navvies volunteers restoring waterways
Back to work As waterway groups begin to cautiously re-start work, we report on their experiences of post national lockdown restoration
issue 302 august-september 2 0 20
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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 Editor: Martin Ludgate, 35 Silvester Road, East Dulwich London SE22 9PB 020-8693 3266 martin.ludgate@wrg.org.uk Subscriptions: WRG, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Printing and assembly: John Hawkins, 4 Links Way, Croxley Green 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, Emma Greenall, Helen Gardner, John Hawkins, Dave Hearnden, Nigel Lee, Mike Palmer, George Rogers, Jonathan Smith, Harry Watts. ISSN: 0953-6655
© 2020 WRG
PLEASE NOTE: Navvies subs renewal cheques MUST be made payable to The Inland Waterways Association Contents Editorial canal societies are important 4-5 Chairman MKP reflects 6-7 Restoration feature: detailed look at the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals 8-13 Practical Restoration Guide update 14-17 Restoration feature: Buckingham 18-22 Diary, what diary? What’s on, what’s off 23 WRG 50 what WRG means to WRGies 24-25 Back to work post-lockdown survey 26-31 Thoughts on canal trust governance 32-33 John Cadisch an appreciation 34 Progress and Montgomery update 35-39 50 years ago free speech in Navvies 40-42 Navvies news canals conference 43-44 Infill with Deirdre 45-46
Contributions... ...are welcome, whether by email or post. Photos welcome: digital (as email attachments, or if you have a lot of large files please send them on CD / DVD or contact the editor first), or old-school slides / prints. 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 303: 1 September.
Subscriptions A year's subscription (6 issues) is a minimum of £3.00 (cheques to The Inland Waterways Association) to WRG, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Please add a donation if you can.
Cover pics Eight sites where work has re-started. Top to bottom, front to back: Wendover, taking materials to site; Lichfield, Gallows Reach towpath work; Derby, scanning for old towpath near Spondon; Cotswold, new A38 bridge progress; Wey & Arun, Loxwood towpath repair; Melton & Oakham, Himalyan balsam clearance; Shrewsbury & Newport, Wappenshall basin shuttering; Buckingham, Cosgrove Bridge 1. Pictures by the local canal groups concerned
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editorial It’s not just WRG What’s wrong with marking WRG’s 50th anniverary by filling the magazine with stuff about other restoration groups? “Nothing”, says the editor... Editorial Exactly 50 years ago to the day as I (rather belatedly) write this column, the words ‘Waterway Recovery Group’ were appearing in public for the very first time - on a canal restoration display at the Inland Waterways Association’s National Rally of Boats at Guildford on 8-9 August 1970. Other than the Guildford display, it was a rather low-key launch. In issue 25, Navvies (or Navvies Notebook as it was then called) was produced by Working Party Group of the Inland Waterways Association’s London Branch; in issue 26 the small print said it was published by Waterway Recovery Group. But that was the moment when mobile waterway restoration volunteering started to transform from being an assortment of people with a common purpose and a magazine, towards having a national organisation with its own working parties, vehicles, plant, training, week-long canal camps, health & safety advice, publications, and all the other different facets of WRG today. So one might say that it’s more than a little ironic to be marking that significant anniversary with yet another issue of Navvies which doesn’t feature many of those facets. In fact, thanks to Covid-19 it’s probably the first summer since 1970 that WRG hasn’t organised any working parties for the whole summer... well, what a bummer! (apologies to any non-Stranglers fans) And perhaps it seems doubly ironic that in this issue marking the emergence of a national volunteer body for canal restoration, we’ve dedicated most of the magazine to those organisations which the embrionic WRG stood apart from as a national body (and, it appears, sometimes chose to rip the piss out of - see our archive slot!) Yes, I’m talking about the local canal societies around the country, each dedicated to restoring and reopening its local waterway. But I don’t see it as ironic. Not only does the current pause in WRG working parties give Navvies magazine the opportunity to stand back and take a wider view (or, if you prefer, a need to fill our pages with something, ANYTHING else!), but those canal societies are the very lifeblood of canal restoration - and without them, almost all canal reopenings to date quite simply wouldn’t have happened. Yes, there have been occasional projects where we in WRG have worked directly with waterway authorities such as the Canal & River Trust and their predecessors British Waterways, or with our parent body The Inland Waterways Association. But by and large it’s societies and trusts like the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, the Grantham Canal Society, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, the Friends of the Cromford Canal... without that key combination of the crucial local support with their fundraising, expertise, enthusiasm, experience and everything else that they’re good at, restorations don’t often get off the ground. Our founder and first editor Graham Palmer may have taken aim at one or two of them at times, but the ‘organisers’ list in issue 25 is full of their contact details - in those days it was the Peak Forest Canal Society, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, the Caldon, the Surrey & Hants... In 1970 as in 2020, WRG worked well when it worked together with these organisations. And while WRG continues to suspend all canal camps and weekend working parties as we go to press, many of these societies and trusts have begun work again. That’s not because we’re being more cautious than them, or because we think they’re being reckless, or because we’re being prima donna-ish or whatever. It’s simply that our mode of operation staying together in village halls, sharing transport to site in minibuses (several of our London WRG regulars don’t actually drive), sharing catering - just doesn’t (as it stands as we go to press) lend itself to finding a way of getting back to work that’s safe, practicable, and in
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Harry Arnold
Where it all started: Waterway Recovery Group display at Guildford IWA rally, 8-9 August 1970 line with the various Government rules and guidelines. We hope, by the time the next issue appears, to be able to report on London WRG getting back to work - but for now it will be a very different kind of working party from their typical digs - no pickup from Waterloo station, no Friday night ‘toast orgy’ in a village hall, no Saturday evening in the pub... However canal societies work in different ways from mobile groups. Their volunteers tend to live locally so they don’t share transport and they don’t stay overnight. They have followed the Government (and IWA) guidance, put together safety assessments for the Covid-19 era, and are getting back to work. You can read an article in this issue reporting back on how they are achieving this. And (if you are happy with this) you can join them there’s no need to be a canal society member to join one of their working parties, any more than you need to subscribe to Navvies to book on a canal camp. Just find their websites and Facebook groups (they’ve almost all got them) to find out what’s happening and when. Still on the subject of canal societies, we’ve followed the achievements of two of them the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust and the Buckingham Canal Society - in the next two of our series of ‘Restoration Feature’ articles looking in detail at individual restoration schemes, and we will continue doing this until we’ve got round them all (or the return of Canal Camp reports runs us out of space again!) And one way that we in WRG can continue to support the whole restoration movement while we’re not physically helping with the scrub-bashing and bricklaying sides of things is with information and advice: also in this issue you will see a preview of the Practical Restoration Guide, a completely updated version of our ‘bible’ for practical canal restorers (and complementary to the IWA’s Technical Restoration Guide covering all the other non-physical aspects of restoration), be they WRG groups, canal societies and trust, IWA branches or whatever. And finally, in the archive spot looking back at Issue 25 in July 1970, Graham Palmer also made it very clear that he believed in publishing anything submitted to the magazine so long as it was “interesting and/or relevant” - irrespective of whether he or the organisation behind him agreed with it - and took issue with those magazines not prepared to do this. And that’s something we try to follow 50 years on. So combining those two threads, we’ve got an independent view in this issue of canal society governance - if you disagree with the author, or for that matter if you agree, the letters page is yours. Happy WRG 50th birthday. I really really will see some of you on a dig sometime! Martin Ludgate
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Chairman’s Comment In which Mike welcomes a new arrival at Head Office, celebrates WRG’s 50th anniversary, and displays the contents of his drawers... Chairman’s Comment There has been quite a bit of change at the higher levels of WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association. Firstly, there are some new Trustees that are starting this September; five new peeps who are keen to join the throng. I won’t name them here as, to be blunt I doubt the names will mean anything to any of you. These people were recruited for their considerable skillset, not because they are well known within waterways circles. With interests in, amongst other things, regeneration and Health and Safety, we look forward to working with them. Additionally, on page 44 you will see a welcome to the new IWA CEO – Sarah O’Grady. Having already met her I think she too will be making her presence felt (in the nicest possible way) very soon. (Once she has recovered from the 3-hour rambling rant I subjected her to, obviously!) All of which leads onto the question “new CEO – what happened to the old guy?”. So Neil has stepped down from the CEO position but has not completely disappeared – he is still working in a “consultant type” role for all those things he did so well like insurance. Now this sort of situation is quite common in waterway circles and sometimes means that adequate recognition is not given. The reasoning being that “so and so” has not actually left so we won’t give them a send-off yet, but then they slowly reduce the work they do and when they do actually leave either nobody notices or nobody can remember all the good stories. (As Mick Beattie once said so memorably “forgotten but not gone”.) Well the committee were most insistent at our last meeting that despite the fact (or possibly because) Neil clearly will be hoping to just fade away, we will be acknowledging his contribution in the next edition of Navvies. We would have put it in this issue but to be honest we weren’t sure when he was actually handing over the Sarah. Finally through the Head Office revolving door we should acknowledge that Jenny Morris is back from her maternity leave – welcome back Jen, we have missed you. But Alex and Mikk have not exactly been slumbering - an article on pages 26-31 gives a summary of the recent survey undertaken by the Restoration Hub regarding the impact of Covid-19 on local societies. It’s a fascinating read and good to see that there have been some plus points that have come out of the pandemic. There is also an article starting on page 14 giving more info on the Practical Restoration Handbook (PRH) – you really won’t recognise it when you see it, Summer Howard (IWA designer) has done an amazing job on making it much more accessible and readable. All of the above is important stuff; however much of it is internal to WRG and IWA and that’s no great surprise – we always “Navvies won’t be Navvies without any cake!” - here’s a splendid said as lockdown ocbrick-and-trowel WRG 50th birthday cake by Ann-Marie Burdett curred that this would
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be an opportunity to pay some attention to areas we normally never have time to. However, all work and no play is not really what WRG is known for and I am so incredibly pleased to be able to recommend the centre pages of this edition of Navvies as very definitely a happy place. When it became apparent that our 50th year was not going to be the opportunity for getting together and celebrating we pondered what we could do instead. So we asked people to think about their favourite spot on the waterway network. Possibly somewhere they helped restore or maybe somewhere they are looking forward to restoring in the future. We asked people to send in words and photos or maybe even a video just telling us what it was about that place that made them smile. It didn’t even have to be a place - it could be those site boots they keep looking at longingly, or their trusty sleeping bag or the favourite camp recipe. I know I shouldn’t be surprised at the success of this, because you are all such very wonderful people but the uptake has been phenomenal and Martin has culled a few choice comments from Facebook, Instagram, etc. to fill the centre pages. It’s just a small selection and we will no doubt do something more comprehensive once the contributions stop coming in. However, there are two things I have noticed – firstly the breadth and diversity of contributions. Some small, some effusive, some touching and almost all of them hilarious. From people who haven’t been near a canal for 20 years and those who do five camps a year plus weekends. People have been incredibly honest about what WRG means to them – and I should also mention that there have been many humbling tributes from local societies as well. But most of all - I was expecting lots of pictures of places and there have been a few; but mainly people have just submitted pictures of people and some amazing words about what they mean to them. I know I shouldn’t be surprised by this, but it has been a huge reinforcement of the fact that WRG is first and foremost a people organisation. It is about people getting together, having a good time and making a difference. Somehow we have always managed to combine those last two points – I’m not really sure how we always seem to manage to achieve both, though I suspect that that again is just down to the amazing people. Finally I see on page 46 that Martin is providing some indicators that people have been locked in the house and unable to go digging and so below is my pictorial contribution to his “You know it’s been too long since you went canal digging when...” column – this is the sight that greeted me when I checked one of the digging drawers in our spare room. Mike Palmer
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Restoration feature As we once again use the pause in WRG work to take a wider look at projects, Lower Avon Navigation up to Evesham had been put back in working order with a reopening in 1962, while the first major canal The restoration back-story: If only route to reopen was the Stratford-upon-Avon it had been possible for the restoration of the Canal, whose restoration was masterminded Shrewsbury and Newport canals to get going by the legendary David Hutchings and which when it was first proposed, by now we might reopened in 1964. well have been looking back on the reopenAgainst this background, other abaning ceremony many years ago. On the other doned or unusable waterways in various hand, we possibly wouldn’t now be looking parts of the country began to be proposed forward to the restoration of the Montfor restoration by The Inland Waterways gomery Canal progressing from the navigaAssociation and local groups - including the ble English length towards the Welsh border, part of the Shropshire Union Canal system as described in John Dodwell’s piece in our which branched off the Main Line at Norbury Progress pages... Junction and led via Newport and Confused? Let me explain... Wappenshall Junction to Shrewsbury. Unlike In the early 1960s, even though the many canals restored or proposed for restotide was still only just turning in the struggle ration in the early days which had simply to save the surviving canal network from the been allowed to fall derelict, this had been threat of widespread closures (and some officially abandoned (under the 1944 LMS routes such as the Ashton and Lower Peak Railway Act, which disposed of a number of Forest were still being allowed to fall derrailway-owned canals) - but as yet, little elict), elsewhere the waterways revival move- serious damage (such as demolition of strucment was already chalking-up its first suctures) had yet been done to the canal. So cesses in reopening disused routes. The even by the standards of the day, long before
Restoration feature: Shrewsbury & Newport Canals
Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Length proposed for restoration: 25 miles Locks: 25 Date closed: 1944 (Shrewsbury end shut earlier)
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The Shrewsbury Canal, opened in 1979, was 17 miles long with 11 locks and one inclined plane boat lift. It linked Shrewsbury to Trench where it connected to the existing Shropshire tub-boat canals, and was originally built for trains of small tub-boats about 20ft by 6ft (four at a time in the 81ft long locks, or singly Shropshire Union on the inclined plane). In 1835 it was connected to the rest of the Midlands waterways to Ellesmere Port network by the opening of the ‘Newport Canal’ - the Newport Arm which branched off the Shropshire Union Canal’s main line at Norbury Junction and ran for 10 miles and 23 Norbury Forton locks (built to take standard narrow boats around 70ft by 7ft) Junction via Newport to Wappenshall Junction where it met the Meretown Lock Shrewsbury Canal. The two locks between Wappenshall and work site To Autherley Shrewsbury were widened so that standard narrow boats Wapenshall could work through to Shrewsbury Eyton Locks Newport (and will be able to use the restored (widened 1830s) work site route). Both canals Berwick Tunnel Inclined became part of the work sites Plane Shropshire Union Trench Locks system, and later (never widened) Former Shropshire A5 the LMS Shrewsbury Trench tub-boat canals (not Attingham Railway, proposed for restoration) Park which closed them in 1944.
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Shrewsbury & Newport Canals we feature a restoration first proposed in the 1960s - but finally happening...
Martin Ludgate
major external funding grants (such as tois still involved in it over half a century later. day’s National Lottery funding) began to be So in the long run, the S&N’s loss was the made available for such things, and when Monty’s gain. just getting such madcap ideas as canal That wasn’t the end for the Shrewsbury reopenings on the agenda at all was a huge & Newport Canals - but it’s fair to say they achievement, it seemed like a practical didn’t have a terribly good next 35 years. proposition for reopening. It wasn’t for lack of attempts to get a Unfortunately what prompted the restoration going. Look back at issues of launch of a restoration scheme for the canals Navvies in the 1970s and you’ll find reports was also what stymied it for some decades. of clearance working parties by a new society A local newspaper reported that the then - but in the face of increasing dereliction and British Waterways proposed to drain part of demolition (another aqueduct was destroyed; the canal - prompting the North West IWA new main road crossings blocked the route; branch to suggest the launch of a group to sections were filled in) the young and inexfight this and campaign to reopen the route. perienced group struggled to make headway. The Shrewsbury & Newport Canal AssociaThen in the late 1980s it briefly looked like tion was duly formed - but BW went ahead European regional aid money for Wales and drained the canal anyway and sold parts would fund the completion of the Montof it off. Some would say BW did it delibergomery restoration - allowing SUCS’s now ately to nip the idea in the bud, rather than much more experienced and capable canal have the hassle of dealing with a campaign restorers to leave the Monty and return for for restoration of a route they felt had no another crack at the S&N. But belatedly the future. Others would accept the official line UK Government made a decision (some said that the sale of the land had reached a stage a typical politicians’ decision that had more where the BW bureacracy couldn’t sensibly to do with winnable marginal seats than back out. Either way, no disrespect to the S&NCA but the draining, sale and subsequent demolition of structures including locks and an aqueduct simply took reopening out of the realms of the possible by the standards of 1964. Not that S&NCA gave up: the group widened its remit to include the whole of the former Shropshire Union system, reconstituted itself as the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS), and while keeping a watching brief on the navigable parts (the Main Line and the Llangollen), got actively involved at the start of the Montgomery Canal restoration in 1969 - and The first length at Norbury Junction is in water and used by a boatyard
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Martin Ludgate
worthwhile projects) to spend the money elsewhere, and SUCS were back to being the main force for restoration on the Monty. And likewise when it briefly looked like the National Lottery would fund the reconnection of the Monty to Wales - once again the potential funding failed to materialise, and once again SUCS remained committed to doing it the hard way. In the meantime yet more damage had been inflicted on the S&N route, including the construction of the new A5 in the 1990s, crossing the canal twice at near water level on either side of Berwick Tunnel. Finally in 2000 a new group, the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, picked up the mantle of reopening the route from Norbury to Shrewsbury. It too went though some difficult times - a controversial plan to replace the long flight of locks leading down from Norbury Junction by a dual inclined plane boat lift (thus avoiding taking any water from the Shropshire Union Main Line, which BW said didn’t have any to spare) didn’t go down terribly well with some of the local populace. These were the days after the Millennium Fund reopenings, when it seemed that almost every canal group took one look at the Falkirk Wheel, noted the way that having such an eye-catching idea appeared to have swayed the funders (it got the biggest ever canal-related Lottery grant, and massive EU funding to match), and thought “We’ll have some of that!” And although there may be places with this approach works, rural Shropshire with its narrow country lanes perhaps wasn’t the ideal site for a major tourist attraction. But a decade later, SNCT had changed its plans, and was pursuing a more conventional restoration. And it had begun practical restoration work at several sites along the route. Not, of course, at what might seem the most sensible place to begin: the connection to the rest of the national canal network at Norbury Junction. No, because Sod’s Law dictates that even having dispensed with the extra ten million or so cost of building a boat lift, the first length of canal is still a pretty pricey one, with several of the initial flight of 17 locks obliterated, and a need to provide a replacement for the dry-dock that the boatyard based at the former junction has created from the top lock. Not that I’m blaming them, please note: it was done when restoration wasn’t on the cards, and
London WRG dig out the infilled Meretown Lock the boatyard’s existence has preserved the short length from there to the junction. So SNCT’s work to date has followed the familiar pattern for the early years restoration projects’ early years of “work where you can”: restoration has taken place where it’s been possible to find projects within the abilities of volunteers, capable of being funded, and where permission to work can be negotiated. And that has meant various locations along the line - including three which WRG has supported both nationally with canal camps and also with regional groups including London WRG. Firstly there was clearance and restoration work on an aqueduct and a fine skew bridge credited to Thomas Telford on a site at Forton just east of Newport. Secondly, clearance and restoration a little way further west, on the edge of Newport at Meretown Lock. This is unlikely to actually feature in the restored canal at all: changes to the
Martin Ludgate
levels needed to get the canal under the A41 in this direction, has already seen attention Newport Bypass (one of several road by London WRG last year, as SNCT aims to schemes which have damaged the canal’s turn this into a longer restored length in the prospects since the original 1960s restoration medium term - see below. proposals) mean that boats will probably The second of the sites which have pass straight through the gateless chamber. been a focus of the Trust’s attention in recent And a third length near to the far end of the years is Wappenshall. This is where the canal, on the edge of Shrewsbury, has seen Shrewsbury and Newport canals met (see tree and scrub clearance on a length popular factfile panel), and the junction is overlooked with towpath walkers (which makes for good by two historic warehouses. Although (as publicity for the Trust). pointed out in recent issues of Navvies) the More recently (and again typically of the suggestion that they were Thomas Telford’s way that restoration schemes often develop), work turns out not to be true, they are fine work has become concentrated on two sites structures with surviving features, and would where there is the potential to develop some- make an excellent community centre, canal thing more than isolated navigation struccentre celebrating the heritage of the watertures or short lengths of channel in the fore- ways, and day trip destination for people seeable future. from the nearby Telford New Town with The first of these is at Berwick Tunnel. bistro and coffee shop. And as such, a focus This is an interesting feature: the only tunnel of attention on the canal and a source of on either of the canals, the first of any great funds and publicity for further restoration. length (it’s 970 yards long) anywhere on the Unfortunately bids to the National network to be built with a towpath (a Lottery Heritage Fund proved unsuccessful wooden one, subsequently removed), and (largely because NHLF’s available funds were with a distinct S-bend to the tunnel. Oh, and heavily oversubscibed by the number of one of the tunnel shafts was used to dispose bids), but SNCT broke the project down into of the body of a murder victim in the 1960s. smaller stages, found other sources of cash, But I digress... and has already re-roofed the smaller of the A few years ago the approach cuttings buildings. At the same time a considerable either side of the tunnel, particularly the amount of work has been done on the adjasouth east end, were so overgrown that it cent lengths of canal and basins. was difficult to see, let alone to get to. But concentrated work by SNCT and WRG has opened up the channel and towpath on both sides. There are plans to restore the stonework of both portals, to create a circular walk around the north west portal and the adjacent length of 200 metres from there to where the A5 blocks the canal, and to extend navigation further from the south eastern portal. Berwick Wharf, Berwick Tunnel NW portal, tunnel mouth shelter building in foreground half a mile away
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Where are we at now? At Berwick
three other organisations to “tell the tales of the Shrewsbury Canal” with an art trail, QR codes and listening points reproducing recordings created by the Trust over the last decade of local people’s memories of the canal, some from people who have since died. At Newport, removal of invasive Himalayan balsam has been progressing well, funding is in place to work with Shropshire Wildlife Trust to dredge the watered section of canal through the town, there are plans for a static ‘tea boat’, and all in all it is starting to look more like a canal - with some second-hand lock gates to be installed in Town Lock as a cosmetic improvement for now. Finally at Forton, the top of the aqueduct and the skew bridge have been cleared and some stonework repointed, but further work awaits settlement of land ownership and permissions issues.
SNCT
Tunnel, the approaches to both portals have seen a huge difference with the totally overgrown cuttings transformed into something looking more like a canal. A four month break during the recent lockdown saw prolific growth of vegetation, but weekday work parties have now re-started, given it a good bashing and got it tidy again. Meanwhile large timber is being used by an SNCT member who is a woodwork teacher to make rustic planks and stakes, which the Trust is using to build a landing stage near the south east portal. And initial work has taken place at the nearby Berwick Wharf. At Wappenshall, the Trust is now back at work every Friday and Saturday. Last October 1400 cubic metres of silt was cleared out of the eastern canal basin, but unfortunately ground conditions then got too bad for the rest of the autumn and winter, leaving 120 cubic metres still to come out. But now, the bank has been levelled and shuttering is being set up for a concrete slab So what next? At Berwick Tunnel, the base, liner and retaining wall to be conportals themselves, where a number of stones structed - although there is a serious shorthave been displaced by tree growth, are due to age of steel reinforcing at the moment. see some attention. The towpath will be levMeanwhile on the warehouses a bat roost elled, widened, surfaced and edged to original has been created in the larger building (satis- profile, and this will continue through Widows fying one of the listed building conditions) Bridge which will be re-pointed and the fallen along with a barn owl roost. And on the capping stones reinstated. smaller building work is under way to remove and relay the quarry tile floor with a new concrete and sand base. A toilet block is under construction, and a cunning technique has been devised for repairing the warehouse walls’ spalled brickwork, involving using an Arbortech machine to remove damaged bricks before cleaning them and replacing them the other way around. A different kind of project at the west end sees SNCT sharing a Work continues on reinstating the towpath near Berwick Tunnel £96k grant with
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SNCT
Progress at Wappenshall: shuttering for the basin wall, warehouse in the background And at Wappenshall, the next major target is to get the small warehouse completed, so that it can be used for a cafe and meeting space, which will not only attract local attention (and hopefully support for the Trust’s plans) but bring in a regular income. This, together with some hoped-for support from NLHF and other sources, would enable the larger warehouse to be completed at a cost of perhaps £800k.
And then what? We’ve already mentioned the aim to create a circular walk around the north west end of Berwick Tunnel, but there are also plans for the south east end. In the medium term, the hope is to also restore an 800 metre length a little further south east, where the canal runs through the grounds of Attingham Park, the third most popular National Trust property in the country, with a view to running a trip-boat (and SNCT will be talking to the NT about a business plan for this). Perhaps over a longer timescale (upwards of five years) it might be possible to reinstate the two missing minor road bridges (one either side of Berwick Wharf) between there and the tunnel, creating a 3km restored length linking the Tunnel to the Park with a public trip boat.
And then for the longer term, the far side of the A5 crossing is another former country estate where the possibility of linking up with the Berwick to Attingham section could justify the expense of the road crossing and create a length of several miles. At Wappenshall the long-term vision for the large warehouse is that it would provide a home for a rolling exhibition of Thomas Telford’ life, based on the large collection owned by the Ironbridge Gorge museums but currently not on display. Another feature of this site will be a pair of former working narrow boats, Bainton and Berkhamsted, which have been given in trust to SNCT, are heading for Norbury, and following restoration (via a separate funding appeal) will prorivide publicity for the Trust - and eventually move to the Wappenshall site. And ultimately, the aim is still that all these restoration projects and sources of publicity and income will one day lead to the reopening to navigation of the entire route from Norbury via Newport and Wappenshall to Shrewsbury - just as envisaged almost six decades ago in that first attempt to save the route from being sold off by British Waterways. Martin Ludgate
To find out more or to join the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, see snct.co.uk
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restoration Handbook After 20 years it’s time for a complete re-write of the Practical Restoration Handbook. We preview the new ‘bible’ for canal restorers Coming soon: the Practical Restoration Handbook The original Practical Restoration Handbook was written in 2000. Its aim was to draw on 30 years of WRG experience and share that knowledge with restoration groups so that there was no need to have to reinvent the wheel (barrow) for each restoration project. Following a successful application by WRG’s parent body The Inland Waterways Association for grant funding from the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR) plus IWA’s own resources for the overall management and administrative support, authors from all across the Canal Restoration sector were commissioned to produce two handbooks on waterway Book 1 covers the essentials of setting out a site safely restoration within a period of about three years. These were the Technical Restoration Handbook (TRH), produced by IWA’s Restoration Committee, and the Practical Restoration Handbook (PRH), produced by WRG. The PRH was written as 18 chapters covering a range of subjects, including skill (such as bricklaying), plant, equipment, tools and four chapters on health and safety. As you can imagine, much of the H&S information needs frequent revision to keep up with developments; indeed as soon as it was written it was due for revision to take account of the HSE Publication Charity and Voluntary workers: a Guide to Health and Safety at Work. Fast forward 20 years and with increased pressure on volunteer organisations to improve Health and Safety standards and after many revisions to existing regulations, laws and best practice guidelines, it became essential to update these guides more thoroughly. The result is a complete re-write, and the first section will be published soon. The aim of the review was not to just take what was already there and update it with new legal requirements, plant, equipment and materials, but to provide a more comprehensive handbook that could be used as a reference library of restoration activities and the legal requirements to carry out restoration work safely. The new Practical Restoration Handbook has now been divided into three books covering related subject matter: Book 1 Planning the job: essential health & safety information when planning a restoration project Book 2 Tools for the job: equipment, machinery, tools, plant, vehicles Book 3 Doing the job: restoration activities
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The first of these books is due to be published soon. The IWA Restoration Hub has produced a number of guidance notes that will make up the content of the new Practical Restoration Handbook Book 1. In addition to this a number of Toolbox Talks have been generated to enable restoration group organisers and work party leaders to pass on site specific information to volunteers. All about Book 1: Book 1 covers essential information when planning a restoration project. A total of 19 guidance notes make up the core content of Book 1 with other subject matter identified to be included in an addendum. The initial guidance notes cover the legal aspects of running a restoration project and the project planning that is involved. It sets out insurance requirements for the project. It goes on to discuss team leadership, the welfare of your volunteers and attitudes towards running a safe restoration project. The final notes cover a range of health, safety and environment subjects. Below is the detailed contents of Book 1. Each section represents a guidance note, which is intended to provide the reader with an introduction and more detail on the subject. The note is intended to be used by restoration project organisers to help set up their project and for site leaders to use as a reference document. The guidance notes should be available on site so that volunteers wanting to read more about a subject can ‘dip in and out’. WRG will be putting together a set of recorded webinars, which will cover each of the guidance notes in detail. 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Introduction to Health and Safety at Work Act Project Planning Construction (Design and Management) regulations (CDM) Writing a Risk Assessment Health & Welfare of your volunteers Behavioural Safety Leadership Skills Insurance Site Setup & Organisation Environmental Considerations Waste Management First Aid at Work and Reporting Accidents Temporary Works and Excavations Personal Protective Equipment Manual Handling Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Hand-Arm Vibration Working at Height Working near Water
In addition, addendum 1 will follow, containing the following seven extra chapters: 20 21 22 23 24 25
Fire and Electrical Safety Safety Signs, Signals and Notices Noise Dust, Fumes and Respiratory Hazards Overhead and Underground Services Lead and Asbestos
Toolbox talks: To accompany the Practical Restoration Handbook a series of Toolbox Talks has been prepared. The intention is that restoration group organisers and work party leaders can provide ‘bite-sized’ talks to volunteers to cover specific activities that are carried out on the project.
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Below is a list of the Toolbox Talks, the title of the section on the website where the Toolbox Talk can be found and the intended audience for the Toolbox Talk. Title
Where on website
Target audience
Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses Asbestos Banksman Banksman Signals Barrow Hoists Behaving Safely Brew Kit and Welfare Brewing the Tea Brick Saws Brushcutters Buried Services Catering, Accommodation Competence Confined Spaces Consider the environment Construction Dust Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Dealing with Invasive Plants Demolition Dumpers Electrical Safety Excavations Excavators Fire as a Tool Fire Safety First Aid Fitting a Dust Mask Ground Conditions Hand Arm Vibration Hand Health and Safety at Work Act High Voltage Electricity Kerb lifter Hand Kit Logistics Ladders Lead Lifting Operations Litter picking Logistics on a Canal camp Logistics the WRG Way Lone Working Manual Handling Materials Storage and Handling
Personal Site Plant Plant Site Personal Personal Personal Hand Tools Hand Tools Site Personal Personal Site Site Site Personal Site Site Plant Site Site Plant Site Site Personal Personal Site Tools Personal Site Tools Personal Site Site Plant Site Personal Personal Personal Personal Site
Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Leader Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Volunteer Leader Volunteer Volunteer Leader Volunteer Leader Leader Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer
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Mixing with a Cement Mixer Mobile Scaffold Tower Noise Oil Spill Kits Organising a Work Party Packing Catering Cooker Plant Pollution Personal Protective Equipment Reading a Risk Assessment Safety signs Scaffolding Setting Up a Gazebo Sharpening of Slashers Site Layout Slips Trips and Falls Temporary works The Public Tirfors Toaster Understanding Project Plans Using a Diesel Cement Mixer Using an Electric Cement Mixer Waste Management Weil’s Disease What did CDM ever done for me Work at Height Flowchart Working at Height Working Near Water Writing a Risk Assessment
Site Site Site Site Personal Personal Plant Site Personal Personal Site Site Personal Hand Tools Site Site Site Site Hand Tools Personal Personal Site Site Site Personal Personal Site Site Site Personal
Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Leader Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Leader Volunteer Volunteer Leader
The new Handbook will be printed and sent to restoration groups to replace the current Handbook. WRG regional groups and canal camps will carry a copy. In addition, each guidance note and toolbox talk is prepared as a pdf document and will be available online on the IWA / WRG website. Still to come: Books 2 and 3 We will bring you further information about the remaining two parts of the Handbook when they are due to be published (likely to be by next year). However as an initial indication, they will in the same format of a series of guidance notes also available online in PDF form, and we plan to include the following subjects (and probably more): Book 2: Safe use of Dumpers; Safe use of Excavators; Segregation in site; Clearing Lock Chambers; Vehicles and Trailers; Hand Tools - Use, Care and Maintenance; Tools Encyclopaedia Book 3: Vegetation Clearance; Safe use of chainsaws; Invasive Species & Biosecurity; Towpaths; Creating boundaries; Bank Protection; Demolition; Scaffolding; Brickwork; Concreting; Dewatering For more information contact head office
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Restoration feature A rare example of a restoration where there’s the prospect of opening up a face manner. Instead of doing the apparently obvious thing and starting at the beginning where the canal under restoration links to an existing navigable waterway, they’ll be workThe restoration back-story: ing on some godforsaken wilderness in the At last, one where you can actually start at middle of nowhere, restoring a lock or a the beginning... bridge that isn’t going to be connected to anything for the foreseeable future, and I’m I’ve lost count of the number of times that trying to explain why it’s all good and for the I’ve started writing an article about a canal best that the aforementioned boating readers restoration project by trying to explain to the are unlikely to even get the bows of their readers - particularly those who are canal narrowboat into the entrance of the canal boaters and would like one day to go boating within their allotted span on this planet... on the restored canal - why the canal restorOK, it isn’t always quite that bad. And ers are doing it in an apparently arse-aboutwhen it is, it seems there’s always a perfectly
Restoration feature: Buckingham Canal
Buckingham Canal Length proposed for restoration: 10 miles Locks: 2 (originally) Date closed: 1944 (see below)
Bridge No 1 work site
Grand Union to Birmingham Cosgrove Junction
A5
What canal restorers call the Buckingham Canal was built as two Old branchesof the Grand Junction Canal (now the Grand Union). Stratford To the Old Stratford Arm opened in 1800 from a junction with the main London line at Cosgrove to Old Stratford, followed the next year by the Buckingham Arm which continued for another nine miles Milton from Old Stratford via two narrow locks to Buckingham. Deanshanger Keynes For the following century the canal carried a modest but regular trade. However silting at the Buckingham end (not helped by the town discharging its sewage into the canal) led to the ending Proposed of trade there by the early 20th Century, and on the rest of the diversion route by the 1930s. In 1944 the canal was dammed at Cosgrove Bridge 1, but in theory it remained legally open. The Original line blocked Buckingham Arm was finally abandoned in 1964 and by A5 and A422 since then has suffered from infilling, blockages and demolition of structures. The Old Stratford Arm Beachampton was never legally abandoned (although this didn’t prevent the demolition of Bridge 1 or the Bridge No 16 Little Hill construction of the new A5 from Farm Bridge restored Thornton blocking it) - and there’s an work site outside chance that this fact Hyde Lane Lock may help to get a diversion and nature reserve under the A5 built.
Buckingham
Bourton Meadow restored length Final length not currently proposed for restoration
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Buckingham
Canal
length to boat visiting from the main canal system in the not too distant future 1970s-built A5 dual carriageway bypass around Milton Keynes cuts the canal just short of Old Stratford, was a focus of the Buckingham Canal Society’s efforts from the early days when the Society was founded in 1992. But not yet (at the time) being in a position to reinstate the missing Bridge 1, the Society then found other lengths further down the line to work on. These included clearing a section near Hyde Lane Lock, one of just two locks on the canal climbing to Buckingham. Another project in the early days was dismantling and rebuilding an overflow spillweir at Bourton, not far short of Buckingham, completed in 2004. And a bigger project for the following years was the restoration of Bridge 16 near Thornton, a traditional masonry farm crossing whose wing walls and parapets needed rebuilding. And as usual, besides being bits of restoration which would eventually play their part in a restored canal, these were seen as achieving other ends in the meantime. For example the spillway rebuild led to rewatering the Bourton length to persuade
Pictures by BCS
valid reason why starting at the beginning just isn’t practicable in the early stages of a restoration when big funding is hard to find and justify. We have canals where ‘starting at the beginning’ would mean bypassing filledin and built-on sections (the Grantham, the Wilts & Berks); replacing collapsed tunnels (the Chesterfield); or building a new motorway bridge (the Lancaster). If your first half mile is going to cost £10m to fix, experience suggests that restoring a couple of easier bits elsewhere and sticking a trip boat on them will be a surer way of getting somebody (like the Lottery) to stump up the big money than simply getting out the begging bowl. So it comes as a pleasant surprise to be reporting that the very first bridge on the Buckingham Canal, Bridge No 1 just a few hundred yards from the junction at Cosgrove, is well on the way to completion and boats will indeed be entering the canal from the Grand Union Main Line in the nottoo-distant. Even on the Buckingham it hasn’t always worked that way, though. Yes, the first 1.5km length, from Cosgrove to where the
Restoration of Little Hill Farm Bridge was an early success for Buckingham Canal Society
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the local authorities in Buckingham that chunks remaining from the abutments when restoration was a possibility by showing the bridge was demolished in the 1970s. To them a section with water and a boat in it begin with, the plan was to rebuild the arch, and this was achieved in 2013, complete following the line of the original stonework, with a solar-powered pump to keep it topped but using affordable brick rather than stone, up. Meanwhile the Hyde Lane section has led and modified to make it capable of taking to restoration of the lock, initially as an modern farm traffic. But that didn’t fit with unnavigable feature (with second-hand gates the modern views of the heritage movement to make it look more convincing) and as a and CRT... nature reserve - which has led to a good So the plans were changed: what rerelationship between BCS and nature conser- mained of the original structure was secured vation groups. and would remain as a part of the new But Cosgrove has continued to be a bridge, but the new work to complete the main focus. The 1.5km length from Bridge 1 span would be deliberately done in a way to the A5 has been dry for some decades, that makes it clear that it’s a new structure and dammed off by a bund at the bridge site and not part of the original. The deck would since the Second World War. Rewatering it be concrete with steel railings; the top of the would need to be done carefully, to keep a abutments and the wing walls would be check on any possible leakage. (In fact it’s brick; the original lower parts of the abutbeen claimed that fears of leakage were why ments would still be stone. And that (toit was dammed in the first place, the canal gether with associated work on the towpath, having never been officially abandoned at the bridge hole, the adjacent farm causeway, that time, but there is also evidence that it and the bund keeping the Grand Union’s still held water rather later than that. Howwater out) is what BCS and visiting volunever I digress...) teers have been doing for the last couple of For this purpose the section was diyears. vided into three 500m lengths, and each of those subdivided, with each subdivision to be Where are we at now? Following a rewatered slowly with a close watch on water necessary interruption for the Covid losses. And the good news is that the first lockdown work by BCS volunteers has relength from the Cosgrove end has been started (and all being well, in the next Navsuccessfully rewatered - it’s even had a boat vies you will read of one of the first WRG on it - while work has continued on further working parties since March, as London WRG sections. head there in early September), and compleHowever for the last couple of years, tion of Bridge 1 is in sight - with a watered following the securing of European LEADER funding in late 2017, BCS’s main project has been to reinstate Bridge 1, with a view to opening the first length of canal to navigation. By all accounts it’s not been a straightforward project, with a lot of paperwork, negotiation with site owners the Canal & River Trust and some changes of plan. The issue is that it was historically a stone arch bridge, and as the initial clearance work confirmed there Hyde Lane Lock nature reserve receiving attention were some sizeable
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length of canal beyond. Meanwhile the Bourton length remains in water, Bridge 16 is restored, and Hyde Lane Lock looks like a lock. In between them there are lengths of surviving channel, and sections which although filled in are at least unobstructed farmland. However there are also some serious obstructions. I’ve mentioned the A5, but there are more...
Cosgrove Bridge 1: before demolition, all that was left of it (below)...
So what next? Well, it won’t surprise you to read that finishing off Bridge 1 and its approaches is going to be the main job, followed (once farm traffic can use the bridge) by removal of the adjacent farm crossing over the canal, and repair of this length of channel. And then, a continuation of the work to gradually rewater (and test for leakage) successive sections of canal from there to the A5, working towards bringing boats back to the edge of Old Stratford.
...and the new bridge nearing completion (bottom)
And then what? From the A5 onwards it gets tricky, as not only does the dual carriageway cross at close to water level with no obvious easy diversions to get across it, but immediately beyond, Old Stratford has expanded onto the line
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of the canal. Oh, and beyond Old Stratford there’s another tricky length in Deanshanger with a couple more main road crossings either side of it to contend with... There will be a need for something rather more radical, and BCS has already been planning it for some years. A little way south east of the A5 canal blockage, the road runs on a concrete viaduct across the River Great Ouse (which isn’t actually that ‘great’ up here!) and its floodplain. If a canal diversion were to Just add water: the rewatered length beyond Cosgrove Bridge 1 take a sharp left turn a sees its first boat, and (below) Bourton Meadow overspill doing its job few hundred metres before the A5 and drop through a couple of new locks, it could then turn sharp right and pass under one of the side spans of this viaduct, on the floodplain. It could then continue on a new alignment closer to the river than the original route, all the way past Old Stratford and past Deanshanger (and its troublesome road crossings) too, before eventually rejoining the old line as it emerges from the road blockage beyond Deanshanger. We’re talking about a 45km diversion here, including a couple more smaller new road the outskirts of Buckingham (the current plan crossings needed, which won’t be cheap. is to stop at a new terminus on the edge of But just getting the first bridge built at town, where yet another new road blocks the Cosgrove and the 1.5km from there to the route). So if that difficult length around Old A5 restored shows that the canal society Stratford and Deanshanger can be done, means business, and makes a 4-5km diverthen there’s really nothing to stop it going all sion with new locks and bridges a whole lot the way. more likely to get funded in the future. And And for many of us it might well hapfrom there on, there aren’t any more probpen in our allotted span on the planet. lems anything like that serious, all the way to Martin Ludgate To find out more or to join the Buckingham Canal Society see buckinghamcanal.org.uk
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diary... still no diary? In the light of the Covid-19 situation, WRG’s practical restoration activities remain largely curtailed but some groups are re-starting work. Where’s the Diary? You’ll be used to turning to the centre-spread of Navvies for the start of six pages detailing all the forthcoming WRG, IWA, canal society, CRT and other working parties around the waterways network. For obvious reasons, we didn’t include one in the last two issues as pretty much everything apart from the odd bit of essential safetyrelated work had been stopped. And although the easing of the lockdown has led some local societies to re-start work, that’s still largely the case for WRG and mobile groups...
So what’s happening then? The short answer for WRG is still ‘not a lot’. But the long answer is slightly less pessimistic. We realise that even with the shorter lead times possible with electronic distribution of this magazine for most readers, the changing situation may mean this is out of date by the time you read it. But see below for a roundup of what’s been cancelled, and what could (if there is no return of of restrictions) go ahead.
Canal Camps: WRG has reluctantly taken the decision to cancel (or postpone) all weeklong canal camps for remainder of the summer programme and also the autumn camps, on the grounds that based on Government guidance, accommodation, travel to / from site and catering were areas where the risks could not reasonably be managed. However no decision has as yet been made concerning the Christmas camp. If camps are cancelled, anyone who has booked will be offered a full refund. The good news, however, is that WRG is (subject to the Covid-19 situation permittin it) currently looking to pretty much transfer the entire summer 2020 summer Canal Camps programme en bloc to 2021.
Mobile groups’ weekend working parties: The mobile groups have also up to now been cancelling working parties on an eight week rolling programme, that may change soon. While overnight stays away from home are now permitted under Government rules, there are still rules on numbers of households meeting indoors which make the groups’ usual mode of operation impracticable; however at least one group (London WRG) is looking to run a one day work party (or perhaps a pair on a Saturday and Sunday) with one of the societies which have re-started work. Contact the regional groups for details. IWA and canal societies: As we went to press, some canal societies had begun one-day working parties with suitable precautions, in line with Government guidance and IWA advice, and you can see an article reporting their experiences of post-lockdown work on pages 26 to 31 of this magazine. Contact local canal societies for the latest news. CRT working parties: The Canal & River Trust has begun to re-start its own volunteer work, initially with individual volunteers such as lock keepers and litter picking. IWA Festival of Water: This event planned for Worcester over the August Bank Holiday weekend, at which some WRG volunteers were planning to help, has been cancelled. The Inland Waterways Association hopes to reschedule it for next year. IWA canal restoration conference: This has been rescheduled for 10 October, and will now take the form of a virtual conference and a series of online seminars. See our news section on pages 43-44 for details.
See wrg.org.uk for the latest on what’s on, what’s off and what’s postponed
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WRG@50: what does it mean? A selection of quotes from contrib
“Rupert and I met at a London WRG drink in 1993 and got together later that year. We’ve had “10 years of volunteering with WRG have introduced me to some of the best people I know and and only with cable ties and heras fencing clips); More adaptable (finding out the day before your cc Emma “The experience is so valuable too, meeting new people and making new friends, gaining all m know I had, having now led or co-led three camps” - Stephen “I remember my father joining Navvies Notebook the weekend of Operation Marple in 1969. Mr Mr “My first big job was Compasses Bridge where without WRG we would probably be still building building summer camps and many regional visits, not forgetting the visits from forestry. I really look for fo Crossing Project and the many good times that will be had” - Dave “My short time in the #wrgfamily has brought new friendships, given a new sense of what it m m beer, and taught me that when people work together, the world can be transformed! Looking ff “I met my wife Kaye on a camp in Bude thanks to Karen and Viv and Mick and 27 years later w Mont to Little Venice and from Over to Ipswich and so many good friends that I owe a lot to WR W “So many wonderful lifelong friendships and so many wonderful memories, plus a few relatives WRG happen!” - Kaye “Filled my student days with lots of fun memories and amazing friends through to this day. Asto and colour at a trail boat rally!” - Tom “During uni I would get on a train every three weeks and then board the London WRG minibus minibus the impressive suntan/scratches depending on the season” - Richard “Best thing I’ve done and can’t wait for my son to be old enough to go” - Chad “The most valuable lessons I have learnt is that friendship, teamwork and the ability to talk to to “I started at the 2001 National Festival Canal Canal Camp, Camp, with with leaders leaders Andi Andi Kewley Kewley and and Izzy Izzy Rutter Rutter “What fab people and cause. With strange memories of Flying Squad’s, Anonymous groups, mad “Most of you have known me since the 1988 National Festival when I was about 8 months old! the Mon and Brec when I was 18. I have made so many friends and learnt so many skills - and “I have met some of my best friends via WRG. Plus an amazingly talented bunch of people. Som I was ready” - Adrian I’ll always be grateful to Izzy Rutter for suggesting WRG for the charity element of my Gold Du Rachel “I’m a misfit, you’re all misfits and together (and we’re ALWAYS together, even when we’re ap ap “I got involved with WRG to meet new like-minded people; to spend time outside in the great o some of the best canals in the UK;to come out my shell and talk to new people; to leave a legac lega “I’ve met so many people who’ve changed my life (married one of them!), been on camps and w the Lavender Boat was such a good job?) and have been constantly amazed at people’s willingn willing “I was blissfully unaware of WRG until a working party at the beginning of April when voluntee Ashton canals. During a break from work I overheard references to something called ‘Navvies N N teer wearing a woolly hat answered my question, mostly in words of one syllable. Thus went m Court shortly after” - Chris So now what does I guess it’s l It’s moulded wh It’s where I alway “Friends, mud, mud, cake, cake, tea, tea, achievement” achievement” -- Carolyn Carolyn “While working on Over Basin as a local, the Late Great Mick Beattie asked me why I was worki work ating the Worcester moorings for the Natonal. How could I refuse such a polite request?” - Alan Ala “There was beer and pantomimes and mud, onion Bahjis and bad parody songs and an awful lo lo once a restoration project and we’ve taken our children boating on canals that we have worked worked “I stumbled upon WRG by accident, the description enticed me, get up to your neck in mud, cut cut page 24 one Calendar (“No there are no trains on this line as it’s a Sunday...” Cue the steam train) and II
butions to WRG’s Facebook page for the anniversary weekend
d d so so many many amazing amazing waterway waterway adventures together together since since then” then” - Alison Alison d d I reckon reckon it it has has made made me: me: more more resourceful resourceful (such as having to secure flyaway gazebos armed camp camp that that the the accommodation accommodation is is double double booked. booked. Twice); Twice); More More confident; confident; A A better better cook” cook” --
anner of practical manner practical knowledge knowledge and skills, and developing developing as as aa person, person, finding finding abilities abilities II did did not not
r Mac is still doing well and sends his best wishes to WRG on its 50th Birthday” - Ian g the bridge, bridge, last last summer summer was was Birtley Birtley Lift Lift Bridge Bridge One: ground works complete in 4 months, 3 rward to weekends and summer camps with rward to weekends and summer camps with WRG WRG looking looking forward forward to to the the upcoming upcoming Tickners Tickners
eans to do something important, got me into the great outdoors, developed my love of good means forward forward to to the the next next 50!” 50!” - Paul e are still enjoying life with our now teenage kids! I have had so many good memories from we RG. Thank WRG. Thank you!” you!” - Ralph s gained gained along along the the way way too! Thank you for everything WRG and thanks to everyone who makes
on Locks Locks on on the the Montgomery Montgomery was was aa favourite. favourite. Funniest Funniest onsite onsite moment, moment, parking parking cars cars by by type type
s for for aa weekend weekend somewhere, somewhere, usually usually followed followed by by aa Monday Monday of of lectures lectures with with people people asking asking about about
o anyone anyone are are some some of of the the most most important important skills skills out out there. there. WRG WRG has has taught taught me me that” that” - Jasmine and within about 2 hours, realised I was ‘home’.” - Mark d d weddings, petrol poisoning on my first camp, and even ski trips” - Ian II did did the the Nationals Nationals for for years years with with my my dad dad and and grandparents grandparents and and my my first first dig dig on on my my own own was was what other 18yo can say they have been knee deep in mud pointing a lock wall?” AJ what other 18yo can say they have been knee deep in mud pointing a lock wall?” - AJ me me who have seen things things II can can do, do, before before II realised realised II could. could. Pushed Pushed me me and and proved proved to to me me that that
uke uke of Edinburgh. Edinburgh. II went went with with her her to to the the Chester Chester National National Festival Festival and and never never looked looked back. back. --
part) part) we we make make one one great great big big slightly slightly crazy crazy and and very muddy family” - Mark outdoors outdoors in some great locations, often in the middle of nowhere; to learn new skills restoring cy acy that will out live me. There are some bricks in Stroud that should” - Ian weekends weekends all all over over the the country, country, involved involved in in arcane arcane kit kit logistics, logistics, helped helped at at festivals festivals (who (who knew knew ness ness to give up their holiday time to get muddy” -- Ed Ed ers from from around around the the country country joined joined the the local local group group to to work work at at the the junction junction of of the the Rochdale Rochdale and and Notebook’. In all innocence I asked, “What’s that?” A stocky, bearded, chain-smoking volunNotebook’. In all innocence that?” A stocky, bearded, chain-smoking volunmy my first first encounter encounter with with Graham Palmer, and I sent my postal order for 25p to 4 Wentworth Wentworth
WRG mean to me? ike a family. like ho I am, you see. ys long to be. - Ali
The background picture is another WRG 50th birthday cake in the shape of a brick, made by Ann-Marie Burdett
ing with king with the the ******* ******* H H& & G, G, why why don’t don’t you you ******* ******* come come and and ******* ******* work work with with WRG WRG crecren ot of laughter. And now we’re living in and restoring a lock keepers house by a canal that that was was d on” on” -- Liz Liz t down down trees trees and and burn burn them! them! II never never looked looked back! back! A A number number of of camps camps and and Nationals Nationals later, later, plus plus page 25 I’m I’m now now cooking cooking on on and and off for Forestry!” - Mitch
back to work Survey WRG may not have worked post-lockdown, but some canal societies have. An IWA survey reports their experience, concerns and issues... Back to work: the canal societies survey Between issue 302 (when we were still in the relatively early stages of the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown) and this issue, the lifting of restrictions has encouraged a number of canal societies to re-start volunteer work. As we have explained in the Editorial and Diary pages, WRG’s different modes of operation have so far precluded us re-starting Canal Camps, but in the meantime our parent body The Inland Waterways Association has run a survey to report back on the return to volunteer work by local societies. Here are some preliminary results after the first 17 groups responded, to give something of an initial picture of early post-lockdown canal restoration work... The guidance: Firstly, almost all of the groups had read the IWA special guidance and created a Covid-19 safety plan or similar, enabling them to re-start work. However a large majority reported that there had been an impact on their volunteers, and that aspects of their work had been postponed or significantly changed as a result of the pandemic. The impact: Overall the most common form of impact reported was on the morale of the groups, followed by financial and planning impacts - with environmental and reputational (for example in terms of missed deadlines or publicity opportunities) impacts being less of an issue. Of the 14 who had re-started construction work, only three had reduced the frequency of their work, but almost all had reduced the size of the work parties - typically from 11-15 volunteers to 6-10, and most groups (either regularly or occasionally) were having to limit the work, meaning that they were achieving around 50 to 75 percent of what they had before. Compliance: The groups reported good (average 4 on a 1 to 5 scale) compliance with guidelines by their volunteers, but a need to keep reminding volunteers to stay 2m apart. Worries and concerns: Regarding the concerns of the volunteers themselves rather than the groups, the most common worry was that they or someone they live with was at higher risk from Covid-19 (for example as a result of age). But ultimately, groups remain relatively upbeat, rating their concerns for their restoration at around 3.5 on a scale of 1 (very concerned) to 5 (no concerns) and of their current team at around 4. And the long answers: Perhaps more interesting and useful than these statistics are the longer written answers submitted to the other questions in the survey. Please note that these are only a relatively small sample of canal societies, and we at Navvies are not endorsing or recommending any particular views - we publish them in the hope that readers will find them stimulating in discussions and useful in deciding whether and how best to safely get their own working parties going - or whether, in the circumstances (as per one or two of the responses from canal societies) they simply feel that the situation is not safe enough yet. There are, however, some common themes coming through, particularly: Changes to work practices such as
. . .
Avoiding sharing tools / plant Smaller teams More planning
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Welfare changes included:
. . .
Bring your own More sanitising Less cake (sorry!)
When they couldn’t do construction, groups found alternatives (where practicable) including:
. . .
Keep sites tidy Control vegetation Get on with planning work
Problems, difficulties, threats and reasons for not starting work included:
. . . .
Planning issues Money Older and vulnerable volunteers Just getting your head round sticking to the 2m rule
...but at the same time, a number of groups actually saw some positives.
. . .
Only one person in an excavator per day?
A chance to step back, take a wider view and do some planning More people using the towpath, becoming members and volunteers Conversely to the money worries mentioned above, the possibility of new sources of grants and finance
Below are are selection of quotes from these: What new elements have you added/brought forward to your current work? “More advanced planning” “More contractor led activity, eg rather than have volunteers wiring up a building we have subcontracted it” “All returning and every new volunteer has a face to face talk (out of doors, socially distanced) from a Director/Trustee by going through the ‘Volunteer Update - Covid-19’ document we had written and circulated by email” “We are keeping volunteers in smaller work parties e.g. by ensuring that a 12 strong work party is split into 3 or 4 separate groups on separate tasks” “Trying to not share tools, and if we have to, ensuring disinfecting on handover” “Only one person on one item of plant a day, and thorough disinfecting at end of day” “Breaking our volunteer workforce down into smaller groups, or trying to find activities that can be solitary, but within eyesight of others to ensure safe working practice” “Everyone has to have their own tools and we put people into groups of 6” “We have limited the number of volunteers on site at a single time” “We have also instigated a cleaning routine for shared tools and encourage volunteers to bring their own hand tools to reduce sharing tools.” “Use of own tools where possible and care” “Only one person allowed inside site hut at a time.”
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If you have not restarted construction work, what has been the reason for this? “Many of our volunteers are in the in ‘old’ or ‘vulnerable’ designation and needed lots of encouragement and detailed risk assessments to be persuaded to come back on site.” “Key personnel are in effect shielding because of caring issues” “Lack of funding at present for our ongoing dock build” “As our waterway is one of those administered by the Environment Agency all permissions for lock and bridge repairs have to go through them” “Caution on my part and reluctance from the volunteers I’ve spoke to” “Some of the work we are undertaking is weather dependent. Ideally we would have started those elements at the beginning of April and planned to complete them by the end of September. We are unable to accelerate the programme because we have fewer volunteers now working and we are having to work with the social distancing so our progress is much slower” If you have not restarted construction work - have you found other activities to fill the gap? “Increased recreation works such as path clearance” “Maintaining site to high standards of grass cutting and cleanliness” “During the physical inactivity, until now, there has been a great deal of planning and reorganisation in the Trust to expand our horizons and be able to deal with the more complicated restoration that is around 2 to 3 years away” “We have a programme of dredging in preparation for a trip boat service, which if all goes to plan will begin next year. Our two workboats need maintenance and there are always hundreds of overhanging trees to be cut back” “Towpath repairs” “Gardening working parties have been used to take the volunteers who want to attend as Social distancing can be maintained outdoors” What changes have you made to your welfare facilities and arrangements if any? “No shared cake!” “Sitting outdoors instead of cabins, reduced catering availability, increased hand washing and hygiene” “No catering facilities on site” “Hand cleanser, gloves, face masks, 2 metre distance signs, parking cones” “Availability of sanitising stations and protective equipment, fortunately older volunteers adopt care naturally (subject to minor memory lapses!)” “New welfare shelter containing hygiene equipment such as hot water and washing facilities “Only using shelters for signing in, etc - i.e. no communal use for breaks “Bring own gloves, hand washing/gel and towel” “Spray disinfectant and wipes everywhere” “Everyone to spray handles, etc when they’ve used our on site portaloos” “We no longer provide tea/coffee making facilities. Seating for breaks is outside at 2m spacing” “Toilet facilities are regularly cleaned” “Each volunteer is given hand gel, face mask and gloves” “Cleaning routines have been established for shared facilities and toilet. Seating areas reduced” “Outdoor refreshments only. Bring your own refreshments” “Sit with one empty chair between volunteers” “Closed the onsite catering and restricted the use of toilets to one communal one” “No refreshments except that brought along by volunteers” “Eat / drink outdoors only” “Ensuring that breaks are scheduled in a staggered fashion to keep people apart”
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How has Covid-19 impacted your ability to manage volunteers on site? “Prediction of numbers difficult” “More micro management and supervision needed; much more micro planning in lead up to work” “Volunteers need to listen more and show awareness of restrictions required” “Just needed more effort initially: social distancing is the most difficult to manage simply because people can forget; it is getting better now though” “We are hoping not much. We may have more remote teams working to avoid contact but we have made provisions for the management of that situation” “The main impact is ensuring that our volunteers maintain social distancing rules” “Communication has sometimes been a problem especially when giving toolbox talks and discussing drawings etc” “Administration much more difficult” “No real impact” “Little. All volunteers have been good” “We have to keep reminding them of the two metre rule” What has been the most difficult aspect of restarting construction work since reopening? “Planning of tasks” “Maintaining distancing” “Setting up working areas to give maximum protection of volunteers from one another “Loss of planned activity with community volunteers particularly offering work experience to apprentices and students. This still has not been reopened” “Convincing everyone (including the Trust Council) that work can be done safely and the risk of transmission of Covid-19 will be as low as possible” “Ensuring volunteers are carefully adhering to all our Covid advice - eg not sharing tools, keeping social distancing. They’re so happy to be back, as they’ve missed the exercise and the camaraderie that it’s easy to forget” “There was nothing particularly difficult we just had to make sure all the risk assessments were in place that our volunteers understaood the new site arrangements and that we had all the facilities to enable our volunteers to work safely” “Volunteer rotas” “Achieving social distancing” “Ensuring social distancing between volunteers”. “Refreshments” “Keeping the 2 metre rule” How has your continued work been received/perceived by the local community? “Good to see you” “Positive about keeping things looking good” “Good to be seen back on site looking after general working site area” “Positively” “Overwhelmingly positively; just one incidence of criticism that work was happening” “Generally well received” “Pleased to see activity again” “Positive reactions” “The General public have expressed appreciation for the teams returning to keep the canal route and paths clear. They have stated that they are happy with the progress made with the restrictions in place.”
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What do you believe is the biggest threat to Canal Restoration as a result from Covid-19? “Use of senior volunteers” “Lack of income” “Older, experienced volunteers won’t come back unless/until a vaccine is found” “Practical difficulties due to the nature of the site and requirements needed to work in a Covid secure manner” “Our major fundraising activities have been cancelled, so huge financial threat” “I believe the country will be in a massive financial hole, long after Covid-19 has abated. Therefore the amount of money that can be awarded in the form of grants etc will be limited. This may go on for the foreseeable future.” “I think the biggest threat will be the difficulty in getting funding for restoration work. “Money” “For us the risk that a grant application is delayed or refused” “Loss of funding opportunities, which are essential to keep the momentum going” “Attention is being taken away by press covering large railway restoration sites” Have there been any unexpected positives to come out of COVID-19 lockdown? “In summary - we think that the public has rallied around and is more society focused and that can only help organisations like ours that has the objective of improving life in our communities” “More time at home with my kids!” “Our fundraising has been more successful (One project achieved £100k from the public with great speed). Opportunities have arisen due to spoil removers needing work which has reduced the cost to us by £300k. Availability of consultants has also improved. We are also seeing a more positive attitude to local authority support for our activity as a post Covid regeneration effort to boost the city. All ideas seem to be on the table and the cost is secondary. We may even get additional funds to offset the impact of Covid on activities that where we hadn’t even started to generate income - our trip boat. The only downside is that some of our volunteers have stayed at home, but we have also attracted new people who are bored with nothing to do. We were told yesterday that our local authority could find £100m for our project. We don’t believe it, but even the thought suggests there’s an opportunity there for us nationally. We should push the mental health aspect of what we do, not just for the public but for volunteers too” “Volunteers paying more attention to toolbox talk” “New members / volunteers. Greater support from the public - these guys just won’t be stopped! We have been careful to publicise our procedures and advice. Funding seems to have been easier and costs reduced. Possible availability of grants” “Yes, there has been an opportunity to ‘take stock’, look at how the Trust has been operating and spend time on reorganisation and team building for the next ten years” “Lots more people using our restored towpath and nature trails, leading to many new members and volunteers” “I think it is a tremendous opportunity as long as organisations can continue to mobilise volunteers and keep them interested” It has made us aware of all of the new RAMS that have to be assessed. Do you have any other comments you would like to make? “I’m amazed that groups are resuming, I can’t see us doing that any time soon. This survey implies we are in a ‘post Covid-19’ phase when this is clearly not the case” “Any idea how I hold an AGM for about 60 members in the current climate, especially when many don’t have computer access?” “Waterways under restoration in Covid-19 ‘hot spots’ may suffer due to lockdown restric-
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tions, but here, the effects have been minimal. So we tentatively return to our work parties believing, as we all must do, that things will be better soon” “Our restart is conditional on the first few days being seen to be safe and with minimum risk from C19. If we judge that the risks are still too high the work party will be abandoned for a re-think” “Since being in lockdown, the vegetation on our site has grown unchecked so that we are unable to take the new Chief Executive of the Council on a site walk until we are able to book a flail mower to clear the pathways” “We were reluctant to get back to work until the word was given by Government and even then we were wary, and determined to protect our greatest asset - our volunteers” “Another factor that has had a big impact on the work we are doing is the difficulty in obtaining construction materials. Some materials are in short supply and builders merchants seem to have furloughed many of their staff so that delivery times are longer than usual” “Delay by Local Authorities and Government Organisations have prevented projects starting” “As very small groups with limited stocks of tools it is our normal practice for our groups to work closely together and share equipment. If we can’t do this it doesn’t really make sense to try to resume our activities” “The real impact of the pandemic has been the need for Zoom meetings. Much of the benefit for volunteers was the camaraderie, which has been damaged. You cannot thank someone as effectively by Zoom or at a distance. The recent reopening of pubs for a post working party catch up has helped a lot. Management has been much more difficult as meetings are more tiring now, so we have moved to more frequent ones, with less time spent each meeting. You can tell the impact of self isolation and taking precautions on many volunteers not in the peak of health” “We have been delighted to have contact with WRG forestry, where we may be able to take advantage of less activity elsewhere” “The loss of our summer camp is understandable, but with the promise of one for 2021 already we will make that work to our advantage” “There has always been an occasional act of vandalism, but with so many bored youngsters about sadly it has increased”
One problem has been shortages of building materials - such as SNCT’s reinforcing
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Canalsocieties governance charity ensures focus on the correct objectives, avoids damage to its reputation, and ensures that The author has served on the Inland Waterthe resources it has available to it are correctly ways Association’s restoration committee and applied (and not over-spent). I’ve recently gained as a Trustee of three canal societies. He has some familiarity with the Charity Governance Code submitted this as an independent view on for smaller charities and worked with Trustees of Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust to canal society governanace... help us understand our governance and identify Some years ago, the charity Kids Company got areas where we can improve. That Charity Governance Code, like much some national-level publicity, and was closed down, for doing things it shouldn’t have done. of the material available, applies to the vast range This example demonstrates that there are right of different types of activity/objectives to which Charities are dedicated. ways and wrong ways to run a charity. As an opening question, what’s the differThis is the first of a series of articles tackence between a Charity and a Scam? The fundaling issues which apply specifically in the watermental answer lies in the motives of the leadership ways restoration sector – aspects where we can – a charity exists to deliver benefit to many benefi- and should learn from each other about what good ciaries within the wider public, a scam exists to governance looks like. It’s much better to learn increase the wealth of those in charge. from others’ mistakes than to copy them and learn In the UK we are particularly fortunate (by the hard way – possibly damaging the reputation comparison with many other nations) in having a and work of the charity we’re working for. very well-established tradition of philanthropy The key guiding principle for a Trustee is the extending back over hundreds of years. A vital documented Charitable Objective for that charity part of ensuring that tradition continues is the – and many waterways restoration trustees have as well-thought-through legal framework for charita- their objective the completion of a navigable canal ble organisations, and the Government Agency linking two or more points. There are also waterthat keeps an eye on this sector – the Charity ways restoration charities where that restoration Commission for England and Wales. for navigation objective does not apply. In the Most waterway societies are registered as latter case, the public benefits the charity exists to charities, the objects or purposes of these charities deliver will include access to amenities incorporatare – like for all Charities registered in England ing isolated sections of former canal – places for and Wales – published on the Charity Commission quiet walking in the countryside, ponds for fishing, website. There is legislation in place to ensure habitat areas to enhance local biodiversity, etc. that Registered Charities apply the resources they An example was the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity receive from generous people (donors, supporters Group as first established in 1977. and active volunteers) to advance their charitable A waterway restoration charity with the objects….and not to enhance the wealth of the objective of re-establishing navigation ‘end to end’ management of that Charity. As an example, there must keep that end objective very firmly in mind – are very tight constraints on what payments can be and not take actions which undermine or prevent made to the Trustees who govern the Charity. the delivery of that final objective. The economic, Thus, a clear distinction is made, by the legislasocial and environmental benefits of a completed tion, between a Charity and a Scam – ensuring that navigable waterway are vastly greater than the the generous public can be confident that what benefit of some un-connected ponds; and it will be they give is used correctly. much more sustainable for future generations. Obviously, the legislation under which Charity Trustees are reminded by the Charity Charities operate applies to them all – there’s an Governance Code to be mindful of the reputation amazingly wide range of different types of activof their charity, to work to enhance it and to take ity. There is much helpful guidance available from action to avoid damage to that reputation. Clearly the Charity Commission itself, and from organisa- a Charity which is seen to be failing to pursue its tions of charities brought together to share good objective will lose support from its donors – a practice. My definition of Governance is the situation which could lead to failure of the Charmechanisms, habits, and customs by which a ity. When that happens, the Charity Commis-
Canal Societies’ governance
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sion’s duty is to step in to find a way for the assets of that Charity to be placed into the control of others (another Charity) who will ensure that the assets continue to be used and developed towards the documented charitable objective. Thus, those donors’ funds remain held in trust for the purpose(s) for which they were given. As mentioned above, there must be a clear difference between a Charity and a scam. The legislation and the Charity Commission are there to stop resources given by donors being diverted away from the purpose for which they were given – thus donors can give their money and time with confidence. As there are so many waterways restoration charities – some having been established for many years – there must be a body of wisdom out there which should be shared. I can offer a few points of information of things I’ve learned from my involvements in various Trusts where questions were asked and discussed, and, sooner or later, we worked out the correct answer. I’m sure all our restoration Trusts have had learning opportunities since the early days when their founding trustees first gathered and filled in the form to apply to the Charity Commission for their organisation to be Registered. For future articles in this series I’m hoping people will be willing to offer lessons they’ve learned, gems of knowledge that they have come up with to enable correct actions to be taken on their journey to a completed navigable waterway (if that’s part of what their canal Trust exists to promote and/or deliver). I’ll offer a few thoughts here and will keep some back for the next article (or two) in case I don’t receive much material from the Navvies readership. We all know, obviously, that charities exist to deliver public benefits….and trustees need to find ways to deliver those benefits for the wider public without unduly favouring a small group of individuals. There will always be what lawyers call incidental benefits where a charity’s work will bring economic benefits which are not readily avoidable to particular individuals and organisations. An example is the profit that the builders’ merchant makes when they sell a bag of cement for the charity to make mortar with to rebuild a lock. It’s not realistic to avoid such small (or very small) benefits arising in the course of work to get that lock chamber into a fit state for the boats to pass through it. I’ve heard questions raised about spending money on restoring a canal on land owned by a private individual – as if spending that money will inevitably enhance the wealth of that individual. In most cases it absolutely won’t enhance their wealth…at least not until the project is welladvanced or completed and the waterway delivers
benefits to all those who own land alongside the waterway. Note that the value of the actual corridor of land under the canal goes down in value when route protection for a section of the completed waterway is agreed in the Local Authority’s plan. The corridor of land goes down further in value when structures are built as removing those structures will cost the landowner time and money for the land to be used for any purposes other than the restored canal. The significant benefits the restored waterway will bring don’t happen until the waterway is connected and attracting inward tourist spend (i.e. boaters). One last thought relates to what supporters contribute to the work of the waterways charity. Funds is obviously one part of the mix – and trustees are required by law to keep good records of money coming in and what it’s spent on. Those records are published on the Charity Commission website so prospective donors can see that the relevant Trustees are competent and trustworthy in handling the charity’s money. In our sector, much of the value contributed to a restoration trust is the time and skills of the volunteers. I feel it is just as important that the time and skills of the volunteers are received and appropriately applied. Volunteers who see their skills disregarded, or their work thrown away, will lose confidence in the Trustees – and the charity will suffer loss as a result. Trustee are not expected to behave that way – their legal duty is to advance and protect their charity and its work. The range of skills that can help a waterways restoration charity is vast – bricklaying and digger operation are examples, but so is procurement expertise, knowledge of weather forecasting, project management, website development, membership database design and maintenance, property law, accountancy. A successful restoration charity attracts people with skills they want to contribute – the Trustees should try to find ways to ensure that value is applied to the achievement of the charitable objective. Any thoughts, questions, and examples that others could learn from? Please email me, luke@lukewalker.me.uk. If any trustees out there are concerned to avoid me quoting an example from their charity and thereby damaging their reputation, some words of re-assurance. I’ve worked as a volunteer in four waterways trusts and won’t name any names… Also, if you wish to make contact and assure me that a lesson has been learned, I’ll present the anecdote with that spin on it – learning from mistakes is better than not recognising them and adding to the damage caused. Luke Walker
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obituary John Cadisch Behind-the-scenes supporter and Navvies assembly host for many years John Cadisch R.I.P. 1930 - 2020
delight to behold. They both put in so much, and got out so much between them. As well as supporting each other in their many separate interests, they developed their shared interests in local history and the arts – they were for example inveterate concert-goers in St Albans Cathedral, and travelled a lot, usually with a cultural theme and always with great enthusiasm and curiosity. Their new house in St Albans had a stream at the end of the garden, which John navvied into submission, and this led to years of stalwart service as the Ver Valley Society’s Newsletter Editor and Meetings Organiser, which he would have been persistent and, well, organised about, as well as imaginative. John was also very knowledgeable about trams, light railways and old railway lines, and was a dedicated supporter of Crich Tramway Museum from its early days, a director of the Light Rail Transit Association, and author of a book. Over the past two or three years I had met with him a few times because he wanted to see the old railway trackbed near to me that was in the plans to be reinstated in order to join the London Transport Metropolitan line directly into Watford Junction; there was also thoughts that it may become a light railway. Our thanks to John for all that he has done for WRG and our condolences go to all his other acquaintances. John Hawkins and contributions from Nigel Stevens
Many people within WRG would never have heard John Cadisch’s name. He was one those ‘behind the scenes’ people who offered and gave a lot to us. John was a very long term volunteer, right back to the early days working with Graham Palmer and others who instigated the original idea of Waterway Recovery Group. On weekends he would travel long distances to go digging with others, mainly from the London area. John was a member of London WRG in the early 1970s, and was the perfect navvy, as well as the perfect gent: he would always quietly pitch in to whatever task it was. You might have thought him shy or lugubrious, even a bit ‘Eeyore-ish’, but actually he always cheered people up. John was accounts manager of the family business R Cadisch and Sons, a small company in North Finchley (North West London). The company bought in mesh made of various materials, which they then cut and formed to various shapes - many going to the car industry. John offered the use of the workshop for part of the production of Navvies magazine. The workshop had two long strong wooden benches that had sheet steel tops, at an ideal work height. For many years Navvies was assembled, stapled, folded and stuffed by hand. Stacks of each sheet along the work tops and then the ‘collating shuffle’ as everything went into production. John would be there helping in the production, serving drink and crisps and occasionally doing some company work. He was a quietly spoken guy who just got on with everything and was always full of praise for WRG and all that it represents. This facility was used freely for many years by WRG until the metal mesh company was sold. You’d have to say that John was an ageing bachelor when he met (on a walking holiday) and married (in 1977) Rita Whiteley, retired primary school head – a marriage which lasted 38 years Presentation at John’s last Navvies assembly, August 1993 till Rita’s death, and an absolute
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progress Wey & Arun Our regular round-up of progress on waterway projects around the country begins this time in the deep south at the Sussex end of the Wey & Arun with it. They are all very skilled and great volunteers. They’ve worked so hard to get the job done.” The area will now be reprofiled and the temporary bridleway diversion across the canal removed.
The last brick was laid in July on the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s latest restoration project, a bridge at Harsfold in West Sussex, towards the southern end of the canal. Volunteers worked flat out to complete the bridge building project after floods, winter storms and then coronavirus lockdown put construction behind schedule. Small teams of six volunteers worked five days a week to get the job finished and allow the landowner access to his fields ahead of harvest. Work on the 7m clear span steel and concrete bridge began in September 2019 but was set back by the deluge of rain and storms seen over December, January and February, making work “hard going”, according to project manager Dennis Gillen. The compound, which is close to the River Arun, just escaped being flooded, but the mix of clay and rain meant the construction site was a mudbath and delivery trucks and lorries struggled to reach the site. Just as the team managed to get the steel beams in, construction was halted due to coronavirus lockdown. When work resumed following easing of government restrictions, volunteers had to operate in very different conditions and strict social distancing, but the team carried on undaunted. Dennis paid tribute to the dedication of the volunteers: “They are an amazing team,” he said. “Everyone comes and gets on
Pictures by WACT
Wey & Arun Canal
(Above) The last few bricks go in and (below) the completed Harsfold bridge
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montgomery
Update
Plans are going ahead to rebuild School House Bridge, last blockage on the Montgomery Canal before the Welsh border. But they need your help! keep the lane closed too long. So we HAVE to finish on time. This is where you can help. Last issue, we told you something about the We hope to run a series of WRG Camps plans to rebuild the last Montgomery Canal in August 2021 [to be confirmed ...Ed]. The lowered road bridge in Shropshire (Schoolwork will involve laying brickwork (no cleanhouse Bridge) – two others have already ing of old bricks!); gabion support works; been dealt with. Of the Canal’s 35 miles, and backfilling around the bridge abutments about 11 are in Shropshire. The Shropshire and the road. We’d be delighted if you’d Union Canal Society volunteers are due to volunteer to come on one of the Camps. finish their National Lottery Heritage Fund Before that, just to make life more supported works between the current limit of interesting (as if we were short of chalnavigation at Gronwen Bridge and Crickheath lenges), this autumn we shall organise the by the end of 2021. Thus, when the Canal is moving of a water main; we shall also start re-opened to Crickheath Basin, about nine to move/build a new septic tank system for a miles from the Llangollen Canal junction will nearby house. At present, their soakaway have been restored – and only two miles will crosses the Canal at too low a level. And we be left to get to the Welsh border at shall build a temporary trackway for the local Llanymynech. Rebuilding Schoolhouse Bridge HGV etc traffic. is one of the key works on that section. Next March we shall close the road and Sometimes, time is not important with excavate the existing earth causeway which restoration projects. This is VERY different. takes the lane across the Canal. We shall be We shall be closing the country lane which putting in the bridge concrete foundations provides the only local Heavy Goods Vehicle and abutment walls. Again, just to add to the crossing of the canal in the area. We cannot problems we enjoy solving, the abutment
Montgomery Update
This is where it will go...
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walls must be very accurately constructed to To Llangollen accept the precast bridge arch units. So we shall be looking for a variety of Former skilled operators - drivers of diggers and Montgomery Frankotn Weston dumpers, bricklayers, some carpentry work, Canal Arm gabion-skilled people and general canal Aston Locks restorers EnCrickheath Gronwen Bridge Additionally, we are looking to form a W glanPant (navigable limit) ale d group of about 25 people as a basic site crew s – these people will form a ‘pool’ - on the Llanymynech Carreghofa School House basis they don’t all come together. (The site Locks Bridge (to be couldn’t take 25 people all at once). We hope (restored) reinstated) for four/five people at any one time to proArddleen vide a continuous presence on site. Burgedin This is where WRG’s regional flying Locks 4 road blockages troops can help out – there will be times we between Llanymynech can make good use of more than half a and Arddleen dozen. We’ll be in direct contact with them – but think about it. Restoring the Monty has the advantages of (a) almost all is in single ownership; (b) Welshpool almost all the locks have been restored; (c) 12 mile isolated restored no missing large structures; (d) known navigable length from water supply. So just add a dose of Arddleen through volunteers….and watch what happens! Welshpool to Refail Berriew Interested in helping? We hope so. Refail Contact Ken Jackson at Garthmyl 3 locks restored but kgjackson@btinternet.com or 07778 several road blockages 417 315 or 01584 823401 remain south of Refail John Dodwell Chair, Montgomery Final length into Newtown obstructed by Canal Partnership sewer in canal bed, terminus basin built
Newtown
on, possibility of diversion to new terminus
...and this is what it will look like
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To Hu elsrotn
progress
Lichfield
The Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust is back up and running with work under way on two sites on the edge of Lichfield Lichfield Canal Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust returned to a form of normality in the second week of June after weeks of lockdown inactivity. With strict and controlled measures for social distancing and hygiene in place, volunteers were able to start working again at Gallows Wharf and Gallows Reach to the south of Lichfield, as well as at Fosseway Heath on the south west side of the city. The team at Fosseway Heath have started the towpath wall on the far side of the canal along Falkland Road, where the restored canal will take a diversion alongside the road. This involved building a length of retaining brick wall and installing the first section of sheet steel piling, a well-proven, robust long-term solution to water containment where the bank has to be supported, particularly if there is limited land available. While many sources of income have dried up, this has given the Trust an opportunity for fund-raising by offering supporters the chance to have their names immortalised on a piece of sheet piling for a minimum donation of £20. The 20-20 Vision Appeal was launched to pay for the Falkland Road piling by enabling donors to have a personal tag attached to the steel piling. Meanwhile, the Gallows team are reRebuilt towpath and wall at Gallows Reach and building the old towpath wall, building up (below) steel pile bank retaining at Falkland Road the ground, placing recycling stone along the old towpath, reinstating the verges and making bench resting areas to the rear of the restored towpath. A ‘dry brick’ retaining wall is also being built to contain the soil to the rear of the old towpath, as trees and other vegetation have been planted or grown along the boundary since the canal was abandoned. The theft of a petrol concrete mixer from the compound at Gallows Reach was a setback, but was overcome when an Facebook appeal raised over £385 in a few days which covered the cost of sourcing a reconditioned mixer.
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progress Wilts & Berks Meanwhile the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has taken on restoration of a length north of Melksham and aims to link it up to the Pewsham section Wilts & Berks Canal
and refill it with water – despite the length of time which has passed, several of the culverts are in a surprisingly good condition. The Trust has already restored a similar section between Reybridge and Pewsham, providing a new wildlife corridor and a popular attraction for walkers, runners and cyclists, so it would be fantastic if we could create something similar on the edge of Melksham. Ultimately, if we can attract support from other local landowners, the various stretches would then be joined together to create a fully navigable waterway for the benefit of the whole community.” WBCT aims to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal (via a new route making use of the River Avon aound Melksham) via the lengths already mentioned at Lower Woodrow and Pewsham to Swindon, then through to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and also to the River Thames near Abingdon, thereby connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon. See www.wbct.org.uk for more.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust’s volunteers have taken the first steps towards uncovering a length of the former canal on the edge of Melksham. The team have started to clear a stretch of the line in countryside off Lower Woodrow, on the northern edge of the town. In 2018 the charity purchased six acres of land which, combined with landowner permission to access adjoining fields, allows volunteers to work on more than a kilometre of the former waterway. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, working parties removed several abandoned outbuildings which were once used by local farmers. Following the end of the lockdown, local volunteers then started removing dead trees and clearing their way along the towpath. Dave Maloney, chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Trust said: “The former outbuildings were unused and in a very poor state of repair when we acquired the site, so the safest option was to take them down and recycle the materials. Our next step will be to remove several of the dead trees while ensuring there’s no disturbance to local wildlife. Once that work has been completed, we can start clearing the undergrowth to reveal the towpath – you can still see much of the original line and it’s even possible to walk along several sections.” Dave added: “Longer-term, with further funding, we want to dredge this Dave Maloney pictured by the section his team have begun clearing stretch of the canal
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1970: “Unfettered by convention” Part four of our series marking WRG’s 50th year in which we look back at what was happening in 1970, and how Navvies Notebook reported it... 50 years ago... Following the one month late and rather disappointingly small (8 pages) Issue 24 of what was then called Navvies Notebook which we covered last time, issue 25 dated July 1970 was a much more healthy 20 pages. Not only that, but editor and WRG founder / leader the late Graham Palmer began his ‘Comment’ column by describing it as “something of an experiment to save space”, consisting of printing the ‘Organisers’ list (the ancestor of the Navvies Directory which we used to include in every third issue until about five years ago - do any of you miss it?) in such a small print size that it was barely legible. Oh well. Moving on to a rather more serious topic, he then expressed his frustration at his lack of success in persuading readers to use the magazine to put their own views across. “One of the things I have been trying to do almost from the first issue has been to get you, the volunteer, to air your views in public via the columns of Navvies Notebook; unfortunately most of you seem to think you have nothing to say, or at least consider it not worth saying, If it is interesting and/or relevant it will be printed, for we need a continual inflow of new ideas and ideals if the volunteer movement is to grow and retain its integrity”. He went on to say that he had no problem with using pen-names “there can be good reasons for anonymity” - but that “a balanced view will and can appreciate that a comment printed in a magazine need not represent the view of the organisation that controls the magazine. Any other construction upon this situation must be the product of a small and timid mind, unable to accept the principles of democracy...” before concluding that there would be “oppositio to this view”, but that “I am not prepared to compromise”, that we “need the basic facilities of free and unrestricted speech, and the ability to unfettered by convention, especially pseudo-gentility, to enable us to concentrate on the main task”. So why might he have been taking a pop at with the “pseudo gentility” comment? Well, we’ve already seen in previous issues that Navvies Notebook was only too happy to use its pages to lay into British Waterways and occasionally The Inland Waterways Association (today WRG’s parent
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body), but the following piece suggests that local canal societies and boat clubs were seen as a legitimate target for the odd barbed remark too...
Commodore’s Column (Reprinted from Bilge Pump, journal of the Nitts & Stuffs Canal Society, by kind permission of the Editor, J.A. Puppett) Have you any enquiries about waterway matters? If so, your Commodore, Sir River Lemmington-Bradbury, is here to answer them. Q: A:
Q:
A:
Q: A:
What the hell is happening about Leafy Mould Locks? - P. Bolsh, Midslop Yes, I have a certain amount of sympathy with your impatience, but I have good news at last. Due to my negotiations, Nittshire County Council have agreed to take an interest, In actual fact, for the next few years, but certainly not more than ten, the locks will be closed while they extend the gasworks and the liftbridge is fixed to allow access. But after that... who knows? How can you persuade lethargic boat owners to venture on to some of the canals where the future is still uncertain, in order to slow down deterioration? - H. Prober, Cowflung Well, I don’t think many of us would like to be thought of as lethargic. But I wouldn’t worry too much about those canals. A lot of them are pretty unpleasant and you can hardly expect anyone to risk a good boat on something like the Birmingham canals. Not until they’ve been restored at any rate, and that depends on the chaps who go on these working parties. Why did you ban anonymous article from Bilge Pump - D. Mudd, Creepford There was never any question of a ‘ban’, and it only applied to certain
articles anyway, i.e. those which expressed views which conflicted with those of the Committee. Had they been written by, say, D. Mudd, we would not have welcomed any further articles from him. As they were anonymous, we must discourage anonymous articles. This does not mean we are against free speech, or that I tell the editor what to print. I am sure, however, that most members are pleased that they have stopped appearing. Keep the questions rolling in! (This article was credited to ‘Brian W Bloke - A.N.O.N.) In a somewhat similarly combative style, a ‘Reflections’ column on the inside back page began with a quote from recent correspondence in Nor-Wester, “revitalised journal of the North Western IWA” to the effect that one contributor estimated that in the entire North West, there were only some 30 volunteers “willing to work regularly on area restoration schemes” and that it was time to start organising and attracting and training volunteers for “when the time comes” for the go-ahead, and full restoration of the Cheshire Ring canals could start.The author of the ‘Reflections’ piece (presumably Graham?) added some thoughts... “I cannot agree with this opinion more, considering the North West is rich in canals, many of the ‘problem’ waterways, very little thought or organisation has been put into providing the necessary workforce, especially by the ‘premier’ enthusiast body in the area. This surely is one of the reasons for the apparent apathy on the part of the majority of North Western enthusiasts, for like all people they need to be spurred on by a vital and efficient working party organisation. Apathy breeds apathy!” The author added that of all the North West’s problem canals, only the Peak Forest at Marple showed any real attempt to stop the rot, and continued that “this process of deterioration is not only evident on the waterways, it also seems to apply to some of the bodies that are said to be campaigning for the waterways themselves”, before urging readers to “consider what is being done in your area, ask pointed questions, and help if you possibly can - be it clerical, campaign, manual or money”. All good points I’m sure, especially the way the column signed-off with a good sideswipe at “those
who control the waterways (in this context ‘control’ means the power, not necessarily the ability to do so” as “short term accountancy-type mentality” hastened the advance of “controlled decrepitude” with the possibility that these people would be party to “the senseless and criminal destruction of a valuable national asset”. But I can’t help wondering how the earlier comments about the North West went down with that region’s enthusiasts and their ‘premier organisation’ (whichever one it was) when they read this anonymous blast aimed at them from a magazine based in London... Where did we work? Getting rather less controversial, one striking feature of the lengthy ‘Next Time’ section (the forerunner of the Navvies Diary pages which were temporarily suspended at the start of the lockdown but will reappear soon) was just how many canals the 1970 volunteers were working on which have now been fully navigable for so long that most boaters on them probably don’t realise they were ever derelict:
. . . . . . . .
Upper Avon Navigation (reopened 1974) Kennet & Avon Canal (reopened 1990) Peak Forest Canal (reopened 1974 Bugsworth Basin (reopened 2005) Caldon Canal (reopened 1974) Birmingham Canal Navigations Soho Loop (not sure if it was ever so completely derelict that it could be said to have been reopened - anyone know?) Dudley No 1 Canal, Dudley Tunnel & Park Head Locks (reopened 1973) Erewash Canal (reopened 1973)
There were two more: firstly the Yorkshire Derwent, where restoration efforts unfortuately came to an end when a court case which ended in the early 1990s ruled against navigation supporters and in favour of landowners and wildlife interests concerning the navigable status of the waterway and rights of navigation. And the other, also in the same part of the world but in a much happier situation is the Pocklington Canal, where despite some ‘nature versus navigation’ issues and a lack of support from waterways authorities in the past, everyone seems to be pulling together now. And it seems that within the next few years the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society will achieve its aim, with the restoration of the last two and a half miles and two locks. Incidentally, Navvies Notebook
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25 also contained a 1970 progress report from the Pocklington which included the interesting snippet: “The latest task has been the spraying of the bed between Walbut and the Melbourne Arm to kill off the masses of sedges growing in the bed” - I can actually feel the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust wincing at those words... Looking forward... or not... Last time we also quoted some cryptic comments about “a possibility of a rather large and important working party” coming up on 26-27 September 1970, with more details promised. Unfortunately all that appeared in Issue 25 were another two not much more informative comments. One appears under a diary Also featured in issue 25 was this somewhat entry for a forthcoming London Working tongue-in-cheek suggestion for a Navvies Shield, Party Group (London WRG predecessor) featuring a pint of beer (in a 1970s-style ‘windows’ dig at Marple that weekend, reassuring glass), a boot, a lock windlass and a steaming pie. volunteers that “this is not a stop-gap working party slung in owing to the postponement state the canal will be in if the county councils of the ‘Big Dig’ scheduled for this date, but a full- take another five years to come to a decision.” scale mechanised working party that, as always, In the event, it took seven years before tries to make as big an impression on, and as much restoration (other than some very unofficial work) progress towards, the complete restoration of the could start. But it got there in the end, with a Marple flight as is humanly possible in one weekreopening (including Deepcut) in 1991. What a end”. And the other simply says that “Big Dig shame that funding shortages on the part of the scheduled for 26-27 September has been postcouncils, restrictions on nature conservation poned for a little while, we hope to be able to give grounds, and poor water supplies have since then you details in the September edition.” Skipping conspired to stop it reaching its potential. Let’s ahead to Issue 26 doesn’t give any clues. There hope it manages to do so in the next 50 years... was a pretty big Dudley Dig & Cruise planned for Something rather sooner to look forward to that weekend, which several mobile groups supin July 1970 was the forthcoming Inland Waterported, but I get the impression Graham was ways Association National Rally of Boats, which talking about somewhing else which actually got that year was scheduled for 8-9 August in Guildthe chop. Anyone know? ford. As you will read elsewhere in this magazine One place that did have to wait a long time that was a very significant date - it was when for the official start of work (and a Big Dig to kick WRG was launched. Up until then, Navvies Noteit off in 1977) was the Basingtoke Canal, but the book had existed as an offshoot of London IWA’s necessary purchase by Surrey and Hants county Working Party Group which had expanded its councils was already under consideration - and an remit to become a means of communication for article in issue 25 covers it in detail. Interestingly the increasing numbers of mobile waterway restothere was some discussion about how much of the ration volunteers working on sites all around the canal would be reopened: perhaps only the first country - but all that was set to change, with the three flights of locks at Woodham, St John’s and creation of an organisation to back it up. Brookwood, with the main flight of 14 at Deepcut You wouldn’t think so from Navvies Noteand entire western and central parts of the canal book 25, though: the only mention of the Guildleft derelict. Authors Jim Woolgar and Jim Fleming ford IWA rally was a brief call for volunteers for concluded that “all the time that the debates and the preceding weekend to set up the site. And the discussions continue, the rubbish and decay only other possible reference to the birth of the accumulates at an alarming rate. So does the Waterway Recovery Group was in Graham’s vandalism - during the last six months alone, three ‘Comment’ column: balance beams have been lifted off, one gate “The next issue will, I hope, have a new emphasis, forced off its collar and pitched into the lock all the old ideals plus one or two new ones. I’m purposely chamber, and several paddle posts and paddles not saying too much about it at this stage, just in case.” have been destroyed. We shudder to think what Make of that what you will...
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News
navvies Annual restoration conference 2020: going virtual The annual Restoration Conference is organised by the Inland Waterways Association and Canal & River Trust, Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 2020 conference will now be going virtual on Saturday 10th October. This changes the way we are planning to deliver the event this year and here is how it will work: On the day, we will be running the conference from 9.45am to 1pm, which will cover our Main Sessions and an opportunity to network at the end: 1:
2:
3:
4:
Good Governance - getting it right from the start. What can restoration group trustees do to implement good governance? What are the key issues facing boards? Unlock the power of heritage volunteering. Becky Benson, Birmingham Museum Trust, Member of the Heritage Volunteering Group will share data and insight concerning the heritage volunteering sector, with case studies. Attracting and Connecting with diverse audiences. Naomi Smith, National Citizen Service, hghlights the roles that a diverse and inclusive culture, attitude and mindset can play in building, sustaining and future proofing organisations. Questions & Answers with our panel of experts.
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Then every Thursday 12.30 - 13.30 over the six following weeks, we will be bringing you each of our our original breakout seminars:
. .
Funding your Project with a NLHF Grant. (15th Oct) Liz Shaw, NLHF will talk about NLHF’s funding framework and grant programmes - including the application process and timescales. What’s your exit strategy - from restoration to operation. (22 Oct) So – your restoration is progressing well and you’re now thinking of connecting it up. You may be considering some form of working relationship with Canal & River Trust. Peter Walker, Canal & River Trust will run through some key considerations when deciding on your preferred option, including how to formally con-
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nect to the Trust’s network, the Trust’s view on acquiring restored waterways, technical and operational requirements including boat licensing and enforcement, plus things to consider should you wish to own and manage your restored waterway. Biodiversity Net Gain. (29 Oct) Alex Melson, IWA. New regulations mean all developments in England will need to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), otherwise planning permission will be refused. BNG is an approach to development that leaves the natural environment in a measurably better state Alex Melson, IWA. BNG is an approach to development that leaves the natural environment in a measurably better state. New regulations mean that all developments in England will need to achieve BNG, otherwise planning permission will be refused. Alex Melson, IWA explores the principles of BNG, a mitigation hierarchy and brings the topic to life with case studies. Creating Connections with your wider community – a focus on young people. (5 Nov) James Long, Community & Youth Events Coordinator & Carrie House, Project Officer, Canal & River Trust, will be sharing learning from a range of projects Canal & River Trust have led and supported. Engaging your local council & getting them on board (12 Nov) Alison Smedley, Campaigns & Public Affairs Manager, IWA will explain what you should concentrate your time on and how you can deliver the most successful outcomes Dealing with Utilities on your restoration project (19 Nov) Wayne Cahill, Lead Regional Civil Engineer, Kier will cover ascertaining the location of utilities through service searches and CAT scans, the protection of your volunteers and utilities, plus the time and cost implications of diverting them.
We will auto enrol everyone who had signed up to our conference and our workshops, so there is no need to re-sign up if you have done so before. Contact iwa@waterways.org.uk
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navvies Heritage leaders programme We are relaunching our Waterway Legacy Leaders Programme after being delayed in March due to Covid-19. Funded by Historic England, we are looking to recruit 15 volunteers to receive over £1000 worth of training and mentorship to build up a knowledge and skill base within the construction sector. Working with experts from Canal Restorations and external training providers we are looking to develop the next generation of volunteers. Training will cover a wide variety of topics within Restoration including Leadership, Project and Site Management, Health and Safety, Environmental Concerns and more. The programme will be flexible with courses being both online and in person where possible. We have 15 spaces available and encourage anyone with an interest in Canal Restoration to put themselves forward. For more nformation contact alex.melson@waterways.org.uk Alex Melson Volunteers Coordinator (WRG)
News
Welcome...
...to Sarah O’Grady, who has recently arrived at IWA / WRG head office as the new interim IWA Chief Executive. She’s got plenty of experience with charities and museums, and has chaired Amnesty International UK. She’ll be in the role for six months or until a permanent appointment is made. She replaces Neil Edwards who has retired - but we haven’t seen the last of him yet as he will still be involved in IWA’s insurance issues and also Essex Waterways, the subsidiary responsible for the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. We hope to include more in the next issue.
WRG print and Covid
Hopefully you have still received a copy of Navvies since the lockdown at the end of March. There have been two editions, 300 and 301; this is the third. Because of the sudden change to the method we usually use to produce Navvies drastic steps had to be adopted. Basically if we had an email address for you, then your copy would go on-line. All the other subscribers would receive one of a I Dig Canals... limited number of hard copies. These were ...isn’t just a T-shirt slogan that some of you printed by a small local print shop; unfortumay remember from the 1970s, it’s the name nately there was rather a long lead time. All of the latest project by Alarum Theatre, who of this was sorted by Alex in the office at a couple of years ago brought us Idle Chesham. Navvies 301 was produced by a Women of the Wartime Waterways. This time similar arrangement. they’re looking at the early days of the waterThe hard copies for this edition 302 ways revival and restoration movement, were printed by Chris Griffiths – who usually mainly in the Midlands, and specifically from prints the covers for us. All envelopes were the point of view of the women involve labelled and stuffed and then posted out via many of whom Alarum believe have a viewthe Chesham office. Although some compapoint on the story which often hasn’t been nies are now opening up, the company that I heard. And the result is a book recently use to process the plates for Navvies is not published. fully up. So this edition will have come to The book is made up of many accounts you by the same, or very similar, methods as transcribed from interviews with the women used for 300 and 301. who were involved at the time, interleaved Although there have not been any digs with poems by the Alarum team and others. for a while Martin has managed to pull together Chapters cover childhood memories, ‘Rotwo very good editions; helped by articles about mance’, working parties, boating on barelycakes (are there any more - cakes or articles navigable canals, campaigning, fighting with about them?) and also Canalway Cavalcade. authorities, protest cruises and catering. Just keep sending Martin more items! To read this different perspective on the And finally my apologies to those folks canal revival, order a copy of I Dig Canals: who have missed out on the Navvies stuffing how women helped save the waterways from evenings at the London Canal Museum. alarumtheatre.co.uk. John Hawkins, WRG Print
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Down 2. a boatman’s name for donkey (6) 3. increase in the flow due to rain (7) 5. shaft used for propelling a vessel (5) 6. long towing line (7) 7. idle inquisitive person who stands staring (10) 9. square socket fitted with handle (8) 10. device for changes of level (4) 12. vessel once trading on Norfolk rivers (6) 13. driven by a propeller (5) 14. enclosing structure either end lock chamber (5)
Across 1. by the side of a navigation used by horses (7) 4. once in use on rivers and canals of Yorkshire (4) 6. flash lock (7) 8. a dyke or drain (4) 11. belonging to Fellows, Morton and Clayton (6) 12. rigged for the purpose of legging (5) 16. windlass (5) 19. spread in layers on the bottom (6) 21. vessel which carried the trade on Mersey (4) 23. sometimes called a long boat (10) 25. in the Midlands and North where coal is loaded (6) 28. between two locks (5) 29. a number of lighters working together (4) 30. propelling vessel by means of a long pole (8) 32. ascertaining the draught (7) 33. employee directed to regulate stretch of canal (9) 34. Fen term meaning lock chamber (3) 35. used for fishing articles from bottom of canal (3) 38. harness of a boat horse (6) 40. the toll payable plus haulage charge (4) 41. used to form the bottoms of locks and tunnels (6) 43. used for caulking (7)
34. passenger-carrying boat (6) 36. term often applied erroneously to all types of canal vessels (5) 37. river stretch between two locks (5) 39. name for a Thames lighter (4) 42. the charge payable (4)
Down (continued) 15. a boat working in company with a motor (5) 17. short towing line (8) 18. to turn round (4) 20. temporary water-tight dam (5) 22. method of propulsion through tunnels (7) 24. staircase locks (6) 26. vessel once on the River Severn (4) 27. overflow for excess water (8) 31. body of accumulated water suddenly released (5) 33. used on Thames, Fens, River Stour and Bridgewater Canal (7)
My thanks to Derek Humphries for this puzzle, which is based on the glossary of boating terms from LA Edwards’ 1972 book Inland Waterways of Great Britain
infill with a crossword
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Dear Deirdre My housemate’s best friend’s cousin works for BT and he says this Covid thing is just a hoax to cover up for subsonic damage caused by 5G. Do you think this is all a conspiracy by a cabal of wealthy landowners to delay the reopening of the Cotswold canals? Think how much they stand to lose if they can’t rent their fields for 5G towers. - HG, Eastminster Deirdre writes Actually I have it on good authority from my niece’s ex-boyfriend’s brother in law that Greta Thunberg invented coronavirus in a lab in order to suppress carbon emissions. It won’t delay any canal reopenings because low-emission waterbased transportation systems are exactly what she and her teenage co-conspirators want. Besides which everybody knows 5G is totally harmless if you just wrap the tinfoil round your head tight enough.
Name the canal: The answers As promised, the answers for the fiendishly difficult puzzle we included in the last issue, compiled by Helena Rosiecka as part of the entertainment for a London WRG ‘virtual social’ via a Zoom conference call. But just in case you don’t have the last issue to hand, we’ve included the questions again. They’re all long-abandoned British canals. And we did warn you that some of them are pretty tenuous...
You know it’s been too long since you went canal digging when... ...you’ve had time to clean the house windows ...you’ve time to paint the shed window frames ...you have to think about what to cook for the next meal ...and then do the shopping for it ...the family don’t have to make a six month appointment to visit ...the grass gets cut even before its grown ...you’ve got time to send these suggestions in to the Navvies editor! [Thanks John H for the rest of them]
But on the brighter side... You start to feel maybe WRGie life might one day return to some semblance of ‘normal’ (*) when... ...you find yourself writing something in the diary rather than crossing things out ...you finally get around to washing your digging clothes from the BCN Cleanup because you think you might need them again ...you start thinking about the possibility of one day returning Tim’s hat to him ...you stop eating all that cake you show off on Facebook for long enough to wonder if anyone else will actually find it edible, and is half a tin of condensed milk an adequate substitute for no eggs? ...you wonder if two tea breaks a day are ever going to be enough after several months of permanent tea break? ...you find yourself wondering why you still own five left gloves (*) or as normal as WRGie life ever gets
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Beaumont Cut Leominster City Canal Charnwood Forest Eardington Forge Titchfield Nutbrook Black Bear Petworth Horncastle Rolle Wombridge Glastonbury Baybridge Itchen Navigation
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