Meridian Cuttings, Autumn 2015, Issue 11

Meridi an Cuttin g s Issue No. 11

Autumn 2015

The newsletter of the North & East and South London branches of The Inland Waterways Association

Leads campaigns to conserve, maintain and restore Britain’s network of canal and river waterways

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SUN 6 SEPT 2015 11AM-5PM REGENT’S CANAL CITY ROAD BASIN ANGEL ISLINGTON N1

www.angelcanalfestival.org -2-

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elcome to the Autumn and 11th Edition of Meridian Cuttings. Alan and I started our boating year in April by taking Tickety Boo and our new crew member, Cameo the Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy, to Cavalcade. Again the weather turned up trumps and the crowds poured in. Our next trip was the Avon Ring and Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in July - which we found delightful - with amazing views across the Severn Estuary. Now we’re busy planning to move house to Worcestershire and are resigning from our roles on the South London Committee - so Meridian Cuttings needs a new Editor. I hope one of our readers will step into the breach. This also leaves two vacancies on the Committee - do please come forward if you can spare just a few hours a month and contact Libby, her contact details are on page 23.

This edition of Meridian Cuttings contains two adverts for upcoming festivals, which are fun events: The Angel Canal Festival at City Road Basin on Sunday 6th September and the Slough Festival, on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September at Bloom Park, Langley, near Slough. Michael Wright has written an appeal for the Wendover Arm and you will find some raffle tickets enclosed - do support this oasis off the Grand Union. We also have an item about the River Thames Boat Project by Miranda Vickers, updates from the Chair persons and Social Secretaries and a booking form for the South London boat trip on the Kennet & Avon on Saturday 3rd October.

There is an extremely important event on Thursday 10th September, when David Suchet unveils a blue plaque on 11 Gower Street to commemorate the first meeting of The Inland Waterways Association - look out for the IWA Bulletin and Waterways Magazine coverage of this historic occasion.

Alan and I are going to continue to attend Canalway Cavalcade, so perhaps we’ll meet up there or somewhere else on our lovely canal network - with your support and care it will continue to thrive.

Best wishes to you all for the future, Christine Smith, Editor

Contents

Page

Page

The Angel Festival 2

Friends of Regent’s Canal 14

A view from the Chair 4

The River Thames Boat Project 16

London Region Socials (combined with N&E London) 8 Sally’s Socials 9 South London Socials 10 IWA with London Walks 11 Slough Festival 12

Welcome all new members 19 Thames21 News 20 South London Branch Cruise 21 Who’s Who on the Committees 23 How to get to the socials 24

Wendover Arm Trust 13

Front cover photo: The largest cruise ship to reach London: Viking Star at Greenwich Photo: Roger Squires

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A View from the Chair From London Region Chairperson, Paul Strudwick With summer here and the promise of good boating weather it is time to go and enjoy our wonderful waterway heritage. This is a bit of a strange column as there are lots of little bits I want to tell you about but some of them do not directly affect our region. I think, however, they are important for the future of our waterways.

During the Election way back in May we approached many of the candidates asking for pledges of support. 289 candidates from all the major parties, including 39 who were subsequently elected as MPs, signed our manifesto.

We also received many positive comments from candidates that indicated their understanding and knowledge of the importance of our inland waterways. This must to be good for the long term future of the waterways.

There is still no information on the merger of the Environment Agency (EA) with the Canal & River Trust. There are worrying signs that the cuts being imposed on EA are reducing their ability to operate and maintain the network for which they are responsible. An example of this was the sudden cancellation of the Spalding Campaign Cruise along the Rivers Glen and Welland this spring. IWA has sent a strongly worded complaint to the EA about this. If you have a boat on EA waters can you please let me know if there are any structures out of use or in very poor condition in your area. I will arrange for this to be included on our “at risk” register and have the problem raised at a national level.

The WRG Van Appeal, which is looking to raise £120,000 to replace four existing vans which form an essential part of running Canal Camps, etc. is doing well. A sponsored walk is being arranged around the Droitwich Ring on 19 September. If you haven’t helped yet please do if you can. WRG is an important part of our Association and needs all our support. Whilst on the subject of WRG you might have seen that Mike Palmer, WRG Chairman, was appointed an MBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

As you may know the Canal & River Trust (CRT) received stage 1 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) approval for the project for the restoration of Carpenters Road Lock on the Bow Back Rivers at the end of last year. A few weeks ago C&RT submitted their stage 2 application to HLF. This should be determined in September, along with a bid for some of the match funding from a major donor. If both bids are successful, then C&RT will start the restoration of the Lock which will cost nearly £1 million. London Region has committed itself to a sizable donation towards the project so are looking forward to seeing it moving ahead.

Finally CRT have announced the location for this winter’s moorings for boats that don’t have a home mooring.

They have decided not to designate any winter moorings in Central London. I am a little concerned about the lack of facilities near some of the proposed moorings in the London Region. In particular the Lee and Stort can be dangerous when in flood and some of these moorings are several locks and miles from water and effluent discharge points. The moorings will be difficult to service from trade boats for the same reason. We will need to monitor the situation at the winter moorings and, if problems about rubbish and effluent disposal occur between boaters and shore based communities, see if we can help.

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Paul Paul Strudwick Chair Person London Region The Inland Waterways Association www.waterways.org.uk Twitter: Paul@greenboater

From North & East London Tim Lewis and Roger Squires Sadly, due to a job change, Angie White has had to resign from the NEL Committee. This leaves us with a vacancy for a Branch Membership Officer. In time, it was hoped Angie would also take over from Sally Naylor the role of Branch Socials Officer, as Sally has indicated that she also wishes to stand down. That now is also not going to happen. These vacancies are key to the Branch’s ongoing success. Unless we keep in touch with our members, they also will get disenchanted. Can I make an appeal to readers of Meridian, if you value your Branch, do please offer your services to the Committee. None of these tasks are that time consuming, but both are essential to the Branch’s well being.

London canals are very popular. New boats are arriving at a rate of five a week. Unfortunately these all are people wishing to take up residence along the towpaths. They seem to be unwilling to accept the terms of their ‘Continuous Cruising Licences’ and want to stay far longer than the 14 days allowed in any one place along the towpath, neither do they understand what is meant by undertaking a ‘continuous journey’. This is causing a great deal of conflict. Canalside residents, especially in Islington, have been complaining bitterly about the congestion along their sections of the towpath. The noise and lack of regard of other canal users creates major disputes.

There is also the issue of ‘lack of facilities’. The canal system is geared to moving boats. The water points and sanitary stations are thus set out at intervals along the canals. Clearly the vast influx of ‘semi static boats’ is creating an overload on these as well.

Just recently a proposal for a ‘floating village hall’ [the village butty] has emerged at Mile End . The concept is to service the floating residential community in the area. Whilst, on the face of it, this seems a good thing, in fact it simply identifies the ‘floating village community’ that has taken root along the towpath in Mile End Park. Whilst we all appreciate the pressures of housing in London, do we really want our canals to be converted into a ‘floating housing estate’? This theme was identified in the London Evening Standard two page article ‘Float On’ in Mid July, which praised the features of living on board along the canals! It simply will attract more to buy a boat and fall foul of the rules.

Our next Branch waterway event is the ANGEL FESTIVAL, on Sunday 6th September, where we will have a stand.

Do call along to see us and give us your support.

The Branch continues to represent the IWA at regional forums and consultations organised by CRT, Port of London Authority etc. An ongoing CRT consultation is about permitting the use of unpowered craft in Maida Hill Tunnel including the proposal to install Traffic signals!

Rod Gray, our Branch planning offices, continues to monitor planning applications affecting our Branch’s waterways including numerous applications for residential developments to the East of the Branch area. An interesting proposal on the horizon is the opening up of ‘Dead Dog Tunnel’ under the interchange building at Camden as part of a restaurant ‘experience.’

The Branch continues to support the ongoing campaign to raise monies to complete the restoration of Carpenters Road lock which would complete the restoration of the links to and from the Bow Back Rivers. A reponse to the Stage 2 HLF lottery money application is due in the near future.

The branch is also involved in the organisation and financing of a Blue Plaque to be installed at the address in Gower Street where Robert Aickman was based and ran the IWA from at its formation. The unveiling, by David Suchet, will take place at 11 Gower Street (now owned by the UK Warehousing Association) on 10th September.

The IWA Towpath Walks organisation continues to run its regular walks which not only raise awareness of our canals but raise considerable funds for our branch. We are told that a new walk is to be added next year!

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Tim Lewis and Roger Squires

From South London Chairman Libby Bradshaw As I write this, having enjoyed much sunshine over the past few weeks, I am sitting looking at the sea in the pouring rain! It’s the time of year for a break from branch social meetings, for visits to festivals by boat or by land, with or without the branch stand, and for us all to have some holiday time ourselves. Thus there is not a lot of branch news other than Alan’s socials but plenty of interesting articles for you about what people have been up to.

Despite many good intentions the branch stand has not been out to the planned events this year so far. This is due to a combination of confusion over our booking and fewer people being available than expected for Rickmansworth, a clamp down on tombolas with alcohol at Streatham Kite day so we were unable to take the Waterways Game there and finally the Brixton Windmill day being cancelled due to a lack of funding. We are, however, still going to the Angel festival on Sunday 6th September.

The most exciting piece of news in South London Branch is that our secretary, Lesley Pryde, got engaged in May to Gerard Coales who many of you will have met working on the branch stand over many years. It just goes to show what happens when you volunteer to help on the branch stand – you may meet the love of your life! We all wish them well as they prepare for their marriage next May. South London Branch’s main waterway is the tidal Thames which is managed by the Port of London Authority (PLA). They have launched a 12-month project to develop a Vision for the Thames to cover the next twenty years.

The initial consultation took place from the end of March to the beginning of May and we will be closely following developments.

Robin Mortimer writes: “As I come to the end of my first year as chief executive of the Port of London Authority, I am convinced that the River Thames has untapped potential for London and the south east: for trade, travel, leisure, sport and environmental stewardship. The tidal Thames (95 miles from Teddington Lock to the North Sea) is home to: • the UK’s second biggest port by tonnage of goods handled • the country’s busiest inland waterway, carrying almost 10 million passenger trips and more than five million tonnes of freight (the latter keeping more than 250,000 lorries off the busy roads of the capital) • iconic sporting events like the University Boat Race All that, alongside more than 100 different species of fish, hundreds of seals, valuable and protected habitats”.

See www.pla.co.uk/ThamesVision for more details on the project.

The River Thames Boat Project is a community boat project on the Thames, mainly on the non-tidal section but also on tidal waters. South London IWA is pleased to be associated with the project and you can read about some exciting new developments in Miranda’s article on page 16.

I hope you are all enjoying the summer and hope to see many of you when activities resume in September.

Libby

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Congratulations to Lesley and Gerard, who announced their engagement in May -7-

London Region Socials

(combined with North & East London ) Our last edition of Meridian Cuttings came out soon after the March social meeting before which North and East London Branch held their AGM. This was to be followed by a film ‘Restoring Working Boats’, a chance to see the techniques used in traditional boatbuilding through the restoration of several old working boats. I had asked Christine and Alan Smith if they could bring their laptop and projector to show this. Unfortunately there was a problem with the sound system so we had to abandon it. However, as Christine and Alan had pictures of the Olympic Park and Tall Ships cruises we had done last year on Panacea, together with their trip to Liverpool on Tickety Boo, they very kindly offered to show these instead. Thank you both!

In April we usually have what is called ‘Regional Round-up’ where each branch contributes something of what they have done in the previous year to share with the rest of the region. This year, as region and branch structures are being reviewed nationally, we agreed at region committee we would change the focus of this and give branch members a chance to get into discussion with our region chairman, Paul Strudwick. We called the evening ‘Supporting and Preserving Our Waterways in and around London’ The invitation was to ‘come and share your thoughts with Paul as we look at how we can all work together for the best of our waterway heritage, sharing skills across branches and working with Navigation authorities and other voluntary organisations’.

IWA London Region has 6 branches supporting a wide variety of waterways and waterway related projects. These include the canals throughout London, the docks & tidal Thames, the Chelmer and Blackwater managed by Essex Waterways, which is part of IWA, and the Wendover Arm restoration managed by the Wendover Arm Trust. We also support the various community boat projects in and around London. Planning matters have been worked on especially by Middlesex and North & East London branches. Sadly the evening was not well attended but there was no shortage of discussion. Paul remains keen to hear any ideas from members (see page 23 for contact details) In May we had hoped to show the film we had to abandon in March but ill-health prevented this. One day...!!

Finally, in June, Kirk Martin gave a fascinating talk about the history of the Humber ferries, the last coal-burning paddle steamers in regular service in the UK. This included the work he did firing the ‘Lincoln Castle’ in the 1970’s. He showed a DVD and brought copies of his book. See http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Ferries-Acrossthe-Humber-Hardback/p/7836 We had the usual break in July and August and for the rest of the year have the following programme: I hope to see many of you there!

Tuesday September 15th

‘West African Waterways – Something with a difference’ – Dr David Hilling.

David worked in West Africa for a number of years, travelled frequently along its coast and waterways and on his return to London was invited by Charles Hadfield to join the IWA’s then Inland Shipping Group. He is still a member of what is now the Freight Group.

Tuesday October 27th

Please note, this is 4th not 3rd Tuesday in the month

‘Three Cathedral Cities – Oxford to Cambridge by boat and on to Lincoln via Ely and the Wash’. – Simon Judge. Simon and his boat, Scholar Gypsy travel extensively round the system and take on exciting The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342.

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 www.waterways.org.uk -8-

challenges as we will see from this talk. For a brief taster of Scholar Gypsy en route from Kings Lynn to Boston see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2IX-FPWaE Tuesday November 17th

‘Restoration Round-up’ – Tim Lewis

Tim will be showing us the many and varied Canal restoration projects worked on during the year by London Waterway Recovery Group (WRG), also some of the social aspects of being a ‘Wrgie’!

Tuesday December 15th

Christmas Quiz and Auction with Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

This will be our final social of the year with all the usual drinks + mulled wine and mince pies, a quiz and auction. Please bring items to be auctioned, however large or small, sensible or silly, to help raise money for canal restoration and community boat projects Details of time, venue and contact details for all meetings: Time Venue

Contact

19.00 for 19.30 PaddingtonCentral Management suite. 1a Sheldon Square, W2 6PY Libby Bradshaw Tel: 020 8874 2787 or 07956 655037 Email: libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk Libby

Sally’s Socials

(A review of the London Region/North & East London Socials) Tuesday 17 March: N & E AGM followed by Waterways Film - Restoring Various Historic Boats. The AGM went without a hitch, with Tim Lewis & Paul Strudwick giving Chairy (not necessarily cheery) summaries of the year.

Then the awaited film – but no sound – of ‘Restoring Working Narrowboats’. Various whizz-kids had ideas of fixing things (see photo on next page) with no luck. So a great ad hoc slide show of Tickedy Boo on Bow Back Rivers in May and the Liverpool Link in the summer. Once again Chris & Alan Smith had saved the day, or rather, evening.

Tuesday 21 April: Round Up from Branches. The Round-Up from Branches was a very lively meeting with Paul Strudwick, our Region Chairman. You should have been there – ideas for making IWA London more .. Social .. Relevant .. Changing. The benefits of belonging. The helping hands. Paul is keen to know what everyone in London thinks/wants/can do. He got ideas from the 8 attending and would like to know your thoughts. A good discussion, which broke up at 10ish.

Tuesday 19 May: Waterways Film - re-run of Restoring Working Boats. It didn’t! Re-run that is – circumstances beyond our control. Perhaps third time lucky.

Tuesday 16th June: Ferries across the Humber - Kirk Martin. . Kirk Martin had been a guest at South London the previous week, but Central got the better deal. Not only did we learn Kirk’s personal experiences and a thorough history, but we also got a fabulous movie film with soundtrack too. Kirk is passionate about his Hull ferries. Of special interest was the working history of ‘Tattershall Castle’ now a “pub” moored on the Thames.

No meetings in July/August. Enjoy your summer and I am sure the Editor would welcome your own trips/ experiences too.

Sally

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Lots of head (and chin!) scratching, trying to get the sound to work, at the 17th March Social Photo: Sally Naylor

South London Socials Following the AGM on 11th March, Christine and I gave a presentation on the Olympic Waterways as seen from Libby’s boat Panacea.

Taking our boat to and from Cavalcade (from Droitwich!) precluded my attendance at the April and May meetings which were by Pete Smith on London’s River and a representative from the Crystal Palace Museum.

On 10th June Kirk Martin gave an excellent presentation on Humber Ferries on which he worked during his university summer vacations as a stoker. Now superseded by the Humber Bridge the ferries had a long and interesting history.

The remainder of the year’s programme follows and we hope to see you there. The annual branch boat trip will take place on 3rd October - full details and a booking form are on page 21.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following South London Branch Social Events will take place at 7:30 for 8:00 pm at: The Primary Room The United Reformed Church Hall Addiscombe Grove Croydon CR0 5LP - 10 -

There is good parking adjacent to the hall and excellent transport links via East Croydon train and tram stations.

All are welcome, IWA members or non-members There is no admission charge for talks, film shows or presentations but we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’ expenses, thank you.

Wednesday 9th September

“The Work of London Waterway Recovery Group” [WRG] by Tim Lewis

Saturday 3rd October

The branch boat trip on the Kennet and Avon - see page 21 for full details and a booking form

Wednesday 14th October

“The River Wey” by John Gibson, Navigations Manager

Wednesday 11th November

“The South Pennine Ring” by Alan and Christine Smith

Wednesday 9th December

Xmas Social and members’ photos Alan

IWA with London Walks Programme Start time for all Walks is 2.30 p.m.

Normal charge: £10 Concessionary and Student rate: (No prior booking required)

£8

Contact: Roger Wilkinson: 0203 612 9624 Date Sunday 4 Oct*

Sunday 11 Oct*

Sunday 18 Oct*

Sunday 1 Nov Sunday 15 Nov Sunday 6 Dec Sunday 20 Dec

Route Along the Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross – Hitchcock’s Hackney. Meet outside King’s Cross tube station (taxi rank).

Along the Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden. Meet outside Warwick Avenue tube station.

Regent’s Park, River Tyburn and along Regent’s Canal to Little Venice. Meet outside Baker St tube station (Baker St north/Lords exit).

The Olympics, Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers. Meet at Bromley–by-Bow Regent’s Canal: Islington – Hoxton. Meet at Angel Regent’s Canal: Little Venice – Camden. Meet at Warwick Avenue Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross – Granary Square – St. Pancras Meet at King’s Cross (taxi rank)

*Especially organised as part of IWA’s Fundraising Fortnight - do support them if you can Roger Wilkinson - 11 -

Canal Festival 2015_Bus shelter poster_640mm x1020mm.eps

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Hello to all IWA North & East London and South London recipients. Enclosed with this edition will be two books of Grand Draw tickets which will give you the splendid opportunity to take part, not only in the prize draw, but perhaps most importantly, support the efforts of the volunteers in the restoration of more canal for your use and enjoyment.

The Wendover Arm Trust Grand Draw this year is again to raise further funds for the restoration of the canal, which feeds water from Wendover to the summit level of the Grand Union Canal at Bulbourne. The restoration is carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers, who meet for seven days each month to continue restoring the route of the canal now working from Drayton Beauchamp towards Little Tring. The current cost to restore one metre of canal has been calculated at about £450.00, hence the ongoing need to raise further funds. There are no grants.

The prizes include the first prize of one week’s Boating Holiday, sponsored by Wyvern Shipping of Leighton Buzzard; a second prize of a Day Boat hire, sponsored by Lee Valley Boat Centre; a third prize of a Virgin Experience Day - a visit to the Shard, with dinner for two; a fourth prize of £100 cash. There are many other valuable prizes to be won. These are shown on the Trust’s website – www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk , along with the latest information regarding restoration.

The Trust hopes you will sell these two books of tickets, returning the counterfoils and a cheque to the Promoter.

If you can sell more tickets to your friends or at your workplace, then call Michael Wright on 01727 860137. Email draw@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk Your enquiry would be most welcome. The tickets this year have been sponsored

by P E Mead and Sons, Wilstone Farm Shop and are priced at £1 each.

The Draw will take place on Sunday 6th September 2015, during the Restoration Open Day, at Drayton Beauchamp, when it is possible to see our restoration volunteers in action and the progress that is being made.

Visit www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk for full details. Visit us to see the new section that has just been re-watered Thank you in anticipation of your essential support.

Michael Wright

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FRIENDS OF REGENT’S CANAL

ANGEL CANAL FESTIVAL The next major event on the canal will be the Angel Canal Festival on Sunday 6th September. This will attract thousands of visitors and is yet another networking opportunity for canal supporters.If you would like to volunteer to help with the running of this festival then please send an e-mail to Beryl Windsor beryl@angelcanalfestival. org. If you would like to help with preparing or manning our own stall at that event then please send an e-mail to friendsregentscanal@gmail.com RESUSCITATION OF DEAD DOG BASIN The Camden markets are under new ownership and are undergoing huge changes. Our focus is on the Dead Dog Basin and we are campaigning to protect it as a canal resource. The new owners have inherited a proposal that allowed a restaurant to encroach on the basin and there has been an ongoing assumption that the basin was derelict. If we can coordinate our ideas effectively then we will be in a position to offer a win-win proposal that will benefit the canal, the market owners and local residents. Further details are available on these pages. http://www.camdennewjournal.com/disneylock http://friendsofregentscanal.org/features/property-devt/Camden-Lock-Market/2015-07-11/101-uses.html LAST MEETING Our last meeting took place at Holborn Studios on 6th July. One of the main topics was the aggressive pace of change along the canal and some of the slides are available on this page. http://friendsofregentscanal.org/events/2015/2015-07-06/canal-threats/review-of-changes.html NEXT PUBLIC MEETING Our next meeting is likely to take place in mid September. If you would like anything to be added to the agenda - 14 -

then please send an email to friendsregentscanal@gmail.com.

KING’S CROSS MOORING CONSULTATION A consultation is underway to gather public feedback on proposals for visitor moorings in the King’s Cross area.

The deadline for comments is 7th September and a copy of the proposals is available here. http://friendsofregentscanal.org/features/mooring/KX/Kings-Cross-visitor-mooring-trial-proposals-July-2015-FINAL.pdf Ian Shacklock Chair, Friends of Regent’s Canal Please visit our website - www.friendsofregentscanal.org and visit/follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Fo_RegentsCanal and visit/join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofregentscanal

How Dead Dog Basin may look - see links on opposite page

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of the London Region or its branches. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter within this magazine, including adverts.

Editor: Christine L Smith, 41 Jubilee Avenue, Twickenham, TW2 6JA. Tel: 020 8255 1581 or Mob: 07774 890 750.

Email: christine.smith@waterways.org.uk Published by the IWA, N & E and South London Branches at: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 - 15 -

The River Thames Boat Project is a charity that was started in 1988 by Martin Emerson, who was Mayor of Richmond upon Thames. He and his wife were both teachers and, as it was European Year of the Environment and the Royal Star and Garter Home for Disabled Ex-servicemen was at the top of Richmond Hill, Martin was keen for local people of all ages and abilities to have the opportunity to discover the river Thames. He felt the best way to do that would be to set up a charity to provide educational activities about the Thames and the environment to be run on a boat and that the boat should be accessible. Word about his plans soon spread and the charity was sold a 26m unconverted Dutch Barge for the princely sum of £1.00. It then took five years, a lot of fundraising plus the help of the BBC’s Challenge Anneka programme to convert the barge.

Over the past 25 years we have kept to Martin’s original aims and have extended them beyond the London Borough of Richmond. Our mission is to give people opportunities of experiencing river and waterways environments to the benefit of their personal, social and educational development; focusing especially on children, young people, older people and those with disabilities from London and the South East.

Thames Venturer

These aims are achieved by running cruises in the summer for people with disabilities and environmental education activities in the spring and autumn terms for children and youth groups on board the Thames Venturer, our specially adapted accessible barge, which we operate from central Kingston. We currently have four staff and a team of 65 very committed volunteers who crew the boat, assist with maintenance, run events and assist in the office. We now offer a variety of programmes from which client organisations can chose to suit the needs and interests of their service users: •

Day or residential cruises tailored to the needs of people with disabilities, older people, community organisations and self-help groups. (Accessing the Thames)

•

Day or residential voyages for children and young people, including young carers, with an emphasis on life-skills development (Living and Learning Afloat) - 16 -

•

Tailored activities that use the Thames as an educational resource that take place on the Venturer and the river bank. These include schools’ environmental programmes (School on the River and Eco Venturers) and learning activities for youth groups.

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Tailored events and cruises for local amenity groups.

•

Volunteer training in safety and seamanship skills, disability awareness and leading environmental education activities.

Elderly clients

In 2014-15, we provided 170 days of cruises, environmental education activities, open days and evening cruises receiving 2,086 visitors and our team of volunteers gave 5,154 hours.

How We Are Funded?

Part of our access mission is to make our programmes affordable.

Our clients pay a small charge and the rest of our funds come from grants, donations and our own fundraising events.

What’s Happening Next? We are in the process of commissioning a second boat to provide day cruises, supplementing the charity’s work on Thames Venturer, with the aim, eventually, of doubling our current services for people living with a disability or disadvantage. The new boat will be built from scratch over the next two years and fitted out with access for people with disabilities. It will be primarily devoted to our Accessing the Thames day cruises.

Why? Principally because our learning and education work is growing rapidly and we want to increase our capacity on Thames Venturer for this work. The new boat is part of a bigger plan to extend the work and reach of the charity.

Experiment on deck

How is the New Boat Being Funded and What Will it Look Like? The Lest We Forget Association, one of our oldest clients, is the main sponsor of the new boat. We have also received very generous donations from some of our volunteers to support this exciting project. Naval architect Graham Westbrook has been appointed to designs the boat The boat will be for day cruising only and like the Venturer will carry 12 passengers (our disabled clients much prefer being in small groups), she will be: •

accessible with better facilities to aid client participation

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environmentally friendly

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20m long making her easier to manage than Venturer - we anticipate the new boat will require a skipper and two crew (the Venturer has a skipper and four crew)

•

her smaller size means she will have larger cruising range, up the Thames beyond Windsor, into the River Wey and the canal system Miranda Vickers - 17 -

Naval architect’s drawing of latest design

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Welcome all new members!

Mr D Van Haften The Warden, The London Narrowboat Company Ltd Ms J Head Miss S Woon Mr J & Mrs B Keller Dr S Dyer & Mr A Bailey Mr D Forsyth Professor S Hayward Mr N Rijk Dr L Winter Mr D J Williams Mrs A Dittert

USA London London London Woodford Green London Woodford Green Exeter Netherlands London London London

One boater and his dog: Alan and Cameo working the locks on the Stratford Canal, July 2015 Photo by Christine Smith

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Lower Regents Coalition nominated for Living Waterways award Posted on August 3, 2015 The Lower Regents Coalition have reached the final round of the Canal & River Trust’s Living Waterways Award. This award recognises the most inspiring waterway-based projects across the UK. The group has been nominated for its Greening the Regents project, a scheme of enhancement activities along the Regents Canal, with a focus on inviting local residents to get involved.

Greening the Regents started in Nov 2014, when the Canal & River Trust drained a 900 metre stretch of the Regents for the first time in a century to repair the ageing canal walls. The group took advantage of this unique opportunity to get into the empty canal; with support from Thames21, Limehouse-based kayak hire Moo Canoes, Kier Construction and the Canal & River Trust, delivered eight clean-up events over six weeks. The events attracted 172 volunteers who put in a total of 860 hours and removed countless bottles, cans and plastic bags as well as bulk rubbish including shopping trolleys, appliances, motorbikes and over 120 tyres. They also found an unexploded WW II hand grenade and WW I-era bayonets. In all, the group removed approximately 8 – 10 tonnes of rubbish.

The next phase in the project was launched with the help of a grant for over £9,900 from the Tower Hill Trust, which provides funding for the provision of green spaces in Tower Hamlets. The group used their grant to install floating planters, lily pads and coir pallets seeded with reeds, sedges and iris in three areas of the canal near Ben Jonson Lock, covering a length of over 110 metres (see photo below). For the installation, the group held a two-day event in Apr 2015, where 20 volunteers each day gave their time, enthusiasm and very hard work to get the job done.

The group along with its partner Moo Canoes, will be at the Grand Union Place estate’s Summer Fun Day on Sat 15th Aug, 12 – 4pm in Stepney, E1. The event is open to all. See what they have been up to, have a paddle in the canal and sign up for future events.

To find out more about the LRC and its work, please contact: lowerregentscoalition@gmail.com or visit: http://www.thames21.org.uk/

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1866123 © Copyright Peter Thwaite and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

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SOUTH LONDON BRANCH KENNET & AVON CANAL CRUISE BOOKING FORM SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER AT 2:00 PM Tickets will not be issued in advance There is no facility for wheelchairs on the boat This is a public trip and will take 2 hours Children: Under 3 Free of Charge; aged 3—16 charged at £9 per head; Adults £10 No other concessions *Booked Tea: One slice of sponge cake and a cup of tea @ £3.95 per person Other refreshments (e.g. soft drinks, teas, coffees, alcoholic beverages, crisps, biscuits and confectionery) will be available to purchase from the bar on board the boat.

To ensure punctual departure please arrive at Kintbury (map overleaf) by 1:30 pm and report to Alan Please send your completed booking form with cheque/s in full settlement, made payable to Alan Smith, to: IWASL Kennet & Avon Canal Cruise Bookings 41 Jubilee Avenue Twickenham TW2 6JA BY 19TH SEPTEMBER For more information phone: 07787 077179, 07774 890750 or 0208 255 1581 or email: alan.smith@waterways.org.uk

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ADDRESS

EMAIL ADDRESS (CAPS)

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TOTALS:

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MOBILE

Number Number of of places children’s at £10 places at each £9 each

Number of *teas at £3.95 each

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Committee Members

Role

Chairman Deputy/Acting Chairman Secretary Minutes Secretary

North & East London

Tim Lewis Tel: 020 8530 0425 / 07802 518094 Email: tim.lewis@waterways.org.uk Vacancy Roger Squires Tel: 020 7232 0987 Email: roger.squires@waterways.org.uk Vacancy

South London Libby Bradshaw Tel: 020 8874 2787 Email: libby.bradshaw@waterways. org.uk Vacancy Lesley Pryde Tel: 020 8679 9866 / 07787 372408 Email: southlondon@waterways.org.uk Allan Scott Tel: 020 8642 8104 / 07985 728844 Email: allan.scott@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer/ Acting Treasurer

Ian Israel Tel: 020 8446 1823 Email: ian.israel@waterways.org.uk

Allan Scott Tel: 020 8642 8104 / 07985 728844 Email: allan.scott@waterways.org.uk

Social Secretary

Sally Naylor 21 Pitchford Street, Stratford, E15 4RZ Tel: 020 8519 7481 Email: snaylor@ymail.com

Alan Smith Tel: 020 8255 1581 Email: alan.smith@waterways.org.uk

Publicity Officer & Newsletter Editor Membership Secretary

Christine Smith Tel: 020 8255 1581 / 07774 890 750; Email: christine.smith@waterways.org.uk Sally Naylor Tel: 020 8519 7481 Email: sally.naylor@waterways.org.uk

Dorothy Robbie Tel: 020 8857 6367 Email: dorothy.robbie@waterways. org.uk

Sales Officer

Vacancy

Events Officer

Vacancy

Planning Officer Work Party Officer

Committee Members

Ex-Officio as Region Chairman South London Reps.

Rod Gray Email: rod.gray@waterways.org.uk

Vacancy

Vacancy Roger Wilkinson - London Walks Rep. Tel: 020 3612 9624 / 07896 801930 Email: roger.wilkinson@waterways.org. uk Chris Bushill Email: chris.bushill@waterways.org.uk

Shea Richardson, Tel: 020 8677 0196 / 07803 904 803 Email: shea.richardson@homecall.co.uk

Paul Strudwick Tel: 01245 358342 / 07885 240291; Email: paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk Planning & Navigation Committee: Wandle Valley developments: Deptford Creek developments: - 23 -

Eric Garland Libby Bradshaw Eric Garland

How to get to the London Region (combined with North & East London) Social Meetings:

How to get to South London’s Social Meetings:

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