Autumn 2010
Issue 2010/3
The Cressy Cruise visits Hawkesbury Junction
We s t M i d l a n d s Region
Cover picture “Cressy Cruise” commemorating Tom Rolt Centenary. See pages 6 & 7 for the story behind this extensive cruise which passed through our Region twice.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Boater You may recall seeing Ian Fletcher’s appeal in previous issues of Navigation, for brave boaters to join him in crossing the Mersey. If you wandered what it would be like - see above.
To all Navigation Readers Every time you call or visit any of our advertisers, please tell them you saw their advert in ‘Navigation’.
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, news of forthcoming events and provide a contact with IWA. 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 news in the Region and the aims and activities of the Association. The IWA West Midlands Region
IWA Website
One of just eight Regions, this region covers the geographic ‘Heart of England’. Centred around Birmingham, it stretches to include Stoke on Trent in the north, to Warwick and Worcester in the south. This is where the great network of 18th century canals, from London in the south east, Bristol in the south west, Merseyside in the north west and Humberside in the north east; all come together. This Region is proud to be the Hub of the system.
Navigation magazine is available in PDF format on the IWA website : www.waterways.org.uk Hardcopy of Navigation is monochrome for economic reasons. Wherever possible, on the internet, pictures and graphics are full colour and other enhancements, such as live links to website locations and e-mail addresses, are active. So even if you have a paper copy, it is still worth having a look on-line if you have access to the internet.
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.
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 Media Print Group, Park Lane House, Park Lane, Oldbury B69 4JX
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Navigation – – Contents –
Chairmen’s Reports Page 8-9 Region Chairman’s Report Page 18-20 Lichfield Chairman’s Report Page 21 Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Chairman’s Report Page 22 Warwickshire Chairman’s Report
Regular Features Page 5 Editor’s Excuses Page 14-17 Future Social Events Page 26 Committee Contacts and details for submissions / deadlines.
News Stories, Gossip and Articles Page 6-7 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 Page 23 Page 24
Cressy Cruise Stafford Riverway Link / Doug Smith memorial Rugeley stoppage Rhodes Thomas collection Updates on stories Chasewater update / Minworth stoppage Selly Oak aqueduct development
More than 500 miles of canals and navigable rivers have been re-opened to public use since the Association was founded in 1946. Currently another 500 miles of derelict inland waterways including many locks, bridges and aqueducts are the subject of restoration schemes.
– Navigation – Editor’s
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Excuses
There’s something very strange about canals. We all romanticise over the good old days and we love the traditional canal scene, be it rural or urban, and crave to restore them back to the way they were before British Waterways was invented. But when it comes to looking for somewhere to moor, or walk the dog on a rainy day, or settle down with a rod and line for a few hours, we all look for 21st century conveniences : mooring rings, all-weather surfaced towpaths, a flat pitch with no tall weeds. All the things they didn’t have when they were the nation’s highways. In this Navigation, we see how users have adapted to water shortages (BCN) and diversions (Selly Oak), and brought the Droitwich Barge Canal back to life. At the same time we are winding the clock back and introducing modern engineering features.
Droitwich Barge Canal A canal boat has travelled along a stretch of waterway in Worcestershire for the first time in about 80 years. The boat travelled along the 250-yearold Barge Canal in Droitwich, which has been restored as part of a £12m project. British Waterways said it meant a vision to create a 21-mile (33.8 km) cruising ring around the scenic heart of the county was almost complete. The Junction Canal will open in 2011, providing the final link in the route. British Waterways has praised a 37year campaign by Droitwich Canals Trust to restore the town’s canals.
Navigation is a mixture of the old and the new. Long before anything ever appears on paper, Navigation gestates from an embryo file to the finished virtual document in the unseen depths of a computer over a few weeks. Sadly, when your computer gets a bit old and crotchety, it can suffer the odd miscarriage and the time comes to sever the links to the past. The Region committee are looking into a new format for the West Midlands’ magazine and this coincides with the arrival of my new PC. It remains to be seen if the next Navigation (December), refreshed and produced anew, will satisfy the expectations of the readership. Allan
Jason Leach, British Waterways senior regeneration manager, said: “It’s especially rewarding to see all the diverse efforts of groups and individuals coming to fruition after decades of planning and spadework. “This £12m project to restore the Barge and Junction Canals will unlock the entire ring - a green waterway corridor for communities and a magnet for visiting boaters.
C re s s y C r u i s e
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To celebrate the centenary of the birth of Tom Rolt, one of the founder members of the Inland Waterways Association, a cruise following the route of Tom Rolt’s epic journey on ‘Cressy’ in 1939 was organised. Ron & Mary Heritage planned to cruise their narrowboat, ‘Heron’, around the system, with events taking place at various stops along the way to draw attention to our waterways and produce positive publicity. Our cover shows the event at Hawkesbury Junction, and more to this story is described on page 7 opposite. Depicted here are receptions at Autherley Junction near Wolverhampton, and Fradley Junction on the Trent & Photo : John Taplin Mersey Canal. The presentation at Autherley Junction complete with period dress, adding another medallion, with Ivor Caplan (right)
Harry Arnold / Waterway Images
The medallion presentation at Fradley Junction by Barry Diggle, Lichfield District Council Chairman. Left to right : Ron Heritage, Valerie Diggle, Mary Heritage, Barry Diggle and Phil Sharpe.
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IWA West Midlands
Navigation
No thesaurus seems to contain a word that means ‘more than memorable’, and yet the scores of visitors to Gallery 4 at The Herbert Art Gallery, in Coventry, on Monday July 26th 2010, now know that one is needed to describe their experience.
stop-lock, and view of the now forlorn looking engine-house. Her final words to Greyhound landlord Leigh Watts on leaving were “If George Smith comes in here, tell him I’ve been.” Little did she know (indeed did any of us know) that, within less that an hour, she would meet him face to face. So emotion-laden was this occasion in Gallery 4 at The Herbert that even a radio-interview arranged with BBC Coventry & Warwickshire was delayed for some minutes while everyone took in its significance.
They had come to ‘The Herbert’ not just to see an exhibition of the remarkable images of Coventry photographer, the late Robert Longden - images of the boats and boating people to be seen around Hawkesbury Junction some 60 years ago, and used by Sonia Rolt as the basis of her 1997 book ‘A Canal People’; but they had also come to see and hear Sonia reminisce about her time spent, in the late 1940s as a working boat-woman on the Coventry and Oxford canals, and around Hawkesbury in particular. Many in the audience were from boating families, and many acquaintances were renewed - the most emotional of which must, without doubt, have been the surprise one between Sonia and her first husband George Smith – who she had not seen, or even heard of, for many years. The occasion had been organised by IWAs Warwickshire branch as part of their ‘Cressy Cruise’ contribution. Knowing that Ron & Mary Heritage on ‘Heron’ were passing through Hawkesbury in late July, realising that this coincided with Robert Longden’s great grandson’s exhibition of The Longden Prints at The Herbert, and appreciating Sonia Rolt’s emotional ties with Hawkesbury; Warwickshire branch determined to weave these threads together, and create a memorable day for all. Clive Henderson and his wife Helen collected Sonia from her Gloucestershire home and drove her to Hawkesbury – where she attended the presentation to Ron Heritage of the Warwickshire branch plaque by Branch chairman Ian Jackson. Sonia was noticeably moved by her visit to the Greyhound, the adjacent
After our ‘Audience with Sonia’ – which included many contributions from her contemporaries who were present, and an enjoyable lunch at The Gallery; Sonia was whisked away by members of the Newcomen Society - to attend a dinner in Southampton that evening. What a schedule for anyone – let alone a nonagenarian: and what a day for all present – truly more than memorable.
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IWA West Midlands
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Region Chairman’s Report experts in their own specialist field as time progresses, but that comes at a cost and those experts, AKA Consultants, can now claim huge sums of money every day for their expertise, significantly inflating project costs, especially after the project owner has got rid of all these specialist staff to these Consultancies that are gradually becoming monopolies.
Undoubtedly the events of the 6th May this year will be embeddied in our minds and effect our activities, both professional and leisure, for many years to come. Depending upon one’s political persuasion some see it as positive and others negative but one thing is clear, we could not go on the way we were and change was inevitable. This need to change is no different in the Inland Waterways than it is anywhere else and IWA has often been critical in the past regarding the navigation authorities apparent wasteful activities and it would seem that this criticism has finally hit home. Questions are already been asked why its costs twice as much to build a civil engineered structure in the UK than it does in most other European counties and many will have differing views on how that comes about. One thing is certain however is that the perceived need for each corporate body involved in a project to employ their own consultants, to verify their own decisions and calculations because they aren’t prepared to take the risk on board themselves in case they might be sued by the other parties, has had a major effect on costs. This view dates back to the Thatcher years when it was considered better to employ an external expert that retain one in house. In theory that may be right because they become better
Waterway projects are of course no different to any other and those of you who have visited the new bridge at Hawford, where the A449 crosses the newly restored Droitwich Barge Canal, will see a prime example where costs were escalated because each corporate body involved chose to employ its own Consultant, rather than agreeing to nominate one and share the costs. Fortunately the Highways Agency de-trunked the road before the contract was let so that took one Consultant out of the frame and with the Agency not being VAT registered and thus this tax was unrefundable, there was a significant overnight reduction in costs. This simple example shows how waterway capital and operational costs are way in excess of what they should be and the constraints put on BW and the EA by the Public Procurement Directive, where they cannot only tender work to those who have registered an interest through the process defined in the legislation, just add to these costs. Both bodies are often prevented by this legislation from spot tendering the work locally, and thus get the costs reductions that are often possible when contractors are short on work and have reduced travelling liabilities, and again costs are in excess of what they ought to be if BW and EA were able to take a more enlightened approach. The restoration of Pike Bridge on the Cotswold Canal a few years ago by the
IWA West Midlands
Navigation
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R e g i o n C h a i r m a n ’ s R e p o r t another name. With our views not only cont’d...
Canals Trust, rather than by BW, proved this when they managed to do the job on time and the satisfaction of the Highway Authority at half BW’s costings. And who is paying for all this excess – well us of course. Where does this lead us? Well if BW and the EA were to move out of the public sector and mutualise into some form of Civil Society (new buzz word) Trust along the lines presently proposed then they may well be able to move out of the dictates of the EU Public Procurement Directive and the constraints placed on them by that legislation. Doubtless they would have to comply with the Competition Act but that does not require them to procure their goods and service from Europe in the same way as the Directive does so there are clear, and potentially massive, savings to be made. And if the new enlarged organisation was to use in house expertise (possibly assisted by the voluntary sector) rather than buy in consultants then the reliance on government grant in aid would be considerably reduced. IWA, as you will read elsewhere, has been leading the drive to reform the way that the Inland Waterways are managed and in the few weeks since the general election we have seen our ideas subsumed into government thinking. There can be no greater credit to what we have achieved in a very short time when in July Clive Henderson, our former Region and now National Chairman, was asked to sit as an observer on the BW Board. It is now quite clear that there will be major changes in the way that our Inland Waterways are managed in the future and it is now very likely that EA and BW navigations will be amalgamated into a completely new organisation that will be managed in such a way that it will not be BW under
being taken into account but it would seem being recognised as the way to go we now more than ever need your, our members, continued support and if we can possibly build up our membership base now we will be able to speak with an even greater voice. Therefore can I ask each and every one of you to try and get at least one new member. If we can double our numbers to say around 40,000 we will be able demonstrate to government that they are going in the right direction and that IWA’s view are very important and continually need to be taken into account.
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IWA West Midlands
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Stafford Riverway Link A detailed feasibility study for the restoration of the navigation from the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to Stafford, using the River Sow is vital before planning permission can be obtained to begin any work on the route. The grant of £2,000 to be allocated by this Region, from the National Festival held in the Region, has been offered towards funding this study. In a letter to the Region Chairman in August, the Chairman of Stafford Riverway
Link, Ivor Hind, thanked the IWA for this offer, which will be formally accepted after the next meeting of the Stafford Riverway Link C.I.C. The S.R.L. Community Interest Company were at the National Festival at Beale Park to raise funds for the project and to increase awareness of the project. In addition, David Jones, their history expert, is making progress with the heritage factor of the project.
The Creator of Lockmaster Maps
Visitors to the Southern Stratford Canal in the vicinity of Dick’s Lane (bridge 39) may of late have noticed a new, and for towpath walkers in particular, welcome addition to the canalscape : a seat dedicated to the memory of Doug Smith, kindly donated by his wife Christina. For those not aware of Doug, and his association with the waterways, the carving on the front of the seat says it all ‘The Creator of Lockmaster Maps’ . The photo shows the unveiling on July 14th in front of a small group of friends by Christina and Doug’s son, Robert. Looking on is Warwickshire branch’s longest serving member Philip Ogden.
IWA West Midlands Navigation Tree Blocks Trent & Mersey Canal in Rugeley Over 40 boats were delayed for more than a day when a large tree fell over and completely blocked the Trent & Mersey Canal in Rugeley on Sunday 11 July. Eyewitness Phil Sharpe, Chairman of IWA Lichfield Branch said “I just happened to be next to the kitchen window when I heard a loud crack and looked out to see the top of the large willow tree in next door-but-one’s garden disappearing !”. The trunk had snapped off about 10 feet above the ground and large branches completely blocked the canal. A group of half a dozen walkers on the towpath had a narrow escape as some of the smaller branches fell across the towpath just a few yards in front of them. It was very lucky that there was no boat passing at the time. The day had been quite windy with sudden gusts, although nothing extraordinary, but willow trees are notoriously brittle and the prolonged dry weather may have made it even more so. A neighbour had remarked that it was looking rather unstable some months ago and had even reported it to BW as it was leaning so much over the canal. However, most trees come down in autumn gales and it was a surprise for it to go at this time of year. After the initial fall, just after noon, there were several more loud cracks over the next half hour or so as parts of it settled further down into
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the canal. By then, a queue of boats had already started to build up in both directions on what was a busy summer Sunday. BW were promptly informed on their emergency number and a team came out mid-afternoon to assess the situation and clear the towpath, but it was obvious that they would need to bring a workboat and a lot of equipment to clear the canal. On Monday morning a tug and work flat were brought down from Great Haywood and the team set to work with chain saws and a tirfor winch. Several hours hard work later the canal was largely cleared and by 4 pm boats were once again on the move. About 20 boats had by then queued up in each direction and they were eager to get going; many shouting out their appreciation for the BW team’s hard work as they went past. Most had been quite philosophical about the delay, accepting it as part of an ‘adventure holiday’, although some of the hire boaters might have had some explaining to do back at base if they couldn’t make up all the lost time.
BW workboat and teamclearing the tree at Rugeley.
Phil Sharpe
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IWA West Midlands
The Rhodes Thomas Collections. The family of the late C. Rhodes Thomas (15/9/1913 – 23/2/1988) have recently, kindly donated his vast collection of books, slides and related waterway papers to IWA Warwickshire Branch. His collection of inland waterway and related books has not yet been catalogued, and can therefore – at this stage - only be quantified as an approximately 3 metre shelf run of canal and waterway books, and approximately one metre of railway, stationary engine and industrial archaeology books. Once catalogued they will be sold by whichever ways realise their maximum sales potential, and all monies earned will be donated to waterway restoration and enhancement projects – particularly here in the midlands. His photographic slides and related papers are being stored in the Warwickshire County Records Office. Although most individual transparencies appear to be annotated, and many are in marked sets; as with the books, the total collection has yet to be catalogued. Therefore at this stage the slides can only be quantified as a four cubic metre collection ! The slides - most of which seem to be ‘half-frame’ - appear to have been taken between the late 1950s and the early 1970s. They cover most if not all British inland waterways - in use, under restoration or derelict at the time. After cataloguing, we hope that many can be digitised. This will have the advantage that – while keeping the collection complete – it will enable specific Canal Societies, Restoration Groups or other relevant bodies to have copies of the parts of the collection that are of particular interest to them. The sorting, cataloguing and (particularly) the digitising of the collection will be a mammoth task, and - as it will be undertaken entirely by volunteers - it could be some years before the final details, and full significance of this generous gift are known. Ian Fletcher
IWA West Midlands
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Volunteering with the IWA Since 1970, Waterway Recovery Group has been a co-ordinating force, helping local canal restoration schemes. We provide equipment, expertise, publicity and labour. But we need your help! Come along and help us restore Britain’s canals - come on a Canal Camp, or a weekend working party.
your Duke of Edinburgh Award * a chance to do 101 things you have never done before.....
Do you fancy... . . . an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, * a chance to do your bit for the environment * a worthwhile and fun-filled week with plenty of social activities * something interesting on your CV * an excellent opportunity to qualify for the residential aspect of
WRG’s camps are open to anyone aged between 18-70 years old!
....then find out more here at www.wrg.org.uk Each of WRG’s camps cost £56 and this includes food and accommodation.
If you would like more information about WRG and volunteering opportunities in 2010 please contact Jenny via email or call 01494 783453.
New Website launched by British Waterways To reflect a changing attitude to volunteers working on our waterways, a new section, “things-to-do/volunteering”, has been added to the Waterscape website.
Anyone with access to the internet can view this section of the website, www.waterscape. com.
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Diary of Social Events of our Branches, and other local societies. All the events below are open to non-members and member’s guests.
Those with internet access are well advised to keep fully up to date from the IWA website : www.waterways.org.uk, which has pages dedicated to each Region and Branch. In addition, Warwickshire Branch has its own newsletter “Bear Essentials”, available its branch members invarious formats; and Stoke on Trent Branch has “Knobsticks”. Both these publications carry local information, possibly more up to date than Navigation. Other canal societies welcome visitors to their meetings as they are always keen to promote their causes and so relevant meetings in the near future are included below.
Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch Meetings details from Chris Osborn 01299 832 593 jcosborn@btinternet.com 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) starting at 7.15 for 7.30pm. This venue is accessible to anyone having difficulties with stairs.
Mon 18 Oct 2010
Talk by IWA National Chairman, Clive Henderson
Mon 15 Nov 2010
British Waterways by Area Manager West Midlands, Dean Davies
Mon 20 Dec 2010
Christmas buffet & Members Slide Show
Mon 17 Jan 2011
Stratford to Warwick R.Avon Link by Roger Clay, Secretary of Stratford & Warwick Waterways Trust.
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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 venue is accessible to anyone having difficulties with stairs. Parking just off Bird St. (see website for map). College Hall meetings start at 7.30 for 7.45 pm Tues 5 October Wed 20 October Thurs 11 November Wed 17 November Thurs 9 December Wed 15 December
Canal Walk at Gnosall. 10.30 for 10.45am start at The Boat Inn, Wharf Road, ST20 0DA. Followed by optional bar snacks. Contact: Pat Barton 01785 824012 Illustrated talk: Droitwich Canal Restoration by Ivor Caplan (at College Hall) Canal Walk at Fradley. 10.30 for 10.45am start at The Swan Inn, Fradley Junction, DE13 7DN. Contact Margaret Beardsmore 01889 803923 Illustrated talk: Tom Rolt, Campaigner & Author by Tony Hirst (at College Hall) Canal Walk at Stafford. 10.15 for 10.30am start at Radford Bank Inn, ST17 4PG. Contact Margaret Beardsmore 01889 803923 Branch Christmas Dinner at The Tame Otter, Hopwas (evening)
See also :
Lichfield & Hatheron Canals Restoration Trust Website : www.lhcrt.org.uk
Other Canal Societies and Trusts Coventry Canal Society www.covcanalsoc.org.uk
Dudley Canal Trust
Website : www.dudleycanaltrust.org.uk
Droitwich Canal Trust www.worcs.com/dct
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Autumn 2010
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. 8th October
Stafford Riverway Link by Norman Cooper
Fri. 12th November
RNLI James Tongue
Fri. 10th December
Bosley Locks and Sideponds and HLF project Ramsden Hall Railings by Malcolm Bower & Tim Dawson – Macclesfield Canal Society
Warwickshire Branch Monthly illustrated talks are given on the evening of the second Wednesday of each month between September, 2010 and May, 2011. Contact is Richard Sanders. Time: 7:30 pm. (The bar is open from 7:00pm.) Location: Sports Connexion Leisure Centre at Ryton-on-Dunsmore - see adjacent map.
13th October
My Life on Working Boats by Beryl McDowall
10th November
Progress on the Chesterfield Canal by Geraint Coles
8th December
Get Knotting by Colin Grundy
9th February, 2011
Lost Loops of the Oxford Canal by Brian Holmes
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Worcester & Birmingham Canal Society Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month, and start at 8.00 pm. Location : Boat & Railway pub, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, nr Bromsgrove; upstairs. Program Secretary : Denis Pike, 07870 939121, programme@wbcs.org.uk 5th October 2nd November 7th December
Picture Show by Bob Mays Archive waterways pictures from the former Birmingham Post photographer Tales of the Severn Recollections of former deckhand Chris Witts on Severn freight carrying barges. Canal Holidays of 50 years ago. Roger Butler provides a look at the early days of canal cruising.
Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Meetings are held at Titford Pumphouse, Engine Street, Oldbury, starting at 7.30 pm. Social Secretary : Geoff Peakman, 0121 559 7486 7th October
More History of Langley & Oldbury by Terry Daniels
5th / 6th November
Event - Weekend - Bonfire Rally at Galton Valley
11th November
Caledonian Canal by Phil Clayton
2nd December
Christmas Social - details in Boundary Post.
Stratford Canals Society The SONACS website has meeting dates : http://www.stratfordcanalsociety.org.uk/ meetings.html Friday, 15th October 2010 Warwickshire Landscapes: The Story So Far by Michael Jeffs The history of the countryside of Warwickshire, the subject of his recent book. 19th November 2010 To be announced 10th December 2010 Christmas Meeting
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Lichfield Branch has had an active programme of events since finishing our regular indoor meetings season in April with a talk on North American Waterways by Tony Bonson. This focussed on the history of the USA east coast canals with excellent early photographs of some remarkable, if short lived, engineering such as wooden aqueducts, articulated boats and switchback railways. Early May saw a record turn-out of 46 members and non-members join us for a Bluebell Walk through Hopwas Woods and along the Coventry Canal. The rain held off and the bluebells were out in force as we hoped, although perhaps not quite at their best, but carpeting the woodland floor nevertheless. Mike Moorse led us on a 3 to 4 mile circular route including some level walking along the canal towpath and an invigorating uphill walk through the woods, rewarded with a downhill return section. Some of us enjoyed a pint and lunch in the Red Lion afterwards. When I wrote my last report our Fradley Junction event in mid-May was still to come, but just editing the tense from future to past to cover the late appearance of the magazine did not produce an adequate report of the Cressy Cruise event. Narrowboats Heron and Jupiter were retracing the 1939 voyage made by Tom Rolt, in the centenary year of his birth, that resulted in his book Narrow Boat and the founding of IWA. The Chairman of Lichfield District Council, Councillor Barry Diggle welcomed the boats and presented Ron & Mary Heritage with a medallion showing historic and present day pictures of Fradley
Junction to add to their collection covering each of the areas they pass through. Our members manned an exhibition about IWA’s local and national activities, and the SOS campaign to improve waterways funding, and we even had 2 vintage cars arrive in support. Our next event on 20th June was a boat trip when 49 members and friends spent part of a sunny Sunday underground in the darkness of Dudley Tunnel. It was indeed very dark when the lights were switched off, and the thought of boatmen legging and miners working in the vast limestone caverns by the light of only a few candles was sobering. Fortunately, the Dudley Canal Trust’s electric powered boat has banks of bright lights to illuminate the darkest of recesses and reveal what an amazing place this is. After a coach transfer from Tipton to the Parkhead end, we entered the very small bore brick lined tunnel with an even lower height gauge which excludes most boats. The steerer gave a running commentary as we passed through several unlined sections of tunnel, with numerous calcite flows on the walls and stalactites hanging from the roof. Towards the Tipton end are several side tunnels, ancient and modern, branching off before the boat emerged into Castle Mill Basin, a quarry open to the sky with vertical walls overhung with trees and ivy from which more tunnels lead off in all directions. We followed one of these to an underground audio-visual display which explained how the complicated geology had been formed and how Castle Hill at Dudley had been hollowed out for its limestone, iron ore and coal to create the Black Country’s iron industry. A circular boat trip taking in the massive man made cave of the Singing Cavern, tableaux of miners at work, and several more sections of connecting tunnels brought us back to the Basin and into the final short tunnel leading back to the Tipton portal, outside
Navigation the Black Country Living Museum. A fascinating trip, followed by a Black Country faggots and peas supper at the famous Ma Pardoes real ale home brew pub in Netherton. On Sunday 18th July some 18 volunteers, including members of the Police, a local Town Councillor, and workers from the Community Payback programme gave up their time to help improve the Trent and Mersey Canal corridor through Rugeley. British Waterways provided the supervision, equipment and materials. Litter was collected, graffiti removed, fences and a bench were painted, dilapidated notice boards taken down for refurbishment and vegetation overgrowing the towpath was cut down. Work was also started to repair wash-holes eroding the towpath. Boat mooring rings that had become overgrown with vegetation were cleared making them easier to see by passing boaters and it was noticeable by lunchtime just how many boats were already stopping to use them ! Our next work party will be on Sunday 26th September. Also in July, on Wednesday 21st, some 22 members and friends assembled at The Cross Keys in Penkridge for an evening walk led by Tim and Jill Burgin. Heading south along the towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to Lynehill Bridge we followed a circular route by footpaths and lanes, meeting the canal again at Otherton Lock, and returned to our starting point. We were very lucky with the weather which only an hour or so earlier had been torrential rain but was sunny and warm for our stroll. Afterwards many of us enjoyed a refreshing drink and a good meal in the pub. Reports and pictures of all these recent events can now be found on the Lichfield Branch pages of the IWA website at: www. waterways.org.uk/regions_branches/ west_midlands/Lichfield
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All our forthcoming events from September to the end of the year are listed on the Diary pages and include talks, walks, a garden party, work party and dinner. Our first indoor meeting of the new season in September will be an illustrated talk on The Grand Canal of China, whilst subsequent months will have subjects nearer to home on the Droitwich Canal and, in his centenary year, Tom Rolt. The first of a new series of weekday morning walks in October will be a circular walk around Gnosall and the Shropshire Union Canal. As usual, lunch can be taken at the pub after the walk, although The Boat only does sandwiches and bar snacks, not full meals. Before that, the Garden Party in September will be an opportunity for relaxation and entertainment with an all day barbecue, tea, coffee and cakes, fun and games, children’s activities, a charity book stall and table top sale, etc. Entry is free and open to all and profits will support waterway charities. The third of our Rugeley work parties in September will continue the good work of filling wash-holes, painting benches and fences, removing graffiti, litter picking, etc. and we may have BW support to cut back the overhanging offside willows and perhaps avoid another fallen tree ! Our committee puts a lot of effort into arranging and publicising these events for you so we hope you will continue to support us as well as you have been doing. The walks and work party are additional to our printed Programme Card which members will have received with their last Navigation. To help you stay completely up-to-date with all our activities we send email reminders about once a month to everyone who lets us know their email address, and you can visit the website as above. The website is also the place to go for reports and photos of our recent events, news items, and information on the committee, planning reports, etc.
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Lichfield Chairman continued
If anyone has any reports or photos of general interest for Lichfield Branch members please send them to me for possible inclusion. The website and this magazine should be your notebook, not just mine, so all contributions will be gratefully received. We continue to deal with planning matters and comprehensive monthly summary notes can now be seen on our website. The most notable matters of recent months have included applications for new Tesco stores on canalside sites at Rugeley and Brownhills, the latter being a larger replacement store on an adjacent site. If the Rugeley store goes ahead we hope to get some developer contributions to improving the canal corridor, but the Brownhills plans would prevent the previously promised waterside retail, leisure and cultural quarter development. We are disappointed that a large and visually dominant sports building has apparently been approved right alongside Rushall Bottom Lock in one of the few rural green areas of the BCN. Neither are we impressed by the continuing prospect of a massive incinerator close to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Four Ashes, dominating the canal and surrounding Green Belt, although the latest plans are slightly less intrusive. However, the proposed pair of 126 metre high wind turbines also close to the same canal at Rodbaston were refused due to visual intrusion in the Green Belt. Another site occasioning opposition is proposed housing at Churchbridge, Cannock which would block the restoration of the Hatherton Canal. Not everything is
Photo : Phil Sharpe
The assembled walkers at one of Lichfield Branch’s regular daytime walks negative, however, and we were pleased to support an application for further work at Snarestone on the Ashby Canal restoration. Finally, I recently gave evidence to the Black Country Joint Core Strategy Independent Examination on support for canal restoration, moorings, niche freight transport and towpath improvements, alongside BW and the West Midlands Metropolitan Area Canals Partnership.
Photo : Phil Sharpe
The start of our recent Dudley Tunnel trip, entering at Part Head.
Navigation
Autumn 2 0 1 0
21.
Navigation Restoration Trust we had a meeting with our newly elected MP Mark Garnier (Con Wyre Forest) & due to his following appointment being cancelled had an extended discussion about waterway matters. By the time you read this I will have met with the new S Dudley MP.
Summertime came & went, & many members were out enjoying the waterways. A while ago I cruised from Worcester to Stourport helping to move the historic pair “Atlas & Malus” It was noticeable that despite it being a Sunday in the middle of summer & at the start of the school holidays how little boat traffic was moving on the River Severn. The riverside pubs seemed to be fairly busy, lots of families in the various caravan sites & plenty of walkers & fishermen. It struck me that the waterways are really “Waterways for all”. On the canals the Chasewater effect seems to be slowly spreading. I fear that despite BW’s valiant efforts it is going to be touch & go on the BCN for some time again. Can I appeal to our cruising members to economise on lock usage to save water at all times. It may be a long time till we are back to normal on both levels on the BCN. Dean Davies & his merry men have rapidly repaired the breach at Minworth for which we say a big “Thank you”. Now to branch matters. I asked HO to send out an appeal for help with branch committee work, particularly the very important planning work. The response was very good & as a result we have four new members to help. We welcome Nicki Schiessel / Freddie Cooke / Michael Payne & John Taplin to join the team. Along with David Struckett of the Severn
This leaves 17 to go to talk to all of them in the branch area. It is a good way to spread the waterway message & if any of you can arrange a meeting at your own MP constituent’s surgery please do so & I will come along as well if you like to try & spread the news of the value of waterways. With the present proposed change to BWB/ EA structure we need to get as many MPs aware of the changes & on our side. As a branch we supported the Cressy cruise at Autherley Junction. In September I have arranged to go & see West Midlands Police at their HQ to discuss the possibility of police/community officers patrolling some known trouble spots. If you have experienced recently unpleasant occurrences please e-mail me details so that I can mention them. Photo evidence would be helpful. Due to so many members being on holiday in Sept we have agreed to start our winter programme of meetings on October 18th when our IWA National Chairman will inform us of the up & coming proposed changes & how IWA is championing the waterways position. If you want to be up to date be there!!! November 15th we look forward to Dean Davies of BW addressing us; no doubt he will do his best to answer any questions you have. If you want an answer to a point come & put it to Dean. December 20th we shall have our social evening with some, no doubt “Live acts” and photos from members. All are welcome –come & join us. Dave Pearson
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IWA West Midlands
In the last edition of Navigation I referred to Warwickshire Branch involvement in the Cressy Cruise re-enactment to mark the centenary of the birth of Tom Rolt, our founder. My wife and I together with other Branch members have today been to Hawkesbury Junction on the Coventry Canal to welcome Ron and Mary Heritage back into Warwickshire territory on the return leg of their journey and to present our Warwickshire plaque to them. In the intervening period a lot has happened. The general election is over, we have new MPs to inform and lobby and the future of our Inland Waterways is clearly threatened by probable major funding cuts and massive re-organisation of our two main navigation authorities, BW and EA. Clive Henderson, our National Chairman, is also one of our branch members and a regular attendee at our meetings. IWA input to the future of our Inland Waterways is as important as ever and it falls on Warwickshire Branch especially to support Clive in these difficult times. Our April lecture meeting was an excellent talk by two EA staff on the Fenlands link to join Boston through to Peterborough. Some work is well underway at the Boston end – but can it continue in the current climate? Our May meeting was also an excellent talk but on that occasion by one of our own branch members using slides take during a holiday cruise on the river Douro in Portugal.
Navigation Our tradition of organised summer walks has continued with a visit to the southern Stratford Canal in the vicinity of Edstone aqueduct and a more distant venue to see the restoration work which is now complete on the Droitwich Junction Canal. Readers please note that for the third year running we have been forced to change our winter meeting venue and our first meeting of this new season on 8th September will take place at the “Sports Connexion” at Ryton on Dunsmore, close to the intersection of the A445 and A423 with easy access through Ryton village from the A45. For full details please refer to our web site or programme card which is about to go to our printers. Details will also be published in our next branch Newsletter. Readers may have read elsewhere about the Cambridge University Student’s project to raise money for “Help for Heroes”, by punting a university river punt all the way from Cambridge to Oxford. They came through Braunston on the Saturday afternoon of the Braunston Historic Boat Festival and were somewhat taken aback at the scale of the event in which they found themselves part of the historic boat procession. Subsequently the same day they reached Wigram’s Marina near Napton where one of our branch members had briefed the owners of their exploit. The 3 boys and one girl were greeted by access to the Marina’s laundry and washing facilities, a barbecue and a comfortable night’s sleep aboard a Black Prince canal hireboat, which for all of them was their first experience of life aboard a narrow boat and a big improvement on their open punt and tending on the bank! Next morning a team of us worked them through Napton locks with a lot of friendly chatter – our members getting the chance to practice punting and they learning a lot about both the history of our Inland Waterways and the founding and role of IWA. I A JACKSON CHAIRMAN, WARWICKSHIRE BRANCH
Navigation IWA West Midlands Update on Chasewater Reservoir BW released an update in August. Water levels remain manageable at the moment. We have had a lot of compliments from people about our management of the water resource. Whilst this is greatly appreciated, we must also offer our thanks to all our customers for their own use of the water as well as their understanding of the situation. We couldn’t have done it without their help. That said we’re not out of the woods yet (only part way through the main summer holidays) and much can happen. Certainly the recent wet weather has helped some. We are experiencing water level problems on the GU – and the breakdown of one of the Bowyer Street pumps hasn’t helped here. We are still having some minor vandalism issues (with the exception of Minworth that was pretty significant!) but on the whole we’re managing well.
23.
We have held talks with the EA to discuss some other supplies and received their agreement for back pumping at Titford to keep Edgbaston topped up, as well as pumping from the River Tame. There is a backpumping system (via the highway) from this level to the top of Ryders Green flight that we are investigating. I hope to give a more detailed explanation of this in due course. In the meantime we will continue with the locking up process. Dean Davies Waterway Manager Since this release, it has been confirmed that the contract for the work on the dam has been awarded. There is little further information available.
The incident mentioned by Dean Davies above, causing the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal and one carriageway of the A38 to be closed. The embankment was repaired within days and the canal re-opened.
The overflowing water caused the embankment above the Kingsbury Road near Minworth to be washed away, exposing several pipes and cables.
As a precaution, the level of the canal was lowered by about half a metre, and emergency stoppage notices were issued.
24.
Progress at Selly Oak Birmingham & Worcester Canal
Work is progressing with the Selly Oak bypass, necessitating a new aqueduct for the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Boats have to negotiate a temporary diversion during construction. The work is quite close to the Lapal Canal junction, also under development. Negotiating the temporary diversion channel at the new aqueduct construction site.
Phil Sharpe
A plan of the works, courtesy of the Lapal Canal Trust.
IWA West Midlands Region
25.
For Sale
For Sale
A quantity of unused ink cartridges No longer required after replacing the printer
Raleigh Stowaway folding cycle £40 Sea Sure folding cycle in bag £60
Phil Sharpe 01889 583330 philip.g.sharpe@ntlworld.com
Large rubber mat to stow cycles on boat roof £10
Farmer’s Bridge Flight
Lee Sanitation hand pump out machine £120
Heritage narrowboat, Collinwood, was recently spotted ascending Farmers Bridge flight of locks at an amazing rate. What was the secret ? Well, having a crew of over 10 youngsters helps ! Especially when they are organised in teams, setting locks in advance and closing the gates behind. This is an excellent use for a boat of its age - and they all appeared to be having such a good time too.
Items to be collected from Stratford upon Avon
Tel: 01789 731378 or email jhorsnell@hotmail.co.uk
26.
Contacts
The next issue, No. 2010-4 is due to be published in December 2010. Your contributions and comments should be sent to the Editor by 5th November 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 Secretary
Vaughan Welch, 3 Beach Close, Northfield, Birmingham B31 3DB Tel. 0121 477 9782 Mob : 07971 202406 vaughan.welch@waterways.org.uk
Treasurer
Anthony Davies, 17 Elm Row, Stockton, Warwickshire CV47 8JY
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
Mob: 07775 912486
e-mail : Anthony.Davies@dennis-eagle.co.uk
The Region is made up of these four branches : BIRMINGHAM,BLACK COUNTRY AND WORCESTERSHIRE BRANCH Chairman
Dave A Pearson Netherton Cottage 2 Netherton lane Bewdley DY12 1PT Tel 01299 404273 Mobile 0752 7197842
LICHFIELD BRANCH Chairman Philip Sharpe
34 Old Eaton Road, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 2EZ Tel. 01889 583330 philip.g.sharpe@ntlworld.com
davepearson@talktalk.co.uk
STOKE ON TRENT B R A N C H
WARWICKSHIRE BRANCH
Chairman Roger Savage 19 High Street, Eccleshall Staffordshire ST21 6BW Tel. 01785 850967 roger.savage@homecall.co.uk
Chairman Ian Jackson 209 Daventry Road, Barby, Rugby, CV23 8TR
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
01788 891545 Ian.jackson@mypostoffice.co.uk
Next issue of
Navigation The next edition of Navigation will come out in December and will reflect back on the events of 2010, and look ahead to 2011, when the future of British Waterways should become much clearer. In the same way that BW are currently conducting intensive market research, the Region Committee will look at the way members would like Navigation to evolve. Unfortunately we can’t afford to emulate BW by inviting chosen individuals to small group sessions run by professional specialists, but we hope that the excerise will result in favorable responses.