Inland Waterways Association Chester & Merseyside Newsletter The Packet Boat Spring 2020

Chester & Merseyside Branch

SPRING 2020

The North West Canal Restoration Showcase Moves to the Anderton Boat Lift With the 1903 built steamship the “Danny” as once again the centre piece, the successful waterway restoration showcase held in its present form last September in Liverpool`s Albert Dock complex, will now take place at nd rd the Anderton Boat Lift on the weekend of August 22 and 23 2020.

The Chester and Merseyside Branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) will partner with Canal & River Trust (C&RT) and volunteers from the “Danny” to put on an even more impressive show aimed at bringing the benefits of restored vibrant waterways to both enthusiasts and general public alike. Giving even greater appeal to the event, the IWA will be hosting a boat gathering on the Weaver and the River Weaver Navigation Society annual cruise will include the showcase in its week long itinerary. The event will be focussed around the Anderton Park waterfront and admittance once again will be free whilst currently the team are looking at ideas to attract an even wider audience including music and refreshments. It’s planned by C&RT to increase public access to the site with another gate and footbridge over the canal storm weir overflow at the river mooring level adjacent to the Anderton Nature Reserve.

The Anderton Boat lift as a venue for our next event will give us a lot more space to expand the event and hopefully to bring the economic and well-being benefits of restored waterways to our local communities.

Kevin Lincoln (Attractions & Destinations Manager) said “ We are delighted at C&RT to be working on this event with the Inland Waterways Association and the team at the ‘Danny’, putting together two icons of the waterway world and thereby combining the ideal exhibition space on board the ship against the magnificent backdrop of the boat lift. The event will demonstrate to the public what has been saved from the nation`s heritage and what is now being achieved by these wonderful voluntary organisations for all to enjoy”.

Autumn review & looking forward to 2020 Firstly I must wish you all a Happy New Year and a healthy & wealthy 2020 with hopefully plenty of opportunities for you to get out in this new decade and enjoy the waterways in our branch area and beyond. I also hope to see many of you at the Branch Socials which take place in the cafe, at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. The season got off to a super start in October with a fascinating talk on the Manchester Ship Canal given by Corey Estenson of Manchester Metropolitan University. Given her unrivalled access to the records of the construction phase of the Manchester Ship Canal she was able to tell us all about the many political faces that were courted to fund the construction of the canal.

The free vintage postcards, illustrated with watercolour drawings by one of the engineers that worked on the ship canal, were also a great hit.

There were good turnouts in November & December for Graham Wallace telling us about the exciting plans to restore Runcorn Locks and the Danny team bringing us up to date on the Daniel Adamson steamship and its history on the Manchester Ship Canal.

I hope that you will be able to come along to the talks throughout the New Year and support the branch activities including the monthly waterways walks organised by Derek Smith.

Our main activity for 2020 will be another Waterways Restoration Showcase aboard the Danny which will be moored at the Anderton Boat Lift over the weekend of 22nd/23rd August 2020. This will be an extended event with more societies being invited. There will also be a boat gathering being organised that weekend in conjunction with CRT who have kindly offered use of their main marquee at the lift and reserved moorings. There will be entertainment including music and a BBQ on the Saturday evening. The River Weaver Navigation Society annual cruise will be in attendance so it looks like the makings of a great weekend of interest and fun. More details will be announced in due course but please put this date in your diary and come along and join us.

One immediate problem in the branch area is the sinkhole which appeared at the beginning of

October in the towpath at Chester Basin adjacent to the top lock and close proximity to the corner of the historic dry dock. This is quite large as you can see from the photo.

This has resulted in there being no boater facilities (water or elsan) being available in Chester Basin and the branch has been pressing CRT for a resolution to the problem.

Their latest information is that the report from the Ground Penetration Radar Survey company has now been received and the findings are currently being reviewed and are working with their contractor and supply chain in the hope they can start onsite working the week commencing 27 January 2020, with a planned completion by end of February 2020.

This situation at Chester has also brought to light that there are now NO CRT elsan facilities on the northern end of the Shropshire Union Canal below Bunbury, the next being at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port. The branch will continue to press CRT on this situation but if you feel individual contact with CRT is necessary please contact them as the more people that get in touch does have an effect.

There are however toilets and showers available in Chester basin, well hidden underneath the new apartment block.

If you see any other waterways problem or danger please contact the branch to enable us press the issue to CRT and endeavour to make the waterways a more pleasant and enjoyable environment.

Jim Forkin Branch Chairman.

IWA Anderton 2020 Boat Gathering: 22 & 23 August To coincide with the 2020 Waterways Restoration Showcase, the Chester & Merseyside Branch is organising a Boat Gathering at Anderton on 22nd & 23rd August 2020 with reserved moorings on both the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal.

The 2020 Waterways Restoration Showcase will be held on board former MSC steam tug the ‘Daniel Adamson’ at the Anderton Boat Lift over that weekend, and the boat gathering will be an additional attraction at this event. A ‘BBQ’ on the Saturday evening will be provided by the Canal and River Trust (CRT), and a variety of musical entertainment will perform during the weekend. Refreshments will be available at a licensed bar organised

by CRT, and at a “Gin Bar” on board the ‘Daniel Adamson’.

As entries to the Boat Gathering are limited to 50 vessels, those wishing to attend are encouraged to complete and return the accompanying Entry Form as soon as possible.

The entry form is also available to download from the Chester & Merseyside Branch section on the IWA website.

During the week following the boat gathering, the River Weaver Navigation Society are organising a River Weaver Cruise to Marsh Lock and back, then up the Anderton Boat Lift and along to the Bridgewater Canal for a return cruise to Runcorn. Boaters interested in joining this extended cruise can obtain further information and a separate application form from Bob Osborn. Email: Bob.osborne@hotmail.co.uk 01606 553433 mob 07818 086576 Geoff Gittus Entries Officer & Harbourmaster

Photos below were taken by Jeanne Smith during last year’s Salt Towns Rally.

Programme of Social Meetings 2020 All meetings will be held at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of the month.

Meetings are in the café at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. CH65 4FW There is a bar selling beer, tea and coffee before and during meetings.

No prior booking required. Open to non-members; free admission.

11 February 2020 – Original speaker has cancelled - emergency speaker being sought.

10 March 2020 - Branch AGM Followed by Derek Arnold, local Wirral based expert on our naval and maritime history talks on how the Royal Iris and Royal Daffodil got their names. These two much loved Mersey ferry boats have a heroic history.

14 April 2020 - Ken Pye, Managing Director of Discover Liverpool, talks on its maritime heritage ; a fascinating selection of maritime facts and fantasies. You will hear and be entertained by glorious stories of Sea Shanties; Maggie May and Liverpool’s ‘sailors’ comforters’; Lord Nelson’s Coffin and ‘the boy who stood on the burning deck’; a Life on the Ocean Wave; the Scouser, who announced the Armada; privateers and the Carnatic and Mentor; and the Sea Monster and the Ghost Ship.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

Chester & Merseyside Branch Spring 2020

President.

Ron Evans

Branch Chairman

Jim Forkin

jim.forkin@team.waterways.org.uk

Minute Secretary

Ann Farrell

ann.farrell@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer, Social Sec & Assist Planning Officer

Jim Mole

jim.mole@waterways.org.uk H. 01606 40955 M. 07580 162355

Publicity Officer

Jim Forkin

Editor Packet Boat

Jeanne Smith

jeanne.smith@waterways.org.uk H. 01244 382058 M. 07746 955931

Planning & Navigation Officer

Geoff Gittus

geoff.gittus@waterways.org.uk H. 0151 605 1094 M. 07808 859751

Membership Secretary

Lesley Taylor

lesley.taylor@waterways.org.uk H. 0151 342 6651

Merseyside Liaison

Phil Janvier

philipjanvierauthor@btinternet.com

Scars Liaison

Colin Greenall

colin.greenall@waterways.org.uk H. 01744 731746 M. 07944 101162

Chester Liaison

John Herson

john.herson@waterways.org.uk

Bridgewater Canal Liaison

Ian & Vera Short

ian.short@waterways.org.uk vera.short@waterways.org.uk

Committee Member

Margaret Pitney

margaret.pitney@waterways.org.uk H. 0151 608 6487

Committee Member

Vacancy

Committee Member

Vacancy

It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA. They are published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA is a registered charity No 212342