MilePost200705

The Magazine of the West Riding Branch May 2007

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Contents Chairman’s Thoughts May 2007.................................3 Laurence Hobson .......................................................5 Skipton Waterway Festival - 5th - 7th May................6 BW – Friend or …......................................................8 AGM.........................................................................10 Impressions of the Falkirk Wheel.............................14 A Rochdale Canal Experience. ........................16 Know Our Waterways...............................................19 Meet your new committee member. ........................20 EVENTS...................................................................21 ‘A Warm Welcome!’.................................................22 Another Welcome!....................................................22 Committee Members 2007 / 2008............................23 Programme of Events for 2007- 2008......................24 IWA Headquarters .

Postal Address - PO Box 114, Rickmansworth, WD3 1ZY. Location of Building - 3, Norfolk Court, Rickmansworth, WD3 1LT. Telephone - 01923 711114. www.waterways.org.uk NOTE: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of The West Riding Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers.

Front cover.

Skipton Waterways Festival - held during the May Bank Holiday weekend.

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Chairman’s Thoughts May 2007 It was DEFRA’s fault, of course. Of their manifold canalling sins, their uniting of this Peter Scott with the chairmanship of IWA West Riding Branch is probably one that didn’t cause too much loss-ofsleep, but it happened thus: sometime before Christmas I came upon an advert to join the GreatAndTheGood – to be a volunteer member of IWAAC, the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Committee – a statutory body created to advise BW by the 1968 Transport Act. Public appointments these days are done by application and interview, rather than emerging from the smoke filled rooms or Club dinners of old: we haven’t yet reached the openness of competitive House of Lords examinations (as in Iolanthe) so I was surprised to be invited for interview. Less surprising was the tangle of arrangements that the DEFRA (mal)administrators made for the occasion. Their parting interview question invited my opinion of the appointment process, so I was pleased to tell them that they couldn’t successfully organise the proverbial brewery meeting and that similar sloppy organisation was a poor basis for running a Department of State. Hence (or otherwise) the rather thin envelope that arrived after six weeks of ministerial cogitation said how difficult it had been for them to choose, and the Minister had appointed an entirely different Scott, among others, to the jobs.

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For me, two things came of this – firstly a set of pictures of the Waterways Protest to Parliament against the DEFRA cuts, taken from the top deck of Tower Bridge as the flotilla passed underneath – having waterway interviews on the same day as the protest probably didn’t cross the bureaucratic mind as odd – and secondly that having now retired from full time work for over eighteen months, the daily waking relief at not having to rush for yet-another-meeting had receded.

When Chris Pinder said at our AGM that we had failed to arm twist him into another year in the Chair, it was a much more interesting job that beckoned; the ‘interview panel’ (our Branch Committee) are a much more welcoming bunch than DEFRA were, and they even smiled when saying that I could have a go at the job.

So I succeed Chris, who was a brilliant Chairman: and, as with all new jobs, I feel some apprehension. Firstly, I live in Sheffield, which is outside our Branch boundaries. Secondly I don’t know the Branch’s waterways all that well, and there are some parts that I have never seen at all: see the separate piece ‘Know Our Waterways’. Thirdly, our IWA is in the throes of a significant reorganisation, and we all need to think how it affects us and what the Branch can best be doing: hence another piece ‘BW – friend or…’ And lastly, with all these other bits and pieces I’ve probably written too much already. Please put our 2007-08 Meeting Programme firmly in your diary, tell us what you think of any or all of the opinions in this Milepost to peter@homescott.free-online.co.uk, and above all have an enjoyable Waterways Summer.

Regards, Peter Scott.

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Laurence Hobson 18th October 1923 - 7th March 2007 We are very sorry to report the death on the 7th of March, of Laurence Hobson.

Laurence was born alongside the River Wharfe in Tadcaster. He served in the 6th Airborne Division as a mechanic and was involved in the D-Day glider landings at what later became know as Pegasus Bridge after the Airborne Division's cap badge. Laurence and Shirley's narrowboat was consequently named Pegasus.

After the war he worked for the National Coal Board and ICI before setting up his own plumbing business in 1964. And it was as Plumber No 1 at the National Waterways Festivals that many people will remember him.

Laurence married Shirley in 1947. After they retired they would set off on the Pegasus in the spring before arriving at the National in August for the set up. Both Laurence and Shirley were part of the set up team for many years.

We will all remember Laurence, whether at the National or at West Riding branch meetings, as someone who always seemed to be happy.

Laurence's funeral took place at a the Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on the 12th of March. It was a measure of the regard people had for Laurence, that it was standing room only in the chapel.

Our condolences go to Shirley and their family.

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Skipton Waterway Festival - 5th - 7th May.

Some of the 70 plus boats gathered in Skipton for the festival.

Fender making always draws the crowds! (Or was it the group on the stage next to us?)

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Boats gathered on the Springs Branch.

The West Riding Branch stall attended the festival. It’s always one of the best of the year, with many old friends visiting us.

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BW – Friend or …

We have all been shocked by the poor treatment BW finances have received from DEFRA, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; all my working life has been in and around the civil service, and from that perspective it’s the sloppy administration and poor DEFRA management that gives the most pain: whatever their strategic longer-term view of the priority of waterways funding, the cuts imposed on the BW and Environment Agency budgets for a financial year already half over – and in financial terms already fully committed to be spent – exposes DEFRA’s internal administrative panic to public view., confirmed by the evidence and conclusions of the House of Commons Select Committee. The overall Save Our Waterways campaign, and the parallel parliamentary activities, aim to reverse the cuts: this all continues, looking to the New Government (if such we may call it) to improve matters within the new Comprehensive Spending Review.

We are with BW on this funding issue – and we the campaigners can make public statements in opposition to cuts where BW is constrained by having to live with DEFRA as their paymasters: even so they are arguing with the minister at the Select Committee hearings.

“So we’re all friends, then?” – we-e-e-e-ll …

BW are the custodians of our unique waterways infrastructure: we need them to be good at its day-to-day and long-term management, and if this falls short of the high standards we need, then it’s our responsibility to tell our friends, BW, what is going wrong. It’s not an easy job for them. What, for example, should they do when the local vandalry cause trouble at the locks? Water wasted, towpath flooded, local residents upset; boaters moor elsewhere. BW advises completing the passage by 5pm, and puts on extra padlocks as enforcement, which are freed every morning at 8.30am. But there’s a bit of saving in overtime if padlocks are put on an hour earlier, or taken off an hour later. “We can consult the users on which we should do”, and our much-fragmented waterway-users movement worries what to do. At the hundred-people Yorkshire User Group (indistinguishable to my 8

eyes from a General Meeting of waterway users) the IWA and the OTAS (*) have an equal chance to say something useful. Whichever of BW’s two equally poor options we prefer, BW can make its own final choice secure in the knowledge that there will be some waterway users who can be quoted as supporters. [OTAS is the Ormskirk Tap Appreciation Society: there probably isn’t one, and even if there was, it would be on the other side of the Pennines…]

Nationally the consultation picture is similarly confused: BW is currently seeking informal consultations on the structure of its consultations systems. And IWAAC has just become IWAC reporting to the Minister rather than BW. None of which should stop any waterway user raising issues with BW directly – that tap not working, maybe - email enquiries.yorkshire@britishwaterways.co.uk in Yorkshire region or phone 0113 281 6800. If the response doesn’t answer the problem there is a complaints procedure leading ultimately to the Waterways Ombudsman: I know from experience that this can work well – and that’s a long story for another time.

We all need to know how well BW is discharging its management responsibilities. It is one of the delights of the waterways that they are open for use – boating, walking, fishing – all the time. When BW restricts those locks’ opening times, from, on a summer’s day 0430 to 2130 - when there is enough natural light to operate the structure safely - to 0830 to 1700, that’s a 50% closure, by my calculation.

Lopping off another hour is increasing the Creeping Closure by another 6%. Doubling, as it has this season, the Creeping Closure of Standedge Tunnel from two consecutive days each week to four consecutive days each week ought to significantly decrease BW’s agreed measures of operational efficiency. Then the balance between using the money on maintenance rather that marketing might just alter slightly.

In summary, if our friends could be doing better, let’s tell them about it.

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INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION WEST RIDING BRANCH AGM Minutes of the 2007 AGM held at Centenary House Leeds. Friday 9th March Present 17 members 1. APOLOGIES: Alistair and Katy Sayles, Shirley Hobson, Anne and Trevor Prinn, William Jowitt.

2. MINUTES OF THE 2006 AGM: Proposed by Alistair Furness seconded

by Elaine Scott 3. MATTERS ARISING: non 4. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT I would like to thank all the committee members for the continuing support they have given me over the last year, and for all the hard work they do. Particular thanks to Jennifer Mosley who is standing down from the committee. She has done a sterling job with the sales and has been a much valued member of the committee .Thanks also to members who support the work of the committee, especially this last year Katy and Alistair Sayles for organising a varied programme for branch meetings, Elaine Scott for volunteering to do the branch web page and Peter Scott for his excellent slide presentations, sometimes at very short notice .Thanks to all members who have attended branch meetings, run the raffle, supported the raffle and supported the branch at waterway events. 2006 was a busy year for the branch. We attended 5 festivals with the publicity/sales stand (as far apart as Kendal and Beale Park) to promote the waterways and 60 years of IWA. Peter and Elaine Scott and other branch members helped move N.B. Jubilee on her Jubilee journey. Branch members have been involved with the cuts campaign, collecting signatures for the petition and writing to MP’s Thanks to secretary Ian Moore for contacting MP’s on behalf of the branch.

During 2007 we are planning to attend waterway events at Skipton, South Pennine, Dragon Boat Racing at York, Dewsbury and the National Festival at St Ives. Come along and join us on the branch stand and help promote the waterways. It’s not just for the committee we are all part of West Riding Branch, the committee are ordinary IWA members too. You don’t have to be on the committee to support the work of the branch. For example, West riding Branch is geographically a large area, so keeping an eye on what is happening on the 10

waterway near you, finding out details of planning application is all a big help.

Finally at last year’s AGM I said I would carry on for one more year as chairman. After careful consideration I am going to stand by what I said but shall remain on committee and carry on as membership officer.

5. SECRETARY’S REPORT It has been another busy year where a lot of extra work has fallen on the branch committee. 2006 was the IWA's Diamond Jubilee. Whilst we didn't organise any events, the branch stand did have a Jubilee display and was taken to events at Skipton, York and Dewsbury as well as to the National Trailboat Festival at Crooklands and the National Waterways Festival down at Beale Park.

2006 also saw the completion of the restoration feasibility study for the Barnsley and Dearne & Dove Canals, which the branch contributed to. The formal launch took place in November at an event chaired by IWA National Chairman John Fletcher.

The year has also seen the sad loss of our former branch chairman Frank Rigby and IWA North West Regional Chairman Margaret Fletcher.

Then of course we had the DEFRA cuts. We were very grateful that a protest event was organised at Skipton in November by the Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs, Craven Cruising Club and Airedale Boat Club. The branch committee and other IWA members went along to help collect signatures for the petition to parliament.

A further Skipton event organised by the same people as part of the waterway community weekend of the 3rd and 4th of March did not happen due to lack of volunteers. However we are very grateful for what has been done as the branch is certainly not in a position to organise any events.

No one has volunteered to take on any sort of coordinating or organising role in the branch for DEFRA cuts campaign. So what we are doing as part of the campaign has fallen on the existing committee members. This highlights what we have been telling you for years, we simply do not have the manpower to do everything required of the branch.

Now many of the jobs involved are not difficult. For example it is not rocket science to get hold of a map of parliamentary constituencies, make a list of who the branch's MP's are and then write to them. But it was us that ended up doing 11

this job. This of course means that other jobs like the Local Development Frameworks get shoved onto the back burner.

There are small jobs that people could do or they could take on a particular project. Some examples are:1) Branch telephone contact. Most of the telephone calls I get are minor things like when is the next branch meeting and people always seem to phone me on evenings when my phone is switched off because I'm in the library or in a meeting. So if someone could volunteer to be the branch telephone contact, it would be one less job for me.

2) Monitoring planning and responding to planning applications in your local area.

Some examples of self contained projects are:1) Going through Local Development Frameworks (LDF's) to see if there are pro-waterway policies in or if we need to suggest some. This can be done on the Internet This is important as all the local authorities are producing Local Development Frameworks to replace the existing Unitary Development Plans (UDP's) and these lay down a council's planning policies.

2) Looking to see if there were any opportunities for towing path improvements through the rights of way improvement plans that all local authorities are producing. The branch can't be proactive in taking advantage of opportunities like this because it doesn't have the people to do it.

As we have neither a navigation officer nor a planning officer, I end up attending BW user group and other meetings. I also try and keep an eye on planning applications. So I am doing the jobs of secretary, de facto navigation and planning officers as well as being the IWA representative on the Barnsley Canals Consortium. And I simply don't have the time to do all these jobs properly. The branch requires a larger secretariat to do all of this.

Tonight Chris Pinder is giving up the chairmanship, Elliott Morley, is standing down as treasurer and Jennifer Morley is finishing as sales officer. I would just like to thank everybody both on and off the committee for their contributions both large and small over the past year.

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And as usual ask if anyone would like to be co-opted onto the committee this year or just consider coming along to one of the committee meetings and finding out what was involved.

If the membership want more out of the branch, then you, the members, must put more in. It is as simple as that.

6. TREASURER’S REPORT The treasurer had prepared a balance sheet and outlined it to the floor.

7. ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTS John Reeve proposed we receive the accounts. Alistair Furniss seconded it, and also, on behalf of the members, thanked Elliott for his work as treasurer and his lucid accounts. Chris Pinder added his thanks, having forgotten to earlier, as Elliott although standing down as treasurer is staying on the committee for a further year.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS NOTIFIED UNDER BY-LAW 40: Non 9. STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE SIZE: to be left at 12 10. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE: Rob Laing, Trish Laing, Ian Moore, Patrick Rout up for re-election. William Jowitt for election. Peter Scott and Elaine Scott co-opted. All unanimously elected.

11. ADDRESS BY REGION CHAIRMAN John Reeve thanked Chris for his time as chairman. John is himself up for re-election at region. He will carry on to see through the IWA Structure.

Ouse-Ure section is moving on well. Re-development at York where the water point was going to be will hopefully now provide new facilities as part of the development. Volunteer lock keepers on Castlemills Lock into the River Foss .Restructure of the association has been discussed at region.

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Impressions of the Falkirk Wheel.

As a supporter of canals rather than a boating member, I took myself and some friends to the Falkirk Wheel. The first thing to say that it is well signposted from the motorways and there is a commendable visitor’s centre where we had a good lunch in the café, which claimed only to do a light meal.

They totally underestimated the number of visitors and have had well over a million visitors since they opened about four years ago. There are two specially constructed boats that hold about 90 people each, which run regular trips in the season but only hourly in the winter. Having paid the O.A.P. rate of £6.50 (£8.00 full fare)and then taken our seats , the non stop commentary started with regular ‘any questions’ being asked for.

Too much information to remember it all.

Originally there were eleven locks which took a day for the barges to get through. The route of the canal has been changed and the Falkirk Wheel replaces eight of the locks. A Roman wall, which I think ran from the Clyde to the Firth of Forth,was not allowed to be breached so a tunnel had to be dug underneath it, and a main line railway below the wheel also caused problems which prevented the wheel being even larger than it is now.

There are two gondolas into which the boats sail. We had a canal barge alongside us on the way up and they don’t have to pay!

The Archimedes principle comes into effect keeping the gondolas balanced with the variable boat weights (the volume of water displaced equals the weight of the boat). However the weight of the water is controlled by computer, should this vary, and they pump in or out as required after the gondola’s watertight gate has been closed. The weight has to be carefully balanced and it only requires the power for two electric kettles to turn the wheel. I think we were told that the weight being moved was over 300 tons.

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As the wheel turns to lift the boat so the view each side improves but not much to see looking forward. After leaving the gondola we sail along an aqueduct for a short distance, then through a gauging point, past some moorings and then through the tunnel when the traffic lights turn green.

At the end of the tunnel we seemed to be in what looks like the bottom of a gravel pit! When we turn at the end we see the boat we shared the gondola with already in a lock to take it to the original canal for Glasgow.

Once we returned through the tunnel the view reappears and when we enter the gondola, ahead of us is a massive expanse of the midlands of Scotland with mountains in the background. Magnificent! Worth the trip for the view alone!

There must have been a water balancing problem because there was quite a delay in returning to what seemed to be, to earth!

However we learnt a few more facts. If the water level up top gets low they just pump up some from below. If there is a power cut a back up generator saves people being stuck in the air. B.W. are hoping to develop commercial traffic and the first will probably be taking fridges for recycling. All Scottish locks are apparently manned by B.W. staff.

I think the boat trip took about an hour, including the ‘briefing’ time and the short sail.

By A. Guy Taylor.

June 2006

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A Rochdale Canal Experience.

(Part one.)

Having read the articles, done the research, checked the stoppages, water situation etc., we decided to tackle the Rochdale Canal on our way home to Stanley Ferry on the Aire and Calder. We had been away all summer, cruising the Thames from Limehouse to Oxford, and thought we were becoming knowledgeable boaters.

Our minds made up we contacted B.W. for the assisted passage from lock 83 – lock 65 on Wednesday 13th September. The day previous was an adventure down the Ashton Canal, we set off at 6.00am, were stopped by a film crew on lock 12, then found the pound dry between locks 5 and 6.

We were thankful to tie up on a safe offside mooring at Piccadilly Village.

We were at lock 83 – 8.30am prompt next morning, weather calm and warm. Our companion up the Rochdale was NB “Hireathlyn” plus crew Robin and Angela, also first timers up the Rochdale. Waterways men were to unlock the paddles and ensure there was sufficient water in the system. This should have enabled us to have an easier passage.

Making good progress we were soon leaving the city with all the building work ongoing. Locks were a little heavy but Angela and I managed well.

As we approached Newton Heath the canal became dirtier and shallower.

If we veered to the side we were grounded. This is why we, the ladies, walked most of the way, getting into a rhythm of one going ahead to set the next lock.

We were made very welcome by all the people we met on the way, cyclists, walkers, mums and children. At every bridge we had an audience watching the boats go by, this was explained later that day.

After struggling around locks 73 – 72 we finally had to make a visit to the weed hatch, in lock 70. What should have been a 30 minute operation lasted 2 ½ hours. Barry , our skipper, Robin from NB “Hireathlyn” both cut and pulled the accumulation of debris from the prop, jumper, t-shirt, brambles, weed, twine, plastic bags. This was despite the fact that our 16

boat “anam cara” had a prop protector in situ. At last after cups of tea and advise from B.W. we were on our way, and still only 3.00pm, plenty of time for the last seven locks before we reached our mooring target at the “Rose of Lancaster” public house.

But the best laid plans do not always come true, the canal became unbelievably narrower, especially where the concrete filler put in in the 1960’s had been broken up to provide a channel about 7-8 foot wide for boats to go through.

A couple more trips down the weed hatch before we reached Back Lane Bridge with the engine sounding a bit strained. We pulled in, found a full ball of blue twine around the prop, plus plastic bags, brambles, weed etc.

We were getting expert now and were on our way in about 15 minutes.

It was round about this area when we met a group of young mums with children on their way from school. They explained why so many people were ogling us, this one young mum had not seen a boat going up the canal for a couple of years. We then noticed the safety boxes for the paddle gear were full of cobwebs and began to wonder if she was right.

Old and young were moved to tears by the sight of a boat on their canal, they couldn’t all be wrong, could they???

Failsworth Top Lock number 65 is where we reluctantly said goodbye to our friends in blue, B.W. support team. They were extremely helpful all that day, it was now about 4.30pm and the end of their shift. We all thanked them for being with us during a not always easy cruise.

The next part of the canal continued to be narrow and shallow, but also with a tremendous amount of thick green weed. The engine once more told us to pay a visit down the weed hatch. By this time we had reached Oldham Broadway Bridge and could pull in and tie up to a railing. While skipper was down the weed hatch I went round to the bow and found some weed and planks caught up in the prow of the boat. I got the boat hook and started to remove a couple of planks plus the thick weed surrounding them. Robin from NB “Hireathlyn” came to help me, we were still pulling planks and weed from the front of the boat when the 17

skipper, who had cleared the prop once more, came to see what was the problem.

We appeared to have been dredging the canal for the past mile or two judging by the amount of sticks, weed and the number of planks, now on the towpath. I started to believe the stories I had been told earlier that afternoon.

We negotiated the lift bridge uneventfully thank goodness and continued slowly to the moorings at “The Rose of Lancaster” – two bollards!

However we managed to moor up for the night, didn’t even have the energy to go for a pint!!

By Barry and Pat Mumby.

********* The Rochdale Canal Factfile.

The Rochdale Canal opened in 1804.

It cost approximately £600,000.

It is 33 miles long and has 92 locks.

In 1880 686,000 tons of cargo was transported over the canal, an average of 50 boats per day.

By 1921 this had fallen to 180,000 tons of cargo carried, 12 boats per day.

1937 saw the last through navigation by a cargo carrying boat.

At its summit the canal is 600 feet above sea level.

The canal was abandoned in 1952.

After many years of campaigning, The Rochdale Canal was re-opened in 2002.

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Know Our Waterways My thirty-six years’ boating has yielded 22611 miles, 17183 locks and 1214 nights’ afloat at the last count: it’s approximately the canalling experience of an eleven-year old in the days of professional narrowboat carrying – so there’s still a lot to learn. And since less than 400 miles has been covered on West Riding’s waterways, that seems to be a good place to start.

We are taking our boat CopperkinsII for three weeks 16June to 6July from Acton Bridge on the Trent and Mersey, across the Pennines and back again, hopefully by another canal. The route is not yet fully clear, if only because of the recent sawing of balance beams and other ‘breaches’ of the Rochdale Canal, and the less-than-helpful opening hours at Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow. We will publish our route on our IWA West Riding website, http://www.waterways.org.uk/InMyArea/NorthEastRegion/WestRiding and if anyone would like to join us for a day winding the locks, pushing the swing bridges or just watching the world go by from the front of the boat, we will provide mugs-of-tea/seat/windlass as appropriate.

If you are planning a trip – boating, walking, cycling maybe – on Our waterways and would welcome company, then we can give your contact details on the web site, and perhaps others may make contact to have a joint expedition.

And of course if anyone is covering the bits this Mr Chairman hasn’t seen from the water – Knottingley to Selby (Aire, Selby Canal), Sykehouse to Goole (Aire and Calder), Goole to Ripon (Ouse, Ure, Ripon Canal) – then ‘have windlass - can travel!’

Email your plans to elaine@homescott.free-online.co.uk Go on, give it a go!

Peter Scott 19

Meet your new committee member.

Elaine Scott.

I have been boating for over thirty years having started by hiring ex-working boats from Willow Wren. I now have shares in two boats and spend at least three months of the year on the cut, where I wear a long skirt and bonnet because I like them. My main claim to fame is working on the Lavender boat at IWA National Festivals emptying Chemical toilets and collecting rubbish.

I have the job of organising the Branch web page - part of the IWA web site. To find it go to http://www.waterways.org.uk and select ‘InMyArea’ then ’WestRiding’. This should contain advance notice of events in which the branch is involved as well as details of forthcoming meetings. There will also be links to other sites and documents of interest.

As an additional service, we can email reminders of coming events, so if you would like to try this, please send me an email to elaine@homescott.freeonline.co.uk. We may deliver Mile Post electronically as well, to those who would prefer to read it online.

Elaine Scott

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EVENTS This listing only covers events that we were aware of when it was compiled. If further details are required on an event please refer to the contact information below.

Note that the branch stand will be in attendance at a number of these events and we will be pleased to see you especially if you offer to lend a hand.

Sunday 1st July. Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society. Meet at 1pm at the top of Bank Newton Locks for a 5 mile walk to East Marton. Contact Mike Hustler on 01282 816476. Website http://townsleyb.members.beeb.net/llcs/ Sunday 15th July. Dragon Boat Racing on River Ouse at York. Racing starts 10am. West Riding Branch stand will be there.

Sunday 29th July. Dewsbury Canal Festival at Dewsbury Canal Basin. West Riding Branch stand will be there.

Saturday 25th to Monday 27th August. IWA National Waterways Festival & Boat Show on River Great Ouse at St Ives in Cambridgeshire. See www.waterways.org.uk or IWA Waterways magazine for further details. West Riding Branch stand will be there.

Saturday 8th September. Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society. Heritage event at Leeds Lock on Aire & Calder Navigation (by the Royal Armouries). For further details see website http://townsleyb.members.beeb.net/llcs/ Wednesday 26th September. Joint meeting with IWA North Lancashire & Cumbria Branch. “The Leeds and Liverpool Canal - Where Does the Water Come From� Speaker - Mike Clarke. Starting at 8pm at The Old Stone Trough, Colne Road, KELBROOK. For further details contact Caroline on 01282 814397.

Sunday 23rd September. Rochdale Canal Society. Summit Rally on summit of Rochdale Canal (off A6033). Contact Brian Holden on 01706 646132 for further details.

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‘A Warm Welcome!’ The West Riding Branch extends a warm welcome to these members who have joined us since the last Mile Post. We hope to meet you at some of our social meetings.

River Foss Society Mr and Mrs Bond Skipton Waterway Festival Group Mr Dean Mr and Mrs Bare Miss Bellwood Mr and Mrs Cairns Mr Hodgson Mr and Mrs Lawson Mr Smith Mr and Mrs Smith

York Keighley Skipton Wakefield Leeds York Leeds Sowerby Bridge York Huddersfield Leeds

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Another Welcome!

Congratulations to Katie and Alastair Sayles on the safe arrival of Ailsa Anne. A brand new sister for Ellen and another brand new member for the branch!

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Committee Members 2007 / 2008 Chairman Peter Scott 3 Moorbank Drive Sheffield S10 5TH Home 0114 230 1870

Mile Post Editor Tricia Laing 25 Bankfield Road Shipley BD18 4AJ Home 01274 581800

Secretary Ian Moore 2 Eric Street, Bramley Leeds. LS13 1ET Mobile 07989 112581

Committee member Elliott Mosley 23 Glenholm Road Baildon Shipley BD17 5QB Home 01274 581413

Treasurer William Jowitt

Committee member Patrick Rout, 18, Hainsworth Road, Silsden. BD20 0NB Home 01535 657225

Membership Secretary Chris Pinder 152 High Street Yeadon Leeds LS19 7AB Home 01132 509371 Minutes Secretary Liz Pinder 152 High Street Yeadon Leeds LS19 7AB Home 01132 509371 Mile Post Editor Bob Laing 25 Bankfield Road Shipley BD18 4AJ Home 01274 581800 E-mail boblaing@blueyonder.co.uk

Web Editor Elaine Scott 3 Moorbank Drive Sheffield S10 5TH Home 0114 230 1870 Non Committee Posts Meeting Co-ordinators Katie & Alastair Sayles Regional Chairman John Reeve 10 Perth Grove Stockton-on-Tees Cleveland TS18 5BF Home 01642 580350

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Programme of Events for 2007- 2008.

All meetings take place at 8.00pm on the second Friday of the month, in the top floor Social Club, Centenary House, North Street, Leeds, LS2 8AY. 14 September 07

"A year in the life of the National Chairman”

By John Fletcher

12 October 07

Humber Keel and Sloop Preservation Society

By Brian Peeps

9 November 07

"French Waterways & Wine"

By Helen and Chris Davey

14 December 07

Christmas Social and Members’ slides

11 January 08

The Waterways Museum and Adventure Centre – Goole

By Bob Watson

8 February 08

Slide show By John Greenway

14 March 08

AGM

11th April 08

Bugsworth Basin by Ian Edgar

All the meetings organised by the West Riding Branch are open and everyone is invited. Any member of the general public is allowed to attend and members are invited to bring friends.

The Inland Waterways Association campaigns for the Conservation, Use, Maintenance, Restoration and Development of the Inland Waterways, which are part of our heritage, and are there for the benefit of everyone.

For further information please contact 01274-581413

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