Knobsticks - Winter 2021

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch

KNOBSTICKS

Winter 2021

Crumpwood Heritage Open Day (see page 7) Photo: Alison Smedley

Editorial First, I must echo Alison’s words (see end of next page) thanking Steve Wood for all the work he has done for our branch. He has supplied me with a huge number of excellent photographs for Knobsticks over the years, as well as writing many articles. He also created, and still hosts, many canal society websites without charging them a penny.

As you can see, I have had to squeeze this editorial again as so much good

“copy” has come in for this issue. Not that I am complaining , you understand!

I therefore just have enough space to wish you all a rather early “Happy Christmas”. Hopefully I will see some of you after Christmas at our society meal on Friday 28th January or at one of our social meetings, which resume at Stoke Boat Club on Friday 11th February with a talk on the Stafford Riverway Link.

Roger Evans

The Social Scene Our 2021/22 social calendar got underway on October 8th when we met for the first time this season, though only in cyberspace! Mike Kelley from the Friends of the Cromford Canal was our guest speaker and treated us to a firstrate presentation on the impressive efforts made by the Friends of Cromford Canal with the restoration of this waterway. As a key component of a World Heritage Site, as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest along its entire length, restoration work on the Cromford Canal has extra complications but the Friends haven’t allowed that to dampen their ambitions.

couple of 48 hour moorings very close south of Bridge 87, or on the north side of the bridge near the Heritage Marina.

I have provisionally organised an annual dinner for us this year, at the end of January. The venue this year is The Rising Sun at Scholar Green, very close to the Macclesfield Canal – for anyone hoping to attend by boat, there are a

You can contact me by Email at sarah.honeysett@waterways.org.uk with your ideas. Recommendations for future speakers – real or virtual - are also always welcome.

Sarah Honeysett

We often enjoy a Sunday lunch or evening meal there when out on our boat so have high hopes that we will be treated to an excellent dinner. If you would like to attend but require a vegetarian/vegan meal or have other special dietary requirements, please let me know and I will find out what options the venue can offer.

I would still be interested to receive your views about how we plan our social events in future, and whether a mixture By the time you are reading this, we may of online and in-person meetings would also have met online for our December be preferred even if Covid-safety stops Zoom presentation on the restoration of being a major factor at some happy point the Daniel Adamson steam tender. This in future. It won’t be long before I have is scheduled to be our final online to put together our 2022/23 programme meeting, with a return to the Stoke-on- and would like to devise something that Trent Boat Club in February for our suits both our virtual audience and those speaker from the Stafford Riverway who enjoy a drink and a raffle along with Link. our guest speaker’s presentation.

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Deputy Chairman’s Report

It was great that the branch was able to support the two waterway restoration groups in our branch area with heritage awareness events recently, as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme.

Saturday 18th September saw some of us spending the day in the Churnet Valley, talking to visitors about the Uttoxeter Canal and supporting Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust with their campaigns. The following day saw the branch supporting Burslem Port Trust with their event in Stoke-on-Trent, which featured live music, bread tasting sessions and site tours of the former Burslem Arm of the Trent & Mersey Canal. Thanks to everyone involved with both those events.

As you will read about elsewhere, the branch, with support from IWA’s Planning Advisory Panel, was able to support CUCT in getting the Froghall planning application turned down.

Thanks to everyone who put in their objections to this proposed residential development which would have blocked the line of the Uttoxeter Canal for any future restoration, and would have prevented the canal further down the valley from ever joining the network of 2700 miles of connected waterways.

Winter 2021

As a branch we have also responded to planning applications at Leek, where the site owners have applied for permission to NOT have to build the marina that they originally received outlined planning for as part of their overall development of the site. While the small marina as proposed was never going to be the best solution to developing the end of the canal in Leek, it would still be better than nothing and the branch therefore objected to the application. We will be lobbying, along with CUCT, for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to make decisions that will end up in getting a better outcome for the end of the Leek Arm. Your committee currently plans to hold one more online meeting (10th December) and then hopefully we can start meeting up again in person. Do let us know if you would like us to incorporate zoom meetings in the future, in addition to meeting in person, as we could alternate months between zoom and in person, for example.

Steve Wood recently stepped down from the branch committee and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he has done for the branch since he first joined the committee 15 years ago. He originally joined as Branch Planning Officer, and since then has carried out various roles including being Deputy Chairman for the last few years.

His presentation skills have benefitted our AGMs for many years, and over the last 12 months many of us have enjoyed the zoom archive photo evenings that he hosted for us. I’m sure the rest of the committee will join me in wishing him all the best, and we look forward to him keeping in touch and seeing him at waterway events.

Alison Smedley Page 3

Burslem Port We are sorry to report that Steve Wood, working party organiser and trustee, has had to step down for health reasons.

Steve has done an enormous amount of work over the years, for which we are very grateful.

Heritage Open Day Burslem Port Trust held a Heritage Open Day on September 19th. It was a great success with over 100 people attending to see the unveiling of a new Burslem Port display at the junction with the Trent and Mersey Canal. The Boat Band entertained and 'We are Culla', who created the display, allowed many people to get hands-on experience of screen printing.

People also sampled some black bread, which tasted more appetising than it looked. The oatcake boat, Que Sara Sara, moored alongside and actually ran out of oatcakes, so successful was the day.

Our thanks to everyone who took part, especially Beth Dawid and her Canal & River Trust volunteers who played a major part in preparing the site for us.

Footsteps Project We are pleased to report that the Footsteps project has now started, funded by the City of Stoke-on-Trent Community Infrastructure Fund and the Canal & River Trust. Work to lay a footpath along the line of the former towpath to the Burslem Arm Canal got underway on Monday 18th October. We are very grateful to Potteries Waste Ltd for their help in bringing this about.

The work is being undertaken by Naturescaping, who specialise in ecologically friendly schemes. They were joined at the end of the October by a party from the Waterway Recovery Group (part of the Inland Waterway Association) which has supported our scheme from the outset. Once the path is complete, we will be working on finalising a new Masterplan to guide us towards the restoration of the waterway itself.

Other News Meanwhile, another project funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund has begun. This is to look at future use for the site of the extant Shropshire Union Canal Company wharf and warehouse.

With many new houses being built in Middleport, we are hoping that this will become a centre for community activities.

Work is now well under way to demolish the buildings on the former Co-operative Warehouse site. Eden Valley Properties have had plans approved to erect about

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Burslem Port 150 new homes alongside the former canal arm. Building is planned to begin in the New Year.

We are hoping to restart working parties in November. Having got the site into good shape for the Heritage Open Day, it is important to keep on top of it over the winter. Dave Broome has agreed to take on the task of leading the work, which will take place on Fridays. If you can help, please contact Dave on 07974 966253 or dave.broome45@gmail.com.

Another way you can help is by buying tickets for Potto Lotto. This scheme is run by the City of Stoke-on-Trent and gives us a small but regular income. You can join at www.pottolotto.co.uk. Don’t forget to nominate Burslem Port as the society you wish to support.

Roger Savage Chairman, Burslem Port Trust (Photos: Pauline Savage)

Winter 2021

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Uttoxeter Canal Planning Application Refused SMDC’s Planning Applications Committee have turned down proposals for a development which would have blocked restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal in the Churnet Valley. The site proposed for development wasa immediately adjacent to Froghall Basin (restored in 2005), which is always busy with visiting boaters, tourists and walkers. With no route allowed in the plans for future restoration of the canal, the development would have prevented the rest of the Uttoxeter Canal from ever joining on to the navigable Caldon Canal and 2,700 miles of inland waterways.

The development proposal was for 48 new houses and restoration of a Listed farmhouse, partially on a greenfield site which has not been allocated for housing in the Local Plan. Both the Local Plan and its associated Churnet Valley Masterplan specifically state that any development should not prejudice potential reinstatement of the route of the Uttoxeter Canal, with a strip of land allocated for the future restoration of the canal along with a route for walking, cycling and horse riding.

The Planning Applications Committee were unanimous in refusing the application, for a wide range of reasons including: the application not meeting the aspirations for mixed use of the site; flood and transport concerns; the integrity of the adjacent Caldon Canal embankment; the appropriateness of the design of the houses for a rural location; and the harm to the future restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal.

Over 300 objections were submitted to the application, with many wanting to protect the line of the canal and see it restored. The decision by the Planning Page 6

Committee means that in the future the Churnet Valley will be able to realise the benefits that waterway restoration can bring to a local area.

Our branch and CUCT have been overwhelmed by the support from local communities plus boaters and people from across the country. Well known canal supporters Sir David and Lady Sheila Suchet lent their voices to the campaign, and in their roles as Vice Presidents of national charity The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) will be delighted to share the news far and wide.

Alison Smedley, Deputy Chair of IWA’s North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch, said, “The Planning Applications Committee’s recognition of the importance of safeguarding a route to reinstate the Uttoxeter Canal, and acknowledging the many opportunities to use it as part of green infrastructure plans, well-being and tourism, is another milestone in the progress of this waterway restoration.”

Rupert Smedley, who spoke on behalf of the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust at the Planning Applications Committee meeting, said “We are so relieved. There is no other viable route available for the canal – the alternatives put forward by the developer simply don’t stack up. We don’t object to the site being developed as allocated in the Local Plan, provided the development allows for the future restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal and also doesn’t undermine the stability of the Caldon Canal embankment and its retaining wall.”

Julie Arnold, a vice chairman of the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals, said “An opportunity exists for the developers to embrace the canal and benefit from it throughout the former Boltons Copperworks site. Examples exist across KNOBSTICKS

Uttoxeter Canal the country and within Staffordshire where developers have done just this, such as in Lichfield, and we remain very willing to meet with the developers to discuss alternative plans for the site that would allow for the future restoration of the canal”.

Crumpwood Heritage Open Day

On Saturday 18th September a team of volunteers from our branch and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust were on hand at Crumpwood in Staffordshire, to talk to visitors during a self-guided walk along the Uttoxeter Canal between Alton and Denstone. Visitors arrived on foot following signage and a route description which was available online. Along the route were additional displays about current projects and future aspirations.

Guided trips to look at the flood lock, cleared of its vegetation in recent years by volunteers from CUCT and Waterway Recovery Group, took place throughout the day. This was a rare opportunity to look at the remains of the flood lock and the weir stonework on that side of the river, not normally accessible by the public.

(Article & Photos:) Alison Smedley

Winter 2021

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Traversing the lesser-known BCN waterways Part 1. Salford Jct. to Daw End Earlier this year, Sarah and I read an interesting flyer from the BCN Society headed “Birmingham Canal Navigations Society – Mooring & Facilities on the BCN” with a plea for boaters to explore the 100-mile canal system, admitting that ‘it harbours a serious burden – its image’. It went on to explain that CRT, BCN Society volunteers, local councils and other canal societies have done much to enhance the waterways. It ended ‘Come and take a fresh look at the Birmingham Canal Navigations – you may be surprised’. And we were…

We intended to return to the West Midlands waterways this summer, and so decided to incorporate three of the BCN canals – the Tame Valley, the Rushall and Daw End, and the Wyrley & Essington – in our voyage (see handdrawn map — Not to scale!) and experience them for ourselves.

Lock 12 of the Perry Barr flight Page 8

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Traversing the lesser-known BCN waterways Having traversed the Trent & Mersey, the Coventry (where Sarah rescued another teddy bear, naming him Huddlesford [see pages 17-20—Ed] ), the Birmingham & Fazeley Canals, and the strange under-motorway section at Salford Junction, we entered the Tame Valley Canal Lock 13 at 10.30 on 26th June. First impressions were not good; Uplander II was unable to move out of the lock due to a plastic canister stuck between the bow and lock-side and the pound was a mass of weedy rubbish.

However, we pressed on! Fortunately, the weather was fine, though we progressed westward with difficulty, finding the sloping handrail and walkway on the top gates of the lock difficult to use. We passed only two eastbound narrowboats, (Cheddington and Opal Lady).

On the Perry Barr flight The towpaths were in excellent condition, being used for walking and cycling, and the surroundings were interesting, including the forthcoming Commonwealth Games stadium under construction. [photo at top of next column]

Commonwealth Games construction site from our boat, stranded on stinking mud in the pound above, although Sarah managed to flush enough water down from the pound above, and the one above that, to get us floating again.

(Sarah has asked me to add that she doesn’t do all the lock work but, being the larger of the two of us, she tends to tackle flights that could be troublesome!)

Whoops!

We finally reached Perry Bar Top Lock at 16.00 and, after thanking the CRT engineers for their prompt response and taking a quick snack-break, we decided When we reached Lock 3 we found one to press on to Rushall Junction, with the top-gate’s ground paddle was broken but aim of an overnight mooring at the Park open and the bottom gates leaking - I Lime Pits Nature Reserve on the Daw phoned CRT’s HQ to report the situation End section.

Winter 2021

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Traversing the lesser-known BCN waterways

A deep cutting on the Tame Valley Canal

Rushall Canal

The afternoon sunlight filtered through tall trees as we made our way along the magnificently engineered Tame Valley Canal, through deep cuttings and along high embankments overlooking the suburbs. We reached Rushall Junction at 17.00, and readied ourselves for the 9lock ascent.

The lower section of the Rushall Canal was pleasant and, as with the Tame Valley, passers-by on the towpath ramblers, joggers, and cyclists - were pleased to see us, many explaining that they see very few boats on the move these days.

This engagement with the public was of great help to Sarah, as pounds were again very low due to leaking locks.

People from all communities were only too ready to help, often by closing the towpath side bottom gates to save a scramble across the top.

By 20.00, after coaxing Uplander II across several more very low pounds, we had cleared Lock 3, with just the last two locks at Longwood to ascend.

Rushall Junction Page 10

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Traversing the lesser-known BCN waterways eventful cruising.

Jon Honeysett (Photos: Jon & Sarah Honeysett)

To be continued…

Canal Arm at Longwood We finally moored up at 21.30 at the Nature Reserve, after a very long day’s

Notice of Branch AGM The Inland Waterways Association NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE & SOUTH CHESHIRE BRANCH AGM Notice is hereby given that the 48th Annual General Meeting of the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch of The Inland Waterways Association will be held on: Friday 11th March 2022 at 7.45 for 8.00 pm at Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9DT 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.

The AGM will be followed by an evening of archive film footage of canal journeys from Alan Chetwyn.

Winter 2021

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Social Programme

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch Friday 10th December – 7:45 for 8pm ONLINE via ZOOM The Daniel Adamson Les Green and Bob Cannell 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 Friday 28th January 2022 – 7:30pm IWA NEW YEAR ANNUAL DINNER at The Rising Sun, Scholar Green 112 Station Road, Scholar Green, ST7 3JT Bookings to be received by Sarah Honeysett by 14th January Cost: £22 per head Starters a) Winter vegetable soup b) Prawn cocktail c) Ham hock terrine Mains a) Roast topside of beef b) Coq au vin c) Fish pie All served with potatoes and seasonal vegetables Page 12

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Social Programme Desserts a) Bakewell tart and custard b) Chocolate pudding and custard c) Cheshire farms ice-cream Friday 11th February – 7:45 for 8pm The Stafford Riverway Link John Potter An update on the project to link Stafford to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

Friday 11th March – 7:45 for 8pm Annual General Meeting followed by films presented by Alan Chetwyn.

Friday 8th April – 7:45 for 8pm The Waterway Recovery Group Helen Gardner A look at some of WRG’s recent projects 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 For further information contact: Sarah Honeysett (01782 772295) socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk or visit the branch webpages at: www.waterways.org.uk Winter 2021

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Cheshire Locks There was no space last issue for any news of these work-parties, so we have plenty to report on this issue.

Thursday 20th May Wet weather in the morning meant that we concentrated on metalwork as the wood was far too wet to paint. After much hard work (and some new carbide scrapers) we were able to paint over half of the bridge railings as well as the top gate handrails.

Thursday 17th June The weather stayed (almost) dry, so the 7 of us made good progress on Lock 44, and started work on Lock 45.

Thursday 15th July The weather was glorious, so we made good progress on Lock 44 (which is now nearly finished). All the white wood on Lock 45 is now painted, but progress was slowed by the need to remove all traces of the old paint (as the wrong paint had been used previously, so it was hanging off in sheets).

Thursday 19th August Rain interrupted our efforts this month although we were able to complete most of the remaining jobs on Lock 44 under the shelter of the tree canopy.

Thursday 16th September A dry, pleasant day but only four volunteers (several members of our regular group had other commitments on the day). However, excellent progress was made and we were finally able to complete all the remaining painting tasks on Lock 44 (bumper plates on both top gates, white metal edging strips on the front edges of the top gates, black paddle gear on the towpath side lock and a further coat of Hammerite for the ground paddle gear).

That done, we moved down to Lock 45.

Here the towpath side chamber remained closed off, enabling us to paint the already prepared paddle gear and Page 14

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Cheshire Locks second coat the top gate without interruption. The lock numbers were painted onto the beam ends and finally, some scraping and wire brushing on the lock bridge railings.

will be fortunate in November and complete the job.

The canal was extremely busy throughout the day and thanks are due to all the boaters who came through both locks for their patience.

Thursday 21st October On Tuesday very inclement conditions were forecast for the scheduled work party. Luckily the Met. Office did a Uturn the next day to forecast clear, sunny conditions and so it proved. Four volunteers continued working on Lock 45, making considerable progress painting the metalwork – paddle gear, rails, beam end collars, gate fittings.

Overnight rain had left the wooden beams too damp to paint so hopefully we

(Article & Photos:) John Lawson

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 Winter 2021

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Auction of Trent and Mersey Bicentenary Goblet

Would you like to own this beautiful limited edition bicentenary goblet?

We were given it to auction for branch funds. Simply send your “sealed bid” by email or post to Alison Smedley to arrive by the end of the January.

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Note that there is a reserve price (i.e. a minimum bid) of £20.

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear

Another Rescued Bear This summer, we bears had a great boating adventure, going to Birmingham then down to Droitwich. This took us along some canals I had never visited before and none of the other bears had been further down the Trent and Mersey Canal than Great Haywood Junction. In fact, the part from there to Fradley, that I remembered from my first ever journey, looked slightly different as the big power station cooling towers at Rugeley had completely disappeared!

Hanley and Endon enjoyed sitting on the roof with me, wearing our life jackets and boaters’ belts from Aunty Ann, and we tied a ribbon around Waverley’s waist so that he couldn’t fall off the boat. We had some lovely days on the Trent and Mersey Canal, travelling down through Stoke-on-Trent and Stone, then to Great Winter 2021

Haywood and on to Fradley. Our gardening bear, Endon, was happy as he had some strawberry plants on the roof to look after.

We hoped to stop at Fradley Junction, but there is not a lot of space to moor if you are going onto the Coventry Canal, and we didn’t find anywhere. We ended up cruising quite late into the evening Page 17

The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear and stopping Junction.

near

Huddlesford

were sitting, about to start our breakfast.

The bear told us his name was Gr-GrowlGrowl-Gr-Growl. He was very pleased when we told him he was welcome to join our hug and let him eat most of our bread and marmalade. "I expect our human guardians, Polar and Grizzly, will call you after where they found you, like the rest of us," explained Endon. "So you'll be Huddlesford Bear!"

In the morning, Polar and Grizzly went for a short walk to have a look at the junction, which used to be a link to the Wyrley and Essington Canal (which we hoped to cruise later on our journey), but is currently only navigable for a little way and is used as moorings. Soon after they set off, Polar found a bear!

He was sitting on a tall post close to the hedge, just above the level of Polar's eyes, and he was very, very muddy. Polar says she doesn't know how she came to be looking that way when she and Grizzly had gone to look at the canal junction and the railway, but we bears think she must have heard the bear calling to her.

"You're going need a bath, pal!" Hanley told him, after Huddlesford had finished his breakfast. "I'll help you do that, before our humans get back. They'll be really pleased if we've got you all clean!".

Hanley ran some cold water into the kitchen bowl and added a squirt of washing-up liquid and Huddlesford lowered himself in cautiously. "Blimey!" he said, after a few minutes. "This water looks like gravy!"

Polar lifted him down and gave him a hug, then Grizzly carried him back to our boat and sat him in the cratch, where we Page 18

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear Yet Huddlesford himself still looked very grubby. Endon and I found some liquid soap and the humans' nail brush, so Hanley poured the first bowl of water away and ran some more, while Huddlesford rubbed the soap into his fur and scrubbed at the worst parts with the brush. Soon, there were bubbles everywhere!

born in 2009, making him the oldest of us bears as well as the biggest, as he is taller than me.

"At least we can see that your tummy and snout fur are paler than your body fur now," Waverley said. "But, without wanting to be rude, you don't seem to have a nose!"

"I must have lost it!" replied Huddlesford. He looked very sad.

"Don't worry," said Endon. "Polar is sure to be able to make one for you, when she has some material. And she'll make you some clothes too!"

"I'm still not very clean," he said, looking into the water, which was gravy-coloured again.

"The mud must have got right into your stuffing," said Hanley. "Wait until Polar comes back - she'll know what to do!"

We found him a towel to sit on and Huddlesford carried on scratching little clumps of mud out of his fur. We found out from his back paws and his label that he was a charity bear from St Giles' Hospice in Sutton Coldfield, and was Winter 2021

But Polar's first job was to finish getting Huddlesford clean. She used warmer water to get more of the dirt out and some shampoo and conditioner to make his fur glossy.

"Now the most important thing is to get your stuffing dry," Hanley explained. "So we'll sit you out in the cratch, where it's really warm."

When he was mostly dry, the rest of us came to sit with him, as Polar and Grizzly steered the boat down to Fazeley Junction, where they had to refill the Page 19

The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear water tank. Then they took the turning towards Birmingham, and more boating adventures.

Over the following week, Huddlesford settled into our hug. He got a smart new T-shirt from our friend Tour Guide Ted in Tividale, and Polar made him a pair of trousers - and a new suede nose!

Our new friend has settled in well and joined us for lots of adventures. Having spent the time on his post at Huddlesford watching trains on the West Coast Main Line, he has become very interested in railway locomotives, but he is a boating bear at heart.

You can read more about our adventures together in the next edition of Knobsticks.

Article: Sonning Bear Photos: Sarah Honeysett

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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 Deputy Chair Alison Smedley 01538 385388 allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Alan Chetwyn (No Email)

01782 279277

Secretary VACANT Contact Alison Smedley

Newsletter Editor Roger Evans 01606 834471 newsletter.nssc@waterways.org.uk 10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0BL Planning VACANT Contact Alison Smedley Membership Officer Julie Arnold membership.nssc@waterways.org.uk Navigation Officer Jon Honeysett 01782 772295 navigation.nssc@waterways.org.uk Burslem Port Work Party Dave Broome 07974 966253 dave.broome45@gmail.com

Sales Officer VACANT Contact Alison Smedley

Caldon + Uttoxeter Work Parties VACANT Contact Alison Smedley

Social Secretary Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk

Cheshire Locks Work Party John Lawson 07940 878923 john.lawson@waterways.org.uk

Publicity Officer Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 publicity.nssc@waterways.org.uk

Other committee members:

Web and Social Media Officer: Peter Smedley 01538 385388 webmaster.nssc@waterways.org.uk

West Midlands Region Chairman Helen Whitehouse 01543 491161 westmidlands@waterways.org.uk

None

The Branch committee meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of March, June, September & December 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. © The Inland Waterways Association - Registered as a charity no. 212342 www.waterways.org.uk/staffscheshire Winter 2021 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 :-

• 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) This work party has not yet resumed on a regular basis, however events are being arranged as required.

If you would like to be involved, contact Alison Smedley

• Burslem Port, Stoke-on-Trent

(working in partnership with Burslem Port Project) Fridays 10am to 2pm in Winter. For frequency and specific dates Contact: Dave Broome Phone: 07974 966253 Email: dave.broome45@gmail.com .

——————————–————-—————————-————— 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

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