Lee & Stort Recorder, Spring 2015

Magazine of IWA Lee & Stort Branch Spring 2015

T

War Horses Revisited

he previous theme of historical horses continued, following on the theme from the last year's last speaker's presentation of horses/canals/WWW1. This month, War Horse.

Definitely and without doubt the best speaker so far this year; she spoke to a packed and enthralled house.

Ruth Rogers: The Beast of a local pantomime, Edinburgh Fringe performer, BBC director and radio celebrity, but the most foremost of her many talents, a Royal Enfield 500cc Bullet fan - and a regular rider.

Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, has been a book, a West End and Broadway Play, and latterly a film.

Ruth spoke of the very complex mechanics of the three man team that operate ‘Joey’, the central character.

If you have not seen the West End play then book today. You cannot and will not believe how realistic the teams are; they truly become a horse, they think as a team, and actually behave like a horse.

Within seconds you will be transformed into the world of the horse, you cannot fail to see them as anything but real.

How? By intense research by Ruth and others, into how a horse, acts, emotes, sounds, thinks, breaths, moves and reacts to its environment.

The IWA audience were transfixed, from the bicycle brake operated tail swishing, the descriptions of the physical effort required to hold up 13 stones of bodyweight. The IWA audience can now tell a whinny from a snicker from a snort (like the Stort and just about as wet apparently). A spellbinding talk, and destined to be the best woman speaker in recent memory. Disagree? Well come next month and tell me so (Jeremy Batch will not mind).

Where can I learn more? Try: http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/writing_is_on_the_wall_for_body_gossip_s_canv as_pop_up_cafe_in_spitalfields_1_3827914

Our Chairman Says…

Hello to all our members, I hope you are coming out of the winter all ready to go for, hopefully, a good year of enjoyment on our inland waterways, and in particular, the rivers Lee and Stort. Over the last few months, we continued to recruit new members, and remind those who had let their membership lapse, to renew, giving us a healthy Branch membership of – 416.

My thanks go to Banny for arranging varied guest speakers at the New Inn over the cold gloomy months, and we had a good turn-out at our AGM on 9th March. A nice buffet always attracts a good crowd!!

Looking forward, the first event of the season is almost upon us, that being the Region’s Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice. We support our region, London Region, by volunteering for a number of roles including harbour mastering, waterspace office , and some bloke spouting off on the PA all weekend!!! I hope to see many of you there.

Our own Branch festival at Ware is already gathering pace with 25 boats booked in so far. We are hoping to break last year’s target of 82 boats. My thanks go to those who have stepped up to volunteer to help organise this year’s event, both in advance and during the weekend itself.

Any more volunteers to help over the event will be very welcome.

In Ware, the Common Wharf issues are still continuing. We have however successfully lobbied CRT, Ware Town Council and East Herts District Council, to have the fence and the caravan removed. We have now worked with CRT and Ware Council on an 8 point plan to continue to push for the mooring to return to full visitor status. This plan includes

having the mooring formally deemed a visitor mooring by CRT. Ware Council have agreed to manage the site, IWA will fund new sign age, and we hope to have a pleasant 48 hour visitor mooring reinstated at the Common Wharf for the use of everyone. The area is registered as common land, and the Town Council has an agreement with HCC to manage it. The Town Council is aiming to have the wharf registered in the Town Council’s name. CRT has asked that any sightings of any vessels overstaying their allotted 2 days, be reported to them. These sightings can be carried out by anyone, and I would ask that we all help return this facility for wider public use. We will need to carry out some significant cleansing of the wharf to enable it to be used.

At the same time, Ware Town Council is also progressing options for improved facilities at Town Quay. I will update you via the Branch bulletins on how this progresses.

We have proposed spending our Branch funds on replacing wooden beams along the bankside in Ware. CRT did a site visit last Friday, and will come back with options and costings. Members at the AGM supported this proposal and asked CRT to consider using rubber materials to provide longevity.

As a Branch we have made a donation to Herts Boat Rescue, for them to purchase much needed kit and life jackets for new crew members , to ensure this important safety group remain on our waterways. We think this £500 is an appropriate donation to a worthy cause and again , was supported by the wider membership at the AGM. The organisation has just published the ‘IWA Manifesto’. We are asking future MPs to demonstrate their support for the waterways, if elected, by supporting a 5 point partnership which includes: 1. Protecting Our Heritage; 2. Building Local partnerships with waterway groups; 3. Working with IWA in parliament, and joining the all-party parliamentary group for the waterways; 4. Supporting transfer of all current EA waterways to CRT ; and 5. Supporting affordable new off line moorings.

Please feel free to support by also writing to your MP : (Hertford & Stortford – Mark Prisk; Harlow – Robert Halfon; Epping Forest – Eleanor Laing; Broxbourne – Charles Walker.)

As Vice Chairman, I hope you will agree that not only during the last year, but for many years, Les Hunt has been a stalwart of the Branch and has helped us modernise as a branch, particularly in terms of our

online Branch Bulletin, improved communications and all his efforts leading the Ware Festival arrangements. Les has decided to stand down this year, as he departs the Lee and Stort to explore the wider system. I personally thank Les for his support, effort and dedication to the Lee and Stort Branch, and I hope you all wish him the best of luck for the future.

Well, I will sign off now, and wish you all a good summer of messing about on the river, have a safe and enjoyable time, I and look forward to seeing you at Little Venice and/or Ware.

Craig.

II

I was lucky enough to meet some of you when I came to speak about my time in War Horse as Joey's Head.

I'm now doing something completely different!

In October 2014, I opened The Canvas, a cafe and creative venue in Shoreditch, just off Brick Lane. We're a social enterprise with a programme of events that aim to improve happiness, self esteem and confidence - like a weekly choir, lunchtime yoga, free film screenings on Saturdays, and free relaxation and well-being workshops.

My aim is that everyone who comes to The Canvas will leave feeling better about themselves - and will have left a bit of themselves behind too, as we invite all our customers to share their thoughts, ideas, secrets and stories on the walls of the café, hence the name The Canvas. We recently launched as London's first ‘Happy Café’ with the charity ‘Action for Happiness’, so come along, check us out, and say hello!

Ruth Rogers.

Stanstead St Margarets The parish name is often abbreviated to simply St Margarets. The earliest recorded name of the village is believed to be Thele. By the end of the 13th century it took an alternative name from the bridge over the Lea and was called Pons de Thele, Punt de Tyull, Pons Tegule or Pons Tegleri.

During the 16th century it began to be called St Margaret's Theale, Margarthele, and Stanstead Thele, the first from its church and the second from the fact that the village of St Margaret's adjoins the village of Stanstead Abbotts, from which it is divided by the bridge over the River Lea. Stanstead St Margaret's is the modern form of the name. The parish has also been known by the name of Lea Vale and Old Stanstead. In 1858 a bronze spear-head was found in the river here.

In Hoddesdon Road is the pretty church of St Margarets which dates back to about 1271. It is constructed of flint and rubble.

Over a hundred years ago, historian William Page wrote in the Victoria County History of Hertfordshire, that the main entrance to the site that was once the old Goldingtons Manor House, was guarded by ornamental gates, ‘surmounted by a shield bearing the arms of the Lake family.’ This was in Hoddesdon Road where new housing now exists and only the Clock House (see picture) remains. This used to be the stable block for the manor house which burnt down in the early 1800.

Running through St Margarets, is the New River, built by Sir Hugh Myddleton to transport water from the springs at Chadwell and Amwell to Islington in north London. It is now a popular route for walkers (New River Walk) and is 28 miles long. A walk from here, either way, is very nice: from St Margarets to Broxbourne, passing the water station in Hoddesdon Road, then perhaps take a rest at the Old Mill Retreat café near the River Lea; or you may prefer to take a

walk in the opposite direction from St Margarets to Great Amwell where the river opens up into a picturesque pool.

Take some time to visit Emma’s well, after which I understand the village may be named, but it was previously known as Emmeuelle in the Doomsday Book of 1086.

Emma was a little girl who fell into the well and drowned.

It is said to be haunted as you can often hear a little girl sobbing. At the entrance to a dried up hollow, is a stone inscribed with a poem, ‘Emma’, written by John Scott, owner of Scotts Grotto in Ware: ‘O’vering with shrubs that fringe the chalky rock. A little fount purr’d forth its gurgling rill. In flinty channel trickling o’er the green, From EMMA nam’d perhaps some sainted maid, For holy life rever’d so such erewhile, Fond superstition many a pleasant grove, And limpid Spring was wont to consecrate, Of Emma’s story nought Tradition speaks, Conjecture who behind Oblivion’s veil. Along the doubtful past delights to fray, boasts now indeed that from her well he place Received as appellation.’

In Doomsday book this village Amwell written Emmaswelle.

The well’s water flows under the road, and fills the artificial pool which was created by damming, with its two interlinked manicured turfed isles. Upon the islet is a monument to Sir Hugh Myddleton (1609). It states: ‘From the spring at Chadwell 2 miles west and from this source at Amwell the aqueduct meanders for the space of XL miles conveying health, pleasure and convenience to the metropolis of Great Britain. An immortal task since man cannot more nearly initiate the Deity than by bestowing health. This monument was dedicated by Robert Mylne, architect, engineer in 1800. Sacred to the memory of Sir Hugh Myddleton Bart., whose successful assisted by the patronage of his King, conveyed this stream to London.

This humble tribute to the genius, talents and clarity of mind.’

The second smaller islet has a yew tree with another monument (1818) with lines of verse also written by the locally renowned poet, John Scott). It is called ‘Amwell’ ‘Amwell. Perpetual be thy stream. Nor ever thy spring be less. Which thousands drink who never dream whence flows the streams they bless.’

Then perhaps a short walk up the hill to have lunch at the George IV pub.

St Margaret's Station was formerly the start of the now disused Buntingford Branch Line (known as The Bunt which opened in 1863 and closed in 1964. It is now popular with walkers, although little of it can be walked apart from a section of the Hertfordshire Way near St. Margaret's which goes through the Amwell Nature Reserve. However, the station buildings still survive at Braughing and Buntingford.

The line was popular with railway enthusiasts even after dieselisation, as they might be able to sit behind the driver. As a result, several amateur films of the line survive. Trains from there still go to London’s Liverpool Street, Hertford and Cambridge.

Mimi Alderman.

From the Region As you may know, the IWA nationally has been actively raising concerns, initially with BW and then CRT, about the number of people who declared they would be continuously cruising, when applying for their licence. This means that they don’t need a home mooring, but who are staying in a small area. Last year, Canal and River Trust (CRT) carried out a survey on the movement of boats without home moorings. The survey confirmed the IWA belief that a majority of boats without a home mooring, stayed within a small geographic area. In fact over half of boats moved less than 20 Kilometres in the year.

On 13th February, CRT issued a statement that clarifies the rules for boaters who have said they will cruise continuously, when applying for their licences, and stating how the Trust intends to deal with those boaters who don’t comply. Subsequently they have suggested that boats will be expected to move a minimum of between 15 and 20 miles a year if they want to retain their continuous cruiser status. IWA is pushing for that to be increased, but recognise they have to start somewhere.

There will undoubtedly be legal challenges, and it will take a long time before there is any real progress in getting many of the stuck boats moving around the system. We need to be supportive of CRT in their endeavours, but must also recognise the real problems this will cause for some of the people who moved onto a boat during the time that British Waterways removed enforcement, and were led to believe they could remain moored near their work or school all the time. In addition to the new clarification of CRT’s Policy for boats without home moorings, I understand that they intend to issue revised boat licence conditions from May this year. We have written to CRT highlighting our concerns over some of the new clauses. Hopefully CRT will listen to our views.

Last year your region committee decided not to continue holding a Region AGM, because it had just become a formality, was poorly attended and not really serving any purpose. We do still need members on the Region committee, however, in addition to your Branch C hairman who is automatically a member. So, you may ask, what does the Region committee do and how can I join in and help?

The main purpose of the committee is to co-ordinate and support IWA’s work by branches across the region. Over recent years it has lead our efforts to find a solution to the problems in London, of boats overstaying on moorings, and only travelling in a small area. Uniquely in London, we also try and run Region wide events such as last year’s cleanup of the Regents canal.

If you are interested in helping us, please contact your Branch Chairman, Craig Haslam, or myself. We meet about five times a year usually at the Canal Museum near Kings Cross.

Paul Strudwick, Chair Person, London Region, The Inland Waterways Association www.waterways.org.uk

This short piece of rope is from the last rope-operated lock, Rammey Marsh, as it says in the frame. There’s no great mystery about it…...

The lower gates were originally opened/closed with ropes because the bridge across the tail meant that the gates could not be fitted with balance beams. Opening was relatively easy, but to close was virtually impossible as the gates were so close to the bridge. It was converted to hydraulics and electric in 1995, after some fierce arguments between those who wanted to keep its tradition, and those who wanted ease of use. Finally the ropes went!

Rammey Marsh lock was originally built around 1768 as a turf sidedlock but rebuilt on its present site in 1868. It was rebuilt in brick 1917. Leaving the lock (downstream) on left under bridge is some Portland stone from the old Westminster Bridge which was demolished around 1860.

Sheering Mill Lock.

Like Rammey Marsh Lock the lower gates were rope operated.

These gates were actually under the bridge when closed. The only way to close them was to let water in and let the gates crash together. This created heavy wear and tear. The electrification (and rope removal) of the lower gates was probably about 20 years ago.

Out for a Duck?

From CRT Boaters Update

Ahead of the official start of spring and duckling hatching season, we’ve been calling on the public to feed the ducks responsibly. You may have already seen some of the wide newspaper, TV and radio coverage.

Our message has been that the 6 million loaves of bread thrown into canals and rivers every year could potentially pollute the water and damage hundreds of thousands

of ducks’ homes. Uneaten soggy bread can cause a build-up of bad nutrients which can lead to greater algae growth, spread disease and encourage pests such as rats.

We’re not asking people to stop feeding ducks, just to make a few simple changes. Bread’s not great for a duck’s health as it’s nothing like their natural diet so we don’t want them over fed with large quantities of it.

It’s better to try to vary what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like leftover lettuce and veg peeling, porridge oats or corn. I’m not sure that any of us can claim to always exercise portion control so relieve some of the guilt after polishing off a whole packet of Hob Nobs by doing it for the ducks!

Also don’t follow the crowds, spread the love, and visit a new family of ducks to prevent large quantities of the starchy duck ‘junk food’ from clogging up the same places and potentially damaging the environment.

We’ve created a free booklet packed with tips on the right food to feed the ducks. To get your hands on it, along with your free Quack Snack pouch to store your healthy duck treats, text DUCKS to 70060.

New Chair Appointed to the Reconstituted Waterways Ombudsman Committee

The Waterways Ombudsman Committee, which oversees the operation of the Canal & River Trust’s Waterways Ombudsman scheme, has been reconstituted and has appointed a new chair.

Steve Harriott, group chief executive of The Dispute Service, has been elected to the voluntary role from within the new committee and will replace the current chair, Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC, at the next meeting of the Ombudsman Committee on 8th April.

Steve is one of three independent voluntary members of the newly reconstituted Ombudsman Committee together with Kevin Fitzgerald, who has held senior positions in a number of regulatory and commercial organisations, and Jenny Murley, who is currently compliance & legal manager and company secretary to an FCA regulated organisation. The other members of the Committee are Canal & River Trust trustee, Tom Franklin, and the Trust’s general counsel Jackie Lewis. Andrew Walker remains the Waterways Ombudsman.

The Waterways Ombudsman investigates complaints about the Canal & River Trust and its subsidiaries. The position is independent and impartial, and can make recommendations for action on complaints already considered under the Trust’s own complaints procedure.

The main roles of the Ombudsman Committee are the appointment (or removal from office) of the Ombudsman; keeping the operation of the scheme under review, both to ensure that it meets its purposes and that it is adequately funded; to receive reports on the method and adequacy of publicising the scheme and to publish an annual report. Issues relating to the investigation or determination of complaints continue to be matters for the Ombudsman alone.

Committee Members Chairman Craig Haslam h: m: 07956 848 025 e: boatyboy96@hotmail.com Secretary Mike Jones h: 01992 584 310 m: 07976 517 749 e: mike.jones10@ntl.com

Membership Secretary, Treasurer Carole Beeton h: 01992 468 435 m: e: robandcarole@msn.com

Joint Events Officer Banny Banyard h: 01279 771 552 m: 07860 669 279 e: banny@tesco.net

Joint Events Officer Terry Stembridge h: 01992 575 702 m: 07709 205 498 e: terry.stembridge@btinternet.com

Magazine Editor Monica Hawes h: m: 07943 169 800 e: monicaforboats@hotmail.com Tony Plunkett h: m: 07944 678 228 e: tplunkett@hotmail.co.uk The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this newsletter, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or an official announcement unless otherwise stated.

IWA accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Registered Charity No212342

Lee Valley Marina South Street, Stanstead Abbotts,

Hertfordshire, SG12 8AL. Phone: 01920 870 499 e-mail: stanstead@leevalleypark.org.uk You will find us just 500 metres from St Margaret’s main line station