Navvies 295

navvies volunteers restoring waterways

From this...

...to this issue 295 june-july 2 0 1 9

Intro cottaging...

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Pictures by Tim Lewis and Martin Ludgate

A different weekend for London WRG, who swapped canal digging for working on some derelict canalside cottages at Draycott which the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust are restoring as a community centre, Trust base, cafe / shop, and to rent out to raise funds.

In this issue Contents For latest news on our activities visit our website wrg.org.uk See facebook group: WRG Follow us on Twitter: @wrg_navvies Production Editor: Martin Ludgate, 35 Silvester Road, East Dulwich London SE22 9PB 020-8693 3266 martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk Subscriptions: Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Rd., Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ Printing and assembly: John Hawkins, 4 Links Way, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 3RQ 01923 448559 john.hawkins@wrg.org.uk Navvies is published by Waterway Recovery Group, Island House, Moor Rd., Chesham HP5 1WA and is available to all interested in promoting the restoration and conservation of inland waterways by voluntary effort in Great Britain. Articles may be reproduced in allied magazines provided that the source is acknowledged. WRG 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 WRG and IWA accept no liability for any matter in this magazine.

Waterway Recovery Group is part of The Inland Waterways Association, (registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA), a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee, registered in England no 612245, and registered as a charity no 212342. VAT registration no 342 0715 89.

Directors of WRG: Rick Barnes, John Baylis, George Eycott, Helen Gardner, John Hawkins, Dave Hearnden, Nigel Lee, Mike Palmer, George Rogers, Jonathan Smith, Harry Watts.

ISSN: 0953-6655

© 2019 WRG

PLEASE NOTE: Navvies subs renewal cheques MUST be made payable to The Inland Waterways Association

Contents Chairman Mike Palmer 4-5 Camps preview Wey & Arun, Chelmer 6-7 Camp reports Weymoor, WRG NorthWest mini-camp on the Cromford, Waveney 8-16 Clean Up report on the BCN 17-18 Boat Club final WRG BC report?

19 Diary WRG, IWA, CRT, canal societies 20-25 Progress around the system 26-27 Safety lessons from the annual review, plus how to segregate your worksite 28-31 REMPART international volunteering 32-36 News more training coming up 37 Infill top ten dull canal names 38 Outro supporting IWA at Little Venice 39

Contributions... ...are welcome, whether by email or post.

Photos welcome: digital (as email attachments, or if you have a lot of large files please send them on CD / DVD or to contact the editor first), or old-school slides, prints.

Contributions by post to the editor Martin Ludgate, 35, Silvester Road, London SE22 9PB, or by email to martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk.

Press date for issue 294: 1 July.

Subscriptions A year's subscription (6 issues) is available for a minimum of £3.00 (cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association) to Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cumHardy, Manchester M21 9FZ. This is a minimum subscription, that everyone can afford. Please add a donation.

Front cover: Inglesham Lock on the Cotswold Canals before we started work (picure by Jenny Morris) and with the last of the scaffolding being taken out of the finished lock on a recent Kescrg weekend (Adam ‘Digger’ Morris). Back cover: Grantham Lock 14 before the summer camps which aim to bring it close to completion, and the completed Lock 15 (Martin Ludgate)

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chairman’s Comment “Please don’t think it’s all some haphazard run of events that gets a Leader their Camp” - Mike Palmer enlightens us on how it’s done... we do, and it seemed even some our leaders were unware of the care we take making I am writing this on a sunny day surrounded sure each Camp gets the right leadership. It’s by a dozen people scurrying around me been a while since this was covered in Navdressed all in red with hand tools flying vies and I think its worth outlining it for everywhere. However I’m not actually on any everyone (not just the leaders) so that everyrestoration site, although if the work being one knows how we attempt to make sure done now wasn’t done then many restoration your Camp runs well. sites would suffer. Because it’s the first of So the “classic” way that Camps leadertwo of our Camp Kit weekends, when we ship teams get allocated to a Canal Camp is take the kit that will power all those keen at the Bonfire Bash in early November. That’s volunteers throughout the summer and clean when we publish our Camps schedule and on it, fix it, sharpen it, repaint it, etc, etc. the Saturday evening we have everyone who It’s Sunday morning and we worked flat has been involved in the planning of these out all yesterday, we are working flat out camps so far. So Jenny Morris, Alex Melson today and we have another weekend yet to and Mikk Bradley will be there, as will many go. Harry Watts has been spray-painting of the directors and other experienced navcontinuously all morning – hence why every- vies who have been involved in the site one is currently scurrying around in red, no visits, planning, designing, negotiating, etc. matter what colour clothes they started the And so that’s where a lot of questions get morning with. asked and we attempt to match up skillsets Now all this tool-foolery is great fun to Camps. We know pretty much all the likely and we make sure we enjoy it – but last scenarios for what the leader of each Camp night in the pub we did start to do some will have to deal with and we match that to maths and work out that in terms of getting the people available. There is a really long kit together, maintaining it and packing it we list of things we consider, some of which are probably spend each year about the equivaobvious such as technical experience, some lent of a whole week’s Canal Camp in people of them are less so – site is miles from power. And when all of us have recently accomm so may involve lots of driving which received begging emails asking us to go on will irritate someone who is not good at the some group’s regional weekend or help out logistics side of things. (Together with the for a few days on someone’s Canal Camp it is absolute classic – this camp is the middle of unfortunate to reply “No, sorry, I’m using my three on the same site so the leader will not time repairing and cleaning tools”. All of the have to sort out van and trailer movements!). above is basically an illustration of why we And, because not everything is a perimplore everyone to look after our tools and fect fit, we then continue to try and improve keep them clean. Cleaning them straight things, say by recruiting a brickie to lay out away is a lot easier than trying to grind it off the job or perhaps working with the other six months later and the less time we spend camps on that site to resequence the works doing it means more time to actually get out to better suit the leaders skillset. and restore stuff.

But crucially none of this happens until A slightly more academic part of our the Leadership teams are approved by the preparations for the summer is making sure WRG Board. our leaders are fit for purpose and we reAlthough it seems like it’s all done on a cently held our annual Leaders Training Day conversation on the Saturday night, each and run by Dave ‘Evvo’ Evans and George Rogevery appointment is fully discussed by the ers. Whilst it’s an important part of our whole Board considering all of these aspects preparations, it’s by no means the only thing (and a lot more) and making sure that the

Chairman’s Comment

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leadership team are exactly the right mix for that Camp. And if not then we add some more effort to make sure any gaps are covered, and ideally the leaders learn from this to make them even better next time.

So please don’t think it’s all some haphazard run of events that gets a Leader their Camp. It’s all been carefully considered by the Board. Its only by doing it this way that the Board are able to give our Leaders their total backing for their actions.

For newcomers who are just starting out as assistants we also take care about who we place you with. We don’t often use the word mentor in WRG (simply because in the world of volunteering everybody is a potential mentor) but believe me, when we put together leadership teams who haven’t worked together before, we really do think hard about making sure the opportunity to learn is there. If you are new then we really will try and match you up with someone who you will get on with and is always happy to show you new things. (And sometimes it even works in reverse when it’s hoped the leader will learn from the assistant).

And all of the above doesn’t just apply to allocations that are sorted on the Bonfire Bash, it’s all the Camps, even if there are ones filled at the last minute. The WRG Board is committed to running successful Canal Camps, we don’t take risks when it

comes to our leadership and have considerable confidence in our leaders.

And just to continue the ‘Right Tool for the Right Job’ theme I’d like to correct one small misunderstanding that has crept in regarding chainsaws on camps. Recently we confirmed that if you need to use a Chainsaw on site you need to get the approval of WRG Forestry (who obviously won’t give that unless they see a suitable Risk Assessment for the job). However that seems to be being twisted into “chainsaws must not be used and only bowsaws are to be used”. Which is not the case.

Except for smaller trees, bowsaws are not really a felling tool and it really can be dangerous to use a bowsaw to do a big job.

So unsurprisingly it is still a case of assess the job properly and select the right tool to safely complete it. If it can be done safely with a bowsaw then go for it, but if it needs a chainsaw then go through the proper procedure. This might mean that you have to leave a few more trees standing during your weekend, but, as with so many things, they can always be done later. What’s important is to do it right and to do it safely.

Anyway, it looks like the paint has dried on the tools while I’ve been typing this so it’s time to pack it in the trailers and get ready for summer. See you on site.

Mike Palmer

Harry in the ‘red forest’ of newly painted tools during one of the kit sorting weekends

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canal camps Preview Do you want to help build a new liftbridge at Birtley on the Wey & Arun?

Or practice your carpentry on the Chelmer & Blackwater? If so, book now!

Summer Canal Camps 2019 - final call!

This isn’t so much a camps preview as a final chance to book on for one of this summer’s Canal Camps, as they’re booking up fast. By the time you read this, the start of the main camps programme will be just a couple of weeks away, and a number of the camps were already fully booked by late May. So rather than entertain you with a selection of enticing descriptions of sites that you’re already too late to book for, here are just a couple that still had several places available when we went to press. Don’t delay, though, as even these are at least half full already. Over to Alex Melson to tell us about them...

The Wey & Arun Canal Camp - The Birtley Project

Martin Ludgate

We are excited to be kicking off the summer season with three consecutive Canal Camps between the 6th and 27th July 2019 on the Wey & Arun Canal in Surrey, to help the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (WACT) bring restoration to the northern end of the canal, after an emphasis on the southern and middle lengths in recent years.

WACT has recently acquired a 1km stretch of canal at Birtley. The aim is initially to restore the towpath and transform it into a circular walking route for the local community, and then to kickstart further canal restoration in this area. The primary aim for these Camps is to start the creation of a new lift bridge that will carry one of paths which form part of the walking route, and eventually open to allow boats to reach the new Birtley section.

During the Camps volunteers will have the opportunity be involved with a technical restoration project, creating structures to support the lift bridge. This includes excavating and concrete pouring the bridge base, building the bridge support walls, and fixing the bearings. If you fear that creating the bridge may be too technical for you, don’t worry, our

Book on a Wey & Arun camp and help turn this...

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...into something a bit more like this!

volunteer leaders will be able to take you through each step.

There will be other work that will run over all three Camps. As part of creating a circular footpath route, we will have to link the canal towpath (across our new bridge) and along a newly surfaced path to join up with the regional Downslink path (based on an old railway) to the west. Dumpers, diggers and excavators will be used throughout the three weeks to dig the foundations of the bridge, create the footpaths and transport material. In addition there is a currently an untouched section to the north where new boundary fences are required. There will be no shortage of work, with plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, so why not sign up today?

Camp 201903 (led by Bill Nicholson / Graham Hawkes of NWPG): 6-13 July – Fully Booked Camp 201906 (led by Rob Nicholson / Sam Doe): 13-20 July – 6 spaces left Camp 201909 (led by Stephen Davis/Ian Williamson of Kescrg): 20-27 July – 3 spaces left

The C&B Navigation Canal Camp - help maintain a working waterway The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, unlike most of the canals and rivers we work on, isn’t being revived from dereliction - it’s a fully working waterway with boats using it. But it relies heavily on volunteers to keep it going, and this summer the canal camp team will be undertaking a variety of work to reinvigorate this old navigation in a beautiful part of Essex.

A large variety of maintenance tasks have been planned including repairing landing stages, refurbishing footbridges and building canoe storage areas: a perfect camp for those wishing to use or learn carpentry skills. The works will bring volunteers to different areas across the navigation, so you’ll get to know this beautiful part of the country like the back of your hand. This is a great camp for volunteers looking for a slower pace of work to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the navigation.

Over 10 years of focus and investment can make an amazing difference to a waterway.

Since Essex Waterways (also a part of WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association) took over the running of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to save it from closing down when the original owners went bankrupt, the once run-down Navigation has been transformed. Now that it’s been saved from the threat of dereliction, volunteers will help ensure this waterway is safe for future generations.

Martin Ludgate

Camp 201918 (leaders Alex Melson / Paul Harrowsmith): 24-31 August - 7 spaces left

Book on the Chelmer & Blackwater camp and help to secure this beautiful waterway’s future

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camp report Cotswold A picture report from a week of finishing-off work so the rebuilt Weymoor Bridge can be put in use and the causeway across the canal removed Weymoor Bridge Camp on the Thames and Severn Canal – Easter 2019

John Hawkins

A team richly populated by different ages, nationalities, experience and skills and all having immense energy. My thanks to Pete, Rob, Ian, Phil, Jamie, Jo, John, Zerfa, Peter, Matt, Rachel, Nathalie, X, Richard, Martin and, especially my assistant and cook, Maggie and Derek for making it such a successful and enjoyable camp. Also, many thanks to John of CCT, Bungle and Paul at Alex Farm for their efforts in getting stuff to and from the site and Colin for the training he delivered on the first day.

Enough words and on to the pictures which are much more eloquent than me.

David (Evvo) Evans When the bridge is finished, the diversion signs can come off

fact file Cotswold Canals The Canal Camp project: Finishing works at the rebuilt Weymoor Bridge.

Length: 36 miles Locks: 56 Date closed: 1927-46

Why? The old bridge had been demolished apart from the abutments, with farm traffic crossing the filled-in canal. So to open the canal, the bridge needed reinstating to modern loading standards. The major work was done a couple of years ago; completion will allow farm traffic to use the rebuilt bridge.

The wider picture: Recently our work on the Cotswold Canals has concentrated on finishing the Phase 1a section, from Stonebridge via Stroud to Brimscombe, and in future it will be focused on the Phase 1b section from Stonehouse to Saul Junction (linking the restored length to the national canal network) for which Lottery funding has been provisionally approved. But meanwhile Cotswold Canals Trust doesn’t want its ultimate aim of opening the rest of the through route to the Thames to be forgotten. Hence the Inglesham Lock project of recent years, and also Weymoor Bridge, where a legacy has provided money to enable the work to take place.

Canal Camp site: Weymoor Bridge

Phase 1b: Saul to Stonehouse Phase 1a: Stonehouse to Brimscombe

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Phase 3: Brimscombe to Water Park

Cotswold Water Park

Phase 2: Inglesham to Water Park

Pictures by Dave ‘Evvo’ Evans unless otherwise credited

Gabion wall supporting bridge approach – before (above) and after (above right). Completing work started by CCT and WRG BITM. The public footpath – before (below left) and after (below). Rough, ugly and dangerous becomes not so!

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Backfilling behind the gabions – at the start (above) and end of the week (above right)

Wingwalls after demolition of (most of) rotten areas and start of rebuilding the towpath side.

Inset: the site Team.

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camp report Cromford Another WRG North West ‘mini-camp’ returned to the Sawmills narrows on the Cromford Canal to continue work from a couple of years back...

Cromford Canal: Sawmills Mini-Camp The Site: Gauging Narrows, Sawmills, Cromford Canal. This is in the central section of the Cromford Canal, between Ambergate and Ripley. It is a site that WRG have visited several times in the past, although not for a couple of years.

The Gauging Narrows is essentially a lengthened narrowing of the canal, consisting of two stone walls. Boats were halted here in order that their depth could be gauged, the weight of the cargo calculated, and the appropriate tonnage tolls collected.

The Work: Previously, the offside wall has largely been rebuilt, and focus in the next few years will be moving to rebuilding the towpath side wall. To do that, a temporary footpath will be required which diverts around the site, to protect the public during the works.

Therefore, the aim for the week was to

build an earth bund (temporary dam) at each end of the narrows, then to construct a footpath running along the top of the earth bunds and along the far side of the narrows between them. Where the path runs along the top of the offside wall, a fence was also required for leaning on preventing users falling off the edge.

The Cast: It being a WRG NorthWest minicamp, the cast was an ever revolving collection of regulars. We were also joined by the Friends of the Cromford Canal work party for the first morning.

The Plot: The week started on the Wednesday, with Paul Shaw and myself arriving just in time to follow the plant into the adjacent haulage yard where it was being unloaded and stored. Then Darren Shepherd arrived in the WRG NW van and before I knew it one of the excavators and one of the dumpers were butting up against the bridge, chomping at the bit to get onto site. After a little

fact file Cromford Canal Cromford High Peak The canal camp project: Junction Completion of restoration of the Sawmills toll narrows near Ambergate;

Why? To complete an unusual heritage structure partly restored some years ago, on a length of canal which is a popular local walking route.

Whatstandwell Sawmills Ambergate Work site:

Length: 14½ miles Locks: 14 Date closed: 1900-1944

Work site: Pinxton Butterley Tunnel

Pinxton

Ironville

Future work

The wider picture: The Friends hope eventually to site: north from Sawmills reopen the entire canal through from Langley Mill Langley Mill (where it meets the Erewash Canal) to Cromford.

There are difficulties including the missing Bull Bridge Aqueduct (over the Langley Mill main road and railway) near Ambergate, the collapsed Butterley Tunnel and Erewash the need to work sensitively in partnership with wildlife groups. However there is a Canal to restored length with trip-boat from Cromford to High Peak Junction, and plans are at the Trent an advanced stage to open up the southern length northwards from Langley Mill. This project, involving a new double staircase lock and a diversion using an old railway bridge to get under a main road, will be a major step forward in putting the Cromford back on the national waterways map.

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Darren Shephard

Darren Shephard

‘finessing’ of the access path, the plant was under the bridge and Paul set to work building the first bund. Darren and I, along with some of the locals, started clearing all the old stone from the bed of the narrows.

John Hawkins arrived later in the day, and between them working and me watching, we had the bulk of the first bund built and the stone cleared at the end of the day.

A trip to my local for dinner ensued.

Thursday continued in much the same manner, as Paul moved on to digging out to create the footpath on the top of the wall and Darren tidied up behind Paul on the first bund to create a well compacted and profiled surface that the locals can seed and maintain. John and I started to build the fence.

On the Friday, Paul created the second bund whilst Darren, John and I continued building the fence. I made two trips to Wickes to buy wood and screws (the motto “measure twice, cut once” definitely comes to mind), and yet by the end of the day we’d realised we were still short… By the end of the day, most of the fence posts were in and the top rail installed, and we’d started on timber edgings for the footpath.

On Saturday, our numbers were supplemented by John Foley (who had brought the total number of Johns on site or visiting The path (with fence) alongside the narrows in some sense to at least 8), Mike Chase,

Completing one of the bunds across the canal

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John Hawkins

Diane Richardson and Malcolm Bridge, although Paul had now left us to learn about boat electrics. We’d also gained a catering team back at the hall at Ironville which made things much simpler!

The weekend was dominated by laying the stone on the footpath, complicated by a temperamental Wacker plate, and by the time the numbers were reduced again at the end of Sunday, all that was left was a bit more stone laying and the completion of the fence by installing the sheep wire.

For Monday, it was down to me, John H and Malcolm. Unfortunately the Wacker plate stopped being temperamental and instead didn’t work at all. Despite attempts to mend it (the hire company being particularly poor at responding to fix it) it couldn’t be resuscitated and so the final compaction was left for the local work party later in the week. The fence was completed, some final photos taken and we could all go home.

John Hawkins

The Denouement: The local work party did manage to complete the The west end of the completed path... work later in the week. My thanks to them, to all of the volunteers on site, to Liz & Maureen for catering over the weekend and to all of those who supported the work from the FCC. There aren’t any immediate plans for when the next stage will be completed, but it is good to have finally put the lid on this stage!

George Rogers

...and the east end of the completed path

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camp report Waveney An unusual worksite - Geldeston Lock at the head of the tidal River Waveney on the Norfolk Suffolk border - and an unusual camp report to go with it...

Waterway Recording Group in partnership with

River Waveney Trust present

The debut performance and first song from the next super group

The Trowelling WRGies John – London – Hawkins Bob – Philadelphia – Crow Dave – Gauging – Williams Andy – Pointing – Catling Rex – Bucket – Exon Ian – Griddle – Johnson David – Garden – Evans

fact file River Waveney

Length: 4 miles Locks: 3 Date closed: 1934 The Canal Camp project: Completing rebuilding the offside wall of Geldeston Lock, following on from the previous two years’ camps, and clearing vegetation from the nearside wall ready for repair.

Why? Because the lock walls were in a poor condition and could have collapsed if they hadn’t been repaired.

The wider picture: As long ago as 1670, the creation of the River Waveney Navigation saw three locks built to allow boats to continue from the tidal reaches (which were already in use between Breydon Water and Beccles), on up to Bungay. These lower lengths (plus their links to Lowestoft and the upper Yare) still form part of the Broads; however the length above Geldeston fell out of use and closed. There are no current plans to reopen the locks (the upper two of which have been replaced with sluices, making it more difficult), but Geldeston is to be restored as a historic feature - and hopefully a place to moor the unique preserved wherry (sailing barge) Albion, which traded on the Waveney in the early 20th Century.

Ellingham Lock Canal Camp site: Geldeston Lock

Bungay

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Wainford Lock

Geldeston Lock

Tidal river to Breydon Water and Great Yarmouth

Beccles

Performed and recorded entirely on location somewhere on the Suffolk / Norfolk border... (and sung along the lines of some minor Country and Eastern hit of the 1970s.)

Geldeston, oh, Geldeston, We can feel, your ebb tide dropping; We can see your bad bricks showing; You were built before, sixteen seventy one Hand balling, the sand and bricks, Ground to van, then van to ground; Must not leave them laying around; Stack them up well, so many dusty bricks Geldeston, oh, Geldeston, We can hear the gennie running; While we watch the mixer turning; We clean our trowels, and dream of Geldeston

Geldeston, oh, Geldeston, We can feel, your ebb tide dropping; Your good bricks, now the ones showing; You were built before, sixteen seventy one.

At Geldeston, at Geldeston………..

Backing Vocal: The RWT Brick Cleaners – Alva, Tim, Joe, Netta, Eleanor, Bernard, Margaret and Andrew.

Studio Manager: Bernard Watson.

Apologies to: Jimmy L Webb, Glen Campbell, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and all readers of this esteemed publication who now have an annoying ear-worm in their heads!

Thanks to: all WRGies and RWTers who made all this happen.

David Evvo Evans

Pictures by David Evvo Evans

We can picture wherries in the water, Standing there waiting for the tide.

They will soon, now we’ve hit our stride, Raising walls back up in the lock.

Clearing vegetation from the second (Norfolk side) lock chamber wall ready for repair work.

Inset: Bob works out which end of the trowel to use. More pictures overleaf...

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Above: Rebuilding of the first (Suffolk) wall in progress, working from the barge.

Below: The completed final section of the wall at the end of the week’s camp

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clean up report BCN Every spring, volunteers from WRG and several local canal groups descend on the Black Country waterways to haul out junk and keep them open...

BCN Clean up 2019

Martin Ludgate

Martin Ludgate

Probably the best waterways event in the Black Country for some time, the Birmingham Canal Navigations Clean Up is a great partnership event of WRG, our parent body the Inland Waterways Association, and the various canal societies supporting them to keep these fascinating but underused industrial waterways navigable.

This year despite the usual demands to clean the Walsall, we instead completed clearance of the Dudley No2 Canal from Gosty Hill to Blowers Green.

It took 2 hours to fill the first boat with rubbish, and proved a very fruitful weekend. The Canal & River Trust said approximately 30 tonnes was removed, and the locals were very enthusiastic and supportive of our efforts. The BCN Society reported a Above: a sofa is dragged out of the Dudley Canal healthy ÂŁ250 for society funds from Below: another load of scrap goes for recycling the sale of scrap collected.

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BCN favourites: fencing, trolleys and bikes

Tim Lewis

Tim Lewis

Tim Lewis

It was great to see Dudley Canal Trust and tug Bittell back on board this year, and a load of boats organised by CRT. Thanks also to Withymoor Island Trust for allowing us to moor the workboats before and after the event.

We ended the Saturday with a cheese, port and real ale party on the moorings at our accommodation at the Malthouse in Tipton, in fact a mini boat rally of seven attending boats.

I must express my thanks to my deputy Leader Dave ‘Moose’ Hearnden and to Maria and George for the catering, to the van drivers who were less stressed than last year, to Aileen for site coordination and to Nigel who celebrated a birthday and forgot how old he was!

And how many people can you get onto a BCN tug? (see photo) We will be back next year, I’m already planning and spending the grants ably won for us by Ellen at HQ, thank you Ellen.

Last of all thanks to all the volunteers, both regulars and newbies, who attended. I say it every year, it’s you who make this event so special and unique.

See you next year Chris Morgan

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Boat Club

Last rites

After 22 years, it seems that the our own boat club has run its course.

Sadie give notice of the final meeting before WRG BC is wound up...

WRG Boat Club latest

On dissolution of the club, all monies that the club has will be donated to WRG.

Tim Lewis, I think...

WRG BC have been asking our members for nominations to fill committee posts since our last AGM. We have circulated this request in Navvies, and also members received this in a letter sent out with their membership card and Christmas Card sent out last November.

As no nominations have been received to fill these vacancies, the existing committee proposes to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to allow the club to be wound up.

Members are invited to attend: date, time and location to be decided, once we know how many are interested.

The club was formed in 1997 with the aim of encouraging mutual help, fellowship and becoming a member of the AWCC. Since that time, 22 years ago, there have been many changes on the waterways.

Then there were fewer marinas about where you could find secure temporary moorings.

There was no River Canal Rescue. Mobile phones were not so popular. Boats were

more affordable and much less complicated and owners were more able to maintain their own boats or assist others.

Since then our membership has aged.

Some have sold their boats. Fewer boaters have attended the smaller IWA waterways festivals, so our AGMs and social have had poor numbers present. It’s a long time since Salford Quays 1998 where the club won the trophy for most boats present!

The time has come to realise that all good things come to an end: it’s a sad but true fact that the club is no longer needed.

Should you wish to attend the EGM, please let me know by email or text or snail mail before the 10th July. xxx Sadie Heritage 07748186867 sadieheritage@gmail.com 41Priors Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 1JR

Flashback to 1998 and the IWA Salford Quays festival, when WRG BC won the club award

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navvies

diary

Canal Camps cost £70 per week or as stated. Bookings for WRG Camps with Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453, enquiries@wrg.org.uk. Di Jun 22/23 TW2019 Jun 29/30 London WRG Jul 5-12 WAT Jul 6-13 CC201903 Jul 6-13 CC201904 Jul 6-13 CC201905 Jul 13/14 wrgBITM Jul 13-20 CC201906 Jul 13-20 CC201907 Jul 13-20 CC201908 Jul 20-27 CC201909 Jul 20-27 CC201910 Jul 20-27 CC201911 Aug 2-9 WAT Aug 3-10 CC201912 Aug 3-10 CC201913 Aug 10-17 CC201914 Aug 10-17 CC201915 Aug 16-18 FCW201902 Aug 17-24 CC201916 Aug 24-31 CC201917 Aug 24-31 CC201918 Aug 24-31 CC201919 Aug 31/Sep 1 KESCRG Aug 31/Sep 1 London WRG Aug 31-Sep 7 CC201920 Sep 6-13 WAT Sep 7/8 NWPG Sep 7/8 wrgNW Sep 7-14 CC201921 Sep 21/22 London WRG Sep 21/22 wrgBITM Sep 22 Sun WRG Sep 28/29 wrgFT Oct 4-11 WAT Oct 5/6 KESCRG Oct 12/13 London WRG Oct 19/20 wrgBITM

WRG Training Weekend: Lichfield Canal Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Wendover Arm: Probably extend to 2 weeks Wey & Arun Canal: NWPG Camp, Birtley bridge concrete base Lichfield Canal Grantham Canal: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 Cotswold Canals: Weymoor Bridge (Kempsford) Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley bridge works Lichfield Canal Grantham Canal: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 Wey & Arun Canal: Camp run by KESCRG. Birtey bridge works.

Derby Canal Grantham Canal: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 Wendover Arm Cotswold Canals: Weymoor - machine camp Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Cotswold Canals: Weymoor - machine camp Grantham Canal: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 Grantham Canal: Family Camp Grantham Canal: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 Swansea Canal Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Grantham Canal: Woolsthorpe Lock 14 Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley Bridge. Joint dig with London WRG Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley Bridge. Joint dig with KESCRG Mon & Brec Canal Wendover Arm Wey & Arun Canal: Birtley Bridge Hollinwood Canal: To be confirmed Monmouthshire & Brecon Canals To be arranged To be arranged Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall To be arranged Wendover Arm To be arranged To be arranged To be arranged

For details of diary dates beyond the end of this list ple

page 20

WRG and mobile groups

h number e.g. 'Camp 201901' should go to WRG Canal Camps, Island House, iary compiled by Dave Wedd. Tel: 07816-175454, dave.wedd@wrgbitm.org.uk

Tim Lewis Tony Bardwell

Dave Wedd

Tony Bardwell

Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Tony Bardwell Bill Nicholson Ju Davenport Tim Lewis Dave Wedd Mike Palmer Nigel Lee Tony Bardwell Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Dave Wedd

01494-783453 07802-518094 01296-634973 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 07816-175454 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01296-634973 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 01494-783453 07971-814986 07802-518094 01494-783453 01296-634973 01844-343369 07808-182004 01494-783453 07802-518094 07816-175454 01564-785293 07802-854694 01296-634973 07971-814986 07802-518094 07816-175454

enquiries@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk nw@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk nigel.lee@wrg.org.uk operations@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk

ease contact diary compiler Dave Wedd: see top of page

page 21

navvies

diary

Canal societies’ regular working parties 3rd Sunday of month Every Sunday if required Every Tuesday Once per month: pls check 2nd & 4th w/e of month Thursdays Sep-Apr 2nd Sun & alternate Thu Every Mon and Wed Every Mon am Thu pm Various dates Every Sunday Every Tue and Thu Every Tue & Wed Every Friday Most Wed and Sun Second Sun of month Every Mon to Fri Every Fri and Sat Tuesdays 3rd Wed and last Sat 2nd Sunday of month Every Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun 3rd Sunday of month 2nd full weekend of month 2nd Saturday of month Alternate Saturdays Two Sundays per month Weekly Every Wed and 1st Sat 2nd Sunday of month 1st Sunday of month Last weekend of month 2nd Sunday of month Every Thu and Sat various dates 1st weekend of month Every Tuesday morning Most days, please contact 1st w/e of month (Fri-Thu) Every Sun Every Wed 2nd and last Sun of month

ACA BBHT BCA BCNS BCS BCT BuCS CCT CCT CCT ChCT CSCT C&BN ECPDA DSCT FIPT GCS GCS H&GCT K&ACT LCT LHCRT LHCRT MBBCS MSCS MWRT NWDCT PCAS RGT SCARS SCCS SCS SNT SORT SRL SUCS TMCA WACT WAT WBCT WBCT WBCT

Snarestone Peter Oakden Bugsworth Basin Ian Edgar Basingstoke Canal Chris Healy BCN waterways Mike Rolfe Basingstoke Canal Duncan Paine Aqueduct section Tim Dingle Buckingham area Athina Beckett Cotswold (W depot) Reg Gregory Cotswold (E end) John Maxted Cotswold Phase 1a Jon Pontefract Chesterfield Canal Mick Hodgetts Chichester Canal Malcolm Maddison Chelmer & Blackwater John Gale Langley Mill John Baylis Derby Canal Keith Johnson Foxton Inclined Plane Mike Beech Grantham Lock 14 Ian Wakefield Woolsthorpe depot Ian Wakefield Oxenhall Brian Fox East Kennet & Avon Mike Bennett Lancaster N. Reaches Robin Yates Lichfield Hugh Millington Hatherton Denis Cooper Nob End Ian Astbury Stockport Branch Roger Bravey Maidenhead w/ways Ian Caird N Walsham Canal David Revill Pocklington Canal Richard Harker Stowmarket Navigtn. Martin Bird Sankey Canal John Hughes Combe Hay Locks Mark Sherrey Stover Canal George Whitehead Sleaford Navigation Mel Sowerby Sussex Ouse Ted Lintott Baswich, Stafford John Potter Montgomery Canal David Carter Thames & Medway Les Schwieso Wey & Arun Canal Northern office Little Tring Roger Leishman Swindon Oliver Gardiner Wootton Bassett John Bower Pewsham Ray Canter

01827-880667 0161-427 7402 01252-370073 07763-171735 01252-614125 01288-361356 01908-661217 01452-614362 01285-861011 07986-351412 01246-620695 01243-775201 01376-334896 01623-621208 07845-466721 0116-279-2657 0115-989-2128 0115-989-2128 01432-358628 0118-969-9861 01539-733252 01543-251747 01543-374370 07855-471117 0161-442-9087 07581-092001 01603-738648 07702-741211 01394-380765 01744-600656 07973-918467 01626-775498 01522-856810 01444-414413 01785-226662 01244-661440 01634-847118 01483-505566 01442-874536 07785-775993 01793 636297 01249 659111

Please send updates to Navvies diary compiler Dave Wedd (see previous page)

page 22

Canal societies and CRT Canal & River Trust ‘Towpath Taskforce’ regular working parties 2nd Saturday of month Audlem Shropshire Union Jason Watts Every Thursday Bath Kennet & Avon Steve Manzi 1st Wednesday of month Birmingham B’ham & Fazeley/BCN Sue Blocksidge Alternate Thursdays Blackburn Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay Burnley Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay 1st Sunday of month 2nd Wednesday of month Chadderton Rochdale Jason Watts Last Saturday of month Chester Shropshire Union Jason Watts Colne/Nelson Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay 1st Saturday of month Alternate Thursdays Coventry Coventry Sue Blocksidge Devizes Kennet & Avon Steve Manzi 3rd Thursday of month Drakeholes Chesterfield Becca Dent 2nd Friday of month 1st Saturday & next Tue Fradley Coventry/ T&M Sue Blocksidge Gailey Staffs & Worcs Sue Blocksidge 4th Thursday of month Every Wednesday Gloucester Glos & Sharpness Caroline Kendall Last Sunday of month Hawkesbury Coventry/Oxford Sue Blocksidge Huddersfield Huddersfield Broad Becca Dent 2nd Friday of month Knottingley Aire & Calder Becca Dent 1st Thursday of month Alternate Thursdays Lancaster Lancaster Canal Alice Kay Alternate Tuesdays Leicester Soar/Grand Union Wayne Ball Jason Watts 1st Wednesday of month Littleborough Rochdale Llangollen Andy Whitehouse 2nd and 4th Wednesdays Llangollen 2nd Saturday of month London Cent. Regents/Docklands Debbie Vidler Debbie Vidler 1st Wed & 3rd Sat of month London East Lee & Stort 1st Sat 3rd & 4th Wed London West Paddington/ GU Debbie Vidler Alternate Wednesdays LoughboroughSoar Wayne Ball Mexborough Sheffield & S Yorks Becca Dent 3rd Thursday of month Last Tuesday of month Mirfield Calder & Hebble Becca Dent Every Tuesday Mon & Brec Monmouth & Brecon Caroline Kendall Newbury Kennet & Avon Steve Manzi 2nd Thursday of month Alternate Thursdays North Warks Coventry/Ashby Sue Blocksidge Oxford Oxford Sonny King 1st Friday of month 2nd Wednesday of month Preston Lancaster Canal Alice Kay Retford Chesterfield Becca Dent 2nd Sunday of month 4th Friday of month Rotherham Sheffield & S Yorks Becca Dent Every Friday Sefton Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay Selby Selby Canal Becca Dent 3rd Saturday of month Sheffield & S Yorks Becca Dent 2nd Friday & 4th Tuesday Sheffield Alternate Wednesdays Tamworth Coventry/ Fazeley Sue Blocksidge Last Thursfay of month Tees Barrage Tees Becca Dent Every Tuesday Wigan Leeds & Liverpool Alice Kay Every Thursday Worcester Worcester & B’ham Caroline Kendall Alternate Wednesdays Worksop Chesterfield Wayne Ball

Abbreviations used in Diary: ACA BBHT BCNS BuCS BCS BCT ChCT CBN CCT ECPDA FIPT GCS H&GCT KACT KESCRG LCT LHCRT

Ashby Canal Association Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust Birmingham Canal Navigations Soc. Buckingham Canal Society Basingstoke Canal Society Bude Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Cotswolds Canals Trust Erewash Canal Pres. & Devt. Assoc.

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Grantham Canal Society Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Kent & E Sussex Canal Rest. Group Lancaster Canal Trust Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Rest'n Trust

MBBCS MSCS MWRS NWPG NWDCT PCAS RGT SCARS SCCS SCS SNT SRL SORT SUCS TMCA WACT WAT WBCT

07824 356556 07710175278 07917 585838 07825 196 365 07825 196 365 07824 356556 07824 356556 07825 196 365 07917 585838 07710175278 0113 2816811 07917 585838 07917 585838 01452 318028 07917 585838 0113 2816811 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 01636 675704 07824 356556 07789 982392 07825 099167 07825 099167 07825 099167 01636 675704 0113 2816811 0113 2816811 01452 318028 07710175278 07917 585838 07876 217059 07825 196 365 0113 2816811 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 0113 2816811 0113 2816811 07917 585838 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 01452 318028 01636 675704

Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society Manchester & Stockport Canal Society Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Society Newbury Working Party Group North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust Pocklington Canal Amenity Society River Gipping Trust Sankey Canal Restoration Society Somersetshire Coal Canal Society Stover Canal Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Stafford Riverway Link Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust Shropshire Union Canal Society Thames & Medway Canal Association Wey & Arun Canal Trust Wendover Arm Trust Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

page 23

navvies

diary

Inland Waterways Association and other one-day working parties Every Sat IWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Taunton area 10am-1:30pm Every Tue/SatIWA West Country Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: Bridgwater area 10am-1:30pm Jun 25 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Jun 25 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Jul 7 Sun IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Jul 11 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Jul 14 Sun IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section Jul 16 Tue IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Jul 18 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Refurbish Lock 49 Jul 20 Sat IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10amJul 23 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Jul 23 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Jul 27 Sat IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10amJul 30 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Aug 4 Sun IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Aug 8 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Aug 11 Sun IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section Aug 15 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Refurbish Lock 49 Aug 17 Sat IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10amAug 20 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Aug 20 Tue IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Aug 27 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Aug 27 Tue IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm Aug 31 Sat IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance. 10amSep 1 Sun IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Sep 8 Sun IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section Sep 12 Thu IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm Sep 17 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm Sep 17 Tue IWA Northants Northampton Arm: 10am-2pm. Painting, vegetation & litter Sep 19 Thu IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. 10am-3pm. Refurbish Lock 49 Sep 21 Sat IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10amSep 24 Tue BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm IWA branch abbreviations BBCW = Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire; Other abbreviations: BCN = Banbury Canal Partnership BPT = Burslem Port trust; CUCT = Caldon TMCS = Trent & Mersey Canal Society; CRT = Canal & River Trust

Mobile groups' socials:

The following groups hold regular social gatherings

London WRG: 7:30pm on Tues 11 days before dig at the 'Rose & Crown' Colombo Street, London NWPG: 7:30pm on 3rd Tue of month at the 'Hope Tap', West end of Friar St. Reading.

page 24

IWA and partners For WRG, canal societies and CRT working parties see previous pages Steve Bulgin Mike Slade Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Geoff Wood Steve Wood Mel Sowerby Geoff Wood John Lawson 4pm

4pm

Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Jason Watts Colin Garnham-Edge Geoff Wood Steve Wood Mel Sowerby John Lawson

4pm

4pm

Colin Garnham-Edge Geoff Wood Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Jason Watts Geoff Wood Mel Sowerby Steve Wood Colin Garnham-Edge Geoff Wood John Lawson

4pm

07855-794256 07977-263840 07976-805858 07976-805858 01522-856810 07940-878923 07710-554602 07976-805858

07976-805858 01522-856810 07940-878923 07710-554602

07976-805858

01522-856810 07976-805858

07940-878923 07710-554602

Colin Garnham-Edge

stevebulgin@icloud.com mike.slade@waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk workparty@sleafordnavigation.co.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk john.lawson@waterways.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk workparty@sleafordnavigation.co.uk john.lawson@waterways.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk workparty@sleafordnavigation.co.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk john.lawson@waterways.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com

MK = Milton Keynes; Mcr= Manchester; NSSC = North Staffs & South Cheshire & Uttoxeter Canal Society;

RGT= River Gipping Trust; SNT = Sleaford Navigation Trust;

in pubs.

Please phone to confirm dates and times

SE1 8DP.

Contact Tim Lewis 07802-518094 Contact Phil Dray 07956-185305

page 25

Progress Wendover Arm Roger Leishman hangs up his hard hat after 22 years of writing Wendover Working Party News, from which we provide the regular Navvies reports CRT Civil Engineer Mikk Bradley as mentioned in the last issue, who has greatly Farewell. After 24 years looking after restoration helped with development of our Whitehouses and having passed my 87th birthday the time has plans. Mikk also works as a volunteer for come at last for me to hang up my hard hat.

IWA / WRG as Technical Support Officer.

I have therefore resigned as Restoration All that remains is for me to express my Director and as a Director of the Wendover grateful thanks to all those volunteers, both Arm Trust as from the end of April this year restoration and others, who have worked so so this is an excerpt from my last issue of the tirelessly to further restoration, especially those Working Party News, the first issue of which who were with us during Phase I, and not was in June 1997. forgetting those no longer with us.

My concern as a Civil Engineer is that March and April working parties: the Trust has continuity in this vital area and Work continued on re-lining Stage 4 of the dry has particularly welcomed recently retired section between Whitehouses and Bridge 4.

Grand Union Wendover Arm

I could not let this last report go out without repeating the following from the April 2005 issue showing the re-watering of Phase I at Easter 2005, 14 years ago, a very emotional event!

It Couldn’t Be Done Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, But they, with chuckles replied, That maybe it couldn’t, but they would be the ones Who wouldn’t say so till they’d tried.

So they buckled right in with the trace of a grin On their faces; if they worried they hid it.

They started to sing as they tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and they did it.

Somebody scoffed: “Oh you’ll never do that, At least no one ever has done it”.

And they took off their coats and donned their hard hats, And the first thing we knew they’d begun it.

With a lift of the chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit,

page 26

They started to sing as they tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and they did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, The dangers that are sure to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Then take off your coat and go to it.

Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That “cannot be done”, and you’ll do it.

With apologies to the anonymous author for minor alterations!

Roger Leishman Restoration Director (retired)

Progress Sleaford Navigation Sleaford Navigation Trust build a winding hole to encourage more use of the navigable length - and a boat arrives to use it before it’s finished!

Sleaford Navigation

design and funding for these. Much appreciated financial assistance has also come from individual donors, the East Anglian Waterways Association and the IWA. After all the delays, it was great to see an impressive digger on site and preliminary excavation taking place. When that is completed, coir roll and matting will be installed by volunteers to provide the necessary environmental mitigation and enhancement.

Just to prove the justification for the works, SNT volunteers on site on the second day of construction were surprised when a 50’ narrowboat appeared, having come up from South Kyme. The crew were delighted to see the winding hole taking shape and decided to give it a try. With a bit of help from the digger driver who obligingly dug out a foot or two more, the boat was able to turn and is therefore the first to enjoy the benefit of the construction. Naturally the Trust hopes this is the first of many and that the increased use of the navigation helps to make the case for further restoration into Sleaford.

The recent successful European LEADER funding bid, Destination South Kyme, saw the installation last year of two landing stages in South Kyme together with information boards about the history and significance of the navigation. The focus of the project was to promote rural tourism in the area and direct people to other related places of interest in the area such as Navigation House and Cogglesford Mill in Sleaford.

However, in order to encourage an increased number of visiting boats to using the restored length of the navigation to get to the village, the Sleaford Navigation Trust had to provide the opportunity for them to turn. That is not to discourage boats from travelling to the current head of navigation at Cobblers Lock but to accept that, for some, the restricted air draft at Ferry Farm Bridge, or problems with weed, could mean a long reverse back to Taylors Lock. For this reason, part of the Destination South Kyme project was the construction of a separately funded winding hole (boat turning place) above the village.

Protracted discussion with the landowner and his solicitor had delayed the start of construction but, finally, a licence was agreed and signed, the Environmental Permit was in place and contractors started work on site on May 28th. The design will incorporate fish refuge and spawning areas and the Trust is very grateful for help from the EnvironA boat turns up to try out the part-complete winding hole ment Agency in the

page 27

safety Annual review What is the WRG annual heath & safety review? What lessons have we learnt from it in the past? And what can we learn this year?

The WRG H&S Review – and how it affects you…

Have you noticed the health & safety related changes that WRG has made to its ways of working in recent years? Are you aware that we carry out an annual review of all accidents, incidents and near misses on our sites? Do you even know what a near miss is? In this piece we hope to explain a little about how these things fit together, some of the lessons learnt via the annual review, and how you the volunteer can play your part in helping to make our work sites even safer…

What is the annual review? A WRG board member reviews all accidents and near misses which have been reported over the previous year via the forms which are carried in the Canal Camp leaders’ paperwork (and are also available online for use by WRG regional group leaders etc.)

What’s the purpose of the review? Basically to see what we could be doing to make our sites safer on the basis of the accidents and near misses that have been reported.

And does it work? Yes, although there should be no grounds for complacency there have been examples of it working well. A couple of years ago we identified in the review that the number of cases reported of volunteers needing eye treatment (typically eyewash from the first aid kits), for example as a result of mortar splashes, was giving cause for concern. We therefore decided to make the wearing of safety glasses standard on our canal camp work sites – and since then, the number of such cases has dropped sharply.

Similarly the switch to Burco water boilers with spark ignition several years ago meant an end to burns from lighting the old-style Burcos with a lighter or matches.

So what’s happening as a result of this year’s review?

We have identified that worksite layout and organisation can be an issue in various ways. These include working at heights issues (which have already been included in Navvies articles and at the recent Leader Training Day but will receive further coverage in future issues); the need to think about site segregation (for example to keep a plant access route from creating a hazard in relation to people working on another job) which is the subject of an article in this issue; and the need for a safe escape route from

page 28

Successful safety report learning points: eye protection...

possible risk (for example in a heavy lifting operation).

But wouldn’t it be better if we could improve our safety without waiting for accidents to happen? Yes, and that’s the purpose of ‘near miss’ reporting. Or so it should be - but we receive surprisingly few near miss forms from WRG canal camps and work parties. We suspect that this is not because they aren’t happening, but because they aren’t being reported “because nobody was hurt”.

We would expect there to be a lot more near misses than actual accidents reported, but there aren’t.

So what should we be reporting as a near miss? In the Health & Safety Executive’s definition, it’s “an event not causing harm, but which has the potential to cause injury or ill health”. An alternative version is “an incident where under slightly different circumstances someone would have been harmed”.

But to give you a bit more idea about what that means in WRG terms, here are some actual examples: Heras fencing (the temporary fencing we often use at festival sites and work sites) panels which had been temporarily removed for access purposes were left leaning against the remaining fencing, and then fell down, but without causing anyone any injury. Reporting this as a near miss led to a recommendation of storing them flat on the ground (if there is space) or at least leaning them up at more of an angle), before an actual accident occurred.

A volunteer got his hand caught when while manhandling Acrow props when one section of a prop slid into the other section (as designed, that’s how they work) but not seriously enough to cause injury.

A dumper delivering materials was inadvertently driven over some tools which had been left in the part of the canal bed being used as a plant route – but without causing damage.

. . .

We wish we could give you more examples, but folks will have to help us by reporting more of the occurrences which we believe are happening.

Anything else people can do to help? Yes: when filling in forms, give all the detail that you think may be useful. “Nobody ever complained about getting too much information”.

For example if there is an eyerelated accident despite the introduction of safety glasses, report whether they were actually being worn at the time of the accident (as opposed to the casualty having taken them off to go off site, for example) and if so, what type. And give full details of where the incident occurred, and what work was taking place. That way we’re more likely to be able to understand what happened and act to prevent a recurrence.

For more information on WRG Health & Safety, contact head office.

...and spark-ignition Burco water boilers

Article complied by Martin Ludgate using information from the annual review carried out for the WRG Board by Dave Hearnden.

page 29

safety Site segregation The interface between people and plant / machinery is a key risk area in construction. But with a little planning, they can be kept apart.

Segregation on a Construction Site traffic route or work space. Segregation What do we mean when we refer to segregation on a construction site?

What do we want to segregate?

It’s not about cleaning bricks of old mortar! No, it’s about keeping different activities separated to avoid risk – in particular keeping people away from plant and machinery.

The plant / person interface is one of the key fatal risks within the construction industry. Plant is large and hard, people are smaller and soft and can get injured when they come into contact with big hard plant.

Being struck by plant is likely to result in a serious injury.

Segregation refers to separation of people and plant where they share the same

should be by means of a physical barrier as well as implementing visual or audible warning materials.

Where possible pedestrian routes should be planned to be separated from areas where plant is operating or moving.

For example in the first picture (below) the towpath is used to access the site where plant is operating in the bed of the canal channel.

And in the second picture (opposite) Work is being carried out next to the plant route, but is separated by a raised section of the canal bed. The raised section also allows materials and tools to be stored off the plant route.

As part of the risk assessment and method statement process, mobile plant and

Site segregation on the Wendover: plant in the canal bed, walking route on the towpath

page 30

equipment is required to have a risk / no risk zone identified, with the risk zone acting as an exclusion area for all persons.

It is preferable to physically segregate the minimum risk zone with barriers.

However it is not always possible to physically segregate the risk zone.

When working with plant, aim to remain in visual In the risk assessment, mobile plant should have a risk zone identified contact with the operator.

If other work is being carried out in the ans and other workers. area, use a banksman with the plant to warn The Highways Agency has produced the operator or other worker. guidance for highway works at; When a pedestrian is moving past file:///U:/My%20Documents/ plant, make sure the operator is able to see H%20and%20S/segregation/ the pedestrian and make the plant secure B3_Plant_Person_Interface_January_2015.pdf before moving past the plant.

The Health and Safety Executive has For plant movements in public spaces produced a guidance note, HSG 151, Protectuse a banksman to control the plant and ing the Public. The guidance can also be warn the operator to stop the plant to allow applied to work on the site. members of the public to pass. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/ Wearing hi-viz clothing helps the plant hsg151.pdf operator and banksman to observe pedestriMikk Bradley

Site segregation on the Lichfield: a raised section between the plant route and the work site

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volunteer international Ralph Mills went to an international volunteer leaders’ workshop at a French castle. He reports back on an interesting and thought-provoking five days...

In search of the Super Leader...

Pictures by Ralph Mils

At the very start of all of my Monmouthshire & Brecon canal camps as leader, clusters of wide-eyed, apprehensive new volunteers have emerged from Newport railway station, scanning the car park for a big red van, as they’ve been instructed. Two or three of them will have slightly wider eyes and be slightly more wary – they are the brave international volunteers, usually here thanks to REMPART, the Paris-based heritage volunteering organisation.

This March the (hopefully steel-toed) boot was on the other foot, as I, wide-eyed and apprehensive, stepped off a French local train at a small station in the middle of… well… France, and peered around for the unknown person who was supposed to be meeting me (or perhaps us). Armed only with mostly-long-forgotten schoolboy French, I was on my way to represent the Waterway Recovery Group and Royaume-Uni at a heritage volunteer leaders training work-

shop organised by REMPART, and I was standing alone on a rapidly-emptying foreign station forecourt… and… phew, a friendlylooking someone was approaching me, smiling!

It is easy, as an experienced ‘old hand’, to forget the challenges of the arrival. Unfamiliar places, the intricacies of public transport, and in the case of international volunteers, surviving in foreign country and using a different language. An immediate ‘lesson one’ for me: I must make the pick-up and arrival more user-friendly.

The smiling face belonged to Laura Soulard, an archaeologist working with Adichats, the organisation restoring Villandraut Castle, south east of Bordeaux,.

Three more smiling faces (French, Spanish, Italian), a minibus ride, and then a noisy room-full of chatting strangers. Then, the dizzying necessity to overcome shyness, to fight off imposter syndrome, to introduce oneself to both the ebullient and the retiring, those fluent in English and those struggling

Villandraut Castle, REMPART volunteer restoration site in the village hosting the workshop

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Sorting stone in the castle moat (but still totally eclipsing my faltering language skills). Who should I sit next to? Who is going to snore the loudest (important – we slept in dormitories)?

The five-day workshop was held in Maison Labat, in the village of Villandraut, a small community overshadowed, appropriately, by its castle, whose restoration has involved many a REMPART volunteer. I was there in blotting-paper mode, aiming to absorb and learn as much as possible through its two strands: ‘theory’ and ‘practice’.

REMPART consists of an association of some 180 member organisations in France together with partners in 14 European countries: Portugal, Malta, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Romania, The UK, Hungary, Czech Republic, Catalunya/Spain and Germany, of which all but Belgium and Germany were represented at the workshop. Its mission is to encourage participation in heritage conservation (especially by the young), to experience traditional restoration methods and to get to know somewhere new. REMPART’s aims for the training workshop were to improve the quality of volunteer work, to share best practice and resources, creating common practices and standards, and to give everyone involved something to take back to their home organisations.

Firstly for me it was good to meet, at

last, Fabrice Duffaud, a name with which WRG leaders are familiar from its regular occurrence on camp booking sheets. Also leading the theoretical sessions was MarieGeorges Pagel-Brousse, the enthusiastic and energising President of REMPART .

‘Theory’ began with a survey of the history of heritage volunteering (to which WRG was a fairly early contributor in 1970).

We looked at the political and economic factors that drive it, support it and often hinder heritage volunteering and were introduced to REMPART’s past and present. All this theory, which included a rapid skim through heritage legislation and legislative bodies, was perhaps at times a little dry for hands-on people like me, until we debated the thorny, and to me unsolvable conundrum of conservation versus rebuilding, and exactly what is ‘heritage’?

At the end of the day we began to work on the central topic of the workshop, which was the practical organisation of heritage volunteering projects. We moved onto leadership, and worked together to pool our experiences and views on what would be the abilities possessed by a “superleader.” Our extensive lists included being a peopleperson, being a mentor, patient, consistent, confident, cheerful, inspiring, enthusiastic, energetic, knowledgeable and more. The

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catalogue was long, but I nevertheless made a mental note to try to apply as many of these skills as I can.

Having assembled the ideal skills of an ideal leader, we were then asked to apply as many of these as possible in a series of fictional but familiar situations, including conflict management and dealing with unexpected occurrences such as lack of tools. We came up with suggestions for handling disruptive, obstreperous or lazy volunteers, unhappy neighbours, conflicts with parent organisations and disagreements between leaders. And what should we do if people arrive without their safety equipment, or the provided food is rubbish? Although I’m glad to say, I have not (yet) had to deal with any of these dramas, it was nevertheless really valuable to hear experiences, opinions and solutions from such a diverse mix of leaders.

Food... a subject dear to every volunteer. Our third workshop day began with everyone exchanging work-camp food experiences, most of them positive. We even got to create a vegan menu (bias alert - I’m a vegan)! We were in France, so the word “seduction” was suggested as a basis for work camp menus – watch out WRG cooks!

Certainly the food we enjoyed during the week was fantastic!

Interestingly, REMPART work camps often have two leaders; one called the ‘social’ leader, who deals with the everyday running of the camp and the care of volunteers, and a ‘technical’ leader, who directs the physical work, and who might be paid. Some of the camps include younger teens, have a much higher staff-volunteer ratio and only carry out physical work for half days. Many camps across Europe run for two weeks.

The ‘Practical’ sessions involved working with stone, the use of lime mortar, and archaeology. To hone our archaeological skills, Laura had us making detailed sketches of the north wall of Villendraut Castle. This faces away from the present village, and had been less fortified than the other walls. It is nevertheless a great example of what I call ‘vertical archaeology’.

Equipped with pencils, paper and drawing boards, we examined the sandstone masonry cliff before us. Liberally decorated with lichens, mosses, ivy and small shrubs, the ancient masonry was telling us stories... but could we see them? And if we could, how can we ensure that those stories can be preserved and shared? The most obvious

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features were the never-utilised mediaeval north gate and the modern bridge that we used to gain our vantage spot. Then there were several latrines that stand out from the surface, a series of large windows that were punched through it in the seventeenth century, various patches of stone robbing, the key stones of the north gate towers that were never constructed, and three or four arrow slits.

We sketched these and other details as we become more tuned in to the language of stone. We discussed how the wall can be conserved. Some questions remained unanswered – for example, what is the best way to prevent the vegetation returning once it is removed? We learned a sad footnote: the original builder of the castle suffered from severe gastric problems, so included some 19 garderobes (latrines) in his intended residence. Ironically, he died of dysentery before his castle was completed.

We squeezed into the base of one of the castle towers to practice the use of lime mortar, guided by Pierre. I’ve not repointed masonry this old before, so it was fun. At the castle they mix mortar in a circular fibreglass tray, which reminded me of mortar mixing floors that are often found on archaeological sites. More effort than a mixer, but perhaps less airborne lime.

One of the highlights of exploring Villandraut Castle was meeting, and feeding, Black Ears the friendly goat and the equally sociable rescue chickens that dwell happily in the castle’s dry moat. One afternoon, however, Black Ears and chickens formed an enthusiastic but puzzled audience as we constructed a drystone ‘wall’ (actually a very neat and tidy, and stable, stone revetment) under the guidance of REMPART’S Sarah Grant (a Scot abroad). Stone picking is a very satisfying activity for me, for I am a devotee of the ‘a tidy site is a safe site’ ethos, and I am infamous for wandering around any worksite creating rectangular heaps of bricks and masonry (an occupation that allows me to be productive while keeping an eye on what is going on).

Sorting and transferring heavy stone from a random pile to create a fine revetment without squashing any fingers or toes or straining any backs, reflected that morning’s workshop session, which covered health and safety.

Safety and dealing with risk of course vitally importance in all our organisations,

and we debated their challenges. However I to sign up at once for them all! Indeed I wish was left feeling that WRG’s health and safety that we had had time to explore each other’s approaches are generally stronger than many projects in more detail. Even though none on the continent. Certainly there appears to could be defined as work on a ‘waterway’ be less use of protective clothing, even when there were certainly many lessons to be dealing with lime, and some of the photolearned that could be applied to restoring graphs we were shown caused me to involcanals and their associated structures. untarily make a sharp intake of breath! In the Here was a plethora of castles, Roman photographs we were shown, there was villas, dovecotes, watch towers, churches, generally a lack of hard hats and gloves, and industrial sites, entire villages, all involving there were shots of volunteers wearing open- volunteers working with materials and using toed sandals and trainers on worksites. methods with which we are very familiar. Of Shudder! Which of course doesn’t mean that course, working amongst two-millenniumwe should rest on our laurels! old stones in golden Mediterranean sunshine, We also discussed public relations, or at a venerable, ivy-clad castle perched again being given challenging situations to high above a red-tiled, sun-warmed village in solve. I realised that I have probably not Spain, or Italy, or France, or Poland, or done enough to excite the interest and supanywhere, surely can’t compare with the fun port of the local community. This is partly of a wet week spent sloshing around in a due to the presence of an archaeological Welsh canal! investigation, which if publicised tends to Nevertheless, I envied those acquiring attract the attention of vandals and looters, tans in Espalion, Chateau Calmont d’Olt in so we don’t really advertise our presence the Aveyron region of France, and those during the camps. A second factor is my carrying out detailed dendrochronology in home location a long way from Wales, which the Ducal Tower of Siedlecin Association, in means I can’t simply pop down the road to Poland. And the day ended with a visit to the give talks to local groups.

REMPART workcamps on the other hand often have much closer involvement with local communities, to the point where, as well as buying local produce, they invite them to share communal meals. Well, during my camps we do make use of the local fish and chip shop and the nearest pub, and I did give a talk to the Crosskeys Scout Group a couple of years ago, but I’m not sure that’s the same!

My fellow workshop attendees were, without exception, delightful. I could see why each attracted the description of ‘leader’.

I was captivated and excited by their Making lime mortar the French way projects, and wanted

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castle just down the road at Budos, where I chaos of unpacking the vans, gathering the drooled over the forthcoming project to tools and erecting the gazebo. I wonder if I’ll rebuild the entrance bridge, that will involve need to do a risk assessment? the partial demolition, excavation, repair and Having listened to some ‘digital natives’ restoration of the bridge arch. Sigh. at the workshop, I’ll be doing more online, One of the really interesting and especially using more video rather than static thought-provoking sessions was on images, and making the most of Instagram sustainability, something I’d never thought of as well as Twitter and Facebook. on my camps. The discussion centred on an Finally, I’ll be paying more attention to extreme example, the restoration of a village my international volunteers, letting them that has no running water, sewerage or know how much I value their input and electricity supply, and as someone who is communicating a little more effectively. I’m accustomed to endless water, chemical toilets planning to emulate REMPART by creating a and handy generators, with a choice of sumultilingual glossary of canal camp vocabupermarkets just a few minutes from site, it lary (English / French / Italian / Spanish). made me ponder the effects of my camps on The workshop was a fine example of the local environment. the sort of trans-European collaboration that So, what did I carry away with me from I feel Britain should be continuing to be the workshop? Well, I left feeling that we actively involved in into the future. Internaare not alone, that WRG is part of a much tional volunteers, especially those who have bigger community, a sort of international come through REMPART, have, without ‘family’ of volunteers if you like, that spreads exception, enhanced the canal camp experivia REMPART as far as China. We share a ence for me and my fellow Anglo volunteers, mission, a passion, an approach, commitand have carried out vast amounts of hard ment, the investment of time and physical work. The Waterway Recovery Group would effort, an ethos of wishing to enhance heritbe much poorer without them. age “for the common good” (to use Everyone at the workshop agreed that REMPART’s phrase) and take advantage of ‘heritage’ was actually simply a tool to bring our volunteer status to involve a huge range people together, and that work camps were, of people of all ages, but especially the to use Marie-Georges’ word, “magical.” In the young, who will take our work forward. end we raised a toast, in the local wine of Being free of commercial funding also allows course, to ourselves and our fellow volunus to tackle projects that conventional apteers – the ‘Heritage Heroes’! proaches either ignore or cannot contemRalph Mills plate. There’s a collective sense of enthusiasm, knowledge, adventure, exploration, the fulfilment provided by the outdoor life and the learning of new skills, as well as shared pleasure and fun.

Being a REMPART international partner adds status and weight to the projects for which I volunteer.

One of the activities I’m going to borrow for my camps is a short warming/loosening up session of simple chi gong exercises at the start of the working day on site. It’s not only good for waking up sleepy muscles and brains, but gets the gang Scaffolding, with a different approach to protective gear together after the ordered

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navvies

News

Book now for the WRG Training Weekend and Leader Training Day, don’t drive our vans too fast, and any bright ideas for our 50th anniversary?

Get trained!

Waterways in Progress grant

By the time you read this, you will probably be just too late for the WRG training weekend. But we’ve got some more training planned...

Firstly we, in conjunction with the Inland Waterways Association’s Restoration Hub, are planning a weekend of site supervisor health & safety training on 12-13 October. As we went to press the course was fully booked, but we are looking to repeat it in early 2020 - contact Head Office for details.

And secondly, on a date yet to be announced, we are planning to organise an external course in erecting tower scaffolding.

Again, Head Office will have details.

This is really one for those of you who are involved in canal societies rather than WRG, and who might have a use for a hundred grand, subject to a few conditions...

If you’ve been paying any attention at all (and why wouldn’t you?) to what Mike Palmer’s been banging on about in his Chairman’s Page recently, you will have noticed that a report called Waterways in Progress published by our parent body The Inland Waterways Association has come up a few times. Basically the theme is that although it may be many years (or even decades) until the more difficult canal restorations are completed, pretty much any of them can deliver immediate benefits (and thereby attract support straight away from funding bodies, local authorities and the like) while not losing sight of the long-term goal - indeed, these immediate benefits help it on its way. There are 12 case studies to illustrate how this can be achieved - everything from a group of wounded ex-servicemen starting to rebuild their lives by working on a canal project to a community centre rebuilt from a former lock cottage, and an urban regeneration basef around a formerly filled-in length of canal.

Now IWA has backed this up with an award of up to £100,000 to one or more projects which fit in with the themes of the case studies, haven’t already been started, and can be achieved in the next couple of years. Contact head office for details.details.

WRG vans and London ULEZ Those who drive the WRG van/mininuses and particularly those who are likely to need to do so in London, should be aware of how our vehicles are effected by the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) which is now in force. Of the four vehicles used on the canal camps circuits, the older two (D16EHP and DD16BOB) fall foul of the emissions limits, and the driver is therefore responsible for paying the charge of £12.50 for every day that they drive in the zone (which covers the same area as the existing Congestion Charge zone). The two newer vehicles (R10RFB and D16SAD) are within the emissions limits and are exempt.

Please note that (a) unlike the congestion charge, the ULEZ charge applies at any time of day or night and (b) if you go into the zone between 07.00 and 18.00 you’ll still have to pay the congestion charge of £11.50 AS WELL. Oh, and while we’re on minibus rules, please do remember that they have lower national speed limits than cars: Single carriageway: 50mph Dual carriageway (non-motorway): 60mph Motorway: 70mph (if towing, 60mph)

The editor is appealing... ...for your summer canal camp reports. The sooner you write in, the betfor you’ll remember what happened - and the more chance that I’ll be able to get them in the next issue. Thanks.

Congratulations... ...and all our best wishes for the future to Andy Jones and Natalie Parker on getting married recently.

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infill including Dear Deirdre Dealing with a ‘relationship breakdown’ on a camp, mutant-infested waterways, a very oddly-named lock and a ‘health and safe-tea’ guide Dear Deirdre On my first ever dig I happened to wake up early and thought it would be nice to make everyone a cup of tea. Unfortunately they’ve now come to expect it on every dig I go on. I’m fed up of getting up early to be tea boy – what can I do?

- John, Aston Harcourt

Deirdre replies Many volunteers have found themselves in a similar position after a thoughtless moment of helpfulness. It’s quite common for new recruits to be told they have a “special talent” for mixing mortar and then spend the next 5 years of digs chained to the mixer. What you need to do is mess it up so badly they never want your tea again. I’m sending you a box of Pukka brand liquorice teabags, the most repulsive tea known to mankind. Brew up a nice batch of that on your next dig and they’ll beg you never to make them tea again.

Dear Deirdre Why are girls so rude? Every time I’ve ‘pulled’ on a dig, they’ve always been really snobby about my trusty old sleeping bag and made out it’s not good enough for them or “too greasy”. It’s a family heirloom and used to belong to my grandfather so obviously it is going to have some character by now. What do they expect – a four poster bed? Where can I find women that don’t have such impossibly high standards??

- JY, Woolsthorpe-on-the-Wey

Deirdre replies If you’re digging with WRG you’ve already met the women with the lowest possible standards for male cleanliness. I think it may be time to buy a new sleeping bag.

Least inspiring canal names: the final rankings Having collected uninspiring waterways names over the last couple of years, we feel it’s time declare a ‘top ten’ list, presented here in reverse order.

No 10: Gas Street Basin, Birmingham No 9: the Chemical Arm, the Birmingham Canal Navigations No 8: the Greaseborough Canal, Yorkshire No 7: Sewer Lock, the Grand Union Canal No 6: the Wibble Canal, USA No 5: Boring Canal Road, Patna, India No 4: the Tamar Manure Navigation, Devon No 3: Dead Dog Tunnel, the Regent’s Canal, London No 2: Arse of Hell (Cul d’Enver) Lock, Canal de la Sauldre, France No 1: the Dismal Swamp Canal, USA

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Yes, it really exists!

Pictures by Tim Lewis and Martin Ludgate

outro Little Venice Continuing the ‘what we do when we aren’t digging canals’ theme from the Intro page, here are the team putting up tents, moving anything from chairs to a urinal, running a rubbish boat, winning a prize in the floating pageant, and generally helping make sure that IWA’s Canalway Cavalcade festival in London was a success again

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Now let’s turn this...

...into something like this

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