Bear Essentials Issue 45

BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -

IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 45 – April 2016.

Volunteering isn’t all Hi-Viz. At our February meeting we had the great pleasure of presenting The Victoria Cup to Adrian Roberts and Greta Russell - see photo on right.

This was the first time that anyone from Warwickshire Branch had won this IWA West Midland Region award - an award that is presented annually to an individual, or couple, in recognition of their outstanding service to the Association and its activities within our Region.

For several years now Adrian and Greta have been the driving-force (and gazebo provider!) of our Branch sales stand activity at the Stratford River Festival, and other locations; and they have also helped to man the Association’s stands at various NEC outdoor leisure shows. In addition, such has been their support of William James, the Avon Navigation Trust’s information boat - moored each summer in Stratford’s Bancroft Basin - that ANT recently made them honorary life-members of the Trust.

We are particularly pleased that their work has now been recognised beyond our Branch boundaries. Congratulations Adrian and Greta on this thoroughly deserved award.

Meanwhile, other, as yet ‘unsung’, heroes have, for the last 5 years, been beavering away in the background at the Warwickshire County Records Office sorting, repairing, digitising and cataloguing the thousands of waterway slides that make up the Rhodes Thomas collection (see below) - yet another example of ‘Lo-Viz’ volunteering.

Greta can also be seen below with Ian Fletcher and Anthony Davies – raising some of the £1,500 earned so far from the sale of the Rhodes Thomas books over the last 5 years.

If you feel that you have a ‘Lo-Viz’ talent or even idea that could help the Branch to improve or increase its activities, then please talk to one of the committee members - as below.

This editorial mainly comprises a series of ‘thank-you’s’: first to Richard Sanders – stepping down after 3 years as branch chairman; and also to Ian Jackson, retiring from the committee after several years of service – as committee member, chairman and more recently as branch treasurer.

Their work has enabled our branch to ‘punch above its weight’ – and they will both be sorely missed. Fortunately, cometh the hour, cometh the women, and I’m sure that you’ll all join me in thanking Carole Nicholson and Sheila Bell for taking up the ‘batons’ of Chairman and Treasurer respectively - and wishing them well in their new roles..

Having been associated with the production of ‘BE’ for most of its 15 year life, I would very much like to be joined by an ‘assistant’ editor - to work along side me for the next few editions - and with a view to picking up this particular ‘baton’ in the future. Go on, go for it, it’s a great Lo-Viz job.

Ian Fletcher. c. 140/150 words.

Editor.

Branch Committee 2016-17.

Following the election of members to the committee at the AGM, and the subsequent meeting of the committee to elect its officers; the Branch Committee now comprises:Chairman: Treasurer: Branch Secretary: Minutes Secretary: Committee Member:

Carole Nicholson Sheila Bell Greta Russell.

Muriel Richardson.

Anthony Davies

If you would like more information about becoming a committee member, or to assist the Branch in other non-committee roles, then please e-mail: warwickshire@waterways.org.uk or phone the Branch Secretary on 02476 442701.

Roles currently vacant are:Programme Secretary and Publicity Officer.

Bear Bones:

Bear in Mind:

An outline of upcoming activities.

Chaireports:

. As retiring branch Chairman I would like to record my thanks to all those who have assisted with the many Unless otherwise stated all evening events take place at: events that the branch has promoted The Sports ConneXion, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL in the last three years.

- starting at 7:30 pm.

The most satisfying from a th personal view have been those Wednesday, April 13 2016: The Purton Ships Graveyard. where we have either met or worked

by Paul Barnett. with the general public - in particular, We may have seen, or at least read about, this fascinating place; but now is the canal clean-ups and balsam our chance to hear its full story from Paul. He has for many years studied the bash. The clean-ups have often ‘graveyard’ in detail, and has many tales to tell of the boats that lie there. involved younger people, which is so important for the future of the Saturday, April 16th 2016: Work Party at Hatton 10:00am - 3:00pm. waterways.

Our presence at festivals has This continues our work of improvements and enhancements to the Hatton given us a platform to show the work flight. Park and meet at 10:00 am, at Oaklands Farm Kennels on the A4100 the branch does; and also - on rare at Hatton, CV35 7DZ. Wear suitable clothes, and bring own refreshments. occasions - to recruit members.

Sunday, April 17th 2016: A Walk along the line of the Lapal Canal. Recruitment should not be restricted to these events but is something we Meet at 10:30am at The Woodgate Valley Country Park Visitors Centre, all can do whenever we are by the Clapgate Lane, Birmingham, B32 2DS Grid Ref: SO:995830 – for a ‘carwaterways, particularly when sharing shuffle’ to Selly Oak to start the walk. Full travel and logistic details will be locks. The larger the membership th given at our April 13 meeting - or www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire the more influence we have.

Although I’m stepping down from Wednesday, May 11th 2016: Bedford & Milton Keynes the committee I’ll still be supporting - A Waterway Park For All. events, and in particular the Balsam th Bash on July 10 on Myton Fields in Gordon Willey of the B&MK Trust will outline the vision and background, Warwick – so see your there. and the plans and progress so far in converting a 200 year old dream, of linking Fenland’s waterways to the Grand Union canal into a reality – with Richard Sanders. st what could well be the first major new waterway project of the 21 century.

I am now your somewhat hesitant Wednesday, June 8th 2016: A Walk around Flecknoe. replacement for Richard, who - as he Meet at 7:00pm at Bridge 102 on the Oxford/GU. canal Grid Ref:SP:505641. has so efficiently covered all aspects of IWA life - is going to be a very (Near CV23 8AZ) - for a walk around the Flecknoe area, followed by a drink hard act to follow. I thank him for all or a meal at The Rose Inn, Willoughby. that he has done, and hope that he’ll help me on my way.

Saturday & Sunday July 2nd - 3rd 2016: Stratford River Festival.

I do not intend to try anything new This important date in our calendar gives us the chance to raise the profile just carry on with as interesting a of our inland waterways in general and Branch in particular. If you can spare programme of talks, walks, worktime to help in our marquee on the Recreation Ground, then please email parties and volunteering as possible. info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk We still need more committee members to help to provide this th Wednesday, July 13 2016: A Picnic by The Avon near Stratford programme. In particular we want a - followed by a Bat Walk. publicity-officer. However – for the time being - I have taken on the role Meet at 7:30pm at The Old Bathing Place / Picnic area Warwick Rd. of programme secretary.

Stratford. Grid Ref: SP211557. The Bat Walk starts at 9:30pm.

Please consider joining us. I will say at this stage that I do not intend Sundays, July 10th & August 14th 2016: Balsam ‘Bash’ – to stay as chairman long-term. I have at Myton Fields, Warwick. 10:00am – 1:00pm. set a limit of 2 years, which I will not Continuing the work that we started last year, we meet each Sunday at extend - although I will be prepared 10:00am at Myton Fields, Myton Rd. Warwick (opposite Warwick School) to stay on the committee after this.

- for an interesting and worthwhile morning activity for all the family.

Our Spring and Summer Programme.

Carole Nicholson.

CRT-WM Towpath task-force information. st

A) Hatton. - 1 Wed & Fri of each month. nd B) Stratford - 2 Thurs & Fri of each month. rd C) Lapworth - 3 Thurs & Sat of each month.

For full, up to date details please visit:www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer/opportunities

Note: For the most up-to-date news and information on all our Branch activities – social events, work-parties etc. please pay regular visits to our Branch page on the IWA web-site. << www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire >>

Bear - faced Lines:

Random snippets from around our patch:

Over the top at Braunston:

Rugby Clean-up:

On our February 7th walk, Adrian Pell and Sheila Bell took us to the Braunston and Daventry area - on a walk encompassing both Drayton Reservoir and Braunston Tunnel. Many members will have, in the past, boated through Braunston Tunnel, but this time we took a drier and far more interesting route between the two portals – along the horse track over the hill.

On the same weekend that the English team was ‘cleaning-up’ in the Six Nations Tournament in Paris, ‘Our Team’ was doing the same on the Oxford Canal in Rugby – and what a haul of ‘trophies’ we had.

The ‘team’ comprised a diverse group of 36 volunteers - branch members being joined by:- Warwick University students, U3A and local residents; and CRT provided support through their South East Waterways Volunteer Development Co-ordinator, Miriam Linforth.

This walk – concluding with lunch at Middlemore Farm Inn - was the first organised by Adrian and Sheila, and was deemed a great success by all who took part.

Some hard tackling yielded a haul of more than thirty shopping trolleys, several bicycles, two motor - bikes, a patio heater and a sundry mixture of metal and plastic.

In addition a litter-pick produced over 20 black sacks of rubbish. The haul was so large that the workboat – provided by Rose Narrowboats of Brinklow – made multiple trips to the CRT collection point for disposal.

No doubt our new Walks Co-ordinator, Jeff Biddle, will shortly be contacting them to add them to his growing list of members prepared to plan our future walks.

50 Years of Campaigning: The expression ‘The sum-total is greater than the sum of the constituent parts’ is no better exemplified than on our inland waterway network, and it is vitally important that we work hard to maintain this network as a great national asset. Living centrally as we do – where we can see summer weekend queues at Napton, and more than 9,000 lockings per year at Hillmorton – it’s easy to lose sight of its ‘fragility’ – particularly at the ‘fringes’.

Fortunately we have branch members such as Roy and Lois Parker who think more ‘holistically’. This year they celebrate 50 years of campaigning in their small cruiser Marie II – which they trail not just to the fringes of the connected system, but also isolated waterways as well.

We were really pleased to carry out this particular clean-up - because it is the first one that we have undertaken with CRT - South East. And, for the sake of the Oxford canal between Claydon and Hawkesbury Junction, we sincerely hope that it will not be our last.

Last autumn they returned to the Old Bedford River where it is vital to restore navigation to the 40’ Drain and to Welches Dam and Horseway Locks. That visit may not have succeeded in its aims; but for the sake of the total system, and particularly for the future of the Fens Link project itself, we must encourage them to return, and - with their fenland friends - try try try again.

Bear with us:

Regional Round-up.

Region News: Late last year, after 6 years ‘at the helm’, Vaughan Welch stepped down as our Region Chairman.

However, his commitment to our waterways remains undiminished - as he still wears the three hats of:Chairman of IWA Rescom (Restoration Committee), member of CRTs West Midland’s Waterway Partnership, and one of the Boaters Representatives on the CRT Council.

Throughout the winter we have been a ‘rudderless’ region, but fortunately last month Helen Whitehouse ‘took the tiller’ and became our caretaker Chairman.

Her CV for this role is ideal, and hopefully it will be a mere formality to elect her as our ‘Chair’ at the national AGM in September. Meanwhile she can attend and speak at Trustee meetings, but not vote.

Helen has held various offices within the Lichfield branch over many years, and indeed was Region Secretary in the 1990’s. But it is through her commitment to Promcom (Promotions Committee) that she is best known, and is usually seen selling or recruiting on IWA stands at national events or festivals like Crick, and at NEC shows – such as the recent Caravan and Camping Show, as here below.

Friends and Neighbours.

Funds and Donations: The branch funds that we raise in the course of our activities have always been distributed to a wide range of waterway enhancement projects - as two of our most recent donations here show:I) We recently gave £500 to the Wendover Arm Trust towards the next phase of their restoration project and ultimate aim of re-connecting the town of Wendover to the Grand Union canal at Bulbourne.

They thank us for our generous donation, and invite all branch members to their Open Day at Drayton Beauchamp (just off the A41 SE of Aylesbury) on th Sunday 5 June.

II) Nearer home we have also given £100 to the Saltisford Canal Trust – for a wildlife development project in Saltisford Arm. As most of the waterway network is now run by a trust – as opposed to a government body; donations to CRT, for enhancements to its waterways, now also fall within the scope of our charitable status.

We are therefore talking to CRT about such things as visitor mooring sites around ‘the patch’. Some of these will be at ‘out-of-the-way’ locations - primarily funded by ‘Rhodes Thomas money’ that has been specifically ‘ring-fenced’ for such facilities. However, our more general funds do not have this limitation.

We’d therefore appreciate your feedback as to what extent we should support improvements to existing, local waterways – as opposed to our more ‘traditional’ support for a wider range of longer-term restoration projects.

Pelsall Plus:

We wish Helen well in her new role, and look forward to seeing her at some of our future events.

Thank You: To our branch members and friends who attended the recent wrgie Barn Dance at Rowington - we thank you all. This helped to raise £1,000 for the WRG Van Appeal – which now stands at £95,500.

Don’t forget that IWA’s ‘Festival of Water’ is taking place at Pelsall over the August Bank Holiday weekend, and although some seventy boats are already booked in, the site is such that more boats can be accommodated at this surprisingly rural location.

More info from the IWA website or e-mail: << event.enquiries@waterways.org.uk >> If its navigating the northern reaches of the BCN in order to get there that is putting you off going, then why not join a flotilla of fellow boaters on the BCNS Explorer Cruise to the Festival in the week before.

More information on this can be found on the BCNS website: << www.BCNSociety.co.uk >>

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 of the material contained herein.

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 England and Wales - 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.

Editor: Ian Fletcher, 4 Village Hall Cottages, CV47 9QH Phone :01926 – 815 413.

E-mail : newsletter.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk For local contact on all other Branch activities please e-mail: < info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk > For up to date info. between BE editions visit our web page: < www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire > Please inform Head Office of your e-mail address changes.