Towpath Talk August 2023 issue

SIZZLING BRAUNSTON HISTORIC RALLY

WORK IN PROGRESS AT TODDBROOK

BOATS LINE UPAT BRADLEY

Government funding cuts put future of nation's historic canals at risk

TV DOCTOR PLANTS POCKET PARK TREE

IRADER

BOATS FOR SALE

Starts on P23

THE Canal & River Trust has issued a stark warning that government funding cuts mean the nation's muchloved canal networkis atrisk ofclosures.

The warning comes as the growing impact of climate change is increasing the cost

ofmaintaininghistoriccanals. keep canals alive at https:// canalrivertrust.org.uk/ keepcanalsalive

CRTchiefexecutiveRichard Parry has urged the public to show support to keep canals alive and join the call in lobbying their MPs for the Government to change its decision as well as backing the trust's campaign to

Diamond Soundings

THE Residential Boat Owners' Association (RBOA) celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special glossy coverededitionofitsmagazine Soundings. Inhisopening remarks, chairman Charles Fosterreferredto the move ofthe usual bi-monthly edition to an online emailed version. Thanks go to editor Beryl McDowell and the staffatAnchorPrintfortheproductionoftheanniversary magazine -firstofmanyannualeditions. Aswellas the usualassociationnews,itfeaturesmembers'accountsof theirtravels,makingforveryinterestingreading.

He warned that, unless a more realistic funding settlement is secured, itwill turnthe clockbackon one of the nation's greatest heritage regeneration stories andlead

Sponsor a rivet

totheJossofsubstantialpublic benefits. "We are tasked by government to care for and manage safelythis important and historic infrastructure. Government has confirmed the value and importance of the nation's canals and their vital role in our health and

Bridge rebuild

THEFriendsofPresidentlauncheditsSponsoraRivet appeal at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally. As the Friendsnowhavethedrawingsfortheboiler,theyknow exactlyhowmanyrivets there are - more than 200. If all the rivetswere sponsoredfor£10 each, this would raise more than £2000 towards the appeal's £20,000 shortfall.RivetscanbesponsoredviatheBlackCountry LivingMuseumwebsite(bclm.com). Ifyouwouldlike tosponsoraspecificrivetemailfopsecretaryl95@gmail. comandyouwillbe sentanumberedcertificate.

well-being, for wildlife and nature, and in supporting jobs and the UK economy. Yet, at the same time, it has announcedafundingdecision which puts the very future of canalsatgraverisk:'

•Continuedonpage2

THE Canal &River Trusthas completed the projectto rebuild the Grade II listed Hazlehurst Bridge across the Caldon Canal near Endon in Staffordshire. The 12-month project, costing£2 million, was enabled by anawardfromthePostcodeEarthTrust.Thebridgehas beenrebuiltin its former locationwiththe sameform, scaleandcharacterasbefore,withmanyoftheoriginal stonecopingsreused.Describedasanaccommodation bridge,itprovidesaccessacrossthecanalforfarmersand residentialboatersandtothetrustformaintenancework.

Visitors to the Gnosall C'Fest dodge the showers but there was some sunshine too. Report and more photos on page 5.

PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN

WELCOME

IT’Scomeatlast–thelongawaitedannouncementby Defraonfuturefundingfor theCanal&RiverTrust.

Withthecurrenteconomicclimate it’shardlysurprisingthatcutsareonthe horizonbutthewaterwaysaresuchavital partofourheritage,economyandwellbeingagendathatthe#KeepCanalsAlive campaignhasstartedtourgethe Governmenttochangeitsdecision.

Inourfrontpagestorywhichcontinues onthispage,CRTchiefexecutiveRichard Parrywarnsoftheriskofclosuresfollowing yearsofrestorationandregenerationefforts andthepublicbenefitstheyhavebrought.

TheInlandWaterwaysAssociationwas alsoquicktorespondtothedecision.Its reportonpage12referstotheestimated 80,000jobsdirectlylinkedtoBritain’s waterwaysfromcanalsidecafestomajor housing,sportingandleisuredevelopments, whichcollectivelycontribute£1.5billion annuallytotheeconomy.

InlinewithCRT,itisurgingpeopleto writetotheirMPs,nationalchairmanLes Etheridgeaddingthatatatimelikethiswith adverseweatherevents,theGovernment shouldalsobeprotectingnatureand wildlife,ithavingacceptedevidencethat blue-greenspacesalsodeliversubstantial benefitstotheeconomy.

AndNABO(NationalAssociationof BoatOwners)generalsecretaryPeter Braybrookjoinsthedebateinhiscolumn onpage78highlightingthecampaigngroup FundBritainsWaterwayswhichhasbeen formedattheinitiationoforganisations includingNABO,theIWA,BritishMarine, AssociationofWaterwaysCruisingClubs andRoyalYachtingAssociationalongside about30otherwaterwaysbusinessand leisureorganisations.

The firstmaineventwillbeacampaign cruisetoBirminghamonAugust11and 12toraiseawarenessoftheproblemand continuetolobbythepoliticianstobring aboutareversalofwhatisdescribedasthe ‘shortsightedpolicyofDefra’.

Andtheprotestabouttheexclusion ofliveaboardboatersandotherswithout apermanentaddressfromreceivingthe GovernmentEnergySupportScheme(EBSS) andalternativefuelsgrantsis alsoreportedonthispage.

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Independentlyproven pickup: 34,450copies

Governmentfundingcutsputfuture ofnation’shistoriccanalsatrisk

Continuedfrompage1

Thereducedgrantfrom2027will almosthalvethevalueofpublic fundingforcanalsinrealterms comparedwithrecentyearsand comesatthesametimeasthecosts ofmaintaininghistoriccanalsare increasing,duetothegrowingimpact ofclimatechange,withmoreperiods ofdroughtandextremestormevents takingtheirtollonageing250-year-old infrastructure.

ThiscomesdespiteaGovernment Review,sharedwiththeCanal&River Trustandexpectedtobepublished, confirmingthatitsfundingis‘clearvalue formoney’,withcanalsshowntodeliver substantialbenefitstotheeconomy,to peopleandcommunities,andtonature andbiodiversity.

Richardcontinued:“Bysharply reducingtheirinvestmentinthecritical worktocareforandsafelymanagethis vulnerablenationalcanalinfrastructure, theGovernmentisfailingtorecognise thefullcostofsustainingthevital benefitstheyprovide.

“Ourindustrialcanalheritageisas vitaltodayasitwasinthepast,and

willcontinuetobeinthefuture,by bringingthebenefitsofgreenspace andnaturecorridorsintourban areas,aswellascontributingto flood defencesandtransferringwaterto areasofshortage.Itisacriticalpart ofournationalinfrastructure,andits declinewouldimpactcommunities acrossthecountry.”

Atatimeofincreasingcosts,the proposedcutswouldseethevalueof publicfundingforcanalsreducein realtermsbymorethan40%–ormore than£300millionintotal–compared withrecentlevels.

Headded:“Thenationlostmany hundredsofmilesofwaterwaysinthe 20thcentury,butinthepast50years theyhaveexperiencedanextraordinary renaissance.Todaytherearemoreboats onthecanalnetworkthanattheheight oftheIndustrialRevolutionandthe networkprovidesvitalgreenspaceby waterandaccesstonaturetomorethan 10millionpeopleeachyear.”

FundBritain’sWaterways

TheannouncementbyDefracame lessthanafortnightafterthelaunch

oftheFundBritain’sWaterways(FBW) steeringgroup.WhiletheGovernment’s plansarewelcomedwhichwillatleast continuetheprovisionofgrantfunding toCRTbeyondMarch2027,whichis whenthecurrentgrantcomestoan end,FBWmembersareconcerned thatthismarksafurtherdramaticcut.

Thecurrentfunding,whichhas been fixedat£52.6mperannumsince 2021,isalreadyfailingtokeepupwith inflationandthephysicaltollthatmore frequentsevereweatherishavingon thewaterways’infrastructure.

Inapressstatement,FBWdescribed Defra’sofferassimplynotenoughto avertthedeclineofCRT’snetwork, particularlygiventhecharityalready facesadeficitof£12-15million. The grantitcurrentlyreceivesfromDefra makesupalmostaquarterofits incomeandiscriticalinhelpingitlever inothersourcesofincomeandfund itsessentialmaintenanceprogramme.

FBW,whichalreadyrepresentsthe majorinlandwaterwaysorganisations andhundredsofthousandsofusers andsupporters,iscampaigningto ensurethatbeyondthisparliament

CostoflivingpetitionpresentedatNo10

SLOWcruiserstooktheircampaignto thedoorstepofBritain’spoliticalpower.

TheboaterstravelledtoLondon toprotestthecontinuedexclusion ofitinerantboatdwellersandothers withouta fixedaddressfromreceiving the£400GovernmentEnergyBills SupportScheme(EBSS)and£200 AlternativeFuelsGrants,which theGovernmentpromisedtoevery householdintheUKlastMay.

Ledby flotillaorganiserandretired teacherAnitaWeedy,wholivesaboard her57ftfullyelectricnarrowboat, Watt Way,thecruisershandedinapetition toNo10DowningStreetonMonday, June19. Thepetition,whichcurrently has5437signatures,wasstartedbythe NationalBargeeTravellersAssociation (NBTA)whichhasbeensupporting the flotillaprotestandcampaigning fortheinclusionofitinerantand off-gridcommunitiestothescheme sincethegrantswere firstannounced inMaylastyear.Aftermooringupin PaddingtonBasinonSaturday,June10 wheretheyweregreetedbyagroupof supportiveboatersinthearea,many ofwhomhavealsobeencampaigning fortheGovernmenttofollowthrough onitspromisetoprovide financial supportduringthespirallingcostof livingandfuelcrisesintheUK,they setoff forthecapital.

Anitaexplainedshehadtheidea fortheflotillawhilemooredin Nottinghamandsetoff forLondon fromLoughboroughatthebeginning ofMarch.Averagingaroundeight milesaday,shewasjoinedbyfellow continuouscruisersKimandDave Marshall,wholeftHuddersfieldin theirnarrowboat Porticeri inAprilto jointhe flotilla.

Messagesofsupport Anitasaidmeetingpeoplealongtheway helpedtoraisetheprofileoftheirplight. Theyalsoreceivedmanymessagesof

supportthroughsocialmedia.

“Peoplehavebeenaskingaboutit andpeoplearefollowingmeonthe Facebookpage,”saidAnita,whoset upaprofileonFacebookandTikTok.

“Thereisageneralconsensusofthe unjustnessofit.Ifeltsupportedallthe way,ithasbeengreat.”

Shesaidhavingtheopportunityto handthepetitioninatNo10Downing Streetwas‘amazing’andhopesthatit willbereadandactionwillbetaken.

“It’sonlyfair–theysaidhelpfor allUKhouseholds–Iwantustobe recognisedasaUKhousehold.

“Itwasgreattobeableto finish itwithaknockontheNo10door

andhandingoverthepetition–that wastheperfectendtowhatwehave beentryingtodo.Wehaveallhad veryexpensivebillsandweareall householdssoweweresupposedto gethelpandsomeofusdidn’t.”

RetireesKimandDave,who swappedbricksandmortarfortheir floatingabodein2022,saylastyear theywerepaying£16fora13kgbottle ofgas.“Throughthewinterwewere paying£48forthesamebottleofgas –thathastripled,andthatisjustthe gas.Dieselhaseasilydoubled.

Recallingthepetitionhandover atNo10,Kimexplained:“Wehave putavoiceforwardforallthosewho couldn’tgo. Wehavetokeepour fingers crossedtheycomeupwithsomething.”

Financialburden

Theincreasedcostoflivinghasplaced animmensefinancialburdenon manypeopleinthecountry.Many itinerantboatersareonlowincomes orpensions,with48%earningless than£20,000peryear.

Mostitinerantboaters–whomove theirboatsaroundBritain’sinland waterwayswithoutapermanent ‘homemooring’,changinglocation roughlyevery14days–relyondiesel enginestonavigate,bottledLPGgasto cookandheatwaterandotherformsof fueltoheatandlighttheirboats.

PamelaSmith,chairoftheNBTA whichsupportedthepetition,said: “Thefactthatboatershavetravelled halfwayacrossthecountrytodeliver thispetitionshowsthestrengthof feelingthatcontinuestoanimateour communityonthisissue.”

therewillbesufficientgrantfundingto retainthebenefitsthatBritain’sinland waterwaysprovide,theCRTnetwork alonecontributing£6.1billionperyear ineconomicandsocialvalue.

LesEtheridge,chairmanofFBW andtheIWAsaid:“TheGovernment musttakeheedofCRT’swarnings. Otherwise,theseproposedcutswill resultintheclosureofwaterways, harmingbusinessesandplacing communitiesatriskasthecondition ofCRT’swaterwaysinevitably deteriorates.”

IWAchiefexecutive,Professor SarahNiblock,added:“Thewaterways renaissancehasbeenoneoftheUK’s biggestsuccessstoriesofthepast50 yearsonalllevels.

“Itisactuallyhardto findthewords toexpresshowdevastatedwefeeland howfearfulweareforthefutureinthe wakeofthisdecision.Iurgeeveryone toexpresstheirconcernstotheirMPs asapriority.”

Formoreaboutoftheresponsesof IWAandNABO(NationalAssociation ofBoatOwners)seethereportson pages12and78.

Moregood newsforthe MontyCanal

THEShropshireUnionCanal Societyhasreceiveda£14,600 restorationgrantfromthe AssociationforIndustrial Archaeologytowardsthecostof restoringthehistorictramway wharfontheMontgomeryCanal atCrickheath.

Itwastheterminusofa2½ milehorse-drawntramwayfrom thelimestonequarryatPorth-ywaen.Builtbynavviesduringthe constructionofthecanalattheend ofthe18thcentury,itisconstructed asawiderubblestonewallusing locallimestone.

Thewharfwallisbeingrestored asitwasoriginallybuilt,with membersoftheDryStoneWalling Associationcontributingtheir expertisetoensuredurableand highqualityrepairs. Thewallis toppedwithlargecopingsofbuff andyellowsandstone/gritstone thatsupportedthetramwayrails andwagonsfromwherestonewas tippedintomoorednarrowboats.

Itisthoughtevenbackinthe 18thcenturythecopingswere repurposedfromelsewheredue tosomevariationinmaterialsand differentstonemasondressing marks.Manyhavecrumbledand willrequirereplacement.

SUCSprojectmanagerTomFulda said:“Weareverygratefulforthis generousgrant.Itwillsubstantially helptheprojectwiththecostof planthire,volunteerwelfareand materialsaswellaspromoting theworkoftheAssociationfor IndustrialArchaeologywhichhas supportedthestudy,preservation andpresentationofmanysites sincethe70s.”

MARSHALLANDANITAWEEDYUNLESSINDICATED

FormoreinformationvisitNotall HouseholdsonFacebook.

TheAIApromotesthestudy andappreciationofindustrial archaeologythroughaprogramme ofawardsandgrantsandpromotes itsaimsthroughbroadengagement withpeopleintheirearlycareers.

TheflotillaheadstoLondontoraisetheprofileofthecampaignfor boaters’accesstotheEnergyBillsSupportScheme.

PHOTO:DAVEMARSHALL

KimknocksonthedoorofNo 10DowningStreettohandin thepetition. PHOTOSSUPPLIEDBYKIM

Boatersjoinedaflotillato taketheirEnergyBillsSupport Schemeplighttothecapital. SallyCliffordfindsoutmore.

UpforthechallengeontheChesterfieldCanal

Report&photos:JanetRichardson

EXCITINGplansfortheStaveleyTown Basinwereunveiledatabusinessevent hostedbytheChesterfieldCanalSociety ontheeveofitsrecentcanalfestival.

Anewhub–StaveleyWaterside–is tobecreatedforstart-upandexisting businesses,buildingonthesuccessof theMarkhamValeEnvironmentCentre.

HeadofMEGZ(Markham EmploymentGrowthZone)PeterStorey saidthattheideatocreatesomething alongthecanalcorridorwas firstmooted some17-18yearsagoandthebasinwas createdwiththehelpoffunding.

Aplanningapplicationforthetwo-storey buildingwassubmittedtoChesterfield BoroughCouncilinMarchanditishoped toinvitetendersforitsdesignandbuild intheautumn.Constructioncouldstart earlynextyearforaprojectedopeningin September2024.

Itwillcomprise flexibleofficeand workshopunitsforsmallbusinesses alongwithunitsforhighquality foodandbeverageswithindoorand outdoordining,otherretailuseand mooringspace.

Theaimistoattractupto10businesses onthesiteandcreate40newjobs;cycle storagefor36bikesandparkingfor71 carsincludingelectricvehiclespaces. Itisprojectedthatitcouldalsoattract over30,000visitorsayearasadining destination.

Peterexplainedthatthe£4million projectwillbefundedfromtheStaveley TownDealfundandDerbyshire CountyCouncil–acatalystforwider regenerationvisionforStaveleyTown Basinandtoactasanincentivefor futureinvestmentandgrowth.

Legacy

Theaudience,whichincludedthe chiefexecutiveoftheCanal&River Trust,RichardParry,andthenational chairmanoftheInlandWaterways Association,LesEtheridge,was welcomedbyChesterfieldCanalTrust companysecretaryRodAuton.

Heintroducedthedeputyheadof HollingwoodPrimarySchool,Lois Clarke,whoexplainedthemeaningof LEGACY–Language,Empowerment, Globalcitizenship,Authenticity CommunityandYou.Shewas accompaniedbyfourchildrenwhoused theseheadingstooutlinewhatthecanal meanstothem:

“Empowerment:Thisoutdoor classroomisashortwalkawayfrom ourschoolandhelpstogiveus understandingoftheworldaroundus.

“Globalcitizenship:Werecognisethat ourworkwiththeChesterfieldCanalTrust teachesustorespectthecanalwhichisa lastingbondforourcommunity.

“Authenticity:Ourcollaboration withCCThasprovideduswithsome opportunities.Experiencesofthe schoolbecomingafondmemory. Duringlocalhistoryweekwestudiedthe developmentoftransportonthecanal.

“Community:Weareproudtobea memberofthewholecommunityin ourworkwiththetrust.Wecandothis work.Itteachesustounderstandabout ourhistoryandheritage.”

ChairmanoftheChesterfieldCanal Partnership,CounAlexDalewho representstheDronfieldEastand UnstonewardonDerbyshireCounty Council,explainedhowthisregional multi-agencygroupworks.

Aforumformemberstocoordinate acrosstheirrepresentativeorganisations, itincludeslocalauthoritieswhichhave theChesterfieldCanalrunningthrough theirareas.Theforumcomprises: BassetlawDistrictCouncil,Canal&River Trust,ChesterfieldBoroughCouncil, ChesterfieldCanalTrust,Derbyshire

CountyCouncil,InlandWaterways Association,NorthEastDerbyshire DistrictCouncil,Nottinghamshire CountyCouncilandRotherham MetropolitanBoroughCouncil.

CounDalesaid:“Ourvisionis tosecurearevitalisedChesterfield Canalimprovingthequalityoflife forNottinghamshire,Derbyshireand Rotherhamresidents.Wewanttorestore thecanaltofullnavigationandcreatea linkbetweenthecanalandSheffield–theRotherValleyLink.

“Weareacutelyawareofthelast economicstudythatwasdone–actually thisisabout20yearsoldandweare livinginaverydifferentworldnow.”

Headdedthattheyneededtoensure thecanalissustainableand fitfor purposewithaclearvisionstatement tohelpbidforgovernmentfunding.

Obstacles ChesterfieldCanalTrustdevelopment managerGeorgeRogerssaid:“Idon’t needtoinspireyoutorestorethecanal, thepreviousspeakershavealready donethat.”

HereferredtoIWA’sWaterwaysin Progressstudyquoting:“Whathasthe EdenProjectgotincommonwitha coffeeshopontheChesterfieldCanal? Theyarebothprimeexamplesofthe visiontoturnunfinishedbusinessto everyone’sadvantage.”

Georgeexplainedthatthe8.5miles ofthe37-milecanalstilltoberestored betweenStaveleyandKivetonPark presentsachallengewithengineering obstaclesalongtheroutesuchas NorwoodTunnelandthemotorway (M1).“Buttherearesolutions.”

HesaidthatKivetonStakeholder

Groupislookingatopportunitiesthere andNationalHighwaysinrespectofthe M1.Killamarshisanotherbigobstacle withadiversionneededaroundhouses builtoverthelineofthecanal.Two housesboughtbythetrustafewyears agoarecurrentlyrentedout.

“Therearetwomainprojectsat present.Renishawwaspartlyrestored about15yearsagobuthasdriedup;we wanttostartalong-standingambitionto sortthatoutandthereisabitofdesign worktodo.”Fundingforthe£425k schemeincludespledgesfromIWAand DerbyshireCountyCouncil.

Anothermajorobstacletorestoration isfromStaveleyBasinthroughthe StaveleyPuddleBankwherethecanal wasbuiltonanembankmentandthere arealotofearthworkstodo.

Itwasalsohopedthathelpfromthe StaveleyTownDealprojectwouldpave thewayfromEckingtonRoadtowards therailway.Georgepointedoutthat itwasoriginallyplannedtogetallthe waytotheboroughcouncilboundary butthecostmakesthatabitoutofreach, soadditionalfundingisbeingsought.

Heconcludedbyasking:“Areyouup forthechallenge?”

StaveleyTownLockandBasin.

ThespeakersattheChesterfieldCanalbusinessevent,fromleft:Peter Storey,GeorgeRogersandCounAlexDale.

DevelopmentmanagerGeorge RogerstalksaboutChesterfield Canalrestorationplans.

ThevisionfortheStaveley Watersidedevelopment. Partoftheaudienceatthebusinessevent.

DeputyheadLoisClarkeandtheyoungspeakersfromHollingwood PrimarySchool.

Hot weather greets visitors to Braunston Historic Boat Rally

By Phil Pickin

MANY of this year ' s outdoor events have been blessed with good weather and this year ' s Braunston Historic Boat Rally was no exception.

The event was opened by music mogul Pete Waterman, whose longstanding support for heritage railways and the canal close to Braunston is well known Given his love of steam, it was only right that he should open the rally at the tiller of Hasty, a 60ft steam tug

Other notable attendees included Sir David Suchet, who enjoyed a short trip on 70ft butty Raymond with his wife Lady Sheila and a number of other VIPs, including Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry

As always, the focus of the day is on the boats, but in all 28 traders, including a number of charities, had stalls offering a range of goods and services to visitors

Tim Coghlan, Braunston Marina’s managing director, said: “Despite the economicsituation,therallyattendanceby both historic narrowboats and the public was very close to last year – just slightly ahead, which was very encouraging We had, in the end, 82 boats coming versus 81 last year – a few late breakdowns or we would have been ahead.”

Organisers hope to see a few more trade stands in future years to offset those that were lost as a result of the pandemic

This year ’ s ‘best in show’ boat went to Dory, winning a £250 Midland Chandlers voucher and the Nurser Award Buckby can The 70ft 1934 Fish Class motor, built for FMC by Yarwoods of Northwich, has been owned by David Ray of Norbury Junction since 2018.

In addition to this prize, a number of boats and charities also received donations, including: All Saints’ Church,

Braunston, Friends of Raymond, Friends of President, The Narrowboat Trust, Melton & Oakham Canal Society, the IWA, Cotswold Canal Trust, Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust, Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Society and Buckingham Canal Society Some £5000 was donated to canal and local causes

Tim added: “Pete Waterman did a brilliant job opening the rally, and it was obvious he was in his element, all steamed up on the historic narrowboat Hasty We were helped with brilliant weather, with record attendance on Sunday and the punters not wanting to leave

“The Essex-based mobile bar Best Bar – Bar None stayed open until 7 45pm –well past the scheduled closing at 5pm, having one of its best days this year ”

For those who missed this year ’ s event, the team at Braunston tell us they will be holding the rally again next year in its usual slot, the last weekend in June.

Boats lined up, waiting for the procession to start.

Jaguar – One of the many boats on show.

Pete Waterman at the tiller of Hasty opening the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally

Sir David Suchet on board butty Raymond

Just some of the 82 boats registered to attend.

There were plenty of canine visitors.

No moorings free!

Stands inside the marquee.

Pete Waterman presents a £1000 cheque from Braunston Marina to the Friends of President. Also pictured are, left, CRT chief executive Richard Parry and, right, IWA national chairman Les Etheridge.

PHOTO: VICKY KETTELL

DodgingtheshowersatC’Fest

Report&photos:PhilPickin ITDOESN’Tseemayear sincethelastGnosall CanalFestivalorC’Fest ontheShrophireUnion CanalintheStaffordshire villagethatgivestheevent itsname,andwhata differenceayearmakes. Lastyearwashotand dry;however,thisyear’s event,whichencompasses anumberofvenuesinthe village,washitbypoor weatheroverthethreedays ofthefestival. Thefocus ofC’Festisthe floating market,witharound15

boattradersmoored betweenbridges34and35. Itwas,therefore,ashame thatthosewhodidattend hadtododgeblustery showersandgustywinds. Theimpactofthepoor weatherwasn’tconfined totheboats,italsohitcar parkingwiththeusual field, usedbyvisitorstotheevent whotravelledbycar,not abletobeused,recentrain havingstoppedthefarmer fromharvestingthecrop itcontained.Alternative optionsincludedtheuse ofalocalbusrouteanda smallnumberofparking

optionsinthearea. Despitethis,thehardy soulswhobravedthe sometimesinclement weatherenjoyedthe atmosphereoftheevent andvisitedthetraders andaroundninehistoric boatsthatweremoored closeby.Anumberof land-basedstandswere onoffertoprovidevisitors withinformationonthe workofgroups,including theShrewsbury&Newport CanalTrust,theRNLIand StaffordshireWildlifeTrust tonamejustafew. Foodandentertainment

wasonofferthroughout theeventintheadjacent pubs,whichseemedto bedoinggoodbusiness. Thehardworkofthelocal restorationgroup,who haveresurfacedsections ofthetowpath,mayhave goneunnoticedbythe majorityofvisitorsbut helpedtokeepthetowpath accessible.Withsomeof thethree-dayeventbeing blessedwithsunshineand drierweather,thehopeis thatthegooddaysmadeup forthenotsogood.Fingers crossedforbetterweather forC’Fest24.

Youdon’toftenfindpiratesonthecanals!

Crowdswatchingtheboat procession. PHOTOS:PHILPICKINUNLESS INDICATED

Hasty,withPeteWatermanatthe tiller,getsunderwaytoopenthe rally.

SarahEdgson,whochairsthe HistoricNarrowBoatTrust,is presentedwithBestinShow awardsbyTimCoghlan.She receivedthemonbehalfofthe crewof Dory,whichhadleftbefore thewinnerwasannounced.

PHOTO:GRAHAMNEWMAN

Dory wasvotedBestinShow.

PHOTO:TIMCOGHLAN

Thehistoricboats,including Shroppiefly-boat Saturn,proved popular.

The historic boats including

SomeoftheboatsonshowatC’Fest.

Towpathimprovementswereofbenefittoanumberofvisitorsto thefestival.

Flagshipawardforfloatingbookshop

“IPLAYEDcricketwherewe arestoodwhenitwasempty withoutcoal.”

ForPeterClaxton,stepping aboardtheformercoalbarge hisfatherNormanskippered foradecadeorsoevokedfond memoriesofschoolholidays spentonthevessel.

“Intheschoolholidaysitwas compulsoryIwentwithmydad onthebarge. Thisisoneofthe lateronesmydadhad,”Peter continued.

Todaythebargehasbeen lovinglyandsympathetically transformedandrepurposed, originallyintoa floatinghome andnowasa floatingbookshop.

Standinginthenowbrightand airyinteriorinthespotwhere asateenagerheandhisfather wouldtakeitinturnstobatand bowlinthethenrooflessvessel

whilewaitingforthebargetobe loadedwithcoal,Petertookin thesurroundings.

“Ithaschangedradicallyfrom itsworkinglife.Itisamazing

becausebythetimetheyhad finishedtheirworkinglifethey wereinverypoorcondition,”said Peter,referringtothebargesthat wereoftenscrappedattheendof theirworkinglife.

“Iwassurprisedthisstillexisted andto finditisabookshop–what agreatuseforit.”

Peter’spresenceonthebarge wasbroughtaboutbypublicity profilingthepresentationofa special flagshipaward.

LaunchedinNovemberlast year,HoldFastBookshop,which takesitsnamefromthenautical sayingoftentattooedonsailors’ knucklestoholdoninstormy seas,hasgiventhe57ftby14ft widebeamanewleaseoflife.

eachjourneybetweenFallIngs, Wakefieldand ThornhillPower Station,Dewsbury.

Naturalmove

MarjorieR hasbeenpartof theBonnerfamilyforalmosta decadeafterherownersVictoria andChrispurchasedherfora floatingabode.

“Welivedonherforfouror fiveyearsbutwewantedawayof keepinghersoshecanbelooked after,”saidVictoria.

BookloverVictoriahad workedasalibrarianso transforming MarjorieR into afloatingbookshopwasthe naturalmovetomake.

recognitionofheruniqueoffer asanindependentbookshopand communitybase.

Shewasbestowedwiththe flag for‘FlagshipoftheYear2023’by SimonStephens,amemberofthe CouncilofExpertsforNational HistoricShipsUKandcuratorofthe ShipModelandBoatCollections attheNationalMaritimeMuseum, Greenwichataspecialpresentation inLeedsDock.

“Thebookshopideaisafantastic waytorepurposeahistoricvessel,” saidSimon.“Creativeapproaches likethisofferarealisticmeansof fundinglong-termpreservation andaregreattosee.”

useforit,”saidthesisters,who attendedthepresentationwith theirfamilies.

Victoriasaidopening Marjorie R asabookshophasnotonly securedherfuture,itisalso providinganincometohelpwith hermaintenance.

Spoton:PeterClaxton picturedintheareawherehe andhisfatherplayedcricket whilewaitingforcoaltobe loadedontotheformercoal bargeduringitsworkinglife.

PHOTOS:SALLYCLIFFORDUNLESSINDICATED

Christened MarjorieR,the trendywatersidesettingwhere sheismooredinLeedsDockis asleekandpolishedcontrastto theindustrialcityscapearound whichsheoncetravelled transporting75tonnesofcoal

Builtin1946byHarkersof KnottingleyforHargreaves, MarjorieR nowhasanother stringtoherbow–anaccolade fromNationalHistoricShips (NHS-UK).

NationalHistoricShipsUK hasappointedsixvesselsfrom aroundtheUKtoactasits FlagshipsoftheYearand ‘flythe flag’formaritime heritage.Theawards provideanopportunityto demonstrateandcelebrate thevalueofhistoricvessels tothewiderpublic.

MarjorieR waschosenin

Alsoinattendancewere thefamiliesof MarjorieR’s namesake–MarjorieReed,the wifeofReginaldReed,whowasa consultantdirectorofHargreaves andworkedforthecoalboard afternationalisation,alongwith Leedscouncillor,AsgharKhan.

Interestingly,MarjorieReed’s son,DrStuartReed,anddaughters, AnnSimpsonandSueGrafton, visitedtheboatlastyearafter readinganewspaperarticleabout hernewleaseoflife.Itwasthe first timetheyhadseenherin70years.

“Wearethrilledtobits.It’s wonderfulandit’sawonderful

“It’salsoawaytohelpus, andhopefullyourcustomers –alittleretreattopopintoas weallnavigatelife’supsand downs.Ourbookshopstocksa widerangeofstylesandgenres, bothnewandsecond-hand.We areproudtobemembersof The BooksellersAssociation.Wealso sellonlineaspartofbookshop. org,”saidVictoria.

“WehavealwayslovedMarjorie R –shemeanstheworldtous andwelovesharingthestories ofherpastandherworkinglife withourcustomers. Thisaward isafantasticrecognitionofjust howimportantitisthatwekeep thosestoriesalive–andwhat betterplacetosharestoriesthan abookshop?”saidVictoria.

Visituk.bookshop.org/shop/ holdfastbookshop.Formore informationvisithttps:// holdfastleeds.co.uk.

Electra’s sprucedupforsummerseason

HAVINGcarriedmorethan 4000guestsinher firsttwo years,communityboat Electra hashadherspring serviceandisnowbackin thewater,sprucedupand readytostartcruisingforthe restof2023.

Theall-electricboathas beenbacktoColecraft, theWarwickshire boatyardwhereshewas originallybuilt.More than20maintenance itemswerecarriedout, tokeepherlookingas goodasnew,together withenhancementsto herbatteryandelectrical managementsystemsto keepherattheforefrontof environmentallyfriendly boattechnology.

Otherworksincluded replacingthebowthruster propeller,relayingthecabin floorandpaintingthehull. Andafterbeingdriven50 milesdowntheM1ona low-loader,shewascraned backintotheGrandUnion CanalatWillowbridgeMarina onStokeRoad,Bletchley.

DeniseTaylor,volunteer

Electra safelybackinthewateratWillowbridgeMarina.

chairof Electra’smanagement team,said:“Wearedelightedto welcome Electra backtoMilton Keynes.Shelooksinsuchgood condition,followingher‘makeover’attheboatyard.The boatyardteamhasdoneagreat job,ashaveourownvolunteers, Malcolm,Stuart,KevinandJerry.”

“Wearelookingforwardto greetingourguestsonboardfor therestoftheseason,”added SueMorrison,volunteerlead cabinhost.

Volunteerco-ordinatorGill

Kirkupsaid:“Westillhave opportunitiestojointhe team,particularlyvolunteers tohelpwithshore-based rolesincludingmarketing, communityengagementand trainingadministration.Ifyou areinterested,pleaseemail meonvolunteers.electra@ bmkwaterway.org.”

Bookingscanbe madebyvisitingwww. bmkwaterway.org/electra

Holdingtheflagfastare,fromleft:ChrisBonner,Simon Stephens,VictoriaBonner,PeterClaxton,SueGraftonand AnnSimpson.

Alltogether:ChrisBonner,PeterClaxton,VictoriaBonner, SueGraftonandAnnSimpsonpicturedonboard Marjorie R –nowhometoHoldFastBookshop.

MarjorieR’snamesake,MarjorieReed.

PHOTO:REEDFAMILYCOLLECTION

PHOTO:JAMESCLIFTON

BySallyClifford

Newvalvesandpipeworkwilleventuallycontroltheflow ofwaterfromtherefilledreservoirtothePeakForest andMacclesfieldcanals.

SunnyopendaysatToddbrookasjobprogresses

Reportandphotos:ColinWareing

THECanal&RiverTrustandKier constructioncompanyhaveonce againofferedmembersofthepublica behind-the-scenesviewofthetwo-year, £15millionrestorationprojectof Toddbrookreservoirthatwillbringthe reservoirbackintoactiveuse.

Anumberofgroupswerehostedover thetwodaysinearlyJulyonanhour’s visittoviewtheconstructionsitefromthe safetyofthewalkwayalongthetopofthe dam,withabout10peopleineachgroup.

Theywereaccompaniedbymembers oftheKierorCanal&RiverTrustproject teamtoexplainwhatisgoingonaround thesitenearWhaleyBridge,including drivingpilesintothegroundtoform thenewspillwayandchannelalongthe northsideofthedam,withworkbelow thedamtoremoveanyexcesswaterthat comesoverthespillway.

Agoodmixoffolkstookthechance ofthevisit,withlocalswellrepresented, enjoyingthesunnyweather.

Thesevisitswereabitmorerelaxed thanpreviousopendayswithallvisitors givenasafetybriefingbuttherewasno needforhi-visjackets,andwithitbeing awarmcoupleofdaysbottlesofwater wereprovidedforrefreshment.

Followingsteelsheetpilingsbeing drivenintothegroundtoformthenew tumblebay,theearthintheareais beingexcavatedbeforeconcretepiles aredrivenintotheground. Therewillbe about500pilesdriveninacrossthesite, somegoingdown22mintotheearth.

Thetumblebayanditsweirwillthen beconstructedfromconcreteandwhile thesteelpileswillremaininplace,they willnotbevisible,beingburiedunder theconcrete.

Oncetheprojectiscompleteany excesswaterinthereservoirwill flow overaweiralongsidethetumblebay andintothenewspillwaywhichwill runalongthebottomofthetumble bay,thusavoidinganywaters flowing overthemaindamashappenedinthe overtoppingeventinsummer2019.

Furtherpublicopendaysarebeing plannedastheworkprogresses,butifyou can’tmakethese,thereisa fly-through videoofwhatthecompletedprojectwill looklikeathttps://canalrivertrust.org. uk/restoring-toddbrook-reservoir Theaimistohavethewaterbackin thereservoirbytheendof2024,whenit willonceagainbeavailabletofeedthe PeakForestandMacclesfieldcanalsas itwasbuilttodo.

Theviewfromthewalkwayonthetopofthedamdowntotheworking areaalongthenorthernsideofthereservoir.

Steelpilingsstilltobedriveninto thegroundaroundthesiteto formareasofthenewtumblebay, spillwaysandstillingbasin.

Beyondthisinformationboardagroupofvisitors areaskingquestionsofTomGreenwood,the projectmanager.

Lookingupthefaceofthedamtothewalkwaywithagroupofvisitors. Thebagsofaggregatesthatweredroppedbyhelicopterinthedays followingthebreacharestillinplace.

HistoricThameslocks receive£9.5minvestment

WaterwaysarefocusofChesterHeritage

THEEnvironmentAgency’sNavigation Programmehasinvested£9.5million intothenon-tidalThamesover 2022/23anddeliveredavarietyof refurbishmentprojectsfromRushey

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Fromjust£19

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LockinWestOxfordshiretoRomney

LockinWindsor.

Theseincludeimprovementsto publicsafety,resilienceandamenity workstomakevisitinglocksaneven morepleasantexperiencefor boatersoutonthenon-tidal Thames thisyear.

EAwaterwaysmanager,Maria Herlihysaid:“Theseprojectsare financedbyDefraGrantinAid funding,thatallowustomanage andmaintainmorethan600miles ofinlandwaterwaysacrossEngland”.

“Intotalweinvestedinover20 projectsin22/23andlookforward todeliveringthisyear’sinvestment programme,thatwillfurther improveourcustomers’experiences onthe Thames.”

Workhasrecentlybeencompleted atRusheyLock,ontheupper stretchesofthe Thames,besidethe oldlockhouse,arefurbishedguest

Aspidercraneusedtolift equipmentandmaterialsona floatingpontoonatRusheyLock.

HAVINGlaunchedat ChesterRacecourse in2023,theannual ChesterHeritage Festivaltookplace fromJune17-28. Eventsforallages includedwalksto explorethecity, opportunitiestolearn moreaboutthepeople andhistoryofChester throughtalks,films andonlineevents, activitiesatChester Cathedral, TheCastle, andNewChester Market,alongthe RowsandCityWalls, andonthestreets. The2023festival hadaspecialfocuson Chester’swaterways andtheRows.The InlandWaterways Association,Chester &MerseysideBranch tookanactivepart

inthefestivalwith committeemember

JohnHersontaking peopleonafascinating walkaroundChester's historicwaterways. Hetalkedabout thewaterwaysfrom theirinception–and whyChesterbecame animportantRoman port–throughthe industrialagesuntil thepresentday.

Thecanalwalk, tookthemalongthe ShropshireUnion Canal,formerly theChesterCanal. Theywentpastthe NorthgateLocksand arrivedatthecanal basin,TowerWharf andTaylor'sBoatyard.

Fromtheretheshort DeeBranchCanallinks thecanalsystemtothe tidalRiverDeeandthe oldPortofChester. Itisthispartof Chester'swaterways thatformedthecoreof anapplicationinApril 2021tohavethecity's waterwaysdesignated aheritageport.

Theproposalhas beenacceptedasthe firstCanalandRiver SystemHeritagePort andisrecognisedby theMaritimeHeritage Trust,NationalHistoric ShipsandEuropean MaritimeHeritage. The ultimatedesignation byHistoricEnglandis nowawaited.

Detailsoftheproposalcanbefoundat https://www.chesterheritagefestival.co.uk/ chester-heritage-port

replacedwithnewbeams,especially hand-craftedonsite. Theoldcesspithas alsobeenbrokenoutandexchangedfor astate-of-the-artreplacement.

NewtimbersatCavershamlock.

PHOTOS:ENVIRONMENTAGENCY

housefrequentedbyDouglasFairbanks andErrolFlynn.

Thelockchamberhashadacomplete refitwithold,worn-outconcrete repaired,anewegressladderinstalled andtheoldtimbersonthewalls

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AtRomneyLocknearWindsor,the siteofahistoricweirbackinthe1400s andwhereanoldpoundoaklockwas firstbuiltin1797,thesidefencing hasbeenreplacedwithlong-lasting, environmentallyfriendly,treatedposts. Anewdwarfwallthatcurvesaroundthe lockgatehasbeenbuiltandalluneven surfaceshavebeenrepairedtoimprove safetyacrossthewholeofthesite.

Otherlockswheretherehavebeen

Boatownersneedtoregisteror licenceboatsiftheywanttokeepor usethemontheRiverThamesandall inlandwaterways.‘Boats’includeany vesselwithorwithoutamotor,suchas sailingboats,riverboats,canalboats orhouseboats,aswellas‘openboats’ suchascanoes,paddleboards,rowing boatsordinghies.Moreinformationis atwww.gov.uk/register-a-boat

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Asalodgeowner,yougainexclusiveaccesstothemarina’svibrantcommunityandexceptional amenities.Dineatoneofthewaterfrontrestaurants,explorethewaterwaysonyourboat,orsimply indulgeinthetranquilsurroundings.

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ExperiencetheepitomeofwaterwaylivingatMerciaMarina.Tosecureyoursliceofthisextraordinaryretreat,contactustoday.

Pleaseseeourvideoat:www.marinalodges.co.uk

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NewfenceatRomneylockmadefromhardenedsoftwood.

keyprojectsoverthelast12months include:Caversham,Marlow,Brayand Goring.

CharactersoftheCut

TheNarrowboatFamilyFoster

ByAliceGriffin

WHENCraigandEllieFosterfound themselvesrelocatingtoLondonforwork, theyknewtheywereatacrossroadsthat requiredsomecreativethinking.

Elliesharedwithme:“WhenCraig tookanewjobatafurnitureandlighting companyinKing’sCross,weknewthat eitherIwouldhavetoquitmyfreelance digitalillustratorworkforsomethingmore financiallystablesoourcombinedincome couldaffordtherentalprices,orwe wouldneedtogetcreativewithourliving situationinordertokeepourfreedom.”

Thecouple,alongwiththeirdog,Gruff, thankfullydecidedtherewasnothingforit buttogetcreative.“Welookedintothings likepropertyguardianship,vanlifeand rentinganarrowboat,andthenrealised thatifwecouldsecureapersonalloan, wecouldbuyourown–albeitsmalland humble–boat.”

Soonaftertheybought Clover,a30ft Springer.“Cloverwastheonlyboatwe couldgetholdofatthattimeandwasa projectinsideandout,whichmeantafew weeksshoweringatthegymandburning candlesafterdark!”

However,despitebelievingthat Clover wouldbeafairlyshorttimeescapefrom therentalmarket,orperhapsevenan assetforafuturehousedeposit,when Elliefellpregnantin2019thecouplewere asshockedasanyonethattheirchoiceof familyhometurnedouttobeanotherboat.

Narrowboat Victoria,a1994Pinder60ft cruiserstern,washurriedlyboughtjust beforebaby Theawasborninautumn2020 but,justlikeCraigandEllie’s firstboat,was neverintendedtobekeptforever.“We’ve alwayssaid Victoria wouldbeourlast floatinghome,thatbythetimeweoutgrow thisspacewe’llsurelywantagardenand never-endingwatersupply,butwejustkeep findingwaysaroundthesethings!”

Itseemsthat fiveyearsonthewater continuouslycruisingisawayoflifethat haswellandtrulygotunderCraigand Ellie’sskinanddespiteinitiallyhaving reservations,isalsoprovingtobea beautifuloptionforlittle Thea,too.

“At firstitwassafetyconcerns–we imagineddroppingherintothecanal somehoworherescapingtheboat!But nowshe’stwotheworriesaremoreabout whatwe’lldoaboutschoolandwhether we’regivingherenoughsenseof‘home’.”

Nature-inspiredchildhood

Assomeonewhohasalsoraisedachild onthecut,Icompletelyunderstand thesereservations,howeverIamable

toreflectonthebenefitsofthisunique nature-inspiredchildhoodnowmyown daughteris16andI’mheartenedthat CraigandElliehaveoptedtoembrace eachchallengewithpositivity.

“Ithinkallparentsworrythey’re doingeverythingwrongsometimes,it’s partofbeingagoodcaregiver!Butwe trynottoletthatworrydefineourlives toomuch,andinsteaddoallwecanto offsetthoseconcerns,liketaking Thea toconsistentplaygroupsandmaking friendswithotherboatfamilies.”

Consideringarealisticalternativefor thisfamilyrightnowwouldbea flat, possiblywithoutaccesstoagarden,it seemsboatinglifewinsout,forthetime beinganyway.“Therearesuchbonuses tothislife,”Elliesharedwithme,“for instance,it’swonderfulwhenweare abletomoorrightoutsideCraig’soffice sohecanenjoythe30-secondcommute aswellaslunchtimecuddleswith Thea. Andwelovehoweasilyshecanget outsideandaccessnature.

“Weopentheside-hatchwhenever possibletoallowhertowatchthewater birdsfromherseatatthebreakfastbarand aimforparksandnaturereserveswhen cruising.” Thissummerthefamilyareeven planningtoleaveLondonaltogetherso that Theacanlivelikeawildlingforafew months.“Weintendtotravelwithafew otherboatfamiliesuptheRiverLeato Cheshuntwherewecanstepstraightoff theboatintonatureandbesurrounded bymoretreesthanbuildings.”

Whilethisfreedomtomoveisone ofthefactorsthatattractedCraigand Ellietonarrowboatlife,theyhavebeen pleasantlysurprisedbythesenseof belonginginthistransientcommunity. “Despiteoftennotknowingour neighbours,we’vefoundthatboaters tendtolookoutforeachother.We alwaysfeelsafeandit’slovelyseeinga boatwerecognisepullingupnearby.”

Lifeonboard.

Itseemstakingnarrowboatlifeone stepatatime,alongwithagoodsplash ofcreativethinking,isworkingwell forfamilyFosterandIforonewillbe followingalongtoseewhatsurprise opensupforthemnext!

Instagram:@thenarrowboatfamily Ellie’swebsite:www.elliefoster.com

DigitalIllustrator:@ellie_foster

AliceGriffinisanature-lovingwriter whohasspentalargepartofthe past15yearslivingafloat.

Website:www.alicegriffin.co.uk

YouTube:@wanderingalice

SwanageSteamRailwayat CorfeCastle. PHOTOS:ALISON ALDERTONUNLESSINDICATED

BargeBeagle’ssummer holiday–lightingtheway

Sniffingoutgood findsforcrews withcanines

AROUNDforcenturies, lighthouseshaveadapted withtechnology.Nowfully automated,whatwasonce consideredthelonelylife ofalighthousekeeperno longerexists.

However,thebuildings theyoncecalledhome remainandit’spossible totakeholidaysinsome ofthemwhere,fora shortwhile,wecanall experiencethelifeofa lighthousekeeper.

AnvilPointLighthouse standsinthegroundsof DurlstonCountryParkand NationalNatureReserve, highonthecliffsabove Swanage,onDorset’s JurassicCoast.Flashing every10seconds,thelight isvisibleforninenautical miles.Tothewestitprovides aclearlinefromPortland Billandtotheeast,warns oftheChristchurchLedge andguidesvesselsinto theSolent.Builtin1881, aparaffinvapourburner originallyilluminated

thelightuntilthe1960s, whenitwasconvertedto mainselectricity.Further modernisationensued andnowthelighthouseis fullyautomated,controlled fromtheTrinityHouse OperationsandPlanning CentreatHarwich.

RowenaCottageis oneoftwoatAnvilPoint Lighthousebuttheonlyone whichallowsdogs(onlyone dogpermittedperbooking andanextracleaning chargeapplies).Itisaroomy cottagesleepingupto five peopleinthreebedrooms. Theoutsidespaceisshared andincorporatescar parkingforbothcottages; itiswalledandinthemain secure,thoughtheentrance gatecannotbeseenfrom RowenaCottage.Mostly laidtolawnwithagentle slopetowardsthefront, thereisanareaforalfresco diningaffordingviewsout tosea.

Awalkalongthecliff pathprovidesexcellent viewsacrossthewaterto theIsleofWight.Seekout thehugelimestoneglobe, DurlstonCastleandthe TillyWhimCavesorhead westwardtoDancingLedge, anaturalshelfof flatrock juttingoutintothesea,once

usedbyshippingcollecting stonefromthelocalquarry. Thenearbyschoolsblasted outaswimmingpoolat thebeginningofthe20th centurywhichiscleansedby thetidesandnowpopular withwildswimmers.

Theareaissteeped inhistory,withtalesof smuggling,fossilfinds androyalvisits.Awordof cautionthough–duetothe rockyprecipices,itisvital thatyourdogissupervised andbestkeptonaleadto ensurenoaccidentsoccur whilevisitingtheseareas.

Ifyouwishtoexplore furtherafield,dogsare welcometotravelonthe steamtrainsoftheSwanage SteamRailway.Avisitto Corfewithitsselection ofsmallindependent shopsandthemagnificent

NationalTrustsiteofCorfe Castle(dogspermitted)will notdisappoint.

Ifyouhavetransportvisit Tyneham,acoastal‘ghost’ villageevacuatedduringthe SecondWorldWartoallow trainingforD-Day. Thisisa greatdog-friendlylocation whereyoucancombine historywithsomelovely walksandperhapsaswim

Usefulinformation:

Discovermoreaboutstayingatalighthousehere: www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouse-cottages DurlstonCountryParkandNationalNatureReserve: www.durlston.co.uk

ForSwanagesteamtrainservicesvisit: www.swanagerailway.co.uk

MoreinformationaboutCorfeCastlecanbefoundat: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle FurtherinformationandopeningtimesforTyneham: www.tyneham.org.uk

TheFosterfamily:Craig,EllieandThea.

CraigwithbabyThea.

RowenaCottage.

ByAlisonAlderton

Theal frescodining area.

Thelimestoneglobeat DurlstonCountryPark.

LookingouttoseaatAnvilPoint. AnvilPointlightlens.

TillyWhimCaves.

DancingLedgetidalpool. PHOTO: HUGHCHEVALLIER/COURTESYOFGEOGRAPH.ORG.UK

Openingthewayforboats andtourismbenefits

Volunteersarethelifeblood ofmanyorganisations. SallyCliffordchatsto membersofPocklington CanalAmenitySociety abouttheirambitious plansforthefuture.

THEYarethesilentworkforce.Without volunteers,manyorganisations throughoutthecountrywouldstruggle tosurviveor,atleast,getanythingdone.

Canalsandtowpathsarejustsomeof theplacestobenefitfromthededication andcommitmentofvolunteerswhogive theirtimeforfreetokeepthesenetworks cleanandtidyandpreservethemfor generationstoenjoy.

Preservationandmaintenancewere, inpart,reasonsforthePocklingtonCanal AmenitySocietybeingestablishedin1969.

Thisnine-milestretchofwaterway, joiningtheRiverDerwenttoCanalHead aroundonemileawayfromPocklington towncentreinEastYorkshire,isa terminusbuiltbetween1815and1818 andunderstoodtobeoneofthelast canalsinEnglandtobedug.

“Pocklingtonusedtosendmarket produceandfarmproduceandthey wouldsendgraintoWestYorkshire,” explainedthesociety’svice-chairman, TimCharlson.

By1845commercialtrafficonthe waterwasdwindling.“Bythenitwas supersededbytherailways,”headded.

Duringtheinterveningyears,the canal’sruralaspectprovedtobeanatural attractionforwildlife, floraandfauna.

Discoveringitsbeautythrough birdwatchingpromptedTimtoget involvedinthesocietywhichhasworked hardovertheyearsensuringthecanalis accessibletoboatsandvisitors.

Itiswiththisinmindthatthesocietyis embarkingonanambitiousproject–to eventuallyopenthequarterofthecanal remainingtobemadeaccessible.

“Alotoftheearlyworkwastoclearthe canal,dredging,”saidTim,referringto thegroupsof40to60peoplewhowould turnuponweekendstohelp.

Aroundsevenandahalfmilesofthe sectionisnowaccessibleandnavigable butthesociety’saimistore-openthe remainder,enablingthemtotravel withinamileofPocklingtoncentre.

NewHorizons

Societychairman,PaulWaddington, explainedthatopeninguptheremaining fewmileswouldbenefittourismand enablethemtoextendtherouteof thedaytripstheyrunwiththeir40ft narrowboat– NewHorizons

Christenedafterthecharitythat helpedtofunditsbuild,theboatis provingavaluableassetinthesociety’s strivetofulfilitsambitiousproject.

Paulexplainedthatdonationsmade fromthepublicboattripstheyrunon SundaysandBankHolidaysfromEaster toOctober,andcharteredboattrips,will helptofundrepairsatSandhillLockand othernecessaryworktore-openthe remainingstretch.

Butwithanestimated£1millioncost, thesocietywillhavetorelyonsupportto achieveitsambitionbythenextdecade.

Interestingly,itisalmostacentury sincethepartofthecanalwhichthey

arekeentore-openhasbeenaccessible.

“Progressisdependentongetting somesupportorsupportinprinciple,” explainedPaul.

“Wehavebeenworkingonthissince 1969–inthattimescaleanother10years isn’tahugeamount.”

Paul,whoseinterestincanalsbegan inhischildhood,believestheproject willbringgreatbenefits.

“Ithinkitisacommunityspiritthing wherethereisalotofsupporttohavethe canalrestoredanditisalmostapublicspiritedthingtodo.Itisverymuchused bywalkerswho finditafascinatingpart ofthelandscapeanditisnicetoseepart ofourhistorypreserved.”

AspokesmanfortheCanal&River Trustsaid:“Wewouldlovetoseethe PocklingtonCanalrestoredandweare supportiveofsuchprojects.Tocoincide

withthe200thanniversaryofthe PocklingtonCanalwesecuredathreeyearNationalLottery-fundedprojectto supportambitionstorestorethecanal andasoneofourtopcanalsforwildlife inthecountry,withthreeSitesofSpecial ScientificInterestthiswaterwayisan idyllicgem.

“Lookingafterandmaintaininga 250-year-oldhistoricinfrastructurein anincreasinglychallenging financial environmentisdifficult,andourcharity isfacingtoughdecisionsabouthowwe maintainthewaterwaysandkeepthem openforalltouseandenjoy.

“Wesupportprojectswherewecan,by providingtrainingandguidanceinareas suchasrestoration,environment,health andsafety,tohelpensuretheworks arecarriedouttothehighstandards requiredonthishistoricnetwork.”

ThepatronofPCAS,theEarlofHalifax;PaulWaddington,chairmanof PCASandRichardParry,chiefexecutiveoftheCanal&RiverTrust.

FormoreinformationaboutPocklingtonCanalAmenitySocietyvisit www.pocklingtoncanalsociety.org.

To findoutmoreabouttheworkoftheCanal&RiverTrust,ortoget involved,visitGetinvolvedinrestoration|Canal&RiverTrust(canalrivertrust. org.uk)

Shropshirevolunteersearnawardforrestorationwork

Report&photo:PhilPIckin

THISyearitwasOswestry’sturnto hosttheMontgomeryCanalForum, whichwasheldintheAicoCentreof Excellenceontheoutskirtsofthetown.

Theimpressiveandmodernvenue sawanumberofspeakersoutlinethe workcarriedoutoverthepastyear, whichsawtheofficialopeningofthe Crickheathbasinjustafewweeksbefore.

ShropshireUnionCanalSociety chairmanDavidCarteroutlinedthe workthathadtakenplacethatsawthe basinopenedtoboattrafficandTom Fulda,projectmanager,talkedabout thenextphaseoftheprojectthatwill seea750msectionofcanalrestored.

RichardHarrison,theCanal &RiverTrust’sprincipalproject manager,toldattendeesabouttheir involvementinthenextphaseand outlinedsomeofthedifficultiesstill tobeovercome,includingsome majorengineeringissues.

ThelocalIWAbranchchairman, MichaelHaig,gaveapresentation focusedontheroleoftheassociation andtheIWA’sProtectOurWaterways projectandhowitskeyobjectivesare beingmetwiththerestorationofthe MontgomeryCanal.

Torecognisethiswork,MrHaigwent ontoawardthe2023TetlowCuptothe volunteersoftheShropshireUnion

CanalSocietyfortheiroutstanding effortsinreconstructing600mofcanal channelacrossformerpeatbogs.

Theawardcitationstates:“Both havebeenmulti-yearprojects requiringenthusiasm,dedication andtenacity. Theextensionofthe navigationbyaroundtwokilometres hasalsorequiredveryhighlevelsof skillbythemanyvolunteerswhohave givenhundredsofhourstotheproject andhasextendedtheboundariesof

worksnormallyconsideredsuitable forvolunteers.”

Michaelcommented:“Wehad adifficultdecisionthisyear,asthe MontgomeryCanalhasplayedhost totwomassivesuccessstories–theraisingofalmost£1millionto rebuildSchoolhouseBridgeandthe re-openingoftherestorednavigation throughtoCrickheathBasin.”

TheawardismadebythenorthwestregionoftheInlandWaterways

Association,andthisyearhadbeen nominatedbytheShrewsburyDistrict &NorthWalesBranchoftheIWA.

DavidCarterresponded:“Our volunteershaveworkedtirelessly foreightyearsonaverycomplicated pieceofconstructionworkofatype notnormallydonebyvolunteers.In doingso,theyhaveovercomeawhole rangeofecological,construction andlogisticalchallenges. Thatthey managedtocompletetheworkto deadline,onbudgetandsafelyisto theirverygreatcredit.”

TheTetlowMemorialCup,named afteraformercommodoreoftheLymm CruisingClub,isanIWAregional trophyawardedtorecognisetheefforts ofthosewhohavegoneaboveand beyondtoensureworkcontinuesto restorethewaterwaysoftheUK.

Whatwasveryevidentatthisyear's meetingwastheemphasisonthe environmentandtheenvironmental benefitstobeenjoyedbyreopening thecanal. Thesesitalongsidethe economicandwell-beingbenefitsthat willhopefullybeonoffertothelocal communityasworkprogresses.With therecentoutcrybymanywildlife organisationsregardingtheopening offurthersectionsofthecanalstill inmanypeople’sminds,theneedto highlighttheenvironmentalbenefits wasessential.

The NewHorizons narrowboat. IMAGES:PCASARCHIVES

ShrewsuryDistrict&NorthWalesIWAbranchchairmanMichaelHaig presentstheTetlowCuptoDavidCarter,chairmanoftheShropshire UnionCanalSocietywithprojectmanagerTomFuldaandOswestry TownMayor,CounOllyRose.

A map of The Pocklington Canal

SandhillLockonthePocklington Canalin1959.

Boatingtragedybringscommunitybenefit

INSEPTEMBER2022,ahire

boaterdiedontheCoventry

CanalclosetoHuddlesford Junctionandthemooringsof LichfieldCruisingClub.

Itisbelievedthemanwas takenillwhilesteeringand therewasaminorcollision withamooredboat,following whichhewentintothewater.

AsmallgatheringofRussell NewberyClubboaterswas onsiteand,afterrecovering themantothebank,twoof thememberscarriedoutCPR untilthearrivalofemergency services,butsadlytheman passedaway.

Itisafactthatboaters spendagreatdealofcruising timeinremotelocations,and thetragedypromptedmuch discussionamongstLCC memberssurroundingthe likelydifficultiesanddelays ingettingemergencyhelpto theselocations.

TheCoventryCanalisa popularcruisingroute,forming avitallinktotheTrent& MerseyatFradleyJunction,the BirminghamCanalNavigations atFazeley,aswellastheAshby andNorthOxfordcanals. Manyboatsadaypass

throughHuddlesfordJunction orvisitthenearbyandpopular PloughPub,andtheclub members’discussionscentered aroundthefactthattheman’s lifemighthavebeensavedhad adefibrillatorbeenavailable nearby.

Aplanwasputtogether thatcruisingclubmembers wouldraisethemoneytobuya defibrillator,bydivertingprofit fromsomeoftheclub’ssocial events,andthiswasactioned andledbyclubcommodore JoanSurplice.

Sadlyduringearly2023one ofLCC’sex-commodores,Mike McDonald,losthiswifeSheila, averypopularladywhoalong withMikehadbeenaclub memberandactiveboaterfor manyyears.

Thankstoagenerous donationinmemoryofSheila, theclubwasabletobring forwarditsplansandafurther donation,plusmoneyraised bytheclub,enabledasecond machinetobepurchased.

The firstofthedefibrillators hasnowbeenlocatedonthe publicsideofthefootbridge outsidetheLichfieldCruising Clubpremises,andthisis

availableshoulditbeneeded foranyoneusingthecanal orforresidentsofnearby HuddlesfordorWhittington whoarebeingadvisedbyleaflet ofitspresence.

Thereisasmallongoingcost foranelectricalsupplytothe machineandthiswillcontinue tobemetbythecruisingclub. Thesecondmachine,which willbeforusewithintheclub, hasbeenlocatedinoneofthe mooringareasfurthestfrom theclubhouseneartheclub’s drydock.

CommodoreJoansaid:“We aredelightedtohavebeen abletotakethisinitiativeto supportnetworkusersand localresidents;itwouldbe goodtothinkthatotherclubs orcanalsidebusinessesmay bepromptedtoconsidertheir ownpurchasesandmakethe networkasaferplace.”

Shouldanyonebeinterested inpursuingtheprovisionof amachine,excellentadvice andguidanceisavailablevia theinternetfromheartcare organisations,orJoanatLCC willmorethanpleasedtochat abouttheprocessandcosts involved,whicharenotgreat.

Climatechampionawardfor BuckinghamCanalSociety

BUCKINGHAMCanalSocietyhasbeenawarded aNaturalEnvironmentandClimateChampion Award,recognisingitscommitmenttopreserving andprotectingthenaturalenvironment AwardedbyBuckinghamTownCouncil itwaspresentedbyMayorAnjaSchaeferto societytrustees,volunteerleaderandwork partyorganiserAthinaBeckett,accompaniedby executiveofficerTerryCavender.

Thesocietyhasworkedtirelesslytorestoreand revitalisethecanal,itsvisionextendingbeyond restorationtocreatethrivingecosystemsthat benefitthelocalcommunityandtheabundant wildlifethatcallsthesewaterwayshome. Avibranthubofbiodiversity,its educationalprogrammes,communityevents andcollaborationswithenvironmental organisationshavehelpedinstilasenseof environmentalstewardship,encouraging sustainablepractices

FormoreinformationabouttheBuckingham CanalSocietyandopportunitiestoget involved,visitwww.buckinghamcanal.org.uk

MikeMcDonaldex-commodore,withcurrentLichfieldCruisingClubcommodore JoanSurpliceandthedefibrillator.

PHOTO:RAYHARTSHORNE

TheawardpresentedtoBuckingham CanalSociety.

PHOTO:SHIVANSHIMARWAH

IWArespondstoDefra fundingannouncement

THEInlandWaterways Associationisconcerned aboutthethousands ofjobs,healthand wellbeingbenefitsplus naturehabitatsthatcould belostifourcanalsand riversfallintodisrepair duetogovernment fundingcutsfollowing Defra’sannouncement (asreportedonpage1).

IWAvolunteers stoppedthecanal networkfrombeing concretedoverin the1950sand,since then,havesupportedandhelpedthe restorationof500milesofnavigable waterwayswiththeopportunityto transformanother500miles.

It’sestimatedthat80,000jobsare directlyconnectedtoBritain’swaterways, fromcanalsidecafestomajorhousing, sportingandleisuredevelopments, whichcollectivelycontribute£1.5billion annuallytotheUKeconomy.

TheIWAisnowurgingmembersofthe publictowritetotheirMPstoobjectto theGovernment’sannouncementthatit willreduceitsmaintenanceandrepair grantfundingbymorethan£300million inrealtermsoverthenextdecade.

NationalchairmanLesEtheridge said:“Ourwaterwayssystemisinvery realdangerofdisappearing.Ifpartsof thenetworkfallintodisrepairorclose,

thiswillbeatthecost ofthehundredsifnot thousandsofbusinesses thatrelydailyon waterwaysusers.”

Heemphasisedthat DefrahascutCanal &RiverTrustfunding atatimewhenthe billformaintaining thesepreciousassets isactuallygrowing exponentially,not falling,duetoclimate changeandinflation.

“Adverseweather eventssuchashotdry spellsandstormshavealreadydamaged heritagebuildingsandstructuresand resultedinalarmingrisesin fishdeaths incanals,wherestillwaterisparticularly vulnerabletooxygendepletion.Ata timelikethis,theGovernmentshould beprotectingnatureandwildlife,not turningitsbackonit.”

Defra’sreducedgrantallocationto theCanal&RiverTrusthascomein spiteofmuchevidenceacceptedbythe Governmentshowingthatblue-green spacesdeliversubstantialbenefitstothe economy,toindividualsandcommunities, andtonatureandbiodiversity.

Solutiontochallenges

IWAchiefexecutiveProfessorSarah Niblock,said:“We’rerepresentingthe needsofmillionsofpeopleintheUKwho

relyonthewaterwaysfor theirmentalandphysical healthaswellasforwork, commutingandleisure.

“Amongthepeople whowillbeworsthit byanydeclinewillbe thosewhoarealready mostvulnerablesuchas thoselivingindeprived areas,mostofwhich havewaterwaysrunning throughthem.

“Inurbanareas,the waterwaysoffersome oftheonlyglimpses ofnaturewegetaswellasaspacefor differentpartsofthecommunityto interact.”

Shecontinued:“TheEnvironment Agency,whichisfundedmainlybyDefra, receivedlessthanhalftheexpectedgrantin aidfundingwhichpaysforitsoperational staff,maintenanceworkandmajorasset improvementorreplacementprojects.

“Ourinlandwaterwaysofferan incrediblesolutiontomanysocietal challenges–economicregeneration, addressingthementalhealthcrisis, buildingcommunitycohesionaswellas mitigatingtheeffectsofclimatechange. Thecost-benefitanalysisofinvestmentis irrefutablebutit’sasiftheGovernmentis nowturningitsbackonthis.

“AllofBritain’swaterwaysrequire considerableinvestmenttomaintainbut, withsomecanalsdatingback250years,

FundBritain’sWaterwayscampaigncruise

IWAisafoundingmember ofFundBritain’sWaterways actiongroup,whichis organisingacampaign cruisetoBirminghamon theweekendofAugust12-13.

It’ssupportedby membersofIWA’s BirminghamBlackCountry

andWorcestershireBranch andothers.

Jointhecampaigncruise andhelpetthemessage acrosstogovernment thatincreasedfundingfor Britain’swaterwaysmatters.

Thedatehasbeenagreed toenableboaterstoattendon

theirwaytotheIWAFestival ofWateratPelsalltwo weekslater.Planshavetobe finalisedbut,inbrief,boats willgatherontheSaturday atvariouslocationsaround Birminghamcitycentreand progressearlyonSundayto gatherattheMailbox. There

willbenoentrychargefor boatsbutanapplicationform mustbecompleted. Pleaseregisteryour interestnowtofbw. birmingham@waterways. org.ukandyouwillbekept informedandforwardedan entryforminduecourse.

Getinvolved–workpartydates

IWAbranchesaregettingbacktoworktoimprovewaterwaysacrossthecountry. Workpartieshavebeenriskassessedandmitigatingmeasuresareinplace.Please contactthebranchtoregisteraninterestifyouwouldliketoattendoneofthese workparties.Itisadvisabletowearstoutshoes,oldclothingandtakeawaterproof. Youmayalsowanttotakeapackedlunchandanyrefreshments.

EAST

August6and15

IWANorthamptonBranch: Work partiesareusuallyheldoneweekday andoneSundayamonth,alongthe Arm,10am-2pm. Thetasksusually includevegetationclearance, weeding,litterpickingandpainting atlocks.Contact:Geoff Woodatgeoff wood@waterways.org.ukfordetails.

Tuesdays

IWAMiltonKeynesBranch: Regular workpartyatFennyLockonthe GrandUnionCanal.9.30am-1.30pm. Workcanincludevegetation

clearance,gardening,litterpicking andpainting.Workpartiesare dependentonweatherbeing agreeable.Contact:PatDurhamon 07510195918;emailpat.durham@ waterways.org.uk

WEST

Tuesdays&Saturdays

IWAWestCountryBranch(Taunton &Bridgwater): Workpartiesin theSomersetarea,10am-1pm.

Contact:MikeSladeatmike.slade@ waterways.org.uk;07977263840.

MIDLANDS

IWALichfieldBranch memberswill

soonberesumingtheircanaltowpath volunteeringdays.Heldatvarious timesthroughouttheyear,theywill beundertakingavarietyoftasks alongthetowpaths,startingsoon intheRugeleyandGreatHaywood areas,andinvariouslocationsalong northernsectionoftheStaffordshire &WorcestershireCanal.

Induecoursetheyhopeto undertakesomesimilardaysinthe southoftheregion.

Ifyouareinterestedinjoining, pleaseemailNeilBarnett(lichfield@ waterways.org.uk)formoredetails.

ageinginfrastructure andthegrowingimpact ofclimatechangewill leadtoincreasingrepair backlogsandinevitable closuresofsectionsof thewaterways.”

MrEtheridgeadded: “We’realreadyseeing increasingandextended levelsofclosuresand eachoneofthose impactsbusinesses relyingonpassingtrade.

TheDefraofferof£400 millionover10years averagesoutasgrantfundingof£40million peryearfrom2028-2037,comparedwith thecurrent£52.6millionperyear.Atthe levelofspendonoperating,maintaining andrepairingwaterwaysreportedbyCRT for2021/22,IWAestimatesthatwithan

averagegrantreductionof£12.6million peryear,thefundingcutswouldmean beingunabletodowintermaintenance on586milesofwaterway;beingunable tooperate,maintainandrepair156miles andthat50%ofthespendonreservoirs willbeunfunded.”

Heconcludedthattherenaissance andpopularityofthewaterwaysisdue innosmallparttotheworkoftireless campaignersandvolunteersoverthe past75years-plus,butthatcouldsoon beconsignedtohistory.

IWAisalsoafoundingmemberofFund Britain’sWaterways(FBW),acoalitionof organisationsrepresentinghundredsof thousandsofusersandsupportersof inlandwaterways.FBWiscampaigning fornationalandlocalgovernmentto actnowandprotectthepublicbenefit andnaturalcapitalofourwaterways. www.fundbritainswaterways.org.uk

FunforallthefamilyatFennyStratford

IWAMiltonKeynes

Branchisproudtohost itsannualFennyStratford CanalFestivalonSaturday andSundayAugust5-6, between11amand5pm.

Thebranchinvites youtoattendand spendsomequalitytime exploringitsamazing waterways.Admission isfreebutdonationsare gratefullyacceptedon theday.Importantly, youhelpsupportlocal waterwayrestoration schemesbydonating. So,ifyouarelooking forsomethingtodoin MiltonKeynes,come alongandseewhatthe waterwayshavetooffer.

Attractionsinclude theMKCommunity Boat Electra whichwill provide fiveshortfree tripseachday,limited spacesavailable.The Electra teamhasalso kindlydonated£30gift vouchersasraffleprizes.

TheWyvernShipping

CoLtdwillbethere,giving youtheopportunity tosteponboarda hireboatandtakea lookaround,gainingan insightintoholidaying, orday-trippingonthe canal.Youngervisitors cantakepartinafun quiz,withasmallprize forthewinner.

Anarrayofitemswill beavailabletopurchase fromtradingboatsin thefloatingmarket. Additionally,various market,craftandcharity stallswillsellgifts, clothing,handmade

Anarrayofitemsfor salefromoneofthe tradingboats.

PHOTO:IWA

crafts,andrefeshments. Comeandsayhelloat theIWAgazebo,where memberswillbeeagerly waitingtogreetyou.Find outmoreinformation abouttheimportantwork theIWAdo,buyraffle ticketsandenjoyvarious children’sactivities. Pleasenotethereis noparkingatthefestival site.Duetotherural locationofthisevent, useofpublictransport isstronglyencouraged. Equallyencouragedis parkingconsiderately elsewhereinFenny,and arrivingatthefestivalon foot,reducingimpacton localresidents. Thefestivalislessthan amile’swalkfromthe nearestrailwaystation–FennyStratford. Accessthefestivalis viathetowpathfrom WatlingStreet,Bletchley (oppositeMilwardDrive). What3Wordslocation: \\\final.wrong.stone

NewmuralontheNorthamptonArm

MEMBERSoftheNorthampton

NeneAnglingClubjuniorsand theirparentsgotcreativepainting a fish-themedmuralunderBridge 6AoftheNorthamptonArm,with supportfromIWANorthampton Branch,whopreparedthewalkway andprimedthebackground.

Fifteenparticipantsplusmembers oftheNorthamptonbranchcompleted themural,whichbeganwithbranch volunteerspaintingfourlayersof undercoat.Everyonehadfunpainting the fishwithsomedrawingextrassuch ascrayfish,cansandshoppingbags, togivethemuralsomeextrafeatures.

Thecompletedmuralunder Bridge6A. PHOTOS:NORTHAMPTON NENEANGLINGCLUB Everyonehadfunpaintingthefish.

ProfSarahNiblock:“We’re representingtheneedsof millionsofpeopleinthe UK.” PHOTO:IWA

LesEtheridge:Theworkof tirelesscampaignersand volunteerscouldsoonbe consignedtohistory.

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

When roads don’t cut it

JonathanMosse’s monthlylookatfreight developmentsonthe inlandwaterways.

PROMOTINGtheroleoftheinland waterwaysassignificantcarriersof freightistheusualthemeofthiscolumn, sogettingtheopportunitytolaudtwo Scottishriversastheonlyoptionisa real,nottomentionrewarding,bonus forbothmyselfandtheenvironment!

Inoneinstanceamajor,freightcarryingnavigationgotintheway;inthe otheritwas,literally,theonlyway!

SoletmeintroduceRobertWynn &Sons’purpose-builtbarge,the Terra Marique.WhileRobertWynncantrace itsoriginsbacktohorse-drawnwagons deliveringflourandsteel,operating inNewportinthelate19thcentury, TerraMarique isamodernandhighly sophisticatedvessel–builtatDamen inUkraine, fittedoutandlaunchedin Hollandin2004–capableofcarryingup to1350tons,whichcanbeloadedeither fromaquayorbeach.

Overthelastcentury,RobertWynn

andSonsLtd–www.robertwynnandsons. co.uk–hasbuiltanenviablereputation for findingnewandinnovativesolutions tothespecificproblemsposedbythe transportofAbnormalandIndivisible Loads(AILs)involvingallmodesof transport,buttodayitsfocusliessolely onusingthewaterways.

Backinthespring–andbypure coincidence–thecompanywaspresented withtwochallengingcontractsin Scotland.Oneinvolvedmovinga190-ton back-upelectricitytransformerfroma sub-stationnorthoftheClydetoitsnew homenearPaisley,southoftheriver.

Theotherrevolvedaroundthetransport ofsomeratherlargecomponentstoform anewoxygenmanufacturingplantata glassworksontheoutskirtsofAlloawhich, fortunately,justhappenedtobesituated rightbesidetheRiverForth.

Theall-upweightofthetransformer anditsroad-goingtrailerplus‘tug’wasa tadshyof370tonsandmovementbyroad wasinthecapablehandsofMammoet–www.mammoet.com–wellknownforits trickybridgemovesandthelike,wherethe structureisfabricatedalongsideits final locationandthen‘wheeled’intoposition.

Allwellandgood,thatis,untiltheroads

authority(underTransportScotland) wasconsulted,onlyforScottishPowerto learnthatnoneoftheClydebridgesare nowclearedtocarrysuchheavyweights! Notaproblemwhenthetransformer arrivedinScotlandsome15yearsago, buteverythingweakenswithageandour highwaysinfrastructureisnoexception:a factthatmaywellplayinfavouroffuture inlandwaterwaystransport.

Withthecombinedexperienceof thesetwocompaniesinunison,it’s hardlysurprisingtolearnthatthe movefromClydebankuptheriverto KingGeorgeVDock,nearthecentreof Glasgow,wentwithoutahitch,although asecondroad‘tug’wasrequiredfora steepascentnearPaisley.

Now TerraMarique haslimitedselfpropulsioncapabilityandreliesinthe mainonhired-intugs.At80minlength, sheisfartoolongto fitthroughthelocks oftheCaledonianCanalso,withhernext jobontheeastcoastofScotlandlittle morethanaweekaway,itwassomething ofadashupthewestcoast,aroundthe PentlandFirthanddownthecoastto Rosyth,intheFirthofForth.

Againsheloadedandunloadedataquay utilisingheruniquehydraulicroadway

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andballastsystemtoadapttothedifferent heightsinvolved,althoughherspecially strengthenhullalsoallowshertobeach withminimalneedforsitepreparation. Incidentally,her‘partytrick’istocarry Wynn’ssmaller300-tonInlandNavigator barge,usingherabilitytosemi-submerge toembarkanddisembark,thussaving transshipmentfollowingaseapassage.

Onthiscontracttherealchallengelay intheformoftheadjacent–and fixed –KincardineandClackmannanshire Bridges,withatidewindowofjusthalfan hourwhentherewassufficientwaterunder thevesselandenoughheadroomabove!

Tomovetheentireoxygen-makingplant

requiredatotalof fiveloads,shippedinthe docksatRosythandcarrieduptheForthon thetidetoAlloa.Unloadingandturnaround hadtobecarefullyorchestratedsothatthe stricturesofwater-andair-draughtwere againmetonthereturnjourney,while twotugs(bowandstern)wererequired forsafetyandmanoeuvrability.

AswiththeClydecontract,this flow ranlikeclockworkandisatestimonyto theplanningthatwentintotheoperation andtheskillofthevariouscrewsinvolved. Workingaroundthetidesbroughtwith itextrachallengesandtherewasevena week’sstanddowntoaccommodatean especiallylowneaptide.

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Terra Marique heading downstream empty to Rosyth, having just cleared the Clackmannanshire and Kincardine Bridges

ThetransformerheadinguptheRiverClydeaboard TerraMarique for unloadingatKingGeorgeVDock,Glasgow. PHOTOS:JONATHANMOSSE

Preparingtoloadthe190-tontransformeratClydebank.

Barge carries fuel can for historic journey

gRedwheelunveiled onWiganlockflight

Report&photos:ColinWareing

INGLORIOUSsunshine theDeputyLord LieutenantofGreater Manchester,Melanie Bryan,unveiledthe latestNationalTransport Trustredwheelona wallalongsideHenhurst Lock(86)oftheLeeds& LiverpoolCanal.

THE500-tonnetanker FusedaleH wasondisplayattherecentLeeds WaterfrontFestival, writesDavid Lowe OrganisersinvitedHumberBarges Ltdtoparticipatereflectingthe associationofCanalConnections, whowerecloselyinvolvedinthe event’sorganisationandsupport, withthelocalbargeoperator.

LeedsLockmarkstheabsolute limitforcraftofthissize–thelasttime a500-tonnerarrivedwasfortheIWA NationalRallyinAugust1981when tanker HumberEnterprise discharged

attheEssowharfjustdownstreamof LeedsLock.Itthenproceededthefew hundredyardsorsotoFearnsIsland, LeedsLockfordisplay–manyother smallerfreightcraftwereabletopass throughLeedsLockandmoornear Leedsbridgeatthat1981event.

FusedaleH wasoneofsixtankers builtspecifically,thoughnot exclusively,tocarrypetroleum productfromSaltend,Hull,tothe EssoterminalatLeedsaspartofa contracttomove2.5milliontonnes over10yearsfrom1967,forwhich theAire&Calderwasenlargedand

deepenedandanewwharfand pipelineprovided. Priortothatthesmallertankers passedthroughLeedsLocktoaccess LeedsNewDocktodischarge. Thecontractwasextended, finally finishingin1982,bywhichtimethe navigationhadbeenfurtherenlarged toitspresent600-tonnelimit,with newcraftofthatsizebuilt.

FusedaleH commemoratedthe Essotrafficbypausingattheformer Essowharf,nowavisitorandservices mooring,andbycarryinganEsso fuelcan,beforemovingontoFearns Islandwheremorethan100visitors wereabletoviewandboardthevessel overthetwodaysofthefestival. ThanksareduetoCanal Connectionsforprovidingtheservices ofatugtoassistarrivalanddeparture – FusedaleH hadtodropasternall thewaydowntoKnostropdepotto turn–totheCanal&RiverTrustand volunteerlockkeepersforpermitting andfacilitatingthemovementand toIWAWestRidingbranchforlocal supportandassistance.

Heritageunderthehammer

EarlycanalconstructionpaperworkandareminderofaVictoriannavigationtrustare amongthehighlightsinGeoffCourtney’sbi-monthlyreportonthecanaliaauctionscene.

THEpaperworkwentunderthehammer atthequarterlyemailandpostalsaleof transportcollectablesheldbyauction housePaperchasefromApril14-May 2.Amongthelotswasthe76-pageAct ofParliamentdated1777forbuilding theErewashCanalfromLongEatonto LangleyBridgewhichsoldfor£24.

Thecanalofnearly12miles wascompletedin1779forthe transportationofmainlycoal,andis describedbytheCanal&RiverTrust asa“wonderfulrouteforexploringthe Derbyshirecountrysidethatinspired DHLawrence.”

Inthesameauctionweretwo ornatelydesignedLeeds&Liverpool CanalCosharecertificatesfor3½% debenturestockthateachrealised£15. This127-milecanalwasauthorised byaParliamentaryActin1770,and

wasconsideredatremendousfeatof engineeringduetoitschallengingroute overthePenninesrisingtoamaximum heightof487ftabovesealevel.Ittook nearly50yearstoconstruct,openingin stagesupto1816.

Itwasthelongestsinglecanalin thecountry,anditsmaincargowas coalfromthetheYorkshireminesto Liverpooldocks,withmorethana milliontonsbeingcarriedperyear inthe1860s.Itisstillnavigabletoday andhasbecomeapopularwaterway forboatingholidays.

Acollectionof10PortofGloucester SharpnessNewDocks&Gloucester& BirminghamNavigationCodirectors’ reportsfortheyearsending1937-46 fetched£16,andat£13camea1790 ActofParliamentforbuildinga25-mile canalfromMerthyrTydfiltoCardiff that becametheGlamorganshireCanal.

RunningalongthevalleyoftheRiver Taff,itwascompletedin1798primarily forironoretrafficandincluded50 locks,butwasclosedinstagesupto 1951andsowasconsignedtohistory, withfewtracesremainingtoday.

Finallywithinthecanaliaselection oftheauctionwere fiveCalder& HebbleNavigationdirectors’reports andaccountsfortheyears1937/38/4446(£11),andastatementoflocalmill ownersdated1804ontheprojected PortsmouthandCroydonCanal concerningpotentialdamagetotheir businessesifthecanalweretobebuilt. Thestatementrantofourpages,and thelot,whichsoldfor£9,includeda five-pagereplyfromthecanal’sowners.

OnJune3GreatCentralRailwayana helditsquarterlyliveonlineauction thatincludeda£480realisationfora worksplatefroman0-4-0STbuiltin 1891byAndrewBarclaySons&Coof KilmarnockforClydeNavigationTrust ofGlasgow,whichwasestablishedin 1858todevelopandmanagetheriver anditstrade. Thelocomotive,oneof whosesubsequentownerswasJBest, contractorforanewdocksprojectatLeith inEdinburgh,waswithdrawnin1959.

Anotherrailwayartefactinthe auctionlinkedwithawaterwaywas aManchesterShipCanalRailways’ wagonplatenumbered2717thatsold for£160.PricesinthePaperchase auctionexcludebuyer’spremiumof 12.5%,andthoseatGreatCentral15% (plusVAT).

Itrecognisesthe significanceoftheWigan flightoflockswhichcarry thecanalupfromthe towntothenextlevelof thecanalonthehillside aboveAspull–the final linkthatenabledthe completeopeningofthe canal207yearsago.

Melanieunveiledthe redwheelafterCanal &RiverTrustNorth Westheritageadvisor BillFroggattoutlineda briefhistoryofthecanal

andthelocks,including passagesfromGeorge Orwell’sTheRoadto WiganPierthoughitwas pointedoutbyformer volunteerlockkeeperof theyear,PeterBaxter,that hehadn’tgonequitefar enoughwithhisquote!

BothBillandthetrust’s chiefexecutive,Richard

Parry,praised theeffortsofthe volunteersand localCRTstaff who maintainthe21 locksofthe flight andofferassistance toboatersusingthe locks. TheNational TransportTrust’s deputychairman JeremySwifthad travelledacross fromYorktooversee proceedingsand explaintheworkings ofthetrust,whichhas nowsitedmorethan 150redwheelsaround thecountry. Afterwatchingthe unveiling,guestshad theopportunitytotake drinksandsandwiches aboardtherestoredLeeds &Liverpoolshortboat Kennet mooredcloseto thenearbydry

Heritageharbourrecognitionforinlandport

Report&photo:LesHeath

SHARDLOWcouldhardlybefurther fromtheseabutthishistoricinland portatthestartoftheTrent& MerseyCanalhasnowbeenofficially recognisedasaHeritageHarbour.

TheMaritimeHeritageTrust, NationalHistoricShipsandHistoric Englandhavejoinedforcestolaunch anewstatusofHeritageHarboursand Shardlow,inDerbyshire,isoneof10 tobenationallyrecognised. Thetrust aimstomakemorepeopleawareof, careforandsharetherichmaritime heritageofUKharbours.

Inajointstatementthethree agenciesexplain:“Affordingrecognition toHeritageHarboursoffersawayto breathenewlifeintotheseplacesas hubsofheritage-ledregenerationand venuesforevents,opendays,activities andtrails,providingopportunitiesfor widerpublicengagement.”

Theinitiative,whichalsoincludes localgroups,seekstorecognisethe

valueofageingportsandharbours, coastalorinland,includingtheirhistoric buildings,moorings,maintenance facilitiesandevenwasteland.

HeritageHarboursisnotaform oflegaldesignationlikealisted building.Ratherthetermunderlines thehistoricalimportanceofpotential harboursidentifiedwiththislabel.

The first10locationschosenforthe newstatusarewherelocalgroupsare alreadyhelpingtosavetheirheritage, suchasShardlowwiththeShardlow InlandPortSteeringGroup.Its membershavealreadyorganisedtwo successfulfestivalsandhaveanother arrangedforSeptember.

Sevenofthe‘ports’toberecognised areonthecoastwhileStourportand Chester,alongwithShardlow,areon inlandwaterways.

Shardlowisconsideredtobe Britain’smostcompletesurviving exampleofacanalvillageandhas thebest-preservedexamplesofcanal architecturegoingbacktothe1770s.

TheiconicClockWarehouse atShardlowinlandport,now recognisedasaHeritageHarbour.

SueHampson,whochairsthe festivalsteeringgroup,said:“Shardlow couldnotbefurtherfromthesea, butwearethrilledtoberecognised alongsidetheotherlocations.We hopethatthisrecognitionwillprompt thelocalcountyandcitycouncils togivesomethoughtastohowto preservethishistoricaltreasureon theirdoorstepandthatinvestment willbeforthcomingfromprivate ownerstohelprestorethisimportant cornerofourheritage.”

sharecertificatethatsoldfor£15 atauction. PHOTO:PAPERCHASE

ThisManchesterShipCanal Railwayswagonplatefetched£160 atauctiononJune3.

PHOTO:GREATCENTRALRAILWAYANA

FusedaleH atLeedsLock. PHOTO:DAVIDLOWE

dock.

ThebargeondisplayatLeedsWaterfrontFestival.

PHOTO:LAURIEPOOLEY

NationalTransportTrust’sdeputychairmanJeremySwiftandDeputy LordLieutenantofGreaterManchesterMelanieBryanwithvolunteer lockkeepersfromtheWiganflightof21locks.

Deputy Lord Lieutenant ofGreater Manchester, MelanieBryan, unveils the wheel.

Exploringyourcanalancestry:pictures

NicolaLislelooksathow

picturescanassistyour researchandhelpbring yourfamilyhistorytolife.

IT’Sallverywellsearchingthrough recordsanddocumentstouncoveryour familyhistory,butpicturescanadda wholenewdimensiontoyourresearch. They fleshouttheboneswithimages thatshownotonlyyourancestorsbutthe people,placesandeventsthathelped shapetheirlives,evokingabygoneera inawaythatnodocumentcaneverdo.

Forcanalfamilies,photographsof ancestors’boats(possiblywiththeboat nameandcanalcompanyvisibleas well),thecanalstheytravelledalong,the placestheytravelledtoandtheworkthey carriedoutareallinterestingandvaluable additionstoyourresearch,revealingor confirmingusefuldetailsandhelpingto buildupapictureofyourancestors’lives. Youprobablyalreadyhaveagood collectionoffamilyphotographs, hopefullywithnamesanddates inscribedontheback.Group photographsmightincludefamily membersyouhaven’tcomeacross before,promptinganewavenueof research.Olderrelativesmaybeable tohelpidentifyunknownmembersin groupphotosandpossiblyputadate andplacetoapictureaswell.Itisalso worthaskingotherfamilymembersif theyhaveduplicatesofanyphotographs orarewillingtomakecopiesforyou. Familyphotographsarejustthestart, though–therearemanyotherwaysof addingtoyourphotolibrary.So,where tobegin?

Followingintheirfootsteps

Thereisnobetterwayoffeelinga connectiontoyourancestorsthanby seekingouttheplacesthatfeaturedin theirlivesandtakingyourownphotos.

Bynowyouhavehopefullygleaned plentyofdetailsfromcensusreturns, BMD(birth,marriageanddeath) certificates,schoolrecords,company records,andsoon.Makealistofall theplacesyouhavefoundsofarwith connectionstoyourancestors–churches, schools,houses,socialclubs,hospitals andplacesofwork,forexample,aswell asthecanalstheytravelledalong.

Photographsofanyoftheseplaces willmakewonderfuladditionstoyour familyhistorycollection.

Itisalsointerestingtoseehowmuch theseplaceshavechangedovertheyears. Somebuildingsmaynolongerexist,while othersmayhavebeenrepurposed–itis notunusualforoldschools,forexample,to havebeenturnedintoprivateresidences

–buttheyarestillofinterest,especiallyif theexteriorhasbeenpreserved.

Andwhilemanycanalshavebeen renovatedandarenowthriving,others havebecomeneglectedand,insome cases,havedisappearedaltogether.In WantageinOxfordshire,forexample, thereisnowahousingestateonthe siteofaformerwharf,thecanalhaving closedin1914afterjustover100years inoperation. TheSackHouse–the formerheadquartersoftheSackHiring

CompanyLtd,whichwasresponsiblefor thetransportingof flourfromalocalmill alongthecanal–escapeddemolition whenthehouseswerebuiltbutis currentlystandingempty.

Canalmuseums,suchasthoseatStoke Bruerne,Gloucester,LondonDocklands andmanymore,arefullofinterestand canrevealmuchaboutyourancestors’ workinganddomesticlives.Relevant localhistorymuseumsarealsoworth visiting.Mostmuseumsarehappyfor youtotakepicturesfornon-commercial use.Youcanalsosearchtheironline collectionsforpictures,whichareusually availabletopurchase.

Searchingonline

Onlineresourcesareparticularlygood forhistoricimages–usefulifabuildingof interestnolongerexists,orifyouwantto include‘then’and‘now’picturesinyour collection.HistoricEnglandhasmorethan 12millionphotographs,drawingsand publicationsrelatingtolistedbuildings, andaroundamillionoftheseareavailable

online.Searchathttps://historicengland. org.uk/images-books/photos/ Forcanalandboatpictures,search thevastcollectionattheWaterways ArchivesatEllesmerePort(https:// collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ home)andNationalHistoricShips (www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk).

Otherimportantcollections includetheBritishLibrary(https:// imagesonline.bl.uk),theNational MaritimeMuseum(www.rmg.co.uk/ national-maritime-museum), Geograph BritainandIreland(www.geograph.org. uk)andAdobe(https://stock.adobe.com/ uk),whichfeaturesroyalty-freeimages. Forancestorswhoservedinthearmed forces,trytheImperialWarMuseums website(www.iwm.org.uk).

AnothermajorresourceisWikimedia Commons(https://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page),which hasmorethan94millionimages,all freelyavailabletouse.Mostoftheseare currentorrecentviews–usefulifyou areunabletovisitaplaceyourself–but therearesomehistoricimagesaswell. Asalwayswitharchives,themoreyou cannarrowdownyoursearchthebetter. Trysearchingbycanal,canalcompany orboatnameforthebestresults.

TheSackHouseatWantage, Oxfordshire. PHOTOS: NICOLALISLE

ThecanalmuseumatStokeBruerne.

TheImperialWarMuseuminLondon.

ThelovelycanalsideHolyCross ChurchatShipton-on-Cherwell nearOxford.

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

Magician,FacePainting,Pizza’s,HogRoast,BurgersandBratwurstalldayandevening

PaulLarkhamandCraigMoores

JohnDarlington,BobPerrins,Audiosonix,TheBasCats Beardsmith

RetroontheWater returnstoGloucester

HELDduringthelatesummer bankholidayweekend,Retroon theWaterwilllinkontheSaturday (August26)withGloucesterGoes

Retrowitharound500classic vehicles fillingthehistoriccentral GateStreetsandGloucesterDocks. Musicanddanceenthusiasts canvisittheMarinersSquareStage inthedockstoenjoyvintageacts andjoininwithswingdancing. Therewillbeinterestingand historicboatsmooredoverthe weekend,eventsonthewater andstallsfromlocalwaterways charitiesincludingtheHereford& GloucesterCanalTrust,Cotswold CanalsandtheCanal&RiverTrust. Neilson’syardwillbedisplaying somekeyhistoricartefacts, DocksideAtlasTableTopGaming

willbeofferingchildren’sactivities andrefreshmentsandtherewill beatreasuretrailforvisitorsto completeastheytourthemany attractionsaroundthedocks.

Optionsforboattripsinclude rowingintheCrossingsart installation,beingtakenonthe captain’slaunchfromthe1921 RMSMauritania,self-driveelectric boatsfromGloucesterBoatHire andtripsaboardtheDunkirkLittle Ship QueenBoadiceaII

Eventsonthewaterwillinclude radio-controlledboatsfrom GloucesterModelBoatClub,many beingreplicasoffamousships, andareturnoftheracefeaturing 3ftcardboardreplicaSevern pilotsailingcutters. Theseare builtbydocksidebusinessesand

OpendayatBartonMarina

HOMEtomorethan300boats, BartonMarinaontheTrent& MerseyCanalinStaffordshire willbehostinganopenday from12pm-9pmonSaturday, August5.

Followingrecent refurbishmentandsignificant investment,theeventwillbe agreatopportunitytoexplore themarina,meetthededicated teamandtakealookat

WHAT’SON INAUGUST

August3

RiverFossSociety: 7.5 milecircularwalk,MillGreen toPondHead(Oulston reservoir).Meet6pmDurham Oxpub,Crayke.Contact AnneBednarskitoconfirm: annebednarski@hotmail.com

August5

BartonMarina: OpenDay atthemarinaontheTrent& MerseyCanalatBartonTurn, Burton-on-TrentDE198DZ,from 12pm-9pmwithboatsonshow, foodanddrink,entertainment andlivemusic.https://www. bartonmarina.co.uk/

August5-6

GardnerEngineForum: GardnerRallyatSamuel Barlow’spubandmarina ontheCoventryCanal.All typesofenginesincluding marine,stationary,trucks andindustrial.ContactMike on07719034583.

RovingCanalTraders Association: Floatingmarketat FennyStratfordCanalFestival.

August6

IWALichfield: Fundraising lockwindatBartonTurnLock from10am-4pmfollowedby

individualsfromkitsavailable fromtheWaterwaysMuseum. Detailsaresubjecttoweather andlast-minutechangesbutthe eventpromisesafulltwodays ofinterestinthehistoricdocks, withrestaurants,Gloucester Brewery,QuaysOutletCentre andhotels.Forvisitingboats passagefromLlanthonyBridge directtoGloucesterLockor reversewillcontinue,but mooringormanoeuvresinthe dockwillbelimited,especially duringeventstakingplace between10.30amto4pm.

Fordetailsofhowtotake partcontactTonyAldridge, emailtony@matilda1102. co.uk

availableboatsandmoorings. Therewillbeentertainment too,includingfoodanddrink,

acharityraffleandlivemusic fromShaunFoster-Conley (ITV’sBenidorm),plusmore!

Theopendayisfreetoattend,andifyoupre-register onlineyouwillbeinwithachanceofwinningayear’s mooringatBartonMarinaatBartonTurn,Burton-on-Trent DE198DZ.Itwillalsobeofferingcomplimentarymooring fromFridaytoMonday,August4-7.Findoutmoreat https://www.bartonmarina.co.uk/

Ireland’sinlandwaterways celebratedinphotographs

ByAlisonAlderton

THEGoodlyBarrow museumandcafeare housedintheformer warehousebuildings atGoresbridgeon thebanksoftheRiver BarrowinCoKilkenny whichhaslong associationswiththe navigationandformer workingbargeswhich

oncepliedthesewaters. Thosebygonedaysare beingcelebratedinan exhibitionatthemuseum ofbeautifularchive photographstakenby thelateRobertShorthall (untilSunday,August13, freeadmission).

RobertShorthallwas borninNewRoss,Co Wexford,in1918and becameinvolvedwith

photographyatanearly age.Throughouthis lifetimehecaptured,in bothphotographyand film,someofthelast canalbargestoworkthe Irishinlandwaterways. Hediedin1981but heleftbehindalegacy whichcontinuesto enthralthosewithan interestintheheritage ofourwaterways.

Robert’sphotographs havebeenusedin numerouspublications andprovedausefultool intheessentialresearch ofheritagecraftand bygonetrades.

Findoutmore aboutTheGoodly Barrowatwww. goodlybarrow.ie

BankholidaybonanzaatOverwaterMarina

ITWILLbeabusyAugustbank holidayatOverwaterMarina, nearAudlem,asitplayshostto aweekendoflocalcharityevents.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ charityquiznight

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

barbecuefortheparticipants. Contacthelen.whitehouse@ waterways.org.uk

August13

Canal&RiverTrust: Heritage-themedCanalTown Sundayfeaturingcharacters intraditionalcostume. NationalWaterwaysMuseum, SouthPierRoad,Ellesmere Port,CheshireCH654FW.

August16-17

FriendsofMontgomery

Canal: Lockwind.

August19

RiverFossSociety: Riverside LitterpickaroundFossIslands/ RowntreeWharf.Contact events@riverfosssociety. co.ukforinformationpriorto attendingasnumbersneedto beknowninadvance.

August19-20

Lichfield&Hatherton CanalsRestorationTrust: BrownhillsCanalFestival. SilverStreetwillbethe venueforfloatingtraders fromtheRovingCanal TradersAssociation,historic narrowboatsandtradestalls. Seeeventscalendaratwww. lhcrt.org.uk

August20

ErewashPreservation& DevelopmentAssociation: Open dayatSandiacreLockCottages, Sandiacre,NottinghamNG10 5LA,10.30am-3.30pm.www. ecpda.org.uk

August23

RiverFossSociety: 5-mile circularwalk,Coxwoldvia Husthwaite.Meet10am outsidetheFauconbergArms, Coxwold.ContactDerek Chiverstoconfirm:derek@ chivers.plus.com

August26-27

GloucesterDocks: Retro ontheWaterwithboattrips, activities,stalls,refreshments, musicanddancing.Events between10.30amand4.30pm eachday.

August26-28

IWA: FestivalofWaterat PelsallJunctionontheWyrley &EssingtonCanal.

RovingCanalTraders Association: Floatingmarket atMiltonKeynes.

August27

GranthamCanalSociety: OpenDayatWoolsthorpe Depot.

OnFriday,August25, Overwaterishostingacharity quizandhogroast.From7pm quizmasterandmarinamanager DavidJohnsonwillactasan auctioneerforawide-ranging promiseauction–lotsalready includeatwo-nightstayinone ofOverwater’sluxuryglamping wagons,athree-nightstayfor fourinthebeautifulAshLodgeat Overwater,agintastingtriptothe local ThreeWrensGinDistillery andamealfortwoat TheLord CombermereinAudlem.

Lastyear’seventraised £2599.85fortheAudlemLass BoatService,whichsupportsthe RNLIandOverwaterWheelyboat Serviceswhoofferawheelchairadaptedminibusandboat service.Ticketsare£10,including thehogroast–withveggieand veganoptionsonrequest–and canbeboughtfromOverwater Reception(cashonly)oronlineat

OnSaturday,August26, Overwaterwillonceagain supporttheAudlemMusicand ArtsFestivalbyhostingMusicat theMarina. Thisyearlivebands willkickoff frommiddayandplay throughoutthedayandevening.

Therewillbeplentyoffood onoffer,withbothOverwater’s CaféatBridge80andthefestival volunteerscookingupastorm andthebarisalsoopenfrom midday.Entryisfree,withcar parkingatjust£5acar.Overnight fieldcampingfortents,caravans andmotorhomescanbebooked athttps://www.audlemfestival. live/marinafestival

AndonSunday,August27, thefestivalwillbepresentingits firstcomedynight.Comedians includeSteveRoyale,aprevious finalistonBritain’sGotTalent, aswellasKarenBayley,Chris Washingtonandtheevening's compereDaveTwentyman.

Ticketsareavailableat:https:// www.audlemfestival.live/events/

comedy-at-overwater-marina andarepricedat£15each,or tables(forsixpeople)at£90for atable.

Itishopedthatthisyear’s eventswillonceagainraisemuchneededfundsforthefestivalto takeplaceagaininMay2024.

Bratch Locksrally

THEStaffordshire& WorcestershireCanal SocietyhostsitsAutumn RallyofBoatsatBratch LocksonSaturdayand Sunday,September 2and3.Entryfee is£15inclusiveof commemorativeplaque. ContactSteveBingham on07964151552oremail ste.bingham1954@ gmail.com

Boattripswillbetakenonthecaptain’slaunchfromthe1921 RMSMauritania. PHOTOSSUPPLIED

Historicboatswillbemooredduringthetwo-dayeventonAugust26and27.

River Thames revisited

Janet Richardson and family enjoy a weekend’s cruising from Le Boat’s Benson base.

MY PREVIOUS cruising holiday on the River Thames was around 60 years ago with my parents. Then we hired a wooden Maid Line cabin cruiser on two consecutive years, enabling us to visit everywhere between Thames Ditton and Oxford.

So it was with a mix of excitement and nostalgia that I travelled to Le Boat’s Benson hire base with my son-in-law Neil and grandsons Ollie, 15 and Lewis, 12 to pick up a Calypso comfort cruiser for the weekend. Designed for lovers of traditional river cruising, this 43ft boat certainly dwarfed what I’d been on before with its three cabins and spacious saloon. Having stopped at Wallingford for a quick stock-up at the Waitrose store, we arrived on the Friday afternoon in glorious sunshine After unloading our luggage and parking the car in the secure compound, we were ready for the handover with technician Zurek

He went through all the mechanics with our captain Neil and explained how everything worked inside, fetching an adaptor to convert one of the lighter points for additional charging for our phones and iPads

There are two steering positions at the front of the saloon and on the upper deck which Neil opted to use Following some tuition from Zurek including turning the boat and reversing into a berth, we were on our way

I said that we were planning to head north towards Oxford and asked where we would find our first mooring for the night; Zurek said he was more familiar with the river heading south towards Le Boat’s other Thames hire base at Chertsey but we should able to find something suitable

Having downloaded the River

Thames app on my iPhone I saw there were Environment Agency short-stay moorings at Days, Clifton and Culham locks but we were on the lookout for something before we got there as we just wanted to relax after a long car journey from Lincolnshire We eventually found a small space on the north side of the confluence with the River Thame near Dorchester-onThames where another Le Boat cruiser was moored on the south side

It was a lovely quiet spot where the boys had a quick dip and their first try of the paddleboard we had hired with the boat The only noise was the birdsong and we even saw a kingfisher darting past It was beautiful.

Locks and lighter

We had a leisurely start to Saturday, the boys swimming and getting far more proficient on the paddleboard before we enjoyed a full English brunch Our

neighbours had already headed south and the only other signs of human life were the dog walkers and joggers going over the bridge along the riverside path passing through Hurst Water Meadows We then set off upstream for Days Lock and on to Clifton Lock We had somehow managed to get our box of matches wet so couldn’t light the gas rings We moored on the short stay moorings while the boys went to fetch ice cream from the lock office I then walked down

Technician Zurek, left, giving Neil some guidance on handling the boat.

A lineup of craft at Le Boat’s Benson hire base.

Ollie taking to the paddleboard. Lewis prepares to enjoy his full English.

Welcome to Days Lock.

Inside Days Lock with another cruiser and a narrowboat.

The Calypso cruiser moored above Clifton Lock.

Clifton Lock: A lovely display of flowers plus ice creams and a friendly lock keeper – what more could you want.

to see if they had any matches and the lock keeper very kindly gave me a lighter which he said was a spare

In the baking sunshine we carried on through the glorious countryside where we could hear church bells ringing –possibly for a wedding – to Culham Lock where there was another very helpful and friendly lock keeper

We carried on to the outskirts of Abingdon where we decided to turn and head back downstream The sky was threatening with the thunderstorms which had been forecast so we were looking for a mooring for the night. Going back through Culham Lock the keeper pointed the way to some short stay moorings just under the bridge

We then ordered our meal from Pizza Express in Abingdon which was promptly delivered to the lock car park by the Uber delivery man. After a sharp shower and some rumbles of thunder it cooled off and the sun returned for a lovely still evening

One thing which surprised me during the day was how quiet the river was compared with the canals. However there were a variety of different river users from wild swimmers and paddleboarders to rowing boats, small motor launches, narrowboats and cruisers And the wildlife with birdsong accompanying us on our way

Homeward bound

Sunday morning promised another sunny day and I had a stroll up to the

lock at around 7am to see a cruiser heading for Windsor and a narrowboat going through using ‘self-service’ , the keeper not due to start till 9am I then sat on deck enjoying the song-filled stillness broken only by traffic crossing the bridge

It was soon time to start heading back to Benson as, although on a weekend break we were due to return the boat by 9am on Monday, we needed to return home on the Sunday evening ready for work and school the following day.

The temperature soon started to rise and with the suncream applied we headed back downstream – again enjoying an ice cream at Clifton Lock

We then passed through some more open countryside where cattle had gone down to the river for a drink and hay bales stood in the distance There was again the sound of church bells ringing across the fields

We moored alongside a water meadow for a brunch stop and the boys again took to the paddleboard, dodging an inquisitive swan and families of Canada geese with their broods. We then carried on through Days Lock before stopping for a break at the same place as we had moored on the Friday night

The river got busier as we cruised along the final stretch back to Benson, managing to avoid a young kayaker having steering problems by going through the outside arch of a bridge and missing moored boats the other side We again encountered paddleboarders

and kayakers as Neil tried to manouevre and reverse into the only gap between the moored hire boats With lots of spectators sitting outside the waterfront cafe watching our every move, he decided to go in forwards which we had been told we could do Neil and the boys summed it all up perfectly by saying they wished they could have stayed for the week – perhaps next time

About Le Boat on the Thames

Le Boat is a leading provider of inland water boating holidays, bringing together 50 years of experience, expertise and memories It has a fleet of large self-drive cruisers, allowing entire families to stay on board and to explore their chosen region A selfdrive river cruise from Chertsey or Benson allows holidaymakers to explore the western section of the River Thames Here moorings are easy to find and the distance between locks is greater than at the river’s eastern end, which means more cruising There’s the dreaming spires and universities of Oxford out to the west of Benson, or head east and boaters can be in Henleyon-Thames, the home of British rowing. The whole family will love Legoland Windsor Resort with its fun rides and live shows! Or take a family audio tour of Windsor Castle or an information trail around Hampton Court Perfect for those seeking an affordable staycation and with no previous experience necessary, Le Boat’s Thames holidays can be whatever guests want them to be, from a full-on action-packed adventure to a slow-paced, relaxing chance to unwind.

Sample price

A three-night self-catered stay on board a Calypso, which sleeps up to eight people, departing October 21, starting and ending at the Benson base, costs from £909 per boat, £114pp based on eight people sharing. No boating licence or experience necessary The season runs until the end of October Le Boat (023 9222 2177, www leboat.co.uk)

Cattle wander down to the river for a drink PHOTOS: JANET RICHARDSON

The tranquil moorings below Culham Lock.

Early morning ‘self-service’ at Culham Lock.

A narrowboat has the river to itself as it heads downstream.

REDHILLMARINA

RATCLIFFE-ON-SOAR,NOTTINGHAM,NG110EB

TEL:01509672770/07760627421 • EMAIL:enquiries@redhill-marina.co.uk

Leisureandresidentialmoorings

Boatlandstorage,boatrepairsandfitouts

Slipwayandboathoisttohandleupto60ton,70ftx14ft

BOATBUILDING,BOATPAINTING,REPAIRS,SALESANDCHANDLERY.

REDHILLMARINAOPENDAY-AUGUSTBANKHOLIDAY

SATURDAY26THAUGUSTTOMONDAY28THAUGUST2023

INCLUDINGVINTAGE&COLLECTABLETRACTORDISPLAY

VARIOUSTYPESOFFLOATHOMESAVAILABLEAT REDHILLMARINAUPTO40FTLONGX14FTWIDE.

THESECANBEMOVEDBYROADTRANSPORT.

VARIOUSMOORINGSALSOAVAILABLEATREDHILLMARINALEISURE, RESIDENTIAL,OFFICESPACEMOORINGSAVAILABLE

ALSOPROJECTBOATSANDFLOATHOMESAVAILABLE.

Forallenquiries,pleasecontacttheMarinaofficeon:01509672770

ThisisKingsBromley, aquietspotonthe TrentandMerseyCanal, whereour customersnowenjoyluxuryensuitebathroomsandlaundryroomswithmodern washersanddryers–allopen24/7.Outsideisarefreshedcustomerloungeandsun terracewithashinynewislandgazeboandBBQ.Andforthedogs,abrandnewdog wash(withlovelywarmwater).Alltheseandotherupgradeshelpmakelifebythe waterthatbitmorespecial.

Calluson 01159077444 tochataboutourleisuremooringsandtoarrangeatour –we’dlovetoshowyouaroundsoyoucanseewhyourmarinasaresospecial. Alternatively,visit aquavista.com tolearnmore.

Haveyouseensomeoftherecentupgrades toAquavistamarinas!? They'renotjusta prettypictureyouknow.

KingsBromley

07941167087

Moorings available

•3mooringlocations

•Longtermnon-residential mooringsonly

•Forfurtherinformation andavailabilityplease emailusat: info@basingstoke-canal. co.uk orcall 01252370073

HollandMooringsFarnborough •Carparkfacilities •Nearestwaterpoint, refusedisposal2.5km

CanalCentre MooringsMytchett •Water point, refuse disposal, elsan,pumpout, carparkfacilities

•SituatednexttoVisitor Centre,CampsiteandCafe

BridgeBarnMooringsWoking

•Waterpoint,refuse disposal,elsanpoint andsituatednextto canal-sidepub

Alsovisitourwebsite: www.basingstoke-canal.co.uk

Private,tranquilmooringsnestledintheStaffordshirecountrysidejustastone’s throwfromhistoricFradleyJunctiononthepopularTrentandMerseyCanal. •60fulllengthmoorings•Waterand16ampelectric•Modernshowerblock •CarParking•ElectricGates•Recycling•Workshop&Slipway•Elsan •WIFi&CCTV•Laundry•Fuel•NationwideBoatSalesbrokerage Ourworkshopandslipwayistakingbookingsforblacking•painting•servicing•surveys •repairs•newboatfitout•interiorremodelling•furniture&cabinetmaking TocontacttheworkshoppleasecallFradleyNarrowboatson 07542824262 oremail fradleyboats@gmail.com

ForestBank

Moorings

Newflood-safemoorings ontheRiverAvoninthe

HeartofEnglandForest

Formoreinformationcontact Markon 07500700718 or mark.waterson@heartofenglandforest.org heartofenglandforest.org/moorings

WelfordRoad,Barton,Bidford-on-Avon, WarwickshireB504NP

GlampingWagons TouringPark

TheViewRestaurantis nowfullyopen www.theview-eat.co.uk

•Enjoyprivateaccesstoatraditional 200acrebeefandsheepfarm

• •Dogsrunfreeindesignatedareas.

• •Watchthechangingseasons,thewildlifeand theanimalsonthefarm

• •Enjoythecompletepeace,freedomand tranquillityofbeinginthecountryside

• •Accesssomegreatlockfreecruisingforday trips,weekendorlongervoyages

• •Easyaccesstothemotorwaynetwork

• •Onsitelaundry,HairdressersandDog Grooming

Itgoeswithoutsaying....

• •Asecureplacetomooryourboat,andpark yourcar

• •Luxuriousshowers,communalareas,pump outandfueletc.

• •FreeunlimitedWIFI

• •Electricityandwaterconnections

• •Extrawidepontoonsavailable

Blisworth Marina

HAREFIELD MARINA HAREFIELDMARINA

Bridge180,GrandUnionCanal, HarefieldUB96PD Tel:01895822036 muskmarine@hotmail.com www.harefieldmarina.co.uk

Facilitiesinclude:-

-Chandlery

-Slipway (upto65ft)

-Coveredwetdock

-Waterandelectric points

-Diesel

-Pumpout

-Boatsales/ brokerage

-Engineinboard/ outboardrepairs

-gasandcoal

200secure,nonresidentialruralmooringsin

secludedcountrysidesetting5minsfromM25/M40. OnedayscruisingfromtheThames.

2BEDROOMS|2BATHROOMS 775SQFT

HOMESAVAILABLEFROM

£295,000

ENJOYLIFEAFLOATWITHAHOMEONTHEWATER

NestledalongsidethemightyRiverSevernandjustastone’sthrowawayfromtheenchanting markettownofUpton-upon-Severn,WaterfrontLivingisapioneeringprojectthatsetsthe standardfor floatinghomes.Offeringtwobedroomluxuryhomeswithspaciousdeckingand moderninteriors,youcancontinuelifeafloatwithmorespacetolive,relaxandentertain.

UPTONLAKE,EASTWATERSIDE,UPTON-UPON-SEVERN,WR80PB www.waterfront-living.com|info@waterfront-living.com|01933829940

WeareinauniquepositionontheBirminghamCanalNavigationsandhaveberthsavailable closetothecitycentreservingalltypesofboatersforovernight,shorttermandlongtermmoorings.

Boatengineservice £225.00

Singledayemptyandrefill £250.00

Vbottomboatextracharge(atthetimeofbookingyoumustinformusif yourBoatisV-Bottom £100.00

Extradaysinthedockifalreadybookedinforblackingorservicewillbe chargedat £70perday

Blackingconsistsofjetwashingthehulloftheboatdownandmakingsureareaisclean anddry,shouldwefindanythingofconcernwewillcontactyoutoinformyou.Wecan offervariousblackingproductspleasecallusandspeaktous.

Anodesare£150perpairand fitting/weldingis£60.00perpairifpurchasedfromus. Allotherworksarechargedat£60.00perhour

CONTACTUSON01214556163FORANYENQUIRES

GooleMarinaislocatedinabasinconnectingtotheAireandCalderCanaland closetothecommercialportofGooleintheEastRidingofYorkshire.Themarinaprovides anidealbaseforcruisingthewaterwaysofYorkshireaswellasgivingeasyaccesstothe HumberEstuaryandtheNorthSea.

Wehaveamarinabasintoaccommodate150boatsofvariouslengths&widths. WecanaccommodatealltypesofcraftfromCruiserstoNarrowboatandBarges. Alltypesofmoorings,gardenmooringstofloatingpontoons,whichcanbeaccessed24hrsaday.

FULLYSERVICEDCRUISING ANDRESIDENTIALMOORINGS ANDFULLBOATYARDSERVICES

•Iver(SloughArm)andNortholt (Paddingtonarm)

•Securesiteswithprivateparking

•Deliveryofgas,solidfuelanddiesel directtoyourboat

•Electricity,water,elsanandpumpout

•Showersandlaundry

•Chandlery

•Mechanical,electrical,andcarpentry workundertaken

•Craning,gritblastingandblacking

•Twopartepoxyhulltreatment

•Fuelpolishingservice

sales@high-line.co.uk

01753651496

www.high-line.co.uk

THEBOATYARD MANSIONLANE,IVER, SL09RG

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FORSELLERS

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•Open6days/week

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FORBUYERS

•Freeguidanceandadvice

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•Secureclientsbankaccount

•ABYAqualifiedbrokeragestaff

•Industrystandarddocumentation

PRIVATEBUYER’SSERVICE

•Ifyouarebuyingprivately,wecanoffer thefollowingservices:

•Adviceonallaspectsofpurchase

•Provisionofdocumentation

•SecureClientsbankaccount

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Aqueduct Marina event hailed a great success

VISITORS, exhibitors and organisers agreed that despite the somewhat blustery conditions, this year ’ s

Aqueduct Marina Boating Event was a great success

The aim was to provide an event that was a ‘boat show for boaters’ and, as a result, around 500 visitors took the opportunity to visit the Nantwich marina, speak to staff and visit 19 trade stands In addition, more than 200 people attended the evening's entertainment, much of which was provided by Elvis tribute Paul Larcombean and singer Josh Whittall

Both exhibitors and marina staff commented on the levels of interest shown by visitors, the majority of whom were genuinely interested in discussing their boats and their boating experiences

Robert Parton, Aqueduct Marina’s MD, said: “I am very grateful to the exhibitors who supported us and had a stand at the show, some of whom stayed until late and enjoyed the lively Elvis night as well Also, well done, Hannah (Aqueduct marketing), who successfully managed to target the right people and get boaters and aspiring boaters here

“I spent most of the day by our brokerage boats and had plenty of excellent conversations with existing and soon-to-be boat owners ”

Kevin Peart, MD of Aegina added: “It was good to meet everyone, we enjoyed the day and had many interesting conversations about solving water supply and making safe drinking water for the canal boat community. We will be back next year ”

Anyone interested in visiting or exhibiting at next year ' s event should keep an eye on the Aqueduct Marina website and social media channels where the next Boating Event, expected to take place in July, will be publicised Visit www aqueductmarina co uk

New Midlands agent for Silver Boats UK

By Alison Alderton FARNDON Marina

on the River Trent at Newark in

N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e has become the new Midlands agent for Silver Boats UK Silver Boats is proud to be the sole United Kingdom distributor of Silver Boats, Finland, a brand with a reputation for quality and innovation spanning over 30 years

The Silver Fox and Silver Hawk models, both now in stock at Farndon Marina, are manufactured using the AluTech process, a construction of a very robust aluminium hull bonded to a GRP insert deck resulting in a beautiful, finely crafted interior, especially well-suited to the harsh conditions of Northern Europe.

The hull sides are foam filled, making the boats unsinkable, with both the Silver Hawk and Silver Fox delivering an outstanding balance of design aesthetic and practicality

Silver Fox is a sleek,

stylish and extremely safe all-rounder, great for coastal waters and lakes The hull is of a brand new design with a spacious interior The two consoles, together with a two-part middle door, makes the passenger area in the stern well sheltered from spray

Silver Hawk is an ideal boat for fishermen or for use as a generalpurpose runabout with well-placed railings to ensure safety even in rough water This boat has all necessary accessories to make your time on board both safe, comfortable and enjoyable

The family-owned and managed Farndon Marina is delighted

to add the Silver Boat models to its sales portfolio and looks forward to a longlasting relationship with this innovative brand. Package pricing on stock boats start at £33,995 inc VAT

To find out more contact Alex Boden on: 07809 340 771 or email: alex boden@ farndonmarina co.uk

As well as boat sales, Farndon Marina offers over 300 berths in 25 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds bordering the River Trent, an ideal location to explore the inland waterways of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire

Discover more at: www farndonmarina co uk

Enjoying the sunshine at Aqueduct Marina’s Boating Event. PHOTOS: PHIL PICKIN

Interior detail of the Silver Hawk PHOTO SUPPLIED

A line-up of narrowboats.

Narrowboats on the brokerage at Aqueduct Marina.

Chatting with visitors at one of the trade stands.

Farndon Marina moorings. PHOTO: ALISON ALDERTON

A new delivery of Silver Boats at Farndon Marina. PHOTO: ALISON ALDERTON

The Silver Fox, PHOTO SUPPLIED

functionalityofMothershipMarine

MOTHERSHIPMarine triesveryhardto concealitsgreatest strengths,accordingto directorTimKnox.

Everydayisaschooldayat Derbyshiretrainingcentre

ByPaulHarringtonatDCBTuition

DERBYSHIRECanalBoatTuitionisa smallfamily-runbusinessandaRYA recognisedtrainingcentrethatoperates fromSwarkestoneandShardlow.

We findoneofthebestpartsofcanalboat trainingismeetingsomanylike-minded peoplewhowanttogainthatbitmore confidenceandskillinboathandlingand, aseverydayisaschooldayforusall,even experiencedboaterscanbenefit.

Ratherthansayingthereisarightor wrongwaytodothings,Isaythereissafe wayandanunsafeway;thesafewaywill bemorecomfortableandultimatelybe thecorrectway.Ourcoursesarelaid backandenjoyablewiththeaimto makeboatingasaferandmoreenjoyable experiencewithlessstrenuouswork.

Ihave50years’experienceinthe commercialandleisureindustry coveringseagoing,riversandcanals.As aretiredharbourandriverpilotIhold theMCAMasterunlimitedandtheRYA Instructorcertificates.

AfterretirementIstillwantedtoplay withboatsandtopassonmyexperienceto helpthoseboaterswhogetabit flustered andmakethingshardforthemselves... plusmywifesaidmyboatwasarather expensivearmchair.Sobeforeshegot anyideas,Idecidedtostartpassingon

myexperienceandcoachstudentsforthe RYAHelmsmancertificate.

Ourcanalsandriversaregreatplaces tobeandonceyouhaveincreasedyour confidence,theycantakeyoutothenext levelofcanalboating.

Falkirk Wheel launches eBoat hire fleet powered by ePropulsion

THE Falkirk Wheel now has a hire fleet of four eBoats as part of its visitor attractions,poweredbyePropulsion’s silentSpiritelectricoutboardmotors.

Firstopenedin2002andmanaged byScottishCanals,theIconicrotating boatliftlinkstheForthandClyde withtheUnioncanalandisoneof Scotland’stopvisitordestinations.

TheeBoatsweretestedinassociation withAshtonMarineServices,the ePropulsionspecialistdealerbased nearGlasgow.ASpiritelectricoutboard wasloanedtoScottishCanalsaspartof thehireboattrial.

Asaresult,thenew fleetoffourstable Polycraft300Tuffyboatscanbehiredby thepublicandwillcarrythreepassengers. Visitorscanspend90minutespeacefully exploringthecanalbetween TheFalkirk WheelandBonnybridgeontheirown,free fromanyoutboardnoise.

“TheeBoatshaveprovedincredibly popularalready.TheePropulsion Spiritoutboardsaresimpletouseand theperfectwaytointroducepeopleto gettingonthewaterandexperiencing thecanals,”explainedRossMcMillian,

head of destinations at Scottish Canals

“Our visitors now expect clean, eco-friendlyexperiences.Withthese outboards,there’snonoise,no pollutionandnoriskoffuelspillsinto thecanalseither.”

Theprojectisanimportantpartof ScottishCanals’goaltodevelopmore environmentallyfriendly,family-based experiences,aspartofitsgoaltoreach zeroemissionsby2035.

Thesophisticated electricalinfrastructure requiredtopoweran exceptionalelectric boatremainsvery hidden,allowingthe boat'sexteriorand exquisiteinteriorsto takecentrestage.

MothershipMarine trulyunderstandsthesignificance ofcreatingavisuallypleasingand invitingatmospherewithinthe boat.Whilenarrowboatinteriors cansometimesfeelclaustrophobic andconfining.MothershipMarine tacklesthischallengehead-on. Itslayoutschallengethenorm anduseawholehostofinterior designtricksandcleverly designedfurnituretocreateareal feelingofspace. There’sarealwarmthand cosinesstotheinteriorstoo,made possiblewiththeuseofreclaimed timber.Timlikestosaythatthey borrowhistoryandpatinawiththis wood,andalthoughit’salotmore timeconsumingtoworkwith,itsets theinteriorsofMothershipMarine narrowboatsverymuchapart

fromotherbuilders. Oneoutstanding uniquefeature ofMothership Marine'sdesignis thesolararray. Unlikean afterthought,the entireroofofthe boatiscovered withsolarpanels, addingtoitsoverall aestheticappeal. Themajorityofthe boat’spower(propulsion andleisure)comesfrom thelargesolararrays.Difficultinthe winter,butitdoeshelp.Inthewinter thebatteriescanbechargedfromthe shoreorbytheonboardgenerator.

Withsuchalimitedresource itsnecessarytocarefullymanage powerconsumptionandthisismade possiblebyaverysophisticated monitoringsystemdeveloped in-house.However,youdon’thave tobeageniustounderstandthe display,infactit’swherealotof non-electricallymindedpeoplehave ‘a-ha’moments.

Ifyouareintriguedand wouldliketolearnmoreabout MothershipMarinepleasevisit mothershipmarine.comand immerseyourselfinsomebeautiful andveryfunctionalnarrowboats.

Howtosleepinhotweather

WHILEenjoyingthesunduringtheday isadreamformanyintheUK,sleeping intheheatcanbeanightmare.

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Usehotwaterbottlestoloweryour coretemperature

Usingahotwaterbottlemight soundlikeastrangewaytocombat heat,butJamestheSleepGeek recommendsraisingyourcore temperatureslightlybyplacinga lukewarmhotwaterbottleonyour feet30minutesbeforebed;that way,whenyougotosleepyourcore temperaturewilldrop.

Useseparatecoversfromyour sleepingpartner

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Avoiddaytimenaps

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Putyourfeetinabowloflukewarmwater

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UseAloevera

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Shutoutthesunlight

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Swapyoursheets

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AwavefromDave.

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Thecomprehensive guidetoBritain’scanals

Reviewer:JanetRichardson

THEfourtheditionofStuart Fisher’sCanalsofBritainbrings thismassiveoverviewofthe networkbanguptodate.

Lavishlyillustratedwithsuperb colourphotographs,notonlyof thecanalsandtheirusersbut alsoofproductsassociated witheachone,bookcoversand evenstamps,itisdescribed bythepublishersasthemost comprehensiveandabsorbing surveyofBritain’scanalnetwork everpublished–andIdon’tdoubt thatclaim.

Someofthecanalconnections wouldmakegreatquizquestions; forexample,whathasHGWells’ TheWaroftheWorldsgottodo withtheBasingstokeCanal,or aUSAOldGlorystampwiththe LancasterCanal–I’llletyou readthebookforyourselfto find theanswers.

Thereare65canalsontheUK mainlandcovered,fromthebestknownwaterways–‘England’s spinecanal’,theGrandUnion, itsLeicesterLineandthevarious armsalongthewaytothose isolatedfromthesystemlikethe NeathandTennantcanalsinSouth Walesandthosewhicharethesubject ofcurrentrestorationprojects,suchas theGranthamandCromfordcanalsin theEastMidlands.

Buttherearesomeexceptions suchastheNorthWalsham&Dilham CanalinNorfolkandtheBudeCanal inCornwall,alsotheshipcanalssuch astheExeterandChichesteralthough

theManchesterShipCanaldoesget severalmentions.

Theotherthingthatstruckmewhen Ilookedatthemapshowingallthe canalscoveredwashowthemajority seemedtobeconcentratedintothe middleofthecountry,withvastareas leftblank–butthenIrealisedthatthis bookissolelydedicatedtocanalsand thenavigableriversarenotincluded.

Thereishoweveronecanal whichIhadn’tpreviously beenawareof–theRoyal MilitaryCanalfrom SandgatenearFolkestone aroundRomneyMarsh toWinchelsea.

Eachcanalgetsitsown chapterandmostofthem somequotationsorlinesof poetrytosetthescenefor thereader. Thesevaryfrom excerptsfromtheworks ofAlfred,LordTennyson (ChesterfieldCanal),WH Auden(Monmouthshire& BreconCanal)andRupert Brooke(WendoverArm) tomorecontemporary observations. Thisbookisnotone tobedevouredinone longsessionbuttobe dippedintoandenjoyed wheneverplanningyour cruisingprogramme,a dayoutgongoozlingorto readaboutthehistoryand folkloreofthecanalsand thesurroundingsitesof interest.Whichevercanal youwouldliketolearn moreabout,afullindex atthebackofthebookwillguideyou withthepagenumbersdevotedtoeach showninboldtype–enjoy.

CanalsofBritain, TheComprehensive GuidebyStuartFisherpublishedby AdlardColes(Paperback,345pages, £30(eBook£27).

ISBN:9781472994929(paperback); 9781472994912(eBook)

Talesoffourfamiliesseenthrough theeyesoftheboatwomen

THEclassiccanalbookRamlinRose–TheBoatwoman’sStory,SheilaStewart’s intensivelyresearchednovelbased closelyonthelivesoffourrealboat families,hasbeenre-releasedbythe CanalBookShop.

Bythelate1950s,horse-drawn narrowboatshadbecomeararersight onBritain’scanals.Carryingawide varietyofcargoestosuch destinationsasthePotteries, thetextilemillsofLancashire, thepapermillsofLondon andthecollegesofOxford, theystruggledonagainst increasingcompetition fromrailandroadtrafficto maintaintheirplaceinthe country’seconomy.

Yetlittlehasbeenwritten aboutthefamilieswholived andworkedontheseboats–in particularthewomen.Drawing onrecordedinterviewswith thefewboatwomenleftwho werebornandbredonhorsedrawnboats,Sheilarecounted theirexperiencesasseen throughtheeyesofanilliterate boatwoman,RoseRamlin, travellingmainlyonthe OxfordCanalthroughtheFirst WorldWar,theDepression, theSecondWorldWarandthe

declineofthecanals. Itisapoignant accountofastonishingcourageand resilience,capturingauniqueway oflifeduringthe first60yearsofthe 20thcentury. Thisbookhasbeen recognisedbymanycanalhistorians andformerboatersasbeinga particularlyaccuratedepictionof

lifeonaworkingnarrowboat.

RamlinRose–The Boatwoman’sStorybySheila Stewartwithillustrationsby DC‘Dusty’Miller.Publishedby CanalBookShop,animprintof AudlemMillLtd(paperback, 264pages,£13.95).

ISBN:978-1-7399896-3-7

Reviewer:JanetRichardson

FORthoseofyouinterestedinthe historicalconnectionsbetweenthe canalsandtherailways,especially intheareaoftheBirmingham CanalNavigations, TheIndustrial Canal– TheRailwayInterchange Tradeprovidesanin-depthlook atthisfreighttraffic.

Painstakinglyresearchedby formerworkingboatmanTom Foxon,thisisthesecondvolumein aseriesonindustrialcanalsinthe Midlandsalthoughitisaquarter ofacenturysincethe firstvolume waspublishedin1998.

Inthepreface,canalhistorian RayShillwritesthattheaimof thisstudyistoexaminethetraffic patternsforthedifferentgoods carried. The firstbookconcentrated onthecoaltradewhilethisvolume tacklesthesubjectofrailwaybasin trafficuntilitsdeclinewhenthe waterwayswerenationalised.

Industrywasalreadyestablished alongthecanalswhichmakeup theBCNwhentherailwaysarrived intheWestMidlands,particularly intheBlackCountry.

Railwaycompaniesfoundthat workingwiththecanalproprietors increasedtrafficontheirlinesand operatedaboatageservicewhich workedtoastricttimetable. These boatswereonceacommonsight onthecanals.Mostofthehorsedrawncraftwereopenwoodor ironboats,thistypeofboatand servicecontinuingthroughto 1958.

Thefinalmile

Cargoesweretransportedtoand fromthedistrictbyrailbutwere transshippedontothewaterways fortheshortjourneytothe factories,nowadaysdescribedas the finalmileinfreightparlance. Hencethedevelopmentofthe interchangepointswheregoods couldbetransferredbetweenboat andrailwaywagonsatthevarious basinsandwharves.

Duringthepeakyearsbetween 1900and1910morethana milliontonspassedthroughthese transshipmentpointseachyear, accountingforaboutaseventhof thetotaltonnagecarriedbythe Birminghamcanalsatthattime.

Illustratedbycontemporary blackandwhitephotos, advertisementsandmapsbacked upwithdiagramsandstatistics, TomFoxonexplainsthefactors responsiblefortheestablishment

ofthistrade,itsdevelopmentand finaldecline.

BasedonAckerman’slithograph ofBirmingham,preparedin1845, afascinatingartist’simpression byEdwardPaget-Tomlinson depictstheWestMidlands’ first railwayinterchangeatCurzon Street.Itshowsahorse-drawn Pickford’sboatpassingtheLondon &BirminghamRailwaywharf, stationandengineshed.

Fastforwardbymorethan acenturyto1949foranaerial viewoftheTiptonfactoryand BloomfieldBasinbyAerofilms Ltdandsubsequentlyin1958,the lastboattoBromley– GWRNO9 leavingPearson’s firebrickworks attheDelphontheStourbridge CanalbyATSmith.

Althoughinterchangebasins existedelsewhereinthecountry, thelargestconcentrationswereto befoundintheWestMidlands.As wellasacoupleofdozenrailway basinsthereweresome10boatage depotsandwharves. Thereare detailsofeachbasinincluding thedatesbetweenwhichitwasin operation,therailwaycompanies and,inmanycases,timetablesand maps.

Thisisnotabooktobereadin onegobuttobedelvedintofor referencewhetheritbepurelyout ofinterestorwhileresearching theBirminghamarea’sindustrial heritage,theatmospheric photographsbringingtolifea forgottenera.

TheIndustrialCanal–The RailwayInterchangeTrade byTomFoxon(publishedby CanalBookShop,animprintof AudlemMillLtd,paperback156 pages,£15.95).

ISBN:978-1-7399896-2-0

Whathappenswheneveryoneknowsthetruth?

Reviewer:ColinWareing

WHATcouldhappenif everyoneknowseverything aboutthebigorganisations, corporations,companies andgovernmentsthatrule ourlife? Thatisthequestion posedinTheTimesof Malthus: ThePrequelto2089 byMilesMHudson.

Oncepeopleknow aboutthecorruptionand exploitationhowwillthey react?

Thesecretsareout,it’snot good,andthefolksaren’t happy.Civilunrestfollows withbreakdownofthe organisations,corporations, companiesandgovernments,

solawandordergooutof thewindow–butalsogothe servicesandsuppliesneeded forwhatwasour‘normal’ wayoflife.

Itthenbecomesa fight forsurvival;witheveryone watchingtheirbacks,and theirfamiliesandfriends, itbecomestribal.Afew systemsstillwork;word getsaroundtherearebetter placestobethanBrighton.

Followingyearsof fighting toliveandlosingfolksto violenceit’stimeforthe twoheroinestomakethe longtrektoasaferplace… Hereford!

It’snoteasyandthereare morelossesonthewaybut

someofthemdomakeit into2089.

It’sanothergoodread fromtheauthorthatbrought us2089:aFuturewithno Secrets?whichwereviewed intheMarch2019 Towpath Talk,butthere’snotquiteas muchboatinginthisone.

Itseemsabitoddtobring outaprequeltoabookthat hasbeenoutforafewyears; thoughifyou’venotread 2089you’llwanttoafterthis journey,toseeifHereford andtheCotswoldsarebetter thanthesouthcoastcity ofBrighton.

TheTimesofMalthus byMilesMHudsonis

(paperback£9.99,Kindle £2.59);ISBN(Paperback) 978-1-83812-587-5

Cheers!asbrewerystepsup tosupporttheMontyCanal

01606 833668

Middlewich, Cheshire

Enjoyapeacefulandtranquilholidayon thepicturesequeFenlandwaterways

Bridge Boatyard

Ely,Cambridgeshire

www.bridgeboatyard.com

t: 01353663726 e: info@bridgeboatyard.com

Whycanalboatholidays areawell-beingtonic

CherylHowesofKateBoatswiththelatestnews fromDrifters–aconsortiumofindependent self-drivehireboatcompaniessetuptopromote enjoymentofcanalholidays.

IT’Swellknownthatspendingtime ingreenspaceconnectingwith natureisgoodforourmentalhealth andwell-being.

ResearchbytheCanal&River Trustconfirmsthecombinationof greenandbluespacewithwildlife experiencedbyvisitorstotheinland waterwaysgivesanextraboost.

Theresearchwascarriedoutby King’sCollegeLondon,Nomad ProjectsandJ&LGibbonsusing UrbanMind,asmartphone-based apptocollectthousandsofrealtime auditsaboutparticipants’location andmentalwell-being.

Inreviewspostedbycanal boatholiday-makers,thewords ‘relaxing’and‘friendly’oftenfeature. Journalistsreviewingtheexperience frequentlyusephrasessuchas‘lifein theslowlane’,anddescribeitas‘an antidotetomodernlife’.

GarethButterfield,inhisrecent articleinthe ManchesterEvening

Enjoyinglifeintheslowlane.

PHOTOSUPPLIED

News reviewingaDriftersholiday ontheAshbyCanal,wrote:“There’s somethingincrediblycatharticabout slowingyourselfdowntocanal pace…aweekatwalkingpaceisjust thetonicforpeoplewhoneedtoput thebrakesonfromtimetotime.”

Inher2022 SundayMirror article‘Slow-gozone’,FionaWhitty describedhernarrowboatholiday ontheGrandUnionCanalas:“An antidotetofastliving,travelisall aboutgoingslownowadays–and

Wehave25acresofrollingCheshirecountryside, whynotcomeandgetawayfromitallbyspending timeinoneofourbeautifullyfurnishedbelltents, orcampingwithyourowntentorcampervan.

TheWilderfamily,whoowntheplace,haveanattitudetothecampsite thatbefitstheirsurname.Grazedbycowsinsomepartsandcutjustonce ortwiceayearforhay,themeadowsareotherwiseleftlongandwildin summer.Afewfootpathshavebeenconscientiouslymowninbetween pitchestohelpguideyouaroundthefieldsandovertoanotherlakeattached tothecanalthat’sawildlifehotspotandagoodplacetowatchforherons.

MONTY’sBrewery launchedNavigation PaleAletosupportthe ongoingrestoration oftheMontgomery Canal,whichrecently celebratedthe openingofanother restoredsectionto CrickheathBasin.

Schoolhouse Bridge,another 300yardsalongthe courseofthecanal, iscurrentlybeing rebuilt–soit’sallgo downonthecut.

RussandPam HoneymanrunMonty’s Breweryandhave alwaysbeeninterested inthecanalandits history.

Russsaid:“It’sgreat thatwecanhelpthe volunteerswiththeir worktobringthecanal backtolifebymaking adonationfromevery pintofNavigationPale Alesold.

“Welauncheditin lateMaytocoincide

CelebratingwithaglassofNavigation Aleare,fromleft:TomFulda,Shropshire UnionCanalSociety;RussHoneyman, Monty’s;RichHamp,SUCS;Pam Honeyman,Monty’sandDavidCarter SUCS. PHOTOSUPPLIED

withthegrand openingatthe beginningof Juneandthe responsehas beenreally goodsofar and,ofcourse, themore peopleenjoytheale, themorecanalcan berestored–it’sa win-winsituation.”

Navigation PaleAleisnow availablein manypubsnear theMontgomery Canaland thereviews havebeen excellent,with theNavigationInnin Maesburyreporting selling-outofMonty’s onthedayofrelease.

youdon’tgetmuchslowerthana canalboatwithaspeedof4mph.”

DixeWillsinhis2020 Guardian reviewofoneourholidaysonthe ShropshireUnionCanalwrote:“The sedatenessofourprogressupto Shropshire,coupledwithanalmost

completeabsenceofintrusionsfrom themodernworld,createdabubble thatwewerereluctanttoburst.”

Wehopemanymorepeoplewill taketheopportunitytorelaxand experienceaslowerpaceoflifeon thewaterwaysinAugust.

‘Properpubfood’by theShropshireUnion

THEShroppieFlyatAudlem

WharfontheShropshire

UnionCanalrecently re-openedandatthehelm (sorry)isMikeAger,afellow boaterwhokeepshisboatjust aboveLock12.

Andquiteanimproved placeitnowis,afterwhat hasbeenafairlychequered history.Agoodselectionof food,‘ProperPubFood’as thesignoutsideassures,with adecentselectionofrealales. Andit’sverydogfriendly.

Quitewhatconstitutes properpubfoodthesedays is,however,aninteresting question.In‘theolden days’,pubsweredrinking establishments,andfoodsuch asitwasmighthavebeenjust bapsandbarsnacks.

Inthepostwaryears,things startedtochangeandwemight havebeenofferedapieanda pint,aploughman’slunch,or theubiquitouschickenina basket.Rememberthem?Not anymore.

Properpubfood?Probablya fullmenuwithstarters,mains, dessertsandalunchtime menuofsandwichesor,more oftennow,ciabattaswhich,as Mikeexplained,areaneasier andmorereliableoption forthekitchennowthat decentfreshbreadisalmost impossibleto find.

TheShroppieFlymenuhas

Properpubfood!

agoodrangeofchoicestosuit mosttastesandallatreasonable prices,andincludes fishand steakpies,burgers,plus fish andchips(whenthe fishorderis delivered!).Nocurriesthough, orploughman’s.

Thefoodweorderedwith ourfriendsforourevening mealwasbroughtoutquickly eventhoughthepubwasquite busyandwasallverytasty.

Thesteakandalepie(gluten free)wasreportedtobegood. Weweren’tsureaboutthe ‘gardenpeas’withour fish

andchips–alargeportionof drypetitpois.Wethoughtthat traditionalmushypeaswould havebeenmore‘pubgrub’and mighthavebeeneasierforthe kitchen,buttheactual fishand chipsweregood.

Earlier,forlunch,wehad alltriedouttheirciabattas. Abrowniepointwasgained whentheyhappilyagreedto serveoneoftheirstandard ciabattafillingsonbrown breadinstead,whitebread beingaproblemformywife Debbie.Allinall,goodvalue.

TheShroppieFlyisnota ‘gastropub’anditclearlyisn’t aimingforMichelinStars. It’sjustgreattohavethepub openagainandtobeable tositoutsideandwatchthe boatingworldgoby,while consumingadecentpintand sometastyunpretentious grub.

“It’sthebestit’severbeen sincewe’vebeenhereoverthe last17years,”saidPeterSilvester, proprietorofAudlemMill.

Wewouldagreewiththat. Thereare,ofcourse,twoother pubsinAudlem. Theverygood BridgeInn,adjacenttoBridge 78whichwasreviewedinthe Februaryissueof TowpathTalk andTheLordCombermere inthecentreofthevillage. Sadly, TheLordCombermere iscurrentlyclosed,butweare toldthatithaschangedhands againandwillbere-openingat somepoint.

AHEADofthebusysummerholidays,theCanal &RiverTrustisappealingforpeopletoremain friendlyandcourteousontowpaths–as figures showthenation’scanalsarebenefitingmore peoplethanatanytimeinhistory.

Inthelast financialyear,arecord885million visitsweremadetothecharity’softennarrow towpathsacrossEnglandandWalesbywalkers, cyclists,boaters,paddlers,anglersandrunners, withvisitshavingincreasedbyover30%inthe

pastfouryears.

Asthesummertemperaturesrise,the charityisaskingpeopletokeeptheircool andhaspublishedanewTowpathCode tohelppeoplebetterenjoytheirtimeon towpaths,avoidtensionbetweenvisitors andrespectthewildlifeandpetsalongthe canalnetwork.

CRTchiefexecutiveRichardParrysaid: “Withthenation’s250-year-oldcanalsmore popularthanever,thesummermonthsare settodrawevenmorepeopletovisitthese much-neededspaces.Butwithsomany peoplesharingthemandwithwaterways bringingnatureandbiodiversityintoour townsandcities,itisimportantthatweare kindtoeachotherandtowildlife.”

Speakingabouttheriseinpopularity ofcanals,Richardcontinued:“Wesawa hugeriseinvisitstoourwaterwaysduring thepandemicandtheyhaveremained importantplacesformanypeoplewho discoveredthemduringthatdifficulttime.

“Todaycanalsareplayingakeyrolewithin society. Theyarevitallinksforwalkingand cyclingandhelpGovernmenthititstargets aroundaccesstonatureandtheoutdoors. Butcanalsareoldandvulnerableand needcontinuedinvestment.Bysharingthe spaceresponsibly,wecanalllookforward toenjoyingourlocalcanalsthissummer.”

TheCanal&RiverTrust’sTowpathCode isasimple,easy-to-understandguidefor howtosharetowpathsthoughtfullyand considerately.Remember:Sharethespace; Dropyourpace;It’saspecialplace.

·Pedestrianshavepriority.

·Cyclistsmustslowdownforothers.

·Takeextracarewhenpassingpeople, petsandwildlife.

·Respectpeoplewhoareusingthe waterwayforactivitiessuchasangling,

boatingorpaddlesports.

·Wheelchairs,mobilityaids,cyclesand legale-bikesareallowed.

·E-scooters,motorbikes,modifiede-bikes andotherunauthorisedvehiclesarenot allowed.

·Keepdogsunderclosecontrolandclean upafterthem.

·Takelitterhome.

DayBoatHire

FoxNarrowboats

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CambridgeshireNarrowboatHolidays

OnourNarrowboatholidays,youcanrelaxonboardinthecosylivingspaceanddiscoverthebeautiful Fenlandcountryside.VisitPeterborough,Ely,StIves,HuntingdonorCambridge. OurNarrowboatholidayscanbetakenasaweek,weekendormidweekbreak.Wecanalsosupply throughSpring,Summer&Autumn.

Moorings

letonadailyorlongtermbasis.Wecanaccommodateboatsupto70ft. Wealsoofferarangeofservicesfromslipway,withhoistandcradle

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TheLeighArms

• MooratBridge 208ontheTrent& MerseyCanal

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Reviewer:AndrewShephard, nbUpton

TheShroppieFlyatAudlem.

PHOTO: ANDREWSHEPHARD

Dogfriendly.

Steering and propulsion

a tapered shaft Centralise the swan neck to where the rudder’s pointing and tighten down the bolt (do not overtighten as if the bolt shears the costs to repair can be extensive).

Steering

THE steering mechanism on a narrowboat is very simple; a tiller connected to a curved S-shaped steel bar, known as a ‘ swan neck’ , that fits into a flat rudder protruding out the back of the boat In order to stop the tiller wobbling, there’s a top bearing at the base of the ‘ swan neck’ where it joins the protruding rudder What can go wrong?

Rudder – one of the more common and frustrating issues encountered by boaters today is catching the rudder which in turn, often results in the vessel becoming difficult to steer At River Canal Rescue, we call this ‘popping out of the cup ’ as it refers to the rudder lifting out of its locating joint

While such lifting out is rarely damaging, it can be difficult to re-insert the rudder once dislocated. If damage does occur it usually affects either the skeg (the support beam extending from the bottom of the boat), or the top bearing (responsible for ensuring your steering has a smooth operation).

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to avoid damaging the skeg, apart from being diligent and ensuring you position your vessel correctly in the lock

However, you can avoid damage to the top bearing by removing the retaining or ‘grub’ screws The function of these screws is to stop the shaft slipping inside the bearing; however on a narrowboat this requirement is not necessary

If you leave these screws in and catch the rudder, the shaft will not be allowed to travel freely which may result in the bearing being smashed or the whole rudder assembly becoming warped If this occurs, the steering will be permanently damaged By removing these screws, you not only stop the pressure caused by an impact transferring to other components, but you may avoid a large bill in the process. The shaft in particular can wear out if it’s a split shaft design A split shaft design consists of two sections; a hollow square profile tube fixed to the bottom half and a solid square profile shaft fixed to the top half If you experience lots of play in the steering (having to move the tiller a bit before it moves the rudder), the shaft may be worn and need replacing/repairing

Tiller – this may wobble or vibrate when cruising, indicating the top bearing is worn and needs replacing Swan neck – this may become loose from the rudder assembly, meaning that when it moves, the rudder doesn’t To put right, locate the central bolt at the base of the swan neck This bolt pinches the swan neck into

In general if there’s an issue with steering, it’s either a replacement job or the boat needs to come out of the water for further investigation.

Propulsion

Propulsion components comprise propeller, prop shaft, stern gland, a thrust-bearing coupling, gearbox and engine mounts

Propeller – if you hear odd noises, experience vibration or lack direction, the chances are the propeller is bent, chipped or damaged If you hit something and hear a humming/ whistling/grinding noise this suggests the prop is misshapen in some way The vibration can cause the stern gland to leak or be damaged if left undiagnosed

Prop shaft – if damaged (bent) it allows the propeller to oscillate, putting pressure on the stern gland, potentially causing excessive wear or damage beyond repair. The shaft can become bent if you hit something

The propeller and prop shaft should not protrude out the back of the boat more than the width of the shaft To help you work out the right distance, the measurements we give in this example, in mm, are not actual sizes, but make it simpler to explain the calculation.

If, for example, the prop sticks out 5mm and the shaft is 2mm, this leaves 3mm susceptible to damage If it’s more than the width of the shaft it will need adjusting (it’s best to ask an engineer to do this as it usually requires a coupling adjustment to resolve).

We know prop shafts are bigger

30mm or 1 5in – but it’s harder to work out using figures such as 1in and 1.25in etc

Stern gland – also known as the stern gear There’s a general misconception that stern glands stop water coming in, so naturally people want them as tight as possible But there needs to be a small amount of water in order to cool the prop shaft If the gland is overtightened it causes friction on the turning shaft which leads to overheating. If left undiagnosed this will cause the ‘packing’ to wear away sections of the shaft, which in turn will make the stern gland leak more, increasing the chance of prop shaft damage (this only applies to traditional stern glands, not stern seals).

To test if your stern gland is overheating, after an hour’s cruising, check if it’s hot – if it is, the gland’s too tight

Couplings – if the bolts connecting the propeller shaft to the engine are loose, any movement will either shear them off, resulting in loss of propulsion, or make the coupling bolt holes oblong, resulting in delayed drive Eventually the coupling will need to be replaced, and you may even have to change your prop shaft or gearbox if the coupling has damaged them A simple check before each journey will stop this happening

Gearbox/drive plates – if you hit an underwater object, the drive plate is usually the first victim of this underwater collision However, if you ’ ve damaged the drive plate, it’s unlikely you ’ ve damaged the gearbox General wear and tear appears to be another cause –and because canal boats don’t have a clutch arrangement, gearboxes tend to receive a fair bit of abuse, so go easy and regularly service them

Engine mounts – Engine mounts affect all the above-mentioned components and if left without maintenance can

cause extensive damage. These can be checked by observing from above whether the top nuts are touching the engine legs The top nuts are set to the correct alignment and should not be touched/tampered with If there is a disconnect between the top nut and the engine leg then this needs maintenance

There will be another nut below the engine leg which is used to make adjustments Tighten the BOTTOM nut until it compresses the engine leg on to the top nut

This has now realigned the engine and no further damage is being caused Check regularly and if in doubt ask an engineer to look it over for you

Common problems

People often catch their mooring ropes around the propeller, so if they drop into the water, take the boat out of gear to prevent them being swallowed Avoid shallow water and be mindful what can be lurking beneath you – we ’ re often called to remove industrial fencing, barbed and razor wire, mattresses and tyres from propellers

Be aware of the dangers of rudders –if you clip the rudder while turning, it will swing the rudder around which in turn impacts the swan neck, causing it to change direction. If you’re standing to the side of the tiller, rather than in front where you should be, you could be knocked off your feet by the

sudden movement, leaving you wet and embarrassed – or it could crush you between the tiller and the obstacle, which can cause serious injury.

Worse still if the vessel is in gear, as the boat will then drive over you Always stand forward of the tiller when making tight manoeuvres

Grounding advice from River Canal Rescue

WE ALL enjoy the warmer weather, but it can be a double-edged sword. While it prompts more of us to cruise the waterways and take in some much-needed vitamin D, it also reduces water levels, increasing the risk of grounding

During the peak season, our rescue co-ordinators regularly give phone assistance to people who have become stuck and although many callers are then able to move their boats, around 40% require support from a rescue team

Low water levels, sand banks, silt build-ups and navigational errors (such as going the wrong way down the Grand Union Northampton arm, where it joins the River Nene), are key grounding contributors We’ve also seen cases of debris and weed-filled rivers and canals causing problems for propellers and ledges jutting out between locks posing a risk to boaters

Grounding can occur anywhere if you stray from the middle of the water course, cut a corner to take the shortest route or fail to check water levels before setting off It’s therefore really

important to find out, where possible, the protocols and what’s happening in the area you plan to navigate Situations will develop all the time, so be aware of the risks around you and be cautious while cruising

If you run aground, put on a lifejacket and put your boat in reverse to see if you can move away from the obstruction If this doesn’t work, walk around the vessel testing the surrounding water depth with a boat pole This will pinpoint where the water’s shallower and where the problem is. On rivers you can usually see it – rocks or gravel for example – as the water’s clearer If the front of the boat’s grounded, move some of the ballast that may be holding it down. The water tank is always at the front of a narrowboat so turn on the taps to empty it and move heavy items such as gas bottles, the anchor and any chains to the rear –this will give the boat more buoyancy at the front and potentially lift it a vital few inches which may be all it needs to clear itself Half a ton of water can create a six-inch difference If it does

clear, put the boat in reverse

If the boat’s grounded on one side, it’s a similar scenario; move anything that’s weighing it down in this area to the opposite side Do this in cautious stages – if you over-balance, the vessel will list and it could end up taking on water

If there are people on board, position yourself at the helm and ask the remainder to rock the boat gently; the momentum may move it If the rear of the boat’s aground and the propeller’s lifted (which is a rare scenario), you’ll probably need a tow. While it’s tempting to ask a passing boater for a tow, this should only be undertaken by an experienced boater We’ve had cases where the person towing the vessel has got into trouble and we ’ ve ended up rescuing two boats Also, anyone on a hire boat will invalidate their insurance if they try to tow you, so it’s better not to put them in that position in the first place

If you are able to free your vessel, check it thoroughly at the first possible opportunity – particularly the hull – as this could have been damaged

Grounded: the front of the boat is stuck in the mud so the stern is being lifted. PHOTO: RCR

Here River Canal Rescue covers everything you need to know about steering and propulsion.

Stern gland – you can test if it is overheating.

The prop shaft and gearbox. PHOTOS: RCR

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60ftby12ftDutchBargestyleWideBeam,Built2018bySoarValleyBoatsandfitted outbyAndrewTaylor,ClassedascatC,poweredbyaBetaMarine115hpDieselengine (only670hrsfromnew),BowThruster,over800wofsolarpanels,5Berthswith3 bedrooms.Spacious,lightandairylivingaccommodation,alongwiththebenefitof alargecollapsiblewheelhousewhichgivesasuperbadditionaldiningarea.Multifuel stoveandDieselcentralheating,BscFeb2024.Thisboatwouldprovideasuperb homeonthewater.Lyingawayfromoursalesoffices,soviewingbyappointment

LITTLETINKER £51,995

Length57ft,Beam6ft10ins,Built2008byEltonMoss,Trad Stern,poweredbyaBetaMarine38Hpdieselengine,Standard layout,openplanlivingareawithfreestandingfurniture,solid fuelstovewithbackboiler,galleywithstainlesssteelsinkand drainer,fridge,fullgascooker,microwave,bulkheadmounted cabinetsandamplestorage,sidehatchforadditionallightand ventilation,theboathasacrossbathroomwithshowerover cornerbath,cassettetoilet,andvanityunit,bedroomwith 2singleberths,builtinwardrobesanddrawerunits,central heatingradiators,12and240voltselectrics,BscJune2025,

TRANQUILLITY a stunning 58ft Semi-Trad built by Heritage Propulsion is provided by a Barrus Shire 45hp engine and a Vetus Bow thruster Hot water is supplied via a calorifier / immersion /Webasto and central

Boatsurgentlywantedforbrokeragetofulfillcurrentdemand. Wehaveclientswaitingtopurchaseyourboat! -Sixmonthrollingcontract. -Freemooring.

-NoCRTlicenserequired (conditionsapply).

-Brokeragefee£1670+VAT. -Boatcollectionandrelocationservice available.

-Boatsalsopurchasedforcash. Contactusnow

The Wharf, NORBURY JUNCTION Staffordshire ST20 0PN Tel: (01785) 284292 • E-mail: info@norburywharfltd.co.uk

cabin and a sofa bed in the saloon The bathroom contains a cassette toilet a small urinal a shower and a vanity basin The galley is equipped with a Candy LPG cooker, 4 ring hob a fridge and solid wood worktops BSC May 2027 Blacked 2022 Serviced April 2023 A spacious boat with a fantastic layout An ideal live aboard

AtSwanleyBrokeragewetakepridein ourprofessionalapproachandunrivalled reputationinsellingnarrowboatsforourclients. OurfriendlyandexperiencedBrokerageteam ensureourclientssailsmoothlythroughthe buyingandsellingprocess.

SwanleyBridgeMarina,SpringeLane,Swanley,Nantwich, Cheshire,CW58NR- www.swanleybrokerage.co.uk

REF10516-Duchess 69footcruisersternnarrowboat.£42,950.00.

REF10529-Defiant 60foottugstylenarrow boat.£63,995.00.

REF10526–Hedgepig 50foottugstylenarrowboat.£34,950.00.

REF10532-JohnHenry 50foottraditionalsternnarrowboat.£39,950.00.

UK’SLARGESTINDEPENDENT

INLANDWATERWAYS BROKERAGE

- We are the largest independent inland waterways

-Wearethelargestindependentinlandwaterways brokersellingbothwideandnarrowbeamboats rangingtypicallyfrom£35,000-£235,000.

-WearefoundingmembersoftheBoat RetailBrokersassociation.

-Friendlyandapproachableservice.

-Largerangeofboatsonsitetoviewplus virtualtoursviaoutwebsite.

FORPEACEOFMINDSELECTED BOATSCOMEWITHTHE FOLLOWINGASSTANDARD:

VISITONEOFOURFOURLOCATIONS:

DERBY MerciaMarina

T: 01283890888

E: mercia@newandusedboat.co.uk

NORTHANTS

DunchurchPoolsMarina

T: 01283890888

E: mercia@newandusedboat.co.uk

Seeourwebsiteforourfull rangeofnewandusedboats:

HANBURY

HanburyWharf

T: 01905953888

E: sales@newandusedboat.co.uk

DROITWICH

DroitwichSpaMarina

T: 01905953888

E: sales@newandusedboat.co.uk

BEATTY £45,000

ALICEMAY £27,000

MARINEENGINES

BMCSpecialists

Specialistsinservicing,rebuildingand sparepartsforBMC.Ourrespectedquality re-manufacturedBMC1.5andand1.8s marinisedforkeepcoolingfrom £2820 Ifit’sBMCwehavewhatyou needCallusnow!

GEARBOXES

• PRM125D2 • PRM150D2 • PRM280D2 Arangeofhighquality re-builtgearboxesarealso available.

Peaceful Canal Boat Moorings in the Heart of the Country

Facilitiesinclude:Waterpoints,electricaloutlets, pump-out,sewagedisposal,perimeterlighting, floodlitcarpark,24hrsecurity,picnic/barbecuearea, uploadingatyourboat,fuel,repairs,chandlery.

200449ft10-LiverpoolBoatshullandfitout.PoweredbyanBarrisshire3Cylinderwitha PRM150Gearbox.BoatSafetyUntilNovember2023

199150ft-R&DFabricationshullandfitout.PoweredbyaBeta43withaPRM150Gearbox.Beattyis nicelyfittedoutboatwithplentyofbedspace.Ithasgascookingandwaterheatinginawellspaced galley.TheBeta43wasfittedbyCowroastMarineinMayof2018BoatSafetyUntilAugust2026

AliceMay-198451ft-ArkwrightHullandownerfitout.PoweredbyaBMC1.5withaPRM160VR2 Gearbox.BoatSafetyUntilApril2023

200445ft-M+PSteelcrafthullwithfirstownerfitout.BoatSafetyUntilAugust2026.

Sinenomine201652ftS.M.Hudson/WharfHouseNarrowboatsLtdthisTugstyleboat wasoneofthelastS.M.HudsonBuiltandwasunfinishedathisdeaththefitoutwas subsequentlycompletedbyWharfHouseNarrowboats.PoweredbyaBeta43enginewitha PRM150Gearbox.

NEWLYLISTEDWIDEBEAMS AVAILABLEFROM£100,000 OPEN7DAYSAWEEK

WIDEBEAMS

£139,950

NARROWBOATS

‘WindlassGirl' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£51,950

NEWANDUSEDBOATSAVAILABLE FROM10UKLOCATIONS

NARROWBOAT45' ‘Calliope' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£29,950

SPECIALISTWIDEBEAMAND NARROWBOATSALESOFFICES

WaltonMarina| 01932221689

HartfordMarina| 01480274707

PyrfordMarina| 01932343275

UptonMarina| 01684593111

StourportMarina| 01299827082

ThamesandKennetMarina| 01189477770

SEAOTTER21'NARROWBOAT ‘Tranq'ille' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

£32,950

Tel:01933551622 boatsales@tingdene.net www.tingdeneboating.com

NOTTINGHAMBOATCO70'X12' 'TheJupiter' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

NARROWBOAT62'X12'06" 'Skylark’ thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

COLECRAFT70' X10' 'Sunflower' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

AQUALINE57'X10' ‘SewinDu' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

HERITAGEBOATS62'X12' 'Geanna' pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

COLLINGWOOD64'X12' 'Mamatunde' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

COLLINGWOOD60'X12' 'DenWithinWillows' thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

SEAOTTER40'X10' 'Moondance’ waltonboatsales@tingdene.net £89,950

SEAOTTER46'NARROWBOAT ‘WeyOtter’ pyrfordboatsales@tingdene.net

NARROWBOAT58'CANALCRAFT

COLLINGWOOD65'X12'06" Pricefrom£185,500|thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

Findoutmore 62 August2023

BartonMarina,Barton-under-Needwood,BurtonuponTrent,StaffordshireDE138DZ

9 BOATSALES OFFICES

Buy,sell,orpartexchangetoday!

NEW-BEATRICE |58’CRUISERSTERN|£199,000

NEW - BEATRICE | 58’ CRUISER STERN | £199,000

MeetBeatrice,3rdplaceboatwinneratCrick2023...

Beatrice,thestunningKingsgroundboatandCrickBoatShowrunner-upis backfromheradventuresandreadytoviewatRoydonMarina.Aluxurious 58’cruisersternnarrowboatcraftedforLakelandLeisureEstatesbythe renownedboatbuildersKingsground.Thiselegantvesselfeaturesareverse layout,withastylishkitchenboastingsolidoakunits.Enjoycosymealsin thedinette,unwindintheloungeareacompletewithamulti-fuelstove,and retreattothebedroomfeaturinga fixeddoublebed.Additionalamenities includesidehatchdoors,awalk-throughbathroomwithapump-outVetus toilet,double-glazing,anda3kWVictroninverter,allpoweredbyareliable BetaMarine43hpengine.Call07534655702toarrangeaviewing.

WHAKANUI| 60’TRADSTERN|£67,500

IntroducingthewonderfulWhakaNui,astunning60ft TraditionalSternboatbuiltin1999 byGTHullwithaBruceGavin fitout,reblackedinMay2023readytoembarkonnew adventures.2+2berthencompassingadoublebedroomandcomfortablelivingareawith largeL-shapedsofabed,pluswell-equippedkitchen.PoweredbyaBeta1505PRM150for asmoothandreliableride,whethercruisingalongserenecanalsormooredinpicturesque locations,thisboatensuresthateverymomentischerished.Availableforviewingsnowat SaulJunctionMarina,Gloucestershire.Call07748036638formoreinformation.

IntroducingLiliBell,theexquisite52ft SemiTrad,2014(2016water)narrowboatthat combinesluxuriouslivingwithexceptionalperformance.Withitswell-thought-outdesign andimpressivefeatures,LiliBelloffersanunparalleledboatingexperiencethatwillleave youenchanted.Experiencethejoyofcruisingthenetworkwithaboatthatnotonlylooks amazingbutalsodeliversonitspromises.Formoreinformationcall07354902086.

IntroducingthebrandnewLouisJoshua,astunningvesselthatissuretoturnheads.Witha Barrusenginepoweringthisbeauty,youcanbeassuredofasmoothandreliableride.The layoutisperfectforthosewhoappreciateamodernandstylishdesign,thoughtfullydesigned tocreateacomfortableandinvitinglivingspace.LocatedatBartonMarinawiththeoption ofaresidentialmooring,theLouisJoshua58ft Narrowboatisatruegem,offeringallthe desirablefeaturesyoucouldimagine.Call07513708099toarrangeaviewing.

FeaturedMarinaoftheMonth...

TATTENHALLMARINA|CHESHIRE

ExperiencethebeautyofTattenhallMarina,situatedinaserenesettingalongthe picturesqueShropshireUnionCanal.Discoverahostofconvenientamenitieson-sitesuch asawell-stockedchandlery,afully-equippedworkshop,andadelightfulcafébar.You’ll beenchantedbytheallureofthesurroundingarea,featuringattractionslikethehistoric walledcityofChester,ChesterRacecourse,ChesterZoo,andtheCheshireIceCreamFarm. TattenhallMarinaoffersyouanidealhaventoindulgeinthepleasuresofboating,while enjoyingthesplendidcruisingroutesthatthispremiumcountrysidelocationhastooffer.

Roydon Marina

Saul Junction Marina

NEW-LOUISJOSHUA| 58’SEMITRAD|£190,000

Barton Marina

Great Haywood Marina

LILIBELL| 52’SEMITRAD|£89,995

UNDEROFFER REDUCED

UNDEROFFER

FORSALE FORSALE

REDUCED

FORSALE FORSALE

THEREAREMANYGOODREASONSWHYYOUSHOULD SERIOUSLYCONSIDERLETTINGUSSELLYOURBOAT.....

Herearejusttwo:

 Wehaveaprovenrecordforhighandquickturnoverofboatsalesfoundedonourfamousandprominentlocation

Anexcellentandefficientpurchasingprocedureforourbuyersbackedupbyourcomprehensiveboatyardfacilitiesandservices,and attentive,caringstaff

BOATSURGENTLYREQUIREDFORSALETHISSEASON

ASHBOATSLTD CANALBROKERAGE INCHESHIRE.

ForallenquiriespleaseringStephenHarral07771510154.www.ashboats.co.uksteve@ashboats.co.uk

QUEENIE £59,950 50ftnarrowbeam,cruiserstyle withlovelycedarT&Glined interior.Aftgalleyandforward bedroom,bathroomwithcassette wc.Wellequipped(Canaline42) andverygoodcondition.Well builtbyNickThorpe,2014

UNDINE £78,500 54ftPeerlessbuiltTradwitha BourneBoatbuildersfullrefit nowcomplete.Newinteriorwith bedroomaft,loungeforward. Stunningwoodworkandnew exteriorpaintwork.Newboat appearance.

DAWNRUN £52,500 50fttrad1996byEvansand Sonwithalovelyvarnished woodinterior,welldesigned tomakethebestuseofspace. Aftbedroom,forwardliving. Exceptionalconditionthroughout.

Ref1492

Ref1488

Ref1480

BERYLOFBRIDGEWATER£39,500 50ftcruiserstylenarrowbeam. VictoryBoatbuilders,floorand ballastin,windowsandportholes, reverselayoutplanned.Yanmar Shire45.Lotsofadditional equipmentincludingsolidfuel stoveandsolarpanels

UPSPIRITS £74,500 58ftBraidbarBoats2007semi-trad custombuild.Offeredforthefirst timesincenew.StunningBraidbar woodwork;excellentliveaboard layout–forwardlounge, bedroom,bathroom,diningarea andaftgalley.

NEWCONCEPTPREM57£139,500 NEWBUILD.Dueforcompletion Sept’23.57ftcruiserstyle,reverse layout,veryhighqualityfit-out, highspecandbeautifulpaint finish.Somebuyerinputwelcome.

Ref1487

Ref1481

WATERLILY £29,500 47ftcruiserstyle,early1980sby HarboroughMarine.Fullinterior makeoverrecentlycompletedplus fullexteriorrepaint.Aftgalley, forwardliving.Lightandairy interior,idealforshortbreaks.

BETTYBLUE £50,000 70ftBraidbartradfrom2001. Beta43hp(only200hoursuse), 2-packepoxyonhullin2014, 3.0kwVictroninverter,Heritage rangecooker(diesel),4xnew batteries,openplanlivingspace. Poorpaintwork

Ref1494

NABANA £34,500 55ftcruiserstyle,soundhulland engine(CBMarine1.8)butboat needsplentyofTLC.Aftbedroom, forwardliving.DieselReflexstove forheating,NewBSConsale.A worthwhileproject

Ref1491

Ref1490

Ref1493

L’EAU-T-CUISINE£90,000 71x12’6”Restaurantboat.“Highly advantageousFinancepackage offeredtopurchaser.”Licensedfor 60dinersor70nondiners.Well equippedandwellmaintained.

SKAIDI £15,500 32ftCreightonGRPcruiserwith aftsundeck,centrecockpit, bedroomandbathroominaft cabin,forwardlivingspace/galley. Betamarineengine.Recentfull refitwithnewappliances.

BRITTANIA £15,500 32ftCreightoncentrecockpit cruiser.Completerefitfroman emptyshellrecentlycompleted andnowofferedinimmaculate condition.Agreatexampleofthis popularclassiccanal/rivercruiser. 3cylVolvoPentadieselinboard, surveyavailable,newBSC

Ref1495

Ref1486

Ref1458

MERCURY

71.5ftby7ft1926HorseBoat/buttybuiltbyW.J. YarwoodsandSons.Ararecraftthatwillmakea fantastichomeoracomfortable,enjoyablecruising boat.New8mmsteelbottomandfootings2018. Hull2packcoatedJune2018.BSCuntilJune2026.

£39,950

MAYTIME 50ft,1994semi-tradbyTTMarine.Just arrived. £32,950

BOATOFTHEMONTH

CORRIGAIR

LOCKDOWN

Newjustarrived,65ftsemi-trad,2007builtby LiverpoolBoats,immaculateinternalwithnew bathroomandkitchen,Isuzu42engine,last blacked2020.BSCMarch2024.

KATIEMAY

58ft,2berthsemitrad,2001byLiverpool Boats.Isuzuengineandtwodesignated livingareas.BSCuntilDecember2015.2 xsolidfuelstoves.

£36,950

ROBIN Cleanandtidytradstyleboat,43ft,BSC ExMarch2027,DockedandBlacked2022, ListerLPW3Engineinverycleanengine bayserviced2022

£64,950 SOLD SOLD

£34,950

SOLD SOLD

70ftTrad,BarryHawkins,2+5berth, BarrusShireEngine,Lovelyboatwith highSpecification. £78,950

SAUSAGEMACHINE

55FTcustombuiltallsteelnarrowbeamhouseboat builtin2001bySWDurhamSteelcraftascomfortable liveaboard.Unpowered(noengine),largedouble bedroom,bathroomandkitchen.WorcesterBoschoil firedcombiboiler.BSCuntil01/2026.

£21,950

QUARRIERSQUEST

57ftcruiserstern,VetusMarineEngine 2berth

£39,950

NeedaSurvey orBoatSafety Examiner?

Dave Freeman

Over25yearsexperienceonthe inlandwaterways

MarineSurveys&BSS Examinations

ForaCompetitiveQuote &PromptService Tel07918677782

CoveringallAreas BasedBridge69Trent& MerseyCanal dave.freeman@boatsafety schemeexaminations.co.uk

AlanBuckle

BoatSafetyScheme Examiner

RobDickinson

RHYSKILLIN

Independentfriendlyservice CoveringtheMidlandsand surroundingareas.

07856686363 bsswithalan@gmail.com

BSSExaminer &GasEngineer Leisure-LiveonBoard&CommercialCraft GasInstallation,Service &Repairs Tel.01270812086 Mob.07831449236

email.menderman@live.com

Areas-2,4, 5,8,9,10

Dip.S.C.Sur BSSExaminer

BSSExamination from£160

Covering areas 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 Tel07748861795 rhys_k1@yahoo.co.uk www.rhyskillin.co.uk

Services isanindependentcompanyproviding professionalandcomprehensivesupport servicestoNarrowboatsandInland Waterwaysvessels. BasedinNorthamptonshireweare ideallyplacedtoofferourservices.

Ourservicesinclude:

•Hullcondition,Pre-purchase,Insuranceand Valuationsurveys. (AccreditedYDSAmember)

•Marineconsultancy.

Northamptonshireandsurroundingareas.

AREACOVERED:5,6,8,9,10,14

07903945196 boats@jgmarine.co.uk www.jgmarine.co.uk

Narrowboat Surveyor

&BoatSafetyExaminer

MichaelClarke

Dip.S.C.SurAMIMarEST

Areascovered:8,9,10,11,12,14

•AFriendlyandProfessionalService

•FullyQualified&Insured

•UltrasonicPre-purchase& HullConditionSurveys

•NotravellingCharges-Allareas coveredNorthamptonbased 01604858868 07944856351 info@northernstarmarine.co.uk www.northernstarmarine.co.uk

MarineSurveying

♦ Pre-Purchase Condition Survey

♦ Valuation

♦ Insurance Condition Survey

♦ New Build/Conversion Project Supervision & Consultancy

♦ Damage Assessment

♦ Litigation Advice & Claim Assessment

♦ Recreational

BALLAST BOATSWANTED CANOPIES GRAPHICS

BOATBUILDER

BOATPAINTERS

BOOKS

BUSINESSFORSALE

BOATSFORSALE

CANALIA

CANOPIES

COURSES

ELECTRICALEQUIPMENT

GRITBLASTING

HEATING

INSURANCE

SITUATIONSVACANT

ForSale

PartsForSale

TVdoctorvisitsnewLeedsriversidepocketpark

DURINGarecentvisittoWhitehall RiversidePocketParkinLeeds,Canal &RiverTrustambassadorDrAmir Khanappealedforlocalpeopleto jointhetrustvolunteerswholook afterthepark.

teamleader,explained:“Thisonce overgrownsitehasbeenturnedinto awelcominggreenhaven,helping tobringthecountrysideintothecity andencouragewildlifetothriveinthe heartofLeeds.

GRIMALKIN Narrowboat traditional45fttugwithvintage engine,reluctantsale,built1991, easytohandle,cosyinterior, Boatmanscabinsleepstwo, full-widthbathroom,tworange stoves,rareRustonHornsby 2-cylinderenginefrom1930s/40s withEnfieldgearbox,recently blacked,newanodes,hullsurvey, includes2leisurebatteries,1 starterbattery,windturbine‘Amp AirHawk’2solarpanels,located onCaldoncanal,StokeonTrent, joyfulownership,£45,000Tel. 07853577778.

NARROWBOAT66’ traditional, built1992byCharlesCox,Ruston 2VSH,6kwhispergenerator,solar power,selfsustainableliveaboard, £45,000Tel.07869068937.

ALBIN 25motorcruiser,1970s Swedishdesign,moderatelygood condition,needssomeworkto finishrestoration(electrics,stove andsomeupholsteryetc).Out ofwatersurvey2019(andhull anti-foulpainted).BoatSafety CertificateNov2021.Licensed withCRT,insured.Situated Stourport-on-Severn.Engine: Perkins4108,fittedinrecent years.UsedonRiverSevern, G&SCanalandatsea.Length: 25ft,Beam:8ft6in,Draft:2ft.

Airdraft:6ft+smallmast=8ft 6in.Accommodation:Twovee berthsinforwardcabin,plus boardstomakedoublebed.Two smallsingleberthsinaftcabin. Cockpit:twoseatsatconsole, plusbenchseatingaroundsides andremovabletable.Anchor, withchainandwinch(with handle),readyforaction.Ropes andfendersincluded.12vand 240velectrics.Twobatteries.No gasinstalledatpresent.Aspirit stoveisavailableforinstallation ifrequired,oradviceavailableif wantingtorefitgas.(Placefor2 burnerstoveifrequired),£6500 onoTel.07976746225.Email. dstruckett@aol.com

31FTSEAOTTER 2005,Marine gradealuminiumnarrowboat, fullyfactoryfittedspec,water ballasted,easilytrailerable, excellentcondition,almostzero maintenance,willonlyincreasein value,21Nanidiesel,lowhours justserviced,Bowthruster,new h/dutybatteries,newcosmetic blackingonoriginalopoxy.New bow/sternpramcovers(£3000) LEDlighting.Polishedoriginal ovenopoxyfactory finished.Cost over£60,000new.Fullhistoryon lowcostWestLondonMarina, goldlicencereadytocruise,rare opportunity,region£45,000Tel. 01904270400mobile07879 564696.

SHORELINE 25metre, goodcondition,£20.750ml InternationalNorfolkGreen Toplac,£15.2litresTeamaclight greynonslippaint,£25.1litre Teamaczincphosphateprimer £8,allunopenedtinsTel.01977 683643.

Miscellaneous

Tocelebrateitsopening,he plantedamountainash(rowan) tree. Thisnativespecies,covered in flowersinspringandfruitinthe autumn,isarichsourceoffoodfor wildlifethroughouttheyear.

At230m,WhitehallRiverside PocketParkisthecity’slongestlinear waterfrontparkandsitsbetweenthe RiverAireandtheLeeds&Liverpool Canal.Plantedwithwildflowers, seasonalplantsandgrasslandto increasebiodiversitywithinthecity centre,theparkoffersawildlifeand well-beinghavenwherepeoplecan enjoyspendingtimebywater.

“ButthisisonlythebeginningtheparkneedsongoingTLC,tokeep upwithseasonalplantingandto keepitpristine.Ifyou’reinterested ingardeningandlookingafterthe environmentforwildlife,youcould joinourVolunteerGardenParty, createyourowngardeninggroupor doaone-off volunteeringday.”

Contact:robin.dark@ canalrivertrust.org.uk

TheWhitehallRiversidePocket Parkhasbeendeliveredin partnershipbytheCanal& RiverTrust,LeedsCityCouncil andGroundwork.Funding fortheparkhascomefrom LeedsCityCouncil’scitycentre enhancementsfundalongwith moneyfromtheMinistryof HousingCommunitiesandLocal Government’sPocketParkFund, andTheVeoliaEnvironmental Trust’sLandfillCommunitiesFund.

NAUTICUS27 1974,fully reconditionedengineandZ drive,fullmarinegraderewire, recentcanopy,BSCvaliduntil April2027.Callforfurtherdetails £11,750Tel.07877885128.

PartsForSale

METALMOORING stakesfor cabincruiserontheriver,secure yourboat,threeintotal15.5”x21 x25”.Titanwetanddryvacuum cleanermains,£30.Wantedman andvanandtrailer,min20ft totakecruiserfromCambsto NorthamptonNBCTel.07791 034695.

EXLIBRARYBOOK: The CanalsofYorkshireandNorth EastEngland,Volume2Part 2,1790-1845(continued).Part 31845-1972.Appendices:1 SummaryFactsaboutcanals andnavigationsofYorkshire andtheNorthEast.2.Principal engineeringworks,£2plus postageTel.01132693672. Email.PJRice88@hotmail.co.uk

ANCHORDANFORTH 10kgwith 5metrechain+25metrerope neverused,£100.4ropeside fenders,£25.Variouslockkeys, £10eachTel.01977683643. Yorkshire.

EVERYISSUE Heritagemagazine Narrowboat,Spring2006-Winter 2021,mint.No1Waterways World,1972,manyothers, bargain,£100nooffersTel.07946 664749.Staffs.

PERSONALNUMBERPLATE: FL04TSXusedtohavetheregon workvanbutreducingnumberof vehiclessoregnowsurplus.We havetheretentiondocuments readytotransfer.Alsohavefor sale:FL04TSU;UB04TER;H B04TER,£900Tel.07715377789.

SOLARPANEL largewidth,5ft 41/2”,164cm;height3ft31/2” 100cm,vgc,£95Tel.07481 002121.NorthNottinghamshire.

WAECO CF-50coolfreezer,18” high,13”depth,2’length12/V& 240volt,£150Tel.07933317826.

DrKhansaid:“It’swonderfulnot onlytoseethisfantasticnewparkbut tobeabletocontributetoitandplant thismountainashtree.Onceblighted byinvasivespeciesanddiscarded litter,thesiteisbeingtransformed intoaplacetorelaxandfeelthe benefitsofspendingtimebywater.”

RobinDark,CRTvolunteer

PHOTOS:CANAL&RIVERTRUST

Canalgetsimprovedconservationstatus

ByPhilPickin

ASECTIONoftheDudley

No1canalistobe upgradedtoaSINC,aSite ofImportanceforNature Conservation.

TheareaaroundDelph Lockswillenjoythis upgradetoitsstatusas aresultofanecological surveycarriedoutrecently coveringthecanaland itssurroundingarea. Previouslytheareawas classifiedasaSLINCor SiteofLocalImportance forNatureConservation. However,thenew classificationmeansthe areawillbeseenasone

oftheWestMidlands’ importantecologicalareas.

Asaresultofthesurvey, ecologistshighlighteda diverserangeofplants togetherwithawide

rangeofbirdspecies andthehistoricalvalue ofthelocation.Coun DamianCorfield,cabinet memberforhighwaysand environmentalservices,

said:“We’reimmensely proud of our canals in Dudley.Theyarean importantpartofour borough’sheritageand thehabitatforalotof localwildlife.

“Thenewstatusofthe No.1Canal’ssouthern sectionisgreatnewsforthe conservationofthearea, bringingaddedprotection andrecognitiontothis popularwalkingandbirdwatchingtrail.”

DudleyNo.1Canalis partoftheBlackCountry UNESCOGlobalGeopark, whichisoneofjusteight internationallyrecognised geoparksintheUK.

Plantingthemountainashtree.

PointingthewayalongtotheDelphLocksalong theDudleyNo1CanalatParkheadJunction.

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

DrAmirKhanattheWhitehall RiversidePocketParkwithBecca Dent,volunteerteamleaderRobin DarkandRachelClaphamofthe Canal&RiverTrust.

River Shannon boaters set to pay annual fee

BOATERS on the Shannon could be set to pay an annual registration fee, as part of the Waterways Ireland (WI) revision of the Shannon Navigation and Canals bye-laws, a process which is now open for public consultation.

While the canals have been subject to a fee for many years, the Shannon has slipped through the net allowing boaters to enjoy the waterway for free Currently, the only fee charged is for each lock that is used and this has been nominal, ranging from €1 to €2 per lock passage over recent years

Indeed it has been this laid-back approach to the jurisdiction of the

Shannon which has been a draw for both boaters in Ireland and to those visiting or relocating from overseas

According to the revision of the bye-laws documentation, a proposed set registration fee of €200 per vessel per annum will apply and the current Shannon Navigation lock passage fee will be eliminated This will be a flat rate for vessels on both the Shannon and the canals, allowing easier interaction between the navigations falling under the WI portfolio While there seems to be both advantages and disadvantages to the revision of the bye-laws, the proposed

Provisions made for liveaboard boaters

annual registration fee is, however, just the tip of the iceberg where costs are concerned for Ireland’s inland waterways boaters

A number of newly proposed items listed in the draft documents such as the requirement of an annual fire extinguisher service, will see boating costs rocket and may even have the potential to out-cost this leisure pursuit for some

To view the public consultation documents visit: www.waterwaysireland.org

IRELAND’s liveaboard boaters are recognised in a number of provisions forming part of the Waterways Ireland revision of the Shannon Navigation and Canals bye-laws

The introduction of a houseboat permit (houseboat refers to a boat used as a residence of the owner and/ or immediate family with the owner ’ s permission) is proposed for which key requirements will need to be met

These include the vessel undergoing an in-water inspection conducted by a certified marine surveyor in compliance with canal bye-law safety requirements

within the previous five years, as well as evidence of insurance

Costs for permits will be dependent on location and services provided It is proposed five categories of houseboat permit are created: Urban, Rural, Serviced and Unserved, with prices ranging from €500 to €7500 per annum

To view the revision of the bye-laws and access the public consultation documents visit: www.waterwaysireland.org

People requested to aid new otter survey

THE public are being asked to contribute to a new national otter survey being compiled by The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

NPWS staff will be monitoring over 900 sites searching for otter tracks and signs However, as the otter is one of Ireland’s most elusive

mammals, mostly active at night and most typically seen at dawn and dusk, input from the public and in particular waterway and coastal users such as boaters, paddlers, fishermen and walkers, will prove beneficial.

The findings will be used in comparison with the last otter survey in 2010/2011 and a full report on how the otter is faring is expected to be published in 2025. To find out more and/or report an otter sighting in Ireland visit: www biodiversityireland ie/ surveys/national-otter-survey/

Otter sightings are being sought in new survey

Waterways Ireland proposes bye-law revisions for first time in decades

MEMBERS of the public and interested parties are being invited by Waterways Ireland to have their say on proposed revisions to the Shannon

Navigation and Canals bye-laws by making a submission to a public consultation.

The consultation covers the Shannon Navigation (including

the Shannon-Erne Waterway), the Royal and Grand canals, and the Barrow Navigation It is open and runs until October 2 The revisions were developed by

Waterways Ireland following research and consultation with key stakeholders

These proposed revisions are the first since 1986 for the canals and 1994 for the Shannon They include the introduction of new serviced and un-serviced canal permits for houseboat communities; additional houseboat mooring zones; in-water inspections and insurance for boats

Also the introduction of an annual registration process, abolition of lock passage fees; the requirement for lifejackets on the water and safety equipment on boats; speed limits for bicycles and scooters ontheGreenwaysandBlueways; certification of vessels being used for commercial purposes and designated zones for tents and caravans The revisions also include measures to protect the environment Waterways Ireland chief

executive, John McDonagh commented: “In Ireland, we have an innate connection to our waterways An abundance of people choose our waterways for their leisure – that includes boaters, kayakers, anglers, walkers or cyclists on the Greenways and Blueways More people want to live on our waterways and the draft bye-laws will facilitate this

“The current bye-laws that govern the Shannon Navigation and the Canals are 30 years old There have been many positive changes during this time We have an increased awareness of health and safety, and biodiversity In recent years we have developed many Greenways and Blueways The draft bye-laws reflect this progress ”

Mr McDonagh added: “Waterways Ireland is the proud custodian of more than 1000km of inland waterways The proposed bye-laws

will protect biodiversity, water quality, heritage, and waterways users They will enable more people to enjoy our waterways We encourage all users to read the proposed revisions and to have their say by making a submission to the consultation.”

The public consultation documents can be accessed both online and in hard copy Further information on this and on how to make a submission can be found on the Waterways Ireland website: www waterwaysireland.org

In addition, Waterways Ireland has been holding public meetings on the draft bye-laws throughout June and July in Carrick-on-Shannon; Killaloe; Dublin; Carlow; Mullingar, Athlone and Tullamore

The closing date for submissions to the public consultation is Monday October 2

Boaters on the River Shannon

PHOTO: ALISON ALDERTON

Liveaboard boats on the Grand Canal.

PHOTO: ALISON ALDERTON

PHOTO: RONALD SURGENOR

MarpleAqueductcarriesthecanalovertheRiverGoyt.

WalkingthePeakForestCanal

withLeeSenior

INCREDIBLYscenic,thePeakForest canalbeginslifeatPortlandBasin,onthe fringeofAshton-under-Lyne,sixmiles eastofManchester.

Theseven-mileLowerPeaksection islevelandrunsasfarastheMarple LockFlightwheretheHigherPeakthen takesover. Thewaterwaytravelscloseto theRiverTameandthentheRiverGoyt formuchofits15-milelengthtowards Derbyshire’sbeautifulPeakDistrict.

Alongthewayareseveralattractive townsandvillages. Theterminusis reachedatBugsworthBasin,aScheduled AncientMonument,locatedatBuxworth intheHighPeak.Separatelyashortspur linksWhaleyBridgetothecanal.

Ourwalkstartsonawell-maintained towpathonthelowerpeak.Ithasa typicallyurbanfeelasweleavePortland Basin,atDukinfieldJunction.A fine historicfootbridgedated1835spans thecanalbeforeanaqueductcarriesthe canalovertheRiverTame.

Despiteitsurbanbeginnings,thecanal impressivelyretainsagreen,ruralfeelfor muchoftheearlydistance,thanksinpart tothemanytreesandwoodedareas.

Ontheapproachtothesmalltown ofHyde,thenoisyM67motorwayis encountered.Closertothetownare somewarehousesnowconvertedinto housing. Therearetheinevitablemills andindustrialbuildingsandthetown’s centralstationiscloseby.Alsonearby isthewoodedvalleyoftheRiverTame.

BeyondisthesuburbofWoodley (station).Herethetowpathpasses throughawalkabletunnel,whichis typicallywetinparts.Continuingour journeynearRomiley,twoaqueductsare reachedinquicksuccession:Hatherlow Aqueductandthen,afterasharpcurve left,ChadkirkAqueduct. Thetowpath isnowengulfedbythepleasanttree canopybelongingtoKirkWood.

HydeBanktunnelisn’tfarawaynow. Itwasbuiltwithoutatowpath,but nearbystepsprovideanalternative. The tree-linedRoseHillcutting(aformer tunnel)issoonreachedandcontinuing ourjourneywereachthehistoricMarple Aqueduct,throughmoreattractive countryside. Thedistantrollinghills, peaksand,attimes,treesmakethisan idyllicstretchoftowpath.

MarpleFlight

Thenextpartofourjourneyisthereal staroftheshow. TheGradeIlisted

aqueductcarriesthecanalovertheRiver Goyt. Theaqueductsitsparalleltothe Manchester-Sheffieldrailway,makinga finespectacleindeed.

TheMarpleLockFlightprovidesthe next‘wow’moment. The flightisone ofthesteepestlock flightsintheUK.It comprisesanimpressive16locksand hasaheightgainofjustover200ftto reachtheUpperPeakCanal.Wenow havesomeworktodo!

Marplestationisnearby,givingeasy accesstothe flight.Alongthewayis SamuelOldknow’sattractiveGradeII listedwarehouse,builtin1801.Oldknow becameveryrichproducingmuslin.He iscreditedwithtransformingMarple inthelate18thcentury. Thedistinctive PossetBridgewithitsattractivehorseshapedtunnelisreachedaswecontinue toascend.

Atthetopofthe flight(lock16)is Marplejunctionwherethereisamarina andaconnectiontotheMacclesfield Canal.Itissixandahalfmilestothe end.Nowtheviewsdramaticallyopen upacrossthevalley floor.

Asthecanalpassesclosetothevillage ofStrines,thereisastunninglong-range vistaofKinderScout,partofthePennine Wayandfamousforamasstrespass in1932.

OnwardstothesmalltownofNew

Mills. Thetownhasamarinaandtwo stations.NewMillsNewtownstationis ontheManchester-Buxtonline,adjacent tothecanalbutisontheedgeoftown. TheenchantingGoytsideMeadows NatureReserveisclosetothemarina.Itis ahavenforrareandendangeredplants, andithasbothdryandwetlandhabitat.

Wearegettingclosetotheendof ourwalknow.FurnessValevillageis precededbyapleasantmarina,nearto FurnessValestation.Onemilefromthe marinaisthekeyBridgemontJunction

withashortarmtoWhaleyBridgejust lessthanhalfamileaway.

Thecanalcontinuestoitshistoric terminusatBugsworthBasin,undera mileaway,closetotheRiverGoyt. The basinislistedasaScheduledAncient Monument.Alongthewayisthe BridgemontHorseTunnelbeneathit andalsoanaqueduct.

UnquestionablythePeakForestCanal isaveryaccessible,scenicwaterway, easilyreachedbycarorpublictransport. Itiswellworthavisit.

NewMillsMarinawithKinderScoutinthedistance.

NewwoodlandalongsideWilts&BerksCanal

ANEWwoodlandisbeing createdalongsidearestored sectionoftheWilts&Berks CanalnearChippenham.

DoubleBridgeisapopular spotforwalkers,withabench overlookingtheRiverAvon.

Nowvolunteerswiththe Wilts&BerksCanalTrust haveaddedtotheappealby planting20treesincluding beech,hornbeam,holly, rowanandcherry.

Thematuretrees–funded byadonationfromthe Heddington&Stockley SteamRally–formpartof awiderprojecttoboost thebiodiversitybycreating awildlifemeadowand woodland.Themixof plantingwillprovide flowers, fruitandberriesthroughout theyear.

Workwascarriedout

byvolunteerswiththe Melksham,Chippenham& Calnebranchofthecharity. WildlifeofficerHoward Yardysaid:“Normallywe plantsaplingsbuttheycan bequitefragile,sowe’re delightedthatthesteam rally’sgeneroussupporthas enabledustobuylarger specimensinstead.

“Theymakeanimmediate impactandgivestructureto thelandscape.

“Wealsobuiltanatural barrieraroundsomeofthe sitestoprotectthemfrom

deer,usingdeadhedgingto safeguardthetreeswhilethey continuetogrow.”

Howardadded:“Our ultimateaimistocreatea woodlandpastureproviding awiderangeofhabitats forallsortsofcreatures, whichwilleventuallyform partofathrivingwildlife corridoralongsideafully restoredcanal.It’san excitingschemeandthere arelotsofopportunities forlocalresidentsand businessestogetinvolved, fromvolunteeringwithour

TheWilts&BerksCanalTrusthopestorestoretheentire waterwayfromtheKennet&AvonCanalnearMelkshamto theThames&SevernCanalnearCrickladeandtheRiver ThamesnearAbingdon,connectingChippenham,Calne, RoyalWoottonBassettandSwindon. Visitwww.wbct.org.ukformoredetails.

individualprojects.”

Cycllistsandwalkersascendthe MarpleFlight.

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

PHOTO:©ROBINWEBSTER

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

PHOTO:JANETRICHARDSON

Anarrowboatdescendingthe MarpleFlight.

PHOTO:©STEPHENMCKAY

Call for Scottish Canals to fix financial reporting

Off-gridandgreeninScotland

MUCHoftheworkcarriedoutby IWA’sSustainableBoatingGroupto confirmthathydrotreatedvegetable oil(HVO)isthemostsuitable transitionfuelonthepathtonet zeroboatingwasconductedonthe LowlandCanalsofScotland.

STEPHENBoyle,AuditorGeneralfor Scotland,hasreportedthatScottish Canalsurgentlyneedstoimproveits financialreporting.

Thestatementcomesas,forthe secondyearrunning,auditorsare againunabletoprovideassuranceover ScottishCanals’ financialposition,how itspendsthepublicmoneyallocatedto itoritsperformance.

Amajorproblemlieswithongoing difficultiesinvaluingScottishCanals’ assetswhichrangefromhistoric structuressuchastheAvonAqueduct ontheUnionCanalandNeptune’s Staircaselock flightontheCaledonian,

bothconstructedduringthe19th century,tomodernstructures includingtheFalkirkWheel.

ScottishCanalstookactionto addresstheauditors’concerns stemmingfromthe2020–21 accountsbutprogresshasbeen limitedbyunderlyingissueswith documentationanddata.

Asreportedlastyear,withthe changetoScottishCanals’status fromapubliccorporationtoa non-departmentalpublicbodyin2020 camearequirementfortheorganisation tofollowHMTreasury’sGovernment FinancialReportingManual,which

requiresScottishCanalstochangethe wayinwhichitvaluesassets.

AstatementfromScottishCanals’ financeandbusinessdirector,Sarah JaneHannah,saidthatthereportwas ‘naturallydisappointing’butthatunlike road,railandcouncilinfrastructure, therehasbeennoestablishedand previouslyauditedhistoricalcost datarecordedtouseasthebasisof thevaluation.Amethodologywas agreedlastyearandScottishCanals, workingwithAuditScotland,willwork toimprovethevaluationrecordsbefore the2022–23auditbegins.

Sofar,some£500,000hasbeenspent byScottishCanalsonconsultants. The consultantscurrentlyretainownership ofthevaluationmodelwhichcould meanthatScottishCanalswillhave ongoingcostcommitmentstosupport itsannualvaluationswork.

NewScottishSilverPropellerlocationsfor2023

SomuchsothatScottishCanals, thenavigationauthority,nowstocks thefuelforboateruseandrunsall itsnon-electricvehiclesandplant onit,whichrepresentsanimportant elementinitsoverallsustainability policy.It’sjustunfortunatethatcentral Government’sbiofuelpolicyisunable toaccommodatemixeduseinboats andthereforedoesnotsubsidiseitsuse forheating,lightingandcooking.

Undeterred,theSustainableBoating Group,havingprettymuchsewnup sustainablepropulsion–andwritten itupinitsvisionpaperavailableat www.waterways.org.uk/campaigns/ green-boating-guide–hasnowturned itsattentiontogreeningthedomestic sideofinlandboating.

Recognisingthatmuchofthe off-gridinformationsharedbyboaters islargelyanecdotal, nbTamarisk has begunbyinstalling2kWofbifacialPV solarpanelsandcanlogawiderange ofdataandstatisticswithaviewto theIWAmakingthemavailabletothe widerboatingcommunity.

Asanexample,1kWofpanelswillbe tiltedwhilethesecondbankwillremain flat.Bothbankscanbemonitored separately.Noonedisputesthefact that,inwinter,tiltedpanelsharvest moreofthelimiteddirectsunlight, butattheexpenseofgatheringdiffused solarradiationthroughouttheyear.

Sothequestionremains,giventhe costandhumaninputofatypical tiltingsystem,whatisthebestoverall (andmostcosteffective)strategy toemploy.

This,togetherwithawiderangeof otherpertinent, first-handinformation, willformthebasisofaseriesofarticles

in TowpathTalk intheautumn. This willdrawnotonlyontheScottish scenebutalsoonthewiderangeof experienceheldbymembersofthe activeIWASustainableBoatingGroup. ThisgroupformspartoftheIWA’s GreenerBoatingstrategy,campaigning for300chargingpoints,moredredging, biofuelsandothertechnologiestohelp boatersreduceemissionsonthecanals andinlandwaterways.

Greenerboating ScottishCanalshaslaunchedahire fleetoffoureBoats,poweredby ePropulsion’ssilentSpiritelectric outboardmotorsandbasedatthe FalkirkWheel.Visitorscanspenda peaceful90minutesexploringtheForth &ClydeCanalbetweenthewheeland Bonnybridge.ePropulsionwasfounded byformerengineeringstudentsfrom theHongKongUniversityofScience andTechnology,eachwithapassion forwatersportsandprotectingthe planet. Thecompanymanufactures electronicmarinemotorsusedto powereverythingfromaSUPorkayak toocean-goingcatamarans. Theelectric boatsmeannonoise,nopollutionand noriskoffuelspillsintothecanals. Self-driveelectrichireboatsarealso availableontheUnionCanalfromthe LinlithgowUnionCanalSociety(LUCS).

TheFalkirkWheelitselfisextremely energyefficient,withonly1.5kWh ofenergy,equivalenttotheenergy neededtoboileighthouseholdkettles requiredtorotatethegondolas.

Elsewhereonthecanals,steamboat VIC32’sblacksmokewillbeathingof thepastasthetransitionismadefrom coaltobiofuelduringthepuffer’s80th birthdayyear. Thelastloadofcoalwas loadedatTarbertinMay. VIC32 isthe firstheritageoperatorinthecountryto completelyconverttoasolidbiofuel. Afterfouryearsoftrialsandtests, VIC 32’sengineswillbepoweredbyorganic compressedrapemealwaste.

ExploringtheClydebywateroffersaviewofthemany riverbridgesfromadifferentangle.ThisistheClydeArc, affectionallyknownasthe‘SquintyBridge’inGlasgow, withtheFinniestonCraneandtheSECArmadillo auditoriumtotheright. PHOTOS:JONATHANMOSSE

THEInlandWaterwaysAssociation’s SilverPropellerlocationshavebeen extendedbysixthisyearandinclude twonewdestinationsinScotland.

FirstoftheseisRutherglen,upthe tidalRiverClydeandbeyondontothe non-tidalsectionviaGlasgowweir, whichcanbenegotiatedathightide. ThesecondnewlocationisStirling, viatheRiverForth.Visitingleisurecraft arefewbutanewmooringpontoon installedbyStirlingCouncilispopular withlocalsforcanoeingandother watersports.

IWA’sSilverPropellerchallengewas

Theviewdownstreamfromtheweirandpipe bridgeacrosstheClyde.Thisisthetidallimit oftheriverandwherethesaltwaterendsand freshwaterbegins.Thesluicegatescanbe raisedathightidetoallowaccessupstream.

createdtoencouragepeopletovisit fascinatingpartsoftheinlandwaterways systeminScotland,EnglandandWales whicharelesswellused.

Youmustvisit20ormorelocationsby boat,canoeorpaddleboardtocomplete thechallenge.

ThesenewlocationsjoinPortDundas and TheKelpiesontheForth&Clyde Canal,andLochrinBasinontheUnion. Discoverthefulllistandhow totakepartatwaterways.org. uk(https://waterways.org.uk/ waterways/using-the-waterways/ silver-propeller-challenge)

RYAScotlandthree-yearplanhavingearlyimpact

AREPORThighlightingthe firstyear’s impactofitsPeople,Placesand Communitiesthree-yearplanhasbeen publishedbyRYAScotland.

Itillustratestheorganisation’s impactacrosssailing,windsurfing, powerboatingandthewiderboating community.The2022–25strategy introducedanewregionalandlocal approachtohowRYAScotland supportsanddevelopsallformsof

boatingacrossScotland.

FinloCottier,RYAScotland’schief executive,saidthattheimpactreport isasuperbstatementofthepositive impactthatRYAScotlandismaking andarecognitionoftheextentand qualityofvolunteeringintheRYA Scotlandcommunity. Youcanreadthereportatrya.org. uk(https://www.rya.org.uk/gbni/ scotland/about-us/our-impact)

punesStaircaseon the Caledonian Canal.

PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE

Neptune’s Staircase on

The Kelpies soon after their official opening in 2015 PHOTO: CICELY OLIVER

TheAvonAqueductfromtheUnionCanal.

PHOTO:CICELYOLIVER

Puffer VIC32 willsoonbeonher tourspoweredbybiofuelrather thancoal.

PHOTO: JONATHANMOSSE

VIC32’scoalheapatCrinan willsoonbeathingofthepast.

PHOTO:CICELYOLIVER

Thebankofsolarpanelsnewly installedon Tamarisk’sroof.

PHOTO:JONATHANMOSSE

RYAScotlandsupportsallthe boatingcommunity,fromsailingto kayaking,seenhereontheUnion Canal.

PHOTO:JONATHANMOSSE

ScottishCanals’staffaboardone ofthenewhireboatsattheFalkirk Wheel. PHOTO: SCOTTISHCANALS

DaysOut–Braunston

Thisseriespickslocationsforgreatdaysoutnearsomeveryspecialcanalhighlights –anythingfromtheperfectspotforgongoozling(watchingboatingactivities)toan idyllictowpathstrollpastextraordinarywaterwaysheritagesightseeing,orperhaps ashortboattripandevenabitofsouvenirshopping.Thecanalsarefullofheritage andengineeringwondersandarealsoacalmhavenforawidediversityofwildlife andbirds.You’llalsoseeboatsonthemoveandbreathethebalmofwaterinrustling greensurroundings. thestraighterGrandUnionCanalwas built,itstolemuchoftheOxford’s commercialtraffic–buttheOxford foughtback,chargingextortionate tollstouseitswaterinthelinkbetween NaptonandBraunston.

Words&images:Coolcanals:PhillippaGreenwood &MartineO’Callaghan

THEnowsleepyjunctionbetween theOxfordandGrandUnionCanals atBraunstonwasonceoneofthe busiestcommercialtradingpoints linkingwithLondon.

CanalengineerJamesBrindleybuilt theOxfordCanalinhistypicalwinding fashion, flowingaroundcontoursrather thanbulldozingastraightcourse.When

Therearesixlocksrunningthrough Braunston,beforethecanaldivesinto BraunstonTunnel(2042yards/1867 metreslong). Thisidylliccanalvillage datesbacktotheDomesdayBook andisoneofthemostrenownedand importantcanalvillagecommunities inthecountry.

Leisureboatsownthewaternow,and Braunstonhasbecomeamuch-loved photogenichotspotforleisureseekers. ThemarinahoststheannualBraunston HistoricBoatRallyandthevisitoris treatedtoHorseleyironbridges,historic workshops,andamarinabobbingwith narrowboatsofallcolours.

Braunston’schurchspireoverlooksthemarina.

BraunstonTunnel

HistoricbuildingsinBraunstonMarina.

TheHorseleyIronworksdouble-spanbridgeatthejunctionoftheGrand UnionandOxfordcanals.

Twonarrowboatssharingoneofthelocks.

TheTowpathAngler

Ourmonthlylookattheanglingscene

INTHEpastIhaveoftenmadereference tothetremendousrelianceonvolunteers intheworld. Theyareabsolutelycrucial tosomanyorganisations.Ihavealsosaid thattheircontributionsalltoooftengo unrecognised.

Inmy57yearsasavolunteeratlocal, regionalandnationallevelIhavemetso manygoodpeoplewhoputincountless hoursoftenattheirownexpenseand yetreceivebarelyathankyou.Lastyear Iwasextremelyhonouredtoreceivea Queen’sAwardformyeffortsand,while Ifullyappreciatethismightnotbe possibleforeveryone,I firmlybelieve thatallsuchorganisationsshouldhave theirownawardsystemwithinwhich certainvolunteersarerecognisedevery year,beitforlongserviceorspecial achievement.

Recentweekshaveseenme particularlybusyatclubleveldealing withfuturestockingorders,sitesecurity ataclubpoolwherethelocalpolice havebeenreallyhelpful,anassaulton abailiff andexcessive floodingofour clubpool–probablycausedbychanges tothe floodcontrolregimeofnearby rivers.Arealmixofthingssonochance ofmybecomingbored,butallofthem extremelytimeconsuming.

Atlonglastwearejustbeginning toseesomepromisingdevelopments. Interestingly,justtounderlinewhatI saidearlieraboutvolunteers,oneclub colleagueaskedwhether,eventhough wedoallthesethings,domembersreally appreciateit?Ofcoursesomedo.

Fundingoptions

Julylookslikebeingabusymonth.One keymeetingistheCanal&RiverTrust’s Fisheries&AnglingAdvisoryGroup. The agendais,asalways,prettyfullanditwill certainlyincludeadiscussionabout theLet’sFishinitiative.Itwillundergo stringentreviewsjustasallpartsofthe businesswillasthetrustcarriesoutan all-embracingreviewtodetermineits futurefundingposition. Thereareanumberoffunding optionsforLet’sFish,noneofwhich arethatsimple.Likesomanythings thereis‘politics’involved,butitbeggars beliefthatsomethingsofundamental tothefuture,notjustofcanalangling buttothetrustitself,andwhichis sosuccessfulmaywellsufferbadly becauseofthese‘politics’.

FACTFILE

Braunstonmarina

AtBraunston,aphotogenicGradeII listeddoublecast-ironbridgespans thejunctionwheretheGrandUnion CanalmeetstheOxfordCanal atBraunstonTurn.Furtheralong thecanal,Braunston’smarinahas mooringforupto250boats,buys andsellsnewandusedboats,has twodrydocksandacollectionof historicbuildingshousingeverything fromropetomagazines. www.braunstonmarina.co.uk

BraunstonHistoricBoatRally

TimeyourvisittoBraunstonforthe annualboatrallyandcanalfestival attheendofJune–it’sthelargest gatheringoftraditionalworkingboats whichpacktogetheralongthecanal inacolourfulprocessionofheritage. www.braunstonmarina.co.uk

BoatShop

NexttothebottomofBraunston’s flightoflocksisatinybookshop

whichpridesitselfonhavingoneof thelargestcollectionsofcanal-related booksinthecountry.Italsosellscanal giftwareandofcourseicecreams. www.boatshopbraunston.co.uk

Boatmen’schurch

ThespireofAllSaints’Church guardsoverthevillage,justasithas forgenerationsofboatingfamilies whohavepassedthrougheversince the firstworkingboats.Itisknown astheboatman’schurchsinceithas christenedandmarriedmanyfrom the floatingcommunity.Andthe gravesofboaterslieheretoo.

Location

Braunston

OSGridref:SP540658

Canal:GrandUnionCanaland

OxfordCanal

Howtogetthere

Bytrain

NearestrailwaystationisRugby

NationalRailEnquiries08457484950

Bybus

Traveline08712002233

Bycar

Roadsideorincarparknearthe

marina

Onfoot

ThetowpathatBraunstonforms partoftwolong-distancetrails–the GrandUnionCanalWalkandthe OxfordCanalWalk

Byboat

Nearestboathire:

NarrowboatEscapes,Braunston www.narrowboatescapes.co.uk UnionCanalCarriers,Braunston www.unioncanalcarriers.co.uk

Moorings

Thereareplentyofvisitormoorings alongthecanalthroughBraunston

LocalTouristinfo

NorthamptonshireTouristInfo www.visitnorthamptonshire.co.uk Braunstonvillagewebsite www.braunston.org.uk

OxfordCanalHeritage www.oxfordcanalheritage.org

Canal&RiverTrust

UsetheCanal&RiverTrustwebsite to findspecificlocalinformation www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Ihavehadacoupleofonlinemeetings re.thenewTowpathAdvisoryGroup. Approvalhasbeengivenandsothenext stageistoappointkeyrepresentatives ofthosesectorsoftheusercommunity whomakeuseofourtowpaths.Itisvital thatthegroupcomprisespractitioners nottheoristsinordertocreatethebest possibleopportunityforresolving manyofthetowpath-basedissues. That said,compromiseonallsideswillbe

essentialandthiscouldwellmean thatsomeuserswillprobablyneedto relinquishbenefitstheycurrentlyenjoy. Clearlythemantraofsharingthespace mustbeparamount.

Theweatherwehaveenjoyedinrecent weekswouldseemtohaveallowedthe fisheverywheretocompletespawning. Thatsaid,somearehavingasecondtry. Itisnowverylikelythattheywillstartto reallystokeupforwinterandsoaremore likelytofeedmoreoftenandforlonger. Havingsaidthat,newsfromsomeof thecanalsthisweekisbynomeansgood. IhadthechancetovisittheAire&Calder lastweekendwithasmallclubI‘guest’ withfromtimetotime.Itwouldhave beena120-mileroundtripbutbecause ofacommitmentintheeveningIopted nottogo.

Lowwaterlevels

Lookingattheresultsitwasawise decision.Onebreamof3lbwonand eightanglersneverhadabite.Hereon mylocalcanalonly5lbwontheSaturday eventlastweekwhenpreviouslyover 20lbofbreamhadbeenneeded.

Itseemslowwaterlevelshavenot helpedtheopeningdaysoftheriver season.Anglersseekingoutthebarbel onmylocalsectionoftheTrenthave beengoinghomeearly. Thecommercial fisheriesare,generally,okaybuteven thesearenotreallyonconsistenttop formyet.

Myownoutingsoflatehaveseen constantlychangingfortunes.Results inthelastfewweekshaveseenmeclock uponewin,twoseconds,athirdand twosectionwins,alldemonstratingthat mymakingsometimespoordecisions previouslyhadclearlybeenaffecting myperformances.

DuringfourofthosematchesI madeacompletechangeofapproach mid-matchandendedwithagood outcome.FrustratinglyIprettymuch knewatthebeginningthataparticular methodwouldprobablybetheonebut chosesomethingelsewhich,effectively, failed...hencemychange.

Ifyouplantohaveacrackinthe comingdaysIreckonyoumightwell catchafew.Keeptheapproachsimple andIamsuretherewardswillcome.Stay safeinthesun.

Tightlines.

Milestoneforanglers’ waterqualitycampaign

ACAMPAIGNbythe AnglingTrustsawthe 2000thwaterquality sampletakenfroma UKriver.

AnglersAgainst Pollutionlaunched itsWaterQuality MonitoringNetworkasa pilotprojectontheRiver SeverninMaylastyear beforeitsnationalrollouttwomonthslater. Itnowinvolves almost500volunteers fromanglingclubs

takingsamplesfrom theirlocalwatersto betterunderstandwater qualityandpotential pollutionissues.

The2000thsample, takenbyvoluntarybailiff JonathanSwanonthe RiverChelmerinEssex, showedthatphosphate levelsexceededthe WaterFramework Directivewhilenitrates wereatthetriggerlevel.

AT’Scampaignsand advocacymanager

KrisKent,wholeads theproject,said:“With over470volunteers registeredfrom195 anglingclubswehave madeamazingprogress.

“Whatissadisthat the2000thsample recordedisfurther evidenceofthepoor waterqualityonmany ofourrivers,exceeding WaterFramework Directivestandardsfor phosphateandwith highnitratelevels.”

BraunstonMarina.

BraunstonWindmillbythechurchyard.

LotsofboatstogongoozleatBraunstonHistoric BoatRally.

TheWetWeb

ByHelenGazeley

THEREareanumberofreasons whytheCanal&RiverTrust’s welfareofficersarebusierthanever.

Theorganisationbecame morestringentincheckingboats, promptingqueriesaboutmissed licencepaymentsorextended mooringtime.Covidexacerbated mentalhealthissues.Withmany boatersmovingintotheir70sand 80s,age-relatedhealthneeds haveincreased.And,ofcourse, there’sthecostofliving.

IntheCRT’srecentboater census,itwasrevealedthat75% ofliveaboardsareontheir first boat,andnearlyhalfofthose havelivedaboardlessthan threeyears.Combinethatwith 55%–risingto66%inLondon –ofrespondentsgivingthe mainreasonforlivingaboardas affordability,andyoucanbegin toseetherangeofissuesfacedby thewelfareteam.

ButwelfareofficerSean Williamsiskeenthatboatdwellers shouldknowabouttheirexistence.

Problemswithpayingbills, mentalhealthissues,difficulties registeringwithaGPpractice, andrequiringextendedtimeon amooringinordertoreceive medicaltreatmentarejustsome oftheproblemsthattheteamhas theexpertisetohelpwith.

Seanandwelfareofficer MichelleSimmonds,whojoined aroundayearagotoabsorb someoftheincreasingworkload, helpstrugglingboaterstoaccess benefits,localcareservices,relevant voluntaryorganisationssuchas

CitizensAdviceorMacmillan,and localsupportproviders.

Initialcontact

SeanbecametheCRT’sfirst welfareofficerin2015.Local rangershadnoticedtheneedfor morehelpandsupportforpeople onboatswhowerestrugglingto maintainlicencesandcomply withtermsandconditions.

“WhenIstartedIwassurprised byhowmuchlocalteamsdid,” saidSean.“Thelicencesupport officersareoureyesandears; theyhavetheinitialcontact. They hadlotsofempathy,butnotthe specialistknowledgetohelp.”

ItwasthisexpertisethatSean broughtwithhimfromhisrolein socialhousing,wherehe’dhelped unpicktheproblemstenants werefacing.“Agoodamount ofwhatwedoissignposting.If someonehasmedicalneeds,we canlinkthemtoaGP,connect themtotreatment.

“Thenyouaskhowthey’re managingtheboat,iftheyneedto staylongerwheretheyarewhile gettingmedicaltreatment.What’s theimpactontheir finances?

Linkingthemtosupportonthat andmarryingthatupwithour own financialteam.Andwe’ll keepincontact,seehowthey’re gettingonwiththeGPand receivingbenefits,oriftheyneed anEqualityAdjustment,sothey don’thavetomoveonsooften.”

WhenSean firststarted,people oftenchallengedthereasonfor thewelfareteam’sapproaches. “Thatdoesn’thappensomuch anymore,”hesays.

SeanWilliams,theCanal& RiverTrust’swelfareofficer. Aswellasthewiderteam whoworkwithSeanto identifyvulnerableboaters, hegivesashout-outtothe WaterwaysChaplaincy,with whomheworksonalot ofcases,asboatersoften liketohaveanindependent personliaiseforthem.

PHOTOCOURTESYSEANWILLIAMS

Fromabusinesspointofview, itcertainlymakessenseforCRT totrytosortproblemsoutearly. Chasingpeopleforlicencefees, oractuallyhavingtoremovea boat,resultsinahuge financial,as wellastime,expenditure.Butfor Sean,it’sallabouthelpingpeople. “Itmakessensefromabusiness perspective,”heexplained,“but thehumanelementoutweighs anycostsaving.Aperson’swellbeingoutweighsthevalue.”

Ifyou’reaboaterinneedof help–orknowsomeonewho is–youcancontactyourlocal licenceofficerdirectlyorcall 03030404040.Linkstoyourlocal officerarealsoontheCRTwebsite, wheretherearedetailsofuseful organisationsandcharities(bit. ly/3XPkOww).

Canalteamgrantedpowersto tackleantisocialbehaviour

THEcanalrangersteam andcommunitypatrolboat volunteerswhoworkon theGrandWesternCanal inTivertonanditscountry parkhavebeengivenlimited policepowers.

Inwhathasbeenhailed asasignificantmilestone incommunitypolicing, boththerangersandthe volunteershavebeen accreditedwithlimited policepowersunder theCommunitySafety AccreditationScheme (CSAS)andtheAccredited PoliceVolunteer(APV) schemerespectively.

ChairmanoftheGrand WesternCanalJointAdvisory Committeeandlocal memberforTivertonEast, Devoncountycouncillor ColinSladesaid:“They alreadydoagreatjob,but

nowwillbeabletodoso onaformalfooting.While themajorityofcanaland countryparkusersarewell behavedandconsiderate, thereareaminoritywho donotthinktherulesapply tothemandindulgein antisocialbehaviourand low-levelcrime.”

Therangersarepartofthe CSASscheme,whichhas beenrunninginDevonand Cornwallsince2005,whereas thevolunteersarethe firstin DevonandCornwalltobe partoftheAPVscheme.

Powersaccreditedthrough bothschemeswillenablethe volunteersandtherangers todealwithanylow-level antisocialbehaviourwhich mightoccurwhilefostering asenseofsecurityand reassuranceforusersand thecommunity.

Thesehavebeentargeted toaddresstheneedson thecanalandsurrounding areaandincludebeingable torequestthenameand addressofanyoneacting inanantisocialmanner. Itisaformaloffenceifan individualdoesnotcomply withtherequestsfrom accreditedvolunteers.

InspectorGrantLeitch said:“Weareexcitedabout thepossibilitiesthisscheme bringsandlookforwardtoa safer,moreharmoniouscanal environmentforeveryone toenjoy.”

BoththeAPVaccredited volunteersandCSAS accreditedrangerscan beidentifiedbythelogo displayedontheiruniform. Theywillalsocarryapolice IDbadgeandcardlisting theirpowers.

Swingbridgeclosed afterbalustradecollapse

REPAIRworkisneeded toCrabtreeLaneswing bridgeNo32ontheLeeds& LiverpoolCanaltothewest ofBurscoughinLancashire, writesColinWareing

Thebridgebalustradeon onesidefelloff duringthe eveningofJuly3,having recentlysufferedfroma vehiclestrikewhichleftit atanangle.

Contractorshave successfullyremovedthe damagedbalustradeand whilefurtherrepairworks areconductedthebridgehas beenleftintheopenposition toallownavigationtoresume.

Acranewasduetoarrive onsiteonJuly21forCanal &RiverTrustcontractorsto carryoutrepairstothebarrier.

Thecanalrangersteamandcommunitypatrolboatvolunteers. PHOTO:DEVONCOUNTYCOUNCIL

Yourchancetowritetousonanytowpathtopic: TowpathTalk,POBox99,Horncastle,LincsLN96LZoremaileditorial@towpathtalk.co.uk

Cillwarningsign inwrongplace?

Words&photos:LesHeath

ANOTHERnarrowboathasrecently beenaddedtothelonglistofvesselsto becomesubmergedafterbeing‘hung up’onthecillatKegworthDeepLock ontheRiverSoar.

Aboardindicatingthenumberof boatstobe‘hungup’overacertain

Don’tletivytakehold

WEHAVEjustreturned fromaweekspenton thesouthernendofthe ShropshireUnionCanal.

ambitioustakeagarden hoeaswell,thenyoucan reachthehighstuff.Ittakes amoment.

Volunteersneededfor towpathmaintenance

WEAREluckyenoughtoownashareof anarrowboatwhichgivesusfourweeks ayearonthenetwork.Wealsolivenear theKennet&AvonCanalinourhome townofNewbury.

Thestateoftowpathshasmarkedly fallenacrossthenetworkswehave visited,attimestotallyovergrownand impassibleandothersdangerously wornawayintothecutitself.Ihave volunteeredwithourlocalTowpath Taskforceintendingtohelpwiththe situationbuttheemphasisseemstobe directedonlyoncertainareaswhere thereisthemosttraffic.

I’msureallboaters(pleasure cruisersandliveaboards)lovethe peaceandtranquilityoftherural cutandyetthesearetheareasmost neglected.Surelywealloweaduty ofcaretocutbackhedgerowswitha pairofshearsandsecateursand/ora batterytrimmeronthegrass,gradually thusincreasingtheareaofmoorings alongthecutandmakingthetowpath fitforpurpose.

Thiswouldnotneedtobeorganised byaCanal&RiverTrustpaidstafferother thanprovidingpurposegreenwastebags thatcouldbeleftforcollectionatroad bridgesorotherdesignatedpathways.

JacquiBrig

Byemail

periodhasbeenreplacedbyayellow warningnotice.

Unfortunatelyithasbeensitedseveral metresbelowthebottomlockgates insteadofabovethetopgates.

Boaterswillnotbecome‘hungup’ onthecillgoinguphillandbythetime boatersgoingdownstreamseethesign theyhavealreadyleftthelock.

Pleaseleave spacefor cruisers

MYBOATisa23Vikingmoored ontheRiverLee;althoughIhave thoughtaboutbuyinganarrowboat Ihavenevergotroundtoit.

InfactIamthinkingofgiving myhobbyupbecauseit’sgetting soexpensivewithrunningcosts likemooringfeesetc.Itwouldbe ashamebecauseIhaveenjoyedit somuchoversome25yearsnow.

AnotherconcernIhaveis thatit’sreallydifficultto finda mooringspaceontheriversand canals.Ihavenothingagainst narrowboatersbuttheydotake upalotofthemooringspace alongthetowpath.

InfactIhaveaskedtheCanal& RiverTrustifwecouldhaveafew spacesalongthetowpath–about 100yards–forGRPcruiserswith noticesandperhapswhitelines justforcruisers(summeronly).

Anotherrequestplease,could wehaveafewarticlesabout cruisersandoutboardmotors infutureeditions.

RayHough

Byemail

InthedaysofBWB (BritishWaterwaysBoard) Itookitforgrantedthere musthavebeenstaff availablewhochecked bridgesandwaterway infrastructureforthearrival ofivyandshrubs,andthen gotridofthembeforethey tookholdandbeganto destroybrickwork.This workhasceased.

Mostbridgesonthe southernShroppiearebeing overrunandultimately destroyedbyivy.Ittakesa momenttoremovetheyoung plantasitbeginsitsassault. Ifeverycanallovertooka decorator'sbladewiththem andprisedtheyoungshoots frombridgestheywouldnot takeover.

Ifyou’reabitmore

TonyPrice Byemail

Thethinendofthewedge

BOATERPaulHandleywroteto theCanal&RiverTrustintheWest Midlandsregardingamooredboat obstructingawindingholeatTyrley andsharesthefollowingreplyfrom acustomersupportadministrator: “Thiswindingholeisprivately ownedandtheownerhasdecided tonotallowuseofthiswindinghole forthegeneralpublic.

“Wearecurrentlyinconversation

withtheowneraboutpossiblyallowing useforallboaters,butatthemoment thisisnotsomethingwehavecontrol ofandtheowneriswithintheirrights tomoorhere.”

MrHandleycomments:“Thisthen begsthequestionofwhosewaterthe boatissittingon.SimplisticIknow,but IthoughtCRTandthereforemeasa

licencepayer‘owned’thewater.

“AllwellandgoodthatCRTisin

negotiationbutisthistobeanother downgradingofthisarea,withthe sanitarystationclosed. Therestricted overnightmooringopposite‘The Pontoons’inDrayton,damagedfooting causedbyout-of-controlwashatTyrley lock5,thedamagedbridge48...the thinendofanywedgegetsthickerby theday.”

Asterlingjob onthetowpath

ONARRIVINGbacktoourhome mooringfromamonth'scruise, wewerepleasedtoseethehelp theCanal&RiverTrusthadgiven tothewildlifebythesidesofthe canal,seeminglywithlittleeffort. Wewerepleasedtosee contractorsdoasterlingjob onthetowpathforthewider community.Wewaitwith anticipationforCRTtoimprove thecanalsystemanditsfacilities forboaterswhopaytocruisethe canals.

BobandChris nbMrsD

ThewarningsignbelowthebottomgatesofKegworthDeepLock.

Youngivyshootslike thesecanbeprised fromabridge.

Thiswindingholeisofflimitstoboaters.

PHOTO:PAULHANDLEY

Ivyhastakenholdofthebrickwork. PHOTOS:TONYPRICE

Poweringupforagreenerfuture

Couldalackofsuitablyqualifiedengineersaffect themovetoelectricpropulsion,asksPhilPickin.

ITISwidelyacceptedthat thereisamovetowardelectric propulsionforboats.And althoughmanyoftheelectrically poweredboatsarealso fittedwith dieselgeneratorstoovercomea lackofcharginginfrastructure, themoveisdefinitelyunderway.

However,thegenerallackof qualifiedengineersinallsectors ofindustrywouldseemtobe particularlyacutewhenitcomes toelectricalengineers.The addedcomplexityofanelectric boat–orcar,forthatmatter–can provetobeasignificantissue shouldproblemsoccur.

Overtheyears,engineers havebecomewellusedtothe problemsthatbefalldiesel engines,butwiththefuture moveawayfromfossilfuels, thosesameengineerswillneed tolearnanewsetofskills.

Oneofthelargestemployers ofengineersisRiverCanal Rescue(RCR).Whenaskedhow itwasapproachingthegrowth inelectricboats,company MDStephanieHorton,said: “Ourengineershavealready undertakentrainingonelectrical boatsandhavebeenreceiving ongoingtrainingforthepast fourto fiveyears.However,there isnotmuchthatcanbedonein abreakdownsituation,asmost electricmotors–ifthatiswhere theissueis–havetobesentaway forwork.

“Mostlyit’sbatteryor connectionissues;withLynch motors,wecanundertakea numberofotherrepairs,butagain ifit’samotor,ithastobereturned forrepair. Thebiggestissueisthe infrastructureforelectricboats as,ingeneral,theyarereliable.

Apprenticeshipprogramme

Weattendmorecalloutsto thegeneratorsthatchargethe batteriesthanforactualissues withtheelectricinstallations.”

Butitwouldseemtheissue ofashortageofqualified engineershasalsothrown upanunexpectedproblem. Stephaniewenton:“Weare seeing,especiallyinLondon,a lotof‘self-taught’engineerswith littleformaltraining,andthey arecausingmoreissuesthan theyaresolving.

“Theconditionandstateof enginesandboaters,armed withfeedbackonFacebook,can alsohinderthings.Engineers withyearsofexperienceare challengedcontinuouslyby boaterswho‘havebeentoldon Facebookthattheissueisxyz andyoudon’tknowwhatyouare doing’,tothepointnoonewants toworkonLondonboats.Plus, evenifwerecommendrepairs, theysimplyignorethem,andwe endupre-attending,whichfor anengineerisreallyfrustrating.”

Incommonwithsimilar industries,themarinesector isinsomecasesstrugglingto recruitandretainengineering staff.RCRisnotimmunetothis, asStephaniesaid:“Gettinggood ‘marine’engineersisbecoming harder,andattractingengineers fromotherbackgroundsisno longeraseasy. Thewageswe canoffernolongercompete, andunlesswedrasticallyraise membershiporcharges,wecan’t matchwhatotherindustries arepaying(wehavetoraise membershipfeeseventosimply keepourstaff aswearebelow nationalaverages).

“Alloftheabovecontribute towardsasituationwheregood engineersarelessavailable. The situationiscompoundedbynew Governmentruleswherewehave topayminimumwagestothose onthree-yearapprenticeships–anaverageof£19kperyearfor apersontositwithanengineer andbepaidtogotocollege. This meansaninvestmentofnearly £60kbeforetheyprovidea

returnforthecompany,and thereisalwaystheriskofthem gettingpoached.

“It’sbecomingreallydifficult forustoarguetokeepthe apprenticeshipprogramme running,meaningfewer dedicatedengineersonthe waterways.I’mnotsurewhat theansweris;Iagreewitha minimumwage,butitmakes ithardtogetnewengineers trainedupandqualifiedtokeep supplyingservicestoagrowing communitywithboatsthatare gettingmorediverse.”

It’snotsurprisingthatthe problemwith findingengineers isn’trestrictedtoservice providerslikeRCR.Ortomarine, oneofthe firstboatbuildersto committo‘goinggreen’and toexclusivelyproduceelectric boatsforthewaterways,has noticedsimilarproblems.

CarolineBadger,whowith partnerRobHowdleandtheir teambuildelectricboatsin Worcestershire,toldus:“Inour experiencethereisamassive shortageofsuitablyqualified engineersall-around–notjust thosethatarehappytowork onelectricboats. Thewhole successionplanningsystem isfailingintheindustry.We havelookedintotakingon apprenticesinthepast,butthere arenoavailableapprenticeships availablelocallythattieinwith whatwearedoingintheboating industry.”

Perhapsmoreworrying, Carolinehasnoticedanother problemsimilartothatseenby RCR.Shesaid:“Unfortunately, weareawarethatthereare boatbuildersbuildingelectric boats,whicharenotcompletely fitforpurpose.Wehavebeen contactedbyseveralpeople

whohavehadelectricboats builtelsewherewhoarenot happywiththeirboatsandare havingproblems–thiscanonly beharmfultotheindustry. The lackofup-to-dateregulations doesn’thelpeither.”

Unfortunately,shefeelsthat theseproblemscouldcausea largerprobleminputtingoff thoseconsideringgoingelectric.

Negativepublicity

“Weknowthereisagrowing amountofnegativepress aroundgoingdowntheelectric propulsionroute,itseemsthere arelotsofnaysayersaround. Whenanelectricboathasa problem,thisispublicised widely,butthereisnotsomuch publicityforthosethatare workingwell,day-in,day-out, fortheirhappyowners!”

“Inourexperience,itismore likelythatcustomerswillhave aproblemwiththegenerator thantheelectricmotor,somost boatengineerswhoworkwith enginesshouldbecompetentto lookatgeneratorfaults.”

Allgoodboatbuildersprovide

after-salesservicetocustomers thatprovidetheownerswith peaceofmindaftertheyhave takendeliveryoftheirnewboat. Butinthisnew-era,buyers wouldbewelladvisedtoask questionsbeforepartingwith theirhard-earnedcash.Will theafter-salescoverincludethe electricalsystem?

Carolineadded:“Fortheboats webuild,weprideourselveson ourafter-salesservicetoour customers,sotheyknowthat theycanpickupthephoneif theyhaveanissue,butIknow thisisnotthecaseformany otherbuilderswhoaresupplying electricboats.”

So,inanswertothequestion astotheimpacttheseshortages arehavingonthemovetowards moresustainableboating, Ortomarine’sansweris:“Yes–thereisdefinitelyashortageof suitablyqualifiedengineers,and itmaywellputpeopleoff ‘going green’,butultimatelythewhole industryneedstobeeducated andbetterregulatedsothatthe electricboatswhicharebuiltare fitforpurpose.”

Campaigningtopreserveourhistoricwaterways

NABOgeneralsecretaryPeter Braybrookcommentson somemoretopicalissues.

isagreatdisappointment.Ofcourse itissensibleforthetrusttolookfor additionalstreamsofincomebutasa recentprimeministerfamouslysaid: “Thereisnomagicmoneytree.”

HavingshownDefrathebillionsin benefitsprovidedbythecanalsand riverstothehealthandwell-beingof thenation,thisGovernmenthassaid ‘thankyouverymuch’andhalvedwhat itwantstospendonthem!Itevensings thepraisesofthecanalsinassistingit toachieveitsownenvironmentalaims.

Thetrustisaskingforoursupport toits#KeepCanalsAlivecampaign andsaysoftheannouncement:“It willleadtoadeclineinthecondition ofthecanalnetworkandthealarming prospectofcanalclosures.”

tomaintaintheminasafecondition. Thiswouldbedevastatingto thethousandsofboaters,anglers, paddleboarders,canoeists,walkers andcyclistswhohavecometolove thecanalsandriversandusethemas aplaceoftranquillityandmindfulness.

Campaigncruise

The firstmaincampaigneventwillbe acampaigncruiseinBirminghamon August11and12. Thisistohighlight theproblemandcontinuetolobby thepoliticianstobringabouta reversaloftheshortsightedpolicy ofDefra.

projectsandmaintenanceprojectsfor theavailablecash,whetherdonations orgrants.Wehavealreadywitnessed ahugedeclineintheconditionofthe canalnetwork.

Overthepastfewyearswehave seentheparapetsofbridgestakenoff tosaveweightandkeepbridgesopen forlonger.Wehaveseendamaged brickworkonourlockwallsappear besideourboatsaswedescend.We havenotedmuchofthistobesoloose thatbricksmusthavebeenfallinginto thelocktoeventuallyjamthegatesor putpressureontheseals.

arereallyinterestedinis findingout wherethewaterfallsareratherthanthe waterfeatures.

WELL,ithashappened!Wehave beenaskingforanannouncement fromtheGovernmentabout thefuturefundingofthecanals andrivers,andasIwritetodaya statementhasbeenissued.

TotheCanal&RiverTrustandany ofusthatvaluethecanalsasaleisure resourceorforouremploymentit

Meanwhile,attheinitiationofNABO, theInlandWaterwaysAssociation, AssociationofWaterwaysCruising ClubsandRoyalYachtingAssociation, alongsideabout30otherwaterways businessandleisureorganisations, formedacampaigngroupcalled FundBritainsWaterways.

Manyotherorganisationsare comingtojointhisgroup,whichaims toraisetheprofileofthisfunding situationandtheimpendingreal possibilitythatcanalswillbeshut becausethereisnotenoughmoney

Istartedboatingin1999asahirer.I becameaboatownerin2003and first attendedtheIWACanalwayCavalcade in2005. ThereIwasamazedto finda largegroupofenthusiastslikethe WaterwaysRecoveryGroupandmany othercanalpreservationsocieties allworkingtowardstherestoration ofabandonedcanalswithaviewto re-linkingthemto‘thesystem’.So muchenthusiasmandexpertisebut alsoagreatneedforfundsandgrants.

Weareinahigh-inflationeconomy andmanyarefeelingthattheir disposableincomeisshrinkingatan alarmingrate. Therewillnowbeserious competitionbetweenrestoration

Wecannotcruisetoofarwithout findingapaddlecoveredandaCRT Awarestickeronit.Somehavebeen heldupforuptotwoweeksasarepair hasbeenmadetoafailedpieceof infrastructure.Maybeabreach,a collapsedculvert,afailedbalance beamorastructurallyunsafelock gate.Wehaveallcomeacrosspounds thatdrainovernightbecauseofleaking lockgates.

NABOhasdecidedtorecordthese defectsandisaskingboatowners toreportallinstanceswherethey encounterdifficultiesbecauseof them.Ofcourselockgatesbytheir verynaturewillalwaysleakabit. Oneofournumberhassaidwhatwe

Webelievethatdefectscan’tbe overreportedandthatCRTAware tagsshouldbecompletedwitha reportdateandanexpecteddateof repair.Wedonotthinkthat‘waituntil itbreaks’isa financiallystablemodel formaintenanceofa250-year-old network.Stoppagesinthesummer bringdamagetothereputationofthe trust,impactthelocalboatingeconomy andinconveniencetoholidaymakers andcruisersalikewhohavetochange theirplansorloseaweekorsooftheir valuabletime,possiblyinaplace wheretheydidnotwanttostop.

Moneyisdominatingourthinkingat presentyetIhavebeenreallypleased tobeatthetilleragainandlisteningto thereed,sedgeandgardenwarblers, skylarks,whitethroats,robins,reed buntingsandyellowhammersthat fill thehedgerows.Heronsandkingfishers enjoythe fishing.

Ihaveseenagrasssnakeandfrogs andahugedisplayofwildflowers alongthewayasredkites,buzzards andkestrelspatrolabove.Wemust bethankfulthatfortodayatleastour canalsandriversareanidyll.Letus hopewecankeepthemso.

Typicalbatterybank,generatorandelectricmotorsetupin anarrowboatenginebay. PHOTO: PHILPICKIN

Goinggreen:OneofOrtomarine’searlyserialhybrid narrowboats. PHOTO: ORTOMARINE