Meridian Cuttings - Spring 2021

Issue 25

The newsletter of South and North & East London Branches

Spring 2021

Spot the Canal. See page 3 Photo by WisDom -uk

IWA Canalway Cavalcade Cancelled Statement from our National Chairman, Paul Rodgers, and new Committee Chairman, Tom Claydon Following the continued challenges we’ve all experienced this year relating to COVID-19, and the developing situation ahead in 2021, the IWA Canalway Cavalcade committee have made a decision regarding this year’s event. With careful consideration of the safety of everyone involved in planning, organising and attending IWA Canalway Cavalcade – our committed volunteers and supporters, our dedicated attendees, our regular exhibitors, and our partners, we have decided to cancel the 2021 event scheduled for the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chair says “It is with great regret that we have made the decision to cancel our event this year. The continued risk the virus presents to volunteers and all those who attend and support the event makes it impossible for us to go ahead. Our committee and volunteers have worked hard to find a solution and I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to all involved for their continued support and commitment to this event.”

Tom Claydon, Chair of the organising committee, shared his gratitude for the work of all volunteers involved in the festival organisation. “The decision to cancel is made with the safety of everyone in mind. However, whilst we may not be able to host a physical event we have something up our sleeve for the digital space and look forward to announcing more details as we get closer to the 1st of May. I offer my thanks to all the supporters of our unique and wonderful Festival including British Land, Westminster City Council and the Canal & River Trust. We are now looking forward to 2022 when we plan to host the biggest, brightest and best IWA Canalway Cavalcade yet!”

Welcome to members who have joined us recently. GDPR now stops us from naming you individually. However we would like to extend you a warm welcome to the branches and their activities. We hope to see you at some of our social meetings and to meet you at IWA events later in the year, where new volunteers are also always welcome. Whatever your interest in the waterways we hope that you will find something here for you and new friends to meet. If we, or any of the branch officers, can assist with any questions you may have please do not fail to get in contact with us. Our details can be found at the back of this newsletter.

Liz Rayner Dorothy Robbie

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History The Croydon Canal had a very short life (1809-1836), with the dubious distinction of being the first canal to be legally abandoned. It obtained its Act of Parliament in 1801, the same year as the Grand Surrey Canal and the Surrey Iron Railway. It branched off the Grand Surrey Canal at New Cross and climbed through 28 locks in 9½ miles to reach the terminal basin on which West Croydon station now stands. It was not a financial success as the competing Surrey Iron Railway (the world's first public railway, which followed the River Wandle from Wandsworth to Croydon) had opened six years earlier and there was not enough traffic to support them both.

The Surrey Iron Railway was a horse-worked freight line but when a steam railway was planned for Croydon, the London & Croydon Railway bought up the Croydon Canal, closed it and used most its route. Where the railway took a more direct route than the canal, loops were left in water and used for pleasure boating and fishing. This is one of the earliest recorded examples of recreational use of canals, disused canals being a rarity then. The railway company was anxious for extra revenue as the area between New Cross and Croydon was sparsely populated.

Simplified map depicting Croydon Canal in relation to other waterways

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Anerley Gardens in Anerley.

Painted in 1860.

The gardens were situated on the current location of Anerley railway station, which was formerly part of the Croydon Canal.

The Crystal Palace can be seen in the background.

The Croydon Canal Today Since the railway opened, suburbia has engulfed the route and there are now only three principal sites to see:�� Dacres Wood Nature Reserve Forest Hill, includes a section of canal in water. �� Betts Park Anerley includes a section of canal converted into an ornamental pond. �� South Norwood Lake was one of the reservoirs feeding the canal.

Information boards about the canal are displayed at all three sites and also by the Tramlink stop in Station Road, West Croydon (one of the Museum Without Walls series) to record the fact the station was once a canal basin.

Other than at these locations, there is now very little evidence of the canal. The expert eye will detect reminders of the route, but it needs a vivid imagination. Street alignments sometimes followed the canal route as at Sunny Bank, South Norwood. In David's Road, Forest Hill, the level pavement with railings above road level, marks the site of the towpath, the houses on that side of the road having been built on the bed of the canal. Interestingly, modern road names perpetuate the memory of the canal :Canal Walk, Sydenham and Canal Walk and Towpath Way, South Norwood (see Front Cover). Also, Surrey Canal Road is built on the site of that canal (as is Burgess Park).

If anybody wishes to know more about the lost canals of South London or would like to suggest any way in which the canal heritage can be publicised please contact:Lesley Pryde-Coales. Email: lesley.pryde-coales@waterways.org.uk During the lockdown period, the South London Branch committee members have been compiling a series of publicity materials in readiness for future rallies and festivals. Amongst the collection is an A5 handout leaflet commemorating the Croydon Canal. Most of the above text is an abridged version of the A5 leaflet.

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Surviving section of Croydon Canal at Betts Park, Anerley photo by Lesley Pryde-Coales 5

Writing in June I expressed relief that we would be boating again from early July when the covid restrictions were to be relaxed, well they were and some of us managed to get some boating in either on our own or on hire boats. The new lockdown has prevented this continuing but hopefully by the time the main boating season would normally start we will be able to get out and enjoy the waterways again.

My boating this year has been restricted to assisting friends move boats. I was fortunate to be invited to join in the St Pancras Cruising Club belated Regents Canal 200th Anniversary cruise in October which sadly was the only event to take place of the many originally planned to celebrate this event.

Plaque produced for those on the Anniversary Cruise

This is not to say that your branch has not been busy. We continue to monitor planning matters that may affect the canal environment but would note that the number of applications is much reduced compared with previous years. Where we do try to contribute is by encouraging the use of water transport to transfer materials which is often overlooked on economic grounds but we do believe that we have persuaded at least one developer on a scheme in Kings Cross to remove spoil from a basement excavation by barge.

We have been asked to contribute to a number of surveys including one from CRT ‘Managing Boats on London’s Waterways’.

We continue to be active in contributing to the Port of London Authority user group meetings 6

Restrictions are still preventing physical social meetings so we are continuing a programme of virtual meetings and webinars via ‘Zoom’ which have been well attended.

These are recorded and along with those presented by other IWA branches and head office can be seen by following the links on the IWA TV page of the new IWA web site.

The London Canal Museum are also continuing their monthly virtual meetings and these can be accessed via the Museum YouTube channel.

The IWA London Walks team did manage to carry out one guided walk in November and are planning a series of virtual walks.

The London Branch of the Waterway Recovery Group did manage to carry out one weekend dig on the Buckingham arm. Non availability of the normal accommodation meant that the attendees either travelled from home each day but a few of the hardy ones camped on site!

Your committee continue to meet via Zoom, we are a friendly bunch who would welcome anyone who would be interested in joining enable us to further assist in our aims.

Elsewhere in this edition you will find the notice of the Branch Annual General Meeting to be held virtually on 30th March. Please feel free to attend to find out what we have got up to over the year. We will also be having a waterways based presentation once the formal business of the meeting is over.

Tim Lewis

200th Anniversary cruise waiting for the Locks at Camden

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I had hoped to start this by saying Happy New Year and thank goodness 2020 is behind us. However, as we are still in the throes of even worse numbers and our 3rd national lockdown that seems a little premature. I hope you are all keeping well and safe in these difficult times. Let us hope the end is in sight in the form of the vaccine and we will be able to emerge in the spring for a Happy 2021 from then on.

When writing for Meridian Cuttings last June we could never have imagined we would be in the same place now, the pandemic even worse but at least with the hope of the vaccine. It is hardly surprising there is little to report on activities within the branch.

Our social meetings at East Croydon are still on hold and have been since last March when we were able to have our AGM just before lockdown. The Waterways Game has stayed firmly in George and Sandy’s garage in Wallington as there have been no events for us to attend.

In December we thought we would try a Christmas get-together for branch members but, as this was very poorly attended, we are assuming there is no appetite for this.

Although there have been no other social meetings for the branch there have been a series of London Region webinars reported elsewhere in this edition. These included an excellent talk by Thames21 River Watch Co-ordinator, A J McConville, in November which was originally planned as a branch meeting for May 2020.

I mentioned in June the branch committee was meeting by zoom. We have also had additional publicity meetings sharing our progress on a new information file and display materials to take to future events. These are taking 5 themes: 1. Tidal River Thames including maps of the river and tributaries, bridges & their history, PLA, Safeguarding Wharves, Campaigning events, Jubilee Pageant, Thames21, RNLI & other organisations.

2. River Wandle including history, industries, industrial museum, Wandle trail, Trout in the Classroom project, Wandle Delta.

3. Disused waterways e.g. Croydon and Grand Surrey Canals – you will see an article on this elsewhere in this newsletter.

4. Fundraising and Publicity with branch stand and Waterways Game.

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Re the Trout in the Classroom project, mentioned in (2), some of you may remember Tony and Jane Davey who used to help with the branch stand and come to our social meetings. When Tony died in 2006 he left some money to the IWA with which, together with a further donation from Jane and the branch, we were able to buy a tank to enable the children in Croydon parish church school to take part in the project. This was the school Tony and Jane’s children had attended. The eggs were put into the tank and the children then had to look after the baby trout until they were ready to be released into the river. I am sad to say I heard from Tony and Jane’s daughter, Helen, the other day that Jane had died of Covid-19 last year, just short of her 80th birthday. I remember her with great affection as do many of the others who worked on the branch stand with her.

Jane Davey presenting the cheque to the Headmaster of Croydon Parish Church School for the Trout in the Classroom tank. The tank can be seen in the background.

Photo Libby Bradshaw

We will be having a zoom Branch AGM on the evening of Wednesday 10th March when we will give a report on the year, elect the committee and update you all about some of the things we have been able to do, including the publicity plans. Simon Dyer, our planning and conservation officer, has been finding out more about the conservation areas within our branch area which he will talk about and Derek Humphries, our heritage officer, will update us on his work. We have room for more committee members so if you would like to join us please complete the form on page 21 and return it to our secretary, Allan Scott (see contacts page for details).

We have noted the recently updated information on Safeguarding wharves which can be found using the following link: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/planning-applications-anddecisions/safeguarded-wharves-directions

We are also monitoring progress regarding navigation and the Hammersmith Bridge closure. At the December task force meeting it was reported “The taskforce was also pleased to confirm that, starting 20 December, Sundays will be a regular day when river users can schedule transits under the bridge, under certain controlled conditions”.

This is very good news as up till then the emphasis had been on getting people over rather than under the bridge. I will let you know any further updates on this at the AGM.

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I continue to attend the London and Thames Water Safety Forum meetings and support the work of the Lifeboat service on the river. Work continues on houseboat safety, educating organisations and riverside businesses on safety, including the correct use of throw lines. In early December there was a ‘Don’t Drink and Drown’ campaign on the river. The Lifeboat service has continued to operate throughout the pandemic and has been kept busy. The Thames lifeboat crews changed their operating procedures and have been split into nine teams, each doing a 24-hour shift. There is no mixing of crews or physical contact at changeover. This change in rostering means that if one team has to self-isolate another team can step in. You may have seen some of their rescues on the BBC programme ‘Saving Lives at Sea’.

Panacea has spent most of the year on her mooring but we were able to hold the Regent’s 200 celebratory cruise in October, postponed from August 1st. This was organised by St Pancras Cruising Club of which I am a member. We held a socially distanced meal in the Cruising Association on arrival in Limehouse – mainly one to a table! The following day we went round the Olympic Park before returning up the Regent’s canal. The picture below shows Panacea and others emerging from the Olympic Park loop to join those going up through Old Ford lock.

Congestion at Old Ford Photo – Tim Lewis

Hopefully we can all enjoy more time on the Waterways this coming year and for many years to come. Meanwhile keep well and keep safe!

Libby Bradshaw, Branch Chairman The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The InlandWaterways 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 publication.

Editor: Chris Bushill, 52, Brycedale Crescent, Southgate, London, N14 7EU. E-mail chris.bushill@waterways.org.uk

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We are continuing to hold London Region Socials as webinars on the 4th Monday in the month. Since the last edition of ‘Meridian Cuttings’ we have had the following talks, all of which were well attended by over 80 people and which can be found on the IWA link: https://www.waterways.org.uk/iwa-tv July: Canal Planning and Conservation in West London – Ray Gill and Roger Still. A talk based in West London, designed to encourage us all to get involved in planning and conservation matters within our own areas, to ensure we protect our waterways heritage and rights of navigation.

September: Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).

Representatives from OPDC provided an update on OPDC’s plans to protect and enhance the canal side, encouraging use and enjoyment of the canal and conserving its wildlife.

October: Finding, Accessing and Restoring our Waterways with London WRG – Tim Lewis Tim’s talk gave examples of canal restoration projects over the years where London WRG has been involved. These were at different stages and of varying complexity, hence the title!

November: Cherishing the Tidal Thames: Building capacity in local communities to protect the river’ – A J McConville, Thames21.

This was a talk about the different approaches being taken to better understand the issues the river faces and to set about creating the alliances required to protect it.

December: Managing Boats on London’s Busy Waterways – Matthew Symonds C&RT. This was an opportunity to discuss the issues around provision for the increased number of boats now on London’s waterways. It was part of an engagement exercise between October 2020 and January 2021. The feedback will lead to proposals on which there will be further consultation before implementation.

Matthew has agreed to speak with us again when the proposals are ready for further discussion.

Our Forthcoming Webinars are: Monday 22nd February 7.30-8.30pm: Trade under Sail, the Past and the Future – Brian Corbett. This talk will include the history of Thames Sailing Barges including some unusual journeys away from home; New build sailing ships and fitting auxiliary sails to existing motor vessels and finally Youth Training on Thames Sailing Barges. Brian is project manager for the Heritage Harbour Initiative and there will be other contributors from this group.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rmYJIaFwRuaFXkTkS9i2dQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with joining instructions.

Continued Next Page 11

Monday 22nd March 7.30-8.30pm:– The Royal Gunpowder Mills – Richard Thomas. The former Royal Gunpowder Mills site at Waltham Abbey is rich in history, designated a Scheduled Monument, the highest protection that can be given to a historic site. There are 20 listed buildings at the site. The Spring 2020 edition of Meridian Cuttings contained an article about the Waterways of the Mills based on Richard’s excellent history of the site. As with so many important historical sites the future of the Mills is now uncertain due to lack of income during the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be a tragedy if this site had to close and hopefully we can campaign for funding to keep it going for many years to come.

A Powder Boat at the Royal Gunpowder Mills

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0tqtTT6LQMu4G7fvgbv40Q After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with joining instructions.

Tuesday 27th April – A National IWA talk on the History of Canalway Cavalcade – Libby Bradshaw. To avoid two consecutive evenings this will be the talk for the Region as well. Details to follow.

Monday May 24th ‘The Changing Landscape of Canals in London’- Tim Lewis. Drawing from historical photographs and his own collection over the past 3040 years Tim will illustrate how London’s Canals have changed from an industrial landscape to the ones we see today.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oWdBeefeTvmHoJIT6BIyCg After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Details of each talk will be sent out in advance by email to all region members. If head office does not have an email address for you and you would like to be kept informed of these talks please let me have your contact details.

Libby Bradshaw libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk 07956 655037 12

From time to time I like to report on what is going on around the London Region.

For this winter-update I would like to transport you to the Hanwell Flight on the Grand Union Canal, which falls within the West London Branch.

The Branch has entered into a partnership with the Canal & River Trust (CRT) to restore the historic side ponds at the Hanwell Flight (Locks 92 to 97) and Norwood Top/Bottom Locks (90 and 91) as well as carrying out general tasks around the locks. On-site volunteer work cannot commence at the moment due to the Covid19 outbreak.

The Hanwell Flight of locks is one of the jewels of the canal network in London, given its picturesque setting, heritage significance and rich wildlife. Located at the top end of the flight is Three Bridges, a crossing point on three levels (railway, canal and road) designed by Brunel. The six locks of the flight (Locks 92-97 inclusive), together with their side ponds, are a designated Scheduled Monument. However, restoration of the side ponds is needed and this has led to the flight being placed on Historic England’s “Heritage at Risk” register.

Lock on the Hanwell Flight. An overgrown side pond can just be seen onthe left of the picture. (Swan Ganz in lock. My sister on right. Ed.) 13

The CRT has been active in making ecological improvements and carrying out a major vegetation clearance exercise around the side ponds. The installation of floating reed beds at Lock 96 has resulted in the award of an Environmental Green Flag. Building on these efforts, CRT were keen to find a partner to be involved in creating, and helping to sustain, a strategic plan for the recovery and upkeep of the side ponds and adjacent woodland.

Discussions between CRT and members of the West London Branch started during late 2019 and resulted in the signing of a partnership agreement in early 2020. This has a validity of two years and, assuming things go well, despite the pandemic, the mutual intention is for IWA West London to then enter into an “adoption agreement� for an extended period. There is much to do. Their approach has been to work closely with CRT to plan the volunteer effort and initially start with a monthly work party and increasing frequency as they gain momentum. One of their primary objectives will be to concentrate on one side pond and progress along the flight in future years.

The Branch’s involvement will bring together aspects of canal heritage and ecology, and will include a wide range of activities such as vegetation control, gardening, litter picking, surveying, restoration work, heritage preservation and habitat creation. With a lot of preparatory work done and a few working parties held, in which the majority of the work done was cutting down and removing bamboo which ran along the entire length of the lock side adjacent to the lock cottage at lock 92, they now look to the future and will reschedule as and when possible.

During the interim, the Branch members are keen to research the history of the immediate area. If you have any information about the Hanwell Flight, the Norwood Locks, the adjoining former Middlesex County Asylum or Three Bridges, the Branch will be pleased to hear from you. This could include old maps, photographs and newspaper cuttings or even anecdotal evidence about the operation of the locks and side ponds, the maintenance of the flight, the lives of the lock keepers or past incidents at the locks. Even recent history will be of interest. Please forward your information by email (ray.gill@waterways.org.uk).

Derek Humphries London Region Heritage Officer

Note from the Editor I lived in Wolsey Close beside the Three Bridges as a child. I used to help my father on his allotment behind the side pound on lock 92. We used to carry forks, spades, watering cans etc. along the towpath and cross on the lock gates to reach the allotment. My father gave up the allotment after a few years when all his crop was stolen, he thought by someone with a market stall in West Ealing.

Chris Bushill

(PS He didn't plant any bamboo!)

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Another View of the Hanwell Flight showing a slope used to lead out barge horses fallen in the pound. The side pond can be seen behind the fence on the right.

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New planning proposals in our Branch area continue to run at a very low level. Most of the items coming forward are modifications or items of detail within schemes that were authorised some years ago.

One such scheme is the redevelopment at Regents Wharf, near Kings Cross. After a history of approval and rejection through legal challenges, it was finally approved last year. We did not object to the scheme itself; on the canal side it retains the handsome Victorian buildings, originally silos, which were converted into office space in the 1980s. But as we often do, we called for the use of canal transport during the demolition and rebuilding phase of work. A large new basement is one of the ways the development will create extra space and the volume of spoil from this should be a good opportunity for movement by canal.

There is a large recycling centre not too far away at Willesden, connected to a wharf on the Grand Union canal.

A barge at Powerday Wharf in Willesden Photo Powerday

Evaluation of using canal transport was made a condition of the Planning permission.

The evaluation has now been submitted. It concludes that canal transport is more expensive than lorry. As is usually the case, the cost of movement is similar, but lorries have the advantage of delivering directly to any part of the recycling or disposal site, whereas with the canal there is the extra cost of unloading the barges and moving the material within the site. In addition, there are some practical problems with accessing the canal in the early phase of work and capacity issues at the peak. However, the developer has agreed to put in a substantial contribution, provided negotiations with contractors can equal or better the estimates made, which will enable about half the total volume to be carried by canal.

The evaluation shows a substantial saving in vehicle pollution by using the canal. The removal of over 1,000 lorry journeys from residential streets is also a big benefit, but the planning system doesn't provide for this to be quantified at present.

This is an encouraging result and we will be looking to see how some of the cited practical problems could be eased to further increase the canal proportion.

A View of the Proposed Development

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In place of the London Walks programme Roger Wilkinson sent this fascinating snippet Little Venice is well known for its connections with poets. Browning’s Pool commemorates Robert Browning. For John Masefield, there’s a blue plaque in Maida Avenue.

Katherine Mansfield lived in Beauchamp Lodge. John Betjeman wrote a poem about Formosa Street. Lord Byron knew this area before the Regent’s canal was built, and made the memorable comment that : ‘ … there would be nothing to make the canal of Venice more poetical than that of Paddington, were it not for its artificial adjuncts’.

But did the waters of the canal give anyone an idea for writing a poem?

For this, one can look in a quite different direction. Paul Verlaine was a famous French symbolist poet, who inspired works by Debussy and Faure, and was elected France’s ’Prince of Poets’ in 1894 by his peers. There is a statue in his memory in Paris. In 1873, he lived in Camden for a few months, during a stormy love affair. A visit to Little Venice led to his poem ‘La Riviere Dans La Rue’, which appeared in his collection of poetry ‘Romances sans Paroles’, published in 1874.

Here is the translation of Paul Verlaine’s poem: O the River in the Street!

Fantastically you’ll meet Behind high five-foot walls, Never a sound does it make.

Its water pure yet opaque, Peacefully there it crawls.

The roadway’s broad and so The waters widely flow, Pale as the dead, and lack Reflections of aught but mist, Though the dawn will insist On cottages yellow and black.

Paddington.

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To start with, I would like to wish you and your family all the best for the New Year.

In the dark days of winter, in the middle of a lockdown caused by Covid 19, it is difficult to remember how much we enjoy the Inland Waterways. Hopefully this year things will get better and we will be able to get out and about enjoying the waterways, be it walking, boating or working with WRG restoring them.

The day-to-day work of the Association continues through these strange times and covers a huge range of activity, and I thought you would be interested in two of the campaigns proposed as IWA’s national campaigning activity for 2021, and where we will need your help.

The first campaign is to Get Waterways to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 to support the Government’s target. This year we need to start lobbying central and local government and navigation authorities to invest in such things as electric charging points so boaters can begin to have confidence that they can use electric powered boats. The second national campaign where we need your help is to step up our long term one to conserve and protect the waterways. Many of our waterways are coming under increased pressure from new developments and we need to try and mitigate the impact these are having. One of our aspirations is to see Conservation Area status or other increased protection for all navigable waterways. Your local branch needs your support in this work, and we do need more help at regional and national level. If you are interested in helping us please contact either your branch chair person or myself.

Couldn’t resist including this picture of an early electric powered boat on a German canal. Probably not what Paul has in mind for the Regents Canal, Ed. 18

Recently, I had to change my computer and whilst moving documents, I came across one produced in 2008 on the history of the association’s involvement on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, now run by one of our subsidiaries, in the Chelmsford Branch area. I thought you might find it interesting.

Bulletin 13 (1948) reported that Robert Aickman had written to the Proprietors (owners); and had received the following reply: "Dear Sir, I am obliged by your letter of 16th inst., with enclosures. Mr.Roughton is a personal friend of mine and I think I may say that this company as well as its Secretaries appreciate the work you are doing but we are inclined to think that the matter is really one of Politics in which this Company cannot usefully join. Personally I consider that you are fighting for a cause which is really already lost and I feel that the Nationalisation of all main lines of transport renders your task still more difficult.

This Company is not really able to sympathise with the attitude you take up with regard to the river Chelmer. There is no other available source of water for the Town of Chelmsford and we feel that the Town must be supplied with water. All we have asked for is that the additional expense to which this Company is put should be met by the Corporation. We are not for one minute suggesting that the Town should not have water it needs.

Yours faithfully, (signed) FRANCIS F. STUNT." What Robert had said to cause such a sharp response is not recorded but Bulletin 13 continues "In considering this reply, Members will further recall that what in effect the Association offers to the Proprietors, as to others seeking a livelihood in the inland waterways industry, is advocacy of their cause with the general public and presentation of their case to the authorities, both things supported with all the prestige of a completely disinterested organization and offered virtually free of charge."

Seventy years on we still continue promoting the case for the waterways to the general public and local and national government. The prestige and standing of the association that these pioneers built and which you support, still has important work to do if we are to handover a vibrant and flourishing network to our children and grandchildren.

Paul Strudwick London Region Chair Person

The Chelmer and Blackwater navigation 19

BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS AGMs of London Branches of The Inland Waterways Association will take place on Zoom as follows:

South London Wednesday 10th March 7.30pm Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86125832328?pwd=NUVja2VYOENQVVdHQnQ0T2dZU1hCdz09

North & East London Tuesday 30th March 7.30 pm Zoom link - to be advised If you would like to join this meeting please e-mail the North & East London contact below and a link will be sent to you.

AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of the Minutes of the last AGM plus Matters Arising 3. Report from the Chairman 4. Presentation of Accounts 5. Business of the meeting notified under bylaw 1.3 (see note) 6. Election to fill posts on the Committee 7. Questions from the floor The formal AGM will be followed by another activity as per the branch’s social programme CONTACTS North & East London Chairman Tim Lewis tim.lewis@waterways.org.uk

South London Libby Bradshaw libby.bradshaw@waterways.org.uk

Secretary Roger Squires: Allan Scott roger.squires@waterways.org.uk allan.scott@waterways.org.uk NOTE : Byelaw 1.3 provides that any member of a region or branch may propose business to appear on the Agenda of an AGM of their region or branch, provided that notice of such business is delivered in writing to the Chairman of the region or branch at least six weeks before that meeting. If any such items are received, a revised Agenda for the relevant meeting will be in a Branch Newsletter which is due to be published before the AGMs.

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BRANCH COMMITTEE ELECTIONS To facilitate elections at the AGMs, nominations for election to a Branch or Region Committee must be received by the relevant Branch or Region Secretary before or at the AGM (see above). All candidates and their proposers must be paid-up members of the relevant Branch and the candidate must indicate his/her willingness to stand.

All elected members of a Branch Committee who have held office for a term of three years have to retire, as does any member co-opted during the committee meetings since the last AGM. Members in either category are eligible for re-election, provided that they are duly nominated as detailed above. A nomination form is printed below.

The particulars for each Committee are as follows:

North & East London Deadline for Nominations

30th March

Current No of elected members Members completing 3 years in post

7

South London 10th March 7

Chris Bushill, Liz Rayner Libby Bradshaw, Simon Dyer, Allan Scott

Members co-opted since last AGM

0

0

New blood would be very much welcomed. Please consider joining our committees to have your say on the future of our waterways.

Note: Please note that under the new Bye-laws all Committees may vary in size according to the numbers elected. We look forward to receiving further nominations for Committee Membership.

Committee Name:

South London* Print Name

North & East London* Signature

*delete whichever does not apply Date

Candidate Proposer Seconder

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Role Chairman

Secretary

North & East London Tim Lewis Tel: 02085300425 / 07802518094 tim.lewis@waterways.org.uk

Membership Secretary

AllanScott Tel: 02086428104 / 07985728844 allan.scott@waterways.org.uk

Vacancy

Allan Scott

Ian Israel Tel: 020 84461823 ian.israel@waterways.org.uk

Dorothy Robbie Tel: 02088576367 dorothy.robbie@waterways.org.uk

Vacancy

Shea Richardson, Tel: 02086770196 / 07803904803 shea.richardson@homecall.co.uk

Social Secretary

Newsletter Editor

Libby Bradshaw Tel: 07956 655037 libby.bradshaw@waterways.org.uk

Roger Squires Tel: 02072320987 roger.squires@waterways.org.uk

Minutes Secretary Treasurer

South London

Chris Bushill Tel: 02082457063 chris.bushill@hotmail.com Liz Rayner liz.rayner@waterways.org.uk Vacancy

Publicity Officer

Dorothy Robbie Tel: 02088576367 dorothy.robbie@waterways.org.uk Lesley Pryde-Coales Tel: 07787 372408 lesley.pryde@waterways.org.uk

London Region Heritage Officer

Derek Humphries derek.humphries@waterways.org.uk Simon Dyer Tel: 07857 978111 simondyer@outlook.com

Planning Officer

Rod Gray rodgray125@aol.com

London Walks Representative

Roger Wilkinson –Tel: 02036129624 roger.wilkinson@waterways.org.uk

Ex-Officio as Region Chairman

Paul Strudwick Tel: 01245358342 / 07885240291 paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk

South London Representatives Planning & Conservation Committee: Wandle Valley developments

Eric Garland, Simon Dyer, Derek Humphries Shea Richardson

If you feel you could help with any of the vacancies or would be interested in joining us as an ordinary member we would love to hear from you 22

SAVE THE PIRATE CASTLE & BOATING FOR ALL IN CAMDEN! After 54 years it's sink or swim for THE PIRATE CASTLE, Camden's iconic boating charity. Our future was looking bright before Covid hit, but we’re now facing the biggest challenge in our history to keep our flag flying for opportunity, adventure and learning for all on the Regent’s Canal.

We’re doing all we can to keep afloat, but our future’s in jeopardy. With over £100,000 (almost half of our annual costs) lost already due to the pandemic, these are desperate times – we can’t let The Pirate Castle sink!

To boost our amazing Charity’s chances of surviving the Covid storm, we’ve launched a CROWDFUNDER CAMPAIGN to SAVE THE PIRATE CASTLE. We’re aiming to raise £40,000 by mid-March via this appeal. This money is crucial to keeping our fully- accessible community spaces and boat fleet operational and fit-for-purpose, retaining key staff and running our free and affordable paddlesport and canal boating projects for local kids, disability groups and communities most in need.

SAVE THE PIRATE CASTLE: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-the-pirate-castle Every doubloon & piece of eight matters. We’ll need all the help we can get to spread the word and raise support for our appeal. If we don’t act now, it will be too late.

The Pirate Castle's been flying the flag for opportunity and adventure on central London's waterways since 1966. From our iconic canal-side base in the heart of bustling Camden (designed and purposebuilt by famous architect, Richard Seifert, in 1977 to replace our original club house barge) our amazing community boating charity promotes learning, life chances and healthy living through a raft of paddlesport (kayaking, canoeing and bell-boating), canal boating, training and volunteer initiatives. We strive to tackle disadvantage, challenge exclusion and support the more vulnerable members of our community through all that we do.

Tim Molloy: General Manager

Phone: 020 7267 6605

Email:tim@thepiratecastle.org

STOP PRESS Since being sent the above appeal for publication, North & East IWA Branch has agreed a donation of £1000 to the cause. Please help all you can.

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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 HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783 453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country' s 6,500 miles of canals and rivers.

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