The K&A Canal’s own magazine
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Butty Canal festivals at Reading, Newbury and in France
No.188 Autumn 2009
ÂŁ2.50
Mike Lee continues his series on the K&A water supply
K&A 200 calendar photo competition winners 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 No.188 Autumn 2009
Cover photograph: Kennet Horse Boat Company’s passenger boat, Kennet Valley near their base in Kintbury
contents
Picture by Bob Naylor
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11 pages of K&A news
18
K&A History project
20
Water management on the K&A
22
K&A 200 calendar competition
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Rally on the Nivernais
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A walk at Avoncliff
The Trust and its aims The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has three separate but complementary objectives: • To protect the newly restored Canal from neglect, abuse and inappropriate developments. • To enhance the Canal, either by the direct application of Trust funds or, more likely, to unlock larger amounts through matched funding. • To promote the Canal as a magnificent national amenity that is freely available for the enjoyment of all. It was The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (through its predecessor organisations) that fought successfully to save the Canal from formal abandonment in the mid1950s. Through physical effort, innovative fund-raising and persistent political pressure, the Trust led the campaign that resulted in the Canal’s re-opening for through navigation in 1990 and the subsequent £30 million restoration project from 1996 to 2003. The Canal’s infrastructure is now in a condition that will support sustained operations for many decades ahead. The Trust’s membership reflects the wide range of leisure activities – boating, walking, cycling, fishing, pursuit of wildlife and heritage interests – that the public can enjoy along the length of the 87 miles of Canal.
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
Hon Engineer Mike Lee Museum Curator 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
General Manager Mike Rodd 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@katrustent.org.uk
For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor 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. Copy deadline for The Butty No 189, Winter 2009 27th Oct 2009
Plus regular features 15 Wilts & Berks, 16 Cotswold Canals, 17 BW Briefing, 23 Letters, 26 Page for younger readers, 27 Reviews, 28 Branch reports, 35 Safety Matters and Museum news, 37 Obituary, 38 What’s on and Unclassified Ads
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No.188 Autumn 2009
Buyers lose out as boat builder closes by Bob Naylor ystery surrounds the sudden closure of M&P Steelcraft of Sells Green near Devizes, who shut up shop early in August leaving four customers believing that they have lost more than £104,000 between them.
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A worker at another company on the site said, "They laid off all their staff, stripped their office bare, locked the workshop doors and just walked away." M&P Steelcraft — who styled themselves ‘The South West’s premier boat builder on the Kennet & Avon’ have ceased trading, leaving boat buyers wondering what will happen to their part-finished boats and the money that they have paid in advance for work to be done on them. The company's phones have been cut off and Managing Director, Paul Wells, is not answering his mobile phone or responding to emails. The company moved to Broad Lane Farm, Seend in early in 2007 from smaller
premises at Marsh Farm, Hilperton, where they had been trading since 2000. Their landlord at Sells Green, David Akerman, said, “The first I knew of their problems was when customers started arriving here early on Thursday morning (August 6th 2009) asking what was going to happen to their boats.” He continued, “They said that they had received an email the evening before that said that M&P Steelcraft had ceased trading. I am trying to contact Paul Wells — and until I have spoken to him I have no idea what is happening." There are four partcompleted wide-beam craft at the works, two outside in the yard and two locked away in the building, and the owners
Below, two of the unfinished wide-beam boats in the yard
fear that they are unlikely to get any further work done by M&P — or the money back for the advance stage payments that they have made. Other boat builders on the site, Will Trickett Boats and Rowan Boatbuilders, have agreed to do what they can to help the owners who seem to have been abandoned by M&P Steelcraft. Managing Director, Paul Wells, his wife, Michelle and the staff of M&P got national television exposure in 2006 when they were featured converting a VW Camper into an amphibious vehicle for
M&P Steelcraft MD, Paul Wells
Richard Hammond of the BBC TV motoring show, 'Top Gear' — unfortunately the vehicle sank shortly after it was launched. Earlier this year M&P Steelcraft opened a chandlery on Devizes Wharf — this suddenly closed recently and the shop is now stripped bare — although there is still an advertisement in the window offering 'Credit Crunch' deals on wide-beam and narrowboats ordered before the end of August and asking for payment of a non-refundable 'booking slot' deposit of £2,000 to secure an order.
Report identifies Bath lock sinking lessons
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The boat entered the lock chamber, the gates were closed and the mother and daughter opened the paddles to allow the water out and the boat to descend. The husband reversed the engine to keep the bow away from the bottom gates. The limits of the cill were clearly marked on both sides of the lock. As the boat descended, the parents noticed the bow was dipping. The father told his wife and daughter to close the paddles but they were unable to do so. He and his two sons got off the boat onto the lock-side. The boat’s stern was hung up on the cill, water flowed into the forward end of the boat and the boat then became jammed in the lock. The MAIB report concludes:
1. If an emergency such as this develops while a boat is negotiating a lock, boaters MUST close all paddles immediately. It would therefore be prudent for boat hire companies to consider placing more emphasis during handover briefings to hirers about the actual operation of the paddle mechanisms they are likely to encounter. Companies should consider providing practical demonstrations using model paddle arrangements. 2. The British Waterways and Environment Agency’s booklet The Boater’s Handbook introduces the basics of boathandling and helps people to spot risks and avoid accidents, including the danger of hanging up on cills. It also states that all paddles should be closed in the case of an emergency. It would
be wise for inexperienced boaters to read the booklet thoroughly, and for experienced boaters to refresh their memories.
Picture by Bob Naylor
ollowing an accident in August 2007 when a boat hired by a couple with three young children sank in Bath top lock, the Marine Accident Investigation Board have issued a report outlining lessons to be learned from the incident. The family who had hired the boat from Alvechurch Boats at Hilperton, Trowbridge had no previous boating experience. The first evening they went through Bradford on Avon lock with another boat whose crew operated the lock. The following day they cruised with no more locks until they reached Bath top lock in the evening. The mother and daughter got off the boat to open the gates — and this time there were no other boaters to help.
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Family’s miracle escape from boat inferno couple fled from their blazing narrowboat with their 18-month-old child as fire raged through their boat, moored between Candy’s Bridge and Bathampton, in the early hours of Saturday 6th June. Jill Down, who lives opposite, was woken just before 6am by the sound of the fire and she took the dramatic sequence of pictures, left, between then and mid-day. She said, “The fire service got here very quickly and they soon had the fire under control.” She continued, “The couple are musicians and we would often hear them playing violins and other instruments on their boat — it was beautiful. I spoke to the mother and she told me that along with other possessions, two violins, a banjo and an accordion were destroyed in the fire.” Avon Fire and Rescue were called at 5.42am and four fire engines and a safety boat were quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus soon had the blaze under control. Forensic experts and police investigated the cause of the fire throughout Saturday and Sunday.
A Shortly before 6am the boat burns fiercely
Pictures by Bob Naylor
Pictures by Jill Downs
Firefighters quickly get the fire under control
Charred possesions on the roof of the boat after it was moved to Bath
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Cyclist rescued after lock fall mbulance crews rescued a 40-year-old cyclist who had fallen into the K&A Canal while pushing his bike by a lock near Pulteney Road in Bath on 10th June. Great Western Ambulance were alerted at 9.30am and two rapid response units arrived to find him still in the water. They pulled him to safety with a scoop stretcher and he was taken to Bath Royal United Hospital.
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Lock gate lodgers Pictures by Eddie Ody
Butty NEWS
Air ambulance aids sick boat passenger
Picture by Alastair Weston
passenger collapsed as he got off a trip-boat and had to be air-lifted to hospital. The 75-year-old man was among a group of people on a boat trip to be followed by a trip on the Avon Valley Railway on Wednesday 23rd July. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance landed in a picnic site near to Bitton Station and he was airlifted to Bath Royal United Hospital.
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Safer boat initiative recognised rowbridge-based firefighter, Watch Manager Matthew Maggs, was awarded the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation for the safety scheme he initiated on the K&A following a fatal fire on a boat near Trowbridge.
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With colleagues, Matthew cycled the towpath giving advice on fire safety and the
Wiltshire Chief Fire Officer, Andy Goves, presents Matthew Maggs with his commendation
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Matthew Maggs at Bradford on Avon
200th Anniversay beer launch he Newbury Waterways Festival in July was chosen to launch K&A 200 — a special beer brewed by Wadworths of Devizes to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the K&A Canal in 1810. A bar selling the beer was doing brisk business throughout the weekend; John Kirby, who was in charge of introducing the public to the celebration beer, said, “It has been selling fantastically well — everyone is enjoying it — and we are confident it is going to be a great success along the whole length of the canal as we celebrate the 200th birthday of our canal”.
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Picture by Bob Naylor
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risks of carbon monoxide poisoning to boaters on the K&A Canal in West Wiltshire The initiative proved its worth in October 2008, when a boat moored on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Hilperton was subject to a build-up of carbon monoxide. A carbon monoxide detector had been fitted following a safety check by Matthew during the summer, and this alerted the boat owner to the danger. The CO detector almost certainly saved her life.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Picture by Bob Naylor
Rare badge find
hris Gibson of Honeystreet, who is a collector of canal photographs and postcards and general canal memorabilia, came across this badge advertised on Ebay — and he snapped it up for a song. He is eager to find out when it was issued, in what sort of numbers, and who the recipients would have been. If you have any information about these badges please contact the Butty Editor.
Eagle-eyed Eddie Ody spotted this family of Grey Wagtails that had set up home on one of the bottom gates at Bradford on Avon Lock. Eddie, who is a boatmaster on the K&A Canal Trust trip-boat Barbara McLellan, was voted this year’s K&A Canal Trust West Wilts volunteer of the year. And Alastair Weston spotted a hungry family, pictured left, being fed on the bottom gate of Kennet Lock (No 50) in Devizes.
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‘Cruise-time’ radio
Stuck cow rescued
Picture by Bob Naylor
Picture by Andy Last, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue
BC Bristol’s early evening Drive Time show slowed down its pace for a week in June when they travelled from Bath to Bristol on board narrowboat Little Plum, broadcasting the show from the boat each evening. Producer Nancy Jackson travelled with boat owners Pat and John Richardson as they made their way to Bristol.
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BW SW Communications Manager Susie Mercer worked with Nancy to plan a route to show what the navigation has to offer. The week’s cruising and broadcasting culminated on Friday evening with a 2-hour Drive Time outside broadcast presented by Ben Prater on board Little Plum in Bristol Harbour.
cow that got well and truly stuck in the mud in the K&A Canal at Bollands Hill near the Barge Inn at Seend was rescued by members of Wiltshire Fire and Rescue on 18th June. When firefighters from Melksham arrived at the scene at 12.25pm the cow was near to exhaustion — they realised that specialist help was needed
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if the cow was to be saved so they immediately called in the water rescue boat from Amesbury. Between them they got straps under the cow and they had her safely hauled out by 2pm. After a check over from the RSPCA and a vet she was let loose to join the herd — none the worse for the experience.
French honour K&A Canal Trust Engineer ike Lee, the K&A Canal Trust Hon Engineer, was invested into the ancient French wine-makers’ society Le Confrérie des Chevalier as a Chevalier (French for Knight) — the highest honour that they can bestow. The ceremony took place at the end of the two-day Fête Nautique in Vincelles, near Auxerre in July, in a ceremony that included Mike downing three bowls of local wine. Mike was nominated for the honour by the President of Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais, Jo Parfitt, in recognition of his 20
Picture by Bob Naylor
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The rank of Chevalier is bestowed on Mike Lee, right, and Andy Soper,centre
years’ involvement with the twinning of the two canals — and also for Mike’s work as the engineering advisor to the Canal du Nivernais. Le Confrérie des Chevaliers des Trois Ceps is a historic society who work to maintain the traditions and promote the wines of the Auxerrois vineyard district. Each year a small number of people are honoured by the society — and this year receiving the award alongside Mike was Andy Soper, Chairman of The DBA — The Barge Association.
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BW raise the ‘Stakes’ on the K&A Canal by Bob Naylor he Kennet & Avon Canal is open for business again for deep draught boats now that the weir at Dog Head Stakes near Newbury has been repaired and the water level restored. Many boaters in the barge fraternity believe that the K&A is not the place for Dutch Barges — and although the canal was built for barges it is true that navigating the K&A can be challenging at times for wide, deep draught boats. But this year problems with scouring at Dog Head Stakes between Bull’s Lock and Widmead Lock caused a breach that took away a third of the weir, causing the level to drop dramatically on that pound. This has caused many deep draught boats to get stuck on the cill of the bottom gates at Bull’s Lock. BW staff were able to help boats through — although one boat remained stranded below the lock for over a month and BW transported half the load of
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John Jackson’s coal barge by road from Aldermaston Jto Greenham Island so that his boat could clear the cill. There were a high number of deep draught vessels on the K&A this summer, many of them on their way to the DBA (The Barge Association) rally at Bisham Abbey on the Thames. With many of them getting stuck at Bull’s Lock, BW needed to find a quick solution to the problem. A temporary inflatable barrier was considered as a ‘quick fix’, but BW South West Asset Manager, Will Burnish, devised a remedial scheme that was completed in four days by contractors from Seawork Marine Services. He said, “This was a very cost-effective repair that we could complete quickly — and which took account of the sensitive nature of this area, which is designated as a SSSI. “It should last for 10 years or more” he continued, “and that will give time to plan for a
Divers in the water work on the repair to the weir
This picture, looking from the canal towards Dog Head Stakes and the River Kennet, shows the breach to the left and the exposed concrete of a previous repair to the weir on the right. 8
Most boats were able to pass through Bull’s lock without problem — but this moored barge was stranded below the lock for over a month
more permanent structure of the quality of the new Bone Mill Sluice — but that will involve planning permission and consultation with all interested parties.” BW Senior Asset Engineer, John York, who supervised the work on the project said, “Due to the sensitive nature of the site, which is a SSSI, all the work was done by hand following consultation — and with the support of the EA and English Nature. The adjacent quarry was also very supportive in allowing us access to the site through their works.” Susie Mercer, Marketing & Communications Manager for
British Waterways, said, “We are delighted that the works have made such a tremendous improvement. Low water levels in summer time here have created difficulties for our boaters, but I think this project is a really good example of where a relatively inexpensive and simple solution can make a big difference. Let’s hope we see even more visiting boats coming to the K&A next season. It is still one of the most popular canals on the network and I know we are all really keen to do what we can to make it an attractive option for people cruising the network”.
The new re-built section of weir was made by first filling the scour holes in the river bed and then building up the weir with gabion baskets filled with washed limestone — in all 45 Tonnes of stone were used in the repair
Dog Head Stakes weir existed as it had done historically as a row of stakes driven into the bed of the river until the 1960s when they were removed. Up until then the water level was controlled by filling between the stakes with timber when the water level was low and gradually clearing it away as the flow increased.
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Hero anglers nab boat burgler couple who had moored their hire-boat near Pulteney Weir returned from a shopping trip to find a man leaving the boat with some of their property. When Trevor and Margaret Chaplin challenged him, he dropped their belongings, pulled out two kitchen knives and threatened them. As the boaters backed away four men fishing nearby saw what was happening and grabbed the man from behind, they pulled him to the ground and took the knives away from him. They restrained him until the Police arrived — he was later
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charged with burglary, affray and possession of an offensive weapon. DC Anthony Swift from Bath Police Station said, “The action of the men was a real act of bravery and they did not hesitate to intervene. “There was a very real potential for the victims to be injured in this case... and whereas Avon and Somerset Constabulary do not encourage members of the public to put their own safety at risk, on this occasion the offender may have escaped if the men had not intervened.” Philip Hole, 40, of Gloucester appeared at Bristol
Crown Court in July and pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary and possessing a bladed article. Defending, Mark Worsley said that his client had been too drunk to remember what had happened. In sentencing Philip Hole to 41⁄2 years in jail, Judge Julian Lamber described him as a hopeless alcoholic who had been before the courts for a total of 90 times for 203 offences. He ordered that the four anglers should each receive £250 as a token of appreciation of their publicspirited actions.
New K&A Canal book launched at Newbury
Woman in engine-hold rescue
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Because of the restricted space they could not use a standard stretcher. Ambulance Officer Ross Culligan of Great Western Ambulance said,”After giving her morphine to stop the pain and stabilise her we used the ambulance vacuum mattress to remove her from the boat safely.
Ambulance staff and rescue colleagues were able to move the patient onto the mattress, inflate it, and then manoeuvre her free." She was taken to the Bath Royal United Hospital by ambulance and after treatment she was able to return to her boat.
No to Reading flood plain plans lans by Prudential to build 7,500 homes on the Kennet flood plain in an area south west of Reading have been scuppered by Communities Minister Sadiq Khan in the recently published South East Plan, which has excluded it as a potential development site. The Environment Agency objected to the plans because the area is in the River Kennet’s flood plain and at present is almost entirely under water. Pete Rehemann, the local councillor for Southcote, wants the Kennet Meadows to be turned into a Trust. He has called on Reading Borough Council to make the area between Reading and the M4 into a Trust, managed as an important area of open
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space and as a community and ecological asset for a wide range of different users and stakeholders, for landscape, recreational, wildlife, and educational purposes. Reading West MP Martin Salter, who led a campaign against the Prudential plans said, “This decision is excellent news and it is the end of a long road for hundreds of people who have fought the developers tooth and claw for many years. “It is difficult to see how the Prudential or any other big developer could win a planning battle to build on the water meadows now that the area has been excluded from the plan because of flood risks to Reading.” PRUPIM director Kevin
Ashman said: “We are disappointed the plan does not appear to take account of the serious need for a significant number of homes in West Berkshire and the south west Reading area.” And he added, “PRUPIM will review the detail of the document and consider the way forward for its plans in the coming weeks.” Local renowned wildlife photographer and campaigner, Chris Giles, said: “This is fabulous news — there are 21 species of butterfly sighted in the area of Kennet meadows — what we have to do now is to persuade Prudential to turn the whole area into a wetland and wildlife centre for the residents of Reading and for future generations.”
Pictures by Bob Naylor
woman was rescued by Great Western Ambulance staff after she fell into the engine hold of her boat moored in Bath Marina. Paramedics were called to the boat late in the afternoon of Sunday 26th July and found a woman in her early 60s trapped with a dislocated hip.
arren Berry, the former curator of the K&A Canal Trust Museum and author of the critically acclaimed book The Kennet & Avon Canal, A History, hosted a ‘meet the author’ session at Borders Bookshop in Newbury as part of the build up to the Newbury Waterways Festival.
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Café re-opens on Newbury Wharf he café in the K&A Canal Tust’s Stone Building on Newbury Wharf has reopened after a complete facelift. It is being run by Paul and Ivana Barclay, who are serving a range of traditional English food, including cream teas, as well as meals with a Mediterranean flavour. They are also selling a range of K&A books, maps and magazines — so if you are in Newbury drop in and see changes.
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Reading Water Fest nce again people flocked in their thousands to the banks of the Kennet & Avon Canal in the heart of Reading for this year’s Water Fest in June. Organised jointly by Reading Borough Council and the K&A Canal Trust, the event was a melange of stands, bands, boats and belles! There were community stalls, many with a cosmopolitan flavour, which were a real attraction for boaters from more rural stretches of the K&A. There were Scottish Dancers, Irish dancers and clog dancers. On the water, there were boat trips as well as decorated boats to admire.
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Bathing Belle stiltwalkers in Chestnut Walk
And adding humour and something of a carnival feel there were a couple of bathing belles on stilts. There were also puppet shows for the children. There was definitely something for everyone. One of the most important features of this year’s Water Fest was the unveiling of a plaque by Reading Mayor, Coun. Fred Pugh, marking the important historic site of Blakes Wharf. This is the first of Reading’s ‘lost wharves’ to be marked with a plaque in a campaign led by Mike Wyatt to remind visitors and residents of Reading about the hugely important role the waterway had in the history of the development of the town.
Doggedly supporting the 2010 K&A 200 celebrations
There was a good turnout of brightly decorated boats at this year’s Water Fest
Aldbrickham Clog Dancers dance in the Abbey ruins
Boats of all sizes taking part in the parade of boats
Boaters dressed in traditional costume
Pictures by Bob Naylor
Reading Mayor, Fred Pugh, unveiled the new plaque at Blakes Wharf
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Stalls along Canal Walk attracted many visitors
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Boat sunk by gate paddle deluge
New K&A Trust admin worker
ecky Wells is the new face in the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Office on the Wharf in Devizes and she says that her job is to fit in wherever she is needed — in the office or the shop. Becky is passionate about everything to do with the canal — the wildlife and wonders of Caen Hill and Crofton. She has lived on a narrowboat for two years with her partner, Nick, who is an engineer at Hilperton Marina and they both love living and travelling on the K&A canal.
B Boat skipper Henry Hammond Pictures by John Swift
A narrowboat passes a boat that sunk in the middle of the canal just outside Towney Lock
traying too close to the gate in a lock with gate paddles led to the sinking of a narrowboat. Henry Hammond was at the tiller of his narrowboat, Muskrat, as it went up in Towney Lock near Padworth on the K&A Canal on Saturday
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29th August, unaware that water from a gate paddle was filling the foredeck with water. As he left the lock the water moved through the boat into the engine hold and the stern of the boat began to settle lower in the water until the air vents for the air-cooled engine were
under water and the boat very quickly settled on the bottom of the canal. A salvage company was called in and on Bank Holiday Monday BW lowered the level of water in the pound so that the boat could be pumped out and re-floated.
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Victoria Westwood: 07970 729116
Brand new boats fitted to any stage on superior quality shells Full & Part refits
Tel: 01225 710017
www.ukboatyard.com
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Newbury Waterways Festival
Branch Chairman, Rob Dean with Newbury Mayor, Kuldip Singh Kan, and the winners of the Best Dressed Boat competion, Tony and Barbara Fitch and their grandsons, Piers and Joel
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success. The final event of the day — the annual duck race — had 300 more entries this year. But it was probably the slowest John Arthurs demonstrates fender making race ever with the ducks reluctant to finish the course. The weather was very kind and the first hint of rain was as the duck race drew to a close and people headed for home. It was a great day — thanks to the hard work put in by the team led by Members of Devizes Boat Club doing a good Branch Chairman, Rob trade in burgers, from left, Nikki and Adrian Dean. Softley, Kim Banwell and Jude Argent
Dave Cox on board nb Alcora and below, boats moored by Victoria Park
Mayflower Morris dance in Victoria Park
The duck race starts ... and the crowds watch as they make their way, very, very, slowly to the finishing line
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Pictures by Elaine Kirby and Bob Naylor
he Wharf and Victoria Park were taken over by pirates, the boat decorations all had a pirate theme, there were puppet shows for the young, morris dancers, live music, model boat demonstrations on the pond, the park was full of stalls and people turned out in their thousands to the Newbury Waterways Festival. The special beer brewed to celebrate the K&A Canal’s 200th birthday was launched at the Festival — and is clearly going to be a great
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Crofton steams to the rescue he Kennet & Avon Canal went back to its heyday when the historic steam pumps at Crofton were brought back into use to keep the canal open after a total failure of the modern electric water pumps left boats stranded on the Wootton Rivers and Crofton flights of the canal on Friday 3rd July.
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The 1812 Boulton & Watt and the 1856 Harvey beam engines, which are steamed from a hand-stoked coal-fired Lancashire Boiler, are run by the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. They are normally only fired up on high days and holidays so that visitors can relive the glory of steam power — but that weekend the K&A Canal Trust Crofton Branch Chairman, Harry Willis was contacted by British Waterways and asked to keep the canal open. Harry quickly got a crew together and they ran the pumps throughout Saturday and
Sunday. Luckily the pumps had been running the previous week and were still warm which meant they could get up to steam and pumping very quickly. They ran the pumps all weekend and after taking Monday off they ran the pumps again on Tuesday to enable traffic to keep moving. On Tuesday British Waterways brought in a mobile electric pump which they had running by 3pm — and the Crofton team were able to take a well-earned rest.
HAMS TRANSPORT HOPTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DEVIZES, WILTS
Picture by Bob Naylor
The Barge Inn Honeystreet Historic Canalside Inn serving home cooked food from noon — 2.30pm and 7 — 9pm
With flatbeds up to 60’ we can safely transport your narrowboats and wide beams throughout the UK 01380 726837 www.hams-transport.co.uk
CATLEYS CALOR GAS CENTRE Appliance sales & installations
Bring your boat up to Boat Safety Scheme standards Repairs, servicing and installation Corgi Reg: 50508
Beechfield Road Hopton Trading Estate, Devizes Telephone 01380 727266
Tel: 01672 851705
Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties
www.the-barge-inn.com
Crop circle venue with notice boards
Stop at the one-stop service
HONEYSTREET Visit our Wharf on the Long Pound by Honeystreet Bridge for diesel, Calor Gas & coal water & 240 volt electrics overnight moorings pump-out & ‘Porta Potti’ disposal
Gibson’s Boat Services Telephone 01672 851232
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No.188 Autumn 2009
BW's winter works programme STOPPAGES Garston Lock 102 Beginning of November to End of November Duration 5 weeks Installing new top and bottom mitre gates. Widmead Lock 89 Beginning of November to mid December Duration 7 weeks Installing new top and bottom mitre gates. Extensive brickwork repairs. Hungerford Church Swing-Bridge Mid December to end of January Duration 6 weeks Replacing swing-bridge and repairs to abutments and approach walls. Hungerford Marina Beginning of January 2010 to end of February Duration 4 weeks within this period (dates tbc) for the connection of new Marina. Works to include clay dam installations, bank protection, and bed profiling. Crofton Top Lock 55 to Crossing Lock 61 Mid January to end of January Duration 2 weeks To accommodate Third Party engineering works at Crofton Beam Engine House on behalf of the K&A Canal Trust. Caen Hill Flight (Locks 26,30,32,34,35,39,43) Beginning of January to mid March Duration 10 weeks Installing new bottom end mitre gates and repairs to towpath along flight. Also repairs to towpath bank between locks 43 and 44.
BW has launched a networkwide ‘failing to display’ campaign. Stickers reminding boaters to display their licence will be affixed to the windows of ‘non-displaying’ boats – drawing attention to the drain on resources when time is spent following up on seemingly unlicensed craft.
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K&A lock gates take centre stage ock gates removed from Kintbury during last winter’s work enjoyed a a new lease of life when they took centre stage in an installation at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. Disposing of old lock gates is a continuing problem for BW and as an organisation they have embraced the concept of ‘reduce, re-use and re-cycle’. So when Nick Worthington was approached by the
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Glastonbury Festival who wanted to use old lock gates in an installation at the festival he was delighted to help. He and Dale Marshall organised the delivery of the old lock gates to the festival — and aftewards Michael Eavis came to Devizes to hand over a cheque for £2000 to the K&A Canal Trust that will be used help to fund the K&A’s 200th anniversary in 2010.
Canal mail service extended iver Canal Rescue joined with Waterways Mail to become a pick-up point for subscribers mail. Subscribers to have their post sent on to any post office — but now RCR can also be used as a collection point as well. Mail is delivered to Waterways Mail and they send it on to wherever the customer wishes. A text or email can amend the destination to keep up with the boats movements. For more information visit: www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk or
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www.waterwaysmail.co.uK
Bone Mill Sluice Award The K&A lock gates were a great success forming the entrance to the ‘Trassh City area at the festival
he British Waterways Excellence award for the South West Region has been won by the BW SW’s Water Engineer, Cathleen Ryan and legal advisor, Tom Deard who works in Watford for their work on the Bone Mill Sluice project in Newbury. The Butty highlighted the problems at this ancient and fragile structure for some time calling for a repair to protect the navigation in this section of canal. The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust came to the fore and proved its worth as an ‘honest broker’ by bringing together the EA, British Waterways, local authorities and local landowners in a ground breaking partnership that found a solution to the problem. The K&A Canal Trust was represented on the project by Trust Hon Engineer Mike Lee, (who chaired the group) and Bill Fisher whose unrivalled local knowledge was invaluable. Ham Mill and another local landowner each contributed £10,000 to the project and by making their donations through the Trust, the Trust was able to fund its contribution from the Gift Aid. After the sluice was completely rebuilt it was taken into public ownership which will free it from the threats that hang over some of the other privately owned sluices on the river sections of the K&A Canal at its eastern end.
T Nick Worthington, left of BW receives a £2000 cheque from Glastonbury organisor Michael Eavis
Red Diesel on the K&A A year after the introduction of duty on red diesel everyone selling diesel then are still providing a canalside service — with the addition of Spencer Collins at The Boatyard, Hilperton who has recently started to sell diesel. Gibson Boat Services Bristol Marina Old Builders Wharf, Honeystreet Bristol Harbour Pewsey, SN9 5PS. 0117 9265730 01672 851232 Bath Marina The Pit Stop Newbridge Caravan Park Greenham Island, Mill Lane, Brassmill Lane, Bath, BA1 3JT Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5SG 01225 424301 01635 31672 Bath Narrowboats Reading Marine Sydney Wharf,Bathwick Hill, Aldermaston Wharf, Padworth Bath, BA2 4EL Reading, RG7 4JS 01225 447276 0118 971 3666 Hilperton Marina Frouds Bridge Marina Hammond Way, Trowbridge Froudes Lane, Aldermaston Wiltshire, BA14 8RS Reading, RG7 4LH 01225 765 243 0118 971 4508 The Boatyard Fuel boat Tipton Spencer Collins, Hammond Way Phone Andy Jackson to arrange Hilperton, Trowbridge delivery Wiltshire, BA14 8RS 07779 185375 01225 710017
the
Butty
No.188 Autumn 2009
Wilts & Berks Canal News
Royal opening for Naish Hill Double Bridge he three years of hard labour by working parties at Naish Hill was acknowledged at the end of May when Double Bridge was formally opened by Wilts & Berks Canal Trust’s President HRH the Duchess of Cornwall. Long serving senior members of the Trust were presented to the Duchess before she cut the ribbon, opening the bridge to navigation — and twelve members of Melksham-based Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club paddled furiously to become the first traffic through the bridge in 100 years. The Duchess then met members of the working parties on the bridge and unveiled the plaque. Later in the day the celebration moved on to Bowood Golf and Country Club where the Duchess was shown displays of the Trust’s work and met stakeholders, landowners, funders and representatives of the Wilts & Berks Partnership.
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New Engineering Co-director
Picture by Justin Guy
K&A Canal Trust Hon Engineer Mike Lee has joined the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust as Engineering Co-director, working with Eddie Thomas, and he will concentrate on the Western end and K&A link.
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the
Butty
Cotswold Canals News
No.188 Autumn 2009
Lighter and brighter Heritage Centre
Funding agreement signed small but significant step in the restoration of the Cotswold Canals between Stonehouse and Brimscombe was taken in July. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Stroud District Council and the Stroud Valleys Canals Company have now signed the official Funding Agreement. This confirms that the full HLF grant of £11.9m is available to the project and as lead partner, the Council can now move forward with the project.
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Work is expected to begin in October with construction of a new bridge over the canal at Upper Mills, Stonehouse and dredging between Stonehouse Ocean and Haywards Bridge. This will be welcome news to residents at Bridgend, whose homes have been affected by flooding. The agreement had to be renegotiated following the withdrawal of British Waterways from the project last year.
Steaming to Saul he Cotswold Canals Heritage Centre at Saul has now had a complete makeover after taking some blunt advice from Geoff Burch of BBC2’s “All Over The Shop” retail make-over programme. His message was clear, “if you want to sell it — let the
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customers see it — get some light in here.” The centre was completely stripped out and repainted in the Cotswold Canals Trust corporate colours and new counters, display frames and panels were installed ready for the re-opening in July.
D AY BOATING
The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain held their rally at Saul Junction in July.
Restored canals benefit wildlife he recent heatwave caused the death of around 100 fish in the canal behind Dr Newton’s Way in Stroud and more near Stonehouse. Unfortunately, this is quite a common problem in shallow, slow flowing watercourses. The basic cause is a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water, resulting from the hot, still weather. The Environment Agency found that the dissolved oxygen
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level was down to 17% and fish need around 60%. The planned dredging of the canal between Stonehouse and Ryeford will improve the situation there. This underlines the point that although a derelict canal forms a wildlife habitat, it is bound to deteriorate through silting and will ultimately cease to exist. So protection and creation of wildlife habitat is one of the main benefits of canal restoration.
on the beautiful
Kennet & Avon Canal self-drive and skippered boats canadian canoes & cycle hire The Bath & Dundas Canal Co. Brass Knocker Basin Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7JD Telephone: 01225 722292 Web: www.bathcanal.com
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the
Butty
No.188 Autumn 2009
British Waterways briefing by James Young, BW SW Business Development Manager
The gradual announcement of the 2009 British Waterways corporate restructure continued through the summer, with relief for colleagues who have been given new positions and anxious optimism for those still waiting to hear.
New team
Greater efficiency Greater efficiency in the running of BW will allow other areas of expertise to be centralised and collected into streamlined groupings that can offer skills and knowledge to support the K&A waterway unit: these include environment, water management,
heritage and safety.
BW’s Twenty Twenty vision Recently BW published its Twenty Twenty vision for the future, with a mission statement to have a thriving, sustainable waterway network by 2020 cherished by the public that shares a deep sense of responsibility for its wellbeing.
Nick Worthington will be the Manager for South Wales & Severn region
At the time of writing, however, the biggest challenge facing BW is an economic one. BW must foster closer relations with local authorities and communities who want to increase their direct participation in the waterways. A new Regeneration Directorate is being established and will be at the heart of this initiative. It is proposed that BW should embrace the commitment of stakeholders by migrating to become a third-sector organisation by 2020. BW believes that this status change will provide the bedrock to producing a sustainable business that becomes less reliant on government grants. The waterways have great unfulfilled potential for delivering the diverse range of public benefits they are capable of generating.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Regeneration Directorate
Susie Mercer takes up her new post in October as the South of England Boating Trade Relationships Manager
John Ward
Open forum The launch of Twenty Twenty is to stimulate public debate on the future of the waterways. A series of open forums are being held around the country. Simon Salem, Director of Marketing, and Sally Ash, Head of Boating Business, hosted the Kennet and Avon roadshow on Sunday 6th September in Devizes.
Picture by Bob Naylor
The rest of the team is being appointed ready for the start of the new waterway region on 2ndt November. This new waterway structure will increase the focus on core maintenance to ensure high levels of efficiency and customer service. Core to this is maintaining and improving the assets and facilities for the enjoyment of visitors and customers. The team will focus on general works with locally based engineers. Major works and project management will be carried out by area groups.
has been appointed as the new Manager for the Kennet & Avon Canal and the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal
Picture by Bob Naylor
Most significant for the Kennet & Avon Canal is the appointment of Mark Stephens as Waterway Manager. Mark is currently manager of the Olympic Project Team working in London and has just completed construction of Three Mills Lock and the associated water control structures. Mark has worked for British Waterways for 15 years; of particular note is the time Mark previously worked on the K&A canal as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project team and subsequently as programme manager for major works. Mark looks forward to re-acquainting himself with the canal and the people who make the Kennet and Avon the special place that it is.
Mark Stephens Picture by British Waterways
New K&A Manager
Changing faces at BW
becomes the Engineering Manager for the West Midlands, South Wales & Severn and Kennet & Avon and Bridgewater & Taunton Canal regions
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the
Butty
No.188 Autumn 2009
K&A history project s part of her K&A Canal living history project, Butty Editor Di Harris has been collecting memories from the people who saved the K&A — volunteers who petitioned, demonstrated, took direct action and eventually got themselves dirty during the early days of restoration. Here is a very brief excerpt from one of the interviewees, former Trust Cartographer, Nicholas Hammond. Association with a ‘watch dog’ “My first glimpse of the K&A role and Dr Ray Glaister, the was from the train en route to a Association’s Honorary holiday in Guernsey in 1948. My Secretary, organised the next sighting was from a 1926 voluntary Lengthsman Scheme. ‘Silver Ghost’ Rolls Royce going “Volunteers walked three along the Warminster Road to miles of the canal each month the Bath Academy of Art at looking for leaks, deterioration Corsham Court in 1956. of brickwork and unwanted tree “Lord Methuen, who lived in growth — and I felt that I could Corsham Court, was President help by producing maps. of the K&A Canal Association “I learnt much from people and he persuaded me to join. like John Gould at Newbury and “These were stormy times by accompanying lengthsmen. for the K&A, which was facing “Soon my problem became the threat of abandonment. not what information to get or “The British Transport how to get it, but finding enough Corporation wanted to remove space to squeeze it in. the right of navigation between “I like to think that my Reading and Bath. But the cartographic effort played its 1956 Act imposed a duty on part in the K&A’s restoration and them to stop further perhaps — one day — my deterioration of the canal until maps will be updated and its future was decided. reprinted.” “This saddled the K&A Canal
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Nicholas Hammond drew charts that covered the entire navigation from Bristol to Reading. It was a huge project so it was divided it into two charts. The Western Half was first published in 1969 and then the Eastern Half in 1975. Pictured right is an extract that shows the very fine detail of his charts. Nicholas surveyed the Canal for the Lengthsman Scheme in July 1963
Nicholas took a little sculling boat to Newbury and found that Colthrop Lock 91 worked — though the very stiff paddle gear bent his windlass. The girl sitting on the balance beam is Jenny Nunn — now his wife. The girl with the dog is his sister Faith.
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... and he photographed the tar barge Jolly as she passed Hanham Colliery Wharf in June 1963. The barges carried 50 tons of tar a day to Bristol until March 1967.
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And A GEOprojects canal map of the Kennet & Avon Canal that 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
Name of Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Branch Sort Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account Number*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Originator’s identification Number 630996 Ref Number (for office use only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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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Butty
No.188 Autumn 2009
Water supply for the Kennet & Avon Canal In part three of his study of the water supply problems on the K&A Canal, Mike Lee looks at the engineering issues that stood in the way of the re-opening of the canal he story of the restoration of the canal has been told in many publications and the complete story is told in Peter Lindley-Jones’ book, Restoring the Kennet and Avon Canal. Suffice to say that after nationalisation, in 1947/8, when ownership of the canal passed to the Railway Executive and then in 1949 to The Dock and Inland Waterways Executive, the state of the canal just got worse. In spite of the Kennet & Avon Canal Association’s protestations, plus several attempts at through navigation, the major part of the canal became un-navigable by 1954, when the section between Dundas and Avoncliff was drained (the ‘dry section’). This was to be followed by the closure of the section east of Bathampton due to a serious land slip, plus the closure of
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many locks, including Caen Hill. Discussions and submission of reports advocating restoration continued with The Transport Commission (set up in 1953) and the new organisation that took over control of the canal — British Transport Waterways. The Government arguments were always the same – proposals to close the central section of the canal due to lack of water supply and very high water losses, resulting in excessive maintenance costs.
Easter Rally near Dundas in 1960
The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust came into being in June 1962 but it was not until the Transport Act 1962 (which set up British Waterways Board in 1963) allowed a change in how funds were allocated that worthwhile progress could be made. The Transport Act 1968, although it removed the right of navigation, allowed BWB to enter into agreements with local councils and the Trust to provide finance. At the same time it also
limited the scope of work by making most of the canal a Remainder Waterway.
Captain L Monk brought his Maid Line fleet to Newbury
Engineering and water problems yril Boucher, who was the Trust’s first Hon Consulting Engineer, had prepared a report in the 1950s for reopening the canal. This was based on a commercial canal because recreational use was not being recognised by the Dock and Inland Waterways Executive. In 1961 the K&A Canal Association published The Kennet and Avon Redevelopment Scheme. This is when Philip Ogden became very involved. Philip, who had taken a canoe the whole length of the canal some years earlier and prepared a detailed report on the state of the canal, was elected Assistant Hon Consulting Engineer to Cyril in June 1961. He subsequently became Hon Trust Engineer when Cyril retired. Philip reviewed the Redevelopment Scheme report
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and The British Transport Commission’s comments, and his report was the first key event on the way to full restoration. He was able to refute BTC’s negative comments and in particular to demonstrate that they were over-estimating the difficulties of providing adequate water. Even allowing for considerable under-estimate of water requirements by the K&A Canal Association, he showed that the problems could be overcome and an adequate additional supply was obtainable. This lead to a meeting with BWB which resulted in a much more favourable outcome as it was agreed that it was possible to achieve an adequate supply, making use of the original supply sources, plus an additional 15.9 million litres a day (3.5 million gallons a day).
At this stage it was envisaged that a borehole could be drilled into the greensand to provide this quantity. A trial borehole was later drilled at Wootton Rivers but the results were disappointing — the only alternative was back pumping. The early proposals did not take into account the supply available at Claverton as there was uncertainty about obtaining a Licence to Abstract Water. The Licence eventually granted allowed the extraction of 35.9 million litres a day (7.9 million gallons a day), which, together with the existing western-end sources, is now pumped towards the summit and meets the lockage and loss demand of the West end of the canal. The Crofton Pumping Station source was thereby made available to supply water for the Crofton Flight and the Eastern
Locks. By the mid 1970s it was clear that the supply problems could be solved; the problem was now bed losses! Unless the very serious problem of leaking clay lining and low banks could be solved, there was no way that the canal could be fully restored. Total losses on the Bath to Bradford pound, on their own, exceeded the total output of Claverton Pumping Station. It was recognised that the ‘dry section’ was the key to overall restoration and the Bath Branch working parties, under the leadership of Don Collinson and Danny Daniels, cleared and started repuddling the known leaks in 1966/7. In spite of a great deal of effort, as fast as one section was sealed another started to leak and eventually work had to be stopped. Even a trial using a
Time Line
In the 1950s enthusiasts campaigned to keep the K&A Canal open and issues 1 & 2 of The Butty from January and April 1956 carried stories about the 20,000 signature petition that was taken from Bristol to Westminster Pier and then a procession of hundreds of supporters marched through London to hand the petition to the Transport Minister at Berkeley Square House
this part of the canal from its earliest days. Following the completion of these works there was a change in the atmosphere within the Trust; it was now clear that restoration was within reach and things moved faster. Avoncliff Aqueduct was relined and detailed proposals for back pumping water from Claverton to the summit worked out. The first back pumps at Bradford, Semington and Seend, paid for by the Trust, were installed between 1981 and 1985. Partial relining of leaking side ponds at Caen Hill and installation of top gates demonstrated that the canal bed was capable of holding water over most of its length. Following the commissioning of Bradford pumps and completion of Dundas Aqueduct lining, Sir Frank Price formally re-opened the canal from Bath top lock to Semington in July 1984. Navigation became possible as the other pumps were commissioned up to the
References Trust and personal archives. Restoring the Kennet and Avon Canal, by Peter Lindley-Jones.
Picture by Phil Tomaselli
polythene liner was unsuccessful. A somewhat dejected Bath Branch decided to concentrate their efforts on the re-opening of Bath Locks. This was achieved in 1976 following the completion of the Deep Lock, but — with an inadequate water supply — they were closed again. It was 1982 before navigation was possible to Dundas. This was achieved following the stabilisation of the slip area near Bathampton, the lining of the worst leaks near Dundas and new electric pumps at Claverton. I became involved with the K&A in 1974, becoming Philip Ogden’s Hon Assistant Engineer working on the West end. This was just before the second key event leading to full restoration, namely the arrival of Ian Walker at BWB and the government-sponsored job creation scheme, which led to the 1976 ‘Dry Section’ scheme. The design, comprising plastic lining, concrete and an effective under drainage system, solved the uplift and leakage problem that had beset
bottom of Caen Hill. Restoration at the Eastern end had reached Crofton Engine pound by 1981 but there were still the locks of the ‘Berkshire Gap’ and the Crofton flight awaiting restoration as well as the installation of gates at Caen Hill before full navigation could be achieved. Water supply was still a problem and would remain so for many years, bed losses were high on the Bath/Bradford, Seend/Caen Hill pounds and there was a potential problem on the Crofton Flight. The long pound also leaked badly when attempts were made to bring levels up to original working height. In spite of these problems the decision to go ahead and open the canal to navigation was made, even if it meant restrictions in use and fantastic construction and fund raising efforts were made to achieve an early opening. The essential work was completed and the Queen performed the opening ceremony in August 1990. Phillip Ogden and I were only too aware of the risks we were running regarding the water supply and together with many others in the Trust and BWB we knew that we still had to fund an enormous amount of work. Phillip retired as the Hon Engineer at this time and it fell to me to provide engineering support to the Trust and help complete the restoration to a standard to last many years into the future. The final part of this series will deal with the post opening work and the 3rd Key Event, the HLF project.
Clearing part of the ‘dry section’ at Dundas in the 1960s
1947/8 With nationalisation, ownership of the canal passed to the Railway Executive 1949 The Dock and Inland Waterways Executive took over the K&A 1953 The Transport Commission was set up and British Transport Waterways took control of the canal 1954 Despite Kennet & Avon Canal Association’s protests and attempts at through navigation the major part of the canal became un-navigable when the section between Dundas and Avoncliff was drained 1961 The K&A Canal Association published The Kennet and Avon Redevelopment Scheme 1962 The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was formed 1963 The Transport Act 1962 led to the formation of British Waterways Board 1966/7 K&A Canal Trust Bath Branch members cleared the ‘dry section’ and begin re-puddling the known leaks, with only very limited success — they decided to concentrate on Bath Locks 1968 The Transport Act 1968 removed the right of navigation and designated most of the canal a Remainder Waterway — but it did allow BWB to enter into funding agreements with the Trust and local councils 1976 With the completion of Deep Lock Bath Locks were re-opened — and then closed again because of lack of water 1981 Restoration at the Eastern end reached the Crofton Engine Pound but with the locks of the ‘Berkshire Gap’ still to be restored 1981 – 1985 Back pumps funded by The K&A Canal Trust were installed at Bradford on Avon, Semington and Seend, making navigation possible to the bottom of Caen Hill 1990 The canal was re-opened by the Queen
Avoncliff Aqueduct — overgrown and dry
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Butty
No.188 Autumn 2009
The Kennet & Avon Canal’s 200th birthday The Kennet & Avon Canal was finally opened in 1810 and the celebrations to mark the opening are nearing completion — villages are working on local destination boards with walks and information about attractions near the canal — individuals and groups are fundraising and finding ways to celebrate the inland link in 2010 that finally connected Bristol and Calendar competition winners Reading and the River Thames and from there on to London
2010 Calendar Competition The final judging of the 2010 Calendar competition took place in Newbury Library on the Saturday evening before Newbury Waterways Festival. The entries had been narrowed down by The Newbury Weekly News, The Reading Chronicle the Bath and Peter Twaites and the final selection fell to Newbury MP and K&A Canal Trust Vice President Richard Benyon.
West Berks Council Chairman, Geoff Findley OBE, left and Newbury MP Richard Benyon, right, pictured with winning entrants in the calendar competition who were at the judging at Newbury Library, from left they are, Nikki Softley, Martin Wheeler, Elaine Kirby, Stan Green, Sue Lloyd and Linden Collins
S ep tem be r: Linden Collins
Oc to b er : Richard Towers
N ov emb er : Brian Marchant
Dec e mb er: Andrew Colyer
The chosen pictures
J a n ua r y: Alison Guy
F eb r ua r y: Nikki Softley
Retired journalism lecturer and former newspaper picture editor, Dr Peter Twaites came into The Butty offices to judge the camera club entries before they went to Newbury for final selection for the calendar. M a rc h: Martin Wheeler
Ap ri l: Elaine Kirby
The Calendars — K&A 200 T-shirts are available from the
C RO FS T O N
Kennet & Avon Canal Trust — see the advert on page 39
STEAM GALA END OF EASON
M a y : Raymond Hayward
J u ne: Eileen Brown
26th & 27th September 10.30am — 5pm
Entrance to site £2.00 — Free Parking (Normal ‘In Steam’ entry fees to the Engine House will apply)
traction engine • stationary engines, boats • displays • stalls • beer tent music and much more
Crofton’s engines will be in steam Ju l y: Stan Green
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A ug us t: Sue Lloyd
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Butty
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
No.188 Autumn 2009
OLD PEWSEY PICTURES ’m frequently asked about what Pewsey Wharf looked like in the canal’s heyday. But I’ve never seen any pictures of the wharf with the crane in place — nor have I seen
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pictures of the Baily Bridge. If any Butty readers have pictures or remember seeing pictures in the past, I would love to hear from them. Graham Lee, Pewsey
TREMENDOUS VOLUNTEERS s the summer season comes to a close I would like to thank all the members of Reading Branch for the tremendous support they have given me since I moved to the shop at Aldermaston at the beginning of this year.
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Without this help the job would have been much harder. And bye the way ... is there is anyone who would like to help maintain our wonderful garden please get in touch Tracy Perriman, Aldermaston
BOLD NAVIGATORS n 1975 I took a hire boat to Tyle Mill that was the head of navigation at the time. Reading Branch had produced a cast aluminium commemorative plaque for boaters who ventured to the head of the navigation — but sadly I never managed to claim mine and I've been looking for one ever since. If anyone has retired from boating or ever sees one lying around — please do get in touch. Mike Wyatt, Reading
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And... We used the excuse of lack of space not to run the following letter from Mike Wyatt in the last issue — and this was partly true — but Mike Wyatt has made it very clear that he expects — nay... demands! — that it be printed in this issue, he said, “Publish it —
your blushes do not permit you to amend or delete the contents!” We are not strong enough to hold out against Mike’s wishes — so here it is:
What a delight ‘the Butty’ has become. No.186 Spring 2009 was magnificent in all aspects. It just jumped out of the wrapping and asked to be read from cover to cover. Lots of news, splendid pictures and some very interesting articles in superlative layout and even the adverts looked pretty. These are not my comments alone — I have spoken to many friends and they are all of the same opinion, so a very big and well deserved ‘thank you’ to the talented team of Di Harris and Bob Naylor who put it all together.
PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT n the Summer Butty we congratulated Nigel Bellinger for his 17 years as a skipper on Ladywood and BMac — and we neglected to mention Eddie Ody’s 20-plus years as a skipper on the same boats — sorry Eddie ... and congratulations. The omission prompted this
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Limerick from him: Steaming sun, torrents of rain in spate Long-serving Nigel’s record is great Poor Ed felt rotten ’Cause he’d bin forgotten So Butty, please put the record straight!
Letters on any subject related to the canal are welcome. We want to encourage debate about canal issues. This is your forum to voice your views. Requests for anonymity will be honoured, but no letter will be published unless it arrives with contact details. Letters should be not more than 300 words and may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Send letters to the Editor: contact details on page 3.
THANKS TO CROFTON IN STEAM e have been members of the Kennet & Avon Trust for many years and thought you may be interested in our recent experiences. Having recently purchased a narrow boat we decided we would like to use Devizes Marina as our base. For many years we have been involved with the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race and enjoy the Kennet and Avon canal and its surrounding areas which we now hope to have more time to explore. However, to achieve this aim it meant moving the boat from Harefield Marina on the Grand Union Canal. We only had 10 days in which to make the move so had to keep to a tight schedule. We encountered problems with the locks at various places along the Thames and lower Kennet and Avon. And then we moored at the bottom of Crofton for the night anticipating negotiating the flight the following day. We were then told by a friendly BW employee that the pump that enabled the water to reach the summit pound had burnt out and probably wouldn't be replaced for a week! Sadly we decided we would have to abandon ship and return home until water was available to continue. However, we were amazed when we heard an hour or so later that a team of volunteers had been enlisted to fire Crofton Beam Engine into steam the next morning at 7am to pump the water up to the summit and allow the passage of boats through the Crofton flight of locks. Considering the previous weekend had been Crofton's ‘steam’ weekend many of these volunteers had naturally already made other plans but were willing to cancel them to keep the navigation open. That's what we call dedication. It was rather like waiting for the announcement of a new Pope waiting for the first smoke to emerge from the tall chimney that morning! We must say it was a thrill to be able to say "we did Crofton flight by steam power" so to
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speak. Maybe we can have a special plaque to go with the others on the boat to say something similar. We feel we must offer our sincere thanks to all the stalwart enthusiasts who worked so hard that day — maybe they kept going all weekend. We were one of the first two boats going through together and made it over the top, though only just. There was still need for water on the downward side so we didn't see how many followed us. Hopefully there was enough water for them too. However, a cautionary thought. Until now most of our experiences on the K&A have been during the winter months and we have run round the locks instead of passing through them so we haven't had to notice the conditions of the locks quite so much. Some are definitely in need of attention. We now find we are concerned that summer growth of plant life restricts the canal width considerably and may cause silt to build up in certain pounds — it certainly reduces the amount of useful mooring areas. In fact it looks in places similar to pre-renovation days and we are sure none of us want that after all the effort it took to get the waterway navigable again. Much as the flora and fauna are essential it is a fact that it is the water users who pay the BW licence fees which we would hope are used to maintain navigable passage on the K&A and other waterways. If the boaters are unable to use the canal there will be less licence fees paid which will reduce BW income and their ability to fund maintenance. Hopefully this will not turn into a vicious circle to the detriment of the K&A. Providing all goes well we anticipate enjoying our new cruising days in both directions from Devizes but we will always remember and be grateful to Crofton in steam. Roger & Di Edwards, Boreham, Essex
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The 10th Nivernais Rally he 10th biennial Nivernais rally was held in Vincelles, just south of Auxerre, 120 miles from Paris in July. It was organised jointly by Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais and The Barge Association (DBA). On Friday there was a guided coach trip of the region, which included a medieval village often used for film sets, wine tasting before lunch and a visit a walled city then back to a picnic at the rally with a jazz band and local wines. For the public, the fete started on Saturday with stalls, wine tasting, rally boats open to the public and displays off and on the water. There was a canoe water-polo tournament running throughout the event and local Olympic finalists Cyrille Carré was there to meet visitors. The K&A stall was kept busy with visitors who remarked on the beauty of the canal and picked up leaflets. Some had known the K&A when it was derelict and were amazed to see it restored. On Saturday evening there was a Gala dinner with medieval music and dancing – and some
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The Floteurs demonstrate their log raft making for TV cameras
were brave enough join in some of the dances — one of which bore remarkable similarity to the hokey cokey. During the evening, Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais and the DBA (The Barge Association) signed a declaration of association. On Sunday the whole community descended on the site. The village catering committee set up their outside catering tents and huge fridges and the mounds of frites, saussisons and cold dinks started to disappear, with a never ending queue all day. More conscientious delegates spent the morning at an international conference held in a vaulted theatre deep in the heart of a mountain in caves that had once been used by the Germans to build aeroplanes during WW2. The rally closed with the presentation of boat prizes and K&A Canal Trust Hon engineer, Mike Lee, was made a Chevalier by the wine guild of the region to honour his 20-year involvement with twinning and for his engineering help and advice to the Canal du Nivernais.
The festival featured canoeing events — including canoe polo
Fine weather brought the crowds to the event
Ian Graham off the manourability of hisMatchbox, tiny Wilderness Flares lit up twoshows very cheeky Wilderness boats, shown boat in front of the massive barges at the rally here, and Wilderness Wanderer as Ian Graham and Keith Waller demonstrated the manoeuvrability of their tiny craft in front of the huge moored barges. This was followed by a dramatic pyrotechnic display and the rally drew to a close.
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Youngsters demonstrate their water-skiing skills
A huge number of boats
Increasing numbers of narrowboats are now seen on the French waterways
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A walk near Avoncliff his walk takes you along the River Frome and the River Avon and gives you the chance to visit two pubs that both serve beers from the Box Steam Brewery, a local micro-brewery, that brews such delights as Tunnel Vision, Rev. Audrey’s Ale, Dark & Handsome and Piston Broke — and you will get a wonderful view of the Avoncliff Aqueduct.
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If you are travelling by car, start from the Inn at Freshford, by boat, start from Avoncliff — and by train, the Inn at Freshford is 10 minutes walk from Freshford Station and Avoncliff Station is right next to the Aqueduct.
Start point A
6 Upon reaching the ‘Iford Hill’ sign at the top — bear right along the road towards the village.
From The Inn at Freshford to The Cross Guns at Avoncliff 1 Turn right out of the car park — over the bridge and follow the road round to the right.
Start point B
7 Take the first left opposite the bus stop and head up ‘The Pastures’ following the ‘Public Footpath’ sign. 8 Take the second turn on the left, beside house No 41 and follow the narrow public footpath between Nos 45 and 47 and between the fencing panels. 9 After climbing down the stile at the end of the footpath turn right. 10 When you reach Westwood Nursery and a red telephone box to your right — take the left turn opposite.
From The Cross Guns at Avoncliff to The Inn at Freshford
3 At the far side of the field, beside the derelict mill — cross the stile and turn left heading up the narrow road until you reach the top.
11 As the road bears left, take the footpath to the right— opposite Westwood Motors, go through the metal “stepthrough” style and head downhill, following the footpath through the woods.
14 Heading away from The Cross Guns, pass back under the aqueduct, continue straight along the track with the river to your right and the large yellow building, Ancliff Square, to your left.
4 At the top of the road turn right and walk down the narrow lane, signposted ‘Iford only’. After ½ mile you will reach Iford.
12 Go straight through the gate at the bottom and head down the steep hill towards Avoncliff.
15 Go through the kissing gate at the end of the track and head along the footpath, keeping the river to your right.
5 Keeping the large Manor House to your left and the river to your right, continue straight ahead for ½ mile up the steep hill towards Westwood.
13 Pass between the “No Entry” signs, go down the steps to the right, walk under the aqueduct and you will see The Cross Guns straight ahead of you.
16 Continue along the footpath through a field and beside some woods — always keeping the river to your right. You will pass through more kissing gates before emerging into a large field from where you will see The Inn at Freshford straight ahead of you.
2 After 30yds, cross the stile on the right signposted ‘Public Footpath’ and follow the path across the fields towards the buildings ahead of you.
looking over the River Frome to Iford Manor
Pictures by Bob Naylor
Start point The Inn at Freshford car park 0/SRef: ST 791 600 Postcode: BA27 7WG Lat/long: 51º20’19”N 2º16’52”W Distance 3.5 miles (Approx) Time 1.5 hours (Approx) Terrain Footpaths, fields, quiet country lanes
Ancliff Square
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Canals for kids
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With Terry Kemp
The Mousehole Boat Company
Perhaps I should get a dog?
Annie and Kenny’s Canal Tales
Waterways Wildlife
Norman’s Boating Boasts orman the Narrowboat was always boasting and today was no exception. However today it was about how boats are better than horses and carts. Norman puffed up and made the statement that it would take six horses and two men to move a wagon with 1000 kgs but a boat could move an enormous 30,000 kgs with only one horse and two men. This he declared was the truth and the reason that canal and river boats were used on the waterways to transport heavy goods. Kenny and Annie teased Norman that his facts were wrong. This inspired him to set the children an experiment to prove the case. Required for the experiment was a toy car, a bag of small stones, an empty plastic lunchbox, a drinking straw and a washing-up bowl, First Kenny loaded the toy car with some of the stones. Then using the straw he attempted to blow the car forward. Of course he could not do it for the stones were too heavy. Next Annie loaded some stones into the plastic lunch box, filled the washing up bowl with water, then floated the loaded lunch on the water. Kenny then blew with his straw to push the ‘boat like’ box along.
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Reed Mace ften wrongly called a bulrush, these tall rushes like to grow in the shallows at the edge of the canal. The seedhead can contain as many as 200,000 seeds and these are scattered far and wide as the brown head bursts.
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What do you think happened? Did this prove that boats can move heavy cargos easily?
ROWAN
Primers Corrosion Resistant, High Build Quality
Narrowboats Ltd
Undercoats All Colours Coach Enamels All Colours
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N e x t D a y d e li v e r y o n m o s t co lo u r s Supplied in 1lt, 2.5 lt or 5 lt
www.rowannarrowboats.co.uk 26
HMG Paints Ltd, Faraday Park, West Portway Industrial Estate Andover, Hants, SP10 3SA
Tel: 01264 356296 Fax: 01264 338123 Email: mail@hmgcoatings.co.uk
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Book Reviews
Leonard Pearcey SMOKE AND MIRRORS By Leo McNeir First published in 2009 by Enigma Publishing ISBN 978 0 9531742 7 0 400 pages. £8.99 soft cover was delighted when this book landed on my desk for review. The cover proclaims: ‘The new bestseller by the author of the Marnie Walker series’; while the compliments slip from the publisher called it: ‘the latest in the Sally Ann series’. Well, whether you’re following the interior designer or her narrowboat, they’re both back, plus characters old and new, in another unputdownable if occasionally slightly wordy mystery, full of marvellous twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope my review of the next adventure won’t be another three years away. And again I commend Alex Prowse for his wonderfully atmospheric cover illustration. This book (for those of you who notice these things) is 49 pages longer than its predecessor but the same price. Excellent value. And again (with apologies to our Editor): why hasn’t TV snapped up Marnie and her creator?
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Tim Wheeldon DRY LAND SAILOR By Fred Hobbs and Geoffrey Lewis First published in 2002. Edited by Geoffrey Lewis in 2009 and published by SGM Publishing 112 pages. £12.99 hose of us in our dotage – well, perhaps others as well – may have memories of the tail end of commercial carrying on the waterways. If so this book will sharpen some of our blunt and dull recollections. Fred Hobbs was an itinerant boatman on the Grand Union and other waterways in the 1940s and 1950s. Seven years ago he wrote this splendidly detailed part-autobiography, which recently has been admirably edited by canal novelist Geoffrey Lewis. If you have read other books on how working boatmen operated working boats the chances are they were dull and dry compared with Fred’s incisive language. His remembrance of dialogue and dialect is remarkable. There are no illustrations but the writing draws pictures of great clarity. There is a K&A connection – Fred briefly worked, twice, for our own John Knill and is pictured with John and his boats “Columba” and “Uranus”, on the front cover. Sadly Fred wasn’t with JK when he famously carried to Newbury. A little dear for its size, but achingly nostalgic.
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THE NEW NUMBER ONE By Geoffrey Lewis First published in 2009 by SGM Publishing ISBN 978 0 9545624 8 9 236 pages. £7.99 soft cover y coincidence for this issue the second book I received was also part of a series I’ve reviewed for you before, though it completes a trilogy. (My previous reviews appeared in issues 177 and 183 respectively.) A quote from the cover blurb places the tale historically: ‘1948: The reality of life on Britain’s nationalised waterways is becoming apparent to the families who work the narrowboats on the Grand Union Canal. More change threatens as a post-war world raises new demands for faster, cheaper transport, and old ways become outmoded.’ The author certainly knows what he’s writing about, and this tale (like the other reviewed here) brings characters old and new. But, fascinating yarn though it is, I still find his dialect dialogue gets in the way of the story as I pause constantly to translate exchanges like ‘Probly. ‘S oop teh Alby, ‘e’s in froont.’ And that’s one of the easier ones. But it’s worth persevering.
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THE KENNET AND AVON NAVIGATION: A HISTORY By Warren Berry First published in 2009 by Phillimore & Co Ltd ISBN 9781860775642 144 pages. £18.99 hard back was once accused of not reading completely the books I review. Well, mea culpa: very occasionally. But not this one! I couldn’t skip a single word of Warren Berry’s exhaustive history of the K&A. Warren writes with the authority of the professional historian — which is what he is — and his time as Curator of the Trust Museum at Devizes gave him access to the minutiae that is so fascinating in this book. Warren is generous with his acknowledgements of previous authors, particularly Ken Clew, but the book is definitely his own and gives a completeness to the up-to-date story that was inevitably lacking in earlier works. Surely this will be the definitive history of the waterway, the one that future researchers will turn to. Reservations? Perhaps it’s a pity it’s an entirely black and white book. The only colour is on the dust sheet — and Caen Hill is on the back with a live-aboard’s boat on the front. Absolutely no comment. I know it’s a history book but black and white photographs of the K&A today don’t reflect its true glory — there’s even a grey kingfisher. And the ornamental gate in Sydney Gardens was actually constructed in the 1980s, not as a compensation claim. But if you thought you knew your K&A, read this — and you’ll find you didn’t.
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The Trust Shop in the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf carries an extensive range of canal books — including many of the books reveiewed in The Butty
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Reading David Copley 0118 9598247
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One highlight was the arrival by boat of the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Fred Pugh, who was formally piped ashore by the 1st Reading Sea Scouts prior to joining the recently retired Trust President, Sir Anthony
Book sales Derek Cann had a very successful stand, which raised over £100 selling good-quality waterway books donated by the heirs of the late Douglas Redston, a former branch Chairman. We will be pleased to hear from any Butty readers who are able to make similar books available for any reason. The intention is to sell them at prices which, whilst reasonable, reflect their value. Please give me a phone call if you are able to help.
Aldermaston shop The Aldermaston shop continues to do good business and attracts people arriving by car as well as being a regular calling point for walkers and cyclists using the towpath. The shop, now a formally listed structure together with the associated out-building, is open daily (except Mondays) and in early September will be among several notable local buildings open to the public as part of a Heritage Open Day. The shop garden was a mass of colour in the earlier part of the year but Mary Hubbard, who tended it so well, has now moved away from the area. She will be a very hard act to follow but we will very much
Boat Trips
From the Cunning Man, Burghfield Bridge Public trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .May to September Private party hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A range of cruises Day boat hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Self-drive for up to 12 people Holiday hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 & 6 Berth Narrowboats Flexible weekly or short break periods Moorings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Permanent or temporary Enquiries: 14 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading, RG6 5PT Tel: 0118 987 1115 Fax: 0118 921 0604
www.kennetcruises.co.uk 28
Mike Wyatt, left, who has been campaigning for signs to identify Reading’s historic wharves, talks to the former K&A Canal Trust President, Sir Anthony Durant after Reading Mayor, Fred Pugh, centre, unveiled the plaque at Blake’s Wharf during Reading Waterfest
old photographs. Details of following monthly meetings, usually on the last Friday of each month, can be found in the What’s On section of this issue. We look forward to welcoming you at All Saints Hall.
welcome help and advice from any green-fingered members or friends who are able to spare a little time and share their expertise. British Waterways have plans to develop their land at Aldermaston for housing. Naturally, we are concerned to ensure that the shop and the surrounding garden area continue to attract visitors to enjoy the canal. The latest plans from BW meet some of our concerns but we anticipate further discussion to arrive at a layout that balances the attraction of Aldermaston as a canal centre with their commercial objectives.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Blake’s Wharf
Durant, to unveil a plaque marking the site of Blake’s Wharf. This is the first part of a scheme led by Mike Wyatt to identify and mark the ancient wharves of Reading.
Picture by Bob Naylor
eading Waterfest now seems a long time ago but we had a very successful event in June, including television coverage on BBC South the previous evening. This consisted of live coverage from the Waterfest site, either side of material recorded earlier in the day on Rose of Hungerford and at the Trust’s Aldermaston shop. Four hours of effort resulted in a four-minute showing, but those who took part had an enjoyable and useful time, as did the film crew. If you missed the item, you may still find it on: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k ejzdU7V04. Waterfest was again a very good event — boat numbers were slightly down on previous years — but still sufficient to make the water look well occupied. The land side was again well filled with trade stands and stalls from local organisations and charities arranged by our friends from Reading Borough Council’s events team.
No.188 Autumn 2009
Meetings Branch winter meetings resume on 25th September, when Derek Cann will show scenes of the canal taken from
Waterways books belonging to former Reading Branch Chairman, the late Douglas Redston, sold well at Reading Waterfest
Mike Price MABSE Approved Independent Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01225 703747 Mobile: 07736 837968 Email: mpboatsafety@aol.com
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extra ducks since last year, the duck stall sold out! Our pirate duck sellers did a sterling job. Many thanks to Adrian and Nikki Softley and crew from Devizes Boat Club for organising the barbecue once again. Thanks also to Alice Boyd and Devizes branch members for running the Trust publicity tent and to David and Jan Copley from Reading branch for their tremendous help. John Arthurs was essential as our Harbour Master and, of course, a big thank you to our band of trusty boaters — or pirates — who erected and dismantled tents and gazebos, manned stalls and interacted with the public. Early indications are that the proceeds from the Festival are good.
Newbury Carnival To promote the Festival in advance, Newbury branch dressed up to take part in the Newbury Carnival at the beginning of July.
Pictures by Soapy Watson
nother fantastic Newbury Waterways Festival; it just seems to get better and better! What an impressive effort all the boaters made to dress up not only their boats in the ‘Pirate’ theme, but also themselves as well — they looked spectacular. It was a difficult decision for the judge, Mayor of Newbury, Councillor Kuldip Singh Kang, to decide on the best dressed boat. The trophy went to nb Alice — congratulations to Tony and Barbara Fitch, and their grandsons Piers and Joel — well done! Victoria Park was full of pirates making it a very colourful event. We were delighted that, even though we had bought 300
No.188 Autumn 2009
Newbury Branch members and their families took part in Newbury Carnival procession to promote the Trust’s Newbury Waterways Festival
We handed out over 600 leaflets advertising the Festival and collected donations for the Trust. We had a lot of fun and the carnival drew record crowds to the town centre. With two of us dressed in boat costume and the rest as Pirates we attracted quite a lot of attention — we even made a cardboard boat to carry with us!
Teashop
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
The ‘teashop by the canal’ opened at the Stone Building during July. Ivana and Paul Barclay have done a wonderful job refurbishing the interior, making it an extremely pleasant environment. Based on a completely different business model, customers are served freshly prepared food and premium coffee and fine teas. If you haven’t tried it, I urge
you to do so. We wish the teashop every success.
Heritage days We shall be opening the Stone Building to the public for the ‘Discover Newbury’ Heritage Open Days over the weekend of 12th & 13th September. The Stone Building will be one of 12 or so venues in and around Newbury advertised as open under the scheme. We will take the opportunity to talk to the public about the Trust, the canal and its history. We are delighted to welcome Paul and Ann Watson to the Newbury branch committee. We are still small in number and would be pleased to hear from anyone else keen to get involved. Our new season of illustrated talks opens on 30th September; see the diary on page 38 of The Butty for more details. We look forward to seeing you.
TH MA RI A P NE W O T
Mastervolt energy shop
MOBILE MARINE SERVICE FOR WATERWAYS CRAFT
3M thinsulate insulation
ON THE KENNET & AVON CANAL
Agents for Shire and Beta engines
Webasto heaters
Quality work by quality craftsman Reading Marine Company Ltd Aldermaston Wharf, Padworth, Reading RG7 4JS 0118 9713666
Outboard/Inboard Engine Servicing & Repair 12/240V Electrics, Plumbing & Diesel Heaters Breakdown Service & Boat Relocation Contact:
Tom Sheldrick Tel: 07760 452195 29
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS
Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446 t hardly seems possible that the nights are starting to draw in as I’m writing this report. Half of the summer is now past us and we are still waiting for the “long hot barbecue summer” that we were promised some months ago. A nice young lady from the Met Office has just said that we have only had 59 millimetres of rain in July, which is rather low. I’ve got news for her; nearly all of the afore mentioned 59 millimetres fell upon me as I was re-fuelling the Rose this afternoon!
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Crofton Ray Knowles 01672 851639 fter the very well-attended steaming at Easter, the subsequent steamings have not been quite so well attended and the weather has not been that good either. However, we have now used up all of the remains of last year’s coal and as prices have gone up to £220 a ton delivered, we are taking great care with our firing techniques to make the most efficient use of our 21⁄4 tons of ‘black gold’ that we use every steaming day.
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Old hand returns One of the original restorers, Tony Cundick, has joined us and has taken over the boiler house window project, which was aground in the planning system. It has been re-floated and we now have full planning permission for a new window based on the GWR design of 1917. Our very generous neighbour Rosemary Wakeford has it under construction in her workshop in Great Bedwyn and
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No.188 Autumn 2009
Passengers not deterred by poor weather
I think more people are taking their holidays nearer to home this year; the increase of traffic on the canal at Hungerford is quite noticeable.
due. I have been known to be somewhat scathing about them in this column in the past but in this instance I give them nothing but praise.
In spite of the changeable weather passenger numbers on the public trips have been encouraging. Charter trip bookings are down a little but I have had quite a bit of interest shown already in the Santa trips with two Santa charter trips booked.
BW earn praise for lock repair
New training manager
On our way back from a charter during July we found that one of the gates had become dislodged at Dun Mill Lock. With a couple of boats already waiting and another one following behind us the Captain phoned British Waterways and explained the situation. On this occasion I must say that they really excelled themselves and got the gate reseated and working again within 21⁄2 hours from that call; well done BW, credit where credit’s
We now have a new training manager, Steve Richards, who is closely involved with training in his ‘day job’ captaining a pleasure boat on the Thames. With the kind help of Gordon from the Jubilee, Steve has seen a new captain get his boatmaster’s licence and there are now another couple of prospective captains in the pipeline. We welcome Ian Marshall to our happy band of hardworking captains.
warm from the previous weekend’s steaming so after a lot of phoning round we were able to raise minimum driving and firing crews, and guides to take round visitors who are not allowed to go round on their own whilst we are in steam. We pumped on the Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday but in spite of all the BW notices, even then someone left paddles open on the Crofton Flight on Saturday evening! BW arrived on Tuesday with a replacement pump and had it running by 3pm and stood us down. We gained considerable publicity from TV and local newspapers and many of our visitors were very generous with donations when we
explained what it was all about.
2010 charter bookings For 2010 we already have the Rose booked for two weddings and plans are under way for a 200th anniversary celebration in conjunction with Great Bedwyn Parish Council.
a scaffolding contractor has been appointed. It will be one of our first jobs after we close at the end of September.
Boiler house door Robin Moring and his team are getting on well with the refurbishment of the large doors to the boiler house, don’t worry about the colours just now, the finished result will be Crofton Green. Our signmakers, Commercial Signs and Displays of Devizes, retired from business in June and we send best wishes to Tom, Bob and Bev.
Steaming to the rescue At 12.45pm on Friday 3rd July our Chairman Harry Willis received a phone call from BW asking for help as their large pump had broken down and would be out of action until the following Tuesday at least. Apart from the normal traffic there were several hire boats and a pair of hotel boats on the summit pound that was about to be closed. “PLEASE could we steam over the weekend and into the following week?” Luckily, the boiler was still
Non-barbecue On Saturday evening 4th July we had what has become our annual branch ‘non-barbecue’ with Maxine’s sumptuous £5 spread in the café. You HAVE to be a branch member and have the dirty boiler suit to participate!
Steam Gala Don’t forget the final two days of our season on Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th which is our steam gala with both engines running, traction engines, hot air engines, old tractors, cars and motorbikes.
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
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stand —- again thanks go to the trusty stalwart helpers. It was a fun day, and the standard of boat decoration on the Pirate theme was truly impressive.
Devizes Alice Boyde 01380 724701
Branch barbecue
Beer Festival Tombola
Future Branch events
We organised and ran a very successful tombola at the Devizes Beer Festival. Prizes were kindly donated by local businesses and individuals, and the event went with a swing; it’s amazing how competitive some people get about winning individual prizes. The final big prize to go was the bottle of Southern Comfort — and the winner promptly sold it to a chap who’d already spent a substantial amount on tombola tickets trying to get it! Many many thanks to our band of helpers on the day and in the run up to it.
Organisation of our programme of events for this year is well under way, well advertised in the Butty, on the website, the branch notice board at the Wharf and by email. We are also planning events for next year’s bicentenary celebrations, and will be looking for input and help — so please please give an hour or so of your time. It really is good fun and I promise you we don’t bite!
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Newbury Waterways Festival We also had a presence at the Newbury Waterways Festival, manning the Trust’s information
Foxhangers Marine
By the time you read this, we hope to have had a successful garden-party-cum-BBQ at Jean and Alan Smith’s house/garden backing onto the towpath — although I’m not sure about the weather, flaming June having given way to soggy, cold July and changeable August.
Noggin & Natter meetings Come and meet us at the monthly Noggin & Natter on the first Tuesday of the month at The Black Horse pub in Devizes. As usual, if you have any questions at all, please contact me on 01380 724701 or email alice@3pplus.co.uk .
ork on the Avon Vale has gone very well and she is now ready to go back into the water. The hull was grit-blasted by Devizes Marina and the team have repainted the hull and the engine hold with paint donated by HMG Paints. The engine has been completely refurbished and refitted into the boat and runs
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beautifully.
Cabin stove needed Work continues on the internal fit-out — and the team are on the look-out for a solid fuel stove. If you have one you no longer need please get in touch with them.
Devizes Town’s boat planter repaired
Picture by Bob Naylor
he months just whizz by when you’re having fun, and also when you have a two-year-old underfoot. Since I wrote our last report our Branch has not been idle, although our summer months are quieter, being ‘blighted’ by volunteers and committee members going off on holiday, some of them for the whole summer — guess who’s jealous!
Avon Vale Restoration Group
he group took on a rather smaller scale project recently when they responded to an appeal from Devizes Town Council whose narrowboat planter, which had been a popular feature of their floral displays, was vandalised. The group repaired it and it is now replanted and installed opposite Devizes Town Hall — complete with new miniature
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fenders from Victoria Westwood of The Boatyard, Hilperton and signs from Bob Howse and Tommy Mills of Commercial Signs and Displays. The team are from left to right, Adrian Softley, John Kirby, John Peters and Rod Hannah — and below, John Kirby is working on the boat.
Modern Narrowboat fleet all built by Foxhangers. 12 boats, 4 luxury semi-trads introduced. Picture by Rod Hannah
Full engineering/maintenance base BETA and ISUZU engine sales/fitting WEBASTO central heating dealers Covered narrowboat painting dock Based at the bottom of Caen Hill Locks email: marineservices@foxhangers.co.uk
Tel: 01380 827801 www.foxhangers.co.uk
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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BRANCH REPORTS
West Wilts Gill Milner 01225 762051 Report written by Gill Milner and Eric Doel t is with great sadness that I write this report. One of our volunteers sadly died at the end of July. Ron Looker was a keen and conscientious volunteer with a quiet sense of humour. When I was training for my Boatmaster’s licence he and his partner Ivy were very encouraging and supportive of my endeavours. Whether in the galley or as a mate and also the shop, they cheerfully got on with what needed to be done. All of us who knew him will miss him very much, and our sympathies and prayers are with his partner Ivy.
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Long serving skippers In our last Branch report we mentioned that Nigel Bellinger was starting his 17th year as a Boatmaster. It has come to our notice that Eddie Ody has been a Boatmaster for about 20 years. He is our longest serving skipper — unless someone knows differently! All correspondence on this subject is now at an end; however it goes to prove we must be doing something right for volunteers to stay with us for so long. While on the subject of Boatmasters, I am pleased to report that four skippers have
No.188 Autumn 2009
passed their test with the MCA. Our congratulations must also go to Ian Marshall from the Rose of Hungerford who also took his test on our boat. This was a great achievement as he had only hours to familiarise himself with the boat and our part of the canal. All our volunteers lead full and busy lives and still manage to give their time helping out. We congratulate these new skippers and wish them many happy hours crewing.
Teashop gardening Paul and Rose Harris have decided to step down from looking after the teashop garden and I would like to thank them for all their hard work. We welcome Colin and Sue Dimbylow who have stepped into their gardening shoes.
Booking Manager Our new Booking Manager, Bernard, with help from his wife, has been very busy this year, and has managed to bring the system into the computer age. Although bookings seem to overtake 2008, charters to Avoncliff appear to dominate; however a trip to Dundas is my favourite.
School trips There has also been an increase in the educational use of the boat for school trips, with the available use of table tops the cabin provides an impromptu classroom.
New skippers, from left. Laurie Pennie, Barbara Mac’s own Anton Du Beke, Don Clough, who can also be seen as a course marshal at Castle Combe racing circuit, David Perkins, who often takes to the open road in his caravan with his wife Dee, who is also a volunteer, and Colin Daws, who is also kept busy maintaining the Barbara Mac.
We have also been privileged to host a party of children from Chernobyl once again this year. All the groups of children are extremely well behaved and ask some awkward questions.
Special trips We always run special trips, which are well supported, especially our Bath trips and cream tea trips with passengers enjoying home made scones. We still have availability on our Autumn Tints trip on 17th and 24th October, with tea and hom-made cake.
Dundas Carols and Santa trips On Saturday 5th December, we shall again be supporting the Carol service at Dundas. Our well-known Santa trips will also be running over the weekends of 12th/13th, 19th/20th December and also on 22nd and 23rd December. Please contact Bernard Groves on 0800 121 4679.
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THE INN AT FRESHFORD “Inn a league of its own” The Inn is renowned for its good food and real ales. An impressive outlook, ample car park and picturesque beer garden ensure this unique family owned freehouse is always popular with visitors and regulars alike. Book now on 01225 722250 www.theinnatfreshford.co.uk 32
Cheese and wine party It was really nice to catch up with volunteers for a relaxing chat and to enjoy some tasty cheese and sample some delicious wines that John and Joan McIver provided at the Branch cheese and wine party. Thank you both once again for all your efforts.
Volunteer day out On Saturday 12th September we are looking forward to a volunteers’ day out. We are taking the Barbara Mac to the Claverton Pumping station where Pete Dunn and his team are giving us a tour of the station with the pumps working. This is a perfect way to say ‘Thank-you’ to our volunteers.
David Inight Our new Chairman, David Inight, has settled in nicely and is working very hard for our Branch.
THE CROSS GUNS AT AVONCLIFF "A world away" This 17th Century Inn boasts stunning views of the Avoncliff aqueduct, period inglenook fireplace, priests hole, garden bar, weekend BBQ's and allday Sunday roasts. We are children and dog friendly with B&B accommodation too. Book now on 01225 862335 www.crossguns.net
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS
Claverton, Pete Dunn 01761 432811 e are having a good season at the Pumping Station. The pump has been running successfully with our extra days in June and July. The new stock in our shop, such as bottled water, cold cans and cakes, are selling well. Visitor numbers are about normal and almost all seem impressed with the Pump. We are in a little bit of a crisis however with our team members. Like most of the Trust’s departments, our membership is made up from the more senior age groups, some have had to slow down a bit and are not so active. Added to this we lost one complete Sunday team due one member being made redundant by his employer, the only work available was in the North of England so he and his wife had to move. As they were both in the team that left us with a big problem. So far we have been able to juggle our days around to fill the gap, but this has brought home the shortage of new volunteers.
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two places thereby possibly validating our original suspicions. This called for an inspection of the piston cylinders which requires some heavy engineering work and to remove the cylinder heads. Both of the two pump piston/cylinders were inspected and photographs taken. The rope seals, which are not easy to inspect without removing the pistons altogether, appeared to be satisfactory. The pump was put back together and a proving run carried out. Everything appeared to be in good working order. We have since run on Sunday July 26th without any problems or incidents.
Two important milestones By the time you read this report there should be two important milestones reached. The pond leak should be repaired and the hole where the resulting scouring occurred will be filled, levelled and turfed. The second milestone is that the owner of the land for the Claverton carpark has been sent the two transfer documents to sign, Wednesday 29th July. Completion should be next week.
An apparent change in noise coming from the non-return outlet valve area of the pump prompted an inspection and investigation into the cause of the problem. The obvious potential problem was the loss of the piston seal packing which is made from polypropylene rope. Evidence is usually there with pieces of rope appearing in the pond. These seals do wear and eventually fracture causing the rope seal to be ejected out through the pipework and into the pond. The outlet flange was removed and using digital flash photography (at right angles) to view the non-return valve shredded rope was evident in
By next year we need to find a good number of new members for the Claverton team or we may have to reduce our open days, which we really do not want to do. If you have read this and think, well it’s not for me I am not an engineer, please think again. We have an abundance of the engineering types although we would never turn one away. The areas we need to fill are in the tour guide roles. It’s a good way to enjoy meeting people who are interested in the canal and its history. We will give you plenty of information on the Claverton story, so why not give it a try. The other area where we need
Publicising Claverton Another post that needs to be filled is a person to take on our publicity work brining the Pump House and the group’s activities to a wider audience nationally and locally. I hope that some of you will be interested enough to want
to find out more. I will be pleased to have a chat to anyone about what is involved. You can spend as little time as one day a month, but beware Claverton is a little contagious. Some have been known to become addicted to the place — I know I have. My telephone number is 01761 432811 evenings or 07770 683581 during the day. Please get in touch.
Burbage Crane project A joint project between IWA, K&A Canal Trust and The Crown Estate
he Burbage crane team have made excellent progress with the crane’s superstructure at Claverton and now await delivery of the 28 ft long jib timbers. It’s no easy task getting these down the lane to the Pump House - most lorries cannot negotiate the turns around and over the canal bridge. We have achieved this feat in the past and should do again, but it does need some careful planning. Work has not stopped on the project. The team been travelling to Burbage Wharf to carry out some remedial work to the king-post which we left intact on site. This will include extra stiffening to the concrete surround below the post, the installation of four 1 meter long tie rods to hold the post down to the base and finally, although maybe not this year, complete relaying of the block paved area around the post. The first task was to erect an information board telling passers-by why the Crane is
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missing and where it can be seen at present. The board was paid for by two donations - one from our project manager John Webb and the other from Don Cross who was leader of the team that reconstructed the crane in the 1970s. We would like to thank them for the generosity.
Erecting a sign opposite Burbage Wharf
Pictures by M Pullin
Noise change
Tour guides needed
people is in the shop, which is not too big and very manageable.
Blair Murray working on the Burbage Crane
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Bath & Bristol Roy Smedley 07904 460643
Lock dangers n our recent trip on the very beautiful Leeds and Liverpool canal we had a substantial delay due to an incident on the Bank Newton flight of locks, on the return journey to Skipton. A narrow boat sank in the lock, not caused by the cill, but the boat got caught up on the gate by its fender and then the stonework causing the boat to twist and then the stern to dip down below the water level. There were no casualties, except the boat — but it does make you realise that despite the apparent simplicity of the locking procedure, care and attention and observation is required during the emptying or filling cycle. Perhaps if the procedure had been fully observed then the gate paddles could have been closed in time, preventing the sinking. It is my understanding that there had previously been four fatalities a nearby lock, Sneg Neck, in the Gargrave flight of locks. The report, on the internet details that incident. The investigating authorities simulated the event at that lock and one of the recommendations was that the front fender attachment (normally chain), should become detached when put under load.
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No.188 Autumn 2009
Moorings for disabled boaters
MCA audit completed
John Webb has been on holiday — boating off course!. John, with the campaigning help from the Bruce trust, is trying to get a disabled mooring spot at Churchill Bridge. It would require the trip boat mooring to be moved by 20 metres but the advantage is that there is a ramp already there. John will be meeting Catherine Humphries of BANES to discuss safety issues. John also had a meeting with BW and the Environment Agency about general lack of facilities. There was not much progress although Tony Crouch of BANES is committed to the river corridor plan. He did show some interest in the steel sheet piling problem.
Peter Baker carried out the MCA audit on the Barbara McLellan and the Jubilee on the 18th August and Chris Jones and Ben Woodman have been working on the paperwork. The updated SARPs have been sent to the Coastguards office in Swansea, and the Counting procedures to Peter Baker’s office for approval. This was completed by the week ending 10th July. Ben will look at their response on the return from his holiday. The BSM’s have also been updated and copies have been passed to the skippers to familiarise themselves. Sad news has been received that John Scott, former boat chair and marketing manager for the Jubilee has passed away. The service was in Saltford on 4th August.
Jubilee fact-finding trip My wife and I have now completed an evening trip on the Jubilee as cabin staff. We both got chance to helm the boat under the supervision of Tony Atkinson. The trip started at about 4.00pm and by the time that we had ‘put the boat to bed’ it was 10.00pm. The trip was the second of the day and shows the dedication of the crew’s to keep up so many journey’s on behalf of the K&A trust. We have not been able to volunteer again because of holidays.
Boat bookings Bookings on the Jubilee have been slower than expected but have now picked up quite sharply, 93 charters to date. (This includes school trips). The Tuesday public trip seems to be particularly popular; especially the school holidays have started. Perhaps the ‘credit crunch’ and the bookings on holidays abroad will help the K&A.
Possible pump out problems
problem with ‘pump outs’ in the near future. Some BW pump-out cards have been obtained as a precaution.
Training for new skippers A further four people are due to carry out their skipper ‘Top-lock’ training on 7th August. If all goes well than Peter Baker may be able to issue them with a temporary license.
New running team manager for Claverton Chris Jones is now advancing very well in the position as an alternative Running-team leader. I do try to be there on most Claverton running days but as Pete Dunn knows, I am well known for my 4 holidays plus music festivals a year. Hopefully we are now only planning a few days in Madrid to see friends.
Moorings Abuse George Malcolm is still pursuing the issue. I will update in the next ‘Butty’ issue.
K&A 200 year celebrations John Webb is communicating with the Rambler’s who plan to walk from one end of the canal to the other for the 200 year celebration. The hope is that some of our members will take part on one section.
L A DY L E N A
Tim Wheeldon at Dundas has suggested that there may be 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
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Safety matters by Ben Woodman s it my imagination or are more people dying in fires? The canal boat fire reported in the Butty recently resulted in a fatality, and it seems hardly a week goes by without a report of house fires somewhere in the country with fatal consequences. It’s all very well going on about building standards and that’s fine for the long term, but we need to be aware that fires do happen, usually when least expected, and folk sadly get caught out. So what causes fires? They all have something in common: there has to be a source of
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ignition for a fire to start. It can be anything from faulty electrical wiring to a smouldering cigarette (not so common now), a heater placed too close to curtains say; or something totally unexpected, like sun shining through a window onto a glass ornament. That’s not very helpful is it? Some risks we can control and take precautions against, but we can’t foresee them all. There are a number of things we can do to help ourselves: fit a smoke alarm for one, or rather, two at least! You should have one on each floor and change the
Museum news he contents of the museum archive are fascinating and among them are many items donated by one particular member of the Trust, of whom I had heard much but never met. In late May three narrow boats from the Devizes Boat Club took a trip to Bristol harbour — hard work but very worth while. The river section to Hanam Lock is still littered with nasty debris from the flooding. We moored in the floating harbour on the relatively new finger moorings at Oporto Quay opposite the SS Great Britain. I can recommend these superb moorings. As we settled down at the
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batteries regularly. A good tip about smoke alarms by the way: if you position one close to a window, even if you don’t hear it when it goes off, a neighbour or passer-by might! You can make doubly sure everything is switched off when you go out or go to bed. That includes things like phone chargers by the way, and any other battery chargers. We all like to leave lights on when we go out at night; low energy bulbs are cheaper to run, and importantly, they don’t get so hot. How to escape? You know
how all your outside doors lock and where to find the keys, but do your guests? Kids on sleepovers for instance; baby sitters, house cleaners? Fires don’t just happen at night, some of the most recent tragedies have happened in broad daylight. Some risks may be outside our control, but we can make sure that if a fire does occur through no fault of our own, we know how to escape together with our loved ones, guests, pets, and anyone else in our homes, old Uncle Tom Cobley and all!
by Elaine Kirby
end of the moorings for lunch along came an elderly gentleman obviously very interested in the narrow boats. We struck up a conversation about the harbour and the canal, and he told me he was a member of both the Trust and the IWA. Introducing myself I discovered that he was the Trust member who had donated those items to the museum, what a small world. On our return he contacted me through the Trust to offer more items which I gratefully accepted. Among these items is the receipt for his membership subscription, not of the Trust but of its predecessor, The
Kennet and Avon Canal Association, dated 8th June 1956, for 10 shillings. I followed this up and checked in a hand written ledger of members from when the Association became a Trust in 1962. Here it is recorded on the 18th April — he paid 21 shillings, quite a rise. In the Butty of June 1962 he is recorded as a local lengthman for the Avon navigation, length number 30 to Hanham Lock; by the Butty of April/May 1963 he is on the Trust executive representing Bath and Bristol branch. This gentleman is Mr Fred Blampied. He has been a member of the Association and Trust for over 50 years.
Schools Poster Competition 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 Tel: 01380 721279 for an entry form
Accreditation for Canal Trust Museum he Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Museum, based in the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf has been awarded provisional accreditation for 12 months by the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
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Museum accreditation is a national museum award recognising best practice and quality; it is also a benchmark used by all funding bodies and it is taken into account when approving awards. Full accreditation is essential
for the museum to secure future funding and to retain the invaluable support of the of Wiltshire Museum Services. Over the next year, the Trust and Museum have to address the issue of the security of tenure of the Trust building that
houses the museum and the BW portacabin that currently houses the archive. Congratulations must go to all who were involved in achieving the provisional accreditation, which involved an enormous amount of work.
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Trip Boats Butty the
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‘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
The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust attractions Claverton
Cafés & shops
Bradford on Avon Wharf shop & café Tel: 01225 868683
Pumping Station Claverton Pumping Station is a waterwheelpowered 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 Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday until October 28th
Devizes Wharf museum & shop Tel: 01380 729489
Running days
‘Barbara McLellan’
Opening times: Wednesdays 10am – 4pm, other days 10am – 5pm
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 - 2.30pm, 2hr to Avoncliff and return. • Easter and every Sat and Sun from May to Sep - 11.30am, 1hr to Meadows Bridge and return. • Every Sun from end-May to mid-Sep 4.30pm, 1hr to Widbrook and return. • Special Trips including Cream Teas, Bath, Autumn Tints. Christmas Santa Trips Wh eel c h ai r /di sa b le d a c c es s Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day.
Booking Manager: 0800 121 4679
September 13th & 27th October 25th
Phone: 01225 483001 Email: enquiries@claverton.org
Museum Devizes Wharf The museum is housed in the historic bonded warehouse on Devizes Wharf. Its exhibits chronicle the rise and fall of the canal as a commercial waterway and its subsequent restoration by volunteers.
Crofton Pumping Station shop & café Tel: 01672 870300
Opening times: 10am — 5pm, 7days a week
Crofton ‘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
Beam Engines
Newbury Wharf shop & café
1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler. Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting
Tel: 01635 522609
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.
Open days 2009 Open daily, except Wednesdays, 10.30am to 5pm from April 1to September 27th 2009
Steaming days September 26th and 27th
All boats have a licensed bar and refreshments are available. There is a public address system or you can use your own sound system.
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Phone: 01672 870300
General enquiries: 01380 721279
Website: katrust.org.uk
Aldermaston visitor centre, shop & café Tel: 01189 712868
Obituary ugh Tilley, who died unexpectedly in August at the age of 72, grew up in Wiltshire — he loved the countryside around him and as a young man he managed farms at Wantage and Lambourne. His agricultural knowledge led him to contribute articles to farming magazines such as Tractor and Farm Trader, Fruit Farmer and others that even included a golfing magazine — not because Hugh played gol, but because there was a crossover between the tractors they used for course maintenance and the ones used on farms. When his income from writing equalled his income from farm management he decided to concentrate full time on writing, editing and public relations. When Terry Kemp was working for BW he came into close contact with Hugh and Terry recalls his first meeting with Hugh at an early Boto-X event in Devizes when Hugh was steering the little trip boat Tom Pudding full of passengers around one of the side ponds on Caen Hill. Terry recalls, “As with so many tasks that Hugh undertook for the Trust he did it quietly but effectively. “His gentle quietness was his strength. You always thought you could ask for his help and get it. During the many Boto-X events he was part of the team that brought great pleasure to so very many — as well as raising funds for the Trust and other worthy causes.
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Hugh Tilley “He had many agricultural contacts — and that really helped us in very many ways. I can remember one very wet Boto-X when I was pulling a car trapped in the mud with a tractor and I found myself also unable to move. Hugh arrived shortly after — like the cavalry — driving an enormous tractor. He connected it to us and then with total ease — just dragged us both out.” When Hugh gave up editing The Butty he looked back at his 10 years as Editor and reflected on the high level of Trust activity during that time and he commented that although the canal had been opened by HM the Queen there was still so much work to be done — and this work gave him much to report in The Butty. He described the highlights of his time as Editor as being able to report on the back-pumping project, the HLF grant and its associated work, the restoration of Crofton’s chimney to its original height and the visit to the K&A by Prince Charles in 2003. Fleur de Rhé Phillipe, who was the Trust Administrator and Company Secretary during Hugh’s time as Editor said, “I am extremely sorry to hear about Hugh. He was a lovely man — during all the years I knew him I was his contact at the Trust. I never knew him to complain or come into the office without a smile on his face. “This sometimes in the face of extreme provocation — late changes, missing Branch reports and the like. Hugh also took on several stages in the production process
that enabled him to deliver a ‘machine ready’ file to the printers. “This made the magazine cheaper and quicker to produce — and his wife Jill was a huge help — ferrying proof pages, photos and stories backwards and forwards on her way to work at the bank in Devizes”. Fleur concluded, “Hugh was a very easy man to work with and a stalwart supporter of the Trust. His pleasure at producing — in record time — the celebratory issue when the Lottery grant was achieved was obvious and heartfelt.”
K&A Canal Trust Santa Cruises Hungerford
Devizes
Bradford on Avon
Rose of Hungerford Their will be trips from the Wharf at Hungerford to travel to meet Santa on the following days in December:
Kenavon Venture. These ever-popular 1-hour cruises to see Santa run at 11am from The Wharf in Devizes on the following days in December:
Barbera McLellan Meet Santa on a 1-hour long trip leaving Bradford on Avon Wharf at 11.30am and 2.00pm on the following days in December:
Saturday Sunday Saturday Sunday
Saturdays Sundays Tuesday Wednesday
Saturdays Sundays Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
12th and 19th 13th and 20th 22nd 23rd 24th
Total cruise time 1½ hours A present from Santa for the children — a drink from the bar or a hot drink & a mince pie for the adults Price: £6 per person To check for times and to book your places please call 0800 121 4674.
12th 13th 19th 20th
12th and 19th 13th and 20th 22nd 23rd
There is mulled wine and mince pies for the adults, and a drink, sweets and individual presents for the children. Price: £6.50 per person.
Individually selected present for each child. Juice and sweets for the children and mulled wine and a mince pie for the adults.
Tickets available from The Trust office on Devizes Wharf or by calling 01380 721279.
Tickets cost £9.00. Call 0800 121 4679 to book.
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What’s on September Saturday 19th Devizes Branch. Talk: Devizes to the Sahara — and back, by Peter Potter. 7.30pm at The Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf. Refreshments available Friday 25th Reading Branch. Powerpoint slide show: 'Old K&A and old Reading, by Derek Cann. All Saints Hall, Downshire Square, Reading, RG1 6NH. 7.30 for 8.00pm. £2.50 Saturay 26th & Sunday 27th Crofton End of Season Steam Gala. Traction Engines, Classic Cars, Model Boats, Brass Band, Games, Trade Stands. Fun for all the family Sunday 27th Claverton Pumping Day Wednesday 30th Newbury Branch. Talk: Boating upside down — holidaying on Australia’s Murray River, by Rob and Julie Dean. 7:45pm The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf
October Tuesday 6th Devizes Branch. Noggin & Natter. Informal gathering at the Black Horse, Bath Rd for a social drink and chat Saturday 10th Devizes Branch. An evening of light-hearted quizzes. 7.30pm at The Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf. Refreshments available. Contact Mike or Vicki Messam on 07914 790665 for further details, or email: waterwanderer@hotmail.co.uk Wednesday 28th Newbury Branch.Talk: The Story of London’s Docks — from Roman times to the present day, by Jeremy Batch, The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf, 7:45pm Friday 30th Reading Branch talk: 'Dipping into
the Wells' by Angela SpencerHarper. All Saints Hall, Downshire Square, Reading RG1 6NH. 7.30 for 8.00pm. £2.50
November Tuesday 3rd Devizes Branch. Noggin & Natter. Informal gathering at the Black Horse, Bath Rd for a social drink and chat Wednesday 25th Newbury Branch talk: Secret Canals of Britain, by Stuart Fisher, editor of Canoeist magazine and author of The Canals of Britain: A Comprehensive Guide. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf, 7:45pm Friday 27th Reading Branch Christmas party and 'Illustrated Reading Quiz '. All Saints Hall, Downshire Square, Reading RG1 6NH. 7.30 for 8.00pm. £2.50 Saturday 28th Devizes Branch. Skittles vs the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust. Enormous fun! Venue: Black Horse pub, Bath Road, Devizes. Cost/menu tbc. Raffle. Contact Rob and Helen Wright on 01225 793267 or email: robert.wright8@homecall.co.uk
December Tuesday 1st Devizes Branch. Noggin & Natter. Informal gathering at the Black Horse, Bath Rd for a social drink and chat. Do join us Saturday 5th
Dundas Wharf Carol Service 6pm — arrive by boat on the BMac phone 0800 1214679 for details Saturday 13th Carols at DevizesThe Wharf. with Music by the Salvation Army. Refreshments available. Starting at 6pm. Contact Alice Boyd on 01380 724701 or email: alice@3pplus.co.uk
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
38
Unclassified advertisments Mike Price Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01225 703747 Mobile: 07736 837968 Sundial Marine Services For gas, oil, solid fuel heating servicing & 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 Chronic back pain? Research proves that lessons in the Alexander Technique ease pain. Workshop in Newbury 28th Nov. 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 07703 722102 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. 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. Boat equipment Thetford casette £35, Waste container £4, Mooring chains £3, HD mooring hooks £2, New rope £4, New paint £3, 12v fan £2, Rechargable dehumidifiers £4 — Can deliver. Tel: 01380 739433
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
Bicentenary Christmas gifts Make this Christmas special with these lovely 2010 gifts. Our full colour calendar includes 15 gorgeous views of your favourite canal and a whole host of dates for events throughout the year. The 100% cotton T-shirts are just the thing for those spring and summer days out.
T-Shirts Size
Price each
Number required
Kids Age 1 – 2
£5.00
Age 2 – 3
£5.00
Age 3 – 4
£5.00
Age 5 – 6
£5.00
Age 7 – 8
£5.00
Age 9 – 11
£5.00
Age 12 – 13
£5.00
Order Form
Cost
Please make cheques payable to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and send to: The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB Name and address to which items should be sent: Name: .............................................................. Address: ...........................................................
Adults ........................................................... Small
£7.00
Medium
£7.00
Large
£7.00
X Large
£7.00
XX Large
£7.00
Town: ................................................................ Postcode: ........................
Calendar Price each
Number required
Total cost
£5.00 Post and package — per order
£1.50
Total value of order
£
40