The Kennet & Avon Canal’s own magazine
the
No. 174 Spring 2006 £2.50
Butty The K&A’s role in wartime Britain
Reading Branch celebrate 50 years
A walk around Devizes
Drama and intrigue in the IWA’s early days
Working to protect, to enhance and to promote The Kennet & Avon Canal
Newbury Boat Company Moorings Permanent non-residential and temporary cruising moorings with good security at three sites in Newbury all within walking distance of the town. Resident staff at all sites. Tel: 01635 42884 email: newburyboatco@dial.pipex.com The river at Lock Cottage moorings
All-Aboard Marine Services Dry Dock/Repairs and Maintenance for hull blacking, welding, anode replacement, surveys and hull maintenance. Also available for DIY
All types of boat repairs and maintenance including Boat Safety Examinations
Tel: Paul Hutley — 01635 37606 email: paul@aamarine.co.uk Ham Manor Basin from the river
Greenham Canal Services At Greenham Island Between Greenham Lock and Newbury Lock
Boat Services/Chandlery, Diesel, Pumpout, Calor Gas, Coal etc. Souvenirs and ice cream
Tel: Val or Peter Taylor — 01635 31672 email: enquiries@canal-services.com Greenham Island
Newbury Boat Company Greenham Lock Cottage, Ampere Road, Newbury, RG14 5SN 2
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Cover photograph: Dundas Aquaduct
contents
The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal No. 174 Spring 2006 Picture by Bob Naylor
The Trust and its aims The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has three separate but complementary objectives: • To protect the newly restored Canal from neglect, abuse and inappropriate developments. • To enhance the Canal, either by the direct application of Trust funds or, more likely, to unlock larger amounts through matched funding. • To promote the Canal as a magnificent national amenity that is freely available for the enjoyment of all. It was The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (through its predecessor organisations) that fought successfully to save the Canal from formal abandonment in the mid1950s. Through physical effort, innovative fund-raising and persistent political pressure, the Trust led the campaign that resulted in the Canal’s re-opening for through navigation in 1990 and the subsequent £30 million restoration project from 1996 to 2003. The Canal’s infrastructure is now in a condition that will support sustained operations for many decades ahead. The Trust’s membership reflects the wide range of leisure activities – boating, walking, cycling, fishing, pursuit of wildlife and heritage interests – that the public can enjoy along the length of the 87 miles of Canal. Together, we are “The Friends of the Kennet and Avon”. The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf Couch Lane Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 01380 721279 01380 727870 (fax) www.katrust.org President Sir Anthony Durant Vice Presidents Sir William Benyon Peter Collins Donald Collinson Michael Corfield The Rt Hon The Earl Jellicoe Michael Goodenough David Lamb Admiral Sir William O'Brien Philip Ogden Brian Oram Sir Frank Price Prunella Scales Sir John Smith Timothy West Chairman Brian Poulton Company Secretary Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Administrator Mo Crossley e-mail: administrator@katrust.org.uk Hon Treasurer John Heffer Hon Civil Engineer Michael Lee Museum Curator Warren Berry
Trust Council David Copley Michael Davis Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Graeme Dewhirst Peter Dunn Bill Fisher John Forbes Malcolm Grubb John Heffer Roger Hollands John Kirby Ray Knowles Michael Lee John Maciver Brian Poulton Editor Di Harris Pear Tree Studio High Street Urchfont Devizes SN10 4QH 01380 840584 01380 840954 (fax) 07711 367124 di@thebutty.co.uk Editorial, Design & layout Bob Naylor 07788 134901 bob@thebutty.co.uk For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor Printers BAS Printers 115 Tollgate Rd Salisbury Wilts SP1 2JG 01722 411711
Contributions Articles and photographs are welcome. Please contact the Editor to discuss your ideas before submitting them. Whilst every care is taken with all material submitted, neither the Editor nor the publisher can take responsibility for loss or damage. Disclaimer Views expressed in The Butty are not necessarily those of the Editor nor of the Trust. Registered Charity The Trust is a registered charity (No CC209206) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No 726331) at the above address. The Butty is published by The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust of the same address. Data Protection Act The Trust is registered under the Data Protection Act 1984, reference SO46307X. Subject access requests should be directed to the Trust office in Devizes. Copy deadline for The Butty No 175, Summer 2006 Tuesday 25th April 2006
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6 pages of news from the K&A
12
Reading Branch 50th Birthday
18 Grand Western Canal 19
Sponsored canal events
20
The K&A in wartime
22
IWA — a turbulant birth
24
A walk near Devizes
26
Robert Coles, 50 year’s canal pictures
27
Food for watervoles
34
George Meer, fishing contact
Plus regular features and branch news 4 Chairman’s report, 11 BW update, 13 Enterprise report, 13 Safety report, 14 Museum report, Canal at War exhibition, 15 Marketing report, 16 Cotswold Canal news, 17 Wilts & Berks news, 29 Branch reports, 34 Reviews, 36 Letters to the Editor, 37 Page for younger readers, 38 What’s on, Unclassified ads, 39 Crossword
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Notice of Annual General Meeting
No. 174 Spring 2006
The forty-forth Annual General Meeting of The Kennet &
Chairman’s Report Brian Poulton
Avon Canal Trust will be held in the Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf, Devizes, on Saturday, 22nd April 2006 commencing at 11.15am for the purpose of considering and if thought fit passing the following resolutions:
was very much hoping that we would be able to use the Reading Branch’s 50th Anniversary Reception (a magnificent event – see details on Page 12) to announce the granting of ‘Cruiseway’ classification and thus the formal end to the restoration era of the Kennet & Avon Canal.
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Sadly, my appeal to the Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity in whose hands – or in whose department – the decision lies drew only a letter reminding us that it is a lengthy process, requiring his officials to consult, advertise the proposals and consider any objections. He speaks about the Order under the Transport Act 1968 having to be approved by Parliament. Oh dear… I thought we were nearly there!
Where Does All The Money Go ? This is a fair question – and one that I understand is being raised regularly amongst our hardworking and loyal volunteers who run our shops and trip-boats and who raise money through Branch activities. The simple answer is that any money that is not used in the running of the Trust itself is spent in support of our three objectives: to protect, to enhance and to promote the Kennet and Avon Canal as a national amenity for the enjoyment of all. OK, on what exactly? In the panel opposite we’ve tried to show how, during 2005, we have used trust money to support the triple objectives of the Trust.
Thank you, Malcolm Unfortunately, after just over a year in post, Malcolm Grubb has decided to stand down from the position of Managing Director of our trading arm – Enterprise(Ltd). He came to us after a highlevel career with a major international oil company and, although the Trust sits at the other end of the spectrum in terms of culture and turnover, he
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was able to successfully apply sound business practices to the operation of our shops and boats. The net result has been a marked rise in the profitability of Enterprise and thus, in theory at least, a larger donation to the Trust for 2005. Sadly, the essential repairs to our trip-boat ‘Barbara McClellan’ and, more recently, ‘Jubilee’ have consumed the 2005 donation but it is to Malcolm’s credit that the financial health of Enterprise is such that the repairs could be afforded without needing to borrow. We owe him sincere thanks for bringing us the benefits of his business skills, and I particularly thank him for all the extra work that he has taken on in the wake of ‘Barbara McClellan’ saga. Thank you, Malcolm; we wish you well in the future.
Please… Step Forward! With the departure of Malcolm, we have yet another vacancy in the senior levels of the Trust. We have been seeking a new Trust Treasurer for literally years, and now we are looking for a Managing Director of Enterprise. Is there not somebody amongst our readership who would like to give some of their time and expertise to the Trust? We are also crying out for more volunteers to serve in our shops, particularly at Devizes, Claverton and Aldermaston. The current teams in our retail outlets have a lot of fun and are producing fantastic results but, unless we can replace those who leave, the burden on the rest gets higher. Interested? Please call our Administrator, Mo Crossley; you’ll be made very welcome! Easter will soon be here, the Canal will become alive with colour, and our shops and boats will be open again for business! Enjoy the Spring!
Ordinary Resolutions: 1. To receive and adpot the Council’s Report and the Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2005. 2.
To elect Members of Council Messrs G Dewhirst, P Dunn, W Fisher and B Poulton retire in accordance with Articles 50 and 51 of the Trust’s Articles of Association and being eligible offer themselves for re-election.
3.
To re-appoint the Auditors, Messrs David Owen & Co, and to authorise Council to fix their remuneration.
By Order of Trust Council
Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Secretary. 6th March 2006 Note: A member entitled to attend and vote may appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his stead. Registered in England and Wales: No 726331 Registered Charity: No CC209206
How Trust money helped to Protect Enhance and Promote the Kennet & Avon Canal in the past year. As well as the general work of the Trust, we also fund special projects that support our aims. Some of the special projects we have funded in last year are: Museum display update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1300 Newbury Stone Building display update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£2750 Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage match funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£28,000 Claverton projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£2005 Dundas Ticket Office restoration contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1350 Crofton emergency repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . .£3270 Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£3964 Sit Down and Be Quiet leaflet match funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£750 Canal Adoption Scheme Caen Hill Tea Room Gardens . . . . . . . . . . .£10725
The Trust needs a Treasurer If you have relevant experience and can find the time to spend supporting your Trust at this level, please contact the Trust office for more information. Telephone 01380 72129
Brian Poulton, Chairman
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No. 174 Spring 2006
Bath bridge barrier to runaway boats Pictures by Bob Naylor
rip boats, The Avon Empress and Cleopatra owned by Bath City Boat Trips became firmly wedged under Churchill Bridge in Bath City Centre after they broke free from their moorings and were washed downstream in flood conditions on the River Avon in December.
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It was feared that they might sink as the water level rose but during the night the water subsided and the boats were recovered without serious damage.
Hungerford red diesel campaign meeting
Meeting organiser, Bob Mayall, left with Newbury MP Richard Benyon and South East Region MEP James Elles, right.
ewbury MP, Richard Benyon supports the retention of red diesel and at a packed protest meeting at Hungerford British Legion on 10th February he described fuel duty as a stealth tax. He called on boaters to bombard the Treasury Minister John Healey MP with letters and emails in a campaign to keep red diesel for leisure boats. “It is the only way he can asses the strength of feeling”, he said. “The K&A is a most wonderful
N teve Rudd of the Bruce Trust said, “The Bruce Trust provides holidays for disabled people. So far we have provided 8,000 holidays for disabled people and their carers. Fuel is a big part of our budget. We would have to put up our prices if we have this extra cost which would have a major impact on the people who enjoy our holidays.”
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tourist attraction that brings immense wealth and employment along the canal corridor and it is an appaling prospect that we are talking about turning the clock back.” “If boats leave the canal because of prohibitive costs, then BW’s revenue will fall, the infrastructure that supports our canals and boaters will fall away – and the £25m Lottery grant and work done by K&A Canal Trust and its volunteers will have been wasted.” Ellen Dexter of the Residential Boat Owners Association said’ “We’ve done a survey of membership and on average we use 61% of our diesel for domestic use — not for travel. If we use fuel for heating and generating electricity it’s unfair to pay duty on it.”
Pictures by Bob Naylor
ill Fisher said, “In the last 20 years, the diesel engine has become dominant. This extra tax could herald the return of petrol engines – or worse – gas. This is very, very dangerous.”
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“If boats have to use white diesel, boatyards will be in competition with the likes of Tesco — they can’t possibly compete. We will lose the small shops and chandleries that are associated with our boatyards too. And there’s the environmental problem of people filling their boats with fuel from cans. We do not allow this at our boatyard – except in an emergency.”
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K&A is a wonder of the west! s foretold in the Winter ‘Butty’, the Kennet & Avon Canal was acclaimed as one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of the West in a BBC West TV programme broadcast in early February. The 4-minute coverage showed Timothy West and Prunella Scales in conversation with presenter Amanda Parr whilst steering a narrowboat across Dundas Aqueduct. Also shown were some stunning aerial shots of the Caen Hill flight of locks near Devizes. The entire 30-minute programme, together with the similar programmes from the BBC’s other TV regions, will be shown again on BBC Two during the Summer.
Canalside carol services
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Dredging he winter dredging plans for the Eastern end of the canal were changed following new survey information. The original programme was planned using old information, but the K&A has now been resurveyed and work has been reprioritised. Dredging above Southcote was in the original programme and has been completed with the dredged sediment transported back to Sheffield Lock where it was disposed of in local fields. An area of concern around Garston has also been dredged. The scouring immediately downstream of Burghfield Bridge is not part of this programme and will be treated as an independent issue by BW engineers.
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New email address for Trust admin embers have had difficulty in contacting the Trust Administrator using the email suffix of katrust.org. There have been difficulties with the hosting and registration of that domain name. Contact Mo Crossley at: asstadmin@btconnect.com
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Pictures by Bob Naylor
Against a backdrop of illuminated boats at Pewsey Wharf the Rev Peter Atwell led a well-attended carol service with music provided by members of the Phoenix Brass Band from Ramsbury. Services were also held at Dundas and Newbury wharves.
New roof for Dundas Toll Office he old Toll Office at Dundas, which a year ago was completly covered in ivy and rapidly falling apart, is coming back to life. Following the removal of the ivy, an inspection was made of the building, which revealed that the roof was on the point of collapse and all timber work and plaster was beyond repair.
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Partnership In a combined operation by the Trust, British Waterways, the
IWA and Tim Wheeldon, a financial package and methods of working were agreed and restoration was started.
Slating In February, the biggest job was completed when the slating of the roof was finished by PM Kelly Roofing Ltd. They have made an excellent job and the building looks just as it did in the old photographs, even down to hip-irons that match the originals.
Volunteers Volunteers had previously removed the rubbish, stripped out the old plaster and rebuilt the timberwork of the roof. The next task, for which volunteers are required, is the removal of accumulated soil at the back of the building, fitting a new door and the windows. Once this is done, the inside can be completed. If you can help, contact either Pete Dunn or Mike Lee through the Trust Office.
Open Days 2006 We are open to the public every Sunday, Wednesday and Bank Holiday from April 16th to October 22nd Opening Hours Wednesdays: 10am until 4pm (last admission 3:30pm) Other open days: 10am until 5pm (last admission 4:30pm) Pumping Days 2006 April 16th & 17th July 9th & 23rd May 1st, 28th & 29th
August 13th, 27th & 28th
June 11th & 25th
September 24th
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No. 174 Spring 2006
King Alfred’s canal walk n 11-mile path in the Vale of Pewsey will use sections of the K&A Canal towpath. The proposed route utilises existing footpaths, some new routes and the towpath to form a figure-of-eight trail that stretches from Honeystreet in the west to Wootton Rivers in the east. Many visitors arrive by train at Pewsey or on the Wigglybus routes that criss-cross the Vale of Pewsey and the trail
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recognises this. The plan is for the whole route to accessible for wheelchairs and push-chairs. This does not mean that half the Long Pound towpath is to be widened, flattened and concreted to produce an allweather surface. There are sections, particularly between Pewsey Wharf and Pains Bridge that need — and will soon receive — urgent attention and repair. To what extent the
The Tutti Pole
by the South side of Hungerford Bridge
Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of our Tea Room/Restaurant and Patio Area seating up to 50
Morning Coffee • Luncheon • Afternoon Tea Roast Sunday Lunch • Home made fare a speciality Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm • Saturday & Sunday 9am – 6pm The Tutti Pole, 3 High Street, Hungerford RG17 0DN Telephone: 01488 682515
Boat builders and repairers Bespoke built narrow and wide beam boats
Holiday hire 2-12 berth Full weeks and short breaks 2 fully equipped and built for disabled use
Full mechanical and electrical services Break down service Agents for Shire and Beta engines Mastervolt energy shop 3M thinsulate insulation Webasto heaters
Quality work by quality craftsman Reading Marine Company Ltd Aldermaston Wharf, Padworth, Reading RG7 4JS 0118 9713666
towpath will be upgraded along other sections within the King Alfred Trail will be the subject of further studies commissioned by the Pewsey Vale Community Trust (PACT), the principal proponent of the new footpath. The Alfred Trail has the support of Wiltshire County Council, Kennet District Council, Pewsey Parish Council, the North Wessex AONB and British Waterways.
Towpath tidy 2006 owpath Tidy is BW's weeklong clean-up campaign when BW office and bankside staff join forces with volunteers and the local community to 'tidy' the waterways. Events take place each year before the main visitor season starts at Easter. In 2006 Towpath Tidy will be bigger and better than ever before. The UK-wide events will start on Monday 3rd April and run for seven days. Individuals and volunteers from waterways groups are welcome to join in. Fun and safe, the Towpath Tidy is open to anyone who can spare a few hours to help look after their local waterway. Terry Kemp is co-ordinating the events taking place in the South West Region. Volunteers must register in advance. Call BW on 01452 318000 to leave details or email:
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terry.kemp@britishwaterways.co.uk
by no later than 29th March 2006. Terry’s ambition this year is to litter-pick ALL South West Waterways towpaths, access points and car parks. He’s appealing to everyone on the K&A to join in and help the season off with a canal that’s totally litter free. A tough challenge but he is certain that between BW staff and local volunteers it’s achievable — “together we can do it!”
Bristol Harbour Festival ‘Canal Village’ setback lans for a large ‘Canal Village’ to be a major feature of the 2006 Bristol Harbour Festival may have to be down-sized or, perhaps, deferred to 2007. The 2006 event — being held on the weekend of 28th, 29th and 30th July — is already approaching capacity and plans are well advanced. However, it may still be possible for local canal societies to group their stalls and gazebos near Mud Dock, not far from where the Taverners Boat Club narrowboats will be gathered. Leading the drive for a larger canal presence at the Bristol Festival is John Henn of the Wilts and Berks Canal (Bristol Branch). In the coming months, John is hoping to form an organising committee to carry forward his plans for a significant canal–related event in 2007.
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New Wardens for Crofton Pumping Station lan and Catriona Flaherty are the new wardens at Crofton Pumping Station replace Reg and Shelagh Paynter who retired in January after 10 years and moved to their new home in Christchurch, Dorset. Both Alan and Catriona had careers in the Army, Alan in the Household Cavalry and Catriona in the Education Corps. Since leaving the Army they have worked in Dubai and in Cyprus. Currently Alan is a lifeguard in Bedford and Catriona is teaching languages. They are canal enthusiasts and have their own narrowboat. They will take up residence in mid-March and should be fully up and running in time for Crofton’s opening on Good Friday.
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Avian Flu If you see a dead migratory bird do not touch it — phone BW on 01452 318000 or DEFRA on 08459 335577
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Tractor deaths ‘misadventure’
Canal in Wartime exhibition
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BW winning licence evasion battle he results of the recent national boat survey have shown that BW are winning the battle of licence evasion on the K&A. Unlicensed boats represent 9.9%. This figure is an improvement on the 14.3% recorded in March 2005.
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‘Informal’ moorings for canal s a response to complaints about the difficulty of finding moorings in country areas Waterway’s Supervisor, George Meer and his team are busy preparing informal moorings at regular intervals along the canal. The mooring sites will avoid bends and winding holes as well as SSIs and other areas where wildlife are vulnerable. The sites will not be signposted and there will be no mooring bollards. It may also be necessary to use a boarding plank — but the grass will be cut regularly and a map is being produced so that boat owners can find them easily. As they become established they will be easy to find.
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Picture by Bob Naylor
K&A shortlisted for award n innovative management programme developed for the Kennet & Avon Canal has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
the restoration in 2002 against which changes are measured and these are subject to ongoing, annual or cyclical surveys.
“The programme to maintain, monitor and manage the sustainability of the canal has been selected as a finalist for the Innovation category of the 2006 Waterways Renaissance Awards.
Partnership
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Sustainable waterways The Awards, now in their fourth year, were established by The Waterways Trust and the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) to recognise and encourage best practice in sustainable waterway development, regeneration and education throughout the UK. The Innovation award, which is sponsored by Arup, will go to an inland waterways project which is regarded as being
edge cuttings on the towpath are a puncture hazard for cyclists. Cyclists in the Bath Valley should have fewer problems this year because BW have instructed contractors to use edge cutters — not flails — and to take the clippings away.
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particularly innovative in its contribution to the renaissance of the inland waterways. The restoration of the Kennet & Avon Canal in 1994 heralded the development of a unique plan to guide the work and secure the long term sustainability of the waterway as an environmental, economic and heritage resource. While impact assessments are a familiar concept, the scope of this project and the way the complexity of data gathered is interpreted represent real innovation in waterway regeneration. Monitoring covers visitor, user and community experience, economic indicators, landscape, ecology, heritage, water quality and water resources. Baselines were set upon completion of
Boat Trips
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Thorny problem solved
rust Chairman Brian Poulton with Trust Vice Presidents, Timothy West and Prunella Scales at the opening of the Canal in Wartime exhibition at Devizes Wharf in November. Material from the exhibition created by Clive and Helen Hackford has been used in the Canal at War feature on pages 20 & 21 of this issue.
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ark Wells and his son Luke died when their tractor fell into the Kennet & Avon Canal near Pewsey in December 2004. The jury at the Coroner’s Inquest in Salisbury in February returned a verdict of death by misadventure after a 3-day hearing.
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From the Cunning Man, Burghfield Bridge Public trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .May to September Private party hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A range of cruises Day boat hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Self-drive for up to 12 people Holiday hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Berth Narrowboat Flexible weekly or short break periods Moorings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Permanent or temporary Enquiries: 14 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading, RG6 5PT Tel: 0118 987 1115 Fax: 0118 921 0604
www.kennetcruises.co.uk
The management of the plan is undertaken by the Kennet & Avon Canal Partnership which is made up of British Waterways, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, the Association of Canal Enterprises and the riparian local authorities. The judges noted: “This is the first systematic assessment of a waterways restoration scheme to consider social, economic and environmental outputs.” This unique approach is now being adopted by other agencies and outputs are helping shape the development of the wider waterway corridor. “This programme will greatly enhance and protect the sustainable future of the Kennet and Avon Canal and the panel is particularly encouraged by the way this model has been adopted as monitoring practice for other waterway restorations.” Terry Kemp, Economic and Social Development Manager British Waterways South West, said: “Canal and waterway use brings both negative and positive impacts. If not recognised, the negative impacts create barriers to progress and the positive impacts are missed. The joinedup approach we have adopted deals with this and advises us in all aspects of the business of managing our canal. “
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Bedwyn fee protest by Bob Naylor oorers at Great Bedwyn have formed an action group to protest at increases in fees of nearly 70% since British Waterways took over the moorings from a private operator three years ago — with no improvements in facilities at the moorings.
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The BAG (Bedwyn Action Group) meet at the Cross Keys in the village where one of the moorers, Bruce Mason, is landlord. Group spokesman, Dave Wood, said “When we came to Great Bedwyn, we were aware of
the rudimentary facilities but the price was right. The price matched the moorings — now it doesn’t.” They took their complaints to the BW South West team at the Canal Users’ Forum meeting in Devizes in February.
Picture by Bob Naylor
The rural calm of the moorings above Church Lock at Great Bedwyn is not matched by the feelings of moorers who have formed an action group to fight high charges by BW.
The BAG complaints Mooring fees for boats above Church lock have risen 63.1% and below the lock by 68.5% with no improvement in facilities. BW say that the level of facilities contribute to the pricing — but there are no facilities at Bedwyn. When compared with other moorings and marinas with good facilities, it is difficult to understand why the Bedwyn moorings are not dramatically cheaper. It is a half-mile walk to the moorings from the car park at Great Bedwyn Wharf which is in an atrocious state with mud and pot-holes. The moorings are just grass banks with no edging, mooring rings or stakes; long planks are
needed to get on and off boats The grass is not cut despite promises made in 2004 by Ian Jarvis and Craig Hunter. There is no security on the site and boats have been broken into this month. Pump out, water and refuse facilities are available at the Wharf, but these are for all canal users not just Bedwyn moorers. Because boats have to moor so far out and use boarding planks, it is impossible to do maintenance on boats at the moorings and the promise of the use of a hard mooring on the wharf made in the original consultation has not been fulfilled.
Customer Operations Manager, Paul Griffin accepted that BW have failed to address problems at the moorings and he will meet with representatives of The BAG to try to settle their complaints.
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Fears of damage and injury from underwater hazard by Fred Blampied espite concerns expressed by river user organisations, the River Avon stabilisation project was completed by Bath and North East Somerset contractors between August and September 2005. A ‘rock toe’ was installed along the bank from just above Saltford Lock to near the end of Mead Lane. The large rocks used are partly submerged at normal water levels and present an underwater hazard to craft with the possibility of damage and injury. The works are on the right hand side going upstream — so beware!
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he K&A Canal Trust has co-funded a public consultation to get boaters reactions to the BW lock gear modification trials taking place following complaints about gate paddle lock gear installed on locks on the K&A last year. Although the 3:1 ground paddle modification was very well received, the gate paddle gearboxes were not.
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The locks in the trial are:
Gloucester gearing mod’
Lock — new gearing • Bulls manufactured to the original John Rennie & Gloucester specification — as Bulls lock • Aldermaston but top and bottom gates (river lock). & Fobney Locks • Hungerford new 5:1 Gloucester gearing without reduction boxes.
CATLEYS CALOR GAS CENTRE
Pictue by Fred Blampied
Appliance sales & Installations
Bring your boat up to Boat Safety Scheme standards
Repairs, Servicing and installation Telephone 01380 727266 The Green, Southbroom Road, Devizes, SN10 1LY
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BW lock gear trial feedback call
addition to this, complete • Inrefurbishment and realignment of Lock 44 on Caen Hill flight is to be completed without the additional reduction boxes at the end of the current stoppage.
Eastern end gear reinstated All spindles were replaced and most locks on the Eastern end of the canal have had gearing refitted without the reduction boxes. The new gearing does not require the use of a long handled windlass.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Based on a staff initiative a handle has been fitted to the catch on the Gloucester gearing making the gearing much more user friendly.
BW need your feedback A few feedback forms have already been returned. If you haven’t already taken part in the consultation or have yet to try these locks, you can find a full list of tial locks and download a feedback form from www.waterscape.com or www.katrust.org. BW will start reviewing the feedback forms at the end of April, but the consultation continues throughout the season.
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BW update by Eliza Botham, BW South West Service Manager ur ‘stoppage open days’ on the Caen Hill Flight in February were a great success. On Thursday 9th, Waterways Supervisor George Meer and Team Leader Dale Marshal explained the work programme to three classes from a local school and on Sunday over 400 people came to watch new lock gates being fitted — and warm up in the café afterwards.
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Staff boat trips In February, Ian Jarvis and John Ward took groups of BW staff boating on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Lots of you have told us that you would like our staff to be more knowledgeable about boating, so we’ve taken it on board and lots of people have had the opportunity of visiting a length of canal away from their normal place of work. I took a trip on the River Severn and Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.
Over 400 people braved the weather to watch the public hanging of a lock gate on Caen Hill
or markers will be installed, and where possible they will be 100m lengths. We hope that this will make mooring easier and more pleasant this year, but do let us have your views.
Fishing
Diverse views
Anglers will be interested to know that George Meer, a keen fisherman himself, is now your local fishing contact. We will soon be reviewing works for 2006/7 with the local groups and will be supporting new local angling initiatives.
One of the most striking features about boating on the Kennet & Avon Canal is the diversity of views held about it and I get letters from people expressing a variety of opinions.
Grass cutting and moorings We have put a lot of planning in to this year’s grass cutting program. Last year I am sorry to say that we received many complaints about a lack of places to moor up, and difficulty in getting off boats because of the long grass. A team including operations staff and an ecologist have chosen sites based on cruising distances and popular places to stop, along with the needs of wildlife and the conservation plan. The sections chosen will be initially identified by marker paint, but once they have been cut, they should be easily identifiable. They will be cut five times during the year. They will be sites with a hard edge although no mooring rings
Unattractive boats There is a strongly held view that many of the boats on the waterway are unattractive and others that have no permanent moorings are clogging up the waterway, taking up moorings which holidaymakers and visitors would like to use.
Boat dwellers ‘add colour and charm’ Another view is that boatdwellers use few resources and are living sustainably, that they add colour and charm to the waterway and bring money into the local economy. Attempting to find ways of balancing these views is one of the most challenging things I have ever had to face.
Our moorings and patrol plans are attempting to address some of the opportunities and problems, whilst we gather data about current and possible future uses of the waterway and the effects that current use is having on the waterway. This has led us to make some difficult decisions and to put in place some measures in the short–term which many people may not like.
Licence evasion We have focused on licence evasion for the last 6 months because many people said that this was of great concern to them. Patrol Officers, Jane Newton (West) and Russell Bennett (East) and Patrol Assistant David Thomas have been very busy. Of 2,858 boats sighted in November, 593 of them were unlicensed, a reduction of 2.2% on June’s count, and more than £30,000 worth of income has been recovered from the Kennet & Avon Canal alone.
Continuously cruising Another area of concern is the number of boats registered as Continuously Cruising that do very little cruising, staying at visitor moorings for long periods. Those who cruise fear that they will be forced away from the places they love.
Pictures by Di Harris
Residential moorings The lack of suitable residential moorings is of real concern. In other parts of the country, it has been shown possible to develop a range of clean and tidy residential moorings and we do hope to be able to do this, but it is a major challenge because of special planning designations and local opposition to any boating development, particularly residential.
Legal action We have issued 138 legal letters in recent months, requiring Continuous Cruisers to move on and some of these are being taken right through the legal processes to eviction.
Mooring designation We are looking carefully at moorings designation and length of stay at popular sites and you can expect to see more changes in the coming months. We could introduce daily charges for staying at some very popular locations, or reserved moorings for hire boats – do send me your ideas and thoughts.
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No. 174 Spring 2006
Trust Reading Branch golden jubilee Picture by Bob Naylor
Fifty years on and Celia Lines (formerly Hutchins) cuts the celebration cake watched by fellow Reading Branch founder members, from left, Bill Fisher, John Lester, Doug Redstone, David Cooper, Nicholas Hammond, Geoffrey Paterson and David Harris
Ten-year-old Celia Hutchins as she collected signatures to save the canal in 1956
getting themselves well stuck in with dredging and digging – playing their part to get the canal flowing again. Memories of the challenge ... were jogged by numerous photographs taken during the the early days and carrying the story through the last 50 years.
xactly fifty years after the public meeting was held in Reading to protest against the proposed closure of the K&A Canal, Reading Branch celebrated their Golden Anniversary with a reception to salute the work of the founder members and applaud the Branch’s contribution to the restoration of the K&A.
The work goes on
Freight traffic had dwindled and the canal was largely derelict, empty of water and with broken lock gates in 1956 when the government of the day proposed closure. It was impassable. and the government did not expect any resistance to their plans to close it. But they were wrong. A protest meeting was held in reading and along the length of the canal, from Bristol to reading, canal enthusiasts collected signatures for a protest petition. That petition,
With the £25million National lottery grant, the canal was finally officially re-opened in 1990. But the work of the Branch isn’t finished. Let’s make Reading a town that boaters want to visit, said Branch chairman, Mike Wyatt. boaters pass through, but they should be encouraged to stop and visit Reading’s many attractions. The gateway isn’t as encouraging as it could be. I plan to call a meeting with councillors to increase the town’s tourist appeal.
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Picture by Bob Naylor
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with 20,000 names, was carried along the remains of the canal by canoe and delivered to the Queen later that year.
Fundraising, digging and dredging For many years the stalwarts of the Branch put their back into the job, raising essential funds, continuing to raise support and
he K&A Trust is a shinning example for the whole of the country through its work in reopening and restoring the canal. But the work isn’t finished. The K&A belongs to the people and it’s for the people – the members of Kennet & Avon Canal Trust – to keep putting pressure on BW to ensure that the tremendous work achieved so far isn’t lost in the future. BW needs the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust to keep the pressure on – and BW will remain committed to this productive partnership and the benefits we all achieve from it. Tony Hales BW Chairman November 25th 2005
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No. 174 Spring 2006
Enterprise
Safety matters by Ben Woodman
by Malcolm Grubb
The Trust Safety Adviser
MD of Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd
t’s a sad fact that many more people are injured every year at home than at work. Take house fires; have you installed smoke detectors at home? The experts recommend that you have at least two, one on the ground floor and one upstairs or on the landing. Are they really necessary; after all, they are a bit of a nuisance aren’t they? They go off if you burn the toast and then you have to try and remember how to switch them off!
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Dreadful statistics But think on this: every year there are around 68,000, yes 68,000, house fires in the UK, resulting in nearly 400 deaths and 14,000 people injured. Those are dreadful statistics, but true. Anything that reduces the chances of a fire at home is worth the effort. The government has
recognised the problem and are in the process of changing fire legislation so that fire brigades can concentrate on the areas most at risk, including domestic premises.
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Risk assessments
Firstly shops – I’m pleased to report that overall sales were 4% above budget and 7% above 2004 levels. Devizes, however, saw a 20% drop in sales due to a fall in visitor numbers to the Wharf – the introduction of stiff parking fees has resulted in empty car park spaces for much of the year. Despite this setback, Devizes still delivers the highest sales revenue of all our outlets. Our other shops have turned in spectacular performance with Newbury, Crofton and Bradford on Avon all showing more than 20% increases over 2004 revenues. Aldermaston and Claverton also delivered pleasing results. May I extend my grateful thanks to all Shop Managers and their volunteers for their dedication and commitment during 2005.
Starting in April 2006, those in charge of all work places and commercial premises are required to carry out their own fire risk assessments to try to prevent fires occurring in the first place. We need to look at removing or reducing hazards and ignition sources that might exist in all our K & A locations, and then look at our precautions to make sure that folk can escape safely if a fire were still to occur. It seems to me that it would be a good idea if we did that at home too. Making sure that we have smoke detectors properly installed and maintained would be a good place to start. Happy New Year and keep safe!
HAMS TRANSPORT
e are currently in the midst of year-end accounts and I thought I’d share some key 2005 performance statistics with you.
Shop income
Trip boats
HOPTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DEVIZES, WILTS
With flatbeds up to 60’ we can safely transport your narrowboats and wide beams throughout the UK 01380 726837 www.hams-transport.co.uk
Next boats – here again a mixed outcome. You will all know about the demise of the ‘Barbara Mac’, which was unable to trade for much of the summer. This has hit our revenues and cash flow hard in 2005 and overall Enterprise profit will be considerably below budget and 2004 as a result. I am pleased to say that we are currently on track to have the ‘Barbara Mac’ ready for the new season — thanks to the huge efforts of Geoff Olver and his team at Bradford on Avon. The ‘Rose’ had a very successful summer with the Hungerford team delivering a revenue performance 11% above budget and 2004 — a great achievement. ‘Jubilee’ continues to make a solid contribution to our business with trip and charter income in line with 2004 levels. Again may I extend my grateful thanks to Boat Managers and their volunteer crews.
2006 season Planning is now underway for our 2006 season. All our shops are being given a lick of paint and refurbished with significant modifications taking place at Newbury. We are also looking to extend and develop our mail order business via the exciting new Trust web site. Action is planned to improve sales performance at Devizes. Each of our boats is also having a thorough winter overall with a long awaited new engine for ‘Jubilee’ which is also undergoing hull re-plating.
Impressive results overall 2005 was not an easy year for Enterprise, but thanks to all involved in the business we have delivered some impressive results.
Repairs to Stone Building Enterprise (Ltd) has funded repairs and refurbishment to the Stone Building Shop and Tea-Room at Newbury Wharf which are appreciated by all. The kitchen, walls and doors have been painted, improvements made in the kitchen and new carpet fitted throughout. Much of the work was carried out by Branch volunteers and one enthusiastic customer. Thanks to Mike Jennings, John Cahill, Graeme Dewhirst, Ian Savin and Peter Beasley.
New MD needed Enterprise (Ltd) — the Trust's trading company — is looking for a new Managing Director. The MD must ensure that the company trades profitably, is managed efficiently, subject to proper and adequate financial controls and that all necessary reports and returns are produced promptly and accurately. The MD will need experience of marketing, accounts, retail sales, PR, computers and people management. Interested? Please call the Trust Administrator.
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No. 174 Spring 2006
The lost wharves of the Kennet & Avon uilding on reseach by Helen and Clive Hackford, Warren Berry introduces a new series of articles on the working centres of the K&A that have been bypassed in the restoration of the canal.
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In coming issues we will be running a series of articles dealing with the history and current condition of a number of “lost wharves” along the length of the navigation.
Hundred wharves between Bristol and Thames When the K&A was a working commercial waterway and trade between Bristol and the Thames was thriving, there were around 100 wharves between Bristol and Reading as well as many more in and around the Reading area. Of this total, nearly 30% were located in the Bristol area and along the river Avon between Bristol and Bath. Some of these, including a number between Hanham lock and Bath, were important enough to have had railheads to them. Located between the partly tidal River Avon and the canal, Bath was at one time a busy inland port, boasting 7 wharves. Some catered for small coastal sailing vessels as well as canal craft. There were a further 6 wharves on the canal section close to Bath. Devizes once had 7 wharves and the important trading centre of Newbury supported 18 in the town and surrounding areas. Reading also had a large number though the exact number is not known. This pattern of relatively high numbers in towns with fewer, often isolated wharves in and
around villages or out in the open countryside, was invariably repeated for the whole length of the navigation.
Many wharves are unrecognisable Although some wharves still exist in their original locations, with some being used for purposes other than waterwaybased trading, many more have disappeared or are becoming unrecognisable. We will be focussing on wharves that were historically interesting.
Focus on Honeystreet Honeystreet will be featured in the Summer Butty. Honeystreet has been chosen because a housing development is proposed there that may have a major impact on what was once a major canal trading location, and push it even further into the “lost” category.
You can get involved We have not decided which other wharves to feature in coming issues. If you have any information or you want to carry out research into the history of a particular wharf yourself, or you would like to write one or more of the articles in the lost wharves series, please contact me or Butty editor, Di Harris. Kennet Barge ‘Diamond’ at Honeystreet.
Picture by Bob Naylor
One of the K&A historic sites, at Lower Wharf in Devizes, is now home to the working forge of blacksmith and local historian John Girvan. This wharf, as are others on the canal, is suffering from neglect and trees are destroying the stonework.
Museum News by Curator, Warren Berry ll the documents, books, photographs, and other images that make up the Trust archive have now been moved from the offices at Devizes Wharf to Caen Hill to a new museum office. Staff now work from there but will of course still have a significant presence at Devizes wharf where the museum will remain. Until administrative issues have been resolved, contact with us by either telephone or letter should in the first instance made through the Trust administration office at Devizes Wharf. The “Canal in Wartime” exhibition at Devizes Wharf has now been closed. It had a significant number of visitors, many of whom braved the winter weather to have a look. We did not use a visitor book to obtain comments and assess impact. However the exhibition was held in high regard and its contents seen as informative and educational.
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Future plans The end of 2005 saw the production of the museum’s forward plan for the next five years. This plan lays out the museum’s aims and objectives and broadly describes the
projects to be worked on and how they will be achieved. The document also outlines the planned projects that were worked on over the last five years and the actions taken to manage the inevitable changes that occurred during that period. The three years leading up to 2009 in particular will be crucial for the museum as, by that time, new requirements for the next stage of museum accreditation will need to be implemented. The additional work associated with these new requirements will be quite labour intensive and, given our limited resources, will require effective planning. The tasks involved will include an audit of all the museum’s artefacts and records held at the museum, together with the possible relabelling of certain items. If any Trust member can spare some time over the period and feels like helping with this work, it would be greatly appreciated. Any one interested should contact us at the museum office so that we can explain in more detail what might be required and how you could assist with this important task.
Canal du Nivernais twinning visit
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No. 174 Spring 2006
he Trust twinning visit to the Canal du Nivernais is now booked. But there is still time to book a place on our week’s cruise along part of this beautiful canal. The trip is from Saturday 8th September to Saturday 14th September and the cruise starts at Vermenton (25 km south of Auxerre) finishing at Marigny sur Yonne. We have booked the Euroclassic 149, 8 berth
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Marketing by John Kirby Marketing & Membership Director e now have a team of volunteers to give canal safety to assemblies at primary schools along the length of the canal. Five Trust members answered our appeal in The Butty and they are about to start their training with Chris Taylor, BW’s Education Coordinator. The first school to approach us is in Reading and it will will be used as our training ground. The WOW website: www.wow4water.net/index_b.asp has all the resources teachers need for giving lessons about the canal – and it has recently been updated to include trails and lesson packs specific to the K&A. More will follow, but this project, which is a partnership between the Trust and BW is off to a flying start. Anyone who hasn’t yet visited the WOW web site should have a look. There are pages for adults and pages for children. If you’re not too proud, have a look at the questions set for the children and see if you can answer them! And if you find the site interesting, remember, it is not too late to join the team. Anyone who wants to join us or wishes us to approach a school, just let us know.
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cruiser, which is 14.9m long by 4.14m beam and has four 2-berth cabins, 3 showers and toilets and lots of deck space. If enough people are interested, there are also 4and 6-berth boats available. We can only estimate the cost at present — as final cost will depend on the number of bookings. But the guide cost is £300/person plus the cost of getting to Vermenton.
For more information contact Mile Lee on 01225 873915 or email: mike.margeretlee@btinternet.com
Can’t wait to get out? … … then why not wiggle!
New leaflets NEW For 2006
All the Trust’s marketing leaflets have now been reprinted and they are being distributed far and wide.
The membership gazebo The membership gazebo will be out and about this summer at the following venues this year: Fund Raising Day, Brassknocker Basin Bath, 7th May. Summer Fair, Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, 4th June. Reading Water Fest, 24th June. Newbury Water Fest, 30th July. IWA Water Fest, Beal Park, 26th, 27th and 28th August. Come and visit us if you are at these events.
We now have available a series of guided walks using our bookable Wigglybus services along the Kennet & Avon Canal in the Vale of Pewsey and are also developing further Wigglywalks in the Hungerford, Calne and Alton Barnes areas. To explore these beautiful landscapes on foot and by bus using our current leaflets, or to register interest in our new 2006 range of walking leaflets please call:
During office hours or please leave a message at any other time
For all your boat safety, repair, upgrade and fit-out needs South West’s premier boat builders on the Visit our NEW chandlery trade counter Kennet & Avon If its not on the shelf we can probably get it Offering a wide and comprehensive Marsh Farm, Marsh Road, Hilperton Nr Trowbridge range of boats All workmanship guaranteed
M&P Steelcraft
From 30ft narrowboats through to our range of larger wide beam vessels
To visit by canal look for our sign at Hilperton Marsh Farm (Bridge 165) our yard is in the farm buildings
Tel/Fax: 01225 775100 www.mp-steelcraft.co.uk 15
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Cotswold Canals news by Jack Telling
Living Landmarks
Lottery grant boost to Cotswold Canals
The Cricklade Country Way Project
he restoration of the Cotswold Canals took a huge leap forward on 25th January with the announcement that the Heritage Lottery Fund would contribute £11.9 million.
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Adrian Tinniswood, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s South West Committee, made the announcement at a press conference in the Council Chamber of Stroud District Council at Ebley Mill. He said: “People love canals and the restoration of this beautiful stretch of water will let an important part of the local heritage become living history. “It will also play a significant role for the local community by attracting visitors, creating employment and encouraging people to get out and about in a really special, historic environment.”
£13 million in match funding A further £6 million of match funding was also confirmed by Ian Knight, Head of Operations for Gloucestershire of the South West of England Regional Development Agency. He commented: “This commitment is a major step forward to achieving the overall goal of re-linking the rivers Thames and Severn. Restoring the 9.5 kilometre section of the Cotswold Canal between Stonehouse and Brimscombe Port will act as a catalyst in transforming some rather drab and neglected industrial areas into vibrant new business and residential communities.” Representatives of the Restoration Partnership greeted the news with cheers and applause as over 30 years of campaigning had at last borne fruit. An additional £7 million of match funding will be contributed by other partners including £375,000 from the Cotswold Canals Trust.
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Detailed designs Over the next few months Partnership plans will be put into action which include the development of detailed designs, local consultations and applications for planning consents. It is expected that physical work on the restoration will begin in August 2006, with completion by the end of 2008.
British Waterways to recruit staff It is anticipated that British Waterways, as lead partner, will begin recruiting additional staff to the restoration team immediately. It is likely that the first stretch of the canal to be restored will be from Dudbridge Lock to Ryeford Double Lock. This will involve the £350,000 EU-TRUST funded canalisation of a length of river, the reconstruction of Oil Mills Bridge, removal of infill to the west of the bridge and the installation of a discharge weir from a section of main river into the River Frome.
26th December deadline Work will proceed to a tight schedule as these contracts must be completed by the end of December 2006 to satisfy EU funding rules. It is also hoped that it will be possible to restore Ryeford Double Lock and replace swing bridges at the Ocean and Upper Mills. Cotswold Canals Trust volunteers will assist, during February and early March, in removing brushwood in the vicinity of Oils Mill Bridge to facilitate survey work.
his Living Landmarks bid has been submitted by North Wiltshire District Council on behalf of a Partnership which includes the Cotswold Canals Trust.
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Originally it was hoped that the bid would include the full restoration of the North Wilts Canal from Swindon to either Lechlade or the Cotswold Water Park via the Thames & Severn Canal. After a rigorous selection process, however, involving four options, it has been decided to opt for a Cricklade Country Way plus a ‘dry’ towpath along the line of the Thames & Severn to the Water Park at a cost of £15.4 million of which £12.5 million would be funded by the Big Lottery. The Cotswold Canals Trust is a funding partner and in the
event of a successful bid would contribute match funding in cash in addition to the value of volunteer labour. The next crucial date in the BLF timetable is May 2006 when the Programme Committee will decide to award Stage 1 development grants or reject applications. A grant potentially gives £250,000 to prepare a Stage 2 application and this alone would be excellent news for both the North Wilts and Thames & Severn Canals as crucial water studies could be undertaken. BLF expects to make final decisions in August 2007.
Cotswold Canals (Stroudwater Navigation) ritish Waterways, on behalf of the Cotswold Canals Partnership, has submitted a Living Landmarks bid to link Stonehouse with Saul Junction which would link the restored length from Stonehouse to Brimscombe to the national waterways network via the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.
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One of our partners, The Waterways Trust, found that we could use the funding already in place for the HLF funded restoration to lever further funding from the BLF. BLF has been asked for £15.95 million. The project involves constructing the canal channel under two major roads (the M5 and A38) and a railway bridge. The focus of the bid is based very heavily on community involvement and will build on the experience gained
in creating the HLF bid on the themes of Education, Environment & Heritage and Engineering. If successful the project would be delivered over 36 months with completion in August 2010. Imagine a Grand Opening as a flotilla of boats leaves Gloucester Dock for Brimscombe Port. An Atlas, which details the entire project, can be downloaded from the Cotswold Canals Partnership website.
Further information about the Cotswold Canals www.cotswoldcanals.com Cotswold Canals Partnership www.britishwaterways.co.uk/cotswolds Or contact Jack Telling (Cotswold Canals Trust) on 01453 825709 or 07785 330480 (mobile)
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No. 173 Winter 2005
More Wilts & Berks Canal in water story and pictures by Colin Fletcher further 600 yards of the Wilts & Berks Canal were re-opened in January across the hillside above Lacock — the start of an ambitious programme to re-water the canal between Melksham and the River Marden
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Wilts & Berks Canal Trust members working with with professional support dredged and re-watered the stretch of canal at Naish Hill and negotiations to extend this for almost another mile are well advanced. Volunteers were on site throughout the period of work, to protect people using the
path, and were repeatedly congratulated for the work that was being done. Two newt ponds have been created to provide safe havens for Great Crested Newts. A healthy population of fish plays havoc with the newt population, and it is hoped the ponds will ensure that a thriving stock survives.
Guided walk to Reybridge A popular cycle path, providing a clean walking surface in all weather, runs along the towpath beside the canal and connects to Chippenham and Calne. On 23rd April, a guided walk starting in Chippenham will leave the Market Cross at 10.30am. The route follows the River Avon and the canal before arriving at the Bell Inn at Reybridge where lunch may be arranged. Funds raised will go to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust or to a charity of your choice. Contact Peter Williams on 01249-652248.
Wilderness Compact Trailboats Builders of Wilderness GRP trailboats since 1969
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Secondhand craft 2/3/4 berth £3,000 — £23,000 with or without trailers GRP cruiser repairs & refits BSS work Servicing of outboards and trailers. Mobile service if required Holiday/relocation transport 23ft/2 tonnes WILDERNESS BOATS Chelworth Manor Malmesbury 01666 577773 Active independent owners club at www.wilderness.org.uk
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No. 174 Spring 2006
The Grand Western Canal By Denis Dodds ames Brindley first surveyed the Grand Western Canal in the 1760s as part of a grand scheme to link the Bristol and English Channels in order to save shipping from the dangers of navigating around Land’s End.
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An Act of Parliament was eventually obtained in 1796, but work did not commence until 1808 when there was a revival of interest and much financial activity. John Rennie was appointed engineer in 1810 and construction began at summit level at Holcombe Rogus, working towards Tiverton, the idea being to take advantage of an expected trade in limestone. The 11-mile section was opened in 1815 but engineering difficulties had exhausted the Company’s funds and the plan to link with Taunton was temporarily shelved. In 1827, the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal was opened giving fresh impetus for extension of the Canal to Taunton. James Green’s proposal to complete the 13mile extension from Lowdwells to Taunton with a tub boat canal was accepted and work begun in 1831. It incorporated an inclined plane and seven vertical canal lifts to cope with the 270 ft change in level. Initially, difficulties were experienced with an important landowner at Nynehead who insisted on a change of line and the inclusion of ornamental structures where the canal passed through his parkland. Further problems arose with the innovative canal lifts and the inclined plane which were eventually solved, and the canal opened in 1838 providing a through route from Bridgwater to Tiverton. Newer forms of transport were to be the Canal’s undoing.
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The Bristol and Exeter Railway reached Exeter in 1844 with a branch to Tiverton in 1848 and canal revenue fell dramatically. In 1854, the Canal was leased to the railway which then bought it out in 1865. The Somerset section was closed and the land and machinery sold by 1867. The carriage of limestone and road stone continued on the Devon section until 1925, thereafter the Canal remained derelict until January 1948 when the canal passed into the hands of the British Transport Commission following nationalisation of the railways. It was formally closed to navigation in 1962 and the Tiverton Canal Preservation Committee formed to successfully oppose plans for residential development over a leaking section of the canal bed. In 1971, ownership passed to Devon County Council who designated it as a linear country park, but major leaks again brought calls for partial closure and, in 1988, the Grand Western Canal Trust was formed to, again successfully, campaign for restoration. By 1994, interest was developing in the remaining features of the tub boat section and the canal line was designated as a linear archaeological site and important remaining structures in the Nynehead area listed. In 1998, the Canal Trust reconstituted itself as a registered charity and a volunteer working group initiated.
The Waterways Recovery Group working party at Jay’s Cutting, Somerset
Since then, dredging and archaeological excavation at Nynehead have provided new information about the construction and operation of the lifts, and the WRG dredged 300m of canal at Cothay in Somerset. The Canal Rangers in Devon have instigated a programme of dredging and hosted, with the Canal Trust, the WRG who installed a slipway at Boehill and restored lime kilns and a wharf at Whipcott. The Trust is now organising the restoration of the change lock between the broad and tub boat sections at Lowdwells near Holcombe Rogus. A scheme to reinstate 2 miles of canal in Taunton and introduce a water taxi from a new ‘park and ride’ at Silk Mills is included in the ‘Vision for Taunton’ and space has been provided under the new Silk Mills road/rail bridge for a future extension of the canal west to Wellington.
Picture by Denis Dodds
Landowners at Nynehead are currently processing a DEFRA Higher Level Stewardship grant to preserve the structures, including the canal lift and two ornamental aqueducts in the historic Nynehead Park. A public footpath follows much of the canal line in Somerset and in some places the remains of aqueducts, earthworks and culverts are visible. Several of the lift sites, including the best preserved at Nynehead, can also be identified. The Grand Western Horseboat Company operates regular boat trips from Tiverton. A footpath follows the towpath in Devon and there are fine views of the surrounding countryside, a series of wellproportioned John Rennie stone and brick bridges and impressive looking limekilns. Wildlife abounds throughout.
Further information about the Grand Western Canal can be found at the following websites: www.gardenstrusts.org.uk/Archive/GWC.html www.canalia.com/waterwaysdirectory/societyf.htm www.canals.btinternet.co.uk/canals/grandweston.htm
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Using the towpath for community events rom Spring to Winter the canal is used for charity fundraising and other community events. Whether it is a sponsored walk in pyjamas by students for BBC Children in Need at the end of November or a Springtime stroll to raise money for a old people’s home, the towpath is a safe place to hold an event.
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Walking for Life
Kennet Kanter
Picture by Bob Naylor
he walk around Bath, published in The Butty Winter 2005, was used by members of the Bedminster and Southville Walking for Health Group for their outing in early February. K&A Bath & Bristol Branch Chairman, Michael Davis guided them on their tour of the city that included the Widcombe Flight and Bath’s ‘Little Venice’
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Runners on Caen Hill during last years Kennet Kanter
n Saturday 2nd July the towpath in Devizes will, once again, be pounded by hundreds of feet — all taking part in the second annual Kennet Kanter. The Kanter was first held last year as a 10-mile run on road and towpath. This year there will also be a 5km fun run — and a children’s race will be held on Devizes Green.
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Picture by Su Stafford
Sponsored by local businesses, this major fundraising event supports The British Heart Foundation, Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the Devizes & District Opportunity Centre. There are limited spaces. To register in advance, pick up an entry form at the Visitor Centre in the Market Place, or visit: www.kennetkanter.co.uk.
Charity walkers at Bradford on Avon pringtime brings out the sponsored walkers. This group — all staff at Bupa’s Trowbridge Oaks Residential and Nursing Home — raised £400 for Marie Curie. They walked from the Airsprung Factory near Trowbridge to Avoncliffe — and back again after a sustaining plate of chips. “Someone with local knowledge suggested the towpath and it was a very pleasant walk. I’d never been there before but we had a lovely time and were waved at by all the passing boats”, said Deputy Manager, Tracy Williams.
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Picture by Robert Coles
From left to right, Tracy Williams, Lynne Gilbert, Ray Horan, Sadie Beaven and Elisa Beaven
that was featured on Radio Bristol’s afternoon show. Walking for Health is a national drive to get people active, led by the Countryside Agency. The towpath is popular with the Walking for Health groups because they can choose gentle, level stretches of towpath or the moderate inclines at flights of locks.
Organising events on the canal ritish Waterways encourages safe, well organised events to take place on the K&A Canal. In order to carry out an event on the canal you will need to go through their events process. Firstly, if you are planning an event you will need to contact BW at least three months in advance of the event date on 01452 318000. You will then need to complete an application form
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and supply BW with a satisfactory risk assessment and a copy of your public liability insurance certificate. British Waterways makes a charge for events taking place on or by the waterway to cover administrative costs incurred in processing the application. A standard charge applies; however, in some cases, concessions may apply (no charge is made for events organised for the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust).
Stop at the one-stop service
HONEYSTREET Visit our Wharf on the Long Pound by Honeystreet Bridge for diesel, Calor Gas & coal water & 240 volt electrics overnight moorings pump-out & ‘Porta Potti’ disposal
Gibson’s Boat Services Telephone 01672 851232
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No. 174 Spring 2006
Called up for Service The K&A Canal in wartime
A vital defensive role for the Kennet & Avon Canal ar torn Britain expected an invasion by the German Army and Adolf Hitler issued a directive on 16th July 1940 outlining his intent to land on the beaches of Southern England and then take London.
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The final frontier When the call came to produce a canal in wartime exhibition, Clive and Helen Hackford answered that call in true Home Front fashion. The knowledge gained from Helen’s 8 years as museum archivist and Clive’s research during 11 years as a museum volunteer enabled them to create an exhibition that gives a fascinating inight into life on the canal during the Second World War. The exhibition at Devizes Wharf is now closed but it available for loan. Contact the Trust Office.
The Kennet & Avon Canal formed part of the last defence protecting London and the industrial Midlands from German attack. A total of 58 miles, from Bradford on Avon to Burghfield Mill near Reading was designated ‘Blue Line. It hosted 170 shell-proofed pillboxes, 15 anti-tank emplacements and 5 miles of anti-tank ditches.
Pillboxes Many of the original pillboxes have been destroyed. In fact, many were used as target practice in readiness for the German pillboxes likely to be faced in Europe.
The K&A Canal is one of the best preserved lines of defence and 130 pillboxes can still be found, but many have now become fishermen's shelters or havens for wildlife.
Aerial reconnaissance photography As part of his plans to invade, Hitler ordered extensive reconnaissance photography of southern England. The K&A’s exhibition includes German reconnaissance photographs seized after the war. In one, Alton Barnes airfield is marked as a target. Another, this time of Pewsey, highlights the canal as an obstacle from East to West.
Canal traffic during the war The canal saw some increased traffic in the early war years as contractors carried building materials for pill boxes and ‘dragon's teeth’ along the defensive line. Sample ledgers show the frequency and type of traffic using the canal during the war years. For example, War Office craft frequently used County Lock in Reading to gain access to Bear Wharf for transfer to trains.
POWs Towards the end of the war the Thames Conservancy used German Prisoners of War to dig new cuts at the tail of Southcote Lock and near Sulhamstead lock to relieve flooding. Entries for 1945 show the beginning of private craft making passage into the canal as the war drew to an end.
The Women’s Land Army he Women’s Land Army were called into service for work on the canal. Peggy Few worked an excavator dredging River Kennet. In her recollections she describes how, early in the war, the women worked alongside men operating the machines but, as the war progressed, they found themselves working alone.
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Dragon’s Teeth defences at
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Canal water for firefighting ar from today's vision of a playground of leisure and pleasure, canals and rivers have played an important role in the more grim task of fighting fires. Especially in World War II when the water itself was so important, it was the "ammunítion" to beat the fírebombs.
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The Canal did not escape unscathed from wartime air raids
Alan Sandall remembers s a I stand beside the Trust’s trip boat, the Barbara McClennan, on the canal at Bradford on Avon, or in the Oracle shopping centre, in Reading, with the waters of the River Kennet racing through, my mind often goes back to the dark days of World War II. Passengers and passers-by enjoy the water today but for a very different reason. From 1940, when the Blitz began, it was the water not the environment that many treasured. As a messenger in the Auxiliary Fire Service, in those desperate days, I carried a notebook written in my teenage script, with the title, “Static Water Supply, U-station District”. U-station was just one of the many sub-stations set up in garages, and the like, taken over to house the fire pumps. It stood between the River Thames and the Kennet and the Kennet & Avon Canal. Other messengers would have been prepared the same. My book listed 30 places where a fire pump could be manhandled to reach the Kennet and the Canal and from those places water could be pumped and relayed, by more pumps, to fight fires if bombs
A Bomb damage to a road bridge in Bath
Lock 12 on the Widcombe Flight in Bath which was damaged in an air raid in about 1942
Newbury
had destroyed the mains water system. The list went on to name similar spots to reach the River Thames and the task was extended to cover the whole of Southern England, even ponds, as firefighters in 1944 prepared for the expected retaliation of Nazi bombers on the troops who filled the countryside ready for the Normandy landings. I wonder how many of the points at which the Canal and the Kennet could be reached are still available today? The fireboat was kept near Simonds’ Brewery and I can remember it in a big exercise encompassing the waterside Huntley and Palmers factory and the Gas Works, although kept near Simonds’ brewery. As a teenager Alan Sandall, who later became a skipper on the Barbara Mac at Bradford on Avon, was an under-age volunteer in the AFS and would take crews who were strangers to any of those points around the Reading end of the canal. It’s all part of the story of the wartime fire-fighters in his book, Are you 17? Because of requests, he has made one final reprint. The price is £8.50, post free from Sherwill, Styles Avenue, Frome, BAll 5JN.
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The IWA and The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust The Association’s aim was “to maintain and develop the rivers and canals for trade and as a national amenity”
As the Inland Waterways Association celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, Peter Lindley–Jones tells of some of the drama and intrigue surrounding its formation in this first part of his history of the Association arely does history permit us to place a finger, with pinpoint accuracy, on the date, time and location of a really significant event but 8pm on 15th of February 1946 on the third floor of 11, Gower Street, London, is for Britain’s waterway system the setting for such a justly noteworthy occasion.
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It marks the formation of the Inland Waterways Association and the beginning of the campaign to rescue Britain’s crumbling waterway system — of which the Kennet & Avon Canal was a high profile example — from total decay. There were seven present in Gower Street that evening, but the central figures were the owner Robert Aickman and Tom Rolt whose recently published book Narrow Boat was the catalyst that had brought the seven together.
The writing of Narrow Boat Narrow Boat told the story of how Tom had, during the 1930s, acquired an ex-working narrowboat, ‘Cressy’, in which he and his wife had cruised the waterways. The publication, curiously enough largely written on the K&A at Hungerford, sparked the public realisation that Britain’s waterways system was in dire distress and brought Tom a flood of supporting letters. One was from Robert Aickman suggesting that some form of waterway protection association be formed. Robert and Tom met to discuss such a project which resulted, six months later, in the historic meeting in Gower Street and the birth of the Association with its stated aim ‘to maintain and develop the rivers and canals for trade and as a national amenity’.
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Council formed The seven formed themselves into ‘a council’ with Robert Aickman as Chairman, Charles Hadfield as Vice Chairman and Tom Rolt and Frank Eyre as Secretary and Treasurer. Tom Rolt undertook to look after the Warwickshire Avon area whilst Robert Aickman chose to oversee the Kennet & Avon which at this time, although usable with difficulty, was constantly under threat with one unhappy incident following another.
Letter campaign Both Tom and Robert worked hard to publicise the fledgling Association producing a newsletter, the IWA Bulletin, and flooding the government with letters drawing attention to the sorrowful state of the country’s canals; this brought some success with an invitation to the Association for their views on the forthcoming Transport Bill.
Local branches formed They soon increased membership and within a short time interest local branches were formed. Robert Aickman was not enthusiastic to the notion of forming branches; shrewdly, he realised that they could take independent views and split the Association’s stance on important matters, a situation
which certainly would be exploited by the opposition. He was to say later that “everything depended on finding the right individuals to run the branch”.
K&A challenge to aims of the Association Unhappily his fears were soon realised when Robert’s fundamental policy of fighting to save, and eventually restore, every remaining mile of navigation was challenged by some Association members, including the Kennet Branch, who felt it unrealistic.
Break away K&A Association formed The Kennet & Avon Branch formed in Newbury during January 1949 produced a K&A canal orientated newsletter which they called The Butty — it was meant, at the time, to complement the IWA Bulletin — which explains its name — and they continued monthly issues until the branch wound up its connections with the IWA and formed a new Kennet & Avon Canal Association in August 1951. This was, sadly, prompted by the difference of opinion on Robert’s restoration policy and reinforced when Tom Rolt resigned following a clash of personalities between the two founders. The consequences of Tom Rolt’s resignation, together with the confrontation over the Association’s prescribed policy, rumbled around for months, causing special meetings to be held and rule changes to be made.
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‘Stupidity envy and malice’ leads to resignation Unfortunately, disagreeable discord affected Robert’s health, being frustrated he said, by ”the stupidity, envy and malice” – he was ill and weary of the conflict and on the 26th of October 1951 he resigned as Chairman. He wrote to Peter Scott – “The vast majority of members want only a boating club, or rather a collection of boating clubs; and most of the council members are out, odd though it seems, for their own selfadvancement”! Robert accepted the title of Founder and Vice-President and the council moved offices to 14 St James Street, appointing a new chairman and a salaried general secretary.
1,751 miles of canal open to traffic some 747 miles were uneconomic and of little use for transport. Specific canals were not named but the K&A was clearly one of them. It was no surprise when it became known that the BTC wished to be relieved of the responsibility to maintain the K&A in a navigable condition. After some astute lobbying by the IWA it accepted, reluctantly, that where the BTC would be relieved of the obligation to keep it open for navigation, it should — for a limited
British Transport Commission report
Board of Survey report During April 1955 a Board of Survey set up by the All-Party Committee published its report. It suggested that only some 336 miles of the system were worth developing, a further 994 miles worth keeping whilst the remaining 771 miles did not justify retaining as navigations and, again, this clearly included the K&A.
Plans to abandon the K&A
Chairman resigns after false claims exposed However, Robert returned to the fray when the new Chairman resigned after Peter Scott discovered that he was not a Royal Naval captain as he had claimed, and to complicate matters further the new secretary, it was revealed, suffered mental health problems which required treatment. After just 12 months Robert resumed many of his activities and the organisation once again folded around him.
The decision was helped along by an astute Robert Aickman who had invited some 30 members from each side of the House to become honorary Association members.
period of 5 years — not allow the waterway to deteriorate further.
All Party Committee There was by now considerable pressure on the government for a decision on the future of the waterways so it was to everyone’s delight when an inaugural meeting at Westminster during June 1953 set up an All-Party Committee to examine the situation.
The report was highly criticised by the press and the IWA alike but when the Commission’s Annual Parliamentary Bill was published there was surprise as the measure to abandon the unjustifiable lengths had been reduced from 771 miles to just 90 miles — mostly the K&A.
K&A petition to the Queen The general reaction from supporters of the K&A was immediate with a petition to the Queen of some 22,000 signatures being carried by water all the way from Bristol to Westminster where, with great publicity, it was deposited on the floor of the Ministry of Transport’s office.
The IWA’s Kennet & Avon branch was formed in Newbury during January 1949 and produced a K&A canal orientated newsletter which they called The Butty - it was meant, at the time, to complement the IWA Bulletin – which explains its name
The IWA continued the campaign, cultivating public opinion on one hand whilst fighting official opposition on the other; during 1952 the British Transport Commission’s annual report stated that of the
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Walk from Devizes Wharf James Harrison takes us on a walk from the K&A Trust Museum and Shop on Devizes Wharf to Rowde and back by way of the Caen Hill flight of locks. From the museum cross to the towpath on the other side of the canal by the bridge behind the Wharf building. Head through the gate and descend down to the canal and continue until you get to the next bridge and a set of lock gates.
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Cross the canal here by the road bridge and back down to the canal by the metal steps. Follow the towpath passing some wide stretches of the canal until you get to Prison Bridge. At this point you can either make your way to the Black Horse pub for refreshment or continue under Bath Road and along the towpath. Soon you will reach the Lock Cottage Tea Rooms – another opportunity for refreshments. You will see ahead of you the impressive black and white lock gates that form the staircase of locks in the Caen Hill Flight.
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Keep the canal to your right and make a gradual descent towards the next bridge at Marsh Lane. Look out for the old lock keeper’s cottage on your left. Once again, continue along the towpath (under the road) until you reach Lower Foxhangers.
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Look out for some fir trees and a substantial black and white wooden footbridge over the canal. Cross over and double back on yourself. Take a narrow footpath past some sluice gates and on towards a stream and stile. Climb over the stile and take the path northwards as it runs alongside a hedgerow until you eventually come to a gate leading into a green lane bounded by trees and hedgerow on either side. Follow this path for some distance until it opens out into Rowde sports field. Turn left and
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The K&A Trust Museum and Shop
follow the road towards a housing estate. Turn right into Rowde Court 5 Road. After a short distance, look out for the entrance to the churchyard on your left and make you way past the church and down towards the main road. On your left is the George and Dragon pub, turn right and head along the main road towards and the Cross Keys. Turn right at the Cross Keys to make your way back to Devizes, following the pavement in a southerly direction.
Kennet Lock and Devizes Town Bridge
The road bends to the right and 6 soon afterwards you’ll find the
St Matthew’s Church, Rowde
road leading to the Caen Hill Locks car park. Follow this road up the hill, where, at the top, there is an entrance to the canal. Cross the canal here and turn left onto the towpath and return to Devizes Wharf. Prison Bridge and The Black Horse
Pictures by Bob Naylor
A varied walk taking in town, village and countryside. Most of the walk is on the canal towpath, footpaths, pavements and some sections of road. There is a long but gentle climb on the return to Devizes up the Caen Hill Flight of locks.
The walk is 6 miles long so you should allow at least 2 hours.
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Devizes
Foxhangers footbridge
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A GEOprojects canal map of the Kennet & Avon Canal (and including the River Avon and Bristol Docks)
Please pay to Lloyds Bank plc, Devizes Wilts SN10 1JD (sort code 30-92-63) credit A/C No. 0441822 The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust the sum of £. . . . . . . On (date). . . . . . . . . .and the same sum on the same date each YEAR until further notice. Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Join at any of the Trust shops or the attractions listed — or phone: 01380 721279
............................................. To Bank: When making payments please quote: . . . . . . . . . . . Gift Aid Declaration Name of Charity: The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Details of Donor Title: . . . . . . . . .Full Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postcode: . . . . . . . . . . . I want the charity to treat all subscriptions/donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid Donations.
If you pay by standing order you will also get a leather K&A wallet to keep your membership card in Registered Charity no. CC209206
Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You must pay an amount of Tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year (currently 28p for each £1.00 you give). Please post or fax this form to: The Membership Secretary, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, FREEPOST, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BR. Fax: 01380 727870
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Robert Coles waterways photographer
have a reputation of having photographed the canal for nearly 50 years, a reputation I do not really deserve. Certainly I have carried a camera for almost every day of 50 odd years but the first subjects I photographed for pleasure were Kings, Castles, Halls and the occasional Manors and Granges.
I Another pictue of Crofton, around five o’clock on a summer morning. It is even more quiet then and you can hear distant trains probably before they get to Hungerford.
In 1960 this horse pulled a barge from Bathampton to Dundas. Crowds turned up to see the event and many, like us, followed the horse all the way.
The Editor insisted that I include this one of The Queen at the reopening ceremony – because it is different from the official ones – probably because I took it from the bushes opposite. My bag was first searched by Special Branch.
In those early days canals were very much a background rather than a main subject. It was only when my wife thought about buying a boat about 20 years ago that canal photography became serious. For the February meeting of the Bath and Bristol Branch of the Trust, I was persuaded to show a selection. It seemed a good idea in November when I was first asked but not so good as the day approached.
50 years separate these two photos; how the railings spoil the symmetry of the arch, I dislike them.
I expected to inflict boredom on the ‘capacity’ crowd (we only put out chairs as people arrived) but it appears to have gone down well. So well, in fact, that The Butty Editor, Di Harris, who attended the show, asked me to select a few photos for the magazine. So here they are. Not just pretty pictures. To me a photo is a record and memory of an event or place rather than an artistic masterpiece.
Soon you won’t be able to see the view from the canal through to the Monkton Combe valley due to the enthusiastic planting of bushes. You can see the ‘bushlets’ in their plastic tubes.
The re-connection of the canal at Semington was completed at night with the very minimum disruption to navigation. Many villagers turned up to watch and there was quite a party atmosphere; some may well have stayed all night. I went home after midnight and returned before 8am to find the same people there. It was a very warm evening; the moon was such an unusual red colour that the local TV news commented on it next day. I returned to Semington some months later for the village walk along the new road prior to its opening. I got the time wrong so there was nobody there but it made a good picture the stone was new and yellow in bright sun with the approaching storm clouds black – I got wet. An unusual photo for me as I really prefer people to be in shot.
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Spring plants for water voles By Beth Nightingale Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Water Vole Recovery Project Officer s the days start getting longer and warmer the wildlife quickly responds. With the first touch of spring, bulbs and woodland flowers, such as bluebells, wood anemones and celandines, all race for the light before the trees come into leaf and put them in the shade.
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Along the canal, rivers and streams, wildflowers begin to put on more growth, but most of these plants flower a little later. Marsh marigolds begin to flower in March. By May, yellow flag iris and water forget-me-not are coming into bloom. A heartening arrival of spring, the forget-me-not is referred to in Flora Britannica (Mabey, 1996) in part of John Clare’s poem ‘On a May Morning’… The little blue Forget-me-not Comes too on friendship’s gentle plea Spring’s messenger in every spot, Smiling on all – ‘Remember me!’ For water voles, the important thing about flowering plants is that they taste good. During the winter, fleshy stems and leaves are harder to come by, so water voles have to exist on the roots of plants and treebark. I’ve also seen water voles digging up the rhizomes (fleshy roots) of plants like the yellow flag iris to eat. In the early spring they move on to the more succulent new shoots of meadowsweet, water mint and
Picture by by John Traill, The Wildlife Trusts
Picture by by John Traill, The Wildlife Trusts
From one study of the cut pieces of vegetation left at ‘feeding stations,’ some 227 species of plant were identified as being on the water vole’s menu. To help cater for the varied palate of these delightful and endangered mammals, we need
to leave large areas to grow relatively wild with only occasional cutting, or grazing by livestock. Along canals, the off-side is most suited for this, although the tow-path side does often have a strip of wetland plants as well.
others, leaving distinctive teethmarks at 45-degree angles as they fell the stems. To keep a water vole’s larder stocked up through the year requires a good mix of plants on the water’s edge. Ideally, they should include some woody species like willow, alder and hedgerows, dry bank plants such as garlic mustard, willowherbs and cow parsley, wetland plants like meadowsweet, marsh marigold, sedges and rushes, and aquatics like pondweed and the water-crowfoot.
ALL-ABOARD MARINE SERVICES & NEWBURY DRY DOCK
All boat maintenance services Boat Safety Examinations Anywhere on the K&A and Thames
Tel: 01635 37606 Mobile: 07940 583361 & 07703 235779
Corgi Reg: 189616
GREENHAM LOCK COTTAGE, AMPERE ROAD, NEWBURY RG14 5SN
www.aamarine.co.uk
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Obituaries
Boater’s magnetic camera stand
Peter Kelly It is with great sadness that I have to inform you of the death on Boxing Day, of Peter Kelly, following a long illness. He was a Retired Royal Naval Engineering Officer when he joined the ‘Jubilee’ almost 20 years ago. His broad field of maritime expertise proved very beneficial to the smooth running of the boat. “Peter was a much admired man — always described as a “Gentleman” — always
regarded with esteem. He had time for everyone — patience with everything”. He will greatly be missed by his many friends on the ‘Jubilee. He leaves behind his wife, Nan and his two daughters. The Funeral Service was held at St. Michael’s Church in Monkton Combe, Bath on Friday 6th January 2006 and was attended by a great many of his colleagues from the Trust and ‘Jubilee’. John Shaw
Norah Wicks Norah Wicks died in Exmouth on 27th November 2005, aged 93. She will be remembered by many Trust members for the many years she spent at Devizes Wharf helping in the Trust office. She moved to Devizes (from the Sussex Coast) in the early 1980s and was quickly recruited by Peter Collins, the Membership Secretary and her daughter, Jill Petty, to help in the office. She cheerfully undertook all the unpopular jobs addressing and stuffing envelopes, filing, making tea and coffee and generally lending a hand where help
was needed. After Jill left she carried on helping Sandra until she finally retired in about 1998 when she was a sprightly 85 year old. She enjoyed holidays on the canals and, above all, walking, and the K & A and the towpath were always a source of enjoyment to her. She moved from Long Street in Devizes to Exmouth in 2001 to be near Jill and the family and spent her remaining years back by the seaside which was another source of pleasure for her. Jill Petty
spinning clock-face dial raked in money at special events. He and his family enjoyed boating on the canal in their cruiser, Andantino, until he sold it in the ealy 90s. Dan died just before Christmas. R Thompson
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For more information contact John Arthurs on 01793 722292 or 07821 842628 or email: newburyharbourmaster@hotmail.co.uk
David Owen & Co Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire 01380 722211
126 High Street Marlborough Wiltshire 01672 512163
The Stores High Street Great Bedwyn
general provisions newsagent off-licence specialist cheeses home-cooked ham fresh vegetables photocopying and fax facilities
Ruth Dawkins Ruth, former Chairman of Devizes Branch, leader of the catering team and long-time supporter of the Trust died in
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unscrew the ball and socket and replace it with the supplied eye-nut and cord, you have a strong enough magnet to retrieve dropped windlasses or other ferrous items from the canal. The kit is being sold for £22.50 plus delivery (including a £2.50 donation to the K&A Canal Trust for every one bought through The Butty).
Auditors to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust
‘Dan’ Dannan In the 70s and 80s, ‘Dan’ Dannan — along with his family — was an active member of the Newbury Stone Building team, helping out in the shop and at events. Takings were always very high when Dan took his turn in the shops — and his
rust member John Arthurs has developed a magnetic camera stand that will prevent your camera falling overboard. His September Pearl Camera Magnet has a ball and socket mount that allows the camera to pivot so you can compose your picture. Not only does it keep your camera safe and ensure steady sharp pictures, but also, if you
early March. We shall carry a full obituary in The Butty issue 175 in Summer 2006.
canal pump-out cards Tel: 01672 870211 Open Mon–Fri: 7am–8pm Sat: 7am–7pm Sun: 7am–2pm
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Reading Mike Wyatt 0118 9427708 ollowing an interesting account of the restoration of Cambria in October, the committee were hard at work preparing for our 50th Anniversary Meeting on 25th November. By a quirk of the calendar, our normal meeting day of the last Friday in the month coincided to the exact date of the Reading Town Hall Meeting held to protest against the imminent closure of the canal in 1955 at which the branch was formed.
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Celebration night At the Anniversary meeting we were joined by a number of Trust ‘Golden Members’ dating from 1955, by the Mayor of Reading, the Trust President & Chairman and the Chairman of British Waterways who got a hearty round of applause when he finished his speech. I suspect his predecessor the Chairman of the British Transport Commission would have been hissed off the stage had he been present 50 years previously! I must thank Gerry & Moreen Thorne, particularly for all the work they did in preparing the exhibition of photographs of 50 years of branch activities and many other things, and John Swift who was the MC, and Pam his wife who organised the reception of our guests. The party was a huge success due to the team effort of so many branch members who attended and entered wholeheartedly into the event. Thank you all.
Boating memories After the New Year break we continued with the 1950s scene with David Blagrove talking firstly about boating on the Kennet in the 50s & 60s, then contrasting it in part 2 with boating in the 90s. We continued this theme at our February meeting when Bill Fisher spoke to us about the early days also. May I remind everyone that
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the meeting on Friday 30th March at 8pm in Turnham’s Farm Hall is our AGM, hopefully kept as short as possible, followed by David Saady on ‘Have Boat Will Travel’. This should make up for the dull business start to the meeting. Don’t forget – Reading Water Fest – Saturday 24th June by the Abbey Ruins.
Newbury Graham Smith 01635 580356 racy Perryman and her team have been hard at work with improvements at the Stone Building, both to the shop and to the upstairs displays, since Christmas. Particular thanks are due to Mike Jennings and John Cahill for the time and effort they’ve put in. 2005 was a bumper year for business and we have every intention of doing even better in 2006, but Tracy could do with the support of a few more volunteers to help us achieve this. The shop will have been open for several weeks by the time you read this — do take an opportunity to pop in and have a chat.
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Waterways Festival The date of this year’s Waterways Festival, Sunday 30th July, looms ever closer. Tracy is again acting as Festival Manager on top of her work running the shop and she could do with more support for this too. Any offers to help, whether with the pre– and post–event administration or with running the event on the day, would be most welcome — Tracy can be contacted at the Stone Building on 01635 522609. We would also welcome anyone interested in helping with the other work of the Branch Committee, particularly as work and other commitments have forced a number of people to stand down recently.
remaining ones this season can be found in the What’s On diary. Don’t forget the Branch AGM which precedes the last talk of the season on 26th April.
Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446 e can start this report off as we mean to go on, in a very positive vein. In November the ‘Rose’ had her regulation out-of-water inspection followed, a couple of weeks later, by an in-water inspection.
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Sound bottom We were pleased to note that once again it passed such a thorough examination and also, with Graeme using the new, all singing, all dancing ultra-sonic thickness gauge recently purchased by Enterprise, the hull was found to be in very good condition with no discernable corrosion at all. Maybe we have a better sort of water at this end of the canal!
Santa cruises a popular success Public trips during the summer season proved to be well subscribed, with passenger numbers up 10% on the previous year’s level. Thanks to some late bookings, it was yet another record year for chartering out the Rose of Hungerford. We exceeded last year’s record numbers by a further 2%.
This was followed by the highest ever numbers of passengers (both children and adults) on our ever popular Santa Cruises. Sincere thanks go to Captains, crew, and especially Santa and all his little helpers, without whom this just wouldn’t have been possible. During 2005, as before, we saw many of our passengers return yet again from previous seasons. They tell me that they enjoy the special mix of the calm and tranquillity of the canal, combined with the courteous care and efficiency of the Captain and crew, which all combines to make a very enjoyable outing at a price that is not ‘over the top’. The Grotto is now dismantled and stored away until the next advent season, so now we have a little time and breathing space in which to look forward to the year ahead.
2006 charters Our first charter of 2006 was booked for 1st February so we were pleased the predicted ‘hardest winter for 10 years’ was wide of the mark. Charter bookings are already coming in quite well, with a significant amount of repeat business.
Quiz night 21st January saw another of our quiz evenings aboard the ‘Rose’, open to our loyal band of volunteers. Once again the quiz was organised by Mike and Karen Hall, with nibbles arranged by Tracey — many thanks to you all. The winning team was Hawkeye, once again a team of
Winter talks Thanks to the efforts of Geoff Paterson, our regular winter talks continue to be very popular and details of the
Picture by Bob Naylor
Santa with his helpers at Dunmill Lock. Back from left are Bob Mayall, Ann Mayall, Graeme Dewhirst and Adam Champion. Front are, Maureen Pearce, Sue Truckle, Santa and Tracy Perryman.
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Outside the Boiler House the auxiliary fan and trunking in the flue system were found to be very corroded and the fan itself was beyond repair, but we have been able to replace it with the same model which is still in production after 40 years. The actual trunking has been shot blasted, lined with stainless steel and repainted by Trust member, John Arthurs of of Swindon Engineering Metal Workers. This has now been put back in position and tested successfully so the flue roofing and side panels will be refitted next week.
our volunteers from the Reading branch, who seemed to have a detailed knowledge of the most obscure subjects (sad or what!). All agreed that it was a great evening, and many requests for another similar evening were received, maybe combined with a picnic or a barbeque during high summer. The AGM of the Hungerford branch will be held on Friday 12th May aboard the ‘Rose of Hungerford’ commencing at 7.30pm sharp. All members are cordially invited to attend and if there is anything that you would like on the agenda, please let the Secretary know.
Hrry Wiilis’s collage of Crofton action pictures which was presented to Reg
Crofton Ray Knowles 01672 851639 e have now said goodbye to Reg and Shelagh who moved out of Pump House Cottage on 7th January. This was preceded by a little presentation at lunchtime on the 3rd when the Tuesday Group presented Reg with one of Harry Willis’s collages of pictures, this one showing Reg in action in many of the tasks he had undertaken over the last 10 years, together with a cheque which showed just how much they were valued by all of us. True to form, Reg put in a full day helping to move the ‘black shed’ from its temporary position in the coal yard to the other side of the fence alongside the workshop and crewroom.
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Successors for Reg & Shelagh We had more than 40 applications form for the posts of Warden and Assistant Shop Manager and Harry and I spent many hours reading and assessing them. We interviewed 15 couples and from a short list of 5 for a second and final interview which included the Trust Chairman and the Managing Director of ‘Enterprise’, Alan and Catriona Flaherty accepted our offer and will start on or after 23rd March. Refurbishment of the cottage has started, but as it
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may not be finished by the time they arrive we will probably have to do a lot of the clean up that is normally done by the Warden including the cleaning and stocking of the shop so as to be ready for the Easter reopening. After all, we are then open every day until 1st October so any work around the building will have to be done in what are known as ‘unsocial hours’. The Branch AGM planned for 25th March will have to be postponed until later as the shop area where we hold it will not be ready.
Branch officers needed I am also still trying to find someone to take over as Chairman and we still have not got a Secretary or a Deputy Chairman and by the end of this year we will need an under 70 year old to represent the branch on Trust Council.
Winter work schedule There is some good news in that the winter work schedule is going well but with only 11 working days left to the steaming trials on 21st – 25th March we must keep going. So far we have not had any nasty surprises or extra expense. We have discovered some talented concrete mixers and layers amongst our numbers and now all of the new yard area around the workshop and crewroom is concrete and
can be kept clean and tidy. This is good news for the coming summer as the whole of the area outside the boiler house and shop doors needs to be relaid and none of it is level or has the same angle of slope. The coal yard can now revert to its proper state of being a coal storage area and the 15 tons we need on 7th March can be tipped alongside the remaining 4 tons from last year’s supply instead of on top of it. Vaughan Curtis has made a good start in cutting down the overgrown trees which obscure the view from the coal yard and is due back on the 18th to complete the job. For years I was under the impression that the embankment and trees were the property of Network Rail until one their engineers sent me an email showing the extent of our ownership of the embankment and she also managed to get me a confirmatory letter from BW. We have also cut back some of the growth around the timber steps which were cleaned up last year by members of the British Trust For Conservation Volunteers organised by our old friend from BW, Terry Kemp. The preservation of these steps will be another outdoor job for the summer.
Pressure gauges and trunking Back in the Boiler House, Alison has checked all the pressure gauges and as a result the boiler now has two new ones.
Trial steaming & boiler inspection After the trial steamings, which include the Boiler Insurance Inspector’s visit on 23th March, we will have just 6 working days to sort out any problems arising and to complete the other 18 items on the list before we can reopen on Good Friday 14th April. I won’t print the full list but you can have one if you promise to come and help!
Devizes Roger Hollands 01249 650952 anta has come and gone! And once again the Santa Cruises were a great success. Thanks must go to Ian Sharp who lets the Trust use his boat ‘Kenavon Venture’ free of charge for this valuable fund raiser, to Jane, the shop manager, who bought the presents and her volunteers who wrap them, to Pete Jordan who managed the bookings, to the branch members who helped to crew the boat, and last but not least to Santa for fitting us into his busy schedule. What a team!
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I survived Christmas The Wharf meeting room was packed to near capacity for the crazy Christmas party that starts the Branch activities for the year. Where else on a foggy Saturday night in January can you go narrow boat racing,
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS have a snow ball fight, play bidirectional pass the parcel and lots of other silly games. In amongst all this mayhem Barbara and her team managed to create a superb supper. Do come next year!
A Cotswold walk Last September, Bruce Hall gave branch members a
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fascinating talk on the problems and progress being made restoring the waterways which make up the Cotswold Canals. We hope to arrange a conducted tour of the canals to see for ourselves the progress being made. Saturday 6th May is the date. The hire of a coach for this trip is prohibitive, so we will travel by car. If you wish to
come on this visit please contact Alice or myself. We need final numbers by the end of April. The visit details will be available towards the end of March.
Devizes Branch web page Please take a look at the branch web page for reports of events and the branch social diary. A summary of our wine tasting evening was on the world wide web within 2 days of the event.
West Wilts John Maciver 01225 812225 hings are looking up at our end of the Cut. RLL Boats, Keynsham, did an excellent job of the mammoth re-plating repair to ‘Barbara McLellan’. And now, the equally challenging job, by volunteers, of refitting the internal structure is well underway and appears
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Sue and Bob Atwood winners of the narrow boat race at the Devizes Branch I survived Christmas party.
to be on track, ready for the new season on Saturday 1st April. (Nothing like having an auspicious day!)
Tea Room manager The Tea Room/Shop is also being prepared and re-stocked and we await the outcome of recruiting a new Tea Room Manager. The garden is already looking attractive and inviting.
AGM We have also had our AGM and have a new committee, with Laurie Stallard and Tony Neal joining as new Committee members. I would personally like to thank the out–going committee for their unstinting support and contribution during a particularly challenging year.
Branch members skills However, the above progress would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of a hard core of highly skilled
The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Public Trip Boats • 3 boats • 3 locations • public trips • special charters •
‘Rose of Hungerford’ Operating from just off the High Street in Hungerford With a seating capacity of 50, ‘Rose’ is a comfortable well-equipped widebeam boat. Public trips: • Every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter until October – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday from June until September – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday during July and August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Every Sunday during August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Special Santa Trips at Christmas Charter trips available for all your special occasions Wheelchair/disabled access Booking Manager: 01488 683389
‘Protect Enhance Promote’
‘Barbara McLellan’
‘Jubilee’
Operating from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage The Barbara McLellan is a 65-ft purpose-built wide-beam boat capable of seating 51 passengers. Public trips: • From May to September–11.30am: I hour trip to Meadows Bridge, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays • From June to mid-September – 4.30pm: I hour trip to Widbrook, Saturday and Sunday • Special trips, including cream teas, Bath, Autumn Tints, Christmas Santa Trips
Operating from Brassknocker Basin, opposite Viaduct Inn, Limpley Stoke, A36 East of Bath ‘Jubilee’ is a converted traditional narrowboat with a 30-seat capacity. Brassknocker Wharf has ample car parking.
Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day. Wheelchair/disabled access Wharf shop and tea-room Boat tickets, gifts, books and refreshments Booking Manager: 01225 775326
Public trips: • Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until October 12.00 – 2.00pm Cruise to Claverton and return 2.30pm – 5.45pm Cruise to Avoncliff stopping for 30 minutes and return • From June to September inclusive Tuesdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Avoncliff and return Thursdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Bathampton and return Charter trips Booking Manager: 01749 850169
All boats are well equipped to provide a range of refreshments and they have licensed bars. They also have a public address system or will accept your own sound system. General enquiries 01380 721279
real at! a y o j n E e family tr 31
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS volunteers. We’ve got professional welders, carpenters and electricians as well as accomplished painters, plumbers, interior designers and a rope fender craftsman; in fact, a number of volunteers have developed new skills through assisting with the rebuild. To manage and direct those volunteers the Boat Manager (BM), Geoff Olver has been an inspiration to us all, as has Robin Parry, Deputy BM, who has played a crucial role in planning, organising and overseeing the re-build. What has been achieved has been truly amazing and — although there is still a considerable amount of work to do — everyone is highly focused in ensuring we have a fully refurbished boat, all spick and span for the new season. Well done everyone. By the way, anyone out there wondering what to do with some of their spare time should pop along and see what enjoyment and satisfaction you could achieve by joining us as a volunteer. Not only could you nurture your hidden talents but you could have a highly enjoyable pursuit in excellent company, and be able to play with the toys to boot! Come on, check us out; I guarantee you will not be disappointed. You can volunteer to help in the Tea Room or Boat, or both.
Charter bookings We already have a number of charter trips booked for 2006, and are looking forward to welcoming on board those customers who were
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disappointed last year when ‘B Mac’ had to be withdrawn from service. Why not be part of the team? We would be delighted to welcome you. You do not need any previous experience to participate in this rewarding and satisfying pursuit.
Volunteer training The first Public Trips (1st April) will be preceded by a preseason sail shake-down and volunteer Training Day (2-hour sessions) on Saturday 25th March; another opportunity will be on Sunday 9th April. A full programme and joining-up list for this mandatory training will be in the Wharf Cottage crewroom. The training is for complete novices and experienced crew alike, and will cover an update on recent changes to the operating procedures and a refresher on fire drills, emergency evacuation and other safety matters.
Crew recruitment trip to Devizes We are running a crewrecruitment, promotional and crew-training trip to Devizes again this year, during 21st to 23rd April. ‘Barbara McLellan’ will sail from Bradford on Avon to Foxhangers on Friday; Foxhangers – Caen Flight – Devizes on Saturday and, on Sunday will set off early (08.30) from Devizes back to Bradford on Avon. Potential volunteers are welcome to ‘check us out’ and, if you like what you see, we would be pleased to have you on board as crew.
Branch social activity On the social front, we all thoroughly enjoyed our Annual Dinner at The Barge, Seend, organised by Dave Jupp. The evening surpassed last year’s excellent meal and the overall ambience of the place made for a superb evening. Chris Poulter organised the raffle which made nearly £70. The WWB Volunteer Social Club, which meets on the last Thursday evening of the month, needs a new events organiser. Andrew Cox organised a varied programme of speakers and events last year but we now need someone to take over from him. A willing volunteer is urgently required.
Claverton Pete Dunn 01761 432811 n the depths of winter, the Pump House may seem to be a cold and unwelcoming place. It is often flooded and — being closed up for most of the time and containing large bits of cast iron that once get cold take days to warm up again — it can seem like a large fridge. But this is only half the story.
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Workshop stove We have a nice stove in the workshop that makes it a cosy place to have lunch with other members who all have warm personalities that generate a good working relationship. The chat around the lunch table is tremendously varied. It is not just about engines although I must admit the topic does arise. Other discussion can be very
topical and up to the minute. A warm welcome is given to any visitors who happen by. We have even dried out a couple of British Waterways employees who got wet while working on the electric pumps and given tea to a cold Rail Track watchman stationed outside our door.
A warm welcome is asssured What I am trying to put over is that Claverton members are a nice bunch of diverse people so, if you are thinking of volunteering for something, why not give us a try. I can at least assure you a warm welcome.
Major repairs As you may recall from my last report, there are major repairs to be carried out before we can be fully operational again although the Pump House will be open as advertised from Easter. The major repair consists of a complete renewal of one of the control sluices; the timber construction has rotted to an extent where further running may have caused other damage to the pumping machinery. To achieve the repair, a dam has to be constructed across the mill pond so that the water level can be maintained; this will allow the electric pumps to remain operational. This dam needs to be well designed and engineered on safety grounds. At the time of writing the design is complete and a contract for steel work will be placed with a local fabricator in February. We hope to install the dam in early March, river levels
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r d o n Av o n W h o f & ar ad r Dry Dock B 200 years of tradition returns to Bradford Wharf
For Marine Engineering Services & Dry Dock Bookings Covering all aspects of boat repairs, maintenance & improvements Call Richard Burchell on 01225 868 668 or 07971 103436
Picture by Maurice Pullin
Preparation underway for the curved sluice repair work
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS permitting, and the main repair should be completed by the middle of May.
Come and see us at Easter So if you want to see what is happening, why not come along at Easter. Our team will be on hand to explain the problem and how we carried out the repairs. Water will still be pumped as the 1952 Lister engine powered 6 inch pump has now been fully restored and will be running at various times during the weekend. This pump was installed to keep the water levels up to a minimum level during the years of the K&A`s decline. During its recommissioning the pump was seen squirting water at a great height from one side of the pond to the other in spectacular fashion.
Bath & Bristol Mike Davis 01225 448576 he Open Day is going ahead, at Brassknocker and Dundas Basin, on Sunday, 7th May, between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. In addition to the regular activities — the restaurant, boat and cycle hire — there will be special attractions on the day. Our two trip boats, ‘Jubilee’ and ‘Barbara McLellan’, will be doing a continuous shuttle during the day to the Claverton Pumping Station. There will be various displays, including the Canal Restoration and Nature Conservancy. The Trust Improvement
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Projects at the Ticket Office and Crane should be nearly complete. There will be a fishing teach-in by the Bathampton Anglers and a miniwalks programme to view the newly restored Dundas Aqueduct. The Inland Waterways Association and the Somerset Coal Canal Society will also be there. So, plenty to do and see. The rich panoply of the Canal all in one place. We hope to see as many members of the Trust there as possible. We will also be giving it plenty of publicity and hope to see many more people coming and joining, which is the prime purpose. Bring your friends with you. There could not be a better day out.
50 years of K&A photos We had a very good Branch winter meeting on 14th February, when Robert Coles gave a presentation from his collection of K&A photos. Robert has been taking these photos over a period of more than 50 years and has a treasure chest of thousands. He has promised me to bequeath them to the Trust (with all our fantastic modern technology, he can put them on a CD and let us have a copy!). Thirty people came and we had an informative and amusing evening, with full audience participation. We saw 500 photos in 2 hours. The overall impression, for those who had been involved as well as those to whom it was new, was amazement at the extent of the achievement in the restoration.
Mooring code talk at AGM Our Branch AGM takes place on Tuesday, 28th March, 7.30 pm, also at St Mary’s Church Hall in Bathwick. Eliza Botham of British Waterways will be our speaker, on the subject of their Moorings Code and its current implementation. This is such an important subject at our end of the Canal and we expect a good turnout. We will keep the legal necessities to a minimum, and the meeting will then be open to the public as well as members. We will give it plenty of publicity.
Goodbye to Bob Wlodarczyk We are sorry that Bob Wlodarczyk has moved to Southampton and has had to resign from our committee. He has been one of our stalwarts for many years. We would like to thank him in these pages for everything he has done . We are pleased to inform you that Mike Rogers has joined the committee. Mike is a leading light in the Wiltshire Hawk and Owl Trust, is a ‘Jubilee’ Skipper and also works in the Claverton team. Truly, an all-round Trust man! When I first met him, he was working on the Trust Improvement Project at the Ticket Office at Dundas, together with his wife Christine who was busy banging the plaster off the stone walls inside, and who was so busy that she could scarcely be
persuaded to stop and come outside for a team photograph! We have asked Mike to act as Nature Correspondent for the Branch, and also for the Trust. Welcome aboard.
Jubilee re-fit You will read elsewhere in these pages that our trip boat ‘Jubilee’ has been undergoing another major refit this winter, and is currently receiving a replated hull and new engine at a boatyard in Oxford. She should be back at Brassknocker by early March, where her insides and superstructure will be refitted. We will have a brand new boat, but still with the old ambience of the ‘Jubilee’ which everyone loves. The technical problems we have had with the two boats has been a financial setback, but they will both be back on the water by the start of the season and earning that money back again. So, here’s to another good season. We hope to see you all on the Canal during the Summer.
OA DAY B TING on the beautiful
Kennet & Avon Canal
self-drive and skippered boats canadian canoes & cycle hire The Bath & Dundas Canal Co. Brass Knocker Basin Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7JD Telephone: 01225 722292 Web: www.bathcanal.com
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the K&A
BW angling contact for W take every precaution to protect the wildlife they may disturb with when they are carrying our their maintenance work. Each time they empty a pound they rescue anything that might be living there and move them to the pound above so that when the canal is rewatered they can easily find their way back to their normal habitat. This winter, for example, the pound next to the tea room on Caen Hill was drained and 1600lb of fish were captured and relocated — lots of trench, crucian carp and also bream, roach, perch as well as a couple of pike and some eels.
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nown along the west end of the K&A as BW’s Waterways Supervisor, George Meer uses the K&A to work, rest and play – or at least enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the countryside while sitting at the water’s edge with a 14.5 meter pole in his hand. George, who has recently become BW’s fishing liaison officer, started fishing himself when he was just 4 years old and his Dad took him to the Coventry and Ashby Canal. Those childhood trips to his local canal developed a life-long love of angling which has seen him catch 200lb of bream in a single day on fishing holiday in Ireland and his personal biggest catches of a 21lb carp and a 20lb pike.
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Picture by Dale Marshal
Although he has fished in many places, his favourite has to be the canal. Not only does he know what is in the canal, but he particularly enjoys that sort of fishing. But what is it exactly that he
enjoys? “Being out in the elements and enjoying the nature around me. And the challenge of catching the fish.” And matches add even more of a challenge. George admits to having made a bit of money from matches — but not recently, he says. George believes that Angling Clubs are essential to the future of the sport. They nurture the young, bringing on the anglers of tomorrow and they instill a sense of responsibility in their members, so they look after the canal they are fishing. George is pictured with a 30lb Common Carp that was rescued when the pound by the Black Horse pub in Devizes was drained for repair work this Winter.
Satellite Television Martyn Satman Telephone: 07914 401036 Forget ghosting, crackling sound, with satellite. 100% perfect picture, over 200 free channels and no monthly payments. Fully fitted system on site to your existing television, including demo – £450
Foxhangers Marine
Modern narrowboat hire fleet all built by Foxhangers, 10 boats 2 new semitrads for 2006 Full engineering/maintenance base BETA and ISUZU engine sales/fitting WEBASTO central heating dealers Covered narrowboat painting dock Bespoke boat building undertaken Based at the bottom of Caen Hill Locks
Tel: 01380 828795 www.foxhangers.co.uk 34
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Reviews Leonard Pearcey
Tim Wheeldon Technical book reviews
Non-technical books
English Canals Explained By Stan Yorke First published in 2003 by Countryside Books ISBN 1 85306 825 X 96 pages £6.95 soft cover
Death in Little Venice By Leo McNeir First published in 2001 by Enigma ISBN 0 9524052 7 X 286 pages. £7.99 soft cover
nother in the Living History series, and so full of canal information, and there’s no lack of references to the K&A with some good photos of Crofton, Dundas and Devizes. There is so much detail about the canal system that it’s practically impossible to find anything omitted well, I’ve tried and failed. Extremely clear line drawings by Stan’s son Trevor add to the understanding and Stan’s own photos are excellent. I’m not sure if the all black & white style works quite as well this time, however, as they don’t do justice to the modem views which should be full of the colours of the cut. If you know this book off pat you’ll get an A level in the subject — or at least win the odd pub quiz — and if any friend is sceptical about your canal mania give them a copy. If they’ve an ounce of sense of history or appreciation of design, they’ll be hooked too.
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aving reviewed this author’s third Marnie Walker crime novel in our Autumn 2005 issue (and his first and fourth in the Spring of that year), Clive Hackford ended his final book review: ‘… it is hoped to review Leo McNeir’s second novel Death in Little Venice in the next edition of The Butty.’ Well, one issue later, I’m realising that hope. And is it as clever as its title? Most definitely. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read the others as this stands well in its own right. And Marnie seems to be in more trouble than ever with the police trying to link her to the murder of a famous MP on a deserted stretch of canal in Regent’s Park, and someone going to great lengths to try to eliminate her. It is again compelling reading, unputdownable as we long to find out whodunnit, and with some lovely writing: I particularly remember ‘the music drifted through the house like incense’.
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The Essential Guide to the Boat Safety Scheme Second edition published in 2005 by The Boat Safety Scheme ISBN 0 903218 38 0 196 pages £8.99 Loose leaf or Freedownload pdf
Walking on Water By Nick Corble First published in 2000 by Minerva Press ISBN 0 75411 486 4 309 pages. £10.99 soft cover
f having to review the BSS Guide is not drawing the short straw — I don’t know what is. However, here goes... with glossy, loose leaves (for updating) clipped within a transparent cover it’s a very handsomely (and expensively?) produced document which will sit well on your boat bookshelf between “Narrow Boat” and “The Kennet & Avon Canal”. Of course it’s what you do with it (once you have managed to get the wrapping off), is the important thing: how useful is it? If you’re the kind who leaves the details of how your boat works to the experts, then this publication will tell you much you didn’t know. But watch out: the descriptions of things that can go wrong may frighten you rigid; (although some of the warnings, as so often in these days of Health and Ultra Safety, are simply risible — “Male pins on the boat’s connector will help prevent electrocution”. But compared with all the previous efforts this is undoubtedly the best yet at presenting the complexities of the BSS. The more you understand about this ‘book’, the less you will be subject to a surveyor or examiner telling you something needs doing when it doesn’t — or vice versa. Not that they ever do!
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his is quite a read, but worth persevering — even if you don’t agree with some of the writer’s strong opinions. (I love Blackburn Cathedral, but wouldn’t reckon it above St Mark’s in Venice). We encounter people and places on a journey of 270 miles, negotiating 165 locks and enduring 3 pump-outs, travelling from Skipton by the Yorkshire Dales to Banbury by the Chiltern Hills. There’s a comprehensive list of references (books and websites): ‘Although this book is based on my own personal experiences, and those of my different crews, a number of external sources have been of considerable value.’ Chief among these is Tom Rolt’s ‘Narrow Boat’. Nick Corble ends his book with a vow: ‘The role of those of us who are interested [in waterways] is to become active in our interest. To build upon the work of those pioneers and learn from their example that change, positive change, directed change, is not only possible, but also desirable.’ Do I detect cries of ‘Hear! Hear!’?
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Books reviewed in The Butty are are available from the Trust shop on Devizes Wharf or through other Trust shops. If it is
This book can be bought from the BSS Office Tel: 01923 201278 or download it free from www.boatsafetyscheme.com/site/gettheguide_7.asp
not convenient to visit in person you can use our mail order service by telephoning 01380 729489.
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Butty Letters to the Editor
No. 174 Spring 2006
Letters on any subject related to the canal are welcome. We want to encourage debate about canal issues. This is your forum to voice your views. Requests for anonymity will be honoured, but no letter Editor, Di Harris will be published unless it arrives with contact details. Letters should be not more than 300 words and may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Send letters to the Editor: contact details on page 3.
CYGNET SIGHTING Terence Gaussen’s letter in the Autumn issue of The Butty prompts me to write to say that we encountered this vessel moored at Snape Maltings on the River Alde while we were cruising on the East Coast last July. I believe this is her home mooring. Our own boat is further down the quay.
Incidentally ‘Cygnet’ is now steered with a tiller — which is just about visible. She has raced in a number of sailing barge matches, and I have the results of the 1999 Thames Match which show her as then owned and skippered by M Brown.
Tim Dodwell, Brockenhurst
Picture by Liz Dodwell
SPIRALLING MOORING COSTS W recently told me that my mooring at Horton Bridge — a linear offside pontoon mooring with shared pub parking and refuse and with a boat moored in front of the water point — will now cost me £104/metre. That’s up £5 per metre from the previous year, the third rise since I moved there 30 months ago. BW say that the rises are the result of demand and of comparable private marina costs. What utter rubbish. You cannot compare Horton Bridge pontoon mooring facilities with any marina facilities or costs on the K&A. I have approached a prime marina at the eastern end of the canal to see what their cost would be. Surprise. Suprise. It’s £2 dearer per metre but they have security 24/7, toilets, showers, elsan, diesel, pump-out, gas, parking, BBQ area plus water and electricity to all boats. Is this comparable with Horton bridge or any “Class Mooring” BW offers on K&A. NO IT IS NOT.
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I don’t mind paying a reasonable price for a mooring, but I feel that BW have shown their true greedy colours. BW stated in a press release that their intention on the K&A was to get boats off the towpath and onto decent BW moorings. The way I see it now is all they are going to do is price boaters like myself off the moorings and on to the banks. This way we can reduce these ever spiraling costs .The boat owners that are currently on the bank are there not just because they would like a mooring but once again cannot afford it. I understand that there is a waiting list for moorings at Horton as it is a beautiful location, but I believe BW are abusing their authority and losing our trust in their capability to offer fair-priced moorings for those of us that are currently bankside or have been invloved with the K&A all of our lives.
Roy Skeates, Newbury
OLD CANALOHOLIC IS LOOKING FOR CREW TO KEEP HIM AFLOAT! his situation is clear enough. I am an old canaloholic whose addiction dates from around 1970. I have now sold my own narrowboat, but still wish to continue cruising. So I need companions. I can steer most of the time, but I need crew to work the locks and bridges, as well as give me company and catering. If you can provide food and transport to the boat yard, I’ll cover the day hire. Newcomers to waterways have found cruising with me to
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be a gentle way of learning what has to be done without stress, exhaustion or rush. I want nothing in return except to enjoy a day’s cruising. If you are interested in a longer trip — a week or so — I can’t promise to pay all the bills, but I will contribute half. Name and address supplied If you would like to share your enthusiasm for canals with this canalaholic and want to find out more, contact the Editor — see contact details on page 3.
GOODBYE AND THANKS FROM CROFTON s retiring wardens of Crofton Pumping station we would like to say a very big THANK YOU to all the volunteers, friends and visitors who have supplied us over the years we were at Crofton. We have many happy
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memories to take with us and have been very privileged to have had the opportunity to have been the first wardens Crofton has had. Thank you one and all.
Shelagh and Reg Paynter
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Butty The page for younger canal users
No. 174 Spring 2006
BW staff help with school canal project t isn’t every day that you see 3.2 tonnes of lock gate swung up into the air on a crane and lowered back into place in an empty lock — that’s the equivalent to lifting and lowering an Indian elephant into the lock. But three lucky classes from St Joseph’s School in Devizes were able to watch the action in February when Lock 33 was being repaired. The crane was clearly popular with the children, but what would have done the crane’s job when the canal was first built?
I
Picture by Niamh Dale
The lock is beautiful. You can see lots of things. We went to see an empty lock and saw a crane and went on to the website www.wow4.water.net Niamh
Picture by Lucy Poulton
Thank you for showing us around and for the leaflets. The website is great. I hope you get on well and the juice was yummy. Wishing you all luck. Hope we all hear from you again.
George Meer, the K&A’s Waterway Supervisor, talks to pupils from St Joseph’s School, Devizes, about the repair work on the Caen Hill Flight in Devizes.
Thank you. Emily.
Picture Michael Farebrother
Picture Emily Gray
Early colour on the canal bank
Butterburr is one of the first plants to appear on the canal banks and is a welcome source of colour between March and May. The flowers are followed by enormous rhubarb–like leaves up to a meter across that form a dense shade under which little can grow.
Picture by Bob Naylor
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No. 174 Spring 2006
What’s On Diary April Saturday 1st Devizes Branch AGM followed by a speaker (tba),7.30pm at the Wharf. Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd ‘Barbara McLellan’ will sail from Bradford on Avon to Foxhangers on Friday; Foxhangers – Caen Flight – Devizes on Saturday and, on Sunday will set off early (08.30) from Devizes back to Bradford on Avon. Come along and try us out! Wednesday 26th Newbury Branch AGM followed by 'Berkshire Countryside at Risk' by Margaret Cubley of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
May Saturday 6th Devizes Branch, Guided tour of the Cotswolds Canal. Hosted by Bruce Hall, Chairman of Cotswolds Canals Trust. Contact Roger Hollands at rd.hollands@tiscali.co.uk or 01225 650952, or Alice Boyd on alicebf@aol.com or 01380 724701. Sunday 7th Bath & Bristol Branch Open Day at the Canal Centre,
Brassknocker Basin (near Limpley Stoke, just south of Bath on the A36). Friday 12th Hungerford Branch AGM, aboard the ‘Rose of Hungerford’ at 7.30pm
Saturday 24th Reading Water Fest, by the Abbey Ruins, Reading. Event Information 0118 939 0373; Boater Information 0118 942 7708.
July Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd Saul Canal Festival Details from the Festival website: www.junctionevents.org.uk or Tel: 01285 643440. Saturday 29th Boater’s BBQ at the Stone Building Newbury Wharf Sunday 30th Newbury Waterways Festival 2006 in Victorial Park, Newbury. Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th Bristol Harbour Festival Information from Harbour Master’s Office 0117 9031484
Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting 2006
Open daily 10.30am — 5.00pm from April 14th to October 1st In Steam April 29th-30th-May 1st May 27th-28th-29th Jul
29th-30th
Aug
26th -27th-28th
Sept 30th-Oct 1st
Canalside House for sale Georgian 4-bed townhouse in Devizes with s/contained 2-bed basement flat. 59 ft Mooring. Call Brian Poulton on 01380 727673. Roses and castles Painting courses These ever-popular courses will be running again at Devizes Wharf Canal Centre. One day course (£35) Two day courses (£75) All materials & refreshments included For more details and dates, contact: 01793 615898 (evenings) or email spengi@ntlworld.com The Dorset & Somerset Canal “The Canal that never was”. I give a talk on the D&SC “Friends, foes, families, feuds, finance & failure” The canal was proposed to connect the K&A at Bradford on Avon with Poole, Dorset, with a branch to the Somerset coalfields. Although never completed it is a fascinating story. Derrick Hunt: 01225 863066 Fancy a weekend’s hard graft? The NWPG arranges monthly restoration trips to southern canals. Learn new skills – for free! Contact Graham Hawkes on 0118 941 0586 or grahamhawkes@btinternet.com Ribbon Plates: Sold the narrowboat – now the plates. £12 each. Phone for details 01749 670545 or email: alantyldesley@mbzonline.net
April 15th-16th-17th
24th-25th
Commission a collector’s model of your nb/trailboat/etc or cottage, or both – in a bottle. Leaflet John Burden, 32 Astley Close, Pewsey, SN9 5BD. 01672 563193. Guild Waterways Artists. Waterways Craft Guild – Master
June
Crofton Beam Engines
Jun
UNCLASSIFIED ADS
1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler
A fascinating place to visit for families,or anyone interested in the history of the Kennet & Avon Canal, or our industrial past. Also a delightful place to stop for an ice cream ora cup of tea.
Bob Naylor Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01380 840584, Mobile 07788134901 Email: bob@boatsafe.co.uk Sundial Marine Services For gas, oil, solid fuel heating servicing and installation, plumbing and electrical work contact Eddie Belston Tel: 01225 873243 or mobile: 07795 550839 Buying a narrowboat? Need it moved to another location? Don’t have time to do it yourself? Let me move it for you. Apprehensive about cruising for the first time? Don’t have time to take a full day’s instruction? Just need someone to give you an introduction into boat handling and gain confidence? Give me a ring. I can help. Just call Roy on 01635 821780 Boat surveys. Professional surveys of any type of boat undertaken for sale, insurance or damage. I have over 40 years of boating experience and guarantee prompt, efficient and sympathetic surveys with realistic recommendations. George Gibson, Gibson’s Boat Services. Tel: 01672 851232 Wanted: Canoe or rowing boat, good condition, easy to launch, suitable for Long Pound. Phone 07770878190. Missing Canoe: Gruman aluminium canoe removed from our property near Pewsey last summer. Any information please phone 07770878190. Unclassified ads are free for members of The Kennet & Avon
The Barge Inn Honeystreet
Canal Trust for up to 30 words
Historic Canalside Inn
serving home cooked food from noon — 2.30pm and 7 — 9pm
Why not time your visit to see it in steam
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Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties
Crofton Pumping Station, Crofton, Marlborough, Wilts., SN8 3DW. Tel: 01672 870300
Tel: 01672 851705
www.croftonbeamengines.org
Crop circle venue with notice boards
www.the-barge-inn.com
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No. 174 Spring 2006
PRIZE CROSSWORD The prize for the winner of this crossword will be a video from the Trust’s Shop. Two runners-up will get £10 voucher to be used in the shop. Send your entries with your name and address to: Prize Crossword, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes SN10 1EB before 18th April 2006. Photocopies will be accepted.
The Butty Prize Crossword No 174 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... ..................................... .....................................
Across 1. Ill tempered person may traverse a piece of ground. (10) 6. Domestic bird to strut on a small pile of hay. (4) 8. It turns a drunk into a nudist. (8) 9. Fugitive loses heart on the airport landing strip (6) 10. Cheese manufactured in reverse. (4) 11. Accessible landlord produces correspondence for public consumption. (4,6) 12. Endless pestilence turns one peevish. (9) 14. Languor concealed by heathen nuisance. (5) 17. Small flower is found in period between sunrise and sunset. (5) 19. Hush! Spoke and covered the window. (9) 22. Rodent trapper had unconventional wear for hunting. (3-7) 23. European film is impressive. (4) 24. Expert – I draw zero out of order. (6) 25. Marriage is the beginning for opponent of Home Rule. (8) 26. Try to listen. (4) 27. Exaggerated past condition by diagnosis initially. (10)
Down 1. Concentrated on descendants strangled after workers departed. (9) 2. Drain may drop below exit. (7) 3. If caught, poisoner may become one when nothing is right. (8) 4. Novel direction for flasher on the rocks! (2,3,10) 5. Sounds as though herd will jump over obstacle. (6) 6. Lady of the lake? A Swiss one. (9) 7. Cheat dreadfully over gold to get castle in France. (7) 13. Hot seat could not be classified thus! (4,5) 15. Pointed out addict in Spain was confused. (9) 16. Performance enhancers take top off small bodies in space. (8) 18. Greed? I crave a change. (7) 20. Repair the walls with reconstituted protein. (7) 21. Boss over number in artist’s workshop. (5)
Christmas caption competition results
Butty Crossword 173 Solution
B
C
We had sackfulls of entries and in the end there were two outstanding entries – and we couldn’t choose between them – so in the spirit of Christmas they are both getting a prize. The winners are John Arthurs of Swindon and Vicki and Michael Messam of Devizes — congratulations!
Winner: Dr Graham Hawkes, Reading. Runners up: Dave Wedd, Camberley; Sue Pearse, Solihull
John Arthurs — A: It's alright now Brian the mouse has gone. B: I told you. 1st left canal, 2nd left caravan park. C: I just can't go on being the bouncer on the Santa Cruises. Vicki and Michael Messam — A: The Chairman fails to adhere to Part 5 of the
K&A Health & Safety Policy whilst escaping from a Crofton mouse. B: Trials continue of the Caravan Club's latest ‘Water Vole Habitat Aquatic Observation Unit’. C: The Chairman, Mr. B. Poulton sporting injuries cheerfully sustained trying to restrain a legless woman.
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Picture by Graham Sleeman
Picture by Lee Hamber
Picture by Harry Willis
A
Have fun at Caen Hill this summer! Take part in the Caen Hill Trail – a free, fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Log on to www.wow4water.net to download the trail Follow the trail and discover the fascinating heritage and wildlife at the lock flight – and for a really fun packed day combine this with the Devizes Wharf Trail. Why not take some time to relax in the gardens at Caen Hill Café too? Enjoy freshly prepared snacks, home made cakes and mouthwatering ice-creams in picturesque surroundings. Open seven days a week from Easter to October.
Log on to www.waterscape.com/caenhillcafe
or call 01452 318000 for information about café opening times.
Wild Over Waterways (WOW) is a fun and interactive site for children aged between 7 and 11. Teaching resources are also available. Log on to www.wow4water.net.