Newsletter of
Newsletter of Guildford & Reading,
Autumn Autumn 20232023
Guildford & Reading Kent & East Sussex Kent & East Sussex & Oxfordshire Branches and Oxfordshire Branches
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Index Basingstoke Canal Society John Pinkerton Focus on Accessible Boating Association
Page: 6
British Canoeing
Page: 24
Byfleet Boat Club
Page: 9
Chichester Ship Canal Trust
Page: 7
Guildford & Reading Branch Sales and Publicity Stand
Page: 4
Kent & East Sussex Branch – IWAKES River Cuckmere Thames & Medway Canal Association River Medway Maidstone River Festival Kentish River Stour Future Events
Page: 26
Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Newbury Reading Crofton Beam Engines
Page: 10
London Region
Page: 39
South London Branch Festival of Water
Maidenhead – Friends of Maidenhead Waterways
Page: 15
Mikron Theatre Group
Page: 36
Oxfordshire Branch Tooley’s Boatyard Trust
Page: 34
Puppet Theatre Barge
Page: 37
River Thames
Page: 24
River Wey & Godalming Navigations National Trust: Puffing-A-Wey Wey River Festival
Page: 17
Surrey Care Trust
Page: 36
Towpath Walks
Page: 38
Wey & Arun Canal Trust
Page: 22
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
Page: 34
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IWA Branch Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East Sussex, Oxfordshire and Guildford and Reading Branches of the Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows: The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place on Thursday 29th February 2024: 7.30 for 8.00pm: Room 2, Christchurch URC, High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1SG The Oxfordshire Branch AGM: Details to be announced soon. Please check the IWA website. The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will take place on Monday 11th March 2024: 6.30 for 7pm: Dapdune Wharf Tea Rooms, Guildford The Agenda for the branch meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws as follows:
Agenda 1
Apologies for Absence
2
Approval (following amendments if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year
3
Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items)
4
Branch Chairman’s Report
5
Branch Treasurer’s Report and Accounts
6
Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary). Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM
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Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM
Cover Photo Courtesy: Pauline Lewis
Puffing-A-Wey Dapdune Wharf, Guildford
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Editorial Welcome to the Autumn edition of Cargoes. I hope the changeable summer and autumn weather has not impeded your plans too much. As Editor of Cargoes I am responsible for getting this magazine on your doorsteps or on to ISSUU. I am a Volunteer, Secretary of my local branch and a member of our Sales Team. So, I am well aware that IWA is in urgent need of more of you, our members, to offer your time in any way you can. The waterways, rivers, canals, towpaths, etc will all feel the impact of the reduction in Government funding. It has been proved that being on or near the water is beneficial to our health, mentally and physically. While I appreciate that many members of society are suffering from the lack of money, they are also the people who need our help to be able to continue to enjoy the waterways. IWA have joined CRT, EA and many other organisations to encourage the Government to increase its funding. You can help by contacting your MP and asking them to lobby Government. Many of the articles in Cargoes are written by volunteers or by staff members in their own time, thank you all for your contributions. Thank you to each and every one of you. I hope everyone enjoys reading them. Chris Jones Editor
Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman We had a very successful day at the River Wey Festival thanks to the efforts of Chris and John Jones and John Gunner. Mike Lewis took part in the boat parade with his unique boat. The London group from the IWA Waterways Recovery Group joined us to celebrate a belated 50th anniversary of their formation which should have taken place during Covid restrictions. Their help in erecting and packing up the gazebo was invaluable and their photos of work on branch waterways showed IWA/WRG in action. I attended the National AGM which was held in Stourport. The national Chairman Les Etheridge, gave an address on the campaign for funding for all waterways. I sensed that the audience wanted to ask more about the recent issues with staff turnover but did not. The treasurer presented a summary of the accounts which underlined the loss of income, a theme common to nearly all charities.
5 In the afternoon I enjoyed a bracing trip on a stretch of the River Severn which I have paddled many times. The crew were expert in handling their huge, by canoe standards, craft in challenging flow and wind conditions, You will see the branch AGM advertised elsewhere and in the meantime please continue to support your local waterways in any way that you can. Verna Smith (acting Chair)
Sales & Publicity Stand After a good day at Reading Water Fest the Sales team had a very successful day at the River Wey Festival. Over 6,000 people attended both events and our stand raised over £180 for local waterways charities. At Guildford we were joined by the Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) who also had a good day with several people interested in joining camps. Our next, and last, outing for this year will be supporting the IWA Oxford Branch with the Banbury Canal Festival. Next year we are planning to attend the Reading Water Fest and Wey River Festival again, and also support IWA Oxford with any of their events. More events may be added if we can get the volunteers to help with them. We are really in need of additional help at these events and hope more of you will put yourselves forward. Please contact Ben Scott (benboattrain@gmail.com) or any of the Sales Team if you can help at any of the events, our email address is chris.jones@waterways.org.uk. The Sales Team
2024
Future Events
Mon 11th Mar, 6.30pm for 7pm start: G&R Branch AGM. By kind permission of NT at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford. Followed by our Speaker, Mark Rudall. Subject: “Steampower, the Waterways and Fossil Fuels”. Sat 8th June: Reading Water Fest Sept – Date to be advised: Wey River Festival. National Trust, Dapdune Wharf, Guildford Sept / Oct - Date to be advised: Banbury Canal Festival: Supporting IWA Oxford Branch
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Basingstoke Canal Society The Basingstoke Canal is currently underfunded by £100,000. Since the launch of the “Keep your Canal Alive” campaign in April, we have had a great response from members, local communities, local businesses, and media but the challenges remain and so does the substantial risk to the long-term future of the Basingstoke Canal. As guardians of this beautiful waterway, The Basingstoke Canal Society continues to raise awareness of the importance of the canal and the risks of declines in funding. As such an important resource for both local people as well as those travelling from further afield, the Basingstoke Canal delivers business to the local economy, whether that’s through independent coffee shops, local campsite and holiday cottage or even people stopping for a quick drink at my local pub in Ash Vale which has a lovely view of the Canal from the garden. Throughout Surrey and Hampshire, we are very fortunate to have the 13th most beautiful waterway in the world, as voted for by Paddleboarders, on our doorstep for recreational activities from walking to cycling and of coarse fishing and navigating. Without the funding from riparian councils, the canal could fall into disrepair making it no longer the space we currently all appreciate. Our campaign is very much aligned with the challenges facing waterways across the UK and our messaging echoes the larger campaigns across the country. To find out more about our “Keep Your Canal Alive” campaign and how you can help, visit www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/keep-your-canal-alive . John Pinkerton II & Kitty Trip Boat Summer Success This summer has seen a very successful season of boat trips across the Basingstoke Canal Society trip boats based in Odiham and Woking. 2023 has seen us successfully put on more trips that in 2022 and 2021 (and in 2020 too but due to lockdowns that was a very quiet year!). There has been a total of over 150 trips take place year to date which is many thousands of passengers all given the opportunity to experience the Basingstoke Canal from the water. Many of which included cream teas, entertainment and even a trip on the Summer Solstice at Sunrise with many passengers enjoying a wonderful start to the longest day of the year. Don’t forget our trip boats our also available for Private Charters for special occasions or corporate visitors too.
7 Odiham Raft Race This year The Basingstoke Canal Society was very lucky to be selected as one of the two beneficiaries of the much loved and fantastic Odiham Raft Race. The Odiham Raft Race is organised by Galleon Marina and has been a favourite in the calendar for local families and canal lovers. Taking place on Sunday 3rd September, this year’s Odiham Raft Race, as always, was a fabulous day out. It is such a shining example of local people, families and businesses coming out to enjoy the Basingstoke Canal, on this year what was a particularly hot and sunny day. The day sees the highly competitive raft race with teams made up of local friendship groups and work colleagues all keen to complete the course in the fastest time, of course without ending up in the canal themselves. Galleon Marina organised an impeccable well-arranged event, including BBC 4’s Canal Boat Diaries, Robbie Cummings who was present to award the prizes and enjoy the Canal. Thank you to everyone involved in the event for both the opportunity to see so many enjoying the canal and for selecting us as one of the charities to benefit from the fundraising! Charlotte Rodgers, Press Officer BCS
Trips aboard the John Pinkerton II and Kitty Boat Trips: The John Pinkerton II trip boat operates from Odiham in Hampshire, running public, themed and chartered cruises. Trips last about 3.25 hours and run through farms, woodlands and the occasional small settlement. Information for times and prices for trips and how to charter the boat for a special occasion or social outing is available on our website: https://basingstokecanal.org.uk/book-your-trip/ All bookings are done online but for help email: jpbookings@basingstokecanal.org.uk, or call: 07506 864411 (10am – 6pm). Kitty public boat trips are at 11am, 1pm and 2.45pm from the town wharf in Woking. Trips from Mytchett: Boat trips on board our friendly 12-seater boat Rosebud usually run at weekends and on public holidays from Easter to September. Please contact us for up to date information. Tel 01252 370073, email info@basingstokecanal.co.uk or check on Facebook or Twitter. Editor’s note: You will see I have included the BCS advert at the end of Cargoes. This is indicative of all our waterways. Please help Fund Britain's Waterways.
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Focus on Accessible Boating Association The Accessible Boating Association, (Accessible Boating or ABA), is a registered charity initiated in 1985 by Mildred Stocks, then Chairman of Hart District Council, who wanted to enable people who couldn’t use existing canal boats to enjoy cruises on the Basingstoke Canal. Two boats are available: Madam Butterfly is a comfortable 7-berth cruising boat and Dawn is a 12-person day boat. Both boats are based in Odiham at Galleon Marine’s boatyard with trips operating from Colt Hill Wharf from April to October. For more details see the website www.accessibleboating.org.uk. New volunteers are always welcome; speak to one of our volunteers or contact our Chairman, John Ranson at chairman@accessibleboating.org.uk
Byfleet Boat Club As part of the Wey River Festival 2023, aside from raising awareness of our club solely through discussion and leafleting, Byfleet Boat Club took the incentive to introduce activities to our stand to attract a wider audience. A plan was developed and a rowing boat was promptly filled with water which acted as an incredible Hook-a-Duck tank. As a twist, once a duck was hooked the player then had the opportunity to upgrade their prize by matching its colour to a randomly selected card. By the end of the day, nearly 400 ducks had been hooked and the stall was visibly one of the busiest in the wharf! As the evening closed in, a reduced version of the stall was relocated to a wharfside location where efforts were diverted into selling reusable LED wands with the intention of allowing the spectators the ability to join in and add to the overall atmosphere of the illuminated procession of boats. Sales were great, and the result could be clearly seen dispersed throughout the crowd. By the end of a long day, over £400 profit had been made, which as part of our community focus will be distributed amongst local charities. Steve Pearce
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Chichester Ship Canal Trust Celebrating National Heritage day on Saturday, 9th September On Saturday 9th September we shared our passion for the history of the canal. Members of the public found out how it all began with an Act of Parliament in 1817. John Rennie built the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal with three sections. Learning about its working origins, gradual disuse and then renovation in the late 1970s was interesting. Visitors were able to read about the restoration work by The Portsmouth and Arundel Canal Society and how the canal is now an important recreational and wildlife area. The Heritage Centre brings 200 years of history to life with a model of a narrow boat and canal artefacts. There were also display boards and touch screens with images from the past. Visitors were able to find out about the wildlife and plants that are found in and around the canal and our volunteers were happy to answer questions. There were a few free activities for children and a canal trail organised by our volunteers. After visiting the Heritage Centre, visitors could walk along the canal path, or take a canal boat cruise to see how the canal has developed. Imagining the barges loaded with a cargo of building supplies and coal and contrasting it with today’s canal boats, paddle boarders and rowing boats was interesting. The canal cafe was open for refreshments with visitors able to sit outside in the sunshine or enjoy the views from the balcony. We also had a selection of mementos for sale in the shop. Photo: Dave Standley Wendy Mahe
10 Be “bewitched” On Wednesday 25th October, we are offering a Halloween themed family fun day from 10am to 3pm in the Canal Heritage Centre. There will be lots of spooky activities for 3 – 11-year-olds, including decorating masks, frogs and pebbles, hallowe’en colouring, creating scary spiders, word searches and much more. Please feel free to drop in… in fancy dress if you like. This event is free and no pre-booking is required, although we always welcome donations to the Trust. An accompanying adult must stay with the child(ren). The canal cafe next door will be open for refreshments. Our volunteer community team look forward to welcoming you! Courtesy of The Chichester Canal Trust website
Kennet & Avon Canal News Newbury Branch The Newbury Branch is based at the Stone Building beside the Canal on Newbury’s historic wharf and keeps an eye on the canal from Kintbury to Woolhampton. The Branch’s trip boat Jubilee runs trips from The Wharf throughout the boating season. Our trip boat Jubilee has operated in Newbury since 2012. The boat is crewed by trained volunteers who enjoy sharing the delights of the Kennet & Avon canal. Jubilee provides public trips throughout the summer months. We particularly enjoy our themed trips aimed at children such as our Pirate, Halloween and Santa trips. Teashop by the Canal is a Grade II listed Stone Building in Newbury Wharf which is open daily for light refreshments, cakes, sandwiches, ice creams and canal gifts. With outdoor seating overlooking the canal it’s the perfect place to enjoy the waterway, waving to the boats as they pass by. Most years, we organise the Newbury Waterways Festival, which is held on a weekend in July in Victoria Park by kind permission of Newbury Town Council. The main event is on the Sunday when Victoria Park is filled with trade and charity stalls with entertainment for all the family. We arrange a colourful flotilla of boats
11 to moor alongside the Park. The branch raises a significant amount for Trust funds through the festival. The next Festival is due to take in 2024. Unfortunately the start of the boating season for MV Jubilee was badly hampered due to very strong flows on the River Kennet rendering it unsafe to operate. It was not until late May that trips were back in full swing. Our regular public trips are on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 12 noon and 2pm and will run until the end of October. For further details and to book online please visit: www.jubilee.katrust.org.uk. KACT Newbury Website
Reading Branch Chairman’s Report Hello,
What a strange few months it has been. It’s September and I’m looking at a blue sky and a warm sunny day. The summer seemed to pass largely under grey skies. The Swallows have flown south, and we are now hearing the owls and deer at night. I’m still seeing Dragonflies buzz around the water edges, and butterflies still picking up on late blooming flowers. There has been quite a lot of activity at the unfashionable East End of our waterway. In June we had our Annual Water Fest. A popular event which we organise in conjunction with Reading Borough Council. This year was the 300th anniversary of the opening of Kennet Navigation in 1723. I had the pleasure of recreating Robert Blake’s experience (Mayor of Reading 1723). He had led a protest party out to Burghfield to damage the works of the Kennet Navigation being built. He anticipated loss of trade if boats had no need to transfer their loads at his wharf in Reading and could proceed onto Newbury. He was arrested and given the option of 6 years hard labour or to support the Navigation. At Water Fest I presented the current Mayor with an arrest warrant… charging him as Reading Borough Council with failing to support the waterway, and failing the business community, with the lack of provision of facilities for boats. Our regular blacksmith John Loveluck from Anvil Forge in Farley Hill acted as “police” to put the Mayor behind bars. The Mayor chose to support the waterway, as did his predecessor, and promised a meeting.
12 This year we had The Trusts’ Newbury trip boat Jubilee run short trips around the Forbury Loop. Our own trip boat Matilda Too carried the Mayoral party to the event, and then ran as an overflow for the popular boat trips. The winners shield for “Best Dressed Boat” had run out of space for winner names. Last year’s winner Paul Fitt (Nb Lancing) kindly arranged to upgrade it using a piece of elm taken from the base plate of an old working boat. The Bel and Dragon (now renamed “The Narrowboat”) donated the prize. This year the award for Best Dressed boat was presented to John, Tricia and Winnie (the dog) on NB Liquorice Fields together with the updated trophy. Roy McFarlane the Waterways Poet Laureate talked to visitors and boaters to generate some inspiration. At the end of the day Roy performed a number of pieces of his work to the gathered crowd. He gave a performance to the gathered crowd along Chestnut Walk from Matilda Too before introducing the Duck Race. This year we had prizes donated by ABC boats, London Brasserie and trips from both Jubilee and Matilda Too. Following the arrest of the Mayor at Water Fest we had an initial meeting with Reading Borough Council to discuss improving the 1st Mile of the Kennet and Avon Canal from a waterways point of view. We hope that boats will be made to feel more welcome in future. This seemed to go very well, and we were promised a continuation of this discussion after the holiday period and to meet in September with a view to bring in a wider group of interested parties to improve the condition of the area between the Thames / Kennet confluence and County Lock. The Tea Rooms in Aldermaston continue to flourish. The Tea Rooms with Liz and Siobhan at the helm have developed a great friendly feel in a short time, with a bookable “snug” room for small meetings. The gardens are looking neat and welcoming, and the reshaping of the picket fence has meant the boaters’ water point is now freely available from the Towpath.
13 The Toll /Wash house building has had a full restoration to conservation standards, as a listed building which predated the canal. We have been building the presentation area inside to welcome visitors to an information centre. It has taken longer than hoped waiting for plaster to dry out, and meanwhile we have been gathering the elements to show as the workings of a 19th century wash house and Toll Office. We are still looking for an old “Copper” to refit, and compiling information and artifacts to provide an interesting display. We have opened the building on request to show the work in progress, but there are still items to be put in place and the counter / barrier across the building is still to be completed. Until this is in place it is not sensible to open to all unsupervised. We started our 1st full season with Matilda Too our trip boat running on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. We also did Fridays for the school summer holidays. Running midday, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 for our 45 minute trip around Central Reading. We have also provided a number of charters for the local history group, U3A and some birthday and wedding celebrations. We have received some great Trip Advisor comments and have gained 3 new volunteers. The Trust has a new web site that is now active. The boat booking system is much improved, and Trips can be booked on the new system in a much more user-friendly way. It also has dynamic information about the activities and events, and information about the work the Trust is doing. We are restarting our “winter” branch meetings again on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and will be in person at “The Narrowboat” (formally Bel and the Dragon) in Reading on the Humber Barge. I will again set up a zoom session so folk can join us over the wire if you can’t get to the meeting in person. The first meeting was on the 19th of September at 7.30pm. We had David Cliffe talking about “The Town on Two Rivers - History of Reading’s Waterways”. The speaker at the meeting on October 17th was Darren Bone, the New KACT Enterprise Chair, talking about his waterborne experiences. Our speakers on November 21st will be Liz and Siobhan. The topic “A year at Aldermaston Tea Rooms”. Non members please feel free to come along or contact me for the Zoom access. Keep well and look after each other. Graham Puddephatt chair.reading@katrust.org.uk “Reading…on Kennet and oh so near the Thames” - Daniel Defoe 1724
14 Future Events Tues 21st Nov: Liz and Siobhan: “A year at the Aldermaston Tea Rooms”. Sat 8th June 2024: Reading Water Fest Entry donation to Meetings, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). All meeting start at 7.30pm and further details can be found on the Website at www.katrust.org.uk
Crofton Beam Engines Crofton to the Rescue Crofton Beam Engines, the Grade 1 listed historic pumping station, at Crofton near Marlborough was called into action to keep the Kennet and Avon Canal in operation. The 200 year old steam powered pumps were be running on the 18th, 19th and 20th of August doing the job they were installed for over 200 years ago. An urgent request for assistance was answered by volunteers at the station to provide pumped water to the summit of the canal on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. Normally this need would be fulfilled by the Canal & River Trust electric pumps but due to unforeseen circumstances this was not possible. This was an unexpected bonus for our visitors as the Station was not due to be in steam until the August Bank Holiday weekend. The hastily assembled team of boilermen, drivers and supporting engineers carrying out this task show the commitment that Crofton Beam Engines has to keeping our industrial revolution heritage alive. Press Release by Crofton Beam Engines
Future Events: Please visit our website for up to date information on our Open Days: www.katrust.org.uk Photo and information: Crofton Beam Engines
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Maidenhead Waterways After an on/off summer for boating and the end of the nesting season our volunteers are now focusing on maintenance and enhancement work on the restored waterway through Maidenhead town centre. Our new 3.9 m heavy duty aluminium Seastrike work boat, with its own bespoke weed rake (pictured in action), is already proving its worth and allowing volunteers to more easily remove excess weed from the channel.
This was followed by another visit from professionals Weedcutter Ltd (pictured) whose hydraulic powered fork lift rake tops our modest efforts!!
Earlier we finally got rid of the ugly grilles that had been disfiguring one of Brunel’s lovely GWR brick arches over the waterway – seen here before and after.
16 An extended project followed to build a gravel filled “French Drain” behind the timber capping in the town centre channel. Now completed, the drain protects the wood from prematurely rotting where wet vegetation had been laying on it. Finally, we have enjoyed our first visit of the season from the IWA Waterway Recovery Group’s BITM team. Some 13 volunteers (pictured) worked for the whole weekend in lower Bray Cut, using a tirfor winch and chains, chain saws and a canoe team to remove 5 large fallen trees that were blocking passage. They are booked for two further sessions in Bray Cut this winter as we continue to progressively open up the 3 km long link from the restored town centre channel down to the Thames by Bray Marina. Richard Davenport Chair of the Trustees
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River Wey & Godalming Navigations As we approach the latter part of the season and looking back over the year, once again it has been a pleasure to have the privilege of working on the Waterway and seeing the enjoyment that so many people get from interacting with it in the variety of ways that we have here. Updates from along the Wey: Wey River Festival: After cancelling last years festival, we were all so happy to see its return this September, and what a festival it was! With over 4,000 visitors to the wharf throughout the day and into the evening, more than 40 stalls, live music and entertainment all culminating in the Illuminated Pageant with over 20 boats taking part. This is a highlight of the calendar for us. It was great to welcome
Dapdune Wharf
so many new faces to the Wharf, along with our more regular visitors, and to get the chance to meet so many of river user community. Thank you to everyone who helped support this event and we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Festive Bunting
Emergency Papercourt Cill repair: Unfortunately, the week before the festival, the lower cill at Papercourt Lock was broken causing us to have to close the Navigation for 4 days. The most likely cause of this was improper lock use. We believe that the top paddles were opened whilst the bottom gates were still open causing them to slam closed. This dislodged a piece of concrete large enough that it took more than two people to physically move. In order to get the Navigation opened again in time for the festival the maintenance team, backed up by various lengthspersons and volunteers put in an incredible effort working 14hr days to get the job done.
18 I would like to take this opportunity to remind our boaters to please treat our locks carefully. They are a heritage asset and so are not as robust as some of the ones found on other canals and waterways. If anyone is unsure of the appropriate method for operating locks on the Wey, please see the information for boaters handbook, speak to a Lengthsperson or call the office/Thames Lock for more information. Boaters Meeting: This month, we restarted our annual boaters meeting. The idea of this was to firstly update our boating community on future plans for the Navigation, to talk about projects and any potential closures over winter, and to give general updates about the Navigation. But secondly, Papercourt Lock was to provide the opportunity to give us feedback directly and talk about your views, opinions and wants for the Navigation. It was great to meet those of you who turned up, to hear about your experiences and to hear more first-hand accounts about the day to day life on the Navigation. Thank you for your input and I hope to see you all again (along with some more of our boating community who weren’t able to make it) next year. Update on main projects/maintenance: •
Realigning of Stonebridge Mooring and Jetty (completed) – The staging along our Stonebridge mooring line has been flattened with the necessary spot repairs being completed. Evaluation of vegetation at each length and visitor moorings (completed) – Walking the length of the Navigation from Godalming to the Thames, the General Manager and Head Lengthsperson have looked at the vegetation management plan for each section and will be looking to implement changes over the coming months ready for next season.
Realigned staging at Stonebridge Morring Line
•
Spot dredging of moorings (completed)
•
Bank protection, St Catherine’s to Catteshall (completed)
•
Rebuild of Godalming Wharf Jetty (Completed) – All staging and piling has been replaced, giving the wharf a fresh lease of life.
19 •
Replacement of main beam across Old Bucks Weir (Delayed) – Due to contractors working in the adjacent field creating the Fish Pass, this project was put on hold but will look to be completed later this year.
•
Tow path works Addlestone area (Completed)
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Repair of bridge over Unstead Meadow Weir (Delayed)
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S.106 Tow path repairs Dapdune to Guildford (Pushed to 2024) – These repairs will run from the Railway bridge by Dapdune Wharf up to Walnut Tree Bridge. Disruption to river users will be kept to a minimum.
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Pennywort Removal (Ongoing) – This is an New staging at Godalming Wharf ongoing issue along the Navigation and our field teams continue to work with the Environment Agency to remove the Pennywort before large rafts are formed.
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Godalming Wharf Wall (In progress) – We are very happy to see this wall being repaired after years of temporary fencing impacting the views and feel of being at Godalming Wharf.
•
Stoppages and Worsfold Gates (Nov) – Please see our River Conditions page for updates on the expected closure dates (https://riverweyconditionsnt.wordpress.com/ )
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Thames Lock Footbridge replacement (Jan/Feb) – Due to the complexities of this project, this will result in an estimated 10 week closure of Thames Lock
October Events: Harvest Home: This took place on Sunday 8th October. Families came along to have a go at making and tasting their own freshly-squeezed apple juice, with locally donated apples. All the family was welcome to try our apple scratter and apple press. There was also a family trail and apple printing. October half-term, Mon 23rd - Fri 27th Oct, 11am-5pm: Follow Hubert the hedgehog’s trail and discover more about his hibernating friends and then enjoy free messy arts and crafts. Spooktacular fun run, Sat 28th Oct, 4.30-7.45pm: As darkness falls, dress up in your finest Halloween costume and test your fitness and your fears in our 2k night run around the haunted Wharf and island. Look out for a string of spooky surprises on the way! There will also be story-telling and free craft activities. £3 per runner - booking advisable.
20 Thank you for continued support. As most of you will be aware, the Wey Navigations were gifted to the National Trust with certain restrictions being put in place by the Stevens family. These were namely that any money raised on the Waterway, stays at the Waterway. As such, the Navigation is one of the few restricted fund properties within the Trust. This means that every penny that you pay for moorings and licences is put back directly into the management and upkeep of the Waterway. Without your support, it would not be possible to keep it running (or I guess I should say flowing) to the standard it is and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for everything that you have contributed. Please visit our website (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey ) for up to date information. Tristan Brown Wey Navigations General Manager Puffing-A-Wey 2023
On July 8th members of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain gathered at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford for the annual Puffing-A-Wey event. Regular attendees this year included Zara Finn, Aurelia, Anna Jayne, Ursula, Gladstone, Mazeppa and Lady Amanda. Also present were newcomers Lollipop, Cutty Wren and Pioneer. An interesting newcomer was Regen II, not strictly a steam launch but a modern twin hull vessel powered by a Stirling engine, a device conceived over 200 years ago as a hot air engine. Regen II's modern engine uses high pressure helium as a working fluid and is externally heated by LPG. Mark Rudall coordinated the event and brought his electric launch Emerald. As an innovation this year Mark delivered two short talks, the first on the challenge of continuing to use fossil fuels and the second on boat restoration. I attended the second talk in which Mark described the construction and history of his boat Emerald. A wooden boat with copper nails, Emerald had narrowly escaped scrapping and burning on a bonfire. Mark discussed the contrast between using traditional hand tools and
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modern power tools and the impact of modern materials on the restoration of traditional craft. Photos: Pauline Lewis
Mike Lewis
Wey River Festival 2023 A warm and sunny September 16th saw Dapdune Wharf thronged with visitors for the Wey River Festival. Many local waterways organisations were represented and there were also a number of craft stalls selling their wares and exhibiting their skills. There were children's activities on the Island and several refreshment stalls on the wharf. Music and dancing were provided by the Honeysuckle Jazz Band and the Pilgrim Morris Dancers. The National Trust trip boats were operating and of course the National Trust Tearoom was serving teas and snacks. The event was very well attended and our Branch stand was very well supported by visitors. I was pleased to participate in the Illuminated Pageant in the evening. Around twenty boats were decked with lights and their skippers attended a briefing beforehand. Steve Stewart, River Wey Maintenance Supervisor, gave a safety briefing and Rodney Wardlaw, Festival Harbourmaster, outlined the plan for boat movements. Every skipper was given a red fluorescent safety light stick to be carried at the stern. The boats cruised to Millmead Lock around 6:00 pm and were assembled in order. Some skippers had chosen to proceed directly to the Row Barge near Stoke Bridge for a meal after the Pageant and their boats were placed at the front of the line. The boats at the rear of line were to turn below the A3 bridge and return to Dapdune for the night. The Pageant was led by Dapdune Belle, with the Pantasy Steel Band playing onboard. It was a calm mild night as dusk fell and the marshals gave us the instruction to
22 proceed. Navigating at night requires extra care, even more so when one is dazzled by the lights on one's own boat and is following a boat whose profile is made unclear by flashing and chasing lights. One needs to take care to follow close enough to maintain the continuity of the Pageant while avoiding a collision with the boat in front. Added to this is the stress of knowing that one is steering the boat under the gaze of the public! All the effort is worthwhile however when one sees the crowds of spectators on the bridges and towpath and hears the applause and appreciative comments. Turning the bend approaching Dapdune I was amazed to see that the wharf was crowded to capacity with spectators, and I felt that this was a fitting climax to the event before I returned to my mooring. Photos Courtesy: Dylan Thomas and Stanners Stanton Mike Lewis
Wey and Arun Canal Trust WACT News Obituary John Wood, Vice-President We have been sad to learn that our VicePresident John Wood MBE died on 5th September in Didcot, Oxfordshire at the age of 85. We express our sympathy to John's widow Joy and his family. John Wood was truly a key figure in the early history and development of the Canal Trust. John joined the Wey & Arun Canal Society (which later became the Canal Trust) in December 1971 and remained as an active volunteer for more than 40 years. He served as Hon. Secretary from 1975 to 1997 and as Vice-Chairman from 1989 to 1996, among many other positions. John's enthusiasm and L-R Peter Beresford, John Wood, commitment were exceptional and it is largely Iris Piggott, Julian Morgan thanks to him that the Trust grew from a small startup society to the organisation that has now achieved so much. The early years saw many challenges and John's calm, patient and persistent approach must have been an invaluable asset. In 2000 John was appointed MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to Conservation and Canal Restoration in West Sussex. In 2012 John published his book "The Wey-South Project", covering the years 1966 to 2009. This is a fascinating read and an indispensable reference source for current members and future historians.
23 New section of canal acquired by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust We are delighted to announce that the Canal Trust has purchased another section of canal. This is the Gennets Farm section near Loxwood in West Sussex and south of Gennets Bridge Lock which was restored by the Trust in 2018. After the purchase of the Bonfire Hanger section of the canal in May this year and with a section including the lock itself that we already owned (Gennets Bridge Lock), a continuous length of about 1.5 km/1 mile is now in our ownership. This is in addition to the length of about 5 km/3 miles in the centre of Loxwood where we run our public trips boats and have a canal centre and which is leased on a long-term basis. The latest acquisition is a tribute to the work of our teams, especially our EWG (Eric Walker Group), who have transformed the Gennets Farm section in recent years and continues to open up more restoration opportunities. Official Opening of Birtley Bridge No. 2 – Saturday 28th October We are delighted to announce that the official opening of the Birtley Bridge No. 2 will be at 2pm on Saturday, 28th October (about 1 mile south of Bramley village, near to the Downs Link walking and cycling route). The What3Words address is slips.unique.grapes. Parking in the Birtley area is very limited and if you need a disabled parking space we will make special arrangements, and in this case (only) please email events@weyandarun.co.uk . No need to register if you do NOT need a special parking place. If you can, please take the opportunity to park in Bramley village and take the traffic-free path along the Downs Link (the old railway route) for about 1 mile to Birtley. We recommend that while you are in the Birtley area you take the time to walk down the towpath to see Birtley Bridge No. 1 and the popular circular walking route we have created. This circular walk from the Downs Link path goes past both bridges and returns to the Downs Link. Boat Trips. A private boat trip can be a great way to celebrate a special occasion, or a fun outing for your group or society. We provide the boat and the crew and we can also help with refreshments. The best way to book is to use the online enquiry form on our website or you can contact support@weyandarun.co.uk. For general information on the work of the Trust, please telephone our Northern Office on 01483 505566, or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk
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River Thames News I have to report improved relationships between EA Officers and river users. Elsewhere you will have seen the need for sustainable funding for all waterways and the Thames is a good example of how a lack of funding over time has led to emergency repairs on many locks and bridges. One example is the bridge at Benson Lock which has been closed for many months. The local community has started a daytime ferry service so walkers, boaters etc can cross the river. Another was the closure of Whitchurch Lock for nearly 24 hours due to hydraulic failure, causing at least one hotel boat to change its plans and turn round! This lack of funding coupled with the repercussions from a fatal accident at Shepperton has seen lengthy delays in repairs due to the Defra bidding process. I understand there is a possibility that the former “in-house” arrangement may be reinstated with suitable training and checks. This should speed things up but will not help the impossibility of planning to prevent breakdowns without the assurance of guaranteed money. Casual observers have noted the lack of craft moving which has been reflected nationwide. Exceptions are organised events. One of the outcomes of the lack of especially powered boat movements is more weed! Verna Smith
British Canoeing Environment Agency infrastructure for Paddlesport: The Agency has completed projects to commence to improve canoe portages at locks on the River Kennet and River Thames. Blakes Lock, River Kennet, Reading The portage route is across the lock island. In July a wider, longer, lower height extension was added to the fixed landing stage on the weir stream side of the lock island. Fitted with a GRP grating deck to aid self-draining it also has a ladder as a deep water safety feature. The portage pontoon in the lock cut was featured previously in Cargoes and has since been balanced to correct a pronounced list. Both landings are suitable for longer kayaks such as a K2.
25 Improved and extended weir stream landing - Abingdon Lock. Completed in August, the new structure replaces an awkward lower portage point by the lock gates. Similarly fitted with GRP fitted for self-draining it is positioned behind the lock lay-by to provide easier access to launch and land.
Previous canoe portage landing New canoe portage landing (Images by Kingfisher Canoe Club)
River Thames Scheme: The scheme has formed a Community Stakeholders Working Group (CSWG). An initial virtual meeting was held in August attended by British Canoeing along with others from the river user’s sector. RTS explained the purpose of the group, including it to be a collaborative platform, is to tease out issues and to improve our engagement, for example about our next consultation. Hopefully this will lead to British Canoeing receiving information for access and the infrastructure on the new channels. CSWG is scheduled to meet for a second time in October. British Canoeing and the RNLI launch safety campaign for paddlers: British Canoeing and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are promoting five key safety messages to help people stay safe while participating in paddlesports. The campaign aims to raise awareness of how to stay safe on the water when planning to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), kayak or canoe on any type of water whether at the coast or inland. The five key messages are: • Wear a buoyancy aid / personal floatation device. No matter how strong you think you are at swimming. • Carry a means of communication on you. If you become separated from your craft, this is when you may need to call for assistance. • Check the weather. So that you can wear the right clothing and spot any weather that is dangerous to paddle in. • Tell others of your plans. So they know when you will be returning. • Paddle within your ability and if you need to, take courses to help level up your skills. Kevin East Voluntary Waterways & Environment Project Officer
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Kent & East Sussex Branch Interim IWAKES Chairman’s Piece We held our first meeting of the season at our usual venue in Strood Yacht Club on the evening of 19th September. The excellent talk we enjoyed was an exploration of the past and present of the preserved steam driven tanker SS Shieldhall [ www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk ]. This was given by Graham Mackenzie who is Chief Engineer, devoting a lot of his time in a voluntary capacity in order to keep the vessel operational. A visit or better still trip on board is highly recommended by Mike Marsh, one of our members who organised this talk. Thank you Graham and Mike. Unfortunately the audience was not huge. Risking the charge of repeating the same message… as always we do need more members to show an interest in order to keep these evenings viable. We would be willing to arrange meetings elsewhere in the branch area if there is support for this. I would especially like to hear from members living in East Sussex and West Kent if they have ideas that might inspire. Peter Wilkinson
Obituary Reverend Douglas Caffyn PhD We are sorry to hear of the death of Rev Caffyn, an Eastbourne resident who made an immense contribution of support and advice on waterway access issues. From his meticulous research into the history of rights to use navigable rivers Douglas Caffyn concluded that there had long been a common law right to take a boat along the navigable rivers of England and Wales but that this right was misinterpreted in an influential nineteenth century legal text. His research gained him Academic recognition. In 2004, he submitted a thesis on “The Right of Navigation on Non-tidal Rivers and the Common Law”, providing a wealth of information and shaping thinking on the subject of access to water. It gained a Master of Law degree from the University of Kent. A more detailed tribute is published by British Canoeing at…. https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2023/tributes-paid-to-reverenddouglas-caffyn-phd
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IWAKES Branch Walk on the River Cuckmere from Alfriston to Exceat Bridge
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Thames & Medway Canal Association The TMCA applied for a grant from the Kent Community Foundation. We needed funding to obtain a new Headquarters as with our limited resources we could not afford one. I am very happy to say we were considered worthy and received the funding necessary for the basic purchase. It will make such a difference to us as to lose our previous HQ was a real blow to both our morale and ability to function as a working group. When we have purchased the cabin it will remind passers-by of our presence and has given us all a huge boost to feel that our work is appreciated and rewarded by others. Following the proposed reduction of funding for our waterways we had a mention on Meridian TV news which again helps to publicise our canal. Our efforts have been noticed by Gravesham Borough Council as I was presented with a Community Award for work associated with the canal. I accepted this on behalf of us all which of course would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the Work Party. So, a big thank you for the many hours spent working along the towpath. Unfortunately, we have had to sell our ride-on mower. It was a good little machine, versatile and fun to drive. This was stored within the Met Police site which was not ideal. In addition, we did not really need it as we have lost our original HQ with the large grass areas front and back. The mower went to a good home as I took it up to the Bexley Cricket Club in the
29 trailer with TMCA member Mike Shelvey. He is a keen cricketer and a Work Party member. With a short test drive the groundsman there seemed very pleased with the result. We had a meeting recently with Sustrans which is the group responsible for the provision and maintenance of the National Cycle Network. The canal towpath forms part of Route number 1 of this network. The towpath surface is very poor and becoming dangerous for cyclists and difficult for wheelchairs and the like. Sustrans has accepted that a new surface is required and confirmed it will organise repairs. We have a seemingly never-ending list of tasks. One at the forefront is a battle with bikers who continue to damage the gate at Nuralite. Our efforts at repair only last a few weeks before they come along with an angle grinder or heavy vehicle.
A boat was launched earlier in the year to clear bags full of litter along the waterline but again, by the time you read this, more cans and bottles will have been added. A number of circular walks starting from Gravesend and Higham and incorporating the Thames and Medway Canal have been put together by TMCA volunteers. If you would like a copy of any walk emailed, please get in touch. Dave Parnell
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River Medway news from Mike Marsh Environment Agency News…. Allington Lock – A landing stage lower wall on the opposite side of lock is being constructed with an electric hookup point being installed. This will help boaters waiting to enter the lock. The car park has been resurfaced. Enforcement – Registration compliance checks have been completed this summer. Non-registered boats are issued with new yellow enforcement stickers, affixed to the vessel. These are weather resistant and have been very effective. There is now an 82% compliance rate, rising each day. 63 boats have registered since carrying out the compliance checks, with 112 to go. There have been 16 boat seizure notices issued with the first boat to be removed from mooring in midSeptember. Compliance rates are 7% higher this year in comparison to 2022. Recruitment – EA advised that it is increasing the River management team and also recruiting four apprentices to train-up. Dredging – Continuing problems with the EA barge bucket crane have affected the 2023 dredging programme. It is hoped to have it operational as soon as possible. CCTV – EA now has an increased budget for security CCTV to be installed at Teston Lock and Town Lock in Tonbridge. This will be welcome in the continued fight against anti-social behaviour. Incidents – These were reported at East Farleigh lock this summer. Speeding RHIBs are on the increase. Oil spillage – This was from Hampstead Marina and was investigated by EA environmental teams. The oil had spread so much there was little they could effectively do. A Notice to Mariners was issued warning boaters. EA are still looking into this to see how the spillage occurred.
Asian Hornets…. Medway Valley Countryside Partnership is asking members of public to look out for and report sightings of this invasive species which can destroy whole bee colonies. The phone app “Asian Hornet Watch” is designed to help report and record sightings…. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.ac.ceh.hornets&hl=en_GB
31 Maidstone River Festival…. https://www.maidstoneriverfestival.com
This year’s Festival was held on Saturday 29th July and was very successful with over 100 boats attending on a very sunny July day. IWAKES Committee members Malcolm Hasler, Mike Marsh, Roy Sutton and Peter Wilkinson set up a stand at the Festival and engaged with the public, handing out IWA literature to them and to Festival boaters.
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Kentish River Stour news from Malcolm Hasler A continuing quiet season on the Kentish Stour as an unusual season, weather wise, passed us by. Weeks of sweltering temperatures with little to no rain, exceptionally high tides due to the “Blue Moon”, followed by extremely low tidal waters accompanied by periods of drought causing the river to be low. Navigating the river was challenging at times! Several successful trips and events were planned by the Grove Ferry Boat Club, culminating in the Summer Party, held on a day with gale force winds and severe weather warnings in place. Despite challenging conditions, the event passed safely with the tents and marquees remaining mostly intact. Grove Ferry Bridge – This has been seriously weakened over the years, resulting in weight restrictions being imposed. It was inevitable that Kent County Council would look at some form of repair or replacement eventually.
The biggest news of the summer was the arrival, on many people’s doorsteps, of letters sent out by AECOM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Management) Consultants on behalf of the KCC, announcing a consultation period in respect to the Grove Ferry Bridge. These were sent out by various Engagement Consultants from AECOM to all stakeholders and local residents, local landowners, local businesses and the Grove Ferry Boat Club, to mention a few. They basically announced an initial “views and fact seeking” period of consultation in advance of the full public consultation planned for early 2024. The Stour Downstream Interests Group, set up to represent those with connections to the downstream Kentish River Stour, are “on the case” guided by Mary Newing, Local individual meetings were held on the 28th July 2023, with Mary Newing, myself representing the IWA, and directly affected businesses. These meetings became fact finding missions by AECOM on behalf of the KCC, and were led by Paul Boughen, Principal Consultant Stakeholder Engagement. We now await the promised notes and minutes from the various meetings, as AECOM went away to consolidate their thoughts and report back to the KCC.
33 All stakeholders and interested parties now wait for the initial feedback, from the Consultants and the KCC, on the initial consultation meetings held in July 2023. I am sure that I will be reporting further on this matter in the months to come. I thank Chris Riddell for the following list of factors that should be considered during the Public Consultation and complied with by any subsequent works…. 1.
Common Law Public Rights of Navigation which exist prima facia in tidal waters (Halsbury’s Laws of England, 5th. Edition, para 691 and the National Association of Boat Owners Guidance Note, Public Rights of Navigation, pp 4 and 5).
2.
It must be ensured that the bridge design does not obstruct the Public Right of Navigation – there must be sufficient width and air draught under the structure for boats to navigate the waterway at all states of the tide. The fact that this may not exist currently is not relevant.
3.
Navigation should only be closed when absolutely essential, and then only for the shortest durations possible.
4.
Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, any major bridge works over a tidal river requires a licence from the Marine Management Organisation.
That’s it for now. Hope that you have a great late season’s cruising on the water. Enjoy your “laying up suppers”, and remember, the best way to winterise your boat is to use it! I am on email at Malcolm.Hasler@waterways.org.uk
Future IWAKES and Other Events Thursday 9th November 2023: 7.30 for 8.00pm: Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood. ME2 2AH: “IWA Kent & East Sussex Waterways” Roy Sutton will show 45-year-old photographs of IWAKES Branch’s waterways. These include commercial traffic on Dartford and Crayford Creeks and the Medway. Thursday 29th February 2024: 7.30 for 8.00pm: Room 2, Christ Church URC, High Street, Tonbridge TN9 1SG: “IWAKES Annual General Meeting”. To be followed by a “Quiz”. Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings. Entry is free with a raffle to cover costs. All IWAKES events are open to non-members and you are encouraged to invite friends to meetings. Similarly, if you know a local club or society might be interested, please tell them.
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Oxfordshire Branch This hasn’t been a summer in which we have suffered water shortages on the waterways in our branch, which is great, but that was due to the steadily poor weather we have had throughout much of the summer which has certainly significantly reduced the number of people out boating or otherwise enjoying the waterways where I am. I hope it hasn’t spoiled your summer. The one really great event I did get to, all be it in very mixed weather, was the Thames Traditional Boat Show at Henley. An amazing spectacle of traditional and traditional style boats of all types. Well worth a visit in late July if you haven’t been before to see narrow boats, river cruisers, steam and electric launches, skiffs and much more besides. Between writing this article and it being published the branch will have had a stand at the Banbury Canal Festival, I hope we had an opportunity to meet and for me to twist your arm to help out manning the stand next year. I will try and include more on the event in the next issue. Ian Lyndsay, Oxford Branch Chair
Tooley’s Boatyard Trust Tooley’s have brought out an app that keeps all your boat details in one place. It also includes tips on maintenance, handling etc. Why not try it for free. Throughout the warmer months of the year we run boat trips on Dancing Duck from Tooley’s Boatyard on Saturdays (approx. 40 mins). All tours are run by qualified helmsman and crew. https://tooleysboatyardtrust.org.uk/boat-trips/ . John Madden, Chair Tooley’s Boatyard Trust
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust My last article focused on the strengthening of our administrative and planning functions, and the small matter of the Coronation. The former process continues, with the appointment of a volunteer Marketing Director and the setting up of an Engagement Task Force. This group has developed a strategy for community
35 engagement, getting our message “out there” with the aim of increasing awareness in our local population, particularly the movers and shakers, in Local Authorities, businesses and schools. A secondary aim is to increase our membership, to give us better financial stability in view of the marked fall in grant funding this year. Meanwhile, our three trip boats have been in action during the summer, not only bringing in much-needed funds but probably more importantly giving large numbers of people – several hundred - the experience of being on the water. Some of these have joined us as crew or skippers. Thanks to the generosity of one of our members, we have made a small but significant land purchase near Wantage. The section of canal there had been bisected by a farm track crossing it; the landowner was not only happy to make the sale but actually removed the crossing, dug out the canal and restored the towpath! The adjacent piece of land, or part of it, will be useful to the Trust in terms of allowing space for a compound etc given the necessary permissions. As summer activities die away, we are beginning preparations for our Santa trips in December – always very popular! Chris Barry Comms Secretary, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Santa 2023 We are planning to run Santa trips again this year, based on the “Dragonfly Experiences” we have been doing so far. Trips will run every weekend from Saturday December 2nd until Sunday December 17th and then every day from Wednesday December 20th, up to and including Saturday December 23rd . Trip times will be 10.30 am, 11.15 am, 12:00 noon, 1.30 pm, 2.15 and 3 pm. Fares will be unchanged at £12 for children, £6 for adults. Children aged 1 and under go free. For those not familiar with what we do, Dragonfly goes to find Santa; he gets on the boat and gives each child their own personal present; Santa knows who's been before, too! Bookings open on Monday October 2nd - to book, please email 2santa@wbct.org.uk or ring 07401 220076. Payment must be made at least two weeks before your trip to confirm the booking. ALL TRIPS MUST BE PRE-BOOKED
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Surrey Care Trust Swingbridge Community boats provide a wonderful experience for young people, community groups, the elderly, and families, particularly those who have limited mobility or special needs. These outings offer the opportunity to enhance well-being by the soothing speed and tranquillity of travelling on water. Our boats, Tranquility and Endeavour, run excursions on the River Wey throughout the spring, summer and early autumn. Come on board for confidence building, learning new skills, working as a team, relaxing, tranquillity, being in nature, new experiences and training. Tranquility helps people take time out in a relaxed, purpose-built setting. Are you looking for a special extracurricular or reward activity for your group? Or an engaging team-building or motivational activity for your organisation? Or for an opportunity to volunteer and support your community. Swingbridge Tranquility's trips and activities are for you! Moored at Dapdune wharf in Guildford, Tranquility is specifically adapted with a wheelchair lift, so it is fully accessible for people with limited mobility as well as other needs, to enjoy a morning or afternoon out. We also offer courses leading to National Community Boats Association qualifications as well as our own courses. All training courses can be adapted to meet different interests and ability levels.
Mikron Theatre Group
A Force to be Reckoned With and Twitchers are coming to the end of their 2023 season. Please visit our website for booking details, times and venues. www.mikron.org.uk
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The Puppet Theatre Barge The Puppet Theatre Barge has been putting on a programme of unique and magical puppet shows on a converted Thames barge for over thirty years. The audience begin their journey as soon as they step onto the gangplank and climb aboard. They descend below the water line (wellingtons not necessary) and leave the real world behind. Puppets from other parts of the world hang from the walls in retirement. The theatre’s golden curtain is softly lit and banks of seats slope gently to the roof. A ship’s bell is rung, the audience falls silent in anticipation. Music plays, the lights dim, the theatre goes dark and finally the curtain rises to the delight of children and adults alike. The Facilities. Don’t worry, the Puppet Theatre Barge is not an open-air theatre! It is an indoor venue, with raked seating for over fifty people, and refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit) served at the interval. We have central heating to warm you in the winter, fans to cool you during those rare hot summer days and even a toilet! The boat does not move during the performance and only rocks very gently if a large boat goes by. Performances. Shows usually last for just over an hour, sometimes with an interval of around ten minutes half way through for refreshments. It is a proper theatre so the auditorium goes completely dark before the curtain goes up, and the dramatic lighting is just like in a big theatre. We specialise in performances using long-string marionettes; a world of pure puppetry where the puppets are centre stage and the puppeteers (operating from above) are never seen. Our shows have no upper age limit, but we also put on a programme of productions aimed specifically at an adult audience. Our aims:
to promote live animation to give the audience an experience of the imagination to present new music and writing whenever possible to ensure excellence in voice and music recordings to be aware of: the equal importance of every element within a presentation the scale and perspective of light the centre of gravity of the marionette silence and space Email info@puppetbarge.com Box Office: 020 7249 6876
Editor’s Note: I came across The Puppet Theatre Barge by chance when our boat was moored at Abingdon earlier this year. The Group had received funding to tour The Thames. The Barge is normally moored at Little Venice.
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Towpath Walks Group The Start time for all Walks is 2.30pm. Normal charge: £15. Concessionary and Student rate: £10. Children aged 16 and over, accompanied by parents: £10. Children aged 8 – 15, accompanied by parents: £5. (Children under 8, accompanied by parents, go for free). Prior booking is mandatory: Please contact London Walks: 020 7624 3978. Or email them at: london@walks.com. It is Very Important to watch the IWA website - www.waterways.org.uk - or the London Walks website – www.walks.com - to see if any late changes to the walk have had to be made. Towpath Walks Group are looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short walks along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal (and elsewhere). This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways – which most outsiders don’t realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, we’ll brief you. Sun 5th Nov: Royal Victoria Dock – East India Dock. Meet Royal Victoria (DLR)(IFS Cloud/Seagull Lane exit) Sun 19th Nov: Regent’s Canal: R.Tyburn – Little Venice. Meet Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit) Sun 3rd Dec: Grosvenor Canal and Battersea Power Station – Meet Victoria (Wilton Street exit, opposite Apollo Victoria Theatre) Sun 17th Dec: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square – St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue next to Pret a Manger) 2024 Mon 1st Jan: Regents Canal: Little Venice – Camden. Meet Warwick Avenue. Sun 7th Jan: Regents Canal: Islington – Kingsland Road. Meet Angel, Islington Sun 21st Jan: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square – Camden. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue next to Pret a Manger) Sun 4th Feb: Regent’s Canal: Mile End – Limehouse. Meet Mile End Sun 18th Feb: Grosvenor Canal and Battersea Power Station. Meet Victoria (Wilton Street exit, opposite Apollo Victoria Theatre) Sun 3rd Mar: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square – St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue next to Pret a Manger) Sun 17th Mar: Limehouse – Thames – Docklands. Meet Westferry (DLR)(by Cycle Hire Point)
39 Sun 31st Mar: Regents Canal: Little Venice – Camden meet Warwick Avenue Sun 7th Apr: Regents Canal: King’s Cross -Hitchcock’s Hackney – Kings Cross. Meet by Taxi (meet by Taxi Queue next to Pret a Manger Sun 21st Apr: Royal Victoria Dock – East India Dock. Meet Royal Victoria (DLR)(IFS Cloud/Seagull Lane exit) Sun 5th May: Regent’s Canal: R.Tyburn – Little Venice. Meet Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit)
London Region London Region Socials (Combined with North and East London Branch) Our IWA London Region Socials, on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, are currently held at the London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT
Future Events Autumn dates for your diaries – full programme will be on IWA website and will be circulated to all members of IWA London Region. Tuesday 21st November – tba Tuesday 19th December – a revival of the Christmas Quiz and Auction. Contributions to the auction gratefully received. If you would like to be added to my circulation list and are not on the IWA London Region circulation list please email me as below: Libby Bradshaw libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk 07956 655037
South London Branch South London Branch Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm in The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP. Admission to talks and presentations is free to members and non-members, but we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’ expenses, thank you. A large selection of second hand and pre-loved books are available to buy, and refreshments and homemade cake are available to purchase during the break. For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson. Tel: 07803 904803 or email: shea.richardson@waterways.org.uk
40 Wed 11th Oct. 7.30pm: Presentation by Kirk Martin on walking on lost Canals entitled “Boots not Boats” Wed 8th Nov. 7.30pm: Libby Bradshaw is giving us a presentation on a Scottish cruise she did on board the Steam Puffer: Vic 32 Wed 13th Dec. 7.30pm: Our annual Christmas Celebration with Hot Mulled Punch and festive snacks. Wed 14th Feb 2024. 7.30pm: tba
IWA Festival of Water Pelsall The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) returned to Pelsall this year for the first time since 2016. The charity welcomed visitors to its annual Festival of Water which was held at Pelsall North Common over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The event attracted many hundreds of visitors throughout the weekend and was especially popular amongst families. Children enjoyed a range of activities – from having a go at driving a digger to testing their skills in the Arena with Giant Jenga, Connect 4, football and tug of war! Visitors didn’t go hungry, with an incredible choice of food and refreshments available including stone-baked pizzas, gourmet burgers, Caribbean street food and ice cream. Plenty of traders attended the festival, with numerous stalls selling everything from toys and books to marine engine parts, pet portraits, jams, chutneys, cookies and even bonsai trees. There were a number of charity stalls too with many promoting specific restoration projects in the local area and beyond including the Birmingham Canal Navigation Society (BCNS), Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT), and the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust. The bar served a fantastic choice of beverages including ciders and ales. Trade was steady throughout the weekend and was spurred on by a good turnout for the Open Mic Variety Show and a superb programme of entertainment. There was never a dull moment in the Entertainments Marquee where local artistes and festival favourites performed including Miles & Margaret, The Buskateers, and Reflections.
41 Over 70 boats - from traditional working boats to modern narrowboats - all adorned with bunting, banners and flags - were moored on the Wyrley and Essington Canal in Pelsall. The variety and sheer volume of boats attracted a great deal of interest while the static Illuminated Boat Display proved very popular as festivalgoers enjoyed strolling along the towpath on Sunday evening to admire the vibrant spectacle. Councillor Chris Towe, Mayor of Walsall, opened the festival on Saturday, saying how delighted he was to open the event and thanked IWA for returning to Pelsall, remarking “what better a location than the Wyrley and Essington Canal”. The Mayor went on to explain how the canal is a valuable asset to the local community, having been there for 230 years. Wendy Morton, MP for AldridgeBrownhills, also attended the Opening Ceremony. She welcomed everybody to Pelsall and hoped that they would have a great time as visitors did back when the event took place in 2016. She continued, “I know how important our canals are to us, not just in Pelsall and in Walsall but right across the Black Country and the West Midlands. Once a key part of our industrial heritage, they are now part of our local communities. We see them playing a part in the restoration of many of our local towns as well.” Later on in the weekend, Jane Elwell, Chair of the organising committee, said: "We have between 70 and 80 boats here, all of whom have booked to come to the festival, including eight boat traders. There are also about 60 camping pitches. It has been a successful event. I think there would have been bigger crowds if the weather had stayed fine but that's always the problem." At the Awards Ceremony on Monday afternoon four awards were presented: Best picture coloured by a child aged 4 – 8 years was awarded to Alice, and in the 913 years category it was awarded to Issy Patrick.
IWA Chesham Head Office Staff Head of Operations (FT): Ross Field Administration Manager (PT): Tracy Higgin Volunteer Manager (FT): Jenny Hodson (07531 004531) Membership Assistant (PT): Rachel Bryant Administration Assistant (PT): Kelly Gascoine
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The The Inland Inland Waterways Waterways Association Association South South East East Region Region Chair: Chair: vacant vacant
IWA IWA Guildford Guildford & Reading & Reading Branch Branch Committee Committee Acting Acting Chair: Chair: Verna Verna Smith Smith 63 Avondale, 63 Avondale, AshAsh Vale, Vale, Aldershot, Aldershot, Hants Hants GU12 GU12 5NE5NE Email: Tel:Tel: 07986 07986 244479 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com verna.smith63@gmail.com Secretary: Secretary: Chris Chris Jones Jones Tel:Tel: 07711 07711 784374 784374 Email: Email: chris.jones@waterways.org.uk chris.jones@waterways.org.uk Acting Acting Treasurer Treasurer & R.&Wey: R. Wey: Mike Mike Lewis Lewis Vacant Basingstoke Basingstoke & R.&Thames: R. Thames: Vacant
K &KA,&WACT A, WACT & Planning: & Planning: Verna Verna Smith Smith
IWA IWA Kent Kent & East & East Sussex Sussex Branch Branch Committee Committee Interim Interim Chair: Chair: Peter Peter Wilkinson Wilkinson Tel:Tel: 01303 01303 890658 890658 Email: Email: peter.glen4@gmail.com peter.glen4@gmail.com Secretary, Secretary, Sussex Sussex Ouse Ouse & Cargoes & Cargoes Contact: Contact: RoyRoy Sutton Sutton 79, St 79,Leonards St Leonards Park, Park, EastEast Grinstead, Grinstead, West West Sussex Sussex RH19 RH19 1EG1EG Tel:Tel: 01342 01342 317569 317569 Email: Email: RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk Treasurer Treasurer & Royal & Royal Military Military Canal: Canal: Peter Peter Wilkinson Wilkinson Membership Membership Secretary: Secretary: Les Les Etheridge Etheridge Social Social Secretary: Secretary: Vacant Vacant Waterways Waterways Representatives Representatives R. Medway: R. Medway: Michael Michael Marsh Marsh R. Stour: R. Stour: Malcolm Malcolm Hasler Hasler Thames Thames & Medway: & Medway: Bernard Bernard Snell Snell Dartford Dartford & Crayford: & Crayford: Brian Brian Franklin Franklin
R. Adur: R. Adur: Vacant Vacant Northfleet Harbour: Vacant Vacant Northfleet Harbour: R. Rother: R. Rother: Malcolm Malcolm Jones Jones Faversham Faversham & Swale: & Swale: Vacant Vacant
IWA IWA Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Branch Branch Committee Committee Chair: Chair: IanIan Lindsay Lindsay Tel:Tel: 07889 07889 070623 070623 Email: Email: ian.lindsay@waterways.org.uk ian.lindsay@waterways.org.uk Secretary: Secretary: Robin Robin Williams Williams Tel:Tel: 07490 07490 454260 454260 Email: Email: robin.williams@waterways.org.uk robin.williams@waterways.org.uk Treasurer: Treasurer: Roger Roger Badger Badger Webmaster: Webmaster: Robin Robin Williams Williams
Cargoes Cargoes co-ordinator co-ordinator & Jericho: & Jericho: tba tba
NonNon Committee Committee Responsibilities Responsibilities Thames Thames RUG RUG 3: Sue 3: Sue & David & David Cooper Cooper th January Next Next issue: issue: Spring Spring Copy Copy date: date: 27th27 January 2024 2024
Opinions Opinions expressed expressed in Cargoes in Cargoes are are not not necessarily necessarily those those of IWA. of IWA. IWA, IWA, 16B16B Asheridge Asheridge Road, Road, Chesham, Chesham, Bucks, Bucks, HP5HP5 2PX. 2PX. Tel:Tel: 01494 01494 783453 783453 Company Company No:No: 612245. 612245. Charity Charity No:No: 212342 212342 www.waterways.org.uk www.waterways.org.uk Cargoes Cargoes Editor: Editor: Chris Chris Jones Jones chris.jones@waterways.org.uk chris.jones@waterways.org.uk
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UNDERFUNDED BY £100,000 Keep Your Canal Alive
Funding is important for community health, survival of natural habitat and supporting local businesses Without adequate funding, we would lose: Opportunities to improve our physical and mental health in nature l 32 miles of fishing locations l Access to “free” exercise and wellbeing space l
Declines in funding mean Risk to life for nature and species unique to the Basingstoke Canal l The potential closure of the 13th most beautiful waterway in the world l
A poorly maintained canal could result in: A considerable decline in tourism across Surrey and Hampshire l Decline in your property value l Decline in trade for coffee shops, restaurant, boating companies, fishing tackle shops, tourist accommodation and more! l
Basingstoke Canal, 1970
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