IWA Middlesex Matters Spring 2014

Inland Waterways Association Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex

IWA award for 60 years at the London Boat Show

John Fevyer (left) of the Middlesex Branch receives, on behalf of the IWA, a special 60th anniversary award from Peter Gordon, Chairman National Boat Shows, in recognition of IWA exhibiting at every boat show since the first show in 1954. Photo: onEdition

Middlesex Branch Newsletter email: [email protected]

No. 32 Spring 2014

mailto:[email protected]

Inland Waterways Association 2 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex

Diary Dates 2014 Branch social evenings

11 February Branch social evening

Talk by Ray Orth, Wendover Arm Trust.

11 March AGM plus Branch social evening

Rickmansworth Canal Trust:

Mark Saxon on the work of the Trust

Fabian Hiscock - historic boat ‘Roger’

David Montague - the Rickmansworth

Festival.

8 April Branch social evening

Roger Squires - The Droitwich Ring.

13 May Branch social evening

Tony Brooks - Boat Electrics.

10 June Branch social evening

James Taylor/Fiona Shipp - Basingstoke Canal Trust.

9 September Branch social evening

Richard Thomas - River Lee to the Thames.

14 October Branch social evening

Alan Scott-Davies – Haunted Canals

based on his book, Shadow on the Waters.

11 November Branch social evening

Tony Brooks - getting the boat ready for

winter.

Middlesex Branch social evenings are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge.

Social meetings are not held in July, August or December.

For more information contact the Social Secretary Lucy Smith on,

[email protected] or 07947 451376.

Entrance is free and all are welcome including non members.

Festivals and events 3-5 May IWA Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice, London.

Nearest tube stations Warwick Rd and Paddington.

11 May Ruislip Woods Festival - 12pm - 4 30 pm free entry. At the Willow Lawn between

the Lido's railway station and the Water's Edge pub. HA4 7TY.

17-18 May Rickmansworth Canal Festival , GU Canal between Batchworth and Stockers Locks,

and Ricmansworth Aquadrome. Not far from Rickmansworth Metropolitan Line stn.

24-26 May Crick Boat Show.Crick Marina, West Haddon Rd, Crick, Northants, NN6 7SQ.

4-6 July Ware Boat Festival – River Lea - Riverside at Ware.

5-6 July Stratford River Festival – Stratford upon Avon.

12 July Hayes Carnival, Barra Hall Park, Hayes, Middlesex. (TBC)

13-14 September Slough Canal Festival - Bloom Park, Slough. (TBC)

20-21 September Hanwell Locks guided tour – London Open House weekend.


Chairman’s Column

I would like to take

this opportunity to

wish all our

members a belated

happy and

prosperous new

year.

This is a special

year for the branch

as we celebrate our

20th anniversary. The branch was formed in

September 1994.

Although we are still in the early stages of

planning it has been suggested that we could

hold some sort of event at the Slough Canal

Festival which takes place on the second

weekend in September.

If we do it would be great to see as many of

our members at the Slough festival as

possible, to help us celebrate.

It is rumoured that Land and Water has

been taking silt samples on the Slough Arm,

does this mean that we might see movement

on the long awaited dredging we have been

promised for so long? I hope so, but certainly

will not be holding my breath.

The Slough Arm also features in The

London Waterway Partnership's Strategic

Waterway plan. One of the proposals is to

"create a link to the Thames via the Slough

Arm"

Well what is being suggested is that work

starts on collating and reviewing earlier

proposals for the link, defining the potential

merits of the connection and exploring the

feasibility. There is a very long way to go and

only a slim chance that this may happen but at

least there is a start.

It looks as if 2014 will be a busy year for

the branch. On the second Tuesday of each

month, from January through to November

(excluding July and August) we have our

monthly social meetings which are open to all

members and their guests. For this year we

have a full programme of talks with speakers

booked for every meeting.

The branch sales stand also has a busy

schedule with a number of outings throughout

the spring / summer months. However we

really could do with more volunteers to help

us run this stand. Please contact me, or any of

the committee members, if you are able to

help. The dates and venues are set out on

page 14.

One problem that we do face is a reducing

membership and therefore the branch will be

having a major recruitment drive, visiting the

various marinas in our area seeking people

who would like to join.

This is an activity where all members can

help. If you know someone who is interested

in the canals be that as a boater, fisherman,

walker, cyclist or even just a feeder of ducks,

talk to them and see if they would like to join

us in campaigning to keep the canals the

vibrant and enjoyable facility that they are.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity

to thank the Hillingdon Canal Club for the use

of their premises for our monthly social

meetings and committee meetings. The socials

would not happen without the use of these

facilities.

Keith Clayton

Chairman – IWA Middlesex Branch


Annual General Meeting of the

Inland Waterways Association

Middlesex Branch AGM

will be held at the

Hillingdon Canal Club

UXBRIDGE WHARF

WATERLOO ROAD

UXBRIDGE UB8 2QX

Tuesday 11 March 2014 at 8pm - Bar open from 7.30

Nominations for election to the Branch Committee must be received by the Secretary

by 11 March 2014.

Secretary:- Robin Bishop, 11 Lichfield Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 2RE.

email:- [email protected]

Twenty years of Middlesex Branch donations

As Keith mentioned on the previous page, this year will be the 20th (china)

anniversary of the formation of the Middlesex Branch. During this period (since

1995) we have made many donations to waterways related causes and currently the

figure stands close to £12,000.

Over the last 10 years, the branch has donated £6,860 to many waterways related

causes (most of them within or local to the Middlesex Branch). If you would like to

nominate a waterways based organisation or an individual with a specific need for a

donation, please get in touch with any of the committee.

The donations the branch committee make comes in part from our branch members’

subscription fees and also from money donated to the branch. This includes proceeds

from the branch sales stand thanks to our secretary Robin.

The Committee are always willing to consider donating to any waterways related

cause, if you know of any group that might benefit, please let us know and we’ll see

what can be do.


Rain and floods cause problems

The heavy rains in recent months have made the ground very soft and the grass

verges of the towpath can be too soft for the reliable use of mooring pins. These

two boats, paird up, were moored using one pin at each end in saturated grass. The

movement from passing boats appears to have pulled the stern pin out.

Tragic death in floods

A 47 year old man on a mobility scooter is thought to have inadvertently driven

into a flooded lock on the Thames, being unable to see the towpath.

The accident happened at the Osney Lock, Oxford on Saturday 4th January.

Gabriel Stocks from Wheatley, had been trying to pass floods when he went into the

water.He was pulled from the lock by emergency crews but died at the scene.

Recent floods along the Thames have covered many of the river's pathways with

muddy flood water making it impossible to judge between the river and the path.The

tragedy happened in the dark at around 6.30pm.



Hillingdon Canal Club, on the Grand Union

main line in Uxbridge was formed in 1989 from the

Uxbridge Cruising Club. It was created by members of the cruising club who banded together to make the

HCC into the club it is now - voluntarily run by the

members for the members.

Cruises are arranged throughout the year and members are encouraged to attend local canal festivals and ad-hoc cruises when the sun decides to shine. The annual ‘icicle cruise’ in January is a great

(although somewhat chilly) outing to

Rickmansworth!

Members look after the premises by joining regular club work-parties which utilise members

skills - from general maintenance and cleaning of the

clubhouse and communal areas to plumbing and electrical work. Members who participate in these

work parties find it a rewarding activity which brings

the members together as a team.

Hillingdon Canal Club currently has approximately 90 members consisting of both full

and associate members. Full members benefit from a

water point, Elsan disposal and refuse bins. There is secure onsite car parking too. All members can use

the fully licensed clubhouse with plenty of seating

and a new TV, free pool table and darts. There is a sound system too.

The clubhouse is currently open three nights a week

and the bar is run by club volunteers.

The clubhouse holds social nights for its members

and as it is affiliated to the IWA and AWCC, all associated members are welcome.

Neighbouring is Uxbridge

Boat Centre, which has a

chandlery and dry dock facility.

The club has both ‘finger mooring’ and linear moorings

within its facility and currently

there are several linear moorings available for

narrowboats. These secure

moorings are non-residential and for leisure use only. All

linear moorings have electric

hook-up and access is restricted to moorers only by use of

security keys.

If you are interested in learning about our club or are

interested in more information

regarding our mooring facilities,

please contact the Club

Secretary.

email: [email protected].


Uxbridge Wharf Waterloo Road

Uxbridge UB8 2QX

mailto:[email protected]


P

hoto

: K

Sto

kes

Flooded Thames

Boats only, it would seem as the

rising Thames causes floods on

adjacent flood plains.

Although it looks spectacular the

rise doesn’t need to be more than

two or three feet to cause these

problems. Not much fun for those

affected, though.


The new Thames bridge at Walton on Thames gets christened by the floods. Photos T.Liddle


Visitors to Camden Lock on the Regent’s Canal get up close to the new gates

Photos: Tim Lewis


Branch meeting dates for 2014

Social meetings The social meetings are a way of spending a pleasent evening at the Hillingdon Canal Club,

what’s more the entrance is free and all are welcome including non members.

The evenings consists of speakers who give illustrated presentations on many topics, usually

associated with waterways. The topics are many and various, both informative and entertaining.

We’ve had speakers showing us their trips along the Grand Canal in China, the Mississippi from

Baton Rouge to Chicago, the wonders of the canal system, C&RT fisheries management and

loads more.

Branch social meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month.

They are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.

Meetings are not held in July, August or December.

For more information contact the Social Secretary Lucy Smith on,

[email protected] or 07947 451376.

Committee meetings Branch committee meetings are usually held on the 4th Tuesday of every second month.

They are also held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.

Members are welcome to attend.

Committee meetings

28 January

25 March

3 June

29 July

23 September

25 November

Social meetings

14 January

11 February

11 March

8 April

13 May

10 June

9 September

14 October

11 November


London Region

Social evenings programme 2014

18 Feb 19.30 Olympic Park Legacy and restoration of Carpenters Road Lock – Canal and River Trust

18 March 19.30 North and East London Branch AGM

20.00 Waterways of Up State New York – Roger Squires

15 April Regional Round-up – a chance to hear from all the branches in our region about

the work going on in our area including restoration of the Wendover Arm, London canals, the Chelmer and Blackwater, and the River Thames.

20 May 19.30 Current Restoration Projects

17 June 19.30 Manchester Ship canal - Richard Thomas

Venue –

Paddington Central

Management suite.

1a Sheldon Square,

LondonW2 6PY

Chiswick Pier Trust

Spring programme of events 2014

18 Feb 7.30pm One Thames or Two? A talk on the archaeologies of London River by Jon Cotton, archaeological consultant and former Museum of London curator.

18 March 7.30pm From Hills to High-Water; The Thames as a Wildlife Corridor. A talk by Brenna Boyle, a zoologist, wildlife guide, and creator of Wild Capital.

30 March Mothering Day Cruise.

5 April 2pm Boat Race Blue Badge Walk, meeting at Ravenscourt Park tube and walking to Chiswick Pier.

6 April Oxford and Cambridge Race starts at 6pm. Refreshments served and a terrific view at Chiswick Pier.

16 April 10am to 12 TET River Dipping - Booking essential, please contact the office.

10 May 9.30am Bird Walk - Booking essential, please contact the office.

28 May Half term family cruise.

29 May 10am to 12 TET River Dipping - Booking essential, please contact the office.

Talks are free to members or £3 to non-members.

www.chiswickpier.org.uk or Twitter @ChiswickPier.

Chiswick Pier Trust, The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, London W4 2UG


Annual General Meetings of the

Inland Waterways Association

South London Branch AGM

followed by the

London Region AGM will be held at the

The Primary Room The United Reform Church Hall

Addiscombe Road Croydon CR0 5LP

Wednesday 12 March 2014 at 8pm Nominations for election to the Branch Committee and/or the Region Committee

must be received by the Secretary by 12 March 2014.

Secretary:- London Region

Robin Bishop, 11 Lichfield Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 2RE.


Secretary:- South London Branch

Lesley Pryde, 2 Hepworth Road, Streatham, London SW16 5DQ


London Region Middlesex South London N & E London

Chairman Paul Strudwick

40 Fifth Avenue

Chelmsford Essex CM1 4HD

Keith Clayton

7 De Salis Road

Hillingdon UB10 0SP

Libby Bradshaw

Ground Floor Flat

61 West Sude Wandsworth Common

London SW18 2ED

Tim Lewis

5Heronsgate Road

Wanstead London E12 5EJ

Secretary Robin Bishop 11 Lichfield Road,

Cricklewood

London NW2 2RE

Robin Bishop 11 Lichfield Road,

Cricklewood

London NW2 2RE

Lesley Pryde 2 Hepworth Road

Streatham

London SW16 5DQ

Roger Squires 46 Elephant Lane

Rotherhithe

London SE16 4JD


MIDDLESEX MUSINGS

Big plans afoot for Old Oak

I see that Queens Park Rangers FC have unveiled plans for a new

40,000-seat stadium in Old Oak that will replace the club's current

Loftus Road ground in Shepherds Bush, some 2½ miles away. The new

stadium will be part of the regeneration of the area, which is

provisionally called New Queens Park, although I’m not sure if that refers

solely to the stadium.

QPR chairman said they are talking to a

number of world-class architects to design

iconic tall buildings as well as improving and

incorporating the waterside environment of

the Grand Union Canal.

The whole area of Old Oak is up for

redevelopment as part of the HS2 project

with costs in the order of a massive £10bn.

Anything that improves the Old Oak

Common area of west London and includes

the canal must be welcome.

Pressure for more moorings

There is mounting pressure to do some-

thing about the increasing demand for live-

aboard boats and moorings in the London

area. The Canal & River Trust have said in

some popular areas, this style of living is on

the increase and the Trust is concerned

that the newcomers may not be aware of or

fully understand the requirement for bona

fide navigation and may believe it is

sufficient simply to move around within a

small area. Some therefore get a shock

when they find that they are in breach of

the rules, while C&RT are forced to embark

on a time-consuming and costly enforcement

process.

Stuck between a rock & a hard place

The Canal & River Trust recently served a

Section 8 notice (eviction and seizure of

boat) on a woman, making her homeless. This

has the boating fraternity in a tiz.

On one hand there are numerous

complaints received from boaters with

regard to unlicenced boats, with C&RT

accused of ‘doing nothing'. Then on the

other hand there are a few boater’s, some

of whom may be mentally ill, who refuse to

licence their boats. I think that C&RT are

stuck between a ‘rock and a hard place'.

Complaint about issue 31

I have been informed by our chairman,

Keith, that he received a complaint from a

member of the Hillingdon Canal Club. The

complaint regarding a joke that included a

reference to the Hillingdon Canal Club.

Whilst there was never any intention to

offend anyone at the club, the use of the

club name in jokes over several recent

editions was intended to promote the club

name in the minds of our readers. Therefore

I feel I must apologise to anybody who was

offended by that particular item. In future,

to avoid any misunderstandings, there will be

no more jokes that include references to

Hillingdon Canal Club.

Terry Liddle

Editor.


Middlesex Branch Sales Stand events 2014

Robin will be out and about again thie year with the

branch sales stand visiting some of the festivals and

events in and around the Middlesex area.

3 - 5 May Canalway Cavalcade -

Little Venice, London

11 May Ruislip Woods Festival

5 – 6 July Ware Boat Festival -

River Lea

13 - 14 Sept Slough Canal Festival -

Bloom Park

20 - 21 Sept Hanwell Locks -

Open House weekend

If you’re at one of these events and you see the

sales stand why not introduce yourself to Robin and

have a chat or even spend some time helping, you’ll be

most welcome.

Old Oak redevelopment plans

Plans are being drawn for the development of Old Oak, the area in west London of mainly

industrial and railway land in between Old Oak Common Lane, Wormwood Scrubs, Scrubs Lane

and Willesden Junction. Part of the development is the site of a proposed new hub station for

the HS2 rail line north, which will also incorporate the trans-London Crossrail project. Figures

for an estimate of costs are in the region of £10bn.

The Grand Union Canal in the Middlesex branch area passes right through the centre on Old

Oak Common and will be included in all the development plans for that area. Exciting times

ahead.

Inland Waterways Association have published a response to the Consultation on HS2 Phase 1

Draft Environmental Statement produced by the Department for Transport. The response is

available on the IWA’s wesite at: www.waterways.org.uk.


The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association

or of its London Region or of its Middlesex Branch. They are however published as being of interest

to our members and readers

© IWA Middlesex Branch 2014

The Inland Waterways Association is a charity campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance,

restoration and development of the inland waterways and is a non profit distributing company limited

by guarantee registered in England number 612245 registered as a charity number 212342 whose registered office is at:

Island House, Moor Road, Chesham. HP5 1WA.

Tel. 01494 783453

http://www.waterways.org.uk

AND FINALLY

Dates for committee meetings for 2014 are given below. Members are welcome to attend. Meetings start at 8.00pm at the Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.

28 January 25 March 3 June 29 July 23 Sep 25 Nov

YOUR BRANCH COMMITTEE

Chairman Keith Clayton 020 8573 0883 [email protected] Vice Chairman Michael Phillips [email protected] Secretary Robin Bishop 020 8452 2632 [email protected] Treasurer Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Panning/Navigation Raymond Gill 07785886255 [email protected] Michael Phillips [email protected] Membership Keith Clayton 020 8573 0883 [email protected] Sales Robin Bishop 020 8452 2632 [email protected] Social meetings Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Newsletter Terry Liddle 020 8863 2551 [email protected] Publicity Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Events Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Other members Stephen Bray

The newsletter welcomes communications from readers. If you have a point to make, a question to ask, or an interesting picture or article worthy of publication send it to us at

Middlesex Matters, 39 Hillview Gardens, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 6HJ

Email to: [email protected]. NEWSLETTER EDITOR Terry Liddle Middlesex Matters is produced using MS Word 2007. Printed by Colour Image Printers, Loudwater, High Wycombe. The next publication will be the summer 2014 edition, issue number 33


What can you say...any suggestions...?

Did you know?

Chinese sailors eat junk food.

A leak in the back of a boat is a stern warning.

Sunglasses for sailors don't stay seeworthy for long.

The boatyard had a sale advertising 'Ketch of the day'.

A young sailor thought all of the waves were just swell.

There’s a boater down our local yacht club, he's not a slow

skipper, he's not a fast skipper. He's more a half fast

skipper.

The stewards on Cunard cruise ships have had to undergo

compulsory crew cuts.

A lady was walking down the gangplank with a parrot on

her shoulder.

A sailor on the shore asked ‘Where did you get that?

The parrot replied ‘We met on the internet!’

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IWA Middlesex Matters Spring 2014

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