Towing Path Topics January 2017

Towing Path Topics Newsletter of the Inland Waterways Association Lancashire & Cumbria Branch January 2017

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Towing Path Topics are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of its North West Region or of the Lancs and Cumbria Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter.

No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgment.

Cover Photograph: The second, parallel lock at Dean Locks, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Gathurst.

Photograph acknowledgements: Page 7 IWA Page 14 Superslowway website Page 15 Canal & River Trust Page 19 Electric Boat Association Page 21 Ulverston Canal Regeneration Group All others by the editor The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.

Editor: David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk

Copy date for next edition 8th April 2017 2

Contents 5

New members Chairman’s report

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Lancaster Canal Trust Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

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The Narrowboat Tearoom

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Kennet’s anniversary voyage

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Super Slow Way concert

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C&RT Awards dinner News

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My Floating Home TV programme

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Electric Boat Association

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Ulverston Canal

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2017 Branch AGM Agenda with 2016 minutes

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Branch committee

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Branch social meetings

Forthcoming dates for those new diaries and calendars (Preparing this at the end of December I have struggled to find local dates. Most organisations have not yet posted their 2017 programmes Ed) 26 Jan Branch social meeting 23 Feb Branch social meeting and AGM 30 Mar Branch social meeting 27 Apr Branch social meeting 29 Apr – 1 May IWA Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice 27 – 29 May IWA National Trailboat Festival, Moira, Ashby Canal 26-28 August IWA Festival of Water, Ilkeston, Erewash Canal 24 Sept IWA National AGM 3

Editorial Welcome to the first edition of 2017 and our new look front cover. We think we have had that picture of the bridge for long enough. Now that we can print in colour the plan is to have a different photograph each time.

So why start with a weed infested abandoned lock you ask? Because without the efforts of the IWA there is a good chance that the whole of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal would now look like that. Our National Rally in Blackburn in the mid 1960’s drew attention to plans to abandon the canal and the publicity generated helped to save it. Barbara Castle, the local MP at the time became Minister of Transport shortly afterwards and pushed through the 1968 Transport Act which saved the canal system for leisure use. Another National Rally in Liverpool in 1968 attended by 170 boats confirmed the importance of canals for leisure.

The 2016 Bicentenary celebration events were many and varied, culminating in Kennet’s recreation of the first passage. The members of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society are probably still collapsed in a heap after their tremendous efforts during the year – well done guys and gals. It was good to see their success at the C&RT awards dinner – all dressed up complete with their bicentenary rosettes. Although many were back on Kennet the next day to complete the arduous voyage from Leeds to Liverpool. You can hear all about the year from Mike Clarke, L&LCS president at our April social meeting at our splendid new meeting venue, St Chad’s Parish Centre.

Now to prepare for the Lancaster Canal Bicentenary in 2019 …….

Congratulations to our hard working chairman Wendy on being awarded the Richard Bird medal at the National AGM. The medal is awarded to members who have brought significant benefit to the association over a sustained period of time – that is certainly Wendy.

This is the edition that gives you formal notice of our Branch AGM in February. Included are the minutes of last year’s AGM so we do not need to read them out and can keep the time spent on formal business to a minimum. Please try to attend if you can.

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This is your branch and your newsletter. I would welcome contributions of articles, photographs, funny boat names, grouse and gripes – anything, anything then I might know that I’m not wasting my time.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2017.

David Faulkner

Members new to our branch Welcome to the following people who have recently joined the IWA or transferred to our branch.

Mr M Bellion, Cowgill, SEDBERGH Mrs J Lilley, Eccleston, CHORLEY, Mrs E Nicholson, Nateby, PRESTON Mr K Walters, ORMSKIRK Mr D Edes, INVERNESS Mr M J Sealey, CONISTON, Cumbria If you have joined recently you will be included in our next edition. If you joined months ago and you haven’t seen your name in print please contact the editor - something has gone wrong.

Branch Chairman’s report Your branch has had a busy 2016 and we look forward to a busy 2017. I mentioned our activities in the previous Towing Path Topics, since then we have attended more activities relating to the bicentenary of the Leeds Liverpool Canal including a glittering event at the Dunkenhalgh in October hosted by Canal and River Trust. Some of the committee had the chance to dress formally, (makes a change from muddy wellies!), and take part in the evening which was a huge success and included an award ceremony for workers and volunteers who had helped to make the year such a brilliant one for the IWA and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society as well as others. We were joined by the IWA chairman Les Etheridge and he and I presented the award for Canal and River Trust Volunteer of the Year (this award was sponsored by IWA nationally from funds from the L&L Canal Legacy).

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We have had some sad news, our region chair Mike Carter who gave us a really interesting talk on the River Mersey Link at our September meeting has had to resign from his role as Region Chair because of ill health. We wish Mike all the best.

In 2016 we carried out a Balsam Bash at Haslam Park, in 2017 it would be good to carry out another Balsam Bash and I would be grateful for any information about suitable areas near the canal where our help is required. I am sure there must be many.

Thanks to all of you who contributed to the Winding Hole Survey by giving information on winding holes, we have worked with CRT on this and will report on progress when we can.

I have started to attend the Lancaster Canal Trust meetings as IWA representative and Peter Jones from LCT is attending our branch committee meetings. This will help each organisation and we can share ideas and knowledge. 2019 is the 200th anniversary of the opening of the canal and LCT are starting to make plans for celebrating this.

2016 has been dominated by the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and it has been brilliant to see how the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, Canal and River Trust, local councils and many others including IWA have worked together to make the year a success and to promote the canal. The amount of interest from the public has been wonderful to see.

The last event of the year was the Christmas Social and 17 of us met at St Chad’s for a Christmas dinner, one or two got into the spirit by wearing their Christmas jumpers! We had a lovely meal and lots of interesting conversations. St Chad’s was decorated beautifully for Christmas and there was even a tree with “real” snow. It is the first time we have had a Christmas social for many years, I for one enjoyed it and hope to organise another next year.

I am looking forward to the AGM in February and hope as many of you as possible will attend.

I will close by saying I hope you all have a happy new year and I look forward to seeing you at our branch events next year.

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Social Programme The social programme for the winter is well underway, we have been very lucky in our new venue at St Chad’s and we have had a few more people turning up to meetings, it is always good to see new faces and old ones of course! If you haven’t been to a meeting yet please come along if you can, we always have interesting speakers, an opportunity to have a natter and catch up with what is happening in the branch, you may even win the raffle.

It is only December but I am starting to think about the programme for the season beginning September 2017, I have a few ideas for speakers but if anyone has any ideas please let me know, this could be speakers we have had before who you would like to hear from again or new ones.

Wendy Humphreys

Wendy with her medal

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Report from the Lancaster Canal Trust Lancaster Canal Trust has taken on new/fresh life. We are actively supporting the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership’s proposals for a Towpath Trail from Kendal to Lancaster which also links into the Morecambe Bay Partnership’s plans for cycle routes round the Bay. We have a new relationship with Canal and River Trust and are once again able to work on their land. We expect to restart work at Hincaster Tunnel to improve the area at the eastern end for visitors shortly and continue with the work set out in our management agreement with them.

Following a fact finding visit to a number of active canal restoration sites further south where Bentomat and other lining materials are being used and trialled we hope to return to work on the First Furlong length next year with approved and costed proposals for preventing leakage.

A new edition of our ‘Guide to the Lancaster Canal’ is in preparation and will be available next Spring.

Are you aware that if you bring a boat onto the Lancaster canal via the Ribble Link and travel to the head of navigation at Tewitfield you can obtain a plaque to mark the occasion/achievement? Details will be given to you by C&RT staff when you enter the Ribble Link.

We have a new and improved website at

www.lctrust.co.uk/

And are on Facebook at https://en-gb.facebook.com/lctrust/ David Gibson, Secretary

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership Update The new project officer is working really hard and accomplishing a great deal. The partnership is really benefitting from having a dedicated worker albeit for only two days a week. As well as focussing on the Towpath Access Strategy she has met with landowners, explored funding opportunities, developed the website, made important contacts and much more.

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The work on the Access Strategy has gone on and there has been consultation via locally held meetings and the internet. The report is due out soon.

The new project officer has been successful in some of her funding bids and there is hope for more.

The partnership was not successful in its advertisement for a new chairman but Audrey Smith has stepped into the breach temporarily and is doing a grand job.

As well as the Partnership meetings there are project group meetings happening more regularly so that work is done more quickly.

The LCRP website is up and running and can be found at: lancastercanalrestorationpartnership.wordpress.com - no doubt a better name for the website will be found soon.

Have a look at the website for more information.

Wendy Humphreys

Serendipity (Definition: Making a happy chance find) I had been at Appley Bridge taking photographs of Kennet and the accompanying flotilla as they neared the end of their 200th anniversary L&L traverse from Leeds to Liverpool. It was a pleasant autumn day so I decided to walk to Dean Lock, a stretch I had never walked before.

It was getting towards lunchtime and I thought I could murder a cup of coffee. I wonder if there are any refreshments at the lock? Unlikely, it was 22nd October. So it was with great joy that I rounded the bend and there, moored by the towpath opposite the lock was The Narrowboat Tearoom. And it was open! A good cup of coffee and a toasted teacake later and I was one happy traveller.

Kathy Mitchell opened the tea room last summer, assisted by her daughter Katie.

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There is plenty of seating and tables inside and an outside area too. It’s not far from Gathurst Lane, Shevington; you don’t need to walk the mile and a half from Appley Bridge.

Their Facebook page is The Narrowboat Tearoom for more information or phone 07851 0557748 if you want to check if they are open.

Gemma with your editor’s toasted teacake – look at all that butter!

(Kathie and Katie are in the background) 10

Well done Kennet!

(This account is largely taken from the L&L Canal Society website)

Kennet at Appley Bridge recreating the 1816 first passage Kennet and the many volunteers who support her had a very busy and successful year to mark the L&L Bicentenary. She is now having a rest in the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, after crossing the Mersey. This was the final stage of a season in which the L&L Canal Short Boat travelled the full length of the Canal twice.

The second transit was the recreation of the 1st Passage and arrived just after 2.00pm on October 23rd at the Eldonian Basin, Liverpool. During the week Kennet was greeted by Mayors from all the Boroughs along the canal corridor and the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire along with many primary schools waving and cheering. There were church bells ringing, pipe bands, brass bands and choirs to greet the flotilla with much waving from the crew in acknowledgement.

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Members of the public waving to the flotilla at Appley Bridge.

One of the flotilla at a very wet Barrowford 12

L&LCS Trustee David Morley, completed the 200 miles for 200 years walk from Hull to Liverpool. Wherever possible he walked alongside Kennet and its crew.

More Bicentenary events

In the last edition we mentioned the naming of a lock at Bank Newton during the Bicentenary year Congratulations Mike and thanks for all you do for the L&L Canal

(You are not expected to read this notice – go along and read the original, it’s a delightful spot)

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The Super Slow Way: A Rhapsody to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal was performed at King George’s Hall, Blackburn on Sunday 16th October to a large audience (many of them parents and grandparents). Composed

by Ian Stephens, it is a unique musical celebration of the canal’s Bicentenary. It features beautiful and specially written poems

by Ian McMillan, which narrate the story of the waterway that fuelled the Industrial Revolution. Ian McMillan narrated some of the piece himself.

Taking part were the Blackburn People’s Choir accompanied by school children from Ashleigh, Cedars, Lower Darwen, St Silas and Intack Primary Schools. The local talent was joined by internationally acclaimed soprano Amanda Roocroft.

Music was provided by the award-winning Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band, Bhangra pioneer and tabla player Kuljit Bhamra and renowned cellist Jonathan Aasgaard to form a truly unique musical celebration of the canal’s bicentenary.

The performers at the end, Ian McMillan standing applauding at the left.

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Ian McMillan was in action again on 19th October at the C&RT awards dinner at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel near Accrington. He was the amusing and entertaining Master of Ceremonies at an event that saw talented and hard working volunteers and organisations rewarded for their efforts.

Wendy, our branch chairman accompanied by IWA National Chairman Les Etheridge presented the award for C&RT Volunteer of the Year

The various award winners. The Volunteer of the Year is the young man at the centre of the back row. The MC is the one without a tie.

Bridgewater Canal Company reciprocal licensing A meeting had been due to take place between CRT and the Bridgewater Canal Company Limited/Peel Holdings at chairman/chief executive level.

In the meantime, whilst the introduction of a reduced (ÂŁ20 for 3 days) supplementary licence to cover a return transit of the canal was welcomed, IWA still fundamentally opposes any charges made that will impact on the numbers of boats visiting the Bridgewater Canal. Boat traffic is understood to have significantly reduced since the new charging structure was imposed and IWA continues to lobby on this matter.

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About to Float a Boat as a Home of Your Own? (Taken from the IWA Bulletin) Windfall Films have been commissioned to produce a second series of the TV programme My Floating Home. In the first series, aired on More4, the projects featured ranged from floating homes - static with no engine, to traditional houseboats, custom-built canal boats and self builds. One unusual vessel featured was a 70' by 12' wide beam in Nottingham which needed an extra large water holding tank as the specification included a bath for the master bedroom.

Due to the popularity of this first series, the production team are now looking for an interesting, technically challenging new build or substantial conversion that will be starting soon. The plans should be unique, with unusual elements, locations or construction techniques. Planning permission and mooring agreements should be in place to be eligible for this opportunity. The person applying must be aiming to live on the vessel themselves and should be willing to be filmed on a regular basis.

The programme will be following the project from inspiration, design, construction and location together with everyone involved. To be considered for My Floating Home apply by emailing Windfall Films.

If you like the idea of living afloat have a look at IWA's web pages for ideas and guidance.

Eanam Wharf, Blackburn Some news from the Lancashire Telegraph There are changes in ownership at Eanam Wharf on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Blackburn with Darwen Council has created a partnership with businessman Graham Vernon who runs dance and performing arts school DAPA at Eanam Wharf. They have acquired ‘The Boathouse’ currently owned by C&RT. (Graham was a prime mover in the organisation of the 2016 Blackburn Canal Festival).

They propose to transform the building into a visitor centre with an associated heritage trail and an education suite for schools and colleges.

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Badges for cyclists and/or walkers In our last edition we asked for comments on the suggestion of awarding a badge to cyclists or walkers who travel the full length of the L&L Canal in the same way that boaters can apply for a plaque for boating the full length in one year (which lots of people have done in 2016).

What little response we got was positive so we are looking for someone to design such a badge (competition for school children maybe?) and hopefully supervise the scheme - any volunteers?

Please contact the editor.

The Electric Boat Association Clean Quiet Cruising at the Click of a Switch The idea for an association was conceived in October 1981 during a seminar on electric boats held at Stratford-upon-Avon. Three months later in January 1982, a meeting had been held in the House of Lords, arranged by Jestyn the Viscount St Davids. His Lordship's electric 27ft narrowboat, Silver Sail would ultimately complete 365 days total cruising, covering 3,500 miles. Twenty-three interested parties from the electric vehicle and boating industries came together at Westminster to discuss electric boat potential and the need for an Association was established.

In July 1983 Admiral Gick's 32ft Patricia cruised from Emsworth across a calm Solent to Cowes (22 miles in 5 hours). This was the first electric boat to cruise offshore since 1886 and in 1984 the EBA first appeared at the London Boat Show.

July 1988 saw the first issue of "Electric Boat News" and in November the same year, Lady Arran piloted her 15ft electric hydroplane An Stradag to a new two-way World Record-Breaking average of 50.825 mph at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire. Cedric Lynch had designed and built the revolutionary motors and with media coverage in 88 outlets and prime position on the Pool at the Earls Court Boat Show,

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1997 was a memorable year for the EBA as for the first time we took part in an outdoor boat show – the Inland Waterways Festival at Henley. In July Malcolm Moss crossed the English Channel in SB Collinda in a remarkable 6 hours 15 minutes under cloudy skies and in August Wagtail V (29ft) travelled 116 statute miles in 24 hours on the Upper Thames without re-charging its batteries, In 2005, following developments with hydrogen fuel cells, the EBA took possession of a skiff which had been used as a test bed for a potential future propulsion system.

The Association has been a champion for promoting hybrid propulsion systems and in 2009 was awarded the Mansura Medal by the Royal Thames Yacht Club. This prestigious award was given to the EBA in recognition of the Association that is deemed to have done most for the promotion of hybrid power.

From the early days of people viewing electric boats as ‘unusual’, although there have been electric boats on the water in the UK since the 1840s, they are now accepted as readily as are electric vehicles. Many narrowboat owners are members of the EBA, with craft ranging from 23ft to 68 ft, some solely electric, some hybrid with diesel electric and many now solar powered.

The Electric Boat Association is recognised as a leading authority on all aspects of electric boating and as the only active English speaking Association, deals with enquiries daily from all over the globe. If you would like to know more about the Association and its work, check our website www.electric-boats.org.uk or contact the Secretary Barbara Penniall on mail@eboat.org.uk

(Tony Dunning our vice chairman is membership secretary for the EBA and he kindly asked Barbara to provide the above article.

Q Why is someone in the depths of Cumbria in the EBA? A An electric outboard.

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Electric boat ‘Switched Off’

Ulverston Canal This beautiful stretch of water, at 1.3 miles, is reputed to be the shortest, straightest and deepest canal. Since being permanently sealed in 1953 it is officially classed as a reservoir and has naturalised into a wild life haven for many species of birds, bats, and otters have made a reappearance. It also boasts a “rolling bridge” which is a listed structure as it is apparently one of only 3 left in the world of this design. This will be part of a future project to prevent further deterioration and construct a working model to demonstrate how it used to operate.

Ulverston Canal Regeneration Group is a community group, largely email based, with a membership of 240 people and a following of over 900 on Facebook. We work closely with the private owners, Town Council, local residents and other community users to enhance the area as an amenity for leisure, health and well-being. Money has been raised to improve paths, install benches, litter bins and 5 sculptural “totems” that explain key historical points: the construction, imports/exports, shipbuilding, iron and steel industry and the arrival of the railway.

The members have rallied to carry out litter-picking, trimming and tidying up days to keep the towpath clean and cared for. The community of users have appreciated this and in turn, taken greater care of the area and know who to contact if things go wrong.

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Over the year we run different festivals to raise awareness, build partnerships and involve local schools and groups to inform future generations about the heritage of the canal. The events bring an additional attraction to Ulverston; encouraging visitors and creating opportunities for local businesses.

The first event is an Easter Egg trail – large sculptures created by schools, churches, scouts, brownies, businesses and individuals, and displayed along the towpath for families to enjoy, searching for hidden eggs as they go.

This is followed by an extension of the town Flag Festival where specially designed flags are flown along the length of the canal. Again, an opportunity to engage with the surroundings during a pleasant walk.

The Summer event is a community Gala with stalls, games, canoe rides on the canal, demonstrations by Ulverston Inshore rescue craft. This gives people chance to meet, enjoy refreshments, talk about ideas for the future as well as raise funds for other activities.

Autumn is a time to reflect on the shipbuilding and iron and steel history of the canal with an “Anchor Festival”. These are large sculptures which include stories, poems and limericks about the folk, their craft and wildlife who lived and worked around the canal.

The final event of the year is a “Brolly Parade”. Children and parents decorate umbrellas with lights and tinsel to walk down the towpath in a magical, twinkling experience. At the Foot, carols are sung with the Town Band around the Christmas Tree while enjoying minced pies and drinks.

The success of this strategy is perhaps demonstrated by the fact that footfall has now more than doubled to over 40,000 per year.

(Thanks to Colin the UCRG chairman for sending this article. I hope to have more photos in the next edition but in the meantime they have a very good website at www.ulverstoncrg.co.uk Ed)

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One of the totems 21

Boat names Spotted by Maralyn and Jim Two Oar Barn (anagram of narrowboat) Sir T Fiable From Nigel Nunc Est Bibendum

(time for a drink)

Mo MacBean We have learned with regret of the death of Mo (Murial) MacBean in November after a short illness. Mo and her late husband Ian went all over the country to many national and local IWA events to run the sales stand with Ruth Simmonds, often travelling on Ruth’s boat ‘Windwhistle’.

Ruth says ‘we couldn’t have done what we did without them’.

Having started with a derelict lock I thought I better finish with a Leeds & Liverpool Canal lock in good condition. This is the Mike Clarke lock at Bank Newton taken this autumn. Unfortunately it does not do justice to the splendid views. Ed 22

IWA LANCASHIRE & CUMBRIA BRANCH AGM The Annual General Meeting of the IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch will be held at St Chad’s Parish Centre 235 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ on Thursday 23rd February 2017 starting at 7:30pm.

Agenda 1. Apologies for absence.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the previous AGM held on 25th February 2016.

3. Matters arising from the minutes.

4. Chairman’s Report.

5. Treasurer’s Report and Presentation of the Accounts.

6. Election to the Committee

*********** Nomination Form – Lancashire & Cumbria Branch Volunteer/Nominee _______________________________(Please print) Signed ________________________________

Date_____________

Address __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Telephone No’s: Home_____________________ Mobile ___________ E-mail ____________________________________________________ Volunteers / Nominees must be an IWA member of this branch in good standing.

Please return this form before Monday 20th February 2017 to: Les Fragle, Brock Cottage, 6 Thistleton Road, Thistleton, Preston, PR4 3XA or by e-mail to lancsandcumbria@waterways.org.uk or presented to the above at the start of the AGM. Under the bylaws volunteering / nominations can be accepted from the floor at the AGM. 23

Inland Waterways Association – Lancashire and Cumbria Branch Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 25th February 2016 in the Peter Birtwistle Community Centre, 14 Keighley Road, Colne.

1.

Present: Wendy Humphreys, Tony & Janet Dunning, Audrey Smith, David Faulkner, Alan Davies, Alan Platt, Barry Horner, Stephen Scaife, John Hicks, Malcolm Sterratt, Yvonne & David Hargreaves & Les Fragle.

2.

Apologies: Derek Humphreys, Madeline Dean, Penny Duttson, Robert Irvine (on behalf of Forth & Clyde Society), Janet Ramsey, Geoffrey Oxley, Dorothy & John Hewerdine, Gillian Smith & Mike Carter (Regional Chairman).

3.

Minutes of 2015 AGM held on 27 th February 2015 in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Preston:  The title of the previous AGM minutes was amended with the correct dates.  With this change the minutes were accepted as a true record, Proposed: David Faulkner, Seconded: Janet Dunning.

4. 

Matters Arising: There were no matters arising.

5.

Chairman's Report (Wendy Humphreys): Wendy gave her report which is attached as Appendix 1.

6.

Treasurer’s Report (Wendy Humphreys): Wendy gave an explanation of the accounts which are attached as Appendix 2. There were no queries and the accounts were accepted, Proposed: Audrey Smith, Seconded: Alan Davies.

At this point David Faulkner asked those present to express their thanks to Wendy for all she has done for the Branch taking on the role as Chairman as well as being the Treasurer and all present responded warmly.

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7.

Election to the Committee: Wendy Humphreys retired from the committee under the three year rule but was immediately re-elected.

David Faulkner and Audrey Smith had been co-opted to the committee and their positions were confirmed.

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting.

Following the meeting Alan Platt gave an interesting talk, with photos, on the Montgomery Canal including its history, restoration completed to date and the plans for continued restoration.

Appendix 1 Chairman’s Report for AGM For those of you who are not aware Alan Davies resigned as Chairman during last year, although he did not resign as a committee member. I agreed to act as Chair until the branch meeting after the AGM which is when the committee elects officers. Alan resigned as Chairman as he has too many other commitments related to his voluntary work with a Housing Association, this is a great loss to the committee. As you will know I have been the branch treasurer for 20 years but the rules of the IWA will not allow me to continue to be both chairman and treasurer so maybe someone else will volunteer to step into one of those roles.

2015 was an eventful year for the Lancashire and Cumbria branch of the IWA, we have had an active social programme although some of our meetings have not been as well attended as we would have liked.

However all the meetings have been really interesting and those who have attended have enjoyed the opportunity to meet friends and likeminded people, to chat and to listen to the speakers. For those members who do not attend the meetings I would urge you to give it a try you never know you might enjoy it. Until April our meetings were organised by Tony Dunning and my thanks go to him for all the hard work he carried out in organising these meetings. Since April I have been responsible for organising the branch social meetings and have tried to make them as interesting and varied as possible.

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The year started with the January meeting in Preston when Graham Holland, CRT’s National Asset Strategy Manager gave a very interesting talk on Assets and Dredging.

The February meeting held in Colne was the AGM followed by a talk by Martyn Clapham and some interesting slides, “Updates to Edmund Barstow’s Photographic Slides”.

In March it was Ivor Caplan, in Preston talking about RBOA and Living Aboard with the Current Challenges.

The meeting in April was back in Colne and was Peter Scott, talking about Sir Peter Scott, CH, CBE, DSC*, FRS, FZS, Artist, Conservationist, Olympian Yachtsman, Wild Fowler and much more, a man of many talents and a very interesting talk by his namesake.

We had the usual break during the summer months and the new season started with myself as new Social Secretary and the first meeting in September in Colne where we had Dr Paul Hindle, Chairman of the Manchester Bolton Bury Canal Society talking about the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal - Through Time. It was good to note the progress being made on that restoration project.

Then in October we were back in Preston, this time a very well attended joint meeting with the Lancaster Canal Trust and our speaker was the past Chairman of the Trust, Richard Trevitt talking about the Lancaster Canal Past and Present.

In November we were in Colne with an enlightening talk on the Canal du Midi, this talk was given by Gillian Bolt secretary of the Chester and Merseyside branch of the IWA. It wasn’t all a summer break as we had a Balsam Bash in July on the Lancaster Canal at Haslam Park where a team of volunteers working with Friends of Haslam Park managed to clear several bags of Balsam from the Canal towing path. This Balsam Bash contributed to IWA nationally winning a Living Waterways Award, thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this.

Then there was the IWA National Trailboat Festival held in June at the Westmorland Showground, this was organised by the Lancaster Canal Trust but IWA members helped and a lot of members attended.

During 2015 we also held our bi monthly committee meetings preceded by lunch and a chance to catch up on news. We commented on various planning applications relevant to the canals in our area. We gave advice

and support to members about issues affecting them relating to the Inland Waterways.

We attended many Canal and River Trust meetings to gain information and put forward the views of our members.

Some of our members helped with Kennet, the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society’s boat and we joined them in planning activities for the bicentenary year 2016 and offered to help them when we can.

We also donated ÂŁ500 to WRG for their van appeal and received a letter of thanks from them. I would like to thank all the people who work hard at branch events to help us raise funds so that we can continue to make these kinds of donations.

We continued to administer the Leeds Liverpool Plaques for those travelling the Canal from end to end. Thanks to Audrey Smith for this.

We have continued meeting with the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership although progress has been very slow, the appointment of a project officer will hopefully mean an improvement in 2016.

One of our members and our past chair was nominated by the branch for a Richard Bird medal and we were very pleased to hear that she had received the medal, well done to Madeline Dean for all the support you have given to IWA over the years.

During 2015 we were fortunate to have two new members join our committee or perhaps I should say old ones returning!

We were joined by David Faulkner who used to be our secretary many years ago and who volunteered to be our magazine editor and is doing really well with that, producing three editions of Towing Path Topics in 2015 and one in January 2016, thanks to David for this, Towing Path Topics helps to keep our members in touch with what we are doing.

We were also joined by Audrey Smith who most of you will know and as well as administering the Leeds & Liverpool plaques, Audrey has brought a vast store of knowledge and experience to the branch, thanks to Audrey for this.

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Les Fragle who was already on the committee offered to take over from Tony Dunning as branch secretary, thanks to Tony for all his hard work as secretary and for the support he continues to give, thanks also to Les who has worked well as secretary since April. I don’t want to leave out the work of Helen Thomas who provides an important link with the Lancaster Canal Trust for us, thanks to Helen for this.

So the branch committee is a little stronger but we still would welcome new members. We still need a sales officer to attend events with a sales stand to help raise funds for the branch and an environmental officer to look at planning applications.

Perhaps this is a good time to say how much we rely on the committee to keep our branch running and make a plea for anyone who is interested in helping out on the committee to make yourselves known to us, we meet every two months and there is always lunch first.

We have also had a new Region Chair, our former chair Alan Platt resigned after serving for three years, my thanks to him for all the help, advice and support he has provided to us over those three years. Alan has been replaced by Mike Carter and we all look forward to working with Mike in the future.

2016 This year will be an equally busy and interesting year and we will continue with all the business I have already mentioned to the best of our ability and we will continue to work with other canal societies and with the Canal and River Trust where we can.

Importantly 2016 is the bicentenary of the opening of the Leeds Liverpool Canal and there will be lots of activities and events relating to that, not organised by us but we will help when we can.

Our past secretary Gillian Smith attended one of our meetings to talk about the bicentenary and has offered to be the North West IWA link with the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society to help in co-ordinating the bicentenary year.

On April 27th this year we will be holding a joint meeting with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society at The Pendle Hippodrome, I hope you have all got this date, which is a Wednesday, in your diaries.

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From September 2016 we will be holding our social meetings in Whittlele-Woods at St Chad’s Parish Centre, I believe we will find this venue to be much more attractive as it has a friendly good sized room and a bar, there is plenty of parking and it is not far from a motorway junction. I also think it will be better to have one venue rather than two and there is even the possibility of reviving things like the Christmas Social as this venue would be ideal for that kind of event. Wheelton Boat Club already meet there and maybe there will be possibilities to work with them more, and for those of you with long memories Whittle-le-Woods is a return to old haunts.

We are working with CRT to provide mooring rings near Chorley using money from a bequest.

We were working with a group trying to organise a Dinghy Rally on the Lancaster for this year but unfortunately this will not be happening now, another group is organising something on the Lancaster Canal but IWA are not involved. However we are trying to work with an existing festival in the village of Holme to get more waterways activities at their festival which will be on 10th July. We also intend to work with the Lancaster Canal Trust to organise some walks on the Lancaster Canal.

We haven’t forgotten the idea of adopting a length of canal and hope that in the future we will have the resources to do this.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the committee and all of the people who support them, I would like to thank those people who turn up to meetings and events, especially those who turn up to help, especially Janet Dunning for all her help with the raffles, thanks for your support, without you we couldn’t carry on.

Wendy Humphreys.

Appendix 2 Summary Financial Report for 2016 AGM Balance sheet at 31 December 2015 2014 2015 General accumulated funds £10,986.90 Balance at 1 January 2015/16 £12,711.13 £1,724.23 Surplus/(deficit) for the year (£528.55) £12,711.13 £12,182.58 Represented by £12,711.13 Bank accounts £12,182.58

Income & Expenditure for year to 31 December 2015 2014 Income £256.55 Total subscriptions £65.00 Collections at branch meetings £20.00 Events & fund raising £20.00 Grants & donations from other IWA sources £146.23 Bank interest £876.90 Donations £180.00 Sale of plaques £10.50 Cans £2,000.00 Return of money from NRF £3,555.18 Total income Expenditure Magazine printing & production Magazine postage Social meeting expenses Annual subscriptions paid Donations to other IWA destinations Other donations made Officers’ expenses - postage L&L plaques and postage Christmas cards £1,830.95 Total expenditure £1,724.23 Surplus/(loss) £95.93 £132.66 £32.50 £0.00 £0.00 £1,540.00 £15.35 £14.51

Funds committed to specific causes: 2014 £6,644.45 Northern Reaches Fund £6,066.68 Branch Funds £12,711.13 Totals

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2015 £0.00 £128.00 £147.38 £0.00 £154.19 £49.35 £355.00 £0.00 £0.00 £833.92

£10.26 £0.00 £265.00 £30.00 £500.00 £70.00 £12.19 £439.02 £36.00 £1,362.47 (£528.55)

2015 £6,644.55 £5,538.13 £12,182.58

L&C Branch Committee 2016/17 Chairman

Wendy Humphreys Darwen

07763 561572 01254 703553

Vice chairman

Tony Dunning Egremont

07730 113894 01946 820875

Secretary & Membership Secretary

Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston

07946 702274 01995 672230

Treasurer & Newsletter Editor

David Faulkner Blackburn

07912 249265 01254 249265

Environment and Planning

Shared by Secretary and Chairman

Publicity

Audrey Smith

Sales

Janet & Tony Dunning

Social Secretary

See Chairman

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Part’ship

Audrey Smith & Wendy Humphreys

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Audrey Smith Wheelton

Lancaster Canal Trust

Peter Jones

Region Chairman (ex officio)

Mike Carter

Wild over Water & Web Master

Janet Dunning Egremont

Without portfolio

Alan Davies

01257 274440

01257 274440

01946 820875

NB Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk We no longer publish addresses.

If you want to write to us please use the editor’s address (p 2).

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Branch social programme 2016/17 Meetings start at 7.30pm, refreshments and chat from 7.00.

Date

Speaker

Subject

Thurs 26 Jan 2017

Bob Pointing The work of the Chair of the Northwest Northwest Partnership Partnership

Thurs 23 Feb

Branch AGM Followed by Audrey Smith (Change of speaker)

An update on the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

Thurs 30 March

Paul Hindle Chair of Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal

History & Restoration of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal

Thursday 27 April

Mike Clarke President of Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society

A review of 2016, the L&L bi-centenary year

Venue for branch meetings St Chad’s Parish Centre, 235 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley PR6 8AJ. It is behind the former Red Cat pub, easily accessible from Junction 8 of the M61 (take the first left turn for Wheelton off the A674); junction 3 of the M65 (take 2nd right turn for Wheelton off the A674) or take Town Lane from Whittle-le-Woods (From A6 turn onto Shaw Brow or School Brow, a few yards along Chorley Old Road turn right onto Town Lane, St Chad’s is about a mile on the left).

(My satnav finds it without problem, Ed) There is ample parking in the car park.

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