184 The Butty Autumn 2008 by Harris Naylor Associates

The K&A Canal’s own magazine No.184 Autumn 2008

the

Butty

£2.50

Crofton celebrates 40 years

25 years service for The Rose of Hungerford

The merchant of Hilperton Marsh Lock work reveals John Rennie’s design

Terry Kemp’s quirky clocks

K&A Canal 2009 calenders on sale 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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Cover photograph: The Rose of Hungerford

The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal No.184 Autumn 2008

Picture by Bob Naylor

contents

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 mid-1950s. Through physical effort, innovative fund-raising and persistent political pressure, the Trust led the campaign that resulted in the Canal’s re-opening for through navigation in 1990 and the subsequent £30 million restoration project from 1996 to 2003. The Canal’s infrastructure is now in a condition that will support sustained operations for many decades ahead. The Trust’s membership reflects the wide range of leisure activities – boating, walking, cycling, fishing, pursuit of wildlife and heritage interests – that the public can enjoy along the length of the 87 miles of Canal.

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf Couch Lane Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 01380 721279 01380 727870 (fax) www.katrust.org.uk President Sir Anthony Durant 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 Company Secretary John Forbes secretary@katrust.org.uk

Administrator administrator@katrust.org.uk

Finance finance@katrust.org.uk Retail Manager retail.manager@katrust-ent.org.uk

Devizes Shop devizes.shop@katrust.org.uk

Hon Treasurer Neil Lethby

Hon Civil Engineer Michael Lee Museum Curator Warren Berry Trust Council John Arthurs David Copley Graeme Dewhirst Peter Dunn Bill Fisher John Forbes Terry Kemp John Kirby Neil Lethby John Maciver Adrian Softley Harry Willis Butty Editor Di Harris Pear Tree Studio High Street, Urchfont Devizes SN10 4QH 01380 840584 07711 367124 di@thebutty.co.uk Butty Editorial Design & Layout Bob Naylor 07788 134901 bob@thebutty.co.uk For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor Printers BAS Printers 3 Premier Way Abbey Park Romsey Hampshire SO51 9DQ 01794 830244

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 185, Winter 2008 13th October 2008

11 pages of K&A news

The art of Terry Kemp

The Merchant of Hilperton Marsh

Lock work uncovers John Rennie’s design

Plus regular features 14 Cotswold Canals, 15 Wilts & Berks news, 16 BW Briefing, 24 Twinning news, 26 Page for younger readers, 27 Reviews, 28 Marketing and membership, 29 Branch reports, 35 Safety, 36 Letters to the Editor, 38 What’s on and Unclassified ads

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TRUST matters

No.184 Autumn 2008

avid Bruce’s affection for the Kennet & Avon Canal began in 1966 when he embarked on his 42 year career in the international brewing and leisure industry. As a trainee brewer at Simonds Brewery in Reading, he spent many a lunch-hour by the Canal as it flowed through Brewery Gut. Following the sale of Bruce’s Brewery and the Firkin Pubs in 1988, David and his wife, Louise, moved to Hungerford and created The Bruce Charitable Trust www.brucetrust.org.uk. This Trust provides holidays for disabled people on its four

specially-designed, purposebuilt, wide-beam canal boats, the first two of which are named after their daughters, Rebecca and Hannah. During the past 18 years over 9,000 people with special needs, together with their carers, have enjoyed holidays cruising from The Bruce Trust’s two bases, at Great Bedwyn and Lower Foxhangers. David’s first involvement with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was as Chairman of The Last Lock Appeal which raised £10,000 for the restoration of the grass-sided Widmead Lock near Thatcham, just prior to the visit by HM The Queen in 1990. Having recently floated his latest entrepreneurial venture, The Capital Pub Company PLC, on the London Stock Exchange, David now hopes to spend more time not only developing his own Trust but also becoming more involved, now as a Vice President, with the exciting future of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.

Council appoint K&A Canal Trust representative ennet District Council has appointed Councillor Tony Adamson to represent their interests with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. Tony has had a long association with the canal — he was landlord of the Bridge Inn at Horton for many years — and when he and his wife Jill retired from the pub they moved to a cottage only few minutes walk from the canal in Horton.

Picture by Bob Naylor

New Trust Vice President

Tony said, “I see my role as being available to find ways that the Council can help the Trust and also provide a direct link to the council and its staff.”

Are you interested in the history of our canal? The K&A Canal Trust Museum needs more volunteers We are looking for anyone with museum skills, but we’re also looking for volunteers to carry out general maintenance work such as changing light bulbs and to help the Archivist with cataloguing, data inputing, process queries and assist with research work. Our museum team is small, friendly and supportive – and any necessary training will be given. For more information contact: museum_curator@btconnect.com or phone 01380 721279.

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Woman saved in wharf wheelchair drama by Bob Naylor disabled woman’s trip along the towpath beside the K&A Canal in an electric wheelchair ended in a dramatic rescue after she lost control, tumbled down the steep bank and plunged into the canal opposite the K&A Canal Trust offices on Devizes Wharf. The accident happened shortly after midday on Wednesday July 2nd. The middle-aged woman from Thatcham was among a group of people on a trip organised by West Berkshire Social Services. When she fell into the water bystanders immediately came to her assistance and kept her head above water until firefighters and paramedics arrived. First on the scene were firefighters from Devizes who got into the water and supported her — but because she was complaining of back-pain they had to wait until water rescue teams from Trowbridge and Avon Rubber in Melksham arrived because of the risk of injury if they tried to lift her up the steep bank. The woman was first put on to a spine board and then onto an inflatable walkway — the fire service rescue dingy then towed her across he canal to the slipway and she was transfered to an ambulance and taken to hospital. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Training Centre Station Manager Ade Hurren paid tribute to the members of the public who pulled the woman to the canal bank and kept her head above water. “They undoubtedly saved her life”, he said, “This incident shows that water is dangerous and while this clearly was an accident I would warn people to be respectful of water.”

The woman is first secured on to a ‘spine board before being lifted on to an inflatable walkway

Pictures by Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

A paramedic attends the woman as firefighters tow the inflateable walkway across the canal

A firefighter in the water steadies the walkway

Rescuers prepare to get her on to a stretcher

Trust to benefit from BW timber mountain

those on the K&A Canal. The company has agreed to make a donation of £100 to the K&A Canal Trust for each lorry load they remove. Ian said, “They are quite happy with this deal and from my perspective I have started to clear the site — and avoided the disposal cost — whilst at the same time adhering to our green ambitions”. He went on to say, “Whilst the Trust are not going to get rich quick on this I hope that the extra funds will be good for the Trust.”

Picture by Bob Naylor

very lock gate removed from the K&A Canal in the last 15 years has ended up on a timber mountain behind BW’s Devizes workshops on Caen Hill. BW South West Regional Manager Ian Jarvis said, “There is no real prospect of selling the wood as the transport costs would make it uneconomic compared to new wood if it was sold”. So he has negotiated a deal with a company that makes lock gates and sluice gates for the EA that are smaller than

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Wind in the Willows theme for Newbury Waterways Festival corching sun made this year’s Newbury Waterways Festival the most enjoyable event of the summer. Hundreds of residents flocked to Victoria Park to admire the decorated boats and enjoy the entertainment and stalls. Children, and adults too, were particularly enthralled by the Borders Bookshop stall, selling anniversary editions of Wind in the Willows and performing regular puppet shows of the story of Ratty, Toad, Mole and Badger. The whole festival site was

busy and vibrant, with a capacity number of boats and stalls. It was so popular this year that several boats and prospective stall holders had to be turned away, so the message for next year is book early. Profits for the Trust of around £3000 are expected — 6% up on last year despite a 30% cut in sponsorship — thanks to the tremendous amount of hard work put in by the event team. Organiser Rob Dean thanked members from Reading and Devizes Branches who’s efforts helped to make the event a

Best turned-out boat

Hook Eagles Morrismen, top, and Mayflower Morris entertain

Dancing the night away at the Saturday night barbecue to the music of The Trends who were joined by Ray Harris on harmonica

The annual duck race rounded off the day

The prize for the best turned-out boat went to Maureen and John Bish of Pewsey Boat Club who adorned their boat, Traveller’s Joy with Wind in the Willows characters knitted by Maureen.

Novel boat decorations and Newbury Mayor, Phil Barnett with festival organiser, Rob Dean

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Twin celebrations for Crofton

Rubbish service on the K&A

Picture by Bob Naylor

Complaints about the waste collection service on the K&A have led to the canal being withdrawn from the national contract with Biffa. Collections are now being made by Wiltshire Waste.

“Licence it or lose it”, say BW nlicensed boats are increasingly being seized by BW and then either sold to recover backdated licence fees or destroyed if they have little or no financial value. Denise Yelland, BW’s national enforcement manager, said, “In the first seven months of this year we seized 90 boats and recovered more than five times the amount of backdated licence fee income than in the same period the year before. “Although primarily targeted at those who have been trying to evade paying for a licence, the campaign also reminds the nine out of ten ‘legal’ boaters of the importance of displaying their licence disks. “Not displaying a licence unnecessarily diverts our enforcement teams away from their primary task of getting-togrips with those boaters who aren’t contributing towards the cost of maintaining the waterways.” Denise continued, “BW’s ongoing effort to tackle licence evasion is delivering good results and a recent increase in the volume of renewals is proof that concerted efforts to tackle non-compliance are making a real difference.” If you need a licence holder they are available free from BW — phone BW Customer Services on 0845 671 5530.

U 40 years on — former members of the Crofton Society with family and friends gather to celebrate

orty years after the start of the work to restore Crofton Pumping Station members of the original Crofton Society gathered together on Sunday July 27th in Burbage Scout Hall to celebrate all that has been achieved at Crofton. The scout hall was packed with former members of the

Society along with friends and family. David Harris, a former Editor of The Butty, put together an exhibition that chronicles the history of the pumping station which took centre stage — augmented by pictures and displays brought along by other former

members to the event. There was plenty of time to share memories and pictures of the early days of the restoration over a buffet lunch before they all went to Crofton to spend the afternoon with the engines in steam — and enjoy the fruit of their work 40 years ago.

rofton Branch decided to hold their own celebration of the 40th anniversary on the steaming day on Sunday 29th June. The Branch invited representatives from the early

days to join them and David Harris kindly made his display available for the day. Claverton Branch brought

along their exhibition that includes a model of Claverton Pumping Station along with information about their current project, the restoration of Burbage Crane with Allan Henham’s new model of it.

From left, Ken Brown, Ray Knowles, new VP, David Bruce and Trust Company Secretary, John Forbes

Former Butty Editor, David Harris’s display chronicling the history of Crofton saw service at both events

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Shop theft suspect drowns in river man suspected of shoplifting drowned after he jumped into the River Avon in Bath to evade shop staff. The man had been seen acting suspiciously at PC World at Weston Lock Retail Park on

the Lower Bristol Road and when he was followed from the store by staff he jumped into the river fully clothed at about 10.45 on August 13th. Police divers searched the river and eventually found his body at 5.50pm.

Hymns at Crofton

Brassknocker back to business BBQ

• •

•

opening of the of the canal in 1808. 110 years since the cllosure of the canal in 1898. 100 years since the construction of the Camerton branch railway line, 1908 50 years since the demolition of the Camerton branch railway line, 1958 20 years since the reopening of the restored section of the Somerset Coal Canal in 1988 20 years since the start of boat and bike hire by the Bath & Dundas Canal Company in 1988 10 years since the opening of the Visitor Centre and the Angelfish restaurant, 1998

Residential boating survey esidential boating is on the increase and the Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA) have joined forces with BW to canvas the views of residential boaters throughout the country. Current and prospective residential moorers are invited to complete a survey that will give information about the preferences of residential

moorers. The survey will establish areas of greatest need and the services moorers expect. The online survey, that should be completed by the end of October, is available on line at www.rboa.org.uk and www.britishwaterways.co.uk/re sidentialmoorings

The Wharf Bradford on Avon The Bradford Wharf Co Ltd — now open Dry Dock • Blacking • Steam-cleaning Stern-gear and Anode Inspection Mechanical and Welding Work Hardstanding for DIY/Storage Steel, Wood or GRP repairs undertaken Slip for small boats

Call Ben on 07794 601735

Dry Dock available for DIY Solid fuel for sale

Hope to see you soon, pop in for a cuppa! 8

Picture by Nigel Hawkins

he completion of the roadworks on the A36 and the the return to full access to businesses at Brasskncker Basin on the Somersetshire Coal Canal was celebrated with a barbecue on June 27th. Friends and customers of The Somersetshire Coal Canal Company, The Angelfish Retaurant and Bath & Dundas Canal Company/Brassknocker Bikes joined together in the rain to celebrate surviving the disruption that the roadworks brought. And there were other landmarks in the history of the Somersetshire Coal Canal to celebrate: • 200 years since the full

Crofton Pumping Station was the backdrop for an open-air church service on Sunday 15th June. The congregation from Burbage and Bedwyn Parishes sang hymns to the accompaniment of the Phoenix Brass Band.

Foxhangers Marine

Modern Narrowboat fleet all built by Foxhangers. 12 boats, 4 luxury semi-trads introduced. 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

DAY BOATING

Kennet & Avon Canal on the beautiful

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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No.184 Autumn 2008

Rose celebrates 25 years he Rose of Hungerford’s most memorable passenger in the past 25 years is probably the Queen — who in 1990 re-opened the canal by cutting a ribbon while on board the boat in Devizes.

Picture by Bob Naylor

Hungerford Mayor, Peter Harries, steers ‘The Rose’ during the 25th |Anniversary Cruise — with Skippper, Graham Dewhurst standing by — and below Bob Naylor was on hand when, as a Royal Rota photographer at the re-opening of the canal in August 1990, he recorded Peter skippering the boat with the Queen on board.

Picture by Bob Naylor

As a K&A Canal trip boat longer trips there can be as ‘The Rose’ has carried many as six or seven crew. countless thousands of The anniversary trip on the passengers on 27th of June public trips and took place on charters — a fine taking a wide evening with range of guests that parties from included the OAP outings to Mayor of school trips Hungerford, and hen Peter Boat trips have always been popular — parties to Harries, this was an early excursion from wedding himself a Hungerford Wharf parties and in former the process raised over skipper of ‘The Rose’, the K&A £400,000 for the Trust. Canal Trust President, Sir ‘The Rose’ has been used Anthony Durant and past and for more solemn occasions too present crew members. — and funerals including that of In his speech Trust President John Gould have used her to Sir Anthony Durrant praised the carry the coffin. commitment and dedication of There are currently 15 everyone connected with ‘The captains and every trip must Rose’ — and he then cut a have at least four crew celebration cake made by members on board — on Maureen Burlow.

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Reading Waterfest

Pictures by Bob Naylor nce again the banks of the River Kennet in Reading were brought alive in June with the colour and excitement of the WaterFest.

By early afternoon on Saturday 21st June the site was milling with visitors from the town and further afield. One of the ‘foreign’ visitors was Mayor of Clonmel, Reading’s twinned town in Ireland. Clonmel, is on the River Suir and Mayor Richie Molloy was very impressed by the event on Reading’s waterside. With community, craft and charity stalls lining the Chestnut and Riverside walks, events for children in the Abbey Ruins as wells as Morris Dancing and traditional music — there was something for everyone. Once again WaterFest proved to be a community celebration of the riverside for all to enjoy. There were boat parades along the river, canoeing demonstrations, a duck race and displays by the Fire Rescue team from Caversham Road Fire Station led by Watch Manager Dave Hawkins, who is a narrowboat owner himself. All accompanied by a commentary from Terry Kemp the K&A Canal Trust Director of Heritage. Boats from near and far arrived in Reading for

WaterFest and contributed to the festivities with their bunting, ribbons, flowers and balloons. The winner of the bestdressed boat competition was a narrow boat called Penny No 1 owned by Carol and George Findley from near Doncaster. In joint second place were Sarah-Ellen owned by Ian and Michelle Willet from Tilehurst, and Locksmyth owned by Chris Smyth from Portsmouth who is a member of Burghfield Island Boat Club. A special commendation was awarded to Moonflower owned by Reading Waterfest harbourmaster Mike Wyatt and piloted for the day by Kevin Ware of the 1st Reading Sea Scouts. The event was organised jointly by the K&A Canal Trust and Reading Borough Council and this year it raised over £1,000 for the Trust.

Keith and Jo Lodge on their replica workboat Hadar in the parade of boats.

The Fire and Rescue team gave displays throughout the day Terry Kemp commentated throughout the day and interviewed visitors to the event — including Reading Mayor Peter Beard

Traditional costume was worn by some of the boat owners

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Bristol Harbour Festival By Tina Curtis

Pictures by Dave Tattersall ristol Harbour Festival has grown from the event first held to demonstrate the potential of the harbour for recreation and leisure — to become the biggest free city centre festival in the South West — and one that is reckoned to have one of the most diverse programmes.

The first event was organised in 1971 by the Cabot Cruising Club and the South Western Branch of the IWA as part of a campaign to fight plans to fill in part of the 80 acre dock system and close the feeder canal which would have cut the link to the River Avon and the route to Bath. EDF Energy sponsored this years event that ran from Friday 1st August to Sunday 3rd August and was organised by Bristol City Council Arts,

Festivals & Events. The weekend was packed with live music, dancing, circus and street theatres with demonstrations from water based organisations. The interclub games challenge was extremely competitive — and everyone involved got very wet! On Saturday night there was a not-to-be missed spectacular firework display. Throughout the event there were stalls in the markets

A good turn-out of narrowboats... most from the K&A Canal graced at this years event

dotted around the harbourside — selling food and goods from all over the world. The children's entertainment included art and craft workshops — pirate performances, a climbing wall, face painting, a BMX track and the chance to learn circus skills and much more. Among the visiting ships were two tall ships — ‘The

Kaskelot’, a replica of a 19th century barque, built in 1948 and ‘The Earl of Pembroke’, built in Sweden, also in 1948 that is a replica of a 3-masted 18th century wooden barque. ‘The Matthew’, Bristol’s own replica of the famous ship in which John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1498 was also there to please there to please the crowds.

Canal theme for Devizes floral display

roundabout near the Green. Devizes Mayor, Jane Burton said, “Our parks department came up with the concept and made the narrowboat — it looks fantastic. “The winners of Britain in Bloom 2008 will be announced in September and we are hoping for success.”

Picture by Bob Naylor

evizes Town Council are proud of the town’s connection with the K&A Canal and last year they adopted a canal theme for the floral display near the town hall. The canal boat display was very popular and received so many positive comments that it was used again this year on a

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No.184 Autumn 2008

2010 Photo Competition eaders of newspapers along the K&A Canal can enter a photographic competition with the winning pictures being printed in a calendar to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the canal. The Bath Chronicle, The Wiltshire Gazette & Herald, The Newbury Weekly News and The Reading Evening Post will be running the competition until May 2009. Susie Mercer, BW SW Communications Manager said, “The rules are really simple – each and every month until the end of May next year, get out along the canal with your camera and take a photo of absolutely anything that takes your fancy – it could be wildlife, people, boats or a landscape – the choice is yours. Then email it or post it to your local paper.” Each paper will choose a picture for each month of the year and from these 48 pictures the final 12 will be chosen. All photos published in the calendar will be credited to the photographer and all the winners will be invited to a special launch of the calendar and be given five free copies each to give to friends and

Lock dedicated to K&A activist

he Kennet & Avon Canal was the favourite funding project that Heritage Lottery Fund Trustee Catherine Graham-Harrison was involved with. When she retired in July she was presented with a photograph of Dundas Aqueduct donated by Bob Naylor.

Pictures by Bob Naylor

K&A picture farewell gift for HLF Trustee

Dorothy’s Lindley-Jones with her daughters Susan Barker, left and Jane Barr at the unveiling

lock on the Caen Hill Flight has been named after Peter Lindley-Jones. He was the author of the definitive book on the battle to restore the Kennet & Avon Canal — and his ingenuity as a fundraiser has become a legend. Ian Jarvis, BW South West Regional Manager, who unveiled the sign dedicating the lock to Peter said, “Although I never met Peter he was a constant inspiration to me after I took on the job of manager of the waterways in the South West. “I constantly referred to his book to learn about the restoration and to remind myself of the huge amount of work that had been done to bring the K&A back to life.” Peter’s colleague and close friend David Harris said, “He was an ideas man, and one who put his ideas into practice using his organisational ability to raise money, and his practical skills as an engineer to assist in restoration projects”. Legend has it that Peter used very robust language to persuade the Mayor of Newbury not to allow the Stone Building to be pulled down — and he then used his practical and engineering skills to convert it for use by the Trust. Peter masterminded the two

Boat Fairs in the 1960s in Newbury that both boosted the Trust’s profile and the Trust’s profits as never before — the second Fair, held in Northcroft, Newbury attracted 12,000 people. When Peter and his family moved to Hungerford he qualified as a skipper and captained the ‘Rose of Hungerford’ — and he was active in the annual refurbishment that the boat needed. More recently Peter was responsible for the Adoption Scheme — this was a brilliant money-raising idea where members of the public could ‘adopt’ a length of canal, a lock, or a bridge by payment of an ‘adoption fee’. This scheme led to people adopting their favourite stretches of canal — or ‘giving’ them to friends and relatives and as a result people from all over the country — and the rest of the world — felt they had a stake in the K&A. He ran the scheme for five years and raised nearly £40,000. For this he and his wife Dorothy were awarded the John Gould Trophy for their outstanding contribution to the development of the canal — and Peter was particularly proud of this award.

When this scheme had run its course he got together with Terry Kemp who was then working for BW — Terry proved to be a kindred spirit — and they dreamed up another money raising idea. They launched the ‘Buy-aBench’ scheme. For £350 people could buy an oak bench and dedicate it to a friend or relative. So the K&A Canal now has more than 30 benches along the waterway that allow walkers to rest and enjoy the view that has been enjoyed by a previous lover of the canal. Peter was also involved with the Crofton Pumping Station in the early 90s, and again he was involved with the practical aspects of the site. He designed and built cabinets and a cooker unit and hob for the crew room so that volunteers could have hot meals on winter week-ends. He built and decorated the shop and painted the traditional ‘Roses and Castles’ panels. For several years he and Dorothy ran the shop and café at Crofton. As David Harris said, and everyone who met Peter would agree, “His tenacity, hands-on approach, sense of fun, attention to detail and fighting spirit will long be remembered.”

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Fish safely W has teamed up with the National Federation of Anglers to create a safety policy to be used by all course angling clubs. David Kent, the NFA’s representative on the Liaison Group with BW said, “It is absolutely essential that we as a Governing Body can advise angling clubs on how to follow a professional and responsible approach to safety, to ensure protection of the club and the safety of their members.”

Drive to improve solid fuel stove safety Boat licence one of the two main sources of move to bring in a UK changes

carbon monoxide that can code of practice for the poison boaters. safe selection and “Having a code to installation of solid fuel guide installers and stoves has been users will be a key step welcomed by the Boat to reducing death and Safety Scheme. destruction.” Graham Watts, For boat owners manager of the scheme wanting advice now, the BSS said, “Solid fuel stoves are the has published a brief guide to single biggest cause of using solid fuel stoves in incidents of fire on boats on conjunction with the Solid Fuel inland waterways. Association. “These appliances are also www.boatsafetyscheme.com/fire

Scout Silver Wolf award for K&A stalwart ince our story in the last issue of The Butty about Vic Miller’s Silver Wolf award for services to scouting we have discovered that another Trust member, Alan Sandall, also received the award this year — with only 116 of the awards presented this year it is remarkable that two should go to active members of the K&A Canal

Trust. Alan has now retired from skippering Trust trip boats. His association with West Wilts Branch goes back to nb ‘Ladywood’ and continued with mv ‘Barbara McLellan’. Alan said, “Much of my early boating was learnt through the Scouts and I am still president of the Frome and District Scouts.”

BW has announced changes to the terms and conditions for the issue of boat licences. Among the changes are: • Boat length will include fenders. • Conditions have been added to the general terms to include mooring guidance for continuous cruisers. • A licence can be terminated without notice in cases of a serious or persistent breach of the licence conditions or for safety reasons. • Charges will be imposed for late payment of licence. • Boats must display number and name and BW can now put a sticker on the boat that must not be removed until the name and number are correctly displayed. • Hire-boat handover audit will be introduced to ensure hirers give adequate training. • Small passenger boats must comply with the MCA small

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Cotswold Canals News

No.184 Autumn 2008

Saul Festival back in the black espite the poor weather on the second day, Saul Canal Festival is likely to have made a surplus of around £20,000 over the music and boating weekend. Though the figures are not finalised yet, Jack Telling, the festival treasurer, says that this is the sum he expects to be able to hand over to the Cotswold Canals Trust for restoration funds. The floods of last year, and the subsequent cancellation of the festival, incurred a loss of nearly £30,000. “So we have some catching up to do,” said the festival chairman, Tony Crook. “Nevertheless, we are delighted with the outcome and the tremendous support we have had from visitors and volunteers alike,” said the Trust chair, Elizabeth Payne. “The backing of local people, and from those further afield, is vital to the restoration work, and we are especially grateful for that.” The highlight of the weekend for youngsters was the climbing wall – at the festival for the first time, and never without a queue of eager fans. Winner of the cup for best vessel in the parade of boats was the restored 1933 RNLI lifeboat, ‘The Always Ready’, carefully fitted out and brought back to mint condition by Craig Glassonbury and his partner, Sheila Shaw. Craig, yard manager at the Saul boat builders, RW Davis, and Sheila have spent two years refurbishing the vessel, after it

he Cotswold Canals Trust has released a DVD that is an oral history of the Stroudwater Navigation recording the voices and memories of people who have had direct experience of the canal since the 1940s. The DVD is available for a suggested donation of £3 from the Saul Heritage Centre. Or for a donation of £5 the DVD can be ordered from the Cotswold Canals Trust office at 44 Black Jack Street, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 2AA — make cheques payable to the Cotswold Canals Trust. The Butty will be running a revue of the DVD in a future issue.

T Best vessel in the parade of boats was Craig Glassonbury and Sheila Shaw’s restored 1933 RNLI lifeboat, The Always Ready

had been used, following decommissioning, by pilots at Avonmouth and Sharpness. At some point, Craig plans to take his remarkable lifeboat on a return trip to Runswick Bay where it was first on station and involved in a rescue that had a tragic twist to it when the coxswain was killed. Another unusual vessel at the festival was 14-metre Dutch barge, ‘Vrouwe Alberdina’, which made the journey to Saul from Bristol. The ‘Alberdina’ was bought in Holland by Martin and Pauline Palmer of Frenchay. Their intention was to cruise it back across the Channel, up the Thames, along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Bristol for a full make-over as a live-aboard. But engine trouble put paid to their plans, and the barge had to be transported by ferry and road to Portishead. “We have a lot of work to do on her yet, but we had a tremendous trip up the Severn estuary, and

David Owen & Co

thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the Saul Festival,” said Martin. The ‘Alberdina’ is expected back along the K&A and the Thames, probably next year, when Martin and Pauline start their “great escape” of cruising across to France and motoring down to the Mediterranean on an extended “gap year,” as Martin describes it.

HAMS TRANSPORT HOPTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DEVIZES, WILTS

Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire 01380 722211

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Auditors to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust 14

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Butty

Wilts & Berks Canal News

No.184 Autumn 2008

Cricklade Country Way North Wilts Canal Mouldon Hill Work has now been completed on re-watering the canal in Mouldon Hill Country Park Swindon.

Swindon & Cricklade Railway The Northern Extension of the Railways was opened on Sunday 25th May. It runs northwards from

Hayes Knoll to South Meadow Lane and the extension doubles the passenger ride available to visitors. This marks a significant step in reaching Cricklade. The extension took just over two years to complete, and was made possible by previously completing new sidings at Hayes Oak for the storage of rolling stock. The Bank Holiday weekend also marked the 30th Anniversary of the Railway, and special

Promoting the W&B new Wilts & Berks Canal information magazine has been produced by newspaper publishers, Newsquest Wiltshire. They have printed 5000 of the 16-page A4 colour magazine, which are available free from the W&B Trust Shop in Swindon, the Trust Office in Wootton Bassett and the Swindon Tourist Information Centre. Copies will be going out to branches to be used to promote the canal.

facilities were laid on for members and invited guests. Other events included the official opening of a restored railway building from Malmesbury, which will be used as a training facility for staff. Mouldon Hill Country Park Environmental Surveys are being carried out before work starts on the main car park and access from Thamesdown Drive Details of the scheme can be found website www.crickladecountryway.org.uk

Breathing Places award for Swindon Canal

A project task group is now addressing the issues of funding, construction, and traffic management. The scheme was reviewed at The Central Area Action Plan Examination in Public in June and Inspector is due to report in the autumn. You can see more about the canal in Swindon at www.swindoncanals.co.uk or visit the Information Centre (1 Theatre Square – opposite the Town Hall –open Fridays and Saturdays)

Chaddington Lane Spillweir progress

uring the next 12 months a section of the North Wilts Canal in the River Ray Valley at Moredon will be made accessible and new habitats will be created as part of the plan to bring the canal into central Swindon. The work has been made possible by an award of £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund under the BBC Breathing Places Scheme. The project will clear the canal bed, re-instate the towpath and if possible the section will re-connected to the only remaining section of watered canal at Cheney Manor.

Swindon Central Route

The new spillweir at Chaddington Lane, Wootton Bassett is nearing completion. The final part of the project will remove spoil from the canal bed and re-water the section to Chaddington Lock.

Lease negotiations It is hoped that two projects awaiting leases will be able to mover forward shortly. At Pewsham arrangements are being finalised for the section from Pewsham Locks to Naish Hill and at Shrivenham it is hoped that negotiations can be concluded soon on the section from Acorn Bridge to Station Road.

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Butty

No.184 Autumn 2008

British Waterways briefing by James Young, BW South West Business Development Manager

Review by canoe arlier this summer I joined members of the Moorings Team and London-based project manager, Madge Bailey, to review moorings provision in the Bath Valley. Madge and I decided to hire a canoe and view the moorings from the water, while Maria Nash and new Moorings Assistant, Matt Preston, preferred to use good old fashioned feet and walk along the towpath. This is part of a national initiative to create a set of guidelines to enable business units to decided what kind of moorings are likely to be needed in different waterway locations. Town centres, places close to other visitor attractions and areas adjacent to boaters’ services are all likely to have a high demand for short-stay visitor moorings. Customers often tell us that we need to be more proactive about enforcing the waiting times, so that more people can use them. Permanent moorings, where you are able to keep your boat all year round, are popular in all kinds of locations, but most

customers will prefer to be near services like water, rubbish disposal and parking to get the most enjoyment out of their mooring. The BW byelaws allow boats to moor anywhere along the towpath that isn’t otherwise designated for up to 14 days. Although there’s no wish to change this, there are some issues with people overstaying the time limit and we are determined to crack down on this. Boaters who choose not to have a permanent mooring for their boat are called ‘Continuous Cruisers’ and are required to move to a new location every 14 days. Again, reducing the number of boaters who fail to comply with this requirement is a real priority for our patrol teams. The current review will look at existing provision and see if we can make it easier for our customers to comply with our moorings policies whilst enjoying the waterways by providing a different or better mix of moorings at key locations. We’ll let you know how it progresses.

County Lock gate replacement ounty Lock is due to close for essential lockgate replacement this October. I am aware of the potential disruption this may cause certain customers and business clients during the latter weeks of the season. However, the work needs to be carried out urgently, since there have already been three failures this season. With the lock being sited on

a river section, the risk of flooding is significant and rather than risk an extended stoppage threatening next Easter, a decision was taken to commence the work at the end of the 2008 season, avoiding half term. I am maintaining a regular dialogue with leisure boaters and commercial businesses to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

Meetings with Hire Boat companies had an opportunity to visit a number of self drive hire operators earlier this summer whilst distributing Holiday Boaters’ questionnaires. These are important for British Waterways to identify what we are delivering well, and which areas of our business need developing to match the expectations of our customers. I visited Kennet Cruises at Burghfield and was pleased to learn that the flexible day and weekly availability of a number of their boats is linked with a Reading Borough Council initiative to promote ‘float away days’ — something BW is keen to support next season. I was equally impressed to witness a photo shoot near Southcote Lock on one of Kennet Cruises narrowboats which was commissioned by jupiterimages.com, a leading internataional photo library. I progressed to Devizes and met up with Ian Sharp, proprietor of White Horse Boats. Ian spent some of his valuable time explaining the importance of maintaining a constructive dialogue with BW over important navigational issues such as vegetation clearance and water levels. Business on the waterways was obviously encouraging when I arrived at Foxhangers Canal Holidays and I spent an educational time watching the

eager first time boaters being given essential tuition from Russell Fletcher. A similar scene greeted me at Hilperton where 30 narrowboats were being prepared for departure that weekend by ABC Leisure. I took time out to visit Spencer and Victoria at The Boatyard and was fascinated to learn of Victoria’s skill in making a full range of rope fenders. Their business is a real testament to the inter-related businesses that exist off one another on our waterway. I recognise this through the commendable work of the Kennet & Avon Trade Association (KATA) and want to fully support this organisation. Finally, I would like to report what a totally enjoyable morning my Business Development team had on the ‘John Rennie’ restaurant boat, hired from Bath Narrowboats, cruising from Bath to Bradford on Avon, for one of our regular team talks. The South West Team was joined by colleagues Nicky Ross from Central Marketing and also John Ellis from Angling & Fisheries. It was a real chance for our core business and leisure teams to integrate with our businesses and customers. The buffet lunch on board that followed was exceptional.

Evasion consultation he consultation on how to try to control unlicenced craft on the Kennet & Avon Canal has now closed and we received a staggering 155 responses — so very many thanks to everyone who took the trouble to let us have their views.

It will be a huge task to go through them all in detail and compile the full response and this will be sent out to everyone who took part in the consultation and published on the BW website on 26 September 2008.

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Butty NEWS

No.184 Autumn 2008

Stronger lock gates for K&A by Bob Naylor ith constant problems caused by the failure of older lock gates on the K&A Canal, British Waterways is continuing with the programme of planned replacement — and this winter five full sets of lock gates will be replaced The BW South West Region Operations Manager, Nick Worthington said, “The new gates going in are far more robust than the old ones and they will stand up to more frequent use — and the occasional misuse — much better than the old lock gates. “In August we had a hirer who literally forced open every single lock gate on the Caen Hill Flight with their boat — despite our the lock keeper advising them not to — it’s very sad — and it puts unnecessary strain on the lock gates.” He continued, “With a combination of reactive maintenance and planned works along with a combination of the better design of the new lock gates — and by strengthening existing locks until we can replace them — we are hopeful that we will start to reap the rewards in terms of far fewer unplanned stoppages.” But the strengthening work has not been all plain sailing — when the BW maintenance team arrived to work on Lock 58 at Crofton geared up and ready to strengthen the gates they found a nesting wagtail hidden away in the bottom gate — so that put a stop to work there for the time being. As they were in the area they repaired the top gate at

Scheduled Winter Stoppages

Picture by Nick Worthington

Planned replacement of top and bottom mitre gates

Strengthening plates in place on Crofton Lock 58

Lower Foxhangers and wait until a dredger — directed by divers — was able clear the obstruction. Nick Worthington said, “ We have minimised the stoppage days because our staff have been starting at 6am and working longer hours to clear problems as quickly as they can.” “And for the major works at County Lock we will be bringing in extra staff so that we can get the work finished on schedule.”

Picture by Mike Price

Lock 56 and the paddle gear at Lock 57. And work on Lock 58 had to wait until after the young had flown the nest. Nick says that the number of unplanned stoppages on the K&A Canal this year has been about the same as last year. There have been a number of stoppages caused by trees obstructing the navigation and at Martinslade Bridge near Devizes a bank slip prevented a hotel barge getting through. It had to reverse back to

A narrowboat carefully approaches a fallen tree that blocked Weston Lock cut in Bath

County Lock (106) 29th September - 24th October (timed to take account of high water levels) Heales Lock (93) 3rd November – 19th December Midgham Lock (92) 3rd November – 19th December Caen Hill Locks 20 and 21 17th November - 28th November Kintbury Lock (78) 12th January – 6th March Brunsden Lock (77)

12th January – 6th March

Other projects Hungerford marina connection 26th January – 16th February These dates are provisional. This may only be a restriction and not a stoppage. Caen Hill 19th January – 30th January (these dates are subject to change) Flight closed for bank repairs between Lock 38 and Lock 39, stoppage to dewater the pound. Bradford on Avon 2nd – 13th March Upstream of Bradford lock lowering of pound to enable bank investigation to determine extent of undermining and engineering solutions to repair failed bank on visitor moorings. Temporary dam may need to be installed the exact dates may change.

Pictures by Bob Naylor

Divers were brought in to direct the dredger at Martinslade Bridge near Devizes as it removed obstacles in the canal that caused the hotel barge Gallinago to get stuck and wait at Lower Foxhangers for the obstruction to be cleared.

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Butty NEWS

No.184 Autumn 2008

Rare K&A map for sale rare 1794 map of the proposed route of the Kennet & Avon Canal by William Faden who has been described as the leading English mapmaker of his time is being sold by a London antique map seller.

The plan of the proposed canal to link the Bristol coalfields in North Somerset and the River Avon, at Bath, to south-central England and eastwards to the River Kennet at Newbury and thence to the Thames and London is very detailed and includes the proposed spur canal to Chippenham and Calne. Jonathan Potter Limited of New Bond Street are offering the 197cm x 50cm copperplate, uncoloured map with a scale of Approx 1 mile to 1.5 inches for £1400. The map has had some restoration to old tears. The map-maker, William Faden lived from 1749 to 1836. He was not quite born into the map-trade as such, but his father was a Fleet Street printer. He was apprenticed to the engraver James Wigley from 1764 and he came to prominence when he joined the Thomas Jefferys family partnership after the death of

Jefferys himself in 1771. Jefferys had been the leading publisher working in London at this time and earned a reputation for large-scale maps of the English counties and detailed maps of the British colonies abroad. His maps were based on the most up-to-date and accurate survey work available. Jefferys acted, in an unofficial capacity, as mapmaker to various branches of the British Government, including the Colonial Office, and he was appointed Geographer to King George III in 1783. Following Jefferys’ death Faden continued the business, proving himself to be Jefferys’ equal as a map-maker and more astute as a business man. Like Jefferys’ maps before, there was an official quality to Faden’s work. Faden made his name during the American War of Independence, when he published maps of the individual

The rolled map (197cm x 50cm) and detail from sections of the map

colonies, the general theatres of war, and plans of the major battles. Government departments were grateful for Faden’s maps because they knew they would be accurate and up-to-date. Faden was chosen to produce the very first map for the Ordnance Survey in 1801

that was a map of Kent in four sheets. He was an important contributor to cartographic heritage. For further information about the map go to: www.jpmaps.co.uk/map/id.29726

or phone Jonathan Potter Ltd on: 020 7491 9754

Obituary ennet & Avon Canal Society founder member David Cooper who died in June was an enthusiast in every sense of the word. He was an early member of the IWA and on the London & Home Counties branch for many years. He was a founder member of several canal societies, including the K&A and the Surrey & Hampshire. Reading branch members will recall that he was one of our ‘Golden Members’ wearing a gold rose in his button hole at the Branch’s 50th Anniversary — and as proof of membership and commitment to the K&A he had every copy of The Butty from number 1 onwards.

Picture by Bob Naylor

David Cooper 18

His first canal trip was as a 21-year-old in Easter 1955 when he crewed Roy Mack on ‘Hawke’ on the protest cruise on the Basingstoke Canal. A few weeks later he again joined Roy on ‘Wiven’ an old steel tug on the protest cruise between Reading and Theale. And he subsequently cruised with Robert Aickman on canals threatened with closure. In 1956 with his father, mother and brother, John, he hired an early canal cruiser and set out on an ambitious 14-day cruise from Stourport to Llangollen travelling on the Trent & Mersey and back on the Shropshire Union, his log showing that they cruised for up to 14 hours a day.

In 1961 he bought a 16-foot Nomad cruiser ‘Pickwick’, which he cruised extensively over the next 17 years, with his wife Liz and their two children. Then in 1987 he bought a 50-foot BCN tug-style narrow boat ‘The Raven No 1’, which again travelled the canals exhaustively until she was sold last year. In private life David was an engineer, starting off with Hawker Aircraft, but nine years later he joined the British Transport Docks Board to do hydraulic research. The Board subsequently was privatised as Associated British Ports and David became Director of Research. Mike Wyatt

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Countdown to 2010

the Poor had taken over the clothier John Anstie’s factory in New Park Street as a workhouse. Anstie was elected and became one of the 21-strong committee when the canal to Bristol was proposed — with plans to connect to Salisbury and Southampton. But by 1793 personal investment in the K&A scheme proved impossible for him and he was declared bankrupt that year. In 1808, the parish of St John’s moved its paupers from Anstie’s former factory to a house in Short Street. In Great Bedwyn there had been a workhouse with spinning wheels since the mid 18th

And yet poverty was still commonplace; it would be 70 years before the Factory Act was to ban the employment of children under the age of ten. While the K&A was being built it was still usual for children under the age of 10 to have to work very long hours — and sometimes doing extremely dangerous jobs in factories. It is not larvae surprising then that Dragonfly shells the population along the more industrial stretches of the K&A would be taking part in the national food riots between 1790 and 1810. At Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge, in the heart of the west country woollen district, both men and women assembled to protest. This civil disobedience led to the hanging of Thomas Helliker in Trowbridge. He was convicted — wrongly as it would later be discovered — for masterminding the burning

Picture by John Notman

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our years before Charles Dickens was born and, even more remarkably, almost 30 years before Thomas Hardy was born, the K&A Canal was just over a year away from completion. As progress on the canal was made, and more of the length became navigable, other developments took place to exploit this new mode of transport — and in 1808 a tramway was built from the quarries at Bathampton to carry stone to the canal. And although the canal was bringing industrial growth in some areas, there was still abject poverty for much of the population. In Devizes, the Overseers of

fall.

Picture by John Notman

In 2010 the K&A Canal will celebrate its 200th anniversary — Di Harris delves into the archives to find out what was happening along the route of the canal during the run-up to its opening

century, and it remained open until 1835. The residents, or inmates as they were described, were forbidden to leave the workhouse without permission, to receive visitors, or to collect wood for fuel. In fact, poor houses and workhouses were not being housed exclusively with the poor. The 1808 County Asylums Act gave County JPs the powers to construct asylums for the better care and maintenance of ‘Lunatics’, whether paupers or criminals, as it was recognised that the practice of confining lunatics in gaols, houses of correction, poor houses and workhouses was highly dangerous. Apart from the workhouse, parish councils also supported the local poor. During the early 1800s Great Bedwyn, for example, was providing monthly doles for nearly half the population. It wasn’t until 1813 that the number of paupers started to

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Butty

No.184 Autumn 2008

The Merchant of Hilperton Marsh By Rolf Augustin His life evokes the entire K&A canal story — and like that story his spirit lives on. n this mournful 31st day of July in 1820, everyone had already started to leave the pine-fringed St James churchyard — his mother Ann gently flanked by Uncle Mark and father’s best friend John Read, sister Hannah shepherding their three younger brothers, several Newth cousins, Rector Crabbe, Hilperton neighbours and two dozen Trowbridge townsfolk. As the bell tolled its solemn message from the 13th century tower, the boy lingered, staring uncomprehendingly at his father’s coffin for the last time. Richard had been mentor, inspiration, hero. And now he was gone. Suddenly, at age 15 a boy no longer, Walter Newth realised he had become head man of the family. Reluctantly he turned from the graveside and, lost in thought, followed the group, The obligations of being firstborn son were soon apparent. His father’s will directed that he should partner his mother as owner of the Newth coal enterprise upon reaching the age of 21. That gave him just over six years to prepare. Yet Walter’s apprenticeship had actually

begun much earlier, when the family arrived at Hilperton Marsh Wharf from Wootton Bassett in 1813. He must have loved running errands around the coal yard for his wharfinger father, the flurry of activity when barges and narrowboats moored and especially watching the wooden crane at work. It was probably in 1816, close to his 11th birthday, when he made the first of many overnight trips down the K&A to Dundas Wharf and up the Somersetshire Coal Canal to Tucking Mill. His initial job had been to drive the family horse along the towpath ahead of their newly purchased 70-ft Kennet barge, but in subsequent years he became expert at handling the wide-beam vessel itself. By the date of his majority on 25th August 1826, Walter was more than ready and in tandem with the golden era of K&A prosperity his enthusiasm and boundless energy spurred 15 years of growth for the business. He built a reputation for superb service and, because he controlled both wholesale and retail, for aggressive pricing. He signed long-term contracts with key Somerset suppliers, Timsbury Coal Co and Camerton Coal & Coke Works, and financed a second barge, then a third, keeping his bargemasters busy. Before long he employed four labourers full-time at his yard.

To Keynsham In 1832 he extended the haulage route westward to Avon Wharf, Keynsham, a tramroad terminus for the Mangotsfield and Coalpit Heath

collieries, to access low-sulphur Gloucestershire coals. His Weston Lock transit permits indicate a new account, likely to have been the brewery in Turleigh, for which his returning barges started making regular deliveries at Murhill Quarry Wharf. But most of his 30-ton, singlehorse coal cargoes were transported back to Hilperton for sale to private homes, woollen mills, brick works, the brewery, local dealers and other customers in Trowbridge and Staverton, as well as to narrowboat carriers plying the Wilts & Berks Canal.

The impact of rail Yet ever since the 1835 authorisation by Parliament, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Great Western Railway had been leading the relentless march of technology that would soon disrupt the lives of all boat people and countless others whose income depended on the K&A. Ironically, as the 1840s dawned, waterborne commerce continued to thrive because of steady GWR demand for construction materials. Though by 1841, with a direct line between Bristol and London, traffic on the canal had already dropped precipitously. However, the infrastructure and logistical support for heavy freight lagged behind the rail link itself and bulk materials such as coal, iron, timber, stone and brick kept moving primarily by water. GWR concentrated at the outset on passengers, high-margin parcels and light goods. The K&ACC twice reduced its toll fees, each time prompting the carriers also to lower rates — temporarily generating modest increases in canal traffic, but the halcyon days of soaring profits never returned.

Fly-boats There was a pressing need to diversify and in 1846 Walter joined a syndicate of K&A carriers whose advertised mission was to provide conveyance between London, Bath and Bristol, in a single day — every day.

A fleet of narrowbeam Scotch Iron Boats sped both passengers and freight at 8–10 mph to the nearest of six K&A points for transfer to rail. The venture was organised, equipped and operated under the flag of Messrs Parker, Randell & Co of Bath and Reading. Ten prominent companies were appointed as agents along the route, chosen to optimise access and customer convenience. Walter’s responsibility included Trowbridge, Frome, Warminster and Westbury. He ran this new activity from Hilperton Wharf, 200 yards from Marsh Wharf. Imaginative, cutting-edge, farsighted… the scheme may well have been all of these — but in 1852 the GWR absorbed the beleaguered K&ACC and shortly afterwords they reduced the waterway speed limit to a snailpaced 4 mph, effectively killing the Iron Boat service.

Diversification A more durable opportunity for Walter had emerged in 1849 when he took the lease on a sizable brick-and-tile works at Little Trowle, Cockhill, Bradford Rd, presumably one of his best coal accounts. The sprawling property featured rich deposits of midJurassic surface clay, abundant sand and water, a gin-horse pugmill for grinding clay, drying and storage sheds, a large kiln for firing the brick, plus an on-site house — “Rose Cottage”. The building boom across Wiltshire assured a continuing revenue stream, whilst he had a competitive advantage by supplying his own coal to stoke the kiln. Use of Newth barges for shipments outside the area would bring added profits. And he could rely on Uncle Edward or Cousin Thomas, brickmakers in Wootton Bassett, for technical advice. Coal remained a significant contributor to K&A commerce for another decade, but in the 1860s the GWR and other railroad companies extended their branch lines through the coalfields to

major Somerset and Gloucestershire collieries. Already faster, rail transport offered greater convenience and cost-efficiency. K&A coal tonnage fell. By 1865, waterborne volume was about 75% of the level a decade earlier; by 1871, 50%; and by 1873, only 38%. Brick-and-tile earnings could not offset the consequent hemorrhaging of Walter’s coal income. With dogged determination but few options, he was no doubt forced to respond — cutting manpower, reducing the haulage schedule and down-sizing his fleet. By the 1870s he probably had just one barge still in service — his canal operations coming full circle in 50 years. Walter’s stubborn, tenacious struggle for survival against the GWR onslaught profiles a man of unusual stamina and courage, seasoned by a lifetime of experience and tempered by both fortune and adversity. His commanding presence and persona gravitas would have made him a natural leader among peers, and without question he enjoyed widespread respect as a businessman. To judge by his three leaseholds, three freehold dwellings and vacant land in Trowbridge, not to mention the assets at Hilperton Marsh, he was also a shrewd financier and real estate investor.

The family man In private, Walter was a family man and devoutly religious. He had married at St James in Trowbridge on Christmas Eve, 24th December 1828. His bride was Eliza Kemp, age 21, with whom he occupied 7–9 Timbrell St and, during the next 17 years, fathered eight sons and two daughters. But by 1846 he had suffered the agony of burying no fewer than three of the children, all in

infancy, as well as his three brothers. Then in 1848, he lost his dear wife and, within months, their 3-year-old son. Faith alone could not sustain. Within a year Walter sought change to ease the crushing heartache. Retaining 7 Timbrell for his coal offices, he let the two adjoining houses and, together with his four older sons, moved to Rose Cottage. From here he would often leave the boys in charge of the factory and ride his splendid white horse across the Cockhill fields, over the River Biss and GWR bridges at Lady Down Mill, and onward to Trowbridge or Hilperton. He was increasingly active at St Paul’s Church in Staverton, where he had worshipped since childhood and was generous with both time and money. He served as Church Warden from 1860 until 1874. When his mother died in 1868 the constant involvement in canal affairs and his role as community elder beckoned him to return to his former home — Ann’s charming house-and-stable complex at Marsh Wharf. Walter Newth, cited in the records simply as “coal merchant”, did not live to see the ultimate demise of the waterborne commerce that had supported him and his loved ones throughout the years. He died on 21st November 1874, aged 69. Surviving him were his sister Hannah, children John Tom, Francis Robert, Arthur Augustus and Eliza Ann, together with twenty-one grandchildren. He left a personal estate valued at £9784, a very respectable sum in those days, which was divided equally between his own four children and a granddaughter and the sole child of his deceased son Walter James. He was buried in the graveyard at St Paul’s, most probably together with the remains of his mother, in a place of honour just outside the church entrance. The coffin-shaped tomb visibly bears his name and date of death, but a further inscription has sadly been lost to time. His indelible legacy is summarised by the vicar’s poignant tribute in the Burial Register—“A most worthy man”. Indeed so he was…and more. His life evokes the entire Kennet & Avon story. And, like that story, his spirit lives on.

Walter Newth 1805 — 1874 1805

Walter Newth was born on 25th August in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire

1813

The Newth family moved to Hilperton Marsh

1816

Walter made his first overnight trip down the K&A to Dundas

1820

Walter’s father, Richard, died and was buried on 31st July in St James churchyard, Trowbridge

1826

Walter reached the age of majority on 15th August and became partner and co-owner with his mother of the Newth coal enterprise

1828

Walter married Eliza Kemp on 24th December at St James Church, Trowbridge. They lived in Timbrell St, Trowbridge.

1832

Walter extended the haulage route westward to Avon Wharf, a tramroad terminus at Keynsham for the Mangotsfield and Coalpit Heath collieries.

1841 canal

Bristol – London rail line opened. Traffic on the had dropped

1846

Walter joined a syndicate of K&A carriers to carry passengers and freight between London, Bath and Bristol every day, travelling at 8-10mph and operating under the flag of Parker, Randell & Co of Bath and Reading.

1848

Walter’s wife Eliza and 3-year-old son died within months of each other. Walter moved to live at Rose Cottage, Little Trowle.

1849

Walter Newth aquired the Cockhill brick and tile works at Little Trowle, Trowbridge

1852

GWR absorbed K&ACC and reduced the waterway speed limit to 4 mph

1860s GWR and other railroad companies extended branch lines through the coalfields and direct to major Somerset and Gloucestershire collieries 1873

Waterborne freight traffic had decreased to about 38% of it’s peak in the 1850s and Walter had just one barge still in service

1874 Walter died, aged 69 on 21st November leaving four children, 21 grand children and a personal estate of £9784 The author wishes to acknowledge with deepest gratitude the kind assistance received from members of staff at the Wiltshire Public Records Office and The National Archives, as well as the unstinting support of Mr Alan Reginald Newth, great-great-grandson of Walter Newth, who generously made available a wealth of information, images and original documents from family archives.

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Butty

No.184 Autumn 2008

Lock secrets uncovered

Sequence of lock construction During the 1880s the lower transverse cill of oak, already cut to receive the pointed cills against which the lower lock gate sit, was laid across the chamber extending beyond the position of the faces of the chamber walls.

vidence of the original construction of locks on the Caen Hill Flight in Devizes was revealed during lock gate replacement work on three locks on the flight between January and March this year. Shortly after work began on the final phase of work at Monument Lock (Lock 42) a large section of timber in the floor of the lock chamber below the lower gates was found. Work was stopped immediately until the importance and age of this timber could be established. The timber was assessed by British Waterways engineering staff who considered it to be structurally sound enough for the new cill to be attached to the timber. English Heritage was contacted with this proposal and they agreed to allow the work to continue — but they insisted that the full extent of the timber was recorded by an archaeologist and this work was done by Martin Cook MIFA before the work continued.

The transverse planking of elm in the gate chamber was laid against the upper side of this cill. The vertical timbers were driven into the sub-strata against the lower side of the cill. The upper transverse cill was laid across the chamber extending beyond the position of the faces of the chamber walls. Axial planking, thought to be deal was spiked to the transverse planking. The ‘pointed’ cills most of which were removed in the 1980s were secured on top of the deal planking. The gate bay, the lower lock forebay and the lock chamber walls were built over the upper and lower transverse cills. The inverted arch of the brick lock chamber floor was built abutting the lock chamber walls and the upper and lower transverse cills.

Drawing from John Rennie’s notebook

The floor of the lock chamber and the forebays were formed in brick laid to an inverted arch. Timber planking was confined to the gate chamber where the operation of the gates necessitated a flat and level surface.

The final phase identified during the survey was in the 1980s, when the pointed cills and the deal planking were removed and concrete was laid over the elm planking and new pointed cills secured to it.

Drawings from John Rennie’s notebook As far as it is possible to tell from the limited recording area, Rennie’s specification was followed in the construction of this lock

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A GEOprojects canal map of the Kennet & Avon Canal (and including the River Avon and Bristol Docks)

Buy prints from The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Collection 001

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q Senior Citizen Single/£100 q Adult Family/£250 q Senior Citizen Family/£125 q

Annual Membership Fees

Life Membership Fees

Adult Single/£15

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Senior Citizen Single/£10 Adult Family/£17 Senior Citizen Family/£12 Junior (14–18)/£7

Corporate membership – please phone 01380 721279 for information Branch Membership – please tick one box

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Your details – please complete all sections I/we wish to join the Trust and enclose: A completed Standing Order form A completed Gift Aid Declaration form A cheque (payable to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust)

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Name(s) of applicant(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. ............................................. Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. ............................................. ............................................. Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standing Order Name of Member’s Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address of Member’s Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. Please pay to Lloyds Bank plc, Devizes Wilts SN10 1JD (sort code 30-92-63) credit A/C No. 0441822 The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust the sum of £. . . . . . . On (date). . . . . . . . . .and the same sum on the same date each YEAR until further notice.

Bruce Tunnel

Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 002

003

Hungerford Wharf

Devizes Wharf

Account No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. To Bank: When making payments please quote: . . . . . . . . . . .

004

005 Devizes Lower Wharf

Honeystreet

Gift Aid Declaration Name of Charity: The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Details of Donor Title: . . . . . . . . .Full Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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007

Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Devizes Lower Wharf

Keynsham Lock

............................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postcode: . . . . . . . . . . . 008 Kintbury

009 Working boats at Newbury

Pictures from the Canal Museum’s archive are available as A4 prints on photographic paper. A4 prints are £19.95. Please add £2.50 for each order for post and packing. Phone 01380 729489 giving your credit card details or send a cheque with your delivery details and list of required print numbers to: Archive Prints, K&A Canal Trust, Devizes Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 23 Please make your cheque payable to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd.

I want the charity to treat all subscriptions/donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid Donations. Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You must pay an amount of Tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year (currently 25p for each £1.00 you give). Please post or fax this form to: The Membership Secretary, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, FREEPOST, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BR. Fax: 01380 727870

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No.184 Autumn 2008

French connections news of our twinned canals Praise for outgoing president of Nivernais Association he contribution made to the Canal du Nivernais by the outgoing President, Philippe Bénard, was recognised by his successor, Jo Parfitt at there recent AGM in Clamecy. He said, “It gives me great pleasure to say thank you to Phillipe for all the work he has done as president of our association and I am pleased that he has decided to stay and work with us. “His many years of practical activity on the canal and contacts in the area are invaluable to us.” He will be a hard act to follow — but I will do my best with the support of everyone in the association.” Philippe was a founder member of Les Amis. In 1990, along with Christian Dechamp, who became the first president, they formed the association to publicise the canal’s problems.

Decentralization threatens French canals

he Nivernais Canal and most of the smaller canals in France are under threat from decentralisation plans that will pass administration from the Voies Navigables de France (VNF) to the regions. Finance and manpower are key issues in decentralisation and lock keepers in the Seine basin have already been on strike earlier this year to draw attention to the VNF’s policy of reducing their labour force by 2% a year. Staff shortages on the Nivernais are becoming noticeable and Les Amis President, Jo Parfitt said, “Maybe other systems of automated or self operated lock working need to be studied to aid a limited work force — because a canal with no boats on it is of less interest to all the other sectors who visit the region on foot, cycle etc.”

T Picture by Bob Naylor

Bumper Nivernais rally planned for 2009 es Amis du Canal du Nivernais will hold their next rally in July next year. It will be their 10th rally and it will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the association. A committee has been formed and work has started on plans for the rally and talks are taking place with the Mayor of Vincelles, 11 kms south of Auxerre where the rally will be held. This will be a memorable rally so put the 17th, 18th and 19th of July 2009 in your diary.

L Philippe Bénard The authorities considered them to be a nuisance. At the time Philippe was a lock-keeper and he was disciplined for his involvement — but this did not deter him and he continued actively promoting the Nivernais Canal through the association.

Nivernais twinning trip group of K&A Canal Trust members are heading for the Canal du Nivernais in September to join with our friends of Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais on a twinning trip. Twinning trips with the Nivernais are a regular feature of the K&A’s social calander.

Last year a group from France came to the K&A with a view to twinning the village of Chevroche with Kintbury — those negotiations are continuing — and on this trip the group hope to meet up again with Jean Louis Lebeau the Mayor of the Chevroche

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who is an enthusiastic twinner. This year’s trip is one way from Tannay to Decize — 100kms and 71 locks that includes the spectacular flight of locks at Sardy and three tunnels that take the canal to the huge lake at Baye that it the summit of the canal.

As on previous trips Les Ami have arranged visits, meals and events during the week long trip — but they will not let on what they have planned until the party arrives.

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Terry Kemp Artist, cartoonist, potter, sculptor and — quirky clockmaker erry Kemp will be no stranger to readers of The Butty — his cartoons have given a humourous slant to issues affecting the K&A Canal for many years — and more recently he has introduced his creations — Kenny and Annie Avon and their friends of the Mousehole Boat Company to the children’s page.

studio painting pictures as well as Terry has lived and worked by the throwing pots and creating quirky Kennet & Avon Canal for more ceramic clocks. than thirty years since he “Of all the things I ‘downshifted’ and do the pots and left behind a London clocks give me based banking career. the greatest The reasons for pleasure”, says leaving he says are Terry, still relevant today, “Every “I wanted my family medium has to live in the its challenges but countryside, to breath for me pottery is fresh air — and I perhaps the most wanted to be a fun. canalside artist.” “The forming of The artwork the clay then its became a business firing and glazing before he took up — each process a variety of requires skill and managerial jobs a thorough within Chicken wire sculptures understanding British of the material.” Waterways — and then Terry was very active in for some years it had to setting up ‘The Gallery’ in take a back seat. Pewsey. But not completely, and This community owned and he continued to be a managed gallery is a showcase for regular contributor to The local artists and his clocks and Butty, and other canal paintings are regularly magazines. exhibited there. Now every minute he can spare, he is to be Pictures by Bob Naylor found in his garden

Pastels of Wiltshire skies

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Canals for kids

Terry Kemp

The Magpie

Annie and Kenny’s Canal Tales Lenny the Lock cracks a smile

The noisy chattering in the trees as you walk the towpath could be a pair of Magpies. With their black and white feathers and very long tail they are very distinctive. In China they are a symbol of good luck.

The Mousehole Boat Company

I told you we took the wrong turn!

ROWAN

enny the Lock is not a happy lock — he could often be heard grumbling and moaning, “What use am I? My timbers creak, my joints wobble, my paintwork is flaky and I find it hard to move.” His friends along the waterway were very upset about his unhappiness and felt that they should try to cheer him up. Maurice the Moorhen and Norman the Narrowboat met one day to and tried to make Lenny smile. First they told a joke or two but either the jokes were not funny or they told them wrong. Next they thought that they could put on a comedy show with Norman the Narrowboat wiggling his way along the water — but this was not really funny. Maurice the Moorhen then decided that perhaps the best way to make Lenny smile would be to tell him how important he was, for indeed he was important. He was the reason boats could go up and down the canal — without a lock this could not happen. These facts did the trick and Lenny ‘puffed up’ his planks, cracked a smile and waited proudly for the next boat to come along.

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Butty

No.184 Autumn 2008

Reviews

Leonard Pearcey Non-technical book reviews

Elvis By Prudence Maltby Published by the Living River project 2008 ISBN 978 1 84754 044 7 38 pages. £4.99 soft cover

Narrow Dog to Indian River By Terry Darlington Published in 2008 by Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers ISBN 978 0 593056 91 2 354 pages. £14.99 hard cover

ne of the joys of doing these reviews is never quite knowing what The Editor will send me next. ‘Elvis’ is completely different from anything else I’ve reviewed for you, and it’s a real joy. Let me explain right away that Elvis is an egret and the book is 11” by 8”, wonderfully illustrated and with very few words on each page, which in theory makes it I suppose a children’s book. So OK, I’m a child at heart, because I loved it. The publishers aim ‘to increase awareness and appreciation of the River Avon and its tributaries with a focus on how the special wildlife of the river has developed alongside the history of the area’. By the way in which she introduces us to Elvis’s eccentric family and the swallows, swifts and swans, water voles, coot and pike, Prudence Maltby delicately and delightfully fulfils the aims of the Living River project.

n his last reviews on these pages our predecessor included ‘Narrow Dog to Carcassonne’: this is the follow-up in which our hero plus wife, with whippet Jim once again bearing them company, take their narrowboat on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Virginia to Florida. No one has sailed an English narrowboat in the US before, and they soon find out why – talk about restless waves. Their adventures are exciting and hilarious (I laughed out loud many times), but from time to time when he stops being funny the author writes beautifully descriptive passages. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read. It is attractively illustrated and even includes details of the quotations and references that abound in the text (for this review – my italics that would be Alexander Pope – Essay and W. Whiting – Hymn). AND they meet egrets.

Tim Wheeldon Technical book reviews

The Incomplete Angler By Robin Shelton First Published in 2008 by Sidgwick & Jackson ISBN 978 0 283 07053 2 274 page. £12.99 hard cover e reviewing a book about angling is – well, like Gordon Brown reviewing a book about motor cars (he doesn’t, and hasn’t ever, driven). Like Manuel, “I know nuffing”. So what do I say? Well, for a start it’s a funny book. Yes, angling isn’t usually a subject that has one rolling in the aisles but the author is a funny writer (“wit and warmth” the blurb describes it). But it is also crude, coarse and even blasphemous. So, if you’re an angler who has led a sheltered life, or even a non-angler who prefers genteel language, it ain’t for you. I learnt a bit – just a bit – about fishing from it – I can’t actually remember what that something was: oh yes, all salmon have an “adipose” fin. Most useful. This book is mostly about sea angling; there’s not much about the sort of fishing done on the K&A – coarse fishing (except the language referred to above) – and to give him his due the author is keen on eating his prey which, to me, is the only reason for catching them. There are a number of droll fish recipes, eg: “fry them until they look like Roger Moore’s skin”.

Home Afloat — Living Aboard Vessels of all Shapes and Sizes By Gary Cookson. Published by Adlard Coles Nautical 2008 price £19.99 ISBN 978-0-7136-8877-1 128 pages £19.99 hard cover any of us have a deepdown hankering to live aboard a boat, but the majority of us know its pitfalls and are wary of falling into the trap of not being able to do it properly. There are those, however, who have been able to live afloat without the limitations which bind most of us: it is some of them who are featured in Gary Cookson’s handsome book. The live-aboard concepts here are indeed wonderful and the book displays the boats of people who live in vessels which are a cut above most of those we see daily on the K&A. A feast of great photos covering worldwide craft from narrow boats to whacking great Continental barges — from tugs (inland and sea-going) to luxurious yachts (definitely sea-going). There are also a number of “Houseboats” which are more house than boat. The history of each boat and its owners brings to life the circumstances which enabled these fortunate people to meet their dreams in reality. Read this book in bed and you will drift off into a world of floating perfection. “A treasure trove of inspiring ideas…” says the dust sheet. I’d say a cornucopia of fantasies.

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No.184 Autumn 2008

Making a difference by John Kirby — Director of Marketing and Membership

Peter Lindley Jones Lock

Avon Vale 100 Club draw he first draw took place at Trust HQ at the beginning of August. Draw master Pete Jordon made the draw and the first prize went to Rod

towpath side of the canal in conjunction with BW staff. Also the Avon Vale will help to raise the profile of the Trust as it will be seen at various location along the full length of the canal whilst engaged on its many projects. If you would like to get involved in this exciting project, please give John Kirby a call on 07748 873280.

Volunteering with the Trust

Email addresses

Talks are under way with the British Waterways volunteer coordinator for the South West to find the best way forward to ensure that the Avon Vale restoration plan is carried out in order to maximise its full potential when completed. It is planned this boat will be used by Trust volunteers to carry out work on the non-

I would like to thank all the members who sent in their email addresses well done. But there are still some of you out there who are playing shy so come on and email to: administrator@katrust.org.uk. and put your Name, Membership number and Branch (which is on your membership card) in the subject line and send it.

K&A Canal Christmas cards, calenders and gift vouchers A working boat at Dundas

fter a break of a couple of years K&A Canal Trust calendars and Christmas cards will be available again this year. The calender has current pictures of the canal with pictures of the same scenes before restoration — this demonstrates very graphically the fact that we really are making a difference. There are also Christmas cards with K&A Canal scenes. And you can still buy the popular membership gift vouchers — so you can give friends and family a wonderful present of membership of the Trust — which will give them free entry to the Trust’s museum and the two pumping stations — and they will get copies of The Butty posted to them when they are published.

Caen Hill

Christmas Cards Newbury Lock

Cards (mixed or one design): £2.99 for six at the shops or £3.50 inc p+p by mail order Calendars: £3.99 in the shops or £4.50 inc p+p by mail order Membership vouchers: see rates on page 23 To order ring 01380 729489 or go to www.katrust.org.uk

Pictrue by Elaine Kirby

e had a splendid day at the dedication of the Lock on Caen Hill to Peter Lindley Jones — K&A Canal enthusiast, inspriational fundraiser and author. Ian Jarvis, BW South West Manager paid tribute to Peter who he said that Peter’s book had been his reference when he took over management in the southwest and needed to find out about the K&A — Peter’s book prepared him for the job he was taking on.

Hannah, second prize to David Bartlett a long standing member of the Trust who volunteers in the Devizes shop. Remember all you have to do is fill in the application form sent to you in the last Butty, or call in to one of the Trust outlets to collect a application form to win up to £100 first prize and £50 second prize each month, it’s that easy.

Peter Jordon draws the first winners of the Avon Vale 100 Club

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Reading David Copley 0118 9598247 e are moving — Reading Branch winter meetings will now be held in the Downshire Room, All Saints Church Hall, Downshire Square, Reading. This venue is much easier to reach, being just off the Bath Road (A4) about half a mile from the town centre and close to bus routes 25, 26, 102 and 143. Sat-nav users should aim for RG1 6NP (nearby). Meetings take place at 8 pm, usually on the last Friday of the month. Please see the “What’s on” section for dates. Additional details of speakers will be shown on the Trust website as soon as they are available.

Waterfest success We had a very successful Waterfest on 21st June. The morning weather could have been a little kinder but by afternoon the site was full of people enjoying themselves and spending money. My thanks go to all branch members and friends who worked hard to make around £1,000 for the Trust, whilst I did little more than accompany the mayoral party around the site. Special congratulations to the two Grahams on the membership stand for enrolling a new life member.

No.184 Autumn 2008

Boat numbers were very slightly down on last year, although a couple of last minute additions helped ensure that this was hardly noticeable to the public. We would welcome some new faces (and new tillers) at next year’s event which will again be on a Saturday in June. Watch the website for the exact date.

New housing development For some time the Branch has been concerned at proposals by Prudential to construct 7,000 new houses (yes! seven thousand) plus associated schools, shops etc. adjacent to the canal near Burghfield Bridge, threatening loss of the current open aspects from the canal and towpath over the water meadows. We were highly concerned last spring when a late addition to an official South East Area planning document identified Burghfield as suitable for a large development. We are therefore extremely pleased and relieved that, following publication of a critical report from the Environment Agency highlighting the flood risks of the site, supporting pressure from Defra and concerted opposition by the three local Councils involved, local politicians and many interest groups, including the Trust, the Government has rejected Burghfield as a suitable development site and requires its removal from the South East Plan. This does not stop any developer from proposing a similar or smaller development at Burghfield but the strength

and effectiveness of local and now national opposition will make approval much more difficult. This decision also shows the value of Branch participation (along with our Newbury Branch colleagues) in liaison meetings with riparian local authorities and the Environment Agency which lack the appeal of active restoration but are a vital part of safeguarding our canal.

More planning This time a proposed development of a waste transfer station and composting plant close to the canal at Padworth. This may not be as bad as it at first sounds. The site is already industrial, albeit mostly disused, and the section by the canal is currently tatty. The planning application (almost 1,000 pages of supporting documents!) acknowledges the need to minimise the impact on the canal and includes proposals

for landscaping, screening and tree preservation. Several concerns remain, but we hope to resolve these in discussion with West Berkshire Council and their contractor, who is also the site developer.

Gatekeeper Proposal Branch members are very concerned at the BW proposal to impose a “gatekeeper” at the eastern end of the canal (Summer 2008 Butty 183, page 16) and restrict opening hours. We believe that this will have an adverse effect on local and visiting boats and hope that BW will drop this plan in the light of consultation responses.

... and finally We look forward to seeing Trust members and visitors at one of our winter meetings in our new venue at the Downshire Room.

Mike Price MABSE Approved Independent Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01225 703747 Mobile: 07736 837968 Email: mpboatsafety@aol.com

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

No.184 Autumn 2008

courtesy of Reading Marine, proved very popular.

Newbury Julie Dean 01962 883939 he Newbury Waterways Festival took place over what may yet prove to be the hottest weekend of the year.

Full house for festival This year’s event was very popular, with all places taken for boats, stalls and the Saturday night barbecue. A warm summers evening, dancing to the ever popular ‘Trends’ after a delicious meal prepared by Adrian and Nikki Softley and the Devizes team was about as good as it gets. Sunday brought the crowds out and made our ice cream sellers very happy. The heat meant that demand for burgers was down a little but visits to our hire boat,

Wind in the Willows There were imaginative interpretations of our ‘Wind in the Willows theme’ with the best dressed boat award going to ‘Travellers Joy’ and Maureen Bish for her wonderful knitted riverbank characters. Good promotional support from Borders Bookshop helped bring the theme alive, with an excellent puppet show entertaining our youngest visitors. Overall the Festival was a great success and proved to be a Trust wide event with hard work from the Devizes crowd as well as David Copley from Reading. Special thanks are due to Graham Smith our site manager, John Arthurs our harbourmaster, and Val Arthurs our volunteer coordinator, and all of her army of boaters, . volunteers and other helpers

Winter talk season Our new season of illustrated talks will start again on 24th September. The talks proved so popular last year that we are currently investigating an alternative venue as space at the Stone Building is limited. The first three talks of the season will definitely be 24th September, 29th October and 26th November but you may like to check on the Trust website or call the Stone Building in advance on 01635 522609 to check on the venue. The time will be the same – 7.45pm. We look forward to seeing you.

Trip aboard the Rose The Branch had an enjoyable trip on the ’Rose of Hungerford’ in June and members had the opportunity to relax and enjoy each others’ company on a

beautiful evening on our beautiful canal. We were very happy to be able to send the result of a generous collection from members to Hungerford Branch.

Tracey moves to Aldermaston Changes are afoot at the Stone Building. Our shop manager Tracy Perryman will soon be leaving us to move to Aldermaston to take the position of shop manager there. It is a big change for Tracy and for Newbury and we wish her the very best of luck in her new post. Tracy will also stand down as a Branch committee member where she has served as Branch Chairman for several years. Rob Dean has agreed to take over as Chairman. Good luck Tracy!

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446 ell, we have had quite an eventful season and held our own pretty well, in these times of economic slowdown, recession or what ever buzz words the government chooses to use for these difficult times.

On course for bumper year Both passenger numbers on the public trips and the tally of charters compare well with last year and with still a couple of months of the season to run we are very optimistic of a bumper year. It is pleasing to see there is an increase in evening charters this year, especially as this is the one category that has been in decline in recent years. I just hope the Santa trips maintain their usual record of success this year and the early signs are very promising.

Rose celebrates 25 years June saw the celebration cruise on the ‘Rose’ to commemorate 25 years of tripping on our section of the canal. Amongst others, several local dignitaries accepted our invitations as did some of our captains, a few branch members, the Butty supremos and, most important of all, the

No.184 Autumn 2008

President of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Sir Anthony Durant. The proceedings were opened with a welcoming address by our branch chairman, Andrew Sawyer and following a finger buffet the Celebration Cake, expertly baked by Maureen Burlow, was cut by Sir Anthony as he made his speech. Unfortunately, members of the Trust Council and British Waterways representatives were unable to attend.

Sanitary Station improvements I was delighted to find that the door and its frame at the ‘insanitary’ station has been repaired, it resembles Fort Knox now which is no bad thing; it only remains for BW to attend to the excruciating lack of pressure at the water point there and we will all be happy.

Crewing opportunities on The Rose I once again put out my regular plea for more volunteers to help with the rewarding task of crewing on the ‘Rose’. We are so short of captains at certain times that we are in real danger of having to turn charters away. If you think you can help, just contact one of the committee and you can be sure of an enthusiastic welcome.

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

Scouts sleep-over on The Rose

he ‘Rose of Hungerford’ was the venue for 1st Hungerford Scouts ‘Giant Sleepover’ event, which was an attempt to break the world record for the greatest number of children simultaneously participating in a sleepover, organised by Save the Children. Although only 16 youngsters slept aboard the ‘Rose’ the overall total well exceeded the 2006 record of 33,093 which was well and truly broken. Scout leader Danny Scroggins said, “The Scouts didn't know where we were sleeping until we actually went there on Saturday night.

“They just knew it was a 'secret location that none of them would have ever slept in before'. “So, of course, we endured hours and hours of incorrect guesses of where we might be sleeping, which gave me loads of free great ideas for next time — Nursery, St Lawrences, library, fire station, my car, my house, their house, school and Somerfields and many more”. After the sleepover the Scouts left the ‘Rose’ in pristine condition, so well done 1st Hungerford Scouts and their leaders, it was a pleasure to help you.

The Barge Inn Honeystreet Historic Canalside Inn

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Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties

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Crop circle venue with notice boards 31

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Crofton Ray Knowles 01672 851639 t’s nice to be able to start with the good news of a real Trust occasion. Dennis Munson and I, with our wives, attended the dedication of Lock No 36 on Caen Hill Flight to the memory of Peter Lindley-Jones who did so much to help with the revitalisation of this branch from 1991 onwards until he started work on his best seller, Restoring The Kennet & Avon Canal — available in all Trust shops. It is a comprehensive record of the restoration, a lot of which was taken from Peter’s first hand knowledge, and if you haven’t read it yet, it is high time that you did! It was a happy occasion with Peter’s widow Dorothy and both their daughters and their families — and as it was also Dorothy’s birthday we sang accordingly. John and Elaine Kirby had prepared the site complete with flag draped over the plaque, the BW lengthsmen had mown and trimmed the grass and Ian Jarvis, BW South West General Manager, who has been seconded to their central team for six months, came back to lead the proceedings. Most of the usual Trust suspects were there and a lot of old friends from the first half of the previous decade. As always, remembering the name to the face was the hard bit.

No.184 Autumn 2008

Sponsored steaming The July steaming was the first of our sponsored events when Roger and Ann Jackson invited 47 guests for VIP treatment on the Saturday. On the Sunday afternoon we met again some of the original restorers who had attended an exhibition of restoration work at Crofton 1968-70 at the June steaming, expertly put together by David Harris. Ethel Cranstone nee Ethel Giles, who wrote Crofton in the Twenties, visited us for our August steaming.

Balance beam handles Earlier in the year Nigel Hawkins and Harry Willis installed balance beam handles on all the locks from Great Bedwyn to the summit. This was part of the Trust’s volunteer programme

Rivet Appeal The rivet appeal is coming along nicely and we have sufficient confidence to have been able to place a formal order with Alan McEwen & Co in Keighley and they are scheduled to start work on 3rd November 2008.

Shop staff We are still short of staff to cover Wednesdays in the shop and café. We need 2 people to run the station from 09.30 to 17.30. It doesn’t have to be every Wednesday, as if we can

Claverton and Bath Chairman, Pete Dunn, right, hands over the cast number from Crofton Lock to Crofton Chairman, Harry Willis. It was one of a number of castings rescued from rotten balance by Claverton Branch members in the 1960s — along with Somerset Coal Canal mile posts that are now on display in Brassknocker Basin.

get enough pairs it could only be once a month, or it could be run on a morning and afternoon shift basis — have a word with Maxine.

Steam Gala Plans for the steam gala on the last steaming weekend of the season 27th & 28th September are going well and I hope that you will be reading this in time to get along and see us and all the other attractions.

Unexpected coal delivery On Monday 14th July I nearly had 20 tons of coal delivered to my house! Before we had full-time wardens I used to handle the paper work from home to make sure the coal was actually delivered on a Tuesday when the group were there. But now we have full-time working wardens at Crofton this

has not been necessary for at least 5 years. We sent out the order showing Invoice and delivery addresses to be Crofton but someone did not read this and obviously looked up their “little black book”! Nigel at Crofton got a phone call at about 4.30pm from a worried driver running out of hours at Alton Barnes and unable to see any sign of the pumping station. Thirteen miles and one hour later the coal was in our yard and the driver was taking a onehour rest.

Winter work Full details of the Winter work programme will be in the next edition, but don’t wait for that, just come and join us on any Tuesday between 09.30 and 16.30 or at any time in between these hours – lunch is normally from 12.30 to 13.30.

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Devizes Adrian Softley 07899 844929 he ‘Avon Vale’ is progressing and is at the stage where she is ready for lifting out of the water. British Waterways have kindly offered their help and a fenced area will be set up around the boat while she is surveyed, cleaned and painted. Support for the workboat is gathering pace and we are

West Wilts Gill Milner 0800 1214679 would like to start this report by making it clear that this is a joint effort by Eric Doel and myself. Our garden continues to receive favourable comments. Paul and Rose Harris took over from Harry Andrews and they had a hard act to follow. They carried on in Harry’s footsteps with success in “Bradford on Avon in Bloom” in which they won two first prizes. Winning “Best Enhancement of a public space by a business” and “Best enhancement of a public space by individuals” — shows how well they have succeeded. But if you are camera shy, then do not dwell too long in the garden. Paul’s other hobby is photography and you are liable to receive a gratis A4 colour photo of your visit. We must also thank Eric Doel for his hedge trimming efforts — this, as any gardener knows, is hard work. Christine Poulter must also be thanked for keeping the grass cut and our thanks also to Pauline Candy for stepping in as shop Manager at short notice. Everything is going well with the ‘Barbara Mac’ at the moment, however we did experience some problems at the onset of the season. At the end of June she blew her fuel pump. Fortunately this was at the end of a trip and the problem

No.184 Autumn 2008

looking forward to seeing her at work in 2009. Pete Jordan has overseen the first 100 club draw — find the results on page 28.

Newbury Water Festival Newbury Waterways Festival was once again a great success with the Devizes Branch volunteers raising almost £700 over the weekend from catering for the boater’s barbecue and burger stall. The wonderful weather brought the crowds, but had an was noticed whilst waiting to enter the lock — spraying the engine room walls and depositing a large quantity of diesel on the floor. Thankfully only one trip had to be cancelled, although with the prospect of cancelled trips the team of Colin Dawes, ‘Steamboat Roger’ and Trevor Ward set to work and did a wonderful clean-up job and replaced the fuel pump in only a few days. Just think of the smell and the mess in a confined space! As the ‘Barbara Mac’ gets older the occasional hic-ups must be expected. We have experienced some problems with crewing and finding skippers. Given that the volunteers’ list has become depleted due to retirements, illness and so on this was hardly surprising. We also have skippers in farflung places – Reading, Tiverton and Sherborne – and their involvement and commitment obviously takes some planning ahead. At one time we were so short of volunteers for an evening charter that on two occasions passengers from our public trips had so much enjoyment they became honorary trainee volunteers. They were holidaying in the Bradford on Avon area. They took home with them to Birmingham and Glasgow some unusual memories of the vacations. Fortunately as the season progressed with the better weather of July and August together with the appearance of new volunteers the problem has

impact on the number of burgers bought – it was much more of an ice-cream event! But nevertheless we were steadily busy and I must give many thanks to the team who helped me namely my wife Nikki, Sally, Mark, Natalie, Roger, Paul, Kim, Eric, Jude, John, Ian, Cheryl, Carol, Mel, Kay, Gordon, Colin, Sandra, Dave, Jill, Ray, Carol, Phil, Jean and Jim. What a super weekend with an excellent turnout of boats — and, with the weather we’ve had since, it could be said that the Newbury Waterways Festival

lasted the ‘whole summer‘. It certainly feels as though it did!

Autumn events Our Autumn series of talks and events are listed in the What’s On column on page 38. Do come along — and if you’ve not been to one of our events before we’ll make sure you have a great time. We are still short of a treasurer and secretary. Is there anybody out there? We need your help!

Gardening success

Bradford on Avon in Bloom success for Trust Tea Room gardeners Paul and Rose Harris

eased. Or was this due to the phoning round by crew managers who volunteered on a weekly basis in the absence of a full-time crew manager? Grant and myself, after 5 years as booking managers for the ‘Barbara McLellen’ have decided to resign from 31st December 2008 so we desperately need someone to take our place. If you can help please ring 0800 121 4679. In addition, we also need a crew manager and chairman. If any of these opportunities appeal to you our committee will be pleased to hear from you and will be pleased to assist in any way we can. Our Special trips continue to be highly successful, our cream teas were sold out at the beginning of May, but who was to provide these cream teas? Fortunately our thanks must once again go to Wendy Olver, Linda Daws and Joan Maciver for stepping in and producing delicious scones. Although Trevor and

Marigold have suffered ill health recently which has prevented them from volunteering, hheir canal and Trust interest remains and we have recently been pleased to see them on the wharf and particularly on the seat by the lock. Ron and Ivy are two of our older and more active volunteers and despite some creaking joints continue to be an inspiration and encouragement to those of us of more tender years. Finally, Christmas is coming and with it our Santa Trips. Whilst they are a pleasure for our passengers, crew and Santas, they do take some organising, particularly buying and wrapping the presents. Can you help with the latter? If so speak with Wendy Olver on 01225 432489. She has organised this for many years and is now standing down, she will be happy to advise how to go about this task. If no-one comes forward to help we will have to cancel these trips.

the

Butty BRANCH REPORTS Claverton, Bath & Bristol Pete Dunn 01761 432811 s this is the Autumn Butty the trip boat season will be coming to an end shortly but at the time of writing I can only predict the end if year results. However from this distance the number of charters are looking good so we can look forward to a good end of year set of results.

Winter maintenace Our attention now will be focused on the coming winter maintenance, which will have been planned and budgeted during September.

The Jubilee The new committee under the chairmanship of Rob Slade are working well together and plans

No.184 Autumn 2008

are in place for her to be dry docked for inspection and the painting of the underwater areas of the hull.

Flooding at Claverton At Claverton the poor summer weather has taken its toll with flooding again in early July, but as usual the team cleaned the place out afterwards and were ready to run on the following Sunday.

But don’t all rush down — we will not do it again until next spring.

Burbage Crane The Burbage Crane reconstruction is still progressing well. I am impressed with the team’s excellent work cutting and preparing the very large mortise and tenon joints in the oak timbers.

Pond drained In June the pond was drained to puddle a leak near the bypass sluice. The clay was supplied by British Waterways and we undertook the heavy job of puddleling it in on their behalf. While the pond was empty we took the opportunity to clear some of the build-up of silt in the bottom, some of our members derive a strange pleasure in this task. To understand this I think you have to try it for yourself.

Clearing silt from the pond

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

www.devizesmarina.co.uk 34

Burbage crane model — made by Allan Henham

Barbeque The branch barbeque went ahead in some very dodgy weather although the rain just about held off for an hour or two and the hardy members that turned up did manage to cook and eat their food outside.

Picture by Robert Coles

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Butty

No.184 Autumn 2008

Safety matters by Ben Woodman

Duty of Care n eleven year old boy was recently badly injured in an accident on a bouncy castle at a private party; the parents of the injured child successfully sued the parents holding the party and were awarded damages which could amount to more than £1m. Does this mean that we can be held responsible for any injuries that might happen to our guests and visitors? The case caused a lot of comment in the press at the time and resulted in lots of worried home owners; lets take a closer look at the details. The injury happened when a 15 year old tried to somersault on the bouncy castle and accidentally kicked the 11 year old in the head. The castle was under supervision at the time by the mother hosting the party.

The bouncy castle supplier is said to have warned customers that children using it should always be supervised, and that older children should not be on the castle at the same time as younger ones. The judge held that the level of supervision was inadequate,

It all comes down to the ‘Occupiers Duty of Care’. An ‘Occupier’, (the owner of premises, and/or person in charge of proceedings), has a ‘Common Duty of Care’ to all visitors. In fact this generally only extends to those matters under

... at home or away, the safety of visiting children is dependent on supervision, this ruling shows that the supervision has to be ‘Absolute’. because no-one intervened to stop the somersaulting and because an older boy was allowed on the bouncy castle at the same time as younger children.

the ‘Occupiers’ control, but the law expects that in exercising that duty of care, he or she ‘Must be prepared for children to be less careful than adults’. The judge held that the duty

of care in this case was ‘Absolute’, in other words the supervision had to be continuous and effective. Where does that leave us? If a window cleaner or carpet fitter has an accident at your home is it your fault? Well, no. That is so long as you haven’t left any unexpected or hidden hazards in their way. If however in any circumstance or situation, at home or away, the safety of visiting children is dependent on supervision, this ruling shows that the supervision has to be ‘Absolute’. The Occupier has that duty and needs to be aware of it. We must never lose site of our special duty of care towards children, both in our homes and in our visitor centres and attractions.

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the

Butty Letters to the Editor

No.184 Autumn 2008

MEMORIES OF CHARLOTTE DUNDAS uring the spring of 1964, I joined the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. I had met Bob Shopland, who told me about its work. He gave me some of its most recent magazines, and he took my first subscription. I was teaching History in Hartcliffe then and I was mainly motivated at this time by the thought of getting teaching material about the history of the canal. I knew their objective was to restore the canal to navigation, but I was very doubtful whether this could be done. That autumn we all went on a fascinating cruise on the Kennet & Avon Canal from Bath top lock to Claverton Pumping station, which was reported in the local newspaper. We stopped for lunch at a

pub in Bathampton, and sadly Thomas, then age 2, left his favourite ‘Golliwog’ there. As they were really inseparable, we had to drive back the next weekend and were pleased to recover ‘Goggy’. The cruise was organised by Bob Shopland, who had persuaded me to join the Trust, and who was later to publish the excellent magazine, Waterways World. A newspaper report shows there were two boats in the convoy. We needed a convoy because this stretch had not been navigated for some time. Commander Wray-Bliss had devised a sort of paddle boat and it was in this that we went on an exciting afternoon cruise. This was, of course, the

HONEYSTREET CROSSING

stern. What a peaceful canal it was in those days! It was probably the late 1960s when the floating bridge was eventually removed, it certainly wasn’t there in my days working for BWB (starting in 1969). Of course the ‘Charlotte Dundas’ saw life after it’s days as a trip boat when it was converted to a pleasure boat with overnight accommodation by Trust member Richard Bull. In company with my cruiser ‘Dog Rose’ she was amongst the first boats to go from Devizes to Hungerford in August 1988 when the Crofton flight first re-opened (only to be closed again because the pounds leaked so much). Dave Cleaver Devizes

The Charlotte Dundas aground in the shallow water at Honeystreet

‘Charlotte Dundas’. The flag of the K&A Canal Trust has always fluttered on all our boats from the time we began boating ourselves in 1968. And in 1995 we were thrilled to be able to cruise directly

from our new home in Bollington all the way to Bath and Bristol. The Trust had achieved a great miracle of faith after all! Mark Stedman Cheshire

CANOEING ON THE K&A

Picture by Bob Naylor

was interested to see the article in the Summer edition of The Butty about the Honeystreet ferry. Particularly pleasing was the picture of the Charlotte Dundas in her role as trip boat for the K&A Trust. The ramp seen in the photograph was where the ‘floating bridge’ was located, possibly a replacement for any ferry that existed at the site. I can remember struggling to move said bridge — which didn’t float very often as the water level was too low — when one of only about two boats that were on the long pound wanted to pass. One boat was called ‘2-4-D’ after the (now banned) weed killer, I can’t remember the name of the other, but both were ex-WD pontoons with a paddle unit attached to the

The Charlotte Dundas is craned in at Devizes Wharf

Tony Rendell, right, meets up with Devizes to Westminster canoe race veteran Laurie Jones during a recent visit to Devizes from his home in South Africa

read with great interest the article on the sixtieth anniversary of the Devizes to Westminster canoe race. More particularly I read of the pioneering run of the four Devizes scouts. I am able to take the origin of the race a little further back. Another member of the troop was Peter Flower who came from Rowde and whose family, like mine, were builders. He and another boy who I only remember as Dennis built a canoe to a design called the British Scout Kayak in about 1945. Having seen it my friend John Newlands and I built a slightly smaller version and both boats were paddled and sailed extensively on the canal.

In 1946 or 47 the annual scout camp – THE great event in our year – was held at Limpley Stoke adjacent to the canal and both canoes were brought along. I think there may have been a third one by then. It was at that camp that canoeing gripped Devizes scouts and the pioneering trip grew out of that. When it took place I had started on my first voyage to sea in Clan Line so only heard about it later. I remember Peter Brown and send him best wishes. If memory serves me right our scoutmaster, Olly Brown, was his uncle. Tony Rendell South Africa

the

Butty Letters to the Editor

No.184 Autumn 2008

KINTBURY HORSE BOAT aving recently spent a few days in Kintbury, I was somewhat alarmed to see that British Waterways seem to be openly condoning bad practise when it comes to other people’s property. In the time I spent at Kintbury I had horse drawn boat staff running along the roof of my boat and in doing so dislodging vents and knocking poles off the boat into the water and these were not retrieved to be replaced. I then noticed the sign erected by BW (nailed to a tree) and indeed anything lost or damaged appears to be my problem. Can this really be allowed? Do we need to clear our roofs of everything, including hot chimneys and gas vents? Perhaps through your column

you can get an answer to these questions. It would appear that the usual practise is to pole the tow rope over moored boats safely, not for staff to run along our boats, damaging our property. I wonder who will be to blame should one of these fellows seriously injure himself whilst on our property? Surely one’s boat is private property not be trespassed on. Margaret Blake Salisbury

CALLING ALL BARNEY BOATS o you have a Barney Boat or know someone who has? We have a 35-foot Barney Boat moored at Pewsey, and we are looking to form a Barney Boat Owners Club. We would like anyone who has a Barney Boat or used to own a Barney Boat to contact us. Chris Barney built sixty boats at Braunston between 1976 and 1980. We are aware that approximately 40 of the 60

are still registered and have indeed seen many of them in our travels on the network. If you do presently own a Barney Boat and would like to register as a member of the club or you think you have information that may be useful please can you email us at: barneyboats@vodafoneemail.co.uk

— we would love to hear from you. Lynn & Mike Bassett nb Weasel

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 Editor, Di Harris 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 are on page 3.

Steve & Charlottte Butler of the Kennet Horse Boat Company respond he horse drawn barge has been operated by the Kennet Horse Boat Company at Kintbury since 1976. During this period the boat operating practice has not changed. Historically poles may or may not have been used to lift horse drawn barge ropes, however as one of the few remaining UK horse drawn barges it has never been our ‘usual practice’. We believe we operate in the safest manner by having our tow rope in the crewmember’s hand, which allows more control than a boat hook. The only other option available to us would be to employ an extra staff member which as a small family run business trying to keep an old canal tradition alive in the current economic climate is not financially viable. Our intention in working with British Waterways to have ‘the signs’ erected was purely to make those unfamiliar with the Kennet & Avon aware of our presence on this stretch of the canal and help them to work with us to the benefit of all.

It is our company policy to stop and retrieve, wherever safely possible, any items knocked into the water and we do our very best to notify moored boats at Kintbury when we will be passing. At all times the safety of our passengers, members of the public and our crew is of uppermost importance. We have been greatly saddened this season by a minority of boaters who appear to be intent on preventing us navigating this section of the Kennet & Avon. We would like to appeal for a return to the sense of community on our much loved canal — a benefit of years past which sadly appears to be diminishing in modern times. As a company we take great pride in bringing many visitors — young and old — to enjoy this wonderful waterway. For our older visitors it may be one of very few days out they get. We would ask for your support as we in turn support and work with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and British Waterways to keep this waterway alive and thriving.

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

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

Alternatively please telephone

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

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Butty

No.184 Autumn 2008

What’s On September September 13th Burghfield Island Boat Club Fun Day, 10.00am till late. Limited overnight moorings available by prior arrangement. Phone Vicky on 07703722102 for further details. Friday 26th Combe Opera. A fundraising evening of music, theatre, cabaret and dinner at Combe Manor. 7.00pm. Tickets are £46.00 each (including dinner). For more information phone the Trust office on 01380 721279 or email: administrator@katrust.org.uk Friday 26th Reading Branch. Curiosities in the Chilterns – Part 2, a talk by Alan Copeland. Downshire Room, All Saints Church Hall, Downshire Square, Reading. 8pm. NEW VENUE. Saturday 27th–Sunday 28th Crofton Steam Fair — bigger and better than last year with steam engines, vintage cars and motorcycles. Beer tent and refreshments and — of course — Crofton in steam.

October Devizes Branch. Lengthman’s Inspection. As in previous years we will be asking everyone to help provide a comprehensive report for BW on the state of the canal between Wootton Rivers and The Barge at Seend. Contact Adrian Softley on 07899 844929 for details. Tuesday 7th Bath & Bristol Branch. ‘Crossing Germany East to West by Boat’, a talk by Ron & Myra Glover. The Somerset Room, Salford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford. Tuesday 7th Canal Users forum Woolhampton Village Hall, Bath Road, Woolhampton, Reading RG7 5RE. All welcome. Agenda from Gail.WILKES@ britishwaterways.co.uk

November Devizes Branch. Skittles Challenge v Wilts & Berks. Contact Adrian Softley on 07899 844929 for details. Tuesday 4th Bath & Bristol Branch. ‘The Life & Times of a Thames Lock Keeper Today’, a talk by Peter Payne.The Somerset Room, Salford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford.

December Devizes Branch Carols at the Wharf. Contact Adrian Softley on 07899 844929 for details Tuesday 2nd Bath & Bristol Branch. A quiz with Christmas Refreshments. Entry £10.00 per team of four. The Somerset Room, Salford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford.

February 2009 Friday 27th Reading Branch The Thames from Oxford to Windsor shaping history through the centuries, a talk by Peter Halman. Downshire Room, All Saints Church Hall, Downshire Square, Reading. 8pm. NEW VENUE.

UNCLASSIFIED ADS Mike Price Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01225 703747 Mobile: 07736 837968 Moorings — long term and temporary, recreational rural moorings available at Ladies Bridge, nr Pewsey on the K&A Canal. Telephone 07743 926269 for further details. Fancy a weekend’s hard graft? The NWPG arranges monthly restoration trips to southern canals. Learn new skills – for free! Contact Graham Hawkes on 0118 941 0586 or email: grahamhawkes@btinternet.com

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

Eddie Belston 01225 873243 or mobile: 07795 550839 Wilderness Boats For repairs, refits and new and used craft. Call: 01666 577773 Buckby Can for sale — large (3 gallon) 12 years old, needs repainting £50 Tel: 01730 812230 Dorset B&B Explore the Dorset & Somerset Canal on Foot. We can offer Bed & Breakfast, a packed lunch, drop off at any point on the canal & collect when & where required. £80 a night for 2 people inclusive plus £60 for additional night. Contact Howard or Jane Smith www.barefootsorchard.co.uk 01749 814930 or 07831 738753 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 DEVON – Narrowboat Holiday/Breaks. Luxury 4/5 berth Narrowboat, 11 miles, lock free, along peaceful Grand Western Canal Country Park & Local Nature Reserve. Ideal beginners, wildlife/bird watching. Own mooring with lawn & car park, can combine cruising with days out in the West Country. 01884 252178 www.middevonhireboats.co.uk A collector’s model of your boat or cottage — or both — in a bottle. John Burden, 01672 563193. Guild Waterways Artists. Waterways Craft Guild – Master Holiday Mews to Let Central Bath, quiet location. Sleeps 4. All mod cons including dishwasher. Available throughout year. Owner continuously cruising. £25 donated to K&A Canal Trust for each booking. Contact Peter 07905 905333 Desmo 3-cycle carrier Never used. £12.00. Peter Robinson 01380 720910 Boat for sale 19ft Dawncraft Dandy 2-berth cruiser. Water heater and loo.

Moored Devizes. Ideal starter boat with new BSSC. Brian Poulton: 01793 731158 or 07776 196055 60' Narrowboat Professional Build & Fit Out by MCC, Ten years old. Full details: uk.geocities.com/peterj.waite @ btinternet.com/Home_Page.ht ml Tel: Peter Waite 0780 3233351 Windlass K&A style. Marked JHSG 3705. 12’’ throw for good leverage. £15.00. 01225 872706 Burghfield Island Boat Club is a self supporting club and is currently looking for new members to join the waiting list. Please phone Vicky on 07703722102 for further details Rowing/outboard motor boat Length 6ft, width 3 ft 8 ins. Very good condition. £250. 01454 311085, 07941 473696 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 Little used corner diesel bubble stove. In a narrowboat moored at Foxhangers Wharf, Devizes. £350. 01962 883379. Mr R Digweed Morso Squirrel solid fuel stove VGC with flue £200 07884 376413 Shetland Family Four, 1987 5.36/2.08mtr Mariner Bigfoot 25hp 4-stroke. Roller Coaster 3 trailer. Compass, navigation lights, NASA echo sounder, digital speed/distance log, two-way radio and Porta-Potti. £4,950. Inflateable dingy, new Zodiac Light Roller C-260LR in travel bag. Extras include reconditioned 4hp Evinrude 2stroke outboard, oars, £925. Tel: 01380 8072910

Unclassified ads are free for members of The K&A Canal Trust for up to 30 words — subject to available space

Trip Boats

‘Rose of Hungerford’ A wide-beam boat seating 50 operating from just off Hungerford High Street. Public trips: • Every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter until October – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday from June until September – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday during July and August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Every Sunday during August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Special Santa Trips at Christmas Charter trips available for all your special occasions Wheelchair/disabled access Booking Manager: 0800 121 4674

Visit the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s attractions Claverton

Cafés & shops

Bradford on Avon Wharf shop & café Tel: 01225 868683

Pumping Station Claverton Pumping Station is a waterwheel powered beam engine built in 1813 to raise water from the river Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal. It has been restored by volunteers and is now open to the public.

Claverton is five miles south of Bath off the A36 Warminster Road, 400 yards down Ferry Lane across the uncontrolled level crossing. The pump is approximately 25 minutes walk from Dundas Aqueduct. Free admission for children under 16 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Devizes Wharf museum & shop Tel: 01380 729489

Open days 2008 Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday until October 25th Opening times: Wednesdays 10am – 4pm, other days 10am – 5pm

Running days September 14th & 28th, October 19th

Phone: 01225 483001 Email: enquiries@claverton.org

‘Barbara McLellan’ 65ft wide-beam boat seating 51 operating from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage Public trips: • Every Wed, Sat, Sun and Public Holidays from Apr to Oct - 2.30 pm, 1? hr to Avoncliff and return. • Easter and every Sat and Sun from May to Sep - 11.30 am, 1? hr to Meadows Bridge and return. • Every Sun from end-May to mid-Sep 4.30 pm, 1 hr to Widbrook and return. • Special Trips including Cream Teas, Bath, Autumn Tints. Christmas Santa Trips Wheelchair/disabled access Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day.

Booking Manager: 0800 121 4679

Crofton

Crofton Pumping Station shop & café Tel: 01672 870300

Beam Engines 1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler. Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting From Marlborough, either take the A346 to Burbage and then follow the brown 'Beam Engines' sign, or take the A4 towards Hungerford, turn right, 'Beam Engines' sign before Froxfield, and continue to follow the brown signs, through Great Bedwyn, to the pumping station. From Hungerford, take the A338 towards Salisbury, turn right at Shalbourne following the signs to Great Bedwyn, then follow the brown signs. From Salisbury, follow the signs to Hungerford on the A338, then turn left at East Grafton and follow the brown signs.

Newbury Wharf shop & café Tel: 01635 522609

Open days Open daily 10.30am to 5pm until — September 28th 2008

Steaming days September 27, 28 (steam gala weekend)

Phone: 01672 870300

‘Jubilee’ A 30 seat converted traditional narrowboat operating from Brassknocker Basin, opposite Viaduct Inn, Limpley Stoke on the A36 East of Bath Public trips: • From March 23 to October 26 Sundays and Bank Holidays 12.00 – 2.00pm Cruise to Claverton and return 2.30pm – 5.45pm Cruise to Avoncliff stopping for 30 minutes and return Charter trips Booking Manager: 0800 121 4682

All boats have a licensed bar and refreshments are available. There is a public address system or you can use your own sound system.

Museum

Devizes Wharf The museum is housed in the historic bonded wharehouse on Devizes Wharf. Its exhibits chronicle the rise and fall of the canal as a commercial waterway and its subsequent restoration by volunteers.

Opening times: 10am — 5pm, 7days a week

General enquiries: 01380 721279

Website: katrust.org.uk

Aldermaston visitor centre, shop & café Tel: 01189 712868

al e r a y o j En t! a e r t y l i fam

Puppets at Caen Hill Café

A collection for the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust ‘K&A 200’ fund will be taken after each show.

The Locks, Caen Hill, Devizes, SN10 1HB Wednesday 29th October

Back, by popular demand, Stephen Novy’s amazing Pekko’s Puppets. A fantastic selection of traditional tales from around the world guaranteed to entertain Grannies, Grandads, Mums, Dads and even some children. Starting with the cute and cuddly the stories build to a crescendo of deception, murder and gore as the shows progress throughout the day. This is absolute ‘must see’ half term fun. Please bring macs and brollies if wet. 10.30am

Goldflower and the Bear ages 3 – 8 (40 minutes)

01.00pm

Red Riding Hood ages 3 – 8 (25 minutes)

11.45am

2.15pm

3.45pm

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf ages 4 – 9 (55 minutes)

Julius Caesar ages 6 – 11 (55 minutes)

Down with Dracula ages 6 – 11 (55 minutes)

In partnership with the Caen Hill Café

A range of delicious home-made cakes, scrumptious savoury dishes and yummy ice-creams will be served at the café throughout the day.

For more information

Please call 01452 318000 or visit www.waterscape.com