Aegre March 2023

Aegre 165

March 2023

A busy day on the Trent

From the East Midlands Region of the

Aegre is published © 2023 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association for members in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branches and Groups.

Chairman DavidPullen, 43HowellRoad,Heckington,Sleaford. LincsNG349RX Tel:01529460547

Vice-Chairman

Leicestershire AndrewShephard,41RomanRoad,Birstall,Leicester, BranchChairman LE44BB.E:andrewshephard1946@gmail.com

Lincolnshire ContactDavidPullen(asabove).

BranchChairman

Nottinghamshire ContactDavidPullen(asabove).

&Derbyshire

BranchChairman

Editor for Aegre: Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth LN11 0GQ

E-mail: aegre.editor@waterways.org.uk

Printing: Colour Image Loudwater. Despatch: Branch Volunteers. Picture credits: Front cover; see page 5. Others; see page 21

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342.

Tel: 01494 783453. Website:

http://www.waterways.org.uk

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers. The inclusion of any advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the IWA East Midlands Region or any of its Branches. Dates and times of events may change and should be checked before travelling. Any chart fragments or related information on canal or river features will be out-of-date when published and should not be used for navigation.

Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region

Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society

Erewash Canal P & D Association

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust

Chris Madge, c/o 62 Broadway, Duffield, Derby DE56 4BU Tel: 07827 946444 www.derbycanal.org.uk

Norman Cornwell, 38 Millfield Road, Kimberley, Notts. NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 8544155 Mobile 07854 451183

www.ecpda.org.uk (note the change)

Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657

www.fipt.org.uk

Friends of Charnwood Forest Canal Mike Handford, 1 Sheepy Close, Hinckley, LE10 1JL Tel: 01455 611508 mahandford@gmail.com

Friends of the Cromford Canal Richard Handley, richard.handley@cromfordcanal.org

www.cromfordcanal.org

Grantham Canal Society

Louth Navigation Trust

Melton & Oakham Waterways Society

Old Union Canals Society

Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375

www.granthamcanal.com

Paula Hunt, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 605496 www.louthcanal.org.uk

Michael Clowes, tel: 01509 414140, e-mail: lindandmick@btinternet.com www.meltonwaterways.org.uk

Jean Bourne, 2 Nithsdale Crescent, Market Harborough, LE16 9HA tel: 01858 461483

https://www.old-union-canals.org/events-news

Sleaford Navigation Trust

Stamford Canal Society

Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N. Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460

www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk

Ken Otter, The Meadows, Church Lane, Tallington, Stamford PE9 4RU Tel: 07761 452030 www.StamfordCanal.org

Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Margaret English, 10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0BL. Tel: 01606 834471

www.tamcs.org.uk

This time our main theme is the River Trent, partly triggered by the notable water level changes over last year. See the full tale of Trentlink by Nick Roberts on page 9 , mentioning the connecting waterways at Torksey, West Stockwith and Keadby, with of course the navigable nontidal river above Cromwell; also a Facebppk page, see below.

The pictures for this article are all from Nick and other Facebook contributors, including a fascinating one by Eagle Eye Photography of Cromwell Lock under flood conditions.

The two really useful Facebook sites for the Trent are mentioned also in Nick’s article:

Visitor Moorings on the River Trent & Associated Waterways

https://www.facebook.com/groups/26group7686390376240

Trentlink - Safe Navigation of the Tidal River Trent

https://www.facebook.com/groups/666937220961360

David also has an invitation (page 6) to become involved, or even better come to Nick’s presentation on March 24th in Lincoln (page 24).

We have a description from Tony Osbond of a new concept for a proper canal connection from the Trent north of Adbolton Lane playing fields to the existing line of the Grantham canal near the Radcliffe Road. See page 16; probably not done this year, but maybe?

On more domestic matters, you may have missed the item in the last edition, confirming that David’s proposals for the organisation of the Region were accepted, and they are summarised again here for your information.(page 20).

Also we give an introduction to Dave Pearce, the new CEO (page 19), and also note the possibility that the IWA main office will move from Waterside in Chesham because the lease runs out at the end of March. No news yet of the new address.

This is the time of year when CRT issue their annual lockage report. It is a very interesting document, with a lot of detail. Try looking for https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/refresh/media/original/47514-annuallockage-report-2022.pdf

With best wishes for the new season.

From the Region Chair

Nottinghamshire-Trent Group

We are now ready to set up the new Nottinghamshire-Trent members group (see page 20). All existing Nottinghamshire members will receive an invitation to support this new group which will focus on activities which support and encourage navigation on the River Trent. The group will be able to become a fully quorate branch if there are sufficient active members to make this viable. The group may choose to initiate some “hands-on” projects to support the Trentlink initiative, and Robert Aspey is also making great progress with improving mooring availability on the non-tidal Trent. Please support this new group going forward.

Only IWA

IWA members will, from time to time, quite reasonably re-evaluate why they support the Association. Here is a summary of the unique activities that:

Only IWA does:

· Waterway Recovery Group,

· Essex Waterways,

· Restoration Hub,

· Heritage Advisory Panel,

· Planning Advisory Panel,

· Insurance for societies and restoration groups,

· Certificate of Boat Management,

· All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways,

· Inland Waterways Freight Group,

· Sustainable Boating Group,

· Navigation Committee,

· Canalway Cavalcade and the Festival of Water,

· IWA’s shows team

· The regions

· The branches

· The volunteers and all the work they do on the ground.

River Trent

In regard to the tidal River Trent I was recently inspired to verify exactly where the “official” tidal limit is. In other words is the river really tidal all the way up to Cromwell? I had previously vaguely remembered seeing a mark on an OS map. However on further “Googling” I was able to find the Crown Commissioners’ asset map for the Trent which shows that they own the bed only as far as Girton (purple line, or about “Girton Stakes” on the TBA chart):

The Crown therefore own the bed of the Trent from this point right out to the North Sea. Thus, we have the following complex array of agencies and rights and responsibilities;

Canal and River Trust - Navigation Authority from Shardlow to Trent Bridge Gainsborough.

Associated British Ports – Harbour and Port Authority Gainsborough to Humber Estuary, Environment Agency – Flood Defence and Water Resources Authority, (including flood banks) – whole river.

The Crown – owns the bed of the tidal river and the Humber Estuary from Girton to the North Sea.

Private Riparian owners own the banks on the tidal part and (generally) to the centre of the channel on the non-tidal stretch.

The South Lincolnshire Reservoir (SLR) and Boston to Peterborough (B2P) Wetland Corridor.

Anglian Water submitted the OFWAT Gate 2 report in November 2022. There will be further formal consultations later in 2023 and 2024. The SLR programme has slipped back a little and now the parallel Fens Reservoir project is scheduled to be ahead. SLR construction is now planned to begin in 2029 with the reservoir coming into service about 2039.

Meetings and workshops analysing the options for Open Transfer Channel (OTC) into and out of the reservoirs continue. In respect of the SLR the options include:

1. An OTC from the Witham to the Black Sluice Navigation (BSN, aka South Forty Foot Drain -SFFD)

2. An OTC from the Trent into the upper Witham along the Fossdyke Canal

3. An OTC from BSN/SFFD into the River Glen at Guthram Gowt.

4. An OTC from the SLR into the BSN/SFFD for emergency drawdown provision. Options 1-3 are being evaluated against pipeline options.

The B2P navigation connection between the River Nene and the River Welland is also included in the OTC options.

The site for the SLR was fully reported in Aegre 164, page 14.

The main report states “it is proposed that water will be abstracted from the River Witham. The abstraction location has currently been assumed to be at an intake between Chapel Hill and Langrick Bridge, with water then transferred to the reservoir. However, the precise abstraction location will be identified following further detailed work (including stakeholder engagement) for gate 3. The proposed abstraction rate from the River Witham is up to 400Ml/d when flows allow. This is subject to further assessment in collaboration with the Environment Agency (EA) to develop a rate which is licensable.

The associated licence is expected to stipulate a minimum flow and water level requirement at the point of abstraction below which it would not be possible. Abstraction to fill the reservoir would only be possible during high flow periods.

The current design includes the transfer of water via about 18km of 1600mm diameter steel pipeline. However, the potential for this transfer to be open channel (from the River Witham into the South Forty Foot Drain (SFFD) and then into the reservoir), to deliver additional navigation benefits has been identified as an opportunity. This opportunity is being investigated in detail.”

Superhighway to the Northeast, from Nick Roberts

The Trent is a link that can save the inland cruising boater 100 locks or more to go from the perhaps "centre" of the Midlands waters at Braunston, to the centre of the Yorkshire waterways at Castleford via the trans Pennine routes. Surely deserving the title Superhighway!

Increase and Improve!

“Trentlink – Safe Navigation of the Tidal River Trent” is a Facebook Group that was formed in late 2021 with the aim to Increase the number of inland boats using this much maligned waterway and thus encourage visitors to the quietest of the CRT Regions – Yorkshire and the NE. (It’s important to realise that from anecdotal evidence the CRT budget allocation is diverted to where the most people are.)

Also the Group intended that by sharing of local boaters’ knowledge and investigating what goes wrong, it could Improve the experience for visiting boaters….So how did 2022 go?

It’s the wrong priority – but let’s first look at the numbers…..

By the end of 2022, Trentlink had enrolled 1,200 boating members. Up to 900 folk were visiting the Group in single days, and by season’s end an estimated 70% plus of inland craft on the river had somebody on board who was a member. Feedback generally remains very positive both about

Increase - Trentlink Members.

Winter - but not alone

Trentlink – and more importantly – about folks’ time on the river!

Increase…. Boats on the River

The “Annual Lockage Report” just issued by CRT in January, suggests that while the average number of boats using locks around the whole CRT system in 2022 was around 5% less than in 2021 – with 4 of the 6 CRT Regions showing significant drops. However, the two regions that are connected with the tidal Trent ,“Yorkshire and the North East” and “East Midlands”, both had “headline numbers” showing slight increases.

While the Report carries insufficient detail to support that this was due to the tidal Trent use, our own monthly figures (which we only started to collect in May 2022) – also suggest the tidal Trent did better than the rest of the UK system – and perhaps most encouragingly – the lock keepers report those numbers were made up of far more visiting boats than in previous years. See our front cover picture.

Our recorded number of boats passing through each lock in the last 9 months (to end Feb 2023):

Cromwell; 1,430

Torksey; 1,201

West Stockwith: 629

Keadby: 606

Perhaps given the various problems on the Chesterfield and the Stainforth and Keadby canals last year, this has to be considered a success? But we can do better as word gets out that the Trent is not as scary as canal folk believe?

Improving the Tidal Experience

The Trentlink Group was formed on the principle of both increasing the number of boats "linking" the NE and Midlands, but also improving the experience of those boats’ crews using it. That means not only making more information available, but the effectiveness of that information can only be judged by folks’ confidence –and by a reduction in the real, and the perceived, incident rate on the river.

Incidents - real and imaginedare the source of most of the scare stories that do the rounds at chitchat around inland locks and marinas and which the canal media like to drag up from their archives occasionally. Only by being seen to reduce such incidents will the river’s reputation improve.

There is a problem here. There are no official records of anything going wrong on the river in previous years. CRT have kept no records of any issues unless at the locks. But there are plenty of stories of folk going horribly aground for days at a time, boats breaking down and grounding on steep banks allowing the boat to flood. Grounding on sandbanks which you can't see.. And having to go to anchor because the engine packed up. Stories, rumour and exaggeration - every local has a story to tell. For sure, all these things have happened, but how serious, how often, and most importantly WHY they went wrong is far less clear.

The problem with no incident records or investigations is that

you can't identify "causes" or "trends". You can't try to stop them happening again. It is an educated guess that it is groundings that are the primary concern – and they are caused by breakdowns and navigation errors. So Trentlink asked folk to tell us if they had a problem or saw a problem. We asked at locks. We trapped a significant number of these occurrences in 2022– but probably not all, and folk didn’t always want to share what had gone wrong, but it’s given us something to work on.

Injuries:

To my knowledge nobody was injured on the tidal Trent in 2022

Groundings: We learned of about 20 significant groundings last year. (Significant in that the craft was damaged; needed to be pulled off by another boat; or lifted off by the next tide.).

But those groundings give some trends worthy of review:

Only 1 was due to a breakdown.

Only 1 got stuck for more than 1 tide (stuck for 4 days after grounding on a high tide)

Ten were on Dunham Dubs bend! (Including a "Dunkirk little ship" that was damaged, and the CRT contracted dredger returning from working in Newark) .

Only 1 was on the "Red Line" on TBA "Chart" - (that was in August when water levels were well below normal) .

At least one cruiser damaged his props because of overtaking the "Flood" unknowingly.

Breakdowns

Figures from RCR suggested that, prior to 2022, they had calls from "1 or 2 boats every month that had grounded on the tidal Trent following a mechanical failure”. I find this figure surprising in that even more incidents would have occurred where RCR were not called? That seems like a lot of boats having problems….

But this year - I'm only aware of the one grounding due to mechanical problems.

In no small part this is not because boats are not suffering from mechanical issues (although that may have improved significantly as more folk prepare for the

A helping tow at Dunham

Trent before they get here), but because there has been a significant increase in the number of boats "Buddying" - staying in close convoy with another boat or boats on the river of similar speed - so if one boat suffers a problem, they are quickly taken in tow to the next lock! Drama avoided. (Strangely perhaps, those least likely to participate in "Buddying" are the locals....)

I’m aware of only one boat using their anchor because of mechanical problems in 2022 – and he was quickly underway again without drama.

So Trentlink Targets for 2023?

Trentlink have worked with “The Boating Association” in a review of a Hydrographic Survey done by CRT last year. This will result in some “tweaks” to the “red line” on the TBA chart. This will help ensure the “red line” continues to show us the deepest channel, but the survey also identified that we don’t know just how deep the river is below a known datum – The CRT survey didn’t really answer that question – and this is especially problematic when low water periods are

encountered as they were last August - so this is a target area for 2023, but will need help from boaters with echo sounders.

With our improved knowledge of the river it is hoped we might better highlight problem areas for boaters– starting with Dunham Dubs – (But this will require labour and a work boat!)

With help from CRT and The Boating Association – new “Virtual” flood level gauges (below) are now available at each of the tidal locks to help skippers of “low power” craft with a smart phone better decide if the river is safe for navigation. CRT are exploring the potential to include the tidal stretch of the Trent as part of its web-based “Water Level and Strong Stream Warning” system alongside the two regions of the Trent already covered.

A” Skipper’s Guide to the Tidal River Trent” based largely on information presently held in Trentlink has been drafted and is currently under review by CRT. It is intended to be available via the CRT website – which will hopefully sit alongside other recent inclusions of references to the Trent and to Trentlink included by CRT.

It has been suggested to CRT that the 4 tidal locks can be combined under one heading in the CRT “Stoppage“ system where at present each lock is under a different canal. (Currently, only Cromwell lock issues show if “River Trent” is entered)

Last but by no means least we will endeavour to invite senior managers and directors of the local CRT regions onto the river as we did for the East Midlands Director last year (above).

So not bad for a Facebook Group? Think what could be done if it were an active group!

Nick Roberts

Editor’s note: Two really useful Facebook sites for the Trent are : Visitor Moorings on the River Trent & Associated Waterways

https://www.facebook.com/groups/26group7686390376240 and Trentlink - Safe Navigation of the Tidal River Trent

https://www.facebook.com/groups/666937220961360

Cromwell in flood -

Derby and Sandiacre Canal

Experts needed.

Chris Madge points out that the Trust has many active volunteers maintaining and restoring the canal line, but they only have a small group responsible for all the other Trust activities many of which are technical, covering engineering, finance, planning, legal, fundraising, etc. The large scale restoration progress is now dependent on this group and of course we are all ageing and coping with the inevitable effects on mobility.

Draycott cottages

The substantial rainfall over the last month or so has seen reservoirs slowly filling up again but it causes some concerns. Much of the canal design challenge at the Draycott site will be around the flow of water around the cottages. In heavy downpours there is a substantial flow built up as rainwater rushes down the Hopwell road and ditches alongside. This affected the workings of the water supply, which had to be solved urgently as both commercial and residential premises rely on it. Firstly the excess water shorted out the pump electricity supply. It is now resolved and redesigned to make it more robust in future. Unfortunately a couple of days later the borehole pump failed and had to be replaced. It’s all good now and there is a better maintenance check regime in place. We can’t disrupt the business of the café or the showers of the residents

Outram trip boat

Planning permission for a floating pontoon, which will make the service accessible to all, is expected soon. We have now submitted answers to all the questions posed in the planning process and we believe it will be discussed at the mid-February Planning Committee . The electric motor has been serviced in Devonshire -with easy transport compared to a diesel. The 45 minute trips will resume at a date to be decided. Tickets are bookable through DerbyLive.

https://www.derbylive.co.uk/your-visit/how-book/

Canal recovery

At Borrowash and Draycott the recovered wall is progressing well and the team has made good progress pulling out tree stumps along the tow path. At Draycott the bunds have been maintained to allow water to flow away quickly and the arrangement seems to be working well. It is planned to continue with this work.

Grantham Canal Society

From Tony Osbond

We are always being asked by supporters of the Grantham Canal Society “will the canal ever get connected to the River Trent again”? Well, plans are afoot to realise this aim, albeit that I am sure it will be a long drawn-out process. Firstly we must acknowledge that work on the canal has been skewed towards the eastern end of the canal, that is from the A1 at Grantham to Woolsthorpe by Belvoir primarily because this is where the water comes into the canal with Denton and Knipton reservoirs being the main feeders. Work has been concentrated on the Woolsthorpe flight of locks with more recently Locks 15 and 14 being rebuilt with Heritage Lottery money and a new slipway constructed so that our canal maintenance boats can be hauled out of the water for general maintenance.

Our trip boat Three Shires, a main source of income in the spring/summer period, is dependent on our maintenance teams clearing the canal of weeds and overhanging branches so that our paying guests enjoy summer cruises. However we have an untapped population in the west ie Nottingham/West Bridgford

and various other boroughs where it is felt that a western base could be established to attract volunteers to help with maintaining and clearing the canal of detritus, trees, reeds etc.

We have put a provisional plan together to reconnect the canal to the River Trent through the Adbolton Lane approach and have also identified a location for a western base. Ongoing presentations have been made to Nottinghamshire County Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council, The Environment Agency and Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe. In addition we have also spoken with and are due to meet with National Highways concerning the lifting of the Eastbound lane of Gamston Bridge (A6011) and Gamston Lings Bar bridge (A52).

National Highways have a pot of money to “put right the things that have been done wrong” over the years; they are already funding a scheme on the Cotswold canal This is not going to happen overnight but if we could get a safeguarded route for a new Trent Connection then that would be a major step forward but more importantly in the short term establish a working base in the West

Boat Rally 2023 reminder

The attractions include a variety of trade, historic and leisure canal boats, trade and exhibitor stalls around the grounds. Other important details include:

Join them from 10:00 each day for a great day out, to 16.30.

12:00 Real Ale bar opens

If you are interested in the history of the local canals and buildings then you will enjoy:

A Walk and Talk on the Cromford Canal Extension. Planning has been approved to extend the canal about one kilometre to include a staircase lock, or

A Victorian Pump House talk: Originally built as part of the local sewer works, it has now been restored and re-purposed by

ECPDA volunteers to manage water levels in the basin

For more details go to the Rally Website (below).

Maintenance and voluteeering..

There are regular work parties on Fridays. For details see the main web site (P4).

Events at Sandiacre Lock Cottage

For queries on any meetings at the Cottage, contact Glyn Stenson on 07809 251441. Normally there is a monthly meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm. All welcome. This year open days will br held from 10,30 to 15.30 on Mar 19, May 21, June 18, Aug 20, Sept 17, and Nov 19.

They hope to see visitors basking in the sunshine whilst enjoying refreshments. There will be live music and participation in traditional crafts, both inside and outside the cottages.

Meetings

ECPDA meetings at Sandiacre on May 18, June 15, Aug 17 and Sep 21. at 7.30pm.

https://rally.ecpda.org.uk/

Rally 2018

Members may have read about this in one or other of the bulletins or journals already in circulation, but we are pleased to see the prospect of fewer staff changes at Chesham in the future, and to thank the temporary incumbents for keeping the show on the road so well.

We are also pleased to give a short introduction to Dave Pearce. Dave joined IWA as CEO from 3rd January 2023, and will be working 17 hours a week for the association.

Dave has worked in the charity world for over twenty years as a Chief Executive. He was CEO of AgeUK Dacorum for eight years, during which he developed income streams, grew turnover and reserves, and built networks with other voluntary organisations, funding sources, and politicians.

He was CEO of the Middlesex Association for the Blind for nine years, and Circulation & Marketing Manager for a newspaper, having been with the company for 25 years. He has worked in Africa, and in all he brings a broad range of skills, knowledge, and experience to IWA, as well as being a boat owner. He is passionate about the waterways and everybody who uses them.

New Re-alignment of East Midlands Region

Readers will remember that, in the last issue of Aegre we described a proposal for the Branch structure in the Region to reflect more accurately members’ (and hopefully prospective members’) interests, geographic location, and travel possibilities. David Pullen’s proposal was fully accepted by the Trustees back in November, but it is probably good to recall the details as a reminder.

It seems that branches or groups which focus on easily identifiable projects, and activities centred on specific waterways, have more success in motivating volunteers and active members compared to the existing, mainly geographically organised, branch structure.

Groups would not have any specific governance requirements such as a quorate committee, a chairman or treasurer, but would instead be organised informally, principally through social media groups focusing on specific activities of a local navigation or waterway specific project.

Lincolnshire Branch

This branch would continue as currently organised, comprising members in central and northern (traditional) Lincolnshire.

South Lincolnshire

South Lincolnshire members with PE postcodes will be invited to join a new group with a view to eventually forming a new Branch. This new group would form the main driving force of IWA members willing to support the Boston to Peterborough (B2P) Wetland Corridor Project and possibly the Grantham Canal restoration project. Depending on the future of the Peterborough Branch a new group might join with existing Peterborough Branch members as the branch is currently inquorate. Before proceeding, this proposal would be discussed in principle with the last incumbent Branch Chairman.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch

Nottinghamshire members with all the remaining NG postcodes will be invited to be included in a new area group called NottinghamshireTrent group. This will be a default designation, but these members will be informed that, as now, they are free to transfer to any other IWA branch or group of their choosing. This group would focus on River Trent projects and facilities, e.g. Trent Mooring Group.

Subject to agreement with the acting Chairman for IWA Yorkshire and North East Region, members from the North Nottinghamshire area (Dukeries part of South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch (SY&D)) would be invited to join the Nottinghamshire- Trent group. SY&D branch is currently inquorate.

Members with Derby (DE) postcodes can remain within IWA East Midlands “family” and continue to receive Aegre, the regional newsletter. Derbyshire members may also choose to form a waterway or specific project group, or join an alternative IWA Branch of their choosing.

Picture Credits

We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance this edition of Aegre: Andrew Shephard; Chris Madge; Michelle Hill; Eddie Case; Archie Roberts; Dave Carnell; David Collin; Robert Aspey; Rod Auton; Phil May; Mel and Sue Sowerby; David Pullen; Jane Pollard; Mick Clowes; Alan Leather; David Pit; Malcolm Fielding; Keith Bown; Steve Kitt; Paula Hunt, and as noted for specific articles.

Journals Received

We are very pleased to acknowledge copies of journals, sometimes in PDF format, from various canal and river societies and trusts. They include “The Portal” from Friends of the Cromford Canal; “The Packet” from the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society; “The Cuckoo”, from the Chesterfield Canal Trust; “Sleaford Navigation Trust” journal; the “Melton and Oakham Newsletter”; “The Wharfinger” from Louth Navigation Trust; “The Bridge” from Grantham Canal Society; “Grand Trunk” from the Trent and Mersey Canal Society; and “Union” from the Old Union Canal Society.

Anyone interested in receiving a copy of one of these journals should contact the relevant address given on page 4. For “The Cuckoo” contact the editor at 22 Works Road, Hollingwood, Chesterfield S43 2PF.

As recorded in the last issue of Aegre, our AGM in October 2022 was virtually unattended, which was very disappointing and slightly embarrassing given that we had invited Les Etheridge, the current National Chairman, to be our guest.

The committee decided to send out a questionnaire to our branch members, which we were obliged to do via the IWA Head Office. We received only 10 valid replies, from a membership of over 200. This begs several questions, the first of which might be how many of the branch members’ emails are in the IWA system and how many members actually received the questionnaire.

Historically, branches have been denied direct contact with the branch members. Something to do with data protection. Anyway, we have been assured by Head Office that the information can now be sent to us, but nothing so far. I have written to Head Office to say that unless we do get direct contact with branch members, we can not continue to operate the branch effectively.

In the meantime, I would welcome any correspondence, elec-

tronic or otherwise, from Leicestershire branch members. My contact details are as included below.

As to other news, we are still hoping for something to happen at Memory Lane Wharf, and for mooring bollards to be installed below Birstall Lock. I await an update from CRT.

Looking forward, 2025 is the 75th anniversary of the IWA National Rally at Market Harborough, the first National Rally, a historic landmark event for the Association. Market Harborough is, unfortunately, no longer suitable for a major national boat rallythe basin is full of permanent moorings and a hire base. Nevertheless, we are exploring options for a non-national rally.

Spring around the corner. Looking forward to be back out boating.

Andrew Shephard Chairman, IWA Leicestershire Branch

M: 07710 362952

E:

andrewshephard1946@gmail.com

Louth Navigation Trust

Forthcoming events and meetings

20th May ‘til 11th June 2023 Louth Walking Festival

Tuesday 23rd May 2023 Canal & Blow Wells walk, meet at 10am Tetney Lock

Tuesday 25th May 2023 Alvingham walk, meet at 6pm at the Mill

Saturday 27th May 2023 Louth Canal Linear walk, meet 10am Tetney Lock

Wednesday 14th June 2023 AGM 7.30 at the Navigation Warehouse

12th -19th August 2023 WRG camp tbc

Sunday 3rd December Louth Christmas Market, Eastgate.

Old Union Canals Society

The Old Union Canals Society have their monthly open meetings at Great Bowden Village Hall (LE16 7EU, near Market Harborough) at 7.30 on the last Friday of the month. A donation of £2 per person is requested to help cover costs. Visitors are welcome. Details from Mary Matts on 0116 2792188.

Next events are:

Friday 31st March, 7.30 p.m. The Canal Comes to Market Harborough presented by Mary Matts

Friday 28th April, 7.30 p.m. Quiz Night & Social Evening

Trentlink

A presentation by Nick Roberts on navigation on the Tidal Trent

8 pm 24th March 2023

Lincoln Boat Club Brayford Wharf North

Lincoln LN1 1YW

Branch Annual General Meeting Agenda

● Apologies for absence

● Minutes of last AGM

● Matters arising

● Branch Chairman’s Report

● Treasurer’s Report

● Election of Committee Members

● Any Other Business

8 pm Friday 14th April 2023

Lincoln Boat Club - as above.

Sorry, this has had to be postponed because of a clash of dates. Please contact David Pullen for an update.