Navvies 195

avvies N No 195 Oct - Nov 2002

waterway recovery group

Cover photo: the volunteers on Camp 0219 on the Grantham Canal pose for an end-of-camp photograph in the bottom of one of the three locks at Cropwell Bishop that they have just finished clearing. Full camp report in the next issue. (Martin Ludgate) But it isn't just about Canal Camps: much useful restoration work is also done by our regional groups' weekend 'digs' such as these London WRG work-parties (above) on the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation restoring the tailbridge at Creeting Lock (Martin Ludgate) and (below) building some rather permanent-looking 'temporary dams' in the Wey & Arun above Loxwood so that these pounds can be re-watered to form a series of reservoirs to supply the navigable Loxwood Link section, soon to be extended southwards now that the Loxwood Aqueduct has been built (Ed Walker)

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Contents Contributions... ...are always welcome, whether hand-written, typed, on 3½" floppy disk, CR-ROM or by email. Photos also welcome: slides or colour or b/w prints. Please state whether you want your prints back; I assume that you want slides returned. Digital / computer scanned photos also welcome, either on floppy / CD-ROM or as e-mail attachments, preferably JPG format.

Send them to the editor Martin Ludgate, 35, Silvester Road, London SE22 9PB, or e-mail to martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk. Press date for No 196: November 1st.

Subscriptions A year's subscription (6 issues) is available for a minimum of ÂŁ1.50 (please add a donation if possible) to Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Road, Chorltoncum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ. Cheques to "Waterway Recovery Group" please.

In this issue:

Chairman Aston Locks are opening!

Somerset Coal Canal report on the

4-5

6-8 restoration of Midford Aqueduct Cromford Canal sponsored walk report 9-11 Bugsworth progress report 12 Letters to thr editor 13-16 Newcastle some little-known canals 17 Boat Club win an award at Huddersfield 18-19 Diary canal camps and working parties 20-22 Photofeature "A year in the life" 23-26 Camp reports from the Grand Western, Mon & Brec, Cotswolds, Mont, 27-40 Wilts & Berks, Ispwich and Sleaford Logistics with Little Wolf 41 Coming soon autumn and winter events 42-43

Bits & Pieces Noticeboard Infill 'Recipes for disaster'

44 45 46

And next time... ...we hope to bring you reports from the 'National', Bonfire Bash, KESCRG's 25th birthday dig and the autumn Canal Camps. Plus a Dig Deep update, details of the BCN Cleanup, and info about next year's Camps. And a story about Gosty Hill Tunnel!

Visit our web site www.wrg.org.uk for all the latest news of WRG's activities

Editorial

On the subject of the non-camp-reports content...

There are four such articles in this issue, none of

which have any direct relevence to WRG right at the moment, but all of which I included because I thought they would be of interest to the readers and I'll be happy to print more such articles.

Thank you

Firstly my thanks to Chris Spencer for generously sponsoring the extra cost of the colour pages in this issue. We'd like to produce another colour issue next year, so if anyone else would like to make a donation to cover the extra expense, please get in touch with the editor. Thank you.

As well as four pages in colour, this issue also has rather more black-and-white pages than usual. We have decided that as this is the issue that contains most of the summer Canal Camp reports (thank you to everyone who sent them in), rather than restricting it to the 32 pages (plus Bonfire Bash form) that is the maximum that a 19p stamp allows, it was worth us paying extra to make a larger magazine. 16 pages larger, in fact. Which means that given that there are actually only 14 pages of Camp Reports, the non-canal-camp-reports content has been increased too. So everybody should be happy - even those who don't like reading Camp Reports! (said Martin, optimistically...)

On one (Cromford) work has yet to start but hopefully will soon; on another (Bugsworth) we have been very involved in the past, but hope that we will not be needed in future as (fingers crossed!) TWT and IWPS will finally have it watertight and permanently open in a couple of years.

That leaves the Somersetshire Coal Canal (whose canal society have carried out restoration work, but are not proposing full restoration or reopening to boats) and the Newcastle-underLyme canals where so far nobody has started a restoration scheme, and which don't strike one as a particularly likely prospect for reopening. Yet. But I wouldn't be too surprised if we're working on these canals in a couple of years, and reopening them a few years later.

Impossible? They said that about the Rochdale, and the Huddersfield, and...

Martin Ludgate

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Chairman The Aston Locks opening is finally going to happen!

This particular Chairman’s piece is full of dates, folks, so get your diaries out...

We have arranged lots of training for the next few months as there is some great work coming up next year that is going to present quite a challenge and I think it best if we do a little preparation. However please note that all of these training events are open to everyone in the restoration movement, not just those of us un red t-shirts, and spaces are limited - so book early.

Training Weekend: May 10th-11th As I mentioned in the last Navvies our traditional Training Weekend is confirmed for 10th-11th May at British Waterways centre at Hatton. For those that don’t know, this event offers intensive training sessions in the sort of skills that we encounter when on site. If you come along you can get trained on all sorts of things from excavators to bricklaying, and catering to scaffolding. This is open to everyone whether you are one of our seasoned regulars or whether you have yet to grasp your first shovel.

An article in the next ‘Navvies’ will give full details of what courses we are offering, together with a booking form and all the other details.

More Training: later this autumn This autumn The Waterways Trust (but with the lecturers being experienced people from various other organisations including ourselves, BW and BTCV) are also offering a number of one-day courses. The subjects are Fundraising (Saturday 28th September at Hatton; Friday 11th October at Ellesmere Port; Saturday 16th November at Hatton), Working with volunteers (Saturday 19th October at Hatton; Saturday 2nd November at Hatton), Heritage and environment (Saturday 26th October at Hatton; Saturday 7th December at Hatton) and Health & Safety (Saturday 9th November at Hatton; Saturday 30th November at Hatton) There are no course fees but there will be a charge of £15 to cover printed materials, refreshments etc. Anyone going on these courses should be supported by a relevant organisation (such as WRG or a canal society) and commit to doing at least 10 days volunteer work next year. (which shouldn’t be difficult for most of us!)

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These courses are really aimed at those involved in the management of restoration schemes but anyone should be able to learn from them - and who can afford to turn down good training from people who really know their stuff? If you want to know more about these courses contact me or see the WRG web site www.wrg.org.uk.

Even more training: Feb 1st-2nd; Mar 1st-2nd; Apr 5th-6th In co-operation with BW and The Waterways Trust (and with additional funding by IWA) we are going to be running some longer term courses next spring.

These courses will be two-day affairs and will result - where appropriate - in a formal qualification, such as CITB or similar. The exact mix of courses is yet to be confirmed but currently the plan is to offer training is areas like heritage bricklaying, stonemasonry, metalwork, health and safety, excavators, dumpers, cranes/slinging and all sorts of things like that. In order to make the courses as relevant to current restoration projects as possible we won’t finalise the courses until we confirm our work schedule for 2003 which means that (you guessed it) details will be in the next ‘Navvies’.

However we hope to have the information available on our web-site (www.wrg.org.uk) in Mid November and we will publicise it via the Canal Camps mailing list. If you don’t have web access then please contact Ian Wingfield at Head Office to register your interest and we will send details through the post.

Montgomery Reopening: April 4th/5th/6th I’m sure you guessed it anyway, but the reopening I alluded to last time was Aston locks on the Montgomery. Yes it is finally going to happen, now that all the work is completed below the locks.

I should imagine there will be a report on our contribution this summer somewhere in this issue [yes there is - p32-33 ...Ed] The actual official opening will on the Friday (so as to ensure an adequate supply of dignitaries) but if you can’t make it on the Friday then we will be planning a weekend of fun and frolics. The local IWA branch are holding a rally there over the weekend (book your boats in via me) and they are encouraging the boaters to offer lifts down the locks for those who have worked on the restoration. But don’t worry if you can’t get there that weekend, as the locks will stay open after the weekend so it’s not as though there is any rush. The whole section has greened over and it really does look stunning, giving a real indication of how the rest of the canal will look when restored. The Saturday night will be a repeat of the Race Night that we ran this year at Lichfield which was tremendous fun and gave us a chance to raise some much needed funds for our minibus replacement.

So a whole load of dates for your diary - and don’t forget that most of the regional groups have published their dates for 2003.

Other things you may be interested to hear about are:

And before anyone moans about just spending money on frivolous things: it will mean that we can accurately survey and record features before we take them down, so it should improve our work record as well.

Wild over Waterways (WoW)

Speeding?

Well anyone who was at the National in Huddersfield cannot have failed to notice the high profile of the WoW initiative. This was a chance to start to recruit the next generation of waterway enthusiasts as well as help make the festival a more family orientated event. So kids were able to participate in 26 events run by all the organisations involved in the festival including the legendary WRG bricklaying event. This is now proven to be a 'good thing' and it may well be available for your event. The WoW team are keen to get their work to as many events and festivals as practical in 2003 and are making up activity kits and guideline packs so that you can help spread the word and get kids involved in waterways. If you think your event, large or small, would be able to host WoW activities then please contact me initially, and I put you in touch with the right people.

One final moan that I have been asked by the WRG Board to raise: please remember that you have a duty to inform the WRG Board (via Head Office) if any material fact changes regarding your insurance situation. By ‘material fact’ I mean anything that you would have to tell your insurers if it was your personal insurance. So medical conditions, speeding fines and prosecutions may all count, depending on what type of equipment you are operating. For example a speeding ticket would be relevant to van driving, but not dumpers or excavators. On the other hand a conviction for ‘driving without due care and attention’ would be relevant to the operation of any vehicle. And a medical condition might well affect operation of any machinery, not just vehicles.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Also concerned with the more youthful end of the navvying range, WRG is now an official Access Organisation for the DoE award scheme.

What exactly does this mean? Well for most of you it means very little, except that it is nice to know that we meet the standards they require.

However it is another example of that trendiest of words ‘partnership’. It is a two way deal whereby they give us a much higher profile in their movement and in return we can start people on their award scheme. In other words people can sign up for the scheme with us during a Canal Camp and we can fill in the residential section of their award so that they have a kick-start towards their award.

Details will be circulated to all leaders.

This is important, folks as it will affect whether our work is covered by insurance - so please do let us know if anything changes.

See you in Wales?

As you read this we will all be running around to get the Bonfire Bash on the Mon and Brec set up. I do hope to see lots of you there, it’s a great chance to catch up with mates and see how and what they are doing.

Hugs and Kisses Mike Palmer

Dirty pictures Remember I told you about our website award? Well we have spent some of the money we won on a fancy digital camera. Now this will be out and about on camps and digs, and will hopefully mean that all our publicity pictures will look a little less dated - and maybe even that pictures of your weekend/Canal Camp will be on the web before you get home. There is even the plan that volunteers will be able to generate their own personalised postcards to send Aston Locks on the Montgomery Canal: be there for the Opening on April 4th 2003. Photo by Martin Ludgate. home to their loved ones.

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Feature (1) Midford Aqueduct on the Somersetshire Coal Canal Somersetshire Coal Canal: the restoration of Midford Aqueduct The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society aims to preserve the remains of the canal but is not, at present, attempting full restoration. However, when the residents of Midford, near Bath, decided they would either have to restore their aqueduct or risk losing it, the SCCS was glad of the opportunity to help.

Somersetshire Coal Canal Short section of Timsbury - Limpley Stoke length opened 1805, closed 1898, abandoned 1904 and parts used later for GWR CamertonLimpley Stoke railway line (now closed).

Midford Aqueduct was built at the point where the southern branch of the Somersetshire Coal Canal from Radstock crossed the Cam Brook to join the northern branch coming from Paulton.

In fact, no boat from Radstock ever reached the aqueduct because the elevated southern branch stopped short of Midford and the coal was brought down into the valley by a gravity-operated plateway (an early form of railway).

By 1815, the plateway had been extended back along the towpath of the southern branch all the way to Radstock and a complex marshalling yard terminus had been built adjacent to the aqueduct, with three transfer basins.

The whole site became redundant in 1871 when the southern branch was bought-out for the building of the Somerset & Dorset Railway. Twenty years later, the basins and aqueduct were filled up as part of a rubbish tipping scheme for Bath and left to disintegrate.

Radstock branch Kennet including Midford & Avon Aqueduct opened Canal about 1804, used for to Bath transhipment to plateway until abandoned in 1871.

Limpley Stoke

Timsbury Peasedown St John

Radstock Radstock-Twinhoe length opened around 1804, replaced by horse-drawn plateway on towpath in 1815, abandoned 1871 and mainly incorporated into Somerset & Dorset Railway (now closed).

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History

Restoration The official unveiling ceremony for the restored Midford Aqueduct on the Somersetshire Coal Canal finally took place this July. It was the culmination of a long series of adventures and misadventures for all concerned and there were times when the whole project seemed doomed to failure.

Midford Kennet Combe & Avon TwinhoeCanal to How many other canal projects Hay have had to contend with no less Reading than three '50-year flood' events in succession - followed by a '100Wellow year flood'? ....and all in the space of 3 months.

Twinhoe-Midford length of Radstock Branch of canal never built: 'temporary' plateway built instead around 1804, extended along towpath of rest of Radstock Branch in 1815, abandoned 1871 and partly incorporated into Somerset & Dorset Railway (now closed).

The idea of repair was first raised seriously in the mid 1990s: by then the aqueduct had reached a sorry state and the local Midford Environment Group was concerned that a bad winter flood could start a collapse and lead to demolition of the whole structure. In conjunction with the Avon Industrial Buildings Trust and the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society they set about applying for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Originally the intention was just to stabilise the ruin, but despite the extra cost, full restoration was decided to be the best option.

Before contractors could be appointed, the site had to be cleared so that the scope of the task could be gauged. The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society's work party was asked to help and it took a whole day just to remove enough foliage to be able to see what was there At this point, it dawned on the various parties that no-one actually knew how the aqueduct had been constructed. Various parts of the structure had been exposed by partial collapses over the years but the only way to get a clear idea of the internal construction was to dig a number of exploratory trenches across the rubbish infill.

The SCCS work party was called in again and, guided by local industrial archaeologists, augmented by other interested groups, and even a specialist in Victorian bottles, proceeded to investigate the site. During three months of frantic activity, the infill was excavated with trenches, holes and pits. At the end of each session, the workings had to be refilled and the surface levelled-off in time for the local herd to wend its lethargic way to the milking parlour, leaving rich deposits to be removed by the next work party.

As the result of these investigations, the inner structure of the aqueduct was worked out - as was the reason why it had suffered so much damage. The inner trough was separated from the outer structure by a thick barrier of puddling clay which had allowed trees to get a foothold. The pressure of their roots was unable to collapse the trough inwards because of the rubbish infill, so it had pushed the parapet walls out into the stream instead.

Feature (1) "...theywouldhavetorestoretheir aqueduct or risk losing it..."

The contract for the main work was won by the firm of St Blaise, who are specialists in the restoration of historic structures and well versed in this sort of work; but they were unable to begin work immediately because of a legal problem involving mislaid deeds. When they did finally get their equipment on site, the winter rains began with a vengeance.

The catchment of the Cam Brook is nearly all run-off water with relatively few significant springs; in a storm, the water level can rise and fall surprisingly quickly. The St Blaize crew could only watch in dismay as the whole site flooded time and again, sometimes higher than the underside of the aqueduct arches, sweeping away some of their own plant and equipment along with the large chunks of debris coming downstream.

Amazingly, despite its relatively fragile condition, the aqueduct remained standing - apparently unaffected by this battering.

Over the years, the aqueduct had been used as an easily-accessible local source of building stone, so a considerable amount of replacement material had to be found from somewhere. To our work party, one lump of Bath Stone looked like any other, but thanks to the expertise available to the restorers, the original quarry was identified and reopened specially for this occasion.

Midford Aqueduct before the start of restoration work. (Roger Halse)

The quality of the new masonry work was astounding, with compound angles on the cutwaters and complex mouldings and pillasters. Hidden from view, equally complex and sophisticated engineering techniques were used to repair the damaged stonework, wafer-thin in places, without compromising the overall authenticity of the structure.

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Feature (1) "Nothing on this job ran smoothly for very long..."

Nothing on this job ran smoothly for very long.

Even something as simple as tipping a load of stream dredgings turned into a nightmare. The good wholesome organic silt from the stream bed turned out to conceal an unwanted burden of stone lumps. Just large enough to smash up a grass cutter blade but too small to remove by machine. Of course, the local landowner wouldn't have asked for the sludge to be spread over his pasture if he had known this - and by the time he found out it was too late.

It would have been an expensive business to employ the contractor's skilled masons to stonepick a two acre field, so the job fell to voluntary labour - the SCCS Work party spent two whole days on hands and knees, crawling to-and-fro across the ground, loading stones into buckets and wheelbarrowing them back to the aqueduct for use as infill. There was a double benefit from this work because not only did it save contractor's payments but the extra work counted as the 'matching funding' to which the SCCS contributed.

The stone problem was relatively minor compared with the further havoc wrought to the timetable as Foot & Mouth Disease spread its misery across the country. On a slightly happier note, the 'unexploded bomb' which cleared the site at short notice turned out to be nothing worse than an old gas bottle.

With a final glass- and pottery-picking session from the SCCS work party, the site was tidied, the job declared completed and St Blaise invited everyone concerned to a celebration, Adrian Tinniswood of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ian Constantinides of St Blaise and Councillor Roger Symonds of Bath & N.E.Somerset Council cut several tapes and used the occasion to publicly thank all the groups and individuals who had worked on the project. In a spirit of jovial improvisation, the newly carved plaque on the upstream parapet was unveiled using Mike Chapman's mother's velvet chair cover and everyone congratulated everyone else on a good job well done.

Above: restoration of the arches in progress.

Below: the restored aqueduct. Below right: SCCS volunteers on stone-picking duty. Photos

by Adrian Tuddenham

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Mary Stacey, the Council Officer who had successfully navigated the project through oceans of red tape sighed with relief: "Well, that's the end of that, then". "No," replied someone from the SCCS, "it's just the beginning, there's ten more miles to look at yet".

Adrian Tuddenham, Bob Parnell, Mike Chapman Somersetshire Coal Canal Society

Friends of the Cromford Canal : Sponsored Walk Sunday 8th September 2002 We arrived at the start of the Cromford canal at Langley Mill at 9.15 am sharp on a bright Sunday morning to find 97 other like minded souls and a dog ready to set out to walk the line of the Cromford Canal. The aim of the walk was to raise both funds and public support for the Friends of the Cromford Canal. The first lock (no. 14) and an ever-extending section of canal northwards have been restored by members of the Erewash Preservation and Development Association and plans for a short diversion and the resiting of the next lock (no. 13) were recently mentioned in Navvies.

Unfortunately it was not possible to walk this first stretch north from Great Northern basin to just the other side of the A610 road. This was because the right of way shown on the ordinance survey map at this point doesn’t exist at the moment. A way round this stretch had been well sign posted and we joined the line of the canal just south of Vickers lock (no. 12).

From here to the ‘Long Pound’ near Jacksdale, the canal is no more and there is no sign to be seen of locks 11, 10, 9 and 8. The route took us over pleasant fields and through a nature reserve.

However, we knew we were on the right track when we climbed a stile level with the parapet of Slaleys Bridge number 40. Not much further on we came to the remains of a railway bridge and at this point we had our first sight of the reed filled canal bed.

Cromford Report from the Friends of the Cromford's sponsored walk From here, we walked along an obvious towpath past stretches of waterfilled canal interspersed with the remains of the Ironville flight of 7 locks.

The lock chambers still look in good condition, although filled with plant growth, having had some remedial and conservation work done on them by the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association in the early 1970’s. All signs of lock number 1, however, have disappeared having been swept away by the Codnor Park Reservoir flood relief scheme of the late 1970’s.

Just before the reservoir is a handsome stone bridge. This carried the towpath over the junction of the now largely filled in Pinxton Arm. The arm wound its way northwards via Pye Bridge to the coal wharf at the edge of Pinxton village.

Codnor Park Reservoir is now a well tended picnic and fishing spot well used by the inhabitants of Ironville. It was at an adjacent car park that we signed in at the end of the first section of our walk.

The snack van here was doing excellent trade in bacon and sausage cobs for the hungry walkers.

The Cromford Canal page 9

Cromford The car-park of the 'Excavator Inn' is on the line of the canal!

Suitably replete, (but not all of us!!), we set off towards the eastern portal of Butterley tunnel.

This tunnel collapsed due to subsidence in the early years of the last century. The canal, as it passes the reservoir, is filled in but the watered section reappears at the western edge of the reservoir and takes you to the next road crossing at the Newlands Inn. Beyond here is a short pound up to the tunnel portal. At the top of the cutting is the terminus of the narrow gauge railway from the Midland Railway Centre and special trains had been laid on to carry the walkers to Swanwick Junction. Here we waited for our next train ride to Hammersmith station, which was spectacularly powered by a class 46 diesel loco at one end and the Duchess of Sutherland at the other. In this way we avoided the trek over the tunnel and also provided the highlight of the day for many walkers... All this and steam trains too!

From Hammersmith station, we made our way via a road bridge under the A38 and down a footpath, which brought us into a deep cutting and the barely discernible western portal of the tunnel. A short distance further on we had to climb the embankment of the busy A610 road, which crosses the canal with a piped culvert. Down the other side, we continued alongside an obvious canal bed to the edge of Lower Hartshay village.

Here the canal vanished at a fence, the line beyond having been filled in and grassed over.

About quarter of a mile further on we came to what appeared to be a restored section of canal complete with stone accommodation bridge but it is just a short section which has been dug out by an enterprising farmer for use as a fishing pond.

From here, the line of the canal swings northwards towards the A610 and the Excavator Inn. The car park of this pub is built on the line of the canal. Many walkers found it impossible to walk past the open door of the pub and liquid refreshments were taken here along with our picnic lunches. Just beyond is the short Buckland Hollow tunnel that is easily identifiable as a canal tunnel and can be walked through.

The next length runs along side the road and although the bed is dry and rubbish filled it is easy to follow. Many of the houses further on have appropriated the canal bed for fertile allotments and chicken pens etc. The access road to Lockwood’s works has cut right through the canal formation but the line is again easily picked up once beyond this point. Barely half a mile further the canal originally swung right and over a long embankment/aqueduct which crossed the road, railway and river Amber on its way to Bull Bridge.

Very little of this now remains other than at the northern end where a bungalow has been neatly shoe-horned between the parapet The walk begins at Lock 14 Langley Mill, the only navigable lock on the Cromford, walls of the embankrestored in the 1970s by ECPDA as part of the Erewash restoration. (Brian Dominic) ment.

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Shortly before Bull Bridge, we made our second stop for signing in at the end of this second section of the walk. A little beyond Bull Bridge the canal has been obliterated firstly by Stevenson’s Paint and Dye Works and perhaps more damagingly by a Transco gas distribution depot. The diversion around this area was both convoluted and strenuous but it brought us down to the fantastically picturesque Ambergate to Cromford section.

This section is now owned by Derbyshire County Council and extensive work was carried out in the 1970’s by the now defunct Cromford Canal Society. All the structures on this length are in incredibly good condition and are well maintained.

The only problem is that there is very little depth of water in the duckweed covered channel. The area is designated as a linear nature reserve and unpowered craft (small dinghies and canoes) are allowed to use it with the consent of the county council. A short distance along this stretch a most welcome refreshment stop was provided by two of the ‘Friends’ in their beautiful back garden.

Drinks and home-made biscuits went down a treat along with a quick visit to the in-house pottery studio. There are no locks on this section beyond the tunnel and the towpath from Ambergate to Cromford is very popular especially on sunny Sundays like the one we were experiencing.

Cromford "We look forward to the day when work starts again..."

Here we enjoyed an ice cream and a sit down before the remaining ¾ mile to the warehouses at the end of the Cromford canal.

The walk took most of us, with stops and the railway journey, 7½ hours and a good time was had by all. It was amazing to see how much of this long derelict canal still remains and apart from a few obvious major obstructions e.g. the tunnel, Bull Bridge aqueduct and the gas depot, there appear to be few other major problems. Once restored this canal will not only be a valuable and beautiful addition to the national network but also will provide much needed development impetus in the Jacksdale, Ironville and Pinxton areas. We look forward to the day when work starts again on the Cromford canal and hope that WRG will have its role to play in this.

Steve and Sue Johnson

Beyond Whatstandwell we came to a reed filled ‘wide’ just before Gregory tunnel and after this the Leawood Arm forms a junction to the right. A swing bridge took us across the canal and we walked over the impressive river Derwent Aqueduct.

Immediately over the aqueduct is the Leawood pumping station, which was used to pump water from the River Derwent into the canal but only at weekends! The pumping station has its own preservation society that has restored and now maintains the 1846 steam pump and its adjacent boilers. Although open for visits it was, unfortunately, not in steam.

It was now only a short distance to the next swing bridge that took us to the interchange sheds and workshops of the Cromford On the towpath at Stoneyford: not much sign of the canal here at the and High Peak Railway. moment. (Brian Dominic)

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Bugsworth Basin progress

Progress Behindthescenes(andbelowthe surface) at Bugsworth Basin

Although no progress can be seen on the ground at Bugsworth a lot has been going on behind the scenes in an effort to decide how best to cure the leaks from the Basin once and for all. Lack of boats, low water levels and the consequent cosmetic deterioration of the whole of the Basin and Entrance Canal is very frustrating to us all but really the problems facing IWPS and BW are immense and time must be allowed to ‘get it right’.

The earlier ground investigations proved inconclusive and BW commissioned a ground temperature survey for which the Basin and Entrance Canal had to be refilled to NWL. This was achieved but only just, as on arrival for an inspection it was found that the filled basin had emptied virtually overnight via a new and large leak in the bed close to the garden wall of Canal House. This was further evidence (if any were needed) of the parlous condition of the structure of the whole of the Lower Basin (constructed c1835) and the short Lower Basin Arm which was constructed at about the same time. The original line of the canal and Upper Basin (constructed c1799) are believed not to leak.

The total leakage through the Basin is in the order of 7Ml per day which is clearly unsustainable and unacceptable. The areas of leakage were as suspected by IWPS over many years. What we have now is a professional confirmation and a quantifying of the amount of water loss through the seriously deteriorating lining system of the Entrance Basin, the Lower Basin and the Lower Basin Arm. To correct this situation means a very innovative approach especially as the Basin is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Everything done on the site has to have the approval of English Heritage who are not likely to permit wholesale demolition and rebuild even if we wanted that. At the time of writing the remedial approach seems to favour a mix of a flexible liner, wall grouting and a bentonite (or similar) slurry wall between the Basin and the Blackbrook. British Waterways and consultants Mott Macdonald are now working on the finer design points and meetings will soon be arranged with English Heritage to agree methods and safeguards to protect the rest of the monument whilst work is in progress. Whatever happens the disruption is likely to be severe with many months of work by contractors.

The funding has not yet been finalised but it is hoped by IWPS and BW that the Basin will be open for boats again by Spring 2004.

Ian Edgar

Peak Forest Canal: Bugsworth Basin complex Entrance basin

Lower Basin

SIlk Hill Bridge

Lower Basin Arm Middle Basin Blackbrook

'The Navigation'

'The Wide' Upper Basin

A6 bypass

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Hi Martin, Well, it took a long time - about 2 years after I first wrote to Navvies asking if there was any chance of restoration, but I am pleased to see that the Caldon Canal Society are now taking the Uttoxeter Branch on board.

Letters Restore the Kington Leominster and Stourport Canal!

Now all we need to do is persuade the Rochdale Canal Society or Huddersfield Canal Society to do likewise with the Fairfield Branch of the Ashton Canal, with a short extension (as originally proposed) to the Rochdale, and the Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust to adopt the Wye and Lugg Navigations and the Kington, Leominster and Stourport Canal, as a longterm aim. Perhaps the Birmingham Canal Society will also restore the link between the Wednesbury Oak Loop and the Walsall Canal, the Bradley Locks Branch, as they once proposed, to ensure the survival of the Loop and add another useful link.

I note the advent of the newly proposed Bedford-Milton Keynes Link. In some ways I am surprised that they did not try to restore the Newport Pagnell Branch and link this to the Great Ouse, but perhaps Milton Keynes is the clue here.

This does make me wonder, however, how do we stand as regards canals which obtained Acts but were never built, eg the link between Bishops Stortford and Cambridge which required a certain sum of money to be raised before building commenced, or those which had Acts but were never finished, eg the Dorset & Somerset Canal (and indeed the Kington, Leominster and Stourport Canal already mentioned). Do such Acts become null and void after a period or are they still valid? With so much now at last being achieved on the waterway scene, are such dreams impossible?

On a completely different subject, my mother in law, who lives in Kingston Upon Thames, has an old air raid shelter in her back garden which she would love to get rid of. It is quite a large structure with several imperial-size bricks in it and, of course, a substantial solid roof (useful as hardcore?). If WRG would be interested in demolishing it and reutilising the bricks, I will put you in touch. She just wants it gone. Please let me know if you are interested.

Regards Brian Andrews A few editorial comments on Brian's points...

As I understand it, the M60 motorway has unfortunately made a bit of a mess of the Fairfield Branch in the area where a link to the Rochdale might have been an option (but perhaps somebody more familiar with the area can comment on whether such a link is still feasible); however some significant remains of the rest of it survive especially in the attractive Daisy Nook area, but I do not know whether it would be likely to attract enough interest in restoration to overcome the blockages between there and the main line, if it were only to be restored as a dead end branch. (Not that I've anything against short dead-ends, but they don't always seem to attract the same support as through routes.) Incidentally one new link nearby that does look likely to happen is between the Rochdale and Huddersfield a couple of locks up from the junction at Dale Street, incorporating a former arm of the Ashton.

I forsee any major improvements for navigation on the Wye attracting opposition from nature / fishing / unpowered boating interests who would rather keep the river as it is; on the other hand there has been interest in the Kington, Leominster & Stourport recently (and I've received a proposal from one Mike Handford that new links could connect this with other border waterways such as the Mont); I understand a new KL&S canal society has been formed - anyone got any details, please?

Reinstatement of the potentially useful Wednesbury Oak / Bradley Locks link from the BCN Main Line to the Walsall was looked at a couple of years ago, and I gather that it would not be too difficult - would anyone local to the area like to comment on its likelihood?

As regards the choice of the basic route for the Grand Union - Great Ouse link (rather than the detailed planning, which is still going on) I gather that one reason for not considering a link based on an 'Upper Great Ouse Navigation' and the Newport Pagnell Canal is that there was an agreement with other interests in the 1970s that if those other groups did not object to restoration up to Bedford, the navigation interests would not push for extension of navigation beyond Bedford. Another reason is that a more southerly route passes through some ex-industrial (former brickworks) areas which would be more likely to qualify for 'regeneration' type funding.

page 13

Letters Is there a cartoonist in the house?

I'm afraid that it is unlikely that Acts of Parliament for such canals as the Kington, Leominster and Stourport would be much use today - not only did they often specify expiry dates by which time the canal needed to be completed or another Act obtained; they also tended to specify the amount of money that the canal company were authorised to spend on building it.

Finally on the subject of the air-raid shelter: it's usually the local canal society rather than WRG that gets involved in acquiring building materials for restoration projects. So if any canal society is interested in salvaging some bricks from Kingston, please contact the Editor and I'll put you in touch.

And I daresay there's a chance that a few London WRG volunteers might be able to help you demolish it.

Martin Ludgate Dear Martin I am currently writing what is intended to be a humorous book about first-time hirers on the canals, and hope that one of your readers might be interested and talented enough to illustrate my effort with appropriate original cartoons.

Anybody interested in this venture should write to me at the attached address and I can send them an outline of my book (titled ‘Overboard’) plus a couple of draft chapters.

If we can get the results published and make a pound or two, no doubt a certain organisation (!) noted for its red vans should see a slice.

As for ‘Navvies’, I still think it’s great and there is no need for added colour. The characters are all colourful enough. Great stuft!

Thanks. Yours in hope, John Cook 1 Richmond Hill Avenue, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BG Our regular 'Last Ditch' cartoonist has said that unfortunately he doesn't have enough time available to be able to take on the above work, so it's over to the rest of you! ...Ed Dear Martin I read with interest your editorial in ‘Navvies’ (No.194), in particular the piece on ‘the scope of restoration’.

Being a relative newcomer to WRG - I’ve been a member for around four or five years - I was not aware of an apparent conflict between boaters and nature conservationists.

Is there such a thing as a nature conservationist? I may be categorised as being of this breed as I work in a country park as an environmental education officer. I go about my duties with great zest, hopefully making people aware of the threats posed to our countryside through some agricultural practices, urbanisation, pollution, wanton vandalism etc. etc. I tend to consider myself as an environmentalist.

I can look at both sides of an argument and realise that it is impossible to ‘conserve’ everything as it was. Decisions have to be made to prioritise some of the endangered or threatened species and habitats. Local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) have been drawn up to assist environmentalists and others by identifying threats to habitats and species and making it clear what should be done and by whom. BAPs outline solutions and actions needed to be undertaken, encourage partnerships, are practical and pragmatic and recognise other individuals’ and groups’ priorities. I repeat: "recognise other individuals’ and groups’ priorities".

Any environmentalist pronouncing him/herself as a ‘nature conservationist’ should adhere to this and recognise that boaters’ needs should be considered when considering canal use. They must remember that canals are man-made habitats, and the plants and animals associated with them would not be there if the canals had not been built. I personally have no gripe with boaters on canals: that’s what canals are for. I would much rather see a canal being used by boats as it was intended, rather than being allowed to slowly fill in with vegetation before drying out completely. The building of these canals gave many species an opportunity to spread and increase. Canals are vital wildlife corridors and the biggest threat to them is not boats but pollution and eutrophication (nutrient enrichment).

page 14

I do have some objections to some of the practices carried out by British Waterways, particularly the use of metal pilings to reinforce the banksides. This ultimately leads to the loss of the reed fringe and prevents water voles from constructing burrows, but I can understand that this work is essential to prevent breaches and possible water loss.

Letters "Is there such a thing as a nature conservationist?"

I am pleased that British Waterways are now taking these factors into consideration when carrying out improvements and are coming up with new ideas to preserve the reed fringe and conserve water voles' habitats.

As far as I am concerned the only other area of a canal to really suffer - if that is the correct word - through use by boats is the central channel. Any submerged plants are not able to survive in this zone. The only other option would be to ban boats, allowing the canal to become overgrown with reeds that without expensive, time consuming, regular maintenance programmes designed to keep some open water could result in the canal drying out. ‘Nature conservationists’ must learn to strike a balance between these two options.

Work carried out by WRG is vitally important for the sake of canals in general, for canal boat owners and for canal wildlife - and long may it continue to be so.

I work in an area that once boasted three canals but sadly all have now gone and very little trace remains of them. [See David’s article on p5] If WRG had been around one hundred years ago maybe things would have been different. The nearby town of Newcastle-under-Lyme might have still been linked to the main canal network, boats could have ‘chugged’ up from Stoke and moored outside the ‘Boat & Horses’, and wildlife would have had a vital corridor to enable it to travel. Today wildlife has to negotiate the busy A34.

Best wishes and keep up the good work - and tell those so called ‘nature conservationists’ to face up to realities.

Yours David Butler My first thought on reading that David was 'not aware of an apparent conflict between boaters and nature conservationists' was "Where on earth have you been?!?" But thinking about it, it is actually several years since the 'navigation vs. conservation' debate was last covered in detail in 'Navvies'.

So without boring those who read it last time by going over it all again I have to say that yes, I'm afraid there are such conflicts, and they have led in various places to refusal to allow restoration work, refusal to allow a restored canal to be used by boats at all, and severe restrictions on boat numbers - of the order of 1000 boat movements per year (BMY). That's 1000 single journeys, or 500 each way. To put this into context, the figure for the bottom end of the Llangollen (one of the busiest) is about 10000-13000 BMY, and that for the top end of the Ashby (a relatively quiet dead-end) is about 3000-4000. (Figures from Eugene Baston of BW - thanks!) I would expect the figure for a restored Montgomery Canal with unrestricted access to be somewhere between these two extremes - so a 1000-ish limit would be severe.

And unfortunately it appears that the nature conservation interests have the powers to impose these restrictions with little chance to appeal against them, no legitimate defence that 'we didn't mean to create a nature reserve' and an onus on the pro-navigation interests to fund any research to find out how effective these boating limits actually are in protecting aquatic life.

My second thought was that if only the majority of environmentalists took the same attitude as David Butler, I don't think there would be a conflict between boaters and nature conservationists. Indeed, if anything David is more pro-navigation than I am! I would happily settle for navigation taking priority on all the canals that were 'restored for boats' or 'saved from abandonment so that boaters could enjoy them' rather than anything that was 'built for boats'.

While I realise that sometimes steel piling is the most practical form of bank-protection, I too have reservations about its excessive use - it's not only unfriendly to the voles, but it's not exactly in keeping with the traditional appearance of our historic waterways.

And I agree that nature conservationists must 'learn to strike a balance'. So long as it's not the sort of 'balance' that means they support boating up to a point, but that they draw the line at over 500 boats each way per year, on a canal that those of us who have been restoring it for 30 years are confident will attract boaters in their thousands once it is open.

The Editor

page 15

Letters

Dear Martin I was interested in Dave Carnell’s comments on the Environment Agency workshop he attended.

Identification of invasive species is a good first step but what happens next?

The EA do not seem to be consistent in their approach. In Wales landowners with Japanese Knotweed growing have been prosecuted and fined but in London they refuse to take action against London Transport who consistently fail to deal with the weed.

"Thank you to the unrehearsed WRG choir..."

I am sure BW are more responsive but if others are permitted to let the plant grow and seed by the responsible authorities it may all be wasted effort?

Bill Featherstone Dear Martin Please accept my humble apologies for denying you and Ian your rightful credit as leaders of a previous Canal Camp. (Navvies 194, Camp Reports, page 8) I did, of course, completely mis-quote Dave Lamen. What I meant to say was not "...where Dave had led a canal camp working on its [Chalford' lock's] restoration" but... um... "...where Dave had found that he was easily led into a canal camp working on its restoration."

Anyway, having seen how splendid Chalford Lock looks now, the only thing I’m actually sorry about is that I didn’t get to work on it myself, er, under your superb leadership, etc etc. Can I go now? [Well... actually to be pedantic it's 'Valley Lock, Chalford', not 'Chalford Lock', but I'll let it pass this time. ...Ed] Yours wrgily Mark Antony Hi Martin, Just a quick note to thank Ali Womble for doing a difficult job of putting up with this interloper into the WRG Camp at Huddersfield. Thanks also to Ali the cook and her many minions who helped to feed the masses, including the 'Weird' ones like myself. (Food Allergies).

'And finally Esther' - a big 'well done' to the unrehearsed WRG Choir - Especially the stars Bungle and a certain Mr Ludgate - Brilliant. [Just wait till you hear 'Transit Rhapsody' ...Ed] See you next year (I’ll book in properly next time - Honest!), Ken 'Lactose Free' Whapples Dear Martin In reply to the question from John Hawkins (p21, issue 194 ); this year I attended camp 14 on The Montgomery and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The work was stone-walling which I had not done for 25 years.

The group was a good mix of interesting people: a 65-year-old Irishman from Canada, a selection of students one aged just 19, a French-Canadian from Camberwell and his Belgian girlfriend, a French couple from Paris and two thirtysomething teachers... will give an idea of the cross section of the 20 people who were there.

Chris and Adrian (the teachers) who hadn’t met before the camp soon found they were on the same wavelength. Their humour was something akin to Monty Python and my jaw was aching at times from laughing so much.

The village hall where we stayed had recently been modernised with new toilets and washbasins. At the end of each day we were taken to the local leisure centre for a shower where the attendants refered to us as ‘the canal people’... sounds like a hippy thing!

So it’s not ‘where have I booked this year?’ but ‘where shall I book next year?’

Mike Rennolds (Highwayman)

page 16

The Lost Canals of Newcastle under Lyme The town of Newcastle under Lyme in North Staffordshire lies to the west of Stoke on Trent, the centre of the pottery industry.

By 1777 the Trent & Mersey or ‘Grand Trunk’ Canal was fully open throughout its length providing a route to the ports of Liverpool and Hull. The Staffs and Worcs, completed in 1772, provided an outlet to Bristol via the River Severn; the Coventry Canal, via the Oxford Canal would eventually give a through route to London.

Newcastle under Lyme - despite a petition to Parliament in 1765 - was bypassed, it being considered at that time to be too expensive to construct a branch.

Sir Nigel Gresley (1725-1787) and his son Nigel Bowyer Gresley (1753-1808) decided to construct a canal at their own expense from their coal-mines at Apedale, north west of Newcastle. This gave them a monopoly for the sale of coal in the town for forty-two years.Thecanalwascompletedin1776andwassome three miles in length without locks. In 1856 a railway branch was constructed and what remained of the canal fell into disuse. At Apedale remnants of the canal can be found: in particular traces of the northern basin at Burley, the site of one of the collieries.

Feature (2) The little-known Newcastle Under Lyme Canals In 1796, some thirty-one years after the Trent & Mersey opening, a canal branch was finally made to Newcastle connecting it to the main network. The Newcastle Canal was four miles in length and level throughout its length. It left the Trent & Mersey at Stoke, north of the Glebe Street Bridge (No.113). It ran west to Trent Vale before turning north running parallel to the present day A34 to Newcastle. It was never a profitable canal, its main cargo being lime for kilns at Newcastle. The lack of a link between it and Gresley’s Canal presented a problem particularly with the transportation of coal. Again with the coming of the railway it fell into disuse. The North Staffordshire Railway Company leased the canal from 1863 but little trade used it. In 1921 the section from Trent Vale to Newcastle had been filled and in 1935 Stoke on Trent Corporation began to fill the remainder in bit by bit.

A small section can still be traced behind the bowling club on London Road Newcastle, near to the entrance of the City General Hospital.

The Newcastle junction Canal was a sorry affair. It was originally intended as a link between the Gresley and Newcastle canals. It received royal assent on 26th May 1798 and ran for just over a mile. An inclined plane had been proposed to make the final link down the slope to the Newcastle Canal at its Brook Lane basin. This Surviving remains of the Newcastle canals: Above remnants of inclined plane was never built and trade the northern basin of Gresley's Canal at Burley Pit; Below the on the canal was very poor resulting in Newcastle Canal behind London Road Bowling Club off the A34 partial closure. Part of the canal was near the City General Hospital. Photos by David Butler drained and used as the bed for the Silverdale-Newcastle railway and by 1864 the canal had ceased to exist.

These three canals had they survived could have provided Newcastle and the surrounding towns with a valuable resource. Canals are very popular today as a recreational and historical facility. If only - with hindsight - someone could have realised their potential all those years back, maybe they may have survived and provided many people with the opportunity to use them.

David Butler

page 17

Letters News from the WRG Boat Club WRG Boat Club news What a good idea it was to hold the club AGM at The 'National' in Huddersfield. We were also lucky in being able to hold it in the WRG ‘Eating Emporium’ - many thanks to camp leader Ali for allowing us to use it.

I didn’t intend to deceive when I said it would be a small meeting as previous AGMs have been.

The turnout of 19 members - and more - was grand. Many thanks to all for coming.

Usually we have a social gathering at the National and the AGM some other time, combined with a Bring-a-Boat dig.

This year we decided to combine the social event with the AGM, much to the surprise of some members, as bottles of wine and beer appeared on the tables. No, that is not what we spend club subs on, these were all donated by members and friends.

Meeting report: Details of last year’s AGM had been published in Navvies and no one said they thought that they were incorrect.

The club now has 38 boats, which is less than last year. Two members left as they had sold their boats, others just didn’t pay their subs.

There was discussion about the qualification for membership. Being involved in some activity towards recovering waterways and subscribing to the excellent and outstanding ‘Navvies’ are basic requirements.

The secretary also requested details from members should include boat name, address, contact phone number and email where appropriate.

The Commode Door reported that all was well but still not much progress with the supply of garments emblazoned with the club logo. Julian was expected to be there over the weekend so enquiries would be made!

page 18

Unfortunately the treasurer was not with us, as she was on her way to the B... B... Basingstoke, (not the Bahamas with our cash as some suggested) but had sent news that we had just over £1000 in the bank.

We are members of the Midland Region of the AWCC and Claire reported on some of the meetings she had attended. There are still problems with some (one?) clubs thinking that those that don’t offer reciprocal facilities aren’t ‘proper’ boat clubs. The idea that those with that attitude consider us an improper club appeals to me! It is not the first time we have had to point out that it’s a good thing that WRGies don’t take that attitude as ALL are welcome - in fact encouraged - to use restored waterways. We are welcome to attend AWCC meetings in other regions, and some members offered to represent us in their home area.

The club officers are: Commode Door - Lynne Cater Rear Commode Door (BSD) - Sue Burchett Treasurer - Ann Smart Secretary (Skivvy) - Sadie Dean Club Representative - Claire Moynihan There was no mad rush of volunteers to take on any of these jobs so David Smith proposed that they all be re-elected, Vaughan Welch seconded this and Jim Lamen barred the door so they couldn’t escape. It seems everyone agreed to keep things as they are. (I suspect it has something to do with the chaos theory) We are proud that our club burgee was flown on the Lavender Boat. We were entered for the Illuminated Camper Van competition and Sadie asked for offers of help for putting the lights etc onto her van as she is still too short to reach the top.

Attention was drawn to the Bring-a-Boat on the Basingstoke. At least 4 member’s boats are expected to attend and 2 others are planning to get to the ‘Mont’ in October. More please, we want more details of work we can get boats to.

It is usual at the AGM for us to consider any requests to finance some aspect of restoration.

Someone said that the restorers of the Chesterfield are short of tools. Can anyone with any information please contact me?

Discussion followed as to what we should do with some of our money this year. There were a variety of suggestions but common sense prevailed and it was proposed that we donate £500 to the David Suchet appeal for the Lichfield and Hatherton restoration. Hurrah, it was agreed by all!

The meeting ended in time for the workers to get their supper. Thanks again to the camp leaders for letting us use their facilities, and to all the club members who took the time to attend.

More excitement followed throughout the weekend. Watch this space for the exciting details of WRG boat club: three times winners. Yes we won the illuminated camper van award (with our hit ‘em where they least expect it approach?) AND two club members won other awards!

Club members were so pleased that subs remain at a bargain £10 pa that I was swamped by people rushing to give me money. Oh weren’t you one of them? Well don’t feel left out you can post a cheque payable to WRG BC, or set up a standing order I’ll be pleased to send you a form.

XXX Sadie Dean Tel: 07748186867 email: sadiedean@vizzavi.net 236 Station Road Whittlesey PETERBOROUGH PE7 2HA

Letters Which award next year?

And from Lynne Cater...

In August at the National Waterways Festival in Huddersfield Sadie Dean won the Ron Martin Trophy for the best illuminated camping unit. This year's theme was 'Illuminated Boats' - probably because an actual procession of illuminated boats would not be possible this year due to the site's location between the locks.

On Saturday afternoon after a little encouragement several members of WRG Boat Club wandered up to the campsite and helped Sadie create a decorated camper-van.

Dozens of fairy lights and bright striplights shone on perspex sheets with stuckon narrow boats (both working and pleasure types), cruisers and even one seagoing ship, made from colourful holographic paper.

Bunting from WRG North West's stall finished off the creation.

Congratulations to Sadie for 'flying the flag' (burgee actually) to allow WRG BC to win a trophy again this year.

Next year let's try for something different: one idea is the 'Best decorated cake made during the festival' award. Volunteer cooks (WRG BC members) and crew needed.

Lynne Cater

WRG Boat Club welcomes new members: anyone who owns a boat, subscribes to 'Navvies' and goes canal digging can join. Just get in touch with Sadie Dean (see above left Sadie displays the award that she won at Huddersfield. (Lynne Cater) for contact details).

page 19

Diary

Canal Camps cost £35 per week unless otherwise stated.

Bookings for WRG Canal Camps (those identified by a camp number e.g. 'Camp 0220') should go to WRG Canal Camps, PO Box 114, Rickmansworth WD3 1ZY. Tel: 01923 711114. Email: enquiries@wrg.org.uk

Oct 26-Nov 1 Camp 0220

Cotswolds Canal Camp: Leaders: Dave ‘Moose’ Hearndon & Leonie Greenhalgh.

Oct 26-Nov 1 Camp 0223

Monmouthshire Canal Camp: Leaders: Adrian Fry & Spencer Collins.

Nov 1 Fri

Navvies

Press date for issue 196: including Canal Societies directory

Nov 2/3

WRG

Bonfire Bash - Monmouthshire Canal. Please book in using enclosed form.

Nov 2/3

London WRG

Monmouthshire Canal: WRG ‘Bonfire Bash’ Reunion weekend

Nov 2/3

wrgNW

Monmouthshire Canal: WRG ‘Bonfire Bash’ Reunion weekend

Nov 9 Sat

wrgNW

'Paper Chase' waste paper collection

Nov 9/10

SUCS

Montgomery Canal

Nov 9/10

NWPG

Wilts & Berks Canal: Dig Deep at Summit Lock

Nov 16/17

wrgBITM

Sleaford Navigation: Jungle bashing. Leader: Tony Hinsley

Nov 17 Sun

WRG

Committee & Board Meetings

Nov 30/Dec 1 London WRG

Christmas Party dig with KESCRG

Nov 30/Dec 1 KESCRG

Christmas Party dig with London WRG

Dec 7/8

wrgNW

Aston (Montgomery Canal)

Dec 14/15

wrgBITM

Wilts & Berks Canal: Christmas Working Party. Accom: Brinkworth Village Hall

Dec 14/15

NWPG

Wilts & Berks Canal: probably Pewsham Locks, scrub bashing

Dec 14 Sat

wrgNW

'Paper Chase' waste paper collection

Dec 17 or 18 Navvies

Issue 196 Assembly: London Canal Museum 7pm onwards.

Dec 26-Jan 1 Camp 0221

Basingstoke Canal: New Year Canal Camp: Leader: Dave Worthington.

Cutting back overhanging vegetation (and burning it!)

Dec 26-Jan 1 WBCT

Wilts & Berks Canal: Christmas Canal Camp: Leader: Rachael Banyard Accommodation at Foxham. Scrub clearance & hedgelaying near Dauntsey.

Jan 1 Wed

Navvies

Press date for issue 197

Jan 11/12

London WRG

Wilts & Berks Canal: Pewsham Locks, scrub bashing with KESCRG

Jan 11/12

KESCRG

Wilts & Berks Canal: Pewsham Locks, scrub bashing with London WRG

Jan 11/12

NWPG

Basingstoke Canal

Jan 18/19

wrgBITM

To be arranged

Jan 18 Sat

wrgNW

'Paper Chase' waste paper collection

Feb 8/9

London WRG

Basingstoke Canal

Feb 15/16

wrgBITM

To be arranged

Mar 1/2

London WRG

Wey & Arun Canal

Mar 1 Sat

Navvies

Press date for issue 198

Mar 8/9

NWPG

Ipswich & Stowmarket Navigation: Creeting Lock

Mar 15/16

wrgBITM

To be arranged

Mar 22/23

WRG / IWA

Clean-up weekend: Salford Junction, under Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham.

Organised by London WRG (and IWA) but all WRG volunteers welcome.

See next 'Navvies' for more details.

Apr 4-6

WRG + others! Montgomery Canal: opening of section of canal including Aston Locks

page 20

Please send updates to Diary compiler: Dave Wedd, 7 Ringwood Rd, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey GU17 0EY. Tel 01252 874437. e-mail: dave.wedd@wrg.org.uk.

Continuing work on Ham Mill lock bywash and Jubilee Bridge.

enquiries@wrg.org.uk

Preparations for Bonfire Bash; finishing off work from the summer camp.

enquiries@wrg.org.uk

Martin Ludgate

020-8693-3266

martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk

Tim Lewis

020-8367-6227

london@wrg.org.uk

David McCarthy

0161-740-2179

malcolm.bridge@btclick.com

David McCarthy

0161-740-2179

Geoff Munro

0121-561-5747

jenser@telco4u.net

Graham Hawkes

0118-941-0586

grahamhawkes@btinternet.com

Dave Wedd

01252-874437

bookings@wrgBITM.org.uk

Tim Lewis

020-8367-6227

london@wrg.org.uk

Answerphone

01622-858329

Kescrg@btinternet.com

David McCarthy

0161-740-2179

malcolm.bridge@btclick.com

Dave Wedd

01252-874437

bookings@wrgBITM.org.uk

Graham Hawkes

0118-941-0586

grahamhawkes@btinternet.com

David McCarthy

0161-740-2179

John Hawkins

01923-448559

hawkins@jote.fsnet.co.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk

Rachael Banyard

01249-892289

Martin Ludgate

020-8693-3266

martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk

Tim Lewis

020-8367-6227

london@wrg.org.uk

Answerphone

01622-858329

Kescrg@btinternet.com

Graham Hawkes

0118-941-0586

grahamhawkes@btinternet.com

Dave Wedd

01252-874437

bookings@wrgBITM.org.uk

David McCarthy

0161-740-2179

Tim Lewis

020-8367-6227

london@wrg.org.uk

Dave Wedd

01252-874437

bookings@wrgBITM.org.uk

Tim Lewis

020-8367-6227

london@wrg.org.uk

Martin Ludgate

020-8693-3266

martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk

Graham Hawkes

0118-941-0586

grahamhawkes@btinternet.com

Dave Wedd

01252-874437

bookings@wrgBITM.org.uk

Tim Lewis

020-8367-6227

london@wrg.org.uk

SEE FUTURE ISSUES OF 'NAVVIES' FOR MORE INFORMATION

page 21

Diary Canal society regular working parties

Mobile groups' social evenings (please phone to confirm before turning up) London WRG: 7:30pm on Tues 11 days before each dig. 'Jugged Hare', Vauxhall Bridge Rd, London, Tim Lewis 020-8367 6227 or e-mail tim@timlewis.org.uk.

NWPG: 9:00pm on 3rd Tue of month at the 'Hope Tap', West end of Friar St. Reading.

Graham Hawkes 0118 941 0586

Regular monthly or weekly working parties: 3rd Sunday of month BCNS Jeff Barley 2nd Sunday & following Wed. BCS Cosgrove Athina Beckett Anytime inc. weekdays BCT Aqueduct section Gerald Fry Every Sunday ChCT Various sites Mick Hodgetts Mon & Wed mornings CCT Cotswolds Dudley Greenslade Every weekend (Sat OR Sun)CCT Cotswolds Neil Ritchie 1st Sunday of month CCT Cotswolds: summit Mark Welton Wednesday evenings CCT Cotswolds: East end Keith Harding Every Saturday DCT Droitwich Canal Jon Axe Second Sun of month FIPT Foxton Inclined Plane Mike Beech 1st & 3rd Sundays GCRS Grantham Canal Colin Bryan 2nd Sat of month GWCT Nynehead Lift Denis Dodd Tuesdays H&GCT Oxenhall Brian Fox Wednesdays H&GCT Over Ted Beagles Saturdays H&GCT Over Maggie Jones Occasional Sundays H&GCT Over wharf house fitoutNigel Bailey Every Sunday if required IWPS Bugsworth Basin Ian Edgar 1st Saturday & 3rd Wed. IWA Ipswich Stowmarket Navigtn. Colin Turner 2nd weekend of month IWA SBC Maesbury, Mont.

Barry Tuffin 2nd weekend of month K&ACT John Rolls 1st Sunday of month LHCRT Lichfield John Horton 3rd Sunday of month LHCRT Hatherton Denis Cooper 2nd & last Sundays PCAS Paul Waddington 2nd Sunday of month SCARS Sankey Canal Colin Greenall 1st Sunday of month SCCS Combe Hay Locks Bob Parnell Most weekends SHCS Basingstoke Peter Redway Last Sunday of month SNT Haverholme Lock Dave Pullen 3rd Sunday of month TMCA David Rouse Approx 15th of month WACT Mid-Week group Colin Gibbs Every Sunday & Thursday WACT Devils Hole Lock Eric Walker Thursdays fortnightly WACT Maintenance Unit Peter Wilding or for general information on Wey & Arun contact their office on 01403-752403 1st weekend of month WAT Little Tring Roger Leishman Every weekend WBCT Wilts & Berks Canal Peter Smith Every Sunday W&BCC Dauntsey / Foxham Rachael Banyard

01543-373284 01908-661217 01288-353273 01246-620695 01453 825515 01452-854057 01453-872405 01451-860181 0121-608 0296 0116-279-2657 0115-989-2248 01823-661653 01432-358628 01452-522648 01452-618010 01452-533835 01663-732493 01473-730586 01691-670826/49 01189-666316 01543 262466 01543-374370 01757-638027 01744-731746 01225-428055 01483-721710 01673-862278 01474-362861 020-82417736 023-9246-3025 01483-422519 01442-874536 01793-852883 01249-892289

Please send any amendments, additions and deletions to Dave Wedd (address on previous page)

Abbreviations used in Diary BCG BCNS BCS BCT ChCT CCT DCT FIPT D&SCS GCRS GWCT H&GCT IWA SBC IWPS

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Barnsley Canal Group Birmingham Canal Navigations Soc. Buckingham Canal Society Bude Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Cotswolds Canals Trust Droitwich Canals Trust Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Grantham Canal Restoration Society Grand Western Canal Trust Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust IWA Shrewsbury & Border Counties Inland Waterways Protection Society

K&ACT KESCRG LHCRT LWRG NWPG PCAS SCARS SCCS SHCS SNT TMCA WBCT W&BCC WACT WAT

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Kent & E Sussex Canal Rest. Group Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Rest'n Trust London Waterway Recovery Group Newbury Working Party Group Pocklington Canal Amenity Society Sankey Canal Restoration Society Somersetshire Coal Canal Society Surrey & Hants Canal Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Thames & Medway Canal Association Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Wilts & Berks Canal Company Wey & Arun Canal Trust Wendover Arm Trust

2001-2002: A Year in the Life....

October 2001: Anderton Abseil

November 2001: Bonfire Bash

21 WRG volunteers - including Mike Palmer, photographed by Joanne 'Smudge' Smith abseiled off the Anderton Boat Lift to raise ÂŁ10,000 towards its restoration. A year later, not only has the Lift has been opened to boats, but so has Britain's second working boat lift the Falkirk Wheel lift in Scotland. What next?

Foxton Inclined Plane?

The 2001 Bash on the Basingstoke gave some of us a chance to play with a new piece of kit the Surrey & Hants Canal Society's dredger and gave everybody a chance to do some serious scrub-bashing and meet many friends from the summer Canal Camps and the rest of WRG. Have you booked yet for this year's Bash on the Mon & Brec? If not, DO IT NOW!

December 2001: Christmas Camp Festive Fun Fun and and Felling Felling on on the the Basingstoke.

Basingstoke.

Festive We're going going there there again again this this Christmas Christmas -- book book We're nowto toavoid avoiddisappointment! disappointment! (photo: (photo:Alan Alan Lines) Lines) now

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January: WRG North West's 25th birthday party

May: T

WRG NW celebrated with a party and a tour of the recently-reopened Huddersfield and soon-to-be-reopened Rochdale canals: this is what the Rochdale at Failworth looked like.

And inset is the same view just after the reopening six months later! How long before we're printing similar photos of a reopened Droitwich, Cotswolds, Montgomery...?

For the fir end in pa Heritage successf 2003. Ph

March: Birmingham Canal Navigations C

Our annual weekend of clearing the BCN saw the usual as of tyres, prams and motorbikes being dragged out of th Canal as photographed by Alan Lines. Next year's event ta on March 22-23 and we're working underneath Spaghetti J

February: Wilts & Berks Canal February was one month when we didn't have any national WRG events; however winter is a time of year when the regional groups are particularly active, expecially those involved in the Dig Deep Initiative, typified by this photo of our friends in NWPG at work on Summit Lock, where rapid progress has been made over the last year.

April: Last Droitwich Camp Work on the Hanbury Flight was nearing completion on the Easter Camp (photo by Alan Lines), and the locks opened in May (see inset). Don't miss the opening of another well-known three-lock flight at Aston next year.

Training Weekend

rst time this year we ran the training weekartnership with British Waterways at their Skills training centre at Hatton. It was a ful weekend and we'll be doing it again in hoto by Philip Walker.

leanup

ssortment he Walsall akes place unction.

June: First Grand Western Camp A brand-new work site: Jays Cutting on the Grand Western Canal in Somerset is the venue for two-and-three-quarters Canal Camps this summer. (photo by Ian Nicholson) Inset (by Adrian Fry) the completed cutting and towpath.

July: Mon & Brec work begins at '14 Locks' On Camp 0211 work started on what could be a major volunteer work-site over the next few years - Fourteen Locks flight near Newport, on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in South Wales.

Book now for the Reunion there, and look out for more Canal Camps on this interesting site next year. Photo by Alan Lines

August: Huddersfield Festival

September: first Grantham camp

This year's IWA National Waterways Festival was in Huddersfield, and Camp 0218 spent a week helping to set up the site for the world's biggest inland waterways event. Then our volunteers spent the bank holiday weekend helping to run the festival including working with BW and IWA on the 'woW' children's activities (below: photo by Mike Palmer) before spending the next few days dismantling everything again.

Next year we do it all again at Beale Park, on the Thames not far from Reading.

Canal Camp Camp 0219 0219 spent spent aa week week completing completing Canal initial clearance at a brand-new site for this this initial clearance at a brand-new site for year the Cropwell Bishop flight of three locks. year - the Cropwell Bishop flight of three locks.

This flight flight might might just just replace replace Hanbury Hanbury Locks Locks This as WRG's biggest project over the next few as WRG's biggest project over the next few years.

Watch this space! years. Watch this space!

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All uncredited photographs are by the editor.

Camp 0202: Grand Western Canal 29th June – 6th July My very first canal camp! What can I say? I turned up on Saturday completely oblivious to what I was letting myself in for – ethereal thoughts of a bit of digging here and a dab of paint there – but I know better now!

Having watched the 'interesting' WRG Health and Safety video we took a guided tour of the canal towpath, brilliantly constructed the previous week.

I was expecting to see a canal with barges running up and down it – childhood memories of Rosie and Jim – I was sorely mistaken. It was then that I began to realise that we would be constructing a canal almost from scratch – oh!

Wakey, wakey rise and shine – it’s 7am, time to start work – so much for my lie in! Sunday consisted of scrub-clearing, rock relocation, attempting to get the JCB into the canal bed and most importantly tea-breaks. The highlight of the day being the amazing showers at the Wellington Sports Centre. Having cooked us a delightful meal, Matt deserted us! What were we to do for meals for the rest of the week? Cook? OK, nobody said anything about cooking in the brochure.

The dredging was well under way on Monday.

The big pile of poop was growing, the bonfire was smouldering and tea was being drunk by the gallon. Everything was going to plan and then ‘Smash!’ Was that the sweet sound of Steve breaking the JCB windscreen? I think so!

It was Tuesday and somebody had it in for us. It rained and rained and rained some more. Nevertheless we struggled on. The fencing was started and the dredging was continued. Steve was coated from head to foot in mud – punishment for breaking the windscreen. That evening, dinner was accompanied by the sounds of radio 4’s ‘Dead Ringers’ – a WRG first. We were later given the insightful ‘Mystery Tour’ of the local canal and its history, after which we retired to the pub.

Camp reports Grand Western: "The canal looks more like a canal."

Thursday – an eleven hour day! Having smashed all the windows, Steve moved onto the bucket. It fell off the JCB, to be more precise – oh dear!

After an unbelievably long day’s work, everyone was shattered. Take-out it is then – Chinese and a Blues Brothers film.

Friday, the final day of the Canal Camp. The dredging was completed, in the process of which Sally managed to get a dumper truck stuck several times. So seven dumper trucks were washed down although we only had four, if that makes sense... All that remained now was removing the JCB from the canal bed. Simple enough right? – Wrong! Everyone stood and watched for hours, as the underside of both tracks became visible.

Somehow – only Jen knows – the JCB was steered out of the canal bed.

That evening, after dinner we headed off down to the pub, where Sally and I masterfully demostrated our skill at ‘how not to play pool’. Special awards were given to Steve (window cleaner – I hope you’re making good use of it) and Adrian (a shower cap??) for their hard work and dedication.

Well, the canal looks more like a canal. Mission accomplished and I survived!

Sajni Shah

Wednesday. Due to the atrocious weather and the marquee-thing blowing away, the locals sorted out a much appreciated port-a-cabin for us. We re-laid most of the (now totally worn through) towpath and chopped down ‘the ****** tree’ – you had to be there to know which one I’m talking about. Steve broke another window and the local TV crew turned up to film us drinking tea. An excellent day’s work.

In the evening the local canal trust invited us to dine in style – top notch BBQ. The midges ate well too – I got eaten alive. We then headed off to everyone’s favourite place, the pub. Need I say more?

"All that remained now was removing the JCB from the canal bed. Simple enough right?" (Adrian Fry)

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Camp reports Mon & Brec: rebuilding the top lock at 'Fourteen Locks' Camp 0211: Monmouthshire and Brecon 27th July – 3rd August This was a new site for me so I arrived on Saturday with some apprehension. (And everyone at work told me it always rains in Wales) It was warm and sunny as 15 people turned up, the site was well organised with scaffold all set up, and the local Monmouthshire Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust laid-on a massive barbecue with loads of drinks in the evening. Things were looking great. Generous locals even wanted to share their barbecue with us, unfortunately this wasn’t until 2 in the morning, and I don’t think the windows of the church hall were all that hungry. PC Collins and PC Davis soon sorted them out.

Sunday The main task of the week was to rebuild the stone lock walls which had been prepared the week before. We enjoyed the sunshine while setting up and cleaning the dirt off the walls with a pressure washer. Tonnes of stone were moved by dumper from the compound over to the lock side.

Stonework began in the afternoon under the keen eye of Steve the resident restoration expert from British Waterways.

Rather sweaty demolition also began on the bricked up paddle holes. Catherine cooked us up a top Sunday roast and we retired to the ‘local’, remembering of course that there was ‘no compulsion to drink’.

Monday The stonework began again and lots of it! All available hands were working in the lock or keeping them supplied with stones and mortar using the barrow hoist. During the hot afternoon we chased-out the stop plank grooves giving everyone plenty of dust. The rotting bottom timber was eventually hacked out allowing the stone to be prepared for the channels to be fitted. We also knocked up a small dam to provide some time in dryness while we worked. Groovy baby; a trip to the cinema and ‘Austin Powers’ finished the evening off with a grin.

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Tuesday Another early start (Note to Mike Palmer: to get maximum productivity choose accommodation with no curtains). Yes, more stonework, progressing fantastically. Holes drilled and wall ties attached. Stop planks bottom timber was set in. It was yet another sunny day despite torrential storms not far away. Phil of the Canals Trust gave us a rundown on the history of the local canal industry up to the present day use and the future plans. This let us all see what we were working for! Simon our French volunteer gave us a demonstration on La flute, soon to be accompanied

by Viv on Le piano.

Wednesday The walls were flying up now. Concrete mixing was becoming a well-oiled machine. Pointing began in the forebay, and we began to demolish an innocent-looking concrete weir which had been previously constructed to act like the stop planks. Cate turned up and cooked us up a bolognaise. Yet again the locals provided our entertainment with a boat trip along a navigable section of the canal. Luckily for us the boat trip ended near the pub so it would be rude not to visit... Tonight was Rachel’s turn on le piano along with Simon.

Thursday HEADACHE? Yes I think there were one or two.

At least there were some big lie-ins.

The stop-plank channels dropped in perfectly and were set in place. Stonework and a ladder recess were developing nicely in the chamber. In particular Brian and Penny were our resident stomemasons. The wall was high enough to begin a little backfilling. The pointing in the forebay was coming along well, "no I`m not bored, honest" was the comment. I didn’t believe her, but it’s finished now. After 7 tired people and 2 hot kangos the not-so-innocent concrete weir final gave up and collapsed. The local leisure centre didn’t have a very exciting pool, then mid-swim we heard the dreaded phrase "what’s that brown thing floating? Urrrgggghhhh". We left. On a better note, I think this was the Thai curry night?

Yum. Katherine - your cooking was brilliant, can we talk you into doing it again? After a glass or two of wine I managed (while trying to turn up the volume) to delete all the week’s photos from my camera. Oops.

Friday I was rapidly taking photos. The stop planks were cut to size and fitted in the channels. The floor was hosed clean and a concrete floor laid in. The stone work was now up to the next level of scaffolding, making work a bit harder. This makes BWs Steve’s work much easier as he carries on the work alone over the coming weeks. Some of us began removing the gate sill. After a good tidy-up the site was looking great. Its Friday: fish and chip night. Originally we had planned to visit the Brecon boat rally, but given the distance involved we put extra effort into the day’s work then enjoyed a relaxed evening around the accommodation and the pub down the road.

Saturday ...was the usual rush of tidying up and cleaning, all done in time. It’s been a great team effort this week. British Waterways have been there providing all the resources and extra knowledge, while the Canals Trust based at the fourteen locks visitor centre have been there to organise good accommodation and entertainment. And of course WRG - great efforts by everyone. I think this partnership should work well again on future camps. It was my most enjoyable week with WRG so far.

Rob Daffern

Above left: rebuilding the wing wall in stone.

Above: mortaring-in the stop-plank grooves.

Left: pointing is fun! Opposite page: keeping the stone-layers supplied using the barrow hoist. Photos by Alan Lines.

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Camp reports Cotswolds: Ham Mill Lock bywash and Jubilee Bridge Camp 0209 (part two): Cotswold Canals July 20th – 27th "I’m a WRGie - get me out of here!"

Bored with 'Big Bother House Camp 0209' on the Cotswold Canals (see ‘Navvies’ 194) we change channels for the second half of the week...

In the jungle of South West England, near Stroud, a unique experiment has been taking place. A small group of WRG volunteers has spent the first half of the week performing unpleasant tasks in exchange for their food, and arguing and talking long into the night...

On Wednesday the jungle-based tasks include concrete-breaking at the Ham Mill Lock spillweir and installing timber shoring to hold the structure up where the brickwork has been washed away, while Lesley and Ernie get into the cakeand curry-making at the accommodation. Work continues at the bridge deck and abutment wing wall, and on tree clearance.

Night falls with tropical suddenness, while most of the campers are out on a boat-trip, the cooks slaving away over a domestic stove (to cook curry for 23 people) and a big two-ring burner for the rice.

Meanwhile Martin and Ian have been selected to complete the ‘bush tucker task’ and are forced to crawl down a dark leech-infested paddle-culvert with partly-formed plans (not to mention partly-formed bits of plywood) for sealing it up. (and no mobile phone reception - that’s really suffering!) They return, shaken, having failed in their task, but get fed anyway on a nice curry.

The boat trip has been a great success and got two locks further than expected, to the famous Bonds Mill plastic liftbridge.

On Thursday morning Tunji is chosen by phone poll to leave the Camp. Arguments arise over James’s distribution of copies of ‘The Times’ and ‘The Daily Sport’.

In the jungle, the campers are filling sandbags until all the sand is gone. Others are still breaking concrete in an attempt to uncover the leeches’ den. The dam that Martin and Ian were trying to build last night is re-created with new polythene, more plywood and the sandbags. Then lots of expanding foam is squirted around everywhere that the water might get through, and suddenly the spillweir chamber is dry enough that we can see where the last few leaks are.

Meanwhile a top-coat of black and white gloss is being applied to Jubilee Bridge, and Rob has started rebuilding the wing wall.

Sparky’s forestry team have developed a strange obsession with logs and are stacking them in huge piles, while chipping the smaller less useful bits.

On Thursday Ernie tricks the campers into submitting themselves to being showered with nasty things (like soap and warm water - yuk!) and then going and sitting at the picnic tables beside the lock at Eastington while Lesley fetches an apparently random array of fish & chips and kebabs that their tasks have won them. Fish & chips for the TV crew (Ant & Dec a.k.a. Martin and Ian) are delivered to the work site at Ham Mill Lock.

Ernie takes his lot to the cinema to see ‘Goldmember’ before returning to face reconstructing all the beds which have been dismantled and moved to the backWork begins on the rebuilding the bridge abutment wing room to make way for the amateur radio club who used the hall for the evening. wall at Jubilee footbridge.

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On Friday Martin & Ian try to inject some new pep and urgency into the show (as it’s the last day, and it looks like there’s a chance that we might finally get to do the readymix concrete pour that we planned for Monday or thereabouts...) Meanwhile Max is votedoff first thing and returns to the real world.

The production team take an early breakfast and some potential stars head for the work-site. The dam hasn’t leaked in the night, and the reinforcing is placed in the weir chamber ready for the arrival of the readymix concrete to form its new base.

This arrives - two lorry loads of it - and is poured, spread and vibrated, then the whole site is cleared, tidied and site fencing erected around it. Down by the bridge, tree-felling and log-collecting are becoming frantic, districting the (slightly blobby) blackand-white painters on the bridge deck. The weather is better than it has been all week and the campers are covering themselves with a mixture of paint, sweat, dust and sun-cream.

For the final evening the Scouts whose HQ we are staying in have lent us their barbecue and the campers are keen to show their newly-acquired cooking skills... Tunji. - who has again reappeared and is clearly moonlighting on at least two TV channels at once - is a great hand with the barbecue tongs and cooks exotic stuff like chilli sardines. Maybe he’s been away on ‘Ready Steady Cook’? ‘And & Dec’ make their end-ofcamp speeches. Canal Trust chairman Bruce Hall turns up and thanks us. Some of the volunteers have created a ‘who’s drunk what’ chart for their supplies of beer... as the evening progresses its accuracy becomes more doubtful...

On Saturday the final task is to pack the trailer, and then the campers depart. Jade is the last to be ‘got out of here’ and is therefore the winner.

Coming soon: ‘WRGie Fat Club’: 20 canal campers undertake a 7-day challenge to put on weight...

Lesley McFadyen

Breaking out the reinforced concrete cover that had been cast over part of the bywash weir.

PS from the one of the leaders: as I hope you can tell from report and photos that appear in this issue and the last issue, despite various trials, tribulations and general setbacks resulting from working on a new site which was mostly buried at the start of the camp (meaning that we didn’t really know what conditions were like or how much we were likely to achieve until well into the week) we did actually achieve some real progress on the dismantling, assessment and rebuilding of the Ham Mill Lock bywash weir chamber. We hope that the extra camp there on 26 Oct to 1 Nov will build on this progress. We also completed the demolition and got well into the rebuilding stage of the decayed wing wall of Jubilee Footbridge, and refurbished the wood and iron deck and parapets, including giving it a smart new coat of black and white paint. (which makes a bit of a problem for the locals, who apparently refer to it as ‘The blue and white bridge’...) And we provided support for Sparky on his forestry work.

Thank you to Lesley for the Camp Report and for being ‘catering manager’ - organising food preparation and ensuring that everybody had a hand in it (in the catering, that is, not in the food!) - to Ian for doing an excellent job as the other leader, to Cotswold Canals Trust for good local support, and to all the volunteers who worked on Camp 0209. See you at the Bonfire Bash!

Jubilee Footbridge is repainted. (All photos by the editor.)

Martin Ludgate

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Camp reports Montgomery Canal: rebuilding the Maesbury spillweir channel Camp 14: Montgomery Canal 3rd-10th August 'Le camp franglais' Samedi – Rule one – don’t leave the kit in a state when Just Jen is picking it up! Usual introductions: discover we have 2 French people and a Belgian on the camp. Figure we may well need some translations that don’t figure in Larousse. Unusually, Lou didn’t need taking to A&E after the safety talk. She is rather proud of being an Emergency Local, ready to leap to our aid at a moments notice...! Craig arrived and started producing enough cookies to feed an army, or at least half the camp.

Dimanche – Task for today and the next is to take down the dry stone walls on the storm weir outfall channel at Maesbury, so that later in the week we can start to rebuild it on a concrete base.

First we had to do some scrub clearance, to try and find the stones that had already been taken out. Toad Rescue became a job for some of us – there were an awful lot of pissed-off amphibians in the walls, along with some voles, which were carefully moved out of the way. We weren’t so careful with the wasps next. The tradition of finding new words for the French speakers to look up started today, with 'Toad', 'Mattock' (Some of the English speakers needed that explaining) 'Squash' (as in orange/blackcurrant!) and 'to scratch oneself'. Later in the day we were honoured and soaked by the arrival of the man formally known as the Harrogate rain ) He took us on a god, (TMFKHRG, or mystery tour of Frankton, and I had my first encounter with the fright ride that is Lockgates Bridge! Meanwhile Eli cooked roast pork with all the ‘etcs’, and Doug’s birthday was celebrated in proper style, much to his embarrassment.

Jen got her bendy toy only 2 days late, and started to reshape the base of the weir. We had some visitors, including Richard Drake, and the local BW and Ecologist types, and a friendly local journalist. After lunch Adrian got to play with the strimmer, but we think he was really just after the harness. This may explain some of today’s words – 'Root', 'Wasp', 'Dirty Weekend' and 'Bondage' (you should try explaining that sometime if you think you’re good with languages!) The evening was spent visiting Pontcysyllte aqueduct, and watching Adrian dig a huge hole for himself. Just don’t mention Vicar’s Daughters to the poor chap.

Mardi – Things on site were starting to look very different. Jen finished digging out section 3 ready for concrete bottoming, the final section was now being demolished as the wasps were all gone, and the builders at the top end had nearly finished rebuilding section 2. The re-mesh, sand and cement now arrived in bulk, and Aymeric and Chris cut the mesh into the correct sizes. I went on a trip to the Green Shed, and we tried to find things to make a concrete chute out of, and the vibrator.

Words for today were 'Vibrator', 'Swear-word', 'Grumble' and 'Alien' – the latter explained by a trip to the cinema to watch ‘Men in Black 2’!

Mecredi – Ralph started this morning by asserting his leadership powers, and ordering me back to bed, to keep my viral companions warm. I felt too horrid to disagree. TMFKHRG arrived with the level, and Jen was most put out to find her digging was a whole 2mm out over the 17m length of section 3!

Lundi – Morning has broken, Campers are broken. A strange reluctance to move any more stones appeared, as people found muscles that they didn’t know they had! Unfortunately, all the work involved moving big stones, so that’s what we did. Brian, Mike, Steve, Ian and Chris started on building the wall back up where the concrete had already been poured (section 2).

Channel walls demoloished ready for concreting the base.

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Today was concrete pour day, and we discovered we were working on the only site to have a dearth of half bricks to prop the mesh up on! We had asked for a brave driver to bring the concrete across the field and as close to the edge as possible, but we were not expecting a nutter who tried to park the wagon in the weir! Even Ralph looked scared. Everyone got thoroughly covered in concrete, but we did manage to get enough wasn’t there, so we were in the weir. very pleased to watch the thunder storm work its way around the edge of our field. New words for the day – 'shaft' 'that’s rubbish' 'to roger' 'to take charge' 'snore' and 'to sting'.

People spent most of today thinking it was Friday. I think everyone went to the pub in the evening, I went back to bed.

Jeudi – Some people had a disturbed night, and Doug earned himself the nutcracker award, by crawling through a window, and learnt something about the problems of pulling, or rather pushing!! (If you weren’t there, don’t try to work that out!) I got ordered to stay in bed again, and Ralph got everyone sorted for a repeat of yesterday on section 4. Unfortunately we’d used all the available half bricks yesterday, and they were in the concrete, so we had to make some new ones out of whole bricks! Lots of people got to move more stones and start building on section 3, and one side was completed by the end of the day. Adrian got a new sex toy to play with, but was disappointed that the vibrator didn’t come with a harness. Today’s driver was slightly less nutty than yesterdays, but still close enough, and the rain didn’t miss either, so it was a wet mix of concrete! Today’s words were unsurprisingly 'sticky' 'squelch' 'bucket' and 'wicked'. We still all thought it was Friday.

Rebuilding of the stone walls in progress.

Today’s entertainment was provided by Lou, who had found a book of 'wicked French for the traveller'.

We were most amused to find one of the insults was to do with sleeping with a Belgian, which upset Dale who had spent all week doing just that.

Vendredi (Friday) finally arrived. And so did the , with all his attendant worshipping rain clouds. Site turned into a slippery thing, so we gave up, having achieved 2 weeks work in one anyway. Today’s new words were 'knickers' 'slippery' 'upside-down' and 'put the kettle on'. We found the perfect phrase to sum the week up 'Vous voulez dire que vous bechez tout ça chaque jour?' Chris and Adrian spent all day trying to translate 'You’re all that' 'Tu es tout ça!' And then in the pub that night they shocked all the old hands who turned up by recognising them and greeting them like long lost buddies, rather than being complete strangers. Wen was rather worried that she might have snogged one in a former life!

All in all a fabulous week, with many laughs, jokes, and fun, and huge amounts of work done. Apologies for lack of photos, but you’ll just have to go to the Mont to see what we’ve done. And to all the camp attenders, new, old, etc, 'j’espère avoir le plaisir de vous revoir un jour' - like at the Bonfire Bash – sign up today!!

Lots of love and hugs

A completed length of rebuilt channel in the foreground, with preparation under way for concreting the base of ‘Dr Liz’ Williamson the next section beyond. All photos by Mike Rennolds.

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Camp reports Wilts&Berks:NWPGontheDig Deep project at Summit Lock Camp 0207: Wilts & Berks Canal 13th – 20th July With the suspension of volunteer work at Valley Lock on the Thames & Severn due to the private garden suspended precariously above the chamber, the hunt was on to find a suitable alternative for this year’s NWPG camp, preferably on one of the Dig Deep projects.

The obvious site was Summit Lock which needed an urgent boost following last year’s delays due to the site being inaccessible because of Foot and Mouth. Three volunteers from Rachael’s camp had booked to stay on for a second week in sunny Wiltshire and, in addition to a dozen regular NWPG volunteers, we were joined by five new volunteers, all of whom excelled themselves during what turned out to be at times a fairly hectic and very hot week.

But what about accommodation? Having scoured most of the surrounding countryside and discounted various options Peter Smith suggested Foxham Reading Room. But isn’t a Reading Room supposed to be quiet and roomy? Not with the RAF’s Hercules transporter aircraft flying directly overhead at minimal altitude seemingly at five-minute intervals throughout each evening and twenty beds crammed into the main hall. However, at least it was clean, had decent washing facilities, and was close to the Foxham Inn. It is even closer to the local Post Office which occupies approx. 20% of the total sleeping space and opens for business every Monday and Thursday morning requiring all other occupants and bedding to be cleared by 8.30!

Just as we had sorted out the accommodation Matt arrived with the plans for the foundations of the new bridge for the bottom end of Summit Lock.

A very substantial quantity of reinforcing bar was going to have to be wired together to form a rigid cage. (How many lengths of wire!?) Somehow each section had to be put together, carried down into the chamber, formwork constructed, and everything supported with Acrow Props in just two days before the first load of readymix concrete was due on the Tuesday. It is a great credit to all those involved that the job was completed on time, to a high standard, and with a minimum of fuss. The only injuries sustained were a few sore hands from all that wire twisting!

Installation of reinforcing ready for casting the concrete foundations for the lock tail bridge at Summit Lock. The lock and bridge have been built as independent structures, with a fibre seal separating them.

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Fortunately a blinding layer had already been poured during a previous work party so at least the ground under foot was reasonably dry and firm, which is more than can be said for the conditions encountered during the laying of the foundation layer for the lower wing walls later in the week – very wet and muddy. Having poured the bridge base on Tuesday the lower walls were cast on Thursday. Two loads of readymix in total.

Meanwhile the offside chamber wall was rapidly nearing completion and, with the hollow-block wall completed behind, the whole lot was backfilled. At the top end Rob and Phill were rebuilding one recess wall while the local volunteers completed the other.

In total seven-and-a-bit loads of readymix were laid during the week - or approximately 130 tons!

(I think Clive and his team were very glad that they hadn’t been asked to mix that by hand, especially in the hot conditions!)

Camp reports "Seven-and-a-bit loads of Readymix were laid in a week!"

What appeared at the beginning of the week to be an over ambitious work schedule was almost entirely completed, representing possibly the most work ever achieved during an NWPG camp. (Subsequently all the below water level works have been completed at the bottom end of the chamber, including the laying of the bywash pipe by BITM.) Evening activities included the usual pub trips, including a visit to Avoncliff and Bradford when the Foxham Inn was shut, the traditional barbecue (in non-traditional fine weather), and a very enjoyable boat trip on the ‘Rose of Hungerford’. Frequent trips were made to the 'showers' at Wootton Bassett Leisure Centre where the plumbing left a lot to be desired. (There was more water running down the walls than coming out of the nozzles!)

Particular thanks must go to Sue for the excellent catering and the very welcome ice creams brought down to site and to Bill for leading the bridge construction team. But without the enthusiasm and hard work put in by everyone, including the locals under John Bower, it just wouldn’t have happened.

Above: bricklaying on the chamber walls nearing completion. Below: the lock tail at the end of the camp, showing the new bridge foundations and lock wing wall base. Photos by Bill Nicholson.

See you all again next year.

Graham Hawkes

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Camp reports Ipswich & Stowmarket Navigation at Creeting Lock Camp 13 – Ipswich & Stowmarket Navigation 3rd – 10th August (Unlucky for some – but only when using a 240V Kango hammer in the rain) We start, as is traditional, with a camp song (and not in the Graham Norton sense of the word).

This year we have Dodgy lyrics to a Dodgy tune that you might just recognise...

Camping out in the summer, Cleaning bricks in the rain, Burnt my hand on the Burco, Asked Swoose to ease the pain………

We go shopping at Tescos, Don’t want to behave, Driving trolleys like Mansell, Buying ‘Value Bitter’ for games……

If I ever see a brick again, I’ll probably break down and cry, Mole made me wear itchy safety goggles, To Saaaave, my, eyes.

For those of you needing something more substantial and satisfyingly anoraky I should add that the camp achieved a great deal, working alongside perhaps the nicest local group on the system. (They baked us cakes, for God’s sake! And that was just the blokes!)

This proved to be a popular camp with 28 people sitting down to dinner on the Saturday night.

A typically Mole-ish safety talk was accompanied by not only the safety video, but by footage of last year’s camp shot for a day-time holiday programme.

This included cameos by WRG and local regulars and featured a rudimentary digger dance (don’t ask) and exotic site fashion. Afterwards Mole warned campers that anyone caught wearing dungarees on site would get one firm warning....

The camp continued the good work put in on the site last year and revolved round the hump- backed bridge spanning the lock tail, with additional work being carried out in the chamber itself. (Made possible through Chris’s selfless act of literally ‘filling his waders’ at the stop planks. Well plugged, that boy!)

The first few days were dedicated to some serious demolition work as the bridge’s parapets came down and were barrowed off to the convalescent home for concussed headers. Which, coincidentally, was at the same location as the ‘Creeting Lock Penal Colony’ that echoed daily to the rhythmic sound of kangos, the tap of brick hammers and the seductive rasp of wire brushing. And what’s this? It is a bird, is it a plane? No! It’s the Ipswich and Stowmarket patent-pending brick cleaning machine! (Whirr, whirr! Step on it Maureen, and don’t spare the courses!)

Now looking back, It was just a lock, With ladder recesses cut in the sides, What happens now?

Where did the week go?

How do people without airbeds survive?!!!!

Camping out in the summer…

(And to the tune of ‘Button Moon’) We’ve been to Creeting Lock, We clean bricks quite a lot, Creeting lock, Creeeting lock, Creeeeting lock, Creeting locooooooooooocck!

And finally, There I was, Digging Ed’s hole, Sort of big and round it was……………

(This song has been discontinued in the interests of good taste. Which is a first.)

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"Some serious demoilition work" on the Creeting lock-tail bridge parapets. (Ed Walker)

Meanwhile the scaffolding team had created a fine example of late 20th Century Hi-tech that even Norman Foster would have approved of, and Ed Walker had dug himself into a hole, (literally), exposing his spandrels for anyone brave enough to take a peek.

Meanwhile ‘Beer’ Matt Taylor had rustled up a posse of novice bricklayers for the first round of the ‘Creeting Lock all out Barbecue-Building Contest’. After explaining headers, stretchers, professional trowels, and the off-site rule we had kick off. The girls proved to be statistically better than the boys, but this can be attributed to the nature of the program, which was mainly course work.

Back at the bridge: By the third day we there were some satisfyingly large piles of rubble, Ed’s hole had expanded, but there remained a single section of parapet that refused to break into tasty bite sized pieces. Half a dozen strong lads and Matt squared up to the wall while Mole adopted a smart/casual catalogue stance and directed their efforts using his tried and tested ‘Bagpuss’ technique.

(Heave!

Heeeeeeave!

Heeeeeeeeave! Come on Charlie Mouse!)

Camp reports "...the tap of hammer and the seductive rasp of wire-brushing" And the wall came tumbling down.

And so the week continued as damp but happy campers were rotated round site alternating between demolition, hoist duty, muck making, brick laying and the inevitable brick cleaning. The week ended with the parapets having been completely removed and the remaining brickwork cleaned out and re-pointed.

Inside the lock chamber several holes had been filled, and two ladder recesses cut and excavated.

A new scaffolding tower had been erected under Spence’s direction, from which the gate recesses can now be rebuilt while keeping your feet dry. At the far end a merry band of pressure washers cleaned out the paddle holes and laid the foundations for the ‘fancy-dan’ brickwork to come, some of it courtesy of London WRG. The camp ended with the traditional cremation of pork products and some disgraceful shenanigans involving some of Tesco’s finest tinned goods and bendy straws.

Special mention must go to: Stuart: who successfully burnt himself in Burco related accidents no less than three times in one day.

(Once by over-enthusiastically cleaning out his cup using boiling water).

Amy & George: For terrorising shoppers at the local Tesco by applying rallydriving techniques to the previously sedate affair of pushing trolleys. (The gogThe ‘Creeting Lock all out Barbecue-Building Contest’ - otherwise known gles and hardhats were a nice touch). as Matt's bricklaying training. (Matt Taylor)

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Camp reports Who would have thought of hiding Mole's airbed in the freezer?

Bush & Baz: In recognition of their pioneering research in the field of the ‘Tesco Value Line’, and the ground breaking ‘Tesco Value Challenge’, (Or ‘Tescuvallange!’ as the night progressed.) Channel 5 have already made an offer for the broadcasting rights.

Ed: For the impressive dimensions of his hole, and the way in which he dealt with piles.

Nat: The award for most surreal fantasy scenario and also for attempting to start WRG’s first Mormon community.

Swoose: for being the most surreal fantasy.

Bush: (again) Whoever would have thought of hiding Mole’s airbed in the freezer?

Colin, Spence, and all the other locals: who shared their once tidy site hut with 28 volunteers without blinking, even when Matt mistakenly ate all the pies.

To all the happy shiny people involved: we thank you!

See you all at the Mont & Brec reunion Bonfire Bash!

Lots of love, BBM xxxxxxxxxxx (Bush, Baz, Mole. The Unholy Trinity) P.S. Here’s givin’ maximum respect to all me bitches in the Love Shack (Mark II)

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Above: setting up scaffolding by the gate recess for the bricklayers. (Gordon Brown) Below: "The inevitable brick-cleaning" (Ed Walker) Bottom: digging out the remains of the bridge spandrel walls (Gordon Brown)

Camp 16 – Sleaford Navigation 10th – 17th August (aka the ‘Tastic Camp’) In our continuing quest for the most original Canal Camp report: we have already had one this year written by a member of the catering team; here is one which is written by a part of the catering kit.

As Burco tea-boilers aren't very good at writing, Ernie actually wrote the words down on paper each evening. And Nina wrote some more words down afterwards. I wonder if they make any more sense...

'Tools on tour', by Bertrand Burco (no 250) Saturday: After all that battering at Ipswich, we thought we were due a break. Oh how wrong we were! The cuisine class were taken into the swish rugby club, where they were spoilt rotten by Debs and Fiona (proper chefs you know) all week, but us lower site class spent the night in the new trailer.

The humans were slightly worried by 2 Japanese volunteers not being on the train as expected and one volunteer being ‘somewhere in the Middle East’.

At least it meant they left us in peace for a while.

Leader Izzy must have laid it on thick with the safety talk, as all the humans were in bed by 10.30.

Sunday: The kit trailer was too clean to take to site, so we went into RFB. The wrecking bar decided to shed its skin, as last year’s colour was sooo passé, one chisel felt hot and decided to cool off by swimming into the lock, the mattock triplets felt a bit delicate after travelling and fell apart. I think they did it deliberately so Judith would beat them back into shape.

No time for resting though, we had to make a nasty bumpy cliff at the end of the bywash into a nice smooth slope so that our cousin bricks could be laid smoothly for the water to run over. We also had to bash some wood to make the concrete stay in place.

I don’t like violence myself but we had little choice.

The humans had a very nice time of it, Ant got trained on dumpers and Ernie spent the whole time driving girls from one place to another. Izzy laughed at him but roles were soon reversed when she was heard asking directory enquiries for the phone number of ‘Bowl-Tastic’ in Grantham. Well no one else knew it’s name either. Phil the Phone said they were very silly when they got there, with both leaders getting turkeys (cuisine class never saw them though) and Steven getting 3 strikes in a row.

Camp reports Sleaford Navigation: Bertrand BurcoreportsfromHaverholme...

The mattock triplets got it on with Suzy shovel to finish the smooth slope, with Nori and Nozu giving their expert opinion 'Thankyou'.

Cuisine class were nearly deafened by the leaders and old hands who should know better trying to sing football songs whilst washing them. Fortunately they then went out to the pub where it was very hot, according to Phil Phone (our roving reporter).

Nina’s PS: Ernie (aka Ernie 4-babes) rattled on about nips and temperatures so Izzy and Nina ignored him, dismissing him as another one of those WRG blokes. Much more red wine was consumed.

"Colours and Fruits" says Izzy. No one knows what she’s talking about. Martin drinks beer from a can still attached to its plastic rings.

Tuesday: Nina’s Pre-Script: Suggested methods of job creation: remove wheels from wheel barrows, mix cement in car park and barrow 1 mile to site, create 3-mile long pulley system.

The humans started the day in a good mood due to being fed melon and crepes. Izzy was in an even better mood after getting trained on vans. RFB said she was van-Tastic. Mike the mixer decided to spread concrete and convert all tools to its meaning. They all liked being covered in it but the Truth of Jen prevailed and two-tone red and blue returned.

The humans worked hard to put the bridge supports in, lay some bricks, ruthlessly rip out some innocent reeds (not in our Union, sadly), and remove the shuttering.

‘Cobblers’ I hear you say – yes, Siegfried Strimmer got a trip to Cobblers Lock, along with the super slashers, and produced a surface of bowling green quality.

Nina’s PS: Ernie was being a bit antisocial, so he wrote many words in the camp diary.

Steve recalled the time he was tied down by bras, but we won’t go there.

Monday: Mike the mixer got a bit dirty today and was exhausted after Debs kept demanding more concrete so she could ice it with Steve Skimmer – well she was missing the cuisine class. Derek Dumper had a marvellous day training Ernie’s Dumper Babes (4 in total).

Greg the Grapple was in his element pulling out rubbish from the lock, Ernie felt he wasn’t spending enough ‘babe time’ so coaxed Nina into the lock to ‘help’ him. The The new footbridge over Haverholme Lock bywash that all the water ranged from welly depth to willy depth. tools on Camp 0216 built.(with a liitle help from the humans).

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GCW whisked the humans off to Grantham to watch 'MiB II' at the cinema, but was unable to prevent Judith leaping out at her parents’ house. Apparently she had to do some washing or something.

Nina’s PS: No P.S. this evening. Beer and sleepy eyes.

Anyway, there was a f*!@ing pre-script, BE GRATEFUL. Wednesday: Charlie Camera got to take a picture of the nearly completed wooden footbridge this afternoon, after all the tools worked very hard on it.

Mike Mixer made a dry mix to put on the smooth slope, and Teddy Trowel had to put all his effort into producing the exact angle to satisfy that fussy Mr Ludgate.

Distant relative, Slytherin Shuttering proved to be as stubborn as ever. Threats of violence, burning it out and leaving it to rot did not work, but it moved pretty quickly when Haydn suggested going to the pet shop to buy some woodworm.

As for me, Bertrand Burco, my faith in humans was restored as they still kept me in service despite the blistering hot weather. The tea I produced kept them working late to finish some jobs ready for tomorrow.

Cuisine Class produced a masterpiece tonight, although Debs and Fiona got all the credit. The poor mugs got severely abused later on, as they got filled with fizzy custard many times over.

Nina’s PS (abridged): Fizzy Custard, Texas (no, Sleaford), vodka and fizzy custard – you get the picture. Ant tried to look like a lobster but the ladies still weren’t interested. Izzy and Nina shared a tshirt today. Haydn wore the sleeve as a bandana.

Steve D was (ir)responsible for cutting the t-shirt – a bit enthusiastic with the bow saw. Began writing the "Impractical Restoration Guide", none of it is printable but ask the leaders for further information.

Thursday: Us tools were ready on time but the humans seemed less keen to go to site, they don’t make navvies like they used to. Half of us spent the day helping those lazy bricks lie down flat, the rest spread ourselves between laying coping stones at a funny angle and going off site to do a bit more slashing. We were very busy all day, so tired in fact that I can’t write much more.

Some of us went into the lock with Nori, Nozu and their ‘responsible’ adult supervisor to cool down and rescue some stones that had been abandoned for a long time. The old wooden bridge was delighted to be put back into service and got to have a swim. It had the high honour of towing the rescued stones out of the lock, but was a bit scared when it encountered an enormous dead pike. Luckily Paul dealt with said fish in a very sensible way. We had to do some diving in order to find the wooden sill, but completed the mission with time to spare.

The bridge was completed and Bertha Bow-saw got to cut the ribbon as it was handed over by Izzy to John Jackson. The brick kit had a party on the slope and laid loads of bricks for the locals to finish off on a weekend.

The humans had a BBQ in the evening, and gave Izzy a blonde wig so if she showed signs of being a bit sensible she could have blonde extensions and return to normal. She entertained her harem of men (all the other girls had gone), who were very attentive, especially Ant – but he respected her too much.

Dave was not satisfied with the model plane he was given and left early to fly a proper one. Brian was delighted with his whisk, so he would forever remember all the mixing he did.

The leftover doughnuts met a very nasty end, involving strawsandinjectionsofalcoholicsubstancesandsqueezy cheese. It is too unpleasant to describe in detail.

Saturday: Today is a bit of a blur. All the tools went to bed in the trailer, hoping for a rest at the National (some chance) and the humans said lots of things about 'fabulous accommodation', 'lovely locals being supportive', 'groovy volunteers', 'getting all the work done', and 'wanting to come back soon'.

Bertrand Burco (plus Brian 'Ernie' Hearne and Nina Whiteman)

The humans went to Skegness for fish and chips tonight to give Cuisine Class the night off. RFB had a bit of a strop on the way and wouldn’t give the key back until Paul stripped the fuel cap. The humans drank quite a lot of free Guinness, except the leaders who spent the camp budget in an arcade trying to win teddy bears with their willies on show, then trying to win it back on the 2p machines.

RFB made up for being grumpy by taking everyone to Wainfleet for a pint of XXXB on the way home. Then the mugs suffered the same fate as last night, with even more humans sampling that evil custard drink in the showers.

Friday: Cuisine Class lost their masters today, as they were off to camp in a field and mosh, apparently. Dizzy Disc-Cutter whizzed through the flagstones, to make copers, which were then expertly installed in a deliberately slopey fashion all along one side of the bywash.

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By the end of the camp most of the sloping-and-curved brickwork on the bywash outfall weir had been laid. In the background one the finished bywash walls complete with newly-laid coping stones is just visible. Photos by Charlie Camera (assisted by Martin)

The Blinking Blunker! (only kidding – Teehee!)

Little Wolf had been packed off to Cunning College a while ago to learn the 9 Rules of Badness.

Now that he knows what they are he’s looking out for their use in his adventures...

Grimshire Day … (er, lost count!)

After consolt cunnsalting looking in my Book of Badness, I found a few Rules of Badness had been used during the summer when I was camping (my worst thing). I found Uncle Bigbad had done lots of Rule 6, do your dirtiest every day (!), by not even halfway through – Oo-er! He took housey buckets and brushes to play in nasty concrete and bashed the fat chisels so they changed shape! But I told you I only sharpened the chisels for a joke [Thanks, Mister Furness! Best get the grinder warmed up …].

I was lucky [logistically speaking, of course!] that some camps were cansulled counsilld didn’t happen because Uncle hid the new trailer until really late. At least I remembered to pack my own two eyes [see Navvies 194, pg.15 ] - everything was right, hooray! Quick as a chick I stuck some sticky letters on the sides to dizgizz (cannot spell) it and Da-daaah! We have two trailers again. Your friends from the North-west really are v.genniruss gave bags of money (they must have been thinking of Rule 7 – do charming.).

You won’t beleeeve it I bet, but there are lots of people doing more camping which means I cannot do much sortingly other than break down and howl at the state of Kit B ect.[Aargh!… We already have a Kit F!!!]! But then I haven’t really seen the kits since mid-summer, Boo shame… I think I’ll be able to use Rule 2, say loads of rude words (hem,hem), when I do!

Cousin Yeller took all the electrickery things to Murkshire to have a check-up [Thanks, Bungle!]. He said the man knew about Rule 2 muchly, and said BLINKING and BLUNKING lots when he looked at the fridge frozzs because they had stamped on their own electric string! He was almost as angry as Uncle Bigbad when the moon backs away from being eaten – har har! All of a suddenly, in his anger, the man cundemmd condembed put one of them in the bin! So, thus and therefore, could you let me know [I’m going to regret this…] if you have a fridge frozz I could have pleee-e-eez [size has to be 166cm tall, give or take a few cm’s either way! Thanks for yours, Craig – it’s cool … thankfully!] because I have nowhere to keep the rabbit rolls and mice pies you keep sending? Don’t be fraidy bats, pleeez.

I am looking forward to my most notdisturbly time, but I don’t know when I’m going to get it yet. Then it will be arkshun stations and I’ll be a busy fixy boy. At least I’ve found myself a nice, smelly old lair [No, not at all smelly … that was the old place …] after looking for something to pounce on. Oh, and tell my baby bruv Smellybreff I still haven’t had any of his dirty postcards or filfy photos. So now I am all fedduply.

And that was how I got here.

Just.

Yours having a logistical nightmarely,

Logistics is very appreciately of the use of "Little Wolf’s Book of Badness" by Ian Whybrow with Tony Ross’s illustrations as this ‘months’ inspiration (and if you haven’t read the series yet I suggest you get on with it!!!!) and is very sorry if it should offendly anyone (mainly the author!). Translations offerred by return of e-mail or post!

Just Jen

logistics@wrg.org.uk page 41

Coming soon AutumnandwinterCanalCamps and major weekend work parties

Lichfield moves to Stroud...

Canal Camp 0220, due to take place on the Lichfield Canal on October 26-November 1, has had to be cancelled due to unforseen delays in transferring ownership of the proposed worksite from its present owners to the Canal Restoration Trust.

However an alternative site has been found: the Cotswold Canals (Thames & Severn Canal) at Ham Mill Lock near Stroud (site of Martin & Ian's Camp 0209 this summer) where work will be continuing on rebuilding the lock bywash weir chamber and the wing walls of the nearby Jubilee Footbridge under the leadership of David 'Moose' Hearnden and Leonie Greenhalgh. Last minute bookings welcome!

...and to the Monmouthshire & Brecon...

As there appeared to be more than enough interested volunteers to to fill one October camp, we have decided to hold a second one the same week (Oct 26-Nov 1) on the Mon & Brec. Leaders Spencer Collins and Adrian Fry will welcome any of you who would like to help them continue the work begun this summer on rebuilding the top lock of the impressive Fourteen Locks flight (hopefully including putting gates in!), and also prepare for the following weekend, when it's time for...

The Mon & Brec Bonfire Bash: November 2-3 Latest news on our annual major work-party and get-together for everyone in WRG: Accommodation: a brand-new school! It's near St Mellons village, not far from Junction 28 of the M4, and full joining instructions will be sent out by Head Office, and available on the WRG web site.

Work: With restoration of the top lock well under way, the main job for the reunion is clearing out the chambers of the remaining 13 locks in the flight. That's right - all of them! Plus some more stonework on the top lock, removing overhanging vegetation from the towpath, and 13 side-ponds to clear.

Fireworks: at the worksite after we knock off on Saturday evening there will be a big fireworks display by our big pyrotechnists Ralph & Harry. Please note: the organisers are providing the fireworks this year (it's included in the cost of the weekend) so please don't bring your own.

Bonfires: don't believe what you read in the press. Despite rumours to the contrary there WILL be plenty of bonfires on site! Otherwise it would just be a 'Bash'...

Beer: we'll be running a Real Ale Bar. If that's not your favourite tipple, please bring something that is.

Leaders: Adrian Fry and Spencer Collins, with Jude Moore in charge of catering.

DON'T DELAY - SEND YOUR BOOKING FORM TODAY!

The KESCRG / London WRG Christmas Party Dig: November 30 - December 1 Unfortunately just as 'Navvies' was going to press we learned that due to land ownership / permission issues beyond the control of the organisers and the canal society, we will not been able to hold this weekend on the Foxton Inclined Plane as we had hoped.

But don't worry, it WILL go ahead somewhere in southern England, and there WILL be a wacky Saturday night party with a 'Star Trek' theme, and Maureen WILL be supplying delicious Xmas nosh as she always does. As I write this we are busy looking at various alternative sites, and hopefully by the time you read this we will have chosen one. For the latest information contact the Editor, or Eddie Jones of KESCRG (Tel: 07850 889249; email eddiejones@jazzfm.com) or check the WRG web site www.wrg.org or the KESCRG web site www.kescrg.org.uk.

And if - like me - you don't need to know about such trivia as what canal it's on before you decide to go on the London WRG / KESCRG Christmas Dig, feel free to send off your booking NOW - simply write a cheque for ÂŁ12 payable to KESCRG, and send it with your name / address / phone number and any dietary requirements to Brian and Maureen Amos, 13 Trosley Ave, Dartford DA11 7QN.

page 42

Christmas Camp: Dec 26 - Jan 1 The WRG Christmas / New Year Canal Camp this year is once again on the Basingstoke Canal, and once again Pete Redway has miles and miles of canal bank that needs the overhanging trees and other vegetation cutting back and burning on some nice big bonfires.

Bookings: Bookings and enquiries for all Camps listed here EXCEPT THE DAUNTSEY CAMP should go to WRG Enquiries, PO Box 114, Rickmansworth WD3 1ZY, Tel: 01923 711114, or email enquiries@wrg.org.uk.

Or see our web site www.wrg.org.uk The work-site is likely to be in the St Johns / Woking area - with a possibility that (depending on the weather) we might also be able to carry with work on the St Johns backpump pipeline installation job that we began earlier this year.

The accommodation is (provisionally) Woodham Village Hall, and the leader is Dave 'Daddy Cool' Worthington, aided and abetted by various 'old hands' including your editor. And no doubt the year 2003 will be welcomed-in in fine style, with the usual raiding of the local charity shops on New Year's eve to make the costumes for whatever daft fancy dress idea we come up with. See you there!

And at Dauntsey...

The Wilts & Berks Canal Dauntsey Camp will also take place from December 26 to January 1st, and the work will be scrub-bashing and hedge-laying on a section of canal running eastwards from Dauntsey Lock.

The accommodation will as usual be at the Foxham Reading Rooms, and the leader will be Rachael Banyard. Contact Rachael on 01249 892289 for more details.

And so to 2003...

On the 12th and 13th of January London WRG and KESCRG will be getting together again (we mustn't keep meeting like this!) for another good scrub-bashing session on a new work-site - Pewsham Locks near Chippenham on the Wilts & Berks Canal. If you want to join in, contact the organisers of either of the groups (see diary for details).

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Cleanup 2003: March 22-23 This annual event involves WRG, the BCN Society and the local IWA branches getting together to spend a weekend dragging all manner of rubbish out of a different part of the BCN each year. This time we hope to start work at the fourway canal junction directly underneath 'Spaghetti Junction' on the M6 and work outwards along the canal in all four directions.

London WRG will be leading the WRG involvement this time, but as usual all volunteers are welcome, from WRG or any other group. See the next issue for more information and booking details.

Aston Locks Opening: April 4-6 The one we've all been waiting for! See Mike Palmer's comments on pages 4-5, and look out for more information in future issues.

A date for your diaries: March 22-23 for the BCN Cleanup.

Martin Ludgate Photo taken at last year's Cleanup by Alan Lines

page 43

Bits & pieces

New from WRG NorthWest (well actually not that new...)

WRGWear

Helen Gardner advises that Julian of Jancraft (who she orders the WRGwear WRG logo clothing from) will be at the Bonfire Bash with a selection of stock, and will be taking orders for anything that he doesn't have with him.

Helen also apologises for the delays that some of you may have been experiencing between sending off your orders and your WRGwear clothing arriving, and says if your order hasn't arrived within six weeks of you sending off your order, please phone her on her mobile phone 07785 925164, not on her land line.

Claire Moynihan... ...would like to thank everyone for their love and kindness to her at Huddersfield following the sad departure of her canine companion 'Merry Media 2½'. "She will be sadly missed but never forgotten."

New on the WRG web site...

Hopefully by the time you read this we will have photos of most of the summer Canal Camps on the web site. Have a look at www.wrg.org.uk, remember how much you enjoyed your summer camp... and book on an autumn or winter camp!

Many years ago in the 1970s WRG used to sell sets of ‘collectors’ slides’ of historic waterways scenes, maps of the canals, wonders of the waterways and so on.

These slides - all 45 of them - have now been put onto a CD-ROM by WRG North West. The CD (suitable for all PC systems from Windows 95 onwards) includes JPG and BMP versions of the pictures, plus the leaflets that accompanied the later slides, plus an automated ‘slide show’ of all the pictures. Use the pictures as ‘wallpaper’, a screensaver or whatever you like.

All proceeds go to canal restoration. Price £5. To order your copy contact Roger Evans on 01606 834471 or e-mail roger_m_evans@biscuits.com.

Also on the web...

See http://www.southamerican-pic.com/feat3/ yavari.html for details of a rather unusual waterway restoration project... an iron-hulled Bolinderengined passenger boat on Lake Titicaca!

And finally...

Apologies for (a) having to hold one or two items over till the next issue due to lack of space (despite the 16 extra pages!) and (b) once again no episode of the 'Bankside' serial this time, for the I am indebted to Pam Chester-Browne for pointing out that the first boat on the same reason. Don't Ribble Link was rather earlier than I suggested in previous issues of 'Navvies', and carried two small bears called 'Chestnut' and 'Hazel', as seen in Pam's photo. worry, it will return.

page 44

Contacting the chairman: Mike Palmer, 3 Finwood Rd, Rowington, Warwickshire CV35 7DH Tel: 01564 785293

Noticeboard

e-mail: mike.palmer@bbc.co.uk

Moving house...

Trailer

available:

Open trailer with 4 wheels (small) on Indespension mounts, fully braked, probably capable of carrying about half a ton. The basic structure is steel with slot-in side panels and tailgate. It has an unobstructed internal capacity of 6 foot by 4 foot with an apex in front allowing 8 foot long items to be carried down the centre. A frame will allow it to transport 8 x 4 sheets of board. Wheels are under chassis so no wheel arches. May need attention. Free to a good cause, but you'll need to collect it. Contact Sue Burchett: email sue@navvy.freeserve.co.uk

Found...

Alison Mackender has moved to: The Lodge Cottage, Gilsthwaite Lane, Kirk Hammerton, York YO26 8BX. email: alison.mackender@covance.com Jen Leigh has moved to: 45, Glebe Road, Sheffield S10 1FB. Viv West has a new email: mail@vivwest.force9.co.uk Harriet Rennie has moved to: 191 Ellerton Walk, Wolverhampton, WV10 0UL. Tel 01902 562526.

Tunji Faleye has an email address: olatunji.faleye@btinternet.com and phone number 020 7697 0686 If you move house, don't forget to tell 'Navvies' see bottom left, or email subs@wrg.org.uk.

One ex military green sleeping bag left at the 'National'. Currently with George ' Bungle' Eycott. To reclaim it contact him by email (bungle@wrg.org.uk) or by phone (01635) 676295.

Congratulations ...to Rob and Jane Cummings on the arrival of Ellie Jane, on September 26th.

Navvies Production

Navvies is published by Waterway Recovery Group, PO Box 114, Rickmansworth WD3 1ZY and is available to all interested in promoting the restoration and conSubscriptions / circulation servation of inland waterSue Watts ways by voluntary effort in 15 Eleanor Road Great Britain. Articles may Chorlton-cum-Hardy be reproduced in allied Manchester M21 9FZ magazines provided that the Printing and assembly: source is acknowledged.

John & Tess Hawkins WRG may not agree with 4 Links Way, Croxley Grn opinions expressed in this Rickmansworth, Herts magazine, but encourages WD3 3RQ 01923 448559 publication as a matter of inhawkins@jote.fsnet.co.uk terest. Nothing printed may Editor : Martin Ludgate 35 Silvester Road East Dulwich London SE22 9PB 020-8693 3266

Stamps wanted The WRG Canal Camps mobile phones: 07850 422156 (A) and 07850 422157 (B)

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 a division of Inland Waterways Enterprises Ltd., a subsidiary of the Inland Waterways Association (a registered charity).

Send used postage stamps, petrol coupons, old phone cards, empty computer printer ink cartridges to IWA/WRG Stamp Bank, 33 Hambleton Grove, Milton Keynes MK4 2JS. All proceeds to canal restoration.

Directors of WRG: John Baylis, Mick Beattie, Malcolm Bridge, Roger Burchett, Spencer Collins, Christopher Davey, Helen Davey, Roger Day, Richard Drake, Neil Edwards, Adrian Fry, John Hawkins, Jennifer Leigh, Judith Moore, Michael Palmer, Jonathan Smith.

Inland Waterways Enterprises Registered office: Secretary: Neil Edwards 3 Norfolk Court, Norfolk Rd. Rickmansworth WD3 1LT VAT reg. no : 788 9425 54 Š 2002 WRG Tel : 01923 711114 Registered no 4305322 ISSN 0953-6655

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Infill Best described as "Basic" The above words used to be used in the Canal Camps booklet each year to describe the standard of accommodation that new volunteers might expect.

These days typical Canal Camp accommodation is rather less basic than it used to be. But as a reminder of the 'bad old days' I asked for your 'accommodation stories' as a way of helping us to appreciate how lucky we 21st-century navvies are.

And you responded with a fine selection of tales of sleeping in the kitchen, cooking in the showers and showering in the car-park.

Well having (apparently) exhausted the supply of such stories - or at least the printable ones we thought it was time for something new... ...except that I can't leave the subject of dodgy accommodation without mentioning a couple of excellent examples that I stayed in recently, notable for: (a) having to place buckets in various strategic places around the hall to prevent the floor from becoming flooded whenever it rained. (b) a frantic Friday afternoon spent scouring south east London to replace all the London WRG baking trays which had been mislaid after the 'National' - only to discover that the accommodation didn't run to anything as sophisticated as an oven.

Or windows or doors for that matter. (c) a notice on the wall saying "Note: toilet and front door are separately controlled". Now I realise that some door-handles and bog flushing handles do look similar, but in all my years of staying in village halls with 'interesting' plumbing, electrics and door-locking rituals, it had never occurred to me that as I turn the handle on the front door, somebody enthroned in the 'gents' might be in for a surprise! Or that when I flush the loo, I might be inviting the burglars in! Oh well, you live and learn...

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Anyway mention of baking trays, buckets and bogs brings me to the subject of the next collection of readers' stories: "Recipes for disaster" Classic Canal Camp Catering Cockups.

As with the accommodation stories it is of course the 'exception that proves the rule'. Most of our cooks are excellent, and can turn out delicious fodder using the most basic kit. But once in a while things don't quite work out as one might have hoped...

And as with 'best described as "basic" ', I will start the ball rolling with five of my own stories and invite you to improve on them...

1 Diesel Crumble. Before my time, but still talked about by London WRG oldies. Hint: if you're going to spend the afternoon fixing your Land Rover and the evening cooking apple crumble, remember to wash your hands in between.

2 The chicken and rice soup. Also before my time; also a London WRG legend. If the soup isn't thick enough, adding a little rice may help to thicken it. But do remember that not very much rice can absorb quite a lot of liquid. Sure, the soup was delicious by all accounts, but it had to be sliced up and eaten with a knife and fork.

3 The Huddersfield fruit-loaf. Excellent boatfender material: resilient, strong, shockresistant, biodegradable (eventually). Not so good for eating, though.

4 The Grand Western Barbecue, 1991. When leaving somebody alone in charge of a barbecue, it may be unwise to supply them with a 6-pint flagon of West Country cider first...

5 'Pommes sept soeurs' a.k.a. stewed apples with tinned tomatoes. The hall at Seven Sisters on the Neath had no kitchen, so a 'Baby Belling' portable cooker was provided - and the only flat space to put it was on top of the bar. This meant that the top of the pans was 6ft above the floor.

Under these circumstances it is a good idea to either (a) employ a very tall chef or (b) lift the pans down from the cooker to check they don't have any yesterday's left-overs in, before you start using them to cook breakfast. Alternatively, throw caution to the wind, and hope that you chance upon some tasty new combinations!

OK - you get the idea? Over to you then: send your entries to the editor and I'll publish a selection next time.

Left: Graham 'Sparky' Robinson of WRG Forestry Team in action

by Ham Mill Lock on the Cotswolds. (Martin Ludgate) Above: Preparing to rebuild the lower gate recess at Creeting Lock during the Ipswich Camp. (Ed Walker) Below: the KESCRG Basingstoke camp began construction of a bywash at Deepcut top lock, to supplement the existing one which takes a circuitous route via the drydock. A four-day work-party in September saw Eddie Jones and friends continuing work - full report next time. (Martin Ludgate) Back cover top: last ever Mont camp? the Maesbury spillway tail-race nearing completion during Camp 0217. (Jude Moore) Back cover left: building a new footbridge over Haverholme Lock bywash on the Sleaford camp. (Martin Ludgate). Back cover right: at Summit Lock on the Wilts & Berks, volunteers on the NWPG camp await the arrival of the readymix concrete for the base of the lock-tail bridge, having completed installation of complex shuttering and reinforcing. (Pete Bunker)

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