Endeavor Northampton May 2018

Endeavour Northampton Branch Newsletter — May 2018 RED-LETTER DAY FOR THE NORTHAMPTON ARM At an informal unveiling ceremony on a sunny and hot Saturday in April, the mosaic nature trail on the Northampton Arm was officially inaugurated by Northamptonshire Deputy Lieutenant Joan Kirkbride and Canal & River Trust Chief Executive Richard Parry. (Cont. page 9)

IT’S NEW! OUR BRANCH LAUNCHES A NEW FUNDRAISING

100 CLUB Full details are on page 12

Joan Kirkbride and Richard Parry answer a photo call with Molly O’Brien and Bailey Donlevy of Delapre Primary School, Northampton, who designed the nature panels at Lock 12 and Lock 1 respectively. Branch Chairman Bernard Morton completes the group

waterways.org.uk/northampton

A Membership Form is included in this Endeavour and is also available on the Branch web site

2

3

EDITORIAL MUSINGS We may have had plenty of rain this spring but fortunately nothing as damaging as the sheer quantity that fell in the Northampton area over 24 hours at Easter 20 years ago.

This was the occasion of the Great Northampton Flood when the Nene overwhelmed low -lying parts of the town at Far Cotton and St James in the early hours of the morning and swiftly wreaked similar mayhem downstream, especially in the Thrapston area. The flood arrived without warnings being sounded, which was the terrifying aspect of it all.

The local media, in words, voices and pictures, has recalled the 1998 calamity in great detail, with inhabitants describing graphically the human misery caused as well as the numerous acts of heroism. Amazingly only two people perished in the disaster but inevitably lives were left severely blighted, some people never fully recovering from the shock of it all.

Staying firmly in the memories of many, particularly those with a waterways interest, are the photographs of a narrowboat stranded, bows lifted high, up the right hand bank of the river just upstream of South Bridge, opposite Carlsberg. Apparently the boat’s crew were making a brave attempt to get off the river into the relatively safe waters of the canal. Sadly they were too late. Their boat failed to stem the current and was driven on to the bank. Tragically the lady on board was swept overboard and drowned, her body being discovered downstream several days later. No-one obviously knows exactly the circumstances but it would seem likely she was knocked from the boat’s stern deck as the tiller whipped across in the torrent of rushing water. In nearby Becket’s Park another boat struggling to reach the canal – surely Lock 17 would have been submerged by now – ended up firmly aground in the park itself. It was indeed a traumatic 24 hours for Northampton. But it was an event that failed to attract the national headlines one would have expected as it coincided with the signing of the historic Irish Good Friday Agreement.

Undoubtedly it was a freak event. As a result the town’s flood defences were strengthened, although there are still doubts as to whether they would hold out against a similar inundation. Can you ever fully protect yourself from nature’s once-in-a-lifetime outbursts? The Washlands flood lake is highly effective at coping with regulation downpours, a situation amply demonstrated during this spring’s rains. Twenty years ago it wasn’t. Viewed daily from his bedroom window, a colleague reports that the lake’s 2018 levels were up and down like the proverbial yo-yo, but all held firm. Major flooding was averted and the lake was gradually drained ready for the next surge. Please don’t let us speak too soon…

Meanwhile, moorers on the River Tove at the bottom of Stoke Bruerne locks have their own stories to tell of regular floodings, not least this spring. Like the Nene, the Tove is a capricious beast, although in a less dramatic way. So now, hopefully, we look forward to summer sunshine boating and waterways activities all round. At least there should be enough water to keep us on the move.

4

DIARY DATES June 2nd 10am Walk About Festival in Stoke Bruerne. Details: Fiona Rawlings at chair@ramblers.org.uk 16th-17th Foxton Locks Festival. Details: www.foxtonlocksfestival.co.uk 23th-24th Braunston Historic Boat Rally at Braunston Marina.

Details on page 14

July

8th 11am — 4pm

Crafters on the Museum Green — Friends of The Canal Museum. Details: Laura Sturrock at laura@whitenap.plus.com or phone 01788 890102 21st-22nd Cosgrove Annual Canal Festival and Craft Fair

August

18th– 19th Blisworth Canal Festival. Details: www.blisworthfestival.org 25th-27th IWA Festival of Water at St. Neots, Cambridgeshire on the Great Ouse. Details: www.waterways.org.uk/events

NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTY DATES June 3rd, 19th. July 1st, 17th. August 5th, 21st.

September 2nd, 18th. October 7th, 16th.

Contact: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY WORK PARTY DATES June 10th, 14th,28th. July 8th, 12th, 26th. August 9th, 12th, 23rd.

September 6th, 9th, 20th. October 4th, 14th, 18th.

Contact athinabec@aol.com or phone 01908 661217/07721 319404

STOKE BRUERNE CANAL PARTNERSHIP WORK PARTY DATES June 13th. July 11th. August 8th. September 12th. October 10th.

Contact: stokebruernecanalpartnership.org.uk

IWA Northampton Branch web site www.waterways.org.uk/northampton Please visit it regularly to see any updates

5

GRAND JUNCTION BOAT COMPANY GAYTON JUNCTION BLISWORTH ARM NORTHAMPTON NN7 3EF

01604 858043 www.narrowboat-repairsnorthampton.co.uk Email: info@boatrepairs.uk.com              

MARINE ENGINEERS ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL PLUMBING & HEATING CRANE OUT HULL BLACKING & SPRAYING IF PREFERRED DIY SLOTS AVAILABLE HULL GRIT BLASTING WITH QUILL MACHINE OVERPLATING & STEEL WORK STERN GEAR BARRUS SHIRE AGENTS BETA AGENTS WEBASTO AGENTS CHANDLERY

6

7

Branch Chairman’s Jottings

by Bernard Morton BRANCH AGM. At our AGM in March, Sandie, Mick Butler and I were re-elected to serve another three years on the Branch committee – thank you to those present for what we will take as a vote of confidence! The first order of business at our April committee meeting is always the election of officers for the coming year. And so I find myself still writing the Chairman’s Jottings. I consider my re-election as Chairman as probably not so much a vote of confidence, more a case of others being reluctant to step forward. My willingness to continue in the role is solely down to the dedication and unfailing support from the rest of the committee and my grateful thanks goes to each and every one of them.

I am pleased to report that Catriona Butler has been co-opted onto the committee as Meetings Organiser following the departure of Gemma Kinsey. Catriona has previously served on the events sub-committee for many years and used to run a sales table at our monthly meetings. She is already working on our programme for autumn 2018 through to late spring 2019 but I’m sure she would welcome any ideas for speakers and/or topics that you might have.

PUBLICITY OFFICER VACANCY. If only the vacancy for a Publicity Officer could be filled as quickly! We have been without a Publicity Officer since Lynda Payton retired some three years ago. Although Sandie, supported and advised by Roger Hasdell, has covered the most significant publicity opportunities that have arisen from our Branch activities, others have passed by without appropriate promotion. So, I am again making a plea for someone to come forward and fill this vacancy. We are such an active, forward-looking Branch with our adoption of the Northampton Arm, our wonderful army of volunteers (who achieve amazing results every time they attend a task party) and our support for other waterway causes within our “patch” that we ought to be shouting it from the rooftops.

Although we would love our Publicity Officer to be an active member, I recognise that not everyone wants to be part of a committee or is able to be so due to distance – in this age of easy communication, I am sure emails and phone calls could be utilised efficiently. If you would like to know more, please contact me (details on page 34).

MOSAIC NATURE TRAIL INAUGURATION. This was held on a sunny, hot day in April when it was a great pleasure to welcome CRT’s Richard Parry and Joan Kirkbride, Deputy Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, to the Lock 10 area of the Northampton Arm. The event, attended among others by local district and parish councillors, CRT staff and some of the children (with their families) who had designed and made the panels, also officially launched the mosaic Nature Trail Challenge that runs from Lock 1 to Lock 17. A full report is elsewhere in Endeavour.

Suffice to say I was very proud to hear Richard praise our Branch’s adoption achievements and the hard work of our volunteers. We were all surprised by seven-

8 year-old Lottie Clarke who presented evidence that she had already walked the length of the nature trail and had worked out the phrase the letters at each lock spell out. Luckily, Sandie had a certificate to hand which was presented to Lottie by Richard and myself on the day.

So, if you haven’t already walked the Northampton Arm there is an extra incentive to do so now. Not only can you admire the 34 mosaic panels (two at each lock) but you too can collect all the letters and submit your entry via the Branch web page to receive a certificate. Go to https://www.waterways.org.uk/northampton/ northampton and follow the link.

M1 MOTORWAY BRIDGE MURAL. Plans are well advanced for a large scale mural on the underside of the M1 bridge just below Lock 12 on the Northampton Arm which will involve 60 year six children from Delapre Primary School. No mosaics this time — instead a creative timeline of Northampton’s history, highlighting some iconic buildings in the town, covering 70 metres. Masterminding this latest work of art will be Marvin from Lemonpop Workshops who has already got plenty of design ideas from a workshop he ran in the school. At the end of May, the year six children will be bussed to the bridge in small groups to paint the mural on the offside, an area where there has been graffiti for years.

If all goes well, in 2019 another mural will be designed and painted on the towpath side of the bridge. Our mural plans were announced at the Nature Trail inauguration and Richard Parry said he was looking forward to visiting again and unveiling it – where will we get 70 metres of fabric cheap for the unveiling ceremony, I wonder?

100 CLUB. You may already have read about our plans for an alternative fundraiser (a private society lottery) to our annual Boat Gatherings as these have failed to generate interest amongst boaters for several years now. On page12 you will find full details of how you can become a member of our 100 Club and a membership form.

This Club is a great opportunity for non-boat owning members and those who live some distance from our area to become more involved in the Branch. A percentage of the money raised will given as prize-money and the rest will go into Branch funds to support local waterways causes.

I do hope you will support our 100 Club, which could benefit you as well as the Branch. The more people who become members, the bigger the prizes on offer.

There will be two public draws per year, one at our annual dinner in November and one at our AGM in March. These will be supervised by Paul Lynam, our Treasurer, and Tony Clarke, our Editor, who will not be members of the Club to ensure fair play!

HAPPY BOATING. All that remains is for me to wish you a pleasant summer in and around our inland waterways. Sandie and I will be heading down south this year to explore the Kennet and Avon, via the Grand Union and River Thames. We have heard many tales about lack of water, busy lock flights, lack of moorings etc on the K&A I guess the only thing to do is to find out the hard way!

Enjoy whatever weather comes our way and, above all, stay safe.

9 Continued from front page

RED-LETTER DAY FOR THE NORTHAMPTON ARM It was without doubt a red-letter day for the Arm. This was how Mick Butler, Joint Organiser of IWA Northampton Branch Arm adoption group, described it, adding: “We are celebrating the culmination of three year’s activities to mark the 200 th anniversary of the opening of the Arm in 1815 – activities led by the Branch with the full and enthusiastic support of the Trust.”

At the unveiling, at Lock 10 at the heart of the Rothersthorpe flight, Mr Parry declared: “Today we are also recognising the efforts of a fantastic adoption group.

IWA Northampton is one of the biggest of our adoption groups in the country and their volunteers are doing a superb job on the whole length of the Arm, ensuring everyone, whether boating or on the bank, can enjoy their local canal in the best way possible.”

While Mrs Kirkbride told Endeavour: “It makes me very proud to be here on this lovely day to support such an ambitious and enterprising venture. The canals in Northamptonshire are one of the county’s greatest assets, sometimes sadly not appreciated as fully as they should be by the general public. But what has been achieved here on the Arm by all the volunteers is quite remarkable, helping to make the canal environment so attractive and welcoming. Hearty congratulations to all involved.

May your good work continue.”

VIP’s and volunteers gather round the mosaic panels at Lock 10

10 Welcoming everyone to the ceremony, on 21 st April, Branch Chairman Bernard Morton voiced his own thanks to the untiring efforts of the volunteers so ably led by Geoff Wood and Mick Butler. He then asked Mick to outline the story of the Branch’s activities on the Arm and about marking the Arm’s 200 th anniversary.

It all began, said Mick, in May 2015 at a ceremony at CRT’s Gayton depot when Richard Parry unveiled a plaque and mosaic mural depicting a canal scene. “This was followed a year later by the inauguration of a mosaic decorated seat at the other end of the Arm, four and three-quarter miles and 17 locks away at Far Cotton in Northampton. On that day the honours were carried out by the then Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Penny Flavell and the Trust’s Richard Parry.

“But it wasn’t long before a plan was being hatched, largely through the initiative of our Branch secretary Sandie Morton, to link the two ends of the Arm in a more tangible and visible manner. She visualised a mosaic nature trail leading from lock to lock, also including a Challenge scheme that would inspire more people, especially children, to enjoy this environment. The first installation of the trail was completed last year at a ceremony when the Northampton South MP Andrew Lewer got his hands dirty cementing in the mosaic panels at Lock 17.

“Which brings us to today – the trail is finished and at each of the 17 locks you will Seven-year-old Lottie Clarke, the first find two mosaic panels, one recording an winner of the Arm Challenge, receives aspect of canal life, the other forming her Certificate of Achievement from Ber- part of the nature trail with a letter idennard Morton with Richard Parry along- tifying the aspect of nature pictured. The Challenge is to collect all the letters and side. Lottie frequently walks the Arm with her mum Laura from their home work out the phrase they spell. In return near Wootton Lock, now more familiarly we will reward you with a Certificate of Achievement. (For full details of the known as Pineham Lock Challenge, please go to https:// www.waterways.org.uk/northampton/ northampton).

“These three mosaic projects have been masterminded by David Bowers, a talented mosaic artist, and have involved the active participation of around 100 local primary school children, some of whom are here today from Gayton and from Briar Hill and Delapre schools in Northampton, who have helped with the designs and manufacture of these works of art. So, thank you to all the children involved and also to our dedicated volunteers who work so hard on the Arm. I would like to give a special thank you to

11

The informal gathering at Lock 10 Lawrence Chamberlain who has installed every one of the 34 panels – that is true dedication. Our special thanks must also go to John Faulkner, a longstanding and active Branch member who left the Branch a generous legacy, a small part of which has funded this nature trail.”

Mick continued: “If you are wondering what else we volunteers get up to on the Northampton Arm, then I can tell you we get involved in many varied activities such as litter picking, vegetation pruning and clearance, weeding, painting locks and greasing lock mechanisms, removing obstructions, replacing fencing, bulb planting (over 3,000 so far), making and stocking planters and much, much more. Anything in fact that will improve the Arm for all its users whether they are boaters, walkers, cyclists, anglers and all the rest.

“I would like to finish by reassuring Richard Parry that our adoption is growing in strength and ambition and we will continue to work in partnership with the Trust to help maintain, improve and promote this lovely stretch of waterway. For example, plans are already well advanced for a large-scale mural under the M1 bridge depicting the history of Northampton – this is just a short walk from Lock 10 and is an area which has been blighted by graffiti for years. Watch this space for an exciting transformation.”

The formal part of the ceremony over, the occasion became a very friendly social event in the sunshine, with light refreshments served and enjoyed by all. Among our guests were representatives of local parish councils.  All pictures by Kathryn Dodington LIFT BRIDGE COLLAPSE HOLD UP SOON CLEARED —A structural failure of the lift bridge just below Lock 13 resulted in a 48-hour closure of the Arm a few days before the mosaic trail inauguration ceremony. Several boats going up and down the Arm were delayed. The partial collapse of the bridge meant that CRT had to get a crane to the site in order to clear the channel. An engineer’s report on the state of the structure is awaited.

12

Introducing...

NORTHAMPTON BRANCH 100 CLUB We are launching the Branch’s own 100 Club to raise funds for Branch activities.

It will run annually, so we are asking for a single payment for each year for each share. Each member can have up to four £15 shares. (A total of 4 for couples with joint membership.)

For 2018 there will be one Prize Draw – to take place at our Annual Dinner in November.

Please ensure your Membership Forms are submitted and payments made by 31st October 2018 to be included in the first Draw.

Based on 100 members the prizes will be 1st £500 2nd £200 3rd £100

(These prizes will be adjusted pro-rata up or down if memberships are less or more than 100)

For 2019 and subsequent years there will be two Draws — one at the AGM in March, the other at the Annual Dinner or at the November or December Branch meetings. The prizes in each Draw will be 1st £250 2nd £100 3rd £50

(These prizes will be adjusted pro-rata up or down if memberships are less or more than 100)

For 2019 and onwards, applications and payments will need to be made by 28th February for inclusion in the Draws.

We will, of course, publish the winners in Endeavour and report on how the 100 Club is doing in terms of fund-raising.

If you have any questions, please call me on 07817 461842 or email paul.lynam@waterways.org.uk Paul Lynam, Branch Treasurer

13

SUPPLIES We are a family run, customer friendly business based adjacent to Bridge 32 at Nether Heyford. Our service point is clear of moored boats making your stop quick and easy. We offer the following services:

        

DIESEL – always competively priced PUMP OUT – no meter clock here BLUE TOILET FLUID ODORLOS – organic waste tank treatment CALOR GAS – all sizes of bottled gas including Camping Gaz. SOLID FUELS – all types of smokeless fuel or coal. Plus firelighters, sticks and logs.

CHARNWOOD STOVES – all sizes of multi-fuel stoves with or without boilers MORRIS OILS – popular grades of engine oil plus water resistant grease FUEL SET FUEL CONDITIONER

Most Major Credit Cards Accepted.

Open: 8.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays

Fred Tarry Bridge Cottage Furnace Lane Nether Heyford Northampton, NN7 3JY

Telephone/Fax: 01327-341202 Email : rhigginbottom@btconnect.com

Northamptonshire RESTAURANT º BARS º TRIP BOAT

DINE IN STYLE IN WOODWARD’S CANALSIDE RESTAURANT 01604 862428 www.boatinn.co.uk SAVE THE BRANCH MONEY! Stop receiving Endeavour by post and instead get it electronically. You will be notified by email when it’s published on-line. This will save in postage and printing costs. The printed version will be available at Branch meetings. Contact Geoff Wood at geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk and he will organise it.

Editor

14

Poirot back on the case at the 2018 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and Canal Festival, 23rd—24th June Tim Coghlan writes: After an absence of 10 years, the distinguished actor and waterways enthusiast David Suchet will return to Braunston Marina to open the 16 th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival.

On David’s last visit in 2008, the theme of that year’s Rally was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the launch of Raymond, the last wooden narrowboat built for the English canals. Ten years on, the theme will be its 60 th anniversary.

David Suchet at the helm of the narrowboat butty Raymond after formally opening the 2008 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally. Ten years on, he will again open the Rally (photo: David Jowett) Raymond was built at what was then Barlow’s Yard – now Braunston Marina – and launched on 2nd June, 1958. The boat was rescued in 1996 in a derelict state by the newly-formed Friends of Raymond, who then carried out a major restoration to it so that since completion of that first restoration in 2002, it has become ‘The Pride of the Cut!’ But as a wooden boat, the work goes on, and again this winter the boat has been undergoing major works to be ready in time to show itself off in the opening parade

15 of the Rally, with David back at the helm.

From its small beginnings in 2003, the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally has become the canal’s premier historic rally and festival.

The 2017 event attracted 93 historic narrowboats, making it by far and away Historic narrowboats on parade — the paired Nuneaton and the largest such Brighton (r), owned by the Narrow Boat Trust, with other event on the historic narrowboats at the 2017 Rally (photo: Tim Coghlan) system. Its success formula is now much copied, with similar events springing up all over the canal network. This is good for the canals and the precious collection of surviving working narrowboats – but Braunston Rally remains the original and still the best.

The Rally’s location is at the historic Braunston Marina and the canal and village at Braunston. But probably most importantly for the boaters and visitors is the ability for the boats to parade in a sort of figure of 8 – a challenge for the steerers and a spectacular site for the visitors to see and photograph from so many vantage points.

Other attractions will include the famous Braunston beer tent, plus fast food, music, Morris Dancers and fun. Saturday entertainments include Phil Underwood’s Canals of Old England on the Saturday evening, and a David Blagrove commemoration jam session in the beer tent.

With the Rally now well established, over the years other entertainments have been added, thanks to generous sponsorship from Braunston Marina. This year the line-up of entertainments pre and post Rally has made the Rally into a true canal festival week. Events start on the evening of Tuesday 19 th June, when I will give a presentation to the Braunston Historical Society in the village hall on The Life and Times of David Blagrove 1937 – 2016, who was a canal legend in his own lifetime. All are invited with ticket sales at the door. On Wednesday the 20 th June, canal-borne Mikron Theatre will perform its new play to celebrate 70 years of the NHS, Get Well Soon, lock-side at the Admiral Nelson Inn. On Thursday 21 st June, Alarum Theatre will be back in the beer tent with last year’s highly successful Idle Women play,

16 Women of the Wartime Waterways, with all ticket sales going to Braunston Church.

And on Sunday 24th June at 6.00 pm, Fiori Musicali will give what is billed as a concert of ‘Glorious choral music by English Tudor composers.’ It will be performed in the nearby deserted village church at Wolfhamcote.

There will be an admission charge for the public of £20 per car. All profits from the Rally will be donated, as usual, to canal and local causes, the main recipient this year being the canal charity, the Friends of Raymond.

The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival is sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk magazine, with support from the Canal & River Trust.

Pride of the Cut! The restored Raymond paired with the motor Nutfield at the 2017 Rally. The pair of boats are owned by the Friends of Raymond (photo: Stuart Garfoot)

17 WENDOVER ARM TRUST GRAND DRAW Michael Wright contributes: It’s that time of year again when canal restoration is punctuated by monsoon seasons. That is my experience anyway! It is now time to update you on the next big event on the Wendover Arm Trust calendar. This, of course, is not talking about the continuing restoration, which progresses steadily metre by metre, but the WAT Grand Draw - this year on 2nd September and will take place at the familiar St. Mary’s Parish Church in Drayton Beauchamp, Tring. We trust the Mayor of Tring will again officiate The prizes are as exciting as ever, with the week’s holiday on a narrowboat sponsored by Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd of Leighton Buzzard. (I love the pronunciation of this place by the lady on the satnav!) The second prize is a dayboat hire from Cowroast Marina sponsored by Narrowboatdayhire.com for up to 10 guests. The third prize is for two people to visit the dizzy heights of The Shard and a lunch on the Thames. There are also cash prizes up to the value of £100 and a total of 10 prizes plus two novelty prizes. Tickets are priced at a mere £1.00 each and there is a book of 10 tickets enclosed with this edition of Endeavour. The full prize list is shown on the Trust’s web site, as is the full progress reports by way of magazines. Extra tickets are always available from the promoter, but beware, there are three Michael Wrights on the WAT membership list! www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk

Restoration up-date There was a bit of a setback this year when an investigation into the infill of the canal, which was done in the period 1918 - 1928, revealed it would not be possible just to re-site the infill to a local area. The infill is now described as hazardous, requiring specialist treatment. The infill was negotiated by Tring Urban District Council with the Grand Junction Canal Company, who were the owners at the time and who asked for it to cease in March 1928. The Trust and Canal & River Trust are now on plan ‘B’ which seeks a possible diversion around the problem.

The Whitehouses project is still ongoing following the completion of an archaeological dig. In the basement were found bottles of unknown chemicals which were duly analysed, emptied and made safe. The bottles have been retained and are now safely stored for display at some future location.

The water supply from Wendover was interrupted this winter due to the growth of reeds. This has now been dealt with by CRT and the wildlife is returning. The clearance of endless undergrowth is being tackled by the Tidy Friday crew, who gather on the Friday following the work party week that finishes on the Thursday. A very successful regime…

Finally, it should be mentioned that there will be an Restoration Open Day at St.Mary’s Church, Drayton Beauchamp, from 12.30 – 4.00pm on Sunday 3rd June when all are welcome and Grand Draw tickets will be on sale of course ! Come and see the progress (with the workers and the machinery in action).

18

VISIT STOWE HILL WHARF FOR ALL Y

Stowe Hill Wharf, Heyford Lane, Weedon, Northants NN7 4SF Tel: 01327 341365 Proprietor Robert Gudgeon welcomes you to Stowe Hill Workshop          

Full Repaints Hull Blacking/Stern Gear Inspection and Repairs Engine Repairs and Maintenance Complete Fit-Out and Woodwork Alterations Plumbing Installations and Repairs Electrical Installations and Repairs NEW — Fuel Polishing Service Stockists of Morris Oils and Grease Full range of Batteries always available (please let us know your requirements)

By road we are easily found, a few yards off the A5 at Stowe Hill towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26

ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN, FROM SIMPLE TASKS TO COMPLETE FIT-OUTS

19

YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES

20 TIM COGHLAN REVEALS... “HOW

BRAUNSTON IS GETTING A NEW CANAL BRIDGE”

In about 1948, the canal towpath at Braunston was effectively cut in half by the construction of what became known as the Ladder Bridge – a 10 foot high up-and-over bridge approached from either side by steep wooden steps which only the most agile could use. These works, together with the opening of the eastern reservoir to navigation from the canal, were carried out by the then newly -formed British Waterways Board to allow surplus working narrowboats to be stored at a time when post-WWII canal carrying was in steep decline. Canal leisure use was in its infancy and the Braunston towpath itself was in a very sorry state – so there was little if any objection.

Seventy years on, and the bridge is still there, though the steps have been twice modified in recent times to make them a little easier and safer to use. But the Ladder Bridge remains unusable to wheelchairs, push chairs, anyone unable to climb those steep stairs, and some dogs which cannot Peter Andrews in about 2006 cope with them. Various proposals have been with his rescue dog Molly seen made in the past to replace the bridge, but they by the old dry dock at Braunhave always failed for lack of the considerable ston Marina.

Molly was a somefunding required. what nervous dog due to whatBut all of this is to change, thanks to a generous ever had happened to her previlegacy of £100,000 from the late Peter Andrews ously and Peter had to carry her (1934 – 2018), a former London schoolteacher over the Ladder Bridge (photo: who took early retirement in 1994 and moved to a John Hicks) flat in the new Brindley Quays housing development in Braunston Marina to indulge his passion for the canals.

Probably no-one knew the problems posed by the Ladder Bridge better than Peter, as most days he walked the Braunston towpath between the tunnel and the double iron bridges at Braunston Turn. In so doing he acted as a volunteer litter-picker. Peter’s last dog, a rescue called Molly, was so nervous of the Ladder Bridge that Peter had to carry her over it.

In September 2017, Peter developed a very nasty form of cancer to his tongue, which spread elsewhere and finally rendered him unable to eat or speak. He faced his end with great courage and cheerfulness. He was still able to communicate with his friends by email. In one email to me he asked if I would give the address at his funeral, an invitation I was honoured to accept.

21 Having opened this door, and aware that Peter intended to give his whole estate to various charities – he had never married and was an only child – I suggested he should make a donation to the Canal & River Trust, a registered charity, specifically for the construction of a new bridge to replace the Ladder Bridge. It could be called Peter’s Bridge to go with Butcher’s Bridge nearby, or Peter’s Two, the old name for the first two locks on the Marsworth Flight further south down the Grand Union Canal. Peter responded full of enthusiasm. He emailed Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & River Trust, whom I had already briefed, offering a donation of £100,000 towards the project. “I gather that there is an intention to call the new bridge Peter’s Bridge and I should feel very honoured if this were done,” Peter observed.

In my final email to Peter, I wrote: “Now I know that Peter’s Bridge will go ahead, it will be a fitting monument to your friendship to so many, your generosity and courage, and your great love of our waterways.”

For my funeral address, I invited Richard Parry to add his tribute to Peter to include in it. He wrote: “The Canal & River Trust is hugely grateful for the selfless and dedicated volunteering that Peter did (literally every day and in all weathers!) to keep the Braunston flight tidy and in the best possible condition for visitors to enjoy, and also for the generous legacy he has left to help us replace the Ladder Bridge at Braunston.”

Investigations are currently under way to find the optimum solution to suit all canal users, including the possibility of a swing bridge or a lifting bridge – either of which would be the best solution for wheelchair and other disabled users. But the site is narrow and through the middle of it runs the main optic cable between London and Birmingham, installed in 1997. A CRT engineering team working on the problem are optimistic a reasonable solution will shortly be found.

The Braunston Ladder Bridge today. It presents a formidable barrier to all towpath users bar the fittest (photo: Tim Coghlan)

22

Report from Chris Howes, IWA Eastern Region Chairman I’m pleased to announce that we have reconvened an Eastern Region Committee after an absence of several years. The Region’s Branch Chairmen all met during March in a church hall in Huntingdon. (Narrowly avoiding a mix up over rooms, I rescued the Chairmen from inadvertently finding themselves taking part in a ladies yoga session!) We had a useful exchange of news and compared activities within the Region’s Branches. The jury is undecided on an appropriate collective noun for such a collection of Region Branch Chairmen, but so far a ‘gaggle’ or a ‘wisdom’ have been suggested.

News has recently come in of a serious threat to the proposed course of the Bedford and Milton Keynes waterways link due to the dualling of the A421 in Milton Keynes without making provision for the waterway. The IWA supports the aims of the B&MKWT and consider this threat, which flies in the face of every local plan and local authority commitment, to be short-sighted and ill-considered. Milton Keynes Branch are leading the fight against it.

As I write, both the rivers Great Ouse and Nene remain subject to Strong Stream Advice and are closed to traffic. I’m impatiently waiting to take my narrowboat Lily May up the Nene to get to the IWA Canalway Cavalcade in Little Venice on the early May Bank Holiday. Hopefully by the time you read this, the waters will have abated and normal service resumed.

This year, 2018, is the summer of festivals in the Eastern Region, including the Bedford River Festival in July and the IWA’s own Festival of Water at St Neots over the August Bank Holiday. There can be no better year to stay local to our Region, and I hope to see as many of you as possible, particularly at St Neots.

CHANCE MEETING ON RHONE CRUISE LEADS TO A QUIZ WIN Branch Treasurer Paul Lynam and his partner Gail happened to share a dinner table while cruising the Rhone with Liz and Mike Horsley, also members of Northampton Branch, but up until that day had never met. Meanwhile, the cruise director had mentioned that a general knowledge quiz was to be held later. So a team was formed named Narrowboaters from Carcassone (in honour of Terry Darlington’s exploits) who stormed to victory, winning a bottle of house wine.

Another wine-based quiz was held a couple of evenings later. The same team entered but sadly could not repeat the win. Liz did pick up a bonus point, however, and a splendid linen tea towel which will be put on display on their n/b Rosewood.

SAVE THE DATE! THE BRANCH ANNUAL DINNER WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, 10TH NOVEMBER AT THE BOAT INN, STOKE BRUERNE. FULL DETAILS IN AUGUST ENDEAVOUR.

23 NEW BRANCH MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED We extend a warm welcome to the following who have joined Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour

NEW MEMBERS Mr S Gordon, Northampton Mr C Hodgson, Kettering Ms J Keys & Mr T Roberts-Holmes, Northampton

MEMBERS MOVED TO THE BRANCH Mr & Mrs P W Jones, Brackley Ms L Gifford-Hull, Hayling Island, Hampshire Mr A Brewer, Braunston

We look forward to meeting you all at our Branch events

MONEY FOR OLD CARTRIDGES AND MOBILE PHONES The Branch is collecting old printer, toner and/or inkjet cartridges for recycling. I would be most willing to take them off your hands. Also, we can get money for old mobile phones through the same company. This form of recycling may not generate large amounts of funds but, as they say, every little helps.

I am usually at our monthly social meetings at The Walnut Tree on the second Tuesday of each month from October through to May to receive any of the above. If you cannot get to one of our meetings, please email me on sandie.morton@waterways.org.uk and we’ll try to get them collected.

Thank you.

Sandie Morton, Branch Secretary IWA Northampton Branch now has a Facebook page. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or engage in discussion on what’s happening.

24

Harvesting the canalside “grapes of rocks�

Tim Coghlan recalls his harvest-time visit to the award-winning Stonyfield Vineyard near Blisworth It has taken over 200 years for the ironstone rubble excavated from the Blisworth Tunnel during the construction of the then Grand Junction Canal and spread up to 10 feet deep over 14 acres of farmland beside the northern entrance, to be put to good use. Or at least an acre of it. Stonyfield, as it came to be known, now has a new future as a vineyard thanks to a recent family enterprise which has successfully planted grape varieties that are well suited to its stony ironstone soil. The harvested grapes are making fine award-winning English sparkling wine using the traditional Champagne method. The brand name is appropriately Stonyfield Wines.

The northern end of Blisworth Tunnel as romantically portrayed by J Hassell in 1819 in his Tour of the Grand Junction Canal. The grey serpentine blot on the landscape going extensively up above the tunnel entrance could well have been the spoil from the excavation, and approximates to the present locale of Stonyfield

25 Proprietors Belinda Brown and her brother John Folliott-Vaughan amid their acre of vines with some of last year’s harvest of Seyval Blanc grapes.

The canal runs out of sight in the valley at the bottom of the vineyard

The land on which the spoil was dumped in the early 19 th Century was then owned by the Duke of Grafton. The Duke’s descendants owned Stonyfield until the 1920s, when the estate was broken up to pay for post WWI death duties. It passed through other hands until after WWII when some of the farmland was acquired by the grandparents of the current owners, former City merchant banker John Folliott-Vaughan and his sister Belinda Brown, who inherited it jointly in recent times.

One acre of Stonyfield particularly attracted John’s attention, and he had the idea of having a go at developing it as a vineyard. He explained: “With global warming and the development of modified grape varieties suited to the cooler English climate, vineyards have been springing up all over southern England, some specialising in sparkling wine. There are already about 10 of them in Northamptonshire.

“We took expert advice from Simon Day of Haygrove Evolution, who advises a number of small start-up vineyards, and he has been with us through the project. With the field’s well-drained shingle soil and its south facing slope, he confirmed our view that the field was ideal for growing grapes to make English sparkling wine. He advised our using the well-known Champagne variety of red Pinot Noire, blended equally with the lesser known white Seyval Blanc, both chosen for doing well in stony soil.

The traditional white Chardonnay grape just would not work here, and the Seyval Blanc produces an interestingly different and more complex flavour which people really like.”

About 1,000 vines, sourced in Germany, were planted in 2011, with the first harvest for wine making in 2013. Now that the vines have matured further, in a good year they can yield over four tons of fruit, enough to make more than 4,000 bottles. In a bad year it can be as little as an eighth of that. 2017 was a year of mixed fortunes, with a late spring frost but then a good growing season, resulting in a harvest of some two and a half tons in all.

26 Because of the relatively small size of the operation, the fermentation and bottling process is contracted out to a specialist company in the Welsh Borders area, which acts for a number of small growers. John, Belinda and John’s wife Prue take a very close interest in all stages of the maturing and bottling process. John said: Loading a van with a ton of grapes to be made into “We have learnt an awful lot about making English sparkling wine in the Welsh Borders area. The small square single-storey building is the old canal good sparkling wine in the few years we have toll house where goods were weighed and tolls collected during the operation of the tramway which linked been at it. It’s quite a each end of the canal before the tunnel’s opening in learning curve.” And 1805. The building is still used on the farm. the results show, with a Appropriately the Stonyfield Wines label Gold Medal, MVA features a horse-drawn narrowboat, Wine Challenge in thus happily maintaining the canal connection 2015, improving further in 2017 to MVA Wine Challenge, Wine of the Year, and several other awards, not least a Highly Commended from a Decanter magazine tasting.

I joined John to watch the morning harvesting. In true French tradition, both his and Belinda’s now grown-up children had all turned out, some with their other halves, to help pluck the grapes, supplemented by enthusiastic Blisworth villagers and jovial friends from far and near. It was a fine autumnal day, with the sun streaming through the well laid out rows of vines. We really could have been in Burgundy. The grapes – a ton of Seyval Blanc that held a delicious ripeness - were picked early to keep their moisture, placed in trays and then carefully stacked in the back of a medium-sized hire van ready to head west to the wine-maker. John showed me the adjacent Pinot Noir and thought they needed another week. But in the end they were harvested the following day, with the threat of Hurricane Ophelia forecast for the day after.

The day’s harvesting was all over in time for an early lunch for the grape pickers — a gastronomic meal in the finest French tradition in the nearby farmhouse. It was infectious to see so much enthusiasm for this new venture.

Wine label maintains canal connection

27

Now you can see you are welcome in Northamptonshire Geoff Wood reports: When Branch members Janet and Bob Wayment contacted me in March about an overgrown sign on the Leicester Line near the junction with the Welford Arm, asking if the Branch could do something about it, one of our members, Robert Parkin, who keeps his boat at the end of the Welford Arm, went off on foot to investigate. He found the sign was on the off side and completely overgrown, with virtually no access from the land side.

Robert went on to suggest that we used his boat, aptly named Welford Arm, to land a small group on the off side to tackle the problem. So on the 23rd of April, Robert (at the helm), Clive Joynson and myself embarked on a chilly spring cruise to the site armed with loppers, shears and a brush cutter.

The sign did not stand a chance and can now be clearly seen as you cruise past.

What does it say? Well, “Welcome to Northamptonshire� of course.

Many thanks to Janet and Bob for bringing this to our attention and to Robert and Clive for their involvement and hard work.

Before & after: Robert Parkin (L) & Clive Joynson with the sign now clear to be seen by all

RICHARD GILL BOAT SAFETY TESTING

BSc, MABSE

C&RT AND EA APPROVED

EXPERIENCED EXAMINER WITH 30 YEARS WORKING ON THE WATERWAYS

Grand Union, Oxford & Leics Canals Rivers Nene and Thames RING: 07889 10 99 39 rgbarcos70@btinternet.com

28

29

Now fully open

WHILTON MARINA CHANDLERY 

Diesel



Pump out

Well stocked chandlery  Groceries Pay us a visit, just browse and see what we have to offer 

Open daily 9am –6pm ALL YEAR ROUND Tel 01327 844639 E-mail: marinachandlery@gmail.com

DAY BOAT HIRE FROM BRAUNSTON OUZEL 11 Cruise either towards Napton or Hillmorton and return The Ouzel 11 seats up to 12 people.

It has hot and cold water in the galley, crockery, cutlery and glasses on board, a gas hob, kettle and flush toilet. Buoyancy aids on request.

Prices: Weekends and Bank Holidays: £175.00 Monday - Friday: £140.00 Returnable deposit: £50.00 UNION CANAL CARRIERS LTD

Braunston Pump House, Dark Lane, Braunston, Daventry, Northants.

NN11 7HJ Tel 01788 890784 Fax 01788 891950

www.unioncanalcarriers.co.uk

30

31

32

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY Work continues mainly at Cosgrove site The BCS held a very successful AGM on Saturday 24th March at Buckingham Community Centre with 62 people in attendance with a very interesting talk by Ed Grimsdale, who compared our Buckingham Canal with the Buckingham Canal in India.

Activities are continuing mainly at our Cosgrove site with the project of restoring Bridge One. The work of rebuilding the bridge is being carried out by our own volunteers and with help from London WRG who joined us on 10th – 11th February and again over the weekend of 21st-22nd April. We also have agreement from Milton Keynes College for some of their students taking carpentry and bricklaying courses to work on site, possibly two days a week.

We have started to receive several requests from outside companies who again are keen to join us on community or team building days this year. As well as the work at Cosgrove, we will be continuing the regular maintenance work at our other sites at Bourton Meadow and Hyde Lane Nature Reserve site. Busy times ahead!

Meanwhile, we also hope all IWA members will join us again at our...

Annual Canal Festival and Craft Fair at Cosgrove over the weekend of 21st – 22nd July Athina Beckett The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated, otherwise the Association accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine.

Neither the editor nor IWA can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the magazine, and opinions stated are those of individual contributors. We will, however, gladly publish corrections if notified. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify articles published in the interests of clarity or space.

The Inland Waterways Association is registered as a charity (No. 212342)

33

ADVERTISING All advertisements must comply with the requirements of the Trades Descriptions Act and avoid misrepresentation of goods offered for sale. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 requires that businesses seeking to sell goods must clearly indicate this in an advertisement.

COMMERCIAL RATES 1/4 Page (box) £12.00 +VAT 1/2 Page (box) £25.00 +VAT Full Page £40.00 +VAT Other sizes by arrangement 10% discount for 4 issues paid yearly in advance 5% discount for 4 issues paid quarterly

CLASSIFIEDS (suggested donations) £1.50 for 22 words, 15p each additional word £3.50 for box around classified advertisement (nb. telephone numbers count as one word) £3.50 for photographs

BRANCH SOCIAL MEETINGS Regular Branch Social Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May inclusive at

THE WALNUT TREE INN, BLISWORTH, at 8pm All members and non-members welcome Food and drink available

NEXT MEETING Tuesday 9th October Speaker to be announced

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL NOT BE A SOCIAL MEETING IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS SMALL ATTENDANCES The next edition of Endeavour will be published in August 2018

34

WHO’S WHO IN NORTHAMPTON BRANCH 2018/2019 Branch Chairman Bernard Morton 07785 375787/ 01604 858294 E-mail: bernard.morton @waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman, Joint Task Party Organiser & Membership Secretary Geoff Wood E-mail: geoff.wood @waterways.org.uk

Branch Secretary Sandie Morton 01604 858294 E-mail: sandie.morton @waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Paul Lynam E-mail:paul.lynam @waterways.org.uk

Newsletter Tony Clarke 07939 977859 E-mail: tony.clarke @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member John Pomfret E-mail: john.pomfret @waterways.org.uk

Non-Committee post Endeavour Assistant Editor, Advertising & Distribution, Archivist Roger Hasdell 01604 248582

Joint Task Party Organiser Michael Butler E-mail: michael.butler @waterways.org.uk

Planning Officer Helen Westlake E-mail: helen.westlake @waterways.org.uk

Website & Social Media Officer Sam Line E-mail: sam.line @waterways.org.uk

Branch Meetings Catriona Butler E-mail: catriona.butler @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member Alex Madisons E-mail: alex.madisons @waterways.org.uk

Publicity & Grants Officer Vacant (volunteer required) The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers.

35