Basingstoke Canal Society Page: 4 John Pinkerton Focus on Accessible Boating Association
Byfleet Boat Club Page: 7
Canalway Cavalcade Page: 36
Chichester Ship Canal Trust Page: 6
Fund Britain’s Waterways Page: 40
Guildford & Reading Branch Page: 3 Sales and Publicity Stand
Kent & East Sussex Branch – IWAKES Page: 26
River Adur
Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust
River Medway
Thames & Medway Canal Association Future Events
Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Page: 9
Reading Crofton Beam Engines
London Region Page: 37
Maidenhead – Friends of Maidenhead Waterways Page: 12
Mikron Theatre Group Page: 24
National Trust - River Wey & Godalming Navigations Page: 15
Oxfordshire Branch Page: 34
Paddle UK Page: 22
Puppet Theatre Barge Page: 25
River Thames Page: 22
Silver Propeller Challenge Page: 37
Surrey Care Trust Page: 24
Tooley’s Boatyard Trust Page: 34
Towpath Walks Page: 38
Wey & Arun Canal Trust Page: 20
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Page: 35
Cover Photo Courtesy: Tristan Brown, General Manager Dapdune Wharf, National Trust
Editorial
Welcome to the Summer edition of Cargoes. Well, after all the rain we had earlier in the year now a lot of waterways are experiencing drought conditions. Unless we’ve had lots of rain since I wrote this!
I hope you are managing to get out and about near your local waterway but have time to read and enjoy the articles sent in by our contributors. Many thanks to all contributors for the articles and photos you have supplied for this edition of Cargoes. I hope everyone enjoys reading them.
Chris Jones, Editor
Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman
The National Trust has announced plans to replace the damaged Tumble Bay Weir bridge in Guildford. The original structure failed after months of warnings and disputes about who was responsible for the cost and design of a new structure. Now the National Trust has budgeted for a like-for-like replacement which will be funded by the National Trust and will restore the towpath through the town. Before the towpath collapsed, Guildford Borough Council had discussed some ambitious plans to reconfigure land between the weir stream and the navigation, but funding was not available. Work will inevitably cause disruption on this well used stretch of towpath, so please be patient. It has also been announced that the River Wey festival will not take place this year. Tristan Brown, General Manager at Dapdune Wharf has included a brief description of the work that will be done in his article.
Our branch will be at the Reading Water Fest at the end of June where the Kennet and Avon Trust is celebrating its 75th year. Also, the Basingstoke Canal Society is celebrating its 60th year. Please do try and attend any events you can to support them.
Reading Water Fest. Courtesy: KACT
Photo:
Verna Smith
Sales & Publicity Stand
Our only event this year is the Reading Water Fest on the 27th June. If you could help at this event, we would be grateful. You can contact Chris Jones or any member of the Sales Team - our email address is : chris.jones@waterways.org.uk.
Basingstoke Canal Society
2026 is a celebratory year for the Basingstoke Canal society as we spend our year reminiscing and celebrating the past 60 years of the society and look ahead to the next 60 too, of course!
Our celebrations began in January with a special talk about our work, memories and having input from members and supporters on what the Canal, Canal Society and the anniversary mean to them. However our biggest celebration of the year happened in April where we were blessed with glorious weather for a great family event by the Canal in Woking.
On the 18th April, we celebrated our 60th anniversary by welcoming hundreds of members, volunteers and members of the public to Boundary Road Recreation Ground with family games, entertainment, food, drinks and many stalls from local wildlife groups. The event also saw the official naming of our new electric trip boat, Kitty II.
A commemorative booklet was also released celebrating our 60 th and sharing updates from the last 10 years. If you would like a copy, please contact us and we’d be happy to email you a copy.
Our 60th Anniversary short film is also now available to watch on our YouTube channel and has received excellent feedback from everyone who has seen it. You can find our YouTube Channel by searching Basingstoke Canal Society on YouTube.
As well as our 60th, this year has also seen our partnership grow with the Basingstoke Canal Authority and we recently began support with our volunteer lock keepers programme.
We all appreciate that the Basingstoke Canal is a wonderful stretch of water however the 28 double locks that you must climb through to the top of Deepcut can be a challenge and this new initiative will help visitors through the 17 locks of the Brookwood and Deepcut flights.
We hope that this will in turn encourage more visiting boats onto the Basingstoke Canal, something we value as a society and love to see.
Second to seeing new and more boats on the Canal, and most importantly, this joint initiative should improve water management on the Canal. The canal is prone to running low on water towards the end of the summer and having dedicated
volunteer lock keepers who go ahead with the boats whilst the Rangers “caulk up” the leaks coming through the lock gates, should help use water more efficiently and maintain navigation throughout the season.
Looking ahead to the glorious summer ahead, we hope to see many visitors to the Basingstoke Canal and our volunteers look forward to meeting and helping you through the locks.
Next month also sees the next celebration of our 60th year with a BBQ at the Fox & Hounds in Fleet on the 11th July. We hope to see many of you there for a look at our archives display and opportunity to learn more and join us in celebrating the Society.
Last but not least, this June we’re entering all new members into a prize draw for a chance to win a pair of tickets for a boat trip of their choice on Kitty II or John Pinkerton II. To become a member for as little as £15 per year, please visit https://basingstoke-canal.org.uk/become-a-member/
Charlotte Rodgers, Press Officer BCS
Boat Trips:
The John Pinkerton II trip boat operates from Odiham in Hampshire, running public, themed and chartered cruises. Trips last about 3.25 hours and run through farms, woodlands and the occasional small settlement. Information for times and prices for trips and how to charter the boat for a special occasion or social outing is available on our website: https://basingstokecanal.org.uk/book-your-trip/. All bookings are done online but for help email: jpbookings@basingstoke-canal.org.uk, or call: 07506 864411 (10am – 6pm).
Kitty public boat trips are at 11am, 1pm and 2.45pm from the town wharf in Woking.
Trips from Mytchett: Boat trips on board our friendly 12-seater boat Rosebud usually run at weekends and on public holidays from Easter to September. Please contact us for up to date information. Tel 01252 370073, email info@basingstokecanal.co.uk or check on Facebook or Twitter.
Focus on Accessible Boating Association
The Accessible Boating Association, ( ABA), is a registered charity initiated in 1985 . The charity enables people who cannot use existing canal boats to enjoy cruises on the Basingstoke Canal .
Two boats are available: Madam Butterfly, a comfortable 7-berth cruising boat and Dawn, a 12-person day boat. Both boats are based in Odiham at Galleon Marine’s boatyard with trips operating from Colt Hill Wharf from April to October. For more details see the website www.accessibleboating.org.uk .
Byfleet Boat Club
After a great weekend at the IWA Canal Cavalcade at Little Venice, two Byfleet Boat Club boats Tristan III and ourselves, M’Lady, made their way to Limehouse Basin on a calm Tuesday to meet up with 14 working boats and 12 other pleasure narrowboats for a Tidal Thames Cruise.
We arrived mid afternoon with a small concern that there was play in our tiller which we had mentioned earlier in the day. As we arrived we were instructed to moor abreast of a line of working boats, and we were immediately descended upon by a number of willing and knowledgeable boat crew, consisting of marine engineers, mechanics and boat safety examiners! In a blur of activity, the weed hatch was opened and the rudder inspected by feel, and following various discussions it was agreed that we were safe to proceed with the trip.
All the boat crews met in the Cruising Association for a detailed and humorous safety briefing led by St Pancras Cruising Club’s Andrew Phasey. This included information on our locking out time for the following morning and the name and skipper of our lead boat, who is an experienced boat skipper, to help less experienced crews.
We met in the Limehouse Basin Thames Lock at about 6.30 on Wednesday morning, we were the third of seven lockings of the morning and once settled by the very helpful lock staff we were let out onto the Thames. It was time to take a deep breath and we proceeded out and turned left onto the tideway using our horn signal as we went. We have done this trip once before, but that was even earlier and on a very calm day, this time there was some swell. We moved quite quickly, mostly due to the tide towards the Thames Barrier. The London VTS gave us permission to enter the Barrier Control Zone and before we knew it we were passing the Woolwich Ferries. Fortunately we arrived just as they had docked and were unloading, which meant we didn’t have to take any avoiding action, but we didn’t get to see their synchronised dance as they cross the River Thames. We approached and passed through the Thames Barrier via the approved span, taking lots of pictures to send to our friends, as we passed.
It was then onto Margaretness, which is the end of the Barrier Control Zone, and performed our 4 and 2, the horn signals for turning around to the left, and met up on the other side of the river to hold station until the tide turned and we were allowed back into the Barrier Control Zone to get to our destination for the night, The King George V docks.
Once we had permission, the order of boats was changed to allow the 14 working boats, most of whom were built at Harland and Wolff in the Royal Docks to enter first for photo opportunities. We then arrived and were moored abreast of other boats and waited for the lock to be closed and the 6 metre rise as the lock was filled. There was an audible sigh of relief on M’Lady once we were secured for the evening! The crews of all the boats then went to the Galyons Pub for a supper and naturally to re-live the day!!
The morning brought a 7.30 start to go out of the lock away from the River Thames, mostly to get the 14 working boats lined up for a once in a lifetime photo shoot, what a sight!
At about 1 pm on Thursday the 6 metre drop started and then in the new order we were released back onto the River Thames. As we had come to expect, Andrew Phasey had this all sorted and the boats heading to Teddington were at the front, then those going to Brentford and finally those taking the shorter trip back to Limehouse. We repeated the passing through the Thames Barrier and then proceeded through London in what I can honestly say was the roughest water that I have experienced in my 12 years on M’Lady, but the sights of all the bridges and the convoy of boats was spectacular. It really was a case of being frightened and doing it anyway!
Things calmed down as we got through the busy part of London and along with Tristan III, from Byfleet Boat Club and the working boat and butty, Towcester and Argus, we arrived in Teddington in good spirits. I made a quick phone call to London VTS to inform them that the last boats of the convoy had left the tidal Thames and was rewarded with praise from the London VTS that the convoy had been very well behaved, a reflection on the organization and leadership skills of Frances and Andrew Phasey.
A fantastic two days, being part of a reunion of 14 beautiful restored working boats with their birthplace, and also a very exciting Tideway Cruise. If you haven’t done the trip before I would whole heartedly recommend joining one of the St Pancras Cruising Club’s trips, they are very well organized and very friendly, especially to newbies!
Kennet & Avon Canal News
Reading Branch
Chairman’s Report
Welcome to Summer, it’s funny - last month we were thinking about high water levels and now we’re trying to keep everything cool. The point where spring moves to summer is always fascinating by the canal. We have the swifts swooping and squeaking, the mayfly are starting to rise; we haven’t had the cloud burst of the winged beasties yet though. We’ve seen some grey wagtails looking forward to their annual feast. The Cuckoo is still sounding and we have been watching new families of ducks and geese. We were told of some sightings of beaver tree nibbling near Newbury, so it sounds like they are getting closer. We found a lot of crayfish shells the other day on the bank side, so it looks like the otters are active again. A good indicator for the waterway environment, I think. Stuff still needs to improve but it seems like a positive.
The Navigation is not in a great state. Heale’s and Ham Mill Locks are now usable. The CRT chaps on the ground are working hard. We have seen the regular willow drops that seem to happen this time of year that get cleared in good time but, Burghfield lock is a problem, currently it’s closed and is expected to be repaired early June. Garston is still to be fixed and Burnt Mill lock now has a broken balance beam following folk apparently using it for a diving board. The CRT folk are doing their best to keep on top, but you can see it’s getting to be a struggle.
Matilda spent a few weeks around Easter at the Cunning Man running trips, then moved to the usual place behind the Queens Road car park, we know it as Star Lane Wharf, but that reflects a history that is fading. If you haven’t been, it’s a nice little trip showing some of the history of Reading, some of the Public Art and the environmental aspects that can be seen. It does show Reading from a different perspective. From our Trip Boat perspective, we have more than doubled our passenger numbers over the bank holidays this year, which looks very promising. We have also taken on 3 new volunteer crew, Gareth, Sarah and Richard, who are very enthusiastic to learn and get involved.
We are only a week or so from the start of our Great Celebratory Cruise and things are looking good. We head off from Great Bedwyn on the 2nd of June with 13 large events and several smaller ones ahead of us. Our volunteer crew of more than 50 from our regular boat crews, is changing every 2-3 days to give as many as possible a turn on the boat. All branches sent crew members. More than ½ km of bunting has been home-made, mostly by Woodley WI, Big, BIG thankyou to Julie and the gang. KA75 badges are now on the arm of every volunteer. The “Great Devizes Descent” could be, well, great... But we are still looking people to join us to make the huge passenger descent. Our famous resident artistDru Marland - she really is a resident living on a boat on the K&A - had produced a wonderful image to celebrate the 75th anniversary, and as our esteemed President, Rob Dean, summarized, our celebratory journey recently “This is the biggest event we've attempted since restoration” . Check our web site for details and come and join in the fun. https://katrust.org.uk/ka75/
The Aldermaston Tea room team have done their warm-up with the canoe races and now are preparing for the summer with the Reading Branch holding an open day event on the 4th July as part of the KA75. We are looking for volunteers to help with the Toll / Wash house if anyone fancies popping along.
We are still working on getting Reading Borough Council to make Reading a more friendly boating space. It’s an ongoing discussion but hopefully will give folk a better opportunity to experience Reading. Come and talk to us on the 27th of June at Reading Waterfest to get an update. We still have mooring room for the event if you would like to bring your boat.
Our monthly meetings have concluded for this half of the year. Since last issue we have had Laura, CRT’s Environment officer talking Otters, Water Voles and Beavers; Roger Cansdale talking on the past, present and future of the Basingstoke Canal and most recently, Mike Cooper, a historian talking about the WWII defence line, Pill boxes, gun emplacements, Dragon’s teeth and more. We will resume our meetings in September, look on our website for details. www.katrust.org.uk Keep well and look after each other.
Graham Puddephatt
Chair Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. Chair Reading Branch Kennet and Avon Canal Trust chair@katrust.org.uk
“Reading…on Kennet and oh so near the Thames” - Daniel Defoe 1724
Crofton Beam Engines
75th Anniversary of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. June 20th & 21st
The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust is our parent charity, and we will have a special exhibition of the history of the canal and Crofton’s restoration.
We will be visited by Hannah, one of the Canals specially adapted boats for the disabled and will have various activities for children and adults to celebrate this momentous occasion.
As well as the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust celebrations on site. You will have your chance to see the historic beam engines in steam. They once played a significant role in the operation of the Kennet and Avon Canal, helping to supply water to the highest point of the K&A canal network.
Opening Times: 10:00 – 16:30
Engine House: 10:30 – 16:30
Car Park Close: 17:00
Booking: You can either book online or buy your entrance ticket on the door. We will always have plenty of room for visitors.
Please visit our website for other events and details of our Steaming Weekends.
Please visit our website for up to date information: www.katrust.org.uk
Photo and information: Crofton Beam Engines
Maidenhead Waterways
Neighbourhood Plan - Maidenhead Waterways was a founding member of Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum, a community group designated by the Royal Borough of Windsor (RBWM) in 2023 to create a Neighbourhood Plan for Maidenhead. Planning Policies were determined through successive consultations, an independent inspection and in March a public referendum. After an overwhelming vote in favour, RBWM formally adopted the Plan which now carries equal weight in planning decisions to existing national and borough-wide Local Plan policies.
The Plan provides detailed local policies on Design, Housing, Getting About, Climate, Built Heritage and Biodiversity. Tailored policies for the Waterways Corridor were included to help protect and enhance the role of the waterway as a key public amenity and wildlife corridor through the heart of town. You can view the full Plan at https://mnf.org.uk/
Gas main diversion - Cadent are in the process of renewing the old gas mains that serve Maidenhead. In the spring they diverted the main that runs under the road and through our main boating base at Chapel Arches. The redundant pipe at the rear of the arches is due to be cut out and removed in September, after our peak season for boating activities.
Events 2026 - Trustees have agreed to join two major events this year around the waterway - Paddlefest on 20th June (with Berkshire Scouts) and Waterside Quarter’s Live and Local on 22nd August, when we will again be offering free boat rides in our service boats. We have decided not run a large scale Waterways Fun Day this year, due to the disruption expected to our base from further works by Cadent inside the arches that we rely on for boat storage and boarding.
Canoe Club News - Our new Canoe Club completed its first organised trip further down the waterway in early spring, from Maidenhead town centre to the Thames at Bray and back. Five members in kayaks and a canoe paddled the previously blocked section through Braywick Park to the Thames, seeing kingfishers, swans, herons and egrets on the way.
Bray Cut below the Green Lane weir was blocked for nearly eight years. The river being closed and blocked by fallen trees led to a significant build-up of litter in the water, or snagged in undergrowth. On their return, our paddlers filled a canoe with footballs, beer cans, glass bottles and bits of discarded plastic. We made a further run jointly with RBWM's nature team to clear litter from Bray Cut.
Channel maintenance - Work throughout the Autumn and Winter targeted obstructions to flow in the northern channels, along the restored York Stream and also in Bray Cut. We welcomed advice from Wild Cookham on the northern channels, the National Trust for the Widbrook and from RBWM’s Rangers on Battlemead Common and Braywick Park. Work parties increased to every Saturday morning over this period and the water and banks were looking good by the spring.
Pigeons be gone! - We have completed installation of a new pigeon screen under the western Chapel Arch. Specially fabricated for us, the frame is bolted onto the modern concrete reinforcements, avoiding the need for fixings into the fragile c1825 bridge’s arches. The ‘net curtains’ slide aside for access. No pigeons, no mess...!!
Bray Cut Clearance - We recently welcomed back IWA Waterway Recovery Group (BITM branch) volunteers for another weekend long clearance session in lower Bray Cut. Working just south of the Causeway alongside the landowner’s own team, and using our floating platform, BITM’s chain saws and winches, some huge fallen trees were removed to free up passage and flow.
“Baby Yorkie” - Supported by a grant from local specialist watchmaker Christopher Ward we have taken delivery of a second powered flat bottom heavy duty aluminium work boat to add to our maintenance fleet. Pictured in manufacturer Seastrike’s workshop, the new boat is sl ightly smaller than our main work boat Yorkie, so we are for now calling her “Baby Yorkie”, until we finalise the new name.
Richard Davenport, Chair of the Trustees Maidenhead Waterways Group
River Wey & Godalming Navigations
Spring Article (June 2026)
The big news is that works to rebuild Millbrook weir have started! Throughout this project we will be doing everything we can to limit the impact to our river users and keep the Navigation open, with the exception of minor delays when materials are craned over the water. The contractors will have banksmen there
to inform boaters of the need to wait but will aim to get you through with as little interruption as possible. For those of you who have noticed the low water levels, we have needed to temporarily drop the level in the pound by approximately 6 inches. Once a temporary dam has been installed, we can then raise the water level back up. However, please be aware that in order to create a safe working environment and to help our team manage the water levels with a lower risk of overtopping the structure, we will need to run a couple of inches low for the remainder of the season. This is to try and avoid delays to the project. We aim to have this completed by late Autumn early winter with the weir repaired and footbridge reinstated.
The teams have been hard at work across the rest of the Navigation too. So far this year we have; replaced the flood gates at Walsham (a job done in record time between the red boards going in and out earlier in the year); what felt like hundreds of scaffold poles have been driven in to finish the mooring line replacement at Addlestone; our floating excavator has travelled the length of the Navigation, following the high water levels in winter, reprofiling the channel to ensure it was clear of sandbars; reeds have been removed from key areas where the
Figure 1- Walsham Flood Gates Replacement
Figure 2- Site Set Up for Millbrook Weir Rebuild
banks were encroaching to far into the channel; all the remedial repairs that crop up from fixing dogholes to backfilling behind steel sheet piling.
Following the feedback from our boaters at the end of the last season the team have also been focussing on the offside cut backs where, to increase our efforts, we are very grateful to have enlisted the help of the Swingbridge volunteers. There has also been a push to ensure that the sight lines along the Navigation are cut short to make it easier to see round those tighter meanders. I would encourage our boaters to get in touch if there are any key areas that we have not yet got to which would make your boating experience better.
Although it has been a busy start, there is still plenty more maintenance work to do.
The team are currently repairing the moorings near Byfleet Boat Club.
Once these are complete the plan is to:
• Conduct remedial repairs to some undercutting in the lower pound at Thames Lock
• Complete 150m of bank protection above Send Church Bridge,
• Our work boats are being dry docked for repairs, visual inspections and blacking
• We will be contracting engineers to conduct bridge inspections across our 56 bridges
• The top and bottom gates at Pyrford will be replaced as part of our annual lock gate programme
• We will aim to replace steel sheet piling at the following locations (although this will be dependent on the impact of the global situation on the cost of steel!)
o The bottom landing stage at Papercourt,
o The top landing stage at Newark,
o The bottom landing stage on both sides (towpath and offside) at St Catherines Lock,
o The top landing stage at Stoke Lock
Figure 3 - Reprofiling/Keeping the Channel Clear
It has been a busy year and we have seen a number of incidents so far with some resulting in damage to the Navigation. Millmead balance beam was snapped after a boat collided with it, lock gates have been lifted and needed to be winched back in place, there have been a couple of incidents of craft coming loose from their moorings and we even had to rescue some floating patio furniture after some high winds. It has not only been water-based incidents, we even had not one, but two vehicles collide with the carpark barrier at Pyrford lock in the space of a couple of hours! With these incidents in mind and the pull it has on resources for our team, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of roping up whilst travelling through locks no matter how experienced the boater is.
I would also like to ask for your help in advising either new boaters who are getting used to the life, or those visiting from other waterways, on the proper use of our Elsans and refuse points. We have seen an increase in the amount of fly tipping and when Elsan points have been emptied there has been a lot of unsuitable materials found in the tanks. We will be putting out notices at the facilities with information on what can and can’t be disposed of and would appreciate your support in setting a good example.
Our water sports offer at Dapdune is also coming along nicely offering new audiences a chance to engage with the river and experience its tranquillity and beauty. This is a good example of the way that we are trying to diversify the income streams for the Navigation and ensure that all river users are contributing to its maintenance and care. The operators are also very keen to teach both good practice and the rules of the Navigation to help our variety of visitors use the waterway safely and in a way that limits the impact to others.
Figure 4 - Watersports at Dapdune
I hope you all managed to get out and enjoy the sun in the recent heat wave and as always, I look forward to seeing you out on the waterway.
Thank you for your continued support
Tristan Brown General Manager – Wey Navigations National Trust
Thames Lock Opening times
From the 1st January the opening times for Thames Lock are now:
January: Pre-booked only 24hrs in advance. The office will otherwise not be staffed.
February 1st – March 15th: Lock passage limited to 2hrs per day from 10.0012.00 with the ability to book a return journey outside these hours. To be agreed locally with the lock keeper at the point of passage.
March 16th – Sept 30th : Full day opening. 9.30-17.30. Closed 13.00-14.00
October: Lock passage will be limited to 2 hrs per day from 10.00-12.00 with the exception of half term where it will open for an extended period
November: Lock passage will be limited to 2hrs per day with the ability to book a return journey outside these hours. To be agreed locally with the lock keeper at the point of passage
December: Pre-booked only 24hrs in advance. The office will otherwise not be staffed
Figure 5 - Sunny Day at Dapdune Wharf
Water Rangers – Fighting River Pollution
Sewage pollution in our rivers is a hot topic at present and the Water Rangers are a volunteer “citizen science” group determined to gather data to highlight and eradicate th e problem. Although the group started in Canada there is a keen UK group currently focused on the River Wey. Volunteers regularly collect samples and observations from the River Wey and its tributaries. Certain tests, such as for phosphates and nitrates can be processed locally by volunteers but tests for E. coli, an indicator of sewage, need overnight incubation, and the group has a laboratory in the premises of Zero Carbon Guildford in Walnut Tree Close where volunteers process the samples. All the data is entered on a database which is open to public view. A hand-held meter may be used to check conductivity, indicating dissolved minerals, and temperature, which is required for the interpretation of other readings. In shallow water volunteers also do “kick testing”. For this observation the volunteer stands in the water and shuffles over an area of the bed of the river and collects the disturbed invertebrates in a net. A count of the various species gives an indication of water quality.
Water Rangers regularly run demonstration and training sessions at Zero Carbon Guildford, which is conveniently beside the Wey. The training is important because Water Rangers aim to gather data to professional standards so that the database will have weight in influencing policy. Information from the tributaries is particularly useful because it helps to pinpoint the location of pollution sources. Volunteers may be anyone with an interest in water quality such as swimming clubs, rowing, kayaking and paddleboarding clubs and even riparian owners who may use river water for watering their gardens. The activity also has scope for school and college science projects because it involves both achievable practical work and contribution to a national body of scientific data.
See www.waterrangers.com/river-wey-volunteer/ for more information.
Photos Courtesy: Waterrangers Mike Lewis
Wey and Arun Canal Trust
WACT News
Rooks Hill Bridge – a “triumph of community spirit”
Saturday April 18th 2026 was an ideal date for a ceremony at our new Rooks Hill Bridge, as the facing of its concrete structure with bricks donated by Wienerberger Warnham was just at the right moment to incorporate two “named” bricks, one in honour of John Compton, whose family moved to Rooks Hill in the 1920s. He very kindly sold us the strip of land from Birtley Bridge No1 to his boundary, which has enabled us to extend the canal. The other brick remembers Martin Foster. Originally from Enfield, he lived for a time at Birtley Rise, a short distance from the canal route. In his last months, Martin made several generous gifts to his favourite causes including us, and his wish was for his gift to contribute to a traditional canal bridge.
The bricks were laid by Sir Jeremy Hunt MP, member for Godalming and Ash – his constituency includes all the northern part of our canal. He was accompanied by family members and by Jane Austin, District Councillor for Bramley & Wonersh. Sir Jeremy was pleased to be able to attend a totally non-political function and he compared his role at an event of this type to the late Queen Mother. He described our project as “an unmitigated triumph of community spirit. ”
Director Margaret Darvill thanked the donors present and the volunteers who had created the bridge and canal there, including the visiting restoration groups – the Newbury Working Party Group, the Kent & E ast Sussex Canal Restoration Group and the IWA Waterways Recovery Group. We had also been greatly assisted by materials suppliers Axtell and Guildford Tipper. The Compton family and Simon and Kirin Alder of adjoining Fanesbridge Cottage were thanked.
Guests were then accompanied down into the new canal cut, to inspect the bridge arch still resting on its wooden formwork, the culvert outfall and the complex bank engineering. The dry weather made the underlying natural clay walkable. Many of those attending had parked at Birtley Courtyard and had walked from Birtley Bridge No 1 to the site along the marked-out line of the future canal extension from Birtley to Rooks Hill. This was a special arrangement for the event. If you want to visit the site, the nearest suitable parking places are at Bramley Station to the north and on Run Common Road to the south. In either case, the Downslink / Wey-South Path takes you, with a climb at a bridge, to the Greensand Way close to the site.
Working party news
With the recent spell of dry weather, our various working parties have made excellent progress on their many diverse projects – not such good news for the boat Group!
The Midweek Working party has been clearing the banks and removing tree trunks from the canal bed at Alford Road.
The New Tracmaster is proving useful but was unable to digest some barb ed wire lurking amongst the brambles. Our trusty Depot Team was able to remove and ensure all is now back in working order.
The Northern Working Party Group resolved a problem with the lock gate at Loxwood where one of the upper lock gates would not fully close. After installing stop planks, they were able to remove the offending piece of wood which was jamming the gate open.
Sponsored Walk 2026
Our sponsored walk previously known as “The Poddle” took place on Sunday June 7th.
This year’s walk started and finished in the Sussex Restaurant at the Brinsbury College Campus which is on the A29, 2 miles south of Billingshurst. The route included fine views of the North and South Downs, the ancient bridge at Stopham and a section of our canal via Haybarn Swing bridge and Lee Place bridge.
Gordon Powell
River Thames News
The recent hot spell has highlighted the advantages of proximity to water. Whether it is watching wildlife, gentle cruising or paddling, water provides a great backdrop and often a cooling breeze.
It is good to report that some of the engineering issues on the River Thames are being addressed, although it will take some time to address all the problems. One of the successes being the footbridge over the River at Benson Lock. This had been closed for more than 3 years due to safety fears. A structural survey had shown that the supports required replacing as they were corroded and damaged. This meant either a ferry ride or a long detour for walkers of the Thames Path or boaters moored on the lock landing. The new footbridge is over the weir which has been upgraded to a new pass for fish and eels.
The recent All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways heard submissions from towpath groups and non-powered groups, plus access organisations. These groups spoke of their contributions as well as their needs
Photo Courtesy: BBC News Verna Smith
Paddle UK
Caring for our waterways, improving water quality to be pollution free for enjoying the resource and protecting public health are important issues.
The
Big
Paddle
Cleanup 23rd May – 7th June
Many canoe clubs participated in Paddle UK’s annual “Big Paddle Cleanup ” . Wey Kayak Club organised their own successful event on the River Wey.
Zöe Franklin, MP for Guildford met 75 members who cleared the river of exhaust pipes, umbrellas, scaffolding poles, traffic cones, tin cans and many other things!
Paddle UK welcomes opening of new designated Bathing Sites
Thirteen new designated bathing sites have opened at sites across England to include Pangbourne and Ham on the River Thames. The sites will be regularly tested for their water quality until the end of summer.
Paddle UK and the Clean Water Sports Alliance have said it is a positive step forward in protecting our precious waters. New designated bathing sites across England on Friday 15 th May is seen as a “historic opportunity to secure healthy, pollution-free waters for everyone to enjoy”. For millions who love being in, on, and beside the water, “access to safe regularly monitored blue space is vital ”.
The 13 new locations, take the total number of rigorously and regularly tested bathing waters to over 460 across the country. The Environment Agency are required to test the water every week from May to September – should a site get bathing waters status.
However, a designated bathing water does not automatically mean it is safe to swim. It means the Environment Agency is required to monitor water quality more regularly during the bathing season. Paddle UK is encouraged by the new Clean Water Bill announced in the King’s Speech, stating: “People should not have to face the risk of getting sick, simply doing what they love”.
Paddle UK is backing Surfer Against Sewage to expand the definition of bather to include ALL recreational water users. Under current regulations a bather is defined as a “swimmer” when designating new bathing waters – excluding paddlers
River Thames Water Quality Testing Groupwww.watertestingriverthames.co.uk
Operated by volunteers who enjoy wild swimming, paddle-boarding and boating, and are concerned about the water quality in the River Thames. There is a lack of up-to-date information for e.coli, and a variety of other indicators and pathogens including – nitrates, phosphates, turbidity (water clarity), temperature, pH, ammonia, and oxygen.
Several places are tested on the river between Oxford and Teddington. Tests are for a variety of indicators and pathogens, including nitrates,
Environment Agency campsites on the River Thames
All six campsites were closed at short notice in 2024 due to issues with local authority requirements for an operating licence. The Agency has recently announced five of the six campsites will be opened and operated by a third party later this year at: Rushey, Eynsham, Days, Shiplake and Hurley locks. Pinkhill Lock is omitted. Shiplake only had permanent camping and Paddle UK has queried if will be available for users on a passage along the river.
Kevin East
Voluntary Waterways & Environment Project Officer
Photo by Thames Water
Surrey Care Trust
Swingbridge Community boats provide a wonderful experience people who have limited mobility or special needs. The excursions run from Dapdune Wharf throughout the spring, summer and early autumn. Tranquility is specifically adapted with a wheelchair lift, so it is fully accessible for people with limited mobility. www.surreycaretrust.org.uk
Mikron Theatre Group
The Wensleydale Whey: The Grate Cheese Quest
Mikron will transport you to the Yorkshire Dales, in a hilarious quest to revive a lost recipe! The stakes are high: the Monks from the Abbey are desperately seeking a living soul to resurrect their traditional Wensleydale cheese. This charming tale promises a gouda time as it immerses you in a world of ghosts, grievances, and glorious cheese. We’ll delve into the rich history of cheese, from its humble beginnings to its place on the most sophisticated platters, featuring a cast of characters who are whey out there. Expect a cheesy plot, a sprinkle of drama, and plenty of fromage-tastic musical numbers.Join us for a slice of the action – it’s going to be a legen-dairy Mikron show. It’s time to Brie-lieve in the power of cheese!
Top of the Wold: Tales from a mobile library
Get ready for a hilarious and heartwarming journey to the Top of the Wold!
Hop aboard the most charmingly quirky mobile library you’ll ever encounter and dive into chapters that teem with the lives of then and now. This brand-new play, bursting with original songs, invites you to join the East Riding Mobile Library in a celebration of community, culture, caravans, and peas.
Via Bempton, Bridlington, Hornsea and Howden, we explore a region barely noticed by the nation it feeds, eroded by the pounding North Sea, can a mobile library –with its complex web of rural stops (and somewhat erratic engine) – pull together the Riding’s finest yarns?
From the rolling Wolds to the wild North Sea, discover a place where connection to the land is ingrained, culture is as organic as its produce, and the sea reminds us that we stand on the cliff-edge of a much bigger story.
This laugh-out-loud quest through a patchwork of culture and community celebrates the forgotten, the resilient, and the wonderfully eccentric.
If the story of a county is written in a book, the library is the spine that shows you where to look.
www.mikron.org.uk
The Puppet Theatre Barge
It is not possible to include all the events
The Puppet Theatre Barge has planned. Please visit their website for up to date information.
This summer they are holding events in Abingdon and Richmond as well as their usual venue of Little Venice.
Below are details of the Abingdon and Richmond events:
The Three Wolves
Captain Sandy & The Sea Monster
July 11th – August 9th
Suitable for ages 4 to 10
August 17th to September 27th
Suitable for ages 4 to 10
Please visit their website for up to date information on all venues and booking instructions .
Website: www.puppetbarge.com
Kent & East Sussex Branch
River Adur report from Nick Owen
There is further progress on the Shoreham flood defences, delayed for many years by a dispute over rights of way – in particular, access to public hards. The proposed wall, next to the Sussex Yacht Club, will be made of steel-piled concrete faced with brick and flint, and be up to 2.2 metres in height. A new footpath and cycle lane along the river bank will be created as part of the package, which is most welcome as the adjacent A259 is a very busy road (it was no fun just taking the photo). The wall will have flood gates that will allow access to the yacht club and serve the public right of way to the hard at Stowes Gap. It remains to be seen whether this access actually allows anything but the most hand-portable boats to be launched there. Contractor Blanchard Wells has been appointed to do the work, which the council expects to take 34 weeks.
In the last issue I reported a large number of very derelict vessels with notices attached; now, they are gone.
The effort to clear abandoned boats from the river appears to have been successful.
Finally, the “Future IWAKES and other Events” section of this Cargoes gives details of an IWA walk on Saturday 18th July along the Adur, upriver from the medieval Bramber Castle.
Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust
There is really nothing to report on the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust's activities since the last Cargoes apart from the continuing administrative wind-down of the charity.
The trustees and members of SORT were saddened to learn of the death of John Sclater CVO in February. He was our landowner at Isfield Lock on the Sutton Hall Estate and had been a supporter of SORT’s restoration work on the lock from the very start back in the early 2000s. When originally approached and asked for his permission for SORT’s access on and over his land, John had readily agreed.
John and his wife would be frequently seen walking their dogs down by the lock while SORT’s volunteers were working hard on the restoration. We were often knee-deep in mud, concrete, etc and generally looking unattractive and smelly but this did not deter Mr and Mrs Sclater from stopping to chat to us and learn about the current tasks and general progress. John would provide some of his Estate’s machinery and employees to assist us when we needed some heavy lifting or assistance we couldn’t manage from wi thin our own resources.
SORT is very grateful for John Sclater’s support and patience over many years. Like all canal restoration trusts, not much of SORT’s work would have been possible without landowners like John who are happy to see and encourage the regeneration of waterways in the middle of their private land. If only all landowners were like John!
David Evans, Trustee and Chair
River Medway news from Mike Marsh
Environment Agency Capital Projects planned for 2026 :
• East Farleigh Lock - gantries will go and there will be gates coming up from the bed. EA is progressing plans for lock mechanism replacement at East Farleigh.
• Allington Tidal Wall at Allington Lock (picture right) will be refurbished. A new pontoon will be added for vessels to tie up against when entering the lock from Aylesford instead of mustering below. Once complete, unpowered vessels will no longer need to be locked through, helping to reduce water use and improve efficiency.
• Porters Lock preparation for work which starts in April / May 2027 with approximately 8 weeks closure. All four lock gates are to be replaced, with sluice
refurbishment to strengthen and future proof the structure.
• Teston and Hampstead Locks landing station refurbishments. Both locations will benefit from upgrades, with rotten timber being replaced by newer, safer, and more durable materials to improve safety and longevity.
• Teston will receive a smart new public bench, offering visitors an improved place to pause and enjoy the riverside surroundings.
Environment Agency licences
The Environment Agency has announced that boat registration charges on the River Medway will increase by 3.8% from 1st April 2026. The rise reflects the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) used each year to update Environment Agency charges. Costs of running and maintaining the Medway have increased, and the updated fees help ensure services can continue safely and reliably.
Security and safety
CCTV is now installed at Town Lock, Hampstead Lock, Teston Lock, Farleigh Lock and Allington Lock to deter antisocial activity and vandalism. Staff are checking in real time and making a log of issues. This has increased police action.
Important Safety Warning:
Anchor Sluice, Yalding poses a significant risk. The sluices open and close automatically, and in summer many people enter the water without realising that levels can change within seconds, creating strong and unpredictable currents. Kent Fire & Rescue Service has produced clear illustrations highlighting these dangers, and EA urge all visitors to stay clear of sluice structures.
https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/water-safety
Educational Pack: Allington
EA has created a new educational pack at Allington and welcomes visits from schools and community groups for tours and learning sessions. If you would like to know more, drop the EA an email: allington.lock@environment-agency.gov.uk
Wildlife on the River
Medway Valley Countryside Partnership has been carrying out elver surveys at Allington Lock since 2012 and this is part of a Thames Catchment-wide project that ZSL (Zoological Society of London) have been leading since 2005.
Helping Barn Owls Thrive on the Medway. The Barn Owl Monitoring Project brings together the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, the Environment Agency and the British Trust for Ornithology to survey nest boxes across Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling. The work helps track how Barn Owls are coping with pressures like habitat loss and
climate change. In 2025, only a small number of monitored boxes showed activity, proving the need for continued support. The Environment Agency is installing nest boxes on Agency land, monitoring breeding activity, maintaining rough grassland and meadow habitats, and working with landowners to create wildlife friendly field margins. These efforts are helping to boost local Barn Owl populations and support a healthier Medway landscape.
Maidstone River Festival 2026
The popular Toll House Café is now open again for the summer months, welcoming walkers with a range of hot and cold drinks and tasty snacks as well as special treats for their dogs. Why not call in and enjoy some excellent fare while watching all that goes on around the lock? Open 10 am to 4 pm weekdays and 9 am to 4 pm weekends. Check out the menu at: https://thelittleoldtollhouse.co.uk
This popular annual festival will take place on Saturday 25 th July on and around the River Medway in Maidstone. There will many activities and events going on throughout the day and into the evening, all of which can be found on the Festival website: https://www.maidstoneriverfestival.com/whats-on
The event will be opened by David Naghi, the Festival Chairman, at 12 noon . The very popular and fully subscribed Raft race starts at 2.30 pm. The finale Fireworks spectacular is from 10 pm to 10.10 pm.
There are many other events throughout the day including:
• Dance and music performances in Coronation Square at Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre.
• Millennium Amphitheatre: All Day Youth Jam will be taking over the Amphitheatre.
• All Saints Church bell tower will open 10 am to 3 pm during the Festival: Adult Entry £1, Children Free! The view is amazing and a visit is highly recommended.
• Brenchley Gardens: All Day Various Acts.
• Thai Orchid and Drayson’s bar will have entertainment throughout the afternoon until late.
Thames & Medway Canal Association
Gifts: We have received an unexpected but welcome gift from our “neighbour” SORT, the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust. The items were very happily accepted but tinged with sadness as SORT had made the difficult decision to disband. It is hard enough getting volunteers let alone those who are willing to take responsibility but we were fortunate to be nearby, thriving and thankful for this gift.
Busy Workers: Our Work Party has been working along the towpath west of Shorne Mead Crossing. In previous years the reeds have encroached reducing the width by around half as seen by the before and after photos (on the left). This is a very time-consuming job as the length of this section is around 2 km.
We have also been busy around the obelisk which looked really nice this spring (pictured below).
Few volunteers: Over the years we have been fortunate in maintaining a strong working group but recently the number of volunteers taking on responsibility has drastically diminished. Time takes its toll and is very distressing. When it happens in such a short space of time it is felt ev en more. As we all know, volunteers to fill the duties are getting very difficult to recruit but we seem to be managing with our core of enthusiasts. At the recent AGM it was decided to increase the annual subscription of a single member to £15.00 as it was felt that this increase would not dissuade people from joining.
Few volunteers: Over the years we have been fortunate in maintaining a strong working group but recently the number of volunteers taking on responsibility has drastically diminished. Time takes its toll and is very distressing. When it happens in such a short space of time it is felt even more. As we all know, volunteers to fill the duties are getting very difficult to recruit but we seem to be managing with our core of enthusiasts. At the recent AGM it was decided to increase the annual subscription of a single member to £15.00 as it was felt that this increase would not dissuade people from joining.
Canal Basin: The first person to cycle across the recently restored Canal Basin
Swingbridge was TMCA member John Deller. Although not within our area of operation a number of us attended the official opening. It is a different design to the one along the canal and can be operated by one man as it has an effective counterbalance design and an intact winding mechanism.
Canal Basin: The first person to cycle across the recently restored Canal Basin Swingbridge was TMCA member John Deller. Although not within our area of operation a number of us attended the official opening. It is a different design to the one along the canal and can be operated by one man as it has an effective counterbalance design and an intact winding mechanism.
Local Plan: Gravesham Council has compiled a new Submission Version of the Gravesham Local Plan for the area. So, TMCA together with the IWA stated our case for re-establishing the link from the Canal Basin to the canal.
Local Plan: Gravesham Council has compiled a new Submission Version of the Gravesham Local Plan for the area. So, TMCA together with the IWA stated our case for re-establishing the link from the Canal Basin to the canal.
New Electricity Tunnel:
New Electricity Tunnel:
Work on a new power tunnel under the Thames has been started adjacent to the Canal, which can be seen as a straight line in the south east corner of the adjacent plan.
Work on a new power tunnel under the Thames has been started adjacent to the Canal, which can be seen as a straight line in the south east corner of the adjacent plan.
An existing power tunnel has operated since the 1960s but is no longer able to carry the capacity required. This new tunnel will be four-metre diameter, bored between two vertical shafts roughly 15 metres below the deepest point of the riverbed. Let us hope the excavated material does not find its way into the canal from our top up pumps located within their compound.
An existing power tunnel has operated since the 1960s but is no longer able to carry the capacity required. This new tunnel will be four-metre diameter, bored between two vertical shafts roughly 15 metres below the deepest point of the riverbed. Let us hope the excavated material does not find its way into the canal from our top up pumps located within their compound.
A video shows the process of the tunnelling better than words: https://players.brightcove.net/867903724001/default_default/index.html?videoId =6341479128112
A video shows the process of the tunnelling better than words: https://players.brightcove.net/867903724001/default_default/index.html?videoId =6341479128112
Dave Parnell
Dave Parnell
Future IWAKES and Other Events
Wednesday 8th July 2026: 12.00 noon to 13.00pm: Grove Ferry Inn, Grove Ferry Road, Upstreet, Kent. CT3 4BP: “River Kentish Stour - Boat Trip”:
IWAKES has booked a “onehour trip” to see the river and beaver lodges (though not the beavers themselves, which come out only at night). IWA members (and up to one guest) are welcome to join either trip. The trips are free, but contributions on the day are welcomed.
All who booked a postponed 2025 trip should have confirmed with Malcolm Hasler whether their booking is carried forward to 2026, their names and names of guests.
Up to four places remain available to members making new 2026 bookings. Please make reservations (first come, first served) in advance with Malcolm Hasler: Malcolm.Hasler@waterways.org.uk or 07734 905021
Stagecoach bus 8, Canterbury to Margate, passes Sturry rail station and stops just East of Upstreet village with a ten minutes walk down the rather steep Grove Ferry Hill to the river. If you park in the Grove Ferry Inn car park and register your car number plate at the Inn bar on arrival then parking is free, whether or not you buy food or drink. But the Inn serves good food, which should be ordered from the bar only after the boat trip. If you choose to use the Kent County Council car park then you should pay for parking at one of the available machines. You may bring your own refreshments on board the boat. The boat trip starts and ends from the decking on the riverside of the Inn. Please arrive well before boat departure time.
Places are limited to two per IWA member. But facilities at Grove Ferry, for those who cannot join the boat, include a picnic and play area, canoe hire and refreshments. Upstream and over the road is Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve. https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/kent-country-parks/find-a-kentcountry-park/grove-ferry-picnic-site
Saturday 18th July 2026 – Meeting at 10.30 for an 11.00 am start: Starting from the Rising Sun pub, Upper Beeding, West Sussex, BN44 3TN: “River Adur Walk and Pub Lunch at Upper Beeding”: Route around 2.25 miles, ending at the Rising Sun where meals will be available: Please contact Nick Owen ( nowen2313@gmail.com ) to book a place.
The Adur is a historic navigable river which links mid Sussex to the coast at Shoreham Port. In medieval times, our starting point of Upper Beeding, now five miles inland, was a shallow harbour; more recently an 1807 Act of Parliament led to dredging and three locks installed upstream at Henfield. The river remained in use transporting agricultural produce and raw materials for the nearby Shoreham cement works until 1929.
We will start at 11 am at the Rising Sun pub in Upper Beeding, and cross the river to the remains of Bramber Castle which defended the old harbour, before crossing the meadows to the recently restored White Bridge (below), returning down the east bank of the river itself, a loop of around 2¼ miles.
We will reserve tables at the Rising Sun for lunch at 1 pm. After lunch there will be a further opportunity to explore the rivers, Bramber and Upper Beeding for those who wish. WCs are available en-route in the Bramber carpark, and at the Rising Sun at the finish. So that we know numbers for the pub, please drop an e-mail to IWA’s Adur representative Nick Owen ( nowen2313@gmail.com ) by 11th July to let us know you are coming.
Saturday 25th July 2026 – All day, with evening fireworks: Between the bridges in Maidstone Town Centre: “Maidstone River Festival”: https://www.maidstoneriverfestival.com See the ‘Medway’ section of this Cargoes.
Sets of back copies of the magazine titles listed above are available from Roy Sutton (RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk). Please send an offer for each set of back copies before 31st July 2026. All receipts will be donated to IWA. Buyer collects (from East Grinstead) or reimburses postage and packing. [A poor condition set of 1st Edition Encyclopaedia Brittanica is also available.]
Oxfordshire Branch
We held our branch AGM on Saturday 18th April 2026 10:30am at: The Boat Inn, Canal Road, Thrupp, Kidlington OX5 1JY, a big thanks to them for hosting us. There was a small but encouragingly engaged attendance and with some offers to help run the branch so we will continue on for this year.
We are hoping to have stands at the Oxford and Banbury Canal Festivals in 2026. Oxford is due to be 19th September, and Banbury 3rd and 4th October but unless I get commitments now to help organise and man those stands I am afraid that I am not willing to make the bookings for the stands. I look forward to some volunteers. Please contact me: Ian.Lindsay@waterways.org.uk .
Ian
Lindsay Oxfordshire Branch Chair
Tooley’s Boatyard Trust
So far, the season has started reasonably well. The drydock is busy and all our staff working like Trojans servicing boats, blacking and repairing. We have had some successful open days, boat trips are booking up nicely, and hopefully this will continue as we move into the warmer months.
We also have a few bits of news and updates for you: The Dancing Duck loo has finally been repaired and is back in use. Please remember, however, that this is only intended for the longer boat trips and not the standard 40-minute trips, as the holding tank is quite small and requires pumping out regularly.
We raised Hardy on Saturday 30th May. We have now fitted a new float switch which should not be able to catch or jam, so hopefully this will finally resolve the issue.
We are planning to have some games underneath the boardwalk. We have Hoop the Duck and are about to build a giant buzz wire game. If anybody has any other ideas of other games we can make please let us know.
We are also introducing something new this year called Dockyard in Action, which will take place on the first Saturday of each month. This is essentially our normal Saturday opening day, but with a series of additional timed activities throughout the day to create more of an event atmosphere and hopefully build interest at the beginning of each month.
The day will run as follows:
• 10:00am - Boatyard opens as normal
• 11:00am - Forge demonstration and talk by Ems
• 12:00pm - Talk and demonstration by the Model Engineers
• 1:00pm - Theatre performance of Ramlin Rose by Kate Saffin
• 2:00pm - Talk on the history of the boatyard by Matt
• 3:00pm - Final boat trip of the day
Boat trips and guided tours will continue throughout the day as normal.
We also now have a new exhibit installed at the boatyard in collaboration with the Pitt Rivers Museum. This project has involved Ems working collaboratively with the museum, and includes a new display with a touchscreen TV installation.
The area just below the shop steps is gradually being turned into a small dedicated exhibition room which will include this display alongside interpretation relating to the heritage crafts of the boatyard, including blacksmithing, Roses and Castles painting, and wooden boatbuilding.
And it seems to be raining this year, so fingers crossed we won’t suffer last years ’ tribulations.
Richard Guard, Chair
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
It’s HOT, HOT, HOT, and our boat trips are going great guns; long may it continue – so long as we get enough rain to run them! In particular, our two smaller boats ran in Chippenham over the early May Bank Holiday and raised almost £3,000, carrying just under 400 passengers. Dragonfly in Swindon added to these figures, but the essential point is not so much the money but the publicity, showcasing the canal to those who, like many, have no idea it’s there.
Any income, however little, helps, but we have had good news recently that Crappers, the waste management company, have decided to donate significant amounts of their landfill tax to ourselves on a regular basis. It is to be used to support one of our four main projects – connecting Royal Wootton Bassett to Swindon by water - enabling us for the first time to appoint a paid Project Manager. This should be transformative.
Since the last edition there has been an election, and Swindon Borough Council has changed hands, shifting from a large Labour majority to no overall control with the Conservatives running a minority administration. The good news for us is that many of those now in office had previously expressed support –meaningful support – for our restoration, so in our allimportant relationship with Local Authorities we don’t anticipate much change.
We have news on another of our major projects –the SESRO reservoir, now called the White Horse Reservoir near Abingdon. OFWAT has responded to Thames Water’s recent submission and has made it very clear that the latter’s proposals for protecting the canal line, as they are supposed to, are not satisfactory. They give strong indications that they expect the plan to include full restoration of the canal. The report is in the public domain; it’s still early days but we find it encouraging.
Lastly, preparations for our upcoming 50th Anniversary proceed apace. These include a series of public lectures at Chippenham, possibly repeated in Swindon, an AI rendition of our recent history, collating news from our Dragonfly magazine from its inception; an update of the Dalby book on our history, various exhibitions, a big event to be held at Bowood House, much tree -planting, guided walks and a great deal else, to be revealed as this year goes by.
Chris Barry Comms Secretary, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
Lastly, preparations for our upcoming 50th Anniversary proceed apace. These include a series of public lectures at Chippenham, possibly repeated in Swindon, an AI rendition of our recent history, collating news from our Dragonfly magazine from its inception; an update of the Dalby book on our history, various exhibitions, a big event to be held at Bowood House, much tree-planting, guided walks and a great deal else, to be revealed as this year goes by.
Chris Barry Comms Secretary, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
IWA
IWA
Canalway Cavalcade
Canalway Cavalcade
Huge thanks to all involved in this year’s Cavalcade. What an amazing event we had. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, the volunteers who make it happen and the stall holders and food vendors who came.
Huge thanks to all involved in this year’s Cavalcade. What an amazing event we had.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, the volunteers who make it happen and the stall holders and food vendors who came.
We hope you had a fabulous weekend. See you in 2027! Keep an eye on our social media for information on next year's event.
Huge thanks to all involved in this year’s Cavalcade. What an amazing event we had. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, the volunteers who make it happen and the stall holders and food vendors who came.
We hope you had a fabulous weekend. See you in 2027! Keep an eye on our social media for information on next year's event.
The event is largely run by IWA volunteers and we couldn't do it without them. Some are so on brand, they have their nails painted in IWA colours!
We hope you had a fabulous weekend. See you in 2027! Keep an eye on our social media for information on next year’s event.
The event is largely run by IWA volunteers and we couldn't do it without them. Some are so on brand, they have their nails painted in IWA colours!
If you are interested in volunteering for next year's event, please keep an eye out on our social media and we will do a call out for 2027.
The event is largely run by IWA volunteers and we couldn’t do it without them. Some are so on brand, they have their nails painted in IWA colours!
If you are interested in volunteering for next year's event, please keep an eye out on our social media and we will do a call out for 2027.
Photos from the weekend
If you are interested in volunteering for next year’s event, please keep an eye out on our social media and we will do a call out for 2027.
Photos from the weekend
from the weekend
Photos
Silver Propeller Challenge
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to visit as many of the nation’s underused waterways as you can by any type of boat, canoe or paddleboard. Why? You will not only get to visit some stunning, yet quieter, parts of the network, but you’ll also be in with a chance of receiving IWA’s Silver Propeller Challenge plaque. Whenever you visit a Silver Propeller location, please post your pictures to our UK waterways Flickr group, and tag your images on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook and other social media with #silverpropeller You will find details of all the Silver Propeller on the www.waterways.org website
London Region
London Region Socials
Our IWA London Region Socials have been on hold for various reasons and our plan to alternate these with webinars has not yet been possible to organise. However, we restarted these in April and hope to add more dates soon.
If you would like to be added to my circulation and are not on the IWA London Region circulation please email me as follows: Libby Bradshaw libby.bradshaw@ursa.me.uk 07956 655037
Towpath Walks Group
The Start time for most Walks is 2.30pm (unless indicated). Normal charge: £20. Seniors (65+) and Student rate: £15. Children aged 16 and over, accompanied by parents: £15. A Walkabout card is available for adults, seniors, students and children aged 16 and over accompanied by adults. They cost £5 to buy, are valid for 6 months and holders get £5 off every other walk they take. Children aged 8 – 15, accompanied by parents: £5 (Children under 8, accompanied by parents, go for free) . Prior booking is mandatory: Please contact London Walks: 020 7624 3978 . Or email: london@walks.com. It is Very Important to watch the IWA websitewww.waterways.org.uk - or the London Walks website – www.walks.com – for any late changes to the walk.
Towpath Walks Group is looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short walks along towpaths. This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways. It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, we’ll brief you.
Sat 20th Jun: Grand Union Canal: Kensal Green – Little Venice. Meet Kensal Green
Tues 7th July: 6pm start: Regent’s C: King’s Cross - Granary Square – St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue sign, next to outdoor Pret a Manger)
Sun 12th July: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice – Camden. Meet Warwick Avenue
Sun 19th Jul: Regent’s Canal: Mile End – Limehouse. Meet Mile End
Sun 2nd Aug: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross to Canal Museum Circular Tour (includes visit to Museum). Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue sign, next to outdoor Pret a Manger)
Sun 6th Sep: Regent’s C: King’s Cross - Granary Square – St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue sign, next to outdoor Pret a Manger)
Sun 20th Sep: Four Hundred Years of the New River. Meet Manor House (Finsbury Park exit: exit 6)
Sat 3rd Oct: Start 10.45am The secrets of the Northern Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Meet Stratford (Westfield / QEOP exit: by the Pret a Manger sign)
Sun 18th Oct: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square – Camden. Meet King’s Cross (meet by Taxi Queue sign, next to outdoor Pret a Manger)
Sun 1st Nov: Regent’s Canal: R.Tyburn – Little Venice. Meet Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit)
Sun 15th Nov: Grosvenor Canal and Battersea Power Station. Meet Victoria (Wilton Street exit, opposite Apollo Victoria Theatre)
Chichester Ship Canal Trust
Walking the Towpath
The towpath is a gentle 4 mile walk stretching from the Canal Basin in Chichester to Chichester Marina.
Chichester Canal passes through 4 miles of open farmland from the Basin to Chichester Harbour at Birdham. The route takes you through a mixture of open farmland with benches available so you can rest, appreciate the tranquillity and admire an abundance of wildlife. Please note that dogs should be kept on a lead at all times and should be discouraged from entering the water. We must do all we can to protect wildlife.
Historic remains of original features, including the Poyntz Bridge, close to the canal basin, can still be seen – information boards are available to help you to learn more.
By stopping at the Hunston Bridge you can look back and enjoy the view of the canal against a backdrop of Chichester Cathedral and the Downs – the same view painted by JMW Turner in 1828.
You can buy refreshments at each end of towpath from the Canal Café at the Basin or the Boathouse at the Marina. Perfect to refuel so you’re ready for the walk back.
If you prefer, it is possible to walk one way. There is limited free parking at the Canal Basin and plenty of free parking at Chichester Marina. A regular bus service connects both Hunston and Chichester
Marina with the bus station in Chichester –just a few minutes walk from the basin. Look out for the 51 on Selsey Road at Hunston or the 52 or 53 on Birdham Road by the Marina. All of these buses run about every 15 minutes.
Chichester Canal Trust
Fund Britain’s Waterways
Fund Britain’s Waterways Update, May 2026
2026 got off to a busy start for the Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) campaign, under the leadership of the new Chair Hazel Owen (AWCC National Chair). External events have provided opportunities for comment, while waterway events and campaign cruises in partnership with FBW member organisations are continuing to raise awareness of the campaign across the country.
External Events:
On 4th February Defra announced an additional £6.5 million of investment in the Canal & River Trust (CRT) to support repair, maintenance and long-term projects. While obviously welcome, this one-off sum is nowhere near enough to make a significant dent in the figure needed to reverse the decline of CRT’s waterways. It also does nothing for waterways managed by other navigation authorities. FBW issued a press release setting out our repeated call for Government to commit to a comprehensive national review of future funding plans for Britain’s inland waterways.
FBW also issued a pre-election statement for the local and devolved elections on 7th May, highlighting the fact that 80% of local authorities benefit from a navigable or restorable waterway in their area as well as the threat to these waterways from underinvestment.
Waterway Events:
Members of the FBW team participated in the Stafford Riverway Link Open Weekend on 16th /17th May, the Crick Boat Show on 22nd –25th May, and the Etruria Canals Festival on 30 th / 31st May. Future events will include the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally on 27 th / 28th June and the Russell Newbery Register Rally in Stalybridge on 24th – 28th June.
FBW was delighted to take part in World Boating Day 2026 on 23rd May as possibly the only representative of UK inland waterways. We flew the flag through our attendance at Crick and social media coverage.
Internal and external event kits are now available for use at indoor and outdoor events. Please email info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk if you are interested in borrowing one. [Photo shows the external kit in action at the Stafford Riverway Link Open Weekend]
FBW / BCNS Icicle Cruise To Walsall, 20 th / 21st March 2026:
On Saturday 21st March a flotilla of 25 narrowboats, including two historic working pairs, travelled along the Walsall Canal and assembled in Walsall Town Basin to be welcomed by the Mayor of Walsall. Together they made up the biggest group of boats in the basin for some time and attracted television and press coverage. This was the annual Icicle Cruise organised by the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS) to mark the return of spring, this year held as part of the FBW campaign. The cruise also celebrated the reopening of the Walsall Canal after an industrial cyanide spill in August 2024 resulted in its closure for 10 months. The canal itself is a case study of the revival of urban waterways, regenerated after nearabandonment and now providing both a valued connection with surrounding countryside and a focus in the town centre overlooked by the New Art Gallery, where IWA Navigation Committee held its annual in-person meeting in support of the cruise.
On Wednesday 6th May a fleet of historic working canal boats travelled along the tidal Thames to King George V Dock in North Woolwich where they had been built. Their journey commemorated the 90th birthday of the narrowboats’ construction by the Harland & Wolff shipyard in 1936. On the cruise, they were joined by leisure boats dispersing from IWA Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice. All were flying the banners and flags of the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign.
The flotilla locked out onto the river from Limehouse Basin on the morning of 6th May. The boats grouped for photos off Margaretness, some of them stemming the tide for three hours, and then travelled upstream to enter the King George V lock. On 7th May the flotilla locked out and travelled in convoy upstream, displaying FBW banners as they passed the Thames Barrier and the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. A few boats returned to Limehouse, the rest passing Tower Bridge and the Palace of Westminster befo re leaving the Tideway at Brentford or Teddington.
Cathy Haysom of the Historic Narrow Boat Club, planner and organiser of the visit, said “Many of these boats still work full time, delivering cargo on the inland waterways of the UK. The Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign is vitally important to the owners, whose livelihood depends on the continued maintenance and upkeep of the waterways infrastructure.”
Main FBW Campaign Cruise to Liverpool: After protracted planning caused by various stoppages around the country, the route of the main campaign cruise for this year is decided. The first group left Doncaster on 12th May and will meet up with other groups from Leicester and Birmingham along the route to Ellesmere Port. Here the flotilla will gather in late June at the National Waterways Museum, which is celebrating its 50 th anniversary, before crossing the tidal Mersey to Liverpool Docks.
FBW / GOBA Great Ouse Cruise to the Bedford River Festival, 13th -19th July:
The Great Ouse Boating Association (GOBA) is organising a campaign cruise from St Ives to Bedford, to arrive at Bedford to take part in the River Festival weekend of 17th – 19th July. The objectives are to draw attention to the lack of central government/Defra funding to maintain all waterways in a safe and navigable condition, to highlight specific navigation and flood risk issues on the River Great Ouse due to failing infrastructure, and to highlight water quality issues relating to sewage discharge and f arm run-off. Briefings have been arranged with all the local MPs, and mayors and councillors will next be targeted.
Follow FBW on social media: X (https://x.com/FBW_Campaign ) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/946415890265050 ) Linkedin (search “Fund Britains Waterways”) , Bluesky (as @fbw-campaign.bsky.social).
Encourage as many people as possible to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/fundbritainswaterways
Fly an FBW banner or flag on your boat or elsewhere You can download FBW graphics and use one of the internet suppliers. Or email us for more help. info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk
IWA Berkhamsted Head Office Staff
Administration Manager (PT): Tracy Higgin ext 601
Membership Assistant (PT): Rachel Bryant ext 600
The Inland Waterways Association
South East Region
Chair: Vacant
IWA Guildford & Reading Branch Committee
Chair: Verna Smith Tel: 07305 042609 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com
Secretary: Chris Jones Tel: 07711 784374
Acting Treasurer & R. Wey: Mike Lewis Basingstoke & R. Thames: Vacant
Email: chris.jones@waterways.org.uk
K & A, WACT & Planning: Verna Smith
IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee
Interim Chair: Peter Wilkinson Tel: 07505 601459 Email: peter.glen4@gmail.com
