The Butty - Autumn 2015

The Butty The magazine for members of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust

Issue No. 208 Autumn 2015

Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Canal Centre

Kennet and Avon Canal Trust

Annual General Meeting

Devizes Wharf Wiltshire SN10 1EB 01380 721279

2016

www.katrust.org.uk

West Lavington Saturday 14th May President David Bruce Vice Presidents Richard Benyon MP Donald Collinson Michael Corfield Sir Anthony Durrant Bill Fisher Michael Goodenough Terry Kemp Admiral Sir William O’Brien Sir Francis Price Prunella Scales John Webb Timothy West Trust Council David Copley Rob Dean (Chairman) David Inight Will Job Pauline King Daisy Mundy Terry Mundy Tony Nares Richard Selvidge Peter Turvey Enterprise Board Graham Day Will Job (Chairman) Pauline King Daisy Mundy Tony Nares Tom Newey Deborah Robinson Hon Advisors Chris Churchouse (IT) Simon Loaring (Heritage) Simon Eveleigh ( Assets)

Contacts Trust Council Chairman Rob Dean CMG chair@katrust.org.uk

The Trust is a registered charity (no CC209206) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (no 726331)

Hon. Treasurer Tony Nares treasurer@katrust.org.uk Company Secretary Daisy Munday secretary@katrust.org.uk Administrator Jean Cook office.manager@katrust.org.uk Finance Helen Flavin finance@katrust.org.uk Membership Becky Barker admin@katrust.org.uk Museum Curator Terry Munday museum@katrust.org.uk Archivist Elaine Kirby archiveadmin@katrust.org.uk The Butty Editor Jane Inight TheButty@katrust.org.uk

Branch Contacts Bath and Bristol David Fearns (Chairman) bathandbristol.chairman@katrust.org.uk Bradford on Avon Bryan Baker (Chairman) bradford.chairman@katrust.org.uk Crofton Peter Turvey (Chairman) crofton.chairman@katrust.org.uk Devizes Paul Jakeman (Chairman) devizes.chairman@katrust.org.uk Hungerford Mike Rodd (Chairman) hungerford.chairman@katrust.org.uk Newbury Trevor Staig (Chairman) newbury.chairman@katrust.org.uk Reading David Copley (Chairman) reading.chairman@katrust.org.uk

Index

A Note from the Ed.

Page 2

Chairman's report

3

Bath and Bristol

4

25 years of Twinning

5

K & A in Paris

6

Newbury

7

Newbury Waterways Festival

8

Archive Snippets

10

Hungerford

11

WI in Hungerford and CRT

12

Devizes Carnival

13

Terry Kemp Remembers

14

A Silver Celebration

16

Crofton

18

Bill Fisher's Autobiography

20

Bradford on Avon

21

Chernobyl Children

24

Celebrating Tea Rooms

26

Reading

27

A Ghost Story

28

Membership Matters

This edition of The Butty is the longest I have edited to date, an incredible 28 pages of news, views, stories and information sent in from the length of the Canal, from Reading to Bath. Thank you so much to all the contributors, The Butty is not the magazine for the Members of the Trust without your input.

It has obviously been an eventful Summer, the 25th Anniversary of the reopening of the Canal, waterfests, and a carnival, perhaps the most conspicuous but, reading the articles makes one realise the wide variety of roles that are played by the volunteers, on boats, on the towpaths, in amongst the machinery and even......yes......in those long old meetings, hopefully softened by a trip to the pub or cake and coffee when done.

It strikes me that we hear so much from the 'captains' of our various 'ships', using finger or keyboard, it would be lovely to hear more from those who work at the coal face, about your experiences, the jobs you do and your motivations, so, if you feel like putting pen to paper, I would love to hear from you. Simply email me.

TheButty@katrust.org.uk I think one of my favourite pieces this time comes from the Archive. You might wonder why I volunteered for the Editor's job. Well read this and there might be a bit of a clue. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

It was lovely too to hear from Bob Naylor and Di Harris, especially with a wholly different article, a real french adventure and Bob very kindly has given us permission to use a fair few of his brilliant photographs.

On that note, my only disappointment was the low number of entries to the Volunteers at Work photo competition. That said, congratulations to Trevor Staig who wins a family ticket for a trip on any of our 4 boats.

The next eButty will hopefully be winging its way through cyberspace to your computers on 11th January (deadline for contributions 5th Jan). The Spring edition of The Butty should be on your doorstep on 1st April 2016 (dealine Friday 26th Feb). I know that seems a long way off but, in editorial terms, it comes all to quickly, so please, put your thinking caps on and get those fingers tapping and cameras clicking.

Finally, many thanks again to Alice Boyd for undertaking the proof reading With very best wishes to one and all.

Cover photograph, courtesy of David Copley

Jane

Chairman's Report I’ve had a great summer, much of it spent cruising up and down the lovely Kennet & Avon. Lots of terrific scenery and plenty of people enjoying the canal in many different ways. Twenty five years after the canal reopened, it was a good chance to take stock of what a success that has been. Using the canal is part of daily life for many people who live near it. And the canal draws a great number of visitors from across the country and the world to enjoy the history, natural environment and sheer good fun of a day out on or by the Kennet & Avon.

Part of the Trust’s summer has been waterside festivals: Reading in June, Newbury in July, our 25th birthday party in Devizes in August, Devizes carnival in early September and the Crofton Steam Gala to finish off the season at the end of September. These festivals take a great deal of organising but provide an opportunity to present our canal and our work to a wide range of visitors. I was reminded how important it is for us to continue this work by an incident at Newbury. A passing boater objected to moorings being reserved for the festival. He asked, “’did we pay more licence fee than him?”

Well sir, the Newbury Waterways Festival has been running for nearly 50 years and we might not have the Kennet & Avon if it hadn’t. The right to cruise on the K&A is rather more than a financial transaction. The canal was saved and restored by the community. We have a responsibility to keep sharing the message of restoration and improvement.

We help to look after a piece of our industrial heritage that is more than 200 years old. That might imply that what we do is rather old fashioned and done in a fixed way. Not a bit of it. I’ve been really struck this summer by the level of innovation I have seen our volunteers deploy along the canal to achieve their various aims. And most of it seems to work. Here’s just 4 varied examples of what I mean: *Jean Smith and her Devizes team giving the catering at the 25th birthday party a retro and rather classy feel by using decorated china cups and saucers. *The Crofton team making good use of social media to launch the ‘Crofton Boiler Bear’, a wonderful mix of the old and new in fund raising. *Our IT and boat teams developing our boat booking and crew rostering systems with such enthusiasm. I’ve seen many IT systems implemented but never one as painlessly as ours. *Our archives team pulling out fascinating pictures and film to be used by our visiting floating cinema to produce a fascinating short film called Repeat to Flourish (search for the floating cinema online).

In this edition of the Butty are many accounts of the Trust’s activities up and down the 87 miles of the K&A. It’s all made possible by three things: our enthusiastic, talented volunteers, varying amounts of money, and partnership with others who can help us achieve our aims. We’re achieving a lot but there’s much more to be done. I’d like to finish by asking all our members to think how they can help us in our work. Could you or someone you know get involved in our volunteering work? Could you or someone you know help us fund our plans to protect and enhance those bits of the K&A we look after? Do you know an organisation that would like to engage with us and our colleagues at the Canal & River Trust to promote and use the canal? Please get in touch.

Rob Dean CMG Chairman of Trustees chair@katrust.org.uk

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Bath and Bristol - Ready, Willing and Able I was recently appointed as the Branch Chairman, however, I do not have a long history of association with the canal network. My earliest recollection of a canal is playing football next to one in Norton Canes back in the Fifties! I don’t recall how we got the ball back when it went in. I have since learned that this would have been the Cannock Extension Canal. This was a long time and a long way from the predominantly rural setting of the Kennet and Avon Waterway, where I now spend so much time.

At the risk of blowing our Branch trumpet (although we haven’t got one yet), I think the stretch we are lucky enough to be associated with is packed with unique heritage and points of interest, all in a beautiful and varied landscape. The longer I spend meeting people along the canal, working and boating, the greater my appreciation of what it has to offer everyone. In our own way, our small but growing team of volunteers is doing its best to continue the restoration and preservation started 50 years ago. If the rash of television programmes in recent years about the canal system is anything to go by, we are a nation increasingly engrossed with canals. Look out for Canals: The Making of a Nation on the BBC if you missed it.

So here goes with my first report for The Butty from the western end of the Kennet and Avon.

We are generally self-managed volunteer group; usually on projects we instigate ourselves, but with support from the Canal and River Trust. We have also worked on projects requested by the C&RT.

I would like to highlight the restoration of Dundas Toll Office, to be used as a Welcome Station that has been in progress during Spring and Summer this year. Two or three of our stalwarts are applying their skills in carpentry, masonry and civil engineering, whilst the rest of us occasionally get involved as labourers!

Hopefully those of you who boat, cycle or walk along the western reaches have seen the results of our efforts from Dundas down to Hanham Lock.

The only lock that we haven’t touched is Swineford, due to problems of accessibility. But it is on our list for the future.

David Fearns

Please feel free to agree/disagree with, or comment on a few (slightly tongue in cheek) observations:1. Is Dundas Wharf the most picturesque location for a work party on the K&A or even the whole network?

2. Is the visitor footfall (on foot, cycle, boat) the highest on the K&A? (Compare with Bradford on Avon wharf!)

3. Does Dundas Basin see the highest proportion of hire boats in the boat traffic?

(Compare with Bradford on Avon at the weekend!)

4. Is Dundas the only place on the network that can boast an aqueduct over a river and rail track, a listed wharf building and a historic canal junction? C&RT to apply for Red Wheel Status!

5. If you spend a day at Dundas wearing a volunteer high-vis vest how many times will you be asked “ Are there toilets?”, “ Where is the café?”, “Where is the nearest pub?”, “ Which way to the Two Tunnels cycle path?” and most surprisingly “Which way to Bath?”.

Suggests signage needs to be reviewed as part of submission for Red Wheel Status.

6. Finally the question most appreciated is “What are you doing?”, followed by “Are you all volunteers?” then followed by “It’s great to see what you are doing.”

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Will Job - Trustee

I have lived within a few hundred yards of the Kennet and Avon canal for a lot of my adult life, in Newbury, Reading, Hungerford and Devizes, most recently moving to Horton near Devizes with my partner Carol.

I have a passion for history, notably steam engines and particularly the GWR, and for getting out and about in the lovely Wessex countryside.

Since joining the Trust this year, I volunteer at Crofton, helping out on the steaming weekends. I am looking forward to doing more there and at other Trust events and locations.

I am keen to be an active member of the Trust, to use my business experience to good effect and hopefully to help out where and when I can.

Next year marks 25 years of international twinning for the K&A Canal In 1991 the Kennet & Avon Canal took the bold step of participating in a pioneering international twinning arrangement with the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy, France.

Burgundy boatyard owner Jo Parfitt was a K&A Canal Trust member who had worked on the restoration of the Bath flight in the 1970s. He recognised similarities between the two canals and approached the K&A Canal Trust about setting up a twinning arrangement.

Ian Graham of Wilderness Boats takes centre stage at the Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais rally at Chatel Censoir in 2013

KACT Chairman at the time, Admiral Sir William O’Brien, was very keen on the idea. Twenty members of Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais visited various parts of the K&A in April that year when the twinning agreement was signed by the VNF (the French Navigation Authority), Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais, British Waterways and the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.

Apart from the social aspects of the twinning, there are several other potential benefits, including publicity, sharing professional experience and promoting tourism.

Although not specifically talking about twinning, the late Glen Miller from BW spoke about the benefits of international collaboration on inland waterways at the World Canals Conference in Liverpool in 2004 saying that it “allows the promotion and development of economic activity and entrepreneurship based on cultural heritage and tourism”.

Twenty five members of KACT made a return visit to the Canal du Nivernais the following April, when they The potential benefits of the K&A Canal twinning visited most of the Canal du Nivernais in what is have not been fully exploited and – with the 25th remembered as a very hectic weekend. anniversary only one year away – it is time to look at the project afresh.

Since then there have been regular visits across the Anyone interested in being involved with the channel and the links between the two canals remain twinning, or hearing more about it, should get in strong, but with the involvement of only a very small touch with Di Harris on 01380 840584 or number of people. Boating holidays have been di@diharris.co.uk. enjoyed on both canals and several KACT members have participated in Les Amis’ biennial boat rallies — Di Harris with or without boats.

Photograph courtesey of Bob Naylor-WaterMarx 4

K&A Canal Trust burgee takes pride of place in Paris The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust burgee was proudly flown in Paris by Door Mass of Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais, the association of the K&A Canal's twinned waterway, whose boat was the support vessel for a re-enactment of the epic journeys of log rafts that carried firewood from Burgundy to Paris for more than four centuries.

This re-enactment of the countless thousands of log raft journeys, made to supply Paris with firewood from the Morvan forests for heating and cooking for more than four centuries, has caught the imagination of the French and their journey has been broadcast on local and national news and covered extensively in the press.

in the forests of the Morvan Mountains in Burgundy and an industry developed to transport this to Paris.

The wood was cut and floated down from the hills to the River Yonne and collected together in Clamecy. Here the logs were bound with twisted saplings into 36m rafts each containing 100 tons of wood.

These rafts were floated — through a series of flash locks — by a man and a boy to Auxerre where two rafts were joined end to end and the two men took the raft on to the Seine and into Paris... leaving the boys to walk back home.

In the 16th century Paris was expanding rapidly and wood for heating and cooking was becoming scarce in the surrounding countryside.

There was a plentiful supply of wood

After the 11 day journey to Paris the rafts were dismantled and the wood sold. The men then took five days to walk back to Clamecy — where they oversaw the building of another raft to float to Paris.

The industry, which had employed more than 3,000 people in its heyday, came to an end in the 19th Century after the Canal du Nivernais was built to increase the volume of wood that could be transported after a particularly cold winter left Paris freezing.

For a time wood was carried by boats and rafts alongside each other, but eventually boats took over.

Eventually coal replaced wood as the heating fuel and the industry finally came to an end.

NOTE: Door, whose day job is Capitaine du Port for Brier, has been appointed as the twinning liaison officer for Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais with particular responsibility for the Kennet & Avon Canal in England and the Royal Canal in Ireland.

Bob Naylor 5

Newbury News It’s all change at Newbury Branch with some comings and goings on the Committee this year. We have gained a new Chairman; Trevor Staig, who is already Jubilee Boat Manager, was elected into the role at our May committee meeting. Ken and Judith Keegan have stepped down from the committee.

Ken is a former Branch Chairman, and has for several years acted as Harbour Master and Safety Officer at the Newbury Waterways Festival. Judith has been our education expert , Chief Elf and ‘present buyer’ for the Jubilee Santa trips. We will also be losing Olwyn Brian who has acted as Jubilee Charter Booking Manager. We will miss them and thank them for their years on the committee.

However, we welcome Julian and Sarah Foley, keeping the committee at full strength. Both are keen crew on Jubilee and we know they will be a great asset.

Canal Explorers enjoy the excitement of a trip on Jubilee

the Information Centre, ensuring a new generation learns about the importance of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Our monthly illustrated talks at the Stone Building in Newbury were poorly attended last season despite already reducing the number. Therefore there will not be an October meeting and our first event will be a talk/social event on Wednesday 25 November at 7.45pm at the Stone Building, Newbury. Further details of this meeting and of future events will be on the Trust website and on posters outside the Stone Building. We do hope you will be able to join us.

This year Newbury Branch, in partnership with the Canal and River Trust (CRT), has played host to a programme of ‘Canal Explorers’ in Newbury.

Making use of both the trip boat Jubilee and the Canal Information Centre at the Stone Building, schools send classes of children to learn about the canal and its environment. A set of new volunteers, trained by CRT, show children all aspects of the canal, from why canals are here to the flora and fauna. Working together with CRT the Branch can help with these events by providing boat trips and

th

Julie Dean

The Many Faces of Jubilee Despite being the smallest of the Trust’s trip boats and the only narrowboat, Jubilee, based at Newbury, certainly gets around. In June she was seen at the Reading Water Fest, carrying almost 300 people in one day!

To reach Reading from Newbury is 2 full days of cruising which means 5 days hard work for the crew: 4 days of transit trips and the Festival in the middle. Not that they complain; these trips are popular, giving crew plenty of time on the boat, and good crew training opportunities during the transit trips. At the end of September she will be at the Crofton Steam Gala for the third year running, an 11 hour trip which involves lots of bacon sandwiches to keep the crew going. Back at base in Newbury, she started a regular Thursday afternoon trip which has proved popular and as I write this, is just coming to the end of the school holiday ‘Pirate’ trips which were once again a sell-out. We run Pirate trips to encourage families afloat. Children dress up in their favourite pirate outfits, as do the Jubilee crew who act the part of canal pirates with their cries of ‘Aaaggrrrr’! We still have our autumn half term ‘Hallowe'en’ trips and December Santa trips to look forward to. As you can see we never get bored on Jubilee! Many thanks to our wonderful crew of versatile volunteers. We have made full use of the excellent new Crew Rostering and Boat Booking Systems this year, we are great fans . I can honestly say it has made booking trips and rostering crew so very much simpler.

6

Okay, we admit it. For the first time that anyone can remember the Newbury Waterways Festival was a wash out! We were soaked through and we didn’t get the crowds we have come to expect at our normally sunny event. But were we down-hearted? A bit disappointed perhaps, but we still had a really fun weekend and our spirits were not dampened. We had a super gathering of boats who made such an effort to look part of the theme ‘Flower Power’. On Saturday evening we had a lovely summer evening for our boaters party in Victoria Park where boaters, friends, family and Trust members enjoyed a lovely evening together enjoying the fun sounds of ‘The Kevin O’Regan’ band – they even got us singing and (a few of us) dancing! The weather was so nice Flower Power with Terry we thought perhaps Gray and his the forecasters had granddaughters got it wrong for Sunday. But they hadn’t. It more or less rained consistently all day. We felt so sorry for our stall holders, some of whom didn’t turn up and others bravely went on but were forced to pack up early. We had some ‘dry places’ – we were so pleased to have the Floating Cinema showing fabulous watery films throughout the day, the K&A Brewery arranged a covered bar area, trip boat Jubilee for dry boat rides, and the Trust tent that squeezed everyone in from duck sellers, to Crofton display, Devizes raffle ticket sellers and the CRT explorers. The Duck race is a ‘must’ for the Festival and a highlight of the day.

We sold fewer ducks than normal but the race was no less exciting, especially with our MC Terry Kemp commentating from a canoe! Many thanks to Marion and her motley crew of duck catchers for another year

Julie Myers on Falcon Adam

Newbury Waterways Festival of rounding them up! The best dressed boat award went to Julie Myers on the Falcon Adam – see the separate writeup – which was richly deserved; with last year’s winner, Cloud 9, a very close runner up.

Terry had worked his magic again.

Many thanks to all who helped with the festival, from the boaters for bringing their lovely boats to be at the heart of the festival, to the Jubilee boat crew for all the extra trips over the weekend, to all the help we had in tents going up and down, and everything else in between. We couldn’t do it without you. Next year the sun WILL shine!

Julie Dean

Best boat winners congratulations and celebrations

Falcon Adam, a 70' narrowboat based at Aldermaston and dedicated to taking youth groups such as Brownies, Guides and Scouts on the Kennet and Avon canal, took first prize for 'best dressed boat' at Newbury Waterfest today.

Guides and Brownies from the local area helped make over 1000 flowers from carrier bags to decorate the boat. they were ideal as the day was very wet, but lots of people still came to see the decorated boats and join in with the duck race.

The volunteer skippers take the children onboard for day trips, sleepovers and weekends, teaching the youngsters all about the canal, its wildlife and how to work the locks and swing bridges.

For more details see www.narrowboattrust.co.uk Julie Myers

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Picture, Courtesy of the Newbury Weekly News

The river alongside Newbury Wharf and Victoria Park often grows three thick crops of weed a year.

Vegetation being removed prior to the Boat Fair.

A PEEP INTO THE PAST ARCHIVE SNIPPETS 50 YEARS AGO Elaine Kirby

Goodbye to a Sunken Butty Maurice Cuzden, Jeff Paterson and a contingent of Sea Scouts from Greenwich successfully removed the remains of the sunken butty just below Burghfield Lock.

Believed to have been there a good 30 years, the great solid elm sides and oak bottom of the butty succumbed to the pulling strength of a hand operated winch loaned by British Waterways. Once dry the remains were burnt along with an extensive amount of undergrowth and trees that have been cleared On Burghfield Island around the lock Beware Woe betide anyone swimming in the Canal near Newbury when the Trust's work boat Endeavour is on duty. She has been fitted with a long scythe for weed cutting which has proved a satisfactory method-if lethal.

Trust Archivist

Newbury Branch The largest fire at Newbury for four years has destroyed the old and picturesque West Mill. Firemen from every station in the vicinity were kept busy while the mill was burning all night.

Unfortunately the mill contained the new automatic electric control gear for Dolton's sluices, thus the water levels are once again sent into their previous yo-yo like existence.

Ham Lock is now working very well; the new upstream gates are installed with new steel beams and paddle gear. Since these were installed Mr. Potter, the owner of Ham Mill, has been able to keep up a better head of water, thereby facilitating navigation and improving appearance considerably.

A fisherman at Bulls Lock has been attacked and injured. It seems that this is not the first time a fisherman has been assaulted. Indeed on the first occasion it was necessary to rescue the unfortunate angler from the Canal into which he had been forcibly thrown. Fish lovers unite!

From - Schoolboys on the Towpath

Wilts Branch -Voluntary Service The Wiltshire Branch is concentrating on the pioneering of a somewhat unique scheme" Adventure on the Canal for young people." It arises from a proposal put forward last autumn by one of the County Youth Organisations to the effect that "The crusade to restore the Kennet and Avon Canal should provide an excellent basis for adventure and social service for members of the County Youth Organisations and for Adventure Training for the fighting services. This proposal was adopted wholeheartedly by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, and the ready co-operation of British Waterways obtained for operating the scheme on the 15-mile pound between Wootton Rivers and Devizes.

The Demise of ‘Iris’ - John Gould’s Butty Another Newbury landmark has gone. No longer do the little fish swim in the sequestered calm of her hull, no longer does her tiller, poised above the limpid waters of the Kennet, remind us of the past. The Iris, John Gould's butty boat, was hauled from her bed of mud last month by one of the cranes at work nearby on the new bridge. As the crane lifted her she broke in two, but was finally deposited on the wharfside. At Easter weekend, as the Devizes-Westminster race competitors paddled past, she was burnt. Perhaps a fitting end to her saga was the scene at the wharf on the night of her burning, when there flames of her funeral pyre. All that remains of her as I write is a heap of ashes and charred metal, and a legend.

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Picture, KACT Archive

Letter from July 1965 - Round the Bend - Slowly Dear Butty, Is there a doctor on board? My husband is being exposed to Canal Mania and is showing definite symptoms of succumbing to the disease, is there an antidote? It started when we bought the boat, just a small blow-up thing, with an outboard motor, “to have fun “he said. And he began to look around for suitable water to launch her on. “What about canals?" somebody said.

"Some are navigable," another disease carrier cried. And gradually, so that I hardly noticed, Roger Pilkington, Charles Hadfield, Rolt and others began. To dominate our bookshelves, and maps showing obscure waterways in Wales littered the tables. Until suddenly, Oh horrors, a little magazine called The Butty seeped through the letterbox, when my back was turned. Now don't get me wrong, I married my husband for better for worse, in sickness or in health, and although I'm not a State Registered Nurse I'm very willing to make my patient as comfortable as possible, in order to ensure that he gets over this disease as painlessly as I can. Indeed, without noticing that he ever had it. But how? I like canals, 1 to really. 1 think they are terribly pretty, in places, and the locks are most exciting, in a nerve-racking sort of way. I'd hate to see them turn into ruins; or be built over. In fact, I can honestly say I care for them. But I care for my husband more, and I'm married to him, not the Inland Waterways, and that's the way I intend to keep it. Actually, it's the Kennet and Avon germ that is really particularly powerful. He seemed to be fighting the others quite nicely, when “splash “that one came along and there was nothing I could do. Then persistent reminders of cold, wet weekends in an open boat brought no response; the disease had proved too infectious. “You’ll love it," he said. “You can take your sketch book and we'll drift through willowladen hanks every weekend of the summer, think how healthy it will be out in the sun." "But," I protested, the long-range weather forecast has predicted rain until autumn." He didn't hear me, he was too busy tracing a route for us up the Grand Union Canal, with an eager, disease ridden finger. Sadly, I again consult my diary, and memos of canal dinners, branch meetings, canal festivals, trips to inspect flights of locks and, worse still, obscure antiquated pumps, dance before my eyes. The situation has got out of hand. Women's magazines are full of bikini-clad girls, lounging on sunlit beaches in cool non-crushable dresses from lightweight suitcases. And me, I need only a stout pair of jeans and a plastic mac to see me through the summer. Dear Butty, help me before it is too late, and it's no use telling me to join a Youth Club or to try to interest my husband in gardening. It was you who made his temperature go up, I implore you to get it down again. But I know my cry falls on deaf ears, you are part of the disease, and when you come through the letter-box next month, I am helpless in your presence. If you stopped publishing, the canals would still remain, and if they were built over we'd still have the boat. And if I punctured that, he'd leave me for another, so I'm caught in a gigantic plot in some horrible, organised epidemic, to which there seems no cure. Can others, please, who may hear my plea, and who against all odds have recovered from this dread disease, offer to me their valuable help before it is too late ?

Desperate Blue Eyes.

Reply’s from Oct 1965 Sir,-As an ardent and dedicated devotee of the conservation and rehabilitation of the Kennet & Avon Canal, I feel compelled to reply to the letter of Desperate Blue Eyes, published in the July issue of " The Butty." I fail to see her poor plight in view of the fact that her husband has consecrated himself to such a worthy and noble cause. Surely she can suffer a few raindrops, tolerate a canal dinner, bear a few pumps, forego her usual summer suntan for the sake of the beautification, and the conservation of this cherished English waterway. Indeed a doctor is needed! But NOT, I hasten to add, by her husband! In answer to her plea, may I suggest that she embark on the voyage of parenthood, which may serve to limit her perfidious acts?

A Disease-wracked American.

The Editor received a similar letter from a correspondent in Ireland to the same effect. This was passed to Desperate Blue Eyes herself who, readers will be delighted to hear, has acted on our members' advice and we look forward to a new member early next year.

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Everything's coming up Rose(s) in Hungerford What a summer we’ve had; busy trips, slack trips, sunny trips and more than our fair share of wet and windy trips, but every passenger seems to have enjoyed their own “Rose experience” irrespective. The weather does make a big difference to the public trip numbers and this year we have had a significant increase on last year. We also have responded to last year’s good trip numbers by increasing the number of public trips we offer. Offering phone booking and walk-in bookings (at both Newbury Visitors Information Centre and TravelWise in Hungerford) is working very well and has also clearly led to the increased numbers.

Charter numbers are up by about 15% at time of going to press. The sheer variety of charter trip types always amazes me and has resulted in some very good friends for the Rose and the Trust. It is of special interest and great pleasure to the boat crews, to see the number of organisations, such as residential care homes and disadvantaged persons support groups who are making increased use of our services. The return rate for such trips is significant and goes to show that all the efforts we make are appreciated.

season lunch at a local hotel before the Santa season gets under way.

Problems on our section of the canal have been few this year, fingers crossed, and Mark Evans of CRT has been very supportive of our woes and problems for which we sincerely thank him. A very dangerously loose block, supporting a bottom gate at Dunmill, was repaired in record time, and we only had to shorten a couple of public trips. We have had to increase trip times for some of our longer charters as the locks at Picketfield and Brunsdon have now had top paddles broken for going on 2 years! And maybe this a good time to speak nicely to the nice Mr Evans about the horrendous state of the “insanitary station” at Hungerford!

The Santa season is approaching fast with several Santa charters already booked before the end of August! So, with that in mind, the Committee take this opportunity of wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Richard and Diane Snook

We had a barbecue/picnic for our volunteers on the last Friday in June, supported by 25 hardy participants. When this was at the planning stage a couple of months previously, it seemed a good date and we were almost assured of a nice warm evening. Unfortunately it was an unseasonably cold and windy evening and the festivities were all held inside the boat.

We are delighted that we now have 2 new Boatmasters, Ceri Hanlon and Tony Bettley, who successfully negotiated their way through their MCA examinations. We also have five crew members about to qualify as helms although galley-slaves are sadly still in short supply!!

Our social team is, as I write, arranging a late

Phograph by Steve Bariff 10

The Rose Helps Pass Historic Baton The Rose of Hungerford trip boat helped transfer the Women’s Institute Centenary Baton between Wiltshire and Berkshire, along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The baton has been touring the country, much like the Olympic Torch, and will have visited all counties of the UK by June 2015. Local WI Federations have used the opportunity to showcase parts of their county. Wiltshire Federation chose to move the baton over the Wiltshire/Berkshire boundary at Froxfield using the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust's trip boat The Rose of Hungerford.

Wiltshire Federation Chairman Isobel Acott hands the baton to Berkshire Federation Chairman Sara Saker

Skippered by Martin Jeffery, with 30 representatives from Wiltshire WI groups on board, the boat arrived at Hungerford Wharf to the sound of "Jerusalem", and was greeted by Berkshire WI Federation Chairman, Sara Staker, The Constable of the Town and Manor of Hungerford, Mrs Sara Hofgartner, The Mayor of Hungerford, Cllr. Dennis Bennyworth, a host of WI members and some bemused members of the public.

After the trip, Isobel Acott, Chairman of the Wiltshire Federation of WIs said "Every one of our members thoroughly enjoyed the trip and your staff on the boat seemed to have a good time too. Even the weather was good to us which made our arrival at Hungerford and handing over the baton so much nicer.”

Peter Huish

CRT Get the Youngsters in Tow

The future of our canals will one day lie with a new generation of staff and volunteers. Getting young people interested and involved with their local canals is a key part of Canal & River Trust’s current strategy.

Heave -Ho Young Canal Explorers flex their muscles on a lock

Together they were able to offer opportunities for ‘Junior Lock Keepers’ to have a go at locking boats up and down the Caen Hill Flight.

During the school holidays Max Ward, our Volunteer Leader, organised and ran family activities at Caen Hill Locks. He was assisted by the Caen Hill Volunteer Lock Keepers and Canal & River Explorers.

The Canal & River Explorers offered pond dipping, bug hunting and craft activities.All the activities were hugely popular and hopefully inspired a new generation of canal enthusiasts.

Next year we will organise even more activities. If you are interested in helping out or have young family members who would like to take part, please let us know.

Lastly but not least I would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up their time to help supervise these activities. A special thank you to Max for organising everything and ensuring everyone had a great day out.

Steve Manzi

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Carnival on the Canal “Food and drink, music and dancing - a pleasant evening by the canal,” said our adverts, and the Wharf looked suitably festive, with bunting and gazebos and flags fluttering overhead. And so the third “Carnival on the Canal” did indeed live up to expectations. The weather stayed dry – an essential part of the success of an outdoor event – and our place within the official Carnival timetable meant there was a good turn-out.

There was plenty of interest in the various stands – CRT joined us for the first time, and both they and Crofton brought video presentations which drew people in. Queues of customers were met by hard working volunteers behind the bar and Keith’s café team manned the BBQ. Above all, after some uncertainties about the bookings, the musical line-up was excellent.

and generously came to Devizes for nothing more than petrol money; the town’s Morris dancers turned out in force; a local schoolgirl vocalist sang a series of show songs; and the evening started and ended with our own Sharmain and her wide folk repertoire.

What’s in it for the KACT? The primary goal is to attract people to the Wharf, as there are still some Devizes residents who barely know the canal is there, only a few hundred yards from the bustling Market Place; and to collaborate with the town carnival organisation to raise our own profile. We can also tell people something about our work, promote boat trips and to give partner organisations a new audience. Last but definitely not least it is a fund raising event – the beer tent, run as an offshoot of Kenavon Venture’s bar – was

Hours of volunteer work were involved, raising and lowering eight marquees and gazebos, two flagpoles, 200 yards of bunting, and all the electrical connections and lighting; some people were on the wharf almost continuously for thirteen hours, we certainly had the best team of helpers ever – many stayed to help de-rig afterwards and turned up the next morning to complete the tidyup. There’s no doubt that this effort contributes to building the spirit of the Branch and boat teams, even if on the day we are glad we only do it once a year!

busy, with K&A beer very popular. The Trust’s raffle tickets were on sale, and the Branch ran its own tombola with a very generous range of prizes.

Free taster trips on a day boat lent by the local marina brought in some donation income. Overall the Trust will have made over £500 from the event – a good return on the investment of energy and time – and we all agreed it had been a very good evening.

Some of the entertainment was voluntary, too.

One of our bands regularly play at Crofton,

Paul Jakeman 12

Next year’s event will be on Friday 2 September – put the date in your diary and come and join us! nd

Our Canal, My Role and a Royal Just take a look at those old Buttys from years gone by and you will find many references and predications as to when our canal would once more be open from Bristol to Reading. However, despite sterling efforts and Kennet and Avon Canal Trust optimism in 1989, when I was appointed as the first K & A Waterway Manager, there were still quite a few obstacles to overcome.

A huge amount of effort and time had to go into restructuring locally, regionally and nationally. This could not, though, divert me from the task of preparing a robust business plan for our Canal. The objective of our plan for me was clear, the completion of the restoration and the opening of the full navigation once more. A big ask but together we got there!

But how would we celebrate the achievement once done? The Chairman of the Trust, Sir William O’Brien, indicated that he could make approaches to the Palace to see if a Royal could perform the opening ceremony. To everyone’s delight he was soon able to confirm that, if invited by the Chairman of British Waterways, Her Majesty the Queen would honour us with her presence. The date was fixed - 8th August 1990 - and the BW Chairman David Ingman sent the invitation to the Palace.

The boat chosen for the Royal day was the Trust trip boat The Rose of Hungerford. She would embark from her moorings and travel towards Reading and then work her way back as part of the various celebrations along the waterway before the Royal reopening. The crowds were huge along the towpath and around the locks, something that we had anticipated. We had safety fencing and each of the footbridges near the official opening site were roped off.

As Her Majesty drove away everyone started to move, creating quite a crush that concerned the police. They radioed me and asked that we allow access over the footbridges to release some of the pressure on the towpath. This was done quickly, of course, but with the effect of mixing the VIPs with the general public. Not really a problem, except that we had begun serving lunch for the VIPs and now were serving to a whole host of strangers. I hope they enjoyed it for by the time I got there there was nothing left!

Terry Kemp

This copy of the letter of congratulation and thanks, written on behalf of Her Majesty, is a much treasured possession of Sir William O' Brien, He has very kindly allowed us to print it as part of our 25th Anniversary feature.

13

25 Years A Silver Celebration

“25 years on and I am wearing the same suit,” the words of Admiral Sir William O’Brien, are words that will ring in our memories and bring smiles to our faces as we remember the wonderful day of celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the reopening of the canal.

In 1990, Sir William had the honour, as the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Chairman, of accompanying Her

Majesty The Queen , as she dedicated the Queen Elizabeth II Lock in celebration of the opening of the canal. This time around the role was repeated, though he was a guest of honour in his own right, as he accompanied Mrs Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, as she rededicated the lock and unveiled the new plaque.

Always a sight to behold, the The Caen Hill Flight provided a dramatic backdrop as MV Kenavon Venture brought the guests through Lock 44, breaking the ceremonial ribbon, a reenactment of the journey taken

by MV Rose of Hungerford in 1990. Joining the party on this historic occasion were Mr John Cullum, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Richard Parry and Mark Evans from Canals and River Trust, Tamsin Phipps 14

representing The Waterways Partnership and of course our own Chairman, Rob Dean.

After the Rededication, Mrs Troughton, Richard Parry and Rob Dean all spoke of the amazing work undertaken by volunteers to get the canal re-opened.

They praised the ongoing work up and down the length of the Canal, which ensures that it remains a wonderful attraction for visitors and spoke of the important role it has come to play in providing work opportunities along its 87 miles.

Visitors and volunteers were able to visit displays mounted by C&RT, K&ACT, Sustrans, Kennet and Avon Trade Association and visit the beer tent provided by K&A Brewery. Refreshments, prepared

by Jean Smith and her team from Devizes Branch of the K&ACT, included delicious themed celebratory cup cakes. The children were not forgotten. Activities organised by Waterways Explorers and free trips on the MV Kenavon Venture were on offer for the canal enthusiasts of the future.

19 En route on the Rose of Hungerford to break the ribbon 1990

turn of e h t 's t I ture 20 15 on Ven v a n e The K

For those who attended, I am sure like me you had a great day out and shared in the pride of what has, and is being achieved for our canal by the joint efforts of so many organisations. For those who missed it, we missed you, so let’s not wait another 25 years for another celebration.

Finally a huge thank you to the organisers of the event, in particular Rob Dean, Dale Marshall and Caroline Robson and to those members of the Canal Trust, like Admiral Sir William O'Brien and Bill Fisher, for without them we would not have our beautifully restored Kennet and Avon Canal.

Bill Fisher and Sir William enjoy the sunshine and memories

David Inight (Trustee) The bunting's out in celebration 1990

and again in 2015!

1990 Photos are courtesy of Bob Naylor-WaterMarx and Robert Coles

Thank you to Elaine Kirby and Jean Cook for the 2015 photographs 15

Steaming Ahead

Forthcoming events Over the winter we will again be opening Crofton so that the public can see our winter maintenance works in progress. Dates are: Saturdays 17 October, 14 November, 12 December, 23 January 2016 and 20 February 2016

It has been a busy summer at Crofton, and with the arrival in July of our Café operator, Kirstie McCullough, and our new Site Manager, Becks Skinner, Crofton operations are gradually getting back to the usual level of service, being open to visitors on non-steaming days and in addition offering guided tours on a timed basis. The Engineman’s Rest Café is now open for the remainder of our season, offering a new range of interesting cakes and snacks (the Crofton Sausage Roll to name but one).

Crofton Boiler Rivet appeal At the last boiler inspection our inspector told us that some repairs and rivet replacements will be necessary during the winter of 2016 to 2017. The Crofton engineering team will be assessing the work over the winter; meanwhile, at the 2015 End of Season Steam Gala we will be launching the Crofton Boiler Rivet appeal to raise funds for this vital work to enable Crofton to continue steaming.

We have hosted visits by half a dozen clubs and societies and a BBC film crew. We have held our Crofton/Canal & River Trust Explorers Schools week 22-26 June (attended by 51 children from Shalbourne and Oare Schools) and had another exciting event, the Floating Cinema visit on 24 June. This included an on-board cinema show in the afternoon, and in the evening performances by the innovative Dead Rat Orchestra, plus engines and grounds animated with an evening of immersive archive film, steam, music and experimental digital

Mechatronics - how modern technology can improve our knowledge of two hundred year old technology A unique project has been completed by Bath University Students for Crofton Beam Engines. We have linked up with Bath University Mechanical Engineering students to investigate how a ‘mechatronics’ system, using modern remote sensing devices, could help improve our understanding of the working of such important early industrial machines. We will now be considering the reports and investigating how the ideas can be progressed and the possibility of industry sponsorship to take the project to the next level of development.

th

Crofton Restoration and Conservation works Last year we commissioned a heritage quantity surveyor report on Crofton, to gauge the amount of work needed on our grade 1 listed building.

The report is finished and if we were to do everything, the total amount of work comes to £1,639,000.00 - plus VAT. The Crofton Project Committee is splitting the works into smaller, high priority sub-projects which are more likely to be fundable and get sponsorship. We have clearance from Trust Council to submit a smaller Heritage Lottery Fund bid, concentrating on high priority works to the building.

copyright photo of the Smoke & Mirrors

projection. This event really showed what can be done with the right partner organisations, and attracted a number of visitors who would not otherwise have come to Crofton. In the evening we had 120 visitors, some 70 of whom paid to go round the engine house, and the bar was well patronised.

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Crofton Outreach Crofton Volunteers also took the a stand to the Newbury Waterfest in July and the Kennet & Avon Canals 25 anniversary celebrations at the Devizes flight in August.

As well as our normal publicity material, cake samples from the Engineman’s Rest Cafe were on hand to entice visitors to try the Crofton catering experience on their next visit to us. th

BEER One of our local breweries, the Kennet & Avon Brewery www.kennetandavonbrewery.co.uk who produce “A beautiful range of ales, stouts and porters that take their names from the delightful Kennet & Avon Canal" has introduced a new ale – ‘Crofton IPA’, which was launched at the Crofton End of Season Steam Gala on 26 and 27 September.

Now - where's that boiler?

Peter Turvey Chairman, Crofton Branch

Letter to the Editor A Leek in Dundas Aqueduct

Hi Jane,

Should We Be Worried?

I was just wondering as winter is just around the corner you could help???

Had to print this one.

I am very lucky and live on the canal side in Newbury (great ) but in the winter people who cruse or live aboard will continue to have there fires burning at night this I can't blame them for but if that's what they intened to do would it be possible not to moor right outside peoples properties as I like many people have my windows open at night the smoke comes in and on many occasions I have walked around my house looking for a fire . there is plenty of mooring in Newbury without being directly outside houses . It may seem I am moaning but if boaters would just give it a bit more thought it would be great I'm not asking for them to freeze just think .

Well, yes, like me, you might need your glasses but a leek in Dundas Aqueduct tickled our Chairman's sense of humour when spotted on his tour of the length of the canal this year.

I enjoy the Butty very much keep up the good work Thanking you Jan 17

When I first became an unpaid unwanted member of Section Inspector's Office were at Newbury Wharf.

John Gould’s Navy, Newbury Lock Cottage was still The Office was a very neat little brick building at the occupied by a member of the canal staff. Here lived front of the yard. Everything else was of corrugated one Albert Emblin, Lock Keeper, Lengthsman and iron, painted black, this included the Carpenter’s Toll Collector. Unfortunately this included the sale of Shop, the Blacksmith's Shop, complete with enormous cycling permits to use the towpath. An annual permit bellows. The tar boiler was out in the open with its was required at a cost of 2 shillings and sixpence (12.5 squat brick built chimney for its fire. Apart from some pence today, I think). Unfortunately, this exceeded my very interesting tools there was little else of great weekly pocket money by six pence. Albert was quite interest other than the stone centrepiece which famous for his diligence in carrying out his duty on amongst all this rusty corrugated iron was a rose this part of his job, as he received a commission of 6 among thorns. This, of course, is what we now call pence for every permit sold. For some time this “The Stone Building” and is now the K&A Trust created a "catch me if you Newbury Branch HQ, can" situation between Exhibition Room and thriving Albert and me. Looking Café. back, I realise what a kind hearted and tolerant man What foresight! The building Albert really was. was literally saved from Bill Fisher's continuing Although a stickler to the demolition by the Newbury entertaining autobiographical Company’s rules and Branch at the eleventh hour, account of a man and a canal bylaws, Albert had his following consultation with own way of interpreting the Local Authority as the them to suit any situation: fencing around it was e.g. I arrived at Newbury demolished. We also Lock, complete with bike, managed to save some of the Albert appeared from his garden with two rakes, ancient tools including the bellows and some tools handed one to me and said , “Now, now young Bill, if from the Blacksmith's Shop, two gauging rods, for you can give me a little of your time to clear the gauging narrow boat tonnage, much of which is now floating weed from the lock mouth and wheel it to my in the Trust's Museum at Devizes. compost heap at the bottom of my garden, I’ll not have to sell you a cycling permit just yet as you are My first encounter with the Eastern Section Inspector now here on Company business.”

William Carpenter Esq. J.P., commonly known as You may have noticed that when referring to the canal “Ol’ Carpy”, was also when I first visited the section office. I had discovered that a quarterly house staff I quote them as referring to their employers as magazine was issued to staff and was available to the the Company. Most of the Staff at this time were near general public nationally via the section offices. to retirement and used the old name, regardless of whether they were with GWR Docks and Inland I knocked on the door and waited, then I realised that I Waterways Executive, BWB etc. at that time. Some of was being observed from within via the window. Then the older staff referred to canal as the “Danny” or the the door opened about half-way, Inspector Carpenter “Dannel” and Narrowboats as “Wousers”. Some years stood before me dressed in what I assumed was the later when working on the Grand Union and Midland standard clothing of a Section Inspector of the day (or Canal, I met working Boatmen who originated from earlier), very shiny black boots, a brown suit with a the River Severn and the Worcester Canals who used very fine off white line, a darker brown Trilby and the same terminology. starched collar, which could have been Celluloid and a tie. “Please Mr Carpenter, can I buy a Canal In the mid fifties, the Navigable section at Newbury Magazine?” No reply. He opened the door fully and was from Greenham Swing Bridge (now an overhead made a gesture with his head that I assumed was bridge) to West Mills Swing Bridge (recently declared permission to enter. The office was like going back to unsafe to open). Limpley Stoke trips were shortened to Victorian times. Everything was painted GWR an hour and a half from Newbury Wharf to West Mills Chocolate and Cream, what I was seeing was a and return. The rowing boats and canoes could still be leftover from many decades of Railway Ownership. hired from the Wharf by the hour. The hire boats One thing of note was a sepia picture hanging on the based in Newbury and previously operating westwards chimneybreast; the picture depicted a gang of men in toward Devizes, before Higgs Lock bottom gates the empty canal bed, above Hungerford Lock, failed, were regularly advertised as hire boats in the installing an Archimedes Screw Pump. The picture Dolton’s Weekly Magazine – these were re-branded as was saved at the time of demolition and has appeared mobile houseboats in the Newbury Area. in several K&A publications.

The Eastern Section Maintenance Yard and the 18

The Isolation Years

The slim publication was passed over the very high information and said to John Gould and me “This is bank-like counter or desk, “You have to pay for it.” the end of your lot, they are beginning to fight Money changed hands he then entered the transaction amongst themselves.” History tells us that this was so in a ledger before giving me my change. This proved wrong. The Association, now the Trust, has like any to be a problem as there was no change in his little tin organisation had its internal battle from time to time, cash box, but was but we always had incredible solved by raiding his leadership when we most needed it own purse. As I left he and common sense usually said, "If you come back prevailed. The three locks for another time make sure imminent restoration (Guyers, you bring the right Higgs and Benham) posed a money.” problem: apart from the bottom 'Ol Carpy' was very gate of Guyers Lock all were much of the old school, inaccessible by road. BWB did not but I discovered that he have a boat on this isolated section did have a very dry capable of carrying Lock Gates. sense of humour. He However a Second World War delighted in telling plywood vessel, that I believe was The Endeavour John Gould that the a type of landing craft, had arrived canal was finished and in Newbury prior to the canal he should stop messing closing. The vessel came into about in canoes and K&A Association ownership; she coracles and get himself a proper job. was then hurriedly patched up, including flattening a As I was riding away on my bike he shouted after me sheet of corrugated steel, this was bolted to the what’s your name? I shouted, “Bill!” transom. Later she was given a major overhaul which “Bill who?” included fitting paddle wheels to her stern as her “Bill Fisher!” means of propulsion. She was given the name ‘Endeavour’ which we The next time I visited his little office the door opened considered appropriate a little wider, followed by a gesture of the head for me at the time and speaks to enter. “I know a bit about you”,” volumes. Endeavour “Do you?”, became the Trust's “Oh yes, you live in Salcombe Road. For good or bad, first Trip Boat and my wife brought you kicking and screaming into this was in use when we world”. It transpired that Mr Carpenter’s wife was the celebrated the remidwife present at my birth. That was the last time I opening of the K&A was ever asked to pay for a magazine. from Newbury to Hamstead Lock, The first major restoration in the Newbury area was Marsh Benham with the replacement of West Mills Swing Bridge. It was what was billed as, a deteriorating to the state where it was becoming Grand Cruise in unsafe as a fixed bridge. For Newbury Branch and Company. This John Gould this was a major improvement to local consisted of three Guyers Lock navigation. But “Ol Carpy” with his dry humour motor boats and Bottom gates are fitted insisted the bridge replacement was for safety reasons collection of rowing as there is a public right of way to a small holding, a boats and canoes from silo and 4 houses, and not to expect any further the newly formed Kennet Valley Canoe Club. improvement. But we were on a roll, attitudes were changing. In the early spring of 1960 two sets of Looking back on these heady days of restoration and bottom gates were brought to Newbury from the when sorting through my old box camera photographs Devizes Flight. Looking back this was a sound it occurs to me that the six million pounds the Trust decision as the Devizes Flight restoration was so far in raised, prior to the massive HLF Grant we eventually the future the remaining gates would have rotted received, had Health and Safety requirements existed where they stood. However some questions were then , as they do now, this six million would have asked as to whether we were robbing Peter to pay hardly scratched the surface of our Canals Restoration.

Paul.

Copyright Bill Fisher 2015 – extracts from “My Life on the Kennet & Avon and other Waterways” Bill Carpenter picked up this little snippet of 19

Frustration at the Locks!!

Bradford on Avon Bits

The canal at Bradford-onAvon is very popular and the lock can be extremely busy. It is not unusual on Friday and Sunday afternoons for boats (including Barbara McLellan) to experience up to a two hour wait to get through the lock! It is difficult to know what the answer is but, with the ever increasing number of hire boats, there is no light on the horizon. Barbara McLellan Skippers are being encouraged to taking the boat east to Hilperton at busy times.

Traffic Jam! 7 boats in the queue this time

Hen's Field

Anyone travelling west from the locks will see volunteers, working hard to rebuild the wall between the towpath and the Hen's Fields. This is going to result in a great improvement in the look and safety of the area. The cost of providing the materials and the training for the volunteers has been high, so we are very pleased that our Trust has agreed to contribute £2000 toward the project this year. Once completed, there will be enough space to take a couple of picnic benches. Our Trustees have agreed to consider a further £2000 in 2016 so, hopefully, we will see visitors and boaters picnicking next spring, at new tables which allow for wheelchair users and pushchairs.

Barbara due for a spruce up During the winter the boat is to be thoroughly repainted, stripping her back to bare metal which will involve removing MANY coats of paint applied lovingly over the years. Let's hope for some good autumnal weather to allow the work to be done in time for Barbara to show off her new look to children joining the Santa trips

Supporting Education and Special groups From the time Barbara McLellan arrived in Bradford on Avon, the Branch have followed a policy of offering charter trips to schools and educational groups at half price. In addition, up to 10 Charters a year are offered free of charge to organisations supporting people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups. One of the organisations who have taken advantage of this facility for a number of years is the Chernobyl Children’s Charity who offer holidays to children of families affected by the disaster. Steve Lloyd has kindly contributed an article about the Charity's latest trip.

Grant and Gill Milner and David Inight

Branch People Our booking manager, Mike Bailey and Chairman, Brian Baker, attended the Visit Wiltshire Tourism Exhibition & Conference at Salisbury. A long day, but these events have in the past shown positive results for all our visitor attractions.

Anita Churchouse has joined the Branch Committee as Health and Safety Officer. The Branch is very grateful to Anita and our numerous other new Members.

There are some other key posts in the Branch structure which need filling, especially Bookings Manager and Supplies Officer. If anyone thinks they might be interested in helping, please get in touch with Bryan, our Chairman, or Sally, our Secretary, for an informal chat, You don't have to be a current Branch Member, we welcome anyone who would like to help. bradford.chairman@katrust.org.uk , sallyferrers33@gmail.com On a sad note, we heard of the death of Brian Randall, a much loved and respected member of the Branch. His wife,Valerie, has kindly donated a new bench for our tea room gardens.

Brian's Bench Photo by Bryan Baker

20

Chernobyl Children’s Life Line has a wonderful trip on the Barbara McLellan Eight Children from Ukraine and host families recently enjoyed a lovely evening on board the Barbara McLellan.

Chernobyl Children’s Life Line is national charity that invite children over to the UK for much needed respite care and medical recuperation. These children’s families have been affected by radiation from the 1986 nuclear accident at the Chernobyl power station.

Fizzy drinks - a universal favourite

The children, aged 12, are from Borodyanka, a town around 50 miles from the reactor site where many Chernobyl evacuees were resettled. Doctors say taking a short break from radioactive surroundings, breathing fresh air and eating uncontaminated food boosts the children’s immune systems, helping them to resist serious illnesses such as cancer.

Medical research has proven that the children who have a month away from contamination have a greater life expectancy of up to 3 years. Although they speak little or no English, they manage to communicate using gestures and make friends with host family children quickly through playing and doing crafts together.

Many of them become close to their hosts, nicknaming them “UK Mum and Dad”. Meanwhile, host families find the experience very rewarding and say it makes them appreciate how privileged their own lives are.

Taking a hand at the tiller

An evening on the canal was the highlight of the children's visit; we all received a warm welcome aboard and settled in for our cruise to the aqueduct at Avoncliff. The weather was lovely with lots of conversations and interests as we cruised along the canal. The children really enjoyed the lock at Bradford on Avon, this was a whole new experience. It was the first time they have travelled on the canal, as there are no canals back home.

The trip makes such a difference to the children, fresh air, new sights and sounds and most of all lasting friendships.

They feel they are very lucky to have these opportunities whilst in the UK. Chernobyl Children Life Line-West Wilts are so grateful for the time and effort put in to make the evening such a great success. The children may never travel out of Ukraine again.

Steve Lloyd Chairman Chernobyl Children’s Life Line 21

Widmead Lock Gate Recovery

Learning is Fun

Can You Help?

We received a lovely stack of letters in the office earlier in the year from Wardour RC Primary School who had taken a trip on the Barbara McLellan from Bradford on Avon to Avoncliffe Aqueduct and back in June.

When Widmead Lock was re-built, the top gates of the old turf-sided lock were carefully buried on the lock side.

The reason for this was that they are the only remaining example of the old River Kennet type lock gates. The Trust was aware of the gates' historic importance, but the time and finance were unavailable. The Trust was advised that burying the gates in a shallow grave was the best interim solution for preservation.

Each of the children had written a short letter and included pictures that they had taken on the trip. So not only had they learned something about the boat and the canal, but were also able to demonstrate their photographic and IT skills. Here are some quotes from their letters:

Unfortunately, the area where the gates are was raised some time ago which may make recovery a little difficult: however the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and Canal and River Trust are planning a joint project to expose the gates to decide whether they are sufficiently whole to exhibit, or at least photograph, measure etc. and bury for posterity.

"It was cool to see that some boats are named after people… I would love to go again." (Alex) "I will treasure the day for ever… There were many boats that I liked, and the Barbara McLellan was one of them." (Helena)

So, we are looking for members and friends with metal detectors who can give some time on site to locate the gates. We are planning to start this project in the late Autumn/ early Winter when the considerable undergrowth has died off.

"I especially enjoyed the lock, it was awesome seeing the water rise and fall, and we all laughed a lot" (Eva) "The boat crew were really good because they were friendly and informative" (Frank)

Please help if you can. Contact Bill Fisher – email:- billfisher40@btinternet.com

"We got to stand on the top step" (Scarlett) [Hmm, perhaps we won't print that one. Ed]

Bill Fisher

Claverton Land Deeds Transfer

"I learnt lots of things about the lock keeper's cottage and the Wharfingers house" (Joseph)

The parcel of land purchased by the Trust in 2008, which was planned to be converted to car parking for volunteers and visitors, has been gifted to the Canal and River Trust.

"I might go with my family." (Ollie) "We saw Ducks, Squirrels, Herons and different type of birds" (Sam)

In 2008, K&ACT volunteers were responsible for the pumping station at Claverton and raised money to purchase the land and funds to help with the conversion to a car park. With the advent of C&RT, it became obvious that it was more sensible for the operation to transfer to C&RT who own the pumping station.

Chris Churchouse

Good to see we have some potential members for the future!

After protracted discussions with surveyors and lawyers, we have now been able to transfer the ownership of the land to C&RT together with a ‘dowry’ of £1926 , this is in addition to the £500 worth of woodworking tools purchased by the Trust to support the work of the volunteers at Claverton. David Inight who has led the discussions on behalf of the Trustees said "Trust Council are delighted that this land has been transferred to the Canal and River Trust. We wish to remain in close co-operation with Pete Dunn and his Team at Claverton and to continue identifying small ways in which we can support the continuing work to maintain this unique pumping station" 22

Bath and Bristol Point the Way

A celebration in Bath was held on Friday, June 5th, where the River Avon meets the Widcombe end of the Kennet and Avon Canal, to officially open a small but perfectly restored, historic piece of land.

The work had been lovingly carried out by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust's Bath and Bristol Branch volunteer team, with the support of the Canal and River Trust.

50 year of rambling plant growth had been removed by the volunteers but now they can really enjoy the fruits of their labours as they look down and see the newly erected signpost guiding the canal users on their way.

Mike Wyatt, member of KACT since 1971, and former Chairman of Reading Branch, has been awarded a well deserved BEM (British Empire Medal) for his work restoring the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Sadly it seems that at 85 Mikes boating days on his own boat, Moonflower, are coming to an end, but we do hope he will continue take pleasure in using the canal and all it has to offer and must extend not only our congratulations, but our thanks too, for his invaluable contributions over many years to the canal and the Trust.

Mike himself wishes to say "None of my activities with Reading Water Fest or for any of the publicity events I have organised for the Trust could have been done without the active participation of many Branch members and I am particularly grateful for the help and support of the then Trust President, Sir Anthony Durant.�

23

British Empire Medal for Dedicated former Reading Chairman

The Wharf Tea Rooms

We are fully licensed and are happy to host evening functions.

For example, we have put a menu together for the Wharf Theatre for pre-perfomance suppers.

Devizes The Wharf Tea Rooms is a family affair run

by Keith, Margaret, Natasha and George Green. We are open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm. We serve a hot menu until 2pm and there is a good variety of other fare available right through the day. Margaret bakes all the delicious cakes and scones on site, always a popular choice with our customers.

There is a covered balcony overlooking the canal with tables and chairs as well as the comfortable and friendly interior seating, a cosy refuge on those colder, duller days.

We sell Kennet and Avon gifts, post cards, a good selection of cards, gift boxes of clotted cream fudge and wright craft traditional canal painting wares.

The Canal Trust licensed Cafe, at Bradford on Avon, has been run by Victoria and husband for over 5 years now.

It is situated at the Wharf, just a stone's throw away from the lock. The setting is picturesque, especially in the summer with the flowers in bloom, ducks and swans on the water, narrow boats and people just casually passing through The cafe is usually just open during the season, but Victoria would very much like to stay open most of the winter too. At present she and her team offer a wide range of delights from delicious home made cakes and scones, which are all made daily on the premises, including a full English breakfast, a choice of fresh bean to cup coffees, a delicious lunch menu from home made burgers to quiches, or simply freshly prepared ciabattas. They provide cold drinks and ice creams and everything you purchase can be made to take away. Tickets for the Barbara 24

We cater for charter trips on The Kenavon Venture, providing anything from cream teas to a full buffet.

McLellan boat trips are sold at the cafe, as are a selection of Canal Trust souvenirs.

On a sunny summer's day there is nothing better then enjoying a treat in their beautiful, award winning garden, looked after by volunteers, it's a joy to sit and relish the peace and tranquility it provides. For the coming winter however, Victoria has provided a cosy corner with comfy sofas and a real, home made winter warming menu with special offers.

As well as their delicious cream teas, they are just about to introduce weekend afternoon teas. This will include a selection of sandwiches, scones and sweet treats. Booking for these will be essential.

seven days a week throughout the whole year, serving a fine selection of loose leaf teas and Italian coffee, breakfasts, light lunches (Gluten free options) and homemade cakes and scones.

WOW! It's been 6 years since Ivana and I opened the Teashop, doesn't time fly. We have loved every minute of it, who wouldn't considering its location by the canal and the grade 2 listed, old stone building. We are situated within a conservation area on the Wharf, right opposite Victoria Park in Newbury. We are located in the library car park, two minutes from the town centre. We have lots of outside seating, so watching the boats and swans add to its pleasure, and in winter an open log burning fire makes for such a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Our Teashop is quite quirky and vintage ! We serve our loose leaf in teapots and it's accompanied by old English Cups and saucers of all periods.

The Teashop is open

There are a small selection of Canal Trust souvenirs. On the first floor of The Stone building is the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Information Centre.

For opening times and menu details please check the Teashop’s web site at www.teashopbythecanal.co.uk

Where does the money go?

A frequently asked question from Members and those who have attended the AGM, or studied the accounts, will know that over the past few years the Trust has only managed to raise enough funds to sustain its own operations . BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED! So far this year Trustees have agreed to the following grants to Enhance, Protect and Promote the Canal.

Bath River junction improvements,

£2500

Claverton Pumping Station Car Park Project

£1926

and transfer of land ownership

Claverton volunteers

£500

for purchaee of woodworking tools

Hen Wall project Bradford on Avon

£2000

Avon Vale

£2839

25th Anniversary plaque and festival

£600

Crofton Header pond

£1000

New Office furniture (money saved)

£0

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plus £7000 from association of Industrial Archeology recycled from Wiltshire council

Successes and Concerns for Reading Branch Reading Waterfest 2015 seems a long time ago but went well. The weather stayed dry and we had a good showing of boats and stalls. Devizes Branch members joined us to promote sales of Trust raffle tickets and trip boat Jubilee (capacity 28 to 30 people), operated by Newbury Branch crews, carried 300 people on local trips through the site. The duck race was slightly late starting (as usual), but had a record number of ducks taking part. We are now working with our partners at Reading Borough Council to organise next year’s Waterfest on June 11 2016. We welcome visiting boats and want more canal related craft stalls, so please get in touch if you want to come or know somebody who might be interested.

Summer is usually a quiet time for Branch activities, but work parties have continued twice a month, tidying and trimming the towpath and painting the footbridge below Southcote Lock.

This unusual bridge was built during wartime and is deliberately narrow so that invaders could only proceed in single file (and hence be easier targets).

Increased summer pedestrian and cyclist use of the bridge means that some painting has had to be put off until later.

Southcote Lock was a cause of concern over the August Bank Holiday when a boat damaged a top gate, already fragile and due for replacement.

Fears of a long stoppage reduced when CRT staff returned to work on Tuesday and temporary repairs enabled reopening on Thursday. Gate replacement is now due at the start of November, as originally planned. This will be an interesting challenge as land access for a crane involves a rather low railway bridge, a narrow bridge over a mill stream and domestic telephone lines.

We remain hopeful that the CRT renovation of the Aldermaston Visitor Centre will take place this winter, as promised. The Huntly family have continued to work hard to make Aldermaston a popular catering venue. It would be a big disappointment if next year’s operations have to take place without the chance to upgrade the some of the fittings on a permanent basis.

Can you spot anyone familiar?

Branch social meetings (open to everybody interested in our wonderful waterway) take place monthly from September to May (except December) as shown on the Trust website.

David Copley 3/9/2015 Off to the parade

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A Ghost Story “You could dress up as a ghost for the children’s Hallowe'en trip, couldn’t you?” announced my wife Rosie on her return from crewing an October trip on the Kenavon Venture. More of a statement than a question.

It transpired I had already been volunteered on the basis that I had some amateur dramatics experience some 40 years previously. I pointed out that the aforementioned days were more about a social life and a way to overcome the shyness of my teenage years, rather than any great desire to perform, but had to admit that I couldn’t see why not. For similar social reasons, I had suggested to Rosie that we find out about volunteer work on the K&A when we moved to Devizes having been made redundant two years ago, the canal being one of the attractions of retiring to the area. We had enquired at the wharf offices of the Trust and had immediately been escorted to the boat by Becky, in what we now know to be her usual friendly and enthusiastic manner, to be introduced to boat volunteers Bill and Alan, who outlined the various activities related to the boat.

In the event, it was Rosie who had taken to her volunteer work like a duck to water, loving the children’s boat trips and also helping in the wharf shop. Meanwhile I spent most of my time getting our new house and garden near the towpath how we wanted it, but I did the basic boat training and helped out with the locks, and we found the volunteers to be a very amiable and sociable crowd.

I pinned an old sheet to the beanie hat I use when gardening, wielded scissors and marker pen to create my ghost, then fished out that Christmas jumper with flashing lights to create an eerie glow under the sheet. I might need it to keep warm too. A reconnaissance trip along the towpath on the dull evening before Hallowe'en indicated that light levels would be low, and yielded some suitable places for a ghost to lurk in partial cover along the way. But of course Hallowe'en was a bright clear evening . As the boat appeared in the distance I donned my disguise and lurked behind some bushes which were fast losing their leaves. “I’m just 27

walking past a ghost on the towpath” announced one young man on his mobile phone. Surprisingly, one chap pushed his bike past me without comment or batting an eyelid, as if I wasn’t there. But then they do say that not everyone has the ability to see ghosts.

As the boat came under the bridge in the twilight, I switched on my lights and hovered, pleased to hear the odd shriek from inside. As it turned I slipped past along the towpath and tried to glide with the sheet covering my black jeans and trainers, but one child on board commented “That’s not a real ghost – he’s got legs!” A volunteer explained I must be a very young ghost who hadn’t learnt to hover properly yet, which was a p p a r e n t l y considered plausible.

The ghost glided along ahead of the boat in the fading light, hovering behind bushes and on bridges, being picked out from time to time by the boat searchlight. Back at the wharf, the children waved as they headed across the car park, calling out “Goodbye Mr Ghost” to the apparition on the towpath opposite. That made it all worthwhile.

On the later adult fancy dress Hallowe'en cruise, I hovered in the corner of the boat with my well-earned pint of beer hidden under my sheet, wondering how I was going to cope with eating the chilli con carne. I hadn’t intended going, but was already there with the costume so it seemed silly not to. I’m glad I did as it became, in effect, an enjoyable end of season party for volunteers, as only two of the fare-paying passengers were not connected to the boat in some way. And it turns out they had both come along to find out more about voluntary work on the canal. Thinking about it, I haven’t seen them since. I hope the ghost didn’t scare them off.

Richard Bennett

Membership Matters During the course of a year, we send out renewal reminders to around 2000 members of the Trust, collect membership fees and maintain the necessary records. Most of the time, these activities follow a fairly routine process and memberships are renewed on time and without hassle. However, there are just a few things that can go wrong from time to time - and when they do they are time-consuming for staff and frustrating for members. So we thought we would mention them in this edition of the Butty and try to improve on how we handle renewals.

So what is the most common thing that goes wrong?

The most common problem that we have is that some members are still paying us the wrong membership fee by Standing Order. Fees were increased in January 2014 and we have gradually been trying to get everyone to update their Standing Orders or - preferably - move to Direct Debit. Direct Debits are safe and reliable, quick for us to process and benefit members by being covered by a bank guarantee - which Standing Orders are not. If you currently pay by Standing Order perhaps you could just check that it is the up-to-date amount please - or, even better, ask us for a Direct Debit Mandate.

And what is the second most common problem?

Strangely, it stems from our attempt to tackle the first issue. A number of members who have changed to Direct Debit have forgotten to cancel their Standing Order and hence we get paid twice - and end up refunding the money, which costs us time and expense.

Is there anything else?

As members have changed their payment schedule over the years, for a variety of reasons, their renewal date does not always match their payment date. We have just undertaken an exercise that involved checking all of the membership database and making adjustments to renewal dates or Direct Debit dates to make them coincide. Where adjustments have been made, this has generally resulted in either a slightly later payment or a slightly extended membership period for the current year. Hence no member should be disadvantaged.

We continue to try to improve our record keeping to make them more accurate and more efficient. We do apologise if we sometimes get it wrong .

Do We Have Your Email Address?

We are delighted to welcome new members

--Not sure-Have you been receiving the eButty?

Mr John Inman Mrs Gillian Durrant Mr Julian Foley Mrs Sarah Foley Mr William Job Mr Peter Chappell Mr Johnathan Williams Mr Roger Newman Mr Christopher Smith Mr Roy Cardrick Mr Peter Stamp Mr Derrick Waters Mr S Barriff

--No?--

Then we probably haven't got your email address on our system.

It would be great if you could supply us with your email address if you have one, All you need to do is email our Admin.

Department with your membership number in the subject line and Chris Churchouse will make sure it is entered in to Trust's database.

admin@katrust.org.uk We appreciate your help. Thank you!

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Mr Brian J Dennis Mr Ian Harvey-Brown Mr Nick Mann Miss Lesley Angus Mr Richard Williams Mrs Alison Beckett Mr WG Henderson Mr Peter Steele Mr David Barrett Mr Brian Bullock Mr Robert Jefferson Mr Munro Mrs Munro

Volunteers at Work

Competition Winners

1st Crew in Training Trevor Staig

2nd Jubilee at Reading Waterfest Simon Eveleigh

3rd Bucket in Hand Gerry from Devizes

Many thanks to those (rather few) members who sent in entries for the competition.

I am always in need of good photos so please - keep 'em coming!

Jane (Ed))

Barbara MacLellan

Kenavon Venture

Departing from Bradford on Avon Wharf

Departing from Devizes Wharf

at 11.30am and 2.00pm

at 11am on the following December days

19th December

20th December

Sat - 12th & 19th

21st December

22nd December

Sun - 13th & 20th

23rd December

24th December

Tickets £10 includes mulled wine and mince pie for adults Individually chosen and wrapped gift, fruit juice and treats for the children.

Bookings Manager 0750 344 5393 barbaramac@katrust.org.uk

Mon 21st, Tues 22nd, Wed. 23rd Price £7.50 to include mulled wine and mince pies for adults Orange juice, sweets and individually wrapped gift for children Ring 07975 854503 or call into Wharf Gift Shop or Devizes Books, Sidmouth Street

Santa Cruises 2015 Rose of Hungerford Departing from Canal Walk at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm

Iceboat Jubilee Departing from Newbury Wharf

on the following days in December

at 12 noon and 2pm on the following December days

Sat 12th Sun 13th

Sat 12th Sun 13th

Sat 19th Sun 20th

Sat 19th

Sun 20th

Wed 23rd Thurs 24th

Mon 21st

Tues 22nd

Tickets £7

and Wed 23rd

Children receive a present from Santa, together with a soft drink and biscuits.

Tickets £8

Adults receive a drink of their choice, either from the galley or the fully licensed bar and hot mince pies.

Call 01635 255367 or by visit Farewise Travel on Hungerford High Street.

to include a good quality present from Santa for children; and the choice of mulled wine or hot drink and a mince pie for adults.

Contact Newbury Visitor Information Centre on 01635 30267 or email jubilee@katrust.org.uk