BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -
IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 38 – December 2013.
Back to the Future
Welcome to this edition of the ‘new format’ Bear Essentials. The unfortunate demise of our regional magazine Navigation (see elsewhere) has spurred us into developing ‘BE’ beyond its original brief – that of simply advertising up-coming events within our branch – and on into a more comprehensive newsletter. We now plan to include reports on past activities - and not simply the IWA activities within our branch area. Indeed, more items of regional waterway interest will also be considered – particularly if they’re unlikely to be found elsewhere. On the eve of what – as you will read herein - is going to be a significant year for Warwickshire’s waterways, I, and indeed the whole of the Branch Committee, will relish the challenge that this change brings. Editor.
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Ian Fletcher.
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Over the weekend of October 19 - 20 2013, Warwickshire Branch members led fellow local boaters and Wootton Wawen residents in a celebration of the bi-centenary of the opening of the Stratford Canal’s Wootton Wawen Aqueduct. The highlight of the weekend was a re-interpretation of the original 1813 opening ceremony (see above) by Branch members Stuart Lawson and Tony Hales: in the respective roles of William Whitmore – Engineer for the construction of the canal, and William James – Deputy Chairman of the Stratford on Avon Canal Navigation Company. Their fine rousing speeches culminated in a tape-cutting ceremony, which was followed by a procession of boats across the aqueduct. There was of course another reason for this gathering. In his ‘opening’ speech, Mr. Whitmore had indicated that it would take a further 3 years for the new canal to reach Stratford and the River Avon itself. However, in his concluding remarks, event organiser Clive Henderson pointed out that today things move a little faster. Our goal was now to lead IWA members and fellow boaters to the town and the river within twelve months. – not th really to celebrate the then 198 anniversary of the original th canal completion, but to celebrate the 50 anniversary of the restored Southern Stratford canal reaching the river, and the th 40 anniversary of the restored Avon Navigation reaching the town; all to take place, with significant IWA support, at The Stratford River Festival – which will be held over the weekend of th th July 5 & 6 2014.
Future Bear Essentials Distribution Members who have provided IWA with an e-mail address will, in addition to this particular hard-copy of BE, receive an electronic version. For those wishing to ‘opt-in’ to continue to receive future postal copies, details of how to do this will be given in its accompanying e-mail. Note: The postal option is not available to those with Electronic Membership.
Thank You Warwickshire Branch has, yet again, increased its sales of IWA Christmas cards and calendars. Through members pre-ordering via the Branch, and additional sales made at meetings, this year’s total already exceeds £290. Our thanks go to all of you who have helped us in this fund-raising for local and regional waterway causes.