September 2015
TOWPATH TELEGRAPH IWA Milton Keynes Branch Journal
Re-watering begins at Cosgrove Meet “Duke” and “Baron” the Kelpies Two young engineers build an arch bridge at our stand at the Linslade Canal Festival on 25 July. Thanks to the Canal & River Trust for the loan of this activity, which entertained many visitors at the Festival. See Page 3. Photo: Les Franklin. IWA (registered charity no. 212342) is the leading membership charity that works to resurrect and protect the waterways as a vital leisure facility for everyone to enjoy, and campaigns for their sensitive development consistent with safeguarding their historic and natural environment. If you are not a member and would like to find out more: * contact any of the Branch Committee listed on Page 16; * contact IWA Head Office on 01494 783453, or visit the web site: https://www.waterways.org.uk
Welcome to September 2015 Towpath Telegraph There are development proposals that potentially affect both Bedford-Milton Keynes Canal Trust and Buckingham Canal Society—see Pages 5 and 6. Our very successful summer events are covered on Pages 3, 4 and 13. Most importantly, please see Pages 8-9 for dates, details and directions for our new season of meetings. Hope to see you there! Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this edition.
Chairman’s Column Sun shines at Linslade Canal Festival New Members B-MKWT / IWA Dinner profits Fundraising record smashed at Lock Help weekend Campbell Park scheme includes B-MKW junction Other B-MKWT news MK Dons plan training centre beside Buckingham Arm Buckingham Canal Society news Diary: New day and new venue for Branch meetings CanalFILE—part 3 Wendover Arm Trust news Fenny Lock spruced up for Canal Festival . . . . . . but Canal Festival moves south at last minute IWA Restoration Raffle 2015 Andy Collier, 1944-2015 Evita donates “Pipe-dream” bike to BCS Getting in touch with MK Branch
2-3 3 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 8-9 10-11 11 12 13 14 14 15 16
Chairman’s Column The archives are a bit vague, but I think it was 1987 - 1991 that I was previously Branch Chairman. The Branch was running the Milton Keynes Urban Aid Scheme with a big budget in collaboration with British Waterways and Milton Keynes Development Corporation (who later gave way to Milton Keynes Council). Things got very political at times—there was even a cynical attempt by another party to discredit the Branch—and this helped cure me of Branch Chairmanship for a very long time! Thank goodness life is less political now, for IWA MK Branch at least. So that's one post filled, simply by my taking on the Chairman's job for the time being, alongside producing TPT and other odd jobs for the Branch. I will review my position after February’s AGM. Some of you know that my eyesight is quite poor, so if I don’t always recognise you straight away, please forgive me. Other Committee members are also doing more than one job. We still need others to come forward to fill important roles that keep the Branch going - most urgently as Social Secretary and Lock Adoption Co-ordinator when Rodney Evans stands down in February. It will be my priority over the coming months to find someone to fill each of these posts. If you think you can help with this, please look again at the "Situations Vacant" item in May's TPT, and talk to us! The Branch owes a great debt to the Chairmen of the succeeding years, not least to Peter Caswell, who is a very hard act to follow. It was a pleasure to see him at our Lock Help weekend in May (see Page 4 for a report). We also took our stall to the Linslade Canal Festival in July (see front cover and opposite), and to the first Fenny Stratford Canal Festival in August (see Page 13). Thanks go to all who turned out to help at these events. Our 2015-16 season of Branch meetings starts with a "Noggin & Natter" evening on Thursday 17 September at our new venue, the Royal British Legion in Bletchley (see the Diary pages). The Committee and I hope to see as many of you there as possible, to swap Page 2
Chairman’s Column—continued.
New Members
news or just to chat. Please bring a guest to the meeting if you wish, and introduce him/her to us. If you're a Branch member who has never attended before (perhaps because Mondays were inconvenient), please come along and introduce yourself to me or any other Committee member.
A warm welcome to the members below who have recently joined the Branch. We hope to see you at our meetings during the coming months—please introduce yourselves to a Committee member.
Nothing is formally scheduled for the evening, but we will be seeking volunteers for the Cleanup on 16-17 October. The next Branch meeting is on 15 October (the evening before), so we’ll be signing up as many as possible at September’s meeting. I hope you will continue to support our meetings and our efforts for the local waterways. Les Franklin, Branch Chairman.
Sun shines at Linslade Canal Festival The Branch had a tiring but very enjoyable day at the Linslade Canal Festival on 25 July – luckily it was a fine day sandwiched between two very wet ones. We offered colouring and horse mask making to younger children, mostly supervised by Jane Bidgood. Older children enjoyed building an arch bridge, supervised by Chief Engineer Tim Armstrong. This needed a keen eye to get the blocks the right way round, and a steady hand to avoid collapse (see cover picture). Thanks to the Canal & River Trust for loaning this activity. Philip Strangeway brought along some of the Buckingham Canal Society's bric-a-brac to sell; this raised £34.35 for their funds. We also collected £8.65 in donations for the Branch. Thanks to all who came to help – setup and striking, chatting to visitors, supervising the Build a Bridge and Horse Mask activities, and selling BCS bric-a-brac. Les Franklin.
Mrs R J Atkins, Leighton Buzzard Mrs A Camwell, Shenley Brook End Mr M Ledger, Stevenage Miss K V Savage, Pitstone Mr J Schulstad, Leighton Buzzard
B-MKWT / IWA Dinner profits The results of the joint Spring Dinner held with Bedford-MK Waterway Trust on 23 April were as follows: Sale of tickets: £520 Donations in envelopes: £220 Restaurant bill: £405 Total profit: £335 With the agreed 50/50 split, £167.50 each goes to the Trust and the Branch. Don Allison, Financial Director, B-MKWT, has transferred the funds to the Branch’s account. A worthwhile profit from a most pleasant evening. Thanks to all who supported the event— Ed.
Boat Safety Certification Alan Stewart
Lloyds Academy Diploma in Small Craft Surveying Ex-Merchant Marine Engineer
Authorised Boat Safety Scheme Examiner Visit my website: http://www.boat-safetyexaminer.co.uk Contact me by phone on 01234 767156 or mobile 07976 900113 Alternatively e-mail me at: alan_breck_stewart@msn.com Page 3
Fundraising record smashed at Lock Help Weekend On an often overcast but mostly dry May Bank Holiday weekend, we once again held our Lock Help event at Soulbury Three Locks. This year, our event formed part of "Rock the Locks" - a pub festival organised by landlord Michael Schwartz with a variety of music acts, and 17 real ales and ciders on offer! For the first time, we decided to make more of our education activity at Three Locks. We put up our display in a bar marquee erected by the landlord over the outside dining area. This gave us shelter and security, but the volume of the music often made it difficult to talk to people. So for part of the time we moved our activity table outside, where youngsters enjoyed colouring canal pictures and making horse masks. A splendid turnout by Branch members meant that between 10 and 17 volunteers were on hand each day to share the work. On the Saturday evening, we enjoyed the now-traditional barbecue beside the pump-house. Two Wyvern hire boats leave the middle lock.
As usual, hire boats from Wyvern Shipping formed much of the boat traffic. Donations from boaters and the public over the weekend smashed the previous record. Takings were: Friday - £249.36; Saturday - £255.15; Sunday - £159.86; Monday - £218.54, totalling £882.91 - and a rogue US Dime, masquerading as a 5p piece. Thanks to all who took part and helped achieve this great result for the Branch! Text and picture: Les Franklin.
Excellent Boats on a Beautiful Canal Our base at Linslade is within weekend reach of the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, or the Chiltern Hills and Aylesbury. Choice of exciting one- or two-week cruises including the Thames. 35 luxury boats, 2 to 8 berth.
Boat Builders - Repairs - Dry dock - Blacking - Repaints Waterside holiday cottage
The WYVERN SHIPPING Co Ltd
Rothschild Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 2TF Tel: 01525 372355 Fax: 01525 852308 http://www.canalholidays.co.uk james@canalholidays.co.uk Members of IWA, APCO, BMF, B&MK Waterway Trust, Wendover Arm Trust, Buckingham Canal Society, Aylesbury Canal Society
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d s an e k a re ir rt b eekly h o h S w
Campbell Park scheme includes B-MKW junction Milton Keynes Development Partnership has announced that Crest Nicholson Regeneration has been chosen as the preferred partner for a 15-acre mixed-use development straddling the Grand Union at a point near H6 Childs Way where the Bedford-MK Waterway could begin. Milton Keynes Development Partnership LLP (MKDP) is an independent legal entity wholly owned by Milton Keynes Council to facilitate the city’s continued growth and economic success. It does this by promoting the development of its land assets in line with the Council’s Corporate Plan and Economic Development Strategy. The proposal comprises over 300 homes, with parking, convenience store, café and restaurant, nursery and pub. It also includes a 100-berth marina that is intended to form the start of the proposed Bedford - Milton Keynes canal link. (With some artistic licence, a junction and the first two locks of a flight leading down towards Willen Lake are shown, with what appear to be some low-level swingbridges. The GU main line is marked by the line of poplars in the centre of the picture.) MKDP chief executive Charles Macdonald and Crest Nicholson Regeneration’s development director Peter Cusdin were enthusiastic about the scheme. Mr Macdonald said that many interested local parties had been consulted. Much detailed design work remained to be done, and this is to be informed by continued consultation.
Information and picture: MKDP news release, August 2015.
Other B-MKWT news At the Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust’s AGM on 14 May, joint Chair Graham Mabbutt stood down as a director in order to concentrate on his role within the Trust’s Enterprise Board, which runs the John Bunyan cruises. New Trust directors are still being sought. The Trust’s current priority is to work with South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership and the A509 Road Improvement Team to try and achieve a joint project of implementing part of the waterway when the road is improved by the inclusion of another carriageway from the Gallagher development roundabout to M1 Junction 13. A group under the chairmanship of director Marilyn Leask has begun work on a project that involves working with the IWA Waterway Recovery Group to involve volunteers in building a part of the waterway. Laura Jones, Trust Project Officer, is leaving her post to commence a university course. The Trust is seeking a successor over the summer.
B-MKWT News, July 2015.
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MK Dons plan training centre beside Buckingham Arm MK Dons Football Club has revealed proposals for a Club and Community Training Centre alongside the south (towpath) side of the Buckingham Arm, on greenfield land that the Club has bought. The plans were on view to visitors at the Buckingham Canal Society Festival and Cosgrove Village Feast on 11-12 July. The plans include four pitches for the Club’s first team, 11 Academy pitches, and community facilities and pitches for local people. The Sports & Education Trust will also be based there. A new access road is proposed from the A508. Chairman Pete Winkelman said: “This is the start of a long journey to develop an international standard centre and we will be looking to build partnerships and relationships . . . we are extremely excited about the project.” The Club says: “In partnership with Milton Keynes Council and other stakeholders, we looked long and hard for a site but there was nowhere that allowed us to deliver a Club and Community Training Centre to the level we wanted. We undertook a long search for land and this [site] presented the best option to develop the Club and Community Training Centre in the way we wanted to, for both the Football Club and the community. The plans show a conjectural connection from the Buckingham Arm to the River Great Ouse via locks and a contour cut. To the east of the site are Roman remains which the Club intends to preserve and interpret. Rights of way will be preserved. The proposals have been revealed for community and stakeholder consultation at this stage, and no Planning application has yet ben submitted to South Northants District Council. The Buckingham Canal Society is taking the time to explore what opportunities the development might hold for them. Any immediate comments from MK Branch Committee or ordinary members should go via Athina Beckett to those responsible for Planning within the BCS. When (if) an outline application is submitted, and BCS decide their stance on the development, then would be the time for MK Branch to become involved, either in opposing, suggesting changes, or even suggesting alternative sites. More information at: http://www.mkdons.com/news/club/ Scroll down to 13 July: Club reveal plans for new CCTC - this page carries links to site & layout plans. Also at 13 July: Club and Community Training Centre: FAQs You can complete a short survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cctc-mkdons There is a free-text field in which to make comments not covered by the other questions.
Information and image from MK Dons press release, July 2015.
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Buckingham Canal Society news Perhaps the most exciting news is that MK Dons have bought the land owned by the Radcliffe Trust, known locally as Maycock’s Farm (see opposite). Pete Winkelman has offered his support to the BCS. We are hoping this will prove to be a very positive move for us, as one of the main problems working at Cosgrove has been the lack of access to site for heavy plant equipment. Because we have been so busy at Bourton Meadow, the Nature Reserve and Cosgrove, we held extra work parties at the Little Hill Farm site, which had become rather overgrown. This site will receive a real tidy-up in the Autumn, but meanwhile work continues at our other three sites. Our Bourton Meadow site is still holding water. Once the contractors had finished it was time for our volunteers to re -plant the aquatic plants - over 4,000 of them! Planting aquatic plants is a back-breaking job, so my thanks go to all those who carried out this task. It has all been worthwhile; the majority have flourished, and many are attractive setting for those who use the Ouse Valley walk.
Terry Cavender, BCS Trustee, with Pete Winkelman. Photo courtesy BCS. out in flower making a very
Several ducks and ducklings have nested here and have appreciated our efforts in getting this section back in water. Local residents and walkers have commented that they were so glad to see the water back in the canal, and what an improvement it has made to the area. At Hyde Lane Nature Reserve, the main task this summer has been to keep the vegetation under control. Strimming and weeding work has been carried out to keep the site looking attractive, whilst plans for improving the towpath and to re-water this section of the canal are being put in place for the winter months. Cosgrove has become our main venue for the work parties, partly because of our annual festival which took place on 11-12 July where we wanted visitors to see the site at its best. We have also had several groups from Santander join us at Cosgrove. One group worked on painting the gates of the lock on the GU main line - which we have adopted - in time for our annual festival. I took another Santander party along the towpath where we cleared a large section of saplings, and also did a lot of work on the towpath. Yet another Santander group joined us on 4 June; this time we worked at the far end of the canal close to the A5. This section had been somewhat neglected, as last year we had concentrated our efforts on getting the first two sections in water. It is amazing how much growth takes place when a section is left for a while. The volunteers removed brambles and saplings from the canal bed. As CRT had just given us permission to use our Tirfor winch, some volunteers got the chance to learn to use it. On 30 July, we had a return visit to this site by a group from Vinci Technology, Leighton Buzzard. With 19 people on site, a massive amount of work was achieved and the site looks a lot better. There is still work to do here, and we plan to run future work parties at Cosgrove for a while. Athina Beckett, Work Party Organiser. Page 7
Diary: New venue and new day for Branch meetings For the reasons explained in May's TPT, Branch meetings will now take place on Thursdays at the Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU. Please enter the dates in your diary now! We appreciate that the change of day may not suit everyone, but equally it may allow others to attend who could not before. So we hope to see as many of you as possible at our new venue. In the list opposite, our own events are in bold type. The Bletchley Royal British Legion is close to the intersection of H8 Standing Way (A 421) and V4 Watling Street—see map below. From A 5: Leave A 5 at A 421 exit (signed MK South, Buckingham) on to Redmoor Roundabout. Take A 421 exit, V6 Grafton Street (signed Buckingham); continue to Bleak Hall Roundabout. Take 1st exit (signed Milton Keynes West, Buckingham), and pass over railway and dual carriageway, to Elfield Park Roundabout (intersection with V4 Watling Street). Take 2nd exit, A 421.
The welcoming bar at the Royal British Legion. Bleak Hall Rbt
Take next left, Denbigh Hall Drive; continue to mini-roundabout, take 2nd exit, Whaddon Way. Continue past Zebra crossing at pinch point, then immediately, at Dolphin pub, turn left into Melrose Avenue. After 100 yards, take driveway on right to Royal British Legion car park. Note: The driveway is indicated by a small sign on a lamp post on the opposite side of Melrose Avenue. The building and car park fronting Melrose Avenue (marked ) is NOT the Royal British Legion. It is incorrectly marked as such on some maps.
V6 Grafton Street A5
A 421 H8 Standing Way Denbigh Hall Drive Whaddon Way
Redmoor Rbt
Tower block
V4 Watling Street
Royal British Legion Whaddon Way Local Centre The Dolphin
No Whalley Drive
Yes Melrose Avenue
Sherwood Drive
Members from Leighton Buzzard and Linslade can reach the venue via the A 4146 to the roundabout near Willowbridge, then via Stoke Road, Water Eaton Road, Sherwood Drive and Whalley Drive.
Bletchley Park Bletchley Buckingham Road
Buses—Bus stops are marked . Water Eaton Road Service No 4 leaves Milton Keynes Central (shortcut from Leighton Buzzard) Station (stop Y2), calls at the Point, Central Milton Keynes (stop K3) at 1930, and arrives at Whaddon Way Local Centre at 1949. Return services leave at 2208 and 2238. Service No 4 also calls at the stop on the south side of Buckingham Road, near Bletchley Station, at 1930, arriving at Whaddon Way Local Centre at 1938. A return service leaves at 2219. Page 8
Diary: New venue and new day for Branch meetings —continued. Sunday 6 September
Wendover Arm Trust Restoration Open Day. Guided tours of the restoration site, teas, cakes, ice cream, sideshows. Parking at St Mary's Church, Drayton Beauchamp, HP22 5LS Info: www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk
12 - 13 September 12 noon - 12 midnight
Stoke Bruerne Village at War weekend 2015. All the usual attractions to take you back in time! Info: http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/
Thursday 17 September MK Branch meeting - Noggin & Natter evening. 7.45 for 8pm Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU See map and directions opposite. 19-20 September
Aylesbury Canal Society Double Celebration. Circus Field Basin, Stocklake, Aylesbury HP20 1AP Celebrating ACS's move to its new home, and the 200th anniversary of the Aylesbury Arm. Weekend of events for boaters, and public Open Day on Saturday. www.aylesburycanal.org.uk or contact Naomi Barnes at acs200party@gmail.com or on 07990 646102.
Saturday 26 September 11.30am - 5pm
IWA Annual Members' Meeting. Salwarpe Village Hall, Salwarpe, Droitwich, WR9 0AH Info: https://www.waterways.org.uk/iwa/calendar/event/view?id=1835
Thursday 15 October MK Branch meeting - “The Scottish Lowland Canals”, talk 7.45 for 8pm by Richard Thomas, famed waterway speaker. Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Friday 16 - MK Branch Autumn Canal Cleanup (dates subject to CRT Saturday 17 October approval). Working north from Fenny to Wolverton. Details will be announced at Branch meetings and on the Branch Canal Cleanups page at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/cleanups If you can help, please contact Philip Strangeway. Thursday 19 November MK Branch meeting - “By the waters of Braunston”, with 7.45 for 8pm Tim Coghlan, Managing Director, Braunston Marina. Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Thursday 10 December MK Branch Christmas Social – pre-booked ticket event 7.45 for 8pm details will be announced at Branch meetings and on the Branch events page at https://www.waterways.org.uk/ miltonkeynes/events_socials Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Thursday 21 January MK Branch meeting - “The River Trent and Chesterfield 7.45 for 8pm Canal”, with James Griffin. Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Thursday 18 February MK Branch AGM (see next TPT for agenda) plus “Bletch7.45 for 8pm ley and the Grand Junction Canal", with Roland Doggett, Chair, Bletchley Archaeology and History Society. Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Page 9
CanalFILE . . . . . . . . . .
Welcome to CanalFILE! As we know, a long time ago lots of goods were transported around the country on the canals, and the boats were pulled by horses. That means that an awful lot of horses were walking up and down the towpaths, and they all needed looking after. In the last of our little series on canal horses, we'll find out some more about the different people who looked after the horses on the canals. There were thousands of people employed to look after the horses. They prepared the feed, looked after the stables, cared for the horses and fitted them with new shoes. Who were these people? OSTLER An ostler was employed where there was a large stable. His job was to look after the tired horses while they rested after pulling the canal boats. He would feed them and look after any horses that were sick. It was also the ostler's job to keep the stable clean and ready for the next horse when it arrived. FARRIER The job of a farrier was to look after the horses' feet. He could deal with injured or diseased hooves so in some ways he was a bit like a foot vet. He would trim and balance the hooves and check that the shoes fitted properly. He would AMAZING FACTS be able to adjust the shoes if needed and could also fit the * The shoes of a working horses with shoes so in some ways he was a bit like a smith. horse wore down quite fast. You could say he was a horse foot specialist! In fact a horse had to have its shoes replaced every 46 weeks. If you had a horse that wore its shoes out every 6 weeks, about how many shoes did it need in a year?
SMITH A smith's job was to keep the horses well supplied with shoes. A smith (the full name is blacksmith) was a metal worker who had the skill to heat metal until it became soft enough to shape. The metal was heated in a forge—a fire fuelled with coke, that had air forced through it from a bellows. Once the metal was * A good blacksmith could shoe around 10 horses in a soft enough the smith would use a hammer and anvil to shape day. That means he would the metal and create the horseshoe. Originally a smith would have to make 40 shoes to spend his time making horse shoes, but as work declined many supply them all! smiths began to also fit horse shoes.
THE THREE LOCKS TEL: 01525 270214
A very traditional canalside pub . . . Dating from the early 1900s, the Three Locks is full of character, with the added appeal of wide country views, and of course the passing boats. The Three Locks is now family-run by Michael and Susan Schwartz. Our focus is on customer service, with high standards in our beers, wines and soft drinks, and in the quality of our food - locally sourced and freshly prepared. We are open daily from 12 noon, and our friendly and efficient staff look forward to welcoming you.
Web: www.thethreelocks.co.uk
Email: info@thethreelocks.co.uk
10% discount on food for IWA members - please show your membership card. Page 10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR As you go up and down the canal, look out for places with Smith or Smithy or Forge in their names. These may be the site of a former blacksmith's workshop. PLACES TO VISIT Milton Keynes Museum has a working forge and a blacksmith. You can watch the smith at work making items from metal. More info at www.miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk There is also a working forge and blacksmith near the mouth of Blisworth Tunnel, just north of Stoke Bruerne. At both these places you can learn more about the work of a blacksmith.
The tunnel at Cosgrov e Text and picture: Jane Bidgood.
Wendover Arm Trust news
Another place to visit is the horse tunnel at Cosgrove (see picture). The tunnel is shaped just like a horseshoe. It allowed horses to be walked under the canal from the towpath to the stables at the Barley Mow public house. See you in the next issue!
Jane
Following re-watering to Bridge 4A in April, work continues eastwards from there on capping the life-expired pipe in the canal bed. Work parties will continue with this into the autumn and winter. Discussions are in hand with Canal & River Trust, contractors and KESCRG regarding further work at the Whitehouses site. A special work party was held on the Trust's Restoration Open Day on 7 June. Visitors were conducted from St Mary's Church, Drayton Beauchamp, to the work site. This will be repeated on the second Open Day on Sunday 6 September, when the draw will take place for this year's Grand Draw. The Trust has now spent £1/2 million on Phase II, restoration of the stretch from Aston Clinton to Little Tring. Since 1989, the Trust has raised £1,309,360, of which only about £310,000 has been in the form of grants and a bequest. The Trust holds its Annual General Meeting on 21 October, when the speaker will be Richard Parry, Chief Executive, Canal & River Trust.
Paraphrased from Wendover Arm News, Summer 2015.
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Fenny Lock spruced up for Canal Festival . . . On 9-10 August, a two-day working party was held in anticipation of the Fenny Canal Festival on 16 August. Although the Festival was moved at the last minute (see opposite), the Lock area has benefited from the much-needed spruce-up. Sunday 9 August: All Lock paintwork was repainted or touched up after rust runs had been washed off as far as possible. Bollards, towpath seats and cycle barrier (by the railway bridge) were also touched up. On the swing bridge, white paint was washed down and touched up as necessary. Monday 10 August: The Pump House gardens and hanging baskets were replanted with new flowering plants. The Lock coping stones on the towpath side were repainted with white masonry pant. The hedge was trimmed of overhanging growth for 100 metres from the The re-planted garden. Lock. Lock-side paving on the Pump House side was weeded. Volunteers also assisted the Biffa driver (emptying the refuse bins) with non-binned rubbish dumped at the site. Future work includes a complete repaint of the towpath side and sanitary station fencing, and repainting offside Lock coping stones. Attention to towpath hedging over the winter by Fountains (CRT's contractor) has been arranged. Tesco will be requested to carry out their annual clean-up of the Broadwalk to cut back summer bramble and nettle growth. Possible winter work on the towpath will be discussed with CRT. Text and picture: Rodney Evans.
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tel: 01908 672672
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10 & 15 year Leasehold moorings available at discounts
Relax
15 miles of lock-free cruising
Brokerage New and used boats for sale
Onsite facilities include Chandlery & full services Workshop, slipway
Secure car parking Laundry
Boat Brokerage Widebeam facilities
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Day Boat Hire Book now
Pub with carvery restaurant Indian & Chinese takeaway
For Moorings Availability and Prices, visit http://www.mkmarina.co.uk Page 12
. . . but Canal Festival moves south at last minute The decision to move the Festival south of Watling Street, to the length of towpath centred around the basin, in no way affected its success. The result was a compact, low-key and friendly event enjoyed by visitors and stallholders. Far left: The CRT bridge was as popular as at Linslade. Left: Craig, honorary Branch volunteer for the day. Below: Rodney talks the talk.
Far left: The model boats were a hit—some were quite capable of breaking the speed limit! Left: Bailing out the easy way.
Above: Towpath hairdresser— back-combing’s back in! Right and far right: sweet and savoury tastes catered for.
Pictures: Les Franklin. Page 13
IWA Restoration Raffle 2015 IWA has launched the 2015 Waterways Restoration Raffle following the huge success last year when over £13,000 was raised for fifty-four restoration societies. The raffle aims to support projects across the UK, and gives restoration societies the opportunity to sell tickets and promote their own cause. The ambition is to top last year’s figure and give at least £15,000 to restoration projects as well as to IWA’s WRG Van Appeal. Tickets cost £2 each. You can decide where the money from your purchase goes by nominating your favourite project on the ticket stub. Online purchasers will be contacted for Your home-from-home for a week? A Wyvern 6-berth boat their nomination. descends Soulbury Three Locks. Photo: Wyvern Shipping Co. There are many amazing prizes to be won: • 1st prize, donated by the Wyvern Shipping Company: a one-week holiday on a 6-berth narrowboat during June, September or October 2016, worth up to £1,500; • 2nd prize, donated by Andersen Boats: a three night (Friday-Monday) or four night (Monday-Friday) holiday on a 4-berth boat, worth up to £700; • 3rd prize, donated by Canal Cruising Company; a weekend holiday for four, worth £590; • Other prizes include 2016 Crick Festival tickets and a 12-month Canal Boat subscription. Tickets can be found in the autumn edition of Waterways magazine, and can also be bought through some of the restoration groups seeking support this year. For more information, a full list of prizes and how to purchase tickets, visit the IWA website at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/shop/list_products?category=241 Alternatively, contact raffle organiser Toby Gomm on 01494 783453 ext. 611 or by email at: toby.gomm@waterways.org.uk
Andy Collier, 1944-2015
Too late for the May edition came news of the death on 28 April of Andy Collier, aged 70. Andy was well-known in two spheres: the waterways and musical theatre. In the 1970s, Andy and his brother Tim ran narrow boats Elstree and Lyra, selling coal and offering camping holidays - a period recalled in their book "An Affair with the Cut" (see TPT September 2011). Andy was Chairman of Leighton Buzzard Canal Society for many years. As a schoolteacher, Andy produced several musicals at Gilbert Inglefield School, including "Once the Cut"; these and other productions were often re-staged, and led to the formation of Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre and Youth Theatre. Latterly, Andy concentrated on his own musical career. We send our condolences to Andy's family and friends. Page 14
Evita donates “Pipe-dream” bike to BCS Evita, wife of former Branch Chairman Roy Cleverly, bought this splendid bicycle quite recently with the “pipe-dream” of taking to the saddle once again after a long lapse. However, she decided instead to donate it to Buckingham Canal Society to raise funds, in celebration of gaining her UK citizenship. Athina Beckett of BCS collected the bike from Evita during August. Athina says: “We are looking at the best possible way to market this lovely gift. We are very grateful for Evita and Roy for thinking about the Buckingham Canal Society and donating this very beautiful bike”. Congratulations to Evita on the award of her UK citizenship— what a great way of celebrating it! We look forward to hearing how much the bicycle raises for the Society.
Willowbridge Marina http://www.willowbridgemarina.co.uk
01908 643242 office@willowbridgemarina.co.uk
Willowbridge Marina is a working boatyard specialising in lifting boats in and out of the water, as well as on and off transport. We are a family-run business, working hard to provide services to canal boat owners and users in the Milton Keynes area. We offer the following services: - Well-stocked chandlery, including stainless steel fastenings and Calor Gas fittings; - Red diesel; - All boat services, including coal, LPG and pump-out; - All mooring services, including limited linear moorings, wireless internet and power, toilets, showers, laundry and extensive storage ashore. We offer a 10% discount on chandlery purchases and services in the yard to IWA members. Page 15
Getting in touch with MK Branch The Branch Committee is always pleased to receive your waterway news and comments. There’s a chance to talk to us at our Natter & Noggin evening in September, or contact any of us from this list.
CHAIRMAN and EDITOR: LES FRANKLIN Email: les.franklin@waterways.org.uk VICE-CHAIRMAN: VACANT SECRETARY: PHILIP STRANGEWAY Email: philip.strangeway@waterways.org.uk MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: PETE BICKERS Email: pete.bickers@waterways.org.uk TREASURER: TIM ARMSTRONG Email: tim.armstrong@waterways.org.uk
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EDUCATION OFFICER: JANE BIDGOOD Email: education.mkbranch@waterways.org.uk SOCIAL/PUBLICITY, B-MK WT REPORTER AND FENNY LOCK CO-ORDINATOR: RODNEY EVANS Email: rodney.evans@waterways.org.uk
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BUCKINGHAM CS REPRESENTATIVE: ATHINA BECKETT Email: chairman@buckinghamcanal.org.uk TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: JAMES GRIFFIN Email: james@canalholidays.co.uk
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Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses change frequently, but these were correct on 27 July 2015.
MARIE DRAPER Email: marie.draper@waterways.org.uk DAVE PORTER Email: david.porter@waterways.org.uk PLANNING (non-C’tee): TONY BIRCH Contact via Les Franklin. WEBMASTER (non-C’tee): VERNON DRAPER Email: vernon.draper@waterways.org.uk
IWA homepage: https://www.waterways.org.uk MK Branch pages: at above address, under “IWA Local”, select “Milton Keynes”. Canal and River Trust: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust: http://www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk Buckingham Canal Society: http:www.buckinghamcanal.org.uk Wendover Arm Trust: http://www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk Friends of the Canal Museum: http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of the Milton Keynes Branch. They are however published as being of interest to members and readers. Page 16