Sou'wester - May to Aug 2022

Sou’Wester Peter Kelly

24th March, 1938 - 8th February, 2022 May - August, 2022 Issue 190 IWA South West and South Wales Region www.waterways.org.uk/southwest

South West and South Wales Region Committees South West & South Wales Region Committee: Chairman: *Roger Francis Members: *Ray Alexander Hon. Secretary: Sou’Wester Editor: Navigation Committee

*Andrew Strawson *Joyce Potts

*Geoff Brown *Geoff Harman Baz Juniper

Representative:

*Steve Warwicker

*Tony Pugh

Avon & Wiltshire Branch Committee: Chairman: *Geoff Brown Hon. Secretary:

*Tim Wheeldon

Hon. Treasurer: Events Officer:

*David Chalmers *Geoff Brown

Member: *Steve Warwicker

Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Committee: Chairman: Members: Hon Secretary: Acting Treasurer: South Wales Branch Committee: Chairman: *Tony Pugh Hon. Secretary: Treasurer: Minutes Secretary:

Vacant Henry Brown Vacant

Membership Officer:

*Tony Pugh

Publicity Officer:

Vacant

Volunteer Co-ordinator

Vacant

West Country Branch Committee: Chairman: *Ray Alexander

Members: Mike Synan Chris JL Yewlett

Members: Julian Gibson

Hon. Secretary:

*Vacant

Chris Jewell

Hon. Treasurer & Events:

Mike Aldridge

Maurice Pinner

Volunteer Co-ordinator:

*Mike Slade

*Contact details for these appear inside the back cover.

2

Region Chairman Fellow Members and prospective members, Welcome to the 190th issue of Sou’Wester, and I had hoped to write that we were about to completely emerge from the Covid situation, but sadly, we are far from that as I write.

North Somerset has the dubious notoriety of having the highest positive outbreaks per 100 thousand in the country! So it is far from over.

As a result of this, I have been cancelling events as I go along, due to being in a house with both my wife Kathy, and daughter Britta, in the “at high risk category”.

One of these events that suffered, was the combined Waterways Conference, held by the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and Canals and River Trust (CRT). Judging by the photo that Tony Pugh sent me, the conference was very successful, and held in lovely weather, and I look forward to hearing a report of the event.

One thing that has emerged over the last three months, is the fact that the Gloucester and Hereford branch, and the Avon and Wilts branch, have run into operational difficulties.

As you can imagine, there are strenuous moves afoot to try to restore these important branches to a more stable equilibrium, and I am sure that common sense will prevail in the end, with the help of Chesham.

The “One IWA” continues to make its seemingly ponderous entry onto the stage, but it does appear that it has been dogged by teething problems, and it is another case of bringing common sense to the fore.

This edition sees the end of my brief series of boat handling articles, which I hope, may have made you think a bit more about speed and how you use it, and the effect it has on your surroundings, apart from on other boaters! cont on page 4/...

3

…/cont from page 3 It is possible that you have not heard the end of my jottings, as I do have a file of anecdotes that happened to me in my climb up the greasy pole to command of my own ships and beyond, into my 21 years as a Trinity House Deep Sea Pilot. After around 10 years of retirement, it has begun all over again with my wife and I, having purchased the Oceanfoil Company where I was formerly, Marine Consultant, and which went into liquidation.

Fortunately I have a very capable Managing Director, who is soaking up my knowledge about my experience with wingsails over the years since I carried the first one on sea trials, when Master of the “Ashington” from 1986 to 1988.

Despite this extra call on my time, I hope can remain as your Regional Chairman for the foreseeable future, as there are still major projects that need attention.

As always, I am indebted to Joyce for producing such a high quality magazine each quarter.

Happy boating, canoeing, walking, and enjoying our waterways.

Roger Francis

EDITORIAL Joyce Potts Welcome to this 190th edition of Sou’wester. It’s a bumper issue so I’m keeping my bit short and sweet.

We still have the South Wales Branch AGM to go so details are on the next page.

Alas. we have 2 obituaries - Peter Kelly who was a past Region Chairman and also my predecessor as Editor of Sou’wester. Then Martin Hudson who has entertained and informed us with the history of the Leominster Canal. They will both be missed.

We have news from the Cotswold Canals Trust, The Grand Western Canal 4

and also the Swansea Canal Society. Swansea’s piece is in Welsh and English, a first for us.

We also have the results of the final 100 Club draw from the Avon and Wilts branch before finishing with a roundup from the Branches.

Notices FORMAL NOTICE OF BRANCH AGMs Each branch will be holding its AGM in 2022

Contact details for Branch Chairmen can be found on the inside back page.

Agenda (which is common to all branches) 1

Apologies for absence

2

Minutes of 2019, 2020 and 2021 AGM’s as applicable

3

Report of Chair

4

Treasurer’s report and accounts

5

Election of Committee

6

Any other business (previously notified to Chair before the meeting).

Immediately after the AGM, the new Committee will meet to appoint its Officers.

IWA South Wales Branch: Saturday, 14th May, 2022

2pm

Venue: The Royal British Legion Club, the Lock House, Station Road, Riverside, Aberdulais, Neath. SA10 8ES Phone: 01639 643386 There will be a short walk of the Neath and Tennant Canals, including the Aberdulais Aqueduct, starting from the car park at approximately 12 noon. Lunch will be available for those who wish to make a day of it.

Alas, all is dependent on the Welsh Covid regulations.

5

News IN MEMORIAM : Commander Peter Kelly, RN Ray Alexander, Chair IWA West Country Branch I am honoured to have been asked to write about Peter Kelly, former IWA Trustee and member of the West Country Branch, who died on the 8th February, aged 83.

Peter John Louis Kelly was born in Portsmouth on 24th March, 1938. He attended Colchester Royal Grammar School but decided that the academic world was not for him and at the remarkably young age of 15 joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman Grade II. Here his hidden talents flourished and he made his way steadily through the ranks, becoming a highly regarded captain of the survey ship HMS Woodlark and eventually commander of a fleet of three ships. On his retirement from the Royal Navy he took up a position with the Sultan of Oman, where he had stewardship of the Royal Yacht and also learnt Arabic, no mean feat in itself.

Returning to the UK, Peter became treasurer of the Hydrographics Society, which he held for 20 years, he bought a narrowboat, nb Sharazad, and joined the IWA, where he made many friends. He was an IWA Trustee from 2002 to 2009, represented the South West Region on the Navigation Committee for some 9 years, was Region Secretary from 2009 to 2013 and also edited Sou’Wester for 5 years. It was only a short while ago that Peter ceased being captain of his own narrowboat, having had a water-based life for more than 60 years.

Peter met Jackie in 1960, they married in 1965 and had 38 years together until Jackie died in 2003. He leaves a son, Mark and his family, including grandchildren George and Rosie and we wish them well. A true gentleman and friend of the waterways, Peter we salute you.

Photo: Front Cover - Peter on the waterfront at Saltash in 2021, courtesy of Mark Kelly. Photo above: Courtesy of Mike Potts 6

IN MEMORIAM : MARTIN HUDSON February, 1957 ‐ December, 2021

By David Slater, FoLC For over 20 years, Friends of the Leominster Canal (FoLC) has enjoyed numerous memorable highs but has also sustained occasional lows.

By far its greatest low, however, was the sudden, unexpected and untimely death of Martin Hudson, on the 2nd December 2021. This tragic event, however, occurred in a manner he may well have chosen; namely during a visit to the National Trust Berrington Estate, whilst researching new aspects of feeders to his beloved Leominster Canal (LC).

In the 1990's, two factors were mainly instrumental in directing Martin towards the LC. First, he was a life member of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust (H&GCT) and second a member of the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club; both organisations having members with a specialist interest in the LC. The latter, in particular, included the late Dr. Robin Andrews and Gerry Calderbank respectively. From this introduction, however, once Martin had savoured the LC, he almost instantly became one its strongest, dedicated and enthusiastic supporters and then very quickly a LC expert in his own right. Also, at the same time, being an electronics design engineer by profession, Martin was amongst the forerunners to forecast the future of digital photography and he was one the earliest to migrate fully from 35mm film. This asset made Martin a natural choice to collaborate with Gerry Calderbank, who was also planning to publish the earlier Woolhope Archaeological Research Cont on page 8/…

7

…/cont from page 7

Section (WARS) findings on the LC. To achieve this aim, they jointly formed Leominster Canal Promotions (LCP) Limited, with Martin principally contributing his digital photographic expertise. Between 2000 and 2002, under LCP, the two went on to publish three, commonly called the blue, pink and yellow covered, booklets on the LC; with the blue book quickly running into a second edition. The booklets were highly successful and still represent the most detailed publications covering the canal's topography and its geological engineering. In parallel with this, in 2000 and 2001, Gerry and Martin also organised two equally successful two-day educational events on the LC, at Berrington Hall and the Royal Oak Hotel respectively. Martin's visions for the LC went considerably further. At that time, there was a frequent tendency for smaller canal societies to fail, but Martin still believed, having taken soundings, that enough like-minded people existed to create a successful special interest group on the LC. Although the LC would clearly never be fully restored, Martin believed that much useful work was still needed, particularly in the areas of preservation, maintenance, research and education. After informal discussion, Friends of the Leominster Canal became the favoured name and was then formally adopted at a meeting in Leominster, on Saturday, 11th May, 2002.

Ordinary and life membership subscriptions commenced immediately, along with Martin, Bryan Heatley and the late Alan Williams agreeing to act as the interim Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary respectively. These positions and a Constitution were later endorsed at the inaugural AGM at Brimfield Village Hall, held during the first Members Activity Weekend, over the 23rd/24th November 2002.

Indeed, as FoLC moves towards to its 20th anniversary in 2022, history proves that Martin was absolutely right in his prediction that FoLC would succeed. Martin was looking forward to the anniversary and would rightly have deserved to feel proud of its (and his own) success.

It is true to say, after its formation, that FoLC never looked back under Martin's capable leadership. Martin was renowned for his enthusiasm and ability for organising and leading seemingly unlimited field and study walks on the canal, arranging events, giving lectures to numerous organisations, and undertaking preservation work and maintenance on 8

the canal. The latter, in conjunction with others, included many canal structures of historical importance, including Easton Court and Deepcroft bridges, the portals of Putnal and Southnet tunnels and the Teme Aqueduct. By far his greatest achievement, however, was saving Dadford's Brimfield 'multiple syphon', a unique part of the Leominster's and England's canal's heritage, following its partial collapse from severe winter floods. Not being listed, the easiest and by-far cheapest solution would have been for the landowner to simply remove the structure to restore flow to the obstructed Brimfield Brook. Instead, however, Martin very quickly negotiated a collaborative reparative package to save the syphon, with the landowner, Hyde Brothers of Brimfield. Indeed, 20 years later, the repair still functions perfectly with high rainfall. Martin also initiated the only underwater survey of the foundations of the Lugg aqueduct in Kingsland, undertaken by Andrew Gray. Martin's many detailed informative handouts for walks (infamously given out from the boot of car) and his professionally produced FoLC quarterly newsletters and year books all remain popular collectors' items.

On the 11th April, 2006, Martin's initial success of FoLC was then further enhanced, when it achieved the status and associated benefits of a registered charity; again with Martin as Chair of its Trustees.

Overtime, due to increasing pressures, Martin felt that he had no option other than to limit his time with FoLC. Although Martin remained a Trustee and continued with many activities for the FoLC, including leading many walks and giving numerous lectures, the formal responsibility for leading and chairing FoLC was transferred into the capable hands of Mike Watkins in 2011; particularly useful by Mike being chairperson of the then Tenbury Wells and District History Society.

Cont on page 10/...

9

…/cont from page 9

More recently, with his electronic expertise, Martin became the natural webmast er for www.theleominstercanal.co.uk, which enjoys high website usage.

Over the last two years, despite the unfortunate restrictions for FolC group events, COVID-19 lockdowns provided the perfect opportunity for Martin, with co-Trustee David Slater, to continue their collaborative research on the LC. The outcome was a, only recently completed, joint manuscript on Dadford's Southnet, Pensax and Stourport canal line; agreed to be published as an Appendix in David's forthcoming book on People of the Leominster Canal. It is sad that Martin will fail to see the research appear in print, as he w as looking forward to its findings disclosing exciting new insight, into previously unknown important aspects of the LC. Martin will be missed deeply by all those associated with the Leominster Canal and beyond.

Photos: Page 7 - Martin at the entrance to the Newnham Tunnel courtesy of Mike Watkins (Chairman of FoLC)/ Page 9 - Entrance to Putnal Tunnel courtesy of Mike Potts

Ocean Railway Bridge – On Track!

Jim White, Chair of Trustees The Cotswold Canals Trust “This is our 50th Anniversary year. The Cotswold Canals Trust (CCT) is most grateful to those who have generously supported the Golden Trow Appeal, both financially and in so many practical ways. This year promises to be a landmark in the long history of the Trust. It started with great public interest as the first train ran over the new bridge across the canal at the Ocean, Stonehouse on New Year’s Day. It will shortly allow navigation on the canal towards Bond’s Mill Bridge for the first time since the 1960s.”

The major project to replace Ocean Railway Bridge was successfully completed on time during the Christmas holiday.

10

Working around the clock, a team of 150 operatives from Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths, Rail Division worked on behalf of the Cotswold Canals Connected partnership to ensure the project was completed while the rail line was closed for seven days between Christmas and New Year.

The original bridge had been replaced in the 1960s, with an embankment leaving only a narrow opening that was too small for boats to pass through. It needed to be replaced as part of the restoration of the Stroudwater Canal.

The Ocean Railway Bridge project took more than two years of planning which included casting the new bridge sections on site, catching and relocating thousands of fish before draining a 230 metre section of the canal. The team used a total of 4,000 tons of material for the foundations and backfilling around the new structure and 500 tons of track stone when reinstating the railway.

Cont on page 12/…

11

…/cont from page 11

The new bridge sections, the largest of which weighed 64 tons, were lifted into place using a 1,200 ton crane. Despite strong winds and heavy rain, the work was completed on time.

A time-lapse film is available to view via the CCT’s and the Cotswold Canals Connected website and social media channels.

The canal towpath either side of the bridge will remain closed until the end of March to allow follow-up work including re-establishing the clay lining to the canal, refilling the canal, constructing a new towpath and planting trees on the canal bank. Till then, an alternative walking and cycling route is signposted.

Finally, the site compound and other working areas will be restored to their previous condition.

Photos courtesy of Cotswold Canals Trust - before and after the work

What’s next? The Missing Mile John Newton, Vice Chair of Trustees, Cotswold Canals Trust The planning application to excavate the Missing Mile between the A38 roundabout and Eastington was submitted to Stroud District Council just prior to Christmas and we are hopeful that permission will be granted in Spring 2022. Work can then commence on excavating the new canal section, to include a large boat mooring basin with café and parking, two new locks and a pedestrian towpath bridge.

We are very fortunate in having a generous sponsor who will undertake digging the new canal and bank profiling. The intention is that excess spoil will be available to Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), one of the Phase 1B Core Partners, who require it for a local highways contract.

Building a new wall under the M5 within the existing River Frome motorway underpass to create the canal route is another major cost project. The plan is for it to be let under a ‘Design & Build’ contract so tenders will be advertised later this year with the intention of constructing the canal underpass during 2023.

12

IWA/CRT Restoration Conference 2022 – Obstacles and Opportunities The annual IWA/CRT restoration conference took place on 26th March at the Subscription Rooms in Stroud, providing an opportunity for Region Members with an interest in restoration to attend the conference on this occasion.

The morning started with two excellent sessions on the restoration of the Cotswold Canals, ‘Reconnecting Stroud to the National Canal Network’

by Jim White, Chair of the Cotswold Canals Trust and ‘Importance of Partnership: The Power of community engagement and getting the political influence in place’ by Chris Mitford-Slade, Canal Project Director at Stroud District Council. Between them, these illustrated the huge progress that has been made in reconnecting Stroud to the main waterway system and the benefits this is bringing.

These were followed by optional workshops, the first by Grace Jeremy of the Young Trustees Movement ‘Diversifying your Board and volunteer base’ and the second by Neil Owen, CRT Engineer ‘Relining your canal – methods and solutions for volunteer led projects’. Both of these were well received.

The post-lunch session covered the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund, followed by a case study from the Montgomery Canal. These were hosted by Dr Ian Sesnan, IWA Volunteer, John Dodwell, Chair of the Montgomery Restoration Partnership and CRT’s Jason Leach. Delegates then had an option of guided walks along the canal or a visit to see the new railway bridge across the canal at Stonehouse and the previously rebuilt canal through the A38 roundabout at Whitminster, providing an excellent conclusion to an interesting day.

Photo courtesy of IWA: Jason Leach, John Dodwell and Ian Sesnan taking questions at the end of the afternoon session 13

Meinciau 'Hapus i Sgwrsio' ar Gamlas Abertawe Martin Davies, Cymdeithas Camlas Abertawe O’r diwedd, ar ôl nifer sylweddol o ataliadau Covid, mae gwirfoddolwyr Cymdeithas Camlas Abertawe wedi gosod yr olaf o'n tair mainc, ‘Hapus i Siarad', ar bwys Loc Trebannws Isaf. ‘Dyn ni'n ddiolchgar iawn i’r Cynghorydd Rebeca Phillips am y grant ‘Cynghorwyr Cymunedol Castell-nedd Port Talbot’, a chawson ychydig cyn y don gyntaf o Covid ar ddechrau 2020. Mae cwmni lleol, Second Life Products, wedi gwneud y meinciau allan o blastig wedi'i ailgylchu ac mae’r Gymdeithas y Gamlas yr un mor ddiolchgar i’r cwmni am ei amynedd yn ystod y cyfnod clo pan oedden ni'n methu â chasglu'r meinciau o'i depo yng Nghwmllynfell.

Allison Owen-Jones dechreuodd y syniad o’r ‘Mainc Hapus i Sgwrsio’ yng Nghaerdydd ym mis Mai 2019. Argraffodd hi arwydd yn dweud, ‘Eisteddwch yma os nag oes ots gyda chi bod rhywun yn stopio i ddweud shwmae’.

Gadawodd hi’r neges ar nifer o’r meinciau yn ei pharc lleol hi. Fe wnaeth hyn ar ôl iddi hi weld dyn oedrannus yn eistedd ar fainc yn y parc yng nghanol y ddinas ar ei ben ei hunan am 40 munud.

Yn ei barn hi, dydy mainc gydag un person a heb arwydd arni ddim yn hybu pobl i ddechrau si14

arad gyda’i gilydd. Byddai arwydd ar y sedd yn siŵr o wneud y tric.

Mae’r meinciau â’r arwyddion bellach i’w cael ledled y byd yng Nghanada, America, Awstralia, Seland Newydd a Gwlad Pwyl. Ac, wrth gwrs, ledled Prydain.

Mae unigrwydd a phroblemau iechyd meddwl wedi cynyddu’n fawr yn ystod y pandemig ac ni fu’r meinciau hyn erioed yn fwy angenrheidiol.

Mae dwy o’n tair mainc wedi’u lleoli ar hyd llwybr halio’r gamlas rhwng Stablau Marchogaeth Green Farm a ffin Castell-nedd Port Talbot/ Abertawe, ac mae’r drydedd ar y glaswellt wrth ymyl Loc Trebannws Isaf.

Mae'r tair mainc o fewn y ward Trebannws. Mae'r arwydd 'Hapus i Siarad' wedi'i ysgythru ar gefn pob un. Gobeithiwn y byddant yn gwneud cyfraniad bach i les ymwelwyr i’r gamlas.

Cyswllt: e-bost: info@swanseacanalsociety.com Below is the English version of the above.

Photos courtesy of Andy Ellis and Martin Davies

‘Happy to Chat’ Benches on the Swansea Canal Martin Davies, Swansea Canal Society At last, after a considerable number of Covid hold-ups, the Swansea Canal Society volunteers finally installed the last of our three ‘Hapus i Siarad’ benches close to Lower Trebanos Lock. We are very grateful to Cllr. Rebeca Phillips for making us the beneficiaries of the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council councillors’ community grant, a short time before the first wave of Covid hit in early 2020. The benches are made of recycled plastic by a local firm, Second Life Products, and we are equally grateful to them for their forbearance while we were ‘lockdowned’ and unable to collect the benches from their depot in Cwmllynfell.

Cont on page 16/…

15

…/cont from pate 15

The ‘Happy to Chat’ bench idea was started in Cardiff in May 2019 by Allison Owen-Jones who printed out a sign saying, ‘Sit here if you don’t mind someone stopping to say hello’ and attached it to several park benches.

This was a result of her seeing an elderly man sat on a bench in her local city centre park - alone for 40 minutes.

For her, a bench with one occupant and no sign gave little indication if a ‘chat’ was to be welcomed or not.

A sign on a bench would clinch it.

The benches and signs are now to be seen around the world in

Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand and Poland. And, of course, all over Britain.

Loneliness and mental health problems have increased greatly during the pandemic and these benches have never been more necessary.

Two of our three benches are placed along the canal towpath between the Green Farm Riding Stables and the Neath Port Talbot/Swansea boundary, and the third is on the grass verge next to Lower Trebanos Lock. All three benches are within Cllr. Phillips’ Trebanos ward.

The ‘Hapus i Siarad/Happy to Chat’ sign is engraved on the back rest of each one.

We hope they will contribute in a small way to the wellbeing of visitors to the canal.

If you wish to contact me: Email: info@swanseacanalsociety.com 16

ASH DIEBACK TREE WORKS

By Mark Baker, Friends of the Grand Western Canal Tree surgeons spent several days at the Country Park in February, working on Ash trees which had been badly affected by Ash Dieback disease. A small number of trees near Greenway Bridge were felled and near Rock Bridge, a line of Ash trees had their crowns removed but the trunks were left standing.

Removing the branches reduces the safety risk posed by these diseased trees, but by retaining the trunk, we preserve some of the benefits for wildlife provided by the tree. The trunk will probably stand for a decade or more and as it slowly rots, it will provide a resource for a wide range of invertebrates and fungi, and the creatures which feed on them. Because of various constraints we can’t always adopt this approach to dealing with diseased ash trees - sometimes they just have to be felled - but where we can, we will leave these trunks (which are termed “monoliths” or “ecostumps”) standing.

17

ALMOST A KISS, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN EXPENSIVE!

By Roger Francis I was in command of a 150,000 tonne, fully loaded bulk carrier recently, and I was heading into the berth when it all went wrong and I had to go full astern, as I was heading for a moored dinghy on another berth! The ship pulled up just before it touched the dinghy, the only reason being that I was approaching at an appropriate speed.

This all happened, when I was doing my retirement job, of Marine Consultant for a Company which is planning to fit sails to ships, in order to save fuel. The Bulk Carrier in question was a vessel called ‘Endurance’, and is one of various ships that make up the fleet, operated by Warsash Maritime Academy’s, Ship Handling Centre at Timsbury Lake outside Romsey. These ships are far more than big boy’s toys; they are models of the real thing. The people who attend the Centre are all senior officers who are either close to, or in command. In the times I have been there testing the sails, I have met Mississippi River Pilots, Thames River Pilots, and masters of Shell tankers, who were changing over from single screw tankers, to run twin screw gas carriers. The Centre had just received delivery of a model of a container ship capable of taking 14,000 containers, and another larger bulk carrier.

The lake is laid out with berths and harbours, with a length of canal, and with a river section based on the Mississippi River, also an open area, where our trial runs could be carried out, provided we avoided the odd tanker anchored in the area, awaiting a ship to ship transfer operation!

There are even scale model tugs available, should a master or pilot request one, as berthing such large ships without the help of tugs, is highly unusual. I only saw a tug being used once, and for this manoeuvre, the instructor sat facing aft, on top of the ship’s funnel, radio controlling the tug’s movements, to the verbal commands of the trainee.

Some ships can also use anchors, and some have bow thrusters.”

Endurance” is a right handed propeller ship, with no bow thrust, and no anchoring facility.

18

It was around four years or more that I last handled a 150,000 tonne ship, and it was with some trepidation that I sat in the instructor’s position, ahead of the trainee’s position, whose eye level is the same as the view he or she, would get from the bridge. Like riding a bicycle however, I soon discovered that my 30 odd years of ship handling skills had not deserted me, and once I had overcome the realisation that this 7.6 metre 3.8 tonne model performed exactly as the full sized counterpart, I was away.

So how did I nearly hit the dinghy? I forgot the first rule of a berthing manoeuvre, that of planning your approach. Sitting behind me on that occasion, was a representative of Lloyds Register, on a personal visit, and I was in two minds as to whether we should do another wing sail run, or head for the berth. I decided on the latter and as such, I was not in a sensible position to approach the berth, but thought it would be ok!

The first part of the approach was going well and the ship was swinging in towards the berth nicely, but then a slight increase of wind blew across the berth and I quickly realised that the bow was no longer swinging so fast, so I stopped the engine, and put it full astern, stopping the ship just in time to avoid the “kiss”, before resuming a normal approach and berthing without further mishap.

On this occasion, only my pride was dented, but it served as a gentle reminder that no matter how many times you have done a manoeuvre, always plan it, and always do it at an appropriate speed.

Safe boating.

19

IWA AVON AND WILTS 100 CLUB DRAW Vivienne Hook The winners of the Draw which took place at the Branch AGM on 10th March were: This took place at the virtual AGM. Congratulations to the winners: 1st Prize

£18.00

Mr. Gibney

2nd Prize

£10.80

Mr. Brabner

3rd

£7.20

Mrs. Reeder

Prize

Sadly, due to the uncertainty regarding the future of the Branch it was decided at the AGM that the 100 Club would close following this draw.

The monies raised from this draw will be going to The Somerset Coal Canal Society. We have tried, either by mail or email to contact all members of the 100 Club. If we have missed you, apologies from the Trustees, but could we ask that all members cancel any standing order which they had in place as we cannot do this. Thank you for your support over the years.

Aberdulais Aqueduct can be saved Press Release from the IWA

Photo taken in November 2020 by Gareth Hughes 20

In August, 2021, IWA successfully applied for a Cadw grant to cover the cost of a structural survey of the Aberdulais Aqueduct. In September, Mann Williams who specialise in creative conservation of historic buildings and structures, undertook a survey and produced a report at the end of January, 2022.

The main conclusion of this investigation and report is that, despite appearances, the condition of the monument is relatively stable and in its current state, repair is feasible. IWA believes urgent and immediate works should be done as quickly as possible to mitigate further damage, increasing the cost and complexity of repairs.

In early May, IWA, Neath and Tennant Canals Trust and Cadw are planning to jointly host a site visit with all the key stakeholders (Natural Resources Wales, Neath Port Talbot Council, The Owners of the Aqueduct and Network Rail) to discuss and agree the next steps for the project, in order to conserve the structure, consolidating what is currently there, so that in the future it can be strengthened and relined and revert back to navigation.

At a local level, there is a growing awareness of heritage and the importance of project heritage assets in the area. We believe there is a real opportunity to save this heritage asset and will continue to lead on this campaign.

Photo taken about 2010, courtesy of IWA 21

Branch Reports IWA South Wales Branch / Cangen de Cymru Report Tony Pugh, Branch Chairman The South Wales Branch has again not been very active over the past months but is still on track to hold the AGM on Saturday, 14th May at the British Legion Club in Tonna, Neath adjacent the Aberdulais Aqueduct on the Tennant Canal. Details are on page 4.

On Saturday, 26th March, I took a train from Cadoxton, South Wales to Gloucester then on to Stroud to attend the Waterway Restoration Conference 2022, Obstacles and Opportunities, provided jointly by the Me taking photos of the delegates on the Ocean swing bridge over the canal, taking photos of me on the train!



IWA and the CRT at the Subscription Rooms, George St, Stroud, GL5 1AE. It was an ideal opportunity to meet old friends and keep up to date with current affairs.

An interesting talk was given on the opportunities for the Sector: the Levelling Up Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund with a Case Study from the Montgomery Canal.

I slipped out 10 minutes from the end, to catch a train to Gloucester then from there to Can and Dursley and back, crossing the Stroudwater Navigation (Cotswold Canals)

22

on the new Ocean Railway Bridge at Stonehouse twice.

The photograph shows Delegates from the Conference, standing on the Ocean swing bridge over the canal, taking photos of me in the train, taking photos of them on the bridge. You will have zoom in to see them but if you are one of the people taking photos of me in the train, please forward them to me. It will make a good story for our magazine. See page 13 for a report on the day.

Alas on the Tuesday after returning home, I tested positive for Covid and at the time of writing, I am still testing positive. The advantages of Zoom Meetings are clear and probably the way forward of most IWA Meetings with the exception of the mandatory ones under the Branch rules.

The photo may be used by all.

For up to date information on the local South Wales Canal activities: The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre http://fourteenlocks.mbact.org.uk/ The Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust http://www.mbact.org.uk for the boat trips, go to the website then click on “our boats” The Neath & Tennant Canals Trust: http://www.neath-tennant-canals.org.uk/ The Swansea Canal Society http://www.swanseacanalsociety.com The Swansea Bay Inland Waterways Partnership Swansea Marina http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk/ The Torfaen Canal Volunteers 862481 heatherhugh@hotmail.com

Contact: Hugh Woodford 01663

The group hold regular meetings.

The Cardiff Bay Harbour Authority http://www.cardiffharbour.com

23

IWA West Country Branch Ray Alexander, Branch Chairman Branch AGM The Branch AGM was held on Thursday 24 March by Zoom and the usual items of business for a Branch AGM took place, which included the re-election of Julian Gibson and myself to the branch committee.

This year’s AGM included a virtual presentation of the Brian Sheppard Award – awarded this year by the Region Committee to John Monks, IWA West Country Branch member and past Chair of the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal. More information on this in the next issue of Sou’wester.

Bridgwater Tidal Barrier We received an e-mail from DEFRA on 19 January, 2022 informing IWA that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had approved without modification the application by the Environment Agency for the construction of the Tidal Barrier. This included a 36-page Decisions Letter which covered all the outstanding objections (I.e. those that had not been withdrawn) including IWA’s four principal objections. The outcome is disappointing, although perhaps not surprising, and there is little that can be done as the legal processes required by the Transport and Works Act 1992 have been followed. The Branch still has an interest in ensuring the capability of the tidal barrier to pen water.

We have also learnt that the anticipated date for completing the construction of the barrier has now been pushed back by 3 years from 2024 to 2027, although we have heard 2029 mentioned as well.

Bridgwater Docks The work required to prepare the Business Case to support the Town’s Fund award of £4m for the regeneration of Bridgwater Docks is well underway. We have had a meeting with a tourism consultant and thus the opportunity to explain IWA’s vision for the future of the Docks and we are also aware that a sub-aqua team has inspected all the lock gates (other than the outer gates of the ship lock).

The Business Case has to be submitted to the Government by the end of 24

August and a decision should be made by the end of year.

Exeter Ship Canal Devon County Council’s proposals for renewing the moveable bridges on the A379 dual carriageway across the Exeter Ship Canal continue to make progress. A Strategic Outline Business Case for funding the necessary works has been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) and is currently going through the DfT’s internal review processes, which we are informed are likely to take many months. Subject to this being successful, the next stage would be for a detailed Outline Business Case to be prepared, for which the DfT provides some funding towards the costs involved.

IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Geoff Brown, Branch Chairman As you have probably all heard by now, I am moving away from the area and will no longer be able to be chairman of the branch. I will carry on until my move, assisted by Steve Warwicker, but he is unable to carry on alone, besides which, there will only be three committee members remaining. The future way forward for the branch and the whole region will be discussed at a regional meeting, which will have taken place by the time you read this.

Our winter social programme has now finished, and if you, the members wish to continue a social programme, then someone will need to step in and organize it.

25

Waterways in the IWA South West and South Wales Region Avon & Wilts Branch Rivers Avon & Severn: Tidal navigation that is the responsibility of the Bristol Haven Conservancy, downstream of the second Severn crossing Avon Navigation: Hanham to Avonmouth, including River Avon & Bristol Docks Kennet & Avon Canal: Hanham Lock to Froxfield Bridge North Wilts Canal Somersetshire Coal Canal Wilts & Berks Canal: Kennet & Avon Canal to County Boundary 1m West of Shrivenham Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch Coombe Hill Canal Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Leominster Canal Lydney Canal River Severn: from Mythe Bridge, Tewkesbury to a point on the tidal navigation which is the seaward extent of responsibility of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees, downstream of the Second Severn Crossing Stroudwater Navigation Thames & Severn Canal River Wye: Hay-on-Wye to Severn Estuary South Wales Branch Brecon & Abergavenny Canal Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals Monmouthshire Canal Neath & Tennant Canals Swansea Canal River Usk River Wye - Hay-on-Wye to source West Country Branch Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Bude Canal Chard Canal Exeter Ship Canal Grand Western Canal Liskeard & Looe Canal North Somerset Waterways River Parrett Rolle Canal Stover Canal Tavistock Canal River Tone 26

Contacts Tony Pugh tony.pugh@waterways.org.uk

Ray Alexander rayalexander01@gmail.com

Mike Slade mdslade8@gmail.com

Geoff Brown geoffl.b263@gmail.com

Andrew Strawson

David Chalmers david.chalmers@waterways.org.uk

andrew.strawson@waterways.co.uk

Roger Francis

Steve Warwicker

roger.francis@waterways.org.uk

steve.warwicker@waterways.org.uk

Geoff Harman

Tim Wheeldon

01179 623812 geoff.harman@waterways.org.uk

01225 723890 tim.wheeldon@waterways.org.uk

Joyce Potts joycemike06@gmail.com

Next Issue of Sou’Wester The next issue of Sou’Wester is due out in September, 2022.

Please send all copy to the Editor at joycemike06@gmail.com by

Monday, 1st August, 2022 The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of IWA. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel. 01494 783453 Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a Charity no 212343. www.waterways.org.uk 27

28