Aegre 148 - July 2017 In this issue: Narrow boats to the Welland and Glen heads of navigation, p17. Ilkeston Festival nears, p6.
From the East Midlands Region of
Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 1
Kingfisher Narrowboats Ltd For DIY or Serviced Blacking at our covered dry dock at Trent Lock on the junction of the River Trent and the Erewash Canal. We are able to take two narrow boats together, or boats up to 75ft x 13ft Specialist narrow boat fitters for alterations and re-fits, including painting, electrical and mechanical work.
Tel: 0115 972 7936 www.kingfishernarrowboats.co.uk E-mail: enquiry@kingfishernarrowboats.co.uk Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 2
Aegre is published Š 2017 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, 1 Goodheart Way, Thorpe Astley, Leicester LE3 3RX. Tel: 0116 3321534
Lincolnshire Branch Chairman
Dave Carnell (as above)
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman
Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main Street, 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, LN11 0GQ E-mail: aegre@waterways.org.uk Advertisement Manager for Aegre: Ian Mc Donald, see above. E-mail: aegre.adverts@waterways.org.uk This is the web version, with definition intended for screen viewing. Picture credits: Front cover and p.5, Carole Golds - old rail bridge on R. Glen and nearing Tabs Head. Other credits, page 9.
Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342. Tel: 01494 783453. 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. The inclusion of any advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the IWA East Midlands Region or any of its Branches. Dates of events shown should be checked before travelling.
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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
Norman Cornwell, 38 Millfield Road, Kimberley, Notts. NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 8544155 Mobile 07854 451183 www.erewashcanalpreservationanddevelopmentassoc.org.uk
Foxton Inclined Plane Trust
Friends of Charnwood Forest
Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk
Canal
Mike Handford, 1 Sheepy Close, Hinckley, LE10 1JL Tel: 01455 611508 mahandford@gmail.com
Friends of the Cromford Canal
John Baylis, see page 3.
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
Michael Clowes, tel: 01509 414140, e-mail: lindandmick@btinternet.com www.meltonwaterways.co.uk
Waterways Society
www.cromfordcanal.org.uk
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
Approaching Tabs Head from Boston - page 17
Aegre
No. 148 July 2017 Contents
Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region................4 The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam...................................6 Ilkeston Welcomes Festival of Water..............................7 Boston Barrier Update.....................................................8 Picture Credits.................................................................9 IWA Annual Members’ Meeting......................................9 News from Leicestershire..............................................10 Lincolnshire Happenings...............................................13 Journals Received.........................................................16 River Welland and River Glen Cruise...........................17 News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire................24 Around the Societies and Trusts...................................28
Next issue probably to be published in November 2017. Contributions to the editor (see page 3 ) by the end of September 2017 please.
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The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam There is said to be a Chinese wish, to an enemy: “May you live in interesting times”, but in an East Midlands context, both positive and negative, we have had interesting times this year, and still more to come. Several of these are covered in this issue. A very recent interesting change, though not in our region, has been the Environment Agency looking for ten volunteers to train and help them at Northampton Marina and at Denver. They are working on this with Cambridgeshire ACRE (the Rural Community Council). Here, we have had successful events at South Kyme and in June at Leicester with our Branches closely involved. We have boats bottled up in the Ancholme because of failure to fix the lock at South Ferriby, and a question mark hanging over the Boston Barrier scheme until the Inspector reports. But a major success was the 2017 cruise to the Welland and, this time, the Glen as well. Ian Fletcher has written a very full report on this trip, with a flotilla of five boats for some of the way. We have had to leave out some of his finer detail such as clearance heights, but the story is a really encouraging one, even if the link to Black Sluice still needs a difficult portage or a lot of engineering. Maybe feasible for a canoe. Remember what a couple of canoes did for the Stratford Canal. Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 6
Prompted by a short note in the CRT newsletter, I have just been reading two books by William Bliss. “The Heart of England by Waterway”, and“Canoeing”, both from the 1930s. He covers a wide variety of journeys, in smaller boats such as “randans” and Rob Roy style canoes. He pays almost as much attention to the inns and their food and drink along the way as to the streams, rivers and canals (and bridges and other obstructions such as barbed wire). In many ways Bliss’s comments echo some by Ian in his report, on the importance of encouraging and using whatever facilities are available locally near whatever mooring or overnight point you find yourself. Food, drink, supplies, whatever, but also perhaps without having a negative effect on local customers, on whom providers of services depend in mid-winter as well as summertime. Think of Hubbert’s Bridge, with excellent pontoon access but few boaters. Finally of course there is the August week-end event at Ilkeston. Our Branches still need people to help during, before, and after the event. Do please contact your Branch Chairman or organiser if you can spare some time. It is always fun and interesting - and I mean that only in a positive sense. Hope to see you there, Peter
Ilkeston Welcomes Festival of Water More than 120 boats will cruise to the Erewash Canal this summer to join IWA’s celebration of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire waterways, including several restoration projects. The event will take place on Gallows Inn playing fields in Ilkeston over the August Bank Holiday weekend (26th to 28th August), a short walk from Ilkeston town centre and newly opened train station. The festival presents boaters with an opportunity to visit this restored, but underused 12 mile waterway and enjoy the northernmost part of the Grand Union System, whilst raising awareness amongst users of the Erewash Canal of the potential impacts on the waterway environment as a result of the proposed Phase 2 of the HS2 high speed rail link near Sandiacre. Daily admission to the festival and parking are free, and mooring or camping for the weekend costs just £30 which includes wristband access to evening entertainment. Entertainment runs throughout all three days from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday and 10am to 4pm on Monday, and on into the evening for boaters and campers. Attractions include up to 130 boats lining the canal and decked in festival bunting and flags, including historic narrow boats, floating traders, plus a real ale bar, and the opportunity to learn about local and national waterway projects including the Cromford, the Derby &
Sandiacre and the Chesterfield canal restorations. Other attractions will include a collection of classic cars and vintage buses, Shreck the boat horse, two steam engines and thresher, angling sessions, talks from Peter Buck on canal engineering and Graham Fisher on life on a working boat, and a host of craft stalls both on and off the water. Children’s entertainment includes rides, water zorbing, birds of prey, the chance to drive a digger or build a wall with IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group, and to get up close to some reptiles and mammals including a skunk! Musical entertainment is to be provided by both local and nationally renowned artists, many well known to regular boaters, including: Martin Frances, Mick and the Moonshiners, Bon Accord, Umpteen Reasons to Swerve, Bonito Sisters, The Mercy, Folk Frendzy and Braunston Pickle. Chucklefoot, the one man band and family entertainer, will be on site all Weekend. Mayor of Erewash Mary Hopkinson said “I am delighted that Erewash has been selected to host this year’s Festival of Water at Gallows Inn, Ilkeston. The sight of over 100 boats moored on our local canal and the opportunity to see so many bands and entertainers, several of them from the area, make a great reason to stay local to Erewash this coming August bank holiday weekend.”
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Boston Barrier Update The Boston Barrier Public Inquiry closed on 31 May. The Inspector’s report is due to be completed by the end of July but probably won’t be published until… “the decision is announced”. We are not quite sure what this means, but probably that DEFRA and EA get to see it first so that they can prepare their position and issue public statements. Therefore, it seems likely that it will be autumn before we get to know the outcome. IWA’s opposition to certain aspects of the Barrier was led by Gren Messham, Chairman of IWA’s Navigation Committee, with some input by other IWA members. IWA is a statutory consultee for Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAOs) which affect waterways. The main points of contention were: ● Safety of navigation through the Barrier during high tidal and river flows, both during the construction phase and when it is complete. ● Lack of provision for a sea, or navigation lock which would facilitate “Water Level Management” through Boston at a later date. ● Lack of a Navigation Management Plan specifying and implementing procedures and responsibilities during both construction and subsequently. ● Lack of suitable safe holding pontoons for occasions when there is high flow, a lot of river traffic through the Barrier, and/or significant movement of Port of Boston (PoB) shipping in and out of their floating dock. ● Location of the Barrier and safe sight lines now that there will be no navigation lock, and the Barrier is on the outside of quite a tight bend in the river. The Barrier will reduce the navigable channel width from 50m to 25m, and IWA, together with all local river users, are convinced this will lead to dangerously high water velocities when there are high tides and high flood flows discharging from the River Witham and Black Sluice Navigation (aka “South Forty Foot Drain”). I attended two sessions of the section about navigation when IWA were the main witness. Gren Messham was able to cross-examine EA and PoB witnesses regarding their written evidence. Gren was able to sit directly opposite Counsel for the EA and very close to the Inspector’s table. The IWA position clearly had the EA team (about 10 in all!) rather rattled, as they were busy passing notes to and fro with their Counsel most of the time. The Inspector, Mike Robins, was very even handed, but I did notice from his body language towards Gren in particular, that he respected what Gren was asking and saying, and often followed up the questioning in detail with some of the EA “experts”. An early indicator during the Inquiry is that, ahead of the report being pubAegre 148 - July 2017 Page 8
lished, the Inspector is likely to direct EA and PoB to develop an agreed, and legally binding, Navigation Management Plan together with the river users. It seems very likely that IWA may be the only organisation with the capability to coordinate and facilitate all the river users – about 5 different groups in total. Lincolnshire Branch IWA will probably have to lead this process as we have already absorbed many weeks of Gren’s time, (Gren having spent a whole week in Boston in April). Immense thanks are due to Gren for his unstinting efforts in mastering the complex and highly detailed Inquiry submission from EA, and for the way he represented IWA in an impressive, professional and competent manner. David Pullen June 2017
IWA Annual Members’ Meeting For the first time for a long time this is being held within our area in Aldercar near Langley Mill on September 30th. The full agenda has still to be finalised, so more information will be available later. However, there is likely to be plenty of opportunity to have your say about happenings within IWA, then a more formal AGM, and maybe a visit to the Great Northern Basin to see the restoration works around the start of the Cromford Canal and maybe also the chance of a transfer to the opposite end of the Cromford for a trip on narrowboat “Birdswood”. The venue will be Aldercar High School, Daltons Close, Langley Mill, Nottingham, NG16 4HL.
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; Rod Auton; Mel and Sue Sowerby; Archie Roberts; Robin Stonebridge; Andrew Shephard; Shirley Rogers; David Pullen; Alicen Stenner; Carole Golds, and as noted for specific articles. Chart fragment page 22 courtesy of Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson of St Ives. 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: Graham Horn, page 16. Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 9
News from Leicestershire
Leicester Festival 2017 Last time we reported on how we had made our objections to a planning committee meeting near Belgrave Lock, and specifically that a great opportunity to provide additional moorings above the lock had been missed. At a subsequent meeting with CRT at Friars Mill we commented on this to Simon Pappril of CRT. He has a major input into the way expenditure within development areas is made, and we left the meeting most optimistic that shortly these moorings will be established. These will facilitate visiting the National Space Centre, as well as Leicester’s Golden Mile. To my knowledge they are not in place yet but we will press to ensure that they are in place soon.
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On a less optimistic note with Planning, I reported on a useful(??!!) meeting with the City Council Planners. As we left the meeting the council officers said that they would ensure that we were notified directly (to a special email address we had created) when any applications affecting the waterway were received. You can imagine our horror when in May the local Leicester Mercury reported a large application for the waterside from Friars Mill southwards towards West Bridge. We had heard nothing! The application is for three towers of differing heights, the highest of which is 16 storeys, with interlinking lower buildings of some 9 storeys. We have raised objections, especially over the heights, and also because the Council
has planning guidance established for buildings in the Waterside area to be to a height of 3-4 storeys with occasional buildings to 6 storeys! This is, we believe the first development application within the Waterside Development Area, yet it completely ignores the guidance that was established by the work of the Council Planning department and Councillors. Unfortunately there exists an approved application in the early 2000’s for two even higher tower blocks as hotels. We objected to these at the time and heard nothing, assumed they had failed, but now they could give the developer the precedent he needs. We have objected again, pointing out how it contravenes the Council Policy for the area. I considered my own cruises into cities in the UK, and used Streetview to look at tall buildings alongside Paddington Basin in London, the Gas Street/Mailbox area of Birmingham plus Manchester and Liverpool, yet none is higher than those applied for, despite the other cities having a greater pressure on development space. Should this new application be approved it will create possibly the tallest buildings in Leicester, right alongside the river bank and overshadowing the listed and recently restored Friars Mill.
Leicester Riverside Festival 2017 was a great success according to the Council department that arranged the land-based events. They reported that over the two days some 30,000 people came along, the majority of these being on the Saturday when the weather was lovely. In the run up to the Festival the boats of three committee members travelled from Foxton to Leicester, and from Kilby Bridge had CRT Chief Exec. Richard Parry with them as he had not previously cruised this stretch. Another committee member, and very active CRT volunteer, arranged for volunteers to speed the boats through the locks. Richard was also seen at the Festival enjoying meeting volunteers and others on the Saturday (picture below).
It was the 20th anniversary of the event and we tied it to the 50th anniversary of the IWA National at Abbey Park. Leicestershire Branch organised boat bookings and designed and had produced a commemorative plaque. Seven Trading
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boats and 14 cruising boats booked in and made a good sight along the towpath plus two charity boats. Andrew Shephard also managed to get historic boats Raymond and Nutfield to come to the event and they made a great attraction. Andrew and Mike Dixon responded to a request for a pre-event interview on Radio Leicester to promote the Festival which went well. Then part of the Saturday radio programme, introduced by Monica Wingfield (right) was broadcast from the front deck of Andrew and Debbie’s boat, Upton. Other water based activities included the always popular trip boats from Sileby Mill plus trips on charity boat Sunbeam. Paddle Plus were very busy giving people taster sessions in canoes and kayaks (picture below). The City Council’s new narrow-boat was presented to the public. This is a replacement for the old Greenlife Boat that became past economic repair. Jazz music floated along the Mile Straight and Dragon Boats offered pay-as-you-paddle tasters, plus the trading boats and the floating tea shop. Western Boulevard was packed with stalls, as were Bede Park and Castle Gardens. The cost to the public for the overall event was nothing! It ought to be a success and I was so pleased that we were once again able to be present. My grateful thanks to all who made it happen, especially Andrew and Debbie, Mike and Sheila and Mo. Not being able to be present afloat in our boat is one of the worst things about no longer owning one. Our programme for next year is taking shape. Please make sure that you look at the details on our web page as some will not be on the second Thursday, moving to the first Thursday instead. We have Adrian Lane talking about the river through Leicester on October 5th (the first Thursday) and Chris Jones talking about Raymond, which was the last wooden built working boat. This is on November 9th, 7.30 pm at The Gate. We hope to run a Christmas Party on the first Thursday of December to keep it out of the main Christmas Party rush. Details will be circulated by email later and published on our web page. Ian
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Lincolnshire Happenings
Left to right: David Pullen, Penny Carnell, Rebecca Franks, Mel and Sue Sowerby, Pat Taylor, Dave Carnell, and cake!
Sleaford Navigation Trust celebrated 30 years of opening the navigation through Bottom Lock with a boat gathering over May Bank holiday. The Bottom Lock, also known as Taylor’s Lock, in memory of Derek Taylor who was instrumental in its restoration, enabled the re-opening of the navigation as far as the village of South Kyme. Made especially for the occasion by Penny Carnell, an anniversary cake was cut by Derek`s widow Pat Taylor on the Lincoln Tug “Wigford”. (Pictures above courtesy of “Towpath Talk”). Two other things of note were the attendance of a wide beamed boat from Geordies Boats at Langrick and a 72 foot NB ”Sovereign” which winded at Cobbles Lock, the current head of navigation. This is believed to be the longest craft to have achieved this in recent times.
The Environment Agency Navigations continue to dominate the news from Lincolnshire. Boats on the River Ancholme are restricted to 17 miles of navigation, without access to the tidal River Humber or through Harlam Hill Lock to the upper reaches. The South Ferriby Lock has suffered further hydraulic operation failures, and even when they are resolved the channel to the Humber is badly silted and affecting navigation. At the Ancholme Rivers Trust the Local Authority representative undertook to contact the navigation authority for the River Humber, Associated British Ports. They acknowledged it was their responsibility to maintain navigation up to the sea doors on the tide lock. At the time of writing dates for a meeting with interested parties are being considered.
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Still on the River Ancholme, the EA own a number of bank-side moorings near Brigg Leisure Centre. Due to a lack of demand these are no longer let. Glanford Brigg Boat Club is also losing members and boats due to the limits on navigation. Letters sent to local MPs regarding the possible closure of EA navigations have brought responses of support and copies of replies from Sir Edward Leigh, from Therese Coffey and Andrea Leadsom. It is apparent that information Ministers have quoted from the EA does not reflect the true situation, with £300,000 being quoted to re-open Harlam Hill Lock. A recent quotation obtained by IWA is for £38,000. These details have been passed to Sir Edward.
Warehouse had been withdrawn by Groundwork. LNT obtained the support of East Lindsey District Council in obtaining a Community Asset Order on the Warehouse and the ELDC are assisting the present tenants, LNT and the County Council’s Lincolnshire Wolds Project, with the legalities of securing its future. The Fenland Link uses the Black Sluice Drain from Boston Tidal Haven through to the River Glen. This waterway is classified by the EA as a “main river”. A number of pilot schemes have been created by the Government to examine the feasibility of transferring the management of
Louth Navigation Trust occupy a small museum space in the Riverhead Warehouse (below) and had been told that Groundwork, who obtained an HLF grant to restore the building, were planning to sell the property. At the Trust’s recent AGM we were advised that the sale by auction of the these to local Internal Drainage Boards where there is mutual agreement, local appetite and benefit to do so. The Black Sluice Drain and Navigation is one of these. Work is in progress to increase the flood water storage capacity by dredging some eleven kilometres towards the River Glen and raise banks at known low points to improve flood protection. First indications are that these works Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 14
will improve and extend the navigable channel to Black Hole Drove Pumping Station built across the channel. As previously reported, the management of the Black Sluice Pumping Station, at the Tidal Haven, could also be transferred to the BSIDB.
Grantham Canal, where a number of former agricultural bridges have been fixed over the canal. Problems still exist with the lock top gates not sealing to the wooden sill. Several attempts to cure the problem have been made, but to no avail. A full stoppage and de-watering seems to be the only option left.
A further proposal under consideration is for Anglian Water to use the Black Sluice as part of a water transfer route, taking water from the River Witham, south to Rutland Water Reservoir and on to the South Eastern Counties. This would entail reversing the flow towards the River Glen and along an original route considered for the Fenland Link. Could these proposals kick start the Fenland Link Work? At Bardney Lock and Bridge on the River Witham. CRT are currently removing the swing bridge that crossed the lock chamber (above). This has been redundant for many years, and its location on the offside caused safety access problems for lock operation. The bridge is to be stored by CRT for future use on the
Some concern has been expressed regarding the lack of protection for waterway Historic Structures and Buildings. IWA Branches have been asked to liaise with restoration groups and Trusts to compile records giving details of the buildings or structures; details of historic features; OS Grid location; current owner; Listing and Grade if any; and is it at risk. To this end I am in touch with the various local authorities. Some Open Days on the River Witham are announced. The steam drainage pump at Dogdyke near Bridge Farm, Tattershall, Lincs.LN4 4JG is open and in steam on dates in July to October. Times and dates are shown on www.dogdyke.com. Also the Witham First District Internal Drainage Board open their Timberland Pumping Station at Thorpe Tilney Dales, Witham Bank, Tattershall LN4 4JP. 1.0pm to 4.30pm with static and working displays. The Black Sluice IDB have open day demonstrations of the innovative Cutter Suction Dredger, on July 12 and
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13 at 9.0 am to 4.0 pm at Neslam Bridge, Lincs. NG34 0NH, off the B1777 near Pointon. A workman`s ticket (coin) number 182 with River Witham Drainage Act 1865 has come to light from a local bric-a-brac shop. The coin is only marked on one side, so differs from the more common ones issued to navvies to exchange for food and provisions. If anyone has information on similar coinage could you please contact me at scrimmager@live.com or the address on page 3 of this newsletter. Dave Carnell
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 Crom ford Canal; “The Packet” from the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society; “The Cuckoo”, from the Chesterfield Canal Trust; “Sleaford Navigation Trust” jour nal; the “Melton and Oakham Newsletter”; “The Wharfinger” from Louth Navigation Trust, and the “Easterling” from our Eastern neighbours the EAWA. 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 at 22 Works Road, Hollingwood, Chesterfield S43 2PF.
Bourne Eau to River Glen Pumping Station - see page 20 Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 16
River Welland and River Glen Cruise From Ian Fletcher Pictures from Carole Golds The flotilla was made up of David Collin and Dave Burkitt on cruiser Bouncin Brass; Ian Fletcher and Dave Pearson on narrow-boat API.Wanderer; Mike and Carole Golds on narrow-boat Electra; and Richard Sear on narrow-boat Earwig. Tuesday May 23rd: We passed through Boston Grand Sluice on the second (falling) level at 07:15, and travelled as slowly as practicable on the ebb. We dropped anchor at about 09:00, in fairly deep and fast-flowing water just off the Boston Channel. It was probably around 12:00 before the early flood became detectable. We all raised anchor at about 12:50 then passed Tabs Head and entered the Welland channel at 13:05 and reached the Glen confluence at 15:20. The next 45 minutes until we passed under the A16 bridge at 16:05 were ‘interesting’. On this section we all went aground a number of times. Despite these grounding delays (no worries on a rising tide) we were all at Fulney at around 16:15. However, although the EA team was there to meet us, we didn’t enter the lock until 16:45 and left onto the non-tidal river at about 17:15. On this section, all of us experienced-
weed problems, API.Wanderer consid erably more than the other three in total. Partly by difficulty in mooring at our pre-determined destination (The Moorings Pub), and partly on advice from local boater Richard Fairman, we carried on for about half a mile past the pub to a mooring on a wall about a mile in total upstream from the lock, and nearer to the centre of the town. The three narrow boats moored together here (see photo) and Bouncin Brass carried on to a second mooring location further upstream nearer to the centre of the town.
Wednesday May 24th After a greatly appreciated reccy. of Surfleet Sluice by car, by courtesy of Richard Fairman, Electra and ‘API. Wanderer made a relatively late start – leaving ‘the wall’ about 11:30. We then cruised upstream to join Bouncin Brass on the town mooring. The water was still quite weedy until we passed the Water Taxi mooring. After this, for the remaining 100 yds to the Town Mooring (and indeed for the rest of the day)
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the water was thankfully clear of weed. At the moorings, Dave Burkitt – who had crewed for David Collin on Bouncin Brass – joined us for our upstream trip. Once clear of the town the river was wide enough to turn (even a full length boat) almost anywhere, and the low banks and views across the landscape made for a quite different feel to yesterday’s trip. We More important – it looked to be considerably more weedy. We got back to the town moorings in three hours, and moored next to Bouncin Brass at 18:30 (see photo below) – and of course were now facing the right way for our departure.
decided to go as far as we could before we needed to turn, but to stop for a late lunchtime drink at the Olde Bridge pub near the Crowland mooring, by the water-tower on the B1166. It was 14:30 when we got there (see photo above), but even earlier it would still have been to no avail as the pub didn’t open until 16:00. We pressed on for another hour until both the time, and (more importantly) a riverside sign – telling us that hireboats should not continue beyond this point – told us that it was time to wind and head for home. T echnically the message didn’t apply to us; however, there was a distinct change in the river beyond this point, it was a bit narrower (photo top right). Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 18
Day 3: Thursday May 25th Thursday was mainly a domestic day. With locking out of Fulney scheduled for 16:30 we left the town mooring at 15:00 for what we expected to be an easier return trip to Fulney. It was not quite as easy as we had expected. This time (the 4th day of the heat-wave) the floating weed had increased significantly. We passed the Moorings pub at 15:45 and just made it to the lock. We
were concerned about pushing large ‘islands’ of weed into the lock, but the now augmented EA locking team included a guy with a grappling line who helped to pull these islands clear of the lock entrance. He then made a rather disconcerting statement - saying, “You did well, in another week or so’s time you would not be able to get through.” We then waited until about 18:00 for Richard Fairman to join us. The first level was made soon after, and we were clear of the lock by 18:15. We made much easier progress ‘punching’ the tide on our way to the Glen confluence than envisaged - it was an easy 1½ hour journey. We all turned into the Glen at around 18:45 and found a ‘friendly dolphin’ to moor to, while waiting for instructions from the EA team. The level was made at 20:45 and the three narrow-boats got through the bridge arch and the gate without problem. Unfortunately David C on Bouncin Brass just failed to clear the bridge arch. In failing light three boats cruised on for about 15 minutes, finding a mooring in the gloom (below, the next morning).
Friday May 26th : Yet another brilliant day weather-wise, and perhaps the most interesting and fruitful of the cruise. About 45 minutes upstream from our overnight mooring near Surfleet Seas End, we came to Surfleet itself, and the B1356 road-bridge. This was the lowest structure on the Glen and ‘API.Wanderer, now low on water, had the greatest airdraft, and only just got under it.
The Glen is much narrower than the Welland, and accurate answers as to how far 50’ and 58’ boats could get – and, above all, where they could wind were impossible to find. Therefore, just beyond the B1356 bridge and the adjacent Mermaid pub, in a ‘wide-ish’ section of the river, ‘API.Wanderer turned (50’) and breasted up with Electra (58’) for a ‘push-pull’ cruise as far as we could get. We cruised on through Pinchbeck, past The Ship Inn (crying out for a future mooring!), past the windmill, to the A151 bridge at Pinchbeck West. Here there are some excellent new moorings,
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where Earwig moored and turned. Earwig is a 35-footer but we estimate that boats of at least 40’could wind here. Meanwhile the two breasted boats carried on further into unknown territory.
We came to the corner at Guthrams Gowt, but because of reedy edges, mooring and exploration on foot was impossible - so we carried on for another hour to ‘the end of the line’ at Bourne Eau. Here we split the boats, and Electra ‘nosed in’ to the reed-cov ered Bourne Eau, where – after a 12-
point turn (no way could it be described as ‘winding’ ) – Aegre 148 - July 2017 Page 20
she ‘came-around’ to start the return journey. The freedom of separation plus the lure of the pub on a very hot day - meant that we returned to the Mermaid in 3 hours – shaving about an hour off our out-bound time. This was our last night, and turned out to be by far our best. Richard, on Earwig – having turned at West Pinchbeck - was back at the Mermaid’s pontoon long before us. He had met Karen, the new landlady at the pub, and she had shown him the local paper – with an ‘advertorial’ spread about the pub, and Karen,
and her wish to attract more boaters to stop on her lovely, but under-utilised pontoon. By the time that we arrived she was ready for us offering use of her rubbish bins, her water hose, and even offering to leave her outside toilets open for us all night. The beer and the food were also excellent. Saturday May 27th : Having ‘kept an eye’ on this day’s weather forecast for some days, and noting the freshening of the wind as the hot spell came to an end, I was not looking forward at all to
today’s journey; but, as we set off from this great overnight stop, little did I know that the weather would become the least of my problems. We left at 8:00 for our 9:00 rendezvous with the EA team at the sluice at 9:00, and ‘got over the first hurdle’ (well, under the B1356 bridge) without any problem. All was going well until about 15 minutes from our destination, when my engine temperature gauge rose rapidly, and steam started to appear around the deck-board. I immediately switched off and drifted to the side. Fortunately Earwig returned and towed us to the rendezvous – where while waiting for the waters to level, and after the engine block cooled sufficiently, I explored to find a split hose on my gear-box oil cooler. Tides wait for no man, and so I was towed through the sluice and bridge to a temporary mooring on a vacant dolphin. Carrying a spare, I was able to change the hose and re-fill my system. We, ‘API.Wanderer and Electra, finally left our temporary moorings and pulled out into the ebbing Welland at about 10:30 and all seemed well. However, just as we approached the
A17 at Fosdyke, at about 11:00, ‘it went’ again! Fortunately Electra came alongside, we breasted up and as we slowly cruised on downstream I investigated to find that my problem was that working under time pressure, in a most inaccessible location, I had not allowed time for a sealant to fully cure. We were on spring tides, heading for the windy Wash, I had no engine, and could do nothing about it. We broke our journey (to reduce our ‘open sea’ exposure) at the Stone Jetty – where we hung on the Stone Barge from 11:35 to 12:05, and I tried to hide my concerns.
I have always thought that it is only in mathematics that two negatives can make a positive, but on this day it happened ‘for real’. I had known for weeks that our return to Boston was going to be on a spring tide, and – having on previous occasions negotiated the tortuous bends in the Haven on the approach to The Stump – I was not looking forward to that. But on Friday I had discovered that by about 15:00 the SSE wind blowing that had been blowing at about Force 2-3 would increase
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Welland, this was too soon. In fact it took us some 2 hours to reach the Hobhole outfall - a distance normally covered in about 30 minutes. Even then, with a detectable flood, it still took us about 1¼ hours to reach Grand Sluice. Despite this slow progress (more than 3 hours) we still arrived at Grand Sluice ‘ontime’ at 18:12 - for the theoretical first level – yet still had to wait for several minutes for enough water over the cill. We passed through the lock at 18:30, and I silently thanked the veering and strengthening wind for neutralising the spring tide –
to about Force 4 (bad news). However, it would also veer to SSW which would mean that, due in particular to the shape of the wall in the Haven, that water would be – to a degree - protected. This thought was confirmed by Bouncin Brass – who was by then out in the increasingly choppy waters of The Wash. We passed the Tabs Head beacon at 13:05 and turned into the relatively calm waters of the Haven – where we anchored near the brick built ‘lookout’ on the north bank. We weighed anchor at 15:00, and slowly moved off upstream. Hindsight told us that, as with Tuesday’s upstream trip on the
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proving that in life as well as logic two negatives can make a positive. After ‘sanitizing’ we all gathered on the visitor pontoon moorings for a celebratory drink.
Some Comments, Conclusions and Thoughts for The Future: These include, not in any priority order: The concept is right, do the Welland, and then the Glen. Depending on the time of day for the tides, more time for upstream exploration of both rivers – but particularly the Glen would be appreciated. One day to explore this little gem is too little. Try to find a more ‘neap-ish’ week (or let the springs pass while upstream). Try to undertake the cruise a few weeks earlier. Despite the daylight window being shorter and weather statistically not so good, an early May visit would have the advantages of being less weed-prone, and able to coincide with tulip time in Spalding. On the out and back (Wash) trips at least, a boat should always have a crew of two. If necessary with ‘day-trippers’ from local IWA branches. This (in my opinion) is an essential for weighing anchor if it has bitten hard when dropped in fast-moving water, and ‘driving over’ it doesn’t release it. Also for any crises - not just technical, as I experienced, but also personal – in MOB or other injury situations. A water point and Elsan disposal facilities are needed in or near Spalding – as are improved moorings. Rings are needed on ‘the wall’ (for 2 or 3 boats)
and the existing moorings need Improving. Existing mooring facilities at Crowland on the Welland and on the Glen near the A16 in Surfleet and near the A151 at Pinchbeck West need prepublicising and using on future trips. An overnight stay on the Mermaid pon toon should be incorporated into future itineraries (use it or lose it applies particularly to waterside watering holes). However, an overnight at the Mermaid should not be at a weekend (particularly a bank-holiday weekend). Our three narrow-boats more than filled the pontoon on the eve of the Spring Bank holiday, and at least two ‘locals’ were not able to moor there. ‘We’ will only be there once (or maybe?) twice a year – whereas a pub relies on customers throughout the year. We were very welcome, but we shouldn’t antagonise the locals - whose support we need for the Fens Link project anyway. Consolidated cruising notes need build ing up – particularly for the Glen (which can of course also be accessed by trail-boats). On a future trip the ‘side pond’ (between Pinchbeck West and Guthrams Gowt) needs assessing as to its suitability to create a more formal winding location. Also now that the profile of Surfleet Sluice and bridge, and the B1356 bridge are better known, they can be circulated, with notes, in advance – to allow ‘ballasting’ and avoiding disappointment and possible ‘isolation’ of individual boats. Ian
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News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire It’s been pretty quiet this spring so far with the weather locally being fairly dry so no excuses not to be out and about on our waterways. It is also quite refreshing to hear Canal and River Trust (CRT) indicating, for the first time for some considerable period, that water levels in their reservoirs are looking good at this time of year for boaters and wildlife across the network. Since the last Aegre we had our AGM in February. As well as the Branch Chairman reviewing information that has been mentioned in previous Aegre articles we were joined by Region Chairman David Pullen, who discussed items on topics further afield. Specifically the latest information on the Boston Barrier, the Fens Waterways Link, the transfer of Environment Agency navigations to CRT and the issues facing IWA regarding membership, recruitment and retention – a worrying trend. It was also my honour to say a big thank you to retiring committee members Angela and David Dunham, who over the last three years have done sterling work organising the Social calendar, attending Lock Winds, clean-ups and manning the exhibition stand. They were given a well deserved round of applause, albeit that meant the committee cohort was down to a lonely three. The evening was rounded off by a
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really interesting illustrated talk by John Wilkinson concerning a hotel boat trip along a scenic section of the River Danube. One of the joys of my role as Chairman of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch is being able to officially recognise the contributions to safeguarding or restoring our local waterways made by often unseen individuals. Bring forth the Champion Webster cup, which can be awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to waterways in the local area. I emphasise the word, outstanding. It was therefore my great pleasure to present the cup at the AGM in February to not one individual but this year to an outstanding team of individuals, Dave Kiddy and the Chesterfield Canal Work Party Team. The Work Party are on site working several times a week. Over the last three years, they have put in over 35,000 hours, along with WRG colleagues, to build the new Staveley Town Lock and preparing the 300 yards beyond the lock to Hartington Wharf which was used for the IWA National Trailboat Festival in May 2016. I am not so sure that the attendees at the Trailboat Festival really understood the huge achievement of Dave Kiddy and colleagues when they were at the event. Hopefully this award shone some light.
The Work Party’s powers of persuasion and enthusiasm has helped the Trust acquire much needed plant, equipment and facilities. Dave and the team ensure there are always supplies of blocks, bricks, sand, mortar, diesel and all the other things that are necessary to keep the project moving – especially tea, cake and biscuits! Keeping work moving forward; balancing views and opinions and making sure the money, materials and skills are all there at the right time and place is no mean feat. It’s a team effort, but ultimately the problems and challenges end up with Dave Kiddy. Dave has been involved with the Chesterfield Canal Trust for five years, his interest having been sparked by seeing volunteers working on the Staveley Town Basin. He lives
in the Sheffield area, and is semi-retired, having worked in alarm installations and been the former owner of a cabin cruiser. As well as being a Trustee of the Chesterfield Canal Trust (CCT), Dave crews on all its four trip-boats and its historic ex-BW working boat Python. - in fact Dave was among the first people to realise that Python had serious problems back in 2014 when it sank with him on it. A qualified skipper, excavator and dumper driver, he organised the trust’s volunteer work party. But this work wasn’t done alone. Running up to the Trail-boat Festival, the cohort of dedicated work party colleagues saw a peak of activity and hours involved to complete restoration of this section, including assistance with an archaeological dig, that had to be seen to be believed.
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Dave’s contribution doesn’t stop there though. He advised Eckington School while they were fitting out their boat Madeline and sorted out the agreement for the trust to use her as a trip-boat and split the income, setting up the crew from scratch. He also helps with the promotional trailer and upkeep of Hollingwood Hub. Our indoor season of illustrated talks concluded with a couple of gems. In March we learned about the Past, Present and Future of the Derby Canal. There is much going on behind the scenes with active fund raising to restore a one kilometre section of canal in Draycott and much ado around Borrowash. The former section has the potential to be fully restored within the next 18 months and with the WRG Forestry Team set for a big push clearing a number of major trees around Borrowash in the autumn who knows what might be achieved. In terms of achievements it was refreshing to see the work being done on the Ashby Canal at the April meeting. Significant works continue around the current head of navigation progressing northwards and plans are now really pushing ahead for major restoration works around Measham. Lets hope the HS2 rail line is soon sorted out and that it does not thwart the very active Ashby Canal restorers. In May our Social calendar took us to an escorted visit around AttenborAegre 148 - July 2017 Page 26
ough Nature Reserve on the banks of the River Trent. Ranger Tim Sexton with his spotter scope was extremely knowledgeable about the fauna and flora of the ex-gravel pits throughout the reserve. Let me test my memory and see if I can recall some of the birds in Tim’s scope as we toured the reserve on what turned out to be balmy May evening – Black Tern, Common Tern, Sand Martin, Black Headed Gull, Oyster Catcher, Shelduck, Gadwall Duck, Egyptian Goose, Swift and a heronry complete with Herons and their chicks. Not an exhaustive list but by the time we had been informed by Tim about the life of the respective birds, two hours went by in the wink of an eye. As we got back to the car park the evening twilight closed in just in time to view the Daubenton’s bats setting out for their night’s ventures. What a fascinating treat to visit such a special place so local to the Trent. Now that the warmer weather has come and the lighter nights are here we can also look forward to more activities through the summer. We are planning another Lock Wind event at Derwent Mouth Lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Shardlow. Plans have still to be finalised but the date is most likely to be Saturday 5th August and anyone wishing to help on the day would be most welcome. Volunteers will be on hand to operate the lock for passing boaters and if crews are willing to make a
donation for this service it will be gratefully accepted. We also intend to have a small exhibition stand to inform about the IWA and its purpose and no doubt there will be cakes to tempt as well. If you are interested in another fun day out and raising money for worthy waterways causes please do get in touch by emailing nottsandderbys@waterways.org.uk. Park in the public car park in Shardlow and then take a brief walk east along the towing path to meet at the Lock at 10 am. Perhaps our biggest outing however, will be to the IWA Festival of Water at Gallows Inn Fields, Ilkeston, over the Bank holiday weekend August 26-28. This will be a great few days out for all the family so please come and help on the exhibition stand or just stop by to say Hello. The last edition of Aegre had a series of taster articles about the Festival so I won’t reiterate here but do come along and join in the fun, it will be a great few days out for all the family young and old. Bear the purpose of the Festival in mind as well. The Erewash Canal is fully restored but surprisingly underused and then you have the active restoration projects of the Derby & Sandiacre canal and the Cromford canal all within close proximity to the Festival site and which require support. Let’s show everyone in the local vicinity the benefits that would prevail if the two restoration projects were completed and there was a regular traffic of brightly col-
oured boats moving through their neighbourhood. Just imagine the trip from Swarkestone through Derby to Sandiacre and then onto the Erewash canal and up through the Peak District to Richard Arkwright’s unique mill at Cromford. Tantalising. We are also planning a Canal Cleanup on Sunday September 3rd but details are not complete. One thing is sure; we will need lots of people to make it a success. It will be on the Nottingham Canal and the plan is to start at 10.00 hrs at Meadow Lane Lock and work northwards into Nottingham City. Car parking should be available on CRT land adjacent to the Lock or roadside on the nearby roads. If you are interested in another fun day out please keep your eye on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch page of the IWA website or do get in touch by emailing nottsandderbys@waterways.org.uk for further information nearer the time. On the Social front our season of evenings will recommence in October. However, we plan a change in venue and day of the week. A previous venue, Rushcliffe Arena, has been completely rebuilt and recently reopened. From October we are therefore going to return to this location and also revert back to holding meetings on the third Friday in the month. Which means that our next Social meeting will be on Friday
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October 20th at Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7HY and then the third Friday in the month thereafter. It is also worthy of note that venue costs have increased so it would be much appreciated if those attending increased their nominal donations towards proceedings accordingly. The price of a pint of beer being a useful sum to have in mind as a donation. On that topic I have been informed that the Rushcliffe Arena has a cafĂŠ for refreshments but no longer a Bar. So from October put the evening of the third Friday in the month in your diaries and keep your eye on the website for the calendar of events, which is currently being planned. Do come and join us, everyone is most welcome, I look forward to seeing you there. Mike Snaith
Around the Societies and Trusts Friends of Cromford Canal. Their social meetings at Ironville Church Hall NG15 5NN continue in September on the third Monday of the month at 7.30 pm. Admission is ÂŁ2 and there is a bar and raffle. Sept 18th. David Amos, Coalmines of the Ashfield and Amber valley Areas. October 16th. Derwent Wise Lidar. November 20th. - Pending. Horse drawn trip days and Leawood Pumphouse openings are on August 5/6, August 27/28, Sept. 16/17, October 7/8 and October 28/29. Call 07552 055455 for bookings and details. The Derby and Sandiacre Trust has work parties continuing at Draycott and Borrowash. They are trying to start a Wednesday session; contact Eddy Case on 07523 896645. Indoor meetings are planned to continue on the fourth Tuesday of the month, now at 7.30 pm at the Wilmot Arms, 49 Derby Road, Borrowash DE72 3HA. For queries call Chris Madge on 07827 946444. Erewash CP&DA meetings at Sandiacre Lock Cottage, Lock Lane, NG10 5LA are normally at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of the month. Visitors welcome, but to be sure it is on call 07809 251441 or contact Glyn Stenson at glynstenson@hotmail.com. They are currently gearing up for the IWA Festival at Gallows Inn Fields IlkeAegre 148 - July 2017 Page 28
ston on August 26-28, and even looking further ahead to a Langley Mill Rally on May 26-28, 2018. Sleaford Navigation Trust Their work parties continue, usually on the second Sunday of the month. Call Mel Sowerby on 01522 856810 for details. See also Dave Carnell’s report and pictures about the very successful South Kyme Gathering on page 14. Chesterfield Canal Trust The Chesterfield Canal Trust has been selected as a recipient for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2017. This is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. The work the Trust does for the community was very much admired by the independent Assessment Committee, chaired by Sir Martyn Lewis CBE. The award was created by The Queen in 2002 to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee, recognising excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. It is the MBE for volunteer groups. Trust Chair Robin Stonebridge said: “Receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2017 represents a tremendous achievement for all of the Chesterfield Canal Trust volunteers, past and present, who have dedicated countless hours to promoting the canal and campaigning for its full restoration. We hope that everyone involved, and especially all our volunteers, feel immensely proud of the recognition that this Award represents. “4th June 2017 marks the 240th anniversary of the opening of the completed Chesterfield Canal. 2017 also marks the 40th anniversary year of the founding of the Chesterfield Canal Society which laid the foundations for the Trust. What better year could there be for the phenomenal work of the Trust’s volunteers to receive national recognition - and what better recognition than the Queens Award for Voluntary Service? “Over the years, the Trust has received magnificent support from local communities and from the members of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, for which we are truly thankful. Today is one for celebrating the incredible feats that dedicated volunteers can achieve, and we hope that everyone in the vicinity of the canal, whether one of the Trust’s 1650 members or not, will join us in celebrating this honour.
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“We have just nine miles to complete, and once a decision has been made about the route of HS2, we want to press ahead and get the job done - something that will definitely support community well-being and economic growth in our region and the wider economy.” Apart from the national recognition, the Award includes: ● An invitation to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, which was attended on behalf of the Trust by Kath Auton (Membership Secretary) and Richard Allsopp (Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2017) on 23rd May; ● Publication of our details in a special edition of The London Gazette – available to view online; ● A signed certificate from Her Majesty The Queen - presented locally by the Lord Lieutenant;
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