187 The Butty Summer 2009

The K&A Canal’s own magazine

the

Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

£2.50

Floating reed beds to clean canal water Mike Lees continues his series on the K&A water supply A poet’s view of the canal

Working to protect, to enhance and to promote The Kennet & Avon Canal

Newbury Boat Company Please note our new Business Address Ham Manor Marina, London Road, Newbury, RG14 2BP Moorings

Permanent non-residential and temporary cruising moorings with good security at two locations in Newbury both within walking distance of Newbury town centre.

Resident staff at both locations Tel: 01635 42884 email: enquiries@newburyboatco.co.uk www.newburyboatco.co.uk Ham Manor Marina 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: 01635 31672

Greenham Island

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Butty The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal

Cover photograph: The Trust trip boat Barbara MacLellan on her promotional cruise to Devizes

contents

No.187 Summer 2009 Picture by Bob Naylor

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The Trust and its aims The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has three separate but complementary objectives:

9 pages K&A

of news

• 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.

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Water management on the K&A

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A poet’s view of the canal

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Wilton Water reed raft trial

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The K&A Canal Trust AGM at Claverton

It was The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (through its predecessor organisations) that fought successfully to save the Canal from formal abandonment in the mid-1950s. 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.

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf Couch Lane Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 01380 721279 01380 727870 (fax) www.katrust.org.uk President Michael Ancram MP Vice Presidents Richard Benyon MP Sir William Benyon David Bruce Peter Collins Donald Collinson Michael Corfield Michael Goodenough David Lamb Admiral Sir William O'Brien Philip Ogden Brian Oram Sir Frank Price Prunella Scales Timothy West General Manager Mike Rodd

Museum Terry Mundy Trust Council Alice Boyd David Copley Peter Dunn Bill Fisher Terry Kemp Neil Lethby John Maciver Terry Mundy Roy Smedley Butty Editor Di Harris Pear Tree Studio High Street, Urchfont Devizes SN10 4QH 01380 840584 07711 367124 di@thebutty.co.uk

Butty News Editor Design & Layout Bob Naylor 01380 840584 07788 134901 bob@thebutty.co.uk

For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor

gm@katrust.org.uk

Treasurer & Company Secretary Neil Lethby secretary@katrust.org.uk

Office Manager office.manager@katrust.org.uk

Finance finance@katrust.org.uk

Retail Manager retail.manager@katrust.org.uk

Hon Engineer Mike Lee

Printers BAS Printers Unit 2B Minton Distribution Park London Road Amesbury Salisbury Wilts SP4 7RT 01980 592 950

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.

Plus regular features 13 Wilts & Berks, 14 BW Briefing, 22 Page for younger readers, 27 Reviews, 28 Branch reports, 35 Safety Matters and Museum news, 36 Obituarie, 37 French Connections, 38 What’s on and Unclassified Ads

Copy deadline for The Butty No 188, Autumn 2009 27th July 2009

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Woman dies in boat fire tragedy

by Bob Naylor

Firefighters arrive at the scene of the fire aboard a narrowboat moored opposite Old Builders Wharf at Honeystreet in which a woman died.

Picture by Chris Gibson

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Picture by Di Harris

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She said, “The boat was incandescent from the heat”.

Six fire engines from Pewsey, Devizes, Marlborough and Calne responded to the call along with a control unit from Devizes, a support unit from Swindon, a chainsaw unit from Pewsey and water rescue teams from Amesbury and Chippenham.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze and in addition to the two hose reel jets they used to fight the blaze they used mechanical ventilation equipment, winches and disc cutters in the operation that took several hours to bring the blaze under control.

British Waterways staff arrived at the scene and they

put booms across the canal to contain any fuel spillage to prevent pollution of the canal.

Police and Fire Service investigators remained on the scene throughout the day

working to establish the cause of the tragedy.

The victim was later named as Marianne Chavasse, 43 who had lived alone on the boat for 18 months.

Picture by Chris Gibson

woman died in a fire aboard a narrowboat moored opposite Gibson’s Boat Services at Old Builders Wharf, Honeystreet early on the morning of Friday 22nd June 2009.

Boatyard owner, George Gibson was first on the scene after he was awoken by the paper delivery boy at about 5.30am and told about the blazing boat opposite his moorings.

He immediately crossed the canal to the boat and tried to get on board nb Cobra but was beaten back by the heat.

Meanwhile, his wife Shelagh phoned the Fire Brigade and then she began to play water onto the blazing vessel from a hose on the wharf.

Above: Firefighters at the scene next to Honeystreet road bridge and below later in the morning investigators work to establish the cause of the fire

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

K&A to be run from Devizes anagement of the Kennet & Avon Canal returns to Devizes in plans announced by British Waterways for the future of the waterways, scheduled to take effect from October this year.

The restructure of BW that will mean moving the K&A offices from Gloucester back to Devizes has come about after a major strategic review that took a year and included BW SW General Manager, Ian Jarvis.

The strategic direction announced by BW will increase efficiency, seek new funding and partnership opportunities, create closer links with local communities and gradually move towards the waterways becoming a ‘third sector’ trust or achieving charitable status within the next decade or so.

Terry Kemp who was the Waterways Manager for the K&A Canal when local business units were set up by BW in 1989 and who is now the K&A Canal Trust Director of Heritage said of the new arrangements,

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“Managing and delivering work locally — and being accountable locally — is to be welcomed.

“As customers of British Waterways here on the Kennet & Avon Canal we have always enjoyed a special close working relationship — but in recent years the convenience of local management has been missed.”

Together with other planned changes the proposals will allow an extra £10million a year to be spent on waterways maintenance.

BW aim to make savings from job cuts, but they insist that the job cuts will not be from among the staff who maintain the waterways.

In the revised structure, additional focus will be put on working with volunteers and local communities.

A new regeneration directorate will be established to kickstart regeneration and contribute to social inclusion, developing new relationships

with community interest groups and local and national funding bodies.

People have expressed concerns at plans to centralise all major engineering works and manage other parts of the business, such as moorings and developing partnerships, within specialist centralised teams, but the initial response on the K&A to the proposals is guardedly supportive.

New boundaries have been announced as part of the reorganisation and BW are asking for feedback on both the boundaries and the names for the new waterway units.

The K&A’s unit, currently identified as ‘10’, includes only one other waterway, the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.

If you have views on the proposals or suggestions for a name, contact BW by 6th July 2009 on 0845 671 5530.

BW 2020 consultation meeting As part of a national tour to explain and discuss BW’s 2020 strategy Simon Salem, the BW Marketing & Customer Service Director and Sally Ash, Head of Boating Development will be at the K&A Canal Trust meeting room, Devizes Wharf on Sunday 6th September at 3.30pm.

Be there to have your say!

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Sally Boats radford on Avon based Sally Boats went into liquidation earlier this year and three of their boats were dramatically snatched back by the bank.

A new company, Sally Narrowboats Ltd has been formed and despite having fewer boats than the old company they have been able to fulfill all their booked holidays.

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Two men drown in the River Avon he body of Luke Callan was found in the River Avon near the Lower Bristol Road in Bath in April after he had been missing for a week.

In June a University of Bath student, 21-year-old Kharunigan Jayanantham, drowned after he lost his footing and fell into the River Avon near Victoria Bridge in Bath as he talked on a mobile while walking along a wall by the river.

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Heart attack victim airlifted

Bradford on Avon bank repaired

by Bob Naylor he bank above the lock at Bradford on Avon has been steadily collapsing.

In recent years the towpath has become very narrow and mooring boats there has been very difficult.

The canal bed in this section of the canal is very rocky and this has limited the options to repair the bank.

The conventional solution to the problem would have caused a long stoppage while the canal was drained and concrete used to repair the bank which would have cost over £300,000.

There was an urgent need to deal with the problem so British Waterways and Caen Bio Engineering came up with a radical scheme that for £40,000 stabilised the bank and created moorings without the need to close the canal.

Mooring rings have been

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Planting with local provenance to be agreed with BW ecologist

Lower compartment Gabion cage back filled with gabion stone (100–200mm).

Back posted nominally every 2m to secure in place.

The work in progress

Loose debris cleared from bed and bank to provide stable conditions

Trust rescues town boat display he Avon Vale restoration team has taken on the rescue of another — but much smaller — vessel.

The model narrowboat that took pride of place in the Devizes floral display in the centre of town was wrecked by vandals who dragged the boat across to the pond known as The Crammer and threw it in — the boat sank because it has no bottom.

The Avon Vale team answered the Devizes Town Council appeal for someone to repair the boat.

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Picture by Bob Naylor

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The vulnerable towpath at Bradford on Avon before the repair.

Front posts held in position by gabion cage at 0.5m centres

Upper compartment Brushwood and soil fill secured with Coirnet geotextiles. The Coirnet to be staked behind erosion zone and Filter fabric used to contain fines.

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Avon Vale 100 Club winners are: March 1st Prize No 12 S Richards £36 2nd Prize No 4 D Harris £18 April 1st Prize No 3 PR Covell £39.00 2nd Prize No 16 A Boyd £19.50 May 1st Prize No 22 S Buer £39.00 2nd Prize No 83 D Lindley-Jones £19.50

The new bank edge at Bradford on Avon

The bank design

73-year-old woman was rescued from the K&A Canal in May near Guyers Lock, Newbury, after suffering a suspected heart attack.

The alarm was raised by boaters and she was airlifted by the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

Avon Vale winners

provided so that mooring pins will not damage the bank.

The rocky canal bed and bank in the area caused considerable problems and the BW project manager, Mark Edwards said, “There is no doubt that we would have liked to get a straighter edge, but the rocky nature of the canal bank we were working on meant that it was not possible.”

During the work they found fissures in the rock that were leaking water and they were able to seal them.

Mark continued, “We have arrested the erosion of the bank that was becoming a serious problem and the work that has been done should last for 10 years or more” Native flowers and grasses have been planted and this will mean that the new work will ‘blend-in’ very quickly.

Devizes Town Council’s narrowboat floral display last year

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

New Hungerford footbridge consultation

by Bob Naylor ootbridge campaigners who want to separate pedestrians from road traffic on the canal road bridge in Hungerford High Street are a step nearer to achieving their goal now that West Berks Council have allocated £300,000 to provide a safe pedestrian canal crossing — and planners are now consulting with local people to find out what solution they want to the problem.

• Do nothing There is strong pressure to solve the problem so there was no support for this. traffic lights on the • Install bridge There is little support for this idea.

•

Install swing bridge West Berks planners are against a swing bridge because their research shows that in the boating season it would be open for boats and closed to pedestrians for most of the day. BW and boaters are against a swing bridge.

There is also strong local opposition to a swing bridge if that might involve barriers and claxtons.

• Build a high level bridge A footbridge on the Western (Wharf) side is the favoured option for most people.

The planners say that they do not want to put forward proposals for designs yet because they do not want to put ideas in people’s minds — they are eager for suggestions to come from the public so that what is built is what the majority of people want.

They will be distributing questionaires throughout the town to find out what people want and an information site to keep people up to date with the what is happening is being opened at: www.westberks.gov.uk/hungerf ordfootbridge The plans to separate pedestrians and traffic at the bridge follows pressure from Hungerford Town Council and a petition by local people.

Brendan Murphy of West Berks Council planning department said that nothing would be started ‘on the ground’ for at least a year and the Council is mindful of the impact anything on the Western side of the bridge will have on the view of Hungerford Wharf and the town bridge, a listed structure — “Nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out at this stage” he said.

Local people are concerned at the size of vehicles using Hungerford Bridge and the narrow pedestrian footpath

Picture by Bob Naylor

At a public meeting in Hungerford Corn Exchange organised by West Berkshire District Council in May, four possible solutions were presented and discussed:

Picture by Bob Naylor

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The canal bridge in Hungerford High Street — there are concerns about the visual impact of a footbridge on this, the western side of the bridge.

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Midgham boat blaze — arson? he fire that destroyed a canal boat moored at Brimpton Road, Midgham late on the night of Monday16th March is being treated as arson.

Fire crews from Newbury, Hungerford, Lambourn and Caversham Road fire stations were called to the blaze at 10.15 and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze until the early hours of Tuesday morning.

They found the burning boat

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moored 150m further along the canal from the nearest access road and called in the water rescue off-road vehicle to assist in the operation.

There was no-one aboard the vessel at the time of the blaze.

The Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about the fire should phone Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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New Trust Office Manager

on the beautiful

Kennet & Avon Canal

atherine Langford-Jones has been appointed Office Manager for the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. She is based in Devizes and she can be contacted on: 01380 721279 or email: office.manager@katrust.org.uk

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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

BMac promotional cruise

The Barge Inn Honeystreet Historic Canalside Inn

serving home cooked food from noon — 2.30pm and 7 — 9pm

Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties

The Trust West Wilts Branch annual promotional cruise aboard the Barbara MacLellan from Bradford on Avon to Devizes Wharf took place between the 24th and the 27th of April. The four-day cruise raises money for the Trust and they also recruit Trust members and volunteers along the way.

Tel: 01672 851705 www.the-barge-inn.com

Crop circle venue with notice boards

Moonraker Narrowboat Company Ltd Once in a while we all deserve the 5 star treatment. Whether a romantic escape, family holiday or just some time out from the stresses and demands of life, your relaxation and enjoyment is paramount. Our aim at Moonraker Narrowboat Company is to help you unwind by providing high quality, luxurious boats and a personal service second to none.

Please visit our website at

www.moonboats.co.uk for up to date information, prices & availability

Alternatively please telephone

07973 876891 or email enquiries@moonboats.co.uk with your requirements

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Ken Clews’ seat replaced

Gas Safe Register™ replaces CORGI as Safe Register™ replaced the CORGI gas registration scheme in England, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man in April.

While the law does not require gas engineers to be Gas Safe Registered for privately owned boats used solely for leisure, the Boat Safety Scheme advises boat owners to choose only those engineers recognised as competent to work on marine LPG. Rob McLean of the Boat Safety Scheme said, “Every year on average the Boat Safety Scheme logs six

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incidents involving carbon monoxide or explosions on boats caused by badly installed, dangerously repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances and systems”.

To find out if a gas engineer is registered to work on marine LPG systems you can call Gas Safe Register™ on 0800 408 5500 or visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Picture by Sidath Senanayake

Picture by Bob Naylort

Bath trip boat back in business

Jean Clews seated on the bench dedicated to her late husband, Ken Clews, at Kintbury with David Harris and BW Landscape Architect, Sarah Brice

seat at Kintbury dedicated to the memory of Ken Clews the author of the definitive book on the K&A Canal had been removed by vandals during last winter.

Former Butty Editor, David Harris, who had helped Peter Lindley-Jones with the ‘Sit down and be quiet’, adopt-a-seat scheme noticed it was missing as he cruised past on his narrowboat.

A call to the K&A Canal Trust

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set wheels in motion and within a few days the BW Landscape Architect, Sarah Brice and her colleagues at BW had recovered the brass plaque from the old seat which had been thrown into the canal and fitted it onto a brand new seat.

Ken Clews’ widow, Jean, had not been able to attend the original installation so David Harris arranged for her to come from her home in Sussex to a dedication of the new seat.

L A DY L E N A

Charter trips between Bath and Avoncliff on the oldest electric launch in existence — built 1890 Trips tailored to your needs, either a romantic cruise for two or a group of up to ten

Complimentary glass of champagne on arrival Bring your own picnic or our caterer can provide, cream teas also available info@ladylena.co.uk Tel: 01225 834250

The Pride of Bath at Pulteney Weir in Bath

rip boat, The Pride of Bath, dramatically went bust in 2007 leaving customers who had booked boat charters for wedding parties and charity fundraising cruises high and dry.

New owners are relaunching her following a complete re-fit.

Gary Fisher MD of Strawberry Field Catering said, “We were pretty naive when we bought the boat — we thought it would just take a lick of paint and new windows and she would be back in business.”

When the vessel was taken out of the water and inspected by the MCA the first thing that had to be done was to cut out 9 mtrs of the hull because it was so rotten it was not repairable.

“While she was out of the water we took the opportunity

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to replace the engine and generator and completely refit the boat” he said, “we have spent more than £250,000 on her.”

But their problems did not end there — when she was back in the water they discovered that the rear cabin had been made too big to go under the bridges — so they took a trip up the Bristol Channel to get the work done at Sharpness.

Gary said, “We are not booze-cruisers — we will not do stag or hen nights. We are a catering company so we will be running charters for people to eat high quality cuisine on board — and we have re-named her The Penny Lane.”

Will Jackson, the boat’s skipper for 25 years, has joined the new company.

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Crafty Craft Race

Rubbish service Picture by Graeme Dewhurst

he waste disposal service provided by Biffa has come in for regular criticism from K&A Canal users.

As a result of this, and following damage to the roof of Dundas Ticket Office, BW announced at the User’s Forum meeting in Bath on 11th June 2008 that they were withdrawing the K&A from the national contract with Biffa and collections on the K&A would in future be made by Wiltshire Waste.

This was reported in The Butty — but later BW decided that they would stay with Biffa

T The Newbury Scouts team get ahead of the Boys Brigade team as they approach the finish line

The Thomas Eggar Solicitors team cross the line

he 35th annual charity Crafty Craft Race run by Newbury Round Table on Sunday 4th May attracted 44 entries this year.

They hope that the event will raise more than last year’s total of £10,000 and this year the money will be split between the West Berkshire Volunteer Centre and the Swings and Smiles charity.

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The teams set off from 8.30 am — the senior teams from below Dun Mill Lock, Hungerford and the junior teams from below Kintbury lock — all heading for Victoria Park in Newbury.

The overall winners were the Hungerford Mongrels who completed the course in a new record of one hour and 40 minutes.

Boat Trips

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www.kennetcruises.co.uk 10

after all.

Some bins are still not being emptied often enough — as this picture taken in Hungerford in March shows.

Because of access problems for their lorries at Dundas, Biffa have subcontracted collection at this site to Wiltshire Waste.

Unfortunately people are phoning Wiltshire Waste to make complaints about the service elsewhere on the canal and Managing Director, Nigel Grist, has asked us to point out that any comments on the service on the K&A should be directed to BW or Biffa.

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Shaping up for 2010 lans to celebrate the bicentenary of the Kennet & Avon Canal in 2010 are progressing well.

The most popular proposal has been the new Destination Panels. Parish and Town Councils in Keynsham, Devizes, Bishop’s Cannings, Thatcham, Kintbury, Bathampton, Sulhamstead, Hanham Abbots, Bradford on Avon, Rowde and Newbury have all pledged to contribute £500 to the scheme.

All Cannings is keen to take part and has set aside £250 and is hoping to raise the other £250 through local events and sponsorship. Great Bedwyn has appointed a special community fundraiser to raise their £500 contribution.

Early meetings have already been held at some locations, with suggestions for circular walks and wildlife to feature on the panel — Keynsham has chosen to feature the long-tailed tit, Kintbury the tufted duck and Rowde has snaffled that

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waterway favourite — the Kingfisher! The next step is to appoint a designer — and continue with fundraising.

The current economic climate has made fundraising a real challenge and plans have had to be scaled back.

The Gateway Sculptures were the most contentious of the proposals — and the most costly. The Steering Group has decided to reduce the scale of the proposed structures.

BANES has set aside £5,000 towards a scaled-down permanent installation to record the bicentenary. There is still matched funding to find for this and we hope that a similar amount can be raised for Reading so that there will be a visitor welcome at both ends of the navigation.

The photographic calendar competition has now ended.

The participating papers — the Bath Chronicle, Newbury Weekly News and Reading Evening Post have done a

Running for 2010

by Susie Mercer fantastic job at getting those entries in and judged on a monthly basis for a whole year.

The final judging will take place in Newbury and there will be an exhibition of the winning pictures during the Waterways Festival. Wadworth’s K&A celebration beer will be launched at the Waterways Festival on 26th July.

An RNLI family fun day will be held on May bank holiday in 2010 at Caen Hill. The emphasis will be to get children involved and to provide fun activities for all the family.

Sustrans members are being asked to donate 20% of their sponsorship from the ‘Fresh Air Miles’ cycling event to K&A 200.

The Ramblers Association plan to walk the length of the canal to celebrate both their 75th anniversary and K&A 200 in May 2010 and all are welcome to join in.

For more information email: susie.mercer@britishwaterways.co.uk

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Elaine Willis, daughter of K&A Canal Trust and Pewsey Wharf Boat Club stalwarts Kay and Gordon Wardle ran the Bath Half-Marathon in March to raise money for the K&A 200th Anniversary celebrations.

More than 10,000 runners took part in the event in glorious sunshine and Elaine raised more than £155 for the K&A Canal bicentenary celebrations.

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Butty NEWS

No.187 Summer 2009

Devizes to Westminster Canoe race Pictures by Elaine Kirby Easter was later this year and the race took place in very mild weather — in stark contrast with last year’s near Arctic conditions that caused many paddlers to drop out.

And for the first time since the four Devizes Scouts made the historic trip that set the scene for this major event in the International canoeing calendar — the race was won this year by a Devizes canoist.

evizes paddler Owen Peake, 27 and his partner Daniel Seaford of Reading Canoe Club won the Senior Doubles in a time of 17hr 16min 51sec.

The scene at the race start on Devizes Wharf A record 290 boats completed the course — the most in the event’s 61-year history.

Conditions over race weekend were close to perfect, with warm temperatures, overcast skies and almost no wind. Course Chairman Paul Ralph said, “It was a great event. Atmospherically the conditions were perfect.”

Dauntsey’s School, from near Devizes took third place in the Junior Doubles.

The race is not only a canoe marathon, but also a fund-raising event, with many charities benefiting from sponsorship. Judith Eastwood from BAe Systems and Major General Bill Moore took the Pfeiffer Cup for raising a staggering £172,000 for Help For Heroes.

This year saw unusual craft in the race

D A hire boat gives way to a canoe

This crew’s progress was hampered by duckings

River Avon looking better after boat club clean-up altford Marina Boat Club gave up a Sunday in April to clean the banks and bushes along the River Avon of plastic bags and other rubbish washed down the river in the Winter floods.

Between Saltford Marina and the Jolly Sailor 22 club members cleared rubbish from the banks — some taking to small boats to clear the witches’ knickers from branches of bank-side trees.

Everyone enjoyed the day and the plan is to arrange another day to continue the clean-up towards Newbridge.

Club commodore, Tina Curtis said, “The river looks a lot better for visitors this summer and we plan to make this an annual event.”

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Butty

Wilts & Berks Canal News

No.187 Summer 2009

ork can begin to restore the aqueduct over Tuckmill Brook to the east of Pocket Park, Shrivenham now that The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has signed a lease for the land.

The West Vale Branch will be starting work to fence the offside of the canal and they will complete the design work and obtain the necessary consents for the rebuild.

being brought up in a village with nature all around her.

She has been in the environmental sector all her working life, and her interest in canals developed when she worked for British Waterways.

She has also experienced and enjoyed working on restoration projects with the very enthusiastic volunteers of the Cotswold and Droitwich Canals Trust.

Clare has a degree and masters in ecology and management of the natural environment.

Environmental Director

Steppingstones Lane

lare Guy has been appointed Environmental Director of the WBCT. Clare will review policies and procedures on the environment and work with the restoration team to deliver a waterway to maintain and enhance habitats for wildlife.

Clare says her passion for wildlife probably stems from

ricklaying for the bridge in Steppingstones Lane, Shrivenham is completed and looking great.

Over Easter there was tremendous progress on this project through two Waterway Recovery Group working parties, each a week long and led by Rachael Banyard and Martin Thompson.

Shrivenham — new lease

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HAMS TRANSPORT HOPTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DEVIZES, WILTS

by Christine Hardisty create the slopes for the bridge.

A large amount of stone for gabions was sourced from RAF Welford and the first job was to get it to the site.

This involved laying (and removing) track over some boggy land at RAF Welford.

An earlier BITM working party had created the trenches and this enabled the Easter working parties to install 17cubic metres of gabions containing about 25 tonnes of stone.

On top of this the working parties completed the bricklaying which is looking superb.

They also managed to pass on some valuable expertise and provide some training in bricklaying to working party members.

All this was achieved despite the quirks of the accommodation at Watchfield Village Hall which seems to be a key venue in a very active social and community calendar!

The project is now working with Didcot Power Station to use Pulverised Fuel Ash to

River Ray Valley he Breathing Places towpath and canal bed restoration project in Moredon, Swindon is almost complete.

The project was awarded £10,000 of funding from the “Breathing Places” project which was set up by the BBC and the Big Lottery Fund to encourage more people to get involved in outdoor activities.

The towpath is now completely open after decades of neglect had allowed bramble growth to obscure it.

Further work is going ahead using machinery to dig out part of the canal bed.

The project team is hoping it will fill with water so that visitors can get a real sense of the original canal site.

One lock has been exposed and decisions need to be made about how to leave the site at the end of the project.

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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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Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

British Waterways briefing

by James Young, BW South West Business Development Manager

BW’s vision for the future of the waterways ritish Waterways has announced the results of a major strategic review which will form the basis for the continued renaissance and longterm sustainability of the 2,200 miles of canals and rivers in its care.

The key proposals in the new strategic direction are to: increase efficiencies; open up new funding and partnership opportunities; create closer links with local communities and start a gradual move over the next decade towards the waterways, achieving a ‘third sector’ trust or charitable status.

As a first step, BW is planning an internal restructure of its operations in England and Wales with the creation of 11 smaller, ‘hands-on’ waterway units.

The Kennet and Avon Canal will become one such unit, with the Bridgwater and Taunton canal included.

A layer of management is

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being removed and a number of office staff will lose their jobs.

These, and other proposals will enable approximately £10m per annum to be redirected to waterways maintenance.

The new waterway unit will focus on delivering BW’s core maintenance programme to ensure high levels of efficiency and customer service.

Certain functions currently carried out in existing waterways units, such as managing moorings, developing local partnerships and major engineering projects, will become part of specialist central teams.

In the revised structure, additional focus will be put on working with volunteers and local communities, whilst the creation of a new regeneration directorate will build on the ability of the waterways to kickstart regeneration and contribute to social inclusion.

The directorate’s aim will be to develop new relationships

with community stakeholders and funding bodies at both local and national level.

The greatest challenge facing our waterways today is an economic one. Public funding is under considerable pressure and, despite the dramatic growth in self-earned income, we are currently in the unsustainable position of having a network which is many millions short of the money required to maintain it properly year on year.

In addressing the funding shortfall, BW is launching a national debate on the nation’s former industrial canals and rivers, highlighting their considerable modern-day contribution to society and seeking views on its proposals for how the nation’s waterways should be used, run and, importantly, paid for in the future.

Central to the debate will be BW’s view that the time is now right to consider the option of

changing its structure to turn it, by 2020, into a third sector ‘public interest company’ or trust.

Such a change could stimulate far greater participation in the waterways by volunteers and other individuals, create improved transparency, open up opportunities for new sources of income such as grants and donations, and ensure the historic network is held in trust for the nation.

The waterways are still likely to require public funding some time into the future, however BW believes this should be changed from annual deficit funding to a contract with Government.

This would allow BW greater certainty in planning future expenditure and give Government a clearer understanding of the public benefits, such as flood control and public open space which the waterways deliver.

encouraging.

A real focus was on the safely of disembarking and loading passengers in the traffic-light controlled section in the Oracle within the 12 minutes time limit currently operating.

We were really pleased with

the results and the trial was concluded safely and within the time constraints.

The new service will begin at the end of July and the live trial will run for a period of three months.

It will be reviewed in October.

Reading Water Taxi trial W has been actively participating in the feasibility study to introduce a water taxi at Reading which is being proposed by Thames River Cruise.

The 12-seat open ferry will run circular trips on the hour

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from Bel & the Dragon at Blake’s Lock, to Queen’s Road Wharf, and on to the Oracle shopping centre. From there they will turn at County Lock and return to Blake’s Lock.

A trial was recently organised by the operator and BW and the results were

Genesis Trust Canal Challenge was pleased to join the Genesis Trust Canal Challenge. The Genesis Trust is a Bath-based Christian charity seeking to support and help the most needy in our community.

Seventy fund raisers took part in the challenge — walking, running, cycling and canoeing from Bathampton to Avoncliff and back to raise

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money for the Trust.

I took up the cycle challenge — a ride of approximately 12 miles.

I joined a number of participants for lunch at the Cross Guns at Avoncliff, enjoying the ambience of the aqueduct and the River Avon.

The event has raised a total of £1,400 to date.

James Young, centre, with other participants in the Genesis Canal Challenge before they set off from Bathampton

Newbury Waterways Festival Sunday 26th July - 10am – 4pm

Victoria Park, Newbury For a great family day out, come and enjoy the Newbury Waterways Festival. Set beside the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal, a colourful flotilla of boats will be lined up along the canal side decorated in the theme of ‘Pirates!’

Victoria Park will be filled with stalls, children’s rides, crafts, refreshments and entertainment with plenty to do for all the family.

Free Admission Contact: Julie Dean 01962 883939

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Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

Water supply for the Kennet & Avon Canal ohn Rennie must have been very relieved when the canal finally opened on 28th December 1810 because the construction had been beset with difficulties ranging from the need to dismiss Resident Engineer Dudley Clark for negligence in 1800, financial fraud, lack of brick clay close to the canal and financial failure of some of the contractors.

Worst of all was the decision by the Committee, against the advice of Rennie and John Thomas the Superintendent of Works, in 1802 (in succession

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Part two of Mike Lee’s study of the water supply problems on the K&A Canal looks at the period when the canal was used by commercial traffic to Clark) to use Bath Stone on the West end.

This decision cost the Canal Company a great deal of money over the years due to poor quality, lack of seasoning and poor workmanship.

External pressures from inflation, resulting from the Napoleonic wars, added to the

Early traffic on the K&A Canal The canal between Foxhangers and Darlington Wharf/Sydney Gardens was opened to traffic in 1801. This included a regular passenger service to Bradford.

Another packet boat started running between Shrivenham and Bath in 1807 following the partial opening of the Wilts & Berks Canal and traffic started on the Somerset Coal Canal in 1805.

There do not appear to have been any problems with water supply at this time, but the Bath (Widcombe) flight was not yet open.

The construction of Bath locks was a major problem.

Started in 1802, Rennie wrote a scathing report in 1803 listing poor foundations, workmanship and severe cracking and most

of them were demolished and rebuilt.

Although largely complete by 1805 they were not fully completed and opened until the 10th November 1810.

This was due to fears that there would be insufficient water available because of the delays in completing Caen Hill locks and the long pound. Even when open, use was restricted to periods when the water level was above the set level on a gauge board at Bath top lock.

During this period efforts were made to pick up all the available small sources of water on the Bath/Bradford pound such as Sheepwash feeder, near Foxhill at Bathampton, and several very small outfalls found during the HLF project works.

The active years — 1810 to 1850 Once the canal was fully opened traffic built up quickly; at first the water supply from Claverton and lockage water from the Wilts & Berks and Somerset Coal Canal was adequate for the Bath end, with only a few stoppages.

The limitation of the original Crofton setup was, however, quickly reached and lack of water was a problem on the summit and below Crofton engine pound.

Water problems appear to have become acute about 1844, soon after the start of a flyboat service to London; it did

16

not last very long and it looks as though the subsequent improvements to the supply were too little and too late.

Thomas Blackwell recommended alterations to both Crofton and Claverton Pumping Stations in 1844 which were carried out giving some overall improvement.

problems.

Despite all the problems Rennie has left us some remarkable engineering works.

Caen Hill is a flight of locks on a scale not seen before; the very difficult construction was supervised by John Blackwell, who became Canal Engineer and who, with his son John who

followed him, was responsible for keeping the canal operational for most of its active life.

Then there are the two great pumping stations; Crofton steam driven pumps and, the remarkable, Claverton; combining the old wellunderstood technology of the waterwheel with the developing beam engine pumping system, to lift water 53ft from the River Avon up to the canal. Cheap to operate, environmentally friendly, but subject to stoppages and damage due to floods.

Geological problems Supply problems worsened at Bath around 1820 probably through increased leakage.

There were many problems with water-induced slips during the construction period and the “dry section” remained a serious problem throughout the

active years.

A programme of repuddling was necessary every year and the canal was shut at Whitsun for this work to be undertaken; there was also at least one serious slippage of the canal in the Bathampton area.

Solving water shortages Blackwell put forward two proposals in 1845 to improve the efficiency of Bath locks. The eventual programme of work on the locks was: • Lock 7: Construction of a side pond above the lock. This was partly filled in 1865 and is home to the Travelodge Waterside Hotel.

• Construction of a pumping station (Thimble Mill) with pump intake originally in the pond and subsequently moved to the lock chamber. This was an illegal abstraction and following legal proceedings the intake was removed from the lock in 1857.

The intake appears to have been put back in the pond and used for a short period as there is a record of coal being supplied after the legal judgement.

• Lock 8: (Replaced by Deep Lock 8/9) A side pond was built, which was later filled in and the land sold in 1865. The pipeline from the pump ran alongside this lock.

• Lock 9: (The approximate site of Lock 8/9) A side pond

was constructed and subsequently

filled in 1864 and sold as building land. Several cottages are now on the site. The old pipeline ran alongside this lock and was encountered during the HLF works; requiring expensive underpinning and support works to install the new pipe line • Lock 10: A side pond was apparently constructed at this lock. The actual position is not known and it was filled in 1865.

• Lock 11: A large side pond was built on the offside of this lock — approximately a third still exists, the rest was filled in 1866. The second pumping station was built close to the lock. It pumped water from the pond to an outfall above top lock. Like the rest of these works it was abandoned before 1866. Only the old pumping station chimney remains.

The total cost of these works was about £800 and it was designed to pump back the equivalent of 15 locks of water a day

Claverton Pumping Station The pump, as originally installed, remained largely unchanged until 1845 when major modifications were made

by Harveys at the same time as they were carrying out work at Crofton.

Both the pump and the rising main were altered and the output increased. However, the long history of problems with the wheel and gearing, which needed almost constant repairs, continued.

The Engineman spent a great deal of his time undertaking repairs and it is

clear that for much of the time the pump was not working, causing the water level to drop on the pound.

Crofton Pumping Station Having decided to abandon plans for a long tunnel, the Canal Company put their trust in the relatively new steam technology, relying entirely on steam pumps plus an enlarged and deepened summit pound for their summit supply. This source also had to supply Wootton Rivers locks and most of the water for the long pound.

The contract to build the Pumping Station was let in 1806 and the first pump started work in 1809.

Problems were encountered early on and the Wilton stream (as it then was) was deepened in 1826. Ten years later the present eight-acre lake was constructed.

The original engine, an 1801 Boulton and Watt, was augmented by a second B&W engine which started work in 1813.

A report in 1842 stated that the old engine was unsafe and a new engine from Harveys was ordered in 1843 and finally commissioned in 1844 at a cost of £1,370.

Abstractions and disputes Adding to the water problems were the legal abstractions of irrigation water by land owners and arguments over how much was being abstracted from water courses by the Canal Company.

The Marquis of Ailesbury was supplied with water to his Estate and was frequently in dispute about the quantity supplied and charges levied by the Canal Company.

There were also frequent disputes about the amount being abstracted at Seend feeder.

One reason for these disputes was that there was no reliable method of flow measurement.

Although measurements had previously been made by several engineers, including Brindley and Smeaton, they had all been over very small notches or weirs.

Thomas Blackwell carried out a series of experiments to measure flow over sharp crested, narrow crested and broad crested weirs.

He presented a paper at the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1851 and his paper was one of the first attempts to accurately gauge flow over the sort of weir structure in practical use on a canal.

Thomas was able to use his results to good effect in settling subsequent arguments.

Other sources of water supply Water problems continued to dominate Thomas Blackwell’s thoughts and there are several reports setting out proposals for the increase of water supply, both on the Crofton flight and Crofton Bottom lock.

The most intriguing of these was a small steam-driven back pumping system in the area of lock 62 and Bedwyn Church lock. Subsequent development in the area has removed most of the evidence, but there appears to have been a side pond on the pound above Bedwyn Church lock and possibly one below this lock.

A pump was installed either at Crofton bottom lock or lock 63.

Blackwell claimed that the system gave an extra forty lockings per week and he suggested, in a report of March 1848, that the system be extended with a pump at Bedwyn Church lock.

Whether this was built is not clear; there is a report of the sale of only one old engine in 1863.

Whatever the exact details of this pumping system, it appears to have helped to keep the canal open in periods of drought.

There is a report in September 1847 stating that levels in Wilton Water were very low but due to the pump, very low water losses in the long pound and completely watertight top gates at Devizes

top lock, traffic kept moving.

The steam pump boats, illustrated in Part one, or something similar, appear to have been in use until around 1860 for temporary pumping and augmenting low pounds in drought periods.

Downstream of Bedwyn the canal takes water from the feeder at Froxfield and also the Bagshot stream feeder.

The River Dun provides the next source of water at the Hungerford feeder; this is shortly before the river joins the River Kennet at Dun Mill. From here on the canal runs close to the Kennet and, after picking up some water from the Watercress stream above Kintbury, the river provides a major source of supply at Kintbury Mill.

From Kintbury to Newbury the canal is effectively a continuation of the Kennet Navigation with the river flowing in and out of the canal and levels controlled by big sets of sluices.

Without the separation of the canal from the river to form a lateral canal, this section is subject to drought and flood in much the same way as the old Navigation.

Apart from a small flow down the Northcroft Ditch, the total flow of canal and river amalgamate near West Mills to flow through Newbury Bridge and join the old Navigation.

The final days of commercial carrying The Canal Company was bought out by the GWR in 1852 and gradually the canal deteriorated.

Blackwell retired and the superintendents, who travelled by train along the line of the References Kennet & Avon Canal Trust The Kenneth Clew Papers and personal archives Articles on the subject of water supply have appeared in The Butty in the past, including an article by Philip Ogden in Butty no 71.

canal, failed to inspect their lengths adequately.

Silting, lack of maintenance and a change of administration by the GWR meant that through traffic had become almost nonexistent by 1900.

Mike’s next article deals with the water problems and the solutions found for them during the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s long struggle to re-open the canal

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Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

ou can meet Claire Murray most days as she walks or cycles beside the K&A Canal near her home in Bath with Dotty her long-haired dachsund — who more often than not hitches a ride in the bike basket.

Claire had never written poetry before, then during a bleak period just after Christmas 2007 she became inspired by the moored boats and the people she met on the towpath.

Claire is naturally observant and she jots down notes as she walks and talks to people — and when she gets home she works on them until she is happy with the the finished poem. Her collection is growing — here are two of her early works.

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The Canal in Winter Mornings early, mornings late Off I pedal with full basket Shoulders down, my soul at peace Christmas over, life resumed.

Rita biking to the horses Golden sun on uphill crescents Old time soldiers, lonely fathers Robins boldly seeking crumbs.

Saplings broken, haws remaining Sloes long taken, steeped in spirit Piles of brushwood, heaps of ashes Abandoned wheelchair, lonely barrow.

Bow to stern, stern to bow Holding to the bank for warmth MAGGIE MAY, RELIANCE, BECK SHOVELER, PEACE and PAULINE II.

Boats now moving, backwards, forwards Wooden boxes, metal tubes Some quite rounded, some all flat Little freeboard, soon to topple?

zFebruary on the Kennet & Avon Long gaps show along the banks All the New Year folk have gone Richard back to fill long spaces Fenders, ropes, to make and sell.

Upturned barrel makes a table Fists of seed to feed the birds Near the planted Christmas trees Grown enough to enough to form a copse?

Primrose out before the snowdrops By the bridge named after Candy Curly garlic, spikes of chive Pushing through the crowded earth.

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Tim, the old gent of the road Stops to tell me how it is Matted beard and bobble hatted Well content, deåspite the cold.

It’s Shrove Tuesday, soon be Easter Time for pancakes, creamy batter Whole milk, whole eggs – yearly treat Easy supper, long day done.

Pictures by Bob Naylor

Poet inspired by Bath’s moored boats

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The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust now to help Protect, Enhance and Promote the waterway and you will get:

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I/we would be interested in helping with branch activities Your details – please complete all sections I/we wish to join the Trust and enclose: A completed Direct Debit instruction form A completed Gift Aid Declaration form A cheque (payable to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust)

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Instructions to your bank or Building Society Please pay the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Direct Debit from the account detailed in this instruction, subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

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AnAdGEOprojects canal map

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Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postcode: . . . . . . . . . . . . .

of the Kennet & Avon Canal and includes the River Avon and Bristol Docks Please post or fax the form opposite to: The Membership Secretary, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, FREEPOST, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BR. Fax: 01380 727870

I want the charity to treat all subscriptions/donations I have made for this Tax year and the six years prior to the year of this declaration, (but no earlier than 6/4/2000) and all subscriptions/donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid Donations.

Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . .

You must pay an amount of Tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the appropriate tax year.

the

Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

Reed-rafts launched to clean K&A Canal Story and pictures by Bob Naylor ater quality on the Kennet & Avon Canal, The River Kennet and the River Thames will be improved by a £10,000 scheme launched on Wilton Water at Crofton on the Kennet & Avon Canal in March.

The River Kennet Chalk Stream Project — a partnership of The Environment Agency, British Waterways, Thames Water, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Natural England, local authorities and angling groups — brought in

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Aquascience, a company that specialises in water quality improvement, algal control and aquatic habitat creation and they devised this trial scheme.

With the help of British Waterways and Environment Agency staff they planted the rafts with a range of native plant species including water mint, sweet reed grass, purple loosestrife, marsh marigold and canary reed grass.

The root balls that grow from these plants will provide an ideal habitat and breeding A group of cormorants watch progress with interest

ground for zooplankton — tiny invertebrate animals that live within the water and feed off the more damaging phytoplankton.

Zooplankton will be key in reducing the effects of phosphorus and young fish, including perch and roach, will find a safe haven in the dense roots in which they can live and breed.

Wilton Water feeds the Kennet & Avon Canal — and from there into the River Kennet and then on into the River Thames — so improving water quality at this important source will have far reaching benefits.

“Our aim is to improve the water quality of the River Kennet” said John Hallett, the Environment Agency Project Manager of the Kennet Chalkstream Restoration Project, “And this floating reed bed project is part of a broader range of schemes to improve the quality of the canal before it discharges into the Kennet downstream of Hungerford.

“We hope that the rafts will be the first stage of a successful project that will reduce problems caused by algae in the canal and river.”

The project aims to improve the water quality and vitality of

The three circular rafts are eight metres i have a perforated PVC base with a coir to down by wire mesh. They are planted with reed grass, purple loosestrife, marsh mar reed grass. A metal cage protects them fr get established.

20

l water the Kennet by reducing the quantity of nutrients including phosphorus and sediment entering the river.

The phosphorus comes from a number of sources, which include run-off from agricultural land and sewage effluent. The large quantities of phosphorus escaping into the watercourse have become a problem for the River Kennet and the canal.

Phosphorous causes algae to grow wildly, discolour the water and smother aquatic plants.

This rapid growth of algae eventually dies — and its decay uses up valuable oxygen. This

can lead to the loss of many species of aquatic life.

K&A Trust Vice President and Newbury MP Richard Benyon said: “This is an exciting project that will hopefully improve the quality of the River Kennet for a variety of wildlife — it is a great example of how joint working can contribute to improvements for the local community to enjoy.”

The next stage of the project will tackle the sources of sediment and nutrients that flow into the canal from the side streams close to where the canal meets the river.

The sections of raft are planted, above, before being launched then joined together in the water before being anchored away from the shore.

in diameter and they opping that is held h water mint, sweet rigold and canary rom birds while they

21

Canals for kids

the

Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

With Terry Kemp

The Mousehole Boat Company

Faster!

Annie and Kenny’s Canal Tales

Boots for Maurice I’m going as quack as I can!

The Heron A tall grey bird seen wading in the shallows.

He will strike with his pointed bill, catching and eating voles, mice, frogs and fish.

ROWAN

aurice the Moorhen always had cold feet. Wading in the canal edges his feet were always wet and cold.

Every year for his birthday he wished for a pair of boots. He knew that with these his feet would be dry and therefore warm For his birthday this year his wish was granted.

Annie gave him a pair of green rubber boots. They were just his size, just his colour and they warmed his feet.

Maurice was pleased and proud and marched off into the shallows of the canal. His feet remained dry and warm.

Later that day, tired of showing his new boots to everyone who passed by, he decided to return to his home nest — it was then that he realised why moorhens should not wear boots.

His boots filled with water and gradually pulled him down into the deep water.

Poor Maurice. He had to scramble out of the boots and leave them in the deep water and remain with cold feet!

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Competion winner The winner of the competition in the last issue is ten-year-old Grace Brooks of Trowbridge

She was the first entry drawn with the correct answers: 1: 1810, 2: John Rennie 3: 29

Primers Corrosion Resistant, High Build Quality

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www.rowannarrowboats.co.uk 22

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Tel: 01264 356296 Fax: 01264 338123 Email: mail@hmgcoatings.co.uk

the

Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

Reviews

Leonard Pearcey NARROWBOAT DREAMS

by Steve Haywood Published in 2008 by Summersdale ISBN 978 1 84024 670 4 319 pages. £7.99 soft cover

reviewed this author’s previous book ‘fruit flies like a banana’ in our Autumn 2006 issue, and what I wrote then applies here too: he is equally good at describing people and places in this highly enjoyable read. There’s plenty of humour, some fascinating history, and some great characters as he and his narrowboat make their way from Banbury to Hebden Bridge surrounded by ‘the magic that makes England’s waterways so appealing’. In his Author’s Note he claims ‘Nobody’s real in this book, including me... Em in particular is not real... the woman I live with is sick to death of getting mistaken for her.’ Now, as the book is dedicated to Marian Ellen Haywood, initials M.E., which is Em backwards, I wonder….

And the very simple narrowboat drawing at the start of each chapter (taken from the front cover) is wonderfully evocative.

Sadly, if there was a credit for it, I missed it. Steve himself perhaps?

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Tim Wheeldon CANALS OF BRITAIN, a Comprehensive Guide

by Stuart Fisher Published in 2009 by Adlard Coles Nautical ISBN 978 1 4081 0517 7 304 pages £22.50 soft cover nitially I was puzzled by the rather low angle of many of the photos in this book until I belatedly read the Forward by Chris Coburn. Then I discovered that this is a canoeists’ guide — the author having paddled his way around the system in a kayak. As such it is an admirable piece of work and must have involved a tremendous effort but I would not recommend it be carried in a canoe – you’d probably capsize!

A large book with an enormous amount of detail gives the pedants amongst us plenty of opportunities to find errors; sadly this book does nothing to disappoint. But I’ll resist the temptation to quote some of them – no I won’t; here’s one on the Devizes Flight “...an annual Boto-X inflatable race take place down these side ponds”. (This was published in 2009, Boto-X was held in the late 1980s).

On the plus side, “comprehensive” this book certainly is. You can browse it until the cows come home (or the Somerset Coal Canal is fully restored) and you’ll still be learning — although, judging by the above example, you might not pass the exam.

The K&A is well treated, having 19 pages, but I just have that feeling the author’s canoe transit took place quite a while ago.

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THE UNLIKELY VOYAGE OF JACK DE CROW

By A.J.Mackinnon 4th impression 2007 by Seafarer Books ISBN 0 95381 805 5 356 pages. £12.95 soft cover he subtitle of this lovely book is ‘A Mirror odyssey from North Wales to the Black Sea’.

And the back cover tells you that’s ‘4,900 kilometres over salt and fresh water, under sail, at the oars, or at the end of a tow rope — through twelve countries, 282 locks and numerous trials and adventures, including an encounter with Balkan pirates.’

It’s well illustrated and a BIG read. From the Foreword by the man who was Headmaster at Ellesmere College where the author ‘Sandy’ Mackinnon became Head of Drama, you get a feel for the book immediately: ‘Sandy… arrived on the doorstep of the Headmaster’s House… in much the same way as his bird-friend Jack was to arrive some weeks later, not in a basket but completely out of the blue.’ Another highly enjoyable read. Jack de Crow is of course the boat, named after the bird.

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NARROWBOATS EXPLAINED

by Trevor Yorke Published in 2009 by Countryside Books ISBN 978 1 8467 4146 3 96 pages £7.99 soft cover ’ve reviewed books in this series before but they were written by Trevor Yorke’s father, Stan. Previously Dad wrote and son illustrated but here it’s the other way round.

It’s hard, even for me, to find anything negative to say about this book. Just about everything to be said about narrowboats is to be found here: from their history — origins, working life, decline and renaissance — to their use for pleasure today.

Packed with excellent photos and drawings this small volume is not just about its subject but is a potted encyclopaedia of our canal system. In fact if you know nothing about canals this book will tell you all you need to know to enjoy them.

If anyone has ever thought that people who enjoy living in a fallen-over wardrobe are nothing but masochistic nutters then this book will disabuse them. In fact I think I might go out and buy a narrowboat myself!

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Correction During the editing of the review of the book Walks around Bathampton for the Spring issue it was wrongly priced — it should have been £4.99 and not £7.99 (not Tim’s fault).

So it is even better value for this book that has already sold 1,000 copies and is now into its second edition.

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Butty No.187 Summer 2009

The scene at Claverton Pumping Station

or many who attended the 2009 AGM at Claverton Pumping Station the day began with a pleasant cruise aboard the Trust trip boat Jubilee from Brassknocker Basin on the Somerset Coal Canal to Claverton.

The marquee was set in the beautiful grounds of the

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K&A Canal Claverton

pumping station and the sun shone as Terry Kemp welcomed members and gave a review of the Trust’s activities during the year.

Sir Anthony Durant gave his final speech as Trust President, handing over to Michael Ancram MP and General Manager Mike Rodd outlined the tasks ahead.

Picture by Bob Naylor

Sir Anthony Durant retiring President ’m going to reminisce about the past I’m afraid — because I am going to become the past any minute!

I’ve had a long association with the waterways. My wife Audrey and I had our honeymoon on the Thames and we were boat owners for many years.

As an MP I was asked to revive the House of Commons All Party Waterways Group — at the time it was virtually dead.

I’m pleased to say that it is now a strong team and one of the bigger backbench committees.

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The fight to keep the canal open The founding of the K&A Canal Trust has an interesting history.

My government — the Tory government — had decided to close the K&A Canal, much to my disgust.

A lot of people wrote up in wrath, and a petition was sent all the way along the canal.

The old canal was in a bad state, I must admit that — but we sent the petition to the Queen, who then passed it to the Ministry of Transport as you’d expect and we then started to fight to keep the canal open.

We were lucky that the canal caught the interest of two important men. First of all,

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General Stockwell, who was the General in charge of the Suez Canal operation.

He had been pilloried by the press so he resigned. He then bought a lock keeper’s cottage along the K&A Canal.

He did up the garden and then said “What is all this water alongside of my house?” When he was told that it was the K&A Canal he said, “Well, we’d better do something about it”.

He became CHairman of the Trust in 1967. In 1974 he became President and handed the Chair to Sir William O’Brien, a famous WW2 Admiral. And the K&A Canal Trust AGM at that time was very amusing.

I was just a member and I sat in the body of the meeting at Devizes Town Hall and the two of them, the Admiral and the General were up at the top table and they kept saying “What do you think General?”, “What do you think Admiral?”

And I thought,”it’s Combined Operations HQ here!”

My Presidency I became President in 1996, taking over from Lord Jellico.

David Lamb was the Chairman and Brian Oram was then Vice Chairman.

It was an exciting time to become the Trust President. We had a large number of volunteers who worked very enthusiastically getting locks

cleaned out — with working parties all the way along the canal.

And we had started on the project to apply to the Lottery for money to restore the canal.

Lottery success We were very proud to receive £25 million — the largest HLF grant that had ever been given — towards the £29 million project. It really helped us turn the corner and it got the canal going again.

Here at Claverton, along this stretch, almost £1 million a mile was spent in solving the instability of the canal.

The waterway is 87 miles long — and that’s quite a stretch of water.

I’ve been many times to Crofton but I have to confess that I’ve never been to Claverton before so I am very pleased to come and I must say this is a very beautiful spot.

You must all agree with me, it is wonderful.

Volunteer effort The Trust runs many successful events, like Reading WaterFest, and the K&A Canal Trust members remain the stalwarts of this whole canal.

It is the members and volunteers who I want to especially mention as your retiring President. We could not

do without you. All of you do different things for the canal in different ways. And I include in that some of the ladies who make the wonderful cakes that we may have a bit of later.

This waterway has become known as ‘Britain’s Favourite Waterway’. I think that is because it is a volunteer-led project.

People come and go and the canal has touched many people’s lives. I would like to thank you all.

Welcome for new President I am delighted that Michael Ancram is going to take my place.

I have known him for many years in the House of Commons. He’s a great stalwart of the canal, he lives near the canal, he walks it a lot and he is very enthusiastic.

I was delighted when I heard that you had invited him and that he accepted. It is a great honour for me to pass it over to him.

This year we have welcomed two new Vice Presidents, Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury, and David Bruce of the Bruce Trust. So Michael, I pass to you a strong organisation, well-founded with lots of volunteers and the wish to go forward.

Trust AGM 2009

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Butty No.187 Summer 2009

Members arrive at Claverton by boat

Mike Rodd New Trust General Manager

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Enthusiasm I’ve been constantly amazed by the incredible enthusiasm and the wide expertise within the Trust.

As a boater myself, I can see the tremendous amount of work that has gone into this canal: other canal societies would do well to take a lead from the K&A.

Parochialism However, I’ve also been struck by a certain parochialism. The resources are immense, but we have branches and groups of people who are not communicating.

Some are struggling with problems that others have already solved. So one of the tasks I have set myself is to get to know all the groups up and down the canal, to see how we can start getting people together. We need to link everyone up, so that we can share our expertise.

Communications So one of the first things I noticed was that people were asking for better communications.

This is not an attack on the Butty: I think the Butty is tremendous! But financially we can’t put it out much more often – and I think that is probably about right, anyway.

What we need is something more reactive and frequent, so we have started a regular news email. The first one appeared

yesterday, and we will send them out at least monthly. This is not a replacement for the Butty: it will be short and sharp, with up-to-date news of things like BW’s recent announcement.

Di Harris will be putting it together, but we need your help in getting information and contact details.

I know some people are not on email, but I’m confident that most members have some access to it. What we lack in Devizes, however, is a good member contacts database: the database, like the rest of the IT, is bust!

We will put that right in time; in the meanwhile we have started by sending the newsmail to the addresses we do have.

Please forward it on: do that as a sort of “viral marketing” – and remind friends and relatives to send us their email addresses so that we can correspond with them directly.

Mike Rodd and Terry Kemp

next year or so, please fire me, because I am determined that Devizes will be seen as working for the benefit of all the members, the various branches, and the K&A as a whole.

Management & IT I also realise that it’s going to take time to sort out some of the management infrastructure problems.

To be perfectly frank (speaking as someone with an IT background), our whole IT system is broken: it is overambitious but also useless! So we’ve got to go right back to basics.

We don’t need world-class systems, but we do need IT that works, and at the moment (quite frankly) it doesn’t.

In other areas of the infrastructure we’ve also got some fundamental work to do; I’m delighted that Katherine has joined us as office manager to help make that happen.

It has struck me that up and down the canal everybody talks about “HQ” (and in many cases about how useless they are!). If that doesn’t change within the

Picture by Bob Naylor

Looking forward There is a lot to be done, but with your enthusiasm and expertise, supported by good management, communications and infrastructure — we’ll do it!

Treasurer’s report

Picture by Bob Naylor

irst, I would like to thank the Trustees for offering me this job. It was an interesting “Alan Sugar” sort of process to get here; it has been the most amazing journey for the last three months and I still have a lot of learning to do, and many people to meet and get to know.

rust Treasurer Neil Lethby presented the consolidated accounts for the Trust and its trading arm, Enterprise.

The Trust’s revenue for 2008 was £215,000 (£179,000 in 2007) mostly from donations, grants and lottery funds. General fundraising and income from

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subscriptions were both higher than in 2007.

Expenditure was up on 2008 reflecting the higher activity in projects to support the Trust’s aims such as Crofton boiler and Bone Mill Sluice. Overall the Trust almost broke even.

Enterprise made a significant loss of £32,000 — an improvement on the £68,000 loss in 2007.

There were some significant challenges but Enterprise has undergone a restructuring and is expected to be back in profit in 2009.

Certain aspects of Enterprise are very successful. The volunteer-run boats are very profitable. The focus for 2009 is to make all shops and cafés profitable

Eagle eyed readers of the Annual Review inserted in the Spring issue of The Butty will have noticed the error under ‘Fundraising’. Kennet District Council donated £25,000 a year for three years to help fund the General Manager post and the Burbage Crane project fundraising was £2,500.

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Butty

No.182 Spring 2008

K&A Canal Trust AGM 2009 — Claverton

Michael Ancram MP The new Trust President speaks at the AGM grateful at the beginning before I found out what it really involved!

Affection for the K&A Canal

ay I start by thanking the Trust for the great honour you have done me in asking me to be your President in succession to my old friend and colleague Sir Anthony Durant.

I know he has been a great source of support, wisdom and advice over the years he has been your President and he will indeed be hard act to follow.

His contribution to the Trust has been remarkable and I join you in paying tribute to him. We all wish him well.

I am very pleased to take on the presidency — although an equivalent president in another part of the country advised me not to be too effusive and

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I start however with one key advantage; I have enormous affection for the K&A. Since I moved to Wiltshire in 1990 I have come to love the canal. Indeed I live half a mile from it at Pewsey.

I walk long stretches of it, having found at my age that walking along the level has its advantages! Indeed I am very keen to walk more of it.

I also enjoy travelling along it — in narrowboat rather than a canoe — I leave that up to the intrepid adventurers in the Devizes to Westminster race on Good Friday.

I had one special experience some years ago when I was being taken as the local MP by British Waterways to see the work they had been doing on the banks east of Horton. I was sitting with the BW executive in the front, sun shining down, sipping chilled English white wine when my phone rang.

It was the chief whip asking me what I was doing at the time.

Glass in hand I was able to tell him that I was working. Now that’s what I call work!

Seriously, as your President I am keen to get to know more of the canal beyond my constituency and to meet more of

the branches.

Another reason why I am pleased to have become your President is because I know what a great bunch I will be working with.

I have already been struck by how much work is done and effort made by not only the members of the Trust but also the members of the branches.

As a longstanding reader of The Butty I am constantly amazed and gratified by the level of activity undertaken by volunteers up and down the canal.

I pay tribute to the Trust for your commitment, past and current, and to the support from the branches. You are truly the lifeblood of the canal and we must all be grateful to you for it — and to the staff who look after the various Trust interests.

Canals are national assets Part of our task must constantly be to remind an often apathetic public that canals are more than just ancient man-made waterways.

They are living communities and economic mechanisms in terms of what they generate — tourism and trade, employment, boatmen, publicans and caterers; as well as being a valuable local amenity in terms of fishing, walking, cycling or

just looking at the abundant wildlife that thrives along the banks.

It is too often forgotten that our canal system in general and the K&A in particular are genuine and valuable national assets.

They don’t just happen; they have constantly to be maintained.

I am pleased to see that BW increasingly appears to be recognising the need for local involvement in this and are — according to their latest press release — reorganising to increase the voluntary input.

But press releases are just that. We need to continue to impress upon them the need for partnership and cooperation.

Volunteer effort We must never forget that voluntary effort has been key to the revival of the K&A over the years, the dedicated work of the Trust — and now with plans for so much more in the future.

It was soon after I arrived in Wiltshire that the canal was reopened by The Queen, and I have watched the work done since on the back of the substantial lottery grant and with the vital contribution of the local authorities.

This latter is something which has been of enormous benefit in terms not only of financial

New Trustees appointed

Alice Boyd Devizes Branch

he waterways have always had a place in my life. I was brought up in a Thamesside village, but didn't develop an interest in the canals until two family narrowboat holidays as a teenager in the mid-1970s: the

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first on the Grand Union Canal, the second in and around Birmingham (pre-gentrification!) dodging sofas floating in the cut.

I spent a year as a student in North Germany alongside the Kiel Canal and then moved back to the Thames-side village before travellng out to live and work in south-west Germany close to the Rhine. Then in 1995 I moved to Devizes, a canal town with a working brewery — what more could a brewer's daughter want?

Since moving here I've owned a 14 ft fibreglass dayboat, a 24 ft and finally a 40 ft narrowboat —

all in close succession. Currently I am boatless.

I have worked in multinational food manufacturing industries, primarily in purchasing, responsible for budgets/spends up to £40m.

I left/downshifted in 2001/02 and have been self-employed since then providing support to clients mainly within the food sector in the areas of purchasing, packaging and print. I have also undertaken various voluntary activities including the local talking newspaper.

I joined the K&ACT when I

moved to Devizes, becoming an active member in 2001 and was Secretary of Devizes branch in 2004–07. I stood down at the 2007 AGM when 6 months pregnant. I am now single parent to Amelia, George, Monty and Marwood — the latter three being 4-legged (although it seems like my toddler Amelia has at least 4 legs too!). I am currently Chairman of Devizes branch.

My life revolves around a relentless cycle of walking dog (George) and changing nappies (Amelia). Hopefully the latter will stop during the course of 2009...

support but as a sign of local commitment and we must all work hard to maintain it.

200th anniversary Next year is the 200th anniversary of the completion and opening of the K&A, a milestone certainly worthy of celebration.

But we must not just celebrate the longevity of the canal but use it as a launch pad for the work which needs to be done in the future. I believe, and I have taken this up within government, that the granting of cruiseway status to the K&A would not only appropriately mark the anniversary but also be an indication of confidence in its future. I will continue to lobby for that.

Canals need care The truth is that canals do not look after themselves. They need looking after. There are always the threats of the erosion of banks, the silting up of the waterway, the overgrowing of the towpaths, leakages, bridge maintenance and general wear and tear.

While particularly in hard economic times there is always a danger that the powers that be will look at them as a liability, I believe that they are a good investment prospect and that the government should continue to invest in them for the economic

benefit of the areas through which they pass.

I also believe that nowhere can this argument be made more strongly than on the K&A, particularly at a time of recession.

We are stewards of our heritage There is another aspect about which I have spoken and written before and which I will reiterate today. We are all in our time stewards of our heritage on behalf of the generations to come.

There is an old Red Indian saying “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”.

This applies to whether it is the natural or built environment to which it refers.

Our canals are part of our heritage from those who went before us and built them but they are also an essential part of the heritage which in our turn we owe to our children.

And the truth about such heritage is that it doesn’t just exist. Without constant care it quite simply deteriorates.

This observation is particularly important at a time when we all face dire economic circumstances, when it is generally accepted that public expenditure will have to be cut to meet our growing national debt.

I have been a government minister in a recession a long time ago, and I learned the temptation of seeking the savings not from live and often totemic programmes but from the budgets for our heritage. (You might say that this is nothing new which is why our country is so full of ruins!) But that is what in terms of our canals, and the K&A in particular, we must avert.

Such a view is short-sighted and plumb wrong.

History has taught us in the past that when our environment, natural and built, is allowed to deteriorate, it is always more expensive in the long run to rescue and restore later than it would have been to maintain all along.

And in terms of deterioration there is always a point of no return where simple restoration becomes impossible.

Investment in the K&A Look at the K&A, at the enormous investment made in it over these last years, not just financial but in terms of human effort as well, and I believe quite simply that it would be immoral to let that go to waste.

What is more I believe that at a time of recession it would be unforgivably damaging to wittingly undermine a major local provider of employment and attracter of

business.

There is however no doubt that we will have to fight our corner financially over the year ahead.

I see that as my main challenge as your President, to fight that corner both locally and so long as I am able in the Palace of Westminster too.

I see my task to promote the interests of the K&A not only for what it means for us locally but equally as a vibrant example of all that is best in our past and present ingenuity as a nation; and also as a crucial part of our environment

Challenging times ahead We face challenging times, but the determination which built the K&A in the first place, that drove it up steep hills and across viaducts and through tunnels, the determination which achieved its reopening after decades of disrepair, is still there to preserve and strengthen our canal in the future.

I have always enjoyed a challenge, but I always enjoy it more when I am working with dedicated people like yourselves and people who understand the value of what they are working for.

I am indeed honoured to have been made your President and I look forward to the work ahead.

Roy Smedley Bath and Bristol Branch

oy Smedley has a background in Aerospace at Rolls-Royce working in several different and demanding establishments.

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After an RR apprenticeship he became a performance engineer

and project engineer before entering test facilities management.

In his early years Roy had an interest in football, holding secretary, treasurer and manager positions.

Later his interests moved to politics, school governor, flying and sailing.

Further changes occurred when moving into project management before moving to the Bristol area in 2001. Roy also did a short spell at Airbus.

It was when Roy met his wife, Dr Bryony Strachan, that his

interest started to move in the direction of canals and canal boating. Together they have crewed many of the Bruce Trust and other adapted boats on canals all over the country.

Due to Bryony’s father’s MS disability, a keen interest has been forged in canal boat facilities, mooring and availability of adapted boats.

It was a visit to Crofton on one of the trips on the K&A that fused a link even before Ron moved to the Bristol area.

After moving, Ron contacted Pete Dunn at Claverton. It was

not long before he had signed up to the maintenance team and then very quickly took on the role of running team leader, a post which is still current.

Roy has focussed on guided tours and maximising the number of pump running sessions as well as promoting the canal and other canal facilities.

Roy is project managing the proposed carpark at Claverton and a ‘Brown sign’ project is also underway.

As the new Chair of Bath and Bristol Branch Roy is looking forward the challenges ahead.

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

No.187 Summer 2009

Shop changes Reading David Copley 0118 9598247 eading Branch members were saddened to learn of the death of Eileen Bowsher at the end of March.

An obituary appears on page 37 but her cheerful active involvement in Branch events will be greatly missed.

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Canal clean-up Mid March saw 18 people taking part in our annual canal clean-up in central Reading.

Alison Colebrook, BW volunteer co-ordinator, supplied life jackets for those working close to the water and brought along two extra volunteers - Ian Jarvis, SW region manager of BW and Karen Morphet, his personal assistant.

There were slightly fewer bikes and shopping trolleys than last year (a good sign) but the two Environment Agency work barges again went away with full loads.

The prize catch was a motor cycle frame jointly fished out by Ian Jarvis and one of a small group of Reading University students working with us.

A lot of work also went into clearing discarded cans and bottles from bushes beside the towpath.

Our BW-approved volunteer group has also been active on improvements at Tyle Mill and Padworth Locks.

Visitor centre listed Aldermaston Canal Visitor Centre and the associated outbuilding were recently given Grade II listed status as: • They are two 18th century buildings which contain a significant proportion of their original fabric. • They are a rare survival of domestic/industrial buildings associated with the 18th century Aldermaston wharf and with canal wharfs nationally.

We hope that this will help maintain their future use as an important canal-side amenity.

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Visitors to Aldermaston will have noticed changes in the items on sale.

Tracy now has an up-market coffee machine and a slightly wider range of snacks for our traditional visitors and she is also stocking a limited range of groceries for passing boaters and for the local community as the nearby area lacks a local shop.

Upstairs Terry Mundy and the Museum team plan to revise and update the small display of local canal history.

Reading Canal Clean-up The haul of bikes and shopping trollies was down on previous years for the 18 litter pickers in central Reading in March that included a contingent from BW. Pictures by Alison Colebrook, BW

Parish Plan In early April, Padworth Parish Council (which includes Aldermaston Wharf) held an exhibition of local activities as part of the development of their Parish Plan.

Terry Mundy brought a small display showing development of the canal in the area and, together with Mike Rodd and myself, chatted to local residents about the canal and the Trust.

We are pleased to welcome several new Trust members as a result and we will be working with the Parish Council on ideas to promote the canal and visitor centre to mutual benefit.

WaterFest 2009 By the time you read this, WaterFest 2009 will be history and Branch meetings will be taking their summer break after a full and varied programme arranged by Wendy Holloway.

They resume on 25th September in All Saints Church Hall, Downshire Square, Reading.

As the role of Speaker Secretary is now vacant, the new programme is still being finalised.

We hope to have details available at the Branch Barbecue in the Aldermaston shop garden on Saturday 12th September (tickets from Andy James on 0118 950 7965).

Alternatively contact me for details nearer the time.

We wish all Butty readers an enjoyable summer.

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

the

Butty BRANCH REPORTS

Cubs & Beavers visit Stone Building

Newbury Julie Dean 01962 883939

The 4th Newbury Cubs and Beavers descended on the Stone Building one evening in April to learn all about the canal, locks, and water safety.

Rob Dean and I, aka ‘Mr and Mrs Boatie’, dressed in our finest boat costumes, treated them to slide shows, interactive quizzes, practical demonstrations on water flows and they finished the evening with ‘WOW’ (Wild Over Waterways) activities.

Stone building negotiations egotiations are ongoing to provide the Stone Building with a solid future. Our main priority is that the Trust should keep a presence in Newbury.

Three options have been identified: 1. Open the shop on a ‘high days and holidays’ basis with a part time paid manager.

2. To enter into a partnership with a business in the catering trade.

3. To remain closed, and change the function of the Stone Building to purely meeting/museum space.

I hope to be able to report on the outcome in the next Butty.

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Branch AGM Newbury Branch held its AGM on 29th April. Chairman Rob Dean reported on branch activities during the year.

Re-appointed to the committee are, Graham Smith as Secretary, Rob Dean as Treasurer, Mike Jennings, Bob Alderman and Julie Dean.

Sadly no new members came forward and we are reduced to these five select members.

Can I please make a plea for

No.187 Summer 2009

new committee members?

We cannot function as a branch with so few and we are very thinly spread across the branch activities — we need you!

John Cahill, and John and Val Arthurs stepped down and were thanked for all the hard work they have put into Newbury Branch and the Trust.

In recognition of their exceptional contribution we were delighted to present the Newbury Branch John Gould Trophy to John and Val Arthurs— an award they thoroughly deserve.

The Stone Building shop and tea room remained closed, although the committee had opened it in March for the Waterside series of canoe races when we could guarantee a good customer number.

The shop is not closed

Julie and Rob Dean with Cubs and Beavers

A lovely bunch of boys who went away happy judging by the noise and laughter! because the branch has been doing nothing; far from it.

Waterways Festival And now to the Newbury Waterways Festival 2009!

First the bad news – our sponsor for several years Vodaphone has had a troubled year and although we had been assured of continued sponsorship we learnt in the past few weeks that sponsorship will not be forthcoming.

This has put a very heavy

burden on us.

However, all is not doom and gloom and a good number of bookings are coming in for both stalls and boats.

We are delighted that Borders Bookshop has agreed to work with us again to promote the event in store and beyond.

Boats arrive from 24th July and the main festival takes place on 26th when Victoria Park will be filled with stalls, children’s rides, crafts, refreshments and entertainment with plenty to do for all the family. Admission is free. Don’t forget: the theme is ‘Pirates!’ and we look forward to seeing lots of ‘Pirates!’ and decorated boats along the canal-side!

See you there!

Boaters Barbecue Why not come to the Boaters Barbecue on Saturday 25th July? You don’t have to be a boater to join the fun. There will be live entertainment as well as a delicious barbecue meal.

Tickets will be on sale on the day or call me on 01962 883939 to be sure you get yours.

Water Festival Harbourmaster John Arthurs has kindly agreed to take on the role of harbourmaster once more — but bookings must go through Graham Smith on 01635 580356 or email him: kact.newbury@virgin.net

Mike Price MABSE

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446 he season opened well for the Rose of Hungerford with a wedding reception as well as six other charters and eight public trips before the end of April.

The reception was a truly delightful charter with the wedding party being collected from St Lawrence’s Church at Hungerford following the nuptials and being transported to Great Bedwyn.

I don’t think the crew needed much rocking to sleep that night following the ninehour round trip.

Brunsden and Wire locks were finally opened at the end of March after being closed for

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Crofton Ray Knowles 01672 851639 e started warming the boiler through on Tuesday 17th March prior to the boiler inspector’s check on the boiler and the safety valve on the Thursday.

The trials were satisfactory and we were given our certificate for this year’s operations.

The following two days we held training sessions on all aspects of Health & Safety regulations as they apply to our operations, operational procedures and evacuation

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No.187 Summer 2009

lengthy repairs to both Kintbury and Brunsden locks over the winter; I needed to report to BW the following week that two of the paddles at Wire lock were still not working and one gate at Dunmill would not open completely.

grand old age of twenty-two, she only needs two out-of-water inspections over the next five years.

Thanks for this must go to those who have worked so hard on maintenance over the lifetime of the boat.

Insanitary station

Nesting birds

Once again I see that the insanitary station at Hungerford has had its door forced open; I really am at a loss to understand why as all there is inside is a card-operated control panel and a very smelly coiled up hose all in a space no larger than a lavatory on an aeroplane.

The May Day bank holiday saw once again the annual Crafty Craft race on the K&A between Hungerford and Newbury.

I know that under the organisation of Newbury Round Table this popular event raises many thousands of pounds for deserving local causes but why, oh why, does it have to be held during the birds’ nesting season.

If it were to take place during the August bank holiday, the nests of countless water birds would not be destroyed and, as an added bonus, the

MCA inspection I am pleased to say that Rose has passed her various MCA inspections of late with flying colours and so, even at the

procedures in the event of fire or similar emergency.

We also ran steam trials with emergency stops and restarts.

Summer activities The winter work was completed about a week before we opened on Good Friday and we have now started compiling a list of summer work based on the hope that we can get some good weather for outside working, which includes a great deal of painting.

The three-day steaming at Easter was very successful; after a few inevitable technical problems the engines ran well and we had a near record number of visitors (872) over

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 30

this period in spite of Saturday and Sunday being cold and grey.

The refurbished public toilets coped well with the crowds and there were times when the café was at peak capacity, at least some of which must have been due to Maxine’s new menu.

Fire alarm We have had a delivery of 20 tons of coal so with what was left over from last year we should have enough for this season.

There was one little excitement on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon when the chief engineer, who was perched on the side of the coal

water would be warmer for the competitors who inevitably get soaked.

Trip allocation The captains’ allocation meeting at the end of February was attended by 10 of our 13 captains, one was working and the remaining two were out of the country.

We were pleased that Mike Rodd was able to come along to introduce himself to us and to see for himself how things work at Hungerford.

After a quick snack there followed a training session presented by Graeme Dewhirst which was attended by upwards of 30 crew.

Thank you all for coming along, it is this dedication and willingness to help which makes the Hungerford Branch and the Rose of Hungerford such a success. bunker in front of the boiler, moved his head out of shot from a visitor taking photographs and set off the fire alarm by pressing his head against it. (The fire alarm industry have got rid of their break glass fetish, all you have to do is press the glass gently).

However, the training mentioned in the first paragraph had clearly been successful as by the time we were able to make an announcement of a false alarm, the café and beam gallery had been cleared and visitors were already leaving the building!

Do come and see us over the Summer if only to admire Nigel’s work on the boiler front lettering.

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

Alice Boyde 01380 724701 t seems no time at all since I wrote the last Butty report, but so much has happened in the meantime!

The Branch had an enjoyable I’ve Survived Christmas party, where we took the opportunity to introduce Mike Rodd to some of our frivolities!

This was followed by our annual Canal Clear Up, which we incorporated with BW’s Towpath Tidy.

We had a reasonable turnout on a not-wet March morning.

My ability to wield litter picker or grappling iron was hampered by a 20-month-old toddler, so I provided refreshments at the start and finish, which seemed to go down well on a cold day. As usual we were amazed at what some Devizes folk will deposit in their canal.

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AGM At our AGM our “acting” committee was formally reelected. Pete Jordan is our Treasurer, Vicki Messam our Minutes Secretary and a warm welcome to a new face on our

Avon Vale restoration group he engine has had a complete overhaul and it is back in the Avon Val thanks to Dale Marshall of British Waterways who arranged for one of his team, Kevin Osbourne, who gently lowered the engine back into place.

Following grit-blasting by Devizes Marina the hull was blacked, primed and undercoated with paint supplied by HMG paints and it now has one coat of topcoat in Light French Blue which was the BWB Corporate colour when the boat was built 30 years ago.

The team are currently fitting out the inside of the cabin.

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Canal clean-up in Devizes

committee, Peter Potter.

You may remember he gave a talk three years ago on the Junior Division and their work in the late 60s/early 70s restoring our canal.

Peter was also involved in the original restoration and refurbishment of the Wharf buildings and he and his wife Sue ran the first trip boat from the Wharf — welcome back, Peter!

The AGM was followed by the wonderfully entertaining Professor Tim Traverse-Healey talking on the Coaching Inns in Georgian Wiltshire — a very gifted speaker.

Just some of the rubbish collected

Briefing by BW Vounteer Co-ordinator, Alison Colebrook before the start of the clean-up

Events Our branch committee has put together a full, hopefully entertaining and interesting series of events for the next year, with each committee member “bossing up” an event.

We will be running a tombola at the Devizes Beer Festival as we have in the past, as well as supporting Newbury branch at their Water Festival, both of these events in July.

We are introducing a new event in August, a Garden Party at Alan and Jean Smith’s garden backing onto the Caen Hill flight, which will take the form of a BYOM BBQ. BYOM = Bring Your Own Meat!

Protect Fire Equipment of Coate, near Devizes, have come onboard as sponsors and MD Vince Davies has donated the three 2kg dry powder extinguishers we need to meet the Boat Safety standards — PFE join British Waterways, HMG Paints of Andover, Devizes Marina and Commercial Signs and Displays of Devizes who are supplying materials or professional services for the project.

We still need more people to join the Avon Vale 100 Club, application forms are available at the Trust outlets or contact The Trust at Devizes Wharf on 01380 721279 and they will send you a form.

It is a good and easy way to support the Trust and this project.

Cross fingers and hold thumbs for good weather that evening, although I understand from the Met Office we’re in for a good BBQ summer.

From September we start a series of monthly events which are detailed on the branch programme displayed on the notice-board at the Wharf and it is available to all interested parties by email.

heavily involved amongst other things with the restoration of the Wharf building here in Devizes.

His years of devoted service were recognised when he was given the John Gould award a couple of years ago. Our fondest best wishes and sympathy go to Barbara, and we hope she will still come along to our Branch events.

Eddie Hopkins

Event help

On a sadder note, we have bid a very fond farewell to Eddie Hopkins who passed away just before Easter. His funeral was well attended by Trust and Branch members, with a eulogy given by Sam Weller.

Eddie had been a branch stalwart for so many years,

As always, we are looking for members to be active in coming along to and helping out with our various events. You will be assured of a warm welcome! If you have any questions at all, please contact me on 01380 724701 or email: alice@3pplus.co.uk .

Picture by Bob Naylor

Devizes

No.187 Summer 2009

Above, looking good in Light French Blue and Black and right, the engine is lowered carefully back into the boat.

Picture by John Kirby

If you are interested in helping with the restoration of Avon Vale please contact either Adrian Softley at: adrian.softley@bridgeinnhorton.co.uk or John Kirby at: JHKoneaonly@aol.com or tel: 07748 873 280 31

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

No.187 Summer 2009

prior to a boat trip.

The season has start has been very promising.

The weather has been wonderful especially during Easter.

Most of our public trips were full and Bernard Groves has already taken forty confirmed charter bookings.

Gill Milner 01225 762051 Report written

by Gill Milner and Eric Doel id you know that we have a ‘new’ trip oat here at Bradford on Avon? — well, not really, but thanks to the efforts of Trevor and Alison Ward and Eddy Ody, Barbara McLellan looks like new, having been re-painted with the original colours of red and green — and most impressive she now looks.

Even other canal users have commented on how much better the boat looks. Thank you each for sparing so much time, and doing such a professional job.

Not only has the outside of ‘BMac’ received attention but other volunteers have spent hours cleaning the saloon and galley.

However clean something looks to start with, cobwebs and bits of crisps can always be found hidden away.

The committee have received comprehensive reports from Colin Daws of the maintenance during the winter period. It is amazing what has to be done to keep a boat like ours fit to take fare-paying passengers.

Not only is it physical work in often cramped places. But accurate and complete records have to be kept to satisfy everdemanding MCA requirements.

Once again the ‘fix it’ team have done us proud.

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Training My husband Grant Milner, with a little help from me, has taken over the training of volunteers.

Not only are such training days necessary under MCA regulations, but we hope the crews had fun as well.

Each group of volunteers trying to beat the time of previous sessions in retrieving the dummy of the man overboard exercises.

We were very pleased that almost 50 volunteers attended these training sessions.

Other training days will be arranged during the season.

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Picture by Rob Coles

West Wilts

Barbara is back Boat painters, Eddy Ody above and Trevor and Alison Ward

We have started training much needed new skippers.

We have four promising trainees who are full of enthusiasm.

Whilst on the subject of skippers, the Summer 1992 Butty reported the success of new skippers for ‘Ladywood’, our previous boat.

Of the six names mentioned, only one remains still active — Nigel Bellinger.

It does not require a degree in maths to tell us that this year he is starting his 17th season with us. Well done Nigel!

AGM We had to re-arrange our AGM this year because of snowy conditions. Our apologies to the few who turned up on the previous winter night.

Our secretary had made every effort to let everyone know but unfortunately a few were missed.

It finally took place on Saturday 14th March under the chairmanship of David Inight.

We were so impressed with him and we think he did enjoy the challenge so much that he has agreed to become our Branch Chairman.

Sally Ferrers was appointed branch secretary and the committee now consists of: Colin Daws, Eric Doel, Bernard Croves, Dave Jupp, Grant & Gill Milner and our new chairman David Inight.

Branch activities Our branch efforts, however, have not just been confined to looking after ‘BMac’. Paul and Rose have attended to the tearoom garden, aided by Chris Poulter.

Some of our volunteers recently helped with the BW car

park and towpath clean up. This was long overdue as many shrubs were over-hanging parking bays.

Sadly, much of the cleaned up rubbish has been replaced with more litter. For a while it was rewarding to see the result – a car park and towpaths that looked cared for.

Dogs In the last issue of the Butty we mentioned the offensive dog droppings on the wharf.

Following a request to BW they have agreed to install a ‘doggy bin’ this year.

Wiltshire Council’s Dog Control Order makes it an offence not to clear up after a dog has fouled and anyone not complying can be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty of £80.00.

If any member of the public is willing to provide a witness statement, a penalty can be issued on this evidence.

Volunteers Unfortunately, every year we lose some volunteers, and this year is no exception.

John Box, who has been a skipper for about 10 years has decided not to renew his licence.

He actually took his test on the ‘Ladywood’ and John and his wife Sandra have been volunteers for 13 years.

Although we will miss him as a skipper he has agreed to carry on with the ‘BMac’, which means we can sometimes enjoy his excellent and knowledgeable commentary.

Season start On Sunday 5th April a troupe of Morris dancers arrived at the Wharf and entertained everyone

We are pleased to see Barbara Frogget back as Manager of the tearoom.

Barbara offers a warm welcome as well as being a fount of knowledge about the K&A. If you would like to volunteer in the shop, Barbara would be pleased for you to call in or phone her on 01225 868683.

Crofton Visit On Easter Saturday, my husband Grant and I visited Crofton. We had a lovely time there watching the steam engines and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

We enjoyed a pasty in the tearoom and we then enjoyed a walk along the canal and watched the canoes in the race to Westminster.

Devizes trip.

Our promotional trip to Devizes, was very successful and the weather was very kind to us — except for Monday when it rained all day.

Passengers helped when they could with the locks and although they did not have to pay for the trip we had over £120.00 in donations.

We recruited several new volunteers including a young woman from Spain who is working locally to improve her English.

Everyone had fun and passengers and crew enjoyed their hot dogs and bacon butties.

Future events We have only one future event planned so far — a cheese and wine social evening to be held in the tearoom garden on Saturday 18th July, organised

by John and Joan Maciver. We would love to see you all there.

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Claverton, Pete Dunn 01761 432811 he K&A Canal Trust held its annual AGM at Claverton this year. All reports that I have received confirm that it was a great success.

I would like to thank all who helped in this achievement; they are the Bath & Bristol Committee, The Claverton Group, the Jubilee crew and the Barbara McLellan crew as well

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No.187 Summer 2009

as staff from Devizes and one or two others. If I have missed anyone out please accept my apologies.

We were very lucky with the weather on the day — it was just about perfect.

There was a howling gale blowing down the valley on the previous day when we were erecting the gazebos.

Only one of the three gazebos actually blew away, and it was only saved by some quick thinking and foot work by one of our members.

After that the others were securely anchored down for the

night with railway sleepers.

I was very pleased with the turnout on the day. We were able to supply tea and homemade cakes to our visitors.

Those who know me will be surprised to find that I was too busy to manage more than one piece of cake.

One person who deserves a special mention is our neighbour at Claverton Rosemary Wells.

Not only did she supply cake and hot sausage rolls, but she

Burbage Crane project A joint project between IWA, K&A Canal Trust and The Crown Estate

The Burbage crane is progressing very nicely and was on show at the AGM. The IWA are partners in this project

and John Webb brought a display of Inland Waterways Association activities as an added attraction.

Caught in the act... John Kirby, left and Rod Hannah of the Avon Vale team pictured at the AGM at Claverton as they took the opportunity to measure up the Burbage Crane to work out how they will fit it onto the Avon Vale for the trip back to Burbage when the work is finished.

Picture by Bob Naylor

Picture by Robert Coles

Sheila and Peter Scott getting Claverton ready for the AGM

also gave the team bacon butties at the start of preparations on Saturday.

Rosemary and her late husband Tony have been good friends to the Pumping Station for many years.

I have now stood down as Bath & Bristol Branch Chair, but will still be very active along the canal and will be concentrating on the exciting future at Claverton as we run to its bicentenary in the year 2013.

Tel: Tel: 01380 01380 725300 725300 Quality narrowboat maintenance Repair & refurbishment Engine servicing — Hull blacking Shot blasting — Painting — Sign writing Hull extensions & welding DIY covered wet dock Pump-out — Gas — Coal Day & weekend boat hire Chandlery — Boat Sales

www.devizesmarina.co.uk 33

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Bath & Bristol Roy Smedley 07904 460643 ell it has been quite a whirlwind time for myself and my supporting wife, Bryony. From one visit to a K&A Canal Trust Council meeting (as an observer), I have now taken over as Chair of the Bath & Bristol branch of the K&A Canal Trust.

Firstly, I must thank all the preceding chair persons, but particularly Pete Dunn who at short notice stepped into the position to maintain and take control of the branch.

I will say that there are some great guys on the team, so much more knowledgeable than myself, but with experience and teamwork I’m sure I will get there.

John Webb continues to be our representative on the Bath Western Riverside Developments also wearing his IWA hat.

John has provided detailed and intelligent contributions to the BANES Bath Public Realm proposal and development, a 10-year plan for the future development of Bath.

We have several concerns, particularly with the possible removal of the sluice gate at Pulteney weir.

However BANES have picked up the issues around improving the river and riverside and acknowledged the collocation to the world heritage site.

Apart from the Pulteney Weir area, Bath turned her back on the river during the 19th Century when the river became in effect a large sewer.

There is a real opportunity through this plan to improve the access and amenity around the canal and river in Bath.

Pete Dunn’s separate report mentions the AGM meeting at Claverton. All I can say is well done and what a fabulous project-managed job by all the team. It was all helped by the very beautiful setting of the Limpley Stoke valley and some very nice weather.

Afterwards the Trust Council and Trust members enjoyed

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No.187 Summer 2009

refreshments whilst the pump was running, just as it was nearly 200 years ago.

The pump appears (hopefully) to be in good working order and therefore means that the team can also carry out other canal associated work.

Why not come down and see us, it’s a great day out and you can have lunch on the lawn with maybe some of our selection of cold drinks.

See our Butty advertisement or visit Claverton.org on the Web site.

There have been several special visits to the pump which according to the feedback were immensely enjoyed. They are also good revenue earners.

I am having a somewhat difficult time on project managing the carpark. We do have planning permission, perhaps the most difficult aspect, but much work is required with the purchasing of two pieces of land.

Our solicitors are working hard on this and with the help of Mike Rodd and Terry Kemp it will not be long before we pass that milestone.

BW have promised to fix the leak in the pond in the next 4–5 weeks. We can’t wait to get our inspection ‘hole in the ground’ filled in and re-turfed.

We are also working on obtaining a ‘Brown sign’ to help with the navigation of getting to our beautiful site off the A36 at Ferry Lane, Claverton.

Jubilee report The Jubilee trip boat started tours just before Easter.

Gordon Lane is trying as ever to pack as many trips in as possible.

On Saturdays we try to do two or three charters and then Sunday is reserved for public trips with evening charters when we can fit them in.

During school holidays we are trying to pack in many school trips, a good way to get youngsters involved in our brilliant organisation and the K&A canal. See our Butty advertisement.

July and August will see extra trips on a Tuesday.

Please try and make a trip with

Presentation to former Bath Branch Chairman

Michael Davis, centre, with Blair Murray, left and Pete Dunn

he Bath & Bristol Branch AGM began with a presentation to former Chairman Michael Davis.

Pete Dunn presented Michael with an exquisitely crafted inscribed box made by committee member Blair Murray to mark his ten years as Branch Chairman.

The box incorporated

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us, you will enjoy it!!

Special thanks to the skippers and crew who were stretched to the limit last year.

We hopefully will have three new skippers on the 2nd June.

We do need more, why not join our team, we have a great time as well as carrying out good community work and using the canal as it was intended.

Our special regards to Rob Slade (Jubilee chair), who is unwell at the moment, let’s hope he makes a speedy recovery. Bob Kerr meanwhile, assisted by Sue Thomson, is doing a fine job — thanks.

K&A 200 year celebration ideas We are organising a meeting in a month’s time regarding the 200 year celebration of the canal.

We welcome any ideas for the Bristol and Bath end of the canal.

We may jointly invite personnel from the Somersetshire Coal Canal and

Picture by Robert Coles

various decorative woods including recycled Iroko that had done sterling service as part of the water wheel of the Claverton Pump.

Accepting the gift Michael said that his chairmanship was at an interesting and enjoyable time that saw the culmination of the 50-year task to restore the canal.

Whitcombe Folk Festival.

Another suggestion is to take a canal boat from Bristol Harbour to Reading, possibly using the Nutfield boat (1937) which is now back as a working boat.

We also think that this boat headed the rally of boats through the locks on the reopening of the canal in 1990.

Moorings abuse There was a meeting at Ian Dewey’s home in May with BW organised by George Malcolm.

George has carried out much hard work regarding this difficult issue and produced some amazing statistical evidence on illegal mooring.

Angling & wildlife Rod Bracey presented a very exciting picture of the fishing prospects — in particular to the heavy catches and the popularity of the stretches of canal on our ‘patch’.

He also iterated that more otters mean fewer mink which means more water voles.

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No.187 Summer 2009

Safety matters by Ben Woodman ave you had the pleasure of a cruise on any of the Trust’s trip boats? The K&A Trust has three as I’m sure you know, Barbara McLellan, Jubilee and Rose of Hungerford.

You can see them in the Trust ad on page 39.

They look tranquil and peaceful don’t they? Cruising quietly up and down the canal, happy people on board; just like a swan might appear effortlessly gliding over the water!

What you don’t see, with the swan at least, is its feet paddling furiously under the surface!

Well, it’s the same with the trip boats! For each boat there’s a small army of volunteers

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behind the scenes, cleaning and polishing, doing the maintenance, paintwork, mechanics, crewing, stocking the shop and so on.

They are always looking for new volunteers by the way!

You name it, it has to be done. Everything in fact to keep the boats ‘ship-shape’.

Funny term to use for a canal boat, ‘ship-shape’. In fact the boats are more ship-shape than you might imagine.

Do you remember that dreadful disaster on the River Thames 20 years ago, when the trip boat Marchioness was run down by the dredger Bowbelle, and sank with the loss of 51 lives?

Ever since then, every inland waterways boat capable of

carrying more than 12 passengers has come under the scrutiny and jurisdiction of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

That means that our three trip boats are subject to the same surveys, inspections, rules and regulations as, say, cross channel ferries.

They even carry ‘Search and Rescue’ plans approved by the coastguards.

A list of K&A Canal Trust officers is always available to the emergency services in case of disaster. A bit over the top?

You might think so, but then, we have to abide by the rules.

That’s the thing about rules and regulations; sometimes we

Crofton 2009 Staff Training and Steaming Trials rofton held its annual Steaming Trials and Staff Training days on 20th and 21st of March.

Overall, 35 Branch Members attended and were briefed on Health and Safety matters and on Emergency and Operational Procedures — and the Engines were given their first runs since last Summer.

A substantial amount of work had been done on the Number 2 Engine during the Winter, and the first runs of this

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engine were beset with some minor snags — but everything was sorted satisfactorily during the first day and it ran well throughout the second.

After some sticking of the valve gear, due to congealed oil, the Number 1 Engine performed flawlessly throughout both days.

The engine runs gave the opportunity for Branch Staff to practice the Operational and Emergency procedures that were discussed during the

Museum news he museum team has been challenged with some computer problems that our Archivist Jeremy has been working hard to resolve.

We have been boosted by receiving a couple of rather nice donations for past research work.

Sarah our researcher is producing some sterling research work and getting side tracked from time to time; some of the information in the archive is fascinating.

Ken has built a gate for the workshop in the museum so now visitors can see into the workshop and we comply with health and safety needs.

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by Harry Willis

Some of the group in the classroom on the Saturday

classroom sessions and gave the several new Branch members who had joined the Team during the winter months

by Elaine Kirby

Ken is also repairing some of our model boats — it looks a very fiddly job to me.

New skills The team has been extending their skills with labelling and marking plus copyright courses provided by Wiltshire Museums Advisory Service and Conservation Department.

Painting collection The museum’s collection of oil paintings has been photographed for ‘The Public Catalogue Foundation’.

The pictures will eventually appear in the Wiltshire

might think they are a bit broadbrush and maybe not always aimed at the right people.

Health and Safety is having a bit of a rough ride at the moment. It is popular to make fun of health and safety rules.

It is worth remembering though that most new health and safety laws come about as the result of a previous disaster.

That is the other thing about rules and regulations; they are designed to make sure that the same thing does not happen again.

That has got to be better than yet another accident!

catalogue among all the other oil paintings in museums, libraries, and Council offices around the county.

Additions We are still receiving some very much appreciated additions to the museum’s collection including two books by Tom Chaplin and a model of a working boat built by him for his publisher Annabelle Whittet.

Terry Mundy our Curator took the museum table-top display to Padworth Parish open-day and evening where there was a lot of interest in the canal and its history.

Picture by Harry Willis

an opportunity to experience Crofton ‘In-Steam’ for the first time.

Schools Poster C7ompetition Theme: 200 years of The Kennet & Avon Canal Closing date: 30th November 2009 Size: A4.

Medium: Use any medium Open to any school class (one entry per class).

The posters will be judged during December and the winning class will have a tour of Claverton Pumping Station with a boat trip on Jubilee there and back.

The runners up will have a tour of Crofton Please phone 01380 721279 for an entry form

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No.187 Summer 2009

Picture by Bob Naylor

Eddie Hopkins

ddie Hopkins, who died on March 27th, was one of the stalwarts of the Devizes Branch, and indeed of the Trust.

Although his family only moved to Devizes when he was five, Eddie was a Devizes man through and through.

He was one of the few Trust members who could remember commercial boat traffic on the western end of the Canal and possibly watched the occasional passing boat from the Devizes Grammar School, now St Peter’s Primary School alongside the Devizes flight where he was a pupil.

Always a lover of the open air, the canal was his playground. He learned to swim in it — the Devizes swimming pool was actually a cordoned off part of the off side of the canal beside the Grammar School.

He was an enthusiastic cyclist and ranged far and wide during holidays, up into Wales on one occasion.

As a schoolboy Eddie visited a flying circus near to Devizes and paid for a flight.

He fell in love with flying and left school early to become an RAF Apprentice at Cranwell to train as a wireless operator.

Unfortunately he was unable to reach the required Morse reading speed but he was offered a place on a new course for aircraft electricians.

When war broke out he was sent to Dorset to maintain the planes practicing bombing off Chesil Beach, but he was soon posted to Malta where he remained through the siege and made many good Maltese friends.

He returned to Malta many times, having a share in a flat there and for his commitment to the Island he was awarded the Malta George Cross.

Following this he joined the commando unit of the RAF and found himself as the RAF controller on the beach head at Salerno.

Later he was sent to Syria to be ready

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to take over a suitable airfield if Turkey entered the war on the German side.

After the invasion of Europe his unit entered France from the Mediterranean and escorted fuel tankers northward.

In peacetime Eddie remained in the RAF and was involved in developing new weapon systems and aircraft, including the Vulcan bomber.

After he left the RAF he became a range warden on Salisbury Plain. This must have been the ideal job for Eddie who as a schoolboy had worked as a volunteer on major archaeological excavations at Stonehenge and other sites.

Eddie met Barbara during the war when she was a WREN. They married in 1946 and it was through Barbara that Eddie became involved with the Trust.

Barbara had been press ganged during the refurbishment of the Canal Centre, and later became a regular helper in the canal shop and Tourist Information Centre where her local knowledge was invaluable.

Eddie was drawn into the shop team, and became more involved with Trust activities, I quickly recruited him onto the Branch Committee where his trenchant comments on Trust and Branch plans were invaluable and forced us to think about the practicalities of what was being proposed.

Eddie’s electrical skills were way above ours and he was able to help with the very many electrical crises that cropped up as new facilities were added or old ones failed.

He could be relied on to give a hundred percent at any Branch activity, setting up stands, installing lighting and public address systems, and always there to the end when others had gone home exhausted.

Eddie and Barbara were a double act, invariably there together, many of the council members in the 1980s and 1990s will remember the feasts laid on by the ladies of the branch catering committee of which Barbara was one, but Eddie was often in the background or sorting out failed bulbs in the museum or adding more circuits to meet the demands of new technology.

One of Eddie’s outstanding contributions was his guided walks up the Devizes flight.

This started modestly like most things, but developed into a major activity that brought much income to the Trust.

Parties would be met at the foot of the hill, walked up with Eddie talking as they went, describing the history of the flight, the notable engineering features, and of course his own reminiscences drawn from a lifetime’s experience.

He was greatly applauded by the people he conducted along the canal who ranged from schoolchildren to groups of leading

civil engineers.

The walks were integrated into a package with the catering team providing lunch or tea at the Canal Centre at its conclusion.

Although never a boat owner himself Eddie took every opportunity to travel along the K&A and other canals. He had many memorable holidays with Peter Collins and Geoff Snelgrove and their wives, and joined the Devizes Branch members who brought the Charlotte Dundas II from Evesham to Gloucester before it was transported by road to Devizes.

Barbara said that it was this trip along the swollen River Avon that turned her hair white!

Eddie was always among the first to use any of the locks at Devizes as they were restored. He was on the flight when Timothy West and Prunella Scales filmed their first voyage from end to end of the newly restored canal, helped to bring the first boat down from the Wharf for the opening by the Queen, and subsequently was always ready to help friends through the flight.

It was for these many activities over nearly 30 years that Eddie and Barbara were jointly presented with the John Gould Award in 2007.

Eddie was diagnosed with cancer of his oesophagus in 2008 and with characteristic stoicism decided not to have it treated.

In his last months he remained mentally alert and as ready to talk on any subject as ever.

The canal often loomed large in these talks with fellow members as he lamented the changes in the Trust and the loss of old friends from the Trust’s management.

Towards the end he discussed his funeral arrangements with Barbara, agreeing with her what hymns and readings he would like included.

Those of us who attended his funeral agreed that it was a fitting end to a distinguished life, even to his burial in the Potterne Cemetery which was close to his home and for which he had responsibility as a Parish Councillor.

The views are magnificent and he must have often marvelled as he looked out from here over his beloved Wiltshire countryside.

Mike Corfield Eddie’s funeral was held in Potterne Parish Church and the eulogy was given by Sam Weller who later said, “If you can ever say a funeral was fun then this one was — it was what Eddie wanted, a celebration, although I found it very difficult to say my piece — which is unusual”

Obituaries ileen Bowsher who died on 23rd March 2009 had just passed her 81st birthday but had the energy and enthusiasm of a much younger person.

She was active within local community organisations and within Reading Branch of the K&A Canal Trust where she took a leading part in developing Reading WaterFest.

Eileen grew up in Reading at a time when paper qualifications were fewer than today but common sense seemed more common.

After getting married she and her husband Ted moved to Southcote, then a newly developing area on the western edge of Reading.

The canal at Burghfield Bridge was just a mile down the road where their two sons could go fishing.

Later, they acquired a small cruiser and became early members of Burghfield Island Boat Club.

Ted and Eileen were also active Trust members, always ready to offer practical help.

Ted passed away more than a dozen years ago but Eileen remained active in local community groups (if it involved Southcote it probably involved Eileen) and

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within the Reading Branch committee.

Eileen was never pushy, but quietly effective. When something needed doing or improving she would either contact the best person to get it done or, as when nobody volunteered to be the crossing lady at the local primary school, do it herself.

Earlier this year, after Eileen had stood down from the Branch committee, I wrongly assumed she had also stood down from attending meetings with the local council to organise WaterFest.

A few quiet words ensured she was at the next meeting, taking her long established role in ensuring attractive events for children.

Unfortunately her health was failing.

Hospital tests showed she was suffering from a form of cancer too advanced for effective surgery. She died peacefully a few weeks later.

Eileen could easily be mistaken for an ‘ordinary member’ of the organisations she belonged to — but her quiet determination and calm way of getting things done earned her the respect of fellow members and of the officials and councillors she spurred into action.

That made her extra-ordinary. To quote

French connections

Picture by Bob Naylor

Eileen Bowsher

Sally Swift of Reading Borough Council, “When we remember Eileen, it is with great warmth and appreciation for her support and commitment, not only to her local community in Southcote, but for her work and enthusiasm in developing WaterFest as an enjoyable and well respected regional event”. Eileen will be greatly missed.

David Copley

news of our twinned canals

Nivernais Rally 2009 he tenth Nivernais Boat rally is being held on 18th and 19th July at Vincelles (15km south of Auxerre) in Burgundy, France.

The event’s guest of honour is Cyrille Carre, World Kayak Champion and French finalist at the Beijing Olympic Games — and canoeing features highly over the weekend.

There will be canoe and kayak demonstrations and canoe water polo competitions between local school teams.

The organisers hope that canoeists from the K&A will attend the rally and join in the fun. Local clubs have offered to lend canoes to make travel arrangements easier.

Apart from the canoeing, there will be demonstrations of how wood was bound into huge rafts to be sent to Paris for fuel, wine tasting, traditional folk music, boat trips and parades, water jousting, fishing

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demonstrations, stands of local produce and other specialities, horse-carriage rides along the canal, art exhibitions and sculptor demonstrations, a cheer-leader/pom-pom girl boat show, street theatre, food and drink stands, a Sunday morning ramble through the countryside, model ship demonstrations; and more. Truely something for everyone!

International Forum The lack of adequate short, medium- and long-term moorings on our waterways will be the theme of an international forum on Sunday morning, sponsored by the Dutch Barge Association.

Representatives are expected from government and waterways authorities from several countries. The forum’s agenda will also include a visit

to the Caves de Beilly to sample the fine local wine.

Gala Dinner On Saturday night there will be a medieval dinner with music and dance from the middle ages and the renaissance. The price for this evening (includes meal and entertainment but not wine) is €30.00/£30.00 per person and must be booked in advance.

Accommodation There are several large hotels around Auxerre within 20 minutes of the rally site. See www.ot.auxerre.fr/English.html and www.accorhotels.com/gb/hom e/index.shtml for some options.

Les Ceriselles Camping is a short distance from the rally site, with pitches for tents, caravans and campervans as well as mobile homes and

chalets (from 1 to 3 bedrooms) – find them on the web at www.campingceriselles.com School parties will be found hostel-style accommodation if required.

For more information, contact Di Harris on 01380 840584 or email twinning@thebutty.co.uk

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Butty

No.187 Summer 2009

What’s on

Bristol’s cultural diversity.

August

June Thursday 11th Canal Users Forum. 7.30pm.

Woolhampton Village Hall, Woolhampton, Reading RG7 5RE. All welcome.

Saturday 20th Reading Waterfest, Abbey Ruins and River Kennet (behind Reading Gaol).

July Sunday 5th Newbury Carnival. Join the pirates and their K&A boater hostages to help publicise the Newbury Water Festival. More info from Julie Dean at juliedean@btinternet.com Tuesday 7th Devizes Branch, Noggin and natter at the Black Horse, Bath Road, Devizes from 7.30.

Friday 17th–Sunday 19th Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais Rally, Vincelles, 15 km south of Auxerre, Burgundy, France.

K&A canoeists are particularly welcome. Phone 01380 840584 for more information.

Wednesday 22nd ‘Author talk’ at Borders Bookshop, Newbury. Former Trust Museum Curator Warren Berry will be talking about his new book. 8.30pm.

Sunday 26th Newbury Water Festival, Victoria Park, Newbury. This year’s theme is Pirates. Be one of the first to sample Wadworth’’s K&A 200 brew.

Meet former Trust Museum Curator Warren Berry who will be talking about his new book at the Borders Bookshop stand. More information from Rob Dean on 01962 883939.

Friday 31st – 2nd August Bristol Harbour Festival Music, dance, circus, fireworks and boats in a showcase of

Until 2nd Bristol Harbour Festival.

Music, dance, circus, fireworks and boats in a showcase of Bristol’s cultural diversity.

Saturday 15th Devizes Branch Garden Party and BYOM BBQ at Alan and Jean Smith’s garden backing onto the Caen Hill flight. More detail from Jean on 01380 726876. £3 each.

September Tuesday 1st Devizes Branch, Noggin and natter at the Black Horse, Bath Road, Devizes from 7.30.

Sunday 6th BW consultation on future proposals, Devizes Canal Centre, 3.30pm.

Saturday 12th Reading Branch BBQ, Aldermaston shop garden, tickets from Andy James on 0118 950 7965.

Monday14th – Friday 18th Visit to K&A by Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais.For more information conctact Di Harris on 01380 840584 or twinning@thebutty.co.uk

Unclassified ads Mike Price Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01225 703747 Mobile: 07736 837968 Moorings — long term and temporary, recreational rural moorings available at Ladies Bridge, near Pewsey on the K&A Canal. Telephone 07743 926269 for further details.

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 email: grahamhawkes@btinternet.com

ALL-ABOARD MARINE SERVICES & NEWBURY DRY DOCK

All boat maintenance services Boat Safety Examinations Anywhere on the K&A and Thames

Corgi Reg:

189616 Tel: 01635 37606 Mobile: 07940 583361 & 07703 235779

GREENHAM LOCK COTTAGE, AMPERE ROAD, NEWBURY RG14 5SN

www.aamarine.co.uk

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Sundial Marine Services For gas, oil, solid fuel heating servicing and installation, plumbing and electrical work.

Eddie Belston Tel: 01373 302765 or 07518 057447.

Wilderness Boats For repairs, refits and new and used craft. Call: 01666 577773.

Holiday Cottage to let Port Isaac North Cornwall.

Creel Cottage is a beautiful, warm cottage in this ancient fishing village. Available throughout the year. For information contact Derek Bullen 01380 828413.

Explore the Dorset & Somerset Canal. We offer B&B, a packed lunch, drop off and collect anywhere on the canal. £80 a night for 2 people inclusive plus £60 for additional night. Contact Howard or Jane Smith on 01749 814930 or 07831 738753 www.barefootsorchard.co.uk Jane Crowe Traditional Signwriter and Decorator Experienced in roses & castles, scrolling, lining, graining, signwriting. Craftmaster Paints.

Local to K&A. 01380 860969, 07833 931364, jctraditionalart@aol.com Free secure reciprocal summer mooring — Newbury area. In exchange for mooring west of Devizes. June September (dates very flexible).

Under 50 feet. 01730 812230 or 07980544189 Chronic back pain?

Research proves that lessons in the Alexander Technique ease pain. For more information telephone Tanya Whannell (Registered Teacher) 01635 866409. Email tanya@whannell.co.uk DEVON – Narrowboat Holidays Luxury 4/5 berth

Narrowboat, Grand Western Canal Country Park & Local Nature Reserve. Combine cruising with days out in the West Country. 01884 252178 www.middevonhireboats.co.uk Holiday Mews to Let Central Bath, quiet location.

Sleeps 4. Available throughout year. Owner continuously cruising. £25 donated to K&A Canal Trust for each booking.

Call: Peter 07905 9053337.

Burghfield Island Boat Club is currently looking for new members to join the waiting list. Please phone Vicky on 07703722102 for further details Narrowboat enthusiasts needed to help run a trust dedicated to giving youngsters experience on the canals. Any skills welcome to maintain our narrowboat based at Aldermaston. Ring Julie on: 0118 9618450.

Meeting room available for rent The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf, seats up to 30. Enquiries Graham Smith 01635 580356.

Share in 45ft traditional Narrowboat (sleeps 4) Based at Sawley Marina, Nottingham.

Choice of week to be taken between October and the end of March every year until 2076.

Just £1450.

Annual service charge/management fee applies.For more information please contact Dave or Mary Byrne on 01761 419224.

Holiday House to let Thurlestone, South Devon.

Spacious and comfortable, sleeps 5/7, with views over the pretty village to the coastal path and beaches.

Telephone 01373 812654.

Unclassified ads are free for members of The K&A Canal Trust for up to 30 words — subject to available space For ads to run in the next issue of The Butty email: ads@thebutty.co.uk

David Owen & Co Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire 01380 722211

126 High Street Marlborough Wiltshire 01672 512163

Auditors to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

Trip Boats

‘Rose of Hungerford’ A wide-beam boat seating 50 operating from just off Hungerford High Street.

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: 0800 121 4674

Visit the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s attractions Claverton

Cafés & shops

Bradford on Avon Wharf shop & café Tel: 01225 868683

Pumping Station

Claverton Pumping Station is a waterwheel powered beam engine built in 1813 to raise water from the river Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal. It has been restored by volunteers and is now open to the public.

Claverton is five miles south of Bath off the A36 Warminster Road, 400 yards down Ferry Lane across the uncontrolled level crossing. The pump is approximately 25 minutes walk from Dundas Aqueduct. Free admission for children under 16 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Open days 2009

Devizes Wharf museum & shop Tel: 01380 729489

Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from April 11th until October 28th

Running days Opening times: Wednesdays 10am – 4pm, other days 10am – 5pm

‘Barbara McLellan’ 65ft wide-beam boat seating 51 operating from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage Public trips: • Every Wed, Sat, Sun and Public Holidays from Apr to Oct - 2.30 pm, 1? hr to Avoncliff and return.

• Easter and every Sat and Sun from May to Sep - 11.30 am, 1? hr to Meadows Bridge and return.

• Every Sun from end-May to mid-Sep 4.30 pm, 1 hr to Widbrook and return.

• Special Trips including Cream Teas, Bath, Autumn Tints.

Christmas Santa Trips W h e e l c h a i r / d i s a bl e d a c c e s s Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day.

Booking Manager: 0800 121 4679

August 9th, 30th & 31st September 13th & 27th October 25th

April 12th & 13th May 4th, 24th & 25th June 14th & 28th July 12th & 26th

Phone: 01225 483001 Email: enquiries@claverton.org

Crofton

Crofton Pumping Station shop & café Tel: 01672 870300

Beam Engines 1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler. Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting From Marlborough, either take the A346 to Burbage and then follow the brown 'Beam Engines' sign, or take the A4 towards Hungerford, turn right, 'Beam Engines' sign before Froxfield, and continue to follow the brown signs, through Great Bedwyn, to the pumping station.

From Hungerford, take the A338 towards Salisbury, turn right at Shalbourne following the signs to Great Bedwyn, then follow the brown signs.

From Salisbury, follow the signs to Hungerford on the A338, then turn left at East Grafton and follow the brown signs.

Newbury Wharf shop & café Tel: 01635 522609

Open days Open daily 10.30am to 5pm From April 10th to September 27th 2009

Steaming days April 11th, 12th and 13th (Easter) May 2nd, 3rd and 4th May 23rd, 24th and 25th, June 27th and 28th August 1st and 2nd, August 29th, 30th and 31st September 26th and 27th

‘Jubilee’ A 30 seat converted traditional narrowboat operating from Brassknocker Basin, opposite Viaduct Inn, Limpley Stoke on the A36 East of Bath Public trips: • Good Friday to 25th October Sundays and Bank Holidays (and Tuesdays in July and August) 12.00 – 2.00pm 2.30pm – 6.00pm Charter trips are available Booking Manager: 0800 121 4682

All boats have a licensed bar and refreshments are available.

There is a public address system or you can use your own sound system.

Phone: 01672 870300

Museum

Devizes Wharf The museum is housed in the historic bonded wharehouse on Devizes Wharf.

Its exhibits chronicle the rise and fall of the canal as a commercial waterway and its subsequent restoration by volunteers.

Aldermaston visitor centre, shop & café Tel: 01189 712868

l a e r a y o Enj t! a e r t y l i fam

Opening times: 10am — 5pm, 7days a week

General enquiries: 01380 721279

Website: katrust.org.uk

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