Towing Path Topics Newsletter of the Inland Waterways Association Lancashire & Cumbria Branch
May 2018
DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Towing Path Topics are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) or of its North West Region or of the Lancs and Cumbria Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgment. Cover: Part of the wallpapered bridge (page 26)
Photograph acknowledgements: Page 11 Tameside Canal Boat Trust Page 15 Neil McGarry Page 17 Maralyn Nott Page 17, 19 & 35 John Hewerdine Page 22 Mike Clarke Page28 Andrew Smith Page 30 Peter Jones Page 32 Helen Moriarty All others by the editor
The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.
Editor: David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk
Copy date for next edition 12th August 2018 2
Editor’s piece Welcome to our May edition. Thank you to everyone who has sent me items, I have found room to include most of them although a little pruning was necessary. I have included poems sent by Brian Capps, I like them; if you do too, please let me know - he says he has plenty more. I have received some complimentary messages about the previous edition, so I seem to be going in the right direction. I hope that you find this one as interesting and informative. We were criticised for using initials but I have continued to do so to save space. Once again there is some emphasis on the Lancaster Canal, mainly because of the 200th anniversary next year and the increased activity on the Northern Reaches. Our other canals have not been left out, particularly the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the splendid work done by ‘Kennet’. Although not in our branch area I have included news of the disgraceful situation on the Forth and Clyde Canal because we have several Scottish members Wendy our branch chair has thanked people for their work on behalf of the branch. I will take this opportunity to thank her too; no-one works harder for this branch plus her efforts on behalf of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership and the Lancaster Canal Trust. Wendy has already arranged our winter social programme, you will find details on the back page. You will see from the list of forthcoming dates that we will be taking the branch stand to various places. It is a way of raising funds for the branch and more importantly we advertise the work of the IWA. If you can help us for an hour or two that spreads the load (details from Wendy or me). What we really need is a Sales Officer. I hope that you enjoy walking, cycling, boating the waterways this spring and summer. Send me photos and any snippets of news. Keep an eye out for funny boat names David Faulkner STOP PRESS: Heritage Lottery Fund bid for Northern Reaches has been successful, see page 32 3
Forthcoming dates May 19th
Bingley Canal Festival
June 2nd & 3rd
Branch stand at Country Fest, Westmorland Showground next to Lancaster Canal
5th
Lancaster Canal Trust (LCT) social meeting Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, 7.30pm
14th rd
Balsam bash at Haslam Park th
Page 24
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23 & 24
Branch stand at Burscough Heritage Festival
28th
Branch trip to Portland Basin
11
30th
Litter pick Haslam Park, Lancaster Canal towpath
13
July 7th & 8th
Scarisbrick Marina Festival, L&L Canal
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LCT AGM 7.30pm Over Kellet village hall Speaker Paul Shaw of WRG Balsam bash at Haslam Park, Preston
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10
th
12th & 21st st
Saturday 21 Sunday 22nd Monday 23rd
CRT Roadshow Kendal area Lune Aqueduct Car Park at Glasson Dock
13
22nd Aug 26th & 27th
Ulverston Canal Gala Branch stand at Botany Bay Canal Festival, Chorley, L&L Canal
26 23
25th – 27th
IWA Festival of Water, St Neots (National Rally as was)
17th -27th Sept 27th
Salt Towns inaugural rally Branch social meeting at Whittle-leWoods
33 36
For details of Lancaster Canal Trust (LCT) events see their website, our branch is a member so you are invited to attend. 4
Branch Chairman’s report Well here we are again and another Towing Path Topics and spring is coming and we are looking forward to the summer. Since the last magazine there has been a lot happening on the waterways some of it good and some of it bad. Starting with the good, we have been successful in our bid to hold the IWA National Trailboat Festival in our area in 2019. The event will be held at Country Fest as it was in 2015 on the 1st and 2nd of June. In 2015 the festival was organised by Lancaster Canal Trust, (LCT), this year it will be planned by your committee, so put the date in your diaries! In other good news LCT and Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) have been working on the “First Furlong” on the Northern Reaches and hope to have it back in water soon and definitely in time for the Trail Boat Festival. In bad news, the Aqueduct at Stainton has continued to deteriorate following the damage from Storm Desmond and as I write we are waiting to hear the results of the Heritage Lottery Fund bid which will help in its restoration. Then there is the breach on the Middlewich Branch, not in our area I know but it will affect a lot of our members plans for boating this summer and involve Canal and River Trust in a lot of work. Talking of the Canal and River Trust we are still waiting to hear from them about their new structure and team and are concerned about the implications for change; we hope we can continue to keep our good relationship with them. They are also still working on their new logo and we are looking forward to seeing that. IWA has also had a new logo and we are starting to see that on publications and information from head office, speaking for myself I am even beginning to like the new logo. Since the last edition of Towing Path Topics we have held our Annual General Meeting (AGM). Numbers at the AGM were a bit less than I had hoped but the meeting went well and two new
members joined our committee, so thanks to Jim and Maralyn Nott for offering to help. Jim and Maralyn are boaters and will usually be away a lot in the summer months but they have already got some good ideas about what we can do as a branch. Jim has offered to look at planning applications and they are both going to promote the IWA from their boat as they travel around as well as holding a branch stand at the Scarisbrick Marina Event. After the formal business of the AGM we had a quiz kindly organised by Gillian and Audrey Smith; next year we may have a hot pot supper. Let me know if you think that is a good idea. As well as the AGM we have had two other social meetings, thanks to those who came and if you haven’t been to a meeting yet please give it a try. Members of your branch committee have attended many meetings, with CRT, IWA Region, Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership (LCRP) and LCT. I know it is only 2018 but we are already starting to plan for 2019 which will be a very exciting year for us as it is the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal and of course the Trail Boat Festival. I have a place on the planning committee for the 200th anniversary celebrations to represent the branch so if anyone has any ideas or offers of help please let me know. The celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Leeds & Liverpool will be a hard act to follow but let’s give it our best shot. The branch committee continues to meet every 2 months to carry out the business of the branch and we always have lunch first. However, we are only a small committee which limits what we can achieve, even with two new members, a net increase of one as we lost one member. We still need more members so if you are interested talk to one of us. I couldn’t finish my report without giving my thanks to all the committee members who give up their time to help run the branch, without them my job would be impossible. 6
Thanks to Sir Robert Atkins our Region Chair who attends our meetings when he can to offer his help, support and good ideas. Then there is David Faulkner who is our treasurer and magazine editor, both of which roles he carries out really well. My thanks also to Audrey Smith who works tirelessly for the IWA both locally and nationally; Audrey has a wealth of experience and knowledge and our branch is lucky to have her. Then there is Tony Dunning, ably supported by his wife Janet who has offered to be Membership Secretary since Les Fragle stepped down so thanks to Janet for that. An especial thanks to Jim and Maralyn Nott for joining our committee and bringing some new ideas. I would also like to thank all the members and volunteers who have turned up at events to help us; it is much appreciated and makes running events possible. We will have a break from the social programme for the summer but don’t forget to put the next season’s dates in your diaries, the last Thursday of the month from September to April. Those of you who haven’t been yet please try to come along, we have a varied programme of speakers and there is plenty of opportunity to chat with fellow members. There is also the raffle which is a bit of fun and helps to pay for the cost of venue hire and speakers. We are always on the lookout for raffle prizes so if you have any items to donate they would be very welcome. But just because the social season is nearly over until September don’t think there is nothing happening, we have plans for the summer months and you can read about those in the magazine but there will always be last minute additions and changes so if you want to be kept informed of those don’t forget to let Head Office know your email address so I can keep in touch with you via Head Office. I hope you all have a good summer and hope to see some of you at the events we are attending during the year. Wendy Humphreys
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Report of 2018 Branch AGM This is a brief summary; the full minutes are available from the editor and a fuller version will appear in our January 2019 edition as part of the calling notice for the 2019 AGM. Held: 22 Feb 2018 at St Chad’s Parish Centre, Whittle-le-Woods 13 members present, 11 apologies. Minutes of 2017 meeting accepted, no matters arising. Wendy gave her branch chairman’s report outlining a busy 2017. This included monthly social meetings with speakers over the winter; an outing to the Anderton boat lift; a walk and boat ride on the Lancaster canal; the branch stand was at a lock wind at Johnson’s Hillock, Country Fest near Kendal and Botany Bay near Chorley plus there were 2 balsam bashes. Wendy thanked the committee and everyone else who had worked on behalf of the branch. Region chairman’s report – see below The treasurer’s report showed an annual loss of £1,971, mainly due to a donation of £2,250 to the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership towards the cost of a project officer. The bank balance is £10,577 of which £6,000 is committed over the next 2 years. Committee election: Tony Dunning was re-elected; Les Fragle did not stand for re-election; Maralyn and Jim Nott were nominated.
Leo Pollard It is with sadness that we report that one of our members Leo Pollard died earlier this year. Leo did a stint on the North Lancs and Cumbria Branch committee (as it was then) but Leo's most memorable contribution to the waterways was his amazing non-stop run (in 1983?) of the 127 mile Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath in a remarkable 35 hours. We raised £1500 for the restoration of Frankton Locks on the Montgomery Canal. (Thanks to John Enser for letting us know, Ed) 8
Regional Chairman’s Report for AGM 2018 Firstly, my apologies for failing to appear this evening - not something that I make a habit of doing - but I have endured three hours of dental surgery today under sedation and am not really in a fit state to do much else! A little about my waterways background. As long ago as 1970, I and some friends spent holidays on a 72’ Ovaltine workboat called the “Almighty” and, amongst many other activities (!), set a record for the fastest time in clearing the seventeen locks on the Northampton Staircase Flight for charity. Sometime later, I got elected to Parliament and spent more holidays on the Cut, including one with John & Norma Major and our respective young families. As my career progressed, I became Minister for the Waterways in Britain - at the same time as Audrey Smith was National Chairman of the IWA - and then for those in Northern Ireland when I was there as No. 2 to the Secretary of State. Upon losing my Seat in 1997, I became an MEP and Ken Hudson, then Leader of Preston Council as well as a very keen boater, persuaded me to become President of the Ribble Link Campaign - a real success story. At that point we decided to acquire our own narrowboat “RATTY” and the rest, as they say, is history. So my knowledge of the Cut is pretty extensive but there is always much more to learn and, with teachers like Wendy and the Smiths, I am learning fast! And I have Alan Platt to act as the Regional Secretary and general know-all (in the nicest possible sense!). Locally, I have managed to visit most Branches in the North West which stretches from the Scottish border down to North Wales - as well as attending meetings of the LCRP and with CRT regional officials. I am now a National Trustee of the IWA and, as such, am attending my fair share of Trustees’ meetings near Rugby. It is a lengthy return journey from North Lancashire, lasting all day on a Saturday, and is both environmentally and financially unfriendly. Accordingly, I
am pressing the Officers to set up telephone conference meetings in future - a proposal being examined urgently. It will save time and money. Given my political background, I have been deputed to act as the IWA liaison with Local & National Government, whether MPs, Ministers or Councillors. I am constantly amazed at the lack of knowledge about canals and waterways amongst our elected representatives - a situation I am endeavouring to rectify. I am also President of the Lancashire Association of Local Councils - an umbrella body for Town and Parish Councillors and, in that capacity, have arranged for Audrey Smith to talk to the Spring Conference in Leyland about the importance of our regional waterways. Three points that I should mention about current IWA campaigns:1. We need to improve or develop our relationships with other users of the waterways - anglers, canoeists, ramblers etc. 2. We need to be fully aware of our individual and collective responsibilities for those with disabilities and towards children and young people. 3. The change of logo indicates a change of attitude towards Government and the general public, not a waste of money designed to irritate existing members! We must become more professional in our dealings with all and sundry and begin to influence the protections and changes that we all want to see. Above all, thanks to you for your commitment and activity. Without you, we simply would not function. Rt Hon Sir Robert Atkins Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys Filming on the Lancaster Canal with actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales will begin in late May. The programme makers have asked various organisations including LCT and ourselves for suggestions of where to film and who to interview. We don’t know when the programme will be shown. 10
Branch Trip to Portland Basin Thursday 28th June 2018 This year our branch outing will be to Portland Basin at Ashtonunder-Lyne. Portland Basin is at the junction of the Peak Forest, Ashton and Huddersfield Narrow Canals and there is a very interesting museum which we can look round. They have a very good website at Tameside.gov.uk if you want to find out more and Canal and River Trust also have information on their website. Tameside Canal Boat Trust run a trip boat there called Still Waters and the branch has booked it for a 2 hour cruise to Droylsden and back.
Still Waters 11
We will meet at 10.45am and the boat trip will start at 11.00. After the trip there will be a chance to have lunch at the Bridge View CafĂŠ or you can bring your own picnic. We will then have a look around the museum. Entry to the museum is free and the cost of the boat trip is ÂŁ8 per person. Please send cheques payable to Wendy Humphreys at Nether Greenlowe Farm Duckshaw Road Darwen BB3 2UA Any questions please email me on wendy.humphreys@waterways.org.uk or phone 07763561572
Balsam Bashing 2018 Thursday June 14th and Thursday July 12th The Friends of Haslam Park and The Lancashire Wildlife Trust are having joint working days at Haslam Park and have asked if any of our members would like to join them, they will be working in the park and not near the canal but those Balsam seeds travel a long way! The Friends start at 10.00 and finish at 3.00 and have a break for lunch from 1.00-2.00. You will have to bring your own lunch but tea and coffee are available. Meet at the Friends cabin at Haslam Park at the allotments and bring gloves. Saturday 21st July This will be a joint day with Friends of Haslam Park, The Lancashire Wildlife Trust, IWA and Lancaster Canal Trust. We will be having a Balsam Bash along the canal towing path in Haslam Park and the event will run from 10am to 2pm with a break for lunch. Bring your own lunch but tea and coffee will be provided. Meet at the Friends cabin at the allotments at Haslam Park and bring gloves. If you require further information contact me on wendy.humphreys@waterways.org.uk 12
(Pulling up Himalayan Balsam is easy but from personal experience I suggest you wear long sleeves because it often grows near stinging nettles. Ed)
Litter Picking on the Lancaster Canal Saturday 30th June from 10am to 2pm A number of members have said that they would like to do something to improve the environment of the canal but don’t necessarily want to get involved in major work parties. Well litter picking could be the answer. It can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it and will be an opportunity to talk to other interested people as well as doing some good for the environment of the canal. The IWA, Lancaster Canal Trust, Friends of Haslam Park and Lancashire Wildlife Trust will be having a joint litter picking event along the towing path at Haslam Park and hope that you can join us. Meet at the Friends cabin at the allotments at Haslam Park and bring gloves, we will provide bags. We will be having a break for lunch so bring your own lunch but tea and coffee will be provided. Any problems or questions contact me on wendy.humphreys@waterways.org.uk
Lancaster Canal 200th Anniversary Celebrations. Canal and River Trust Summer Roadshows As you will all know 2019 is the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal and plans are being made to celebrate this with lots of events planned along the length of the canal in 2019. Canal and River Trust (CRT) have set up a project group to look at planning as many activities and celebrations as possible and Wendy Humphreys is representing the IWA at these planning meetings.
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2019 may seem like a long way away but I assure you it isn’t! There have already been some consultation events and some of you may have attended them. There is a lot of work going on to plan more events. We will keep you informed when we have more detail. CRT will be holding a series of road shows this summer where you can find out more about canals and join in with some fun activities and find out more about the 200th anniversary celebrations. Those on the Lancaster Canal will be held on: Saturday 21st July in the Kendal area Sunday 22nd July at Lune Aqueduct Car Park Monday 23rd July at Glasson Dock More details can be found on the Canal and River Trust website.
Trail Boat Festival 2019 You may have read about it in ‘Waterways’ but in case you missed it I can confirm that the 2019 IWA Trail Boat Rally will be held in our region on the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal. The event will be held on 1st and 2nd June 2019 so put the dates in your diaries! The festival will be held with Country Fest at the Westmorland Showground. 2019 is the bicentenary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal and the Trail Boat Festival will be an important part of the celebrations. There was a Trail Boat Festival held with Country Fest in 2015 and it was a brilliant event. Working with Country Fest means that Trail Boaters can enjoy all the attractions and events available at Country Fest and the public who attend Country Fest can enjoy the Trail Boat Festival as an addition to Country Fest. The partnership worked well in 2015 when the Trail Boat Festival was organised by Lancaster Canal Trust. In 2019 the event will be organised by Lancashire and Cumbria IWA with help from some of the people who organised the 2015 festival. Trail boaters will have the opportunity to cruise the newly restored “First Furlong” and admire the work of the Lancaster Canal Trust and the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership. 14
It is anticipated that the Trail Boat Festival will raise the profile of the current and future regeneration of the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal and promote the use of the inland waterways corridor to a wide range of users. If anyone wants to get involved in organising or helping with the festival email me at wendy.humphreys@waterways.org.uk Wendy Humphreys
Boats that came to 2017 Country Fest
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Scarisbrick Marina Festival
On the 7th & 8th July the Lancs and Cumbria branch of the IWA will have a promotional stand at the Scarisbrick Marina Festival L40 9RH. The marina has successfully run the event for several years and offers free entry. Stalls, entertainment, assault course, dragon boat racing, model boats, vintage cars, kids corner and a tea room are just some of the events during this well attended festival. Tickets can also be purchased in advance from the tea rooms for a hog roast on the Saturday evening and a jazz band on Sunday. In addition you will have the opportunity to look around the marina which is on a long lock free length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Come and join us! Jim & Maralyn Nott 16
From part of the money raised during the 2016 festival by Scarisbrick Boaters Club a missing quarter milepost was installed near the marina with the help of Alice Kay from CRT, shown giving it a final coat of paint.
Johnson’s Hillock Open Day Observations by IWA member, John Hewerdine
I live with my family at the bottom of Johnson’s Hillock on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Chorley. Recently, there was a winter stoppage for replacement of gates on two of the flight of 7 locks close to our home. 17
I was delighted to hear that the Canal and River Trust had decided to hold an Open Day on Sunday 28th January. I attended and visited between the bottom lock and Town lane early in the day and also just before closing at 4.0pm. In case you missed it, I thought branch members might appreciate some feedback on this very worthwhile initiative. I was reminded of the cost implications of such a venture a few days before the event, talking to site workers and volunteers who were erecting fencing and walkways to ensure safety for the public. This gave assurance that it would be fine for the family to bring a twoyear old to the Open Day and indeed during the event I had no concerns on this matter I was impressed by CRT taking the initiative to hold the event in the first place. Getting the public enthusiastic about our inland waterways is vital for support in the coming years. What better way. Even though it was held on a cloudy January day the weather was mild and folk turned up in good numbers. As a member of the IWA, I had helped with publicity and this was well rewarded by the turnout. I was also delighted to see so many CRT staff, both employees and volunteers, at the event. They mingled with the visitors and kept an eagle eye open for problems. I didn’t spot any safety problems on my two visits and found staff very helpful and generous with their assistance. There were several interfaces with the public in the form of small tents and sheltered stalls informing us of the role of the CRT and the services. This produced a pleasant atmosphere and was part of the increasing effort which is being put into getting support, both by encouraging folk to become friends of the CRT and also by informing the public of the recreational value of our waterways. This publicity is helping to increase support in the idea that, despite some criticism, serious maintenance is being addressed in a responsible manner. This clearly indicates that a real effort is going into displaying exactly what maintenance is costing and why it’s impossible “to please all the people all the time”. The holding of an open day (where serious work is taking place) shows just how challenging the maintenance is. 18
As a walker, a cyclist and a boater I enjoy the Inland Waterways and am certain that the cost involved in the recent Open Day was money well-spent. I hope that such events can go from strength to strength and wish the CRT all the best with similar ventures in the future.
Old balance beam coming out and new one going in.
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CANAL SONG. Why leave your house on a cold grey morning? For a painted boat on a winter mooring, To muse on trips of yesteryear, And plan new trips both far and near. To check the oil and the stern gland greaser To slack a rope and feel it ease her To dirty yourself beyond all reason And say you plan the start of the season Why do you leave you home and garden? For a narrow boat you can't go far in To view the cut and the stagnant water And know that now the nights grow shorter Comes the spring and you'll leave the mooring Pointing your boat to the early dawning To meet old friends, and make some new, At a waterside pub as you taste the brew. To pick up the news of the locks and gates Of dredging required and water states We know the canal has cast its spell And you're off to the mistress you know so well
Thanks to Brian Capps for his poem
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Website: http://www.llcs.org.uk/
This is part of the report from the L&LCS Kennet In keeping with our regular pattern of focussing on respective ends of the canal in alternate years we will be concentrating on the Eastern end this year – at least at the start of the season. After the Skipton Waterways Festival on 5-7 May we will make our way down to Bingley for the Second Bingley Canal Festival. En route the L&L Canal Society will be privileged to host a visit from John Grogan MP on board Kennet. John is the recently elected MP for Keighley who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Inland Waterways. Given this combination of roles he has been keen to become more closely acquainted with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal as it runs through his constituency. On Saturday 12 May John will join Kennet at Silsden and travel with us through to Riddlesden. At the Bingley Canal Festival, which takes place on Saturday 19 May, Kennet will be the ‘star of the show’. Our next destination point will be Leeds for the Waterfront Festival taking place on 23 & 24 June; but again we will be using the passage to revisit communities that were particularly supportive of the bicentenary commemorative celebrations. We will host a visit from the Saltaire Primary School on Friday 8 June. {This was the school that produced the superb ‘mural’ at the Hirst Lock}. And we will follow this up with an Open Day at the Hirst Lock on Sunday 10 June. After the Leeds Waterfront Festival our programme is less certain. There are a number of schools and communities along the Canal that we are negotiating with to see if we can arrive at mutually convenient times for a visit. However, given the reception that Kennet received last year at the Botany Bay Festival held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend we are planning to return this year. 21
Kennet is due to go into dry dock during November for topside painting, so we plan to close our season with an Open Day at Greenberfield Locks on Saturday 23 September Amongst all of this activity the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society is looking to undertake some innovative uses of Kennet. We are in discussion with a theatre group about the possibility of staging a performance of their show on Idle Women; and we have proposed to CRT’s new Canal Laureate that she might like to hold a poetry workshop on board Kennet. And we are always looking for new suggestions. The Society is always looking for Volunteers to join the relatively small group of helpers who open & staff Kennet when open to the public and host visits from schools etc., which is an important part of the Society’s aim to promote the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and its heritage. Volunteering & General Enquiries for Kennet - email: friendsofkennet@gmail.com Tel: 01535 630597
Brrr!! Remember the Beast from the East? Photo of Kennet at Greenberfield by Mike Clarke
KENNET PROGRAMME
19 May Sat
8 June
Fri
10 June Sun
23 June Sat
Bingley 5 Rise - Top to Bottom
Moving
Bingley
Open to Public
Bingley Canal Festival
Bingley 5 Rise - Bottom to Top
Moving
Hirst Lock
Saltaire Primary School
School Visit
Hirst Lock
Open to Public
Open to Public
Hirst Lock to Saltaire
Moving
Leeds
Open to Public
Leeds Waterfront Festival
24 June Sun
9 July
Mon
26 Aug Sun
Bingley Top to Crossflatts
Moving
Crossflatts
School Visit
Crossflatts Primary School
Crossflatts to James Gore Yard
Moving
Chorley
Botany Bay Canal Festival
Open to Public
Open Day
Open to Public
27 Aug Mon 22 Sept Sat
Greenberfield
23 Sept Sun 5 Nov – 2 Dec
End of Season Celebration Members Snaygill Dock
Topside Painting
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NUMBER ONE. He was always Number One, a title owned by few. He ran a full sized Narrow Boat, often he ran two. He was the owner, steerer, and engineer, And cleaner and agent too. Heavy corduroy trews, a neckcloth at his throat, Studded leather boots he wore, and a heavy coat. And he could play the accordion, At night on the back of his boat. His pair would take coal on the 'Jam Ole Run', Two Narrow Boats full, that’s seventy ton. Atherstone down to Southall wharf, Boiler coal for Kearley and Tongue. He unloaded with a shovel. No conveyor belt or crane, Load up with Baltic Timber, Swedish Ore, or foreign grain. Just to keep the Midlands working Then start at Atherstone again. Number ones have left the scene, working pairs have gone. But boats still move around the cut, some trade still carries on. Bagged coal for boats and houses Sold by a Number One.
Brian Capps Barton Grange Garden Centre – The Flower Bowl In the last edition we mentioned the new entertainment complex being built on the Lancaster Canal. They tell me it is still scheduled to open this June, no news of the sheep on the roof though. (Ed) 24
Bridge No. 104 L&L Canal
Graham and Brown Ltd adopted a length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near their Blackburn factory. As a wallpaper manufacturer why not wallpaper the adjacent Sour Milk Hall bridge?
If you ever visit Graham and Brown’s factory may I suggest that you don’t stand still for too long – they like to show off their wallpaper at any opportunity. Ed
Irene Staziker We record with sadness the recent death of Irene, the wife of Jack Staziker. Jack was a founder member of this branch and secretary for very many years ably supported by Irene who typed the correspondence. Our commiserations to Jack.
Ulverston Canal Regeneration Group Canal Gala Sunday 22 July - A fun community event with games, stalls and trips on the canal between 11.00 and 3.00. No entrance cost, but activities have a small charge.
Forth and Clyde Canal closure The IWA has told Scottish Canals that the current indefinite closure of the Forth & Clyde Canal is unacceptable. This follows the claim by Scottish Canals that it does not have the funds necessary to repair two lift bridges. IWA has written to Andrew Thin, Chairman of Scottish Canals, to ask him to identify budget and bring forward the repairs. The two lift bridges, at Twechar and Bonnybridge, are situated around the middle of the Scottish Lowlands canal, and their closure would affect all local traffic, the hire boat trade and any seagoing craft wishing to traverse the canal from one coast to the other. The Forth & Clyde Canal was restored to navigation in 2001 following National Lottery funding as a Millennium project. IWA considers that in order for Scottish Canals to fulfil its statutory requirement as navigation authority to keep the restored lowland canals in full working order, repairs to these two bridges should be carried out as a matter of urgency. IWA National Chairman, Ivor Caplan, said “IWA wishes to see through navigation on the Forth & Clyde Canal reinstated as soon as possible. We are concerned about the viability of the hire boat trade with only half the canal available, the impact on those boaters based at Auchinstarry Basin, and increased future maintenance costs as nearby locks and other structures will suffer through lack of use if these bridges are closed for any significant length of time.� 26
Microplastics? We should be so lucky!
L&L Canal, Blackburn but could be any town
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Region Social meeting Saturday 7th April The IWA North West Region Social event was held at Fidler’s Ferry, Penketh, Warrington on Saturday 7 April and a few people from our branch committee attended. The meeting started at 10.30 with a cup of tea and chance to chat and then at 11.00 our Region Chair, Sir Robert Atkins gave a welcome speech, where he talked about his interest in canals and boating and a little about his parliamentary career. He also talked about how he had come to be Region Chair and his ideas for IWA. Following the talk from Sir Robert we had a talk from Colin Greenhall. Colin told us about the work of the Sankey Canal Restoration Group. After that we had a really excellent lunch during which the Kenwin and Tetlow trophies were presented. The Tetlow Trophy is IWA North West Region’s award for outstanding achievement by a non-IWA group or individual and this year it was presented to SUMBA, The Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch adopters, a group of volunteers who, since their formation just four years ago, have not just transformed their five-and-a-halfmile length of adopted canal but have also vastly improved the canal environment well beyond their formal boundaries.
The Tetlow trophy was presented by Sir Robert Atkins, Region Chairman and accepted on behalf of SUMBA by Graham Russell.
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The value of SUMBA to the canal and its ability to deliver indispensable volunteer help has been thrown into sharp focus recently with the devastating breach of the canal near Middlewich – in fact way outside SUMBA’s adoption area. Undeterred, SUMBA volunteers were out in force over the following days at both ends of the Middlewich Branch, assisting and advising boaters whose cruising plans had been suddenly disrupted. Their exemplary response carried on with a major clean-up of the unexpectedly dewatered canal, retrieving an extraordinary array of debris with grappling hooks, sweat and a great deal of tenacity! The Kenwin Trophy was awarded to the late Dave Smallshaw, for all his work with the Sankey Canal Restoration Society and will be presented to his family. Dave was the chair of SCARS for 6 years and worked hard to link the 3 boroughs and Canal and River Trust and was instrumental in the formation of the Sankey Canal Partnership in September 2017. Afterwards the sun shone for us and we had a guided walk around Fidler’s Ferry Marina and yes there is only 1 “d” in this Fidler.
Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) working party Lancaster Canal (31st March – 14th April 2018) Located in Stainton volunteers from WRG and the Lancaster Canal Trust spent two weeks during the Easter holidays helping to reline the ‘First Furlong’ a 220 metre stretch of canal from Stainton Crossing Bridge to Sellet Hall bridge. They used flexible geo-textile and blocks to reline the canal. Alongside this the volunteers were also clearing vegetation at Hincaster Tunnel. Unfortunately, the bad weather, especially the rain slowed progress.
29
Laying the lining, the blocks protect and hold it down
Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership
Canal & River Trust, Cumbria County Council, IWA, Kendal Town Council, Lancs County Council, Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancaster City Council and S Lakeland District Council
Successful Heritage Lottery Fund Bid CRT and LCRP have been awarded a £1.3million grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to secure the future of Grade II-listed Stainton Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal, near Sedgwick, in Cumbria. The grant will fund repairs to Stainton Aqueduct, which was badly damaged during storms Desmond and Eva in December 2015. It will also help to develop other key sites along the Lancaster Canal, such as Hincaster Tunnel and Sedgewick Aqueduct, and promote new leisure, educational and volunteering opportunities along the waterway, as part of the Partnership’s Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail project. The total cost of the restoration, interpretation and community projects is £2.2 million. This new grant, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, is supplemented by secured funding of £140,000 from South Lakeland District Council and smaller grants from Cumbria County Council and Kendal Town Council, which supports the Towpath Trail project. In August last year, HLF gave an initial development grant of £41,000 to scope out the project so the repairs and wider heritage regeneration activity could begin as soon as the funding green light was given. A new project officer will now be appointed for two years by CRT to lead the community, tourism and interpretation aspects of the initiative. 31
Students from Kendal College and members of the local community will be invited to join in a range of activities from recording local history memories to learning traditional dry-stone walling techniques. The plan is to produce two new trails, as well as wind-up audio canal character sculptures and sound and light shows deep inside Hincaster Tunnel.
Present at the HLF visit at the entrance to Hincaster Tunnel l to r: HLF Assessor; CRT National Infrastructure Services Manager [Peter Walker]; CRT NW Heritage Manager [Bill Froggatt]; LCRP Chair [Audrey Smith OBE]; LCT Chair [Robin Yates]; HLF Case Officer
Stephen Higham, North West waterway manager at CRT said: “The Lancaster Canal celebrates its bicentenary in 2019 so this is a perfect time to work with LCRP to help realise our joint aspirations for wider heritage and regeneration activity. 32
“Securing the future of the 200-year-old aqueduct is vitally important for the future prosperity of the Lancaster Canal and we are delighted the HLF grant means we can now get on with the essential restoration and repair work.” Audrey Smith OBE, LCRP chair, added: “The canal has great untapped potential as a regional visitor and tourism destination. We look forward to continuing to work with the CRT as we breathe new life into this waterway through the Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail project.” The Grade ll-listed Stainton Aqueduct was built in 1819 and carries the Lancaster Canal over Stainton Beck. Prior to the damage caused during extreme rainfall in the December 2015 storms, the aqueduct was in good condition. Emergency stabilisation works costing £250,000 were completed onsite by CRT early 2016. However, these were not sufficient to open up the public right of way through the aqueduct tunnel or to enable navigation over the aqueduct (principally used by a LCT’s trip boat). Inaugural Salt Towns Rally 17th- 27th August 2018 This Rally is a campaigning Rally for the Mid Cheshire Waterways to connect the Bridgewater Canal to the Manchester Ship Canal at Runcorn and create a new Winsford link to connect the River Weaver to the Shropshire Union Canal Branch. Presentations on this will take place during the Rally by the River Weaver Navigation Society and the Runcorn Restoration Society. The Rally will assemble at the Kings lock, Middlewich on 17 th August and proceed via Lion Saltworks, Anderton Boat Lift and Northwich finishing at Winsford Marina over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Friday 24th-Monday 27th August. Shore based activities and entertainment will take place at each of the mooring stops An Itinerary, Entry Form and Conditions of Entry from: Bob Osborne, Boat Entry Officer Tel: 01606 553433 Email: bob.osborne@hotmail.co.uk 33
Branch Committee Chairman
Wendy Humphreys Darwen
07763 561572 01254 703553
Vice chairman
Tony Dunning Egremont
07730 113894 01946 820875
Secretary
Vacant
Treasurer & Newsletter Editor
David Faulkner Blackburn
07912 249265 01254 249265
Membership Secretary
Janet Dunning Egremont
01946 820875
Environment and Planning
Jim Nott Wheelton
Publicity
Audrey Smith
Sales
Vacant
Social Secretary
See Chairman
Lancaster Canal Regeneration Part’ship
Audrey Smith & Wendy Humphreys
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Audrey Smith Wheelton
Lancaster Canal Trust
Peter Jones
Region Chairman (ex officio)
Sir Robert Atkins
Wild over Water & Web Master
Janet Dunning Egremont
01257 274440
01257 274440
01946 820875
NB Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk We no longer publish addresses. If you want to write to us please use the editor’s address (p 2). 34
Venue for branch meetings We meet on the last Thursday of the month from September to April at St Chad’s parish centre which has a very pleasant meeting room and a bar. You are welcome from 7.00pm for a drink and a chat, the meetings start at 7.30pm St Chad’s Parish Centre, 235 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ. It is behind the former Red Cat pub, easily accessible from Junction 8 of the M61 (take the first left turn for Wheelton off the A674 then first left); junction 3 of the M65 (take 2nd right turn for Wheelton off the A674 then first left) or take Town Lane from Whittle-le-Woods (From A6 turn onto Shaw Brow or School Brow, a few yards along Chorley Old Road turn right onto Town Lane, St Chad’s is about a mile on the left). (My satnav finds it without problem, Ed) There is ample parking in the car park ….and finally
Where will you find this weathervane?
Answer in our next edition 35
Branch social programme 2018/19 Date
Speaker
Topic
27 Sept 2018
Brian Crawley Secretary Carnforth Coke Ovens
Coke Ovens on the Lancaster Canal
25 Oct
Ivor Caplan IWA National Chairman
What is happening with IWA, what progress have we made with our objectives.
29 Nov
Tony Hirst
Early days at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port
13 Dec
Christmas meal
31 Jan 2019
Stuart Wood, Les Green and Bob Cannell
The Daniel Adamson Trust The Daniel Adamson is a unique steam powered canal tug.
28 Feb
Audrey Smith OBE AGM and nostalgia evening
28 Mar
Tony Dunning, Malcolm and Barbara Bridge
Electric boats
25 April
Tony Entwistle
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal. An update on what is happening from the Canal & River Trust 36