Endeavour August - Aug 2024 by The Inland Waterways Association

Lady Sheila Suchet (centre right) presents a cheque on behalf of Braunston Marina to Vice-Chairman IWA Geoff Wood (left) and Northampton Branch Member Sandra Tidey (centre left), while Tim Coghlan (right) looks on

Photo: Victoria Jane Photography

Historic Boat Show brings

The weekend 29-30th June saw a boost in IWA funds after a generous donation of £200 was received from Braunston Marina. Proprietor, Tim Coghlan has always been a keen supporter and provides stand space at the show free of charge to waterway charities. Full story page 12

waterways.org.uk/northampton

TEDITORIAL

is the season for holidays! I mentioned in the last issue of Endeavour that Linda and I have planned an extensive cruise up north this year. By the time you read this I will be ‘oop north, but as I write we are in the midst of packing the boat with all the essentials – but what does one pack? Some items are obvious like food, beer and wine. When it comes to clothing, we have concluded that we have to pack for all weathers. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard on Sky News a few days ago that this spring had been the warmest since records began – not in my part of the world it hasn’t!

Because of our imminent departure, I am writing these musings much earlier than usual and trying to prepare as much of the content for this issue as possible. I am indebted to Lynda Payton who has agreed to step in and do the rest of the editing in my absence. I know I’m leaving it in the best possible hands as Lynda was Editor for quite some time before I took over the role.

So, enjoy your summer. Remember I would love to hear from you about what waterways you’ve visited and not just by boat. How about you cyclists/hikers/walkers writing an article about your experiences along our towpaths? I’m sure our readers would enjoy a different perspective.

NEW BRANCH MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED

We extend a warm welcome to the following who have joined Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour

Maria Hobbs

Alan Stevenson

We look forward to meeting you at our Branch events

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.

August

26th Bank Holiday Monday - Floating Market - Roving Traders between bridges 82 and 82a, Milton Keynes.

September

19th September 7.45pm IWA Milton Keynes Branch Meeting - Speaker: David Tucker with ‘Waterway Videos’. Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, Bletchley, MK2 2DN

October

5-6th October 2024 Banbury Canal Festival

8th 7.30pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne - Speaker: John Pomfret - ‘Waterway Curiosities’

November

12th November 2.30pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Boat Inn Stoke Bruerne - Speaker: Kate Saffin - ‘Lighting the touch paper: the letters that started the IWA’

23rd 7pm IWA Branch Annual Dinner at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne (see enclosed Booking Form and Page 10).

December

10th December 2.30pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne - Speaker: Kay Andrews - ‘Challenging the myths and misconceptions of the history of canal folk art’

January

14th January 2.30pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne, - Speaker: Tim Coghlan - Twenty Years of The Historic Narrowboat Rally at Braunston

February

11th February 2.30pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne, - Speaker: Roger Butler - Discovering the Newport Pagnell Canal

Task Party Dates are on page 9

 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

Branch Chairman’s Jottings

byBernardMorton

As I write this (somewhat earlier than normal), we are busy preparing and loading our boat for some much-needed cruising. We are still hopeful that summer weather will arrive in the not-too-distant future – however, we find ourselves packing clothes for all eventualities (sun, heat, cold temperatures, wet weather, you name it, we British boaters must “be prepared”!).

Our inland waterways have been given an unusually high profile just recently on TV. Robbie Cummings has filmed a fifth series of his Canal Boat Diaries for the Yesterday Channel in which he will be travelling through the Buckby Locks, Bugbrooke and onto Milton Keynes.

Channel 4 has Narrow Escapes which features a variety of people who are liveaboard boaters including couples, families, single-handers, marina dwellers, and people running businesses afloat. The publicity blurb promises that this is a “warts and all” series of programmes that include real dramas such as engines blowing up, the joys of emptying toilets, cleaning the weedhatch – none of which you get to see on Great Canal Journeys with Tim and Pru.

FUND BRITAIN’S WATERWAYS CAMPAIGN. On 8th May, a flotilla of around 40 boats stopped outside the Houses of Parliament and sounded their horns during Prime Minister’s Questions with the aim of highlighting how desperate the waterways are for additional funding to protect their future. The flotilla included a mix of boats (commercial freight, sea kayaks, and narrowboats) from across the country. Several boats that had booked in were unable to make it due to flood conditions and stoppages which indicates how great the need is for properly government funding for all inland waterways.

Did anyone see anything about this on TV news bulletins or in newspapers?

As I write this, the election has just been called and it is too early to hear what each party’s stance is on waterways funding. Being rather cynical by nature, I wouldn’t be surprised if they all promise great things on the campaign trail but forget them when in power – I hope I’m proved wrong!

SALTER’S LODE LOCK PROBLEMS. As I write, the closure of Salter’s Lode Lock remains cutting off the Fenland Waterways from the Middle Levels, the River Nene and the main canal system. EA have been working on desilting at the Denver Lock end of the tidal crossing and this is now complete. However, there still remains a large bank of silt outside Salter’s Lode Lock and, until EA have removed this, the lock closure has to remain to prevent this silt being washed into Middle Levels waters.

Continued over...

Hopefully, EA will complete this work as soon as possible as many boaters and businesses are being impacted.

NORTHAMPTON ARM. In May, our volunteers supported by staff from Cummins Power Systems carried out further work on the well-used towpath between Locks 13 and 14. A further 83 metres of towpath was re-laid against a planned 98 metres. There was a shortfall of gravel due to some unexpectedly deep holes that had to be filled, leaving a 12-metre gap.

Plans are afoot to bridge this gap, probably in spring 2025. We are planning on putting together another bid for funding from Cummins – watch this space!

75th ANNIVERSARY OF 1950 FESTIVAL AT MARKET HARBOROUGH.

Leicestershire Branch, in conjunction with CRT and the Old Union Canal Society, are planning on staging a waterways festival on 7th and 8th June 2025 and have asked our Branch for its support.

The 1950 Festival came about as Tom Rolt suggested a boat rally would be good publicity and involve IWA’s members. The resulting Festival, including an arts festival, was a great success with 120 boats and large numbers of the public attending.

The planned anniversary event will be based at Foxton (in the CRT event field at the top of the flight) as the original Union Wharf at Market Harborough is no longer a viable venue, with a cavalcade of boats up the Harborough Arm on the Saturday of the event. They are hoping to attract a range of floating traders, historic narrowboats and private craft with land-based attractions and activities in the event field.

We have indicated that we are willing to offer support and are awaiting further information. In the meantime, make a diary note of the dates – I know it is a long way off but it sounds like an event not to be missed!

SUMMER BREAK. Our last committee meeting and social gathering for a while took place in May allowing us all to take a breather over the summer. Our committee meetings will restart in September with our social gatherings commencing on Tuesday 8th October. We have persuaded Lynda Payton to organise another season of talks/entertainment for the 2024-2025 season at the Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne. Thank you Lynda.

Our Annual Branch Dinner will be at the Boat Inn on Saturday 23rd November. Details of the menu and a booking form are included with this issue of Endeavour.

TASK PARTY DATES

Branch Annual Dinner

Saturday 23rd November 7pm

at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne NN12 7SB

Home Baked Bread Basket

Home Made Spicy Parsnip Soup

Chicken Skewers with Sate Sauce

Beetroot & Walnut Croquettes with Sweet Chilli Mayonnaise

King Prawn & Avocado Salad with Soured Cream Chives

Fillet Scottish Salmon with Creamed Spinach

Grilled Rib-Eye with Onion Rings & Tomato [£5 supplement]

Home Made Chicken & Mushroom Pie

Twice Cooked Pork Belly with Cider Sauce & Crackling

Butternut Squash Wellington served with a selection of fresh vegetable & potatoes

French Apple Tart with Clotted Cream

Home Made Bread Pudding with Toffee & Rum Sauce

Chocolate Brownie with Salted

Caramel Ice Cream

Fresh Fruit Salad with Pouring Cream

Cheese & Biscuits [£2 supplement]

Coffee or Tea with Mints

3 courses £30 plus supplements

Booking form available on our website www.waterways.org.uk/northampton

Arm Update Spring/ Summer 2024

We started off in March by addressing the very large potholes at the top of the access track that runs parallel to the Arm from Lock 2. We used eight bulk bags of stone to fill these in, and now the track can be used without fear of damage to vehicles.

The latest towpath work started in early May, and with all the help from volunteers and Cummins Power Systems we are now almost up to the M1 south running slip road. We ended up 12 metres short which we hope to complete next year. In all, this was another 90 plus metres finished.

We are now into the lock painting and grass cutting season, with three visits to the Lock 17 area. We are also putting anti-slip paint on some of the locks. There is definitely a big increase in vegetation growth with all the rain this year.

Once again, a big thank you to all our volunteers and Cummins for all their hard work.

Geoff Wood

Photo: Paul Simpson

2024 RALLY REVIEW

20th BRAUNSTON HISTORIC NARROWBOAT RALLY REMAINS AS POPULAR AS EVER

By Tim Coghlan

Despite so many other events going on nationally, including the European Cup, and just down the road the Silverstone Grand Prix –and not to mention either, the then impending General Election, or the poor weather forecast for the Sunday - this year’s Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally remained as popular and successful as ever.

Held in its traditional slot over the last weekend in June, a total of 74 historic narrowboats attended, versus 82 last year.

Originally there were 84 booked in for this year, but with the boats coming from all corners of the waterways, there were some unforeseen emergency stoppages to contend with, as well as mechanical problems - perhaps to be expected with these old canal leviathans.

The average numbers attending the Rallies over the post-Covid

The arrival of the Queen of Sheila! Lady Sheila Suchet opening the rally onboard the Buckingham Canal Society’s ‘Diana the Dredger’

Photo: Victoria Jane Photography

years represent about a third of the entire fleet of historic narrowboats now surviving on the waterways in reasonable-togood order – only about 250 versus the 35,000 modern narrowboats. This emphasizes the fleets’ historic importance – almost an endangered species - and also the vital roles that museums, canal societies and private owners perform in their preservation for the future. It is rewarding for the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rallies, that we believe that some two thirds of that fleet have now attended at some time over the years we have held them, and that it continues to inspire new restoration projects.

The latest seen at this year’s Rally was the former GUCC’s Town Class Bristol. Its encouragingly young owner Darren, brought it to the Rally for the first time, arriving just in time, following its restoration at the nearby Warwickshire Fly Boat boatyard. The boat was again ‘Bristol fashion’ – though still in undercoat, the proper topcoat of paint, in the full glory of the Colours of the Cut, still to come.

On the good-news side, the Coventry Canal Society’s working narrowboat Panther was at last able to rejoin the Fleet, having Continued...page 20

Lady Sheila Suchet declaring the 2024 Rally open. Photo: Tim Coghlan

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRUISE, LONG OR SHORT, OLD OR NEW

When you go cruising again let me know about your trip so we can all share in your experiences. This is where you can suggest new places to visit or to avoid.

Write a report about your cruise, let others 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, unusual things 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.

Send your story to tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk

 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

YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES

Broken Lock Balance Beam on the Northampton Arm

Over the May Bank Holiday Weekend (25th May), one of the balance beam at Lock 11 on the Northampton Arm was vandalised and became inoperable. Initially the Canal & river Trust had to close the Arm between Lock 1 and Lock 12, but from Monday 3rd June onwards, assisted passage was possible between noon and 3pm with the help of CRT operatives.

After an initial assessment, it was announced that work would take up to five weeks, but in the end repairs were carried out fairly swiftly on the 8th of June, only two weeks after the incident. The Trust are to be congratulated for their prompt action and the help they gave to enable boaters to navigate the Arm.

CRT working the broken lock so boaters can pass through

Photo: With kind permission of Rodney Hardwick

Continued from page 13...failed to attend the two previous rallies due to various problems, and thus also for two seasons to carry out its important work on the clean ups on the Coventry Canal.

Most disappointingly for this year was the absence again of President, the last surviving coal-fired steam narrowboat. The problems of building a new steam boiler to modern standards have at last been resolved and reconstruction is now underway. It is hoped that the boat will be back in steam by the end of this year, and fully restored in time to lead the parade at the 2025 Rally. If so, music legend and steam enthusiast Pete Waterman will be onboard to open that year’s Rally – something he has been waiting patiently to do since 2020. They say that things come to those who wait – so

Photo: Tim Coghlan

fingers crossed.

The annual Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rallies remain by far and away the largest gathering of these historic narrowboats anywhere on the inland waterways, and the best place for gongoozlers to be seen in great numbers, of which there were 5,000 attending the rally, coming from all parts of the UK and abroad. .

President with butty Kildare were to have been the stars of the

Job done! Lady Sheila Suchet relaxing with the boys on Nuneaton and Brighton

The unveiling of Braunston Marina’s National Transport Trust’s Red Wheel plaque, by music legend and steam enthusiast Pete Waterman (L). With him is Jerry Swift, NTT’s Deputy Chairman and Tim Coghlan (R) of Braunston Marina.

Photo: Victoria Jane Photography

Rally, leading the opening parade, with actor and canal enthusiast Sir David Suchet (POIROT) at the helm. Then by something of a double whammy, David had an unforeseen change at short notice to his current filming schedule, and had to cancel coming - for the first time since he has been involved with our many waterway events since 1999.

Instead by way of ‘Plan B’, his wife Lady Sheila, a great canal enthusiast with David since the 1970s and now co-Vice President of the IWA – accepted our invitation to do the honours on the Buckingham Canal Society’s ‘Diana the Dredger,’ which had already been scheduled to attend the Rally for publicity purposes. David had presented it to the Buckingham Canal Society in October 2023 in memory of my late wife Diana, who had died of cancer in 2014. Given Sheila would be seen on a dredger, she put her designer clothes to one side and opted for the sort of overalls that the WWII Idle Women’s wore, plus a boatman’s red scarf I gave her, and a with cap loaned to her by David.

The opening took the now well established format of the chosen continued over...

boat – in this case the somewhat unusual Diana the Dredger - leading the Parade of Boats. It entered the marina from the canal under the famous Horseley Ironworks bridge to a recording on the public address of Bernard Cribbins’ early 1960s hit – ‘Hole In The Ground’, and its famous refrain ‘Don’t dig here, dig it elsewhere’, which many bystanders joined in to. ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheila’ was also accompanied by a peel of bells from Braunston Church – ‘The Cathedral of the Canals,’ and fine music from Daventry Brass. As Sheila passed under the entrance bridge, she declared the Rally open, which she did with great theatrical aplomb – she is after all a retired great actress in her own right.

‘Di the Digger’ – as she has come to be called - then only made a short venture to her allocated mooring on the old Oxford Arm with the Buckingham Canal Society’s multitasking CEO Terry Cavender. From here Sheila visited the various stands taken by a number of canal societies, where she presented cheques to them from the Rally, the largest of which was £1,000 to the Buckingham Canal Society. In all some £5,000 was donated to canal and local causes.

The motor boat Nuneaton in the parade, steered by Howard Williams with assistance from Pete Waterman. The motor Nuneaton and its’ butty Brighton are owned by the Narrow Boat Trust, which seeks to preserve the skills of the former working boatmen.

Photo: Simon Ainley

Photo: Tim Coghlan

Meanwhile the Braunston based historic pair of boats, the Nutfield & Raymond, which had followed ‘Di the Digger’ in, then led the traditional parade though the marina and round to the Braunston Turn and back. In the Raymond’s hold were a number of celebrity guests, including Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & River Trust, and Tony Hales OBE, retired Chairman of the Canal & River Trust. Tony still continues his passion for the waterways and has attended every Rally since 2009, and hopes to continue doing so for as long as he can.

An hour before the Rally’s formal opening, Pete Waterman unveiled the Red Wheel plaque that Braunston Marina had recently been awarded by the National Transport Trust largely on his recommendation. Present were several Members of the National Transport Trust, including Jerry Swift, its Deputy Chairman, and also the CRT CEO Richard Parry. The plaque had been fixed on the wall of the former engine shop, facing the marina entrance, where it can be well-seen. It is held that the engine shop was built by the Women’s Land Army during WWII.

Continued on page 28….

Michael Pinnock at the helm of the Emu, which won the ‘Nurser Award’ Buckby Can for the ‘Best in Show’, as voted by the historic narrowboat owners.

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BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY

Lady Sheila Suchet presenting a cheque for £1,000 to Terry Cavender, CEO of the Buckingham Canal Society, which owns and operates Diana the Dredger. A big thank you to Tim Coghlan [R].

Photo: Victoria Jane Photography

Continued from page 23...The winning historic narrowboat for this year’s ‘Nurser Award’ Buckby Can for the Best in Show as voted by the historic narrowboat owners’, was to Michael Pinnock, for his magnificently restored EMU. The boat was built for FMC by Yarwoods in 1926, and fitted with one of the new Bolinder semidiesel engines – the boat is now only two years from its centenary. Michael acquired it in 2009, and fully restored it to carrying condition. It has been operating as a fuel boat in the London area ever since. As well as that Buckby can, to be held for a year, Michael also received £250 worth of Midland Chandlers vouchers, generously sponsored by them.

The Guild of Waterways Artists were again provided with their own marquee, sponsored by Braunston Marina, and ten of its members had their works on display, including the great canal artist Dusty Miller, who at the end of the Rally presented myself, on behalf of Braunston Marina, with a large painting he had made of Braunston Bottom Lock in its working days.

The Rally is also billed as a canal festival – in the fine tradition of

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the first IWA Rally held at Market Harborough in 1950, inspired by its co-founder Robert Aickman. Entertainments included the canaltravelling Alarum Theatre, with their new show, a bitter-sweet comedy with songs about working women of the canals, and the tough lives they had led.

The Rally’s resident music-impresario Janul for some years now, produced the amazing musicians she finds each year for the beer tent – a mini-Glastonbury, without the mud. On the Saturday, children were entertained by Professor Diamond’s Punch & Judy Show.

On the Sunday evening, to close the event, the Rally sponsored a candle-lit choral concert by Fiori Musicali of Renainssance music. The venue was across the meadows from Braunston at the ancient church of Wolfamcote. This was to raise awareness of this redundant church and the funds needed for its preservation.

Braunston Marina will be hosting the event again next year on the same last weekend in June, 2025, with hopefully Pete Waterman opening it on the restored President and its butty Kildare. Here’s hoping we see you there.

The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally is sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk, and is supported by the Canal & River Trust.

MONEY FOR OLD CARTRIDGES

The Branch is collecting old printer, toner and/or inkjet cartridges for recycling. I would be most willing to take them off your hands. This form of recycling may not generate large amounts of funds but, as they say, every little helps.Please bring them to the Branch meetings or please email me on sandie.morton@waterways.org.uk