots (23mph or 37kph) cruising speed, in various conditions. The ships two thrusters motors were Rolls Royce Azipods, which is a trade name the Azimuth (ABB V21) submersible thrusters. For stability there were also two retractable wings that could be rotated to suit the conditions to provide various directional forces.

For those who are not familiar with these Azipod motors, I being one of them until recently, they are very large electric motors slung below the stern of the hull and powered by diesel generators.

They are capable of being turned 3600 and therefore able to act as forward, reverse and side thrusters as required. Therefore no rudder is required for steering. Also the Azipod propellers were at the front

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of the motors and so faced the bow of the ship when going forwards. (Ahead) So they actually pulled the ship though the water, rather than pushing it, which forced the water past the motors.

This apparently causes less wash at the stern and is overall more efficient due to the improved hydro dynamics. One downside of course is that any major maintenance can only be undertaken in a dry dock. With the Azipod thrusters, together with the three bow thrusters, the ship is very manoeuvrable and so was able to steer in very confined or narrow channels and is not reliant upon tugs when docking.

All of this thrusting power of course needed a considerable amount of electrical power and together with all the internal services, lifts air conditioning, and catering needs, to name just some, there are six diesel generators with a total output of 64,000 KW and so providing enough energy to power a small town. And they say water and electricity don’t mix.

A cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth is highly recommended!

Ron Abbott

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

Head Quarters Messages.

Volunteers Needed IWA are looking for people who could help distribute recruitment material in a marina, a boatyard or local boating business. If you feel you can help then get in touch with Lesley.sanders@waterways.org.uk Tel. 01494783453.

Inglesham Lock Restoration Appeal Update So far. £22,390 has been pledged which is 18% of the £125,000 target. For more information about the appeal and works to be carried out please go to http://www.waterways.org.uk/camp aigns/appeals/iwa_national__resto ration_appeal___inglesham_lock_ IWA's Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) is running a specialist camp at Inglesham Lock over the New Year to get the site ready for the work to be carried out in 2011.

Work will include tree and vegetation clearance. To ensure that the cost of the site enabling works is covered, please donate now.

2011 will see WRG constructing the site compound, landing stage and dam. Volunteers will also start rebuilding the upper wing walls of the lock.

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SOME OTHER NIC-NACS

NAUTICAL

The knot. The speed of a ship, or other vessel, is measured in knots.

The term is derived from when a piece of rope was paid out at the stern, when the ship was moving ahead, with a series of knots tied to it at regular intervals, originally 47’ 3” apart. At the end of the rope was tied a piece of wood, or a log, to provide the drag. As the rope passed though the operators hand he counted the knots against a timer. This was like an egg timer shaped sand glass that ran for about half a minute during which time the knots were counted.

Hence ten knots, say, passing though the hands during the timed period would give the result of 10 knots. A knot compared with measurements used today is equivalent to 1.15 miles/ hour or 1.85 kilometres / hour. In later years, before electronic means were used to measure and record speed and distance, a spinner, or ‘Cherub Log’ was used and this was attached by a length of rope to a clock-work or other mechanical meter which converted the spinner and rope rotations to provide readings of the ships speed in knots.

The Bulbous Bow. You will often see this large part of the hull at the waterline of the bow on ships, particularly when they are empty or only partly loaded, and its main IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

function is to help the ship break through the water when going ahead. The hydrodynamics of this feature helps the ship to move though the water more efficiently and to create less wash. It can have a secondary function which is to assist with ballasting, if filled with water, so the ship can be compensated according to the load and authorities can carry out spot checks.

The Plimsoll Line. No not another cruise company or train operator, but a means of measuring the safe depth, or draft, of a ship in the water when fully or partly loaded.

Named after its inventor Samuel Plimsoll MP in 1886 this measurement, found near the waterline and amidships of the hull, is not a constant measurement mark as the displacement of a ship will vary according to the type of water, salt or fresh, it’s in and also the temperature of that water. So there can be up to six different mark lines for different waters. As a simple example; a ship that is loaded to its maximum capacity in cold salty water would become overloaded if taken to warmer fresher water as the water density and temperature would change the conditions. Therefore the required air draft, and the buoyancy of the ship would be reduced.

Ron Abbott More Nautical Nic-Nacs may follow if there is an interest.

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River and Canal Rescue Stephanie Horton came to our November social meeting to speak to us about the RCR organization and gave us lots of information and advice which for many would be very useful. She brought with her two eager employees Jake and Charlotte to help her and between them all we were able to find out what the RCR has to offer.

The RCR is a national organization which is the RAC/AA of the inland waterways. There are different membership levels and there are not only their own employees but some 400 contractors who can be called up to offer backup as needed. Anything that can be tackled in two hours is dealt with by the callout service but beyond that contractors can be called out to give further assistance. RCR will organize quotes and underwrite the work and payment is to RCR who will follow up if anything is wrong.

There are four levels of membership and the aim is to offer peace of mind to the customer.

Registered clubs get discounts as do people who do not call upon the service in the previous year.

Full details of the service can be found on their web site www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk The four levels are Retainer, Bronze, Silver and Gold and each IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

provide a different level of service relating to crew relay, home start and cover for friends and family.

The charges start at ÂŁ55.00. per year. RCR also provides an preboat purchase Inspection service, courses on servicing an engine, boat handling boat electrics course, There are one day engine familiarization course especially for ladies, which can be on their own boat with personal tuition and an online chandlers with discounted parts.

The engines used for the courses are BMC, Volvo, Vetus and Beta.

The next part of the talk dealt with preventative maintenance.

Something which many people who have boats will have heard about is diesel bug. This is an enzyme bacterium that lives in water. It can be detected by finding black dust soot like material in the fuel and when badly affected the fuel is thick like jelly and in severe cases the whole fuel system needs cleaning out.

The bug is transferred on the fuel nozzles so a whole marina can be contaminated. When the fuel changes next year to include bio diesel in the mix then this problem is going to be more likely.

Prevention and treatment can be administered to the fuel system and RCR has treatment for both on sale.

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Best Advice The following checks should be carried out and action taken to prevent problems occurring • Oil level check • Keeping the engine clean means oil leaks can be spotted quickly • There should be a regular routine followed • Carry spares • Check batteries • Top up batteries and watch for problems of overcharging with some of the new alternators.

• Watch for water leaks • Boats should have two bilge pumps to be ready for possible floods from the water tank or the shower. Stern glands should leak a bit.

• Fan belts should be checked and this can be done by twisting them to see they are not liable to break and should not be lose.

• When the prop shaft is spun by hand it should run smoothly.

• Prop shaft bolts can become undone and spares should be carried.

• Plugs should not take more than 10-15 seconds to heat and if it takes longer they should be replaced.

• Control cables should be inspected as should the exhaust for leaks.

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

• Filters for both oil and fuel should be changed when the engine service is due or as needed.

• If the engine cuts out in gear then the prop might be fouled.

• If it cuts out when revved then check the air filter.

• Overheating might be caused by an air lock. The tank should be hot at the top and the bottom.

• If you cannot change gear then check the gear cable and that the prop turns.

• Know how to stop the boat engine manually if it won’t stop.

• Spare parts should include control cables for steering and throttle, fan belts, plugs, fuel filter, bulbs, bolts, grease, oil. and stop leak (which can be pressed against the hull and it forms a seal.

• The important thing in all this is to stay safe and do not overstretch yourself beyond what repairs you are really able to tackle.

• Use a good engineer

RCR can be phoned or e-mailed at any time to ask for advice and are ready to come out 24hours per day 365 days in the year.

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History of Heybridge

I have recently been reading an old book I picked up at a second hand bookshop called Tideways & Byways Essex & Suffolk by Archie White. The book was originally written in 1948 and gives fascinating insight to old Essex. I thought members would be interested in this passage about Heybridge basin.

“Here are lock gates and a canal willow-lined as in Holland. Looking up at the sky likely as not you will see the long pennant of a Dutchman streaming from a masthead, for eel boats come over from the Low Countries.

It is interesting sight to see them unload. The hatches are taken off, exposing a well filled with thousands of eels. Long-handled forks with seven or eight long, curved, blunt-ended ‘tines’ are used to bring the eels out. Huge IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

scales are setup on deck, weighted on one side, with a deep iron pail suspended on the other.

Twisting and squirming, the eels are forked from the hold into the pail, some falling on deck where, wriggling like adders, they try to find a way to the sea through the closed scuppers. The moment the pail is filled and weighed (for all is hurry and bustle), over it goes, shooting the eels helter-skelter down a canvas funnel to a puntlike box floating alongside. The lid is clamped down and padlocked, and the little craft, perforated with many small holes, is moored at some convenient place in the canal.

In this way eels are kept alive in perfect condition for almost any length of time until they are required for the market.

Business being over, the Dutchmen clomp ashore, leaving their wooden shoes outside the doors of the ‘Jolly Sailor’ or the ‘Ship’ (for a Dutchman never enters a house wearing his sabots), there to enjoy a glass of good English beer, a treat indeed, and one no doubt long looked forward to after the ‘beir’ they have to put up with in their native country.”

Permission has been given by publisher to copy this extract.

Paul Strudwick

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WRG at Chelmsford WRG (Waterway Recovery Group) digs are generally held on the first weekend of each month.

In November the task was to clear a footpath that is alongside the golf club by Beleigh Falls.

The task looked quite daunting as there was little sign of a footpath but we had been asked by the Malden footpath’s officer to clear the way so that the private roadway would not have pedestrians on it. This took all one day and part of the next.

Before

Those who came for the weekend stayed on the Heybay, a boat with no engine, moored at Heybridge. It has small cabins each with four bunk beds and a meeting/dining room, showers and kitchen (or is it galley!) the best part was being in Heybridge early in the morning with the tide out making for a great view and a variety of wading birds clearly visible.

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After Luckily the weather was kind and with a mixture of tools and a fair amount of effort the job was done.

Unfortunately the route is very uneven in places so there will probably have to be some levelling off done at a later date.

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Meals on Wheels Wheelbarrows have a variety of uses and here is yet another report on how we utilize them – this time to ensure that we are sustained on our midday break at Foxton. This is obviously the health part of the ‘Elf and Safety keeping up our strength when shovelling earth

In December the scene was somewhat different with snow and ice everywhere. The bottom lock shown here had a work boat moored and scaffolding in place and the area is fenced off for repairs to be completed to the locks. The canal was iced over and the Essex WRG weekend work had to be cancelled.

Foxton Wall Unveiled A wall dating from 1910 at the bottom of Foxton locks alongside the spillway has been revealed again having been hidden for the last four years following the building of the path going to the museum. The WRG was there at the weekend of 2nd/3rd October and set about the job inhand.

It was lucky that the task did not take more than a day, as the next day everything got rather wet and further work was called off.

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Image by Roy Chandler

The arrival of a narrow boat at Wharf Road,, Chelmsford.

The haulers rig arriving with Nb Millie Willows created a lot of attention!!

Image by Editor

A more unusual way of using a narrow boat is found at Audlem where the Shroppie Fly is used as a bar.

The name comes from a fly boat, one that flies along. The shop in what was Audlem mill is a great place to pick up a book and lots of canal bits and bobs.

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The Wey and Arun - Editor This lock at Loxwood is one of the four locks in the three mile section that has been restored. The lock and the nearby road bridge was officially opened in 2009 This stretch is the culmination of twenty years of work. Along with the four locks and two road bridges there is an aqueduct and three attractive arch bridges

Above is the view of the canal to the north of Loxwood which has had some clearance work.

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The route from Stonebridge at the junction with the River Wey to the area of Birtley Green has almost disappeared and a new route is possible.

Above the WASP

The Wasp is an ex National Trust work boat. In 2009 she was joined

by Penelope, bought from BW. It was a dredger that was surplus to requirements.

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Not everything was plain sailing for WASP as it was reported as sunk in the winding hole by its slipway but it looked fine when I saw her a few weeks ago.

The trip boats are run by the W&A Enterprises Ltd whose profits go towards the Trust. By setting up a separate company they can make a profit where as the Trust, being a charity cannot do this.

The Fleet John Smallpiece/Josia’s Jessop/ Zachariah Keppel /Wiggonhold The Wey and Arun Navigation has been in the news recently because they have money to spend! There has already been some fantastic work done to restore sections of this waterway, but there are still plenty of problems. The plan when working on a restoration is often that while it might seem impossible to restore the complete length of the canal. work should be done where ever and when ever possible. The IWA and a private benefactors’ money is going to be

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used to develop the next section north of the lock at Loxwood.

The Brewhurst Lock is a great restoration story in its own right. In order for it to be routed under the high street at Loxwood the canal had to be lowered by 6 feet along the pound.. A totally new lock had to be built. near the Onslow Pub. On December 8th in recognition of the work done volunteers have been to Banqueting House and presented with the Heritage Heroes Certificate.

Volunteers who worked on the restoration come from the Wey and Arun Canal Trust and over many years the WRG have had volunteers working there, including Essex WRG. The pictures below give some idea of how the lock levels change This is Brewhurst lock and the route down into the pound can be seen and just beyond out of sight is Loxwood lock.

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The December Meeting in Moulsham Mill again saw us having a good spread, with crackers on the tables and cake provided by Sylvia Cox. The cake was delicious.

Thank you to Sylvia and all who brought food There was a raffle and talk.

Life Jackets Our speaker in the meeting was Banny Banyard who gave a talk about life jackets and brought along a variety of jackets for us to look at Mae West is the most famous flotation device (jacket left). It is a buoyancy aid jacket with a whistle.

Centre foam padded jacket but with no ability to turn the swimmer on their back and keep their face out of water if unconscious.

Right inflatable jacket with ability to turn user on back

A life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) come in various jacket types: manual that on pull cord a CO2 cylinder inflates the jacket and automatic jackets that open when immersed in water or IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

jackets that inflate when triggered from the presence of the additional pressure of water.

The very first devices to be recorded are using inflated animal bladders or sealed

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gourds which were carried to cross a river. It was not until the 1800’s that the navy used life jackets and often sailors could not swim. If they could they had a gold ear ring and if their body was found it could be used to pay for their funeral. Long hair was also useful so they could be dragged out of the water by the hair. Cork blocks were also sometimes used to give flotation.

In 1854 Captain Ward is credited with designing the first ‘modern’ life jacket for use by the RNLI lifeboat crew. They were made with cork which not only floated but kept the wearer warm. He was employed as a safety inspector.

When do people need to have a life jacket?

• BW workers have to wear one when within 1metre of the bank • The Canal Boat Project rule is they are used after heavy dew • Lime House lock for various boats/situations • On the Solent to be used especially following the Ouzo disaster Ouzo was a yacht that was sunk by the cruise ship Pride of Bilboa.(Marine Coast Guard Agency • RNLI IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

• Young children instructed to do so by parents.

In 1928 Peter Markus took out a US patent 1694714 for a life jacked called the Mae West (so called because it gave the appearance of a well endowed chest like Mae West).

Buoyancy level is measured using a unit of force called the Newton. This is derived from the SI system where the degree of buoyancy is equal to the amount of force required to accelerate a mass of one Kg. at the rate of 1 meter per second per second.

So a force of 275N is very buoyant and 150N is less so but the recommended amount on canals and rivers.

The buoyancy can be achieved using foam, air chambers and is fine in a relatively safe environment. There are other specialized deep water buoyancy jackets.

There are also wet or dry suits that can be worn in water. Some jackets also have hoods (250N).

A jacket for open water has a flashing strobe light and whistle.

There are also specialist jackets.

Once a CO2 cylinder has been used then it has to be re-armed using a rearming Kit. They hold 33g of CO2 and there is a very thin, delicate point.

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To find out whether the cylinders are properly loaded they need to weigh 90g. When shaken they should rattle. At ÂŁ15 a time one does not want to inflate them unnecessarily! There are two basic designs used and you need to check which is used at a standard type is easier to obtain.

The new cylinder is screwed into place.

Those with a Hammar developed mechanism are guaranteed to work and they need to be checked that they are in date and not corroded. They activate when face down and turn the wearer over so the nose is out of the water. Hammar is a Swedish company which developed the hydrostatic release unit which works at a specific degree of list. The aim is to stop life jackets and inflatable life boats being trapped under a capsized boat.

Life jackets that open with a change of pressure have cylinders with a pin set to release at a given pressure and release the CO2. Jackets have a whistle and a strobe light. A person in water can only see a distance of two and a half miles.

Some carry auto distress signal equipment which alerts the coastguard but only one signal from any close group of people in the water would work and IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

another such signal can be broken by another in its line of site to the coast guard.

Some carry flags that can be waved.

There are also deaf strobes, that emit a noise when in water so that a deaf swimmer can swim to. The Dalton House School use the community boat project boats at Harlow to give students experience.

Banny showed us a chart which is used to decide whether a person has to use a life jacket depending on how able bodied they are. For people in wheel chairs who are strapped in life jackets are pointless.

Above jacket with strobe etc

Each person has to have their own life jacket as they should be fitted before use as they would not support you if not correctly strapped on and can be more of a hindrance than a help.

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Essex Waterways Update Canal camps 2010 Since commencing the Agreement to maintain and operate the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation in 2005 we have been assisted by regular weekend work parties from our sister organization the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG). These are regular volunteers from the local WRG groups in Essex, London and Bit in the Middle and up to seven work parties have been held each year. A reunion weekend saw 120 volunteers working on the Navigation.

We were therefore pleased to be offered three week long Canal Camps by WRG during 2010.

WRG arranged a total of 23 Canal Camps in 2010.

These camps are open to anyone aged between 18 and 70 – no previous experience necessary; just a willingness to have fun and get involved.

Each camp has around 15 to 20 volunteers and is led by an experienced leader and assistant.

Volunteers come from all walks of life.

Our volunteers normally stay IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

on the Haybay Heybridge Basin.

barge

at

Canal Camps usually work on canal restoration projects such as the Wilts and Berks or Cotswolds Canal. The camps on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation are therefore different from the normal restoration projects in that they are held upon a working waterway with the aim of helping to keep this active and vibrant waterway alive.

They have proved popular.

Our first camp was held in February with accommodation on the sailing barge Centaur at Maldon’s Hythe Quay. As has previously been reported, this camp commenced work on demolishing the deck at Hall Bridge, Heybridge and preparing the site for the following rebuilding.

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The second camp took place in early August and worked at Heybridge Basin where hundreds of hessian sacks were filled with clay and transported along the Navigation for bank repairs.

These were unloaded and

positioned to reform a collapsing bank in the moorings area.

Ducts were also laid for the completion of the shore power services at this point and new mooring jetties were installed. An evening trip along the Navigation was provided from Hoe Mill to Heybridge with picnic on route to enable the volunteers to further appreciate our waterway.

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The third camp was at the end of October and again used the Haybay as their base with the main work site also being at Hall Bridge.

With the bridge rebuilding now complete, the task this time was to form the connecting paths.

New paths were constructed to link with those within the new “Lakes” development and with Hall Bridge Rise where a “desire route” already existed.

Some eighty tons of recycled crushed tarmac were laid and consolidated.

A “desire route” also existed along the southern Navigation bank beside the “Lakes” development linking the Navigation towpath with the adjoining lakes and sea wall walk. The temporary closure of part of the adjoining route to allow building work and the new Hall Bridge had resulted in increased use of this “desire route” which was rather hazardous. As the existing bank was undulating and very overgrown the camp also

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cleared the undergrowth, levelled the ground with an excavator and laid wood chip on As the work was being completed, the volunteers were rewarded by many complementary comments from people already using the paths.

the surface. Mooring posts that were uncovered during the clearance were painted white so as to reduce their potential as a trip hazard.

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During this camp a small group also travelled up to Little Baddow Lock where they removed the overhanging coping stones from one wall and re-bedded these back on the original line. A general tidying around the lock was also undertaken.

Throughout the three camps we were impressed with the enthusiasm of all the volunteers which included several 18 year olds on their Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and also a 75 year old regular who lead one of the teams. They all seemed to have an enjoyable week. A large amount of very useful work was well carried out, and this is work that would not have been achieved without the assistance of these Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camps.

A further three WRG Canal Camps are already being advertised for 2011.

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LONDON REGION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the London Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Tuesday 19th April 2011 at 7.30 p.m. at the Pirate Club, Pirate Castle, Oval Road, Camden, London NW1 7EA.

AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. Approval of the Minutes of the AGM held April 15th 2010 3. Matters Arising from those Minutes 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Election of Committee Members (see notes below) Notes: [following the amendment of Region Byelaws which came into force on 14/3/09] The Chairman of the Region is elected in a separate ballot and the Chairmen of each of the branches within the Region are members of the Region committee ex officio.

This is an election for the remaining members of the Region committee. b) There is no limit to the number of members of that committee c) The period of office of the following elected members of the Region committee comes to an end at the 2011 AGM (see details in separate region leaflet) d) It is no longer necessary for those who wish to be elected to the committee to be nominated and seconded but all who wish to stand must agree to do so.

Consents from members of the Region who wish to stand for election at the AGM 2011 must be deposited with the Region Secretary Robin Bishop, 11 Lichfield Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 2RE, before the start of the Annual General Meeting a)

CONSENT FORM

I agree to stand for election to the Eastern Region committee at the 2011 Annual General Meeting. I am a member of London Region

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THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION CHELMSFORD BRANCH Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Chelmsford Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will take place on Thursday, 10th March, 2011, at 8p.m., at Moulsham Mill, Parkway, Chelmsford.

Agenda 1.

Apologies for Absence

2a. b.

Approval of Minutes of the previous A.G.M. Matters Arising from the Minutes

3.

Chairman’s Report

4.

Treasurer’s Statement

5.

Business of the Meeting notified under Byelaw 40

6.

Statement of Committee Size

7.

Election of Committee

Notes: Vague agenda items such as ‘any other business’ may not appear on the agenda. However, the Chairman may, at his discretion, accept a discussion on any other matters…..provided that no decision shall be taken on any matter for which proper notice has not been given as an agenda item for the meeting. Amended Byelaw 40 states that “Any member of a region or branch may propose business to appear on the agenda…..provided that notice of such business is delivered in writing to the secretary of the region or branch no later than 6 weeks before that meeting, or such lesser period…..as the region or branch may resolve…..” Any such notice, therefore, should be delivered in writing to me, not later than 27th January 2011.

Completed nomination forms should be returned to Chris Chandler no later than the 5th March, 2011.

Chris Chandler 84, Hopping Jacks Lane, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4PD 11.

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THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION CHELMSFORD BRANCH Nomination for Branch Committee

We wish to nominate ………………………………………………for the Committee of the Chelmsford Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.

Proposed by: ………………………………………………… (BLOCK CAPITALS) Signed:

Seconded by ……………………………………………………(BLOCK CAPITALS) Signed: I agree to be nominated for the Committee of the Chelmsford Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.

Signed:

Date:

Completed forms should be sent to the Branch Secretary, Chris Chandler 84, Hopping Jacks Lane, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4PD No later than the 5th March 2011.

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WRG John Gale 07961 947360 /Mandy Morley 07976 287543 Bad weather has, unfortunately, caused some cancellations not least the December weekend planned for Foxton, Repair work is being completed to some of the lower locks in Foxton with water drained and scaffolding in place.

This is being completed by British Waterways.

As in many other places the canal was frozen over.

The planned carols at the museum went ahead, despite the cold weather but it was generally very quiet!

WEEKEND DIGS 2011

8/9th January Chelmer and Blackwater (Accommodation expected to be at Heybridge) 5/6 February Wilts and Berks 5/6 March Cotswold Canal – possibly at Inglesham subject to approval of the local Wildlife Officer

If you do not receive the WRG Bulletin and wish to then get in touch essexwrg@ gmail.com

IWA Chelmsford Branch January 2011

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