Anglian Cuttings No.115

ANGLIAN CUTTINGS

Ipswich Branch Newsletter Winter 2009/10 No. 115 The IWA may not agree with the opinions expressed in this publication. They are, however, published as a matter of interest to our members and readers.

Nothing printed can be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated.

The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in this publication.

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IWA IPSWICH BRANCH YOUR COMMITTEE Chairman Chard Wadley chairman.ipswichbranch@waterways,org.uk Secretary & Anglia Cuttings Editor Charles Stride secretary.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk editor.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Treasurer Spencer Greystrong treasurer.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Membership Clive Saville Membership.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Publicity Brian Holt pro.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Social Secretary Diana Holt socialsec.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk River Gipping Trust Lewis Tyler RGTRep.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk River Stour Trust Sue Brown

RSTRep.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Pickerel Project Brain Cornell pickerelrep.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk

*************************** IWA Ipswich - http://www.waterways.org.uk/InMyArea/EasternRegion/ Ipswich

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EDITOR’S PONDERINGS

C H STRIDE

Did someone say something about turning up like a bad penny? I have to say I prefer the saying — ‘You can’t keep a good man down’! Whichever it seems that you cannot do without me as your Editor and so after a break of just over eight years I’m back, and my first task on behalf of you all must be to thank Mick Carter for his sterling efforts for all that time and for the production of 25 editions of this newsletter. Many thanks Mick. have many pressures over the next few years and we all need to ensure that our Waterways do at least receive their fair share of support. Positive action is really needed at this time, so please ensure that you make a New Years Resolution, and keep it, to do your bit on this occasion. A template for letters to your MP‘s is available. Please contact the Secretary if you would like this.

And what a lot has happened during those eight years. In particular our local restoration workers successfully completed Creeting Lock and moved on to Baylham, which this year saw major works completed, despite what the weather threw at them, with the invaluable help of WRG as reported in the last edition.

The River Gipping Trust has been set up to handle the ongoing developments on the Gipping and to widen the involvement of local people and other organisations which is essential for the long term success of our plans and dreams. Updates in regard to the restoration and the Trust are included in this edition.

BRANCH AGM Friday 19th February The official notice and Agenda was published, as required, in the last edition of Anglia Cuttings. Retiring Members are Chard Wadley, Spencer Greystrong and Mick Carter. I am very pleased to advise that both Chard and Spencer have agreed to stand for a further 3 years and they will be proposed at the AGM. We do however have further vacancies and we would like to see some new members on the Committee. DO YOU HAVE SOME VIEWS? DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE? PLEASE THINK ABOUT PUTTING YOUR NAME FORWARD. Proposal forms can be obtained from the Secretary.

Nationally we have also seen much change during this period with many ups and downs affecting our countrywide system. Following a period of ‗Good News‘ and the successful completion of a number of restoration schemes and extensions of our system we are now back, due to the present economic climate, in a time of major concern and I would therefore draw your attention to the Save Our System article from Chard, and the Poster on the back cover. The Government, of whichever colour, will

Lastly, contributions to future Anglia Cuttings are always welcomed.

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CHAIRMANS’ JOTTINGS I would like to start by wishing you all a Happy New Year and to say I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas.

Our winter programme is now halfway through and we have had three very different evenings. The first was an informative talk on the Foxton Incline Plane from the former Chairman of Ipswich Branch, David Stevenson. The second took us away from canals and onto the railways with a very interesting talk from Keith Froom on the Mid Suffolk Light Railway. This looks to be a very interesting museum which is at Brockford Station, Wetheringsett near Stowmarket. They hold special event days through the summer such as a joint event with Ipswich Transport museum to be held in August 2010; so well worth a visit (see page 13). The last meeting was a Christmas quiz followed by mince pies, sausage rolls and chocolate brownies a big thank you to Joan, Diana and Pauline for this tasty spread and to Joan and John for organizing and running the quiz. We now have three more meetings at the beginning of 2010 starting with the Annual Dinner, followed by the AGM in February and Steve Hayward will be our speaker in March. We then look forward to the coach trip in May (flyer enclosed).

moor her at Brinklow Marina on the Northern Oxford Canal. So Carolyn and I are really looking forward to a summer of boating on our own boat.

Chard.

SOS2010 (Save Our System) You may have already read or heard media speculation that the Government intended to include BW property portfolio as a component of the £16bn asset sale. IWA has been lobbying Government ever since rumours of the sale surfaced and are delighted with the public‘s support. However, it has now come to light that the Government has now stepped back from the brink regarding any immediate sale of BW properties. The Government has issued a statement indicating its support for looking seriously at alternative models such as the third sector. IWA has long advocated a more independent ‗National Waterways Conservancy‘ that has the best interests of the waterways at its heart.

The SOS2010 campaign still needs support as we enter the period running up to the election. IWA needs to demonstrate how lack of funding is affecting spending decisions and maintenance. Please give your help and I would encourage everyone to continue to seek support for the e-petition on the 10 Downing Street website: http:// petitions.number10.gov.uk/ protectourcanals/ . If you do not have the facility to support the e-petition then I would encourage you to write to your local MP in support of this campaign.

After many years spent hiring narrowboats and then cruising with friends on their narrowboats I am pleased to say I am now the proud owner of my own boat. It is a motor tug called ‗Bruizer‘, which at the moment is moored at Stewponey Wharf on the Staffs and Worcester Canal. However, when the BW winter stoppages finish I plan to bring her closer to Suffolk and 4

OUR REGION CHAIRMAN REPORTS We joined the IWA some 19 years ago when my wife and I took the plunge and bought a narrowboat after being holiday hirers for several years. Almost immediately we were ‗persuaded‘ onto the Peterborough Branch Committee, where we have sat in various offices ever since.

needed it may be an annual trip for AGM‘s, however I am always contactable by email, or phone.

The new region has only had 2 meetings so far at which it became obvious that we will have to take some care to ensure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet as we have both not only BW & EA but also the Middle Level Commissioners and Cam Conservators, each having their own way of dealing with things and very different waterways to manage.

I am currently doing my second stint as chairman, and whilst Carole is our membership secretary, somehow we managed to acquire 2 sons, who are old enough and experienced enough to crew, so now we get to relax a bit more whilst they do much of the work.

At our last meeting I was voted on to be Region rep on Navcom, and I attended my first meeting in October. I was very surprised at how much of the meeting was given over to issues of concern only to BW and canals. It is clear that perhaps our region has been seen as a bit of a backwater and easily overlooked, although many of the problems are common to both EA & BW, especially funding issues.

Our boat is moored at March, on the Old Nene, part of the Middle Level Navigations, and whilst we do venture up on the canals occasionally, most of our boating is done on the Middle Level, Nene, Great Ouse & The Cam and various Lodes.

Having extensive local knowledge of our Rivers and the E.A. is one of the reasons I decided that I could make a useful contribution at Region and on Navcom.

It is important that we do all we can to ensure that any problems we have are brought to Navcom as this is the body who in turn will bring things to Council for consideration and may well result in a ‖Policy‖ being decided upon.

Eastern Region grew after the reorganisation implemented at the AGM by the addition of Milton Keynes and Chelmsford branches, which brought BW into our area as MK looks after a large chunk of the Grand Union. So we now have: Peterborough, Cambridge, Ipswich, Milton Keynes and Chelmsford.

No one should doubt that we face serious problems in terms of funding cuts, our waterways are under threat and we will have to campaign hard to get our message across, I am confident that we will succeed.

Alastair Chambers

It is a large area geographically and whilst I will try to visit branches if 5

With the untimely death of the Trust‘s Chairman, Jeremy Clover, we have been very fortunate to find a new Chairman in Gordon Paton and do thank him for taking on this position. Membership is increasing and by the end of November we hope to celebrate the 100th addition to the list. No prizes for applying, but a warm welcome awaits!

NEWS The last few months have proved to be highly active from the point of communication with the wider world, as well as the restoration of the lock structures about which read elsewhere in this magazine.

From the communications point of view, several Trust members have carried the word to many venues by way of power point presentations brilliantly compiled by Spencer Greystrong. These are primarily to advertise the work of the Trust, but also to disperse and collect information about the history of the river. Not only are these entertaining for the audiences, but they provide much needed funds for the Trust by way of donations. The presentations have been given to a variety of organisations from Farmers Clubs to Local History Groups, with a wide spectrum of organisations interested in the work of the Trust. As you may have read in the RGT October Newsletter (those of you who are members! and we would welcome you as members if not)) the list covers a period from September 08 and the presentation has been taken to 18 venues so far with more being booked for next year. So you can see the Trust has been busy. With the talks comes the opportunity to gain local knowledge, as was the case at Creeting St Mary in November, when a member of the audience offered an early film taken of the river. There are always enthusiasts who can provide first hand information to add to Spencer‘s knowledge and be included in the presentations.

Although there is a restoration report by Colin Turner elsewhere in this magazine, mention must be added regarding the clearance at Hawks Mill at Needham Market. Trust members and supporters made a grand job of clearing trees and scrub from the open and grassed area in front of the Mill. With the support and

help of Mid Suffolk District Council, who kindly loaned an industrial ―chipper‖ and operating staff, the area has again become a pleasant place for people to come and enjoy the river, and use the refurbished seats.

Mitzi Tyler

Restoration Report

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In the last report Spencer was rightly upbeat about the progress made during the canal camps. Apart from concreting the invert, a significant part of the eastern lock wall had been rebuilt, but more remained to be demolished, and that is

where more trouble started.

We are just keeping ahead of the weather. When we started to rebuild the old repair the water rose to just below the scaffold platform. Before leaving site at the end of the day, we raised the height of the platform ready for the next days work. When we returned, after the heavy rains at the beginning of December the water had been over our platform but had fallen sufficiently for us to continue using it, after we had cleared it and the stop planks of debris.

When we got to the point where our engineers report said that we should stop demolishing the lock wall to conserve the heritage value, and pin it with stainless steel pins, as it was sound but hollow, we ran in to trouble. The end of the remaining wall thus revealed was found to be in two separate parts, an old repair to the face of the lock 9‖ thick and the bulk of the wall, separated by a dirt filled gap with no apparent tie between the two. We could not leave it like that, so back to our engineer and the council to get an amendment to our listed building consent. After several emails and site visits by both our engineer and the conservation officer we got our amendment, but we now have regular visits from the conservation officer to check that we are carrying out the amendment properly.

Our other time consuming problem is disposal of the large spoil heap that we have generated whilst doing the work.

The contents of the spoil heap are brick and concrete rubble mixed with puddling clay and silt.

Disposal to landfill would be expensive in landfill charges and transport costs, as the weight limit on the bridges on the approach road to the site would necessitate multiple trips with small vehicles. So we are separating the rubble, which can be recycled locally for just the cost of transport and using the rest as back fill behind the lock wall.

Two thirds of the eastern wall of the lock has been rebuilt to coping stone level and back filled with concrete, and the old repair has now been demolished and rebuilding of the last part of the wall is well under way.

Sorting is a boring thankless task especially when the stuff is wet, but we are getting there, the pile of sorted rubble is now almost as big as the remaining pile of spoil.

Colin Turner Our grateful thanks must go to the band of local stalwarts, headed by Colin, and supported by WRG, for turning out on a regular basis, come rain, come shine, which has led to the successful years work at Baylam WELL DONE ALL 7

In mid September we held our annual S2C weekend which this year attracted 302 boats onto the river to navigate from the Granary at Sudbury to the sea at Cattawade. As someone remarked, this is probably the greatest number of boats there has ever been on the navigation at one time. As usual, we had glorious weather and the weekend was enjoyed by all the participants.

River Stour Trust Restoring and conserving the River Stour Navigation This summer 4 trip boats were in action at Sudbury and Flatford, plus the tearoom at the Granary. Crew training and certification continued as all skippers are now required to be suitably qualified, and a new trip to the Boathouse Restaurant meant training the crews to navigate between the underwater remains of 6 earlier bridges beneath Ballingdon Bridge. Although weed in the river in June became bad enough to stop boat operation until emergency clearance work was done, besides our regular trips we have held a Teddy Bear Ride event encouraging very young children onto the boats, a Pirate Day for older children, and a membersonly Mini-S2C to canoe the length of the river. Some lucky members enjoyed a glorious day on the sailing barge Victor, sailing between Mistley and Felixstowe.

We hosted our first 2 day school outing at the VEC, with 70 children and their teachers learning about river wildlife, lighters and the ‗man and boy‘ who

operated them, how a lock works, plus a ride on a boat – for many a first time experience.

The Trust held its AGM in June, when all existing Council members were reelected apart from Lesley Ford, who resigned, and Alan Cook rejoined.

There has been an illuminated boat procession on the river at Sudbury, while a waterbus service is being trialed between Flatford and Dedham, allowing a one-way walk with a ride back.

We trailed 2 of our boats from Sudbury to Bures to give trips as part of the Bures Europa Event on Saturday 4 July, giving the public a rare opportunity see the village from the river. Our Coracle event there on 1st August was also enjoyed by everyone who took part.

This year‘s 2-day Steam and Electric boat event attracted 9 visiting steam and electric boats to join our 3 boats on the river.

Work at Stratford Lock re-commenced on 13 July, with completion of the gabion wall to the footbridge, a length of about 80m, the target for this year. 2305 man-hours of work have been put into the job this season, and the site is currently being tidied and closed down for the winter. Next year should see the 8

remove all statutory rights of navigation on the Stour - attending the hearing in London, giving evidence in the House of Lords and keeping the Trust‘s counsel well-briefed. The family fleet increased with the addition of John‘s pair of working boats, Pictor and Whitby and Nen‘s purchase of a horse-drawn narrow boat, Betelgeuse, giving trips to tourists in Chester, courtesy of the charming shire horse Snowy, whom some of you may recall was used to draw the Trust‘s restored lighter along the water meadows in Sudbury. Snowy later became the subject of a book written for children and also caught the Queen‘s eye during a Royal visit to Chester, occasioning her to stroll over to administer a pat and a kind word.

clearance of the lock chamber itself begin.

FRANCIS BATTEN In September we were saddened by the death of our Vice-President, Francis Batten, whose drive, encouragement and support for the Stratford Lock project will be greatly missed. He shared with his family a passion for the canals and for his beloved Stour, as we heard in his obituary:-

In 1981 Nen and Francis moved to Kites Hardwick on the Warwickshire/ Northamptonshire border and Francis finally bought his own pair of boats, Callisto and Ara, which he ran as camping boats on the Grand Union canal at Braunston. In acknowledgement of all his work for the Trust he was made a Vice-President and continued to attend AGMs when possible and support its latest ventures. Meanwhile he increased his already extensive knowledge of the canal network, becoming a familiar face in the Midlands known for his friendliness and enthusiasm if not always the accuracy of his steering. In the early 90s the couple down-sized to a bungalow in Long Buckby where they were able to continue their association with the waterways but by the end of that decade the boats, apart from John‘s, were sold as advancing years began to take their toll.‖

―In the early 60s Francis, his wife, Nen, and their young son, John, managed to escape for a week‘s holiday on the canals and from that time on all 3 of them enjoyed a lifelong love of boating.

Nen was first to buy a narrow boat – Kew – which was kept on the River Lee near Bishops Stortford for weekends and holidays. Francis at this point joined the River Stour Trust and devoted a lot of time and energy to its ventures, using his knowledge, influence, skills and equipment to good effect and the Trust is indebted to him for much of the access it gained via his negotiations with fellow landowners to otherwise inaccessible locations on the river. By the early 70s Francis had become Chairman of the Trust and was much involved in the fight against proposed changes in byelaws to

Susan Brown 9

The Lee & Stort — A View from America Part 1

We met Dan and Sharon on their narrowboat ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ on the Leeds & Liverpool last year and spent several days travelling with them and sharing the double locks. They hail from the USA but having been bitten by our canal bug, bought their own boat and spend most of the summers over here. This year they visited the Lee & Stort for the first time and this is their view of our nearest piece of ‘connected’ waterway .—Thank you Sharon for the extract from your log.

We entered the tidal Thames at cut. This time we were told to start Brentford Tha mes Lock on turning just as we got there...and to keep Saturday. First time we've been thru one on turning till we were in. Dan thought of these locks when BOTH ends of the at one point we were going to go all the lock were open at the same time. We way around and miss it, but we made it just "sailed" right thru! The tide was in.

They've built a beautiful new 23.5 feet on Saturday. In fact, Sat. thru pontoon with great "safe" steps (not the Tuesday were all very high tides. It was old ladder up the wall bit that used to be quite a shock to see people wading there!). However, the lock was open for barefoot thru the water on sidewalks in us and we went right on in and didn't front of their homes and people sitting in need the pontoon at all. Limehouse pub gardens with water half-way up the Basin was FULL! Stort Boat Club was tables. We quite enjoyed the trip thru there quad-breasted in 3 different the middle of London--as usual--but this places. We managed to get moored after is the very first time we ever really being told by someone from thought one could be seasick on a Barnoldswick (pronounced Barlick) that narrowboat. We've been on the tidal NO one was to moor by him as he HAD Thames in 23 mph winds with white to leave by 6:30 the next morning and he caps and just went smoothly thru the didn't trust ANY boater to be up water. This time, there was a LOT of then. Oh, well. There are still some water and a LOT of boats who were friendly boat people around...and we really churning it up. Time of day could managed to find them and get moored. have had something to do with it as the tide time for us was 3 pm. We were We headed out the next day thinking to VERY happy to see Limehouse at stop at Tesco and then be on our 5:55!

Dan did great getting us way. However, where we moored to go in. Usually, we're told to go beyond to Tesco there was a sign saying BW Limehouse, turn, come back to was giving tours TODAY of the new Limehouse and then turn in to the lock lock they built for the Olympic site so, of 10

course, we went to see. Great tour of the new lock--called Three Mills Lock. It's HUGE!!

The BW lady was terrific. She's normally the Bow Lock

British team will train there) and then it will, of course, be turned back over to the public after the Olympics. The drawings look pretty exciting. Right now they just seem to be pushing a LOT of dirt around with huge bulldozers.

The Lee Navigation (as opposed to the River Lea--which really isn't navigable..at least by us) is fairly straight. The locks are big and heavy and will take 2 boats side-by-side. Most of the time we were on our own, but it wasn't a big problem...except that we were following 2 boats so always had to re-work the lock in order to use it. That wouldn't have been so bad except that up here boats do NOT shut any gates when they leave. So, we ALWAYS had to go up and shut the upper gates before we could empty the lock so that we could actually enter it. Just made for a little more work. Probably good exercise for us. We moored along the way on Sat. night and it was quite nice.

We came through a very beautiful lock ye s t e r d a y - - LO T S o f g o r g eo u s flowers: dahlias of all sizes and colors, canna lilies, begonias. Really, really beautiful. They were up over the lock bridge, too.

Couldn't have been prettier. (Each of these locks--on the Lee Navigation AND the River Stort-ALL have a bridge over the back (lower) gates so that one must continually walk around the entire lock in order to work the front gates.) As we left this lock, we were actually in BOTH the Eastern and Western Hemisphere as we were straddling the Prime Meridian. We didn't feel any different, see anything different or hear anything different, but we KNEW we were there--the map said so! Anyway, sort of fun.

lockkeeper so knew the area well. Once the Olympic bit is over--or not needed for building material--us ordinary boaters are going to be allowed to use this lock. LOTS of us can fit in at any one time!

We moved off to see the Olympic sites. The main stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held is basically in place. It's huge--of course! They've got the "stepped" areas for the stadium seating in, but the seats have not been installed. We were quite surprised to find that it is to be an open air stadium. The Olympics are not that much later than Wimbledon...and it A L W A Y S r a i n s f o r Wimbledon!

So...what were they thinking?

Perhaps they've also got millions of brollies on order! It appears that the framework for at least two other buildings are up. We think one of them is the aquatic center. Further on--at Waltham Abbey--they have started on a fantastic white water canoe center that is to have "strainers, sweepers, holes, waves, pillows, eddies and undercuts"-whatever all of these are. AND...the public are to be able to use the facility BEFORE the Olympics (we assume the

(To be continued)

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NARROWBOATING on the

TIDAL THAMES th

On October 7 . 2009 the Port of London Authority held its 4 th. Harbourmasters Recreational Navigation Group Meeting. One of the points discussed was the danger of Narrowboats disregarding navigation notices as can be seen from agenda item 7 reproduced below. ‖Under Agenda Item 7 of the agenda "Improving small vessel safety on the Tidal Thames" was a report by the Harbour Master (Upper) that again there have been concerns of some, and more than is acceptable, boats ignoring traffic signals and advice and more specifically traversing bridges that have closure signals. It has become so bad that they have had to put up Road Signs 'No Entry' as Narrow Boats might recognise this!

We were advised that the behaviour of many Narrow Boats and some "Dutch" Barges have deteriorated this year. Not advising London VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) taking no cognisance of other commercial and recreational craft. Going through closed arches is seen to be a major concern as it is possible that during the closure it can be possible for debris to drop on the boats and there are heavy construction materials and plant. This has already happened to a passenger vessel who chose to ignore the closure signal.

The reaction of some of those steering the boats have been in some cases abusive; saying to Harbour Master patrols that they are not sailors or boaters but 'steerers' of narrow boats, and that they are not advised by the BW Lock

staff at Limehouse or Brentford! And in any event the rules do not affect them and they never look at Notice to Mariners!

I understand that the National Community Association do have training programmes for Narrow Boats and they intend to intensify their work leading to the festival next year on t he Thames - I am now in contact with their organiser who was at the meeting yesterday.

I know that most bona fide members of your organisations would comply, but in some way or another as representatives of cruising motor boats which must include narrow boats we must address this problem.

It is also a problem on the upper reaches of the Thames when the river is in flood, and I am sure it happens on other wide rivers with inexperienced narrow boaters entering tidal or fast running water.

However, in my relatively wide cruising experience that includes the Rhine, the Tidal Thames through the London Bridges is one of the most serious waterways and could be very dangerous if not handled properly.

ATYC are considering an additional training programme to improve boat handling on the non-tidal Thames, and the thought is that we make 12

it user friendly for narrow boats as well as the normal river cruiser, and from the meeting yesterday it might well include an endorsement for the river from Limehouse to Teddington.

However this is very much work in progress and if it proceeds will start in 2010. Narrow boats are still the cheapest way of getting afloat for new entries to the boating fraternity.‖ It is essential that us Narrow boater‘s can show that we not only know the rules but also abide by them, the BW Lockkeeper is not responsible to ensure

that we have the required safety equipment, we are. Likewise it‘s our responsibility to know the signals that indicate bridge arches are closed and to contact London VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) on VHF Ch 14 or mobile phone 02088 550315.

British Waterways publishes a guide to the tideway, which are down loadable from their web sites at http:// www.waterscape.com/media/ documents/35.pdf Brian Holt

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE May I take this opportunity to wish all our members a very Happy New Year and I look forward to meeting with many of you at our events or on the Cut. We gladly welcome all our new members From Norfolk - Mr & Mrs D & A Dunham; Mr M E Redmile; Mr & Mrs P R Smith; Mr & Mrs M & J Watkins; Mr R J Langton & Family; Mr & Mrs R & M Copson; Mr J Jefferson; Mr M Turner; Mr R Wild; Mr A Woods; Ms H Woods.

From Suffolk - Mr & Mrs A B & S M Head; Ms J Plouviez & Mr M Dixon; Mr & Mrs T & H Jones; Mr & Mrs AP & RJL Grayston; Mrs A Adams; Mr A Brewer; Ms S Hemmings-Smith; Ms E Wilson.

From Essex - Mr & Mrs G & E Swinscoe; Mr D Lee; Mr & Mrs M & V Paine; Ms F Abbott; Mr I Dennis; Mr & Mrs M & J Lees.

****************** Obituaries Over the last year we have sadly lost the following members: Mrs. B. C. Taylor; Mrs. F. J. Batten: Mr. J. Fillingham.

We are also sad to report the death of James Hoseason, who played a major role in the development and encouragement of waterway holidays on the Norfolk Broads and the whole waterway system. He was a supporter of our Restoration activities.

We offer our condolences to all their families and friends.

Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Museum Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, near Stowmarket, IP14 5PW Suffolk‘s only full size steam railway set in the heart of rural Suffolk.

For details of programme of events and opening hours – visit www.mslr.org.uk or ring 01449 766899.

A great day out for all the family.

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EASTERN REGION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Thursday 18th March 2010 at 8.00 p.m. at the Milton Community Centre, Milton, Cambridge.

AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. Approval of the Minutes of the AGM held on 13th February 2009 3. Matters Arising from those Minutes 4. Chairman‘s Report 5. Election of Committee Members (see notes below) Notes: [following the amendment of Region Byelaws which came into force on 14/3/09]

The Chairman of the Region is elected in a separate ballot and the Chairmen of each of the branches within the Region are members of the Region committee ex officio. This is an election for the remaining members of the Region committee.

There is no limit to the number of members of that committee The period of office of the following elected members of the Region committee comes to an end at the 2010 AGM namely, John Hodgson, Nigel Long, Paul Strudwick and Peter Webb. All are eligible to stand for re-election. David King and Stuart Thurston were co-opted during the year and their period of co-option expires at the 2010 AGM. Both are eligible to stand for election.

It is no longer necessary for those who wish to be elected to the committee to be nominated and seconded but all who wish to stand must agree to do so. Consent from members of the Region who wish to stand for election at the AGM 2010 must be deposited with the Region Secretary [Nigel Long 7 Georgian Court, Peterborough PE3 6AF or by email at nhlong@supanet.com] before the start of the Annual General Meeting CONSENT FORM I agree to stand for election to the Eastern Region committee at the 2010 Annual General Meeting. I am a member of Eastern Region

(Sign) -----------------------------

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DATES for your DIARY

2nd

BRANCH MEETINGS & EVENTS FRIDAY 8TH JANUARYAnnual Christmas Dinner FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY– 1930 Annual General Meeting and Member's Talk (See AGM Notice Anglia Cuttings 114) FRIDAY 12TH MARCH—1930 Talk by Steve Haywood, the original ‘Grumpy’ Boater and Author.

MONDAY 3RD MAY—1030 IWA/River Gipping Trust/River Stour Trust Save Our System 2010 Event— The Granary, Sudbury SATURDAY 9TH/SUNDAY 10TH MAY Annual Branch Outing (See Insert) OTHER DATES FIRST SUNDAY EACH MONTH Stowmarket Pickeral Project Clean-up Days at Stowmarket MONDAY 1ST—SUNDAY 14TH MARCH National Towpath Clean up.

THURSDAY 18th MARCH Eastern Region AGM—See Notice SATURDAY 4th APRIL River Stour Trust Boat Trips commence at Sudbury & Flatford SATURDAY 1ST—MONDAY 3RD MAY Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice London MONDAY 3rd MAY River Stour Trust—Teddy Bear Boat Rides Sudbury SATURDAY 29TH —MONDAY 31ST MAY National Trailboat Festival/Welsh Waterway Festival, Newport Gwent SATURDAY 28TH– MONDAY 30TH AUGUST IWA National Festival. Beale Park Reading.

WORKING PARTY DATES Working Parties are held by the River Gipping Trust at Baylham Lock from 0900 to 1700 every Wednesday and on the first Saturday of each month, unless that Saturday is a Bank Holiday in which case it will then be held on the second Saturday of that month.

For further information contact Colin Turner 01473 730586 .

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USEFUL WEBSITES IWA - http://www.waterways.org.uk Waterway Recovery Group - http://www.wrg.org.uk Save Our System - http://www.SOS2010.org.uk River Gipping Trust - http://rivergippingtrust.org.uk River Stour Trust - http://www.riverstourtrust.org East Anglian Waterways Association –http://www.eawa.co.uk The Broads Society - http://www.broads-society.org.uk The Australian Canal Society - http://www.auscanal.org.au/ British Waterways/Waterscape - http://www.waterscape.com Waterways Trust - http://www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk DEFRA Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - http://www.defra.gov.uk The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee.

Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. HP5 1WA Tel: 0149 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk Registered in England No. 612245. Registered as a Charity No. 212342

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