Navigation Magazine February 2010

Fe b r u a r y 2010

Issue 2010/1

Winter on the Birmingham & Fazeley

We s t M i d l a n d s Region

Cover picture Debbie’s Day Boats, Drayton Bassett, on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal.

A rare place to swim for the birdlife in early January 2010.

To all Navigation Readers Every time you call or visit any of our advertisers, please tell them you saw their advert in ‘Navigation’.

RANGER REFRIGERA TION Ltd REFRIGERATION SUPPLYING FRIDGES and FREEZERS for the WATERWAYS FOR THE LAST 25 Yrs.

SALES, REPAIRS, PARTS, ADVICE. Tel. 01527 821132 e-mail : freezerdave@hotmail.com

is the quarterly publication of the West Midlands Region of the Inland Waterways Association.

The IWA is a national organisation and campaigns for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways.

‘Navigation’ has been in continuous publication, in various formats, for over 50 years.

We aim to bring readers a variety of items of local interest, set in the context of this national organisation.

Primarily for the benefit of our members, Navigation is also distributed in a limited way for non-members to pick up and gain an insight into the aims and activities of the Association.

The IWA West Midlands Region Welcome to this first edition of 2010. Growing numbers within the population are taking an interest in and appreciating the value of our waterways heritage.

Waterways are not like road systems, nor railways. They are not about getting from A to B faster than before and they are not regularly upgraded with extra cariageways or extra tracks.

Many enthusiasts just want our waterways left the way they were, maintained but not ‘renewed’.

The IWA 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 as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such.

IWA Website Navigation magazine is intended to be available in PDF format on the IWA website : www.waterways.org.uk However, the website is currently in the process of changing from the existing format and substantial new additions have been suspended during the changeover.

In the new year, when the ‘new’ website is up and running, the page devoted to West Midlands Region will be fully updated.

We apologise to members overseas who rely upon this facility.

The Association accepts no liability for any matter published in this magazine, including adverts. No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgement.

Unless otherwise acknowledged, most photographs were taken by the Editor.

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity No. 212342.

IWA Registered Office : Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Tel 01494 783453 Printed by Eltom Print Ltd, Caroline Street, Birmingham B3 1UF www.eltom.co.uk

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Navigation – – Contents –

Chairmen’s Reports Page 8 Page 17 Page 19 Page 22 Page 20

Region Chairman’s Report Lichfield Chairman’s Report Warwickshire Chairman’s Report Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire appeal Stoke on Trent Chairman’s Report

Regular Features Page 5 Page 15 Page 9 / 14 Page 26

Editor’s Excuses Social Calendar Details of Social Events Committee Contacts and details for submissions / deadlines.

News Stories, Gossip and Articles Page 4 - 5 Page 6 - 7 Page 8 19) Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 Page 20 Page 23 Page 25

IWA clothing AGM notices and agendas National petitions (10 Downing St) mentioned in report (also page National Clean-up (BCN) in April Hammerwich Games Evening Moira Canal Festival 2010 Parkhead Canal Festival, Dudley & Tug gathering IWA involvement with British Waterways activities / Cooker safety Jumble Sale - Penkridge, Mersey Crossing, etc Congratulations to Alison Smedley MBE (part of report) Audlem Art Gallery Victoria Cup & Obituaries

IWA Clothing will be available at Boat and Caravan Show at NEC The IWA’s new range of IWA clothing is now available for members to buy and will be for sale on the IWA sales stand at the Boat & Caravan show at the NEC on 23rd-28th February 2010 (alongside a very large display of waterways books).

All items are in IWA blue and have the IWA logo on the left breast. They include a new light-weight polyester and cotton polo shirt of standard male/unisex cut and a polo shirt that is specially designed for the female figure (sizes 8-18). In addition, there is a sweatshirt with raglan sleeves and also a hooded, fully zipped sweatshirt. Also ideal for keeping the chill out when boating or walking the towpath this winter are the IWA fleece jackets.

The new hooded sweatshirts and fleeces proved extremely popular at the National Waterways Festival when these lines sold out within two hours of going on sale! Most sizes are kept in stock but other sizes (including children’s) can be ordered for anyone who would like them. Other items are in the “pipe-line”.

More details opposite on page 5. Any queries, please contact Helen Whitehouse at iwaclothing@waterways.org.uk or on 01543 491 161.

– Navigation – Excuses IWA Clothing

Editor’s

This issue is being put out in the wake of some of the worst winter conditions experienced for years.

This time of year is traditionally peppered with planned stoppages on the canals, in the hope that a stitch of winter maintenance saves nine in the ‘busy’ season we optimistically refer to as ‘Summer’. This year we have seen a host of ‘emergency’ stoppages, some weather related, in addition. British Waterways, already short of cash, have been stretched even further.

The willingness to accept amateur help, mentioned on page 12, is encouraging.

In this issue I have taken the liberty of inventing a new word. Sorry, I couldn’t resist it. Well, Roald Dahl did it all the time ! I’m not saying where it is, to encourage readers to concentrate more, but when you see it, you’ll groan.

Allan

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In addition to “standard” items, mentioned on page 4, certain “personalised” items are available.

Details have already been sent to branches to enable them to order IWA clothing to include the branch name. Lichfield Branch already has their own polo shirts and raglan sleeved sweatshirts in stock. These can be purchased at their branch meetings (prices currently remain at 2009 levels).

We have not forgotten those members who need to represent the IWA at formal gatherings and have commissioned a smart new IWA tie which retails at £10.00.

You can see pictures of all the clothing on the IWA website. If you wish to reserve or order any particular item of clothing, or have any queries, please contact : Helen Whitehouse at iwaclothing@waterways.org.uk or on 01543 491161.

Andrew Phasey Boat Safety Scheme Examiner Vade Securitas

Boat Safety Scheme information and advice Boat Safety Scheme examinations Fire extinguisher servicing to BS 5306 To discuss your requirements, please call 07850 – 753633, or email : info@theoldmainline.co.uk www.theoldmainline.co.uk

Go Boating – Stay Safe

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Notice of Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the West Midlands Region of the Inland Waterways Association, and of its four Branches will take place at the following places and times: West Midlands Region, 7.45pm on Monday 15th March 2010 at Social Club, Ashwood Marina, Ashwood Lower Lane, Ashwood, near Wombourne, (following the Birmingham Branch AGM).

Warwickshire Branch, 7.30pm on Wednesday 10th March 2010 at ‘Alan Higgs Centre’, in Allard Way, Coventry, CV3 1HW. Birmingham Black Country & Worcestershire Branch, 7.30pm on Monday 15th March 2010 at the Social Club, Ashwood Marina, Ashwood Lower Lane, Ashwood, near Wombourne.

Stoke on Trent Branch, 7.45pm for 8.00pm on Friday 12th March 2010 at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent ST9 9DT Lichfield Branch, 7.30pm for 7.45pm on Wednesday 17th March 2010 at the College Hall, The Close, Lichfield WS13 7LD The Close encircles the Cathedral, accessed off Bird Street

AGENDA (Branch AGMs) The Agenda for each meeting will be as follows: 1.

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Apologies for absence Minutes the 2009 AGM and any Extraordinary General Meetings held subsequently, and matters arising from these minutes Report from Branch Chairman Financial Report Elections to the Committee Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch and notified to the Branch Chairman at least 6 weeks prior to the AGM Address by Region Chairman (or his representative) In each case the formal AGM will be followed by another activity as listed in the ‘Events’ listing on page 15.

IWA West Midlands

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Navigation

AGENDA (Region AGM) 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes the 2009 AGM and any Extraordinary General Meetings held subsequently; and matters arising from these minutes 3. Report from the Region Chairman 4. Financial Report 5. Elections to the Committee 6. Any resolutions requested by members of the Region and notified to the Region Chairman at least 6 weeks prior to the AGM

Branch and Region Committee Elections Candidates for election to a Branch or Region committee must be members of the relevant Branch or Region and the candidate must indicate his/her willingness to stand.

All elected members of a Region or Branch committee who have held office for a term of three years have to retire, as does any member co-opted during the committee meetings since the last AGM. Members in either category are eligible for re-election.

There shall be at least 3 elected members of each Branch and Region committee but there is no upper limit to the number of members.

In addition to the elected members, each Branch chairman is ex officio a member of the Region Committee.

The committee officers (Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary) shall be elected by the committee from its membership at their first meeting following each AGM. West Midlands Region Members completing 3 years in post Members co-opted since the previous AGM

Birmingham BCW Branch Members completing 3 years in post Members coopted since the previous AGM

None

David Pearson

Lichfield Branch Phil Sharpe Allan Gilbert Barbara Hodgson Pat Barton Margaret Beardsmore

Don Evans Ivor Caplan

Stoke on Trent Warwickshire Branch Branch -

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IWA West Midlands

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Region Chairman’s Report

First of all can I wish you all a Happy New Year and I trust that the sudden ‘real winter ‘over the holiday period didn’t ruin your enjoyment of the Christmas Break.

Many of you will, of course, have had a lengthy holiday but others, especially those who work in key service industries, including many British Waterways staff would have probably only had a couple of days off. It is of course important that, at this time of year, they are there to ensure the waterways network is open for us to cruise during the ‘Christmas Window’, assuming of course that it isn’t frozen over. Working in a service industry I well recall when I was at work having to fight a losing battle with those who had children in order to get an extra day off between Christmas and the New Year so spare a thought for the bank staff and their families when you cruise past them at this time of year.

During the last few months the potential loss of BW’s Property Assets has been high up IWA’s agenda and there has been considerable lobbying by us within Whitehall to prevent their possible sale; and thus protect the income that BW has from them and puts towards the maintenance of the system.

The announcement on the Monday prior to the pre-budget speech in early December was therefore a most welcome respite.

However, because it only postponed the decision, it’s what it didn’t say that was the greatest concern to us all. Clearly, because it got within the top 10 petitions within a very short time, Ian Rees’ petition on the Number 10 website must have an effect and therefore I urge all of you who have not signed it yet to sign it – the link is http:// p e t i t i o n s . n u m b e r 1 0 . g o v. u k / protectourcanals/ - because we cannot be complacent and have to continue the fight if we are to prevent the waterways slipping back into the decay of the 1960’s.

As I write these notes on 18th January I note that there are now 21342 signatures and that it’s risen to number 7 in the chart, so to get it further up please sign it and get all your friends to do so as well.

This is of course just part of our Save Our System Campaign (SOS) and I trust that you will all help support the campaigning activities of your local Branch over the coming few months; or if you want to do something yourself them please contact Jo Gilbertson at IWA Head Office and he will endeavour to support whatever you want to do. The details of this Campaign have been published elsewhere in Waterways and in the previous edition of Navigation, so rather than repeating everything I urge to re-read these magazine and try and do what you can to support the initiative.

Clearly our Branches are limited as to what they can do if they are struggling for volunteers to sit and carry out the committee work and, aware that several (in particular Birmingham) are struggling, with the AGM’s coming up I urge you to consider if you can volunteer to do a (average) couple hours per week to support them in their work.

This will take the load off those who devote many hours of their own time working hard for the Association and ultimately for the waterways that we all enjoy. Just mention it to your Branch (or Region) Secretary or, if you don’t know who he or she is, just come

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IWA West Midlands Region Chairman’s Report cont’d...

National Clean-up on the BCN 17 / 18 April Further details from Tim Lewis, WRG or visit the WRG website at wrg.org.uk

Photo : Ian Fletcher

Like many recent events, Warwickshire Branch’s Winter Walk, mentioned on page 19, had a distinctly chilly feel to it.

Games Evening & Supper t ule

Ro etc

Lichfield Branch te Saturday 13th March,

7.30 – 11.00 pm Hammerwich W.I. Hall, 95 Burntwood Road, Hammerwich, WS7 0JL

r Ba t t l e s i Sk

along to the AGM and put your hand up at the appropriate time in the proceedings.

I will conclude on a more positive note.

Many of you will know Alison Smedley, who retired last year as an IWA Trustee after six years service, who is now Stoke Branch’s Secretary and a member of our Region Committee. She was awarded an MBE for services to the waterways in the New Years Honours List - so you never know what you might end up with if you volunteer for a Branch (or Region) Committee.

I trust that you’ll all join me in congratulating her for her achievement and thank her for all the hard works she’s done, especially during the last few years when she’s had to bring up a child when still working part time.

K V Welch

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Tickets £10 which includes games ‘vouchers’ and a ploughman’s supper.

Bar and soft drinks available Tickets from Pat Barton at meetings, or email

patricia@perrybarton.freeserve.co.uk or tel. 01785 824012 (mobile 07947 337491)

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IWA West Midlands

Navigation

Moira Canal Festival 22nd / 23rd May 2010 The IWA National Trailboat Rally and Moira Canal Festival was very successful in 2009. The 2010 event will be held again at the Moira Furnace, in NW Leicestershire on the restored Ashby Canal.

There will be a Civil War reenactment group, children’s entertainment, bands, Morris dancing, a bar, forest crafts, demonstrations, live steam, vintage engines and more. We are currently seeing if we can get the first ever tightrope walk over the Ashby Canal ! – and you will be able to get an update on the current state of the restoration at Snarestone, which is proceeding, albeit slowly !

Photo : G Pursglove

Moira Festival in 2009 at Moira Furnace

Trailboaters are invited to bring their boats and enjoy the event with us on this currently isolated section of the Ashby Canal.

For boats, please contact the harbourmaster, Paul Johnson, for an application form or if you have any questions, tel.

01530 274968; paul.shorts@pandefjohnson.co.uk

For general enquiries or booking forms contact Geoff Pursglove on 01530 273956, ashby.canal@tiscali.co.uk Or visit www.moiracanalfestival.co.uk to print off trade and boat booking forms.

Volunteers appreciated over the weekend, 2 hours would help a lot! Contact Roger Grimsley on 02476 734522; roger.grimsley@ntlworld.com

PARKHEAD CANAL FESTIVAL 2010.

This Canal Festival is a bi-annual event which is organised by Dudley Canal Trust and Worcester / Birmingham Canal Society.

This is our 6th event since the turn of the Milllennium and has grown from strength to strength over the years.

This year’s dates have been set for 24th/ 25th/26th September 2010. Entry forms are now available for narrowboats, trade stands, and vintage vehicles by contacting Steve Bingham on, ste.bingham@talktalk.net or phone 01384 - 422379 (please leave a message).

This is a free event for the whole family with narrowboats,historic narrowboats, trade & craft stalls, vintage vehicles and steam

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engines including the great “Dudley Duck Race” which is normally run on Sunday between 1 & 2 of Parkhead locks.

Steve Bingham.

Chairman of the organising committee.

TUG GATHERING AT THE BCLM The date is now set for a gathering of historic tugs to be held at the Black Country Living Museum during 1st/2nd/3rd May Day Bank Holiday 2010.

There will be plenty of activities during the weekend with towing demonstrations of tugs in action !

Free entry forms can be obtained from Steve Bingham on ste.bingham@talktalk.net or phone 01384 422379 and leave a message.

Improve Your Socks-Life !

Foot Health Practitioner - New Advertiser We start the new year with a new advertiser. There will be an item in the next issue giving a little background information and an insight into collegefhp.com which Victor is currently working on. In the mean time, why not give Victor a call ?

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Wa t e r w a y p r i o r i t i e s - your views matter

During 2010 BW’s waterway managers will be inviting boating representatives to join their summer programme of waterway inspections. The process, part of the yearround condition checks of BW’s locks, bridges, embankments and other waterway structures, informs where BW targets the funds available to spend on waterway maintenance.

BW’s director of operations, Vince Moran comments: “Asking boaters to get involved in the summer inspections can only help to build upon the constructive dialogue we have with the boating community. The ‘onboard’ meetings will be an excellent opportunity for waterway managers and boating representatives to discuss maintenance issues on site and share views on expenditure priorities at local level.

It will be an opportunity for BW managers to show first hand the choices and dilemmas they face when working with a finite pot of money.”

Cookers Safety An appeal has gone out to boaters who remain at risk from potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning, to act on a safety alert from the manufacturers of Belling, Flavel, Leisure and New World cookers.

Despite earlier warnings about the dangers, there are still around 12,000 appliances to be tracked down and it is feared boat owners could easily have one of these cookers, Rob McLean of the Boat Safety Scheme tells us. Quick and simple free modifications are available to prevent the risk of CO if the grill is used accidentally with the door shut. Several boat owners have already had the modifications done and have said it is a quick and simple operation.

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IWA West Midlands

Navigation

Canal Festival

Annual Jumble Sale

Pelsall 2010

Lichfield Branch -held jointly with Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Society is holding its main Summer event next year on the northern section of the BCN, subject to sufficient water supply from Chasewater Reservoir during this summer’s dam works. The Festival is supported by the I W A, Lichfield and Birmingham Black Country & Worcestershire Branches, Longwood Boat Club and the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.

Saturday 6th March, 10 am to noon Peace Memorial Hall, Pinfold Lane, Penkridge, ST19 5AP

12 / 13th June 2010 Pelsall Wood Common off Wood Lane, Pelsall.

The campaigning aims of the event are to increase the profile of the northern BCN and to contribute to the fight against the current reduction in funding for the Inland Waterways. This could put at risk the future of the canals in this area unless their benefits for visiting boaters and the local communities can be demonstrated.

Admission only 30p Tea and cakes available in our cafe Set-up and receipt of jumble donations 8.30 – 9.30

Household goods, clothes, books, CDs, games, toys, small furniture, crockery, glassware, etc Many helpers needed, please

Weekday Walk around Bodymoor Heath A circular walk around Kingsbury Water Park and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. Followed by a pub lunch organised by Lichfield Branch

Thursday 25th February 2010 Meet at the Dog and Doublet Inn, Dog Lane, Bodymoor Heath, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9JD

10.30 am for 10.45 am start.

Further information from Margaret Beardsmore 07966 931151 or margaretbeardsmore@gmail.com Non members welcome No charge for the walk

No Promises . . . but ...

The location has been used previously for successful waterways events and the organisers are confident that a warm welcome and full support will be received from the local community. Boaters will have the opportunity to join a BCN Explorer Cruise on their way to the Festival.

The Festival will include stalls, entertainment, displays and refreshments for the public as well as being a gathering of boats from all over Brenda Ward, tel. 0121 355 6351 the country. email boundarypost@googlemail.com For general inquiries please contact; Ivor Caplan, mobile 07778 685674 email ihcaplan@msn.com

M e r s e y C ro s s i n g If a convoy across the Mersey could be arranged, to link in with the planned Tom Rolt Centenary Celebrations in Chester : June 26/27th 2010.

Would you be interested in joining it ?

The idea would be to travel independently, via Wigan and the L&L, to Liverpool in early/mid June, then :• Go through The Link, • Spend a few days in Liverpool • Cross The Mersey, • Take the Ship Canal to Ellesmere Port, • Visit the Boat Museum, • Attend the Chester Event.

If interested (in principle) please contact : Ian Fletcher. preferably by e-mailing :

<< ipsoco@btinternet.com >> marking the subject as << Mersey Crossing 0610 >>

West Midlands Region

Social Events of our Branches

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All the events below are open to non-members and member’s guests.

Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch Meetings details from Chris Osborn 01299 832593 jcosborn@tiscali.co.uk Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch meetings are held at the Social Club, Ashwood Marina, Ashwood Lower Lane, Ashwood DY6 0AQ (near Kingswinford and Wombourne) at 19.30. This venue is accessible to anyone having difficulties with stairs.

Mon 15th Mar

Branch and Region AGMs

Lichfield Branch

Meetings details from Phil Sharpe 01889 583330 lichfield@waterways.org.uk Lichfield Branch meetings are in the College Hall, Cathedral Close, Lichfield WS13 7LD. This is on the ground floor. Parking just off Bird St. (see website map) Meetings start at 7.30 for 7.45 pm Wed 17th Feb Illustrated talk: The History of Steam Tug ‘Kerne’ by Nigel Bowker, writer and expert on historic boat restoration.

Thurs 25th Feb Weekday Walk around Bodymoor Heath. 10.30 am. See box on page 14 for details.

Sat 6th March Jumble Sale. At Peace Hall, Pinfold Lane, Penkridge. 10 am to noon.

Sat 13th Mar Games Evening at Hammerwich W.I. Hall. See page 9.

Wed 17th Mar AGM followed by talk on Ashby Canal by Geoff Pursglove Wed 21st Apr Talk: North American Waterways by Tony Bonson

Stoke on Trent Branch

Meetings details from Alison Smedley 01538 385388 alison@hazelhurstcottage.co.uk Stoke on Trent Branch meetings are in the Stoke on Trent Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke on Trent ST9 9DT Meetings start at 7.45 for 8.00 pm Fri 12th Feb Fri 12th Mar Fri 9th Apr

Talk : Canal Inclines & Lifts AGM followed by talk on the Cheshire Locks Talk: Ecology & the Canals by Stuart Moodie, British Waterways.

Warwickshire Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month, and start at 7.30 pm.

Location : ‘Alan Higgs Centre’, in Allard Way, Coventry, CV3 1HW. Meetings will be in ‘The Gallery’ a self-contained room with our own bar - available from 7.00pm. For earlier arrivals a licensed cafeteria is available elsewhere in the building for snacks or bar-meals.

Wed Feb 10th Wed Mar 10th Wed Apr 14th

Talk : Cruising The Liverpool Link by Richard Sanders.

Warwickshire Branch AGM. Then Trials & Tribulations of Organising a‘National’ ’ - by Ian West Talk : The Fens Waterways Link’ – by The Environment Agency speaker to be advised.

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Welcome to another report on the activities of Lichfield Branch. We hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year break, and are looking forward to another year of waterway activities. But first, a reminder of what we were doing over the last few months.

Our November meeting heard about the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal from Geraint Coles, their Canal Partnership Development Manager.

We were impressed with the good progress the Canal Trust is making on several fronts and were pleased to donate £50 towards their continuing restoration work. Like all our meetings so far this season, it was very well attended and we hope that will continue in the New Year.

An additional event in November, not on the Programme Card, was a Weekday Walk around Alrewas. A mild and dry Thursday morning saw us gather at The Crown for a 3 mile circular walk along the Trent & Mersey Canal and through the river meadows to Wychnor. Here we were able to look inside the historic little church and talk to the masons repairing parts of its weathered sandstone walls. Then a short stroll along the riverside towpath brought us back to the pub for a very sociable lunch.

Our extensive publicity worked well and we had 36 walkers with ages ranging from student to elderly. Over half were not IWA members and were given ‘welcome packs’ so we hope to see some of them again at future events.

Our Christmas Dinner this year was a very

enjoyable affair with good food and good company and a suitably festive atmosphere.

Chapters Restaurant occupies one of the historic buildings in The Close opposite Lichfield cathedral and is just a few doors from our normal meeting place at College Hall. The proceedings were enlivened by quizzes, games, recitations and a tombola with some excellent donated prizes, making a small profit on the evening. The success of our various fund raising activities during the year meant that the Branch was able to use this opportunity to make a donation of £300 to the Lichfield & Hatherton’s David Suchet “Thirty Pound Appeal” towards restoration of the Lichfield Canal between Huddlesford and Darnford Lane.

After returning to College Hall in January to hear about the Cromford & High Peak Railway, our next meeting will be on 17th February about the history of steam tug ‘Kerne’ by Nigel Bowker, a writer and expert on historic boat restoration.

The annual Jumble Sale this year is again at the Peace Memorial Hall in Penkridge, on Saturday morning 6th March, so please start collecting suitable jumble for us. If anyone can offer us the use of temporary storage space locally in a garage or shed that would be most helpful. Otherwise, you can bring donations to our meetings, or early on the day, or we may be able to arrange collection in advance. We need lots of volunteers as usual to help us sort the stock, sell it, and then clear up afterwards. Access for set-up is from 8.30 am so please come early. We will also need help with providing the usual refreshments.

We hope that many of our members will be able to assist us again with this event which is an important fund-raiser for the Branch, and for the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust with which we share the work and the proceeds. It is also an enjoyable social occasion which invariably finishes in The Littleton Arms for a pub lunch. continued . . .

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– Navigation – IWA West Midlands Region

Lichfield Chairman continued

As an addition to our programme in March, we are having a Games Evening and Supper at the Hammerwich W.I. Hall on Saturday 13th. For a ticket price of £10 you will get a ploughman’s supper and £5 worth of ‘vouchers’ (at 20p each) towards playing a range of entertaining games, at your own pace, and with small prizes for the best players. Games include roulette, darts, shut-the-box, bar skittles, etc. A bar and soft drinks will be available. This will be a friendly way of raising some funds for the Branch and having some fun doing so.

March will be a busy month for us because we also have our AGM on 17th. Due for reelection to the Branch committee this time are myself Phil Sharpe, Chairman, our Secretary Allan Gilbert, Treasurer Barbara Hodgson, Pat Barton and co-opted member Margaret Beardsmore. This is half the current committee so we hope you will come and support us ! However, there is always room for anyone else who would like to contribute to our activities so if you might be interested, please give me a ring or talk to any committee member. The formalities this year should not take too long and then we will have some refreshments and an update on progress with the Ashby Canal restoration project by Geoff Pursglove, the Project Officer.

Our April meeting at College Hall will be an illustrated talk on North American Waterways by the much-travelled Tony Bonson, who you may remember entertained us in 2008 with his talk on cruising in Poland. For further details see the diary pages, our Branch Programme Card, or the website www.waterways.org.uk.

Preparations are now coming together for a Canal Festival at Pelsall over the weekend of 12-13th June. This will be on the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Pelsall Wood Common, with the festival site and boat

moorings centred round Pelsall Junction opposite the Cannock Extension Canal.

More details will be available from BCNS. The Lichfield Branch contributions to the event will include a sales, games and publicity marquee and running the Saturday evening barbecue. This will be open to all our members and guests as well as the boaters and helpers on the site, and will act as a replacement this year for the barbecue which we have had at Huddlesford for the past two years.

Meanwhile, we continue to respond to planning issues affecting the waterways, and perhaps the most significant one at present is a proposed gas-fired power station at Burton on Trent. This would be between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the A38 bypass at ‘Centrum West’, the large industrial estate that has been built alongside the canal over recent years.

The site already has planning consent for another large warehouse, but the power station would be even more visually intrusive at 40 metres high and with 65 m chimneys.

We consider it would be better sited on the existing redundant power station site at Drakelow, but if built here it should be moved back from the canal with a substantial screen of trees in a landscape planting buffer zone, although nothing could hide the bulk of the buildings.

On a more encouraging note, an application was made to repair and extend the lock cottage at Deepmore (or Deptmore) on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. This remarkable survivor of an original unimproved lock cottage is in a completely isolated location, without any mains services, and is in very poor condition and suffering from subsidence. We have therefore welcomed in principle the plans to rescue it, including providing a road link. However, the proposed extensions may be too large and more attention needs to be given to preserving the outbuildings and other historic features. The application has since been withdrawn for amendments and renewed efforts are being made to List the cottage as a historic building.

Phil Sharpe

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February 2010

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rejection of the Robin Evans statement that:“The network is now in better shape than at any time in decades”. While there is no doubt that the network is in better shape than it was decades ago, I’m sure that most regular users will agree with me that some 5 or 6 years ago things stopped getting better, and some 2 to 3 years ago things slowly started to get worse.

In the last Navigation I thanked Warwickshire members for their record attendance and support at the start of our ‘talks’ season’ in September. By December the branch had, for the first time in any one year, donated £1,000 to waterway causes – take a bow Warwickshire! Now - having just returned home from a New Year walk with nearly forty fellow Branch members, and looking forward to next week’s ‘sold out’ Branch Dinner – not only do I think that more thanks are due; but I also believe that now is the ideal time for me to ‘hand-over the baton’ to others within the Branch to continue its development. Consequently, if re-elected to the Branch committee at our AGM in March, I will not stand as Chairman. Having now held that position for longer than my originally stated ‘five years’, I feel that - if only to retain credibility - I must stand down.

However, this doesn’t mean that I will be opting out of branch activities – far from it.

We all have much to do in 2010.

On the assumption that by now we’ve all signed the ‘Number 10’ petition – and ensured that all friends, relatives and colleagues have done so as well [If not then please do so as a matter of urgency – see elsewhere in this edition] – our next priority is to plan our contributions to the SOS-2010 campaign. Over the next few weeks, as other branches, we will determine our May Day (or should that be m’aider! ) activities; but prior to then there’s still much to do. One important action must be to record our

As with failing eyesight small, subtle deterioration is often hard to detect (only periodic testing shows the true extent of the problem). I know of two such ’eye-tests’ that took place in our Region last summer. On the BCN, I regularly used to do the 4 mile round trip from Deepfields to Bradley Workshop and back in 2 hours, but on last years BCN Challenge the weed problems encountered there more than doubled that time. Also, just as weed or vegetation growth can be so slow as to be virtually un-noticed, so can bridge or lock movements. Last June David Litchfield attempted to take Kew down the Southern Stratford - as he had done successfully before: but this time got no further than Bridge 58. Many of us have longknown that bridge 58 is ‘tight’ – but as we’ve always got through it we haven’t bothered to comment. And talking of commenting what do we have to do to bring to someone’s attention the state of the W&B towpath between Hopton and Bittel – surely the worst in the Region ! ?

Well, instead of shrugging in silent resignation, or muttering into our beers – or at the best submitting individual ‘Comment Cards’; lets quantify the lot. I’ve already requested that Warwickshire members let me know of local waterway and waterside problems, and now – wearing my West Midland Region Navcom ‘hat’ - I ask all Navigation readers to let me know, through your own branch contacts, of infrastructure problems in your area.

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Warwickshire Chairman continued

Finally, we mustn’t forget that 2010 is the centenary of Tom Rolt’s birth: and therefore we must support Ron & Mary Heritage of Oxfordshire Branch, as they pass through our ‘patch’– in their symbolic re-enactment of Cressy’s 1939 journey. As this will be in late April, perhaps we can incorporate it into our May Day action programme – comments please.

Ian Fletcher

Stoke-on-Trent Branch

er Rog ge va a S

Alison Smedley MBE The most exciting news for the Branch broke with the announcement that Alison Smedley, our Branch Secretary, has been awarded the MBE “for services to Inland Waterways”. We are very pleased that Alison’s work over many years has been recognised in this way. Alison is a true ‘waterways baby’, having spent much of her early life on a barge moored on the Thames. When she moved away from home, she bought a historic narrow boat and lived on it for some time, exploring the waterways in the south of England. Wanting to put something back into the waterways, she joined the IWA and became much involved in the work of London Region, as well as joining WRG and helping out, especially on the administrative side. At this time, she met her husband Rupert, who

also had his own historic boat.

Nearly 10 years ago, they moved to Haslehurst Cottage beside the Caldon Canal, and this is when we locally began to benefit from their expertise and enthusiasm.

Alison soon took on the role of Secretary, and served for two years as Branch Chairman, for a while combining the two jobs. She also held office in the Caldon Canal Society, as it then was, and is currently Secretary of the Historic Narrowboat Owners Club. In a New Year’s Day interview on Radio Stoke, Alison modestly said that she does not regard herself as deserving recognition any more than many other volunteers who work tirelessly for the cause. We congratulate Alison on her achievement thus far, and confidently look forward to her continuing her work with us for a long time to come.

Leek Arm Breach I went to the site of the breach on the Leek Arm on the afternoon it occurred. I talked to the Engineer and construction manager on site. I also wrote a note to Darren Green congratulating him and his then new team on the way they had dealt with the situation.

As he has publicly affirmed BW’s intention to repair the breach before the cruising season, we are now holding a watching brief to ensure that this is carried out.

Stone Boat Fire.

Following the fire at Stone which destroyed three boats, including the Phyllis May which undertook the voyages that featured in the books Narrow Dog to Carcasonne and to Indian River, I sent an email of commiseration to Terry & Monica Darlington. Karen Wyatt has written an article about the event, which appeared in Knobsticks. The historic boat Heart of Gold, the home of Sid Smallman, was also destroyed, including the owner’s extensive book collection. At the December Social meeting, the proceeds of the Raffle were sent to Sid, to help him begin collecting (continued)

Navigation Stoke- on-Trent Branch ...cont’d

again. Later, Sid sent me the following: “Hello Roger, I just wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ to you and everyone for your kind thoughts and generous donations which were a complete and overwhelming surprise to me.

Cheshire Locks Campaign: We have made progress with WRG. They will be holding a long weekend camp to deal with the exploratory excavations on the Burslem Port Site April 22nd - 26th. They want to combine this with the vegetation and chamber clearance of Churches Lock. They will be accommodated in the TA Drill Hall, Cobridge. It has kitchen, 30 army cots (camp beds as used in Afghanistan), plenty of secure parking, some under cover if necessary, and a bar. Renew are paying for the accommodation and equipment hire for the Burslem work. They are happy for some people using the accommodation to work on the Cheshire Locks. Both these projects are being jointly funded by the IWA Stoke-on-Trent Branch and the Trent & Mersey Canals Society.

We are proceeding with the planning of this joint Canal Camp. I visited the flight to see the good progress being made at lock 48.

As the canal is dewatered between the two locks, it was a good opportunity to look at the state of the canal bed. Alison Smedley visited the site with BW Maintenance Engineer Graham Lea. He expressed concern about the rotten gate and the silt bank above the lock. He has since agreed to dredge both above and below the lock so that stop planks can be put in place to ensure the safety of the workers.

Burslem Port Project: The Burslem Port Team continues to make substantial progress. PM Training, funded

by RENEW, have made good progress with the tree and shrub clearance of the line on

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the old canal. Joan Walley MP held a photocall and spoke to the young trainees.

This attracted good coverage in the boating and local press. The first phase, the clearance of the Anderton Co basin, is now complete. The area for potential mooring development is larger than we thought. The team has also tackled the wooded cutting alongside the Waste Transfer Station.

Weed trees have been thinned and the hedge reduced to manageable proportions.

A tree surgeon was brought in to fell three large trees over 90 feet high beside the wharf. The team has now moved on to the next section, beside the co-op bakery site and then on towards the canal but work has been impeded by the New Year snows.

The BPP team attended the design brief workshop for Middleport and found many of our ideas had already been incorporated.

We submitted a sheet of some 20 proposals. Our idea for earmarking the land beside the T&M for a pub/carvery restaurant was welcomed by some of the audience.

We have now had a report from Halletec, specialist consultants in marina development. They have given thorough consideration to our ideas and are of the view that a commercial marina is not a viable commercial proposition. We are now concentrating on a low-cost development, based on the original Arup plans.

Our ideas for a Development Trust for the Wharf buildings have been met positively

by Renew. We have been in contact with the Owner who is willing to sell BUT he would have to find another site elsewhere in the City / Newcastle of at least similar size (1 acre+). He appreciates old buildings and has no plans to destroy the warehouse.

Trent & Mersey Canal Society.

Vice Chairman John Morin is organising a coach trip to visit a number of boat lifts in Belgium in May – some Anderton types, others huge examples of modern engineering. Anyone interested should

22.

IWA West Midlands

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Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch

Wa n t e d Enthusiastic advocates for the retention, maintenance and sympathetic development of the waterways in

Birmingham, the Black Country and Worcestershire to join the Association’s Branch Committee.

Since there has been very little response to our appeal during the l a s t q u a r t e r, t h e f u t u r e o f t h e Branch will have to be considered at the AGM in March.

The Committee meet around six times a year and deals with all matters relating to the local waterway network, officers handle related correspondence in the interim. A couple of hours of your time each week is all we are likely to ask of you - but of course you can volunteer for much more!

The Committee now has only four members, and it will be unable to maintain its high profile. We are seeking new Committee members from within the Branch.

Anyone with an interest in, and the ability to deal with, local planning matters would be especially welcome. Planning applications arise from the ten local authorities within the branch and need to be monitored. Also, anyone who would like to help organise waterway events, or drive political lobbying or to work with the local canal societies on matters of mutual concern is invited to contact us, without obligation. It can be most rewarding.

If you are interested in helping with this vital work please contact the West Midlands Region Chairman, Vaughan Welch, on 0121 477 9782 or write to him at : 3 Beach Close, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 3DB. Whatever your background or experience, if you want to take that first step, we encourage you to come forward. None of us are ‘experts’, we all had to start from scratch and pick it up as we went along. Don’t be put off before you’ve enquired. We won’t drop you in the deep end (excuse the canalogy), you can ‘try it out before you buy’ - to see if it fits.

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IWA West Midlands

23.

CANAL ART EXHIBITION AT AUDLEM MILL 21 March to 17 April 2010

The exhibitions at Audlem Mill in previous years have proved to be extremely popular.

The third annual exhibition of paintings of canal and waterways scenes is being held from 21 March to 17 April at Audlem Mill in Cheshire, one of the oldest and best known canalside shops in Britain. This is probably the only opportunity in 2010 to see so many canal paintings brought together in one place.

During the exhibition (and for the whole of the spring and summer season), Audlem Mill is open seven days a week. There is also a wide selection of canal ware and books, giftware for all the family, and needlework, with specialist threads and a very wide range of kits from many designers, and knitting yarns.

Entry to the exhibition is free, and all works are for sale.

Visitors should ring 01270 811059 for further information.

Audlem Mill is a converted animal fodder mill, still containing many of the original chutes and hoppers.

Served by the adjacent Shropshire Union Canal, it was completed in 1916.

Audlem Mill was converted to a canal shop in the early 1970s, shortly after the end of regular commercial canal carrying.

It is alongside the canal wharf in Audlem, south Cheshire, just off the A525/A529 near the centre of the village.

Location details www.audlemmill.co.uk

at

24.

IWA West Midlands Region Vacancies for New Members Lichfield Cruising Club There is capacity for a couple of boat owners to join Lichfield Cruising Club.

The Club has moorings at Huddlesford Junction, just off the Coventry Canal.

The maximum length of boat that can be accomodated is 15.2 metres (50ft).

Anyone interested in applying should contact : Dave Preston Lichfield Cruising Club Canal Cottages, Huddlesford Junction, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 8PX membership@lichfieldcruisingclub.co.uk 01283 814236

25.

THE VICTORIA CUP In 2009, on the dissolution of IWA Western Region and the movement of Stoke on Trent Branch to our Region, the Victoria Cup was given to IWA West Midlands Region.

This is awarded annually to an IWA member who has made a significant contribution to the Association’s aims.

Description: silver-plated cup, on stand.

Total height to top of handles: 11.5”.

Diameter, at top: 8.5” Inscription : THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION NORTH WEST REGION

The Victoria Cup PRESENTED BY

“M a r a n a t h a ” FO

R

SA

HARRY LOGAN ESQ 1975

LE

50' semitrad built 1988 to individual design on Springer hull.

Fixed double, 2 other convertable sofas, rear galley with full gas cooker, gas fridge.

Wetroom style bathroom with shower, Alde central heating.

Thorneycroft / Mitsubishi engine BSC Sept 2012. £21,900 ono.

Trish Humphries Tel. 01785 715323

The cup will be suitably engraved to record its transfer to our Region, and presented in 2010. No nominations nor discussions of a suitable recipient have taken place yet.

The Book Barge A new enterprise has started at Barton Marina. Sarah Henshaw has set up a mobile book shop on a narrow boat called The Book Barge.

More in next issue.

Obituaries Patricia Chandler

R N Robinson

We are sad to report the death of Pat Chandler on Christmas eve 2009. She passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with illness.

The funeral was in Alrewas on 8 January.

The IWA was represented by the current Branch Chairman and many other members.

Pat was married to Peter Chandler OBE, who was Chairman of Lichfield Branch for many years.

We are sad to have been informed by his son, Nick, of the recent death of Mr R N Robinson of Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

26.

Contacts

The next issue, No. 2010-2, is due to be published in May 2010.

Your contributions and comments should be sent to the Editor by 6th April 2010.

Please submit your news, comments, letters, photographs and articles to : Allan Gilbert, 47 Western Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B73 5SP or attached to e-mails to : a.c.gilbert@blueyonder.co.uk Tel. 0121 682 4230

WEST MIDLANDS R E G I O N Chairman

Vaughan Welch, 3 Beach Close, Northfield, Birmingham B31 3DB Tel. 0121 477 9782 Mob : 07971 202406 vaughan.welch@waterways.org.uk

Secretary

Brian Kingshott, Park Cottage, Hopton Castle, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 0QF Tel: 01547 530457 Mob: 07831 572642 e.mail : brian@park-cottage.fsnet.co.uk

Treasurer

Anthony Davies, 17 Elm Row, Stockton, Warwickshire CV47 9JY Tel : 01926 814486 Mob : 07778 557398 e-mail : Anthony.Davies@dennis-eagle.co.uk

The Region is made up of these four branches : BIRMINGHAM,BLACK COUNTRY AND WORCESTERSHIRE BRANCH Chairman & Secretary Currently under review.

See page 22

STOKE ON TRENT B R A N C H

LICHFIELD BRANCH Chairman Philip Sharpe 34 Old Eaton Road, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 2EZ Tel. 01889 583330 philip.g.sharpe@ntlworld.com Secretary Allan Gilbert 47 Western Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B73 5SP Tel. 0121 682 4230 a.c.gilbert@blueyonder.co.uk

WA R W I C K S H I R E B R A N C H

Chairman Roger Savage 19 High Street, Eccleshall Staffordshire ST21 6BW Tel. 01785 850967 roger.savage@homecall.co.uk

Chairman Ian Fletcher 4 Village Hall Cottages, The Green, Long Itchington, Southam, CV47 9QH Tel. 01926 815413 ipsoco@btinternet.com

Secretary Alison Smedley Hazelhurst Cottage, Denford, Leek ST13 7JT Tel. 01538 385388 alison@hazelhurstcottage.co.uk

Secretary Sue Roy 46, The Butts, Warwick. CV34 4ST Tel. 01926 497645 roy154@btinternet.com

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