IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch newsletter - Shroppie Fly Paper - Summer 2024

SHROPPIE FLY PAPER

Front cover : SATURN towed by FLOWER at Audlem photo by Bob Jervis

President Michael Limbrey michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk 01691 654081

Chairman Michael Haig michael.haig@waterways.org.uk 07801 415573

Secretary Philippa Bursey philippa.bursey@waterways.org.uk

Membership Secretary Dawn Aylwin dawn.aylwin@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer & Welsh Liaison Officer

Webmaster

Alan Platt

alan.platt@waterways.org.uk

Alan Wilding alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Newsletter Editor Position Vacant

Committee Member

Susan Wilding susan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

NW Region Chairman Sir Robert Atkins

Heritage & Planning

robert.atkins@waterways.org.uk 01995 602225 or 07770 254444

Peter Brown iwa@peterquita.co.uk

Events Coordinator Phil Tarrant phil.tarrant@waterways.org.uk

Branch Web pages https://waterways.org.uk/shrewsburynorthwales https://www.facebook.com/shrewsburynorthwales

If you would prefer to communicate with the branch in the traditional way, please write to the chairman c/o IWA Chesham address at foot of page

Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA). IWA is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers. For further information contact any committee member.

Copy for Shroppie Fly Paper is very welcome, preferably by email. Photographs may be in any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you require photographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments for the Editor’s private guidance. Copy and letters submitted for publication may be edited.

The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged.

The Inland Waterways Association is a nonprofit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342

Registered Office: IWA Head Office, Unit 16B, First Floor, Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2PX

Tel: 01494 783 453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk

IWA SHREWSBURY DISTRICT & NORTH WALES

Dates for your diary

To reduce travelling and cost many of the branch business meetings now take place online. If you would like to join us online please contact our Chairman at: michael.haig@waterways.org.uk

June 10 Branch Committee Meeting Online

June 13-14 Montgomery Canal Restoration Event

June 28 Schoolhouse Bridge Reopening Ceremony

July 20 - 21 Gnosall C-Fest Back Cover

July 27 - 28 Historic Boats at Audlem

August 2 - 3 Lock Wind, Cholmondeston

August 27 Mikron Theatre - ‘Jennie Lee The Anchor Inn

August 31September 1 Whitchurch Festival Back Cover

September 1 Mikron Theatre - ‘Common Ground’ Gnosall Page 10

October 6

Northern Canals Restoration Conference Llanymynech/Crickheath

HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR COPY OF SHROPPIE FLY PAPER?

This magazine is available in a range of different forms:

◊ Hard copy printed magazine

◊ Downloadable electronic PDF file

◊ Electronic version accessed online through issuu.com (https://bit.ly/2Pn5arf)

Distribution of Shroppie Fly Paper in all forms is handled by IWA headquarters staff. So, if you would like to change the way that you receive this magazine, please email membership@waterways.org.uk.

The Editor’s Cut

For more than 30 years the Shroppie Fly Paper has been the main means of communication with our members. Now online media such as web-sites and Facebook are beginning to be more important particularly if we are to attract younger members. There have been some rather good cover stories but sadly this will probably be the last edition.

Shroppie Fly Paper

The Grant-in-Aidcuts-British Waterways thatBritishWaterwayshasnowmadepublic ithasbeentoldthatitsgrant-in-aidforthefinancialyearApril2006to March2007hasbeencutbyafurther 5%7.5%(£4.5million)inadditiontothe that(approximately£3.1million)cut wasmadeinMarch2006andthatcutthereisthepossibilityofayetfurther thisof2.5%(£1.5million)tobeapplied autumn.Intotal,thiswouldmeana lossofover£9milliontoBWinthe year,with15%ofitsgrant-in-aidlost.

WITH £7,000,000 OUT OF MY BUDGET HOW am I SUPPOSED TO repair THIS? HAVE YOU WRG?TRIED

From the Steerer

End of an Era for the Steerer?

When I sat down to write the chairman’s column for this issue of Shroppie Fly Paper, I realised that it could well be the last one I write. So I would like to start by giving thanks and paying tribute to the volunteers who have worked so hard to produce your branch newsletter for the last seven years: stand-in editor David Aylwin, who has compiled this and the previous issue, and his predecessor Andrew Smith, who held the editorship for six years.

During his tenure, Andrew chronicled the tentative first steps of a new branch chairman (me!), the disruption to boating and our waterways from the government’s Covid response, through to the present waterways funding crisis and the launch of our Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign.

But all good things must come to an end, I suppose. Sadly, no volunteers have stepped forward to answer our appeals for a replacement newsletter editor, so unless an eleventh-hour saviour makes themselves known or an alternative solution presents itself, this looks likely to be the final issue of Shroppie Fly Paper in this familiar format. I’m sure you will join me in congratulating Andrew and David for producing such a consistently informative and high-quality publication, but now our team will have to make the tricky decision of how best we can continue to communicate with you, our members.

But it’s not too late! Could it be you that saves the day for us? We can always look at a change of format or style if that would make it easier for one or more volunteers to help us.

It's no secret that the cost of printing and posting publications like this is rising inexorably, and IWA cannot and should not spend money that it doesn’t have to. Therefore one of the options I expect we will need to explore might be a simpler, electronic format newsletter, however much we have enjoyed the sound and feel of a hard-copy publication arriving through our letterboxes.

The membership team in Chesham have most of our members’ email addresses, but not all of them. We do regularly generate branch members’ emails to promote various events and activities, but if you don’t remember receiving our emails, I do urge you to drop a quick message to membership@waterways.org.uk to make sure they have a working email address for you. This will be even more important if we have to move our newsletters to an electronic format, as we really don’t want to lose touch with you and we hope you don’t want to lose touch with us.

You will read elsewhere in these pages about the ground-breaking, four-weeklong canal exhibition mounted at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings by Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, ourselves and other volunteer groups with an interest in the waterways and their heritage.

Branch Chairman Michael Haig points the way.

We were delighted to be given the opportunity to bookend the exhibition, the day after it formally closed, with our 2024 branch annual meeting and AGM. The morning was well attended by just over 30 members and a few guests, and it was a great pleasure to meet friends old and new. We thank the Flaxmill management for agreeing we could hold our event there free of charge.

After referencing the 2023 AGM minutes, which had been approved by attendees via email last April, our treasurer, Alan Platt, ‘opened the batting’ to assure the meeting of the branch’s healthy financial situation, with cash and other assets of nearly £8,000 at our financial year-end of 31 December. His report went on to highlight commitments approved to date in 2024 of some £2,700, including £1,200 to SNCT’s historic working boat restoration project. In total, he reported, the branch has paid about £23,000 over the last 13 years to various canal-related causes: a significant amount representing substantial fundraising efforts.

I followed on with some comments on the ups and downs of the previous twelve months; in our branch’s case, more ups than downs, fortunately.

Once again, we had had a strong year for local fundraising, with sales, mainly of our branch calendar and IWA Christmas cards, yielding over £1,500 after costs. Among the projects in which that enabled us to participate, one of the most rewarding, in my opinion, was the replacement of eight towpath benches along the Nantwich embankment. We gave you regular updates in these pages as the project progressed, but I think it’s a good example of what can be achieved by an

IWA branch working in tandem with local councils for funding and with CRT for delivery, improving a waterside amenity for the benefit of the local community. Congratulations and thanks to volunteer Graham Russell for leading our effort from start to finish.

We managed a commendable programme of events, including a mudbath at the Norbury Canal Festival, a lock wind curtailed by weather, a winter walk, again at Norbury, and the Flaxmill exhibition mentioned earlier. The stand-out event for me, largely because of the enthusiastic help from about 15 volunteers, was the operation of our branch stand and the visitor trip boat over two gloriously sunny days at the Whitchurch Canal Festival. Loaned by ABC Boat Hire from their base at Ellesmere and steered by our RYA-certificated volunteers, the boat provided water-based entertainment for lots of happy families and raised a goodly sum in donations for the Whitchurch Waterway Trust.

On members’ behalf, I offered enormous thanks to the team that makes possible the functioning of your branch, as well as all the volunteers who helped us at events and at the very important charity Christmas card shops in Shrewsbury and Oswestry. We started at the 2023 AGM with a group of nine, becoming a team of eight when newsletter editor Andrew stepped aside to concentrate on other commitments. Graham Russell stood down on the expiry of his term at this AGM, but Phil Tarrant, a.k.a. Captain Phil on account of his nautical background, kindly put his hand up and was co-opted onto the team on the spot! The rest of us whose terms had expired were shepherded through re-election by Alan Wilding, as the only one of us not needing to undergo the process.

With the formalities complete, the floor was handed to our guest speakers, Cllr Lezley Picton, leader of Shropshire Council and Bernie Jones of SNCT. Among other things, Lezley explained the interesting cross-border and crossparty local government initiative known as the Marches Forward Partnership, promoted by Shropshire Council and inspired by the Montgomery Canal, no less. You can read a résumé of that presentation on page 26.

Michael Haig

Branch Chairman

Bernie Jones, Chairman

Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust

Region Chairman Writes

At the most recent Trustees’ meeting, the central topic of discussion centred around staffing and Head Office management. Some of the salary packages are simply no longer affordable. I do understand the need for staff retrenchment - indeed I have been at the forefront of questioning our Head Office operation and staffing levels. Costs are a continuing and rising concern.

The Chairman, Mike Wills, will be communicating to all Regional and Branch chairmen with an explanation. Trustees have determined that we try to re-appoint a Volunteer Manager, possibly using the services of a retired Member who can do the job online.

There is no criticism of the Interim Management Team, who are all volunteers trying to run the whole IWA at a difficult time. We have no Chief Executive at present and are unlikely to have one in the foreseeable future, so they are doing their best. But their terms of reference need clarifying.

We had the CRT North West Region Director, Jon Horsfall, at our recent Regional meeting - and did he get an earful about current problems and operations! He was very receptive and apologetic but, of course, is just as constrained by financial restrictions as are we. There are also the severe weather and staff shortages to add to the mix. CRT is doing its best, with limited resources, and the cri-de-coeur adds weight to both the campaigns of CRT and IWA for more financial support for our waterways,

I attended the CRT’s NW Regional Advisory Board recently, at which most of the above was raised further. However, one key point focussed on the real need to get across to the general public the potential damage to leisure, the environment and our heritage of the failure to fund our waterways.

Remember to lobby your councillors and putative MPs between now and the General Election.

Sir Robert Atkins - Chairman, North West Region

Shrewsbury’s Canal Heritage Exhibition

The Flaxmill Maltings, 23 March - 19 April 2024

A one month long proposed public exhibition of canals sounded exciting. It was not something we’d come across in our many years of involvement in the canal world and certainly not in Shrewsbury which lost its connection to the network in the 1944 abandonment. Previously we’d only put on a day at Abbey Station or, pre-Covid, a weekend stand at the old River Festival.

So, a month was ambitious but the proposed venue at the recently restored Flaxmill Maltings seemed likely to offer potentially good footfall. That’s why, back in November 2023, we joined a small organising committee within the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust (SNCT) which had been invited to use the Flaxmill’s former Dye House to show the public something of the town’s canal heritage.

A story dating from 1797, when canal tub boats started transporting coal from east Shropshire to the town, co-inciding with the opening of the Flaxmill itself. And Shrewsbury was firmly put on the canal map 38 years later, when that originally isolated waterway joined the national network via the Newport Branch which linked with the Shropshire Union at Norbury Junction. A familiar story to canal users and restorers but a fascinating historical insight for those yet to discover the inland waterways world.

Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust’s huge gallery of restoration photos

The Dye House venue is a vast space, roughly the size of two village halls, but it awaits full restoration. There is no heating and March days are very cold! There were, though, large white panels forming an enormous free-standing photographic gallery and a very long black wall to hang banners. On balance, a much better starting point than pitching a gazebo outdoors in The Quarry alongside the river.

The generous space available meant that SNCT was able to invite other groups, including our IWA Branch, to exhibit alongside the central theme. There was a good take-up by local groups including the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, the Shropshire Union Canal Society, the Hive Hidden Waterways project, the Saturn project, the Lyneal Trust and the Wildlife Trust. A comprehensive picture of local waterways.

Initially, the exhibition had been intended to be ‘un-staffed’ except at weekends. When stewards were available they could enhance visitors’ experiences and try to recruit new members. However, any un-supervised days presented possible security and safety problems and SNCT were fortunate that their events director, Phil Tarrant, agreed to attend every day. This was of tremendous value particularly in the children’s area where an on-screen, boat steering simulator and our IWA physical bridge building kit were popular attractions. (We’re very pleased that Phil has since accepted an invitation to be co-opted to our IWA Branch Committee).

The Flaxmill Maltings staff arranged a special preview evening for invited guests including the Shrewsbury MP, the town’s Mayor and the leader of Shropshire Council and canal pastors Stephanie and Malcolm Grey-Smart. We were able to lobby MP Daniel Kawczynski about future funding shortfalls and Fund Britain’s Waterways activities. Musical entertainment was provided by the Shropshire Boatmen and Mice in a Matchbox.

There was a steady flow of visitors totalling over 2000 and we had some interesting conversations with the public and even some of our members we’d not met previously including Andrew and Linda Mills, recently moved to the town, who came back and helped steward some sessions. Thanks to them and to our other volunteers, Mike and Val Haig, Philippa Bursey, Dawn & David Aylwin and Fiona Pearson for their help with spreading waterways awareness in Shrewsbury. There’s a short video online at: https://youtu.be/qKw-Rf5nzGQ

Alan and Susan Wilding Volunteers

Andrew and Linda Mills

George Watson Buck trip boat

The popular trip boat George Watson Buck based at the Wharf Visitor Centre in the Limeworks Heritage Area in Llanymynech on the Montgomery Canal is due to restart trips following a successful overhaul of the boat.

George Watson Buck was lifted out of the water for a complete survey and repaint partly funded by IWA Shrewsbury District and North Wales Branch, Shropshire Union Canal Society and Friends of the Montgomery Canal.

However the real heroes of the day were Lee Hitch and his team at FixAuto Oswestry who not only provided space for the work to be done but carried out some welding repairs free of charge.

The visitor centre is open every Sunday – and Bank Holiday Mondays – from the Spring to the end of September. Opening hours are 1.30 – 4.30pm. No booking is required for the boat trips and the visitor centre has light refreshments available and a picnic area.

‘Common Ground’ by Mikron Theatre

Sunday 1st September

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Common Ground – Coton Mill

Coton Mill, Gnosall, ST20 0BN, Opposite the Navigation Inn.

No reserved seating or tickets required, a ‘pay what you feel’ collection will be taken after the show.

Rambling and our rights of way. Join Mikron on a ‘hill-arious’ ramble through the history of land access in England. From ze Norman Conquest to loitering in lockdown via The Mass Trespass at Kinder Scout.

The Pendale and District Ramblers are looking forward to celebrating ‘in stile’ on their 50th anniversary walk, but the path has been blocked by the landowner. How will they find their way through? Their quest for freedom and fresh air won’t be easy, as they navigate bulls, beavers, and wandering sheep.

Grab your boots and waterproof for a meander with Mikron on a hike through history.

Our 2025 IWA Branch Calendars Have Landed!

They are now on sale at events we attend and at various canalside outlets in our area. From mid-August we can supply by mail order and - new this year - you can buy them from our online store at

www.iwa-shrewsburynorthwales.sumupstore.com

Our next events are the Gnosall C-Fest on 20-21 July, our lock wind at Cholmondeston Lock on 2-3 August and the Whitchurch Canal Festival on 31 August - 1 September. Do come and visit our stand at any (or all) of these events and support the branch. We look forward to seeing you.

From mid-August you can also get your 2025 calendars direct from the branch online or by mail order. Sadly, because postal costs have increased, we have had to adjust our costs for post & packing this year.

So, while we’re holding our price at just £8 per calendar, shipping costs for online and mail order sales will be on a sliding scale per shipment:

ü 1 calendar - £3

ü 2 calendars - £4

ü 3 calendars - £6

ü 4 calendars - £7

ü 5-8 calendars - £9

If you prefer mail order to online, we have easy ways you can pay...

Bank transfer or Cheque - Email your order details to michael.haig@waterways.org.uk and we will reply with the branch bank details. Alternatively, send your cheque made payable to The Inland Waterways Association to SDNW Calendars, 7 Barnton Edge, Stone ST15 8ZR.

Credit/debit card - pay securely via SumUp. Email your order details to michael.haig@waterways.org.uk. We will reply with a payment link, unique to you. After opening the link to the SumUp payment site, you simply need to enter your card details and click "Pay" to complete the payment.

PayPal - If you have a PayPal account you can pay direct to our branch chair on 07801 415573. In all cases, please remember to include the postal address for despatch of the calendars. We will send them by 2nd class post on receipt of payment.

You’ll also find our calendars at the following outlets:

ABC Whitchurch, ABC Wrenbury Mill, Aqueduct Marina, Audlem Mill, Norbury Wharf, OverWater Marina, Venetian Marina Chandlery

And from October at the pop-up charity card shops at St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury, and at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

With thanks to our generous calendar sponsors:

Aqueduct Marina

Cheshire Cat Narrowboats

Kings Lock Chandlery

Knights Narrowboats

M&L Canal Services

Moors Farm B&B

Morris Lubricants

OverWater Marina

Shelby Narrowboat Co

Swanley Bridge Marina

Talbot Wharf

Venetian Marina

Montgomery Canal Triathlon

18th May 2024

The twelfth Montgomery Canal Triathlon brought to the warm and sunny Montgomery Canal 175 entrants from across Britain, from Wales and Shropshire as well as Derbyshire, Essex, Lancashire, Somerset, Yorkshire .. and even France and Holland. They had come to cycle, canoe and hike the 27 miles from Newtown to Crickheath, near Oswestry; most entrants attempted all three sections.

The event is organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal in aid of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal and is supported by the canal owners, the Canal & River Trust.

After an initial briefing to advise entrants of the arrangements at locks and highway crossings and to instruct them how to pass nesting swans, Cllr Mike Childs, Deputy Mayor of Newtown, wished entrants Good Luck in taking part in this unique event in a lovely part of the world.

Having started on bicycles, this year

A very full Welshpool Lock

Cyclists at Belan

Whitehouse Bridge, Welshpool, thanks to the generous permission of Powis Estates.

After paddling through the centre of Welshpool they left their canoes at Pool Quay ready for the final 9½ mile walk across the border at Llanymynech to the finish at Schoolhouse Bridge, the newest structure on the canal.

Christine Palin, Chairman of the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, said, “So many people come back to the Montgomery Canal

Walkers approaching Williams Bridge

Triathlon year after year because it is such a friendly event. It is an endurance event rather than a race and many people take much of the day to complete it, some over eight hours. Others however want to better their previous times and arrive at the finish just over three hours from the start.

“The Triathlon raises funds for the restoration and it is a great advertisement for the area too.

“It takes many months for our volunteer team to set up the Triathlon and we call on a hundred supporters to help at the event and they enjoy it as much as those taking part. We are always glad of more help, though we cannot guarantee that it will always be as warm and sunny as today! Anyone who would like to support the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and the Triathlon can contact us through our website www.TheMontgomeryCanal.org.uk.”

Michael Limbrey, Chairman of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, said, “It has been great to see so many people enjoying the canal again this year. The restored Montgomery Canal is a unique cross-border linear attraction for wildlife, history, and recreation and well-being. It will be a great boost for the area helping make it attractive for people to live and work, as well as visit.

“Restoration concentrates on the canal’s ecology and history. At the same time bridge improvements will make road crossings safer for walkers and cyclists and coming months will see more works under the UK government Levelling-Up Fund. Two blocked bridges near Carreghofa will be rebuilt and new nature reserves will be created to enhance the canal’s ecology. In Shropshire the new Schoolhouse Bridge, the finish for this year’s triathlon, has been a project led by canal volunteers to remove the final highway obstruction in Shropshire and volunteers are now working to restore the channel to the bridge assisted by our Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal which is always glad to receive donations at https://localgiving.org/appeal/restorethemontgomerycanal/ .

“So many places along the revived Montgomery Canal are worth a visit. It has been fun to show them to this year’s triathlon entrants and we hope they will come back to join us again next year.”

The organisers are grateful to Montgomery Waters, Morrisons and Tesco who donated refreshments, to the volunteers of the Welshpool Towpath Taskforce, TRAMPS, who did so much to prepare for the event, and to Hire a Canoe of Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, who helped the event for the first time by providing canoes for many of the entrants.

Michael Limbrey

2024 Branch Volunteers Activity Programme

For the remainder of this year, we’re going to be at:

ü Gnosall C’Fest in the Navigation Inn garden 20-21 July

ü Lock wind at Cholmondeston Lock, Nr Nantwich 2-3 August

ü Whitchurch Canal Festival 31 August - 1 September

ü Shrewsbury Charity Christmas Card Shop 26 October - 7 December

We’ve got lots of opportunities available for members and friends to get involved with our local waterways and give the branch a helping hand.

It doesn’t matter if you can only spare an hour or two, or half a day; come and join in, meet new people and make a difference. You won’t be asked or expected to do any activities on your own unless you’re happy and ready – guidance and support will always be there.

Here are some of the things you could do:

ü Help on our branch sales stand at Gnosall, Cholmondeston or Whitchurch.

ü Work passing boats through the lock at Cholmondeston and help collect donations.

ü If you have an RYA Inland Waters certificate, take a turn at steering the visitor trip boat at Whitchurch (a day boat lent by ABC Boat Hire). Alternatively, try a shift or two as a steward, helping the public on and off the boat and fitting children’s lifejackets.

ü Put in some time helping volunteers from IWA and other participating charities at the pop-up seasonal card shop in Shrewsbury.

ü If you’d prefer to contribute from home, could you help provide homemade produce for us to sell on our stands, especially at the lock wind? Cakes, biscuits, preserves, chutneys, fresh fruit or vegetables from the garden – all go down well with visitors and passing boats and help to raise money for our charity.

For a rather more niche spot of volunteering, we’re looking for a helper who could collect an IWA branded gazebo from storage in Stoke-on-Trent and bring it to Cholmondeston Lock for set up about 3.30-4.00pm on Thursday, Aug 1st, collect it at the end of the lock wind and return it to the storage facility when it reopens on Monday 5th. The gazebo kit consists of two large bags, and the one containing the frame is 1.6m long. So, while one doesn’t need a van or a pickup, a reasonable amount of space in the back of a car with the rear seat down would be advisable.

If you’d like to get involved in any of these opportunities, or perhaps any of our Work From Home activities , please contact our events coordinator Phil Tarrant or branch secretary Philippa Bursey as soon as possible. Their contact details, along with those for the rest of the branch team, are on page 1.

Working From Home – We Got There First!

We’re quite proud of the fact that we were ‘early adopters’ of video meetings when we took our branch team or ‘business’ meetings online in October 2018, before Zoom or Teams became part of everyday vocabulary. The fact that, during the pandemic, Zoom became a generic verb like Hoover or Google suggests we were ahead of the game.

There were good reasons for doing so, of course. Historically, branch meetings took place in the vicinity of Whitchurch or Ellesmere as a reasonably central location within the branch geography. But considering that that geography has its four ‘corners’ at, roughly, Telford, Middlewich, Anglesey and Aberystwyth, even being central wasn’t always helpful.

Team members were obliged to drive often considerable distances, on dark evenings from autumn until spring, and frankly, for those who were so affected, it wasn’t much fun!

But with affordable video conferencing technology starting to come of age, we felt comfortable in making the shift and opening up team meetings to volunteers living, well, almost anywhere.

And we’ve never looked back, getting our physical interactions through the events outlined elsewhere in this newsletter and from other occasions throughout the calendar.

All of which is a roundabout and rather rambling introduction to our latest plea for more help, sweetened with the assurance that it needn’t be onerous, particularly as we meet only in alternate months.

You already know about our vacancy for a newsletter editor, and you may remember seeing requests in Shroppie Fly Paper for a person to help us rebuild a programme of social events.

Those positions are still very much open, and in addition, as I announced at our AGM, we will soon need replacements for our treasurer and membership secretary.

The incumbents are still in place although they are expected to leave us before long, so now would be an ideal time to come on board and shadow the roles.

While our present treasurer, Alan Platt, is an accountant by training, many IWA branch treasurers are not and Alan assures me that basic numeracy is the key attribute – all the rest can be learned quickly and easily.

The membership secretary needs organisational and computer skills and, obviously, to enjoy interacting with our membership.

Simple! Over to you – just drop me an email or give me a call and we can chat it through. If you’d prefer to explore the options with any other member of the team, you will be most welcome.

Michael Haig

Restoring the Montgomery Canal – Making Further Progress

Last year we had the very good news about the re-opening of the Canal to Crickheath Basin, meaning that as much as 8 of the 10 miles of the Canal in Shropshire have now been restored.

This year we have had the very good news that Schoolhouse Bridge has been rebuilt – the last of the three demolished road bridges in Shropshire to be dealt with. Formal celebrations on June 28.

Also this year we have had the very good news that not all the remaining two miles of dried out Canal in Shropshire will need lining and blocking to make it water proof – as was the case with the section leading up to Crickheath Basin. This means progress will be quicker and cheaper.

The Shropshire Union Canal Society-led volunteers are making good progress along the half mile from Crickheath to Schoolhouse Bridge, helped by various grants including one (via Shropshire Council) from the UK Government’s Rural Prosperity Fund of £177,000. This formed part of a £250,000 project with the balance equally coming from the Restore the Montgomery Canal! Public Appeal and from the Shropshire Union Canal Society. So anyone who donated to the RTM Appeal has seen their donation enable restoration works worth six times the sum they donated…...not bad, eh?

Re-profiling the canal bed

And, bearing in mind the need to look forward, detailed investigations are already starting about restoring the Canal to the next winding hole….at Waen Wen, on the outskirts of Pant. Last year, the RTM group (of which the Branch is a member) launched a £250,000 Public Appeal. This has now reached £130,000 – a commendable achievement. But the second 50% will be harder to achieve so we ask all Members to consider if they can donate to the Appeal. Either on line at www.localgiving.org/charity/restorethemontgomerycanal, or by sending a cheque to Restore the Montgomery Canal!, Tixall Lodge, Tixall, Staffs ST18 0XS

And, if you can, please tick the Gift Aid box so we can recover income tax and so add 25% to the value of your donation.

Please remember that if we don’t raise the money, the volunteers won’t have the materials and equipment hire they need and would have to stop.

With the last edition of “Shroppie Fly Paper”, Members were sent a book of Grand Draw tickets. For those Members interesting in gaining something monetary in return, there are opportunities to win a substantial cash prize.

ü First prize £250

ü Second prize £100

ü Third prize £50

Members are encouraged to buy tickets on line at themontgomerycanal.org.uk/donate/raffle-2024

where purchases can be made at £10 a time

Or if you need more tickets, or wish to buy via the post, then please write to the same Tixall address above.

We were very pleased with two recent purchases – one of £50 and another of £20…both from people outside the local area, demonstrating the nationwide support for the Canal.

The Grand Draw will take place on 1 November 2024 (counterfoils to be returned by 18 October) at the Shropshire Union Canal Society work party at Crickheath. Rumour has it that the counterfoil tickets will be put in a concrete mixer drum, with a dignitary pulling out the winners!

So…What else has been happening?

We mustn’t forget the progress being made over the border in Powys, funded largely by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

After Dredging

During last winter, further major dredging works took place in the Four Crosses area. This was the second of three phases. The last one is due

to take place next winter which will mean the 4.4 miles from Maerdy to Llanymynech will have been dredged.

Design and planning works for the two new minor road bridges south of Llanymynech have been proceeding….one at Williams Bridge (near the Vyrnwy Aqueduct) and a new Carreghofa Lane bridge (replacing the earth causeway next to Walls Bridge). With a bit of luck, planning applications will be approved later in 2024 and contractors can start on the ground. Much the same applies to the proposed Wern nature reserve.

The Annual Triathlon organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, took place on May 18th (see page 13). Final reckoning is yet to come (at the time of writing) but previously £5,000 a year has been raised for the restoration funds. Over the years, the Friends have raised some £30,000 in this way. Well done, the Friends

On April 22 there was the Annual Forum, this year held in Welshpool and attended by some 80 people, including three Powys County Councillors and one from Shropshire Council. Those present heard addresses from John Dodwell (Chair, Montgomery Canal Partnership) with a general round up; Louise Nicholson (Powys County Council) about the Levelling Up Fund project; CRT’s Tom King (ecological matters); Russ Honeyman (from Monty’s Brewery – who are supporting the restoration by donating part of the proceeds from each pint they sell of their Navigation Pale Ale); and from Ryta Ward (about the Huelwen Trust who operate the charity trip boats in Welshpool).

There is also news about another sponsorship. This time it is the Oswestry based Henstone Brewery offering a 10% donation from sales of their 5 gins, 3 rums and no less than 11 whiskies.

This report concludes with hopes of a substantial National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to restore the Grade II* listed Vyrnwy Aqueduct and news that the application to the Mid-Wales Growth Deal has passed its first stage. The latter application is aimed at helping to fund the works needed to overcome the A483 obstacles at Maerdy and Arddleen.

John Dodwell - Chair, Montgomery Canal Partnership

Crickheath South lined and blocked

Y Lanfa: Powysland Museum

Work to expand Y Lanfa: Powysland Museum and Welshpool Library, started in May after a contract was awarded by Powys County Council to SWG Group.

Additional floor space will be added under the canopy area, to create a new foyer and a flexible community and display space above it, a remodelling of the museum's galleries and the installation of a new public toilet, lift, solar panels and air handling units. The work complements and extends the refurbishment work undertaken when the library moved into the building in 2020.

Y Lanfa: Powysland Museum

The wharf area will also be resurfaced to reduce the risk of flooding and to make it more accessible, and a new landscaped area for public use is to be added. The Grade II listed canal side cottages are to be refurbished for commercial use.

The improvements are costing around £1 million and are part of the £14 million Montgomery Canal Restoration project for which the council was successful in securing UK Government Levelling Up funding.

The council is working in partnership with Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal and River Trust in Wales) on the waterway restoration elements, with the intention of creating a better environment for both people and nature:

ü Dredging and bank works to a 4.4-mile section between Llanymynech and Arddleen.

ü The rebuilding of Walls and Williams Bridges near Llanymynech to allow boats to pass through them.

ü The creation of new water-based nature reserves alongside the canal.

ü Repairs and improvements to Aberbechan Aqueduct near Newtown.

The designs for Y Lanfa were created by Hughes Architects and the build is being managed by the council's Property Design Services.

The work on Levelling Up funded projects in Powys is being supported by the council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team.

After the Deluge – Norbury Bounces Back

What a difference a year makes.

After the deluge of 2023, which caused so many problems locally and which had the potential to see future festivals at Norbury Junction cancelled altogether, we and other friends of the festival were delighted that Norbury Wharf Ltd took up the challenge of organising the 2024 event.

The Wharf team deliberately downsized arrangements this year, to the extent that, whereas in previous years the garden of the Junction Inn would have been full of trading stalls, entertainers and even a bouncy castle for the children, this time the only shore-based stands were ourselves, SNCT, the local Wildlife Trust and a small CRT fundraising tent.

With catering outlets also absent this year, apart, of course, for the Norbury Wharf café and the pub, visitors were fewer than in previous years, but to reduce them to more manageable numbers was really the point.

Those that did visit the show, and there were still many, enjoyed the colourful sight of a fine array of trading and historic boats ranged along the towpath both sides of the junction. SNCT’s bric-a-brac stall did brisk business, working from their butty Berkhampstead, and the Saturn Flyboat introduced plenty of visitors to the living conditions of the working boat people.

SATURN at Norbury Festival

The rain was one visitor that we were all pleased stayed away, despite dubious weather forecasts and a very wet lead-up to the festival through April. We even enjoyed some sunshine.

As well as selling our calendars, Christmas cards and other bits and bobs, the main focus of the weekend on the IWA stand was to spread the campaign messages about Fund Britain's Waterways.

Dozens of leaflets were handed out, with the request that people consider signing the online petition for Government to change its decision to cut funding.

The IWA Branch stand at Norbury Festival

Awareness of the issue was high among boaters, and many people also took window stickers to help spread the message. One visiting Scout leader, whose group regularly take on the Four Counties Ring, pledged to get all his pack to sign. We were delighted that Sue O’Hare, chair of IWA’s navigation committee and leader of IWA’s campaigns team, was able to spend time on our stand and support our efforts. It was also a pleasure to meet Anne Husar, chair of the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), another of the founding members of Fund Britain’s Waterways, who dropped in to visit us during the weekend.

And, of course, as always at such events, it was great to meet friends old and new to exchange news and views. With the traders reporting good results too, overall, it was a successful and enjoyable weekend that hopefully provides a workable template for future festivals at Norbury for a good few years to come.

Alison Smith & Michael Haig

From the Archive

The lock cottage at Lock 8 of the Audlem flight (Canal & River Trust Archive at Ellesmere Port)

The lock cottage which stood by Lock 8 of the Audlem flight, photographed in about 1908. Its style is similar to those Telford designed for the road between Shrewsbury and Holyhead a decade earlier than the building of the canal.

It was near here that 56-year-old Mary Rush died in January 1910. She had opened the gates of Lock 6 and had started the horse to draw the boat Harold out of the lock. She slipped when getting back on board and fell into the water. Her husband William was returning from preparing Lock 7 when he saw her fall but was unable to get her out until their son arrived to help. Mary was got into the cabin, wrapped in a rug and given some brandy, but she died shortly afterwards.

Peter Brown

Fund Britain,s Waterways Campaign

On Wednesday 8 May 2024 the second Campaign Cruise past the Palace of Westminster on the tidal Thames took place. A 20-strong flotilla delivered an unmistakable message to Government for funding to protect the future of our inland waterways. The boats came out of Limehouse at different times with a number setting off very early and passing through the Thames Barrier to mark the 40th anniversary of its opening by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984. After passing back through the barrier once it reopened after a scheduled test closure they met up with the other participating boats departing Limehouse.

The flotilla included a mix of commercial freight vessels, several sea kayaks and 17 privately owned narrowboats, some of which had travelled over 350 miles battling against the severe weather and failing canal infrastructure, determined to reach Westminster. United together, they sounded their horns to cheers from supporters on Westminster Bridge, capturing the attention of many MPs who had just attended Prime Minister’s questions.The boats made a very impressive sight and were given permission to hold station on the Thames within the exclusion zone outside the Palace of Westminster.

Welcoming the flotilla were crowds of inland waterway supporters and representatives from the campaign’s alliance of organisations, including Dame Sheila Hancock DBE and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the

The Flotilla approaching Parliament Photo Kev Maslin

Waterways Sir Michael Fabricant MP, together with other dignitaries and FBW supporters onboard the MV Valulla. Speeches were made by Dame Sheila, Sir Michael, Chair of the Twentieth Century Society Hugh Pearman MBE and CEO of GPS Marine Holdings John Spencer.

FBW Plans going forward

With a general election due on 4th July, FBW whilst continuing to promote our message at waterways events will be changing focus in the second half of the year. We will be looking to get our message about the importance of the inland waterways and the benefits they provide to local and national politicians including both current and aspiring members of Parliament. More details will follow in due course, when our plans are fully formed, but if you have expertise in this area please do let us know as we would be delighted to have your input.

FBW Volunteer Roles

Thank you to all those who have volunteered to help the campaign. Further volunteers would be of great assistance to the group who have run the campaign for the last 12 months, as we still need more resources to keep pushing forward. Please have a look at the areas where we particularly need more support and get in touch if you can help: waterways.org.uk/waterways/sites/fund-britains-waterways-overview/

FBW Membership

FBW now has over 130 member organisations, which is excellent but we need even more, particularly those who have non boating interests in the waterways. Please do encourage any organisation with an interest in the inland waterways to join FBW and let us have suggestions for those we should invite by emailing membership@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk

Cross-border co-operation helps Marches Forward

At our AGM in April, Shropshire Council leader, Cllr Lezley Picton, gave members and guests a fascinating glimpse into the Marches Forward Partnership, a cooperation between English and Welsh neighbouring councils based on shared interests and common issues that cross national boundaries. We thought that readers who were not able to be present might be interested in a synopsis.

An article titled “Waterways at Risk”, penned by our very own IWA region chairman, Sir Robert Atkins, for the Local Government Association’s magazine First, contained the insight that almost 80 percent of local authorities in England and Wales have a navigable waterway or a waterway under restoration within their boundaries.

In the case of Shropshire and Powys, they have both, sharing the twin blue/green corridors of the Montgomery Canal and the River Severn Basin. They also share other significant uniting assets such as Offa’s Dyke and the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), as well as transport routes such as the M54/A5, A49 and the Heart of Wales and Cambrian rail lines.

Councillor Lezley Picton

But according to Cllr Picton, it was the Montgomery Canal, and in particular the progress of the restoration in both counties, that inspired the suggestion from Shropshire Council that they could usefully explore the potential for co-operation across a number of interests and issues that linked the two neighbours.

From these seeds, the Marches Forward Partnership was born, and has now expanded further to include not only Shropshire Council and Powys County Council, but also Herefordshire and Monmouthshire councils to encompass contiguous local authority areas straddling 80 percent of the English/Welsh border.

The four councils have joined forces to apply for funding from government – both in Westminster and Cardiff, as appropriate – and to unlock investment in major projects that benefit the Marches region.

While the four are retaining their own local authority identities and independence, and will continue to deliver services to residents and businesses as they do now,

they have agreed to work together where there is mutual benefit, with the aim of increasing overall investment into the Marches, unlocking millions of pounds for agreed initiatives.

The councils say that a number of issues ‘bind them with common purpose’, such as rurality (a low population density meaning slower and more expensive access to services); an ageing population (increasing the demand on adult social care and squeezing the available labour force); low levels of productivity and employment growth; and costly and challenging connectivity (fewer than 40% of premises in Shropshire, Monmouthshire and Powys can access Gigabit infrastructure).

Countering that, the Partnership believes that the Marches region provides a compelling offering, which it articulates in this graphic:

An ambitious proposition, for sure, for a Partnership spanning two countries and different political parties.

Let’s hope that, among all the various and important initiatives and projects, the closing of the Montgomery’s ‘Shropshire Gap” and connection to a navigable waterway in Wales, at least between Llanymynech and Berriew, remains front and centre of thoughts in Shropshire and Powys.

Michael Haig

Horse Boating Returns to Audlem Locks

Saturn is due to be horse drawn to Audlem Festival of Transport in July, and we felt some practice at locks was needed before then. It was decided that we could horse boat down Audlem locks en route to Ellesmere and Trevor (where Saturn was on static display). Meeting at the Shroppie Fly, we walked Flower up to Cox Bank, by lock 3.

So, what were we trying to do? Well, pull Saturn down the locks efficiently, use Flower as the power, start at each lock using the pulley block, and have the offside gate open automatically, not forgetting stopping the boat, and taking due regard to the safety of horse, crew, and other canal users.

Our primary aim was to develop crew skills, boating with Saturn how it was intended, to keep those skills alive as a major part of the Saturn Fly boat portfolio.

Now, what can go wrong…well plenty! Having only horse boated down Aston locks our experience was limited. Ropes too long or short, crew knowing their responsibilities, job description, horse management, towpath safety…a lot to oversee and think about.

Before starting, we all had a meeting to clarify how and when! Time to go then,

Roger Fuller "strapping" the lock gate shut. This action, using the rope and strapping post serves to slow the boat down and close the gate at the same time.

Sarah and Elizabeth praise Flower after her stunning performance towing Saturn. Nine year old Elizabeth is Flower's owner.

Photos by Bob Jervis

place, Flower and David in place below the bridge. The towing path bottom gate is opened, and on a signal from the steerer, David and Sarah led Flower forwards, easily, as the towline passes through the mast pulley, the offside gate flew open, then the holding back line is released and let go.

Saturn speedily exits the lock, aiming for the open top gate ahead on the next lock. We took it easy, but timed it at 5 minutes per lock. After a few locks, fine tuning was in order, adjusting speed, stopping Saturn, strapping in, timing of drawing paddles. It all went very well, we all knew our jobs.

In July, we plan to horse boat with Saturn and Flower down Audlem locks to the Shroppie Fly on the Saturday morning of the transport festival.

If you are coming to watch, please KEEP CLEAR of the towline at all times, thank you.

If you have not seen horse boating down locks before, it’s just amazing. It will take you back to the early 20th century, where sounds were not cars and planes, they were horse’s feet, paddle gear rattling, gates thudding, and the command of “whoa” or “walk on”.

Roger Fuller

A warm welcome to new members Nigel and Jacquie Galton from Bridgnorth We

look forward meeting you at waterways events.

Planning a Cruise?

Frankton Locks

Opening Times: 09:00 - 13:00 daily.

Booking is required for passage through the locks and must be made no later than 48 hours before passage. Bookings are not accepted on the day.

A maximum of 12 boats are permitted in each direction through the locks in any one day and booking well in advance is recommended to avoid disappointment. There is a minimum of 1 night and a maximum of 14 nights stay.

Harecastle Tunnel

Summer Opening times from 1st March 2024 to 31st October 2024:

Open passages are available from 8am to 12noon, Monday to Sunday.

Un-booked (Open) passages must arrive at the tunnel portal between 8am and 12 noon. There is no guarantee of passage for arrivals after 12 noon unless prebooked. Passage is only permitted with a working horn and tunnel light.

ü North to South (Kidsgrove to Tunstall) – 09:00 & 11:00

ü South to North (Tunstall to Kidsgrove) – 10:00 & 12:00

To book call CRT on 0303 0404040 48 hours prior to passage.

Anderton Boat Lift

Opening Times for 2024

ü Monday - Wednesday 09:00 - 16:30

ü Thursday Closed

ü Friday - Sunday 09:00 - 16:30

However, due to ongoing maintenance work (see page 28) there may be unscheduled closures so it is important to check by calling CRT on 0303 0404040.

All bookings must be made in advance and cannot be made onsite.

Bookings can be made online or next available slot on the day is free of charge, However this passage is subject to availability, otherwise, charges for passage do apply. You will be charged the full amount should you fail to turn up for your booked passage.

It is important that all boats travelling through the Lift have the correct license, a valid Boat Safety Certificate and insurance. Please make sure your details are up to date prior to booking as these will be checked during the booking sequence. Please ensure that you arrive at the holding area 30 minutes before the scheduled passage for visual boat check and safety briefing.

Gnosall

19

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21 July 2024

Come to our 3 day community festival

along Gnosall’s beautiful canal

Take a boat trip from the festival garden

Visit the floating market

Enjoy our local pubs live music and refreshments

Learn about local canals and their history

View historic working boats

For more details and boat booking form contact:cfest.gnosall@gmail.com

Whitchurch Canal Festival

Whitchurch Canal Festival at the Whitchurch Arm of the Llangollen Canal on 31st August – 1st September 2024, between 10.00 and 16.00

This year the festival site will start at Chemistry Bridge and will include the towpath and parts of Chemistry Farm.

Stalls - Music - Licensed Bar - Food - Trading Boats - Boat Trips

If you will be visiting the Festival, please walk to the site if you can, as parking is limited. If you have to come by car, please respect our neighbours by parking considerately. The nearest postcode is SY13 1BZ.

Moorings and Stall spaces will be reserved so please contact us at canalfestival@whitchurchwaterway.uk for booking forms.

A Supper will be held at Chemistry Farm from 6.30 pm on Saturday 31st August. The bar will remain open during the evening. You will be able to pay for your food and drinks on the night, but you need to book for the supper so that catering requirements can be assessed.