Southside News - September 2010

Southside News September 2010

The Newsletter of the South London Branch of the IWA Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways

Welcome to the September Edition of Southside News What a wonderful summer it has been for enjoying our beautiful waterways! Alan and I took nb Inglewood around the Leicester Ring for two weeks in June and explored the Market Harborough and Welford Arms, sharing the steering and lockwork (168 miles and 100 locks) with our Stoke friends in the first week and our Cornish friends in the second. The scenery was glorious in the sunshine and the cygnets, goslings and moorhen chicks were enjoying their first swims in the warmer water. Inglewood just about managed the trip before her engine collapsed in an irreparable heap and had to be replaced - no one was as relieved as I was that she had survived the seemingly endless tunnels without stopping!

We never manage to stay away from the waterways for very long and, at the end of July, we visited the Grand Western Canal in Devon and enjoyed the 2 ½ hour cruise aboard the trip boat Tivertonian, hauled by Dandy, the Clydesdale shire horse. I can thoroughly recommend this motor free mode of travel - especially the two minutes’ silence imposed on the passengers - to get a real feel for the silence and beauty of the waterway and a taste of what it may have been like before engines took over. If you’d like to experience this kind of trip for yourself you don’t have to travel as far as Devon - join us aboard the Godalming Packet Boat on Sunday 19th September - there are still seats (and cream teas..) available, so give Alan Smith or Alan Eggby a ring to book your place - all our contact details are on page 23.

I hope you too have had an opportunity to explore waterways at home or abroad this year and, as the evenings get shorter, you will enjoy reading this edition of Southside News to share some of the amazing experiences of our writers: Roger Squires went Thames Barge Racing at Maldon to celebrate a special birthday [page 10] and did the transit of the Suez Canal [page 21] - this article will indubitably whet your appetite for his presentation in February - so start thinking up all the questions you’ve always wanted answers to! Libby Bradshaw was invited to the unveiling of the Dunkirk Memorial at Teddington by HRH Duke of Kent [page 16]; while Lesley Pryde describes the branch cruise aboard PS Kingswear Castle [page 14]. Some of you may also recognise yourselves or your friends in the photos of the opening of the City Mills Lock at the end of July [page 18].

If you’ve had a memorable trip or experience why not share it with other members? We always welcome articles, comments or observations - so don’t hold back, get in touch. Or come and tell us about them at our Social Meetings, it would be great to see you and chat over a cuppa - or you could come and give us a presentation - our Social Calendar is on page 6 and Alan’s booking 2011 now. And, of course, if you’d like to help us with the running of the branch stand, even if you can only spare an hour or two, we would welcome you with open arms - it’s great fun - just give Alan Eggby a ring.

Don’t forget our Christmas Dinner on Friday 10th December - it’ll be here before you know it.

Looking forward to seeing you - soon!

Christine Smith Publicity Officer & Newsletter Editor The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the South London Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter within this magazine, including adverts.

Cover photo: Thames Barge Racing by Roger Squires - see more pictures and his article on Page 10

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Contents

Page

Welcome from the Editor 2 A Message from the Branch Chairman 4 Social Calendar 2010 - 2011 6 Forthcoming Branch Activities 7 Social Meetings Report 9 Thames Barge Racing - Roger Squires 10 Welcome to New South London Members 13 Branch Cruise - Lesley Pryde 14 Unveiling the Dunkirk Memorial - Libby Bradshaw 16 Opening of City Mills Lock 18 Suez Transit - Roger Squires 21 Who’s Who - contact details 23 How to find our social meetings - Croydon map Back cover

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A Message from the Branch Chairman Since the last edition of Southside News the branch stand has attended five events so far this year, these being Rickmansworth Canal Festival, Eltham May Fayre, Erith Riverside Festival, Kingston River Festival and Lambeth Country Show. A big thank you to all who have helped at these events. It would be nice to see a few new faces helping the branch at events.

The final events for this year are listed on page 7.

We also enjoyed another cruise on the PS Kingswear Castle in June. This year we went up the River Medway as far as New Hythe and then down river to just past Kingsnorth Power Station. Once again we had fine weather for the cruise, which Lesley Pryde describes in her article on page 14.

Branch meetings recommence the second Wednesday in September and then the first Wednesday in October and November. From January 2011 all branch meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month. The Christmas Dinner this year will be at the Goodman’s Field public house near Tower Gateway station.

Alan Eggby

Gerard, Alan Eggby and Alan Smith with the Waterways Game at the Rickmansworth Festival, May 2010

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South London’s Social Calendar 2010-2011

Unless otherwise indicated South London Branch Social Events take place at 7:30 for 8:00 pm at: The Primary Room The United Reformed Church Hall Addiscombe Grove Croydon CR0 5LP Admission to the talks and presentations is free to all, members or non-members, although we do request a contribution towards room hire and refreshments.

Wednesday 8th September

Presentation about ‘The Grand Canal of China’ by Liam D’Arcy Brown

Sunday 19th September

Cruise aboard the horse-drawn Godalming Packet Boat nb Iona. 2 hour cruise departing Godalming Wharf, GU7 1JL at 2:00 pm. Fares: Adults £7.50, children and seniors £6.50 per person. Cream teas (ordered in advance) £3.00 each.

Bookings with cheque to Alan Smith (address on page 23), Tel: 020 8255 1581 or email: smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk

Wednesday 6th October

Talk ‘Highland Cruising’ by David Bowker of The Norbury & South London Transport Club

Wednesday 3rd November

Presentation: ‘A Tale of Two Paddle Steamers’

by Roddy McKee

Friday 10th December

Christmas Dinner at The Goodman’s Field, 87-91 Mansell Street, Tower Hamlets, London E1 8AN. Estimated cost £10 - £15 per person. Ground floor seating arrangements with disabled access and toilet facilities. Menu details and confirmed prices to follow in November. Please register your interest with Alan Smith, Tel: 020 8255 1581 or email: smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk

Wednesday 12th January 2011 Presentation: ‘Wildlife and Waterways in Central America’ by

Alan and Christine Smith Wednesday 9th February 2011 Presentation: ‘Canal through the Desert’ by Roger Squires Wednesday 9th March 2011

AGM followed by Alan Snowdon’s film about Venice

For more information about South London’s Social Calendar, please contact Alan Smith, telephone 020 8255 1581 or email smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk

With effect from January 2011 our social meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month - January to June and September to November For updates and information on all IWA events and branches please go to: http://www.waterways.org.uk

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ForthcomingBranch Activities The branch stand is booked into a number of events this summer which are listed below. Any offers of help at these events would be most welcome, please let me or any committee members know if you can provide assistance on any of these dates. A new supply of sale stock has been ordered and will be available at branch meetings for the rest of the year. Christmas cards and 2011 calendars will be available from September.

Saturday 28th to Monday 30th August National Waterways Festival, Beale Park,

near Pangbourne from 10:00 a.m. each

day.

Sunday 5th September

Angel Canal Festival, Regents Canal, City Road Lock. 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th September

Thames Festival, Potters Field Park From 11:00 am each day

Saturday 25th September

Great River Race, Riverside, Ham. 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm Alan Eggby

Navigable! A delighted winner of The Waterways Game at Rickmansworth, May 2010

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Know somone who wants to sell a boat?

We will donate ÂŁ100 to the Waterways Recovery Group for every boat we sell, introduced by an IWA supporter.

Four Simple Steps: 1. The boat should be on the Grand Union, in London or on the Lee and Stort 2. You should seek consent from the owner to make the introduction 3. Phone or email Phil with contact details for the owner.

4. When we sell the boat we will donate ÂŁ100 to the IWA on your behalf

Call or email Phil Bassett:

Tel: 07794 005741 Phil@BoatshedGrandUnion.com

www.boatshedgrandunion.com

South London’s Social Meetings Report The last meeting before the summer break, on 2nd June, was a talk by Roger Clay, the Secretary of the Stratford & Warwick Waterways Trust which seeks to extend navigation of the River Avon upstream from Stratford to Warwick, which was actually authorised in 1635 but never implemented. The second aim is to widen public access to the river and its banks. Roger gave us a very comprehensive survey of the river which is already almost completely navigable, needing very little dredging. It does, however, need six locks alongside existing weirs and a short cut to bypass a shallow loop. The connection to the Grand Union Canal near Warwick would be by a flight of four locks or a lift. Although the scheme is is still in its initial stages (the Trust was only formed in 2004), it would be a wonderful addition to the network and we can only wish the Trust success in its dealings with the many landowners and interests involved.

A successful trip on the paddle steamer Kingwear Castle was held on 12th June, which included a rare voyage upriver to New Hythe.

Our social meetings resume on Wednesday 8th September with a talk on the Grand Canal of China. Owing to changed holiday arrangements, I won’t be able to be present but I have heard the talk at another IWA branch and I can thoroughly recommend it.

The speaker, Liam D’Arcy Brown, is an expert on China and you will not only be informed, but entertained.

As you will see from the Social Calendar we have another cruise planned for Sunday 19th September from Godalming on the horse-drawn narrow boat Iona. Please support this event and let me have your booking with cheque.

If anybody has any ideas about branch cruises for next year, any committee member will be only too pleased to hear from you.

I’ll end with the usual plea for as many members (and non-members) as possible to attend our social meetings. We have had an interesting range of speakers so far and I hope I can persuade some more to come to Croydon next year. Again, if anybody knows a speaker who might be a likely candidate or wants to volunteer themself, I shall be happy to hear from them. As an advance notice, our meetings next year will move to the second Wednesday in each month (January-June and SeptemberNovember).

Alan Smith

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Thames Barge Racing There are eight Thames Barge Races each year. In 2010, the programme started on the Medway on 22nd May. I was able to join Reminder for the Blackwater race on 5th June. The next scheduled race was the Passage, from Gravesend to Pin Mill, on 12/13th June. This is followed by the Pin Mill Race on 19th June, with the Thames race on 3rd July. The Swale Race follows on 7th August and the Southend Barge Race on 28th August. The final race of the season being on the Colne, from Brightlingsea, on 4th September 2010. Each race is run as an entity, with prizes and plaques awarded by the local Club for the winners. Points are awarded for key elements of each race, like a fast start, first rounding the outer buoy, and the first boat home. Over the eight races these points are accumulated and the highest point earner wins overall for the year.

Top-sail Charters at Maldon offer the opportunity to both race on one craft, or follow the race from another. My ‘treat’ was to sail on Reminder [1929] ,with eleven other photographers, to get some action pictures from a craft actually in the race.

Reminder is a steel barge and worked in trade until the early 1970’s. She was restored to full sailing condition in 1975 and since then has operated under sail from her now home port of Maldon.

We arrived on Friday evening , before the race, to see the majority of competitor barges at the Quay. We were invited to have a seafood platter and wine while the briefing for the race was explained. On the Saturday of the race, the skipper and crew got their final course details from the organisers and made their strategic plans.

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Maldon Hythe, where we were moored, can only be accessed by craft 2 hours before and two hours after high water. The timing of our departure and the race itself thus was governed by the high tide at 7am. All the craft moored on the Quay leaving around this time and moving slowly down river, under power, in the morning sunshine.

The Blackwater River widens off Osea Island and this was where the starting and finishing line was situated. Craft had a little time to get their sails ready; line up behind the starting line, and wait for the cannon to fire to signal the start. Our skipper, Paul Jefferies, got his timing and positioning just right. We were first over the starting line and gained a vital point. Reminder is best suited to slight winds.

She had won the Medway Race in just those conditions. The forecast for the day was offering similar conditions, so we knew we were in with a chance. This meant we had to tack all the way to the outer buoy, which is where the skipper’s skills come in. Paul carefully watched the tension of the sails, issuing instructions to the crew to keep them tight and when to change tack. There was just one barge in front of us, Edme, but fortunately she was in a different class. We chased her but, more importantly, edged ahead of the competitors in our class. Thus, when we rounded the outer buoy off West Mersea Island, we had clear water ahead of us for the return trip to the finishing line. We put out all the sail we could and zoomed along with the wind from behind.

The race on the Blackwater is not only for sailing barges, but also for smacks.

We soon were being passed by these craft which, because they are smaller and faster, had had their own later start. It meant we had the opportunity for even more

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action pictures. By now Edme was some way ahead. Gaining advantage from her bowsprit and different sail rig. In fact she finished 39 minutes ahead of us. We were equally ahead of all the competitors in our class. Once we had cleared the finishing line, we turned to anchor to watch the other barges finish. Once all had done so, all processed in finishing order back to Maldon Quay.

At the prize giving on the Quay that evening, we were pleased to see our skipper Paul collect a shield and three cups. A clean sweep of all the trophies for our class.

He also was presented with a huge blue pennant which he proudly had on display from the mast head the following day.

The following day, the weather was grey and misty. Even so, we went off again down river for some more sailing. Paul allowed us all to have a steer under his supervision , if we wished, which rounded off the weekend. I for one, would certainly like to undertake a similar trip again.

Details of sailing barge trips can be found on the TopSail Charters web site. www. top-sail.co.uk. The one I attended was run by a local photographer, Colin Westgate of Quest Photography, West Mersea. Just 12 of us on the residential weekend course from Friday night through to Sunday evening living on the barge.

Roger Squires

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Welcome to New South London Branch Members South London Branch extends a very warm welcome to the following new members:

Mr E Aldred, SE16 Mrs L Fox & Family, SW17 Mr M Gee, Bromley Mr & Mrs M J Jackson (L-OS), France Mr C Matheson, SW19 Mr A Wyatt, SW19 You should by now have received your welcome packs from Jane Davey, but if you need more information about any aspect of the branch, our socials, activities or work with young people’s organisations please don’t hesitate to contact one of the committtee whose details appear on page 23. We look forward to seeing you at our next Social Meeting on Wednesday 8th September.

Jane enjoying the view along the River Medway aboard PS Kingswear Castle with other branch members in June. See Lesley’s article on page 14.

Photo: L Pryde

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South London Branch Cruise on 12th June On Saturday 12th June, twenty one members and friends of the South London branch and Norbury & South London Transport Club boarded the historic coal-fired paddle steamer `Kingswear Castle’ at Chatham Historic Dockyard for our annual cruise. This year our sailing schedule was to cruise up to New Hythe and down to Darnet Ness so, after boarding at approx 11:00, we were soon underway and enjoying the glorious sunshine and the on board facilities, as we steamed up the River Medway.

After leaving Chatham, we soon approached Rochester Bridge and, as we navigated through one of the arches, several passengers were interested in a bale of straw hanging from one of the arches of the bridge. One of the crew informed me this is an old navigational aid used to warn boats that there are restrictions on the bridge.

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As we continued our steam up the River Medway, we enjoyed the opportunity to admire Rochester Cathedral and view the historic Castle by Rochester pier.

When navigating under the Medway Bridge, which carries the M2, due to the conditions of the tide, the passengers watched as the crew lowered the Mainmast so there was sufficient room to cruise safely under the bridge.

The river became quite narrow through Wouldham marshes and we steamed the tight horseshoe reach past Snodland. Once we arrived at New Hythe the crew had to turn Kingswear Castle with the aid of a line, so this gave us an opportunity to view professional rope throwing.

With `Kingswear Castle’ turned, we steamed back down the River Medway to Darnet Ness in glorious sunshine. There was only one delay on our return journey, as the tide had altered the conditions of the river, meaning that Rochester Bridge was unnavigable for `Kingswear Castle’.

On this occasion `Kingswear Castle’ waited a while so we could pass under the bridge safely.

An advantage of the tide turning, was the river became quite busy with a variety of commercial boats and sailing vessels which were out enjoying the river in the lovely sunny conditions.

Finally, l would like to thank our Chairman Alan Eggby for organising another brilliant cruise, l’m looking forward to our next one.

In case any of you reading this haven’t had an opportunity to cruise on `Kingswear Castle’ yet, l urge you and your family or friends to join us on our cruise in 2011, further information on dates etc will be available in the spring 2011. You will enjoy the experience!

Further information on this historic Paddle Steamer is available at: http://www.kingswearcastle.co.uk/ Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham Kent ME4 4TQ Telephone 01634 827648 Lesley Pryde Editor’s Note: Roddy McKee (pictured throwing the rope) will be giving a talk ‘A Tale of Two Paddle Steamers’ at Croydon on Wednesday 3rd November.

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Dunkirk Memorial at Teddington Lock 9th May 2010

On Sunday 9th May I was privileged to be invited to Teddington where HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, Honorary Admiral of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, unveiled the Dunkirk memorial at Teddington Lock. This was a memorial to those who sailed through Teddington Lock to join the flotilla of “little ships” that helped rescue over 300,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk 70 years ago.

In 1940, when the German Army broke through to the French Channel ports, Dunkirk was the last place of retreat for Allied forces. Every type of craft able to navigate shallow waters found around the South and East coasts of England was requisitioned.

Many were moored on the Thames and about 100 Thames craft, passenger boats and private launches were requisitioned. These were then assembled at the boatyard of Douglas Tough at Teddington, just across the lock from where the new memorial to the little ships is located.

To mark this 70th anniversary a flotilla of boats, including some of the surviving Dunkirk Little Ships, travelled from Ham House to Teddington Lock carrying the Mayor of Richmond as well as members of the Tough family to the ceremony. Douglas Tough’s son, Bob Tough was in attendance on his motor yacht Thamesa, previously ‘Little

HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO and ADLS Commodore John Tough

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HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO talking to the two Chelsea Pensioners

Ship’ Minnehaha, which had taken part in the evacuation; also Douglas’ grandson, John Tough, who is Commodore of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO arrived at Teddington Lock aboard ‘Little Ship’ Bluebird of Chelsea with watermen in attendance. There were many war veterans present including two Chelsea pensioners. After a moving tribute, two minutes silence, the lowering and raising of regimental colours HRH Prince Michael of Kent and Commodore John Tough unveiled the memorial. The words on the memorial read:How Teddington’s “Little Ships” helped win the Second World War In the Spring of 1940, allied troops were trapped between the German advance and the sea at Dunkirk in Northern France. The evacuation of those troops, “Operation Dynamo”, was helped by private boats which crossed the Channel and, whilst under constant attack from the Luftwaffe, ferried men from the shallow beaches to larger ships offshore.

Douglas Tough assembled 100 of these Little Ships at Tough Brothers’ boatyard which once stood opposite this plaque. During the 10-day operation they helped in the rescue of 338,226 British and French troops who were saved to fight another day.

Wartime leader Winston Churchill called this “A miracle of deliverance.”

Libby Bradshaw

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City Mills Lock Opens to connect Olympic Park with the UK’s network of inland waterways British Waterways has reopened a derelict lock on Waterworks River in East London for the first time in over 40 years following a restoration project costing £400,000.

On Saturday 31st July a flotilla of 31 boats from the St Pancras Cruising Club and the Three Mills Mooring Association took part in the opening event of City Mills Lock. All completed London’s newest Mini Ring and were the first public boats through the lock.

City Mill Lock now links Waterworks River, which is one of a network of waterways that connect the Olympic Park with the River Lee Navigation, and from there the rest of the UK’s inland waterway network of canals and rivers.

The reopening of this lock is the next phase in the regeneration of the canals and rivers of East London. British Waterways’ head of regeneration, Richard Rutter, said: “It’s fantastic to see the lock reopened after such a long time. The first phase of the restoration involved the fitting of new metal gates, and then, when more funding was secured we were able to finish off the project. Installing mechanised electric rams, sluices, lock landings, controls and lock ladders. This second stage took approximately six months, and now we will be focussing our attention on Carpenters Road Lock within the Olympic Park.”

The 5 ½ km loop of waterways in and around the Park have been upgraded, benefiting from works including the restoration of City Mill Lock, the construction of Three Mills Lock and Water Control Structure, extensive waterway wall repairs and dredging.

These waterways are set to become a popular destination for the UK’s leisure and holiday boaters, as well as for general visitors using the traffic-free towpaths to explore the area by foot and by bike.

Richard Benyon MP, Waterways Minister, said: “The reopening of City Mill Lock means that for the first time in over 40 years there is access to 5 ½ km of regenerated waterway that’s at the heart of the Olympic development. The reopening of the lock is great news for the UK’s inland waterways, connecting the 4,000-mile network with a vibrant new area of East London that has water as a central feature.” Richard Rutter, explained: “Whilst the Olympic Games are a massive focus for everyone living and working in London, here at British Waterways we believe that even more benefits will come after 2012, during the Legacy phase. At the moment boaters are restricted in how far they can go as there’s no public access to the Park. After the Games

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we anticipate the waterways will be opened up as quickly as practicable. These regenerated waterways will attract leisure boaters who help to create a colourful waterway scene. Waterways often form the heart of regeneration schemes, just look at the centre of Birmingham where the canals have helped to create a sense of place.

We envisage this will happen in the Olympic Park, with moorings for visiting boats, floating restaurants and cafes, water taxis and activities such as canoeing on the water.”

Roger Squires, Inland Waterways Association and St Pancras Cruising Club said: “It’s a real honour to be able to bring the flotilla through City Mill Lock. It’s a great sign for the future of East London’s waterways, and I’m sure that the investment to improve the waterways will mean that post-Games many more people will follow our lead and enjoy these restored industrial canals and rivers.”

Questions and Answers: What are the Bow Back Rivers?

The Bow Back Rivers are a 5½-km network of industrial tributaries of the River Lea which criss-cross the Olympic Park. They have been shaped by man over many hundreds of years for industry, transport and flood relief.

How does this reopening of City Mill Lock link with proposals for a ‘Water City‘?

This is an important component of the ‘Water City‘ - a scheme backed by British Waterways, Leaside Regeneration and the Bromley-by-Bow Centre and making up part of London Thames Gateway Development Corporation’s Lower Lea Valley Regeneration Strategy. The ‘Water City’ seeks a mix of sustainable development and parkland in the area, set around a network of revived waterways rich with wildlife, footpaths, cycleways and boating activity.

British Waterways cares for Britain’s 200-year old network of historic canals, rivers and docks, which attract over 13 million people each year for walking, cycling, angling, boating or simply the peace and quiet. We wish to establish a ‘national trust’ for the waterways in order to secure the network for future generations and to give local people a greater say in how they are run.

City Mills Lock is available for limited use only due to its proximity to the Olympic Park.

The lock will be mainly used to support the Olympic Park security team, and will be available to local boats to access their moorings. Anyone wishing to use the lock must request and book their passage through British Waterways.

For more information go to: http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk The item above is an edited press release by British Waterways and the photographs were taken by Roger Squires.

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Suez Transit The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 created the first salt water passage between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. To facilitate the construction of the main line these works were preceded by cutting a small fresh water canal from the Nile Delta, along Wadi Tumilat, towards the main line, with a southern branch to Suez and a northern branch to Port Said. Completed in 1863, these new channels brought fresh water to a previously arid area, initially for canal construction, and subsequently facilitating the growth of agriculture and settlements along the main canal line. The Red Sea is about 1.2m higher than the Mediterranean, so the Suez Canal serves as a tidal strait that now pours Red Sea water into the Mediterranean. This action has reduced the salinity of the Bitter Lakes and now has allowed migration of Red Sea species into the Mediterranean ecosystem. The Egyptian Government’s current plans to enlarge the canal are raising concerns with marine biologists, fearing that this project will worsen the invasion of Red Sea species in the Mediterranean.

The Suez Canal emerged on the political scene when it was ‘nationalised’ by the Egyptian President Nasser in 1956. In 1967 the canal was closed during the Six Day War, when Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula, causing the canal to act as a buffer zone between the two forces. The Egyptians reclaimed the canal in 1973 and it was reopened to shipping in 1975. Since then, the canal, which stretches 100 miles across the Egyptian Desert has been widened twice and a road tunnel built under it. As of today , approximately 50 ships go through the canal daily. As a ‘fervent canal buff’ , such a transit was a must for me.

I took a northerly day time convoy, picking up my ship at the new port of El Sokhana, some 22 miles south of Port Suez, where the old wharves were reported to be in a poor state. Our craft was 168.73m long and 24.60m in the beam, with a gross tonnage of 20216 and a net tonnage of 7890. Having paid the fees of £97,000, we were ready to go. We left El Sokhana in the late evening and joined a group of craft at anchor at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez ready for an early start the following morning. At 06:00 we weighed anchor to join the convoy, entering the mouth of the canal at Suez at 06:20. As we passed Port Tewfiq we were on the route of the first canal to the Nile, built in Pharaonic times in 17th century BC, linking the Red Sea to the Bitter Lakes.

There were 24 ships in our convoy, designated S1. The first vessels were American warships, we were at station number four behind them . We had a huge bulk car carrier in front of us and astern was another similar craft. Also in our convoy were twelve container ships, two bulk carriers, one liquefied gas carrier, two large oil tankers each with an escorting tug, all providing the canal authority with transit fees. I found out that there were 20 ships in the main southbound convoy, designated N1. We were to pass these ships at anchor in the Bitter Lakes around 09:00. This was because the canal is currently limited to ‘one way‘ traffic in the narrow section. We passed another group of ships at anchor, in the second south bound convoy [N2], at the Ballah Loop at around 12:30. Our exit from the canal at Port Said via the new channel adjacent

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to the new container port of Fuad, was at 17:15.

The 162 km signpost is at Port Tewfiq at the Red Sea end and the 0km marker is at Port Said at the Mediterranean end. For the most part the canal goes through the desert. The strategic nature of the waterway is identified by the military emplacements every quarter of a mile. During our transit we had four different pilots. There are two passing points en route, one at the Bitter Lakes and the second further north that is called the Ballah Loop. Within the loop is an anchorage for up to five craft. Just north of it is the new Japanese built suspended cable bridge called the ‘Muburak Peace Bridge’. This road bridge is 4kms long and is high enough over the canal for all craft to have ample clearance under it. There is also a British/Belgian consortium built railway swing bridge near El Qatari. Near the Suez [southern] end, the new four lane road tunnel passes beneath the canal corridor. At the northern end there is a huge water pipe system that passes beneath the canal to take ‘sweet water’ from the River Nile to Northern Sinai. Here the Egyptian government is in the process of making the desert fertile again.

During my transit, dredgers were hard at work deepening the canal. Like Panama, Egypt’s aim is to open the canal route for larger vessels in the years to come.

Perhaps my most lasting memory of my transit is that of the Ballah Loop, where the high sand dunes made it appear that ships were trapped in the sand!

Roger Squires Editor’s Note: Roger will be giving a presentation ‘Canal through the Desert’ at Croydon on Wednesday 9th February 2011.

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IWA SOUTH LONDON BRANCH OFFICERS & REPRESENTATIVES 2010-2011 BRANCH CHAIRMAN & SALES OFFICER Alan Eggby (Elected 2009 - 2012) 137 Strathyre Avenue, London, SW16 4RH. Tel: 0208 764 8194. e-mail: alan_eggby@lineone.net DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Libby Bradshaw (Elected 2009 - 2012) Ground floor flat, 61 West Side, Wandsworth Common, London, SW18 2ED. Tel + fax: 0208 874 2787 e-mail: libby.bradshaw@boltblue.com or libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk BRANCH SECRETARY Lesley Pryde (Elected 2008 – 2011) 2 Hepworth Road, Streatham, London, SW16 5DQ Tel: 0208 679 9866 Mob: 07787 372408. e-mail: cookielesley@tinyworld.co.uk or lesleypryde@hotmail.com

BRANCH TREASURER & MINUTES SECRETARY Dorothy Robbie (Elected 2010-2013) 23 Porcupine Close, Mottingham, London, SE9 3AE Tel: 0208 857 6367. e-mail: Dorothy.Robbie@ineedbroadband.co.uk

SOCIAL MEETINGS SECRETARY & CROYDON CANAL CAMPAIGN CO-ORDINATOR Alan J.Smith (Elected 2008-2011) 41 Jubilee Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex. TW2 6JA

Tel: 0208 255 1581 Mobile: 07774 890750 e-mail: smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk or chrisalasjubilee@googlemail.com PUBLICITY OFFICER & NEWSLETTER EDITOR Christine L Smith (Elected 2008-2011) 41 Jubilee Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex. TW2 6JA

Tel: 0208 255 1581 Mob: 07774 890750 e-mail: christine.smith@blueyonder.co.uk or chrisalasjubilee@googlemail.com COMMITTEE MEMBER Mike Simmons (Elected 2009 - 2012) Tideway Adventurers Narrowboat project Denham Yacht station, 100 Acres Sanderson Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1NB Tel: Mob: 07875 841423 or 07930 352388. e-mail: admin@tidewaynarrowboats.com MEMBERSHIP OFFICER (Non Committee) Jane Davey 30 Siddons Road, Croydon CRO 4JR Tel: (020) 8680 2213 EX-OFFICIO AS REGION CHAIRMAN James Kennerley e-mail: jameskennerley145@btinternet.com REPRESENTATIVES Contact for Planning & Navigation Committee Contact with Wandle Valley developments Contact with Deptford Creek developments

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Eric Garland Libby Bradshaw Eric Garland

IWA South London Branch Social Meetings are held at: The United Reformed Church Hall Addiscombe Grove Croydon CR0 5LP

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

Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342.

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk Printed by Leighton Printing, 15 Palmer Place, London N7 8DH.