IWA West Midlands Region Navigation Magazine, Winter 2012

I

on

Na

n

st Midlands R e W eg A. . io .W a g ti vi

Selly Oak A38 by-pass brings canals, roads and railways into the 21st century

Issue No. 2012-4

Winter 2012 - 2013

The IWA is a national organisation and campaigns for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways.

For administrative purposes, England and Wales are divided up into eight ‘Regions’. One of these is the West Midlands Region.

This Region, like all the others, has a Region Committee that meets regularly, presided over by a Region Chairman.

The current Chairman of the West Midlands Region is Vaughan Welch.

Meetings are timed to take place shortly after “board meetings” of the Trustees and other national sub-committees that coordinate the running of the Association.

Trustees and representatives of the other national committees present at the Region meeting can pass down information from the recent national get-togethers and by this means communications are cascaded down, eventually to members at monthly branch meetings and socials, etc.

Regions and Branches Regions are sub-divided into a number of branches.

There are 34 Branches in all.

West Midland Region

is divided into four

branches :

• Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch.

• Lichfield Branch.

• Stoke Branch.

• Warwickshire Branch.

2.

Winter 2012

Navigation 2012/4

Contents Page

Item

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 - 11 12 13 14 15 - 19 20 21 - 22 23 24 25 - 28 29 30 31

Canal & River Trust 2012 Review Ombudsman & Partnership Droitwich Canals EH Angel IWA Festival 2013 - Soho Loop Lapal Canal, Selly Oak Kings Norton Mooring policy - judicial review Netherton Tunnel of woe Trent & Mersey anomaly - Skittles Events Region Chairman Birmingham Branch Chairman Lichfield Branch Chairman Warwickshire Branch Chairman AGM Notices Editor Letters Contacts

.

‘Navigation’ has been in continuous publication for over 50 years.

We aim to bring readers a variety of items of local interest, news of forthcoming events and provide a local contact with IWA. We try to avoid unnecessary repetition of items printed in other waterways publications, but certain important issues may be mentioned to increase awareness.

The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest.

Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such.

The Association accepts no liability for any matter published in this magazine, including adverts. No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgement.

We would like to thank contributors of photographs for providing their property for publication.

WRG stands for Waterways Recovery Group, a subsidiary of the IWA. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity No. 212342.

IWA Registered Office : Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Tel 01494 783453 Printed by Colour Image Printers, 7 Derehams Lane, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9RH

Winter 2012

3.

Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust to stand down in 2013 Shortly before going into print, a press release was issued by the Canal and River Trust announcing the intended retirement of the Chief Executive, Robin Evans.

Part of the press release reads : After ten years as chief executive of British Waterways and (since July 2012) the Canal & River Trust, Robin Evans has decided to step down at the end of May 2013. Robin said: “I want to pursue other interests and opportunities and now the Trust is firmly established I feel it’s the right time for me to move on and a perfect time for the Trust to have a new leader.”

Having agreed the transfer of the waterways into the Third Sector together with £500m of endowment property and a 15 year funding agreement from government, the Trust is on a more secure

financial footing with a more positive outlook than we’ve probably ever had.

Tony Hales, chair of the Canal & River Trust, said: “Robin told us in November that he intended to step down in May and we will be very sorry to lose him. He has served with great dedication and inspirational vision. His determination to see that vision realised in the foundation of the Trust, has transformed the long term prospects for the waterways.”

The Trustees will now begin the search for a new chief executive and more details will be announced shortly.

Tony Hales has been asked by Trustees to stay on as chair to help ensure a smooth transition and he has kindly agreed to do so.

Canal & River Trust Start of a new Era in 2012 2012 saw the long awaited setting up of the Canal & River Trust, to replace the previous government quango, British Waterways. This was the biggest change in waterways management in over 50 years.

as museums, archives, navigations and hundreds of important wildlife sites.

Their brief is that our canals and rivers are a national treasure and a local haven for people and wildlife. It is their job to care for this wonderful legacy – holding The Canal & River Trust is now the it in trust for the nation in perpetuity and guardian of 2,000 miles of historic giving people a greater role in the running waterways across England and Wales. of their local waterways.

It is among the largest charities in the UK, maintaining the nation’s third largest See : www.canalrivertrust.org.uk collection of Listed structures, as well

4.

Winter 2012

A look back at 2012 - a momentous year by any standard In years to come we will look back upon 2012 as the year ‘waterways’ changed - not physically, they still look much the same as they were in 2011, but in the way they are governed and perhaps also, the way they are regarded and appreciated.

In July 2012, British Waterways as an organisation came to an end and Canal & River Trust came into being.

Navigation followed the changes, but as a Region publication, concentrated upon local matters.

In issue 2012/1, we looked at cooperation between Warwickshire Branch and the memberships along the River Avon corridor whose postcode put them into Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch; did they want to switch to the branch responsible for that waterway ? We reported the ‘lock ransom’ on the Calcutt flight, a novel way of raising funds for good causes.

We also had the Walsall Canal cleanup, the start of a process which transformed the lifestyle around Walsall Wharf.

In issue 2012/2, we had the local contributions to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant passing through the area, various awards to local waterways projects and work parties at Hatton. There were also a number of launch events for Canal & River Trust.

Sadly, because of the record breaking poor weather conditions, we also had events, even festivals, adversely affected or cancelled. The death of a child at a lock led to rash, badly thought-out action being taken by the new waterways trust.

Winter 2012

In issue 2012/3, we saw reconciliation over the lock-tail bridge criticisms and articles expanding upon the new relationship between the two charities, IWA and CRT. Volunteers enjoyed much greater involvement with those charged with the responsibility to maintain and preserve our waterways. Warwickshire Branch was presented with the Branch Achievemnet Award just before going to press. Max Sinclair and the Droitwich Canals Trust were in line for an English Heritage Angels award, but the announcement of winners came just too late to be included in that issue - see page 7 of this issue.

Navigation will in future only be published once a year to allow branch newsletters to be financed from central funds, the so called ‘capitation’ system. The content will lean more towards an annual review flavour, although there will continue to be AGM notifications and listings of waterways related social events, cruises and work parties.

Stoke Branch is well established in producing their “Knobsticks” magazine three times a year and Stoke members will not really notice any difference.

Warwickshire Branch have long financed their own newsletter, “Bear Essentials”.

This will now have greater resources and branch members will probably notice a format change and increased content.

Lichfield Branch started off “Lichfield Lines” in the last quarter of 2012 and will continue this in the second quarter of 2013. Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch will be launching their new publication in the coming months. See their website page for the on-line “Worcester Bar”.

5.

NEW APPOINTMENT OF WATERWAYS OMBUDSMAN The Waterways Ombudsmen Committee, which oversees the operation of the Waterways Ombudsman Scheme, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Andrew Walker to become the new Waterways Ombudsman with immediate effect.

Andrew has taken over this independent role from Hillary Bainbridge who has completed the maximum available two terms of appointment. Andrew will take on the role for a minimum period of four years and will be responsible for investigating complaints made about the Canal & River Trust and its subsidiaries. Andrew brings extensive experience from the regulatory and ombudsmen worlds. With

a scientific background he moved into IT and telecoms and has worked at the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and the Office for Fair Trading.

The Ombudsman is independent of the Canal & River Trust. The Ombudsman does not make or influence the Trust’s policy, but investigates specific complaints which have completed the Canal & River Trust Complaints Procedure and can require remedies and the payment of compensation where appropriate. There is no charge for using the services of the Ombudsman. If you need to know more please refer to the Ombudsman scheme’s own website at www.waterwaysombudsman.org.

Resilience: West Midlands Waterways Partnership The transition of British Waterways from a Government agency to the Canal & River Trust presented a number of challenges, one of which was to establish a new way of working in partnership with local communities. Consequently, a number of Waterways Partnerships – mostly based on geographical areas but with one dedicated to museums and attractions – have been formed.

The volunteer-led Partnerships aim to help shape plans for each area, guide the Trust’s decisions about spending and help develop local engagement and fund-raising plans while championing the interests of the waterways.

Membership is made up of a range of people representing boaters, walkers, cyclists and anglers as well as those with experience in volunteering, fundraising, environment, heritage and community 6.

engagement.

To date, the West Midlands Waterways Partnership has established working relationships with pre-existing schemes including: • a number of regeneration and improvement schemes with Birmingham City Council; • founding a student volunteer programme along the Stourbridge Town Arm with Stourbridge College; • devolving a number of maintenance activities, including vegetation clearance and tidying of the Titford Arm, to a volunteer group – the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society; • facilitating the ‘adoption’ of the Farmers Bridge Flight of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal – including litter collection, painting and general tidying up – by HSBC Bank.

Winter 2012

Winner of the English Heritage Angel Awards 2012 Max Sinclair The English Heritage Angel Awards is an annual competition that celebrate the efforts of local people in saving England’s heritage, sponsored by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The winners in each category were announced at an awards ceremony held at The Palace Theatre, London on 22 October 2012.

In the last issue of Navigation we reported that voting had finished but, tantalisingly, the winner had not been announced.

Winner of the category : ‘Best Rescue of a Historic Industrial Building or Site’ : Max Sinclair for The Droitwich Canals - Max was presented the award by Claire Balding. Max later rubbed shoulders with other presenters such as Melvyn Bragg and Graham Norton.

Abandoned in 1939, the Droitwich Canals are made up of the Barge Canal, opened in 1771, and the Junction Canal opened in 1854. They were built to facilitate the salt trade on which the wealth of Droitwich was founded.

By the 1970s the Barge Canal was overgrown, silted up, dewatered in places and missing most of its operational parts.

In the late 1960s one local man started to fight for restoration of the canals.

Max Sinclair wrote letters and lobbied locally, culminating in the creation of the Droitwich Canals Trust in 1973.

Since that time the Trust’s thousands of volunteers have undertaken management of the channel and towpath and raised funds for aspects of the restoration.

Winter 2012

This included the full restoration of the first three locks on the Junction Canal completed in 2000.

In 2001 the formation of the Droitwich Canals Restoration Partnership heralded the final phase of the project.

Led by British Waterways, the Partnership secured £12.7 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Advantage West Midlands and 100 smaller funders and private donations for the sensitive restoration of nine broad locks, the construction of a new bridge under a dual carriageway and 1km of new canal and four new locks, the dredging of 5 miles of canal, the creation of a 5.5 hectare reed bed, installation of interpretation features and the involvement of volunteers totalling 3,300 days.

The Droitwich Canals were opened in summer 2011 after 38 years of restoration. The canals form part of a navigable 27-mile ring passing through Worcester and Droitwich. Over 3,000 boats have used the canal and there has been a 30% increase in towpath users and 50% in visitors to the local tourist information centre. None of this would have been possible without Max’s drive and vision.

Over the years many volunteers contributed time and energy to the restoration project, raising funds and carrying out many of the tasks needed to restore the canals. And after 38 years of incredibly hard work, the Droitwich Canals were finally opened in the summer of 2011.

7.

IWA NATIONAL FESTIVAL WATFORD 2013 The Inland Waterways Association is delighted to announce that IWA’s National Festival will be held at Cassiobury Park, Watford, on the Grand Union Canal over the weekend of the 19th to 21st July 2013.

Working closely with Watford Borough Council, Wendover Arm Trust and Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, IWA’s Festivals team together with IWA Chiltern Branch intends to initiate and create a sustainable legacy of an annual waterways festival for the community.

The event chairman will be Michael Stimpson. Michael has been an active member of IWA for more than 35 years and was awarded IWA’s Richard Bird Medal in 2002, having served in many roles at branch, region and national levels including as a member of Council.

Before settling ‘on the land’ he was also chairman of the Residential Boat Owners Association. In his professional life he

has been able to combine business with pleasure by offering a specialised insurance service to inland waterways boat owners which is based in Rickmansworth. He is currently a director of BMF Thames valley, serves on the Rickmansworth Town Team and is well known locally for his involvement in folk music and Morris dancing.

In Announcing the 2013 Festival, Ian West, chairman IWA Festivals said: “IWA’s National Festival at Cassiobury intends to leave a lasting legacy in the form of a template for an annual festival for the waterways in Watford to complement the current Rickmansworth festival.

We believe that the scale and organisation of the IWA Festival volunteers can help deliver this by galvanising the local interests and bring a scale and confidence to the event that can inspire local communities to take the project on and grow it after we have gone.”

Soho Loop Clean-up - 16 February Birmingham Canal Navigations Society will be joining with IWA Birmingham and the folk at Hockley Port to do a days clean up on the Soho Loop on 16th February 2013.

Volunteers are always welcome. You don’t have to be there all day, just an hour or two will be a great help.

Searching through past ‘Boundary Post‘ magazines, the last time BCN Society did a clean up at Hockley Port & Soho Loop was in 2005 so its definitely time for another.

This time we will have a bigger work force & who knows we may have time to venture out onto the Main Line.

8.

Winter 2012

Selly Oak Regeneration and the Lapal Restoration December 2012 The Harvest partnership has substantially revised its plans for Selly Oak by replacing a third of the previously-proposed retail premises with a Life Sciences Campus on the QEH side of the site. To achieve this they have repositioned the new Sainsbury’s food store and provisionally reassigned the site’s southern boundary as a Greenway Corridor which could become the Lapal Canal. If implemented this could be a full-width structure, without crossing bridges and movement restrictions, but the details on http:// sellyoak-regeneration.co.uk/ remain unclear and subject to further enquiry.

Christmas 2012: The Trust has submitted to BCC Planning and the Harvest Partnership the following statement: “The Lapal Canal Trust is extremely disappointed that the Plans submitted (as 2012/01565/PA) do not appear to embody an unequivocal provision for, and continuing commitment to the previously promised Lapal Canal link across the Battery Park site. It is also confusing, for the many supporters of a canal link, that the consultation leaflet shows no indication of the canal route across the site.

We now understand that two schemes are being considered; “Option 1” with a greenway along the southern boundary of the site or else “Option 2” which includes a predominantly full-width canal channel along that southern boundary.

Winter 2012

We believe that the unique opportunity for an imaginative and sympathetic regeneration of this site around the junction of two historically significant canals is being lost in this rearrangement of the site compared with the recently previous submission. In particular, the scheme does not integrate well with the canal and does little to enhance the Worcester & Birmingham canal frontage.

However, of the two options presented, we prefer “Option 2” subject to the resolution of engineering issues, particularly around the junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and confirmation from the Canal & River Trust that approval will be forthcoming for the junction to be made.

It remains our expectation that the Plans that will eventually receive permission for the regeneration of this portion of Selly Oak, must be those which will deliver a Lapal Canal link “westwards” into future regeneration projects in Selly Oak Park and the communities beyond.

The Lapal Canal Trust will be submitting its more detailed comments when the Outline Planning Application and full details of the scheme become available for consultation. However, the Trust remains committed towards a viable implementation and would welcome further cooperation with the Developers.

9.

King’s Norton Clean Up A joint initiative between five waterway organisations saw dozens of people converge on King’s Norton Junction over the weekend of 17th and 18th November for a canal clean up and work party weekend.

The event was organised by IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch and supported

by IWA Warwickshire Branch, Worcester Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society and the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Society and by the Canal & River Trust who provided all the tools, equipment and a work boat.

Many of the volunteers (there were 35 people on the Saturday and 31 on the Sunday) were members of the two IWA branches and the two canal societies, but there were also several people from the local community who came along to take part, including a group of cubs and scouts from the 218th Birmingham Woodgate Pioneers Scouts, as well as members of a local history society and the Friends of King’s Norton Park.

Litter picking was carried out from the junction in all three directions – as far as Wast Hill Tunnel on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, to Brandwood Tunnel on the Stratford Canal and for some distance on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal heading north.

was a small team armed with paint and brushes who painted railings, signs and gates.

Meanwhile the workboat was used on the Saturday by a team of people with grappling hooks who removed a boat full of rubbish from the canal. On the Sunday the workboat was used for offside vegetation clearance.

The rubbish pulled out of the canal over the weekend included 2 huge sections of pipe bridge railings, a wheelchair and a motor scooter, as well as the usual assortment of tyres and bicycles.

Thanks are due to the Patrick Motor Group for the use of their car park and access to the canalside wharf adjacent to the car park, which itself was cleared of overhanging trees and a build up of debris, leafmould and vegetation.

The clean up event also celebrated the work being carried out by contractors working for the Canal & River Trust, to the iconic guillotine lock at King’s Norton Junction, which is a Grade II* listed

Much vegetation clearance was also carried out in all three directions, including removing trees and shrubs overhanging the towpath and clearing weed and grass that had encroached on to the towpath. Each day there 10.

Winter 2012

Scheduled Ancient Monument. After many years of being subjected to vandalism and neglect, the Canal & River Trust has obtained funding from the Peoples Postcode Lottery and English Heritage to contribute towards its restoration.

Guillotine Lock Open Day The waterway had its first public open day of the stoppage season at Guillotine Lock on the North Stratford Canal at Kings Norton. The general public

were able to go down into the drained lock chamber and ask guides questions on this historic structure. There was also an opportunity to walk round a working boat and sign up as a Friend of CRT or as a volunteer.

Over the course of the day there were 240 visitors, 10 of which signed up to be a Friend of CRT (the best result of all the pre-Christmas open days).

Everyone who visited was impressed and had nothing but positive comments.

Thanks to all partnership members who helped out on the day.

Winter 2012

11.

Canal & River Trust’s Mooring Guidance endorsed by the High Court In the last issue, there were views expressed regarding boat owners who fail to pay mooring fees to the licensing authority, Canal & River Trust, when they clearly locate their boat within a small area for extended periods. Since then a judgement has been passed on a judicial review brought to court by a boater against the payment for mooring rights.

The Canal & River Trust welcomed the Judgment of Mrs Justice Cox DBE, issued in the High Court on 16 November 2012, which has fully endorsed the Trust’s 2011 Guidance For Boaters Without A Home Mooring as a correct interpretation of the law.

In her 26 page Judgment, which followed an earlier oral hearing, she confirmed that the Trust’s Guidance was a correct interpretation of the statutory provisions underlying the Guidance and refused permission for Nick Brown, a leading figure in the National Bargee Travellers Association, to have the Guidance judicially reviewed.

Mr Brown sought to challenge the Guidance as unlawful under a number of grounds and arguments, all of which Mrs Justice Cox rejected.

• On considering Mr Brown’s assertions that the Guidance misstates the correct legal interpretation of section 17(3)(c)(ii) of the British Waterways Act 1995, the Judge concluded that the interpretation of the statutory provision in the Guidance is correct.

• Noting that such argument relied on extensive reference to Minutes of the Select Committee considering the Bill that became the 1995 Act, she states “none 12.

of the comments relied on....amounts to a clear statement that the relevant statutory provision was intended to have the meaning for which the Claimant [Mr Brown] now contends”.”

• Mr Brown’s argument that a good reason for not adhering to the ‘14 day rule’ could include personal choice was, she stated, “unsustainable”.

• Mr Brown’s argument that the Guidance infringes rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights were, the Judge stated, “misconceived”.

• Furthermore, Mr Brown’s “suggestion that choosing to live his life on a boat amounts to a genuine philosophical belief within the meaning of the Equality Act is, in my judgment, without merit”.

Mrs Justice Cox confirmed the earlier order of Mr Justice Eder that Mr Brown pay the Trust’s costs of £15,000.

Nigel Johnson, legal director of the Canal & River Trust, comments: “It is very unusual for such a comprehensive written judgment to be given in a permission hearing and it is even more unusual for it to be given an official citation number - meaning it will be an officially reported case. It is a definitive and authoritative statement of the law that will be of great benefit to any future enforcement cases.”

The written judgment handed down by Mrs Justice Cox is available to view online at: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ media/library/2257.pdf.

The Canal & River Trust’s Guidance For Boaters Without A Home Mooring is available to view online at : http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/ library/633.pdf.

Winter 2012

Netherton Tunnel faults Following extensive investigations, Netherton Tunnel in the Black Country has suffered further deformation, adding to a long history of problems and some stoppages in the past.

The Dudley area has been mined for coal and quarried for limestone for centuries and large caverns are left beneath the surface by the industrial revolution. In the 1970’s residents of the Burnt Tree island area awoke to find a huge hole had opened up in the middle of a sports pitch in the night. It took months of infilling to stabilise the ground covering acres of land above largely uncharted manmade caverns. Without this work, the Tesco store and neighbouring hotel could never have been built.

Even though Netherton Tunnel was made relatively late in the canal building era, not finished until about 1858, and to such a high specification (dual towpaths, wide

enough for two boats, lit, etc), it cannot withstand the immense forces of ground movement and subsidence. The original tunnelling was through differing strata of Etruria Marl and coal measures, and tested the engineering skills of the designers. At over 2.5 Km in length, there is inevitably going to suffer brickwork fractures and bulging from time to time.

There are plans for contractors to strengthen lengths near the middle of the tunnel, one pictured below, with anchored steel mesh which will then be sprayed with special concrete which, when set, will effectively create a reinforced concrete sleeve inside the brickwork.

By using these techniques it is hoped to avoid the need for lengthy stoppages as this feature forms a vital link to Dudley No. 2 Canal and Stourbridge Canal.

Netherton tunnel was not designed to the traditional oval section, where the invert mirrored the shapr of the roof profile; it has a relativelt flat bottom. The deformed curvature can be seen here, bulging and fractured.

Winter 2012

13.

Skittles night 26th April 2013 Stafford Boat Club 7.30pm Supper Beef Hot Pot and Apple Pie & cream, cost £7.50p per head including skittles.

Final numbers to be confirmed to us, Gillian Watson / Pat Barton, by 19th April at the latest.

We would, however, appreciate knowing as soon as possible to ensure viability of the event.

Trent & Mersey Lock Names Will Rose writes : I have noticed in my copy of Bradshaw’s Canals & Navigable Rivers 1904 by Henry de Salis, Director of Fellows, Morton and Clayton, (1969 reprint) some discrepancies with regard to names of locks on the Trent & Mersey canal at Fradley Junction & nearby. The introduction to the book by Charles Hadfield mentions “…

Because de Salis’s Bradshaw is the product of personal knowledge it is very accurate…”

Lock Number 1904 Bradshaw’s

14 Fradley Bottom

15 Fradley Middle

16 Fradley Top

17 Fradley Junction

18 Shade House

19 Wood End

20 Bromley Common

Current Lock name (Pearson, Nicholson & CRT) Common Hunts Keepers Junction Middle Shade House Wood End

I am particularly interested in lock 20, Bromley Common and what happened to it.

The 1834/9 Ordnance Survey map shows Bromley Common (the area not the lock) as being north of the canal between Wood End and Bromley Wharf (now known as Kings Bromley Wharf). Also I notice the present Common lock is near to Common Barn on the old map.

Can anyone throw some light on this and explain the name changes please?

Will Rose, nb Hale Bopp.

14.

Winter 2012

Social Events There are many social events (talks, slide shows, walks, etc) organised by the local branches and by other organisations in and around the Region.

All are open to the general public. Below are listed just a few, please come along, enjoy and in doing so, show support. Many events provide refreshments, some are even in licensed premises.

Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch For more information on talks, contact: Chris Osborn Tel: 01299 832 593 or e-mail: jcosborn@btinternet.com IWA Meetings at Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AW Starting at 7.15 for 7.30pm.

Date

Subject

Speaker

18th February Up-Date on the Lapal Canal Peter Best, Chairman,

Lapal Canal Trust 18th March AGM followed by Members’ slides, quiz 15th April An Up-Date on Canal & River Trust Clive Henderson 20th May Water Management Adam Comerford Group Hydrology Manager Canal & River Trust

Visitors are very welcome to come to any of these meetings.

Winter 2012

15.

Lichfield Branch Meetings are held at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, WS13 8AY 19.30 for 19.45 Contact Pat Barton, tel. 07947 337491 Wednesday 20th February 2013 - Illustrated talk on ‘The Yangtse River - Before and After the Dam’ by Audrey Smith.

Thursday 7th March 2013 Yoxall & Wychnor Walk An easy circular walk of about 6 miles taking in the Trent & Mersey Canal near Wychnor.

NOTE EARLIER START FOR THIS WALK Meet at 9.45 am for a 10.00 am start at the junction of A515 and B5016 near the Crown Inn, Main Street, Yoxall, Staffs. DE13 8NQ. Parking in nearby roads in Yoxall.

Optional lunch afterwards at the Foresters Arms on the A515 north of Yoxall.

Leader: Ed Rule Further information from Margaret Beardsmore on 07581 794111 or email margaret. beardsmore@waterways.org.uk Saturday 9th March 2013 - Jumble Sale at Peace Memorial Hall, Pinfold Lane, Penkridge. 10am - noon. (Held jointly with Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust).

Wednesday 20th March 2013 - Annual General Meeting followed by an illustrated talk on ‘The Role of Volunteers in the Canal & River Trust’ by Steve Bicknell.

Wednesday 17th April 2013 - Illustrated talk on ‘Progress on Restoration of the Cotswold Canals’ by Elizabeth Payne.

Friday 26th April 2013 - Skittles Evening at Stafford Boat Club. A social evening with games of skittles, held jointly with IWA Stoke on Trent Branch and Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch members.

Wednesday 19 June 2013 River Severn Cruise 11.00am – 4.00pm including lunchtime stopover in Tewkesbury Depart Upton on Severn at 11.00am for 1¼ hour cruise to Tewkesbury Stopover in Tewkesbury from 12.15 pm to 2.45pm with time for lunch and to visit to the town, Abbey and busy market market.

Depart Tewkesbury at 2.45pm and return to Upton at 4.00pm.

Fares expected to be around £12 adult and £6.50 children (4-14 years).

We expect to use personal transport to Upton and some car sharing may be possible by prior arrangement. Additional information and bookings: Please contact John Stockland on 0121 308 0293 or email john.stockland@waterways.org.uk 16.

Winter 2012

During 2013 Lichfield Branch will be supporting several local canal based events.

Firstly, we will be at Moira Festival on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May. Secondly, we will also be attending Pelsall Festival on Saturday 18th and

Sunday 19th June.

It is our intention to have a sales and recruiting stand at both of the above events.

However, we need volunteers to help us man these stands.

If you can spare any time, even if it is just for a couple of hours, please contact me and let me know, either by email on mike.moorse@waterways.org.uk or telephone 07799 140068.

Stoke Branch Meetings are held at Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, STOKE-ON-TRENT ST9 9DT Meetings will be held from the Autumn on the second Friday of each month until May 2013.

Contact is Alison Smedley MBE, Tel: 07779 090 915 Friday 8th February 2013, 7.45 for 8pm Navvies – the magazine of Waterway Recovery Group. Editor Martin Ludgate gives an insight into the work of WRG and the gathering of news about Canal Camps, Work Parties, and all volunteers restoring the waterways.

Warwickshire Branch Meetings held, second Wednesday in the month, at Sports Connexion, Ryton - on - Dunsmore, CV8 3FL - just off A45 at junction of A423 and A445 Evening meetings start at 7.30.

Contact : Tina Jackson, Secretary, contact details on page 30.

February 13th. 2013 7:30pm.

Stop Press: Change to Programme!

Mick Clowes , Chairman of the Melton & Oakham Waterway Society, has kindly stepped into the ‘breach’ left by the non-availablity of our listed speaker, Graham Fisher; and will talk about The Melton & Oakham Waterways – Past, Present & Future.

March 13th 2013 7:30pm Branch AGM followed by: ‘The Avon Navigation’ by Clive Matthews, ANT General Manager.

After a year in which the weather has changed from one extreme to another, Clive will talk on the ups and downs of managing our local river trust navigation.

Winter 2012

17.

Warwickshire Branch April 10th 2013 7:30pm. ‘Wildlife on Warwickshire’s Waterways’

by Tim Haselden, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Canals and rivers form a vital green corridor linking up areas of habitat – key to creating a living Landscape. Tim will explore the variety of fascinating wildlife found along the county’s waterways and highlight some of the conservation work being undertaken by the Trust.

Walks  Sunday Feb 24th Meet 10.30 am at Bishop St Basin (by James Brindley statue) for a walk along the Coventry Canal  Sunday April 21st From Over Basin on the Hereford & Gloucester Canal nr Gloucester. For those interested we hope to share transport. More details nearer the time on Warwickshire Branch’s webpage and in Bear Essentials.

The Rhodes Thomas Collections.

To contribute to the costs of archiving storage containers for storing the 22,000 or more slides in this collection; we are now starting to sell some of the hundreds of waterway, railway and industrial archaeology books also bequeathed to the Branch. To date more than 90 of the books (raising nearly £900 !) have been sold – notably at the Braunston Historic Boat gathering last June. Sales were also made at the Bonded Warehouse in October, and further ‘outings’ will be held in 2013. Surplus funds from this operation will be donated to Midland-based waterway causes.

Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society Winter venue (November to March) will be held at Alvechurch Boat Centres meeting room, Scarfield Wharf B48 7SQ at 8pm.

Our summer venue will be held at The Boat and Railway, Stoke Prior B61 4QE for the months of April. May June September and October.

Contact : Denis Pike, Programme Secretary, tel. 07870 939121, e-mail : programme@wbcs.org.uk

Black Country Boating Festival Dudley Black Country Boating Festival Windmill End, Netherton, Dudley No.2 Canal This is a boat gathering and community festival which is held during September each year in the Bumble Hole Nature Reserve, Windmill End, Netherton.

18.

Winter 2012

Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at Titford Pumphouse, Engine Street, Oldbury B69 4NL at 19.30 Social Secretary : Geoff Peakman tel. 0121 559 7486 For talks on the BCN contact : Phil Clayton, tel. 01902 780920 / 07890 921413 phillipclayton@blueyonder.co.uk FEBRUARY 7th

Ned Williams

MARCH 7th

Ivor Chambers The BCN as I first knew it

APRIL 4th

Malcolm Braine A life times reminiscences with the BCN

13th & 14th APRIL

Event Weekend – BCN Clean Up

MAY 2nd

Peter Glews

May 25th & 26th

BCN 24hr Marathon Challenge Entries: bcnschallenge@gmail.com

15th & 16th June

Pelsall Canal Festival Boat entries: dave@daveapearson.com Trade entries: boundarypost@gmail.com General enquiries: ihcaplan@msn.com

7th-14th June & 17th -24th June

Industry & Canals in the Stourbridge Area

Early Industrial Revolution in your Pocket

Explorer Cruises Entries: bcns.explorercruise@gmail.com

Stratford upon Avon Canal Society

Meetings are held at Village Hall, Wootton Wawen (B4089 opposite The Bull) Contact : Clive Henderson 01564 783672 or bridgehouse@onetel.com Visit : http://www.stratfordriverfestival.co.uk

Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust Meetings are held at The Royal Oak, Much Marcle (A449) at 19.30 for 20.00 Contact : Janet Moult, Secretary, tel. 01432 264366

Winter 2012

19.

said elsewhere IWA does not, and never has, encouraged boaters to photograph or spy on other boaters.

In the last edition I wrote about the growing problem of boaters who prefer to stay for very lengthy periods at a single location without paying a mooring fee, claiming that they are continuously cruising when they clearly are not. I was concerned that this practise wrongly gives a bad name to those who genuinely continuously cruise the network and who we should all support because they help to keep the system vibrant and the channels clear for the benefit of other boaters.

This article seems to have caused a bit of unintended controversy, maybe because it was badly worded in places and could have been read in ways that were not intended, and other than to point out that there has subsequently been a Judicial Review ruling on the matter (see elsewhere) which substantiated a lot of what was said and I don’t intend to expand further on the subject. I received a lot of positive comments along with some negative ones so there are clearly many diverse views on the topic, which I guess will run and run for the next few years.

IWA’s view is clear in that we fully support the principle and rights of those who choose to live aboard boats or continuously cruise in accordance with the rules, it is of course the job of CRT to enforce those rules. Mindful of what has been 20.

Looking into the future this will be the last quarterly edition of Navigation and the future local communications you will receive as members will now mostly come from your local branch. Because we want to involve members more in the Association’s activities it has been agreed that Navigation will, in the future, be produced annually at the end of each year (although it may not reach you until after the New Year) becoming more of an annual review of what has taken place in the Region during the previous 12 months. During the spring, summer and autumn each branch will publish its own newsletter/magazine advising of branch activities that you may wish to get involved with and, of course, matters of local importance. However we recognise that many of you, especially those who live within the former West Midlands Metropolitan County, may not be best placed to receive information that is personally relevant to you and that some adjustment to Branch boundaries may be necessary to get you, and your neighbouring members, the information that is relevant to you. If after you have received the first couple of newsletters you feel that your home is not best placed for the branch activities that you are receiving information about then I would ask that you write to me, as Region Chairman, indicating in which branch you feel that your home would be better located.

And finally because I won’t be writing to you all until this time next year, although once the branch magazines have developed I may occasionally write for these, may I thank you all for supporting Winter 2012

the various campaigns that have been discussed in my column over the years.

As you will know I rarely, if ever, touch on personal matters but I would uniquely like to take this opportunity to thank my wife for all her support during this period especially, and most of you will not know this, as she had what we both thought was terminal cancer when I scribed my previous notes and that undoubtedly came out in the tone and phrasing of the article. Fortunately the tests that were taking place at that time indentified a problem that was caused by non malignant growths and they were subsequently successfully removed. Clearly it was a very stressful time for both of us so I’m sure that you will appreciate the tremendous feeling of relief we both had and it does of course make you realise just how short and precious life is.

Happy New Year to you all Vaughan Welch

An extract from the Bradley Locks CD referred to, showing an old plan of part of the complex mix of locks and basins now confined to history.

Winter 2012

2012 proved to be a busy year for the branch & 2013 looks like being busier.

Most of our activities have been undertaken in partnership with the local canal societies, which has helped with getting projects underway or completed.

The year started with updating the photographic survey of the site of Bradley Locks. These have been documented on a CD, which has been circulated widely.

Most of the lock chambers appear to be intact & compared with some restoration schemes being envisaged or currently undertaken this seems to be an easy task. With the amount of redevelopment being planned in the Bilston area it would be good to get a scheme to resurrect this short section of canal, reconnecting two sections of existing canal & providing a through route.

Local people spoken to support the idea but we need someone to champion the project. If you are interested let me know.

Helping organise clean ups has been a time consuming occupation, eased in the later half of the year by the IWA appointing Alison Smedley to help organise these events. The big annual BCN clean up, in conjunction with BCNS, this year was based at Walsall junction & despite some dredging being carried out the week before by contractors a good haul 21.

of rubbish was collected. Support has been given to clean ups at Bentley Bridge (W&E) Kidderminster (S&W) Smethwick (BCN) & Kings Norton (B&W). The later coincided with the closure of the canal for restoration of the listed Guillotine lock. Branch members helped with the open day at the site when the public were invited to view the works.

In July the branch attended the C&RT launch party in Birmingham, useful contacts being made on this occasion that resulted in the mooring pontoons in Walsall being pressure washed, which we were unable to get agreement for at the clean up.

The IWA AGM was attended at Chelmsford preceded by a useful morning discussion period. Agreement was made for a new 2013 membership leaflet, which so far has not been forthcoming. All of the user group meetings in the area have been attended, which allows matters concerning the area to be raised with C&RT management in an informal way, often getting results quicker than through the normal official channels.

Several members met together to apply C&RT vinyl’s to the existing British Waterways logos around Stourport Basin prior to the launch of C&RT. As this is regarded as a “Honey Pot” location the instruction was for it to be one of the first sites to be converted.

September saw the start of our winter programme of social events. For this season we have changed the venue to Coombeswood Canal Trust at Hawne Basin Halesowen B62 8AW. As this is more central to most of our members we look forward to you joining us.

Most of the work of the Branch is carried on behind the scenes in monitoring & responding to planning applications.

22.

This is split between four loyal branch committee members who religiously search the planning lists to keep an eye on what is occurring to see if it affects the canal & river environment. In our area some of the larger recent applications have been; I 54 adjacent to the Shroppie on the outskirts of Wolverhampton (Land Rover), Swindon marina (S&W), Upton on Severn flood barriers, Tipton Gauging Sta, Icknield Port loop & Selly Oak (W&B).

This later one is the ongoing Sainsburys development of which the latest scheme is subject to much discussion & meetings as I write this report. The application has to be submitted by the end of 2012 & the provision of a canal, or canal corridor, is critical to the long term restoration of the Lapal Canal to Selly Oak Park. Without it the possibility of linking in the long term to Dudley No2 at Hawne Basin will be lost forever.

For 2013 we are organising with the “Wergies” & BCNS & other local groups the annual BCN clean up on the Stourbridge Summit over the weekend of 13th/ 14th April. This will be preceded by a days clean up on Sat Feb 16th on the Soho Loop based at Hockley Port. Do come & join us & get dirty!

Several members will be involved with helping the BCNS summer festival at Pelsall (C&W) over the weekend of 15th / 16th June & more help would be appreciated.

The major IWA summer event is the National Festival to be held at Watford with the backing of Watford Council, on the 19th / 20th / 21st July. As there was no such event in 2102 due to the year being packed with other celebratory occasions it is hoped there will be overwhelming support for this event that gains the IWA a lot of national publicity.

Winter 2012

ke Mi se or Mo

This edition of Navigation Magazine should be the first of the new annual publications, with our own newsletter, Lichfield Lines, being published 3 or 4 times a year in between. Our first issue has already been sent out to our members, and your committee hope that you have enjoyed the new format.

Christmas has come and gone, we will all probably have eaten too much and put on weight, so why not join us for our monthly walks to get fit for the forthcoming summer! Talking about summer, a date for your diaries for July 2013. Last year, because of the Olympics, there was no National Waterways Festival. Details have now been published about this year’s event, it will be held at Cassiobury Park, Watford, from Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July. Application forms are now available on the IWA website if you want to bring a boat.

Apart from our monthly walks and branch meetings, another activity we shall be holding is our joint annual Jumble Sale with L&HCRT which will be held on Saturday 9th March 2013 at Penkridge Peace Memorial Hall. Last year we made a good profit and would like to do better this year! We urgently need large quantities of jumble, bric-abrac, books etc. All the proceeds are shared equally between Lichfield Branch (which benefits local canal projects) and L&HCRT to help their restoration project.

Finally, as in previous years, we shall be continuing our series of work parties designed to promote and improve the canal area through Rugeley.

Margaret Beardsmore is our work party co-ordinator, and details will soon be available for our programme of work parties for the forthcoming year. Past work parties have included vegetation trimming, improving the area around ‘The Bloody Steps’, repair and maintenance of notice boards, painting of the railings on the aqueduct, production of information leaflets on Rugeley, available from information boxes with a BW key on the approaches to Rugeley, filling in of wash holes on the towpath etc. There is still a lot more work to do, the work is not too hard and a job can easily be found for volunteers of all ages!

The last ‘National’ in 2011 was held at Burton upon Trent, and Lichfield Branch benefitted from this with a £1200 grant to local canal based projects. We have already spent some of this money on providing new visitor moorings at Brindley Bank, near Rugeley, and will be spending further money on upgrading the path that leads to these moorings. This path will form part of the ‘Brindley Trail’ which we shall be promoting in due course.

Winter 2012

23.

close to my home. Until very recently these were threatened with demolition, but should now be good for many years and the brickwork for which WRG was responsible is looking great. To give due credit to May Gurney, they were responsible for the major structural work, most of which is not visible.

At the AGM last September I was both surprised and honoured to accept on behalf of the branch the Branch Achievement Award.

Under Ian Fletcher’s and latterly my leadership the branch committee with the active support of our branch members has achieved a lot. However each new year heralds resolutions for change. Now in my 70’s I am mindful not to stand for Chairman following our next AGM and as Navigation is to become an annual only publication this will be my last contribution.

A year ago Warwickshire, at the centre of the south midlands waterway network, was hit be a seemingly unending drought, with both drinking water and canal feeder reservoirs virtually empty and confident predictions that we would have to wait until this winter for them to fill. In the event heavy prolonged periods of rain quickly refilled the network, completely contrary to all expectations.

The branch has mustered an active group of volunteers who, besides taking part in the usual rubbish clearance work parties, have been active in undergrowth clearance of Hatton and lock painting especially around Lapworth.

Finally may I wish you all the best for 2013.

Ian Jackson

Recognition for W Jon Honeysett Jon Honeysett, IWA Stoke-on-Trent branch Navigation Officer, has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours list for his services to Rail in Kidsgrove where he also promotes canal initiatives.

A year ago British Waterways were responsible for most navigations in our patch, now it is Canal and River Trust and we have been the first branch to welcome Waterway Recovery Group onto our territory. They worked in partnership with CRT’s contractor May Gurney on the restoration of two accommodation bridges on the Northern Oxford Canal 24.

Winter 2012

Notice of Annual General Meetings These agendas are based upon the Association’s by-laws.

Any member, regardless of the length of their membership, who feels that they can contribute to the work of the committee is welcome to volunteer for election This can either be done in advance of the meeting by contacting the appropriate Chairman or Secretary, or at the start of the item dealing with the election of the committee when the Chairman of the meeting may seek interest from the floor. No formal nominations are required in either case.

Once constituted the new Committees will elect their Officers at their first meeting following the AGM, normally this will place within the following few days.

STOKE-ON-TRENT BRANCH AGM Notice is hereby given that the 39th Annual General Meeting of the Stoke-on-Trent Branch of The Inland Waterways Association will be held on: Friday 8th March 2013 at 7.45 for 8.00 pm at Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9DT AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of the minutes of the last AGM and any matters arising from these minutes.

3. Report from the Branch Chairman 4. Financial Report from the Branch Treasurer 5. Resolution to change the name of the branch from “Stoke-on-Trent Branch” to “North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Branch” 5. Election of members of the Committee 6. Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch notified to the Branch Chairman in writing at least six weeks prior to the AGM. NOMINATIONS for the BRANCH COMMITTEE Committee members, including those current committee members reaching the end of their 3 year term and wishing to seek re-election (Alan Chetwyn, Julie Arnold, Alison Smedley, Steve Wood, Gillian Watson, Barbara Wells and Bob Luscombe), will be elected from the floor at the AGM for a term of 3 years.

We welcome any branch member who is interested in joining the committee.

If you are unable to attend the AGM but would like to join the committee, or you would like to find out more in advance, do give Alison Smedley, Branch Secretary, a call on 01538 385388 or 07779 090915.

Winter 2012

25.

The West Midlands Region AGM will be hosted by Stoke-on-Trent Branch on the same evening as the Branch AGM - Friday 8th March 2013 at 8.30 pm at Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9DT

WEST MIDLANDS REGION AGM AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of minutes of the last AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3. Report from the Region Chairman 4. Financial Report 5. Election of members of the Committee 6. Any items requested by members of the Region provided the Region Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM. NOMINATIONS for the REGION COMMITTEE Committee members, including those current committee members reaching the end of their 3 year term and wishing to seek re-election (Ian Fletcher, Don Evans, Ivor Caplan), will be elected at the AGM for a term of 3 years.

26.

Winter 2012

IWA LICHFIELD BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 20th MARCH 2013, at 7.45 pm To be held at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, WS13 8AY

AGENDA 1.

Apologies for absence 2.

Approval of the minutes of the 2012 AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3.

Report from the Branch Chairman 4.

Financial report from the Treasurer 5.

Elections to the committee

a) Members completing 3 years in post and eligible for re-election:

Pat Barton Margaret Beardsmore

Barbara Hodgson

Philip Sharpe

Helen Whitehouse

b) Members co-opted since the previous AGM: None

c) Any other candidates 6.

Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch (provided the Branch Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM)*

Notes: • Candidates for election to the committee must be current members of Lichfield Branch and should indicate their willingness to stand.

• The Branch committee officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) are elected by the committee from its membership at their first meeting following the AGM. • Current members of the committee are: Mike Moorse Chairman; Pat Barton Vice-Chairman; Kaye Harrison Secretary; Barbara Hodgson, Treasurer; Margaret Beardsmore; Pete Gurney; Neil Hodgson; Phil Sharpe; John Stockland; Helen Whitehouse. * Item 6: Please put any resolutions in writing and address them to the Chairman c/o 1 Blue House Barns, Chetwynd Road, Newport, Shropshire. TF10 7UE

Winter 2012

27.

IWA WARWICKSHIRE BRANCH

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 13th MARCH 2013, at 7.30 pm To be held at Sports Connexion, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, CV8 3FL - just off A45 at junction of A423 and A445 AGENDA 1.

Apologies for absence 2.

Approval of the minutes of the 2012 AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3.

Report from the Branch Chairman 4.

Financial report from the Treasurer 5.

Elections to the committee

a) Members completing 3 years in post and eligible for re-election

b) Members co-opted since the previous AGM

c) Any other candidates 6.

Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch (provided the Branch Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM)

IWA BIRMINGHAM, BLACK COUNTRY AND WORCESTERSHIRE BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 18th MARCH 2013, at 7.15 for 7.30 pm

To be held at Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AW AGENDA 1.

Apologies for absence 2.

Approval of the minutes of the 2012 AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3.

Report from the Branch Chairman 4.

Financial report from the Treasurer 5.

Elections to the committee

a) Members completing 3 years in post and eligible for re-election

b) Members co-opted since the previous AGM

c) Any other candidates 6.

Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch (provided the Branch Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM)

28.

Winter 2012

E d i t o r’s

Back in the days when David Hutchings was editor, Navigation used to come out every month. It was important that it did; there was a lot going on. IWA was quite rebellious in its campaigning to stop the onslaught against the waterways. In those days, the British Waterways Board seemed hell-bent upon closing all but a few major canals.

Now things are far more enlightened.

More canals re-open than close; just as well as there a lot more boats about now than in the 1960’s. Navigation has been quarterly for at least 20 years, but this is about to change.

This issue will be the only issue in 2013 and as you have probably already read elsewhere, members will receive more branch newsletters than Navigations in the future. With planned changes to the financing of publications by ‘capitation’ and the ever increasing cost of postage, together with the ever changing technology in the publishing world, no-one can expect this to be the end of the evolution process.

Navigation has a sister magazine, “Cargoes”, published by the South East Region. The editorial team have written to the IWA National Treasurer with their analysis of the current and future funding proposals after the publication of intended changes in capitation in the IWA Internal Bulletin. Their analysis shows that the figures do not add up.

Winter 2012

Effort

It will be interesting, in the coming twelve months, to see what gives way. Will we end up with fewer publications, less printing and posting, or will priorities change and money be diverted from other ventures ? There are those who predicted that Kindle and the likes would fail, because people love to hold and feel books. They were wrong. There were others who predicted books would die out and disappear from mainstream living.

They were wrong too. Only a fool would stand up today and predict what the next Navigation will look like. Personally, I will wait and see.

Back in the real world, there are far more important matters going on. It has been an insight for me to attend meetings of the Region Committee regularly over a number of years. The meetings themselves rarely affect directly what goes on on the ground. They are, after all, just a group of blokes (and ladies too) who talk about waterways for a few hours.

Having said this, they perform a vital role.

Looking around the table during moments of loss of concentration, it comes home to you that these are the ‘few’ that represent the ‘many’. These are the ones that do things and get things done by others.

For every one person sitting at the table, there are many others for whom they are spokesperson; and those others are the ones who negotiate, or dig, or lay bricks, or raise cash, . . . - the list goes on.

Thank you to all my friends and colleagues, and keep up the good work.

Enjoy 2013.

ACG

નિ યતિ

29.

Letters I just want to tell you how much I appreciated the new colourful cover, and changed style of printing, in the Summer Issue of “Navigation”. It was good before, but even better now !

I speak from experience when I say that I also appreciate the effort you put into producing each Issue, having been a Magazine Editor several times during my quite long life (82 next week !)

I have been an active Life Member of IWA since 1985, and certainly know many of the people mentioned in each issue - and many of them know me.

My wife and I were active members of IWAKES, and regular attenders and Volunteers at Nationals, “Big Digs” and “Clean-Up” activities.

On moving to the Midlands in 1994, after my retirement in 1990, I became Treasurer of the, then, Birmingham Branch of IWA. I also became the Voluntary Managing Skipper of a 70ft Charity Narrowboat, operating out of Stourport Basin, where I now live. We continued to take part in Branch activities as before, including crewing IWA “Jubilee” across our area several times.

Sadly, my wife died suddenly in 2000, and at the same time the Charity ran out of money. The boat was sold and now operates in the Manchester area.

Using the experience gained in my Charity Boat work, I filled the gap by starting to crew for individual disabled and/or bereaved boat owners of both sexes who did not want to give up cruising, but could not possibly manage on their own. I had many contacts, so it was not difficult to find those who needed help.

As a result, I have had the privilege of crewing narrowboats in almost every part of the system - totalling over seventy cruises in the last 12 years. I have written many articles about my travels for the Staffs. & Worcester Canal Society Monthly Magazine “Broadsheet”, as I had the good fortune to go to places where many of the members had never been.

A climax to my activities was the award of a Richard Bird medal at the 2008 AGM of IWA. The Citation made me realise how much we had been watched over the previous years - a bit scary ! I was very happy that my wonderfully cooperative deceased wife got a mention.

Now, in my 80’s, the oncoming problems of old age are beginning to appear, and I no longer possess the ability to undertake such long and demanding cruises - but I have much to look back upon, and enjoy.

Regards, Arthur Page.

Lichfield Cruising Club New members / Moorings Lichfield Cruising Club is based at Huddlesford Junction on the Coventry Canal, near to Lichfield.

The Club offers lift-out facilities for maintenance and a licensed Clubhouse.

From time to time vacancies occur for new members, who would be able to moor their boats at the Club moorings.

30.

The Club is seeking to build a waiting list of potential new members to be in a position to fill vacancies as they arise.

Anyone interested in joining should contact : membership@lichfieldcruisingclub.co.uk Tel. 01543 432004

Winter 2012

Contacts Please submit your news, comments, letters, photographs and articles to : navigation@waterways.org.uk

WEST MIDLANDS R E G I O N Chairman Vaughan Welch,

3 Beach Close, Northfield, Birmingham B31 3DB

Tel. 0121 477 9782

Mob : 07971 202406

e-mail : vaughan.welch@waterways.org.uk

Secretary Brian Kingshott, Park Cottage, Hopton Castle, Craven Arms,

Shropshire SY7 0QF Tel: 01547 530457

Mob: 07831 572642 e-mail : brian@park-cottage.fsnet.co.uk The Region is made up of these four branches : BIRMINGHAM,BLACK COUNTRY AND WORCESTERSHIRE BRANCH Dave A Pearson Netherton Cottage 2 Netherton Lane, Bewdley DY12 1PT Tel. 01299 404273 or Mobile 0752 7197842 dave@daveapearson.com

Chairman

Secretary Beckie Smith-Kearny

STOKE ON TRENT B R A N C H Chairman To be announced

Secretary Alison Smedley

Hazelhurst Cottage, Denford, Leek

ST13 7JT

Tel. 01538 385388

alison@hazelhurstcottage.co.uk

Winter 2012

LICHFIELD BRANCH Chairman Mike Moorse

Narrowboat Guelrose

Tel. 07799 140068

mike.moorse@waterways.org.uk Secretary Kaye Harrison

1 Blue House Barns, Chetwynd Road,

Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7UE.

Tel. 01952 814753

WARWICKSHIRE BRANCH Chairman Ian Jackson

20 Daventry Road, Barby,

Rugby, CV23 8TR

Tel. 01788 891545

Ian.jackson@mypostoffice.co.uk Secretary Tina Jackson

20 Daventry Road, Barby,

Rugby, CV23 8TR

Tel. 01788 891545

31.

id . We s t M l a n d s R e g i o A . n I.W

igation v a N

Cover photos : Front : Selly Oak aqueduct over the new A38 by-pass. In Navigation Issue No. 2009/4 there was an article showing the temporary measures taken by the contractors to allow navigation of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal during construction work. This now shows the scene 3 years on.

Back cover : The aqueduct allows two way traffic, just as it was before the huge excavation work underneath, as depicted on the front cover.

Primarily for the benefit of our members, Navigation is also distributed in a limited way for non-members to pick up and gain an insight into what’s happening in the Region and the aims and activities of the Association. Branch Membership Secretaries requiring copies for inclusion in ‘New Member Welcome Packs’ or as a ‘give-away’ on stalls, should contact the Editor for supplies.

Membership of the IWA is open to everyone and companies and organisations can have ‘corporate membership’.

Please see www.waterways.org.uk for information, application forms and for your local contact to discuss joining.

Issue No. 2012-4 окончательный

Winter 2012/13