Sou'Wester August 2014, Issue 167

Sou’Wester August2014 | Issue 167 IWA South West Region

www.waterways.org.uk/southwest

South West Region Committees South West Region Committee: Chairman Roger Holmes Hon. Secretary Ray Alexander Sou’Wester Editor Vacant Navigation Committee Martin Turner Representative Committee Members Geoff Harman Avon & Wiltshire Branch Committee: President Fred Blampied Chairman John Gornall

roger.holmes@waterways.org.uk southwest@waterways.org.uk souwester@waterways.org.uk martin.turner@waterways.org.uk Peter Kelly

Lynda Martin

john.gornall@waterways.org.uk 0117 3296470 Events Officer Geoff Harman geoff.harman@waterways.org.uk 0117 9623812 Hon. Secretary Jeanne Aldous 0117 9324889 Hon. Treasurer David Chalmers david.chalmers@waterways.org.uk 0117 9720423 Membership Officer Rosemary Gornall 0117 3296470 100 Club Administrator Vivienne Hook vivienne.m.hook@blueyonder.co.uk 0117 9771373 Committee Members John Lewis Tim Wheeldon Salisbury Group Ron & glover3@gotadl.co.uk Myra Glover 01722 710322 Jon Van de Geer 01722 412841 Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Committee: Chairman Martin Turner martin.turner@waterways.org.uk Vice Chairman & Roger Holmes roger.holmes@waterways.org.uk Publicity Officer Hon. Secretary Susan Holmes roger.holmes@waterways.org.uk Hon. Treasurer Gordon Harrower gordon.harrower@waterways.org.uk Committee Members Polly Fothergill Chris Hanscombe Maggie Jones Martin Phillips David Ramsey South Wales Branch Committee: Chairman Margaret Gwalter iwa@gwalter.org.uk 01792 851 271/ 07973 336 097 Hon. Secretary & Pat Cleary southwales@waterways.org.uk Publicity Officer Hon. Treasurer Henry Brown Membership Officer Tony Pugh Committee Members Michelle Davidson Gareth Hughes Gill Thomas Mike Synan West Country Branch Committee: Chairman Bob Abbott bob.abbott@waterways.org.uk Hon. Secretary Peter Kelly westcountry@waterways.org.uk Hon. Treasurer Mike Moore bude.canal@gmail.com Committee Members Ray Alexander Chris Jewell Pat Robinson Mike Slade Hilary Wills Adrian Wills

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Region Chairman The branches in the region have been involved with important issues recently:  IWA Avon and Wilts Branch has been involved with moorings on the Kennet & Avon Canal.  IWA Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch has been looking into the lack of consoltation over major stoppages in the peak period at Gloucester Dock.  IWA South Wales Branch is concerned with continuing pressure over obstacles to restoration.  IWA West Country Branch has held a number of work parties on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.

many of you as possible will be there to support and enjoy the event.

You might be interested to know that it has been recommended that subscriptions for the forthcoming year be held at their current level.

Two branches in the area are offering free membership at local events, including Saul. This is an excellent way of attracting new members who will hopefully go on to renew at the end of the free year. At present, there has been a 30% renewal of members taking advantage of this scheme.

I know that it is late in the summer but I am writing this in a heat wave so I hope you all enjoy the waterways for what remains of 2014.

These matters are among many that IWA is involved with and is what a campaigning organisation should be doing, something that is sometimes forgotten.

At this year’s round of AGMs, an increase of numbers on some committees was due to new members volunteering their services. This is a good sign of healthy involvement. I would urge anybody who is thinking of becoming more involved to contact their local branch chair to find out more.

Elsewhere, there is a report on the recent Trailboat Festival, which was badly affected by torrential rain on the Saturday.

I am proud to have the Saul Pageant in this region over the August Bank Holiday. I hope as

Roger Holmes 2

News National Chairman, spoke and answered questions, which was appreciated by the members present.

Region AGM & Trailboat Festival On the last Bank Holiday in May, the IWA South West & South Wales Region hosted the IWA Trailboat Festival.

Following the AGM, those present gathered for a meal. This was followed by a trip to Nynehead Lift, one of the many boat lifts in the South West, on the Sunday.

Thankfully, it was sunny and very different to the previous day.

This year, the opportunity was taken to use the Trailboat Festival to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Grand Western Canal and the repair of the breach on the waterway.

Saturday was the main Festival day, and many people, including IWA West Country Branch, had spent over twelve months planning for this. The site was lovely and well suited to the event with plenty of stalls and attractions, which suggested that a great day would be had by all who attended.

Members at Region AGM On the Sunday, there was also a boat-handling event in the canal basin, which was well attended and appreciated by those present.

It was good to see the smiles on the faces of the public who love to see boats on their local canal and enjoyed the stalls and refreshments.

Unfortunately, torrential rain in the morning turned the site into a mud bath and by 2pm, it was too dangerous to continue with the event, which was regrettably brought to an early close.

Monday was a fine day and a Navvies’ Fair was held, which again was well attended.

IWA members retired to a local pub ahead of the Region AGM, which began with official business before Les Etheridge, IWA 3

Next year the Trailboat Festival is not in this region. Let us hope that it does not take the bad weather with it, although perhaps there may be a bit of South West mud somewhere to remind the organisers of the 2014 event.

parties are invited to examine the supporting documents and the draft Heads of Terms, which sets out the proposed structure and obligations on each party.

Lydney Docks has a rich history that EA has worked to preserve.

The Docks were built in the early 1800s to transport iron and later coal from the Forest of Dean. The Docks were used commercially until 1977. In 1985 the harbour from the swing bridge downstream was scheduled as an ‘Ancient Monument’ and in 1988, the Swing Bridge was designated a Grade II Listed Building.

EA to Sell Lydney Docks The Environment Agency (EA) is looking to work in partnership with local and national development bodies to continue the regeneration of Lydney Docks and develop a self-sufficient facility.

In 1998, the Lydney Docks Partnership was established to create a sustainable future for this Scheduled Ancient Monument. In 2003, it secured a grant of £873,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the Docks.

The restored Docks were reopened in 2005 and since then EA has continued to improve the area by enhancing flood defences, dredging the dock and harbour and improving access for all amongst other developments.

Lydney Docks (photo by Robin Warren) As a publicly funded body, EA feels unable to develop the docks as a commercial operation so is looking to transfer its interest in the site to a suitable person or body who will take on the statutory responsibility for maintaining and managing Lydney Docks.

More information, including how to access supporting documents and the outline of the process of the disposal, is available at www.lydneyharbour.com.

The site is to be sold on an informal tender basis. Interested 4

has been in negotiations to buy it, and agreement has been reached.

New Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Site Commences at Dymock

The Trust has been working on a detailed project plan to turn the site into a canal centre. The plan is for the pub to continue to operate as a pub and for it to be expanded.

In addition, the Trust intends to add other features such as a cafe and a museum with the hope that in the future boat trips and bicycle and boat hire could also operate from the centre.

Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust volunteers made a start at the new Dymock site in April, moving daffodils to a new area to allow a canal embankment to be built. The volunteers also cleared the site’s boundary and installed a land drain. This was ahead of the delivery of the first building materials in mid-June. If all goes to plan, the Trust hopes to have completed this section of the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal by the end of August.

The purchase of the Peterborough Arms has been funded by loans from members of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

More information is available at www.wbct.org.uk.

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Saves the Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock

Filming on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal On 21st July, Company Productions filmed a scene for new BBC drama Wolf Hall on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has exchanged contracts with Wadworth Brewery for the purchase of the Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock on the Wilts & Berks Canal in Wiltshire.

The six-part drama, an adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker prizewinning novels, tells the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, and follows Henry and Anne all the way up to her execution.

This historic pub is one of only two next to the canal in its entire length. It was closed by Wadworth in April 2013. Since then the Trust 5

The location chosen along the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal was the Albert Street Cutting, just outside Bridgwater. It was used to represent the channel from the Thames to the Tower of London.

Over the two weeks volunteers mainly carried out repairs to lock walls varying from re-pointing to re-building. This included partially rebuilding the wing wall of Upper Trebanos Lock, re-pointing, with lime mortar, the wall in the Lower Trebanos Lock chamber, rebuilding the wall between the two locks and constructing the by-weir wall.

WRG on the Swansea Canal IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group spent two weeks in July at Trebanaos Locks on the Swansea Canal.

A lot of work was completed and CRT’s CEO, Richard Parry, even dropped by to visit the site.

Editor Wanted This issue of Sou’Wester has been produced by Stefanie Preston. Stefanie has only taken on the role of editor temporarily and the Region is looking for a volunteer to produce future issues.

Articles are produced by a variety of members and are drawn together by the editor to make the magazine. The printing and distribution is arranged

by IWA nationally.

This is an excellent opportunity to volunteer with IWA. It should prove to be an interesting role that helps to keep IWA members up to date with what is happening in the South West Region.

If you feel you could help, contact Roger Holmes, Region Chairman, by email roger.holmes@waterways.org.uk, or Stefanie Preston at IWA Head Office at stefanie.preston@waterways.org.uk or on 01494 783 453 ext.

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Branch Reports envisaged that it will become very much a Canal Trust centre, with museum and café facilities, as well as remaining a pub, and expanding its purposes over time, so continuing to generate funds for the restoration of the complete canal.

IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Report I have to admit that it seems an awfully long time since I last prepared a Chairman’s piece for Sou’Wester, although that is not admitting that I have failed in my duties or been at a loss for words.

On to the Kennet & Avon Canal, and the vexed question of overloaded moorings from Devizes to Bath. At the time of writing, we are three months in to the licensing and mooring regime introduced by Canal & River Trust, based, to a considerable degree, on the work and conclusions of the Kennet & Avon Canal Partnership, and as the local Branch, we are keeping a close eye on the way the situation develops, both on water and on the towpath.

My contributions for the last two or three issues have been subjectspecific, rather than the widerranging stance that a branch chairman may assume. The introduction to the changes in the Branch’s 100 Club, and the announcement of this year’s Branch AGM in the last issue were from my pen, (no, computer) as also the details of prize-winners of the last two draws of the 100 Club in two succeeding issues.

So let me pick up some threads from here.

I have met more than once already this year with my neighbouring Branch chairman, Martin Turner, of IWA Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch, who happens also to be our Region’s representative on the Navigation Committee, and will be doing so again as the summer period comes to a close. I was on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal a couple of

First of all, we should offer congratulations to our corporate member, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, for the success they have achieved in reaching agreement with Wadworth’s Brewery to purchase the pub in the village of Dauntsey Lock, the Peterborough Arms. One of only two pubs canalside in the entire length, it is 7

weeks ago, and the increase in moored canal boats alongside the towpath through the full 14 miles there was very noticeable. The problems arising are not just local for one branch alone, but have to be reviewed at both national and local level.

moorings within Bristol Harbourside, who either book to take part in the Festival moorings for that one weekend, or choose to opt out and disappear for the weekend, or get shunted to a temporary mooring outside of the Festival site? If you are a boat owner with Bristol moorings, I would be pleased to hear from you about your views of Festival arrangements. Do contact me. My e-mail address and telephone number can be found at the front of Sou’Wester.

To a lighter note: this year’s Bristol Harbour Festival took place during the past month, and Joe Public evidently enjoyed himself and herself with the plethora of entertainment of all kinds laid on for the two days and a third evening of the weekend, despite some wide variations in weather conditions at different times. I regard it as a shame that the boats that attend are considered very much as a backdrop to the rest of the Festival scene, and that insofar as the water scene is involved at all, so much emphasis is placed on sea-going, coastal and estuarial craft, to the detriment of river and inland craft. I was pleased to see one narrowboat from a mooring way up the River Severn, and another even further away, from the Potteries. Next year, what about everyone encouraging visitors from the Thames and the eastern end of the Kennet & Avon, as well as the Severn and the Warwickshire Avon?

I applauded the ingenuity of a civil engineering concern, which thought it had hit on a great idea to suggest the haulage of waste spoil from a development in central Bath by use of the river.

IWA encourages the transport of freight, including rubbish, by water, where practicable, but on looking closely at some of the details of this particular suggestion, it became clear that it was not a viable option. Not only is there no navigation authority below Pulteney Weir, but there is not a right of navigation above the weir either, and in either direction there is no tip, or landfill site, nor one that could be accessed by use of the canal from Widcombe.

If you traverse the K & A, on water, or on foot on the towpath, and are passing Burbage Wharf, do

As an aside, on the same topic, do we have members with boats on 8

stop if you possibly can and inspect the information and interpretation board now installed by the towpath across from the wharf. Some of the funding for various stages of its creation has come from our Branch accounts, and two Branch representatives attended the last stages of its installation; various sections of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust have also played parts in the project to restore and reinstall the wharf crane. These works were reported on in an issue of Sou’Wester some two, or three, years ago.

evening of it on the second Thursday of each month. I do hope to meet you there.

John Gornall john.gornall@waterways.org.uk Branch Chairman

IWA Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Report This is my first report as the new chairman of the Branch or should I say regenerated chairman as I did three years some three years ago when Roger took over. As he has now been promoted I am back for a while.

Lastly, I must refer to the Branch’s social evenings, starting in October. Geoff Harman has worked tremendously hard, as always, to arrange visiting speakers for each month, and I feel that this coming autumn/winter programme should be very attractive to plenty. For the venue, we are returning to The Crown Inn, on the Bath Road, (the A4) through Saltford, where we held our social meetings until a couple of years ago. The place has been refurbished and is under new management, so we are looking forward to including members from Bath and beyond as well as from Bristol and around. The full details of the autumn programme is shown elsewhere in this issue, so please consider making an

This Branch is a little unusual in the region and nationally, we cover a small area and yet within that area we have two of the most active and successful Canal Restoration Societies in the country. This makes our task an interesting one. Many people ask what does the Branch do apart from having some social evenings and attending some events.

Well let us look at a couple of things we have been doing and what we would like to do.

This year we have arranged two very successful events where we got both canal societies together.

Each event was attended by a 9

large audience and people at all levels found out that they had similar problems and realising that it would be a good idea to liaise and compare ideas. A great success, which we intend to repeat next year, watch this space!

to have a problem getting ones for IWA. The committee does its best but most members by their nature are involved with many canal activities and are busy. So, if we are to have our team of volunteers that can take up an IWA project locally either with CRT or one of the canal societies we need more volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, either come to a social meeting or contact me so we can talk and put a team together.

Recently we have been all over the radio and the media here in Gloucester over notifications from CRT concerning restrictions on our navigations. Notices were very late and contradictory liaisons seemed poor. The media picked it up and there I was being interviewed at 7am, not my best time! The main issue was that boaters did not know about the restrictions that could disrupt holidays, travel plans and create a danger at Gloucester Lock. The result seems to be improved communications and an acceptance that the electronic system used by CRT to notify boaters of restrictions is not fit for purpose. A new distribution list has been put together that covers marinas, press, local organisations, etc. Lockeepers will be properly briefed along the whole of the Severn.

Looks to me as if we have lots to do. Come along then and support us.

Martin Turner 01452 312 228 martin.turner@waterways.org.uk Branch Chairman

IWA South Wales Branch Report Around South Wales Thank you to everyone who supported us with the Neath Port Talbot Local Development Plan.

We are waiting for the date for the Welsh Assembly Government's planning enquiry. Our efforts are now concentrated on Swansea's Local Development Plan and ensuring the line of the proposed canal is protected.

Currently in our sights is Bridge and Lock operation locally.

Volunteer opportunities for us together with CRT and getting the Canal Societies together. Because of the proliferation of volunteers for both societies we always seem 10

Work on the lower section of the Mon & Brec continues. In addition to the HLF grant received some time ago the project has received a substantial boost with some of the ÂŁ8 million granted to Torfaen from the Vibrant and Viable Places programme being spent on the canal.

will have spent two weeks in July working on Trebanos locks.

The Five Locks Festival, scheduled for the 16th/17th August has had to be postponed to next year, namely 22nd/23rd August 2015. The reasons for this are mainly due to the fact that there has been a dramatic escalation of restoration activities, coupled with some exciting discoveries in the Five Locks flight, which need investigation and evaluation, before forming the completed plan for restoration, once the current restoration at Ty Coch has been completed.

The breach on the upper section has been repaired and that section of the canal is open again.

You may have seen in the press a new design for lock gates developed by Swansea University and the Mon & Brec Trust. This awaits approval by the Heritage people in CRT before being put into use.

It will also fit in better with the commissioning of the refurbished community boat Lord Raglan, which is nearing steelwork completion at Uskmouth Power Station. Scottish and Southern Electricity, has exceeded expectations in delivering a superbly finished hull, and has actually carried out a lot more work than was required by the MCA. It explained some time ago, that it felt it had to bring both sides of the hull up to the same standard!

The Pontypridd Canal Conservation Group is back in action after the loss of Bill Hockey.

We will be giving them as much support as possible.

Swansea Community Boat Trust has taken delivery of its new boat Copper Jack and it has a full timetable of boat trips.

Activity continues apace on the Swansea Canal. The canoe hire is in operation every Sunday in Coed Gwlym Park, whilst the Canal Society continues with its maintenance every Tuesday.

For this year, in place of the Festival, on Saturday 16th August, there will be a day of boat trips with the smaller trip boat Edith Elizabeth, on the section of the

By the time you are reading this IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group 11

canal below Five Locks, which has not been used for around sixty years. Ashore, there will be a display of the proposed works to be carried out at the site, and DVD displays of the story so far, together with the plans for the extension of the canal towards the new basin in the "Canal Quarter".

and repairing masonry using traditional methods and materials.

CRT also hopes to work with local artists to provide some interpretation and demonstrate what the kilns were used for. It is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to get stuck into something really unique and worthwhile, which is a bit different from a restoration.

This contribution has been forwarded by Stefanie Preston, IWA's Branch Campaign Assistant, for our region. It is from Amanda Morgan, CRT's Technical Team Organiser:

At the moment CRT is keen to work with groups that can dedicate a period of time to this on a more sustained basis, rather than dropping in for a few hours.

There will be a chance to develop and hone heritage skills.

At present an HLF bid is being worked on for the restoration and promotion of a series of lime kilns along the Mon & Brec Canal, locations include Watton, Llangattock Wharf, Goytre Wharf and Llangydinr. Most of the structures are Grade II listed and some also feature on Local Authority Heritage at Risk registers. Volunteering is key to the project, and CRT would like to include and encourage the participation of local IWA members, students and residents alike.

If you are interested in volunteering as part of the line kiln project please respond to Stefanie direct at stefanie.preston@waterways.org. uk.

Michael Dowland has been in touch expressing his concern about the condition of the short stretch of the Cwmbach Aberdare Canal still in water and the lack of interest by the local authority. If anyone would like to offer support and advice he can be contacted at mike1935@btinternet.com.

Works will include vegetation removal (tree removal in some areas as well as ivy removal), fencing to protect the kilns’ upper levels, excavation and repair of existing steps to the upper levels,

The branch will have a stand at the Saul Festival. Please call in if you are there. If you wish to have material, leaflets etc. put on 12

display do get in touch so that we can arrange collection.

IWA West Country Branch Report

As you can see there is a lot going on in South Wales. We do need some new committee members especially as our secretary/publicity officer needs to cut down his commitment for personal reasons. If you are able to help out please get in touch.

It has been a busy summer for IWA West Country Branch. Several more work parties have taken place including two Himalayan Balsam pulls.

These were organised as part of IWA’s national Himalayan Balsam campaign to remove and prevent the spread of the non-native invasive plant.

Thanks to funding secured at Head Office, the branch was provided with all the kit needed and will be getting it out again at future work parties. A large section of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal was cleared of the plant in the Bathpool area, so we hope it will be less prevalent on our return to the site next year.

Naming the Waterway We would like to have a better name for the proposed waterway joining up the Neath and Tennant Canals with the Swansea Canal via the docks and the River Tawe. All the names suggested are listed below with a number. We will be making the decision at our committee meeting in October and would like your opinion. To vote for your choice please text 07973336097 with the number of your choice or email iwa@gwalter.co.uk.

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2.

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West Wales Union Canal West Wales Canal West Wales Union Navigation West Wales Navigation West Wales Waterway West Wales Waterway Network

IWA West Country Branch Gazebo (photo by Mike Slade)

Margaret 07973 336 097 iwa@gwalter.co.uk Branch Chairman 13

The Branch’s pop-up gazebo has been out on several occasions since it was bought. One of the most recent trips out was for the Bude Heritage Day. The gazebo is a great asset that helps the Branch support waterway events in the area and promote its own activities.

If you would like to be involved with our active branch, there is bound to be something for everyone to turn their hand to, do not hesitate to get in touch. Take a look at the forthcoming events pages in Sou’Wester for details of our next work parties, which are always a fun day outside by the water, or perhaps you would consider joining the committee.

We are currently looking for a volunteer to join the committee as its Publicity Officer. An individual with good I.T. skills would be ideal, as tasks would include helping to create/maintain Facebook and Twitter accounts, updating the branch web pages and liaising with the press. Do get in touch if you think you could help with publicity or would like to volunteer with IWA West Country Branch in any other way.

As you have probably seen elsewhere in this issue, the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal is to star in a new BBC Drama, Wolf Hall. A stretch of the canal just outside of Bridgwater has been used to depict Ann Boleyn’s journey along the stretch of water that connects the Thames to the Tower of London. This was featured in the local paper so let us hope that the publicity brings more visitors and perhaps more filming to the canal.

Bob Abbott bob.abbott@waterways.org.uk Branch Chairman

There have also been some exciting developments with the local council and I have been given the opportunity to meet with various interested parties to discuss waterway issues. The first is to consider boating and tourism opportunities on the River Parrett and the second to discuss the Branch’s aspirations to keep the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal alive and volunteers’ role in this.

IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Salisbury Group Report At the May meeting Chris Coyle came to tell us about the Wilts & Berks Canal, starting with the history of the waterway, which was built to carry coal from the 14

Somerset coal fields to towns and transport food for the urban population, from its construction in the early 1800s to its abandonment in 1914.

At the June meeting we welcomed Ian Graham, founder of the Wilderness Boats. Back in 1969 Ian built his first boat in the form of a flat bottomed punt with a roof powered by a 4HP outboard.

In the second part of his talk, Chris told us how Jack Dalby in 1971 discovered various ditches, which led him to write a book about the canal. The Wilts & Berks amenity group was then set up. Later in 1987 the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust was formed with their “Impossible Dream” to restore the whole canal.

From this basic beginning his idea developed using the concept of a cheap, basic boat with young families in mind. “Functional, not Elegant”.

The first production hull, The Water Rat, was created in 1970 followed some years later by The Beaver and later in 1982, The Otter.

Today, major restoration is well under way. Sadly parts of the route have been lost but plans for new sections around Abingdon, Melksham and Swindon are well under way.

Wilderness boats can be seen all over the inland waterways of Britain as they are renowned for reaching parts where larger boats cannot go.

Why restore? There are plenty of reasons why the canal should be restored for use this century and in the future: for leisure, wildlife, heritage, economic development and for long distance footpaths and cycle ways.

Our annual summer event took place in July where the weather held fine for our boules & BBQ once again.

As always, Jeff, landlord of the Green Dragon, cooked us an excellent meal. This was followed by our four teams competing for the first place in the boules match.

Now it would appear that “The Impossible Dream” is slowly becoming reality as work continues. No longer “if” but “when” full restoration will be completed is the only question.

Take a look at the Forthcoming Events section of Sou’Wester to see what socials we have planned for the rest of the year.

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Forthcoming Events Saul Waterways Pageant

IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Social Programme

IWA is organising a boat gathering at Saul Junction over the August bank holiday weekend (Saturday 23rd - Sunday 25th August).

Venue: All evening meetings will be held at "The Crown" Saltford (BS31 3HJ), which is between Bristol and Bath on the A4. Bristol to Bath bus services 37, 38, 39, X39 stop at the door.

It will be an open site with a variety of attractions and no charge for admission, although a donation is suggested.

Dates:

There will be a beer tent, music, a parade of lifeboats and other water based events, together with stalls with local or boating interest. There will also be a series of competitions including boat handling, Best Boat in Bloom, illuminated boat display and best kept engine room. It is not too late to book your place as a boater or camper or just come along and join in the fun.

Thursday 9th October 2014, 7.30pm "The Severn Bridge Disaster" an illustrated talk by Paul Barnet How the collision and explosion of two Severn petrol tankers destroyed the railway bridge.

Thursday 13th November 2014, 7.30pm "The Story of Roses and Castles"

by Robert Wright.

The origins, history and development of canal boat decoration.

The site is situated on Church Lane, Saul, where the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal meets the Stroudwater at Saul Junction and is open on all three days from 10am.

Thursday 11th December 2014, 7.30pm A social evening with a Christmas quiz and mince pies. ÂŁ2-50 per person

Further details and booking forms are available at the IWA website, www.waterways.org.uk/festival or phone 07795 400836.

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Sunday 25th January 2015, 12.30 for 1pm Our annual Sunday lunch at the Bristol Golf Club, Blackhorse Hill, Almondsbury, Bristol BS10 7TP (close to J17 of the M5, on the B4055). A three course lunch with tea/coffee ÂŁ21. Members from other branches will be very welcome.

Thursday 2nd October 7.30pm Glass Eels, Andrew Kerr.

2014,

Thursday 6th November 2014, 7.30pm Leominster Canal Thursday 4th December 2015, 7.30pm Christmas social with food and entertainment.

Thursday 12th February 2015, 7.30pm To be announced.

For further details contact Martin Turner at martin.turner@waterways.org.uk.

For further information and Sunday lunch bookings contact Geoff Harman at geoff.harman@waterways.org.uk or on 0117 9623812.

IWA West Country Branch Events Saturday 23rd August 2014, 10am Bridgwater Dock area clean-up.

IWA Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Social Programme

Saturday 6th September 2014, 10am Bathpool car park/picnic area clean-up.

A full programme of meetings has been arranged for the second half of the year. Everybody welcome.

Saturday 20th September 2014, 10am Bridgwater Docks, painting metal railings and furniture.

Venue: The meetings will be held at Gloucester Yacht Club. The bar will be open and there is free parking at North Warehouse.

Contact Mike Slade at mike.slade@waterways.org.uk or Chris Robinson at chris.robinson@waterways.org.uk for more details.

Dates: Thursday 4th September 2014, 7.30pm Carrying from Sharpness to Birmingham, Tony Condor.

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Experiences of commercial barging on the waterways of the North East.

IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Salisbury Group Programme

Thursday 4th December 2014 Waterways Quiz, Southampton Canal Society Note alternative venue of Chilworth Village Hall

Venue: The Green Dragon, Old Road, Alderbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 3AR Dates:

Thursday 11th December 2014, 7.30pm Christmas Dinner

Thursday 16th October 2014, 7.30pm “Boating around Vancouver”, Ron & Myra Glover.

Ron & Myra Glover’s experiences of cruising in Canada.

Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on at glover.3@btinternet.com or on 01722 710322, or from Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

Thursday 20th November 2014, 7.30pm “Barging on North East Waterways”, Nick Grundy

Next Issue of Sou’Wester The next issue of Sou’Wester is due out in mid-November. Any content should be sent to the Editor at souwester@waterways.org.uk by Friday 24th October 2014.

This issue of Sou’Wester has been produced by temporary editor, Stefanie Preston. The Region is looking for a volunteer to produce future issues.

If you think you could be the next editor of Sou’Wester, or would like further information, please contact Roger Holmes, Region Chairman, by email roger.holmes@waterways.org.uk, or Stefanie Preston at IWA Head Office at stefanie.preston@waterways.org.uk or on 01494 783 453 ext.

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