Endeavour - May 2024

Endeavour

Northampton Branch Newsletter —

May 2024

Canal Restoration Conference

After a break of several years due to Covid-19, the annual Canal Restoration Conference was back on the calendar. This year, jointly organised by IWA, CRT and Buckingham Canal Society, it was decided to hold the conference at the University of Northampton's Waterside Campus.

Although the IWA Northampton branch is not directly involved in canal restoration, we were asked to supply a number of marshals to help support the event taking place 'on our doorstep'. The request for assistance went out and all places were quickly filled by willing volunteers to help with car parking, registration and staffing the Branch table, etc.

Well over 100 delegates from around the country attended, representing various restoration groups. There were a series of presentations given by promi-

waterways.org.uk/northampton

The delegates on the Rusty Bridge ((Photo Bob Fox)

As I’m writing this, its raining again! Not surprisingly, it has been reported that the reservoirs are full so hopefully there shouldn’t be any shortage of water this year, which is good news.

We are planning a long cruise this year (which we had to be postponed from 2020 due to Covid), but now can go ahead. Our aim is to go up to the Llangollen Canal, taking in the Montgomery Canal, then return going to Chester then continue onto the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port.

We will then go on the Anderton Boat Lift to the River Weaver, then onto Liverpool

Trent and Mersey Canal. So hopefully with all the rain we have had this winter the

have to close like they have

I will, of course be writing all about our expedition in

Ifyou are planning a cruise or have done one, please share it with our

ford ,Grand Union and Wel-

Photo with kind permission

Old Union Canals Society

IWA Northampton Branch has a Facebook page. It is 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.

May 14th 2.30 IWA Northampton Branch guided walk around Stoke Bruerne led by Kathryn Dodington. She is a volunteer at The Canal Museum, and has a wealth of knowledge about the history and heritage of the canal environment in Stoke Bruerne.She is also a member of The Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership and Trustee of The Friends of The Canal Museum.With the optional extra of refreshments back atTheBoat Inn the spring fresh air, is surely one not to miss!

25th –27th Crick Boat Show at Crick Marina mation visit crickboatshow.co.uk/Watson/beginnercourses

June

29th-30th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and Canal Festival at Braunston Marina. Rally of FMC and other historic working narrow boats with daily parades.

July 20th –21st Cosgrove Festival and Craft Fair at Cosgrove lock.

Branch Chairman’s Jottings

byBernardMorton

Since the last issue of Endeavour, we have held our AGM at which I was re-elected to the Branch Committee. At the following Committee meeting, I was re-elected as Chairman, so here I am, once again, writing these Jottings!

As I write these, May is fast approaching though the weather still remains quite wintery, and our central heating is very much still on. Has Mother Nature forgotten all about Spring I wonder?

CHANGES TO BRANCH COMMITTEE.

Paul Lynam has stepped down as Branch Treasurer after serving in that role for several years. However, we won’t be losing his expertise as he will continue to serve on our Committee and will continue to help support Geoff Wood and Mick Butler in organising and running task parties on the Northampton Arm.

The reason for him stepping down is because he has been co-opted as a trustee onto IWA Board and appointed as Deputy National Chairman with responsibility for finance and as Chairman of the finance committee. Paul’s sterling work as our Treasurer and his handling of the John Faulkner legacy brought him into regular contact with members of the Head Office finance team so his appointment reflects the high esteem he is held in there. I thank him for all he has done as our Treasurer and wish him well.

I’m pleased to welcome Maria Hobbs who has been co-opted onto our Committee as our new Treasurer. Maria has long been part of our volunteer team on the Northampton Arm and I’m sure she will do a great job.

All other members of the Committee were happy to stay within the same roles which is good news as they have all worked hard and done a great job – most for a good number of years. I am pleased to be continuing to work with them for another year.

RESTORATION CONFERENCE.

The University of Northampton was chosen as the venue for 2024 Restoration Conference organised jointly by IWA, CRT and Buckingham Canal Society. This was held on 13th April. You may remember that we asked for volunteers to act as Marshalls on the day and I would like to thank all those who offered their services and did an admirable job. In particular, I must thank Paul Simpson who acted as a link between the organisers and the Branch Committee. For further details see front page and page 14

FUND BRITAIN’S WATERWAYS CAMPAIGN.

This campaign is continuing to gain momentum with a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. The aim of FBW is to get national and local government to act now and to ensure that there will be sufficient, guaranteed grant funding to retain the huge environmental, economic, and social benefits that our inland waterways provide to us all.

To this end, plans are in place for a flotilla to travel in convoy up the River Thames

on 8th May from Limehouse Basin to stand off the Palace of Westminster for around ten minutes with horns sounding. The aim is, of course, to raise awareness amongst MPs and peers and to get them to support increased funding. As regular users will know, signs of disrepair and degradation are becoming increasingly apparent not only on waterways managed by CRT but also on those under EA management. FBW are asking that people, who care about our waterways, write to their MP. Help, in the form of a letter writing template, can be found at waterways.org.uk/write.

STAND OFF AT SALTER’S LODE LOCK.

A good example of the problems that arise from insufficient funding is currently being played out at Salter’s Lode Lock which links the Middle Levels to the River Great Ouse, and which is currently closed.

The Middle Level Commissioners have already invested in dredging silt from their side of the lock but EA, responsible for the River Great Ouse, have failed to keep on top of the silt build up on their side. The Commissioners have refused (quite rightly) to open the lock as the silt build up in EA waters would simply be flushed into where they have already dredged.

Boaters caught up in the stand off are understandably very annoyed with one telling me “They’re quick enough to take our money for licences but don’t seem to appreciate that, in return, they need to do their bit to keep the river network open”.

Similar disquiet is emanating from the local boat clubs along the River Nene. Here, flooding has meant that months have gone by where it has not been possible for boats to move due to high river levels and flooding. Boaters here are asking why should they pay for a twelve-month licence when they can only boat for six months at best!

NORTHAMPTON

ARM. As I write this, our trusty volunteers aided by employees from Cummins Power Systems and led by Geoff Wood, Mick Butler and Paul Lynam are about to embark on the final stage of towpath restoration between Locks 13 and 14. This is a very well used stretch of towpath used regularly by walkers, runners, and cyclists and had become impassable due to mud in the winter months. Over the last couple of years, sections of this towpath have been dug out and resurfaced to provide an all-weather surface for all to enjoy. This work has only been possible due to the generosity of Cummins who have provided in excess of £42,000 in grant funding for the project but also many young strong volunteers to help out. The last section about to be tackled will be from Lock 13 to the M1 motorway bridge.

We, as a Branch, are so very grateful to Cummins for supporting us in this endeavour – as I’m sure CRT are.

AND FINALLY … Sandie and I have been busy planning some boating trips in the hope that the rain stops, and the sun appears soon. We are looking to do the Thames from Brentford to Lechlade first. Then, we hope to fit in another trip down the River Nene to Peterborough and also the Stratford Canal. Let’s hope for normal river levels else our plans will have to be revised!

Have a great summer wherever you will be spending it. If, on or around, our waterways enjoy them and stay safe.

TASK PARTY DATES

NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTIES DATES

June 2nd, 18th. July 7th, 16th. August 4th, 20th. September 1st, 16th. Contact: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY

Every Tuesday, Every Thursday and second and last Sunday in month Contact athinabec@aol.com or phone 01908 661217/07721 319404

STOKE BRUERNE CANAL PARTNERSHIP

June 14th. July 10th. August 14th. 11th.September Contact: stokebruernecanalpartnership.org.uk

BRAUNSTON CANAL SOCIETY

June 13th, 29th. July 11th, 27th. August 8th, 31st. September 12th, 28th. Contact Clive at braunstoncanalsocity @gmail.com or phone/text Clive on 07817 435911.

Neither

Obituary

Brian Mayland 1936-2024

We were greatly saddened to learn of the death of Brian Mayland, (aged 87), stalwart of our Branch and of the local waterways’ scene for at least the last forty years. Brian started boating back in 1952 at the tender age of fifteen with a Scouting friend. The pair hired a canoe in Oxford for a journey that took them via the Oxford Canal to Napton Junction and back.

In the late 50s and early 60s Brian crewed for Jack Howard, an ardent Inland Waterways Association campaigner. Meeting Jack may well have ignited Brian’s interest in joining the IWA in 1974. Brian was registered on the Inland Waterway Association’s List of Volunteer Crews, and he got to go on some very interesting trips on an assortment of boats, some of which were quite challenging.

In 1961 Brian hired Water Lily, a BWB Hire Boat, in Jerico, Oxford, for a trip to Gas Street, and by the mid-70s he was crewing Jason, the London Zoo Waterbus, on the Regents Canal. At some point, he ended up in Northamptonshire (his Mum lived in Blisworth), and acquired his own boat, Enigma. This boat was always immaculately turned out, and always sported an enamel jug containing yellow chrysanthemums on the bow – Brian’s trademark!

By the 80s he was managing Gayton Marina at the top of the Northampton Arm when it wasn’t much more than a gravel pit. When Alvechurch took it over, he moved on to manage the marina on the Welford Arm. It was there he met Rose, his life partner. Also, in the 80s, he skippered the trip boat Indian Chief at Stoke Bruerne, combined with earning his living as an accomplished boat painter and Roses and Castles artist. Everything Brian did revolved around his passion for the waterways.

Brian, and his partner Rose, were active member of our Branch, with Brian serving on the committee for several years and taking on the role of harbourmaster at numerous Branch boat gatherings on the River Nene at Becket’s Park. Some of you may remember him from this time when he would be cycling along the waterfront with a megaphone booming instructions across the water to assist boats to moor up. He was a very colourful character dressed in full traditional boater’s garb, with a bowler hat, moleskin trousers, red spotted neckerchief and long curly beard. As well as being harbourmaster, Brian organised the boat handling competition for many years and, in the evenings, he could be found in the beer tent with his trusty pewter tankard full of cider (his drink of choice).

In 2005, Brian was an important part of discussions about setting up a support group to assist the then ailing Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne. He became one of the first to sign up as a member when the Friends launched in 2006 and he instantly became a regular volunteer serving on the volunteer curatorial team, but with a special interest in caring for Sunny Valley, the 1963 replica back cabin. Most weeks he popped in, to give the brass work a clean and polish. He and Rose also supported Museum organ-

ised events, and the Annual Festivals and Village at War Weekends put on by the Friends, often dressed in traditional boaters’ dress. At craft weekends, Brian could be found giving demonstrations of Roses and Castles painted decorations, and when the Museum boat Sculptor was re-bottomed in 2012, Brian re-fashioned items for sale to raise funds for the Friends made from the elm from Sculptor’ s old bottom. He continued volunteering at the Museum until a couple of years ago, when his arthritis prevented him from climbing the steep wooden stairs to the galleries on the upper floors.

Many people did not realise that he and Rose sponsored the Mikron Theatre performances at Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth each summer.

We all have our special memories of Brian and lots of stories to share, but what is certain is, that his quiet unassuming presence and deep knowledge of our waterways will be sorely missed.

When you go cruising again, let me know about your trip so we can all share in your experiences.

Why not write a report about your cruise and let our readers know the good (and not so good!) places to moor, eat, drink, places of interest worth visiting and anything else that might help others to enjoy that area. Let us know of any mishaps or interesting things that happened on your journey. Include pictures of your cruise, of unusual things sighted, scenery and anything else that you want to add. I am looking forward to receiving your reports.

Or maybe you could tell us about the boats you’ve hired or owned.

Email your articles to me, tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk

Stoke Bruerne The Super Stoppage 2024

Our members and readers will be aware that the Grand Union Canal flight of 7 locks was closed for January and February this year. But what was done?

These works had been in the programme for some 18 months, but the full details were not known to the volunteers until the second week in December. Our local members of the bankside team asked us to help initially with some much-needed vegetation work, to enable vehicles to gain access to the offside trackway and to clear the overhanging hedges along the towpath side.

The offside vegetation equipment was brought down from Norton junction and several days of intense activity resulted in the necessary work being completed on 21st December. Our thanks to volunteers that came and helped from the Northampton IWA and the Braunston Canal Society along with our own Stoke Bruerne Partnership volunteers.

A meeting was held on the 11th December for all interested volunteers who were willing to help throughout the stoppage period and a number of lockkeepers and our own volunteers expressed their willingness. We heard from the Direct Services Team, Alan Green and Jeff Hey, what the proposed works involved.

Proprietary works commenced during the first week of January with the delivery of plant and equipment included some 2.5kms of site safety fencing. Volunteers helped in the erection of this all around the whole flight, except for the Long Pound, which was to remain in water. A crane boat was used to bring the materials up the flight from Lock 19.

Alan Green’s team fitted stop planks above the Top Lock whilst Jeff Hey’s team fitted stop planks to Lock 16. The flight was de-watered during the week commencing 8th January and a fish rescue took place along the drained sections. Work swiftly commenced at the Top Lock and the replacement and fitting of the bottom gates was the first operation.

Jeff’s team spent several weeks re-lining the top gates of Lock 16 and rebuilding the tail steps on both sides of the lock. The oak cill bumper beams were also replaced. A subcontractor was used to remove the lock ladders in Lock 18 and to break out the brickwork either side to create a wider recess to accommodate the new longer and wider lock ladders. These recesses then had to be re-built before the ladders could be installed. Mobile cranes were brought in to replace the top gates at Lock 18 and then to replace the top gates at the Top Lock.

On the 6th March, the Long Pound water level was lowered to enable the removal of the Zander fish. Over the next couple of days, the canal was completely re-watered, the site fencing taken down and the canal reopened on Friday 8th March. Further remedial work over the next couple of weeks was carried out to clear the site and repair the offside trackway, which because of the wet weather had suffered considerably.

These works at Stoke Bruerne were visited by engineers and other members of Canal and River Trust staff on several occasions and one of the Trust’s

Article and photos by

Rob Westlake

Canal Conference continued from front page

Park, the Town Lock and the Northampton Marina. In the foyer there were several tables / stands, giving the branch an opportunity to display its new photo stand showing the work that we do on the Arm.

The venue turned out to be an excellent choice with modern and comfortable amenities, and the feedback received from delegates was extremely positive. The only hiccups appeared to be with the car parking: mind of their own and deciding arbitrarily whether to accept payment and/or issue receipts, and UoN staff declaring one car park prematurely full, causing some delegates to have to perform a detour around Northampton to get to the other car park.

But, overall the event was declared a real success and a big thank you goes to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturday to help achieve this. Well done to all. Thanks to Paul Simpson for this report.

100 Club Winners Drawn atAGM

1st prize Geoff Wood £105

2nd Prize Adam Savory £40

3rd Prize Lawrence Chamberlain £25

Visiting Northampton Marina (Photo Bob Fox)

Branch volunteers at signing in desk

Sue Day: For forty years, one of the leading campaigners for horseboating on the waterways

The death of Sue Day on 22nd October, 2023, has more or less brought to a close the various endeavours to revive and maintain horseboating on the waterways in the post -WWII years. This revival came following the founding of the IWA in 1946, and with it, the IWA’s determination to preserve canal heritage in all its forms and wherever possible. Whilst there were several other outstanding horseboating campaigners, including Jenny Roberts with her boat IONA on the River Wey, Sue was undoubtedly the greatest of them all, campaigning actively from about 1980 until her last recorded sighting at the IWA Festival of Water in 2021. Regular horseboating now only survives on the short Great Western Canal at Tiverton, which is not connected to the main network.

Horse-drawn commercial carrying started in the earliest days of the canals in the 1760s. Having survived some 170 years as the main propulsion for narrowboats, it then died out in little more than a decade in the late 1920s to early ‘30s. This was due to the introduction of various diesel and semi-diesel engines, which had been adapted to the propulsion of narrowboats. In little more than a decade, new ‘motors’ were being built by the likes of Yarwoods and Harland & Wolff, whilst a number of existing butties were converted into ‘motors’ - a practice developed by Nursers at what is today Braunston Marina, and at other yards. The final straw for horse-drawn boating – an appropriate phrase - was the demise of steam tunnel tugs at Braunston and Blisworth in 1936, due to the much reduced number of engineless boats now needing a tow. For the boatmen not able to make the change, it was back to tunnel legging or begging a tow from a boatman who had done so.

Part of the IWA’s brief was to fight the attempts by the British Waterways Board (BWB) to ban horses from the towpaths, which ironically had been built to take them. BWB argued that it did not have the funds to maintain the towpaths to the standard needed to take horses, and anyway horsedrawn boats were getting in the way of fishermen – an important source of revenue to BWB – even though the fishermen responded by saying they actually didn’t mind the horses. It all got very nasty, and in 1982 BWB was

Sue leaving Nelson Lock with her horse towing the butty Kildare in June 2013. They were outward bound with the Friends of President for a four day round trip to Stoke Bruerne and back. Behind Sue, a Friend of President is carrying a pole for lifting the towing line over moored boats, of which some 300 were encountered in the round trip. (Tim Coghlan)

challenged in Court by an operator over its attempt to ban horse-drawn boats on the Ashby Canal. The case seized the public’s imagination, causing a national outcry that led to questions being asked in Parliament, and even an editorial in The Times questioning what BWB was up to. BWB had to back-pedal, and agree to allow horse-drawn boats, and this position has since remained unchanged, although sadly the horses have now gone.

Sue demonstrating traditional horseboating methods at the 2010 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally – the last she attended, probably because the space available for her was too small for her needs. (Tim Coghlan)

Sue was the only child of welloff parents, who gave her a good education, and brought her up to speak what was then termed ‘the Queen’s English’. Her background allowed her, in her very modest way, to lead the life of her choice, indulging in her passion for horses, which she lived for. Some of these she had bred and trained herself – Tanner, Queenie, Bonny and Bilbo Baggins. Certainly, the small funds she raised at the numerous canal events she attended would not have paid for much. I have a letter on file of the donation we made to her of £250 for her two days of horse-drawn demonstrations at our 2010 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally. She would have done well to have raised the same amount from donations. I recall, at that event, she had slept in her horse box with the horse she had brought with her. I took a look inside the horse box and could see it had been well equipped, not only for the horse’s needs, but also for providing her with camping accommodation. Sue used it for canal events across the waterways, living as she did in the Pennine village of Mossley, near Manchester

In 2001 Sue co-founded the Horseboating Society with Lynette Crossley at the National Waterways Museum. It had the objective of preserving the traditions of horseboating in all its forms. In 2005 the society succeeded in obtaining a grant from the National Lottery, resulting in their production of society’s formal guidance document, Horseboating: Preserving Our Waterways Heritage. Its prime objective was to help preserve traditional horseboating for future generations. The work also led to greater acceptance of horseboating by navigation authorities.

Sue attended the 2009 and 2010 Rallies, after which she ceased coming. I think she found the space we offered in the small Stop House garden too restricting, with the towpath too packed with visitors to give horse-handling demonstrations.

Sue gave great service to horseboating, and to the waterways she so loved. She remained very much a single person, with no known partners, but having many friends and admirers. Horseboating and the waterways will be the poorer for her going.

Tim Coghlan

VISIT STOWE HILL WHARF FOR ALL

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 WoodworkAlterations

 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 theA5 at Stowe Hill towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26

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

YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES

AHOY POIROT!

David Suchet – actor and canal enthusiast - to open the 20th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival - 29th 30th June, 2024.

Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina writes: cial annual canal event slot over the last weekend in June. Amazingly this will be our 20th Rally since we started what was supposed to be a one off event in 2003, to celebrate the then re restoration of President.

To mark this 20 anniversary, we have invited back the legendary actor and canal enthusiast ‘POIROT

David Suchet opening the 2018 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally on the 1958 Braunston-built wooden butty Raymond. It was the last wooden narrowboat built for the English canals, and the Rally marked the 60th anniversary its launch. With David is Aubrey Berriman, shipwright who built the Raymond, and former working boat woman Alice Lapworth. (Harry Arnold – Waterways Images)

- David Suchet now has over thirty years of close association with Braunston Marina. He came to us in 1991 with his young family, having bought a boat from us, and stayed as a ‘lowprofile family boater’ until 1994, which he once told me were the happiest years of his family life. Since then, he has come as our own celebrity, helping us with what he calls his ‘name’, in a number of canal in events we have hosted over the year including BBC’s ‘SONGS OF PRAISE’ in 1999 This Rally will be the third David has opened, having previously done so in 2008 and 2018 – those previous occasions both being linked to the celebrations of the 50th and 60th anniversary of the launch of the butty Raymond – the last wooden butty built for English canals. It was launched at what is today Braunston Marina in 1958.

The original plan was for David to open the Rally on the historic steam narrowboat PRESIDENT, following the installation of its new boiler. But the unseen scale of the problems involved in this major operation - both in terms of funding and finding a manufacturer to build it - have delayed those works now by some five years. Once there were hundreds of these boiler manufacturers across the UK, but now only a handful remain. The other problem has been the spec. and finding an engineering

design company able and willing to produce one. The Friends of President have now all the preparations in place, with works actually at last under way. Fingers crossed, the boat will be back in steam by the end of this year, and then attending the 2025 Rally. If so, the legendary musician and steam enthusiast Pete Waterman has offered

David Suchet in September 2023 reopening a section of the Buckingham Canal on the dredger Diana, which he had just formally launched and named in memory of Tim Coghlan’s late wife Diana, who died of cancer in 2014. David will open the 2024 Rally on ‘Diana the Dredger’ which will be specially brought to the Rally by the Buckingham Canal Society, with spot-dredging along the way by their team of trained volunteers.

(Victoria Jane Photography)

Meanwhile by way of something completely different, and for this year only - David will formally open the Rally on ‘DIANA THE DREDGER’. In September last year he kindly presented the Buckingham Canal Society with the restored second hand dredger I gave to them in memory of my late wife Diana. She was a great canal enthusiast, especially for restoration work, but sadly died of cancer in 2014. ‘DI THE DIGGER’ – as she is now affectionately called, has been hard at it ever since, with several hundred metres of reopened canal to her credit.

The dredger will come from Cosgrove to Braunston Marina under her own steam, with its restored Lister SR3 diesel engine. Along the way, DI – always a tidy person by nature - will also be doing a bit of spot-dredging as instructed for the CRT . She will be dealing with the canal version of potholes!

To help raise money for the Buckingham Canal Society, David has agreed to allow visitors to take selfies with himself on DI THE DIGGER. The cost per head will be £10, with no group discounts. It’s all in a good cause!

We are now putting all the final preparations in place for the Rally. With the threat to government funding, the waterways need to have something to celebrate – something to look forward to – and hopefully this event will be a showcase for our wonderful waterways heritage.

Our initial soundings of owners of historic narrowboats, is that they can’t wait to come. We have already received an encouraging number of early bookings, and they just keep coming in. This could well be a vintage year. These leviathans of our canal -carrying past are THE making of the Rally, which will probably again be the largest gathering of them anywhere on the waterways this year.

Our music-impresario for some years now, Janul, is already networking the amazing musicians she produces each year for our famous beer tent - the Dry Dock Inn – a

The butty Raymond passing the Roach in the boat parade at the 2022 Rally. Raymond’s hold is carrying a precious cargo of the Friends of Raymond and special guests. (Tim Coghlan)

miniGlastonbury, without the mud. Alarum Theatre are also onboard with their latest production, which under my instructions will also involve Braunston thespians, young and old. It will take the form of a review, to be titled ‘Canal Cabaret.’ We are also seeing a very positive response from trade exhibitors and likewise the canal societies and canal artists, whom we support through free space - the artists having their own tent. Last year there were sixteen of them, covering the whole spectrum of canal art.

We are fortunate to be able to hold the event in our marina, including parking, and the use of the canal outside for the mooring and parades of historic narrowboatsthanks to the CRT. The Rally is very much an outdoor event, with the five-odd thousand people who traditionally attend, spreading themselves out along the mile or so of towpath to watch the parades. So we should be able to enjoy this special canal event in safety. Here’s hoping we have you onboard!

The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally is sponsored by Braunston Marina and TOWPATH TALK, with support from the Canal & River Trust.

What the Brausnton Historic Narrowboat Rally is all about. The scene taken from Butcher’s Bridge at the 2018 Rally by canal enthusiast Eamon Commerford

PAINT YOUR LOCK

After some tough lock wheeling on the Braunston Flight for the Narrow Boat Trust’s pair of boats, I arrived at what today is called Lock 4. To the working boatmen it was called ‘Shop Lock’, due to one of the three terraced cottages - now all merged into one well restored house - then being a shop, which served the needs of the passing boatmen and the local farming community.

Whilst working Lock 4, I saw at a short distance up the towpath, a young man engrossed in painting the scene in oils. He was working quickly on his small canvas, mounted on an easel, which had an inbuilt pallet, where paints were hurriedly being mixed. The painting was coming together remarkably well, the perspective quite photographic, and the afternoon light on the subject matter showed the results of careful preplanning by the artist.

I had work to do and hardly glanced at this artistry. But I made a note to come and take a proper look on the way back, once we had seen the boats through the Top Lock, still two locks beyond, that lock still having its original name.

Coming back to Lock 4, and now with gongoozler-time on my hands, I introduced myself to the painter, and he likewise. With his permission, I took a good look at his work -in-progress, taking a photograph and also one of the subject matter beyond.

I learnt that the painter’s name was David Pilgrim, and he now lived in Braunston, and was a professional landscape painter. I asked him if he was a member of the Guild of Waterway Artists, who hold an annual exhibition at our Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rallies, but he said he was not.

David Pilgrim painting a picture of the former Stop Lock Cottages at Lock 4 on the Braunston Flight. (Tim Coghlan)

When I later looked him up on the web, I learnt that he was born in 1975, and is now a full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, which holds regular London exhibitions. Like some of the great Impressionist artists, he prefers working ‘en plein air’, that is, painting from nature, working outdoors wherever possible, and in all weathers – and if necessary, finishing off paintings in his studio.

Looking at David’s website I noticed that most of his works were of coastal and estuarine scenes, in the great tradition of the post-war Wapping Group of Artists. So, living in Braunston, he was about as far from the sea as it is possible to get, but he was centrally located to go off in any direction.

There was nothing on David’s website depicting canal scenes and, having witnessed the fine example he was working on, I suggested to him that there could well be an opening for him on the waterways. For starters, there are several other canal scenes round Braunston ‘crying out’ for him to paint. Hopefully he will take a stand in the artists’ tent at next year’s Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally. Tim Coghlan

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY

The Society has continued to work at our sites Bourton Meadow and Cosgrove. Our Bourton Meadow site is looking beautiful with masses of wild flowers along the canal including Marsh Marigolds which have spread along the towpath side.

At Cosgrove, our two work boats Louise and Diana have continued to dredge both sides of Bridge One and it is hoped to have boats moored at the far side of Bridge One soon. This will be the first time in over seventy years that boats will be moored on this side of the bridge.

I have also been working on Sundays at Cosgrove providing activities for children taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme.

Over two days in April, Diana our dredger took part in Milton Keynes IWA Annual Canal Clean Up on the 19th and 20th April.

Last year our dredger Diana was formally launched by David Suchet at a special ceremony on the Buckingham Canal. Diana is named in memory of Tim Coghlan’s late wife Diana who died of cancer in 2014.

David Suchet will opening the 2024 Braunston Historic Boat Rally on Diana which will be specially taken to the rally by the Buckingham Canal Society with spot dredging along the way by the Society’s team of trained volunteers.

After Braunston, the next most important date for us is our own Cosgrove Festival and Craft Fair which takes place over the weekend of 20th -21st July. We hope to see and greet many Northampton IWA members at this event!

Athina Beckett

Buckingham Canal Society

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Regular Branch Social Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May at The Boat Inn Stoke Bruerne Food and drink available May 14th 2.30 A Guided walk around Stoke Bruerne

Branch Chairman

Bernard Morton

07785 375787/ 01604 858294

Email: bernard.morton @waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman, Joint Task Party Organiser & Membership Secretary

Geoff Wood

Email: geoff.wood @waterways.org.uk

Branch Secretary

Sandie Morton 07917 163860/01604 858294

Email: sandie.morton @waterways.org.uk

Treasurer

Maria Hobbs

Email maria.hobbs @waterways.org.uk

Joint Task Party Organiser

Michael Butler

Email: michael.butler @waterways.org.uk

Editor & Archivist

Tony Clarke

07305 893924

Email: tony.clarke @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member

John Pomfret

Email: john.pomfret @waterways.org.uk

Planning Officer

Helen Westlake

Email: helen.westlake @waterways.org.uk

Joint Task Party Organsiser

Paul Lynam

Email: paul.lynam @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member

Catriona Butler

Email: Catriona.butler @waterways.org.uk

Branch Meetings

Lynda Payton

Email: lynda.payton @waterways.org.uk

Non-Committee posts

Website and Media Officers

Gail Anscombe Email: gail.anscombe@waterways.org.uk

Lynda Payton Email: lynda.payton@waterways.org.uk

Vacancies

Publicity Officer and Grants Officers

The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers.