CHESTER & MERSEYSIDE BRANCH
MAY 2016
Waterloo Bridge Runcorn
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE North West Region Chairman
Mike Carter H.0151 641 9316 M 07795617803 mike carter@waterways.org.uk
Branch Chairman
Vacancy
Vice Chairman
Mike Carter ( details as above)
Secretary
Vacancy
Treasurer, Social Secretary & Assist Planning Officer
Jim Mole jim-mole16-elizabethan@tiscali.co.uk H.01606 40955 M.07580 162355
Minute Secretary
Helen Forkin jimhelen@jimhelen.fsnet.co.uk
Publicity Officer
Jim Forkin jimhelen@jimhelen.fsnet.co.uk H.01270 650054 M 07803 928929
Editor Packet Boat
Jeanne Smith jeanne.smith32@btinternet.com M. 07746955931
Planning & Navigation Officer
Geoff Gittus geoff.boatman@btinternet.com H. 0151 605 1094 M. 07808 859751
Sales Officer
Lesley Taylor lesley.taylor22@btinternet.com H. 0151 342 6651
Membership Secretary
Gaven Tillbee gaven1@btinternet.com H.0161 491 1951 M 07974 996202
Assistant Membership Secretary
Andrea Tillbee gaven1@btinternet.com M. 07875 067185
Merseyside Liaison
Dave Smallshaw flatboat@aol.com H. 0151 420 1460 M.07941 461509
SCARS Liaison
Colin Greenall colingreenall@btinternet.com H. 01744 731746 M. 07944 101162
Chester Liaison
John Herson hersonjohn@gmail.com H. 01244 340029
Bridgewater Canal Liaison
Ian & Vera Short veinarde1@btinternet.com
EDITOR’S MUSINGS May 2016 Welcome to the May edition of The Packet Boat. Firstly, this is my first attempt at editing a magazine, so I hope you will bear with me and excuse any mistakes. Secondly I must thank everyone who sent me articles and information to go in to the Newsletter, as without their valuable contributions we would have no content. Spring is on the horizon, the trees are getting greener by the day, blossom is opening, and as I write the first house martins are twittering around in the sky overhead heralding the start of what we hope will be another good season on our Rivers and Canals. This summer when you are out and about on our waterways, whether it be by boat, car or Shanks’s pony, please remember to take photos of any interesting events you come across, any special trips that you make and amusing incidents which would make a good article for our magazine. Send them to me along with a few words, preferably less than one side of A4, telling all about your experiences. I would also like to hear of any programme of work going on during the Autumn months, any talks, or other items of general interest, that you would like to put in to the next edition. I am hoping to produce this in October, but without your input there will be no magazine worth reading, so unless you only want to hear about my travels on our Wilderness Boat, (my reserve emergency copy), I am counting on you all. Finally can I remind you all that we are still looking for a Chairman and Secretary, volunteers are welcome to put their name forward. Have a good summer. Jeanne Smith
The first branch social meeting will be on Tuesday 11th October 7.30 for 7.45pm start. Speaker is Captain Derek Kemp talking about the Kiel Canal Venue to be announced
North West Regional Chairman's Report As you may know the Chester & Merseyside Branch Committee has seen some personnel changes recently with some new members and the retirement of Peter Gillian Bolt as Chairman and Secretary. I would like to say thank you and welcome the new committee members Jeanne Smith and Ian & Vera Short who have stepped in to help us continue our campaigning for better waterways and improved facilities in the branch area, but more of this later.... I would also like to thank Peter & Gillian for the care and fortitude that they have brought to the branch committee during their long involvement with IWA. Peter initially doubling up as Region Chairman and Chester & District branch membership secretary until taking on the Branch Chairman's role in 2012. Gillian working on Waterways for Youth ( now Wild Over Waterways) and editing the branch magazine until taking on the Secretary’s role in 2007. I'm sure all Chester & Merseyside members will join me in thanking Peter & Gillian for their valuable contributions to our campaign. And so, what of our 'campaign', what does IWA campaign for and is this still valid, what have we to show for 70 years of IWA campaigning ? Firstly please let me assure all members that IWA locally and nationally are still very strong and effective campaigners for our waterways. 'Keeping Our Waterways Alive' is still a valid and effective description of what we do and all members should take pride in being associated with one of the most successful volunteer led campaigns ever seen in the UK. Let me urge all IWA members to take a few minutes to reflect on the 2000 miles of navigable canals & rivers in the UK and congratulate yourself for a Job well done.
Looking back I can see real value from your IWA subscriptions. For less than ÂŁ2.50 per month we have a unique waterways heritage supporting a national canals & river network used for leisure and trade. The IWA Waterways Conservancy idea has been taken up by government and most of the waterways are now owned by everyone in the UK via. a national trust (Canal & River Trust) with sufficient funding for aritable trlong term sustainability. In addition the IWA Restoration movement has successfully supported recent restorations of many canals, including the trans pennine Rochdale and Huddersfield canals and further afield the Droitwich and the Basingstoke Canals, all of which would otherwise have been abandoned too. Looking forwards your subscriptions continue to fuel the campaign as we urge the Government to implement the complete package and include Environment Agency and other viable waterways as part of the now very successful Canal & River Trust. Chester & Merseyside members should note that there are a few EA navigations in our region, (River Dee and Winsford Flash) and we do have a number of commercially managed canals,( Bridgewater & Manchester Ship Canals and Liverpool Link North, managed by Peel Ports).
There are also navigation assets managed via. Local Authorities ( e.g. Raddle Wharf & Telford Ship Lock at Ellesmere Port and the Upper River Dee . With best wishes Mike Carter
It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA. They are published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA is a registered charity No 212342
The Steam tug/tender Daniel Adamson comes alive
Daniel Adamsons saloons
Daniel Adamson at Warburton
Twelve years after forming the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society and acquiring this unique steam powered tug/tender named after the founder of the Manchester Ship Canal Company, the restoration of the tug is almost complete. After ten years of hard work by volunteers and generous donations including from The National Lottery to fund the project, in particular the last year when major works were carried out by Camel Laird in their Birkenhead dock. She will at the begging of May sail over to Liverpool for a celebration ceremony and two days being open to the public. After a period of operational trials and crew training she will be operating on the river carrying passengers: these are expected to begin in June. If you are interested in experience travelling on this unique vessel keep a look out for information on the society’s web site, or look for information in the local newspapers. It is expected that the Daniel Adamson will travel from Birkenhead to Canning Half Tide Dock on the 3rd or 4th of May and moor outside the front entrance of the Maritime Museum. She will be open to the public on the 7th and 8th of May. On these days she will be part of the “Steam in the Dock” event where there will be other boats and land based steam powered activities. There will be lots to see and do over these two days, so come along and experience a unique day out The first image is of the upper and lower saloons as they were in 1936 and they have been restored to this design and standard. The second is of the Daniel Adamson travelling on the Manchester Ship Canal in the 1970s; again the restored vessel will be almost identical to how she was at this time. Tony Hirst
Chester & Merseyside members receive awards
Derek and Mike with Richard Parry
All of the award winners
Derek receiving bronze pin
On the 12th April Chester and Merseyside members Mike Carter and Derek Smith were invited to an Awards Ceremony at the Anderton Lift. They were presented with Volunteer awards by Canal and River Trust’s Chief Executive Richard Parry. Also present was Wendy Capelle, Regional Manager, and the ceremony was organised by Jason Watts who is the volunteer organiser for their North Wales & Borders Region. Derek received a Bronze award for his work on surveying and identifying parking launching places on all of the region’s waterways. The Montgomery Canal, Llangollen Canal, Newport & Shrewsbury Canal, Shropshire Union Canal and River Weaver. This covered slipways and bank side places for launching all portable boats. In surveying these all the useful measurements - widths, depths etc were taken, along with photographs. Waterways elsewhere in the country have also been similarly surveyed. The information for this region is now available on pdf pages on the Canal & River Trust web site. To have a look open their website and type ‘Slipways’ in the main search box. Among other things you will find a folder for each of the regions’ waterways. The Trust are still working on how to make the data easily editable and on ways to make it easier to search through.
Mike received an award for all of his work with volunteers in cleaning up our area’s waterways. This is ongoing work, which I am sure will receive more awards in the future. Jeanne Smith
The Voyages of Deryn Du
The Thames Barrier
Entering and leaving Dartford Creek
It had always been our dream to cruise the entire waterways network, so as soon as was possible we took retirement and set off. It took us nine years, doing a section each year. We could have done it more quickly, but then we would have not have met so many lovely people, visited such wonderful places, and had so many interesting experiences. I thought I would share the most recent of these with you. We had always wanted to cruise through the Thames Barrier, and since it would be more fun sharing the experience with others, we got in touch with the St Pancras cruising club, as they often organised cruises through it. They replied that unfortunately this year they were doing a cruise to Gravesend instead. We have to shamefully admit to being unsure where Gravesend was in relation to the barrier, but having ascertained that it was the other side, we asked if we could join them, and having fulfilled the requirements, were accepted. We attended the Cruising Association club house in Limehouse basin for a briefing and a chance to get to know everyone. After the briefing came a revision of our plans. Roger Squires asked if, having arrived at Gravesend, any boats would be prepared to go up the Dartford creek and the Cray to help maintain the right to navigation. Roger thought Deryn Du would navigate them with ease, so along with three other boats we said yes. The next morning we went out through Bow locks and down Bow creek onto the Thames, coming out opposite the Dome. It was raining as we started off but the weather improved and after a very interesting trip down the Thames we eventually arrived in Gravesend in brilliant sunshine. The arrangement was that we would set off again on a rising tide and enter Dartford creek and go first up the Cray navigation and turn at the old wharf at the end, return to the junction, and then up the Dartford creek nearly as far as the abandoned lock - where there was room to turn. We would then return to Gravesend and join the others for a pub meal. You know what they say about the best laid plans‌‌.Everything started off well, we got to the entrance to the creek at the right time (when there was just enough water to get in). Roger was on Panacea, the smallest boat and was leading the way. We were third, and hadn't got as far as the junction with the Clay navigation when Panacea came to a halt.
Moored at Gravesend
Leaving at Sunset
OUR LEEDS & LIVERPOOL 200TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL 11 & 12 June 2016 The Eldonian Village Canal Festival is going to be a unique event for the branch. With L&L short boats, “Shreck” the boat horse, Mersey convoys to get there and nearly 100 visiting craft it will be a weekend to remember. 1968 saw the IWA National Rally held on the very same site to campaign for the arm down into Liverpool to be kept open and we are still campaigning, nearly 50 years later, aiming to improve facilities for boaters making the journey down into the docks as well as encouraging CRT to increase the numbers of craft that can navigate the link. That aim has already been achieved with CRT recently announcing that they intend to double the numbers passing through the Liverpool Link locks – so a good start. We also hope to leave a legacy of new moorings rings and interpretation boards as well as updated sanitary facilities although it may take a little longer for these legacies to be put in place. As well as live music by brass bands and country & western groups, we also have the local school performing for the visitors, doing a dance routine and an Old Time Music Hall number in full fancy dress. With our children’s WOW activities, a free trip boat and “Get Afloat” activities using canoes, it should be a great weekend for all the visitors – showing the local community as well as the special guests what a difference a vibrant and functioning canal can make to an area. Eldonian Village is a special place – in the early 70’s the local community were due to be re-housed out at Kirby New Town, way outside Liverpool. They objected, received a grant and formed a Housing Association – building a few small houses at a time. Now they have hundreds of them in a universally admired village They have won Unesco Awards for their forward thinking and the great and the good (Including Prince Charles and Gordon Brown) have visited to get ideas on how to regenerate cities in a way that meets the needs of the local people.
Come to the Festival and see Eldonian for yourself as well as having a great weekend with all your waterways colleagues. Even better, come and give us an hour of your time to make this a very special L&L Anniversary event. For more information please contact: gillian.bolt@waterways.org.uk
RUNCORN LOCKS RESTORATION PROJECT Proposals to restore Runcorn Locks at the western extremity of the Bridgewater Canal have been under consideration for a number of years and are, in principle, supported by Halton Borough Council. IWA’s 2005 National Festival & Inland Boat Show was held at nearby Preston Brook partly with a view to demonstrate support for the restoration of this waterway connection, and to follow on the work of IWA’s National Campaign Rally held in Runcorn the previous year by IWA’s Chester and District Branch. A Runcorn Locks Restoration Society was formed in 2004 but restoration has been unable to proceed as the link roads of the ‘Silver Jubilee’ bridge have blocked the route at the current head of navigation of the Mersey Runcorn arm. Work has now commenced on the construction of a replacement ‘Mersey Gateway' bridge and the link roads will no longer be required so once the new bridge is open this could clear the way for the locks to be restored. There have been studies commissioned into the redevelopment of Runcorn docks which might allow an even a more ambitious objective. The Runcorn & Weston Canal used to run alongside the docks and if this connection could be re-established it would create a new cruising ring joining the River Weaver to the Bridgewater Canal without having to venture onto the Manchester Ship Canal. The line of the former Runcorn & Weston Canal does have some obstructions but a redevelopment plan could easily incorporate an alternative route.
Unlocking Runcorn Locks
Present end of the canal
Setting off on
Bridgewater House
View over the Mersey
All kitted out with safety tabards
Bottom Lock
On April 14th, a group from Chester & Merseyside IWA were privileged to be taken on a tour of the site. Above are pictures taken on the day, watch this space as we hope to keep you up to date with progress once the old link roads have been demolished.