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One of four Chichester Ship Canal Trust boats is lifted out of the water on January 5 for inspection and repairs as the trust prepares for the canal’s 200th anniversary celebrations this year. See story on page 2. PHOTO: ANDREW GIBSON
Freight traffic suspended following fish deaths THE Canal & River Trust has temporarily suspended freight traffic on the Aire & Calder Navigation in West Yorkshire as investigations continue into the harm being caused to wildlife. A significant number of fish deaths have occurred in a localised stretch of the navigation at Knottingley. While commercial barges have been limited to slower speeds and reduced loads in the past few weeks, the impact on fish has continued without explanation.
On January 11, 2022 – the first passage post-Christmas – the trust estimated it sighted around 100 dead fish following commercial passage. Sean McGinley, Yorkshire & North East regional director, explained: “It is a priority to complete our investigation to establish why, on this short stretch of the navigation, fish are being harmed in this way. While there are environmental benefits of barge traffic in taking lorries off the region’s roads, we
are told by the operators that to reduce load sizes further would make passage uneconomic. We have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend freight and will continue to work with freight operators as part of our investigations. “A series of pre-arranged, carefully monitored passages to determine and subsequently avert the impact of freight vessels on wildlife will continue alongside sampling to identify the presence of any toxins.”
The trust supports freight by water where possible on its waterways, as a greener, more sustainable alternative to lorry loads. Within the last 18 months it has spent £5 million to facilitate freight passage on the Aire & Calder Navigation – dredging sections of the waterway, training freight volunteer lock keepers and repairing the navigation following the major breach in December 2020. • Continued on page 2
Mooring strategy
Young preservationist
Regatta stewards
BOATERS have until March to respond to the consultation by the Canal & River Trust on ways to improve the management of mooring space in central London where boat numbers remain at record levels of around 4000 boats. Proposals include an increase in pre-bookable paid moorings at 10 short-stay visitor sites, limiting the amount of time individual boats can use them in a year and increasing the overstay charge and prevention of triple mooring and mooring against a widebeam on the busiest waterways. See canalrivertrust.welcomesyourfeedback.net/London for more information.
THE National Transport Trust is seeking young HENLEY Royal Regatta elected three new stewards people for its Young Preservationist of the Year at its recent annual meeting. International rowers award and needs your help to identify candidates Aquil Abdullah, Jess Eddie and Adam Freemanand nominate them. One of its particular aims is to Pask join an illustrious body responsible for encourage the next generation, not just restorers helping run the annual regatta on the River but volunteers, apprentices and participants in Thames since 1885 which has become a model the Heritage Transport movement. This award for other events, including the Olympic Games. recognises the achievements of young people under An elected management committee, consisting of the age of 20 and the winner receives a financial 12 of the stewards, is responsible for all planning reward. Nominations can be made online through and detailed organisation ofy the regatta, which our bo NOtakes OBLIGATION VALUATION the trust’s website www.nationaltransporttrust.org. place this year from Tuesday, 28 to h t from o at witJune ccoun ur mari one a BROKERAGE FROM 4%+VAT k n a nas rb uk – click on awards. Sunday, July (Minimum charge3. applies) to you
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2 NEWS
February 2022
WELCOME L AST month I referred to milestone anniversaries in 2022 and we have news of more celebrations in this edition. On this page are details of the Chichester Ship Canal Trust’s programme of events to mark the bicentenary of the canal’s opening in April 1822 while on page 3 Anderton Boat Lift announces its season of activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary since its millennium restoration. North of the border both the Union and Forth & Clyde canals have their bicentenaries and Scottish Canals are inviting people to take part in a challenge which incorporates 200 in some way or takes place on or along the two canals at some time during the year. Other anniversaries include the 30th anniversary of the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society’s 25th. As I write, the Government has announced an easing of its Plan B coronavirus restrictions which we all hope augurs well for the year ahead and sees the return of more popular events to the boating calendar. For the first time in many a month, we have four what’s on pages starting on page 18 and including advertisements for the Boatlife Live event later this month (February) and the Braunston Historic Boat Rally in June. It also includes news about advance tickets for the Crick Boat Show over the Jubilee weekend at the beginning of June. There are also some heartwarming stories about boaters who have overcome grief to follow their dream such as Ant Savage who is now a successful lino cut artist, see page 9 and octogenarian Norman Woolley who has continued to cruise single-handedly since losing his wife, see page 22. The days are starting to lengthen and there are already signs of spring to help lift the mood. Keep cheerful
All aboard for Chichester Ship Canal’s season of bicentenary celebrations CHICHESTER Ship Canal’s season of anniversary celebrations will start on Saturday, April 9 – 200 years to the day from its formal opening in 1822. Alison Golt, 200th Project Team, said: ‘We’re inviting the community to the basin, where the event will begin at 11am with short speeches followed by a gunfire salute from the Fort Cumberland Guard.” The day will culminate in a flotilla along the canal arriving at the basin at 3pm. She added: “The Chichester Ship Canal Trust is hosting a day of live music, stalls, food, entertainment, children’s activities, water-based displays including the 1950s vintage tugs, canoe club and model boats,
and land-based exhibitions which will feature knitted bunting, volunteer stories and our heritage centre display.” Events will then run through the spring and summer and will feature a historical talk by local author and historian Alan Green at the West Sussex County Record Office, a yearlong curated exhibition at the Chichester District Council Museum The Novium, hosted boat trips along the canal, a photography competition and a pub quiz. A new sign to mark the location of the famous view painted by JMW Turner will be installed and there will be family-friendly activities through the school holidays, a guided walk with the Friends of
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Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Group advertising manager Sue Keily Advertising sales team leader Tania Shaw – 01507 529489 tshaw@mortons.co.uk Advertising sales representative Chris Heaton – 01507 529354 cheaton@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Chris Abrams Production editor Pauline Hawkins Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Contact us Customer services 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: MondayFriday 8.30am-5pm. help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466. Fax: 01507 529495 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Published by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 523456. Fax: 01507 529301 Printed by Mortons Print Ltd. Tel. 01507 523456 Next issue – February 24, 2022
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Trip boat Kingfisher is lifted out for its biennial inspection. PHOTO: JANET OSBORNE
the Old Ford to Hunston Canal and an art partnership with a contemporary art group ARTEL. Trustee Catherine Cannon said: “Recognising the canal’s position at the heart of the cultural, leisure and heritage sector in Chichester city, the trust is really pleased to be a host venue for Chichester District Council’s Spark Culture opening event and a partner host for Chichester University and the Fringe performers through the summer.” The trust, which is a selffunded charity, will further mark 20 years of formation in September 2022, which coincides with the second formal opening of the canal and Heritage Open Days.
Boat inspections
Volunteers at the trust have been busy making sure everything is shipshape at the canal ahead of the celebrations. Every January one of the canal trip boats is removed from the water for inspection. Because the trip boats Kingfisher and Richmond carry passengers they must each have an inspection every two years. This time it was Kingfisher’s turn to be lifted out of the water. It is the job of the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to make sure that everything is in order. Volunteer director Ian Jackson said: “It was not just Kingfisher that was removed
from the water. This year saw an extra three boats lifted: Frisky, a 1950s-built tug, was removed to repair her prop shaft; Cygnet, a glass fibre work boat, required some much-needed TLC and finally the canal’s newly acquired 1960s-built tug was moved to the water after having its hull restored and repainted by canal volunteers.” Preparation for the lifts started before Christmas and there was much activity on January 4 with the removal of the canal’s popular Christmas lights and decorations. Lifts were performed on January 5. Kingfisher was lowered on to land-supported trestles and sleepers brought up from Hunston. Specialist Hampshire company Coussen’s Cranes
A view of the Chichester Canal close to the location of the famous view painted by JMW Turner. PHOTO: HOLLY BATESON
Return of the Queen PS MEDWAY Queen is back in Gillingham, having returned ‘home’ on Friday, January 7 behind her usual tug Christine, aided by the smaller Nipashore. She was towed to Ramsgate in the summer of 2021, primarily to have the hull inspected and repainted. The Medway Queen Preservation Society (MQPS) board also decided to get other work done while the ship was in a safer working environment, most noticeably the promenade deck rails. Extra work has meant extra cost and a longer spell in dockyard hands than originally envisaged. That additional cost has been partly alleviated by the Saturday Team. While she was in Ramsgate Mark and Pam Bathurst, together with other team members, set up an information table near the ship to collect donations, sell books, give out information and recruit new members – with considerable success. In 2022,
used a 160-ton crane with an attendant lorry, all the necessary equipment and skilled manpower. Ian continued: “The boat lifts created a lot of interest and members of the public stopped to watch the work as it was happening and canal volunteers were on hand to make sure the spectators were safe. The trust ensured that there were two experienced volunteers on hand to make sure any questions they had were answered.” Once remedial work has been completed the trust expects to have all the boats back on the basin by the end of January, allowing plenty of time for the start of the boat trips, anticipated to start again at the end of February.
Freight traffic suspended following fish deaths • Continued from page 1
Medway Queen approaching Gillingham Pier.
PHOTO: PAUL BABINGTON
however, additional efforts will have to be made to increase revenue and donations from all sources. Medway Queen now looks magnificent in her new coats of paint, with the signwriting and lining out complete. The Saturday Team plans to
open to the public once more from February onwards, date to be announced. She’ll be open on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm (last admissions 3pm) with the Memories of Dunkirk exhibition in the lower aft saloon. www.medwayqueen.co.uk
Richard Parry, chief executive of Canal & River Trust, added: “We appreciate the frustrations of pausing freight operations, but we must remain mindful of the environmental impact this is having. To allow it simply to continue to operate as normal, knowing that it is likely to cause numerous fish deaths, would be wrong. We are working urgently to determine the cause and to identify effective solutions working with the freight operators.” More on this story from Jonathan Mosse on page 14, written before the CRT announced the suspension of freight movements as we went to press.
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Fresh outlook for Exeter Canal Basin
Anderton Boat Lift’s two caissons carry boats up and down; the gate seals are due to be replaced. PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST
A NEW plan and a fresh vision for the Exeter Canal Basin has been published. Its aim is to bring back the interest and vibrancy of maritime activity and give the Canal Basin economic and visitor focus as a busy harbourside for the city. John Monks, president of the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal said: “Following our publication of Making the Canal Matter Again to Exeter in November 2020 we are now pleased to present our vision for the future of
The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal is a voluntary group dedicated to preserving and bringing new life to the heritage of the canal as an integral part of the city’s life and economy and for the enjoyment of everyone, today and in the future. the Exeter Canal Basin. “The Canal Basin Masterplan approved by Exeter City Council in 2004 is now outdated and our new plan is intended to transform the Canal Basin through promoting a long term strategy for sustainable maritime activity. “Today it is widely appreciated that waterway regeneration represents good value
for the investments put into it. “It can expand an area’s overall economy, increase vitality of communities, help to meet crucial environmental challenges and draw more visitors through the diversity of its activities. The Friends’ vision for Exeter Harbour incorporates this fresh approach.”
Anderton anniversary year prepares for liftoff
IT’S almost time for liftoff as events get under way later this month to mark the 20th anniversary of Anderton Boat Lift’s millennium restoration. Operated by the Canal & River Trust, the visitor attraction in Northwich, Cheshire, will be hosting a whole season of events, including winter works open days, a steam fair weekend and 10k run in May, as well as dozens of behind-thescenes tours and family fun activity days. Destinations manager Ani Sutton said: “As people visit us over the anniversary year we hope to share with them news of a major multi-millionpound refurbishment which is due to take place in the next two years.
“The black iron structure needs repainting, the control system upgrading and the hydraulic ram cylinders, which support the two caissons, potentially need remedial work. We are still awaiting specialist engineering reports, however the long term plan is to start a major upgrade and repair programme, For the latest news and information about events at Anderton Boat Lift visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk Places on the winter works open days in February are free but need to be booked in advance.
probably in 2023.” The anniversary year opens with two winter works public open days on the weekend of February 26 and 27 when trust engineers will shine a light on the constant challenge of keeping the lift in good working order. Visitors will be given access and insight into the lift’s complex mechanism and be able to see work in progress as the gate seals are replaced on one of the caissons – the giant tanks which transport boats up and down the lift. Originally constructed in 1875 to connect the Trent & Mersey Canal with the River Weaver Navigation 50ft
Exeter Canal Basin. PHOTO: FRIENDS OF EXETER SHIP CANAL below, the lift operated for more than 100 years before it was closed down in 1983 due to safety concerns caused by extensive corrosion. More than £7 million was raised to fund a major restoration in 2000 and it started operating again on March 26, 2002 to great fanfare, followed by an
official opening of the lift and new visitor centre by HRH The Prince of Wales on April 28, 2003. The 20th anniversary of that first boat passage will be marked on Saturday, March 26, 2022, with public celebrations on site, and regular boat trips will start again for the summer season on April 1.
BCNS boaters in call for action over ‘challenging conditions’
BOATERS on the Birmingham Canal Navigations are being asked to bombard the Canal & River Trust with information about the poor condition of the area’s waterways and demand appropriate action. The Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS) is leading a campaign to ‘put our weight behind boaters experiencing problems’ and put
pressure on CRT. Its magazine Boundary Post reports: “Challenging navigation conditions may be found in many areas of the BCN particularly in relation to depth of water and vegetation overgrowth. “As CRT seems to be increasingly reliant on volunteers it is down to boaters to bring these problems to their
attention in a timely manner.” The society’s boating members have recently encountered navigation problems on the New Main Line at Bromford Stop Toll Island where vegetation obscured navigation sight lines and silt build-up caused several boats to get stuck. “Single-handed boaters can find it difficult to extricate
themselves from this type of situation,” says the society. It also points out that lack of depth on the increasingly popular Titford Canal has also caused problems and it is impossible to moor against the wash wall in The Pools because dredging did not extend right to the edge. The self-draining bottom pound at Brades is also said to need attention.
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BCNS is calling on CRT to take some active remedial action but a spokesman added: “We are also aware that most boaters who experience problems simply sort themselves out and go on their way without reporting the issue.” The society wants this situation to change and is urging boaters with issues to contact CRT, either online
at www.canalrivertrust.org. uk or by telephone on 0303 040 440, bearing in mind that anonymous complaints are not recorded or considered. In addition boaters are also asked to pass on the complaints to the BCNS where the issues will be collated and resubmitted to CRT “thus maintaining pressure for remedial action to be taken.”
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A green prescription for Python
A work party tackles jobs around one of the locks. THE Chesterfield Canal Trust has received a grant from the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System as part of its Green Prescribing programme. This money has been awarded to buy lifejackets so that the trust can continue with its vegetation clearance and maintenance programme along the canal in the knowledge that its volunteers are safe. Spending time in and connecting with nature is shown to improve people’s . Python is the ideal vessel for this work mood, anxiety levels and physical health, and £400k national and local funding was made available to looking good for towpath users and support local community organisations in Bassetlaw, Barnsley, boaters. Python is a venerable soul that Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield was built in 1929. It was lovingly restored in improving people’s mental and and refurbished by volunteers from the physical health through blue and green trust and is the ideal vessel for this type social prescribing. of work. For the last five years, the Chesterfield During the autumn, 38 volunteers Canal Trust has used its work boat, joined in with the work, some turning up Python, as the platform to help the Canal on several occasions. Jobs undertaken & River Trust to keep the canal safe and have included litter picking, cutting back
overhanging vegetation, tidying up the sides of locks that had become overgrown, clearing bywashes and pulling objects out of the canal. Python boat manager, Dave Warsop, said: “We love the fantastic variety of people who volunteer to come and help on Python. They are of all ages, races and genders. Some are already very familiar with the canal; others are seeing it for the first time. The common factor is that invariably they leave tired but happy, full of tea and cake and promising to return.” Professor Des Breen, medical director for the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System, said: “Medicine is not always the best way to improve mental and physical health – green social prescribing supports people to engage in nature-based activities, connecting with the world around them, support groups and members of their community and has been shown to help people
Volunteers are of all ages, races and genders. PHOTOS: CHESTERF IELD CANAL
TRUST
Chesterfield Canal Trust volunteers hauling vegetation out of the canal. with a range of mental and physical health concerns.” Cathy Slater, head of development at the Sheffield Wildlife Trust, said: “Spending time outside in nature is good for all of us and we're delighted that these grants will help more
people access activities to connect them to nature and help improve their health and well-being through green social prescribing.” If you would like to be involved with Python’s activities, please email python@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk
Homebuilder offers helping hand TO HELP Chesterfield Canal remain a picturesque and usable stretch of waterway, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands has donated £1000 and attended a volunteer day with Chesterfield Canal Trust. The donation was made as part of the developer’s Community Fund scheme and will go towards the charity’s efforts to restore the last nine miles of the canal. Twelve miles of the canal have already been restored along with 37 locks and 11 bridges since 1989.
Rod Auton, publicity officer at the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “We were delighted to welcome these hard-working guys to join our own volunteers. “We do this work regularly to help maintain the beautiful Chesterfield Canal in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, which owns it.” A total of 12 employees from Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes recently volunteered with the trust and helped clear overgrown vegetation to ensure the canal is usable and thriving, and presented the cheque to the charity.
Derek Caddy and Dave Warsop are pictured with the £1000 cheque donated to the trust.
The Chesterfield Canal Trust is a charity run entirely by volunteers, which aims to promote the full restoration and appropriate development of the Chesterfield Canal. It is currently campaigning to complete the canal’s restoration by 2027, the 250th anniversary of its opening. The developer’s helpers boarded Python, the trust’s 92- year-ol d w orkb oat which carries the tools and equipment, takes away any prunings and rubbish as well as acting as a welfare vehicle. Mark Cotes, managing director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: “The Chesterfield Canal Trust is an incredible charity and its volunteers do an incredible job in restoring the length of the canal to ensure it’s still fit for use. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute towards this with our £1000 donation, as well as our employees getting the chance to volunteer at the canal for the day.”
Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands employees volunteering with the Chesterfield Canal Trust. Builders swap their day job for maintaining a stretch of canal. For more information on how to support the Chesterfield Canal Trust, please visit https:// chesterfield-canal-trust. org.uk/donation/ Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes is delivering new homes in Nottinghamshire and supporting the communities in which it builds. To find out more, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk
Volunteers on board Python during their day on the Chesterfield Canal.PHOTOS SUPPLIED
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New lease of life for Cromford Canal bridge
Newark Town Lock is due to have new gates. PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST
New gates to be lifted into Newark Town Lock THE Canal & River Trust has started works to replace two giant sets of lock gates at Newark Town Lock as part of a major winter programme. As part of the works, which are due to last until mid-March, the trust will be installing temporary dams in order to drain the lock enabling the engineering teams to lift the gates safely into position. During the works the trust is holding special open days, on February 26 and 27, enabling members of the public to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the project. Visitors will be able to step down into the
FCC volunteers preparing Birdswood’s hull for the biennial inspection. PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORK to repair and restore Brown’s swing bridge at the High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal is now complete thanks to Derbyshire County Council and the Friends of Cromford Canal. Dating back to the 1800s, the bridge became difficult to operate due to being worn and damaged. Its main use is by the Birdswood narrowboat trip service to take passengers along the canal and generate funds for its restoration. Repair and restoration of the bridge was funded by the county council contributing £47,000 and £15,000 was raised by the Friends of Cromford Canal and carried out by Beighton Construction. Friends chairman David Martin said: “We are delighted once again to work in partnership with DCC, this time to renovate Brown’s Bridge which will allow FCC to maximise the visitor experience on our trip boat and
will protect this historic swing bridge for many years to come.” The first trip through the repaired bridge carried TV celebrity Richard Hammond and a film crew, who happened to be making a programme about the River Derwent and its history, although the weed build-up after nearly two years’ non-boat movement on that section caused a few problems. As it happened, it was on an FCC work party day and some of the gang were there and hauled Birdswood through the thickest of the weed. The biennial out-of-water inspection had taken place in November when the boat was lifted out and put on stands, kindly lent to the FCC by the Langley Mill Boat Yard and Marina. The hull was rubbed down before the inspection by the combined efforts of the FCC work parties and Birdswood
Celebrating the reopening of Brown’s swing bridge in December.
crew with 18 people working inside and out at one point. The inspection went ahead successfully and she had the hull repainted and was returned to water at the end of November. This allows for her to be used on maintenance work parties, cutting back trees and bushes on the off bank to the towpath and reed pulling in conjunction with the work boat.
Partnership working
Derbyshire County Council works in partnership with the Friends of the Cromford Canal which is a charitable trust set up to promote the canal and its restoration. Cabinet member for Infrastructure and Environment Coun Carolyn Renwick said: “We are delighted to see that the historic Brown’s swing bridge at High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal has been restored and repaired. “This much-needed work has allowed the popular Birdswood narrowboat trip service to fully resume its journeys along the canal which attracts thousands of visitors a year. The site plays an important role in helping us attract more visitors, encourage more staycations and increase visitor spend in the county as well as being a much-loved area for locals.” Derbyshire County Council owns and maintains 11 miles of canals. This includes Cromford Canal from Cromford Wharf to Ambergate and a section at Pinxton Wharf. The site has a wealth of industrial heritage and lies within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
drained lock on specially installed walkways to get a close-up view of the works and speak to the trust’s skilled teams. See article regarding trust open days on page 20. CRT East Midlands regional director Phil Mulligan said: “The works at Newark Town Lock are a great example of the work that we do to preserve and protect the nation’s precious waterways. Our expert teams will be out in all weathers this winter replacing lock gates and repairing historic brickwork. “We’re really looking forward to welcoming people to our open days in February and
enabling them to get a closer look at the works and learn a bit about their local history. It’s not every day that you get to stand at the bottom of a drained lock and we hope that lots of local people will join us.” The new lock gates have been handcrafted using traditional methods in the trust’s specialist workshops at Stanley Ferry in Yorkshire. A single lock gate can take up to 20 days to make and has a working life of between 25 and 30 years. In order to be watertight they need to be built very precisely, fitting tightly to the masonry of the lock walls and to each other.
The bridge being lifted into place.
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Railway bridge ensures canal restoration on track
A MAJOR project to replace a railway bridge which means boats will be able to pass underneath was completed on time during the Christmas holiday. While the railway was closed for seven days between Christmas and the new year, a team of 150 operatives from Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths worked around the clock on behalf of the Cotswold Canals Connected partnership to ensure the project was completed. The original bridge had been replaced in the 1960s with an embankment leaving only a narrow opening that was too
small for boats to pass through and needed to be replaced as part of the restoration of the Stroudwater Canal. The Ocean railway bridge project took more than two years of planning, which included casting the new bridge sections on site, catching and relocating thousands of fish and draining a 230m section of the canal. The team used a total of 4000 tonnes of material for the foundations and backfilling around the new structure and 500 tonnes of ballast (track stone) when reinstating the railway. New bridge sections, the
Some of the team working on the bridge replacement.
The second culvert going in. PHOTOS: NETWORK RAIL
largest of which weighed 64 tonnes, were lifted into place using a 1200-tonne crane. Despite strong winds and heavy rain, which created challenging working conditions, Network Rail completed the project on time. The new bridge, with its integrated towpath, will allow boats to pass under the railway as part of the restoration of the Stroudwater Canal which will eventually make Stroud and Stonehouse canal towns once again. Chr is Mitford-Slade, Cotswold Canals Connected project director, said: “This was the largest and most complex project on this section of the canal (known as Phase 1B) and we would like to thank all of those living in the locality for their support, understanding
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COLIN WAREING Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO:
eams for 2019 are revealed k’s TTop TTeams T k’s Towpath Talk a s, we bid farewell awn AS A new decade dawn t th to 2019 with the results of our Towpath Top Team award which has been k Top Talk r r. running throughout the year. With four teams shortlisted for the final with vote it was a veryy close-run contest t volunteers ty the Grantham Canal Society taking the title by a short head.
Such was the support also for from Crusader Community Boating first Blisworth that we are awarding our a rd – something Community Boat awa f the we had alreadyy been planning for r r. coming year. of Commended are the Friends the River Nene and the Waterways Chaplaincy’s Martin and Fiona Buck. Award presentations to our finalists
r The r. will take place in the new year. off a winning team receives the hire 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 four Chandlers at Braunston and all donation £100 finalists will receive a towards their volunteering organisation the from Mortons Media Group Ltd,
Talk. tth Tal publisher of Towpath Our thanks go to the readers who rose of to the challenge of finding a group a gone that extra ave unsung heroes who have f their local stretch off towpath, mile for a association or ays canal or river, waterways a our judging ave community boat – and gave the panel a difficult job of shortlisting four finalists. • Continued on page 2
found on a boat moored Ouse bodies t achievemen f nd 100-dayCommunity of two men were fou probe Action Network (UCAN) THE bodies Boats gunshot were called UPPERMILL Y k city centre. Emergency services after starting in Yor investigating damage to narrowboats POLICE are Officers were after gunshots were fired in Cambridge. a December 5, at around 10.15pm, ay, called on Thursday, f m shots fro after nearbyy residents reported hearing near boats on the what was believed to be an air rifle the window of one River Cam. Photographs off holes in a since been published. One resident ave of the boats have Chesterton the from told reporters thatt shots, coming moored at Browns side of the river, were fired at boats five about for on Field, Fen Ditton, and this went no injuries were minutes. Cambridgeshire Police said reported and enquiries were continuing.
achieved its 100-day volunteering milestone 2300 hours of out in 2015. This included more than who, according voluntary work achieved by local people to, crafting to UCAN, “care about, and are committed environment”. and maintaining our beautiful local and for the positive Thanks were given to all supporters, work parties will feedback from the community. The next 8 and 20. The usual be on January 4 and 23, and February on Moorgate meeting point is 10am at the canal bridge Killan on 01457 Street but this can change. Contact Peter 878361 or peterkillan@hotmail.com
at around 8pm to Lendal Bridge on the River Ouse said officers on December 4. North Yorkshire Police f two men for attended “after concerns were raised with their touch in their 60s who had been out of bodies. Fire .” Upon arrival officers found the family.” The deaths and ambulance services both attended. although did were being treated as ‘unexplained’ a post-mortem not appear to be suspicious and The men had not examination was due to take place. alk went to press. Tal tth T been identified when Towpath
11/12/2019 10:17:16
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and tolerance. This project, and the canal restoration, would not have been possible without the support of the National Heritage Lottery Fund, private donations, fundraising and grants.” Stroud District Council leader, Doina Cornell, said: “This is more than just an engineering project; our aim is for the canal restoration to act as a catalyst for social, cultural, economic and environmental transformation. We look forward to working with communities and organisations along the canal and recognise the significant effort that will be required from volunteers to complete the project.” Network Rail project manager, Deborah Elliott, said: “Our teams worked through challenging conditions to deliver this important project for the local community and we were very grateful for their interest and support throughout.” Alun Griffiths’ managing director, Stephen Tomkins, added: “As a local contractor, we pride ourselves on delivering schemes that leave a positive legacy for the communities in which we work. This scheme is a great example of leaving a positive legacy by once again having a navigable canal for users and the local community.” A time-lapse film of the installation will be available to view on the Cotswold Canals Connected website and social media channels. The canal towpath either
Cotswold Canals Connected is a partnership of organisations led by Stroud District Council and the Cotswold Canals Trust which are restoring the canal network. Phase 1A, which is now complete, restored the section between Stonehouse and Thrupp. Phase 1B, which includes this project, will restore a further four-mile section between Stonehouse and Saul Junction providing side of the bridge will remain closed until the end of March to allow follow-up work, including re-establishing the clay lining to the canal, refilling the canal, constructing a new towpath and planting trees on the canal bank. An alternative walking and
a connection to the national waterway network. The partnership is committed to significant outcomes for wildlife, people and communities, and our canal heritage. Find out more about Cotswold Canals Connected at www. cotswoldcanalsconnected. org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. cycling route is signposted. Finally, the site compound and other working areas will be restored to their previous condition. Information events about the canal restoration project will take place over the coming months at a number of canalside locations.
An aerial view of the work.
New landing stage on Bedford river A LANDING stage has recently been completed on the River Great Ouse in Bedford to encourage more boats to make the journey to the head of the navigation. Carried out by civil engineers Land & Water, the project, contracted by Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, involved using specialist plant to create a sheet piled landing stage at Kempston Mill. The works aim to bring more visitors into Kempston, benefiting the local economy and raising awareness of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway project. Andy McBride, contracts manager at Land & Water, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the Bedford & Milton Keynes
Waterway Trust in supporting their mission to promote the creation of a waterway park that connects the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse in Bedford. “The sheet piled landing stage at Kempston Mill is the first step and will benefit local inhabitants and boating enthusiasts greatly, and we are proud to be using our expertise to provide innovative solutions to this project.” Land & Water often works with independent canal authorities, trusts and commercial waterways and holds a framework contract with the Canal & River Trust to deliver important dredging projects across the UK.
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The new landing stage on the River Great Ouse near Bedford. PHOTO: LAND & WATER
NEWS 7
www.towpathtalk.co.uk February 2022
Breach repairs continue at Rishton
Volunteers Ray Canter, Basil Raddy and Dave Maloney enjoy a tea break in front of the charity’s new welfare unit at Pewsham Locks. PHOTO: JUSTIN GUY
Lottery cash provides crew welfare unit
HARD-WORKING volunteers can relax from their restoration of a former waterway after they were provided with a new ‘welfare unit’. The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust recently received £9550 from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme. This has provided a new base for volunteers working on the popular stretch at Pewsham Locks, near Chippenham. The welfare unit features a crew room, kitchen, washing area, toilets and storage, with plans to install solar power and a rainwater harvesting system. It replaces a caravan which was too small to cope with the growing number of people wanting to join local work parties. Work party organiser for the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch, Ray Canter, said: “We are very grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for their generous grant. Our old caravan served us well for many years, providing somewhere dry and warm for volunteers to take a break, but it was no longer fit for purpose due to our increasing membership. “The lockdowns encouraged a greater appreciation of local green spaces and the importance of fresh air and exercise,
which resulted in a surge in support for our local work parties. It soon became clear that we needed more room for the volunteers to shelter from the weather and relax during a tea break and we also needed more room for all of the extra equipment which was being used. “The new welfare unit provides much better facilities, for more people, and will hopefully encourage others to join our campaign to bring this wonderful waterway back to life.” The Pewsham stretch already features a mile of restored canal and towpath, together with a wharf and bridge. Volunteers have also started to rebuild a dry dock and there are longer-term plans to restore the flight of locks too. Work parties take place throughout the week and at weekends. Email ray.canter@wbct.org.uk or visit www.wbct.org.uk The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.
THE Canal & River Trust is continuing work to repair a collapsed embankment which swept a section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal into the River Hyndburn at Rishton, Lancashire. Subject to weather conditions, it is hoped to reopen the canal in late spring. It is estimated the work will cost nearly £1.7 million. Senior project manager Dilwyn Parry said: “It’s taken a while to physically start work to fix this hole. We needed to solve the problem of getting all our equipment and vehicles to the remote site, and the scope of works is complex and had to be carefully planned out.
“Behind the scenes, specialists have been ensuring the ecology, heritage and environment around the breach is safeguarded and engineers have been working on the design plan required to repair the canal.” Contractors working on behalf of the trust initially installed emergency dams on either side of the breach to secure the canal. A temporary road and construction site compound were established next to the breach and an access to the canal bed has been constructed to enable work to begin. Around 3000 tonnes of stones and other materials will be used
Around 3000 tonnes of stones are being used in the repair of the breach at Rishton. PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST
to reconstruct the canal and build a new culvert carrying a stream under the canal. Dilwyn added: “We appreciate that this is a major disruption for people who enjoy the canal and towpath and we’re working hard to reopen the canal as quickly as possible.”
Laundrette List returns with new edition REGARDED by many as an essential when out boating, the Aylesbury Canal Society Laundrette List returns this year. The list includes towns and villages with laundrettes listed alphabetically with directions from the canal and some extra information which you may find useful. Canals and rivers are also listed alphabetically showing the towns and villages on those navigations where laundrettes exist. There are many changes since the 2020 edition with a number of longestablished laundrettes having closed, some working very limited hours and some having different working practices such as only doing service washes. Others are only operating on a self-service basis. The Aylesbury Canal Society Laundrette List 2022 edition is now available from IWA Sales at https:// waterways.org.uk or from IWA Sales, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 IWA (tel 01494 783453) for £5 (payable to IWA Sales) including post paid to UK addressees.
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8 NETWORKING
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St Helens honours its own early canal pioneer
SCARS members with Pete Frost, director of the World of Glass, second left, at the position of the Blue Plaque which commemorates Henry Berry, surveyor and builder of the Sankey Canal, the first canal of the industrial age in England. Pictured from left are: Ian Hornby, Pete Frost, Dr Barrie Pennington, Colin Greenall and Neil Forshaw. The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society crew: winners of a Marsh Volunteer Group Award. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Focus on ‘the Danny’ at national awards The preservation society that cares for one of the UK’s best-known historic vessels wins an award and features in a photo competition organised by National Historic Ships UK, reports Phil Pickin.
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closely and, as soon as she was out sailing, I was always looking at specific angles along the river and where the sun would be, etc. Certainly, the best time to capture ‘the Danny’ on the Weaver is in deep autumn; however, usually, her sailing programme wouldn’t delve that far (into November) when the colours along the river would be at their best.” The image was shortlisted for the award almost by chance. “‘The Danny’ had completed her cruises along the Weaver several weeks earlier in October. But problems at Saltersford locks (where she was captured) meant she became trapped at Anderton lift instead of returning downriver to Sutton or onward to Liverpool for winter lay-up. She finally escaped on Sunday, November 11 (Remembrance Day),” John continued. “The weather, I recall, in the morning was quite poor, but the forecasters got it right and by the time she had left Northwich, clear blue skies had rolled in from the west. The shot that you see was arriving at Saltersford among a backdrop of autumnal colours along the north bank. “It was quite spectacular, as were many other shots that afternoon, especially further along towards Dutton and Devils Garden. So that (unfortunate) stoppage at Saltersford a few weeks earlier actually made this photo unique, getting ‘the Danny’ in perfect autumn conditions on the Weaver away from her normal cruise season.” John sends all of his images to the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society for their social media use. And he hopes that the standard of his photography portrays the vessel in the light they want
and brings visitors to them, which is what it is all about. However, this wasn’t the only time the Daniel Adamson was in the news at the award ceremony that was held online. The judges were particularly impressed by two nominations, both of which demonstrated the huge effort made by teams to support their vessel during the pandemic and return it to operation at the earliest possible opportunity. As a result, a Marsh Volunteer Group Award was awarded to The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society crew. The team was recognised for the value volunteering plays in combatting isolation and developing well-being together with a bespoke learning experience for schools. The crew, who had no idea they had been nominated by Andrea Ward and Cathriona Bourke and only found out when watching the ceremony online, received a prize. A second Marsh Volunteer Group Award went to the Steamship Shieldhall Charity in Southampton. Other Marsh Volunteer Awards included the individual award won by Tim Jepson of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust in Essex and the Shipshape Volunteer Award given to the ship engineers of The Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society in Merseyside. A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Chris Heyes of The Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society for his 50 years of committed volunteering. Chris was a founding member of the preservation society in 1971 and has continued to maintain Kerne to keep the historic tug steaming for the public.
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HENRY Berry, the inspirational early canal civil engineer responsible for Britain’s first industrial canal, the Sankey (St Helens) Canal, has been honoured by his hometown of St Helens with an English Heritage Blue Plaque. Organised by the Sankey Canal Restoration Society and sponsored by member Dr Barrie Pennington, the plaque has been sited in a prominent position on the wall of the popular World of Glass visitor attraction alongside the canal close to the town centre. Henry’s exact date of birth is not recorded and the place of his birth is believed to have been Parr, a district of St Helens. On his death in 1812 he was buried first in the Dissenters Chapel and later in St Helens Congregational Church cemetery. Believed to be a religious man who never married, his early career is noted in a limited number of local documents when he was both a highway surveyor and ‘overseer of the poor’. His education is not known but it was highly likely that when working under the experienced civil engineer Thomas Speers in Liverpool, he would have learned his trade. Speers had extensive experience of inland waterways as well as docks and it is after Speers’ death in 1750 that Henry came into prominence in Liverpool. Salthouse Dock, built for the expanding trade in salt extracted from Northwich and surrounding areas then shipped down the Weaver Navigation, is largely credited to Henry Berry. It was Henry’s work in Liverpool that brought him to the attention of the proprietors of the Sankey River, all of whom were Liverpool councillors and substantial financing for the canal was to emanate from Liverpool.
acclaimed as the person responsible for the construction of the first canal of the Industrial Revolution some three years before the Bridgewater Canal. The career of this great civil engineer continued and he was associated with many dock schemes both in Liverpool and Hull and other road schemes but he fell foul of the Weaver Commissioners when they alleged he caused a minor flood on the River Weaver and was dismissed from his position. Retiring in 1789 he lived on in Liverpool until his death in 1812. He enjoyed what was at that time a generous £1000 a year income and he likely was shrewd with his money as he owned an estate in Parr and property in Liverpool. Sankey Canal Restoration Society chairman Colin Greenall said: “It is important that the contribution of this modest religious man is recognised in the town of his birth not just for the economic benefits he brought to the region but for his well-deserved status as a pioneer and innovative civil engineer.” Jim Forkin, chairman of IWA Chester and Merseyside Branch, added: “Increasingly government and society are becoming aware of the value of the work of those pioneering civil engineers in creating these early canals and how they now have been adapted for a new role in present-day society. “The Sankey Valley offers clean open-air space for the well-being of all and this man really deserves that recognition in his own town.” A second Blue Plaque will be erected at the United Reformed Church in the town centre, located near the main entrance on the wall above Henry Berry’s gravestone.
Economical with the truth
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NATIONAL Historic Ships UK’s annual award ceremony late last year was described as ‘a celebration of maritime heritage around the UK coasts, lakes, canals and rivers’. One notable inclusion in the 2021 photography competition was a stunning image titled The Daniel Adamson on the River Weaver with the autumn colours in the background. The image was shot by John Eyres, who, by his own admission, is primarily a railway photographer with a significant interest in heritage. John has followed in his father’s footsteps in his interest in the railways. Mr Eyres senior still gets out today and is a regular contributor to several wellknown railway magazines. However, John’s interest in maritime subjects began about 20 years ago. “Living close to the Manchester Ship Canal, it became apparent to me that the daily ‘goings on’ seemed to pass everybody by and that I ought to start recording shipping scenes,” John said. The River Weaver has always fascinated John, who sees it as a mini version of the ship canal. “My years of photography just missed out on real commercial traffic to Northwich. Therefore I see it as just another backwater today in that regard, even though it is still such a beautiful river. Due to the lack of ‘heavy’ traffic along the Weaver, I suppose the rebirth of Daniel Adamson has given me some inspiration to capture some images of what I call a ‘proper’ ship sailing up the Cheshire waterway. “I had followed her restoration quite
English Heritage Blue Plaque unveiled for Henry Berry (1726-1812)
John Eyres’ spectacular photo showing the Daniel Adamson on the River Weaver against a backdrop of autumn colours was runner-up from more than 400 entries, receiving a highly commended prize. PHOTO: JOHN EYRES
Both industry and the growing towns in the North West needed cheaper coal and to exploit the rich coalfields of South Lancashire, the Sankey Brook was viewed as the best way to be developed as a river navigation but Henry knew this was impractical. However, in 1755 Henry gave evidence to parliament on the project but, despite his religious background, may have been complicit in the building of an artificial cut the full length of the valley without first informing all of the proprietors what was needed. Granted two days a week to work on the canal by his employers on the Liverpool Docks, Henry can be
The Sankey Canal was originally used to transport coal from the South Lancashire coalfields. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
NEWS 9
www.towpathtalk.co.uk February 2022
Characters of the Cut Lino artist Ant Savage By Alice Griffin
WHEN Antony James Savage’s (Ant Savage) best friend, Dale Rudge, died in November 2020 his whole world flipped. “I quit my job as a painter and decorator that same day and told my wife, Hannah, that I’d take the rest of the year off and go back to work in January.” However, during his time spent at home grieving, Ant started to make lino prints as a distraction. “I posted photos online and people asked if they were for sale!” Soon after, he decided to dedicate 2021 to making and selling art. “My friend’s death made me realise just how short life can be and I decided it was time to take a gamble on myself and try and do something I actually enjoyed for a change.” Self-taught, Ant never studied art beyond GCSE level at school but as a young boy it was clear he had a talent. “I was that kid who was good at art. I remember being in middle school and taking challenges from other kids to draw things like horses or cars and being able to somehow do it at the drop of a hat.” As an adult, when he found himself in bored moments, Ant would create detailed illustrations using a black pen on white paper. When he saw lino prints on Instagram he decided it was a medium that could work well. “It suited the kind of illustrations I enjoyed making and I also liked the idea that I could make multiple copies of my work, which is very beneficial if you’re attempting to make sales.” Being able to combine his art business with life afloat has also meant moving from a permanent mooring to the open cuttings of the canal. “We were based full-time in a marina on the River Ouse for four and half years, spending only our summers cruising and then two and a half years ago we moved from the river on to the canal network, the North Oxford.” Now, however, with Ant’s business steadily growing, you can expect to see him, wife Hannah – also an artist – and their new puppy, Mabel, permanently cruising the entire system as roving traders. “That’s the best thing about living and working on a boat – the freedom to be able to move around and trade.” Their 50ft cruiser stern narrowboat, The Corridor, has been Ant and Hannah’s home for seven years. “We were fed up with renting from rogue landlords but struggled to get ourselves on to the property ladder. We knew we had to come up with a new idea and eventually
As a medium, lino prints suited Ant’s illustrations.
‘Mayday’ was inspired by an extremely windy day on board.
Ant Savage with puppy Mabel. decided on a narrowboat.” Their plan was to pay it off over a few years then sell it on and pocket the money for a house deposit. Boat life, however, captured their hearts. Prior to that Ant struggled with the repetition of dragging himself to work just to pay the bills, constantly nagged by the thought that there was something else he should be doing. “When we moved on to our boat I began to feel a freedom that I’d never experienced before. “I loved the fact we could live within our own means and appreciated the boating community along with access to beautiful natural surroundings.” And it is this that inspires many of his lino prints, a good example being ‘Mayday’. This print shows a narrowboat listing in a heavy storm with the pilot holding on to his hat. “It was literally inspired by one of those extremely windy days on board in May!” Ant always likes to try and add a sense of movement to the images he creates so they often appear abstract or slightly surreal. “The canal network works brilliantly as inspiration for my lino prints as everything twists and curves and has its own inherent flow; nothing seems straight.” Throughout 2021 Ant has managed to build a modest
following, sending prints to countries all over the world. “Between my Etsy page and selling directly from travelling on the boat, I have sold over 500 framed prints.” To finish the year he produced a calendar of 12 of his most popular boaty prints. “One hundred calendars sold out over a weekend, much to my amazement!” With art being Ant’s one natural ability for as long as he can remember, in the back of his mind he knew he would one day attempt to make a living from it, he just needed the push to do so. “I would have never taken this step if it hadn’t been for Dale’s untimely death and the realisation of how short life can be.” Find Ant on Etsy, Facebook and Instagram under ‘Ant Savage Art’.
Alice Griffin is a writer wandering the waterways aboard NB Melody. Do make sure you stop to say hello and share your stories if you pass her on the canal! Instagram: alice_ is_in_wanderland www. alicegriffin.co.uk
Ant likes to try and add a sense of movement.
Images often appear slightly surreal. IMAGES SUPPLIED
10 NEWS
February 2022
Anna and Richard with the old Village Butty sign.
The Village Butty, formerly Vanadium, being lifted out of the water in London.
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The Village Butty on the road to recovery.
Award-winning Village Butty bound for new horizons
THE Village Butty, built in 1959 then bought and converted in 2010 by James Bentley into a ‘floating village hall and boaters’ community centre’, has received a substantial grant from Arts Council England. For the last decade the 50ft wroughtiron hopper, registered name Vanadium, was a fixture in the London boating scene, providing a unique location for the then rapidly expanding waterborne population of the capital. Not only much loved as a social hub for canal dwellers, it quickly became a respected and fashionable venue for music, arts and nights out even for the landlubbers of London. Wonderfully run for 10 years by James, Alice Cade and Ian Horrocks, its reputation spread far beyond the Regent’s Canal and the River Lee Navigation which were its regular haunts. This reputation was justly rewarded when it won the prestigious Living Waterways Award for Best Small Arts Venue in 2019. Sadly, the pandemic was unkind to the vessel for all the obvious reasons and owner James, with heavy heart, decided to sell it to Anna Crockatt and Richard Guard, who had already been heavily involved with this historic boat. They had it craned out at Springfield Marina and moved to Brinklow Marina, just outside Rugby, dreaming to restore the boat to its former glory. The Village Butty is now to be rewarded with a complete renovation. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, it’s going to get a new wooden floor and roof, state-ofthe-art solar power, electric and audio equipment are to be installed and a classic push tug purchased to move her around. Anna and Richard intend to transform The Village Butty into the most spectacular grass roots music venue on the inlands waterways system. “Our stated aim is to increase the overall jollity of the nation,” said Anna. “And we could certainly do with some of that,” chimed in Richard. The refurb will take place at Brinklow Marina and interested parties can keep up with developments by listening in to The Relatively Good Radio Show, a monthly live radio show broadcast at 2pm every third Tuesday on Londonbased Resonance 104.4FM, the multi-award-winning arts radio station, and online at Resonancefm.com “Arts Council England has recognised
that small music venues are closing at an alarming rate, meaning there’s nowhere for up-and-comings to try out their stuff,” said Richard. “We are delighted to be able to get this very special venue back in full swing and not only have a stage for new and untried acts to test their mettle, but also restore a beautiful historic boat and let everyone enjoy exquisite music on the canal – the canal that they have quite probably turned their backs on for years.” Anna explained: “We don’t want to make a racket, we adore the amazing tranquillity of the cut, but we would love to make difference – a real difference. We just want to bring more beauty to an already beautiful setting.” The couple are currently planning a very long and very slow, two-year tour of the waterways after the rebuild. If all goes well, the journey might go on forever. “Obviously you can’t get from Birmingham to Leeds in a day in a narrowboat, the way rock bands do in a tour bus, so it’ll be a week here, travel, then a week there.
Plants growing in the
Inside The Village Butty. “We reckon to be open and active two weeks a month from spring to autumn, then back to Rugby to plan our 2023 tour over the winter, if Brinklow, ‘the marina of dreams’, will have us back,” Richard said. Arts Council England has given Anna and Richard the chance to breathe new life into The Village Butty and achieve their ultimate dream of touring the UK
Inland Waterways system and ‘increasing the overall jollity of the nation’. However, they are still in need of additional funds to give that dream wings and so have started a crowdfunding campaign to help them get there. Visit https://www.crowdfunder. co.uk/p/the-village-butty-relaunch to join their journey and get involved!
floor.
PHOTOS SUPPLIED
The Village Butty, a floating village hall thevillagebutty@gmail.com www.facebook.com/thevillagebutty @thevillagebutty
Narrowboat Chip is off to join the circus
By Tim Coghlan, Braunston Marina
LEISURE narrowboats have become increasingly popular as cheap alternative housing, but until now not as an alternative to the traditional showman’s caravan that goes with the circus fraternity.
That was until Finley Guy, 23, had the idea of acquiring one after her uncle and aunt had moved on to a narrowboat on the Ashby Canal and she realised that canals for the most part were within easy cycling range of wherever her summer employer, Giffords Circus, was performing.
Braunston Marina narrowboat sales manager Victoria Garfield presents circus performer Finley Guy with a bottle of Prosecco following her purchase of narrowboat Chip – the marina’s first completed sale of 2022. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN
Pre-Covid, Finley had worked for them in the Cotswolds and the London area as a jill-of-all-trades – front of house, singer, dancer, clown and more – and was living in a shared caravan. Optimistically looking ahead, she has just bought her dreamboat Chip from narrowboat brokers, Braunston Marina. It is an elderly 1980 40ft narrowboat that had been well maintained, including a major makeover to the hull in 2017. The boat was being marketed at £23,500. Hopefully Finley will be back working in the Big Top when summers return to normal, and she can take her home with her, though nothing is as yet firmed up for this summer. Chip was Braunston Marina’s first completed sale of 2022, in a period of great activity that has seen seven other boats going under offer since January 1. To celebrate this, Finley was presented with a bottle of Prosecco by narrowboat sales manager Victoria Garfield, after she had handed over the keys. Finley is now working her way northwards assisted by a friend who is teaching her the ropes, so in due
course she can work Chip singlehanded. First port of call will be the same marina where her aunt and uncle moor. Later Finley will be moving on to Stockport where she will be in the Easter panto of Mother Goose at the Plaza Theatre. In the autumn she will be back in Stoke-on-Trent, for her fourth season of pantos at the Regent Theatre. Chip will be moored in a secure mooring in the city’s centre for the duration. Finley has been walking the boards since she was 16, when she completed her education in music and theatre at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts in Swindon. She also sings with various bands, and we are looking at her coming with one of them to perform at the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally in June, when a mooring in the marina could be provided for Chip. And if Finley gets that desired summer circus work, then maybe Chip should be renamed ‘Chip-per-field’!
NEWS 11
www.towpathtalk.co.uk February 2022
More volunteers receive national awards
PART OF MIDDLEWICH CANAL CENTRE Barbara (right of picture) clearing floating pennywort from the Nottingham & Beeston Canal.
Left: Barbara Hillier with her award.
VOLUNTEERS in two more regions have been recognised in the annual Canal & River Trust and Marsh Charitable Trust national awards. As reported last month, teams and individuals across CRT’s six regions in England and Wales are receiving awards over the coming weeks. In the East Midlands, the award was given to Barbara Hillier who has been involved in more than 20 volunteering opportunities on the city’s waterways and played a leading role in improving her local canals for people and wildlife. Barbara, who is a keen boater, leads the trust’s regular Towpath Taskforce activities which enable members of the public to lend a hand in caring for their local waterways. She’s also helped to plant and care for wildflower meadows along the Nottingham & Beeston Canal, organised activities to remove invasive weeds, helped install signage and played an active role on the Nottingham Canal Improvement Partnership.
Wales & South West award winner Thelma Edwards with Marsh Charitable Trust trustee Nick Carter (left) and Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry. PHOTOS: CRT
Barbara even found the time to work with residents of Castle Marina during lockdown to create floating bird nesting platforms out of old life rings and other items found lying around the marina. She said: “It’s a team effort really and I have a great set of willing people around me. I’d like to thank the volunteering team at the trust as I couldn’t do what I do without them. “It’s so lovely to be able to pursue my passion with water and get so much back from it. The more you do, the more you realise there is to do.”
B
Ten years’ service
The award in the Wales & South West region went to long-standing volunteer Thelma Edwards from Devizes. A retired health professional, she has been with the trust since 2012, starting at the Caen Hill flight where, as a volunteer lock keeper, she helped boaters navigate the 29 locks. Since then she has given the charity more than 2500 hours of her time, developing her volunteering in many different roles including becoming lead volunteer for the Admiral Welcome Boat, developing new activities including the junior lock keeper project and mentoring and training other volunteers. Thelma received the award from CRT chief executive Richard Parry at a ceremony at the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester. She said: “As I start my tenth year with the Canal & River Trust I realise how varied my role has been and how it has evolved. “I’ve also been able to develop the Admiral Welcome Boat and my team in a way which I know meets the needs of our many visitors. I’m a very keen listener and use what I learn to help people get the very best from our experience with us. This award really is a wonderful way to start my next volunteering chapter!”
Sileby boaters raise funds for defibrillator “Any extra will go into a special fund for the BOATERS in Sileby marina on the maintenance of the unit,” Soar Navigation in Leicestershire said John. “New pads need have launched a campaign to replacing every two years and provide a defibrillator for their expensive batteries every four waterborne community as well to five years.” as for dog walkers, fishermen He added that depending on and passers-by. the success of the fundraising The campaign was instigated it might be possible to help by John Martin on NB Nuthatch towards another defibrillator who was a helper at the local in Sileby village. football club when they The community by acquired their own defibrillator. the river comprises the “I went on a course marina itself, Sileby Mill with them to learn how Boatyard and Stowfledge engineering works near the to use the defibrillator and thought it would marina entrance. be a good idea to Stowfledge has have one for our agreed to have the marina, especially defibrillator fixed to the wall of its premises as the nearest one is a quarter of a mile at a point which is away,” said John. easily accessible to Together with everyone. another boater, Mick The boaters are Gray, on NB The Last also getting valuable Crusade, John braved a John Martin, left and Mick Gray braving support from a local cold December morning the cold winter weather outside the charity, the Joe Humphries to ask for donations from marina to raise funds for a defibrillator. Memorial Trust. It was set up in 2012 after Joe died regular passers-by. PHOTO: LES HEATH By Les Heath
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The area is a favourite spot for both professional and ordinary dog walkers who helped boost the funds on that day. “We were amazed at people’s generosity,” said John, who is planning another session following messages from people who had ‘missed’ them on the day. The unit itself costs around £800 with another £600 for the special cabinet. Within the first week more than £900 had been raised.
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12 IWA ROUND-UP
February 2022 www.towpathtalk.co.uk
AROUND THE COUNTRY COMPILED BY IWA’S GEMMA BOLTON
Canal Camps 2022 – book your place on a volunteer holiday SPEND a week outside helping to bring a derelict waterway back to life and book a week-long working holiday in 2022. You will have the opportunity to learn new skills while getting involved in worthwhile projects such as building new bridges, restoring lock chambers and vegetation clearance. IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group is planning an exciting summer programme of Canal Camps across eight sites
across England and Wales. Activities are set to include: • Bywash repairs on the Ty Coch Flight on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canals in Wales; • Helping the IWA Essex Waterways team to repair Stonham’s weir on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation in Essex; • Building a new slipway for small craft launches on the Maidenhead Waterways; • Supporting work to restore the Herefordshire
& Gloucestershire Canal at Malswick, reinstating around 600m of filled-in canal. This year also sees the return of WRG’s Family Canal Camps. Over the October half term, there will be a Family Weekend in partnership with the Wendover Canal Trust open to young people aged 6-14 and their families. Water way Recover y Group Canal Camp working holidays attract a wide range of people, from young volunteers taking part in
the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme to waterway enthusiasts who want to help restore and preserve the waterway network. They also appeal to people who have skills such as engineering or bricklaying and want to do something worthwhile and satisfying with their leisure time. Waterway Recovery Group has been supporting canal restoration across Britain for more than 50 years, so you’re in safe hands.
Get involved in projects such as vegetation clearance.
Learn new skills while helping to preserve the waterway network.
Young volunteers enjoying a working holiday. PHOTOS: IWA
IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London in 2022 THE IWA Canalway Cavalcade will return to London’s Little Venice from Saturday, April 30 to Monday, May 2 for the full bank holiday weekend. Celebrating the best of life on the waterways in London and its community, there’s something for everyone at this popular event. Whether visiting by boat or on foot, it’s a splendid day out for you and your family. Soak up the atmosphere surrounded by colourful boats, alongside a multitude of unique stalls, a real ale bar and delicious foods for all appetites. With eclectic live music around the site, there are special boating activities like the legendary illuminated procession
and kids’ entertainment for all ages. You’ll also find amazing art from local schools on display and plenty of opportunities to get involved at IWA Canalway Cavalcade.
Moorings are available for boaters to book for all or part of the weekend. Go to waterways.org.uk/cavalcade to find out more and book your place.
Volunteer and make a real difference to Britain’s living waterways heritage The Canalway Cavalcade returns to Little Venice over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. PHOTO: IWA
Get involved – join us on a work party
IWA branches are getting back to work to improve waterways across the country. Work parties have been risk assessed and mitigating measures are in place. Please contact the branch to register an interest if you would like to attend one of these work parties. It is advisable to wear stout shoes, old clothing and bring a waterproof. You may also want to bring a packed lunch and any refreshments. North Saturday February 12 IWA Manchester Branch: Work
party on the Ashton Canal. 10.30am. Contact Barry McGuinness: barry. mcguinness@waterways.org.uk or phone 07875 999825. Thursday February 17 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: John.lawson@waterways. org.uk or phone 07940 878923.
East Sunday February 6 and Tuesday 15
The £70 cost for a week’s holiday includes: All meals – including a cooked breakfast, lunch on site and a substantial home-cooked evening meal… along with plenty of tea breaks. Accommodation – volunteers sleep in a large communal space, usually in a village hall or scout hut. Transport – We can pick you up from the nearest station. We also provide travel between the accommodation and site. Bookings will open at the beginning of February. Visit waterways. org.uk/canalcamps to find out more.
IWA Northampton Branch: Work party on the Northampton Arm as part of the Branch’s adoption of the navigation. 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 or phone 01604 453932. Tuesdays IWA Milton Keynes Branch: Regular
work party at Fenny Lock on the Grand Union Canal. 9.30am-1.30pm. Work can include vegetation clearance, gardening, litter picking and painting. Work parties are dependent on weather. Contact Pat
Durham: pat.durham@waterways. org.uk or phone 07510 195918. West Tuesdays and Saturdays IWA West Country Branch (Taunton & Bridgwater): Work parties in the
Somerset area. 10am-1pm. Contact Mike Slade: mike.slade@waterways. org.uk on 07977 263840. Branch talks and socials
In addition to work parties, IWA branches host local waterway talks, walks and socials to share the wonder of the waterways. Many of these are open to anyone who wants to come along. Find something that’s on near you at waterways.org.uk/events
THE Inland Waterways Association is seeking volunteers to help improve the protection of heritage assets along the UK’s rivers and canals through the extension of existing conservation areas, listing status and campaigning to save historic waterways features that may be at risk from insensitive development. As a heritage volunteer, you will help Save Waterways Heritage. You will join an enthusiastic and motivated team of volunteers and staff. In addition, you will learn new skills, gain new experiences and receive training. There are several ways to get involved in IWA’s Save Waterways Heritage campaign from photographing heritage as you walk, run, bike or boat along the canal to becoming one of our national heritage advisors. Look out for hidden heritage
Uncover historical artefacts along the waterways near you. These are the details that help tell a story about the waterways they served. Hidden heritage can be things like the rope marks on a bridge, mason’s marks on a lock wall, canal company signage or mile posts along the towpath. You don’t need to know what these things are as IWA has experts on hand to advise. You just need enthusiasm and a camera.
Identifying heritage at risk
Be a part of the team! Work with IWA’s Heritage Advisory Group and local branches to identify heritage buildings, structures and artefacts which are at risk of being lost. This information will feed into IWA’s Waterways Heritage at Risk Register and local campaigns. Map conservation areas
IWA is looking to create a small project team to spend the next 4-6 months researching the waterways network and mapping conservation areas to create a central database. IWA will then be able to lobby local authorities to designate more waterways and their corridors as conservation areas where it’s appropriate. Share your heritage expertise
Join IWA’s panel of expert advisors. Ideally you will have a background or academic interest in conservation, archaeology or management of historic structures and provide advice and guidance on heritage matters to our volunteer community and staff team to ensure the waterways heritage is understood and appreciated by government, stakeholders and developers. Find out more and sign up at waterways.org.uk/heritagevolunteer
