Aegre No. 139 July 2014
from the East Midlands Region of
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Aegre is published Š 2014 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association for members of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branches.
Chairman
David Pullen, 16 Church Street, Scothern, Lincoln LN2 2UA. Tel 01673 862278
Vice-Chairman
Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138
Leicestershire Branch Chairman
Ian McDonald, 68 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester LE7 7JG Mobile: 07950 003383
Lincolnshire Branch Chairman
Dave Carnell (as above)
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman
Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main St, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7EU
Secretary & WRG
John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Rd West, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208
Editor for Aegre: Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ Tel: 01507 602713; e-mail: aegre@waterways.org.uk Printing: This is the web version with lower definition pictures. Picture credits: Front cover: Dave Carnell, see page 15. Back cover: Rod Auton, see page 23. Page 3: Entry to the Louth Canal, see page 30. Other picture credits page 28.
The 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.
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No. 139 July 2014
AEGRE Contents Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region..............................4 The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam.................................................5 From David Pullen, Chairman.......................................................6 News from Leicestershire...........................................................10 Lincolnshire Happenings............................................................15 News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire..............................18 Around the Societies and Trusts.................................................22 Cromford and Chesterfield Canal Camps...................................24 Mick Golds’ Retirement...............................................................25 Picture Credits............................................................................28 Journals Received......................................................................28 New Chesterfield Canal Footbridge............................................29 A Sailing Trip to Tetney Lock......................................................30 Walking the Cuckoo Way............................................................32 Notts & Derby Branch Meetings.................................................33 Melton and Oakham Afloat........................................................34
Next issue probably to be published in November 2014. Contributions to the editor (see page 2) by the end of September 2014 please. The space on the right is for local contact information.
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Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association
Chris Madge, c/o 62 Broadway, Duffield, Derby DE56 4BU Tel: 07827 946444 www.derbycanal.org.uk
Howard Smith, 1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 9384129 www.erewashcanalpreservationanddevelopmentassoc.org.uk
Foxton Inclined Plane Trust
Friends of Charnwood Forest Canal
Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk
Mike Handford, 1 Sheepy Close, Hinckley, LE10 1JL Tel: 01455 611508 mahandford@gmail.com
Friends of the Cromford Canal
Matthew Rogers, 2 Main Road, Whatstandwell, Matlock, DE4 5HE Tel: 07968 766620
Grantham Canal Society
Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375 www.granthamcanal.com
Louth Navigation Trust
Paula Hunt, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 605496 www.louthcanal.org.uk
Melton & Oakham
Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0HP Tel: 01664 503330 www.meltonwaterways.co.uk
Waterways Society Sleaford Navigation Trust
Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N. Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk
Trent and Mersey Canal Society
10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0BL. Tel: 01606 834471 www.tamcs.org.uk
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The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam Normally I leave an odd item in the pages of “Aegre” as a deliberate mistake, to see if anyone spots it. But I really need to apologise to readers for the announcement of the opportunity to visit Holme Lock during repair works by C&RT in March. For various reasons the work had to be postponed several times (a fuller account from David Pullen on page 7) so that it did not happen. In the future perhaps we should include the standard proviso “If travelling any distance to an event, please check with the organisers shortly beforehand that it is still going ahead as planned”. Sometimes little steps lead forward in an unexpected way, but also give me cause for little steps of worry. To explain - over the past year or so we have seen valuable advances affecting the canals and rivers. There has been positive coverage on television, and not just the Timothy West series. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is promoting training courses for inland skippers. More generally, journalistic mention has begun to know the difference between a narrow boat and a barge - but is still confused by “house-boat”, and there was even discussion of Tom Rolt’s book “Narrow Boat” at the the Hay-on-Wye literature festival. But my writing here has been prompted by the front page of a broad-sheet paper with a charming picture of a few boats on a misty canal
- on their property supplement. A supplement which rarely discusses anything cheaper than £500,000. Although they do venture north of Watford, it is rarely beyond Oxfordshire or Northamptonshire. The accompanying text is reasonably accurate, with sensible suggestions such as “hire before you buy”, but the suggested areas are ones now familiar as problems - London and the western end of the Kennet and Avon. Am I suffering from “dog in the manger” effect? I hope not, but does an influx of what is really money in this way help the canals, in particular the C&RT, or will it drive prices in the south up to the extent that there is no affordable mooring space for visitors from the north. Your opinions are welcome. For some years now the Newsletter of the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership has been a valuable way of communicating their achievements and plans to a wide public - not just in Lincolnshire. Their projects, led by Mary Powell, have had a major influence on the various rivers and canals, and even drains and becks, in the county. So it was worrying to learn that they are no longer going to publish after Summer 2014, issue 32. There will be an electronic version, as for many other organisations, but details are not yet clear. We wish the team every success with their future Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 5
projects, and with the hi-tech newsletter. Anyone wishing to request a copy should drop a postal line to Lincolnshire County Council, Freepost RRZK-BRXK-URAX, Communities, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YQ.
“Narrow Boat on the Trent” in the November 2007 issue of “Aegre”. If you would like to see it and no longer have that issue (shame!) it is on the IWA web site at: www.waterways.org.uk/branches_regi ons/east_midlands/aegre_online_arch ive. This topic is also relevant to We mentioned in the last issue the EA’s wish to get more usage of the transfer of a dumper truck from Sleaf- Black Sluice - see Dave Carnell’s ord Trust to Chesterfield. Following report on page 16. up on the “tools of the trade” of canal trusts and societies, we have a contri- No solution came up for our old picbution (Page 34) from Melton on their ture last time of (?) dredging on the work boats. The Mole in particular Witham. Any more ideas? seems a very useful gadget. I wonder if they have registered the design? More notes from the editor are scattered throughout this edition, but here Later in this issue David mentions just best wishes for the remaining seapossible plans for encouraging navison, and hoping that river and canal gation on the Trent. Some readers levels are neither too high nor too may remember that we reviewed John low. Peter Lower’s excellent small book called
From David Pullen, Chairman Future Navigation on the Trent C&RT East Midlands have an action plan including a feasibility project into providing boater support / training / information for boaters that are wary of navigating the River Trent, both tidal and non-tidal. I’m trying to take this forward and would welcome any suggestions or offers of help from boaters in the East Midlands. We may organise convoys, offer pilotage, training, free Trent Charts, live phone contact / support – that sort of thing. It would be good if this could be done under the IWA “brand” to maintain and improve our image, but in partnership with C&RT. Anybody with any thoughts on this please contact me by e-mail (david.pullen@waterways.org.uk) or phone. See page 2 for contact details. Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 6
Past navigation on the Trent Holme Lock Earlier in the year there was anxiety about the problems with Holme Lock, and the serious delays resulting, although some maintenance had always been planned . Here for your information is some of the background. Pictures of the work in progress from John Baylis: C&RT original message: A stoppage is required to investigate and repair a problem with the bottom lock gates at Holme Lock.
C&RT update on 23/12/2013: The East Midlands team have extended the closure to the 29th March. The works are required as one of the bottom gates has dropped by 50 mm and there could be a number of reasons for this. The bottom of the gate is fixed in position with a ‘pintel and cup’ arrangement and the investigation and repair work is likely to be focused on this area. The timber around the cup, which sits within the gate, could have rotted
allowing the pintel to push the cup into the gate; the pintel could have sheared, or the lock floor around the pintel could be damaged causing the pintel to drop. C&RT update on 20/03/2014: The floor of the lock downstream of the bottom gates suffered a failure resulting in a large ingress of water. We believe that weathering over many years of the Mercia mudstone underlying the concrete floor has created sizable voids. These voids have allowed the passage of water to the underside of the lock floor. The removal of the water from the lock to carry out the works to the gate created a pressure head resulting in a force on the lock floor that has caused the damage. Our estimate at this stage is that the works could take up to the 16th May. C&RT update on 16/05/2014: You will be pleased to hear that the works to Holme Lock will be substantially completed today as planned. From Wednesday 21 May the lock will be back to normal, with a lock Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 7
keeper on from 9:30 am to 5.30 pm and user operated outside of these hours.
cant problems arise it does at least give some latitude with less risk of affecting the main boating season. Regards, David Pullen
From David Pullen to Sean McGinley From: Sean McGinley David, Thank you for the email. Ideally we would have started the work in November, for the very reasons you give. Holme Lock was not in our original plan, but after noticing a reduction in performance of the gate last summer we changed our plan in late July, cancelling works at Wiseton on the Chesterfield Canal to accommodate it. The amount of pre-site work needed to carry out a stoppage on the Trent is quite immense and to get on site in November from a startWhilst we realise that there were sig- ing point of the end of July would not nificant unforeseen circumstances be possible unless we had also canwhich caused the prolonged stoppage celled the stoppage at Misterton to to carry on well into the start of the free up the one engineer we had at main boating season, we feel that a that time. It was therefore simply the different planning approach to work, only choice we had in a difficult situaon the Trent structures in particular, tion. would have reduced the risks of the Regards, Seån McGinley, Waterway long stoppage. Manager – East Midlands Hi Sean, Good news that Holme Lock is finally open again! The prolonged stoppage has certainly caused tremendous inconvenience to boaters, particularly from East Midlands and nearby areas such as Yorkshire and Central Shires. The Trent is the major navigation artery for our region and when it is closed it damages boating, both leisure and commercial.
We are of the opinion that any work on the Trent should be initially planned to begin at the start of the winter maintenance programme. We realise that these major structures cannot be inspected below water level without a stoppage so it would be less risky to have the stoppage early in the winter to mitigate the significant risk of finding serious problems (as in the case of Holme Lock). If the work starts early in the winter and signifiAegre 139W - July 2014 Page 8
Meeting with Irven Forbes at Environment Agency Lincoln. 6 May 2014 David Pullen, IWA East Midlands Chairman, and Dave Carnell, IWA Lincolnshire Branch Chairman met Irven Forbes for informal discussions on EA navigations and future EA organisation.
The meeting was primarily aimed at finding out to what extent the reported cuts in EA navigation funding on the River Thames would be repeated in EA “Anglian Region” (as it existed prior to the current re-organisation). The risk of the Anglian navigations being separated from the other EA waterways and transferred to C&RT is also an issue of concern to IWA.
be interesting to see how splitting line and functional management in this way works out because funding for Irven’s navigations will presumably be through the North Hub? There will be 3 navigation managers reporting to the South Hub; Anglian (North), Anglian South and Thames.
Funding Cuts We mentioned the dramatic funding cuts that have been reported for EA in England is being re-organised Thames Navigations and asked how into 3 “Hubs”; South (at Brampton this will reflect in Anglian Naviganear Huntingdon), North (Leeds) and tions. Irven stated that all the revenue West (Bristol). Anglian Navigations funding cuts for the Thames will be will be line managed by the South hub found from reducing seasonal staff. even though the previous North He did not necessarily agree that 26% Anglian region (mainly Lincolnshire) was the funding cut on the Thames. is now in the North hub. This is because there are no EA navigations Anglian region navigations has a revin the North. Irven will remain at Lin- enue funding cut of 48% (£1m down coln and will continue to manage the to £520k). There will be no staff cuts Anglian Navigations and report to and the deficit will be accommodated Brampton. This consolidates ALL EA by: Navigations management into the · Increase in boat registrations* South Hub. I specifically asked Irven · Increase in licence fees about the possibility of the Anglian · 15% reduction in mainteNavigations being separated from the nance rest (“divide and rule”!). Irven said · Reduction in central cost conthat was definitely not on the agenda tribution (overheads!). and that EA would steadfastly resist this. (My interpretation is that consol- *Although approximately 200 regisidating navigation management in the trations were “lost” to the Cam ConSouth Hub is “circling the wagons” servators, (who now register their to keep lines of communication short own boats and share the revenue with within the navigation teams). Irven EA), this has been offset by a similar also claimed that Navigation was one increase in EA registrations, mainly of very few teams that are being allowed to operate “pan Hub”. It will Future Organisation
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on the Great Ouse. This despite the year on year licence increase of around 4.5%! Black Sluice Lock and Navigation Black Sluice Lock is still being repaired following flood damage from the tidal surge in December 2013. Therefore Black Sluice Navigation remains closed until the lock is repaired. We also discussed the possibility of a boating event on the Black Sluice at some future stage when the new slipway and facilities are complete at Hubberts Bridge. Welches Dam Lock EA has now established ownership of all of the drain connecting Welches Dam Lock with Horseway Lock. EA owns one bank and an Oxford college owns the other. This is the drain which leaks water into the surrounding farmland when water levels are maintained at navigable depth. Various solutions were discussed and Irven stated that EA were still interested, in principle, in some sort of volunteer-led management of the lock and the drain if a suitable management regime can be agreed. David
News from Leicestershire I write this whilst on the Macc just past Bollington hoping the forecast deluge fails to materialise, and glad we were not planning on going down the Soar and Trent this week!
have a presence there on the towpath on the Mile Straight at the heart of the waterside action.
I understand that the Loughborough Canal Festival was as popular as ever For the Leicester Riverside Festival I with towpath users, though I have hope that many of our members along heard that boat numbers were down. I with a large crowd were able to enjoy hope that this successful annual event the events the City Council arranged will continue into the future and that and especially a good number of waterway users and boaters will conboats for people to see. As I said last tinue to support it. There is a good time we have not been able to muster chance I shall be able to be at both a group of members to set up our these events next year as we are on stand and to promote the IWA our valedictory cruise this summer amongst the public. It is our fervent and should be living ashore within hope that next year we will be able to Leicestershire next May and June. Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 10
who haven’t tried one of his quizzes make a date to catch one, you will enjoy it. We completed our evening in Tony & Mary’s pub enjoying a drink and some excellent sandwiches. Over Easter the Historic Narrow Boat Club held a very successful meeting at Foxton with good weather. We held a very pleasant and enjoyable quiz night there shortly before, the final meeting of our “social” year, and were delighted to be joined by a few non-members as well as other IWA members who had arrived by boat. We started in the Museum with Mary Matts standing in for Mike Beech who had another appointment.
For everyone else, do go along and spend time looking at all the new display material, it is a great little museum and deserves our support.
John Evans and I attended the first meeting of the Catchment Area Partnership for the Soar which was for all those with an interest in the water that flows into the Soar and how it is managed, except C&RT didn’t attend!! It was an interesting meeting, where I met people I hadn’t seen for some Mary gave us a very interesting talk time and the interfacing was useful, about the development of the locks but John and I felt that the River Soar (which opened 200 years before) and Grand Union Partnership covers the the Inclined Plane. I feel pretty sure issues well. Nevertheless it is importhat everyone who heard Mary learnt tant for the IWA to be represented. several new facts at least, and we fol- Later there was a major meeting of lowed this by studying the new disthe Partnership, held in the rather plays closely as we tried to complete palatial surroundings of City Football the quiz Andrew had prepared. After Club stadium, where there was a good his excellent Xmas quiz this continand varied group present. We have ued the standard, in particular in the been pushing hard for improved way he hadn’t put PTO or some such boater facilities in Leicester, as well at the bottom of the page!!! Some of as for the old Mill on the Soar just his questions were very cleverly com- downstream of West Bridge to be posed so that most of us thought we restored following the fire that knew what we were being asked, destroyed its roof. At the RSGUP except we weren’t. Keep up the good meeting we had a great presentation work Andrew, and for those of you about the joined-up work that has Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 11
been undertaken at Atherstone, with very evident enthusiasm. I also was introduced by Beryl to Darren Green, the C&RT manager for Central Shires, and moved forward the possible method of providing the facilities in Leicester, having already raised this with several people from Leicester City. Funding is, as always, the big issue but I was able to introduce the person from Central Shires who is clever at finding money to the person from the City project responsible for the Mill restoration funding, the Mayor having already acknowledged the possibility of incorporating pontoon moorings and a services block with the restoration. The Branch have been trying to get this ever since we were founded, perhaps we may succeed at last. These meetings can be a place where there is a great load of hot air given out, but John and I were very glad to have gone to them. I also asked the Mayor if he would like to come and give a talk about plans for the waterway through Leicester this coming season. As he is a member of the Branch he said he’d be delighted to come and he will be speaking at our AGM in February 2015.
improved. Our delight will be even greater if the planned dredging takes place and helps to control the growth of reeds that so greatly reduces navigable width. During our cruise I have spoken to all the volunteers that I have seen helping to work locks or undertake maintenance and it is very heartening to find that so many of them had previously had nothing to do with the waterways other than enjoying walking or cycling, yet now they are donating their time to the future of the waters.
This neatly brings me on to my next topic, VOLUNTEERING, and our planned Big Bash. We are currently working to bring together a large group from across the city & county. We are working with Alison Smedley, our National Volunteering Coordinator, Leicester City Council’s waterspace team and with Tom Freeland, the local C&RT Volunteer Coordinator, to get this event out to attract as many people as possible to come along and join in on October 4th. Details have still to be confirmed at this time but some of the effort will Improvements on the cut - and these be based near Lime Kiln lock. We are just my personal observations. I hope to include work from boats as have moaned for some time in User well as on the ground. Group meetings about cutting of the towpath but also about controlling As we are working to attract members overhanging vegetation. On our trip of the general public to join in, we from Debdale over the Leicester will also want to establish our Branch Summit we were delighted to find gazebo and stand with a few people that the navigable width is now much able to work it, to tell people what is Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 12
going on and all about the IWA. I do hope that we can count on a good number of you joining us and helping to improve the waterway as well as awareness of the IWA. Leicester Council’s “GreenLife Boat” is working again, except that sadly the old BW work flat had reached the point where it was beyond economic repair. Fortunately Adrian’s team put together a successful bid for a suitable boat. I circulated to those of you who have given Head Office permission to use your email addresses, details of the programme of sessions with the boat, I hope you received it and considered volunteering. Events are being arranged for tackling Himalayan Balsam and also Floating Pennywort. I hope that they will not be curtailed by the flooding of the Soar. Some of these efforts have been in association with Aylestone Meadows Appreciation Society, but anyone can join in. The next is: Tuesday 22nd July – 10am to lunchtime. Meet at Leicester Rowing Club, Upperton Road, LE2 7AU to clear the invaders between Freeman’s Meadow and St Mary’s Mill Locks. Contact: Tom Freeland on 01827 252010 or 07789 033435 or by email tom.freeland@canalrivertrust.org.uk
C&RT and can be set off against other funding, attracting in even more money. Future Meetings are in the pipeline, being arranged by Andrew & Debbie after their very successful series last year. Meetings will be at The Gate Hangs Well, Syston at 7.30 on the second Thursday of October, November and February and April. The Xmas event is to be another Buffet Quiz and will be at Wanlip Church Hall. Our hosts love cooking so they have said they will cater for us there! Please reserve these dates in your diaries/calendars and keep in touch with our pages on the IWA web site for any last minute info. I hope we will have more good turnouts this winter series, and if you could consider bringing a raffle prize every so often it would be wonderful.
Our raffle at our meetings is needed to cover the costs of our meetings. The donation we ask for at the door just about covers the cost of hiring the room, but our speakers generally ask for a donation towards their charity or cause, sometimes towards their travel costs, and it is our raffle that helps to pay for this. Obviously if one of us gives the talk, costs are lower, but are probably of less interest. The more people we can get along buying raffle I mentioned Tom and the C&RT Vol- tickets, the better. unteering he is arranging with us, but every alternate Tuesday activities take On the matter of finances, the place around Leicester. Every volun- branch’s Leicester Line leaflet is very teering hour undertaken is logged by popular and I was delighted to hear Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 13
that our Region Chairman always picks up the latest copy. We distribute over 2000 copies a year through metal boxes spaced along the line as well as other places along the line. In previous years when we held 7 or 8 meetings a year with larger audiences as well as displaying our stand at festivals where we managed to sell a few items we had been given, we had a reasonable income each year and were able to fund the printing of our Leaflets. Would that this be the case now. We urgently need to find ways of funding its publication as we need a new print run. If any of you have any good ideas, please pass them to me. Currently we don’t wish to do a full revamp and are considering seeking sponsorship from businesses alongside the line that are mentioned on the leaflet. Please think and suggest. Ian Future Meetings All meetings are at 7.30 pm unless otherwise stated and at The Gate Hangs Well, Syston. Thursday 9th October. Alison Smedley will talk about Historic Narrowboats, and her cruises. Thursday 13th November. Brian Williams will give a talk on the Charnwood Forest Canal that was deferred from last February. Thursday 11th December. Christmas Party at Wanlip Church Hall. Our joint Social Secretaries have undertaken to produce another buffet following the one they created last year. Bring your own drinks and there will be another light hearted but brain stretching quiz. Booking for this, with pre-payment, is essential. A booking form will be available on our web page and those of you that get our emails will be sent one by the end of September. If you don’t receive these, please contact Ian and request one. Thursday 12th February 2015 at 7.15 Branch AGM. Member Sir Peter Soulsby will talk about the plans he and the City have for the water-space in Leicester.
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Lincolnshire Happenings With funding contributions from the Slea Navigation Trust, the IWA, East Anglian Waterways Association and an anonymous benefactor, large amounts of silt were removed from the channel leading to Taylors Lock on the River Slea.
Picture above by Mel Sowerby. A "simple" exemption under the waste disposal legislation allows for silt with low pollution to be disposed of to the bank. Approval from the EA and the adjacent land owner allowed this operation to go ahead in time for 14 boats to spend the May Day Bank Holiday weekend at South Kyme and join in the village activities. The weather was perfect and boats were blessed by the Bishop of Lincoln, who also had a boat ride from the moorings towards the church for Sunday service. See our picture on the front cover. Left to right. Jean Morris, Churchwarden; Rt Revd. Christopher
Lowson, Bishop of Lincoln; Revd. Mike Rose, of South Kyme; Pat Taylor, founder member of SNT; and daughter Sue Sowerby. Picture by Dave Carnell. The Parish Council has now registered ownership of land for the water access point to allow canoes and dinghies to launch, and moorings for larger craft. Canoe England have supplied a number of designs for consideration, and ground reinforcement for the approach to the moorings is to be considered. Bank erosion in the village is also a problem due to fluctuating water levels. Some properties have lost two metres of land. Meetings by the Parish Council, SNT, IWA and the EA are considering options for soft bank protection. The EA are to lose a further 1,400 jobs by this October. The Regional Managerial level is to be removed with Areas reporting directly to National Level. This reduction in manpower impacts on other projects, such as the Boston Tidal Barrier where completion, despite the Tidal Surge flooding, is not planned until 2019. The works on the Fenland Link Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 15
protection works and partially restricting navigation; there has been lack of manpower to man the locks and to re-establish the agreed communications procedure between the three authorities concerned. At Bardney Lock, on the River Witham, a large redundant swing bridge will be on-going for another five years. The Fen- has caused safety access land Link works at Hubberts Bridge to provide problems on the off-side of a slipway, water, and toilet pump-out facilities the chamber for many are due to be opened shortly, some two years years. This is to be behind schedule due to other bank protection removed by C&RT in the works. foreseeable future and Picture above by Shirley Rogers. transported to a site on the Grantham Canal. Picture Concern about the lack of boats visiting the Link below by Dave Carnell. has been voiced by the EA, who are requesting assistance in promoting its use. There have been For many years there has a number of factors during 2013/2014 to take been a lack of visitor moorinto consideration; two large jack-up barges are ings in Brayford Pool. The working in the tidal Haven reinforcing the flood Brayford Trust now also manages the former marina moorings and has moorings available for five visiting cruisers and three narrow-boats. Subject to funding becoming available, floating moorings will be installed adjacent to the east wharf with some older fixed ones near the Harbour Master’s Office converted to floating. Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 16
Canal walks for Help for Heroes. Doug Hamilton-Cox, intrepid walker and fundraiser, arrived in Sleaford on Tuesday 13th May having completed the latest section of his challenging tour of the British internal waterways national network by adding the Sleaford Navigation to the long list of canals that he has walked. He set off from Chapel Hill at 10.30 to walk along the river bank to South Kyme where he met local residents before striding out again towards Sleaford where he arrived at 4.00pm. Doug explained, “I am a 70-year old ex-soldier who with my wife Sue set out five years ago to raise money for our wounded troops via Help for Heroes. We undertook a short 150 mile walk from our home on Dartmoor to Wootten Bassett in Wiltshire. This was so successful that the following year we repeated the exercise with a 250 mile stroll from home to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, the first port of call for our wounded returning from Afghanistan, again with great success. I had now developed a severe case of itchy feet, so in 2011 decided to do the ultimate and final walk of John O’Groats to Lands End. Mission accomplished but I still couldn’t settle. So I am now half way through my Final Challenge of walking all of the 2500 miles of canals in the U.K. Sue and I have raised £82,000 to date and aim to make it £100,000 before we finish.” David Pullen and Steve Hayes of Sleaford Navigation Trust accompanied Doug on his walk and the photo shows Doug and David with Chris Hayes, Chairman of the Trust, outside Navigation House in Sleaford at the end of the walk. Picture by Steve Hayes. More information about Doug and Sue's travels can be found on http://www.dougwalking.co.uk/ From Dave Carnell Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 17
News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire As I write the warmer weather is upon us and the summer holiday and boating season beckons. I hope you get this edition before setting off for that much deserved break. On the local waterways front Holme Lock on the R. Trent has just reopened after a long maintenance stoppage. So those with boats in the east are now finally reconnected to the main network and the upstream river cruisers can get downstream of Nottingham once again. You can almost feel a palpable sense of relief!
designed a programme for the next season. With a fresh pair of eyes the programme should appeal to many – see the details later in the magazine.
At the AGM it was also an honour to present the Champion Webster cup to Rosemary Gibson. This is awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to waterways in the local area. Rosemary is the lynch pin for the Grantham Canal Society (GCS) in promoting the canal to local communities and schools. Many will know that the Looking back, our AGM went well. As GCS have a display stand which is used previously mentioned Brian White at local Shows and Fairs to promote the stood down as acting Chairman and I canal and recruit new members, but few put myself forward to fill those shoes. will realise the extent of its use. Nor At the following committee meeting I the dedication, time and effort that was officially appointed as your chair- requires. Not only to attend these man. I hope I have the skills to do a Shows but also the huge commitment good job but only time will tell. If you that goes into all the pre-event organishave any concerns or ideas for ing, preparation, planning, setting up improvements please do get in touch and then all the dismantling and stowand share them. With the current short- ing away for next time, which Roseage of funds every idea to improve the mary (assisted by Tony Jackson) carries waterways from whatever quarter out with quiet determination. These should be aired and considered As well activities, coupled with many a presenas the usual business we were pleased tation to Women’s Institute’s and U3A to welcome David Pullen, our new (University of the 3rd Age) etc. groups Region Chairman. He gave a summary across the area, again with all the assoof current IWA actions and concerns, ciated preparation, planning and organincluding Festivals and HS2, as well as ising seemingly going unseen make an interesting account of flood issues Rosemary the worthy recipient of this and defences in the Boston and wider award. Well done. Lincolnshire area. It is also great to report that a new volunteer has taken up In March we joined forces with the Erethe role of Social Secretary. Angela wash Canal Preservation and DevelopDunham has kindly volunteered, and ment Association (ECP&DA) to clean along with husband David has already up the Erewash canal. The two day
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event left the canal between Cotmanhay and Sandiacre, a length of about five and a half miles, looking much improved following the removal of litter from the towpath and submerged and floating rubbish from the canal. C&RT supplied two work boats, with staff to operate them, on both days. A tug and pan travelled down the canal to collect bags of litter and items of rubbish pulled out of the canal by volunteers working ahead on the towpath.
unteers who turned out for the clean up between Gallows Inn Lock and Sandiacre Lock. The usual assortment of shopping trolleys, bicycles and tyres were pulled out, along with much unidentifiable and miscellaneous rubbish. Over 50 bags of towing path litter were collected on the Friday alone and at one point on the Saturday afternoon a small group of tenacious volunteers collected some 8 bags of rubbish from just one blocked culvert by Pastures Lock.
This was followed by the work boat “Bollin” with volunteers on board picking out waterborne litter and rubbish from the offside of the canal. As the team passed through each lock, volunteers also cleared debris from the bywashes.
By the end of Saturday the pan was well loaded with all the rubbish from the two days’ work. Two intriguing highlights were the retrieval of a very shiny motorbike and a large tractor tyre. The Police were notified about the bike and came to take it away, mentioning it had only been missing for a week. A big thank you goes to all 55 volunteers who made the event such a success and as one of those on “Bollin” scooping floating debris from the canal surface and bringing up the rear I can vouchsafe for the great satisfaction you get
ECP&DA volunteers took the lead on the Friday, with about 30 volunteers, turning out to pull rubbish out of the canal between Cotmanhay and Gallows Inn Lock. On the Saturday IWA members formed the majority of the 25 vol-
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when you look behind and see the pristine canal being left after everyone has made the effort.
itage Lottery Fund award criteria.
As is usual with HLF applications the bid is in two phases, a Development Earlier in the year branch members phase award and a Delivery phase were invited by the Friends of Cromaward. Match funding, supplemental to ford Canal to a cruise on their new trip the HLF bid, is also part of the project. boat, Birdswood, in recognition of the In round numbers the Trust are applysupport given to purchase the boat last ing for a development phase award of year. 22 folks therefore boarded the £185k and a delivery phase award of boat at Cromford Wharf on a balmy £1.3M., a total of £1.5M. However, for May evening and were treated to a sce- the bid to be successful additional nic trip to High Peak Junction and back. matched funding is also required and It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by plans are in place for this. If successful all and made special by the commenwith their bid, £185k will be initially tary of the crew and the whisper-quiet awarded to embark on a £2.0M electric propulsion system. I would (approx) project to bring 750m of the thoroughly recommend a similar trip to canal back to navigation, directly conothers, a quiet cruise through a nected to the Erewash canal at SandiUNESCO World Heritage Site in a sce- acre. nic part of Derbyshire with a tea shop on the wharf opposite the mooring, hard As I write the Heritage Lottery Fund to beat. are assessing the application, but as you read this the result should be known. Further south the Derby and Sandiacre My fingers are crossed. So much time Canal Trust are also extremely active at and effort has been put in by a dedithe moment and have submitted a bid to cated band of people, I really hope they the Heritage Lottery Fund. The bid are successful. covers all the work needed to open approximately 750 metres of the Derby In a similar vein the Grantham Canal Canal from its junction with the Ereare close to submitting their phase 2 wash Canal through Cockayne’s Bridge (delivery phase) bid to HLF for the setto a new winding hole alongside Santing up of a heritage skills training cendringham Road. This will include the tre at Woolsthorpe, coupled with restoration of Lock Lane Bridge and the educational and community involvetwo locks that lie between there and ment activities. It is planned to submit Cockayne’s Bridge. Also included in the bid by mid-August. If successful the the bid is the preservation of the various training courses will result, remains of the Boat Inn, a former canal- over time, in four locks being fully side tavern, currently lost in the under- restored. This would complete the full growth, plus the funding of a series of restoration of the whole Woolsthorpe educational and community involveflight of 7 locks and mean that 6 miles ment activities, needed to meet the Her- of canal would be ripe for navigation
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from the 20 mile pound to the A1. There will still be barriers to full navigation, such as vegetation clearance and dredging, but hopefully that will be grist to the mill of the Society’s work parties. Looking towards the summer we are planning to raise funds for Waterway Recovery Group to enable them to complete the purchase of a new excavator. The main activity will be a Lock Wind at Derwentmouth Lock on the Trent and Mersey canal at Shardlow on Saturday August 2nd. Branch members will operate the lock on behalf of boaters passing through in return for a small donation. We therefore need volunteers to help operate the lock on the day. Training will be given for those not already experienced in operating locks so please don’t be shy about getting involved. Either contact me or send an e-mail to nottsandderbys@waterways.org.uk for further details and to confirm your participation.
Lane lock just off London Road in Nottingham at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 21st September where towing path litter picking and grappling the canal bed will commence and then head west towards the city. For further information please contact Alison Smedley, IWA Branch Campaign Officer 07779 090915, alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk.
Looking ahead to the Social calendar, on Friday 17th October IWA National Chairman Les Etheridge will be joining us to give a presentation “Taking IWA Forward”. This is an opportunity for all to quiz the National Chairman on the future of IWA and its role within the overall Waterways movement. Is there really a long term role for two national charities (Canal and River Trust plus IWA)? Come along and discuss or raise any issues on your mind. On Friday November 21st there will be an enlightening illustrated talk by Robert Neff (general manager of Mercia Marina) “The Berth of a Marina” (don’t you just love the play on words!) Then in the following month we are describing the planning and construcplanning a canal clean up on the Nottion of a large marina and the continutingham and Beeston canal starting at ing growth and conservation over the Meadow Lane Lock and working west last six years. Then on Friday Decemtowards the city centre. This follows ber 19th it will be our Christmas Social on from the work started last September with a sharing buffet. So put the at the Beeston end working east into the evening of the third Friday in the month city centre. Final planning has still to be in your diaries and see the calendar of completed as I write but C&RT have events at the back of this magazine. Do agreed to provide work boats and crew come and join us, everyone is most to transport and finally dispose of the welcome, I look forward to seeing you rubbish. Everyone is most welcome to there. participate, so please come and join in. Once plans are finalised it is expected Mike Snaith that we should meet up at Meadow Pictures from Archie Roberts
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Around the Societies and Trusts The trips with nb Birdswood on the Cromford Canal began last year, and we wish them well with getting the full length of trip going this year, helped by the necessary dredging, and also the great step of introducing horse-drawn trips. If you would like to book a trip, please call Mike Kelley on 07552 055455 or e-mail boat@cromfordcanal.org.uk. Planned steaming dates at Leawood for the second half of 2014 are August 2/3,/24/25, October 4/5 and November 1/2.. All being well, trips by horse-boat will also be running on those days. The Derby and Sandiacre Trust have produced an excellent historical summary on the Derby Canal by Doug Flack, who edits their journal “The Packet”. A large section is devoted to reminiscences of the Boat Inn at Sandiacre and the one-time landlord Albert Lovett. As there has been recent discussion in the press about imposing a minimum price for alcoholic drinks, I feel a short quotation may be relevant.
Lovett was fined £9 4s for selling beer at 6d a pint, when the maximum price provided by the Beer (Prices Description) Order 1918 was 4d. This is a very interesting compilation, and anyone wanting a copy could contact Doug via their web site at www.derbycanal.org.uk. Work parties continue at Draycott and Borrowash. Indoor meetings are planned to continue on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Wilmot Arms, 49 Derby Road, Borrowash DE72 3HA. The next will be on the 2nd July and 23rd September. Sleaford Navigation Trust continue with their work parties (usually second Sunday of the month, call 01522 856810). A major effort at surveying the nature of the silt problem at Taylor’s Lock, coupled with friendly negotiations with Environment Agency, South Kyme Council and landowners, resulted in the necessary major dredging operation. See Dave Carnell’s report in Lincolnshire Happenings. They hope to have a full set of pictures in their next SNT Journal. Louth Navigation Trust held their well-attended AGM at the Navigation Warehouse, where Stuart Sizer, local historian, gave a very interesting account of the story of the canal, also fitting it into historical context. The Trust now has a new Chairman, Roger Subden, and a Project Manager, Harry Cutts. A new departure for the Trust was a sailing expedition to the estuary entrance of the canal to test future access feasibility. Perhaps not strictly an inland water, but a good step forward. See the report on page 30.
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The Chesterfield Canal Trust have a very full programme lined up for this season including highlights of: - Trip boat Seth Ellis doing trips from the Hop Pole on Welham Road, Retford, For all trips, ring 07925 851569. - Trip boat Hugh Henshall doing trips from the Lock Keeper pub in Worksop. For all trips, ring 01246 477569. - Trip boat John Varley doing regular trips from Tapton Lock in Chesterfield. Ring 01246 551035 for bookings. On our back cover a picture of the new foot bridge (see page 29) with a team all “on board”, and the Seth Ellis with the team of volunteers in a clean-up from Retford. The Charnwood Forest Canal Friends report increasing interest, and good relations with Shepshed Town Council. There is hope that a review of the National Forest boundaries will include the Ashby Canal to Market Bosworth and part of the Charnwood Forest Canal. Member Michael Handford, who has a longstanding association with the Stroudwater Canal, has written two interesting books on the subject. “The Stroudwater Canal - A History”, and “The Stroudwater Navigation” are available from Amberley Publishing at www.amberley-books.com.
At the Grantham Canal Society, Bridge is now back into circulation and it is hoped that we will be publishing regular updates. The Society is now preparing for a busy period ahead with more lock rebuilding and general infrastructure improvements being put in place. This gives an opportunity for volunteers to get involved in the many varied and interesting jobs canal restoration work requires. We need volunteers who are either qualified or prepared to be trained in various skills, particularly as canal-craft skippers or plant operators. These opportunities would particularly suit IWA members or anyone wishing to gain work experience. Many other aspects of maintenance and upkeep of this beautiful canal also need volunteers, so if you are interested then please visit our webAegre 139W - July 2014 Page 23
site, www.granthamcanal.org, where you will find full details. Corporate days, such as that enjoyed recently by Loughborough University Human Resources Department, where they did a re-painting day, are always welcome and provide a valuable service to everyone involved. Our trip boat, “The Three Shires”, continues to be an important source of income and provides an enjoyable opportunity to those who wish to escape for a few hours and relax in an attractive and tranquil setting. Trips are very reasonably priced, please see our website for full details. Steve Swann, June 2014
Cromford and Chesterfield Canal Camps IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) runs a programme of unique week-long residential volunteering opportunities, known as ‘Canal Camps’ designed to restore the derelict canals of England and Wales to their former glory. Volunteering with WRG is a great experience for anyone who loves being outdoors and enjoys meeting people from different backgrounds and of different ages (18+). WRG offers volunteers a fantastic chance to learn new skills such as bricklaying; stone walling; machine operation and restoration techniques! Each week costs £56 which includes food and accommodation. WRG have 25 Canal Camps, two Clean-up weekends and a Big Dig already planned for 2014, along with over 40 weekend volunteering opportunities allowing volunteers the chance to get involved in various activities from lock restorations to towpath improvements. This year WRG are visiting Derbyshire and carrying out restoration work on the Chesterfield Canal and Cromford Canal. Why not get involved … or come along and see what WRG are up to! On the Chesterfield Canal the dates are 2nd-9th August and 9th-16th August. The work will continue with work started in 2013, helping to complete the construction of the canal wall below the Staveley Town Lock. Volunteers will spend the two weeks building the wall using concrete blocks, with some addiAegre 139W - July 2014 Page 24
tional brickwork required. There is also block laying to be completed in the lock chamber. On the Cromford Canal the dates are 19th-26th July and 26th July – 2nd August. Previously WRG have focused on the northern stretch of the Cromford Canal and this year work will move south to start investigations on the Ironville Locks. Work will include clearing the lock chambers and the channel between, exposing the base and walls, and scaffolding the chamber so that surveys can be carried out. More details can be found on the WRG website www.wrg.org.uk From Jenny Black
Mick Golds’ Retirement In May, Mick Golds retired as Working Party Organiser of the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association, a position he had held since 1971. Following school in Ilkeston just after the Second World War, Mick served his apprenticeship as a bricklayer, following which he worked on a number of local projects such as the chimney at Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station and some of the bridges on the M1 Motorway in Leicestershire and Derbyshire. During this time he met and married Carole and they lived at first in a caravan at Diseworth. They became interested in boating through borrowing a friend’s cruiser and shortly moved into a new house near Potters Lock on the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston, where they still live. The Erewash Canal was one of the waterways suggested for closure under the Transport Act 1968 and in order to oppose the abandonment of navigation the ECP&DA was formed that same year with a number of anglers, boaters and the Midlands Branch of the Inland Waterways Association. One of the ECP&DA’s first projects was to oppose the demolition by BW of Sandiacre Lock cottages; the local authority stopped the demolition and BW suggested that if they wanted the cottage they should maintain it. Mick and Carole often walked along the canal and one weekend they met some of the ECP&DA volunteers on the towpath. The original ECP&DA Working Party Organiser had advertised in the local press for a builder to take charge of the work on Sandiacre Lock Cottage. Mick was the ideal man for this job and before long took over as Working Party Organiser. The proximity of the canal persuaded them to buy a narrow boat, and if they could keep the canal open it would provide a mooring almost at the bottom of the garden. Electra was purchased in 1971 and fitted out by Mick and Carole, has since been lengthened twice, has been Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 25
Green’s Lock work party 1969
seen on most canals in the country and still cruises the system extensively.
ÂŁ1,800. It was opened in May 1973.
After this, Mick was one of the small group of the original volunteers who Following a visit to look at the future formed Langley Mill Boat Company. This led to the progressive extension prospects of the canal by the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Coun- of the navigable length of the Cromford Canal above Langley Bridge cil, set up under the 1968 Act, IWAAC suggested that a terminus at Lock and the building of the dry dock Langley Mill was required to provide and mooring facilities. Over the past a safe haven and mooring for visiting few years Mick has led the ECP&DA boats. The ECP&DA decided that the in further work to extend the Crombest way forward was to restore Lang- ford Canal as part of the restoration of ley Bridge Lock, where the Cromford a proposed opencast coal site. Canal had an end-on connection with the Erewash Canal, and to restore the Since 1973 Mick has held almost Great Northern Basin of the Notting- weekly work parties at Langley Mill to look after the lock, moorings and ham Canal just above the lock. Mick with his know-how and contacts was bridge, which were only leased from British Waterways, and to help in also ideal for this project, acquiring extending the Cromford Canal. The concrete blocks and other materials from various local sources. Mick and ECP&DA has established a firm presence at Langley Mill with a wellCarole have always been very sociastocked workshop and tool stores. ble and encouraged a large group of enthusiastic volunteers to join in. The With advice from various BW heritlock was cleaned out and re-gated, the age managers, Mick has organized continued work on Sandiacre Lock GNB dredged out and the swing bridge repaired, all for a cost of under Cottages, and in 2013 the ECP&DA Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 26
work at Langley Mill 2013
was highly commended for its work under the Canal & River Trust Waterways Renaissance Awards. Other local heritage projects were the restoration of the Nottingham Canal Toll Office and the installation of backpumping round Langley Bridge Lock including restoration of the redundant Langley Sewage Pumping Station. Not content with the work at Langley Mill, following the restoration of the Basin Mick started taking the ECP&DA on away working parties such as the Droitwich and Basingstoke WRG “Big Digs”. Graham Palmer was aware of Mick’s prowess as a bricklayer and Mick worked on a number of the Wilmcote Locks and by-washes during the 1970’s “Stratford Blitzes”. Then in 1981 when I was looking after the Frankton Locks restoration for Graham Palmer, Mick started to bring along the ECP&DA
working parties, when we largely rebuilt the walls on locks 1-3, the bricklaying being aided by Sheffield IWA and the Trent & Mersey Canal Society. Graham’s view of Mick’s bricklaying was that “his hands went like butterflies’ wings”. Some of the final away work on the Montgomery was on helping to rebuild the walls on some of the Aston locks and the rebuilding of Cobblers Lock on the River Slea. Mick decided to finish working for others as part of “a two and one gang” and in about 1995 he started working for himself and Carole was his labourer. In this period, as well as doing walls and extensions for their friends, they also rebuilt Dixon’s Lock on the Chesterfield Canal, rebuilt the parapets on two accommodation bridges on the Derby Canal and worked for BW. In 2013 Mick and Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 27
Carole were awarded the Richard Bird Medal for services to the Inland Waterways Association and in September this year they celebrate their Golden Wedding. Mick has done a great job over the years but his expertise will not be totally lost as he will continue to monitor the work at Sandiacre Cottages. From John Baylis and Mike Harrison; pictures from Carole Golds and Julie Arnold for Waterway Images
Journals Received We are very pleased to acknowledge copies of journals from various canal and river societies and trusts. They include “The Portal” from Friends of the Cromford Canal; “The Packet” from the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society; “The Cuckoo”, from the Chesterfield Canal Trust; “The Bridge”, from Grantham Canal Society; “Sleaford Navigation Trust” journal; the “Melton and Oakham Newsletter”; and “The Wharfinger”, from Louth Navigation Trust, as well as “Navigation” from our neighbours at West Midlands, the “Easterling” from our Eastern neighbours the EAWA, and “Endeavour” from Northampton Branch. Anyone interested in receiving a copy of one of these journals should contact the relevant address given on page 4. For “The Cuckoo” contact the editor John Lower at 92a Tapton View Road, Chesterfield S41 7JY.
Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance this edition of Aegre: Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Mike Snaith; John Baylis; Rod Auton; and as noted for specific articles. Some photographs in this issue are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. The author concerned is on page 11 (Hilofoz). Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 28
New Chesterfield Canal Footbridge The deck of Constitution Hill Bridge was fitted on 11th April. It crosses the Chesterfield Canal just below Morrisons in Staveley at Mill Green. The deck was built by Beaver Bridges of Shrewsbury. It was designed and paid for by Derbyshire County Council, which owns and maintains the canal in this area. The bridge abutments were built by the volunteer Work Party of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, with help from the Waterway Recovery Group. The bridge will be open to the public after some minor fittings, such as the handrails. There was a formal opening ceremony at the Chesterfield Canal Festival on 28th June.
This is the latest step in the restoration of the canal, which has seen a flurry of activity recently. Wing walls are being built for the tail bridge at Staveley Town Lock. The section of canal at Renishaw is being cleared out, the leak is being plugged and it will soon be refilled with water. On top of all this, the first houses are being built at the ÂŁ310 million Waterside project in Chesterfield, with a start on the next 300 houses and the first canal works being expected this summer. Chesterfield Canal Trust Publicity Officer, Rod Auton, said “All this activity demonstrates that it is just a matter of time before our beautiful canal is fully restored. We know that we have massive public support. We are very grateful to Derbyshire County Council and to the Waterway Recovery Group, but above all we salute the incredible work done year after year by our volunteers. (Picture of the bridge in place with the team on our back cover. Ed) Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 29
A Sailing Trip to Tetney Lock Saturday 12th April and after a long winter without any sailing I’ve been keen to get back out on the water. Due to the weather and strong winds of forces 5-7 forecast, we found we were the only willing partakers for a weekend sailing. With my friend and willing crew Pete we set off from Gibraltar Point near Skegness in the morning on my boat Floozy and decided it was an ideal opportunity to explore the Louth Canal on the seaward side of Tetney Lock. Pete had never been to Tetney, so he was keen to try somewhere new. After five hours sailing along the coast in brisk winds we finally made it to the Humber Estuary. We turned in, heading for Haile Sand Fort, which is a good waypoint about a mile east of the channel entrance to Tetney Haven. Once we had arrived we soon picked up the entrance to the channel, which takes you towards the beach at Humberston, then through the moorings of the Humbermouth Yacht Club and towards the marshes and canal entrance. The channel is quite poorly marked with plastic drums as buoys, but is still fairly simple to navigate with only a few shallow spots on the way. We arrived at the canal entrance just under 2 hours before high water, so lined the boat up with the training walls and headed in. Once inside the canal the depth drops at least a metre compared to the channel across the sand in Tetney Haven. We had a constant depth of between 2.0 to 3.0 metres all the way along. The canal up to the oil pipe, which is the limit of navigation, is straightforward to follow with only two tight bends on the way. These were no problems at all, as we kept to the outside of the bends and had plenty of water under the keels. On one bend the depth finder read 3.6 metres of water! Below: Motoring into the canal The wind had strengthened considerably, so we decided to try and find somewhere sheltered to anchor for the night, within the canal. I remembered the mud bank where we are looking at putting a mooring pontoon on the west bank. Our requirements were to find somewhere flat for the night, so the boat would dry out straight and also somewhere we could climb off the boat and walk to the pub! This we achieved, as we nudged the boat on to the mud near the oil pipe where it’s flat, making sure the keels were far
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enough on so that the boat wouldn't drop back into the channel and there would be enough water to float off again on Sunday morning. There is very little tidal flow this far up the canal, as it’s nearly up to the Sea Lock. Once the tide has filled the main channel and starts covering the mud-flats the flow actually starts running back out very slowly and the water just rises in the canal. This lack of flow makes mooring much easier.
Floozy dries out on the mud bank near the oil pipe So after a good day’s sailing and a bit of an adventure up the canal we managed to step off the bow using my folding boarding ladder and enjoyed our walk to the Crown and Anchor at Tetney Lock for fish and chips, washed down with a few pints of well-deserved beer. This was followed by a peaceful night’s sleep in this lovely quiet spot. So what have we learnt from the trip to Louth Canal? We proved how easy it is to navigate the canal and with a few more marker buoys and beacons marking the banks and channel approaching the canal it would be very easy for boats to use. On large spring tides the banks completely flood increasing the importance of marking the channel. Except on the smallest of neap tides the tidal range makes it possible to get in and out. I estimate around a 5.8 metre tide minimum would serve. The large amount of space along the bank would make it possible for 40 to 50 boats to moor, the best way being bows towards the bank. With access to the bank via a simple mooring pontoon it is really possible to open this part of the canal up to visitors, and with publicity, increase visitor numbers. The whole experience of visiting the canal by boat was amazing thinking we were following the same channel as hundreds of vessels full of cargo on their way to Louth many years ago and once again I thought to myself with a few like-minded people and a bit of support it is really possible for our canal to be open again. Text and pictures by Jonathan Baines, by kind permission of the Louth Navigation Trust, April 2014. See top of page 3 for a picture of the canal entrance looking seaward with porthand beacon and Haile Sand Fort in the background. Ed.
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Walking the Cuckoo Way Members of 7th Retford (St Swithun’s) Scout Group have once again risen to the challenge and have walked the length of the Chesterfield Canal, along The Cuckoo Way. On Saturday 15th February, a group of two adults (Kenny and Andy) and five young people set off in Chesterfield with the aim of walking to Kiveton by tea-time. From Staveley through to Kiveton Waters, the canal is no longer there, but they followed the route of the canal through lots of mud along the country footpaths. They reached Kiveton Waters by 4 pm and were transported back to Retford to the Scout HQ for their overnight stop. On Sunday, the group set off after breakfast and were taken back to Kiveton Waters, then walked through Shireoaks to The Lock Keeper at Worksop. Freya and Ellen chose to retire here after doing about 19 miles of the walk. The group was then joined by Callum, aged 15. They continued to walk towards Ranby where Matthew’s mum and brother met them with bacon butties. The group continued to walk to Retford for their overnight stop. Another night in the Scout Hut and the group set off again by car, this time to be dropped off in West Stockwith where the canal meets the River Trent. The group now consisted of Matthew, Callum, Alyce, Bertie, Bertie’s mum and Kenny. They followed the canal back through Misterton, Gringley-on-the-Hill and on to Drakeholes for lunch. They continued to Clayworth, Hayton, Clarborough and finally the home straight into Retford. Matthew, Alyce and Kenny did the entire walk of 46 miles. Callum did 27 miles, Ellen and Freya each did 19 miles and Molly walked 15 miles. Bertie, aged 7, is the star of the group covering about 25 miles as he had a couple of short rides in the car. Andy and Justine each did about 15 miles. Matthew was sponsored to complete the walk and he has raised over £200 for MacMillan Nurses – the final total is still to be confirmed. In case you think this sounded like hard work, Matthew, Callum, Molly, Bertie and their mum, as well as Kenny, all came out and walked from Clarborough to Retford, including some of the canal again on Thursday evening with the Cub Scouts. The scenery along the canal is fantastic. It is all well kept and the information boards found along the route are very interesting. From Kenny Newstead
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Notts & Derby Branch Meetings The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch of the IWA organises a series of public meetings. We are hoping to attract lots of new faces to the meetings and have arranged a very interesting and varied group of speakers. Non IWA members will be very welcome to attend. Meetings are held on the third Friday of the month throughout most of the year. Indoor meetings are held at 7.45 pm at Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7HY. This is not far from the A60 (Loughborough Road) and the Arena entrance road is roughly opposite Greythorn Drive. Don’t be alarmed by a barrier at the entrance - they will let you out again. It would take about 25 minutes from M1 Junction 24 up the A453, Clifton traffic and road-works speed limit permitting. For SatNav equipped vehicles try 52° 55.328’ N, 01° 08.673’ W, or SK 57610 36424. Note that Rushcliffe Leisure Centre is a different place. Further information about meetings can be obtained
by email :- nottsandderbys@waterways.org.uk
Friday, October 17th 2014 “Taking IWA Forward” - an illustrated talk by Les Etheridge (IWA National Chairman) concerning the future role of the Inland Waterways Association. Friday, November 21st 2014 “The Berth of a Marina” - an illustrated talk by Robert Neff (General Manager, Mercia Marina). Planning and construction of a large marina plus the continuing growth and conservation over the last six years. Friday, December 17th 2014 Christmas Social and sharing buffet. Friday, January 16th 2015 “Mikron Theatre” - an illustrated talk by Peter Toon of the Mikron Theatre Company, covering the background to a travelling theatre company and the plans for the coming season. Friday, February 17th 2015 Annual General Meeting. Followed by an illustrated talk. Details to be confirmed.
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Melton and Oakham Afloat From Mick Clowes: The Melton and Oakham Waterways Society (MOWS) owns three boats with three contrasting uses. First comes “The Water Rat” their eight-seater trip boat. Based on a trailable Wilderness shell it is fitted with side seats and extra glass for maximum observation. An eco-friendly electric motor provides quiet, efficient power for the crew of two. Used on weekends during the summer months, it has proved popular with both locals and visitors alike. Secondly, the society has a general runabout “Badger” (on the left) with a standard outboard which was purchased several years ago from the Buxworth Basin group. It is a steel flat-bottomed punt about 4.5 metres long with a transom for the outboard at either end (very useful!). Her general duties include litter collection and rubbish removal, but she is a very stable work platform when pruning overhanging trees. On occasion she has been loaned to Melton’s Town Estate for vital bridge maintenance. Last, but certainly not least, is the work horse of the group “Mole” (notice a certain theme here?). This boat employs a similar punt-like shell, but is much more heavy duty. Sporting four outrigger arms (with associated river-bed feet), a Hiab fully articulated arm and a Kinschoffer clam-shell bucket, the whole plot including Z-drive is driven via a hydraulic pump powered by a Kubota diesel. Her conversion was effected by Bardon Truck Services in north west Leicestershire and, despite the fact that they had never built anything like this before, the lorry technology has translated well, making her easy to use and ultra-reliable. She rides well on her heavy duty trailer and can be towed by a four by four vehicle. In her two years of use she has moved thousands of tons of silt and debris, opening up the waterway ring in Melton and moving the Society’s aspirations to stage a trail-boat rally forward. Aegre 139W - July 2014 Page 34
The Mole in action.
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