Knobsticks - Summer 2022

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch

KNOBSTICKS

Summer 2022

Uttoxeter Canal at Crumpwood (also see pages 4-5)

Photo: Dave Thorley

E ditorial One of the joys of taking part in the Cheshire Locks working parties is to hear the comments of passers-by when they see the results of our work.

Looking the other way, you can see that there is also vehicle access along a rough track owned by the stables next to the lock. John Lawson had persuaded the stables owner to allow us to use their private track and even to park our cars right by the canal on their land.

I decided to start my work here by “sprucing up” this fence and gate, whilst others worked on the lock gates and ladders. As neither the fence nor the gate had ever been painted they looked very different by early afternoon. I was just finishing off the uprights when the owner of the stables drove out pulling a horse-box. They stopped the vehicle and leant out, saying “Fab” and giving me a thumbs-up. Boy, did I feel good!

The picture above is of the access gate from a footpath to the offside of lock 60.

And, yes, we did work on the lock too.

But my work was best …..

Photos: John Lawson Page 2

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D eputy Chairman’s Report The official date for reopening is the 23rd June. [Ed—The canal actually reopened 4 weeks ahead of schedule, on 27th May, although some restrictions are still in place (See P 7)]

The Branch AGM took place on 11th March. This was our first in-person gathering for 2 years, and it was lovely to see those of you who made it to the boat club for the formal meeting and roundup of the year, followed by some film footage of local canals in the 1990s from Alan Chetwyn.

Unfortunately the work to start rebuilding Bridge 37 at the bottom of Hazelhurst Locks, as covered in the last Knobsticks, is scheduled to start in the late summer, with the canal closed at that point from early September. So, if any boaters are thinking of visiting the main line of the Caldon down the Churnet Valley this year it will need to be during July and August. This is a great shame for the businesses based along this rural waterway who need as much support as they can get during these difficult times.

Following the AGM I agreed to become the “Chair” of the branch committee, as opposed to Deputy Chair, with the Chair post having been vacant for a number of years. My full time job as IWA’s Campaigns & Public Affairs Manager prevented me from taking on the role of Chair previously, but now that I have It was also good to see those of you who changed jobs to a part time role with the were able to make it to Scholar Green for Association (as Senior Research & the branch dinner on 1st April. The Projects Specialist, working on specific auction was ably auctioneered by Jon projects), I now have a bit more time for Honeysett (photo—see page 16), with my volunteering commitments.

Sarah Honeysett and Anne Chetwyn both providing entertaining quizzes. Our It would still be great to get a few more thanks to them all, as well as to Sarah for people active in volunteering for the branch. There are a number of different organising the event. ways to get involved, so do get in touch if It’s good to see the Trent & Mersey and you would like to know more.

Macclesfield canals through our branch Alison Smedley patch busy with boats and back to normal after the strangeness of the last two years. The Caldon Canal, however, P.S. I am also pleased to report that we remains closed beyond the end of CRT’s are restarting working parties on the usual “stoppage” season, due to Uttoxeter Canal in June. See Pages 4-5, complications on their Ivyhouse or contact me for the most up-to-date Embankment channel relining project. details of what we will be doing.

Summer 2022

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Work Parties Resume on the Uttoxeter Canal

Crumpwood Weir A monthly work party is resuming on the Uttoxeter Canal, starting on Monday 18th June. The work will be based at the Alton end of the section of towpath that was cleared previously. Here are details of the first 2 dates : Monday 20th June 10 am to 4pm Uttoxeter Canal Re-launch of a monthly work party on the Uttoxeter Canal working between Alton and Crumpwood. This month we will be working from the Alton end. The meeting point is close to Alton Station on Farley Lane, very close to Alton Towers. For those using satnav, use ST10 4BY. The work site is a short walk from this spot.

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Photo: Dave Thorley There is parking off-road down a slope parallel to the railway, opposite the station. Please do not block the parking at the station, which is used by Landmark Trust guests.

All tools and equipment will be provided. Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes, stout shoes and to bring waterproofs in case of rain and a packed lunch if staying all day.

For more information contact Alison Smedley on 07779 090915 or email allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk This work party is jointly led by the Inland Waterways Association North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust.

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W ork Parties Resume on the Uttoxeter Canal Monday 25th July 10 am to 4pm Uttoxeter Canal Monthly work party (a week later than usual) on the Uttoxeter Canal working between Alton and Crumpwood. This month we will be working around Crumpwood. No parking is available at site so please meet at 9.30am at Denstone Village Hall, College Rd, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5HR for a lift, or meet on site at Bridge 70 at 10am having made your own way on foot.

The site is a little over a mile walk down the old railway track from either Denstone or Alton. Near the railway

bridge take the footpath by the milepost to the bridge.

All tools and equipment will be provided. Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes, stout shoes and to bring waterproofs in case of rain and a packed lunch if staying all day.

For more information contact Alison Smedley on 07779 090915 or email allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk This work party is jointly led by the Inland Waterways Association North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust.

Alison Smedley

Our thanks to Dave Thorley of Crumpwood Cottage (who has been keeping the vegetation at the flood lock under control) for these recent photos of Crumpwood.

Summer 2022

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Ivy House Embankment Stoppage

April 29th: Lined but empty On 8th November 2021 a stoppage began for “a full canal bed replacement over Ivy House Embankment between Ivy House Lift Bridge and Bucknall Road Bridge on the Caldon Canal to stop leakage from the canal through the embankment”.

On 7th March 2022 CRT updated the stoppage notice “As the project has progressed we encountered problems that were not expected and as a consequence were unable to plan for. We are investigating how these could have been better predicted. As a result the works have unfortunately run significantly behind schedule. Regrettably it is now expected that the work will continue until the summer, with the canal unable to reopen until 23 June 2022.

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Photo: Alison Smedley We are sorry about this late announcement and are very aware that this will impact on many boaters planned boat movements for this spring and early summer. We recognise it would have been helpful to let some people planning their boating know earlier, however we wanted to establish all the facts to get clarity on the length of the extension before making an announcement.

We are working with our Navigation Advisory group to look at further improvements to communicate with boaters when works don’t go as planned.

We are making every effort to reopen the canal as quickly as possible and will look for any opportunity to bring the completion forward. We have already implemented weekend working.

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I vy House Embankment Stoppage The works have overrun because, despite surveys being completed before the works started, by a contractor that we work with successfully on a regular basis, on this occasion the depth of silt we needed to remove to a suitably hard bed has been deeper than predicted. As a consequence, double the expected amount of silt has had to be removed from the canal bed before relining works could commence.

On 20th May CRT announced “The expected canal reopening date of 23rd June has been accelerated by weekend working, good weather, additional staff numbers on site, better than expected progress of the canal bed lining system and the plan to complete some works after the reopening of the canal.

As such, we will now be able to reopen navigation by 5pm on the 27th May 2022. From this date, navigation will be We are reviewing what can be done to possible, but a restriction will be in place help plan other future works with similar where the Trust’s contractor will still be challenges more accurately. We have working in the canal between Ivy House faced further challenges as a result of the Lift Bridge (Bridge 11) and Bucknall level of contamination of the additional Road Bridge (Bridge 12), so boat traffic material removed which has required will need to carefully pass the working specialist disposal. This has made the boats. This navigation restriction will canal bed and offside repairs more remain in place until 17th June 2022. difficult and taken much longer than The towpath will remain closed until we’d hoped.”

5pm Monday 6th June.”

May 6th: Filled with Water Summer 2022

Photo: Alison Smedley Page 7

Planning Applications—Leek End of Caldon Canal advocating our public amenity vision.

(Developer’s indicative plan below)

IWA NSSC and the Caldon and Uttoxeter Canals Trust (CUCT) have long supported the creation of a new canal mooring basin at Leek as a public amenity for boaters, visitors and residents. Following very successful and widely supported public events at the present terminus in 2002 (Photo © Waterway Images) and 2004, we were pleased to participate in Leek Canal Corridor Study in 2006 — See https:// cuct.org.uk/caldon/leek-canal-corridorstudy which confirmed the significant opportunities presented by this location.

The subsequent recently adopted Local Plan and Churnet Valley Masterplan also envisage the opportunity of a canal and railway hub - both significant attractions and destinations in their own rights, but together a unique combination in this country.

A series of new planning applications have been submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council seeking to progress the site, in which the developer requests removal of planning conditions regarding constructing a marina/basin and connecting it to the Caldon Canal, stating. that it is not feasible or viable for the Casey Group to commit to fulfilling this obligation. They go on to say that “the Council is seeking to access At Leek the canal terminates in a less- Government funding in order to deliver than-70 feet winding hole, that is the marina basin as part of a wider reducing further with silt carried down package of potential projects in Rudyard Lake feeder. Previously the Staffordshire Moorlands.” canal turned through 90 degrees and crossed the now filled-in and listed John CUCT and IWA have submitted detailed Rennie Aqueduct over the River responses and objections to the Churnet. It then continued toward Leek applications to remove the conditions through what is now a derelict site and to a reserved matters application for known as “Land at Barnfields Industrial approval of appearance, landscaping, Estate, Sunnyhills Road, Leek”. Outline layout and scale of the site. We are both planning permission for this was granted also in separate dialogue with the in 2014, including an area for a marina. Council about their plans to seek funding Both IWA and CUCT objected to those toward delivering improvements to the plans, explaining the marina indicated canal at Leek as envisaged in the Local was not commercially viable, whilst Plan.

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P lanning Applications—Leek End of Caldon Canal We can now report that this month one application has been agreed, with Councillors unanimously showing support for a new mooring basin as an integral part of the proposed development at the derelict Barnfields Industrial Estate site. On 12 May 2022 the application was discussed by Staffordshire Moorlands District Councillors and the following Recommendation was passed by the Planning Applications Committee: That the request to vary the Section 106 Agreement is agreed on the following terms subject to detailed discussion on the wording of the revised and new clauses and trigger points, with input from the Council’s lawyer a) to remove the obligation on the developer/landowner to construct the Marina, link to the Caldon Canal and install a footbridge over the aqueduct. b) to insert a new obligation which requires the developer to reserve land for the Marina and subsequently transfer this to the Council (or other body that the Council considers capable of financing and operating the Marina and associated liabilities) for nominal cost (£1). c) to insert a new obligation requiring the developer to landscape and maintain the Marina land area as public open space until the transfer of the land takes place. d) to insert a new clause to secure the planning surplus of £815,000 to be directed towards funding of a Marina and/or Canal Basin. This is in addition to the £200,000 education contribution already secured in the 106 Agreement.

CUCT Chair, Julie Arnold spoke at the meeting emphasising the importance of the final wording of the Decision and of working in partnership to deliver the envisaged scheme. Previously proposed clauses for the Section 106 were not Summer 2022

appropriate; the terms for a commercial New Marina “Network Access Agreement” with Canal & River Trust (CRT) not being a suitable project ‘trigger point’ when developing an accessible-toall waterside scheme. She described how elsewhere a regeneration partnership of councils, developers, CRT’s Enterprise team and local waterway organisations such as CUCT and IWA has worked together to devise schemes, explore external funding and opportunities for input from volunteers and determine typical timescales for delivery.

Julie concluded, “At Leek the goal is to create a mooring basin accessible to as many as possible: to welcome visiting boats; giving access to all to fish, canoe, paddleboard, for wheelchair users to board “Beatrice”; to cycle and stroll through well-designed green infrastructure linking through the new development to the Caldon Canal via the aqueduct across the River Churnet. A new Waterside for Leek.”

Councillors supported this in the debate leading to the unanimous vote, agreeing tying together the end of the canal and the railway at Leek has long been the vision, and it is an opportunity for an excellent Council-led scheme.

Continued lobbying is now required to help bring about the envisaged partnership, and because the other two planning applications are still to be decided.

CUCT has made contact with the developers and CRT along with key officers at SMDC and some councillors.

If you know local Councillors or other organisations that might write a letter of support as the project progresses, or would like to get involved in any way – please get in touch with me via my email julie.arnold@cuct.org.uk.

Julie Arnold Page 9

Burslem Port News meeting is being organised and Burslem Port agreed to pay the consultant’s expenses. The consultants are also arranging a further meeting with several interested people as it now seems possible that Burslem Port Trust might be able to continue with new trustees.

Roger Savage confirmed his intention to resign once the architectural project is complete.

Masterplan Ian Dudson CBE KSt.J, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire attending the “Burslem At a recent meeting of our consultants Connects” day.

Photo: Roger Savage with Roger Savage and Steve Wood it was agreed that the draft Masterplan no Here is a round up of the present longer met the requirement of the situation. The consultants agreed to situations at the end of April. produce a Development Plan which would inform the future of whatever Footsteps Plans are well advanced to complete 6 organisation takes on our project. interpretation panels to be placed Outstanding Matters alongside the new Footsteps path which we installed recently. This is costing IWA NSSC has agreed that the Burslem more than originally estimated and the Port Working Party could continue trustees agreed to supplement the under their auspices whatever the money from the Community Infrastruc- outcome with the Trust. Dave Broome is ture Fund with money from Potto Lotto happy with this although attendance at in order to complete the project with a the working days is still very small. good quality installation.

David Dumbelton Wharf & Warehouse Project Working Party Report The drawings for the proposed repurposing of the site produced by the architec- The dead hedging is now complete, the tural adviser were on show as part of the backfilling to the path edging is about Burslem Connects day held at Port Vale half complete and last Friday I cut down Football Club. This was a successful day, saplings to preserve the view of Burslem with 77 people completing the on-line from the Trent and Mersey. I see the survey; the details of which are being path edging as the main outstanding currently compiled to finalise the report work. Folks seem to appreciate the path and when the display boards are put in by mid-June. place maybe they will generate more interest. Currently I can confirm the Future of the Trust A meeting was held in late April to following dates:- June 17th, July 1st, July discuss the possibility of a potential 15th, Aug 12th, then Sept 2nd, Sept 16th. merger with Burslem Regeneration If you are able to help on any of these Trust. David Dumbelton represented the occasions, please get in touch with me at Burslem Port Trust and reported that dave.broome45@gmail.com .

David Broome this was a positive meeting. A follow-up Page 10

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B urslem Port News

Proposals for Wharf area of Burslem Arm.

Drawings: Hillman Partnership Ltd

Special offers In-store bakery Food-to-go

Hot and cold drinks Groceries Newspapers Lotto Paypoint Payzone Free ATM Fresh fruit and veg Household and pet food A great range of beers, wines and spirits Open Mon-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 7.30am-8pm

Less than 10 minutes from bridges 14 and 15 of the Caldon Canal

8-10 Diana Road, Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6RS. Tel 01782 263936 Visit our website www.londis.co.uk.

Find us on Facebook - Londis Birches Head Summer 2022

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S ocial Scene After rarely meeting except on Zoom for a couple of years, it was quite an event to gather - in person at last - for our AGM in March this year, and again for our annual dinner at the beginning of April.

We were by no means out of the shadow of the pandemic; two couples who had planned to attend our annual dinner had to cancel at short notice due to Covid-19, and we are very glad to report that they are recovering. Those of us who were able to attend enjoyed a very pleasant evening in the company of our friends, with excellent food thanks to Wade, Colleen and their team at the Rising Sun. We were sad to learn that they will be leaving the pub at the end of May and wish them all well for the future.

We can also review whether our current season, running from October to April, works for our members, or whether we should add some summer events.

Currently, we hold our evening meetings with guest speakers at Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club in Endon on the second Friday of the month, while the TMCS meet on the third Friday at the Red Bull, beside Lock 43 near Kidsgrove. A show of hands at our AGM indicated a preference among those present to stay at the Boat Club - though that was, of course, an audience made up of people already at the Boat Club!

The Red Bull is probably the easier place to find for new members and speakers, but has only an upstairs meeting room, Looking ahead to the coming season, we while the SoTBC has the advantage of will (all being well) continue to meet at level access but is rather hidden away. the Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club during Both are, however, quite central to both 2022, with a speaker from the Stafford our IWA Branch’s area and the TMCS’s, Riverway Link confirmed for our as any new venue would need to be.

November meeting. However, there could be some changes in 2023.

“Second socials” might involve getting together informally for a pub lunch or a Our friends in the Trent and Mersey picnic at the weekend, before or after a Canal Society (TMCS) need to recruit a visit to a heritage location, like Middlenew Social Secretary to take over in the port Pottery, or a waterways event like New Year but have, so far, been unable the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival. to find a volunteer. I have suggested These might be good opportunities for that, if no-one steps forward, we could younger members and families to get consider combining our meetings. This involved, as well as members who may gives both organisations the opportunity not be keen to go out on dark winter to review when, where and how we meet. evenings. They would also allow us to The respective committees would need move gatherings around our area (or to work out some practicalities, such as occasionally outside it) and up and down the need to hold our own AGMs, how to the T&M. share raffle proceeds and whether we want to have two annual dinners! Online meetings could allow us to invite However, rather than simply condensing speakers from waterway projects or the two regular monthly evening societies too far away for a speaker to meetings into one, we could hold more readily attend in person – we might even than one event some months, with the find speakers from overseas to talk about second ‘social’ happening at a different their local navigations! With rising fuel time and place, or as an online meeting. prices, members who live some way from Page 12

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S ocial Scene our regular meeting places might appreciate the opportunity to hear speakers without having to travel, as might members with mobility difficulties or who find face-to-face social situations uncomfortable.

for a chat about what you would like to see.

If you currently attend meetings, what changes could make it difficult for you to join us in future? Are there evenings when you already have commitments?

Are there regular dates that other local waterways societies meet that we should perhaps avoid?

Sarah Honeysett

I really do want as much feedback from our members as possible as we plan for the future. With several different options available for socials, and no need to If you don’t currently attend meetings, I restrict ourselves to only one type of would love to know what might tempt gathering or location, I hope we can put you along. Would you prefer a different together a plan for 2023 onwards that time or day of the week? Is the current brings more of us together and gives venue difficult for you to reach, perhaps everyone who wants to be a way to get involved. because you rely on public transport?

I will run an online poll later this year, when we have had more of an opportunity to discuss ideas at the committee but want to encourage those of you who aren’t online to please share your views too. You are welcome to give me a call

Already Booked Friday 14th October, 7:45 for 8pm Waterway Recovery Group Helen Gardner An update on current projects.

Friday 11th November, 7:45 for 8 The Stafford Riverway Link John Potter An update on linking Stafford to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

————— Admission to AGM/talks is FREE Donations to waterway causes welcome!

Refreshments available.

Non-IWA members are very welcome Venue (unless otherwise stated): Stoke on Trent Boat Club Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST9 9DU For further information contact: Sarah Honeysett (01782 772295) socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk or visit the branch webpages at: www.waterways.org.uk

Summer 2022

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Cheshire Locks Thursday 17th February Sadly this work-party was cancelled by CRT as they couldn’t provide lifejackets!

Thursday 17th March

Six volunteers assembled at Lock 46 (Townfield) to commence painting the metalwork and wooden gates prepared by the team in January. The weather was dry and the temperature above the minimum required for the paint. We focused on the metal surfaces in the main as the balance beams were drying out after some overnight rain, so the bridge rails were completed along with the top gate handrails. Lock ladders and the metal strapping posts were also painted. By lunchtime, the beam ends had dried sufficiently to apply a coat of white paint and the lock numbers were applied to the bottom gate towpath side.

The wooden strapping posts also received a coat of white paint. Another good day’s work by our volunteers.

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C heshire Locks Thursday 21st April

Photo: John Brighouse Glorious weather for painting. We were leaderless today as John Lawson had to stay away because he tested positive for Covid-19 after a big family gathering.

Nevertheless, with the help of Jane from CRT, we managed to complete all the Thursday 19th May outstanding work on Lock 46.

Another great day for painting, as we started work on Lock 60. This lock (and Lock 59, which we will do next) are the only locks which we have never worked on since we started in 2012. A full list of all 26 locks, and the dates when we worked on each, can be found on the Trent and Mersey Canal Society website at www.tamcs.org.uk/cheshire-locks .

The 8 volunteers rubbed down and painted lots of woodwork, including the fence by the bridge, as well as lots of balance beams.

Article & other Photos: John Lawson

The numbers were painted the following week by John Lawson (after a full recovery) to finish the sequence of locks that have occupied our efforts over the past year.

Summer 2022

At lunchtime, John Lawson (our leader) was presented with the Wedgwood Trophy (the Trent and Mersey Canal Society award for the person who has done the most to further the cause of that society during the previous year) by their Chairman Roger Evans.

[See May photos on Page 2—Ed] Page 15

Auction at our Branch Annual Dinner

Auctioneer Jon Honeysett, dressed for the part, ready to handle the auction at our Branch Annual Dinner Photo: Alison Smedley Page 16

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T he Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear The

Three Bears and Four Counties Part 2 In the last edition of Knobsticks, I told you about our first cruise on Uplander II after our boat had been repainted; we had reached Norbury Junction.

The following day, we all put our boating hats and life-jackets on, and sat on the roof in the sunshine for the journey down the Shroppie to Brewood. During the day, we went through a tunnel carved out of the rock at Gnosall, along Summer 2022

some more deep cuttings and across a very fancy aqueduct over the A5 road.

Grizzly was wrong about there being no more locks, as we had one to work through at Wheaton Aston but, unlike the flights of locks we had been up at Audlem, Adderley Green and Tyrley, it was not bumpy with a nasty by-wash.

Our human guardians made quite good progress the following day, getting all the way from Brewood to Gailey Wharf.

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T he Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear We had wet weather for the following day of our journey, so we bears stayed inside while our humans managed the locks back towards the Trent and Mersey Canal. Hanley had brought his football with him, so he and Endon took it in turns to take penalties and I tried to save them, but I am not a very good goalkeeper. Since Huddlesford Bear has joined our crew, Hanley has found it much harder to score goals.

We left the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley Junction, and went north up the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. It was slightly cooler, so we decided to watch from the cratch, where it was snug and warm. [See picture at the top of the previous page! - Ed] At Hatherton Junction, Hanley Bear asked which way we had to go. Polar explained that, for now, we had to follow the route to the left, as the Hatherton Canal to our right wasn’t navigable. “It used to link into the Birmingham Canal Navigations,” she told us. “The Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust are working on restoring it, so maybe we’ll be able to go along there one day.” I have been told that the LHCRT do membership for pets and teddy bears, so I am going to ask our human guardians if we can all join to help them and Polar says she will ask one of their speakers to come and talk to us soon too.

We were very glad not to be up on the roof that day, as there were some scary thunderstorms rumbling around, but the following day was bright and sunny again, so we could spend more time enjoying the view. We saw another waterway being restored – this time, the Stafford Riverway Link, which is going to make it possible for boats to get into Stafford, which would be marvellous, as Page 18

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T he Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear we bears have not been there yet. (Our human guardian Polar has arranged for someone from their group to come to our November Social).

From there, the canal runs along the valley of the River Sow towards Great Haywood Junction. We bears stayed indoors as we went through Tixall Wide, as it was breezy there and we were worried that a gust of wind might blow us into the water.

It was cold enough to have porridge for breakfast in the morning.

After crossing over the River Trent aqueduct, we were back at the Trent and Mersey Canal and heading north for Stoke-on-Trent. We got to Weston Lock that night. The weather was getting cooler, so we stayed indoors for the rest of the day and watched the boats go by from the back of Polar’s armchair in the saloon.

Summer 2022

Then we carried on up the T&M. Although I had travelled along this stretch of the canal on my way to Stokeon-Trent in 2017, there had been some big changes at Stone.

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear but this time we did have a fright, because we saw a skeleton on the wall!

We all huddled together in our Bear Basket until we were safely out of the tunnel and Uppie was back on our mooring in Kidsgrove.

There was a new development between the second and third lock, which looked very nice. Grizzly bought us all fish and chips for lunch before we pressed on through the rest of the locks at Stone and then the four at Meaford. After an overnight stop near Barlaston, we were soon back in Stoke-on-Trent and Hanley Bear could celebrate coming home by enjoying oatcakes from Mrs Kay on the Oatcake Boat – the hot oatcakes steamed the camera lens up!

Soon we would be enjoying more boating adventures, and I am looking forward to telling you all about some more of them in the next issue of Knobsticks.

On the final morning of our journey, we were going back through the Harecastle Tunnel. We bears try not to be scared Page 20

Article: Sonning Bear Photos: Sarah Honeysett KNOBSTICKS

Summer 2022

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The Swan Inn Stafford Street, Stone Two minutes from bridge 93 at Star Lock

Serving 10 Real Ales & Scrumpy Cider Bar Snacks available Beer Garden Page 22

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N orth Staffordshire & South Cheshire contacts President: Chris Skelhorne Vice President Roger Savage roger.st21@gmail.com Chair Alison Smedley 01538 385388 allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk Treasurer Alan Chetwyn (No Email)

01782 279277

Secretary VACANT Contact Alison Smedley

Newsletter Editor Roger Evans 01606 834471 newsletter.nssc@waterways.org.uk 10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0BL Planning VACANT Contact Alison Smedley Membership Officer Mary Smith membership.nssc@waterways.org.uk Navigation Officer Jon Honeysett 01782 772295 navigation.nssc@waterways.org.uk Burslem Port Work Party Dave Broome 07974 966253 dave.broome45@gmail.com

Sales Officer VACANT Contact Alison Smedley

Caldon + Uttoxeter Work Parties Alison Smedley 01538 385388 allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk

Social Secretary Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk

Cheshire Locks Work Party John Lawson 07940 878923 john.lawson@waterways.org.uk

Publicity Officer Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 publicity.nssc@waterways.org.uk

Other committee members:

Web and Social Media Officer: Peter Smedley 01538 385388 webmaster.nssc@waterways.org.uk

West Midlands Region Chairman Helen Whitehouse 01543 491161 westmidlands@waterways.org.uk

Julie Arnold

The Branch committee meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of March, June, September & December at Stoke Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9DU. All Branch members are invited to attend.

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association, the West Midlands Region, or our Branch.

They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. © The Inland Waterways Association - Registered as a charity no. 212342 www.waterways.org.uk/staffscheshire Summer 2022 Page 23

Join Us on a Canal Work Party

Our Branch runs 3 work parties each month, helping to maintain and restore our local canals :-

x Cheshire Locks (Trent & Mersey Canal, Kidsgrove to Wheelock)

(jointly organised with the Trent and Mersey Canal Society) 3rd Thursday of each month (except December), 10am to 3pm.

Contact: John Lawson Phone: 07940 878923 Email: john.lawson@waterways.org.uk

x Uttoxeter Canal (Bridge 70, near Denstone — or near Alton)

(working in partnership with Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust) usually 3rd Monday of each month (except August & December) Contact: Alison Smedley Phone: 01538 385388 Email: allie.smedley@waterways.org.uk

x Burslem Port, Stoke-on-Trent

(working in partnership with Burslem Port Project) Fridays: June 17th, July 1st & 15th, Aug 12th, Sept 2nd & 16th 10:30am to 2:30pm Contact: Dave Broome Phone: 07974 966253 Email: dave.broome45@gmail.com ——————————–————-—————————-————— See the IWA website www.waterways.org.uk under “Events” for dates.

Volunteers are advised to wear stout shoes and old clothes, and to bring waterproofs (and a packed lunch and drink if staying all day) Page 24

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