Cargoes Autumn 2016

ELIZABETH ROSE

Autumn 2016

Newsletter of Guildford & Reading Kent & East Sussex and Oxfordshire Branches

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Editorial The Autumn 2014 Edition of Cargoes and the Winter 2014 Edition of Waterways recorded the passing of Tony Harrison. Tony had been a member of IWA for over 50 years having been IWA’s Honorary Consultant and a recipient of the Cyril Styring Trophy. He was an active member of our Region and a former Chairman of Oxfordshire Branch. We would now like to draw members’ attention to the recent announcement about Tony’s legacy of £200,000 and the proposals for its distribution as set out on page 8 of the Autumn 2016 Edition of Waterways. It will be noted that the Chairmen of our Guildford & Reading and Oxfordshire Branches have each expressed interest in the Branches identifying suitable projects and we hope that the project(s) it is decided to fund will provide fitting tributes to Tony.

See also details at www.waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/bulletins/iwa_bulletin_20160712 As we go to press, we have just witnessed some notable anniversaries, probably the most significant having been the 50th anniversaries of the founding of the Historic Narrowboat Club and of the inauguration of the Basingstoke Canal Society in 1966 plus it being 25 years since the Basingstoke Canal was reopened

by HRH the Duke of Kent in 1991. A full report of Woking Canal Festival can be found on page 12 and some of the photos appear inside the Back Cover of this edition. IWA has had a long association with the Basingstoke Canal and this recent event on the Canal at Woking was widely acclaimed as a great success.

Another occasion being celebrated this year is the 25th anniversary of the formation of IWA’s Salisbury Group which was set up to meet the needs of members in Salisbury and the surrounding areas – this included members in the western extremities of Hampshire. We, in the South East Region, have always been happy to recognise the need to publish details of activities taking place ‘just over the border’ in Wiltshire and it is pleasing to note how the Salisbury Group continues to thrive under the guidance of Ron & Myra Glover and Jon Van de Geer.

Also we note that the Thames & Medway Canal Association is marking its 40th Anniversary with a Dinner on 25th November.

Finally, although members may consider it somewhat early to be thinking about Christmas, we would mention that IWA’s Christmas Cards are now available and of particular interest may be one of a scene on the Basingstoke Canal (see copy on inside Back Cover). Details of the Christmas Cards and the 2017 Calendar can be found in the Autumn Edition of Waterways.

Cargoes Editorial Team

[Cover Picture: ‘Elizabeth Rose’ the attractively presented Mirror Dinghy of John Ross was a focus of attention at Woking Canal Festival. (for more about John’s Canal Art skills, see page 22 of the Autumn 2015 Cargoes)]

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From the Region Chairman In the months leading up to the Referendum much had been going on with the EA transfer to CRT being actively examined, HS2 on which IWA had actively campaigned going forward and austerity affecting local authority waterway support. However things have changed since June 23rd. No David Cameron as prime minister to lead the parliamentary group on the Thames but a new PM with very much a Thames constituency as well as the new chancellor and even the foreign secretary is not far away at Uxbridge. We have a new EA Minister and a new Waterways Minister and perhaps we have less austerity. Also there are thoughts on the Thames and Basingstoke but it is clear much is likely to change.

On a recent visit to the waterways of Brittany we saw some ideas which we could well copy in the UK. In the north there is the use of tidal power and on the majority of the weirs on the Blavet there were EDF generation plants. Not so good is the severing of the Brest Nantes canal again for hydro power. Also where the waterway crosses the summit between the canal and the Blavet by fifty odd locks a 68 kilometre feeder canal has been replaced by back-pumping. Lessons for this side of the channel and lessons in planning. Why do we have endless studies but no action?

I would like to round off my piece by saying how much we are indebted to the late Tony Harrison for his legacy, (see page 8 of the Autumn 2016 Edition of Waterways for more details). Tony was a former IWA consultant engineer who had close links with our South East Region and particularly as a member, and former Chairman, of Oxfordshire Branch. We are most appreciative that his generosity will produce good for the waterways and a fitting memorial for Tony.

Gareth Jones

CRT Annual Report charts continued progress The CRT annual report & accounts for 2015/16, published (25 July 2016), highlights an increase in expenditure on the waterways and a growth in the number of people donating to the Trust and visiting, volunteering, and adopting stretches of its waterways.

The report indicates:  Expenditure on the waterways rose by 8% to £128 million, including work on culverts and embankments; channel relining and; 135 winter lock repairs.  Less disruption for boaters, including a significant drop of almost 300 days in unplanned closures compared with 2014/15.  An estimated 380 million visits made in total over the course of the year.  A 50% increase in the number of community canal adoptions in the year to nearly 150.  An 88% approval rating from a growing band of volunteers who gave nearly half a million hours of their time (up 17% on the previous year).

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15,800 Friends regularly donating to the Trust – an increase of 60% on the same point the previous year.

Education, youth and volunteer programmes have seen substantial increases – 64,000 children experienced the Trust’s Explorers education work.

Chair, Allan Leighton, comments: "It has been a good year for the Trust as we continue to work to secure a wonderful future for the waterways.

"The growth in volunteering and partnerships with organisations as diverse as the Arts Councils in England and Wales, the Scout Association, Help for Heroes and Rolls Royce, plus numerous local authorities, charitable trusts and local canal societies, illustrates the considerable progress being made.

"Of course, it is the people who live on, use or visit the waterways that continue to make them the special places that they are. We want to continue to harness this passion and whilst reaching out to a greater diversity of communities, so that our canals and rivers can be inclusive of the millions of people living and working around them."

The Trust’s Annual Public Meeting will be taking place on 22nd September.

For more information about attending visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/annualpublic-meeting-tickets-26563897332

Diary of Meetings & Events Sat 27th – Mon 29th Aug, IWA Festival of Water: Pelsall Common, Wyrley & Essington Canal (see www.waterways.org.uk/festivalofwater) Thu 1st Sep, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: “The Past & Future” by James Brown (see page 23) Fri 2nd Sep, 6.30pm-10.00pm, K&A: Devizes Wharf, Carnival on the Canal (see page 18) Sun 4th Sep, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross (taxi rank) (see page 41) Wed 7th Sep, 11.00am-3.00pm, National Trust: Discover Send Workshop (see page 23) Sat 10th Sep, 11.00am-5.00pm, National Trust: Heritage Open Days Sat 10 Sep, 2.30pm, WACT, Heritage Open Days walk th

(see page 23)

(see page 27)

Sun 11 Sep, 2.30pm, WACT, Gunpowder Store to Bramley walk (see page 27) th

Wed 14th Sep, 2.30pm, BCS: Cream Tea Special

(see page 14)

Wed 14th Sep, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: `The River Thames Boat project’ by Peter Finch (see page 41)

6 Fri 16th Sep, 7.00pm, BCS: Acoustic & Ale Special

(see page 14)

Sun 18th Sep, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Grand Junction & Regent’s Canals: Little Venice & Paddington, meet Paddington (Plat 16: H&C exit) (see page 41) Thu 22nd Sep, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: “Overview of a Harbourmaster’s work” by Steve Rushbrook (see page 34) Fri 23rd Sep, 7.00pm, BCS: Jazz & Ale Special Sat 24 Sep, National Trust: Wey River Festival th

(see page 15) (see pages 21 & 23)

Sat 24 Sep, 9.30am - 5.00pm, IWA, Bilston Academy, Prosser Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton, WV14 0LN: Annual Members Meeting (see Autumn 2016 ‘Waterways’) th

Sat 24th Sep, 2.00pm, South London Branch: Autumn Outing, Lee & Stort Canal Cruise - Ware to Hertford return (see page 41) Sun 25th Sep, 10.00am, National Trust: Know your Wey walk

(see page 23)

Sat 1st & Sun 2nd Oct, WACT: 200th Anniversary Celebrations (see pages 24 & 25, 27 & 28) Sun 2nd Oct, Oxfordshire Branch: Banbury Canal Day

(see page 37)

Sun 2nd Oct, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Mile End to Limehouse, meet Mile End (see page 41) Thu 6th Oct, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: “Cruising around the Canals”

by Eric and Sue Lewis (see page 24) Wed 12th Oct, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Exploring the Stort Navigation [Past and present] by Dr Roger Squires (see page 41) Sun 16th Oct, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Kings Cross, Hitchcock’s Hackney, meet Kings Cross (taxi rank) (see page 41) Wed 19th Oct, 8.00pm, BCS: The Regents Canal - History and an Overview of the Canal Today by Dr Roger Squires (see page 15) Thu 20th Oct, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: ‘Exploring Higham’ by Kate Woolacott (see page 34) Thu 20th Oct, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: The Thames Sailing Barge by Gareth Jones (see page 9) Thu 3rd Nov, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Pete and Jane of the Day Star Theatre, on their yearly visit (see page 24) Sun 6th Nov, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Limehouse to Docklands, meet Westferry (DLR) (by Cycle Hire Point) (see page 41)

7 Wed 9th Nov, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Restoring wooden boat `Roger’ by Fabian Hiscock (see page 41) Wed 16th Nov, 8.00pm, BCS: The Thames Bridges, Staines to Kingston by Nick Pollard (see page 15) Thu 17th Nov, 7.00pm for 7.30pm, IWAKES: Railways of the Sussex Ouse Valley

by Sam Bee (see page 35) Thu 17th Nov, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Pleasure Boating in the 1930s, 40s, & 50s by Nick Grundy (see page 9) Sun 20th Nov, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Grand Junction/Regent’s Canals: Little Venice & Paddington, meet Paddington (Plat 16: H&C exit) (see page 41) Fri 25th Nov, 12 noon for 12.30pm, IWAKES: TMCA 40th Anniversary Dinner (see page 35) Thu 1st Dec, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Inter Society Waterways Quiz (see page 24) Wed 14th Dec, South London Branch: Christmas social

(see page 41)

Thu 15 Dec, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: Get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association (see page 35) th

Thu 15th Dec, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Christmas Dinner

(see page 9)

Wed 21 Dec, 8.00pm, BCS: A Watery Canadian Adventure - Cruising Around the Islands of Vancouver by Ron & Myra Glover (see page 16) st

Thu 26th Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: Hulks by Kevin Gulvin (see page 35)

Salisbury Group Our Salisbury correspondent, Myra Glover, writes: MAY Meeting WATERWAY RECOVERY GROUP (WRG) We were honoured that the head office of WRG had written this talk especially for us at Salisbury IWA which was presented to us by George Eycott.

WRG was founded in 1970 and has been restoring canals for over 45 years; it is now part of IWA. Anyone over the age of 18 can be a volunteer; they come from all walks of life. 40,000 man hours are given each year by these volunteers.

Every year there are week long canal camps that are held throughout the country, amounting to 25 in total. This year WRG are working on 16 different

8 restoration sites. Some youngsters work with WRG whilst achieving the residential section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme.

One example of the achievements of WRG was in 2012 on the Hereford & Gloucester Canal when 50 volunteers restored 275 metres of canal in just two weeks. This was one of the biggest earth moving exercises undertaken so far. We were also shown many pictures of “before & after” situations of the work carried by WRG. It is amazing what can be achieved!

The final question is “Why restore these canals?” The simple answer is that canals are used more & more by the general public. The canal network provides huge linear parks for leisure & recreation and are also rich in wildlife and traditional heritage.

JUNE Meeting “SERVE ON” At the June meeting we welcomed Craig Elsdon from “Serve On” (SO). This is a quick response team comprising of highly trained people available 24 hours a day to save lives.

None of our members were aware that this international rescue team is based right here in Salisbury. We discovered this when one of our members came across them training in the river and weirs at Harnham here in Salisbury. On chatting to Craig he was only too pleased to come to speak to our IWA group.

All the members of “SO” are volunteers who undergo intensive training.

When there is a major catastrophe anywhere in the world they make themselves available as a quick response team to save lives. Like lifeboat crews, most have very understanding employers who realise the need for their immediate departure.

For example as a result of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 the team were able to carry out their first rescue within 23 hours of the initial tremor. Craig‘s team is often first on the scene, when other agencies arrive they are then able to pass over the rescue to others. “SO” also played a major role in the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

We were deeply inspired by Craig’s presentation and understand their need for continued financial support from the public.

JULY Meeting After days of blue skies & sunshine we were disappointed that at 7pm on Thursday 21st July the skies became overcast & the rain began to fall just as we threw the first jack for our annual boules match.

Not to be down hearted the first game continued until the wonderful BBQ was served, which was eaten in the dining room of the Green Dragon instead of under the sun shades in the garden.

However the rain eased enough to allow the final matches to take place. The members of the winning team were each awarded a chocolate orange for their efforts.

Jacques, our resident French guest umpired each match to ensure fair play.

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Programme of Events Thu 20th Oct: “The Thames Sailing Barge.” These craft were commercial vessels with flat bottoms built for the shallow waters & rivers of the Thames Estuary in the 19th century. They can dry out at low tide & could carry cargoes of 100 tons. Gareth Jones, who is a member of the Thames Sailing Barge Trust, will be telling us about the history of these craft & their use today.

Thu 17th Nov: “Pleasure Boating in the 1930s, 40s, & 50s.” Nick Grundy’s grandparents started pleasure boating on early hire boats before the Second World War. After the war they cruised extensively on their own boat, and were involved in some early IWA campaigns. Nick will present an illustrated talk using many old photographs, surviving log book and other historical material.

Thu 1st Dec: Waterways Quiz at Chilworth Village Hall organised by Southampton Canal Society. Questions will be set by the 2015 winners – Salisbury IWA. Thu 15th Dec: Christmas Dinner at the Green Dragon Alderbury.

Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at The Green Dragon, Old Road, Alderbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 3AR starting at 7.30pm when visitors will be warmly welcomed. Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on 01722 710322 email glover.3@btinternet.com or Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman The problems of the waterways in our branch can be summarised in one word "money" though there is without doubt a strong economic case for our waterways. It is estimated that the Basingstoke gets 1.3 million visitors a year. The Thames is a top tourist attraction. CRT has managed in reasonable short order to convert economic benefit and affection into public financial support for our waterways. While IWA will continue to press CRT to do more for its existing network, it will also argue the case for other waterways, notably the EA waterways, particularly the Thames, and for the Basingstoke for which there is increasing agreement that CRT is the only realistic home. It will be up to us at branch level as well as colleagues at national level to help to build bridges to achieve this or another similar long term goal. Much has been done to restore waterways but the job will not be complete unless there is long term stability.

Much remains to be done whether it is fundraising or lobbying. IWA through its members must continue to play a part. In that regard we need to be more active in social activities which serve to bring us together – it is disappointing that in a number of instances local meetings have ceased to be viable. We must also visit

10 our waterways and liaise with individual waterways societies and groups to learn more how we can help. Your committee having visited many shows in the summer led by Ray Carnell will look to build a programme of intersociety co-operation, so watch this space. In the meanwhile we wish all our local societies good fortune in challenging times. We will continue to be supportive and work together.

Gareth Jones

Around Reading It is satisfying from a Branch viewpoint that we have been able to reach the northernmost parts of our area through attendance at recent events around Reading.

On 17th May we were welcomed by the Reading Branch of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust for our annual joint meeting at Southcote (as some may recall these joint meetings have a long history going back to the days when they were held at Southcote library in late February each year). This year Dr Simon Wenham gave us a talk about Salters Steamers, a long-established business on the Thames. Although for many years associated with Folly Bridge in Oxford, it was perhaps surprising to find that the Salter family’s Thames connections originated with running a pub near where the River Wandle joined the Thames at Wandsworth. Dr Wenham’s wide-ranging talk covered the boatbuilding side of the business as well as operating public trip boats along the river. Dr Wenham, has written about the business in ‘Pleasure Boating on the Thames: a History of Salter Bros, 1858 - Present Day ‘. (Stroud, 2014) ISBN 9780750958332.

The programme of K&A Reading Branch meetings at Southcote will restart in the autumn and IWA members are welcome to attend any of these meetings, not just our annual joint meeting in the Spring.

In early June our Branch activities moved along the Thames to the Beale Park Boat and Outdoor Show where we again had a personal welcome from Richard Howard of the Child Beale Trust and where we found visitors to our Stand recalling nostalgically those ‘good old days’ when Beale Park hosted three IWA National Festivals in the space of eight years from 2003 to 2010. Our neighbours on site were CRT who made no secret of the fact that taking over the EA waterways (including the Thames running through the showground) was one of their objectives. Our IWA Stand was run in conjunction with Middlesex Branch and although takings this year did not match the record level in 2015 they were on a par with those of earlier years.

Our third Reading area appearance was just a week later, at the annual Reading Water Fest on 11th June. Some 23 craft took part supplemented by contingents from the local Sea Scouts and Sea Cadets. Water Fest is run by the Reading Branch of the K&A Canal Trust in conjunction with Reading Borough Council and the Trust’s Trip Boat Jubilee (on a special visit from her ‘home base’ at Newbury) was kept busy throughout the day. It seems amazing that Water Fest has been a feature of Reading’s Waterside entertainment for a quarter of a century!

This was marked by a photo display from previous years in the old Turbine Building and it is to the credit of David Copley and his team that the event seems to run like clockwork each year.

Ray Carnell

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Sales & Publicity Stand So, as we reach the end of July, we come to the halfway stage of our attendance at outside events around the Branch, with appearances at the Beale Park Boat & Outdoor Show, Reading Water Fest and Newbury Waterways Festival (see reports on pages 10 and 16). Our further events are Woking Canal Festival (6th & 7th August), Wey River Festival (24th September – see pages 21 & 23) and the Wey & Arun Canal Bicentenary Celebrations (1st & 2nd October – see pages 27 & 28).

It is pleasing to note that once again our efforts have been ably supported not only by our usual helpers from within the Branch but also by helpers from farther afield. At Beale Park, on our joint Stand, we had Robin Bishop and John Fevyer from Middlesex Branch whilst at Newbury Waterways Festival we were glad to welcome back our former Branch Chairman and Sales Officer Tony Firth and his wife Kate (from near Chippenham) plus Ron and Myra Glover of Salisbury Group in Avon & Wilts Branch. It is always good to meet up with those from neighbouring Branches in a common cause. At each of these events CRT were represented and were happy to chat about matters of common concern.

We hope that many of you were able to attend the Woking event (see page 12) and will also perhaps be at the Wey Festival in September and the Wey & Arun Celebrations in October. Do come along and make yourselves known at the Branch Stand.

Ray Carnell

Bits on the Basingstoke First the good news. The rally organised by the canal society in August is all set with adequate water. We were pleased to welcome a substantial contingent of craft from the Historic Narrow Boat Club.

We still have problems with Swan Cutting, Dogmersfield, dredging in general, water supply, but not yet this year, and an appetite for reviews in place of action.

No progress yet on the Mytchett site. Leading by James Taylor and Fiona Shipp is excellent but the dead hand of local authority bureaucracy and financial cut backs weighs heavily. The solution is to transfer to CRT but financing this may be problematic. As with the Kennet and Avon, where initial restoration was on the cheap and a major HLF grant came to the rescue, this seems to be a way forward with the Basingstoke but will Surrey CC and Hants CC see the light? Not to date, despite many promptings. Dogmersfield should happen this winter and we shall be applying to IWA for funding from the Tony Harrison legacy. Tony did much for the Basingstoke in his lifetime.

Gareth Jones

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Basingstoke Canal Society Chairman’s Report At the JMC meeting on 30th June it was reported that discussions were continuing between the Counties and the Canal & River Trust on the possible transfer of the canal to the Trust. Other options for the future management and funding of the canal were also being considered. A report on these discussions, together with recommendations for future action, would be submitted to the executives of the Counties in the autumn. It was also confirmed that the redevelopment of the Canal Centre should proceed, as the Society had recommended, in phases with the first phase comprising an upgrade of the camping field (which would enhance revenue) and the provision of proper facilities for the Canoe Club.

Elsewhere on the canal 3 sets of lock gates had been replaced at Locks 11 and 19, a cill repaired at lock 18 and Artillery Weir restored to full use. Works to reline the eastern portion of Ash Embankment to reduce seepage were completed at the end of March. The canal in Woking had been drained down during April to enable repairs to be made to the Rive Ditch culvert. In Hampshire the major task remains the repairs to the cutting at Dogmersfield following the serious landslip. It is now expected that these works will commence in October 2016 and take about 6 months to complete.

The Canal Society remains concerned about the silting and narrowing of the canal west of Swan Bridge, N. Warnborough. IWA’s Hon Consulting Engineer, Roy Sutton, has now completed an engineering report on the repairs needed to this section of the canal and this report will now form the basis of discussions with Hampshire CC on a repair scheme and funding for the project.

It is expected that a depth survey of the whole canal will be completed by the end of July and this will enable the Counties and the BCA to determine priorities for dredging. In parallel with this activity, Surrey CC will shortly issue an RFI for the repair of the dredger, Unity, which has been unserviceable for some time.

Philip Riley

Woking Canal Festival Woking Canal Festival, held in fine weather over the first weekend of August, was voted a great success by all concerned. All told some 48 craft were gathered along the Basingstoke Canal between Chertsey Road Bridge and Chobham Road Bridge to mark 50 years since the formation of the Historic Narrowboat Club and the 50th Anniversary of the Basingstoke Canal Society and also marking 25 years since the Canal was reopened to navigation in 1991.

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General views from Woking Canal Festival

Centre: Richard Parry, at opening with Woking Mayor and Philip Riley Clockwise from top left: Historic Narrow Boat Club stand; G&R Branch stand; BCS trip boat Kitty; Wilts & Berks stand; Canal Authority stand; Tug No.1

14 At a ceremony on the Saturday morning Philip Riley, Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal Society, welcomed distinguished guests and in particular Woking’s Mayor, Councillor Anne Murray, and Richard Parry, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust. Philip extended thanks to all who had supported the event including Woking Borough Council, the Basingstoke Canal Authority and the County Councils. He went on to outline the origins of the Canal Society, starting with Jim Woolgar’s letter to local press leading to a meeting to agree a way forward, followed in 1968 by a joint Canal Society & IWA Publication ‘BASINGSTOKE CANAL the case for restoration’. He saw this weekend’s event as a celebration of all the work over the years by dedicated volunteers from a variety of canal restoration groups.

On conclusion of the speeches the event was officially declared open by Richard Parry, with much acclaim from the assembled audience.

Present at the event were stands from a variety of Waterways related organisations and our pictures show the wide extent of that involvement. Parades of boats also took place with pride of place at the head of the convoy falling to TUG No.1 (with Tony Clark at the helm). The Canal Society’s new trip boat (Kitty) was kept busy with boat trips which were also provided by Maggie G from the Woking Recreational Boating.

On the evening of the opening day of the Festival, a large number of members gathered in the Canal Society’s Marquee for a 50th Anniversary celebration when there was a special cake, duly cut by Brian Smith, a longstanding Volunteer. Robin Higgs recalled his very long service with the Society and the various offices he had held. He mentioned in particular his trip down the canal on the occasion of the reopening when they had conveyed messages of greeting to each of the Councils through whose territory they travelled. The Society’s Copresidents, Tim and Liz Dodwell also spoke and Liz expressed her appreciation of the fact that the Society’s newly acquired Trip Boat was to be named ‘Kitty’ which was the name of her mother (Joan Marshall)’s horse. Everyone present received a commemorative Brochure prepared by Roger Cansdale which chronicled the remarkable history of the Society from that first letter from Jim Woolgar in the local Press to the current golden jubilee celebrations.

One of the highlights on the Sunday was the Mikron Theatre Company’s performance of ‘Pure’ which was enjoyed by a large audience.

Ray Carnell

Events on the Basingstoke Wed 14th Sep, 2.30pm: Cream Tea Special, with piano accompaniment departing from Colt Hill, Odiham, approx. 2½ hour trip. Tickets: £15.

Fri 16th Sep, 7.00pm: Acoustic & Ale Special, departing from Colt Hill, Odiham, approx. 3½ hour trip. Tickets: Adults £25, to include Acoustic Duo Still Crazy band and fish & chips delivered to the boat. Real ale available to purchase.

15 Fri 23rd Sep, 7.00pm: Jazz & Ale Special, departing from Colt Hill, Odiham, approx. 3½ hour trip. Tickets: Adults £25, to include jazz band and fish & chips delivered to the boat. Real ale available to purchase.

PLEASE NOTE: Trip durations may be longer than stated when the Canal water level is low, for example after periods of little rain.

Bookings and Enquiries These public and special trips are popular, and to avoid disappointment, we suggest you make an advanced booking using our secure on-line booking system.

We are limited to 50 passengers for each trip (except where a lower limit is stated), so cannot guarantee to have space at the last moment. For more information, or to make a booking for any of our trips, contact the Booking Team, on 01256 765889 (10am – 8pm), or via email at jpbookings@basingstoke-canal.org.uk

Chobham Meetings The meetings will be held as usual on the third Wednesday of the month at the Parish Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Station Road, Chobham, nr. Woking GU24 8AZ commencing at 8pm. Malcolm Brickwood has taken over the role of Talks Organiser and we wish him well in this role.

Coffee/tea and biscuits will be available during the interval. Raffle and retiring collection. Non-members and friends are very welcome. Please pass the word around. The Autumn programme is shown below: Wed 19th Oct: The Regents Canal - History and an Overview of the Canal Today by Dr Roger Squires: The Regents Canal links Little Venice [Paddington] to the Thames at Limehouse. When it opened in 1820 it completed a back route around London to the Docks. As with so many canal schemes, costs were far in excess of budgets. The first section was opened in 1816 [200 years ago this year, on 12th August]. It was also hit by fraud. Only after more money was gained through a Government Loan was the Company able to complete the project. Once open, the canal was a success. Traffic remained on the canal until the 1970’s, after which the decision was made to ‘single’ the double locks and substitute spill weirs in the second lock chambers. This enabled the removal of the Lock Keepers. Today the canal is even busier than in its commercial era, with large numbers of ‘continuous cruisers’ lining its towpath.

Wed 16th Nov: The Thames Bridges, Staines to Kingston by Nick Pollard: Following Nick's visit to us last season, this talk will explore the history of each bridge, including all the different structures which have been built at each site over the centuries. These range from the original Roman Bridge at Staines to the new Walton Bridge opened in 2013. The story features disputes, collapses and world famous artists. Nick Pollard is the Chairman of Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society and author of 'The History of Walton Bridge.'

16 Wed 21st Dec: A Watery Canadian Adventure - Cruising around the Islands of Vancouver by Ron & Myra Glover: In 2013 Ron & Myra, who have given several previous talks, had a change from cruising around Europe in their own boat. They flew across the Atlantic to Canada and hired a 40 foot cruiser in order to explore the waterways and islands around Vancouver. They navigated rivers and creeks and visited the islands to sample the local way of life.

Further information at http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk or contact Malcolm Brickwood at chobham.talks@basingstoke-canal.org.uk Mark Coxhead operates a free email reminder service. Reminder emails are sent about a week prior. To be included on the list please contact Mark Coxhead at mark@coxhead.org.uk

Kennet & Avon Canal News Past Events Newbury Waterways Festival: The Newbury Waterways Festival took place on Sunday 24th July. At Victoria Park, right in the centre of Newbury, you will have seen pirates wandering about with their narrowboats decorated up with flags, balloons and bunting for our theme ‘Pirates of the Kennet and Avon’. We even had rats in the rigging! Congratulations to Terry Gray on ‘Cloud 9’ for winning the best dressed boat award – an award he has often won in the past. Trip boat Jubilee was busy running full trips throughout the day, looking like a pirate galleon!

On the G&R Branch Stand, Quentin Webb, Chairman of West Berkshire Council, is welcomed by Verna Smith

17 The park was packed with stalls, entertainment, and food outlets and several thousand people passed through during the day. The weather was perfect – just right for a drink from the K&A Brewery tent selling their delicious craft beers.

‘The Kevin O’Regan Band’ proved very popular and were great fun. Enjoyed by all, the band was joined by Katie, a very talented young lady who not only played the flute but enthralled visitors with her Irish dancing.

The Festival concluded in spectacular fashion with the traditional duck race when hundreds of ducks, yellow and blue, ‘raced’ down the canal to the finish.

Winning duck 631 was won by a delighted Pauline Wilson.

Festival Director Rob Dean said ‘The Festival was a great success for both the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, our partners The Canal & River Trust and the many other charities who engaged with the thousands of visitors and raised a little money from them’.

Julie Dean

Crofton Pumping Station

Crofton, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3DW

Tel: 01672 870300 A branch of The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Registered Charity No. CC209206 VAT No. 357 4551 36

Crofton Beam Engines Boiler Appeal One of the jewels of the Kennet & Avon Canal is Crofton Beam Engines, the Grade 1 listed steam pumping station which is still able to supply the summit level of the canal with water. Crofton is home to two beam engines dating from 1812 and 1846; the 1812 engine is the oldest fully working steam engine in the world, and a truly unique onsite survivor of Georgian steam technology. With every stroke of the beam each engine raises one ton of water for the canal yet it seems so quiet and effortless. These wonderful engines can be seen in action over Bank Holidays or end of the month steaming weekends between Easter and the end of September.

The site is also open to visitors daily except for Wednesdays and visitors can make a tour of the engine house as well as enjoying a coffee or meal in the Engineman’s Rest cafe.

However this great experience is under threat; The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust are working to raise over £27,500 of funding to keep the monthly steaming events going during 2017 and after. The funding is needed to repair Crofton’s coal fired Lancashire boiler which at more than 100 years old needs a significant amount of work over this coming winter’s service period.

Peter Turvey, Chairman of the Crofton branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, said “We would encourage everyone to visit us and enjoy this steam experience. Crofton is a unique in the world site of industrial history and has provided pleasure to many thousands of people over the years seeing these marvelous engines in action during our steaming events. Crofton gives a look of wonder to children and parents alike as it demonstrates the size and power of these

18 engines. With history back to the industrial revolution this is a very special site set in a beautiful location. We are urgently raising the funds to allow us to complete these works over this coming winter so that we can continue steaming not just next year but for many years to come.”

Opening times, details of how to contribute to the boiler appeal, and much more detail for Crofton is available from www.croftonbeamengines.org.

For further information please contact David Throup: Mob 07879 492540 Email: publicity@croftonbeamengines.org Charity number: 209206.

Forthcoming Events The Reading Branch holds monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of the month from September to May (excluding Dec). These take place at The Grange Free Church, Circuit Lane, Southcote, READING, RG30 3HD starting at 7.45 pm.

Entry donation £2.50 (incl K&A members) – to help with expenses. Further information from: John Swift who can be reached on 0118 941 5540 or 07533 886 917 and by email: swift.john21@gmail.com. Details of the Autumn programme will be available on the K&A Website : http://katrust.org.uk/reading-branch/’ Fri 2nd Sep, 6.30pm-10.00pm: Devizes Wharf, Carnival on the Canal, free entry: Devizes Branch’s annual celebration in partnership with the town. Food and drink, music and dancing, and lots of information, entertainment and shopping relating to the canal (see www.katrust.org.uk/events).

River Thames News The Thames is showing increasing signs of the effects of the cuts to funding from the Treasury. What the EA can provide in these circumstances inevitably means that the service to both boaters and tourists is well below the desired level.

It is vital that the Thames is maintained in a good state for whoever manages it in the future. The work that has been done to ensure political involvement should continue as the new Prime Minister also has a Thames-side constituency. The problems of charges to boaters who are based in marinas continues with time and energy diverted from managing the waterway into preparing for the Appeal, which legal precedent suggests may not be successful. The EA has rejected the example of the Medway legislation due to legal considerations. We can but hope for a change in management and/or improved funding.

Gareth Jones

19 Report on the River Thames Alliance AGM The RTA AGM took place in Marlow on July 26th which was clearly a bad time of year for some delegates. There were a number of reports relating to the RTA’s ‘Thames Waterways Plan’ and Steve Good, Chairman of IWA Oxfordshire Branch, spoke about the possibility of using the upper reaches of the Thames catchment area to alleviate flooding further downstream. This work is at an early stage but the possibility of using both existing and new gravel pits for water storage is being explored alongside tree planting. He is actively seeking funding for a feasibility study. Steve also spoke of the success in setting up an all -party parliamentary group specifically for the R. Thames. This group includes both past and present Prime Ministers’ constituencies. They have met once to discuss flooding issues and are keen to see the above work progress.

Verna Smith

River Wey News Guildford Lions Charity Raft Race The first Saturday in July saw the usual motley collection of rafts assemble on the Wey in the centre of Guildford to take part in the annual Guildford Lions Charity Raft Race with this year's Theme being 'Comic Characters'.

Some of the entries in the Raft Race

20 An untimely heavy shower just before the start did not dampen the enthusiasm of the intrepid crews, many of whom were to experience more of a drenching from fellow competitors as the race progressed. Clearly much ingenuity had gone into the design of the vessels although it was soon evident that some were not wholly 'fit for purpose'. It was reassuring therefore that rescue craft from Guildford Sea Cadets were standing by. A total of some 20 craft took part and it is estimated that around £5,000 will be raised from pledges from those taking part.

Ray Carnell

River Wey steamboat event gets bigger!

The colourful presence of some 18 steam launches of different sizes and vintages made 2016’s gathering on the River Wey the biggest of the four held to date.

‘Puffing-a-Wey’ is a joint National Trust (NT) and Steamboat Association of Great Britain (SBA) event held at Dapdune Wharf in central Guildford in July. The Trust owns the River Wey and Godalming navigations, maintaining the waterways to a high standard, and the Dapdune heritage site is their centre of operations.

Almost hidden behind the Surrey Country Cricket Ground, Dapdune has a uniquely rural atmosphere despite its closeness to central Guildford.

A number of SBA members regard the Wey as home waters, and steamboats somehow ‘fit’ because they are extremely colourful. No two are the same and like all steam powered transports they seem to breathe and have their own individual voices, be it a huge chime whistle of the sort you might hear on an American locomotive or a discreet terribly English ‘peep’, more in keeping with the scale of the craft. A few steamboaters might admit that they only run their boat for the whistle and the steam kettle – the highly polished and fast acting ‘Windermere kettle’ being an essential piece of equipment.

‘Puffing-a-Wey’ is popular with visitors and parking at Dapdune was pushed to the limits. Boaters were asked if, for the one official day of the event, they would not go too far but to keep the wharf area busy with lots to look at. Boats ranged from the 42’ steam narrow boat ‘Trevor’ and the impressive steel inspection launch ‘Surta’, also 42’, to the tiny 14’ ‘Melissa’ a perfect little gem.

In between was ‘Aurora’ a startlingly elegant counter-stern river launch well over 100 years old and the model from which the ‘Frolic’ range of GRP hulls was developed in the 1980’s. The NT, indeed, run ‘Dapdune Belle’, a 36’ Frolic electric trip boat, a direct descendent of ‘Aurora’ which was visiting with her lady owner from Windermere. Other boats visiting at the weekend included ‘Theodoor’, from Holland, her Dutch owner being delighted to fill her with visitors for short excursions up or downstream.

Some of those present were coal fired, others were burning kerosene but in each case, whatever the age of the boat, the’ look’ was essentially Victorian or Edwardian, whether the boat carried a clerestoried cabin or was simply arranged as an open launch or day boat. Many of the engines – singles, twins or compounds were built by the owners themselves. Being steam powered their moving parts are largely exposed making even a short trip on one of these craft highly memorable.

21 One of the delights of steamboating is that it is still reasonably accessible. A 16’ open launch might cost between £6,000 and £8,000 depending on condition, but

maintenance is important as is safety and the SBA aims to promote best practice in both areas. The SBA also provides boiler design assessments and boiler testing services through its trading arm. New boats are being built all the time and usually in the summer season around 90 SBA vessels might be in steaming condition somewhere around the UK. The SBA website, (www.steamboatassociation.org.uk), gives a full picture of boats and events.

Puffing-a-Wey is so popular it will certainly happen again in 2017. Watch the NT calendar or the SBA website for details and the date, yet to be set.

Mark Rudall

Wey River Festival River Wey Navigation, Dapdune Wharf, 23rd – 24th September 2016 This year’s Wey River festival will be held at Dapdune Wharf in the heart of Guildford. There will be plenty of moorings available on the towpath side of the river both up and down stream. Facilities will be available at Dapdune Wharf and the railway bridge offers easy access to moorings and is well lit at night. The Trust will be offering a 20% discount on visitor licences for visiting boats coming to the festival.

On Friday evening there will be entertainment for boaters at the Wharf and on Saturday a variety of stalls and activities for all the family, including demonstrations form the Surrey Wood Turners and ’have a go’ sessions with Guildford archery club, the Black Dragon Morris dancers, pony rides, a climbing wall and much, much more.

Around dusk on Saturday, the illuminated procession will leave Millmead lock and travel to Dapdune Wharf led by the Croydon Steel Orchestra. A wonderful spectacle not to be missed.

For further details and entry form please contact the navigations office on 01483 561389 or email riverwey@nationaltrust.org.uk Fiona Exall

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A25 Ladymead to A320 Woking Road – river bank repairs and towpath improvements The aim of the project is to stabilise and strengthen the river bank which has over the years suffered from erosion and under cutting. As the towpath in this location runs through Guildford it will be treated in a similar way to that running through the town centre and will be finished off with an unbounded dust to stone finish. This will still allow a horse to tow a barge while improving access by foot and cycle for everyone else.

The specification for the bank works is much the same as that found through the town centre. The majority of the work is “soft” which over time will provide benefits for nature conservation and enhance the biodiversity along this length of the river. A relatively small section of the works, from A3 Bridge to A25 Bridge, have been re-steel sheeted. The sheeting is of size larger than we usually use along the waterway to provide extra strength and stability during large floods. The sheeting will of course improve the current visitor moorings in this area.

Pictures: Mike Lewis The site runs adjacent to Guildford Borough Councils Parsonage Meadow and while the area is a good conservation site – it is a SANG (Suitable Alternative

23 Natural Greenspace) - it also serves as an important flood meadow. The works therefore will neither increase the bank and path above existing levels nor encroach into the river channel.

Funding for the project comes via the Local Enterprise Partnership and is held by Guildford Borough Council who have appointed the various contractors undertaking the work with National Trust consent. The works are due to be completed late August early September and we are all looking forward to the towpath being reopened for all to use.

John Gibson Navigations Manager for the River Wey Navigations

Forthcoming Events Wed 7th Sep, 11.00am-3.00pm: Discover Send Workshop: In the 19th-century, Send was the centrepiece of the Wey Navigations. As part of the Heritage Open Days, we invite you to a fascinating peek into a working 17th century barn, the home of the Wey Navigations Maintenance team. Free event.

Sat 10th Sep, 11.00am-5.00pm: Heritage Open Days: Dapdune Wharf and Shalford Mill. Airing the archives and artefact collection at Dapdune. Guided walk at 2.00pm from Dapdune to the Town Centre and the tread wheel crane. Free event.

Sat 24th Sep, 11.00am: Wey River Festival: Boaters and visitors alike will be welcome to celebrate everything that is great about the river. Boats will be moored around Dapdune Wharf for the weekend. There will be lots of entertainment with stalls and activities, such as children's crafts, a climbing wall, Surrey Wood Turners and a chance to have a go at willow weaving. At dusk there will be an illuminated pageant with the brightly coloured boats going up to Millmead and back, accompanied by Croydon Steel Orchestra. While you wait for the boats to appear, Guildford Astronomical Society will show you the night sky.

Sun 25th Sep, 10.00am: Know your Wey walk: Meet at Shalford Mill for a walk along the Wey from Broadford Bridge upstream to Trowers Bridge and join the footpath to Bramley. We'll go along the old Cranleigh Line and route of the Wey and Arun Canal. Bring a packed lunch. Approx. 7 miles.

Southampton Canal Society Forthcoming Meetings Thu 1st Sep: “The Past & Future� by James Brown, Culture & Heritage Archaeologist for the New Forest: Hear about the ice houses, churchyards & memorials, there is so much the Forest has seen and heard over the years.

24 Thu 6th Oct: “Cruising around the Canals” by SCS members Eric and Sue Lewis: Thu 3rd Nov: Pete and Jane of the Day Star Theatre, on their yearly visit to Southampton: Their new production is called “What's Good for the Goose?” A very entertaining show.

Tickets £10 from the Secretary, Angela Rose Thu 1st Dec: Inter Society Waterways Quiz: IWA Salisbury Group as last year’s winning team will be organising the Quiz and the evening is hosted by SCS. The traditional American Supper will finish off the evening.

Meetings, unless specifically stated otherwise, are held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth Southampton SO16 7JZ. Start 7.45pm Visitors welcome. For monthly Newsletter visit www.sotoncs.org.uk or ring 02380 675312.

Wey and Arun Canal Trust WACT News A horse-drawn narrowboat will travel the canal at Loxwood for the first time in nearly 150 years during celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Wey & Arun.

The Canal Trust’s trip boat Zachariah Keppel will be pulled in traditional style for public excursions on Saturday, 1st October.

Plans are shaping up for a whole weekend of events, beginning at 11am on the Saturday with a ceremony at Pallingham Bridge in West Sussex, near the canal’s junction with the River Arun. A bicentennial baton will start its journey north along the waterway’s route.

Small boat owners, canoeists and kayakers are invited to a rally on the canal’s Loxwood section from 11am to 4pm. Booking essential via www.weyandarun.co.uk, where full details are available.

Events based at the Canal Centre there will include further trips on the electric boat Wiggonholt, and children’s activities and everyone is invited to dress in costumes typical of the late Georgian era.

There will be a special historical display in the Canal Centre, where the band Sax ’n Swing will be playing.

Celebrations move to the Summit Level at Alfold on the Sunday, 2nd October, with another small boats rally on the recently restored canal section from 11am to 1pm. Again, book via the WACT website.

At noon, actor Dame Penelope Keith – Patron of the Surrey Hills – will formally open the new Compasses Bridge. The renowned Friary Guildford Brass Band will provide musical entertainment and there will be refreshments for all.

25 The Compasses Inn was the location for the official opening by the then Lord Egremont of the combined Arun Navigation and Wey & Arun Junction Canal in September 1816.

Parking for everyone will be available until 11.30am at Dunsfold Park, through Compasses Gate across the new bridge. There will be no access to the celebrations via the aerodrome’s main entrance in Stovold Hill.

A third small boats rally starts at Gun’s Mouth, Shalford, at 2pm on the Sunday. The flotilla will progress up to Guildford and through the town centre to the accompaniment of the bells ringing out at Shalford and St Nicolas churches – as they did for the canal opening 200 years ago.

The flotilla will take about 1½ hours to travel up to the wharf. Those who would like to take part in a shorter voyage will be able to launch at the town centre lock, which has plenty of public parking nearby.

A celebration tea for WACT members will take place in the Sea Cadet HQ next to Dapdune Wharf from 4.30pm, the brass band having moved up to entertain again. Places for the meal must be booked via the website.

During the Dapdune Wharf event, a member’s new narrowboat will be officially named Wey-Away by the Mayor of Guildford.

It is hoped the small boats rallies will be as successful as the Trust’s Arun rally in May, when dozens of people explored the river between Pulborough and Pallingham Canoeists negotiate the Arun Quay. They were celebrating the long tradition during the 2016 WACT of boats navigating a river which was once part small boats rally on the river. of a route from London to the South Coast.

“Yet again we had a brilliant turn-out, with a colourful collection of small craft travelling up the Arun,” said Sally Schupke. “Everyone had an enjoyable time on the river and many said they are looking forward to next year’s rally.”

Compasses Appeal In the run-up to the bicentennial weekend, the Trust has launched a “last push” appeal for the Compasses Bridge project, seeking to raise £120,000 to finish the crossing in Alfold. With volunteers now busy on the final stages of construction work, WACT has calculated this amount is needed for the completion of its largest navigation restoration scheme so far in Surrey.

“We hope that the public will respond generously and help us complete the project in 2016,” said Trust Chairman Sally Schupke. “Then our teams can move

26 on to the next restoration job.

Donations can be made via the website home page or by sending a cheque made out to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust to Compasses Appeal, WACT Northern Office, Bridge End, Somerswey, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey GU4 8EQ. The Trust asks that eligible donors Gift Aid the money they give, which adds 25p from the Government to every £1 – declaration forms available via the website if required.

Huge strides in construction work were made at the WACT Summer Camp in July, when Waterway Recovery Group members and Trust volunteers worked on Compasses Bridge and made a start on a new slipway nearby.

With the remains of the previous concrete causeway cleared away, good progress was made on the training walls and other brickwork on the northern side of the bridge.

Down the canal towards Loxwood, WACT’s Thursday and WACT volunteers pouring concrete to Sunday Group have begun building construct the deck of the new bridleway the new bridleway bridge over Gennets bridge at Gennets Bridge Lock.

Bridge Lock, with a concrete pour to construct the span. Work is also continuing apace on the brickwork lining the lock chamber.

WACT’s sponsored walk at the beginning of June raised around £10,000 towards Trust’s funds including Gift Aid. The money was amassed by 157 people who took part in the annual Poddle, an 11-mile stroll in the West Sussex and Surrey countryside from Loxwood to Compasses and back.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Wey & Arun Canal Trust Press and Public Relations Officer Rob Searle.

Tel: 01276 857914 Mob: 07913 416435 e-mail: rob_searle@weyandarun.co.uk

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Forthcoming Events Regular Public Trips run from 2nd Apr until 30th Oct, see http://www.weyandarun.co.uk//tripboats/ Sat 10th Sep, 2.30pm, Heritage Open Days - Whipley Bridge: Visit Whipley Rail Bridge and Josias Jessop’s canal swingbridge, Shamley Green, and join us on the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s new Calcott Reilly walk trail. See how the 1865 Guildford-Horsham railway crossed the 1816 Wey & Arun Canal at Whipley via an iron truss bridge designed by Calcott Reilly which leapt across the canal at a very acute angle. Unfortunately the bridge no longer exists (thank you Dr. Beeching) but the extensive, somewhat confusing, brick abutments and retaining walls survive.

WACT and visiting working parties have recently cleared the area so the structure can be seen more clearly. A short distance south is a swingbridge designed by Josias Jessop. The Wey and Arun Heritage expert and WACT director Alan Johnson will guide you over both sites. Meet at Shamley Green Church Car Park, Church Hill, Shamley Green, Surrey GU4 0UD. Approximately 4 miles, 2 hours.

Pre-booking required: telephone: 01483 505566 or email: events@weyandarun.co.uk by noon, Thu 8th Sep. Sun 11th Sep, 2.30pm, Walk from Gunpowder Store to Bramley: Led by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust publicity officer, Rob Searle. Approximately 1½ miles, 2 hours. The Wey & Arun Canal was the crucial section of the inland waterway formerly linking London to the English Channel. The northernmost mile of the canal is within Guildford Borough. Guided walk starting from the Gunpowder Store at Stonebridge Wharf, Shalford, along parts of the course of the canal to the former Bramley Wharf. This is also an opportunity to explore the new viewing platform in Hunt Nature Park built by volunteers of the Trust and opened by the Rt. Hon. Anne Milton MP in 2015. Pre-booking required: telephone: 01483 505566 or email: events@weyandarun.co.uk by noon Thu 8th Sep. Meet at Gunpowder Store, Stonebridge Wharfside, Shalford. Gunpowder Store may also open. Parking available at Broadford Business Park, Shalford GU4 8EP. Sat 1st Oct, Bicentenary Celebrations: 10.30am Official Launch of Celebrations at Pallingham Quay Bridge. Our Bicentennial Baton will start its journey north along the banks of the canal up to Loxwood.

11.00am-4.00pm Small Boat Rally at Loxwood. Dress up in the fashions of 1816, jazz band entertainment, special boat trips, children’s games, historical displays in the Canal Centre 11.00am Bacon Bap Cruise on the Trust’s electric trip boat, Wiggonholt, from Canal Centre to collect the Bicentennial Baton at Drungewick. Booking essential – see website for details and prices.

3.00pm Traditional Afternoon Tea Cruise on Wiggonholt to take the Bicentennial Baton to Southland Lock. Booking essential – see website for details.

6.00pm & 7.00pm Illuminated Canal Cruises on Wiggonholt to Brewhurst Lock – see website for details and prices.

28 Sun 2nd Oct, Bicentenary Celebrations (cont.): 10.30am Bicentennial Baton Relay leaves Southland Lock in Ifold to be taken to Alfold in Surrey.

11.00am-1.00pm Small Boats Rally at Compasses Bridge Alfold, with the Bicentennial Baton arriving there by noon.

12.00 Noon Official Opening of Compasses Bridge by Penelope Keith, followed by refreshments for all and entertainment by the Guildford Friary Band. The baton relay continues north to Gun’s Mouth at Shalford.

2.00pm-4.30pm Boats Rally from Gun’s Mouth, Shalford, up to Dapdune Wharf at Guildford. The bells of Shalford and St Nicolas churches will ring out, emulating the celebratory peals of 1816.

4.30pm Celebration Tea for Trust Members at the Sea Cadet Headquarters, Dapdune Wharf, including naming ceremony for a member’s brand new narrowboat, to be called Wey-Away in honour of the Wey & Arun Canal.

Further details and booking from the Trust Office on 01403 752403. office@weyandarun.co.uk www.weyandarun.co.uk Northern Office Phone: 01483 505566 (Mondays-Thursdays, 8.30am-12.30pm)

IWAKES Branch News Past Events Dartford & Crayford Navigation Roxhill Developments’ consultant has written to Bexley Development Control rebutting the arguments made in IWAKES’ letter of objection to a fixed bridge.

IWAKES does now accept that the proposed bridge’s soffit would be at the same level as that of the existing North Kent Railway Bridge at the entrance to Vitbe Basin. However, Roxhill’s consultant has not explained why they originally proposed a lift bridge (if there was no need for it). Nor have they explained how both Environment Agency and Port of London Authority agreed to allow a development that excludes masted vessels from what is presently freely navigable water.

Conrad Broadley has sailed his yacht to the wharf just downstream of the North

29 Kent Railway to show that the site is good for laying up craft. The key to not losing more of the Crayford Navigations is that it be frequently used now that the fallen trees have all been removed. ‘Use it or lose it’.

Kentish Stour Contractor ‘Costain’, repairing the railway bridge near Weatherleas for Network Rail, proposed to scaffold and sheet around it in a manner that would prevent navigation. Roy Newing (IWAKES Representative) and 19 other objectors contacted the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). They subsequently approved a 5m wide gap without fendering (on a blind bend with a 4 knot tide). This was a disastrous let down by MMO. A subsequent meeting, led by the Royal Yachting Association’s legal department, caused Costain to amend the plan to a minimum 8m gap, on a straight course and with full lighting. It has been found that the bridge is more deteriorated than expected and it seems likely the repairs will spread over two years (but without preventing navigation).

River Adur For the last few decades IWA has been campaigning for improved boat launching facilities on the river Adur, in Shoreham by Sea. Plans for a much needed replacement public slipway were dealt a severe blow on Thursday, 14th July when Adur District Council confirmed that a contract will shortly be awarded for a redesigned public car park adjacent to a proposed slipway site. Since these plans do not take into account the practicalities of a slipway that has essentially already been granted Planning Permission, albeit with conditions, it will effectively end any chances to build a slipway at the most logical location in Shoreham. This site, at Ferry Road has been a launching place for centuries and has the following advantages: 1. It is downstream of all bridges hence both power and sailing craft could be launched.

2. There is an adjacent public car park that could cater for both local needs and boat users. An alternative car park design to that being imposed by the local council demonstrates that all needs can be met; it would also provide MORE parking spaces.

3. This alternative is safer. In particular it retains the present position of the adjacent zebra crossing. Amazingly, the design that the Council is pressing ahead with involves a re-sited crossing which does not have the support of the Police!

4. It would help boost local businesses and boost trade for the adjacent Green King pub.

30 5. There is a wide range of supporters for this location including the Shoreham Slipways Group, the Sea Scouts and representatives of several local sailing clubs.

6. The local County Local Committee, a West Sussex County Council focus group, is keen for a new Adur public slipway to be created and has provided both financial and political support.

The Shoreham Slipways Group and ADC will now have to reconsider another planning application for a slipway further upstream. Unfortunately, there is strong opposition to a slipway at that location, despite it being almost opposite what was the town's main slipway, at Ropetackle which was rendered useless by the removal of the trailer parking facilities. It looks like Shoreham is a maritime town that has turned its back on small boat owners!

Brendan Whelan

River Medway News Teston Bridge A large hole has appeared in the wall of the bridge in Teston, near Maidstone, and police had no option but to close the crossing, as it is no longer safe.

Historic Teston Bridge remains shut to all traffic. Damage is reported to have been caused by the stormy weather though there are reports it was hit by a council vehicle.

Traffic is now forced to use alternative routes, making journeys along roads such as the A26 Tonbridge Road slow going for motorists. The bridge over the River Medway is mediaeval in origin, and was widened in 1749.

Following discussions with the EA and KCC it has been confirmed that the bridge is still safe to Navigation as the fallen brick work has not impeded the Navigation channel. More details are on the Medway Boaters Facebook page and Kent Online website Gathering of Boats 30 Maidstone The annual GATHERING OF BOATS as always is very much alive and kicking, taking place on the Medway in Maidstone at the end of July. As we are all aware the Borough Council are not willing to commit to any official event.

31 So we need to show them that the Boating Community is very much alive and that they are missing a very major opportunity.

Giant Hogweed spraying The spraying of this invasive species has continued along the Medway and is now thought to be complete thanks to volunteers from the MRUA (Medway River Users Assoc.) with help from the Medway Valley Countrywide Partnership Warning, MINK!

Ok they look cute, BUT beware they can do so much damage to a boat. They have been spotted in Wateringbury, They will be raising their young now., If you have not been on your boat for a while please check it out very soon , They are also known to be in the Yalding area, Any siting’s please advise MRUA so people can be aware. http://www.mrua.co.uk/ Tonbridge Lock refurbishment.

This work has now been completed and has really enhanced the riverside at Tonbridge, the head of the navigation for powerd craft. Do visit the town to see for yourself.

St Pancras Cruising Club Recently some Cruising Club members completed a trip in narrowboats from the Thames tideway, round to Sheerness and then up along the tidal section of the Medway to Allington Lock. The boats then continued on to Tonbridge, the trip taking about 3 weeks. This is the first such trip for the club in the last 20 years. I believe stops were made at Gravesend and Queenborough en route.

Mike Marsh

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Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust Sutton Hall (Isfield) Lock The majority of major restoration work at Sutton Hall Lock is now complete.

One item left is a lock safety ladder, which we have had fabricated by a company in Hailsham. This still needs to be installed, but its weight combined with the foul weather thus far this “summer” has conspired against us in completing this task – it is difficult to arrange a day when sufficient numbers can assist with this very heavy item when the lock keeps being filled with water and is in constant need of pumping out!

The site at Sutton Hall has now been generally tidied, fenced for safety with rustic post-and-rail and liberally sown with grass seed. Our working party coordinator Ted Lintott has arranged a rota of willing (?) volunteers who now visit site on a regular basis to keep it at a reasonable state of presentation.

Irongate Lock (Sheffield Park) In the early part of the year we had a number of work party visits to Irongate Lock, in the meadowlands south of the main National Trust gardens at Sheffield Park. We were hoping to start restoration work here in earnest this year but unfortunately the current senior National Trust management on site there are not as keen on going ahead with this as their predecessor was. They have no previous experience in a restoration of this type and are unsure that it is the best way to preserve the remains. We, of course, believe that the only real solution is a full restoration as anything else will just postpone the gradual and inexorable total decay of the structure, but they are unsure. They have therefore commissioned Museum of London Archaeology to prepare a feasibility study on various options for the site, from a “do nothing” approach through consolidation as-is to a full restoration, with a full cost-benefit analysis of each scenario. We have met with the MoLA team and presented our own case as best we can and we await their report, which should not be too long in coming. We have also of course stressed our willingness to project-manage a full restoration and to provide volunteer labour for this. We have also tried to convey the historical importance of the lock and navigation in the overall context of Sheffield Park, as it was the first Lord Sheffield who was the prime mover in promoting the navigation and who provided a large proportion of the initial funding.

Polebay Lock Another lock a little further upstream on the Sussex Ouse - Polebay Lock, not far from the Sloop Inn north of Scaynes Hill - has recently become another SORT work site. A new landowner offered SORT access to the lock so that trees and debris could be cleared. Consequently SORT volunteers cleared undergrowth and small bushes from the site and then WRG Forestry team came down to Sussex to finish the job, and over the course of a weekend in June cleared a number of large trees. It is hoped that the structure can now be protected from further decay pending possible future restoration.

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Bob Draper

Royal Military Canal Shepway District Council is proposing to develop presently open land near Prince's Parade at the eastern end of the canal. A group called ‘Friends of Princes Parade’ is objecting to the proposals. Their website is at http://saveprincesparade.org.

A drone video showing the area affected is at https://vimeo.com/174333356/princes_parade John Rich

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Thames & Medway Canal Association Time and tide as they say.... Although the canal was very much subject to the tides from which it is now isolated, time rushes on. It seems that all varieties of weed and reed are attacking us. At the beginning of the summer we were patting ourselves on the back for the clearance of the area known as the winding hole. The turning circle was clear and the approach was treeless for the first time in more than five years. The work on the railway power supply installation was nearly complete and we would soon have this entire length of waterway back in our control. This would also mean that the tow path would be resurfaced as part of the Network Rail agreement.

For some unknown reason the scrubland south of the part of the canal not owned by NR has been completely cleared by the owner and now resembles a battlefield. The local council and North Kent Wildlife Trust have objected and the owner told to stop his activities but too late for the wildlife. No one has been able to determine the reason for the clearance. Conversely the canal itself suffered from a blight of pondweed during the early spring which has now reduced but has given way to what appears to be a heavy infestation of parrot weed, causing the cancellation of boating events planned for this summer.

As part of our 40th year celebrations at the end of July we had intended to hold an Open Day encouraging members of the public to take to the water in our small fleet of dinghies. Instead our celebrations have been limited to a stroll along the resurfaced towpath and an inspection of what has been achieved. Back in 1976 less than 1000 metres of the canal had any water and that was very shallow and of poor quality. Now the length in water is in excess of 3000m, an achievement that was a mere pipe dream in those days. Once we have removed the remaining trees growing from the bed of canal we will be able to raise the water level and have small boats traversing the full 3Km. It will however be a very long time before we can manage the 5.5Km voyage to Dung Wharf as there is a huge amount of infill occupying a section in private ownership. --- Maybe at the celebration of our 60th year?

Future IWAKES and Other Events Thu 22nd Sep, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend, DA12 2BS: “Overview of a Harbourmaster’s work”: Steve Rushbrook, Port of London Authority Thu 20th Oct, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend. DA12 2BS: ‘Exploring Higham’ by Kate Woolacott:

35 Thu 17th Nov, 7.00pm for 7.30pm: The Upper Room, Perrymount Methodist Church, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DM (near the railway station and 200 yards from Clair Hall): ‘Railways of the Sussex Ouse Valley’: Sam Bee (of the Bluebell Railway): Fri 25th Nov, 12.00 noon for 12.30pm: Clarendon Hotel, Royal Pier Road, Gravesend. DA12 2BE: TMCA 40th Anniversary Dinner to which IWAKES members are welcome. Three Courses, Tea & Coffee for £30.00. Contact Angela Acott (01634 722661) for your ticket.

Thu 15th Dec, 7.30pm for 8.00pm: Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend. DA12 2BS: Get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association.

Thu 26th Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, Kent. ME2 2AH: ‘Hulks’: By Kevin Gulvin.

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings.

Venue maps can be found at www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex

Oxfordshire Branch News Branch Chairman With the numerous unknown changes that will now impact on the UK following the recent referendum decision in favour of Brexit, it was with considerable pleasure that I read the recent IWA announcement, see page 8 of the Autumn 2016 edition of Waterways. As you will read, the Tony Harrison legacy, £200,000 of new funding is available for us to apply for and I think we very definitely should make application because who knows what lies ahead by way of future Government funding?

However, before our branch can make any application/s we need to be quite sure we have a project clearly defined. Perhaps more importantly we need someone on our team with "bid writing" expertise, this being a rare and specialist skill, but which is vital to winning any funding bid, particularly when there are a wide range of applications.

Regrettably, I am not expert in this area, so my appeal to all of our Oxfordshire Branch Members is to please get in touch with either myself, or our Branch Secretary Brian Saunders to offer your skills and expertise in successful bid writing.

36 For those without the skills we are seeking can I ask you to contribute by letting us know what you think we should consider adopting as our "primary project/s" Apparently we can be quite wide ranging in our choice of project/s, so please can I ask you to put your thinking caps on and then mail me with your ideas.

I hope you are all enjoying the summer weather and making the most of everything our amazing Inland Waterways have to offer. By the way, please don't forget my personal challenge for you all to recruit just one new IWA Oxfordshire Member between now and Christmas.

Steve Good

Secretary’s Report Since the AGM we have stopped all social events. As stated previously this was mainly because the work outlay and expense was not covering the very small number of members attending, which in turn was causing a monetary loss to the Branch. I must admit that to date I have not received any comments from members on this subject.

However the rest of the behind the scene items still continue, like our Chairman’s involvement with the Oxford City proposals to introduce a new bylaw affecting users of the canal and river in the city.

Banbury Canal day continues to progress for October. In respect of the latter no progress appears to have been made over Castle Quay II development with no start yet likely on site in the near future. The situation appears still to be fluid, but we understand the administration of BHS, a large shop within the existing Castle Quay has had a knock on effect.

Brian Saunders

Banbury Canal Partnership Working parties have continued to be held on the third and fourth Tuesdays of each month. However during June we did not attend, finding it a tad costly to fly back from our daughters in Minnesota for the day!

In July the first work party had to rectify the damage the weather had done to the freshly painted lock (Grants) where the water soluble paint had run from the white beam ends along the beam tops and spread itself over the beam sides. The effect was ‘dramatic’ but hardly a ‘Banksie’, so a complete repaint in sweltering heat (33°C – similar to Minnesota but without the air conditioning).

We have been looking at alternative work for when the weather is not conducive to painting; too wet, too cold, too hot. We did consider installing bollards or rings, but CRT require a metre cube hole to be dug and backfilled with concrete for each. A little beyond us. We are therefore looking at more

37 vegetation clearance, but again this causes problems with the removal of the cut vegetation. Spread and tread on the towpath requires the use of a workboat to provide the material adjacent to the site. There is also the small problem of repairs to a tiny brick cabin near Elkingtons lock. This requires, Health and Safety plans, Listed Building approvals, CRT inspections etc., etc. before we can even think of touching it. (We only want to repair a few roof tiles to stop the water getting in and destroying the whole building, which by the way is smaller than most garden sheds and lower.)

Working Parties will continue on the third and fourth Tuesdays of each Month. Obviously the work parties take place in a different location for each event. But all IWA members are welcome to attend.

Whilst many hands make light work, many more hands would make even lighter work. So if you want a day out in the countryside come and join us. You might just enjoy it so much you become a regular Remember we have an email contact address: bcpontheoxford@gmail.com We also have a website which can be accessed by putting ‘Banbury Canal Partnership’ into Google or other search engines.

Brian Saunders BCP/IWA Committee representative Secretary, IWA Oxfordshire Branch

Banbury Canal Day Sun 2nd Oct: A date for your diary with the theme this year of ‘Bubbles’ Banbury Canal Day promises to be a colourful event with live music, decorated boats, dance displays, Arts and Craft Market, competitions and stalls. See also advert inside front cover.

Short (10 – 20 mins) Boat Trips on four Day Hire boats give free rides to people who perhaps have never been on a canal boat before. It is one of the regular features and is very popular and this year we would like to recruit further volunteers who would be prepared to offer their time for approx. 2½ hours on the day. Full details are in the Volunteers Information pack obtained from Pat at pat.thomas@waterways.org.uk

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Wiltshire Council transfer of land to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust The Trust was pleased to announce recently that Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Capital Assets Committee had approved the transfer to the Trust of a number of sections of the waterway owned by the Authority. This includes the section in Morningside Farm at Chaddington, Royal Wootton Bassett, where the work party have already erected a fence defining the area to be transferred.

38 Leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, said: “Wiltshire Council is a longstanding partner in this restoration and we are pleased be able to assist the volunteers to progress work on the Wilts & Berks Canal. Wiltshire continues to benefit from the great tourism attraction of the Kennet & Avon canal, which was similarly restored with the passion and enthusiasm of volunteers: it is a wonderful success story and is a great benefit to the community” Trust Chairman Roderick Bluh said: “The Trust is extremely grateful for this support and demonstration of the confidence of Wiltshire Council in the work of the volunteers. In practical terms it represents at least 15% of the canal route in Wiltshire. This will help considerably with the ability to fundraise, and we hope it will also encourage other landowners to consider helping with this inspiring community led project."

Presentation of donation from Waitrose On the 27th May the Trust received a donation cheque from Waitrose at the Wichelstowe Waitrose landing stage.

Rod Bluh, Chairman of the Trust, received the cheque from Waitrose Wichelstowe store manager Dan Morehead. Waitrose has donated £7,000 to the Trust as a contribution towards the installation of the landing stage. Rod Bluh said: “The Trust is delighted to receive this contribution from Waitrose towards this great facility, which has enhanced the canal side at Waitrose Wichelstowe and has allowed many people who visit the store to access the canal and discover the pleasures of enjoying the canal environment from our trip boat, NB Dragonfly. We are very grateful to Waitrose for their generous contribution, and look forward to working with them again in the future.”

This new landing stage, which is a popular viewing point for wildlife on the canal, is the departure and landing point for the canal trips run by Trust volunteers using NB Dragonfly between Kingshill and Wichelstowe. These trips provide canal boat experiences for visitors to the Waitrose store at Wichelstowe, for residents from Swindon and for many people from further afield, in order for them to enjoy this section of the canal, its tranquillity and its wildlife. For more information on boat trips go to http://www.wbct.org.uk/boattrips The construction of the new landing stage is part of the development and restoration works of the historic Wilts & Berks Canal through Swindon, and has been made possible by a partnership relationship between the Trust, Swindon Borough Council and the contribution from Waitrose.

Melksham Town Council recommends approval of Melksham Link planning application More exciting news to announce, there has been significant progress in restoring the Wilts & Berks Canal in the western sector. On Monday 23rd May, Melksham Town Council recommended for approval the planning application for the creation of a new waterway and towpath for the Wilts & Berks Canal between the Kennet & Avon Canal and the River Avon, together with

39 associated footpath, cycleway, 10 bridges and new access roads to Berryfields.

The Planning Committee also stated that they were pleased to see another step taken on the road to getting the canal through Melksham, they were appreciative of the benefits this development will bring to the town. This was unanimous. The Trust are very pleased and grateful for the Town Council’s support.

The next step in the process is for the application to go to Wiltshire Council Planning.

The events season is in full swing: In August we will be manning our marquee at the Wantage Grove Extravaganza on the 20th and the following Sunday/Monday 28th/29th we will be at the White Horse Show, Uffington.

I can report on our attendance at the Fawley Hill Vintage Steam Festival.

East Vale branch took the Trust stand to this three day event by kind invitation of Sir William and Lady Judy McAlpine. The event was well attended and had a number of highlights including a fly past of a Spitfire and 100's of Labradors in the main arena trying to achieve record for number of Labradors in an open space to raise money for Assistance Dogs. The steam traction engines were good too. Our stand had regular visitors and achieved some new members as well as some renewals.

A Heroes return to the Wilts & Berks Canal Injured servicemen and women are being given the opportunity to rebuild their lives, gain qualifications and learn new skills by transforming and restoring the lost canal and lock in Pewsham.

The Canal & River Trust and Help for Heroes have come together for the first time to deliver an ambitious canal restoration and career recovery programme for wounded, injured or sick servicemen, women and veterans. Up to 60 veterans, from across the country, will join the Heritage Heroes project and work alongside local canal societies, Canal & River Trust engineers and heritage advisors to transform four forgotten canals. The 18-month project will also see 1,000 new volunteers recruited from nearby local communities.

The project, made possible by a total of £500,000 (of which £100,000 is coming to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust) funding from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, aims to bring pride and purpose back to our heroic veterans while restoring canals, some of which have been left neglected for decades.

Veterans and volunteers will make a major contribution towards rebuilding the abandoned stretch of canal and lock. Ironically the lock was used for military demolition practice before the Second World War and needs a complete restoration. Veterans will learn masonry skills as they piece together the lost lock and bridge. We will welcome the veterans to the project early next year.

For full details see our webpage: http://www.wbct.org.uk/about-the-trust/trust-news/1435-a-heroes-return

40 The work boat Boswell was officially launched at the end of June by Michael Hills, CEO of Hills Group who have donated sufficient funds via Community First and Landfill Community Fund for the old British Waterways work boat to be purchased, reconfigured and repaired. It is over 100 years since a narrow boat was seen on this section of the canal. No winding holes on the Pewsham stretch meant that Melksham, Calne and Chippenham Branch member Tim Herd used his skills to cut the boat in half to create a tug and butty.

Volunteers led by Martin Stubbs and Richard Evans carried out other work which led to the launching Work boat Boswell the Mayor of Chippenham, Directors of the Trust and members. Boswell will be used to carry materials along the line at Pewsham and to help with weed control and distribute silt entering the canal from feeder streams.

Brian Stovold, Chairman East Vale Branch

South London Branch Forthcoming Events South London Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm in The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP. Admission to the talks and presentations is free to all, members or non-members, although we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’ expenses, thank you. The programme for meetings is as follows:

41 We have a break in July and August and then Wed 14th Sep: `The River Thames Boat project’, Speaker Peter Finch Sat 24th Sep, 2.00pm: Autumn Outing, Lee & Stort Canal Cruise, Ware to Hertford return, Cost £12.00, Cream Tea (optional) £7.00. For booking form (required) from Shea Richardson, details below.

Wed 12th Oct: `Exploring the Stort Navigation’ [Past and present] by Dr Roger Squires Wed 9th Nov: Restoring wooden boat `Roger’ by Fabian Hiscock Wed 14th Dec: Christmas social For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson Tel: 07803 904803 or e-mail: shea.richardson@homecall.co.uk

Walks Towpath Walks Group is looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short walks along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal (and elsewhere).

This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways – which most outsiders don’t realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, we’ll brief you so, if you’d like to give this a try, please contact Roger Wilkinson.

Sun 4th Sep, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross (taxi rank) Sun 18th Sep, 2.30pm: Walk, Grand Junction & Regent’s Canals: Little Venice & Paddington, meet Paddington (Plat 16: H&C exit) Sun 2nd Oct, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Mile End to Limehouse, meet Mile End Sun 16th Oct, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Kings Cross, Hitchcock’s Hackney, meet Kings Cross (taxi rank) Sun 6th Nov, 2.30pm: Walk, Limehouse to Docklands, meet Westferry (DLR) (by Cycle Hire Point) Sun 20th Nov, 2.30pm: Walk, Grand Junction & Regent’s Canals: Little Venice & Paddington, meet Paddington (Plat 16: H&C exit)

42 For more information about Walks (Normal charge: £10.00, Concessions & Student rate: £8.00) please contact Roger Wilkinson, telephone: 07896 801930 or email: rogerw9796@yahoo.co.uk For details on upcoming walks visit the calendar page on IWA’s website, or call London Walks on 020 7624 3978 or see above.

The Inland Waterways Association South East Region: Chairman Gareth Jones, Hill House Farm, Misbrooks Green Road, Beare Green, Dorking, RH5 4QQ Phone: 07850 819071 Email: gareth@hillhouse.farm Guildford & Reading Branch: Chairman Gareth Jones, Contact details as above Kent & East Sussex Branch: Chairman Mike Hannan Trumpeter, Water Lane, Headcorn, Kent TN27 9JN Phone: 01622 890586 Email: mcfhannan@btinternet.com Oxfordshire Branch: Chairman: Steve Good 1 The Bungalows, Ham Lane, Aston, Bampton, Oxon OX18 2DE Tel: 07825 296357 E-mail steve@stevegood.info Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA. Editorial Team: Ray Carnell and Tim Fry iwacargoes@hotmail.com Next issue Winter 2016 Copy date 15th October 2016 Waterways Organisations Basingstoke Canal Society Chichester Ship Canal Trust Inland Waterways Association

www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk www.chichestercanal.co.uk www.waterways.org.uk

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group

www.katrust.org www.maidenheadwaterways.org

Southampton Canal Society

www.sotoncs.org.uk

Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust

www.sxouse.org.uk

Thames & Medway Canal Association Wey & Arun Canal Trust

www.thamesmedway.co.uk www.weyandarun.co.uk

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Printed by www.imprintcolour.co.uk I Tel: 01252 330683

www.wbct.org.uk

IWA IWA CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CARDS CARDS AND AND CALENDAR CALENDAR This This year’s year’s range range of of Christmas Christmas Cards Cards can can be be viewed viewed in in the the Autumn Autumn 2016 2016 Edition Edition of of Waterways.

Waterways.

These These include include aa picture picture of of Chequers Chequers Bridge Bridge on on the the Basingstoke Basingstoke Canal Canal (Code (Code X113 X113 -- see see illustration illustration below) below)

G O L D E N F I L M C A N A L BOAT R A N G E A selection of lubricants and ancillary products to assist with the maintenance and servicing of canal boats.

W W W. M O R R I S LU B R I C A NT SO N L I N E .CO.U K

To To purchase purchase Christmas Christmas Cards Cards or or the the Calendar Calendar please please see see pages pages 32 32 and and 33 33 of of Waterways.

Waterways.

NUNEATON NUNEATON & & BRIGHTON BRIGHTON

CLOVER CLOVER

Wey River Festival at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford

Saturday, 24 September 2016 

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Parking on site is limited, use of public transport and local car parks, recommended.

To round off a fun packed day why not come and watch the spectacular illuminated pageant arriving at the wharf around dusk. The pageant will be led by the talented Croydon steel orchestra.

Site opens from 11am till late, food and craft stalls including demonstrations from the Surrey Wood Turners. Have a go sessions with the Black Dragon Morris dancers and Guildford Archery club Children’s activities, climbing wall, pony rides and pirate ship bouncy castle on the island.

Navigations Office 01483 561389 or email riverwey@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey