Presentation of the Brian Sheppard Award To John Monks by Ray Sou’WesterAlexander September - December, 2022 Issue 191 IWA South West and South Wales Region www.waterways.org.uk/southwest
2 South West & South Wales Region Committee: Chairman: *Hannah Sterritt Members: *Ray Alexander Hon. Secretary: *Andrew Strawson *Geoff Harman Sou’Wester Editor: *Joyce Potts Baz Juniper Navigation Committee *Tony Pugh Representative: *Andrew Strawson Avon & Wiltshire Branch Committee: Chairman: Member: Hon. Secretary: *Tim Wheeldon Hon. Treasurer: *David Chalmers Events Officer: Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Committee: Chairman: Members: Hon ActingSecretary:Treasurer: South Wales Branch Committee: Chairman: *Tony Pugh Members: Mike Synan Hon. Secretary: Vacant Chris JL Yewlett Treasurer: Henry Brown Minutes Secretary: Vacant Membership Officer: *Tony Pugh Publicity Officer: Vacant Volunteer Co-ordinator Vacant West Country Branch Committee: Chairman: *Ray Alexander Members: Julian Gibson Hon. Secretary: *Vacant Chris Jewell Hon. Treasurer & Events: Mike Aldridge Maurice Pinner Volunteer Co-ordinator: *Mike Slade *Contact details for these appear inside the back cover. South West and South Wales Region Committees
cont on page 4/... Region Chairman
Fellow Members and prospective members, Welcome to Sou’Wester No. 191, which sadly means that I have reached the end of my voyage with you.
The main reason for my stepping down, after three enjoyable years as your Regional Chair, is because I find myself at the beginning of a major advance of the wingsail project, which started in the mid 1980’s when I was master of the “Ashington”, which successfully carried the world’s first wingsail on a two year trial.
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Fear not however, Hannah Sterritt has agreed to step up to the plate, so you will be getting a far better candidate as regional Chair, and she is living on the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal (Mon and Brec canal), and is also a trustee on the main board. So as you see, she is fully house trained.
The other reason is a more personal one. My elder daughter Britta, is currently battling against a virulent form of cancer, and naturally, this requires both Kathy’s and my support.
Nowadays, with shipping coming under the spotlight continually, to do more to reduce their carbon footprint, our wingsail is in hot demand. This is mainly because, not only have trials proved that it is very successful in fuel savings, but also because it is fully compliant with the Collision Regulations, whereas few projects can satisfy this requirement.
Some may notice that I too hail from the Mon and Brec canal, as I am a Penarth born Welshman, but I migrated when I married fifty years ago, and we have lived in Blagdon for long enough, at 40 years and two months, to finally be called villagers! So I say welcome to Hannah, and I am certain that you will derive as much enjoyment out of this Region as I have done. I am not totally hanging up my lifejacket however. I have agreed to remain as an advisor
Roger Francis EDITORIAL Joyce Potts
Welcome to this 191st edition of Sou’wester. As you will have seen in both Roger’s Chair report on page 3 and the Appointments piece on page 5, we have a few changes on the regional committee due to the departure of Roger and also the loss of Steve Warwicker. We welcome the new Chair in the person of Hannah Sterritt. There will be a report from her in the next issue. Alas. we have another obituary - Steve Warwicker who lost his battle with cancer in June. Amongst his many roles, he was also the NavCom Chairman and I thank Roger for putting together an obituary for us, on page 6. We also have news of the recipient of the Brian Sheppard Award - details on pages 7 and 8. Pages 8 - 10 gives us details, in English and Welsh, of an entertaining and informative meeting between Sharon & Martin Davies of the Swansea Canal and Peter Hayes, a SwimHiker from Durham. The article will explain what a SwimHiker is. I have only included the photo on the English version due to lack of space.. We have a glimpse into the Archives of Sou’wester on pages 11 and 12. Then an entertaining tale from Roger’s past life at sea on pages 13 - 16 before finishing up with the various Branch Reports on pages 17 - 21.
4 …/cont from page 3 for the Aberdulais Aqueduct and and Bridgewater docks, and I will also be popping into the pages of the magazine with some hairy sea stories from time to time, and the first of these is in this edition. So for the last time, may I wish you happy boating, and enjoying the Inland Waterways.
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IWA South Wales Branch have now held their AGM of which Tony Pugh has given details in his branch report on page 18. Geoff Brown, in his final branch report as Avon & Wilts Chair, raises the issue of the need for people to help run the branches. I’m afraid that this is not just confined to IWA but a lot of voluntary organisations.
As reported elsewhere on page 3, Roger Francis has stepped down from his role as Regional Chair. The Region Committee are pleased to announce that Hannah Sterritt has agreed to become the next Regional Chair. The Committee have co-opted her to the committee and appointed her as the Chair. Hannah was appointed a National IWA Trustee last year and is a live-aboard boater on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. She will write about herself and her experience of IWA in the next Followingedition.thedeath
of Steve Warwicker recently – see the obituary on page 6 – the Region Committee has appointed Andrew Strawson, Hon Secretary for the Region, as their representative on the IWA Navigation Committee. He hopes to provide a regular update on the Committee’s work in future editions.
APPOINTMENTS
Notices
Unfortunately, if people don’t come forward to help, we will lose them. If you would like to help, please contact your local branch, details on page I23.would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the South West & South Wales Region Committee to thank Geoff Brown for his time and commitment to both the Avon & Wiltshire Branch and the Region and to wish him all the best in his new home in Leeds. I want to finish by asking any of our readers for entertaining stories about their times on “the cut” or indeed, news of any future events. They will be very welcome and I will try my best to include them.
News
6 IN MEMORIAM : Steve Warwicker 1951 - 2022
When I became Regional Chairman for the South Wales and South West Region, I quickly came across the name of Steve Warwicker, and my interest was aroused, as he was Chairman of the IWA Navigation Committee, and as I have done a bit of navigation in my time, I thought I would investigate further. I discovered an amazing individual, who was very highly regarded as a canoeing expert, who had become a very well established and trusted ambassador for British Canoeing, and acted as a Regional Water Authority for four counties, based around Wessex. He was also Chairman of the South West Regional Development Team.
Steve’s battle with cancer was incredible to watch. He continued in all he did, right up to the last, and inadvertently provided great inspiration to my own daughter, Britta, who is embarking on a similar journey, hopefully with a successful outcome.
Roger Francis, Chair IWA South West & South Wales Region
Steve did so much in trying to get disabled people onto the water, and was a Paddle-Ability Coordinator at Clevedon Marine Lake. He also had connections with All Aboard Water Sports in Bristol’s Floating Harbour, and it was my extreme pleasure to be able to authorise a grant for them, through the Trinity House Regional Grants Committee.
Unfortunately, I did not realise that Steve lived just down the road from me in Portishead. Had I known this, I think I would have become a thorn in the sides of Dianne and the girls, as I would have been constantly knocking on his door, as I had enjoyed the all too brief exchanges that we had made via email.
In January 2001, Brian died suddenly whilst abroad on holiday. A substantial sum of money, donated in lieu of flowers by many people attending the funeral, was given to the IWA South Wales Branch by the family. The Branch Committee decided it would be appropriate to commemorate Brian’s life and his contribution to the waterways cause by making an annual award which takes the form of an authentic model of a Glamorganshire Canal Boat designed and made by John Burden, who is an acknowledged expert in this field.
Photo: Courtesy of British Canoeing
Steve, when you crossed the bar, your name entered the realms where you will be talked about in admiration for many years to come. It has been a privilege to have known you.
THE BRIAN SHEPPARD AWARD
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By Ray Alexander Brian Sheppard was born in Pontypridd near the Glamorganshire Canal in which he became interested at an early age. He became an IWA member and had an absorbing interest in canals - in their history and engineering and in cruising widely over our waterways system. An engineer by profession, Brian and his family lived for many years in the Bridgend area and, latterly, after retirement, they moved to Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, with Brian retaining his waterways interests.
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Although John retired as Chairman of the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal in April last year, he continues to play an active role in promoting the canal, which is very welcome. The award is well deserved and my congratulations to John on this. Photos courtesy of Peter Nickol - Cover photo: John receiving the award from IWA West Country Branch Chairman, Ray Alexander Photo on page 7: The Brian Sheppard Award
Two of our Swansea Canal volunteers, Sharon and Martin, were very pleased to fall into conversation with Peter Hayes as they dragged Canadian Pond Weed from the canal below Coed Gwilym Park in Clydach. Peter (on the right in the picture) lives in Durham, and had travelled by public transport to Llandudno on Friday, 24th June where he started a long
John was instrumental in setting up the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal six years ago, became its first Chairman when it was formally launched in 2016 and has worked tirelessly to campaign for the future of the canal.
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The Brian Sheppard Award is made annually by the South West & South Wales Region Committee and is given to an individual member, or member of an affiliated organisation, for exceptional and meritorious services to the waterways cause.
The Final Leg: One Man’s Walk from Llandudno to Rhossili Bay Martin Davies, Swansea Canal Society
I am delighted to say that for 2022 the Brian Sheppard Award has been awarded to John Monks, IWA West Country Branch member and immediate past Chairman of the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal.
the above account of our chat with Peter Hayes, I wondered if he had a mention on Google for other long distance walks.
Photo courtesy of Martin Davies Y 'Swimhiker' Martin Davies, Cymdeithas Camlas Abertawe Byddai sgwrs gwrtais rhwng gwirfoddolwyr, sy'n clirio sbwriel ar Gamlas Abertawe, â cherddwr y llwybr halio pob tro yn cynnwys y cwestiwn, 'Pa mor bell ydych chi wedi cerdded?' Pan fydd y sgwrs yn digwydd ar ein camlas ni, nid ydych yn disgwyl yr ateb, “o Landudno, tua 175 milltir i'r gogledd”. Ond dyna’r union ateb a gafodd Sharon a fi gan heiciwr wrth i ni gymryd hoe o lusgo chwyn y gamlas ychydig i’r dde o Barc Coed Cont on page 10/…
9 distance walk through the footpaths of Snowdonia and Mid Wales to the Gower Peninsula. The day we met was the 12th of his journey. Given that Rhossili Bay is some 175 miles from Llandudno by road, he must have been averaging 16 to 17 miles a day on foot. He said he was very pleased to be walking on tarmac once again after all the muddy footpaths he had endured. He had stopped overnight at the New Swan Inn in Ystalyfera and then joined the Swansea Canal at Ynysmeudwy. It was a delight to hear him attempt a pronunciation of this lovely village name. He was full of praise for the catering at the New Swan Inn where he enjoyed a fantastic full Welsh breakfast, though, as his meals on the mountainous trip largely consisted of rice, tuna and olives, anything different would, I expect, have tasted heavenly. After leaving us, he would continue his walk along the canal and the Afon Tawe into Swansea Marina and then along the Gower Coastal path to Rhossili where he hopes to be able to cross the causeway and bathe in the sea as all good pilgrims do when they arrive at their destination. His return to Durham, he assured us, will be most definitely by bus and train! We wished him all the best for the rest of his Havingjourney.written
Sure enough, Durham’s Peter Hayes is not just a walker but a “SwimHiker”, that is someone who considers any body of water as part of the journey. He has written books about the amphibious routes he has taken in Britain and Europe. A remarkable man.
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Hwn oedd y deuddegfed diwrnod o'i daith o Landudno i Fae Rhosilli er, gan ei fod yn gorfod teithio ar drên o’i gartref yn Durham i Ogledd Cymru, dyma'r trydydd ar ddeg mewn gwirionedd. Dywedodd y byddai’n cerdded i Abertawe ac yna'n parhau ar hyd yr arfordir i Fae Rhosilli lle byddai'n nofio. Tynnais lun o Sharon a Peter ac yna cychwynnodd ein hymwelwr unwaith eto ar hyd lwybrau’r camlesi, afonydd a beicio i Abertawe. Cefais fy nghyfareddu gan ein cyfarfod a chan fod gennyf ei enw ac enw ei dref enedigol, gwnes ychydig o waith ymchwil. Mae’n amlwg bod Peter Hayes, yn Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Hanes ym Mhrifysgol Sunderland ond, yn fwy diddorol fyth, ef yw un o'r grymoedd y tu ôl i'r cynnydd ym mhoblogrwydd 'Swimhiking'. Yn syml, mae hyn yn golygu eich bod chi'n dechrau cerdded a phan fyddwch chi'n cyrraedd afon, llyn neu gorff o ddŵr, nid ydych chi'n cerdded o'i gwmpas ond yn nofio ar eu traws. Anfantais fawr o’r fath yma o deithio yng nghefn gwlad yw bod gennych ddillad gwlyb iawn, yn ogystal, wrth gwrs, y risg o foddi. Arweiniodd hyn at rôl ganolog Peter Hayes yn hanes 'Swimhiking': Dyluniodd y 'Swimsac'. Sach deithio yw e yn y bôn, gyda thu mewn ‘waterproof” (i gadw dillad yn sych) a sachau arnofio ar gyfer cydbwysedd a dosbarthiad pwysau. Yna dechreuodd y jyggernaut 'Swimhiking' ennill momentwm yn Ardal y Llynnoedd, lle mae digonedd o ddyfrffyrdd a llwybrau cerdded. Erbyn 2005 roedd Peter Hayes wedi creu'r her ‘Round Frog Graham’, rhediad/ cerdded 40 milltir gyda nofio gorfodol ar draws y pedwar llyn mwyaf Cumbria. Roedd Peter bellach yn 'Swimhiking' dros ran fwyaf o Ogledd Lloegr, ac aeth ymlaen i ysgrifennu llyfr am yr holl 'swimhikes' yr oedd wedi'u cwblhau, dan y teitl 'Swimhiking in the Lake District and the Northeast of England'. Heb fod yn ddigon hapus â hynny trodd ei sylw wedyn at Ewrop ac mae ei gyfrol ddiweddaraf, 'Swimhiking in Britain and Europe' nid yn unig yn gyfrol hynod o ddoniol ac addysgiadol ond hefyd wedi ei ddarlunio'n hyfryd gyda mapiau dyfrlliw o'r llwybrau. Rwy'n meddwl y gallwch chi ddyfalu pwy beintiodd y rheini. Ydy, mae Peter Hayes yn ddyn dawnus iawn. Efallai y gallwn edrych ymlaen at weld hanes ei daith o Landudno i Fae Rhosili yn ei lyfr nesaf.
Gwilym yng Nghlydach. Peter Hayes oedd y cerddwr, gwarbaciwr brwdfrydig ac, fel y darganfyddais yn ddiweddarach, nofiwr dewr iawn.
This was held on June 15th 1960, at the YWCA, Park Street, Bristol. The meeting, which was well attended, was held in a pleasant room, the walls of which were lined with display panels of cuttings and fixtures relating to canals, waterways, etc., along with the branch display board (nicknamed “The Alter”) and many other items.
From the Archives Members of the South West and South Wales Region who are historians may enjoy this extract from the first edition of Sou’Wester, published in February 1961.
In a forceful speech, Mr. Aickman stressed the point that our interest in Cont on page 12/…
The proceedings were opened by our Chairman, Fred Blampied, who in a short speech welcomed members and guests and stated our inauguration was but the slipway to greater efforts to preserve and restore our waterway system. This was followed by a brief outline by the Branch Secretary of events that had led to the rebirth of the dormant West of England Branch under a new title and county areas, and ended with a short account of our financial position. Mr. Robert Aickman followed, saying this new branch was a healthy sign of our ever growing strength and welcomed its revival as timely, as several waterways within our area were illegally closed and threatened.
INAUGURAL BRANCH MEETING
Members came long distances, from as far as Salisbury, Taunton, Cirencester, Stroud, Clevedon and Bath, and enjoyed a pleasant evening.
Mr. Robert Aickman, our Founder and Vice-President, came from London and graced the meeting as our principal guest.
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A timely break for coffee was followed by a well-illustrated slideshow on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal by our Committee Member, Dick Lord, who gave a commentary on this lovely and abused canal, ending with a few shots of the work our friends in the Midlands Branch were doing on the Stratford-on-Avon Canal.
This concluded a pleasant evening where many new acquaintances were made and requests for further meetings received. The guests included Commander P.F. Driscoll, Kennet and Avon Association, and Mrs. Airy, Preservation of Rural England, who played a major part in the campaign for the Stroudwater Navigation.
Photo of Robert Aickman from Head Office archives Editor’s note: The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal was reopened on 11th June, 1994 and the Stroudwater Navigation is due to be re-opened in 2025. “OOPS!”
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waterways was not only pleasure craft, but commercial traffic. He stated the phrase “messing about in boats” was too often applied to our efforts and did considerable injustice to our aims. He outlined the present sorry position of the Bridgwater/Taunton canal and suggested that the Branch’s main campaign should be the re-opening to full navigation this wide waterway. This canal he described as a favourite of his and anyone who has seen this waterway would agree. Mr. Aickman’s speech was warmly applauded and well reported in the local press.
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It was a warm tropical night when my ship sank the fishing boat! I was in bed, oddly enough, reading a book called “Collision Course” by Alvin Moscow. The shouting outside alerted me to something wrong. I lifted the curtain of the port next to my head, to look out, where I caught sight of a head in the water. I was already out of my bunk and rushing into clothing, when three long blasts came on the whistle and alarms. The old steam whistle took some
By Roger Francis
13 time to deliver its message as it always started with a strangled splutter, as condensate showered out over the after accommodation.
I arrived at the starboard boat deck, to find several hands already preparing the boat for lowering to the embarkation point. The Captain was on the bridge wing allocating jobs, and I found myself put in charge of the tiller, as we raced to remove the aluminium covers so that we could get into the boat. One cover fell away into the sea, but that didn't matter - that was a problem for much later on. Soon we were able to jump into the boat and start the engine as we were lowered down towards the seathe ship having almost been brought to a stop. The Third Mate was there, so too, the Radio Officer with the aldis lamp ready to use as a search light, and communication with the ship. It was odd to see that the Cook was there - the only one of three who had tried to make it from the aft accommodation in time. It was fortunate that an engineer had been “visiting” the midships accommodation at the time. I stopped the descent above the swell when I could feel it reaching the boat on each peak and waited for the next peak to lift the boat and pulled the release handle, at the same time as putting the engine in gear. We dropped away safely and released the painter, trying to swing away from the ship before the boat rose up to foul the forward fall block. Soon we were clear and heading back towards the scene of the collision.
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we were able to start filling the boat with survivors and with sign language were able to establish that there should be eleven. All were unharmed except for the oldest, obviously the Chief who had a badly broken arm. The Third Mate opened the lifeboat kit, and set to with first aid. Sooner than expected we had eleven survivors - ages spanning the whole range, and after several head counts and discussions revealed that we had rescued the lot! Of the canoe, little was left, the ship seemed to have chopped it into two halves. We returned to the ship and found that a ladder had been rigged on the port side main deck as this was the lee side. Fortunately the ship was still well loaded - the only problem we could foresee was the Chief with his broken arm, who obviously could not climb the ladder. The ten survivors were a little apprehensive about climbing on board, but eventually we
We had been on passage from Tema to Takoradidelivering parcels of refined oils on a multiport discharging run, down the West African coast. We had passed the odd fishing canoe already, and did not expect to see too many, as we were already quite far off the coast. It was the mid-sixties, when the complement of the ship was getting on towards sixty and lots of eyes available on each watch to guard against such an event. This canoe simply had not been seen, a fact that we had to await for the enquiry to establish why.
The rescue went well, we were able to pinpoint the scene of the collision, thanks to one thoughtful fisherman who held the blade of his canoe paddle aloft, enabling the Radio Officer to catch it in the beam of the Soonaldis.
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15 completed the transfer, and soon realised that in order to retrieve the lifeboat and the injured Chief - the ship would have to be turned around, and so, for a second time, we pulled away from the ship’s side and headed towards the empty ocean. To this day, I can recall the overwhelming feeling of unease as the ship steamed away from us to make its turn, and for a fleeting moment the thought of being left alone, in a lifeboat crossed my mind and sent a shiver through me. It seemed a long time before she was back alongside us, but was probably not long at all. We soon hooked on to the falls and the reassuring sound of the air winch reached us as we were lifted out of the water and back to the boat deck. Tricing pennants secured, we were able to bring the boat to the embarkation point, and gently move the Chief to the ship’s hospital. The boat was re-stowed and I was detailed to look after our survivors until we reached Takoradi the next morning. It became apparent that their knowledge of the world outside their village was minimal, as they marvelled at the flushing toilet which quickly became the centre of entertainment. The old Chief was sedated for the trip and his crew took turns to sit beside him. I tried sign language to show them what we were doing and where we were going, and ended up drawing pictures on the deck with chalk. Suddenly the younger elements were all operating with sticks of chalk. As dawn started to break, we arranged a row of chairs outside the ship’s office and gave the survivors blankets. It seemed, when they had wrapped themselves in blankets, they resembled a row of customers waiting for the barbers! As the ship anchored off Takoradi, she was surrounded by official launches. A doctor came on board along with a tribal interpreter and various other representatives. The time came for the last of the survivors to leave. It was just as well the old Chief had been rendered unconscious by the doctor as, when he was lowered to the launch in the Neil Robertsons stretcher, the local orderlies started an argument as to how best to lower him, and ended up landing him on his head in the launch. Cont on page 16/...
Photos: Page 13 - the Helcion sailing out of Eastham Locks, taken by the author’s father.
Meanwhile statements were taken and the enquiry fixed for the following Theday.
story leading up to the collision emerged after the interpreter had spoken to the survivors.
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It seemed that the crew were the entire male population of a village on the coast. They had been out fishing for some time when their net became caught on the bottom. They could see the navigation lights of the approaching ship and had tried to free the net without success. The Chief ordered a crew member to light a lamp and warn the ship - in the panic to find the lamp and light it—he fell in the water with it. As a last attempt to fend off the obvious collision, the Chief had held out his hand. His hand was hit by the bow of the ship doing about 14 knots, which pushed the bones up his arm and then cut the canoe into two halves. They had been very lucky that they were spotted at all! We were told that, as a result of the tribal statement - no blame was to be laid on the ship, indeed, we were commended for our satisfactory rescue. We were led to understand that the shipping company would ensure that the village would be supplied with a new boat and equipment. With hindsight, it would have been nice to have rescued one of the hand-made paddles for a souvenir, but then it was never thought of at the time!
Page 14 - African canoe - not the one that was hit, taken by the author.
Editor’s note: Apologies for the rather grainy pictures but they were originally slides and then put into his camera and then captured on a mobile phone camera to enable sending via email.
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to all members who have supported me during my time as chairman. I hope some new faces will step up and join the committee. No experience is necessary; I am only too aware that I have only been chairman because nobody else would do it. While talking to other people in a similar situation, it became obvious that this is a common problem in the voluntary sector, so don’t worry about volunteering.
IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Geoff Brown, Branch Chairman
This is my last report due to my imminent move to Leeds. Whilst the branch is not officially dead, there will only be 2 committee members remaining, nobody who wants to arrange talks and other social events. As you will see in a separate piece, Steve Warwicker unfortunately lost his battle with cancer. I attended his funeral in Weston-super-Mare along with 2 other regional members plus former national chairman, Ivor Caplan. My last social event was to be a boat trip along a restored section of the Wilts & Berks canal. Unfortunately, due to a lack of water, this had to be cancelled , so I substituted a walk. It was at this point that the age of the active membership became apparent, because a large percentage of people dropped out because they didn’t feel fit enough to walk for more than an hour. In the event, 3 of us met at the Bell inn at Lacock and were given a guided walk to the work site at Pewsham. Part of it was along country lanes and the remainder along the restored section which we should have been cruising. Our thanks to Brian Wright for guiding us and then returning us to the Bell where we were joined by another couple for a Manymeal.thanks
Branch Reports
18 IWA West Country Branch
The first award was presented by the Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) at a “Keep Sedgemoor Tidy” event on 1st July at the Canal Centre adjacent to the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal on the outskirts of Bridgwater. The event recognised the achievements of a number of volunteer groups throughout Sedgemoor and included “Rage against Rubbish”, a volunteer group which organises a monthly work party on the waterways using their kayaks.
The second award was from Canal and River Trust (CRT) and was presented by Steve Manzi, CRT Volunteer Development Co-ordinator for
Ray Alexander, Branch Chairman
Volunteer Awards: Photos courtesy of SDC and Mike Slade: Mike Slade and Ray Alexander receive the Keep Sedgemoor Tidy award from the Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council. The Keep Sedgemoor Tidy Award
Volunteer Awards. I am delighted to report that the Branch has recently been presented with two awards, which together amount to a significant endorsement of the work party volunteers and the work they have been undertaking on the waterways over many years.
Photos courtesy of Kathryn Lovell and Steve Bulgin (CRT): Mike Slade, IWA Volunteer Co-ordinator, West Country Branch, with Steve Manzi, CRT Volunteer Development Co-ordinator for Wales and the South West.
19 Wales and the South West, at a ceremony on 20th July at the Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater. This recognised the completion of 25,000 hours of volunteer activity on the Bridgwater & Taunton canal under the two 5-mile adoption agreements between IWA and CRT and was attended by several of our volunteers and CRT staff as well.
Congratulations to all the volunteers, past and present, on these great achievements.
The CRT Award IWA Volunteers and CRT staff at Victoria Park Community Centre
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Prior to the meeting, Margaret Gwalter, a past Chairman, gave a conducted tour around the Aberdulais Aqueduct and junction basin of the Tennant and Neath Canals.
Tony Pugh, Branch Chairman
SA10 8ES
There being no other business, the AGM Meeting was formally closed by the regional chairman. A Meeting then followed to confirm the election of the Committee. A discussion took place on the way forward for the Branch and the success of the AGM via ZOOM. The preservation of the Aberdulais Aqueduct being a priority for the coming year.
The meeting was opened, in person, by the Branch Chairman Tony Pugh, with seven Members being present. The zoom link was opened by Andrew Strawson as administrator with the Regional Chairman Roger Francis and several other members joining the meeting. Representatives of each of the local canal societies then being present at the AGM. The regional Chairman then asked for apologies and introductions. The minutes of the last AGM being read out, there was no matters arising. A verbal report was given by the Branch Chairman. A financial report was received from the Treasurer Henry Brown. We have £1028:46p in the bank and £32:81p petty cash, giving us a balance of £1061:27p at 14th May, 2022. There has been no income or expenditure over the last three years. Then followed the election of Committee Members by a show of hands. The Committee was re-elected on block for another year.
The IWA South Wales Branch held their AGM at 2pm on Saturday, 14th May, 2020 at the Royal British Legion Club, the Lock House, Station Road, Aberdulais, Neath.
IWA South Wales Branch / Cangen de Cymru Report
21 For up to date information on the local South Wales Canal activities: The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre http://fourteenlocks.mbact.org.uk/ The Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust http://www.mbact.org.uk for the boat trips, go to the website then click on “our boats” The Neath & Tennant Canals Trust: http://www.neath-tennant-canals.org.uk/ The Swansea Canal Society http://www.swanseacanalsociety.com The Swansea Bay Inland Waterways Partnership Swansea Marina http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk/ The Torfaen Canal Volunteers Contact: Hugh Woodford 01663 862481 heatherhugh@hotmail.com The group hold regular meetings. The Cardiff Bay Harbour Authority http://www.cardiffharbour.com
Kennet
Severn Canal River Wye:
Region
Wilts
Looe Canal North Somerset Waterways
Avon
Boundary 1m West of Shrivenham Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch Coombe Hill Canal Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Leominster Canal Lydney Canal River Severn: from Mythe Bridge, Tewkesbury to a
on the tidal navigation which is the seaward extent of responsibility of the Gloucester
source
Canal & Berks Canal: & Canal County point Harbour & Hay-on-Wye to Severn Estuary Wales & Canal Neath & Canal River Usk - Hay-on-Wye to West Country & Canal Bude Canal Canal & River Canal Canal River Wales
River Wye
Branch Bridgwater
Liskeard
Parrett Rolle
Abergavenny Canal Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals Monmouthshire
South
to
Tennant Canals Swansea
Chard Canal Exeter Ship Canal Grand Western
Branch Brecon
Stover Canal Tavistock
Tone Waterways in the IWA South West and South
Taunton
Trustees, downstream of the Second Severn Crossing Stroudwater Navigation Thames
22 Avon & Wilts Branch Rivers Avon & Severn: Tidal navigation that is the responsibility of the Bristol Haven Conservancy, downstream of the second Severn crossing Avon Navigation: Hanham to Avonmouth, including River Avon & Bristol Docks Kennet & Avon Canal: Hanham Lock to Froxfield Bridge North Wilts SomersetshireCanalCoal
23 Ray david.chalmers@waterways.org.ukDavidrayalexander01@gmail.comAlexanderChalmersGeoffHarman01179623812geoff.harman@waterways.org.ukJoycePottsjoycemike06@gmail.comTonyPughtony.pugh@waterways.org.uk Mike mdslade8@gmail.comSladeHannahSterritthannah.sterrit@waterways.co.ukAndrewStrawsonandrew.strawson@waterways.co.ukTimWheeldon01225723890tim.wheeldon@waterways.org.uk Next Issue of Sou’Wester The next issue of Sou’Wester is due out in January, 2023. Please send all copy to the Editor at joycemike06@gmail.com by Thursday, 1st December, 2022 The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of IWA. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel. 01494 783453 Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a Charity no 212343. www.waterways.org.uk Contacts
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