IWA Chelmsford Branch Newsletter Autumn 2019

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Samuel Barlow Dept at Alvecote by Stephanie Mason

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

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA

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Content From the Editor From the Chairman From The Regional Chairman Log of the Maggie Leigh South Kilworth Essex Waterways Update

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Leicester Ring Social Evenings So Far Social Events The Cyril Styring Award Just for Fun Branch Committee

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From The Editor

We would still 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 Winter Newsletter 21/12/2019. Tell us about your own waterway experiences, your holiday or send in ‘Readers Photos.’

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.

From The Chairman It is the season for charity raffles and I have received a number of books of tickets for the IWA 2019 Restoration Raffle, which I will be bringing to the next social meeting. Top prize is £1000 cash and there are a number of very worth-while others donated by, eg, Waterways World, ABC Boat Hire, London Canal Museum , etc., all listed on the tickets. Tickets are £2 each, or £10 for a book of five.

Do think about buying one or more and complete your details on the relevant counterfoils.

The CRACL (Chelmsford Rivers & Canal Link ) Group, working to get a 170 metre linking canal between the two rivers above the weir in Chelmsford, asks you , if you can, to visit its Facebook page and share it with your friends: www.facebook.com/chelmsfordcut During the course of the year, for some years, I have frequently driven north up the A1, crossing some major rivers en route, including the Trent and the Don. I always look out for cruisers but, in all that time, have seen one only twice, on the Trent. Where have all the boaters gone?

Molly Beard

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From The Regional Chairman I must apologise for the brevity of my input to this editions too the branch magazine but, after over 35 years, we have moved into a new house. As you can imagine my thoughts and efforts have been focused on sorting out the move, rather than on the work of the Association’s London Region.

At this year’s Festival of Water we met up with the people running the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills. They have a problem, they would like to restore the remaining high and low level canal systems used to carrying gunpowder and raw ingredients around the site. The system, which originally extended for nearly 10 miles, includes several locks, specially designed to minimise turbulence which could cause a laden boat to bang against the side and create an explosion, as well as three aqueducts.

The Lee & Stort branch and our Waterways Recovery Group are looking at the possibility of running working parties to initially prevent any further deterioration of this unique waterway system and then, if funds can be found, restoring as much as possible so that visitors can see the specially designed craft operating around the site. We understand that the original puddling clay has been removed, as it was contaminated with explosives, so we shouldn’t need any special precautions to prevent explosions when the work is started.

Our London Region Heritage Officer (Derek Humphries derek.humphries@waterways.org.uk) has been investigating the whereabouts of coal-tax posts, alongside the navigations in our region. Coal Tax Posts were erected in the 1860s and form an irregular loop between 12 and 18 miles from central London to mark the points where taxes on coal were due to the Corporation of London. There were originally around 280 posts of which over 200 remain. One, a granite obelisks, about 4 feet (1.2 metres) high, is alongside the River Lee near Kings Weir. (See Photo.) The more Derek looks at the region the more at risk heritage we are finding. So please, when you are out and about on our waterways, bring to his attention, anything that you see, whether it is photos of a fine view, canal furniture or dilapidated structures you think need retaining for future generations to enjoy.

Paul Strudwick London Region Chair Person https://www.facebook.com/iwalondon/ and at paul@greenboater on twitter

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Log of the Maggie Leigh in September 2019 This is the log of a trip on the south Oxford canal and the middle Thames Thurs. 5th Sept. Mostly sunny. Maggie and I drove from Essex to Fenny Marina via the M25 and M40.

Once on board, made up the beds, filled up with water, and dipped the fuel tank-two thirds full. Supper on board.

Fri. 6th Sept. Cloudy but dry. Drove to Heathrow to collect our old friend Peter, who was flying in from Vancouver. Air Canada did well, and he came through the barrier early at 13.30, and we quickly set off for Fenny. We hoisted Peter’s defaced blue ensign, which he swore was the flag of Vancouver Island briefly before it became part of British Columbia. We “put to sea” at about 15.30, travelling south, through the 5 locks of Claydon, and moored for the night just below the Claydon Bottom Lock. Supper on board breaking open a few bottles of wine.

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Sat. 7th Sept. Cloudy with sunny spells. Left mooring at 8.45, heading south. Several lock pounds were very low (up to 12 inches below normal water levels), so it was rather slow going. Shopped at Banbury for food and more wine. Passed the wooden narrowboat “Hardy”, which was recently raised by the Tooley museum. Its restoration is a long-term project for the museum. Put together a new portable barbecue with some difficulty (to the amusement of both Peter and Maggie). Moored half a mile beyond Aynho. Despite the derision, the BBQ worked, although for some reason, the lid does not close properly.

Sun. 8th Sept. Sunny and warm. Left mooring at 9.00, still heading south. Topped up with water at Lower Heyford, and shopped for bread and more wine. Emptied Elsan at Thrupp. Moored for the night outside the Jolly Boatman, and had a very enjoyable pub meal there.

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Log of the Maggie Leigh in September 2019 (cont) Mon. 9th Sept. Overcast with occasional drizzle. Left the mooring at 9.05, heading as usual, towards the Thames. Some of the lock gates were in a terrible state, the bottom gate at Roundham Lock has had its timber lock beam spliced by steel waling section beams front and back bolted through the beam. Even with this “repair”, the beam bowed alarmingly when the gate was being opened. My DIY skills are somewhat limited, but even I could have done a more “seaworthy” job. We turned right just below Dukes Lock into Dukes Cut, and entered the Thames just above Kings Lock. We paid £136 for a fortnight’s Thames Licence from the Environment Agency. Maggie saw a Kingfisher. We moored for the night at Osney Island. Went to Waitrose for food and more wine. Supper on board.

Tues 10th Sept. Cloudy with sunny spells. Early morning trip to Waitrose again for more wine. Left Osney at 8.45 heading downstream. A fairly clear run. Stopped at Abingdon for pump out, Elsan, water and rubbish disposal. I saw a Kingfisher near to Clifton Lock. I don’t think it was the same one that Maggie saw yesterday as we were over ten miles further south. We were passed by 8 rowing skiffs full of Dutchmen (and Dutchwomen). The skiffs were quite beautiful, and were varnished inside and out. The “Dutch-persons” had started at Lechlade (the current head of navigation of the Thames), and were headed for Teddington over the period of one week. They seemed to be having a lovely time, taking the rowing very gently. We had a BBQ supper at Wallingford.

Wed. 11th Sept. Cloudy with occasional drizzle. Shopped in Wallingford for more supplies, before raising steam at about 10.00. Joined by Maggie’s sister Jackie and husband Brian in their Broom 32, and followed them down to Beale Park. Jackie and Brian kindly supplied the BBQ lunch, as the Broom is much faster than the narrowboat. They had arrived over an hour at Beale before we did. After lunch, we said our goodbyes, and we carried on downstream, arriving at a shallow and rather unsatisfactory mooring just below the entrance to the Kennet and Avon Canal around 18.00. Supper on board.

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Log of the Maggie Leigh in September 2019 (cont) Thurs. 12th Sept. Cloudy with occasional sun. Left mooring at 9.00. Passed the E.A. operated tug Churn towing the rubbish barge from Shiplake Lock. Stopped at Shiplake to top up water and empty the Elsan. No rubbish facility today. Continued south, arriving at Marlow at about 14.00. Shopped in the town for food and more wine. Stayed at Marlow overnight, eating on board.

Fri. 13th Sept. Warm and sunny (Reportedly 25 degrees C). After shopping for more wine, put to sea around 10.00 heading upstream. Disposed of rubbish at Shiplake, as the rubbish barge was back on station. Passed Richard Branson’s barge Branson 11, and saw the hotel barge African Queen under way, this boat having been the subject of a TV programme a few years ago. Arrived at a mooring adjacent to the Reading Blue Coat School at about 14.00. Dipped tank – one-third full. Supper on board.

Sat. 14th Sept. “Changeover Day”. Warm and sunny. Left mooring at about 8.45 heading upstream, arriving at Reading Tesco at 9.15. At first, had to moor outside another narrowboat, but the inner boat soon went on his way. Shopped for food and more wine. David, Stella and their black Labrador Lottie arrived at 10.30. After coffee and very reluctant goodbyes, David drove Peter to the local Avis Rent a Car, and then carried on to leave his car at Fenny Marina. He returned, via taxi and train, to the boat around 15.15. Whilst he was away, we left Tesco and crossed over to Better Boating for diesel, before passing through Caversham Lock and mooring at Christchurch Meadows nearby. With David safely back on board, we left the mooring at 15.30, heading upstream, We arrived at Beale Park at about 18.00 and had a BBQ supper.

Sun. 15th Sept. Sunny. Left the mooring at 8.45, heading for Wallingford. Shopped for food and wine at Wallingford, and then pressed on for Abingdon, arriving there at about 17.00. Supper on board.

Mon. 16th Sept. Cloudy. Shopped for food and wine, leaving the mooring at 9.30. Went through Abingdon Lock to the services facility nearby. Emptied the Elsan, dumped the rubbish and topped up the water. The pump out was achieved eventually after the faulty EA pump was charmed into life. Went upstream via Port Meadows and the Dukes Cut to the canal, arriving at Thrupp about 18.00, and had supper at the Jolly Boatman. Changed the light bulb in the First Class bathroom.

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Log of the Maggie Leigh in September 2019 (cont)

" Tues 17th Sept. Warm and sunny. Left Thrupp around 9.30, heading north. A bit of a delay at Broadmoor Lock, waiting for the return of the dog walking party, but moored for the night just above Somerton Deep Lock at about 17.15. Filled stern gland hopper with grease, and oiled sticking pump out loo mechanism. Supper on board Wed. 18th Sept. Sunny all day. Left mooring at 8.20. Emptied Elsan and dumped rubbish at Banbury, went through lock and lifting bridge, and moored seemingly in the middle of a large building site.

Shopped for food, clothes and wine, and then pressed on, mooring just above Cropredy at 17.15.

Supper on board.

Thurs 19th Sept. Last day of cruise. Unlike some luxury cruise liners, we did not require guests to vacate their cabins by 8.00. Cleared the sink drain by boiling water and rodding. Left the mooring around 8.20. There was a queue for the next lock for the first time, but further on, there were CRT volunteers who speeded things up through the Claydon flight. Several pounds were very low again, and the going in those was slow and a bit tedious. We had our first injury (apart from me burning my shoulder whilst taking something out of the oven), when David was attacked by brambles as we unexpectedly passed another boat as we came out of the Fenny Tunnel. We arrived back at our berth at the marina at 13.15 and had brunch on board. After tidying up and unloading, we said our goodbyes and hit the road at 14.30, we two back to Leigh on Sea, and the others to Bursledon in Hampshire. We finally got home about 18.00, after heavy traffic on the M25 and A127.

A wonderful trip, especially as we had not seen Peter for some years. When we have made the cruise onto the Thames in previous years, it has generally been earlier in the year, and rather more crowded. I will particularly remember the beautiful early autumnal colours of the trees, the greens turning to amber and brown, some full of red or blue berries.

It is a family tradition that my Grandfather, returning to Liverpool in the 1940’s after a Mediterranean cruise, decided that as he had enjoyed himself so much, he would pay for him and his party to “go round again”. Whilst Maggie and I after this cruise didn’t opt to “go round again”(we were both knackered), we have agreed to hang on to The Maggie of Leigh for another year or so, despite creeping old age.

Tony Weber

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South Kilworth September 2018

Turning right out of Crick Marina on a lovely, sunny, warm September day along the Grand Union Leicester Line we noticed that some of the trees and bushes were starting to show their autumn colours, it is a very rural route with fields both sides for miles.

I sat relaxing on the back, near John who was in charge of the tiller, and the dogs were happily sleeping in their bed under the tiller, our stern is just big enough for us all to fit and be together.

Passing under bridge 18 we saw the indentation marks on the metal bars which are on some bridges to protect them from wear caused by the ropes from horse boats in years gone by.

We did not see many cruising boats out and about, but did see the boater who used to have the berth next to us and said hello. All was quiet as we passed Yelvertoft Wharf, the private moorings were full as were the few visiting slots.

It is a winding route interspersed with bridges, the largest one of these is the A14 and the only one with traffic crossing as we glided underneath.

We proceeded onward to bridge 37 where we turned, and being a short boat there was enough room to pivot here and moor nearby. It was a lovely peaceful mooring until a motorbike starting roaring around the farm field behind us for a while.

On a previous trip I had noted in our canal guide a Pub which had been advertised on the bridge, good job as the sign was now no longer legible. I phoned and booked a table as it was quite a walk from the canal and we did not want a wasted trip on a Saturday night. It only took fifteen minutes to walk to the White Hart at South Kilworth, and as we approached from the rear through the beer garden we both had a feeling of 'de jar vue' especially when we saw the car park, the recognition was confirmed when we entered and realised we had been here before. When we were looking to relocate marina's the previous year we were in this area and we stopped here for lunch and parked in the car park. Although the pub is now under new management we had another good, reasonably priced meal.

On our way back to the boat by torchlight we foraged for fresh conkers, these I hang in lace bags around the interior of our boat to keep the spiders out.

Heading back to Crick on Sunday the weather was dry and bright but cooler than the previous day, but we enjoyed another relaxing day cruising before heading home Stephanie Mason & John Grieve !8

Essex Waterways Update Paper Mill Lock seems to be more popular every year during the summer months with the visitor car park regularly full even on week days. The Tea Room tables and tow path are busy and the number of canoes and paddle-boards always surprises with many having bought their licences on-line. To add to the activity and interest the Ambulance Service regularly visit for training with boats on the water and personnel in the water and there is usually a youth canoe group nearby, and our Chelmer Cruises trip boats are operating.

Not the ideal time therefore to start a major project at this location. However, our survey work on the Navigation had revealed that there was serious scouring beneath the main weir and the weir apron was showing signs of settlement. It was therefore necessary to carry out repairs during the summer while water levels and flows are at their lowest and before flood flows cause more damage. It will be recalled that last year that there was a weir collapse up stream at Little Baddow Lock and a repeat needed to be avoided.

Detailed inspection of the adjoining smaller weir confirmed that there were similar under scouring problems with this.

A plan was formulated whereby steel supports would be fabricated and permanently installed above the main weir so that stop planks could be ďŹ ;ed for the work but also used if the weir needed to be dammed at any future date. The front of the weir would be sheet steel piled to provide permanent shu;ering to the void below the weir apron. The piling opera>ons would be undertaken from the Dredger barge. The apron would then have sec>ons removed or holes bored so that the void could be ďŹ lled with concrete. The apron would be levelled with a screed ďŹ nish.

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Essex Waterways Update (cont) The use of pumped concrete, as utilised at Little Baddow Lock weir was investigated but it was decided that better control of the concrete placing would be achieved by mixing on site with the materials brought to site by barge.

A similar procedure would be followed on the smaller weir although new steelwork would not be required for the stop planks. All the work would be carried out by Essex Waterways own staff and volunteers.

By the time you read this, the work will have been satisfactorily completed and another key part of the Navigation infrastructure safeguarded for the future.

Heybridge Basin is another busy ‘honeypot’ on the Navigation during the summer. This year it has been very popular with visiting Dutch boats, both individual and clubs. Other visiting clubs have included the ‘Old Gaffers’ when 23 historic sailing vessels were locked in for a short stay.

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Essex Waterways Update (cont) Also of interest was a visit from the sailing barge ‘Blue Mermaid’ for stability tes>ng in the lock. Blue Mermaid is owned by the Sea-Change Sailing Trust and was commissioned this year, she is a faithful replica of the original Blue Mermaid which was one of the last Thames sailing barges built in 1930, but lost during the war. The Trust works with youth groups and their staff and carries cargo and trainees who gain sea >me learning tradi>onal seamanship skills. Sailing without an engine, she does this with very low emissions.

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Blue Mermaid photos by Colin Swindale

Grant, the Heybridge Lock Keeper said ‘The real spectacle was when she went out. I had two yachts to lock out which were poin>ng outwards and Blue Mermaid poin>ng inwards. There was a lot of head scratching by the public who wondered how this impasse would end! Obviously when locked down Blue Mermaid was towed out backward.’

There is always something interes>ng on the Naviga>on!

Roy Chandler

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Leicester Ring The Leicester Ring consists of several different waterways and we planned to cruise in an anticlockwise circuit, which includes the Grand Union Leicester Line, River Soar, River Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal, Coventry Canal and Oxford Canal.

We left Crick on a lovely sunny day, the hedgerows were filled with fruit such as sloes, elderberries, crab apple, rose-hips, and haw-berries, with lovely autumnal colours as the leaves change colour. We were lucky to see a pair of Muntjac deer watching us from the safety of the trees on the non towpath side. The canal between Crick and Foxton is becoming familiar, and we moored above Foxton Locks, later we walked into the village of Gumley for a delicious meal at the Bell Inn. The following day in our waterproofs, as it was spitting, we booked in for the locks early but a boat coming up was even earlier. Once into the top lock we descended the ten locks in fifty minutes with the help of volunteers. Taking a left at the bottom we continued, soon going through Saddington Tunnel, then descending five double locks near Fleckney, before giving up for the day as the rain persisted, we found a rural, peaceful mooring, where we were soon joined by another narrowboat. By late afternoon the rain had stopped and led to a lovely sunset that evening.

Making another early start we descended intermittent locks, seeing patches of waterlilies with the spikey flowers open in the sunshine, pairing with a single hander until we moored for Tesco and lunch at South Wigston. Another narrowboat moored behind us and came to chat. Later we headed off together to share locks and came upon the single hander, so we all shared the next two locks before mooring for the night at Aylestone.

Leaving early morning again through more locks, then arriving at Freeman's Meadow Lock, which overlooks Leicester City Football Club, and a weir where we spent ages watching and photographing the Little Egrets. Eventually onwards along the 'Mile Straight' in Leicester passing under some lovely bridges, we saw the secure moorings at Castle Gardens (fully occupied) and further on at Friars Mill (spaces), before passing Frog Island which had some stunning Graffiti Art on the sides of the buildings.

We also passed some tall chimneys, a pumping station, and the very impressive National Space Centre.

At Thurmaston Lock we were joined by The Baldwin Trust 72ft narrowboat, which had a jolly crowd onboard, we shared several locks all the way to Mountsorrel where they moored at the lock pub and we moored below the lock against the meadows where it was quieter. From here the River Soar is wider and clearer, and as we approached Barrow-upon-Soar we saw some youths on water pedal bikes; it was the first time we had seen these in use on the water. We moored here for the night next to a paddock containing Shetland Ponies and Alpaca. The Navigation Inn was a good choice for an evening meal.

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Leicester Ring (cont) The following morning we rounded the corner for Barrow Deep Lock (9ft 7") which had a friendly lock keeper, then onwards through a flood lock, before entering the built up areas of Loughborough. We turned left at the junction into Loughborough Wharf for the services, only to find they were out of order (a problem with rough sleepers), so I popped to the shop for provisions. Heading off again we saw pretty bridges, industry, quaint cottages, before being back to rural areas again, seeing lovely waterside properties at Normanton-on-Soar and the chain ferry. The River Soar is much wider here and we passed the Emergency Flood Moorings - a wooden frame mid channel - which was near the Soar Boating Club, we moored soon after at Zouch for lunch. Onwards, with fewer locks, and flood locks we could see the Ratcliffe Power Station cooling towers and cruised around them for miles, arriving at the junction where a right turn goes to Nottingham on the River Trent, straight on takes you up Trent Lock onto the Erewash Canal, or left our route - on the River Trent to Sawley where we headed to the service pontoon below the duplicated electric locks, a tricky manoeuvre due to the sudden winds here, only to find these services were also out of order. NOT HAPPY. Once above the locks the view behind was fabulous with the locks, viaduct with a train on it, and the sunshine. We stopped at Sawley Marina and were able to use the services there, phew! Then on through the flood lock and under the busy M1 motorway, up through Derwent Lock onto the Trent & Mersey Canal, through Shardlow flood gate, to moor near the New Inn, where we had a lovely meal.

Waking to another lovely day we decided to return to Sawley Marina Chandlery (closed day before).

This proved very successful as they have a good stock of most things. Returning to Shardlow we were naughty and had lunch in the New Inn. Heading off again we passed the impressive Clock Warehouse, then through Shardlow Lock. Before long we spotted some Terrapins sunbathing on logs at the side of the canal. Mooring between Weston-on-Trent and Swarkestone in a very rural area we were sat looking across the canal and saw a kingfisher flying back and forth, and were amazed to see it dive and catch a fish, unfortunately it was too quick for the camera. We never tire of these beautiful birds.

The following morning we were surrounded in mist which soon cleared to a gorgeous day. Approaching Swarkestone Lock we paired up with another narrowboat (had met before in June at Warwick - small world). It was busy here with the cafe, walkers, cyclists and dog walkers, onwards passing the Ragley Boat Stop Pub with its moorings full of boats, then Stenson Lock before mooring for Midland Chandlers at Mercia Marina, Willington, where we got a new navigation light to replace our broken one, before moving on to moor at Stretton.

Another misty morning soon becoming sunny and warm. At Burton-on-Trent the locks become single again. We stopped briefly at Shobnall, a lovely park area, and a walk to the marina just to be nosey, and buy some gifts, before heading off again passing Barton Turn, then at Wychnor. The lock here takes you onto a short river pound to Alrewas Lock where we moored above. After chatting to the lady boater behind us (from Pyrford Marina - again small world) we went for a wander around this pretty village.

In the evening we returned to the village and had a lovely meal at the George and Dragon. Back on the boat we listened to the band playing nearby at the finale to an Art Exhibition, with fireworks to end the evening.

Lingering in Alrewas and enjoying a lazy morning while many boats were passing in both directions, we eventually set off for a short trip to Fradley Junction where we moored again for a wander. Another busy canal area, the shop has been streamlined to ground floor only with limited supplies and gifts.

Leaving Fradley we took a left at the junction through the swing bridge and onto the Coventry Canal, a winding route with many bridges. We moored in a rural area near Kings Orchard Marina.

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Leicester Ring (cont) The next day the route continued winding with bridges, passing Whittington and Hopwas, then turning left at Fazeley Junction, still on the Coventry Canal, to climb the two Glascote Locks in the urban area of Tamworth, passing through the narrow channel at Polesworth caused by breasted up moorers. We then braced ourselves for the eleven locks at Atherstone. With boats in both directions it worked well. Several were old working boats having left Braunston Historic Boat Rally. We moored at the top, having risen 80ft from bottom to top.

The following morning we spent in town with its many varied shops. Once off again we passed the Hartshill Yard and CRT Depot, before stopping for fuel at Springwood Haven where they have a good Chandlery, books, gifts, and provisions. Onwards through Nuneaton to navigate a U turn to go through the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction onto the Oxford Canal and moor, later enjoying a fabulous meal in the Greyhound Inn.

In the morning I was out with the camera,;lots to photograph here, - bridges, engine house, pub, lock, and moorings. Leaving later we passed Brinklow, Newbold and its short tunnel, Rugby, in a lock free pound until Hillmorton with its three locks (duplicated) and volunteers, we moored in another rural location just outside Braunston.

On our last day we shared the six locks through Braunston with a couple who manage Stanstead Abbots Marina on the River Lee. Onwards through the tunnel, and then turning left at Norton Junction, up Watford Locks (seven) and through the wet Crick Tunnel, before berthing in Crick Marina.

It felt like we had been away ages, but we had thoroughly enjoyed the circular route and all we had seen.

After sorting out the boat and packing the car we went for a meal at the Wheatsheaf in Crick, staying overnight on the boat before returning home the next day.

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Social Evenings. The Year So Far In September Len Taphouse came to speak to us about his time as a Dockyard Apprentice. Len related many stories from his time serving as an apprentice engineer with Harland & Wolf at North Woolwich between 1956 & 1961. He told us about the characters he worked with, and the hardships endured as well as the highlights of his eventful training. Len raises money from his talks to help children suffering from leprosy. We are very grateful to Len for stepping in at short notice to give his interesting talk.

In October Pat Smith came to talk to us about the1953 Essex Flood Disaster and, in particular, to tell us about the tragic loss of life in Essex and of the families who faced unimaginable fear and hardship during and after that terrible night in January 1953. Some families had already moved from London during the blitz to live in what they thought would be a relatively safe area. No warnings were given and the waves reached 30 feet higher that night than a normal tide.

Over the centuries, the low-lying coastal areas of Essex have frequently suffered flooding. On Saturday 31st January 1953 a wall of freezing cold water from the North Sea funnelled into the bottleneck between Holland and England and surged in a fury over and through sea walls. The 1953 flood was the worst peacetime disaster and 120 people died in Essex. The story was told through the memories of those caught in the disaster.

Pat has written a book about the disaster and she was kind enough to donate one to our raffle. Further copies are available at branch social meetings price £10 (normal retail price £12.99) Rebecca Loader Social Events 2019 / 2002 Thursday 14th November 2019 Speaker – Tim Whitelock Mind the Gap - A Bridge in Time Although Britain does not have the world’s deepest valleys to cross or widest rivers, we’ve been innovators with design, use of new materials and construction methods creating many bridges across time. Tim looks at examples of different types of bridges found across Britain, including a number of world firsts.

Thursday 12th December 2019 Musical Entertainment Bring and share Buffet Quiz Raffle

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Social Events 2019 / 2002 (cont)

Thursday 9th January 2020 Speakers :- Amy McFarlane Essex and Suffolk Water (Project Sponsor) and Sam Hopwood (Commissioning Engineer), Heybridge Basin Sealock Gate Replacement The installation of the new Caisson gate, bringing 21st Century technology to Heybridge Basin to work alongside the original manual gates.

Thursday 13th February 2020 Speaker Alan Johnson The work of the Wey and Arun Trust Thursday 12th March 2020 AGM followed by films Thursday 9th April 2020 Speaker – Pam Bathhurst The Medway Queen - Paddlesteamer The Medway Queen was launched in 1924 and entered service on Thames estuary routes in May of that year. She was used as a minesweeper in WWII and is famous for her seven trips to Dunkirk in 1940.

After the war she returned to her old route until 1963. From 1966 until 1974 she was a nightclub in the Isle of Wight. The ship was returned to the River Medway in 1984 and the hull has now been rebuilt with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

Thursday 14th May- Talk Speaker To be confirmed

All meetings will be held at The Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, Galleywood, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8TR. Time: 7.45pm for 8pm.

We welcome all members and non-members to the monthly socials, and appreciate a small donation on the door. We also offer tea, coffee, or squash along with homemade cake.

Rebecca Loader !1 6

The Cyril Styring Award This is the Association’s premier award which this goes to ‘our’ John Gale. Congratulations John!

John Gale was an early committee member of Chelmsford Branch IWA in the 1970’s and an active volunteer with Chelmsford Branch work parties on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation (C&BN). He was fully involved in volunteering throughout the Branch restoration and reopening of Springfield Basin in 1992-3 and in helping to organise the several Boat Rallies and events in Chelmsford to promote leisure use on the C&BN. At the same time, (in 1973) John joined the staff at IWA’s Head Office in London as bookkeeper, and in 1974 he was additionally appointed Company Secretary for IWA Sales Ltd.. He relinquished these positions in early 1993, after 19 year service, and was appointed as Administration Manager for National Waterways Festivals Ltd (IWA Subsidiary). He served in this position until mid 1994.

After the reopening of Springfield Basin the enthusiasm of volunteers was captured with the formation of Essex Waterway Recovery Group and John took over running this as a Volunteer for many years until the recent closure. The group provided regular work parties on restoration projects throughout the country including on the C&BN. When Essex Waterways was formed in 2005 John became a regular weekday volunteer working at least two days a week on the Navigation right through until this year.

He has remained a committee member of Chelmsford Branch throughout this period and has been Branch Treasurer for many years.

The Awards Committee are aware that John was an IWA employee and technically employees are not eligible for awards. However, in John’s case he has been retired for over 25 years, his support for the IWA as a volunteer has been for nearly fifty years and, whilst an IWA employee, he was also a volunteer supporter of Sales and WRG.

Just For Fun Word Search Hidden in the grid, on the following page, are the names and places associated with our inland waterways. All words are in a straight line, left to right, right to left, up and down and diagonal.

Dale Wyatt Aire and Calder Farmers Bridge Lee and Stort Severn Anderton Fazeley Leeds and Liverpool Soar Ashby Fossddyke Limehouse Standedge Barton Aqueduct Foxton Little Venice Stourport Birmingham Gas Street Basin Llangollen Stover Black Delph Grand Western Manchester Ship Tardebridge Flight Bude Harecastle Napton Thames Canal Cavalcade Hartford Union Netherton Tunnel Tom Rolt Chelmer and Blackwater Heybridge Basin Nob End Trent and Mersey Chirk Hoe Mill Paddington Weaver Coventry Huddersfield Papermill Wendover Crick IWA Ponycysyllte Wigan Dudley Kennet and Avon Regents Witham Dundas Lancaster Ribble Worsley Ellesmere Lapworth Selby WRG !1 7

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Just For Fun (cont) SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3 x 3 block contains the numbers one to nine (1 - 9) 8 4

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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

Dennis Padfield:

Publicity.

dennis.padfield@waterways.org.uk

Stephanie Mason: Refreshments.

None

Kirsten Smith:

Youth.

None

Rebecca Loader

Social Secretary

rebecca.loader@waterways.org.uk

Adam Wyllie:

Branch Web Editor.

Adam.wyllie@waterways.org.uk

IWA Chelmsford Web Address

http://www.waterways.org.uk/chelmsford

!1 9

Chelmer Cruises

Essex Waterways added two 12 person trip boats to their Shelter Cruises operations this summer with ALBERT based at Paper Mill Lock and BLACKWATER DAWN at Heybridge Basin.

Both have been very popular. The response from EWL boaters and IWA Branch members for volunteers to crew the boats has been very good with many now helping on a regular basis.

Volunteers have found it both enjoyable and rewarding to be able to provide public canal boat trips whilst at the same time helping to raise additional income towards the maintenance and improvement of The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation.

Additional crew are always required and if you would like to volunteer, please contact the Essex Waterways office at Paper Mill Lock: 01245 226245. Training will be provided

!2 0