Winding Ways
Issue 56 Winter 2010
A Newsletter from the Leicester Branch
National Chairman to address A.G.M Soon after the Association’s a.g.m. in September last year we asked the newly elected National Chairman, Clive Henderson, if he would attend our Branch a.g.m in February. At that time February probably seemed a long way off and he readily agreed. Whether or not, in the cool light of day, he regrets that decision, as it eats into his busy schedule, you’ll be able to find out on 11th February.
(ACTING) CHAIRMAN’S BIT Firstly a plea (one of many in this issue!) for you to attend the branch a.g.m. on 11th February. I fear that, once again, the branch is almost at crisis point. With our Secretary retiring the committee is critically low on numbers and still urgently needs some ‘fresh blood’. I know that I have made this request before but PLEASE would you urgently consider whether you could spare just one evening every five or six weeks and have the chance of making a real difference to our waterways scene. If you would like any more information or to discuss the matter, or just want a nomination form, then please don’t hesitate to contact me at jandwevans@talktalk.net or ‘phone 01509 416647 . . . . go on . . do it NOW . The future of our branch really is in your hands! As you will have read elsewhere in this issue we are fortunate in having Clive Henderson, our National Chairman, to address , entertain and inform us, both during and after the business part of the meeting. It promises to be a most interesting evening; please try not to miss it. Having mentioned our retiring Secretary, I would like to pay tribute in this column to all the time and hard work that he, David Hastie, has put into the Association in general but especially the Leicestershire Branch, since its formation. A reluctant (acting) Chairman could not have wished for a better Secretary; reliable, organised, sensible and tireless . . . . in fact all the things I am not! He will be a hard act to follow and I’m sure he will still be around to help out where he can, between extended cruising and family visits overseas,. If you can read this in New Zealand David: “Thank you for all you have done for the branch over many years”
Not only will Clive take part in our a.g.m. as the required “Representative from Head Office” but he has kindly agreed to be the post meeting speaker when he will address us on his “Reflections” and host a question and answer session. Please come and support both your Branch of the Association, and the Chairman, and take the opportunity to question him on any aspect of the association’s activities. Remember the time and place: 7.30 p.m. on 11th February at The Wheatsheaf, Thurcaston, LE7 7JN
I would also like to take this opportunity of thanking Martin Gilding for responding to my request in the last issue and standing in for David in the short term, looking after the secretarial duties for the time being. As this issue of Winding Ways comes together, I am very much aware, as an ‘oldie’, that frequent reference is made to web-sites and e-mail. To those who are not ‘computer enabled’, I offer my sympathy and understanding. Like others of my generation I ignored this intrusive technology for some time hoping that it would go away . . . . . but it didn’t . . . and it’s here to stay! I might not have realised it at the time, but I was fortunate in having children of the right age at the right time, and by various means they nursed me into computer (semi) literacy. I now realise what a wonderful recourse IT offers and would encourage others, who find themselves beyond the prime of life, to give it a go. You are loosing out if you don’t use it; there are some excellent and cheap books and courses to get you going, so why not make a resolution for 2010! Meanwhile, and what this paragraph set out to say, if you don’t have the facility or ability to look at any of the web-sites mentioned, let me know and, within reason, I’ll send you the information for which you search! John Evans, Chairman ( Acting )
IWA at NEC The association will have a stand at The Caravan, Camping and Boat Show which runs from 23rd to 28th February at The National Exhibition Centre. This show can be well worth a visit, especially if you have other outdoor interests as well as boating in all its forms. Why not make a day of it . . and make yourself known on the stand!
Help Needed at Festivals We have a real concern that we won’t have enough man-and-woman-power to adequately fly the IWA flag at the Loughborough Canal Festival on May 1st and 2nd as well as the Leicester Riverside Festival on June 5th and 6th. There is so much that we could do if there were enough volunteers to help us do it! From raising funds from sales and games to recruiting new members and from championing our cause to engaging with young people. The latter we see as particularly important; if we can instil in youngsters an interest in the waterways, it will hopefully teach them to respect the navigation and everything that moves upon it, for life; they are, after all, tomorrow’s custodians of the system. So please come and play your part and help us run the WoW* scheme at both of these events. All we are asking is for you to give a few hours of your time during one or both of those weekends; no qualifications or specialist knowledge required! Please contact any Branch Officer for further information. *For information on WoW take a look at www.wow4water.net
Leicester Line Leaflet due for Revision Our popular and much acclaimed Guide to the Leicester Line has to be updated from time to time to reflect the various changes that take place along the navigation. These can range from the change of name of a pub to alterations in safety procedures in times of flood. We are currently undertaking such a review and would be pleased if you, our members, would record any noteworthy changes and pass the information to Beryl McDowall as soon as possible.