IWA Chelmsford Branch Newsletter April 2014

CHELMSFORD B RA N C H N Ne ew w s s ll A

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President & Kildare BCLM Rolling Mill & Anchor Forge Behind by Stephanie Mason & John Grieve

Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways Disclaimer: The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed herein may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the Newsletter

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Content From the Editor From the Chairman Branch Working Parties AGM National Chairman Visits Early Days on the C & BN The Mid-Week Working Parties

Page 2 Page 3 Page 3 Page 4 Page 4 Page 5 Page 5

Another Wharf Re-Opens Canal Fun Day Information board Social Events Our Stourport Ring It Wasn’t Always Summer Branch Committee

Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 8 Page 9 Page10 Page 10

From The Editor You will notice that the format of the Newsletter has changed. Future newsletters will be in A5 booklet format in colour. The Head Office is looking at covering the full cost of newsletter printing and mailing. By using their local printer, and not the HQ photocopier, the quality will improve as the copier doesn’t really do them justice. I how that this format will suitable for the members and you will be able to keep in your pocket on your walks along the tow path.

Your membership is very important. We need your continued support to the Chelmsford Branch and Inland Waterways Association but most importantly for the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation which is operated by the Inland Waterways Association’s subsidiary company, Essex Waterways Ltd. We would like to increase our contributors to this Newsletter please make time to look out your photos, articles and ideas and send them in for our next Newsletter: Last inputs for Summer Newsletter 21/06/2014.

For those on e-mail please send your input to chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk Those without just give me a call to arrange for collection. 07837 576464.

John G Carlaw

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From The Chairman It’s nearly the end of this season’s meetings and it has not been easy time for our Social Secretary, Jean. In the midst of selling her house and moving up to Suffolk, she had to find replacements for several of the speakers, who were unable to come. Fortunately, some of the Committee were able to help out, a couple of volunteers stepped into the breach, the gaps were filled in time and the swans are sailing serenely along again as if nothing has ruffled their feathers but below the water line things where somewhat more frenzied for a while.

Our grateful thanks to those good friends who have come forward to help. If you or someone you know is able and willing to be a primary of reserve speaker, do, please supply name, contact details, subject of talk and any equipment required on a sheet of paper and give it to any member of the Committee, who will be delighted to receive it.

This afternoon I was pleased to be at the unveiling of the “timber stack” art installation on Indigo Wharf, Springfield Basin. Several local organisations, such as the Chelmer Canal Trust, The Susan Trust, The Oasis Church, Essex Waterways and IWA, of course, worked together to make it a really worthwhile and happy occasion. There were boats trips, live music, free tea, coffee and cakes, mounted displays and delightful children’s activities, which were very well supported.

It was a joy to see the basin so lively a with people and boats, for which Roy Chandler and Essex Waterways can be justifiably prod. Also to be thanked are those other members of the Committee who set up our display, gave out leaflets and talked to the visiting public, not to mention Kirsten, who had something of a busman’s holiday entertaining lot’s of children with WOW activities. I do hope plenty of you were able to come along during the afternoon to support the Branch and enjoy the atmosphere.

Molly Beard

Branch Working Party Contrary to the slightly depressing weather forecasts the weekend of 1st and 2nd March was dry during working hours. The joint working party with Essex WRG and Chelmsford Branch took place at Heybridge Basin.

Our Saturday task was to finish concreting along the quayside, a job which had been started by London WRG a month earlier. With two mixers going flat out and the quantity of ballast rapidly diminishing, we were worried that supplies were going to run out. However, whoever ordered the ballast got it exactly right, as we finished the day with just two shovelfuls of concrete left over. In-addition to this there was some vegetation clearance and a bonfire was started.

After a bit of overnight rain, Sunday started a bright day, although a very cold wind grew in strength throughout the day. Our main job for Sunday was to take up paving stones by the loo block and relay them to eliminate the puddles that regularly formed. This was completed on two sides of the block, although there is another day’s work needed to complete the job. In-addition to this, we cut back encroaching grass to tidy the edge of some of the other paths. We couldn’t have a bonfire on the Sunday as the wind was in the wrong direction. (The residents of Heybridge Basin are apt to complain when smoke from bonfires blows into the village!)

It turned out to be a very successful weekend, although it must be said that we were disappointed with the turnout by the Branch which was only one person on each day.

The next Branch working party (again jointly with Essex WRG) is on 7th and 8th of June. Please put this in your diaries – we hope to see you there.

John Gale

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Chelmsford Branch AGM 13th March 2014 After the business of our Branch AGM, our Chair Molly Beard introduced Les Etheridge, IWA National Chairman.

Les commenced by telling us about his waterway background. His holidays on the Norfolk Broad’s started in 1971 and then in 1976 he became more adventurous and tried holidays on canals.

In 1981 he went to the Leeds National Festival and in 1982 he joined the Inland Waterways Association.

Les became an active member of IWA in 2004 and in October 2012 was appointed National Chairman.

His key point was “What is good for the inland waterways”.

The Strategy is :Protecting the inland waterways.

Ensuring IWA is seen as an active and responsible organisation that makes things happen and to improve getting the message across.

Les then went on to describe how IWA aimed at protecting the waterways. He talked about the EA transfer, mitigating the impact of HS2 and working with Navigation Authorities.

Les the described how IWA should be active and responsible with boating activities, the Waterway Recovery Group and Restorations, with Work Parties and the work on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.

Les paid tribute to the work Roy Chandler is doing and to Doug Beard.

He said that IWA was supporting the Canal and River Trust and other canal societies.

He added that IWA must continue to tell the world about its achievements and encourage others to join the charity.

Les concluded that his job as Chairman was times consuming, sometimes frustrating but rewarding and well worth doing.

Chris Chandler.

Branch secretary.

National Chairman Visits In March Les Etheridge, IWA Na5onal Chairman, came to speak at the Chelmsford Branch AGM. The opportunity was therefore taken to invite Les and his wife Anne to take a look at the Chelmer & Blackwater Naviga5on which is maintained and operated by IWA’s subsidiary Essex Waterways Ltd. As it was some years since Les had visited the waterway, he welcomed the invita5on.

Photo at Beeleigh During the day, Les commented on the number of people using the tow path as well as the number of canoes and the amount of improvements made since Essex Waterways took responsibility for the Naviga5on. Several members of the EWL staff were introduced to Les during the visit.

AIer mee5ng at Paper Mill Lock for a welcoming coffee, a tour of the Naviga5on started in Chelmsford with visits to Springfield Basin and Springfield Lock before moving on to the moorings at Sandford Lock, a quick look at Sandford Mill and then a lunch stop back at Paper Mill. AIer lunch a wander around Hoe Mill moorings, visit to Beeleigh Falls and lock and finally Heybridge Basin and the sea lock.

Roy Chandler.

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We persevered and by the 5me we had our next boat, a twenty-­‐footer with rear cabin, we were told that we could have a mooring at Paper Mill. The only problem was that there was no slipway and the launching took place over the canal bank. AIer much pushing and shoving, Waterlou was launched with the trailer breaking during the process.

Early Days on the C & BN We became ‘canal enthusiasts’ before we were married with regular hire boat holidays on the na5onal system in the late 1960s. AIer a Broads hire boat holiday our first canal trip was through Birmingham when much of the waterway system was underused and virtually derelict. We enjoyed it so much that narrowboat holidays with a group of friends became regular events.

It was on one such holiday that we picked up a leaflet about IWA and the campaign to save our waterways and decided that this was something we should support!

With the arrival of our eldest daughter soon followed by a first son, we agreed that it was 5me for our own trail boat, and although really a only two berth river boat, we enjoyed many visits to the canals in the Midlands before concluding that we would get more boa5ng if we could do this locally without the travelling.

So a call was made to the Chelmer & Blackwater Naviga5on Company in the mid 1970s to ask if we could bring our boat to their Naviga5on. The response from a naval ‘gentleman’ was, ‘You want to what? B....r off!’

Having become involved with Chelmsford Branch IWA and their campaign for recrea5onal use of the C&BN, the next obvious project was for the construc5on of a slipway at Paper Mill ....... That is how it came about!

Roy Chandler.

The Mid-Week Working Parties The number of wet days over the last few months have severely limited our activities. We have assisted with the felling of some trees that have been blown into dangerous positions by the wind. We have towed and used the chipper on parts of these trees. We have planted a number of new willows along the navigation.

We have helped break up and burn a boat that has been partially sunk in the basin for a number of years. It was well beyond repair because many of its timbers were rotten. We helped to recover metal from it, to, at least partially, cover some of the costs of salvaging and breaking it.

We still have more willows to plant in the coming month, and then, before we know it, the mowing season will be upon us once-again.

John Gale

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brought up the Navigation until 1972. In later years it was owned by Travis Perkins who have gradually rationalised their Builders Merchant business to a smaller area of the site, releasing sections for redevelopment.

Essex Waterways Update Another Wharf Re-Opens Springfield Basin, the terminus of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation in Chelmsford, has seen considerable activity over the last year or so with the construction of 48 new apartments by Taylor Wimpey. Marketed as Indigo Wharf, but now given the postal address of Cressy Court, the development is now virtually complete.

The wharf will now provide moorings for recreational craft for Essex Waterways.

Neglect of the wharf over many years had resulted in deterioration of the wharf wall from frost heave and tree root penetration and Taylor Wimpey therefore asked Essex Waterways to undertake the necessary repairs.

The scheme provides a new waterside pedestrian route connecting the adjoining Coates Quay frontage along the waterside and through to Navigation Road, a route already well used by pedestrians, being a considerably more attractive route to the City centre than roadside footpaths.

The frontage to Springfield Basin was originally part of the commercial wharf operated by William Coates, the resident engineer for the construction of the Navigation. Upon completion of the Navigation in 1797, Coates became one of the first users setting up business here. The timber wharf was later transferred to his nephew and was operated by Brown & Son for many years with timber being

Taylor Wimpey donated £10,000 towards the work with a further £23,000 coming from Chelmsford City Council Section 106 Planning contributions from the development. This has allowed half the frontage wharf to be rebuilt with the remainder to be completed once more funds are available.

Roy Chandler

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Canal Fun Day

Outside, D’Ukes ‘the finest Ukulele Band in the South East’ provided lively music. There were further children’s activities in the Black Shed where they were invited to build their own miniature Timber Stacks.

Saturday 5th April saw a Canal Fun Day at Indigo Wharf, Springfield Basin in Chelmsford. This was an afternoon of activities celebrating the redevelopment of the wharf for public use and the official un-veiling of the Timber Stack – specially designed sculptural seating for Indigo Wharf.

Frangipani SUP as users of the Navigation promoted their stand up paddle (SUP) board instruction, Judith Abbott displayed traditional canal art and Blackwater Boats were busy running trips along the Navigation. The Chelmer & Blackwater lighter Julie was present to show a vessel that used to transport timber to Chelmsford. She was rebottomed in 2005 at the instigation of IWA and is now used as a maintenance barge on the Navigation.

Organised by the developers Taylor Wimpey with assistance from Essex Waterways, Chelmer Canal Trust and the Oasis Church, the event spread around the whole of Springfield Basin. The church provided free refreshments including a superb spread of cakes in Waterfront Place where there were several canal exhibitions. IWA Chelmsford exhibited photos and articles about their Springfield Basin restoration in 1992. The Susan Trust exhibited their Susan Lighter restoration project and Chelmer Canal Trust showed photos and videos of the Navigation. There was a children’s canal boat colouring completion by Taylor Wimpey and the Branch initiated their newly acquired Wild-overWaterways (woW) activities kit to involve children.

There were eleven visiting boats in the basin inaddition to those regularly moored there.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford toured the site and exhibitions and the opportunity was taken for the Mayor to make the official presentation of the cheque for the £5000 donation from the Chelmsford Branch IWA to The Susan Trust towards the restoration of the Navigation lighter Susan. The Mayor unveiled the Timber Stack sculptural seating before accepting the offer of a boat trip along the Navigation in Blackwater Rose.

A specially produced Treasure Hunt, a themed treasure trail based on Chelmsford Historic Waterways (www.treasuretrails.co.uk) was produced for the event and was on sale during the afternoon.

This was explored by some sixty children from Trinity Road School earlier in the week.

Overall an interesting and successful event for which thanks must go to all who assisted and attended.

Roy Chandler

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Information Board Chelmsford Branch IWAhas provided the funding for an information board to accompany the Timber Stack sculptural seating at Indigo Wharf in Springfield Basin.

Social Events Every now and then we have late changes to our social program. I try to let everyone know, but this has to be done by e mail. I realise this means a few people will not be able to receive them, but if you are on e mail, but not yet on the IWA members data base, and would like to be, if you let me know I will hand on your request.

Jean.Maxwell@waterways.org.uk May 8th Anni Ridsdill Smith of “Frangipani” talking on Paddle Board Riding, which can be a local sport!

Photos show the new information board and the Mayor together with Kathryn Sumroy the artist admiring the Timber Stack.

Jimmy Lawrence “It Wasn’t Always Summer” At the April Chelmsford branch social Jimmy once again delighted his audience with his tales as a young barge skipper.

On this occasion we saw amazing photos of the barges working through the winters of 1953 and 1963. The weather was cruel with large chunks of ice merging together and preventing the barges from moving. The decks and equipment were covered in snow. When the flow of the tides moved the ice, the barges would set off to deliver their cargo.

Like many of us I remember those winters! It seems such a long time ago. I remember our frozen water pipes, no central heating, having to trudge to school wearing freezing cold wellies. How did Jimmy and the other skippers and their boy bargees survive?

It seems there were plenty of mugs of tea and Hot OXO! Jimmy then took us on a winter trip from the crowded London docks, out of the Thames Estuary and north up the east coast. Up at 4 o’clock to catch the tide and on into the dark winter dawn. The photos showed alarming rough seas with waves pounding over the deck of Jimmy’s barge. Many hours of treacherous sailing finally brought the barge into sight of Yarmouth and to the calmer waters of the harbour.

A tough life indeed!

Chris Chandler.

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Our Stourport Ring

in use, you can get traditional fish & chips from the chippy, and cakes from the bakery. There were staff dressed in period clothing in the shops and houses giving you a history and answering questions. There is a tramway with tram rides (the museum covers 26 acres), underground mine tour, vintage vehicles, it is also the home of Narrowboats 'President & Kildare'.

A thoroughly enjoyable day with a gift shop well stocked with souvenirs and goodies.

Cruising onwards we descended the Wolverhampton Flight of 21 locks to Aldersley Junction and left on to the Staffs & Worcester Canal, mooring at Compton where we saw one of the circular weirs peculiar to this canal.

Our journey started in the Stourport Basin leaving via two sets of staircase locks down on to the River Severn, a wide waterway with areas of moored boats and waterside properties, passing through huge, traffic lighted automated locks.

Rather than going down as far as Worcester we took a left turn at Hawford Junction on to the recently restored Droitwich Canal (cutting off the bottom corner of the ring) and proceeding through the first of nine double locks. Finding a mooring for the night was tricky due to excessive reed growth against the towpath, we did eventually find a gap in a pretty and peaceful area The following day we continued on through Droitwich Spa (better mooring here), it was festival and race day so there was a lot of canal side activity, and a few swing bridges here too (some set open), the locks became narrow from here with one set of staircase locks. Soon we were cruising through an area where the reed growth almost met in the middle and looked like it was a dead end!

The next day we passed through Bratch Locks, unfortunately it was raining, but still such a lovely setting with the Toll House above the locks. Some way along we found a narrowboat adrift across the canal, unoccupied, and were able to rescue it and moor it up with the mooring pins which were still attached to the ropes!

Continuing we moored at Kinver for the night, a lovely village set in a wooded ridge 'Kinver Edge', and has everything you would need in shops and eateries, we had our best meal of the week at 'The Vine' canal side.

Finally after seven miles and sixteen locks we reached Hanbury Wharf and a left turn on to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, soon approaching the famous Tardebigge Flight - the longest flight in Britain, 30 locks climbing 220ft through lovely countryside. By the end of the day we had completed 55 locks! (well John had, I was at the helm), this is not normal and we could have moored early but decided to commit to the 30 locks. After a pub meal and relaxing evening we were ready for the next day.

Continuing on the Worcs & Birmingham Canal passing Alvechurch, through Wast Hill Tunnel (2726yds), Selly Oak (a bit rough), Gas Street Basin interesting with canal side buildings, the opportunity for shopping including The Mailbox, and then passing Brindley Place, we continued on and chose the 'Old' Main Line (seeing a lot of the underside of the M5!) to moor at Tipton ready for a visit to the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) the next day.

The Museum is an 'open air industrial canal side village' bringing history to life, with replica houses, shops, cafe, church,pubs, some for show and some

On the home stretch we passed Kidderminster to moor at Stourport and explore the town.

It was a lovely week and well worth including the Droitwich route.

Stephanie Mason & John Grieve.

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Jimmy Lawrence “It Wasn’t Always Summer” At the April Chelmsford branch social Jimmy once again delighted his audience with his tales as a young barge skipper.

On this occasion we saw amazing photos of the barges working through the winters of 1953 and 1963. The weather was cruel with large chunks of ice merging together and preventing the barges from moving. The decks and equipment were covered in snow. When the flow of the tides moved the ice, the barges would set off to deliver their cargo.

Like many of us I remember those winters! It seems such a long time ago. I remember our frozen water pipes, no central heating, having to trudge to school wearing freezing cold wellies. How did Jimmy and the other skippers and their boy bargees survive?

It seems there were plenty of mugs of tea and Hot OXO! Jimmy then took us on a winter trip from the crowded London docks, out of the Thames Estuary and north up the east coast. Up at 4 o’clock to catch the tide and on into the dark winter dawn. The photos showed alarming rough seas with waves pounding over the deck of Jimmy’s barge. Many hours of treacherous sailing finally brought the barge into sight of Yarmouth and to the calmer waters of the harbour.

A tough life indeed!

Chris Chandler.

Branch Committee If you have any topics or subject that you wish to bring to the committees attention please use the contact details below Molly Beard:

Chairman

molly.beard@waterways.org.uk

John Gale:

Vice Chairman & Treasurer.

24 Longleaf Drive, Braintree CM7 1XS

Paul Strudwick:

London Region Chairman.

Paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk

Chris Chandler:

Secretary.

Chris.chandler@waterways.org.uk

Roy Chandler:

Planning and Conservation.

Roy.chandler@waterways.org.uk

John Carlaw:

Newsletter and Membership.

Chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk John.carlaw@waterways.org.uk

Mike Huggett:

Publicity.

Mike.huggett@waterways.org.uk

Stephanie Mason:

Refreshments.

None

Jean Maxwell:

Social and Fundraising.

Jean.maxwell@waterways.org.uk

Kirsten Smith:

Youth.

None

Adam Wyllie:

Branch Web Editor.

Adam.wyllie@waterways.org.uk

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