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No. 172 Autumn 2005 ÂŁ2.00
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Butty The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal
The origin of the Kennet Barge Canal du Nivernais cruise and rally reports Newbury Water Fest picture feature Working to protect, to enhance and to promote The Kennet & Avon Canal
Newbury Boat Company Moorings Permanent non-residential and temporary cruising moorings with good security at three sites in Newbury all within walking distance of the town. Resident staff at all sites. Tel: 01635 42884 email: newburyboatco@dial.pipex.com The river at Lock Cottage moorings
All-Aboard Marine Services Dry Dock/Repairs and Maintenance for hull blacking, welding, anode replacement, surveys and hull maintenance.
Also available for DIY All types of boat repairs and maintenance including Boat Safety Examinations
Tel: Paul Hutley — 01635 37606 email: paul@aamarine.co.uk Ham Manor Basin from the river
Greenham Canal Services At Greenham Island
Between Greenham Lock and Newbury Lock Boat Services/Chandlery, Diesel, Pumpout, Calor Gas, Coal etc. Souvenirs and ice cream
Tel: Val or Peter Taylor — 01635 37672 email: val@canal-services.com Greenham Island
Newbury Boat Company Greenham Lock Cottage, Ampere Road, Newbury, RG14 5SN 2
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Butty The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal
contents
Cover photograph: Hotel boats at Wootton Rivers Picture by Bob Naylor
No. 172 Autumn 2005
The Trust and its aims The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has three separate but complementary objectives: • To protect the newly restored Canal from neglect, abuse and inappropriate developments. • To enhance the Canal, either by the direct application of Trust funds or, more likely, to unlock larger amounts through matched funding. • To promote the Canal as a magnificent national amenity that is freely available for the enjoyment of all. It was The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (through its predecessor organisations) that fought successfully to save the Canal from formal abandonment in the mid1950s. Through physical effort, innovative fund-raising and persistent political pressure, the Trust led the campaign that resulted in the Canal’s re-opening for through navigation in 1990 and the subsequent £30 million restoration project from 1996 to 2003. The Canal’s infrastructure is now in a condition that will support sustained operations for many decades ahead. The Trust’s membership reflects the wide range of leisure activities – boating, walking, cycling, fishing, pursuit of wildlife and heritage interests – that the public can enjoy along the length of the 87 miles of Canal. Together, we are “The Friends of the Kennet and Avon”. The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf Couch Lane Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 01380 721279 01380 727870 (fax) www.katrust.org President Sir Anthony Durant Vice Presidents Sir William Benyon Peter Collins Donald Collinson Michael Corfield The Rt. Hon. The Earl Jellicoe Michael Goodenough David Lamb Admiral Sir William O'Brien Philip Ogden Brian Oram Sir Frank Price Prunella Scales Sir John Smith Timothy West Chairman Brian Poulton Company Secretary Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Administrator Mo Crossley e-mail: administrator@katrust.org.uk Hon. Treasurer John Heffer Hon. Civil Engineer Michael Lee Museum Curator Warren Berry
Trust Council David Copley Michael Davis Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Graeme Dewhirst Peter Dunn Jane Elwell Bill Fisher John Forbes Malcolm Grubb Clive Hackford John Heffer Roger Hollands John Kirby Ray Knowles Michael Lee John Maciver Brian Poulton Editor Di Harris Pear Tree Studio High Street Urchfont Devizes SN10 4QH 01380 840584 01380 840954 (fax) 07711 367124 di@thebutty.co.uk
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.
Printers BAS Printers 115 Tollgate Rd Salisbury Wilts SP1 2JG 01722 411711
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.
Editorial Design & layout Bob Naylor 07788 134901 bob@thebutty.co.uk
Copy dealine for The Butty No. 173, Winter 2005 Tuesday 18th October
For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor
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6 pages of K&A news
14
The Kennet Barge Warren Berry looks at its origin
19
Wey & Arun Canal
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Canal du Nivernais cruise and rally
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Butterflies — a recognition guide
24
Walking from Wilcot
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ACE past and future
28
Newbury Water Fest
29
Early water events
Plus regular features and club news 4 Chairman’s report, 9 Paddle gearing update, 11 Marketing report, 12 BW update with Eliza Botham, 13 Comings and goings, 15 Museum report 16 Cotswold Canal news, 18 What’s new on the Wilts & Berks, 22 International visitors, 30 Branch reports, 35 Letters to the Editor, 36 Reviews, 37 Page for younger readers, 38 What’s on, 39 Crossword, Unclassified ads 3
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Chairman’s Report Brian Poulton y the time this edition emerges from the printers, the children will be back at school, the extended cruisers will be heading back to their winter moorings, and the evenings will be noticeably shorter. I hope you all had a splendid Summer.
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Congratulations, John Trust Treasurer John Heffer was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his work with the Aster property group. We offer him many congratulations. I hasten to add that, in many people’s opinion, he deserves to be knighted for his work in the voluntary sector, not least for remaining in post as Trust Treasurer some 3 years after asking to stand down. Is there anyone out there who would be interested in replacing John as Trust Treasurer? If so, do get in touch. John Heffer MBE deserves a break.
Two Magnificent Festivals For certain of our members at the Eastern end, it has been a very busy Summer. At the end of June, our Reading Branch again joined with Reading Borough Council to run another highly successful Water Fest behind the Abbey Gardens. Dozens of decorated boats were moored up alongside Chestnut Walk and Riverside Walk, and the public were able to enjoy all the fun of the fair as well as boat trips on our ‘Rose of Hungerford’. Our congratulations and thanks go to Mike Wyatt and his colleagues from the Reading Branch and to all the boaters who made the effort to attend. John Kirby and Sue Attwood did well on the Trust stand, signing up 10 new members. We bid them welcome! At the end of July it was Newbury’s turn. The 7th Newbury Waterways Festival was again organised solely by
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a small sub-committee within the Newbury Branch and the event was a resounding success. Boats were 4-deep alongside Victoria Park and over 50 stalls and displays did a roaring trade within the park. Enormous credit must go to Tracy Perryman, the Festival Manager. It was the first time that Tracy, who is Shop Manager at the Trust’s shop and tea room on Newbury Wharf, had ever organised such a large and diverse event, and we congratulate and thank her most sincerely. As someone who organised the 1992 Devizes Canalfest, I know how much hard work goes into these events! Well done, Tracy, and thank you.
Looking ahead to Winter The major issues ahead of us are not new. High on the list is the renewal of the lease on the Canal Centre building at Devizes. We hope that Kennet District Council will recognise the role of the Trust in bringing a vibrant waterway back to Devizes and Pewsey Vale. Work continues on the new website; unfortunately, we lost the initial impetus but most of the Branch contributions are now in and we should be able to go ‘live’ this Autumn. We still await the confirmation of ‘Cruiseway’ status for the canal; the HLF have signed the project off, content that BW are doing all that is necessary ahead of the Minister’s Order in Council. Meanwhile, Reading Branch are preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of the protest meeting held in November 1955 from which emerged that branch of the Kennet & Avon Canal Association. I think you’d all agree that we’ve come a long way since then. Thank you all for your continued support for this lovely waterway.
Farewell to Helen and Sandra
Picture by Bob Naylor
riends, colleagues and representatives from Branches beyond Devizes gathered at Trust HQ in early July to say farewell and ‘thank you’ to Helen Brooks, the retiring Trust Administrator, and Sandra Davies, the Membership Secretary.
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Helen had been in post for 4 years and, in his short speech, Trust Chairman Brian Poulton thanked Helen for her many contributions to the Trust in that period. He recalled her friendly, co-operative manner and her ‘can do’ attitude to the many tasks that tend to fall to the Administrator! Sandra’s post of Membership Secretary had been terminated in the wake of a review of administrative requirements at Trust Headquarters, and her role has been subsumed into that of the new Administrator, Mo Crossley, who works a
longer week than had Helen. Sandra had been in post for almost 10 years, during which time she had seen membership numbers rise to almost 6,000 before falling back in the wake of the completion of the restoration project. She has subsequently found another post along Couch Lane and Brian, on behalf of the Trust, thanked her for her magnificent work at ‘the front desk’ and wished her well in her new appointment. Brian presented both ladies with a painted stool-cumworkbox which contained a copy of Peter Lindley-Jones’s splendid book ‘Restoring the Kennet and Avon Canal’.
Picture by Elaine Kirby
Brian Poulton, Chairman
Jane Clements, Enterprise Retail Manager, organised a boat trip on the Kenavon Venture in August for shop volunteers to say goodbye to Helen Brooks.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Pultney Weir trip boat capsize investigation by Bob Naylor ollowing the dramatic rescue of a skipper and his nine passengers from the turbulent waters below Bath Pultney Weir in October last year, a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report has identified serious shortcomings in the regulation of small passenger boats.
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Bath City Boat Trips boat ‘The Swan,’ a 29ft GRP ex-Admiralty Whaler, capsized below Pultney Weir after the skipper took the boat too close to the weir. The river was flowing with more force than usual for the time of year after heavy rain and the boat was drawn under the weir and began to fill with water. Some of the passengers stood up in the boat which raised its centre of gravity and it capsized throwing the skipper and passengers into the water under the weir.
20 minutes clinging to upturned boat Fortunately the upturned boat continued to float and the skipper and passengers, some of whom were non-swimmers, were able to cling to it until the Fire Brigade were able to launch a boat and rescue them more than twenty minutes later. One woman broke her wrist
and she and the other passengers were taken to hospital and treated for mild hypothermia.
Safety Certificate The boat had previously operated on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and carried a current Boat Safety Certificate but the report makes the point that the Boat Safety Scheme is primarily intended to protect against third party risks and does not cover other important areas such as stability, hull integrity or operational safety.
BW Licence The BW licence that came with the vessel when bought had not been renewed by Bath City Boat Trips even though the boat operated for part of each trip on BW waters. The river at Pultney Weir is unregulated and the MAIB report recommends that all navigable waterways should be under the control of a navigation authority.
Since the accident, the owners of Bath City Boat Trips have disposed of ‘The Swan’ and have decided to only use vessels licensed by the MCA.
Boats carrying no more than 12 passengers are unregulated — the MAIB report made the following observations: The skipper of a boat carrying 12 or fewer passengers currently needs no qualifications or experience. The Swan was unsuitable for carrying members of the public especially any unsteady on their feet.
The Swan approaches the weir
Skipper and passengers in the water
Tests showed that with only two passengers on board The Swan still would not meet recommended stability standards. A risk assessment would have highlighted the dangers of operating so close to the weir. The skipper’s only means of summoning help was with a mobile phone which he kept in his pocket and which became useless as soon he fell in the water.
Clinging to the upturned boat
The Fire Brigade rescue boat reaches the passengers in the water
The vessel did not carry any lifejackets. The vessel did not have a BW licence even though it was operating for part of its trips on BW waters — without their knowledge — and the operators claim they did not know that they needed one.
Passengers are taken away to hospital
Pictures: MAIB
The Trust needs a Treasurer John Heffer MBE, our current and long-serving Treasurer, wishes to stand down from Council in order to devote more time to his ‘day job’.
Supported by a part-time finance assistant, the role of Treasurer on Trust Council is to oversee the Charity’s financial affairs. If you have relevant experience and can find the time to spend supporting your Trust at this level, please contact the Trust office for more information. Phone 01380 72129
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Engaged — K&A to marry W&B
Canal Centre lease talks continue
Brian Poulton, K&A Trust Chairman, whose wife Jill died of cancer 6 years ago, has recently become engaged to be married to Juanita Davy, the widow of Tony Davy who, until his sudden death in June 2004, was Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Chairman.
etailed negotiations over the rent Kennet District Council (KDC) will demand of the Trust for a renewed lease of the Canal Centre building are about to commence in earnest. The Trust was led to believe that the rent would reflect the work undertaken by Devizes Branch KACT members to rebuild the interior and convert the former dust-cart sheds into the building we have today. Drawing heavily on the mass of information supplied by Trust Vice-President Mike Corfield (see Butty No: 171), Trust Chairman Brian Poulton compiled a detailed dossier describing the work that Devizes Branch volunteers did in 1980. However, KDC have reaffirmed that their policy is to set a current commercial rent for such buildings so that they have full visibility of any financial support – such as discretionary grants – going to local organisations. The negotiations with KDC were a front-page lead in the Wilts Gazette & Herald in July; the paper’s editorial column urged KDC to recognise the Trust’s role in restoring the K&A Canal and its contribution to tourism in Devizes.
Brian and Tony had known each other well, having served in the RAF together firstly flying Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham and, latterly, working at the RAF Staff College, Bracknell. Brian also serves on the Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership Steering Group, and thus met Tony at many canal-related functions and meetings. Juanita and Brian had not met before she approached the K&A Canal Trust last Autumn to find out what steps we had taken to establish educational links between schools and the Kennet & Avon Canal. They soon discovered that they shared many interests, tastes and attitudes, as well as a wealth of mutual friends in the Services and the canal organisations. Brian and Juanita became engaged during a recent holiday in the USA touring the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Brian waited until
Picture by Bob Naylor
they were on the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River to propose. “Not the most private of places at which to pop the question”, he acknowledges, “but a memorable location for us to open a new chapter in our lives.” No date has yet been set for the wedding. They intend to find a new joint home in the Devizes area and will together continue to support both Trusts.
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News in Brief Motorway dash to save child’s finger A 10-year-old boy severed the tips of two fingers with a rope in a boating accident on the K&A at Colthrop in August. At the time of the accident only one finger tip could be found but shortly after he was taken by air ambulance to Wexham Park Hospital, Slough his father found the other finger tip. Trust Council member, Bill Fisher, who was walking nearby, offered to rush it to the hospital and he set off on a high speed car journey, arriving in time for the fingertip to be sewn back on to the boy’s hand.
Bradford on Avon toilets cleaner BW has now been employed a cleaner for the wharf-side toilets at BOA and their standard of cleanliness and overall condition has improved significantly.
Public protest saves Pewsey loos Following a local campaign and a public meeting at which residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping their public toilets, Pewsey Parish Council has decided to go ahead with taking on the freehold of the village’s toilets from Kennet District Council.
Devizes Wharf to lose out Kennet District Council plan to demolish the public toilets on Devizes Wharf – along with others in the town – replacing them with a superloo in the car park in New Park Street.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Bradford on Avon Tea Room garden takes top prize
News in Brief
News in Brief
Call to floating voters
New angling project in Reading
Local Authorities along the canal are running a campaign to encourage live aboard boaters to register to vote. Since 2001 anyone who spends a substantial amount of time within a constituency and does not have a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ address can register to vote by making a declaration of local connection. This means that you simply need to be able to say that you are most commonly to be found in a general area. You do not have to have a correspondence address although it does help. If you think you might qualify to register phone you local council to request a form.
Angling Action has been launched in Reading to encourage more people to take up fishing and steer some youngsters away from anti-social behaviour. Organisers will be targeting schools, clubs and communities to showcase angling as a sport that can be enjoyed by all sections of the community. It can also increase people’s understanding of conservation, ecology, wildlife, sustainability and provide a healthy way to relax. A programme of regular events will give people a chance to try their hand. For more information contact
Harry Fox in his garden creation.
he Trust Tea Room at Bradford on Avon has won first prize in the Bloomin Bradford competition thanks to the efforts of Harry Fox, 79. Harry, who now lives in Trowbridge, grew up in the lock cottage that is now the Trust Tea Room and found a derelict
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The Tutti Pole
Picture by Bob Naylor
garden when he returned to see his former home officially opened in May 2003. Harry has been gardening all his life and the Tea Room staff were delighted when he offered his services to regenerate the garden which he reclaimed and planted in just one year.
sportreading@reading.gov.uk
Nivernais successes for Trust boaters
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
Picture by Bob Naylor
From left to right, Bill and Sue Fisher who’s Dutch Barge ‘Rijnstroom’ won the Best Engine Room trophy and second prize for the longest journey to the rally with Doreen and Tony Davis who won the Best Boat Fit Out trophy with their narrowboat ‘Jeremus Piscator’.
Catleys Calor Gas Centre NW & J
Briggs
Boat trips
From the Cunning Man, Burghfield Bridge Public trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .May to September Private party hire . . . . . . . . . . . . .A range of cruises Day boat hire . . . . . . . . . .Self-drive for up to 12 people Holiday hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Berth Narrowboat Flexible weekly or short break periods
Moorings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Permanent or temporary Enquiries: 14 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading, RG6 5PT Tel: 0118 987 1115 Fax: 0118 921 0604
www.kennetcruises.co.uk
Appliance sales & Installations
Bring your boat up to Boat Safety Scheme standards
Repairs, Servicing and installation Telephone 01380 727266 The Green, Southbroom Road, Devizes, SN10 1LY
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News in Brief Have you a GREAT canal photograph? The Friends of Bishops Cannings Church are organising a year-long photographic competition through which the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust can make a bob or two, Bishops Cannings Church can make a bob or two, and the winner can win a bob or two! All you have to do is submit your photograph of any scene along the Kennet & Avon Canal (between Blakes Lock. Reading, and Hanham Lock, Bristol) to the Trust Headquarters together with a £1 entry fee. The Trust Council will decide the winning entries (1st. 2nd, 3rd) in September 2006. Half the money collected will go to the chosen winners; the other half will be split between the Trust and Bishops Cannings Church. Send your entries (‘wet’ film or digital) to Trust HQ, Canal centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1EB before 31st July 2006.
Ray and Val Knowles Ruby Wedding party ay Knowles, Crofton Branch Chairman, and his wife Val, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at Crofton on July 30th. Several members of Crofton Branch stayed behind to run the engines for the friends and relatives who had been invited to attend. It was a fitting tribute to Ray and his wife, who have given so much to Crofton and the Trust for so many years. The couple were presented with two gifts from Branch members, a carefully cleaned and wrapped piece of ‘Genuine Crofton Coal’ presented by Andrew Pearce, Crofton’s Head Boiler Man, and the proceeds of a collection, which Ray and Val are going to use to buy a picture.
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Picture by The Bath Chronicle
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group of holidaymakers scrambled to safety as their hireboat sank in Bath Deep Lock on Spring Bank Holiday weekend. The boat owned by Sally Boats of Bradford on Avon got caught on the cill as the lock emptied and quickly filled with water and sank. Malcolm Macdonald, of Sally Boats, said, “When they were emptying the lock, they had not realised the boat was stuck. Then they found that the boat was starting to fill with water and they were not quick enough to stop the lock emptying. The boat sank like a stone within a couple of minutes. If somebody had been inside the boat, they could have drowned.”
Fines for fishing without a licence Two men were fined in May for fishing without a rod licence on the River Avon near Bristol. They were ordered to pay £185 (100 fine, £85 costs) and £120 (£60 fine, £60 costs). The Environment Agency regularly checks on whether anglers have a licence, which can be bought at Post Offices or over the phone. Local fishing shops can give more information.
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Hire boat sinks in Bath
Picture by Harry Willis
Ray Knowles is presented with the gift wrapped piece of Crofton Coal, whilst Brian Poulton, Master of Ceremonies, looks on’.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
BW responds to paddle gearing complaints he recent Kennet & Avon User Group Meeting was an opportunity for many people to express their views about the new reduction gearing and offer suggestions for improvements. The feedback seems to be that there is universal support for the new gearing on ground paddles, but there are mixed views regarding gearing on the gate paddles and on balance customers are not happy with this gearing.
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British Waterways South West carried out extensive research prior to the introduction of the new reduction gearing on the Kennet & Avon Canal. The groups consulted included canal side businesses who are members of the ACE group, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and the Kennet & Avon User Group Forum at which details of the funding, prototype and trials were discussed. IWA and NABO members are normally invited to attend this meeting. British Waterways’ General
Manager, Ian Jarvis, confirmed that BW would continue to check and refit the new gear boxes where these had been improperly fitted, and replace short spindles with longer tapered ones. Although many of the concerns expressed at the meeting are already being addressed, some useful suggestions were made and these will also be explored over the coming weeks. The issues have now been addressed and work will be completed six weeks ahead of the schedule, by 12th August.
Some very old gearing is still in use, and is very worn. It would cost between £300,000 — £400,000 to replace all of the gearing throughout the canal. This sort of funding is simply not available and BW has to attempt to maintain very old gearing and try to improve its efficiency and ease of use. Bill Fisher offered a very constructive proposal to try a number of alternatives at different locks on the canal and John Laverick is proposing the following trials: • Lock 88 (Bulls Lock) to have all of the old gear mechanisms removed from the lower gates and replaced with brand new gearing of the same traditional design and then refitted with the Gloucester pattern 5:1 gearbox • One lock (to be confirmed) to have replacement mechanisms fitted to the lower gates as above and then fitted with the new 3:1 gearbox in
place of the old 5:1 gearbox • One lock (to be confirmed) to have replacement mechanisms fitted to the lower gates as above and tried without the benefit of an additional gearbox Work is progressing well. Half of the short spindles have now been replaced and the maintenance teams have been working through all locks on the eastern end of the canal, refitting the new gearing correctly. All of the work will be completed by the end of August. Staff are continuing to speak to customers using the locks for their views The new gearing does not require the use of a long handled windlass. The standard BW windlass has two holes, one of which is tapered for use with the tapered spindles.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Guide to sponsored canalside seats new leaflet — Sit Down and Be Quiet! — that identifies the positions of the 50-plus benches that have been installed along the length of the Canal is now available at the Trust’s shops, boats and pumping stations as well as at tourist information centres. It is one of a number of initiatives taken by the Kennet & Avon Canal Rural Transport Partnership, a group headed by British Waterways that exists to increase visitors to —
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and accessibility of — the Kennet & Avon Canal. Other participants in the RTP include the Countryside Agency (CA), the riparian councils, Sustrans, North Wessex AONB and the K&A Canal Trust. The Trust was able to take advantage of the central Government funding available for such projects. CA and BW were able to contribute £3000, 75% of the costs of the design and printing of the leaflet, and the
News in Brief Future IWA events
Trust contributed the balance. The leaflet identifies not only the seats but also where parking might be available. As the title suggests, the aim is to encourage the public to walk the towpath and sit quietly beside our beautiful canal enjoying the peace and quiet, far ‘from the madding crowds’.
WW2 canal story collection he BBC’s People’s War initiative, which aims to collect 5000 West Country memories of World War 2 for a major national archive, continues to gather momentum. K&A Canal Trust member and BBC People’s War coordinator James Harrison told The Butty, “The stories are coming in thick and fast but we still need more people to share their canal-related wartime stories with the archive. “One story, from Carol James, recalls using water from the canal at Seend to do the weekly wash, and the arrival of tank traps alongside the navigation. “More tragically, Carol also
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Foxhangers Marine
told us how one tank, whilst on manoeuvres, ended up in the canal at Seend, drowning all four occupants.” The Trust will be reflecting the K&A during World War 2 as part of a new exhibition space at the canalside headquarters
Modern narrowboat hire fleet all built by Foxhangers, 10 boats 2 new semi-trads for 2006 Full engineering/maintenance base BETA and ISUZU engine sales/fitting WEBASTO central heating dealers Covered narrowboat painting dock Bespoke boat building undertaken Based at the bottom of Caen Hill Locks
Tel: 01380 828795 www.foxhangers.co.uk 10
in Devizes, funded by the Home Front Recall Fund. If you have any memories, stories or even photographs of life on the canal during World War 2, please contact the Editor.
Next year's IWA National Festival, in the Association's diamond jubilee year, will be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Beale Park on the River Thames. In the year runnng up to the Festival, IWA's boat ‘Jubilee’ will make a jubilee journey, visiting as much of the waterway system as possible. The National Campaign Rally in 2006 will be held at Brookwood on the Basingstoke Canal from 27th to 29th May.
Avon bank protection Bank protection work alongside Mead Lane, Saltford (upstream of Saltford Lock) started in mid August. The project is funded by Bath and North East Somerset Council and is intended to prevent subsidence of the roadway. The method proposed to stabilise the bank has been criticised, particularly the use of rocks to form an under water ‘toe’ or base. Whilst some modification of the original profile has been made, it has not altered the use of rocks, which may create a danger to craft using this reach of the Avon.
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Membership growth continues by John Kirby Marketing & Membership Director ur recruitment drive is having tremendous results and new members are joining the Trust at a rate we’ve not seen for many years. We must not become complacent, though, because we really do need to carry on increasing our membership numbers. And every member and every branch can play a part in our campaign.
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Devizes Branch took up the marketing challenge – sent out earlier this year to all Trust branch chairmen – to hold a recruitment day. Setting themselves up beside a pub on a busy Saturday, they helped boaters through a lock in return for a donation – and encouraged crews to join the
Trust whilst they were there. In only a few hours they had six new members and over £40 in donations. Well done, the Devizes Branch! Now come on the rest of the branches; there is still time left to see if you can beat this. The marketing team took full advantage of the Reading
Safety first by Ben Woodman The Trust Safety Adviser he world of health and safety has changed tremendously in the last twenty years or so. These changes have been brought about by EU legislation, government policies, Trade Union pressures and largely by a recognition by all concerned that far too many people were being killed and injured in their daily lives.
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We have to change too: we now have to be much more ‘pro-active’, making sure that we take precautions before an event to try to prevent accidents happening in the first place.
Risk Assessment ‘Risk Assessment’ is just one example of this philosophy. By law, safety has to be properly managed with health and safety arrangements and
Picture by Elaine Kirby
Reading Water Fest ‘best turned-out boat’ trophy winners, Collette Graham and Trevor Burgess of nb ‘Sonoma’ with, from left, Trust Chairman, Brian Poulton and Reading Mayor and Mayoress Riaz and Naeema Chaudrhi.
Water Fest in June with a dozen or so new members signing up on the day. Since then we have been busy at Newbury Waterways Festival – where 14 new members joined – and we’re looking forward to equally good events at Bradford on Avon and Bowood in the coming weeks. This year the Trust will have distributed over 120,000 leaflets, telling our members and potential customers about
all the attractions and activities run by our volunteers to raise the much needed funds required by the Trust to carry out the important work to Protect, Enhance and Promote the K&A Canal. A big thanks to all our volunteers; without you the Trust could not function. And this is why we need now – and in the future – every new member you can recruit.
accidents than I care to remember. One thing that has taught me is that, in safety, you must never stop learning!
Safety inspections only go so far. It’s communication that matters; exchanging ideas, learning about the latest requirements, perhaps how we can do things better. I’ve made a start but there’s a way to go yet.
Appointment The K&A Trust appointed me as Safety Adviser in September 2003. Obviously my first task is to help ensure that everyone, visitors and workers alike, are kept safe and the Trust is kept legal. I can only do that by working with employees and volunteers at each location.
Safety issues Please call on me to discuss safety issues at your meetings or just to get to know each other. We can both learn as we go!
responsibilities clearly set out. Employees and volunteers alike must be aware of these arrangements. The K&A’s latest ‘Health and Safety Policy’ document sets out these arrangements and all volunteers should have an up-to-date copy. After 25 years working in various aspects of safety, first with the CEGB and later National Power, I’ve been involved in investigating more
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BW update by Eliza Botham, BW South West Service Manager ello again everyone. What fantastic weather we’ve had in July! I even managed to get a bit of a tan myself when out on a boat recently!
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Lock Gearing This summer has been a tough one, as customers have fed back to me their unhappiness about the reduction boxes. Thank you for all your well thought through communications. An investigation of the new lock gearing showed that some of the work had not been up to the expected standards and as a result a programme of works was put together. We haven’t met customer expectations on this, and I am very sorry. All incorrectly-fitted gearing will be repaired or replaced by the end of August. By 30th September, all short spindles will be replaced by a tapered version to prevent the windlass slipping. The trial of a new clamp on the paddle rods will be carried out to further extend their life. Finally, in addressing the concerns of some boaters about the small possibility of a boat being caught on the lock cill, BW has committed to ensure that all cill markers are clearly identifiable. It also plans to actively encourage narrowboaters to use loose ropes to steady the boat when using broad locks. Please use standard BW windlasses with the smaller,
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tapered hole – these will fit the tapered spindles. We will of course continue to monitor the situation and keep an open mind.
Grass Cutting We have now managed to cut the grass along the entire length of the K&A. Various different methods have been employed to overcome the non-use of ride-on or sit-on mowers; these include mechanical Allen scythes on the K&A East. Contractors have been employed to help us with the enormous task of catching up with the back log created by the tragic tractor accident in December last year and the resulting ban on towpath works. The K&A West has had two cuts and is awaiting its third and the K&A East has had three cuts and the contractors are currently part way through the fourth.
Caen Hill Café The hot weather has certainly brought out the visitors and the Café is doing very well. Everyone seems very pleased with the new facility and the comments book is full of praise for the staff, the location and the homemade cakes. Angela is putting together a small events programme for the late summer and early autumn to attract visitors once the main
holiday season is over. These include a charity fashion show, a puppet show for children during autumn half term in the pergola and an exhibition of local artists’ work. Dates for these will be published in a flyer available from the Café and also at K&A Trust visitor attractions.
Bradford on Avon Toilets We’re delighted to welcome Trust member, Nigel Bellinger, as the new cleaner at the Bradford on Avon service station. Nigel’s willingness to take on this task should now mean that, at last, we’re able to offer visitors and boaters a nice clean facility when they visit the wharf.
Sustainability Report In the last edition of The Butty, Terry Kemp, BW South West economic and social development manager, wrote a report on K&A sustainability monitoring. If you would like a copy of the report, which has now been published, please contact Gloucester Reception on 01452 318000.
Section 8 On 16th June we removed two boats from the K&A, under Section 8 powers detailed in the British Waterways Act
1973, as a result of failure to comply with our licence conditions. The boats were stored for six weeks in a secure location during which time the owners were given the opportunity to resolve the matter with BW. If after the six weeks the matter has not been resolved, BW has the power to either sell the boats or destroy them. We would really rather not have to take this sort of action, but sadly there are currently another four boats on the list for removal from the K&A during August. At the K&A User Forum, the question of fining people who over-stay on visitor moorings was raised. This is something we will be doing via our patrol team where necessary, although many people are now heeding warning notices.
Tyle Mill Service Station Works are underway to refurbish the Tyle Mill service station. The project includes renewing an old leaking cess pit, making provision for disabled users and re-siting the Elsan disposal outside the building. If funds allow, we’ll also be providing some hard landscaping outside the service station and removing the white paint from the adjacent pill box to return it to its original red brick.
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Comings and goings Mo Crossley
new Trust Administrator
ost of my working life has been in PR and the last decade or so in an admin post as an office manager. The latter having come to an end, I was delighted to see the advertisement for an administrator for the K&A canal trust and remember thinking "this is for me". I was very fortunate in that my interviewers agreed! Having said a sad ‘goodbye’ to Helen I have jumped in at
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the deep end and am still afloat! I have already met many people – all have welcomed me warmly and have been very helpful, for which I am very grateful. I have lived locally all my life and have always had a passion for our beautiful Wiltshire countryside and wildlife. Much of this has been enjoyed while walking dogs or on horseback. However, I do not have a boating background and my only previous close encounter with a canal is when I almost fell in when my horse was spooked! I am thoroughly enjoying working for the Trust and hope I can continue to run the office here in Devizes smoothly and efficiently. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance in any way – I will be pleased to hear from you.
BW Operations Manager retires
ohn Laverick, Operations Manager for BW South West Region, retires in October. He joined BW in 1997 and was immediately plunged into the K&A Canal Restoration Project as leader of the engineering teams. In the following 6 years they spent over £30 million in bringing the canal to its fully restored condition. He became a highly respected and admired co-ordinator of the many
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Stephanie Peacock
Crofton Beam Engines
Stephanie Peacock replaced Kent Daniels in July. Stephanie understands the demands of the role, having previously acted as Marketing & Communications Manager in the East Midlands. With a 2-week handover, she hit the ground running and has already met many people on the K&A while out and about during her first few weeks with BW.
Open daily 10.30am — 5pm until October 2nd
2006
April
15th-16th-17th
April
29th-30th-May 1st
May
27th-28th-29th
Jun
24th-25th
Jul
29th-30th
Aug
26th-27th-28th
Sept
30th-Oct 1st
new BW Marketing &
Communications Manager
Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting 2005
10.30am — 5pm from Friday April 14th to October 1st
organisations, engineering companies, factions and interests that were represented within the K&A Canal Partnership and it is to his credit that the project was delivered on time and on budget in time for the Royal Visit in May 2003. John was then able to transfer his skills and expertise to the Cotswold Canal Trust’s HLF bid before becoming Operations Manager for the South West Region. Brian Poulton, Chairman of the K&A Trust said, “We are sad to hear that John is retiring and we wish him well in the next chapter of his life and we hope that we shall see him again. Thank you, John, for your massive contribution to the K&A’s restoration. We’ll say “adieu”, not farewell !”
Simon Paine
new BW Moorings Assistant
John Ward
Simon Paine started patrolling the moorings of the K&A at the beginning of June.
John Ward started in May and will replace John Laverick when he retires in October.
new BW Engineering Manager
1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler Crofton Pumping Station is a Branch of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust
Cofton Pumping Station, Crofton, Marlborough, Wilts., SN8 3DW. Tel: 01672 870300 www.croftonbeamengines.org
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The Kennet Barge Warren Berry explores the origins and history of an unusual shaped boat he shapely transom stern, rounded bilges, and bold shear of the Kennet barge is quite unusual for a ‘dumb barge’ — not the sort of vessel you would expect to see trading on a lengthy, land-locked canal like the K&A.
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It is also unlikely that the very conservative Victorian and Edwardian men whose living revolved around canal trading would have favoured a barge model that differed to any great extent from those with which they were familiar unless there was a good practical reason. So, where did the Kennet barge come from and what influences might have prompted its widespread use on the Kennet & Avon navigation? When the Kennet & Avon Canal was being built and used as a major trading route, communication over distances was often difficult and costly in time and money. It would have been unusual for anyone connected with the canal trade to have travelled over land to study barge types that were used on inland waterways away from the Kennet & Avon and surrounding areas. It is probable that local traders and boat builders would have known the most well-tried and tested craft used on the Kennet and Avon rivers as well as those used on adjacent or associated waters, such as the Severn, Thames, and Wey. However, the barges used on
these navigations bear very little resemblance to our Kennet barge and the only possible contender for a Kennet barge design source appears to be the trow of the River Severn. The Severn trow was a sailing barge and suggestions that the Kennet barge developed from it are not new, although when comparisons are made it is usual to compare the Kennet barge with the estuary or down river trow form. Kennet barges and estuary trows undeniably displayed a number of similarities, including the typical inverted D shaped transom stern, rounded bilges, fairly flat bottom, short decks fore and aft and a pronounced shear.
Mast tabernacle General constructional features of both were also similar, including the large mast tabernacle, although the Kennet barge did not normally step a mast. However, whilst similarities existed, there were also significant differences, and these can clearly be seen in the picture above which shows the Kennet barges ‘Celtic’ and ‘Ajax’, alongside the trow ‘Aurora’. Photographed in their old
Picture from the Graham Farr collection by courtesy of Colin Green.
The two Kennet barges ‘Celtic’ and ‘Ajax’ and the Severn trow ‘Aurora’.
age, all three of the barges shown are being used as lighters in Bristol City Docks, and, although at that stage they were all performing a different role to the one for which they were built, much original detail is still evident.
Trow It can be seen that the trow has a more box-like form with raised bulwarks around the decks, a much deeper and heavier D shaped transom stern, and more rounded quarters.
Kennet barges The Kennet barges on the other hand appear to be less heavy looking and shapelier, with smaller, more elegant transoms and a straighter run to the planking at the waterline. These differences reflect the original need for estuarine trows such as the ‘Aurora’ to make coastal passages in what were often stormy conditions,
whilst Kennet barges by comparison rarely ventured outside the confines of river and canal.
Droitwich trows or wych barges It should be borne in mind that the estuarine type was not the only trow form that existed and over the years different forms developed to accommodate the slowly changing trading needs of the communities that existed along the Severn’s long navigable length. One of these derived forms was used in the salt trade that during the 18th and 19th centuries, centred on the Worcestershire town of Droitwich and in my view is the real model from which the Kennet barge was later developed. Unlike their larger estuarine sisters, the Droitwich trows, known locally as wych barges, were between 64ft and 71ft 6ins long and 14ft wide with a loaded draught of 5ft 9ins.
For all your boat safety, repair, upgrade and fit-out needs South West’s premier boat builders on the Visit our NEW chandlery trade counter Kennet & Avon If it’s not on the shelf we can probably get it Offering a wide and comprehensive Marsh Farm, Marsh Road, Hilperton NrTrowbridge range of boats All workmanship guaranteed
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From 30ft narrowboats through to our range of larger wide beam vessels
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To visit by canal look for our sign at Hilperton Marsh Farm (Bridge 165) our yard is in the farm buildings
Tel/Fax: 01225 775100 www.mp-steelcraft.co.uk
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Droitwich Barge Canal These dimensions allowed them to use the Droitwich barge canal, which James Brindley had completed in 1771. The barge canal with eight locks on its 6-mile length broadly followed the route of the River Salwarp and joined the River Severn at Hawford. Initial restrictions on the canal meant that barges could only load 65tons of salt at Droitwich, but a further 35tons was normally loaded from what were known as ‘make weight’ boats, when the River Severn was reached. Once they had loaded the additional salt, the wych barges would travel down the River Severn to Bristol or alternatively, along the Stroudwater Canal to Brimscombe port. Here the salt may well have been transhipped into narrower beamed vessels so that it could be taken down the Thames and Severn Canal and on to London via the River Thames. There is some suggestion that narrow-beamed wych barges were built
especially for this trade that were capable of passing through the Thames and Severn’s 12ft wide locks to take the much sought-after salt directly to London.
Sails Kennet barges of course were mast-less whereas wych barges carried square sails including a topsail and in later years they were rigged as sloops. Where the hull was concerned, the only small difference between the two types was that the top of the Kennet barges transom was flat and the wych barge was rounded and had a slot cut in it for the tiller. This tiller slot arrangement was not unique to wych barges and it occurred in some other trow forms.The similarities between the two barge types are shown in the pictures below. They have been photographed from similar angles and the likeness between the types is clear. Interestingly, the wych (bottom picture) appears to have a Kennet barge rudder as a replacement for the shorter
but deeper sort normally used when sailing – probably because, at the time she was photographed, it was owned by the Midland Railway Company and was being used as a lighter in the feeder canal at Bristol, where depth of water would have generally been less than in the River Severn.
Oarlock What appears to be a large oarlock has also been built on the transom top at its mid point. The reason for this addition is unclear, but it was not normally a feature of wych barges and was probably added when the barge assumed its lighterage role.
Salt impregnation Wych barges were around long before Kennet barges, and the influences on the Kennet barge shape most likely spread from Bristol. In view of the Thames and Severn connection, it as also possible that wych barge influences percolated across from the other end of the canal.
Bargees and traders, together with boat and barge builders, would have had ample opportunity to study the attractive yet work-like wych barges in Bristol. Their legendary longevity, resulting from salt impregnation from their cargoes, might have helped to sell their obvious practicality, attractiveness, and ideal shape on which to model Kennet barges that also required large cargo space coupled with low freeboard.
Information wanted Whilst further work is still required to fully answer the question posed at the start of this article, my current research has led me to the conclusions outlined above. In ending this article, however, I must say that I have made a number of assumptions, which may or may not stand up to scrutiny — so if anyone reading this article either agrees or disagrees with my conclusions, or has any additional information, please get in touch.
Museum News by Curator, Warren Berry n the Summer issue I reported that the number of annual visitors to the museum had remained relatively static, at around 3,500 over the last few years and it is evident that visitors entered the museum after initially browsing in the shop. This year, however, shop staff report a trend whereby visitors are entering the building with the sole purpose of going to see the museum rather than shopping, although they do often visit the shop afterwards. At this stage, statistics on the number of visits have not yet been prepared but the signs are that the volume is increasing also. It would appear that improved
I Picture from the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Museum archive
The newly built Kennet barge ‘Diamond’ at Honeystreet.
advertising associated with the Trust’s new marketing and membership drive has already started to pay off where the museum at least is concerned. Enquiries continue to increase from both Trust members and other researchers requiring canal related information. We will soon be moving the archive to Caen Hill and work associated with this move is progressing. Once the archive has been installed at that location, we will have more useful space to store documents and photographs, and to enable cataloguing and research work to be more readily carried out.
Visit the museum — upstairs in the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf. For times call 01380 721279 Picture: National Railway Museum
A wych barge, possibly the ‘Moreland’ at the Midland Railway wharf, Bristol
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Cotswold Canals Trust Restoration update by Jack Telling he BW team are working extremely hard to meet the 30th August deadline for the Stage 2 submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The amount of information required for a project of this size is amazing. For example, a ‘Project Atlas’ is being prepared which will show for each section of the bid:
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Recommendations arising from the Conservation Management Plan The works which will be undertaken as part of the HLF project Our aspirations for the future The potential for community involvement including access to the canals, volunteer works, interpretation, education and skills training
Planning consent Detailed planning consent will be required before work begins on the restoration. The intended works at Brimscombe Port and Hope Mills will probably be viewed as a departure from the local plan, but by early 2006 progress should have been made to an Area Action Plan for the canal corridor, which will demonstrate how the waterway fits community aspirations. Neighbourhood surveys were undertaken in May and June; 80% of local people say the restoration of the Cotswold Canals is important or very important to them and 91% say they are very or quite interested in the way the waterways develop. All being well, an application for funding to the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) will be made in September. It is hoped that SWRDA will make a decision concurrently with HLF.
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Interpretation around Ebley A funding application has been made to Stroud District Council by the Cotswold Canals Trust, in consultation with British Waterways, for a Local Interpretation Plan and implementation around Ebley Mill. The planning process will enable us to find out from local people what the canal means to them and how this can be represented on the canal. The result could be waymarking, walks leaflets, information panels and site-based interpretation.
Community Participation Strategy This strategy looks mainly at volunteering within the project and how this will be promoted throughout the restoration and beyond. This will result in the creation of a Communication Plan (led by Stroud District Council) and the appointment of two people to implement the Strategy during the restoration.
Engineering Studies and Option Assessments A wish to restore the canals is one thing. To convince potential major funders that it is technically feasible, within the constraints of the
Conservation Management Plan, and that the project can be delivered within budget is a much more difficult task. Consultants Halcrow/Arup are nearing completion of their examination of all the major engineering issues. They are working closely with the management contractor, Morrison Construction, who are putting together a cost plan.
Bridges Technical feasibility designs have been prepared for new fixed bridges at Oil Mills and Brimscombe and possible swing bridges at the Ocean, Upper Mills, Chestnut Lane and Lodgemore Mill. These are now being thoroughly tested against Conservation Management Plan criteria and discussions have opened with Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) to establish minimum Highway requirements, particularly where there is a conflict between optimum technical solutions and aesthetic and conservation issues. A twin-span structure has also been designed for Bowbridge, which incorporates a narrow towpath. An alternative option for wheeled traffic will be included in the submission as the original brick construction only allows for a narrow path leading steeply up onto the lock.
Eastington Cycle Trail Sport England have confirmed that £225,000 is available for completion of the Stonehouse to Eastington cycle trail, footpath and wheelchair route. GCC have also transferred their share to the project amounting to £126,000.
Training Training is an important aspect of the restoration; there is a shortage of Heritage skills nationally and locally. The aim is to make sure that when the HLF-funded section is complete there will be the range of skills and knowledge in the area to continue the next stages of restoration. The project has, for example, inspired the Learning & Skills Council to become involved in a scheme funded by the European Structural Fund. Stroud College, The Royal Agricultural College and Cirencester College can now draw on £180,000 to recruit 100 trainees, half of whom will be expected to progress to a recognised qualification.
Pike Road Bridge The report in the last edition of The Butty was written just as Ringway, the contractors, were moving to the eastern side of the bridge. The bridge is now virtually complete. The eastern side of the bridge, although in some respects simpler than the western half, had its own challenges. One of the first occurred when it was found that the clay ground behind the 1770s brick abutments was too soft to support the new bridge. Eventually, and right at the extreme reach of the digger brought in to dig the footings, the underlying mudstone was reached at 4.5m below the road surface. Two very deep holes, on either side of the bridge, were quickly filled with concrete. It had been thought that the 18th century abutments would become thicker at depth but the walls turned out to be about 3ft thick from top to bottom. Excavation revealed that the south abutment had fared slightly better than the
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north one even to the extent that part of the original arch was still present. The surviving brickwork has been retained although the weight of the new bridge is carried by massive new concrete footings. Two bat boxes have been built into the north abutment of the bridge and the bats have a choice of whether they wish to have a view down the canal or across it to the towpath! Another major feature of the work was the diversion of medium and low pressure gas mains, a water main and two telecommunication ducts carrying optical fibres. During the construction of the bridge, volunteers from the Trust and South West Waterway Recovery Group have been repairing the canal wall and the Pike Lock overflow outlet and have also been building a new retaining wall on the boundary of an adjacent canal-side garden. An offer has been made to fund a set of gates for Pike Lock so it is expected that work around and in the tail of the lock will continue for some time to prepare the lock for regating. This will complete the work started by the Trust many years ago when the lock was first excavated from under its infill and the upper and main part of the lock chamber were subject to extensive brickwork repairs. We hope that many of the tasks can be done by volunteers and the Trust is working with BW to agree a programme of works with them. More news about this later as the project develops. Once again, the Trust acknowledges the financial
contributions being made to the project by the Countryside Agency, Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council, IWA, charitable trusts and others. The new bridge is being opened at 3pm on Saturday 10th September by Mavis, Lady Dunrossil (Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council).
Saul Canal Festival
For further information Pike Bridge
information and pictures can be found on the project’s dedicated web site: www.stroudwater.co.uk/pike bridge Pictures by David Jowett
Cotswold Canals restoration information can be found on the following web sites Cotswold CanalsTrust
More than 200 riverboats, sea-going ships and narrowboats from around Britain’s waterways gathered at this 3-day fundraising event in early July. Organised by volunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust and the Waterway Recovery Group, and supported by British Waterways, the Festival was a great success. There were over 12,000 visitors and at least £40,000 was raised for the Restoration Fund. The Trust also recruited its 5000th member.
www.cotswoldcanals.com Cotswold Canals Partnership www.britishwaterways.co.uk /cotswolds Or contact Jack Telling (Cotswold Canals Trust) on 01453 825709 or 07785 330480 (mobile) Sharon Atkinson (British Waterways Press Office) on 01923 201349
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Wilts & Berks Canal news A visit to Canada’s Welland Canal inspires Chaloner Chute have just returned from a holiday in Canada where everything is on a Big scale, Big country, Great Lakes, Big-hearted people, and I also was lucky to see perhaps the world’s Biggest Lock gates, on the Welland Canal which by-passes the Niagara Falls… if that wondrous feature was not big enough!
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One must edit out the ghastly commercialism that accompanies such a spectacular and awesome ‘attraction’ as the Falls, and marvel at the sheer physicality of it – the power of water – and stand there totally entranced by it all. And then there are the crazy stories that go with all the notorious and colourful (recorded) visitors for the past 200 years or so. So allow me to wander off the usual watery trail. There were no such visitors or people flocking to see the Welland Canal. But in its own way it is equally impressive as it is manmade and is located in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada, between two of North America's Great Lakes, Lake Ontario (74.98 metres above sea level) and Lake Erie (174.34 metres above sea level).
St Lawrence Seaway The Welland Canal is a vital link in the St Lawrence Seaway passage from the Atlantic Ocean to midwestern Canada and the United States. Its seven lift locks and one guard lock bring ocean and lake vessels up 99.36 metres from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.
Innovative engineering The Welland Canal is important because of its ability to move ships full of cargo up and down the Niagara Escarpment and contribute to the economic growth and development of Canada and the United States. But what makes the Welland
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Canal fascinating is how it moves these ships up and down the escarpment. The canal utilizes its most abundant resource – water – combined with the Earth's gravity to lift and lower ships in massive locks. It is an example of brilliant, yet simple innovative engineering.
Water for mills The transportation of goods is not the Welland Canal's only purpose. The canal's founding father William Hamilton Merritt originally conceived the idea for a canal as a way of providing a consistent source of water for the area's local mills. Whereas many of our watertidal- and windmills are sadly gone, in Ontario the canal's water is a major resource for industry in Niagara, serving steel mills, ship builders, paper mills and car parts manufactures. The canal also serves the people of Niagara indirectly, by providing water for their everyday use.
Power plant The canal water is even used to generate electricity at a small local power plant. One of the most overlooked benefits of the Welland Canal is the recreational pleasure it provides to all who visit and use its connecting lakes, waterways and surrounding trails. The canal area is full of activity with people ship gazing, fishing, hiking and boating all summer long. And so back to the prime purpose and raison d’etre of restoring the Wilts & Berks.
The Welland Canal
New funding opportunity We now face equally demanding challenges in their own way. We are constantly on the ask for funds. And we face a difficult, but some would say, envious position. As we near the end of the present round of route defining studies and move into the Implementation phase, we are considering the prospect of bidding for a Big Lottery grant called Living Landmarks which was announced in July. This is for projects between £10m and £25m, so a sizeable sum that could be one of our best chances yet. We gird our loins and are presently discussing things with all our Partners.
The Living Landmarks Programme has been designed to inspire communities to transform, revitalise and regenerate the places where they live, through social and community projects and major infrastructure investments. We have an idea which of our flagship schemes/junctions would be most suitable – perhaps I can open this matter up to debate with our readers, and we would be pleased to hear your views. Living Landmarks aims to: • Encourage partnership working and community engagement and participation • Champion innovation and excellence in the design of the physical environment • Encourage best practice in the design, construction and management of projects.
Application We believe that we tick most of the eligibility boxes in order to submit an early application by January 2006, very tight but do-able with the small excellent team we have pulled together. There is considerable experience and knowledge in all three canals to oversee such a bid. We do not underestimate the task ahead. The Trust gears itself up for a record number of Waterway Recovery Group camps this autumn and winter. We are facing a busy and exciting winter ahead.
Stop at the one-stop service
HONEYSTREET Visit our Wharf
on the Long Pound by Honey Street Bridge for diesel, Calor Gas & coal water & 240 volt electrics overnight moorings pump-out & ‘Porta Potti’ disposal
Gibson’s Boat Services Telephone 01672 851232
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Wey & Arun Canal by John Wood like the Wey & Arun was always difficult. The original company could not afford to have a second reservoir, but this problem is alleviated by backpumping at all locks and the distinct possibility of a new reservoir coming about, somewhere on the 5-mile summit pound. WACT is most fortunate in having six regular working parties with their respective leaders, plus a seventh in the winter months concentrating on coppicing and hedge-laying. Additionally we have regular working party visits from our friends the Newbury Working Party Group, Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group, Essex WRG, London WRG and BITM WRG. Well over half the canal has been worked on, and some 2 miles of the waterway from Loxwood High Street is enjoyed each year by over 5,000 passengers on the Trust’s two trip boats.
he Wey & Arun Canal was built in two sections – firstly the Arun Navigation, some 4-miles from Pallingham (the tidal limit of the River Arun and some 22 miles from the English Channel at Littlehampton) to Newbridge, on the A272 west of Billingshurst.
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Built between 1785 and 1787, it had three locks and an aqueduct at which point a unique waterwheel (now restored) threw water up into the canal from the river below. The second section, the 18mile Wey & Arun Junction Canal was built between 1813 and 1816, and made a head-on connection with the Arun Navigation at Newbridge.
Diverse cargoes The waterway traded modestly for almost 50 years. Most cargo was very basic – coal from Arundel to Guildford (a routing that reduced the price there by 20%), chalk, lime, timber and farm produce (including manure). For about 3 years there were monthly shipments of gold bullion from Portsmouth to the Bank of England – guarded by Redcoats. The 116-mile journey, involving 52 locks and a tunnel from Portsmouth to London Bridge by barge took 4 days. The London to Portsmouth Barge Route used Langstone and Chichester Harbours, the Portsmouth & Arundel Canal, the River Arun, the Wey & Arun canals, the River Wey and finally onto the Thames. Nowadays the Arun Navigation and the Wey & Arun Junction Canal are simply known as the Wey & Arun Canal that had a total of 23 locks and 3 aqueducts on its 26-mile route.
Restoration work On 20th August 1970, the Wey & Arun Canal Society was formed with the basic aim ‘To attempt the restoration of the Wey & Arun Canal’, becoming a Charitable Trust in 1973. Current membership is nearly 2,000. Members receive the
quarterly bulletin Wey-South and there is a monthly Working Party News intended mainly for those interested or taking part in the numerous and almost daily working parties. Three locks are fully restored and equipped with back pumping, whilst another six have chambers and lock bridges completed. In addition, 14 other bridges (including a highway bridge) have been built or restored, along with numerous culverts and spillweirs. A recent major project was the complete rebuilding of the Drungewick Aqueduct in 2002/3. Work has just commenced on the very difficult engineering operation to take the canal under the B2133 at Loxwood High Street. This project has an estimated cost of £1.2M. Mains services now buried in the causeway across the canal have to be diverted below the canal’s bed and then a bridge will replace the causeway. Because of the limited space available and the need to ensure adequate clearance for boats, it will be necessary to deepen this section of the canal including lowering the top cill of Brewhurst lock and compensating for this by introducing a new lock shortly after passing under the bridge. Work commenced on this new lock (Loxwood Lock) in June 2005 as we have already raised some £340,000 towards the £1.2m required for the entire ‘Loxwood Crossing’. Like many other canals currently being restored, the Wey & Arun suffers from multi ownership. We have many landowners that are very supportive of the restoration and quite a number have granted leases to the Trust. Water supply to a summit canal
Tourism potential
For more information visit: www.weyandarum.co.uk
The strategic importance of the Wey & Arun lies in the fact that it is the only outlet to the English Channel from nearly 3,000 miles of inland waterways. With the continuing popularity of holiday cruising on canals, the Wey & Arun is well placed to attract tourist traffic.
Drungewick Aquaduct picture by Julian Morgan
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Getting to know our twinned waterway by Brian Poulton hen the opportunity arose to cruise a stretch of the Canal du Nivernais with friends from my time with Airbus at Toulouse, I leapt at it. I was obviously aware of the twinning connection with our Kennet & Avon Canal, but I’d also heard that the Nivernais waterway was amongst the most beautiful in France.
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We had hired a 6-berth widebeam 42-ft cruiser for only one week, but we were able to do a one-way cruise from Migennes at the northern end of the Nivernais to the hire-boat base at Châtel-Censoir, getting as far south as Clamecy before returning the boat. The waterway, which lies about 100 miles south-east of Paris, provides a link between the River Seine and the River Loire. Running principally northsouth, the waterway north of Clamecy is really the River Yonne, made navigable by cuts of canal and locks to lift boats around weirs. South of Clamecy, the Nivernais is a canal that closely follows the line of the Yonne and, later, the Alnain and the Aron before joining the Loire at Decize.
Auxerre A day’s cruising south of Migennes is the city of Auxerre, the skyline of which is dominated by the magnificent 11th-century Cathedral StÉtienne and the even older Abbey of St-Germain (9thC). Thereafter, the waterway meanders through cornfields and vineyards (you are in Chablis country!) and small villages that offer splendid 4course meals for around 20 Euros per head (around £14!) in the local restaurants. If you have the time or the inclination to dawdle and to explore, there
A typical lock on the Vermenton Arm
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are places like Bailly where vast underground quarries which once provided stone for the construction of Parisian buildings are now occupied by a wine cooperative that offers tours as well as splendid dégustation opportunities. The 4-km Vermenton arm passes the small village of Accolay, in which lies the highly recommended Restaurant de la Fontaine. By now the Yonne is noticeably narrower, feeling more like the Avon west of Bath rather than the Thames east of Reading! We had to turn at the delightful town of Clamecy where the wharf was easy walking distance of the main square.
Les Amis hospitality It was at Clamecy that we first experienced the incredible hospitality of our twinned organisation, Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais. We were collected in 2 cars that had come all the way down from Auxerre and we were conveyed in style to a party in the cellar of one of Les Amis. There some 20 of Les Amis greeted us, wined and dined us and generally made us feel very welcome. Indeed, we were still attacking the table of delicious desserts as midnight approached! I got my French-speaking
Picture by Brian Poulton
Just north of Clamecy the Lock keeper waits for us
friend from Airbus to express our enormous gratitude for their hospitality, shortly before our hosts kindly drove us back to the boat at Clamecy. I hope that, in September, when a party from Les Amis are cruising the K&A from Aldermaston to Crofton and back, we can make them as welcome as they made us.
Paris 160km North
Picture by Brian Poulton
The week cruise from Migennes to Clamecy left me hungry for a return trip to do the stretch from Clamecy to Decize. The river/canal navigation is, indeed, in beautiful countryside and yet I hear that the southern half is even more beautiful. I can’t wait!
A K&A welcome to Les Amis! About the time that this edition of The Butty emerges from the printers, two boat-loads of Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais should be heading back to Aldermaston in a boat hired from Reading Marine having cruised as far as Crofton Pumping Station. As we go to print, plans are firming up for a BBQ at Crofton on 6th September to welcome the visitors from our twinned canal in France. The pumps will be run for them and it is hoped that a good crowd of K&A Canal Trust members will be on hand to make our guests welcome. After all, since the Brits walked off with half the prizes at the recent boat rally at Coulanges-sur-Yonne, we may have some bridge-building to do! More seriously, bearing in mind the welcome that Les Amis have always extended to visitors from the K&A, we hope that our guests will be greeted most warmly by many friends along the length of our waterway. Let’s hope they had good weather and enjoyed a trouble-free trip from Aldermaston to Crofton and back.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Canal du Nivernais rally ur twinned French waterway held their bi-ennial rally at Pousseaux on the 23rd and 24th of July.
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50 boats took part in the rally with two Kennet & Avon boats taking major prizes — see page 6. Thousands of people came to the event and enjoyed wine tasting, traditional music, boat trips and demonstrations by river rescue dogs and traditional rope making.
Swimmers — pulling floating flares — lead the procession of boats to the firework display that marked the end of the rally.
Pictures by Bob Naylor
Boats lined up at the rally
Traditional rope making
he Canal du Niveranis grew out of the need to transport wood to Paris for firewood. The wood from the Morvan Forest was floated down streams and rivers to Clamecy where it was bound together using twisted sapplings into rafts. They were then joined together to make up huge 75 metre long rafts of 200 cubic metres of wood and then navigated down stream by a man and a boy to Auxerre. From there, one man steered the raft to Paris — a journey that took 10 to 15 days. The journey over, he would then take 6 days to walk back to Clamecy to start another trip.
T Building a traditional log raft — and then testing it out on the canal.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
International visitors American cyclists
Japanese visitors to Crofton
he K&A is never short of visitors from abroad, whether they are cruising on hire boats, taking a cycling or walking holiday – or simply visiting the canal while on holiday in the area. Trust attractions are always a draw.
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American cyclists – members of Elder Hostel, which has strong educational elements to their activities – called in on Crofton during their trip with International Bicycle Tours. They travelled the K&A Canal towpath from Kintbury to Bath and then cycled to Bristol and on to Stratford on Avon. They arrived at Crofton at 9.30 for coffee after visiting the Stone Museum and church at Great Bedwyn, had a 20minute lecture on the K&A and a quick tour of the pumping station. At 10.45 they were off again — encouraged to hear that it is downhill all the way to Bath.
The group arrived in Devizes later that day in time to visit the Canal Museum and shop. Next morning they headed off in the mist and drizzle down Caen Hill and on to Bath. Micheal Weale, who has been leading tours for 10 years said “The group are very fit, mostly over 55 — some much older. Most are retired professionals who are regular recreational cyclists back home”. And they certainly do need to be fit. Every day includes a minimum of 30 miles on their ‘sit up and beg’ Dutch touring bikes, with visits and lectures at every opportunity along the way.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Later the same day, Crofton was also host to tourists from Tokyo and Osaka (all newly signed up members of the Trust) who stopped off for a while during their holiday travelling the K&A from Bath to Aldermaston with Kennet Cruises. Led by Maki Morita from Nihombashi Traveller’s Club, our Japanese visitors enjoyed the canal once they had adjusted to the slower pace of life!
Polish and German youngsters in wildlife project Pictures by Robert Coles team of 36 volunteers from Wiltshire, Poland and Germany worked together on the K&A Canal to improve habitats for wildlfe as part of the ‘European Youth Exchange’ organised by the British Trust for Nature Volunteers. During their stay in August, they built bat boxes, an artificial home for otters (an otter holt) and a floating nest area for terns.
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American cyclists take a break at the bottom of Caen Hill Flight
The SToreS High Street Great Bedwyn
Picture by Bob Naylor
Piotr Berebeck installs bat boxes
General provisions Newsagent Off-Licence specialist cheeses home-cooked ham fresh vegetables photocopying and fax facilities
canal pump-out cards Tel: 01672 870211 Open mon-Fri: 7am-8pm Sat: 7am-7pm Sun: 7am-2pm
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Polish and German visitors with youngsters from Wiltshire at Crofton Picture by Steve Morgan/SUSTRANS 22
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Butterflies Avon Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer, Mary Wood, gives her top-ten tips for butterfly identification t’s relatively easy if they’re basking open winged, showing off all their markings, and you’ve got a good field guide. But what if you’ve just glimpsed a butterfly flutter by as you glide along the canal and a field guide is miles away? Mary Wood is the Trust’s Conservation Officer and has carried out wildlife surveys for over ten years. Read on for her top ten tips in simple identification techniques...
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Brimstone
Peacock
This is usually the first butterfly to emerge in the Spring. It is large and lazy-flighted, and the male is a striking primrose yellow – thought to be the original ‘butter fly’. The paler female is often mistaken for a large white, but has a more sculpted shape and no strong black markings. Brimstone butterflies can appear as early as February after hibernation.
This butterfly is large with a powerful flight. It’s very dark underneath but this richly coloured insect lives up to its name with flashes of purple, blue, yellow and copper on the upper wings.
Comma This butterfly is quite a vivid orange if it is newly emerged, and can appear larger than it is. The comma’s sculpted wings can give it a slightly ‘ragged’ appearance.
Holly Blue The first blue butterfly of the year, often flying quite high among its main caterpillar food plants of holly and ivy. It is a pale silvery blue above and below and, unlike some other blues, has no hint of orangeybrown on the wing undersides. Look for the small black dots instead.
Red Admiral A large butterfly, dark underneath but with visible flashes of red, black and white on the slightly pointed upper wingtips. The red admiral is a migrant that flies all the way from southern Europe and northern Africa, though it is now known to be able to survive the milder British winters and has even been seen locally in January.
Orange Tip A small white butterfly with distinctively bright orange wingtips on the male. The underside of the lower wing is a mottled green and white.
Speckled Wood A common woodland butterfly that likes shady areas, though it’s often found in pools of dappled light. At first glance it looks uniformly chocolate brown in colour,but try to catch a glimpse of the cream spots on the upper wings.
Small Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell A small, orangey butterfly that is quite dark underneath. Look for a hint of the light blue wing edges as it flies past.
Large White A big, blousy white butterfly with substantial black markings on the upper wing tips or, if it’s female, obvious black spots. The lower under wing is yellowy.
Small White More common than the large white and smaller, though not obviously so unless you see both species together. The black on the wing tips is not as dark or extensive as on the large white; it has the same yellowy lower under wings.
Did you know The best way to encourage butterflies in your garden is to maintain a patch of stinging nettles. Peacocks, red admirals, small tortoiseshells and often commas all lay their eggs on nettles. The larvae then feed on the fresh, succulent new growth – look out for the mass of black spiny peacock caterpillars.
Green-veined White The last butterfly of the year, the green-veined white is similar to the small white but with more obvious veining on the upper wing. The underside of the hind wing is where the green veins are, against a yellowy background, making the insect look darker underneath.
For further information about butterflies contact the Avon Wildlife Trust on 0117 917 7270 or email mail@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.
www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Red Admiral
Avon Wildlife Trust is a leading wildlife organisation in the area. It relies on membership support to undertake its conservation, education and campaigning work. For information about becoming a member visit the website or call the Trust.
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Get walking in the Pewsey Vale James Harrison’s walk starts at the Golden Swan at Wilcot and takes in Ladies Bridge and The Barge Inn at Honeystreet Start outside the Golden Swan pub in Wilcot and head north-west along the main road through the village, passing a row of cottages on your right and the village green opposite. When you get to the canal bridge, take the towpath and head west. After a mile or so the canal widens to become Wide Water – constructed by the original canal company on the insistence of the local landowner, Lady Wroughton, who didn’t like the idea of a canal coming through her estate. As a compromise, the navvies widened the canal to create a ‘lake’.
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As Wide Water begins to return to the canal’s normal width you’ll see a rather ornate bridge ahead. This is another legacy from the wishes of Lady Wroughton. It’s worth spending some time admiring this bridge and enjoying the surrounding views. After Ladies Bridge, continue along the towpath to where the canal enters remote countryside with stunning views all around, particularly looking north to Picked Hill and Woodborough Hill.
Eventually, you will arrive at Honeystreet – keep walking along the towpath, under the road bridge, after which you’ll reach the Barge Inn – a suitable place for refreshment! When you’re ready, turn on your heels and return along the towpath back towards the Honeystreet road bridge. Continue with the canal on your left, retracing your steps as far as the bridge which takes the towpath over to the otherside of the canal.
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At the next bridge, you will need to cross over the canal and continue along the towpath on its southern side. Look out for signs to a monument erected in a nearby field to commemorate the death of two WW2 airmen whose plane crash-landed in one of the fields running alongside the canal.
OS Map Explorer157 Start Grid reference SU 143 611
Length: 7 miles Duration: 2.5 hours The walk includes no strenuous climbs
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The Golden Swan, Wilcot
The Barge Inn, Honeystreet
Here turn right and take the track down to Woodborough. As you walk past Church Farm, look out for a ‘wishbone’ stile and turn into the churchyard of St Mary Magdelene’s Church.
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Continue your way out of the churchyard and carry on walking into Woodborough. When you meet the main road, turn left and take an easterly route out of the village. Where the road bends to the right, continue on the footpath ahead of you. Carry on through a thin strip of woodland and keep to the edge of the fields on your
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right. This footpath exits on to a narrow road, with Frith Copse to your right. Carry along on the road (walking with the traffic against you) and keep the northerly edge of Frith Copse to your right.
Pictures by Bob Naylor Continue your way along the road and look out for a footpath on your left. Take this route back to Wilcot, passing Holy Cross Church along the way. Return to the start by turning right at the road.
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After a short distance, look out for Swanborough Tump, an ancient meeting place where a plaque reads: “Here in the year 871 the future King Alfred the Great met his elder brother King Aethelred I on their way to fight the invading Danes and each swore that if the other died in battle, the dead man's children would inherit the lands of their father King Aethelwulf."
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Holy Cross Church, Wilcot Cottages in Woodborough
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Ladies Bridge
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
ACE name change he trade assocation that has represented business on the Kennet & Avon Canal since it formed in the 1982 is to change its name from ‘The Association of Canal Enterprises’ (ACE) to the ‘Kennet & Avon Trade Association’, which it believes is more descriptive of the businesses activities of if its members.
From left Tim Wheeldon, ACE Secretary, Fred Blampied, IWA and ACE, Admiral Sir William O’Brien,The K&A Canal Trust Chairman, John Humphries, IWA Chairman, Sir John Knill, ACE Chairman who made a presentation to local authorities of the ACE Case for Maintenance Agreements in Bath on 27th April 1983.
The Future
The Early Years
by Bill Fisher
by Tim Wheeldon
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he Association of Canal Enterprises (ACE) recently decided to change its name to The Kennet & Avon Trade Association. Although the old name was ideal in the early 1980s, modern communication and advertising mediums have made it necessary to have a more descriptive title. Our current membership stands at 35 canal-related businesses with a full cross section of the public’s needs. The Association has regular committee meetings to discuss waterway matters. Any member can attend meetings, and minutes are sent to all members. An Annual General Meeting acts as a general forum for members to discuss canal and business issues. The aims remain the same as ACE, working closely with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. The Trade Association’s chairman is also a member of the KACT Council and the KACT (Enterprise) are now valued members of the Trade Association. The Trade Association is also a member of the Steering Group, and has worked continually towards achieving Cruiseway Status for the Waterway — this is now close to becoming reality.
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The Trade Association has regular meetings with British Waterways to discuss future winter maintenance programmes to minimize disruption to businesses with dry docks, paint docks and hire fleets and to arrange maximum notice of stoppages and hopefully minimise the duration of stoppages to benefit all boaters as well. These meetings are valued by the Association and provide an excellent sounding board for all. The Trade Association produces an annual Directory of Services, listing all members, contact numbers and facilities available from each member. This leaflet is available throughout the waterway from the KACT office and shops as well as tourist information offices. Whilst the Association remains parochial to the Kennet & Avon Canal, we are building a closer working relationship with APCO (Association of Pleasure Craft Operators) and the British Marine Federation — the national equivalent of ourselves — in order to have a regular exchange of information regarding Waterways Government legislation and other issues.
Picture by Niall Allsop.
t is no coincidence that the two most stalwart defenders of navigation on the K&A at the time of final closure in the mid 1950s were commercial operators. Both John Gould of Newbury and Sir John Knill, latterly at Bath, operated narrowboat carrying companies and were allies in their determined assaults on the bureaucratic forces that were attacking the waterway at that time. After his heroic efforts at running a company in the Midlands, John Knill settled beside the canal near Bath in the late 60s. He was soon starting boating enterprises and was quick to see the need for a representative grouping of those who would be investing in the restored waterway. In 1982 he called a meeting of the six newlyformed businesses and ACE was born. The first corporate act by the fledgling association was the following year when, in association with BW, the K&A Canal Trust and the IWA, a presentation was put to all the Local Authorities along the waterway. The ACE Case, as it was called, set out to show the value of the K&A to its communities and the return the local councils could expect,
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both financial and social, from their contributions to the Maintenance Agreements that were urgently being sought by BW at that time. From its conception, ACE put high priority on its relationships with both BW and the Trust. Looking through the archives it is apparent that lobbying BW was a tough and continuous business — no punches were pulled, especially when it came to the state of navigation. But when the need arose for solidarity, ACE was a firm ally of BW, arguing the case for the recognition of the importance of commercial investment. And the Trust, through its far-seeing Chairman, Admiral Sir William O’Brien, was quick to silence any mutterings about businesses making money out of their efforts! ACE and the Trust have always maintained a united front. ACE has, from the very first draft of its Constitution, aimed for Cruiseway Status for the whole canal. It has taken 23 years but the goal seems to be in sight. As a sign of commercial maturity, John Knill’s original name will shortly give way to a new title — The Kennet & Avon Trade Association.
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Newbury Water Fest 2005 by Allan Mercardo housands thronged Victoria Park, Newbury Wharf and the canalside and enjoyed the Newbury Water Fest in July. The success of the event was due in no small part to the enthusiasm of festival chairman, Tracy Perryman, who was determined that the Fest should take place despite the doom and gloom apparent at the beginning of the year. “All my volunteers helped this happen and I can’t thank them enough. They ran the Stone
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Building on the day so that I could do what I needed to do and they covered for me before the event so I could attend meetings. They are all fantastic”. A highlight of the day was the visit of Kenet barge ‘Unity’, whose owners Adrian and Nikki Softley sailed (or perhaps squeezed might be more apt) her from Pewsey to the festival. Harbourmaster John Arthurs had 24 narrowboats lined four deep alongside the canal, many
from Devizes Boat Club whose support of the festival is appreciated. There were 50 stalls, children’s amusements, model planes and cars, model boats on Victoria Park Pond, classic cars and the Harley Davidson Owners club. Newbury Mayor, Val Bull, opened the event which was run by the Newbury Branch of the K&A Trust with sponsorship from ClickNewbury.com, The Newbury Building Society, The Newbury Weekly News and Vodaphone.
Pictures by Allan Mercardo, Elaine Kirby and Bob Naylor
Terry Kemp of BW made the announcements throughout the day and his duck race commentary was a masterpiece
Best decorated boat was ‘Autumn Venture’ owned by Nigel and Janette Skeet — soon to be seen regularly on BBC South News introduction sequence.
The duck race begins
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Keepers Lock kept visitors entertained with their canal songs
Top hat and tall tales
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The first Newbury Wharf Boat Fairs Peter Lindley-Jones looks back to 1965 and 1966 orty years ago this Whit Monday we staged the very first K&A Canal Trust outside ‘showcase’ event with the 1965 Boat Fair held on the Wharf in Newbury, followed the next year by a much bigger event at the Northcroft field on the outskirts of Newbury.
pass by following the 1966 fair – losing that roll-on momentum which is so vital. And more importantly we lost our precious Whit Monday slot to another event. We considered taking the Fair to Reading and the banks of the Thames, but there was no way we could have ‘scrounged’ our way through something on that scale so we stepped back from the organisation.
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As 1966 dawned we had been working on the project for several months and most of the main framework was in place. The next five busy months were spent filling in the details and putting together the programme – looking back through it, it is interesting to see the level of participation.
Competition to Earl’s Court? To attract advertisers and stall holders of the quality of BP, International Paints, CIBA, Alisa Craig and boat companies from far and wide, we had to seek approval from the Ship and Boat Builders National Federation to stage a ‘mini boat show’ – apparently our show could have affected participation at the Earl’s Court Boat Show.
Hindsight Trust Chairman, Captain Munk obtained their blessing and we were granted what was, at the time, a virtual monopoly on outdoor boat shows. With the benefit of hindsight one can now see what an enormous money making/publicity
opportunity this was. Had the Trust known then how popular inland boating was to become, perhaps the K&A would still be the site associated with Whit weekend festivities.
Need for roll-over funding After the overwhelming success of the 1966 event we had grand plans – but there is only so much you can do, as the saying goes, with sealing wax and string. We used income from selling stall and advertising space but we had to beg and borrow much of the equipment we needed for the 1965 and 1966 fairs so we felt we had used up all our ‘credit’ with local firms and organisations.
‘Gift Horse’ van We asked Trust Council to let us keep half the Fair profits to finance the next show but Council objected, offering instead to supply funds if we required them. But we needed the security of managing our own budget to order consumables and services. We also needed storage
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Looking back space and we desperately needed to replace our ‘gift horse’ van which was far from roadworthy, nearly killing David Harris and I when the brakes failed in Thatcham. We also thought that, with the heavy administrative load of a much improved 1967 fair, we should employ some part-time secretarial help. But at this time the K&ACT did not employ anybody to do anything at all: the members carried the whole organisation.
We had plans for the future We realised that there was a future for boat fairs and considered forming a ‘Boat Fairs Ltd’, putting the whole thing on business footing. But without the support of Trust Council our resolve stumbled and we let precious months
We still talk about the effort we put in and I smile when I hear it suggested how easy it is to organise a serious event; it took many months working evenings and most weekends. The whole event was organised and run by volunteers who, bless them, would as the date approached give up their weekends and come from far and wide to help build stalls, paint signs and do the multiplicity of necessary jobs. And, when it was all over, they came back and helped clear up.
Satisfaction Unless you have been involved in the organisation of a largish event, you do not appreciate the extent of the work. But neither do you know the extreme satisfaction when on completion you see the crowds streaming in through the ‘turnstiles’.
all-aBoard Marine serviCes & newBury dry doCk All boat maintenance services Boat Safety Examinations Anywhere on the K&A and Thames
Corgi Reg: 189616
Tel: 01635 37606 Mobile: 07940 583361 & 07703 235779 GREENHAM LOCK COTTAGE, AMPERE ROAD, NEWBURY RG14 5SN
www.aamarine.co.uk
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Reading Mike Wyatt 0118 9427708 ince my last report, we have had talks on the origins of street names in Reading and an hilarious account by Vince Locatelli about bringing barges from France.
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WaterFest success for new Trust members WaterFest took place at the end of June and was a great success with the largest gathering of boats we have ever had – 36 – over a third of them newcomers, one of whom, ‘Sonoma’, won not only the Best Turned Out Boat Trophy, but the Winning Duck in the Duck Race. The crew, Trevor and Colette then joined the Trust as did 8 others from the Reading area. Welcome aboard everyone. Our thanks to everyone who
No. 172 Autumn 2005
helped to make the event such a friendly and profitable success. Thanks particularly to all crew members of ‘Rose of Hungerford’ who not only ran the trips round the town, but had a 60 lock-mile journey each way to get the boat to and from Reading and endured some of the appalling new reduction gears on the gate paddles (70 turns up and 70 turns down: see The Butty no 171 page 9) on the way.
Steam boat Thanks also to Dick Bradford for providing his beautiful steam boat ‘Surabaya’ to show off the Reading Waterway to the Mayor (who wore a delightful balloon hat) and the Trust Chairman, and many others, and raised £75 in donations as well.
Winter meetings We are hoping to have presentations from both the Air Ambulance & the IWA during the winter.
Picture by Moreen Thorne
The Mayor and Mayoress of Reading, Riaz and Naeema Chaudrhi take their seats on the steamer, Surabaya for a trip at Reading WaterFest
HAMS TRANSPORT HOPTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DEVIZES, WILTS
Boats lined up along Riverside Walk in Reading
Our trip on the Sailing Barge ‘Kitty’ on 16th October is now fully booked; come to the branch meeting on 28th October and we’ll tell you all about it! David Blaygrave has been booked for 27th January 2006 to talk to us about early days on the Kennet, and we are hoping to arrange a talk on the Wey & Arun followed by a trip.
50th Anniversay celebrations On 25th November 1955, a Public Protest Meeting about the imminent closure of the Kennet & Avon Canal was held in Reading Town Hall. This meeting saw the formation of the Reading Branch of the Kennet & Avon Canal Association. On Friday 25th November 2005 we will therefore be celebrating our 50th Birthday with a Reception in the Kennet Room at the Civic Centre at 7 pm. We will invite as many members and former members
Picture by Moreen Thorne
as we can find, but entrance must be by ticket only and there will be a modest charge to cover costs. Will former member of the branch or anyone at the original meeting please get in touch with me by phone. We are particularly looking for photos or mementos of the early days.
Newbury Graham Smith 01635 580356 fter our AGM we said good-bye to Jane Elwell as our Branch Chairman. Special thanks are due to her, Mike and the rest of the Elwell clan for all their hard work on behalf of the Branch and the Trust since 1998. They intend to continue helping out at events, but family and work commitments are having to take priority at the moment.
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David Owen & Co Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
With flatbeds up to 60’ we can safely transport your narrowboats and wide beams throughout the UK 01380 726837 www.hams-transport.co.uk
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17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire 01380 722211
126 High Street Marlborough Wiltshire 01672 512163
Auditors to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS
No. 172 Autumn 2005
front line or in the background and whether from Newbury or from further afield. Thanks are due to you all – there are too many of you to name individually, but you know who you are! Don’t forget that our regular winter talks programme resumes on 28th September – details are in the What’s On diary and all are welcome.
Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446
New Newbury Branch Chairman, Kate Skeates
Jane’s position as chairman has been taken over by Kate Skeates. Welcome Kate! The committee’s efforts over the past few months have been concentrated on organising the Newbury Waterways Festival. The event itself is reported elsewhere, but it could not have gone ahead without the help of all the volunteers who were involved, whether on the
s I sit here with the temperature in the upper eighties, jug of Pimms by my side and contemplate a good dry haymaking season, my mind slips back to moving the ‘Rose’ to Devizes just after Christmas, “was it really so cold then?” My thoughts in December were “is this what they call global warming?” Today, maybe it really is.
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Charter bookings The charter bookings are coming along very nicely this year and, with the exception of a couple of duff days, the public trips are also being well subscribed. Around the mid summer weekend, we took the boat to Reading for the Reading Water Fest, and during the Saturday we gave 441 paying passengers a trip around Chocolate Island.
Lock gear ‘improvements’ On the journey to Reading I experienced myself, for the first time, the so-called improvements to the lock gear mechanisms. Any comment that I make upon that subject is sure to be censored by the editor so I shall refrain. A great effort and thanks to all involved on those gruelling few days. Unfortunately, that was the time that the ‘Barbara McLellan’ chose to spring a
leak and, as we were over 2 sailing days away, despite prompt offers, sadly we were unable to be of any help to her in her hour of need.
Santa offer Yipee! Following the last Butty I have had an offer (albeit from his wife) of a good gentleman wishing to join our band of Santas. Thank you Simon for that; the other Santas are looking forward to Ho Ho Hoing with you. We are still looking for more Santas though, so please get in touch if you can help.
Four new captains Also yippee, as we now have four new captains including both the Trust Chairman and also only the second lady captain that we have had on the ‘Rose’. Congratulations to you all and thanks for helping with the workload so well, especially the midweek daytime charters.
The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Public Trip Boats • 3 boats • 3 locations • public trips • special charters •
‘Protect Enhance Promote’
‘Rose of Hungerford’ Operating from just off the High Street in Hungerford With a seating capacity of 50, ‘Rose’ is a comfortable well-equipped widebeam boat. Public trips: • Every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter until October – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday from June until September – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday during July and August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Every Sunday during August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Special Santa Trips at Christmas
‘Barbara McLellan’
‘Jubilee’
Operating from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage The Barbara McLellan is a 65-ft purpose-built wide-beam boat capable of seating 51 passengers.
Operating from Brassknocker Basin, opposite Viaduct Inn, Limpley Stoke, A36 East of Bath ‘Jubilee’ is a converted traditional narrowboat with a 30-seat capacity. Brassknocker Basin has ample car parking.
Public trips: • From May to September–11.30am: I hour trip to Meadows Bridge, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays • From June to mid-September – 4.30pm: I hour trip to Widbrook, Saturday and Sunday • Special trips, including cream teas, Bath, Autumn Tints, Christmas Santa Trips
Charter trips available for all your special occasions Wheelchair/disabled access
Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day. Wheelchair/disabled access Wharf shop and tea-room Boat tickets, gifts, books and refreshments
Booking Manager: 01488 683389
Booking Manager: 01225 775326
Public trips: • Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until October 12.00 – 2.00pm Cruse to Claverton and return 2.30pm – 5.45pm Cruise to Avoncliffe stopping for 30 minutes and return • From June to September inclusive Tuesdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Avoncliffe and return Thursdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Bathampton and return
All boats are well equipped to provide a range of refreshments and they have licensed bars. They also have a public address system or will accept your own sound system. General enquiries 01380 721279
real at! a y o j n E ily tre m a f Booking Manager: 01749 850169 Charter trips
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Crofton Ray Knowles 01672 851639 icking up from where I left it last time, a lot of outside painting has now been done by Reg on the main boiler house doors in between greeting visitors, which really shows that we are faring the same as other attractions with lower visitor numbers than last year on average.
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Organ builders visit There was one notable exception on Monday 30th May when we almost broke recent records for a steaming day with 435 visitors. Our neighbour Rosemary Wakeford, who is the Treasurer of The Institute of British Organ Building, arranged their annual outing in her garden to include a visit to the beam engines in steam, which was very much enjoyed as there is a long standing affinity between organ builders and steam engines of various kinds. Harry Willis had produced a souvenir programme which also acted as their entrance tickets for the day and there was much comment from them on his suitability for this task because of his surname — ask any organ enthusiast for details.
No. 172 Autumn 2005
We are all delighted that Reg’s wife Shelagh, has been offered and accepted, a parttime job in our shop and café, which will release Reg for the Warden’s duties which he has been unable to do during the day and which has led to slippages in the essential maintenance work around the site.
‘Tarped’ tubes On inspection, the ‘mothballing’ on the spare boiler was found to have sprung a leak and water ingress had caused some rusting in the fire tubes which have had to be sand blasted back to the bare metal and then immediately ‘tarped’ to exclude the air. This is an unpleasant job lying on one’s back painting this gooey substance all over the inside of the fire tubes without missing a single square centimetre. See picture of Keith and Dave after the event. Tarp is a wonderful substance for rust prevention made by Burmah Castrol, now
BP, that also has the property being able to attach itself to any passing clothing from a distance of 2 ft (600mm). It was then decided to smarten up the outside of the boiler which was soon gleaming black in the hot sunshine.
American cyclists The ‘American Cyclists came on 31st May and there is an article and photograph on page 22. Their second and final visit this year was on August 16.
Winter preparations We are now starting work on the preparations for winter maintenance by getting budget prices for boiler cleaning and all the other items needed to make sure we can reopen on 14th April next year. We still lack a secretary, deputy chairman and shop volunteers for non-steaming weekends.
Devizes Roger Hollands 01249 650952 he sun shone on the Devizes Branch walk along the Combe Hay to Midford section of the Somerset Coal Canal. Roger Halse, the SCC archivist, gave us an encyclopaedic history of the canal and its construction. We visited the Combe Hay tunnel, the flight of locks and the last remaining bridge on the canal.
T Pictures by Harry Willis
Keith Bates, left and Dave Churton togged-up and ready for tarping.
Sadly, this is in a very sorry state but, hopefully, when ownership is established, funding for restoration can be made available. That’s the bad news, but just around the corner is the fully restored Midford aqueduct, which linked the canal to a tramway that carried coal from pits in the Radstock area.
Cassion boatlift The site of the subterranean cassion boatlift left much to our imagination. It proved unworkable as it was constructed in an unstable strata of Fullers Earth and it must have been a terrifying experience to be shut inside! The walk ended with much needed refreshment at the local in Midford.
Devizes Beer Festival Once again the Branch ran a giant Tombola Stall. Thanks to the Devizes traders for their generous donations. It was a successful, fun, fundraising day, with the added bonus of a mind-blowing selection of beers in the next tent. There was an obvious linear relationship between beer consumed and money spent on the tombola; from a slow start at 11am the stall was empty by 6.30!
Membership Awareness Day Devizes Branch members and the Trust marketing team of Sue Attwood and John Kirby set up the Trust gazebo at
f
r d o n Av o n W h o f & ar ad r Dry Dock B
200 years of tradition returns to Bradford Wharf For Marine Engineering Services & Dry Dock Bookings Covering all aspects of boat repairs, maintenance & improvements
Call Richard Burchell on 01225 868 668 or 07971 103436
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No. 172 Autumn 2005
Picture by Roger Hollands
Sue Attwood and John Kirby of set up stall at Manifold Lock (Lock 47), Devizes between Prison Bridge and The Black Horse pub.
Prison Bridge Lock. Boaters from as far afield as Yorkshire were assisted through the lock. Lots of good humoured banter took place. New Trust members were signed up and many generous donations received.
Cotswold Canals talk Bruce Hall, Chairman of the Cotswold Canals Trust, will be visiting the Canal Centre at Devizes Wharf at 7.30pm on Saturday 24th September to give a talk on the history of the Canals, restoration progress to date, and how he sees the future. There will not be an entrance charge. Bring a glass of your favourite refreshment, or buy a cup of tea or coffee during the interval. There will also be an opportunity to buy items of canal interest. Could this be the first opportunity to shop early for Christmas!
Littleton Panell Vineyard On 19th November we will be having a wine tasting evening and a talk by Littleton Panell Vineyard. There will be an opportunity to buy some local wine. This will be a joint meeting with the Devizes Boat Club and we expect it to be very popular. To avoid disappointment, please register your interest with Alice Boyd or myself. When the evening is finalised we will send you more information. Contact Roger: rd.hollands@tiscali.co.uk or Alice: Alicebf2@aol.com
West Wilts John Maciver 01225 812225 t was all going so well… the shop sales were extremely good, charter trips and passenger numbers were up, the garden was in full bloom, everyone was buoyed up … but then disaster struck in midJune! ‘Barbara McLellan’ sprung a leak overnight and was discovered sitting stern down low in the water, flooded to a depth of about 12 inches in the galley and along a third of the main cabin.
I
Pumping Frantic pumping and the use of an emergency pump brought the situation under control. Water appeared to be running in from the bow area but the location could not be determined as there were no convenient access panels. We were extremely grateful to the manager of BOA Wharf Engineering, Richard Burchell, who managed to re-schedule some of his work so ‘B Mac’ could be dry-docked. Corrosion was discovered in the bottom plate, under the starboard toilet area, but the full extent of the corrosion was not realised until we had ripped out the toilets, effluent tanks, the forward seats and the floor panels.
primarily by water entrapment on the forward side of where the cross member beams (frames) are welded to the bottom plate. [Any water in that area should run/drain aft, through the frame cut-outs, to the cabin bilge pump.] Additionally, there were a number of other contributory factors which we believe exacerbated and accelerated the corrosion process: there was insufficient ventilation between the floorboards and the hull; poor quality steel which appeared to have a high (free) carbon content; electrolysis (galvanic action) possibly due to differences in the earth potential of the boat engine and also the effect of being hooked up to shore power and being moored alongside the steel piling of the canal Cut. The causes and effects of electrolysis is a complex and much misunderstood subject which we need to address.
Bottom to be replated It was initially decided to replate about 10/12 feet (fore and aft) in the bow area and then re-plate the rest of the hull during the winter re-fit. However, Richard had great difficulty in welding the new plates to the poor quality existing plate (free carbon content); moreover, the extent of corrosion in the chine and keel area was worse than first thought. Despite best endeavours, the leaks in the hull could not be
stemmed; so, it was decided that a total bottom over-plate, plus a 3-4 inch shirt above the chine, was needed to achieve an effective repair. As a consequence, a further strip of the galley, bar and main cabin was carried out to determine the full extend of the internal corrosion, before ‘Barbara McLellan’ was sailed to RLL Boats, Keynsham, in early July. The boat has since been craned out and the underside shot-blasted but the MCA surveyor has directed that the hull cannot be over-plated; rather, the old plate must be removed and a new plate welded to the existing frames. Consequently, Branch volunteers had to gut the whole cabin, bar and galley areas in order to lift all the floor boards. Stripping out was the easy part; putting this massive jigsaw together, once the boat returns to BOA, will be the tricky bit! We will need all your help. ‘B Mac’ is not expected back in service until around the end of September.
Support Clearly, the impact of the above has been significant. Trust and Enterprise management and I are extremely grateful to all the volunteers who have worked many hours in stripping, preparing and delivering the boat; Richard Burchell and his staff for all their generous professional help; George Gibson for all his advice and of course all our own shop volunteers who have kept us supplied with cups of tea/coffee.
Corrosion Severe corrosion was discovered, emanating from inside to outside, caused
Richard Burchell of BOA Wharf Engineering at work on the Barbara McLellan, in the dry dock
Picture by Bob Naylor
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Disappointed customers Many of our valued customers have also faced great disappointment and inconvenience. Grant and Gill Milner (Booking Managers) and I have spent hours on the telephone and written numerous letters and e-mails apologising and explaining the situation. But above all, we have lost £000s in revenue and it will cost £tens of thousands to get the boat operational again. Still, the upside is that ‘Barbara McLellan’ will be good for another 30+ years.
Compliments for Tea Room There is a silver lining though; our Tea Room now has a reputation for being one of the best in the town. Glowing compliments have been received on the standard, range and quality of the food and refreshments served, as well as the overall pleasant ambience of the place. Harry Fox has transformed the garden and it’s now much admired by everyone; indeed, the garden has been submitted for judgement in the ‘BOA in Bloom’ competition.
Bradford on Avon Wharf Show We are looking forward to the 2-day Bradford on Avon Wharf Show during Bank Holiday weekend, 27th and 28th August 05, but regrettably it is not likely that ‘Barbara McLellan’ will be operational by that time.
Volunteers Finally, if anyone would like to volunteer in either the shop or on the boat we would be delighted to welcome you. You do not need any previous experience to participate in this rewarding and satisfying pursuit. Things can only get better — can’t they?
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Claverton Pete Dunn 01761 432811 ust before The Butty deadline, the Claverton Committee reviewed the work load of the maintenance teams. A comprehensive list of tasks was drawn up to take us through next winter and beyond, with a range of tasks that will suit all our differing skills and aptitudes. Some projects are essential to the good operation of the pumping machinery, others are more cosmetic and will help make a visit to Claverton a worthwhile experience for the visitors.
J
Burbage Crane One new and interesting development is that the group has widened its scope and we are now prepared to take on the reconstruction of the Burbage Crane subject to a satisfactory agreement with Crown Estates who are the land owners. As I write, the next step is to enter formal discussions with them. This plan is being brokered by John Webb, Chairman of the Avon & Wilts Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.
IWA & WRG help We hope to start this project next spring, dismantling the existing crane at Burbage with assistance from the IWA and, hopefully, the Waterway Recovery Group who may be able to provide some labour and transport. The actual construction work will take place at Claverton in the form of a dry assembly before re-erecting the crane at Burbage.
New Vounteers Back at the Pump House, the summer season has progressed well. Visitor numbers are steady and we have managed to recruit two new volunteers and sign up several new members using the new membership packs. We had a very pleasant evening barbecue on the lawn in June under cloudless skies.
Trust speakers The Trust has speakers available to speak on many topics so if you want a talk on subjects as diverse as: The social history of working boats in the 1800s, The K&A
Bath & Bristol Mike Davis 01225 448576 he summer season is being enjoyed by all along our stretch of the canal in the normal way. The school holidays and the recent good weather have brought people out in force. Both our trip boat ‘Jubilee’ and the Claverton Pumping Station are anticipating results similar to those of last year.
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Jubilee trips We were on a couple of ‘Jubilee’ trips last month. The striking thing is that everybody on board is always happy. Most have never been on the canal before and they are amazed that it is so interesting and beautiful. Where passengers have never met each other before, especially on public trips, by the end of trip they are laughing and joking, as if they have known each other for years. The boat will take over 3,000 passengers during the course of the year, so that is a lot of happiness being spread about. Well done, the ‘Jubilee’. Some of the charters for the boat are now for corporate team building exercises, and a very good vehicle it is for this too. Those present work
— an armchair journey, Cruising the Canal du Midi, The waterways of Scotland or The history and restoration of the K&A then contact the Canal Centre in Devizes.
together crewing the boat through locks and bridges, and some have basic instruction in helming – all under close supervision, of course.
New Skippers Two new potential skippers will be undergoing training during the winter, both of them women.
Water levels We have experienced one of the driest few months since records began and water levels are below what they should be, which is causing a few problems. The first stage of water restrictions has been announced recently. We really need a lot of rain this winter to get back to normal.
Bi-centenery Celebrations There is talk along the canal already of 2010 celebrations, the bi-centenary of the final opening of the through navigation. This will no doubt be focussed on Devizes and the Caen Hill Flight, but when the Widcombe Flight was opened in November 1810 there was a Gala Event at this end with crowds and VIPs and fireworks. We are thinking ourselves of a repeat performance.
Y BOATING DAon the beautiful
Kennet & Avon Canal self-drive and skippered boats canadian canoes & cycle hire The Bath & Dundas Canal Co. Brass Knocker Basin Monkton Coombe, Bath, BA2 7JD Telephone: 01225 722292 Web: www.bathcanal.com
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Butty Letters to the Editor
No. 172 Autumn 2005
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 Editor, Di Harris
be honoured, but no letter will be published unless it arrives with contact details. Letters should be not more than 300 words and may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Send letters to the Editor: contact details on page 3.
EFFICIENT USE OF MOORING SPACES I don’t understand why BW is BW replies... threatening to charge £50 to anyone who moors on a mooring signed “Permit Holder's Only". As moorings are so scarce, surely it should be possible to allow people to stay for a while on moorings when the mooring holder has moved off to travel the system. Wouldn’t that help to free up a lot of towpath bankside for casual mooring? D Dunwell, Swindon
If boat owners want to use empty mooring spaces when the 'resident' boat has gone away for an extended cruise, the person who owns the mooring must contact British Waterways to gain permission for someone else to occupy their mooring while they are away. Permission is then given at British Waterways’ discretion.
DROPPING PADDLES – HOW LONG IN AN EMERGENCY? We recently encountered a minor emergency when the delay in being able to drop the bottom paddles exacerbated the situation. This was at Newbury Town Lock when we were coming down towards Reading. We were in the lock and there was a boat moored on the short mooring below. I was aware of the potential danger and asked the boat below if he was secure before I lifted the paddles. In spite of
his assurance that all was well, when I raised the first paddle, his boat began to be swept down-stream. Instead of being able to drop the paddle immediately, it took 50 to 60 turns of the windlass! BW engineers need to look at the problem – both from the point of view of the effort required to operate the gear and from the safety aspect. Alan & Sheila Gowans (nb Crayfish)
INVENTOR NEEDS MANUFACTURER If you can be of assistance I’d be very grateful. I have invented a simple and inexpensive device to assist persons who have fallen overboard to get back on board without having to go near the propeller. The problem is I cannot find a manufacturer and distributor to take it on.
You can view an animated action of the device on www.idealifeline.co.uk/marineste p.htmp If you can assist, please let me know, Terry Galligan, Newbury (responses to the Editor please)
SAILING BARGE CYGNET IN READING I saw with great interest the picture of the Thames Sailing Barge ‘Cygnet’ in the Winter issue of The Butty, and also the letter in the Spring issue from Mike Lee. I was on ‘Cygnet’ when the picture was taken. She belonged at the time to Mr Christopher Rudd and I was at Michael Hall School where he worked. He took groups of pupils on her for several years, up the East Coast rivers, the Medway, round the North Foreland at least as far as Ramsgate and also up the Grand Union Canal as far as a wide barge could go. I was a regular crew member and became the mate. Mr Rudd took his interest in young people going sailing much further since he was the founder of the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which now has two fully rigged ships, ‘Lord Nelson’ and ‘Tenacious’, taking people with disabilities and the able-bodied. ‘Cygnet’s visit to Reading was in the late 1950s or early 1960s and was because the K&A asked vessels to bring ‘cargoes’ to show that the canal could be used (at least for a short way). We brought a symbolic bar of iron in the hold, all the way up the Thames (‘Cygnet’ looked grand in the
locks amongst the smart Thames cruisers), and I remember the problems of lowering the water level to get under the Reading bridge. We went up the canal with some difficulty for several miles, experiencing much trouble with mud and weeds. ‘Cygnet’ was not rigged for sailing at the time, and had only a stump mast. We did all the voyages under engine (initially a formidable V8 and then a diesel). We slept in the hold in pipe cots and cooked on a simple gas stove. Steering in rivers and canals with the big chaff-cutter wheel was challenging! On the East Coast and Thames and Medway estuaries we would sometimes take to the mud at low tide and scrub her sides. I lost touch with ‘Cygnet’ when I went off to university and was very pleased to see the photo of her in restored state in the recent edition. I would like to know who owns her now, if any of your readers know, and find out whether I could go and see her since she was very important to me at that stage in my life and started my love of boats. Terence Gaussen, Boston Spa, Wetherby
OTTERS OR MINK? have travelled quite extensively on the canal system and for the past 7 years been based on various locations on the K&A and we have seen a great deal of fauna and flora. What concerns me is the number of so-called sightings of the otter. You included a superb report on page 23 of Butty 171 by Sophie Lewis and I do not wish to take anything away from that, but I have yet to see an otter on the K&A.
I
Several people have told me that they have seen an otter only to discover when I showed them a picture of a mink that they could have been mistaken. So could you do a follow up to Sophie Lewis's article showing the difference between an otter and a mink? What we don’t need – and I am sure you would agree – is unsubstantiated reports by well-meaning members of the Trust or the public. Roy Skeates, Newbury
From speaking to other canal users it seems that there are some of us who could do with help distinguishing between mink and otter — so we will run an identification guide in the next issue of The Butty . . . Ed
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Reviews by Clive Hackford Greasy Ocker By Derek Pratt First published in 2005 by Enigma ISBN 0 9531742 3 9 192 pages. £8.99 soft cover
Narrowboat Planning By Graham Booth First published in 2005 by Waterways World ISBN 1 870002 94 6 108 pages. £14.99 Soft cover
erek Pratt will be well known to most readers as a brilliant inland waterways photographer and photographic archivist whose work has appeared in a very wide range of literature on aspects of our inland waterways. But to the best of my knowledge this is his first venture into the world of fiction novels and who could have better background experience on which to draw when setting a scene for the reader. Greasy Ocker is the nickname of Terry Hill, born to parents Dolly and Reg in a butty back cabin in 1935. The story follows the early lifetime adventures of Ocker which largely resulted from a feud with the Raggett family. Ocker shares centre stage with Tom Raggett who entered a life of crime while Ocker struggled to make a living from declining trade. Eventually both men are drawn together once more as a result of crime with violent and tragic results. The story is set against a background of canals and the underworld of London and Birmingham with the knowledge of the author creating realistic pictures in the mind of the reader and maintaining interest and a desire to keep reading right up to the last few lines of the book. In summary this is an excellent, easily read novel with narrative which brought the story alive.
he title is self explanatory and the book is divided into two parts. The first part is composed of 12 chapters starting with ‘1. Back To Basics’ (basic shell types). ‘2. Planning’ (allocation of areas) then through detail considerations for each allocated area to ‘12. Putting on the Style’ (decoration and personal touches). Part 2 looks at 13 actual fit outs from 30ft to 57ft.The book is filled with plenty of good, clear, colour photographs that illustrate points being made in the text. Lots of good ideas from this well-known author on the subject of fitting out and a most useful handbook whether planning a complete fit out of a new shell or refurbishing an existing boat. The author makes the point that depreciation of the boat’s value will be greater if the layout or finishes are too radical. Whilst this is probably true I wonder if it is this very consideration which has prevented innovative development in boat fit outs when compared to the caravan manufacturers. After all, it is the hard exterior casing (hull) that offers protection to the fittings against the rigors of inland waterway use.
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Narrow Dog to Carcassonne By Terry Darlington First published in 2005 by Transworld ISBN 0593 053117 370 pages. £14.99 hardback
his is the incredible story of how the author and his wife in their retirement (with an unenthusiastic dog) navigated their narrow boat across the English Channel, through Belgium and France to the Mediterranean. This journey featured in a TV programme last year, but the book adds a lot of exciting detail to the televised version. This is truly a story of adventure featuring 6ft high waves, the Seacat coming out of Calais at speed, a very tired engine at Calais, a close encounter with a freighter entering a lock, storm and vandals. It is written in a light vein that makes it easy to read – though I prefer dialogue that includes the use of speech marks. Some photographs would have been nice but I suppose that when one finds waves 6ft high rushing towards you or you are in danger of being crushed by a freighter the mind is focused on matters other than photography. And the title? The clue is in the fact that the dog was a whippet, Jim, described by the diesel attendant at Calais as the “thin dog”.
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Kiss and Tell By Leo McNeir First published in 2003 by Enigma ISBN 0 9531742 1 2 332 pages. £7.99 Soft cover
iss and Tell is the third crime fiction novel from the pen of Leo McNeir featuring Marnie Walker and her newly developed interior design business, with the narrow boat ‘Sally Ann’. His first and fourth novels were reviewed in the spring issue of this year. Kiss and Tell follows a theme of complex plots and events very well put together and making compelling reading. Well written with lifelike characters the suspense starts with Marnie’s idyll being broken by the arrival of a rude stranger who moors his boat on Marnie’s private mooring. It transpires that the stranger is being sought by police and press, having been accused of a shameful crime. Yet Marnie develops doubts about the accusations and helps him to avoid the pursuing pack. The unfolding story contains the elements of suspense and desperation further complicated by the emergence of a violent mugger, the questionable behaviour of the news media and the arrival of Marnie’s ex-husband. The element of suspense persists to the end of the book. Well written and compelling, it is hoped to review Leo McNeirs second novel Death in Little Venice in the next issue of The Butty.
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This is Clive’s last page of book reviews because after 10 years he has decided to retire, and put his feet up with a good book! If you would like to take his place as Butty Book Reviewer, please get in touch with the Editor 36
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Butty The page for younger canal users
Braeside Education and Conference Centre
No. 172 Autumn 2005
Watching wildlife with Susan Litherland of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
The Kingfisher
A good collection to examine
Picture by John Arthurs
Making a poitive identification of the catch
The bright colours of the kingfisher make it unmistakable. It is a shy bird that is often only seen as a blue streak as it flies low to water. It perches on low branches above the water when hunting to see its prey of fish – this can make it hard to see in the shade of the river bank. Kingfishers can be seen all year round, mainly in the early evening or mornings. Listen out for its call, a loud a shrill and piping ‘cheee’.
A small bird at 17cm. Iridescent blue, green metallic. Upper parts electric blue-green. Dark blue crown with light blue flecks. Orange and white cheeks. Writing up the finds
Under parts bright orange-brown.
Pond dipping in the canal Youngsters from schools in Wiltshire on courses at Braeside Education Centre in Devizes are regularly seen pond dipping in the canal as part of their natural science studies. During their stay they spend time walking in the chalk downland around Devizes as well as the Caen Hill Flight and the Canal Museum is always a highlight of their stay on the Wharf.
Dark bill with reddish base to lower mandible in females. Bright orange legs and feet. Nests in burrows in sandy banks.
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What’s On Diary September Wednesday 21st Autumn fashions and ball gowns show at the Caen Hill Café (see ad on back page) 7-9pm Monday 26th “Puppets at the Pergola” Pekko’s puppets at the Caen Hill Café (see ad on back page) Friday 23rd Combe Opera. Tickets £45 from Trust office. Saturday 24th Devizes Branch. Talk by Bruce Hall, Chairman of the Cotswold Canals Trust. Canal Centre at Devizes Wharf. 7.30pm. Free. Bring a glass of your favourite refreshment or buy a cup of tea or coffee during the interval. There will also be an opportunity to buy items of canal interest. Could be the first opportunity to shop early for Christmas! Contact us at: Roger — rd.hollands@tiscali.co.uk or
Alice — alicebf2@aol.com Wednesday 28th Newbury Branch. ‘Barging through Eastern Europe’, talk by Robin Higgs OBE. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everyone welcome. 7.45pm. Friday 30th Reading Branch. Talk about Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust. Turnham’s Farm Hall, Tilehurst. 8pm.
October Wednesday 26th Newbury Branch. ‘The Oxford Canal: past and present’, talk by Hugh Compton. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everybody welcome. 7.45pm. Friday 28th Reading Branch meeting. Turnham’s Farm Hall, Tilehurst. 8pm. Saturday 29th Devizes Boat Club AGM With quiz and cheese & wine Devizes Canal Centre.
Can’t wait to get out? … … then why not wiggle!
November Saturday 19th Devizes Branch/Devizes Boat Club. Wine tasting evening and talk by Littleton Panell Vineyard. There will be an opportunity to buy some local wine. To avoid disappointment, please register your interest with Alice (alicebf2@aol.com) or Roger (rd.hollands@tiscali.co.uk). Friday 25th Reading Branch 50th birthday party. More details from Mike Wyatt. 0118 9427708 Wednesday 30th Newbury Branch. ‘The production of a waterways magazine’ talk by Emrhys
Barrel, former Editor of Canal Boat Magazine. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everybody welcome. 7.45pm.
December Saturday 10th Devizes Boat Club Christmas Meal/Party The Three Crowns, Devizes.
January Wednesday 25th Newbury Branch. ‘The lowlands canals’, talk by David Saady. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everyone welcome. 7.45pm. Friday 27th Reading Branch. Talk by David Blagrave.
Please send details of your branch and club events to: listings@thebutty.co.uk
the Barge inn Honeystreet
Historic Canalside Inn serving home cooked food from noon — 2.30pm and 7 — 9pm
Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties
Tel: 01672 851705 www.the-barge-inn.com Crop circle venue with notice boards
We have a series of guided walks along the Kennet & Avon Canal that can be accessed by using the bookable Wigglybus services in the Vale of Pewsey. Explore this beautiful landscape by bus and towpath and enjoy a day by the canal. To receive a Wigglywalks leaflet call …
During office hours or please leave a message at any other time 38
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PRIZE CROSSWORD The prize for the winner of this crossword will be a video from the Trust’s Shop. Two runners-up will get £10 voucher to be used in the shop. Send your entries with your name and address to: Prize Crossword, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes SN10 1EB before 1st November 2005. Photocopies will be accepted.
The Butty Prize Crossword No 172 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... ..................................... .....................................
Across
Down
1 6
1 2 3
9 10 12 13 15 16 18 20 23 24 26 27 28 29
Brews tarry mess with summer fruit. (10) Flat piece of stone can be found in scientist’s laboratory. (4) Last stage of chess match may be the reverse of sporting finish? (7) Racket about AIDS disaster generates scorn. (7) Knob to press but not in reverse. (4-6) Weapon found when Royal Military Academy goes bust. (3) Character takes a turn to the east drunkenly. (6) Proverbially swearing soldiers sound like theatrical players. (8) Prayer for free entertainment in east New York. (8) Flee to Sweden with peace arranged. (6) Two elders conceal misfortune. (3) Set fire to window perhaps, to provide portable illumination. (10) Move round at domed building. (7) Select jury to measure rectangular piece of material. (7) Give drug to fool? (4) Agitating purring pet when bishop replaces piano carelessly. (10)
Butty Crossword 171 Solution
4 5 7 8 11 14 17 19 21 22 25
UNCLASSIFIED ADS Buying a narrowboat? Need it moved to another location? Don’t have time to do it yourself? Let me move it for you. Apprehensive about cruising for the first time? Don’t have time to take a full day’s instruction? Just need someone to give you an introduction into boat handling and gain confidence? Give me a ring. I can help. Just call Roy on 01635 821780
Winner: Mrs A Parmenter, Bromham Runners up: AD Wadley, Keynsham and Alan Fifer, Leicester.
To start with, slice turnips evenly when producing this dish. (4) Obtrude disgracefully on fortification. (7) Seasoned look acquired when pounded by atmospheric conditions. (7-6) Sounds as if the first person has completely fascinating sight. (6) Without the French communist frightens bird. (8) Information revealed without authorisation (hopefully not on the K&A)! (7) Conductor has tie with controller. (10) Follower of Ra perhaps – could end up burnt? (3,10) Criminal region possibly beneath the earth. (10) Watch celebrities? Or become an astronomer. (4-4) Highest branches to peter out. (7) Ghanaian people could have a roughly built hut by the sound of it. (7) Menace disintegrating earth with time. (6) Bullet for the garden pest? (4)
Commission a collector’s model of your nb/trailboat/etc or cottage, or both – in a bottle. Leaflet John Burden, 32 Astley Close, Pewsey, SN9 5BD. 01672 563193. Guild Waterways Artists. Waterways Craft Guild – Master
Bob Naylor Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01380 840584, Mobile 07788134901 Email: bob@boatsafe.co.uk Boat surveys. Professional surveys of any type of boat undertaken for sale, insurance or damage. I have over 40 years of boating experience and guarantee prompt, efficient and sympathetic surveys with realistic recommendations. George Gibson, Gibson’s Boat Services. Tel: 01672 851232 Unclassified ads are free for members of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust for up to 30 words
Roses and castles Painting courses One day course (£35) Sunday 9th October Two day courses (£75) Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 23rd October, Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th December More details: 01793 615898 (evenings) or email spengi@ntlworld.com Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf. All materials & refreshments included. Fancy a weekend’s hard graft? The NWPG arranges monthly restoration trips to southern canals. Learn new skills – for free! Contact Graham Hawkes on 0118 941 0586 or grahamhawkes@btinternet.com
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Caen Hill Café Calender 2005 Fashion Show 21st September 7—9pm
Come and join British Waterways and the Shaw Trust for an evening show of Autumn fashions and ball gowns. See them on the catwalk, then make your selections after the show. Tickets cost £5 and include a complimentary buffet and drinks. Available from Caen Hill Café and the Shaw Trust shop in Devizes
Puppets in the Pergola Wednesday 26th October Make half term a real treat with a visit to the café to enjoy Pekko’s Puppets. These fantastic traditional tales come from around the world are re-told for today’s generation with beautiful hand-made puppets and scenery. Admission free. A collection on behalf of The Shaw Trust will be taken after each show. 10.15am
Goldflower and the Bear ages 3 – 8 (40 minutes)
11.30am
Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp ages 3 – 7 (45 minutes)
1.00pm
The Man Who Lost His Nose ages 4 – 10 (50 minutes)
2.30pm
Goldflower and the Bear ages 3 – 8 (40 minutes)
4.00pm
Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp ages 3 – 7 (45 minutes)
For more information on events at the Café please call 01452 318000 or visit www.waterscape.com/caenhillcafe for updates. In partnership with