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Windsor by Stephanie Mason
Disclaimer: The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed herein may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the Newsletter
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA
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Content From the Editor From the Chairman From the Regional Chairman AGM Minutes Lee & Stort September 2015 Essex WRG Mid Week Working Parties
Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 8 Page 8
Lechlade Essex Waterways IWA Rebranding Social Events Update Social Events Just for Fun Branch Committee
Page 9 Page 11 Page 15 Page 17 Page 19 Page 20 Page 20
From The Editor As the equinox arrives and the clocks spring forward we have seen a few warmer days and evenings. Lets hope that the temperature starts to gradually creep up and the barometer pressure starts to show that the weather is changing for warmth and we can lose those chilly mornings, giving us all the opportunity to get out on to the Navigation. We would still like to increase our contributors to this Newsletter. Please make time to look out your photos, articles and ideas and send them in for our next Newsletter. Last inputs for Summer Newsletter 21/07/2018. Tell us about your own waterway experiences, your holiday or send in ‘Readers Photos.’ For those on e-mail please send your input to chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk Those without just give me a call to arrange for collection. 07837 576464. From The Chairman At the most recent committee meeting, following the AGM, Roy mentioned that the quantity of floating pennywort on the navigation is becoming a real problem, in spite of great efforts to get it out: at the time of writing, today's Telegraph tells us that numbers of reports of pennywort have reached a record high - fifty tons were removed from the Thames alone last year. If you don't already know what pennywort looks like, do make it your business to find out and, when out and about on the waterways, attack any that you find. The tiniest bits left floating or blown back in the water are able to grow roots and start up again incredibly quickly. Garden ponds are not immune either. At the AGM, I mentioned that £1,500 was raised for Essex Waterways Ltd. at the 10K Walk last year. It is hoped that the walk can be repeated this autumn but, because of changes at Head Office, a new organiser will be needed, together with other helpers. Energetic volunteers please step forward! The Chelmsford Rivers Festival will be held on the 1st July. As yet, we have not decided on the full extent of our participation. In Backnang Square last year, the public did not take a lot of interest. We would like them to come to Springfield Basin, where Dennis will have his excellent display boards on his boat, there is likely to be a trip boat and "Victoria" could well be present, possibly with cream teas. This would be a much more appropriate setting from our point-of-view but we just need to get the gongoozlers there and are hoping that suitable posters around town would show them the way. We have recently had the pleasure of the company of several members of Ipswich Branch at our socials. They have always been good friends of ours on work parties. I remember going with Essex WRG to help them on their waterways. Unfortunately, it looks as though Ipswich Branch is in some trouble socially and might not survive, although efforts are being made to prevent this. Let us make sure that we do everything we can to welcome and support them. Although no longer boating, I have a look through our old logbooks every so often. Twenty years ago, in April 1998, I thought we might not get away from our base at Whilton Marina because there had been so much recent flooding. Having been informed by BW that the locks were open, we headed south. At the end of the first day we moored up at Blisworth in snow. The following days the weather got worse - freezing cold, with heavy rain and sleet. To quote the French, "plus ca change.....". Molly Beard 2
From The Regional Chairman The long days of winter are nearly over and we can start thinking about getting out to enjoy the inland waterways whether by walking, cycling, angling or boating. It is also time for me to put pen to paper and write a piece for your magazine. One of the problems I have is that I am writing this a month or so before you see it, so I have to get my crystal ball out to try and make my ramblings topical, without knowing what the burning issues will be when you come to read them! Firstly, can I put in a plea for your help? With the Spring edition of Waterways we included a form for you to sign and return to the office in Chesham. This form is to allow the association to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulations being introduced by the Government in May. If you haven’t got round to sending it back please do so. If you need another copy please give the Chesham office a call, I am certain they will be only too pleased to send a new one. Going round the Region I am often asked what is the difference between IWA and C&RT? For me there are clear differences. Firstly C&RT is the navigation authority for less than 50% of the inland waterways of England and Wales. Its role is to keep those waterways, for which it is responsible, in the best possible condition. IWA is a membership and campaigning organisation that promotes the conservation, use, maintenance and development of the inland waterways of the British Isles. We are, through our subsidiary Essex Waterways, also responsible for the maintenance of a waterway and, in my opinion, the Chelmer and Blackwater demonstrates how well a small band of dedicated professionals and volunteers can look after a navigation. IWA’s and C&RT’s interests often coincide so we should work with them for the greater good of the waterways. But our interests are much wider, we champion the restoration and the maintenance of all waterways and historic craft and the buildings and structures alongside them. Through our restoration hub we offer local restoration trusts and societies, expertise and advice, as well as grants and, through Waterway Recovery Group, training and organised restoration Canal Camps. If you want to know more about how we support restoration it is well worth having a look on the restoration pages on our website. The Canal and River Trust are rebranding and reorganising. They are reducing the number of their regions from 10 to 6. The canals in London and the rivers Lee & Stort will end up in a region that stretches from Bishop’s Stortford to Oxford. This seems to me to pose a threat to our good relationship at local level. There seems little commonality between the problems on the Oxford Canal and Bishop’s Stortford. In London, they have told us they intend to implement a new strategy for controlling moorings in the near future. One has to be concerned that the implementation of this will be more difficult under the new organisation. We will need to keep a close eye on developments and I will keep you informed of what is happening. Finally, can I remind you that IWA’s premier event in London, Canalway Cavalcade, is over the weekend of the 5th to 7th May 2017. If you can’t come by boat why not join us for a day, the nearest tube station is Paddington. It is a really great family day out. Paul Strudwick London Region Chair Person https://www.facebook.com/iwalondon/ and at paul@greenboater on twitter
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IWA CHELMSFORD BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 8.00 PM THURSDAY MARCH 8TH 2018 The Galleywood Centre, The Common, Galleywood CM2 8TR Apologies. None. Matters arising from minutes. None Report from the Chairman. Molly reported that there had been four committee meetings during the year which is the minimum requirement. The internet is useful to liaise with members. The new venue has been a success and more members have been attending the social meetings. Thanks to John Carlaw the Newsletter continues to be a good read although more contributions would be welcome. No matter how long or short, relevant articles and photos add to the interest. Dennis Padfield is in the process of creating display boards for public interest and is working with a student on a model of Springfield Lock. A new gazebo for public displays is planned for the future. Rebecca Loader has organised a very interesting social calendar and this includes a trip on ‘Victoria’ on 24th April. The trip boat ‘Victoria’ has been purchased by Essex Waterways from the Tea Rooms with a grant and loans from IWA members. Trained volunteer skippers and crew are needed. The Manager’s office is being converted into a kitchen and booking office. Essex Waterway Recovery Group has been wound up due to lack of numbers but the week day volunteers have been busy as have other WRG groups with regular visits to the Navigation. £1,500 was raised at the 10K walk and this is hoped to be repeated in September this year. £2,000 was awarded by Tesco from ‘bags of help’ for towpath improvements. Roy Chandler monitors planning applications and the Chelmsford Branch support relevant applications. EA have objected to residential moorings in Springfield Basin. Molly concluded by thanking the Branch Committee especially the secretary and Stephanie Mason for catering and her regular articles in the Newsletter. Molly also congratulated Paul Strudwick for his re-appointment as London Region Chairman. Molly thanked the members for their support Report from the London Region Chairman. Paul reported that the Association had been in existence for seventy years and was rebranding itself to meet the challenges of the next seventy years. Paul explained that the trustees were inviting members to attend a seminar in London to explain how they envisage the future and how making changes would help move the Association forward. The Canal and River Trust (C&RT) are reorganising and reducing the number of their regions. Their licence review consultation, published on March 6th, was considered to be a missed opportunity to solve some of the issues caused by the current licensing system and in particular the effect of the continuous cruising option. The ongoing saga of the takeover of the Environment Agency (EA) waterways by C&RT rambles on. When the national chairman of IWA, Ivor Caplan, met the waterways minister it was understood that the government was still minded to allow the takeover. However, there are still serious problems. Presentation of Accounts. John Gale presented his Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2017.
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AGM (cont) Committee Members. Molly announced that John Carlaw, Rebecca Loader, Stephanie Mason, Kirsten Smith and Adam Wyllie were up for retiring by rotation and all had agreed to remain on the committee. The members agreed that they should remain with a show of hands. Molly also announced that there were two remaining places on the committee. No one put themselves forward. Molly explained that there was no longer a requirement for Byelaw 1.3 Question from the floor. One member asked how many members were in the Chelmsford Branch and John Carlaw answered that there were 223 Memberships and 344 members. The AGM finished business at 8.25pm Chris Chandler Secretary
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Lee & Stort September 2015 This holiday involved our first trip on the tidal part of the Thames from Teddington to Brentford and on through London, the same route we took last year for our Limehouse Trip. It was on this trip I took a dip in the Regents Canal below City Road Lock, along with my mobile phone and watch, luckily they both survived once dried out. It was the first time in over 25 years of narrow boating that I have got wet, so why not in the middle of London with an audience? A loop of rope had got caught as I was getting off the boat below the lock and I bounced off the side of the boat, resulting in some very impressive bruising which took weeks to disappear. On this trip we we left the Hertford Union Canal below the locks by taking a left turn at the junction below, and onto the Lee Navigation with the West Ham Stadium and Orbit behind us. We moored a little way up alongside the Hackney Marsh Recreation Grounds, a lovely place to walk the dogs. Near our mooring was a chap sleeping on a huge wooden box and people passing were quite intrigued by this. That evening a wide beam boat and a narrowboat were both approaching from opposite directions and both heading for the gap in front of us which was alongside the wooden box; after some loud talking the wide beam got the mooring and appeared to have been expected by the man on the box. The following morning we woke to find our boat mooring was surrounded by barriers, with equipment and people everywhere: it transpired they were preparing to do some filming involving the wide beam boat in front of us. After speaking to the crew we were ok to come and go with the dogs, and have breakfast before setting off as we had planned. Heading up the Lee Navigation, with reservoirs alongside, and locks which varied between electric and manual, some duplicated, we pass Tottenham Hale where there were several impressive barges moored, then on passed Edmonton, Lee Valley Regional Park, Enfield, going under the busy M25 near Waltham where I think we were going faster! Onwards passing Lee Valley White Water Centre where some of the Olympics were held, this area is lovely with water both sides of the Lee Navigation, before we moored at Broxbourne on what we found to be the hottest September day of the year at 34 degrees. The next day we headed to Feilde's Weir Lock where we took a right turn above the lock onto the very rural route of the Stort Navigation. Here the locks are narrower at 13ft so you are not able to go up in pairs (side by side), not that we met any other boats cruising this route during our trip. With it being another lovely day we stopped briefly for ice creams above Roydon Lock at the cottage cafe, off again and the navigation continues past Parndon Mill which looks very impressive, then on through Harlow to moor above Sawbridgeworth Lock for the night.
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Lee & Stort September 2015 (cont) Onwards the next day, the route still very rural but with trains alongside a-lot of the time, and aeroplanes constantly above due to Stanstead Airport. We noticed a lot of floating weed on the route up to Bishops Stortford and the limit of navigation, where we turned, moored, and went to explore the local area and shops.
Heading back to Feilde's Weir at the junction with the Lee Navigation, we turned right, heading up river and through Stanstead Lock which has a swing bridge over the lock. Onwards through Ware with a lot of riverside properties and businesses/restaurants and then through the lock with an impressive weir beside it, on up to Hertford passing meadowland and motorway (A10) to the limit of navigation, where we turned again. The moorings were full, not even a small gap for us so we returned to moor at Ware for the night, and I bought some lovely Mexican Pottery; an expensive mooring that was. On our return down the Lee Navigation and back through London at South Hackney we found ourselves in another film set with actors and crew along a cordoned off area of the towpath (Silent Witness by the actors). There was a boat with police and divers on the canal, the crew on land were loving seeing our dogs on the back of the boat, we could here OO's and aah's and pointing at our dogs, so we smiled and waved at them. That day we moored in Paddington Basin, we wandered round some local shops, and were amazed to find a shop selling brass end rails and rails which we wanted for our boat to hang a curtain and act as a divider between the galley and the area outside the wet room. John was able to erect it the following morning, what a result - perfect! Our journey took us back out of Brentford to Teddington Lock, where we joined a group of boats all waiting for the lock to open. It transpired the lock keeper was dealing with a 'naked jumper' while waiting for the police to arrive! Eventually all of us were able to transit through the lock, as the police took the now covered up man away, and we moored above the lock for the night. On our way back the next day we moored at Hampton Court Palace for a wander around the park with the dogs, before heading back onto the River Wey and home. It was a lovely trip, a new experience on the tidal Thames, with weather mostly hot and sunny for September, and some lovely souvenirs to remember the holiday by. We are enjoying exploring new routes which are varied and interesting on our own boat. Stephanie Mason & John Grieve
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Essex WRG I am sorry to report that Essex WRG has been wound up. We started twenty five years ago in 1993, after the Branch had successfully restored and re-opened Springfield Lock and Springfield Basin with some help from WRG and KESCRG. At the closing down meeting a number of us who had (oddly) enjoyed the hard work decided to show our gratitude by forming Essex WRG and helping other restoration projects. The list of schemes we have attended over the years is quite impressive. In alphabetical order we have been to: the Basingstoke Canal, the Buckingham Arm, the Caldon (or, at least the feeder to a Caldon reservoir), the Chelmer & Blackwater, the Derby, Foxton Inclined Plane, the R Gipping, the Grantham, the Hereford & Gloucester, the Lichfield, the Manchester Bolton & Bury, the Mon & Brec, the R Stour. the Sussex Ouse, the Thames & Medway, the Wendover Arm, the Wey & Arun, and the Wilts & Berks. Most of these we have visited many times. We had never been a large group, but our numbers dwindled. We lost Jim to a heart attack, we lost Malcolm, Doug and Frank to cancer, and Bill to a fall. Of the few younger members Kay and Mike decided to have a baby as did Paul. Some others had medical problems or moved away. It got to the stage where we could only produce a maximum of half a dozen (all in their sixties or seventies) and it wasn’t economic for canal societies to hire a hall for accommodation, so we retracted to just the Chelmer & Blackwater, using my house as accommodation and became quarterly rather than monthly. At this time we were averaging about five attending, but the final crunch came with the (proposed) September 2017 working party when only two would have attended. So, after consulting the others, it was decided to close down Essex WRG. In the meantime some of us go out with WRG BITM, or London WRG, or even North West WRG. Maybe, just maybe, in the future, a group of youngsters might decide to resurrect Essex WRG – I do hope so. John Gale Mid Week Working Parties This is a very short report because in recent months rain, snow and river conditions have meant that many weeks we haven’t been able to go out. In fact, those occasions have out numbered the times that we have been able to work! We have cut back overhanging branches near Heybridge and transported the resulting vegetation back to the basin for a bonfire, one of many we have had at Heybridge. We have also had a number of fires below Rushes Lock. This also involved cutting up branches put there by the staff who had been clearing back overhanging trees. What else have we done? We have spent a couple of days moving boats. We have cleared Floating Pennywort. We have made faggots for bank protection, helped dismantle the old bottom gates from the sea lock and transported a trailer-load of iron from those gates to sell to the scrap yard. Judging by the contents of the trailer this week, I think another trip to the scrap yard is due. John Gale
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Lechlade June 2017 Leaving the River Wey and heading out on to the Thames we took a left into Shepperton Lock where we purchased a two week licence. It was a warm, sunny, but windy day, our journey took us pass Chertsey, Penton Hook, and Staines where we were amused to see on one side of the river The Swan Hotel with only cruisers moored outside, and on the other side of the river The Slug & Lettuce where only narrowboats were moored. We continued on passed Runnymede to moor at the Bells of Ouzeley Pub for the night, we had seen a lot of Grebe's with stripy young, and cormorants over the day. The following day we proceeded passing Old Windsor and Datchet, to moor soon after with Eton one side of the river and Windsor on the other, it was a spur of the moment decision as the weather was good and we could explore the two towns. The river here is very busy with large trip boats, motorboats, rowing boats, cruisers, narrowboats, and the 'Duck' a bright yellow amphibious vehicle. It was a lovely doggy area too, and our view from the boat was of Windsor Castle, quite idyllic. Not so good was the state of the fenders on the mooring side when we left the next day; they were caked in clay mud from the high banking of the mooring. I got the job of cleaning them, which was not easy as they are the woven rope type. Continuing on and passing Windsor Racecourse which you can see a lot of from the river, then passing under the Maidenhead Bridges, the rail bridge is known to be Brunnel's flattest, widest brick arched bridge in the world and very impressive. Onwards to briefly call at Bourne End Marina for some extra mooring pins as we seemed to have lost one, and with the ongoing windy weather we wanted spare pins available. We then moored below Marlow Lock for lunch, and walked the dogs in a lovely park behind the moorings. Leaving again we watched the crew practising in a Dragon Boat, but with the weather deteriorating to driving rain and wind, we decided to moor just before Henley above Hambledon Lock, which was not easy due to the wind direction blowing us off the mooring. We were helped by a single hander whom we had helped earlier in the day, he had been helped by other moorers earlier for the same reason. We had seen a lot of birdlife over the day including kites, grebes, cormorants, swallows and herons. Even in the terrible weather the mooring fee collectors still came out by motorboat to collect our money at 9:30 that evening, I got soaked in a few minutes on the back of the boat paying. The rain and wind continued overnight and we did not set off the next day till late morning when the rain stopped, but the wind continued, the single hand narrow boater left with us and we travelled together for a while through Henley and on to Sonning Lock, where our fellow boater had to stop and remove a huge tree branch which had landed across his boat roof on his kayak and bike. Being on his own he could not do anything until he stopped at the lock moorings, and as the branch was overhanging both sides of the roof he could not enter the lock safely. Fortunately no damage was done. We moored above the lock and had lunch in the lock cafe, with the sun now shining. It showed off the lovely setting of Sonning Lock area.
Onwards again to moor at Tesco, Reading, getting our supplies just before a brief thunderstorm and torrential rain, a bit worrying as we were moored under a lot of mature trees. With the weather dry again we were off to moor for the night above Caversham Lock, near Reading Bridge, which has a lovely park beside it, the dogs had a lovely run about.
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Lechlade June 2017 (cont) The following day we passed Mapledurham, Whitchurch-on-Thames, Beale Park, Pangbourne, and moored for lunch below Goring Lock (where the home of the late George Michael overlooks the lock moorings). Continuing on passing Moulsford, where we were overtaken by a boat which had been gaining on us for a while and who seemed in a rush to get somewhere, we were just approaching Wallingford a very popular mooring place. The other boat was trying to moor but his boat was too big for the only gap left so he gave up, leaving the space in which we fit just right. The town is known as 'Causton' in the Midsomer Murder Drama Series, and we went to explore the pretty town with impressive buildings. The next day we carried on towards Shillingford where the route becomes very rural, winding back and forth, passing Dorchester, then mooring for lunch against a grassy bank at Clifton Hampden with it's stunning Brick bridge, (finding mooring places can be tricky). We noticed cruisers could just moor in rough, grassy, high banks almost anywhere, but this is not so easy for a narrowboat. Continuing on we moored before Abingdon Bridge which although was a high mown bank it was lovely for the dogs and walking. However when we looked out of the windows the next morning we found ourselves face to face with numerous geese and young. They soon disappeared when a dog walker came along, which was handy for us and letting our dogs out, however there was goose poo everywhere along the edge. Yuk! We also stopped at Abingdon on our return but moored along the meadows below the lock and before Abingdon Bridge, which was even better for the dogs. We went for a lovely circular walk up to the lock, across the weir, past the Abbey Ruins and into town where we saw some lovely buildings, this was my favourite mooring of the holiday. Anyway back to our onward route which continued to bend back and forth, passing Sandford Mill now converted to apartments. There are good moorings on the island below the lock, on through Iffley Lock which was so pretty with the cottage and flower gardens. Next came Osney Lock, and a little way on is a right turn for the Sheepwash Channel and entry onto the Oxford Canal, but we continued straight on where the river became shallow, with sand banks at Port Meadows on the right hand side. You have to cruise between the markers in the centre of the channel. We saw Egrets wading and many other waterbirds along this stretch, before coming up to Godstow Lock with the Abbey Remains waterside.
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Lechlade June 2017 (cont) The bendy route continues up to Kings Lock which is the first manually operated lock, and had a lovely lady lock keeper to help. Above the lock we turned to the left, as the right is another route to the Oxford Canal along Dukes Cut. After a stop for lunch below Eynsham Lock we headed off into the lock which was self service, then spotted another narrowboat approaching so we waited for them to join us, an elderly couple and we noticed the chap checking his watch and making notes in a notebook. The route onwards was very bendy and shallow in places. We had let the other boat go first as we had done the lock operation, and he had sped off but appeared to keep grounding on the bends. We shared again at Pinkhill Lock which was manned, again the chap checked his watch and made notes, again he sped off out of the lock. The route continued bendy but not as shallow. By the time we arrived at the next lock the gates were shutting and we had to wait, we were surprised the lock keepers didn't wait for us to share the lock water. Soon after we passed the elderly couple trying to moor against a high bank of a field. We carried on through a couple more locks to moor alongside some meadows near some other narrowboats. Some of the grass was quite long and not ideal for the dogs, but very pretty and peaceful, at one point a female pheasant looked in our window. We heard, then saw an owl that evening, we had also seen several kingfishers that day, we never tire of seeing these beautiful birds.
The next morning, when leaving, one of the other narrowboats came too, sharing the locks with us. We heard then saw a cuckoo that day - not often that happens. It was another windy day and some parts were narrow and shallow. At St John's Lock which is the highest on the Thames we saw and photographed Father Thames, and soon after moored at Lechlade meadows, which was not easy due to the wind which had picked up in strength, and especially as we are an aluminium boat. We had a lovely wander around the town and a fish lunch, the dogs enjoyed a walk, we then proceeded to cruise up to the limit of navigation, and turned at the Round House for our return. We saw some Military Aircraft flying low above us and got some good pictures. We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip even with the windy weather which persisted most of the first week (of two weeks), but also some sunny and warm days. The bird life was stunning, and the dawn chorus. We made time to explore Goring, Henley and Marlow on our way back. We saw some fabulous waterside properties and elaborate boathouses. Some of our moorings were free, others chargeable. We made friends with 'Three Men in a Rowing Boat' who we saw on and off over several days. They were doing a charity trip from Oxford to Walton, and were camping at night. We met some lovely people, boaters, lock keepers, and passers by who stopped to chat and ask about the dogs and the boat. We were so chuffed to have done the Thames to its limit, and were amazed at how different this river cruising is from the inland canals of the main system. Bueno Vita is certainly getting about. Stephanie Mason & John Grieve
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Essex Waterways Update Essex & Suffolk Water have continued their work on the Heybridge Basin Sea Lock with the lock remaining closed and a large crane barge moored outside. The new sliding gate which was delivered in sections has been assembled and installed and it is now operational although as yet it has not been handed over to Essex Waterways as the power supply has still to be upgraded. The new lower timber gates which were made in Yorkshire, assembled in Maldon and delivered by barge have also been installed and commissioned. Like the new top gates installed last winter these also have ramps onto the walkway to assist public access. While the lock was drained, hopefully the last time for many years to come, the opportunity was taken to re-point the majority of the lock brickwork as well as the stone floor. Dams were removed and the lock was reopened for the Easter weekend in time for the arrival of the first visiting boats. There is still some tidying of the area to complete and contractor’s equipment to remove.
Willow cropping has also been undertaken at Heybridge Basin and the recreational area at the visitor moorings is currently looking a lot different while it awaits willow re-planting. Several locations along the Navigation have been re-planted with willows during the winter.
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Essex Waterways Update (cont) During January the EWL team moved their barges up to Springfield Lock to install the dams ready for the delivery and installation of new upper and lower lock gates and cills. These were delivered by Hargreaves on programme and the weather was kind allowing the whole operation to be completed in less than two weeks and the lock reopened.
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Essex Waterways Update (cont)
The Environment Agency used the winter period to dam the flood lock adjoining Maldon Bypass so that they could inspect the flood gates.
The Chelmer Cruises trip boat VICTORIA required an out of water MCA inspection prior to the new season, something that could not be carried out on the Navigation due to her weight. A visit to a dry dock at Fullbridge, Maldon was arranged and VICTORIA was moved down to Heybridge Basin one snowy morning and was able to slip out of the Heybridge Sea Lock just before Easter while testing of the new sliding gate was taking place. While in dry dock the hull will be blackened. Unfortunately the topside re-painting still remains unfinished as snow and rain have prevented progress.
Work is also progressing with the installation of a new engine and hydraulic drive to the EWL hi-ab barge DREDGER which should be back in operation shortly. Roy Chandler
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IWA Rebranding Update Vision, Values and Branding If you look back over the last 70 years of the waterways history you would no doubt spend time marvelling at how much has changed over the period. Now try and imagine a similar amount of change over the next 70 years, it’s almost impossible to conjure up a vision of our canals and rivers in 2088. But if we can’t imagine this future, how can we prepare for it? Whatever the future might hold, IWA believes the following are just some of the things the waterways need to stay strong and viable: A powerful advocate and champion for our rivers and canals. An organisation that will protect and expand this wonderful national asset for the millions who enjoy and benefit from it. An organisation to envision and campaign for the future of the waterways; co-ordinating, advising and holding accountable all who influence that future. An organisation to continually reassess, understand and coherently communicate what the ‘regeneration of the waterways’ means NOW and in the FUTURE. We believe IWA can be the national champion of the waterways and is uniquely placed given our independence, our perspective, and our strong heritage to champion the cause of the waterways. Our members and volunteers know the waterways inside out - whether in water or under restoration. We can use this unique knowledge, experience and our distinctive position to lead and instigate national campaigns, unlike other waterway bodies. In the past IWA has talked about waterways for the benefit of ALL and today we must demonstrate that we still campaign for all. We have to drive national awareness, debates and public opinion about the waterways and we can only do this if we are whole lot more PRO-ACTIVE. There is an opportunity that we must seize to establish IWA as the independent, future-focused, custodian of the waterways. As a first step IWA has agreed the main areas of focus for the next 5 years to make the biggest difference to the waterways. Our Key Themes Are: 1. Speaking for the Waterways ensure that the important role our inland waterways play in the UK’s infrastructure and economy is better understood and appreciated. 2. Protecting see a well-funded, properly-maintained waterway network with sustainability at its core
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IWA Rebranding Update (cont) 3. Restoring work through the restoration Hub towards creating an exciting, vibrant and robust restoration sector that can deliver successes and re-openings. Build on our existing reputation as the foremost provider of knowledge, advice and resources for waterways restoration projects. 4. Inspiring inspire a new generation of waterway users, and ensure existing users experience the best the waterways can offer. attract new volunteers to the sector and ensure that those already volunteering across the waterways are safe, happy and motivated. The views of the members and active volunteers are just as important. It is clear that IWA means different things to different people, making it hard to explain in just a few words. There is an incredible diversity within our membership and volunteer base aligned with a strong desire to demonstrate that our shared purpose is greater that the sum of our parts. This has been called “One IWA” To achieve “One IWA” we need a unified and instantly recognisable brand, bringing us together across Waterways Recovery, Essex Waterways (the IWA subsidiary which runs the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation), IWA’s regions, branches and committees. A brand is more than just the logo, but it is one of the first visuals our supporters often see. Even though the audiences for IWA, WRG and Essex Waterways may be slightly different, by having a consistent icon, we are creating clear opportunities for people to see the bigger picture and deepen their connection with us. We wanted to reflect all the key areas of our work and shared vision for the waterways and a new set of logos have been developed. These logos reflect and underpin our new vision and objectives and should give everyone throughout the Association a sense of the diverse, allencompassing nature of our activities in support of the common vision and objectives.
Our logo is comprised of three propeller blades and a central hub. Each blade represents a key aspect of IWA, and at the core, the hub symbolises the volunteers and members that are at the centre of IWA; the heart that drives evrything. The brickwork represents the industrial heritage of the waterways and the human effort that goes into maintaining and restoring. The leaf patten celebrates the green corridor created by canals and rivers. which supports wellbeing and wildlife. The ripple pattern demotes the many activities that take place on and around the water - from the wake behind a boat to the bob of a fishing float. 16
Social Events Update Christmas Social This year we had a very merry start to the Christmas festivities. A Maldon based Sea Shanty Group called ‘Salt, Water and Beer’ (SWB) came to sing for us. The evening was called ‘SWB on the cut’. The group created some special songs just for us, which we could also sing along to, as they had thoughtfully provided us with words. This was followed by a table quiz and a lovely buffet. The singers waived any fee and joined us for the quiz and buffet. A very big thank you to SWB for the songs, to Robert Loader for the quiz, to Stephanie Mason for the delicious Christmas cake and all members for the buffet. January Social - The Wherry ‘Maud’ Trust January can be a difficult month. Last year we had snow on our social evening, but this year it has come much later and we had a good turnout for our speaker Linda Pargeter who is a Trustee of the “Wherry Maud Trust.” Linda and her husband Vincent worked for 18 years to restore ‘Maud’ and transform her into the beautiful sailing ship that she is today. I couldn’t hope to do justice to the quality of Linda’s talk in this short report but a brief summary is as follows; Maud is the last of the typical clinker-built trading wherries to sail on the Norfolk Broads and Rivers. She has had a chequered history, starting her working life in 1899 as one of a small fleet of private trading wherries owned by a director of Jewson, timber merchants in Great Yarmouth. At the end of her working life she was no longer a smart, well-painted vessel as she was in use carrying dredgings for the river contractors May Gurney. Rescue came in 1981 when she was re-floated as a restoration project by her new owners, Vincent and Linda Pargeter. Eighteen years later she was ready to sail again and her re-commissioning took place on Wroxham Broad in September 1999. The trust was established in 2015 “To maintain, preserve and operate for the benefit of the public the Wherry ‘Maud’, to advance the education of the public concerning Norfolk wherries and their historic and cultural role in Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and to provide training in the skills necessary to maintain, preserve and sail them.” Maud has a website - wherrymaudtrust.org so do try and go and see her when she appears at public events. February Social – Beeleigh Mill One of our members Paul Chaplin is a member of the 'Beeleigh Mill Restoration Group'. As our original speaker was unavailable Paul kindly stepped in to do a talk about Beeleigh Mill. The Restoration group was formed in October 2009 with the objective of restoring the historic 1845 steam plant of the ancient flour mill at Beeleigh, Maldon on the River Chelmer, and eventually developing a Visitor Centre on site. Paul explained to us how large the Mill actually was with two water wheels driving 10 stones, to which was added a separate building which housed a steam-powered beam engine driving five millstones. The main building housing the water-powered wheels burnt down in a fire in 1875. The site is Grade 11* listed. Interestingly there was a hide-out built during WW2 under the floor of the steam mill for an auxiliary unit to hide should the enemy invade. Access was from a trapdoor in the building, with an escape route which came out in the tail-race tunnel from the nearer mill-race. After the war, this hide-out was filled in by the army. Restoration work is currently being undertaken to the engine and to the 'stone' floor. Previous work has included laying a new floor in the spout room. Work has also been carried out on the Boiler, the Engine, The Hurst Frame, and the Upper Floor and around the outside of the site.
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Social Events 2018 (cont) Saturday 8th, Sunday 9th and Sunday 16th September 2018 Beeleigh Hill as part of the national Heritage Open Days week. Note that due to the constraints of the site and the building, access for physically disabled people is possible only to the ground floor spout room containing the gear and Hurst mechanism and not to the engine and boiler room. The entrance door to the building is very narrow and this may prevent access for a wheelchair. 12th April 2018 March Social – Managing the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Following our AGM, David Smart Essex Waterway’s Manager of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation came to talk to us. David was formerly with the Essex Wildlife Trust and has now held the post of C&BN Manager for two years. David leads a small team on the C&BN doing most of the lock maintenance in the winter months to allow users of the navigation to enjoy it during the other months. Recent work has included new gates (made in Yorkshire) at Hoe Mill the deepest lock. This year will see new gates at Springfield Basin exactly 25 years since the IWA Chelmsford Branch lead the refurbishment of Springfield Basin. Tree work undertaken in the autumn and winter with willow still going to Wrights at Great Leighs to make cricket bats. David highlighted all the other activities on the waterway, weed lifting (pennywort and Himalayan Balsam) much of which is carried out by the Chelmer Canal Trust; our thanks go to them. He also complimented the IWA WRG and Ford Motor Group work parties who do the more difficult tasks such as lock landing stages, soft bank repairs, culvert repairs and tow path maintenance. David showed us many interesting pictures of the various equipment now in use which allows for difficult tasks to be completed more easily. David had some lovely pictures of wildlife and talked about the birds, voles and return of eels at Beeleigh and the many people enjoying canoeing, paddle boarding, boating, walking etc. It was apparent during the talk how much care is taken to protect the environment and how focused and approachable David and his team are in looking after all users of the waterway. Thank you David we feel our treasured waterway is in good hands. We must also thank our Treasurer John Gale for his many hours of grass cutting and other work on WRG parties over the years. Fundraising The C&BN is a treasured resource for all but there are significant costs associated with its upkeep. If you know of any organisation or individual who may be able to donate money or provide a grant for this purpose or help in any way please let your committee know. It has been great to see that numbers are picking up at our new venue in Galleywood. Thank you to all of those who come and support our social evenings. If you have never been before please come and see us it is a very friendly group. We have some interesting talks and lovely homemade cakes and refreshments in the interval. Rebecca Loader
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Social Events 2018 12th April 2018 Kevin Bruce 'A trip up the Blackwater in old photographs' Bradwell to Maldon looking at the estuary villages in old photos with aspects of the history May 10th 2018 Dennis Padfield The women who crewed the narrowboats during WW2 moving heavy cargoes between London and the industrial Midlands Next Year Your social secretary is busy preparing the programme for next year from September 2018 to May 2019. Please look out for information on the IWA website, newsletters and emails from Head Office.
Venue The Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, Galleywood, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8TR 7.45pm for 8.00pm All Welcome!
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Just For Fun SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3 x 3 block contains the numbers one to nine (1 - 9) 9 8
4 7
2
6
7 3
8 7
1
9
3
4
4
3
6
8
2 6 5
1
1 8
4
1
3 5
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Branch Committee If you have any topics or subject that you wish to bring to the committees attention please use the contact details below Molly Beard:
Chairman
molly.beard@waterways.org.uk
John Gale:
Vice Chairman & Treasurer.
24 Longleaf Drive, Braintree CM7 1XS
Paul Strudwick:
London Region Chairman.
Paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk
Chris Chandler:
Secretary.
Chris.chandler@waterways.org.uk
Roy Chandler:
Planning and Conservation.
Roy.chandler@waterways.org.uk
John Carlaw:
Newsletter and Membership.
Chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk John.carlaw@waterways.org.uk
Dennis Padfield:
Publicity.
dennis.padfield@waterways.org.uk
Stephanie Mason: Refreshments.
None
Kirsten Smith:
Youth.
None
Rebecca Loader
Social Secretary
rebecca.loader@waterways.org.uk
Adam Wyllie:
Branch Web Editor.
Adam.wyllie@waterways.org.uk
IWA Chelmsford Web Address
http://www.waterways.org.uk/chelmsford
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