Chiltern Grapevine Issue 41
Mad Dogs and Briceys Go Sailing the English Channel In January You must be mad, was the comment that summed it all up from our friends when we told them that we were going sailing in the English Channel in mid-January, with a weather forecast that was not too good, the coldest weather for 3 years was on its way. The Tall Ships Youth Trust of which we are supporters provides training for youngsters in life skills, teamwork and the disciplines required for ocean sailing. So what are a couple of oldies doing on a youth boat? Well, during the winter season they run these voyages for adults who pay for the privilege to crew these Yachts in icy waters, so raising funds to subsidise youth sailing. It is something we wanted to do for some time, we missed an opportunity last year, so when we heard they were recruiting a crew for a return voyage from the London Boat Show for a 5 day Channel voyage returning to her home port at Portsmouth we jumped at it; well it’s not often that one gets the opportunity to crew a thoroughbred racing yacht like this. The Challenger yachts were designed by Chay Blyth for the BT Global Challenge Yacht Races, they are big 72 ft. long with 2.1m keel, steel built with massive sails, not the lightest of ocean racers, but built to endure long distance and severe weather. 10am Sunday St Catherine’s Dock, we meet up with the Yacht and the other 11 members of the Crew, a familiarisation tour of the The night watch vessel and H&S briefing ready to sail at midday high tide. The weather was bright and cold but thankfully not raining for our journey down the Thames to our first destination, an overnight mooring at Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey at the mouth of the River Medway. Through the Barrier we sailed under the Queen Elizabeth Bridge, our mast was so high it looked as though this might be a problem (but of course it had sailed in this way a few days ago). As we travelled, the Thames estuary getting widCont’d on page 6
Chiltern Branch Newsletter April 2015 www.waterways.org.uk/chiltern
Chairman's Ramblings Three weeks ago I wasn’t sure that I would have enough material to produce this issue of Grapevine; if you started at the beginning, then by now you know I have had to save the second part of the Briceys at sea for the next issue. (Truth is I got sea-sick half way through reading it!) On Monday February 23rd February John Dodwell, IWA General Secretary from 1971-4 and now a CRT Trustee, gave a talk to IWA Milton Keynes Branch that I would really like to have covered in detail here but with photographs it runs to 22 pages; I have John’s permission to include the entire document. So, if we have an email address for you, then you will soon receive this document as an attachment; please take the time to read it; John has been a campaigner for Waterways for a very long time; in this talk he clearly shows the benefits CRT is able to deliver as a charitable trust. He does not pretend all is now fixed but it is improving! Some of you will remember the two seats around the trees at the side of lock 39 at Marsworth; you may also remember they were falling apart! Well here is the first of the replacements, which has taken considerably longer to make than I expected! The plan is to install this seat in June after the Rickmansworth Festival. It has been constructed in Iroko, which should give it a useful life in excess of 20 years; like Teal, Iroko has natural protective oils , so no painting! The second seat will now have to wait until later in the year; after the cruising season but first we will be at Rickmansworth, but not on our boat as we are planning to go down river to the Wey and then to see how far we can get on the Basingstoke Canal. We’re hoping for better luck than last time we headed for the Wey; Beryl slipped on our boat and sprained her ankle at Chertsey Lock.. There are several opportunities to lighten your wallets with this issue of Grapevine but what we need most is a little of your time; please take a look at page15 and consider how you might help. Rickmansworth Festival is a great day out and there will be a variety of activities with which we would appreciate some help; so please contact John Brice or me and let’s see if we can find a task that would interest you! There will be a Waterways Village area with IWA Chiltern and Middlesex branch volunteers working together; the area will include IWA Sales, Middlesex and Chiltern displays, WoW children's activities, Jumble and Waterways Recovery Group; plus Wendover Arm Trust and Canal and River Trust; I hope to see you there. Dave Chapman Page 2
CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
Diary & Notices Chiltern Branch Meetings
Chiltern Branch -Committee/Volunteers: We do need people to fill these posts; 8pm start unless shown. Newsletter Editor, Web Editor, rd 23 Sept 2015 Contact Dave Chapman; see back page. 28th Oct 2015 th New Members: we welcome 25 Nov 2015 th 10 Dec 2015 ( Thursday) Christmas Party Mr M Clark Mr D Simms 27th January 2016 Miss E Wilton & Family 24th February 2016 23rd March 2016 AGM then Guest Here’s another interesting website 27th April 2016 https://www.facebook.com/pages/TraditionalProgramme details to follow. Narrow-Boat-Handling/184474664917234
May events Cavalcade
Sat 2nd to Mon 4th
Rickmansworth Festival Sat 16th and Sun 17th Crick
Sat 23rd to Mon 25th
Copy Date for the next issue is 5th July 2015. The next issue of Grapevine will be published in July 2015. Please send news items, articles, photographs and advertisements to the Editor.
PLEASE Sign up for IWA Chiltern e-News
The hardcopy version is normally available at our evening meetings. APRIL 2015 ISSUE
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From the Region Chairman As you may know we have been actively raising concerns about the number of people who stay in a small area but declared they would be continuously cruising when applying for their licence; this means that they don’t need a home mooring. Last year, Canal and River Trust (CRT) carried out a survey on the movement of boats without home moorings. The survey confirmed our belief that a majority of boats without a home mooring, stayed within a small geographic area. In fact over half of boats moved less than 20 kilometres in the year. On 13 February CRT issued a statement that clarifies the rules for boaters who have said they will cruise continuously, when applying for their licences and stating how the Trust intends to deal with those boaters who don’t comply. There will undoubtedly be legal challenges and it will take a long time before there is real progress in getting many of the stuck boats moving around the system. We need to be supportive of CRT in their endeavours but must recognise the real problems this will cause for some people who moved onto a boat during the time British Waterways removed enforcement and were led to believe they could remain moored near their work or school all the time. In addition to the new clarification of CRT’s Policy for boats without home moorings they have issuing revised boat licence conditions which started from 1st May this year. We had written to CRT highlighting our concerns over some of the new clauses and they have responded to our comments; “We want to see the waterways managed so that everybody gets a fair chance to enjoy them and we recognise the need for changes to CRT's terms and conditions to help them achieve this.” Last year your region committee decided not to continue holding a Region AGM because it had just become a formality, was poorly attended and not really serving any purpose. We still need members on the Region committee, in addition to your branch chairman who is automatically a member. So, you may ask, what does the Region committee do and how can I help. The main purpose of the committee is to co-ordinate and support IWA’s work by branches across the region. Over recent years it has lead our efforts to find a solution to the problems in London of boats overstaying on moorings and only traveling in a small area. Uniquely in London we also try and run Region wide events such as last year’s clean-up of the Regents Canal. One area of expertise the committee lacks is in Marketing and Promotions we do need to sell London IWA and our events to the public. If you have expertise in this area, and could give up a little time, please get in touch even if you can’t come to committee meetings. If you are able to help us, please contact your branch chairman Dave Chapman, or myself, the committee meets about five times a year usually at the Canal Museum near Kings Cross Paul Strudwick IWA , Chairman London Region Page 4
CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
More from the Region Chairman — Cruising on-line Blogs Over the past couple of years Nav-com have had short articles on boat related subjects published on the website under the Blog section of the News and Campaigns heading. I was asked to write something on how to connect to the web whilst boating. For those who don’t use the internet or the IWA website I thought it might be of interest. Connecting to the Internet Whilst On the Cut A common question that has been asked since the explosion of the World Wide Web and the use of email, Skype, Whatsapp and social media sites for communicating is: “How do I get the internet when I’m on the boat?” Initial things to consider are why you want the internet on the boat and where you intend cruising. The answer to these questions is important because it will decide what you need and to some extent, the costs you are going to be faced with. Smart Phones, Tablets and Mobile Internet Options To access things like e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and view websites, you can get by with a modern smartphone or tablet running on a 3G or a 4G network. However, if you need to use a laptop or notebook for more complex tasks, or because you prefer a bigger screen and a proper keyboard, there are a number of ways to connect to the internet. You can set up a local Wi-Fi ‘Hotspot’ using a 3G/4G travel router or your smartphone. Alternatively an internet dongle can be connected to one of the USB ports on your computer to give a direct connection to the mobile network. Finally you can use a cable, or Bluetooth, to make a connexion between the computer and your connected mobile phone. Costs Mobile phone, tablet, travel router and internet dongle connections all come with varying pay monthly and pay-as-you-go options. There are data calculator tools online that you can use to work out how much data you are likely to use and how much you might need to APRIL 2015 ISSUE
spend. For example, if you mainly want to read text emails, your data usage will be relatively low. Streaming YouTube videos or downloading movies will dramatically increase your data usage and costs. Coverage The coverage of rural parts of the canal system, by mobile networks is inconsistent, and although the network providers have agreed with the government to improve coverage, it is likely to take years before things get much better. So which provider should you chose? O2, Vodafone, Three and EE (T-Mobile and Orange) are the only genuine mobile phone networks, in that they own and maintain the systems used to provide the service. Other 'networks' such as Virgin, Tesco Mobile, and Talk-Talk use coverage from one of these networks to provide their services. If you want to know what coverage is like in your cruising area all the companies issue maps on the web so you can see what you can expect as you move along the canal. One thing to watch out for when comparing maps is the difference between 'indoor' and 'outdoor' coverage. Indoor coverage means that there is a good signal and you can expect a reasonably good service. Outdoor coverage doesn't literally mean that your phone will only work outside, but that the coverage is patchy, so your device is less likely to work in your boat. Boosting Your Signal Installing a passive repeater antenna can improve the signal in your boat to overcome the reduction in signal caused by the steel shell. Active booster kits are also available, which you could try, but be careful as there are many cheap imports on the market whose use in the UK is a criminal offence. Legal booster kits are not cheap, but they can make the difference between having a poor signal whilst standing on the roof of the boat; and being able to use the internet inside the boat. An Alternative (the pub) With no internet access through your mobile network you could head for the nearest friendly pub that offers free Wi-Fi access to all its customers. It’s a
Cont’d on page 12
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Mad Dogs and Briceys Go Sailing the English Channel In January er, Southend Pier on our port side, then we pressing work towards the war effort the turned to starboard past the wreck exclusion ship was abandoned till later. But no-one ever came up with a solution and the wreck zone of the Montgomery to our mooring. with its 3500 tons of decaying explosive is still there at the mercy of every tide. Many surveys have been carried out, but apart from the 500ft. buoyed exclusion zone around the wreck, it still sits in the silt, deemed too dangerous to unload her. I (Jenny) was on the helm, following the buoyed channel into the Medway estuary, mistakenly believing we were heading for a marina, not a pontoon with a container perched on top, whilst also keeping a check The Wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery on the depth gauge; we were down to 1.9 metres below our keel but it was already low tide so this was home for the night, just SS Richard Montgomery was a World War a long slippery pontoon ashore with no II Liberty Ship, she arrived from Philadelfacilities. After a meal on board we all phia with a cargo of 7 thousand tons of headed ashore, thinking what on earth bombs and munitions and was waiting to would be happening on a Sunday night in join a convoy to Cherbourg, so the Kings Sheppey; well the pub had a live band, a Harbour Master told her to anchor. The good crowd and more importantly was incoming neap tide pushed the ship onto the warm. Sheerness Middle Sand, where she became stranded. As the tide ebbed the ship settled Jenny All at Sea on the silt bed and buckled some of her plates in the hull. The subsequent cracking noise caused the crew to think it was gun shots from their cargo, so they abandoned the ship in a flurry of lifeboats and rafts. Next morning unloading started as at that stage there was little damage to the ship. 24 hours later however disaster finally struck when the strain on the hull became too much and it cracked like an eggshell at the front end of hold 3, flooding quickly swept through holds 1 & 2. The next day the Richard Montgomery completely broke her back, salvage continued on holds 4 & 5 John & Jenny Brice until they were emptied as they were still above water. Any further unloading was (Part 2 will be in the next Grapevine stopped when it became obvious the ship due in July) was a total loss, and due to other more Page 6
CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
I AM A CHILTERN BRANCH VOLUNTEER My name is Bailey. When I arrived at my friend Carolyn’s house on a Sunday in August I saw she was busy putting things into her car so I began to wonder what was happening as I was supposed to be staying with her so she could look after me for a few days. Anyway I dashed into Carolyn’s house and there was my usual welcome treat which I devoured with relish and then dashed back to see what was going on. It was with great relief that I saw Carolyn had a bag in her hand which I knew my food had been packed into, so I knew I was definitely staying. She then measured out a portion of my food which I thought rather odd as I had eaten my breakfast not long before and I know I am not allowed another meal until the evening but surprisingly this was then put into my food bowl and then into a bag. My water bowl was also bagged and then Carolyn picked these and her handbag up and said we were going out in the car. It is rare that I go out in Carolyn’s car as there are loads of places to go for great walks within 5 minutes of where she lives. In fact the last time I went out in her car we went to Little Chalfont and I helped to deliver leaflets advertising Chiltern Branch meetings. I enjoyed this as there were lots of new sniffs and different things to look at and to top it all I even met some new doggie friends. So I wondered what we were going to do today as I got into the car. We drove for what seemed like a long time and when we eventually stopped I didn’t recognise the car park we were parked in. Carolyn went and bought a car park ticket and put it on the dashboard. Then she picked up the cool box that had most of our things in and let me out of the car. When I had my lead on we walked out of the car park and up some steps. Then I saw the water, APRIL 2015 ISSUE
Carolyn said it was called canal. We walked along the side to the road and crossed over a bridge and then walked down the other side to a gazebo where we put the box down. We then walked back to the car and got the rest of our things and took them to the gazebo, saying hello to various people on the way. The only person I recognised was John who we had helped when delivering the leaflets. Just after we got back to the gazebo the second time there was a really heavy shower and people came rushing in to shelter. This was nice as lots of people took the trouble to make friends with me which I really liked. After the rain stopped Carolyn said we were going for a walk and picked up a bucket, Hilary joined us. So we walked up to the road and then crossed the bridge to the other side of the canal, as the lock gates were very wet and too slippery for me to cross over. I hadn’t walked across lock gates before! It was lovely once we got to the other side as I no longer needed my lead and was able to wander freely, exploring the sides of the tow path and having a good sniff in all directions. Carolyn and Hilary stopped and talked to the few people about on the towpath who put their hands into their pockets and bags and put money into the bucket. Well this was different; we walked quite a way along the canal and also by one of the reservoirs where there were fishermen some of whom also contributed to the Cont’d on next page Page 7
Bailey volunteers bucket. After a while we walked back and had a drink then I noticed the lock gates had dried as the sun had come out. I watched and saw another dog walk across the lock gates this set me thinking I can do that so I had a go and succeeded. It was really interesting looking into the water from the lock gates and I was also able to look down the canal from the bottom gate and see the boats coming along. The day passed really pleasantly in walking with Carolyn, Hilary and the bucket and saying hello to the various walkers, cyclists, fishermen and of course other four legged friends. One of the highlights was having learnt to walk over the lock gates practising this skill and then developing it to running over. Then there was the trip boat and all those people to say hello to. All in all it was a lovely day and soon it was time for my tea, packing up to go home, saying goodbye and thank you to John for organising my fun day. Guess what, we raised a lot of money, which Carolyn says will help with canal restoration. I am sure you would enjoy helping Chiltern Branch with their fund raising as they are a friendly bunch and make you really welcome so maybe you could spare a morning, an afternoon, a day or the whole weekend to join in raising funds for canal restoration on Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th at Marsworth Bottom Lock.
Bailey
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WRG Update WRG’s Summer Canal Camps
IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) launched its 2015 working holidays at the end of January. ‘Canal Camps’ offer a unique opportunity to volunteer and learn new skills, whilst exploring amazing parts of Britain’s industrial heritage. This year we have 27 Canal Camps planned on 12 different canal restoration projects. No two canal work sites are exactly the same - every canal has its own distinctive features and building materials, as the original canal builders used whatever was available to hand to build the canal. Combine this with the many different jobs involved in restoring a canal you will find that Canal Camps offer a wide variety of types of work. This summer we will be traveling throughout England and Wales – offering volunteers the chance to rebuild bridges on the Ashby Canal, restore a lock on the Stover Canal, or improve towpaths on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. Each camp costs £56 and is open to anyone aged over 18. In 2014 WRG spent 40,000 volunteer hours working towards the restoration of derelict waterways and we want to do even more in 2015! If you’d like to know more about volunteering with WRG please contact Jenny or Amber at WRG Head Office – 01494 783 453 ext 604, email enquiries@wrg.org.uk or visit the WRG website www.wrg.org.uk To support these camps and enable them to take place WRG owns a set of four vans. These vans will travel around 10,000 miles annually across the country to ensure WRG keeps running smoothly.
WRG Volunteer is a Waterways Hero!
In March, John Hawkins, a WRG volunteer from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was awarded CRT’s, Heroes of the Waterways Award. This new award aims to celebrate and recognise the long service of volunteers who have worked to support the canals and rivers. CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
Waterways Recovery Group update Over the past 35 years John has been a dedicated waterways volunteer at both a local and national level. Last year alone he spent over 360 hours of his time volunteering with WRG on canal restoration projects across England – from helping restore Black Jacks Bridge on the Grand Union Canal to bricklaying at Meretown Lock on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals. John is also a regular volunteer with the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust and is part of the ‘Learning at the Lock’ team, which encourages local primary school children to respect and value their waterways, as well as teaching them how to operate locks and about the history of the canals. John’s wife Tess, who sadly recently passed
away, would have been particularly proud of John’s achievement. The couple enjoyed volunteering together, giving their time to help restore waterways and produce Navvies, and Tess would have loved to have seen her husband receiving the award in recognition of his hard work.
WRG at Rickmansworth Festival
WRG’s publicity and ‘learn to bricklay’ stand will also be attending the Rickmansworth Waterways Festival on the 16th-17th May. We look forward to seeing you there!
Help keep WRG on the Move – £120,000 Appeal
Since WRG first purchased the set of vans around eight years ago, they have been driven APRIL 2015 ISSUE
a total of 400,000 miles. This is the equivalent of travelling around the world sixteen times! WRG’s vans play a vital role transporting volunteers, equipment and tools on WRG’s week-long Canal Camps and weekend digs across England and Wales, and without them WRG couldn’t continue to support canal restoration. The current fleet of four much-loved Transit vans needs to be retired and it is time to find new sets of wheels for the next generation of volunteers. IWA has launched an appeal to help WRG raise £120,000 to purchase the four vans with the aim of buying 2 vans in 2015 and a further 2 in 2016. We can’t do this without you. The appeal needs the support of people like you that are passionate about waterways restoration to help reach the target. If you would like to help WRG get the essential equipment for restoring canals then please make a donation or get involved in one or more of the many exciting events and activities that will take place throughout the appeal. Massive thanks go to Chiltern Branch which has already very generously donated £500 towards the appeal to get it started. Ways to Donate Cheque: Make cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association and send them to WRG Van Appeal, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA. You can find full details of the ways in which you donate at; https://www.waterways.org.uk/wrg/fundra ising/wrg_van_appeal/ways_donate If you would like any further information on the appeal visit www.wrg.org.uk/wrgvanappeal or contact Toby Gomm at 01494 783453 ext. 611. Page 9
Wendover Arm Trust Grand Draw and Update Hello to all Grapevine recipients. Enclosed with this edition will be two books of Grand Draw tickets which will give you the splendid opportunity to take part, not only in the prize draw, but perhaps most importantly, support the efforts of the volunteers in the restoration of more canal for your use and enjoyment. The Wendover Arm Trust Grand Draw this year is again to raise further funds for the restoration of the canal, which feeds water from Wendover to the summit level of the Grand Union Canal at Bulbourne. The restoration is carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers, who meet for seven days each month to continue restoring the route of the canal now working from Drayton Beauchamp towards Little Tring. Phase 1 of the project has been completed and is in used by walkers, fishermen and boaters. The Trust funded the rebuilding of the road bridge at Little Tring to the sum of £210,000. This amount was raised entirely by the Trust, supported by fund raising events. The current cost to restore one metre of canal has been calculated at about £450.00; hence the ongoing need to raise further funds. The prizes for this year include a first prize of one weeks Boating Holiday, sponsored by Wyvern Shipping of Leighton Buzzard; a second prize of a Day Boat hire, sponsored by Lee Valley Boat Centre; a third prize of a Virgin Experience Day - a visit to the Shard, with dinner for two; a fourth prize of £100 cash. There are many other valuable prizes to be won. These are shown on the Trust’s website – www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk , along with the latest information regarding the restoration. The Trust urges you to sell these two books of tickets, returning the counterfoils and a cheque to the Promoter. If you can sell more tickets to your friends or at your workplace, then call Michael Wright on 01727-860137. Page 10
Email draw@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk your enquiry would be most welcome. The tickets this year have been sponsored by P E Mead and Sons, Wilstone Farm Shop and are priced at £1 each. The Draw will take place on Sunday 6th September 2015 at Drayton Beauchamp, when it is also possible to see our restoration volunteers in action and the progress that has been made. The Trust has completed the public access to the Whitehouses site from bridge number 4 – a point where the foot path crosses the canal. Whitehouses was the site where a steam powered pump raised water from the adjacent reservoir into the canal over 100 years ago. The canal and towpath is a linear nature park and enjoyed by many. It is also used by cyclists and bird watchers. Visit www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk for full details. Visit us to see the new section that has just been re-watered
Thank you in anticipation of your essential support. Michael Wright
Wendover Arm Trust Update Another section is in water as of April 2015.
Nearly there? CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
Wendover Arm Trust
The team
The dam is breached photos by Chris Sergeant, Wendover Arm Trust Chairman
John Brice, Chiltern Committee member responsible for Fundraising and Volunteers presents Christ Sergeant, WAT Chairman with the order for a new trailer to support WAT travel to Fundraising events. APRIL 2015 ISSUE
It is not hard to spot the difference between these photographs taken some 6 months apart by David Page of WAT.
This is the art-work that will be applied to both sides of the new trailer, which should be ready for collection by Wendover Arm Trust during late May. We will have a further photo opportunity when the trailer has been collected. Page 11
Acheman Challenge Update This email was sent to branch; “Thank you for your Acheman Challenge sponsorship last year towards the cost of the new excavator for WRG. Your help on the day of the challenge and the support of other members of the branch was also fantastic. We are delighted to inform you that the excavator has now been ordered and we are grateful for your support in helping to make this purchase possible. We managed to raise a total of £17,830 in sponsorship from the challenge towards the £29,100 overall cost of the vehicle. The excavator will be arriving in a couple of months and we hope that it will offer many years of invaluable assistance to waterways restoration projects across the country. Kind regards, Toby ( IWA HO)” great source of unlim-
Cruising on-line ited data (whilst you’re
enjoying a pint), but there are risks associated with a large number of users on a single network with the password displayed next to the beer pumps. It takes little knowledge to secretly monitor and/or hijack communications over a public Wi-Fi network. Some of the major home broadband suppliers offer access to secure Wi-Fi whilst away from home, as part of the package. Websites such as Gmail, Facebook, and Twitter use a system that makes it hard for hackers to tap into your communications. There are ways to limit risks whilst using public Wi-Fi systems to carry out transactions, but they are beyond the scope of this article. The way mobile internet is provided is constantly changing, and new ways of bundling services will give you more opportunities to reduce costs and keep you connected whilst on the move. Paul Strudwick Page 12
Chiltern weekend away 25th to 27th SEPTEMBER 2015 Friday 25th September 08:30 Depart High Wycombe—Swan Theatre 08:45 Depart Amersham - Gore Hill Bus Stop 09:00 Depart Chesham - The Broadway 11:15 Arrive at Devizes Wharf where we will board the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust's Trip Boat 'Kenavon Venture' for a three hour cruise to the top of the Caen Hill flight of locks. 12:00 A buffet lunch will be served aboard. The Trip Boat has a fully licensed bar for wine and beer as well as non alcoholic beverages. 14:30 Disembark back at Devizes Wharf and rejoin our coach. A possible visit is proposed to the Crofton Pumping Station which will be preparing for its 'Open Weekend'. 16:30 Rejoin our coach for the onward journey to Falfield in Gloucestershire.. 18:00 Arrive at the Best Western 'Gables' Hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. 20:00 Dinner in the Hotel Saturday 26th September 08:45 Depart from our hotel for the Cotswold Canal Trust's Visitor Centre in Stroud. We will be met here by Clive and Jill Field. Clive is Chairman of CCT (Trading) Limited and he and Jill Field will be our hosts for a day of comprehensive visits to sites of interest. 09:30 Arrive at the Visitor Centre for coffee. 10:00 Introductory talk by Clive Field. 10:45 Depart for a gentle walk from the Visitor centre during which we will view Wallbridge Upper Lock and Stroud Brewery Bridge, both opened by Princess Anne in 2012, the Lower Wallbridge Lock and Fish Pass. The walk then passes the historic headquarters of the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation, the terminus of the CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
To the Kennet and Avon Canal, The Cotswold Canal Trust and the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Stroudwater Navigation and the start of the Thames and Severn Canal. Finally, we will see the Lodgemore Mill, still manufacturing cloth to this day. 11:45 Re-board our coach to visit the hydro electric scheme at Dudbridge Locks and the Ebley Mill area. 13:15 Buffet Lunch at the 'Clothiers Arms' Inn in Stroud. 14:15 Re-board our coach to visit Chalford and one of five canal Roundhouses. 14:45 Visit Brimscombe Port, site of the former headquarters of the Thames and Severn Canal. 15:15 Re-board coach to view Ham Mill Lock, currently being restored by CCT volunteers. 15:45 Re-board coach to view Bowbridge Lock, another restoration project underway by volunteers and WRG. 16:15 Re-board coach for return to Wallbridge and afternoon tea. 16:45 Re-board coach for our return to the Hotel. 20:00 Dinner in the Hotel Sunday 27th September
16:29 Arrival of the last train of the day at Cheltenham Racecourse Station. 16:45 Rejoin our coach for the journey home. THE COST
The cost of the weekend excursion will be £250 per person, based on two people sharing a twin or double room. The single room supplement is £20. The cost includes:All coach travel. Two nights accommodation on a half board (bed, breakfast and dinner) basis at ‘The Gables’ Best Western Hotel, Falfield in Gloucestershire. A 3 hour cruise aboard the trip boat ‘Kenavon Venture' from Devizes to the top lock of the Caen Hill flight of locks. Buffet lunch aboard the 'Kenavon Venture' A Day Rover ticket on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Coach driver’s gratuity Donation to the Cotswold Canals Trust The cost does not include:Travel insurance. Morning coffees and afternoon teas if taken. 09:00 Depart from the Hotel for the Glouces- Pub buffet Lunch at the 'Clothiers Arms' in tershire Warwickshire. Railway. Stroud Lunch or snack at the 'Flag and Whistle'. 10:35 Arrive at Cheltenham Race Course Station. We will have ‘All Day Rover’ tickets Alcoholic beverages. for our visit to this restored section of what Other items of a personal nature. was once a route on the Great Western Railway from Birmingham via Stratford on Avon The cost noted above is applicable to a party of 20 members. Historically, Branch and Cheltenham to Penzance ‘Weekends Away’ have attracted an average of some 25 members and guests. It will 10:55 Depart on the first steam train of the day. Passengers can disembark at the interme- be possible therefore, to reduce this cost if more than 20 members and guests particidiate stations at Gotherington and Winchcombe if they wish, taking a later train to the pate. terminus at Toddington. At the latter, lunchtime meals and snacks can be taken at the 'Flag and Whistle' cafeteThe booking form can be down-loaded from the ria. The last train of the day leaves branch website at; Toddington at 15:55, Winchcombe at https://www.waterways.org.uk/chiltern/pdfs/ 16:06, and Gotherington at 16:18. chilternweekendaway2015_itinerarybookingform APRIL 2015 ISSUE
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Volunteering opportunities We run trips that enable disadvantaged people to experience canal boating 'close up'.
We employ no paid staff and need additional volunteers in the following areas: Trainers – general volunteer training plus skipper training to CCBM and Boatmaster levels Crewing: Skippers (CCBM &/or Boatmaster's) and crew (training provided) 'Enable' trips project manager
IT – GoogleDrive Marketing – events, telesales, web editing, Google Analytics Fundraising – public appeals manager Maintenance – of boats, property & gardens
Email Trustees@wexp.org.uk telling us where your interests and experience lie and what you're looking for in a volunteer role. Share your love of the canals and canal boating! www.wexp.org.uk
Chiltern Branch Meeting Venue Directions: Little Chalfont Village Hall is in Cokes Lane which runs south from a mini-roundabout junction with the main A404 road between Rickmansworth and Amersham. The hall is located by the Library and Dr Challoners High School for girls . It is approximately 600m from Chalfont & Latimer railway/tube station.; there is free parking adjacent. Access to the hall is on the flat and so offers easy access. There are also toilet facilities for disabled members. Page 14
The Village Hall, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, Bucks HP8 4UD
Chiltern Branch meeting venue CHILTERN GRAPEVINE
You don’t need to be on a Committee! There are those who do and those who don’t get involved with volunteering. If you’ve never tried it you will never know what you are missing. It will liven up your life, get you out of the house, give you some exercise, expand your social life whilst making some new friends, and not least you will have some good laughs. You will benefit from all these things and more, plus feel good that you have achieved something that benefits not only yourself but also others on our waterways! So why not come and join our festival team? preparing and exhibiting for the IWA at the Rickmansworth Festival that takes place over the weekend of May 16th-17th ? We need helpers for setting up before and packing up after the Festival. Can you help us with transport, do you have a van, MPV or trailer for transporting tents and jumble to and from the Festival. Are you knowledgeable about the IWA or the boating and canal scene; we have a position for you on our IWA stand. Have you got the gift of the gab, enjoy bartering to broker a deal; you will enjoy it on our Jumble stand. WoW (Wild over Waterways) children’s activities that take place around the Festival, we need volunteers capable of helping with these activities. IWA Sales stand, selling IWA branded promotional goods, maps, canal books etc. require sales assistants. If I have aroused your interest in any of the above mentioned activities please give me a call or send an e mail, then I or one of our team will get back to you with further details. I am looking forward to your call; 07740 733241 or john.brice@waterways.org.uk Inland Waterways Association - Chiltern Branch NOTE: Photographs by article author or editor unless stated otherwise. The IWA is a registered charity (No. 212342) whose work is supported by member's subscriptions. The IWA campaigns for development of Britain's waterways for use by all.
The IWA may not agree with the opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated, otherwise the IWA accepts no liability for any matter in this Newsletter. APRIL 2015 ISSUE
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Get Here: By Boat: Just pull up outside! By Foot: On the towpath opposite Bourne End Marina. By Car: Park near Bourne End train sta�on and cross over the railway bridge, then turn right along the towpath, The Bounty can be found about 300 metres away.
Your Committee Chairman
Dave Chapman
01628 850842 07808 720555
dave.chapman@waterways.org.uk
Secretary
Liz Norris
01438 238187 07977 374116
liz.norris@waterways.org.uk
Treasurer
Ken Aylmer
01923 232515
ken.aylmer@waterways.org.uk
Programme Secretary
Colin Bird
01932 248178
colin.bird@waterways.org.uk
Fundraising & Waterway Events
John Brice
01494 873298 07740 733241
john.brice@waterways.org.uk
Planning Officer & Membership Secretary
Carolyn Leonard 01628 526512
carolyn.leonard@waterways.org.uk
Publicity Officer
Judy Clegg
01442 875818
judy.clegg@waterways.org.uk
01494 873298
jenny@johnbrice.co.uk
Newsletter Editor
Vacant
Website Editor
Vacant
IWA representative to WAT (non-committee post)
Jenny Brice
www.waterways.org.uk/chiltern