Towpath Telegraph September 2018

September 2018

TOWPATH TELEGRAPH Journal of the Inland Waterways Association’s Milton Keynes Branch

CRT CRT dredging dredging update update for MK Latest Latest from from B&MKWT, B&MKWT, BCS BCS and and WAT WAT Lock Lock Help Help weekend weekend and and Linslade Linslade Festival Festival Diary Diary for for new new meetings meetings season CanalFILE—part CanalFILE—part 12 Hardly looking as if it needs restoring at all, the Wendover Arm near Halton provided this tranquil scene during a walk in May. Further east, restoration work goes on, despite wet weather earlier in the year, and hot weather more recently. See report on Page 7.

Picture: Les Franklin.

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Welcome to September 2018 Towpath Telegraph Although CRT has imposed water restrictions further north, it seems that the long wet spring stood us in good stead and we have not heard of any local restrictions.

The recent hot weather did cause CRT to cease dredging work in MK (see opposite) and WAT work parties to keep shorter hours (see Page 7). We can’t win! Enjoy this edition.

Chairman’s Column CRT dredging update for Milton Keynes New Members A421: no culvert yet, but scope for future agreement?

A successful Lock Help weekend A windy day at Linslade Margaret Wright Wendover Arm—first too wet, then too hot!

Diary CanalFILE—part 12 Savoury Favourites Congratulations, Ken! WRG BITM help with Bridge No 1 IWA Festival of Water 2019 The Editor’s Page Getting in touch with MK Branch

2-3 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 8-9 10-11 12 12 13 14 15 16

Chairman’s Column

Hello everybody. Another summer season has nearly passed and I hope you have all enjoyed the generally superb season it has been, whether afloat or on land.

May I thank all who helped at the Lock Help weekend and the Linslade Festival— see Pages 5 and 6.

This year, I finally made it up to the northern end of the Ashby Canal on my narrow boat, Rock Partridge, with the assistance of Les and Sheila Franklin as an eager crew. Previous attempts failed due to insufficient time, meaning a turn back short of the destination at Shackerstone.

All this demonstrated that even more time must be allowed for the proliferation of moored craft, be they shortterm, long-term or permanent moorings.

Tim relaxes on the Ashby. Picture: Les Franklin.

Of greater concern to me is the congregation of long-term and permanent craft at key points. Hawkesbury Junction is just such a location, and it is daunting for many cruisers as it is difficult to discern where the moored boats end and the lock queue begins. Hawkesbury should be inspirational for us all, but the general appearance is scruffy for the most part – some of the permanent craft accumulating piles of junk and rubbish.

I await the opening of the offside moorings and the new marina at the junction of the new B&MK link canal. It will be interesting to see how many boats are persuaded to move Page 2

Chairman’s Column—continued. moorings to these new facilities, permitting some improvements to transit times and the quality of moorings along the MK stretch of the GU. During August, I did a short trip from Napton to Fenny Compton and return – very rural once the Napton flight is completed. Fenny was a disappointment. The winding hole was occupied by a seemingly permanently moored boat (why has this not been policed?) and the moorings seemed totally inadequate for the number of visiting boats, using the location as a stop before a day’s cruise to Napton and the lock flight there.

The penultimate lock on the descent of Napton is currently of reduced width, due to a bow in the on-side lock wall. The boat preceding us, being of slightly wider width, could not go down – it would have got wedged – so reversed out before any water was lost. It was then faced with the need to reverse back up the previous six locks to Engine House Arm to turn.

CRT could have done a lot more to make the situation clear with better signing.

All of which demonstrates that there is so much more that CRT can and maybe should be doing, but no doubt lack of funding would be cited for any shortcomings. The work of IWA in highlighting such matters is ever more important, and your support in identifying where help is needed is vital and to be encouraged. As IWA members we can also do a lot to reassure other canal users when they face difficulties.

I look forward to seeing you at the Branch meetings and other events through the autumn and winter, and on into 2019.

Tim Armstrong, Branch Chairman.

CRT dredging update for Milton Keynes Our dredging programme on the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes has been temporarily halted due to concerns that falling oxygen levels in the water could become too low to support the fish that live in the canal.

The project is about half way through. Roughly 1,500 cubic metres of silt (approximately 18,500 bath tubs) has been removed from the canal, and we want to remove a further 1,000 cubic metres from various sections between Wolverton and Milton Keynes. Once removed, the silt is being recycled and used as bank protection.

The project is costing us around £250,000 and was due to finish this summer but, with the current heat wave, we've decided to halt the project and restart it in the winter.

Paul Fox, from the Trust, said: "The removal of silt that has built up over the years will make it easier for boaters to navigate and moor along this popular stretch of canal. I am sorry that we’ve not been able to complete the project in one go - it has been difficult to maintain the oxygen levels in the water during the heat wave. As a result we’ve reluctantly decided to temporarily stop work, and come back and finish the project later in the year when the weather is cooler."

CRT news release, August 2018.

New Members Under the new data protection legislation effective from May 2018, we are no longer allowed to publish the names of IWA members who have recently joined the Branch. New members will still be contacted by our Membership Secretary Pete Bickers. We do hope to see you at our meetings and other activities—please introduce yourselves to one of our Committee members (those wearing IWA badges).

Page 3

A421: No culvert yet, but future scope for agreement?

IWA has continued its support for the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterways Trust in their campaign for a culvert under the A421 road widening, to allow for a new waterway to connect the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes to the Great Ouse in Bedford. Local MPs have been very supportive, forwarding our concerns to the Secretary of State for Transport and to Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Councils. But despite these efforts, the responses received by IWA, B&MKWT and MPs have been extremely disappointing.

In essence, the Department of Transport has placed the matter squarely in the hands of Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Councils. They, in turn, have stated that they simply have no funds to build the culvert into the current road widening scheme. The deadline offered to the Trust to raise the necessary funds was impossibly short.

On the positive side, it emerged that the road widening has been designed (as regards its height at the crossing point) so that the waterway could pass under the road at some future time - although at far greater cost and inconvenience than if the culvert were built as the road is widened. Also, land has been designated for the crossing, involving some changes to adjacent land use provisions.

The Trust, with IWA's support, is continuing to press for a solution. A new Expressway is proposed as part of the new infrastructure for the Oxford to Cambridge corridor. The broad route for the Expressway, due to be announced later this year, may have implications for the upgraded A421, and this may present another opportunity to find a way forward.

The Trust is extremely grateful for the huge support from IWA and others on this matter.

It has provided opportunities to promote the Waterway to a much wider audience than previously. The Trust will now focus on maintaining the profile that this issue has given the Waterway Park, and building a business case to ensure that it is integrated into the Oxford/Milton Keynes/Cambridge corridor proposals.

The proposed waterway route at Marston Vale is being marked by installing unique wood carvings at the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park. The carvings, commissioned from local artists Carrie Yuen and Tony Langston and unveiled on 10 July, portray examples of wildlife – birds and animals – that will live on or near the waterway. and associated canal boat activities. The carvings were funded by a Central Bedfordshire Council grant to B&MKWT from their Green Infrastructure Fund.

Meanwhile, at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, Crest Nicholson are pressing ahead with their canalside development, which will incorporate the first few yards of the BedfordMilton Keynes Waterway.

From B&MK News, July 2018.

Page 4

A successful Lock Help weekend On Friday 25 to Monday 28 May, IWA MK Branch members and other volunteers were at Three Locks raising funds for the waterway causes we support, by helping boaters through the locks in return for donations, and also seeking donations from visitors to the Three Locks pub. The weather was fine for us during each day, but a thundery downpour one night brought rainwater into the pub.

The total raised was £741.51, somewhat down on last year's take of £893.84, but was better than a very quiet Friday led us to expect.

On the Saturday evening, volunteers enjoyed a barbecue. First prize for style went to Jan, Caroline and Andy (right) for their silver candelabra - but they lost marks when the wind blew the candles out!

Our other picture (below) shows two boats from the Wyvern fleet, ascending the locks to return to base. As usual, these formed much of the boat traffic we saw through.

Many thanks to the volunteers who turned out to work the locks, supervise the activity table, keep us supplied with tea and coffee, and help with setting up and taking down.

Special thanks to Paul and Liam, who travelled from Dorset to take part. Thanks of course to all who donated, and to the Three Locks pub for allowing us to set up our info point and for other help.

Text and pictures: Les Franklin.

See Page 12 for a recipe that helped sustain volunteers at the Lock Help weekend—Ed.

Boat Safety Certification Alan Stewart

Lloyds Academy Diploma in Small Craft Surveying Ex-Merchant Marine Engineer

Authorised Boat Safety Scheme Examiner Visit my website: http://www.boat-safetyexaminer.co.uk Contact me by phone on 01234 767156 or mobile 07976 900113 Alternatively e-mail me at: alan_breck_stewart@msn.com Page 5

A windy day at Linslade IWA Milton Keynes Branch had a stand at the Linslade Canal Festival on 28 July.

The day was mostly bright, except for one 15-minute downpour which saw festival -goers make for the nearest gazebo to shelter until the rain passed. The main problem was the wind. Fortunately, Tim had the foresight to bring a mooring peg and some strong rope so at least the gazebo, which was borrowed from IWA Head Office, remained on the ground!

The gazebo’s eyecatching canal map.

Photos: Tim Armstrong.

Tim and I manned the stand during the day. We spoke to many people attracted by the very eye-catching map printed onto the gazebo's side panel; many took away printed copies of the canal routes. Young people were entertained with the bridge building activity and "mooring a boat" by playing with quoits.

It is always a pleasure to talk to the public about the work of the IWA. Many are genuinely interested in the waterways and want to ask questions. The two of us were hard pressed to deal with them. If you can consider lending a hand next year, your help would be very much appreciated.

Jane Bidgood.

Margaret Wright Margaret Wright, wife of former Branch Chairman Jim Wright, died on 22 May aged 90. Her funeral took place at St Chad’s Church, Uppermill, on 7 June.

Margaret was born in the Manchester area, daughter of a wheelwright. By two previous marriages, she had three children, Barbara, David and Robert.

Margaret was a Justice of the Peace, and a legal executive with a firm of solicitors in Leighton Buzzard. She married Jim in 1984, and assisted him in his role as Harbourmaster for the 1985 IWA National Rally at Milton Keynes. She was also supportive of Jim in his Branch roles as Newsletter Editor and Planning Officer in his later years. Following Jim's death in 2002, Margaret remained in Leighton Buzzard for six years before moving north to Uppermill to be nearer her family.

Page 6

Wendover Arm—first too wet, then too hot!

Due to the poor weather earlier this year, it took a long time for the ground to dry out enough to use heavy plant. With canal profiling and lining soon set to reach the installation at Whitehouses, the work specified by Canal & River Trust at this site is now a matter of urgency, so that lining can continue towards Bridge 4.

Wendover Arm Trust applied for a ÂŁ75,000 grant under the Leader programme, to cover the CRT-specified work, environmental improvements, information boards, seating and provision for educational visits. Thus the Trust's reserves will be kept for dealing with the diversion necessary to avoid the contaminated infilled section at Little Tring.

A final task in May was to expose more of the abutments of Bridge 4, in order to better understand their construction. During this work, volunteers found a stone block, as first used on the London & Birmingham Railway to support the rails.

During May and June, 27 metres of bank were profiled, ready for lining. Also, saplings were harvested from Holy Trinity, Prestwood, for re-planting at Whitehouses.

July saw the really hot weathVolunteers laying blockwork at a previous Restoration er begin, and shorter days Open Day. Picture: Les Franklin. were worked for the volunteers' welfare. Bentomat lining was placed on the 27 metres of bank mentioned above, ready for block laying and back-filling. Late in July, news came that the first-stage application for the Leader grant had been approved.

Ray Orth has resigned as Assistant Restoration Director in anticipation of his move to Dorset, and Tony Bardwell, a former aerospace production engineer who has been taking part in the Trust's restoration work for a while, has been appointed to succeed him.

The Trust's second Restoration Open Day takes place at Drayton Beauchamp on Sunday 2 September. As usual, restoration work can be seen in progress at the nearby work-site.

The Trust holds its Annual General Meeting at 2.30pm on Wednesday 31 October, at Wilstone Village Hall.

Trust members were saddened at the death of Margaret, wife of Restoration Director Roger Leishman. Margaret, a former BBC secretary, served as Minutes Secretary to the Trust's Council for eight years, and also supervised the tea and cake stalls at Trust Festivals and Open Days for twenty years.

From Wendover Arm News, Summer/Autumn 2018.

A video of restoration in progress, produced by Paul Welton, can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkNWeoRX8yo&feature=youtu.be Page 7

Diary We look forward to seeing you at our 2018-19 season of meetings at the Bletchley Royal British Legion (see map). Our own events are in bold type; selected events organised by others are in regular type. Branch events are also on our web page at https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/events_socials and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ Bleak Hall Rbt From A 5: Leave A 5 at A 421 exit (signed MK South, Buckingham) on to Redmoor Roundabout.

Take A 421 exit, V6 Grafton Street (signed Buckingham); continue to Bleak Hall Roundabout.

Take 1st exit (signed Milton Keynes West, Buckingham), and pass over railway and dual carriageway, to Elfield Park Roundabout (intersection with V4 Watling Street). Take 2nd exit, A 421.

Take next left, Denbigh Hall Drive; continue to miniroundabout, take 2nd exit, Whaddon Way. Continue past Zebra crossing at pinch point, then immediately, at Dolphin pub, turn left into Melrose Avenue.

After 100 yards, take driveway on right to Royal British Legion car park. The driveway is indicated by a small sign on a lamp post on the opposite side of Melrose Avenue.

V6 Grafton Street A5

A 421

Redmoor Denbigh Hall Drive

Tower V4 Watling Street

Whaddon Way Royal British Whaddon Way Local Centre The Dolphin

No Whalley Drive

Yes Melrose Avenue

Sherwood Drive

The building and car park fronting Melrose Avenue (marked ) is NOT the Royal British Legion. It is incorrectly marked as such on some maps.

Bletchley Park

Members from Leighton Buzzard can reach the venue via the A 4146 to the roundabout near Willowbridge, then via Stoke Road, Water Eaton Road, Sherwood Drive and Whalley Drive.

Buckingham Road

Saturday 1 September 5pm

Sunday 2 September 12.30pm - 4.00pm

8-9 September

Thurs 20 September

Saturday 29 September 11.30am

Page 8

Bletchley

Water Eaton Road

Over and Under the Hill. Take a boat trip from the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne, through Blisworth Tunnel, then take a guided walk back over the hill. ÂŁ6 adults; ÂŁ4 children. Waterproof clothing and stout footwear essential. Book in advance at 07966 503609 or via email at: enquiries@stokebruerneboats.co.uk Wendover Arm Trust Restoration Open Day. See restoration volunteers at work, and enjoy some tea and cake!

Drayton Beauchamp Church, HP22 5LU http://wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/events.html Stoke Bruerne Village at War weekend.

The usual mix of nostalgic fun and entertainment! http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: Vintage waterway videos, with David Tucker.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU IWA National Annual General Meeting: Maidenhill School, King's Road, Stonehouse, Gloucs, GL10 2HA Full details at https://www.waterways.org.uk/agm Sat lunch and Sun tours may be booked via the link on that page.

Diary—continued.

Friday 12 and IWA Milton Keynes Branch Autumn Canal Clean-up Saturday 13 October (subject to CRT approval). Working south from Fenny Stratford to Grove Lock, LB. Overnight stop at Globe Inn, Linslade. Details to be announced at Branch meetings and at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/cleanups Thursday 18 October IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: 7.45pm The Uttoxeter & Caldon Canals, with Steve Wood.

Steve will tell us about the Caldon Canal, and the plans to re-open part of the Uttoxeter Canal.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Thurs 15 November IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: 7.45pm The Chesterfield Canal, talk by John Lower.

John will tell us about the history of the canal and the ongoing plans for full restoration.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Thurs 6 December IWA Milton Keynes Branch Christmas Social: 7.45pm Pre-booked ticket event. Details to be announced at Branch meetings and on Branch web site.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Thursday 17 January IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: 2019 The Shrewsbury & Newport Canals, with Brian Nelson.

7.45pm Brian will tell us about the history of these canals and the features on them. He will outline the progress being made towards their restoration.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Thurs 21 February IWA Milton Keynes Branch Annual General Meeting 7.45pm (Agenda to be published in January 2019 TPT), and Canal Boatmen, their origins and development, talk by Roger Squires.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU

Excellent Boats on a Beautiful Canal Our base at Linslade is within weekend reach of the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, or the Chiltern Hills and Aylesbury. Choice of exciting one- or two-week cruises including the Thames. 35 luxury boats, 2 to 8 berth.

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Rothschild Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 2TF Tel: 01525 372355 Fax: 01525 852308 http://www.canalholidays.co.uk james@canalholidays.co.uk Members of IWA, APCO, BMF, B&MK Waterway Trust, Wendover Arm Trust, Buckingham Canal Society, Aylesbury Canal Society

nd ks a re a e r i rt b eekly h o h S w Page 9

CanalFILE . . . . . . . . . .

Welcome to CanalFILE! In the last edition we looked at Bradwell windmill which was built because of the coming of the Grand Union canal. This time we will look at LINFORD MANOR. The building pre-dates the canal but the coming of the canal had a big influence on the history of the manor house and its grounds.

WHAT IS THE MANOR LIKE? Linford Manor consists of a manor house, together with two pavilions, a barn, a studio and a row of almshouses. Beyond the almshouses is St Andrew’s church.

It is set within grounds which include two ponds and the foundations of what used to be a summer house. The grounds also contain a very old and impressive lime tree.

THE MANOR’S HISTORY The oldest building in the grounds is St Andrew’s church. The tower and aisle were added to an earlier nave in the 12th century.

al in the distance

Linford Manor, with the can

Sir William Prichard, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1682 and MP for the City five times, bought the Manor in 1676 and built a house on the present site. The building, the main block of the current house, was arranged over two floors. In 1696 he also built the Flemishgabled almshouses. These consist of seven tenements, the large central one of which was the schoolroom and schoolmaster’s residence.

In 1730 the two pavilions were built to hide farm buildings from view. At around this time two wings were added to the main building and the attic was converted into a third floor.

Despite their grand appearance, the pavilions were used as stables.

The thatched farm barn (currently used as the Arts Centre) faces a studio built in 1981.

The studio was built on the site of a range of thatched stone kennels of the Bucks Otterhounds. The kennels housed around 30 couples of hounds and hunted on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

A medieval trackway in the grounds was landscaped into a series of four ornamental ponds, the last of which had a brick cascade. A summerhouse was also built.

HOW WAS THE MANOR INFLUENCED BY THE CANAL? After a good deal of haggling, land was sold for the building of the Grand Junction Canal.

While the family made money from the transaction they paid a heavy price in other ways.

Page 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The third of the four ornamental ponds was destroyed when the canal was built so the fourth pond became isolated. The building of the railway branch line to Newport Pagnell, parallel with the canal, has left this pond in a wooded area between the canal and the railway (now a footpath/cycleway), and its condition has deteriorated.

The manor estate itself also declined when the canal was built. With a canal only a few hundred yards from the house and constantly in use by horse-drawn narrow boats the site lost its privacy and security.

The family decided to make its main residence in Lathbury and only occasionally used the manor at Great Linford.

INTERESTING FACTS * In 1850 the lead was stolen from the roof of the summerhouse. The itinerant canal population was blamed. * The medieval manor was built around 1380 and was sited on what is now the car park. * The medieval manor was destroyed by fire.

The twin pavailions

CAN YOU VISIT? Linford Manor Park is managed by the Parks Trust, and has open public access. The Manor is a private residence and is not open to the public. The pavilions and almshouses are used as studios by local artists; the Arts Centre is open to the public and the studio, pavilions and almshouses can be visited when open events are held. For details, go to: https://www.theparkstrust.com/parks/great-linford-manor-park REVEAL, REVIVE, RESTORE Many of the Park's features are showing signs of age, and few people can remember how it used to look. In July, the Parks Trust obtained a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund to restore the water gardens, improve paths and signs, and provide community events. More info at: https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/reveal-revive-restore-the-heritage/ With special thanks to the City Discovery Centre for allowing access to their archive allowing research for this article and for the assistance of Catherine, the archivist.

Footnote: I was once told that the Manor was faced with stone cut when creating the tunnel at Blisworth and brought by canal boat to the site. Does anyone know if this is true? See the back page for my contact details if you can give any further information.

See you in the next edition!

Jane

Text: Jane Bidgood. Photo: Richard Schmidt, Jane Bidgood.

Page 11

Savoury Favourites Sheila Smith kindly sent in her recipe for the cheese savouries she made for volunteers at the Lock Help weekend in May. Here are the ingredients and method: 2oz flour 1/4 teaspoon salt Pinch of Cayenne pepper Twist of freshly ground black pepper

2oz grated Cheddar cheese, and 2oz grated Parmesan cheese, OR 4oz grated Cheddar 2oz butter at room temperature

Preheat the oven to gas mark 5 / 190 C / 170 fan. Lightly grease baking trays / sheets.

Sift the salt and flour into a bowl, and add Cayenne and black pepper.

Add the two cheeses and the butter. Rub in until crumbly, bringing the mixture together add a drop of milk if necessary.

Roll out the dough to 3mm thick. Cut into circles and place onto the trays.

Put on a high shelf in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Put on a wire tray to cool.

Makes approximately 10-12 biscuits.

Thanks to Sheila—they were delicious! If you try this recipe, take a picture before they disappear, and send it to me—Ed.

Congratulations, Ken! Congratulations to Ken Stone (former Branch Treasurer), of Linslade, who won First Prize in Wendover Arm Trust's Club 100 Draw. The prize money arrived on Ken's 92nd birthday - so double congratulations!

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For Moorings Availability and Prices, visit http://www.mkmarina.co.uk Page 12

WRG BITM help with Bridge No 1 On 9-10 June, a team from WRG BITM visited Buckingham Canal Society at Bridge No 1, Cosgrove. Jobs for the weekend included removing the scaffolding used for repairs to the existing masonry, digging foundations for the deck that will be built on top of the existing abutments, part-filling the foundation trenches with ballast, reinstating the bridge towpath, and replacing the scaffolding.

The ballast - 53 one tonne bags - had to be moved half a mile to site from where it was delivered. For the weekend's work, Terry Cavender had hired a 14 tonne excavator, a 17 metre tele-handler (18 tonnes) and a 9 tonne dumper. The scaffolding had to be removed from under the bridge in order to get the plant in position to lift the bags of ballast to the far side of the bridge, which has no road access.

Reinstating the towpath. Picture: Kevin Driver.

Levels were set up with a scanning laser level for the foundation trenches on either side of the bridge. Meanwhile, the tele-handler disgraced itself by first causing a part of the timber staging beneath the bridge (previously laid by BCS) to give way, then by springing a diesel leak. So the tracked excavator was used instead, with some difficulty due to the inability to slew it within the narrow bridge, but eventually a reasonably efficient way was found to use it for transferring the bags. By the end of Saturday, the far side foundation trench was complete, the other half-complete.

On Sunday, these trenches were completed and filled to the required level with ballast.

Earth was dug out of the towpath under the bridge, retaining boards put in around the edges, ducting for services was placed, then the towpath was infilled with ballast. Finally, the scaffolding was re-erected between the abutments, ready for future work on the bridge.

Paraphrased from BITMites News 17 July 2018.

A video of this work party can be seen at: https://youtu.be/8Ba1pskYS6c Page 13

IWA Festival of Water 2019 I’m writing immediately before this year’s IWA Festival of Water, whereas you will probably be reading this after it has finished. I’ve got everything I can crossed that the beautiful weather which has blessed us for so much of the summer returns in time for our gathering in St Neots. It is hard to remember a sunnier summer where the only sensible place to be has been on the water.

The venue for next year’s Festival of Water, Waltham Abbey in the Lee Valley, should have been confirmed at St Neots. The Inland Waterways Association has been holding boat festivals for nearly 70 years!

To many they lie at the very heart of what makes the IWA such a unique organisation. It’s an opportunity for old friends to meet up, to make new friends, to chat boats, catch up, swap anecdotes and experiences, to ‘fly the flag’ for boating, to campaign for local issues, and to enjoy yourself.

There is a list of volunteers, too long to individually detail, who have worked so hard all year long to deliver this year’s festival, but Jane and Mike Elwell in particular deserve our special gratitude for again leading Team Festival.

No one would deny that commercial canal festivals have their place in the boating calendar, but IWA’s free and volunteer run Festival of Water deserves its place too. Long may it continue! And let’s all look forward to Waltham Abbey 2019!

Chris Howes, Eastern Region Chairman.

Willowbridge Marina http://www.willowbridgemarina.co.uk Willowbridge Marina is a working boatyard specialising in lifting boats in and out of the water, as well as on and off transport. We are a family-run business, working hard to provide services to canal boat owners and users in the Milton Keynes area.

We offer the following services: - Well-stocked chandlery, including stainless steel fastenings and Calor Gas fittings; - Red diesel; - All boat services, including coal, LPG and pump-out; - All mooring services, including limited linear moorings, wireless internet and power, toilets, showers, laundry and extensive storage ashore.

We offer a 10% discount on chandlery purchases and services in the yard to IWA members.

Page 14

01908 643242 office@willowbridgemarina.co.uk

The Editor’s Page It's a long time since I included an Editor's Page. As Branch Chairman, I had the Chairman's Column to fill, but now that Tim Armstrong has taken that job, why shouldn't I still have my say? There must be some perks in the Editor's job!

In July, as Tim mentions in his Column, Sheila and I accompanied him aboard Rock Partridge on a trip from Rugby, via the North Oxford and Coventry Canals, to the Ashby Canal, via Hawkesbury Junction. Having passed through the stop lock, Tim executed a perfect turn round the hairpin junction on engine and tiller alone (no ropes ashore), to be greeted by a tremendous cheer from the flats overlooking the junction. Then we realised — England had scored a goal during their quarter-final match against Sweden!

The Ashby was new territory to Sheila and At Hawkesbury. Picture: Les Franklin. me, and was a delight to cruise, with only Hinckley interrupting the otherwise totally rural route. At Snarestone we feared anticlimax, but the lively information centre and shop run by the Ashby Canal Society, together with the sight of the already-restored section beyond the lift bridge, made for a really stimulating arrival. Having winded, we cruised back as far as Shackerstone, where we left Tim to await a relief crew.

Naturalists at the Creekside Discovery Centre, Deptford, London, have discovered that the removal of shopping trolleys from the River Ravensbourne and the tidal stretch where it enters the Thames led to a fish population collapse. The river here has almost no foliage at its edge, just sheer walls of steel or masonry. Shopping trolleys offer perfect shelter for small fish, protecting them from larger predators. So should we leave some trolleys in the cut during the Cleanups? Perhaps not - there is plenty of natural shelter for small fish in the Grand Union without shopping trolleys! See: http://walkaroundlondon.com/the-enthralling-nature-of-deptford-creek-walking-the-riverbed/

Les Franklin.

THE

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T: 01525 270214 E: thethreelocks@epicpubs.com www.thethreelocksstokehammond.com Page 15

Getting in touch with MK Branch The Branch Committee is always happy to receive your news, views and comments—here are their contact details. We look forward to seeing you at our new season of meetings beginning on Thursday 20 September—see the Diary page.

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Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses change frequently, but these were correct on 3 August 2018.

Chairman:

TIM ARMSTRONG tim.armstrong@waterways.org.uk

Vice-Chairman:

VACANT

Secretary:

DIANE WITTS diane.witts@waterways.org.uk

Membership:

PETE BICKERS pete.bickers@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer and Social Secretary:

DAVID TUCKER david.tucker@waterways.org.uk

Education Officer:

JANE BIDGOOD education.mkbranch@waterways.org.uk

Social Media:

CHRIS DURHAM chris.durham@team.waterways.org.uk

Buckingham Canal ATHINA BECKETT Soc Representative: athina.beckett@buckinghamcanal.org.uk B-MK Waterway Trust Reporter:

MARIE DRAPER marie.draper@waterways.org.uk

Trade Representative:

JAMES GRIFFIN james@canalholidays.co.uk

Cleanup Supervisor:

VACANT

Fenny Lock Adoption Scheme:

DAVE PORTER david.porter@waterways.org.uk

Committee member:

PAT TITMAS pat.titmas@team.waterways.org.uk

Editor and Publicity:

LES FRANKLIN (non-Committee) les.franklin@waterways.org.uk

Webmaster:

VERNON DRAPER (non-Committee) vernon.draper@waterways.org.uk

Planning:

TONY BIRCH (non-Committee) Contact via Les Franklin

IWA homepage: https://www.waterways.org.uk MK Branch pages: at above address, under “IWA Local”, select “Milton Keynes”.

MK Branch Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/iwamiltonkeynesbranch/ Canal and River Trust: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust: http://www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk Buckingham Canal Society: http://www.buckinghamcanal.org.uk Wendover Arm Trust: http://www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk Friends of the Canal Museum: http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Leighton Buzzard Canal Society: https://en-gb.facebook.com/LeightonBuzzardCanalSociety/

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of the Milton Keynes Branch. They are however published as being of interest to members and readers.