Southside News - September 2011

Southside News September 2011

The Newsletter of the South London Branch of the IWA

Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways

Contents

Page

Welcome from the Editor

3

From the Region Chairman

4

From the Branch Chairman

6

Sales Officer’s Report & Branch Activities

7

Your Support Needed

8

Social Secretary’s Report

9

Social Calendar 2011-2012

10

An Invitation to the Wey & Arun Canal

11

Ron Bingham - A Tribute

12

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Flotilla

13

Grosvenor Canal Update

15

IWA with London Walks Programme

18

Who’s Who - contact details

19

How to find our social meetings - Croydon map

Back cover

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: ‘Thames Lobsters’ posing with the branch stand at the Kingston River Festival, July 2011 Photo: C Smith

Welcome to the September Edition of Southside News

I hope you’ve been enjoying the summer weather we’ve had from time to time - it’s certainly been challenging for boating! In May Canalway Cavalcade went very well, with lots of extra tourists around because of the Royal Wedding and lots of sunshine - albeit a little breezy. After helping to return nb Belfast to Nash Mills, Alan and I took our boat nb Inglewood from its base at Calcutt, Warwicks to Lechlade, Gloucestershire, where we tried to explore the Inglesham Lock site (on foot, in a howling gale with horizontal rain) - no go, I’m afraid, it’s all fenced off and marked ‘private property’ with no notice board publicising the restoration project. In June we enjoyed a blustery but sunny trip aboard PS Kingswear Castle with a group of about 20 others out onto the Thames Estuary - have you ever seen breakers on the river?

Sadly, in June, our friend, fellow South London member and tenacious waterways campaigner Ron Bingham died and many of us from the waterways fraternity attended a Thanksgiving Service for his life.

A tribute appears on page 12.

In July we took nb Inglewood along the Grand Union, down the incredibly shallow Aylesbury Arm to the basin, to lunch with friends, got drenched in a downpour, and met up with our newly appointed London Region Chairman, Paul Strudwick, who has written an introductory article on page 4. We also had a look at the Wendover Arm - which was the subject of a talk at Croydon in April last year. Take a look at the Social Calendar on page 10 which Alan Smith has updated with a selection of new speakers to take us up to April 2012 - and there are still spaces on our Wey & Arun trip on 1st October, if you’re quick!

By the end of July the sun had decided to stay - which led to a very successful fishing trip with our grandson and his friend - and a wonderful Waterways Festival at Burton on Trent, much enjoyed by everyone who attended.

2012 promises to be a very special year for boaters - the festival season is heralded by Canalway Cavalcade in May, followed by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which will include the Thames Pageant on 3rd June. Roger Squires is a member of the organising committee and has written a fascinating piece about the preparations for this unique event on page 13 - find out how you can be part of the celebrations and win a prize, too!

One of our South London Members, Brian Andrews, has been exploring and you can see what surprised him on page 15. I’ve also added the latest news about Towpath Walks on page 18 and there are several local events listed on page 7 - where you can help out with the Waterways Game and see the branch’s new publicity stand!

Don’t forget - this is your magazine, so if you’ve been on an interesting trip or would like to contribute an item of interest just email or post it to me (contact details on page 19) and we’ll include it in one of our next editions.

Christine Smith Publicity Officer & Newsletter Editor -3-

From the Region Chairman As your newly elected region chairperson, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself to you through your branch magazine. I am a previous chairperson of Chelmsford Branch and have been on its committee since the mid ‘80s. Between 2007 and 2010 I was a directly elected trustee and already represent London on the National Navigation Committee and Promotions Committee. My love affair with boating began at the age of 11 when my uncle taught me to sail on the Norfolk Broads, and my wife and I have owned a boat on the canals for nearly thirty years. During most of this time, our boats have been moored in the London area and we have won the best decorated boat at Canalway Cavalcade and been runner up several times.

Next year is going to be a challenging one for IWA in general and London Region in particular. To ensure we have the maximum representation on the new Waterways Charity we need to widen the membership of the association so that others recognise us as being a “broad church” representing not only the boating and heritage interests but also all other users such as walkers and casual visitors. Cavalcade 2012, with no National Festival being held, takes on special importance and we need to try and make this one even more memorable than usual to make certain IWA’s campaigning message is heard by the widest possible audience. There is also the opportunity for those of you with boats to join the flotilla on the Thames - have a look at the official website at http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/ and represent the Association in this great spectacle. Finally we can all help in the preparation for the 2012 Olympics. Over the next year leading up to the games we will be joining with others to make the canal network and rivers round London look at their best ready for the thousands of visitors to the event. Look out for the publicity, which will be starting in January. Clean up events in your area, will be starting from March.

If we are to be able to achieve all these things we will need as much help as possible. If you can spare any time why not give one of your committee a ring and talk over how you can help. They are a friendly bunch who are always happy to find you a job that can fit in with the time and expertise you can offer.

The money on offer from the government for the new charity is well below that needed for a sustainable future. Whilst there might be some “wriggle room” on the settlement on offer and the removal of the dead hand of the Treasury from BW will allow the charity to use their assets more profitably, the threat to the waterways caused by the economic situation is real and on-going. We have come a long way over the last few years, one of our long term aims, establishing a National Waterways Conservancy is nearly in our grasp. To ensure that the embryonic National Waterways Charity is not starved of sufficient funds will need firm leadership. I believe the only organisation that can give that leadership on a national level is the Inland Waterways Association.

I will try to write a few words for every future edition of your magazine but it is quite difficult to produce up to date and relevant reports as each branch magazine has a slightly different publishing schedule.

Finally can I publicly thank Roger Squires for all the work he has done in looking after the region as chairperson and then as acting chairperson, when his replacement had to resign due to ill health. He will be a very hard act to follow.

Paul Strudwick -4-

Newly appointed London Region Chairman, Paul Strudwick, assisted by Allan Scott, plays the Waterways Game at the IWA Waterways Festival, Burton on Trent, July 2011 Photo: C Smith

Working boats, little and large, on the Trent & Mersey Canal, at the Waterways Festival, Burton on Trent, July 2011 Photo: C Smith

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From the Branch Chairman With the main fund raising session now with us, we have been and will be out and about with the branch stand (see opposite page for full details.) Alan Furber has made us a new display stand for which we thank him. It would be nice to see other branch members helping with the branch stand. The social meetings over the winter/spring have seen a steady attendance, but it would be nice to see some new faces. Meetings recommence in September through to November, with a Christmas dinner in December.

We also have a cruise on the Wey and Arun Canal arranged for 1st October.

May I, on behalf of the committee, extend a warm welcome to Paul Strudwick, our new London Region Chairman, and the following new South London branch members: Mr C E J & Mrs S I Nieman, New Zealand Mr & Mrs M Zimmermann, South Africa Mr A & Mrs H Connolly, Chislehurst Mr R Gifford, Shooters Hill Mr R Lewis, Bromley Mr N & Mrs P Tumber, London SW16 Mr S Weir, London SE9 Mr T Winspear, London SW11 Mr C L Smith, Sutton Mr P M Sturley, London SE10

Mr P & Mrs D Griffiths, New Zealand Mr P E Michel, Germany Mr K Sherwood & Family, USA Mr C Thorn, USA Mr C & Mrs C Wellnitz, USA Mr M & Mrs L Boothroyd, Canterbury Prof P & Mrs B Braude, London SE26 Mr N & Mrs B Oliver, Orpington S & T Waters, London SW16 Alan Eggby

Narrowboats Belfast and Joseph emerge from Black Jack’s Lock on the Grand Union Canal, en route to Canalway Cavalcade, April 2011.

Photo: C Smith

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Sales Officer’s Report & Forthcoming Branch Activities

The branch stand has been to various events so far this spring and early summer and is booked in for more during late August and September (listed below). A new supply of sales stock has been obtained and will be available at branch events for the rest of the year. Christmas cards and 2012 calendars are now available and will be at branch meetings from September.

So far this year we have been to the Rickmansworth Canal Festival, Eltham Spring Fayre, Mottingham Village Day, Kingston River Festival and the IWA Waterways Festival at Burton on Trent. We have had mixed weather for these events, with wind and rain at several, but have still raised around £400 for branch funds. A big thanks to those who have helped so far this summer.

Sunday 28th August Sunday 4th September

Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th September

Saturday 17th September Sunday 18th September

Eltham Family Day, 11:00 to 18:00 Angel Canal Festival, City Road Lock, Regent’s Canal, 11:00 to 18:00 The Mayor’s Thames Festival, Potters Field Park (near Tower Bridge), from 11:00 each day The Great River Race, Ham, 12:00 to 19:00 Brixton Windmill, Windmill Gardens, Blenheim Gardens, Brixton Hill, London SW2 5ED, 13:00 to 17:30. For more information see Friends of Windmill Gardens website: www. brixtonwindmill.org.uk

If you would like to help run the stand or the Waterways Game (it’s not strenuous or complicated!) please contact me or any other member of the Committee, contact details are on Page 15.

Alan Eggby

The Tudor Barn at Well Hall Pleasaunce, Eltham, May 2011 Photo: D Robbie

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Please support these upcoming events!

25th ANGEL FESTIVAL City Road Lock SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 11am-5pm.

The year 2011 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Angel Canal Festival. It is a very special year for the event.

Although City Road Basin is still undergoing redevelopment, the usual stalls will be in Danbury Street, Graham Street and along the canal towpath. If you want to book a stall, there are still some places available. [Contact Steve Burt at www.angelcanalfestival.org].

The Festival opens at 11am and continues through to 5pm. Apart from the variety of stalls there is an array of fantastic musicians to entertain you. Boat trips through the Islington Tunnel or around City Road Basin and lots of fun things for children. As always, the Mayor of Islington will open the event and the Pearly Kings and Queen will tour the site. The special feature is the ‘Flying Angel’ who will be back again to amaze visitors.

There is a Boaters BBQ on Saturday evening 3rd September at the Graham St Gardens Moorings. If you plan to bring your boat please contact tonyhay@telecomstatistics.com to book a mooring slot. Volunteers are still needed to help organise the event- so become an ‘Angel’ for the day. [Contact carolinestanger@hotmail.com for details of the tasks list.]

Above all else, put the date in your diary now and come along to City Road lock on 4th September to join in the fun.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Roger Squires, Angel Festival Organising Committee SLOUGH CANAL FESTIVAL – 10TH & 11TH SEPTEMBER 2011 11am to 5pm on both days This year’s Slough Canal Festival will take place at Bloom Park, off Middlegreen Road, Langley, SLOUGH. It is organised by Slough Borough Council, the Inland Waterways Association [Middlesex Branch] and the Friends of the Slough Canal. The Festival is sponsored by Akzo Nobel, makers of Dulux Paints [who are based beside the canal] and the Slough Express, and is supported by the IWA. There will be the usual range of Arts and Crafts stalls, Society stands, a mobile farm, and children’s activities. Boat trips and canal fishing tuition will be available. Refreshments stalls, including a hog roast, Indian and vegetarian food, will sustain the visitors.

The Friends of the Slough Canal have been in discussion with British Waterways to get the Arm cleared of weed and rubbish before the Festival and BW has responded by bringing in a weed and rubbish clearing craft from the River Lee . This has been working its way down the Arm. In addition a second lifting craft has been hired to clear the cut weeds and heavier debris from the channel. Volunteers from the Friends of the Slough Canal group have been working clearing the towpath and plans are being made to landscape the canal bank in the vicinity of Uxbridge Road Bridge. For those who would like to become involved, the Friends of the Slough Canal can be contacted c/o 571 Rochford Gardens, Slough, SL2 5XG or by phoning: 01753 536901.

The Slough Canal Festival is a unique campaigning event. Please give it your support.

Slough Arm weed clearance.

Photo: Chris Lloyd

Social Secretary’s Report Our evening social meetings continued as planned. In April, Mike Constable told us about the wartime trainees on the canals, “Not Such Idle Women”. He has done a lot of research on the subject and interviewed some of the participants, several of whom have written books about their experiences. He dispelled some myths which have arisen and fascinated us with glimpses of a world which is now a fading memory. In May, Robin Higgs “Barged Through East Germany” aboard a friend’s boat. His route was north of Berlin to the Mecklenburg Lakes, an area little known to even some of our members who have cruised extensively on European waterways. The subject of the June meeting was the Somersetshire Coal Canal, the speaker being Patrick Moss, the Chairman of the Trust which is working on the restoration of this remarkable waterway which joined the Kennet & Avon Canal at the Dundas Aqueduct and served the mines around Radstock. With a potted history and some excellent slides of what can be seen on the ground, it was an incentive to visit this beautiful part of the country. The annual cruise on the PS Kingswear Castle took place on 25th June in fine but windy weather. As soon as we entered the Thames estuary and headed for Southend Pier and Shoeburyness the motion was distinctly lively.

The evening programme resumes in September as listed overleaf and I urge you to attend. Our attendances have remained reasonable but we can still accommodate more!

A yacht tacking ahead of PS Kingswear Castle on the River Medway, June 2011 Photo: C Smith

In the meantime, it is not too late to book places on our Wey & Arun Canal cruise on Saturday 1st October - starting from Loxwood, West Sussex at 14:30. This will enable us to see the latest restoration work. The cost is £12 for adults (no concessions) and £6 for children. Please make out your cheques to me and send them to 41 Jubilee Avenue Whitton, Twickenham TW2 6JA as soon as possible There is a car park at Loxwood and the adjoining pub, The Onslow Arms, does lunches.

Alan Smith -9-

Social Calendar 2011-2012 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 for how to get there see the map on the back cover 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.

September 14th

‘The Thames South Bank’

October 1st

Cruise on the Wey & Arun Canal - please contact Alan Smith (details below) as soon as possible for availability and bookings

October 12th November 9th December 9th January 11th February 8th March 14th April 18th

Michael Gilbert (NB: programme change)

‘Restoration of The Sussex Ouse’ Bob Draper (provisional) ‘Lost Canals’ Nick Kelly Christmas Dinner More details later ‘Waves and Waterfalls in Hong Kong and New Zealand’ by Alan and Christine Smith TBC AGM, followed by a presentation by the new London Region Chairman, Paul Strudwick ‘Amsterdam Excursions’ by Roger Squires

For more information about South London’s Social Calendar, please contact Alan Smith, telephone 020 8255 1581 or email smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk For updates and information on all IWA events and branches please go to: http://www.waterways.org.uk

Tower Bridge fully raised, July 2011 Photo: A Eggby

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An Invitation to the Wey & Arun Canal May I extend a very warm welcome to the Wey & Arun Canal on behalf of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust. I have a close connection with this waterway, which the IWA South London Branch has chosen for its trip on October 1st. I have been crewing the trip boats from Loxwood since 2003 and was formerly a member of the Trust’s Council of Management, until forced to retire last year because of my work situation. I hope to be crewing this trip too.

I know I am biased but I believe the canal to be one of the nicest in the country and well worth a visit.

The Trust has always been keen to recreate the former waterway with the environment playing a key part in its efforts and that is why, when a new trip boat was required, the Wiggonholt Association, which champions rural crafts and the environment in West Sussex, provided a large part of the finance to build the new craft, known as the Wiggonholt in their honour. This boat is a broad-beam electrically-powered boat, fitted with a lift which is made good use of by the disabled, and catering for up to fifty passengers.

It is not the only trip boat on the canal, there also being the Zachariah Keppel, a typical Springer craft taking thirty passengers, and the Josias Jessop and John Smallpeice, which both take twelve. There is also the Pete Wynn, an all-electric day boat which the Trust hires out to its members for the day, ideal for picnics.

The Wey and Arun was the only link to the South Coast from the national network and operated as a through route from 1816 to 1871, when it was officially abandoned because of railway competition. Now the local railway is gone and the Wey & Arun Canal Trust have been restoring the waterway since 1970; about half is now rebuilt and much activity is still taking place in an effort to recreate the link between the two rivers contained in its name. Even the built-over section in the North of the canal at Bramley has a work party busy creating a green corridor to accommodate the canal along a new route.

Strictly speaking, the Wey & Arun Canal is two navigations, the Wey & Arun Junction Canal, of which the navigable stretch from Loxwood forms part, and the older Arun Navigation from Newbridge to Pallingham, where it joined the tidal River Arun. A refurbished replica waterwheel will be recommissioned here in September.

The IWA South London Branch has a special connection with our waterway, which I will be more than pleased to point out to you if I do crew this trip. Lesley, your Branch secretary, has often crewed alongside me too.

If you wish to find out more about the Wey & Arun prior to the trip, you will find the Trust’s website at www.weyandarun.co.uk.

Brian Andrews - 11 -

Ron Bingham A tribute to a great campaigner

We were all very sad to say goodbye to Ron Bingham who died in June 2011 aged 80. For those who didn’t know Ron he was a great campaigner for the waterways especially in London, he was London IWA’s liaison officer with British Waterways and many other organisations, he was chairman of IWA London Planning and Navigation Committee (Plan/Nav) for many years and also attended the national Navigation committee on behalf of London Region.

Ron and his wife, Olive, have been well-known on London’s waterways for very many years. They originally had a cruiser called RIDO (Ron, Ian, David, Olive) and were moored at Rammey Marsh cruising club where Ron succeeded Dr Michael Essex-Lopresti as Commodore. Later they had their Narrowboat ‘Coal Boy’. Ron was a member of the Odd Boats Society which was founded in 1978 to encourage the use of unusual craft on unusual waterways. Ron lived up to their aims and he and Olive participated in many of the early protest cruises of IWA London Branch. David Wood recalls one attempt to circumnavigate the Bow Back Rivers where they reached separate sides of the railway and Northern Outfall Sewer bridges but could not get through the silt and debris to meet up.

David Wood convened the original Plan/Nav Subcommittee around 1975 and states that Ron was one of its earliest recruits. He said “Ron was assiduous in investigating development sites to enable us to press the GLC and local authorities to improve the plans. He campaigned for the return of gate paddles on Hanwell, the preservation of iron bridges and the navigation of arms and backwaters” Ron succeeded David as Chairman of Plan/Nav and Roger Squires recalls “He went to many public enquiries in that role. Perhaps his most notable achievement was in respect of the old Broad Street Line [now Overground] bridge over the Regents Canal in Hackney. He proved to the Inquiry that bridges could be removed and replaced with minimal stoppages. The Railway wanted a six months closure! He won. It is interesting now in London to see that the railways generally only seek weekend closures to replace bridges over highways and canals!”

Colin Edwards, Ron’s successor as chairman, recalls: “Ron was a key chairman of Plan/Nav. He had an eye for detail and always verified the facts before going into print. Apart from Ron’s work on Plan/Nav, I particularly recall being in an inflatable on the Old River Lea on Bow Back rivers with him because he wanted to know the navigable width between two road bridge supports, to see what dimension boats could use the navigation. This was years ahead of any Olympic thoughts. The state of the current Waterways in London owe a great deal to the way in which Ron went about protecting them in those critical times.” Jon Guest, Waterway Manager London, wrote “Ron was, I think, the first person that I came across in British Waterways (when I came to work in London) who was from the IWA. I had many meetings with him and it was always great to see him and Olive at our User Group Meetings.

He was so influential in the Canal scene in London and will be sadly missed by so many people.“ It is perhaps a measure of the esteem in which Ron is held that both Jon Guest and Mark Bensted, previous BW London Manager, attended the funeral service.

Ron was awarded a Richard Bird medal in 2002. This is awarded ‘For members of the Association whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period’. Apart from these achievements Ron was very much a family man. He and Olive enjoyed 56 years of marriage, their two sons, David and Ian, both have their own families and they are all very close. Some years ago their grandson, Timothy, enjoyed entering a radio controlled replica of ‘Coal Boy’ in the pageant at Canalway Cavalcade complete with replica of Ron! Ron and Olive were frequently at events with their boat, often with grandchildren visiting. As my boat ‘Panacea’ is a similar length to ‘Coal Boy’, we often landed up moored next to each other and have shared many happy times together.

Ron and Olive shared a strong faith and have tackled their numerous medical problems with great courage. They finally decided they had to sell the boat due to their respective health problems. I took the above picture of them (with Eric Garland on the right) on PS Kingswear Castle in June 2006. It was typical of their courage and determination that, despite mobility and breathing problems respectively, Olive and Ron did not let these get in the way of living as full a life as was possible - if you have ever tried getting on and off Kingswear Castle or, especially, tried to access the loo on board you will know what I mean!!

Libby Bradshaw

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The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Flotilla Three hundred years ago, major processions and pageants on the Thames through London were commonplace. All the City Livery Companies had their own barges and sought to outdo each other in their displays. Over the past century few such parades have taken place. The last major event was perhaps the VJ Day Parade in 2005 organised by Lord Salisbury [Viscount Cranbourne.] It was thus pleasing to hear that, when a proposal was made for a Thames Flotilla to be the centrepiece of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration in London, Lord Salisbury again was given the role of Chairman of a new Charitable Trust to fund raise and organise the event on Sunday 3rd June 2012, during a special Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. Adrian Evans was chosen to be the Pageant Master and the Port of London Authority were tasked with setting up various committees to co-ordinate the event, which will take place on the tideway between Putney in the west and Canary Wharf in the east.

Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation Emblem Designed by Katherine Dewar

Invitations were sent out to the High Commissioners of all the Commonwealth Countries and the Lord Lieutenants of every county in the UK, inviting each to identify a vessel for the flotilla. At the same time a Web Site was created inviting boaters to register their interest in taking part. Various categories of craft were identified. These were Passenger Vessels; Kayaks, canoes and Dragon Boats; Rowing Boats; Dutch Barges; Narrow Boats; Motor Cruisers and Historic Vessels and Steam Boats. Once boaters had registered preliminary interest, all had the opportunity to fill out the full application form from which the final selection will be made during the Autumn of 2011. The organisers’ aim is to notify all of the successful applicants before the end of 2011.

It is envisaged that the flotilla could be up to 7.5 miles in length and take 90 minutes to pass the Queen at a saluting point by the Tower of London. The key to achieving this target being the ability of all craft to hold a speed of at least 4 knots for over two hours and it is envisaged that the craft will ride on the ebb tide, which will facilitate a speed of 6 knots overall.

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The location of each of the types of craft within the flotilla was deemed critical and careful risk assessments were undertaken by the co-ordinators of each of the groups of vessels to be involved. Data was derived from information gained from a series of rehearsals.

The Queen will lead the flotilla on a specially prepared Barge. The flotilla will be divided into sections, each separated by a ‘Herald’ barge, the first of which will include a floating Belfry of eight new bells cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and commissioned by the Church of St James Garlickhythe. Their peals will be answered and echoed by chimes from riverbank churches along the route. The whole flotilla will be a piece of theatre on water and will integrate music, fireworks and water jets and special sound effects.

The Armed forces, fire, police and rescue boats will also take part and it is envisaged that passenger boats will carry some 30,000 people in the procession. In that way the whole community can become involved.

The organisers plan to seek charitable donations, sponsorships and corporate support. These will be administered through a specially created limited company, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, registered as a charity. All money raised will defray the cost of the event and also support other charitable projects that have a link to the Queen and her Diamond Jubilee.

The final details of the elements of the flotilla are in the process of being firmed up. Many hours of careful planning still are needed to complete the final plans. However, it looks as if the most fantastic waterway event of the century will be the centrepiece of the national celebration to commemorate the 60 years of the Queen’s reign.

Roger Squires From the Editor: Do you own a boat? As a skipper do you have tidal river experience? Would you like to be part of this unique, commemorative celebration of the Queen’s reign navigating our own beautiful and iconic River Thames through London? There’s still time!

You can register your vessel by going to the website: http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org and completing the registration form. The closing date for applications is 31st October 2011 and the organisers will notify those awarded a place in the pageant by the end of this year. By joining in this fantastic event you could also ‘fly the flag’ for the Inland Waterways Association by displaying a burgee and sporting IWA corporate wear.

IWA’s Promotions and Communications Committee (PromCom) has generously agreed to award a selection of ‘goodies’ to IWA skippers whose place in the pageant is confirmed. Just email a copy of the final confirmation notification (N.B. not your initial registration acknowledgement email - the prizes will only be awarded to those applicants who are finally accepted as participants in the pageant) with your name, daytime telephone number, address and membership number to me: christine.smith@blueyonder. co.uk and I’ll arrange for the prize to be despatched! If you’ve any questions about this promotion please phone me on 020 8255 1581 or mobile 07774 890 750 Good Luck!

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Grosvenor Canal Update When I wrote my original article on the Kensington and Grosvenor Canals, published in the June 2010 issue of Southside News, the information was gleaned from the websites quoted in that article. I have, however, recently visited the British Transport Police headquarters at Ebury Bridge and behind it lies the Grosvenor Canal, still very much in being, although not now in use.

If you look to the left, after crossing the Thames by train and shortly before you reach Victoria Station, you will see a blue block-like building. That is the headquarters of the British Transport Police at Ebury Bridge and has the BTP star emblazoned on its front. It is built on what was obviously part of the Grosvenor Canal at one time, but was probably filled in at the time of the conversion of the basin into Victoria Station itself. The remains of the truncated canal are just behind.

To my eyes, the situation is not as dire as I was led to believe from the websites. Above the entrance lock is a series of mooring pontoons, each advertising pump-out facilities and there is even a small punt floating there. The bridge across the lock chamber is fixed, but only by a plastic cable tie as far as I could see, although the mechanism to rotate it may, of course, not be currently operable. The lock chamber and gates are in excellent condition. There are two sets of gates at each end of the chamber, formerly opening in opposite directions, depending on whether the tide was above, or below the level of the upper basin, i.e. the usual arrangements for a tidal entrance lock.

Below the lock is a small tidal basin, which could also accommodate a few craft, as the road bridge to the Thames itself has sufficient headroom to allow this. They would, of course, sit on the mud at low tide. There is a plastic bund across the actual entrance from the Thames, presumably to prevent craft accessing the canal accidentally, but this could easily be removed.

The pontoons in the upper basin are not big enough to accommodate large craft, e.g. sea-going craft, Thames gin palaces or full-size narrowboats, but, with a bit of imagination and foresight could, I believe, be made into a prestigious off-Thames central London facility for a few craft at least.

The lock chamber and upper basin are, of course, surrounded by buildings, which presumably are part of the estate (Grosvenor Waterside) that now owns the premises, but it is open at the upper end towards the BTP building and can be accessed from Ebury Bridge Road, although there is a security box in place nearby which has to be passed to gain access to the canal. The upper basin with its pontoons is fed from one side by a triangular water feature which pours a long sheet of water into it. You can gain direct access to these pontoons, as I did, to look at the canal more closely.

To an untrained eye, all is not yet lost! I think the Grosvenor Canal could still be brought back into use with a little imagination on the part of the current owners. The main problem with continued use of the Canal probably lies with the fact that the surrounding buildings are now residential and there is therefore no real security as regards the upper basin – there is direct access from these buildings, although a security box does exist nearby, but this is probably there in connection with the Grosvenor Waterside residential estate of which the Canal is now part. This is a St. James’ Estates development for Chelsea.

I did think of suggesting to the British Transport Police that they might base a couple of small boats there to give them access to the River Service piers which are now linked to the London Railway network, but I didn’t. They, at least, could maintain security, although the headquarters building is currently fenced off from the canal itself.

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During my visit I took the following photographs, which show the Grosvenor Canal as it is today.

Brian Andrews

Left: Water feed to upper basin

Below: Lock Gate

Below: Looking towards Thames from bridge over lock chamber

Right: Looking towards upper basin from bridge across lock chamber

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Below: Lock gate from tidal basin

Below: Bridge across lock chamber

Below: Upper basin

Right: Pontoons in upper basin looking towards lock

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IWA with London Walks London Walks arranges towpath walks in association with the IWA and the proceeds are shared between the two organisations. If you are interested in any of the following just turn up - they cost £8 per person, or £6 for senior citizens/full-time students, children under 15 go free. For more information please contact: Peter Finch - 020 8969 9941, sailor1057@aol.com or Roger Wilkinson - 020 8458 9476, rogerw9796@yahoo.co.uk 4th September

Regent’s Canal - Islington to Mile End, meet 2:30 pm Angel Station

18th September

Bow Back Rivers & Olympic London, meet 2:30 pm Bromley by Bow Station

2nd October

Uxbridge & Grand Union Canal, meet 2:30 pm Uxbridge Station

16th October

Regent’s Canal - Kings Cross - Angel - New River, meet 2:30 pm King’s Cross Station taxi rank

23rd October

Bow Back Rivers & Olympic London, meet 2:30 pm Bromley by Bow Station

6th November

Paddington Basin, Little Venice, Paddington Branch Grand Union, meet 2:30 pm Edgware Road Station (Circle Line)

20th November

Regent’s Canal - Little Venice to Camden, meet 2:30 pm Warwick Avenue Station

4th December

Regent’s Canal - King’s Cross to Camden, meet 2:30 pm King’s Cross Station taxi rank

Traders on Warwick Crescent at Canalway Cavalcade, April/May 2011 Photo: C Smith

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IWA SOUTH LONDON BRANCH OFFICERS & REPRESENTATIVES 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@ursa.me.uk BRANCH SECRETARY Lesley Pryde (Elected 2011-2014) 2 Hepworth Road, Streatham, London, SW16 5DQ Tel: 0208 679 9866, mobile: 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@gmail.com SOCIAL MEETINGS SECRETARY & CROYDON CANAL CAMPAIGN CO-ORDINATOR Alan J.Smith (Elected 2011-2014) 41 Jubilee Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex. TW2 6JA

Tel: 0208 255 1581, mobile: 07774 890750 e-mail: smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk PUBLICITY OFFICER & NEWSLETTER EDITOR Christine L Smith (Elected 2011-2014) 41 Jubilee Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex. TW2 6JA

Tel: 0208 255 1581, mobile: 07774 890750 e-mail: christine.smith@blueyonder.co.uk or chrisalasjubilee@googlemail.com COMMITTEE MEMBER Alan Furber (Elected 2011-2014) 99 Pickhurst Lane, Hayes, Bromley, Kent BR2 7HU Tel: 0208 462 1650, email: Alanfurber@aol.com MEMBERSHIP OFFICER (Non Committee) Jane Davey 30 Siddons Road, Croydon CRO 4JR. Tel: (020) 8680 2213 EX-OFFICIO AS REGION CHAIRMAN Paul Strudwick (Elected 2011-2014) 40 Fifth Avenue, Chelmsford, CM1 4HD Tel: 01245 358342, mobile: 07885 240291, email: strudwick.family@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.