Cargoes Summer 2020

Summer 2020

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

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Editorial At the time of writing everywhere is in “lockdown”. This has affected all areas of everyone’s lives but hopefully, there is light at the end of the tunnel! Although in line with the latest Government guidelines, IWA’s Chesham office is currently being run remotely. The contact details remain the same as do the normal working hours. All the staff team are contactable as usual by email and via the office telephone system. We would ask for your understanding as they adapt to this new situation, but even if your call is not answered please do leave a message. It will be picked up remotely.

Unfortunately, many meetings and events throughout the UK have been cancelled or postponed meaning that although some events are shown in this issue, I would remind you to check the event is still going ahead. Government Guidelines may change between now and when you receive this copy of Cargoes.

Thankfully, our contributors have still managed to find items for Cargoes. I am very grateful for them and hope you enjoy their articles which in many cases give a wider insight in to the waterways concerned.

On a more personal note, although our garden has enjoyed the extra effort we have put into it our boat hasn’t! The Boat Safety Certificate is due and we can’t get to her! We are looking forward to when we are allowed to venture further I thought I’d add a couple of photos to these 2 pages to lift my spirits. Does anyone recognise them?

Stay safe and well.

Chris Jones – Editor

N.B All events mentioned in this copy of Cargoes are subject to cancellation at short notice – please check before you go!

From the Region Chair I hope that you and your families are safe and well in these difficult times. I have benefitted from kind but bored neighbours doing my shopping for me, “the old lady in the bungalow” as I am now known!

I was reflecting on the irony of the current situation as I abandoned my walk along my local waterway due to too many people doing the same thing. For years we have encouraged people to enjoy their local waterways more and now that we

3 have time to do so, everyone is! The very real concerns relating to social distancing have seen a limited number of “no go” sections of path and residential boaters are nervous about the normal proximity of people on the towpaths. Almost inevitably a few thoughtless actions by towpath users have forced waterways authorities to suggest that using this linear network is not such a good idea in the current situation.

Waterways businesses have been hit hard by the lockdown measures. The IWA has been working with the British Marine Federation and the Canal and River Trust to lobby the government on their behalf. While much of this has been behind closed doors, you may be aware that the Canal and River Trust has recently launched a fundraising campaign to highlight the plight of these industries.

Waterways work parties have, for the most part, been suspended and many volunteers are frustrated that they are unable to carry out their regular maintenance tasks, or new initiatives.

Some are also miffed to have been labelled “vulnerable” based solely on their age and are itching to resume their work party activities too. Perhaps there is a need for a “fit 70 plus” category.

As someone who is attracted to water, be it coastal or inland, rough or smooth, I am waiting for the day when I can make a ‘non-essential journey’ to my favourite watery haunts. Mind you being classed as vulnerable may mean that this remains a pipe dream for a while.

The Environment Agency has decreed that removing a sunken boat in approach to Sunbury lock is not urgent but are hoping to work with their contractors to sort things out. The Thames manager, who is a reservist, has been deployed at short notice, leaving his work to be covered by the rest of the team who were already stretched before Corona struck. Other waterways operators have had varying responses to the current situation.

It is good to see that the Wey and Arun Canal Trust will be hosting the postponed Trailboat Rally in 2021 over the first May bank holiday and Byfleet Boat Club are also planning their postponed Easter cruise on the Basingstoke for Easter weekend 2021.

Stay safe and keep well.

Verna Smith Cover Photo: Canoeists explore the Maidenhead Waterway after new Courtesy: Richard Davenport, MW weir lifts water levels.

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Index Basingstoke Canal Society

Page: 8

Chobham Social Meetings John Pinkerton Focus on Accessible Boating Association

Byfleet Boat Club Guildford & Reading Branch Future Events

Kent & Sussex Branch – IWAKES Thames & Medway Canal Association Kentish Stour River Medway Faversham & Northfleet Harbour Eastern Rother Sussex Ouse River Adur New Thames Estuary Future Events

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

Page: 15 Page: 7 Page: 8

Page: 28

Page: 31

Page: 16

Newbury Reading Crofton Beam Engines

London (Paddington)

Page: 37

Maidenhead

Page: 19

Mikron Theatre Group

Page: 40

Oxfordshire Branch Banbury Canal Partnership

Page: 32 Page: 33

Region Chair Report

Page: 2

River Thames

Page: 27

River Wey & Godalming Navigations National Trust Future Events

Salisbury Group Future Events

Southampton Canal Society Future Events

Page: 19 Page: 20

Page: 5 Page: 6

Page: 23 Page: 24

South London

Page: 37

Towpath Walks

Page: 38

Wey & Arun Canal Trust Future Events

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Future Events

Page: 24 Page: 28

Page: 38 Page: 39

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Salisbury Group Our Salisbury Corresponent, Myra Glover writes: At the first meeting of 2020 we welcomed Maritime Historian Paul Barnett to tell us about “Operation Dynamo�. This was the story of the evacuation of troops from the besieged port of Dunkirk between 26th May & 4th June 1940. It was thought that 45,000 troops would be recovered but in the end 338,226 men were taken to safety, this included British, French, Polish and Belgians.

Altogether 861 Royal Navy, Merchant and Civilian vessels took part in the evacuation, sadly 243 were sunk.

Paul was able to show us many photos of the vessels that took part from the smallest sailing dinghy to the larger coasters.

This included lifeboats, fishing boats, pleasure steamers, ferries and leisure cruisers from the Thames & Norfolk Broads.

Many of the private boats were commandeered, owners were not allowed to be on board, however even though their boats were commanded by Naval Ratings many owners insisted on travelling with their vessels.

Beaches were continuously under bombardment by German aircraft. 106 allied planes were lost over Dunkirk but the Luftwaffe lost about 135. Troops on the beach were unaware of the work being carried out overhead by the RAF who were protecting the beaches from German bombardment. One plane continued to fight until every drop of his fuel was used, he then crash landed on the beach, left the wreckage of his plane and joined the troops in order to return to British soil. His Spitfire has been recovered from the beach and is in the process of being rebuilt, and hopefully will fly again.

This evacuation lasted for nine days. The last troops remained to ensure that all guns and equipment were completely disabled so that they would be of no use to the Germans. However the steel from all this equipment was of great use to the Germans in their manufacturing industry.

6 Even though we all knew the story, Paul had carried out a lot of his own research on the subject so was able to inform us of facts that we hadn’t been aware of previously.

For the February meeting we welcomed back Peter Oates and Laura Sturrock to tell us about their historic working boat Stanton. Stanton was built in 1936 at the cost of £900, she is 71 ft. 6 ins in length. Peter had done a lot of research and had found many early pictures of Stanton, the earliest photograph being in 1938, there was also a photo with the original crew on board. In her working days Stanton carried 25 tons of coal, and travelled with her butty alongside.

Peter and Laura took ownership of Stanton in 2007, she had had a full cabin added in 1971.

Sadly she was now in a very poor condition, had been vandalised over the years and was in desperate need of restoration. They decided to revert her back to her traditional carrying condition and not to convert her into a pleasure boat.

So work started: To start, Stanton was given a new bottom of 10 ml steel and the base of the side panels that were rotten were replaced. Much work followed. During this work they found an unexpected problem as the stern plates, put in in the 1980s, hadn’t been blacked which as a result had caused corrosion.

The engine, a 3 cylinder 1968 Lister was completely restored. The original boatman’s cabin would have been made of timber which would have caused a great deal of condensation, it has now been replaced with steel and plenty of insulation.

Peter and Laura have now fitted out the cabin in the traditional style. The final relaunch took place on the 1st April 2010.

To complete the evening, Peter showed us photos of some of their cruising since the completion of the renovation. This included crossing the Mersey to Liverpool, Braunston historic boat rallies, Braunston show, Basingstoke Canal and the Jam ‘Ole Run. Peter and Laura took on a mammoth task back in 2007 and are now enjoying the fruits of their labours.

Myra Glover

Future Events All future meetings will be subject to the Lockdown guidelines at that time. Please check our website.

Thur 18th Jun: Boules & BBQ at the Green Dragon. 7.00pm

7 There will be no meetings in July, August or September.

Thur 15th Oct: In 2007 Ann Harries gave us a fascinating talk entitled “The Man who ate his Trousers”. Her Great Great Grand Uncle, Admiral Sir George Back who’s expedition mapped the Arctic including the search for the North West Passage. Since 2007 a lot has happened. In 2014 his ship HMS Terror was located under water 100 km south of its last known position. HMS Terror is now being examined using modern technology and is found to be in excellent condition.

So the story continues………………………….

Thur 19th Nov: The Royal Military Canal in Kent is 28 miles long and was built in 1804, constructed as a defence against the possible invasion of England during the Napoleonic Wars. Local historian George Fleming will tell us about the history, construction and purpose of this canal.

Thur 3rd Dec: Waterways quiz organised by Southampton Canal Society at Chilworth Village Hall. Questions set by last year’s winners – Salisbury IWA. Thur 10th Dec: Christmas Dinner at The Green Dragon Alderbury, 7.00pm 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 or 07768 622966, email glover.3@btinternet.com, myra.glover@waterways.org.uk or Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman Due to COVID 19 restrictions our recent AGM was held via Zoom.

Approximately 19 members joined the Committee for the meeting and Paul Rodgers our National Chairman gave a very interesting talk on his plans for IWA. The Committee members remain the same and I would encourage any member who would like to join us to contact me.

We are hopeful that using Zoom for Branch meetings will encourage more members to join the Committee or show an interest in events.

Like the whole of the UK, and maybe more so, local waterways businesses are suffering from the restrictions currently in place and hopeful they will change soon.

Towpaths, which are generally narrow, are being over used as the public try to find different places to exercise and many boatowners are having difficulty getting to their boats to undertake general maintenance.

On a more positive note – the sun is shining!

Verna Smith (acting Chair)

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Sales & Publicity Stand The Sales Team is on stand by at the moment waiting to find out what will happen to events for the rest of this year! As you are all well aware COVID 19 has stopped everything.

Once we can start socialising again we hope the following may take place – the Henley Traditional Boat show and the Wey River Festival.

We will desperately need volunteers to man the stand at these events - even if it’s only for a couple of hours, or for setting up and breaking down. If you can help please contact Ben Scott, on 07484 223691, or the Cargoes editor, Chris Jones.

We will welcome you with open arms! Our email address is chris.jones@waterways.org.uk The Sales Team

Future Events Events subject to COVID 19 restrictions Fri 17th to Sun 19th Jul: Henley Traditional Boat Show Sat 19th Sep: Wey River Festival, Dapdune Wharf, Guildford

Basingstoke Canal Society Obituary Denise Smith MBE It is very sad to have to report the passing of Denise Smith. Until quite recently she handled the Society’s mail order sales and with her sister Verna was the “face” of the Society presiding over the Sales Stand at many local events for most of the last 15 years.

What many people may not be aware of were her sporting achievements. She had polio as a child and later in life was seriously injured when a drunk driver went into her car.

However, she never let being wheelchair bound stop her doing what she wanted to do. She was the winner of the first London Wheelchair Marathon in 1983 in a time of about 4½ hours – no racing chairs then.

9 She then represented UK in the 1984 Winter Paralympics, winning three Silver Medals for Ice Sledge Speed Racing. Her involvement in many different sports, including becoming World Champion waterskier, and encouragement of other disabled athletes, led to her being named the Sunday Times Sports Person of the Year in 1990. The 2016 International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation Competition Handbook still lists her as holder of the World Record jump for the MP1 category.

A serious waterskiing accident put an end to her competitions, but not her involvement with sport and in 1992, she was awarded an MBE for service to Sport for the Disabled. She also began a career as a motivational speaker – “If I can do it, so can you!”

For some years she was an Ash Vale Parish Councillor.

She was unstoppable. She didn’t even seem too bothered after a car ran into the Society’s gazebo at a local fête and put her in hospital with a broken leg; she just began planning on how to spend the compensation on a motorised wheelchair. It is just very sad that she isn’t going to benefit from plans to equip her house better or from the new car that was being built for her.

We shall miss her greatly and send our sympathy to her sister Verna and the family.

Chairman’s Report In common with the whole of the inland waterways network, the Basingstoke Canal remains in lock-down pending a decision by the Government to relax the current restrictions. The Basingstoke Canal Authority continues to undertake essential tasks such as water management and Canal Society volunteers maintain their support to the Authority through the Lengthsmens scheme which remains operational. It is anticipated that, when more mobility is permitted, private craft will be able to access the canal and operate over the whole length up to Greywell.

However, the Canal Society’s two trip boats, John Pinkerton II and Kitty, will remain laid up for the foreseeable future and this will have a significant impact on the Society’s revenue this year. In the next few week’s the BCA hopes to begin to tackle the overgrown towpath which has been heavily used by the public during the pandemic.

There is no doubt that the value of the canal to local communities has been amply demonstrated during the lockdown by its availability to walkers and cyclists as a “green lung” close to their homes. The BCS is still planning to hold its Raft Race at Odiham on 6th September but its ability to do so will depend on the extent to which the restrictions are removed.

Philip Riley

10 Call for volunteers We have more than 250 volunteers helping to maintain the Canal and support customers to enjoy our boats.

To protect everyone against the Coronavirus, the boat trips were immediately put on hold and all planned events cancelled.

However behind-the-scenes work carries on and we are looking for help with marketing, fundraising and project management. We also need a boat engineer. In the present climate, all work can be done from home. Contact Ken Sankey for more information

Young Canal volunteer finds the right path “The Basingstoke Canal society is a fantastic organisation to volunteer with.

The people are amazing from the staff through to your fellow volunteers."

Here is volunteer Martin Thompson's story and why volunteering is such an important part of his life: My Name is Martin Thompson. I’m aged 23 and have been volunteering with Basingstoke Canal Society for the last three years.

I first found out about the need for volunteers when I was walking home along the Canal and saw a sign asking for volunteers to help with the conservation of the Canal. I thought this sounds like fun and decided to get on board.

The work varies quite a lot and you can work as part of a team or as an individual. Typical tasks include canal bank scrub clearance, managing over hanging trees, fencing work, repairing damaged banks, painting lock gates…anything that needs to be done to keep the Canal looking good. It can be hard work but it’s also a lot of fun.

I was really impressed with how well you are looked after. Volunteers get very good training in how to use equipment such as mechanical hedge trimmers, brush cutters and grass mowers. They treat you as a person as you become part of the community of volunteers.

Volunteering with the Canal Society is very relaxing, and in some way, I find it therapeutic. It helps to take my mind off pressing issues in my frequently chaotic (but fun) model aircraft business. I always make a point of leaving my mobile in the car as it’s good to focus on things away from work. By volunteering, you gain a different perspective.

When volunteering with the Canal Society, I really like some of the “soft” stuff’ such as the happy celebrations when it’s a fellow volunteer’s birthday.

Suddenly a birthday cake appears! That’s on top of the regular the tea, coffee and biscuits in the rest breaks. After a busy day, it’s also not uncommon for the work party to recuperate at a local pub with a well-earned pint or two.

11 Volunteering has been, and still is, a massive part of my life. I first started volunteering with the Surrey Wildlife Trust on Chobham Common when I was seven years sold. I had recently taken up the hobby of flying model aeroplanes on the Common with my father. In stark contrast to some of my fellow school classmates, who have subsequently found themselves facing challenges such as drug addiction and other serious issues, I believe that volunteering and my hobby have given me the building blocks for life. Both have helped me to stay on the “straight and narrow” path.

The influence of older people who were more than happy to talk about their lives and their experiences have been key in helping me to avoid potential problems.

And with the support of my Dad and his “Let’s do something practical” attitude to life, I kept out of trouble at school.

Message in a bottle During recent maintenance work on the Woking stretch of the Canal that involved draining the water, we found a beautiful 19th century glass bottle manufactured by J. Woods & Co of Aldershot. Research by one of our volunteers, Graham Corsa, identified the owner of the company as Samuel Woods.

The next step was a campaign through social media…we used Graham’s work in a post on Facebook that has so far reached over 11,000 people and attracted 329 reactions, comments and shares. Such is the power of social media that we even reached Samuel’s great-great granddaughter in the West Country.

Canal maintenance can often be a muddy business and perhaps the saying “Where there’s muck there’s brass” has never been more appropriate. Certainly the social media team is turning our surprising historical finds into digital gold!

“Our social media post on Facebook has so far reached over 11,000 people and attracted 329 reactions, comments and shares”… Ian Sims, Social media Manager, Basingstoke Canal Society

Tragedy of World War 1 Hero Another story that attracted attention includes an air accident over the canal in 1918.

A De Havilland two-seat bomber piloted by Lieutenant Derek Lutyens broke up in mid-air and tragically the crew died. Lutyens’ body was found quickly. However, despite a search by 1,200 soldiers that included dragging the Canal and nearby ponds, no trace of observer David Pinsent was found.

Six days later Pinsent’s body was discovered floating in the Canal between the Frimley and Mytchett Bridges. We posted the story on social media and received a lot of reaction to this tragic story.

12 Drone strike that landed in the Canal During the same maintenance session in March this year at Woking, the working party found a drone!

Cue more detective work… the team was able to access the memory card that among other things contained video shot by the drone in flight of a house. To trace the owner, we made a short video and posted it on Facebook.

So far the 53 second video has reached over 6,000 people and been viewed for a total of 1,079 minutes. 91 people actually engaged through comments and likes. The top audience for this video was woman aged between 45 and 54.

Interestingly, on Facebook woman continue to be our overall top supporters.

The house was identified by a reader using Google Street who used a tree with an unusual bark formation that is positioned next to a lamp post of a particular colour and design. As well as fantastic detective work, it’s good example of how people can work together using technology to solve common problems.

The impact of social media The Social Media Team is making fantastic progress in raising the profile of our Society.

With cuts in funding threatening the future of the Canal, public opinion and the level of awareness will count “big time” in mobilising support to fight our battles. Social media is such a powerful tool in the armoury of the Society.

Here are a couple of further examples of the impact that we have made: A competition based on winning tickets for our boat Kitty on Social media reached over 18,000 people. Social media gives the Basingstoke Canal unprecedented exposure also, The Society’s Facebook page has over 4,000 followers and numbers are growing all the time.

In social media terms, if each of those 4,000 followers has just 20 friends on Facebook, we could potentially reach 80,000 people. In reality, people have a lot more than 20 friends on Facebook.

To protect the Canal, we need to be in a position to challenge as effectively as possible and that’s why increasing our digital presence through social media is so vital.

Trips aboard the John Pinkerton II Public Trips in Hampshire aboard the John Pinkerton II were due to restart at Easter 2020, unfortunately, due to COVID 19 all trips are temporarily suspended. Please see are our website for up to date information: www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/jp/public-trips.

Theme Cruises – The following Theme Cruises may take place during 2020.

These were very popular last season, so please book early. All trips depart from Colt Hill, Odiham and are of 3½ hours duration, unless stated otherwise. Please check our website for further details.

13 Wed 8th Jul, 3pm: Cream Tea Cruise, with piano accompaniment. A great opportunity to spoil someone special. Approx 2½ hours. Tickets: Adult £18 Fri 10th and Sat 11th Jul, 7pm: “It’s up to us now!” An evening of Drama, Comedy and Song set in July 1940. Exactly 80 years later, the event will be performed by the Hampshire Theatre Group and friends. Period dress is strongly encouraged but not essential. Real ale, wines and spirits will be available for purchase at the bar. Tickets: Adult £25.

Fri 17th Jul, 3pm: Grand Café Afternoon Tea Cruises.

A great opportunity to spoil someone special. Approx 2½ hours. Tickets Adult £25.

Sun 19th Jul, 2.30pm: Extended One Way Cruise (Odiham to Fleet). The licensed bar will be open to provide drinks and light snacks (more substantial meals cannot be provided). Tickets: Adult £15 Sat 25th Jul, 9.15am: Extended One Way Cruise (Fleet to Odiham). For both extended cruises, passengers must arrange their own onward transport. Tickets: Adult £15 Tue 4th Aug, 11.30am or 1.15pm: Ramble and Cruise, or Cruise and Ramble – with Ploughman’s Lunch, We are offering a choice of a one-way cruise plus a ramble walk between Colt Hill wharf at Odiham and Barley Mow wharf at Winchfield. You can choose whether you want to cruise by boat on either the Outward Leg or the Return Leg. Tickets: Adult £12.50, Child £7.50 To do both will incur and additional charge of Adult £4.50 / Child £2.50.

Thur 27th Aug, 11.30am or 1.15pm: : Ramble and Cruise, or Cruise and Ramble – with Ploughman’s Lunch, As Tuesday 4th August.

Wed 19th Aug 2.30pm: Kid’s Pirate Treasure Hunt Cruise. open to all. Approx 2½ hours including Treasure Hunt. Tickets: Adult £12, Child £6, Senior Citizen £10 Fri 11th Sep, 7pm: Traditional Jazz & Ale Cruise Start from Colt Hill Wharf, Odiham, at 7pm, music by Tim Eyles Ragamuffins, the boat will head eastwards and turn at the Barley Mow bridge in Winchfield. Fish and chips supper included in ticket price. Real ale, wines and spirits are available for purchase at the bar. Tickets: Adult £28.

Wed 9th Sep, 3pm: Cream Tea Cruise, with piano accompaniment. A great opportunity to spoil someone special. Approx 2½ hours. Tickets: Adult £18 Fri 2nd Oct 7pm: Sea Shanties & Ale Cruise. Enjoy an evening of authentic sea shanties and folk songs with The Shanty Hounds. A fish and chip supper included in ticket price. Real ale available for purchase. Tickets: Adult £25

14 PLEASE NOTE: Advance payment is recommended for all John Pinkerton trips and is required for all theme cruises. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Trip durations may be longer than stated when the Canal water level is low, for example after periods of little rain.

Bookings and Enquiries The public and theme trips are popular, we suggest you make an advanced booking using our secure on line booking system. We are limited to 50 passengers for each trip (except where a lower limit is stated), so cannot guarantee to have space at the last moment. For more information, or to make a booking for any of our trips, contact the Booking Team on 01256 765889 (10am – 8pm), or via email at jpbookings@basingstoke-canal.org.uk.

Trips from Woking aboard the Society’s trip boat Kitty were due to restart on Saturday 4th April. Public Trips are usually run on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays at various times throughout the summer, and Fridays during the School Holidays. Each trip lasting approximately 1¼ hours if no stops are made. For details of the trip schedule, http://www.basingstokecanal.org.uk/jp/kitty/. You can book as individuals or family groups on public trips, up to a maximum of 12 people, and you will be sharing the boat with others.

Trips from Mytchett: Boat trips on board our

friendly 12-seater boat Rosebud usually run at weekends and on public holidays from Easter to September. Please contact us for up to date information. Tel 01252 370073, email info@basingstoke-canal.co.uk or check on Facebook or Twitter.

Focus on Accessible Boating Association The Accessible Boating Association, (Accessible Boating or ABA), is a registered charity initiated in 1985 by Mildred Stocks, then Chairman of Hart District Council, who wanted to enable people who couldn’t use existing canal boats to enjoy cruises on the Basingstoke Canal.

Two boats are available: Madam Butterfly is a comfortable 7-berth cruising boat and Dawn is a 12-person day boat Both boats are based in Odiham at Galleon Marine’s boatyard with trips operating from Colt Hill Wharf from April to October.

For more details see the website www.accessibleboating.org.uk. New volunteers are always welcome; speak to one of our volunteers or contact our Chairman, John Ranson at chairman@accessibleboating.org.uk

Future Events Sun 6th Sept: We are still hoping to hold The Odiham Raft Race at Colt’s Hill Wharf.

Please visit our website for further information.

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Byfleet Boat Club Obituary Ian Smith

It is with great sadness that we record the death of Ian Smith, who died from Coronavirus on April 12th,2020 at the age of 73.

Ian first joined the club in 1999 as the proud owner of Wey to go, which he used regularly with his son Robert. As the size of his boats grew, first with Miffy and then Yum Sing so did his involvement with the club, serving as a committee member before becoming Vice Commodore and subsequently Commodore. He returned to serve again more recently, leading the team at a time of need.

Ian was a keen supporter of The Royal Society of Saint George and Ian and his wife Betty often shared in the Society’s activities with boating friends.

Ian and Betty cruised much of the canal system and regularly attended IWA events including the Festival of Water at Waltham Abbey last year. Ian was always up for a challenge when it came to tidal waters, and over the years they travelled the tidal Thames, the Bristol channel, the Ouse through York, the Trent to Nottingham, and the River Severn.

Byfleet Boat Club would not be the club it is now without the immense contribution made by Ian over the years. He brought so much fun, laughter and enthusiasm to every occasion he attended.

He will be greatly missed by his family, close friends and the whole boating community.

Photo by R Smith Mike Chamberlain

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Kennet & Avon Canal News Newbury Branch The Newbury Waterways Festival which was due to take place on Sunday 5th Sarah Foley July is now scheduled for Sunday 4th July 2021 (next year!)

Reading Branch Chairman’s Report Hello all, I hope you are keeping safe and well. As you would expect there has not been a lot folk are able to do on the waterways. Our new trip boat has had to be laid up at the moment with little chance of getting out on her in the near future. The cobweb bedecked photo of Matilda by Matt Girling (one of our skippers) sums up the current situation. The trust’s activities have been reduced to a minimum, with tea rooms, Crofton pumping station, and trip and Bruce boats all closed down until further notice. I’m sure when things are opened up again there will be an effervescent buzz to bring activities back to life.

To keep occupied we have been putting a number of interesting items on the Trust’s Facebook pages including an A-Z of the K&A, recordings of some of speakers from past meetings, and some interesting facts and pictures from the canal.

While sitting at home as directed it has been interesting to watch the huge volume of people taking the mandated hours exercise everyday along the towpath (I’m lucky enough to live next to the K&A). Hopefully the exposure to the canal and the towpath will result in growing some interest in the canal and an environment that some people have clearly not known about

17 previously - at least the time to look and listen.

One huge bonus of the shutdown has been the resurgence of the wildlife, watching the new broods of geese and ducks making their first fluffy floating of the families. I have heard our first cuckoo and watched the swallows return to swoop on their continuous flying food hunt. Yesterday I watched a legged larvae/wingless insect crawl to a sun blessed place to cast their final skin and to emerge as a blue Damsel fly. At the beginning of May and the start of the Mayfly rise, the stars of the show have been the grey wagtails. Swooping flitting and dropping on the flies in a dazzling aerial assault.

One little piece of excitement; I was looking at a K&A boaters group on Facebook and noticed a call for help. A boater had been turned off her marina mooring, and had found her way onto the opening reach of the Kennet from the Thames.

This it appears was an eventful voyage. Prior to the entrance onto the Kennet she met with some hostility when she came to fill with water on the Thames. She was relatively new to boating. Both Thames and Kennet were hovering around the Red / Yellow boards, so she was struggling to control her boat, which unfortunately caught a tree branch and broke a window. She eventually made it to the safety of Blakes lock and pulled in to gather her wits and take stock. At this point she put out the message on to Facebook “Are there any boaters at the moment on the Reading Thames/ start of K&A?? I could really do with some help” I and a number of others, answered her cry for help and with the magic of technology I used the FB messenger to call and chat. It was clear that she had “had a bad day” and was worried that she would be told to move off the Lock Apron in the late evening. I spoke and hopefully calmed and reassured her. She had picked up a recommendation for a replacement window company through the FB group and as we were speaking the chap turned up to fix the glass. I rang off with a promise to be back in touch. Having noted down all the relevant details I called an acquaintance in the EA working in Reading and told her the story. I asked if they could contact the lock keeper and ask them to look favourably on the stricken boat.

She by now had a number of offers to assist in crewing the boat to get her off the fast and tricky water through Reading. I was able to convince my contact that letting the boat stay for a day or so to get straight and recomposed for her further cruise was wise. This was accepted and the call was made. I was told later that a “lovely chap” popped down to the boat to tell her that she could stay where she was until the weekend (it was then late Thursday afternoon). I know this was a huge relief.

18 I had remembered Ozzie the fuel boat (Paul Diprose) telling me earlier in the week that the lock Gates at Fobney lock had been padlocked due to the water conditions (still on Red at this time). I rang my CRT contact, to ask if this was still a problem. I knew there were virtually no safe mooring places between Blakes Lock and Fobney Lock, with Reading BC still operating an anti-boat policy of no moorings or services. I was told by Lee that the padlock had been taken off that afternoon so was now clear for use. I let folk on the boater’s society group and the stricken boat know that Fobney Lock was open.

The following morning, I saw on Facebook that our harassed boater was on her way with the assistance of an experienced boater. An hour or so later, I heard the familiar rattle of the lock gear and a short while later the boat appeared with skipper and crew smiling. This turned into a laugh and a “distance” chat when it emerged that the experienced boater was a friend, who lives on a boat moored just a little further up the cut.

In looking back on this, it was good to see all the folk who came in to help someone who was having “a bad day”. EA, CRT and boaters all doing their bit.

Sometimes it’s nice to see good things come out of adversity.

We do need to talk to Reading Borough Council about their reception to boats and folk who use the river that Reading sits on.

Photos: Matt Girling and Graham.

Graham Puddephatt graham@southcotemill.co.uk 07802 154504 The Eastern End K&A Volunteers (an independent Community Waterway Adoption group) is authorised by CRT to carry out maintenance work on certain parts of the K&A on the 2nd Wednesday and last Saturday of each month. If you would like to join a Working Party, email Mick Savill for dates and details and to check the next one will be taking place. (micksavill@icloud.com) Branch contact is: John Swift who can be reached on 0118 941 5540 or 07533 886 917 and by email: swift.john21@gmail.com. Entry donation, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). Further details can be found on the Website at www.katrust.org.uk

Crofton Beam Engines Future Events Following the latest government recommendations regarding Coronavirus / Covid-19 we have taken the decision to delay our opening of Crofton for the summer season 2020 which was intended for Saturday 4th April. This includes all boat operations, not opening Crofton as planned, closing the museum and cancelling all Trust meetings (other than online) For more information, please see the Trust’s website www.katrust.org.uk. If you are a Crofton / KA Trust volunteer, please also see the following message to volunteers https://katrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Message-toVolunteers-on-17-March-2020.pdf

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River Wey & Godalming Navigations “May You Live In Interesting Times” The apocryphal Chinese curse comes to mind as the team on the Navigations now faces the threat of COVID 19 virus that has brought fear, sickness and loss to so many parts of the world. Things are moving so quickly that I have no doubt by the time you read this the government will have issued more advice on how we deal with this medical emergency.

As I sit working at my dining table, sharing isolation with my family, writing this to river users, I feel like I need to apologise.

Surely it must be the curse of the new General Manager. You must all be blaming me for everything falling apart on the Wey. After all John Gibson managed twenty-one years without incident, I’ve closed the whole thing in just three months!!

It does feel all a little overwhelming, it has been a very challenging induction period – but my goodness, I have learned more in these few months than ever before. I thought understanding the details of sluice gates was interesting until the word furlough came along. I had never heard it spoken before, and now have used that word once a minute for the past month. It’s been tough, not just for me, but for all the team. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And the Wey team are tough as old barges!

So in a crisis we need to know where we are, and where we are going…

Here’s an update on where we are:x The storms and floods of the last few months have subsided – and today it’s a sunny 22 degrees outside. x Challenging work is underway on repairing the broken weir in the centre of Guildford and will be completed soon. x The team that run the Wharf and various other colleagues have taken furlough leave until we can be clearer about the length of the UK shutdown x Repairs and maintenance work continue, keeping the navigation in good shape whilst following best practice around health and safety etc. x The Wey & Godalming Navigations have restrictions on their use in line with other waterways and to support government measures on social distancing. x Tow paths remain open with advice to remain two metres from other users. x We are developing detailed plans to reverse the restrictions as soon as the rules allow.

20

Here’s my plan for where we are going:In these dark and scary times there are silver linings as our society shifts to recognise the heroes don’t wear capes, they wear scrubs. Maybe as we emerge from this catastrophe, we will have a new respect for nature, and our navigation will be used and appreciated by even more of the communities we serve. Walks on towpaths, visits to locks and messing about on the water will be more popular than ever. With that hope we will continue to invest our passion and knowledge in our wonderful Wey. There will be a time, not too distant from today, when I will stand looking at our navigation, with my indefatigable team next to me, with a cold drink in our hands and the sun twinkling off the water, and I can simply remind them that the River Wey, like the National Trust is For Everyone, For Ever. I don’t know when that sunny happy day will be, but it will come. Until then please look after yourselves and each other. Stay safe.

Meanwhile if anyone sees a plague of locusts can you send them to Dapdune Wharf please – they are probably meant for me!

Robert Miles Wey Navigations General Manager

Future Events Subject to Coronovirus and Government Guidelines Boat trips from Dapdune Wharf We have three very quiet electric launches, Dapdune Belle, Sir Richard Weston and Seewey.

Boat trips run from Dapdune Wharf from Thursday to Monday during our open season and all week in August. The trips take about 40 minutes, with the first trip leaving at 11.15, and then roughly on the hour throughout the day after that.

Trips can only be booked at the ticket hut on the day and are not available for advanced booking. When the river is in flood, we're unable to operate the boat. As the boats take a maximum of 12 passengers, on busy days they get booked up very quickly, so there are times when there may only be seats for the last boat left.

Sat 19th Sept: Wey River Festival: Dapdune Wharf, Guildford

21 River Wey

These two photos show the difference during and after flooding on the stretch of the River Wey between Wooden Bridge and Stoke Bridge. The first shows the river running down the towpath and the second the sand deposited on the towpath by the flood.

There have been very few boat movements on the river mostly canoes although there have been more walkers on the towpath than usual.

Mike Lewis

Southampton Canal Society Annemarie, who is the daughter of one of our members, was visiting from Hong Kong and was delighted to be called an overseas member at the January meeting. She showed us some photographs of her daily commute in Hong Kong where she lives on an outlying island called Lamma, just one minute from the pier, which is great if she’s late.

Lamma has no cars and a few thousand inhabitants and is a world away from the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Annemarie sits on the front of the wooden Chuen Kee ferry and showed us the container ships and fishing boats she passes as well as the white Little Egrets and Black Kites that wait for any available fish as the ferry comes into Aberdeen Harbour. Annemarie is a selfemployed journalist and often works during the morning at home before going to work at the radio station at noon, when these two little girls from the village are heading home from their morning classes. As she sits on the front deck, sometimes the first thing she hears as the boat pulls into the pier at Aberdeen is "A-N-N-I-E! A-N-N-I-E!" from this little duo waiting to board.

22 Annemarie explained how Aberdeen, named after the 4th Earl of Aberdeen, George Hamilton-Gordon, who was a British prime minister in the 1850’s, is called locally the Little Hong Kongଳ and was the first place where British ships used to get fresh water from a water fall.

These days, sampans still chug around the harbour and Annemarie showed shots of one older couple where the lady was preparing lobster pots to sink and also fishermen checking and repairing their nets on a trawler. These days the trawlers head into the South China Sea towards Vietnam to fish, to preserve the depleted fishing stocks in Hong Kong There are fewer sampans these days as owner’s children prefer more comfortable and better paying white collar jobs. Some still ferry tourists around the popular harbour and to its famous floating restaurant, while others take passengers out to the outlying islands and if her ferry is no longer running in the late evening, Annemarie can still take a sampan home.

Along the harbour side there are dry docks for fixing small junks and sampans and also a temple to the goddess of the fishing community, Tin Hau. Often boats will also have effigies of Tin Hau on their boats to protect them out at sea.

Annemarie’s journey takes 23 minutes across the Lamma Channel, one of the busier shipping straits in the world, with regular container ships heading across out of Victoria Harbour and past the southwestern side of the island, often accompanied out by pilot boats. This was the first time Annemarie talked to SCS members Angela Rose February Meeting Reconstructing the FMC wooden motor boat Clent Peter Boyce Our February speaker was Peter Boyce with his very interesting talk on the history and restoration of ex-Fellows, Morton and Clayton wooden narrowboat Clent. He started his talk with a brief history of Clent.

She was the last wooden narrowboat built at Uxbridge by Fellows, Morton and Clayton in December 1947 at a cost of £1080. Her first steerer was Charlie Atkins, often known as Chocolate Charlie. The boat worked a short time for FMC but then was taken over by British Waterways at Nationalisation in 1948. In the late 1950’s she was sunk at Northwich by British Waterways with other surplus boats. In 1974 she was recovered and restored together with the steamer

23 President. Clent was relaunched at Norton Canes in 1980. She remains unconverted to this day.

In 2009, Peter met the owner Andrew and they discussed work on the back cabin which by this time was suffering with rot.

The work list in October 2009 was quite extensive, new cabin doors, replace engine room and cabin slides, replace handrails and back-end rails, replace 25 ft of gunwhales, tighten caulking, tarring, new cratch board and cabin side panelling.

Renew paintwork and signwriting, new cloths.

Unfortunately, by 2011 she was wrapped in a tarpaulin to stop her sinking and at this point Peter decided to lift her out. Clent was taken to Braunston Marina and lifted out onto transport. She was then taken the short distance to Pete’s Tess Yard where she was off-loaded.

In 2012, investigation found much rot throughout the hull. Timber was sourced at Helmdon, cut and delivered. Work was then started at the bow, new stem post, patterns were taken (spiling) for plank shapes. A steamer was then built using wall paper steamers and drums. The first plank was bent and fitted.

2013 saw Clent faired up and bow planks fitted. The foredeck was restored and further planking work was carried out. In 2014 the engine was lifted out. The cabin supports and the old stern post were removed. In 2015 new Elm for the bottom was obtained, cut and part fitted. A new stern post was fitted and the stern tube hole bored. Other areas were worked on over the next couple years. 2017 saw the last of the planks fitted and the engine refitted.

In 2018 the decision was taken to replace all of the bottom planks. The year 2019 saw the last of the massive keelson fitted and all of the bottom planks fitted.

Already in 2020, the shearing went in and it was found that the bottom was holding water without caulking. Still to be done: gunwhales, engine holding down bolts and stern fittings, cross beam brackets, running gear, caulking, tarring and LAUNCH! What cannot be shown in this brief report is the tremendous amount of hard work and effort made by Peter over 11 years. Some members may have visited the yard and seen progress as it went on. These members would have appreciated the work involved, not just a job but a labour of love.

No Copyright Infringement intended Alan Rose

Future Events All meeting and events are in abeyance due to Covid 19 restrictions. Please visit our website for up to date information. 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.

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Wey and Arun Canal Trust WACT News Wey & Arun Canal Trust marks 25 years of boat trips When the first fee-paying passengers cruised along the Wey & Arun Canal back in 1995, few members could have imagined that Trust would be celebrating 25 years of public boat trips and this year welcoming more than 1,000 passengers on boat trips just in the Christmas and New Year period alone.

The inaugural boat trip on May 28, 1995 – the first time a narrowboat had traversed that part of the canal in 125 years – was for invited guests only on a 1 ¼ mile restored stretch from Drungewick, passing under Barnsill Bridge to Baldwin’s Knob Lock. The cruise also saw the naming of the trip boat used, Zachariah Keppel, after the contractor appointed by the Wey & Arun Junction Canal Company to construct the canal in 1813.

The boat had been donated to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust in 1993. Its first owners were Cyril & Thelma Wood and their son Leslie, from Guildford in Surrey, who named it Elsetee, a mash-up of their names. The family then sold the boat to Nigel Thorne of Ash, who moored it at Gun’s Mouth in Shalford, Surrey. From there it found its way to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, but the boat was disused and in a sorry state so the Trust transported it by road to Redlands Farm in Plaistow, West Sussex, for extensive refurbishment by volunteers and refitting as a public trip boat.

Thinking commercially, Trust directors saw the opportunity to raise funds for restoration by charging the public to cruise along the canal and so the first public cruises began. These first trips had to be pre-booked and were for 30 passengers maximum, and also included a guided walk alongside the boat trip. Passengers started their half-hour walk at the Onslow Arms pub and then returned by boat, and had another walk back to the pub.

Back then passengers were charged the sum of £3 for the experience – which in 1995 would have bought them two pints at the Onslow Arms.

Special cruises soon followed, with the first Santa cruises taking place in 1998.

As the Trust was to learn, though, it wasn’t always plain sailing operating a public trip boat operation. In 2001 Easter Special Cruises were planned for the first time but had to be cancelled due to foot and mouth precautions. The Onslow Arms

25 was also closed for refurbishment until May (and at that time they provided the only nearby loos).

Today there’s no shortage of conveniences, and the Wey & Arun Canal Trust owns three boats, with the greener and electric powered Wiggonholt taking the majority of boat trippers, instead of the diesel Zachariah Keppel, supplemented

by Josias Jessop, which seats nine. Wiggonholt is licensed to carry up to 48 passengers and has been adapted to accommodate wheelchairs with a toilet and access ramp.

The trip boat route has changed too since the first cruises set out.

Restoration has seen the completion of Brewhurst Bridge and Lock, Devil’s Hole Lock, Loxwood Road Crossing (a £2m+ project) and Southland Lock, creating a three-and-a-half mile showpiece restored canal section.

Passengers no longer have to walk the canal to reach the boats, but are met at the dedicated Canal Centre, serving as tourist information hub as well as visitor centre.

Trust chairman Sally Schupke says: “Things have certainly moved on in 25 years, but we’re still proud that so many get so much enjoyment from a relaxing cruise to take in the stunning scenery here, along with the thousands who enjoy its towpaths for walking, cycling and riding.”

The 25th anniversary will be marked with special events during 2020 and a programme of public boat trips and special cruises will resume when Coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Celebrations as bridge build reaches milestone moment There were cheers all round when the steel beams went in at the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s latest restoration project in West Sussex.

Thanks to the deluge of rain and storms seen over December, January and February, work on creating Harsfold Bridge, near Wisborough Green, had been “hard going”, according to project manager Dennis Gillen.

The compound, which is close to the River Arun, just escaped being flooded out, but the mix of clay and rain meant the construction site was a mud bath and delivery trucks and lorries struggled to reach the site.

“Water runs down the lane and onto the site,” says Dennis, “and we have constantly had to maintain the access lane to get the delivery trucks through.”

Despite the setbacks, the EWG working party carrying out the construction have made good progress, and the installation of the steel bridge deck beams in early March was a key element of the construction schedule.

“We’ve got the critical parts out of the way,” reported Dennis.

Since work began in September a footpath and bridleway diversion has been created, the main foundations have been laid and both abutments built and the brick/block wing walls to the north and south progressed. The next step will be the erection of the formwork and concrete pour (18 cubic metres) of the bridge deck, once self-distancing restrictions are lifted.

26 The accommodation bridge will replace a causeway and allow restoration of the canal beneath. It will carry hay trailers (weighing 32 tonnes and spanning four metres), and meet public bridleway requirements.

All the work has been carried out by volunteers and Dennis paid tribute to them and their efforts. “Everyone comes and gets on with it and does a good job.

They are all very skilled and great volunteers.”

Tickner’s Heath road bridge moves a step closer The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has been busy preparing for its next major restoration project: a road bridge at Tickner’s Heath, near Cranleigh in Surrey.

This is a large-scale project and will involve contractor as well as volunteer input, and liaison with Thames Water to divert a water main.

With the construction compound cleared (under ecological supervision) and the topsoil stripped and stockpiled, cabins were moved to their new home earlier in March.

A new access gate has been installed and a start has been made on installing land drains (as the site is on clay and retains water quite happily).

The first stage of main construction will take place later this year (depending on coronavirus restrictions and planning requirements), commencing with a temporary diversion of the road to enable the installation of a footbridge.

To start with this bridge will look rather odd as it will be sitting at ground level and won’t become a proper bridge until the canal is excavated below it. In the meantime, however, it will perform an important role in that it will carry the diversion route for the Thames Water main, which has to be done before piling for the road bridge.

Current plans are that after completion of the footbridge in the autumn, Thames Water will carry out the water mains diversion and then piling contractors will be brought in for the main bridge in 2021.

Free family waterway festival moves to May 2021 The Wey & Arun Canal Trust will be hosting a free family festival over the early Bank Holiday in May 2021, after this year’s event was postponed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The IWA Trailboat Festival South, celebrating the Wey & Arun Canal and its restoration, will see an array of trailboats from across the UK take to the water at the restored section at Dunsfold Park on the West Sussex/Surrey border.

Live music, stalls, food and activities on Saturday May 1st and Sunday May 2nd will add to the fun, with special public boat trips running across the weekend.

The festival is being organised jointly with IWA that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and navigable rivers.

27 Postponing this year’s event was a huge disappointment to the organisers, but Wey & Arun Canal Trust chairman Sally Schupke said she was pleased the Trust would host the event next year and get a chance to show off the restoration progress the Trust has made and the benefits of bringing the canal back to life.

“It is great that new dates of the early May Bank Holiday could be arranged and we can’t wait to get started on planning next year’s event, which promises to be a fabulous event for all, from boat lovers, to canal enthusiasts and all the family.”

IWA National Chairman, Paul Rodgers said: “We are very much looking forward to being part of this event, particularly as our Waterway Recovery Group volunteers have been so involved in the regeneration of the Canal. It’s been really exciting to see sections of the Wey & Arun Canal being restored and the Festival is a fantastic way for communities to see some of the benefits of the project.”

Gill Davies

Future Events Please check our website for up to date details of all our events and boat trips.

Further details and booking from the Trust Office on 01403 752403. office@weyandarun.co.uk www.weyandarun.co.uk Northern Office Phone: 01483 505566 (Mondays-Thursdays, 8.30am-12.30pm) For general information on the work of the Trust, please telephone our Northern Office on 01483 505566, or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk

River Thames News In line with all other waterways, the River Thames is on lockdown apart from for residential boaters requiring to move for essential services. The majority of locks are on hand wind or usable by prior arrangement only.

Several areas are hampered for a variety of reason i.e. a sunken boat in the main channel above Sunbury Lock; a transit van sunk mid-channel approximately 150 metres upstream of Folly Bridge in the Iffley reach; Sandford and Abingdon Locks have been damaged through misuse by a boater and Marsh Lock has a tree blocking vessel passage. Passage is not possible through these locks and, as soon as the Operations teams are able to recommence their activities, these locks will be reopened.

Chris Jones

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Kent & East Sussex Branch IWAKES Chairman’s Piece This year we had hoped to do a grand tour of the northern waterways and enjoy another trip through Standedge Tunnel, oh well perhaps in 2021!

Obviously, the health of the nation comes first but what frustrating times we find ourselves in. Since the “lockdown” started we seem to have had perfect walking and boating weather with lots of sunshine for this time of year and little rain whilst the rain earlier in the year had nicely topped up the reservoirs.

So how do you get your waterways fix whilst staying safe at home. Well the IWA have wisely started to make lots of events available online, see the website for details of upcoming events and meetings that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. With a large branch-area it is difficult to arrange meetings that are easy for all members to attend so hopefully this is opening IWA to a wider audience and I’m pleased to read that there are plans to continue this in the future when times return to normal. It is also amazing what a wide variety of waterways material is available on YouTube and elsewhere and on a lovely sunny day it is some consolation to go on a virtual cruise or walk on one of our favourite waterways.

IWA continues its work as ever to protect and restore our wonderful inland waterways and hopefully before too long we will all be able to enjoy them fully again.

Les Etheridge

Past Events ‘The River Medway’: David Payne On an evening at the end of January, David Payne and Jason Adams from the Environment Agency came to speak about the River Medway. David talked about the team he works with. Two lock-keepers live on site at the cottages at Allington. At least two staff are on stand-by in the evening to manage water levels, etc. in case of emergencies. The River Medway is nineteen miles long, with ten locks and associated sluices. Camping is allowed on some sites.

Each lock is slightly different in design, with a canoe pass at each lock.

The tidal reaches were used as early as 4AD. Tree trunks were brought from the Weald using the River to Chatham Dockyard for the building of wooden galleons in sailing ship days. In 1880 Allington Lock was enlarged and Hampstead Lock was refurbished. Yalding boater’s facilities are well-used. The speaker showed pictures of the regular flooding which occurred, and which the author well remembers, having worked in Maidstone for thirty years. He then named all the locks whilst showing us pictures of them, many of which had been rebuilt over the years.

About eight hundred boats are registered on the River each year, with over a thousand boat movements recorded through Allington Lock. Boat licenses can now be bought on-line. A question and answer session ended a very good presentation.

Angela Acott

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Thames & Medway Canal Association A year or two ago the TMCA supplied and installed some litter bins next to the benches along the canal. Last autumn one of our members noticed a bin was missing at one of the positions, having been uprooted together with the concrete base block. We tried in vain to locate it and had assumed it had been taken for scrap. Fortunately, during the lock down the water cleared sufficiently for Les Schwieso our Work Party Coordinator to spot it submerged on one of his exercise trips along the tow path.

We have since managed to heave it out with the aid of a grapple and tow hitch and hopefully by the time you read this it will have been reinstated.

A recent project, now completed, was to install a new bench dedicated to past chairman Brian Macknish which gives an excellent view over the marshes to the river Thames.

We are slowly managing to clear an area on the southern bank by Mark Lane where we intend to relocate our boat storage and continue to do a little work whilst keeping a suitable distance as I have found out that ‘Landscaping’ is acceptable during lock down giving us exercise. Keep safe.

Dave Parnell

Kentish Stour news from Roy Newing The bridge for the new power line remains in position, though work on the site has stopped due to Coronavirus. Cancellation of the golf tournament has taken the pressure off the repairs to Sandwich Bridge, but work there is also suspended.

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River Medway report from Mike Marsh With boating and other activities on the Medway quiet, like the rest of the waterways system due to the lock down, I thought I would write about an important local group and an historic castle on the River Medway.

MRUA – Medway River Users Association: The Association was formed in 1968 after the catastrophic floods which ravaged the Medway Valley destroying homes, business, property and some lives. It is a voluntary organisation with the aims to: x x x x

Guard the interests of all users of the river Improve the facilities of the navigation and regenerate river activities Safeguard the river amenities Protect the river environment

The MRUA keeps a watchful eye on the River and works closely with the Environment Agency and the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP).

MRUA also represents the Navigation aspects at Westminster with two meetings per year with the EA and DEFRA, ensuring the continued interests of all navigation aspects of the river are represented.

The MRUA Committee is made up of members from a variety of groups and organisations all representing the many people and diverse groups that use the Medway. These include Marina Owners, Boat Cruising Clubs, Rowing and Canoe Clubs, Commercial Operators, Charity Boat operators, Medway Valley Countryside Partnership and IWA. Kent Police Marine Unit attend meetings when time allows.

The IWA is represented by myself. MRUA is very open to other groups joining and particularly looks for representation from the Angling and Rambling communities.

Committee meetings are held bi-monthly at the EA offices at Allington Lock under the chairmanship of Mark Smurthwaite, with the EA Medway Operations Manager in attendance giving updates on the EA’s Medway work. The Association’s Patron is Helen Grant MP, member for Maidstone and Weald, who takes a keen interest in the River. More information is on the MRUA website: www.mrua.co.uk .

Or contact the Chairman Mark Smurthwaite, mark.smurthwaite@gmail.com who will be pleased to help with any enquiries. Regular updates/comments on the River Medway are posted on https://www.facebook.com/rivermedwayboaters Allington Castle: The castle sits on the River Medway set back with mature trees in a picturesque 40 acre setting, a short distance upriver from Allington Lock.

The original (unauthorised) castle was demolished in 1174 on the orders of Henry II and the present castle was built between 1279-1299 by Stephen de Pencester. Initially it was an unfortified manor house which later was granted permission by Edward I to have fortifications added.

In the Tudor period it became the home of the Wyatt family having been purchased by Henry Wyatt. His son, Sir Thomas Wyatt was an ambassador for Henry VIII who visited the castle on several occasions. Other visitors included Cardinal Wolsey, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr (probably not at the same time).

Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger came to a sticky end in the Tower after mounting an

31 unsuccessful rebellion against Queen Mary l. Like many famous rebels, he has a pub named after him which is on the London Road in Allington.

Over the years the Castle saw several modifications and periods of disrepair.

It was sold in 1951 to the Carmelite Friars from Aylesford. Quite ironic really as they were dispossessed of Aylesford Priory by Henry VIII (friend of the Wyatt family) in his dissolution era.

In 1996 the Castle was acquired by Sir Robert Worcester and his wife Margaret who have spent many years renovating it and purchasing furniture and artifacts that were originally in the Castle. Sir Robert, founder of the Mori Poll organisation, was knighted in 2005 and is a distinguished author.

Allington Castle is not open to the general public, though it can be booked as a wedding venue. In 2019 the trip boat Kentish Lady, had permission to run trips to the Castle for organised groups. This year trips are being advertised for Tuesday afternoons from May to August https://www.kentishlady.co.uk/TIMETABLE.html At present (April) there are of course no trips being run during the lockdown but hopefully later in the year they can resume when this is lifted. I can say the Castle and grounds are well worth the visit.

Faversham and Northfleet Harbour IWA’s Kent and East Sussex Branch is responsible for an unusually wide variety of waterways under various managements.

To maintain contact with events on these waterways we appoint volunteer IWA members who are able to visit them and become involved, where appropriate, with the bodies that manage or are restoring them. These “Waterway Representatives” become IWAKES Committee members but are under no obligation to attend Committee meetings. They receive Committee correspondence to stay aware of IWA’s more general issues affecting “their” navigation. A Representative’s role is very much what each wishes to make of it. “Light touch” is the rule.

Two waterways in the Branch area presently do not have “Representatives”.

Faversham Creek has no “navigation body” but does have development and preservation issues. Northfleet Harbour is being restored by the Northfleet Harbour Restoration Trust which is in discussion with the Ebbsfleet developers.

If you would be willing to become the IWAKES Representative for either of these waterways then please contact Les Etheridge at les.etheridge@waterways.org.uk.

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Eastern Rother report from Malcolm Jones Activity on the river is, of course, minimal at the moment. There are two businesses: x the moorings at Iden, where the business is purely moorings (on rising pontoons) and is financially stable x and the Bodiam Boating Station, which runs boat trips and hires out boats as well as a camp site and restaurant. All are closed, and the situation is very serious; staff are on furlough. They intend to reopen as soon as allowed, and would welcome the loyalty of customers at a difficult time and for some while thereafter.

It might be amusing to compare two recent photos, of Newenden Bridge, one at the height of the floods of February and one in the last week

33 There have been some attempts to launch boats, this is generally trespass as well as flouting the present regulations, and riparian owners wish it to be known that they are keeping watch and will not hesitate to call the police. However tempting the water is in the fine weather, DON'T.

Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust The Trust is going through a period of significant management change. Bob Draper, our Chairman for over fifteen years, has stood down and resigned as a Director. Bob has made a huge contribution to the Trust. He was among the first to explore the possibility of restoring Sutton Hall (Isfield) Lock and joined the early working parties on site as work began. From painting the storage container, digging out and building the access ramp, helping to clear 160 years-worth of silt in the lock chamber to rebuilding the lock walls, Bob was often with the working parties whilst holding down a demanding and full-time job. Since being elected Chairman he undertook many other roles within the Trust apart from chairing the Committee meetings. He initially dealt with membership. He later set up the web site and led the launch of the SORT “Vision Document”. He did much to aid the liaison with landowners at Isfield and other potential lock work sites. In addition, he took on the task to spread the word by giving illustrated talks to local interested groups. It should also be mentioned here that Bob’s wife Julie took on the responsibility of Treasurer to the Trust.

David (Evvo) Evans has been newly co-opted to the Committee as Chairman and Landowner Liaison Officer (in Bob’s stead). Evvo has been a SORT volunteer for eight years, having found SORT after volunteering with IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) in 2011. He has led many canal camps of eighteen volunteers who visit canals around the country for a week at a time to carry out specialised tasks and generally give a big boost to a restoration group’s work. He co-leads WRG’s annual Leaders’ Training Days. Evvo has a specialist interest in project management, health and safety and risk assessment. Evvo will (once the lock-down is lifted) continue with contacts to the site owner and the access owner of a lock that appears to be restorable in much the same way as was Isfield.

The backlog in accounts has been resolved by Dave Beveridge, our new Treasurer, with two sets of annual accounts presented at this year’s AGM. Steps are being taken to reclaim Gift Aid, which was not claimed in the past few years and Trust members will be asked to fill in new Gift Aid declarations in the next few months.

The annual SORT/IWAKES joint meeting is in Haywards Heath on Thursday 19th November (when we hope gatherings may by then be permitted). Please check the IWAKES webpage (www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex) for the latest news.

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River Adur news from Brendan Whelan Like other contributors, I am writing this during the lock down which we all hope will be eased as the number of COVID 19 infections reduces. As would be expected, local councils are not focusing on anything other than coping with the pandemic. I therefore thought that some background about the leisure use of River Adur would be interesting.

There were photos taken in Edwardian times, and probably earlier, of smartly dressed people who had travelled the five miles inland to Bramber and Upper Beeding in small rowing boats. They were presumably having a "fun day out". At one time, the Shoreham ferry men used to run an annual free boat trip for children.

Sadly, the launching facilities have declined year on year. One dodge is for the developers to claim that a launching place is a Public Hard and not a Public Slipway. The former is often assumed to be only for the collection and delivery of goods. However, historically the words Hard and Slipway were used interchangeably and there are photos of boat being launched in Shoreham at such Hards as Surry and Humphrey's Gap. (As an aside, Buckler's Hard where many wooden naval vessels were built, is clearly a Slipway.) Every five or so years, there have been well intentioned studies into leisure use of the River Adur. Often, they were embedded in such documents as the impressive sounding “Shoreham Renaissance”. Each and every one detailed the financial and social benefits of providing access to the river but none has actually led to any actual benefits for boating people. Interestingly, all development propaganda during the past twenty years has prominently shown people boating, sailing and generally having fun on the water. However, on each and every occasion when plans for the construction were brought-forward they actually reduced or removed the access to the water. It was argued by the developers that it would be uneconomic to include a slipway and if forced to do so they would pull out. When I first moved to this part of Sussex, nearly 50 years ago, there was a vibrant river scene but now there is little waterbased activity. Let us hope that the virus clears, that there is less time for introspection and that some positive actions come about.

New Thames-Estuary Path The Secretary of State for the Environment approved on 23rd April 2020 Natural England’s proposals for “England Coast Path” “Grain to Woolwich” Sections GW04 and GW05. The other sections between GW01 and GW06 are already approved. So, the entire Thames-side path from Grain to Woolwich has now been approved. IWA’s responses to the consultation included that the Ingress Pier development would mean moving the path to a service road with no view of the River. Natural England’s comments on this state that it is the planning authority, not NE, that control this situation

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Future IWAKES and Other Events The following events depend on future Government Regulations.

Please check the IWAKES page on the IWA website https://www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex for the latest situation. If you have no internet then please call Roy Sutton (01342 317569) to check which events still remain ‘on’.

Wednesday 15th July 2020: 4.30pm (prompt) departure Heybridge Basin: Daisy Meadow car park, Basin Rd, Heybridge, Maldon CM9 4RW ‘Two-hour cruise on Blackwater Dawn’: Two places remain available at a cost around £16.00: Please contact Roy Sutton (01342 317569) to book them.

Saturday 25th July 2020 Between A229 bridges downstream of Bishop’s Palace, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6YE. ‘Medway River Festival’ https://www.maidstoneriverfestival.info Thursday 15th October 2020: 7.30 for 8.00pm Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, Kent. ME2 2AH ‘Crossing the Wash’ by Simon Judge Simon returns to describe another intrepid journey.

Thursday 19th November 2020: 7.00 for 7.30pm Upper Room, Perrymount Methodist Church, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath.

RH16 3DM ‘River Ouse Water Supply’ by Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources at South East Water. Lee will describe Ardingley Reservoir, Barcombe Reservoirs and Treatment Works and the River Ouse transfer between them.

Joint meeting with Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust.

Wednesday 16th December 2020: 7.30 for 8.00pm Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend. DA12 2BS “Puffing a’Wey” by Mark Rudall, a stalwart of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain.

Get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association.

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings.

Entry is free with a raffle to cover costs.

Venue maps are at www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex All IWAKES events are open to non-members and you are encouraged to bring friends. Similarly, if you know a local club or society that might be interested then please do let them know.

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Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group Maidenhead Waterways was fortunate to be able to celebrate completion of the first stage of the project, just before the coronavirus “lockdown” descended and put normal life on hold…!! Contractors completed work on the new Green Lane weir, fish pass, eel pass and boat rollers in February. The weir has lifted water levels throughout the town centre to fill the already enlarged up stream channels, the new landscaping is already establishing and the wildlife is prospering. With the new weir operational, an old fixed weir has been removed from under York Road to allow fish passage right through the town centre for the first time.

A well-attended official opening event on 14th March enjoyed a carnival atmosphere, with music, dozens of boats, hundreds of balloons and ribbons and speeches from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council leader and our local MP Theresa May, who cut the ribbon. Before the opening ceremony, volunteers mounted a litter pick - both on and off the water - and scattered 75,000 poppy seeds to brighten up the banks in summer time, adding to the daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses previously planted.

You can see a short BBC TV report of the event at…https://youtu.be/SamSl-XBhYI During the “lockdown” many local residents discovered the new weir complex - while keeping their distance of course - and it is set to become a real beauty spot for locals as well as a great starting point for canoeists wishing to paddle into the centre of Maidenhead. Our thoughts are now turning to the next steps for the project, adding boat storage at Chapel Arches and a dedicated launch point in the town centre, plus clearing the overgrown Bray Cut channel downstream of the weir.

Richard Davenport, Chair of the Trustees Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group, reports on the latest developments:

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Oxfordshire Branch Branch Chairman On the 11th of March the IWA Oxfordshire branch held its AGM. Paul Rodgers National Chairman and Verna Smith Regional Chair presented a small token of appreciation to Ann & Terry Yeatman for many many years of dedicated work on the branch committee. Verna also expressed her appreciation to Robin Williams for his work keeping the branch going.

Members attending the meeting listened to a review of the year from Robin Williams and Verna Smith and then elected new branch committee members Ian and Jules Lindsay. Ian explained that having recently purchased Lechlade Marina on the Thames he would be delighted to stand for the position as chairman for the Oxfordshire branch. In the absence of other volunteers his wife Jules, a professional book keeper, was willing to act as branch treasurer until another volunteer was found.

Everyone attending the meeting then enjoyed a fascinating presentation from Paul Rodgers on his vision for the future direction of the IWA. A number of other people came forward at the meeting offering to join the committee or at least help organise events. More volunteers would be most welcome.

At the time of writing the Oxford Canal Festival has not been cancelled and the branch will have a presence at the event, if it does go ahead. The branch committee looks forward to arranging more events once the Covid 19 lockdown restrictions are eased and would like to hear from members what sort they would be interested in attending. The start of the season in the regions was also stymied both at Tooleys Boatyard which was due to start regular Saturday openings (with boat trips) from 18th April and Banbury Canal Partnership which was due to start up working parties from 21st April. Branch members are looking forward to restrictions being lifted to enable these to be restarted.

Ian Lindsay

Banbury Canal Partnership The last quarter has been a complete washout for us. The first couple of months we did not work as the weather was unsuitable for either painting or scrub bashing, and working outside generally. We had put plans together and listed the program dates for the rest of the year. Then “Lockdown� was introduced.

I am sure you are all aware that the canals are now out of bounds for all boaters except for those actually living on canal boats and even they are restricted as to movement. In our own case we moor in a Marina which has been closed to all moorers for the duration of the lockdown.

It is hoped that we will be able to commence works in June, but obviously this will depend Coronavirus and on following Government and the Canal and River Trust instructions as time progresses.

38 If you want a day out in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside come and join us. You might just enjoy it so much you become a regular Please contact myself or Chairman Colin Garnham-Edge if you would like to be put on our emailing list. Remember we have an email contact address : bcpontheoxford@gmail.com We also have a Facebook page Brian Saunders BCP Cargoes representative

Future Events Thur 17th to Sat 19th Sept: Oxford Canal Festival. Further details www.oxfordcanalheritage.org

Wilts & Berks Canal Having had the most successful trip boat season ever last year, thanks to the greatly increased footfall since the Hall & Woodhouse pub opened opposite our jetty, as an experiment we continued our weekend trips on Dragonfly right through the winter - weather permitting, which was most of the time. We had always planned to get the boat out of the water for a muchneeded hull repaint, new anodes etc to be back in the water for Easter, so on Friday 13th March we hauled her out up a temporary slipway we had made from composite beams laid on the ground! Despite the date, it all went smoothly, helped greatly by friendly farmer Dave with his JCB. Over the next few weeks, over 100 volunteer hours went into grinding, sanding, priming & undercoating - plus removal of the bent propeller, which has been straightened. You can probably guess what happened next lockdown! Luckily, Dragonfly was weatherproof by then, so there she remains, waiting until the job can be finished. As to whether and when we can resume trips, we have to be guided by, er, the science.

Meanwhile, our bid to Highways England's fund for restoration of heritage assets interrupted by road building has now been submitted. If successful, the canal restoration will have got past its most significant barrier; not only that, but the section between the M4 and our jetty by Waitrose must, as a planning condition, be completed by the developers by the time 2,000 houses (out of a total of around 3,000) have been built. In addition, they must restore the canal Eastwards from the

39 same place to join up with the existing new section in East Wichel, thus more than doubling the length of canal in water in South Swindon. We have started to think about what to do about increasing our trip presence there.

Elsewhere, a troublesome leak at Pewsham near Chippenham has been identified and fixed. The work on Pewsham top lock has had to stop of course, but in general we are looking at whether and how work parties may resume while still complying with COVID 19 restrictions. At the time of writing, we are hopeful that we may find a way, if only so we can keep on top of the spring growth in vegetation.

Talking of which, the Swindon work party completed a nice piece of hedge laying just before COVID 19 struck.

At Shrivenham, plans are being progressed to get the section by the recently revamped Canal Park in water. Further East, our Chair Brian Stovold has been live streaming some of his towpath walks on our Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Friends & Volunteers page - sorry about the mouthful. It's a closed group, but anyone applying to join will be accepted - by me!

As newly appointed Head of Comms, a small group of us has started refreshing the website, stimulated by the recruitment of a new volunteer, Holly Clyne. This work was begun by my predecessor and is being continued by Holly, with Martin Stubbs as before expect to see continuing changes and improvements in the website.

We would welcome any comments or suggestions on this; easiest to email me on chris.barry@wbct.org.uk The Trust's Executive Committee continues to meet monthly on Zoom, plus its weekly telephone conference calls, so it's been possible to continue with our existing and quite heavy planning workload, led by Rod Hacker. This is because the New Eastern Villages development East of Swindon is progressing; our 'new' section of canal runs through it, so there is much to do. Obviously, no events are happening, and it is particularly galling that the pub we restored, the Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock, is now in suspended animation - even more galling as it's just received a CAMRA award! Hopefully the Government's financial arrangements will enable it to reopen once it's able to.

Chris Barry, Comms Secretary, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Getting under the M4 The Trust has set as one of its top priority targets to complete the canal from Swindon to Royal Wootton Bassett, where there are already significant lengths in water and more planned and consented. The big barrier, of course, has always been the M4 motorway, which cuts the original line of the canal near Junction 16. A new crossing point has been identified, where the road is high enough to get the canal underneath.

40 The restoration of the canal in Wichelstowe will take it right up to the motorway fence on the north side. On the south side, a new route is needed across farmland and the planned diversion of Wharf Road, which is part of the scheme to provide a new road into Wichelstowe from Junction 16. This length of canal is being designed now. The trust has struggled for years to find a way to get the actual road crossing built but has now identified a fund managed by Highways England that could pay for it. The trust has to justify the scheme and go through the application process. Discussions are being held with the agency and with design consultants that are expected to lead, in the next few months, to an application for funding of the feasibility and design studies.

Future Events Due to COVID 19 all Boat trips are currently postponed or cancelled. Please visit our website for up to date information. The Boating season for Dragonfly normally starts at Easter and finishes in September. Trips may extend through October depending on the weather.

The boat can be chartered and is popular for birthday and anniversary parties, Plenty of notice is good to make it easier to find crew. Charter fees are £60 for one hour, £90 for two hours.

Trip vouchers are available at £18 for a family of 2 adults & 2 children. To obtain one, please email cheryll.yeowell@wbct.org.uk.

For information, call the boat team on 07401 220076 or preferably email boat.bookings@wbct.org.uk

South London Branch Future 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 talks and presentations is free to members and non-members, but we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’ expenses, thank you.

For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson.

Tel: 07803 904803 or email: shea.richardson@waterways.org.uk

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London (Paddington) Branch Future Events Please visit our website or contact Libby Bradshaw for up to date information Tue 16th Jun: The Thames from Source to Sea . Dr Roger Squires. The navigable River Thames is said to be from Lechlade, although, many of us have been further than that in our narrowboats! Dr Roger will take us from the true source of the river, down the non-tidal Thames to Teddington, onwards on the tidal Thames through London and on towards the sea.

Details of each talk will be sent out in advance by email and also can be found following the link https://www.waterways.org.uk/branches_regions/london/london_region Refreshments are available from 7pm and the talks start at 7.30 The venue is Auditorium, 2 Kingdom Street, Paddington Central W2 6BD. This link may help you https://goo.gl/maps/VjKJvzXfy6B2.

Further details from Libby Bradshaw libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk 07956 655037

Towpath Walks Group All walks subject to current Government guidelines. Please contact for up to date information Sun 21st Jun 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meet Warwick Avenue Sun 5th Jul 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross, Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross by taxi queue Sun 19th Jul: Grand Surrey Canal: Rotherhithe, Mayflower, Surrey Water, Greenland Dock, meet Rotherhithe Sat 1st Aug 10.45am: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross, Granary Square to Camden meet King’s Cross by taxi queue Sun 2nd Aug 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meet Warwick Avenue Sun 16th Aug 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross, Granary Square to Camden, meet King’s Cross by taxi queue Sun 6th Sep 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meet Warwick Avenue

42 Sun 20th Sep 2.30pm: Limehouse, Thames to Docklands, meet Westferry (DLR)

by Cycle Hire Point Sun 4th Oct 2.30pm: Grand Surrey Canal, Royal Navy Victualling Yard to Greenland Dock, meet Surrey Quays Sun 18th Oct 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Mile End to Limehouse meet Mile End Sun 1st Nov 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: River Tyburn to Little Venice, meet Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit) Sun 15th Nov 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross, Granary Square to Camden meet King’s Cross by taxi queue As August sees the Bicentenary of the Official Opening of the Regent's Canal, the majority of the Walks are along the Regent's Canal. However, the Quartercentenary of the departure of the Mayflower from Rotherhithe has not been neglected.

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.

For more information about Walks (Normal charge: £10.00, Concessions & Student rate: £8.00) please contact Roger Wilkinson, telephone: 020 3612 9624 or email: rogerw9796@yahoo.co.uk

Mikron Theatre Group The Mikron Theatre Group had planned two new shows for 2020. Unfortunately, due to Covid 19 this year’s season has been cancelled. Please check our website for further details. www.mikron.org.uk

The Inland Waterways Association Chesham Staff Neil Edwards Chief Executive

extn 609

Tracy Higgin Administration Manager Day-to-day running of the Head Office at Chesham.

extn 601

Rachel Bryant Membership

extn 600

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The Inland Waterways Association IWA South East Region Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com

IWA Guildford & Reading Branch Committee Acting Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com Secretary: Chris Jones Tel: 07711 784374 Acting Treasurer & R. Wey: Mike Lewis Basingstoke & R. Thames: Vacant

Email: chris.jones@waterways.org.uk K & A, WACT & Planning:-Verna Smith

IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee Chair: Les Etheridge Tel: 07768 132703

Email: les.etheridge@waterways.org.uk

Secretary, Sussex Ouse & Cargoes Contact: Roy Sutton 79, St Leonards Park, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1EG Tel: 01342 317569 Email: RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk Treasurer & Royal Military Canal: Peter Wilkinson Membership Secretary: Les Etheridge Social Secretary: Sue Schwieso Waterways Representatives R. Medway: Michael Marsh R. Stour: Roy Newing Thames & Medway: Bernard Snell Dartford & Crayford: Brian Franklin

R. Adur: Brendan Whelan Northfleet Harbour: Vacant R. Rother: Malcolm Jones Faversham & Swale: Vacant

IWA Oxfordshire Branch Committee Chair: Ian Lindsay Tel: 07889 070623 Email: ian.lindsay@waterways.org.uk Secretary: Robin Williams Tel: 07490 454260 Email: robin.williams@waterways.org.uk Acting Treasurer: Jules Lindsay Webmaster: Robin Williams

Cargoes co-ordinator & Jericho: WED

Non Committee Responsibilities Thames RUG 3: Sue & David Cooper Next issue: $XWXPQ Copy date: 22nd July 2020 Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA. IWA, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453 Company No: 612245. Charity No: 212342 www.waterways.org.uk Cargoes Editor: Chris Jones chris.jones@waterways.org.uk

waterway

Webinars Join us for our series of online talks covering topic areas including our campaign plans, waterways heritage, our canal adoption schemes and more.

Visit the IWA website and reserve your space

waterways.org.uk/webinars The Inland Waterways Association is a non-proďŹ t distributing company limited by guarantee. Company registration number 612245. Charity registration number 212342.

Registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Photo Š Simon Marlow.