Endeavour_November(2) 2019

Endeavour Northampton Branch Newsletter — November 2019

TWO OF OUR BRANCH MEMBERS RECEIVE IWA RICHARD BIRD MEDALS

Continued on page

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Mick Butler and Geoff Wood with their Richard Bird Medals. (Bernard Morton centre)

waterways.org.uk/northampton Printed by Colour Image. Phone 07821 894521 email colourimage@aol.com

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At our November Branch Meeting, we welcomed Phil Mulligan, CRT’s East Midlands Regional Director, for what was billed as a “CRT Update”, which proved to be very interesting. And I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of his talk with you.

Phil has been in post since early 2018 bringing with him extensive senior management experience in the voluntary sector. He began by explaining that during this time CRT had been moving from the “shadow of the public sector into a charity”. DEFRA provide funding of £50 million p.a. currently; boaters provide around £40 million p.a. (via licences and moorings) and CRT’s investment portfolio provides another £50 million p.a. Other income comes from donations etc. Phil explained that, nationally, around 86% of expenditure goes on waterways operations, maintenance and repairs - the drawback of looking after assets which can be over 200 years old!

Obviously, Phil was keen to share with us details about his region, which is the most rural of all the six. He explained that there were five priorities for East Midlands:To engage with diverse communities To improve Nottingham as a waterways destination To transform Stoke Bruerne as a destination To increase activity on and beside water To diversify ethnicity of volunteering He was very pleased to report that in the year to March 2019, his region had achieved 100% of its planned maintenance programme and whilst we, as users, may well feel there is much more that should be done, I think we should, however, give credit where credit is due. He acknowledged that volunteers had contributed around 120,000 hours over the year – our Branch being responsible for around 11,000 of them!

Phil concluded his talk by focusing on his plans for Stoke Bruerne. He has already spent £46,000 this year on refurbishing the toilets, a much needed improvement. But his plans go further, as he fully recognises that Stoke Bruerne is an area with incredible potential.

At the moment, the site loses money (to the tune of £70,000 p.a.) with the café, shop and museum all being underutilised.

He outlined his plans for a two-phase development. Phase One is to transform the café by installing a proper kitchen and increasing seating capacity, to renovate the learning centre and to have free entry to the museum. His initial estimate of the costs is in the region of £200,000. He has secured some funding within his budget which has to be spent before the end of the financial year – so he has a very tight timescale to work to.

Phase Two would involve a large bid for HLF monies to cover the restoration of the wider site (dry dock, Leggers Hut, quarry field, museum green etc) and would be dependent upon Phase One bringing profitability.

So, blue sky thinking or pie in the sky? We will see in due course no doubt.

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December 10th 8pm

DIARY DATES IWA Northampton Branch Christmas Quiz with John Pomfret at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth.

January 14th 8pm

IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth. Speaker: Roger Butler –A West Midland Circuit, 49 years on 16th 7.45pm IWA Milton Keynes Branch Meeting at the Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, Milton Keynes. Speaker: Tam and Di Murrell — Grain trade to Coxes Mill February 11th 8pm IWA Northampton Branch Meeting at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth. Speaker: Richard Thomas — Story of the Panama 20th 7.45pm IWA Milton Keynes AGM at the Irish Centre Followed by Athina Beckett — Up-date on the Buckingham Canal March 10th 8pm Branch Annual General Meeting at The Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth. Followed by Chris R Jones — The story of Raymond, the last wooden boat

NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTY DATES December 1st,17th.January 5th,21st. February 2nd,18th. March 1st,17th

Contact: geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk or phone 01604 453932 BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY WORK PARTY DATES December 8th, 12, 26th. January 9th, 12th, 21st.

February 6th, 9th, 20th. March 5th, 8th, 19th.

Contact athinabec@aol.com or phone 01908 661217/07721 319404 STOKE BRUERNE CANAL PARTNERSHIP WORK PARTY DATES December 11th. January 8th. February 12th. March 11th Contact: stokebruernecanalpartnership.org.uk

IWA Northampton Branch web site www.waterways.org.uk/northampton Please visit it regularly to see any updates

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GRAND JUNCTION BOAT COMPANY GAYTON JUNCTION BLISWORTH ARM NORTHAMPTON NN7 3EF

01604 858043 www.narrowboat-repairsnorthampton.co.uk Email: info@boatrepairs.uk.com 

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MARINE ENGINEERS ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL PLUMBING & HEATING CRANE OUT HULL BLACKING & SPRAYING IF PREFERRED DIY SLOTS AVAILABLE HULL GRIT BLASTING WITH QUILL MACHINE OVERPLATING & STEEL WORK STERN GEAR BARRUS SHIRE AGENTS BETA AGENTS WEBASTO AGENTS CHANDLERY

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Branch Chairman’s Jottings

by Bernard Morton As I write this, Autumn is well underway and the heating is on! Fortunately, we are surrounded by Nature’s beauty which helps lift our spirits as the days get shorter and gloomier.

WATER – TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH? For boater s, this summer was interesting with CRT initially worried about low reservoir levels and deciding to impose reduced lock opening hours throughout our patch and elsewhere. Then came torrential rains at the beginning of August causing damage to CRT’s Toddbrook Reservoir and the threat of a major breach of the dam. So serious was the damage that local residents in Whaley Bridge were evacuated from their homes for six nights.

Who can forget the TV pictures of helicopters delivering ballast to stabilise the dam wall and massive pumps gradually lowering the water level in the reservoir? CRT will be busy investigating what went wrong and devising a plan for repair and restoration of the dam … and at what cost? And what state are all their other reservoirs and dams in?

MINI BOAT GATHERING. In September , Sandie and I wer e delighted to attend our Branch Mini Boat Gathering at the Village at War weekend in Stoke Bruerne. You will probably remember that the Village at War organisers invited us to stage a mini boat gathering during their hugely popular event which has been running for twelve years now. In exchange for free moorings and free entry to the event, we were asked to volunteer to assist with the setting up and dismantling of the infrastructure or with helping to run the event (manning car parks, collecting entrance fees etc) over the weekend. Though the number of boats attending was small (around 6 or 7), we all enjoyed ourselves and we tucked into a tasty wartime themed meal at the Boat Inn on the Saturday evening. The food dishes served may well have been from a wartime cookbook but the portions certainly weren’t ration book sized! The organisers were very grateful for our contribution to the success of the event … so much so that they are keen for us to do the same next year.

Many of you will remember that our Branch used to organise an annual boat gathering for many years down at Becket’s Park Northampton and latterly at Braunston Marina and Stoke Bruerne in 2017. With declining attendance, the committee reluctantly decided that we could no longer afford the financial outlay for entertainment, drinks etc nor justify the sheer physical effort of erecting marquees tents, moving tables, chairs etc (after all we are no spring chickens!). Since our last gathering in 2017, we have pondered ways and means to stage a Branch get together which didn’t involve such a huge commitment and we were excited to try “piggy-backing” onto Village at War. Hopefully, more of you will consider attending in 2020 – the dates for the event are 12-13th September 2020 – for those of you who are already busy planning your boating expeditions for next year!

8 RECOGNITION FOR TWO DEDICATED BRANCH MEMBERS. Back in May, the Committee decided to recommend Mick Butler and Geoff Wood, our two hard-working Adoption Co-ordinators, for IWA’s Richard Bird Medals which are awarded annually to worthy recipients at the National AGM each September. I think they were both rather surprised when a letter came through their doors telling them of the award and inviting them to attend the AGM. I was keen to attend also to join in the congratulations and fortunately the AGM was the day Sandie and I flew back from holiday into Birmingham airport in the early hours. We had a few hours sleep in an airport hotel and then travelled up to IWA AGM near Stoke-on-Trent for the presentations. Unfortunately, Geoff had injured his leg and was unable to attend so his medal was presented to me – and I presented it Geoff at our October Branch talk. For further details and pictures see front page TOWPATH TALK TOP TEAM AWARDS 2019. Last May, we wer e ver y pleased to be awarded third place in the Towpath Talk Top Team Awards which recognises “groups of unsung heroes who go the extra mile in and around our inland waterways”. For this award we were nominated by Branch members Sandra and Keith Tidey and, in addition to a certificate, we were very pleased to receive a cheque for £100 from Towpath Talk.

The shortlist of four finalists for 2019 Top Team Awards has now been announced and I was delighted to find that two local organisations have made the shortlist, both of which our Branch has supported financially from the John Faulkner Legacy.

The first is the Crusader Community Boating organisation which specialises in boat trips for disabled people of any age as well as elderly people in care homes. The ability to go on a specially equipped boat, along with their carers, provides them with social and leisure opportunities they might well otherwise be denied. We have recently given them £10,000 from the John Faulkner Legacy to help fund the building of an additional boat to expand their carrying capacity next year.

The other organisation is the Friends of the River Nene which was formed in 2014 with the aim of improving facilities on the River Nene for all users, with membership open to anyone who shares a passion for the area. This beautiful stretch of water had hardly any mooring places along its length. The group have worked tirelessly to establish and maintain a number of mooring sites on the river for the benefit of boaters (currently 9 with plans for number 10 at Rushden Lakes, I believe). We have given them just over £4,000 to fund vegetation clearing equipment and tables with benches on some of their moorings.

So, how about putting in a vote in support of these two very worthwhile organisations? Please vote before 1st December 2019 It costs nothing to do so and I’m sure they would both be very grateful. You can vote online https:// www.towpathtalk.co.uk/vote/ and possibly also via Towpath Talk magazine.

SEASONS’S GREETINGS. I know it’s ear ly but, as this is pr obably my last communication with many of you this year, I hope you will forgive me … and I have avoided mentioning the “C” word! So, season’s greetings to you and your families and I wish you all a healthy, happy and successful 2020.

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100 CLUB —Join Now for 2020 The 100 Club was set up to raise funds for the Northampton Branch of the Inland Waterways Association which are then used within the Branch or can be distributed to worthwhile local waterways charities and organisations. It is one of the main ways that we raise funds for our Branch.

You need to be an IWA member over the age of 18 to join but not necessarily a member of Northampton Branch. Each member my hold up to four separate stakes at the rate of £15 per stake per year (payments due before 28/29 February each year).

There are two draws each year –one at the Branch AGM in March and the other at the Branch Dinner in November. Prizes are adjusted in proportion to actual membership. The Branch retains 45%of the income, the other 55% is split into 3 prizes at each draw. The first prize in each draw is currently £80.

Application forms are available at Branch meetings or from paul.lynam@waterways.org.uk or via our web page waterways.org.uk/ Northampton

Please join up and support your Branch ...you’ve go to be in it to win it!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRUISE, LONG OR SHORT, OLD OR NEW Write a report about your cruise, let others know the good and not so good places to moor, eat, drink, places of interest worth visiting and anything else that might help others to enjoy that area. Let us know of any mishaps or interesting things that happened on your journey. Include pictures of your cruise, unusual things scenery and anything else that you want to add.

See Leonard Lawson’s first canal boating experience back in 1975 on page 18.

Now how about sharing yours? Or maybe you could tell us about the boats you’ve hired or owned. Email your articles to me, Tony Clarke, via tony.clarke@waterways.org.uk IWA Northampton Branch now has a Facebook page. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or engage in discussion on what’s happening.

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Richard Bird Medals Our two Adoption Co-ordinators, Mick Butler and Geoff Wood, have had their hard work and dedication recognised by IWA with each being announced as winners of a Richard Bird Medal 2019 at the IWA National AGM on 28th September. The Richard Bird Medals are presented to “members of the Association whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period”.

With the Branch’s adoption of the Northampton Arm in 2013, Mick and Geoff became joint Adoption Co-ordinators. From the start, they developed a strong working partnership with each bringing unique talents to their roles so it was fitting that they should both receive Medals together. However, we should not forget that both fulfil other roles within the Branch as well - Mick as Chairman of our Events Committee and Geoff as Vice Chairman and Membership Secretary.

Their hard work led CRT to award our adoption team self-supervising status in March 2014, a measure of the top-quality work and adherence to health and safety regulations that Geoff and Mick insist on.

Mick’s background is in the building and construction industry, so the skills developed during his working life are ideally suited to his joint management of our twicemonthly task parties on the Arm. He can specify exact materials and quantities for jobs such as concreting in mileposts/fencing posts and the interpretation boards and the laying of the mosaic panels for the Nature Trail at each of the 17 locks.

Geoff’s working background in engineering, and latterly as Operations Manager for a large paper mill in Kent, means he excels at organisational, logistical and communication skills needed for keeping in touch with our volunteers and CRT who provide some logistical support and equipment for our task parties. He has developed a great working rapport with CRT which has been tested somewhat with their recent reorganisation when the Branch moved from South East Region to East Midlands Region.

In January 2014, Geoff and Mick, along with some of our volunteers, took a walk down the whole length of the Arm (4 ¾ miles and 17 locks) recording details of problems observed and work needed. This survey has become an annual event each January and our volunteers love to be included and to know their input is valued.

From this survey, a plan of works is drawn up for the year and tasks allocated in order of priority to the task parties which are held on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month. As a testament to how our adoption has flourished once taken over by Mick and Geoff, CRT awarded our adoption team the South East Waterways Volunteer Organisation Recognition Award in December 2014.

Indeed, at the unveiling of the murals under the M1 motorway bridge last April, Richard Parry spoke very highly of what our volunteer team had achieved and their

11 professional standards of working over the past six years. He then presented Geoff and Mick with an award each, recognising that our Branch has put in over 10,000 volunteer hours on the Northampton Arm – I’m reliably informed by Geoff that we have now exceeded 11,000 hours!

I’m sure you will agree Mick and Geoff are two very worthy winners of Richard Bird medals. Mick was presented with his at IWA National AGM but, unfortunately, Geoff had injured his leg and couldn’t attend. Bernard, as Branch Chairman, accepted it on Geoff’s behalf and presented it to him at the October Branch talk at the Walnut Tree Inn. They are both modest individuals and have paid tribute to the dedication and support of each and every one of our volunteers, without whom none of this would have been achieved.

So, the next time you see them congratulate them and give them a pat on the back!

Sandie Morton

Above: Mick Butler Right: Geoff Wood receiving their awards from Chairman Bernard Morton

Branch Christmas Quiz Tuesday December 10th

This Christmas quiz is a fun night Wear your Christmas Jumper Mince pies and chocolate's will be on all the tables There will be a prize for the best decorated table

Christmas music and sing-along during the break Do come along and celebrate Christmas with friends

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BRANCH ANNUAL DINNER A GREAT SUCCESS The Branch’s Annual Dinner at the Boat Inn was a full turn out with 48 people attending and all had an enjoyable time.

Diners enjoying the meal The speaker this year was Chris Howes our Regional Chairman talking about the Boston to Peterborough Wetland Corridor — a significant Fens waterway link. This would save boats navigating between the two cities either a challenging Wash crossing or a torturous 250 miles 135 locks and taking about 15 days but that’s only possible for narrow beam boats because of the Northampton Arm being only 7 feet wide. IWA, Environment Agency and Lincolnshire County Council are working together on this.

Chris Howes, Regional Chairman giving his speech

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Winners of 100 Club Draw The winners of the 100 club second draw this year 1st prize John Burnage £80, 2nd prize Sandie Morton £30, 3rd prize Geoff Wood £15.

Paul Lynam (Treasurer) with John Burnage and Sandie Morton with their cheques

If you would like to enter the next draw for the 100 Club, see page 9 for all the details During the evening Lottie Clarke 8 years old won the John Faulkner award for volunteering on the Northampton Arm. See the full story on page 15

We extend a warm welcome to the following who have joined Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour

NEW MEMBERS Mr K & Mrs G Astley, Braunston Mr P Ewart, Newport Pagnell

MEMBERS MOVED TO THE BRANCH Mrs PM Groom, Daventry Mr A Savory, T owcester

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SUPPLIES We are a family run, customer friendly business based adjacent to Bridge 32 at Nether Heyford. Our service point is clear of moored boats making your stop quick and easy. We offer the following services:

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DIESEL – always competively priced PUMP OUT – no meter clock here BLUE TOILET FLUID ODORLOS – organic waste tank treatment CALOR GAS – all sizes of bottled gas including Camping Gaz. SOLID FUELS – all types of smokeless fuel or coal. Plus firelighters, sticks and logs.

CHARNWOOD STOVES – all sizes of multi-fuel stoves with or without boilers MORRIS OILS – popular grades of engine oil plus water resistant grease FUEL SET FUEL CONDITIONER

Most Major Credit Cards Accepted.

Open: 8.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays

Fred Tarry Bridge Cottage Furnace Lane Nether Heyford Northampton, NN7 3JY

Telephone/Fax: 01327-341202 Email : rhigginbottom@btconnect.com

Northamptonshire RESTAURANT º BARS º TRIP BOAT DINE IN STYLE IN WOODWARD’S CANALSIDE RESTAURANT Inclusive New Year’s Eve Dinner/Dance, £65.00 Book Now

01604 862428 www.boatinn.co.uk SAVE THE BRANCH MONEY! Stop receiving Endeavour by post and instead get it electronically. You will be notified by email when it’s published on-line. This will save in postage and printing costs. The printed version will be available at Branch meetings. Contact Geoff Wood at geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk and he will organise it.

Editor

15 LOTTIE (8) WINS PRESTIGOUS VOLUNTEER AWARD Eight year old Lottie Clarke who lives near Lock 14 on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal, has won a prestigious volunteer award to recognise her contribution in helping to clean up the canal, turning up in all weathers and completing more than 50 hours working with a volunteer team from the Northampton Branch of The Inland Waterways Association.

Lottie was honoured to receive the John Faulkner Award, created by the Branch to recognise someone who has made an important contribution to its work, at its Annual Dinner last weekend. The award was named Lottie with Mum, Laura, receiving the award after a long-standing Branch member from Branch Chairman Bernard Morton who left a substantial legacy in 2016.

She is the third recipient of the Award.

Lottie spotted volunteers in hi-viz jackets working on the canal arm and asked Mum, Laura what they were doing. They decided to take the family dog for a walk, got chatting to the volunteers and signed up to join the group on the spot. Since then Lottie and her Mum have helped clear out weir channels, paint locks, cut back vegetation and - Lottie's favourite task - litter picking. She even does litter picking outside of regular work parties when walking the dog along the towpath.

Lottie volunteering on the Northampton Arm

Lottie and Laura were instrumental in getting her school, Rothersthorpe Primary, to join in with painting a mural under the M1 bridge on the canal arm this summer and helped spread the word about the Mosaic Nature Trail - two projects recently conceived and installed by the Branch to help rejuvenate the canal corridor which leads from near Gayton, where it joins with Grand Union Canal main line, into the heart of Northampton where it links to the River Nene. Lynda Payton

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VISIT STOWE HILL WHARF FOR ALL Y

Proprietor Robert Gudgeon welcomes you to Stowe Hill Workshop          

Full Repaints Hull Blacking/Stern Gear Inspection and Repairs Engine Repairs and Maintenance Complete Fit-Out and Woodwork Alterations Plumbing Installations and Repairs Electrical Installations and Repairs NEW — Fuel Polishing Service Stockists of Morris Oils and Grease Full range of Batteries always available (please let us know your requirements)

By road we are easily found, a few yards off the A5 at Stowe Hill towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26

ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN, FROM SIMPLE TASKS TO COMPLETE FIT-OUTS

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YOUR ESSENTIAL BOATING SERVICES

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MY FIRST CANAL EXPERIENCE

by Leonard Lawson My first experience of canal boating stretches back to 1975. We’d agreed with my sister and her husband to undertake a narrowboat holiday for a couple of weeks, and so it was that we, together with our two young children, arrived at Concoform Marine in Weedon one Saturday afternoon in July of that year, where we met my sister and brother-in-law who’d travelled up from London the same day. I was really looking forward to our holiday together, we didn’t see them very often, and also I’d felt out of sorts for quite a while, and hoped that a good fortnight’s holiday would bring me back to full health. Our plan was to go down to Oxford, take the Thames down to London, and then return to Weedon via the Grand Union canal.

By today’s standards, our boat was very basic, with a cruiser stern. There was a bedroom with 2-tier bunks along either side, and the dinette in the saloon could be converted to make a double berth at night. There was a gas cooker and a gas-powered fridge, and a rudimentary toilet in the bathroom, of which more later. After loading up our belongings we had some elementary instruction from the guy from the boatyard, and then since the boat was pointing the wrong way, he took it down to the winding hole a few hundred yards away to turn it. I can recall how Impressed I was that he swung the boat round in one easy operation - but then the boat was only about 35ft long!

He stepped off the boat when we returned to the boatyard, and after that we were on our own.

Buckby locks, Braunston tunnel and the 6 Braunston locks were navigated without incident, and for the second night of our trip we moored up near a pub (closed when I last passed it a couple of years ago) about 15 minutes cruising short of the Napton flight. We were unable to drive one of our mooring pins into the ground, so we ended up tying a rope across the towpath to a convenient tree, much to the disapproval of passers-by. Well, we WERE novices back then.

Mooring up — My sister Nora, with 4 year old Robert in the doorway

19 Here we found a minor emergency, as we discovered that the fridge wasn’t working.

Anyone who can remember the scorching hot summer of 1975 will appreciate that a working fridge was essential. We reported it to the boatyard early the next morning, but had to wait till lunchtime for a guy to arrive to fix it. What he did next surprised me – he emptied the contents out onto the table, then bodily picked up the fridge (it was pretty small) and banged it down on the floor 3 or 4 times. “It will be OK now”, he said with a smile, and true to his word it gave no more trouble for the rest of the trip.

Relaxing — Nora and Jim relaxing with a cuppa After a quick lunch we went on our way, stopping at a nearby farm shop for provisions, before mooring up for the night at Marston Doles, just past the top of the Napton flight. Here we exchanged greetings with a couple of workmen who were putting the finishing touches to a newly-built wall, behind (or below) which they said they’d just installed a back-pump to top up the level in the summit pound. After our tea, Jim and myself had another duty to attend to – toilet emptying. Our toilet was nothing more than a bucket, concealed inside a metal canister, which had a seat and a lid attached to it. As we’d been instructed at the boatyard, we took the bucket onto the towpath and then forced our way through the hedge, where we used the spade thoughtfully provided by the boatyard to dig a hole in the ground. We then emptied the toilet waste into said hole, before covering it up and returning to the boat. To this day I smile as I pass this spot, still able to identify exactly where our unwholesome activity took place. This procedure we repeated every couple of days for the rest of the trip.

And so the days of our trip continued, now uneventful, through Cropredy to Banbury, where we moored for the night, not far from the bus station. We took the opportunity to take a bus to the town centre for supplies (no shops near the canal then, unlike today). Waiting at a bus stop for a ride back to the canal, we were pleased to see a bus after a minute or two, but to our surprise it went straight past. However, it wasn’t long before another bus turned up, and this time it did stop for us. But this bus had an Inspector on board, so we lost no time in telling him that we’d been ignored by the previous bus, and he duly made a note of this, probably to reprimand the driver accordingly.

20 Later that evening, after the children had been put to bed, we sat in the front welldeck as dusk approached. Suddenly, Barbara let out a yell and we all looked round to see a rat (or maybe it was a water-vole) half-way up our front mooring rope. Fortunately it turned tail and ran away, but ever since then my wife has been cautious about small four-legged creatures around the canal environment.

With hindsight, a canal boat trip was not an ideal holiday with young children, but 6year-old Kirsty and 4-year-old Robert took it all in their stride. They spent many hours playing in the front well-deck as we went along, often perched on cans of baked beans or tinned fruit.

As we approached Kings Sutton, we found a boat moored right on the corner, obscuring the view round a sharp bend. As we rounded the bend, we saw a lock right ahead of us, so we quickly put the engine into reverse, and as soon as we lost forward way the wind blew us onto the mud at the side of the canal, where we became stuck fast.

It was a good 5 minutes later before we could enter the lock.

A similar experience awaited us just after we left the lock at Nell Bridge, as we neared Aynho lock. There was a boat moored a short way from the lock and in our ignorance we thought we would moor up just beyond it, and then step off the boat and walk forward to work the lock. However as we passed the moored boat, we found water coming into the canal from the left, and a huge weir between that boat and the lock, with a footbridge over the weir. Fortunately, with the hot dry summer we’d been experiencing the water flow was very slight, otherwise we may well have been swept against the weir and pinned there by the water flow over the weir.

At Somerton Deep lock a little further on, a young 12-year-old lad who lived in the lock cottage helped us through the lock. He then asked us for a ride on the boat down to Somerton village, so we were happy to oblige.

When we reached Thrupp, we decided to have a day away from the boat, so we phoned for a taxi to take us to Blenheim Palace, where we had a most enjoyable (if tiring) day out, at the end of the afternoon just sitting out on the immaculate lawns waiting for our taxi to arrive and take us back to the boat.

Locking on the Oxford Canal — Nora at the lockside with 6-year-old Kirsty at her side

And so at last we reached Oxford, finding a mooring at a wharf just short of the River Thames and a massive railway

21 bridge. We hadn’t been there long before a guy appeared to tell us it was private mooring, but that we could stay there if we paid a small fee, which we gladly did.

Here we had a discussion – it had taken us almost a week to reach Oxford, and it was apparent that we would not be able to follow our original plan to go onto the Thames down to London, returning to Weedon along the Grand Union and arriving at the boatyard to hand our boat back at the appropriate time. So we reluctantly decided to forego even a sightseeing tour around Oxford, turn the boat round, and set off on our return journey along the Oxford canal the next day.

The return journey was pretty uneventful, apart from the fact that the water level in the canal was in places desperately low. We had to keep to the middle of the channel, and at times it seemed as though we were ploughing our way through mud rather than floating on the water.

At Southam farm shop, where we’d stopped on our outward trip, Barbara’s sister and brother-in-law drove over to see us from their home in Coventry. It was good to see them, we didn’t get together very often.

We made good progress back to Weedon, arriving there on the Thursday. With time now to spare, we left the boatyard behind, and went on to Stoke Bruerne, to have a look at the Canal Museum, before returning back to Weedon in good time to hand back our boat on the Saturday morning.

We all agreed it had been a good and interesting trip, but for me it turned out to be the best part of that year. A few weeks later my health problems returned and from then on things went rapidly downhill. l was diagnosed with Bright’s Disease, spending two months in hospital and the rest of that year recovering, returning to work the following January.

It was a long while before we returned to the canals, as it wasn’t till I retired 20 years ago that we bought our own narrowboat. One thing that struck me when I was putting this article together is how much boating has changed since that cruise 45 years ago. Nowadays, there are so many more boats about, and I feel it would be somewhat ambitious to contemplate a trip from Weedon to Oxford and back in just a couple of weeks, what with a great deal of slowing down for moored boats, and long queues for locks, especially on the very popular southern Oxford canal in summertime. This I don’t mind as I am now retired and never in a hurry to get anywhere, but with a deadline to return a hire boat by a particular time it might be different.

Fortunately we can now enjoy our boating at our own leisurely pace, which we do as often as we can.

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 an official announcement unless so stated, otherwise the Association accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine.

Neither the editor nor IWA can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the magazine, and opinions stated are those of individual contributors. We will, however, gladly publish corrections if notified. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify articles published in the interests of clarity or space.

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

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Success for Braunston Waterways Literary Festival Brilliant late-summer sunshine and a star line-up of authors and entertainers brought out the crowds for what was probably the first major waterways literary festival ever held - appropriately on the quayside of Braunston Marina on 14 th September. The event was considered a great success, with calls for it to be repeated in future years, something the organisers are giving consideration to.

Topping the bill were actor / waterway enthusiasts Timothy West and Prunella Scales, talking about their internationally acclaimed now 35 episode television series of Great Canal Journeys, and the accompanying book they wrote together. They were interviewed by Tim Coghlan, of Braunston Marina, the festival’s producer.

Such was the demand for tickets that extra chairs had to be put out in the large marquee where the presentation was held. Tim and Pru – as they are known to their many canal friends - also included in their presentation some of their favourite clips from the series, played on the two large video screens in the marquee. As a treat, two immortal moments from Fawlty Towers were added, including Pru’s favourite of John Cleese thrashing his broken down car with a tree branch. This caused great roars of laughter from the audience.

Other waterways book presentations were given by historic narrow boat expert Tom Chaplin, Muddy Waters children’s author Dan Clacher, canal-artist Tony Lewery, canal crime writer Leo McNeir, and former working boatwoman and now food author Di Murrell. They were expertly interviewed by Nick Lake, Abigail Campbell, Jane Marshall, Antony Richards and Cassandra McNeir respectively.

Crowds flocked to hear Timothy West talking about his Great Canal Journeys with his wife Prunella Scales. In the chair is Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina (Nick Lake)

23 For something completely different, former Tory cabinet minister John Gummer (now Lord Deben) interviewed Sister Agatha Leach on her international best seller about her life as a nun – A Nun’s Story.

The evening’s entertainment concluded with Tim and Pru performing their favourite passages from Shakespeare. Musical accompaniment was provided by the celebrated counter-tenor William Towers, who has appeared internationally including Covent Garden and Glyndebourne Opera Houses, and his lutenist accompanier Toby Carr.

Due to generous sponsorship from Braunston Marina, all the funds raised of over £2,000 were donated as follows: £1,500 to the Friends of Raymond, who maintain the Braunston Marina based historic narrowboats Nutfield & Raymond, £100 to the Buckingham Canal Society who attended the event, and £400 to Sister Agatha’s

Facilities - have your say !

We all know that here in the East we have some of the most beautiful navigable waters in the whole country, even if perhaps we sometimes seem to try and keep this incontrovertible fact secret from boaters on the rest of the system. But there is one big question - are we the best provided Region with services for boaters ? Water points, Elsan disposal, pump outs, rubbish disposal, recycling, getting rid of waste oil, etc?

During the last year IWA has been undertaking its nationwide ‘Gaptracker’ survey.

This aims to establish the areas most lacking in provision, or where there are the greatest gaps between services. Navigation authorities, including EA and MLC, have said that they will welcome the findings of this survey, and IWA will lobby for them to take appropriate actions to remedy deficiencies.

At the recent IWA Annual Meeting, we were given a presentation of the results so far. These results suggest that either our region enjoys the best provision of facilities, or we are the worst at replying to surveys.

Clearly we don’t want our Navigation Authorities ‘resting on their laurels’ so I’d be very grateful if you could spare a few minutes to think about where they could ‘do better’.

Please spread the word about the “Gaptracker” survey and report any issues to do with facilities (either existing facilities or locations where you think new facilities are required) via the website survey. Click on ’NEWS & CAMPAIGNS’ and scroll down the Menu ’GapTracker - Facilities for Boaters’ Chris Howes Eastern Region Chairman

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RICHARD GILL

BSc, MABSE

30 YEARS WORKING ON THE WATERWAYS

Grand Union, Oxford & Leics Canals Rivers Nene and Thames RING: 07889 10 99 39 rgbarcos70@btinternet.com

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Now fully open

WHILTON MARINA CHANDLERY 

Diesel



Pump out

Well stocked chandlery  Groceries Pay us a visit, just browse and see what we have to offer 

Open daily 9am –6pm ALL YEAR ROUND Tel 01327 844639 E-mail: marinachandlery@gmail.com

The Branch is collecting old printer, toner and/or inkjet cartridges for recycling. I would be most willing to take them off your hands. Also, we can get money for old mobile phones through the same company. This form of recycling may not generate large amounts of funds but, as they say, every little helps.

I am usually at our monthly social meetings at The Walnut Tree on the second Tuesday of each month from October through to May to receive any of the above. If you cannot get to one of our meetings, please email me on sandie.morton@waterways.org.uk

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BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY Most of the work over the last few months has been at Cosgrove working on the restoration of Bridge One. After several concrete pours the bridge structure is now in place and we have a bridge! The next stage gives our bricklayers a chance as the most of the bridge needs to be faced with bricks so still plenty of work to do. After this work is completed we hope to open up to the public the original towpath which went under the bridge. When the bridge arch was knocked down the site was filled in and people have had to walk over the top rather than under the bridge ever since.

Because of the volunteer effort needed on the bridge two of our other sites had become rather overgrown so in June Santander helped clear the re-growth at our Hyde Lane Nature Reserve site. In September and October Santander and Network Rail helped with hedge and reed trimming at Bourton Meadow and both sites are much improved.

Some of our volunteers have been on various training courses whilst awaiting the arrival at Cosgrove of our new work boat which comes with a crane. This should happen shortly and, once our volunteers are qualified, they plan to undertake a whole host of different tasks on the canal All IWA members would be very welcome to come and see the progress being made at Bridge One, Cosgrove and at our other sites.

Athina Beckett Buckingham Canal Society The photo below shows the first vehicle on Bridge One for about fifty years!

29 All advertisements must comply with the requirements of the Trades Descriptions Act and avoid misrepresentation of goods offered for sale. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 requires that businesses seeking to sell goods must clearly indicate this in an advertisement.

COMMERCIAL RATES 1/4 Page (box) £12.00 +VAT 1/2 Page (box) £25.00 +VAT Full Page £40.00 +VAT Other sizes by arrangement

10% discount for 4 issues paid yearly in advance 5% discount for 4 issues paid quarterly

CLASSIFIEDS (suggested donations) £1.50 for 22 words, 15p each additional word £3.50 for box around classified advertisement (nb. telephone numbers count as one word) £3.50 for photographs

Regular Branch Social Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May inclusive at

THE WALNUT TREE INN, BLISWORTH, at 8pm

All members and non-members welcome Food and drink available

NEXT MEETINGS 10th December “Christmas Quiz” with John Pomfret

14th January Speaker: Roger Butler – A West Midland Circuit, 40 years ago

11th February Speaker: Richard Thomas Story of the Panama The next edition of Endeavour will be published in February 2020

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Branch Chairman Bernard Morton 07785 375787/ 01604 858294 E-mail: bernard.morton @waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman, Joint Task Party Organiser & Membership Secretary Geoff Wood E-mail: geoff.wood @waterways.org.uk

Branch Secretary Sandie Morton 01604 858294 E-mail: sandie.morton @waterways.org.uk

Joint Task Party Organiser Michael Butler E-mail: michael.butler @waterways.org.uk

Planning Officer Helen Westlake E-mail: helen.westlake @waterways.org.uk

Branch Meetings Catriona Butler E-mail: catriona butler @waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Paul Lynam E-mail: paul.lynam @waterways.org.uk

Newsletter & Archivist Tony Clarke

Non-Committee post Website and Media Officer Gail Anscombe E-mail gail.asncombe @waterways.org.uk

07305 893924 E-mail: tony.clarke @waterways.org.uk

Committee Member John Pomfret E-mail: john.pomfret @waterways.org.uk

Vacancies Publicity and Grants Officer Committee Member

The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers.

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