May 2019 Endeavour

Endeavour Northampton Branch Newsletter — May 2019

TOWPATH TOP TEAM AWARDS 2018 On a chilly, damp Sunday morning in early March, our Task Party volunteers were joined at Lock 17 on the Northampton Arm by Janet Richardson, Editor of Towpath Talk. Janet’s arrival was a welcome coffee and refreshment break for the volunteers who were busy tidying up the area around Lock 17 prior to CRT’s Open Lock Weekend scheduled for the 9th – 10th March.

Janet was there to present the Branch with a certificate for joint third place in Towpath Talk’s national Top Team Awards for 2018. Nominations for these awards are put forward by readers and, once a shortlist has been Continued on page 12

Branch Chairman Bernard Morton and Sunday morning volunteers receive the award from Janet Richardson editor of Towpath Talk

waterways.org.uk/northampton Printed by Colour Image. Phone 07821 894521 email colourimage@aol.com

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Due to the very dry winter we have just experienced after a very hot summer the reservoirs are lower than normal and CRT have put time restrictions on some of the locks at this early stage of the year to try and conserve water. Is this going to be the norm with climate change?

Long hot summers and dry winters or flooding in some parts causing problems whichever it is? It’s the British weather, something that we all talk about whatever its doing. We all have complaints like it’s too hot, its always raining!

It will be up to all of us to save water where we can such as sharing locks.

CRT are doing their best in trying to help conserve water by doing extra work on lock gates to stop leaks on top of their winter stoppage programme.

Perhaps CRT will have to bring back to working order the sideponds to help with water reserves on major locks. Watford and Foxton use them on the staircase locks so surely they could be used on other busy lock flights. The sideponds at Stoke Bruerne could be brought back into use again that would save a lot of water in this busy flight and be interesting for the gonzoolers there.

The side ponds at Stoke Bruerne which nature has taken over.

Children do pond dipping in these now Roger Hasdell, who has greatly assisted me since I took over as editor from him in May 2010, has had to give up due to ill health.

He has helped me and passed on a lot of his knowledge as he was a journalist throughout his working life. With his way of laying out and tricks of the trade that I have learned over the years has gradually improved with time. He has been so patient with me as I am not the best speller and putting punctuation in the proper place (thank goodness for spell checker etc) I will try and keep up to his standards. Thank you Roger for helping me edit Endeavour.

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DIARY DATES June 14th 7.30 pm Mikron Theatre’s Redcoats at The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne This is an outside event with shelter. Please bring a chair 23rd 10.30 am You can – Crafts Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne Details see page 12 or phone 01604 862229 29th–30th Historic Narrowboat Rally at Braunston Marina See page 9 and back 29th 10.30 am Your Story – Family History, Details page 12 or phone 01604 862229 July 14th 10.30 am You Can – Crafts, See above 20th-21st Buckingham Canal Society Canal Festival and Craft Fair at Cosgrove 21st 10.30 am You Can – Crafts, See above 27th 10.30 am Your Story – Family History, See above August 10th –11th Blisworth Festival Details see page 26 or www.blisworthfestival.org.

11th 10.30 am You can - Crafts, See above 24th - 25th Pirate Weekend at Stoke Bruerne 31st 10.30 am Your Story – Family History, See above September 7th– 8th Village at War Stoke Bruerne, Details see pages 12 and 16 7th - 8th Mini Boat Gathering at Village at War Details see page 12

NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTY DATES June 2nd, 18th. July 7th, 16th.

August 4th, 20th. September 1st, 17th.

Contact: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932 BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY WORK PARTY DATES June 9th, 13th, 27th. July 11th, 14, 25.

August 8th, 11th, 22nd. September 5th, 8th, 19th.

Contact athinabec@aol.com or phone 01908 661217/07721 319404 STOKE BRUERNE CANAL PARTNERSHIP WORK PARTY DATES June 12th. July 10th. August 14th. September 11th.

IWA Northampton Branch web site www.waterways.org.uk/northampton Please visit it regularly to see any updates

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Branch Chairman’s Jottings

by Bernard Morton I am writing this sitting on our narrowboat, Inca, moored in an idyllic spot on the Market Harborough Arm. What is more, the sun is shining, and the thermometer has reached 20 degrees … hard to believe this is Easter time in England! However, those waterway users amongst us ought to perhaps be praying for rain after the exceptionally dry winter and spring we’ve just experienced which has resulted in reservoir levels much lower than they should be at this time of year.

On our trip, we have encountered some areas of shallow water and one of the side pounds at Foxton was very low. From the beginning of May, lock operations in and around our area are going to be subject to restrictions and only open from 9am to 5pm daily. Whilst this may be annoying for boaters, it seems sensible to take action now to try and preserve water levels for the future – nobody wants to see locks closed completely at the height of summer.

The Buckby Flight of locks was looking very smart so I would like to praise the hard work of the volunteers from the Whilton and Buckby Locks Association. They may be few in number but their dedication and achievements are highly commendable.

When we passed through, they were just starting their annual lock painting programme so, if you have some time to spare, I’m sure you would be welcomed with open arms … and a paintbrush! Check out their website for more info.

The Leicester Line was looking good too with evidence of a lot of recent offside vegetation clearance … well done CRT or was it volunteers? I know there has been a lot of offside vegetation clearance south of Stoke Bruerne which was done by volunteers supported by CRT. Speaking to some of those involved, this is hard, physical and dirty work so, as we pass through these areas, we should be very grateful for their efforts.

NORTHAMPTON ARM. Talking of volunteer s, I must congr atulate our Branch volunteers who, under the leadership of Geoff Wood and Mick Butler, continue to do such an amazing job keeping the Arm in good order. At the recent Open Lock Weekend (see page 14), many comments were received about the Lock 17 area which was resplendent with a “host of golden daffodils” to quote Mr. Wordsworth!

Task parties are held twice a month, on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of each month come rain or shine. There are always jobs for everyone from litter picking to lock painting (yes, like at Buckby Locks, our painting programme is just about to start), to weeding and vegetation pruning and much more. If you have some spare time and would like to spend some of it outdoors doing something most satisfying, do come along … you can be sure of a warm welcome.

SCULPTOR. Following a r equest fr om the Fr iends of the Canal Museum at

8 Stoke Bruerne for financial assistance for much needed repairs to Sculptor, a grant of £5,000 from the John Faulkner Legacy has been approved. The total repair costs needed are around £10,000 and the rest of the funding will be coming from the Friends. This grant was conditional on Sculptor remaining From left: Bernard Morton (Chairman IWA Northampton) at Stoke Bruerne, as presenting the cheque to Phil Mulligan (Regional director an important floating East Midlands CRT), Rob Westlake (Lead Volunteer exhibition, which Sculptor), Margaret Harrison (Collections and InterpretaCRT have agreed. tions Manager CRT), Paul Lynam (Treasurer The Friends Sculptor’s gunnels and The Canal Museum and IWA Northampton), Mick were rotting and in Butler (Chairman The friends of The Canal Museum), Dan urgent need of reWhyment (Operations Manager East Midlands CRT), placement, so Sculptor has already been taken up to Brinklow to have the work on the gunnels carried out and is now back in Stoke Bruerne ready for visitors. This work has cost £5,000 and we are about to hand over a cheque for £2,500 with the Friends funding £2,500 also.

Further works to the wooden back cabin are also needed which are estimated to be around £5,000 also. The remaining £2,500 of our grant will be handed over when this work is completed.

VILLAGE AT WAR – MINI BOAT GATHERING. The Committee, in conjunction with The Friends of the Canal Museum, are planning a mini boat gathering at the Village at War from 7th – 8th September. We have been offered moorings in the Long Pound and free entry to the event (normally £10 per person for the weekend) in exchange for some assistance setting up/dismantling the event or during the weekend. If you haven’t been to this event before, it is truly amazing to see Stoke Bruerne transported back to the 1940s with re-enactors dressed up, tea dances in the village hall, musical entertainment, fashion parades in the church and so much more … even Laurel and Hardy this year I believe.

As there will be so much going on over the weekend, we will not be organising any of the sort of activities we used to arrange at our previous boat gatherings, but we are planning a social gathering over a meal at The Boat Inn on the Saturday evening. We have negotiated a special deal and 40s style menu for just £17 per person. You will need to book (and pay) for this in advance as The Boat Inn will be very busy (see further details on page 12 and booking form enclosed).

Please note: we have arranged for members who are campers, caravanners or

9 ‘motorhomers’ to benefit from the same deal as boaters. They will be housed on the cricket field for free in exchange for assistance over the weekend and are very welcome to join us at The Boat Inn on the Saturday night.

AND FINALL I wish you all a happy and safe summer and hope that we all find time to enjoy life and an improved sense of wellbeing on or around our waterways.

Sandie and I are planning on heading towards Stratford-upon-Avon, down the Avon and Severn to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. From there, back up to Stourbridge then around Birmingham and back home. That’s the plan anyway – who knows what water levels will be like and how much of this will be possible. Patience may well be the order of the day with queues at locks etc unless we get some significant amount of rain. Fingers crossed!

Steaming up for the 2019 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and Canal Festival

By Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina

Plans and preparations are well underway for what will be the 17 th annual Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival, held as always in the last weekend in June - this year the 29th – 30th June. For many years, this popular and much loved event has been by far and away the largest gathering of former canal working narrowboats anywhere in the country. Last year 83 of them attended, coming from all corners of the canal network. And over 7,000 enthusiasts came to watch the spectacle of the famous daily parade of boats - some from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States, providing a welcome boost to the local economy.

The original plan for this year’s rally-opening was to parade the last surviving steam narrowboat President and its butty Kildare – now owned by the Black Country Museum, and operated by a group of enthusiasts, the Friends of President. However President is still in the long process of having its boiler renewed, and associated with that, raising the £60,000 needed to do so, and will be out of action again until far later in the year.

But there is still plenty to celebrate. In particular, attending the rally will be two surviving FMC motor-narrowboats which are both celebrating their ninetieth birthdays – Panther owned and operated Coventry Canal Society, and Python which is owned and operated by the Chesterfield Canal Trust. They have trod a similar path. They were both built as Josher motors at the same time in 1929 by W J Yarwood in Northwich. The yard had the habit of giving an initial to each batch of boats, this being P – and boats named accordingly – hence Panther and Python. They both served in the FMC fleet until it was nationalised as British Waterways in 1947. In 1980 both boats

10 were reduced in length to 53’ and converted into canal maintenance boats by British Waterways. Many years later, they were both acquired by their respective canal enthusiast groups, who have lovingly restored and maintained them. They are now still used in part for their respective local volunteer canal maintenance works, as well as for promoting their canals, and for educational purposes.

In the now a well established tradition for the celebrity-opening of the Rally, at 11.00am on Saturday 29th June. This year’s celebrity the current Chairman of the (IWA), Ivor Caplan will steer Panther into the marina and declare the Rally open. He will be followed by former IWA Chairman Audrey Smith OBE on Python. Both steerers will be in traditional boatmen costume. They will each receive a little help from a steerer from the respective canal societies. Their entry will be accompanied by a fine peel of bells from the steeple of Braunston’s church – known as the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’. And from the quayside, the stirring sound of the Daventry Brass band. This traditional theatrically spectacular opening should make for a splendid start to what will undoubtedly THE canal Rally of 2019!

The Rally’s location is at the heart of the canal network, in the beautiful setting of the historic Braunston Marina and the canal and village at Braunston. But what is special for boaters and visitors alike, is the ability for the historic narrowboats to parade in a sort of figure of 8. It provides a challenge for the steerers, especially those towing Ivor Caplan onboard. Ivor is the current Chairman of the IWA, and will be opening the Rally a butty boat, and a spectacular onboard Panther. (Photo: Joan Caplan) sight for the visitors to see and photograph from so many vantage points, including the famous beer tent – the Wet Dock.

The Rallies over the years have proved inspirational in the restoration and ongoing maintenance of the diverse surviving fleet of historic narrowboats. Over 150 of them have attended various rallies over the years, with some not seen before already booked in for this year.

Besides the historic narrowboats, other attractions will include the famous Braunston beer tent – the Wet Dock, plus fast food and fun. Music will be provided by various folk and R&B groups. On the quayside will be an array of various Morris Dancer groups. On the Thursday night before the Rally, there will be a return visit from the itinerant theatre group, Alarum Theatre with their new production. And on the early Saturday evening slot, and new to the Rally, will be the Oxforshire group, The Boat

11 Doctors, with their new show They Built Boats in Banbury. It is billed as ‘A rollicking evening of song and story celebrating the history of Tooley’s Boatyard in Banbury’.

To help cover the infrastructure costs and to add to the public interest, trade exhibitors are invited to attend. Canal societies with whom the marina is associated are also invited – being offered free marquee or outside space.

There will be an admission charge to the public of £20 per car. All profits will be donated, as usual, to canal and local causes, the main recipients being the Coventry Canal Society and the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

Since its small beginnings in 2003, the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally has become the premier rally and festival on the English canals. Its successful formula is now much copied, with similar events springing up all over the canal network. This is good for the canals – but the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally remains the best, with by far and away the most historic narrowboats and visitors in attendance. Here’s hoping we see you here.

The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & canal Festival is sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk, with support from the Canal & River Trust.

Panther doing the Braunston Turn. The female crew are in traditional boatwomen costume. Assisting (right ) is Clive Henderson, then IWA Chairman (Tim Coghlan)

The recently repainted Cepheus joining the Parade of Boats (Tim Coghlan)

12 Continued from front page TOWPATH TOP TEAM AWARDS drawn up readers are invited to vote for their top team. Northampton Branch were nominated by keen Branch members Sandra and Keith Tidey, which was a lovely surprise. In addition to the certificate, Paul Lynam (Branch Treasurer) was delighted to receive a cheque prize to the value of £100. This money will be put to good use in our adoption of the Arm. Bernard Morton (Branch Chairman) said “I am delighted that the hard work of our volunteers, led by Co-ordinators Geoff Wood and Mick Butler, has been recognised in this way. It also means so much to have been nominated by members of our Branch – thank you Sandra and Keith!”

The overall winning team was the Avon Navigation Trust’s Mobile Volunteering Team. Joint runners up were the Welshpool Adoption Group and the Cotswold Canal Trust. Joint third place, alongside IWA Northampton Branch, were the Daniel Adamson Steam Ship Volunteers.

You Can Craft Workshops at The Canal Museum Stoke Bruerne A regular series of Saturday craft and special interest workshops on the Ground Floor of the Canal Museum began on 27th April with a Family History workshop led by Lorna York which proved a great success helping several attendees in tracing their origins.

Organised in partnership with Friends of The Canal Museum volunteers, the workshops will cover a range of craft and other activities from book binding, crochet, signwriting, how to research your family history and, hopefully, rag rug making.

Other crafts may be added during the summer. (See diary page 4 for dates) The workshops are free but places are limited so if you'd like to attend we recommend booking. More information including a list of dates can be found at https:// canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/stoke-bruerne or on the Friends website http:// www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/diary-talks

VILLAGE AT WAR MINI BOAT GATHERING We are having a mini Boat Gathering in conjunction with Stoke Bruerne’s Village at War on 7th –8th September. Moorings will be in the long pound from Thursday.

There will be free entry into the Village at War if you volunteer to help as a steward, (or entry for the weekend is £10) there are 3-4 hour slots so chose when you can help!

We have organised a 1940s dinner at the Boat Inn, two courses with tea/coffee and mints for £17.00 on the Saturday night there will be a raffle so if you could bring a prize it will be appreciated.

Booking forms enclosed (and on webpage) for mooring/volunteering and dinner.

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SUPPLIES We are a family run, customer friendly business based adjacent to Bridge 32 at Nether Heyford. Our service point is clear of moored boats making your stop quick and easy. We offer the following services:

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DIESEL – always competively priced PUMP OUT – no meter clock here BLUE TOILET FLUID ODORLOS – organic waste tank treatment CALOR GAS – all sizes of bottled gas including Camping Gaz. SOLID FUELS – all types of smokeless fuel or coal. Plus firelighters, sticks and logs.

CHARNWOOD STOVES – all sizes of multi-fuel stoves with or without boilers MORRIS OILS – popular grades of engine oil plus water resistant grease FUEL SET FUEL CONDITIONER

Most Major Credit Cards Accepted.

Open: 8.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays

Fred Tarry Bridge Cottage Furnace Lane Nether Heyford Northampton, NN7 3JY

Telephone/Fax: 01327-341202 Email : rhigginbottom@btconnect.com

Northamptonshire RESTAURANT º BARS º TRIP BOAT

DINE IN STYLE IN WOODWARD’S CANALSIDE RESTAURANT 01604 862428 www.boatinn.co.uk SAVE THE BRANCH MONEY! Stop receiving Endeavour by post and instead get it electronically. You will be notified by email when it’s published on-line. This will save in postage and printing costs. The printed version will be available at Branch meetings. Contact Geoff Wood at geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk and he will organise it.

Editor

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CRT HOLDS FAMILY OPEN WEEKEND ON THE NORTHAMPTON ARM On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March CRT held one of its popular free public open weekends at Lock 17 on the Northampton Arm. The Branch was in attendance with our own gazebo and stand with publicity material and display boards highlighting all the volunteer effort we have put in since our adoption began in 2013. It also gave us the chance to showcase our new interpretation The IWA gazebo before it blew away! boards, which will be Left to right Chairman Bernard Morton, Geoff Wood, installed at locks 1, 14 Helen Westlake and Sandie Morton and 17 in the very near future, and our mosaic Nature Trail, which was launched last year. The event had been well publicised on local radio and with good signage in place on approach.

Carlsberg had generously offered parking facilities at their Sports and Social Club nearby and the opportunity to purchase refreshments.

At lock 17, CRT had erected a special viewing gallery by the top gate and the lock was drained so the ongoing restoration works could be seen along with the mechanics of lock operation. The Trust’s team of specialist staff on hand to explain and answer any questions. CRT were also keen to highlight all the investment, some £225,000, that has been put into the Arm so far this year. There was a big focus on the importance of canals and how they provide perfect spots for recreation and exercise thereby improving people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Phil Mulligan, East Midlands Regional Director, was present on the Saturday and Richard Parry, CEO of CRT came on the Sunday.

Fun activities had been planned such as fishing taster sessions, paddle boarding and games to involve all ages. There was a supersized fish tank with some rather large occupants on display.

15 It was a well-organised and well-planned event but, sadly, the weather let us down badly. The forecast wasn’t very promising, but the reality proved to be far worse!

Not only did we have strong, gusting winds to contend with but also very heavy sudden downpours ... and it was so cold. Our gazebo was tied to fencing and weighed down with sandbags and weights but, even so, the wind almost saw it take off over Northampton. We were left hanging onto the roof structure and trying to retrieve our publicity material which was disappearing in all directions.

The weather meant the paddle boarding on Saturday was cancelled due to safety concerns. However, the fishing taster sessions went ahead on the Sunday (when the weather was much the same as Saturday) much to the dismay of parents who were clearly hoping it would be cancelled so they could return to their warm, dry homes.

Unfortunately, the weather meant there was a low turnout for the two days which was a huge disappointment for all involved in the light of all the planning and organisation required for such an event. Weather is the one thing we can’t plan or organise!

Paddle boarding had to be cancelled due on safety grounds because of the windy weather

100 Club Winners The 100 Club winners from the first draw in 2019 at the AGM were: First Prize £80 Branda Astell, Second Prize £30 Sandie Morton, Third Prize £15 Jane Keys.

All winners were notified and cheques sent immediately after the draw.

The second draw will be at the Annual Dinner in November.

If you wish to join for the 2020 draws please contact Paul Lynam. Details on page 34.

IWA Northampton Branch now has a Facebook page. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or engage in discussion on what’s happening.

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STOKE BRUERNE’S VILLAGE AT WAR 7TH – 8TH SEPTEMBER 2019 The Friends of the Canal Museum are delighted to announce the return of the award winning Village at War Weekend on 7-8th September and especially pleased to acknowledge the support of volunteers from Northampton Inland Waterways Association who will be holding a mini-boat rally on reserved moorings at Stoke Bruerne at the same time. Boat crews who register with IWA to attend the rally and give their services to help with the running of the event will receive free weekend passes. More details will be posted on our website as they become available.

The team heading up this year’s Village of War is led by Stoke Bruerne resident Kathryn Dodington, who gave a talk to members at The Walnut Tree in February about the Basingstoke Canal. Kathryn said: “This year’s organising committee comprises several new faces many of whom represent village organisations. This means the focus will be on promoting greater opportunities for more local good causes to benefit. Even the fly-past is being provided by vintage Spitfire or Hurricane aircraft from Northampton based Ultimate Warbird Flights.

“We are particularly pleased that IWA Northampton IWA has decided to join with us in supporting Village at War which provides vital fundraising for the Friends work supporting The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne.”

Already an exciting line-up of old and new entertainers is being confirmed with the glamorous Lola Lamour and George Formby (aka Paul Casper) heading the billing.

For full details including booking forms, go to http:// www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/vaw-2019

Pictures from the 2018 Village at War

Photo: James Rudd

Photo: Lynda Payton

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VISIT STOWE HILL WHARF FOR ALL Y

Proprietor Robert Gudgeon welcomes you to Stowe Hill Workshop          

Full Repaints Hull Blacking/Stern Gear Inspection and Repairs Engine Repairs and Maintenance Complete Fit-Out and Woodwork Alterations Plumbing Installations and Repairs Electrical Installations and Repairs NEW — Fuel Polishing Service Stockists of Morris Oils and Grease Full range of Batteries always available (please let us know your requirements)

By road we are easily found, a few yards off the A5 at Stowe Hill towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26

ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN, FROM SIMPLE TASKS TO COMPLETE FIT-OUTS

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YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES

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DON’T TURN A BLIND EYE TO BRAUNSTON’S ADMIRAL NELSON INN

by Tim Coghlan There is unfortunately nothing new to canalside pubs being closed. The latest locally to do so was the Napton Bridge Inn on the Oxford Canal at Napton. After a failed campaign to save it, it has now become a canalside ‘des res’. Before that in 1962, the author / boatman / songwriter David Blagrove had commented on pub closures in his great canal book, Bread Upon The W aters. On arriving at what is today the Narrow Boat Inn at Stowe Hill, Weedon, he wrote that it was ‘the first pub still in business since Stoke Bruerne.’

But for him, it was not all thirsty work. He then went on to Braunston, and when descending the lock flight from the tunnel towards the village, he saw ‘a long, low brick pub crouched invitingly. A weather-beaten signboard announced that it was called ‘The Admiral Nelson.’ The book is full of his subsequent visits to the pub on that journey. Later he even wrote a ribald song about the pub, which he called ‘Up the Nelson’.

However, in the last decade or so, The Admiral Nelson has had mixed fortunes. It was originally owned for many years by a pub-chain, which began charging its tenants ever- increasing rents, so the tenants came and went – one dramatically doing an overnight runner, having called for Last Orders, which he gave out free and in liberal quantities to his loyal customers. The inevitable result was that the owners were unable to find tenants willing ‘to work for them,’ as one former tenant put it. In 2009, The Admiral Nelson was closed and boarded up and left in that pitiful condition until 2012 – its future prospects looking pretty THE ADMIRAL NELSON ON ITS BEAM ENDS grim.

In 2012 The Admiral Nelson was a very different ship, havThen it was rescued by Pam and Mark Davis, who managed to buy the freehold from the pub-chain and revived its fortunes. In

ing been boarded-up for three years, and with little prospect of ever recovering. Then enterprising Pam and Mark Davis bought the freehold later that year from the pub chain that had owned it. They did the pub up, and reopened as an independent pub. They have justly won many accolades for their endeavours (Peter Andrews)

21 time, it became the national newspaper The Guardian’s Best Rural Pub of the Year.

This accolade was repeated in canal publications and elsewhere. For a few years the pub even managed an outside mini pop concert. But the owners were exhausted by it all and after little more than five years, they wanted to move on. In 2017 they put the pub MINE HOST TO PIPE YOU ONBOARD New manager Pete up for sale at an askHawksworth and an assistant Jade Dominici pulling pints. ing price of £595,000.

Another assistant Harley Childs is partly seen talking to a There was now more customer. At the time of the author’s visit, Pete’s wife Debs was working flat out in the kitchen, preparing traditional public concern, as the ‘pub-grub’ at prices that do not go overboard. second sale was also All food is freshly prepared onsite (Tim Coghlan) taking a long time, and the owners’ enthusiasm seemed just not there anymore.

Then at the end of last year, the pub was acquired by Everards Brewery of Leicestershire, whose policy is not to buy pubs to close them down. The Admiral Nelson was given a welcome makeover, with the promise of more to come, and then leased to Pete and Debs Hawksworth, who come from the Nottingham area.

They bring with them a wealth of experience in running pubs, and a formula that works for them. Their emphasis is on being a ‘pub-pub.’ And serving ‘pub-grub’ – they have even brought their former chef from Nottingham to ensure the food is to their exacting standards. Both drink and food are very reasonably priced, with very little on the menu’s main courses that are above £10. All food is made from fresh produce, and locally sourced where possible. “Nothing is brought in pre-cooked,” says Pete.

The drinks on offer provide a wide choice, including a selection of Everards ales and tempting looking guest beers. There is a good selection of budget and mediumpriced wines, and also today’s designer-drinker special, a selection of premium gins.

For lunch with an old friend, who is a stalwart with the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, we each chose the gammon steak at £9.95, washed down with a pint of Everards amber ale. Both were to perfection.

The Admiral Nelson has enjoyed a long history as a canalside pub. It was a farm-

22 house before the arrival of the Grand Junction Canal in 1796, which was hand-dug, and a lock installed only yards from its front door.

So the building took on the obvious new role as a pub, slaking the thirsts firstly of the navvies and then the boatmen.

And many years later what had been THE ADMIRAL NELSON IN MAY IN 1944. the milking shed A pair of Grand Union narrow boats, the Sun and the Dipper are became the restau- seen in the lock, as an ‘Idle Woman’ Anne Blake, runs to wind up rant. the paddles. Other than unfortunate rendering and plastic windows put up in the early 1980s, the scene is not much changed.

The Grand Junction A graffiti-like scrawl on the right hand Canal was finally single-storey wall announces ‘Bread For Sale.’ completed with the Anne Blake graduated as a scientist from Cambridge University in opening of the Blisthe 1930s. Aged 28 she volunteered to become a boatwoman in worth Tunnel in February 1943. Only 5’2” high, this tough little lady was renowned 1805, the year of the for the speed with which she ran to set the locks. She was one of Battle of Trafalgar. only twenty one Idle Women volunteers who lasted more than six It is said that the months, serving until August 1945. This photograph was taken by name of the pub the distinguished WWII American photographer David Sharman, dates from around for Life Magazine, as a feature on the women canal volunteers. He then, when it was later gave a copy of this photograph to Anne. (Anne Blake papers) acquired by a sailor from that battle who bought it with his prizemoney and appropriately renamed it after his hero. (There are other canalside pubs likewise with possible naval associations, including the Rock of Gibraltar on the South Oxford, and the Cape of Good Hope on the Grand Union at Warwick.)

When The Admiral Nelson was founded it also had a single-story building attached to it with a door that led outside. That building appears to have been used firstly for storing salt brought by canal, and later as a mortuary for dead boatmen, brought in by boat - many of whom were drowned children. Here the bodies were placed awaiting burial in unmarked paupers’ graves in the churchyard about half a mile away up the hill. Widowed former boatwomen, then living in the village, earned much-needed pennies from washing and preparing the bodies for burial. Maybe because of this, the pub is said to be haunted and a male ghost has been seen walking through its walls wearing black. Another ghost is a boy chimney-sweep who may have died whilst cleaning the chimney. But Pete has yet to meet these uninvited guests – maybe a

23 theme for a Halloween evening, complete with an exorcist!

The former mortuary is now fully integrated into the pub and is a well-used Northamptonshire bar-skittles room, the pub having its own competitive female team as well as its male team. So the former village mortuary still survives, adding a sense of horrible-history to the pub.

On one recent evening I took two people, who were looking to make a canal television programme, on a tour of the canal at Braunston. Due to the beauty of the area we receive a number of these requests, which in the past have resulted in the marina appearing, amongst others, in the BBC’s Countryfile fronted by Adam Henson, who was bravely filmed in the pouring rain on the steam narrow boat President in the famous parade of narrow boats in our annual Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally.

The couple I was now taking round had not been to Braunston before. We started at the marina, looking at its historic buildings, some even older than The Admiral Nelson’s conversion to a pub in 1805. We then moved on via the old canal buildings at the Bottom Lock and onto Lock 2, where a scene for the TV series Inspector Morse was shot.

Then in the early warm spring evening we ended our researches at what the author / poet Thomas Hardy had once SHIPSHAPE AND BRAUNSTON FASHION called ‘the inn that beamed The Admiral Nelson pub in late-March 2019 on a fine thereby.’ It was a description Spring day, with boaters already out cruising for that perfectly fitted The Adthe new season. Following its purchase by miral Nelson that evening, Everards Brewery of Leicestershire the previous with the sun setting from winter, the pub had already enjoyed part-one of a whence we came as we major makeover, including an external repaint, looked back from its bridge and new benches and tables for customers and down the canal with twito enjoy the lock-side entertainment. (photo: Tim Coghlan). light glowing red on the water. For a midweek evening, the pub was once again packed with locals and boaters - like canalside pubs used to be. “We must use this fantastic pub and those new lockside benches,” said the excited producer.

So it’s Three Cheers for the new hands-on-deck managers, Pete and Debs and their young team. And a warning to boaters: booze-cruise it or lose it! Don’t turn a blind eye to The Admiral Nelson!

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IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group Carry on Camping!

The IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) has released it’s programme of weeklong residential working holidays for 2019. This year WRG are running 23 Canal Camps across 13 different waterways that all need the support of up to 20 volunteers each week. In 2018, over 390 volunteers to joined WRG up and down the country, to undertake 2262 volunteer days (18096 hours) restoring canals. If time had a value, that’s over £260,000 of labour costs! But of course the time and effort of all IWA and WRG volunteers is priceless.

The aim of the Canal Camp programme is to support the admirable work of local canal restoration societies. Across all the Canal Camps in the UK, volunteers will have the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and get stuck into tasks such as restoring locks, re-lining canals, creating towpaths, removing vegetation and uncovering archaeological artefacts.

Leading the way!

Volunteers are the life blood that keeps WRG alive and each year over 90 volunteer leaders, assistants and cooks are needed. The leadership teams bring invaluable experience, passing down their knowledge and skills to the next generation of Canal Restoration volunteers. WRG’s leadership teams are responsible for making sure each canal camp is a fun-filled, enjoyable experience – they run the canal restoration site, organising social activities in the evenings, and ensure that everyone is still smiling by the end of the week!

With support from IWA’s Technical Support Officer, Mikk Bradley, the leadership teams ensure each week is a well-planned, working closely with the host canal restoration society.

Mike Palmer, Chair, Waterway Recovery Group, says, “We are looking for volunteers from all walks of life to help us with our canal restoration projects.

In return for helping to preserve our industrial heritage and restoring our beloved canals, we can offer volunteers a fantastic chance to learn new skills such as bricklaying, restoring a flight of locks, building a new section of canal, or even rebuilding a bridge. It’s also a great opportunity to have fun and mix with different people who all share a common goal – to bring our waterways back to life.”

Family Canal Camps 2019 The IWA recognises families would like to get involved with canal restoration and aims to provide an opportunity to introduce children to restoration work. By offering family volunteering the charity hopes to engage children from a young age and enable them to find out about canal restoration and heritage, working outdoors and learn new skills. The aim of family residential weekends are to introduce a new generation to the world of waterway restoration and maintenance. After three successful week-

25 ends and fantastic feedback in 2018, WRG has extended the programme for 2019 to cover three residential weekends for families.

If you would like to book up a Camp in this area or further afield, please visit WRG’s website www.wrg.org.uk. Alternatively, you can call WRG head office on 01494 783453 ext 610, or email enquiries@wrg.org.uk.

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6th - 13th July

Wey & Arun (NWPG)

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Lichfield

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Grantham Wey & Arun Lichfield

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Grantham

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Wey and Arun (Kescrg)

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20th - 27th July

Derby & Sandiacre

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20th - 27th July

Grantham Cotswolds (Weymoor) (Machine Camp) Shrewsbury & Newport Cotswolds (Weymoor) (Machine Camp) Grantham

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3rd - 10th August 3rd - 10th August

10th - 17th August 10th - 17th August

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Grantham Family Camp Grantham

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24th - 31st August

Swansea

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Chelmer & Blackwater

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Grantham

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2nd - 3rd November 26th December-1st Janauary 2020

Grantham Wendover Family Camp WRG Forestry (C&B) Bonfire Bash TBA

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Blisworth Festival 2019 10th and 11th August We are delighted to announce that the world famous (round these parts) Blisworth Canal Festival will once again take place on Saturday the 10th and Sunday 11th August this year. The festival is open to the public from 11am to 5pm each day.

Now in its 10th year the festival, which involves the whole village, goes from strength to strength with the canal at the heart of the weekend as well as a field full of entertainment and an array of traders.

There is free transport around the various locations including gardens which are home to artisan crafts, a Prosecco Bar and pop up tea room.

A terrific family day out-there is loads to see and do from being introduced to birds of prey and dog shows, there will be a fabulous gathering of trading boats offering everything from ice cream to chutney. The historical boats Raymond and Nutfield will be there for a visit and a wealth of information on the history of the boats and the canals, as well as a trip boat offering rides along the canal.

There is street food from around the world, bars, a fabulous line up of live music, belly dancing, vintage military vehicles.

Once again the festival is free to enter, free to park and free visitor mooring. What’s not to love?

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 an official announcement unless so stated, otherwise the Association accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine.

Neither the editor nor IWA can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the magazine, and opinions stated are those of individual contributors. We will, however, gladly publish corrections if notified. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify articles published in the interests of clarity or space.

The Inland Waterways Association is registered as a charity (No. 212342)

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RICHARD GILL

BSc, MABSE

30 YEARS WORKING ON THE WATERWAYS

Grand Union, Oxford & Leics Canals Rivers Nene and Thames RING: 07889 10 99 39 rgbarcos70@btinternet.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRUISE, LONG OR SHORT Write a report about your cruise, let others know the good and not so good places to moor, eat, drink, places of interest worth visiting and anything else that might help others to enjoy that area. Let us know of any miss-haps or interesting things that happened on your journey. Include pictures of your cruise, unusual things scenery and anything else that you want to add. In the last August edition Bernard and Sandy Morton told us about there trip along the K&A. In November John Pomfret explained the Northern canals. So let me have yours for others to enjoy.

We extend a warm welcome to the following who have joined Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour

NEW MEMBERS Ms A Hoxley, R ugby Mr M Linnell, Great Houghton, Northampton

MEMBERS MOVED TO THE BRANCH Mr S Rogers, Bourne, L incolnshire Mr C Abbott, Potterspury, T owcester

Taverners Boat Club Mooring Vacancy for a 38ft boat at Castlethorpe on the Grand Union For details contact Mark on 0777 634275

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Now fully open

WHILTON MARINA CHANDLERY 

Diesel



Pump out

Well stocked chandlery  Groceries Pay us a visit, just browse and see what we have to offer 

Open daily 9am –6pm ALL YEAR ROUND Tel 01327 844639 E-mail: marinachandlery@gmail.com

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BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY Our volunteers took part in the 'Keep Britain Tidy' event on Thursday 4th April a nationwide event where we litter picked rubbish around Lock Lane and the towpath and cleared eight barrow loads of rubbish from Cosgrove Lock.

In April and May the students from Milton Keynes College are back helping to repoint the original part of Bridge One. A lot of work has also been a carried on the towpath and this work is continuing both sides of the bridge The soil removed from the bridge is now being riddled and will be returned to the towpath

The canal has now been re-watered almost up to Bridge Two and is making quite a different to wildlife and to the people enjoying a walk along the towpath BITM WRG joined us for a weekend on 16th - 17th March and London WRG are back with us again on 11th - 12th May when we hope a slab pour with take place on Bridge One. Don't forget that the BCS Canal Festival & Craft Fair at Cosgrove takes place over the weekend of 20th – 21st July.

All IWA members would be very welcome to come and see the progress being made at Bridge One, Cosgrove and at our other sites.

Athina Beckett

Working on the towpath towards Bridge 1

33 All advertisements must comply with the requirements of the Trades Descriptions Act and avoid misrepresentation of goods offered for sale. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 requires that businesses seeking to sell goods must clearly indicate this in an advertisement.

COMMERCIAL RATES 1/4 Page (box) £12.00 +VAT 1/2 Page (box) £25.00 +VAT Full Page £40.00 +VAT Other sizes by arrangement

10% discount for 4 issues paid yearly in advance 5% discount for 4 issues paid quarterly

CLASSIFIEDS (suggested donations) £1.50 for 22 words, 15p each additional word £3.50 for box around classified advertisement (nb. telephone numbers count as one word) £3.50 for photographs

Regular Branch Social Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May inclusive at

THE WALNUT TREE INN, BLISWORTH, at 8pm

All members and non-members welcome Food and drink available

NEXT MEETINGS 8th October Speaker: Tim Coghlan — “WW1” 12th November Speaker: Phil Milligan (CRT) — TBA 10th December The next edition of Endeavour will be published in August 2019

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Branch Chairman Bernard Morton 07785 375787/ 01604 858294 E-mail: bernard.morton @waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman, Joint Task Party Organiser & Membership Secretary Geoff Wood E-mail: geoff.wood @waterways.org.uk

Branch Secretary Sandie Morton 01604 858294 E-mail: sandie.morton @waterways.org.uk

Joint Task Party Organiser Michael Butler E-mail: michael.butler @waterways.org.uk

Planning Officer Helen Westlake E-mail: helen.westlake @waterways.org.uk

Branch Meetings Catriona Butler E-mail: catriona.butler @waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Paul Lynam E-mail: paul.lynam @waterways.org.uk

Newsletter & Archivist Tony Clarke

Non-Committee post Website and Media Officer Gail Anscombe E-mail gail.asncombe @waterways.org.uk

07305 893924 E-mail: tony.clarke @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member John Pomfret E-mail: john.pomfret @waterways.org.uk

Vacancies Publicity and Grants Officer Committee Member

The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers.

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