Winter 2014

Newsletter ofGuildford & Reading

Kent & East Sussexand Oxfordshire Branches

3She met and supported us in many ways. Meeting us and joining the

celebrations at many of the places we stopped at and giving information, details and advice, John Stevenson, who has also sadly very recently passed away, was a close friend of Soniaʼs. He brought her to meet us at many of the stops. On our journey from Braunston to the Foxton flight they joined us at N. Killworth where avintage car was brought along. Both Sonia and John stayed on board (see picture) till we descended the flight. We all ended up having a pie and pint in the Bridge Pub at the bottom of the locks, before they departed in the vintage car.

Sonia had a collection of photographs from the waterways which were to be put on show at the Herbert Gallery in Coventry. It was arranged that we would take a group on NB Heron into Coventry when she would officially open this exhibition. But as the time for this drew nearer Sonia was invited to a special dinner elsewhere and so time for a boat trip was not possible. However she arrived at Hawkesbury and a group of us left by car for the Gallery. Many of the photos were taken in and around Hawkesbury and can be found in her book “A Canal People” This area was a busy meeting place for the working boats. The press and local TV were in attendance at the exhibition. The display was officially opened and one elderly gentleman was present among all the guests. He went to speak to Sonia after the main ceremony was over. A “Q” formed to get the books signed and this chap came up to Mary. It was her first husband George Smith. He told us of their original meeting.

Sonia of course was a war time boat girl (Idle Woman). She loved the waterways and, with the war ending, looked for a means of staying on the boats. She met George who was looking for help and worked with him on his boat carrying coal among many things. George told Mary that he said to Sonia he could not have her working and living on his boat with him unless she married him. So she did. They both had many stories to tell and pictures to show of those working boat days.

Sonia and Tom Rolt met when they were both members of various committees promoting the waterways and working closely with government departments. Sonia came off the boat; they married and lived near Gloucester. She never stopped loving the waterways but told us her joy was with historic boats and the working waterways. Her book, which we have a copy of and love to look at,shows how much the waterways and her interest and enthusiasm for them meant.

Brian Roberts, a former Chairman of the Region and of Oxfordshire Branchwrites: Sonia Rolt also actively supported the Oxfordshire Branch's ultimately successful campaign to acknowledge the historic importance of Tooleyʼs boatyard in the light of the developerʼs lack of interest / concern to retaining any semblance of boatyard activity. The Forge was to be a kiosk and the dock a flowerbed!

She wrote - in her own hand - to her wide range of conservation contacts pointing out the risks. She attended an on-site meeting to encourage the then BW staff (who had legal leverage) to resist the Compulsory Purchase Order. Although the order was granted, various conditions were imposed to ensure certain boatyardactivities could be continued.

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I can also recall the celebrations at Banbury in July 1999 to mark the diamond jubilee of the start of Cressyʼs travels in 1939. Sonia unveiled a commemorative plaque when naming Banburyʼs new road bridge in Tom Roltʼs memory and was Guest of Honour at the reception at Banbury Mill which was followed by a cruise to Cropredy led by canal artist Garth Allanʼs Steam Boat Ictus.The team that organised this nationally significant IWA event was led by John Dalton.

Editorial Recently we have learned the sad news of the passing of Sonia Rolt, widow

of IWAʼs first Secretary, Tom Rolt, at the age of 95. Sonia was very much a waterways person in her own right, starting as one of Kit Gayfordʼs trainee ʻIdle Womenʼ early in the Second World War and with her first marriage to a working boatman, George Smith. She had been a Vice President of IWA for over 20 years. In an interview with Tony Hales marking her ʻOutstanding Achievement awardʼ in September this year, Sonia revealed that the Oxford Canal was her favourite in her ʻworking boatʼ days. There are many memories of her interest in and support for campaigns and cruises on the South Oxford Canal and we are grateful to Ron & Mary Heritage and Brian Roberts for their personal recollections of Sonia that canbe found on the preceding pages of this edition of Cargoes, and we acknowledge the help of Pam and John Pugh for the sight of records from the 1999 Banbury diamond jubilee event , including a letter of ʻheartfelt thanksʼ from Sonia in which she expressed her appreciation of the welcome she received and ʻthe wonderful thrill and pleasure of travelling on Garth & Anneʼs steamboat Ictusʼ. In addition Brian has provided an account of the Tooleyʼs campaign (see page 32).

Welcome news in the Region is confirmation of the appointment of Gareth Jones (Guildford & Reading Branch Chairman) as Regional Chairman. Gareth has a wide sphere of transport interests ranging from traction engines to vintage cars and Thames Barges to traditional inland waterways craft. His longstanding concerns about our inland waterways can be witnessed by his membership of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust from the late 1960s, where he subsequently became Branch Treasurer, alongside Bill Fisher (Chairman) and John Gould (Secretary). Gareth was also involved with working parties on the Upper Avon Navigation under David Hutchings.

Formal Notice of the AGMs of the Kent & East Sussex Branch and the Oxfordshire Branch is given on page 6. The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM is planned to be held in April/May and full details will be in the Spring 2015 edition of Cargoes.

As the Festive Season approaches we would draw membersʼ attention to the variety of IWA Christmas Cards and also the 2015 Calendar available from www.iwashop.com (see page 16 of Winter 2014 Waterways and inside Back Cover of this edition of Cargoes).

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers the compliments of the season.

Cargoes Editorial Team

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From the Region Chairman

First may I thank everyone in the Inland Waterways Association for making me Regional Chairman in succession to Paul Roper. Paul did a fantastic job for IWA and the waterways in the many roles he filled; Regional Chairman, Deputy Chairman Trustees, Chairman Navigation Committee to name but a few. Paul was very influential in the setting up of CRT - not that he always received due thanks. However CRT has been very beneficial to the waterways and has not suffered the vicissitudes of government funding that has been the lot of EA waterways. May I say very well done Paul and may your new married life bring you every happiness.

IWA is having a good year and putting a strong foot forward. Foremost perhaps is the success we have had in repositioning HS2 around the Trent and Mersey between Great Haywood and Fradley Junctions an effort led by Gren Messham, the new Navigation Committee Chairman. The waterways conference in May was a great success and you should read the wider economic benefits report of waterway restoration on IWAʼswebsite. The appointment of a new funding officer Toby Gomm has been a success as has the appointment of Alison Smedley and Stefanie Preston on Branch liaison. In our region this has led to a number of working parties in addition to the ongoing efforts of

WRG. The latter continue to increase their skills and influence as well as introducing many newcomers to the waterways. Lastly at the recent Trustees meeting a new marketing committee has been appointed to work alongside Promotions and Communications.

With my new role I plan to visit branches and to see how branches and national effort can best be combined. We are short of volunteers for branch activities and I hope you will all be supportive of local work parties, branch social activities and the AGMs. It is pleasing that the annual Southampton Quiz has its full complement of four teams with a team from the Kennet and Avon. This is on the 4th December and well worth a visit as the hospitality from Southampton is outstanding.

We all hope you supported the Wilts and Berks in its bid for Yorkshire Building Society money.

We were pleased to note the award of the MBE to IWA National Vice President David Blagrove “For services to Restoration of the UK Waterways”. Davidʼs early campaigning, which involved him inrunning the boat Enterprise at Reading, was part of the eventual reopening of the Kennet & Avon Canal and since then he has been a stalwart of the restoration scene, holding many offices. Congratulations David!

Gareth Jones

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Branch Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East

Sussex and Oxfordshire Branches of The Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows:

The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm for 8.00pm on Wednesday 25th February 2015 at St. Nicholasʼ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0DE.

The Oxfordshire Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm for 8pm on Wednesday 11th March 2015 at the Oxford University Press Association Athletic Club, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford, OX2 8EF..

The Agenda for the Branch meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws as follows:

Agenda

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Approval (following amendment if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year

3. Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items)

4. Branch Chairman's Report

5. Branch Treasurer's Report and Accounts

6. Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary. Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM)

7. Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM

Guildford & Reading AGM

The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will be held in April/May 2015 and further details will be given in the Spring 2015 Edition of Cargoes.

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Diary of Meetings & Events Sun 16th Nov, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37)

Tue 18th Nov, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): The Cotswold Canals by Liz Payne plus Christmas eats and drinks. (see page 20)

Wed 19th Nov, 8.00pm, BCS: 'The Wilts and Berks Canal - The Most Ambitious Restoration' by Chris Coyle. (see page 18)

Thu 20th Nov, 7.00pm for 7.30pm, IWAKES: The Watermills of the Sussex Ouse and its Tributaries by Colin Smith (see page 31)

Thu 20th Nov, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Barging on North East Waterways by Nick Grundy (see page 11)

Wed 26th Nov, 7.45pm, K&A (Newbury): Canoes and Young People on the K&Aby Tamsin Phipps. (see page 19)

Thu 4th Dec, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Annual Inter-Society Waterways Quiz (see pages 5, 11 & 24)

Sun 7th Dec, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: The Olympics. (see page 37)

Sun 7th Dec, 11.00am, 12.00 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: 45 min Santa Cruises on the Wey & Arun – booking essential. (see page 26)

Wed 10th Dec, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Oxfordshire Branch: Skittles Night – Booking required. (see page 35)

Wed 10th Dec, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Bring your own Boating Adventures No. 3 with Christmas Cheer and Mince Pies (see page 36)

Thu 11th Dec, 7.30pm for 8:00pm, IWAKES: TMCA/IWAKES Christmas Get-Together - A day in the life of a Thames tugʼ by Richard Thomas (see page 31)

Thu 11th Dec, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: Christmas Dinner, bookings required.(see page 11)

Sat 13th & Sun 14th, Dec, 11.00am, 12.00 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: 45 min Santa Cruises on the Wey & Arun – booking essential. (see page 26)

Wed 17th Dec, 8.00pm, BCS: 'A Day In The Life Of.....A Thames Tug' by Richard Thomas (see page 18)

Sat 20th, Sun 21st, Mon 22nd & Tue 23rd Dec, 11.00am, 12.00 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: 45 min Santa Cruises on the Wey & Arun – booking essential.

(see page 26)

Fri 26th Dec (Boxing Day), 11.00am, 12.00 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: 50 min Festive trips on the Wey & Arun – booking essential. (see page 26)

Thu 1st Jan (New Yearʼs Day), 2.00pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal.(see page 37)

8 Thu 1st Jan (New Yearʼs Day), 11.00am, 12.00 noon & 2.00pm, WACT: 50 min Festive trips on the Wey & Arun – booking essential. (see page 26) Sun 4th Jan, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37) Thu 8th Jan, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Annual Waterways Photographic Evening and Competition. (see page 24) Wed 14th Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Oxfordshire Branch: No meeting this month.

(see page 35) Thu 15th Jan, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: tba. (see page 11) Sun 18th Jan, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37) Tue 20 Jan, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): th Wilts & Berks update (see page 20) Wed 21st Jan, 8.00pm, BCS: National Trust and the Wey Navigations by John Gibson (see page 18) Thu 22nd Jan: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm, IWAKES: Roman Settlements of the Medway by Simon Elliott (see page 31) Fri 23rd Jan, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Annual Dinner.

(see page 36) Wed 28th Jan, 7.45pm, K&A (Newbury): The Wey Navigation by John Gibson

(see page 19) Sun 1st Feb, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37) Thu 5th Feb, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: The River Lee from Luton to Old Ford Lock, London by Richard Thomas. (see page 24) Wed 11 Feb, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Oxfordshire Branch: th tba (see page 35) Wed 11th Feb, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: Waterways of Milan and Pavia by Roger Squires. (see page 36) Sun 15th Feb, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: The Olympics. (see page 37) Tue 17th Feb, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): ʻThe whole length of the K&Aʼ by Nick Channer (see page 20) Wed 18th Feb, 8.00pm, BCS: Restoration of the Cotswold Canals by Liz Payne.

(see page 18) Thu 19th Feb, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: tba. (see page 11) Sat 21st Feb, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: The Titanic by Richard Slater: TMCA event to which all are welcome. (see page 31) Wed 25th Feb, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES: Branch AGM followed by everyoneʼs ten favourite pictures. (see page 31)

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Wed 25th Feb, 7.45pm, K&A (Newbury): The Wilts & Berks Restoration by Brian Stovold. (see page 19)

Sun 1st Mar, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37)

Tue 3rd Mar, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, IWAKES/South London Branch: Presentation plus Q&A by Richard Parry. (see pages 32 & 36)

Thu 5th Mar, 7.45pm, Southampton Canal Society: Evelynʼs War by Tim Coghlan. (see page 24)

Wed 11th Mar, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, Oxfordshire Branch: AGM. (see page 35)

Wed 11th Mar, 7.30pm for 8.00pm, South London Branch: AGM. (see page 36)

Sun 15th Mar, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Limehouse. (see page 37)

Tue 17th Mar, 7.45pm, K&A (Reading): AGM + speaker tba. (see page 20)

Wed 18th Mar, 8.00pm, BCS: The History and Restoration of the famous Crofton Beam Engines by Jon Wills. (see page 18)

Thu 19th Mar, 7.30pm, Salisbury Group: tba. (see page 11)

Wed 25th Mar, 7.45pm, K&A (Newbury): Branch AGM followed by the History of Newbury Wharf by David Peacock. (see page 20)

Sun 5th Apr, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regents Canal. (see page 37)

Wed 15th Apr, 8.00pm, BCS: Narrow Boats to Norway by Clive and Jill Field.(see page 19)

Wed 15th Apr, 7.00pm for 7.30pm, IWAKES: TMCA Annual General Meeting followed by Coracles, Canals & Comedy by John & Ann Epton. (see page 32)

Sun 19th Apr, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37)

Sun 26th Apr, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: The Olympics. (see page 37)

Sun 3rd May, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37)

Sun 17th May, 2.30pm, Towpath Walks Group: Regentʼs Canal. (see page 37)

Sat 13th Jun: K&A (Reading): Reading Water Fest. (see page 20)

Sun 26th Jul, 10.00am – 5.00pm: K&A (Newbury): Newbury Waterways Festival.(see page 20)

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Salisbury Group

Our Salisbury correspondent, Myra Glover, writes:

At the first meeting of the autumn season Ron and Myra Glover gave a talk, rather different from their normal subject of European waterways. Due to the fact that Elsa, their cruiser, had been out of action during 2013 they ventured further afield to explore the waterways around Vancouver in Canada.

The slick presentation used two projectors, one for the pictures and the other showing the maps following their route as the talk progressed.

Ron & Myra and their friend Dave initially stopped in interesting accommodation right next to the Fraser River and they were able to explore the area by canoe.

Later they hired a 38ft Grand Banks cruiser from Granville Island, south Vancouver. They ventured out into English Bay and the Burrard Inlet on route to their first mooring at Gibsons, a community on the mainland but due to the mountainous terrain is only accessible by boat, ferry or float plane. Gibsons was established by George Gibson, a retired British naval officer in 1886.

They then headed along Howe Sound towards Squamish which is inhabited by the Squamish native Indians. On route they observed Howe Sound pulp mill which converts timber into newsprint and called into the Britannia mine, now a museum, where for 70 years various minerals were extracted, mostly copper but also others including silver and gold.

On returning south the next stop was at Bowen Island where they experienced the local lifestyle on the island which is 8 x 4 miles in size inhabited by 3,000 residents.

The crew then returned to Vancouver, passing through the harbour identifying various ships including bulk carriers, a Mississippi paddle boat and a cruise ship which is the largest size of vessel that can pass through the Panama Canal. It was interesting to see the float plane airport with planes constantly taking off and landing in the harbour. Their journey then took them up the Indian Arm to the next mooring at Deep Cove passing on route two hydroelectric power stations built in the early part of the 20th century supplying electricity to the Vancouver area.

When returning south back to the hire base – disaster struck! After a major breakdown in mid channel it was found that they were drifting helplessly and had to call out the search and rescue vessel and were later towed back to their hire base on Granville Island.

Their holiday continued with an overnight stop at Lake Lillooet which involved travelling 7 km along a dirt track, in their hired Jeep, to a log cabin beside the lake. Their holiday concluded with a twilight trip to the top of Mount Whistler in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, where they experienced a very steep, narrow, twisting track and deep snow. The three explorers had to trudge the last 100 metres in a foot of snow to the very summit to experience a spectacular sunset.

11Programme of Events

Thu 20th Nov: Barging on North East Waterways by Nick Grundy.

Thu 4th Dec: Waterways Quiz at Chilworth Village Hall organised by Southampton Canal Society.

Thu 11th Dec: Christmas Dinner at The Green Dragon, Alderbury. (bookings for Christmas Dinner to Myra by Thursday 4th December at the latest, please) Thu 15th Jan: tba

Thu 19th Feb: tba

Thu 19th Mar: tba

Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at The Green Dragon, Old Road, Alderbury,Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 3AR starting at 7.30pm when visitors will be warmly welcomed. Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on 01722 710322 email glover.3@btinternet.com or Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

Guildford & Reading Branch

Chairman’s Report

The branch had a most enjoyable trip on the Wey and Arun, reported on page 12. This was well organised by Tim Fry who in addition to his branch duties is a volunteer on the Wey and Arun trip boats. My own plans for next summer are well advanced with the postponed sailing trip to the Adriatic in April followed by the 75th

Anniversary of Dunkirk Operation Dynamo in May, then a trip round the Four Counties in June followed by a trip to the Brittany Waterways in July.

From a branch perspective the most exciting news is the Basingstoke Canal. The present management in the form of James Taylor as Strategic Manager and Fiona Shipp day to day, have really got the bit between their teeth on navigation and general. Much is reported elsewhere but to summarise WRG has built new moorings at Brookwood alongside the Country Park.

The water abstraction licences for the St Johnʼs and Woodham flights are to be renewed on enhanced terms that John How of IWA negotiated. Water, we are told, is now most unlikely to run out below Brookwood and may be much less of a problem to the West. The previous ʻcanʼt doʼ policy has been replaced with very much ʻcan doʼ. See also the recent Press Notice on page 16.

While there are budget constraints there is an extensive winter maintenance programme which includes fixing the slip at Dogmersfield and restoring the full navigation channel. Dredging is still an issue but WRG and Society work parties help a great deal.

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There will be a boat rally at Odiham in late May to coincide with the 800th

Magna Carta festival. King John set out from his castle near the canal (it was builtsomewhat later) to sign at Runnymede.

Last but not least the Historic Narrow Boat Club is considering having their rally on the Basingstoke in 2016 which is the Basingstoke Canal Societyʼs 50th

Anniversary.Good news on the hire boat front. Galleon Marine now has not one but three

enthusiastic new owners. This gives habitual hirers and people who own their own boat the chance to enjoy a relaxing weekend on the Hampshire pounds one lock only at Ash or a more energetic week from one end of the canal to the other. With the current policy of having some locks in operation every day, this is very possible especially as by next spring Dogmersfield should not be an issue. Navigation details on the BCA website other details see the Galleon advert and their website.

The Wey and Arun continues to prosper on its long restoration road.The Wey itself is in order though much work and expense was incurred as a

result of the winter floods. Nothing to report on progress on the winding hole at Walsham Gates.

The Thames seems burdened with the problems of the Environment Agency and budget cuts. Merger with CRT may have been not so bad after all and may be back on the agenda for the next parliament.

The Kennet and Avon continues to grapple with funding issues as local authority money runs out.

2015 looks like being a good year for the branch. Our AGM will be held in April/May this year, an announcement will be made in Cargoes next issue. We have trips planned to the Wey and Arun and on Basingstoke. Perhaps, if there is sufficient interest, a Thames Barge trip can be organised with may be participation from the other two branches in my region.

Have a good Christmas and happy boating in 2015.Gareth Jones

Branch Trip on the Wey & Arun Canal A number of branch members gathered at Loxwood on a sunny Sunday

afternoon in mid-October for a cruise on the Wey & Arun Canal. Before embarking we were able to browse in the well-appointed Canal Centre that was opened in 2012and provides information and a booking point for cruises as well as the sale of books etc. Soon we were ushered aboard the Trustʼs trip boat Zachariah Keppel which continues to give sterling service in tandem with its more modern craft, Wiggonholt. We proceeded through Brewhurst Lock (distinguished by its high lower

New Regional Chairman, Gareth Jones (left) about to lead Guildford & Reading Members on board the Zachariah Keppel [Photo: Ray Carnell]

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gates construction - a throwback to the days before the canal was lowered to enable a navigable channel to pass under the road at Loxwood). Our onward journey proceeded at a sedate pace in order to pass the Wiggonholt (on a party charter) at one of the designated passing points on the canal. After going through Baldwinʼs Knob Lock it was time to start the return journey and the finale of a meal at the Onslow Arms. After this enjoyable trip, the feeling was we should now plan for a future longer cruise to Drungewick.

Many thanks are due to Tim Fry for organising everything to perfection.Ray Carnell

Sales and Publicity Stand

The Wey River Festival at Dapdune Wharf Guildford on 27th September (see report on page 23) marked the culmination of our outside events for the year. Once again I must thank all who provided essential help at the various waterways gatherings and festivals across the Branch - that support, in a particularly difficult year, has been greatly appreciated. The Stand serves various functions on behalf of the Branch and IWA in general – it provides a source of information about our local and national waterways and the role of IWA. It also raises funds by the sale of donated items and from the Lucky Locks Game - this enables financial support to be given to local waterways projects.

We expect next yearʼs schedule of events to be similar to those of 2014 but with the likely addition of a ʻMagna Cartaʼ celebratory event at Odiham in May. As ever, volunteers will be very welcome and further details will be published in future editions of Cargoes and at our 2015 Branch AGM.

Ray Carnell

Bits on the Basingstoke

October meeting of the Joint Management Committee

At the recent meeting of the JMC a variety of topics were aired with significant contributions from Gareth Jones (representing IWA), Philip Riley and Martin Leech (on behalf of the Basingstoke Canal Society) and John How (IWA/BCS – Lead Officer for the Water Strategy Group). There was also a comprehensive report by Fiona Shipp, the Canal Manager. These contributionshighlighted the positive achievements in 2014.

Canal Financial ReportA proposed Budget for 2015/2016 was adopted but reference was again

made to the fact that some riparian authorities were still failing to honour the agreed contributions – the worst offender being Surrey Heath BC. It was also suggested

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that more might be done to capitalise on the tangible benefits for new developments adjacent to the Canal.

SSSI StatusThe improved state of the Canal had been identified in a paper by Dr John

Eaton and this will be reported to Natural England.

Dredging, Weed Clearance and Towpath maintenance Concern was expressed at the absence of scheduled dredging. The weed

problem at Woking was being tackled by volunteers using the BCAʼs weedcutter that had been overhauled by the Canal Society. The Canal Authority would be purchasing equipment to enable the verge between the towpath and the canal to be trimmed more frequently.

Tree SurveyImmediately following the survey the most dangerous trees had been

removed and a further 600 noted as needing more attention. Otherwise it was reported that the tree stock was in good condition.

A331 Aqueduct A routine inspection will be carried out in January and the ʻdrain downʼ will

enable some re-puddling work to be done.

Brookwood Country ParkAt the beginning of September, the Canal Society welcomed another

week-long work party of volunteers from WRG (IWAʼs Waterway Recovery Group) who undertook some sterling work at Brookwood where the landing stage at the Country Park was doubled in length and 800m of towpath was re-laid. WRG have been coming to the canal for many years and their enthusiasm and hard work is always greatly appreciated (see report and photos on page 15).

Dogmersfield SlipRepairs to the serious slip at Dogmersfield are expected to take place this

winter. In anticipation of the commencement of the work, Canal Society volunteers have been cutting and removing the considerable quantity of timber which hadaccumulated in the area adjacent to the slip. Much of this timber has been logged and sold for firewood generating over £1,000 for funds. The repairs are expected to close the channel for at least 8 weeks.

Water Strategy Group (report by John How)This is the second year that the Canal has enjoyed boating throughout the

year, despite this being on a ʻmanaged accessʼ and the land slip problems at the western end.

There are two prime reasons for the Canal to have remained open, namely the wet winters, resulting in increased water table levels and the Environment Agency (EA) having approved (Dec 2012) extra abstraction at the eastern end of the canal, for the Woodham back-pumping system: Abstraction Licences are on a 10 year cycle and the current (up-graded) licence concludes in March 2015. At the suggestion of the EA new applications have been submitted and we await

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comment/approval that the existing abstraction rates can be retained. If the upgraded abstraction rate is approved for the next 10 years, then the Water Strategy Group believe this will be ʻgood news for the canalʼ. It is considered that the eastern end of the canal will have adequate water for navigation for the next 10 years, irrespective of climate change and general ʻwater stressʼ in the South of England. It is also pleasing to learn of the latest water monitoring developments announced in the Aquamatix/County Councils Press Notice on page 16.

Ray Carnell

WRG Work Party at Brookwood

IWAʼs Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) made their annual weekʼs visit to the Basingstoke Canal at the beginning of September. They were tasked with re-establishing half a mile of towpath from the A322 road bridge at Brookwood, which

had become very muddy and overgrown, and doubling the length of the landing stage on the opposite bank (alongside Brookwood Country Park). The party of about 20 was led by Adrian Crow and included some very experienced WRG members. After training on the tracked dumpers on the first day progress on the towpath was only slowed by the late delivery of materials. The design of the original landing stage was used for the extension, although it did cause some head scratching. The workboat became a floating bridge at lunchtimes to enable the towpath party to join the landing stage group, which was often the time that boats locking up from the R. Wey arrived. Great entertainment for all!! The excellent accommodation at Runways End, provided at a heavily discounted rate by Hampshire CC, was appreciated, although the lack of a nearby pub was a downside. The WRG time and expertise plus the £15k spent by the Canal Society, have improved this stretch of the canal for all users. Thanks to good weather, long hours and amazing dedication both tasks were completed by 5:30pm on the lastday.

Verna Smith

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Real-time water monitoring Aquamatix brings the Internet of Things to the Basingstoke Canal

The Basingstoke Canal has contracted with Aquamatix, pioneer of the Internet of Things in water, to provide real-time monitoring and control of water resources, to allow the public to access information about the canal, and to reduce energy consumed by canal operations.

The Basingstoke Canal was built in 1792-8, and is now a leisure facility serving the community from the River Wey Navigation near Woking, 32 miles to Odiham in Hampshire. In order to use a limited water supply as efficiently as possible while reducing the energy consumed in managing the canal operations, leading edge technologies from the Internet of Things will be supplied by Aquamatix. The system will provide a variety of tools for canal rangers to monitor water levels and flows and pumping station activity. Information from the system will also be available to the public via a website, allowing canal users to better enjoy and understand the canal and its environment.

The project has been jointly developed by public agencies including Surrey and Hampshire County Councils, the volunteer sector in the Basingstoke Canal Society, and the private sector in Aquamatix, an SME based in Surrey.

James Taylor, Strategic Manager for the Basingstoke Canal said “We are delighted that both owning County Councils are investing in this leading technology so we can provide a better service to all users of the canal and neighbours. By monitoring and controlling the water in the canal we will improve our control of winter floodwaters, whilst reducing canal energy use, and allow more boats to enjoy the beautiful canal environment through more efficient water use in dry summer months.”

Laurie Reynolds, MD of Aquamatix noted “We are delighted to be working with the Basingstoke Canal in this UK-first implementation of Internet of Things technologies to this unique environment.”

The system will be deployed over the winter, ready for the start of the season in April 2015.

Laurie Reynolds, Managing Director Aquamatix; James Taylor, Strategic ManagerBasingstoke Canal; John How, Volunteer (IWA & BCS).

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Basingstoke Canal Society

Basingstoke Canal Society Plans for 2015

Canal Society Chairman, Philip Riley, reports:-

The first John Pinkerton left the Canal in August after 37 years of faithful service (see article in the last edition of Cargoes). Next year the John Pinkerton IIwill, hopefully, be building on this yearʼs very successful season when (by mid-September) 120 charters had operated and over 5250 passengers had been carried.

We are now looking forward to next season when, in May, the Canal Society is hoping to arrange a boat rally at Odiham as part of the celebrations to mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta by King John. It is believed that King John was at his castle in North Warnborough before he left for Runnymede to meet his barons, so Odiham can rightly claim to have an important connection with this historic event. The rally is likely to be at Colt Hill on 24th May and IWA members will be warmly welcomed (with or without boats!).

Chobham Social Meetings

Weather aside, the new season of meetings got off to a fine start in October with Nick Grundyʼs illustrated talk about his familyʼs participation in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012. Nick recalled an early family connection with the Basingstoke Canal in that his uncle, the late Major ʻCrickʼ Grundy, had in addition to his many other pioneering canal activities been associated with initialcampaigning to save the Basingstoke Canal. We heard an interesting account ofthe history of narrow boat Beatty, which was built in 1937 for the Samuel Barlow Coal Company and named after Admiral Beatty of Battle of Jutland fame and which was acquired by Nickʼs family in 1968. Beattyʼs long association with the Liverpool area led to selection to represent Merseyside in the Jubilee Pageant. We saw scenes of the pre-event preparations which brought home the magnitude of the task of staging such an event. During the cruise Beatty was in a line abreast formation with four other illustrious narrow boats - Gort, Fulbourne, President andTarporley. Photos illustrated the wide variety of participating craft and one could but marvel at how the crews had endured some dreadful weather conditions. Amongst the participants, we caught a glimpse of a well known locally owned craft – White Heather, the Borough of St Marylebone Tug belonging to Mike Adams (Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal Boating Club).

In conclusion, Nick mentioned membership of the Historic Narrow Boat Clubwhich would be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2016. As the audience was quick to appreciate, 2016 would also be the ʻGolden Jubileeʼ of the S&HCS

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(founded in 1966). It remained to be seen whether some joint celebration might bepossible which could also enable Beatty to fulfil the achievement of her first venture onto the Basingstoke Canal.

Ray Carnell

Future MeetingsMonthly meetings continue as usual on the third Wednesday of the month at

the Parish Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Station Road, Chobham, near Woking, GU24 8AZ commencing at 8.00pm. Coffee/tea and biscuits will be available during the interval. Raffle and retiring collection. Non-members and friends are very welcome. Please pass the word around.

The programme for the remainder of the season is shown below:-

Wed 19th Nov: 'The Wilts and Berks Canal - The Most Ambitious Restoration'by Chris Coyle. Chris will describe what is probably the most exciting and ambitious canal restoration project in the country. It will include a brief history of the canal, as well as an overview of the Wilts and Berks Canal restoration project covering the reasons for the restoration, what has been done so far, the challenges that are faced and the plans for some major projects in the near future.

Wed 17th Dec: 'A Day In The Life Of.....A Thames Tug' by Richard Thomas. Richard will update his talk from October 1996 with a close look at the work done by Cory tug General VIII, which is one of a fleet of seven vessels engaged in the movement of the refuse lighters for the Western Riverside Waste Authority. The talk features a voyage from Wandsworth to the aptly named Mucking in Essex. It gives an insight into one of the remaining commercial operations on the tidal Thames and how this has changed since the closure of the dumping ground at Mucking in 2010.

Wed 21st Jan: 'National Trust and the Wey Navigations' by John Gibson. John, the Manager for the National Trust on the River Wey, will give us a presentation on the history of the Wey Navigations and the half century since the Trustʼs acquisition of the Navigations from the Stevens family in 1964. Although local to us, this waterway has not featured previously in our Talks programme and this talk will bring us up to date.

Wed 18th Feb: ' Restoration of the Cotswold Canals' by Liz Payne. Liz is the Vice Chairman of the Cotswold Canals Trust and will outline the history of the Cotswold Canals, one of the most important in the South of England whichconnected the Severn Estuary and the River Thames. She will describe the restoration work to date over many years and bring us up to date with the current progress along the length of the canal.

Wed 18th Mar: 'The History and Restoration of the famous Crofton Beam Engines' by Jon Wills. Jon will describe the fascinating history of the Crofton Beam Engines on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Great Bedwyn and all the work that has gone on over the years to restore them to their current gleaming operating condition which attracts an increasing number of visitors to the various open days throughout the summer.

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Wed 15th Apr: ' Narrow Boats to Norway' by Clive and Jill Field. Clive and Jill will give us an illustrated talk about the exploits of four narrow boats and their crews who ventured to Tilbury Docks under their own power before being taken to Sweden on a cross North Sea ferry where they explored the scenic Gota Canal and the connecting lakes. They will tell us of their experiences whilst taking in the Scandinavian waterways scenery and getting to know a country very different from England

Further information from David Millett on 01252 617364 or d.millett7@ntlworld.com

Kennet & Avon Canal News

Canal Trust Meetings Both the Newbury and Reading Sections of the Trust hold a series of autumn/winter/spring monthly meetings to which non-members are always welcome. For the latest details see their Website at www.katrust.org

Newbury Section invite you to their monthly illustrated talks which start at 7.45pm and are held on the last Wednesday of the month between October and March (no meeting in December). The meetings are held in the upstairs room of the Stone Building, Wharf Road, Newbury RG14 5AS and entry is free. There is plenty of room in the car park which will cost £1 for the evening.

Wed 26th Nov: Canoes and Young People on the K&A. Tamsin Phipps is Government & Public Affairs Manager for the British Canoe Union. She will talk about the Kennet & Avon from the perspective of a canoeist and someone working with young people, describing her experiences paddling for competition and leisure, and the work she does with Guides and other young people. Tamsin also chairs the Kennet & Avon Local Waterway Partnership and she will explain the plans it has for making the most of our waterway.

Wed 28th Jan: The Wey Navigation. John Gibson is the Navigation Manager for this National Trust owned waterway, which has many similarities with the Kennet Navigation. John will be reviewing some of the challenges he has faced over the years.

Wed 25th Feb: The Wilts & Berks Restoration. Brian Stovold of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust will bring us up to date on this project which, when complete, will form the heart of a figure-of-eight cruising network which also includes parts of the K&A, the River Thames and the Cotswold Canals.

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Wed 25th Mar: Branch AGM followed by a talk about the History of Newbury Wharf by local historian David Peacock. Sun 26th Jul, 10.00am – 5.00pm: Newbury Waterways Festival. Victoria Park. Further information from the Trust Administrator 01380 721279 or Branch Secretary 01635 580356, Email: kact.newbury@btinternet.com The Reading meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (no December meeting) at 7.45pm at The Grange Free Church Hall, Circuit Lane, Southcote, Reading RG30 3HD (just off the A4 Bath Road). Entry donation, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). Tue 18th Nov: ʻThe Cotswold Canalsʼ by Liz Payne & Christmas eats and drinks Tue 20 Jan:th Wilts & Berks Canal update by Brian Stovold Tue 17th Feb: ʻThe whole length of the K&Aʼ by Nick Channer Tue 17th Mar: AGM + speaker tba Sat 13th Jun: Reading Water Fest.

Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group

Richard Davenport, Chair of the Trustees Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group, reports on the latest developments: Detailed design completed, Stage 1 build to commence

Since my last report, the detailed design of the waterway has been completed by Golder Associates and a staged implementation plan developed and agreed with our partner RBMW. The high profile York Stream arm of the waterway that runs through Chapel Arches (by The Bear Hotel) will be built first, with the channel deepened and widened to create a waterway basin. An impermeable lining is being installed to eliminate water losses through the bed and a full landscaping programme will follow. The first section to be built has now been tendered and will extend from the diffluence at Town Moor down to the GWR (Godʼs Wonderful Railway), followed shortly after by the GWR to Green Lane section to complete the western (York Stream) arm of the waterway ʻRingʼ. After the channel works for the York Stream arm have been completed – targeted for mid-2015 – a weir, fish pass and boat rollers will be added at the Green Lane confluence in the next stage, lifting surface water levels to their final level. The eastern Moor Cut arm will then be excavated and lined in a follow-on stage once funding allows, and longer term a lock is to be added when needed.

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Adjoining Area Action Plan developments in Maidenhead town centre are also getting underway, their designs integrated with the consented waterway plans. The first stage of the Shanly Groupʼs Chapel Arches development commenced piling for foundations in August. An underground car park is being constructed for the mainly residential block being built there. The development will provide a new channel wall on the eastern side of the waterway, with public terraces and a café overlooking a widened and deepened waterway. A pedestrian ramp on the eastern side will replace the current stepped footbridge to improve access and increase headroom over the waterway. Further downstream, the two council owned offices next to the iconic (listed) Library building have now been vacated and are to be demolished to make way for a second waterside development, the design brief for which is now being developed.

With the first stage of the waterway build now getting underway, tree clearance for the second stage has been scheduled and contracted to start in November. MWʼs display case at Chapel Arches is being regularly updated to keep residents informed on progress. You can also follow progress at MWʼs web site www.maidenheadwaterways.org.

These are exciting times for MW, as our long held plans for the waterway gradually evolve from vision into reality....!!

River Thames News

Notes from TNUF meeting on 24th Sept 2014 Environment Agency Overall

The EA migration to a two tier business, (National and Area) is due to complete by Nov 2014. Staff reduction across the EA to achieve 15% of total workforce (nominally 1,500 resources to go) is nearing completion. Resources for the River Thames have been reduced, but additional volunteer time and summer support has allowed service levels to be maintained.

Andrew Graham is now fully established as Thames Waterway Operations Manager. Andrew joined the NRA in 1992 and has worked in various Waterways roles including Head Office. His most recent role was Operations Manager responsible for the Volunteers project. Funding

The 2014/15 budget for Navigation is generally similar to 2013/14, despite reduction in GIA, which has been compensated for by increases in Income Development. Income Development

Additional income is being progressed and some delivered from three main topics;- • Enforcement

EA have checked over 2000 registrations and issued 278 enforcement notices.

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95% will pay before court proceedings. Enforcement team is planning to visit every marina this year. Cumulative monthly total of powered annual registrations are 8300 compared to 8562 for the same period in 2013. EA is working towards an online boat registration system.

• Accommodation The survey of accommodations revealed 553 out of 1100 were unlicensed, but most are mooring piles or small landing stages with a minimum annual charge. Annual income currently £0.4m, with only additional £800pa achieved from survey.

• Lock Keepers Cottages A report recommending retaining the status quo (leasing 4 lock houses only) was sent to the EA Chairman for approval. This included a proposal for a ʻjoint management studyʼ, users and staff union working group to investigate more cost effective ways of working for the future.

Flooding No additional flood prevention measures have been initiated, however much

ʻclear upʼ work has been completed. EA is still in the recovery phase from the winter floods. Shoals have been buoyed but removal is expected to be a 5 year programme. Many navigation obstructions due to trees have been removed, but low overhanging trees above Oxford are a serious problem.

Operational Statues – Some 11 locks will be closed for maintenance over the November – December period. Details available from the excellent Environment Agency websites;-https://www.gov.uk/river-thames-conditions-closures-restrictions-and-lock-closureshttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/341596/RT_Investment_Prog_2014-15_-_Issue_one_map.pdf

John How, IWA Representative

New Thames Bridge

The river scene at Reading will soon be changing with the construction of a new bridge to link Caversham with Reading Station and the town centre. It will be for pedestrians and cyclists only and will sit to the east of Fryʼs Island between the existing Caversham and Reading Bridges. The Borough Council expect the 120 metre long steel bridge to be open by the summer of 2015.

River Wey News

Heritage Open Days

Visiting the Worsfold Gates Workshop on the Saturday, I was pleased to find Steve Stewart on duty and to have a chat about current Navigation matters. It was interesting to look around the Workshop again and to try to recall how it had

23changed from the days when Vince (Locatelli) had been the Navigations Foreman (or indeed from the photographic records of earlier times when the Grove Family were working there). Long gone are the days when the Navigationʼs Lock Gates were all made in that Workshop now used, as Steve explained, just for minor carpentry work – more advanced work would have entailed major modification of the Workshop which would have completely destroyed its character and removed many of the historical features such as the ancient timber framed roofing.

It was lucky that Steve was able to spare the time for Heritage Open Day duties as much work has had to be done on the Navigation to make good last winterʼs damaging storms and flooding – reinstating the Towpath going Northwards from the centre of Guildford has been a major undertaking only recently completed. Another effect was that last winterʼs Lock Gate replacement programme had to be deferred which would mean that four pairs of gates would be replaced in the coming season of lock closures and all this on top of routine maintenance work.

Heritage Open Days also included extended public access to the Trustʼs facilities at Dapdune Wharf and were followed only two weeks later by the Wey River Festival - all in all a busy time for the Navigation staff and volunteers.

Wey River Festival

The Festival, held at Trustʼs Navigations centre at Dapdune on Saturday 27th

September, attracted some 40 craft moored along the river opposite the wharf and was attended by boaters and the general public alike who enjoyed being able to access the usual on-site exhibitions etc. supplemented by a selection of stands from various waterways organisations and local voluntary groups. Many visitors appreciated the opportunity of seeing the Mikronʻs ʻopen-airʼ performance of ʻTroupersʼ.

Later in the afternoon, Stuart Wilkinson Chairman of the Transport Trust spoke about the ʻRed Wheelʼ scheme (see page 19 of the Autumn 2014 edition of Cargoes) and introduced Dame Helen Ghosh Director General of the National Trust for the unveiling of the Red Wheel Plaque. In the evening the event concluded with a pageant of around a dozen illuminated boats, which provided an impressive sight as they skilfully navigated the river on the return journey from Millmead.

Mikron Theatre Company in their performance of ʻTroupersʼ

National Trust and Transport Trust VIPs and the Mayor of Guildford at theunveiling ceremony [Photo Ray Carnell]

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The consensus of those involved was that the change from the traditional site on Millmead Island had been successful though a greater attendance might have been achieved with wider publicity. Plans are now going ahead for a similar event at the same venue next year. In 2015 the site at Dapdune will have the added significance of marking the 50th Anniversary of the last Barge repairs at the yard –the completion of the renovation of Perseverance IV overseen by resident master boat-builder, the late Ray Edwards.

Ray Carnell

Southampton Canal Society

September MeetingOne of our longstanding and more senior members, Eva Drinkwater,

presented us with a selection of her waterways photographs.With Evaʼs usual sense of humour she entertained 26 members and three

visitors, two of whom joined the Society on the evening. Alan Rose showed and spoke about “Wrecks & Ruins” found around the

country and pictures taken over a period of time by Mike Beech the Curator of Foxton Museum. Alan followed on with further pictures supplied by Mike Beech containing the history of Foxton and her neighbouring canals.

Angela Rose

Forthcoming Meetings Thu 4th Dec: Annual Inter-Society Waterways Quiz. Inter-Society Waterways Quiz, hosted by SCS and to be run by last yearʼs winning team, Guildford and Reading. This year we welcome a new fourth team challenge from the K&A, led by Elaine Kirby, the archivist based at Devizes. A warm welcome again to IWA Salisbury team and visitors. An American Supper will finish off the evening.

Thu 8th Jan: Our Members Annual “Waterways Photographic Evening andCompetition”.

Thu 5th Feb: Richard Thomas: The River Lee from Luton to Old Ford Lock, London.

Thu 5th Mar: Tim Coghlan: Evelynʼs War. The wartime diary of Evelyn Hunt, an“Idle Woman” which gives a fascinating daily insight into the life on the Canals and on the Home Front.

Meetings, unless specifically stated otherwise, are held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth, Southampton SO16 7JZ. Start 7.45pm. For Monthly Newsletters visit www.sotoncs.org.uk or ring 02380 675312.

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Wey and Arun Canal Trust

WACT unlocks the past during Heritage Weekend

Over the Heritage Open Days weekend of 12th -14th September an archaeological dig took place on Gosden Meadow, Bramley, which established the location below ground of Tanyard Lock (Lock 22) on the former Wey & Arun Canal. The dig was organised by the WACT and directed by Consultant Archaeologist Martin J. Cook. It is believed that all the locks in Surrey were built mainly of brick and sometime after the canal became disused (in the 1870s) the bricks were re-used – probably by local builders – but it is not known exactly when this happened in Bramley. Care was needed to avoid undermining the footpath running alongside the site but volunteers from the Canal Trust and other waterways restoration groups made light work of revealing the foundations of the SE corner of the former lock chamber before their three days were up! The excavation also uncovered some of the original bricks. WACT gratefully acknowledged the kindness of the landowner in permitting this investigation and also the generous support of the Surrey Archaeological Society and Surrey Industrial History Group in offering grants to help defray the cost of the dig. Tanyard Lock and Gosden Aqueduct are on a part of the original canal that will be bypassed by the restored canal.

Around 30 participants who took part in the Trustʼs annual guided walk on Sunday 14th September from the Gunpowder Store at Shalford to Stantonʼs Wharf Bramley, were treated to the bonus of inspecting the excavation shortly before it was filled in.

WACT EGM on 25th October

An attendance of well over 100 at the Trustʼs EGM in Bramley heard Chairman Sally Schupke review achievements over the last 6 months, the most notable being the reopening of Southland Lock in June, with progress being made in a number of other areas. Funds had received a considerable boost from three legacies. A particularly substantial one from Peggy Gledhill was enabling the Trust to proceed with the Compasses Bridge project. The usual events, such as the Pulborough – Pallingham cruise and the Poddle, had taken place thanks to the organising support. The Trust was also indebted to the practical support of London

Participants starting out on the Heritage Day walk. [Photo: Ray Carnell]

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WRG, KESCRG, WRG (BITM), WRG Forestry and the NWPG. Attention now focussed on the Northern End with work proceeding on the Bramley Link, Compasses Bridge and Gennets Bridge Lock. Dusty Miller outlined the continuing financial support from Wey & Arun Enterprises Ltd through Sales and Canal Cruises. Martin Cook and Alan Johnson gave an interesting account of the Archaeological Dig at Gosden Meadow (see article on previous page).

Bramley LinkPhilip Oliver gave a detailed review of plans for the Bramley Link and

explained that the mandatory ecological survey would include the survey now necessary for the new cut at Gunsmouth Island. The cost of the project from Gunsmouth to Gosden was estimated to be £2 million and some heritage lottery funding was a possibility. For the time being work was being concentrated on the Hunt Nature Park.

Summit PoundTony Ford gave an update on the pound alongside Dunsfold Airfield and the

plans to build a new access bridge and remove the causeway at the Compasses. Much preliminary planning had been completed and there was the prospect that work could start in April 2015, with possible completion in 2016. Ray Carnell

For further information regarding the Wey & Arun Canal, please see www.weyandarun.co.uk

Future Events Santa Cruises 2014 on the Wey & Arun Canal, Loxwood

45 minute trips depart at 11.00am, 12.00 & 2.00pm on 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th,21st, 22nd & 23rd December. Santa will provide a gift for children under 12 and there are refreshments for all! Tickets: £9 per person. Booking in advance is essential.

50 minute festive trips, with light refreshments on board, will run on Boxing Day & New Yearʼs Day at 11.00am, 12.00 & 2.00pm. Tickets: £5.00 for adults, £2.30 for children. Booking in advance is essential.

01403 752403 office@weyandarun.co.uk www.weyandarun.co.uk

IWAKES Branch News

Bernard and Joyce Snell

Bernard and Joyce Snell were awarded the John Heap Salver at the IWA National Annual General Meeting in view of their tireless fund-raising, without which the Kent & East Sussex Branch social programme would not be possible.

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Bernard and Joyce courted on a motor scooter used to deliver film for the Strood photographic business that Bernard ran with his brother, Peter. They are keen members of the local choral society and Bernard, as a former scout leader, has involved scouts in several IWA events. They are longstanding ʻWilderness Boat Clubʼ members, with their trail-boat ʻGrey Owlʼ attending nearly every trail-boat festival. They have also undertaken ʻextremeʼ trail-boat expeditions, including to France, Scotland and the Rideau Canal in Canada. When Grey Owl was based at a marina on the Medway in the 1990s they were active members of the Medway River Users Association.

Bernard and Joyce joined IWA in 1989 and were introduced to the Kent &East Sussex Branch (IWAKES) by their neighbour, Angela Acott, in the 1990s. They gave great support to the sales stall when it raised many tens of thousands of pounds for canal restoration. Their particular strength was running the tombola.

Bernard joined the IWAKES Branch Committee in 1999 and almost immediately undertook the enormous effort of organising the May 2001 National Trailboat Rally on the River Rother. Sadly this coincided with the aftermath of foot-and-mouth and access restrictions forced the event to be cancelled.

They live close to the in-filled Strood Basin and Bernard, as IWA Representative to the Thames & Medway Canal Association, is deeply involved with the project. Bernard attends most IWAKES Committee meetings and he and Joyce run the raffle at most IWAKES social events. They raise hundreds of pounds a year, making the social program financially viable.

Bernard, with Joyceʼs support, was a leading figure in organising the 2013 National Trailboat Festival at Bodiam. He tirelessly investigated and made arrangements. During the event he was both ʻlaunching officerʼ and ʻharbour masterʼ. He made the friends in the Environment Agency and National Trust that were essential for the event to be the success it was.

Past Events

Early Canals of EuropeOn an evening in September, ten members gathered in St Mildredʼs Church

hall for a talk by Nicholas Hammond concerning "The Early Canals of Europe". Nicholas Hammond was an extremely clever man, who went way above this authorʼs head. But he had an outstanding array of maps and diagrams to illustrate his talk (and hopes to write a book on the subject soon). He spoke mostly about the Briare Canal, the western worldʼs first summit canal. It linked Paris to the Loire. There is a towpath both sides of the canal, so on a wind free day boats can be bow hauled. Barabua Lock is diamond shaped to let food barges have precedence over other

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barges. Early lock keepers were millers. There were no balance beams; so they used a rake to push/pull the gate.

Nicholas went on a trip to find a seven-lock staircase flight on the Briare canal, very similar to Prestolee Flight on the Manchester, Bolton & Bury. He showed some very impressive slides of the dewatered flight. Once again some very detailed maps and diagrams accompanied this section. A feature of many French canals are small nurseries where the lock keepers grow saplings of the trees which line the waterways and locks as well as fruit and veg. to sell to passing boaters to boost their income.

Angela Acott

River Medway About 20 members gathered at Gravesend Sailing Club for a talk about the

River Medway around Rochester by Jeremy Clarke, Education Officer of Rochester Museum. Not the usual Museum talk, but one full of interest and humour. The River Medway cut North Kent in half and the Roman road crossed the Medway at Rochester Bridge. When the Royal Engineers had to blow up the previous bridge, the parapet was used to line the Esplanade; still in-situ today. Fishing in the Medway was strongly controlled, with many punishments for breaking the law. A ʻDobleʼ rowing boat was used to drag the bottom for smolt, for which good prices were paid

be seen lying off Strood. The Medway was famous for oyster fishing; often mentioned in Dickenʼs novels as the staple diet of the poor (rather than todayʼs expensive food stuff). No oysters are fished in the river today.

Chatham Dockyard was very famous in Napoleonʼs time and spread for miles along the riverbank. Acorn Wharf at Strood was also famous and busy, run by Mary Ross after her husband died. She had to find the money upfront for timber to build the boats, before she was paid by the Admiralty for completed craft. The saltpan works near Grain could not compete with factories ashore. Lime was burnt around the Medway, hence Limehouse Reach. Brick making, which needed hardly any money to set up, used plenty of the rubbish lying around to make the slow burning fire needed to bake the bricks. These bricks were desperately needed in London, which was rapidly expanding at the time.

Even the Romans used cement. Cement changed everything in the Medway valley, most of which was turned over to cement making; spoiling its beauty whilst companies made fortunes. Mud was a crucial ingredient in cement and ʻmuddiesʼ could make good money filling barges with the stuff. Between 1850 and 1920 the Medway became much wider due to their activities. Bulk goods led to the long life of sailing barges in this area. The barges were designed especially to sail these rivers, with flat bottoms so they could sit on the mud. After 1920 people made a living on motor barges and examples still ply round Medway today.

Short Brothers, the aircraft manufacturer, would not have come to Kent without the Medway, where they tested many of their aircraft. They became very successful and made many prize-winning planes. Prison hulks came because of Napoleonʼs wars. When transportation to Australia ceased the hulks on the Medway had hundreds of men and boy prisoners of many nationalities thrown into them, even for what would now be petty crime. Steamer trips became the norm in the 1930s, including our own ʻMedway Queenʼ that we hope to see plying the Medway again after restoration. Visit Rochester Museum in the High Street to see many other treasures. Angela Acott

in London. Also in the 19th century ʻBawleyʼ sailing boats were used, and could often

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Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust

As we update you on the progress being made at Isfield Lock it is apparent that summer has left Sussex and that the recent heavy rain will restrict the progress being made on the restoration over the coming months. Indeed working parties will operate only one day a week from now until next spring.

Over the summer months good progress has been achieved and although the ambitious target set earlier in the year of completing the west wall of the lock chamber is now beyond us, an enormous amount of work has been carried out. Ted Lintott, the project manager, often working with the bare minimum of workers, must be congratulated.

The damaged invert was removed and rebuilt, the lock floor has been cleared of the general rubble and rubbish that had accumulated over recent years and scaffold is now in place to allow the rebuilding of the wall. That rebuild has to date reached about half distance (or about 24 bricks high) and this task together with the back fill has used over 30 tons of ballast and 100 bags of cement. Thankfully this amount of rebuild has ensured that the lock site is safe from whatever the winter rains and possible flooding will throw at it over the coming months.

In addition the stop plank shelter on the east side of the lock has been completed and the rebuilding of the upstream towpath is about two thirds complete.

Despite the slowing down of the restoration over winter, we really do need your help down on the site where working party numbers are constantly stretched. No expertise is required and no hard labour necessary. If you can help mix cement or clean and carry bricks or offer any other help please contact Ted Lintott on 01444-414413.

Terry Owen

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Thames & Medway Canal Association

Fixing the Swing Bridge Balance Beam

Tall Ships Race - Sept 14th

The crowd on Gravesend Promenade………… watches one of the Tall Ships

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River Adur

The study commissioned by West Sussex County Council into possible slipway sites on the Adur is well under way. CH2M expect to issue their final report in November after holding meetings with the various stakeholders. There should be more to report in the next issue of Cargoes.

Brendan Whelan

Northfleet Harbour Trust Northfleet Harbour has taken a step forward. An area has been landscaped

and a ʻportacabinʼ placed to form a visitor centre along with a caravan for volunteer use. While doing the landscaping a flatbed trolley with rail track wheels has been unearthed, along with tracks. The AGM was held on 9th September and in true John Mason style was over in 23 minutes. Northfleet Harbour Trust has achieved charity registration that will help with fund-raising towards the development plan.

A bit of bad news…. the caravan used by harbour volunteers was trashed by mindless vandals on Saturday afternoon 11th October.

Graeme Rooney

Future IWAKES and Other Events Thu 20th Nov: 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm: The Upper Room, Perrymount Methodist Church, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DM (near the railway station and 200yds from Clair Hall): ʻThe Watermills of the Sussex Ouse and its Tributariesʼ by Colin Smith, co-author of the "Sussex Watermills" books:SORT/IWAKES Joint meeting.

Thu 11th Dec: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend: ʻA day in the life of a Thames tugʼ by Richard Thomas:TMCA/IWAKES Christmas Get-Together.

Thu 22nd Jan: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, Kent ME2 2AH: ʻRoman Settlements of the Medwayʼ by Simon Elliott:

Sat 21st Feb: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend: “The Titanic” by Richard Slater:TMCA event to which all are welcome.

Wed 25th Feb: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: St Nicholas Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone: Branch AGM followed by everyoneʼs ten favourite (slide or emailed) pictures (in which the audience is invited to both bring/send ten pictures of their own and to identify the locations shown in other peopleʼs ten pictures). Electronic pictures can be sent to Mike Marsh mhmarine1@gmail.com .

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Tue 3rd Mar: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: The Captainʼs Room, White Oak Swanley Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close (off Hilda May Avenue), Swanley, BR8 7BF: “Presentation plus Q&A”: Richard Parry (Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust):Joint IWAKES & South London Branch meeting.

Wed 15th Apr: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend: TMCA Annual General Meeting followed by “Coracles, Canals & Comedy”: John & Ann EptonTMCA event to which all are welcome.

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings.Maps for these venues can be found at: www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex

Oxfordshire Branch News

Tooleys Boatyard Campaign 1996 - 2002

Following the recent death of Sonia Rolt, Brian Roberts (a former Branch and Region Chairman) reflects on the Tooleyʼs Boatyard Campaign and its legacy:

Having just witnessed the ever popular annual Banbury Canal Day and with the recent forming of the Banbury Canal Partnership, one can see the emergence of Banburyʼs growing interest in the canal running through its centre. It could be said that the seed for this was sown in the days of IWAʼs Tooleyʼs Boatyard Campaign. YES the campaign was a bit of a struggle and NO IWA did not get all that was wanted, but any feeling of ʻlack of achievementʼ should be seen in context.

Thanks to earlier IWA involvement, the boatyard site had TWO ʻScheduled Ancient Monumentsʼ – the Forge and the Dry Dock itself – and this was a ʻthorn in the sideʼ of the developers. Their original intention was to ʻpreserveʼ the forge as a shopping kiosk, and the dock as a flowerbed. As is normal on a scheme of such size, the planners asked the developers to provide an Archaeological Assessment which was delivered by Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit in Dec 1989 (revised 1991), which - although it contained some inaccuracies when dealing with Tooleyʼs Yard and was a bit light on the IWA/rebirth of interest in canals - was a comprehensive review of the Shopping Centre development site which also established a 'fix' on the site of the old castle walls and the location of the moat.... one side of which is uncannily close to the dock site.

As part of the campaign, we wrote letters in 1994, got the support of Oxfordshireʼs Director of Museum Services and of Tony Conder the curator at British Waterways Museum at Gloucester. We encouraged two ʻOpen Dayʼs at Tooleyʼs as part of our campaign (February. & May 1995), and the people of Banbury supported us well. The Council then went forward with a lottery bid to assist their Museum to re-locate to a new building alongside the Canal and

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incorporate what was to be preserved of Tooleyʼs yard. IWA shared in the funding of the Architectural Competition (1995) to choose the designer for the bid (although the documents did not always acknowledge this) and we tried to influence the brief.However, developers were still sure that activities in an ʻuntidy, dirty, noisy boatyardʼ were incompatible with shoppersʼ needs and resisted any call for ʻliving togetherʼ. Compulsory Purchase by the District Council followed in August 1995 for a huge area of land for shopping purposes including the whole of the yard. Although IWA appeared at the enquiry to record their objection to the inclusion of Tooleyʼs, the Inspector found for the Council/proposed development and against the IWA! However, British Waterways, as landowner, resisted the complete wiping out of the yard and encouraged the Section 106 agreement (linked to the huge planning permission for the shopping centre) to include clauses that allowed many boatyard activities to take place.

We held a Canal Weekend (May 1996) which was hugely supported by the public and some of the local Councilors. The lottery bid was eventually 75% successful (1997) but once the contract was let nothing further could be changed -although we tried - especially about the roof over the dock, withdrawing extra IWA funds because it did not fulfill the promise made - to allow visitors to the Information Centre/Museum to see into the workings of the dock through the 'north lights' in the new roof.

After too many delays, Banbury Museum opened in November 2002 and Tooleyʼs Yard acquired a new tenant. I am convinced that the museum Heritage Lottery bid succeeded on this site partly because of the presence of Scheduled Ancient Monuments on Tooleyʼs Yard side of the canal, although the many artefacts to do with Banbury/Civil War etc. were also relevant!

During the building process, we kept the canal in the publicsʼ eye, firstly getting one of the new bridges needed by the development to be named after Tom Rolt (1999) and then the IWA AGM (2001) was held in the Mill at Banbury with a huge attendant boat gathering. “By popular demand” the gathering and stalls were successfully repeated in 2002 – this time organized by British Waterways. In the event, the whole boatyard site was reduced in size by about one-third, although there is a small additional ʻundercroftʼ (without windows) which is available for whatever the operator wishes to put in it:- currently an excellent detailed exhibition of the history of Tooleyʼs, a chandlery and small shop.

The line of the back warehouse wall, which had supported the various ʻlean-toʼ sheds, has been re-instated in ʻshopping centre friendlyʼ fire - proofing concrete and three of the ʻlean-toʼ sheds that were taken away have been re-instated almost as they were. The larger free-standing corrugated-iron-clad carpentersʼ workshop has been reduced in height/size and squeezed underneath the ʻwaterways galleryʼ which spans the canal. However, the belt-driven pulleys and most of the machinery that was in the ʻbelt-shopʼ when British Waterways took back the lease have been reinstated and reconnected - although originally steam driven, an electric motor is now the motive power and the belts run at 1/10th speed when demonstrated to guided tours every Saturday (2pm). None of this is obvious to the public from the canal towpath.

As far as the dock itself is concerned, the most obvious disaster is the modern roof. Earlier pictures show there were TWO roofs probably of cheap old corrugated iron too. A fixed one was near the stop-planks sitting on four pillars (the pillars have been retained), and a second one was on a wooden frame which rolled

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on rails so that it could be adjusted to protect the work going on at the other end of the variable length of boats (this has been re-instated but is not on rails). Since WW2(!) bits of wooden primary school wall were re-cycled to provide the side protection we all recall under another full length corrugated iron roof. The new glazed side walls allow glimpses of what is going on inside which is more clearly viewed from an end window. The dock has been completely re-wired etc. and is up to modern safety requirements.

The Waterways Gallery in the glazed bridge over the canal should be visited. It is quite fair about Tom Rolt, the IWA and one of the first campaigns of its young life to ʻsaveʼ the South Oxford from closure in 1955 - a copy of the original poster is displayed - but has a large amount of empty building space that could be filled with other more robust ʻexhibitsʼ in the future. For example, a retired lock balance beam could show the large scale of the engineering works undertaken all those years ago.

The DEVELOPERS hated the canal in 1990, but the OPERATORS of the Shopping Centre are now finding that they gather a lot of trade from users of the canal. For over 10 years Banbury Town Council has organized 'Canal Days', on each first Sunday in October, following on from the first campaigning event by IWA in 1996 almost 20 years ago. There are moves to create many more commercial buildings around the canal. Battles are still being fought over the canal and the recent Castle Quay proposed development is a case in point where IWAʼs campaigning spirit goes on.

Brian Roberts

Past Events Work parties.

The Banbury Canal Partnership have arranged many very successful working parties, mainly between Nellʼs Bridge and Banbury, at which members of the branch have helped. Lots of comments have been made by boaters in this area about the work done which has made a huge difference to the areas. We did arrange the working party mentioned earlier to re-paint Banbury Lock, cut back foliage and remove rubbish along the towpath before Canal Day. Events Oxford Open Doors. 13th/14th September.

The waterside part of this event just did not happen this year. It was intended to see the launch of the Historic Trail which has been funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund but it was not completed in time. However the trail is now fully functional. The launch took place on Sunday the 12th October. The Oxford Canal Heritage Trail signposts and maps having been installed. These complete the project's work on the Oxford Canal Heritage Trail Guide that provides information for visitors and local people about the Oxford Canal's social, cultural and industrial heritage. The Heritage Trail Guide from Duke's Lock just outside Oxford to its end at Hythe Bridge Street is available from our website at http://www.oxfordcanalheritage.org/oxford-canal-heritage-trail. You can either listen to and download the Audio Guide or print it off as a .pdf.

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Banbury Canal Day. 5th October. Once again the sun shone for this event. We have been so lucky. Over the

11 years we have run this we have experienced only one rainy day. We were, as always, responsible for the “waterside” part of this event running 4 trip boats and dealing with the mooringʼs for the boatʼs booking in for the event. Not quite so many private boats this year for some reason but a lot more “historic” ones including Raymond (see cover photo by Robin Williams).

CRT dragged the canal along the main stretch and the tug was once again full of bikes, shopping trolleys etc. together with a “safe” this time. This boat attracted much attention and lots of astonished faces.

In addition to the day itself the “Boaters bash” was be held on the Saturday evening and on Sunday there were readings of the Muddy Waters stories and lots of lovely music for the children. This year once again the entertainment and food in the Dry Dock at Tooleys Historic Boatyard was arranged by Kate Saffin, one of our ardent supporters.

Who knows whether this event will take place in 2015 as work on the new cinema and hotel is due to start in the Spring 2015 and finish in Spring 2016. So watch this space.

Mary Heritage Eventʼs organiser Oxfordshire Branch

Monthly Meetings Wed 10th Dec: “Skittles Night” at Kidlington Football Club, Yarnton Road, Kidlington OX5 1AT. Please note - Booking required with Ann Yeatman

Wed 14th Jan: No meeting this month Wed 11th Feb: To be arranged Wed 11th Mar: AGM Unless otherwise stated the above events are held at the Oxford University Press Association Athletic Club, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford, OX2 8EF. 7-30pm for 8pm. New members and visitors most welcome. For more details or directions phone Ann Yeatman on 01865 372552.

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Wilts & Berks Canal

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust held their AGM this year in Grove, it being the turn of the eastern end to host the event. Luckily the Old Mill Hall in Grove had the space to accommodate the record approx. 140 turnout and plenty of room for displays of current restoration works and up and coming projects including the Melksham Link and the Grove/Challow section. A minibus ran to and from Wantage so that people could visit the Sack House museum.

I was delighted to pay a visit to IWA Oxfordshire branch meeting to give them an update on restoration activities during which I mentioned my desire to re-start the Abingdon branch of the Canal Trust. Over this last weekend an open day was held at the Peterborough Arms to show members and investors the ongoing work and plans for what will become the Dauntsey Lock Canal Centre. More information is available as ever on the Trust website and Facebook page.

Brian Stovold, East Vale Branch Chairman and Trust Director

South London Branch Forthcoming Events

South London Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm in The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP. Admission to the talks and presentations is free to all, members or non-members, although we do ask that you donate aminimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakersʼ expenses,thank you. The programme for meetings is as follows:Wed 10th Dec: ʻBring your own Boating Adventures No. 3ʼ with Christmas Cheer and Mince Pies

Fri 23rd Jan: Annual Dinner at Capriniʼs, Waterloo Road

Wed 11th Feb: ʻWaterways of Milan and Paviaʼ by Roger Squires

Tue 3rd Mar: 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm: The Captainʼs Room, White Oak Swanley Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close (off Hilda May Avenue), Swanley, BR8 7BF: “Presentation plus Q&A”: Richard Parry (Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust):Joint South London & IWAKES Branch meeting.

Wed 11th Mar: AGM

For more information about South Londonʼs Social Calendar, please contact Alan Smith, telephone 020 8255 1581, mobile 07774 890 750 or email alan.smith@waterways.org.uk

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Walks Towpath Walks Group is looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on

short walks along the towpath of the Regentʼs Canal (and elsewhere).

This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways – which most outsiders donʼt realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, weʼll brief you so, if youʼd like to give this a try, please contact Roger Wilkinson

Sun 16th Nov, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Islington to Hoxton, meet Angel

Sun 7th Dec, 2.30pm: Walk, The Olympics: Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers, meet Bromley-by-Bow

Thu 1st Jan, 2.00pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Kingʼs Cross Granary Square to St. Pancras, meet Kingʼs Cross (taxi rank)

Sun 4th Jan, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Little Venice to Camden, meetWarwick Avenue

Sun 18th Jan, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Islington to Hoxton, meet Angel

Sun 1st Feb, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Mile End to Limehouse, meet Mile End

Sun 15th Feb, 2.30pm: Walk, The Olympics: Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers, meet Bromley–by-Bow

Sun 1st Mar, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Regentʼs Park & R. Tyburn to Little Venice, meet Baker St (Baker St North/Lords exit)

Sun 15th Mar, 2.30pm: Walk, Limehouse: Thames to Docklands, meet Westferry (DLR) (by Cycle Hire Point)

Sun 5th Apr, 2.30pm: Walk, Regents Canal: Kings Cross to Hitchcockʼs Hackney,meet Kings Cross (taxi rank)

Sun 19th Apr, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Kingʼs Cross Granary Square toCamden, meet Kingʼs Cross (taxi rank)

Sun 26th Apr, 2.30pm: Walk, The Olympics: Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers, meetBromley–by-Bow

Sun 3rd May, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Regentʼs Park & R. Tyburn to Little Venice, meet Baker St (Baker St North/Lords exit)

Sun 17th May, 2.30pm: Walk, Regentʼs Canal: Mile End to Limehouse, meet Mile End

For more information about Walks (Normal charge: £9.00, Concessions &Student rate: £7.00) please contact Roger Wilkinson, telephone: 07896 801930 or email: rogerw9796@yahoo.co.uk

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The Inland Waterways Association

South East Region: Chairman Gareth Jones, Hill House Farm, Misbrooks Green Road, Beare Green, Dorking, RH5 4QQ

Phone: 07850 819071 Email: hhel@btconnect.com

Guildford & Reading Branch: Chairman Gareth Jones, Contact details as above

Kent & East Sussex Branch: Chairman Mike Hannan

Trumpeter, Water Lane, Headcorn, Kent TN27 9JN Phone: 01622 890586 Email: mcfhannan@btinternet.com

Oxfordshire Branch: Contact Brian Saunders

Tintern Cottage, County View, Clifton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 0QA Phone: 01869 337227 Email: brisaunders33@gmail.com

Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA.

Editorial Team: Ray Carnell and Tim Fry iwacargoes@hotmail.com

Next issue Spring 2015 Copy date 15th January 2015

Other Waterways Organisations

Banbury Canal Partnership www.banburycanalpartnership.org.uk

Basingstoke Canal Society www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk

Chichester Ship Canal Trust www.chichestercanal.co.uk

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust www.katrust.org

Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group www.maidenheadwaterways.org

Northfleet Harbour Restoration Trust www.northfleetharbour.org.uk

Southampton Canal Society www.sotoncs.org.uk

Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust www.sxouse.org.uk

Thames & Medway Canal Association www.thamesmedway.co.uk

Wey & Arun Canal Trust www.weyandarun.co.uk

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust www.wbct.co.uk

Blisworth Tunnel This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the reopening of the Tunnel in 1984 following several years of closure for major relining work. On the anniversary date, 22nd

August 2014, a Transport Trust ʻRed Wheelʼ was unveiled at the southern portal of the tunnel at Stoke Bruerne. One of this yearʼs IWA Christmas Cards (X102) depicts the Tunnel and is from an original painting by local Oxfordshire artist Michele Field.

A selection of lubricants and ancillary products to assistwith the maintenance and servicing of canal boats.

GOLDEN FILM CANAL BOAT RANGE

www.morrislubricants.co.ukCastle Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY1 2EL Tel:+44 (0) 1743 232200 Fax:+44 (0) 1743 353584

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