The Magazine of the North Cheshire Cruising Club

CELEBRATIONS FOR

APRIL

We wish these members

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

3rd

Susan Yorke – Louis D’Or 3

rd Peter Wright – Miss Liz

4th

Fred Pennell

4th

Keith Wright – Hirondelle

9th

Noel Christopher – Columbus

12th

Glenys Critchlow – Wild Rose

17th

Doris Pennington – Destiny

19th

Jean Pennell

22nd

Audrey Meecham

24th

Geoff Lamb – Ganda

26th

Tabitha Winstanley

28th

Pat Christopher – Columbus

30th

Marilyn Speechley

ANNIVERSARIES Do you celebrate your anniversary in April?

If so let us know – Jan & Martin –Quantum

*Also any new members who wish to be included on the monthly

celebrations page please contact us. J & M

CELEBRATIONS FOR

MAY

BIRTHDAYS

6th

John Palmer- Lock Stock and Barrell

14th

Estelle Bruce – Moonlight Shadow 15

th Betty Stonard

16th

Jean Longton

18th

Richard Yorke – Louis D’Or 27

th Steve Sinclair – Stedi Alkee

31st Liz Maloney

ANNIVERSARIES

10th

Wendy & Kevin Gregory – Odyssey

16th

Sue & Richard Yorke – Louis D’Or 27

th Sally & Gareth Winstanley

Commodore's Letter

The Sailing Season is well on the way.

The opening Cruise to Disley was well attended and the great weather

brought out eighteen boats.

We were made welcome at the White Lion and had a lovely evening.

Boats attending the Opening Cruise -

Cindy – Hydra – Cleopatra – Papillion – Hakuna Matata – Calluna –

Cindy – Shropshire Lass – Fluer Denise – Benny – Lazy Days – Horny

Toad – La Vie En Rose – Aquaholic – Montana – Even Load – Taylor

Maid – Mac Run

Apart from the heavy rain on Good Friday we were again blessed with

good weather.

Many members erected the marquee on Friday in the rain but the sun

came out on Saturday and Sunday and with the villagers having

decorated it.

The Mad Hatters tea party was sold out on both days.

There was plenty of entertainment to suit everyone and a great

weekend was had by boaters and the many visitors.

Boats attending the Easter Cruise -

Cindy – Quantum – Cleopatra – Lazy Days – Shropshire Lass – Mac

Run – Moonfleet – Still Waters – Foxy Lady – Ganda – Fluer Denise –

Hirondelle – Moonlight Shadow – Sarah – Campsie Lass – Hakuna

Matata – Hydra – Cygnet - La Vie En Rose – Keba – Taylor Made – All

Js – Gazelle – Destiny – Jaberge – Aquaholic.

Hope to see you all at Fools Nook on May Day Weekend.

Edna.

Club Nights

As you are all a┘are けCluH Nightsげ ha┗e Heen held on a Friday night during the non-sailing season and to a great extent has been very successful.

You will also be aware that the sailing season is now upon us heralded by the

けFitting Out Supperげ. In ┗ie┘ of this the Hoard has deIided that けCluH Nightsげ should now revert back to a Thursday night beginning on the 9

th April until the

end of the sailing season.

Please note that Fridays will continue until then, but that there will be no

meeting on the Friday of the Easter weekend (3rd

April).

The first Thursday meeting will be the 9th

April.

The Board

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Help Needed

As discussed in the open meeting recently the club is still struggling for

volunteers to help out with the running of the club. A big problem is with

private functions which are great earners for the club but a problem to manage

without help, mainly cleaning the room before and after events at weekends. If

any members can help on the odd weekend for a couple of hours when we have

functions it would be a big help. Please let me or Brian know if you can help,the

bar is also lacking in volunteers to, so feel free to speak to John on that one.

Thanks

Bill Jewsbury

Thursday 16th April Greetings Card Demonstration

Friday May 2nd to 4th May Day Weekend to Fools

Nook

Friday May 22nd to Sat 30th Spring Bank Cruise to

Chester

Saturday 6th June Wine Cruise

Friday July 24th Summer Cruise Strafford on Avon [

River Avon & River Severn ] Aprox 4 weeks

Friday August 28th to 31st Bank Holiday To be

arranged

SUNDAY LUNCH and BAR

Weげre opeﾐ for luﾐIh oﾐ “uﾐdays, ヱヲ.ヰヰ – 1.30.

So come along and enjoy our fantastic, great

value for money lunches.

The bar is also open.

.

MARPLE LOCK FESTIVAL

Marple Locks Festival will be happening this summer,its a bi-annual event

celebrating and raising money for The Marple Locks Heritage Society, last time we

had a spot promoting the club and it was a good event. I think it would be good

for us to support this event again so if anybody wants to organise something on

behalf of the club for the festival then please let me know. I don't know dates yet

but thought i'd put it out there. Last time we had a gazebo with old photo's and

club leaflets. Thanks

Bill Jewsbury

CHANGE OF DETAILS

If any members have changed their address or phone number please could you

let me know.

Pam Russell

MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Hi Bernie for the Ditchcrawler Membership cards and boat stickers are ready

and can be collected from the club on a club night Pam Russell

Gas, Diesel, Electricity

Just a reminder to members that gas, diesel and electric cards can be purchased

from the club via Brian Bowker. Although there are no set selling times just ask

Brian or ring him and he will arrange your goods. Payment is by cash, cheque or

bank transfer. Cash sales have a £50 limit.

Bill

Vacancy for Quartermaster

There is a vacancy in the club for a Quartermaster, this involves being responsible

for NCCC items such as burjees,pens,patches etc and running a small stall on club

nights (at least once a month) selling anything that members may find useful,new

or used. If interested speak to Bill Jewsbury or Pam Russell.

Thanks

Bill

Dog Owners

To all dog owners in the arm . PLEASE can you make sure that you cleanse up

after your dog. Despite notices around the yard some people are still failing to

do this . If this continues the board will have no option but to insist that all dogs

be kept on a lead at all times. Thank you for your co operation in this matter.

Pam.

Attention All Moorers in the Club Arm

Please not that it is one of the conditions of mooring in the arm (which

e┗eryHody sigﾐs) that you ﾏust purIhase your けCaﾐal & ‘i┗er Trustげ liIeﾐIe through the club. Failure to do this is in breach of your mooring conditions and

will put your mooring in jeopardy. The club as you are aware are given a 5%

commission on these licences and therefore are losing revenue. The board has

decided that as it is a condition of mooring in the arm, that, the amount of lost

revenue will be recouped from the offending moorers and a bill will be issued for

the relevant amount i.e. 5% of your licence fee.

NB This only applies to moorers in the arm who have not bought their licence

through the club.

Pam Russell

Can I remind everyone to get their licence application to me to give me time to check and

contact you if there are any errors to rectify. I have had a couple of applications reach me on

the last day of the month which does not give any time for corrections.

Let hope we have a lovely summer for crusing. New fees listed below. Jen Budworth

Easter Weekend

Minutes of the Open Meeting held on Sunday 29th March 2015 at NCCC at 2pm.

There were 50 members present, including Directors

Garry Dockerty chaired the meeing. He welcomed everyone. All comments

raised will be discussed at the next Board Meeing and that the notes from the

meeing will be included in the next Ditchcrawler.

1)LEASE RENEWAL

As our current lease expired on the 25 March 2015, concern was raised about

how this affected our use of the clubhouse and grounds. GD read out an email

from Simon Moore from CRT and also said that the AWCC had taken up our case

with CRT too. AWCC email read out. Several quesions were raised: a) How do

we stand legally in this situaion? b) Do we carry on as usual? c) Have we engaged

Professional help? A Professional cannot help us yet. GD replied “we have to

see sight of the new Lease before we can take any advice”. “We should carry on

as usual as there is nothing we can do at the moment”.

2) MOORERS IN THE ARM

We have claimed back £500.00 from moorers who did not pay their Licence Fees

through the club

3) VAT

We have now registered for VAT as a Sports Club. We do not have to charge VAT

on mooring fees or membership fees. We can claim VAT back on a proportion

of our lease and all purchases for the bar and other purchases but are required

to charge VAT on all other sales for example bar and tickets for functions – for

the time being the Board has agreed to absorb the costs on VAT sales. The club

will be better o� by about £3000 per annum.

4) DREDGING

Ian Wilson asked about dredging as he has coninued problems with silt. Eric

Roberts said that the dredger will do the work for us but that disposal of the silt is

a problem that will be addressed. ER said that he has been experimening with

the dredger for a few weeks. We may need to buy builder’s sacks so that we

can fill them with silt and it will then drain water through the sacks. ER said that

he had not tried using bags yet (esimate fiing 2 full bags in pontoon). Bags

cost £3.00 each approximately. Maybe we can ask a local farmer to take the silt

or use for local infill sites. ER and Tim Taylor have both been trained to use the

dredger. ER said we have insurance that covers us for use within the arm. Sheila

Barlow asked about a training programme during one of the work party days. The

quesion was then asked by Kevin Lawrence as to who is to pay for damage if a

boathouse is hit whilst the dredger is being used? KL also asked about the leters

that were supposed to go out to boathouse owners with a view to the club buying

them under “compulsory purchase”. GD said that board has not investigated

compulsory purchase but when boathouses have become available we have

purchased them and we now own 6 boathouses.

5) JEAN HUNT’S BOATHOUSE

Jean said that she had to have help from Kevin Lawrence to gain access to her

boathouse ater Chris Poter’s boathouse was hit by the dredger being driven by

ER.

6) BOATHOUSE REMOVAL

Keith Paddock said why not introduce a method of colour coding for boathouses,

so that the one in the worst state of repair is colour coded red, the next colour

could be green, and so on. At least a system would be in place for when the next

boathouse is to be dismantled.

7)WORK PARTY

John Suggit said that he thought advanced planning needs to take place before

the men arrive on site to carry out work. That way everybody is used to full

potenial. Club house should also be included in work party rota, i.e. Paining the

Ladies room and chair maintenance and anything else that requires atenion.

8) VOLUNTEERS

More volunteers are required to help run the club.

9) LED LIGHTS

Chris Pennington said he thought that the lights in the clubhouse need to be

updated. He knows a professional person who could come into the club to check

round the clubhouse. There is no need for the electrics to be checked as they

are all up to date. Many people have said that they like the ambience of the

clubroom with the current lighing. Tim Taylor suggested that we devise an

Evaluaion Form for use ater every funcion so that we receive feedback from

customers. Ian Goodwin said he thought that the room looked much beter

since it had been painted.

10) SILVER BIRCH TREES

John Suggit said he thought that the trees needed atenion. Eric Roberts agreed

and that this job will be added to the work party list.

11) BAR STAFF

Gill Jewsbury commented that there was not enough bar staff at private

funcions. Perhaps we could encourage more volunteers to come forward and

offer their ime. Apart from herself and Bill, at the moment we have Michelle

Wright and Rob, Marin and Jan Tatersall, John Fenton. Gill said that the hours

worked behind the bar are far too long without a change of shit.

12) SUNDAY LUNCHES

Not enough volunteers. Maybe the answer was to close the kitchen when there

are no volunteers.

13) OVERSEAS CLUB MEMBERS

Chris Lamb said we have a few members who do not live local who sill moor

their boat in the arm.

Why? Is it for cheap moorings? They are not partaking in any club funcions or

helping run the club. GD said that we should remember that there are moorers

in the arm who have contributed a great deal toward s the club in the past and

for a variety of reasons are unable to do so now. ER agreed and said in those

circumstances those moorers should not be penalised, each case needs to

looked at separately.

14) STATE OF THE ARM

Geoff Lamb said that the state of the arm as one sails into it from the main canal

is like Soweto (or even the Meekong Delta). It does not reflect well on the club as

a whole. We should be looking to upgrade.

15) STRATEGY REQUIRED FOR ENCOURAGING NEW YOUNGER MEMBERS TO

JOIN THE CLUB

a) Buy a day boat which we could hire out

b) Canoe clubs

c) invite youngsters into the club, i.e. play games, etc.

Estelle Bruce said people were not coming into canal boaing anymore. So if we

could encourage younger people it would be great.

16) WATER CONNECTION

Jean Hunt has asked when will water be connected beyond the triangle. The pipe

is already in place. Eric Roberts said that we need to find a plumber. This job is

to be added to the work party list.

17) CANAL ARM

George Griffin said that the whole area around the club is too dangerous to allow

children onto the site. We have boathouses that are unstable, the canal bank is

unstable. It is not a good idea to encourage people into the club area who are

not familiar with potential hazards.

18) Mo Spooner asked when the disabled toilet will be fi ed. Bob Barlow said

this was not done because we did not know what was happening regarding the

Lease. It was agreed that a disabled toilet needs to be installed.

Pam SuggitSecretary

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Easter Weekend

Archive Corner April 2015

During the immediate post war years when petrol rationing ceased NCCC

members tended to sail either to Bluebell Bay, the winding hole north of

Bridge 23 (1/2 gallon) or Buxton Road Wharf Macclesfield north of Bridge

37 (1 gallon), which offered safe mooring with a ten minute walk to the

town centre. Always a bustling place, sufficiently remote from the

Manchester conurbation to assume its own identity, Macclesfield boasted a

thriving market, numerous character pubs, interesting shops and the

Majestic Cinema which was popular in the days prior to television.

The Buxton Road Wharf site, which was both walled and gated, extended

north almost to Bridge 36 (Smyths Bridge). Originally there existed a

covered boat dock at this end of the site which at this time was semi-

derelict. Whilst the Wharf was served by a jib crane, work boats were rarely

in evidence. There was a cottage facing the Buxton Road gate access,

which at the time was occupied by a banksman and his family. Two of his

children, a lad and a girl befriended the children of visiting boat crews,

myself included, which added to the attraction of this venue.

In August 1953, Buxton Road Wharf was the site of the I.W.A. National

Boat Rally organised by

Dr. N.J.H. Wallis, a quintessential ‘committee man’ and an eminent NCCC member as was Bert Kennerley the Harbourmaster who was a one time

resident of Wharf Cottage, along with Alderman J.B. Hidderley who at the

time was the Lord Mayor of Macclesfield. The Rally which commenced on

Monday 17th August lasted a full week. During the Thursday all craft

cruised to Whaley Bridge (estimated sailing time of five hours!), whereupon

all crews disembarked to attend a Supper Dance at Lyme Hall for the

princely sum of 12/6, by means of special buses which returned them to

Whaley Bridge afterwards. The following morning the boats visited the

remains of the Buxworth Branch which at that time was derelict, save of a

few yards. Allegedly a nautical competition was arranged on the afternoon

cruise back to Macclesfield, where during the evening boat crews attended

a reception at the Town Hall which was hosted by the Mayor. During the

afternoon of Saturday 22nd August a canoe handling exhibition was staged,

followed in the evening by an illuminated procession of all craft headed by

the NCCC Cruising Queen, the concluding event being a Torchlight Tattoo

performed in nearby Victoria Park by the local Sea Scouts. All boats left for

their home moorings during the following day, Sunday 23rd August.

Following the National Rally use of the Wharf by visiting pleasure craft

progressively declined due to the fact that a number of permanent

moorings were created. Towards the end of the 1950’s, the cottage was

demolished and the site was further blighted by the construction of some

rather utilitarian buildings at the Buxton Road end which rendered access

to the water’s edge very difficult. For a number of years the north end of

the site which offered the benefits of vehicular access and hardstanding,

accommodated a boat hire base. Inevitably, visiting boats left with limited

mooring options many of which didn’t offer sufficient depth, headed for

Gurnett Aqueduct and Fools Nook both of which replaced Macclesfield as

a ‘sought after’ boater destination.

In modern times the site looked rather ‘down at heel’, some of the boats moored became neglected and the buildings at the Buxton Road end

employed as a repair garage became very untidy. Recently, C.R.T., who

have disposed of Buxton Road Wharf for housing development propose to

provide pontoons on the towpath opposite to permit visiting boats to moor

whilst their crews visit Macclesfield. Bearing in mind the restricted mooring

between the ‘Puss in Boots’ and the winding hole near the Hovis Mill, this

is a welcome move. The moral of this story is use whatever canal side

amenities are currently on offer to the full, rest assured they won’t last for ever!

Unfortunately demands on my time have prevented me inserting

photographs and diagrams within this article. If anyone is interested I have

a photograph of boats attending the 1953 National Rally, together with an

original souvenir programme.

John Suggitt, ‘Evenlode’

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Opening Cruise

13 Ap r i l 2015

New partnership members for North Wales and Borders

We've appointed seven new members to join the North Wales and Borders Waterway partnership.

The partnership works closely with our local waterway management team to help shape plans, guide our spending decisions, develop contacts with local people, seek new funding and champion the interests of the waterways.

The new partnership members are:

John Yates, a heritage conservation specialist from Wem, Shropshire. Nicola Said, a marketing expert from Wrexham. Mike Carter, a marine surveyor from Weaverham, Cheshire. Sara Mogel, a further education specialist from Caerwys, Flintshire. Campbell Boyle, a construction specialist from Gnosall, Stafford, Staffordshire. Barry Stamp, a councillor and charity CEO from Stafford, Staffordshire. Sue Cawson, leader on education on the waterways from Audlem, Cheshire.

The North Wales & Borders waterway includes six contrasting canals and rivers and two magnificent visitor attractions – Anderton Boat Lift near Northwich and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World heritage site. Other highlights include the wildlife havens of the Montgomery and Shropshire Union Canals, the holiday hot spot of the Llangollen Canal and the historically significant River Weaver.

The waterway stretches from Ellesmere Port to Wolverhampton, Runcorn to Winsford, Llangollen to Nantwich and Frankton to Newtown in Powys on its way running through varied villages, towns and the city of Chester.

Partnership chair, Brenda Harvey explained: “Our area boasts some of the UK’s quietest and busiest stretches of the 2,000 mile canal network and some of its greatest treasures. I am delighted to welcome our new partnership members whose wealth of experience will be of great value.

“These are exciting times for our waterways and all the members of the North Wales and Borders Waterways Partnership look forward to working alongside the local management team to make the most of this important historical asset for the benefit of users, visitors and nearby communities.

“Our canal network really can be enjoyed by everyone whether they are a boating enthusiast, jogger, cyclist or just someone who enjoys being out in the fresh air.”

Chocolate Victoria Sponge

Ingredients (serves 8 people)

225g butter 225g caster sugar 4 eggs 175 self raising flour 50g cocoa powder

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees. Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl.

2. When light and fluffy, beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the flour and fold into the mixture. Next, add the cocoa powder and stir.

3. Divide mixture between 2 cake tins and bake in the oven for around 25-30 minutes. When they are done, cool on a wire rack.

4. We added butter cream to the middle which was butter, icing sugar, cocoa powder and melted chocolate. We then added just melted chocolate to the top of the cake.

NCCC Board of Directors 2014 / 2015

The Board

Chairman Garry Dockerty 01663 767810 chairman@nccc.uk.net

Company Secretary Pam Suggitt 0161 427 9906 secretary@nccc.uk.net

Finance Director Bill Jewsbury 07812 368887 finance@nccc.uk.net

Bar Director John Fenton 0161 998 0391 bar@nccc.uk.net

Land & Water Space

Director

Eric Roberts 01457 855929 landandwater@nccc.uk.net

Membership Services

Director

Pam Russell 0161 998 0391 membershipdir@nccc.uk.net

Premises Director Brian Bowker 01663 763595 premises@nccc.uk.net

Director without Portfolio Geoff Lamb 0161 483 7943 dwp@nccc.uk.net

Commodore

Edna Roberts 01457 855929 commodore@nccc.uk.net

Company Officials

Archivist John Suggitt 0161 427 9906 archivist@nccc.uk.net

Assn of Waterways

Cruising Clubs Rep

John Suggitt 0161 427 9906 awcc@nccc.uk.net

Ditchcrawler Editor Bernie Budworth 01925 764377 dc@nccc.uk.net

Food Safety Officer Janet Tattersall 01457 861085 Foodsafety@nccc.uk.net

Fundraising Co-ordinator Sheila Barlow 01663 765731 fundraising@nccc.uk.net

Health & Safety Officer George Griffin 0161 355 6830 health@nccc.uk.net

Kitchen Supervisor Pam Russell 0161 998 0391 kitchen@nccc.uk.net

Licensing Agent Jen Budworth 01925 764377 licenses@nccc.uk.net

Membership Secretary Pam Suggitt 0161 427 9906 membership@nccc.uk.net

Moorings Officer Bob Barlow 01663 765731 moorings@nccc.uk.net

Quartermaster Vacant

Web Master Garry Dockerty 01663 767810 postmaster@nccc.uk.net

Wharf Supdt. Brian Bowker 01663 763595 wharf@nccc.uk.net