Navvies 285

volunteers restoring waterways

navvies Camps reports and pictures

Can you cope? make your own concrete coping ‘stones’

waterway recovery group

Issue No 285 284 October-November 2017 page 1

Intro

Inglesham: from this...

Volunteers have made excellent progress at Inglesham Lock on the Cotswold Canals this summer. See our camp reports and photofeature elsewhere in this issue for more...

...to this

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Visit our web site www.wrg.org.uk or find Waterway Recovery Group on Facebook for all the latest news of WRG's activities Production Editor: Martin Ludgate, 35 Silvester Road, East Dulwich London SE22 9PB 020-8693 3266 martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk Subscriptions: Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Rd., Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ Printing and assembly: John Hawkins, 4 Links Way, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 3RQ 01923 448559 john.hawkins@wrg.org.uk Navvies is published by Waterway Recovery Group, Island House, Moor Rd., Chesham HP5 1WA and is available to all interested in promoting the restoration and conservation of inland waterways by voluntary effort in Great Britain. Articles may be reproduced in allied magazines provided that the source is acknowledged. WRG may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated - otherwise WRG and IWA accept no liability for any matter in this magazine.

Waterway Recovery Group is part of The Inland Waterways Association, (registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA), a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee, registered in England no 612245, and registered as a charity no 212342. VAT registration no 342 0715 89.

Directors of WRG: Rick Barnes, John Baylis, George Eycott, Helen Gardner, John Hawkins, Dave Hearnden, Jude Palmer, Mike Palmer, Jonathan Smith, Harry Watts.

ISSN: 0953-6655

© 2017 WRG

Contents In this issue...

From the Chairman: a new WRG logo? 4 Coming soon Christmas camps 5 Camp reports Inglesham, North Walsham & Dilham, Chelmer & Blackwater 6-15 Vision the IWA and WRG values, the five-year plan and the re-brand 16-17 Tech Tips casting concrete ‘stones’ 18-21 WRG BC news from our boat club 22-23 Diary WRG, IWA, CRT, canal societies 24-29 Progress including a pictorial report on what’s been happening at Inglesham 30-33 Mick Beattie an appreciation 34-35 Plant use the right fluids!

36-37 Camp reports Shrewsbury & Newport, Grantham and the first Family Camp 38-44 News IWA Restoration Hub events 45 Infill canal camp haikus 46 Memories of Mick Beattie in pictures 47

Contributions... ...are welcome, whether by post or email.

Photos welcome: digital, slides, prints. Please say if you want prints back.

Digital pics are welcome as email attachments, preferably JPG, but if you have a lot of large files it’s best to send them on CD or DVD or to contact the editor first.

Contributions by post to the editor Martin Ludgate, 35, Silvester Road, London SE22 9PB, or by email to martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk.

Press date for issue 286: 1 November.

Subscriptions A year's subscription (6 issues) is available for a minimum of £3.00 to Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ. Please pay cheques to "The Inland Waterways Association".

This is a minimum subscription, that everyone can afford. Please add a donation.

Cover Picture: Rebuilding the weir at Ebridge Lock, North Walsham & Dilham Canal (see report, pages 10-12, picture by Emma Greenall) Back cover: two locks we might find ourselves working on in the next couple of years. Top: Sandhill Lock on the Pocklington Canal (Martin Ludgate) Bottom: Borrowash Lock on the Derby Canal (Martin Ludgate)

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hind, but for the moment this newly invigorated, focused and confident IWA is a joy to behold.

One of the things they have been addressing is the tricky question of how do we identify as all part of one big organisation and yet keep our own I would like to think that every edition of Navvies identity. We have been working quite hard on this gives you something to think about. Sometimes for point because, although its nowhere near as important as making sure we actually have a clear vision good reasons, other times maybe not. But I do and a definite plan of how we are going to get hope that some of this edition hangs around your there, sometimes you do need to make sure you little grey cells even longer than normal. look the part if you are going to be taken seriously.

Several pages of this Navvies are dedicated to remembering an amazing person – Mick Beattie. I’m pretty pleased with the results, which were I was on a Canal Camp when Mick passed away in unveiled at the IWA AGM in September, and here is my personal take on all of this.

August. In many ways that was probably the best To me the sticking point about having a place to be, in the company of people who knew ‘single brand’ for the whole organisation was twoand loved him and surrounded by reminders of fold. Firstly, WRG have worked very hard to build what he had brought to the organisation. up our reputation in a way that was thoroughly Mick’s funeral was a mix of laughter and sorrow as favourite memories (some of which you linked to our logo and it didn’t seem sensible to can read on pages 34-35) were brought to mind by throw that away. Secondly, it kept coming back to some wonderful tributes. One of the most impres- this concept of a parent organisation, and that doesn’t quite seem to fit these days. Because, to be sive eulogies was from Mick’s employers, Land & blunt, WRG is 47 years old and even though IWA Water, who truly captured what it was to know and enjoy the company of Mick. There were all the has got 20-odd years on that, it still puts us as pretty mature, no matter how much we might points you would expect (and that feature heavily in pretend we are still the stroppy teenager. this Navvies) – the humour, the friendship, the love, But with some new Trustees and some the Pernod, the charm, the loyalty and the constant renewed appreciation of how important restorainspiration. However, the point that really stood out to me was just how much they appreciated Mick as a tion is to the IWA, it really does feel like a family mentor for, well, pretty much anyone and anything. affair now, and that is what I like about this new Whether it was formally or informally Mick always logo – it’s just an indication of the family you are found the time to help you get better at just about in – your identity is still there in the words alongside the logo, be it IWA, EWL or WRG. We don’t everything. More than anything Mick believed in the sheer pleasure of doing a job well and doing it have to try and shoehorn the IWA and WRG logos together whenever we print a leaflet, send a letter right. Even more than that Mick, believed that or paint a van. We just need the family logo and everyone should have that pleasure.

It’s a skill that WRG absolutely relies on and then add our clear identity.

Read the rest of Alicen’s article to see we probably don’t recognise and appreciate it whether you think it all makes sense. But just to enough. So can I thank everyone who has ever be clear – we are still Waterway Recovery Group, taken five minutes out of their working day to help pass on their skills and experience to another they are still the Inland Waterways Association, our kit is still red and nobody is being made to volunteer. Formal training has its place (and, as the founder of the WRG Training Weekend, that’s surrender old T-shirts just because they don’t match the new style. (It also goes without saying that a lot another thing we have Mick to thank for) but the of clever people have checked out whether it thing that really helps us grow is the constant works when reversed, printed large, printed small, reassurance that whilst on site we are surrounded in greyscale, wrapped round a pump. etc). by people who can help us get better.

So apart from having a ‘family’ logo to Anyone who has read Navvies for more than signify what we believe in and who we are part of, a few months will know that I’m often commentyou might be thinking that none of this ‘rebrand’ ing on our parent organisation’s ability to indulge will affect what we do; after all, we have a great in ‘navel gazing’. I’m often rather dismissive of this but it seems that they may well have called my message and so we should continue to push it as bluff this time. On page 16 you will find an article far and as wide as possible. Which is true, but hopefully, as IWA gets its act together and from the chaps at Head Office describing how achieves an ever better profile, we will automatiIWA is starting to address the question of ‘Who cally gain by association with this new brand. are we and what are we doing?’ Now the real Enjoy the rest of this edition – it’s been a proof will be at the next IWA Trustees meeting cracking summer with some great work. See you at where all of these lofty phrases will be distilled the Bonfire Bash/Reunion to start it all again ! down to (hopefully) some decent campaigns that Mike Palmer everyone who values the waterways can get be-

Chairman’s bit

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Book now for the London WRG and KESCRG Christmas dig, and the WRG Christmas Camp - and look ahead to the Clean Up

Coming soon...

Winter camps, barn dance,

WRG Reunion Bonfire Bash: 4-5 November - sorry, you’re too late!

Yes, I’m afraid that as we went to press the last handful of places on our big dig on the Uttoxeter were rapidly being booked up. With a strict limit on the number we can fit in the accommodation it was looking like it would be full up before this appears in print. Feel free to contact Head Office just in case there’s been a cancellation, but don’t be too optimistic...

KESCRG / London WRG Christmas dig: 2-3 December, Cotswold Canals As usual, two of the main mobile working party groups based in the south of England will be getting together for a big working party and Christmas party on the first weekend in December. But it isn’t only open to volunteers from these groups: anyone is welcome to come. This year it’s being hosted by the Cotswold Canals, and work is likely to be concentrated on the west end of the waterway at Whitminster. We’ll be carrying out initial scrub clearance of a length that’s about to be the subject of a re-submitted Lottery funding bid aimed at getting the canal open from Saul through Stroud within the next five years.

To book, just contact either the London WRG or KESCRG contacts on the Diary pages (p24-25) or see either group’s Facebook page. And we might even have decided what the Fancy Dress theme for the Saturday night party is by the time this is printed...

WRG Christmas Canal Camp: 26 December - 1 January We can confirm that this will also be on the Cotswold Canals again this year, that once agai Dave ‘Moose’ Hearnden will be leading with Maria Hearnden in charge of the kitchen, and the work on site will involve scrub-bashing with bonfires. Book this via Head Office as usual for canal camps.

WRG BITM Christmas Camp, Wilts & Berks Canal 26 Dec - 1 Jan Our WRG BITM regional group will also be holding a festive canal camp, once again on the Wilts & Berks Canal at Dauntsey. Leader is Rachael Banyard; for information and bookings contact Dave Wedd on 07816-175454 or bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk.

Dates for your 2018 diaries Looking further ahead into 2018, and there’s an important date on the WRG Social calendar let’s hear from Sarah Frayne...

The Barn Dance is coming back to Rowington on Saturday 10th March 2018. We will be inviting a new band to come along and help us a dance up a storm, so come and show your support and your best moves! Raffle, dining and drinks as usual. See you there!

There are also several events being organised under the auspices of the Inland Waterways Association’s Restoration Hub which WRG folks might be interested in - see page 45.

There’s also the WRG Leader Training Day on Saturday 12 May, also at Rowington Village Hall.

And finally there will definitely be a BCN Clean Up, we’ll tell you when and where next time.

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Camp report Cotswold Canals

It’s been a busy summer at Inglesham Lock, where we begin our camp reports with an account of the second of five weeks’ work at the Cotswold Canals’ eastern gateway...

Sunday started with lovely sunshine, so after a hearty breakfast and application of As we were the middle camp of three we had much sunscreen we all set off for Inglesham. the luxury of not having to worry about It took us a little while to figure out what we getting vans and kit to site, so Saturday was wanted to do, but by mid-morning there was spent setting up camp and getting to know much bricklaying, block-laying and demolisheach other. We had some interlopers from ing happening. Judi was very happy to have the Newbury Working Party Group also found a willing apprentice in culvert-demolistaying at Brimscombe but they played tion in John! We all worked up enough of an nicely, helped with the dishes and joined us appetite to do justice to Jen’s lovely pies in in the pub in the evening – one big happy the evening – and whilst we were busy playfamily. Cook Jenny made us fab lasagne and ing board games in the evening the final veg bolognaise – in fact, future camps would pieces of the leadership team puzzle in shape have something to live up to as Jenny and of Gemma (second cook) and Amber (secGemma had made menus for the week. The ond assistant) turned up. We are indeed a rest of the camp was going to struggle to live very led camp. up to this level of organisation.

On Monday the work continued apace As the work site was decided to be too on site and the first coping stones were put far away to do a site visit we drove down to back – proper milestone! The brick-andBowbridge lock and walked back, admiring block theme continued, with more demoliones that had been done previously and tion and the old culvert is now officially Not explaining the finer points of lock design to There. We had to construct some safe access our newbies, Angela and DofE-ers Harriet to the culvert-end of the lock first – another and John. of Dave’s fine installations. By the end of the

Cotswold Canals, Inglesham 8-16 July

Cotswold Canals Fact File

Length: 36 miles Locks: 56 Date closed: 1927-46

The Canal Camp project: restoring Inglesham Lock Why? Inglesham Lock is the ‘gateway lock’ where the Cotswold Canals (the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal) meet the River Thames. It’s being restored thanks to an Inland Waterways Association appeal, and will open up access to the canal from the Thames.

The wider picture: Much of the work in recent years has been concentrated on the west end of the route, where we have been helping to complete the Phase 1a section (Stonehouse to Brimscombe) before a Lottery bid for the Phase 1b length (Saul to Stonehouse) is submitted very soon. But restoring Inglesham will open up a ‘second front’, ensuring that the eastern sections aren’t forgotten - nor the long-term aim of reopening the entire through route.

Canal Camp site: Inglesham Lock

Phase 1b: Saul to Stonehouse Phase 1a: Stonehouse to Brimscombe

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Phase 3: Brimscombe to Cerney

Phase 2: Inglesham to Cerney

Pictures by Hild Watts

day we were all properly tired out by all the full-fat air and hard work, so sinking down in the sofas for movie night seemed like the appropriate response after stuffing ourselves silly. Gemma and Jen had made mountains of nachos with all the trimmings for starters, followed by baked spuds with chilli-concarne (or chilli-conveggies) and then strudel for afters. I mean, honestly. How is one expected to move after all that? Last of the ‘Coping nicely’ - the first coping stones go in campers finally joined us – welcome Tina!

Tuesday dawned properly grey. After work was neither safe nor sensible, so all the previous day’s high-risk-of-sunburn, we tools were cleaned and put away. Whilst this now had a day of playing in the mud. Cue was going on it stopped raining and we all much deliberation regarding what could felt a bit wussy, but the decision had been safely and sensibly be done on site, with made so off we went. We’d only just left site added pointing (with and without trowel). when we were well vindicated and it started The bottom half of the site was quickly bucketing down properly so that made us all deemed unsafe due to high risk of slipping, feel better. so whilst bricking and blocking continued, a We only just had time to do full and contingent was sent off on a no-holds-barred proper justice to the gorgeous Moroccan expedition to the back of the container to meal prepped by Jen and Gemma before we discover scrap hitherto unknown to to man headed out to bowling and Rob (who’d or indeed woman. Did I say scrap? I meant joined us for the kicks and giggles), Nigel treasure, obviously. Amongst the high-value and Stuart showed off some jolly fancy items the team bravely dug out an old Singer footwork. It’s probably best if we don’t sewing machine – carbon-dated to about 1932. mention too much about the rest of us – The brick-and-block laying suddenly ran except that a good time was had by all. head-long into the minor issue of the blocks Quote of the day (from Tina): ‘Alan, at the back not being quite as level over the when you get a minute, can you fill my hole run of the wall as one might wish for, causin…?’ ing some consternation when we tried to Wednesday: The sun had returned overlap the bricks and the blocks and it didn’t and work could get going again properly. fit. After a bit more deliberation and head The brickwork was finally back to the correct scratching the morning’s blocks came off level and to celebrate we had a fly-past by again and Dave was dispatched to cut blocks the Red Arrows. No more than our due, in half. It’ll all be FINE! clearly. Two new coping stones were cast Planes began arriving for the Fairford and had shuttering installed to pour it. In air show so every now and again everyone the evening we went along to the Tunnel had to SHOUT REALLY LOUDLY to be heard House Inn – purely to scope out the extents over the planes. However, the rain kept of the works ahead, obviously – and not to coming and going throughout the morning sample any of their delicious beers. and MKP’s heritage outfit was spotted on Today’s addition to the Innuendo Index more than one member of the team [see – much inspection and trimming of bushes. picture]. About half past two rain did disrupt Thursday: Surprisingly, more bricks play completely and we decided that further and blocks happened. The culvert was prop-

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erly dug out and the existing bricks were Dave (did I mention he fixed the shower in found to be mostly unfired, vaguely brickthe ladies and made the loos flush in the shaped bits of clay. gents?) managed to put a foot wrong and More planes. Bleedin’ lots of’em. (The had to have a quick trip to hospital to check fact that Rick Barnes has been turning up on it wasn’t worse than a sprain which thanksite is a pure coincidence and only to do with fully it wasn’t. Yes Moose, we have filled in his commitment to the project!). It was the accident form. Although we were all getting difficult to communicate when sudgetting rather fed up with the constant den VRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOMM – VVVRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM what? Did someone say from the planes we tea-break? Tempers were properly imwere getting frayed. pressed when the Red Fortunately we had Arrows joined forces a nice little trip on the with the American river courtesy of the Thunderbirds and flew Cotswold Canal Trust straight over our heads planned after work and in beautiful formation, got to see our lock from followed a little later by the other side. When the Battle of Britain we got off the boat we Memorial flight. Best found out that our trip moment of the day – to the Brewery for pizza DofE’er Harriet decided planned for Friday sudthe best use of a wheeldenly had to be brought barrow was to turn it forward to Thursday over, crawl under it and and we had to dash pretend to be a torback to the accommodatoise. tion. There still was In the evening we time for a game of had games night, ob‘MKP’s heritage outfit’ ‘Granny came to Canal stacle course was duly Camp’ in the van on the way back, and the constructed in the sleeping area which things she saw would frankly make your avercaused our Dear Leader to retire to bed with age granny think twice about visiting canal a stubbed toe. Silly games – pin the mouscamp in future. The pizza was good and tache on the WRGie, anyone? – continued plentiful but I think our own cooks produced apace. The cooks surpassed themselves with foods at least as good! personalised portrait cupcakes – awesome!

Question of the day – Rick’s shorts, are …and everyone agreed they’d had a they getting shorter? See picture and decide grand time! for yourself.

Hild Watts Friday: We worried lots about the air show and how much it was going to impact on getting to site, hence a circuitous route round the countryside was devised, even though only one of the vans managed to follow the directions. The one that didn’t had the local onboard. Ahem. Onsite we almost finished the bricklaying and got the new pipe in for the culvert, but not without Personalised cupcakes! incident. Our best man

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Another week at Inglesham Lock on the Cotswold Canals, and a rather different approach to canal camp report writing - in verse!

Camp report Cotswold Canals

Cotswold Canals, Inglesham Lock: 12-19 August I googled ‘volunteering’…… very glad that I did And booked Inglesham Canal Camp for a mere 70 quid Now that canal camp had got my attention I headed for Lechlade with some apprehension.

I met with Colin Hobbs….. a real ‘chip off the old block’ A Health and Safety film followed an evening visit to the lock So much to project manage and fantastic organisation Each one of us briefed at our location.

Canal camp was also so full of humour, Jess found a new father…….was it really just a rumour?

Pushing my barrow I had bruised and aching bones Learning much about large coper stones.

Shuttering in place and we made our casting, Recalling George so ‘wedged’… I am still laughing.

Coper nearly set, time to remove the acro pole Some very skilled ‘brickies’ way down in ‘Pete’s Hole’.

Thank you to Susan for her careful driving of the van, Except….. there was a day when we were missing a man!

Hands still vibrating, I experienced the ‘Whacker Plate’, Using a spirit level just to keep everything straight.

Chisels, trowels, grinders, and lots of new tools, Health & Safety at the forefront and a system of rules.

All of the above and with such a great crowd, Bowling, a boat trip and the Brewery in Stroud.

The lack of McDonalds was oh, so painful for Heather But mealtimes were always welcomed with pleasure Substantial dinners to make us feel renewed Our thanks must go to Steve for our fabulous food.

Kit washed and counted and the site all tidy End of camp looming…..almost sad it was Friday Amazing what can be achieved with a bit of manpower Back to camp……..so glad there was a shower!

In Colin’s Party Bus, Reach for the Stars often heard blaring Tina’s tin of sweets always full and ready for sharing.

Although still work to do and much to revamp I take away fond memories from Inglesham Camp The Lock is taking shape, a real transformation…….

And I was in my element for the duration.

The WRG Facebook page will now keep me in the loop As I can thoroughly recommend the Waterway Recovery Group!

Sarah Lewis See also page 28 for our Inglesham Lock progress photofeature ...Ed

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Camp report North Walsham & Dilham

Next we head for furthest East Anglia, ‘practically Holland’ as the Camp Leader described it, for the first week on the North Walsham & Dilham...

North Walsham and Dilham Canal Ann waking feeling a little deflated and us learning that putting batteries in the oven 12-19 August Saturday began very early in order to travel to the end of the earth or as leader Pete referred to it, ‘practically Holland’. After a delayed train and a missed connection, we collected the vans from the River Waveney camp and returned to the very comfortable and meticulously well maintained North Walsham Scout hut to prepare for our camp.

On Saturday evening we embarked on a tour to find the best pub in the town but after finding one with a very loud ’90s covers band and no real ale and then stumbling into what is widely acknowledged as ‘the pub to avoid’ we called it a night. However, there are many reasons why our cook Harri is brilliant, and this is just one of the reasons: the next day she selflessly scoured the town looking for a better watering hole and text me to say she had found another two, hurray! She says she just walked past but she gave very detailed reports of them…

Sunday morning began with Ted and

lets you squeeze just enough juice out of them to get an airbed pumped up again.

Our worksite for the week was the overflow spillway by Ebridge Lock. The existing spillway consisted of 2 courses of brickwork over ballast covered in a concrete screed. Unfortunately, the 200 year old weir was in such a bad state that we couldn’t apply the principle of ‘minimal intervention’ but had to remove all the old material and replace. However, the crest of the weir had been mortared and so was largely still intact apart from the upper few courses. The work on site began with careful removal of the damaged and split brickwork on the crest of the weir by John, Ted, Ann and Evelyne and less careful removal of the rest of the weir by the rest of us.

One of the highlights of working at North Walsham is the collection of ‘toys’ available which included a mini excavator, forklift and no fewer than 3 Unimogs, as well as a tracked dumper whose instructions and

North Walsham & Dilham Fact File

Antingham Pond Swafield Locks North Walsham Why? This is in preparation for the future Bacton rebuilding of the lock chamber itself, following on from the completion of restoration of Bacton Wood Lock. Wood Lock

The Canal Camp project: Rebuilding the spillway at Ebridge Lock

Length: 9 miles Locks: 6 Date closed: 1934 (trade ended, never officially abandoned)

Canal Camp site: Ebridge Lock

The wider picture: The North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust (and before it, the East Anglian Waterways Association) has carried Briggate out work on several of the canal’s locks. But five years ago a stop Lock Honing Lock order imposed by the Environment Agency, concerned at what it saw as modification to a ‘natural’ river (the canal incorporates part of the River Ant, but is in fact an artificial canal), brought progress to a halt. Since then, the owners of the lower section have been wary of allowing any Dilham work, but on the upper lengths the EA (with whom relations have Dilham improved) has permitted a trial rewatering at Swafield, while the landDyke owner has led restoration of Bacton Wood Lock and an adjacent length River Ant of canal. Restoring Ebridge Lock will extend this length downstream.

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Pictures by Emma Greenall

the damaged ones they had removed, provided with mortar

by Tracy, Patrick, Debbie and Evelyne.

Chris, Pete, Bob and I continued removing the old material and levelling the crushed aggregate Breaking out the remains of the old spillweir and rolling it with considsymbols were all in Japanese and a Hymac erable assistance from Jerry. In the last hour excavator. This had a charming little feature of the day, Bob laid the first course of bricks whereby the handles which you would expect on the spillway after a bit of triangulation to slide the seat forward and backwards and head scratching to get a row of bricks actually moved the tracks, which caused a from top to bottom square to the crest of the couple of ‘squeaky bum moments’ and meant weir. that Ted was the only one to get the hang of On Tuesday night we had a little games it. We also had a mixer and roller which both evening where Rex left the room speechless needed starting handles. by playing the William Tell Overture on his As is traditional, we forgot a few items knees in exchange for being taught a new of the brew kit on the first day which recard game. sulted in Tracy not being able to eat her Wednesday was our first full bricklaying salad as everyone used her fork to fish the day. The bricks were being laid on their side teabags out of their mugs (yes we forgot the and the ones we were supplied with were teapot too). cored so we couldn’t fill them after they were Monday saw us continue removing all laid as you would normally. This meant we the old brickwork, levelling the weir to the had to line bricks up on a scaffold board and new grade and bringing in crushed aggrego along filling the holes with mortar, prior gate to create the base for the new brickto delivering them to the bricklayers. ‘Brick work. The brickwork crew continued to hole filling’ is this year’s ‘brick cleaning’, don’t remove the damaged bricks whilst leaving you know! enough brickwork in to keep the water out.

We woke on Thursday morning to Balancing the water levels was an ongoing persistent drizzle so we decided to take the game throughout the week, we needed to let opportunity for a trip into Norwich. Chris enough water through the lock to prevent declined to join us because he had been into site from flooding but not too much to make Norwich on Tuesday night to watch a football it too easy for the fishermen. match, and he’d been again on Wednesday On Monday evening we ventured into night to watch the match because that was Cromer for fish and chips and a stroll along the night that the team and the rest of the the pier. The sights included a lot of people supporters decided to turn up as well, so he catching crabs, a bunch of folk having a jolly didn’t feel the need to venture in for the third time line dancing on the pier, and goats day on the trot. We had a very pleasant employed by the council to keep the grass morning visiting the castle, market place, down on the cliff edge. churches and prompting the question “how On Tuesday John, Ann, Ted and Rex much lime mortar is it acceptable to wear in began laying bricks on the crest to replace a cathedral?”.

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For a break from mixing mortar I gave Debbie the chance to operate the excavator. This was partly to give my only DofEr a wider experience of the fun of canal camps and partly for me to practice ahead of working on the ‘Drive a Digger’ stand at the Festival of Water the week after.

Debbie did very well as did Ann who managed to make driving an excavator look like the most Grading the slope of the spillweir elegant, ladylike activity!

On Thursday evening Evelyne very kindly treated us all to a little aperitif of wine from her local vineyard at home in Metz, France. We had the option of adding cassis to turn it into ‘kir’ and it was delicious.

The brickwork continued on Friday with the whole team either mixing, bricklaying, hole filling or pointing the previous days brickwork. As we worked we discussed alternative methods of doing the tedious jobs of hole filling and pointing including a giant piping bag and a chute straight out of the mixer. I don’t know whether Bob executed any of these on his week...

As the weir was so old it had settled and moved over time, meaning the crest wasn’t level anymore. So we surveyed the course one down from the top, found the highest point, laid a single brick there and then levelled in about 10 more along the crest to ensure the top course was the correct level. Fortunately, Ted and Ann had just enough time to complete the crest of the weir before departing.

On the way to the showers we got stopped by the police (nothing to do with me, they were stopping everyone on that road). As the policeman approached the van I wound the window down and hoped they wouldn’t notice several of the volunteers dusted in white powder - “It’s lime, officer, honest!”.

That evening we dined al fresco as I thanked Pete for all his hard work, Harri for making the most delicious meals all week, as Evelyne said “That cake could start riots” and the whole team for the hard but necessary groundwork and laying over 1400 bricks.

Laying the bricks to form the new spillway surface Emma Greenall

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Next, another slightly unorthodox camp report from the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation - in cartoon format...

Camp report Chelmer & Blackwater

The work for us, culvert, eroded bank Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and towpath repairs, was perfectly set up by 29 July – 5 August

David, Michael and Sam from Essex WaterFirst off, my thanks to Mandy and Teresa, ways. I think we did it all and well – they said two first-time WRGies, who have compiled we had! Thanks also to Colin H who provided the interesting section of this report via the some invaluable digger training on the Sunday learning points and a pictorial record [see which gave us more operators and flexibility. over] of the camp and its team! (Mandy did Last but certainly not least, thanks to the drawing bit.) my excellent team, half of whom were firstBut now, a few comments from me as timers. Four were DofEers who did superbly the leader. I had to make do without a forwell at the work and the entertainment in the mal assistant but the team were there with evenings – leading most of it and getting us their experience and intelligence, so a deputy older citizens to join in and have a great wasn’t missed. Getting a cook had been a time. The team: Alan P, Ian R, Mandy E, challenge but the long and the short of it was Teresa L, Gavin D, Martin F, Joel A, Ollie A, that Maria H and Gemma B covered the week Laura G, Joe A, Tom C, and Nick D. See if between them, providing us with the usual you can recognise them from the following WRG high quality and varied meals; my very text and cartoon from Mandy and Teresa! grateful thanks to them.

David Evans stick from the willow-weaving.

Things We Learned At Camp 19 Never to inflate a life jacket whilst on land…

1 How to go to work on an egg... or eggs, mush- 20 …or put a slug on a helmet.

21 The need to clear the area of nettles before rooms, tomatoes, hash browns, sausages, relieving oneself in the woods. bacon, toast, beans, cornflakes, etc.

22 It is possible to ride on the boat whilst sitting 2 Followed by how to make sandwiches for on a camping chair. lunch with the leftovers.

23 How to use the cement mixer.

3 The inconvenience of someone leaving the key to the distant toilet in their pocket.

24 Sandbags are very heavy... unless you’re a rugby player.

4 The excitement of the jobs / work to be done 25 How to build a bridge... and knock it down again. on the whiteboard.

5 A frisbee could be included in a shopping list. 26 How to dance to YMCA. 27 The importance of the tea urn.

6 To accept hard-hat hair.

28 How to simulate white water rafting in the 7 There is a good river taxi service on the Chelmer...

8 …but it’s always best to wait for the one with river taxi.

29 The Moon in the Spoon game! seats and without the cement mixer!

9 How to count the equipment... and to count it 30 The Mafia Game is difficult to understand.

31 Not to put the car park gate key in the flight box and again... and again… then send it down river with the other equipment.

10 How to get out of a bunk bed without bang32 White trousers are difficult to keep clean on ing your head. the job!

11 How to desecrate a willow tree.

12 The amount of willow needed to repair a river bank. 33 How much towpath gravel is needed... and the art of raking.

13 What a culvert is!

34 Tesco sells artificial flower hanging baskets.

14 To make sure the rope to tie the boat up is actually attached to the boat before throwing it ashore. 35 The celebrity status of the swan family.

15 The difference between a work rest and a tea break. 36 Picnic tables would be a good idea.

37 Operating a digger still remains an enigma.

16 Just how much cake is eaten... and the joy of 38 How fabulous the cooks were. lemon drizzle cake.

39 And… how to have fun and rescue the water17 It is easy to fit a person in a wheelbarrow. way with a great group of people.

18 How to fight a dog to keep it from taking a

page 13

I’m not getting out

For the hundredth time...

Y.M.C.A.

We’re keeping the bridge

Which way again?

Stilton and fine ale please Smile for photo

The dog has our willow weaving I’d prefer a purple hi-vis Mr August!

page 14

Well done everyone Jacks, twos and eights

Any more trees left?

Aces Trumps Quack, wish they’d go home

I can see the moon in the spoon My chair

Cake!

Moroccan buffet

page 15

Vision values and branding

The Inland Waterways Association has a vision for the future and a plan for the next five years. And among many other things, that means a new logo for WRG. Alicen Stenner explains...

Vision, Values and Branding It was WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association’s Annual General Meeting at the end of September, and IWA trustee Paul Rodgers (also WRGie and member of Marketing Committee) presented IWA’s Vision for the Waterways alongside an outline of objectives for the next five years.

Trustees and other advisors (including WRG Chairman Mike Palmer) look upon this as a turning point for the Association. IWA has over 70 years of history - and look how much has changed over that time? We can only sit here and imagine what will change for our waterways over the next 70 years. How much can IWA contribute to this change, or lead this change, or support others through this time? Without a re-think IWA could become a bit-player rather than the national champion of the waterways.

If we think about what the country’s waterways need at this time, it probably boils down to the following:

. . . .

A powerful advocate and champion for its rivers and canals An organisation that will protect and expand this national asset for the millions who enjoy and benefit from it An organisation to envision and campaign for the future of the waterways; coordinating, advising and holding accountable all who influence that future An organisation to continually reassess, understand and coherently communicate what the ‘regeneration of the waterways’ means NOW and in the FUTURE.

IWA is uniquely placed given our independence, our wider perspective, and our strong heritage to champion for those millions the cause of the waterways. We want to ensure that they never come under threat again and also that they are developed to realise their even greater potential.

Our members and volunteers know the waterways inside out – whether in water or under restoration. We can use this unique knowledge, experience and our distinctive position to lead and instigate national campaigns, unlike any other waterways body.

In the past IWA has talked about waterways for the benefit of ALL and today we must demonstrate that we still campaign for all. We must champion the benefits of the waterways and resist any activity that restricts or damages them. We have to drive national awareness, debates and public opinion about the waterways and we can only do this if we are a whole lot more PRO-ACTIVE. There is an opportunity that we must seize to establish IWA as the independent, future-focused, custodian of the waterways as a national resource, champion of all waterways users, and the indispensable authority, reference point, and ultimate influence on the future of the waterways.

Having agreed the vision and direction, the team turned their attention to the main areas we should focus on over the next 5 years to make the biggest difference to the waterways. Our key themes are:

page 16

Speaking for the Waterways - to ensure that the important role our inland waterways play in the UK’s infrastructure and economy is better understood and appreciated.

Protecting - to see a well-funded, properly-maintained waterway network with sustainability at its core.

Restoring – to work through the Restoration Hub towards creating an exciting, vibrant and robust restoration sector that can deliver successes and re-openings. Also to build on our existing reputation as the foremost provider of knowledge, advice and resources for waterways restoration projects.

Inspiring – to inspire a new generation of waterway users, and ensure existing users experience the best the waterways can offer. We want to attract new volunteers to the sector and ensure that those already volunteering across the waterways are safe, happy and motivated.

Whilst all of this thinking was underway to plan the next phase of the Association’s work, we spoke to our members and active volunteers and asked what IWA means to them. It was clear that IWA means different things to different people, making it hard to explain in just a few words. This has been in our minds over the past year as we have looked at how we can highlight the incredible diversity of our members and volunteers, as well as demonstrating that our shared purpose makes us greater than the sum of our parts. We have called this ‘One IWA’.

To achieve this we needed a unified and instantly recognisable brand, bringing us together across Waterway Recovery Group, Essex Waterways (the IWA subsidiary which runs the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation), IWA’s regions, branches and committees.

A brand is more than just the logo, but it is one of the first visuals our supporters often see. We wanted to make sure that WRGies and other volunteers, donors, members, shop customers, boaters on the Chelmer & Blackwater, restoration workshop attendees – no matter what route someone chooses to support us, they will see one icon and will be in no doubt that we are all part of one organisation. Even though the audiences for IWA, WRG and Essex Waterways may be slightly different, by having a consistent icon, we are creating clear opportunities for these people to see the bigger picture and deepen their connection with us.

Volunteers from WRG, IWA and Essex were brought together to develop this new icon to reflect all the key areas of our work and shared vision for the waterways and a new set of logos have been developed.

These logos reflect and underpin our new vision and objectives and should give everyone

throughout the Association a sense of the diverse, all-encompassing nature of our activities in support of the common vision and objectives. You will see the new logo on the next issue of Navvies or go to www.waterways.co.uk/rebrand to see the logos in colour.

Alicen Stenner

page 17

Tech Tips Concrete ‘stones’

Sometimes if you’re missing a couple of coping stones from a lock wall, a practical solution can be to cast concrete ‘stones’ in situ - and if done right, they can look quite convincing. Here’s how...

Casting concrete coping ‘stones’ 1

On a recent camp at Inglesham Lock, we were asked to cast a fake coping ‘stone’, and the results came out rather well, so I thought I’d write up the process to make things easier for anyone else that has to do the same thing...

. .

The left and right sides were bounded by existing coping stones.

The front side shuttering was secured using Acrow props from the opposite bank. [pic 1] The back side shuttering board was supported using old bricks wedged in the trench behind the stones, and the board was held down with concrete blocks(to prevent the board lifting through buoyancy).

Any holes around the back side shuttering board (due to the back edges of the coping stones not being square) were plugged with lime mortar - it was lunchtime, and the bricklayers had a spare bucket of lime mortar that was already quite dry and ‘going off’, so we used it to fill the holes to prevent concrete from escaping. This isn’t suitable for the front edge, however, as it would spoil the finish. [pic 2]

Some custom additions to the shuttering were required, in order to create “mortar joints” to make it look like a real stone had been laid:

.

For the left and right vertical edges, this was achieved by screwing Scotia moulding to the inside of the shuttered

page 18

2

Stuart & Judi Young

. .

3

Stuart & Judi Young

The first task is to build shuttering around the stone to be cast. The general shuttering task was covered by Pete Fleming’s excellent article in Navvies 283, so I won’t go into too much detail here. In our case:

Stuart & Judi Young

Shuttering

The next photo [pic 5] shows the fullyshuttered box with bricks and blocks behind, Scotia moulding on the front side edges, and the 3x1 wood in place (with the quadrant moulding underneath)

4

5

Stuart & Judi Young

.

box. We screwed from the outside of the shuttering into the moulding; it doesn’t matter if the moulding splits a little, or if the screws come through slightly, as any imperfections will be removed by the distressing (see later).

Any gaps between the back edge of the moulding and the adjacent coping stones were plugged by stuffing with scrap pieces of hessian. [pic 3] For the bottom edge, this was done by cutting a piece of 3in x 1in wood to length to fit across the front bottom edge of the box, and then laying it on top of a piece of quadrant moulding such that it is propped up at the front edge. This creates a suitable gap in which to place mortar later on. The quadrant moulding provided a ‘wedge’ to lift up the 3x1 at the front, so that it was easy to knock out once the concrete had set. In reality, any number of alternatives to the quadrant moulding could have been used, provided they gave uniform thickness across the width of the casting, and were easy to knock out. [pic 4]

6

Pouring the concrete The “stone” was cast from two separate mixes: Facing mix: 5 parts sharp sand, 0.5 parts white cement, 0.5 parts Portland cement Backfill mix: standard concrete mix (5 parts ballast, 1 part grey Portland cement)

7

(1)

(2)

The first stage was to pour the bottom layer of the front face. Some scrap plywood was placed into the box to aid the pour, so that the facing mix was confined to the front 70mm or so of the box. This concrete was poured to about 70mm deep, and then tamped down in the usual way using some loose 4x2 wood. [pic 6, pic 7] Backfill mix was then poured into the

Stuart & Judi Young

The mix was poured in a number of stages:

page 19

(5) (6) (7)

The next picture [pic 9] shows the final poured, tamped and floated block. The concrete was left to cure overnight.

The front and rear shuttering panels were removed simply by removing their supports and pulling them out. This includes the left and right Scotia mouldings, as they were screwed to the panel.

The bottom ‘mortar joint’ shuttering was removed using a hammer and plugging chisel to knock out the quadrant moulding, and then a wide bolster chisel to knock the 3x1 wood down into the gap left by the moulding, and then pulled out.

The next picture [pic 10] shows the block after the shuttering has been removed and before finishing

Ian Stewart

9

Stuart & Judi Young

(4)

8

10

Stuart & Judi Young

(3)

other side of the dividing board, and then the board was removed. A tuck trowel was used to cut across the boundary between the two mixes, and a gauging trowel then used to mix across the boundary, before tamping the backfill and boundary areas (but not the front edge). Care was taken to ensure that the frontmost part of facing mix was not disturbed or contaminated with backfill mix. [pic 8] Once this was complete, the front edge of the facing mix (i.e. the bit next to the shuttering) was disturbed using a pointing trowel so that the next layer would mix in more easily to avoid obvious lines across the front of the cast block.

This process was then repeated (pour facing mix in front of a dividing board, tamp, pour backfill mix behind the dividing board, remove the divider, mix and tamp) to continue filling the casting box.

For the last layer (the top 50mm or so), facing mix was used for the whole top surface.

The top surface of the ‘stone’ was smoothed off using a plasterer’s float.

‘Mortar joints’ were created on the top left and right edges simply by running a (gloved) finger down the edge of the existing stone to create a depression.

11

Sharp edges on the cast block were rounded off using a dust-suppressed angle grinder with a diamond blade. However, if this is not available, a scutch hammer can be used to

page 20

Stuart & Judi Young

Finishing and distressing

Our thanks to David for this article. Would you, the Navvies readers, like to read more of this type of technical article in future issues? We’d like to publish more of them. If you have any suggestions for possible subjects for articles, we’d like to hear from you.

Ian Stewart

12

13

Stuart & Judi Young

chip off the corners instead. The WRG bricksaw is probably too unwieldy for this job. [pic 11, pic 12] The surface of the block was distressed using a scutch hammer. You can hit the block relatively hard (similar to removing hard mortar from an old brick when brick cleaning) to get a good chipping effect - aim to chip off the top 2-5 mm of the concrete surface. As the hammering approaches the corners, this may mean that larger chunks come off; this is not a problem as it makes the ‘stone’ look more authentic and weathered. Every part of the surface needs to be chipped off – there should be no smooth areas remaining. [pic 13] The next picture [pic 14] shows the fully-distressed ‘stone’.

The mortar joints were filled with lime mortar and pointed, to produce the final result pictured [pic 15, pic 16].

David Smith

Mouldings used:

14

Scotia moulding:

Stuart & Judi Young

Quadrant moulding Both available at Travis Perkins.

15

Ian Stewart

Ian Stewart

16

page 21

WRG BC Boat Club News

Reporting from WRG’s own boat club’s AGM, which took place at the Inland Waterways Association’s Festival of Water at Ilkeston

There were no matters arising.

The officers’ reports followed starting I do look forward to receiving my copy of with the...

Navvies, it’s always a good read and I enjoy Commode Door’s Report: (here is the various reports. I’m too old and decrepit an adapted summary) Although this year’s to dig these days but it’s good to know festival is in the Midlands I didn’t manage to what’s going on and how different restoraget here by boat; other club members are tions are progressing. Of course as soon as I camping in tents or in camper vans and two get my copy it reminds me that another WRG have arrived by train! As far as we know the Boat Club news is due! only WRG BC boats here are Brown Trout Well what a busy year I’ve had! As (Athena), Ampere (Malcolm and Barbara) Martin said in the last Navvies, I’ve moved and The Lady Margaret (Roger Margaret and house, well I’ve downsized and now live in a John) Cre-Dal-Wood (Eric & Doreen Wood) bungalow, (see below for my new address). and Fulbourne of course owned by a few This meant I had loads of ‘decluttering’ to WRGies including Elaine. (If we’ve missed do, or as I call it, getting rid of stuff. The you out, please let us know) most interesting was the auction that the As this is our 20th Anniversary AGM Historic Narrow Boat Club held where I, and Let’s celebrate! [Lynne produced a suitably others, sold some of our canal ware. I mandecorate cake, and bottles of Prosecco etc] aged to resist buying anything, but it’s good We all enjoyed cake, drink and later rememto know that old canal artifacts are where they bered and toasted absent friends. belong - on old ex-working boats, being used!

The Commode Door continued by recommending boating in this area and talked of her work on the Trent as a volunWRG BC AGM teer lock keeper, she recommends this form We met this year at the Inland Waterways of volunteering.

Association’s Festival of Water at Ilkeston.

The Erewash Canal Preservation and After the problems last year of the loud Development Association is 50 this year. It’s music making it really difficult to hear what a very enthusiastic and hardworking AWCC was going on, we decided to try to choose a club. They restored the canal 45 years ago quiet venue. We thought at first we might and are still helping to maintain it. They are have our meeting on-board nb Fulbourne but continuing restoration with the Cromford when our trusty Commode Door looked, she Canal which joins the Erewash at the juncfound that it was rather a distance from the tion at Langley Mill. site and somewhat difficult to get aboard. As it Boat Festivals and Rallies are great was a really lovely day we decided to comman- opportunities to celebrate, campaign and/or deer some tables by the food outlets. meet other club members. There are many The meeting was announced over the events organised by the IWA or Association loudspeakers a few times and commenced at of Waterways Cruising Clubs or others. [I, 2 o’clock. A number of members were Sadie, am at the Shackerstone Family Festival present as well as four ‘Flag Officers’. as I try to write this!] We would like to hear Apologies had been received from from club members who have attended any quite a few who either weren’t at the Festival festivals or gatherings. I have especially or were there but engaged in Festival activities. enjoyed following Malcolm and Barbara’s trip The Minutes of last year’s AGM had in Ireland which was on Facebook. (We been published in Navvies last Autumn. Mike could also create a WRG BC Facebook page!) proposed that they were a correct record of We would very much like at least a proceedings, Athena seconded and all agreed. couple of other club members to join our

WRG Boat Club News

page 22

committee if anyone is willing to help. Can I make a plea for anyone who would like to be part of the committee, especially someone with computer skills, so that we could send out AWCC information by email or advise members of their activities, or offers of help or requests.

Lynne continued - As AWCC rep, I attend their Midlands Region meetings and the National AGM. The AWCC is probably the largest group representing the interests of boat owners and private moorings. They lobby on our behalf CRT and Parliament.

WRG Meetings start again in October, we have been discussing licence evasion and cloned boats, others evading mooring fees by saying that they are at AWCC club moorings when they aren’t!

We have received a request to help rebuild a bridge over the river Nene and the AWCC have been carefully monitoring and reacting to proposed HS2 routes affecting waterways.

The AWCC have a website , it’s planned to make it accessible to club members, instead of just officers, soon. We have up to date information about AWCC clubs and officers, this is available in the handbook.

Please let Sadie know if you want a 2018 handbook as we need to order them NOW! Erica our Midland Region Secretary keeps us well informed. AWCC Alert is not being published at the moment. I also have a few really good booklets about Carbon Monoxide safety on boats.

The Secretary reported a fall in club membership, which now stands at 40. Two members left and the rest left by default, that is they didn’t PAY THEIR SUBS! Please be aware of this terrible fate that may await you!

If you haven’t yet done so, set up a banker’s order so that it’s automatically paid and you are worry free! I have details of how to do this, just ask.

I was asked about this year’s famous WRG BC Christmas Card - with moving house and ill health including time in Hospital, I haven’t even thought about it. I promise I will when I return home from the Shackerstone Family Festival, at which I’m a volunteer. I wouldn’t dare not produce one!

Our little Treasure(r) produced very

BC’s 20th birthday cake and bottle of bubbly

full accounts for the year ending 31 August 2017, these are available on request from the Secretary. To summarize - The income for the year amounted to £445.00 with expenses of £404.00 of which £300.00 was donated to the Wendover Arm Trust. The club has now donated £5,150 to various canal projects!

(List available on request) There was discussion about allocation of funds / donations this year. Lynne suggested the Erewash Canal Restoration and Development Association and Malcolm suggested the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust so after discussion it was decided to give them £150 each when we have the funds available.

There then followed the election of officers, which followed the past procedure, however it was also decided that Lynne would approach Elaine with a view to coopting her as a club officer. So you’re stuck with us for another year! Please consider standing as a member of the club officers as we need you to suggest new ideas!

Future plans were discussed but the only decision was to hold our AGM at St. Neots next year at the IWA’s Festival of Water which will be there over the August Bank Holiday.

Any other business included discussion of the need for claiming expenses and how. It was also decided to keep subs at £10 p.a. The meeting closed and we all ‘socialised’ Sadie Heritage, Secretary 07748186867 sadiedean@msn.com 14 Priors Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1JR

page 23

Navvies diary WRG and mobile groups Your guide to all forthcoming work parties Oct 20-28 WRGFT2017 Oct 21/22 wrgBITM Oct 21-28 CC2017OCT Nov 3-9 WAT Nov 4/5 WRG Nov 4 Sat WRG Nov 11/12 NWPG Nov 11 Sat wrgNW Nov 18/19 London WRG Nov 18/19 wrgBITM Dec 1-7 WAT Dec 2/3 Essex WRG Dec 2/3 KESCRG Dec 2/3 London WRG Dec 2/3 wrgFT Dec 9/10 wrgBITM Dec 9/10 wrgFT Dec 9/10 wrgNW Dec 16 Sat wrgNW Dec 26-Jan 1 wrgBITM Dec 26-Jan 1 CC201728 Jan 5-11 WAT Jan 6/7 wrgFT Jan 13/14 wrgNW Jan 20/21 wrgBITM Jan 20 Sat wrgNW Jan 21 Sun WRG Feb 2-8 WAT Feb 16-18 wrgFT Feb 17/18 wrgBITM Feb 24 Sat wrgNW Mar 2-8 WAT Mar 10 Sat WRG Mar 10 Sat WRG Mar 10 Sat WRG Mar 11 Sun WRG Mar 17/18 wrgBITM Mar TBC wrgFT

Derby & Sandiacre Canal, and Uttoxeter: WRG Forestry Camp Lichfield Canal: Fosseway Lane site Wey & Arun Canal (note change of site) Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu Uttoxeter Canal: Bonfire Bash - Reunion Weekend Committee & Board Meetings: at Bonfire Bash Cotswold Canals: Western End. ‘Paper Chase’ waste paper collection Wey & Arun Canal Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation: AGM dig Cotswold Canals: KESCRG/LWRG Xmas Party, Scrub bash at Whitminste Cotswold Canals: LWRG/KESCRG Xmas Party, Scrub bash at Whitminste Cotswold Canals: with KESCRG and London WRG Grantham Canal: Xmas Work Party at Cropwell Bishop Wey & Arun Canal Cromford Canal: Dig including Christmas Meal & AdHoc meeting ‘Paper Chase’ waste paper collection Wilts & Berks Canal: Xmas Camp at Dauntsey. Leader: Rachael Banyard Christmas Camp: Cotswold Canals Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu Buckingham Arm Hollinwood Canal To be arranged ‘Paper Chase’ waste paper collection Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: (3-day dig) To be arranged ‘Paper Chase’ waste paper collection Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu First Aid Course: Rowington Village Hall PAT Testing: Rowington Village Hall Barn Dance: Rowington Village Hall Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall Maidenhead Waterways: to be confirmed Sussex Ouse: Date to be confirmed

For details of diary dates beyond the end of this list ple

page 24

er er

d

Canal Camps cost £70 per week unless otherwise stated. Bookings for WRG Camps identified by a camp number e.g. 'Camp 201728' should go to WRG Canal Camps, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453, enquiries@wrg.org.uk. Diary compiled

by Dave Wedd. Tel: 01252 874437, dave.wedd@wrgbitm.org.uk

Mike Palmer Bill Nicholson Barry McGuinness Tim Lewis Dave Wedd Roger Leishman John Gale Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis

01494-783453 07816-175454 01494-783453 01442-874536 01494-783453 01564-785293 01844-343369 0161-681-7237 07802-518094 07816-175454 01442-874536 01376-334896 07971-814986 07802-518094

enquiries@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com enquiries@wrg.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk b.mcguinness1@gmail.com london@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com essex@wrg.org.uk bobby@kescrg.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk

Dave Wedd

07816-175454

bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk

Ju Davenport Barry McGuinness Dave Wedd Roger Leishman

07808-182004 0161-681-7237 07816-175454 01494-783453 01442-874536

nw@wrg.org.uk b.mcguinness1@gmail.com bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com

Ju Davenport Dave Wedd Barry McGuinness Mike Palmer Roger Leishman

07808-182004 07816-175454 0161-681-7237 01564-785293 01442-874536

nw@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk b.mcguinness1@gmail.com mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com

Dave Wedd Barry McGuinness Roger Leishman

07816-175454 0161-681-7237 01442-874536 01494-783453

bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk b.mcguinness1@gmail.com rwleishman@gmail.com enquiries@wrg.org.uk bungle@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk mike.palmer@wrg.org.uk bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk

Dave Wedd Roger Leishman

George ‘Bungle’ Eycott Mike Palmer Dave Wedd

01494-783453 01564-785293 07816-175454

ease contact diary compiler Dave Wedd: see top of page

page 25

Navvies diary

canal society regulars

Canal societies’ regular working parties Every Sunday if required BBHT Every Tuesday BCA Once per month: pls check BCNS 2nd & 4th w/e of month BCS Thursdays Sep-Apr BCT 2nd Sun & alternate Thu BuCS Every Mon and Wed CCT Every mon am Thu pm CCT Various dates CCT Every Sunday ChCT Every Tue and Thu CSCT Every Tue & Wed C&BN Every Friday ECPDA Most Wed and Sun DSCT Second Sun of month FIPT Thu and last Sat of month GCS Tuesdays H&GCT Weekends H&GCT Wednesdays H&GCT Thursdays H&GCT Every weekday KACT/CRT 2nd Sunday of month LCT Every Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun LHCRT 3rd Sunday of month LHCRT Last weekend of month MBBCS Two Sundays per month NWDCT Weekly PCAS Every Wed and 1st Sat RGT 2nd Sunday of month SCARS 1st Sunday of month SCCS Last weekend of month SCS 2nd Sunday of month SNT Every Thu and Sat SORT various dates SRL 1st weekend of month SUCS Every Tuesday morning TMCA Most days, please contact WACT 1st w/e of month (Fri-Thu) WAT Every Sun WBCT Every Wed WBCT 2nd and last Sun of month WBCT

Bugsworth Basin Ian Edgar Basingstoke Canal Chris Healy BCN waterways Mike Rolfe Basingstoke Canal Duncan Paine Aqueduct section Tim Dingle Buckingham area Athina Beckett Cotswold (W depot) Reg Gregory Cotswold (E end) John Maxted Cotswold Phase 1a Jon Pontefract Chesterfield Canal Mick Hodgetts Chichester Canal Malcolm Maddison Chelmer & Blackwater John Gale Langley Mill John Baylis Derby Canal Keith Johnson Foxton Inclined Plane Mike Beech Grantham Canal Ian Wakefield Oxenhall Brian Fox Over Wharf House Maggie Jones Over / Vineyard Hill Ted Beagles Herefordshire Wilf Jones Bradford on Avon Derrick Hunt Lancaster N. Reaches Robin Yates Lichfield Hugh Millington Hatherton Denis Cooper Creams Paper Mill Steve Dent N Walsham Canal David Revill Pocklington Canal Richard Harker Stowmarket Navigtn. Martin Bird Sankey Canal John Hughes Combe Hay Locks Derrick Hunt Stover Canal George Whitehead Sleaford Navigation Mel Sowerby Sussex Ouse Ted Lintott Baswich, Stafford John Potter Montgomery Canal David Carter Thames & Medway C Les Schwieso Wey & Arun Canal Northern office Little Tring Roger Leishman Swindon Oliver Gardiner Wootton Bassett John Bower Pewsham Ray Canter

0161-427 7402 01252-370073 07763-171735 01252-614125 01288-361356 01908-661217 01452-614362 01285-861011 07986-351412 01246-620695 01243-775201 01376-334896 01623-621208 07845-466721 0116-279-2657 0115-989-2128 01432 358628 01452 618010 01452 522648 01452 413888 01225-863066 01539-733252 01543-251747 01543-374370 07802-973228 01603-738648 07702-741211 01394-380765 01744-600656 01225-863066 01626-775498 01522-856810 01444-414413 01785-226662 01244-661440 01634-847118 01483-505566 01442-874536 07785-775993 01793 636297 01249 659111

If you have any additions / corrections / deletions to this list, please send them to Navvies diary compiler Dave Wedd (see previous page)

page 26

CRT towpath taskforce

Navvies diary

Canal & River Trust ‘Towpath Taskforce’ maintenance working parties 1st Wednesday of month 2nd Saturday of month 2nd Saturday of month Every Tuesday Alternate Thursdays 1st Thursday of month 1st Sunday of month 3rd Thursday of month Last Saturday of month 3rd Thursday of month 1st Saturday of month 4th Thursday of month Every Wednesday 1st Wed & Fri of month Last Sunday of month 1st Saturday of month 2nd Friday of month Every Wednesday 1st Thursday of month 3rd Wednesday of month 3rd Thu & Sat of month 3rd Friday of month Alternate Tuesdays 1st & 3rd Sat of month 3rd Thursday of month 3rd Tuesday of month Last Tuesday of month Every Tuesday Every Thursday 2nd Thursday of month Alternate Tuesdays Alternate Thursdays 3rd Saturday of month 2nd Wednesday of month Every Friday 3rd Saturday of month 2nd Wednesday of month Every Tuesday Alternate Fridays 2nd Thu & Fri of month Alternate Wednesdays 4th Saturday of month 2nd Tuesday of month Every Tuesday Every Thursday

Anderton Weaver Audlem Shropshire Union Aylesbury Aylesbury Arm Bath Kennet & Avon Blackburn Leeds & Liverpool B&T Bridgwater & Taunton Burnley Leeds & Liverpool Cheshire Locks Trent & Mersey Chester Shropshire Union Devizes Kennet & Avon Fradley Coventry/ T&M Gailey Staffs & Worcs Gloucester Glos & Sharpness Hatton Grand Union Hawkesbury Coventry/Oxford Hemel Hemp. Grand Union Huddersfield Huddersfield Broad Icknield Port BCN Mainline Knottingley Aire & Calder Lancaster Lancaster Canal Lapworth Stratford Canal Leeds Leeds & Liverpool Leicester Soar/Grand Union London Cent. Regents/Docklands London East Lee & Stort London West Paddington/ GU Mirfield Calder & Hebble Mon & Brec Monmouth & Brecon Newark River Trent Newbury Kennet & Avon North Staffs Caldon/T&M North Warks Coventry/Ashby Oxford Oxford Preston Lancaster Canal Sefton Leeds & Liverpool Selby Selby Canal Skipton Leeds & Liverpool Sneyd Wyrley & Essington South Derbys Trent & Mersey Stratford Stratford Canal Tamworth Coventry/ Fazeley Tipton BCN Mainline Weaver River Weaver Wigan Leeds & Liverpool Worcester Worcester & B’ham

Abbreviations used in Diary: BBHT BCA BCNS BuCS BCS BCT ChCT CBN CCT ECPDA FIPT GCS H&GCT KACT KESCRG LCT

Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust Basingstoke Canal Authority Birmingham Canal Navigations Soc. Buckingham Canal Society Basingstoke Canal Society Bude Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Cotswolds Canals Trust Erewash Canal Pres. & Devt. Assoc.

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Grantham Canal Society Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Kent & E Sussex Canal Rest. Group Lancaster Canal Trust

LHCRT MBBCS NWPG NWDCT PCAS RGT SCARS SCCS SCS SNT SRL SORT SUCS TMCA WACT WAT WBCT

Jason Watts Jason Watts Sonny King Steve Manzi Alice Kay Steve Manzi Alice Kay Liam Cooper Jason Watts Steve Manzi Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Caroline Kendall Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Sonny King Becca Dent Sue Blocksidge Becca Dent Alice Kay Sue Blocksidge Becca Dent Wayne Ball David Ireland David Ireland David Ireland Becca Dent Caroline Kendall Wayne Ball Steve Manzi Liam Cooper Sue Blocksidge Sonny King Alice Kay Alice Kay Becca Dent Alice Kay Sue Blocksidge Wayne Ball Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Sue Blocksidge Jason Watts Alice Kay Caroline Kendall

07824 356556 07824 356556 07876 217059 07710175278 07825 196 365 07710175278 07825 196 365 01782 779903 07824 356556 07710175278 07917 585838 07917 585838 01452 318028 07917 585838 07917 585838 07876 217059 0113 2816811 07917 585838 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 07917 585838 0113 2816811 01636 675704 020 7517 5556 020 7517 5556 020 7517 5556 0113 2816811 01452 318028 01636 675704 07710175278 01782 779903 07917 585838 07876 217059 07825 196 365 07825 196 365 0113 2816811 07825 196 365 07917 585838 01636 675704 07917 585838 07917 585838 07917 585838 07824 356556 07825 196 365 01452 318028

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Rest'n Trust Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society Newbury Working Party Group North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust Pocklington Canal Amenity Society River Gipping Trust Sankey Canal Restoration Society Somersetshire Coal Canal Society Stover Canal Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Stafford Riverway Link Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust Shropshire Union Canal Society Thames & Medway Canal Association Wey & Arun Canal Trust Wendover Arm Trust Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

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Navvies diary

IWA branches...

Inland Waterways Association and other one-day working parties Oct 21 Sat Oct 23-27 Oct 24 Tue Oct 24 Tue Oct 28 Sat Oct 29 Sun Every Wed Nov 4 Sat Nov 5 Sun Nov 9 Thu Nov 11 Sat Nov 12 Sun Nov 16 Thu Nov 18 Sat Nov 21 Tue Nov 21 Tue Nov 25 Sat Nov 28 Tue Nov 28 Tue Dec 2 Sat Dec 3 Sun Dec 9 Sat Dec 10 Sun Dec 14 Thu Dec 16 Sat Dec 19 Tue Dec 19 Tue Dec 21 Thu Dec 26 Tue Dec 26 Tue Dec 30 Sat

IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc.

IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Vegetation Clearance Week BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance.

IWA Warks Grand Union Canal: Hatton Locks 10am - 1pm. Veg clearance RGT/IWA Ipswich River Gipping: Pipps Ford, or Baylham Mill Lock 9am-4pm IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm IWA Northants Northampton Arm: Painting, veg clearance & litter picking IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm RGT/IWA Ipswich River Gipping: Pipps Ford, or Baylham Mill Lock 9am-4pm IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. Locks 47 & 48 IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc.

BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm IWA Northants Northampton Arm: Painting, veg clearance & litter picking IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance.

BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm IWA Northants Northampton Arm: Painting, veg clearance & litter picking RGT/IWA Ipswich River Gipping: Pipps Ford, or Baylham Mill Lock 9am-4pm IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section IWA NSSC/CUCT Uttoxeter Canal: Work party at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc.

BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm IWA Northants Northampton Arm: Painting, veg clearance & litter picking IWA NSSC/TMCS Trent & Mersey Canal: Cheshire Locks. Locks 47 & 48 BCP/IWA Oxford Oxford Canal: Banbury Canal Partnership, 9am-1pm IWA NSSC/BPT Burslem Arm: Luke St, Middleport, Stoke on Trent. 10am-3pm IWA Chester Shropshire Union Canal: Chester area, painting & veg clearance.

IWA branch abbreviations BBCW = Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire; Other abbreviations: BPT = Burslem Port trust; CUCT = Caldon & Uttoxeter Canal Society; CRT = Canal & River Trust

Mobile groups' socials:

The following groups hold regular social gatherings

London WRG: 7:30pm on Tues 11 days before dig at the 'Rose & Crown' Colombo Street, London NWPG: 7:30pm on 3rd Tue of month at the 'Hope Tap', West end of Friar St. Reading.

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...and other one-day work

Navvies diary

For WRG canal camps and working parties see pages 20-21 10am-4pm

10am-4pm adults only

John Brighouse Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Jason Watts Martin Bird Steve Wood Geoff Wood Steve Wood Martin Bird Chris or Steve Hayes John Brighouse

10am-4pm

10am-4pm

Colin Garnham-Edge Geoff Wood Jason Watts Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Steve Wood Geoff Wood Martin Bird Chris or Steve Hayes Steve Wood

10am-4pm

10am-4pm

Colin Garnham-Edge Geoff Wood John Brighouse Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Jason Watts

07710-554602 07808-878317 07976-805858

01394-380765 07976-805858 07976-805858 01394-380765 01522-689460 07808-878317 07710-554602

07976-805858 07976-805858 01394-380765 01522-689460 07976-805858 07710-554602

07808-878317 07976-805858

secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk steve.wood@waterways.org.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk workparties@sleafordnavigation.co.uk john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@waterways.org.uk geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk workparties@sleafordnavigation.co.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk secretary@manchester-iwa.co.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk bcpontheoxford@gmail.com steve.wood@waterways.org.uk jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk

MK = Milton Keynes; Mcr= Manchester; NSSC = North Staffs & South Cheshire RGT= River Gipping Trust; SNT = Sleaford Navigation Trust; TMCS = Trent & Mersey Canal Society;

in pubs.

Please phone to confirm dates and times

SE1 8DP.

Contact Tim Lewis 07802-518094 Contact Phil Dray 07956-185305

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Progress Inglesham in pictures

It’s been a busy summer at Inglesham Lock, western gateway to the Cotswold Canals. Our photofeature shows how much has been achieved...

and to KESCRG for adopting the project and supporting it throughout the year with week2017 has seen a massive effort at Inglesham end digs.

WRG & KESCRG will be back in 2018 Lock, at the eastern end of the Cotswold Canals. Over the year WRG & KESCRG volun- with the aim of restoring the rest of the lock chamber. Dates will be released in Decemteers have spent over 6200 hours working on the lock chamber and by the end of Octo- ber. In the meantime here are some pictures to show just how much our volunteers have ber we hope to have one side of the lock achieved in 2017. chamber restored.

Cheers Rick Barnes, Adam ‘Digger’ Morris and I Jenny Black would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved this summer especially the leadership teams who helped run the camps, To see how Inglesham Lock fits in with the rest of the Cotswold restoration, see the the people behind the scenes who have Cotswold Canals Fact File on page 8. ...Ed helped with logistics (Bungle in particular!)

Inglesham 2017

Main chamber wall with rebuilding in progress, and complete. Another one to do next year.

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Before-and-after shots of the lock ladder recess (above) and the wing wall with bywash culvert (right). and (below) just a few of the people involved

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Progress

The Wendover Arm Trust are continuing the long-running task of re-lining the channel, while the Wey & Arun Canal Trust have begun building a slipway

Grand Union Wendover Arm Wendover Arm

Stephen Bonsor

Channel lining and reconstruction: During th Wendover Arm Trust’s July and August Working Parties, work concentrated on laying spoil on the banks and bed of the channel where WRG BITM had completed completed block and coir roll laying in June.

As well as completing the above work, bank profiling was extended for another 15 metres and the waterproof Bentomat lining, hollow concrete blocks, solid concrete blocks and coir rolls laid ready for completing with spoil fill at the September working party.

On the first two days of the August working party, the opportunity was taken, while the weather was dry, to cut enough Bentomat into 4m and 20m lengths to

ensure that there will be Bentomat for all lining work through to better weather in 2018.

Whitehouses pumping station site: The latest news on the design and progress of the pseudo weir and wing walls to the wharf wall at Whitehouses is that the design has been completed and is at present being costed. No firm date for this work has been agreed although a date of April / May next year has been suggested but attempts are being made to bring this forward to avoid clashing with Wendover Arm Trust’s work that should have reached Whitehouses about that time.

Roger Leishman Restoration Director Tel: 01442 874536 rwleishman@gmail.com

Work in progress on channel reconstruction during the July working party

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Wey & Arun Canal

Progress Wey & Arun tion by moving equipment and surplus materials to the Trust’s Tickner’s Depot. The last major concrete pour has taken place, signalling the beginning of the end of the project and much of the facing brickwork is completed. Work is taking place to complete the curved front of the top cill following the delivery of the ekki ‘bumping block’ to go on the front edge, and blue bull-nosed bricks Elsewhere on the top cill, the metal frame and sluice and parts of the ground paddles have been fitted to the lock. The digging out of the winding hole to the north of the lock provided the opportunity for recertification of the group’s digger drivers.

The great heap of topsoil they produced will eventually be used for the landscaping. With the parapets of the new bridleway bridge complete, the scaffolding could be removed and the towpath level raised either side for the bridge to be put into use.

Elsewhere on the Wey & Arun, WACT’S Hedgelaying Group has laid a grand total of 360 yards of new hedge during its season.

Their work included creating 90 yards of hedge at Lock 10, where nine trees were felled and replaced with 10 new ones as well as more than 60 saplings. The season was due to resume in late September.

WACT

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s Northern and Summit Working Party has been concentrating on finishing the Compasses Bridge project at the Alfold entrance to the Dunsfold Park aerodrome and business complex.

Various jobs have been completed over the summer, such as construction of a bankside retaining wall and concrete steps down to the landing stage, to finish off the Trust’s first full restoration project in Surrey. The site compound – containers, site cabins etc – has been moved to a new site adjacent to the new Thriscutt Slipway. That project will soon be restarted, so that small boats will be able to easily access what will be around 1¼ miles of restored waterway.

Completion of the slipway, which is being paid for by a legacy from the Thriscutt family, will take up much of the autumn, winter and spring.

The Northern and Summit Working Party, joined by the Newbury Working Party Group, has also been working in the Trust’s Hunt Nature Park at Shalford, near where the canal joins the River Wey. They spent four days installing bank protection and reinforcement on the Cranleigh Waters stream where it passes through the park. Repairs were necessary to banks which were damaged during the floods of 2013. This was a complex exercise involving the driving in of timber piles that anchor the bank reinforcement mesh and coir rolls and matting preplanted with native water plants. The job necessitated the construction of a temporary pond at the Compasses compound for storage of the planted materials.

Most of the bank repairs are complete and the volunteers will be back in the autumn to finish a section where the large number of rocks in the river bed mean a rethink on tactics is required.

The Thursday and Sunday Group team working on the new Gennets Bridge Lock (GBL), south of Compasses, has also begun winding up its opera-

Ready to go into action at the top of the new Thriscott Slipway

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Mick Beattie An appreciation

Memories of a true WRG character: the man responsible for training weekends, canal camp griddles, Bungle’s nickname and much much more...

R. I. P. Mick Beattie [Overheard on the two-way radios in use by the site volunteers at an IWA National Festival] [Mick Beattie’s voice]: “Daddy Cool: ‘Dickhead’ is one of the words we do not use over the radio. Other words we do not use over the radio are...” [long string of expletives and no doubt, much laughter follows] I started with that quote from a festival some years ago, because it combines three essential elements of Mick – direct, mischievous, and helpful – plus a bit of basic Anglo-Saxon thrown in for good measure.

However there was a lot more to Mick than the guy who scared new volunteers with his sometimes rough mannerisms, horrified Navvies readers with his bad language, and drank Pernod by the bucketful, but had a genuine heart of gold and would do anything to help.

Throughout his involvement in WRG from the late 1980s, he was absolutely committed to the principle that despite being a volunteer organisation it could and should take a professional attitude to matters such as Health & Safety, training and the quality and condition of tools and equipment supplied to canal camps – and his legacy remains with us today.

At the same time, he managed to lead numerous canal camps at sites as diverse as Bude, the Cotswold Canals, Chichester, Lancaster, and IWA festivals in Manchester and Huddersfield; get heavily involved in the WRG Navvies Anonymous mobile group; and mastermind the WRG Logistics operation maintaining tool kits and trailers from his home in Blackpool (often to the bemusement of his neighbours).

But rather than fill this page with my thoughts and memories, I’ve filled it with quotes from many of the other WRG folks who knew him better than I did, and whose recollections will go much further towards doing justice to someone who Mark Richardson rightly describes as “a unique and irreplaceable man”.

Initial impressions of Mick could be of the tattooed, skinhead, hard drinking, heavy smoking, womanising, swearing, aggressive sort of chap that you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of, but you soon realised he was actually kind, helpful and if you were in the shit he would help get you out of it (often before you had even realised you were in the shit...)

Mick was brilliant like that – helping anyone in trouble. If he liked you, he’d tell you that you’d been a bit of a ‘Silly Billy.’ If he didn’t, he’d use a whole string of other rude words I dare not repeat. Either way, he’d never leave you in a hole. Mick had a desire to make everything better whether that was for volunteers, colleagues or just bailing out a friend in need – which he did a lot.

I had to give Mick’s report to the Festival meeting regarding craning boats as he couldn’t stay. I had to rephrase it a little: “If you want to lift jolly big boats a jolly long way, tell them they will need a jolly big crane!”

My parents donated a tumble drier to WRG for use at festivals. Mick and Roger Burchett turned up to collect it while they were out, and my parents got a phone call from my very worried sister “Father Christmas and a skinhead have turned up to take the tumble drier away….”

The biggest influence he had on me was when I arrived at the Salford National for my first camp, he asked me what my name was and I said “George”. “Right, we’ll call you ‘Bungle’ then” At Salford National we got introduced to both the Lightweight Land Rover (which had a stereo fitted that played one Pogues album continuously at full volume whenever it was turned on) and the frankly glorious 101 forward control Land Rover with its V8, the gearing of which meant it was the fastest thing on the road up until about 50 MPH at which point it was flat out! Still, it was interesting leaving the boy racers in Manchester behind at the lights (and nearly leaving some of the volunteers

page 34

behind who were holding on in the back). Alan Jervis also had a Land Rover at Salford, but it was very shiny. Mick took it out and tried to get it muddy but found it was just impossible as it wouldn’t let him spin the tyres up. In frustration he got out, grabbed a shovel and started shovelling mud up and heaving it at the Land Rover...

He would always insist on the right kit for the job, particularly when it came to lifting (which later became his day job), I once met him on a site where he was organising a lift for Land & Water; he sent one of his chaps off site to go and get some proper tag lines made up rather than the manky bits of string in the back of the van.

Mick somehow blagged a crewcab Transit pickup from a local hire firm for free. We used it extensively for building the moorings for the National Festival that year, and then at the festival itself. We had it so long that when we did take it back they had forgotten they even owned it.

We were at the bottom of the car park - Mick was at the top using the radios to control the one way traffic flow, describing the last car in any run so you knew when you could start sending cars up. This was fine until Mick got bored and started inventing cars or changing their colours - oh and he made a suggestive comment over the radio about one driver just as I was kneeling at her window, radio blaring out of my back pocket....

Craning boats in at Huddersfield - we couldn’t see the crane as it was some way below us and the boats arrived over a 40 foot line of trees. We would spin the boats while they were in the air so they landed in the canal pointing in the right direction - according to Mick’s radio instructions - “Other way round... [pause] ... same way up.”

Mick used to ring my mother from the M6 late at night, whether I was home or not, and tell her to get the bacon sarnies on for the WRGies inside the van.

Mick was very keen on training people to use equipment properly: the training weekends that he started continue to this day, very much along his original lines, and this has led to many more of our volunteers being able to safely and competently operate equipment to the benefit of the waterways restoration movement. He knew that accidents happened, but woe betide anyone who abused the tools.

Whether it was painting neat lines of colour on endless tool handles, or brightening an otherwise repetitive evening of cutlery marking by engraving a soup ladle with ‘For external use only’, Mick ran WRG logistics with a creative sense of humour and ferocious attention to detail.

At one point Mick wanted to introduce griddles to the catering kit and he took the suggestion to the WRG board to trial it on kit A. They replied that no, they didn’t think it was a good idea, so on no account was kit A to have a griddle. Mick went away and bought one for kit B instead...

I first met Mick when I was sixteen, my first canal camp at Glasson Dock in the 1980s. He started the day with a huge, wild mop of curly hair and hours later, it had completely gone. This was the start of the skinhead (and Pernod) years but it was also, more importantly for me, the start of our amazing friendship.

When Mick started a conversation with “I’ll tell you something, Lou”, you never knew if the next sentence was going to be a profound insight, a handy snippet of life advice, or a piece of unrepeatable filth. Most memorably, it could be all three at once.

He always took great delight in finding out your favourite song, learning it then ruining it by singing it back in the voice of Kermit the Frog. Stairway to Heaven has never been the same since!

Mick was exceptionally observant and had a sharp and frighteningly quick wit. He was wickedly mischievous and often attracted a crowd with his pranks and slightly unconventional responses to situations or with his entertaining anecdotes.

RAX (Transit van of old) reversing lights had failed to engage when reverse was selected. So Mick fitted a manual switch on the dashboard so they could be turned on as necessary. He then took great delight in doing this at traffic lights, and watching cars behind reverse away from the ominous looking large bumper of an ageing Transit van!!

When Mick met Sue the Horse (as he fondly referred to her,) he also found peace and true contentment, and although this meant that more time was rightly dedicated to their new life together, he never forgot about the years he had spent with WRG, or the many people he had met along the way.

He was, and always will be, the truest of friends, and (as someone recently said though he would never agree) a legend in his own lifetime.

Mick, you take care now.

Compiled from contributions by Womble, Lou Kellet, Bungle, Jude Palmer, Mk2, Daddy Cool, Ian Nelson, Farmer Tom and more.

page 35

WRG Plant

Three recent cases of volunteers topping up machinery using wrong fuels or other fluids have cost us time and money. A slightly irritated George ‘Bungle’ Eycott does his best to ensure lessons are learnt...

Use the right fluid!

Top it up with the right stuff There are times when the fluid your pour into plant is not that critical - for example topping up the engine oil on a pump with a slightly different grade of engine oil can be OK in many cases. However recently we have had a spate of incidents where the wrong fuel or oil has had a more serious impact.

Incident (1): A petrol pump was refuelled with diesel while hot. Impressively the engine did run on the diesel for a while!

The impact of this was two hours downtime on the pump while it was taken away for a temporary fix, then £120 parts and three hours of volunteer labour to carry out the full repair.

Root cause of this was that the person doing the refuelling thought the pump had a diesel engine (probably as the local group in question have a similar sized generator which is diesel). The lesson here is that you cannot assume even experienced volunteers will know all the details of plant on site (even if it is ‘our’ plant rather than hired). Filling points should be clearly labelled with what goes in them.

Incident (2): A petrol wacker plate was refuelled with diesel. The engine was not run on the fuel, impact was volunteer time draining, flushing and refilling and downtime on the wacker plate.

Root cause of this was a little more complex. The site in question had been set up a number of years ago and some jerry cans were needed to ferry diesel to the pump. Some old cans from the WRG plant stores were used, these cans are normally used for diesel on event sites but in a previous life had been used in the main camp kits and one of them was labelled ‘Petrol’. The team setting up the site didn’t really notice this (and if they had, probably wouldn’t have worried about it), at the time there was no petrol plant on site and there is always an assumption that people will realise the can contains diesel when they open it.

There are a few lessons here:

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(a) Don’t use cans labelled as one thing for something else. (b) Don’t assume all volunteers have the same level of ‘basic’ knowledge as you. (c) Don’t forget, what starts as a temporary solution can end up still being in place years later.

Footnote to this incident: it would be unfair at this point not to admit that it was me that brought the can to site to be used for diesel.

Incident (3): A volunteer carrying out checks before using the WRG excavator ignored the 1 inch high label next to the sightglass telling people to make sure the rams are in the correct position before checking the hydraulic fluid (the label even tells you which page of the manual to check) and wrongly concluded that more hydraulic oil was required. He then proceeded to unbolt the various covers that are required to add hydraulic oil. There was another 1 inch high

label instructing users that only the correct bit strongly, but second only to the vans, our Panolin long life oil should be used, this in excavator is our most valuable bit of kit in addition to the Panolin label on the tank. the WRG fleet and the total cost incurred was The oil used in the hydraulic circuit of £700 plus 12 hours of direct volunteer time, our excavator is very specific and will not some of which was time we should have mix with other oils; it is also rarely stocked been on site at the festival helping to build it by suppliers. To ensure the correct oil is used (this does not include the time spent organiswe send round a container of this oil with the ing replacement machines from our head machine so that if a hose bursts, for examoffice team, time spent ringing around trying ple, the correct oil is available to refill the to get oil and filters before the IWA festival machine. However, this volunteer choose etc). This also assumes there has been no also to ignore these labels and the container long term impact from the wrong oil being labelled up for use with the WRG excavator used, if there is, the bill will be many times and found an old jerry can in the back of a this amount. container which claimed (via a very old Lessons to be learnt: sticker using a Shell logo I haven’t seen for (a) Unless you have had a burst at least 10 years) that it contained biodehose, or there are significant oil leaks, gradable hydraulic oil, the volunteer added it is extremely unlikely that hydraulic this fluid to the excavator. oil will be required on any machine, let The impact from these actions were alone one as new as ours. This isn’t to very significant: say you shouldn’t check it, but if you think it (a) The machine had to be drained, needs more then you should look for the flushed and refilled with the correct oil. We cause first or contact someone familiar with are still waiting for the invoices, but the oil the machine. and filter will have cost in the region of £350 (b) If you are a camp leader, don’t plus approximately eight volunteer hours of assume your volunteers are competent work and two hours of time to collect the to start unbolting covers to get to parts. things. If they are bolted up, in general they (b) The machine was not available for are not a ‘driver’ operation to repair. Just the ‘Drive a digger’ stand at the IWA festival, because someone says they know what they incurring hire fees of £160 for a last minute are doing does not necessarily mean they are replacement, two hours of volunteer time not a fuckwit about to really screw it up. collecting and returning the hired machine as George ‘Bungle’ Eycott well as loss of publicity for using our own machine (c) The machine was not available for a canal camp weekend, incurring hire fees of £190 for a replacement with transport.

Root cause of this? Well to be honest, blatant stupidity and arrogance from someone who thought they knew better. Everything was clearly labelled, even if oil had been needed it was available on site with the machine.

You may feel I Don’t assume volunteers are competent to start unbolting covers... have phrased this a

page 37

Camp report Grantham Canal

Work continues on rebuilding Woolsthorpe Lock 15, with plans for locks 14 and 13 to follow in the forthcoming years...

between Kirsty and Maria (my wife), and then it got mentioned that Kirsty would like to assist with someone and would I be interTo start this report, we will go right back to ested in doing a Grantham Camp? the Bonfire Bash in 2016: as normal during Not liking Grantham I said “no not Saturday afternoon the WRG Committee had really”; well I think they got me drunk and done the biz, and in the evening for everystupidly I agreed... I think they call it the one to see, was a list of camps for 2017. power of woman!

As people came off site, the boards So, to the camp. Having driven by were up with details of camps - and several some strange place in Birmingham, we people went forward and put their name ended up at the hall, Kirsty was waiting and down to either lead or assist or even cook for we sorted out some bits and pieces and a camp. After the food that the cooks had Maria went off shopping. produced for Saturday evening and the RAF Martin had also arrived with a normal speeches, including the one from our couple of other people and did the collecglorious chairman Mr MKP MBE himself, tions from the train station and soon we saying about the boards and the lists, I went were all present, a good mix of experienced and newbies, two DofE’ers and people who off to wash up. seemed have travelled from Switzerland, Unbeknown to me two people were working in cahoots together, and as I sat Spain, and two from France. down with a beer, I was asked by Kirsty “are Saturday night we did the normal you leading any camps during the summer?”, Health & Safety talk with video, cook did her I said “No I have enough trouble preparing talk, we ate a lovely meal and got ready for for a Festival, I won’t have time”. the morning.

I should have realised there was a look I will add that the Hall at Cropwell

Grantham Canal 5 - 12 August

Grantham Canal Fact File

Length: 33 miles Locks: 18 Date closed: 1936

The Canal Camp project: Rebuilding Lock 15 on the Woolsthorpe Flight Why? This is part of a major Heritage Lottery Fund backed project by Grantham Canal Society with support from the Canal & River Trust to restore lock 15 of the seven-lock Woolsthorpe flight - followed by Lock 14. Unfortunately it turned out to be in a much worse state than had been realised, so what had been expected to be a repair has turned into more of a demolition and rebuild job.

The wider picture: As well as being an important restoration task in itself, the work is being used as a heritage skills training exercise for the Society and CRT to help provide a pool of volunteers for the next To Newark Proposed diversion Nottingham Woolsthorpe stage, locks 12-13.

Trent to Restored Locks 12-18 It’s also a step Shardlow Redmile length towards creating a Grantham Original route Cropwell 10-mile restored length to obstructed The Long Redmile - and in the medium term, Canal Camp Restored Pound completing the Long Pound to Cropwell. site: Lock 15 length Get that open, and someone might just find the cash to create the diversion needed to connect the canal back to the Trent.

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Bishop is not a bad hall and has showers, but the village and location is a bit lacking in entertainments except for a pub, so asked if anyone was wanting to go to the cinema or anything else but no one seemed to be interested. Each night time was spent on jigsaws or card games, we did one night have a quiz that had been set by Becky, which was very entertaining, thanks Becky. It was very interesting watching games of Twister...

Work on site at Lock No 15 on the Woolsthorpe flight: there was a small team making a block wall; another team were making a stone wall; a lot of cleaning out and pointing was completed; the wooden invert at the base of the lock had to be cleaned so that a Canal & River Trust person could come in and take photos, make sketches and measure. This was for future records, but also so that stop planks can be fitted. We also had a volunteer go with CRT to do site levels, and on the following day, she did it all again but with another couple of volunteers.

One day away from site we went to find some blocks that will be used for lock wall coping stones; they will not be enough for the complete lock, but as CRT had no idea what was really there, at least some will be used on a later camp. [See the article on

pages 36-39 for one way to cope (sorry!) with not having enough coping stones ...Ed] Like several canal camps this year we also lost a day to the weather. The site had become a bit too slippery to walk on so we stayed in the hall, no one was interested in going anywhere, when it did stop raining several parties of volunteers went off on a wander around the village, or along the canal which runs through it.

On site, we took the volunteers down to the next two locks 14 and 13, so that people could see how their efforts fitted into the long term plans.

I would like to thank Kirsty for being an excellent Assistant, Maria for all the excellent food, RAF Martin for being RAF Martin - he did some brickwork, helped and guided others, and drove a van most days - and Stephen for his help with driving the vehicles.

And thanks to all the volunteers for all their work and input, they were all awesome, the camp achieved a lot and it helped to move the project forward.

This camp was the first of 4 booked at Grantham, so at the end we passed over the accommodation and site to Mr MKP MBE and Bex for their week.

Dave ‘Moose’ Hearnden

The team pictured in the bottom of Lock 15 at the end of the camp

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Camp report

Reporting from a new venture for WRG: a weekend camp on the Uttoxeter Canal organised specially for young people and their families

Uttoxeter family camp

people how to play. Secret attempts were tried as practise but at the end of the weekend young James managed to get both the highest scores, so was declared winner. (A not too sore losing camp leaders quote of the weekend being “it’s not losing if you quit!” Very good Alex.) Other competitions included building structures from spaghetti

Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd July saw history in the making for WRG when seven young people aged 9 to 12 years joined their parents or grandparents on the first ever WRG Family Camp. The camp led by Alex Melson and assisted by Jenny Hodson took place on the Uttoxeter Canal, with a mix of activities that would encourage young people to get involved in enjoying the environment around canals.

The weekend got off to a shaky start when all the electricity in the village went off including at the accommodation. Unfortunately, having undertaken a shopping trip on his way to the accommodation on Friday, Alex arrived with ice cream to find the fridge freezer was no longer a fridge freezer, rather just a large white box! Oddly enough the ice cream melted before most arrived on Friday evening.

The accommodation was a mix of indoor bunk rooms (where young people had one room and immediately set to turning bunk beds into dens) with adults in a separate room and a third room for the family with the only young girl on the camp.

Alex and Jenny choose to brave the outdoors and stayed in tents just outside the accommodation.

A mix of games and activities were arranged for evening entertainment, with sports bag should the weather decide to be nice… Unfortunately in the evening it wasn’t really, so not much outdoor games and sporting took part. But a Bop-It challenge ran throughout the weekend, with Alex setting the target score, soon to be upset and shown by the young

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Pictures by Jenny Hodson

WRG Family Canal Camps: History in the Making!

Bat boxes under construction and complete

and marshmallows, an activity that was together and acceptance of young people on thoroughly enjoyed by all BUT left a sticky the site. mess on the floors tables and everywhere a All in all the weekend went well, with marshmallow may have touched. new friends being made and young people In fact competition became the rule of having enjoyed a new experience, one family the weekend with day one morning activity all totally new to WRG as father had himself being Himalayan Balsam picking and sculptnever tried this type of activity before - but ing. Families were split into their individual left saying he would love to come back units for the only time over the weekend again. We would like to thank Alison and with the aim of the biggest pile of balsam her family who stayed and worked with us: and then used to design a piece of artwork Alison is part of the local group alongside or sculpture. Entries varied from a large Steve the chairman who made his guest throne and a full canal boat to a guerrilla appearances over the weekend despite insistwarfare helmet and a woven Staffordshire ing on Friday that he wouldn’t be around. knot. This was then judged by WRG Finally a massive thank you to all the Facebook members with the competition families who joined us over the weekend to being won by the Staffordshire knot. The make this a memorable experience and what young people themselves began their own we hope to be the first of many Family competition with the balsam trying to see Camps! who could find the tallest plant, many laying Jenny Hodson out along the bridge plants that must have been at least three times their own height. To finish the day off, (again to quote Alex) we served lovingly prepared “lasargnia”!! Being served alongside with balsam flowers with the salad, a new culinary experience for many on camp.

Other tasks on camp included a bit of moss clearance off the drill bore stones revealing the local geology under the Churnet Valley. We also searched for the historical architecture by digging out an area to try to discover the area of a former bridge. Sunday Above: balsam pulling. Below: the team alongside this saw bat box building and then these were erected in trees by Alex, Steve Wood and Peter Johnson, so those who walked back to the accommodation could play spot the box.

Whilst our team were busy with their work the local Caldon & Uttoxeter Canal Society volunteers were around Tirforing tree trunks out of the lock walls and some of our team volunteered to go across and give a hand - nice to see locals and visitors sharing laughs and working

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Camp report Shrewsbury & Newport

The Shrewsbury & Newport was a late addition to the summer programme after a canal camp elsewhere had to be postponed.

So how did they get on?

Adrian ‘why is there no cup holder in this dumper’ Sturgess coming from the previous Grantham Camp. We also had ourselves a The Stover Canal Camp Shrewsbury and Welsh contingent in the form of our lovely Newport Canal Camp, a grand total of 109 cook (morale booster) Bev and Sue, who 201 miles from our base at Newport (not to likes to rip shorts! WRGie veterans David be confused with the Newport in Wales) was Babbs and Dave ‘Evvo’ Evans also joined us an absolutely knackering fantastic week with leading the way on the towpath front, with great volunteers both from WRG & the Ninja Adam joining us for his second camp Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust. A late and our only newbie for the week Nathan addition to the Canal Camps season as a ‘always up for seconds’ O’brien. Oh and not forgetting our grand tour of British nationaliresult of having the Stover Canal Camp cancelled. ties Ian ‘three scoops of ice cream’ Gaston Out of the 12 volunteers attending the originally from Northern Ireland. A good camp the leader (myself) was the fourth least number of Shrewsbury & Newport Canals experienced person on camps in regards to Trust volunteers also joined us throughout number of camps attended. And I must the week and attended the Health & Safety admit it was great to have a wealth of knowl- briefing on the first night, followed by the edge and skills on the camp. first of many trips to the pub.

Everyone managed to work their way to With most canal camps, Sundays are the accommodation; most of us coming from always a slow start, especially on towpaths, where a significant progress on removing the home but a hardy few coming from other canal camps: Susan from beyond the wall top soil in necessary before everyone can get and Andy (assistant leader and most inaccu- involved. Whilst half the group started on rate weatherman) came from Inglesham with preparing the towpath, the rest were split

Shrewsbury and Newport Canals 19-26 August

Shrewsbury & Newport Fact File Length: 25 miles Locks: 25 Date closed: 1944 The Canal Camp project: Relaying a length of the towpath between Tickethouse Lock 21 in Newport and a local park

Locks 1-17 1 A4

Why? To enable local people to walk the route, in the hope of raising awareness of the canal and support for eventual reopening to navigation.

Shropshire Union to Ellesmere Port Norbury Junction

To Autherley

Newport

The wider picture: The Canal Trust has already carried out work at Forton Aqueduct east of Newport, with the Eyton short-term target of re-watering a length, and the medium term goal of reopening Wappenshall Canal Camp from Norbury to Newport. Work has site: Newport Trench Locks also taken place (not proposed on other Shrewsbury A 5 Former Shropshire for restoration) Trench tub-boat canals (not sites with the ultimate aim of proposed for restoration) Berwick Tunnel reopening through to Shrewsbury

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Pictures by Alex Melson

into pairs to complete some of the smaller jobs including vegetation clearance, including one large tree literally hanging on by a thread (okay maybe single line of barbed wire), removing an old interpretation board and installing a new one, clearing the nearby bridge of vegetation and rebuilding a fence on the bridge ramparts.

By noon on the first day we already hit our first SNAFU (turns out Microsoft Word doesn’t try and correct you on this word, after looking up what the acronym stands for, it was only a minor SNAFU). The SNAFU in question was the rapid realisation that the original towpath plan of digging out either side of the towpath and leaving as much of the original in place to reduce the amount of material required had to be altered. This was due to the path below extending further than anticipated in width & depth making it significantly more difficult to excavate. Plan B took a while to sort out but we settled on lowering the whole path by ‘a bit’ (technical term there!)

Driving in one of the 440 stakes for the path edge boards and having to raise the timber boards on each side and using the soil/turf excavated to ease the pressure being around the projector (luckily being based in exerted by the newly dumped MOT material. a school it was pre set) and watch Fantastic After a slow start and getting to grips with Beasts and Where to Find Them. the work, we made about 30 metres in total By the time Tuesday rolled round we for the first day, putting us behind schedule. knew what we were doing and beginning to As the week progressed, the team got make back time lost over the previous days. into the stride of laying the towpath with We were also joined by two of the S&N further teams working on different jobs volunteers John and Sue (bringing the total throughout the week. The process involved number of Sues up to 3!) providing a much laying the timber path edge boards parallel needed boost to the work. Our resident plant at 1.5m width, driving the stakes at metre expert Adrian spent the day training up John intervals (equating to four per board – to use excavators for use on the local roughly 440 stakes in total driven in during Wappenshall project. Even newbie Nathan the week) and nailing them in. Once the was passed on use of powered rollers. boards were ready the Terram geotextile In the evening the Shrewsbury and material was laid, and the dumper loads of Newport Canal Trust organised a quiz night MOT Type 1 aggregate were dumped befor us. Volunteers from both organisations tween the boards, then compacted down enjoyed a lovely curry prepared by Bev, and with a roller – eventually followed by the fine competed for the first prize of a bottle of red granite dust to give it a finer finish. This is wine. pretty much how the work went for the

By Wednesday all the bits-and-bobs majority of the week and I won’t bore you jobs were completed and everyone moved with the details, but as the week went on the onto the towpath. Throughout this time quicker and more efficient we became with Adrian had already instructed a good portion completing the process. of volunteers both from the local trust and The evening saw the volunteers gather our camp and training continued throughout

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the week with Andy, Sue & Sue trained up on tracked dumpers, Nathan on rollers and Ian as an instructor for tracked dumpers Thursday carried on the same as the previous days, but in the evening we went bowling together with some of the local trust members – and even managed to form a team of Sue, Sue, Sue and Sue, no confusion there, right? With platters a-plenty, a thoroughly enjoyable evening… I suppose I’m supposed to say something about Andy beating me by a few points but that’s not important!

With the last day of the camp and our target for the end game, everyone set to work to get the site prepped for the final push. This day was by far the most efficient we were all week (you’d expect that after a week, I suppose) and with the end in sight, energy levels were up. Sue from beyond the wall started off the day with a bit of brushcutter work supervised by myself, whilst the rest of the team got straight back into the work.

Throughout the day as we reopened sections of path, we were joined many volLevelling the towpath surface unteers of the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust, and more of the local community complimented us on the work completed. As the team placed fine granite onto the path, Darren on the excavator went across the site and landscaped the edges with mounds of turf and soil excavated previously, to tidy up the site. The finishing touches to the towpath were completed (whacker plate, roller, and removing excess Terram. After a hard week’s work we packed up site and were invited to have a tour of the local lock house (currently in redevelopment to be bought back to its original state). We then loaded up the trailer and checked our equipment.

I won’t bore anyone with the end-ofcamp pack up.

All that is left to say is a massive thank you to everyone involved in the camp: from the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, who as always welcomed us and supported us throughout the week, to every single volunteer who tolerated me for an entire week and worked themselves to extreme lengths to get the towpath finished. Also to Adrian for his work on training everyone up on various machinery. And thank you to Ian for supporting the camp throughout the week and being heavily involved in the camp logistics; to Assistant Andy, who despite failing to call seconds most days maintained motivation and quality-controlled the towpath; and of course to Bev, the most important person who kept us fed and alive all week.

Cheers for a great and knackering week!

Removing vegetation from the bridge Alex Melson

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New from the Hub...

That’s the IWA Restoration Hub, the initiative

by WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association to help canal restoration projects all over the country - including providing a central point for enquiries and requests for advice; organising workshop meetings and other opportunities to exchange ‘best practice’; making resources (such as reports, studies and planning documents) available online; and providing training.

Three forthcoming events organised under the auspices of the Hub may be of interest to Navvies readers.

The first is a fundraising ‘webinar’ that’s an online seminar you can ‘attend’ from the convenience of your own home via your internet connection. It’s being run by IWA’s Sarah Frayne and the Buckingham Canal Society’s Terry Cavender, it aims to explore the current restoration fundraising climate and opportunities for canal trusts and societies. It takes place on the evening of 14 November, and you register for it by going to https://webinar.getresponse.com/B2Nr7/ fundraising-webinar Next, there will be a First Aid Course held at Rowington Village Hall on 10 March 2018. It’s free to restoration group site leaders, work party organisers and similar, but numbers are limited so you’ll need to book at https://waterways.cloudvenue.co.uk/ firstaidcourse.

Thirdly, on 14 April 2018 there will be a Restoration Workshop meeting at South Wolverhampton & Bilston Academy, aimed at restoration groups which hopes to give them support and information to help them develop their schemes, and a chance to share and discuss ideas with like-minded folk. It’s free too, and you can book it online at https://waterways.cloudvenue.co.uk/ restorationworkshop2018 (Alternatively to save you typing in all these lengthy URLs, all these and any more Hub events can be found by going to waterways.org.uk and then following the link to ‘restoration’ (from the ‘canals and rivers’ pull-down menu) which links to ‘courses’ and also to lots of other Restoration Hub resources.)

Finally on the subject of the Hub, we plan to use it to make all of the Tech Tips and Toolbox Talks technical articles that we’ve published in Navvies in recent years available online.

Navvies News Congratulations... ...to Chris and Lucy Byrne on their marriage. ...and to Andy Jones and Natalie Parker on their engagement.

Trailer for sale or rent...

No, actually it’s neither of those. It’s available free to a ‘good cause’ such as a canal restoration group or similar. It’s the old Canal Camps Kit B two-axle box trailer, which we’re in the process of replacing. Contact head office if you’re interested.

R.I.P. Linda Wilkinson We are sorry to have to bring you the sad news that waterways supporter and campaigner Linda Wilkinson has died. WRG folks will most likely have known her through her involvement in the Chichester Ship Canal Trust as Chair, work party contact and other roles at different times, during her 25 years of support which helped to get the restoration to where it is now, and turn the restored length into a popular local asset. She was also a leading light of the Southern Canals Association, a very useful regular get-together for restoration groups in the southern half of the country. Our condolences to her family, friends and everyone who knew her.

Another reopening...

OK, not actually one volunteers have worked on lately (London WRG went there in about 1987), but here’s a boat using East London’s newly reopened Carpenters Road Lock.

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Infill THe S&N Canal Camp in haiku form Poets’ Corner

The disappearing bridge...

We received this series of Haiku (three lines, From north Manchester comes a curious tale, with 5, 7 and 5 syllables) poems with the related to the editor and assembled northern camp report from the Shrewsbury & Newport canal folk by a representative of the Hollinwood Canal Society, which hopes to Another Canal Camp Haiku reopen the Ashton Canal branch leading north from Droylsden through Daisy Nook Sunshine and Towpath Country Park to the edge of Oldham.

Hardly a grey cloud in sight It’s not one of the easiest restorations, Rubbish forecasters but the Society made a good start, initially concentrating on the attractive length in and Early morning starts near the Country Park.

Working above and beyond Nearby, the canal was crossed by Pinch Sundown means home time Farm Footbridge, no longer in use but a wellknown landmark, being a historic lattice iron Beverley Breakfasts structure on brick abutments. HCS got perUtterly delicious mission from Oldham Council (who inherited Rallying the troops it 40 years ago when the park was set up) to restore the brickwork, with help from WRG Yesterday’s target North West and materials from the Council. & todays vision to meet Imagine their surprise to hear one Nearing the finish?

Saturday morning in 2016 that the bridge had ‘gone’.

El Scorchio heat It turned out that without telling the Water a necessity park staff, the owner of the land at the ends Proudly soldier on of the bridge, the Canal Society or anyone else, the Council’s own works department Old swan man disrupts (which had been privatised and was called Refuses to not feed birds Unity Partnership and owned by a company The swans start to hiss called Mouchel, itself owned by Kier Group at the time, but now sold to a Canadian outfit) Camp quiz with locals had turned up on a weekend when nobody Answering many questions was around, and quickly demolished the No shame in last place (*cough* team 3 *cough*) bridge on the grounds that after 40 years of no maintenance by the council it was unsafe.

Against the clock Oh, and apparently they didn’t ask the Leader actually does work Canal Society because they got them mixed Canal camp fatigue up with the Canal & River Trust!

Not only that, but (having presumably Amazing finish flogged the scrap iron off and got a few quid Many beers owed by leader for it), Unity Partnerships were last spotted Pack up and go home sniffing around a historic iron trough aqueduct carrying the same canal over a nearby To the more astute readers: you may notice road, and asking “Has it got any value?” the beginning letter of each line spells ‘ShrewsLet’s hope they don’t get near anything bury and Newport Canal Camp’, to which the with any really good scrap value, like the poet attributes the poor content of said haiku... Anderton Lift or the Pontcysyllte...

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Outro

Goodbye Mick

40

We recently said our farewell to Mick Beattie (see obituary pages 34-35). As one of WRG’s most colourful characters, we thought it appropriate to include a selection of pictures of him on our colour pages...

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