Anglian Cuttings No. 117
-
Upload
the-inland-waterways-association -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Anglian Cuttings No. 117
1
ANGLIANANGLIAN
CUTTINGSCUTTINGS
Ipswich Branch Newsletter
Autumn 2010 No. 117
The IWA may not agree with the opinions expressed in this publication. They are, however, published as
a matter of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed can be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated.
The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in this publication.
HAWKES MILL NEEDHAM MARKET
2
IWA IPSWICH BRANCH
YOUR COMMITTEE Chairman -
Chard Wadley
Secretary & Anglian Cuttings Editor -
Charles Stride
Treasurer
Spencer Greystrong
Membership
Clive Saville
Publicity
Brian Holt
Social Secretary
Diana Holt
River Gipping Trust
Lewis Tyler
River Stour Trust
Sue Brown
Pickerel Project
Brian Cornell
Officer
Gerry Creasey
*************************** IWA Ipswich - http://www.waterways.org.uk/regions_branches/eastern/
Ipswich/ipswich
3
C H STRIDE
BUMPER EDITION
I must thank all the contributors to this
bumper edition of Anglia Cuttings. I
have had to increase the size by four
pages and still had to defer one article on
the Crossing of the Ribble to the next
edition. I hope you will find all or most
of the articles of interest. Please do not
forget that if you have something to tell
or an article of interest, we will always
be pleased to receive it. Publication is, of
course, always subject to the Editor‘s
final decision.
ANGLIAN CUTTINGS
DISTRIBUTION
If you have registered your email address
with IWA Head Office, and have not
requested a hard copy of the newsletter,
then you will be receiving this edition by
electronic means and I hope that you will
be happy with this. May I remind those
of you who are reading this
electronically but wish to still receive a
hard copy then please contact me on
.uk and let me know.
If you are a hard copy reader and would
like to try the electronic version then just
register your email address with Tracy
Higgins at IWA Head Office on
EDITOR’S
PONDERINGS And now we are into the Autumn. Summer boating and waterway activities are
but a memory. Do not despair, we have our Winter Branch meetings with a range
of interesting speakers (see Dates for Your Diary—Page19) well organised as
always by Diana and Brian, to look forward to and, of course the longer evenings
give an opportunity for planning next years activities, boating or otherwise.
You can, of course, if you wish and have
access to a computer, always check out
the electronic version by logging on to
h t t p : / / w w w . w a t e r w a y s . o r g . u k /
regions_branches/eastern/Ipswich/
anglian_cuttings
DOUG TOMLINSON
In addition to the £1000 IWA Donation
reported on by Chard Wadley, (see
Chairman‘s Jottings—Page 4) the
Branch is indebted to Doug Tomlinson, a
past local member, who has left a
substantial gift in his will to the Branch
for the continuing restoration work of the
Stowmarket Navigation. This is being
held by the IWA until such time that the
River Gipping Trust has a specific
requirement for further funding. A
memorial seat to Doug is due to be
installed shortly, overlooking the River
Gipping near Hawkes Mill, and we will
report on this in our next issue.
CUTS & WELCHES DAM
Regrettably it appears that Government
cuts are already affecting our region with
the Environmental Agency not
undertaking the required remedial work
at Welches Dam in Cambridgeshire.
IWA are considering their response and
we will report further in due course.
Charles Stride
4
CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS
Our winter programme starts again in
October and there are details in this
edition so you can plan to join us once
again on a Friday evening at Needham
Market Community Centre.
We attended the Needham Market Raft
Race on 4 July 2010, alongside the River
Gipping Trust to promote the SOS2010
and to make people aware of the work
we are doing with the Trust at Baylham
Lock. I am pleased to report that we had
a lot of interest and was visited by
Needham Market Mayor and his wife
who took an interest and said that they
would visit us during our week long
work party which was also in July. The
Mayor kept his promise and visited the
site on the last day of the work party and
was very impressed with what we had
achieved. He took several pictures and it
was reported in the Needham Market
Magazine.
Carolyn and I attended the National
Festival at Beale Park on the Saturday,
accompanied by Joan and John Finch,
and I am pleased to report it was a dry
and sunny day in a lovely setting. As
you may already know the branch was
awarded £1,000 from the St Ives
National Festival held in 2007 and it was
decided that we would donate this to the
River Gipping Trust. The cheque was
officially presented to Spencer
Greystrong, Treasurer to the RGT, by
Clive Henderson, National Chairman,
during the Saturday morning in the
Cressy Suite of the IWA marquee which
we all attended. It was nice to meet up
with other IWA members who I had not
seen for sometime. We visited several
stands, such as the Wendover Trust, to
catch up on restoration progress.
Following on Colin Turner‘s decision to
finally stand down as Restoration
Manager for the Gipping Trust the
Branch wished to further recognize his
achievements and agreed to nominate
him for the IWA Christopher Power
Award, only to find that we had been
beaten to it by WRG Colleagues. We,
together with The Gipping Trust, fully
supported the nomination and are
delighted that the award has been made.
That‘s all from me, hope you had a
lovely summer with plenty of boating; I
look forward to seeing you at our winter
meetings.
Chard Wadley.
Another summer almost over and Autumn waiting in the wings. It seems to have
gone very quickly but it was a good one with lovely sunny days to enjoy on the cut.
5
CHRISTOPHER POWER
AWARD
The Christopher Power Fund was created by a donation to The
IWA in 1983 by Mr and Mrs Power in memory of their son
Christopher, who died at the early age of 29 in April 1981.
Christopher had a passionate interest in canals and narrowboats,
especially those powered by steam. He was a member of the
Kennet and Avon and Wey and Arun Canal Trusts and was
founder member of the Solent and Arun Branch of the IWA.
The Fund provides an annual prize to the Person, Society or Trust
which, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most significant
contribution to the restoration of an amenity waterway. The Prize
is not given every year but in 2010 IWA has made two Awards.
CITATION Colin has been the most instrumental figure in
progressing the restoration of the Ipswich and
Stowmarket Navigation, holding the title of Restoration
Manager since 1999. He is a long-standing member of the
IWA Ipswich branch, and founding member of The River
Gipping Trust - the organisation devoted to the restoration
and re-opening of the Ipswich and Stowmarket
Navigation. Under his leadership, the restoration of two
locks has been successfully completed, including the
complex Baylham Lock, a Grade II listed structure. He
has project managed and site-managed the work with very
little in the way of external funding or labour, but with all
the hurdles and pit-falls a construction project is subject
to. He has held negotiations with local councils, English
Heritage, the Environment Agency, wildlife bodies and
riparian owners. He has organised WRG canal camps, put
in planning applications, argued with officialdom and
spent a huge number of hours just being on site,
contributing to everything from partnership building, to
technical design, to actual donkey work. This would be a
tough task for anyone, but now at the astonishing age of
84, Colin continues to be a huge inspiration for all who
are lucky enough to work with him.
Clive Henderson—IWA National Chairman
2010 AWARD WINNER
COLIN TURNER
6
puddle clay and silt. We had to separate
the clean brick rubble from the clay and
silt by hand, before we could dispose of
it, a long tedious and painful job!
However, the machines made light work
of removing the rubble (thanks to JT Few
for offering a free tip facility) and we
were then able to use them to re-fill the
excavated area behind the East wall and
place the coping stones roughly in
position on top of the newly completed
brickwork.
The Eastern lock wall is now nearly
complete and the earth bank behind the
wall re-profiled to match its original
Restoration over the Summer
Most of our Summer efforts have been
spent at Baylham Lock itself.
W e r e c o v e r e d
quickly from the
damage caused by
high flood levels
early in the year and
have pressed on
successfully with
the rebuilding of the
Eastern lock wall.
The last coping
stones are now
being bedded into
place and the final
effect is very
impressive. Even
our local planning
officer has commented on the quality of
the brickwork.
Progress with the rebuild was helped
greatly by a week‘s concentrated effort
in July. With the use of two dumpers
and an excavator hired for the week we
cleared the small mountain of brick
rubble that had been placed at the rear
of the site. The rubble had originally
been used to provide a ramp to provide
access within the lock during the Work
Camp last year and was mixed with
I would like to start by giving a hearty vote of thanks to Colin
Turner, our previous restoration manager, for all his efforts on
behalf of the Trust. Colin stood down from the post in the Spring
after successfully guiding the restoration activities of the Trust for
many years. Colin has been a great source of help and advice to me
RESTORATION
REPORT
7
appearance.
We have also rebuilt the bridge parapet
wall where it had been damaged by tree
roots and topped it off with a semi-
circular parapet to match the old bridge
structure. The area below the bridge
where the trees had been removed earlier
in the year has been cleaned off to reveal
a brick paved area which appears to have
been a loading wharf/waiting area for
barges visiting the mill.
In between work at the lock and at the
request of local residents and with the
support of Needham Market Town
Council we have cleared an area of
overgrown scrub opposite Hawks Mill
and this area is now being maintained by
one of our members.
Future Restoration Work
We plan to spend the rest of the summer/
autumn low water season completing
the pointing of the East wall at
Baylham, carrying out work to the
damaged cill and then removing the
scaffolding before the winter floods hit
us again.
During the earlier tree removal below
the bridge we discovered that the
brickwork to the training wall has been
damaged by tree roots and, subject to
water levels we hope to repair this
before the winter.
Over the winter period when work
within the lock chamber will be
prevented by high water flows, we
intend to re-visit Bosmere lock to carry
out scrub clearance, revisit Creeting
Lock for some sapling removal and carry
out further work on the waterside
adjacent to Baylham.
Martin Bird
****************************************
TRUST NEWS There has been steady progress with the River Gipping Trust since my last report.
The main item of note is that Colin Turner has now handed over the reins as
Restoration Manager to Martin Bird – it had been Colin‘s intention to complete the
work at Baylham Lock before his retirement, but Margery‘s health dictated the earlier
change. We extend our grateful thanks to Colin for all his hard work over the years,
and send him and Margery our good wishes and look forward to continued restoration
progress under Martin‘s guidance.
We aim to raise the profile of the Trust even further and increase the general public‘s
awareness wherever possible– the latest example was an interview with our Secretary
on the Breakfast Programme of Ipswich Community Radio.
Shortly we will be undertaking our Winter Programme of PowerPoint Presentations –
amongst those booked are to the local National Trust Group and the Ipswich Society. If
you know of any organisation who would like a visit, please let us know!
We welcome Martin and wish him well! Lewis Tyler
8
River Stour Trust Restoring and conserving the River Stour Navigation
The Ely-Ouse to Essex Transfer Scheme [EOETS] Drainage of the Fens had begun in 1630 when the Dutch engineer, Cornelius Vermuyden, dug a system of drains and sluices, and constructed the first Denver Sluice across the Ely-Ouse to exclude tidal water while allowing excess water to run out to sea at Kings Lynn. Main feeds to the Ely-Ouse river are the Cam, Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey. The present Denver Sluice gates were
rebuilt in 1834 by Sir John Rennie, who was also the engineer for the River Gipping and Chelmer and Blackwater Navigations. For the new scheme, modifications were made at Denver to allow water which would have gone to sea to be diverted
to fill the reservoirs at Abberton and Hanningfield. The water diverted at Denver is drawn off at the Blackdyke Intake near Lakenheath into an 8 foot diameter, 12 mile long tunnel which terminates at Kennett, where it is pumped via a 6 foot diameter, 9 mile long pipeline into the River Stour at Kirtling Green, near Newmarket. Some of this water is drawn from the Stour at Wixoe to be pumped 6
miles to the River Pant (becoming the Blackwater). This massive undertaking also required the building of 10 new automatic control gates on the Stour and one on the Pant. The transferred water travels over 90 miles to Abberton or Hanningfield Reservoirs, with about two-thirds of this distance via existing
TAKING THE WATERS (Part 2)
Continuing the history of the River Stour and it‟s involvement with Essex water supplies.
9
watercourses. The Denver abstraction licence limits the amount of water which can be transferred to Essex to a maximum of 100 million gallons per day. It also requires a minimum volume of water to be flowing past Denver before any transfer can take place. The scheme is owned and operated by the
Environment agency. Since the 1970s South Essex Waterworks Company, Southend Waterworks Company, Suffolk Water Company and Northumbrian Water Limited have merged, retaining Essex & Suffolk Water as a trading name. Today Essex & Suffolk Water is responsible for supplying drinking water to 1.8 million people in South Essex including Southend, Basi ldon, Witham, Chelmsford, Barking, Dagenham and Redbridge, and in a way that conserves and enhances the environment. Although water supply has doubled in the last 50 years, the last serious drought in 1995-97 demonstrated the need for increased sustainable water resources for Essex, where there is still insufficient availability to meet existing demand in a prolonged dry period. With Essex being the driest county in the country with less rainfall than Jerusalem, the situation is predicted to worsen as demand increases with a growing population, and climate change takes effect. (To be Continued)
Susan Brown
********************************************************************************************
CANTLEY STAITHE RIVER YARE NORFOLK
GRAND OPENING
In 2009 the IWA gave a grant to
Cantley Parish Council in order
to assist the release of further
funding for the restoration of
Cantley Staithe on the River
Yare. On September the 18th,
2010 the rebuilt Staithe was
opened by Dr. Stephen Johnson,
Chairman of the Broads
Authority.
For more details see http://
www.cantley.org/staithe/
index.php
10
EXPLORING THE
CALDON CANAL
The Caldon is, to quote Pearson‟s, „one of the most delightful waterways in
England‟, and it was perhaps not so much of a co-incidence that three of the
Branch Boat Owners decided to pay a visit. So one afternoon in June „Bruizer‟,
„Fringilla‟ and „Black Swan‟ met up in Etruria Basin at Stoke-on-Trent.
A basin much improved on previous
visits with well kept parkland and
attractive retirement flats set around
Brindley‘s statue. Poor Brindley is
clearly a favourite with the birds!
The following morning, with the sun
shining out of a cloudless blue sky, the
convoy set off up the staircase locks with
Chard and Carolyn in ‗Bruizer‘ leading
the way, John and Joan in ‗Fringilla‘
following, and Pauline and Charles
acting as ‗Tail End Charlie‘. After the
locks the canal runs through an area of
old industry in decay or raised to the
ground with new attractive housing
facing the canal beginning to appear.
Planet Lock is overlooked by a modern
medical building and further along two
remaining Bottle Kilns are surrounded
by modern construction. The notorious
Ivy House Lift Bridge gave us no
problems, although we understand that
11
BW had been called out earlier in the
day, no changes there! Hanley Park
looked a bit down at heel despite the £3
million that had apparently been spent in
recent years.
A green, rather overgrown stretch,
although BW had been at work on one
length of towpath, led us out into the
country, although not before ‗Black
Swan‘ picked up some plastic and string
and a visit down the weed hatch was
required. A pause at Milton opposite a
row of houses with attractive canalside
gardens for shopping, don‘t believe the
sign on the bridge, it is further to the
shops than it says, and lunch. On the
way to Engine Lock, so called after a
local colliery pumping engine, we were
now passing through buttercup covered
meadows with horses quietly grazing
and the reed lined canal sprouting wild
yellow iris. Then into a tree lined
Stockton flight of five locks, all against
us and no boats down until we all
reached the top!
Two of the locks had modern 2007
memorials, as a remembrance to the
local industry, installed alongside.
Onwards along the summit through more
sun-dappled horse pastures, pausing at
Park Lane Wharf to top up with water, to
Hazlehurst Junction where we headed
down through the three attractive locks
to find moorings just past the Holybush
Inn. It was busy, both with canal and
road visitors, and rightly so with
enormous but good value meals, (you
can ask for smaller helpings!) but we
found room for well earned drinks and
dinner.
We then returned to bed with the new
moon reflecting in a perfectly still canal.
We awoke to another cloudless sky with
the sun shining down on a peaceful spot.
Pearson‘s Guide says our trip will
continue through an even more ‗glorious
environment with the enchantment
deepening‘ and so it was as we cruised
on through the sun-dappled leafy water
lane, passing the attractive twin water
wheeled flint mill at Cheddleton before
descending two locks and then a third,
Woods Lock, onto the Churnet river. A
steam engine was spotted manoeuvring
on the nearby Churnet Valley Railway
Line. The River took us on and through
Consall Forge, passing the Black Lion,
too early to stop this time, where we
passed back onto the canal before
heading ‗under‘ the station platform.
And so onto the winding hole before
Froghall Tunnel, we were all too big to
go through.
The afternoon was spent exploring by
foot, a walk around the tunnel to the
12
Wharf for ice-creams, visiting the
restored (2005) lower basin, the start of
the Uttoxeter canal, where it was sad to
see the pontoons all unused and the basin
covered in weed, although understand
that extension plans are still in hand but
the tunnel height will still be a major
restriction. We paid a visit to the station
where we met with the steam engine we
had spotted earlier, it was driver training
day, no carriages so we could not go for
a ride! Back at the basin we watched the
trip boat head out and back through the
tunnel. We learnt that this is the last year
as Mum, who does the cooking, is 83
and the family are retiring. Will anyone
take over (any volunteers?) or will this
be the end of another canal high point?
Day four dawned leisurely, some boat
titivating, as it was planned to lunch at
the Black Lion. However when we got
there we found that they did not cook at
lunch times, only rolls—later found this
was mentioned in the Good Pub Guide!!
So we did have samples of the wide
range of real beers and strong ciders
before heading on and aiming for the
Boat at Cheddleton for dinner instead.
However the advertised BW Public
Moorings were totally overgrown, and
partially blocked by a fairly long
standing obstruction! (BW advised!) So
third time lucky, we moored up at
Cheddleton Flint Mill and went to the
Red Lion, which was excellent.
The next day dawned cloudy. We headed
back up through Hazlehurst, to do 340
degree turns at the top to head up the
Leek Arm. A stoppage was in place at
the tunnel but we had been told by BW
that another at bridge 6 had been lifted
so we could make the Tunnel basin.
However as the convoy headed up a boat
coming the other way advised that it was
closed. ‗Bruizer‘ started winding at
Bridge 6 and just as they completd
another boat appeared and said it was
open to the Tunnel!! So ‗Black Swan‘
and ‗Fringilla‘ headed onwards along the
13
tree and buttercup lined channel, with
glimpse of the valley through the trees
until we reached the basin. Photographs
taken for the record as we winded, it is a
lovely mooring spot, before heading
back to join ‗Bruizer‘ at Hazlehurst and
then onward to Endon. The shop there
was nearby and matched the advertised
distance! We had planned to stop for the
day and that afternoon it rained, how‘s
that for timing?!
A bright and cooler day heralded our
remaining journey on the Caldon. We
quickly passed back down the Stockton 5
with no other boats about, and retraced
our steps through the old industry and
new housing. Hanley Park was busy
with people queuing for an event under
the watchful eyes of security guards.
Then we arrived at Bedford Staircase to
find a queue of boats both down and up,
where had they all come from? So our
arrival back at Etruria Basin where we
moored back under Brindley‘s beady
eyes was slightly delayed. Still time,
however for most of us to visit the
Industrial Museum and to learn all about
why the Caldon canal existed.
An evening gathering was held on
‗Black Swan‘ before we headed North
for further adventures up the
Macclesfield and our companions
headed South for home.
And so Farewell Caldon, yes Pearson is
right, a most delightful Waterway, but
please BW some gardening and pruning
required.
Charles Stride „Black Swan‟
Thank You Mr. Brindley
14
THE PIONEER TRUST
&
The ‘John Constable’
On 2 August The Pioneer Trust invited
some members of RST to visit the John
Constable at their premises where, much
to our surprise, our lighter had survived
the lorry journey remakably well and
was resting on chocks in their workshop.
They have cleaned, measured and made
patterns from the remains in preparation
for its rebuild. The original lighter was
built about 1860-1870. It has no scarf
joints, they were all butt joints, and the
oldest planks in the bottom are tapered
from 1 ¾‖ thick to 7/8‖ in cross-section.
The replica will be made entirely of oak,
and they have been to Norfolk in search
of long oak for it. It will also need over
40 timber ―knees‖ about 2 ft x 18‖ but,
as these are difficult to source now,
particularly with a great demand for
them for barn conversions, it may be
necessary to fabricate some.
After discussing the restoration of The
John Constable we were introduced to
the wonderfully restored Pioneer CK18 –
a deep sea Essex fishing smack built by
Peter Harris in Rowhedge in 1864, one
of 130 registered at Colchester in the late
1800s. They became known as
―skillingers‖ for their work dredging for
deep sea oysters off the Dutch Coast on
the Terschelling Bank. They would have
worked the waters from as far North as
Denmark, all the way around the English
Channel to the Firth of Clyde, mainly
dredging for oysters and scallops, a trade
which had become known as ‗the hardest
and cruelest Essex man ever worked‘.
‗The skillingers‘ would lay up during the
summer months, following the hard
winters dredging in the North Sea.
Pioneer was cutter rigged until 1889,
when she was cut in half and lengthened
by 11 ft in Brightlingsea, a mizzen mast
was added and she became ketch rigged.
A wet well [a flooded compartment
holding 12 tonnes of water where oysters
and scallops could be stored alive] was
added amidships enabling Pioneer to
travel further and stay at sea for longer.
By 1998 all that remained of the
―skillingers‖ were a few rotting hulks in
the Essex saltings when Pioneer was
On 7th July The Pioneer Trust lifted the RST‟s Stour Lighter, „John Constable,‟
with a large crane from its last mooring at Great Cornard to transport it to their
workshops in Brightlingsea. This is the first stage in its restoration, which is
expected to take 2 years.
15
raised from her muddy grave off Mersea
to be restored. She is now providing sail
training for young people.
We were ferried out to her in
Brightlingsea Creek to sail along the
coast off St Osyth, being allowed to
participate in the sailing and learn from
the enthusiastic and knowledgeable
crew. After an inspiring afternoon spent
aboard, all too soon we had to leave
Pioneer on her mooring in the River
Colne. We had been impressed by the
quality of her restoration, the high-class
seamanship of her young crew, and have
a lasting admiration for the men of old
who could sail her with such skill to
dredge for oysters in the North Sea in the
winter!
To learn more about Pioneer and the
w o r k o f t h e t r u s t , v i s i t
www.pioneersailingtrust.org.uk
Sue Brown
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE We gladly welcome all our new members
From Norfolk: Mr. R Cater
From Essex: Mr. C N Ainsworth; Mr. & Mrs P & J Ost; Mr & Mrs T
& C Sherwen
At the end of July we had 517 Members.
16
The new owners, OCC, continue to
rebuild Bacton Wood Lock, and have
erected a new shed for the building of
lock gates. Their newly acquired ex BW
Dredger ―WEASEL‖ continues to
progress upstream from Ebridge. The
intention is to dredge a narrow channel
first, and then mount a Hymac on a
larger pontoon to widen the canal later.
On the NWC Co‘s section, work has
mainly been maintenance based at the
Honing Staithe Canal Walk and Honing
Lock. However, in order to aid canoeists
below Honing, fallen trees from the
Honing estate have been cleared from
the canal, and clearances made to assist
portaging and launching at Honing.
Within an hour, three families from
Durham and Chester were making use of
the facility.
A major blitz is due to be held at
Briggate Mill Pond on Sunday October
10th and 24th, and all are welcome. The
aim is to return water to the Mill pond so
that this area becomes an asset to the
village in the way that Honing Staithe
Cut has to that village.
Work party programme for the
remainder of the year:
Sept. 5 Bacton Wood Area
Sept 19 Honing Staithe Cut
Oct 10 Briggate
Oct 24 Briggate
Nov 7 Bacton Wood Area
Nov 21 Honing Lock
Dec 5 Honing Staithe Cut
Dec 19 Ebridge
Always check for the latest information
with David Revill, the EAWA Work
Party Organiser on 01603-738648
And the latest work party reports,
pictures and progress can be seen at
www.eawa.co.uk
Ivan Cane
North Walsham & Dilham
Canal – Restoration Progress
Progress continues to be positive along the canal.
17
THE EAST PIONEERS
THE WEST
Whilst at Newport, ―NAVI‖ first
navigated towards the Barrack Hill
Tunnel, the southernmost point of the
canal, then, with ―OLIVE‖ leading the
way, ventured towards the newly
reopened section to Pentre Lane. The
pound at the Rally site was shallow, but
once through Gwasted Lock the back
pumping had improved the depth. Here
the slipway by Bettws Lane bridge had
been the access point for the boats – and
a popular viewing point. However, the
water level being high meant that the
headroom at Bettws Bridge was
challenging. A call to the WRGies on
site for ballast, brought 3 heftier bodies
in response. ―NAVI‖, with Bungle on
board, was now able to pass under the
bridge into Malpas Lock, followed, after
some pound lowering, by ―OLIVE‖.
The route was lined by families and
photographers galore recording the first
official boats to cruise this length of
canal since 1926. An attractive stretch
followed with moorhen nests to be
passed by carefully. Tyfynnon Lock 36
was deep at over 12 ½ feet, but the
restoration work is of high standard and
the boats locked easily through.
Some shallow sections followed –mainly
due to underground obstructions.
―NAVI‖ also gained an extra crew
member – Ashley celebrating his 12th
birthday – by steering the first boat along
his local canal! Tamplin Lock 37 soon
came in sight, and then the end of the
restored section at Pentre Lane was
reached, with ―NAVI‖ nosing her way
into the reeds by the lowered bridge –
and hordes of photographers.
Thus ―NAVI‖ from the River Wissey in
the East became the pioneering boat in
the West, being the first boat to navigate
the restored southern Monmouthshire
canal in 84 years.
Ivan Cane
Ivan Cane and Darren Cooke took the Wilderness Beaver “NAVI” to join 21
other boats at the Welsh Waterways Festival/IWA Trailboat Rally at Newport
over the May Spring Holiday. Their 480+ mile round trip picking up the IWA
John Ogley Cup for the highest number of “journey points”.
18
The Broads Forum consists of 25
representatives from organisations that
have an interest in The Norfolk and
Suffolk Broads and, an independent
Chairman who is nominated by the
Broads Authority.
Each member represents a sub group of
organisations under a general heading.
In the case of Boating/Water Based
Recreation Interest Groups, one of the
sub groups consists of
The Inland Waterways Association IWA
East Anglian Waterways Association
EAWA
Oulton Broads Community Enterprise
Yare Users Association
The late Barry Green had represented
this sub group for many years. Following
his untimely death I was approached by
both IWA and EAWA and asked if I was
prepared to take his place on the Forum,
with no objections from the other two
organisations I have agreed.
The aims of the Forum are to offer
advice and comment on the Broads
Authority‘s strategic aims and objectives
and to provide a consultative forum to
facilitate two-way communication
between them and organisations that
have an interest in the Broads Catchment
Area. This includes conservation,
navigational, recreational and planning
policy.
Another objective of the Forum is to
improve understanding between the
various interest bodies and organisations
that use the Broads which are very
varied, from commercial reed cutting to
wildlife conservation and wake boarding
to dingy sailing.
The Forum only meets four times a year
at the Broads Authority headquarters, in
Dragonfly House, Norwich and meetings
are open to the general public, anyone
can just turn up and not only observe the
proceedings, but with the Chairman‘s
permission ask questions or make a
statement about matters on the agenda.
The dates and agendas for the meetings
can be found on the Broads Authority
web site at
www.broads-authority.gov.uk/authority/
meetings/broads-forum.html where you
will also find the minutes of the previous
meetings.
I have just attended my first meeting, so
it is difficult to judge how useful this
Forum is, but without doubt it gives us a
direct line of communication with the
Chief Executive of the Broads Authority
and other senior officers, for us to
question their thoughts and decisions at
the highest level.
Brian Holt
THE BROADS FORUM
19
DATES
for your
DIARY
WORKING PARTY DATES Working Parties are held by the River Gipping Trust at Baylham Lock
from 0900 to 1700 most Wednesdays and on the first Saturday of each
month, unless that Saturday is a Bank Holiday in which case it will
then be held on the second Saturday of that month.
For further information and to confirm dates contact Martin Bird
Tel: 01394 380765 Email: [email protected]
1st
2nd
BRANCH MEETINGS & EVENTS
Branch Meetings held at the Community Centre, School St., Needham Market
At 7.30pm, unless otherwise stated.
FRIDAY 8TH OCTOBER
Talk by Richard Thomas—Friends of President
FRIDAY 12TH NOVEMBER
Ivan Cane tells us about the North Walsham & Dilham Canal
FRIDAY 10TH DECEMBER
A Talk on the „Lydia Eva‟
The Last Steam Powered Herring Drifter
FRIDAY 14TH JANUARY
Members Evening
FRIDAY 11TH FEBRUARY
Annual General Meeting & Talk
See Notice Page 20
FRIDAY 11TH MARCH
Annual Lunch—Compasses Holbrook.
This year the dinner has been moved to March in the hope that the weather
will have improved from the depths of winter. Also the meal will be at lunch
time on the Friday to avoid members having to travel after dark. Tickets
must be booked by the 11 February with Chard Wadley.
OTHER DATES
SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER—10am-2pm
RST Christmas Bazaar—Sudbury Town Hall
FRIDAY 29TH JULY—SUNDAY 31ST JULY 2011
IWA National Festival—Burton-on-Trent
Note Change—NOT The August Bank Holiday.
20
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee.
Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. HP5 1WA
Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk
Registered in England No. 612245. Registered as a Charity No. 212342
37TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the
AGM of the Ipswich Branch of the Inland Waterways Association
will be held at the Needham Market Community Centre, School Street,
Needham Market at
8pm on Friday 11th February, 2011
AGENDA
1) Apologies for absence
2) Approval of the 2010 AGM Minutes
3) Matters arising from those minutes
4) Chairman‘s report
5) Treasurer‘s report and presentation of accounts
6) Adoption of the accounts
7) Statement of committee size
8) Election of Committee members
9) Regional Chairman‘s report
USEFUL WEBSITES IWA Head Office - http://www.waterways.org.uk
Waterway Recovery Group - http://www.wrg.org.uk
Save Our System - http://www.SOS2010.org.uk
River Gipping Trust - http://rivergippingtrust.org.uk River Stour Trust - http://www.riverstourtrust.org
East Anglian Waterways Association –http://www.eawa.co.uk
IWA Peterborough Branch - http://www.iwapeterborough.org.uk The Broads Society - http://www.broads-society.org.uk
The Australian Canal Society - http://www.auscanal.org.au/
British Waterways/Waterscape - http://www.waterscape.com Waterways Trust - http://www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
DEFRA Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - http://www.defra.gov.uk