Navvies 286

navvies volunteers restoring the waterways

Remember what

Bowbridge Lock looked

like a couple of years ago?

If not, see the back cover for a reminder... issue 286 december-january 2 0 1 7-2 0 1 8

Intro Cotswold cruise In November the first boat for 80 years for 80 years travelled travelled along the Cotswold Canals from Stonehouse to Bowbridge Lock, Lock, passing passing several several of of our our recent recent worksites.

It wasn’t a pleasure cruise, worksites. It wasn’t a pleasure cruise, it was an evaluation trip by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has paid for much of the major major work work on on this this length length -- and and (fingers (fingers crossed) crossed) may may be be supporting the next phase, to connect the canal to the national supporting the next phase, to connect the canal to the national network. network. Here, Here, and and on on the the front front and and back back covers, covers, are are some some pictures pictures of their trip - and of the same sites when we were working on them.

Lower Lower Wallbridge Wallbridge Lock Lock

page 2

In this issue Contents For latest news on our activities visit our website wrg.org.uk See facebook group: WRG Follow us on Twitter: @wrg_navvies Production

Contents

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, George Rogers, Jonathan Smith, Harry Watts.

ISSN: 0953-6655

© 2017 WRG

From the Chairman 4-5 Coming soon BCN Clean Up 6-7 Camp reports Waveney, Uttoxeter, Monmouthshire & Brecon, Wey & Arun 8-21 Diary WRG, IWA, CRT, canal societies’ working parties and camps 22-27 Restoration Focus looking at East Midlands projects 28-31 Progress a roundup of what’s been happening around the country 32-35 Safety correct use of dust masks 36-37 North West 40 years of Paperchases 38-39 London WRG on the Shrewsbury Canal 40 News Save your stamps for WRG 41 Infill Deirdre returns 42 Cotswold progress in pictures 43

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 287: 1 January.

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: The Heritage Lottery Fund’s inspection cruise reaches the current limit of navigation on the Cotswold Canals at Bowbridge Lock - see also inside front and back pages.

Picture by Mike Gallagher, Cotswold Canals Trust Back cover: The same lock not long ago with work in progress on rebuilding the offside wall below the lock (Martin Ludgate)

page 3

chairman’s Comment ...on the arrival of the camps brochure and a new trailer, the departure of an old friend from the Montgomery, and the IWA restoration hub...

CRT

Waterway Recovery Group is an orways over the years and I think it’s true to say ganisation built on traditions and they that we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but she apply to Navvies magazine as much as has always been fun to deal with and in her anywhere. current post of Head of Community EngageIndeed one of the key indicators that ment she made great progress representing Christmas has truly arrived is that the WRG and championing volunteers within CRT. chairman’s bit starts with “If things go to Howard Griffiths is, quite frankly, insepaplan then this issue of Navvies should be rable from our work on the Montgomery. As accompanied by the Canal Camps brochure, literally the live-in landlord (his house was right please read it and consider booking on a alongside Aston Locks) many of us will have week or two.” In the olden days the relatively encountered Howard, often as we were doing haphazard production of the brochure was something we shouldn’t have, and been on the the risk of things “not going to plan”. These receiving end of his knowing smile. days of course the highly efficient team at The CRT Press Release that announced Head Office ensure that the Camps brochure Howards leaving included a photograph of is produced on time (without spelling errors him - I was devastated to see that in the 30 or things like that), however to balance out years I have known him he has not aged a this improvement my output of the Chairminute! Caroline goes off to lead the YMCA man’s bit has now become so erratic that the in Lincolnshire and Howard leaves to put his risk is there will be no text to include the feet up in retirement – I wish them both reference in! good luck in these honourable pursuits.

However here I am bashing away at the A couple of random points now. I was keyboard with about two hours of Martin’s deadline left to go, so let’s see how much ground I can cover...

Another tradition is that WRG likes to see itself as a welcoming organisation, however there are times when we also have to say goodbye. And this edition we do have to say goodbye to a couple of Canal & River Trust people who have been involved with WRG for many years. Leaving CRT are Caroline Killeavy and Howard Griffiths. Caroline has had quite a few roles with CRTand its predecessor British Water- Howard Griffiths (left) with fellow retirees Wendy Capelle and Neville Preece

page 4

shut for Christmas. It’s yet to be painted and stickered up but it will be seen out and about next year. And for those who want to see the old Trailer B one last time then it will be making its final journey down to the Christmas Camp on the Cotswold Canal. Once that Camp is finished on New Years Day the trailer will be emptied and it will be off to the Swansea Canal Society as we are passing it on to help their work.

I’ve been spending quite a few days at Head Office recently, working with Jenny and Alex trying to plan the work that the Inland Waterways Association’s Restoration Hub is hoping to achieve in 2018. I’m really pleased and excited by some of the developments I’ve just seen Dave Evans’ draft timetable for the Leaders Training Day and I’m staggered by the energy and attention to detail that’s already fizzing away with six months to go !

Reading back all of the above (with 15mins of my deadline to go) I can see that what ties all of the above together is that all of it is driven by the involvement of some great people. We are, first and foremost, a people organisation. Which leads me back round to the Canal Camps brochure.

This really is the core of our work and its importance cannot be over-estimated.

Whilst it may seem that we are focussing on more peripheral elements of restoration, it is only because so many of you people are still booking on these events and providing a massive example of the best way to go about our work that we are able to concentrate on the extra bits that will hopefully help to make sites even better and more enjoyable to work on.

So to end with a tradition...

If things go to plan then this issue of Navvies should be accompanied by the Canal Camps brochure; please read it and consider booking on a week or two.

Hugs and Kisses The new Canal Camps Kit B trailer awaits its first duty Mike Palmer Adam ‘Digger’ Morris

helping out at the really rather good Grantham Canal Discovery Day in October and was taken to one side and asked why WRG was wasting its money on personalised number plates for our vans. Which shocked me because I thought everyone knew how we got these number plates; however obviously not, so just to keep these scurrilous rumours at bay I repeat the deal here.

WRG have never spent your money on these personalised number plates. What has happened is that, when some much loved waterways characters have passed on, sometimes a few friends have grouped together and, rather than dedicate a bench or a plaque or similar, they have clubbed together and purchased a number plate and donated it to us. It’s actually a lovely tactic as it means their name truly lives on in our day to day conversations. Just for completeness the wonderful people remembered on our current vans are Richard Bird (RFB), Sheila Davenport (SAD), Ernie Pull (EHP) and Bob Meadows (BOB).

Those who can remember a couple of Navvies ago will remember the sorry tale of Kit Trailer B. Such is the speed with which we move that I’m pleased to say that, as of yesterday, we collected our new Trailer B. Special thanks to Digger for taking a 393 mile diversion to collect it before the factory

page 5

coming

soon

Book now for the BCN Clean Up - see form opposite WRG Christmas Canal Camp: 26 December - 1 January By the time you receive this issue of Navvies. Christmas will be fast approaching and with it the WRG Christmas Canal Camp. So if you want to escape from the family during the ‘cold turkey’ days between Christmas and New Year, join us for a week’s scrub-bashing and big bonfires on the Cotswold Canals. Dave ‘Moose’ Hearnden will be leading with Maria Hearnden in charge of the kitchen, and volunteers are welcome either for the whole camp or just a few days. But please do contact Head Office to check whether there’s space left, and to book on - and if it’s too close to Christmas and Head Office are already on holiday, contact Moose by email at moose_dave@hotmail.com or 07961 922153.

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 (but working with the local landowner rather than the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust) at Dauntsey. Leader is Rachael Banyard; for information and to book on, contact Dave Wedd on 07816-175454 or bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk.

Winter Canal Camp, Shrewsbury & Newport Canals 10 - 17 Feb Our 2018 camps programme kicks off with a week at a new site, Berwick Tunnel on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals. Book via head office or the WRG website, and for more details of this and all the rest of the year’s camps see the camps booklet included with this issue.

WRG Barn Dance 10 March A major event in the WRG social calendar, the Barn Dance is coming back to Rowington Village Hall on Saturday 10th March 2018. We will be joined by local Ceilidh band ‘5 Minutes to Midnight’, featuring a familiar WRGie face. Online booking is now open on Cloud Venue (go to wrg.org.uk and follow the link), so come and show your support and your best moves! Raffle, dining and drinks as usual. See you there!

BCN Clean Up 24-25 March This is our annual weekend of throwing grappling hooks into the murky waters of the less well-used lengths of the Birmingham Canal Navigations and pulling out old bikes, shopping trolleys, prams, tyres, and whatever else we find. (which in the past has included everything from a toilet to a sword to a coffin!) It’s run jointly by WRG, the Inland Waterways Association and all the local waterways groups, supported by the Canal & River Trust who supply skips and boats to deal with the junk we pull out, and Chris Morgan will be leading it. The site for this year is the Wyrley & Essington Canal, working from Pinfold Bridge in Wednesfield to Sneyd Junction - and we’re hoping to have extra boats this time to help with picking up everything we pull out. The accommodation will be at the Malthouse Stables, the same as for the last couple of years - but space is limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. You can use the booking form opposite, or book via the WRG website wrg.org.uk.

Leader Training Day 12 May If you’re a camp leader, assistant or cook, or you fancy trying your hand at it and want to find out what’s involved, come to the Leader Training Day at Rowington Village Hall. More next time.

page 6

Clean Up, Barn Dance...

Martin Ludgate

See the Diary on pages 22-27 for more forthcoming events

Volunteers sling their hooks: what will they pull out this time?

BCN Clean Up 2018 Waterway Recovery Group in association with BCNS CRT IWA DCT CCT I would like to attend the 2018 BCN Canal Cleanup on 24 - 25 March Forename:

Surname:

Address: email: Phone:

Any special dietary requirements?

I require accommodation Friday night / Saturday night / both nights I enclose payment of ÂŁ

(pay 'Inland Waterways Association') for food (ÂŁ13 for weekend)

Do you suffer from any allergy or illness, such as epilepsy or diabetes, about which we should know, or are you receiving treatment or under medical supervision for any condition? YES / NO (If yes, please attach details) In the unlikely event that you should be injured, who should we contact?

Name:

Phone:

Signed: Please send this form to: National Cleanup bookings, WRG, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA

You can also book online via the WRG website wrg.org.uk

page 7

Camp report Waveney In summer 2017, WRG held its first ever canal camp at Geldeston Lock on the Norfolk / Suffolk border. Emma Nurton reports...

Canal Camp Report: River Waveney, 5–12 August 5 2017. Location: River Waveney, Geldeston Lock. Leadership Team: Paul Ireson, Emma Nurton and Anne Lilliman Saturday 5 August: The rabble gathered slowly but surely at Bungay in car, by train and van, some travelling further than others: Paul, Anne and Mick seesaw-ed Essex/Bedfordshire – Suffolk – Essex – Suffolk on van transportation duties. Janet and Carol pipped the 200 mile mark, and didn’t have the UK upside-down on the satnav.

Foreign shores were represented by Rebecca and Clare travelling from their respective Welsh homes, and Esther being Dutch, although living in the Home Counties.

Kathleen, meanwhile, could quite quickly have popped home (she never did, so we can’t have been that awful!).

Bungay Canoe Club Hut was our home for the week, our main accommodation was upstairs (lift provided for shifting kit and the leader up and down) with a spacious dining area, a bijou kitchen, a cosy snug sleeping

room and toilets; downstairs showers and toilets; outside more showers and toilets!

The biggest concern for Paul was the male: female ratio… 4:10; initially we thought we were 50% old hands, but it turned out that Louise has just taken ten years to recover from her last camp (allegedly Mk2 to blame!), so a 6:8 oldies vs newbies ratio.

After everyone had arrived, the locals turned up for the safety briefing… and more locals and more! Thankfully we had a D of Eer, Charles who was able to assist Paul in working the DVD player. The locals were very enthusiastic and enjoyed chattering away to us all. Eventually a break-out gang (Rebecca, Louise, Kathleen, Charles and myself) escaped to investigate the local hostelry: the Green Dragon. It was noted that Charles disappeared to the little boys room when drinks were ordered… apparently his pockets were sewn shut! On returning to accommodation we discovered that with the aid of Polish Vodka and Prosecco, Clare had been baptised as an honorary St. Helen’s Girl

fact file River Waveney The Canal Camp project: Rebuilding the offside wall of Geldeston Lock

Length: 4 miles Locks: 3 Date closed: 1934

Why? This is the first stage of rebuilding of the lock, which will continue with another camp in summer 2018.

It’s important to tackle it now, as the structure was in a poor condition and could have collapsed soon.

The wider picture: As long ago as 1670, the creation of the River Waveney Navigation saw three locks built to allow boats to continue from the tidal reaches (which were already in use between Breydon Water and Beccles), on up to Bungay. These lower lengths (plus their links to Lowestoft and the upper Yare) still form part of the Broads; however the length above Geldeston fell out of use and closed. There are no current plans to reopen the locks (the upper two of which have been replaced with sluices, making it more difficult), but Geldeston is to be restored as a historic feature - and hopefully a place to moor the unique preserved wherry (sailing barge) Albion, which traded on the Waveney in the early 20th Century.

Ellingham Lock Canal Camp site: Geldeston Lock

Bungay

page 8

Wainford Lock

Geldeston Lock

Tidal river to Breydon Water and Great Yarmouth

Beccles

Evening meal: Chicken or Vegetable pie, jacket potatoes, broccoli; apricot crumble bake and ice-cream.

Today’s lessons: leave the return half of your train · Don’t ticket in the machine at your departure

· ·

point (Emma) Check which pub people are visiting and its location (Rachel) Bring your D of E book on the camp (Charles)

Sunday 6 August: We were all up bright and early, en route to site by 8:45am after beautifying ourselves as we’d been assured of a Press presence today. The van drivers had a lovely narrow gravel track to navigate to arrive at Geldeston lock and the pub! Due to the pub requiring space for punters, we had to unload the vans carrying everything over a footbridge to the offside (in Suffolk) while the vans returned up the track to a larger car park (in Norfolk).

We had lots of gongoozlers watching from across the river, mainly with pints in their hands; which didn’t go unnoticed… especially by Carol and Janet! The compound and gazebo were set up, where tragically it was discovered that the Burco had lost its spark!

Tools were almost downed before they’d been used. Tea break became a squash break - but luckily it was sunny and warm.

Due to the unstable river bottom, the local trust had arranged for cantilever scaffolding (supported from the lockside) to be built on the offside for us to work from. As the river is tidal we had to be aware of water levels and would likely have to evacuate the scaffold at high tide – which was annoyingly scheduled for the middle of the day.

Meanwhile the job priorities for today involved Rachel and Hamish getting down to their roots and removing them from the bank; a selection of people working on the scaffold removing bricks and the mud “mortar”; and plenty of brick-cleaning. Hamish became the chief newt rescuer. Geoff-theLocal was making the most of the warm weather and the pub-side spectators as he sold sponsored bricks all day.

Anne arrived with lunch and Mick made hot water. We were now confined to land due to the tide, so mass brick-cleaning was the order of the day. It should also be noted that Esther brick cleaned ALL day (Tasterella

would have been proud!). Interestingly there were large lumps of flint in many of the bricks, resembling sugar almonds… do not attempt to eat if you want to keep your teeth...

At 2:30pm afternoon entertainment began with a skiffle band playing across the water. There may have been some non-PC lyrics involved. The brick-cleaners joined in with their tapping to the beat, and regular brick-shifting chain-gangs boogied away to the tunes. Eventually the end of the working day was upon us and vans were collected from Norfolk, and we made our way to Suffolk for showers and tea.

One of the vans had up to this point been driving around with the WRG cooker in the back, and so we decided to move it from the WRG van to the ‘naked van’ (ex-WRG van AZG, now owned by one of the leaders) – easier said than done, especially when Bungay rush-hour occurred in the very small car park. AZG is now on its way to becoming a campervan!

More prosecco was consumed by the St. Helen’s girls and a pub visitation to the Green Dragon was arranged for Rachel. En route to the pub, I ended up getting left behind for a spot of geocaching, and discovered the Green Dragon was closed after everyone else had moved elsewhere. Obviously none of them answered their mobiles, and so after calling in The Fleece, The Three Cooks and Castle (formerly The Ship) I tracked them down in the Three Tuns (no alcohol consumed until located WRGies or don’t think I’d’ve found them!).

Evening Meal: Chickpea Tagine or Roast Pork, roast potatoes, parsnips, green beans, stuffing, crackling and gravy; apple crumble and custard Today’s lessons: because an experienced WRGie is · Just making toast, this does not mean that she

· · ·

has remembered that bread doesn’t toast without electricity (Rachel) You can enter the pub to use the facilities, but liquid must only leave you and not go in The Press may be due, but that doesn’t mean they will arrive. Turned out a murder is more newsworthy than volunteers restoring an historic lock Pub patrons do not park in the best places – it was a good job the ramp onto the footbridge was sturdily built as it got driven over

page 9

you bring two big red vans down to the · Ifriverside, the man snoozing in the BMW while you’re loading up will wake up and glare at you. The temptation to nudge him must not be given in to Monday 7 August: Day two on site and now there is a routine. Set up site, and get on with the jobs: Lighting the Burco proving the biggest challenge, but a lot of matches and yellow buckets of patience later we had water heating up. Louise, Esther, Rebecca and a local (possibly Bernard – my notes fail) under Mick’s instructions continued to clear soil and roots behind the wall to see how far back the brick work went. Louise, Kathleen and Rebecca chipped out a lot of mortar and dusted down.

We had uncovered two 1 inch diameter wrought iron bolts that held the rubbing boards on the side of the lock; despite trying to excavate them before removal, they disappeared under the scaffold ballast; so with the aid of Bernard-the-local’s angle grinder Mick chopped them off. We made use of the youngsters and had Hamish and Charles humping sand and lime from van to van and over the bridge.

Carol, Janet, Clare and Rachel were busy brick-cleaning aka entertaining the pub customers. And at some point due to tired wrists they are planning a career change that’ll involve biscuits!?! Quotes that got noted: “We like volunteers with spirit – gin, vodka, port; we’re not fussy.”

(While brick-cleaning) Carol about Janet: “She taps like a girl.” Janet to Carol: “I am a girl!”

Janet: “That’s got a nice face, but a dodgy back end.” (I think she was talking about a brick, but who knows?)

the van, passing bricks out in Norfolk, while Mick hid behind a tree, stacking bricks in Suffolk. Dancing and singing might have been involved! It took several van visits to complete the brick transportation, by which point we were all exhausted and headed back to accommodation.

After tea, Paul went on a trip to the seaside with Carol, Janet, Clare, Rachel, Louise, Rebecca and Charles – they visited the most Eastern point in mainland UK – a somewhat depressing low of the week. Meanwhile Kathleen, Esther and myself played Rummikub; Anne was busy jigsaw-ing; Mick recovering aka sleeping and Hamish was doing “young things” on his phone.

Evening Meal: Lasagne (meat, veggie or vegan), homemade garlic tiger loaf and salad; meringue with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, yoghurt and cream (soya available) Today’s lessons learnt: because an experienced WRGie is · Just cooking toast, has checked toaster is

· · ·

plugged in and switched on, this does not mean that she has remembered to lower the bread into the slots... And that’s with a Toolbox Talk Card adjacent to said toaster (Rachel) Laughter Yoga while brick-cleaning as taught by Carol can cause great entertainment If you’ve arranged a trip to the most eastern point specifically for a geocache, don’t assume the cacher will go on the trip (Paul) If at first you don’t succeed, you might be third time lucky and with the aid of Rebecca and Charles finally visit the Green Dragon pub (Rachel)

Tuesday 8 August: And off we went to site Our new bricks arrived, but unfortunately the for day three. Louise had patented the Burco Travis Perkins lorry couldn’t get down to the lighting match extension, which was imporlockside, and remained in the top car park. tant enough to be kept in the flight case.

In order to get the bricks from Norfolk to Today, visitation rights were granted to Mr Suffolk, they had to be hand-balled from Martin Ludgate, who duly arrived on his pallets into back of a WRG van, driven down trusty steed. We also had two locals on site. the last track, then handballed out of van and We continued working from the scaffold across the footbridge into Suffolk. Initially removing the broken bricks, and preparing the lads had wheelbarrows crossing the for the new. Overgrowth behind the scaffold bridge, but Girl Power came into action and ballast was cleared to make a one way syswe hand-chained the bricks across… much to tem through the scaffold. I seem to recall the amusement of the onlookers. Paul hid in someone nearly getting wet in the river

page 10

Pictures by Martin Ludgate

Geldeston Lock, showing the cantilevered scaffold and (left) a couple of pub customers watching bypass. The first mix got started under Mick’s supervision. Obviously there was more of the never-ending brick-cleaning. Martin took some photos and had hopes of laying some bricks.

Ha! He hadn’t consulted with the weather when booking his train tickets…

As Anne arrived with lunch, the heavens opened. Everyone was raced to the gazebo for a group huddle. Due to the rain coming down at 50° angle, we were actually only in half the gazebo – that’s 17 people in a very small space… trying to eat lunch at the same time, elbows firmly tucked in. Cake got cut and passed around, while Hamish did a sterling job, braving the rain to make a pot of tea. There was also a need to hang on to the gazebo due to the wind speed, and then came the thunder and lightning! How British – drinking tea in a thunderstorm!

Once the cake and tea had gone the call to “Abandon Ship” went up and we left site in superfast time. The local canoe club required use of showers this evening, there were no untoward incidents recorded!

The ubiquitous pub visit occurred after food… the Green Dragon once again our pub of choice.

Evening Meal: Ermm – forgot to note; but

I believe pineapple coconut vegan birthday cake was involved!!! YUM YUM YUM from all Today’s lessons learnt: Burco lighting match extension is the · The most important tool on the camp… all hail

· · ·

Louise Tea and cake will beat wind and rain No matter how much you’d like them to, the five pub smokers in the spacious pub marquee aren’t going to swap marquee for gazebo Don’t leave your bag in the pub… especially if it contains your faxed copy of return half of train ticket (ahem!)

Wednesday 9 August The rain fell and kept on falling… the old man wasn’t snoring.

After some indecision from the leaders, we opted for Norwich rather than Geldeston lock. Parking proved more challenging than expected due to the amount of multi-story car parks and height restrictions; and some ill-placed cars when finding no height issues.

Once parked we all headed to the Cathedral to thank God for a car parking space. We scattered far and wide within Norwich: cathe-

page 11

dral tour, charity shops, markets, river walk and the Apothecary (for medicinal remedies… honestly no cocktails!?!). We rendezvoused in the cloisters to eat our packed lunch, and then retreated to coffee shop for hot drinks… and to help us feel at home, the tables were made from scaffold boards and tubes.

The afternoon involved a Magical Mystery Tour around East Anglia hunting for a Cider Farm - found, but somewhat hauntingly deserted, so we beat a hasty retreat.

Next stop down more narrow lanes than expected, St. Peter’s Brewery… with a shop.

Money was parted and home we drove to sup our wares.

A small contingent went off to look at water levels and see whether the scaffold boards were floating down the river: thankfully they weren’t. Back at the Canoe club the Great WRGie Puzzle-Off began: Portland Head vs The Great Wall of China Evening Meal: A selection of pizza, salad and bulgar wheat; leftover puddings, cheese and biscuits, grapes, pineapple and strawberries Today’s lessons learnt:

Bricklaying gets under way on the lock wall

page 12

park height barriers limits really · Car should be visible before the barrier to

· · ·

avoid having to reverse two vans back out Just because the assistant leader has a guidebook, does not mean it includes a map!

Van doors are good for pruning overhanging bushes It might say Cider Farm, but if it looks like no one has been there for a decade, you’re probably better leaving the cider where it is

Thursday 10 August The rain had stopped today, so off to site we all soon went. Unload and set up, followed by inspection of water levels. The Burco threw a strop and it took Louise and various others over half an hour to light. Meanwhile the generator also threw a wobbly and didn’t want to play ball either.

Rachel and Hamish began mixing by hand so that bricks could be laid without any delay.

Once shopping was completed, Anne came to the generator rescue with some jump leads and her engine, which unfortunately did mean a delay in lunch arrival.

BRICK LAYING HAPPENED!!! Until high tide approached, and what with all the rain, the levels didn’t drop. Instead, everyone got brick-cleaning and sorting and piling.

Some locals delivered us some flapjack and millionaire shortbread – they’d heard the rumours about WRGies and food!

When time was called at the end of the day, we decided to frequent the lockside hostelry – the cider drinkers among us had to sup “Thundering Molly” as “Slack Alice” had slacked off… Oh “Happy Daze”...

The local society had arranged for a tab behind the bar at The Fleece in Bungay, so having showered and been fed, we waltzed our way through the churchyard to the public house. We took over the snug, which became very snug once it was full of WRGies plus Geoff and Bernard. Both conversation and alcohol flowed well, for some more than others. Gradually people meandered back to the accommodation. Some got to bed and were fast asleep before the action took place.

Thankfully Charlie’s Angels were awake and around to take care of him.

Evening Meal: Ermm… not recorded, too focused on the tab behind bar in pub, but food was definitely delicious.

Today’s lessons learnt:

are a bit like · WRGies Labradors – easy to train as they’ll do anything for food · Puddles in pub car park might not be made of just water King Canute doesn’t always turn up when you need him Candles are hot, don’t sit on them (Louise) Alcohol should be drunk slowly (Charles)

· · ·

Friday 11 August: Last day on site! Ermm… my camp notes have nothing written for Friday, but I can assure you that we did lots of work. Including, but not limited to: lime mortarBrick-cleaning - a good activity for high tide... mixing, brick-laying, brickremoval, brick-cleaning, tidying site, rubbish removal. And Charles Esther – The Mixing Maestro Award, and a was everybody’s slave! special award for being Hamish’s Mum Hamish – Thunderstorm Tea Award Evening Meal: No idea what the meat Charles – Chundering Charles Award eaters had, because the non-meat eaters had Saturday 12 August We got up, we packed an amazing jar-filled shredded marinated vegetables and noodles taste of awesomeup and people gradually departed. The train ness!!! Anne you are brilliant. travellers went on a wander around Bungay… and I might have had them geocache huntToday’s lessons learnt: ing, unfortunately we failed... notes for what you did, cos you · Write won’t remember several months later

· · ·

when Martin has hassled you for a camp report for Navvies If you disgrace yourself the night before, you will be the butt of all jokes today You might forget your drunken chats/ reveals, but those sober won’t (Charles!)

No matter how much grief you get, take it on the chin and we’ll forgive you (Charles!)

Today’s lessons learnt: on the first train in the right direction, · Get as they might cancel the next few next camp’s leaders will get delayed · The due to train cancellations, which means

· ·

Camp Awards and Newbie Nailbrushes: Anne – Chief Chef of Awesomeness Mick – for just being a Brick Rachel – The Toasting Green Dragon Award Janet, Carol and Clare – The Prosecco Queens Kathleen and Rebecca – The Washing Up Fairies

· ·

you might hit a wing mirror (Paul) Don’t drink too much at the Bonfire Bash or you might end up leading a camp (Paul!)

Hope that Carol and Janet aren’t going to the Bonfire Bash so they don’t persuade you to lead a camp in 2018 (Paul!)

Paul is an excellent leader and it was a pleasure to assist him (Emma) What an amazing bunch of volunteers turned up to the inaugural river Waveney camp and made for a fantastic week.

Thank you for all your hard work, energy and company. It was a pleasure.

Emma Nurton

page 13

Camp report Uttoxeter WRG Forestry held their specialist camp on the Uttoxeter in preparation for the WRG Bonfire Bash. John Hawkins tells us how they got on...

The October half-term once again saw the WRG Forestry gang sharpening their saws and heading for a week away.

This year it was back to the Uttoxeter Canal, most of us staying in the pavilion of the Oakamoor Cricket and Football Club, but a few were lodging in their own camper van or caravan parked near-by.

A working gas Burco had made its way from a trailer currently stored at Brimscombe to me via RAF Martin, Bungle and Jen thanks to all for that!

Having re arranged the furniture in the main hall; positioning the large WRG cooker, fridge and freezer which I had bought across from the WRG store – all carefully pre-loaded ready for me to collect.

Sunday afternoon saw a short day on site to ascertain which trees were to be felled; all established and permissions arranged by Steve Wood from the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canal Trust.

To start with, the main tasks were to remove more trees near the restored Bridge 70 at Crumpwood, which then opens up the

vista. Several of these trees had been lying across the old canal bed and in places in a foot or so of water.

Monday continued with everybody working in the same area. Clearing the brash and logs was hindered because the water company (which controls access to the site via their private road) had not unlocked the gate by the pumping station buildings.

This meant that everything had to be heaved over the gate and then all dragged along the tarmac roadway to the place that had been allocated for a bonfire – a requirement by the water company.

On Tuesday we split into two groups, one group continuing the work near bridge 70. The second group had two ‘away-days’ doing some tree work on two different sites for the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust.

The first day we were working at Draycott near a line of semi-derelict cottages which the Trust had recently purchased. As Paul climbed the trees the main branches were cut and left to drop to the ground for us to clear. The main trunks were then felled,

fact file Uttoxeter Canal The Canal Camp project: Clearing trees from the channel next to Bridge 70, near Crumpwood.

Why? To open up the canal to public view on either side of the restored bridge.

Caldon Canal to Etruria

Length: 13 miles Locks: 17 Date closed: 1849

Froghall: 1st lock and basin restored 2005 Oakamoor

The wider picture: The canal having closed 180 years ago with parts of Crumpwood its route used for building a railway line, restoration and reopening isn’t going to be a quick or easy job. In particular, the first section at Froghall, Alton which might seem the obvious place to start reopening the canal (so that Denstone Canal boats from the Caldon Canal can access it) is going to be very tricky and Camp site: expensive to open, thanks to several missing locks, a blockage where a Bridge 70 main road crosses, and the need to share space with the Churnet Valley Steam Railway. So the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust looked around for Proposed a more practical place to start, and hit on the Alton to Crumpwood length diversion bypassed by the (disused) railway for some way, with surviving locks, the last ending in remaining bridge, and the unusual ‘level crossing’ of the River Churnet at converted Crumpwood Weir. This could be a restored ‘showpiece’ length, with a public quarrry tripboat to raise funds and support for restoration of more of the canal.

Uttoxeter

page 14

Pictures by Steve Wood

leaving a decent pile of timber ready for logging and lots of brash to be burnt at a later date by the Canal Trust members.

On Wednesday the away team travelled further to Sandiacre where the Derby Canal joins with the Erewash Canal.

We set to work on some more awkward trees that were near houses and overhead cables. These were reduced to a main trunk and, by some careful rope work, bought to the ground in ‘kit form’. Whilst we were doing this all of the timber was removed from site by a trailer and taken to the Draycott site for burning.

When all of the tree work was completed, Clive and I met with Jenny who was going to meet with members of the local Canal Society to do a site visit for a possible Canal Camp in 2018. Meanwhile Paul and others were investigating some very awkward trees that are overhanging a main railway line. As expected Network Rail were a bit ‘twitchy’ about where we would be working. Plans were discussed and a way forward plotted. This will be a difficult task, that, when all of the permission etc. are okayed will still take a while to do the job.

In the evening Jen, Clive and I had been invited to the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust’s AGM. Jenny was to give a talk about the IWA Restoration Hub and Clive a photographic presentation about the work of WRG Forestry Team – lots of ‘before and after’ photos and some to demonstrate the different aspects of their work. All very well received by those

in attendance.

For the remaining days, we now had everybody back working on the same site on the Uttoxeter; but instead of driving to site via the pumping station road we drove along the trackbed of the old railway. Rather conveniently our accommodation was adjacent to the railway, so we could drive to the worksite as if by train. This included driving through the old Alton Station (now a holiday home) where the folks who had rented the place for their holiday came out onto the platform – one guy wearing a stationmaster’s cap!

This route took us past the site that was to be used for the Bonfire Bash in a week’s time… (hopefully a report about this elsewhere!).

The work was much of the same (but with also some more awkward ‘wind blown’ trees): to open up the canal bed so that it was open for all to see. During the week several people who were out walking commented “Oh, so there is a canal hidden amongst the trees!” which indicates that all of the work is having an affect.

Saturday was, as usual, spent cleaning, tidying the accommodation, and loading the vans with tools and logs and then all heading for home.

John Hawkins “So there is a canal hidden amongst the trees!” - the cleared channel at Bridge 70, and (inset) the scene at the start of the camp a few days earlier

page 15

Camp report Mon & Brec Ralph Mills reports from a couple of canal camps with a difference: the work was an archaeological excavation of a lock cottage at Ty Coch Locks to steam, is in great condition, and can be seen today.

Little is known of the structure, ostensi“I have a feeling that we are about to bly the lock-keeper’s residence, shown on find it!” It was with an archaeologist’s instinct, Ordnance Survey maps from the 1890s to but also a secret degree of trepidation, that I the mid 20th century, just to the south east made this announcement to my expectant of the workshop. It appears, seen from a crew on the third day of my canal camp. distance, in a small painting and a rather Up to that point the cheerily enthusias- poor photograph. Yet an extensive spread of tic campers had innocently (naively?) bedomestic rubbish beside several of the Tylieved everything I had told them about the Coch locks suggests a century or so of occuspectacular remains that lay hidden beneath pation in the area. the unprepossessing surface beside Shop We know that a cottage was demolished Lock, one of the nine locks that make up the in the 1950s or 1960s, the building materials Ty Coch flight on the Monmouthshire and being taken away by a farmer, but, surprisBrecon Canal, west of Cwmbran. The prosingly, few locals have come forward with pect of discovering what remained of a build- memories of the structure. It was probably ing visible on old Ordnance Survey maps had so much an unremarkable part of the scenery fired their efforts as they had picked and of the decaying canal, which went out of use shovelled through the tough surface soils, in the 1930s, that it became invisible. We do gravel hard standing and heavy clay that had know that the last lock keeper, Richard Wilsurrounded a recently removed temporary liams (“Dick the Lock”), stayed on at his home building, a materials store. So far, all we’d after he retired, and that his two daughters found had been junk. were the building’s final inhabitants.

Although I had explained that other So was anything still there? Had the people’s rubbish is exactly what thrills ardemolition removed all traces of the cottage? chaeologists, I could see that my enthusing A sondage excavated in 2014 revealed the over bits of rusty wire, crisp packets, beer existence of a wall and a drain pipe, but was cans and a foam rubber cushion might be too limited to draw any firm conclusions wearing a bit thin. So it was with a modicum (which demonstrates the interpretive danger of relief... no… smugness, that a couple of in digging small holes). hours later I watched Anne-Marie uncover a In July 2017 we began our search by nicely-laid cut stone, and then another, and excavating a 1m wide trench North-South another... As I told her, to an archaeologist, across the area where the OS maps show a two stones in a row is an alignment, and building, and it was in this, after 20 hours or three in a row is... a wall! so of hard work, that we located a wall runWhat was one face of the wall soon ning approximately east-west. Now it isn’t became two, and then we excavated the base done, in archaeology, simply to follow walls. of a doorway, followed by two mortar-ceThis risks destroying the relationships, espement floors. cially the temporal ones, between walls, Shop Lock had already produced a floors and other deposits. So the trench was surprise. In 2013 an excavation led by R continued, and, lo and behold, we found a Burchell revealed the foundations of a build- second east-west wall at its northern end. ing immediately to the east of the lock, in the This wall had been built in a construction centre of which was a saw pit. This was trench cut into the slope below the workalmost certainly the workshop after which shop, so only had a single “good” internal the lock was named. The saw pit, which may face. The construction trench had been have been converted from manual operation infilled with clinker, perhaps originating from

Digging Dick’s Lock Cottage: Archaeology at Ty Coch 2017

page 16

the nearby workshop. It also produced roof tiles stamped “Sealy’s Patent”. These provide a useful terminus post quem (earliest possible date) of 1843 for the cottage. However since the building we were excavating appeared to have been roofed in slate I am suggesting that the tiles came from an earlier building, demolished before the cottage was built, and that the earlier structure had been built, or at least roofed, later than 1843, when John Sealy, based in Bridgewater Somerset, was granted his patent (the 1846 tithe apportionment lists a “cottage and garden”). In the painting, the roof of the workshop is coloured red, which could indicate that it was tiled, but the foundations of this building appeared to be too insignificant to have supported the weight of a tiled roof.

So, the first week had been a resounding success (even though we lost the whole of the final day to heavy rain). We’d found a building that contained at least two rooms, and had established its northern limit. Knowing this I was able to begin the second week’s camp by getting Luke Shanahan of the Waterworks team to remove some of the overburden using the project’s mini-excavator. Although once again we lost a day’s work, this time because the final Friday was dedicated to an open day that marked the end of the Waterworks Project, as a result of the heroic efforts of my merry volunteers we nevertheless established the overall size of the building, locating the north-west, north-

east and south-east corners.

We also exposed a fireplace in the centre of the north wall that appeared to have been blocked, perhaps to facilitate the fitting of a range. The north room also contained two brick-built structures of so far undetermined function, and we found the base of a doorway opening to the west.

There appears to be another fireplace in the west wall of the main room. All internal walls were rendered. The north room may be a later extension of the original main building; there are differences in the construction of its walls, and their junctions with the main walls may be butt joints. It appears in the painting to be covered by a “catslide” roof. The southern part of the main room remains to be fully investigated.

Outside the east wall we uncovered several flagged and laid-brick surfaces. Time constraints didn’t allow us to explore these further, but I’m hoping that one at least led to the cottage’s privy. This was perhaps located over the bywash, which would have acted as a sort of sewer (at least one rainwater drain emptied into it), though what would have happened when the water level was low is uncomfortable to imagine.

An indistinct structure is visible on the east side of the cottage in the only known photograph.

To the west, the double line on the OS maps was found to represent a passage, with a laid brick and flagstone floor. Again the

fact file Monmouthshire & Brecon Length under restoration: 15 miles Locks: 50 Date closed: 1930-1962 The Canal Camp project: archaeological excavation of the site of a former 5 lock cottage at Ty Coch Locks, south of Cwmbran.

Why? To find out more of the history of an interesting canal location, so that the information learnt can go on display by the restored locks, which are likely to become a major local attraction.

Navigable to Brecon 35 miles Five Locks 3 Cwmbran 3 Road built 4 on canal line

r Usk Rive

Canal Camp The wider picture: There are proposals to Cwmcarn site: Ty-Coch reopen south from the navigable limit at Five New link Locks into Cwmbran town centre. Opening proposed that length as well as Ty Coch locks (and turning Ty Coch into a local attraction as described above) Malpas Cr will bring pressure to bear on the authorities to reinum Fourteen lin state the intervening (very.tricky) one mile section where Ar Locks m a road was built on the route. This in turn would make the Newport case for opening the Crumlin Arm to Cwmcarn and creating a Original route through new route to the River Usk. Newport obliterated

page 17

lower courses of the outer wall have only an inner good face. At one point a drain was laid beneath the passage, leading from a perforated iron plate. The line of the drain, just outside the west wall of the main room, is clearly marked by the fireclay bricks used to cap its trench. It has been assumed that there was no mains water (or electricity) supply to the cottage, so the function of this drain, and the small alcove in which it begins, is unclear. Several steps mark the north end of the passage. Nothing is visible on this side in either the painting or photograph.

The cottage was built in the main using fine ashlar masonry facings with rubble interiors. This stone, which seems rather high quality for what was after all a fairly mundane building, may have been left over from the construction of the nearby lock, or perhaps was quarried from Llantarnam Abbey. It could also have been recycled from an earlier structure. Brick was used mostly for the fireplace and floors. Only two stamped bricks have been found so far: one, marked “Hanson Henllis” was manufactured just a few hundred metres north of the site and was found covering the drain in the western passage. The second, stamped “Star, Newport” was found in the fireplace blocking.

Both are difficult to date closely.

The cottage interior had obviously been

cleared of most domestic material before its demolition. Unlike the surrounding area, there were few artefacts immediately associated with it, and only small amounts of nineteenth-century ceramics, glass and iron were found. Other finds in what were highly mixed deposits included building materials, an umbrella, several marbles, two plastic toy soldiers, two babies’ dummies, a bicycle bell, a small child’s shoe and a joke beard. Most objects in the overburden dated from recent maintenance and restoration activities, as well as the usual beer cans and crisp packets discarded by twentieth-century visitors.

Like most archaeological investigations, at this intermediate stage we are left with more questions than answers. But considering that we only worked on site for ten days, and that most volunteers had not dug archaeologically before, we achieved a tremendous amount, and I believe that when it’s all written up and published we will have established Ty Coch as a ‘type site’ by future industrial and canal archaeologists. It is hoped that returning to the site in August 2018 for a final week or so of excavation and recording will enable us to gain a more complete picture of the cottage, with the ultimate goal of conserving, interpreting and displaying what we find as an important part of the Ty Coch experience, alongside the workshop

Excavation with a view: unearthing the site of the former lock cottage

page 18

Pictures by Ralph Mills

and saw pit.

My thanks must go to the Waterways Heritage Lottery Project team, led

by Heidi Carey, and to the Richard Dommett, Vice Chairman of the Monmouthshire, Abergavenny and Brecon Canal Trust. Mostly however I have to heap praise on my two teams of volunteers!

During week one I was hugely assisted by Ayushi Vyas, who went far beyond the call of duty to act, in addition, as cook. Dave Burdett stepped in at the last minute to act as my No. 2 van driver. It was a great team: I benefitted from the presence, efforts and experience of a number of “old hands” – Ben Thompson, Joe Atwill, Laura Gilmore, Inka Roszkowska and Filippo Zaraga.

Janet Thorpe came armed both with archaeological experience and her own equipment, as well as Andrew Thorpe, who also qualified as an old hand.

Samantha Timbrell was always active at the sharp end of whatever was going on and off-site, and Alan Bowden was great Anne-Marie uncovers three stones... a wall! at maintaining team momentum. Apart from finding the first wall, Anne-Marie Burdett was indispensable both on site and beyond. Freya Jackson and Matthew HearnPhillips happily showed just what Duke of Edinburgh candidates were capable of.

During week 2, Ben Thompson was my Assistant, and he did a superb job as usual, despite catching the same head-cold that reduced me to a miserable wreck by mid-week.

Sarah Frayne volunteered as cook, and we wouldn’t have survived without her. Filippo spent a second week cheering us along, and Judith Pope, an old hand from a while ago, renewed her acquaintance with canal camps with a vengeance! A bunch of Duke of Edinburgh candidates – Beth Darke, Harry Staples, Ethan Webb and Christopher Jones all earned their Gold Awards the hard way, especially at the very end of the camp.

Wayne Fiddler worked steadily all week, Marc Mancini was unstoppable, and my loyal teammate Andrew Thorp, back once again, did another grand job.

I must also thank Janet Thorpe for her post-camp research and Richard Dommett for sourcing the pictures of the cottage. Two canal camps are planned for Ty Coch in August 2018, with a mix of archaeology and more traditional WRG activities such as bashing vegetation.

I’m looking forward to another great fortnight!

A sketch plan of what was found of the lock cottage Ralph Mills

page 19

Camp report Wey & Arun The October camps both ended up moving to the Wey & Arun, where Dave ‘Kim Jong-Un’ Evans had plenty of work lined up, as Alex Melson reports There comes a certain point in a camp assistant or leader’s career where you start thinking that maybe the reason your camps keep getting moved is because either: (a) the canal camp gods disapprove or (b) you’re as lucky as a fellow who trips over a black cat, under a ladder and smashes a mirror before finally landing face deep in mud!

Well maybe a tad bit of an over-exaggeration; the October Camp was a culmination of volunteers from the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation camp and the Grantham camp coming together for a variety of reasons to help build a slipway on the Wey & Arun Canal.

The leadership team comprised Camp Leader Rob Nicholson, Assistant Leader Alex Melson and Cook Beverley Williams. We were joined by an amazing group of both experienced WRGies and newbies, who immediately gelled as a group. The Team: Pete B, Harri, Inka R, Paul B, Luke C, Sam D, David E, Tony W, Adrian S, Gordon P & Bill N. A shorter camp than normal, it started on the Sunday rather than the Saturday due

to the accommodation not being available until then. This meant an early start for our volunteers, who met us at 11am for the camp briefing, settling in and greeting. By mid-afternoon we made it to site for an induction to the week from Wey & Arun Canal Trust site head honcho David Evans who would continue to grace us with his presence and canal camp ethic more akin to Kim Jong-Un (only just falling short on barricading us on site) for half the week.

As with every first day, much of the time was spent getting the site ready and PPE sorted for the following week. The fortunate thing about the accommodation was it came pre-loaded with table tennis and pool, which formed much of the entertainment for the week.

Monday saw the first full day on site and the task plan involved having the majority of the group clearing and levelling the area where the slipway was set to be, from thick clay… Not just any thick clay, but the kind of clay that is simultaneously slippery and sticky that seems to have that unnatural/ River Wey to the Thames Shalford

fact file Wey & Arun Canal Length: 23 miles

Locks: 26

Date closed: 1871

Bramley

The Canal Camp project: Setting up shuttering (formwork) and reinforcing ready for a concrete pour to cast the first sidewall of the new Summit Slipway, also some finishing off works by the new Compasses Bridge.

Dunsfold

Canal Camp site: Why? So that trailboats can be launched into the restored section Summit slipway of the canal’s summit level. This has been extended to over a mile in length thanks to construction of the new Compasses Bridge and removal of the former causeway linking together two sections of canal, and the Wey & Arun Canal Trust hopes to hold trailboat events there.

The wider picture: Having spent some years concentrating on the length through Loxwood known as the Loxwood Link, the Canal Trust has adopted a ‘three sites strategy’ aiming to spread activity onto the northern sections too, as part of the long-term aim to open the whole route. One of the new sites is the Summit, which is set to be further extended by another new bridge; the other is at the north end of the canal near Shalford, where WRG volunteers will be working in 2018.

page 20

Birtley

9 Loxwood

Restored Loxwood Link section Newbridge

Tidal River Arun Pallingham to the coast

Alex Melson

unhealthy attachment issues that has driven ing the vessel, operating lock gates and many relationships into the ground (this was having a general chill, followed by a wellan issue all week). Once the ground was earned pint and fish and chips. prepped the largest reinforcing bar cages Thursday: After providing the team were put into place and preparations to form with amazing sustenance for the week Bev the foundations were made. joined us on site where she immediately Happening alongside this task, piling mucked in with the rest, as operations conwas installed, being carefully placed by tinued as normal with an emphasis on comAdrian & Dave. In the evening a trip to the pleting the pours and foundations ready for bowling alley was in order and with a WRG the big one on Friday. This involved finalisshirt for the winner, the competition was ing the formwork, taking measurements, heated. Though valiant efforts by all, newbie mixing, and copious amounts of biscuits. By Paul just pipped D-of-E-er Luke to the mark, the end of the day the other side had been securing himself his first WRGie shirt. set with its foundations.

Tuesday saw the first concrete mix of * The camp assistant Alex thought it many for the week with half the team focus- would also be a nice idea to get into the ing on securing the re-bar cages and the Halloween spirit and provided pumpkins to other half finishing off the path at Comcarve; after much convincing and deliberapasses Bridge. Pete and Paul spent the day tion he carved his own pumpkin and had the creating the two final re-bar cages that would time of his life whilst the others watched on! make up the slipway edges. Tony the master (it didn’t come out very well) carpenter started work on creating the Friday saw much of the same plus the formwork to Rob’s measurements. A special installation of scaffolding whilst we waited mention has to go to Luke here for his expert for the concrete pour, general site tidy up fire maintenance skills which in no way left and installing the formwork. As we all said the group without warmth during the rainy our farewells and started to go our own way periods (and no, being half a mile away at a it was great to see the achievements of the different end of site doesn’t excuse the fact!) week.

Wednesday saw the final touches to All that is left to say is a massive thank the footpath by Compasses and the whole you and well done to everyone who volungroup was reunited to focus on placing and teered during the week and made the camp measuring the re-bar cages and setting in the such a great experience. But Especially to foundations for the right hand side walls of Rob & Bev who kept the week in check and the slipway. More huffing and puffing later to Dave who ensured proper work ethic the foundations were poured, with a dynamic amongst the group. teamwork improving efficiency as the week Cheers for a great week and we hope to went on. The teams were: Paul & Luke shov- see you all again soon! elling two sets of 14 shovels full of ballast Alex Melson into the mixer; Alex, Gordon & Pete operating the mixer; Sam loading the mixed cement into the chute; Inka & Harri controlling the flow in the chute with Rob & Tony pouring the buckets in the hardest to reach places; and Adrian providing a steady flow of materials to site.

The day was finished with a lovely cruise organised by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust on the canal, where the group had turn at steer- Volunteers enjoy an evening boat cruise on a restored length of the canal

page 21

navvies

diary

Canal Camps cost £70 per week or as stated. Bookings for WRG Camps with Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453, enquiries@wrg.org.uk. D Dec 26-Jan 1 wrgBITM Dec 26-Jan 1 CC201728 Jan 5-11 WAT Jan 6/7 wrgFT Jan 13/14 London WRG Jan 13/14 wrgNW Jan 20/21 wrgBITM Jan 20 Sat wrgNW Jan 21 Sun Ashby CA Jan 21 Sun WRG Jan 27/28 NWPG Feb 2-8 WAT Feb 3/4 KESCRG Feb 10/11 London WRG Feb ?? wrgNW Feb 10-17 WRG Camps Feb 16-18 wrgFT Feb 17/18 wrgBITM Jan 21 Sun Ashby CA Feb 24 Sat wrgNW Mar 2-8 WAT Mar 3/4 KESCRG Mar 3/4 London WRG Mar 3/4 NWPG Mar 10 Sat WRG Mar 10 Sat WRG Mar ?? wrgNW Mar 10 Sat WRG Mar 11 Sun WRG Mar 17/18 wrgBITM Mar TBC wrgFT Jan 21 Sun Ashby CA Mar 24/25 London WRG Mar 31-Apr 7 WRG Camps Mar 31-Apr 7 WRG Camps Apr 6-12 WAT Apr 7/8 KESCRG Apr 7/8 NWPG

Wilts & Berks Canal: Xmas Camp at Dauntsey. Leader: Rachael Banyard Cotswold Canals: Christmas Camp - vegetation clearance Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu Buckingham Arm Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Hollinwood Canal: Daisy Nook (no WRG accom) Cotswold Canals: Tree management at Bonds Mill ‘Paper Chase’ waste paper collection Ashby Canal: Gilwiskaw Aqueduct Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall Wey & Arun Canal: Dunsfold Summit Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu To be arranged Buckingham Arm Date and site to be advised Camp 201801 on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Bridgwater & Taunton Canal: (3-day dig) Maidenhead Waterways: Clearing fallen trees on the Bray Cut Ashby Canal: Gilwiskaw Aqueduct ‘Paper Chase’ waste paper collection Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu To be arranged Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Wey & Arun Canal: Dunsfold Summit First Aid Course: Rowington Village Hall PAT Testing: Rowington Village Hall Date and site to be advised Barn Dance: Rowington Village Hall Committee & Board Meetings: Rowington Village Hall To be arranged To be arranged: Date to be confirmed Ashby Canal: Gilwiskaw Aqueduct BCN Clean Up: Birmingham Camp 201802 on the Montgomery Canal Camp 201803 on the Lancaster Canal Wendover Arm: Profiling & lining Fri-Thu Cotswold Canals: Inglesham Cotswold Canals: Stroud Phase 1A or Phase 1B

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

page 22

WRG and mobile groups

h number e.g. 'Camp 201801' should go to WRG Canal Camps, Island House, Diary compiled by Dave Wedd. Tel: 01252 874437, dave.wedd@wrgbitm.org.uk

d

Dave Wedd

07816-175454 01494-783453 01442-874536

bookings@wrgbitm.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com

Tim Lewis Ju Davenport Dave Wedd Barry McGuinness Peter Oakden Mike Palmer Bill Nicholson Roger Leishman Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Ju Davenport

07802-518094 07808-182004 07816-175454 0161-681-7237 01827-880677 01564-785293 01844-343369 01442-874536 07971-814986 07802-518094 07808-182004 01494-783453

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

Dave Wedd Peter Oakden Barry McGuinness Roger Leishman Bobby Silverwood Tim Lewis Bill Nicholson

07816-175454 01827-880677 0161-681-7237 01442-874536 07971-814986 07802-518094 01844-343369 01494-783453

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

Roger Leishman

George ‘Bungle’ Eycott Ju Davenport 07808-182004 01494-783453 Mike Palmer 01564-785293 Dave Wedd 07816-175454 Peter Oakden Tim Lewis

Roger Leishman Bobby Silverwood Bill Nicholson

01827-880677 07802-518094 01494-783453 01494-783453 01442-874536 07971-814986 01844-343369

info@ashbycanal.org.uk london@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk enquiries@wrg.org.uk rwleishman@gmail.com bobby@kescrg.org.uk bill@nwpg.org.uk

ease contact diary compiler Dave Wedd: see top of page

page 23

navvies

diary

Canal societies’ regular working parties 3rd Sunday of month ACA 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 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

Snarestone Peter Oakden 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 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 Les Schwieso Wey & Arun Canal Northern office Little Tring Roger Leishman Swindon Oliver Gardiner Wootton Bassett John Bower Pewsham Ray Canter

01827-880667 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 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 24

Canal societies and CRT Canal & River Trust ‘Towpath Taskforce’ maintenance working parties 1st Wednesday of month 2nd Saturday of month 2nd Saturday of month Every Tuesday Mon to Thurs 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 Bradford on A 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: ACA BBHT BCNS BuCS BCS BCT ChCT CBN CCT ECPDA FIPT GCS H&GCT KACT KESCRG LCT

Ashby Canal Association Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust 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 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 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

page 25

navvies

diary

Inland Waterways Association and other one-day working parties Dec 2 Sat Dec 3 Sun Every Wed Dec 9 Sat Dec 10 Sun Dec 13 Wed Dec 14 Thu Dec 16 Sat Dec 19 Tue Dec 19 Tue Dec 21 Thu Dec 26 Tue Dec 26 Tue Dec 30 Sat Jan 3 Wed Every Wed Jan 6 Sat Jan 7 Sun Jan 11 Thu Jan 13 Sat Jan 14 Sun Jan 16 Tue Jan 16 Tue Jan 18 Thu Jan 20 Sat Jan 23 Tue Jan 26 Tue Jan 27 Sat Jan 27 Sat Feb 3 Sat Feb 4 Sun Every Wed

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 RGT/IWA Ipswich River Gipping: Pipps Ford, or Baylham Mill Lock 9am-4pm IWA Lincs/SNT Sleaford Navigation: Various work on navigable section IWA Peterborough Horseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10:00 to 15:00 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. 10amBCP/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. Meet at 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. 10amIWA Peterborough Horseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10:00 to 15:00 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 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. Meet at locks 47 & 48 IWA Manchester Venue T.B.C.: Greater Manchester area. Veg clearance, etc. 10amBCP/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. 10amIWA Peterborough Horseways Channel: Horseways Lock and Channel. 10:00 to 15:00 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 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.

page 26

IWA and partners For WRG, canal societies and CRT working parties see previous pages Steve Wood Geoff Wood Martin Bird Martin Bird Chris or Steve Hayes David Venn Steve Wood 4pm

4pm

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

4pm

4pm

Colin Garnham-Edge Steve Wood Jason Watts David Venn Steve Wood Geoff Wood Martin Bird

07976-805858 01394-380765 01394-380765 01522-689460 01366-324102 07976-805858 07710-554602

07808-878317 07976-805858 01366-324102 01394-380765 07976-805858 07976-805858 01394-380765 01522-689460

07808-878317 07710-554602 07976-805858 01366-324102 07976-805858 01394-380765

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

page 27

restoration focus With the Grantham a regular canal camp site, and the Derby seeing its first WRG visit for some years, we look at restoration in the East Midlands 2017, you’ll be familiar with the Erewash but you might not know that it was one of the early restoration schemes.

In the early 1960s the canal was still navigable, having carried goods to Stanton Ironworks until 1952. But by 1967 it was in poor condition and excluded from the Government’s list of “waterways to be maintained”, the top length from Ilkeston to Langley Mill had been officially closed in 1962, a further section was proposed for closure, and there was a “small but vociferous” campaign among Ilkeston Council to fill it in.

An inspection cruise by the Inland Waterways Association led to a petition opposing closure and to the launch of the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association. ECPDA opposed the closure plans, instead supporting reopening of the upper reaches, and set to work to reopen Langley Bridge Lock. Technically this was the first lock of the Cromford Canal, but its Erewash Canal restoration gave access to Great Northern Basin which could form a terminus for the If you went to the IWA Festival of Water on Erewash, its own basin having been filled in. the Erewash Canal at Ilkeston in August ECPDA’s campaign was successful: the threat of closure was lifted, the lock and basin opened in 1973, ten years later the canal was officially reclassified as a ‘cruising waterway’, the Association has improved and extended the basin several times - and its volunteers have been involved in several of the more recent restoration London WRG at Borrowash in 2004: scaffolding standards have moved on since... schemes nearby.

Martin Ludgate

A new entry in the Canal Camps booklet which should (all being well) have come through your letter box with this Navvies is the Derby Canal. Well OK, it’s not exactly a new WRG site (as the picture of London WRG there in 2004 can testify), but it’s the first time we’ve been there for years.

Meanwhile the Grantham Canal has become a regular Canal Camps site in recent years, as the Woolsthorpe Locks project gets up to speed.

Both of these were once part of an extensive network of canals based around the Trent, almost all of which closed down by the 1960s, leaving just the Trent & Mersey Canal plus the Erewash (hanging on by a thread) - but which has since seen a revival.

So here’s a roundup of what’s happening in that part of the country - starting with the first restoration project in the 1960s...

page 28

East Midlands waterways Derby Canal This was ‘the one that got away’. It was still officially open until 1964 - although getting a boat through would probably have been quite some feat. But unlike many canals at that time, it didn’t have a ‘public right of navigation’, so IWA and others campaigning to save it from closing could be refused permission to use it by the canal company as happened when they attempted to organise protest cruises.

In the 30 years after closure, various parts of the route were filled in and in some cases built on, but there was still enough left that in the early 1990s the newly formed Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society (now D&S Canal Trust) could propose reopening the through route from the Erewash at Sandiacre to the Trent & Mersey at Swarkestone. A feasibility study showed it was possible, but Cromford

East Midlands waterways past and present

Whatstandwell Ironville Cromford Canal Langley Mill

Derby Canal Swarkestone

rse

River Trent to the Humber

Grantham

t

Cropwell Bishop

y

gh ou s) or on hb ati ug ig Lo av r( rn oa ste r S ce ve ei Ri d L an

e To Burton & M t n and Stoke Tre al Can

Grantham Canal Camp site: Woolsthorpe Locks 14-15

Nottingham

Erewash Canal

ok ro tb Nu nal Ca

Sandiacre

Nottingham Canal Ilkeston

Ri ve rT re n

Derby Canal Camp site: Borrowash Lock

Derby

there would need to be diversions around missing lengths - and the link to Derby city centre would not be on the original line but via a branch making use of the River Derwent - and a novel boat lift called the Derby Arm. More recently the Trust has secured protection of the route and planning permission for the entire line.

On the practical side, WRG held its 1994 Reunion dig clearing vegetation at Swarkestone, while the Canal Trust restored two bridges between Sandiacre and Derby, as well as beginning the restoration of Borrowash Lock (with WRG support) on this length.

In recent years the Trust has concentrated more on the ‘political’ side and planning for the future - most recently acquiring a set of derelict canal cottages for restoration including a community centre. But this has been in preparation for a return to practical

Loughborough Charnwood Forest Canal

Solid line: open canals and rivers Dotted line: under restoration Outline: other disused waterways

Grantham Canal

ra wb

Mo n lto ation e M vig Na

y

Melton Mowbray Oak ham Can al

Syston To Leicester

Oakham

page 29

work - which is now starting to happen.

WRG will be re-starting the work at Borrowash Lock during this summer’s camp, aiming to complete its restoration. Meanwhile DSCT has begun work at the Swarkestone end, aiming to restore the entrance lock, is raising funds for a 1km length adjacent to the cottages at Draycott, and has surveyed the water depth in the Derwent in preparation for setting up a public trip-boat operation on what will one day be the branch leading into the city.

The Canal Trust sees all of these as answering the doubters who point to a lack of progress on the ground, and improving the scheme’s credibility when it comes to asking for big money to replace the missing lengths of canal - and building the boat lift.

near the centre of Nottingham.

Unfortunately that lock is no longer navigable, and unlikely to form part of the eventual restored route - because a 1970s road scheme destroyed an adjacent length of canal, meaning that an alternative route to the Trent will be needed. That will be tricky and expensive but possible: one potential route involves canalising the Polser Brook to join the Trent further down-river outside the city. In the meantime, the Grantham Canal Society’s volunteers shifted their efforts to other lengths of the canal, and in particular since the 1990s the easternmost section from the A1 blockage on the edge of Grantham to Woolsthorpe Locks.

This length has been reopened, the top three locks of the seven-lock flight have been restored, a public trip-boat operates and trailboat festivals have been held. In recent Grantham Canal years, a £400,000 Heritage Lottery Fund To describe the Grantham as ‘East Midlands’ grant has enabled work to start on the next when our current worksite is out in rural two locks - and this has become one of the Lincolnshire might seem like stretching a main WRG Canal Camps worksites over the point - but when its restoration began in the past three years.

1970s, an early success was the reopening of Working with GCS, our volunteers have the first lock where the canal leaves the Trent completely dismantled and rebuilt Lock 15 (it turned out to be in worse condition than expected, requiring a total rebuild of the chamber walls), and this summer’s camps will be adding the finishing touches and moving on to Lock 14.

When that’s done, there are locks 12 and 13 - and then no more for 20 miles. It isn’t quite such plain sailing as that might suggest, as there are dry sections and lowered bridges on the ‘long pound’ - but there should be good progress westwards towards Nottingham in coming years.

And the rest of the canal hasn’t been ignored in the meantime - locks 7 and 8 at Cotgrave were restored as part of mining reclamation works, initial investigations have taken place at locks 4-6, and there has been plenty of vegetation clearand and work on culverts and feeders along the line.

Alongside all this practical progress, the Trust believes there could also be some movement on creating the new link to the Trent, and making the restored canal part Grantham: Woolshorpe Lock 15 nears completion - now for 14! of the national network again.

page 30

Meanwhile the low towpath bridge over the junction with the River Soar at Syston has You could say that the Cromford was the first been replaced with a higher one (as part of in the East Midlands to see any restoration SusTrans cycleway creation) opening up the work - because as mentioned earlier, what potential of restoring the first mile. we think of as the terminus of the Erewash A new group founded in recent years was built as the first length of the Cromford. aims to look at preserving or restoring what But leaving that aside, there have been a few remains of the Charnwood Forest Canal, proposals to reopen the remainder of the a planned second line of the Leicester (River canal, which stretched north for 14 miles Soar) Navigation which was never completed through a further 13 locks and the 1¾-mile to the original plans (part was built as a Butterley Tunnel to the mills at Cromford. horse tramway instead), was little used, and A 1970s scheme saw the northern part soon fell derelict. from Cromford towards Whatstandwell rewatered and a trip-boat put in operation, but Lost causes? then it came to a halt owing to a combination of practical problems (stormwater Note the question mark in the heading caused it to overtop the banks) and disagree- above: the history of canal restoration is littered with people dismissing ‘hopeless ments within the original canal society.

A separate scheme saw another group case’ canals (such as the Huddersfield or the clearing the canal at Ironville Locks, but then Wey & Arun), only for their comments to a flood prevention scheme involving demoli- come back and bite them! tion of the top lock put a stop to their work.

So just in case, we ought to mention a Finally the Friends of Cromford Canal, couple of other canals in the area with no formed in 2002, took on the restoration of current restoration plans (unless you know the canal. Since then there has been cleardifferently!) Firstly there’s the Nottingham ance work in the Ironville to Butterley area Canal which once provided a direct route (supported by WRG Christmas camps), refrom Langley Mill’s Great Northern Basin (top building work (including WRG summer of the Erewash / bottom of the Cromford) to camps) on a stone-lined ‘narrows’ (created as the Trent in Nottingham. In its favour several a toll point) near Ambergate, a horse-drawn miles survive, the towpath is an attractive trip-boat has been put back on the northern walk, and there are no worse obstacles to length, and the entire section from Cromford reopening than have been dealt with on to Ambergate has been dredged - albeit other restorations. Indeed for several years mainly for nature conservation, this section in the 1980s there was a restoration group. having become a nature reserve during the On the negative side there has been opencast years between the original restoration mining since then, the locks leading into scheme and the present one.

Nottingham have not fared well (and pass We don’t have any WRG camps on the through a populous area which would make Cromford this year, but we’ll be back. creating a new route difficult), and the HS2 railway is set to cross the canal.

And the Nutbrook Canal, which once And then what? led from the Erewash at Staveley to Shipley, We should mention a couple of other restora- has also largely been lost to opencast mining tion schemes on the fringes of this area. particularly in the upper reaches, but parts of Firstly there’s the Melton & Oakham Waterthe lower sections survive. Stanton Ironworks provided the canal’s remaining traffic up to the ways Society’s proposals to reopen the Melton Mowbray Navigation (a waterway mid 20th Century, but later resulted in parts of based on the River Wreake) and its extension the canal being infilled as the works expanded.

Following closure of the ironworks, plans to the Oakham Canal. Practical work has concentrated on the river (the canal’s route redevelop the site for housing and business was partly used to build a railway and will be propose reinstatement of small sections of the canal as public space and nature reharder to reopen) but there has also been investigation and background work to deserves; sadly a suggestion a few years ago of velop plans for the surviving parts of the reopening it as a navigable arm of the Erewash seems not to have been taken up. canal. WRG has supported MOWS with the construction of a slipway in Melton Mowbray.

Martin Ludgate

Cromford Canal

page 31

progress

Wendover

Our regular roundup of progress around the system begins on the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal, where re-lining work is progressing...

WAT

On the Wendover Arm Trust’s Septem- been suggested, but attempts are being ber and October seven-day working made to bring this forward to avoid clashing parties, bank and bed lining of the dry with WAT’s channel lining work which (as ‘Phase 2’ section of the canal proceeded. The mentioned above) should have reached 350 metres of Stage 3 of this section is now Whitehouses about the same time. fully lined for 221 metres, and both banks Roger Leishman, Restoration Director completed for 246 metres.

01442 874536 rwleishman@gmail.com At present rate of progress, lining work will approach Whitehouses in about six or seven months, entirely dependent on weather conditions during the forthcoming winter.

Meanwhile at Whitehouses, the latest news on the design and progress of the pseudo weir and wing walls to the wharf wall at the former pumping station site is that the design has just been received by WAT and is at present being costed by the Canal & River Trust. No firm date for this work has been agreed although a date Whitehouses pumping station site of April/May next year has

Volunteers making progress on the channel lining work

page 32

progress Sussex Ouse For the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust, this has been a summer of consolidation at Isfield Lock. The cut above the lock has filled with water and it seems to be holding (fingers crossed). An information board has been placed by the lock for the walkers who pass by on the public footpath, and grass cutting is ongoing.

Both the ageing digger and dumper have been repaired by volunteers.

Another lock on the navigation, Bacon Wish Lock, has been purchased by a SORT member and consequently we welcomed WRG forestry for another visit to remove damaging trees. This lock still has its original bridge, albeit in a decayed state. Work has started on clearing the shrubs from the bridge structure and repairing the brickwork.

Pictures by SORT

Meanwhile on the Sussex Ouse, the restoration of Isfield Lock is finally complete, and work is starting on the curiously-named Bacon Wish Lock

Above: work has begun at Bacon Wish Lock recently Below: Isfield Lock chamber with restoration complete

page 33

progress Wey & Arun Please buy the raffle tickets enlosed with this Navvies, or sell them to your friends, because this is what the money raised is being spent on...

Tim Lewis

Shake this copy of Navvies gently and ber Canal Camp (see report, pag 21) and (hopefully) some Wey & Arun Canal visits by London WRG and NWPG. Trust raffle tickets should fall out. So Meanwhile up and coming projects on what is the money WACT hopes to raise the Wey & Arun include two which will be from these tickets being spent on? Here’s supported by WRG’s summer Canal Camp in some news on what’s happening on the Wey 2018. At Birtley, a section of towpath is to be & Arun Canal... reinstated which will form part of a circular The Trust’s Compasses Bridge project walk being created to benefit the local comnear Dunsfold, recently completed, was one munity - but also as the first step towards of the finalists at the 2017 Living Waterways reopening the canal there.

Awards. These awards by the Canal & River And at the north end of the canal, Trust reward “inspiring waterway-based where the Hunt Park has been created along improvement projects” across the UK. The the route where the canal will one day be bridge, officially opened in October 2016 by recreated, WRG volunteers will be creating a Dame Penelope Keith, Patron of the Surrey boardwalk and laying the base for a visitor Hills, won a Commendation in the Commucentre. nity and Volunteering category.

All of this is part of the Trust’s ‘Three The bridge replaced a 1930s concrete Sites Strategy’ aimed at spreading work causeway, a major obstacle to navigation on along more of the route; the three sites the canal’s summit level on the site of the being the Loxwood Link where a long section original 19th century bridge. Contractors has been fully restored including six locks, a built the reinforced shell for the new bridge main road crossing and a new aqueduct; the alongside the causeway, but volunteers summit section including Compasses Bridge finished most of the rest of the construction and the new slipway; and the ‘Bramley Link’ work, including laying the facing brickwork at the north end including the Hunt Park and and the landscaping, and demolished the the Birtley towpath work. causeway. Their work had to meet the highways authority requirements for drainage, paving, fencing and earthworks, whilst maintaining good relations with the residents of adjacent properties and with the owners and operators of Dunsfold aerodrome.

Those who worked on the project included the trust’s northern working party led by Dave Evans, and visiting groups from WRG, NWPG and KESCRG. It is in the middle of a 1¼ mile section of the canal between Tickner’s Heath and Fast Bridge on the A281. Around half of this length has so far been restored for navigation by small boats, and the current London WRG shuttering up for Dunsfold slipway concrete pour project supported by the Octo-

page 34

progress Buckingham ...and on the Buckingham, the canal society has secured the cash to rebuild the canal’s first bridge - and is looking for volunteers to help build it

BCS

“Come build us a bridge!” says the weekends scheduled on 10-11 Feb and 14Buckingham Canal Society, which has 15 April. All volunteers welcome (see Navsecured grants of over £80,000 towards vies diary for contact details), or to join the rebuilding a canal bridge - and now needs Buckingham Canal society’s team contact volunteers to help it to complete the job. info@buckignhamcanal.org.uk for more BCS have been awarded a European information.

Union LEADER grant of £72,039 towards the costs of rebuilding the former canal bridge at Cosgrove, where the canal meets the Grand Union main line, as a crucial step towards the overall restoration of the canal from Cosgrove to Buckingham. The bridge rebuilding project is also supported by a £10,000 legacy grant from the Northampton Branch of the Inland Waterways Association, along with direct fund raising by the society.

Volunteers will be rebuilding the bridge, which stood at the end of the short suriviving length of the canal still used for moorings, and The bridge at Cosgrove as it was before demolition in the was blocking the canal prior to the 1970s and (below) what’s left of the arch on the offside site being excavated last year.

The rebuilding will start with preparations this winter and actual brickwork over the Summer in 2018. The team also anticipate rewatering the canal for approximately a further 300m whilst they formulate a multi million pound bid for the new channel to mitigate the section lost to housebuilding.

London WRG will be supporting the work with two

page 35

safety Wearing dust masks Why should you wear one? When should you wear one? How should you wear one? Here’s what you need to know about dust masks...

Why wear a dust mask?

“It’s a quick job…”

“They’re uncomfortable…”

“I get too hot…”

Fit around nose using nose clip

So why bother wearing a dust mask?

A recent visit by our insurers to a Canal Camp highlighted that some volunteers were not wearing their dust masks correctly – therefore providing no level of protection.

The main benefit of wearing a mask is that is prevents the development of illness that could affect your airways by inhaling hazardous particles whilst undertaking restoration work. These particles can be harmful causing coughing, respiratory problems and long term health effects.

Whilst some particles are Make sure you pretty obvious – cement and have a good fit brick dust for example - there around the chin are other much more serious particles, the most significant of these is silica. It’s contained in pretty much everything you will encounter (cement, concrete, coping stones, bricks, etc.).

Working with these materials may produce respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and this dust is too fine to see with normal lighting. But it’s a very significant cause of some long term health problems.

Now as with all things safety your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be the last part of the chain. Far better to take practical steps to ensure you are not exposed to the dust in the first place – for example, redesign or reposition the job so you are not exposing yourself or others to the dust.

Work should always be subject to a risk assessment and method statement so read these before starting the job and make sure you understand the risks, have the right control measures in place, and have the right level of protection.

Part of this protection will be your PPE, and that is where the correctly specified, wellfitting mask comes in.

Choosing the right dust mask On WRG restoration sites we tend to use a disposable filtering face-piece (FFP). There are 3 types of FFP masks:

page 36

FFP1 is the lowest classified dust mask filter level – they provide a level of protection for some low-level construction work such as brick dust and cement.

Make sure mask is tight to the face and there is a good seal

FFP2 offers mid-level protection against a range of harmful dusts and other substances. As they are valved they are more comfortable to wear and can provide a protection against things like softwood and brake dust.

FPP3 (the mask you will find in WRG’s PPE bags) offers the best level of protection. It protects against asbestos, and other hazardous substances as well as things like brick dust (when using a brick saw) or cement/ lime (when you add the dry powder to a mix). Because we cannot exactly guess what work you will encounter on site we supply FFP3 for all our Canal Camps.

For more hazardous jobs you can get half or full face masks. If you need this level of protection you may want to reconsider the job or put in place more control measures to reduce the risk.

Make sure straps are tightened and in the correct place

Badly fitting dust masks don’t protect you!

Make sure you fit it correctly None of the above will mean anything if the mask does not fit correctly. Always check the dust mask is clean and in good working order before each use, and make sure you have a good fit. Those of you with beards should take particular care to ensure a good close fit.

Remember to keep your mask on when working in a hazardous area and don’t take it off to chat or inspect your work.

For more details and guidance download INDG463.pdf from the HSE website.

Jenny Black

page 37

northwest Paperchase The words ‘WRG North West “Paperchase” waste paper collection’ (or similar) have appeared in Navvies for 40 years now - time for a celebration!

40 years of WRG NW Paperchases

Pictures by Jane Barkess

WRG North West officially came into being on 1 January 1977 and six months later the idea of collecting waste paper to raise funds was born.

Fast forward 40 years to 2017 a double celebration: 40 years of WRGNW and the 400th Paperchase on 7 October was organised by David ‘Mr Mac’ McCarthy.

Some old hands and new joined with the current regulars to make our 400th collection a successful one. Our announcement board also Ever keen to support recycling, WRG NW appear to have reused a 10-year-old sign sparked some interest with the locals.

After the paperchase, we all made our way around to Crumpsall Methodist Church where we were joined by many friends who had been involved with the paperchase over the years. Meat & potato or cheese & onion pie, served with the obligatory red cabbage and beetroot of course, were washed down with gallons of tea and followed by the legendary broken biscuits and a wonderful cake made by Liz Chase. Old acquaintances were renewed and new friends made. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our two milestones. Here’s to the next 40 years!

Mr Mac cuts the cake Carolyn Chafer

page 38

Above: A good turnout for the 400th Paperchase.

Below: the party afterwards in Crumpsall Methodist Church Hall. Right: It wouldn’t be a Paperchase without some Broken biscuits!

page 39

dig report London WRG It isn’t just about week-long Canal Camps. The regional groups are active all year, including London WRG who’ve been to the Shrewsbury & Newport... sites, meaning a lot of work moving branches about.

The local trust is active and well-organLocal people had been contacting the ised but not very big, so London WRG’s Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust with regular visits add a considerable boost to concerns about the condition of the tunnel their impact. We’re very keen on this project face at Berwick Tunnel. The Trust contacted because we find the locals easy to work with us to outline a plan of work – and it soon and we enjoy the work. Accommodation in became clear we needed much more than Uffington is excellent; clean and warm and one weekend to do it all. with a great kitchen. But it’s a bit small for a According to a recent structural survey, large group – we were more than 20 people so Berwick Tunnel, just east of Shrewsbury, is in it was lucky a few folk were in camper vans. surprisingly good condition inside. Outside Following some discussion with the it’s a different story! The stone face is crumlocals and our half-AGM, London WRG have bling, mature tree roots have infiltrated the committed to return twice in early 2018 to structure, and an old linesman’s hut is falling continue with the work at the Berwick site. to pieces nearby. All this needs attention We need to dig out the roots of several felled before it gets any worse. trees and rebuild an old brickwork linesman’s Our plan for the weekend was initially hut before tackling the restoration of the to add some edge protection to keep visitors stone tunnel face. Join us 3-4 March and 12out of trouble, and have a gander at the rest 13 May to help us make a difference at this of the structural work. The locals have the historic site. We always have a good time ambition to create a short loop of footpath there, so it’s well-worth making the trip. round that particular stretch of canal to open The local trust welcome other WRG it up to walkers. This meant there was plenty groups that can contribute to this ongoing of scrub bashing work to do. project. If your group would like to arrange a We got started with clearing the scrub weekend on the Shrewsbury & Newport canals on the towpath side and began creating a please contact Chas Warren on 07734 878 777. path on the offside. Eventually this will join Sophie Smith up to create an ‘all-abilities’ walking route of around 1km in length just outside Shrewsbury. It’s a manageable project and one that could really draw local attention to the wider restoration work.

As was perhaps appropriate on a dig so close to Halloween, this was a rather spooky weekend. For starters we were warned about a local population of bats that may or may not live within the tunnel itself. We found not one but several creepy pram skeletons buried in the undergrowth, and also a dead crow impaled on a wire fence. We also found out why the tunnel vents had been blocked up – a murder victim’s body had been dumped there...

Working around the needs of the local bat population placed some restrictions on how we worked. We needed to drag the Requires attention: Berwick Tunnel portal scrub well out of the way of possible nesting Martin Ludgate

London WRG on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals

page 40

navvies

News

Don’t forget to save the used postage stamps from all your Christmas cards - the WRG Stamp Bank can use them to support canal restoration Save the used postage stamps... ...from your Christmas cards for the WRG Stamp Bank and help canal restoration. Send them to the Stamp Bank c/o 33 Hambleton Grove, Milton Keynes MK4 2JS or contact

Directory update new contact for the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society is Ian Astbury c/o Meadowbank, Ringley Road, M26 1FW. Tel: 07855 471117, workparty@mbbcs.org.uk.

Steve & Mandy Morley on 01908 520090.

Want some hydraulic oil?

Available free to a canal restoration group, this almost full 25 litre drum of hydraulic fluid.

Collect from Ipswich, or could be brought to Aylesbury by arrangement if that’s more convenient. Contact Graham Fitt by email to graham.fitt@btinternet.com.

Boat share available

...have a new co-ordinator. After some years, Clive Alderman is taking a rest, and the new co-ordinator is Paul Goodman.

And finally...

The editor would like to thank everyone who has contribute to the success of Navvies in 2017, including: those who submitted articles, pictures, poems, snippets, letters, comments or anything else for publication; John Hawkins of WRG Print; Chris Griffiths for help with printing the covers (and the rest of the magazine at times); Sue Watts for subscriptions; Robert Goundry for rounding up canal society progress reports; Dave Wedd for putting together the diary; Lesley for proof-reading; all the team at Head Office; the London envelopestuffing gang; and anyone else that I forgot.

Season’s greetings to all our readers, and I’ll see you on the Cotswold Christmas Camp, or on a canal somewhere in 2018.

Martin Ludgate

The owners of historic former working narrow boat Fulbourne (a group of canal enthusiasts including several WRG volunteers) are looking for one or more new (and active) shareholders. If you’re interested, contact Tim Lewis on 07802 518094 or nbfulbourne@btinternet.com.

WRG Forestry

There’s a towpath in there somewhere! London WRG clearing what will one day be an all-abilities walk.

page 41

infill including Dear Deirdre All you need to know about coping with a boyfriend who hates canal digging, what a slow cooker is, and how to deal with the Platerwack...

Poets’ Corner “There’s a lot of nonsense written about WRG” writes Bob Coles, adding “...and here’s some more”. Here is an extract from Alex in Wrgieland, with apologies to Charles Dodgson...

Platerwacky ‘Twas a wrg dig, and the bungley jens Did parr and gribble in the lee; All moosey were the herasfens, ‘Round the hawk, raf and tc.

“Beware the Platerwack, my son!

The sole that quakes, the cord that snaps!

Beware the Ju-jude birds, and shun The autumnous Bonfire Bash” He took his PPE in hand: Long time his danksome rafe was pent And harri-ing low ‘neath the red gazzy bow, He fudged the risk assessment.

And, as in muppish thought he stood, The Platerwack, with gipping wey, Came scutching through the crumpy wood, And scumbled to the fray!

One, two! Pull through! And through and through The fearsome beast went wicker-wack!

It then went dead, and all there said: “Ring Bungle, and we’ll send it back”.

“And hast thou tamed the Platerwack?

Come to my arms, my kebbish buoy!

O georgeous day, Mk2! Haybay!”

He chelmered in his joy.

‘Twas a wrg dig, and the bungley jens Did parr and gribble in the lee; All moosey were the herasfens, ‘Round the hawk, raf and tc.

page 42

Dear Deirdre I made my new boyfriend come on a dig thinking he’d love it but he absolutely hated the whole experience. Does this mean our relationship is doomed?

- J F, Basingstoke-on-Avon

Deirdre replies Yes, probably. Most WRGies who date outside the faith end up heartbroken. How could anyone love a man who doesn’t enjoy eating badly cooked lasagne in a cold scout hut? If you do manage to make this relationship work, at least you’ll be able to come home to a hot meal and a drawn bath on a Sunday evening. My advice is to send him a lot of text messages over the weekend reminding him of all the chores that need doing at home before you get back. It’s an approach that’s worked very well for me and I’ve been married four times so I know all about relationships.

Dear Deirdre I’m meant to be helping out with the catering for the Christmas party this year and we’re arranging it all via group email. Everyone else in the catering team has agreed to bring their slow cooker to cook the puddings and I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t even know what a slow cooker is.

Should I just admit I don’t have one?

- P C, Suburbiton Deirdre replies A slow cooker, also known as a crockpot, is a type of electric oven that cooks food over a very low temperature and takes up a lot of space in your kitchen cupboard. Owning a slow cooker is a bit like belonging to a cult: it’s a bit obsessive, it’s all you can talk about, and it’s completely baffling to outsiders. They’re very popular with baby boomers, who tend to have a lot more cupboard space than the rest of us. The best way to get a slow cooker is to get married, as one of your aunts will insist on buying you one. The second best way to get one is from a charity shop, where you’re likely to find a brand new one that a bride’s offloaded because she doesn’t have enough cupboard space for it.

outro Cotswold cruise

Near Near Stroud Stroud town town centre centre

page 43

page 44