Bear Essentials No25

BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -

IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 25 – August 2009.

Our New Season Autumn Programme *New Venue *: The Alan Higgs Centre, Coventry - Directions overleaf September.

(Wednesday 9th Sept)

‘Floating Between Engagements’,

by Timothy West CBE. Not least through his presentation of Waterworld, Timothy West needs no introduction. We are extremely pleased that he has been able to find time in his busy work schedule to fulfil an outstanding promise to open our season of talks. This is certainly one not to be missed. See overleaf below for ticket details.

October, (Wednesday 14th Oct ) ‘Not Such Idle Women’.

by Mike Constable.

As the honorary curator of the Museum at Stoke Bruerne, Mike has not only had unrivalled access to archive material, but has over the last few years directly interviewed all the remaining ‘Idle Women’. From this he has put together a superb talk, which if time allows he will conclude with previously unseen newsreel material, - a beautiful ‘snapshot’ of a pivotal time in our nation’s history.

November, (Wednesday 11th Nov) ‘My Favourite Waterside Pubs’ by Mike Lucas Having travelled the waterways extensively since the early 1970’s, Mike comes home to Coventry to tell us something about one of the things that kept him going through the ‘hell and high water’ of touring on ‘Tyseley’.

December,

(Wednesday 9th Dec)

‘Hotel Boating – some amusing personal experiences’

by Nigel Hamilton.

As well as being Chairman of the Saltisford Trust, Warwick resident Nigel is Chairman of APCO – The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators. He came to this role via a ten-year ‘apprenticeship’ running the hotel pair Hart & Hind, and it is that experience that forms the basis of this talk. *NB: Meetings start at 7.30 pm. – bar available from 7-00pm.

Editorial In case you are wondering why you have not received an E-mail copy of This Bear Essentials This is because we have to post a programme card anyway. After some success with distribution by E-mail my list of members Emails that still work is reducing. Please let me know at the E-mail address overleaf if you have changed your E-mail address in the last 2 years so I can continue to save the Branch a considerable amount of money spent on postage. Also we can let you know about events outside the programme and any programme changes that do occur from time to time.

Ours was one of at least twelve Branch member’s boats that attended the Stratford on Avon River Festival last month, and more members attended by road to help on the IWA and WOW stands. The WOW stand aimed at children was particularly popular and busy throughout the Festival. It was a really enjoyable event and the weather after Friday morning was beautiful. We were warned that this was going to be a low key event but I know several of us would have liked to see more craft stalls and attractions for the local visitors. We were also a bit disappointed with the publicity in Stratford Itself.

Going back to last season’s Branch Events after our excellent speakers programme finished, I would like to thank all those who turned out for a walk in the pouring rain at Fenny Compton in June and a barbeque in the wind in July. Just proving we can’t always guarantee the weather.

Sue Roy.

Bear in Mind: This year so far has been both busy and productive for our branch and its members – with waterside clean-ups, festivals and walks dominating our spring and summer activities; but looking at the programme outlined over the page I think that we are due for an even more exciting time in the autumn.

At the recent Stratford River Festival, Timothy West was able to confirm a long-standing promise to open our ‘season’ with a talk to the branch in September. Pleasure that a ‘window’ in his workschedule finally allowed this to happen soon gave way to panic - as I started to think of some of the practical implications and potential problems.

Fortunately we had already found a new, larger and more imposing venue, but this was only part of the problem that we faced – for example how many would we have to cater for, and what would it all cost. He has generously waived any fee, but has suggested that monies remaining after expenses have been met are donated to a waterway charity / charities of his choice. We have therefore decided that (for this meeting only) entrance will be by ticket - booked in advance; and we have set the ticket price at £5 / head. We are releasing these to Warwickshire members here and now (see below) – two weeks before Region members in Lichfield and Birmingham branches read about it in Navigation.

Note:

Notes from the chairman.

By the third week of August any unsold tickets will then be made available to Coventry Canal and Stratford Canal Societies, and local AWCC boat clubs – thereafter we may ‘go public’. We hope that this is the fairest approach, and that you will support us with early ticket requests (and income) for what is for us a very ‘high-profile’ venture.

Looking beyond our inaugural talk, the rest of the programme up to Christmas looks as interesting and varied as ever, and hopefully will appeal to our many members within Coventry & Warwickshire who have not ventured out to meet us before.

Although the Alan Higgs Centre has a Coventry address, you will see from the adjacent map that it is conveniently situated for the A45, A46 and M6 – and therefore all parts of the county. Its facilities are excellent, not only will we have our own bar available some 30 minutes before our meetings start, but elsewhere in the building there is a cafeteria and bar available for snacks and bar-type meals should you arrive earlier. Despite all the time that our social activities have taken over the last few months we have still had time to monitor and comment on wider issues – not least BWs structural, and consequent boundary change, proposals; but more of this at our autumn meetings.

I look forward to seeing you then.

Ian

Fletcher.

September Meeting, Timothy West CBE.

Admission only by ticket in advance (£5.00 each) For tickets and directions please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope along with you cheque for the appropriate amount (£5.00 ea) - made out to :‘IWA Warwickshire Branch’ Send to :Greta Russell, 256 Longfellow Road, Coventry, CV2 5HJ.

The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed here in this newsletter, but encourages its publication as a matter of interest. Nothing herein may be construed as a matter of policy, or an official announcement, unless otherwise stated.

The Association accepts no liability for any material contained herein.

Editor : The IWA is a registered charity ( No. 212342 ), founded in 1946.

Supported by donations & members’ subscriptions, it campaigns for conservation, use, maintenance, restoration, & development of the inland waterways of Great Britain - for the benefit of all.

Registered & General Office: - Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Herts. HP5 1WA. Phone: 01494 - 783 453.

Website :- www.waterways.org.uk.

Sue Roy, 46 The Butts, Warwick, CV34 4ST Phone :- 01926 – 49 78 45.

E-mail : - roy154@btinternet.com To receive future editions earlier - and at a reduced cost to the branch. Please Email me at the above address, so that I can add you to our growing database.