Bear Essentials No 31

BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -

IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 31 – August 2011.

Autumn/Winter Talks Programme The Sports Connexion, Ryton, Coventry, CV8 3FL th

September 14

2011.

‘Britains Changing Waterways’

by Harry Arnold MBE, Waterways Journalist.

Harry was awarded an MBE in the 2010 Queen‟s Birthday Honours for his significant role in Britain‟s inland waterways scene over almost 50 years. Harry has given us many enjoyable talks over the years. th

October 12

2011.

‘The Hereford and Gloucestershire Canal, Past Present and Future’ Dick Skeet, former Chairman HGCT Includes a brief history of the canal and what you can see today, continuing with the Trusts 'philosophical' approach to restoration and the major challenges and opportunities ahead.

November 9

th

2011.

‘Canal Lifts and Inclined Planes’

by Peter Brown Illustrated talk about various alternatives to locks, concentrating on examples in Europe visited by the speaker. th

December 14

2011.

‘Quiz and Social Evening’

Autumn/Winter Walks Programme Sunday September 18th Droitwich Junction Canal – Hanbury Road Car Park Tuesday October 18th Fenny Compton – Start at the Wharf Inn Friday November 18th Hatton locks “Stairway to Heaven” – Bottom Lock car park NB: All Talks start 7.30 pm, All Walks start 10.30 am

Editorial Our first year of meetings at The Connexion has been a great success and we are pleased to be able to continue at that venue for the next year.

We have had many very good turn-outs and the talks were very much enjoyed by those attending.

Among the 100 boats attending the Stratford River Festival were boats belonging to several branch members, including myself. This year it really came together: the weather was good; due to better advertising the visitor numbers were up and the entertainment programme was very enjoyable. We had a branch stand there for fund-raising and information purposes and took almost £200 for the sale of books and other items.

Although unable to attend the opening of the Droitwich Canals, I took the chance to cruise it a couple of weeks later. I was very impressed. All the locks worked smoothly and the landscaping of the Junction Canal was lovely. Please visit if you can it‟s been a long time coming, I remember doing a campaigning walk for IWA back in the early 1980s. You can join us there for our Sunday morning walk on September 18th.Sue Roy New! - Autumn Walks As you will see from our programme card we have significantly increased the number of organised walks in response to their increasing popularity- some attracting 40+ people. We have varied the day of the weekday walks in response to requests from people who have other commitments on specific days. All walks start at 10.30 am and last about 2 hours and will usually be followed by adjourning to a local pub. A great way to meet fellow members and socialise.

Christmas Cards IWA Christmas cards and 2012 Calendars will be on sale at Oct and Nov meetings. Purchasing your cards through the Branch aids Branch funds. Large orders or specific requests can be placed with Greta Russell at our September meeting, or, contact her directly on 02476 442701 th or email: greta.russell@waterways.org.uk by 14 September.

Bear in Mind:

Lock-Ransom @ Calcutt Locks.

Notes from the chairman.

As a branch, we don‟t regard mere „cosmetic‟ improvements as the highest priority work our waterways need today. Nevertheless we decided earlier this year, to re-paint Calcutt locks. In June, John Bedingfield The Branch is grateful to several Warwickshire all those members who 1945-2011 members did this, but with have opted to receive our an ulterior motive in mind We were all saddened to hear of the death, on July newsletter by e-mail. th see Branch web-page for 25 , of a former Branch Chairman, who until very However, because this further details. In return, recently seemed to be improving following edition is published BW allowed us to chemotherapy for aggressive lymphoma diagnosed just alongside our programme undertake a „lock-ransom‟ over a year ago. In fact, in June, John was able to join card for 2011/12, you will here – over the weekend his long-time friend, National Chairman, Clive receive this in paper th August 6-7 .

Branches Henderson on a boat trip to Birmingham. format, so for once a year elsewhere have done this postage charges become John and his wife Helen have been IWA members for for years; however, this was unavoidable. I hope you 33 years, more than 25 of those with Warwickshire our first attempt - yet it will find the programme of branch, where he served as Branch Secretary and became our best fundevents of interest and look Chairman until his work with the EU led him to spend raiser ever. forward to meeting many several years overseas in Hungary, Romania and of you at our varied We collected more than latterly, after official retirement, as a consultant in events. £350 – which will directly Bosnia-Herzegovina. benefit midland-based Sadly, due to personal When in the UK, John and Helen spent as much time waterway causes. Members commitments, I was as possible on the waterways on their narrowboat taking part thoroughly unable to attend either the Omega. Before the purchase of Omega, John and enjoyed it - discovering the Stratford River Festival or Helen travelled the waterways extensively during the second reason why they‟re the Droitwich re-opening eighties with their two young children Kate and Anna in popular elsewhere. They at the beginning of July, their small fibreglass Dawncraft Dandy, Jake B. John become social occasions, but was at the Evesham was always an active campaigner within IWA. John, both for members to meet River Festival with my together with Helen was until recently an active and greet each other; and own boat and I am looking member of IWA‟s Promotions & Communications to meet and talk to others – th forward also to being at Committee. His Funeral on Aug 8 was very well be they passing boaters, the Tall Ships Event in attended, including many members of IWA both local towpath-walkers or cyclists.

Gloucester Docks over and national. We will all miss him greatly. the August Bank Holiday Many boaters were fellow (Sue Roy/Peter Webb) Weekend.

IWA members from other branches – who thanked us Both our display stand on for our help and hospitality; but some were not, and the information barge “William James” in Bancroft perhaps even more significant than fund-raising could Basin and the volunteer effort repainting Calcutt Locks be the raising of the profile of IWA in general and stand the image of the Branch in good stead and I am Warwickshire Branch in particular. happy to report that we continue to be an active and vibrant wing of IWA. Although our first such venture, it was „win to the power four‟ – BW got their locks painted, boaters got a To conclude let me harp back to my opening remark congestion-reduced, work-free passage, branch and remind members that the age profile of your members had a great time, and local waterway committee is a matter for concern and we are always projects will receive a financial boost. We don‟t expect on the lookout for younger more energetic volunteers that it will be our last lock-ransom! to drive the Branch forward.

I write this in early August having recently celebrated th my 70 Birthday and in the knowledge that you should all be in possession of my Chairman‟s letter in the July edition of Navigation.

Ian Fletcher

Ian Jackson.

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.

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