Advance notice: Birmingham Canal Navigations Clean-up 5-6 April 2014 So it’s nearly that time again, when we dust off the old grappling hook and search our sheds for those smelly old clothes that get their annual use in good old Brum or thereabouts. Yes, in 2014 we will be back on the BCN... and thereabouts. Volunteers who attended in 2011 will remember our site was at Bordesley, south of central Birmingham, where we cleaned out Garrison Locks – officially Grand Union territory – and had very rich pickings indeed. Well, we are going back next year: not only there mind you, no, we will also be working on the BCN along the Ashted Flight, into Typhoo Wharf, and up Camp Hill Locks. Working with Black Country IWA, Canal & River Trust and BCN Society we have agreed to use the CRT Camp Hill depot for scrap removal and welfare. This is a lot closer Are you ready to grapple? than the site used in 2011 and within walking distance of the accommodation. Speaking of accommodation, the Phoenix Training Centre (an old brass house) was used in 2011 and has again been booked for 2014: there was plenty of room there, plus a pool table. We are told the Kitchen has been recently refurbished. One item we have discussed is organising a social evening on the Saturday evening, so that our volunteers can meet the CRT, BCNS, local IWA volunteers over a pint and a meal. CRT have even promised to supply some ale!! More on Introducing the new Cleanup leader this next year. I have taken over the Who am I? For those who don’t know me, I am proud Welshman coordination of the camp from Caerphilly in South Wales, I am proud to say I introduced from Aileen Butler, so that’s WRG to the Mon & Brec when as Chairman of the Monmouthreally the only difference as shire Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust I helped convince Aileen has volunteered to Newport Council to restore the Top Lock at the Fourteen Locks stay at base to coordinate Site in Newport. That project has led on to more successful the vans with the zone annual projects that you all know about [see camp reports on pages leaders who will be Dave 17-24 of this issue. ...Ed] ‘Moose’ Hearnden and myAs a boat owner I left the Mon and Brec in 2011 after 18 self. happy years and currently moor on the BCN at Halesowen. I am Maria Hearnden has an Aircraft Engineer by Trade. volunteered to arrange the I am a once-a-year WRGie (“shame!” I hear), introduced to catering for the weekend, the clean-up in 2006, and have been attending ever since. My sons but we would love to have a Lewys and Owen have attended since 2008 when Owen was just volunteer(s) to organise and 6, they love it. Owen is the one that gets down to it and dirty, cook the breakfast, so let me Lewys crews the boats! know please if you can. The When Aileen said she wanted a rest after 13 years, my voice Sunday may be busier than was the loudest of all the others volunteering to do the job (not). the Saturday if the other Chris Morgan volunteers stop over as well. I would also like to know the names and contact numbers of licensed van drivers beforehand please as I don’t know you all! So that’s it, it’s on and its happening – all it needs is you good people to book on, but that will be next year so don’t worry. So that’s it, you know the date, the venue, the leader, why not join us for some fun next year in sunny Birmingham? “Have grappler, will hook” Chris Morgan cbmorgan@sky.com 02920 888681 07974 111354
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