Bear Essentials April 2010

BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -

IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 27 – April 2010.

Editorial

Our Spring/Summer Programme The Alan Higgs Centre, Allard Way Coventry th

April, (Wednesday 14 April) “The Fens Waterway Link” - Nick Rowlinson, Project Manager on the Boston Barrier, and Erin Voss -,Fens Waterways link project manager (EA). This EA backed scheme is the most ambitious waterway enhancement plan in the UK at present – linking the cathedral cities of Lincoln, Peterborough and Ely. th

May , (Wednesday 12 May ) “Cruising on the River Duoro in Portugal” A film and talk - by branch member; Alan Richardson *NB: Meetings start 7:30 pm. Bar available from 7:00pm. th

June (Wednesday 9 June) “A Walk on a Summers Evening” around Edstone Aqueduct Meet at 7.30 pm beneath the aqueduct (on Salters Lane, ½ mile west from the A3400, by the Golden Cross at Bearley) th

July (Wednesday 14 July) “ End of Season Walk and Picnic” - Droitwich Meet 7.30 pm at the car park and picnic site, just off the Hanbury Road, B4090, at the entrance to the rugby club, about one mile east of Droitwich centre. Bring your own food and drink

Cressy Cruise – April 2010 Oxford Branch members, Ron & Mary Heritage, in their narowboat Heron, will this summer – as part of the celebration of the centenary of the birth of IWA founder Tom Rolt - re-enact Rolts‟ famous 1939 cruise in his boat Cressy, described in his „iconic‟ book “Narrow Boat” th They set off from Banbury on 24 April. Branch members are invited to help them down Napton Locks on the th afternoon of Monday 26 April . This will be followed by an impromptu get together at the Folly Inn, Napton that evening. Please join us if you can.

However, our main contribution to the Cressy Cruise will take place on Herons return in mid July – more details by e-mail later, or phone Ian Fletcher on 01926 – 815 413.

Meetings at the Alan Higgs Centre continue to be well supported - despite niggles with the acoustics and Air-conditioning which we are actively working to overcome. Our winter walks are increasingly popular with over 40 attending the Stockton Walk in January on a lovely sunny cold day. Only a few less attended the muddier th walk around Earlswood in February. March 11 saw our first midweek walk. 16 walkers including myself joined in this 3¾ mile walk around Shrewley, The walk included a visit to the horse tunnel, then along a section of the canal up to Gallows bridge, crossing fields via the Barnclose Nurseries, we then walked towards High Chimney's via the fishing ponds. Here we heard from the gardener that the peculiar chimneys were as a result of occupation by the army during WW II. The 'sentry' boxes abutting the chimneys providing excellent (warm?) lookout points over the surrounding countryside. The final part of the return journey included two bridges (59 &60) where access to the canal has been denied by barricades. Most of the walkers enjoyed a lunch at the Durham Ox. We hope to organise another in the summer no details yet, but these will be circulated to those on the E-mail list.

Finally for those wishing to use the WEBSITE (www.waterways.org.uk) I am informed that the Association has changed the software used to drive the site. Old branch information has been

removed and will be updated very soon. To control information you receive (and in some cases are authorised to see) you need to obtain a user id. Go to the IWA website and click on Login on the header line and then register here. This will direct you to a page which is primarily aimed at new members, but also has categories for existing members. Complete all the boxes and request the IWA Bulletin by e-mail if you so wish.

Sue Roy. *****STOP PRESS***** STRATFORD RIVER FESTIVAL 3-4 July It now looks like this will definitely take place despite organisational problems. It should be better than last year and will include Avon license concession. Info will be on Website: www.stratfordriverfestival.org.uk

Bear in Mind:

Notes from the chairman.

Having served on the Warwickshire IWA Branch Committee for just one year, when Ian Fletcher announced his decision to resign as Chairman I found myself as the only committee member in a position to take on the role at the present time. At age 68 I feel that the role really needs someone younger and more dynamic - as our retiring chairman has proved to be. The good news is that Ian is to continue to serve as an active committee member, and will this year take responsibility for the SOS campaign in Warwickshire - which I urge everyone to get involved in.

S.O.S. Campaign.

As background to myself I can claim to have visited the Market Harborough Rally in 1950 as a small boy taken there by my parents. Subsequently my late brother Michael bought a Samuel Barlow‟s Butty and cut it in half to make one of the very early half narrowboat conversions, and it was crewing on Normandy Star that gave me my introduction to canals. Subsequently I bought the former FMC motor narrowboat „Aster‟ from Major Fielding when the Salvation Army disbanded its canals mission. I became an early member and supporter of the fledgling Kennett and Avon Canal Trust, and also became a very early shareholder in the West Somerset Railway, both of which have become highly successful. Currently I am an active member of the Cotswold Canal Trust, ANT and SWWT. Although successful in restoring the rotten hull of „Aster‟ and not forever alienated from timber hulled boats by the experience, my wife and I have for the last 30 years owned a much smaller vintage former south Cornish timber fishing boat „Seahaze‟, which apart from occasional coastal expeditions, usually spends the summer on the Avon, but can frequently be seen around our midlands canals in the autumn. She is unusually narrow beam for her length - and can even squeeze through the Lower Stratford Canal and the shallow parts of the Llangollen!

Frequent boat movements are essential to keeping weed growth in our canals at bay and maintaining a deep water channel to the benefit of fishermen. Road bridges which were only retained to enable navigation , now ensure walkers can enjoy long peaceful walks.

The Cotswold Canal Trust for one, has done much to reopen derelict and overgrown sections of towpath, and now major bridges are about to be reinstated in the Stroud area. We should not forget either the role of our waterways in land drainage or water supply. Our canal heritage is unique in the world, and our Association's slogan “Waterways for All” is what IWA is all about..

Ian Jackson

As a contribution to the SOS campaign - we are in the process of organising a convoy of boats to travel from Hawkesbury to Coventry basin and st back on Saturday May 1 – May Day. We will do this in conjunction with Coventry Canal Society, and other relevant organisations in the Coventry area. Members with or without boats are invited to join us at Hawkesbury at 10:00 am on Saturday st May 1 – or around mid-day to mid-afternoon in Coventry Basin itself. In addition there will be informal „get-togethers‟ for all who are concerned for the future of our canal system at The Greyhound at Hawkesbury on the Friday evening th beforehand (April 30 ) and the Saturday evening after the event. We will e-mail further details nearer the event, alternatively phone Ian Fletcher on: 01926–815413. All are welcome.

Mikron - 40th Anniversary Calendar.

Following his enjoyable talk to the Branch at our Feb. meeting; Mike Lucas - founder of Mikron - has been intouch to ask if any members have photos of Mikron in action, that could be considered for the calendar they intend to produce to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

They are particularly interested in images of their performances in 'the early days'. If you can help, please contact Mikron on: 01484 - 843701, or via website

www.mikron.org.uk New Committee responsibilities from March 2010 Chairman

Ian Jackson

01788 891454

Secretary

Sue Roy

01926 497845

Treasurer

Anthony Davies

01926 814980

Membership Sec

Greta Russell

02476 422701

Programme Sec

Richard Sanders

01926 403179

Walks Coordinator

Peter Webb

01926 422764

Minutes Secretary

Muriel Richardson

01676 434569

Committee Member

Ian Fletcher

01926 815413

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.

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.