Anglian Cuttings No. 117

ANGLIAN CUTTINGS

HAWKES MILL NEEDHAM MARKET

Ipswich Branch Newsletter Autumn 2010 No. 117 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 & Anglian 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 Brian Cornell pickerelrep.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Officer Gerry Creasey officer01.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk

*************************** IWA Ipswich - http://www.waterways.org.uk/regions_branches/eastern/ Ipswich/ipswich

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C H STRIDE

EDITOR’S PONDERINGS

And now we are into the Autumn. Summer boating and waterway activities are but a memory. Do not despair, we have our Winter Branch meetings with a range of interesting speakers (see Dates for Your Diary—Page19) well organised as always by Diana and Brian, to look forward to and, of course the longer evenings give an opportunity for planning next years activities, boating or otherwise.

You can, of course, if you wish and have access to a computer, always check out the electronic version by logging on to http://www.waterways.org.uk/ regio ns_branches/eastern/Ipswich/ anglian_cuttings

BUMPER EDITION I must thank all the contributors to this bumper edition of Anglia Cuttings. I have had to increase the size by four pages and still had to defer one article on the Crossing of the Ribble to the next edition. I hope you will find all or most of the articles of interest. Please do not forget that if you have something to tell or an article of interest, we will always be pleased to receive it. Publication is, of course, always subject to the Editor‘s final decision.

DOUG TOMLINSON In addition to the £1000 IWA Donation reported on by Chard Wadley, (see Chairman‘s Jottings—Page 4) the Branch is indebted to Doug Tomlinson, a past local member, who has left a substantial gift in his will to the Branch for the continuing restoration work of the Stowmarket Navigation. This is being held by the IWA until such time that the River Gipping Trust has a specific requirement for further funding.

A memorial seat to Doug is due to be installed shortly, overlooking the River Gipping near Hawkes Mill, and we will report on this in our next issue.

ANGLIAN CUTTINGS DISTRIBUTION If you have registered your email address with IWA Head Office, and have not requested a hard copy of the newsletter, then you will be receiving this edition by electronic means and I hope that you will be happy with this. May I remind those of you who are reading this electronically but wish to still receive a hard copy then please contact me on secretary.ipswichbranch@waterways.org .uk and let me know.

CUTS & WELCHES DAM Regrettably it appears that Government cuts are already affecting our region with the Environmental Agency not undertaking the required remedial work at Welches Dam in Cambridgeshire.

IWA are considering their response and we will report further in due course.

If you are a hard copy reader and would like to try the electronic version then just register your email address with Tracy Higgins at IWA Head Office on tracy.higgin@waterways.org.uk .

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Charles Stride

CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS Another summer almost over and Autumn waiting in the wings. It seems to have gone very quickly but it was a good one with lovely sunny days to enjoy on the cut.

Our winter programme starts again in October and there are details in this edition so you can plan to join us once again on a Friday evening at Needham Market Community Centre.

We attended the Needham Market Raft Race on 4 July 2010, alongside the River Gipping Trust to promote the SOS2010 and to make people aware of the work we are doing with the Trust at Baylham Lock. I am pleased to report that we had a lot of interest and was visited by Needham Market Mayor and his wife who took an interest and said that they would visit us during our week long work party which was also in July. The Mayor kept his promise and visited the site on the last day of the work party and was very impressed with what we had achieved. He took several pictures and it was reported in the Needham Market Magazine.

we all attended. It was nice to meet up with other IWA members who I had not seen for sometime. We visited several stands, such as the Wendover Trust, to catch up on restoration progress.

Following on Colin Turner‘s decision to finally stand down as Restoration Manager for the Gipping Trust the Branch wished to further recognize his achievements and agreed to nominate him for the IWA Christopher Power Award, only to find that we had been beaten to it by WRG Colleagues. We, together with The Gipping Trust, fully supported the nomination and are delighted that the award has been made.

Carolyn and I attended the National Festival at Beale Park on the Saturday, accompanied by Joan and John Finch, and I am pleased to report it was a dry and sunny day in a lovely setting. As you may already know the branch was awarded £1,000 from the St Ives National Festival held in 2007 and it was decided that we would donate this to the River Gipping Trust. The cheque was officially presented to Spencer Greystrong, Treasurer to the RGT, by Clive Henderson, National Chairman, during the Saturday morning in the Cressy Suite of the IWA marquee which

That‘s all from me, hope you had a lovely summer with plenty of boating; I look forward to seeing you at our winter meetings.

Chard Wadley.

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CHRISTOPHER POWER AWARD The Christopher Power Fund was created by a donation to The IWA in 1983 by Mr and Mrs Power in memory of their son Christopher, who died at the early age of 29 in April 1981.

Christopher had a passionate interest in canals and narrowboats, especially those powered by steam. He was a member of the Kennet and Avon and Wey and Arun Canal Trusts and was founder member of the Solent and Arun Branch of the IWA. The Fund provides an annual prize to the Person, Society or Trust which, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an amenity waterway. The Prize is not given every year but in 2010 IWA has made two Awards.

2010 AWARD WINNER COLIN TURNER CITATION Colin has been the most instrumental figure in progressing the restoration of the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation, holding the title of Restoration Manager since 1999. He is a long-standing member of the IWA Ipswich branch, and founding member of The River Gipping Trust - the organisation devoted to the restoration and re-opening of the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation. Under his leadership, the restoration of two locks has been successfully completed, including the complex Baylham Lock, a Grade II listed structure. He has project managed and site-managed the work with very little in the way of external funding or labour, but with all the hurdles and pit-falls a construction project is subject to. He has held negotiations with local councils, English Heritage, the Environment Agency, wildlife bodies and riparian owners. He has organised WRG canal camps, put in planning applications, argued with officialdom and spent a huge number of hours just being on site, contributing to everything from partnership building, to technical design, to actual donkey work. This would be a tough task for anyone, but now at the astonishing age of 84, Colin continues to be a huge inspiration for all who are lucky enough to work with him.

Clive Henderson—IWA National Chairman 5

RESTORATION REPORT I would like to start by giving a hearty vote of thanks to Colin Turner, our previous restoration manager, for all his efforts on behalf of the Trust. Colin stood down from the post in the Spring after successfully guiding the restoration activities of the Trust for many years. Colin has been a great source of help and advice to me puddle clay and silt. We had to separate the clean brick rubble from the clay and silt by hand, before we could dispose of it, a long tedious and painful job!

Restoration over the Summer Most of our Summer efforts have been spent at Baylham Lock itself.

We recovered quickly from the damage caused by high flood levels early in the year and have pressed on successfully with the rebuilding of the Eastern lock wall.

The last coping stones are now being bedded into place and the final effect is very impressive. Even our local planning officer has commented on the quality of the brickwork.

However, the machines made light work of removing the rubble (thanks to JT Few for offering a free tip facility) and we were then able to use them to re-fill the excavated area behind the East wall and place the coping stones roughly in position on top of the newly completed brickwork.

Progress with the rebuild was helped greatly by a week‘s concentrated effort in July. With the use of two dumpers and an excavator hired for the week we cleared the small mountain of brick rubble that had been placed at the rear of the site. The rubble had originally been used to provide a ramp to provide access within the lock during the Work Camp last year and was mixed with

The Eastern lock wall is now nearly complete and the earth bank behind the wall re-profiled to match its original 6

appearance.

autumn low water season completing the pointing of the East wall at Baylham, carrying out work to the damaged cill and then removing the scaffolding before the winter floods hit us again.

We have also rebuilt the bridge parapet wall where it had been damaged by tree roots and topped it off with a semicircular parapet to match the old bridge structure. The area below the bridge where the trees had been removed earlier in the year has been cleaned off to reveal a brick paved area which appears to have been a loading wharf/waiting area for barges visiting the mill.

During the earlier tree removal below the bridge we discovered that the brickwork to the training wall has been damaged by tree roots and, subject to water levels we hope to repair this before the winter.

Over the winter period when work within the lock chamber will be prevented by high water flows, we intend to re-visit Bosmere lock to carry out scrub clearance, revisit Creeting Lock for some sapling removal and carry out further work on the waterside adjacent to Baylham.

In between work at the lock and at the request of local residents and with the support of Needham Market Town Council we have cleared an area of overgrown scrub opposite Hawks Mill and this area is now being maintained by one of our members.

Future Restoration Work

Martin Bird

We plan to spend the rest of the summer/

**************************************** TRUST NEWS There has been steady progress with the River Gipping Trust since my last report.

The main item of note is that Colin Turner has now handed over the reins as Restoration Manager to Martin Bird – it had been Colin‘s intention to complete the work at Baylham Lock before his retirement, but Margery‘s health dictated the earlier change. We extend our grateful thanks to Colin for all his hard work over the years, and send him and Margery our good wishes and look forward to continued restoration progress under Martin‘s guidance.

We aim to raise the profile of the Trust even further and increase the general public‘s awareness wherever possible– the latest example was an interview with our Secretary on the Breakfast Programme of Ipswich Community Radio.

Shortly we will be undertaking our Winter Programme of PowerPoint Presentations – amongst those booked are to the local National Trust Group and the Ipswich Society. If you know of any organisation who would like a visit, please let us know!

We welcome Martin and wish him well!

Lewis Tyler 7

River Stour Trust Restoring and conserving the River Stour Navigation

TAKING THE WATERS (Part 2) Continuing the history of the River Stour and itâ€&#x;s involvement with Essex water supplies.

The Ely-Ouse to Essex Transfer Scheme [EOETS] Drainage of the Fens had begun in 1630 when the Dutch engineer, Cornelius Vermuyden, dug a system of drains and sluices, and constructed the first Denver Sluice across the Ely-Ouse to exclude tidal water while allowing excess water to run out to sea at Kings Lynn. Main feeds to the Ely-Ouse river are the Cam, Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey.

The present Denver Sluice gates were

to fill the reservoirs at Abberton and Hanningfield.

rebuilt in 1834 by Sir John Rennie, who was also the engineer for the River Gipping and Chelmer and Blackwater Navigations.

miles to the River Pant (becoming the Blackwater). This massive undertaking also required the building of 10 new automatic control gates on the Stour and one on the Pant. The transferred water travels over 90 miles to Abberton or Hanningfield Reservoirs, with about two-thirds of this distance via existing

The water diverted at Denver is drawn off at the Blackdyke Intake near Lakenheath into an 8 foot diameter, 12 mile long tunnel which terminates at Kennett, where it is pumped via a 6 foot diameter, 9 mile long pipeline into the River Stour at Kirtling Green, near Newmarket. Some of this water is drawn from the Stour at Wixoe to be pumped 6

For the new scheme, modifications were made at Denver to allow water which would have gone to sea to be diverted 8

Environment agency.

Since the 1970s South Essex Waterworks Company, Southend Waterworks Company, Suffolk Water Company and Northumbrian Water Limited have merged, retaining Essex & Suffolk Water as a trading name. Today Essex & Suffolk Water is responsible for supplying drinking water to 1.8 million people in South Essex including Sou th en d , Ba si ld on , With a m, Chelmsford, Barking, Dagenham and Redbridge, and in a way that conserves and enhances the environment.

Although water supply has doubled in the last 50 years, the last serious drought in 1995-97 demonstrated the need for increased sustainable water resources for Essex, where there is still insufficient availability to meet existing demand in a prolonged dry period. With Essex being the driest county in the country with less rainfall than Jerusalem, the situation is predicted to worsen as demand increases with a growing population, and climate change takes effect. (To be Continued) Susan Brown

watercourses. The Denver abstraction licence limits the amount of water which can be transferred to Essex to a maximum of 100 million gallons per day.

It also requires a minimum volume of water to be flowing past Denver before any transfer can take place. The scheme is owned and operated by the

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CANTLEY STAITHE RIVER YARE NORFOLK

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GRAND OPENING In 2009 the IWA gave a grant to Cantley Parish Council in order to assist the release of further funding for the restoration of Cantley Staithe on the River Yare. On September the 18th, 2010 the rebuilt Staithe was opened by Dr. Stephen Johnson, Chairman of the Broads Authority.

For more details see http:// www.cantley.org/staithe/ index.php

EXPLORING THE CALDON CANAL The Caldon is, to quote Pearson‟s, „one of the most delightful waterways in England‟, and it was perhaps not so much of a co-incidence that three of the Branch Boat Owners decided to pay a visit. So one afternoon in June „Bruizer‟, „Fringilla‟ and „Black Swan‟ met up in Etruria Basin at Stoke-on-Trent.

A basin much improved on previous visits with well kept parkland and attractive retirement flats set around Brindley‘s statue. Poor Brindley is clearly a favourite with the birds!

The following morning, with the sun shining out of a cloudless blue sky, the convoy set off up the staircase locks with Chard and Carolyn in ‗Bruizer‘ leading the way, John and Joan in ‗Fringilla‘ following, and Pauline and Charles acting as ‗Tail End Charlie‘. After the locks the canal runs through an area of old industry in decay or raised to the 10

ground with new attractive housing facing the canal beginning to appear.

Planet Lock is overlooked by a modern medical building and further along two

remaining Bottle Kilns are surrounded by modern construction. The notorious Ivy House Lift Bridge gave us no problems, although we understand that

BW had been called out earlier in the day, no changes there! Hanley Park looked a bit down at heel despite the £3 million that had apparently been spent in recent years.

Inn. It was busy, both with canal and road visitors, and rightly so with enormous but good value meals, (you can ask for smaller helpings!) but we found room for well earned drinks and dinner.

We then returned to bed with the new moon reflecting in a perfectly still canal.

A green, rather overgrown stretch, although BW had been at work on one length of towpath, led us out into the country, although not before ‗Black Swan‘ picked up some plastic and string and a visit down the weed hatch was required. A pause at Milton opposite a row of houses with attractive canalside gardens for shopping, don‘t believe the sign on the bridge, it is further to the shops than it says, and lunch. On the way to Engine Lock, so called after a local colliery pumping engine, we were now passing through buttercup covered meadows with horses quietly grazing and the reed lined canal sprouting wild yellow iris. Then into a tree lined Stockton flight of five locks, all against us and no boats down until we all reached the top!

Two of the locks had modern 2007 memorials, as a remembrance to the

We awoke to another cloudless sky with the sun shining down on a peaceful spot.

Pearson‘s Guide says our trip will continue through an even more ‗glorious environment with the enchantment deepening‘ and so it was as we cruised on through the sun-dappled leafy water lane, passing the attractive twin water wheeled flint mill at Cheddleton before descending two locks and then a third, Woods Lock, onto the Churnet river. A steam engine was spotted manoeuvring on the nearby Churnet Valley Railway Line. The River took us on and through Consall Forge, passing the Black Lion, too early to stop this time, where we passed back onto the canal before heading ‗under‘ the station platform.

And so onto the winding hole before Froghall Tunnel, we were all too big to go through.

local industry, installed alongside.

Onwards along the summit through more sun-dappled horse pastures, pausing at Park Lane Wharf to top up with water, to Hazlehurst Junction where we headed down through the three attractive locks to find moorings just past the Holybush

The afternoon was spent exploring by foot, a walk around the tunnel to the 11

Wharf for ice-creams, visiting the restored (2005) lower basin, the start of the Uttoxeter canal, where it was sad to see the pontoons all unused and the basin covered in weed, although understand that extension plans are still in hand but

titivating, as it was planned to lunch at the Black Lion. However when we got there we found that they did not cook at lunch times, only rolls—later found this was mentioned in the Good Pub Guide!!

the tunnel height will still be a major restriction. We paid a visit to the station where we met with the steam engine we had spotted earlier, it was driver training day, no carriages so we could not go for a ride! Back at the basin we watched the trip boat head out and back through the

So we did have samples of the wide range of real beers and strong ciders before heading on and aiming for the Boat at Cheddleton for dinner instead.

However the advertised BW Public Moorings were totally overgrown, and partially blocked by a fairly long standing obstruction! (BW advised!) So third time lucky, we moored up at Cheddleton Flint Mill and went to the Red Lion, which was excellent.

The next day dawned cloudy. We headed back up through Hazlehurst, to do 340 degree turns at the top to head up the Leek Arm. A stoppage was in place at the tunnel but we had been told by BW that another at bridge 6 had been lifted so we could make the Tunnel basin.

However as the convoy headed up a boat coming the other way advised that it was closed. ‗Bruizer‘ started winding at Bridge 6 and just as they completd another boat appeared and said it was open to the Tunnel!! So ‗Black Swan‘ and ‗Fringilla‘ headed onwards along the

tunnel. We learnt that this is the last year as Mum, who does the cooking, is 83 and the family are retiring. Will anyone take over (any volunteers?) or will this be the end of another canal high point?

Day four dawned leisurely, some boat 12

tree and buttercup lined channel, with glimpse of the valley through the trees

arrival back at Etruria Basin where we moored back under Brindley‘s beady eyes was slightly delayed. Still time,

until we reached the basin. Photographs taken for the record as we winded, it is a lovely mooring spot, before heading back to join ‗Bruizer‘ at Hazlehurst and then onward to Endon. The shop there was nearby and matched the advertised distance! We had planned to stop for the day and that afternoon it rained, how‘s that for timing?!

however for most of us to visit the Industrial Museum and to learn all about why the Caldon canal existed.

A bright and cooler day heralded our remaining journey on the Caldon. We quickly passed back down the Stockton 5 with no other boats about, and retraced our steps through the old industry and new housing. Hanley Park was busy with people queuing for an event under the watchful eyes of security guards.

Then we arrived at Bedford Staircase to find a queue of boats both down and up, where had they all come from? So our

An evening gathering was held on ‗Black Swan‘ before we headed North for further adventures up the Macclesfield and our companions headed South for home.

And so Farewell Caldon, yes Pearson is right, a most delightful Waterway, but please BW some gardening and pruning required.

Charles Stride „Black Swan‟

Thank You Mr. Brindley 13

THE PIONEER TRUST & The ‘John Constable’ On 7th July The Pioneer Trust lifted the RST‟s Stour Lighter, „John Constable,‟ with a large crane from its last mooring at Great Cornard to transport it to their workshops in Brightlingsea. This is the first stage in its restoration, which is expected to take 2 years. necessary to fabricate some.

On 2 August The Pioneer Trust invited some members of RST to visit the John Constable at their premises where, much to our surprise, our lighter had survived the lorry journey remakably well and was resting on chocks in their workshop.

After discussing the restoration of The John Constable we were introduced to the wonderfully restored Pioneer CK18 – a deep sea Essex fishing smack built by Peter Harris in Rowhedge in 1864, one of 130 registered at Colchester in the late 1800s.

They became known as ―skillingers‖ for their work dredging for deep sea oysters off the Dutch Coast on the Terschelling Bank. They would have worked the waters from as far North as Denmark, all the way around the English Channel to the Firth of Clyde, mainly dredging for oysters and scallops, a trade which had become known as ‗the hardest and cruelest Essex man ever worked‘. ‗The skillingers‘ would lay up during the summer months, following the hard winters dredging in the North Sea.

They have cleaned, measured and made patterns from the remains in preparation for its rebuild. The original lighter was built about 1860-1870. It has no scarf

Pioneer was cutter rigged until 1889, when she was cut in half and lengthened by 11 ft in Brightlingsea, a mizzen mast was added and she became ketch rigged.

A wet well [a flooded compartment holding 12 tonnes of water where oysters and scallops could be stored alive] was added amidships enabling Pioneer to travel further and stay at sea for longer.

joints, they were all butt joints, and the oldest planks in the bottom are tapered from 1 ¾‖ thick to 7/8‖ in cross-section.

The replica will be made entirely of oak, and they have been to Norfolk in search of long oak for it. It will also need over 40 timber ―knees‖ about 2 ft x 18‖ but, as these are difficult to source now, particularly with a great demand for them for barn conversions, it may be

By 1998 all that remained of the ―skillingers‖ were a few rotting hulks in the Essex saltings when Pioneer was 14

raised from her muddy grave off Mersea to be restored. She is now providing sail training for young people.

Colne. We had been impressed by the quality of her restoration, the high-class seamanship of her young crew, and have a lasting admiration for the men of old who could sail her with such skill to dredge for oysters in the North Sea in the winter!

We were ferried out to her in Brightlingsea Creek to sail along the coast off St Osyth, being allowed to participate in the sailing and learn from the enthusiastic and knowledgeable crew. After an inspiring afternoon spent aboard, all too soon we had to leave Pioneer on her mooring in the River

To learn more about Pioneer and the work of the trust, visit www.pioneersailingtrust.org.uk Sue Brown

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE We gladly welcome all our new members From Norfolk: Mr. R Cater From Essex: Mr. C N Ainsworth; Mr. & Mrs P & J Ost; Mr & Mrs T & C Sherwen At the end of July we had 517 Members.

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North Walsham & Dilham Canal – Restoration Progress Progress continues to be positive along the canal.

The new owners, OCC, continue to

below Honing, fallen trees from the Honing estate have been cleared from the canal, and clearances made to assist portaging and launching at Honing.

Within an hour, three families from Durham and Chester were making use of the facility.

A major blitz is due to be held at Briggate Mill Pond on Sunday October 10th and 24th, and all are welcome. The aim is to return water to the Mill pond so that this area becomes an asset to the village in the way that Honing Staithe Cut has to that village.

rebuild Bacton Wood Lock, and have erected a new shed for the building of lock gates. Their newly acquired ex BW Dredger ―WEASEL‖ continues to progress upstream from Ebridge. The intention is to dredge a narrow channel first, and then mount a Hymac on a larger pontoon to widen the canal later.

Work party programme remainder of the year: Sept.

Sept Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec

On the NWC Co‘s section, work has mainly been maintenance based at the Honing Staithe Canal Walk and Honing Lock. However, in order to aid canoeists

5 19 10 24 7 21 5 19

for

the

Bacton Wood Area Honing Staithe Cut Briggate Briggate Bacton Wood Area Honing Lock Honing Staithe Cut Ebridge

Always check for the latest information with David Revill, the EAWA Work Party Organiser on 01603-738648 davgis@live.co.uk And the latest work party reports, pictures and progress can be seen at www.eawa.co.uk Ivan Cane 16

THE EAST PIONEERS THE WEST Ivan Cane and Darren Cooke took the Wilderness Beaver “NAVI” to join 21 other boats at the Welsh Waterways Festival/IWA Trailboat Rally at Newport over the May Spring Holiday. Their 480+ mile round trip picking up the IWA John Ogley Cup for the highest number of “journey points”.

Whilst at Newport, ―NAVI‖ first navigated towards the Barrack Hill Tunnel, the southernmost point of the canal, then, with ―OLIVE‖ leading the way, ventured towards the newly reopened section to Pentre Lane. The pound at the Rally site was shallow, but once through Gwasted Lock the back pumping had improved the depth. Here the slipway by Bettws Lane bridge had been the access point for the boats – and a popular viewing point. However, the water level being high meant that the headroom at Bettws Bridge was challenging. A call to the WRGies on site for ballast, brought 3 heftier bodies in response. ―NAVI‖, with Bungle on board, was now able to pass under the

followed with moorhen nests to be passed by carefully. Tyfynnon Lock 36 was deep at over 12 ½ feet, but the restoration work is of high standard and the boats locked easily through.

Some shallow sections followed –mainly due to underground obstructions. ―NAVI‖ also gained an extra crew member – Ashley celebrating his 12th birthday – by steering the first boat along his local canal! Tamplin Lock 37 soon came in sight, and then the end of the restored section at Pentre Lane was reached, with ―NAVI‖ nosing her way into the reeds by the lowered bridge – and hordes of photographers. bridge into Malpas Lock, followed, after some pound lowering, by ―OLIVE‖.

The route was lined by families and photographers galore recording the first official boats to cruise this length of canal since 1926. An attractive stretch

Thus ―NAVI‖ from the River Wissey in the East became the pioneering boat in the West, being the first boat to navigate the restored southern Monmouthshire canal in 84 years.

Ivan Cane 17

THE BROADS FORUM and to provide a consultative forum to facilitate two-way communication between them and organisations that have an interest in the Broads Catchment Area.

This includes conservation, navigational, recreational and planning policy.

Another objective of the Forum is to improve understanding between the various interest bodies and organisations that use the Broads which are very varied, from commercial reed cutting to wildlife conservation and wake boarding to dingy sailing.

The Broads Forum consists of 25 representatives from organisations that have an interest in The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and, an independent Chairman who is nominated by the Broads Authority.

The Forum only meets four times a year at the Broads Authority headquarters, in Dragonfly House, Norwich and meetings are open to the general public, anyone can just turn up and not only observe the proceedings, but with the Chairman‘s permission ask questions or make a statement about matters on the agenda.

The dates and agendas for the meetings can be found on the Broads Authority web site at www.broads-authority.gov.uk/authority/ meetings/broads-forum.html where you will also find the minutes of the previous meetings.

Each member represents a sub group of organisations under a general heading.

In the case of Boating/Water Based Recreation Interest Groups, one of the sub groups consists of The Inland Waterways Association IWA East Anglian Waterways Association EAWA Oulton Broads Community Enterprise Yare Users Association The late Barry Green had represented this sub group for many years. Following his untimely death I was approached by both IWA and EAWA and asked if I was prepared to take his place on the Forum, with no objections from the other two organisations I have agreed.

I have just attended my first meeting, so it is difficult to judge how useful this Forum is, but without doubt it gives us a direct line of communication with the Chief Executive of the Broads Authority and other senior officers, for us to question their thoughts and decisions at the highest level.

Brian Holt

The aims of the Forum are to offer advice and comment on the Broads Authority‘s strategic aims and objectives 18

1st

DATES for your DIARY

2nd

BRANCH MEETINGS & EVENTS Branch Meetings held at the Community Centre, School St., Needham Market At 7.30pm, unless otherwise stated.

FRIDAY 8TH OCTOBER Talk by Richard Thomas—Friends of President FRIDAY 12TH NOVEMBER Ivan Cane tells us about the North Walsham & Dilham Canal FRIDAY 10TH DECEMBER A Talk on the „Lydia Eva‟ The Last Steam Powered Herring Drifter FRIDAY 14TH JANUARY Members Evening FRIDAY 11TH FEBRUARY Annual General Meeting & Talk See Notice Page 20 FRIDAY 11TH MARCH Annual Lunch—Compasses Holbrook.

This year the dinner has been moved to March in the hope that the weather will have improved from the depths of winter. Also the meal will be at lunch time on the Friday to avoid members having to travel after dark. Tickets must be booked by the 11 February with Chard Wadley.

OTHER DATES SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER—10am-2pm RST Christmas Bazaar—Sudbury Town Hall FRIDAY 29TH JULY—SUNDAY 31ST JULY 2011 IWA National Festival—Burton-on-Trent Note Change—NOT The August Bank Holiday.

WORKING PARTY DATES Working Parties are held by the River Gipping Trust at Baylham Lock from 0900 to 1700 most Wednesdays 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 and to confirm dates contact Martin Bird Tel: 01394 380765 Email: thebirds99@btinternet.com 19

37TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the AGM of the Ipswich Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will be held at the Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market at 8pm on Friday 11th February, 2011

AGENDA 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

Apologies for absence Approval of the 2010 AGM Minutes Matters arising from those minutes Chairman‘s report Treasurer‘s report and presentation of accounts Adoption of the accounts Statement of committee size Election of Committee members Regional Chairman‘s report

USEFUL WEBSITES IWA Head Office - 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 IWA Peterborough Branch - http://www.iwapeterborough.org.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: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk Registered in England No. 612245. Registered as a Charity No. 212342

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