Shroppie Fly Paper November 2011

Shroppie Fly Paper The Newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Winter 2011

Page 1

Lagonda Club

E

arly in June this year the Lagonda Club visited the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct as part of their annual outing. About 20 very impressive vintage cars filled the Trevor carpark whilst the club members were taken on a conducted tour of the site. Lagonda Club President, David Hine, presented the branch with a cheque for ÂŁ100 which was shared with Chester Branch who helped to organise the visit.

The Rotary Club of Shrewsbury

T

he Rotary Club of Shrewsbury has very kindly donated a pull-up sign that can be used at various events to promote the IWA Branch.

The sign has already been displayed at Shrewsbury Library and will appear at the Oswestry Town Museum when it opens. If you know of an event where the sign could be used please let us know.

Rotary Club President, Alan Wilding, presents the sign to IWA Region Chairman and branch member Alan Platt.

Page 2

The Branch Committee President

Michael Limbrey, Greenfields, Weston Lane, Oswestry SY11 2BD 01691 654081 michael@limbrey.net

Region Chairman

Alan Platt, Argoed, Pen y Cefn Road, Caerwys, Flintshire CH7 5BH 01352 720649 alanplatt@hotmail.co.uk

Secretary

Dawn Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403

Treasurer

shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

Denis Farmer, 8 Kingbur Place, Audlem, Crewe CW3 0DL 01270 811157

janden1@btinternet.com

Heritage and Planning Officer Peter Brown, 34 Waterside Drive, Market Drayton TF9 1HU 01630 652567 Social Secretary

iwa@peter-quita.demon.co.uk

Janet Farmer, 8 Kingbur Place, Audlem, Crewe CW3 0DL 01270 811157

Membership Secretary Web-master Newsletter Editor Committee Members

Branch Web-pages

janden1@btinternet.com

Dawn Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403 shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk Alan Wilding, Priory Lodge, 154 Longden Road, Shrewsbury SY3 9ED 01743 359 650 alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk David Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403 shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk Gerallt Hughes (General Secretary Committee for Wales) Ty’n y Coed, Arthog, Gwynedd LL39 1YS 01341 250631 gerallt.hughes@waterways.org.uk Carolyn Theobold carolyn_t@mac.com

waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury

Shroppie Fly Paper The Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association with a membership of about 390. Nationally the IWA has about 18,000 members and campaigns for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways. For further information contact any committee member.

Copy for the Shroppie Fly Paper is welcome in manuscript form, on disc or by email. Photographs may be in any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you require photographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments for the Editor’s private guidance.

The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this Branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged.

The Inland Waterways Association is registered as a charity No 212342.

Next Copy Date: 1st February 2012 Page 3

Editorial

D

espite the ever deepening financial crisis volunteers continue to work on our local canals with increasing enthusiasm. For four weeks this summer members of the Waterway Recovery Group worked on a section of the Montgomery Canal south of Prices Bridge. They will be back again for a week in December and plan an extended visit next summer (page 28). The Shropshire Union Canal Society continues with its programme of work-parties on the first week-end of each month restoring the section between Redwith Bridge and Prices Bridge. The Whitchurch Waterway Trust is busy with new plans to extend the Whitchurch Arm. They are asking for comments on the revised scheme from all canal users before entering the planning application stage (page 22). Canal enthusiasts at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union have formed a Community Interest Company to work with the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust to promote the restoration of the canal between Norbury Junction and Newport (page 26). And, as if all this was not enough, the possibility of restoring the Plas Kynaston Canal from Trevor Basin is being considered; but if you wanted to know more about that you should have attended the talk given by Peter Brown at the Narrowboat Inn earlier this month.

We are once again indebted to Miss Jean Evans who has made another generous donation to the Branch. It was planned to take Miss Evans for a cruise at Audlem last month to show our appreciation but unfortunately this was cancelled due to ill health. We hope that she will be well enough to join us again in the spring.

For over 15 years the sand game has been a principle source of funds for the Branch but Janet and Denis have finally decided to retire it (page 27). Our thanks go to them for all their hard work but now we need a replacement. If you have any ideas for fund raising at the various canal festivals please let us know.

Branch member and regular volunteer at our events including the National Festival, Sue Blake, leaves soon for a year long tour of duty in Afghanistan.

We all wish her good luck and hope that she will record her experiences for the Shroppie Fly Paper.

Finally, if you overindulge at Christmas or at the annual dinner then I have the perfect solution. A Triathlon! This is not a joke, start thinking about your training routine now for in June next year we shall call upon you to perform, I hope we will not be disappointed.

David Aylwin Front Cover: The Branch trip aboard HAFREN at Ironbridge by Peter Brown Acknowledgements: photographs by Dawn Aylwin, Susan Wilding, Alan Wilding, Denis Farmer.

Thank you to all who contributed articles.

Page 4

Region Chairman

T

hings continue to move apace on the political front, as they must if the target date of April 2012 for the new charity is to be achieved. Firstly the title and, even more important in these publicity driven times, the logo has been announced and I have covered this separately in the magazine.

One of the most important elements is the establishment of the Area Committees which will be consultative bodies advising the local waterways managers and engaging with them, in modern parlance, in the management of the area. We in this Alan Platt branch are doubly blessed as there is also going to (sans bicycle) be an All Wales committee which will consider strategic matters of a specifically Welsh nature. For those who consider this to be superfluous, the truth is that Wales has a devolved Assembly which is particularly relevant in terms of restoration funding, and specifically in our case, of the Montgomery Canal Welsh section. This demands, as the IWA made clear in its response to the DEFRA proposals and which has happily been accepted, an assertive specifically Welsh committee. The balance in this committee between the traditionally different concerns of North and South Wales is exacerbated by the very different character and needs of the North and South Wales canals.

There will also be a separate national committee for Museums, reflecting the fact that the Waterways Trust is to be integrated with British Waterways into the new charity, which seems to me to make sense. If you think you can contribute by applying for these committees, the details will be available soon.

The new Trustees have been named and Michael Limbrey and I had a chance of a brief chat with John Dodwell, the ‘boaters’ friend’ trustee in Cardiff at the Assembly All Party group recently. He is well aware of the funding challenge that faces the new charity and on which the IWA is campaigning hard. That said the even more savage cuts imposed on EA and other agencies shows that were the future to lie within DEFRA as at present, the future would be far bleaker. The funding shortfall is the most serious issue facing the new charity and IWA both nationally and locally is campaigning hard.

And finally — your editor has, as is his wont, poked gentle fun at my attempts to be all embracing by referring to cyclists and pram pushers as valued waterway users in the last edition. In reply I would point out that, as my grandchildren are approaching GCSE age, I fear the next pram in our family will probably have me in it, but at the excellent National Festival at Burton in July, I did purchase a fold up bike for ease of lock winding and would have attached pictorial evidence had not my camera been stolen from the car, left in the care of Bob the dog while I had a hair cut!

Alan Platt Page 5

Canal & River Trust

W

e now have a proper name for the new Waterways Charity and can stop calling it NWC for short.

The perceptive will note that the word ‘and’ has been sidestepped in favour of an ampersand to avoid the acronym becoming CART, which would keep Sue Day of the Horseboating Society happy but could lead to unfortunate comments. For those of us who have the privilege of living in the Principality, the Welsh language version is ‘Glyndwr Cymru’, which is not a direct translation but this would have been rather long.

There have been concerns, and doubtless whatever I say will not effect them, that this rebranding will divert precious funds from a cash strapped organisation but we are informed that the agency that designed the logo, and I understand they did not pinch it from a well known brand of matches, did it for free. It is also stated that the matter of relabelling vehicles, signs and other equipment etc will be undertaken as they fall due for refurbishment or replacement. For example all new vans recently purchased have been left plain white so that they can easily be badged up with the new artwork. I can state from experience that this is now a matter of sticking transfers on rather than expensive signwriting.

It will not escape your notice that the above is full of ‘I understand’ and other escape clauses; personally I am not particularly guided by presentation, or hope I’m not, and consider that the substance of the entity is more important than the coat it’s wearing. Whether one likes the logo or not is a matter of taste; the official line is that the word ‘Waterways’ was ambiguous, and that there is a need to identify the new body as distinct from the old British Waterways. The inclusion of Environment Agency waters into the new body is still on track for 2015 and the initial dislike of the prospect by the Thames boaters may well have been tempered by the swingeing cuts in EA’s navigation budget which are biting very deeply.

What does remain a regrettable fact is that the funding for C&RT still looks inadequate and the IWA is continuing to press this truth on the interim trustees, and all interested parties. At the recent party conferences, the IWA took the opportunity of some private time with the Waterways Minister to press the point.

Alan Platt Page 6

CANAL SOCIETIES ANNUAL DINNER Saturday 21st January 2012 Arrive from 7pm £23 per person MENU Cream of Mushroom Soup, tarragon croutons Seasonal Melon, ginger syrup and berry compote

******** Roasted Breast of Chicken with sage stuffing or Roast Beef both served with vegetables, roast potatoes & traditional gravy Grilled Salmon, crushed new potatoes, lemon butter & almonds Roast Pepper & Asparagus Tart, carrot cream sauce

******** Vanilla Créme Brûleé, baked shortbread Dark Chocolate Tart, fresh cream & rich chocolate sauce Coffee & Mints

The guest speaker will be Julie Sharman Head of Enterprise at British Waterways Members of all canal societies are welcome to join us at the Lion Quays, Moreton, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 3EN. The venue is adjacent to the Llangollen Canal and moorings are free if anyone is hardy enough to boat there in January. Places must be booked and paid for before Christmas.

Please contact Judy or Peter Richards on 01691 831455 or peter_richards42@btinternet.com.

Accommodation is available, please call Lion Quays Reservations team on 01691 684300 to make a booking.

Page 7

Meetings and Greetings

T

his has been the season of meetings — I suspect most seasons are! I can impress you by telling you that the meetings I have been to were spread between St Helen's and Cardiff, but you must not be too impressed by this, because Alan Platt was at most of them too.

The National AGM was this year at Cookley on the Staffs & Worcs. We heard about the IWA contribution to the arrangements to set up the New Waterways Charity, which after all was founder Robert Aickman's great vision all those years ago. (Those of you who pay attention will remember that you read about this in the Spring 2010 SFP.) IWA has also been making important representations on funding too, and this remains a live issue.

The arrangements for transition, set-up and funding are hugely important issues for the future of our waterways. Don't let them turn you off. After more than sixty years complaining about the Government's treatment of them, writing to MPs, even debates in Parliament, waterways will no longer be a Government affair: the annual Government grant to Canal & River Trust (C&RT) will be the beginning and end of its involvement.

These new arrangements will affect everyone who uses our waterways, boaters above all. Yet only a minority of boaters are members of IWA. You ... we, those members, have made an important contribution to the management of our waterways for years to come. Don't you think it is a pity that many of those who will benefit are not members with us?

Tourism has been considered at several meetings, including the Llanymynech Heritage and Montgomery Canal Partnerships. A tourism strategy is being prepared for North Shropshire: canals are one of the leading assets of the area — you of course knew that already. We have for years been telling the world about the canals of this area, at events, rallies and in national magazines. Our canals — with of course the World Heritage Site — connect with castles, rivers, railways, industrial heritage, long-distance footpaths and so much more.

Tourism can enable local facilities and services to prosper which in turn sustains them for communities: this is the justification for the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.

Funding bids for the Montgomery Canal were reviewed at a joint meeting of the volunteer groups attended by IWA, WRG, and the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, and at the Welsh Assembly All-Party Waterway Group, Montgomery Canal Partnership and IWA's Restoration Committee. So Alex Ball, Montgomery Development Officer, has told us no less than four times about her work. If the bids are successful they will fund restoration of a further length in Shropshire and the creation of nature reserves (vital to ease restrictions on boating numbers). The first bid will be submitted in the next few months: please cross your fingers (though it might take a year before we have an answer!).

Page 8

Future events have been discussed too. Plans are well in hand for another rally at Maesbury next year — 1st - 2nd September should be in your diaries; Waterway Recovery Group will be back at the New Year and next August. And the discussion at the meeting of volunteer groups led to other exciting ideas too: these have to be considered further, in terms of practicality, manpower and cost: how can an event be used to best advantage? What can it achieve? I hope we can develop one or more significant events which will enhance the profile of the Montgomery Canal and keep it in the public eye — but that depends on people: could you help us?

It was a pleasure to attend the Paddlesports opening recently. They have rebuilt the old canalside warehouse at Queen's Head very sympathetically: those hardy souls who joined us on the Dinghy Dawdle in June will have appreciated its warmth. The club provides a very welcome activity on the Montgomery Canal for a hundred members, from youngsters to oldsters. After a morning's activities on the water, the clubhouse was opened by Howard Blackman from the British Canoe Union and Shropshire Vice-Chairman Cllr David Lloyd.

And finally... on the day before the Restoration Committee meeting I met old friends we had not seen for many years. They had come from Australia, so as we walked past the works at Redwith they could be forgiven for not understanding the finer points of canal operation. I told them something of the evolution of the canal network: how boats were long and narrow because narrow meant you did not have to dig a wide channel, and long to make up for the narrow. Long though had created its own problems, with the difficulty of turning, and when the boats had all reached the end of the canal, at Llangollen, say, or Newtown, they were stuck! My friend nodded, understanding. I explained how the problem had been solved a little while later by Dr Wind, a German scientist, who had invented the wide turning points which bear his name. My friend nodded again ... though I noted that he walked with a bit of a limp, as one leg had been pulled longer than the other.

Michael Limbrey

Tugboat Ted

B

ears and humans when boating are used to variations in the weather but our Autumn Cruise on the Cheshire Ring proved that these can be extraordinary. In a two and a half week spell, starting the last week in September, we were able to enjoy the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals in beautiful sunshine — regular BBQ's and drinks on deck. By 6th October, we had experienced what felt like a whirlwind— moving items from the top of the boat and then hailstones! Quite a come down which, although not so violent, continued until the end of the cruise! With high winds, we had almost decided not to do the diversion on to the Weaver but, although still overcast, the weather improved somewhat and we all enjoyed the adventure of the Anderton Lift, Page 9

shopping in Northwich and the different scenery on the river. We counted our blessings, 10 days of good weather isn't a bad record for our climate but by the time we had experienced several days of drizzle both crews were ready to head for home comforts.

The crews of both LEO and GRAPEVINE had misgiving about going through the Manchester area but enquiries from other boaters mostly quelled these.

The locks were said to be heavy going but by then we had the advantage of an extra (energetic) member of crew on LEO, another family member with a love of boating flew over from Northern Ireland to ‘wind down’ for a few days — a strange expression for someone who was volunteering to ‘wind up’ the locks. Both seemed to work and it was obviously a bonus for our humans to have her company and muscle power. I was honoured to be the subject of a couple of her sketches!

It's fun to vary boating activities and in August a trip was arranged to the Ironbridge Gorge where 28 members and friends experienced close up views of the Iron Bridge from a different angle. The water was quite shallow in the river but our skilled driver from Ironbridge Scenic Cruises avoided any sandbanks and returned us all safely. Do have a look on the website. The cruise was followed by an excellent lunch at the Bucks Head which was then ‘walked off ‘by exploring Wappenshall Wharf and Longdon Aqueduct with our branch historian Peter Brown as well as members of Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust who were keen to show us progress at the wharf. Good weather and company made it an enjoyable day.

Locally, we can report a wonderful show of 24 old boats at the Audlem Transport Festival in July and even more promised for next year!

The trip boat AUDLEM LASS has just completed a successful first year. The humans, as IWA representatives, were invited to a celebration party where the contribution of life jackets for the children was said to be very much appreciated. With so much enthusiasm from the volunteer crew and the public it looks set for another busy season next year.

Our humans have been notified by BW that the long awaited dredging between Adderley and the bottom of Audlem locks is due to take place during December to February and we are hoping that the problems with boats going aground between the locks and at the permanent moorings will, at last, be overcome.

The crew of LEO are delighted!

Page 10

If we don't see you in Audlem, we hope to meet up for the Quiz evening at the Narrowboat on 17th February and at an interesting AGM in Norbury in March.

Bears can never quite understand how human's cope when the weather turns suddenly colder. With no proper fur and just a few garments draped around it must be difficult. Make sure the garments are warm ones; we want you to stay fit for the spring and more enjoyment of canals and their surroundings.

Tugboat Ted

Tyrley Tattle

T

he boating season is coming to an end as I write this, with very few boats braving the cold wind and rain which has been crossing here today. The canal seems to have become busier as the summer progressed and visitor mooring space has been at a premium on some days.

The most momentous happening here has been, at long last, the installation of the new water point next to the sanitary station at the top of the locks. This was finally unveiled on 10th July although due to a misunderstanding at BW the water didn’t get turned on until the following day.

Quite soon it became obvious that boats coming up the locks were having difficulty in mooring near enough for them to reach the water with their hoses and so SUCS offered to alter the siting of the bollards. This was duly done by a work party on 27th September and consisted of removing the bollards in front of the old water point and replacing them with mooring rings and installing two new bollards nearer to the locks. This has allowed the visitor mooring to be extended by some 60 feet and has also provided the means to tie up boats right in front of the water point.

Unfortunately the new water point at Goldstone Wharf is still not connected to the water supply due to the tardiness of Severn Trent Water. It is now 12 months since this was installed and the delay reflects badly on the water company because of their prevarication.

Whilst on the subject of water, the lack of rain has caused BW quite a headache in attempting to maintain the level in the canal. It is currently some 10 to15 cm below its normal level despite the feed from the sewerage works at Autherley.

Belvide reservoir has been low all season and my neighbouring farmer told me today that the rainfall here is 10 inches below normal for the year so far.

The vegetation contractor has been very busy along this stretch of the canal this year, here again today, and this is reflected in the excellent appearance of the locks and the various visitor moorings along the Shroppie. Quite a contrast to the Staffs and Worcs canal which seemed very overgrown when we cruised along it in September.

On the wildlife front we were duly visited by the young greater spotted woodpeckers mentioned in my last Tyrley Tattle. Quite a few turned up this year Page 11

with their little red crowns and all seem to have survived to adulthood. The fruit crop in the orchard has been exceptional this year with some trees so heavily laden that branches have been breaking off. The dessert greengage had to have its low hanging branches tied up to get the fruit out of reach of the local fox population. The foxes appear to have a sweet tooth as they don’t take the more acid Denniston’s gages but they certainly enjoyed the sweet ones. Yet again the grey squirrels have stripped the walnut tree for what is now the 13th year in succession!

Finally, on a rather sombre note; those of you who have boated through Tyrley for over 25 years will no doubt remember the two ex-WRENS who used to sell pies and produce from the garage at the top lock. One of them, Jean, died several years ago but this week we had the news that Margaret, the second of the two, had died quite suddenly at her home in Somerset, her funeral taking place as I write.

Richard Hall

Olympic Torch

Y

es it’s coming through our branch area on Wednesday 30th May travelling from Chester to Wrexham, Rhostyllen, Acrefair, Trevor, Oswestry, Pant, Llanymynech, Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Cressage, Much Wenlock, Ironbridge Telford, Newport and Gnosall before moving onto Stoke-on-Trent. All in one day!

™

A team of 30 Metropolitan policemen along with a 12 vehicle convoy will accompany the torch; apparently the flame can withstand gusts of 30 mph (tests have proved it won’t go out) but I wonder whether they have considered the strength of the wind which sometimes blows across the aqueduct.

Fortunately May is a mild month!

Quiz Night Friday 17th February

W

as it really a year ago when we all racked our brains to remember which bear was which! Still I can confidently promise you that there will be no bear questions next February when Alan Platt, the Region Chairman, will have the honour of setting the questions. For those of you who don’t know Alan, he is a big fan of Mahler and Dylan (not the rabbit), so some research might not come amiss.

Once again local canal societies will be challenged to pit their wits against the Branch, so come along and enjoy this social evening at the Narrowboat Inn, Whittington at 7.30pm. You are all welcome, whether you come and join one of our teams or bring friends and family to create your own team of 4. If you would like to join us for supper from 6.30pm please contact Janet Farmer.

Page 12

John Fletcher

J

ohn Fletcher was a Chester-based contractor, timber merchant and entrepreneur, described by Telford as ‘an able mathematician and mechanic’.

The mention of Fletcher in the minutes of the Ellesmere Canal was when in 1794 at Telford’s request he carried out a survey recommending various improvements to the Parliamentary line of the canal from Pontcysyllte to Chester.

He constructed much of the Ellesmere Canal from 1795 onwards: the Wirral Line (with Samuel Weston), Maesbury to Llanymynech, Lower Hordley to Weston Lullingfields, the Ffrwd Branch (with Whittle), and Grindley Brook to Hurleston (with John Simpson). The total value of these contracts was well over £80,000. He also supplied work boats, deals for scaffolding, quicksets for hedges and other items.

The Ellesmere’s minutes also referred to him on one occasion as ‘the Engineer of the Chester Canal Company’, and this has been repeated in various histories.

However, it misunderstands his role. After Josiah Clowes was dismissed in 1778 the Chester Canal had no engineer. Instead, engineering matters were dealt with by a suitably experienced Committee member, initially Joseph Turner, a Chester architect. John Fletcher was elected to the Committee of the Chester Canal Company in 1795, and remained an active member until the merger with the Ellesmere Canal in 1813. He took over the engineering role from Turner, including making surveys and negotiating with the Ellesmere Canal’s engineer, John Duncombe. He also undertook major maintenance work as approved by the Committee and on other occasions supervised workmen employed by the Company. In 1797 the passage boat was registered in his name, presumably to overcome the legal prohibition on canal companies operating commercial vessels.

In August 1797 he proposed renting the canal from Chester to Nantwich for two years, paying £300 in the first year and £400 in the second. There is no record of this being discussed, but in December 1798 it was resolved: That the tolls, yards, wharfs, boats, cranes, weighing machines and all other advantages arising from this concern, be advertised to be let by public auction at the Canal Office on Monday 21st January next, for five years certain, commencing 2nd February 1799, subject to conditions.

John Fletcher was one of six shareholders present at the General Meeting when it was agreed to let the canal tolls to him at an annual rent of £220. The Company continued to be responsible for the maintenance, and it was Fletcher who was usually employed to carry out approved works. He was not given an entirely free hand — on surveys he was usually accompanied by Joseph Turner or Thomas Atherton, another Committee member.

At the end of the first year he claimed that he had been unable to navigate the canal for 49 days because of defects in the lock gates, so the contract period was extended for a further 49 days rent-free. Similar arguments were made in Page 13

later years, and by the time the contract expired in December 1804, a total of 250 rent-free days had been added. Although it was not explicitly minuted, the contract appears to have been extended for another year to give the Company time to organise the resumption of full management of the canal’s operations.

John Fletcher continued to undertake much of the repair work.

In 1805 Fletcher made a dramatic proposal: to replace the staircase of three locks at Chester with one 32ft deep lock with guillotine gates, whilst saving water consumption through the use of eight side ponds stacked above each other. He considered that no more than three feet lockage would be used for descending boats, or six feet for ascending boats. Thomas Morris, a respected docks engineer, was asked to advise, and he said that the concept was sound but would be impracticable to execute because the slightest settlement in the structure or blockage to culverts or paddles would make it inoperable.

The minutes of the meeting in September 1808 contain two items which may be connected: a report stated that losses had been incurred by persons ordering work without proper authority, and Fletcher was given notice to quit the wharf, timber yard and warehouse at Cow Lane, Chester. Had he been acting high-handedly as if he had control of the undertaking? However, just two months later his lease of the wharf was confirmed. In 1809 he became Chairman of the Committee but he was replaced the following year. Then in 1811 there was dispute about Fletcher’s accounts which took over a year to sort out, and he was again given notice to quit Cow Lane Wharf. Despite these differences, Fletcher took a leading role in negotiating the merger with the Ellesmere Canal Company.

After the merger, John Fletcher ceased acting as contractor or adviser, though he continued as a member of the General Committee until 1819, the year before his death.

Peter Brown

Audlem Lass

I

n previous issues of the Shroppie Fly Paper we have mentioned that the Branch has used money donated by Miss Jean Evans to provide children's life jackets for the AUDLEM LASS, a volunteer trip boat on the canal at Audlem.

The project has been a success.Throughout the summer 1337 trips have been run mainly between Audlem bottom lock and the Overwater Marina. The total number of passengers carried was 3990 of which 1134 have been children. In addition there have been seven School trips (in conjunction with a visit to the neighbouring Monks Hall Farm) and a number of special trips including cubs and brownies. A total of £3,923.28 has been received in donations which have been donated, less expenses, to the RNLI New Brighton life boat.

From the Branch’s point of view we are pleased to record the introduction of so many people particularly children to the canal. For quite a few it was their first experience and will, we hope, help to ensure future support for the waterways.

Denis Farmer Page 14

Maesbury Canal Festival 1st & 2nd September 2012

W

e promised a festival every two years and believe it or not there are only 10 months left before the next one; so come rain or shine (and from experience we can cope with both!) the first weekend in September will herald the third Canal Festival at Maesbury.

The St Oswalds and Llanymynech Local Joint Committee have given the Festival a generous grant towards the hiring of a marquee but other costs are being funded by various fund raising activities, for example the Friends of the Montgomery Canal have already organised a lock wind and the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of the Inland Waterways Association have run a sponsored walk. Look out for, and please support, future events. Rumours along the towpath indicate that there is going to be a triathlon (cycling, canoeing and walking) along the Monty so start training! More sedate activities include a concert early next year — so something for everyone. More details will be out soon.

There have been several enquiries for the 2011 Brain of Monty quiz — in fact a request has been received for the answer sheet but unfortunately the quiz, like the festival, is biennial. However, fortunately for all the quiz addicts, the 2012 edition is now available. So to get your copy please send £1 and SAE (or £5 and sell the extra copies to friends and family) to the address below. How can you resist the temptation of being the 2012 Brain of Monty?

So will the 2012 festival be a good as the last one? A hard act to follow but we are working on the case, and yes early indications are that it will be even better.

The very popular fishing competition which had to be cancelled at the last event will be back thanks to Richard Hankey who has volunteered to organise it. Once again the Saturday evening meal will be prepared by Iain and Fiona at Canal Central and the entertainment provided by Naomi Page and her band — so to avoid disappointment early booking is advisable.

The festival committee is pleased to announce that Percussion Unlimited, a lively and exciting group have now been booked — it will be well worth coming for the weekend just to watch and listen to them but there is the added bonus of all the various craft stalls, children’s WOW (Wild Over Water) activities, dog show and boat trips. So, see you there. If you want to come by boat numbers are restricted so don’t leave it too late to get your application form.

For information regarding any of the above please contact info@canalfestival.co.uk or send SAE to Wyndcliff, Pen-y-Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS. Up to date information can also be found on www.canalfestival.co.uk Page 15

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch

Diary 7th January

Winter Walk at Shrewsbury Meet at 10.30am by the footbridge in Frankwell car park. An interesting 3½ mile walk round Shrewsbury followed by lunch at the Anchor Inn. Please contact Alan 01743 359650.

Details on page 18

14th January

Branch Business Meeting 11.30am – 1.30pm at the Narrowboat Inn (Maestermyn) Whittington followed by lunch. Yes this is a Saturday as requested at the AGM last March. Members are very welcome to join us but please confirm time and date with a committee member before attending.

21st January

Canal Societies Annual Dinner at the Lion Quays at 7pm Places must be booked before Christmas.

Contact Peter Richards 01691 831455 Details on Page 7

13th February

Branch Business Meeting at the Narrowboat Inn at 7.30pm Please confirm time and date with a committee member before attending.

17th February

Branch Quiz at the Narrowboat Inn at 7.30pm Details on page 12

18th February

‘Joyful Noise’ A concert in support of the Maesbury Canal Festival Oswestry Community Gospel Choir 7.30pm at Llanymynech Village Hall

24th March

Branch AGM and lunch followed by a talk on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Details on page 21

27th April

Inter Branch Skittles Challenge This is being organised by the Stoke-on-Trent branch and will be held at the Stoke Boat Club. More details will be in the next edition.

5th & 6th May

May Day Canal Festival, Norbury Junction

30th May

Olympic Torch passes through the branch area Details on page 12

2nd June

Triathlon to support the Maesbury Festival Page 16

Newtown - bicycle - Welshpool Welshpool - canoe - Llanymynech Llanymynech - walk - Welsh Frankton Details in the next edition 15th - 17th June Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival More details to follow but keep the date free as the Branch will be taking an active part. www.midfest.org.uk 1st - 2nd Sept

Maesbury Canal Festival Booking forms now available call 01691 830403 Details on page 15

8th - 9th Sept

Ellesmere Festival

15th - 16th Sept Whitchurch Boat Rally Once again Janet will be organising a Summer Boat Trip – look out for details in the next edition.

Caption Competition ‘Bears at the Ellesmere Festival’ Send your speech bubbles to shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk before 1st January 2012. The best will win a copy of the ‘Llangollen Canal’ DVD by Video Active worth £12.99

Page 17

A Winter Walk in Shrewsbury Saturday 7th January 2012

I

’m looking forward to showing you a little of the river and canal history of Shrewsbury. The Severn is the longest river in Britain and, by the end of the 17th Century, had become the second busiest river in Europe. Merchandise was ferried down river in trows or barges and pulled up the river by teams of men harnessed to a tow rope. The river artery led to the development of trades such as malting, tanning, weaving, drapers and iron founders. The county town of Shrewsbury thrived because of the river. It’s built on a hill and protected by a natural moat — the loop of the river — with its only land approach defended by its castle.

The Shrewsbury Canal was built in the late 1790s to bring coal from east Shropshire to the county town in trains of 20 feet long tub boats. At its terminus, opened in 1797, an extensive coal wharf was created. The Flax Mill was built next to the canal at the same time. After the canal was linked to the national system in 1835 the Butter Market was constructed at the end of the basin. Later a railway company became owner and a tunnel was constructed under Howard Street for a sidings transhipment link. The River Severn is at a lower level than the canal and there was never any connection. The last working boats reached Shrewsbury in 1936 and in 1944 the canal was officially abandoned.

For our 3½ mile Winter Walk, you may need the options for arrival in the town and finding our rendezvous. There is the Frankwell long-stay (3 hours+) car park (SY3 8HR) adjacent to both our footbridge starting point and the Anchor Inn lunch venue. Pay & Display tickets are £4 for up to 10 hours. Alternatively, there are three Park & Ride operations. Harlescott, near Tesco for A49 from north; Meole, near Sainsbury for A49 from south; and Oxon for A5 from north and A458 from Welshpool. Return fare is £1.60 (accompanied under-16s free).

None of the centre stops are close to our start venue, nearest two being the railway station and Chester Street. These are close to the bus station and that’s where we shall walk to from the footbridge. It could be our second rendezvous point at 10.35 am. Also applies to rail arrivals obviously.

Our main assembly point at 10.30 am is by the footbridge from the Frankwell car park, near the Guildhall. We’ll cross the River Severn and the Smithfield Road to walk to the bus station and take a short ride on the 24 or 511 to the former Flax Mill in Spring Gardens, next to the Arriva bus garage. Bring your English bus-pass; otherwise I think minimum fare is £1.80.

The former Shrewsbury Canal ran alongside this, Grade I listed, cast iron framed mill. We’ll walk the route of the southern end of the canal, passing Canal Tavern, to the site of its terminus basin, next to the railway station. Then we pass the prison and (providing the Severn’s not in flood) descend 60 steps to Page 18

the river footpath where we’ll walk beneath the station platforms, the Castle, the English Bridge, the toll bridge (under which a daring pilot once flew a small plane) and circle the town park to Victoria Quay, then cross the Welsh Bridge to reach the adjacent Anchor Inn for our, by then, well-earned pub lunch.

And, talking of the Anchor, it would be helpful to know if you are coming so that we can pre-advise them of numbers. Please email:alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk or call: 01743 359 650.

Alan Wilding

Canal Tavern

Branch Calendar

T

he fantastic calendar you have all been waiting for is now available for sale at the Shrewsbury Christmas Card Shop (see back page for details), Aqueduct and Nantwich Marinas, Audlem Mill and the Junction Inn at Norbury Junction for just £4.50.

To see the winning picture, Canada Geese in Flight, chosen by Canal Artist Sheila Webster have a look on the Branch web page (waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury) where all the pictures are displayed and photographers named.

Copies are also available by post so please send £6 cheque payable to IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales and your name and address to: Wyndcliff, Pen-y-Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 8JS. But hurry as the calendars have been flying off the shelf and stocks are low.

Because of the success of this venture we will be inviting entries for the 2013 calendar in the Spring so start snapping but remember landscape images must be submitted in digital format at 300dpi minimum. They must also be scenes within the Branch area. Unfortunately some of the photos sent last year did not conform to this and were eliminated. So be warned!

Page 19

Letters Dear Mrs Aylwin We are members of the IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales branch and so very much enjoy the Shroppie Fly Paper. We also love our canal holidays – hired from all over the country as we don’t own a boat – alas. We also don’t have e-mail access or internet (or a computer).

I have a huge collection (10 years I think) of ‘Waterways World’ magazines – mostly bound in the big blue folders. We were wondering if you would like them for selling at your various fund raising activities – or are you flooded with them!

We were most chuffed to find ourselves on the front cover of March 2009 – what a surprise, great mirth from the rude family.

What a fantastic job so many of you do to keep our wonderful waterways alive and buzzing and in full use.

Yours sincerely Alida England Thank you Alida for your letter and kind words; it’s good to know all the work achieved by volunteers is appreciated. If you were teased by your family for being on the front cover what will they say when they find out you are in print inside?

FOR SALE Waterways World Magazines For a donation to the Branch funds 2001 and 2002 complete with index 2003 complete but no index 2004 to 2010 complete in blue folders with index Please contact any committee member if you are interested.

Page 20

The Inland Waterways Association

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Invite you to a talk on

The History of the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals

By Peter Brown Saturday 24th March 2012 at the Junction Inn, Norbury Junction ST20 0NP Programme 11.30 Coffee 11.45 Branch AGM 12.45 A pre-booked lunch 2.15 Talk on the History of the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals 3.00 An update on the latest developments from the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust and the Norbury to Newport Canals Restoration Community Interest Company The famous Junction Inn carvery available at £7.95 if enough people book in.

For more information and to book the carvery lunch (veggie option available if pre booked) contact: Carolyn at Carolyn_t@mac.com or Janet 01270 811157

IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Annual General Meeting Notice is hereby given of the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of the Inland Waterways Association to be held at Junction Inn, Norbury Junction ST20 0PN on 24th March 2012 at 11.45am.

Agenda 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Apologies for absence Minutes of the 2011 AGM Matters arising from the minutes Chairman’s report Treasurer’s report Adoption of accounts Election of committee members

The meeting will be followed by an update on the new Canal & River Trust and an informal discussion. We welcome any branch member, particularly anyone who is interested in joining the committee. If you are unable to attend the AGM but would like to join the committee or would like further information, please call Dawn Aylwin on 01691 830403 or any committee member.

Page 21

Whitchurch Arm Development

T

he Whitchurch Waterway Restoration Trust has recently published its new plans for development of the Whitchurch Canal Arm beyond the current limit at Chemistry Bridge. The costs of the original schemes involving lakes in the valley and locks or inclined planes were estimated at several million pounds and presented many design and environmental problems. It is now proposed to build a Basin but to retain the option of one day connecting the basin, via a lock or inclined plane, to a canal in the valley.

A detailed survey of the site has been made and bore holes sunk to investigate soil conditions. These indicated no contamination or problems with load bearing. Design plans have been developed by the consultant engineers. An ecology survey has been completed and the design is compatible with the consultant’s recommendations.

Details of the cost estimates, currently standing at approximately ÂŁ475,000, together with soil test results and drawings of the proposed basin, prepared by Greenspace Architects Limited, can be seen on the trust web-site www.whitchurchwaterway.org.uk. Also included is an animation of a boat entering the basin.

The Whitchurch Waterway Trust is seeking comments on their plans and suggestions received so far have included; to consider measures of controlling litter adjusting the shape slightly to make boat manoeuvring easier to also provide facilities for moored boats such as Elsan disposal, water and electricity ideas on how the basin should be built not to have a slipway but use the space for a mooring instead that the picnic area should just be a seating area.

They are keen to hear comments from potential canal users and visitors to the Country park.

Also suggestions from any other canal trusts on construction methods and managing the project would be most welcome.

Comments can be sent by email to comments@whitchurchwaterway.org.uk or by post to Hon-Secretary, Whitchurch Waterway Trust, Chemistry Farm, Whitchurch SY13 1BZ Once this period of public consultation is completed they will start working on the detailed design with the aim of making a planning permission application before the end of the year. WWT hope to ensure that the design of the basin and the surrounding area is an improvement to the Countryside.

David Torrens Page 22

PICNI C

AREA

OK RO AD

CARP ARK

NORTH

Page 23

Drawing by Greenspace Architects Ltd

Proposed Basin Site Plan

SMAL LBRO

MEADO WC ROFT

Major Crick Grundy

W

e have just heard of the death of Major Christopher ‘Crick’ Grundy MC, one of that early group of people who did so much for the campaign for our waterways, who lived in Shropshire.

Crick's parents had been canal boaters before the war and Crick and his brother Martin had canoed over Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in 1944.

Crick told1 how he heard of the existence of the IWA some two months after it was formed and immediately joined. The next year Tom Rolt attempted to get CRESSY up the Llangollen Canal and was joined by Crick and his parents and brother Martin on HERON. They failed, and only reached Hampton Bank with great difficulty.

These years were the start of a lifetime of commitment to our waterways, including campaigns for the Basingstoke, Dudley Tunnel, the Upper Avon, culminating in managing the Southern Stratford Canal for the National Trust.

Crick was the last surviving signatory to the constitution when the IWA was incorporated in 1958 and in an earlier life had won the MC in Korea.

In recent years he and his wife have joined us at the unveiling of the CRESSY plaque at Frankton, and at the CRESSY cruise commemoration at Audlem.

Mike Day, a WRG stalwart who was much involved in their work at Frankton Locks, wrote of Crick2 that, “he was a great guy and his canal knowledge was encyclopaedic... (he) managed to keep the half restored (Stratford) Canal in working order until BWB came along. He had to steer between not losing too much money for the National Trust, but still keeping the waterway open. I know that he went out on a limb for us many times, putting resources into providing for our working parties and thus trusting us to deliver.”

Robert Aickman said of the Grundy family, “there is no family which has given more to the waterways.”

Crick was awarded Honorary Life Membership of IWA in Diamond Jubilee year, 2006.

We send our sympathies to his family.

1 Waterways World, May 1981: tribute to Robert Aickman 2 Navvies 238

Page 24

Michael Limbrey

Membership Matters

A

very warm welcome to the following members who have joined the Branch since the last edition of this magazine: Mr Alderson from Oldcastle, Mr Boyle from Gnosall, Prof & Mrs Bristow from Shelton, Mr & Mrs Byrne from New Broughton, Mr & Mrs Farquhar & family from Alkington, Mr & Mrs Grey-Smart from Market Drayton, Mr Gurd & Miss Ashby from Market Drayton, Mr & Mrs Hardy & family from Rhyl, Mr Hargreaves from Pentre Halkyn, Mr Healey & Ms Rowlands from Chirk Bank, Mr Hudson from Ballymena, Mr & Mrs Johnson from Chelmarsh, Mr & Mrs Jones from Withington, Mrs King from Leyland, Mr & Mrs Parkhouse from Norbury Junction, Mr & Mrs Smith from Alberbury, Ms Whitham & Ms Carter from Llandegla, and the Norbury to Newport Canal Restoration CIC. For those of you who have been members for several years you might remember Mr Hudson who lives in County Antrim and who used to be the editor of this magazine — welcome back Andrew.

This summer the various events along the waterways have kept us busy and we are very appreciative of all the help members have given us.

There was an especially good turn out for the lock wind which made it into a very pleasurable social event; so our thanks go to everyone who helped to wind locks or just came along with goods for the stall. A pity we did not have more boats! Apparently Hurleston was ‘manic’ according to the lock keeper but not many ventured up as far as Quoisley lock!

Perhaps we should change location next year. However those boaters who did pass through the lock were very generous so Branch funds did not suffer.

Finally our condolences go to Roy Mansell whose wife Bobby died on 26th October after suffering from a stroke two days earlier. I first met Bobby during the Monty 08 festivals when she volunteered to help. Since then she has been very active helping at the Friends’ lock winds, the Maesbury Festival 2010, participating on the IWAlk and making cakes for the Waterway Recovery Group volunteers working on the Montgomery Canal. Bobby will be sadly missed, and judging by the number of people who attended her funeral, not just by waterway enthusiasts.

Dawn Aylwin Page 25

News from Norbury

E

arlier this year a group of local people committed to the restoration of the Norbury Junction to Newport branch of the Shropshire Union Canal set up a CIC, a Community Interest Company. From the word ‘go’ an enthusiastic team have worked together, combining a whole range of individual talents, but with the sole aim of careful Norbury Junction restoration of the original canal.

In addition to boating we aim to create a linear park with walking, cycling, fishing and other leisure opportunities. Run as a non-profit making entity the CIC in Norbury has gathered unprecedented support from the community and at the time of writing we already have near enough 100 members.

Working with the the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, under the chairmanship of Bernie Jones, who regularly attends our board meetings as a guest, the aim is to eventually meet up to get our canal across the main A41, into Newport. Both parties have pledged their support to the overall plan and we see the individual roles as complementary.

Norbury to Newport Canal Restoration CIC has taken out corporate membership of the IWA, and we look forward to meeting up at the branch AGM in the village in March 2012, when we can explain our vision and report on progress to date, alongside the Trust.

Naturally we are applying for grants in order to move forward to Phase One of the project — an exciting prospect locally — and just now we are waiting to hear if we have been successful in an application to the IWA’s Restoration Committee. Publicity is always a useful tool towards a positive response and here I must mention the excellent article in the November issue of Canal Boat magazine. In a four-page colour feature, it covers the restoration of the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals, with special emphasis on the co-operation between the CIC and the S&NCT. For more information please visit our website www.ntncr.org Dianne Maxfield Chairman Norbury to Newport Canal Restoration CIC Page 26

Anyone for the Sand Game?

M

any IWA members who have attended the various waterway rallies or events in our area will have seen ‘the sand game’. We started it in 1995 and there is an entry in my records showing that one of its first outings was to the National Festival of Boats in Chester that year.

Since then we have seen the players grow older like the young man at the May Day Festival at Norbury who was once a little boy and is now six foot tall and still comes to help and have the odd go. At first we ran it as well as the Branch sales stand which dealt in the usual painted ware and waterways items but the sand game soon became our main fund raising project.

It was Janet's idea. A friend mentioned something similar which she adapted so that nobody left our game empty handed. It is called ‘Dredging for Gold on the Montgomery Canal’. It is quite simple — we have a table painted with an area to represent the canal which has pots of sand on it. One or two of them contain pound coins and about a third of the rest contain coppers. Customers pay us a pound to sieve six pots to see what they can find and if they don't find a pound or more, as is most likely, they choose an item of ‘treasure’ off the stand.

Originally this included items which we would normally have sold on the sales stand for about a pound or less and items which our wholesaler wanted to sell off cheaply. Since that source dried up we have obtained ‘treasure’ from wherever possible.

It has proved very profitable and a far better prospect than the sales stand which was largely phased out. Over the years a reasonable estimate suggests it realised at least £8,000.

In 1996 alone we attended many events and banked over £1,200 — more recently the takings have dwindled to around £300 per year.

Apart from the money it’s quite rewarding. The enjoyment on children's faces as they find a penny in a pot of sand is great and the fact we talk about canals with the parents may stick in their memories as an investment for the future. And there has been many hardened boaters laughing over their failure to strike gold but happily leaving with treasure such as a bundle of old waterway magazines or an IWA pen.

Rachel & Rebecca Roberts search for treasure

Page 27

Despite the enjoyment it has given us over the years we have decided that it time for us to give it up. The tables, banners and other equipment are showing signs of wear and tear. We are getting older and maybe not quite as enthusiastic about taking it all to events as we were. I also have a feeling that before long some mother is going to say to her child "I used to play this when I was young" and that would make me feel really old!

I remain convinced that the original idea was sound and the potential to raise money continues to exist even in these days of financial restraint. But it needs a rethink and refurbishing and, maybe more importantly, someone with the time and ability to take it to the various events.

Finally Janet and I would like to thank all our friends who have during the last sixteen years helped filling pots, dealing with the players and putting up gazebos and the like.

Denis Farmer

Meet some of the Volunteer Restorers at Crickheath

T

he quiet lunchtime bustle in the White Lion pub at Llynclys was suddenly interrupted by a loud crash! No, not another accident on the kamikaze A483 crossroads outside, it was a glass candle holder sadly pushed off the room divider by a newspaper returned from the other side. Susan and I were lunching there after our first visit to nearby Crickheath to see the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) work camp on the Montgomery Canal. We reflected that the peace and quiet of the derelict canal there must have been similarly disrupted by the August arrival of WRG’s huge fleet of earth moving machinery.

It was a major voluntary initiative. There were four teams, of 18 or so volunteers, over four weeks with £50,000 of legacy money available to hire machines and purchase materials — a vivid demonstration of the strength of the voluntary sector — all with the objective of establishing economical methods of reprofiling, re-lining and protecting the dry channel. Unfortunately, WRG’s initial target of 100 metres, from south of Bridge 84, took an immediate knock when the first team discovered a collapsed culvert. Undaunted, they re-located their work site a bit further south and started again.

The fenced off towpath provided an elevated viewpoint for gongoozlers like us and our first glimpse of all that large machinery and the hard-hatted, red-shirted, personnel in action suggested a contractor at work rather than a voluntary group. I asked an authoritative looking man if he was in charge to which he replied: “Oh, no! I am a civil engineer by profession but I’m just a foot soldier here.” A bit further along Helen was yelling instructions into her walkie talkie and she referred us to Alan Jervis, veteran of many Montgomery work camps over Page 28

the years. Alan was happy to record a video chat during which he told me: “It’s experimental; we’re working it out as we go along and trying to devise a system which is economical, watertight and which volunteers can install. We’re using a very clever modern liner system for any waterway. It’s a sandwich of geotextile fabrics and clay.

Wherever there’s a joint you gently peel back the cover and push the clay layers together. It’s absolutely watertight and long lasting and, importantly for this Crickheath site, it withstands ground movement.”

Alan Jervis who was on site almost every day in August co-ordinating operations

Volunteers had paid £56 each to be at the work camp to cover board and lodging which meant sleeping on the floor of a local village hall — the Porthywaen Silver Band Hall. This came with the added benefit of some free musical entertainment on band practice nights! Dom Smythe had come from London and he was also happy to talk on camera: “We get back after work and shower and then have a meal. There’s a dedicated camp cook and it’s lovely grub! After ‘Beer O’clock’ has been declared we can have a drink. We have activities like canoeing but last night we went on a farm visit to see some pigs.

I don’t see any pigs in London except on the plate!”

Helen Gardner of Northwich was camp leader during the second week. She said: “I’ve been doing this for 19 years. I started doing this first and then I got a boat. Normally when people buy a boat you lose them from restoration but I’ve managed to stay involved.” She suddenly interrupted her chat, saying: “Block your ears!” She blew a piercing whistle which brought the reversing excavator to a sudden halt and then, using her radio, she discussed its approaching proximity to a trench excavation with driver Adrian and another supervisor on the other bank before giving the OK to continue. “My role here is managing the work and making sure everyone is safe and that everyone is busy.”

Jessica Fleming had come from York to complete the residential section of her Duke of Edinburgh award programme. She told me she was very pleased that she’d been taught to drive one of the monster tracked dumpers. She said: “It’s a lot trickier than I thought because it turns from the middle.”

We met WRG chairman Mike Palmer during the final week and he said they were glad to be continuing their long association with restoring the Montgomery Page 29

Canal. He added: “The volunteers are free and so we tend not to include them in the financing but everyone here is putting in a degree of match funding with their efforts. We are going to need some major funding and will be able to tell potential funders next year that we can definitely offer a very high value-for-money solution. Individual donations and legacies as well as monies from groups such as IWA regions and branches Jessica Fleming talks to Alan on and local canal societies will all make a difference.” He camera about learning to said the huge significance of drive a dumper the Crickheath length is that it includes the next winding hole south of the present restored section to Redwith.

Currently, the southern end of this cannot be navigated because there is nowhere to turn a boat.

By the end of the fourth consecutive week about 70 metres had been re-profiled and 18 metres relined and fully protected with compacted soil, surfaced with concrete blocks. Alan Jervis said: “We’ve established a system that we and our design engineers are happy with and we’ve demonstrated that we can install it.

We shall leave the trial site for a year and the second stage will be when we come back to check that nothing has slipped or subsided.”

You can keep an eye on the trial too by taking a stroll along the towpath but if you also go for lunch in The White Lion, Llynclys, don’t get caught out by that room divider and its fragile contents as I did!

Earlier in the summer there was more welcome restoration news at the Montgomery Canal Forum in July. A presentation by Alex Ball, British Waterways development manager, detailed £2.7million of bids currently under preparation by BW for submission in 2012 to the Heritage Lottery Fund, a European fund and other sources. The work envisaged includes more nature reserves and more work on extending the navigable channel.

There’s more online, including three videos of the WRG work camps, at: www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury and the magazine Waterways World for December 2011 promises an article about WRG Digging for Victory.

Alan Wilding Pictures by Susan Wilding Page 30

Another load of carefully sifted local soil for protection of the clay liner

Mike Palmer takes a well-earned break while a colleague lays more concrete blocks Page 31

Shrewsbury Charity Christmas Card Shop 28th October to 3rd December

Open 10am till 4.15pm

Trinity Chapel in St Mary’s Church St Mary’s Street Shrewsbury SY1 1ED

Page 32