The Packet Boat - January 2015

JANUARY 2015

ISSUE NO. 60

CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH

Some of the boats at Winsford Salt Regatta (see report inside)

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OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE North West Region Chairman

Alan Platt, 013527 2064; alan.platt@waterways.org.uk

Branch Chairman

Peter Bolt, 0151 678 9300; peter.bolt@waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman

Mike Carter, 0151 608 6113; mike.carter@waterways.org.uk

Secretary

Gillian Bolt, 0151 678 9300; gillianbolt:@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer and Social Secretary

Jim Mole, 01606 40955; elizabethan.freeserve.co.uk

Webmaster, Region Committee Representative

Mike Carter, 0151 608 6113; mike.carter@wateways.org.uk

Editor, Chester Packet

Margaret Pitney, 0151 608 6487; margaret.pitney@talktalk.net

Merseyside Liaison

Dave Smallshaw , 0151 924 2036; flatboat@aol.com

SCARS Liaison

Colin Greenall 01744 73174; colin.greenall@btopenworld.com

Minutes Secretary

Helen Forkin, 01270 650054; jimhelen@jimhelen.fsnet.co.uk

Publicity Officer

Jim Forkin, 01270 650054; jimhelen@jimhelen.fsnet.co.uk

Planning & Navigation

Geoff Gittus, 0151 605 1094; geoff.boatman@tiscali.co.uk

Sales Officer

Lesley Taylor, 0151 342 6651; lesley.taylor22@btinternet.com

Membership Secretary

Gaven Tilbee, 0161 491 1951; gaven1@btinternet.com

Asst Membership Secretary

Andrea Tilbee, 0161 491 1951; gaven1@btinternet.com

Committee Members

Ron Evans, 01928 788673; rjkingsley@outlook.com Mike Sumner, 0151 420 1460; mike@kpsumner.com

CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH RECEIVES THE BRANCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD GOOD NEWS !

BRANCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2014 At IWA's Annual General Meeting in Leek on Saturday, 27 September, Chester & Merseyside Branch were presented with the BRANCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2014 for our Campaign Festival in Chester during June. The Festival was described by Les Etheridge, IWA's National Chairman, as "an ideal example of what a Campaign Festival should be" describing how we engaged with all the local politicians, attracted a large number of visiting boats and made a big feature of the campaign to get the River Lock onto the Dee operational again and incorporate a lock into the old mill race at the end of the Chester Weir.

The silver salver was presented to Branch Chairman, Peter Bolt.

RICHARD BIRD MEDALS Richard Bird medals were also presented to Gillian Bolt and Ron Evans for their work for the IWA over a sustained period of time. (Ron was unable to attend to receive his Award personally and Peter received it on his behalf.)

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BRANCH CHAIRMAN’S NOTES Reflecting back over the last 12 months it seems to have been a ‘roller coaster’ year for the Branch that has kept everyone on their toes. After being shoehorned into fronting the Campaign Festival committee back in 2013 I was grateful that I had a ‘second to none’ team committed to ensuring that the event was a huge success. The two years of work drafting the Waterways Strategy for Chester was concluded before the June Festival with the document being endorsed by the Local Authority and the civic launch having taken place. The Festival is now just a pleasant memory and most of us enjoyed a bit of cruising in the remarkably prolonged summer. As part of the legacy of the Festival we have decided to erect a tidal level gauge to allow safe navigation between the River Lock and the upper reaches of the weir and I am pleased to advise that we are now into the design / costing stage and look forward to installation sometime next year.

I was delighted to hear that both Ron Evans and Gillian Bolt had been awarded the IWA’s Richard Bird medals. These are awarded to IWA members whose efforts are considered to have brought significant benefits to the Association over a sustained period – well done to both the recipients.

Again at the National AGM in September I was taken by surprise when the Branch’s name was called out to receive the Branch Achievement Award for 2014. This in the main was due to the successful Festival but also due to Mike Carter’s sterling work coordinating the volunteer working parties, the branch monthly talks that attract healthy audiences – thanks to Margaret - and also our well supported walks. Again with thanks to Ron and Margaret for organising these. We must not forget the exciting developments on the restoration project with the Sankey Canal, overseen by Colin Greenall and Dave Smallshaw.

On a sad note I must record the death of our President Richard Drake BEM he was such a lovely man and we will miss him. (Margaret has done a full obituary further on in the Magazine). Also I was saddened to hear that Sonia Rolt had died at the grand old age of 95. Sonia is remembered locally for attending our Centenary Rally at Chester in 2010 and for the unveiling of a blue plaque for her husband Tom Rolt at his birth place. I still remember Sonia’s grand entrance, in a stunning red dress, at the Chester Guild Hall to a standing ovation where we held our Centenary Celebration Dinner. She has

been a great waterways supporter throughout her long life and represents the end of an era, in some ways.

Our Treasurer and once Chairman, Ron Evans, has stepped down from leading our successful walks programme, along with Margaret. Many thanks must go to Ron and Margaret for their commitment to our Waterway Walks for some years and we are looking at what can be done to restart the programme in the New Year. Ian and Vera Short have kindly volunteered to lead January’s walk but it would be great if some of our other members who enjoy walking would also volunteer to lead more in the future.

Another event in April next year will be the Region Get Together which we are hoping to host in the Merseyside area – notably Eldonian Village.

Arrangements are still being finalised but we hope many of you will join us once details are published. Look out for more information in the next magazine.

I am pleased to report that Jim Mole, an IWA committee member of two years and a member of the River Weaver Navigation Society & Broken Cross Boat Club has volunteered to take on the Treasurer’s job and this will commence on the 1st January next year. This is an important position in our association and prevents the Branch going into special measures with possible closure – many thanks Jim. With the surplus that we were able to obtain following the Festival we have seen fit to donate £1000.00 to the Chester Canal Heritage Trust (CCHT) for their excellent contribution in making the Festival the success that it was. I am pleased to hear that the money is going towards an interpretation panel located down the Dee Branch depicting the history of the Old Port. That just leaves me to wish you all seasonal greetings and I hope to see a big turnout at our Christmas social on the 9th December with what is promising to be an enjoyable and interesting evening for all.

Peter Bolt It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA. They are publilshed as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA is a registered charity No. 212342.

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REGION CHAIRMAN’S REPORT A prior appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon prevented me from contributing to your last newsletter, so my first task is to offer my belated congratulations to the Branch for a superb National Campaign Rally in June. I was able to come down by car and hobble around the event for an hour or two and a mightily impressive event it was too, surpassing even the one I attended a couple of years before. This was the first year since Trustees decided that the old style National Festival was no longer suitable, or viable, in this day and age and so naturally enough there was a significant gap to be filled, which the Chester event largely filled to a superb extent.

That led on naturally in September to the award at the National AGM of the Branch Achievement Award; while the campaign rally figured largely in the judges’ consideration, this also acknowledged the sterling work in other areas that the branch carries out. Your social meetings attract audiences that are the envy of other branches, the number of people who join in volunteer work parties is substantial, there is a superb restoration project with the Sankey, and there is a well supported walks programme.

On this latter front the branch owes a big debt to Ron Evans and Margaret Pitney who have run the walks for many years, but are no longer able to. Hopefully someone, or some people to take this on will come forward; let us hope so, as this seems especially to be a good way of engaging with non members, who of course are potential members.

I was delighted to present Ron with his Richard Bird medal at your November social meeting, as he was unable to make it to the National AGM where Gillian Bolt received hers; congratulations to them both.

Amidst all these congratulations, it may seem natural to become complacent. These successes don’t just happen, they all require an immense amount of work by a number of people and the ordinary member would be astounded by the amount of work your committee puts in, and there is always room for more people to share the work; it may be for the odd day on a work party tidying up a lock flight or it may involve more. We can’t leave it all up to the Canal & River Trust, they’re our waterways and if we don’t work to look after them, they’ll deteriorate. So contact any committee member about joining in.

Mention of CRT brings me to the local Partnership on which I sit; my place there is not on as an IWA representative, but obviously that informs my participation. Of late I have not been too happy about what the Partnership has achieved, or failed to, in the last year, but we have a new Chair and the Action Plan that we developed with our ‘strategy’ now has some names against it, including mine, so hopefully things will move on.

And finally when you read this Christmas and the New Year may be imminent or may just have happened; either way have a good one and let’s hope the weather is kind enough to allow us to enjoy the waterways.

Alan Platt

SONIA ROLT The Branch members were saddened to hear about the recent death of Sonia Rolt, Tom Rolt’s widow. She had become involved with the waterways during the Second World War, manning the working boats carrying vital supplies around the country, as one of the unique group of “Idle Women”. After the war she married George Smith, who had been born on a working boat and was a Number 1 with his own pair. Although the marriage did not last they remained firm friends and Sonia remained a staunch supporter of the waterways throughout her long life. She came to the branch’s Tom Rolt Centenary Rally in 2010, attending the Celebration Dinner in the Guild Hall on the Friday night and received a standing ovation from those present. During the weekend she had brought copies of Tom’s books to sell – having apparently found her attic full of “approval” copies that publishers send out to authors when their books go into print – and visitors took the opportunity to purchase many lesser known titles which she then signed. Sonia also told the MP for Chester and the Sheriff, in no uncertain terms, how important waterways were and encouraged them to support local projects. Tom Rolt had initially thought her “a fearful blue stocking” (in his autobiography) but soon changed his mind once they were friends and they made a great team – working together on many projects including starting the Tallylyn Railway project in Wales when Tom had left the waterways. Sonia was a great character and waterways colleagues will miss her.

Gillian Bolt

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RICHARD GRANGER DRAKE BEM

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Richard Granger Drake BEM passed away on 26 September. He was born in Halifax on 29th July 1933 – for all his travels he was a Yorkshire man through and through.

He was a brave man and very determined – apparently, when he was 9 years old, he was taken on holiday to Scarborough and given pocket money by his mother. His brothers and sisters bought sweets. However, he wanted to buy a tie, but his father refused to let him waste his money.

After a week his parents relented and he bought the tie. When he died, he still had that tie and now his daughter Alison will keep it as a memento.

Richard was a religious man – indeed when he was young he nearly joined the ministry. He believed in God, attended church regularly He joined the RAF and travelled around the world – he was secretary to Montgomery in Fontainebleau and knew many famous people including Eisenhower before he became President of the USA. This was where he began his life long relationship with computers. Later he retired from the RAF and worked for the National Health Service before joining Allied Bakeries and eventually becoming Chief Computer Programmer.

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Later he joined the Inland Waterways Association, initially as Sales Officer for the Wirral and Chester Branch, rising steadily to Branch Chairman and finally Branch President. He became National Chairman of the Association and was involved in many parliamentary hearings and knew many important politicians, e.g. John Prescott!!

He and Audrey loved their canal boat ‘Firbob’ and spent many happy years travelling the waterways of England and Wales. He was Chairman of the Anderton Lift Development Group and was very proud of his contribution to the restoration of the Anderton Lift.

Richard loved watching wild life or documentaries on TV. He followed both Formula One motor racing and cycling. Indeed, the recent Tour De France beginning earlier this year in Yorkshire kept him interested for weeks.

Richard was a good person and would help other people in trouble. When Audrey fell into dementia, he had no hesitation in sacrificing his whole life to look after her. Indeed it took many years to persuade him to allow carers to help get Audrey out of bed in the morning and put her back into bed at night.

Life is not fair because after she died, he only had 6 months of “me time” before terminal cancers were diagnosed. Richard was brave – he fought the cancers until nothing else could be done.

He remained, happy, continued to trace the family tree back to 1670 and enjoyed life .

We must look back at his whole journey, what he achieved and those he brought joy to, rather than his late decline.

When it came to his departure – his family and friends were so glad he did not have to go through a painful drawn out end game.

As Richard used to say “Bye for now”

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FUNDING NEWS FROM C&RT Shropshire Union—Ellesmere Port—the

funding agreement has been received for £250,000 from the Regional Growth Fund to enhance 1.7km of towpath leading from Lees Lane. It is anticipated that the works will start on site before Christmas to be completed by March 2015.

Weaver Navigation—Following on from the

announcement of the approval of the Saltscape project (a £1.2m Landscape Partnership Scheme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cheshire West and Chester Council with support from a range of partners) a number of projects will benefit from funding including towpath improvements (£60k match funding secured from WREN), repairs to Vale Royal Bridge and heritage and training works at Anderton and on other heritage structures. The project has also helped to unlock an additional £90,000 from the Trust’s Friends fund to support the restoration of the Toll Buildings at Anderton Boat Lift.

Window on the World– funding bids were submitted

to Heritage Lottery Fund and Association of Independent Museums for a project at National Waterways Museum to restore and conserve two historic boats and transform the currently derelict slipway. The outcome will be known in December.

BRANCH VISIT TO THE DANIEL ADAMSON

Visitors to the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum will remember the attractive little vessel which for many years was moored in the lower basin. This was the Daniel Adamson (formerly the Ralph Brocklebank) a passengercarrying steam tug tender built in 1903. In 2004 a group of enthusiasts formed The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS) with the aim of saving her from imminent scrapping. With the help of the National Lottery and generous help from supporters DAPS is well on the way to complete restoration.

Tony Hirst, President of the Society, invited members of our Branch to visit the ‘Danny’ in Albert Dock, Liverpool, where she is lying prior to anticipated move to Cammell Laird shipyard for the completion of her restoration (all fingers are crossed for a successful lottery bid).

We were all greatly impressed with the amount of progress the volunteers had achieved and we could envisage her as she will be—with her eleven steam engines, three boilers and comfortable passenger accommodation in Art-Deco saloons. It is hoped she will be used for day cruises on the Rivers Mersey and Weaver and the Ship Canal in addition to continuing her working life as a tug and inspection launch, possibly as soon as 2016.

For a more detailed account of the Daniel Adamson visit their website www.daniel adamson preservation society.

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Chester & Merseyside - Branch Liaison, Navigation and Volunteering (Report from Mike Carter, October/November 2014)

Re-opening of Sutton Swing Bridge – This event went well, attended by many local dignitaries and local residents. I got lots of positive feedback regarding the way this job was progressed, involving the local people .

Survey of Trent and Mersey between Anderton & Dutton – The bank along this section looks to be in a bad way. I completed a photo survey of the stretch between Anderton and Dutton:-

Other Navigation info: IWA’s National Navigation Committee’s response to the CRT Mooring Sales Consultancy completed. This will appear on the web site.

Manchester Undercroft consultancy continues, (proposed gating of towpath). Gt. Manchester City council consultation has not started yet.

Hurleston Reservoir is currently not taking water from the canal, thus CRT are working hard to manage the Canal water levels as United Utillities complete additional treatment works to the water stock.

Chirk Tunnel is due to be de-watered as part of the winter maintenance. programme. C&RT is looking at the possibility of using this opportunity for an 'Open Day'.

Reports from CRT indicate that there has been a large increase in Continuous Cruisers since 2012. Specifically in the London Area, where in 2012 there were 638 CCs, now London has 1052 CCs. To put this into context, in London there are a total of 3100 boats on C&RT waters in 2014.

Water level gauge boards on River Dee at Chester. Data analysis has started and a report has been drafted .

Winter Maintenance Programme (CRT) Summary of stoppages in our area : Leeds & Liverpool Litherland 3rd November 2014 to 19th December 2014 - Navigation Closure.

Installation of a new swing bridge as part of the Tesco development in Litherland.

Shropshire Union Whitby Bottom Wide Lock 1, Ellesmere Port 24th November 2014 to 19th December 2014 - Navigation Closure: closure to replace the top lock gates and install a new lock ladder.

Chemistry Lock 6, Chester, 5th January 2015 to 6th February 2015 - Navigation Closure closure to replace the top and bottom lock gates.

Hoole Lane Lock 5, Chester, 5th January 2015 to 6th February 2015 - Navigation Closure to replace the bottom lock gates.

Tilstone Lock 13, Tilstone, 5th January 2015 to 30th January 2015 - Navigation Closure to replace the top lock gates.

Trent & Mersey

Lock 76 (Dutton Stop Lock) 3rd November 2014 to 19th December 2014 - Navigation Closure to replace the top gate on the lock Preston Brook Tunnel to Soothill Bridge, 16th February 2015 to 13th March 2015 - Navigation Closure - National washwall project. Washwall inspection.

Saltersford Access Track, Barnton, 16th February 2015 to 13th March 2015 - Navigation Closure National washwall project.

Little Leigh Embankment, 16th February 2015 to 13th March 2015 - Navigation Closure - National washwall project

North West Region It has been suggested that we host the 2015 'not the AGM' at Eldonian Villige, Liverpool. We need to contact Lisa & Tony at the Eldonian Village Hall to investigate the feasibility of this. I will drop in for a chat at the hall on the way to CRT meeting on Monday 3 November.

Volunteers & Workparties IWA Chester Workparties (1st Saturday in the month) October and November workparties went well.

In October. we cleared weeds and vegetation from the paving around the Old Port Basin.

In November. we cleared weeds and vegetation from the turnover bridge and around the Graving lock, also planted bulbs at Northgate locks.

List of outstanding tasks at Chester : Bluebell planting, Tower wharf Offside shrub clearance, Old Port Basin (awaiting guidance on Japanese Knotweed) Shrub planting at Northgate and Bridge lock. (awaiting guidance on invasive species & security) Offside shrub Clearance at Cow Lane.

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BOAT MUSEUM SOCIETY—Diary Dates

Meetings are held in the Rolt Centre at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port at 7.30 pm 16 January

Cath Turpin. Ellesmere Port docks—How they changed between 1795 and 2015.

Development, decline and regeneration.

20 February

AGM and update on activities at the Museum with a guest speaker.

20 March

Alan Jones Boating with Manchester Grammar School Scouts during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

*PLEASE NOTE FURTHER CHANGE OF VENUE*

CHESTER CANAL HERITAGE TRUST Talks this season will take place at Boughton Hall Cricket Ground (CH3 5EL) - right next to Tarvin Road lock.

To cover the cost of this venue and speaker, members are requested to give a donation of £1 WEDNESDAY 4 February 2015 A look at the River Weaver through the Ages.

Colin Edmondson, well-known local historian and author, talks on the history of the River Weaver and the salt mining that produced much of the cargo it carried from 1670 to the present day.

CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS:

We look forward to meeting you all at our meetings at the Boat Museum (see programme on Page 24) .

Just come along and make yourselves known to us.

Mrs J Jones

Tarporley

Mr A McLaughlin

Warrington

Mr T Muragh

St Helens

Ms G Wood

Warrington

Ms J Connolly and family

Widnes

Mr & Mrs P McKaigue

Wallasey

Mr A & Mrs G Brandon

Winsford

Mr R Gooding

Wirral

Mr S Mulholland

Warrington

Mr F Thompson

Warrington

FERRIES ACROSS THE MERSEY

Keep a lookout on Friends of the Ferries website for evening cruises throughout 2015 following a successful trial ‘Sunset Cruise’ last August.

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IIWA CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH DONATES £1,000 FOR CHESTER OLD PORT INTERPRETATION BOARD Following the very successful Campaign Festival in Chester Basin in June, the Chester & Merseyside Branch have donated £1000 to the Chester Canal Heritage Trust (CCHT) to use for a local waterway project.

Although badged as the IWA National Campaign Rally, CCHT members were very involved in the organisation of the event and their local contacts enabled them to raise significant funds, supporting the entertainment and other activities.

On receiving the cheque, John Herson, Chairman of CCHT, said “CCHT members were pleased to be involved with the Festival. It really helped to raise the profile of Chester’s waterways with the Chester public, with influential people in the area and also in the national context. The Trustees have decided to use the grant to provide an information board on the Dee Branch to partner those we have already erected along the main canal in Chester. This will emphasise the fascinating history of this part of the waterway system and also its role as the vital link in our joint vision for Chester’s waterways. IWA’s contribution will be acknowledged on the structure.”

IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch Chairman, Peter Bolt, said “We were delighted to work with the CCHT members during the build up to the Festival and their contribution ensured the success of the event. It is only right, therefore, that we make this donation and an interpretation board, reminding visitors of the role that the old port played in Chester’s waterways history, will be a permanent legacy for the community.”

Work has already started on the design of the board and it is hoped that it will be in place in the new year.

NEWS OF CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE WORK PARTIES from Mike Carter, Volunteer Co-ordinator Thanks to all who came along to the recent work parties in Chester. On Saturday 1 November at Tower Wharf we cleared weeds and vegetation from the Turnover Bridge and around the graving lock, also spring bulbs were planted at Northgate locks.

In addition on 8 November at Cow Lane bridge we completed a much needed litter pick.

Our next IWA work party is planned for Saturday 6 December at Chester. It is hoped we can get the offside vegetation cleared at Cow Lane bridge. This job will require the use of a workboat, thus I’m in liaison with Glenn Young to set this up.

Again thank you for your enthusiasm and support.

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REPORT FROM MERSEYSIDE

By Dave Smallshaw There are new plans afoot for the Stanley Dock area with new developers involved in the tobacco warehouse site and Liverpool Vision making noises about developing the water space around the dock and the locks area.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is closed in South Sefton until December for the purpose of the erection of a swing bridge at Litherland. This was first mooted in 2008 as a condition of the Tesco permission to construct a superstore and the former Merseyside & West Lancashire Branch officers met Sefton MBC planners on the 'Pride of Sefton' to go over the issue. We were of the opinion that a manually operated footway swing bridge was the best option, requiring the least maintenance and thus less likely to go wrong. It was often remarked on why nothing had come of this but these things do grind on slowly and your correspondent will monitor the construction to see what they come up with and report back.

The UK's largest operational tall ship, the brigantine Stavros S Niarchos has arrived in Canning Dock, alongside the Mersey Maritime Museum over the winter months and will be host to special groups during the weekdays and be open to the public on selected weekends before going for a major refit in Scotland in February.

Finally the Canal & River Trust is, apparently, all in a dither over whether to remove the "love Locks" from the areas around Albert Dock. It has been pointed out that the padlocks are hampering maintenance.....but their removal will, surely, cause a public outcry as did a similar action last year - so watch this space!

BRANCH WALKS

As most of you know, our series of walks has had to be suspended until, hopefully, someone will volunteer to take over from Ron and Margaret as leaders. Both have had to give up walking (Ron is unable to drive at the moment and Margaret has health problems.) This is very sad after over 10 years of Branch walks, but, ever optimistic, we both hope that special person(s) will come forward.

We have two volunteers to lead the January walk so that walk will take place as usual. Ian and Vera Short, two of our regular supporters, have kindly agreed to organise this walk so please do your best to come along to the Lady Hamilton public house, Little Neston and walk with Ian and Vera.

Contact with Ian and Vera can be made by phoning 0151 336 4696 or email veinarde1@btinternet.com.

Anyone who is interested in leading walks will be given every possible help to start them off.

January 22nd – Little Neston The walk will start at the Lady Hamilton pub, Henley Road, Little Neston, Cheshire, CH64 0SG (tel. 0151 353 1863). It is 4 miles in length, passing Ness Gardens before walking down a short hill to the recently constructed Marsh Walkway alongside the River Dee. There is an optional extra 400m for those who would like to do a little more. As usual, those who would like lunch in the pub on return from the walk will be invited to choose from the menu before we leave. Don’t forget to bring your own refreshments as we will stop en-route to take in the wonderful views across to Wales.

ALL ARE WELCOME, INCLUDING WELL-BEHAVED DOGS

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WINSFORD SALT REGATTA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2014

The Salt Fair at Winsford has been held for a number of years, organised by the Town Council. This year it was suggested by the Weaver Navigation Society that they should include river and canal boats, so for the first time the Regatta was held. And what a success it was! The marina was packed with boats with not a space to spare.

The theme was the commemoration of World War I and a parade of boats was held with each boat displaying 3 beautiful poppy wreathes supplied by the Council.

This was followed by a reception in the Red Lion pub attended by the Mayor and other dignitaries. On Sunday, the island on the opposite bank was turned over to traders, exhibitions and a live stage show running nonstop throughout the day.

Overall the atmosphere was one of friendship, fun and laughter, the visiting boaters being given a warm welcome. You will see from Mike Carter’s photographs overleaf the brand new staging erected specially for this occasion by the Town Council. This makes for a first-class mooring so hopefully more boaters will visit Winsford in the future.

Let’s hope this turns out to be an annual event!

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News from the Sankey Canal Restoration Society

by Colin Greenall Progress continues on the Sankey Canal.

HALTON & WARRINGTON The Interlocks Project; Progress is being made with the project moving forward on funding applications; Coastal Communities Fund; This grant of £652,708 will finance a new lift bridge at Fiddlers Ferry and create 2 direct jobs, 12 apprenticeships and up to a further 23 indirect jobs plus 40 new volunteering opportunities Work is not expected to start on the new Marsh House Lift bridge at Fiddlers Ferry until the New Year, there is also the possibility that a short section of canal beyond the bridge will be restored and used as moorings thus giving a need to raise and lower the bridge.

The Full Time job of a Project Manager has been filled subject to references and will start shortly; this post will cover the whole of the Interlocks Project from Spike Island to Fiddlers Ferry.

The Part Time post of Marketing Manager has been filled and will commence on 4th November, working Tuesday to Friday 9.00am-2.00pm but will be flexible if needed.

Heritage Lottery Fund; a new application to HLF’s Heritage Grants Programme has been submitted and an acknowledgement of our application has been received. The bid will be towards the upper limit of the scheme (£5 million) and will include physical restoration work and educational and promotional activities. We are now waiting for additional advice from HLF and undertaking initial feasibility work that will be required for the Stage One Bid., Warrington BC will be appointing a consultant to work on the project Ineos Chlor & Mersey Forest Grant; (£11,424) Four impressive Interpretation panels are now in place at various locations around Spike Island and a New Interpretation Panel near the heritage walks leaflet has been produced to give Former railway swing bridge on visitors to the area a better understanding of the Spike Island, Widnes history of the chemical industry on this side of the River Mersey.

WREN Environment Grant: A grant of £32.250 has been awarded in principal to restore the lock gate at Spike island. Halton BC in partnership with SCARS submitted the bid which covers the cost of refurbishing the lock gates, cills and ground paddles, plus, the removal of silt from the lock chamber and the area around the lock entrance. Work will commence as soon as the conditions of the grant funding have been met and all the necessary permissions are in place.

Spike Island Lock The former Ranger Cabin at Spike Island; Scars have been conducting talks with the present occupiers to see if it would be possible for the society to hold “Open Days” there when they are not using the premises.

ST.HELENS Storage Container at Blackbrook; SCARS now have to use of a storage container at the Sankey Valley Heritage Visitor Centre, Blackbrook, courtesy of St.Helens MBC Open days at Blackbrook; Earlier in the year the committee decided to replace the evening meetings with “Open Days” at the Blackbrook Centre, so far they are proving to be very popular.

Over the past four months we have gradually tailored the day to suit the activities that people want. We now have work parties and guided walks for the energetic, talks and slide shows for the ones who want to know about the history of the canal and surrounding area. Plus free tea and biscuits and our selection of maps, second-hand transport and local history books to buy.

Work Parties; Over the last four months work parties have taken place on the same day as the “Open Days” this as create a lot of interest around the area of Blackbrook. These have been in the form of litter picks and then moving on the vegetation cut backs along the footpaths.

In October work commenced clearing vegetation from the canal basin at Broad Oak; this basin we believe to be the terminus of the canal in 1757 it being located near to the collieries in Haydock. It is also the burial site of three Mersey Flats; these were discovered in the 1970’s when work on Sankey Valley Linear Park was in progress. A group of archaeologists from Liverpool University came and surveyed the finds and then had the wrecks covered over again, so we know that they are still there.

Sankey Viaduct; Work on the scheme to electrify the Liverpool to Manchester Railway is

progressing well. The Grade One listed Sankey Viaduct which crosses the Sankey Canal near Earlestown is now being prepared to take the stanchions for the 25KV AC electric wires, this work is scheduled to be finish by the end of 2014.

Local Sustainable Transport Funded pathway to employment; Work has commenced on the next stage of upgrading the towpath along the section of canal from Bradley Swing Bridge to the St.Helens /Warrington boundary at Newton Brook. At present the only signs of progress are the tree clearance that has taken place, making space for the two metre wide tar macadam pathway that will be laid in due course.

Summer Events, During the summer months our sales and display marquee has been out at various rallies and shows around the area. In July we attended the Scarisbrick Marina Open Weekend, this was the second year of this two day event on the Leeds Liverpool Canal and is gathering pace with each year. We enjoyed plenty of interest in our canal project.

August and its Newton Town Show; this is another show that made a comeback last year after a ten year absence and is proving a great success, all credit to a dedicated committee who are putting in a lot of effort to make it work. The weather this year did its best to spoil things with heavy showers, but the crowds turned out and our sales team were kept busy with people telling us tales of the canal and buying our bric-a-brac and books etc.

September brings us to our final outing of the year at the Vintage Vehicle Rally in Victoria Park, Widnes. This show can only be described as the best free family day out in the North West. It has everything from the usual charity and trade stalls to the wonderful display of vintage vehicles and fairground organs plus attractions like falconry, engines and fun fair .

The Packet Boat

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Winter 2015

CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH PROGRAMME JANUARY - MAY 2015

Branch meetings are held at 7.45 pm on the second Tuesday of the month in the Tom Rolt Conference Centre at the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum 13 January 2015 ‘Journeys over the Water’ - the Mersey Ferries and their Destinations Ken Pye FRSA, Managing Director, Discover Liverpool 10 February 2015 ‘The Cotswold Canals, Past, Present and Future’ Martin Turner, Chairman, IWA Hereford & Gloucester Branch 10 March 2015 Annual General Meeting followed by ‘Havana to Galapagos’ Cruising the Caribbean Sea from Havana to the Panama Canal.

Captain Derrick Kemp, Master Mariner 14 April 2015 ‘Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton’ - what do local people know about its hilarious history?

Derek Arnold, former Chief Engineer Merchant Navy, former Engineering Manager at Shell, military and maritime historian and present Chairman of Liverpool Anchorage Club (for retired captains, engineers, pilots, tugboatmen, et al).

12 May 2015 ‘Researching the Lives of Narrowboat Families’ Cath Turpin from the Boat Museum Society, National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port

For latest news on Branch Walks see Page 19