Towpath Talk 20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW - July issue

GREATPRIZESTOBE

P22

Montgomery milestone

Ictus arrivesatCrickheathBasinwithagroupofVIPguestsfortheofficialribboncuttingceremonytoformallyre-opentherestored basinontheMontgomeryCanal.Turntopage10forreport,morepicturesandnewappealforfunds.

Watersportsstillprovepopularpostpandemicboom

MORETHAN13millionadultsintheUK triedaboatingactivitylastyearaccording tothelatestWatersportsParticipation Survey.

Oneofthegrowthareasisstand-up paddleboarding,withnumbersgrowing by536,000.

ereportcoversthe rstfullyearin

whichCovidrestrictionshadbeenlargely removed. epandemichadseenmany peopleheadingtothecoastandinland waterstomakethemostofthegoodweather andspendtheirleisuretimeoutdoors.

isresultedinmassivegrowthin

Historicyardfire

thenumberofpeopleparticipatingin watersports,anditappearsthatpost pandemicthepopularityfortimeon thewaterhasnotdiminished.

“Itisencouragingtoseethat watersportsparticipationhascontinued toprovepopularwiththeUKpopulation postthepandemicboom,”commented BritishMarineCEOLesleyRobinson.

“Paddlesportactivities,particularly standuppaddleboarding,haveremained extremelypopularwithparticipation gurescontinuingtorise,”althoughshe didpointoutthatthetrendpoints

FIREhasdevastatedbuildingsatBristol’shistoric UnderfallYard,whereeightboatbuildersworkon buildingandrestoringwoodenboats.

BOATSFORSALE

Startson P23

eUnderfall YardTrust,whichmanagesthebuildings,hassetupa crowdfunderatwww.justgiving.comtohelprestorethe buildingsandsupportthesmallbusinessesthathave beena ected. evisitorcentreandcaféareopenand operatingnormallyandthemonthlyopendayswill continueasplannedonJuly30andAugust27.Admission isfree,withasuggesteddonationof£3perperson.

towardsmoreoccasionalparticipation.

Lesleyadded:“Withsomany opportunitiesintheUKwearecon dent anyonelookingtotryanewactivityor undertakeregularboatingactivitieswill beableto ndjustwhattheyneedon theirdoorstep.

“Wewouldencourageanyone lookingtogetoutonthewaterto makesuretheygettherighttraining andadvicebeforeheadingout,sothey haveasafeandenjoyableexperience.”

Thesurveyisconductedannually byaconsortiumofleadingmarine

Mayor’scharityabseil

RUSHCLIFFEmayorCounTinaCombellackrecently completedanabseilforlocalcharitiestheNottingham toGranthamCanalWaterRestorationGroupandthe Lincs&NottsAirAmbulance.Aswellashopingtoraise moneyforatleasttwoambucopter ightsshewould alsoliketocontinuetohelpwithmaintenanceofthe waterintheNottinghamtoGranthamCanalforits environmentalandhealthbene ts. ecrowdfunding pageatwww.justgiving.comremainsopentillJuly,so alldonationsaregratefullyreceived.

bodiesincludingBritishMarine,Royal YachtingAssociation(RYA),Maritime andCoastguardAgency(MCA),Royal NationalLifeboatInstitution(RNLI), BritishCanoeing(BC)Canal&RiverTrust andtheCentreforEnvironment,Fisheries andAquacultureScience(Cefas). ereport,whichcanbereadatwww. mymembership.britishmarine.co.uk (clickonresourcesandpublications) alsoprovidesinformationonpeople’s motivationsforparticipating,anyissues withaccesstothewaterandtrendsin boatandwatersportscraftownership.

FossSociety50th

THERiverFossSocietyiscelebrating50yearssince itsfoundingbylocalpeopleconcerned–thenas now–abouttheirlocalgreenenvironment. ey setaboutdevelopingthefootpathsalongtheriver intheYorkareaandstartedregularmonitoringand protectionofthegreencorridorthroughwhichthe RiverFoss ows.Seethediarydatesonpage20for detailsofwalksinJuly.Formoreinformationabout thesociety,itshistory,work,activitiesandhowto joinseeriverfosssociety.co.uk

Steamlaunch

PHOTO: PHILPICKIN

WELCOME

WHENyoureadthis we’llalreadybepastthe summersolsticeandthe peakholidayseasonwill beuponus.

AsIwriteweareinthemidstofa heatwaveandnothingcanbebetter thanrelaxingonorbesidethewater. Iwasinterestedtoreadaboutthe popularityofpaddlesportsinour frontpagestoryandsawplentyto corroboratethisduringatripatthe weekendonthe ameswithLeBoat –moreaboutthisnextmonth.

erewerecraftofallshapesand sizesonthewater,frompaddleboards andkayakstowidebeamsandlarge cruisersnottomentionserious wildswimmersandpeoplejust enjoyingadipandapicnic.Mytwo grandsons,aged15and12,triedout paddleboardingforthe rsttimeand wereabsolutelyhooked.

eshowseasonisinfullswingand ourcontributorshavebeenoutand about;PhilPickinattheCrickBoat ShowandLesHeathattheErewash CanalPreservation&Development Associationanniversaryrally(see reportsonpages4and5).Wealso havereportsfromtheIWACanalway Cavalcadeonpage7andthe FederationofBridgewaterCruising ClubandNationalBargeeTravellers Associationeventsonpage16.

ArecenteditionofWakeUpto MoneyonRadioFiveLivespoketo Canal&RiverTrustchiefexecutive RichardParryabouthowwater shortageswoulda ectthecanals. Hewasoptimisticaboutkeeping thewaterwaysopenthissummer, althoughrestrictionsarebeing introducedatsomelock ightsto conservewater.

Onasadnote,youmaybe wonderingwhyourusualCoolCanals featurehasn’tappearedagain.Itiswith aheavyheartthatIreportthatPhillippa Greenwooddiedrecentlyfollowinga shortillness.Ourthoughtsarewithher partnerMartineO’Callaghanandthe family.Wehopetoseeanewfeature nextmonth.

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Vandalattackon canalsidesculpture

THECanal&RiverTrustisappealing topeoplelivinginWolverhamptonfor informationafterapublicartsculpture wasvandalisedandalmostsawninhalf.

PartofaseriesalongtheSta ordshire &WorcestershireCanal,thewooden hand-craftedsculpturewascreatedby localartistRobot.

Wol e,socalledasitdepictsawolf, hasbeeninplaceforafewmonthsandis oneofthe rstof50‘milemarker’posts whichareplannedtomarkeachmile oftheGreatCanalOrchard.Itismade fromtimberfromatreethatneededto beremovedfromalongthecanaland isdesignedtoprovideahomeforbees, beetlesandfungi.

TheGreatCanalOrchardisan ambitiousprojecttocreateacommunity orchardwhichprovidesfreefruitto localpeople,boatersandvisitorstothe canalsinWolverhampton,throughto BirminghamandouttoWorcester.

CRTseniorecologistPaulWilkinson said:“It’sreallydisappointingtosee ourpublicartvandalisedinthisway. Wol

we’veintroducedalongthecanal, andsomeonehascomealongand triedtoremovetheheadfromthe plinth.Wedon’tknowiftheywanted tostealthesculptureoriftheywere justtryingtodestroyit,buteitherway we’reupsetaboutthis.

“Luckily,thesculptureis repairable,butitisanadditional costwenowneedtocover. e planistomakethesculpturemore securetopreventanythinglikethis happeningagain.”

Mooringtrialon Birminghamcanals

NEWmooringstaytimesare beingtrialledalongthecanalsin Birminghamtomakethecitycentre moreaccessibletovisitingboaters andtoremoveanyconfusionover staytimesatpopularmooringspots.

eCanal&RiverTrustproposals, whichwereputouttoconsultation earlierthisyear,havebeenshaped byfeedbackfromboaters,boating andcanalorganisationsandboating businesses. eyaimtogiveall visitingboaters,whetherlocalor fromotherpartsofthecountry, goodaccesstofacilities,shopsand restaurantsinthecitycentre,now andinthefuture.

TomFreeland,boatingand customerservicemanager,said:

“Webelievethiswillmakethebest useofthelimitedspaceavailable andwillalloweveryonethechance toexperiencethewonderfulcityof Birmingham.

etrial,whichwillstartonJuly3 and nishonDecember31,includes thefollowingchanges:

·Allvisitormooringsinthecentral zonetobecomefour-daymoorings fromApril3toOctober31,reverting to14daysfromNovember1to

March31

·Visitormooringsnorth-west

CBOAnamesnewpresident

THECommercial BoatOperators’ Associationhas electedMikeGarratt asitsnewpresident.

Hesucceeds long-servingDavid Quarmby,whohas agreedtobecomeone oftwovice-presidents.

&Waterandmore recentlyasamember oftheCanal&River Trust’sFreight AdvisoryGroupand FreightSteeringGroup.

ofSheepcoteStreetontheNew MainlineCanalandsouth-west ofGranvilleStreetontheWorcester &BirminghamCanaltobecome 14dayallyearround

·PontoonsatCambrianBasinto allbecomelong-termmoorings, includingtwothatarecurrently designatedasvisitormoorings

·Servicemooringsestablished immediatelyalongsidetheCanal HouseinGasStreetBasinand extendedbetweentheRoundhouse andSheepcoteStreet

·Designatedaccessiblemooring spacesfordisabledboaters,those withaccessneedsorlimited mobility,tobeclearlymarkedin twolocations:BetweenCambrian HouseandTindallBridge;andsouth ofWorcesterBar

·Informationaboutstaytimesto bedisplayedonsignsalongsideall themoorings.

Tomadded:“Attheendofthetrial wewillreviewhowmanyboatshave visitedandmooredinBirmingham andwhatthefeedbackisfrom visitingboatersbeforemakinga decisiononwhethertomakethe trialpermanent.”

Furtherinformationavailableat www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Mikeischairmanof transporteconomists MDSTransmodal Ltdandhasspent over50yearsinthe sector.Hehasalong historyofsupport forinlandwaterway freight,havingchaired pressuregroupSea

CBOAchairman DavidLowesaidhehas knownMikeforover20 yearsandisdelighted thathehadagreedto takeontheroleatwhat isaveryimportantand excitingtimeforthe sector.

Hesaid:“Ihave experienced rst-hand hisinterestandpassion forfreightcarriageon theUK’scommercial

inlandwaterwaysand hisbeliefthattheyhave thepotentialtoplayan importantroleaspart ofafullysustainable andintegratedfreight transportsystem.

“Mike’sexpertise andwisdomwillbe ofgreatbenefitto theassociationaswe seektosupportour membercompanies andin uencedecision makersatalllevelsto dowhattheycanto attractandfacilitate moretonnagetothe commercialinland waterways.”

eisoneofthe rstsculptures

Aclose-upofthedamage. PHOTOS:CANAL&RIVERTRUST

Wolfieisthefirstof50mile markersalongtheGreatCanal Orchard.

Ifanyonehasanyinformation aboutthisvandalism,please contact03030404040.

NewleaderattheIWA

SARAHNiblockhas takenupherpostas chiefexecutiveofthe InlandWaterways Association.

Sheisan experiencedCEO inthecharitysector withabackground injournalism, communicationsand media.

WestMidlandsmayor opensWhitehouseWharf

Report&photos:PhilPIckin

WESTMidlandsmayor,AndyStreet, helpedbychildrenfromtheTiverton JuniorandInfantSchool,hasunveiled aninformationboardtoo ciallyopen therefurbishedWhitehouseWharfin SellyOak,Birmingham.

Theopeningattractedsignificant attentionfrombothmembersofthe LapalCanalTrust,Canal&RiverTrust andthegeneralpublic,whotookthe opportunitytovisitthesiteclosetothe busyBristolRoadinthecity.

WhitehouseWharfwasdesigned, nancedandmanagedbytheLapal CanalTrust,withfundingprovided byover45donors.Fundingwasalso forthcomingfromanumberofmajor

donors,includingVeoliaEnvironmental Trust,Gar eldWeston,HeadleyTrust andUniteStudents. efreeholdtothe siteisownedbyCRT,whileSainsbury’s andM&GRealEstatesurrenderedtheir leaserightstothearea.

Restorationofthesitebegan inMarch2022,helpedbyLand& Water,whichremovedmorethan 5000tonnesofexcesssoil.

Overthefollowingyear,480tonnes ofpuddleclayfromGloucestershire wasusedtowaterproofthewharf basin,andpathsinstalledalong withnewmooringbollardsfrom CRT.Finally,anumberofbenches donatedbytheDulvertonTrust wereinstalledforvisitorstomake fulluseofthegreenspacecreated.

WhitehouseWharfispartoftheplan toreopentheDudleyNo2Canal,which, itishoped,willeventuallylinkupwith theproposednew100-berthmarinaat CalifornianearDudley.

Sarahwillbe workingthreedaysa weekforIWA,inthe Cheshamofficeand remotely,withmuch ofherinitialtime spentgettingtoknow members,staffand volunteers,andto learnmoreabouthow IWAdoesitswork.

Shesaid:“ eInland WaterwaysAssociation isknownforitstalented anddedicatedteamof sta andvolunteers. “Ilookforwardto workingtogetherin creativenewwaysto meettheoverwhelming needsofourprecious waterwaysassetsand themillionsofpeople whodependonthem.

“Supportingand regeneratingour inlandwaterwaysis oneofthetoptalking pointsintheUK.It’s nowonder,giventhe well-documented rolethatourrivers, estuariesand canalsplayinour economy,ecology andwellbeing.”

Shecontinued: “Canalsandriversare invaluableassetswhich helpthecountry’s economicrecovery, saveonNHSbudgets, connectcommunities andhelpclimate changeresilience.

“I’vepersonally benefitedfromthe waterwaysallmylife, andIamdetermined toplacethem centrestageinthe heartsandmindsof parliamentarians,the mediaandthepublic.”

Sarahadded: “Mytoppriority istheProtectOur Waterwayscampaign toensurethatallour inlandwaterwaysare

adequatelyfunded todeliverallthe benefitsdetailedin ourWaterwaysFor Todayreport.”

Speakingabout herappointment, nationalchairman LesEtheridgesaid: “Weareveryhappyto welcomeSarahtothe role.Havingsomeone withherexperience willdriveforwardour worktochampion waterwaysforall.

“AsourProtectOur Waterwayscampaign gathersmomentum, thisisacritical momenttojoinand leadtheorganisation fromoursuccessful campaigningpastinto abrightfuturewhere everyonerecognises thebenefitsour incrediblewaterways networko ers.

“Herenthusiasm, professionalism,and depthofexperience meansshewillbea greatassetandwelook forwardtowelcoming andworkingwithher.”

Withthenewinformationboardare,fromleft,AndrewHardy,chairmanoftheLapalCanalTrust,AndyStreet, WestMidlandsmayorandHughHumphries,trusteeoftheLapalCanalTrust.

AnumberofboatsalreadymakinggooduseofWhitehouseWharf.

Considerableinterestinthe opening ofWhitehouseWharf.

TheIWA’snewCEOSarahNiblock.

PHOTO:IWA

GoinggreeneratCrick2023

Reportandphotos:PhilPickin

ITDOESN’Tseemayearsincewelast gatheredinNorthamptonshireforthe 2022CrickBoatShow,butonceagain, wefoundourselvesbesidetheGrand Uniontolookatwhatthemarine industryhastooffertotheinland waterwayscommunity.

Nearly25,000visitorsarethoughtto haveattendedthethree-dayeventtolook atmorethan200exhibitorsspreadover 32,000m3 ofexhibitionspace.Butwhat manyvisitorswantedtoseewerethe newboats.Anestimated40craftonshow includedagoodnumberofhistoricboats, whichlookedevenmoreimpressiveinthe warm,sunnyweather,whichundoubtedly boostedvisitornumbers.

ShowdirectorPeterJohnssaid afterwards:“Boatbuildersreported healthylevelsofinterest,withmany orderssecured,andourpreviewday workedwellwithmostboatviewings fullybookedand1600tradeandpublic visitorsattending.

“Whateverstageofsomeone’s planningforboatownership,the showhadsomethingtoo er.Almost 1200enjoyedfreeboattripsalongthe GrandUnionCanalandmorethan 2500attendedthefreeseminarsand masterclassesonboatownership.”

eCanal&RiverTrustwelcomed around2600visitorstoitsmarquee.

NationalboatingmanagerMatthew Symondscommented:“Staffand volunteershighlightedthediverserange ofworkthetrustdoestocareforthe waterwaysandthewildlifethatrelies uponthem.”

Anumberoftheexhibitorswere celebrating‘birthdays’thisyear, includingboatbuilderBraidbarwhich celebrated40yearsofboatdesignand construction. isyearthecompany showcasedBraidbarNo200,aka Reginald,saidbythecompanytobeits ‘mostuniquenarrowboateverbuilt’.It wasawardedthetrophyforthemost admirednarrowboatintheshow,voted forbyvisitors.Mostadmiredwidebeam was Cricket, displayedbytheBespoke BoatCointhecompetitionsponsored byHavenKnoxJohnston.

ButBraidbarwasbeateninthe birthdayracebyChannelglazeLtdwhich pippedittothepostbycelebratingits 44thyearinbusiness.

Alongsidethesewell-established names,therewereanumberofnewer names,includingonefeaturedearlier thisyearin TowpathTalk ,thatof FloatingOhm.WefeaturedtheCowesbasedcompany’s rstboatinitsnew homeofBristolandinterestinitselectric canalboatswouldseemtobegrowing.

Despitethefactthattheboatwasn’tat theshow,thecompany’sstandseemed tobeattractinginterest.

Althoughnottheonlyotherelectric boatbuilderattheshow, amesSolar ElectricLtdwaspromotingits100%solar electricboatsandpropulsionsystems. e companybuildsbespokewidebeamand narrowboatsdesignedforo -gridliving. Unusuallyinthissector,italsoo ersfull conversionkitsand ttingforboaterswho wanttomoveawayfromdieselengines.

Eye-catching

WhatseemedveryapparentatCrick wasthemovetowardsgreenerandmore sustainableproductsandservices.One ofthemosteye-catchingwasHydrogen

A oatLtd. ecompanymakesdomestic powersystemsforboatsusinghydrogen fuelcells. eseunitsarehousedon theroofofyourboattogetherwiththe cylinderscontainingthehydrogenfuel.

Infact,itisthesecylindersthattake upthemajorityofthespaceintheroof box. egeneratorsitstooneendand almostsilentlyproduceselectricityfor

domesticappliances. eresultofwhich ispollutionfree(atpointofuse)power. eonlywasteproductisasmallamount ofwater.Despitethefuelbeingexpensive thiscouldwellbeaglimpseofthefuture forboatsonthewaterways.

Untiltheuseofproductssuchas hydrogenbecomemorewidelyavailable, manywilloptforsolarpanels,anoption promotedbyOnboardSolar,which suppliesand tssolarsystemstoboats andwhichwasoneofthemanyexhibitors o eringsolutionsforthosewhowantto moveawayfromusingfossilfuels.

AnotherwastheLithiumBatteryShop, aUKmanufactureroflithiumbatteries. Describedas‘o -gridspecialistsand fellowboaters’thecompanyhas,it says,beenprovidinglithiumbatteries formorethan30yearswitharangethat extendsfromstandardleisurebattery usetoelectricalpropulsion.

Butoneofthemostunusually namedproductsonshowwasthat ofNoPuttPutt,whichisanall-in-one electricpropulsionsystemdesignedto powernarrowboats,betheynewbuilds orconversions.TheUKcompany’s productrangeissaidtomakethemost e ectiveuseofavailablesolarenergy usingLiFePO4batteriesandabrushless motor. esecanalsobeusedtopower theappliancesontheboat.

Becomingmoreenvironmentally friendlydoesn’talwaysrequireamajor investmentinhigh-techequipment; italsoextendstowhatmightbeseen asmoremundanebutnonetheless importantjobs.Oneproductthat addressessucharequirementis Keelblackwhich,accordingtoits manufacturers,‘istheworld’sonly eco-friendlybitumenblacking’.The productissaidtobelong-lasting, inexpensiveandiswater-basedand goesontodampsteel.Averyusefulif surprisingfeature.

Itwasgoodtoseesuchawiderange ofproductsandservicesaimedat

reducingtheimpactinlandwaterways boatingishavingontheenvironment, butamongtheshinynewboatsand high-techequipment,thereweresome moretraditionalnodstowardsthe environment.Onewasintheformof anewrangeofglassartfromKathryn Webley,whoseworkhasbeenfeatured inmanyboatsovertheyears.

RecentlyKathrynintroducedthe CreaturesoftheCuttoherproductrange, whichfeatures(unsurprisingly)subjects thatshehasseenonthecanals,including otters,kingfishersanddeer.With commissionedworkbookedinto2025, itwouldseemthathercanal-inspired artworkcontinuestobeverypopular.

Onethingthatalloftheexhibitors werethankfulforwasthegoodweather overthebankholidayweekend.Yet anotherCrickBoatShowblessed,for themostpart,withsunshine.

Withwhatwasthoughttoberecord numbersofpeoplecampingattheshow, itwouldseemthattheeventisevolving intosomethingofafestival.Itwillbe interestingtoseeifthistrendcontinues atnextyear'sshowwhichtakesplaceon May25-27,2024.

GodSavetheKing.

Plentyofhistoricboatsonshow.

Kathryn Webley with examples of her Creatures of the Cut range

Noteveryoneenjoyedthehotweather.

Historicboatslookedgoodinthe sunshine. Goodnumbersofvisitorsevenonpreviewday.

Itwasn’tjusttheboatsthatvisitorscametosee.

Loadsofinterestinlookingaround theboatsonshow.

MorereasonstocelebrateatLangleyMillrally

Reportandphotos:LesHeath

ADOUBLEcelebration,enhancedby neweather,attractedlargecrowds toLangleyMill,Derbyshireoverthe springbankholidayweekend.

ErewashCanalPreservation &DevelopmentAssociationwas celebrating50yearssincethe restorationoftheGreatNorthern Basinandthe55thanniversaryof theassociation.

Othermilestonesincludedthe40th anniversaryoftheErewashCanal beingreinstatedasacruisewayand the30thoftherestorationofthe Victorianpumphouse.

eweekendbeganinstylewith historicnarrowboatscarryingLong EatonSilverBandtotheopening ceremonybythelock.

Itwas ttinglycarriedoutbyChris Corbett,afoundermemberofthe association.Alsopresentwerethe MayorofAmberValleyCounTony Holmesandthemayoress.

Oneofthehighlightsofthe weekendwasontheSundaywitha low-level ypastbytheLancaster bomberfromtheBattleofBritain MemorialFlightatRAFConingsby.

iswasfollowedontheMondaywith a ypastbyaSpit re.

Awidevarietyoftraders’stalls and oatingtraderstogetherwithan impressiveselectionofworkingboats, sandwichedinthebasinabovethelock, werejustsomeofthemanyattractions forvisitors.

Guidedtours

Althoughtheweekendbelongedto theErewashassociationothercanal societieswerealsowellrepresented.

Anareaforbuskersgavemusiciansan opportunitytocontributetothefestival whileotherswhofanciedashortwalk couldhaveaguidedtourofthework inhandtoextendtheCromfordCanal atBeggarlee.

osetakingthewalkwereableto viewtheboatandbutty Oak and Ash in LangleyMillBoatyarddrydock.

erestoredVictorianpumphouse wasalsoopentothepublicwith volunteersonhandtoexplain itspurpose.

ErewashCanal,onceoneofthe richestinthecountryduetocoal minesandotherindustriesalong its11-milelength,wasopened in1779.

eentirecanalwasduginlessthan 20monthsatacostof£21,000andits staggeringprosperityprovedtobea boonforshareholders.

Butjustover180yearslater,ascanals declined,theTransportActof1968 declaredthecanalunnavigableabove Ilkeston.That’swhenenthusiasts steppedinandformedtheErewash CanalPreservation&Development Associationtopreventthecanalfrom sharingthesamefateastheCromford, DerbyandNottinghamcanals. Fortunatelytheyweresuccessfuland thisspringbankholidaycelebration wasatributetoallwhohaveachieved somuchoverthelast55yearstokeep thecanalopen.

AboaterfilmstheLancasterflypastfromtheboat’sroof.

Crowdsgatheratthestallsabovethelock.

Boatspackedinlikesardinesbesidetheoldtollhouse.

Ash and Oak in Langley Mill Boatyarddrydock.

Visitorsheadingtoviewtheworkbeingcarriedouttoextendthe CromfordCanal.

Afewofthehistoricworkingboatswhicharrivedforthefestival.

Visiting boats extend as far as the eyecanseeonthecanalbelow thelock.

Lockingahead–thefuture ofmaintenanceplanning

InthethirdarticleabouthowtheCanal&River Trustmaintainsits200-year-oldsystem,national boatingmanagerMatthewSymondslooksat someofthechallengesthatlayahead.

THEcanalnetworkisoneofthe nation’sgreatestregeneration stories.Fromlosingmany hundredsofmilesofwaterways inthelastcenturyascanals stoppedbeingusedtotransport freight,inrecentdecades theyhaveexperiencedan extraordinaryrenaissance.

Todaytherearemoreboats onthecanalnetworkthanatthe heightoftheIndustrialRevolution andthenetworkprovidesvital greenspacebywaterandaccess tonaturetomorethan10million peopleeachyear.

AttheCanal&RiverTrust, we’reproudtobepartofthat successstory.Theongoing maintenanceofourcanalsis attheheartoftheworkwedo, keepingtheassetsassoundas possible,theinfrastructuresafe, andthewaterwaysavailable fornavigation.Withlimited nancialresourcesandwiththe costoflookingafterageingcanals increasing,ourrigorousplanning

processtakesinallaspectsof risk,targetingtheworkwhereit’s neededmost,whileretainingthe exibilitytocarryoutemergency repairswhennecessary.

The250-year-oldnetwork, whichincludesthethirdlargest estateoflistedstructuresinthe country,isvulnerabletothe increasingimpactofclimate changeandincreasinglyfrequent extremeweatherevents.

Andalltherestorationthat tookplaceattheturnofthe millenniummeansmanyofour lockgates,whichhaveaworking lifeofaround25years,willneed tobereplacedorhavetheirlives extended.Itismorepressing thaneverthatsu cientongoing investmentisrequiredtokeep thecanalsopenandsafefor boats,peopleandwildlife.

Facedwiththesechallenges,we arehavingtobemoreinnovative andfindwaystoworkmore e ciently.We’vebegunareview ofhowwecarryoutouroperations

andmaintenancetomakeit moree cientande ective.We willbeworkingwithourteams, volunteers,andwithboatersand otherstakeholderswhousethe canalsthemostoverthecoming months,tohearnewideasonhow wecoulddothingsdi erently.

Long-termplan

Wehavealreadybegunworking towardslonger-termplanning, withtheintentionofbeingable togivethreeyears’noticeofthe largest-scalestoppages.While

thebulkofourrepairworkhas beencarriedoutoverthewinter monthswhentheretendtobe fewerboatscruising,longer-term planning,thato ersplentyof noticetoboaters,couldenableus torunayear-roundmaintenance programme.We’densureboaters andhireboatcompanieswould havesufficientnoticeand optionstoplanalternativeroutes, andwe’dbeabletobene tfrom kinderweatherconditionsand morehoursofdaylight.

Anotherpossibilitywouldbe tocloselongerstretchesin quieterlocationstocarry outallthenecessaryworks inthearea,leavingitfreeof disruptionforyearsafter. We’dbeabletosavemoneyby bringingallourequipmentand materialsandworkingalong thecutratherthanreturning multipletimestonearbysites. iswholesaleapproachcould transformthesestretches, withoutboatershavingthe frustrationofseeingonelock repairedonlytoruninto troubleatthenextone.

Wearealsolookingtotake advantageofotherworksand carryoutrepairswhencanals havealreadybeendrained. isisalreadytakingplace insomeareas,withrepairs carriedoutacrossthenorth lastsummerwhensome canalswereclosedduetothe drought.Active,joined-up planningwillhelpusidentify wherethesesynergiesexist. It’simportanttohear theviewsofboaters.

OurNavigationAdvisory Group,whichismadeupof independentboaters,has asubgroupthatfocuseson

locks. eyhavebeenintegral incomingupwithnewideasfor howwecanbemoree cient, withoutlosingthespecial characterofthecanals. eyhave workedwithustoestablishhow wecanrefurbishlockstomake thegateslastlongerinsteadof carryingoutfullreplacements. iscouldbebyreplacingthe collars,oraddingbespokemetal supportstoweakenedheels, whichcanaddyearstothelife ofalockgate.

Gateefficiency

eteamsatourspecialistlock gateworkshopshavealsobeen lookingatwaystobemore e cient.

Workisongoingtocreate standardisedtemplatesfor lockgates.Whileeachgateis uniqueintermsofitsprecise measurements,different waterwaysoftenusethesame gatedesign.Ifwecandevelop templatesfordi erentwaterways, itcouldsaveworkshopstimeand moneywhenitcomestocrafting newgates.

It’simportanttokeepheritage considerationsinmindwhen we’rethinkingofhowwecould makechangestothedesignof lockgates. eclassiclock,with itstimberbeamspaintedblack andwhite,isaniconicfeature ofthenation’slandscape.Any newideashavetorespectthe importantheritageofthecanals, whilebalancingtheneedswe have,asacharity,tosafeguard thefutureoftheageingnetwork.

Arecentsavinghasbeento savepaintingmetalworkbelow thewaterline,whichhassaved enoughtimeovertheyearto makeanextrasetofgates. is retainsthecharacteristiclook whilehavingnoimpactonthe

overallresilienceofthegate. Weknowtherearesomehuge challengesahead.Forexample, 20yearsafteritwasrestored, Cheshire’sAndertonBoatLift, the‘cathedralofthecanals’, needstohaveanoverhaul:We’ve recentlybeenaddingadditional safetysystemsonthegatesand doingmajormaintenanceonthe hydrauliccylinders.Inthelonger termthecontrolsystemneeds updatingandafullrepaintingof thecastironstructureisrequired.

We’vebeenplanningforthis throughextensiveinvestigations whiletheliftwasclosedlast winter,buildingupalogical approachtotherepairsthatare required.We’vebeensuccessful inthe rstroundofpursuing fundingfromtheNational LotteryHeritageFundasthe workwillcostmanymillionsto complete–andthebidincludes improvingtheoverallcustomer experienceatthesite.

AndAndertonisjustoneof thethousandsofstructures–manylisted,andmanyforming anessentialpartofnational infrastructure–thatwecarefor, dayin,dayout,yearonyear.We havetoadaptifwewanttoensure thefutureofthecanals,andthe futureofboatingontheinland waterways.We’recon dentthat thechangeswe’remakingwill helpusworkmoree ciently andmakethemostofthetools andresourceswehavetohand. Butthere’sonlysomuchwecan dointhecurrentclimate.We’re callingonboaterstocontinue tosupportus,tosharethe importanceofcanalswithothers andtohelpbylobbyingtheirlocal MPandbackingourcampaignfor appropriatefunding.Together,we canhelpsecureafutureforcanals forthenext250years.

PHOTO:CLAREGREEN

Twentyyearsafterrestoration,AndertonBoatLiftneedsa majoroverhaul.

PHOTO: CANAL&RIVERTRUST

ThespecialistlockgateworkshopatStanleyFerrynear Wakefield.

PHOTO: CANAL&RIVERTRUST

AnopendayatSeendLocksontheKennet &AvonCanal. PHOTO:CANAL&RIVERTRUST

CanalwayCavalcadecelebratesbig40

INLANDWaterwaysAssociation’s(IWA)

CanalwayCavalcadecelebratedits40th anniversaryovertheearlyMaybank holidayweekendinLittleVenice,London.

Gloriousweatherontheopeningday sawmorethan8000visitorstotheevent with120boatsshimmeringinthePool andalongtheGrandUnionCanal.

Peoplefromallwalksoflifecame togethertosharetheirpassionfor waterwayswithnarrowboats,both modernandhistoric,mooredalongside widebeamboatsinthePool.Continuous cruisers,liveaboardsandleisureboaters, localsandthosefromfurthera eld gatheredtohighlighttheimportanceof protectingourwaterwaysatthistimeof urgentneed.

elongweekendincludedapacked scheduleasalwayswithauniqueselection ofeventsandactivities.Stallholdersand foodstandsbroughtavarietyofcraftsand interesttotheeventthisyear,mostbeing basedlocallytoLittleVenice.

Particularhighlightsincludedmany regularattendeessuchashand-woven basketsmadebyWoodWoolWillow, PeruviandelightsbyInkasCraft, HandmadebyJanet,andtheregular CandlePoweredVictorianSteamboats. Visitorsenjoyedmanydelicioustreats too,includingthevibrantCaribbean Hut,mouth-wateringMrBombayand thedelectableGreekSouvlaki.Aswith eachyearIWAalsowelcomedtheeverprofessionalJervisteamandtheirreal alebar,theperfectplacetoenjoythe afternooninthesunshine.

Pageant

At1.30pmonthefirstdayLibby Bradshaw,ceremonialandchildren’s activitiesmanager,introducedtheLord MayorofWestminster,CounHamza

, namedbestdecoratedprivately enteredboat,emergesfromunder thebridgeinthepageant.

Taouzzale,whowelcomedeveryoneto theCityofWestminsterandthankedthe IWAforputtingontheevent.

RichardParry,chiefexecutiveofthe Canal&RiverTrust,followedwithhis thanks.IWAnationalchairmanLes Etheridgewelcomedeveryone,paying specialattentiontothededicationof volunteersfororganisingtheevent.

Andfinallyorganisingcommittee

chairmanTomClaydonthankedthe volunteers,committeemembersand supporterswhilealsoencouraging attendeestovolunteerforthe2024 event.Wrappingupthepresentation, LibbyaskedCounTaouzzaletoringthe belltoformallyopenthefestival. iswas echoedbycheersaroundthePool,the ringingofbellsandsoundingofhorns, andthestartofthepageant.

InRembrandtGardenschildrenand adultsalikewereentertainedbyPunch andJudy,acircusworkshop,andthe legendaryAlarum eatrewithpieces suchasACenturyofBoatwomen.

Faceswerebeingpaintedandthere wasplentyoflearningandjovialityinthe marqueeovertheweekend.

SundaysawthewonderfulTeddy Bears’picnicinthebeautifulsurrounds ofthegardenandthesunwarmedthe crowdsalmostthewholeweekend.Other children’sandyoungpeople’sactivities wereledbythePirateCastlefrom Camden,withpaddlesportstakingplace acrosstheweekend. isyeartheeveningsbroughtavibrant celebrationofboatingtoo.Fridaynight wastheregularquiz,apackedtentfor theannualMartinLudgateextravaganza –raisingnearly£100fromthera efor theIWA.

Saturdaynightsawthe rstvariety nightledbyMarkSaxon,commercial manager,welcoming25brilliantartists performingspokenwordandlivemusic. OnSundayeveningCraigHaslamonce againexcelledasmasterofceremonies fortheprocessionofilluminatedboats, wheretheboaterscoveredtheircraftwith asmanylightsaswould t,tothedelight ofhundredsofspectatorsstandingonthe HorseBridgeandaroundthePool. Aparticularhighlightincludedthe

CanalDreamCompanyandSlashArts aboardtheBoatFitCowidebeam 2Crew andACockapoo whoseawe-inspiring laser,lightandinterpretivemovement displayblewthespectatorsaway.

IWAwasdelightedtowelcomethe CanalDreamCompanyforthesecond year;itsprogrammethroughoutthe weekendthrilledeveryonewhosaw itsperformancesandIWAthankedthe companyfortakingpart.

Awards

OnMondayafternoon,thefollowing awardswerepresentedbyJohnEdmonds, vice-presidentofIWALondonRegion: Bestdecoratedprivatelyenteredboatin thepageant– Chedoona ownedbyBob andMaryMetcalf;runner-up– yme ownedbyElizabethJones.Bestdecorated boatenteredbyawaterwayorcommunity group– SolaGratia,steererTimClarke.

Bestilluminatedboat– TrosYrAfon, steererPhilGaskell;runners-up– e CanalDreamCompanyandtheSlashArts Teamaboard 2CrewandaCockapoo, ownedbyCalumHenderson.Bestentry byaboaterwhohasnotpreviously takenpartineitherthepageantor illuminatedboats– Badger ownedby NaomiGoldsmithDixon;runner-up–LuckyChance ownedbyChrisPratt.Boat handlingcompetition– Middlesex,steerer RobinHendley;runner-up– Emu,steerer BenPartridge.

Bestnovicecompetitorintheboat handling– Moonraker,steererDaniel McKnight;runner-up– Badger,steered byNaomiGoldsmithDixon;overallBest Boat– Tugby,ownedbyGeorgeCutting; IdleWomenShield– Freebird,steered byCathJennings;runner-up– Uplander II,steeredbySarahHoneysett;Boaters’ Sundaybestcostume–theMoorefamily.

Theilluminatedprocession. PHOTOS:IWA

Crowdslookonas Chedoona

Theblessingoftheboats.

Simulatingaboatfireduringsafetyweekexercise

WestYorkshireFirefighters havebeendoingtheirbit topromoteboatfiresafety awareness.SallyClifford findsoutmore…

THEdramaticsceneisset.

Asthesundipsbehindgreycloudsthat haveconsumedtheskyformostofthe day,thetowpathisrelativelybusywith pedestriantra cmakingthemostofthe lighterevenings.

esightofdensesmoke lteringout ofthecanalboatmooredatMir eld’s ShepleyBridgeMarinapromptedthe‘call’ fromthemarina’s‘operator’whohadseen theboatarrivepreviouslyandunderstood thereweretwopeopleonboard.

HaditnotbeenfortheFireSafety Exercisesignonthetowpath,passers-by wouldhavebeenunawarethedramatic rescueoperationunfoldinginfront oftheireyeswasactuallyasimulated

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trainingoperationsetupbyWest YorkshireFire ghtersaspartofBoatFire SafetyWeek.

Earlierintheeveningthescenehad beenset.Arti cialsmokepumpedinto LadyRhodes,the56ftlongnarrowboat–oneofthe ve-strong eetownedbythe SafeAnchorTrustwhichkindlyloaned thevessel,alongwitharrangingtheuse ofthemarina,fortheexerciseorganised byRichardGordon,crewmanagerat Rastrick,andMir eldFireStations.

Richard,alongwithPaulGurevitch, trainingsupport,whooversawthe operation,placedtwolifelessdummies inthecabinbeforeRichardhosteda brie ngatnearbyMir eldFireStation forMir eld’sretained re ghtersand Dewsbury’sGreenWatchwhowere involvedintheexercise.

Followingthecalltoaction,three pumpsand15 re ghtersarrivedon scenewheretheyweremetwiththeir initialchallenge–pullingtwohosereels acrossthemarinatotheboatmooredon theoppositesideofthesite.

Boat resaren’tacommoncallout,whichmadethetrainingexercise

Thesignsaysitall–thefiresafety exerciseisunderway.

allthemoreimportantfor re ghters tousetheirinitiativewhenfacedwitha challengingsituation,andputtheirskills intopractice.

Kittedoutwithbreathingapparatus, rstintothesmoke- lledcabinwas re ghterMichelleArmitage.

Michelleexplainedthesafetyofthe crewisparamount.Workingcloselywith hercolleaguethroughtouchandfeelin avisuallychallengingenvironmentdue tothedensesmoke,theycheckedfor potentialdangersandhazardssuchas gascylinders.

Whiletheyworkedinside,locatingand recoveringthedummiesfromwithinthe cabin,theircolleaguessetupacasualty careareaonthetowpath.

Watersafetywasanotherimportant consideration.“ erearedi erentjobs fordi erentsafetyfactorsforthecrews,” explainedRichard.

“ eprimaryaimistorescuethe peopleonboard,”Michelleadded. ecasualtieswereswiftlyrecovered and,followingfurthersafetychecks,a PPVfanwasusedtoventilatethecabin.

Beingprepared

BasedatDewsburyFireStation,itwas Michelle’s rstcanalboatrescueduring

FORSALE:BUSINESSOPPORTUNITY WITHACCOMMODATION

Settingthescene–artificial smokeispumpedintothe canalboat, LadyRhodes,oneof thefleetownedbythecharity, SafeAnchorTrust.

her11yearsinthejob;shewaspreviously basedatManchesterFireService.

“Itisreallyinteresting.Youlearnalot inarealscenario”shesaid.“Itisusefulto dothingslikethat.Youdon’twantthemto happenbut,iftheydo,youareprepared.”

Richardexplainedtheimportanceof organisingtheoperationfortrainingand tosupportBoatFireSafetyWeek,oneof theregularFireKillscampaignweeks whichissupportedbytheBoatSafety Scheme(BSS),apublicsafetyinitiative ownedequallybytheCanal&RiverTrust andtheEnvironmentAgency.

ItisthethirdtimeRichardhasrun theexercisewiththehelpoftheSafe AnchorTrust.

Establishedin1995,thevolunteer-run charity,basedatShepleyBridgeMarina, providescanalboattripsforphysically andmentallydisabledgroupsaswellas thesociallydisadvantagedthroughage orsocialisolationordeprivation.

Kevin orburn,avolunteerandtrustee ofSafeAnchorTrust,explaineditisthethird timetheyhavebeeninvolvedinatraining exerciseorganisedbytheFireService.

“OurthemeatSafeAnchorTrust

Oneofthelifelessdummiesis recoveredbyfirefightersduring thetrainingexercise.

isverymuchaboutcommunityand helpingothers.Anythingwecando tohelpourlocalcommunityorboat ownerswearede nitelyupfor,”hesaid.

AspokesmanfortheBSSsaid:“Fire servicesareoftenatthefrontendof tacklingboatemergenciesoninland waterwaysanddealingwith resor otherboatingincidentscanaddextra riskwhenworkingonornexttowater.

“Soweurgeboaterstotakeonboard theadvicefromthe reserviceso ered duringBoatFireSafetyWeekandtry theirbesttokeepthemselvessafe,for thesakeoftheirownfamilyandfriends andtoreducetheriskforpotential responderstoemergencysituations.”

FiresafetylessonsfromRCR

RIVERCanalRescueiscalling uponboaterstobeawareof the rerisksontheirvessels, after ndingmoreandmore casesofpoorelectricalwiring, includingunder-sizedwiring, overloadedcircuits,and sub-standardconnections andcablerouting,which canrapidlyturnintoaloom meltdownora re.

Managingdirector StephanieHortonsayswith BSScerti cationfailingmany boaters,RCRishavingto reportregularlyonboatsthat aredangerousoratrisk.

A3-bedhousewithsmallprivategardenandtwobathrooms,a1-beds/cflat(currentlylet toasinglegentleman)aboveathrivingconveniencestorewithattachedsmallChandlery storeandPostOffice(theonlyoneforarounda5mileradius).Thesiteconsistsofasmall fuelstationincludingthesaleofreddiesel(theonlyreddieselontheRiverWitham),white derv,petrolandKerosene(HeatingOil).Situatedapproximately5milesNWofBostontown alongtheRiverWithamandfeedingalovelyfriendlycommunityconsistingoffivesmaller villages/hamletsintheimmediatevicinityandistheonlyshopandgarageinthearea. Thepropertyisparticularlysuitedtoanyonewithboatingexperienceasweservediesel, carryoutpump-outs,providegasbottlesetctoboatersontheRiverWitham.

ThispropertyisavailableasFreehold Price£440,000plusstock.

Shecommented:“By undertakingthefollowing checksandactions,you canhopefullyreducethe likelihoodofa reoccurring.”

·Ifyouareleavingyour vesselforaperiodoftime, it’simportanttoisolatethe batteriesanddisconnect yourshorepowerifyouhave it.Ifleavingyourshorepower connectedinordertocharge yourbatteries,checkthe connectionstothebatteryare secure,isolatethemandset thechargerto‘trickle’charge.

·Inspectyourshore powercableforanyloose connectionsorwiresand ensurethecableisrouted properlysoifwaterlevels changeorthewindpicksup, it’snottootight,orequally loosesothatitdanglesinthe water.

·Neverleave resonor

ARiverCanalRescueteamrecoversaburnt-outboat.

stovesunattendedwhenyou leavetheboat.Ifyouhaveno choice,thenremoveitems nearthe re,cleartheareaof anythingthatcouldget‘hot’ andkeepyourtimeawayfrom theboattoaminimum.Last yearoneboaternippedtothe shopsandahotcoalescaped fromhisstove;theboatwas gonebeforehereturned.It’s worthnotinginsurerscan refusetocovertheseincidents.

·Oneofthebiggestissues iscircuitoverloadandthe failureofundersizedcables, causingashortcircuitwhich canquicklydevelopand causea re.Alwaysinvestigate spurious‘trips’orlossof

powertotheboatasthiscould beanindicationafaultis developing.It’seasytoignore theseandsimplyresetcircuit breakersorreplacefuses,but theseprotectiondevicesrarely ‘trip’withoutcause.

·Wherepossible,ensure 12Vcablesarerouted separatelyto240Vsystems. Ifcablesarehotthisisaclear indicationofanoverloador undersizedcable–donot ignoreit.

Stephanieconcluded: “Ifyouareconcernedover thecertificationyouhave received,youcanreportit directlytotheBSSatwww. boatsafetyscheme.org.”

FirefighterMichelleArmitagefrom Dewsbury’sGreenWatchwasoneof thefirstonboardduringthetraining exercise. PHOTOS:SALLYCLIFFORD

CrewmanagerRichardGordon arrangedthetrainingexercise atShepleyBridgeMarina, Mirfield.

PHOTO:RCR

Characters of the Cut

Morgan, Sue and Min – wild wood and wild s wimming

By Alice Griffin

WHEN Morgan, Sue and their m u c h - l ov e d d o g , Mi n , w e re looking for a di erent pace of l i f e a n d d e e p e r e n g a g e m e n t with nature, it was having a 58ft cruiser stern narrowboat named Sunbeam built by J D Narrowboats at Shardlow that held the answers “ I t ’ s t h e v a r i e t y o f environments, habitats, places and people that are so fascinating on the water and it’s wonderful to see the world pass by from a di erent angle,” they agreed ey now happily cruise the network running their business, H a n d m a d e o n Na r r o w b o a t Su n b e a m, a s t h e y g o W h i l e Morgan – who works primarily a s a n o n l i n e p r i v at e t u t o r –occasionally sells photographic greetings cards of her own images, i t ’ s m a i n l y S u e ’ s b e a u t i f u l l y intr icate hand-car ve d w oo den creations that you will discover in their shop

S h e s h a re d w i t h m e : “ I star te d w orking w ith w o o d in my 2 0 s I l ove to e x pl o re t h e grain, colour and shapes in all the wood I work with as well as adding to them with the car ving of designs and the application of colour using milk paint, an environmentally fr iendly paint made from simple ingredients and natural pigments ” e canal environment makes its way into Sue’s work in many ways, from inspirations in the s u r ro u n d i n g s c e n e r y t o t h e mater ials themselves Sue and Morgan share d w i th me: “We forage wood as we travel and have also been lucky to have been given pieces of old lock gates when repairs have be en under taken around the system is means that some of the pieces created are intrinsically tied to the canals we travel on. ”

Know ing the provenance of the wood Sue works with adds

a lot of meaning to the pieces created She told me: “Di erent e x p e r i e n c e s o r e nv i ro n m e nt s inspire designs, whether that ’ s shapes and colours of particular items, or a whole s er ies, such as my ‘swimmer ’ pendants and when working with reclaimed oak lock wood I often car ve acorns and oak leaves to celebrate the lifec ycle of that particular piece of wood ”

Cruising resumed

P r i o r t o 2 0 2 0 M o r g a n a n d S u e h a p p i l y t ra d e d a t c a n a l festivals and oating markets as the y continuously cr uis e d the n e t w o rk, bu t w h e n a l l e ve nt s w e r e c a n c e l l e d , t h e y w e r e forced to move to selling solely online through their Etsy shop

“We w ere happy continuously cruising but when lockdown hit we decided to take a mooring on the Montgomer y Canal on the Welsh borders ” ey nally set o cr uising again two months ago, heading up the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to undertake the planned journey that was previously interrupted “Since setting o earlier this year on our coddiw omple (journe y without a speci c destination), we have continued our online sales but have also returned to selling from the boat along the towpath, popping-up wherever we moor. is is the beauty of a Roving Traders Licence!”

Where they moor can change dramatically because while they love the peace of being so close to nature, Sue and Morgan also have a fondness for the more industr ial histor y of the canal network “Some of our favourite

journeys have been through o l d e r, f o r m e r i n d u s t r i a l areas and we enjoy gaining a deeper understanding of the canal heritage associated with these areas ” is changing environment and the opportunity to move as and when they want is what most appeals to Morgan and Sue about their lifestyle. In addition, their love of w ild swimming injects even more i n t e re s t t o t h e i r c r u i s i n g p att e r n s Mo rga n t o l d m e : “Whereas I’d always been far more cautious of swimming anywhere other than in the sea, Sue has always enjoyed wild swimming and took to it regularly during lockdown a s a f o r m o f e x e rc i s e a n d relaxation Now we both swim all year round in any safe, accessible water ”

Min is also a keen swimmer a n d Mo rga n t o l d m e h ow after wards sh e g e ts a litt le water-crazy and often has the ‘zoomies’ as a result! However, she did have one late-night dip that didn’t go so well “One night on the Llangollen Canal we moored up late in a spot where the towpath was on the opposite side to where it was at the previous mooring spot Letting Min out for a latenight wee, as I came up the back steps I heard an almighty splash Min had not registered the di erent side and was now swimming around in the dark “ Lu c k i l y , s h e h a d h e r ashing collar on so I could see her and drag her out!” Morgan and Sue now make sure the pram cover skirt is always up on the boat keeping Min safe and dr y, saving water activities f o r d e s i g n a t e d s w i m m i n g trips “It’s de nitely a wholefamily activity – swimming, not zoomies!”

Etsy: handmadeonsunbeam etsy.com

Instagram: @handmade on_narrowboat_sunbeam

A l i c e G r i f f i n i s a w a n d e r i n g s o u l w h o s h a re s n a t u re - i n s p i re d y o g a , m e d i t a t i o n a n d j o u r n a l l i n g p r a c t i c e s t h r o u g h h e r o n l i n e Slow Into the Seasons c o u r s e s , b r i n g i n g t o g e t h e r l i k e - m i n d e d friends all over the world

We b s i t e : w w w a l i c e grif n.co.uk

YouTube: @wanderingalice

Pendants carved from reclaimed lock wood showing its natural colours.

Morgan, Sue and Min on their narrowboat.

PHOTO: MANDY MCKENNA

A fan bird. PHOTOS SUPPLIED UNLESS INDICATED

A shrink pot tea caddy with scoop. Carving a hazel flower with a draw knife.

Thefirstofficialboatarrives attheCrickheathBasin

ByPhilPickin

BRIGHTsunnyweatheranda

largecrowdwereonhandto greetthe rsto cialnarrowboat tonavigatetherecently restoredCrickheathBasinon theMontgomeryCanalonthe Shropshire/Welshborder. ecanal,whichwaso cially closedin1944,hasbeenthe subjectofahugeamountofwork sincetheBigDigin1969.Since thenvolunteerorganisations havebeenworkinghardto reopentheentire35milesof

canalfromtheLlangollenCanal viaLlanymynechandWelshpool toNewtown,Powys. Steamlaunch Ictus wasused totransportagroupofVIP gueststotheo cialopening andindoingso,cuttheribbon too ciallyopentheCrickheath Basin.Boatscannownavigate thenewlyrestoredsectionfrom FranktonLocks–wherethecanal meetstheLlangollenCanal–to theCrickheathBasin. ecanal aroundWelshpoolisrestoredbut isyettobeconnectedtotherest ofthecanalsystem.

Overthelasteightyears,169 volunteersspentmanyhundreds ofhoursrestoringthecanaland havespentover300daysrelining thecanaltomakeitwatertight. Thishasinvolved100work parties,mainlyatweekends. e volunteersdugoutandmoved around15,000tonnesofmaterial duringtheworktobeableto install36,000squaremetresof linertocreateawatertightseal onthecanalbed.

Anewthree-hectarewildlife

habitathasalsobeencreated withinAstonLocksnaturereserve toprovideasecureenvironment foraquaticplants,suchasthe rarefloatingwater-plantain luroniumnatans enature reservewillalsoprovidehomes toarangeofwildlife,including damsel ies,dragon ies,otters, andwatervoles.

RichardParry,chiefexecutive attheCanal&RiverTrust, said:“Whatthesevolunteers haveachieved,withsupport fromtheCanal&RiverTrust, isinspiring. eyhaveworked tirelesslytorestorethissection oftheMontgomeryCanalfrom aderelictchanneltoawonderful canalthatboaters,walkers,and cyclistscannowuseandenjoy.I wouldalsoliketothankNational Lotteryplayersforsupporting thiswonderfulproject.

“ ereisstillplentyofworkto dowiththevolunteersstarting onthenextphaseofthe restorationfromCrickheath BasintoSchoolhouseBridge aswellastherestorationof

thecanalinWales,whichisbeing fundedbytheGovernment’s LevellingUpFund.Asacharity withincreasingcostpressures, it’simportantwesecureexternal investmenttohelpusrestore, protect,andpreserveourhistoric waterwaystoensurethatwe don’tseethedeclinethattook placeintheearly20thcentury.”

Headded:“Restoringthe entiresectionofcanalhasnever

beencloserandI’mlooking forwardtothedaywhenboaters willonceagaintravelfrom EnglandtoWalesalongthe MontgomeryCanal.”

DavidCarter,chairmanof ShropshireUnionCanalSociety, said:“Ourvolunteershave workedtirelesslyforeightyears onaverycomplicatedpieceof constructionworkofatypenot normallydonebyvolunteers.

RestoringmoreoftheMontgomeryCanal

IFTHERE’Saprizeforthe longest-runningrestoration theRestoretheMontgomery Canal!groupdoesn’twantit!

Localcharitieshavebeen workingtogetherasRestore theMontgomeryCanal!–theShropshireUnionCanal Society,theInlandWaterways Association’sShrewsbury& NorthWalesbranchandthe FriendsoftheMontgomery Canal,supportedbythe MontgomeryWaterway RestorationTrust. eyhavealreadyarranged the£1millionreconstruction ofSchoolhouseBridge entirelythankstodonations fromindividuals,legacies andgrant-givingtrusts. e bridgerebuildisunderway andshouldbe nishedlater intheyear.

Thebridgeisonlyone ofthisyear’ssuccesseson thecanal.Anotherwasthe openingoftheLotterysupportedextensionto Crickheath,givinganother mile-and-a-halfofnavigable canalinShropshire.

InWalesthemulti-million poundLevelling-Upproject startedwithdredging nearLlanymynech:More dredgingwillfollow,twoof fourblockedbridgeswill berebuiltandnewnature

reserveswillbeestablishedto safeguardrareandprotected plantsandwildlife.

Furtherfundingcould reopentheothertworoad blockagesandrepairthe canal’sbiggeststructure, theVyrnwyaqueduct.Ina fewyearstheWelshsection couldbenavigabletothe Shropshireborder.

InShropshiretherearejust twomilesofderelictcanalto berestored.

Volunteersfromthe ShropshireUnionCanal Societyhavealreadybegun clearingandre-profiling thesectiontoSchoolhouse Bridge.Buttheydon’thave thefundsto nishthejob soanewappealhasbeen launchedtohelprestoration inShropshire.

AskedwhytheMontgomery Canalshouldbesupported again,aspokesmanfor RestoretheMontgomery Canal!said:“Hereisacanal withnowatersupplyissues, inwaterapartfromtwodry milesintoNewtownand anothertwoinShropshire. Apartfromthesectioninto NewtownitisallinCRT ownershipandallthelocks havebeenrestored.

“Ourrestorationstrategy isforanavigablecanalasan

amenityforresidentsand visitorswithconservation habitatsforrare oraand faunaandprotectionforthe uniquerangeofcanal-age structureswhichtellthestory ofaborderlandcanalbyway.

Hecontinued:“ eRestore theMontgomeryCanal! appealforSchoolhouse Bridgewassupportedby manygenerousdonorsfar andwide. esuccessofthe appealboostedthesupport ofthelocalauthoritiesand otherswhodon’thavefunds butcanhelpwithfuture fundingopportunities.

“Withnopublicfunding insight,thetargetforour appealis£250,000toprovide materialsandequipmenthire forclearingandre-pro ling thenextsectiontowardsthe newbridge.Wealreadyhave £50,000towardsthattarget.

“Theskilledand experiencedvolunteersof theShropshireUnionCanal Societyrestoredthederelict canaltoCrickheathontime andonbudget.Astheynow carryonintothenextsection weareaskingeveryonewho caresforthefutureofthis specialcanaltosupportour appealsotheworkparties won’thavetoslowtheirwork orstopaltogether.”

NorthShropshire’sLiberalDemocratMPHelenMorgancuts theribbontoofficiallyopenCrickheathBasin. PHOTOSUPPLIED

Crowdsawaitthearrivalofthefirstofficialboatsatthe CrickheathBasin. Ictus andtheVIPsarriveatCrickheath.

TheVIPpartyaboard Ictus.

TheShropshireBoatmenentertainvisitors.

“VolunteersworkingontheveryspecialMontgomeryCanalhavesuccessfullyrestoredthecanalto Crickheath–ontimeandonbudget.Generoussupporters’donationshavefundedthereconstruction ofSchoolhouseBridge,thelasthighwayblockageinShropshire.Withjusttwomilesderelictin EnglandcanyounowhelpthevolunteerstoreopenmoreofthecanaltowardstheWelshborder?”

“ eyhaveovercomeseveralmajorchallenges, includingverybadgroundconditions,ahighwatertable,theneedtorelocatetheresidentgreat crestednewts,andCovidlockdowns. atthey managedtocompletetheworktodeadline,on budgetandsafelyistotheirgreatcredit.”

JohnDodwell,chairmanoftheMontgomeryCanal Partnership,said:“It’smarvelloustoseeputinto placeanotherpartofthejigsawtorestorethe200 years-plusoldMontgomeryCanal.Itsspecialbuilt andnaturalheritageo erssomuchtolocalpeople and,morewidely,bothdonationsandvolunteers comefrommanypartsofthecountry. erestored canalisalsoaboosttotheregionaltouristindustry asvisitorscometotheareatospendtheirmoney.”

anksto£14millionfromtheGovernment’s LevellingUpFund,theMontgomeryCanalis beingrestoredtotheWales-Englandborder, meaning,oncecompleted,navigationbyboatwill bepossiblebetweenLlanymynechandMaerdy. eprojectwilllasttwoyearsandincludes dredgingthecanaltoanavigablestandardwhile alsoimprovingtheconditionsofthecanalforrare oatingandotherwaterplantsandrebuildingtwo minorroadbridges.

LezleyPicton,leaderofShropshire Council,andHelenMorgan,MPforNorth Shropshire,unveilaplaquetoofficially re-opentheCrickheathBasin.

Boaterswishingtotravelalongthe MontgomeryCanalneedtobookpassage throughFranktonLocks.Thiscanbe bookedbyvisitinghttps://canalrivertrust. org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/ go-boating/planning-your-boat-route/ booking-your-passage-online

FredBarrett,theoldestmemberofthe restorationteam,cutsthecakeatthe re-openingoftheCrickheathBasin watchedbyDavidCarter,chairmanof SUSCsandJonathanDodwellofthe MontgomeryCanalPartnershipwith, centre,HelenMorganMP.

PHOTOS:PHILPICKINUNLESSINDICATED

Boa ts and beer celebra tion

T H E f i na l c h aptero f t h e latestrestorationprojecton theMontgomeryCanalsouth ofCrickheathBridgenear Oswestrywasenactedon Saturday,June2. Another700mhasnow beenrestored,toadvance therestorationtowards Llanymynech,includinga WindingHoleatCrickheath whichenablesboatstoturn roundthere.

Thissectionisnowin waterandavarietyofthe rst boatstoenterherefromthe NationalCanalnetworksince 1936wereonshowincluding Saturn ,atraditional‘Fly Boat’oncehorsedrawn,and Ictus anold,iconicpassenger steamlaunchandavarietyof othercanalcraft.

Aplaquetocommemorate theeventhadbeenunveiled attheofficialre-opening

ceremonyorganised bythe Canal&RiverTrusttheday before.

evolunteersfromthe ShropshireUnionCanal Society,whohavebeen responsibleforthevery demandingreconstruction ofthechanneloverthelast eightyears,heldtheirown celebrationinamarqueenext

tothe basinonthat Saturday evening.

Itwasthecustomwhen thecanalswerefirstdug inthe1800storewardthe navvieswithabarrelofbeer. istraditionwasobservedat theBBQ,enjoyedbyover70 volunteersandsupporters, whichwaswasheddown withabarrelofNavigation Ale,sponsoredbyMonty’s BreweryfromMontgomery.

Abarrelwastransported onthebowofnarrowboat Yeltsa ,fromthenational canalnetworkatAudlemto Crickheath,tosignifythis rstsuchjourneysince1936 whenthecanalwasclosed duetoacollapsedaqueduct nearFrankton.

Hatsofftothehappy volunteers.

PHOTOS:SUCSPUBLICITY

iswasaveryjoyousand ttingconclusion,toavery challengingandrewarding project.

TheBeer Barrel aboard nb Yeltsa.

Canal&RiverTrustCEORichardParryand HelenMorgan,MPforNorthShropshire, talkingtoMichaelLimbrey,chairmanof MontgomeryWaterwayRestorationTrust.

IWApublishesnewguidetoDenvercrossing

LIKEmostrivers,theRiverGreatOuse owsintothesea. emainboundary betweenthenon-tidalriverandestuary isatDenverSluice. eMiddleLevelis aseriesofdrainagechannels.

Togetfromthenon-tidalwatersof theRiverGreatOusetotheMiddleLevel requiresashortestuarycrossingbetween DenverandSalter’sLodeLock.Forthose whohavenotmadethiscrossingbefore, itcanbedaunting.

ChrisHowes,authoroftheImrayguides totheGreatOuseandFenlandWaterways, IWAmemberandEasternRegion

representative,hasputtogetherthisvery usefulguidetonavigatingbetweenthe MiddleLevelandtheGreatOuse.

Inityouwill nddetailsofhowto contactthelockkeepersateitherend forthebesttimestocross,howthetides a ectcrossingandhowtoavoidthe sandbar,aswellastipsonequipment

View,downloadandprintthe guideontheIWAwebsiteatwww. waterways.org.uk

ThecrossingbetweenDenverand Salter’sLodeLock.

SixnewSilverPropellerlocationsadded

THEIWA’sSilverPropeller Challengewassetupto encouragevisitorstotheless well-usedpartsofthesystem, inboatsofallsizes.

Tocompletethechallenge youshouldvisit20locations ormoreandlettheIWA know.Thisyear,sixnew locationshavebeenadded, fromScotlandtoKent, invitingexplorationofsome underusedbutfascinating cornersofthewaterways system.

TwonewScottishlocations havebeenadded:

Rutherglen

Takeanadventuroustrip uptheRiverClydeandsee Glasgowfromanewangle, byboatorcanoeandenjoy spectacularviews‘doonthe watter’.

Althoughvisitingleisure craftarescarce,thetidal riverthroughthecityis regularlyusedbymembers oftheRutherglenCruising Club,manyofwhommoor upattheclubmooringsfor thewinterandheado down theClydeforeachsummer

spentalongthewestcoastof Scotland.

eclubwasformedinthe 1930swhentheOldPalsClub andtheStrathclydeBoatClub amalgamated.Theclub’s homemooringswerenext toaslaughterhouseonthe riverbankneartowherethe omasSeathshipbuilding yardwaslocated.

AccesstotheRiverClyde fromtheconnectedLowland CanalSystemisviaBowling, andthenheadupstream.

Stirling

Takeasceniccruisealong theRiverForthandvisitthe historiccityofStirlingby boatorcanoeandenjoythe Scottishcountrysideand distantmountains.

Visitingleisurecraftarefew andfarbetween,butthenew mooringpontooninstalledby StirlingCouncilisapopular spotforcanoeingandother watersportsbythelocals.

Accessfromtheconnected LowlandCanalsforboaters wouldbebyjoiningthetidal RiverCarronattheKelpies, headingdownstream

forashortdistanceto meettheFirthofForthat Grangemouth.Fromthere it’supstreamviaKincardine andAlloatoStirling. eriver istidalalltheway.

River(s)Stour

Tworiverssharinganame havealsobeenadded,but theyareindi erentcounties: eRiverStourinSu olk isnavigablefromCattawade neartheOrwellEstuaryto BrundonMill,justupstream ofSudbury.Exceptforthe rstthreequartersofamile belowSudbury,theriver formsthecountyboundary betweenSu olkandEssex andwasimmortalisedinthe paintingsofJohnConstable.

Fifteenlockswerebuiltby theRiverStourNavigation Company,butthewaterway hadlargelyfallenoutof commercialusebytheearly 20thcentury.Restorationof theNavigationwasoneof IWA’searliestcampaigns, leadingtotheformationof theRiverStourTrust,which runsahighpro lecampaign forrestorationtoday.Several

ElyCouncilrespondstoIWAcall

lockshavebeenrestoredand thewholenavigationcanbe usedbycanoesandother lightcraft.

Thereisarightof navigationontheKentish RiverStourtoCanterbury. However,itispresently navigableonlyfromthesea atPegwellBaytoFordwich. Thereareweirsashort distanceaboveFordwich Bridge–remnantsofold mills.Itmaybepossibleto canoefromCanterburyto Fordwich,butthereisno officialaccessorportage overtheweirs.Fordwichis thelocationforyourSilver Propellorvisit,encouraging youtohaveasceniccruise alongthequietKent countryside.

Manchester,Bolton&Bury Canal

TheMiddlewoodflight oflocks,whichconnectthe Manchester,Bolton&Bury CanaltotheupperRiver Irwellandthustotherest oftheconnectednavigable system,wererestored andreopenedin2008as

THEsmallcityofElywithitsshops, restaurantsandcathedral,haslong beenapopularstoppingpointon theRiverGreatOuse. EastCambridgeshireDistrict Councilenforcesmooringtime restrictionswhich,insummer months,ensureeveryonegetsa fairopportunitytomoorforupto

48hoursandissues xedpenalty noticestoover-stayers.

TheIWApointedoutthat when,thiswinter,theriverwas frozen,forcingboatstomovewas unreasonableanddangerous. e councilhasnowagreedtorelax mooringrestrictionswhenithasa ‘severeweatherprotocol’inplace.

Londontowpathwalksschedule

THEIWA’sTowpathWalksSociety GuidedWalksscheduleisavailable, ndoutmoreathttps://waterways. org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/

partofa£600millionlargeproperty development.However,duetoan absenceofwatersupply,thelocksare notavailableforpublicaccessandthe entranceo theIrwellhassiltedup.

eupperRiverIrwellleadsinto theManchesterShipCanalandcanbe accessedviaPomonaDockNo3from theBridgewaterCanal.Aphotoofyour craftanywhereontheupperRiverIrwell inthevicinityofMiddlewoodLocksand theentrancetotheManchesterBolton &BuryCanalwouldbegoodevidence ofyourvisit.

ThamesandMedwayCanal e amesandMedwayCanalsees

eventsandlookfortheGuidedWalks. Thesefascinatingtwo-hourwalks arounddi erentareasofLondonneed tobebookedinadvance.

fewwaterwaysvisitorsotherthanlocal paddlesportsenthusiasts,ducksand enthusiasticvolunteersfromthe ames andMedwayCanalAssociationwho turnoutonregularworkpartiestokeep thewaterwaycleanandaccessible–so whynotpaythemavisit?

ewesternsideofthe ames& MedwayCanalwasopenedbetween GravesendandHighamin1801and continuedinuseuntil1934,butthe easternendofthecanal,mostly comprisingHighamTunnel,took longertobuildandwassoldtothe railwaycompanyin1846andclosed tonavigation.

OrganiseaNationalTrailboatFestival

FESTIVALSareveryusefulfordrawing attentionlocallyandnationallytothe restorationorimprovementproject yourteamisworkingon.

Agreaterawarenessofyourneedfor moresupportisgeneratedasaresultof thatattention.Festivalsareencouraged andpromotedbytheIWAtohighlight yourrestorationproject.

Youwilldrawlocalpoliticalattention toyourexampleofasuccessfulpartial restorationthathasbroughtwider

bene tstoallinvolvedandTrailboat Festivalscanalsobeasourceof additionalincome.

Whenpeopleseeothersgathering andthetranquilmovementofpleasure boats,illuminatedatnightand decoratedwithbuntingand agson evenasmallpartoftheirpreviously disusedcanal,itgivesalotofpleasure.

Itaddsconsiderablytothequality andtoneofthelocality–urbanor rural.Itleavespeoplewantingtosee

moreimprovement;itoilsthewheelsto greaterprogress;itsmoothsthepassage toreachyourgoal;youwillenrolmore supporters,yourcommitteewillfeel moremotivated,andhopefullybe o eredmorefundingandresources.

ereisnosetdesignforafestival asitsverynaturewilldependupon thewaterwaybeingpromoted.Itwill dependinpartonthemake-upofyour committeeandthetimeande ortthey arewillingtovolunteer.Additionally, itwilldependonthebasicassetsand nancethatisavailableandtheextent ofsupportfromlocalpoliticiansandthe community.

eIWAhassupportersinallparts ofthecountryandwecancertainly askthosewhoarelocaltoyouifthey arewillingtohelpwithpreparation, andawaterwayrecoverygroupteam canprovidemanualassistancein constructing,runninganddismantling astheyhavebeenputtingoneventsfor yearswhowouldcertainlybeavailableto giveadvice,perhapsinperson,certainly onthephoneorbyemail.

Wearealsoabletofreeloanatwo-ton trailerfullofthesortofgearnecessary tostageanevent,althoughyouwould needa4x4vehiclewithatowbarsoyou cancollectit.Somemarketingforthe

eventcanbecarriedoutcentrallyas partoftheIWAprogrammeadvertised eachyearandtheIWAwebsitecan alsobeused. ereisalsothemassive publicityandprestigeadvantageofyour eventbeingbadged eIWANational TrailboatFestivalforaparticularyear. YoucanapplytoourFinance Committeeforhelpwithyour earlyorganisingcosts.

eformatforapplicationsis tosubmitawrittenrequest.As eacheventtendstobeuniqueto itswaterwayandtoitsorganising committee;allweneedatthe outsetisanoutlineproposalof yourfestivalplan.

Wewillsendyouadviceon whatthisshouldcoverand,for yourguidance,anexample.To securetheapprovalandsupport oftheIWAitisnecessaryforusto feelsuretheeventislikelytotake place,alsothatyouwillprovide aneventthatisproperlyplanned andacredittoyourorganising committee,localwaterway,and totheIWA.

eIWAMarketingCommittee iscontinuouslylookingfor applicantsforTrailboatFestivals forfouror veyearsaheadto

allowyouplentyofadvertisingtime. e rststepistocheckthatyou havethebasicfacilitiesavailable. Justemailthetrailboato cerfor thelist:DerekSmithatiwa.trailboat. festivals@gmail.comorcall07500 300347.

Fancyhostinga CanalCampin2024

THEIWA’sWaterwayRecoveryGroupis lookingforcanalrestorationsocietiesto hostCanalCampsnextyear.

HostingaCanalCamponyour restorationprojectcan:

·Actasacatalysttoyourproject–makingsigni cantprogressinjustone week.

·Attractlotsofpositivepublicity.

·Helpyoucompletejobswhichmay requireskillsandexperienceyour volunteerscurrentlylack.

ContactJennyJodsonto discussfurtheratjenny.hodson@ waterways.org.ukorcall01494 783453Ext:605.

PHOTO:IWA

BoatsmooredinElyduringthewinter.

PHOTO:AMYTILLSON

ANationalTrailboatFestivalatMoiraontheAshbyCanal. PHOTO:PHILSHARPE

andcheckstocarryoutbeforeyoumake thecrossing.

Skippersdon’tgrowontrees… …andnor,forthatmatter,docrew!

JonathanMosse’s monthlylookatfreight developmentsonthe inlandwaterways.

WHILEImightregularlybangonabout themeritsofmovingfreightfromroad towater,itisbutahollowpleaifthere areinsu cientvesselsavailable,orthe crewtomanthem.

Nationally,it’sprobablytruetosay thatwhilethereareenoughcraftto meetcurrentandanticipateddemand, itisextremelydoubtfulwhetherthere aresu cient,skilledcrewtogoaround. Acoupleofmonthsback,intheMarch editionof TowpathTalk (page14,issue 209)Icovered BlueMermaid –asteel amessailingbargelaunchedin2019 –andsuggestedthat,amongstmany otherthings,theSea-ChangeSailing Trusto eredarouteintotrainingfor thewaterwaysfreightindustry.

BlueMermaid isareplicaofthe nal bargesbuiltatMistleyin1930,the originalofthesamenamebeinglostto amineinthe amesEstuaryin1941 duringtheSecondWorldWar.

Shewasbuilttocargoshipruleswith aviewtocarryingsmallernumbers oftraineeswhenmovingcargoand withdemountable ttingsinthehold betweentwoindependentsetsof accommodationforeandaft.

Crucially,theinterestofsomefunders wassparkedbytheneedtogivewind andwaterawarenesstotraineeswho, thesedays,tendnottohavebeen messingaboutinboatsfrominfancy.

Moremainstreamtrainingrevolves

downtimeawayfromtug GPS India,hiscurrentcommand.

PHOTOSSUPPLIED

aroundtheMaritime&CoastguardAgency (MCA)Boatmasters’licensingregimeand, foro shoreworking,theRoyalYachting AssociationYachtmasterquali cations.

Intermsofrecognisedboathandling skills,arapidlydiminishingnumberof ‘senior’skippersstillretaingrandfather rights,basedonlong-termexperience, ontowhichtheywillhavegraftedformal endorsementssuchasmanoverboard, re ghtingand rstaid.

Howevergained,allthesequali cations havetobemaintainedalongsidea currentmedicalcerti cate,renewable forunder70-year-oldsevery veyears andannuallythereafter.Renewalis contingentonregularworkingsointhe NorthEast,forinstance,thegapbetween thesuddencessationoftheBesthorpe–Whitwoodaggregatetra cin2013and

commencementoftheHull–Leeds ow in2020hadseriousimplications. ishasnotbeenhelpedbythewaythe tradehasstutteredonoverthesubsequent threeyearswithjust50loadscarried–typicallyworkthatcouldeasilyhavebeen handledbyasinglevesselinlessthansix months. osevesselsthatwerelaidup stillhadtohaveinsurance,anavigation licenceand tforpurposecerti cation, renewableonanannualbasis:Allcarrying signi cantcostimplications.

Formaltraining

Traditionally,ontheThamesthe recognisedformalrouteintoworking ontheriverlaythroughtheCompanyof WatermenandLightermen,foundedby anActofParliamentin1514.Outsidethis time-honoured‘journeyman’approach, andcommontoallinlandwaterways liesastructured,individualwork-based trainingprogramme,builtonexperience progressivelydocumentedinaformal trainingrecordbook.

SkipperRicardoSalerno,incharge ofoneofGPSMarine’sMedway-based tugs,isaclassicexampleofthistraining route.Hestartedasadeckhand10-or-so yearsago,freelyadmittingthatworking ontheriverwashisfourthchoiceof career,havingbeenturneddownby the reservice,RAFandtheNavydue toAsthma.

Movingalongthiscareerpathquicker thanmost,hebecameamateaftertwo yearsandgainedhis rstcommandafter four. iswasononeofthesmallertugs inthe eetandsincethenhehasmoved ontolargervessels.Inparallelwith completinghisBoatmasters’licence,he hasgainedaYachtmasterCerti catesois notlimitedto‘local’estuarineoperations. Interestingly–andincommonwith

SUBSCRIBETODAY

otherinlandwaterwaysskippersthat I’vebeenfortunateenoughtosailwith –Ricardohadnoreallinkswiththe waterwaysapart,thatis,fromhavinga stepfatherwhoworkedinGPSMarine’s o cesontheMedway!

However,asrecentlyasMay30,the MaritimeJournal ranapieceunderthe headline‘Shortageofskilledseafarers couldspelldisasterinmaritime’:an observationthatisequallypertinent totheinlandwaterways. earticle pointsoutthatstudentsandyoung peoplearenotchoosingmaritime fortheircareers,whichcouldhave disastrousconsequences.

InsupportofNationalApprenticeship week,heldinFebruary,Seawork showcasedtrainingopportunities lastmonthinrecognitionthatmany businessesacrossthecommercial marinesectorwereconsideringfuture skillsandrecruitment.

Theyhighlightedthefactthat “whetheronthewaterorshore based,thecommercialmarine

Blue Mermaid, in sailtraining mode, going at a fair clip with topsail rucked in the wind

Get12issuesof

Talk

Amongasuiteofothermaritime ‘tickets’JonathanBranford,left, holdsaBoatmasters’Licencewith Yachtmasterendorsementand MCAMasterfor200-tonvessels whilehisfather,John,enjoys grandfatherrights,havingbeena skipperformorethan60years.

industryneedstoshowcaseitselfto beanattractive,multifacetedsectorto appealtothenextgenerationofschool leavers,trainees,collegeanddegreelevelstudents”.

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RicardoSalernoenjoyingsome

Havingarockinggoodtime!

THE56thAnnualFederation ofBridgewaterCruisingClubs certainlyrockedthisyearto thethemeofMods&Rockers, writesSamanthaWilliams

Afantasticfun-packed weekendwashostedbyTony Walkerandhisamazingteamat theWorsleyCruisingClubwith thecrewsofover100canalboats inattendancealongwithguests.

eyincluded:theCeremonial MayoroftheCityofSalford, CounGinaReynoldsandPaula Hunt,representativeofthe BridgewaterCanalCompany.

eterri cprogrammeofevents includedeverythingfromdog shows,commodore’sgames, bingoandlivemusic.

edignitaries’sailpast,inthe glorioussunshine,providedthe opportunitytodecidesomeof theawardsincludingthe FederationTrophyforthe TrimmestCraftandCrew

awardedto NBJonshe from WorsleyCC,andtheFederation SilverBowlfortheBestDecorated Boatwhichwasawardedto NB Graymar fromtheBridgewater MotorBoatClub.

Otherwell-deservedawards werealsomadeattheo cial presentationbutitwaswith particularpleasurethatthis yearthefederationchairperson, PhyllisGreenough,wasableto awardtheWalterKingTrophy–GoodDeedAwardtoboatersAlf MurrayandDerekEast.

isrecognisedtheassistance theygavetoadistressed memberofpublicinneed, helpingthemoutofthecanal andprovidingmuch-needed warmthandcomfortuntilthe ambulanceservicearrived.

Joinusatnextyear’srally whichisbeinghostedbySale CruisingClubwiththetheme SuperHeroes. e

HundredsattendBoaters’ SpringFayreinHackney

A POWERFULshowofsupportand solidarywasexpressedbythehundreds ofpeoplewhoturnedouttoattendthe recentBoaters’SpringFayre.

OrganisedbytheNationalBargeeTravellers Association(NBTA),theeventwasheldin glorioussunshinefrommiddayuntil7pmand drewclosetoathousandboaters,localsandallies oftheitinerantboatercommunity.

IttookplaceontheRiverLeatowpathofNorth Mill eldsRecreationGround,sometimesreferred toastheClapton‘S-bend’,oneofthemanyWater SafetyZonesfromwhich,claimsNBTA,theCanal &RiverTrustistryingtoeraseboatersaspartof itsLondonMooringStrategy.

Throwingouttherulebook fordesigningcanalboats

Thesizeis40`x10`andbuiltusing20mmforthe baseoftheboat15mmforthesidesand12mmfor theuppersections.

Theprocesstheyuseiscalledextrusionwelding

whichistypicallydoneonthermoplasticsduetotheir responsetoheating.Unlikeothertypesofplastics whichburnwhenheatisapplied,thermoplastics liquefyandhardenagainuponcooling.

Followingvigorouscampaigning,CRTreduced thenumberofthreatenedmooringspacesalong theRiverLeafrom550to295,whichincludethe entiretyoftheClapton‘S-Bend’linedontheday ofthefayrewithabrilliantarrayofboats,stalls andstages. eboatercommunitycelebrated lifeonthewaterwithmusic,food,speechesand informationonthecampaignprovidedbyawhole teamofNBTAactivists. eevent,whichwasoneofthelargestever

organisedbytheNBTA,heardfromboater activistsabouttheongoingcampaignstodefend therightsofitinerantboaters,alongsidespeeches insolidarityfromUnite,TravellersPrideand Acornaswellasawholehostofperformances frombothboaterandland-basedmusicians.

NBTAmembersraisedbothfundsforand awarenessoftheircampaignswithgenerous donationsfromthepublicanda oodofsignupstoNBTAcommunications.

MarcusTrower,NBTALondonbranchsecretary andoneoftheevent’sorganisers,said:“We’vehad boatersfromallacrosstheUKshowinguptoshare memoriesandexperiencesoftimespentonthe RiverLea,buildingourcommunityevenfurther.

“We’vehaddedicatedNBTAactivists contributingtheirtime,e ort,skillsandcreativity tomakingthedayaresoundingsuccessand layingthegroundworkforfutureevents.”

TolearnmoreabouttheNBTA,get involvedintheircampaignsordonateto theorganisation,visithttps://www.bargeetraveller.org.uk/.

Extrusionweldingistypicallyusedtojoin componentssuchastanksandpipes.Intrenchless construction,sectionsofthermoplastic(mostoften polyethylene)canbeextrusionweldedtogetherto formamonolithicpipestructuretobeinsertedinto thehostpipeforrehabilitation.

Inotherapplications,extrusionweldingisideal forapplicationsthatrequirelengthyweldstobe madeinasinglerun.Althoughmostcommonly

doneonHDPEsheets,extrusionweldingcan beperformedonotherthermoplasticssuchas polyvinylchloride(PVC),polypropylene(PP),and polyvinylidenefluoride(PVDF

Thiscanalboatisreadytobeasailaway,at presenttheinteriorsarenotallcomplete,for futureprojectsformationplastichavethehelpand expertiseofamultiaward-winningyachtandnaval architect

Pricesfrom£50k

Theneweraofcanalboatdesign

Formoreinformation,pleasetel:01274299055

www.formationplastics.co.uk

Crossing the Barton aqueduct.

TonyWalkercastsoffthenarrowboatcarryingtheinvited guests.

Boaterswavetoguestsenjoyingthesailpast.

Oldfriendsreunite.

PresentationoftheWalterKingTrophy–GoodDeed AwardbyPhyllisGreenoughtoAlfMurrayandDerek East. PHOTOS: DOUGWILDMAN

NBTAbranchsecretary MarcusTrowerdeliveringa speech.

PHOTO:ALESSANDROBORELLI

Themoored‘S-bend’withstageboat.

PHOTO:ALESSANDROBORELLI

Someofthecrowdatthefayre.

PHOTO:NBTA

TowerBridgeExhibition,London

NicolaLisle enjoys panoramicviewsofthe Thamesinherlatest explorationofinland waterwaysmuseums.

AVISITtooneofLondon’smosticonic landmarksisrewardedwithspectacular panoramicviewsoftheRiver amesas wellastheopportunitytodiscoverthe fascinatinghistoryofthisremarkable Gothic-stylestructure,whichrepresents Victoriantechnologicalingenuityatitsbest. erapidexpansionofLondon’s docklandsduringthe18thand19th centuriesbroughtwithitagrowingEast Endpopulation,whoseonlyroadway acrosstheriverwasLondonBridge. Withthehugedemandplacedonthe bridgedailybypedestriansandvehicles, itwasclearbythemid-19thcenturythat asecondroadbridgewasneeded.

Apubliccompetitionwasheldby theCorporationofLondon,withboth

amateurandprofessionalarchitects invitedtosubmittheirdesignsfora bridgethatnotonlyprovidedacrossing forroadtra cbutalsoaccommodated thepassingoftall-mastedsailingships toandfromthedocks.

Thewinningdesigncamefrom architectSirHoraceJonesandengineer SirJohnWolfeBarry,whoproduced thenow-familiarbridgewithitstwin towers,high-levellinkingwalkways andadrawbridgethatcouldberaised toallowshipstopassthrough.

isnewbridgewasnotwithoutits detractors.QueenVictoriawasunhappy withtheideaofabridgebeingbuiltso closetotheTowerofLondon,whilethe Londonwatermen,whoselivelihoods dependedonferryingpeopleacrossthe river,wereequallydismayed.

Despitetheseobjections,theTower BridgeActwaspassedin1885,andwork beganonLondon’snewlandmark.It tookeightyearstocomplete,openingon June30,1894,amidlavishcelebrations.

Todayyoucanexplorethetwo walkways,whichwerereopenedin1982

afterbeingclosedtothepublicfor72 years.FromtheWestWalkwayyoucan seetheTowerofLondontotheright,as wellastheShardandthecitybeyond, whiletheEastWalkwaygivesviews towardstheLondonDocklands.Viewing isbehindglass,butlookforthecamera signstospotthewindowsyoucanopen fortakingpictures.

Glass oorpanelswereinstalledin bothwalkwaysin2014,allowingyouto lookdownattheriverswirlingbeneath yourfeet.Fromhereyoucanalsosee theroadway,thebaseoftheturretsand probablyaboatortwopassingthrough!

EntryisviatheNorthTower,which takesyoutothe rstwalkwayviaaseries ofstepswithinformationboardsalong theway,tellingthehistoryofthebridge andthestoriesofthehugeandvaried workforce–whichincludeddivers,steel workers,stonemasons,rivetinggangs, stokers,watchmen,signalmen,navvies andgatemen,aswellaschildlabourers. ereisalsoareconstructionofthe siteo ce,showingJohnWolfeBarry indiscussionwithengineerGeorge

EdwardWilsonCrutwellandgeneral managerAndrewStephensonBiggart.

Betweenthetwowalkwaysisaroom showingfilmfootagethatcaptures thehistoryofthebridge,aswellasa collectionofhistoricalpictures,posters andotherexhibits.

AsyouexitviatheSouthTower,follow abluelinecommemoratingmanyofthe unsungheroeswhohelpedbuildand maintainTowerBridge.

e nalpartofthetourisintothe Victorianenginerooms,whereyoucan seetheoriginalsteamengines,coal- red boilersandwaterpumpsthatpowered

theliftingmachineryforthedrawbridge rightupuntil1976,whenitwasreplaced withelectricity.Findouthowitall workedthroughaseriesofinformation panels–andenjoythatdistinctivesmell ofsteamenginesthatstilllingers!

Finally,thereisasectiondedicated totheworkersofTowerBridge, featuringoralhistories, lmfootageand informationpanels.

efamousdrawbridgeisopened about800timesayear.Toseethis magni centspectacle,checkthewebsite forthelistofBridgeLiftdatesandtimes, plusdetailsofwhichvesselswillbe sailingthroughandinwhichdirection theywillbeheading.

TicketsforTowerBridgecanbe obtainedonthedayorbookedin advance,andyoucanopttoexploreat yourownpaceorbookaguidedtour (SaturdaysandSundaysonly). ere arealsoBSLguidedtours,relaxedtours, familyactivities,andtheinteractive TowerBridgeCatTrail.And,ofcourse, thereisagiftshop!

erearenorefreshmentsonsite,but thereareplentyofcafesnearby–theday Ivisitedtherewasalsoanicecreamvan!

Theviewfromtheroadway,lookingwest.

Aclose-upofthebridgestructure.

Theroadwayacrossthebridge, headingsouth.

Insidetheeastwalkway. PHOTOS:NICOLALISLE

Formoreinformation,visitwww. towerbridge.org.uk

Tower Bridge, looking east

Lloyd'sRegisterRules-baseddesignprovidesachoiceof alloys,Aluminium,StainlessSteelorMildSteelwiththe confidenceofthehigheststandards.

Projectwillconnectyoungpeople withcity’smaritimeheritage

THEDanielAdamsonPreservationSocietyhas receiveda£98,978grantfromtheNationalLottery HeritageFundtosetupaprojectconnectingyoung peoplewiththemaritimeheritageofLiverpool. eexcitingheritageproject,MaritimeHeritage –MaritimeFutures,willfocusonconnectingyoung peoplewiththeremaininghistoricvesselsinthe area,withthehugeimportanceofthemaritime heritageofLiverpool,andwiththepotentialfuture careersinthesector,asboththeheritageand maritimesectorsworktowardsagreenerfuture.

eprojectwillatthesametimefocuson embeddingthehistoricvesselintheidentityofthe region’smaritimesectorindustries,thusincreasing supportforyouthdevelopmentworkaswellas privatehiresfromthesector,whichwillallwork towardssecuringthefutureofthisuniquevessel.

DAPSdirectorAndreaWardsaid:“Wearethrilled tohavereceivedthissupportthankstoNational Lotteryplayersandarecon denttheprojectwill supportyoungpeopletodevelopnewskillsand anappreciationoftheirheritageandthattheywill takethelessonsofitsimportanceintotheirfuture professionallives.”

Supportedthrough eNationalLotteryHeritage Fund,theprojectwillenablesixthformengineering, foundationandmarketingstudentsfromacrossthecity regiontobuildanunderstandingofthedevelopment oftheportandshipsacrosstime,andthecurrent urgencytorespondtotheclimateemergency.

Attheendofthe rstyear,theprojectwill culminateinabigFloatYourBoateventatSalthouse Dock,withtheengineeringstudentssailingthe netzeromodelvesselstheyhavedesignedand constructedoverthecourseoftheyear.

Foundationstudentswillalsoshowcasetheir creativeworkusingnaturalandrecyclablematerials torespondtothenaturalandheritageenvironment

andmarketingstudentswillhavecreatedavery excitingcampaigntoraiseawarenessoftheevent. eprojecthasreceivedfurthersupportfrom partnerswhoshareaimstoengageyoungpeople withthehistoryandfutureofthePortofLiverpool: eCanal&RiverTrustwillintroducethe youngpeopletotheecologyofthedocksandhow tolookafterthelivingwaterways

eresearcherthatLiverpoolJohnMoores Universityhasfundedforthe DanielAdamson (the Danny)Mersey-builtsteamtugboat’sClean Steamresearchprojectwillintroducethechallenge ofreducingitscarbonfootprint,andthefacilities andtrainingavailableattheuniversity

·PeelPorts,SvitzerMarineandotherstakeholder industriesinthePortofLiverpoolwillgive youngpeopleaccesstolearningaboutcareer opportunitiesaswellastheindustry’sresponse tonetzero2040.

·TheMerseysideMaritimeMuseumwill supporttheDanielAdamsonPreservationSociety ingroundingthefuturedevelopmentsinan understandingofthepast.

CathrionaBourke,theDanielAdamsonlearning, participationandpartnershipsmanager,sees theprojectchanginghowyoungpeopleseethe relevanceoftheirlocalhistorytotheirfuture:

“Itishardtooverstatethehistoricimportanceof thePortofLiverpool,butwehavebeensurprised atthehungerofthesixthformstudentstoknow moreaboutitshistory,toexperiencetheworking historicvesselsandtofeelthattheyarepartofalong tradition. e Danny providesauniqueopportunity forthemtoexplorethehistoricandworkingdocks fromavesselthatisherselfpartofthathistory.”

StudentsworkingtowardstheFloatYourBoat challengewillalsodevelopprofessionalskills

andunderstandingandhavethechancetomeet manykeyemployersinmaritimeintheregion. e greathopeisthatmanyoftheparticipantswillbe inspiredtofuturecareersinthemaritimesector, andwilltakewiththemintotheircareersapassion formaintainingtheirmaritimeheritage.”

Bookingscannowbemadeonlineat www.thedanny.co.uk

June

FRI23 NationalWaterwaysMuseum, EllesmerePort-AndertonBoatLift 1100-1700 £75

SAT24 NOMADCHEESE&WINE

AndertonBoatLift-AndertonBoatLift

viaActonBridge

SUN25 WEAVERRAMBLE&CRUISE

July

1730-2100 £40

AndertonBoatLift-SuttonWeaver (1200-1330ActonBridge-DuttonWalk) 1100-1630 £56

FRI14 SuttonWeaver-ActonBridge 1200-1430 £40

SUN16 FISH&CHIPCRUISE

SuttonWeaver-ActonBridgeviaMarshLock 1600-2000 £50

MON17 GANGPLANKSPIRITS&PRESERVESCRUISE ActonBridge-SuttonWeaver 1300-1530 £40

August

SAT5 SuttonWeaver-RoyalAlbertDock 0930-1430 £85

SUN6 RoyalAlbertDock-SuttonWeaver 1430-1900 £85

MON7 WEAVERRAMBLE&CRUISE

SuttonWeaver-AndertonBoatLift (1200-1330Dutton-ActonBridgewalk) 1100-1630 £56

TUE8 AndertonBoatLift-ActonBridge 1100-1230 £30

TUE8 ActonBridge-SuttonWeaver 1300-1530 £40

SAT26 NationalWaterwaysMuseum,Ellesmere Port-ModeWheelLock,Salford 1100-1600 £85

SUN27 ModeWheelLock,Salford-National WaterwaysMuseum,EllesmerePort 1100-1600 £85

MON28 NationalWaterwaysMuseums,EllesmerePortSuttonWeaverviaRuncornBridges 1200-1530 £60

Fordetailsofcruisesonboardthe DanielAdamson alongtheRiverWeaverand aroundLiverpoolduringthesummer,visit www.thedanny.co.uk/events

September

FRI15 WEAVERRAMBLE&CRUISE

SuttonWeaver-AndertonBoatLift (1200-1330Dutton-ActonBridgewalk) 1100-1630 £56

SAT16 NOMADCHEESE&WINE

AndertonBoatLift-AndertonBoatLiftviaActon Bridge 1400-1730 £40

SUN17 NANTWICHGINCRUISE AndertonBoatLift-SuttonWeaver 1200-1600 £50

October

SUN8 ActonBridge-SuttonWeaver 1300-1530 £40

The DanielAdamson willhelptoconnectyoungpeoplewiththemaritimeheritageof Liverpool. PHOTO:DAPS

WHAT’SONINJULY

July1-2

RovingCanalTraders’

Association: Floatingmarkets atAudlemandAtherstone Locks.

Daystar: Roses&Castle workshopweekendatAudlem (ShropshireUnionCanal). 10am-4pm.Lunchand refreshmentsprovided,£85. Contact01270811330,jane@ day-star-theatre.co.uk

July2

LouthNavigationTrust: ZeroDegrees2023presents: Culture@thecanal,noonto 5pm.Livelatinandfolkmusic atNavigationWarehouse; GrimsbyandCleethorpes ModelBoatAssociation; watercraftandpaddlerswill joinusonRiverheadBasin. Pleasebringyourpaddleboard, kayak,canoe!Pop-upPimms bar,tea,co eeandBensleys tubsofice-cream.

July8

FriendsoftheMontgomery

Canal: CoracleFunDayatthe TownWharf,ChurchStreet, WelshpoolSY217AN,10am2pm. isisaneweventfor thefriendsandwillgivethe opportunitytotryoutoneof theseuniquecraftwithtuition, buoyancyaidsandsafety canoesinattendance.

July13

RiverFossSociety: Five-mile eveningFarlingtoncircular walk.Meetin eBlacksmith’s Arms,Farlingtoncarparkat 6pm.Formoreinformation

IfyouwantyoureventlistedinourfreemonthlyWhat’sOnsection emailyourentrytojrichardson@mortons.co.ukorusetheevents formatwww.towpathtalk.co.uk/events Pleasecheckwithorganiserswhethertheeventisgoingahead beforesettingoutonyourjourney.

contactAnneBednarski; annebednarski@hotmail.com

July14-16

RovingCanalTraders’ Association: Floatingmarket atGnosallC-Fest.

July15

AqueductMarina: Boating eventattheCheshiremarina between10am-4pmfor dayvisitorsandfrom6pm untillaterintheeveningfor thosewhowanttoenjoythe evening’sentertainment. Entrytodaytimeboating eventsisfree,asisparkingat themarinaatChurchMinshull, Nantwich,CheshireCW56DX. Moreinformationatwww. aqueductmarina.co.uk

July19

RiverFossSociety: reemileOulston–PondHead circularwalk.MeetOulston VillageGreenat6.30pm.For moreinformationcontact DerekChivers:derek@chivers. plus.com

July21-22

RiverFossSociety: Walkthe full28milesoftheRiverFoss overtwodayswhichrunsfrom thecentreofYorktowoodsnear YearsleyaboveOulston(Pond Head)reservoir.Forfulldetails contactannebednarski@ hotmail.com

July23

Canal&RiverTrust: HeritagethemedCanalTownSunday featuringcharactersintraditional costume.NationalWaterways Museum,EllesmerePort.

July22-23

RovingCanalTraders’

Association: Floatingmarkets atCosgroveCanalFestival andTrentham.

July29

RovingCanalTraders’

Association: Floatingmarket atLinsladeCanalFestival.

HillsideJammMusicFestival: Familyfestival,kidsgofree! Plentyofcraftdrinksandlocal foodanddiversemusicline-up. HolroydHouseFarm,Napton, SouthamCV478NY.www. naptoncidery.co.uk

July29-30

EtruriaIndustrialMuseum: Summersteaming–themill drivenbythe1820sbeam enginewillbeinsteamfrom 12.30pmwithblacksmith demonstrationsintheforge. Tearoom,toiletsandmuseum inthevisitorcentre.The museumwillbeopenfrom 10.30am-4.30pmeachday. e maincarparkandentranceis offKilndownClose,Etruria ValeRoad,Etruria,Stoke-onTrentST14RB.Entrytothe museumandmill£7peradult, guidedtoursofthemill£10 peradult,under16sfreewhen accompaniedbyapayingadult.

AnnualGatheringof

HistoricBoats: Audlemonthe ShropshireUnionCanal. e FestivalofTransport(historic roadvehicles)isalsoheldon theSunday.Entrytoboth eventsisfree,withplentyof freeparking.

AllwelcomeasAqueduct BoatingEventreturns

ThemainboatingeventatAqueductMarina.

SATURDAY,July15willseethe returnoftheAqueductMarina BoatingEvent,lastheldbefore thepandemic. epopulareventisbeing heldattheCheshiremarina between10amand4pmfor dayvisitorsandfrom6pm untillaterintheeveningfor thosewhowanttoenjoythe evening'sentertainment. Althoughaimedatthe boatingcommunity,theevent willalsobeofinteresttothose whoarelookingatbuyinga boat.Ifyouarethinkingof joiningthegrowingnumber ofowners,theeventwill provideyouwithanideal opportunitytogetadvicefrom

experts,seearangeofboats forsaleandgainbehind-thescenesaccesstothemarina’s award-winningfacilitiesand exclusiveo ersintheon-site chandlery.

erewillbearangeoftrade

exhibitors,includingAmtrim Covers,EliteFurnishings, Knight’sNarrowboats, LockgateStoves,LeeSan, Marine16,Marineware,River CanalRescue,RookeryHall, PeterTindallBoatSurveyor,

A scene from a previous event