Towing Path Topics May 2017

Towing Path Topics Newsletter of the Inland Waterways Association Lancashire & Cumbria Branch May 2017

Happy Birthday!

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Towing Path Topics are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of its North West Region or of the Lancs and Cumbria Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter.

No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgment.

Cover Photograph: Hincaster Tunnel on the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal (tunnel opened in 1817).

Photograph acknowledgements: Page 12 Chester & Merseyside Branch Page 11 Sir Robert Atkins website Page 14 LCRP All others by the editor

The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.

Editor: David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk

Copy date for next edition 12th August 2017 2

Contents 5

Report from the Branch Chairman

8

Dates for your diary

11

New Region Chairman

12

Mike Carter

13

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

16

Hincaster tunnel

17

Lancaster Canal news

18

IWA news

19

Review of 2016

20

Report of AGM

21

Branch committee

24

Branch social meetings

Forthcoming dates 27–29 May IWA National Trailboat Festival, Moira, Ashby Canal 3-4 June Country Fest Westmorland Showground 24-25 June Leeds Waterfront Festival 24-25 June Burscough Heritage Weekend 24-25 June Mersey River Festival, Liverpool 27 June Anderton Boat Lift branch trip 8-9 July Holme Howler 16 July Ulverston Canal Summer Gala 27-28 August Botany Bay Canal Festival 26-28 August IWA Festival of Water, Ilkeston, Erewash Canal 23 Sept Branch walk on Lancaster Canal Northern Reaches 28 Sept Branch social meeting at Wheelton, first of the season 30 Sept IWA National AGM, Langley Mill, Notttingham Details of the above events are elsewhere in this edition.

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Editorial Following the hectic 2016 with all the activities around the 200th anniversary of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal things look a bit quieter this year. Our thoughts now turn to 2019 and the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Lancaster Canal. One of the main landmarks along the canal, the Hincaster Tunnel was completed 200 years ago this year. See page 16 for more information, which was taken from the excellent Lancaster Canal Trust display panel at the tunnel.

See page 3 for a summary of some of the events happening this year. The weekend of the 24th and 25th is particularly busy with festivals in Leeds, Burscough and Liverpool. I am quite happy to publicise events outside the branch area as I know that our members travel far and wide. We will have the branch stand at some of the events and could attend more if we had more help. I am afraid most of the work seems to be done by our committee members.

The L&L bicentenary generated enormous amounts of positive publicity and involved many groups not usually associated with the canal. The L&L Canal Society and Canal & River Trust are to be congratulated on their hard work. Let us hope that we can achieve similar success on the Lancaster Canal in 2019.

Never think that restoration of the Northern Reaches is an impossible dream. Go and look at the Rochdale or the Huddersfield Narrow Canals to see what can be achieved.

In this edition we welcome Sir Robert Atkins as our new region chairman. Unfortunately it was a vacancy created by the resignation of Mike Carter shortly before his untimely death. With his wide political experience I am sure that Sir Robert will be a significant asset to our region.

I will finish with my usual plea – please send me any news, comments, moans, groans, plaudits; email is best if you have it.

David Faulkner 4

Members new to our branch Welcome to the following people who have recently joined the IWA or transferred to our branch.

Mr T Lawless, Cults, ABERDEEN Mr J D Nixon, Scarisbrick Marina Mr & Mrs S Riley, Clitheroe Mr C Crook, Lostock Hall Mr D M Harris, Windermere If you have joined recently you will be included in our next edition. If you joined months ago and you haven’t seen your name in print please contact the editor - something has gone wrong.

Branch Chairman’s report Well here we are at the start of another season and so far we have been very lucky with the weather with a fairly mild winter and a warm spring. Let’s hope we have lots of sunshine for canal activities during the summer.

In the last edition of Towing Path Topics I mentioned the sad death of Mike Carter our region chair, well we now have a new region chair, Robert Atkins, I met him look forward to meeting him and working with him to promote the Inland Waterways Association and inland waterways.

I am pleased to report that we have been having a small increase in people attending our branch social meetings and this is very pleasing for all your committee who work hard to make the meetings a success. We try to make the meetings as interesting and varied as possible and they are a good means of meeting new people and socialising.

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The dates for the next season’s meetings are in this edition of Towing Path Topics and I hope as many of you as possible will attend. The meetings are open to anyone so if you have any friends who want to attend please feel free to bring them along. I promise we will not try too hard to get them to join the IWA, although we will of course be delighted if they do!

At the social meetings we always have a raffle, this is a bit of fun but it also helps raise funds to help pay for room hire and speakers expenses. If anyone has any raffle prizes they want to donate to us they would be gratefully received. I will take this opportunity to pass on my thanks to those of you who have generously donated prizes in the past.

In this edition you will also find information and dates for canal events which the branch has agreed to attend this year. We do try to attend as many as we can but have had to say no to some simply because we do not have enough volunteers to help, and believe it or not most if not all of your committee keep busy with other things as well as IWA! What would the world be like without all the voluntary hours people put in to various activities, clubs, societies and events?

Speaking of volunteers we would always welcome members who are willing and able to help us at the events we are attending. Even if you can only help for a couple of hours it would make such a difference. If you can help please get in touch with me, my contact details are in this edition of Towing Path Topics.

Has everyone had a look at the head office website? If you haven’t I can recommend that you do. It is full of really useful information about the IWA, inland waterways and news items relating to inland waterways and people. There is also lots of useful guidance on several aspects of boating and canal activities. Take a look and see for yourself.

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Whilst on the website also have a look at the pages about your branch, there you will find information about events and activities the branch is involved in.

Did everyone see Inside Out on the 20th March? There was a really good piece about the Lancaster Canal and the Northern Reaches, starring our very own Audrey Smith! Positive publicity is always good and we look forward to much more good news from the Lancaster in the future.

Thanks to all of you who came to the branch AGM, the weather was not good and who wants to come out to an AGM on a dark cold evening? Anyway thanks to those of you who did and for those who didn’t, you missed an entertaining talk from Audrey Smith after the formal business of the AGM, which we always keep short.

At the AGM we had the resignation of our previous chair, Alan Davies. We are sad to see Alan leave the committee but do understand, at the moment he has to give all his spare time and effort to his role with the Housing Association. Can I take this opportunity to thank Alan for all his work for the branch over the years, and of course many thanks to his wife Sharron, they will both be missed.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the other members of the committee for all the help and support they give to me and the branch, without them we couldn’t carry on. We could do a lot more if we had more members so I will make my usual plea, if you are willing and able to join our committee please make yourself known to one of the committee members and we can talk to you about what it would involve.

Wendy Humphreys

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Dates for your diary Here are the dates of the events and activities we have planned for 2017 so far. I hope you will be able to attend some or all of them.

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June: Country Fest at Westmorland Showground This is a prestigious event and the branch stand will be there on both days. There is lots of information about Country Fest on their website www.westmorlandshow.co.uk . Lancaster Canal Trust will also be there and we will be sited near the canal. Come along and say hello and see what we are up to.

24th and 25th June: Burscough Heritage Weekend, Burscough Wharf At the moment we do not think we will be able to take the branch stand to this event but if that changes I will let those of you who have given us your email address know about it.

27th June: Anderton Boat Lift Trip and River Cruise This is the first time we have tried a visit for quite a while and I am hoping we can get a good turnout. We need to be there for 2.15 to meet and 2.30 to prepare for the trip on the lift which is at 3.00; then we will have a river cruise. The cost of the trip is £10 person and you will have to pay for parking which is £2 for 3 hours or £3 for the day.

We need to give numbers so if you want to come please let me have your name and a contact number in case of problems, whether you would be interested in car sharing as either a driver or passenger and a cheque for £10 per person made payable to IWA Lancs and Cumbria. You can send these to my home address which is Nether Greenlowe Farm, Duckshaw Road, Darwen, BB3 2UA. If you have any queries send me an email. I hope this will be a successful event and if it is we will be planning more.

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8th 9th July: Holme Howler Holme Village near Crooklands This is a good fun event and we attended last year. This year we will be there both days with the branch stand and we hope to see as many of you there as possible. Further details can be found on the Holme Howler Facebook page.

27th and 28th August: Botany Bay Canal Festival We were not able to attend this last year but we have heard it was a very good event. This year it promises to be even better with a big involvement from Canal and River Trust, and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society boat Kennett will be there. Our branch stand will be there both days and the event promises to attract lots of people.

23rd September: Branch walk on the Northern Reaches We have arranged a walk along the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal to be followed by a trip on the Lancaster Canal Trust trip boat Waterwitch. The walk will be about 2 hours but there are shortcuts for people who cannot manage that. We will meet at 2pm at the Crooklands Hotel and there will be a small cost of £5 per person which you can pay on the day and that will go to the Lancaster Canal Trust. Again any questions get in touch.

Balsam Bash ?

We will also be having a Balsam Bash in cooperation with the Lancaster Canal Trust, we don’t have a date for that because it depends on when the Balsam is ready so look out for my email or check out the branch website. It is likely to be in June or July.

And Lastly - Can you help?

I hope you are able to attend some or all of these events and don’t forget we always need volunteers to help out with the branch stand so if you are available let me know or if you can’t give notice turn up on the day.

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It is better for us if you give notice as it helps us to plan. Even a couple of hours of your time will be very much appreciated and hopefully you will have a good time as well as helping your branch.

Wendy Humphreys

Leeds Waterfront Festival 24 & 25 June This is the 10th year the festival has been held. With something for everyone the festival spans the heritage and history of Armley Mills, the spectacular location of Granary Wharf, a party atmosphere at Brewery Wharf, contemporary arts at The Tetley and the colourful Leeds Dock with lots more in between.

Fun for all the family, indoor and outdoor events, musical events and much more. Last year there were free boat trips and watersports (paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing). A diverse itinerary of events spread over 11 sites along the river and canal with plenty in between.

L&LCanal Society will be there with their stand, if you can help please contact them (www.llcs.org.uk).

Mersey River Festival 24 & 25 June ‘A free extravaganza of family fun, amazing music and entertainment celebrating the glorious waterfront of Liverpool’s iconic river’ (According to their website, Ed).

The waterfront includes the end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, if you have not been to see the link in front of the ‘3 Graces’ it is worth a trip.

Ulverston Canal Summer Gala Sunday July 16th 10.00-3.00 Held at Canal Foot, Ulverston, there are stalls, games, refreshments, raffles – a day out for all the family.

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Canal walks If you like walking by the canal and would like an organised walk in addition to the one above on the Northern Reaches, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society organise leisurely guided towpath walks.

You can discover about the canal’s history in the company of society members and others.

The walks are about 5 miles in length. Usually there is a pub nearby for meals or just bring your own. For further information contact Mike Hustler on 01282 816476.

New Region Chairman

Our new Region Chairman is the Right Honorable Sir Robert Atkins.

He was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Preston North from 1979 to 1983, and then for South Ribble from 1983 to 1997. He served as Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region from 1999 to 2014.

Sir Robert held many ministerial posts including Waterways Minister.

He is a narrowboat owner and has been member of the IWA for many years. He was president of the Ribble Link campaign.

Welcome Sir Robert and we look forward to working with you.

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Mike Carter

We were saddened to hear of the death of our previous Region Chairman, Mike Carter in February. He had been ill for some time but continued working on waterways matters. Mike had been a prominent member of IWA’s Chester & Merseyside Branch and a huge influence on the local waterways scene; in particular in the Merseyside area, fronting the Eldonian Village Festival in June last year and making a big difference to the canal environment there with his frequent work parties. He worked tirelessly for the Region and his knowledge and passion for all things canal-related will be very sadly missed.

Having taken part in Mersey Convoys in the 1990’s, he organised several himself to promote Liverpool as a destination once the new Canal link was opened. His last was just prior to the Mersey River Festival in 2016, taking boats across the beautifully "flat calm" Mersey to the Albert Dock and thence up to the Eldonian Village for the Festival. He spoke at our branch social meeting last September showing photographs of the convoys and explaining how everything had to be so well planned in order to make the crossings in safety 12

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

Canal & River Trust, Cumbria County Council, IWA, Kendal Town Council, Lancs County Council, Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancaster City Council and S Lakeland District Council

The work of the partnership is going really well and the impact of having a dedicated project officer continues to be felt, lots of things are happening.

The BBC spent two days filming on the Lancaster and the Northern Reaches and the result was a short but very good item about the Lancaster on the Inside Out Programme on 20th March. New volunteers have come forward and donations have been received as a result of this publicity. The BBC are being asked about a copy of the film so maybe we will see it at a future meeting.

A grant of £145k from the South Lakes District Council has been received with another £40k in cash or kind expected from other sources. This money will be used to create the Towpath Trail from Kendal to Natland or further. This trail was launched at a publicity event and a lot of positive publicity was produced which all helps to promote the use of the canal and the towing path with a view to generating interest and promoting restoration.

At the launch event Partnership chair Audrey Smith said: “We are very grateful to South Lakeland Council for their substantial donation which turns this project into a reality. We are delighted that visitors and local residents are going to be able to enjoy the wonderful countryside around the former canal route for walking and cycling.

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“Although much of the canal through South Cumbria is no longer in water, the spirit of the waterway is still very much in evidence. It provides the perfect location for a long distance pathway connecting communities along its route from Kendal to Lancaster.

This first phase of work is the start of a much bigger project which will really help to put the Lancaster Canal and this forgotten ‘northern reaches’ section on the map. We intend to link into other nearby tourist attractions like Levens Hall and Sizergh Castle, the Morecambe Bay trails and ultimately create a new visitor centre at the beautiful Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster.

New interpretation boards will be installed and events, such as sports challenges and family activities, organised to attract the public to the trail.”

The launch party at Change Bridge in Kendal. Audrey Smith is holding the placard and branch chair Wendy Humphreys is behind her with project officer Helen Moriarty.

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The change or changeline bridge where the photograph was taken was restored in 2002 by Kendal Civic Society for South Lakeland District Council to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee. It is Grade 2 listed. Designed by John Rennie it is thought to have been built by the canal engineer John Fletcher between 1816 and 1818 This is where horses pulling laden barges had to cross from one side of the canal to the other to avoid the coal wharves on the northwest side of the bridge.

As most readers will know they did this by going up a ramp on one side, over the bridge and down a ramp on the other side without being unhitched from the barge. It is the only one of its type in Cumbria.

Arts Council Funding for Comic LCRP have teamed up with Manchester artist Oliver East and the Lakes International Comic Festival to secure ÂŁ15,000 from Arts Council England to create a Canal Comic featuring the landscapes between Kendal and Lancaster. The Comic will creatively interpret the route and celebrate the heritage on the Towpath Trail. Oliver will involve school children via workshops in Kendal and Lancaster and provide guided walks as part of the Lakes International Comic Festival.

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Hincaster Tunnel

The tunnel was built between 1816 and 1817; it was opened on 18 June 1817. It is 378 yards long (346m); its working water level was 76 feet below the hill summit. Its construction removed a major obstacle on the northern section of the Lancaster Canal. The engineer was John Fletcher, the builder was William Crossley.

The portals, the first 10 yards of the interior and all underwater parts are of limestone, the rest is lined with bricks - about 4 million, made locally at Heversham. The tunnel was the first major brick-built engineering project north of the River Mersey.

Boats were pulled through the tunnel by means of a chain or rope fixed to the south wall or legged through by the boatmen. Lacking a towpath horses were led over the hill on a horse path.

It was last used by commercial traffic in 1944.

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Carnforth Marina Closing We have learned that the marina at Carnforth is closing.

Richard Trevitt of Lancaster Canal Trust writes: “The land surrounding Carnforth Nu-Way marina features in the recently consulted Lancaster Local Plan. It's one of 10 canal-side sites covered in the consultation document.

We sent in a comprehensive response to the consultation pointing out the detrimental effect on the canal of having one or both banks more or less continuously developed from south of Galgate to north of Carnforth and the impact of directing 'green transport' (ie walking & cycling) onto the towpath without any reference to improving the path or measures to avoid conflict of interest.

We made the point that the proposed Bailrigg garden village (between Galgate & Lancaster) had both the need and opportunity for marina & mooring facilities. There's surely a business opportunity on the Carnforth site too.�

Stainton Aqueduct

CRT are working hard to get the funding for repairs to Stainton Aqueduct which was damaged by storm Desmond.

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IWA News AGM Aldercar High School, Langley Mill, Nottingham will be the venue for this year’s Annual General Meeting on 30th September. There will be a selection of speakers in the morning followed by the formal AGM and then lunch. The school has plenty of parking and is a short walk from Langley Mill where in the afternoon we hope to have a tour of restoration and development works achieved over the years around Great Northern Basin, the junction of the Erewash, Cromford and Nottingham Canals. An optional boat trip on the Cromford Canal may also be arranged.

This year trustees have asked that the event be live streamed or similar so that members could participate or view proceedings without having to travel to the venue.

How long have you been a member?

Marketing Committee and trustees have approved a proposal to recognise and thank personal (i.e. not corporate) members who have paid annual membership fees to IWA for many years.

Celebratory plaques will now be given to all members with 50 years of membership or more and then subsequently as memberships reach their 50 year milestone.

And finally all memberships that reach the 25 year milestone will be sent a letter from the national chairman thanking the members for their involvement with the association

CRT News There was a possibility that the sanitary station at Johnsons Hillock Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal would have to be closed.

However following investigations and a new water supply the current facilities will remain.

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Review of the bicentenary year At the last branch social meeting of the season on April 27 th, Mike Clarke, President of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society gave an illustrated talk on the events of 2016 from the society’s point of view.

He started with CRT’s video of the year and concluded with photos of the transit by Kennet from Leeds to Liverpool in October commemorating the original voyage along the newly opened canal in 1816. The crowds that turned out to watch Kennet and the accompanying flotilla pass were very impressive. Mike showed an amazing photograph of Bingley 5 rise locks with the bridges full of people as Kennet entered the bottom lock.

The publicity generated by the many events of the year was considerable. All of the mayors along the canal turned out to greet Kennet on its anniversary voyage and many of their councils were involved in events. Let us hope that the goodwill generated during the year translates into positive action (and maybe even some more volunteers!).

Congratulations to L&L Canal Society on their success and a big thank you for all the hard work.

NB Mike warned us that there was a creeping trend to refer to the canal as the Leeds Liverpool; wrong! It is the Leeds and Liverpool.

‘Kennet’ You will be able to visit L&LCS’s boat Kennet at Botany Bay at the end of August. After that she will go into dry dock for a month to have her bottom blacked and other treats.

She is 70 this year so “Happy Birthday Kennet”.

During the year Kennet will be visiting a lot of the schools that welcomed her on the anniversary voyage last October. For the programme see the website www.llcs.org.uk where you can find contact details if you are willing to help to move her from place to place.

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Branch AGM February 2016 This is just a brief summary, the full minutes and accounts will be published in the January 2018 edition of TPT as part of the calling notice for the 2018 AGM next February. If you would like copies before then please contact the editor.

The meeting started with a minute’s silence in memory of Mike Carter who had died a few days previously. Wendy gave her report as branch chairman, describing the events of the year, including the social meetings at St Chad’s which everyone agrees is a better venue than the previous ones.

We were pleased with the publicity and interest generated by the many events linked to the L&L bicentenary. We had been involved in several of them. Thanks to Gillian Smith for her work on the mile marker project and to Audrey Smith for organising the anniversary plaques for traversing the canal in its 200 th year.

The rest of the committee were thanked for their efforts especially Janet & Tony Dunning for their hard work running the branch stand at various events and Les Fragle as secretary and planning officer.

Alan Davies, Martyn Clapham and Helen Thomas had resigned from the committee. Peter Jones had replaced Helen as the LCT representative.

David gave the financial report. The surplus of income over expenditure was £366 but this included £150 bank interest which will be zero next year as the interest rate drops to 0%. Total funds were £12,548 of which £6,644 is the Northern Reaches Fund .

At the first committee meeting after the AGM the posts listed below were confirmed. At that meeting it was agreed that we would become a corporate member of the Lancaster Canal Trust (we are already a member of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society).

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L&C Branch Committee 2017/18 Chairman

Wendy Humphreys Darwen

07763 561572 01254 703553

Vice chairman

Tony Dunning Egremont

07730 113894 01946 820875

Secretary & Membership Secretary

Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston

07946 702274 01995 672230

Treasurer & Newsletter Editor

David Faulkner Blackburn

07912 249265 01254 249265

Environment and Planning

Shared by Secretary and Chairman

Publicity

Audrey Smith

Sales

Janet & Tony Dunning

Social Secretary

See Chairman

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Part’ship

Audrey Smith & Wendy Humphreys

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Audrey Smith Wheelton

Lancaster Canal Trust

Peter Jones

Region Chairman (ex officio)

Robert Atkins

Wild over Water & Web Master

Janet Dunning Egremont

01257 274440

01257 274440

01946 820875

NB Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk We no longer publish addresses.

If you want to write to us please use the editor’s address (p 2).

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Lock Wind Johnsons Hillock 30 April 2017 Ten of us attended our lock wind. The idea is to help boats through the 7 locks to publicise the IWA; maybe recruit new members and to raise money.

We had a home-made cake stall, which did very well, and we received many donations in Janet’s bucket.

For a Bank Holiday Sunday both the canal and the towpath were quieter than usual. We only helped 4 boats through all day plus the trip boat that came down the top two locks then went back up.

This shows Les Fragle helping the trip boat in nd the 2 lock. He is well wrapped up; although it was a dry day it was not very warm.

A Dry Canal?

Maybe one reason for the towpath being quieter than usual was the temporary closure of the ‘Top Lock’ pub.

It is hoped that it will be open again in June for the summer.

The problem for thirsty boaters (are there any other sort?) is that the next pub along, ‘The Boatyard’ at Riley Green suffered a disastrous fire recently and is likely to be closed for the rest of the year.

That was after being closed for many months for a major refurbishment.

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Venue for branch meetings St Chad’s Parish Centre, 235 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ. It is behind the former Red Cat pub, easily accessible from Junction 8 of the M61 (take the first left turn for Wheelton off the A674 then first left); junction 3 of the M65 (take 2nd right turn for Wheelton off the A674 then first left) or take Town Lane from Whittle-le-Woods (From A6 turn onto Shaw Brow or School Brow, a few yards along Chorley Old Road turn right onto Town Lane, St Chad’s is about a mile on the left).

(My satnav finds it without problem, Ed) There is ample parking in the car park

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Branch social programme 2017/18 We usually meet on the last Thursday of the month (except January, see below), at St Chad’s parish centre which has a very pleasant meeting room and a bar.

You are welcome from 7.00pm for a drink and a chat, the meetings start at 7.30pm Date

Speaker

Topic

28/9/17

Richard Trevitt

Lancaster Canal

26/10/17

Andrew Cummings

From Yorkshire to Lancashire by boat

30/11/17

Jonathan Smith

WRG Vans

14/12/17

none

Christmas Social

Now 18/1/18 Not 25/1/18

Helen Moriarty, Project worker

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

22/2/18

Speaker to be advised

Annual General Meeting

29/3/18

Malcolm and Barbara Bridge

Ampere in Ireland, or “Mummy is that a submarine?”

26/4/18

Sarah Knight Canal and River Trust and Bob Pointing

Lancaster bi centenary, events, activities and celebrations planned

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