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Issue 171, January 2020
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2020 YEAR PLANNER
YOUNG VOLUNTEER EARNS AWARD
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Winter waters
NEW APPEAL FOR PRESIDENT
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NARROWBOAT’S UNUSUAL CARGO
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Narrowboats moored on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Parbold, West Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO: COLIN WAREING
Towpath Talk’s Top Teams for 2019 are revealed By Janet Richardson
BOAT TREKKER AT FINAL FRONTIER
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AS A new decade dawns, we bid farewell to 2019 with the results of our Towpath Talk Top Team award which has been running throughout the year. With four teams shortlisted for the final vote it was a very close-run contest with the Grantham Canal Society volunteers taking the title by a short head.
Boats gunshot probe
Such was the support also for Crusader Community Boating from Blisworth that we are awarding our first Community Boat award – something we had already been planning for the coming year. Commended are the Friends of the River Nene and the Waterways Chaplaincy’s Martin and Fiona Buck. Award presentations to our finalists
POLICE are investigating damage to narrowboats after gunshots were fired in Cambridge. Officers were called on Thursday, December 5, at around 10.15pm, after nearby residents reported hearing shots from what was believed to be an air rifle near boats on the River Cam. Photographs of holes in the window of one of the boats have since been published. One resident told reporters that shots, coming from the Chesterton side of the river, were fired at boats moored at Browns Field, Fen Ditton, and this went on for about five minutes. Cambridgeshire Police said no injuries were reported and enquiries were continuing.
will take place in the new year. The winning team receives the hire of a day boat carrying up to 10 people, generously sponsored by ABC Leisure Group Ltd. The runner-up will receive a £100 voucher to spend at Midland Chandlers at Braunston and all four finalists will receive a £100 donation towards their volunteering organisation from Mortons Media Group Ltd, the
100-day achievement
UPPERMILL Community Action Network (UCAN) achieved its 100-day volunteering milestone after starting out in 2015. This included more than 2300 hours of voluntary work achieved by local people who, according to UCAN, “care about, and are committed to, crafting and maintaining our beautiful local environment”. Thanks were given to all supporters, and for the positive feedback from the community. The next work parties will be on January 4 and 23, and February 8 and 20. The usual meeting point is 10am at the canal bridge on Moorgate Street but this can change. Contact Peter Killan on 01457 878361 or peterkillan@hotmail.com
publisher of Towpath Talk. Our thanks go to the readers who rose to the challenge of finding a group of unsung heroes who have gone that extra mile for their local stretch of towpath, canal or river, waterways association or community boat – and gave our judging panel a difficult job of shortlisting the four finalists. • Continued on page 2
Ouse bodies found
THE bodies of two men were found on a boat moored in York city centre. Emergency services were called to Lendal Bridge on the River Ouse at around 8pm on December 4. North Yorkshire Police said officers attended “after concerns were raised for two men in their 60s who had been out of touch with their family.” Upon arrival officers found the bodies. Fire and ambulance services both attended. The deaths were being treated as ‘unexplained’ although did not appear to be suspicious and a post-mortem examination was due to take place. The men had not been identified when Towpath Talk went to press.
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BY THE time you read this, the General Election will be over and we’ll hopefully have a Government with a clear mandate. The boating community will definitely be gearing up for another election – for the Canal & River Trust’s Council – with voting from January 20 until February 14. We had hoped to bring you a brief resumé on each candidate but the numbers of those standing make this impossible, instead see our preview on this page and visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk As we reflect on the last 12 months, the weather – or is it climate change – has again played its part with, as I mentioned last month, the wet start and finish to the season. But there were some hot spots – even as early as March when I visited Welshpool and Sutton Weaver to present two of the 2018 Towpath Talk Top Team runner-up awards, for the Easter Gathering at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port and the Braunston Historic Boat Rally in June. One of the highlights for me in 2019 was to travel north of the border for the Lowland Canal Carnival over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. The event celebrated the reopening of the Forth & Clyde Canal and I was a guest of Scottish Canals on the Forth & Clyde Canal Society’s Voyager from the Falkirk Wheel to Auchinstarry on the Saturday and on Jimmy Macfarlane’s replica Clyde Puffer Wee Spark for the second leg to Kirkintilloch on the Sunday. I have also visited all the Canal & River Trust’s six regions during the year to interview the regional directors appointed following the restructure in 2018. With the recent appointment of Mark Evans to replace Richard Thomas in the Wales & South West, see news item on page 7, I will hopefully be going west again before too long. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year.
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Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk
Assistant editor Sarah Spencer sspencer@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley
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Towpath Talk’s Top Teams for 2019 are revealed • Continued from page 1
Thanks go to our judges Haley Hadley, sales and marketing director of award sponsor ABC Leisure Group, John Dodwell, who started volunteering in 1962 and continues to be actively involved in a number of waterways organisations and Ian McCarthy, who has been active in the Waterways Recovery Group North West for more than 30 years and is currently a volunteers’ representative on the Canal & River Trust Council. The Top Team nominations have proved beyond doubt that there are lots of dedicated teams of committed volunteers out there – who all deserve recognition for the hard work they are doing for the benefit of the inland waterways. Watch this space for details of the 2020 awards.
Grantham Canal Society volunteers – our Top Team for 2019.
Voting set to start in CRT Council elections VOTING is set to open this month (January) for positions on the Canal & River Trust’s governing Council. The Council is currently made up of 50 elected and independently nominated members together with six Regional Advisory Board chairs. Together they aim to reflect the wide appeal of the waterways from boating and angling through to walking and conservation. The Council is responsible for the appointment of trustees, helps to shape policies and provides guidance and perspective to trustees. The call for nominations closed in
November and voting opens on January 20, closing on February 14, with the results due to be announced on the CRT website on February 17. The first meeting of the new Council will take place on March 26, with successful candidates serving a fouryear term. Eligible voters should have received an email during October inviting them to cast a vote. This email contains a link to the election portal and unique secure pin codes. Votes must be cast using the elections portal. Postal votes will not be accepted. Members will be elected on the basis
of proportional representation using a method called the Single Transferable Vote. The elections are for the following constituencies: private boating, four posts available, 34 nominations received; business boating, two posts, five nominations received; volunteers, two posts, eight nominations received; employees, one post, four nominations received. One fisheries/angling post was available, however the only nomination was for David Kent, Angling Trust representative and Towpath Talk columnist, who was already doing the job, therefore he was duly elected.
Crusader Community Boating receives our first Community Boat award. PHOTOS SUPPLIED David said: “We have made real progress on a variety of fronts but key issues such as the use of towpaths, moorings and vegetation management are still work in progress. Without doubt the adverse impact of these on angling can be significant.” He said his prime objective now was “to continue the fight for the restoration of the whole angling experience so our canal fisheries once again have real value”. There was one post available for Friends of the Trust, however no nominations were received. The full list of candidates and their manifestos, and more details on the council elections, can be found at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ council-elections-2020
Santas make a splash
By Colin Wareing
CHRISTMAS colour came to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal for the annual ‘Santa Splash’ organised by the Canal & River Trust and the Desmond Family Canoe Trail. Canoes were provided for the free
event with all the paddlers being encouraged to dress up in costume. The Santas splashed their way from the Eldonian village along the canal to the Lock and Quay pub where refreshment was taken. There was also a simultaneous splash more than 127 miles away at the opposite end of the canal in Leeds.
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Recent rain provides a suggestion of what the Fosseway Heath section of the Lichfield Canal will look like on completion. PHOTO: TONY CADWALLADR
The Santas splash under Boundary Bridge near the start of the paddle.
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Young Santas waving instead of splashing along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Liverpool. PHOTOS: COLIN WAREING
Cash boost in store for canal trust LICHFIELD’S canal restoration trust was selected by Waitrose & Partners Lichfield to be supported through its Community Matters scheme. During December the store has displayed the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust name, registered charity number and a short description of what the trust does, on one of three ‘Community Matters’ boxes into which customers can place a token received after their shop. At the end of the month the store was set to donate a proportion of £1000 to the trust, based on the number of votes customers cast for the trust and two other local good causes.
The Lichfield Canal, gradually being brought back to life from its closure 60 years ago, provides a natural corridor for public recreation and wildlife habitats. The trust, led by unpaid volunteers raising its own funds, has restored some sections in water along the south of Lichfield, and more are currently in progress. For example, the Fosseway Heath section off Falkland Road, close to the Waitrose store, is open to the public at all times to show what is being achieved in transforming natural landscapes while preserving the heritage of this local canal in the national inland waterway system.
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Friends of Kennet win volunteering award
Welsh Assembly Members visited the canal to meet volunteers from the Swansea Canal Society (SCS) and colleagues from the CRT. Pictured observing the dredging work being carried out are (from left) John Gwalter (SCS), Jenny Rogers CRT, Jeremy Miles Welsh Assembly Member (AM), John Davies SCS, Rebecca Evans AM, Paul Fox CRT, David Morgan CRT. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Dredging starts Swansea Canal transformation DREDGING on Swansea Canal is under way as part of a 10-year vision to transform the historic waterway into a top heritage, visitor and leisure destination. The dredging of almost a mile of the waterway between Coed Gwilym Park in Clydach and Trebanos was scheduled to be completed in mid-January and is being carried out by Glandwr Cymru – the Canal & River Trust in Wales. The charity cares for the canal, together with the Swansea Canal Society. Jon Horsfall, Glandwr Cymru director, said: “The dredging is the first important step in unlocking the massive potential of this special stretch of water. “Bringing a canal back into full use can offer huge benefits to local economies, not to mention the opportunities to enjoy the outdoors – by boat, on foot or bike. And there will be other benefits too – from learning opportunities for all ages and interests. “We’re delighted to be getting this first phase under way and thank our partners on this exciting project, in particular the Swansea Canal Society whose hard work and enthusiasm have
kept the canal open for everyone to use and enjoy.” More than 6700 cubic metres of silt is being removed from the channel – the equivalent of more than 8300 bath tubs full of water. This will open up the canal, enabling Swansea Canal Society to operate a trip boat and also improve the canoeing sessions that they already offer. The dredging is part of a programme of conservation repairs by Swansea Canal Society. Volunteers will renovate the historic structures along the waterway, reinforce banks and undertake other tasks, including work to protect the biodiversity of the canal corridor. It is estimated the project could help generate up to £500,000 for the visitor economy each year across the region. The project is costing around £380,000, which includes funding totalling more than £256,000 secured from Rural Community Development Funding (RCDF) with the support of the Rural Development Programme teams in Neath Port Talbot Council and Swansea Council. Additional funding has come from the Swansea Canal Society, from the
Welsh Government Landfills Disposal Tax Community Scheme. Coun Gordon Walker, chairman of Swansea Canal Society, said: “Swansea Canal Society is delighted that the regeneration of the Swansea Canal from Coed Gwilym Park to Trebanos Locks is now in progress. “Dredging arranged by our partners Canal & River Trust is transforming this stretch of canal. Society volunteers have been busy renovating historic structures and protecting the biodiversity for many years. “The society will soon be operating its canoes and a small trip boat as part of an exciting visitor destination for active recreation and heritage tourism. This should give a welcome boost to the economy of the Swansea Valley.” He added: “The society is hoping that the innovative scheme funded by the Rural Development Programme will lead to further work to reopen this beautiful waterway.” The Swansea Canal was opened in 1796 and the whole length of 16-and-ahalf miles was completed by 1798. Today only five miles of the canal is still in water, from Clydach to Pontardawe and from Pontardawe to Ynysmeudwy.
THE volunteers who look after Leeds & Liverpool Canal short boat Kennet have won a National Historic Ships Marsh Volunteer Award for their work in engaging with the public. IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch nominated Friends of Kennet (part of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society) for their hard work and commitment in restoring and operating the boat. Kennet is the only surviving Leeds & Liverpool Canal short boat which is in community ownership and is accessible to the public. The branch was thrilled when Friends of Kennet won the Engaging the Public category of the awards, presented at a reception held at Queens House in Greenwich in late November. The award, which is supported by the Marsh Christian Trust, is made to an individual volunteer or a group of volunteers who have made a significant contribution to a historic vessel through engaging the public and comes with a £500 prize which Friends of Kennet will put towards the running costs of the boat. IWA branch chairman Wendy Humphreys said: “We nominated Kennet as it is a historic boat well known to our branch and much valued by our
members who have seen it in operation. The Friends of Kennet work so hard to maintain Kennet and to make it an important part of promoting waterways and historic boats to the public and especially as an education resource. “We have been particularly pleased this year to work with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society and the Friends of Kennet in celebrating the bicentenary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal.” • More Marsh Christian Trust award winners on page 26.
Celebrating the volunteer award are, from left, Alison Smedley representing IWA, Colin Thunhurst of Friends of Kennet and vice chair of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, receiving the award from Brian Marsh of the Marsh Christian Trust. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Lottie’s litter-picking earns her an award AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl who lives near Lock 14 on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal has won a prestigious volunteer award. Lottie Clarke was recognised for her contribution in helping to clean up the canal, turning up in all weathers and completing more than 50 hours working with a volunteer team from the Northampton Branch of the Inland Waterways Association. Lottie was honoured to receive the John Faulkner Award, created by the branch to recognise someone who has
Lottie was rewarded for her hard work with a prestigious award from the IWA Northampton Branch. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
made an important contribution to its work, at its annual dinner. The award was named after a longstanding branch member who left a substantial legacy in 2016. Lottie is the third recipient of the award. Lottie spotted volunteers in hi-viz jackets working on the canal arm and asked her mum, Laura, what they were doing. They decided to take the family dog for a walk, got chatting to the volunteers and signed up to join the group on the spot. Since then Lottie and her mum have helped clear out weir channels, paint locks, cut back vegetation and done lots of litter picking – Lottie’s favourite task. She even does litter picking outside of regular work parties when walking the dog along the towpath. Lottie and Laura were instrumental in getting her school, Rothersthorpe Primary, to join in with painting a mural under the M1 bridge on the canal arm this summer and helped spread the word about the Mosaic Nature Trail. These are two projects recently conceived and installed by the branch to help rejuvenate the canal corridor which leads from near Gayton, where it joins with the Grand Union Canal main line, into the heart of Northampton where it links to the River Nene.
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East Midlands boaters assemble for their first regional conference
By Janet Richardson
BOATERS from across the East Midlands gathered in Nottingham recently for the first regional boaters’ conference. Organised by the Canal & River Trust, the event was held on November 25 at the historic Canalhouse within the city’s Castle Wharf. Chief executive Richard Parry opened the conference and thanked the East Midlands team, with regional director Phil Mulligan, for making this happen. He outlined the trust’s progress since it was officially formed in 2012. Income has grown to exceed £200 million; charitable spend is up by 27% to over £150 million; increased use – more than 400 million visits per year and an assetspend increase from just under £50 million to over £65 million a year. Richard referred to the new monthly boater survey which was launched in April and goes out to people who are out and about cruising the waterways. “We value hugely the contribution that boaters make,” he added. National boating manager Matthew Symonds also referred to the surveys and presented figures from the national boater report for 2019. He explained that 10% of the trust’s overall income – £21.1 million – comes from boat licences, with another £19.1m coming from moorings and boating businesses, amounting to 19% of total income. The largest source of income, £53.4m, is investment income. “For every £1 we receive from boating, we need another £4 from elsewhere.” Each delegate’s pack included a folded sheet showing letters A-D which represented the answers to multi-choice questions asked by Matthew during his presentation. Members of the audience were then invited to raise the cards with their chosen answer. Some of the figures given included the cost of dredging 1km – £75-200k per
project; the cost of repairing a bridge hit by a vehicle – £27k and the number of calls to the trust’s customer service number – 117,500. In answer to a question, Matthew stressed that there are no plans to replace staff with volunteers. National environment policy advisor Peter Birch spoke about emissions from domestic fuels and transport, with the focus on what the inland waterways can do to reduce emissions. He said that Amsterdam had already announced that all boats in the city centre would have to be zero emissions by 2025 and our Government’s Clean Maritime Plan focuses on the transition to zero emission shipping by 2050. Although focused on coastal shipping, this does include inland waterways. Although there are already electric and hybrid boats on the system, boats with their slower uptake/replacement route can’t be treated like cars – CRT has stressed that to Government. Referring to smoke control areas, he emphasised that there is not currently a legally binding ban on solid fuel stoves on boats but it is aimed to close the loophole in clean air acts which local authorities will be able to regulate. Work with Defra and local authorities in London on how the transition will take place has been on hold due to the general election. The Department for Transport has called for evidence as the first step in developing a detailed policy looking at air quality overall and wants to know about the number and nature of boats, especially those not covered by the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) or similar. It also wants to know what can be done to reduce emissions. The consultation closes on January 11, 2020 and can be accessed via www.gov. uk, click on ‘consultations’. Forthcoming dredging plans were
Conference delegates raise their cards to show their answer to the multi-choice questions. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON outlined by regional environment and heritage manager Richard Bennett. He explained that this is one of the region’s most costly activities and sonar surveys help to prioritise target areas – the dredging priority trigger (DPT) which measures cross-sections of the waterway at 50m intervals. The 2019-20 programme includes lock approaches on the River Trent, Limekiln Lock on the River Soar, the Grand Union Canal at Yardley Gobion (south of Stoke Bruerne), the Leicester Line between Glen Parva and Aylestone and the Ashby Canal. On the subject of offside vegetation, Richard said that this is carried out in
Big push to get President back into steam By Sarah Spencer
A MAJOR appeal has been launched to get the Black Country Living Museum’s ‘flagship of the waterways’ narrowboat President back into steam. President is thought to be the only remaining restored coal-fired steampowered narrowboat in the world. Built in 1909, she has enjoyed her ‘retirement’ under the care of the
Friends of President group, however after 30 years of service her boiler has been found unfit for purpose and needs urgent replacement. Work is under way to design the new unit and source a suitable boiler-maker and the cost including installation, plus some work on the hull, is expected to be in the region of £80,000. David Powell, of Friends of President, said: “Although this is a
daunting sum, we are under way – with the funds held by the museum and pledges from other sources we are well over halfway. “The museum’s development team is preparing bids for a number of grant sources. In the meantime, we have launched an appeal for funds.” David said the aim was to be “up and running” by the end of June (2020), however this would be dependent on
President taking part in the Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012. PHOTO: STEWART AND WENDY ABBOTT
a 3-5 year cycle to maintain navigation and improve the sight line on bends and approaches to structures. Although mostly done by specialist contractors, volunteer input has increased such as on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Derwent Mouth and on the Welford Arm of the Leicester Line. He also referred to floating pennywort, especially on the River Soar, Fossdyke Canal and River Witham. He asked boaters for their feedback on areas that need doing and where it has improved and urged them to join groups to tackle the problem. He also referred to the Check, Clean, Dry campaign aimed at stopping the spread of invasive species.
The final speaker was David Mould, principal hydrologist (North), who is part of the CRT’s water management team. He gave an update on the applications for abstraction licences, with 154 now in the validation phase. Continued work is needed to ensure these are delivered although the licences won’t be issued for another two to three years. During the afternoon, the conference adopted a world cafe format with six tables each debating six topics with facilitators rotating every 15 minutes. The topics were: moorings; facilities and services; customer service; attracting new boaters; vegetation and waterway maintenance.
finding someone to make the boiler. “We are going for a heritage boiler to modern standards,” said David. “We are hoping to build the boiler like the original (riveted), the one that just failed wasn’t. “It will be a specialist boiler-maker that can do that.” Built by Fellows, Morton and Clayton Ltd, President is on the National Register of Historic Vessels and in the elite sub-group The National Historic Fleet, alongside just 200 others including the Cutty Sark, HMS Belfast and HMS Victory.
Steam narrowboats could carry 18 tons of cargo and were powerful enough to tow several unpowered boats, known as butty boats. They worked ‘fly’ (that is day and night) between London, Birmingham, Coventr y, Derby, L eicester and Nottingham. The large compound steam engine and coke-fired boiler took up valuable cargo space, so to solve the issue, in 1925, President’s steam engine and boiler was replaced with a 15 horsepower Bolinder, increasing carrying capacity by nearly eight tonnes. She then spent the remainder of her working life as a motor boat. President was purchased by a private owner in 1973 as a derelict hull and restored to her original appearance complete with working steam Scotch return boiler. The museum took ownership of her in 1982 and the Friends of President maintain and operate the vessel, taking President out around the country from April to July. These trips include rallies and waterways festivals, where President is showcased and the museum is promoted. David added: “President is an important vessel and should be preserved for the future.” People can donate via the museum’s dedicated Just Giving page: https:// www.justgiving.com/campaigns/ charity/bclm/president
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1st place – Running under Snow Hill station by Damien Walmsley.
2nd place – Lazy Sunday afternoon by Michael Landelle.
3rd place – Sunrise over Brindleyplace by Damien Walmsley.
Birmingham photo competition winners revealed
THE winners of a photographic competition celebrating the 250th birthday of Birmingham’s canals have been announced. Canal & River Trust, working in partnership with the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, chose the top three from more than 300 entries. The competition aimed to capture the unique beauty of the historic
waterways across Birmingham and the Black Country. Budding photographers were encouraged to snap a wide variety of waterway images, such as colourful boats, waterway wildlife, historic canal architecture or pictures of people enjoying spending time on their local canal. The winners were: • 1st place: Damien Walmsley with his picture Running under Snow Hill station
• 2nd place: Michael Landelle with his picture titled Lazy Sunday afternoon • 3rd place: Damien Walmsley with his picture titled Sunrise over Brindleyplace As part of the prize the winners were invited to a special VIP celebration event at the Council House in Birmingham where they were presented with their prizes by The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Mr John Crabtree, and
Scottish Canals consults boaters on DIY locks BOATERS who use the Lowland Canals in Scotland are being urged by the Inland Waterways Association to respond to Scottish Canals’ consultation about user operation on the Forth & Clyde and Union canals. The Lowland Operations Consultation is open until week commencing January 20, 2020 and asks for views on the following areas:
• Meeting customer demand and how Scottish Canals operate the canals – including the potential of extending user and remote operations at key locations, designing operating hours around customer demand and ensuring that boaters get training where necessary • How Scottish Canals allocates its resources to tackle major issues such as dredging
and weed control • How boaters can send in feedback on obstacles or issues • Improving communication, customer experience and transparency, including being able to book and pay online for transits, licences and other services IWA supports the proposals by Scottish Canals to allow user operation of some of their
Allan Leighton, CRT chairman. Adnan Saif, director of West Midlands at the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s wonderful that so many people took part in this photo competition. The pictures really showed how lovely the canals in BirminghamandtheBlackCountryareand how lucky we are to have this wonderful network of canals on our doorstep.” Michael Smith-Keary, of Birmingham
locks and bridges. It claims the Lowland Canals would benefit from fewer restrictions to opening hours, along with as many structures being made available for user operation as possible, saying: “These would facilitate increased use of these restored canals which in turn would bring all the economic and social benefits that vibrant busy waterways bring to local communities.” An earlier version of the consultation would have seen
Canal Navigations Society, said: “It was great seeing so many wonderful pictures of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. “There was a real mixture of photos, from beautiful rural canal scenes to wildlife, boats and pictures that highlighted our urban waterways. All the photos highlighted just how popular our canals are with local people and that nowadays they are being used for boating and so much more.”
the western end of the Forth & Clyde Canal effectively closed for most of the time, with availability being limited to a single day a week in each direction. Representations made by the new advisory group – Scottish Waterways for All – supported by IWA, have resulted in a reversal of this decision and the Forth & Clyde Canal is now shown as open throughout, seven days a week, for booked transits.
The stretch was restored in 2002 as a transit canal (linking the Firth of Forth with the Clyde). IWA concludes: “Limiting any section of its length makes a nonsense of its restoration and of the £9.4 million recently spent constructing the 1km Queen Elizabeth II Canal, bypassing a difficult section of the River Carron on its eastern approach to the Kelpies.” The Lowland Operations Consultation can be found at www.scottishcanals.co.uk
‘Fantastic project’ scoops award
A bridge worth its salt A new artwork has been installed over the Trent & Mersey Canal at Wincham near Northwich in Cheshire. Pipework over the canal that carries water and salt brine to and from the Tata chemical works that straddle the canal near here have been repainted and these pictures cut from steel have been attached. On a bright autumn afternoon a narrowboat travelling southwards is pictured passing under the pipe bridge. PHOTO: COLIN WAREING
THE Canal & River Trust’s repair of Gloucester Lock captured attention and headlines earlier in 2019. Now the team behind the work has been honoured with a Gloucestershire Live & Gloucester Citizen ‘Believe in Gloucester Award’. Announced on November 28, the accolades celebrate local champions. Nominated in the Regeneration category, the awards organisers described CRT’s work to repair the 200-year-old historic lock as ‘a fantastic project’. The team was nominated by Ed Stilliard from Gloucestershire Live. Rob Eaton and Mark Abraham collected the award on behalf of the team, who were also in attendance.
Mark Abraham talks to Ed Stilliard from Gloucestershire Live about the project. PHOTO SUPPLIED
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Royal approval for trust’s work
At Birtley the bridge is all the work of volunteers, even down to its design. Here its substructure can be seen complete.
Bridge progress gives Wey volunteers a lift
WEY & Arun Canal Trust has launched a Crowdfunding campaign in the wake of its bridge building success. Volunteers have pulled out all the stops to help the trust sprint ahead with two ambitious bridge building projects and now it is hoped the Crowdfunding page will raise money towards their completion. At Birtley, near Bramley in Surrey, volunteers have not only been responsible for the planning and design of a new bridge, but have constructed the supporting structure in just a matter of months. The lift bridge will allow the trust to create a picturesque 2.5km circular canalside walk in the area, leading from the Downs Link path, and is one of two lift bridges needed at Birtley. Teams began creating an access track and towpath at the end of last year, but work on the bridge itself began in July. With the help of visiting Waterway Recovery Group summer camps and weekend visits, and ongoing support
from the trust’s own volunteers, the bridge structure is complete and ready for its steel deck. The Crowdfunding page will raise funds to pay for equipment and materials needed to complete the Birtley project and the second bridge needed. Investors receive rewards in return
Volunteers have started work on constructing the bridge at Harsfold, with the first pouring of concrete carried out in October. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
for their donations – a £20 donation gets the investor a year’s Wey & Arun Canal Trust membership, while donations of more than £500 qualify for a private half-day boat charter on the restored section of the canal at Loxwood in West Sussex for a party of up to 48 people. The Crowdfunder site can be found at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ birtley-bridges Elsewhere, teams have been building a bridge at Harsfold, near Wisborough Green in West Sussex. Volunteers have in the past few months created a bridleway and footpath diversion, and work on the bridge itself is now well under way, with the aim of completion before next summer. Chairman Sally Schupke said: “We are immensely proud of our volunteers and the hard work and commitment they have shown to getting the projects at Birtley and Harsfold off to such flying starts. “The quality of workmanship is incredibly high and we can’t wait to show visitors what we can achieve. “We hope the public gets behind our Crowdfunding and supports us in providing what will be a valuable leisure amenity for Bramley, and an important wildlife corridor.”
THE Wey & Arun Canal Trust got the chance to show off its work to royalty on a visit by the Earl of Wessex. This was part of a trip by Prince Edward to Birtley, near Bramley, organised by Surrey Hills Enterprises. Surrey Hills Enterprises is a community interest company that focuses on building a strong local economy and tourism industry, supporting rural businesses and environmental sustainability. Wey & Arun Canal Trust was
among a group of selected Surrey Hill Enterprises members, ranging from arts and crafts workers to food and drink producers and tourism organisations, who met the Queen’s third son. Trust director Margaret Darvill said the Prince seemed very interested in learning about the canal. “He asked when it was built and where it ran from and to and said he thought it was a tremendous project and such a worthwhile volunteer effort to restore the canal,” she said.
Prince Edward with Margaret Darvill, who said the royal seemed keen to learn about the canal. PHOTO SUPPLIED
NEWS 7
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Selly Oak winding hole plan is given green light
PLANNING approval has been granted for Lapal Canal Trust’s construction of a winding hole at Selly Oak for boats to turn and enter the restored Dudley No. 2 Canal. This is a major step forward for ambitious plans to restore the Dudley No. 2 into a working canal. It was the final planning approval needed for the work to start. In April, details were released of the planning approval of a swing bridge and a route across the shopping centre. Whitehouse’s Wharf (also known as
Goodman’s Yard) will be a beautiful landscaped park with more than 1000 shrubs planted, and a public open space for relaxation next to a new water feature in the very heart of Selly Oak. In the early 1800s, Selly Oak industry was developed around the canal junction and the community feels it is important to protect and restore this significant heritage link with the past. The restored waterway stands to benefit the environment in several ways, from providing alternative transport links, to promoting leisure activities that benefit
the well-being of the community, and through the provision of a wildlife corridor, connecting green spaces together. As part of the agreement between the Landsec/Sainsbury’s consortium and Birmingham City Council, the area is being developed by Landsec as a public open space to include a disabledcompatible canal bridge linking the new shopping development to the centre of Selly Oak. The agreement provides for the winding hole with most of the sheet metal piling being installed. The Lapal
Plans showing the site of the winding hole at Selly Oak that has recently been given planning permission. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Canal Trust will be responsible for removing an estimated 1750 cubic metres of soil, completing the sheet piling and ensuring the base is waterproof, as well as providing the path around the edge. The new owner M & G Real Estate is giving permission for the work to start. Dr Andrew Hardie, chair of the Lapal Canal Trust, said: “We are grateful for the help received from Sainsbury’s, Landsec and Birmingham City Council in developing the plan and look forward to the canal link being restored in partnership with the local community. “In particular we would like to thank the Canal and River Trust and the local community (CP4SO) and canal societies for their support in helping to determine the position of the winding hole. We very much appreciate the help of Landsec and for the £48k contribution to the cost of removing some of the excess soil.” Dr Tony Whateley, company secretary and treasurer, said: “As a community we are all proud of our Birmingham canals and we would like to thank donors for their generous contribution. “The trust is actively looking for more financial support. Contact details for donations can be found on the website www.lapal.org Completing the work on the winding hole is estimated to cost from £250,000 to £320,000.” The turning area forms part of a local plan to make Selly Oak a more attractive place to live. The plan includes a number of old 19th century listed buildings which could be attractive for visitors. The aim is to encourage the use of the canal for the 55-minute journey from Selly Oak to Brindley Place and Birmingham city centre. The turning area is conveniently located next to the bus stop and the railway station.
Mark will represent the CRT in the Wales and South West region. PHOTO: CRT
New boss for Wales
A NEW director for the Wales and South West region has been appointed by the Canal & River Trust. Mark Evans is currently head of Waterside Moorings, the trust’s directly managed moorings business, and interim head of the trust’s waterway museums at Gloucester and Ellesmere Port. He joined the trust more than four years ago as waterway manager for the Kennet & Avon Canal. Mark was due to take up the role this month (January). Julie Sharman, chief operating officer at Canal & River Trust, said: “I am delighted to announce that Mark Evans has been appointed as director for Wales and South West. “In the last year Mark has shown strength and versatility in his leadership of both the moorings team and museums. “I am confident that he will inspire and unite the excellent team in Wales and South West.” Mark said: “I am particularly proud to be able to represent the trust in Wales because of my own Welsh heritage, and to take on responsibility for the region which also includes the Kennet & Avon, Bridgwater & Taunton and Gloucester & Sharpness canals, and the magnificent Gloucester Docks and River Severn.”
8 NEWS
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Boatyard set for major upgrade By Sarah Spencer
AN APPLICATION for an exciting upgrade to facilities at a Castleford boatyard has been submitted to planners. Methley Bridge Boatyard, on the River Calder in West Yorkshire, has put forward plans that include a new clubhouse, new toilets and showers and laundry facilities, new workshop, plus an extra half-a-mile of moorings accessed off a new causeway. Applicants Jeff and Mandy Dowsett, who have been based at Methley Bridge since 1989, said: “Castleford may not be the first place you think of for a splendid boating experience, but the green reaches of the Calder are a match for any river in this country. “Most of Methley Bridge Boatyard output has gone south or to Skipton or York and such, but now a new river mooring will offer a home base for more people to enjoy mucking about on the river in West Yorkshire.”
Paul Martin, owner of agents DMU Designs Ltd, described the application as “fairly substantial” and continued: “This has huge leisure and community possibilities for the area while also bringing in further business to Castleford.” The new clubhouse could have varied uses for both boaters and the local community taking part in leisure activities, making this a key asset to the development. Local groups such as Sea Cadets, youth projects, heritage projects, sports centres, Scouts and others will be approached to discuss future leisure and business relationships. Paul said the river was well-used for leisure by the residents of Castleford, Methley and surrounding areas and this would be an extra attraction for walkers. He added more tourists and boaters would visit, and this would have a knock-on effect for other businesses such as cafes, takeaways and shops.
Currently boats are accessed via various gang planks and landing stages from the riverbank, but a new causeway the full length of the riverbank would give better and safer boat access. According to the plans: “The causeway is proposed to be constructed from locally sourced reclaimed steelwork and to be finished in a white paint. This will have a striking and elegant impact on the riverbank as it will follow the natural curve. “The moorings attract an eclectic mixture of boat designs and will be an added feature to the Castleford community for leisure walks and cycling.” The plans continue: “Currently, discussions are under way to house historical vessels here with the potential further space along the river. “The vessel Sobriety from the recently closed Yorkshire Waterways museum has been offered a potential free mooring if the proposal is accepted, again offering something unique to the Castleford area.” The plans add: “The proposal provides something unique to the area, a fantastic leisure activity addition and would really put Castleford on the map!” Paul said it was hoped that the planning application would go through this month (January) and the project could be completed this year (2020). Extending the existing facilities on site has been looked into before some years ago, but this is a “slimmed down” version of the scheme, omitting the previously proposed marina accessed via a new lock off the River Calder.
Ian Dudson, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, presents the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust president Eric Wood. PHOTO: MARGARET BEARDSMORE
Trust presented with top award LICHFIELD and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony in the city’s historic Guildhall. The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian Dudson, presented a certificate, signed by the Queen, to LHCRT president Eric Wood at the event. The ceremony was attended by many of the trust’s volunteers, as well as civic dignitaries and representatives of groups and businesses that have played a part in the ongoing restoration of the canals. The Queen’s Award, the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary sector organisations, recognises the outstanding contribution made to local communities by individuals devoting their time for the benefit of others. Representatives from Queen’s Croft High School and Foresters Scouts,
who provide regular helpers for trust work, were also among the guests, as were representatives from Chasewater Civil Engineering, Clarke Construction Ltd and Wacker Neuson, whose help in providing materials and plant has been invaluable to the trust. The Lord Lieutenant recognised the importance of canals to the county and when he was High Sheriff in 2010 he took the opportunity of walking every mile of navigable canals in Staffordshire, a total of 154 miles. “I now realise in the last few years that I didn’t walk every mile of waterfilled canal in the county (a reference to a short stretch of the Lichfield Canal that was put in water a few years ago) and that if you are successful in your aims I’ll have several more miles to do before I can continue to say with honesty that I’ve walked every mile of the canals in Staffordshire,” he added.
Saxilby ‘masterplan’ put into action How the Methley Bridge Boatyard might look if the new plans get the go-ahead. PHOTO: DMU DESIGNS
£1m repair project starts on Macclesfield section
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CRT, said: “The Macclesfield Canal is a hugely popular canal used by the community every day to go for a walk or cycle along and for the thousands of boaters who visit each year. “Over the last few years this section of the canal has suffered with leakage which we’ve been monitoring. “By investing this money we’re not only protecting the historic fabric of the canal but ensuring that people can continue to spend time by the water which we know from research improves people’s health and well-being.” The 26-mile Macclesfield Canal was designed as a direct link between Manchester and the Midlands. It was one of the last narrow-gauge canals (locks 7ft wide) to be built by famous canal engineer Thomas Telford.
TALK
WORK has started to repair the Macclesfield Canal at Bollington. The Canal & River Trust is spending nearly £1 million refurbishing a section of the 200-year-old Cheshire canal. In order to carry out the important repairs, the canal between bridges 26 and 27 was set to be drained of water. An 80m section of the canal bed was to be relined with a concrete liner and repairs to the wash walls undertaken. The work is expected to be completed by March. The towpath was due to be closed between bridge 26 and Clarence Mill Footbridge throughout the works, with diversions in place and access to Clarence Mill available. Darren Spann, project manager at
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The picturesque Macclesfield Canal at Bollington which is undergoing a major refurbishment. PHOTO: CRT
SAXILBY’S historic canalside Bridge Street Conservation Area is getting a major facelift, following an extensive public consultation exercise. A masterplan for the area has now been drawn up by Lincoln-based landscape architects Welch Design. The area is currently on Historic England’s ‘at-risk’ register, and after discussions with the local community, final plans have been unveiled. The area also has a new name, ‘Saxilby Waterfront’, chosen by village residents, in order to give it its own identity. Stephen Welch, managing director of Welch Design and an RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner, said: “The Bridge Street Conservation Area is a unique setting with a wonderful community behind it. It has been great to look closely at a space with such rich history and explore its potential for the future. “I am very excited to see it revitalised and enhanced for current and subsequent generations to enjoy.” Work has already begun on the Conservation Area, with groups of residents taking part in volunteer days each month to carry out improvements. Parish councillor Elizabeth Hillman said: “We are delighted with the final plans, which result from extensive community consultation. “We are lucky to have the Fossdyke Navigation and Conservation Area in Saxilby, and these changes will improve the area and make it more attractive for everyone to enjoy. “It is a big project that will be delivered in phases over the next three years. We are working closely with our partner agencies, including the conservation officer at West Lindsey District Council and actively seeking funding to move forward with the improvements.”
Discussing the Saxilby Waterfront plans are (clockwise) Stephen Welch, managing director, Welch Design; Heather Degand, landscape assistant, Welch Design; Lydia Smithson, assistant clerk, Saxilby with Ingleby Parish Council; and Coun Elizabeth Hillman, Saxilby with Ingleby Parish Council.
The area set for a facelift is Bridge Street Conservation Area, including the historic Fossdyke Canal. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
CHARACTER 9
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Characters of the cut Charlotte’s Arts
By Alice Griffin
Charlotte’s Arts with inset, Charlotte Ashman. GROWING up in Blisworth, Charlotte Ashman has always had a heart for the canal so it’s no surprise that a number of years later she’s single-handedly continuously cruising the waterways selling her art, lino prints, handmade crafts and canalware from the Star Class Woolwich Hyperion, along with a 60ft Orion shell tug copy. “The lady that lived in the house opposite used to look after my sister and me when we were children and they had an old clinker rowing boat. We would go on adventures like Swallows and Amazons and play on the narrowboat being fitted out by the father of the family,” she tells me. As it is for many of us, later in life the canal became a place of refuge until Charlotte eventually moved on to the cut permanently after struggling to find places to park her 1950s Albion bus that she had previously travelled in, offering art workshops and crafts for sale. Becoming a floating trader seemed a natural progression. There is a strong historical feel to Charlotte’s artwork as she endeavours to capture her interest in the background of the waterways and her lino cuts in particular are absolutely stunning. “Since moving on to the waterways I have become fascinated with the architecture, engineering and characters. My lino prints mirror this interest while the process of printing sits comfortably within the industrial landscape.” As boaters, learning about and integrating ourselves into the history of the canals is so important as the stories are vast and add such layers to our own experiences, keeping the waterways special. I have worked many a lock while letting my own thoughts wander to those who came before and, like Charlotte, have often pondered what boaters must have thought as they transported materials to build railways. “I find it hard to get my head around how boaters coped with creating their own demise. Maybe they thought, ‘it’ll never catch on’?” But the reason we’re all still enjoying the waterways, despite the growth of railways, is that the engineering is absolutely beautiful and has stood the test of time: “Bricks, wood and steel, proper stuff, not all of this pre-fab, manufactured obsolescence rubbish built by robots”. At Charlotte’s last comment I can only wonder how today’s workers feel as they watch robots slowly taking over their jobs… Signing up as a ‘trainee’ for the Alarum Theatre’s Idle Women tour gave Charlotte her first taste
of steering a historic boat when she took Tench from Cosgrove to Fenny Stratford, and she was hooked straight away. By some coincidence, the boat Charlotte now owns – Hyperion – was steered by author Margaret Cornish during the war, which you can read about in her book, Troubled Waters: “It’s nice to know that the women who inspired me also spent time on my boat.” Since that experience, Charlotte has done some steering work with Jules’ Fuels of Stoke Bruerne and I can’t imagine a better teacher as I’ve observed these boats manoeuvring seamlessly a number of times. “I thoroughly enjoyed the coal boating experience. If I wasn’t a single parent I’d be off doing that instead,” she tells me. As it is, Charlotte has always enjoyed making things and after leaving university with a degree in fine art, she went straight into being a professional artist. Recently she jjoined the Guild of Waterways Artists and h has found it to be a great inspiration. “Being a member of a group is really helpful in driving the evolution of my work. A h lot of ideas come out of conversations along with the opportunity to visit and exhibit in places I wouldn’t have thought of approaching on my own.” As a way to live and work with nature all around you, the canals are irresistible: “It’s the skies at night, the reflections in the water, the sunrise, birds… and I really enjoy the sense of living in a world within a world,” she said. Like Charlotte it was this sense of being part of something secret that took me to the water, that feeling that even if the place name is the same, the perspective from the water is entirely different. Despite the logistics of cruising two boats single-handed, it’s clear that Charlotte has most definitely found her place and has no yearning for ‘out there’. In fact, she now finds it quite a pull to leave the canal and perhaps that is just as well because down on the water creativity is being nurtured a nd to observe m o re people building their life amid the beauty of it, while at the same time respecting its past, is truly ated water can. heartwarming. A decora Alice Griffin is a writer, nature-lover, slow-living advocate and intermittent boatdweller. www.alicegriffin.co.uk Facebook: Charlotte’s Arts Instagram: @Charlottes_Arts Website: charlotteashman.wixsite.com
Charlotte’s lino prints mirror her interest in th he architecture,, eng gineering g and characters in this industrial landscape. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
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Bridge permission sees road blockage removed
RESTORATION of the Montgomery Canal has been given a huge boost with planning permission granted for the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge. New volunteers are now being recruited to support the project. The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust was given planning permission for work on the bridge, near Oswestry in Shropshire. The Montgomery Canal was abandoned in 1944 along with other parts of the Shropshire
Union Canal system and the old canal bridge on Long Lane was demolished when the canal lay derelict. The canal’s restoration started 50 years ago with a major work party in Welshpool drawn from local residents and canal enthusiasts from the Shropshire Union Canal Society and the Waterway Recovery Group (which adopted the name shortly after the event). Current restoration supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund will see the canal reopened to Crickheath Basin,
leaving two miles of dry canal in Shropshire. Schoolhouse Bridge is on this section and is the last road blockage before the Welsh border. Michael Limbrey, chairman of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, said: “A team from the local canal charities has been working together to promote the next stages of restoration. “In the last three years our ‘Restore the Montgomery Canal!’ appeal has raised most of the money we need to rebuild Schoolhouse Bridge, though we
are still keen to receive donations to complete the funding. “We submitted our planning application in the summer with the help of the Canal & River Trust, which owns the canal, and permission has now been granted. “There are a number of detailed conditions we now have to comply with and we then aim to start work next year.” He added: “This really will be one of the most exciting projects on the Montgomery Canal and indeed on any of the canal restorations around the country. “Canal restoration volunteers are very skilled and many are trained to use major pieces of equipment: they have restored many bridges, locks and weirs on other canal restorations and at times they have had to build bridges or other structures from scratch.
“We want to use these skills at Schoolhouse Bridge because the only way we can fund the rebuild is by using volunteers as much as possible.” Volunteer teams will clear the site, dig out the old road embankment and install the foundations and abutments for the bridge. Specialist contractors will then install the arch before volunteers return to lay the base for the road that will be finished by more specialist contractors. “I am delighted to say that Shropshire Council has been very supportive and has said we can close the road to allow this work to take place,” said Michael. “They know of course that the restored canal can bring economic, social and environmental benefits to the area and it is for these very reasons that enthusiasts have been working for so many years to reopen the
canal and that supporters have been so generous in supporting the appeal. “Now planning permission has been obtained, we are pressing ahead with the design details for final approval. “At the same time we are building up our team for the project itself. We have a core team to manage the work and would like to recruit local volunteers to assist with supervision or receive deliveries for the next working party and carry out other essential tasks to maintain progress. “We could arrange any necessary training. Members of this team would be playing a valuable part in restoring this vital link on the canal, something to be proud of.” Anyone interested should contact Michael at chairman@ montgomerywrtrust.uk or through the appeal website www. restorethemontgomerycanal.uk
‘Monty’ volunteers find channel full of water
The embankment where the bridge was, looking east, with the dry canal bed near the camera. The canal line then goes round the back of the white cottage. PHOTO SUPPLIED
VOLUNTEERS taking part in a Montgomery Canal restoration work party were shocked to find the channel full of water when they arrived. This was due to exceptional rainfall and resulted in a massive pumping operation to get the channel into a state where work could begin. A narrowboat could easily have floated in this section. However, in very difficult conditions, considerable progress was made, and 20 metres of the bed of the channel at Crickheath was scraped out below the actual depth to allow a geotextile blanket and then geogrid to be put down. This was then covered with stone and sprinkled with cement to stabilise it. The result will be that heavy machines can work there, so that a land drain can be installed. This land drain will be essential to ensure that work can begin promptly when the monthly working parties are scheduled. A stream now runs into the channel and providing a solution to this problem is of paramount importance. A real bonus on one of the sessions in November was the arrival of seven new volunteers
from Openreach and Arcadis. Employees in these companies can opt for a day’s volunteer activity as part of their in-service training programmes, and the Montgomery volunteers were more than grateful for their attendance. Working in small groups, they were responsible for removing a considerable
Work in the channel.
The flooded channel. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
distance of redundant newt fencing and replacing worn fabric fencing with proprietary rigid plastic sheet material. The other strand to the activities was to erect a 150-metre stock fence along the offside bank. New volunteers are always welcome and details are on the Shropshire Union Canal Society website.
NEWS 11
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Lune Aqueduct in the landscape.
Fish out of water for £1.5m Lune repairs
THOUSANDS of fish are being rehomed as repairs are carried out to the Lancaster Canal. The Canal & River Trust has started work to repair Lune Embankment, investing nearly £1.5 million refurbishing the 200-year-old stretch of canal. In order to carry out the much-needed repairs, the Lune Aqueduct will be drained and a team of fisheries experts will brave the cold water to remove the fish, including roach, perch, eels, chub and bream. The fish will be safely rehomed in another stretch of the canal. A 240m section of the canal bed will then be relined with a man-made liner, which is a modern take on the clay that would have been used to help keep the canal watertight 200 years ago when the
A team of experts are braving the cold of the Lancaster Canal to remove the fish while work takes place. PHOTOS: CRT
aqueduct was first built. The towpath will remain open throughout the work, which should be completed by March. Built by canal engineer John Rennie between 1794 and 1797, the Lune Aqueduct is architecturally one the finest aqueducts in England, carrying the Lancaster Canal over the River Lune on five semi-circular arches each of 70ft span. Graham Ramsden, project manager at CRT, said: “The Lancaster Canal is one of the north west’s most popular canals used by thousands of boaters who visit each year. It is a valuable resource for the local community who use it every day as an amazing place to go for a walk, cycle or simply to get away from it all and get close to nature. “For a number of years there had been minor seepage from the canal bed where the stone aqueduct joins the soil embankment. By investing this money we’re not only protecting the historic fabric of the canal, but ensuring that people can continue to spend time by the water.” Known as the ‘black and white’ canal, the Lancaster Canal originally connected Kendal to Preston and was built to transport coal barges north from Lancashire’s coalfields and limestone south from Cumbria. It is one of the country’s few coastal canals. Built along the natural lie of the land it offers 41 miles of lock-free cruising – the longest lock-free stretch in the country.
Hillmorton retains title for busiest locks
HILLMORTON Locks on the Oxford Canal in Rugby is set to keep its crown as the ‘busiest set of locks in England and Wales’ after welcoming the 9000th boat through the flight in 2019. In 2018 Hillmorton Locks was recorded as the busiest set of locks on the nation’s 2000 miles of waterways looked after by the Canal & River Trust. Helped through by volunteer lock keepers, the 9000th boat through the locks in 2019 was skippered by David and Helen from West Yorkshire who were travelling on their narrowboat North Star. To mark the special occasion David and Helen were awarded a certificate by the trust’s volunteers, as a memento for being part of the milestone moment. The Canal & River Trust’s volunteer lock keepers act as the ‘face of the canal’, not only helping boaters through the locks but also giving people local information about the area and lending a hand to help look after the canal. Lead volunteer Taryn said: “The locks at Hillmorton are a great place to volunteer as there is always a boat needing our help to tackle the locks and help ease their journey along the canal. “If you’re new to boating we know that locks can be a little daunting, but we work with the crew to show them how to safely work the locks and have an enjoyable time. “I really love being out on the canal. Every
day is different and it’s lovely to help people on their way, providing information such as where the nearest place is to grab a drink in a pub or a pint of milk from the shop.” Adnan Saif, regional director at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Hillmorton is a really popular part of the waterways and I’m sure anyone travelling through the locks will be delighted to see our volunteers lending a hand. Our volunteers help boaters on the canal throughout the year and are a really valuable part of the team. “I would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication.”
Lead volunteer Taryn with David and Helen and their certificate for being the 9000th boat helped through the locks in 2019. PHOTO: CRT
12 IWA ROUND-UP
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IWA elects entrepreneur as new chairman PAUL Rodgers was elected as the Inland Waterways Association’s new national chairman following a recent trustee meeting. Paul, pictured below, succeeds outgoing national chairman Ivor Caplan
who, after two years at the helm, has decided to focus on areas of particular interest including heritage, navigation and planning. Paul brings a wealth of business and volunteering expertise to the role. He is chairman and founder of European payments community, Vendorcom and has a background in marketing, strategy development and community building. He first volunteered for IWA in 2014, when his wife persuaded him to go on a week-long canal camp with her and since then his involvement has grown. Commenting on Paul’s appointment Neil Edwards, IWA’s chief executive,
said: “Paul brings a new perspective, having been a volunteer working across our Waterway Recovery Group sites, such as the Cotswold Canals, as well as a member of our marketing committee. “He is an entrepreneur with a flair for getting straight to the heart of what matters. His business and leadership experience will take IWA forward to the delivery of our strategic objectives, starting with the plans for our 75th anniversary year.” Neil added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ivor Caplan for his service as national chairman and for the commitment and energy he has brought to the association during his
time in the role, and will continue to bring to IWA in many other roles.” Paul has big plans for IWA and is looking to capitalise on its unique position in terms of its independence, heritage, perspective and diversity of interests as a way to shape and facilitate the future regeneration of the waterways. He said: “My aim as national chairman is to continue to build on IWA’s reputation, developing wellthought-out, strategic and active campaigns which will result in the regeneration of the waterways to benefit all users, influencers and stakeholders for the remainder of the 21st century – and beyond.”
Paul Rodgers taking part in a bonfire bash. PHOTOS: IWA
AROUND THE BRANCHES WITH IWA’S GEMMA BOLTON
It’s a wrap on the year’s family camps DURING 2019, IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group ran three family camps: one on the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal, which ran over the October half term, one on the Grantham Canal in
Young volunteers help to create bird boxes.
August and one on the Uttoxeter Canal in June. This is the first year that three family camps have run in one year, with the extra camp being added due to popular demand. Unlike most canal camps, which run for seven days, the family camps run from Friday to Sunday. The activities involved over the weekends are chosen to help make practical improvements to a canal and to help enhance the waterways for wildlife, plus families learn first-hand about restoring the UK’s derelict waterways. At the Wendover Arm family camp, the families made clay ‘toppers’ for bamboo poles which were used to mark areas where snowdrop bulbs were planted on the banks of the canal restoration. They cut back vegetation and helped plant 2000 snowdrop bulbs across the course of the weekend. All families rose to the challenge of making bird boxes which were then put up in the trees. Find out more about IWA’s canal
camps at www.waterways.org.uk/wrg or email enquiries@wrg.org.uk to receive a 2020 brochure.
One of the families who took part in the Wendover Arm family camp.
Clay-topped canes help to mark out the flower bed.
IWA BRANCH DIARY FOR JANUARY 2020 Anyone intending to attend one of these events for the first time should contact the organisers beforehand and wear suitable clothing and footwear. If staying all day take a packed lunch unless other arrangements are indicated.
EAST
NORTH
IWA Lincolnshire Branch supporting Sleaford Navigation Trust: Volunteers
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust: Work party on
Sunday January 12
will carry out a variety of tasks to maintain the navigable section of the Sleaford Navigation. Contact: Mel Sowerby 01522 856810, workparty@ sleafordnavigation.co.uk
MIDLANDS Every Friday
IWA Lichfield Branch and Canal & River Trust: Work party on the
Coventry Canal between Fradley and Fazeley to help clear offside vegetation. Prior training on use of a wood chipper and/or a pole saw may be needed. 9.15am-3.30pm. Contact: Neil Barnett 07808 846434, neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk
Sunday January 5 and Tuesday 21 IWA Northampton Branch: Work parties on the Northampton Arm. 10am-2pm. Work usually includes a variety of tasks such as painting, vegetation clearance and litter picking. Contact: Geoff Wood, geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk.
Thursday January 9
the Uttoxeter Canal at Crumpwood. 10am-3pm. Contact: Steve Wood 07976 805858, steve.wood@ waterways.org.uk
Thursday January 16
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society: Work party on the
Cheshire Locks, Trent & Mersey Canal. 10am-3pm. Contact: John Lawson 07940 878923, John.lawson@ waterways.org.uk
Saturday January 18 IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch:
Work party alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. 10am-4pm. Work will include painting and vegetation clearance. Contact: Jason Watts, jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk. IWA Manchester Branch: Work party in Greater Manchester. 10am to 4pm. Tasks will include vegetation clearance, litter picking, painting and pulling rubbish out of the canal. Contact: 07875 999825, barry_m@
manchester-iwa.co.uk
SOUTH
Tuesdays January 14 and 21: IWA Oxfordshire Branch supporting Banbury Canal Partnership: Work
parties on the Oxford Canal near Banbury. 9am-1pm. Contact Colin Garnham-Edge, bcpontheoxford@ gmail.com.
WEST
Every Saturday IWA West Country Branch (Taunton):
Work parties in the Taunton area. 10am-1.30pm. Please let us know if you are intending to join us, by 6pm the day before. Contact: Steve Bulgin 07855 794256, stevebulgin@icloud. com
Every Tuesday Saturday
&
IWA West Country Branch (Bridgwater): Work parties in the
Bridgwater area. 10am-1.30pm. Please let us know if you are intending to join us, by 6pm the day before. Contact: Mike Slade 07977 263840, mike.slade@waterways.org.uk
For further information on any of these events, please contact Gemma Bolton on 01494 783453 or email gemma.bolton@waterways.org.uk Details can also be found on IWA’s website at www.waterways.org.uk
Burning the off-cuts. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
Autumn Grapple in Leamington Spa DESPITE torrential rain overnight and lower than average seasonal temperatures, IWA Warwickshire Branch held its Autumn Grapple and canal clean-up in October. The Branch was joined by Canal & River Trust’s local towpath taskforce and local adopters as well as other residents and Warwick University students.
Plenty of rubbish was pulled out of the canal including around 20 bikes, numerous supermarket trolleys and a battered golf buggy. The size of the haul was less this year, which it is hoped means that there is less rubbish in the canal. Canalside rubbish was also reduced to only a few bags thanks to the local adopters’ regular patrols.
IWA Northampton Branch celebrates 11,000 volunteer hours VOLUNTEERS from IWA Northampton Branch are regularly out and about on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal tidying up, removing rubbish, clearing vegetation, planting bulbs, maintaining planters at the locks, filling in potholes and so much more. Over the course of 2019, the branch
has recorded a staggering 11,000 volunteer hours – that’s the equivalent of 1500 working days or nearly seven people working full-time. It is the commitment and dedication of these volunteers that helps to make the Northampton Arm such a success story.
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Pets on the cut
Instant Karma
Alison Wilkerson finds karma in the shape of a singing dog.
Enzo (German lop) and Lottie (French lop) come on all our travels on our boat nb Sloley No 4, writes Louise Southern. Here they are sitting in the bow watching the world go by in Chester. We also take our Hermann’s tortoise Humphrey with us.
Here’s a photo of my dog Cass inspecting the Grand Union towpath at Knowle back in the 1970s, writes Derek Pratt. I have to say that towpaths have improved a lot since those days. If you have any pet pics, email them to editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk
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Karma is a cross between a Lhasa Apso and a Jack Russell. PHOTO: ALISON WILKERSON
was built in 1993 by M&N Narrowboats and purchased from Braunston Marina in Northamptonshire eight years ago, and Dave’s Canaline engine driven widebeam, which he has lived on for about six years and is currently renovating. In fact it has been a ‘work in progress’, working on it mostly in the evening, for around seven years. A good job can’t be rushed, you know. Karma definitely appreciates the widebeam in the summer as, like most dogs, she suffers in the heat and as there is a choice of boats, prefers the cooler air flow of the widebeam. When three months old Karma tried to jump from May’s boat a few times and fell in but now sensibly waits for approval and safety confirmation. She prefers to paddle in the River Ouse rather than swimming in the Grand Union.
Karma loves bones and pig ears to nibble as well as other dogs and cats, although she was told off by a cat once. She can be a little stand-offish and will bark in a deep tone, which is totally understandable as Lhasas were originally bred as an interior guard in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, to alert monks to intruders. Toy-wise, Karma prefers soft things, including dressing gowns, and has totally wrecked one. Toes and ankles are also a favourite, especially when in bed and wanting attention, and she is known to actually sing, which I was told goes from a whine to a warble. Unfortunately I did not experience this – which is a shame, as apparently it’s a wondrous sound – but I am sure many in the nearby community have heard her, as Karma is well-known to many, human and dog.
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Pet pics
WALKING or running on the towpath, you meet all sorts of folk, see all sorts of boats and bump into all sorts of pets, although the majority, thus far, have been dogs. And how varied they have been too; I’ve been greeted by giant dogs, large dogs, medium-sized dogs, small dogs and tiny little dogs which have included Heinz 57 varieties (mongrels), pedigrees as well as cross-breeds. In fact, I seem to be meeting amazing cross-breeds more frequently and am continually surprised by the rich variations i.e. colour, shape and size of our four-legged friends, whose wonderful owners have both enlightened and educated me on their canine’s DNA. One sunny morning, while walking on the towpath, I met an adorable little dog by the name of Karma. A cross between a Lhasa Apso and a Jack Russell, this gorgeous little bundle of joy was only a year old and one of a litter of five born on the cut. In fact three of the litter still live on boats. She was taken on by owners May and Dave, just after losing their previous dog, a beloved West Highland Terrier (Westie) and thus named their new dog Karma as it really was instant karma for them. Karma spends time between May’s 40ft narrowboat (her first boat), which
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