Towing Path Topics Newsletter of the Inland Waterways Association Lancashire & Cumbria Branch
September 2019
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: Boat handling competition at the National Trailboat Festival
Photograph acknowledgements: Philip Garside John Hewerdine Wendy Humphreys Neil Mcgarry Jim Nott Geoff Pegg Robin Yates The editor
Common initials used in the newsletter: IWA Inland Waterways Association CRT Canal and River Trust LCT Lancaster Canal Trust LCRP Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership TBF Trailboat Festival WRG Waterway Recovery Group
Copy date for next edition 13th December 2019 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 2
Editor’s comment This edition is almost entirely devoted to the Lancaster Canal and the events to celebrate its Bi-centenary, especially the National Trailboat Festival at Crooklands. No apologies for that, a 200th birthday is worth celebrating and the publicity should help the canal and the efforts to restore the Northern Reaches for years to come . It’s not all over yet, see pages 28, 29, 37 for more events. A big thank you to everyone involved in the Bi-centenary from many different organisations. As a branch newsletter I need no excuse to single out our chair, Wendy Humphreys for the tremendous amount of work that she put in. She richly deserved the lovely bouquet of flowers from CRT, presented by their chairman, Richard Parry.
Thanks also to everyone who has contributed to this edition, especially those who have sent photographs. John Hewerdine was our ‘official’ photographer at the TBF (that’s him in the top hat on page 35); I have only had space to use a fraction of his 242 photos. Also special mention to Neil McGarry for the trailboats arriving, we’ve not had photos of that important stage before.
It’s been fairly quiet on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal this year, partly due to problems with the Burnley Embankment and lock restrictions to save water. The L&L Canal Society continue to do great work, especially with ‘Kennet’ who joined us for our joint event at Johnson’s Hillock on a very wet Saturday in July. Any contributions for the January edition will be very welcome. David Faulkner 3
Branch Chair’s Report Welcome to the Autumn edition of Towing Path Topics, what a busy year we have had celebrating the 200 th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal as well as all our other activities. We have had a fantastic year and it isn’t over yet! The highlight of the year was of course the IWA National Trail Boat Festival, after all the planning and preparation the event went very well although the weather could have been kinder. The legacy of this is lots more people know about the Lancaster Canal and the work of the IWA. I have attended Lancaster Canal Trust meetings as the branch representative and have worked with LCT on celebration events. I also attend Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership meetings. In July representatives from our branch and other organisations attended the memorial service and bench unveiling for Brain Holden who was a long term IWA member and without whom the Rochdale Canal would not have been restored. Relationships with Canal and River Trust have improved now their restructure is starting to bed in. We have made some new CRT contacts and said goodbye to some old ones, in particular Roy Gibbons, Customer Service Supervisor on the Lancaster Canal who is about to retire. He gave us lots of help with the Trail Boat Festival and we wish him a happy retirement. As reported in the last magazine we have been taking part in the IWA Branded Merchandise project and although sales have been disappointing the merchandise has given us the opportunity to talk to people about the IWA. I will be bringing the merchandise along to our social meetings so look out for it there.
The IWA sales kit has been very much appreciated, it helps make the sales stand look more professional and the new gazebo is really good at attracting attention and interest. 4
I would like to take the time once again to thank all the members of the committee who give so much of their time to the IWA and without whom I couldn’t do my job as chair. This year has been an exceptional year and everyone has worked extra hard to make it a success. We have also had help from volunteers who are not on the committee but help whenever they can. I am thinking of Dot and John Hewerdine who helped a lot at the trail boat festival together with their daughter and grandson; also Gill and Rich Smith who have helped at the trail boat festival and at other events. Of course we still need new committee members, in particular a Sales Officer, we are trying our best with Sales but a dedicated officer would be able to do much more, let me or another member of the committee know if you are interested. Now that 2019 and its celebrations are nearly over we can start to think about another important anniversary coming up. 2021 is the 75th anniversary of the forming of the IWA. This branch organised lots of activities for the 50th anniversary and although we had a bigger committee then, so more people to share the work (and we were all 25 years younger!), we do need to start to think about what to do for the 75th anniversary. In my last report for Towing Path Topics I mentioned a hope that the canals would have a bit more water in 2019 than in 2018, well we did get more water but not necessarily in all the right places! I am thinking particularly of the damaged dam at Toddbrook reservoir; that has been very much in the news recently and I am sure we are all relieved that the village of Whaley Bridge was saved. CRT worked very hard with all the other bodies to save the situation and I am sure their work is appreciated. Talking about too much water, the work at Stainton aqueduct is almost complete and we hope to be there at the official opening later this year.
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On September 6th I and some others from IWA will be attending the unveiling of a Red Wheel at Hincaster Tunnel. The Red Wheel is the transport equivalent of a Blue Plaque and we are all very pleased that it has been awarded especially in the bi centenary year. Another thing which has been in the news is the closure of the Tramway Bridge at Preston. Our Region Chair, Sir Robert has been active in writing to the local authorities involved and we are awaiting the report giving details of their proposals so we can form a view on our response. And finally have you noticed how Christmas is creeping into the conversation lately, although as I write it is still August and supposedly summer? Well last year we had a very enjoyable Christmas meal at the Hoghton Arms and we plan to have another this year. See page 9 for details.and I hope more of you will join us. I hope to see you at our social events. Wendy Humphreys REPORT FROM THE REGIONAL CHAIRMAN
We have enjoyed a celebratory summer this year, especially on the Lancaster Canal. 200 years of existence with Birthday events, media attention, recognition by the great and the good, the Trailboat Festival and much more. 6
I was fortunate to be able to be present at a good number of the celebrations and it was so good to meet so many people who have enjoyed the Lancaster Canal over the years as well as many who were witnessing the attractions for the first time. Congratulations to everyone involved in all the events. Continuing progress on parts of the Northern Reaches - thanks, as always, to Audrey Smith and her enthusiastic team for all they have done - and are doing - to achieve improvements, renovations and renewals. Sadly - but I shouldn’t use that word - I cannot be at the Inland Waterways Association AGM this year as it clashes with my Golden Wedding Anniversary and I really should be at the Family Party (!). Given the fun and games at last year’s meeting, I might be missing more excitement, but I am sure that I will get a full report in due course. I must record again the fact of Alan Platt’s retirement as Regional Secretary. He has been a tower of strength and a fount of all knowledge and deserves our heartfelt thanks for his dedicated service. Is anyone interested in taking on the position? It is not hugely arduous but does require some familiarity with the people and places in and around the North West canal network. Please let me or Alan know if it appeals. Autumn approaches - “the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” but still plenty of time for cruising in what is often a lovely time of the year. Thanks again for your commitment and enthusiasm.
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Brian Holden memorial bench
In July several members of the branch attended the unveiling of a bench in memory of Brian Holden, one of the main players in the restoration of the Rochdale Canal. He was a good friend of this branch. The bench is in a small green area near the canal car park at Littleborough. The area is really well maintained it has a picnic bench, grass and flowers and trees and 2 boats now used as planters. There was a book to sign to say who was there. As well as family, there were people from the Rochdale Canal Society and IWA branches. Afterwards we went to the Boxing Club where we had a drink and hotpot. Wendy Humphreys
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Lodestar
I thought readers might be interested in this photograph of the steam narrowboat ‘Lodestar’ just beyond bridge 36 (Flatheridge) on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal photographed from ‘John’s Garden’ at Ashwood Nursery, recently featured by Carol Klein on the Channel 5 series ‘Great British Gardens: Season By Season’. Its home at Barlaston Boatyard may be a historical reference. Barlaston is on the Trent and Mersey Canal off which the Staffordshire and Worcestershire branches via the canalised river Stower. However, Google Maps shows a Boatyard Lane, but no boatyard. An Internet source (1) reports that “Barlaston Boatyard is now a house with a rather splendid private mooring space, but early OS maps do record that this was a working boatyard in the past.” Philip Garside, Preston (1) http://takefiveboat.blogspot.com/2016/04/barlaston.html DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Christmas Meal at the Hoghton Arms, Blackburn Road, Withnell, PR6 8BL. Thursday 12th December 7.00 for 7.30pm. The cost is £14.49 for 2 courses and £16.99 for 3 courses. If you wish to attend please email Wendy on wendy.humphreys@waterways.org.uk The festive menu is available on their website www.hoghtonarmspub.co.uk 9
Lancaster Canal 200th anniversary As you will all know 2019 is the 200 th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal to Kendal, our branch worked with Lancaster Canal Trust, LCT, to organise lots of celebration events during the year, we also made sure that some of our usual events focused on the celebrations. Canal and River Trust, CRT, also organised lots of events and we took part in most of those. The canal is special to the people who live near it and to other organisations along the canal and there were a lot of local events which we took part in when we could. It has been a very busy year for everyone but well worth it to see so much enthusiasm for the canal, to see groups working together, to make new friends and acquaintances and above all to see how well loved the canal is. The year started off with an LCT social meeting in March which some of our members attended. This focused on the history of the canal and the plans for the bicentenary celebrations. On the 6 th of April we hosted the IWA NW Region social meeting at our usual branch venue St Chads, Whittle-le-Woods to which LCT members were invited. (Since my report in the May edition about the walk on that day I have been corrected by one member who pointed out that technically it was the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which branched off from the Lancaster Canal). On the 25th of April we had our regular branch social meeting at St Chads and the speaker for this was Andrea Barrett from CRT, she talked about the plans for the bicentenary.
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The photograph shows a VIP trip on the Lancaster Canal on the 4 th of May hosted by LCT on their trip boat Waterwitch. This was the first trip of the season and an opportunity to show local parish councillors and other interested parties the canal from the water. 31st May – 3rd June IWA National Trail Boat Festival. This was the main event of the year for us and had taken 18 months to plan. We were fortunate to be allowed to hold the festival alongside Country Fest which meant the boaters got the benefit of Country Fest and the public got the benefit of the Trail Boat Festival. We had a lot of help from LCT and had a great time It was wonderful to see boats and canoes on the water and we promoted the canal to lots of people. That is what it was all about, the more people who can see the benefit of the canal the better chance there is to get it restored. There is a separate report on the Trail Boat Festival. On the 8th of June we had a stand at Bolton le Sands Village Fete, we shared this with LCT and our committee members Maralyn and Jim Nott were there to promote the canal and the IWA. The festival focused on the canal bicentenary. We must have done ok as they have invited us next year! The weather was dreadful.
Our new gazebo at Bolton le Sands 11
On the 15th of June we had a Balsam Bash at Haslam Park; this was with Friends of Haslam Park and LCT. The Friends had organised a display relating to the canal which passes along the edge of the park and that was very interesting. The tea and cakes on sale to raise money for the charity were very welcome. We were also introduced to members of the Ashton and Riversway Pact who are keen to get involved in events along the canal. On the 17th of June we had our annual branch outing which was a boat trip on ‘Kingfisher’; from Lancaster to Hasty Brow and back with a stop at the Lune Aqueduct. There was an interesting commentary by Bill Froggatt, CRT’s heritage Advisor. We had over 40 people on the trip, some from our branch, some from LCT and some just friends. We had a good trip and the weather was in our favour. At the Lune Aqueduct we had a chance to get off the boat to explore the aqueduct from the side that is not normally accessible. The 18th of June was the actual anniversary of the opening of the canal to Kendal and CRT organised a celebration event at Tewitfield Marina. The mayors of Preston and Lancaster arrived by boat with samples of the traditional cargo of coal and limestone and presented them to the mayor of Kendal. We took our new gazebo there and CRT had a stand and provided us with afternoon tea. The day started early for me as Bill Froggatt and I had to be there early to be interviewed by Radio Lancashire and Radio Cumbria. The BBC’s North West Tonight gave lots of coverage later that day and there was good coverage in the local papers. All good news for the canal. On the 22nd of June CRT hosted an evening event at the Corn Mill, Condor Green, this was to say a thank you to people who had helped with the bicentenary arrangements. LCT were awarded a Restoration Award and Richard Trevitt from LCT was given an award for all his help with the Milestone Project. There were a number of other awards for CRT people and I was given a lovely bunch of flowers for my help in organising the bicentenary events. On the following day the 23rd of June there was a CRT event at Aldcliffe Triangle in Lancaster. We took our new gazebo there and shared the space with LCT. CRT had a stand and there was fishing and canoeing for the public. Another sunny day and lots of interest in our stand from many members of the public. The milestone near the Waterwitch pub was also unveiled that day. 12
On the 16th of July LCT held their AGM and this also celebrated the bicentenary with Andrea Barrett talking about the canal and a 200 th birthday cake made by an LCT volunteer.
On the 23rd of July we had a walk along parts of the Lancaster Canal and the Ribble Link. This was a joint IWA and LCT event starting off from the UCLAN sports ground; walking along the canal to the staircase lock at the start (end?) of the Ribble Link; along part of the Ribble Link and the Preston Guild Wheel; across country back to the canal to return to the Final Whistle cafÊ at the sports ground for afternoon tea. The sun shone on that day as well and we all enjoyed the walk. On the 27th of July we had a day at Johnson’s Hillock with LCT, CRT and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society with their heritage boat Kennet. Unfortunately, the weather was awful, heavy rain all day and not many people about so we gave up around 2pm. We did however have lots of opportunity to talk amongst ourselves and the crew on Kennett delighted a small boy by giving him a short ride on Kennet, I think he will remember that ride for a long time. Wendy Humphreys See over for some of the other events planned for the bicentenary year. 13
Saturday 14 Sept. 11.00am-4.00pm: LCT is running free trips on Waterwitch as part of Heritage Open Days. The half hour trips will be from 11am to 4pm and there is no need to book just turn up at Crooklands. Saturday the 21st there are 2 walks, one at 10am and one at 2pm, these are Gunpowder Walks and the meeting place is Wakefield’s Wharf. Sunday the 22nd there is a walk from Stainton to Hincaster and return. Meet at Stainton car park for a 2pm start. More details about these events are available on the Heritage Open Days website. CRT also plan more events and details will be on their website. There will also be a celebration event on the 13 th of November held on the evening at the Lansil Club Lancaster. This is hosted by the LCT and will be a Lancashire evening based on a canal theme with a hot pot supper. (See page 29)
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Our gazebo at a very wet Bolton-le-Sands festival. Richard Trevitt and Maralyn Nott keeping dry. P14 drying the gazebo at the Nott household. Thanks Maralyn and Jim for your sterling efforts. 15
News from Holme Village Hello Wendy
I thought you would like to know how our Canal 200 celebrations went over the weekend. Prior to the event I had been in school to give an assembly on the Canal, we went up to the towpath where the whole school sang Happy Birthday to it on the exact day, and the children made model boats out of natural materials which they sailed on the water. On Saturday and Sunday we had our Holme Images exhibition which included Canal History and Images, and it was very well attended and a great success.
On Sunday morning the Canoe Time Trial featured 10 teams of two paddling for a good time between Bridge 150 and 151. It was good weather and a beautiful setting and we had around 100 people on the canal bank supporting the event. On Sunday afternoon we had the Black and White Canal Walk from Tewitfield to Holme, with the vast majority of the walkers wearing black and white outfits, and we had flags. I didn’t really know how many people would turn up, but in the event there were over 150 and it was a fantastic sight to see them stretched out behind me walking up past the locks at Tewitfield. They straggled out a bit after that, but we said that people should walk at their own pace and take photographs and take in the views on the way. When we arrived back The Smithy Inn put on a Hog Roast with a local singer as entertainment.
It was a fantastic (and tiring) day, but it all went very smoothly. I’ve included a few photographs which you are free to use in any way. The Lancaster to Kendal Canal was well celebrated in Holme. Best wishes Geoff Pegg
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Inland Waterways Association National Trail Boat Festival at Country Fest 31st May-3rd of June 2019 Report for IWA Trustees
The TBF was organised by the Lancashire and Cumbria branch of the IWA with help from volunteers from Lancaster Canal Trust, (LCT), and advice and support from Derek Smith IWA. The event was part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Lancaster Canal to Kendal in June 1819. It was held at Westmorland County Showground in conjunction with Country Fest which is an annual event and last year attracted over 17,000 people, and was open to the public on the 1st and 2nd of June. The IWA National Trail boat Festival was last held at Country Fest in 2015. Organising the event began in early 2018, starting with building up a team, negotiating with Westmorland County Agricultural Society, (WCAS), and making an application to IWA for permission to run the event and for a grant to help with the costs of the festival. Canal and River Trust, (CRT), also had to be consulted and the committee had to apply to them for permission to hold the event and to submit a Safety Plan to them. The organising committee met at roughly monthly intervals and also held meetings with WCAS. 20 trail boats entered the event, some from as far away as Essex and Devon, as well as canoes from Cumbria Canoeists and Bendrigg Trust. LCT ran their trip boat Waterwitch offering trips to the public and the canoes also offered trips to the public. There was a lot of activity on the water all helping to increase interest in the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal.
People attending the festival had the opportunity to take part in the activities of Country Fest as well as the Trail Boat Festival. The Trail Boat Festival was an important part of the celebrations for the bicentenary of the Lancaster Canal and included stands from CRT, RNLI, IWA Head Office stand, IWA Lancashire and Cumbria Branch providing WOW activities, Canal Arts and Crafts, IWA Waterway recovery group providing Drive a Digger and the LCT stand. Boats started arriving days before the festival with most arriving 2/3 days before. They were assisted in launching at the slipway at 18
Millness and WCAS provided space to leave the trailers. On Friday evening a tour of the Cumbria Dry Stone Wallers exhibition was arranged for boaters and a few joined in with that. Others were content to stay on the tow path and chat to each other. Saturday started with an opening ceremony attended by most boaters, Audrey Smith OBE and Sir Robert Atkins opened the event. During Saturday and Sunday the trail boaters had the opportunity to participate in all the Country Fest activities as entry to Country Fest was included in their “Goody Bags.” The weather could have been better and it rained some of the time but far from all the time. There was also a boat handling competition which was great fun to watch as well as judging for the rest of the IWA awards. On Sunday evening there was supposed to be an illuminated boat parade but the organisers took a decision to cancel this because of the strong winds and the boats did an illuminated static display which attracted lots of interest. Ivor Caplan and Richard Parry were two of the people who attended, also Sir Humphry Wakefield whose family have strong links to the canal.
On Monday 3rd of June there was an award ceremony for the boaters and a VIP day which included a cruise to the works at Stainton Aqueduct; a look around the works at Stainton and the Lancaster Canal Trust’s First Furlong followed by a walk to Hincaster Tunnel. This was really successful, the dignitaries and local councillors who attended had a good day, the weather was good and a lot of them have said how it helped their view of the canal to be actually on the water and to see the activity which is going on to restore and regenerate the canal. The TBF organising committee feel that the benefits of getting these people “on side” will be felt when there are discussions about the restoration and regeneration of the canal. There were some problems: The weather which we couldn’t control but as stated earlier it didn’t rain all that much, the biggest problem was the wind; Saturday evening and Monday were beautiful. CRT didn’t cut the grass along the towpath until not long before the festival and when they did they only cut the tow path not the bank, I understand this is in line with their policy and is to protect flora and fauna. Not one of the trail boaters complained but a disenchanted ex member of LCT wrote to Waterways World to comment on it and they 19
published the letter. In defence of CRT they were really helpful in removing fallen trees from the canal to assist the trip boat and also removing some dangerous trees, the local team provided lots of support in the planning phase. And to finish on a positive note: The publicity generated by the festival and the 200 th anniversary celebrations has helped raise the profile of the canal and proved that there are a lot of interested groups along the canal who really love “their” canal and have joined in to organise many celebration events. WOW gave away over 100 passports; that means 100+ happy children learning more about the waterways as well as many parents who we had the opportunity to talk to about the IWA and the importance of waterways. Some of the trail boaters have expressed an interest in coming back to the canal with their trail boats and we certainly hope they will do so as the more activity there is on the water the more people will see the benefits of restoration and regeneration. There is a very good slipway and access to water at Millness and rubbish and Elsan disposal is not far away at Tewitfield. One outcome the TBF committee would like to see is to have the Northern Reaches included as a future Silver Propeller location and I will be pursuing this idea in the future. Wendy Humphreys, chair of Lancashire and Cumbria Branch and chair of the TBF organising committee. 26/7/19 Note from the TBF treasurer Thanks largely to a £1,000 grant from IWA the event made a profit. This enabled us to make a donation of £250 to Waterway Recovery Group for all their help and a £100 donation to LCT’s ’Buy a Block’ appeal. This left £121 for branch funds. It is worth noting that none of the committee or anyone else involved claimed any expenses for travel, accommodation or other expenses. Thanks to you all for your generosity. David Faulkner, TBF Treasurer. Next pages—some of the boats arriving 20
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Lancaster
Canal & River Trust, Cumbria County Council, IWA, Kendal Town Council, Lancs County Council, Lancaster Canal Trust
Canal
Regeneration Partnership
Our new Project Manager, Richard Frank, works for us for approx. 15 hours per week over a 45 week period per year. As you will realise this very much limits what can be achieved and how quickly it can be achieved. Richard has settled into his new role well and has forged good links with our partners, their officers, our land agent and the new NHLF Project Officer, Carrie House. Richard and Carrie are currently developing the community engagement element of our successful HLF bid with residents in Stainton, Hincaster and Sedgewick. The last day of the IWA Trailboat Festival was termed a VIP day and VERY IMPORTANT it was! Why? It enabled IWA, LCT and LCRP to host a “learn about the Northern Reaches” day. This involved a cruise, on either Waterwitch or the various trailboats, from the festival site near Crooklands to Stainton followed by a site visit to the Aqueduct. This was then followed by “lunch in a bag” and a walk through the First Furlong site to Hincaster Tunnel. Guests included county, district and town councillors from South Cumbria along with the Richard Parry , Chief Executive of CRT, and IWA’s National Chairman, Ivor Caplan. We were supported by committee members from LCT and the Branch. We greatly appreciated the willingness of the trailboaters to offer their boats for this purpose thus enabling us to offer our guests an opportunity to come face to face with the beauty of the Northern Reaches and to experience the tranquility of walking along the towpath and cruising a short in-water section. We already know that the experience of being afloat was “mind blowing” to quote some of our guests.
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A stretch of towpath to the south of Stainton is to be improved as a result of our successful funding bid to Sport England however work will not be able to commence until the contractors have left the Stainton Aqueduct site. Our land agent is currently in discussion with both CRT and a private landowner regarding surface requirements, access improvements etc. Finally I would like to thank Wendy Humphreys for organising the VIP Day as part of the Trailboat Festival – the whole weekend was a great example of individual groups working in partnership for the greater good If you would like to know more please contact Richard as follows: lcrp.richard@outlook.com Audrey Smith OBE - Chair, LCRP (In the May edition we said Richard is employed by the Mersey Basin Trust, that should be Morecambe Bay Partnership. Apologies Ed)
Viewing work in progress at Stainton Aqueduct on VIP day 25
The Lancaster Canal Trust, LCT, has had a busy year celebrating the bicentenary as well as carrying out lots of other tasks. LCT run their trip boat, the Waterwitch from May to September, the trips last about 40 minutes and there is a small charge, see the website for details. www.lctrust.co.uk The trips run from Crooklands stables. There is a pleasant area there with a picnic bench. The boat crew and other volunteers have been busy weeding, strimming and planting to keep the area nice. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the Trust publishes a magazine named Waterwitch. It is posted to all members to keep them up to date with what is happening. The chairman Robin Yates produces a monthly e-newsletter which is even more up to date and includes details of work parties. The main activity for the Trust has been the work on the First Furlong, this is almost finished and the opening is planned to coincide with the opening of Stainton aqueduct which is due to be completed in October.
In September LCT will be represented at a Restoration Showcase organised by the IWA Chester and Merseyside branch on the Daniel Adamson, this will take place outside the Maritime Museum at Canning Dock Liverpool and the Danny will be open to the public from 10.30am – 4.30pm on the 21st and 22nd of September. There will be 10 restoration societies there and the event is free to the public. The Danny is a unique recently restored steam tug; see their website www.thedanny.co.uk for more information. As well as the First Furlong, work has been taking place at Hincaster Tunnel. The Trust has adopted the tunnel and the horsepath. Volunteers have been mending walls and steps and keeping the area strimmed and tidy. They are currently working to get the area looking smart for the unveiling of the Red Wheel on September the 6 th. The Red Wheel is awarded by the Transport Trust to recognise and commemorate the most significant sites of transport heritage in the United Kingdom. LCT will be attending the Westmorland County Show on Thursday September the 12th, they will be there with their stand and Waterwitch will be providing boat trips for the public. 26
During the bicentenary celebrations the Trust has worked with IWA and sometimes shared a stand. They have been very impressed with the new IWA gazebo and in particular with the interest generated by the waterways map and they will be looking to replace their old stand with new gazebos in a similar style, with a focus on the Lancaster Canal. The Trust is still running the Buy a Block appeal, so far over 12,000 blocks have been purchased and over 22,000 have been laid. £11,000 still needs to be raised for the block appeal; if you are interested the information on how to “buy a block” is on their website. Blocks are very cheap at £1 each and you can buy any number, there is also the possibility of laying them yourself if you wish!
Work on the First Furlong—nearly there! The Trust held its AGM in July and has gained 4 new trustees which all helps to share the work although there were also a couple of resignations but still a net increase. The number of members has been slowly increasing as well, perhaps partly due to the increased activity during the bicentenary year. The Trust has been giving some illustrated talks and has speakers who can talk about the history of the canal and the work of the Trust amongst other subjects. This is a good way of raising awareness and also of raising money as the speakers will donate their fee to the Trust. 27
Lancaster Canal Trust Social Meeting Tuesday 8th of October 2019
At the Longlands Hotel, Tewitfield LA6 1JH 7pm for a 7.30 start 2019 has been a brilliant year for the trust as it has joined in the celebrations for the bicentenary of the opening of the canal. This social meeting is part of the celebrations and we hope you will come along to hear about what the trust has been doing this year.
Our speakers will be Peter Jones who will give us an update on the First Furlong and Richard Trevitt who will talk about the milestone project. Our social meeting in March and the AGM in July were very well attended and proved how we all like to get together to share our interest in the canal and to chat to fellow members and friends. The meeting will be of special interest to members of the Lancaster Canal Trust but we would be delighted to welcome non members as well. There will be a charge of ÂŁ3.00 per person, payable on the door and light refreshments will be served.
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Lancaster Canal 200th Anniversary Special Lancashire Evening
An evening of song, poetry and dance with a focus on the Lancaster Canal. The event will be at the Lansil Sports and Social Club on Wednesday the 13th of November. The Lansil Club is a working men's’ club once serving the Lancaster Silk industry. The Lancaster Canal is on an embankment at the side of the club. The address is Caton Road, Lancaster, LA1 3PE and there is plenty of car parking. Doors open at 7pm and the event will start at 7.30pm, there will be a break in the middle for the Hot Pot Supper and the event will finish at 10pm although the club is open until 11pm if you want to stay and socialise. The show will star Tacklers Tales, a duo of Sid Calderbank the renowned Lancashire Dialect performer and Mark Dowding. If you want to see more see his website is www.sidcalderbank.co.uk
There will also be step dancing from Alex Fisher with musician Julie Proctor. Tickets cost ÂŁ12 per person and this includes a Hot Pot Supper with a vegetarian option available. For tickets email wendy.humphreys @waterways.org.uk or phone 07763 561 572 29
Different Pace of Life Lancaster Canal she lived upon
Or was she berthed there? Can never really decide Why are boats always “her”? Eighteen years she resided there Providing home to her guardians Shelter, home and hearth All life going on Around and within her Journeying Preston to Garstang Taken at walking pace Somehow so civilized Watching motorway traffic Frantically rushing to destinations afar Enjoying drinking tea at four miles an hour… Dean Fraser – The Quantum Poet
www.alivetothrive.co.uk I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my Aunt and Uncle on The Lancaster Canal, it certainly put the hectic pace of life most of us live into perspective.
Thanks for sending this Dean Ed
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IWA ‘Spot the Plot’ Following on from the launch of the ‘Pull, Snap, Stomp’ Campaign to pull up and eradicate the invasive plant, Himalayan Balsam, we have also launched a ‘Spot the Plot’ initiative. It can be hard for Branches to organise a Himalayan Balsam Bash as there’s time limits and number constraints – we are looking at another way to support the campaign. We hope that by ‘spotting the plot’ or place where Himalayan Balsam is growing this year, and it should all be out now in pink flowers (if you have any in your patch) then please, can you report it to me, and we can chart it down. Then next year, we should be able to have enough time in advance to plan a Himalayan Balsam Bash and get rid of the plant in that area. Thanks so much for your support, Nicola Kiely, Volunteers Support Officer (Probably easiest if you let Wendy or me know by e-mail. Ed)
The Garsides and the Notts busy Bashing Balsam, Haslam Park 31
Secretary: Mrs Alison Perry Taunton, Somerset Email: alisonperry111@gmail.com June 2019 Dear Wendy On behalf of the members of Wilderness Boat Owners’ Club who attended the Trailboat Festival last weekend, I would like to thank you and members of the organising committee for your welcome to the event. I am sure that everyone had a really good time, and we hope that we helped in some small way to bringing local people’s attention to the asset that is the Lancaster Canal. Can I please ask you to pass on thanks especially to Neil McGarry, who was our main point of contact both before and during the event, and who was not phased by any queries we put to him.
With best wishes for the future
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Trailboat Festival photos Page 33
Top: during the boat handling competition Bottom: the illuminated boats evening (too windy to sail)
Page 34 Activities for children—WRG’s drive a digger; identify the object; throwing the rope; fishing out the rubbish from the pond. Page 35
Some of the IWA volunteers
Page 36
Top: presenting the awards. Bottom: Walk to Hincaster Tunnel
LH: Alan Ward the stone carver and Richard Trevitt at the unveiling of the new milestone in Lancaster. RH: They’re bigger than they look. On 26 September Richard will be describing the milestone project at our first social meeting, see next page. 37
Branch Programme 2019-2020
Date
Speaker
Talk
12 Sept Richard Trevitt
Lancaster LCT Trustee & Canal 200 former chairman Milestone project
31 Oct
Bob Cannel & Les Green
28 Nov Mike Clarke
Notes Richard and CRT have been working together to repair or replace milestones on the Lancaster Canal
The Daniel Adamson
‘The Danny’ is a 1903 Steam Tug with a unique Art Deco interior which was saved from (This talk was being scrapped by cancelled last enthusiastic volunteers who January due to bought it for £1, then secured the weather) a £3.8M Heritage Lottery grant to save a ship that is 15th on the Register of Historic Ships. Canal History
Author and President of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society
Mike has an extensive knowledge of canals and canal history. He will focus mainly on northern canals including the Lancaster Canal
Christmas meal Following last year’s at Hoghton successful event we have Arms Withnell booked the same venue. See page 9 for details
12 Dec
30 Jan 2020
Paul Hindle Chairman of the Manchester Bolton& Bury Canal Society
MBBCS through time
There is a lot going on with the MBBC, come along and hear what the enthusiastic team of volunteers have been up to.
27 Feb
Harvey Hamilton Thorpe, Ribble Life Together Programme Manager
AGM followed by a talk about the Ribble Rivers Trust
The Trust,was formed in 1997 to restore the River Ribble and its surrounding flora and wildlife to its former glory
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Date
Speaker
Talk
Notes
26 Mar
Carrie House Her role and Carrie is the Project Officer working on Community Engagement for the the project Stainton, Hincaster and Sedgewick Project. She will have been in post a year and will have lots on which to report.
30 Apr
Bill Froggatt CRT Heritage Advisor
Canal Heritage
Bill gave us a short talk at the Region Social in April ‘19, he is very knowledgeable on his subject and has lots of interesting archive material to show us.
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-leWoods, Chorley PR6 8AJ. There is ample parking in the car park.
Promise, this is the last photo of Wendy (she’s the one on the left). Ed
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Branch Committee Chairman
Wendy Humphreys Darwen
07763 561572 01254 703553
Vice-chairman
Tony Dunning Egremont
07730 113894 01946 820875
Secretary
Maralyn Nott Kirkham David Faulkner Langho
07912 249265 01254 249265
Treasurer & Newsletter editor Membership secretary
Janet Dunning Egremont
Environment & Planning
Jim Nott Kirkham
Publicity
Audrey Smith Wheelton
Sales
Vacant
Social secretary
See chairman
Lancaster Canal Regeneration P’ship
Audrey Smith & Wendy Humphreys
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Audrey Smith
Lancaster Canal Trust
Peter Jones
Wild over Water & Web Master
Janet Dunning
Region Chairman (ex officio)
Sir Robert Atkins
01946 820875
01257 274440
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 (p2) 40