Wolds Waters December 2016

East Yorkshire Branch

WOLDS WATERS The newsletter of the East Yorkshire Branch

December 2016

Beverley Beck Barge Pull

From our Branch Chairman We come to the end of another busy year in our branch.

With a number of branches around the country struggling to keep full committees, I am again grateful for the support of our committee members and for all the hard work put into running the accounts, producing our magazine, performing all the secretarial and membership duties, providing speakers for our social meetings, running the website and taking the branch stall to a number of events in our area. I have not listed all the tasks by far and several of our members, whether on the committee or not, willingly give their time to make my job much easier.

Some good progress is being made on our waterways. The restoration work on the Pocklington Canal continues at a lively pace and reaching Bielby by 2018 looks more and more certain. Thornton Lock is being made ready for new gates which will be fitted in the spring of 2017 and the restoration then moves on to Walbut Lock.

Progress is being made on the Driffield Navigation with a steering group set up to make the town end of the navigation much more attractive to visitors. It is hoped that Mortimer’s Warehouse can be used for visitors and that boat trips can run on this section.

Our efforts in getting Elvington Lock on the River Derwent reopened continue. This is taking much longer than first hoped as difficult negotiations with all interested parties are still ongoing.

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By taking our stall around the waterways we are able to publicise the work of the IWA as well as raise funds for the branch. Our social meetings continue to just about pay their way. More people coming would be much appreciated. Remember, we welcome non-members as well. These activities will allow us to look at some small financial support to any waterway deserving causes in 2017.

The social meetings are a way of keeping in touch with members as is this newsletter. Also we have a branch website which is kept up-todate with meetings, events etc. Have a look at https://www.waterways.org.uk/east_yorkshire/east_yorkshire We shall be holding our AGM on March 17th 2017 and would welcome anyone wishing to join the committee or helping on our stall. We also welcome any suggestions for speakers or indeed anything which is to do with our waterways or branch activities. I can be contacted at roger.bromley@waterways.org.uk or by phone 01482 845099.

A happy & healthy Christmas to you all and best wishes for 2017, Roger Bromley Branch Chairman.

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World Barge Pulling Championships The Second World Barge Pulling Championships were held on Beverley Beck on September 25th and once again East Yorkshire Branch was there to fly the flag for the IWA. Organised by the Beverley Barge Preservation Society, their 64 ton barge Syntan was used to test the strength and stamina of the teams taking part. There were six teams this year which included last year’s winning team from the BBC, and also attracted one from Wales and an all-female team called the Why Knots. Each team had to pull the barge along a 200 metre course and this year the event was won by Teamac Tempest – one of two teams fielded by Teamac Marine Paints who sponsored the event - in a record time of 5min 17sec, and the Branch gazebo had a prominent location at the heart of the action. The gazebo was manned by volunteers from the Branch, raising a useful contribution to Branch funds. Many thanks to all those who came to say hello, and we look forward to welcoming you at next year’s Championships on September 24th 2017.

The fresh breeze caused a few hiccups with the barge being blown occasionally into the bank, but this added to the entertainment for the many spectators, and at least there was no rain to dampen the occasion, which was a great success for the organisers and I am sure that this event has now become a firm favourite.

Thanks to Harold Anguish for this report and the cover picture

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Honour for long serving branch officer and Waterways Enthusiast I am delighted to announce that Barry Robins, long-standing member of the IWA and past chairman of this branch, was the proud recipient of the Richard Bird Medal which was presented to him at this year’s AGM. Barry introduced many young people to canal boating. For a number of years he led groups of schoolchildren on canal holidays which increased in popularity so that one year no less than eight boats were used.

An active member of the branch and for twenty years in the role of chairman Barry continues to give unrivalled support and currently is the editor of this magazine.

Barry receiving his award from National Chairman Les Etheridge 5

Rolling Back the Years on Beverley Beck:a now and then story.

Beverley Beck was once a hive of industry with barges stacked up at the end of the canal. Comparing the two pictures, the first from the early 20th century shows sailing barges in the middle of this industrial area. Roll on the clock by 100 years and the backgound has changed dramatically with little industry to be seen and the area now a popular residential area. The Beck itself has changed, now being narrower although it was never wide enough at this point to turn a "Sheffield size" boat. But for this winter, as can be seen in the newer photograph, we have two fully rigged sailing barges spending the winter on the Beck. The vessels, Comrade and Amy Howson, owned by the Humber Keel and Sloop Preservation Society, have come to Beverley in order to use the dry dock and be surveyed prior to recommencing their duties in the spring.

The barges are laid in the lay-by outside the former Hodgson's Warehouse where Syntan and the other Hodgson barges would have frequently traded. On the other side of the Beck in the colour picture we have Syntan herself , now owned and restored by the Beverley Barge Preservation Society, on the former Crane Hill Wharf, which was originally used to unload coal for the gas works and the local coal merchants. On this side opposite the lay-by the barges were unloaded into the local animal feed mill, which can be clearly seen in the older picture thought to date from 1913. Also in the recent picture is "Sun", the Beverley Barge Preservation Society's trip boat converted from a British Waterways' Maintenance Boat. It's good to see the barges back on the Beck, even if now their functions are completely different, now only carrying cargoes of people. It is hoped that an open day can be arranged across the two Societies in early 2017 to showcase their work and to have the vessels open to the public.

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Then

and now

on Beverley Beck We are indebted to Ian Campbell for this report 7

Pocklington Canal News Fundraising The Bicentenary Appeal to support extension of navigation to Bielby has now raised ÂŁ135,000. The New Horizons trip boat has had its most successful season and boat trips have raised ÂŁ11,000 in 2016. Volunteers have also been busy at the PCAS Information Centre at Canal Head and the PCAS merchandise stall has made frequent appearances at Langlands Garden Centre and other local venues. Information about forthcoming events can be found on the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society Facebook page and website.

PCAS restoration project The installation of stone dams above and below Thornton Lock was carried out by local contractors Hagrapat. The lock was pumped down to confirm that the dams were watertight.

The chamber of the lock was cleared of silt and pressure washed to allow inspection of the condition. The brickwork was found to be generally in good condition below water level. A group of 8

PCAS volunteers have been carrying out repairs using lime mortar. One of the quoin stones was out of line, protruding into the lock chamber, and this has been cut to bring it into line with those below. The brickwork repairs will be completed as soon as possible so that large pump and scaffolding towers can be taken be returned to the hire companies. Repairs to the original bywash, which is effectively a brick tube alongside the lock, will be carried out in the new year. New gates will be built by the Canal & River Trust in spring 2017.

Heritage Heroes The joint initiative between Help for Heroes and CRT to rehabilitate physically and mentally injured ex-servicemen is described elsewhere in this issue.

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Canal & River Trust’s Lottery-funded Project Lizzie Dealey, the Project Officer appointed to run the three year programme, has wasted no time in getting to know PCAS members, making it clear that she wants to work in partnership with the Society. The launch event on 17 November included a drop-in session at Melbourne Village Hall and a site visit to Church Bridge, led by Judy Jones, a heritage advisor for CRT. Among the Trust’s staff who attended the event were Chief Executive Richard Parry and Jon Horsfall, North East Waterway Manager. PCAS was also well represented on the day.

The project will include work to improve the Site of Special Scientific Interest between Canal Head and Melbourne, involving CRT and Natural England. This will include dredging of three sections - one of which forms part of the length of canal that PCAS is restoring for navigation. Lizzie will be coordinating a variety of events and activities involving the public and volunteer training activities will also form part of the project.

Alistair Anderson

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Do read the back page There are many reasons for people to be members of IWA. For the majority it is probably boating but other interests include history, the social influence of waterways, canal architecture, nature, a place of peace. Well, look on the back page and see how so many of these interests are covered by our current social programme. It is also good to meet with like-minded people. Do join us.

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The Pocklington Canal AMENITY Society It is too easy to fall into the trap as seeing canals as being predominantly for boaters though when seeking government and lottery funds it is the ‘amenity’ value of our waterways which can justify grant requests.

As I suggested on the previous page there are more people enjoying our waterways than those who choose to cruise. I particularly like the ‘Pocky’. I have walked groups of children along the wide towpath, I have seen people walking dogs, bird watching and just enjoying a stroll in tranquil surroundings.

But the AMENITY aspect was brought to my attention by an article published recently in the Sunday Express. The subject was the work done through the Help for Heroes volunteers on the Pocklington Canal this autumn. The reporter writes of the traumas which have had an adverse influence on the servicemen who had served in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan and suffered from PTSD. As they worked on the canal they trained and achieved qualifications which will help them to find work and settle down in civvy street overcoming the traumas.

So the amenity had a life-changing role for these ex-servicemen.

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PROGRAMME January to April 2017 Venue (unless stated otherwise) Cottingham Methodist Church Hall, Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD 8.00-10.00 pm. Use entrance down side of church.

20th Jan

Tunnels – Paul Waddington. Paul returns to extend our knowledge of the tunnels we cruise through but may take for granted

17th Feb

Festivals and more. A guide to attending and organising a boat festival by Iain Campbell

17th Mar

AGM and ‘The life of Sir Peter Scott’ by Peter Scott Learn about the life of the much-loved broadcaster

21st Apr

North East Waterways by John Pomfret

For more information about the Inland Waterways Association use the website www.waterways.org.uk or contact Barry Robins on 01482 658254 or 07885941983. For more information on the above meetings contact Roger Bromley on 01482 845099.

The Branch email address is roger.bromley@waterways.org.uk This newsletter is edited by Barry Robins, 90 Carr Lane, Willerby, Hull HU10 6JU. bandrrobins@gmail.com Note: The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Association and should not be construed as such unless so stated.

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