January 2022
TOWPATH TELEGRAPH Journal of the Inland Waterways Association’s Milton Keynes Branch
Special message Page 4: Your Branch needs you Waterway heritage at risk IWA MK Branch AGM notice Buckingham Canal Society news Electra welcomes its 1,000th guest Wendover Arm: some major milestones A chilly scene on the towpath at Leighton Buzzard in February 2012. The towpaths have seen increased use by the public over the past eighteen months during the Covid pandemic, as a place to walk, exercise and enjoy the natural world. Photo: Les Franklin. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no.212342.
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Welcome to January 2022 Towpath Telegraph So as to be with members who may wish to lodge AGM agenda items by the 6 January deadline, this edition is being prepared in late November and early December. May we draw your attention to Pages 4 and 5, and ask you to please consider coming forward to help run the Branch. We hope you enjoy this edition.
Chairman’s Column Waterway heritage at risk GDPR and new members Anyone for tennis (balls)? Your Branch needs you Work almost complete at Great Linford Park ponds Buckingham Canal Society news Diary IWA Milton Keynes Branch AGM Bletchley Conservative Club, our new venue Wendover Arm: some major milestones Don Perry, 1935 - 2021 Milton Keynes Canalside Forum IWA Club 500 Electra welcomes its 1,000th guest The Editor’s Page Getting in touch with MK Branch
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Chairman’s Column
I am writing this column on the first day of December. Chat in the media is dominated by the newly emerged Covid variant Omicron, and I wonder what our world will be looking like at the time you are reading this. Prior to this new variant, the Branch has survived the pandemic without too much damage. We were not able to undertake our usual activities in our usual manner, but our Committee adapted and we survive. I am confident our Branch will continue but it will have to be without myself ‘at the helm’. Life for myself and Pat my wife has taken a different path to the one we expected; this has led us to sell Goldie, our boat, and we are presently in the process of withdrawing from the ‘waterways world’. This finds us unable to continue on the Branch Committee and we will be standing down at the forthcoming AGM. I would like to thank the Committee members and others active in the Branch for their Goldie at Linslade Canal Festival. Photo: Chris Durham. enthusiasm and commitment despite the various Covid restrictions from time to time. The AGM will be with us soon and the Notice is in this edition - see Page 10. Also, details of the vacant posts are on Page 4. The Committee will need your support. Please do consider how you can help your Branch, and contact a Committee member if you would like to find out more. Pat and I wish everyone all the best for the future. Page 2
Chris Durham, Branch Chairman.
Waterway heritage at risk IWA is appealing for support for its campaign to protect waterway heritage at risk. Even with planning protection, structures such as Aberdulais Aqueduct (pictured) are in danger of severe neglect, collapse or even demolition. Structures are at risk from poor planning protection, lack of knowledge and extreme weather events. Donations will support these key areas of work: * Understanding and increasing planning protection for the waterways; * Urgent lobbying of government bodies where heritage features are under specific threat; * Recruiting and supporting heritage champions to safeguard our waterways from poor development. To donate, please visit https://waterways.org.uk/campaigns/canal-heritage/donate
GDPR and new members
Under the GDPR legislation (May 2018), we no longer publish the names or localities of IWA members who have recently joined the Branch unless they have given consent. All new members should receive a welcome contact from our Membership Secretary Pete Bickers. As we begin Branch activities again, we very much hope to see you at our Branch meetings and other events—whether in person or online. Please introduce yourselves to one of our Committee members (those wearing IWA badges).
Anyone for tennis (balls)? Life-expired tennis balls have a useful role for boaters. With suitable holes cut in them, they can be slipped on to mooring pins, giving both a distinctive visual warning and protection to passers-by from the rough hammered-over ends of the pins. Newport Pagnell Tennis Club wondered how to dispose of old tennis balls. Libby Culshaw, a Club member, has offered to keep a supply, and is happy to pass them on to boaters for a small donation, and will make periodic donations to IWA with the money. Libby is also enquiring if local marinas or hire bases would like some. The Tennis Club will send others to the Hula Animal Rescue Centre and yet more to Portfields School, Newport Pagnell. Suggested donation is 50p for four balls. Please contact Libby Culshaw on 07973 571433 or laviniaculshaw@hotmail.com I will also suggest that the Branch obtains a supply to have at outdoor events - Ed.
Lionhearts Cruising Club Great Linford, Milton Keynes
MOORINGS AVAILABLE
Secure moorings · Car Parking · Paint Dock Slipway · Clubhouse · Work Parties Friendly · Cruises · Socials · Wi-Fi Beautiful Grounds and People!
We provide excellent facilities and moorings for boats up to 38 feet. In return we do expect strong participation by our members at work parties, in running the club and in social activity. No Residential Boats accepted. To find out more, including details of membership and fees, please visit our website at www.lionheartscruisingclub.co.uk Page 3
Your Branch needs you At the forthcoming AGM, Chris and Pat Durham retire from the Committee, having served since February 2018. David Tucker has already retired from the Committee, having also served since February 2018, and thus from his role as ViceChairman, but he will continue as Social Secretary and Audio-visual equipment manager. Tony Birch, who has served off Committee for more than ten years as Planning Officer, has also decided to step down. Our grateful thanks are due to all of them for their service to the Branch. However, these departures leave the Committee very much under strength. There are several vacancies that fall into three categories: 1: Key roles which must be filled: The Committee must have a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary in post. Tim Armstrong and Diane Witts are happy to continue as Treasurer and Secretary respectively, but the Committee must elect a Chairman. The Association's Byelaws do not allow the same person to take the roles of Chairman and Treasurer. If the Committee cannot elect all three officers, the IWA Trustees may require an Extraordinary General Meeting to be called to elect more Committee members or close the Branch. The Branch Chairman's role includes presiding over Committee meetings and AGMs, deciding priorities for the Branch and leading its activities, serving as the Branch's representative at Region level, liaising with other organisations such as CRT and local authorities (either directly or by delegation), and hosting Branch meetings. 2: Roles left by the impending departures: Vice-Chairman: To deputise for the Branch Chairman as necessary. Data Holder: Under GDPR, the Branch is not allowed indefinitely to hold information about its members or others who may assist the Branch. We can pass information to Head Office about members and others, especially when we know their preferences about volunteering. Head Office collates and stores this information. The Data Holder retrieves this collated information from Head Office for any specific purpose, for example canvassing for help with outside events, and makes it available to whoever is organising the event. Such information is deleted once used for this specific purpose. Volunteer Organiser / contact point: To serve as the contact point for those offering help at outside events. He/she may contact volunteers to seek their help, answer their queries about the event, register them for Health & Safety purposes, and assist the Committee in allocating volunteer roles. Fenny Stratford Lock Adoption Co-ordinator: Organising the Canal & River Trust (CRT) adoption work between Bridges 94 and 96 with the Lock and environs (Pump House, Sanitary Station, Fencing, swingbridge) as the principal focus. This involves: * Liaison with CRT Volunteer Manager on work planning, materials and equipment. * Registered holder of Pump House and Container storage. * Recruiting and briefing volunteers. * Organising work parties, managing work, providing supplies for tea/coffee breaks. Planning Officer: To receive information from local authorities about Planning applications that may affect the Branch's stretch of the canal, and inform the Committee of any Page 4
Your Branch needs you—continued applications about which it may wish to make representations. The local authorities concerned are MK Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire Council. As a statutory consultee, CRT also publishes a list of relevant Planning applications. 3: Other important roles which we have been wishing to fill for some time: Education Officer: This role can be shaped to suit the talents of the person who takes it. You could approach it as an educator, game host or story-teller. The role involves: * Organising the Branch's outreach work to children, young people and adults, especially at our outside events: Festivals, Lock Help weekends and Clean-ups; * 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 for outside events, supervising activities, talking to the public; * Keeping abreast of IWA policies and campaigns as they affect this role. IWA membership is not essential for the role, but would be an advantage in order to gain an understanding of waterway matters, and you would also be able to attend Branch Committee meetings as a voting member. Clean-up Organiser: Since we last had anyone in this role, the Committee has divided it among themselves, but this is not satisfactory in the long-term. In normal times, the clean-ups are held twiceyearly, and usually involve the public as volunteers, but during the pandemic they have had to be scaled back. The role involves: * Liaising with CRT for permission for the event, and fix dates and itinerary; Hold meetings with CRT and other stakeholders such as The Parks Trust to plan the event; * Co-ordinating publicity and recruitment of volunteers; * Ensuring that equipment (both loaned and held by the Branch) is available. This includes workboats, tools and personal protective equipment; * Establishing which boats will take part, including workboat tugs and facilities boat; * Ensuring that documentation for the event (including risk assessments and participant information) is up to date; * Giving safety briefings to volunteers at the event, and co-ordinating the event itself. It would be essential for the post-holder to attend at least the Branch Committee meetings held before and after each Clean-up. You must be an IWA member to take on this role. These roles are not set in stone - they can be tailored to fit your skills and preferences. By arrangement, you could sit in on a Committee meeting to get a feel of how we work. The Committee meets once a month, and meetings usually last less than two hours. The atmosphere at meetings is positive and “can do”. The Branch can co-opt members at any time throughout the year, but co-opted members must stand for election at the next AGM to remain on the Committee. There is a wealth of experience to guide any new Committee member, and don’t worry; you will be given time to find your feet, and won’t be shoved straight into any Committee job unless we think you’re ready, willing and able. There is great satisfaction in working for the benefit of your local waterway and its users. If you might be interested in one of these roles, please talk to Branch Secretary Diane Witts or any Committee member. On the principle that people like to be asked, we might just come and talk to you before you come to us — if we do, we hope you won’t mind. IWA Milton Keynes Branch was founded in the 1970s. It will continue to prosper in its fifth decade if its members wish it to, and act upon that wish. We ask all members to please consider coming forward to assure its future. Page 5
Work almost complete at Great Linford Park ponds The Parks Trust's Lottery-funded work to restore features of Great Linford Manor Park are substantially complete. As mentioned in January 2020 TPT, three of the four original ponds survive, the fourth having been destroyed when the Grand Junction was built. A natural spring feeds the first pond, the Round Pond, just north of the Almshouses. This supplies water via a small cascade to the Canal Pond, (unsurprisingly next to the canal). A culvert takes water from here under the canal to the Cascade Pond, which has for many years been isolated and forgotten, between the canal and Railway Walk. The Grand Cascade led water to a weir and culvert under Railway Walk. Water was then led north towards the River Great Ouse. The Round and Canal Ponds can now be viewed from new footpaths and a new timber bridge between them. The soil around the ponds has been seeded and turfed.
The Cascade Pond and cascade seen from Railway Walk.
At the 'secret' Cascade Pond, between the canal and Railway Walk, contractors have been restoring the Grand Cascade and creating a new set of steps leading down to the pond from Railway Walk. An offshoot from the towpath will also lead to the Cascade Pond. At the time of writing, access to the Cascade Pond has not yet been opened. A slide show of the work at the Round and Canal Ponds can be seen at: https://www.theparkstrust.com/blogs/pond-works-at-great-linford-manor-park
Information and photo from The Parks Trust web site.
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
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nd ks a re a e r i rt b eekly h o h S w
Buckingham Canal Society news The archaeological survey on Bridge Two as requested by CRT (see September TPT) has been completed. The Veterans Archaeology group spent two weeks carrying out a dig, camping on site, and while there worked on a Bronze Age site in the field next to the canal. Near Bridge Two, BCS volunteers have also been carrying out restoration work on the flood sluice, and this has now been rebuilt. Also at Cosgrove we had a group from Marsh Ltd visiting us and working with our volunteers to carry out repair work to the towpath. Whilst far less than before lockdown, we have had several The rebuilt flood sluice. Photo: BCS. outside companies joining our volunteers on site this year, including Network Rail, Hallam Land Management and the Church of Latter Day Saints. At our Bourton Meadow site, our Otter (one of ten forming a walks trail - see September TPT) was in place from 23 July until 31 August, which has meant extra visitors. Our volunteers worked hard getting this site into shape and removing several tons of reeds which were blocking the canal bed. With volunteers spending most of the summer months at Bourton Meadow, our Hyde Lane site had become rather overgrown. Volunteers were back there from 12 September, clearing stinging nettles from the seating areas and strimming the towpath and canal bank. Again we had extra help on 14 October when a group from RS Components, based in Corby, joined us for the day. This was a new venture for them as their company had just given each staff member two volunteering days a year and we were the first opportunity they had tried. Quite a responsibility for us, but I think they enjoyed themselves. Our own volunteers are continuing the practical tasks at Hyde Lane. There is still plenty of work to do here, including clearing the remaining parts that have become overgrown, clearing the lock area and painting lock gates. Later in the year we plan to plant wild flowers at this site along the non-towpath side. Plans are also in place to install a wooden bridge over the stream at this site, and volunteers have been clearing the non-towpath side so that footings can be put in place and the bridge installed at a later date. Two of our volunteers have attended a crane handling course, which means we now have four volunteers able to operate the crane on our work boat Louise, now joined by Shoveler, a tug on long-term loan from CRT. Athina Beckett.
Shoveler joins the fleet. Photo: BCS. Page 7
Diary Most members will know that Branch meetings are now held at Bletchley Conservative Club. See directions below, and Page 10. Our own events are in bold; events organised by others are in regular type. New Covid regulations were being announced as this edition went to press, so please observe latest guidelines and look out for Branch announcements about meetings.
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From V7 Saxon Street, Princes near Bletchley Station, at Way RoundPrinces Way Roundabout Lidl about store (near Lidl store), turn off into Princes Way. Princes Way After 50 yards, turn right into Albert Street, then bear left at miniW ay Bletchley roundabout. well way k Follow Albert Street to ens t) Caw P Que (eas end, and turn left into Queensway. (west) nsway Take 1st left into Oxford Quee Bletchley Brunel Street. d Conservative Club Roa Roundabout m Take 1st right into a h 105 Queensway king Buc Cawkwell Way. Bletchley 034 4 B Take 1st right into MK2 2DN Bedford Street. Entrance to the Conservative Club car park is immediately on the left, at the end of a brick wall. The meeting room is on the ground floor, with level access from the car park. Please note that Cawkwell Way, although two-way, is narrow in parts. The route given uses as little of it as possible. Also shown is the pedestrian route (10 minutes) from Bletchley Station. On leaving the car park, Bedford Street is one-way, so please turn left and then into Queensway.
IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: The Panama Canal talk by well-known speaker Richard Thomas. Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, MK2 2DN IWA Milton Keynes Branch AGM (agenda: See Page 10), followed by Clive Johnson with an update on the Wendover Arm restoration. Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, MK2 2DN Chiltern Branch meeting: A Foodie on French Canals - talk by Di Murrell. Batchworth Canal Centre, 99 Church Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1JD
IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: An opportunity to see some of the features of the navigable Thames creeks. Simon Judge gives us a guided boat trip in pictures. Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, MK2 2DN Branch Canal Clean-up, from Fenny Stratford to Wolverton. Subject to CRT approval. This is likely to be a limited-scope event as staged in October 2020. Details to be announced.
Diary—continued Thursday 21 April, 7.45pm
Milton Keynes Branch meeting: John Pomfret takes us on a 700-mile voyage down the Danube, including the spectacular Iron Gates gorge. Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, MK2 2DN
Wednesday 27 April
Chiltern Branch meeting: Saving the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. Roger Squires tells how protest cruises by Sir Peter Scott and L T C Rolt initiated a campaign of restoration; which finally, under David Hutchings, saw the waterway re‐opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in July 1964. Batchworth Canal Centre, 99 Church Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1JD
30 April - 2 May
IWA Canalway Cavalcade. This popular event returns to Little Venice for 2022. Attractions include historic boats, real ale bar, food stalls, illuminated procession, children's entertainment. More info at: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/iwa-canalway-cavalcade
21 - 22 May
6 -7 August
Rickmansworth Canal Festival. A little nearer home, the Rickmansworth Canal Festival also makes a welcome return, with boat trips, trade, craft and charity stalls, fun fair, children's farm. More info at: http://www.rwt.org.uk/festival/visiting-the-festival/
Fenny Stratford Canal Festival. Subject to CRT approval. A repeat of 2021’s successful event. More details in May TPT.
IWA webinars and recorded talks Although many IWA Branches are now holding “in person” meetings once again, some are still offering these meetings as Zoom webinars too. For up-to-date details of most IWA events, please visit the main IWA events page at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events Please also check the following links, where additional events, and recordings of past talks and meetings are available, sometimes at quite short notice: https://www.waterways.org.uk/iwa-tv IWA-TV: Most future live stream events are posted here, also on-demand videos recorded from recent meetings or webinars. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ROBJ6rpm_41BSmu-Glf2Q IWA’s Youtube channel carries videos of past meetings - there is some overlap with IWA TV. Joining a webinar “live” is easy, using a desktop computer, tablet or smart phone. * Go to one of the links above. The webinars are listed in date order; each has a "Book now" link, which takes you to more details about the meeting. Click the “Register now” button. * Fill in the online form that appears, and click the "Register" button. You can do this well in advance of the start time. * The ID number of the webinar and a very long web address then appear. You can save these in Word or as a text file, but you should also receive an email with a simple “Click here to join” link. * Just before the webinar is due to begin, either copy the saved web address into your browser to join in, or use the link in the email—this is easier! Depending on your device's capabilities, you may be able to type questions into a Q and A box, or ask questions using your microphone if the meeting host offers that option to participants. Some Zoom meetings allow you to participate using your device’s camera and microphone. If you are unable to join a meeting “live”, you can see all previous webinars and video presentations at one of the addresses in this panel. Page 9
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 on Thursday 17 February 2022, at 7.45pm at Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, Bletchley, MK2 2DN. Please see special note below. Agenda (please have this Notice handy): 1: Apologies for absence; 2: Approval of minutes of AGM held on 18 February 2021; 3: Matters arising; 4: Chairman's report; 5: Secretary's report;
6: Treasurer's report, and accounts for year ending 31 December 2021; 7: Members’ resolutions (these should be sent to the Chairman six weeks prior to the AGM, i.e. by 6 January 2022); 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 Branch Byelaws effective from 16 May 2009, last amended 11 June 2011, there is no restriction on the maximum size of the Committee. Chris and Pat Durham are resigning from the Committee at this meeting. David Tucker resigned from the Committee during the year. Pete Bickers retires by rotation and seeks re-election. 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. (Signed:) Diane Witts, Branch Secretary. SPECIAL NOTE FOR FEBRUARY 2022 AGM: At the time of issuing this Notice, we hope to hold the AGM in person as announced above but, if Covid regulations prevent this, we will rely on the Zoom platform. In this case a Zoom link, and meeting papers including the minutes of the 2019 AGM, reports from Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, plus the 2021 accounts, will be distributed prior to the AGM.
Bletchley Conservative Club, our new venue The Branch having moved its meetings venue to Bletchley Conservative Club, you might wonder if we have suddenly gone “political”. However, we understand that the title is simply the venue’s trading name. Most events held there are anything but political. The location is central, with easy access from Bletchley Station. See map and directions on Page 8.
Queensway frontage. Page 10
Bar area.
Stage.
Wendover Arm: some major milestones Some significant steps in the restoration have been achieved in recent weeks. The brickwork immediately east of Bridge 4 is virtually complete. The concrete roadway/pipe capping is now complete to the point where the pipe leaves the canal line. The roadway now extends 500 metres beyond Bridge 4, and is within sight of the tip infill at Little Tring. Finally, on 27 November, the gradual re-watering of the section from Bridge 4A to Bridge 4 (which passes the Whitehouses installation) was begun. This will take place in stages over the coming weeks, so that any leakage can be detected, until the level matches that at Wendover. When profiling the banks prior to lining, great care is now being taken to separate clean spoil from that contaminated with the coal tar used in failed attempts to leak-proof the Arm before abandonment. Whilst the clean spoil can be disposed of easily, it is planned to lock the contaminated spoil away under the lining where possible. However this involves bulk storage of both types of material until it can be re-used or taken off site as appropriate. The "Bentomatic" attachment made Water is released into the new section. Photo: WCT. for handling the Bentomat lining material is now in use after modifications, and is greatly easing the heavy task of laying the material on the profiled banks. It was decided some time ago to incorporate animal steps into the banks near bridge abutments and mooring walls, as it has been found that dogs and other animals scrabble for footing when leaving the water after swimming in the rewatered section. Alternate rows of the concrete blocks that protect the Bentomat lining are laid proud of intermediate rows, from water level upwards. Three young volunteers who are working through the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme have assisted at recent work parties on various tasks, including using a surveying telescope, trimming hedges, mixing concrete, and helping with bank lining. The Trust is now using a new corporate identity as Wendover Canal Trust for public purposes, although for the time being its web site is still at https://wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/
Animal steps. Photo: WCT.
Go to https://wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/trial-re-watering-4a-to-4/ to see a video of the moment water was released into the new section. The “Bentomatic” in use can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UjCXQfmxuY WCT Operations reports, September - November, and newsletter, Winter 2021.
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Don Perry, 1935 - 2021 Some members may remember Don Perry of Luton. A quiet and modest man, he was a tower of strength as Transport Manager at the 1985 Rally at Milton Keynes, ably assisted by his wife Joyce. They did not remain active in IWA Branch affairs, but continued as members of IWA. Don died on 2 October from a fall, aged 86. His funeral was held in Luton on 2 November, followed by a green burial at Olney. Joyce has now resigned from IWA, but has kindly donated Don's small collection of waterway books to the Branch, and they will be offered to members (donations to the Branch are invited) at the Christmas social on 16 December. Here is a list: Title:
Author
Description
Format
Canal Mania
Anthony Burton
Tells the stories of the great engineers, from James Brindley through to William Jessop and Thomas Telford.
Large hardback
Back Door Britain
Anthony Burton
Humorous and yet packed with Paperback practical information, it offers the reader a remarkable inside view of the delights and surprises of back door Britain.
Lock Keeper’s Daughter
Pat Warner
A childhood on the Worcester and Birmingham.
Paperback
The Worst Journey in the Midlands
Sam Llewellyn
Hilarious chronicle of England’s soggiest odyssey, completed in the wettest October on record.
Paperback
Maidens’ Trip
Emma Smith
Partly fictional story of three girls Paperback who crewed a pair of narrowboats during World War 2.
Tour of the Grand Junction in 1819
John Hassell
Views by the famous 19th century illustrator.
Paperback
Landscape with Canals
LTC Rolt
Second part of Tom Rolt’s autobiography.
Paperback
Narrow Boat
LTC Rolt
The seminal book that led to the formation of the IWA
Hardback
Slow Boat Through Pennine Waters
Frederic Doerflinger
Canal travelogue exploring some of the least known of our navigable rivers and canals.
Paperback
Discovering Lost Canals
Ronald Russell
Seeking these lost canals takes the discoverer into fascinating and beautiful areas of country.
Shire Books paperback
The Birmingham Canal Navigations
British Waterways
Published in 1987, but should still be useful.
Leaflet
Any books not taken up at the Christmas social will be available by arrangement with David Tucker. Please email David at dt_boats@hotmail.com or phone him on 01908 670151. As this edition is being prepared in advance of the Christmas social to meet its publication deadline, an updated list of any books still available afterwards will be posted on the Branch's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/iwamiltonkeynesbranch Page 12
Milton Keynes Canalside Forum The Milton Keynes Canalside Forum started in 2016 as a result of meetings to plan celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the New Town of Milton Keynes in 2017. The Forum is a chance for waterway groups and other charities, businesses, boaters and other canal users, Parish and Town Councils to get together and discuss current projects, issues and solutions to improve the condition and increase use of the canal in Milton Keynes. Parish and Town Councils on the city’s canal corridor, Canal & River Trust, The Parks Trust, IWA Milton Keynes Branch, Buckingham Canal Society, Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Electra Community Boat, local Marinas and other action groups and charities are represented on the Forum. It is chaired by John Best, who is a Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trustee and a former CRT Regional Partnership Chairman. Along the city's stretch of the Grand Union, the Forum has identified dozens of facilities that need improvement or could be created, such as winding holes, landing stages, access points for disabled visitors, seating, and points where views to or from the canal could be opened up. Also, heritage sites near the canal have been pinpointed as needing interpretation to assist visitors to find and enjoy them. Circular walks or rides incorporating the towpath, Redways and parkland could be devised for all interests and abilities. Cultural aspects have a place too, such as events connected to and celebrating localities and communities along the route, and a library of stories related to waterside places and history, tailored to diverse audiences and accessible to all. Key to all this is, of course, a developing overall plan that defines projects, details responsibilities for each part of the wider corridor, and where funding can come from. The Forum hopes that as the canal corridor is improved, local groups will take increasing ownership and adopt facilities or stretches (as has happened at Fenny Lock), but with wider scope than the canal "track" itself.
From Forum document The Big Picture, September 2021.
IWA Club 500
A reminder that for just £12 per year, IWA’s Club 500 gives you three chances of winning a major prize – including one of up to £1,000 – and supports our work to protect and restore the waterways. If you wish to increase your chances, you can take out multiple subscriptions. Visit https://waterways.org.uk/support/other-ways-to-give Use the right arrow to scroll across to Club 500, and click the Download link for the application form and rules.
The Red Lion at Fenny Stratford
A friendly, warm and inviting canalside pub, offering a selection of great wines, speciality gins, beers and ales. There is a tasty lunchtime and evening menu, all very reasonably priced. Why not stop by for our amazing Sunday Roast, but remember to book so as not to be disappointed. Karen, Nicky and their team will be sure to make your visit a pleasurable experience. 11 Lock View Lane, Fenny Stratford, MK1 1BY 01908 372317 https://www.redlionbletchley.co.uk karentheredlion@gmail.com
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Electra welcomes its 1,000th guest On 12 September, Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust's boat Electra was at Campbell Park to meet residents of Central Milton Keynes Town Council area, and provided a cruise for six new MK residents from Afghanistan. On 18 September, Electra attended the Great Linford Manor Park Celebration Event, marking the near-end of major restoration works in the Park (see Page 6), and Heritage Open Days 2021. Many people came to view the boat, meet its crew and find out about cruises. On 24 October, the 1,000th guest was welcomed aboard Electra, Tommy Richards of Great Linford. Electra has also received a five-star TripAdvisor review. During November, Coffee & Cake cruises were on offer, with public cruise and private charter options. Then from 24 November until 12 December, Electra is decorated for the festive season and is offering ‘Mulled Wine & Mince Pie’ cruises. Similar cruises are being offered by the John Bunyan boat at Bedford. There has been an excellent response to recruitment for boat crews. It is hoped that by April twelve new Cabin Hosts and twelve new Skippers will join the existing crews. This will enable Electra to offer over 40 cruises every month from April to December 2022, in its first full year of operation. James Clifton welcomes Electra’s 1,000th guest. Electra's cruising season will begin in April 2022, exceeding the 2021 season by 14 weeks. In addition to boat crews, more shore-based volunteers are being sought, particularly for outreach, sales and marketing roles. A Project Manager and a small team is also needed to work on fitting out a store/office at Campbell Wharf in early 2022. In October, John Best, B-MKWT Trustee, hosted an inspection cruise aboard Electra for fellow former Chairmen of CRT Regional Partnerships. For the cruise, he produced a document mooting the idea that the MK stretch of the Grand Union could serve as an exemplar for the proposed Waterway Park, and indeed could be promoted in its own right as a Waterway Park that provides many benefits to the community in the city (see also Page 13). At the Bedford end, contractors have now started work building the landing stage at Kempston, bringing extended cruising for John Bunyan one step closer. Completion should help to draw attention to this location, although John Bunyan cannot reach the landing stage until Kempston Mill Bridge is raised or rebuilt. The Trust has pledged to contribute towards funding this work provided that adequate headroom is achieved. The Trust is grateful to all who responded to the Government consultation about the ‘spatial framework’ for the Oxford - Cambridge Arc, helping to make the case that the Waterway Park should be included in it. The consultation closed on 12 October. Information and photo from Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust bulletin, and from John Best, November 2021.
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The Editor’s Page If you were to ask the "man in the street" if he thought the future of the waterways was secure, he would probably say "Yes" if he walked the towpath now and then or had had a hire-boat holiday. He would almost certainly be right as far as the grand scheme of things is concerned. But if we know the waterways a little better, we know that the system is prone to insidious piecemeal changes that erode its character and visual appeal. These changes occur at every scale, from cobblestones dug up for routing a cable and replaced with modern paviors or even tarmac, to large developments that sweep away entire historic areas. Some changes happen for apparently good reasons such as safety or ease of maintenance, but a price in terms of aesthetic appeal is often paid. Which is better - Grindley Brook staircase as I first remember it, with its beautiful swathes of raised brickwork for the horses' hooves to grip, or as now with safer steps, handrails and ramps? Other changes come from commercial pressures or even civic pride. Which is better - Tooley's Yard as it was, down-at -heel but genuine, or as it is now, surviving and safeguarded but engulfed by modern development? We lose other assets simply because of neglect or lack of funds. IWA leaders have often pointed out that "they" only need to win once for some valued historic asset to disappear or be diluted, but "we" have to win every time. See Page 3 for news of IWA's appeal in support of waterway heritage at risk. The first generation of biodiesel with "diesel bug" brought many problems for boaters, but the trials of 90% carbon-neutral Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) conducted by IWA's Sustainable Boating Group, seem to be an unqualified good news story, announced in timely fashion as the COP26 talks took place. The fuel performed well in modern diesel engines as well as in older, more traditional engines, and it was found to be equally at home in heating boilers, with less fumes and smoke and less need for cleaning. But, to quote the IWA's recent report on the trials, “the two main issues with HVO are a lack of availability and taxation issues affecting the price. The first of these will hopefully be resolved as demand increases. Supply will inevitably increase and in turn, the price may drop. However, [IWA] will call on the Government to introduce tax cuts on HVO to make it more affordable, whilst appealing for boaters to switch their fuel source.” With best wishes for the New Year,
Les Franklin, Editor.
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 15
Getting in touch with MK Branch The Committee would very much welcome your help in running the Branch. Retirements at February’s AGM will give rise to several new vacancies in addition to those from before then— see Page 4. Please talk to any Committee member if you would like to help. This contact list is valid until the AGM.
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Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses can change, but these were correct on 28 October 2021. IWA homepage: https://www.waterways.org.uk MK Branch pages: https://www.waterways.org.uk/waterways/branches/iwa-milton-keynes-branch MK Branch Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/iwamiltonkeynesbranch/ Canal and River Trust: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk Bedford-MK Waterway Trust: https://www.bmkwaterway.org Buckingham Canal Society: https://www.buckinghamcanal.org.uk Wendover Canal Trust: https://www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk Friends of the Canal Museum: http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Leighton Buzzard Canal Soc: https://www.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.