Lichfield Branch

running the Offside Veg programme and dealing with all the complications thrown at him by Canal & River Trust.

Membership Incentive Scheme

It is probably a little known fact that if the Branch recruits a new member then the Branch will get a financial contribution from central funds. The new member needs to put “Lichfield Branch” either on the form or in the online field “Where did you find out about us”. This can be a very useful addition to Branch funds so KEEP RECRUITING!

Information Box at Colwich Lock

There have been information boxes at Colwich Lock and Shade House Lock at Fradley for some years. They were originally funded by Rugeley traders to contain the Rugeley Town Guide. They were very well made by one of the inmates at Featherstone jail and were originally locked with a CRT keyed padlock which has long since vanished. With the rise of the internet the Guide has not been published for some years so the plan was to repurpose them to contain information about the Lichfield Branch. Unfortunately, the one at Fradley has disappeared so we are left with just the Colwich one. The Branch recently purchased a label to attach to the box and we are stocking it with copies of Lichfield Lines. The idea is that passing boaters/walkers will pick up a magazine and be encouraged to join IWA and hence the Branch.

Article in Narrowboat Magazine

If you didn’t see the Winter Edition of Narrowboat Magazine there was a fantastic article by Branch member John Parry on Burton’s 18c Waterways. As usual with any article by John this was fantastically well researched and really interesting! If you missed it I’m sure there are copies still available either from Waterways World or other sources.

Towpath Through Burton-upon-Trent

A while ago the Branch were contacted by Canal & River Trust to let us know that they had acquired external funding to improve the towpath from Branston Water Park to the Dove aqueduct, some 5 miles. We were asked to walk the section and provide input to CRT on what could be done to improve things. Following this myself (Pete Gurney), Adrian Wedgwood and Neil Barnett walked the length and made copious notes on the things we thought needed work. Locations were identified using