BRANCH NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2012

East Yorkshire Branch

The joys of winter cruising

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2012

A Year of Change

New Year Greetings

I trust that all our readers had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking

forward to enjoying our waterways, with all the different interests they

satisfy, in the coming year. As we face this year of change I hope we will

see signs of new interest and appreciation from the general public of all our

waterways have to offer and that they will support the new charity.

Canal and River Trust

At the time of writing the government funding for the new waterways

charity has not been finalised. There is already a substantial backlog of

maintenance work needing to be carried out; any budget cut can only add to

this which may result in poor towpath maintenance which will be to the

detriment of those who enjoy the waterways for walking or cycling. I think

back to the hazardous towpaths of the 1970s.

The Market Weighton Canal

Your Branch has neglected this since the Market Weighton Canal Society

seemed to have disbanded though we did have a Friday evening walk from

the Humber to Newport some years ago. There are signs of a re-awakened

interest with hope for improvements in the Newport area. The Branch

committee is keen to be supportive of any developments.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Some special events

Thursday 19th

Jan 7.30pm Cottingham Civic Hall. National Trust EY

Yorkshire Waterways Museum and social history of inland waterways.

Skidby Mill 10.00am to 5.00pm daily

Canals in East Yorkshire, a display of photographs etc.

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Beverley Beck Boating Association.

Back in 2003 the west end of the Beck had been transformed with new

housing developments on both banks, but the Beck itself was in a sorry state.

The local authority had raised £2.5 million in funding to restore it to its

former glory. It was to be dredged, piled, where the bank was badly eroded,

and have new paths with planting along the banks. Of more interest to us

was the refurbishment of the lock and new moorings in the boatyard.

Several boat owners were watching developments with interest and

some concerns. Although we welcomed improvements to our facilities we

soon realised that the people making the decisions were not boaters and

didn’t realise that this was an ancient waterway with long-standing

navigation rights.

It is very difficult to make a lone voice heard, and more importantly

listened to, so we decided to form an association of people with an interest

in the Beck as a Navigation and as a place for boats. This was the start of

Beverley Beck Boating Association. We are unusual as we do not own or

lease our moorings, but we do enjoy the full support of the boatyard owner,

who has generously provided us with two portable buildings, one we use as

a clubhouse and the other as a very well equipped workshop.

We feel that we were successful in our aims and are on most people’s

circulation list on matters relating to the Beck. One of our members

produces tidal predictions for the whole of the River Hull which have proved

to be uncannily accurate and are used by most local boaters. These can be

accessed on our website BBBA.org.uk Our main focus now is on the social

side of boating. We are a small group of approximately 50 members and try

to arrange at least one tidal cruise and several cruises up the river to North

Frodingham for games, food and refreshments. However we are organising

something special for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, so watch this space, or

better still be adventurous and come up to join our celebrations! You will be

guaranteed a warm welcome.

We are grateful to John Austin for this article. We expect to include an article on the

restoration of Beverley Beck in our April issue.

Please support the combined litter pick along Beverley Beck at 1.30pm on Sunday 27th

May (in time for the special Royal Jubilee event the following weekend).

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A Year in the Life of New Horizons

The year started very early in boating terms because New Horizons had spent the

winter at Goole Boathouse and needed to get back to Melbourne in time for the

new season of work on the Pocklington Canal. The boat spends most winters at

Goole undertaking essential overhauls, repairs and maintenance so that when she

returns to her home waters she is able to fulfil her role as an important fundraiser

for PCAS and additionally to raise public interest and awareness of one of the

most beautiful waterways on the network.

Her stay at Goole had been prolonged a little by the severe winter which had

delayed some of the work; it was impossible, for example, to take her out of the

water for painting until the frozen waters of the marina had melted. Inevitably,

this unforeseen delay meant that it was touch and go whether she would be able

to get back to Melbourne in time for the official start of the season, which had

been scheduled to start on April 3rd. Just in time, however, New Horizons arrived

back at her home mooring and after a final flurry of activity by a small working

party to make sure she was as ready as she could be the season got underway on

time.

From then on through 2011 the boat was in frequent use with her usual Sunday

afternoon “trips round the lighthouse”, or in this case Melbourne Arm, to No 6

swing bridge and back! These trips are becoming increasingly popular for families

in the area, who make it part of a family day out with some making two or three

visits during the year. A highlight of this short trip for many children is the chance

to have a go at steering New Horizons (under close supervision, of course) and

some of them have become quite proficient, although the smaller ones still find it

difficult to see over the roof and rely on the PCAS steerer for keeping the boat in

the centre of the cut.

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As many of you will know the Society also offers the exclusive use of New Horizon

to parties or groups who might like to take a longer trip and 2011 has seen the

boat being used by a variety of groups. These included such diverse organisations

as the Yorkshire Country Woman’s Association, the Royal Airforce Association, a

Camera Club and the Guides Association, to private parties celebrating a family

event - a significant birthday, an anniversary, a graduation and so on - or just as

an excuse to have a great day out on the canal.

PCAS was particularly happy to welcome the East Yorkshire IWA Branch in June for

a trip to Gardham Lock and mention must also go to British Waterways – soon to

be revitalised as the Canal & River Trust – who took the decision to use New

Horizons as a venue for one of their Management meetings. Organised by the BW

NE Waterways Manager, Jon Horsfall, the July visit was very successful with the

serious business of the meeting taking place through the morning while the boat

remained at its Melbourne moorings. After a welcome buffet lunch we enjoyed a

pleasant run down to Gardham Lock returning to Melbourne in the late afternoon.

It was an ideal opportunity for PCAS to show those from BW in Leeds what the

Pocklington Canal has to offer and I am sure they were suitably impressed and we

hope that some good may come out of such successful outings.

While speaking of the longer trips which are on offer - trips which can take three

hours or so to Gardham Lock or up to a full day if exploring the canal from

Melbourne to the start of the navigable section at East Cottingwith - it is worth

mentioning that for those who would like to explore the lower reaches of the

canal but are not members of an organised group, there is a solution. In the last

couple of years we tried an experiment where we organised Open Trips where

individuals can book to join one these longer cruises – normally a trip to Gardham

Lock. The experiment has been successful and in 2012 we will be running at least

four such trips during the season. Please have a look at the web site for booking

details.

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Passenger numbers through 2011 – in total we carried 2022 people on New

Horizons – which has been similar to 2010, with many Sunday trips running to our

maximum capacity of 12 passengers, but it is pleasing to note that takings are

again up on previous years, due in large part to the hard work put in to operating

New Horizons by all the volunteers who give their time to make it all work.

However, we are always looking for more volunteers so if you feel that you can

help, either with New Horizons or indeed in any other way, please get in touch

with one of the PCAS committee members.

Another experiment we tried this year has been to provide facilities to gift aid any

donation and this has proved to be a great success and something that we will

continue in 2012.

After another very successful season which came to a close on 30th October, New

Horizons is once more “resting” at Goole Boathouse and when she leaves in March

she will be ready once more to provide an enjoyable experience for our visitors.

The first Sunday trips start on the first Sunday in April – April 1st. Hopefully we will

be able to welcome you to the Canal at least once during the year and if you

would like to have more details please visit our web site where there are lots of

details about the history and restoration of the canal, and also details of New

Horizons, including the Open Trips.

The web site can be found at:-

www.pocklingtoncanalsociety.org or alternatively get in touch with any of the

PCAS committee who would be delighted to give you more information.

We are grateful to Howard Anguish for this article.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

The AGMs of the East Yorkshire Branch and the North East and Yorkshire

Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held consecutively at

8.00pm on Friday, 16th

March 2012 at Cottingham Methodist Church Hall.

Agenda

i) Apologies for absence

ii) Approval of the Minutes of 2011 AGM

iii) Matters arising from the Minutes

iv) Chairman’s report

v) Secretary’s report

vi) Financial report

vii) Election of Committee members

viii) Any items requested beforehand by members

ix) Report on Region and National matters

Secretaries:-

Mrs Chris Stones Mr David Swabey

41 Keswick Gardens 18 Scottow Drive

Cottingham Great Ayton

Hull Middlesbrough

HU6 8TB TS9 6DR

Tel: 01482 875894 01642 722910

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Future meetings at Sneaton Castle

The meetings at Sneaton Castle in Whitby were an attempt to offer an

opportunity for members of the old Northumbria Branch to feel part of the

East Yorkshire Branch. Attendance has usually been about twenty but the

vast majority of those present had travelled up from Hull and were already

attending the monthly meetings at Cottingham. With the formation of the

North Yorkshire Branch it was felt that these meetings at Whitby should be

a combined meeting between the two branches or should cease to be held.

We do want to have contact with our members in the northern section of the

branch area but, with the apparent lack of interest, we wonder if there is a

demand for them.

We will be discussing with the North Yorkshire Branch as to the possibility

of having combined meetings with a sharing of the cost. We would like to

have comments from those who have attended and any members who would

be interested in starting to attend.

If there is sufficient interest the two branches will arrange a meeting on a

Saturday in May, possibly 12th or 26

th, but

it is up to you to let us know.

It is a good venue. A visit to Whitby is always enjoyable but it is not

reasonable to rely so heavily on members from Hull travelling up to Whitby

for half a dozen members from further north.

They have been good social occasions, it is good to meet old friends and

share views but we do need support.

If you are interested please contact Tony Martin on 07588 236597 or

Barry Robins on 01482 658254

If we go ahead we will include details in the next Branch newsletters.

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Waterways Conference

The Waterways Partnership (East Riding and North Yorkshire) held a conference at

Bishop Burton College in November.

The Partnership has been formed as part of the Rural Development Programme

for England which is funded by money from the European LEADER project. Details

can be found at www.ruralprogrammeseastyorkshire.co.uk/leader/funded-

projects/waterways-partnership

Members are from the National Bodies such as British Waterways, Natural

England, The Environment Agency, IWA as well local Canal Societies, Wildlife

Trusts, and many other waterways- connected groups. Their task is to identify

local waterway projects and eventually apply for funding to enable them to be

carried out. It could be of great benefit to Waterway Groups requiring funding, to

visit the website and become a part of the Partnership if they have not already

done so.

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Your local branch attended and staged a small display pictured above.

IWA Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering 2012

Saturday 30 June- Sunday 1 July

As part of the 5th Leeds Annual Waterfront Festival the West Riding Branch

of the IWA are hosting a Boat Gathering on the Aire and Calder Navigation

at Thwaite Mills Watermill Museum, Stourton, 2 miles south of Leeds city

centre. Boats can arrive Friday 29 June and stay till 3 July for a small charge.

Saturday and Sunday sees fun, free festival events all along the regenerated

waterfront through Leeds - including at cool venues such as Granary Wharf

and Clarence Dock – with live

music, food and drink, dance,

arts and crafts, as well as ‘on

the water’ activities including

walk-on-water balls, canoe

sessions, heritage boats and

boat trips. The Festival also

incorporates the Leeds Dragon

Boat Spectacle, where teams in

fancy dress and colourful 40ft

boats compete to raise money for local charities. There’s something for

everyone to enjoy! Plans are well in hand for a variety of events and stands

at the Gathering site to compliment those elsewhere. There’s a vintage bus

to connect venues, childrens’ activities, craft and produce stalls, and usually

a classic car rally. Canal Societies and restoration groups

are invited to have a publicity stand at Thwaite Mills.

Further details and boat-booking forms from

elaine.scott@waterways.org.uk

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Marian Stearman

March 1932 – October 2011

An appreciation by Mary Bielby

Marian was born at Eston and brought up in Middlesbrough. She met and

married Fred while working at ICI and they moved to Norton where Pat and

David were born.

Their first canal holiday was in 1968. Over the years of hiring boats they

became hooked on canals and bought and fitted out their own shell. Fred

and Marion joined IWA in 1970 and became founders of the Northumbria

Branch where Marian served as Branch Secretary for 30 years. She was

both efficient and supportive and for her many years’ service she was

awarded the Bird Medal by IWA. She was one of those who fought and

won the battle to have a lock incorporated in the Tees Barrage thus keeping

the river navigable from Yarm to the North Sea.

Marian was a Christian and was a founder member of the Boaters Christian

Fellowship (BCF) and was active in many BCF events throughout the canal

network. Many people were helped and encouraged by her faith and her

practical expression of it.

Through her talks and slideshows on waterways themes many will have

come to appreciate the heritage and leisure opportunities offered by our

canals.

Thank you Marian for all you did, for the friendships you forged and the

lives you touched.

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BRANCH PROGRAMME Winter/Spring 2012

Venue (unless Cottingham Methodist Church Hall, Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD

stated otherwise) 8.00-10.00 pm. Use entrance down side of church.

Friday ‘The History, Role and Functions of Trinity House,

20th January London’ by Howard Anguish

Friday ‘RNLI (The Oddball Station)

17th February by David Steenvoorden

Friday Branch and Region AGM followed by ‘Residential Boat

16th March Owners Association’ by Roger Yorke

Friday ‘Lincolnshire Waterways’

20th April by John Lowther

Friday ‘Beverley Barge Boatowners Association’

18th May by Iain Campbell

Sunday Litter Pick along Beverley Beck

27th May Meet at Foresters Arms at 1.30pm

Friday Our evening out enjoying the light nights

15th June Details in the April Newsletter

July Our full day out. Details later.

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@roger.karoo.co.uk

This newsletter is edited and produced by Barry Robins, 90 Carr Lane,

Willerby, Hull HU10 6JU

Note: The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of

the Association and should not be construed as such unless so stated.