AEGRE March
2009
No.122
The journal of the East Midlands Region of
Aegre March 2009 Page 1
Aegre is published Š 2009 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association. Chairman, WRG
John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208 Mobile 07889 444190
Vice-Chairman & Treasurer
Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138
Leicestershire Branch Acting Chairman: John Evans. Tel: 01509 416647 Chairman Lincolnshire Branch Chairman
Dave Carnell. Contact address as above.
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch
Contact Mike Snaith; details below
South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch Chairman
Mavis Paul, 116 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield S10 5RZ Tel: 0114 268 3927
Secretary
Vacant
Region Planning Officer
Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main Street, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7EU.
Members
Ian McDonald, c/o 68 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester LE7 7JG Tel: 07932 156539 E-mail:<home@hubberlugs.go-plus.net> Malcolm Fielding, 1 Vicarage Way, Arksey, Doncaster DN5 0TG Tel: 01302 873127
Editor for Aegre:
Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ Tel: 01507 602713. email: aegre@humbhony.demon.co.uk
Collation & despatch
Nancy & David Johnson
Printing
This is the web version.
Picture credits:
See page 9. Cover picture: Slea footbridge assembly.
Inland Waterways Association: Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342. Tel: 0845 4501146 Website: http://www.waterways.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers.
Aegre March 2009 Page 2
AEGRE March 2009
No. 122
Contents The Editor’s Bow Button................................................4 The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam..................................5 The Region Chairman’s Notes.......................................6 Regional Reorganisation................................................7 British Waterways Self Supervision and Erewash Canal Clean-up........................................................................8 News from South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch........9 Picture Credits...............................................................9 News from Lincolnshire Branch...................................10 Woolsthorpe Top Lock.................................................14 National Trailboat Festival, 24 & 25 May.....................16 Redhill National Festival & Boat Show Progress.........17 More Flotsam and Jetsam...........................................18 Canal Societies in the present EM Region..................19 News from Leicestershire Branch................................20 John Varley Memorial..................................................21 Aegre, Aegir, Eagre, Haygir... 2009.............................22 Alien Invaders in Our Waterways.................................23 National Campaign Rally.............................................26 Obituaries.....................................................................28 Regional Diary Dates 2009..........................................30 Letter to the Editor - Madurodam.................................31
Next issue probably to be published in July 2009. Contributions to the editor by the end of May 2009 please. The space on the right is for local contact information.
Aegre March 2009 Page 3
The Editor’s Bow Button This time I’m not going to go on about re-organisation and administration - that will be amply dealt with in other places. Just to say that, from a magazine editor’s point of view, I have told the present Region Committee that I am happy to do whatever will help the forward progress of our local waterways in any new regional structure. In view of possible new arrangements, I thought it might be helpful to say a bit about what goes on to produce your present news sheet, normally three or four times a year. Then everyone knows what is involved, and can perhaps make suggestions as to what we might do in the future. The first job of a regional magazine seems to be to keep the members informed of local issues. We get, in my opinion, a well-produced and informative national magazine, but it cannot give a lot of detailed attention to a canal clean-up at Tinsley, for example. Timing is important. With a few issues a year we cannot be like the “Today” radio programme, and “Waterways” or “Towpath Talk” may well be before us with some bigger local items. But not always! Sometimes we scoop the nationals, as in the case of the Woolsthorpe story. Getting the local news means that the editor depends on local contacts. We are in a big region, and your editor lives on one edge of it. Not quite in the sea, though he worries occasionally. Only this last couple of days there have been floods at Surfleet Seas End because of a combination of high tide and a lot of fresh coming down the River Glen. So the magazine depends on input, usually from members of the region committee and branch representatives. Input also comes from some of our canal societies and trusts in the region, and some from boat clubs. In all these cases more would be welcome, so that those who live in the south-east of our area know what is going on in the far north-west, and vice versa. At a certain appointed day - or usually some days after that when most of the material has come in - the editor starts to play jig-saws with it, literally fitting it all into a number of pages limited by printing budget; trying to make a consistent “house style”; and finding some interesting pictures to liven up the pages. If the need appears - but only as a last resort - the editor might possibly write something if it seems relevant. Once upon a time, all this would have been done with actual bits of paper and gum in a process called “cut and paste”. Nowadays the computer helps a lot, and the pasting is done on a screen.
Aegre March 2009 Page 4
Eventually a rough draft can be produced in a format called PDF, or portable document format, and the Region Chairman has a look through to see that we have not (inadvertently of course) said that all our MPs or related officials lack common sense, or such-like undiplomatic prose. Then a printable version is produced as a computer file - several tens of megabytes for those interested and sent to our printers in Nottingham. These do a good job for a very reasonable price, usually taking about ten working days to fit it into their schedule. When they have copies ready, volunteer members from the local branch collect them and do the tedious “stuffing” and despatch process. So at least three weeks is bound to elapse between the copy deadline and members receiving their own copy on the doormat. May I encourage more contributions from all members, or anyone else interested, to ease the load on our regular and faithful few. The editor does not type, so that computer files are best for text or pictures. Please not the frequent “doc” files produced by some Microsoft programs if you can avoid it, as they carry a lot of redundant information on things like your own printer and paper size. RTF or ordinary TXT files are good for text, and JPG or TIF for pictures, at least 700 pixels across for good reproduction in our smallest size. Looking forward to hearing from you, Best wishes, Peter.
The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam British Waterways are again having a campaign against unlicensed boats, but this year they are asking that boats with licenses should display them clearly, so that there is no confusion. Boaters going to the National Festival in August are invited to note the very useful leaflet produced by Leicester Branch on the “Leicester Line” from Norton Junction to the Soar mouth. E-mail waldydave@talktalk.com. There seem to be considerable variations in the way diesel is being sold
by our waterside retailers under the new tax regime. Please report any odd practices to your local branch. Although pennywort has been on the Soar for some years, it has recently been reported on the Erewash and even the Trent. Clearing and spraying has cost over £30,000 pa for the agencies involved with the Soar in the Leicester area (see page 23). BW are talking about letting out surplus land along canals as allotments for vegetable growing. Aegre March 2009 Page 5
The Region Chairman’s Notes At the conclusion of my notes are the new arrangements for regions and branches, as the final part of the changes in management to take the IWA into the twenty first century. Personally, I am particularly sad to see the departure of South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch from East Midlands Region as I was on the Sheffield Branch Committee in 1974 which proposed to the then Council that there should be seven regions rather than six. The seventh region became East Midlands, with Nottingham, Derby & Leicester, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire & Dukeries branches. I think for most of that time we covered a fairly discrete area with good local communications. However, national government boundaries have become more important, and it is now more useful for IWA to align with those boundaries. I wish South Yorkshire well in the enlarged North East Region and look forward to welcoming Northamptonshire Branch on May 1st. This week has seen all the Annual General Meetings in East Midlands Region, with very few changes in personnel or new committee members. My thanks to all the various committees for their work over the past year. However, I am sorry to report that so far there has been little interest in supporting Mike Snaith and Brian White in Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Hill for editing Aegre; Terence Balchin for assistance in the printing; and Nancy & David Johnson for the distribution. By the time the next Aegre comes out the new Region structure will be in place. In the notes on Region re-organisation it mentions that from September the Region Chairman/Trustee will be elected by the whole franchise of members within the region. I have told the branch AGMs, and I now repeat to the whole region membership, that I do not intend to accept nomination for the new election procedure in September. Nevertheless and well in advance, I wish everyone involved with the new Region every success. There have been quite a lot of photos in the waterways press on the rapid growth in the bollard population, particularly on some narrow locks in the West Midlands. For my sins I have been appointed to the British Waterways Customers Safety Standards Advisory Panel, or CSSAP, along with several other experienced boaters and members from each British Waterways Unit. So far we have had two meetings and there has been considerable discussion on what BW is doing with regards to customer safety, but I think to some extent this group is too little too late and the individual Waterway Units are not taking much notice. Aegre March 2009 Page 6
You will also have noticed that the IWA National Campaign Rally will be at Kiveton Park on the Chesterfield Canal at Spring Bank Holiday and I hope that many of you will take the opportunity to visit the event and look at the Chesterfield Canal Partnership's proposals for by-passing Norwood Tunnel. Over the same weekend, for members in the Leicester area, the IWA National Trailboat Festival is at Moira on the Ashby Canal. Both of these have been popular events in the past and I hope they are both successful again this year. I do hope that you will be able to attend one of these events. We seemed to go onto the River Witham regularly at one time but it is now a few years since we went that way. On our way to the Campaign Rally we hope to visit the Lincolnshire Waterways and in particular the newly opened South Forty Foot and the Witham Navigable Drains. We have in the past been up Barlings Eau, Timberland Delph and the River Bain but it looks as though there will be a new challenge this year in going up Billinghay Skirth to Billinghay village. Whilst talking about Lincolnshire I did a report on Woolsthorpe Top Lock, and I am pleased to report that the final concrete pour was on February 20th, so the most critical part of the re-building has been completed. John Baylis
Regional Reorganisation I know that many of you are aware of the national discussions on IWA reorganisation, and some of you have made personal comments to me and to Council. Council, now called the Board of Trustees, approved a number of consequential arrangements at its January meeting; the following is the final outcome: i
The change-over date for the new regions is to be 30th April, with all the re-alignment of branches happening that day, and the three regions due to close will do so on that day. This would enable branches moving from one region to another not to find themselves outside any region during a change-over period. The changes for East Midlands Region are that South Yorkshire & the Dukeries Branch will move to North East Region, and with the closure of Grand Junction Region, Northampton Branch will become part of the East Midlands Region.
ii
By the time you read this, all branch and region AGMs will have been held, and hopefully some new members will have been elected to the various committees. Mavis Paul and Malcolm Fielding will move to North East Region committee and the Northampton branch chairman Aegre March 2009 Page 7
and at least one elected member will join East Midlands Region committee iii
On 30th April, those people who have been elected to a region committee, and are moved from that region as a consequence of their branch’s realignment, would automatically become a member of the committee of the region that they have moved to, with the same term of office as they had at the region from which they have moved. Prior to the May meeting of trustees, the region committees will meet to elect region officers, in particular the Region Chairman.
iv
The region chairmen will stay in office until September 2009 when they (or their successors) are to be elected by the members of their region by direct vote under the new arrangements. The arrangements for this election will be announced nationally through “Waterways”. In the April edition there will be a request for nominations as Region Chairmen/Trustees and for nationally elected Trustees, and ballot papers will be enclosed in the August edition of the magazine. It was agreed that the total number of elected Trustees would also be reduced at this election.
For the affected branches, region and branch officers have had preliminary discussions, but the final outcome may depend to some extent on the branch and region AGM elections. At the recent Region AGM, existing members Malcolm Fielding, Ian McDonald and Mike Snaith were re-elected
British Waterways Self Supervision and Erewash Canal Clean-up On Friday, January 23rd. Francis Quinn. (BW Safety Adviser at Newark), and Kevin Howe (BW Volunteer Co-ordinator) came to Langley Mill to give the final oral examination for the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association in its quest for “Self Supervisory Status” for volunteers on BW property. The ECP&DA was represented by Howard Smith (Chairman), Mick Golds (Working Party Organiser) and about 12 members of the regular Friday working party. Mick went through his Aegre March 2009 Page 8
induction procedure, Francis asked a number of questions on procedures and there was a discussion on actions to be taken under various scenarios. The outcome was that the ECP&DA was approved for the first Self Supervisory canal society in the East Midlands Navigations, following which ECP&DA was invited to run a working party to help to carry out the BW national canals clean-up in March. The ECP&DA has not done a boatmounted canal clean-up since 2006
and so it was decided to do two boat clean-ups with the regular Friday working party. These will be on Friday, March 13th. starting from Shipley Lock at 0900 and going to Gallows Inn; and on Friday, March 20th. starting from Gallows Inn at 0900 and going to Long Eaton. If any one is interested in joining the work party please phone Mick Golds on 0115 932 8042
News from South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch
time for the AGM on the 18th February, but there are meetings on 15th April – Quiz at Strawberry Island and on 17th June – B B Q also at Strawberry Island. Let me know if you are coming to this so enough food can be provided. It would be lovely to see some new faces. Whilst I am writing, we also need new committee members. If you feel you can give some time to sit on the committee you would be most welcome. We meet the third Wednesday of alternate months at Tinsley Marina. This is easy to get to from other areas as it is close to the M1. We meet at 7:45 and usually have finished by 9:30. Please give me a ring at 0114 268 3927 if you would like to join us. Mavis Paul
After a very successful canal clean-up in October of last year, we are holding another on Sunday March 29th. We will be meeting at Tinsley Marina on the Sheffield section of the South Yorkshire Navigation at 10:00 am. We will once again be providing refreshment of pie and peas at the end of the clean-up; we also provide a Picture Credits vegetarian option. Please let me We are most grateful to all of the folknow (below) if you are going to attend so that we can provide enough lowing, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to food for everyone. enhance Aegre: Paul King; Paul The IWA re-organisation is finally Birtles; Tony Pitman; John Lower; nearing completion. This means that Peter Stone; Ian McDonald; Dave from the end of April this year the S Carnell; Brian Dominic; Beryl Y & D Branch will be in Yorkshire McDowall; Nancy Johnson; Norman region rather than the East Midlands Osborne; David Pullen, Dave Scott, region. This does make sense when Dan Minchin, John Baylis, BW you look at where the canals in our Newark, Network Rail. area are. This shouldn’t have any impact on members, other than that you may receive a different region magazine when everything has been sorted out. You will not get this in Aegre March 2009 Page 9
News from Lincolnshire Branch from Dave Carnell Opening of waterway related structures continues apace. Bottom Lock on the Slea has received its new gates, mooring pontoons and safety ladders (see our pictures). By the time you read this, new gearing to raise the guillotine, which will halve the number of turns required to raise it, will have been fitted. The project was managed by Slea Navigation Trust’s Honorary Engineer, Dave Pullen, on behalf of the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. We are greatly indebted for their funding on this and the many other projects within the county. Within Sleaford itself, the narrow footbridge over the water at the Canal Head Eastgate car park has been removed and a unique bowstring arched bridge with lifting section has been installed (see picture
right and on the front cover). This project was designed and managed by the County Council’s Technical Services with funding obtained by the Trust from WREN Landfill Taxes, IWA and the Waterways Partnership. Also at this site planning consents have now been given for the installation of a trail-boat slipway and winding hole. Work on this will start in early summer, after the nesting season, and will enhance facilities for the canoeing that is increasing in popularity in the town. There are a number of other ancient waterways run-
Aegre March 2009 Page 10
ning parallel to the River Slea from the River Witham. One of these is Billinghay Skirth, and a group of villagers here are keen to re-open this to navigation. I received an enquiry from the EA on the history of the waterway and was able to refer them to a publication stating that it was navigable in Roman times, and that boats delivered cargoes to a warehouse until the early 1930s. With much struggling and hauling, a small narrow boat, Demi, arrived at a derelict and rotten landing outside the Chairman, Reg Johnson’s house. The group are now collecting information to apply for dredging, footpath consents and sources of funding. Anyone interested in the endeavours of the group can contact them by e-mail at thelittleboatco@fsmail.net or tel. 01526 861116.
In the last Aegre mention was made of a safety grid being fitted to the girders of the guillotine at Cow Bridge Lock. This was fitted following a near miss of a boat being caught under a cross girder. The grid has shortened the lock by just a few inches, but is sufficient to stop full length narrow boats from closing the mitre gates behind them and using the lock. IWA members discussed the possibility of removing the grid and fitting 45 degree deflector plates under the girders, which should overcome the problem. This idea has been put to the Witham Fourth Internal Drainage Board Engineer, who is considering the proposal. On the Maud Foster Drain, in Boston town centre, there are sets of steps once used for passengers to embark on Packet Boats that sailed to Lincoln and London. The Environment Agency eventually accepted our proposals for these to be an official mooring. A gate at the head of the steps has a BW and EA lock on it, but there is a lack of mooring rings in the high walls adjacent to the steps. Enquiries have ascertained that Aegre March 2009 Page 11
“listed building” consent is required from Boston Borough Council and also “land drainage” consent from the EA. These applications are being made in the hope that work can be done by volunteers in time for the extra craft who will visit the area following the opening of the Fenland Link Lock.
future generations. Anyone with photographs of the commercial trading days of the river or an interest in the project is asked to contact Les at 24 The Weavers, Newark, NG24 4RY The Fenland Link - February 2009.
The campaign to re-open the Black Sluice Navigation (aka South Forty Foot Drain and now known as the Fenland Link), began when I became Branch Chair in promoting Boston’s historic waterways. As ever, sowing the seeds in the minds of local authorities and government quangos for inclusion in their various strateThe government are proposing “New gies takes forever - well thirty or so Growth Points” to help overcome the years in this case. East Anglian dire financial situation and un-emWaterways Association came on ployment. Two sites with possible board and also flagged up the benebenefits to waterways have been fits of the proposal. nominated in the north of LincolnThe official lock opening takes place shire. One is at Gainsborough for a on March 20th. Due to the water levmarina with housing, and a much els in the River Witham and South larger scheme at Scunthorpe with connections to the River Trent. This Forty Foot being still at winter low levels, only officially invited craft envisages housing, commercial are to attend the opening. They will developments, provision of green energy (wind turbines) and waterside be opening the Black Sluice to general navigation from the beginning of recreation areas. the boating season, 1st April 2009. At Newark, waterway enthusiast Les The EA raise the River Witham and Reid is leading a project to turn a former Trent Dumb Barge “Leicester South Forty Foot Drain water levels Trader” into a learning resource and to navigation height in April. The Navigable Drains are available, subliving exhibition for schools and Lincoln City Council have still not renewed the Brayford Trust’s lease, and there is an acute shortage of visitor moorings for an area that could rival that of Stratford-on-Avon, providing a huge tourist attraction to this city, rich in history. The next step is not clear.
Aegre March 2009 Page 12
ject to weather conditions, from May 1st. Water levels can be checked on the tail wing wall of Anton`s Gowt Lock, or ring Witham 4th IDB Offices (tel: 01205 310099 during office hours) before entering the lock. Tide times for the Boston area may be obtained for up to six days free on www.easytide.gov.uk or for longer periods by paying a small fee. Alternatively booklets are available, at £1.50 from Boston Council, Port of Boston Harbour Master’s office or W.H.Smith bookshop in Boston. Like all Environment Agency waters, a licence will be required on the Black Sluice Navigation. They expect boaters to make use of the visitor licence system, although with a Gold Licence you will be covered. Our present understanding is that EA`s Visitor Licences can only be obtained from their Craft Licensing Office at Peterborough; no paying at the Lock. Licences will only be granted to boats on their register. To pre-register, boaters can ring the direct line number 01733 464909 or register on-line with the details of the boat, then on the day you wish to use the navigation ring the direct line and give your credit or debit card number to make payment. To book a passage from Boston Grand Sluice to the new lock, there will be a similar system to that at the British Waterways’ Grand Sluice
Lock, with a minimum of 24 hours notice. Booking will need to be made during office hours, so week-end bookings will require more than 24 hours. The phone is not yet installed at the new lock, so details will follow. In the meantime ring the Grand Sluice Lock-keeper to arrange passage; 07712 010920 or 01205 364864. As the Haven between the Grand Sluice and the new lock is tidal, there will be pages on the Fens Waterways Link web-site giving booking slots for Black Sluice Lock. They will try to include general tide times as well on the web site but this information is available from other sources, as noted above. The Port of Boston has to be consulted as to movement of cargo vessels in the channel, although most of these will be down river to the entrance to the commercial dock. The EA are to man the new Black Sluice Lock and co-ordinate the movement of pleasure boats with the other two parties British Waterways for the Grand Sluice and the Port of Boston Harbour-master for the tidal section. New pontoon moorings have been installed at the tidal entrance to the lock and also through the lock adjacent to the EA pump attendants’ houses, now converted into a café and information centre. Further along the South Forty Foot, moorings have been placed at Hubberts Bridge and Swineshead Bridge. Aegre March 2009 Page 13
Woolsthorpe Top Lock work going well We recorded in the November 2008 Aegre that the IWA had produced a funding plan of ÂŁ175,000 to restore the off-side wall of Woolsthorpe Top Lock and that Morrison Construction were going to be the contractors. Despite a much delayed start, Morrisons established the work site in the fields of John Moulsher, erected a security fence round the site and laid temporary stone roads to carry the heavy plant required for the rebuilding. Up to the Christmas break the coping stones and some of the backfill was removed and the suspected leak between the stop plank grooves and the by-wash on the offside was investigated. A substantial leak was found and the back of the brickwork and piles filled with new puddle clay. In the New Year work started in earnest with the first section of the wall
Aegre March 2009 Page 14
demolished to the virgin ground below the invert level. Roy Sutton, the IWA Honorary Consultant Engineer who designed the rebuilding, was concerned that the off-side wall was demolished and replaced by concrete in sections so that at any one time the weight of the towing path side wall, which was being retained by the curved invert, would not slip. Morrisons decided that if the wall was demolished and re-built to low water level in three sections the invert would not slip, and the middle section about 7 metres in length was removed first. The virgin ground below the old brick work was solid and the base was widened to 2.5 metres to improve the stability of the wall. The first pour of about 18 cubic metres of ready-mix concrete came up to just above the edge of the invert and, after fixing shuttering, the second pour a few days later came up to just below low water level. When the middle section concrete had gone off the top section to the ground paddle culverts was done next. In doing so the hole through which the water leakage had run behind the wall was discovered, but fortunately this was now dry as the leak had been blocked by clay. This section was the most difficult as the wet weather caused some collapse of soil from the upper level but eventually the base was cleared and successfully concreted. Then the snow came and work was delayed, but fortunately the holdup was not too long and by
the top of the concrete the original coping stones will be replaced. The earth behind the wall and into the field can then be landscaped and re-seeded. In total over 220 cubic metres of ready mixed concrete will have been used and about 7,300 new bricks. I suppose that some of you may be thinkFebruary 9th the final section had been ing “why not use volunteers?�, but to brought up to low water level. The carry out the work in a relatively short shuttering on the water side of the time without breaks was beyond the wall has been set back by 250mm so capability of volunteers. With the bad that, after concreting, the wall face weather experienced even the profescan be finished in red brick to match sionals were pushed, but the difficult the tow path side. The waterside shut- stages have now been completed and tering is brought up to the full height the off-side wall is safe. John Baylis of the copings but the back of the wall is stepped. It is hoped that by the end of February the concrete will be finished and the new bricks can then be laid on the face side. The back of the wall will then be filled in with the clay that was removed from the excavation to allow concreting. After the front wall has been built up to
Aegre March 2009 Page 15
National Trailboat Festival, 24 & 25 May
The scene in 2008 The venue for the IWA National Trail-boat Festival in 2009 will be at the Moira Furnace, in North West Leicestershire, hosted by the Ashby Canal Trust over the late May bank holiday weekend. As well as boats and boat trips, attractions will include an historic re-enactment group, birds of prey, children’s entertainment, bands, Morris dancing, bar, forest crafts, demonstrations, live steam, vintage engines and entry to the Furnace museum. An illuminated boat procession is planned from Moira to Donisthorpe on the evening of Saturday 23 May, when the Donisthorpe Woodland Centre will be open, with entertainment, refreshments and a bar. This will be a popular attraction, and a fitting opening to the main festival days on Sunday and Monday. The Moira Furnace dates from 1804, with the loading arch spanning the canal. Unsuccessful as a blast furnace, it survived as a casting shop and subsequently as accommodation, housing over 60 people at one time. Now run as part of the Moira Furnace Museum Trust, it has scheduled monument status and is listed Grade 2. There is a café and museum, and the Trust run regular boat trips with the converted day boat the ‘Joseph Wilkes’, named after a prominent and innovative local businessman and a major promoter of the building of the Ashby Canal. Aegre March 2009 Page 16
Originally extending to beyond Moira, the Ashby canal now terminates at Snarestone, but restoration is planned to start shortly. The isolated length at Moira has been recently restored, and includes a road bridge, 2 slipways, a swing bridge, a lock, and an independent water supply, all at the heart of the National Forest. It connects Donisthorpe Woodland Park to the Bath Yard Basin at Conkers Waterside (the National Forest Discovery Centre), making it an ideal family day out. Admission for Sunday and / or Monday, adults £4.50, family ticket £12. Trade enquiries: 01283 224667, 07976 637858, moirafurnace@hotmail.co.uk, Trailable boat bookings: 01530 274968, paul.shorts@pandefjohnson.co.uk; General enquiries: Geoff Pursglove: 01530 273956, ashby.canal@tiscali.co.uk
Redhill National Festival & Boat Show Progress Active planning is going ahead, and one important area covers moorings and camping. David Pullen of the IWA is looking after this. He feels that the Redhill camp site will be a very good one, next door to the Festival site and with a lot of space. Mooring the boats will be more of a challenge, but can be sorted out. He expects to be able to accommodate up to 300 boats and over 156 had already booked in by February. Anyone considering coming should try and book early. Twenty volunteers will act as “harbour-masters” for groups of boats to assist the visiting boaters when necessary.
Majorettes will be performing, as well as doing a spot later in the day. There will be a full programme of evening entertainment, starting on the Thursday evening and running through until Monday evening. Ann Myall’s role is to collate all offers of help from volunteers. Although she already has a good response she always needs more. Call her on 01488 682504 or e-mail ann.myall@btopenworld.com if you feel you could help, even if only for a couple of hours.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th March at Soar Boat Club in Normanton on Soar, and then There will be lots of displays and probably on Tuesday 14th April (this exhibits, including a Festival Circus may be changed due to it being Tues(no performing animals) and a falWednesday conry display. At the opening ceremo- dayth after Easter Monday), th June. 13 May, and Tuesday 9 ny, the Chesterfield Musketeers Aegre March 2009 Page 17
East Midlands' Greenest Station Open
don every 15-20 minutes at peak times. The journey time to London will be around 1 hour 30 minutes. It will serve as a park and ride station for Leicester, Derby and Nottingham, having 850 car parking spaces, reducing car use into the major cities and taking traffic off the M1. Direct services will also be available to Lincoln in the east, and even sometimes Sleaford, and to Sheffield northwards. It also has a bus link every half-an-hour to the airport.
Built especially to serve the National Festival - well no, not really just for that, but East Midlands' newest and greenest rail station, East Midlands Parkway, was formally opened for passengers on 26th January. The new station is served by over 100 services per day, with trains to and from Lon-
There is a new junction with traffic lights on the A453, allowing easier access from all directions, including Kegworth or Kingston-on-Soar, to the station and to the Redhill Festival area just to the NW. Picture courtesy of Network Rail.
More Flotsam and Jetsam Contractors will be carrying out works to improve Meadow Lane lock on the Nottingham Beeston canal from 23rd February. Boat passage will be possible during weekdays before 7 am; 10-11 am; 2-3 pm; and after 6 pm. At weekends and bank holidays there will be no restriction, nor on weekdays from 6 April to 17 April. The sanitary station upstream of Meadow Lane Lock will be out of use whilst a new building is constructed; Aegre March 2009 Page 18
the nearest alternatives are at Holme Lock and Beeston Lock. An Environment Agency consultation on a draft “Humber River Basin Management Plan� is open until 22 June 2009. Workshops will be held to look at what is involved, in March for north of the estuary, but later for the south. Details from Fanny Geoffroy, Environment Agency, Rivers House, 21 Park Square South, Leeds, LS1 2QG.
Canal Societies in the present EM Region Barnsley, Dearne & Dove
Judy Andrews, 39 Hill St., Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8EN Tel: 01226 743383. www.bddct.org.uk
Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd
Keith Ayling, 16 Pinchfield Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham S66 1FD Tel: 01709 700223 www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk C/o Jeffery Jones Partnership, 43 St Peter’s Churchyard, Derby DE1 1NN Tel: 01332 576037
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Friends of the Cromford Canal Grantham Canal Society Louth Navigation Trust Melton & Oakham Waterways Society Old Union Canals Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Trent and Mersey Canal Society
Lesley Reaney, 318 Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, Derby DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 601699 www.derbycanal.org.uk Howard Smith, 1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 9384129 Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk Patrick Morriss, The Shieling, Dukes Road, Lower Hartshay, Ripley, Derby DE5 3RP Tel: 01773 742895 www.cromfordcanal.org.uk Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375 www.granthamcanal.com John Stanbridge, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 610539 www.louthcanal.org.uk Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0HP Tel: 01664 503330 www.waterways-society.co.uk 36 The Ridings, Desborough, Kettering NN14 2LP Tel: 07010 705103. www.fipt.org.uk/Local.htm Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk 1 Pinfold Cottages, Back Lane, Little Haywood, Stafford ST 18 0UL. Tel: 01889 882770 www.trentandmersey.btinternet.co.uk
Aegre March 2009 Page 19
News from Leicestershire Branch I have just returned from a holiday that should have happened in November but for a variety of reasons was repeatedly postponed. In the event I discovered that cruising in January can be thoroughly recommended. One of the differences between cruising the Caribbean and cruising the Trent and Mersey is that you stop somewhere different every morning instead of every night! There are, of course, other differences, some of which are making it hard to get my brain back into gear, but I’ll try!
tory and heritage of the navigation that would be lost if the proposed blanket title ‘Leicestershire’s Waterway’ were to be adopted. Indeed, yet another name would only cause further confusion, as the old historic names would surely take several generations to go away! So our initial response to the document has included the suggestion that the name be left alone. The strategy is now out for public consultation and can be viewed at selected local libraries or at www.riversoarstrategy.com If you have not already looked at it I would You may well be aware by now of the urge you to do so and to make your “Emerging Strategy for the River Soar comments known via the built-in and Grand Union Canal” that is being questionnaire. funded by East Midlands Development Agency and put together by con- Don’t forget the very popular Loughsultants on behalf of a partnership of borough Canal and Boat Festival on the Waterways Trust, British WaterMay 2nd/3rd. There are no formalities ways, Environment Agency, Local or booking requirements so just turn Authorities and other bodies along the up, with or without boat, and if you’re route. Reading between the lines of afloat you have the Monday to get consultants’ jargon, there can be home. The theme, joining found much common sense that “Loughborough in Bloom”, will be augurs well for the future of ‘our “Bloomin’ Boats” with a prize for the waterway’. A relevant, but relatively best floral decorations on a boat. For minor point refers to the apparently queries call Jo Swift on 01509 ‘confused identity’ of the river/ canal/ 635827. This is not an IWA event but navigation! We all know how it we will, as usual, have our stand there came about that the names River Soar, so volunteers are always welcome… Leicester Navigation, Grand Union or at least come along and say hello. Canal, Leicester Line and others, can Riverside Fesall correctly apply to the same stretch Plans for the Leicester th th tival on June 6 /7 are also well of water. Furthermore I believe that this forms an essential part of the his- advanced. As Ian and Carol will be Aegre March 2009 Page 20
off on their extended cruise, Andrew Shephard has kindly volunteered to look after boat bookings and Harbour Master duties, so please contact him on 0116 2672630 or at andrewshephard@madasafish.com for an entry form if planning to attend by boat.
not yet had a chance to discuss the extent of our involvement. If you are able to help please contact a committee member for details or go direct to BW’s co-ordinator Kevin Howe, on 07885 653940.
One of the topics occupying much of my computer’s in-box on my return For a number of reasons we will be from holiday (holiday? . . . what holishort of man-and-woman power at day?) is the announcement that the this event, and at The National Festi- same drink/driving rules are to apply val in August, so do please contact me to helmsmen of boats as currently if you can spare an hour or two at any apply to drivers. I understand that of this year’s events. (See page 2 for these may be relaxed somewhat for contact details) boats of less that 23ft. As many of you will know, I am no great drinker As part of British Waterways’ revised but a sentence including the words and enlightened policy on the use of egg and sledge-hammer comes to volunteers they are hoping to co-ordi- mind. This is going to be a hot topic nate more than the usual ‘tow-pathduring the short consultation period tidy’ this year and are inviting indiwhich ends in May so I suggest you viduals and groups to get involved put pen to paper and let your MP with vegetation clearance and even know just how you feel about one of the removal of rubbish from the life’s remaining pleasures being curwater. The date of this year’s clear-up tailed. will be around 26th to 29th March but at the time of writing, the Branch have John Evans
John Varley Memorial The Chesterfield Canal Trust held a short ceremony to unveil a memorial to the canal’s engineer John Varley, who was buried in Harthill churchyard in February 1809. The event took place outside the old schoolroom beside Harthill church on Saturday February 28th at 12.30 and was followed by refreshments in the old village schoolroom, which had been converted into a meeting room for the local community. Christine Richardson, the canal researcher, authority and author, said a few words about John Varley, who lived in Harthill and whose children probably attended the schoolroom to which his memorial will be affixed. Aegre March 2009 Page 21
Aegre, Aegir, Eagre, Haygir... 2009 No, I’m still not sure how you really ought to spell it, but it is a fascinating phenomenon on the Trent, and we are most grateful to the Environment Agency for their predictions for the coming year. These times are for Gainsborough until the end of September, and are adjusted for the change from GMT to BST, but it can be up to thirty minutes earlier depending on possible strong winds, for example. There are no “five star” forecasts for this year, because of the way the moon phases and the equinoxes fall. Stockwith should be about 20 minutes earlier than Gainsborough, and Owston Ferry about 45 minutes earlier. For more details EA have a very useful leaflet giving some of the folklore and recommended viewing places, like Derrythorpe, Gainsborough itself, Morton, Stockwith, and Susworth. PH. Date March 11th March 12th March 13th June 26th July 23rd July 24th July 25th July 26th August 21st August 21st August 22nd August 22nd August 23rd August 24th September 18th September 19th September 19th September 20th September 20th September 21st September 22nd Aegre March 2009 Page 22
Time 18.34 19.11 19.47 09.33 07.50 08.33 09.15 10.00 07.32 20.12 08.12 20.53 08.53 09.33 06.30 07.10 19.47 07.48 20.22 08.28 09.06
Forecast Medium Medium Medium Small Small Medium Medium Medium Medium Small Large Small Large Medium Small Medium Small Large Small Large Medium
Alien Invaders in Our Waterways (Editor’s note: This article obviously needs pictures. We have tried to find useful ones, but the limitations of web definition in this version and the process used mean that they may not be very helpful. The Environment Agency has several useful leaflets including colour pictures). In our canals or rivers invasive plant species, sometimes referred to as “alien invaders”, are often faster growing and colonise new areas more rapidly than many native species. Those invasive plants that are nonnative often have no natural predators or diseases to control their numbers. This can cause a variety of problems, from obstructing navigation, snagging props, and blocking cooling systems to blocking weirs, sluices and lock paddles. Effort to clear these problems may divert resources from other essential works on the canal network. In addition, invasive species often compete with and damage our own native plants and the animals that depend on them. DEFRA suggest that invasive non-native species are the second biggest threat to bio-diversity worldwide, and the greatest to island eco-systems. Invasive species may be costing the British economy an estimated several million pounds per year. Their concern is backed up by legislation in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it unlawful to plant or allow certain species to grow in the wild. Of
the many problem terrestrial and aquatic plants present in the UK, some are of particular concern for the canal and river environment:
• Australian swamp crop or New Zealand pygmy weed (Crassula helmsii): This was first introduced to Britain in 1911. It was originally sold in garden centres as an oxygenating plant and has since spread across the country at an alarming rate, as tiny fragments of the plant can re-grow and multiply into a dense mat of vegetation. It is still spreading and has colonised an estimated 10,000 sites across the UK. It currently takes a staggering £3 million a year to control this plant in Britain alone. • Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides): Originally native to North America, floating pennywort was only introduced to Britain in the 1980’s, but by the 1990’s it had become present in the wild. It is sold in some garden centres as a plant for tropical aquaria and garden ponds. It can grow at a rate of Aegre March 2009 Page 23
year. Giant hogweed also poses a health risk, as the sap can inflame the
skin when exposed to sunshine. Giant hogweed is another plant listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act. 20cm (8 inches) a day and causes a range of problems including de-oxygenating the water, killing fish and invertebrates, choking drainage systems and crowding out our native water plants. In a season it can grow up to 15m (17 yards) from the bank. As with other invasive species, this plant can re-grow from small fragments and can be dispersed through boat movements. • Giant hogweed (Heracleum managazzianum): Introduced in 1893 as an ornamental garden plant, giant hogweed now colonises many areas of wasteland and riverbanks. It dominates over other plants, crowding them out and leaving the banks bare of vegetation in winter, increasing the risk of erosion. This plant reproduces through seeds, and each flower head can produce up to 50,000 seeds a Aegre March 2009 Page 24
•
Japanese knotweed
(Fallopia japonica): This plant is generally acknowledged to be one of the most invasive weeds in Britain, and can grow as much as 2cm (3/4”) per day, even through a variety of materials including concrete. The dense growth soon crowds out native vegetation, and can cause riverbank erosion and structural damage. Plants can
regenerate from very small fragments spread through water movement, so Japanese knotweed is also listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
source for many non-native species. Many garden centres still sell plants that have potential to cause problems if released into the wild. What you can do • If you encounter any problem vegetation inform your local British Waterways office and Environment Agency office. • On canals, try to identify the source of the problem, and again inform the local BW Office. • Avoid disturbing beds of aquatic weeds and ensure you do not transport fragments on your prop, fenders or footwear.
• Water fern (Azolla filiculoides): This is also known as Fairy Fern, and is a popular pond plant, growing rapidly to form thick mats. These can completely cover the water surface, reducing light penetration and causing de-oxygenation.
• Although they may look pretty, please do not dispose of plants from your garden or aquarium into the canal. Instead, compost them fully or place them in your refuse bin. Check with your local Council for their policy.
Other problem species include
• Encourage owners of adjacent properties to plant benign native species in their ponds and stop any nonnative or invasive species entering the canal and river network.
• Fringed water lily (Nyphoides peltata) • Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) • Least duckweed (Lemna minuta) Where do they come from? In the 19th century many terrestrial plants were imported as ornamental garden plants, and the gardening and aquatics trade continues to act as a potential
• If you would like to take part in a weed control programme, please do not start any work without the approval of your local BW or EA office. This will give them the opportunity to co-ordinate efforts. Malcolm Fielding (IWA) & Jonathan Harts-Wood (BW) Aegre March 2009 Page 25
Plans for National Campaign Rally on the Chesterfield Canal going well The 2009 I.W.A. National Campaign Rally is to be held at Kiveton Park, near Worksop, over the Spring Bank Holiday, 23rd to 25th May. The rally is hosted by the Chesterfield Canal Trust and Chesterfield Canal Partnership with the support of the Inland Waterways Association, British Waterways, the Land Reclamation Trust and the local community. Between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors are expected to enjoy a large range of activities both on the water and along the towpath. There will be a formal opening at midday on Saturday, and stalls representing many waterways organisations and crafts. As part of a revival of heritage crafts and skills, just such an organisation will be present with ten people in period dress demonstrating heritage skills and inviting the public to have a go. As well, there will be canoeing and angling and several local walks set up. Naturally there will be plenty of food and drink stalls plus entertainments for children such as a clown and rides. There will be entertainment each evening in the marquee for boaters or by prior arrangement. The festival will be held on the site of the wharf which was used for transshipment of stone to build The Houses of Parliament. This was quarried at
Part of the festival mooring site.
Aegre March 2009 Page 26
Thorpe Treble Locks. North Anston in the 1840's. The mooring site is beautiful - see the photographs. Parking will be at Kiveton Waters, a short distance away, and there is a fleet of six heritage buses to take people to the site. Rail services to Kiveton Park are not yet confirmed, but there should be a good service on the Saturday, somewhat reduced on Sunday and Monday. Over thirty boats have already confirmed, all except four from other waterways. There is still time to enter but the total number of boats will be strictly limited. E-mail Dr. Geraint Coles at geraint.coles@derbyshire.gov.uk or write to Rod Auton at The Parish Rooms, Church Street, Eckington, S21 4BH.
The vintage bus arriving at the site for an earlier event.
Aegre March 2009 Page 27
George Andrews I am sorry to report the death in January of George Andrews. I got to know George in the late 1960s when, with his late wife Olive and a parrot, he came to the Chesterfield Canal in their boat Romulus. In those days it was unusual to see an old working boat on the canal, let alone one from Birmingham. On what was probably his first trip to Worksop he found that he couldn’t wind his 50 foot boat unless he reversed to Ranby, so he got out his shovel and dug a notch in the towing path for his bow opposite Worksop Cricket Ground. In those days boaters carried a spade because there were no sanitary stations and this notch was used for years by other boaters. (The winding hole at Worksop was built in about 1975 when IWA and Retford & Worksop Boat Club tried to restore Morse Lock to wind in the old Lady Lea Arm). George came to the IWA Sheffield Rally with a number of boaters from the IWA National in Northampton in just over a week, and was among over 100 boats supporting that rally. Then in 1972 George was on the first campaign cruise on the River Idle when the navigation was threatened by the new pumping station proposed for West Stockwith, which at that time did not have a navigable sluice. On leaving the Idle on the Sunday morning on the ebb tide with some fresh coming down, George had to tow his mate, also from Birmingham, through Gainsborough Bridge. George had been a member of IWA Council for the West Midlands area and was the Chairman of IWA National Rallies in Birmingham in 1969 and 1982. George was a founder member of Wolverhampton Boat Club, when pleasure cruising started on the BCN, and he cruised a number of BCN branches that have now been lost. Through his cruising contacts with R&WBC and other clubs during his cruising, George was instrumental in the formation of the Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs. From John Baylis Derrick Davison End of an era. Well that is what it feels like to us on learning of the death of Derrick Davison in late October. Derrick sold us our first boat at Sawley Marina 38 years ago, when the marina mooring was the small pond that was once the boat sales area. We enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the family-run boatyard. Derrick was always hands-on and loved working on projects around the yard. Many was the time we caught him cleaning out the yard toilets. “Well some one has got to do it” he’d say. Once when I was going to empty out rubbish I started picking up litter on my way, when a loud voice said “What are you doing?” I turned to see Derrick grinning saying “I was doing him out of a job”. As our boat lengths grew, we awaited the move into the new lake-size moorings which Derrick was justly proud of. We were sad when the Davison’s sold the marina, but we continued to see Derrick as he surveyed our boat and others in the marina, and always had a natter about the “good old days of boating”.
Aegre March 2009 Page 28
When he learnt that we were thinking of leaving the marina and looking for new moorings, he readily suggested we could moor with them on the Erewash Canal. So we have come the full circle and are now back with the Davison’s. It was good to see Derrick once more pottering about the moorings, and always ready for a chat to put the waterways to rights. His funeral and wake was sad, but a celebration of his busy life. His passing was at least doing what he liked best, sailing his boat. Derrick was born in Yorkshire where his father was a marine draughtsman, but due to reduction in the boat industry the family moved to Derbyshire. For his National Service just after the Second World War he was conscripted to the Army but he was eventually moved to the army Boat Corp. On his return to civilian life Derrick took over Mills Dry Dock where he lived with his wife Mavis on a converted narrow boat, before they moved to one of the larger Trent Lock houseboats. Derrick’s boat building grew, eventually with concrete narrow boats and a hire fleet, and finally the family ran Sawley Bridge Marina. Derrick suffered a stroke whilst boating off Plymouth with Ted Wharmby, former keeper of Sawley Lock, and died shortly afterwards. Our condolences to his son Ralph, who is continuing with the boat surveying established by Derrick, and to the rest of his family. From Gordon and Christine Brown, NB Helen Mitchelle Leslie Hales I am sorry to report the death last November of Les Hales. Les was a native of the Leicester area and trained as an engineer during the Second World War. In 1950 Les married Freda and they fitted out an ex-lifeboat that was their living accommodation for several years. Also in 1950, Les and Freda attended the first Inland Waterways Association National Rally in Market Harborough. Les and Freda converted at least one other boat before they took over a derelict pub by the River Soar in Thurmaston; this remained their land-based accommodation to the present day. Les and Freda bought one of the last wooden boats built by Harborough Marine at Market Harborough, cruising in Aloma until they decided it was past cruising. It has spent several years on the bank at Thurmaston. Les and Freda extensively cruised the canal system, particularly the Leicester Section, and they attended many national rallies and the re-opening of the Welford Arm. Les was a member of most of the local canal societies and accumulated masses of postcards, photographs and artefacts related to Leicestershire and boating. He was a fount of knowledge on the boat people on the Leicester Section and beyond; particularly identifying people from post-war boating photographs. Les was a real gentleman whose funeral was well attended by friends and acquaintances from his wide interests; our condolences go to Freda and his family. From John Baylis
Aegre March 2009 Page 29
Regional Diary Dates 2009 All members of any branch, visitors, and non-members are all welcome to attend
Friday, March 13th. Erewash Canal Clean-up starting from Shipley Lock at 0900 and going to Gallows Inn. Friday, March 20th. Erewash Canal Clean-up starting from Gallows Inn at 0900 and going to Long Eaton. If any one is interested in joining either of these work parties please phone Mick Golds on 0115 932 8042 Friday, March 20th
Fenland Link opening at Black Sluice; see page 12.
Wednesday, March 25th Richard Thomas, a long-standing IWA member who has been very involved with the narrow boat “President”, will give an illustrated talk on “The Union Canal in Scotland”. 7.30 p.m. Venue: Coalville Bowls Club, Whitwick Road, Coalville (Enter via Council car park, turn left into Club car park). Sunday, March 29th Canal clean-up at Tinsley. Meet at Tinsley Marina at 10 am. Contact Mavis on 0114 268 3927 for details and to book lunch. April 10th to 13th (Easter) Witham Navigable Drains Cruise, water levels permitting. Telephone Dave Carnell or John Baylis (phones on page 2) Tuesday 14th April (may be changed due to it being Tuesday after Easter Monday). National festival meeting. Venue ?. Wednesday 15th April. SY&D quiz at Strawberry Island. See page 9. Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 Skittles Night and supper. 7.30 p.m. Venue: The Royal Oak, 105 Main Street, Cossington, Leics., LE7 4UW. Please book; forms available from Beryl at meetings or by emailing beryl@nbwasp.co.uk May 2nd to 4th (Early May Bank Holiday) Sleaford Navigation Trust Boat Gathering (Kyme Bottom Lock reopening). And Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival. See page 20. Wednesday May 13th National festival meeting. Venue ? May 23rd - 25th. IWA festival at Kiveton Park. See page 26 and back cover. And Trail-boat Rally at Moira. See page 16.
Aegre March 2009 Page 30
Saturday / Sunday, 6th and 7th June, 2009 Riverside Festival / Boat Rally on the Mile Straight, in Leicester. Further details nearer the time. See page 20. Tuesday 9th June. National festival meeting. Venue ?. Wednesday 17th June. SY&D BBQ at Strawberry Island. See page 9. For further details of Leicester meetings contact the Social Secretary, Beryl McDowall, on 07710 029247 or email beryl@nbwasp.co.uk. For Lincolnshire events contact Dave Carnell (see inside front cover) or Steve Hayes on 01522 689460 or email sleaford.navigation@ntlworld.com. For latest information on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire area, call Linda on 01949 860867. For S Y & D events contact Mavis on 0114 268 3927.
Letter to the Editor - Madurodam Dear Editor The article in the November issue of 'Aegre' about the flood barrier for the "Nieuwe Waterweg" in the Netherlands caught my attention. Few readers will have the opportunity to see this huge civil engineering project, let alone see the gates being operated. However, all is not lost! If you are visiting Den Haag, why not plan a visit to 'Madurodam', the famous 'small' city in the Netherlands, consisting of scale models of dozens and dozens of well-known and well-loved features seen throughout the country. From Schiphol Airport to the Royal Palace, everything is l a i d out in an appropriate setting at 1:25 scale. And, because the attraction is dynamic and up-dated with new things, there is a working model of the flood barrier at Hoek van Holland. Unlike the real thing, these gates operate every 15 minutes or so! The whole site is easy to reach by public transport or by car and, in 2005, it cost 12 Euros, with concessions. A comprehensive guide book in your language of choice is included in the price. You need to allow plenty of time to do the site justice, as I spent nearly six hours walking around. Being on mainland Europe, the opening hours are very good - not closing until 10:00 pm. in high season. By day or by night, be prepared to work your camera to death! Yours sincerely, Richard Hackford
Aegre March 2009 Page 31
• I WA N a t i o n a l C a m p a i g n R a l l y •
Aegre March 2009 Page 32