Shroppie Fly Paper March 2012

Shroppie Fly Paper The Newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Spring 2012

Page 1

Chirk

Lla ng o

en

ll

C

Montgomery

Ellesmere

a na l

Gobowen

Whittington

Canal

Oswestry

Triathlon

Graham Palmer Lock

Frankton Locks

Weston Arm

Queens Head

Maesbury Marsh Aston Locks

Saturday June 2nd 2012 A 35 mile endurance challenge Complete one section or attempt all three Guildsfield Arm Burgedin Locks

Bank Lock Cabin Lock Crowther Lock Pool Quay Lock

Welshpool

CYCLE 13½ miles from Newtown to Welshpool

Belan Locks

Welshpool Lock

Brithdir Lock

Berriew Aqueduct

Berriew Lock

n

e ry

C

a

al

M o

m

Brynderwen Lock

o ntg

Newhouse Lock

Newtown

Freestone Lock

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Carreghofa Locks

WALK 10½ miles from Llanymynech to WelshFrankton.

CANOE 11 miles from Welshpool to Llanymynech

Montgomery Canal Triathlon Challenge 2nd June 2012

T

he Montgomery Canal Triathlon Challenge invites participants to canoe, cycle and walk the 35 mile length of the canal in one day. Too much to manage? Don’t worry the Challenge is very flexible and offers the opportunity to just do one or two sections.

The Challenge is open to individuals and teams and those intending to complete all three sections will be allowed to set off first.

Starting in Newtown, the original destination of the canal, entrants will cycle to Welshpool. The towpath is complete throughout this length, much of it having been resurfaced to a high standard in recent years. Although the first part of the canal is filled in, it is in water from Freestone Lock and passes eight more locks on the way to Welshpool.

From Welshpool entrants will canoe the eleven miles to Llanymynech. The first part of the course is along the first lengths of the canal to be restored: in Welshpool itself, and north from Gallowstree Bridge to Arddleen. The final five miles are obstructed by a number of dropped road bridges and of course there is the odd lock to navigate.

The Challenge finishes with a walk along the Shropshire section, from Llanymynech to Welsh Frankton. The towpath is fairly uneven in places especially where the canal has not yet been restored but walkers will be able to see evidence of the latest work by volunteers of Shropshire Union Canal Society and Waterway Recovery Group. From Redwith the canal is fully restored, though at the moment boats cannot proceed beyond Gronwen Wharf because there is nowhere for them to turn.

The Montgomery Canal Triathlon Challenge is a test of personal endurance and team-work and is not a race. There will be plenty of opportunities to rest; at Burgedin courtesy of Canoe Wales and at Llanymynech where The Duchess Countess Trust will open their tea rooms. Finally Paddlesports have volunteered to host the medal giving ceremony at Queens Head hopefully about 6pm when everyone has completed the Challenge.

The event is being organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of the Inland Waterways Association in support of the Maesbury Canal Festival on 1st & 2nd September. Further details and application forms can be found on www.canalfestival.co.uk or by phoning Judy on 01661 831455.

Page 3

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 June 2012 Page 4

Editorial To print or not to print.

I

n this age of instant electronic communication do you really need a printed copy of this magazine? It can be e-mailed to you or alternatively you can view it in glorious full colour by visiting www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury and selecting ‘newsletter’ where you will not only find the current edition but backnumbers and also many other waterways publications and newsletters from other branches.

Or do you prefer to get away from the computer and relax with the printed copy?

The motive behind this question is, of course, economics; IWA, like everyone else, is looking for ways to save money. It costs approximately £1 per member to print and post this magazine. With about 370 members in this branch alone, is this a sensible use of your subscription money?

Or do you regard this as good value for money?

The problem is not as simple as it first seems. Many of our members do not have and do not want access to the internet. If a significant number opt for the electronic version only, the cost of printing a smaller quantity will not necessarily reduce proportionately. At present just one member has chosen the e-mail version in preference.

If we retain the printed edition does it need to be this quality? A lower weight paper with no colour pictures would reduce costs. Some branches newsletters are just simple photocopied sheets.

Or perhaps we should abandon newsletters altogether and have branch pages within the official WATERWAYS magazine.

If you want to keep the Shroppie Fly Paper in its present form or would prefer to read it on-line then let us know. Whatever your preferred medium please e-mail, write, telephone or text your views to the Editor (address details on page 4).

Or why not come to the branch Annual General Meeting and tell us face to face?

Yes it is AGM time again. This year it will be on 24th March at The Junction Inn, Norbury Junction and the business meeting will be followed by a talk on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals. More details on page 22. All but two of our branch committee members have served for three years or more and so, according to the rules, must stand down or be re-elected.

If enough people attend then Alison will serve one of her splendid carvery lunches; what more incentive do you need?

David Aylwin Front Cover: Alan Wilding guides the winter walk at Shrewsbury with the River Severn in flood.

Acknowledgements: photographs by David Aylwin, Peter Brown, Denis Farmer, Waterway Images, Alan Wilding. Thank you to all who contributed articles.

Page 5

Region Chairman

I

t is nice to able to impart good news in these troubled times and at the same time to indulge in a bit of self congratulation on behalf of the IWA. That said the news of the final negotiated financial package for the new C&RT charity should be already known to most of you as it has been extensively covered in the waterway press as well as IWA national and local press releases, and I understand our esteemed Branch President even got local radio airtime. So I shall not repeat in detail what the revised settlement from the government on the new charity is, but for those of you who are wondering what I’m talking about the settlement is in brief: An extra £10 million a year from 2015/16 plus indexation from the same date.

The funding is extended from 10 to 15 years.

-

The government guarantees the Pension Fund arrears as a backstop and contributes an extra £25 million to these arrears.

To put it another way, instead of £390m over the full term there is now a total, depending on inflation of about £800m, which to me looks like double in round terms.

Somewhere out there is someone who thinks it’s not enough, and it never is, but it is a lot better than I and our people at Head Office who were involved in the detail were expecting. It is also acknowledged by both BW and DEFRA that campaigning by the IWA was a factor in getting a better deal; so, on your behalf, I thank those of you who wrote to your MPs on the issue and those at a national level who have worked hard at this. And I will make the point that this is the same Head Office which normally attracts opprobrium for over-regulating the branch.

So we have a deal that gives the C&RT a fair chance having the resources to make it work. Soon the transfer will take place and the area partnership membership will be announced and hopefully we will set out on the venture that is the Canal and River Trust. This transfer, as I forecast last time will be a bit later than planned but it should be effective by the end of June.

What we now need is a true partnership between the new charity and its stakeholders, who are you and me and everyone with an interest in the waterways so that together we can make this work. This means a change in attitude on both sides, which is already happening. It will not be easy, and I’m sure there are many challenges ahead of us, but I for one feel more positive now than I did a couple of months ago.

Alan Platt Page 6

Welshpool Slipway

A

s the Branch’s Heritage & Planning Officer, my main job is to comment on planning applications affecting our canals. Most of the time this is quite frustrating as my comments seem to have little effect on the outcome. But just occasionally what one says can really make a difference.

Last August an application was made for building two shops and a restaurant

by Welshpool wharf. (The details and plans are on the Powys website: http://planning.powys.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet with the reference P/2011/0905.)

At first sight it appeared to be generally satisfactory — access to the slipway was preserved. Fortunately, I had owned a Wilderness trailboat for several years and had used this slipway several times. Based on my practical experience, I realised that it would be impossible to launch a boat because there would be insufficient room at the top of the slipway to manoeuvre the towing vehicle and trailer. As this is the only usable slipway, if the application were approved it would mean that it would be virtually impossible for visiting boats to cruise the eleven mile isolated section of the Montgomery Canal.

My representations caused the developers to rethink their plans, and a second scheme was drawn up which seemed to meet the objections. A site meeting was organised, with Derek Smith, IWA’s trailboat representative, bringing his Wilderness boat OLIVE from Chester. Trials on site showed that some of the curves needed to be eased, which the developer undertook to do.

At the time of writing a revised application has not been made, but I have little doubt that our objections will have been met.

Peter Brown

Derek Smith with Wilderness Boat OLIVE and Oliver Hill of Ross Developments measuring the site.

Page 7

The Canal Etchings Project

N

ationally renowned etcher Jason Hicklin has been commissioned by Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative to create six site specific stainless steel etched sculptures situated at the World Heritage Site at Chirk and along the Llangollen Canal, at Llanymynech, and Frankton Locks, with two further pieces completing the series at Ellesmere, alongside the canal and the mere.

Jason Hicklin, based in Shropshire and London, is taking his etching work out of the studio and gallery and into the Jason Hicklin landscape. His work is based on the landscape of the British Isles and The Canal Etchings are inspired by walks along the Shropshire Union Canal in 2011. Casual visitors along this canal can experience Jason Hicklin’s sculpture pieces, each an individual response to the landscape and the history of the place in which it stands.

The installation of these sculptures is taking place in late March and from 2nd to 31st March Jason Hicklin will be hosting an exhibition of his work undertaken for this commission.

The Canal Etchings project will raise the profile of the heritage of three related areas in Shropshire and their role in the creation of the World Heritage Site at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It will draw tourists who visit that site from all over the world to explore the Shropshire Union Canal towards its historic origins in Ellesmere.

Funded through the Northern Marches LEADER programme this project is a partnership involving Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative, Llanymynech Limeworks Heritage Area, Friends of the World Heritage Site and British Waterways.

This project aims to increase interpretation and awareness of the rural heritage and distinctive landscape – linking the related sites along the Ellesmere and Montgomery sections of the Shropshire Canal to the World Heritage Site at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. They create a ‘virtual Sculpture Trail’ which can be travelled by car through approximately 20 miles of beautiful Shropshire countryside – also much of the trail can be explored by foot following the towpath trails. The sculptures in themselves will provide a unique experience of their locations and will further open the visitor to a deeper understanding of their surroundings.

Tonia Parry Marketing and Communications Officer Qube, Oswald Road, Oswestry SY11 1RB Page 8

Another Fish and Chip Cruise

T

his year’s boat trip is planned for Saturday 14th July and will cross the Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts and includes two tunnels. ‘Jones the Boats’ is taking us and will be leaving Trevor Old Wharf (not Anglo Welsh Wharf) at 12.00. There is a cafe on the Wharf for anyone arriving early.

We will cross the Pontcysyllte before a lunch so that we can enjoy the view fully before fish and chips (chicken and chips alternative by special order) we can then relax and enjoy the cruise along the embankment, the tunnels and Chirk Aqueduct which I always think is just as dramatic as the bigger one!

The trip including lunch will cost £17.50 per head for what will be approximately a 4 hour trip and I will require payment by the end of June. I would hope to return money to anyone who is unable to come through illness — assuming that I can give Peter Jones sufficient notice.

We appreciate that many members will have "done" the Pontcysllte, as indeed we have, but do we ever tire of that view! We would like to think that the trip will appeal especially to members and friends who have not done it and that the company and fish and chips will make it a good day out for everyone.

We might even learn something as well as it being an excellent photo opportunity.

We hope you will join us at approximately 11.45 at the Old Wharf in Trevor. Heading towards Llangollen turn left off the A539 immediately before Trevor (LL14 3SG for those with sat’ nav’) and then take the next right into a lane which leads to the Wharf. Check the website www.canaltrip.co.uk for directions and details of the trip.

Please make payments to the IWA and send to Janet Farmer, 8 Kingbur Place, Audlem CW3 ODL to reserve a place.

Page 9

Early Days

W

ith Jubilee celebrations coming this summer, my thoughts turned to what we have done to mark earlier flag-wavings. But I turned back too far in our branch records, to the mid 1970s. It is a long time since I have looked at these, and I could see how we established a pattern for the years to come.

There had been a branch structure from the early days of the IWA, but the branches were large and with a growing membership and more issues — and restorations — it became necessary to create more, smaller branches, grouped in the old branch areas as regions. The North-West branch became the NorthWest Region, with five branches: Manchester, Merseyside, Stoke, what was called Lancaster/Blackburn, and Shrewsbury.

You can see that the branch structure was usually built around major towns or cities — I have always thought we were an afterthought, filling a gap!

Afterthought or not, after an initial meeting in January 1975 in the then Victoria Hotel, Whitchurch, to establish a committee, the branch soon got under way.

The first committee meeting, in February, was in Market Drayton (at the offices of hire company Ladyline); two months later we were at The Shroppie Fly, Audlem, but by the next year we had settled in Whitchurch.

Soon the branch started the round of events and issues it has tackled ever since, organising events for members, supporting restoration, liaising with other local waterway organisations, and as we say, “campaigning for the use, maintenance and restoration of Britain's Inland Waterways”.

One of the early challenges was to identify a name for the branch and you may have noticed that this has changed a bit over the years. Some suggestions were a concern to SUCS, formed a few years before, who understandably did not want confusion, so we have never used the word 'Shropshire' and all the names have identified us the 'Shrewsbury' branch for short, though obviously covering a wider area than Shrewsbury or Shropshire.

Early minutes record that Region finances were in a poor state and we were asked to waive the capitation allowance of 10p per member paid to branches from their subscriptions ( – we did not); there was concern over damage to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct where the supports under the southernmost arch had buckled and snapped, and over the state of Harecastle Tunnel, which it was feared would remain closed indefinitely; Walls Bridge on the Montgomery Canal was to be culverted for 5 years, after which the culvert would be removed ( – it was not); talks were given, and social events were organised, including a Boat-be-que at Hack Green where we remembered everything except loos!

And in the next year the branch … · discussed the ecological interest of the Montgomery Canal below Rednal · was concerned about the threat to lower Arddleen bridge Page 10

· · · · · ·

was approached by a group interested in the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal attended the opening of the North-West Museum of Inland Navigation (Chester was then in the branch area) arranged a display in Telford Shopping Centre ran a Boat Gathering at Whixall (profit £80, shared with SUCS) attended Shrewsbury Flower Show (profit £21) and Welshpool Dinghy Rally (earning £18.65) and ran a Lock-Wind at Quoisley Lock (taking £52.69).

Sounds so familiar today!

1975 was the year when IWA planned to restore the Four Miles from Frankton to Queens Head. In the June edition of the Association's magazine Bulletin, now Waterways, the National Chairman John Heap wrote: When the Prince of Wales’ Committee announced their intention to restore the seven-mile section of the Montgomery Canal north of Welshpool, His Royal Highness stated that he hoped this would lead to other voluntary effort which would ultimately achieve the restoration of the entire canal. Our Association has accepted this challenge and has offered to restore, with our own labour, plant and materials, the 4-mile section of this waterway from its junction with the Llangollen Canal at Welsh Frankton to Queens Head. After considerable negotiations with BWB, we are pleased to announce that permission has been granted to do this.

He added that IWA appreciated that this was a considerable act of faith from British Waterways, acknowledging the expertise and experience of Waterway Recovery Group.

The same issue reported the progress of Joan Heap's fund-raising for a boat for handicapped children, which had reached £1,700 plus a donation of £1,000 from the TV programme Magpie to buy an engine. The boat was the first HEULWEN; the Heaps' summer cottage later became the base for the Lyneal Trust.

Bulletin also recorded a circulation of over 12,000 and listed a roll-call of early IWA notables: Vice-Presidents included Sir Peter Scott (son of the explorer and founder of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge), Sir Geoffrey de Freitas, Sir John Betjeman and the Bishop of London — four lords, five knights, four MPs, and twenty-two sets of initials after their names — and just sixteen people!

Now stories of earlier Jubilees, and what happened to the Four Miles, will have to wait for another day.

Michael Limbrey

Page 11

You Can Make a Difference

D

o you have a noticeboard like this near you? Is it clean, tidy and full of useful information for all canal users?

Or is it like this; tatty, down-at-heel, unreadable and in need of some TLC? Now is your chance to put that right. Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch, together with Chester Branch, are planning a volunteering initiative with BW timed to coincide with its transition to Canal & River Trust. We are looking for volunteers, individuals or perhaps a small local group, to adopt a noticeboard. Where noticeboards are already maintained by local groups this will remain.

Your task will be to keep it clean, tidy and to make sure that the information on display is relevant to the area and up-to-date. You will not be expected undertake repairs but to report any damage. This is not an opportunity to set up a local ‘for sale’ board or to post notices about granny’s lost moggie. The display material will be provided by C&RT and distributed via the IWA. The possibility of including QR codes, the square bar-code like devices that enable smart-phone users to access vast amounts of information, is being considered.

The appropriate keys and safety guidelines will be provided. Please note that you will not be stealing someone’s job. With finite resources and the additional workload caused by the transition, C&RT staff will be pleased to get help with this relatively simple task.

So if you have an hour or two to spare about once a month please contact me on 01691 830403 or shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk it really will make a difference.

David Aylwin Page 12

Volunteers Wanted

A

part from our usual requests for support, for example at the lock wind and the various festivals, we have a number of projects for the coming year and need help from you to make sure they are successful. If you are able to spare a few hours please get in touch.

Montgomery Triathlon Full details are on page 3. Because of the success of the IWAlk sponsored walk last year the Branch has been asked to organise the last section, that is the walk from Llanymynech to the top of the canal at Frankton. A mere 10½ miles! So we need marshals willing to walk the distance, a volunteer to sign participants off at the end, first aiders to accompany the support cars, and people willing to drive their cars for the afternoon. David, the editor of this magazine, said that he had a very pleasant day driving the first aider from bridge to bridge watching, photographing and encouraging the IWAlk walkers — so not an onerous task.

Installation of a Gate at Bridge 25, Llangollen Canal During the 2011 lock wind at Quoisley, local residents mentioned the potential danger of children and dogs running off the towpath on to the very busy A49.

Apparently there have been a few near misses. The concerns were passed on to BW and a volunteer work party to install a gate will be organised. All materials will be provided by BW and the work is expected to take one day although the more volunteers we get the quicker the work will be achieved. We have 15 members who live in Whitchurch and would really appreciate a small group of you volunteering to help, but even if you don’t live nearby and still want to help please get in touch.

Towpath Notice Boards As a trial the Branch has agreed to monitor and update the notice boards along the canals in our area. More details on opposite page.

Help needed at the Acky!

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Steering Group would welcome volunteers to be stewards at the Visitor Information Point at Trevor Basin by the Aqueduct. The aim is for the Centre to be open daily throughout the summer season with one or two stewards on duty. Could you give one day a week/fortnight to tell people from Britain and abroad about the canal, the aqueduct and the local history, and advise them how to make the most of their visit to our area? You would meet plenty of stimulating people, and help promote our beautiful canal. Training would be given. If you are interested, please contact Peter Brown (01630 652567).

Shrewsbury Christmas Card Charity Shop Yes it is a bit early to start thinking about next Christmas but we are being asked to commit to two dates: Saturdays 10th and 24th November both morning slots.

Page 13

Tugboat Ted

T

he canal through Audlem has needed dredging for some time. We bears have been aware of the difficulty of getting LEO back on the mooring and the concern of the humans and neighbouring boats. Now, at last, it is happening and BW are working from Adderley to Audlem bottom lock. The humans and I have been to see progress and, as I write, the dredger is working its way down from lock No. 1 and should be finished in about 3 weeks. Finger and paws crossed that nothing breaks down!

A combination of the dredging and the severe weather last winter convinced the humans that LEO would be better in the Marina for the worst winter months.

Expensive but reassuring to have an electric hook-up if necessary and be out of the way of dredging! So far, this winter has been exceptionally mild — you can probably thank us for that. In the meantime, there are IWA activities to look forward to. The quiz in February and an interesting AGM at Norbury in March.

Our branch historian Peter Brown will talk to us about the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal the junction of which we can all take a close look at from the bridge. The Junction Inn is the venue and will be providing lunch which is always good!

At the end of April, Stoke-on-Trent have invited us to form a team against them for skittles and are hoping that the lighter evenings will make the trip to Stafford Boat Club more inviting. The Branch is planning a trip over the Pontcysyllte in July with ‘Jones the Boats’ supplying a fish and chip lunch. Details on page 9, please join us if you can.

Page 14

There always seems to be something of interest happening in Audlem and this year is no exception. For us waterways enthusiasts, particularly interesting is the Festival of Transport, the boat part of which Peter Silvester from The Mill organises and he tells me promises to be even better than last year when 24 old working boats came. Before that, from 11th March to 14th April, The Mill is running an art exhibition with 150 paintings by 18 artists.

A "Safety Afloat" day at Overwater Marina is being run on 24th June and if you fancy a boat ride there, why not take a trip on AUDLEM LASS which will run from the bottom lock from Easter onwards — a novel treat at any time. Given nice weather, a day out in Audlem can be well worthwhile with no shortage of eating places to enjoy as well as the unique canal scenery.

Maybe we shouldn't grumble with dredging taking place and a volunteer lock keeper on the flight but, we have heard comments on the state of the paint on lock gates and occasionally itch to take a paintbrush to them. Health and Safety would have something to say but paint must help to preserve a valuable asset as well as improve appearances.

Tugboat Ted

The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything

M

y apologies to Douglas Adams but I really have discovered the secret! As editor of this august journal I have tried many things to get a response from the readers; everything from direct appeals to competitions, prizes to bribery — but nothing. So what, I hear you ask, is the key? TEDDYBEARS. In the last edition I asked you to supply captions to a rather dull photograph featuring two teddybears and Bingo! The responses came flooding in.

So, now that I know what floats your boat, why not write a caption to the picture on the opposite page showing our regular columnist Tugboat Ted watching the dredging at Audlem?

Send your speech bubbles to shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk before 1st June 2012. The best will win a copy of the ‘Llangollen Canal’ DVD by Video Active worth £12.99 Bear with me a minute And the winner is- this rope is in a terrible tangle!

Congratulations to Rita Newman from Mold, Clwyd who will receive a copy of the Llangollen Canal DVD.

Page 15

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch

Diary 17th February

Branch Quiz at the Narrowboat Inn at 7.30pm Details in the last edition.

18th February

‘Joyful Noise’ A concert in support of the Maesbury Canal Festival including Oswestry Community Gospel Choir and folk singer Beck Siàn.

7.30pm at Llanymynech Village Hall.

24th March

Branch AGM and Lunch Followed by a talk on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals.

Reminder on page 22. Contact Janet Farmer 01270 811157 or Carolyn Theobold carolyn_t@mac.com

30th March

Sculptures moved from Ellesmere by Saturn and ceremony at Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre when one will be put in place.

2nd April

Branch business Meeting at the Bridge Inn, Audlem at 7.30pm Why not join us for supper at 6.30pm before the meeting?

Please let us know you are coming so we can look out for you.

27th April

Inter-Branch Skittles Challenge This is being organised by the Stoke-on-Trent Branch and will be held at Stafford Boat Club. See page 28 for details.

Contact Janet Farmer 01270 811157.

5th to 7th May

Norbury Canal & Food Festival.

Note the extra day and change of name. Contact John Myers jma2@onetel.com 01785 255263.

30th May

Olympic torch passes through the branch area. Further details in local press.

2nd June

Montgomery Canal Triathlon Challenge.

See page 3 for details. Contact Judy Richards 01691 831455

11th

June

Branch Business Meeting At the Narrowboat Inn (Maestermyn Marina) Whittington at 7.30pm. Members are very welcome to join us but please confirm time and date with a committee member before attending.

Page 16

15th to 17th June Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival Middlewich Town Council invite you to ‘Join us in June’ the event being the middle festival of three. Starting the previous weekend at Etruria and finishing the following weekend at Northwich.

7th & 8th July

Poole Quay Canal Festival at Crowther Hall Lock on Montgomery Canal See page 19 for details. Contact Maggie Ellis 01938 590543

14th July

Branch Boat Trip Meet at Trevor at 11.45am to cruise across the Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts. Details on page 9. Contact Janet Farmer 01270 811157.

21st & 22nd July Branch Lock Wind at Hurleston Bottom Lock.

See page 28 for details. Contact Dawn Aylwin 01691 830403 29th July

Audlem Festival of Transport

11th & 12th Aug Lock Wind at New Marton Lock Organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal. Contact Judy Richards 01691 831455 13th August

Branch Business Meeting At the Narrowboat Inn (Maestermyn Marina) Whittington at 7.30pm. Members are very welcome to join us but please confirm time and date with a committee member before attending.

1st & 2nd Sept

Maesbury Canal Festival.

Details on page 21. Stall and boat booking forms available call 01691 830403 www.canalfestival.co.uk

8th & 9th Sept

Ellesmere Rally Contact Jane Lowthion 01829 751454 jane.lowthion@btinternet.com

15th & 16th Sept Whitchurch Boat Rally For entry forms contact Whitchurch Waterways Trust 01948 830837 wwt@mican.co.uk

Page 17

The Shropshire Union’s cheese boat PEEL

I

n box RAIL1019/1/8 in the National Archives at Kew I came across a letter which Jack Roberts sent to the British Transport Commission in January for publication in the staff magazine ‘Waterways’. Unfortunately the Certificate of Registration for the boat PEEL which was enclosed was mended with adhesive tape, now discoloured, and it is not possible to reproduce it adequately. In his letter he outlined the history of the boat and the workings of the cheese traffic.

Below for clarity I have paraphrased his letter but have not added anything.

Shropshire Union boat 449 PEEL was built for Mr J G Fish, a Whitchurch cheese factor.1 It’s Certificate of Registration was issued by the City & County of Chester on 19 January 1892.

Jack Roberts 22/05/1961 Courtesy of Harry Arnold, Waterway Images

The boat was fitted with three floors and bearers accordingly. In the lowest layer cheeses were allowed to be placed only two high; on the next floor just a single cheese; and on the top floor they were packed with straw. The only protection for this cheese was a light cloth, as you will see in the shops. It was not boxed like we get cheese from abroad. Most of this cheese was very soft, and during the summer months it had to be handled very carefully and kept clean. The boat was covered with special sheets. The second (under) top sheets were white, having been specially dressed with a compound of white lead, to avoid the heat getting to the cheese. The cratch at the front end of the boat was fitted with plates with holes punched them to allow the air to pass underneath the sheets when the boat was travelling. All cheese boats were fitted likewise. You could load only 6 tons in this boat, compared with 16 to 18 tons normally.2 PEEL conveyed cheese from farms on all parts of the Welsh Canal, but mostly from Shropshire. There was a cheese warehouse at Ellesmere. At Whitchurch the bottom floor of the Shropshire Union Canal warehouse was used specially for this cheese. All the cheese collected was brought to Whitchurch Depot, where it was examined and labelled, then placed in the boat again and forwarded every Wednesday to Ellesmere Port Docks, and on to Liverpool for export. The boat arrived at Ellesmere Port every Friday. The return cargo was mostly cattle foods, goods etc, mostly to farms from which cheese was collected.

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PEEL was on that route until 1910 (when Jack Roberts was sixteen years old) when Mr Fish died and the business was sold. The boat was then transferred to the Manchester traffic. When the Shropshire Union ceased to be carriers in the year 19193, it was again transferred to the Engineering Department. It was broken up in about 1949 at Ellesmere Depot.

1.

Kelly’s Directory of 1895 lists Hermon James Fish as a cheese factor at 13 Alkington Road, Whitchurch

2.

The original document had these two pieces of information the wrong way round. My thanks to Harry Arnold for confirming the version here is correct.

3.

The Shropshire Union actually ceased carrying at the end of August 1921.

Peter Brown

A treat to look forward to: The Saturn Project and the Roberts family are preparing a book based on Jack Roberts’ draft autobiography, reminiscences and letters. This promises to be the finest story of working life on the Shropshire Union, bar none!

Pool Quay Canal Festival 7th-8th July 2012 Crowther Hall Lock, Montgomery Canal

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he 2012 Canal Festival at Pool Quay on the land-locked section of the Montgomery Canal in Wales is being organized by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal to coincide with the final weekend of Welshpool’s annual ‘Local Tourist Week’ and as part of a series of events marking the 150th anniversary of Pool Quay’s canalside village church, St. John’s.

It will be the first major event on this stretch of the canal since the 2009 celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Welshpool’s ‘Big Dig’ in 1969 which kick-started the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. Like this event and the 2008 celebrations in Welshpool for the IWA National Campaign Rally, the majority of boats will be trailboats of all descriptions — visiting to join in with the small number of local boats which have their home on this section of canal.

It is an ideal opportunity for people to visit this beautiful rural canal set in the Severn valley and surrounded by the gentle hills of the Welsh Marches border country. In addition to the visiting boats and decorated boat procession, planned activities and attractions include canoeing, fishing, pond-dipping, towpath I-spy, radio-controlled model boats, classic cars, music, theatre, magic, art, crafts, stalls, refreshments and children’s activities.

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The Festival will be held in the grounds of Crowther Hall, Pool Quay and canalside around Crowther Hall Lock, with other activities being organised in this historic canalside community at venues such as St. John’s Church and the Powis Arms pub.

Volunteers are needed to help with stewarding or children’s activities. If you can help or would like to have a stall or bring another attraction, please contact Maggie Ellis on 01938 590543 or email crowtherhall@aol.com.

Maggie Ellis

Membership Matters

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he Branch welcomes the following members who have joined the Association since the last edition of this magazine: Mr & Mrs Arden from Pontybodkin, Mr Beasley & Ms Taylor from Ellerton, Mr Gaston from Telford, Mr Harding from Telford, Mrs Marshall from Higher Heath, Mr Martin from Woodhall Spa, Mr & Mrs Pearson from Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, Miss Robson from Welshpool, Mr & Mrs Short from Newbridge-on-Wye, Ms Silver from Llandudno, Mr Taylor from Stoke Heath, Mr Wright from Shavington, Mr Wadey from Shrewsbury, and The Friends of the Leominster Canal. It’s great to see so many new members joining the Branch and we hope to see you all at one of our events this summer.

At the 2011 AGM it was suggested that the branch hold business meetings during daylight hours, especially in the winter months, and at different locations.

As you can imagine finding suitable (and free) locations has not been easy but we managed to organise an evening meeting at the Bridge Inn, Audlem and a Saturday mid-day meeting at the Narrowboat Inn, Whittington. Both were successful and we were very pleased to see more of our members attending.

From feedback it appears they found the meeting interesting and suggested they would attend future meetings if they were at similar times and places.

Our Branch covers a wide area and we appreciate that it must be difficult for many of you to travel to meetings. Ellesmere is roughly in the middle but it would still take up to an hour’s journey for some of you. Audlem is towards the southern end of the Branch which still leaves many of you out in the cold (or rather during the winter months I suspect you are snug and warm in front of the fire at home!) However Branch committee members are very willing to come to your area to hold business meetings — so if you know of a suitable room please get in touch. From past experience we have found that pubs and inns especially canal side establishments are willing to let us use a room for free.

Since the last edition we have lost yet another volunteer and our condolences go the family of Dr Gillian Poole who died suddenly in November. Gill has helped the Branch on many occasions and enjoyed driving the trip boat at the 2010 Maesbury Festival and joined us on the IWAlk sponsored walk as a first aider.

Dawn Aylwin Page 20

Maesbury Canal Festival 1st & 2nd September 2012

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nce again live music is going to play an important part in this year’s Festival both during the day and on Saturday night. Naomi Page who will be singing on Saturday evening and Percussion Unlimited who will be playing during the day will be joined by The Street Band, Beck Siàn and one of our stall holders, Chris Thorn, will be playing his didgeridoo on and off during the weekend accompanied by a friend on the drums.

And finally we hope that the famous children’s fog horn band will march round the site led by Martin Wood the Town Crier. So a very wide mix of music making for a great atmosphere.

We are particularly pleased that Beck, who loves narrowboats and canals, will be busking at the festival especially as she has also volunteered to sing for her supper at the ‘Joyful Noise’ concert, alongside the Oswestry Community Gospel Choir, on 18th February at Llanymynech Village Hall. Beck, who is related to Kate Bush, is from Australia but has Welsh and Irish roots giving a strong Celtic thread to her music. Profit from the concert will go to the festival which in turn will use the surplus funds for restoration projects on the Montgomery Canal.

Equally important, if not more so if comments from the last festival can be believed, are the craft stalls and demonstrations; several artists have already booked in and one or two new craftspeople have made enquiries. We are very pleased that Stokes of England have just agreed to bring their portable forge along and offer festival goers the opportunity to try their hand at a few blacksmithing skills.

Half the fun of attending festivals is helping out as well as browsing round the stalls and watching the demonstrations. So if you have a few hours to spare and want to get involved either during the weekend or beforehand we need your help: from leaflet and poster distribution to erecting gazebos, or helping to run children’s WOW activities … in fact the list is endless so if you have a specific skill or even just a lot of energy and enthusiasm please get in touch.

A festival not to be missed! See you there.

Dawn Aylwin Page 21

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 ÂŁ7.95 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 Apologies for absence Minutes of the 2011 AGM Matters arising from the minutes Branch annual 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.

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£1,400 Raised for Norbury Canal Restoration

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hen the Norbury to Newport Canal Restoration Community Interest Company decided to hold their first fund raising/social event, little did I realise that it would lead to me sporting a superb ‘black eye’!

The event was an Auction at The Junction Inn, Norbury. Generous landlady, Alison Frizzell, a Board Member, laid on a wonderful free buffet and the scene was set for a successful evening.

I suppose it took around two weeks to organise with posters, flyers, press releases and emails and along with an encouraging letter from canal enthusiast and eminent actor, Timothy West, it all went amazingly well from the very start. Timothy West had accepted our offer of becoming the 100th member of our CIC and with this good news; we were quickly on a high with a steady influx of exciting and interesting Lots to auction. Members, friends and pub regulars searched their attics and garden sheds; pleaded with relatives and friends to dig deep and some star prizes and generous gifts emerged: a London Hotel Break; a Day Fly Fishing; Dining Out Vouchers; Oven Ready Game; Bottles of Wine and Bubbly; Boxes of Fruit and Groceries; Furniture, Garden Equipment; Electrical Items and Collectors Pieces and much, much more.

The pub was full to the gunnels on the night. Auctioneer Philip Furnival quickly put items under the hammer to an enthusiastic crowd and the money mounted up to an amazing £1,400. It was all a tremendous team effort.

And the black eye? No, I didn’t meet my match bidding for the Champagne or get a poke in the eye with a garden hose but I had promised to deliver a set of dining chairs to a local villager and this was really where it became a little hazardous. There was no-one at home so I unloaded the stuff under cover.

Job done but then I slipped. My head and a wooden post collided and a prize bump on the head developed later into a real ‘shiner’. Worth it? Yes, I’ve comforted myself with the philosophy of ‘if one wants to make money for such a worthy cause, one has to be prepared to suffer’ Dianne Maxfield Chairman

The Junction Inn Norbury

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Whitchurch Arm News

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he Whitchurch Waterway Country Park is a green space connecting the current end of the Whitchurch Arm of the Llangollen Canal to the town of Whitchurch. There are pleasant and peaceful visitor moorings in the arm itself or on the main line just outside the arm. Having tied up there, you can sample the delights of Whitchurch by walking 15 minutes into town, either by going along Chemistry, Smallbrook Road, Sherrymill Hill and Newtown, then turning left into Pepper Street or (if you prefer an almost traffic-free, flatter cycle route) by following the path through the Country Park, crossing Smallbrook Road, going left through the Jubilee Park then heading left into town.

Adjacent to the Country Park is the Greenfields Nature Reserve (run by Shropshire Wildlife Trust), which you can enter from Greenfields Rise, where, in common with the Country Park, there is a population of the increasingly rare water vole. In spring, there are bluebells up on the hill in the Nature Reserve.

Walkers may like the network of public footpaths in the area, many of which are across fields.

As David Torrens wrote in the last issue, the Whitchurch Waterway Trust (WWT), which owns the arm, is planning to build an extension (currently estimated at ÂŁ475,000) to the arm which would provide a new basin in the Country Park with both long term and visitor moorings and would bring the head of Drawing by Greenspace Architects Ltd navigation a little nearer to the centre of Whitchurch, while not necessarily precluding further extension at some future date. The inclusion of a slipway was considered but has been rejected in favour of using the space for moorings instead, and proposals for fishing lakes in the Country Park as part of the scheme have been rejected on environmental grounds. The existing arm terminates just before Chemistry Bridge, which is the leftmost (and old) bridge shown in the map, so the new basin would involve extending the arm through this bridge, and also through the rightmost (and modern) bridge at Meadowcroft.

In 2011, borehole sampling and an ecology survey proved favourable, and information about the development was published in an article in the local paper, inviting local residents' views. There is also a display in a shop window opposite the Whitchurch Civic Centre in the High Street. WWT has a newly Page 24

revamped website at www.whitchurchwaterway.org.uk, where you can see more 3D draft drawings of the plans for the new basin, a map which shows the new basin in the wider context of the existing canal infrastructure and the town, and a map showing the original course of the Whitchurch canal arm, which used to go all the way into town.

Comments on the plans for the new basin are encouraged, and should be sent by email to comments@whitchurchwaterway.org.uk or by post to HonSecretary, Whitchurch Waterway Trust, Chemistry Farm, Whitchurch SY13 1BZ. The next step in 2012 will be to submit a planning application and Whitchurch Town Council have been very helpful in awarding a £4,000 grant which will virtually cover the planning application's cost. If you would like to support WWT, and find out more, don't forget that an annual Boat Rally is held on the arm one weekend in September.

Unfortunately there was an incident in November where some of the long term moored boats in the arm were broken into, although nothing much was stolen.

While there has been some vandalism involving signage between the town and the arm, there is also a project to provide new signs. Some Market Towns Revitalisation money has been awarded for footpath and sign improvements.

The problem of silt and rubbish flowing into the arm continues, and various measures are being looked into to deal with this, as it would be expected to similarly affect the new basin. One possibility might be that of getting the entrance to the arm moved to be on the Grindley Brook side of the lift bridge, which would change the angle at which the arm joins the main line.

This last bit is not strictly about the Whitchurch Arm, but if you have enjoyed pleasant visits to the canalside ‘Shop in the Garden’ (aka Port Whixall) a few miles south of Whitchurch when boating the Llangollen Canal, you will be sorry to hear that you may have had your last ice cream there, as the property is up for sale by Halls in Whitchurch. On the other hand, if you always wanted to run a canalside shop...

Helen Brockman

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A New Ferry Service

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hrewsbury residents and visitors are set to take to the river for brief experiences of life afloat thanks to a local pub.

Many of today’s river bridges were built to replace ferries but in Shrewsbury that process is about to be reversed. The 90-year-old Port Hill suspension bridge spanning the River Severn will be closed for extensive maintenance starting in March 2012. Owners of the adjacent riverside pub, on the out-of-town bank, feared considerable loss of custom because the bridge provides much used footpath access from, and to, the town centre and avoids a long detour via the Welsh Bridge. In an unusual initiative, the Boathouse Inn has now partnered with Shropshire Council to provide a ferry service for the duration of the planned five month bridge closure.

The ferry will be operated by Sabrinaboat which runs a popular 60-passenger trip boat from nearby Victoria Quay. In addition to drinkers the new service will also cater for commuters and shoppers by opening in early morning and again from noon until early evening. A charge has been announced of 50p for the 2 minute crossing in a 12-seater boat between the pub’s garden and the public park opposite.

Port Hill Bridge was gifted to the town in 1922 by the Shrewsbury Horticultural Society which runs Shrewsbury Flower Show. A ferry at the site was then discontinued. The single span, steel wire rope, suspension bridge is known to all town youngsters as the Port Hill Bridge ‘bouncy’ bridge and, during the war, soldiers stationed at nearby Copthorne Barracks were ordered to break step before crossing because it was feared the vibrations might cause collapse.

The closure maintenance work includes replacing the timber decking, repairs to the steelwork, grit blasting and repainting and is expected to be complete before the Shrewsbury Flower Show in August.

Alan Wilding Page 26

Branch Lock Wind Hurleston Bottom Lock 21st & 22nd July 2012

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es we have been listening to boaters and lock keepers and have decided to take the advice given. That is (with BW’s permission) to change the site of our annual lock wind. So, as a trial for this year, we are planning to set up our gazebo adjacent to the bottom lock at Hurleston. Last year, although we did not have many boats cruising through Quoisley Lock, apparently it was ‘manic’ at Hurleston. We have chosen the first week of the school holidays and hope that not too many potential holiday makers plan to stay home to watch the Olympics!

Apart from helping boaters through the lock we want to attract other boaters, passing along the Shropshire Union, to stop and buy from our stall. So we will need even more cakes and produce. Last year we ran out of home made and home grown goods to sell, please don’t let this happen again this year. If you are unable to come along and help but still want to bake a cake or pass on surplus garden produce please get in touch with any committee member.

You are more than welcome to join us by boat and there are plenty of mooring spaces on the main Shropshire Union. Also there is plenty of space to turn round if you need to return to your mooring after the event. You are equally welcome if you come by car – details of where you can park will be printed in the next edition once we have got the go ahead from BW which by July will possibly be C&RT. The lock wind is one of our major fund raising events so please pencil the date in your diaries now. The Branch needs your support.

Inter-Branch Skittles Challenge 27th April 2012

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his year’s skittles match will be hosted by the Stoke-on-Trent Branch at Stafford Boat Club. Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch is the current holder of this coveted trophy and we need your help to defend it.

Meet at 7.30pm for a supper of Beef Hot Pot and Apple Pie & cream, cost £7.50p per head including skittles. You can pay on the night, however the club needs to know how many will be attending so please contact Janet Farmer 01270 811157 or janden1@btinternet.com to book your place before 1st April.

The club will allow a night's free mooring for the night of the event and up to 6 further nights free to any members of AWCC who may need longer term visitors mooring, for any non AWCC attendees the charge is £7 for any further nights after the night of the event. Contact harbour master Pete Hardy on 07716960049 to arrange moorings as soon as possible.

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Canal Art Courses 27th – 29th April 2012.

Canal Art with a Twist Exercises painting Rose and Daisy patterns in a Canal Art style, followed by alternative designs/patterns such as Pansy, Aquilegia, etc., using the similar techniques. There is time for painting your own projects and the weekend could be added to the one day courses.

26th – 28th October 2012 Canal Art, Flowers and Castle Exercises in painting Rose& Daisy patterns in traditional colours and a Castle Picture. There is time for painting your own projects.

Knuston Hall Residential College, an elegant 17th century building, set in rural East Northamptonshire between Rushden and Irchester offers a wide variety of weekend courses. Canal Art courses have been running every six months, for about sixteen years. Once guests have arrived, time is devoted to painting and eating. Prices are fully inclusive of tuition, catering and accommodation in en suite rooms. The college also includes a licensed bar. Painting usually takes place in a large workshop that is part of a converted stable block. At present the college runs a series of four or five different Canal Art courses. Although some people like to follow the series in order, beginners can be accommodated on all courses.

People attend from a variety of backgrounds and destinations. Some come bringing parts of their boat to paint and others because they love the bright vibrant colours. Some people come because they already paint and want to try something new. Whoever they are, many came back time and again, to take advantage of the concentrated period of painting without worry.

The Tutor, Tim Whitelock, was trained at the London College of Furniture as a Furniture Designer/Cabinet Maker. After a few years working as a Technician at Hackney College in East London, he went on to teach Design & Technology at a school in Suffolk, before moving to a school in Essex where he specialises in Graphics. His interest in canals and associated subjects go back forty years and he has been teaching Canal Art for twenty years. He is a member of the Waterways Craft Guild, Guild of Essex Craftsman and Inland Waterways Association.

Information about Knuston Hall courses is available from: Knuston Hall, Irchester, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. NN29 7EU Tel: 01933 312104 Fax: 01933 357596 enquiries@knustonhall.org.uk www.kunustonhall.org.uk

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The 2012 Calendar

D

espite the current trend to smart phones and I-pads storing a multitude of information, dates and appointments there still appears to be a place for the good old calendar. In fact the first edition of the Branch calendar has been a resounding success, so our thanks go to Sue Russell who came up with the idea, members who sent in photographs and to everyone who sponsored a month. Without these sponsors production costs would have made it unviable. So please support the businesses and organisations who supported us and when you do so please mention the calendar.

For those of you who missed the opportunity to purchase a calendar (yes we ran out of copies well before Christmas and had a few disappointed customers) details can still be seen on the Branch webpage waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury.

But to save you the effort of looking, the following sponsors are listed in the order they appear in the calendar: M & L Canal Services and mobile marine engineer 07970 384047: Anglo Welsh narrowboat holidays 01173 041122: Cheshire Cat narrowboat holidays 07867 790195: The Maestermyn Group narrowboat holidays and Narrowboat Inn 01691 662424: OverWater Marina 01270 812677: Nantwich Marina 01270 624075: The Junction Inn, Norbury 01785 284288: Swanley Bridge Marina 01270 524571: Aqueduct Marina 01270 525041: Mercia Marine boat insurance specialists 01684 564457: The Tesco store in Ellesmere. As you can see there were only 11 sponsors and 12 months so if anyone knows of an organisation, business or individual who might be interested in sponsoring the next calendar please get in touch.

One surprising outcome has been the number of e-mails, phone calls and cards received praising the calendar and in particular the photographs: apparently it has provided a few good memories of holidays past and present and not just for boaters; one gentleman was reminded of his childhood home in the area; others liked the fact that there was a diversity of photographs and locations. Did we get any criticism? Well yes — some people wanted the free post card which appears on the bottom of the national IWA calendar. Apart from the fact that our print run is much lower and therefore costs are higher we did not want to copy or compete with the main IWA calendar.

For details of the 2013 calendar photographic competition see page 30.

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Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch 2013 Calendar PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

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he Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch photographic competition for the 2013 calendar is now open.

Last year we were sent a few photographs which did not fit the format required.

Square pictures that distorted when stretched to fit the space allocated on the calendar! Photographs of scenes outside the Branch area were also discarded.

We need 12 photographs from all the waterways in our area: The Shroppie from Droveway Bridge at the southern end to Barbridge Junction in the north, the Middlewich Arm, the Llangollen and Montgomery Canals, the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals and the River Severn north of Bewdley. And of course we need one stunning A4 photograph for the front cover; one that combines a colourful eye catching picture with enough sky or plain areas to print the title. It is this picture which attracts people to pick up and look at the calendar before making the decision to buy it.

Images must be submitted in digital format at 300dpi minimum and should be landscape format for the twelve pages for the months and portrait format for the cover. There will be a prize for the best photograph chosen by a local artist.

Anyone can enter this free competition and photos will not necessarily be judged on their technical merit. We want to create an exciting and interesting calendar which will appeal to everyone, and not just boaters. Some of the entries already received are shown opposite.

Please send the following information with your photographs: Name, address, email and telephone number Title of photograph Location of the photograph Time of year the picture was taken (so it can be used for the appropriate month) Last year’s calendar was a great success. Help us to make the 2013 calendar even more stunning and send in that winning picture whether it’s an evocative scene, wildlife, or view of an historic building or structure — in fact anything that’s a snapshot of waterways life.

Please send your photographs to shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk Closing date is Tuesday 1st May Page 30

bur y Nor ion t Junc

By er fa r m s i n e D

Duc On t k s he ic e

Caro l

s boat m a re Ste esme l l e At

By in aylw n w Da

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By yn th eobo ld

David Aylwin presents Father Christmas, alias Brian Lawson of the Duchess Countess Trust with a cheque to acknowledge their help with the recent IWAlk.

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