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Meridian

Cuttings

Meridian

CuttingsIssue No. 005 Autumn 2013

The newsletter of the North & East and South London branches of The Inland Waterways Association

Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development

of the Inland Waterways

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Welcome to the Autumn edition of Meridian Cuttings. Hopefully you will have learnt via the IWA bulletin about the death of our dear friend, colleague and Branch Chairman, Alan Eggby, after a short illness. Our condolences go to his sister, Marion, and the rest of his family. His funeral was on 23rd May and the crematorium

chapel was packed. There were tributes from his associates in the many organisations he was involved with so, instead of his usual report, we thought it would be appropriate to include some of them and dedicate this issue to him and his unstinting commitment and hard work. If you would like to give a donation in his memory please send it to our Hon. Treasurer, Peter Gregory, whose address is on page 23. Gift Aid will add 25% to the value of your donation to the charity and you can download a form from:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/appendix_b1.pdf

It was his last wish that the Waterways Game, which had become his particular speciality, and which generated so much revenue for the branch be continued - so Alan and I have taken it into our care in the interim. So far we have taken it to Rickmansworth, and the National Festival. If you would like to help out at The Angel on 1st September or Thames Festival on 14th/15th September, do please get in touch.

If you’re interested in helping to fill in the huge hole Alan has left in our branch and the Region: Waterways Game Organiser, Sales Officer, Committee member, Chairman - do please get in touch with one of the Committee - we will be delighted to provide details.

Don’t forget the boat trip on the River Great Ouse - there are still places, and we also have some new South London socials coming up - see page 9; Libby and Panacea have been to Gravesend and there’s a fascinating project to capture your imagination on page 15.

Christine Smith, Editor

Page

A View from the Chair:

London Region 3 N & E London 4

Tributes to Alan Eggby 5

North & East London Socials 9

South London Socials 9

South London Sales 10

Friends of Regent’s Canal 10

IWA with London Walks Programme 11

Your Branch Needs YOU! 11

Canalway Cavalcade 12

Page

Exploring the New GravesendMoorings 13

Welcome New Members 14

C&RT Towpath Taskforce London 14

Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust 15

Reedbeds could help revive polluted River Lea - Thames21 19

Wandle Trust: Community Cleanups Silt Traps 21

Who’s Who on the Committees 23

How to get to the Branch socials 24

Contents

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A View from the ChairFrom London Region Chairman,

Paul Strudwick

As reported elsewhere in the magazine your branch is mourning the sudden loss of your chairman who died recently after a short illness. I did not know Alan well but in the short time I knew him I had valued his knowledge and generous support for the waterways movement. He will be sadly missed and our condolences go out to his family. On the 3rd of July we had the news that the government had decided to postpone the transfer of the Environment Agency’s Navigations to the Canal & River Trust. The Environment Minister Richard Benyon said that cuts to his Department’s budget in the Government Spending Review had led to economies having to be made which resulted in the transfer being unaffordable in 2015/16, as had originally been planned. This must be very bad news and we must now expect increasing prices and reduced maintenance on the Rivers Thames, Medway, Nene and Ouse.

One of the things I said I would do when I first started writing these notes was to explain what each part of the IWA did. I have to apologise for not doing much over the last couple of years but here goes with the next instalment. IWA has three layers, the branches, like your South London and North & East London branch. The Regions, which are a collection of branches such as the London Region; your branch is part of that region. At the top is the board of Trustees and a group of committees and limited companies that support them in running the Association for you. The Trustees are elected by you and have overall legal responsibility for the Association. They must by law ensure that the Association does what it was set up to do, the money held at all levels is used correctly and wisely and that we operate within the law. Look out for the Trustee election notices in Waterways. The Limited Companies allow us to do things like run the IWA shop and the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation without putting the association at risk and to comply with the law. So what is my role? Perhaps the most important one is to keep you, through your branch committee, informed on what is going and to represent your view to the trustees and the national committees. I also represent the Region to outside organisations, like the Canal & River Trust, where we are talking about things that affect more than one branch’s area.

Although it is high summer we need to start planning for winter. CRT has recently issued some mooring plans for boats without a home mooring. You may find these interesting as London has the largest concentration of these boats. Have a look at them, they are at http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/mooring/winter-moorings. Generally trying to move towards a solution to the mooring problems in London is painfully slow. I had a meeting with CRT to discuss the problem of mooring on lock landings in central London and, whilst we agreed a way forward, nothing has materialised yet. I have also been talking to members of the Greater London Authority who are now looking into the effects of the number of boats in the area. It will be interesting to see what comes out of that conversation.

Paul StrudwickLondon Region ChairmanFront cover photo: Alan Eggby by David Bowker

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From North & East London Branch Chairman Tim Lewis

We continue to work with C & RT and in particular Sorwar Ahmed, Boater Liaison Manager, via the Better Relationships Group to resolve mooring issues within the Branch area.

We have made comments on proposals for the Noel Road moorings, opposing change of use to permanent moorings or use as winter moorings.

The Branch participated in Region stand at the IWA National Festival at Cassiobury Park. The display was very well received.

We have responded to London Waterway Partnership who have asked what we want to see from it. We have also assisted in the IWA response to a Greater London Assembly questionnaire concerning moorings etc on London’s canals.and have since attended a review meeting. A webcast of the subsequent investigation meeting can be seen at http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/webcasts

We continue to contribute to proposals to resolve towpath cycling concerns including the creation of alternative routes.

The branch stand attended the successful Canalway Cavalcade and we will be attending the Angel Canal Festival on 1st September.

The Branch has indicated its support for the proposal by the Thames Ironworks Lifeboat Foundation to their aim to restore of one of the few remaining lifeboats that were made at the Thames Ironworks on Bow Creek. The Foundation is run by West Ham Football Club supporters. [The ‘Hammers’ origins were in the Iron Works Football Team] and, when they move into the Olympic Stadium, they would like to operate the restored craft to provide educational heritage tours in the area, as well as to provide work and training for local people. for the project. [Note from Ed: see the article on page 15]

Staff from Ford held a successful working party under the auspices of the Branch on 4th July in the Lower Lee area. We will be assisting Middlesex Branch with a clean up in West London in the Autumn.

Social meetings recommence in September.

We have recently made a donation to the Cotswolds Canal Trust and welcome suggestions for future donations.

Planning & Navigation MattersThe London Legacy Development Corporation had finally responded to the IWA’s comments on their original proposals for the Olympic Park, some of which had been taken up. Concern was expressed that there was still not a definite commitment to the use of water freight within the site area.

Plans for Wood Wharf are now being finalised. These meant higher buildings and greater density development. However, the waterspace was still a key feature in the development

The branch has responded to C & RT’s proposal for winter moorings within the branch area.

Tim LewisNorth & East London Branch Chairman

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Tributes to South London Branch Chairman Alan Eggby

From Alan Smith, IWA South London Social Secretary:I have been asked to say a few words on behalf of the waterways community. When I joined the Norbury Transport & Model Railway Club in 1958, Alan was already a member. When he bought his first canal boat he was instrumental in introducing another transport element (waterways) to the Club. Christine and I and the family enjoyed several trips on it and he was also very generous in taking Club members on canal holidays.

Soon after Christine and I joined the South London Branch of the Inland Waterways Association, Alan was elected Branch Chairman. Just as he did for the Club, he worked tirelessly on booking the branch stand into events, transporting all the equipment needed, organising the prizes for the Waterways Game and doing all the admin. The money so raised enabled the branch to make donations to canal restoration schemes.

He never stood on ceremony and just as at the Club, he organised the refreshments at meetings – he must have been the only branch chairman to make the tea.

Another activity in which Alan was very active was the restoration of Lock 1 on the Basingstoke Canal. He recruited several Club members, including myself, for the working party which laboured over countless weekends in all weathers until the grand reopening in 1988.

Alan was also a sponsor of the Mikron Theatre Co. which tours the canals by boat and a performance of ‘Beyond the Veil’ at the London Canal Museum was dedicated to him on Monday 8th July. Many members of the Norbury Club and IWA paid their respects to Alan by attending this event.

His dedication to the Club and IWA was second to none and he will be sorely missed. It is not until such people are no longer around that it is appreciated just how much they did.

From David Bowker, The Norbury Club:At twelve years old, Alan joined the Norbury Club in 1954 when it was known as The Norbury Transport and Model Railway Club and he attended virtually every club meeting since then. He readily took on various responsibilities after joining the Committee in the early 1960s and for many years ran many of our highly successful exhibitions, often with the help of his sister Marion and his late mother Winifred. Later he took on the job as Treasurer and negotiated with the taxman to ensure the club paid as little tax as possible, and often none at all. The club finances were in good health under Alan’s guiding hand.

He paid to become a life member of the club around twenty years ago but instead of profiteering on this he spent far more than the membership fee each year on the club and never claimed a penny for it. He made the tea at every meeting, buying the milk out of his own pocket setting out the refreshments and often missing some excellent parts of meetings to do so.

Alan booked and attended numerous events with the club sales stand, missing just one of the Cobham Bus Rally’s forty years. He took the sales stock to the Bluebell Railway, bus garage open days, LT Museum Depot, various bus rallies and many other events too numerous to mention. Not only did Alan give up his time but he lugged the sales stock around, loading and unloading the car, storing the books and tables and keeping the sales stock fresh by buying direct from the publishers. In earlier years he made monthly visits to LENS of Sutton where we

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restocked with the latest books. Most of all Alan drove to these events in his own car, paying for the petrol himself and never once did he ask for reimbursement.

It is difficult to understand where the club will go without him around. He did so much for the club and without any new volunteers to take on some of his responsibilities we are going to struggle to keep going. But we must carry on in his memory and any help from the membership in this respect will be gratefully received. Please talk to any Committee member if you’d like to help in future. For me Alan was much more than just someone I knew at the club because, as friends, we have been to so many places together over nearly forty years.

I first met Alan when I joined the club around 1972 but it was a few years later before I started going with him on transport-related visits. Probably the first time was a club visit but I cannot recall where that was but it is likely that it was to a signalbox. Alan worked on the railways and had many contacts, so a signalbox visit was easy to arrange.

The first time I really remember Alan as a friend was when he invited me on his canal boat – the then new Felicitas – I was not around at the time of his more infamous Torito. Therefore my first canal cruise was one weekend in the depths of winter and to get anywhere we had to break the ice on the canal with the barge pole and mop! I didn’t own my own sleeping bag at the time and I don’t think I have ever been so cold sleeping on that fibre-glass boat. But I was hooked on canal cruising.

In the mid 1970s Alan adopted Cox’s Lock on the Wey Navigation and we went down there several times to cut the grass and generally tidy up the area around the lock. It eventually led to Alan getting involved with the restoration of Lock 1 on the Basingstoke Canal for which several other members and I joined Alan in this ten-year project.

It could never be said that Alan couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery – he did, many times, and very successful they were too. He did like his beer and was a keen supporter of the Campaign for Real Ale. I could never keep up with him but he did convert me from a naive lager drinker to appreciate real beer. He did cut down considerably in recent years but I spent many happy hours talking with him over a pint or two. Several of us met him four times a week in the early days, sometimes even a fifth night. We were down to meeting two nights a week in later years but we were still close friends.

Alan and I, along with a few other club members, have, over the past nearly forty years, been on many holidays together. Camping in Wales was the first time I took a holiday away from my parents. Alan organised most of it, hiring and driving the minibus, finding and booking the campsites and gathering information on the pubs and Great Little Trains of Wales, all in the days before the help of the Internet.

We also spent several longer holidays on Felicitas, cruising on many parts of the canal system, as well as railway holidays to Scotland, Wales, Ireland and of course many parts of England, including a week in Cornwall just a couple of years ago.

A passport was something Alan never owned but we persuaded him to get one for the trip to Ireland and once he had it he was encouraged to join us on a long weekend trip to Brussels. Later we were surprised and pleased when he said yes to a long weekend in Vienna. He was into his sixties when he first travelled abroad (apart from a school trip to Switzerland) and it is with regret that we left it so late and even then didn’t do as many as we had wished.

The railways were his chosen career and spent most of his adult life in their telecommunications. It gave him a lifelong privilege railway pass, allowing him to take up to sixty free days railway travel each year. He put this to good use, especially in his retirement when he would take

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himself away across the country on day trips, often by himself but occasionally others would join him, including myself.

His childhood saw him join the Scouts and Alan continued his involvement with the 67th Croydon Scouts into adulthood, taking young scouts on camping trips and later on his boat amongst other activities. It showed very early on that Alan was a volunteer willing to give up his time for others.

A keen supporter of the Waverley, Alan bought their cruise vouchers at the beginning of the year but knowing he probably wouldn’t have the time to use them all. He also had a passion for the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and gave at least as much of his spare time to them as he did for the Norbury Club, spending time behind their sales stand and running and buying prizes for their popular Waterways Game at rallies.

The Mikron Theatre also benefited from Alan’s generosity. This fringe theatre cruises the canals throughout Britain on their own boat, performing in canalside pubs and halls. Alan has sponsored a show every year for the last fifteen and had done so again for their show Beyond the Veil at the London Canal Museum on Monday 8 July. This show will now be dedicated to Alan’s memory and it would be fantastic if we could get as many club members to the show that night. The day before he died. Alan was thinking of the Club. He was desperately ill in hospital but he insisted Marion made sure the club DVD player was given to me to ensure the club meeting went ahead as planned. He also instructed his sister in what needed to be done for all of the events that Alan had organised for the IWA including the then forthcoming event at Rickmansworth. This shows what Alan was like – always thinking of others when he should have been thinking about himself.

Alan had a heart attack a few years ago but although slowed down, he hardly cut back on his self-imposed duties to the NSLTC and IWA. Alan felt ill some weeks prior to being sent into hospital with jaundice. Even when he should have been in hospital he took the sales stock to Brooklands for the London Bus Museum’s annual gathering. He was clearly unwell that day but refused to go into hospital before that day because he saw it as letting the club down. I saw him in hospital a few times but missed his last week due to a heavy cold. Club member David White did visit a few days before he died and sent a very nice letter to Marion expressing his sadness on Alan’s frail condition. I know others visited Alan too and he was grateful that you did so.

My memories of Alan are happy ones and we hardly had a cross word in the forty-odd years since I first know him. I couldn’t have wished for a more generous and loyal friend and I will miss him. I know many of you will miss him too, from those who knew him as a teenager whilst on steam shed visits to those who have been with him on the steam trips of recent years and, of course, those of you who saw him every week at the clubrooms.

His sister, Marion, has also done much for the club over the years and is happy to carry on looking after the club website. From everyone at the club, its Committee and from me personally we would like to express our sympathy to his sister Marion, his nephew Darren, niece Helen and their family on their loss.

The funeral was held at Croydon Crematorium on Thursday 23 May with around eighty people from the Club, IWA and Alan’s former workmates attending. Club President Ralph Gillam spoke on behalf of the NSLTC, Alan Smith from the IWA, and a representative from the Scouts, all of whom spoke very highly of Alan and his tireless work for others. Following the funeral, most people met at the Royal British Legion in Norbury to share memories of Alan and it was good to see so many faces from the past, some travelling from quite a distance to pay

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their respects. A wonderful cake decorated with a steam engine and a canal boat was a nice tribute to Alan, as was another cake made by Lesley Pryde from the IWA.

In the next few months or so, when things don’t get done at the Club – and probably the IWA too – we’ll suddenly remember, Alan used to do that! He certainly will be missed.

Alan at the National Festival, 2011 with Allan Scott and Paul

Strudwick

Brixton Windmill, 2011 l-r: Alan Smith, Allan Scott, Eric

Garland, Alan Eggby, Gerard Coales

Alan pointing out places of interest

aboard Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle, 2009

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South London SocialsThe last meeting before the summer recess was Lester Hillman’s presentation on June 12th on the Regent’s Canal, “Regency Roulette”. However much we think we know about London’s canal, every speaker comes up with something new and this was no exception. Lester did tell me all the organisations he was involved with – no wonder he was so knowledgable! The presentation was not only educational but very entertaining – the mark of a good speaker. Our next meeting will be on 11th September and as a change from having a speaker, some archive film of working boats will be shown.

Just a reminder about the boat trip on Sunday 29th September on the River Great Ouse starting at Bedford at 14:00. The departure point will be adjacent to the Market Square Car Park at the junction of Horne Lane, River Street and Commercial Road (MK40 1QS). The station is close by and has a frequent service from East Croydon calling at London Bridge and stations to St. Pancras. The prices are Adult £8, Senior £6, Children £4.40 and family £21.40. I have had 28 expressions of interest so far but places are still available - please contact me by email or mobile phone (details overleaf). No money is required in advance – just pay on the day.

I have also reserved RSJ Restaurant on 17th January 2014 for our annual Branch Dinner. This year’s dinner was a great success - the food and service were excellent, so please put the date in your diary, confirm your interest to me and I will provide menus and prices nearer the time.

Time: 19:30 for 20:00

Venue: The Primary Room United Reformed Church Hall Addiscombe Grove Croydon CR0 5LP

There is good parking adjacent to the hall and excellent transport links via East Croydon train and tram stations

North & East London SocialsNorth and East London Branch Socials, combined with London Region, are held as follows:

Time: 19:00 for 19:30

Venue: To be confirmed

Contact for details: Libby Bradshaw Tel: 020 8874 2787 or email libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk

Socials are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from January to June and from September to December

19th November Restoration Roundup by Tim Lewis of London WRG 17th December Quiz and Auction

Libby Bradshaw

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Admission to the talks is free to all, members or non members, but a contribution towards room hire is requested.

Contact for details: Alan Smith, Mobile: 07774 890 750 or email alan.smith@waterways.org.uk

Wednesday 11th September Film evening: ‘Working Boats’ Sunday 29th September Boat Trip on the Great Ouse - see above Wednesday 9th October Scottish Lowland Canals by David Bowker Wednesday 13th November Aileen Butler’s Magic Lantern Show Wednesday 11th December Christmas Social: Mincepies and members’ photos. If you’d like to share your boating adventures please bring a selection of about 20 on a memory stick, CD or DVD. Friday 17th January 2014 Annual Dinner at RSJ Restaurant

Alan Smith

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of the London Region or its branches. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter within this magazine, including adverts.

Editor: Christine L Smith, 41 Jubilee Avenue, Twickenham, TW2 6JA. Tel: 020 8255 1581 or Mob: 07774 890 750.

Email: christine.smith@waterways.org.uk

Published by the IWA, N & E and South London Branches at: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453

South London SalesIt was Alan’s last wish that the branch continue with the Waterways Game and, thanks to the assistance of several friends, and members of Middlesex Branch, we have successfully attended Rickmansworth and IWA National festivals. Listed below are the events we are hoping to attend with the branch stand during the rest of the year. If you can assist with transport or can spare a few hours to help man the stand - or are interested in being its custodian more permanently - please contact Christine, contact details below:

IWA Sales, Waterways Game and Publicity Stand 2013

Angel Canal Festival September 1st (booked) Slough Canal Festival September 7th/8th (tbc) Thames Festival September 14th/15th (booked)

Christine Smith

FRIENDS OF REGENT’S CANALThe FoRC have been extremely busy recently and have been dealing with numerous issues: mooring reviews, anti-social behaviour, property development applications, Andrew Gilligan’s proposals, safety at locks, etc. They’ll have a stall at the Angel Canal Festival at City Road Locks on 1st September and a public meeting in early September at the London Canal Museum. If you’d like to find out more about their activities and how you can get involved please go to: www.friendsofregentscanal.org or email: friendsregentscanal@gmail.com

Ian Shacklock

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IWA with London Walks ProgrammeTowpath Walks Group is looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short

walks along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal (and elsewhere).

This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways - which most outsiders don’t realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to the IWA and an excellent method of raising funds for IWA branches in London Region. No experience? No problem,

we’ll brief you so, if you’d like to give this a try, please contact Roger Wilkinson

All dates are Sundays (except those marked with *)Start time for all walks is 2.30 p.m.

Normal charge: £9, Concessionary and Student rate: £7

Date Route Start (Tube Station)

18 August Regents Canal: Kings Cross – Granary Building - Hitchcock’s Hackney King’s Cross (taxi rank)15 September Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Building - Camden King’s Cross(taxi rank)06 October Four Hundred Years of the New River Manor House (Finsbury Park exit)20 October Grand Union Canal: Uxbridge - Cowley – Little Britain Uxbridge (High Street exit)03 November Regent’s Canal: Regent’s Park & R.Tyburn – Camden Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit)17 November The Olympics, Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers Bromley–by-Bow1 December Regent’s Canal: Mile End – Limehouse Mile End1st January* (Wednesday) Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross – Granary Building - Camden King’s Cross(taxi rank)5 January Regent’s Canal.: Little Venice – Camden Warwick Avenue19 January Regent’s Canal: Islington – Hoxton Angel2 February The Olympics, Three Mills & Bow Back Rivers Bromley–by-Bow 16 February Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Building - Camden King’s Cross(taxi rank)2 March Regent’s Canal: Little Venice – Camden Warwick Avenue16 March Regent’s Canal: Mile End – Limehouse Mile End06 April Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Building - Camden King’s Cross(taxi rank)20 April Regents Canal: Kings Cross– Hitchcock’s Hackney Kings Cross(taxi rank)4 May Kensal Green Cemetery-Grand Union-Little Venice Kensal Green

For more information please contact:

Roger Wilkinson: Telephone: 020 8458 9476 Email: rogerw9796@yahoo.co.uk

Your Branch Needs YOU!Both North & East London and South London branches are in need of assistance and new members on their respective committees, especially to fill the following vacancies:

North & East London: South London:

Branch Planning Officer Minutes Secretary Branch Work Party Officer Sales Officer

Committee meetings are usually held every two months at a convenient location and seldom last longer than 90 minutes. If you have just a small amount of spare time please contact the relevant branch secretary for more information (see page 23 for contact details).

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CAVALCADE NEEDS YOU!Come and join the team responsible for mounting one of the country’s most

successful and best attended waterways events.

Canalway Cavalcade, now in its 31st year, is held over the three days of the May Day Bank Holiday in the heart of the capital in Little Venice.

We are looking for enthusiastic people in the following areas:

Catering Manager & AssistantEntertainments AssistantSite & Services Assistant

Sponsorship / Advertising Managers

For more information and to apply please contact:Jerry Sanders, Commercial Director

email: exhibition@waterways.org.uk or telephone: 07788 204442

Canalway Cavalcade 2013The sun and spectacle attracted thousands of visitors to London’s Little Venice for The Inland Waterways Association’s 30th annual Canalway Cavalcade during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

At the Opening Ceremony on Saturday afternoon Libby Bradshaw, Events Manager, read out a message to IWA Vice President Illtyd Harrington from HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, conveying his congratulations and best wishes to IWA members on the occasion of Cavalcade’s 30th anniversary

Jerry Sanders, Chairman and Commercial Director of the Canalway Cavalcade Organising Committee said: ‘We’ve had the biggest turnout ever - over 30,000 people attended. It was very busy for

the traders, who have all been enthusiastic, and already want to book again for next year. Amongst the 60 volunteers who organise and set up the event were young people from all parts of the UK and Europe. It was a resounding success’

Ian West, Deputy National Chairman of IWA and Chairman of Festivals, said ‘Thank you to everyone who worked so hard during the year for such an excellent Cavalcade.’

Photo: Roger Squires

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On the first weekend in June 11 narrowboats, including my boat Panacea, took to the tideway down river to visit the new Gravesend Pier moorings. These had been installed in October 2012 ‘restoring the pier’s original function of allowing visitors to travel to and from Gravesend by river’.

The trip was organised by St Pancras Cruising Club, led by Andrew Phasey on Doris Katia. The other boats were Arthur Dent, Cherie, Dragonfly, Flora Dora, Galatea, Indigo Dream, Lady Helenor, Lotus No 10 and Puffin. Tug Major accompanied us as safety boat.

Friday evening was spent in the Cruising Association for the briefing and supper; also a presentation from Roger Squires on the Dartford and Crayford Navigations which some of us planned to cruise on the Saturday afternoon. Andrew commented that it was good to draw on the experience of those of us who had done the Medway cruise back in 1997.

At about 08.30 we locked through Bow Locks on a level tide and set off down Bow Creek and down river. We noticed we were sharing the river with about half a dozen row boats, apparently on a race. Looking this up on Google we found this was the start of the 2000 mile ‘GB Row’ Round Britain race which had started from Tower Bridge at 08.16 that day. One crew wrote in their blog that evening ‘Since the start highlights have included a fly by from a friendly micro light and inadvertently getting involved in a flotilla of Canal boats’.

We arrived at Gravesend about an hour before low tide and moored up on the pontoon four abreast. Cherie, Indigo Dream and Tug Major tied to nearby buoys until the ferry boat stopped operating and they could move onto the pontoon. Securing of long ropes to the pontoon from outer boats as well as inner boats was essential to take the strain of the tide. Two other narrowboats, Pennine Dream and Firefly, joined us then and on the return trip on their way back from a fortnight on the Medway.

Unfortunately, due to the forecast of ‘gusts of between 22 & 25 mph’, it was reluctantly decided we should cancel the afternoon cruise to the Dartford and Crayford Navigations. However some went to explore Gravesend in the afternoon and we all gathered at the Three Daws for a good meal in the evening.

On Sunday morning a group of us went to explore the Thames and Medway Canal, led by David Rouse from the Thames and Medway Canal Association together with Brian and Maureen Amos from KESCRG. Brian and Maureen had been stalwarts on the work camp at Cavalcade for many years and it was good to see them again. We passed and chatted to David and Jan Harris who live there on their Dutch barge. David led the 1997 Medway trip on their boat Lucy.

EXPLORING THE NEW GRAVESEND MOORINGS, 1-2 JUNE 2013

Photo: Roger Squires

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Welcome New Members! Mr F E Smith & Ms J K Brownlie-Smith Australia Mr A & Mrs E Alexander USA Mr D & Mrs P A Storey Ashford Mr J & Mrs M Forde Blackheath Mr D Hearnden Chingford Mrs S Emmings Paddington Ms M Jefferys Upminster

Towpath Taskforce LondonKeeping people, nature & history connected

Details about Towpath Taskforce in London on the Grand Union and Regent’s Canals and the River Stort and River Lee with the Canal & River Trust

What: Recently we’ve blitzed floating litter, spruced up locks with a new coat of paint and tidied up our towpaths by clearing litter and cutting back overgrown vegetation

Where: Various locations in central London. Our meeting point varies depending on where

After the visit I put on my lifeboat ‘hat’ and took the opportunity to call in on the Gravesend Lifeboat station which has a commanding view from the next pier downstream. This is one of four stations that were set up on the river Thames in 2002 following the enquiry into the Marchioness disaster in 1989. In the past few years the Thames lifeboats at Tower Pier and Chiswick have been the busiest in the country.

In the afternoon, after a briefing on the pontoon we slipped our moorings at about 14.30, crossed the river and set off home with the rising tide. 4 – 5 lockings at Limehouse at around 18.45 saw us all off the river with Tug Major carrying on up river. Some boats stayed in Limehouse and my crew had to leave. However, the crew of Galatea kindly rang me to see if I would like to go up the locks with them so I took up the offer. Unfortunately, just above Commercial Road Lock I picked up miles of rope on the propeller which delayed us considerably and we finally

got back to St Pancras shortly before it became Monday! A good time was had by all and thanks to all who made it possible.

Libby Bradshaw

Photo: Libby Bradshaw

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we’re needed but is always close to public transport. Check the exact location by putting ‘London’ into the Find an Opportunity search box on the website (details below).

When: 3rd Saturday of each month, 10am – 12.30pm or 1.30pm – 4pm. Come for the morning or afternoon or bring a packed lunch and stay all day!

Next event:

Saturday 17 August - City Road Lock - Lock Painting & Canal Clean Up

West London

What: Over the coming months we’ll be visiting a number of sites in the west of London to blitz litter, improve the canal for wildlife and paint some of our historic locks.

Where: Various locations to the west of London on the Grand Union Canal. Our meeting point varies depending on where we’re needed but is always close to public transport. Check the exact location by putting ‘London’ into the Find an Opportunity search box on the website.

When: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10am - 3.30pm.

East London

What: In 2013 we will be visiting sites on the River Stort and River Lee. We’ll be litter picking, painting and managing vegetation to keep our waterways looking their best.

Where: Various locations on the east of the London waterway. Our meeting point varies depending on where we’re needed but is always close to public transport. Check the exact location by putting ‘London’ into the ‘Find an Opportunity’ search box on the website.

When: 3rd Thursday of the month, 10am - 3.30pm.Next event:

Thursday 15 August - Sheering Mill Lock (Sawbridgeworth) - Lock Painting

For more information about any of the events above please contact:

Becky Williams, Volunteer Team Leader. Email rebecca.williams@canalrivertrust.org.uk,

tel 07799 436816 or visit the Canal & River Trust website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/

The Thames Ironworks Heritage TrustIt is now more than likely that West Ham United FC will move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford in 2016. Many fans of the club are concerned that the move would mean a loss of heritage; after all, West Ham has been at its current home, Upton Park, for well over 100 years now. However, as hinted by the crossed hammers in their badge and their nicknames the ‘Hammers’ and the ‘Irons’, the even more distant history of the club lies closer to the stadium than many fans think. It is this distant history that we are aiming to revive, and in doing so, that of the history of east London as a whole.

Put simply, a small group of fans are in the final processes of setting up a charity to restore a number of fully operational Thames Ironworks lifeboats, which will bring back long-lost skills in shipwrigthting to the area, be used to offer educational heritage tours of the waterways

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around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and wider canal and river network, provide work and training in boatmastery for young local people and tour guide skills to older people with first hand memories of the areas industrial past, and eventually generate a surplus that can be re-invested back into charitable causes on the rivers.

The history The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd was incorporated in 1857, taking over the operations of C.J Mare and Co. The company’s expertise in the production of iron ships stood it in good stead as the ironclad era of warship production came into being. Starting with orders from the British Admiralty, the Ironworks went onto build warships for the Italian, Japanese, Romanian and Peruvian navies amongst others.

Increasing competition from the lower cost northern yards, and the rise of foreign shipyards, made life increasingly hard for the Ironworks after the turn of the 20th century. As a result an increasingly important part of the company’s revenues came from the production of lifeboats. The Ironworks produced over 250 of these for eventual use with the RNLI, helping to keep the company’s head above water until it eventually folded in 1912 – just a couple of years short of

Lifeboat William in finished state at the Thames Ironworks

Helen Smitton, at the back of a barn, and on the way to full restoration

Lifeboats under construction at the Thames Ironworks

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The network of waterways in east London. The Olympic Stadium is marked (1) on this map. The Thames Ironworks were situated on both sides of the river as it entered the

Thames at Leamouth

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The Olympic Stadium Island: to the right you can see the River Lea and on the left the Waterworks River

the militarisation that took place ahead of the Great War.

The surviving boats Not much is left of the hundreds of ships produced by the Ironworks. Perhaps 30 boats exist in the world, the most important of which is HMS Warrior, permanently moored at Portsmouth. A handful of the lifeboats remain, some of which have been restored, with one or two seaworthy examples still around. There are a few wrecks still out there, though. One such until recently was the Helen Smitton, made in 1910, and the first lifeboat in St Abbs, Berwickshire. She was found (literally) at the back of a barn by a professional restorer, who has now gone some way to restoring her to as near-perfect condition as is possible. Others remain totally decrepit. We found the Janet Hoyle, made in 1908, on a mudflat in Essex. The owner sold her to us for £1, and we’re very pleased to say that a conservation specialist has assured us that it is restorable, thanks to the quality of materials used – mainly Honduran mahogany – and the high level of workmanship involved, which has allowed the boat to survive over a hundred years of punishment. We have heard of two or three boats in a similar condition.

The plan Saving these boats is, we think, worthy in its own right, but the plan is more ambitious than that. The move to the Olympic Stadium will reconnect West Ham with the waterways on which it was born as Thames Ironworks FC. The Olympic Park itself is a maze of waterways based on the river Lea, first developed by Alfred the Great in 896 and altered continuously up until 1930. Their greatest use was seen during the Industrial Revolution due to the need for maritime transportation. The plan, then, is to find a spot close to the original factory, re-establishing the Thames Ironworks (well, a boat shed, but you get the gist). We would employ a master and apprentices to conduct the restoration, bringing back skills in shipwrighting that have been lost to east London for over 100 years.

Once the boats are complete, we aim to use them to offer tours in and around the Olympic Park. The focus on the industrial and pre-industrial heritage; something that is at risk of

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No. 13 Helen Smitton being launched at St Abbs on 23rd April

1911 where she helped save lives after HMS Pathfinder was torpedoed by U-21 in

1914

being lost as the area slowly gentrifies. The service would offer apprenticeships to local people, training them for qualifications such as the blue badge (Guild of Registered Tourist Guides) and Boatmaster’s licence, as well as potentially the City and Guilds Level II qualification

awarded to the Olympic Games Makers. We would also hope that mature people with experience of working on the river and docks can contribute by giving first hand stories of their time on these waterways. We hope to be able to secure a mooring close to the stadium itself, helping to reconnect the club to its past, two miles downstream at Leamouth. Along with the mooring, we would ideally like to have our own ticket office/ shop/ museum. We have been speaking to Crossrail, who have been working on the original Ironworks site in Canning Town and have recovered lots of material from the site. If possible, then, we hope to build our eventual building from the materials that made up the original Ironworks itself.

Funding The initial phase of fundraising will start soon, when charitable status is confirmed and the bank account and HRMC paperwork is complete, which should be done in two to three weeks. In this phase, we will primarily look to raise money from fans and from boating and lifeboat enthusiasts, generating momentum and publicity for the project along the way. As things develop further, we will look to receive help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as West Ham United.. The project, we think, makes sense for the club to help to fund, given that it would be a symbolic gesture to fans, many of whom are worried that the move to the Olympic Stadium will result to a loss of heritage. This project would help to counter that, linking the club back to its very earliest days, and reinforcing the point that in many ways, this is a move back home.

We expect the service to be self sufficient after its start up costs – indeed; according to our financial workings, the boats should generate a healthy surplus, which could then be used to invest further (by the addition of restoring further boats for service) or to fund other charitable activities along the river. We are particularly aware of the problems of pollution on the Lea, and would aim to make consistent contributions to help tackle this problem.

Progress to date We have had preliminary discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Canal and River Trust, and, thankfully, have had very strong support from the North & East London branch of the

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Reedbeds could help revive polluted River LeaJune 18, 2013

Independent research calls for extensive reedbed creation to reduce water pollution, boost biodiversity and increase London green space.

The creation of reedbeds along the River Lee (or Lea)* Navigation could be a low-cost and attractive part of a solution to the river’s significant pollution problems.

A new independent report commissioned by Thames21 reveals huge potential for reedbeds to boost biodiversity, reduce the effects of pollution and improve the social and amenity value of the lower Lee Catchment. Reedbeds are regarded as one of the most important ecosystems on earth and are sometimes referred to as ‘the kidney of the landscape’ for their important role in filtering pollutants and maintaining fresh water health. The research report ‘Project Reedbed’ was supported by the Environment Agency and carried out as part of the charity’s Love the Lea campaign. The full report can be accessed here and the appendix here.

Thames21 Programmes Manager Theo Thomas said “This research sets out very clearly how important reedbeds are for our river systems and wider environment. This solution is within our grasp and will help make the Lee healthier. It also provides specific guidance on where and how they can be implemented for far-reaching benefits to water health, biodiversity and social and amenity value.”

John Bryden, Biodiversity Officer for the Lee Catchment at the Environment Agency, said: “We’re delighted to fund and help Thames21 develop this report which outlines how the River Lee Navigation can improve, for people and wildlife throughout the area.

“Over the next five years we hope to see a number of the recommendations of the report implemented, leading to a substantial change in the look and amenity value of the River Lee Navigation. This will allow for more wildlife to inhabit the river and will hopefully allow for more

Inland Waterways Association. Local politicians, including Stephen Timms and Lyn Brown, MPs for East Ham and West Ham respectively, have pledged their support, as has John Biggs, who covers the City and East London for the London Assembly.

Where we haven’t had much luck to date is with the London Legacy Development Corporation, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority and Newham Council itself, though with the help of the latest addition to our team, local historian Dr Brian Belton, we hope that will soon be overcome. Our other issue remains finding a space to site our temporary boathouse, which we would like to be close to the Lea and the original Ironworks as possible. We would like most to appeal to readers of Meridian Cuttings for any help or advice that they can provide on these points, while of course we hope that many of you will be ready to contribute to what we believe is a worthy cause, once we go live with fundraising. We expect that to happen soon, and hope to update you all with details in the next quarterly newsletter.

Gavin Redknap16 Ickburgh Road

London E5 8AD

Gavin.redknap@gmail.com

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people to enjoy themselves in and around the area.”

Existing reedbeds with potential for expansion and improvement, and sites suitable for new plantings on the Lee Navigation within the M25 were identified with the help of volunteer surveyor teams in the second half of 2012.

It was found that only 8% of the river currently benefits from reedbeds, which are recognised as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan to be preserved and promoted wherever possible. The report identifies 60 new sites on the Lea suitable for reedbed creation, with multiple environmental and social benefits for relatively low cost and effort.

The Lower Lee catchment is known to suffer from ‘severe problems with water quality’; hard engineered modifications to the river and on-going water pollution, drastically inhibit wildlife and impairs peoples’ enjoyment of the river. The Lee contains high levels of phosphates and nitrates due to under-capacity sewage treatment works, household misconnections and road run-off. The effects of this pollution in the River Lee Navigation could be significantly reduced through the natural and low cost implementation of reebeds, which can remove dangerous chemicals from the water in a function, which if directed artificially is highly expensive and energy intensive. Reedbeds can store nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates, which are damaging at high levels, preventing them from moving downstream. This function is particularly significant as phosphate and nitrate over-loading is a direct contributor to the Lee’s failing health status under the European Water Framework Directive.

This report paves the way for practical solutions to improve the health of the river for environmental and social benefit, which would also help the UK to meet its targets under the WFD. It is hoped the practical plan set out by the independent research will be used to inform partnership solutions to improve this badly neglected river

Reedbed creation is just one part of the solution to a river beset by complex problems in a highly urbanised environment. Thames21 will work with volunteers, community groups and local authorities to monitor the health of the river before, during and after reed planting to build on the growing body knowledge of these solutions.

River user groups, residents, local authorities and business that live and work near to the Lee are encouraged to consider their role in helping to restore the reedbed habitat for East London’s river. Thames21 will work directly with interested parties to plant and maintain these hugely important habitats, which not only have special functions that can enable them to remove and store significant quantities of aquatic pollutants, but could also help boost numbers of several rare and endangered species and improve biodiversity.

In the UK, reedbeds are important habitats for native mammal species, including: harvest mice; water shrews; otters; and water voles, endangered water birds such as the bittern and reed warbler and amphibians and fish, including the endangered European Eel.

*A note on the spelling: The Lea Navigation and Lee Navigation are both widely used and accepted spellings which refer to the same waterway. The report uses the spelling Lee, though in general Thames21 makes use of the Lea spelling based on community sentiment.

For all media enquiries contact Emily Braham: emily.braham@thames21.org.ukTel: 07827 352 675

For more information about the Project Reedbed report and associated activities, please contact Theo Thomas: theo.thomas@thames21.org.uk / 07968 012 757

Note from Ed: Extracts from Thames21 website: http://www.thames21.org.uk/

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Community CleanupsThe water in the River Wandle is now some of the cleanest in London, but the river has been treated as a flowing dustbin for at least the last 150 years. Unfortunately, many people still use it as a place to dispose of things they don’t want.

That’s why we hold regular community cleanups at different points up and down the river, at 11.00am on the second Sunday of every month, to improve the environment for birds, fish, insects and local people. Go to: www.wandletrust.org/?tag=cleanups to see some of the results of our work!

We provide waders, plus protective gloves and First Aid facilities, but please bring your own wellies if you have them, and wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and possibly wet.

For more information about cleanups you can email direct: cleanups@wandletrust.org.

Silt Trap ProjectAs Meridian Cuttings went to press the installation of three silt traps in Butter Hill, Mill Lane and Denmark Road, Carshalton had been completed and the contractors were finishing off installing the inspection chambers, building up the manhole covers to the right level and tapping back into the main surface water sewer. Work was expected to be completed by the middle of July. The silt traps are designed to improve the water quality of the River Wandle and the river environment. Two monitoring chambers have been included in the design. The surface water pipe first feeds into one inspection chamber then into the silt trap before passing into the second monitoring chamber and then on towards the river. The chambers will allow us to monitor the effectiveness of the traps by taking samples before and after the silt trap. This will be carried out using automated sampling apparatus to allow analysis of the water quality and any particulates present.

Note from Ed: extracts from www.wandletrust.org.uk

Lowering the silt trap into position

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342.

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1WATel: 01494 783453 www.waterways.org.uk

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Role North & East London South London

ChairmanTim Lewis5 Herongate RoadWanstead, London E12 5EJTel: 020 8530 0425 / 07802 518094Email: nbfulbourne@tiscali.co.uk

Vacancy

Deputy / Acting Chairman

Vacancy

Libby BradshawGround Floor Flat, 61 West Side,Wandsworth Common,London SW18 2EDTel: 020 8874 2787Email: libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk

Secretary Roger Squires46 Elephant LaneRotherhithe, London SE16 4JDTel: 020 7232 0987Email: roger.squires@waterways.org.uk

Lesley Pryde2 Hepworth RoadStreatham, London SW16 5DQTel: 020 8679 9866 / 07787 372408Email: southlondon@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Ian Israel32 Walfield AvenueLondon N20 9PRTel: 020 8446 1823Email: ianandpam@yahoo.co.uk

Peter Gregory20 Ashley GardensOrpington BR6 9NHTel: 01689 817192 / 07932 149959Email: sliwat@virginmedia.com

Social Secretary Jenny Nunes63 Salisbury RoadBarnet, HertsTel: 020 8440 8962Email: alex.nunes@btopenworld.com

Alan Smith41 Jubilee AvenueTwickenham TW2 6JATel: 020 8255 1581Email: smith.alanj@blueyonder.co.uk

Publicity Officer & Newsletter

Editor

Christine Smith41 Jubilee Avenue

Twickenham TW2 6JATel: 020 8255 1581 / 07774 890 750

Email: christine.smith@waterways.org.uk

Membership Secretary

Alex Nunes(contact details as above)

Dorothy Robbie23 Porcupine CloseMottingham, London SE9 3AETel: 020 8857 6367Email: dorothy.robbie@gmail.com

Committee Members

Roger Wilkinson2 Lytton Close, N2 0RHTel: 020 8458 9476 Email: roger9796\@yahoo.co.uk

Sally Naylor21 Pitchford Street, Stratford, E15 4RZTel: 020 8519 7481 Email: snaylor@ymail.com

Vacancies

Ex-Officio as Region Chairman

Paul Strudwick40 Fifth Avenue

Chelmsford CM1 4HDTel: 01245 358342 / 07885 240291

Email: paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk

Representatives Planning & Navigation:Wandle Valley developments:Deptford Creek developments:

Eric GarlandLibby BradshawEric Garland

Committee Members

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How to get to North & East London’s Social Meetings:

How to get to South London’s Social Meetings: