Cargoes Winter 2016

Winter 2016

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

Members, in traditional dress, taking part in the commemorations centred on the Canal at Loxwood on Saturday 1st October

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Editorial As another year draws to a close we can reflect on the Region’s achievements and what remains to be done. Certainly waterways events around the area have maintained the profile of IWA in difficult times for voluntary organisations such as ours. A series of waterways related Anniversaries in 2016 provided some good opportunities to spread the word.

This impetus needs to be maintained and we very much hope that more members will be willing to come forward to take an active part in events in 2017 and maybe even as Committee members. Details of next Spring’s Branch AGMs are in the Official Notice on page 4. Please make a note in your next year’s diary. We must hope that AGM attendances will show a marked improvement on last year (see editorial on page 2 of Summer 2016 Edition of Cargoes).

Waterway enthusiasts far and wide will have been saddened to learn of the death of David Blagrove MBE, a Vice President of the Association.

Although he had no longer been directly involved with the waterways in South East Region, members often recalled those times when David was very much involved with waterways in the Reading area. It was his campaigning alongside those such as John Gould that saved the Kennet & Avon Canal.

He had also operated the trip boat Enterprise in the Reading area. A full account of David’s waterways life, by Tim Coghlan, can be found on pages 22 to 24 of the Winter 2016 edition of Waterways.

From a public perspective, the attractions of our inland waterways continue to be highlighted in the media and it was pleasing to see that Timothy West and Prunella Scales were again in boating mode with a new series of Great Canal Journeys.

By the time you read this, Christmas will be barely a few weeks away but there is still just enough time to order your IWA Christmas Cards (see inside back cover) and in doing so help support the Association. Finally, on this festive note, we would like to wish all our readers the Compliments of the Season.

Cargoes Editorial Team [Cover Picture: Heavy horse Buddy pulls the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s NB Zachariah Keppel out of Brewhurst Lock during the Bicentennial Weekend.

[Photo Janet Barriskill]

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From the Region Chairman The biggest issue on the agenda is the transfer of EA navigable waterways to CRT. This seems to be progressing well but, in the usual way, slowly. It is being led by Gren Messham, Navcom Chairman, for IWA actively supported by the National Chairman. Full details on IWA’s website.

There is a major review of restoration led by a high level working group.

Again full details on the website. I will be happy to forward Members’ thoughts to the working group.

Work on HS2 has restarted, again led by Gren Messham for IWA. Fortunately the Heathrow development is only of indirect effect on the Thames. Both major infrastructure projects which do or may well have waterway implications.

On more internal matters, the way IWA is financed and potentially the way Branches can help is discussed further in my Branch report. In short it is easier to raise money for specific projects rather than the general work of IWA. We have a major recruitment drive for members but that is unlikely to close the funding gap in the short term.

In late September Ben Scott and I visited Reading University for an hour long interview for the local radio station. It seemed to go well and be very well received.

Gareth Jones

Branch Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East Sussex, Oxfordshire and Guildford & Reading Branches of The Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows: The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm for 8.00pm on Wednesday 22nd February 2017 at St. Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0DE. The Oxfordshire Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm for 8pm on Wednesday 8th March 2017 at The Ferryman Inn, Bablock Hythe, Northmoor, Witney, Oxon OX29 5AT. The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 3rd April 2017 at National Trust’s premises at Dapdune Wharf, Wharf Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4RR. The Agenda for the Branch meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws on next page:

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Agenda 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Approval (following amendment if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year 3. Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items) 4. Branch Chairman's Report 5. Branch Treasurer's Report and Accounts 6. Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary.

Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM) 7. Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM.

Diary of Meetings & Events Sun 6th Nov, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Limehouse to Docklands (see page 45) Wed 9th Nov, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Restoring wooden boat Roger by Fabian Hiscock (see page 45) 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 36) Thu 17th Nov, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Pleasure Boating in the 1930s, 40s, & 50s by Nick Grundy (see page 9) Sun 20th Nov, 10.30am – 2.00pm, National Trust: Ripley Circular Walk via Newark Lock (see page 22) Sun 20th Nov, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Grand Junction & Regent’s Canals: Little Venice & Paddington (see page 45) Fri 25th Nov, 12.00 noon for 12.30pm, IWAKES: TMCA 40th Anniversary Dinner (see page 36) Sat 26th Nov, Byfleet BC: Illuminated boat pageant

(see page 21)

6 Thu 1st Dec, 7.45pm, Salisbury Group: Waterways Quiz at Chilworth Village Hall, Southampton (see page 9) Thu 1st Dec, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Annual Inter-Society Waterways Quiz (see page 24) Sun 4th Dec, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Islington to Hoxton (see page 45) Sun 11th Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: Santa Special Cruises (see page 30) Wed 14th Dec, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Christmas social (see page 45) Thu 15th Dec, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: Get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association (see page 36) Thu 15th Dec, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Christmas Dinner at the Green Dragon Alderbury (see page 9) Fri 16th Dec, 7.30pm – 9.00pm, WACT: Santa Cruise for Grown-ups (see page 30) Sun 18th Dec, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden (see page 45) Sun 18th Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: Santa Special Cruises (see page 30) Wed 21st Dec, 8.00pm, BCS: A Watery Canadian Adventure - Cruising around the Islands of Vancouver by Ron & Myra Glover (see page 15) Wed 21st Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: Santa Special Cruises (see page 30) Thu 22nd Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: Santa Special Cruises (see page 30) Fri 23rd Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: Santa Special Cruises (see page 30) Mon 26th Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: Boxing Day Cruises (see page 30) Tue 27th Dec, 2.00pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden (see page 45) Sun 1st Jan, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Islington to Hoxton (see page 45) Sun 1st Jan, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: New Year's Day Cruises (see page 30)

7 Tue 3rd Jan, 7.30pm, Surrey Industrial History Group: The Port of London Story by Geoff Roles (see page 13) Thu 5th Jan, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Members’ annual Waterways Photographic Evening and Competition (see page 24) Wed 11th Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: The Cutting Edge -The dark side of the Regent’s Canal by Lester Hillman (see page 45) Sun 15th Jan, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden (see page 45) Tue 17th Jan, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): Claverton Pumping Station by George Icott (see page 17) Wed 18th Jan, 8.00pm, BCS: Studying the Bats of the Basingstoke Canal and Greywell Tunnel by Dr Paul Hope (see page 16) Thu 19th Jan, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: CRT Work Parties on the K&A by Derick Hunt (see page 9) Thu 26th Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: Hulks by Kevin Gulvin (see page 37) Tue 31st Jan, 7.30pm, Surrey Industrial History Group: The Majestic Age of the Ocean Liner by Richard Mellor (see page 13) Thu 2nd Feb, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: TBA

(see page 24)

Sun 5 Feb, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden (see page 46) th

Wed 8th Feb, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Working Boats by Kirk Martin (see page 45) Tue 14th Feb, 7.30pm, Surrey Industrial History Group: Matthew Boulton FRS, Industrialist Extraordinary by Trevor Williams (see page 13) Wed 15th Feb, 8.00pm, BCS: Eling Tide Mill, the Past and the Future by David Plunkett (see page 16) Thu 16th Feb, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Crofton Pumping Station - The challenges ahead by Peter Turvey (see by page 9) Sun 19th Feb, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: The Olympics, Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers (see page 46) Tue 21st Feb, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): tba Wed 22

nd

(see page 17)

Feb, 7.30 for 8.00pm, IWAKES Branch Annual General Meeting (see pages 4 & 37)

8 Thu 2nd Mar, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War by the local Maritime Archaeology Trust (see page 24) Sat 4th Mar, K&A (Reading): R • E • S • C • U • E

(see page 17)

th

Sun 5 Mar, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Limehouse to Docklands (see page 46) Wed 8th Mar, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Oxfordshire Branch: Annual General Meeting IROORZHG E\ D 6NLWWOHV (YHQLQJ ZLWK VQDFNV DYDLODEOH (see page 4) Wed 15th Mar, 8.00pm, BCS: History of Bursledon Brickworks by Carolyn Haynes (see page 16) Wed 15th Mar, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Annual General Meeting (see page 45) Thu 16th Mar, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Boat Safety by Andrew Phasey (see page 9) Sun 19th Mar, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden (see page 46) Tue 21st Mar, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): AGM + Helpless in Holland by Rob Dean CMG (see page 17) Wed 29th Mar, 7.30 for 8.00pm, IWAKES: Flood Risk Management on Romney Marsh by Sam Howe (see page 37) Sun 2nd Apr, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden (see page 46) Mon 3th Apr, 7.30pm, G & R: Branch Annual General Meeting (see page 4) Sun 16th Apr, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Kings Cross, Hitchcock’s Hackney (see page 46) Tue 18th Apr, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): tba

(see page 17)

Wed 19th Apr, 8.00pm, BCS: SS Shieldhall - 61 years and counting by Graham MacKenzie (see page 16) Sun 30th Apr, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regent’s Canal: Regent’s Park & R. Tyburn to Little Venice (see page 46) Sat 6th May, 2.00pm, IWAKES: SORT Walk to Fulling Mill

(see page 37)

Tue 16th May, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): Joint meeting with IWA (see page 17) Sat 10th Jun, K&A (Reading): Reading Water Fest rd

Sun 23 Jul, K&A (Newbury): Newbury Waterways Festival

(see page 17) (see page 18)

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Salisbury Group Programme of Events 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.

Thu 19th Jan: “CRT Work Parties on the K&A” by Derick Hunt.

Thu 16th Feb: “Crofton Pumping Station - The challenges ahead” by Peter Turvey Thu 16th Mar: “Boat Safety” by Andrew Phasey, Technical Officer for the AWCC. 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 Just one more trip on the River Wey will bring to a close another year on the waterways. I have had a week in New England enjoying the colours of the fall. We enjoyed the mount Washington Cog railway, paid a pilgrimage to

10 Bretton Woods where in 1944 John Maynard Keynes lead the UK delegation in setting the post war financial framework including the World Bank and IMF. We returned on the Queen Mary. So I am now planning for next year. A long held ambition is the Grand Union, Oxford and Thames ring. Enquiries with hire boat firms clearly suggest that not all firms realise that Teddington - Brentford is again open to hire boats provided there is an experienced helmsman who understands the conditions. I'm also going to have a week in Belgium.

The idea has been broached of branches doing more to help HO fundraising. It is spectacular how well single canal societies do in this regard. We need more activities. Practically my first act was as treasurer of the Newbury branch of the K & A raising enough with a sponsored walk on the canal towpaths to pay to open a lock. An almost contemporary was David Blagrove who has sadly passed away. The article by Tim Coghlan on pages 22 to 24 of the Winter 2016 Edition of Waterways chronicles David’s long association with our inland waterways. It makes me feel my age but hopefully not before raising more money for IWA and the Basingstoke Canal. What a highlight was the festival at Woking which has helped put the canal on the map. Whilst on the subject of fund-raising, readers will see elsewhere in this Edition that the Branch has been able to support the work of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust with a donation of £1,000 towards their appeal for funds to complete the Compasses Bridge project marking the Bicentenary of the Canal.

The Thames is not in good shape, the transfer to CRT cannot come soon enough. The Thames has to be one of the country’s premier tourist attractions. But it is much more than that being water supply and drain for London and the Home Counties and much, much else beside. Some of the flood issues are at long last being addressed.

Gareth Jones

Planning Seminar IWA and CRT organised a series of three meetings across England to inform and discuss current planning issues. I attended the London meeting which was held in the London Canal Museum. IWA delegates had a range of experience from former local planning officers to those of us still ‘learning the ropes’. Les Etheridge welcomed the delegates to the meeting and spoke briefly of IWA involvement with the HS2 route.

The meeting began with an overview of the current planning system, development plans and management, and roles and responsibilities from the perspective of IWA and CRT. The government is keen to speed up the implementation of housing projects and is discouraging pre-build surveys.

CRT emphasised that their over-riding responsibility has to be maintaining the integrity and structures of the waterways so it was more appropriate for IWA to comment on aesthetics when responding to planning applications. Two Speakers emphasised the need to open a dialogue with the planners at the pre-planning stage as this was most likely to influence desired changes. Each local authority is required to have a local plan on which to base their planning

11 decisions but currently only 20% of local authorities have a plan which complies with the 2012 Act of Parliament. It was also pointed out that large scale projects such as HS2 have their own planning system which may be extended to the very large housing projects in the future.

CRT provides a weekly planning list on their website for their waterways and also some useful advice for planning issues on any waterway.

Following lunch workshops considered fictional planning applications and possible responses. Once again there was a great deal of common ground between IWA planning representatives and CRT. The meeting concluded with the aim of working together better and ensuring that both parties are aware of the planning issues in their areas.

CRT have promised copies of the speaker’s notes which may be available from IWA in the New Year.

Verna Smith

Sales & Publicity Stand The culmination of this year’s season of outside activities with our Sales & Publicity Stand was marked by two events in quick succession. The Wey River Festival over the weekend of 23rd/24th September proved to be as popular as ever with boaters and the general public. It was another resounding success for the National Trust and their report can be found on page 21. Over the following weekend (Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October) the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the Wey & Arun Junction Canal was marked by a series of events along the Canal. Our Sales & Publicity Stand was at Dunsfold Aerodrome where, close to the site of the original opening ceremony (on 29th September 1816), Dame Penelope Keith opened the new Compasses Bridge giving access to the airport and opening up a clear passage for boats to pass. A full report of the Bicentenary celebrations is on pages 25 to 28.

To sum up, we attended half a dozen events this season in generally favourable weather conditions and attracted a good deal of public interest, particularly with the Lucky Locks Game (for which we are indebted to the skills of the late Roy Davenport who designed and built it some forty years ago). I would like to record a big ‘thank you’ to the team of helpers at various events – without you it would have been impossible to get the show on the road.

Next year’s events will appear in future Cargoes, so please watch out for the details and join our team of helpers if you can.

Ray Carnell

Steam narrowboating: not for the faint hearted!

We all know about 'President' - a delightful survivor of the erstwhile Fellows, Morton and Clayton fleet, and in travels around the system you may have spotted what appear to be modern steam narrowboats too.

12 There are quite a few out there. I am aware of about eight currently steaming and a week on the canals, particularly in the Midlands, will usually provide an opportunity to trip over 'Hasty', 'Emily Anne', 'Tixall', 'Adamant', ‘Radnor’, or other members of what is now quite an extensive Radnor contemporary UK steam narrowboat fleet. The ones I am aware Emily Anne of are owned and operated by members of the Steamboat Association of Great Britain. On the Basingstoke, for example, we have the 42' foot 'Trevor' fitted with a hefty water-tube boiler and a Sissons unidirectional single cylinder semi-enclosed engine that probably came from a Technical College.

For many years I have built and operated trailable steam launches for use on the inland waterways and estuaries of Britain. I have towed boats all over the country and nothing that I have put in the water has weighed more than 1.5 tons. I have used relatively lightweight engines and boilers: my present kerosene-fired watertube boiler weighs about 200lbs and my current single cylinder engine went in without use of an engine hoist. However, among colleagues in the SBA are men building or already operating steel narrowboats weighing upwards of 18 tons with what can only be described as industrial steam plant.

I salute these people, and I do so for two reasons: First, just as boats were once hauled by horses and we have a number of horse boats in operation, there is an honourable tradition of steam power on our canals which remains technically interesting.

Second, they provide much needed variety and atmosphere in a canal boating scene where most narrowboats look pretty similar and where variety is primarily found in the splendid, often pristine, vintage diesels we sometimes see and hear, and in terms of livery and artwork.

Even LTC Rolt's 'Cressy', before he took her over in 1939 boasted a small compound steam engine by Plenty of Newbury and the substantial boiler from a Yorkshire steam wagon, all installed by Rolt's uncle, Kyrle Williams.

We'd love to know what happened to that very pretty engine.

The Yorkshire boiler, incidentally, was an unusual beast. A horizontal double ended firetube design, mounted transversely on their wagons, it sported a central firebox with a short drum on either side through which ran return tubes coming back to a shallow smokebox with chimney, enclosed by a central steam dome over the firebox. They made lots of dry steam fast and,

13 like vertical boilers, were free from trouble up and down hills but cleaning the tubes in such a beast fitted transversely in a narrow hull might have been challenging and there are very few slopes to climb on the waterways…

Anyway, by the time she came to Rolt, 'Cressy' had a Model 'T' Ford engine and gearbox fitted.

So what are the challenges with steam in a narrowboat? Quite a few!

Mark Rudall To be continued in the Spring 2017 edition of Cargoes

Surrey Industrial History Group Lectures

Members may be interested to know that the 41st Series of SIHG fortnightly lectures is now underway at the Education Centre, Guildford Cathedral. GU2 7UP. They run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and the cost is £5 for each individual lecture. The first three lectures in the New Year are: Tue 3rd Jan: The Port of London Story by Geoff Roles Tue 31st Jan: The Majestic Age of the Ocean Liner by Richard Mellor (ex Union Castle Line and P&O) Tue 14th Feb: Matthew Boulton FRS Industrialist Extraordinary by Trevor Williams For further details see www.sihg.org.uk or contact the Programme Coordinator Bob Bryson, email meetings@sihg.org.uk.

Bits on the Basingstoke The effects of the wonderful BCS organised Woking Canal Festival continue to reverberate. The visiting historic narrow boats from all over the waterways continue to appreciate the canal and the wonderful welcome they received. As the BCA have remarked it’s hard to buy that sort of publicity.

There is a good programme of maintenance work this winter with, in particular, a start being made on Dogmersfield. The canal has been depth profiled which is expected to lead to a dredging programme. The long term issue is a permanent financially secure ownership for the canal. A recent survey on green space showed the public’s enthusiasm. The BCS figure of

14 1.3 million visitors a year has never been challenged and is probably rising.

There is a financial dimension and Philip Riley and Gareth Jones have agreed on behalf of BCS and IWA to put their heads together and see what can be done.

Last boating revenue showed a healthy year on year increase.

Gareth Jones Boaters meeting, 27th October At the regular meeting of boating interests on the Basingstoke Canal Fiona Shipp and James Taylor reported on the steady increase in income generated from boat licences and moorings. There was a significant increase in licence fees from unpowered craft which is thought to be due to a new online licence application system and better enforcement. The Woking Canal Festival attracted 44 boats, 15 of which cruised to Odiham. James Taylor spoke about the extensive winter works programme, which is available on the BCA website, and includes the re-lining of the second half of the Ash aqueduct in addition to the Dogmersfield slip. No mention was made of the problems at Swan Cutting. The dry dock at Deepcut is to be upgraded with a new cover and some additional minor works which will hopefully improve the income from this facility. Some new permanent moorings are planned for the Farnborough Road wharf with improved facilities and a visitor mooring. The depth survey of the whole canal has been completed by contractors. James Taylor produced a sketch of the ‘ideal canal profile’ which would be used to determine how much dredging is needed. This initial profile was debated and it was suggested that the depth of water on the Hampshire pound could be increased to provide some ‘reservoir’ capacity but this may be impractical.

Questions were asked about the current restrictions on the size of outboard motors which are deterring some cruiser style boats from visiting the canal.

Some concerns were expressed about the effects of the work in the Odiham area on the boat operations.

Verna Smith

Basingstoke Canal Society Chairman’s Report The contract for the repairs to Dogmersfield Cutting has now been let and work is due to commence in November. The work will also include the renovation of a culvert west of the Barley Mow in Winchfield. It is expected that the canal and towpath will remain closed until early April 2017. Works to

15 re-line the Ash Embankment to reduce seepage were completed at the end of March although further work is planned later this year or early next. Locks 12 to 18 will be drained down during the winter and the opportunity will be taken to undertake condition surveys of those locks. The report prepared by Roy Sutton, IWA’s Hon. Consulting Engineer, on a suitable repair scheme for Swan Cutting, N Warnborough is still under consideration by Hampshire County’s engineers. The Society, supported by the IWA branch, continues to press for this work to be treated as a priority in view of the difficulties that continue to be experienced by the John Pinkerton in navigating the canal west of Swan Bridge. The JP itself has had a very successful operating season with income expected to be maintained at the same level (or even exceeded) against 2015. Planning continues for the establishment of a trip boat operation on the Woking pound using Kitty, the Society’s recently acquired 12-seater trip boat. It is hoped that sufficient volunteers will come forward over the winter to enable the Society to commence the operation after Easter 2017. An astonishing 7 tonnes of crayfish were removed from the canal during the summer season by professional fishermen.

Philip Riley

Chobham Meetings The meetings continue to 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 as 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 programme up to Easter 2017 is shown below: 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.'

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.

16 Wed 18th Jan: Studying the Bats of the Basingstoke Canal and Greywell Tunnel by Dr Paul Hope. This talk provides an initial general introduction to UK bats. This is followed by an account of the techniques used and findings from over 15 years study of the bats on the Basingstoke Canal. Paul will also discuss findings from his 6 year PhD study which focused on the hibernating bat population within Greywell Tunnel.

Wed 15th Feb: Eling Tide Mill, the Past and the Future by David Plunkett: Traditional, tidal powered water mills were invented over 2,000 years ago. They have been part of the hidden industrial coastal scene of Britain all that time without many of us knowing of them. Most have been lost over time but just a few have been saved and restored to working order. Out of over 200 built in the UK, just a handful of examples survive for us to visit in 2016.

The restored survivors will be shown and their earlier distribution and concentrations around our coastline explained.

In this presentation, the emphasis is on Eling Tide Mill, at Totton on the edge of the New Forest. This ancient site is over 900 years old and successive mills and causeway dam have been a feature of the old toll bridge across Eling Creek, to this day. The long history will be explained and how the tides govern the working of the mill and its miller.

Eling is managed by The Eling Experience and is currently closed for major repairs due to be completed in the spring of 2017. For interim news, visit: www.elingexperience.co.uk Wed 15th Mar: History of Bursledon Brickworks by Carolyn Haynes: The only Victorian steam driven brickworks left in the country the Brickworks at Bursledon are an amazing survivor. All the original buildings and machinery are still there and for some reason, although the owners operated them from the age of the horse right through to the age of cheap flights they didn't update their works. The talk gives a history of the brickworks, why they are so important and what we hope their future will be.

Wed 19th Apr: SS Shieldhall - 61 years and counting by Graham MacKenzie: Taking the history of "Shieldhall" and considering its daily toil in a working life from 1955 to 1985 and then into preservation bringing the story up to date with information regarding Heritage Lottery Fund grant in 2013.

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

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Kennet & Avon Canal News Forthcoming Events The Reading Branch of the K&A Canal Trust are continuing to hold their monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month up to next May (excluding December). 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. The programme for 2017 is as follows.

Tue 17th Jan: ‘Claverton Pumping Station’ - George Icott.

Tue 21st Feb: tba Tue 21st Mar: AGM + ‘Helpless in Holland’ - Rob Dean CMG, (Trust Chairman) Tue 18th Apr: tba Tue 16th May: Joint meeting with IWA Other K&A Reading Events: Sat 4th Mar: R • E • S • C • U • E Further details from David Copley on 0118 959 8247 (see also Spring 2017 edition of Cargoes).

Sat 10th Jun: Reading Water Fest. For more information, see future editions of Cargoes.

The Newbury Branch of the K&A Canal Trust is gearing up for Christmas and another season of Santa boat cruises on the Trip Boat Jubilee. Tickets are already selling fast - earlier than previous years so we can only assume that is because the word is out – the trips are a magical treat for children and adults alike. With a Christmas story, singing, personalised presents for children and lots of time with Santa, families want to come back time and again. Our trips this year run from 17th to 23rd December at 12 noon and 2pm. Trips last an hour and cost £8 per ticket. Please check our website at http://jubilee.katrust.org.uk for availability or ring our Devizes office on 01380 721279 during office hours or 07716 460562 out of hours, or email jubilee@katrust.org.uk

18 The Newbury Waterways Festival Team have announced the 2017 event will take place on Sunday 23rd July. The theme will be ‘Beatle Mania’ so please put that date in your new 2017 diary.

Julie Dean For further information about K&A events in Reading and Newbury see their Website at www.katrust.org

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 At Crofton the season finished with the Boiler Appeal close to its target. The contract for the boiler refurbishment has been let, and the volunteers are busy on preparatory works for that. Meanwhile a Project Manager has been appointed to assist the Team with the Stage Two bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the circa £750,000 required for the major works to secure Crofton’s future. More information from publicity@croftonbeamengines.org

Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group Richard Davenport, Chair of the Trustees Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group, reports on the latest developments: “Maidenhead Waterways (MW) – Stage 2 underway, the York Stream arm of the ‘Ring’ already taking shape Following confirmation of further (developer) funding by RBWM, construction of the remainder of the York Stream half of the town centre waterway ‘Ring’ has been instructed and is well underway. The build at Chapel Arches is being paced by underpinning work to the circa 1825 bridge, but the small island has been removed to expose all three original large arches and the previously hidden arches are being excavated to fill with water and provide boat storage in this iconic location. The bridge itself is to be

19 refaced in ‘old’ brick and up-lit, setting off the water basin that will sit between the two new Shanly Group developments on either side.

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5 Pictured are: 1) One way section of waterway by Hines Meadow multi storey car park, set in a concrete trough, with a flood proofed tow path under the ring road 2) PM Teresa May with MW Chair Richard Davenport, and Technical lead John Morgan reviewing progress at Chapel Arches – August 2016 3) Chapel Arches basin, adjoining Shanly developments and channel works from the air [picture Mathew Wilkinson] 4) Section north to Town Moor nearly complete – again partly filled with rainwater (only) at this stage 5) Amphitheatre taking shape on the Library lawn Both adjoining residential led developments are nearly completed and include a riverside café and restaurant, public terraces and a reopened Green Way path. The informal ‘amphitheatre’ is also nearly complete, set next to the water on the old Library lawn. Demolition of the area on the north of Chapel Arches will start in early 2017, to create a mini version of Reading’s Oracle there, set around a widened channel that will join the already completed up and downstream sections of the waterway.

Further north, the channel banks up to Town Moor have been reinforced where needed, the channel is being widened and deepened and a new floodproof tow path added under the ring road. To the south, below the GWR and down to Green Lane, channel enlargement is also well under way. Bank strengthening there is using mostly fully submerged tubular steel reinforcements - instead of sheet piling - to allow a natural green edge to be retained. Where sheet piling is unavoidable it is being timber faced to soften its appearance and provide a rubbing strip for boats.

We were delighted to host an hour long visit by Theresa May in August to review progress on the waterway. As our local MP, Theresa has been a

20 long term supporter of the waterway and its central role in the regeneration of Maidenhead town centre.

See the route maps and follow the project’s progress on MW’s website www.maidenheadwaterways.org or through these pages….

River Thames News £1million project begins to repair locks on the River Thames

[Photo: ITV news] Work began on Mon 31st October to repair locks along the River Thames in Oxfordshire - as part of a £1.2 million investment. The Environment Agency is working on five sites in the county - including both pairs of 8 tonne lock gates at Shifford Lock in Bampton and Kings Lock in Oxford. They'll be removed by crane, transported by low-loader lorry for renovation before being put back in place.

Barry Russell MBE, waterways manager, said: "Many of these are important heritage assets which we are custodians of on behalf of the nation, and without them, boating on the Thames as we know it simply wouldn't be possible. So taking good care of them is a huge responsibility for us, but one we're very proud to have."

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River Wey News Byfleet Boat Club Illuminated boat pageant On Sat 26th November a flotilla of decorated boats will travel upstream from the Basingstoke Canal junction to moor outside the club. The boats are expected to leave the junction at around 5.00pm and arrive at the Boat Club about half an hour later.

Live entertainment plus refreshments will be available to cater for your needs.

Wey River Festival What a brilliant day! Against all the odds, the sun shone and the river glistened and the people turned up in their hundreds to enjoy a super family day.

First of all, we like to offer a huge thank you to all the boaters and stallholders who make the festival possible just through their participation, we wouldn’t be able to do it without you. Nearly 1400 people turned up on the day to celebrate the joy of the river Wey – and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

On the Friday night, boaters enjoyed music, some good food and a film show – outside, thanks to the balmy weather – and to finish off the evening, a

22 good chat around the open fires before taking themselves off back to their boats ready for the big day.

On Saturday the public arrived from 11am, and soon there were people all over the site, enjoying the food stalls, the Morris dancers and the children’s crafts and activities. We managed to get everyone parked and our boat trips sold out by lunchtime.

At dusk, the highlight of the day arrived: the illuminated pageant. The boats made their way down from the centre of Guildford with people crammed 3 or 4 deep on the bridges to get a view of the lovely illuminations on the river.

They were led by Steve Stewart, Navigations Foreman, on a workboat, crammed with the Croydon Steel Orchestra playing their hearts out. The boat parade included lots of narrowboats and a few kayaks, and ended up with Dapdune Belle (below), displaying a National Trust oakleaf in lights, made by David Millett, a Dapdune volunteer.

People dispersed slowly after the pageant, and there was definitely a feeling that they would happily have watched it all again. We’re all looking forward to next year – if you missed this year, do come down to Dapdune next year, the date has been set for 23rd September 2017.

Sarah Crawcour

Forthcoming Events Sun 20th Nov, 10.30 am – 2.00 pm, Ripley Circular Walk via Ockham Mill: Park at Ripley Green car park and join the River Wey volunteers for a six mile walk from Ripley to Newark Lock, then on down the towpath to Pyrford and returning to Ripley. Bring a packed lunch.

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Southampton Canal Society

September Meeting For our September meeting Frank Green, New Forest National Park Archaeologist, came to talk to us about the New Forest’s rich and diverse archaeological sites and monuments which include: prehistoric burial mounds, Iron Age forts, Roman pottery kilns, medieval hunting lodges and WWII concrete foundations. He explained how they had commissioned a survey to accurately map the New Forest in 3D - the first time the whole of the National Park had been recorded in this way. The dataset had many applications, including being able to rapidly identify and record archaeological sites and we saw details and pictures of areas explored.

The local Maritime Archaeology Trust is booked to visit the Society in March 2017 when the subject will be "Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War" (see under forthcoming meetings – Thu 2nd March). In the meantime, plans are ongoing for the redevelopment of the Fawley Power Station site.

"Our Past, Our Future" is a £4.4 million Landscape Partnership Scheme for the New Forest supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will undertake 21 projects to restore lost habitats, develop forest skills and inspire a new generation to champion and care for the New Forest.

October Meeting For this meeting Eric and Sue Lewis took us on a trip around the canal system Inland waterways transport has been important to the inhabitants of the British Isles since before the Romans built their Fossdyke Navigation and improved the River Witham to serve their settlement at Lincoln. The rivers and the fens needed to be managed and drained.

Canals were expensive to build. One of the first sections of canal built was the Exeter Canal. Sue then listed many more: 1611 the Titchfield Canal opened; 1649 the Fens drained by William of Bedford; 1651 River Wey to Guildford; 1723 the River Kennet; 1727 Bristol Avon; 1760's and the Bridgewater built for coal movement, followed by the Trent & Mersey with the potteries - the Industrial Revolution had started. There followed the BCN, the Leeds & Liverpool, Warwick & Napton, the Grand Junction Canal and many others.

Over the years Eric has taken and collected many slides of the canal network.

I suppose it would have been easier to have listed all the canals that Eric and Sue have not walked or cruised yet!

Angela Rose

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Forthcoming Meetings Thu 1st Dec, Annual Inter-Society Waterways Quiz: As last year's winners, Salisbury IWA will be organising the Quiz and SCS members will be hosting the evening, with the traditional pre-Christmas occasion of an American Supper which finishes off the evening.

Thu 5th Jan, Members’ annual “Waterways Photographic Evening and Competition” Thu 2nd Feb: TBA. Thu 2nd Mar, “Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War”: A talk by the local Maritime Archaeology Trust.

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 Walks go into canal history Twenty brave souls got soaking wet as they explored historic locations on the route of the Wey & Arun Canal on Saturday, 10th September.

The members of the public had joined a Heritage Open Days weekend walk to view four sites containing relics of the canal and the Horsham to Guildford railway, They had turned up at the start of the event in Shamley Green Church’s car park despite torrential rain, which did not stop all afternoon.

Wey & Arun Canal Trust technical liaison officer Alan Johnson led the enthusiasts on a four-mile circular route to visit sites of interest, including the Whipley Manor railway bridge and two other iron-framed bridges.

The weather was much kinder the next day, as the sun shone brightly for WACT’s second heritage stroll of the weekend.

Ten people went with Trust publicity officer Rob Searle to explore parts of the canal route down to the former Bramley Wharf, off Station Road in Bramley.

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WACT Bramley Link HoD Walk: People on the Bramley Link HoD walk pose for a photo outside the old canal superintendent’s cottage at Stantons Wharf, Bramley, on Sunday, 11th September.

The Trust is in advanced stages of planning the re-creation of the canal from the A281 at Shalford to the unique Gosden Aqueduct.

The 1½ mile stroll took in the Tannery Lane roving bridge and the sites of the Tannery Lane Lock and aqueduct. It was also an opportunity to explore the new Hunt Nature Park and its viewing platform, which have been created

by Trust volunteers.

WACT’s Memorable Bicentennial Weekend The Wey & Arun Canal’s 200th anniversary was celebrated in grand style over two days with a series of events attended by hundreds of people.

From a bicentennial baton relay along the route of the waterway to the champagne-drenched naming of a member’s new narrowboat, it was a weekend to remember.

Highlight of Wey & Arun Trust’s commemorations, on 1st and 2nd October, was the official opening of the new Compasses Bridge on the summit level at Alfold by actor Dame Penelope Keith.

Before that, there were special boat excursions on the fully restored section at Loxwood – with the crews, canal centre volunteers and trust officers turned out in outfits typical of the early 1800s (see photos inside front cover).

A celebratory cream tea for members and guests was the finale on the Sunday, during which Mike Lewis presented a £1,000 donation cheque to WACT on behalf of Guildford and Reading branch of the Inland Waterways Association.

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Guildford Mayor Gordon Jackson with Trust Chairman Sally Schupke listen to Mike Lewis of IWA’s Guildford and Reading branch praise the work of the Trust as he presents a £1,000 donation to WACT. The event was at Dapdune Wharf in Guildford, the location of a sumptuous meal staged for canal company directors and shareholders on the day the canal was officially opened in 1816.

“We were absolutely delighted with the way our weekend went, after months of planning,” said WACT chairman Sally Schupke. “There was an awful lot of detail to go into, with several people each taking on aspects of the celebrations, but everything went smoothly from start to finish.

“There was a good turnout of members and guests at Compasses Bridge, which is important to the trust, as it’s our first major restoration project in Surrey.

“With Dame Penelope generously agreeing to open the bridge, we hope we have significantly raised our profile in the county.”

From left: Trust secretary Tony Tyrrell, Richard Emsley, Dame Penelope Keith, Susan Brenton and Malcolm Brenton on the bridge after the opening ceremony.

27 The start was on the Saturday at Pallingham Bridge in West Sussex, near where the canal linked with the River Arun, originally as the Arun Navigation. Miss Schupke handed over the baton – a scrolled copy of an original canal company share certificate –to Trust technical liaison officer Alan Johnson.

Via other officers and members, the baton went up to Drungewick, passing Newbridge where the navigation ended and the Wey & Arun Junction Canal began to form the combined 23-mile waterway.

At Drungewick, Mr Johnson handed over to Graeme Lewington. Mr Lewington had arrived on electric trip boat Wiggonholt – full of members of the public on a “bacon bap cruise” – and he was dressed as May Upton, the resident engineer on the original Wey & Arun construction.

By various means – on foot, by trip boat, by flat-bottomed “mouseboat”, by canoe and carried by a cyclist, the baton then made its way 27 miles up to Dapdune Wharf on Saturday and Sunday.

At the trust’s canal centre in Loxwood, horse-drawn trips on narrowboat Zachariah Keppel were popular on Saturday. The Godalming Packetboat Company had loaned its heavy horse Buddy for the day. There was also an afternoon tea cruise on Wiggonholt, which carried the baton north to Southland Lock, and evening illuminated cruises.

Canal centre volunteers, in period costumes for the day, ran traditional children’s games and staged a historical display.

Around 250 people gathered at Compasses Bridge on Sunday for its official opening ceremony.

After receiving the bicentennial baton, Dame Penelope cut a red ribbon across the roadway before posing for photographs with members in period dress and signing copies of the Trust’s souvenir programme.

In his speech, Compasses project engineer Tony Ford praised the volunteers leading the construction work, particularly site manager Dave Evans and his brother Andy and Bill Nicholson and his son Rob. Mr Ford said the Northern and Summit Working Party was keen to get on with the next restoration project. He revealed that this could be a similar bridge being built to replace the causeway across the canal at Tickner’s Heath.

All the guests at Compasses were then provided with refreshments, accompanied by music from the famed Friary Guildford Band.

After the formalities at the bridge, events moved to Gun’s Mouth at Shalford where a flotilla of vintage narrowboats and small craft assembled for a ceremonial cruise to take the bicentennial baton up to Dapdune Wharf.

It was carried, along with special guests, in narrowboat Trincomalee, owned by Trust members Euan and Joanne Houstoun. The bells of St Mary’s Church, Shalford, and St Nicolas Church, Guildford, rang out as the flotilla cruised up the Wey like they had done for the original opening.

Finally, the baton was handed over to the Mayor of Guildford, Gordon Jackson, to open the proceedings at the Guildford Sea Cadets headquarters on Dapdune Wharf.

28 The band had moved up from Shalford to again provide musical entertainment as members, guests and VIPs tucked into a cream tea.

Trust life member Paul Barfield had moored his brand new narrowboat at the wharf for it to be named Wey-Away by &RXQFLOORU *RUGRQ Jackson as he poured champagne over the bow.

The Guildford and Reading IWA cheque was received by the Mayor on behalf of WACT. Sally Schupke said: “Overall, it was a fitting weekend of events to mark what was a tremendous achievement - the opening in 1816 of a 23-mile canal connecting the South Coast with the inland waterway system.

“The combined Arun Navigation and Wey & Arun Junction Canal was officially declared open at Compasses 200 years ago. We haven’t replicated the consumption of 200 gallons of beer by the navvies who built the canal and our cream tea wasn’t on the same scale as the directors’ feast, but we’ve marked the bicentenary in a memorable fashion.”

Little Insects Rescue Choked Canal Tiny beetles have halted an outbreak of weed which was choking part of a historic waterway.

The two millimetre-long North American weevils nibbled away at a carpet of vegetation on the Wey & Arun Canal, clearing the non-native water fern in just a few weeks.

Twelve thousand weevils were released into the waterway at Tickner’s Heath, Dunsfold, in July, to combat Azolla filiculoides. This floating fern is considered one of the most invasive plants in the country.

“The exercise has had a remarkable impact on the water fern,” said Ian Burton, the Wey & Arun Trust’s conservation adviser. “The weevils speedily removed most of the water fern and have had a comprehensive impact. There is now no sign of the weed.”

The project was a partnership between the Canal Trust, the Heritage Lottery funded Arun and Rother Connections (ARC) and the CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International), which supplied the weevils.

ARC works with local organisations to help ensure wildlife can flourish in a thriving river system. As part of a wider programme of work to tackle a number of priority invasive species across the whole catchment area, project staff identified the invasive plant and provided the funding to purchase the weevils.

All known infestations of this invasive plant have now been removed from the river catchment. Wey & Arun Canal Trust will continue to monitor its waterway to ensure that the plants do not return in the spring.

“We acted to try and clear the weed because it had formed a thick mat on the surface of the water, blocking out the light and threatening the aquatic flora and fauna,” Mr Burton added. “The canal appeared to be solid ground.”

29 “Floating water fern multiplies rapidly and its area can double in a few days. We didn’t want it spreading to neighbouring properties and other parts of the canal.

Floating water fern formed a dense carpet on the surface of the Wey & Arun

A North American weevil – natural enemy of floating water fern.

Dead and dying Azolla floating water fern on the canal at Tickner's Heath following the introduction of the North American weevils.

“We are delighted with the work of the little insects. There are no organisms native to the UK that can combat Azolla, but research has shown the weevils to be one of the plant’s main natural enemies.”

Individually, the weevils consume a small amount of Azolla, but they breed to produce large populations which feed extensively on the weed.

Across the UK, entire infected lakes and canals have been cleared using this form of biological control.

Azolla was introduced into the UK from the Americas in around 1840 as an ornamental garden aquatic. Some North American weevils also arrived with the imported ferns, and the insect species is now considered naturalised.

They pose no threat to UK ecosystems, unlike the fern itself, which soon escaped into the wider environment, where it now causes considerable problems on ponds, lakes and waterways.

The initiative at Tickner’s Heath is in line with the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s policy of controlling and eradicating invasive species, including Himalayan balsam, giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed, on land that it has responsibility for.

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Forthcoming Events Sun 11th Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, Santa Specials: Children under 12 years of age can meet Santa and receive an early Christmas present, with festive refreshment on board. We set sail at 11am, 12noon and 2.00pm, Tickets £10.00.

Fri 16th Dec, 7.30pm – 9.00pm, Santa Cruise for Grown-ups: includes a glass of mulled wine & snacks, a small gift from Santa and seasonal singalong music, Tickets £15.00 Sun 18th Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, Santa Specials: as Sun 11th Dec. Wed 21st Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, Santa Specials: as Sun 11th Dec. Thu 22nd Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, Santa Specials: as Sun 11th Dec. Fri 23rd Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, Santa Specials: as Sun 11th Dec. Mon 26th Dec, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, Boxing Day Cruises: Tickets £5.00 adults, £2.50 children.

Sun 1st Jan, 11.00am, 12 noon & 2.00pm, New Year's Day Cruises: Tickets £5.00 adults, £2.50 children.

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, 8.30am12.30pm)

IWAKES Branch News Past Events A Harbourmaster’s Role Steve Rushbrook, Deputy Harbourmaster of the Lower Thames for the Port of London Authority, talked to us at the Sailing Club in September about his life on the water. He had been around the River Thames most of his life,

31 starting with the Sea Scouts. Leaving home as soon as possible, he served in the Royal Navy for about seven years. After leaving he joined the Port of London Authority, where he has been ever since. He did multi-tasking jobs for 7 or 8 years and was responsible for safety at the London Olympics.

The Authority is responsible for the environment and the workings of the tidal Thames. They are self-funding and provide pilot services, ensure safe navigation and are a conservancy that oversees dredging, diving, salvaging, oil spill response and drift wood collection. They provide all aids to navigation and license vessels and river works.

It is 95 miles from Teddington to the North Sea and Tilbury is the second biggest port in the UK. The River is a growing commuter and tourist route, used by over 10 million people a year, with a big rowing area above London. There are 28 road and/or rail bridges and 35 piers.

The biggest risk to people using the Thames is not knowing about the TIDES. Steve had some super pictures of boats using the Thames, an aircraft carrier going through the Barrier, pictures of the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant, historic boats and tall ships (with another Tall Ships’ Race next Easter). The nine people that appeared for this marvelous talk enjoyed it tremendously and we wish Steve many more happy hours on the Thames.

Angela Acott

Northfleet Harbour Trust Visit to Northfleet Harbour Some of the IWAKES Committee visited Northfleet Harbour on 15th August.

Graeme Rooney (Director of NHRT and IWAKES Representative), Mike Charman (Northfleet Harbour Restoration Trust), Les Etheridge (IWAKES Treasurer and IWA National Chairman), Conrad Broadley (Chairman of Northfleet Harbour Restoration Trust) & Anne Etheridge (IWAKES Membership Secretary) standing on the Georgian Slipway.

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River Adur Plans have been put forward to develop part of the riverbank on the north side of the Adur, to the east of the Shoreham town centre. It is a rundown area where old wharfs have become redundant because of the increased use of the eastern arm of the port and general changes in business.

Like all Councils, Adur District has an obligation to provide more housing and this location is considered suitable for that purpose. IWA and the Shoreham Slipways Group provided significant input to the local Joint Area Action Plan that was developed as a framework to guide developers. The plans put forward by Southern Housing include some pontoons and it is now being suggested that an ancient public hard could be reinstated as a public slipway.

The plans show a significant number of parking spaces, some of which could be used for cars with trailers. Excavating the in-filled area to provide a slipway would be relatively straightforward. Details of the proposed development can be seen in http://www.freewharf.info/downloads/exhibition-boards.pdf Further consideration of a slipway at Ferry Road is on hold whilst the latest opportunity across the river is considered.

Brendan Whelan

River Medway News East Farleigh Lock East Farleigh lock closed on the 26th September and will remain closed until Easter 2017 while lock refurbishment work is carried out. A portage route for canoeists will remain open throughout this period. The work will involve building cofferdams in front of the lock gates, draining the lock, refurbishing the gates and fitting new paddle gear. A fish pass will also be included is this work. To prevent any damage to the lock base structure caused by upward ground pressure, approximately 200 tons of ballast will be laid in the lock base before the lock is drained of water. Piling is being driven into the weir side bank to support a base for the crane to lift out the gates. The railway side of the lock will have a new landscaped area with some seating facilities. All access to the site is by Lower Road East Farleigh so no works vehicles need to use East Farleigh Bridge.

33 Upper Medway Navigation Annual Report 2015/2016 A few snippets from this annual report. x Annual powered boat registrations for this period were 699 bringing in an income of £195,283. Total income was £305,510, the remainder coming from Navigation Estates and other sources. Of the total income, 47% has to be returned to EA national office as an internal charge. x Capital expenditure for 2015/16 was £339K, down from a high in 2012/13 of £2.38M. This is as a result of the reduction in national allocation to other EA Navigations. x Allington Lock Boathouse has been refurbished in preparation for external rental. x Of the EA assets, 90% are in required (good) condition, well above the 80% target. Examples of remaining assets not in required condition are Teston Sluice and Yalding Anchor Sluices.

Proposed Mooring and Facility Charges April 2017- March 2018 These will stay the same as the current year with no rate increase apart from an increase in lifting bridge keys.

Tonbridge - River Level Lowering - 12th October 2016 Contractors working on behalf of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council were due to undertake urgent works to a leaking flap valve in Tonbridge. This has been postponed because of the low flow conditions of the river due to lack of rainfall over the summer.

Tree Clearance Work Tree and overhanging branch clearance and removal has been continuing throughout the summer and much overdue work had been completed, particularly between East Farleigh and Teston locks where tree growth was restricting

navigation in parts. This will continue into autumn as river conditions allow.

34 Jim Breden Jim Breden, a very well known name on the river, was owner and founder of Jim Breden’s Boatyard that later became Little Venice Marina, a huge landmark on the River Medway. He sadly passed away on 13th September. Jim was a very likeable character and will be sorely missed by his many friends on the River. He takes with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise. He was one of the Founders of the Hempsted and Yalding Cruising Club and the Medway River Users Association.

Speeding Boats/ Antisocial behaviour These two issues continue to be a problem particularly in the hot summer months with many more boats and people using the river and tow paths. Boats exceeding the 4 knot speed limit seem mainly confined to small RHIBs launched from the bank.

EA enforcement Out of 686 registered powered craft this year only 15 have yet to complete their registration for the River. 4 small vessels have been seized in the Tonbridge area and are awaiting sale and 7 owners may be served with prosecution notices. Overall a good result in terms of registration of all craft using the Medway.

Mike Marsh

Tidal Thames IWAKES has written to object to two aspects of a planning application (Ref: 16/01137/FUL) made by Crest Nicholson to Dartford Borough Council for their ‘Pier’ development at Ingress Park. x The buildings to be erected will block the presently clear view of the River from the Thames Path where it passes through this development. This is totally contrary to the PLA ‘Vision for the Tidal Thames’ (July 2016), which states (p25) “…require new developments to retain the existing path and its views”. The previous application for this site (17th June 2010) proposed a boardwalk, retaining all views. The walker’s experience would now be of pavement on a new-build suburban street rather than of the River. Two alleyways giving accesses to ‘Viewing decks’ are not a suitable substitute.

35 x ‘THE PUBLIC HARD’ shown in Crest Nicholson’s request for a screening opinion (15/00438/SCREEN of 18th March 2015) (and their application of 17th June 2010) is now changed to a wooden slipway, unsuitable for most trailed boats. It will be run by the Sea Scouts, a laudable body. But it will be inaccessible to the public. This contradicts the PLA ‘Vision of the Tidal Thames’ (July 2016) which states (p24) ‘…scope for improving existing slipways and building new ones to enable access to the River’.

Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust

The newly cleared and trimmed upstream lock cut of the restored Sutton Hall (Isfield) lock in water following a flood.

[Photo: Ted Lintott]

Thames & Medway Canal Association

40th Anniversary Walk at Thames and Medway Canal On 31 July 1976 a small band of enthusiastic volunteers agreed that the Thames and Medway Canal, which originally ran from Gravesend to Strood, should be saved from dereliction and restored to a navigable waterway.

On 31 July 2016, a larger band of enthusiasts, including several of the original volunteers, walked the Canal Towpath from Mark Lane, Gravesend to celebrate 40 years of achievements, hard work and friendship. The total

36 ‘volunteering’ time of the group adds-up to at least 250 years’ of toil and dedication – and still the work continues.

Over the years, teams of Canal volunteers, Sea Scouts, Guides, Scouts and school groups have cleared the waterway by cutting, strimming, digging and repairing. Children have learned to watch for insects, birds and frogs and how to row small craft on the safe waterway. Members of the Thames and Medway Canal Association have raised funds at publicity events, taken part in the Northfleet Carnival, organised barbecues, given talks to local groups and encouraged people to enjoy the area.

Much of the Canal from Mark Lane is now in water and swans, ducks and moorhens live happily there. The towpath is part of Sustrans’ Number 1 National Cycle Route, linking Dover to Inverness and is much used by cyclists, walkers and birdwatchers who come to the adjacent RSPB Reserve on the Marshes.

Bernard Snell

Future IWAKES and Other Events 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 by Sam Bee (of the Bluebell Railway): SORT/IWAKES Joint meeting.

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: Pre Christmas get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association. ‘The Warwickshire Ring and more’: Mike Marsh.

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Thu 26th Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, Kent. ME2 2AH: Hulks by Kevin Gulvin. The prison ships off the marshes.

Wed 22nd Feb, 7.30 for 8.00pm, St Nicholas Church Hall (Small Hall), Poplar Grove, Maidstone. ME16 0DE: Branch Annual General Meeting.

Wed 29th Mar, 7.30 for 8.00pm, Rye Harbour Sailing Club, The Point, Rye Harbour, East Sussex, TN31 7TU: Flood Risk Management on Romney Marsh by Sam (Samantha) Howe of The Environment Agency.

Sat 6th May, 2.00pm, depart from Ardingly Reservoir car park: SORT Walk to Fulling Mill: Led by Terry Owen.

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 Hi everyone, I have been enjoying a busy summer trying to progress various things for IWA Oxfordshire Branch and its Members, both on the Oxford Canal and on the River Thames too, which in the past may have been somewhat overlooked.

As I am limited to 1000 words in this Cargoes article, I thought I should include a just few brief bullet point extracts from my lengthy detailed response in late July as Chair of IWA Oxfordshire Branch to Oxford City Councils “PSPO 1st Round Consultation�. This was relating to finding solutions to unlawful mooring and mooring blocking in the Oxford City area. The full report was read and approved by Les Etheridge prior to submission.

EXTRACT OF MY OXFORDS CITY CONSULTATION RESPONSE Those who wish to live afloat entirely legally and responsibly and to pay a reasonable amount in return for the benefits that secure residential moorings offer, should be supported and respected. Enforcement can then be focused on those who elect to stay in one location, are not prepared to take up a lawful mooring, reject authority and demonstrate anti-social behaviour.

38 Unlawful Mooring and Overstay Mooring blocking on both the CRT and EA waters in Oxford city leads to: Ɣ Frustrated Cruising Boaters seeking lawful visitor temporary moorings Ɣ Loss of Tourism as visitors move on without stopping Ɣ Loss to local economy due to reduced visitor numbers spending Ɣ Damage to Oxford City’s global reputation Ɣ Loss of Visual Amenity Ɣ Un-Neighbourliness Ɣ Detrimental Visual Impact on many Historic Listing Buildings and attractive Waterside Landscapes Ɣ Perceived Fear of Antisocial Behaviour keeps visitors and residents away from the beauty of the waterside Ɣ Obstruction of the Thames Path National Trail - one of the National Trails family (statutory obligations) Ɣ Obstruction of Canal Towpaths and contamination of banks, hedgerows and canal waters by raw sewerage Ɣ 5HGXFWLRQ LQ ORFDO 3URSHUW\ 9DOXHV ³EOLJKWHG´ Ɣ )HDU RI &ULPH DQG 'LVRUGHU OHDGLQJ WR ³1R *R´ areas All the above and more only go to highlight the problems that Oxford City and its residents, including some lawful residential boat owners and many IWA Members cruising its waterways suffer as a result of this growing phenomenon. We suggest a determined effort be made by ALL local authorities (including cross boundary) and key stakeholders to work together to resolve these challenges.

Oxford City Council should not be left to deal with the problems alone and further consultation with District and County Councils, Natural England National Trails and the River Thames Alliance (representing 29 Thames Riparian Local Authorities) is recommended. If a coordinated approach to introduce this PSPO legislation (if implemented) and its enforcement methodology were introduced across ALL authorities, it would deter offenders from endlessly moving back and forth across boundaries to evade prosecution.

EMBRYONIC PLANS FOR SIGNIFICANT EXTRA MOORING PROVISION IN OXFORD CITY AREA Clearly the provision of additional purpose designed, well serviced, secure, off line residential and visitor moorings in a new location close to Oxford City is the ideal answer. To this end I have been working closely with the Freehold owners of a disused gravel workings ideally located close to the Dukes Cut that links the Oxford Canal to the River Thames. Of late and in this context, I have met with the new Senior Manager of the EA. Mr. Barry Russell MBE and the Cabinet Member for Oxfordshire County Council Highways as well as Richard Parry, CEO of CRT, who have expressed their support in principle.

39 This summer I have also held various other meetings and exchanged emails with, for example the Oxford Canal Partnership, Jericho Boatyard supporters, five members of the “Say No to PSPO” group.

Over the summer months in relation to various aspects of IWA related work, I have also met with Les Etheridge IWA National Chair and Gren Messham Vice-Chair IWA, Peter Walker Head of Asset Management and Performance (CRT) and the Vice President IWA London Branch John Edmonds, a former Board Member at the EA. I have also met with David Cameron (former PM) Rory Stewart MP former Under Secretary of State for DEFRA, Nicola Blackwood MP for West Oxford and Abingdon recently appointed as Under Secretary of State for Public Health (includes the promotion of healthy outside activities) and Hon. Simon Hoare MP recently promoted to Parliamentary Private Secretary to the DEFRA Minister (Farming). I have met with Alan Law and Liz Newton Directors at Natural England too.

Most recently I met with the Mayor of Banbury Council and his Officer team at Canal Day 2016 in Banbury. I also met and chatted with Matt who operates Tooleys Boatyard as he kindly showed me around the historic dry dock, forge and buildings. If you have never been to visit, I strongly recommend it.

Finally, I have recently met with several of the Publicans and Boatyard Managers that offer moorings along our stretch of the River Thames, which includes the entire River Thames from Goring to Lechlade. For example, I have visited and spoken with the management of the 120 plus boats moored at Bablock Hythe, Malcolm at The Swan at Radcot with 200 boats, the owner at The Maybush Inn at Newbridge with about 20 craft as well as Gary who looks after the 100 plus moorings at Abingdon Marina too.

All these moorings and many more besides, lay within our Branch Area and I strongly believe that if we are to halt the decline and move on to grow and expand our IWA Oxfordshire Branch in 2017, then we urgently need to work with them all and get their boat-owners involved in some fun social activities.

Onward and upward.

Steve Good

Secretary’s Report We would remind you that since the AGM we have stopped all regular 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.

We are still mindful of holding events that members may like to attend.

Members who have lodged their email addresses with Head Office will automatically receive an invite. If you have not done this please let HO have these details.

40 However the rest of the behind the scene items still continue. Please see our Chairman’s report on his involvement with the various river and canal bodies.

Banbury Canal Day went very well in October. Pat Thomas organised the trip boats and mooring activities, whilst Jenny, Ann and myself ran the stand. Pat has written a report In respect of the day and a photograph or two is appended. No progress on site has been made over Castle Quay II development and we now understand no start will happen this year. We are informed it is likely a start on site will be made early next year.

Brian Saunders

Banbury Canal Partnership Working parties have continued to be held on the third and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Either rectifying the relentless ravages of weather on the canal infrastructure, or the ever increasing growth on the banks.

In August and September we painted three of the Claydon flight locks (making 4 of the 5 done this year). This flight is relatively easy to access as there is a small car park just off the Claydon to Cropredy road near the middle lock and it is a short wheelbarrow push to each of the 5 locks.

41

Before After Having looked at alternative work for when the weather is not conducive to painting; too wet, too cold, too hot, we considered more vegetation clearance, but again this causes problems with the removal of the cut vegetation. However we have had a go at cutting back the rapidly encroaching vegetation around Elkington’s Lock. A couple of work parties will have been held by the time this is published and again I attach a before and after photograph.

Working Parties will continue on the third and fourth Tuesdays of each Month. Whilst we take a winter break to avoid the worst of the weather, we will commence again in March. We obviously work in a different location for each event. But all IWA members are welcome to attend. So please contact the email address below for details of the next work party.

Whilst many hands make light work, many more hands would make even lighter work. So if you want a day out in the country side 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

42

Banbury Canal Day Banbury Canal Day Boat Trips Organiser’s Report 2016 With glorious weather, again, Banbury Canal Day was another successful event, with the Boat Trips forming an essential part of the Day, introducing many to their first experience of seeing Banbury from the water.

There were 32 volunteers, 18 who had done it before and 14 new to the roles and responsibilities. 20 people attended the Safety Training on the Saturday, with Oscar winning performances of ‘Baby Overboard’ and ‘Fire’ emergencies providing some realistic scenarios.

9 There was 100% turnout of all volunteers 9 750 people had a boat trip, plus a few babies and dogs.

9 £280.02p was raised for the Oxfordshire Branch of IWA. This more than covered insurance expenses of £170.00 9 No bumps or bruises, fouled propellers, scrapes or dunkings were reported.

The excellent boat handling and courteous people handling skills of all the volunteers ensured that the public had an enjoyable boating experience in a safe environment.

My especial thanks goes to Matt Armitage of Tooley’s for donating Dancing Duck for the Day, Dave Dare for loaning 3 day boats and to Charlotte and Ian Marris of Sovereign Wharf for keeping the volunteers supplied with copious cups of tea and coffee. Most gratefully received.

Pat Thomas

43

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Peterborough Arms On the 21st September the Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock saw the first use of the community space, as the redevelopment of the pub continues. Dauntsey Women’s Institute were at the Peterborough Arms Community Rooms for their meeting that evening.

Sheila Wade, Communications Director for WBCT welcomed Chair Maureen Uzzell and the WI members and said: “The Trust is proud to welcome back our local community to the Peterborough Arms and to see our community rooms in use once again. Our volunteers have worked hard on the refurbishment and we are nearly at the end of the project with the conversion work on the disabled toilets and access now in progress.”

The refurbishment of the Community Rooms is part of the development and restoration works of the Peterborough Arms, and has been made possible by funding from generous supporters in the community.

Wiltshire Donkey Show 2016.

Why donkeys you may be asking? Well, there is a connection… many canals, including the Wilts & Berks, when they were the main freight routes for the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, were “powered” by donkeys rather than, as is often imagined, large cart horses such as Shires or Clydesdales. There were many reasons for this, including

narrowness of towpaths, heights of bridges and the cheaper purchase and running costs of donkeys vs horses. Typically the barge donkeys worked as a pair or double hitch, or as a single hitch for small loads.

And donkeys were also used to “puddle” the clay to make the canal bed watertight. The Trust has a number of archive photos showing working donkeys on the Wilts & Berks canal. Jonathan Till, CEO of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust. says: “The Trust is proud to celebrate the heritage of our canal in all its aspects. How the canal worked in its heyday as an integral part of the freight infrastructure during the Industrial Revolution … and the role of the animals used to pull the barges laden with coal from the Somerset coalfields, and later the material used to construct the Great Western Railway… is all part of this heritage.

These animals were sourced, trained, fed, shod, and looked after by a variety of characters up and down the canal line: we are proud that we have members who still have the knowledge and skills of using donkeys, mules and horses as working animals, the skills that have come down the generations from these “horsemen” of old, and our members can, in turn, pass these skills on to the next generation of canal users and supporters. We are delighted to share our archive which includes photos showing working donkeys on our canal.”

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust continue to celebrate this

44 connection by their sponsorship and attendance at the Wiltshire Donkey Show in Dauntsey every September where the driving donkeys are driven up to the canal near 7 Locks to receive Wilts & Berks Canal Trust commemorative rosettes… and of course some carrots!

This annual event in Dauntsey was held this year on Sunday 4th September at Scots Smith Farmyard. Jonathan Till CEO of Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, who presented the commemorative rosettes said: “It was a real pleasure to me to be able to award these rosettes to the donkeys and their drivers today at the show drive of the Wiltshire Donkey Show. We are very proud to be the custodians of the heritage and memories of the working life of the canal and the people and animals who were so much part of life here all along the Wilts & Berks canal until it was abandoned as a working canal in 1914. I look forward to the day, which is not long away now, when we can welcome donkeys back on the towpath all along our canal.”

School, Chippenham. As is usual the activities started in the morning with displays of Trust work at the School as well as minibus tours to the local worksites. The AGM in the afternoon was the usual lively event with reports from the various Executive Directors and our CEO Jonathan Till, followed by an Open Forum. The structure of the Trust management has changed in the last two years with the division of an Executive Management away from the previous Council of Management now titled the Board of Trustees. With the Executive in place, the Trust Board continues to evolve, with the election of Steve Bacon as Members Trustee.

One of the successes reported at the AGM was the increased patronage of our trip boat since the opening of the quay outside the Waitrose store at Wichelstowe, Swindon (The official opening was carried out by the Duchess of Cornwall, our Patron).

Swindon branch won the annual trophy awarded at the AGM for the greatest increase in branch membership and this can be laid firmly at the success of the boating Annual General Meeting activities. The AGM also saw the launch of our completely new On Saturday 15th October the website which is well worth a look!

Trust held its AGM at Sheldon 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

45 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: Wed 9th Nov: Restoring wooden boat `Roger’ by Fabian Hiscock Wed 14th Dec: Christmas social Wed 11th Jan: The Cutting Edge-The dark side of the Regent’s Canal by Lester Hillman Wed 8th Feb: Working Boats by Kirk Martin Wed 15th Mar: AGM and review of past year For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson Tel: 07803 904803 or email: shea.richardson@homecall.co.uk

Towpath Walks Group 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 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) Sun 4th Dec, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Islington to Hoxton, meet Angel Sun 18th Dec, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross (taxi rank) Tue 27th Dec, 2.00pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meet Warwick Avenue Sun 1st Jan, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Islington to Hoxton, meet Angel Sun 15th Jan, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross (taxi rank)

46 Sun 5th Feb, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meet Warwick Avenue Sun 19th Feb, 2.30pm: Walk, The Olympics, Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers, meet Bromley-by-Bow Sun 5th Mar, 2.30pm: Walk, Limehouse to Docklands, meet Westferry (DLR) (by Cycle Hire Point) Sun 19th Mar, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross (taxi rank) Sun 2nd Apr, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meet Warwick Avenue Sun 16th Apr, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Kings Cross, Hitchcock’s Hackney, meet Kings Cross (taxi rank) Sun 30th Apr, 2.30pm: Walk, Regent’s Canal: Regent’s Park & R. Tyburn to Little Venice, meet Baker St. (Baker St. North/Lord’s exit) 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 Email: 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 Spring 2017 Copy date 15th January 2017

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