Knobsticks - Summer 2020

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch

KNOBSTICKS

Summer 2020

Caldon Bridge 37 being demolished (Page 6) Photo: Rupert Smedley

Editorial

Welcome to a delayed “Summer” edition. Because of the confusion and uncertainty surrounding canals and Covid-19 we decided to wait until we knew what was happening. Eventually we realised that we could wait for ever, so here is “Summer” 6 weeks later than usual (and the next edition will be “Winter” in November).

aged to use “waterways” addresses, rather than personal ones.

We need a Heritage officer and a Planning Officer, possibly as a combined role (see page 16). All work parties are “on hold”, so please contact the organisers (see Back Cover) before attending.

Talks are planned, but could be “virtual” (see pages 12-13), so First a bit of “admin”. If you want again please contact Sarah first. to contact Alison Smedley, please use her new email address Personally we are enjoying being allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk allowed to take day-cruises on our as she wants to continue to keep boat, but still long for permission her volunteering life separate to stay away overnight and take from her paid work at head office. our usual Spring cruise around All IWA volunteers are encour- the four counties ring!

Anne Chetwyn’s Teaser While we can’t go boating at the moment, we can “THINK” canals. So, grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and have a go at this: O _ _ _ Hereford and Gloucester basin.

L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Staffs. and Worcs. lock. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Town arm on the B.C.N. _ _ _ _ _ Annual Show. _ _ _ River alongside Mon. and Brec. Canal.

D _ _ _’ _ This cut is in Oxford. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Old arm in Stoke. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Staffs. And Worcs. “boat haven”.

C _ _ This lane is in the middle of Chester.

E _ _ _ _ _ _ Harry?

K _ _ _ These always seem to be “angry” in pubs.

L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Village on the Stratford. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ It’s that bear again !!

I have given you the first letter of some of the answers. Once you have worked out the rest of the first letters, re-arrange them all to discover the name of this quiz. Ed: Answers bottom of page 20 (upside-down) Page 2

KNOBSTICKS

Deputy Chairman’s Report

by Covid-19, and we would encourage our members to support them and other waterway businesses in our branch area in any way you can as things start to open up again.

Your branch committee has been keeping in touch with each other by holding our monthly committee meetings by video – now that we have all got used to it we realise what a great tool it is. Even in the future, once normal meetings are allowed again, it is a Well, it’s certainly been a funny great way of ensuring that more old year so far for all of us, with people can get involved without all our usual branch events and having to travel to meetings. other waterway activities cancelled. As the waterways start to As you will read elsewhere in this open up again after the lockdown issue of Knobsticks, we are that we’ve all been in for the last 3 expecting that the postponed months, we can enjoy the canals AGM, now due to take place on and towpaths in our branch area a 4th September, will also have to little bit more. Day boat hire be held by video, and we are also businesses can now operate and making plans for the programme we hope that holiday hire can of talks to be delivered this way if follow soon, along with being able they need to be. Please do contact to stay overnight on privately the membership team at owned boats which (at the time of Chesham if they don’t already writing) is still not allowed. hold your email address, so that we can let you know about these Our corporate members (and and any other activities.

Knobsticks advertisers), Canal Ed: Their email address is: Cruising Co Ltd in Stone featured membership@waterways.org.uk in the Sunday Telegraph business section in an article about IWA’s Over the last couple of months national campaign calling for there has been a series of webimore support from Government nars (video seminars) run by IWA for waterway businesses impacted on Tuesday evenings (or someSummer 2020

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Deputy Chairman’s Report

times lunchtimes) on a wide variety of topics such as Scotland’s waterways, the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation (the waterway run by IWA’s subsidiary, Essex Waterways Ltd), alternative forms of propulsion, and one that I gave wearing my IWA work role hat about IWA’s parliamentary campaigning. If you missed these at the time they are all available on IWA’s You Tube Channel! www.youtube.com/user/ waterwaysassoc

Please also watch out for future webinars advertised on the home page of the IWA website.

Your committee looks forward to seeing you at an actual event just as soon as it is safe and appropriate to hold one, and in the meantime we look forward to seeing you virtually at the AGM and subsequent monthly talks.

Alison Smedley Deputy Branch Chairman

Ju Davenport (1968—2020) involved with WRG and in particular WRG North-West in 2007.

All her life, she had battled with various illnesses, but despite this she became a stalwart of our community, and became not only a friend to everyone she met, but an inspiration to many because of the way she responded to her As many of you will know, Ju problems. sadly passed away on 11th March.

She was our branch membership In recent months, she was unable secretary, but was better known to go onto site with us because of to most people for her work with slippery surfaces, much to her waterway recovery group. We frustration, but she still attended thought it best therefore to events and helped out at the include a tribute to her from a accommodation, such was her long-time wrg friend : love of WRG and all things wrgie. She touched the hearts of Ju attended many IWA National all that met her, and she will be Festivals, before becoming sorely missed.

Paul Shaw Page 4

KNOBSTICKS

Branch AGM Notice

The Inland Waterways Association NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE & SOUTH CHESHIRE AGM Notice is hereby given that the 46th Annual General Meeting of the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch of The Inland Waterways Association will be held ONLINE via Zoom on: Friday 4th September – 7:45 for 8pm AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of the minutes of the last AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3. Report from the Deputy Branch Chairman 4. Financial Report from the Branch Treasurer 5. Election of members of the Committee 6. Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch notified to the Branch Secretary in writing at least six weeks prior to the AGM NOMINATIONS for the BRANCH COMMITTEE Committee members, including those current committee members reaching the end of their 3 year term and wishing to seek re-election, will be elected from the floor at the AGM for a term of 3 years. We welcome any branch member who is interested in joining the committee.

After the AGM, we would like to include a round up of members’ photos of branch events from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. If you have any photos of events or things that IWA has been involved with in the local branch area (particularly since the branch was formed in 1974) please email them to allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk . If we receive lots of material it may allow a further talk about the branch’s history, and/or content for future articles for Knobsticks.

An email with joining information will be sent to all branch members whose email addresses we hold. If you don’t currently receive emails from IWA, and you would like to be kept informed about the AGM and branch news, please email membership@waterways.org.uk . We apologise to anyone who won’t be able to take part in this video AGM, although you can alternatively take part by phone so you can hear, rather than see, the meeting. Obviously these circumstances are out of our control and we hope that normal service (i.e. our programme of talks) will be resumed as physical meetings sooner rather than later!

Summer 2020

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Bridge 37, Caldon Canal

Despite waterways generally being available for navigation (day trips only unless the boat is someone’s primary residence) from 1st June, the main line of the Caldon Canal remains closed beyond Hazelhurst Junction for several more weeks, following the partial collapse, and subsequent demolition of Bridge 37. This is the brick and stone accommodation bridge at the bottom of Hazelhurst Locks.

Along with the adjacent locks and other structures, it is “Listed”, with the Historic England listing information noting that it is an Page 6

“Accommodation bridge. Early C19. Brick with stone string at carriageway level and copings; wide elliptical arch (including towpath); parapets and carriageway cambered over span and finished by piers set out diagonally”.

The demolition of the bridge caused a delay in completion of the stoppage works that were taking place on Hazelhurst Bottom Lock at the time, meaning that the work wasn’t complete before the Covid-19 lockdown started. An update from Canal & River Trust on 16th June stated KNOBSTICKS

Bridge 37, Caldon Canal

that they have been able to restart the repair works on Lock 12 (Hazelhurst Bottom Lock). They plan to complete the fitting of the new bottom end lock gates before installing the refurbished lock tail -bridge, and then re-opening the navigation on Friday 10th July.

Longer term plans for replacement of the bridge is something that the branch will keep a close eye on, and we have already made the point to CRT that we will be interested in hearing about their plans from a heritage perspective.

Alison Smedley Recent photos: Rupert Smedley

Left: Cracks in Abutment.

Bridge in happier times Summer 2020

Above: Cracks in top of Arch

Photo: Alison Smedley Page 7

Burslem Port: Two Steps Forward, One Back ...

At the Burslem Port Trust Trustees Meeting held on 14th January, we realized that we had come up against a significant obstacle to progress.

pits and percussion boring at 50m intervals before undertaking further work. At the time, we had an estimate for this work from Wardell-Armstrong amounting to in excess of £4,000 but, as we had You will be familiar with the no funds then and there was no Footsteps Project, set up in immediate need, this was not response to an idea by a senior proceeded with. official of City of Stoke Council, to create a footpath along the line of With the prospect of more the former towpath. Steve Wood extensive work alongside the had the idea to do this in such a former Co-op bakery site using way as to form the banks of the excavating equipment provided restored canal. by the developer, it became imperative to sort this out as This involved moving the infill neither the Footsteps project nor from the canal bed in order to the eventual restoration of the build up these banks. In order to waterway could go ahead without do this, we had to obtain a licence this information. from the City to work on their land.

In total, we have estimates showing that carrying out the Although this was granted, it excavation and subsequent included an embargo on any analysis of the material would excavation, thereby in effect not cost in the region of £14,000. We allowing us to proceed with looked at ways to fund this and Steve’s idea. The grounds for this discovered that, as there is no refusal were that the content of immediate output from the trial the infill is largely unknown and pits, we could find no way to fund the City Surveyor feared that we this from external sources. might uncover toxic material that would be very expensive to We then decided to revert to the dispose of. original plan for Footsteps to create a footpath at the current When AECOM produced their level since this involves no engineering study in 2011, they excavation, but to meanwhile undertook a limited amount of carry out the necessary trial pits soil investigation but stipulated to discover the nature of the inthat we should undertake trial fill.

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KNOBSTICKS

Burslem Port: Two Steps Forward, One Back ...

Since the level of the water in the restored canal will be over a metre higher in places that the current land level, this path would eventually be obliterated. The advice we had from the consultant now working with us is that the benefit of making actual progress on the ground outweighs this disadvantage. If the in-fill is found to be satisfactory, we will be able to modify this plan.

and Stoke Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) contributed to the funding of the study undertaken by Peter Brett Associates which showed the considerable public benefit to be obtained by completing the restoration of the Burslem Arm. Both these organisations have recently had changes at the helm with Jon Rouse being appointed Director of the City and Alun Rogers as Chair of the LEP.

We therefore approached the IWA NSSC branch, the Trent & Mersey Canal Society, Waterway Recovery Group (north-west), and the Canal & River Trust to ask for contributions to fund this work. They all agreed and – amazingly – we raised the necessary £15,000 within a few days.

On the positive side, both these officers have responded positively to our request to meet them for a briefing once the virus in under control. At the same time – and perhaps more immediately significant—we have just learnt that the officer working most closely with us has left the City Council.

In February, we held an Annual General Meeting at the Red Bull Public House at which we were able to thank representatives of all three organisations. Two steps forward….

At the time of writing, we do not know what progress has been made towards the transfer of the former canal-bed from Severn Trent to the City, nor which officer will take on the duty of liaising with us. One step back…

Over the 20+ years we have been campaigning for Burslem Port, one of the set-backs has been changes of personnel in the City leading to us having to brief new officers on an all-to-regular basis.

Currently of course, everything is on hold – except the vegetation which of course is flourishing. We are unlikely to be able to resume working parties any time soon, given the practical difficulties You may remember that both the involved.

City Council and the Staffordshire Roger Savage Summer 2020

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Social Scene

An awful lot has happened since I last sat down to write a Social Scene column, and little of it is good or happy news. We find ourselves in very difficult times in a way we could not have imagined when we last met, back in February, for Christine and Alan Smith’s presentation on the Cavalcade Festival.

Sadly, any plans their talk might have inspired to set off down the T&M towards London for this year’s Cavalcade were soon to be scuppered by a global pandemic, along with Cavalcade itself, our AGM in March and the remainder of our 2019/2020 Social calendar!

With Covid-19 by no means eradicated at the time of writing, planning for a 2020/2021 season has been somewhat trickier than usual. It is not currently clear when it will be safe for our friends at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club to reopen their venue or if, when that date arrives, our members and guest speakers will feel confident enough to venture out into a busy social setting.

contact for as long as possible before the event. We will also email a link to allow you to join in, plus some guidance on how to take part and make the session work as well as possible for everyone involved. If you haven’t yet provided IWA with an email contact, you can let the membership team know your email address by emailing them at : Membership @waterways.org.uk If you don’t want to do that, or don’t have an email address, then you are welcome to call me a few days before our meetings to check whether they are happening at the Boat Club or “virtually”.

As you will have read elsewhere, our rescheduled AGM is taking place on 4th September 2020 and this will be via Zoom. As well as the necessary business, we’re hoping to share some of your archive photographs, so please do send Alison anything you have that might be of interest.

Our speakers this year should provide something of interest for everyone, starting with Helen We are therefore having to make Gardner updating us on the contingency plans so that, if Waterway Recovery Group’s necessary, our speakers can projects and plans in October. deliver some of their talks online, via “Zoom”. If this is going to be In November we will return to necessary, we’ll be sure to notify Cromford with David Ratner’s everyone who we have an email talk on the Cromford Canal.

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KNOBSTICKS

Social Scene

December’s talk isn’t confirmed (at the time of writing) but we have invited the Canal and River Trust to talk to us about the Todbrook Reservoir emergency last summer. However, if no-one from CRT is available, I do have a couple of potential substitutes ‘on the bench’.

Riverway Link from SRL Chairperson Ivor Hind.

Then it’s our 2021 AGM in March.

Finally, we make another attempt to hear about ‘The Danny’ in April.

So (as Sonning might say!) please bear with us this season and be prepared for some changes to our schedule. In the meanwhile, I hope you are all keeping safe and well, and I hope to see many of you back at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club in happier times before In February, we’ll have a presen- too long. tation about the Staffordshire Sarah Honeysett

Into 2021 — We’re planning to hold our annual dinner at the Rising Sun, a lovely pub serving excellent food close to the Macclesfield Canal at Scholar Green in January.

Special offers In-store bakery Food-to-go Hot and cold drinks Groceries Newspapers

Lotto Paypoint Payzone Free ATM Fresh fruit and veg Household and pet food A great range of beers, wines and spirits Open Mon-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 7.30am-8pm

Less than 10 minutes from bridges 14 and 15 of the Caldon Canal

8-10 Diana Road, Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6RS. Tel 01782 263936 Visit our website www.londis.co.uk.

Find us on Facebook - Londis Birches Head Summer 2020

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Social Programme

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch Friday 4th September – 7:45 for 8pm This meeting will take place ONLINE using “Zoom” Please do NOT go to Stoke on Trent Boat Club 2020 Branch AGM (postponed from 13th March) followed by “Archive photographs shared by branch members” It is not yet clear when it will be safe for Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club to reopen their venue, nor whether our members and guest speakers will feel confident enough to venture out for a social meeting.

We are therefore making contingency plans to possibly hold some of the talks below online via “Zoom” instead. If you want Sarah to email you with guidance on how to take part and make the session work as well as possible for everyone involved, then please ensure IWA has your email address.

Otherwise, please check with Sarah before each meeting.

Friday 9th October – 7:45 for 8pm The Waterway Recovery Group A look at the work of the Waterway Recovery Group.

Helen Gardner Friday 13th November – 7:45 for 8pm The Cromford Canal A history of the Cromford Canal, its restoration to date and future plans, by David Ratner Page 12

KNOBSTICKS

Social Programme

Friday 11th December – 7:45 for 8pm Talk not yet confirmed We have requested a talk by a speaker from Canal and River Trust January 2021 – Date and Time to be confirmed IWA NEW YEAR ANNUAL DINNER at The Rising Sun, Scholar Green Friday 12th February 2021 – 7:45 for 8pm The Staffordshire Riverway Link An update on the project to link Stafford to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal by Ivor Hind Friday 13th March 2021 – 7:45 for 8pm Annual General Meeting followed by Films presented by Alan Chetwyn Friday 9th April 2021 – 7:45 for 8pm The Daniel Adamson The early working life of this steam ship, the restoration work needed to save ‘The Danny’ and the ship’s new role as a tourist attraction.

Les Green and Bob Cannell Admission to talks is FREE Donations to waterway causes welcome!

Refreshments available.

Non-IWA members are very welcome Venue (unless otherwise stated): Stoke on Trent Boat Club Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST9 9DU but see note on previous page !!!

For further information contact: Sarah Honeysett (01782 772295) socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk or visit the branch webpages at: www.waterways.org.uk Summer 2020

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IWA’s Heritage Campaign— Gray’s Pottery

I write following an appeal article The Whieldon Road factory was in your Spring 2020 issue about adjacent to a canal wharf, the IWA's Heritage Campaign entrance of which is marked by a crossover bridge carrying the For more than 40 years I have towing-path, still extant (OS ref researched Gray’s Pottery, a small SJ 882445). pottery company here in Stoke-on -Trent, founded in 1907 and The basin, comprising four ultimately sold in 1961 to the loading areas either side of the owners of what is now Portmeiri- canal arm, was filled-in and has on Pottery. The company was in been progressively built over Whieldon Road, Stoke-upon- since the 1960s.

Trent, from 1933 until its closure in 1961. The factory buildings I attach a part image of the 1927 were demolished sometime in the photograph EPW020013 Britain late 1960s/early 1970s with the from Above, © Historic England exception of a two-storey office and have circled the basin. I have block, built in 1955 and eventually crudely coloured the canal line in demolished in 2011. blue.

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KNOBSTICKS

IWA’s Heritage Campaign— Gray’s Pottery

I have imagined that Gray’s Pottery bought ‘warehouse’ buildings on the south side of the wharf and converted these into a pottery works. But I do not know and my scant research on this aspect of the company over the past 40 years has never produced any significant information. My 1928 Bradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers (page 188) lists, in travelling north along the T&M Sideway Flint Mills, then Stoke Basin, then Stoke Wharf. There’s no reference to anything at Whieldon Road.

The large building (now demolished) on the east side of the canal opposite the arm was originally Winkle & Wood’s Colonial Pottery, built in 1888.

The 1898 OS map shows this pottery works but no canal arm or wharf opposite. I therefore conclude that the arm was built in the early part of the 20th century, perhaps as a clay wharf for the pottery factories developed in the area at that time.

The crossover bridge is a tantalising piece of the T&M’s heritage, likely now more than 100 years old - and deserves to be recognised! From my point-of-view I should like to know something, anything, about the wharf and its buildings. Maybe there are records within IWA or CRT that Summer 2020

could help?

I hope this information and appeal is of interest.

Paul Niblett (info@grayspottery.co.uk) Many thanks for your email. I haven’t been able to find anything useful in IWA’s archives, I’m afraid. CRT has some online archive documents and photos (and more in the archive at Ellesmere Port but obviously that is now out of bounds for the duration!)

Would you be happy for your letter to appear in publication in the next issue of Knobsticks? It might prompt some further information from some of our members.

Alison Smedley Many thanks for your reply - it’s most welcome as there’s no urgency in this matter!

Yes, by all means publish my letter, no problem at all.

Paul Niblett Ed—Over to you members. Can anybody help Paul with his research on Gray’s Pottery? If you can, we would also be pleased to hear for a future issue.

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Heritage News + Help wanted at Branch Level

IWA Heritage Report IWA has recently produced a report looking at the importance of waterways heritage, in the hope of gaining a greater level of protection for waterways heritage features. The main threats come from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills & knowledge and also climate change. The report aims to improve understanding of what waterways heritage is, how it is at risk and demonstrate its value in terms of regeneration opportunities, visitor enjoyment, tourism and education.

IWA's Waterways Heritage report aims to highlight the significance of waterways heritage across the UK. Produced with the endorsement of the Historic Narrow Boat Club and National Historic Ships UK, with support from Historic England, the report is focusing on the need for better protection of waterways heritage assets and is also calling on navigation authorities, councils, planning authorities, developers and builders to consider waterways heritage in any future development plans for local waterways and adjoining land. The report can be downloaded from IWA’s website.

Heritage and/or Planning Officer Wanted If the heritage of our local canals is something that particularly interests you, why not think about getting involved as our Branch Heritage Officer? This role would be a new one for the branch committee and although guidance and support will be given, it is also a role that can be shaped by the person who takes it on. The general requirement is for someone who can liaise with the rest of the branch committee about any heritage concerns on waterways in the branch area, and take action as appropriate.

This role can either be combined with the role of planning officer, or that can be carried out by a different person (but we don’t currently have anyone carrying out that role either!). The branch planning officer would keep an eye on local authority planning listings for anything that affects the canal, liaise with the branch committee over an appropriate response, and submit the relevant supporting or objecting comments. This can all be done using the local authorities planning portal websites.

If either role appeals to you – why Alison Smedley not contact Alison Smedley for a chat. She can let you know more.

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KNOBSTICKS

The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear

An Autumn Journey Part Two

Soon they were back in the countryside, north of Northwich.

When he came inside to make a In his last article, Sonning cup of tea, Grizzly showed them described how, in the Autumn of the Lion Salt Works, which is now 2018, he and his small bear a museum about the salt industry. friends (along with their human guardians) travelled north through Cheshire, heading for the River Weaver.

After breakfast at Billinge Flash, they continued their journey.

Soon, they seemed to be cruising right through the middle of a chemical works. It wasn't very pretty but it was interesting, especially to Hanley Bear who likes science and wondered what was in all the pipes and tanks.

'We can't stop there today,' Grizzly told the bears. 'We're on our way to the River Weaver.'

‘Why does it say “Boat Lift” on the map?' asked Hanley Bear. 'Wait and see!' said Grizzly. Hanley gave him a hard stare, but Grizzly would not tell him any more.

Soon they reached a village and moored again. Polar and Grizzly left the boat for a little while and the bears assumed they had gone shopping. However, they were soon back and, when the engine started, the bears dashed into the cratch to see where they were going.

Uppie made a sharp turn under a bridge and suddenly, right in front of them, Sonning, Hanley and Endon saw the strangest

Summer 2020

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear

thing. The canal went out over a lock chamber, wide enough for valley, far below, on what looked two boats. like a wide metal aqueduct blocked by a metal gate. Beyond the gate and further along the aqueduct was a huge metal structure with lots of cogs and wheels. “Oh my!” said Sonning.

“Whatever is that?”

“Polar and Grizzly will get dripped on as they go under the gate”' chuckled Hanley Bear.

“While we are nice and dry!”

“Polar must have made a wrong turn” said Endon Bear. “This looks like more pipes going over to that factory.”

“They will be getting wet anyway”' Sonning said. “It's raining.”

Uppie stopped moving and, a little while later, the bears heard clunking and swishing noises and guessed the gate had closed As the bears watched, the gate in behind them. front of them was lifted out of the water. Uppie chugged forward, They expected the water level to passing underneath it and into start falling as it does when you what looked a little like a metal are in a lock but, instead, the Page 18

KNOBSTICKS

The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear

whole chamber shook slightly, as from the basket and raced to the if it was starting to move. stern of the boat.

A few moments later, Hanley Bear came running back, leaping into the bear basket with a big smile on his face.

Hanley Bear stopped laughing and looked anxious. Little Endon Bear held Sonning’s paw and whimpered slightly. Sonning tried hard to be a brave bear but he was very scared; they were definitely moving, even though the boat engine wasn’t running and the water level was steady.

“I'm going to ask Grizzly what's happening” said Hanley Bear, guessing it was something interesting involving machines and science. He jumped down Summer 2020

“It's brilliant!” he cheered. “This is the Anderton Boat Lift. We're in a sort of big metal bath, called a caisson, being lowered down to the river, while the other caisson balancing us is coming up on the left. Here it is now!”

Sonning and Endon looked out of the window and, just as Hanley had said, there was a huge metal box being lifted up beside them.

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear

“Wow!” cried Endon, who had almost stopped being scared now.

After a few more minutes, everything stopped moving. After more rumbling noises, the gate at the front of the caisson started to slowly lift .

For now, they would all be safe if they stayed in their bear basket, as they sailed out of the boat lift and onto the River Weaver.

As it lifted further they saw the river properly. It was much wider than the canal but didn't seem to have too much of a current.

Article: Sonning Bear Photos: Sarah Honeysett

Name = Lockdown Clues Anne Chetwyn’s quiz ANSWERS

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Over , Longford, Walsall , Crick, Usk , Duke’s, Newcastle , Otherton, Cow , Eynsham, Keys , Lowsonford , Sonning

”'You little bears will need lifejackets” Sonning said to Endon and Hanley. “I'll remind Polar that she needs to make you some. Polar and Grizzly always wear theirs on the river”

KNOBSTICKS

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01782 279547 14 Piccadilly Arcade, Hanley, Stoke on Trent STI 1DL

Summer 2020

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The Swan Inn Stafford Street, Stone Two minutes from bridge 93 at Star Lock

Serving 10 Real Ales & Scrumpy Cider Bar Snacks available

Beer Garden Page 22

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North Staffordshire & South Cheshire contacts President: Chris Skelhorne Vice President Roger Savage roger.st21@gmail.com

Web and Social Media Officer: Peter Smedley 01538 385388 webmaster.nssc@waterways.org.uk Planning VACANT (Use planning.nssc@waterways.org.uk)

Deputy Chairmen Membership Officer Alison Smedley 01538 385388 Roger Savage allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk membership.nssc@waterways.org.uk Steve Wood 07976 805858 Navigation Officer steve.wood@waterways.org.uk Jon Honeysett 01782 772295 navigation.nssc@waterways.org.uk Treasurer Burslem Port Work Party Alan Chetwyn (No Email) 01782 279277 Steve Wood 07976 805858 steve.wood@waterways.org.uk Secretary Judith Turner 07789 518816 Caldon + Uttoxeter Work Parties secretary.nssc@waterways.org.uk Steve Wood 07976 805858 steve.wood@waterways.org.uk Sales Officer VACANT Use steve.wood@waterways.org.uk Cheshire Locks Work Party John Lawson 07940 878923 Social Secretary john.lawson@waterways.org.uk Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk Other committee members: Publicity Officer Julie Arnold Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 Maria Frost publicity.nssc@waterways.org.uk Rob Frost Roger Savage Newsletter Editor Roger Evans 01606 834471 West Midlands Region Chairman newsletter.nssc@waterways.org.uk Helen Whitehouse 01543 491161 10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire, westmidlands@waterways.org.uk CW10 0BL The Branch committee meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Stoke Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9DU. All Branch members are invited to attend.

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association, the West Midlands Region, or our Branch.

They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. Š The Inland Waterways Association - Registered as a charity no. 212342 www.waterways.org.uk/staffscheshire Summer 2020 Page 23

Join Us on a Canal Work Party

Our Branch runs 3 work parties each month, helping to maintain and restore our local canals :-

Check before attending to make sure that they have resumed post-Covid-19 !

• Cheshire Locks (Trent & Mersey Canal, Kidsgrove to Wheelock)

(jointly organised with the Trent and Mersey Canal Society) 3rd Thursday of each month (except December), 10am to 3pm.

Contact: John Lawson Phone: 07940 878923 Email: john.lawson@waterways.org.uk • Uttoxeter Canal (Bridge 70, near Denstone — or near Alton) (working in partnership with Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust) 2nd Thursday of each month, 10am to 3pm.

Contact: Steve Wood Phone: 07976-805858 Email: steve.wood@waterways.org.uk • Burslem Port, Stoke-on-Trent (working in partnership with Burslem Port Project) 4th Tuesday of each month (except December), 10am to 3pm.

Contact: Steve Wood Phone: 07976-805858 Email: steve.wood@waterways.org.uk ——————————–————-—————————-————— See the IWA website www.waterways.org.uk under “Events” for dates.

Volunteers are advised to wear stout shoes and old clothes, and to bring waterproofs (and a packed lunch and drink if staying all day) Page 24

KNOBSTICKS