Packet Boat May 2018

Chester & Merseyside Branch

Sankey Canal at Fiddlers Ferry

May 2018

1 Editors Musing’s Spring 2018 At the moment I suspect that we are all hoping that spring will by arriving soon.

We are off to Devon for a Wilderness get together on the Bridgwater & Taunton at the beginning of May, towing the boat for the first time with our new Toyota Invincible, which I hope will live up to its name. The last thing we want is wet weather towing as it always requires a lot of concentration and the spray from Lorry wheels doesn’t help.

I am sure that you will all have heard about the breach on the Middlewich canal, which is going to restrict boaters coming from the Trent & Mersey certainly for the summer season. For this reason the Committee have made the difficult decision to cancel the June boat gathering in Chester basin, as they felt it would have a negative impact on the amount of boats being able to attend.

The Easter Boat Gathering at the Ellesmere Port Museum was well supported, but boat numbers were down on last year. Some of the Historic boats managed to get there via the ship canal; it was either that or making the long journey via Great Heywood and the Staffs & Worcs.

The weather was not brilliant and we only had the Sales stall for 1 day, due to the high daily charge made by CRT this year. Never the less we did sell enough to cover costs and make a profit, thanks mainly to donated books. Our stock is almost depleted now so if anyone has any canal books they would like to donate, they would be gratefully received.

Our last waterways walk is on Thursday the 17th May starting from the Barbridge Inn CW5 6AY. There should still be some passing boats and an opportunity afterwards to view the progress on the breach repairs Jeanne Smith

Last talk of the season Tuesday, 8 May Phil Clayton of the BCN Society - Joeys, Joshers and James Phil will give us an introduction to the Birmingham Canal Navigations, their history, development and changes in recent years

2 REPORT OF BRANCH CHAIRMAN : Jim Forkin’s Report for the year 2017 Firstly it is with great sadness that I reflect on the passing of Dave Smallshaw who died suddenly on the 20 December. Dave had joined the IWA Chester & Merseyside branch committee after the two branches merged and he proved to be an invaluable member. He was also a member of the IWA North West Region Committee and 18 months ago accepted a position on the CRT North West Partnership Committee.

Dave's considerable knowledge and expertise on the waterways in the North West was put to good use during our Festival at Eldonian in 2016 when he gave presentations on the history of the L&L as well as leading walks for visiting boaters along the old canal route into the heart of Liverpool. His walk details were also printed in the Souvenir Programme.

Above all else, Dave was a gentleman. Always cheerful, kind and unfailingly helpful, he will be very sadly missed by all his waterways colleagues. We send our heartfelt condolences to all his family. The Sankey canal was one of Dave’s passions and in September 2017 the formation of the Sankey Canal Partnership which brought together the three local boroughs and CRT to work towards restoration was finally announced. Dave was eagerly looking forward to moving the project forward but sadly for him this was not to be, but the fight will go on.

We were also sorry to learn of the passing of Ann Brown in January. Ann was a stalwart of the branch for many years, and amongst her many duties organised and ran the IWA sales stand, and also co-ordinated the volunteers at Branch festivals. Our condolences go to her husband Peter and family.

The summer of 2017 was fairly quiet as most people were out enjoying the waterways although the committee were, as always, beavering away keeping the branch ticking over.

The Social calendar needed organising and meeting attended with other waterways groups including CRT Waterway Managers in our area dealing with a number of issues, the main one at present being the Reciprocal Agreement with the Bridgewater Canal Company and also access onto the River Dee at Chester. The agreement for CRT Licensed Craft is a thorny issue and representations have been made to BCC regarding their high handed attitude to the situation, talks with CRT continue but there does not seem to be an amicable solution forthcoming in the near future. At present the arrangement is still under discussion.

3 One of the main events that took place as we headed towards autumn was the Anniversary Celebration of the branch being 30 years old.

This was held on September 20th on the Daniel Adamson and was very well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all those taking part especially the talk about the Danny restoration and the guided tours of the bridge and engine room as she was in steam. However the supper was a tad disappointing with very small portions and no seconds! My thanks go to Lesley Taylor for the organisation of the event.

During that evening it was announced that the long awaited Tidal Gauge has now been installed on the River Lock in Chester. Those who attended the Festival in Chester in 2014 will know that monies were donated at the time by groups including the Historic Narrow Boat Owner's Club to pay for a gauge to be installed. The gauge itself was manufactured over two years ago and has been awaiting installation by EA/CRT since that time. However, success at last!

Despite the publicity that surrounded this achievement the lock is still inoperable due to the EA temporary flood defence, the growth of vegetation beyond the lock and silting of the river Dee. This situation remains to be resolved as discussions between CRT & EA seem at an impasse. We have now raised this publically in the waterways press to see if this approach bears fruit.

Hot on the heels of the Anniversary came the news that the branch had been successful in reaching the finals of the CRT Living Waterways Awards 2017 for our efforts at the Eldonian Campaign Festival in 2016.

At a prestigious ceremony in Birmingham on 27th September the Branch was awarded the Living Waterways Award (for Community and Volunteering) for organising the festival in Liverpool.

As members know, the event celebrated the bi-centenary of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal as well as successfully campaigning to increase the numbers of boats able to use the Liverpool Link. Accompanied by my wife Helen - and our Treasurer, Jim Mole, attended the dinner and we went up on stage to receive the Award. George Evans, Chief Executive of the Eldonian Housing Association, also attended the event with us to celebrate this achievement.

4 The above achievements were showcased in the IWA Waterways Winter edition with great publicity for the branch.

Congratulations must go to John Herson & Ann Farrell in the achievement of declaring the canal corridor from Ellesmere Port to Nantwich, the Chester Canal, as an official Conservation Area. This declaration has taken many years to come to fruition after many hours spent with the local councils - not a task to relish, well done The 2017/18 social programme of talks commenced in October with a dip in numbers attending around the Christmas period but I’m glad to say that numbers are now back on the rise. In the January newsletter I did ask the question of format and venue for the socials but only received a small handful of replies, all positive for that question posed. We are in discussion with the Boat Museum to see if we can return to the Rolt Room but their prices at present are double what this venue at the Holiday Inn charges.

Overall it has been another good year for the branch and I must thank all the committee, for their time and effort to make the branch as successful as it is at present. We are looking for new committee members to fill the gaps left by those recent retirees so please, if you can spare a few hours a month to allow the branch to continue in the manner we have grown accustomed to, please make contact with the branch and we will be delighted to hear from you.

Looking forward to this year, 2018 we will be hosting a Waterways Restoration Showcase on the Daniel Adamson in Liverpool in October so any assistance in making these events a success to report on at next year’s AGM will be appreciated May I finish with wishing the branch continued success in 2018 and that we will make the waterways of the future sustainable for all to enjoy.

Jim Forkin

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

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Dave Smallshaw 1946 -2017

It is with great sadness that I have to report the sudden death of David Smallshaw at the age of 71. Dave had been Chairman of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society (SCARS) for the past six years during which time the society had made great progress in its bid to bring together the three boroughs and CRT to work towards restoration of the Sankey Canal and to regenerate the whole of the Sankey Valley Corridor. In September2017 the formation of the Sankey Canal Partnership was finally announced and Dave was eagerly looking forward to moving the project forward. Sadly for him this was not to be, but the fight will go on.

At 12.00 noon on Wednesday 3rd December over two hundred family and friends packed into Thornton Crematorium to bid farewell to Dave , many of them standing out in the cold wind and rain listening to the eulogy of his life and times which was relayed via speakers situated in the entrance.

He was an avid sports man playing rugby union for Waterloo in his younger days and also a cricket fan being a member of Northern Cricket Club. He was also a great fan of his home town rugby league team Wigan RLFC and a keen Everton FC supporter. Along with these activities he liked walking belong to many rambling groups. Gardening was another of his passions spending many hours pottering around his garden.

6 I first met Dave in 1995 at the IWA National Waterway Festival in Chester where he was helping on the Towpath Action Group Stand. He joined SCARS in 1999 and from then on became a regular member of our monthly work parties and also on our sales and exhibition stand at IWA National Festivals and local shows we attended throughout the years from then on.

During that time he came to SCARS Committee meetings as on observer for the IWA Merseyside and North West Branch. In 2005 he was elected to SCARS Executive Committee and became Communications Officer in 2008.

In 2011 he took on the task of chairman, a role in which he soon showed great leadership skills.

As a keen member of IWA he served on the committee of the Merseyside and North West Branch which later became IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch and was also a member of IWA North West Region Branch Committee. In 2016 he accepted a position on the CRT North West Partnership committee, a role to which he was well suited with his wonderful knowledge of things that were happening in the North West area.

A great enthusiast for all things to do with waterways, railways and industrial heritage, he belonged to many such associations, groups and societies Dave leaves behind a loving wife, three daughters and grand children He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Colin Greenall 2018-01-14

Dave was posthumously awarded the Kenwin Trophy for all his work, this was presented by Sir Robert Atkins at the Social on 7th April held at Fidlers Ferry Sailing Club.

7 REGION CHAIRMAN WRITES Much has been happening over the last few weeks, largely relating to the “rebranding” of the IWA. Inevitably, some complaints about “unnecessary change” and the cost thereof but generally the thinking behind the operation has been welcomed. And I like the colours in the new logo!

Earlier this month, I was invited to the Annual Parliamentary Dinner of the All Party Group on the Waterways at the House of Commons. Present were a dozen or so MPs and Peers, either with a direct connection with a constituencybased canal or just out of a real interest in our affairs. The Parliamentarians welcomed the new approach to improve the profile and influence of the IWA and were delighted that Wendy Morton, MP for Aldridge Brownhills and a boat-owner, was declared the “Waterways Parliamentarian of the Year”.

I am now a member of the IWA Navigation Committee and attended my first meeting last month. Again, a long trek to Warwick and very lengthy discussions about various issues, but nothing specific about the North West. If you have any particular concerns, please pass them on and I will raise them at the next meeting.

As you know by now, I am pressing for conference call meetings to obviate these environmentally and financially unsound journeys and I am told that the next meeting will be via that method. I do hope so.

Indeed, there was just such a meeting of Regional Chairmen early in March.

The two hours allocated ran over but, otherwise, the system worked quite well.

We dealt with a number of issues, chief amongst which was data protection. We had an hour-long briefing from IWA HQ about the implications of severer legislation and our individual and collective responsibilities in protecting such data as we use. There will be more information on this to come but the watchword is “Don’t panic!” - It is mostly common sense.

We touched on CRT reorganisation and were advised to tread water for a week or two until it all settles down. Watch this space! Someone raised the point about the dual role of Regional Chairmen and IWA Trusteeship since the decision taken in January last to divide them, largely on the apparent advice of the Charity Commission. This advice turns out to be wrong. The consensus was that the duality works well, in that division of the roles would reduce influence and communication both ways and would delay decision-making. No one seems inclined to opt for one or the other at present since there appears to be very little to gain by so doing.

We have also had a plea for comments on the quality - or otherwise - of communications between the IWA and its members. Views please!

Spring is almost here after the late snowy flurry and “RATTY” is calling. We shall be on the cut just as soon as the diary allows and I hope you too will be enjoying the delights of our many waterways.

Sir Robert Atkins Chairman, North West Region

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IWA North West Region's Award On Saturday 7th April a regional meeting was held at the Fidlers Ferry Sailing Club, the chairman Sir Robert Atkins presented SUMBA (Shropshie Union Middlewich Branch Adopters) with the Tetlow Trophy.

This award was in recognition of SUMBA's hard work since April 2014 helping to transform our adopted 5 1/2 miles into a canal that is widely admired. The award also recognised the immediate help that SUMBA provided to CRT, the boating community & local residents during the recent breach in Middlewich. Mike & Jean Entwisle, Dave & Audrey Foulkes and Sue & Graham Russell accepted the award on behalf of every volunteer who has helped with the workload during the last four years.

Middlewich breach On Thursday the 15th March, late in the evening, a breach was discovered in the Middlewich canal close to the Aquaduct over the River Wheelock. By the next morning most of the water from the section between Stanthorne and Wardle locks had escaped.

This left boats stranded and CRT with a massive repair bill, fortunately CRT were on the scene next day and managed to put a temporary dam across the canal and rescue most of the boats in the dry section.

The only boat still unable to move is the Springer, who’s owner was on board. He was helped off and I believe has been found temporary accommodation nearby.

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Pictures from Middlewich Breach

Salt Towns’ Rally Itinerary This Rally is a Campaigning Rally for Mid Cheshire Waterways to connect the Bridgewater Canal to the Manchester Ship Canal at Runcorn and create a new Winsford link to connect the River Weaver to the Shropshire Union Canal branch. Presentations on this will take place during the rally in the presence of important political VIP’s. Boats can join or leave the itinerary at will – Please contact the Harbour Master for final moorings at Winsford.

Friday 17th August Saturday 18th August Sunday 19th August Monday 20th August Tuesday 21st August Wednesday 22nd August Thursday 23rd August Friday 24th August Saturday 25th August to Sunday 26th August

Monday 27th August

Assemble above Kings Lock Middlewich with a reception in Kings Lock at 7pm.

Shore based activities – Music, Stalls and Stands.

Move down lock flight to Middlewich Quay Yard-.

Move down Trent & Mersey Canal to Lion Salt Works for evening event on the Runcorn Restoration .

Free Day & Passage down Anderton Boat Lift.

Entertainment at Boat Lift – Mid day till late.

Cruise to Northwich – Moorings provided plus Evening entertainments.

Cruise up River to Winsford Marina – Boat parade & reception in Red Lion Pub from 6pm.

Enjoy the Offcut Festival- Mid day till 10.30pm – A major music and craft festival in its 7th Year with over 4,000 visitors – Includes Folk/Jazz music, food, Bar, crafts and lots more tba. The Festival takes place on the Marina Island and the Offcut site a short distance down river from the Red Lion.

Depart the site – Late afternoon.

All the events are free entry and an updated schedule will be issued.

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Reproduced from Waterways World

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Work Party Report by Colin Greenall

Wednesday 29th November 2017 Saw the Wednesday group out on the canal near the footbridge in Sankey Valley Park by Sankey Way clearing tree and unwanted vegetation from the canal bank and around the footbridge.

Tree clearance on canal bank near Sankey Way

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Completed Vegetation Clearance at Footbridge Sunday February 11th 2018 and six hardy SCARS volunteers were out at Winwick Dry Dock braving the arctic conditions of hail, sleet, wind and rain. Our day actually commence at Hulme Lock where some work was needed to complete the vegetation clearance started in December. Once his was done we moved on to the dry dock and got stuck into clearing the top of the walls around the dock and then moving on to begin clearing the unwanted growth of brambles and weed on the dock walls. The floor of the dock was under a few inches of water so that was left to be tackled another time. In spite of the weather a good time was had by all even the people passing by stopped to chat and ask questions about the work of the society etc.

12 Once his was done we moved on to the dry dock and got stuck into clearing the top of the walls around the dock and then moving on to begin clearing the unwanted growth of brambles and weed on the dock walls.

The floor of the dock was under a few inches of water so that was left to be tackled another time. In spite of the weather a good time was had by all even the people passing by stopped to chat and ask questions about the work of the society etc.

Volunteers at work clearing weed fron the Dry Dock Walls

Work on the top of the dock wall complete

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Waterways Walks.

We have done monthly walks throughout the autumn, winter and spring.

The last one will take place on Thursday 17th May, which involves the Middlewich Canal and starts from Barbridge Inn car park in Old Chester Road CW5 6AY, 10.00 for a 10.15 start. It is a 4.75 mile walk over very rough meadows with hardly any roads involved; so boots will be needed.

A meal is available at the pub afterwards and those who haven’t seen the breach may want to go and have a look at the repair progress afterwards.

The walks have not been as well supported as we would have liked, so if you want them to continue please join us.

Here is a picture of the walkers at the Sankey Valley in February 2018

Compare this to the number of walkers we used to get a few years ago. I know we are all getting older and some are no longer able to do the walks but a few more would be good.

Derek Smith

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GOING, GOING, GONE Finally we have managed to get the Barrier removed from the Dee lock, and clear the way for a ‘Round Wales’ trip, planned in May. A small boat is planning to circumnavigate Wales via sea and canal, the last obstacle was removed overnight on Friday/ Saturday the 13th/ 14thof April.

Thanks to Ray Buss who took this photo on the Sat morning.

All that remains now is to clear the trees and silt at the lock mouth.

We would like more volunteers to help with our monthly work parties in Chester. Working at various locations alongside the Shropshire

Union Canal on the last Sat of each month. 10am to 4pm. Work will include painting and vegetation clearance. Contact Jason Watts: jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk

First Autumn Social meeting will be on

Tuesday 9th October at the Holiday Inn in Ellesmere Port CH65 2AL 7.30 for a 7.45pm start. Please look at our Facebook page where details will be posted as soon as they are available.

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OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

President.

Ron Evans

Branch Chairman

Jim Forkin jim.forkin@team.waterways.org.uk

Minute Secretary

Ann Farrell annfarrell77@outlook.com

H. 01270 650054 M. 07803 928929

Treasurer, Social Sec & Assist Planning Jim Mole 16-elizabethan@tiscali.co.uk Officer H. 01606 40955 M. 07580 162355 Publicity Officer

Jim Forkin

Editor Packet Boat

Jeanne Smith jeanne.smith32@btinternet.com H. 01244 382058 M. 07746 955931

Planning & Navigation Officer

Geoff Gittus geoff.boatman@btinternet.com

Membership Secretary

Lesley Taylor lesleytaylor22@btinternet.com

Merseyside Liaison

Jeff Round jeffround@icloud.com

Scars Liaison

Colin Greenall colingreenall@btinternet.com

H. 0151 605 1094 M. 07808 859751

H. 0151 342 6651

H. 01744 731746

M. 07944 101162

Chester Liaison

John Herson hersonjohn@gmail.com

Bridgewater Canal Liaison

Ian & Vera Short veinarde1@btinternet.com

Committee Member Margaret Pitney margaret.pitney@talktalk.net H. 0151 608 6487

Committee Members Vacancies