Towpath Telegraph January 2019

January 2019

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

CanalFILE, part 13 Autumn Cleanup report Branch trip to the Solent?

News from BCS, B-MKWT and WAT A recent aerial view of the Campbell Wharf site, looking westwards towards MK city centre. The marina excavation is in the foreground, and the residential development site is on the far side of the canal. The three-way footbridge uniting the two halves of the site was craned into place in early December. Picture courtesy The Parks Trust, reproduced by kind permission of Crest Nicholson.

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Welcome to January 2019 Towpath Telegraph In this edition we report big changes on our stretch of the cut: the Campbell Wharf site is now unrecognisable, Buckingham Canal Society is making rapid progress with Bridge One, and Wendover Arm Trust has almost completed Stage 3 of Phase II. You can make your own contribution to local change (and dispel any remaining Christmas cobwebs) by joining the work party at the Wolverton Mural on 27 January (see Diary).

Enjoy this edition!

Chairman’s Column Branch trip to the Solent?

GDPR, new members and electronic TPT Linslade Scouts help with Autumn Cleanup Bridge One, Cosgrove: deck now in place Wendover Arm restoration nears end of Stage 3 BMKWT welcomes Government support for healthier, greener places in the Oxford Cambridge arc Diary IWA Milton Keynes Branch AGM agenda CanalFILE—part 13 Congratulations, Chris, Pat—and Roy! Situation Vacant—Education Officer Festive fun at the Branch Christmas social Problems with ‘@waterways.org.uk’ addresses The Editor’s Page Getting in touch with MK Branch

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

Chairman’s Column Another calendar year is almost past us, at the time of writing, and as always it has proved to be hugely interesting. Winter months may be less active on the water, but there is plenty to be done ashore and even on board, when the weather is temperate enough.

My own boat is currently bereft of bathroom, as I replace parts thereof to better utilise the space available. I have also vowed to renew my splicing skills, as the mooring lines ideally need replacing. Next February will see the ritual of re-blacking the boat, and the opportunity to count the fresh-water barnacle population. And who knows what state the propeller is in, after the occasional sub-surface bangs and thumps we encounter?

Undeterred, I carry on, as always enjoying the canals and all they provide by way of scenery, history, physical activity and relaxation, all with like-minded souls. Next June I am venturing onto the Canal entre Deux Mers, in southern France, along with a group of nautical rugby club mates and, no doubt, beaucoup de vin!

Using this column as a means of communication, I am seeking thoughts from members as to how we might beneficially develop the Branch, both for its own membership and also for all canal users as a whole. In advance of the AGM in February, we are seeking a new Committee recruit. Following Jane Bidgood’s retirement, due to family and work pressures (and to whom we are very grateful for her input as Education Officer), we now need a new member to fulfil that role. The Committee is open to any ideas as to what and how much the role encompasses, based on the skills brought to the job, but we have put together a brief "job description" on Page 12. I welcome any discussion with anyone interested.

Meanwhile, we are very grateful to Pat Durham (formerly Titmas), who has agreed to take over the running of Adoption Scheme work parties at Fenny Lock. Pat will be looking for volunteers, so I hope you will lend your support in order to keep the lock and its surroundPage 2

Chairman’s Column—continued. ings looking as attractive as possible.

Branch trip to the Solent?

Other upcoming volunteer opportunities include a work party at I am pursuing the idea of the Wolverton Train Mural (27 January) and of course the a day visit to Portsmouth and Southampton in May Spring Cleanup (5-6 April). More details at Branch meetings.

or early June, by coach, with a boat trip from Portsmouth around the naval dockyard and then to the ocean liner terminals in Southampton.

The new three-way footbridge being craned into position in December. Still from campbellwharfmarina.com video.

The Campbell Wharf marina and all its associated facilities in Milton Keynes continues to develop apace. Whilst I am not convinced by the current trend for “rusty” metalwork (as seen in the new three-way footbridge, above), the basic concept is amazing, be it at £34 million or at a length of 34 metres! How the marina will affect the overall mooring situation will be judged at some future date. Effective policing of the existing canalside moorings and their restrictions will be paramount.

With best wishes for 2019 to you all.

Tim Armstrong, Branch Chairman.

The clever bit is synchronising the date to coincide with the maximum number of liners in port and sailing on the same tide – a truly impressive sight. Saturday 15 June offers the potential sight of three liners on the move more or less together, if they sail punctually, but I am also checking possible dates in May. Some of you have expressed support already, so I shall continue to develop this idea – even including the Chichester Canal at Birdham maybe!

If you are interested, please get in touch.

Tim Armstrong.

GDPR, new members, and receiving TPT electronically Under the GDPR legislation effective from May 2018, we are no longer allowed to publish the names of IWA members who have recently joined the Branch. All new members should receive a welcome contact from our Membership Secretary Pete Bickers. We very much hope to see you at our Branch meetings and other activities. Please introduce yourselves to one of our Committee members (those wearing IWA badges).

Existing members who have previously chosen to receive email reminders when new editions of TPT are available may receive a printed copy this time. This is because, under GDPR, we need to have a record of when you requested TPT by email. This information was not collected before GDPR came into force, so you need to tell us again. If you wish to continue to receive the email reminders, please email tracy.higgin@waterways.org.uk Page 3

Linslade Scouts help with Autumn Cleanup Members of a Linslade Scout group joined in with a will on 12-13 October when the Branch held its second Canal Clean-up of 2018. The event focussed on the Grand Union Canal from Fenny Lock, Bletchley to Grove Lock, Leighton Buzzard.

Once again we were supported by Canal and River Trust (CRT), who provided safety equipment, workboats and a dredger with crew. James Griffin of Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd sponsored the event, supplied specialised equipment, and skippered Ocean Princess as tug for the hopper, whose crew recovered the usual haul of scrap and discarded/dumped goods from the canal.

Scouts at Leighton Buzzard. Photo: Tim Armstrong.

On Friday we were joined by 11 volunteers from The Parks Trust, who worked through their parkland adjacent to the canal, and also by volunteers from CRT, led by their new volunteer co-ordinator, Laura Summerbell. The CRT volunteers welcomed the chance to get better acquainted with their waterway. Our headcount on Friday reached 43, surely the largest number seen for many a year.

On Saturday the number was reduced, but without detriment to our overall recovery of rubbish. Fewer from CRT and IWA, but compensated by the attendance of members of 1st Linslade Scouts. These youngsters pitched in with great enthusiasm and worked hard all morning until they finished opposite Tiddenfoot Park.

The volunteers scoured the towpath and hedges adjacent, gathering general rubbish and piling larger items for collection by the hopper crew. Eventually, on the Saturday, supermarket trolleys also featured, pulled from the canal adjacent to Tesco in Leighton Buzzard.

Our endeavours were supported by powered assistance from Athina Beckett and Jonathan Brown on their narrowboat Brown Trout, towing a pan from which its crew could tackle the offside vegetation and rubbish. Diane and Andy Witts provided much-needed refreshment from their boat DiAndy, a valuable source of tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits.

Thanks are also due to Pat Titmas (now Durham), who did a great job in mustering volunteers, several of whom have declared their interest in the next clean-up. This will be back in Milton Keynes next Spring, when we hope to be joined by local businesses, fulfilling their community work programmes.

Finally, of course, a big thank-you to all the volunteers on the two days, who once again helped improve the Canal, its environs and overall quality for all to enjoy. The encouraging comments of the many who came past us, with families or otherwise, made it all worthwhile. Total volunteer hours clocked up over the two days was 358, excluding the many hours spent planning and organising the event. Well done!

Tim Armstrong.

Page 4

Bridge One, Cosgrove: deck now in place The steel girders for the bridge arrived a few weeks ago and, over the weekend of 10 – 11 November with the assistance of a 30 tonne excavator hired in for the work, the girders were lifted into place on the bridge. On 15 November, concrete girders and concrete blocks were moved next to the bridge. They have been installed on top of the steel girders over the past few weeks.

For those who don’t know much about our Cosgrove bridge work, the grant money will cover the costs of the materials to rebuild Bridge One, but all the practical work is carried out by our volunteers.

Having the large excavator on site allowed us to use it to continue the work of dredging the next section of the canal bed up to the next farm crossing, ready for us to re-water this section in the near future.

Whilst the work at Cosgrove is the most important at present, we also need to keep our other two sites open to the public looking good. So a couple of work parties are scheduled at Bourton Meadow and Hyde Lane Nature Reserve to strim and tidy up the sites and, at Hyde Lane, to install solar panels which should allow us to top up the water in the canal.

All IWA members would be very welcome to come and see the progress being made at Bridge One, and of course join our ‘bridge building’ gang.

Date for your Diary: BCS AGM Saturday 23 March, 7.30pm at Buckingham Community Centre, with a talk by the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Society.

Athina Beckett, Buckingham Canal Society.

Alan Mynard has posted a timelapse video on Youtube showing the work going on at Bridge One (above: still from the video). Go to: https://youtu.be/QbynJeQZWz4

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

Wendover Arm restoration nears end of Stage 3 Good progress was made during the dry summer months, bringing the restoration work close to the end of Stage 3 of Phase II. Efforts were made to prepare as much bank lining complete with hollow concrete blocks as possible in readiness for a WRG BITM work party in mid-September. By the end of this work party, 64 metres of both banks had been lined, of which 14 metres were completed with solid blocks and coir rolls, leaving 50 metres of both banks for WRG BITM to complete with solid concrete blocks and coir rolls.

WAT GRAND DRAW 2018: A THANK-YOU TO IWA MK MEMBERS As Promoter of the WAT Grand Draw 2018, I would like to thank IWA Milton Keynes Branch members for their generous support this year.

It has been a bit hectic, as the circulation of tickets to the IWA membership was hampered at the start this year when IWA Head Office decided, with little notice, that it is no longer possible to send the Draw tickets out with Branch magazines.

However, Milton Keynes Branch beat the ban - hence, a BIG thank you.

Excavation work under way at Whitehouses in December.

Photo: Steve Bonser.

At Whitehouses, it had been agreed with CRT that the old coal bunkers that once had a brick arch over them needed to be made safe. The brick arch had been broken in the past, probably when the former cottages were demolished, and was recently removed as it was liable to collapse. The bunkers were to be Winning tickets were filled with brick rubble and pea shingle. This work was also drawn at the Trust’s Res- done by WRG BITM. toration Open Day on 2 September, and the prizes have all been despatched.

I’m sure there is an MK post code winner, but all winners are named on the Trust’s web site (see back page).

In October, the newly blocked length was completed with spoil on both banks and the bed lining completed with the last 20 metre roll getting very close to the end. Time has been spent cutting rolls of Bentomat for bank and bed lining. This took advantage of the good weather and ensures that a good supply of Bentomat is ready for future lining of Stage 4. Regular sessions led by John Reynolds have kept the restoration site tidy.

Thank you all for your In December, excavation, profiling and lining work continued continued support for the between Whitehouses and Bridge 4.

Wendover Arm restoration.

The Trust is pleased to see that CRT has made good progress on

Michael Wright. the long-overdue clearance of the aquatic vegetation in the canal

between the sump at Drayton Beauchamp and the old A41 Bridge, which should ensure better flow along the canal.

From WAT web site, December 2018.

Page 6

BMKWT welcomes Government support for healthier, greener places in the Oxford - Cambridge arc The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust strongly supports the Government’s new commitment to ensure that investment in the environment underpins the development of new settlements across the Oxford to Cambridge Arc. The Government's response to the National Infrastructure Commission report on the Oxford to Cambridge Arc “Partnering in Prosperity” recognises that its long term proposals for the area offer a unique opportunity to invest in new green spaces and to ensure that sustainability is a high priority.

Jane Hamilton, Chair of the Trust said: “We are extremely pleased to see that the Government recognises that funding infrastructure across the Oxford to Cambridge Arc is not just about road and rail schemes. New settlements need green spaces and water to create places which people can identify with and where they can enjoy living. The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park can do exactly what the government wants to see: deliver a transformation to this area, creating new habitats, opportunities for healthy lifestyles and establishing new approaches to water management and movement.

“We are currently working with the Environment Agency to look at how the Waterway might help reduce flood risk as new development gets underway. The Waterway can bring economic benefits to the area, but it can deliver so much more, especially for the environment. I would encourage all those involved in drawing up plans for this part of the Arc to look very seriously at our project and ensure that it is included.”

The NIC report, published in November 2017, recognised the Waterway Park as a unique opportunity: “Projects such as the established Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Park could offer an opportunity to create a green infrastructure asset which contributes to wider placemaking objectives.”

The Waterway Park forms a key element of proposals for 5,000 new homes in Marston Valley as part of a planning application submitted to Central Bedfordshire by O&H Properties. The Trust will work to ensure that the Waterway is included in any new strategic plans for the area between Bedford and Milton Keynes and is extremely keen to hear from supporters and communities who can help ensure this exciting initiative becomes a reality.

B-MKWT press release, November 2018.

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.

Boat Builders - Repairs - Dry dock - Blacking - Repaints Waterside holiday cottage

The WYVERN SHIPPING Co Ltd

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 7

Diary We look forward to seeing you at our of meetings at the Bletchley Royal British Legion (see map). Our own events are in bold type; selected events organised by others (if shown) are in regular type. Non-members are always welcome at our meetings, so why not bring a guest along?

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.

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

Bleak Hall Rbt V6 Grafton Street A5

A 421 H8 Standing Way Denbigh Hall Drive Whaddon Way

Redmoor Rbt

Tower block

V4 Watling Street

Royal British Legion MK3 6PU Whaddon Way Local Centre

No Whalley Drive

Yes Melrose Avenue

The Dolphin Sherwood Drive Bletchley Park Bletchley

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 Water Eaton Road (shortcut from Leighton Buzzard)

Thurs 17 January IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: 2019 The Shrewsbury & Newport Canals, with Brian Nelson.

7.45pm Find out about the history of these canals, the features on them, and the progress being made towards their restoration.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Sunday 27 January 10am

Work party at Wolverton Train Mural. Help give the Mural some more TLC—the more the merrier! Materials will be provided, but please bring your own food and drink, work gloves if you have them, and wear old clothes and sensible shoes suitable for the weather.

Park at Tesco superstore or Wolverton Station. Access via the Secret Garden. No facilities on site.

For more details, please phone 01908 661217.

Thurs 21 February IWA Milton Keynes Branch AGM (agenda opposite), 7.45pm and Canal Boatmen, their origins and development, talk by Roger Squires.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Page 8

Diary—continued.

Thursday 21 March IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: 7.45pm The Bedford & Milton Keynes Trust, with Jane Hamilton. At this interesting time for the Trust, Jane will update us the progress made so far and the plans for the near future.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU Friday 5— IWA MK Branch Spring Clean-up (subject to CRT apSaturday 6 April proval). Working north from Fenny Stratford to the Galleon, Old Wolverton, overnight stop at Giffard Park. Details to be announced at Branch meetings and at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/cleanups Thursday 25 April IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: 7.45pm The Manchester Ship Canal, talk by Richard Thomas.

Richard will examine the history of the largest manmade waterway in England. We travel eastwards in Victorian times to follow the creation of the canal and then board a Mersey ferry to Liverpool for the return journey.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, MK3 6PU

IWA Milton Keynes Branch AGM

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Milton Keynes Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will take place at Bletchley Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU, on Thursday 21 February 2019, at 7.45pm.

Agenda (please bring this Notice with you): 1: Apologies for absence 2: Approval of minutes of AGM held on 15 February 2018 3: Matters arising 4: Chairman's report

5: Secretary's report 6: Treasurer's report, and accounts for year ending 31 December 2018 7: Adoption of accounts 8: Election of Committee members

After the formal business, there will be an opportunity for members' questions on IWA issues — topics at the discretion of the Chairman.

Under the IWA Byelaws last amended 11 June 2011, there is no restriction on the maximum size of the Committee. Pete Bickers retires by rotation, and seeks re-election. Dave Porter resigned from the Committee during the year, and Jane Bidgood resigns as from this meeting. Any corrections to the above will be announced at the meeting. Candidates for election or re-election must be members of the Association. It is no longer necessary for those who wish to be elected to be nominated and seconded, but all who wish to stand must agree to do so. Written consents from members wishing to stand for election should be sent to Diane Witts, at 14 Penn Road, Fenny Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK2 2AU, or by email to diane.witts@team.waterways.org.uk no later than 7 days before the meeting.

After an interval for refreshments, Roger Squires will give a talk entitled "Canal Boatmen their origins and development".

(Signed:) Diane Witts, Branch Secretary.

Page 9

CanalFILE . . . . . . . . . .

Welcome to CanalFILE! This time we look at an industry which depended on the canal for transport of its finished product - brick making. Bricks have been made in the Milton Keynes area for at least 500 years. The coming of the canal led to the establishment of several brickyards alongside. There was a brickyard in Little Woolstone owned by Thomas Rogers and Alfred Foster, and Bailey’s brickyard in Great Woolstone. Here we look at . . .

GREAT LINFORD BRICK KILNS Alongside the canal, just south of bridge 79 and behind the Lionhearts Cruising Club you will find Great Linford Brick Kilns, set within an area of parkland. The site contains two restored kilns and the base of part of a third kiln, together with two ponds which were originally clay pits.

HISTORY OF THE KILNS The brick kilns were built in the late 1800s by George Osborn Price of Newport Pagnell who was a coal and lime merchant.

They were used until about 1911 after which they were left derelict.

The small brickworks along the canal ceased to operate when improved methods of clay extraction and continuous firing made it more economical to transport bricks from Newton Longville by steam traction engine.

The smaller of the two restore

d brick kilns

Two of the original three kilns were restored in 1981. They are now in the care of the Parks Trust.

HOW WERE THE BRICKS MADE ?

The Blue Oxford clay was dug during the winter, when the ground was softer, by two men.

The clay was fed into a machine called a "pug" which beat and stirred the clay and fed it out in a strip. The strip was placed on an oiled table and cut into six brick shapes by pulling down a frame with six wires. The bricks were then left to dry for a month in a stack, protected from harsh weather by a straw, canvas or wooden roof.

The bricks were loaded into the kiln and the fire lit. The kiln could hold 20-25,000 bricks each firing. After five days the temperature had risen to 1,150°C, at which point the kiln was left to cool for a week.

Parallel guide rails supported a door to each kiln that was raised by a pulley. 122 tonnes Page 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of coal were used for each firing. The iron bands around the kilns absorbed the stress in the brick structure caused by the firing process. The brickyard was worked by a six-man gang, working 12 hours a day. They were paid 22 shillings (£1.10) per week.

WHAT PART DID THE CANAL PLAY ?

The finished bricks were taken down to a wharf and loaded onto narrowboats. They were taken to New Bradwell, Wolverton, Cosgrove and Castlethorpe to be used for building.

Just like the flour from Bradwell windmill, the canal became the method of transporting the finished product to the market where it was needed. The coal for firing could be brought in by canal too.

CAN YOU VISIT ?

The brick kilns are set within public parkland which has open access, near the small free car park at the end of Willen Lane (off Marsh Drive), MK14 5BB. It is not normally possible to go into the kilns, but access is permitted during organised Parks Trust walks.

The iron reinforcem ent bands on the ki

For more information on Parks Trust activities, please visit their website at: https://www.theparkstrust.com/activities/walking/

Jane

ln

Text and pictures by Jane Bidgood.

This is Jane’s last article for the CanalFILE series. She is retiring from the Committee in February, due to the pressures of a new job. My thanks to Jane for her splendid series of articles over the past three years (the first was published in January 2015). Whilst they are intended for young readers, we are sure that they have appealed to readers of all ages. They will of course remain available in the editions of TPT archived on the Branch web site at https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/tpt —Ed.

Congratulations, Chris, Pat—and Roy! Congratulations and very best wishes go to Committee members Chris Durham and Pat Titmas (pictured right, signing the register), who were married on 30 October. Pat has recently agreed to take over organising work parties at Fenny Lock.

Also, congratulations and many happy returns to former Branch Chairman ROY CLEVERLY, who celebrated his 90th birthday on 8 December with a family meal at an Italian restaurant in Milton Keynes.

Page 11

Situation Vacant—Education Officer We would very much like to appoint an Education Officer as successor to Jane Bidgood (see Page 11) as soon as possible. This role helps keep the Association’s aims in the eye of the public, hopefully boosting recruitment of new members.

We are open to discussion as to what duties the role could cover. It could be tailored to the skills and interests of the post-holder, but key aspects would be: * Organising the Branch's outreach work to children and adults, especially at our outside events; * Assembling or preparing materials for children's activities, or supervising this work (resources and help are available both within the Branch and at IWA Head Office); * Recruiting volunteers to help at outside events, supervising activities, talking to the public; * Keeping abreast of IWA policies and campaigns as they affect this role.

The post-holder should ideally be a paid-up member of IWA. A non-member considering the post would be encouraged to join, in order to gain the benefits of membership and to have access to IWA’s web-based resources. It may be possible to split the role between two people whose skills complement each other.

Outreach work in action at Three Locks.

If you enjoy working with children, meeting people and sharing your love of the waterways, this Branch role could be for you. If you are interested. please contact Tim Armstrong (Branch Chairman) or Les Franklin (Publicity Officer) in the first instance.

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tel: 01908 672672

Modern full-service marina in the heart of Milton Keynes

10 & 15 year Leasehold moorings available at discounts

Relax

15 miles of lock-free cruising

Brokerage New and used boats for sale

Onsite facilities include Chandlery & full services Workshop, slipway

Secure car parking Laundry

Boat Brokerage Widebeam facilities

MK Afloat

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Pub with carvery restaurant Indian & Chinese takeaway

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

Festive fun at the Branch Christmas social On 6 December, the Bletchley Royal British Legion was host once more for the Branch Christmas social. Graeme Lockhart serenaded arrivals with a Christmas medley, and a cold buffet was soon served by Joe Sanchez and his team. Guests were kept occupied with photo and general knowledge quizzes from Tim Armstrong. Tim then took the mike as Master of Ceremonies for the entertainment.

Graeme accompanied us as we sang a version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas", adapted by yours truly, that listed things that (in our most jaundiced moments) we might think come free with the CRT licence. The final verse went: On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true-love sent to me Twelve winter closures, Eleven broken paddles, Ten wide-beamers,

Nine boats a-queuing, Eight workboats drifting, Seven shopping trolleys, Six grumpy anglers, Five - shallow - pounds,

Four leaky gates, Three fallen trees, Two sunken boats, And a licence from C-R-T!

!n her trademark frenetic style, Annie Roberts sang Lyle Moraine’s "Christmas Island": How'd you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?

How'd you like to spend the holiday Away across the sea?

How'd you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?

How'd you like to hang your stocking On a great big coconut tree?

Dave Roberts (with beard decorated by very fetching flashing lights) gave us a monologue: The 'Ole In The Ark (by Marriott Edgar), in which Noah, with the aid of a bloodhound, finds a hole letting water into the Ark. The bloodhound tries to stop the leak with his nose, Mrs Noah tries with her elbow, and finally Noah sits on the leak, remaining there until the Ark lands on Mount Ararat.

And that is how Noah got them all safe ashore, But ever since then, strange to tell, Them as helped save the Ark has all carried a mark, Aye, and all their descendants as well.

That's why dog has a cold nose, and ladies cold elbows, You'll also find if you enquire, That's why a man takes his coat tails in hand, And stands with his back to the fire!

Tim adapted "The Gas Man Cometh" - an old Flanders & Swann back-to-square-one song to a waterway context. As in the original, one job led to another, all making "work for the working man to do", until the first workman was needed again!

Once again Royal Academician James Griffin put up his easel (with some difficulty), donned beret, cravat and smock, and drew several cartoons, including Donald Duck with his yellow beak. When James turned his picture upside down, the beak became the improbable shock of yellow hair of another famous Donald!

Finally, it was time for Athina to draw the raffle and award the many prizes that had been contributed.

Thanks to all the entertainers, to Joe and his staff for the meal, to Graeme Lockhart for musical accompaniment, to Tim for MC-ing and for his quizzes, to Athina and Jonathan for organising the raffle, and to David Tucker for masterminding the PA system.

Report and pictures: Les Franklin.

Page 13

Problems with ‘@waterways.org.uk’ addresses Until recently, Committee members and other active members have used and publicised '@waterways.org.uk' email aliases for IWA-related messages, avoiding the need to publish our real email addresses. Recently, we have been experiencing difficulty in sending and receiving emails via these alias addresses, with many messages apparently rejected as spam. Instead we have been relying upon personal email addresses to deal with Branch business amongst ourselves. This problem may have meant that messages from ordinary members, directed to '@waterways.org.uk' addresses, have failed to get through.

Gemma Bolton at IWA Head Office says: "It has become clear that due to the changing email landscape, with increasingly clever spam and tightening of security by email providers, there isn’t going to be an easy fix for this. Because the emails are re-routed via another email address, they're increasingly being rejected as spam, and so the use of aliases isn’t going to be a viable solution for us going forward."

Head Office is exploring a new solution, but meanwhile some Committee members have changed to '@team.waterways.org.uk addresses (see back page). These are true addresses (not aliases) and seem to be reliable, but are likely to be a temporary solution for most active members. Some Committee members have chosen to wait for the permanent solution.

If you have trouble contacting any Committee member via an '@waterways.org.uk' address, please contact Diane Witts at diane.witts@team.waterways.org.uk or Tracy Higgin, Administration Manager at Head Office. Her address, tracy.higgin@waterways.org.uk is a real address (not an alias), as are all those in this form for Head Office staff.

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 Waterway buffs know Thomas Telford best as designer (with William Jessop) of the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, engineer for some of Britain's later canals, and as builder of roads and bridges. We may also know that he rose from humble beginnings as a stonemason to become the foremost civil engineer of his day.

A new biography of Telford is a welcome event, not least because the passage of time brings up new facts that were unavailable to previous biographers. Telford's autobiography (Life of Thomas Telford Civil Engineer Written by Himself) is stilted and selective; but no-one can blame him for ignoring his own defeat in old age by the young I K Brunel in the contest over the Clifton Bridge. That being so, he has always been fair game for biographers intent on improving upon the Life. Samuel Smiles emphasised the "self-help" aspects of Telford's story, L T C (Tom) Rolt is unapproachable in explaining his works from a technical point of view, and Charles Hadfield attempted to clarify the balance of credit due to the two principal designers of Pontcysyllte.

Julian Glover's biography, Man of Iron, published in 2017, illuminates clearly the political aspects of Telford’s life. Glover is a journalist who served as a political speech writer and as a transport policy adviser, so it is no surprise that it is Telford's relationship with the Government of his day that interests him at least as much as the engineer's body of work.

As Glover points out, Telford was an enthusiast for the unification of England and Scotland, despite being a Scot born just twelve years after Bonnie Prince Charlie's abortive 1745 invasion of England. Telford was proud of how his roads and canals served to knit Britain together. Glover is interested also in Telford's professional relationship (that developed into mutual friendship and respect outlasting death) between him and John Rickman, the far-seeing Government mover-and-shaker who played a large part in steering his projects through the Civil Service minefield.

As a standalone biography this book has its shortcomings, notably the inadequacy of some of the technical coverage and the repeated reference to "barges", but it serves well as a complement to earlier works on Telford. You're too late to ask for this book as a Christmas gift, but why not treat yourself to this good read?

Les Franklin.

Man of Iron: Thomas Telford and the Building of Britain, by Julian Glover, published by Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017. ISBN 978-1-4088-3746-7.

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Getting in touch with MK Branch The Branch welcomes your news and views, and also any help you can offer to run the Branch. Here is the list of Branch contacts, valid until the AGM in February.

Chairman:

TIM ARMSTRONG tim.armstrong@waterways.org.uk

Vice-Chairman:

VACANT

Secretary:

DIANE WITTS diane.witts@team.waterways.org.uk

Membership:

PETE BICKERS pete.bickers@waterways.org.uk

But please see note Treasurer and on Page 14.

Social Secretary:

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Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses change frequently, but these were correct on 19 November 2018.

DAVID TUCKER david.tucker@waterways.org.uk

Education Officer (until AGM):

JANE BIDGOOD education.mkbranch@waterways.org.uk

Social Media and Data Holder:

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:

PAT DURHAM pat.durham@team.waterways.org.uk

Volunteer contact point:

PAT DURHAM pat.durham@team.waterways.org.uk

Editor and Publicity:

LES FRANKLIN (non-Committee) les.franklin@team.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: https://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.