October 2012 West Riding Branch

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People who help run the Branch 2012 / 2013

Chairman ( CM) Elaine Scott 3 Moorbank Drive Sheffield S10 5TH 0114 230 1870 07980 953880 elaine.scott@waterways.org.uk

Secretary ( CM) Ian Moore 2 Eric Street, Bramley Leeds LS13 1ET 07989 112581 westriding@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer ( CM) William Jowitt 35, Lowfield Crescent Silsden BD20 0QE 01535 657256

Membership Secretary (CM) Chris Pinder 152 High Street Yeadon Leeds LS19 7AB 01132 509371

NE&Yorks Region (CM) Peter Scott 3 Moorbank Drive Sheffield S10 5TH 0114 230 1870 peter.scott@waterways.org.uk

Minutes Secretary ( CM) Liz Pinder 152 High Street Yeadon Leeds LS19 7AB 01132 509371

Committee Member Mike Tucknott 4 Royds Avenue Birkenshaw Bradford BD11 2LD 07885 951099

Speaker Finders Katie & Alastair Sayles 32 Pymont Drive, Woodlesford, Leeds LS26 8WA. 0113 393 4517 kandal@btinternet.com

Telephone Contact Alastair Furniss 0113 253 9401

Badges, Stamps & Raffle Ellen & Ailsa Sayles

Front cover picture: The Humber sloop Amy Howson at Thwaite Mills

The views expressed in this publication are published as being of interest to our members and readers and are not necessarily those of

The Inland Waterways Association or of its West Riding Branch.

The Inland Waterways Association

Registered in England no 612245 Registered as a Charity No 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA

Tel: 01494 783453

http://www.waterways.org.uk

The Inland Waterways Association campaigns for the Conservation, Use, Maintenance, Restoration and Development of the Inland Waterways, which are part of our heritage, and are

there for the benefit of everyone.

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Chairman’s thoughts Hello all. I hope you all have had a good summer. Our three main highlights, all covered in later articles, were, the launch of the Canal and River Trust, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant and the Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering. Thanks to those who wrote articles (and for the Exocet!) I would particularly like to thank all the members who helped with setting up, taking down and running events at Thwaite’s: Mike Tucknott organised the boats and floating exhibits; Tim Field’s paper-bag- making-stall and Geoff Autry’s crazy golf were great entertainment .

Please put the date in your diary and tell your friends Elaine Scott, Branch Chairman

At our December meeting, in addition to the normal sales items,

we will have a bring and buy stall for any gifts you would like to

donate, canal related or not, to assist with your christmas gift

shopping.

Please bring your donations alnog. Any items not sold will be

used on the stall at events next year.

IWA Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering 2013

Leeds Waterfront Festival

Saturday/Sunday 29-30 June

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Let’s Be Open “We'll close the checkouts for a couple of hours on Friday afternoon, to make that painting job much easier: thems halfway-round with their shopping: they'll just have to wait. We'll say how sorry we are for the inconvenience” It wouldn't happen. The existence of a supermarket depends on customers going through the checkouts. Every layer of management just wouldn't willingly allow closure for five minutes, and certainly not for an hour or a day. If they did stop, maybe someone does have a list of today’s baked beans price, and a pocket calculator …

It is the essence of BW/CRT that it is a navigation authority: that's why we have it as a national body - and why IWA wants it to run more of the connected system by taking on EA waterways too. If there were no navigation, the public would be better off with locally-based duckpond management. As an organisation, CRT needs to be worried about public safety (as does the supermarket), about employing and retaining good people (adts ), about good environmental practice (adts), about contracting with suppliers (adts), about satisfying The Board, The Customers, The Government (adts) and about all those other important issues. Maybe it even needs its advertising strapline “keeping people nature & history connected” (adts with “Every Little Helps”).

CRT's Chief Executive Report to every TrusteeBoard meeting on safety incidents on the navigation is good practice. Even better, as well, to have a Chief Executive's Report on each incident of Navigation Closure , so that managers at all levels can be judged, and can make informed decisions, on how well they are achieving CRT's puprose of being a navigation authority. With our new spirit of co-operation let's invite them all to join a Let’s Be Open campaign: What Do We Want: Open Canals When Do We Want Them All The Time .

There are many challenges for the new CRT, with its 15-yr assured (but inadequate) public funding, with its commitment to volunteers and

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to recruiting 'supporters' to give it money. Among them is its inhertited culture of finding it easier to manage a closed canal than an open one, and using its ability to apply a padlock when it ought to be prioritising its main job and helping rather than hindering its navigation customers.

Maybe it was wholly unavoidable to close the checkouts (sorry) navigation on those days: and maybe I've missed a consultation somewhere when I had a chance to say I would prefer the navigation open and investigations done in winter alongside closures for necessary winter works. In the spirit of Let’s Be Open , the business case, the other options rejected, and later the ourtcomes all need to be published with that report to the Chief Executive on why his navigation responsibilities were relinquished and why his managers chose administrative convenience (even if cheaper) over customer service.

On this occasion, it wasn't us who were put off or inconvenienced by those particular stoppages: our trip on Fulbourne was on twelve (not continuous) days from Macclesfield to Manchester to Liverpool to HebdenBridge, and ten of the days we needed to work around CRT restrictions and stoppages. There were eight separate restrictions and we traversed five of them twice. Each could have its own article, and each deseves its own review on why it needs to be there at all, what effect it has on the use of the canal and the enjoyment of onlookers and boaters, and - at the basic level - how commitments to opening times can be met on time instead of an hour late.

- Peter Scott

“Stoppage: Rochdale Canal Lock 1 (Albert Wood) to Lock 3-4 (Tuel) Rochale Canal Wednesday 3 October 2012 - Friday 5 October 2012 As part of the Trust’s on-going investigation into improving water resources on the Rochdale canal, the Trust require to undertake a series of scientific measurements of the flows at the above lock between 17.00 on the 3rd October to 08.30 on the 5th October. In order to achieve this it is necessary to impose the [stoppage] in order that boat movements do not interfere with the equipment and lead to inaccurate results. ...Please follow instruction of the Trusts Staff and do not attempt to traffic through the Lock during the above times. “ which followed “Stoppage: Rochdale Canal Lock 17 (Oldroyd Lock) Monday 10 September 2012 - Tuesday 11 September 2012 As part of the trust’s ongoing investigation ...” and similarly Lock 1 (Tuel Lock), Lock 5 (Edward Kilner Lock) and Lock 49 (Upper Moss Lock) had stoppages on different days.

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VOYAGE OF WOOL BARGE ‘THE KENNET’ To celebrate the third year of HRH The Prince of Wales’ Campaign for Wool, The Kennet barge, built in 1947 and refurbished in 2012, was loaded with four bales of wool representing the Commonwealth countries that support the campaig n.

Explore the CALDON CANAL and the CHURNET VALLEY in the

STAFFORDSHIRE PEAK DISTRICT

Hazelhurst Holidays Self Catering Cottage & Day Boat Hire

Hazelhurst Cottage, Denford, nr Leek,

Staffordshire ST13 7JT 01538 385388

stable@hazelhurstcottage.co.uk

The Stable - fully equipped self catering cottage with one bedroom, sleeping 2/3 (double bed + single bed). On the edge of the Peak District and close to the market town of Leek, ideally situated for visiting steam railways, canals and potteries. Pub in easy walking distance. Occupants get discount on day boat hire. From £240 for full week. Short breaks also available. NB Joshua - day boat hire – 35ft ft day hire narrow boat which takes up to 10 people for self drive day trips. £80 to £100 weekdays, £100 to £120 weekends/bank hols.

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THE Launch As part of the co-ordinated national launch of the Canal and River Trust on 12 July, in the North East we gathered in Clarence Dock in Leeds. We watched videos of IanMcMillan reading his poem and PrinceCharles wishing us well, and listened to accounts of the long experience with BW that is now brought to the Trust. Across the country we were all nibbling different versions of a standard cake.

A major innovation in the new scheme of governance is the North East Partnership, which also includes our members David Lowe, Geraint Coles and Peter Scott. Here is Elaine Scott, branch Chairman, speaking with Mark Penny, the Partnership chairman

We had a short boat trip on the Aire and Calder Navigation from below Leeds Lock (No 1) through Lemonroyd Flood Lock, to the far end of Lemonroyd Cut, and back to the starting point. It emphasised the need for the partnership to be influential with both C&RT and the planners on how the Leeds waterfront is used for freight, for housing.and for developments in flood control. Peter Scott NE&Yorkshire Region Chairman and IWA National Trustee

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Before The Deluge "Locked Locks. Claydon Napton and Stoke Bruerne Locks have all been closed overnight recently because of a shortage of water. That such a situation could have arisen when we appear to have had such a wet summer is a matter for concern, even though the statistics tell us that the summer was not as wet as you or I might think. However merely padlocking locks at night is no answer to the problem and the Association has written to the British Waterways Board asking what proposals they have for resolvng this problem." This was John Dodwell writing in Waterways World, not this month, but in December 1972. Our boating that year had been in the North, with plentiful water: moving from the shortage areas was one of the suggestions that BW made when 2012 water shortages threatened. I agree with John's 40-years-ago criticism that padlocking locks is a poor response to the problem, and my modern reservations had that title "Before the Deluge". I remain unconvinced about pre-emptive closures to save water for later in the season. The first problem is the obvious one that it might rain, as it did to excess in 2012, and the inconvenience caused to early-season-navigators will have been for nothing. Then there's the reliance we can place on the statistics which suggest there might not be enough water: these are basically the rainfall over a long period and records of reservoir levels. There's a debate to be had on how statistically accurate is the prediction in April: "there is a 25% chance (or 50% or 75%) that some canals will have to be closed completely in mid-July (August, mid-August, September, October, etc) because of insufficient water to supply them". Clearly any influence of climate change towards a different weather pattern will make the historic data a less efficient predictor of the future. Exhortations to share locks and to save water are worthwile, as are suggestions to use watwerways away from the shortage areas. But once navigations are closed overnight - often reducing sixteen daylight boating hours to about eight and at the significant expense of sending people to do the padlocking each day - there is an uncertaintainty of being able to complete any journey. We once joined a (1976) lock queue that was more than a whole (shortened) day in length, and we would never had started out had we known. How many disrupted years - pre-emptive closures which turn out to be unnecessary – should we tolerate for each successful one – a pre-emptive closure which succeeds in ekeing out supplies? Let’s tell those statisticians before they want to do it again!

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What a shame , you missed it the walk in the Walton - Cold Hiendley Area

- including the canal and related features

On Monday 11 June 2012 six intrepid walkers (half and half from IWA and Barnsley, Dearne and Dove society) met at this sign in Walton. The walk started through a new housing estate aptly named Walton Locks, built on the line of the canal. Further along the path we could see the

remains of various locks: the path passes through one of the locks. As we went further the path becomes a towing path alongside the canal, which is a muddy dicth with lots of vegetation growing in the mud; it is still obviously a canal.

There are several bridges still in good condition along the canal, though outside the golf club a low level footbridge has been constructed. The walk continued following the route of the canal to Cold Hiendley Reservoir. The canal embankment formed part of the dam for the reservoir though it is hard to see any traces now.

The walk then continued up the feeder to the Wintersett reservoir where, until earier this year, there was the remains of a pumphouse. Much to the surprise of our local guides even these remains have now been demolished, presumably for saftey reasons, leaving a grassy bank. The walk returned to the New Inn via a partially different route. Once there, is was necessary to finish in the traditional manner by sampling the local brew. It was a very enjoyable evening – perhaps more people will be there to enjoy it next time. Elaine

Haw Park Bridge

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IWA THWAITE MILLS BOAT GATHERING

Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July saw the IWA’s Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering. Coinciding with the Leeds Waterfront Festival and Dragon Boat Spectacle, situated around Brewery Wharf and Clarence Dock in the centre of Leeds, the event made for an extremely enjoyable and action-packed weekend. For my partner Cathy and I, it was our first time

at Thwaite Mills as boaters, and we were a little unsure what to expect. To begin with, our Friday morning departure from Stanley Ferry Marina in Wakefield got off to a slow start, and it was after lunch time before we eventually set sail aboard our narrowboat Fool’s Wisdom for Leeds. As is often customary amongst cynics who rarely stray from the secure confines of the marina, advice on navigating the river section of our journey was never in short supply, with reminders of recent flooding, strong currents and ‘flashing red lights’. Wwe needn’t have worried, making our arranged Thwaite Mills mooring by six-thirty that evening. Thankfully, the weather had been kind to us too, allowing a relatively dry passage for most of the journey. When we reached Castleford Junction where the sharp left-hand turn delivers you onto the River Aire from the Calder, we were joined by the festival-bound Humber Sloop Amy Howson, on its way from Goole. We shared locks for the remainder of the journey, which allowed us a fascinating insight into the workings of this wonderful historic vessel. As we turned the corner I was reminded of an old guy I once knew, a native of Castleford, who amusingly ordered his choice tipple of a glass of mixed (half-a-pint of bitter and half of mild) as a pint of ‘Aire & Calder’. I often wonder how many pubs still acknowledge this local brew! Cathy does amazing things below deck with a lump of cheese, tomato and a loaf of bread. By the time we were tied up to a sturdy-looking tree, however, the promise of a BBQ in the Summer House was too much of a temptation. And I have to say, meeting our fellow festival-goers for the first time was as enjoyable as the food. The welcome we received was fantastic. And the weather was starting to look promising too. I stayed overnight at Clarence Dock during the festival weekend two years ago, and I have to say that of the two moorings, Thwaite Mills is by far the most enjoyable. It is more intimate than being in the city centre, and allows people to mix and mingle more easily on a more personal level.

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To be honest, I don’t remember a thing about returning to our cabin on Friday night, though I guess we must have done so as we were woken early the following morning by Red, my heavy Belgian shepherd, licking our faces to let us know she wanted out. I didn’t argue, and was up in time to enjoy the day, browsing the many stalls and trade stands in what was to be the last stretch of the reasonably good weather before the heavens opened again around tea-time. Still, Cathy had the chance to re-stock on locally made honey and re-familiarize herself with the intricacies of campanology while I reacquainted myself with friends manning the stand of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society. Saturday night was quiz night in the Summer House once again. Accompanied by drinks purchased from the supermarket we visited during a free ride out on the open-top, vintage shuttle bus service which ran at regular intervals between the two festival locations. We didn’t win the quiz – That particular accolade went to Michael and Sue Abson of Vulcan. The picture quiz part of the event, however, was a proverbial ‘stinker’. To name all those bridges that were scattered all around the entire system was too much of a tall order for yours truly. Should have named the one on the Pocklington Canal though, as we walked over it only a few months ago! Sunday was the day for us to turn Fool’s Wisdom around and head off back to Wakefield. As I took one last look around, The City of Leeds MG & Classic Car Club was gathering their proud exhibits together. Cars are another thing altogether, but I can understand the fascination when you see how beautifully restored some of these classic machines of yesteryear are. Proceeds from the motoring event were donated equally between Martin House Children’s Hospice and St. Gemma’s Hospice. With Cathy, once again, busying herself in the galley with her famous cheese toasties, I managed to dodge the rain, at least until we were back on the Calder. It was a wonderful gathering, in spite of the weather. See you all again next year. Phil Hammond & Cathy .

Report of the September meeting

Freight carrying by Inland Waterway

- the Way Forward by David Lowe

will be in the next edition of Milepost

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Dragon Boat Racing in Clarence Dock As part of the Leeds Waterfront Festival, Saturday 30th June was Dragon boat race day in Clarence Dock. For once the weather helped with only a few showers and the wind had eased off from the blow of the previous day. The races run the length of the whole dock with the bascule drawbridge lifted for the whole day.

There were over 20 teams taking part, consisting of 12 to 16 paddlers and a drummer. Teams had to decide whether bigger heavier teams were faster than a fewer-but-lighter crew. As they say the co-ordination of the paddlers is vital to the speed, or put another way, like many things in life it’s the rhythm that counts!

The races are organised by the company who supply the boats and the PA. Each team races three times and is effevctively competing against-the-clock as the fastest three teams race against each other in the final. As our boat was on the finish line the timekeeper spent the day sat on our back deck, we kept her happy by supplying tea and biscuits!

The majority of the teams were raising money for the charity of their choice and many were competing in fancy dress. I was busy writing down names for teams that suited their costume and not their official entry names but the ingenuity of the costumes was worthy of comment. There were teams of Cowboys including their side arms, Pirates with a couple of Johnny Depp- look-a-likes and even Vikings with suspect horns in their helmets. One crew turned out as the Ark, in two-by-two animal costumes with Noah on the drum. There was a group - possibly a hand - of bananas; even the steerer was in a banana costume; keeping to the botanical theme, a team in green tights, yellowed faces and a ring of petals around their faces cut quite a dash and were in the final. The team of Jimmy Savilles did not fix it into the final but looked resplendent in their flowing long and bleached wigs and their even longer Havana cigars. A singe, or whatever the collective noun for dragons might be, of green dragon put in a good time and the team of Royals put in a very competitive time.

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A team of more mature paddlers put in creditable time too, just being p.c., or empathising with their age group, being a “OAP” myself. Other boats were crewed by teams of people who were just having a great day on the water and raising money for their charity. The likely winning-team showed their paces early in the round-robin races and certainly had the rhythm sorted. They even managed to get in a bit of extra practice on the way back to the start line after their races. They were certainly there determined to win and not just to take part. They set a cracking pace and won by about half a boat’s length, with the Pirates coming in second by a dragon’s head from the flower power team. Whether by bad luck or design the drummer from the winning team managed to end up in the water, perhaps like the winning Cox in the Boat Race “helped in” by the rest of the team. But all the teams and spectators enjoy the day and showed great team spirit to their competitor after each race. I`m looking forward to the 2013 Waterfront Festival to enjoy the atmosphere and colour of this event.

Bill York – Swallow`s Nest – Clarence Dock

The first Canal and River Trust Annual meeting was in Birmingham on 27th September

The celebration of the successful creation and launch of the trust was overshaddowed by a challenge for the new organisation: the previous day a major breach of the Trent and Mersey closed the canal between Middlewich and Preston Brook, and first estimates suggest at least a £1.5m repair bill

The Trust website invites donations to an appeal, with the reassurance that CRT will use its contingency to urgently repair the canal, and donations will help maintain other planned works which might otherwise be cut back The Trent and Mersey Canal Society has contributed £1000 of the £7000 raised in the first week

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From Reiger at the boat gathering

Looking for a constructive purpose for a trip out in our barge Reiger we decided to attend the boat gathering at Thwaite Mills. Although our original application was to IWA we were eventually contacted by BW only 4 days beforehand to be advised we were to berth in Clarence Dock. This was after the Aire & Calder Navigation was reopened on 26th June as the flood locks had been closed following a period of heavy rain.

Our instructions were “you need to aim for the end of Clarence Dock on the right, opposite where the U-Boat is moored, please moor parallel to the dockside in order to leave space for the Dragon Boat Racing”. Clearly the suggestion to aim for the end was was a psychic understanding of my navigational skills. The presence of a U-Boat and a fleet of dragon boats did not give any more confidence in the safety of the mooring.

As it turned out we were the only boat from the Thwaite Mills gathering directed to Clarence Dock or certainly the only one to make it! On entering the Dock we found that the Foot Bridge allowing entry into the Commercial section (The Far End) had to be opened by Clarence Dock Property Company employees not BW.

This proved a slow process and we found ourselves being blown about the dock by the high winds on that day made much worse as they were channeled between the blocks of buildings surrounding the dock. One or two of the residential boat owners were certainly looking concerned as we closed in on them. Where we were instructed to moor needed a walk of a complete circuit of the dock on the very adequate pontoon before exiting up the ramp, if you could get by the U-Boat captain.

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As we wanted to partake in the barbecue organized by IWA on the Friday night and we were two miles from Thwaite Mill we had to find transport. With a serious lack of knowledge and information even in the Armouries I walked to the bus terminal having been given two different routes for this by Armouries staff. After suffering a long queue at the information desk the very helpful assistant advised me he would walk it but did offer the possibilities of an 110,140 or 189 from Hunslet Road. Deciding to use the bus as we left Clarence Dock we saw a taxi picking up a passenger and obtained a business card for the return journey.

The barbecue was organized by Elaine Scott with help from the boaters moored at Thwaite Mill and was very enjoyable and gave a good opportunity for us to get to know each other. Thanks to Ken Morrison for the quality of the ingredients! A mobile call to Amber Taxis resulted in a prompt response slightly confused by the fact that a gate on the road to Thwaite Mill had been closed and locked after we had entered. On Saturday morning Clarence Dock was a hive of activity as preparations were made for the start of the Dragon Boat Racing scheduled for 9.30am. It was clear that between Reiger and the U-Boat moored opposite each other we had created something of a chicane on the dragon boat race course. Having also been advised that I should be wearing a lifejacket to get to and from my boat by one of the over-zealous dragon boat officials we decided it was time to escape from Clarence Dock to the more placid surroundings of Thwaite Mill having established that there was space for us at there. We spoke to the Dragon Boat organizers and established a VHF communications link with them through Patch the skipper on Sobriety, which had arrived at Clarence Dock at midnight and moored next to the foot bridge. We slipped out after the third race.

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On Friday night at the barbecue we had met Mike Tucknott, (that rare creature, an IWA member and BW Volunteer) who was responsible for berthing at Thwaite Mills; we called to say we were on our way and he most helpfully opened the lock for us on the way down. Thwaite Mills was bustling with activity and Elaine, resplendent in Bonnet, Boots and Black skirt was all-action as she Bulldozed her way round the site. Meanwhile Peter her better/other half swan-ike serenely glided around, camera clutched to chest looking for that winning photo opportunity. We displayed the IWA East Riding banner on the side of Reiger and engaged several visitors in conversation and dispensed Pocklington Canal literature. There were displays and stalls from rope work to IWA. But the main attraction for visitors was the “Free Boat Trips” offered by my hero Les Moss and the Safe Anchor Trust who had four boats taking passengers for short trips and I understand the donations that went in the bucket on the landing gave a worthwhile return to the Safe Anchor coffers. We were fortunate enough to be shown over their latest Boat Safe Anchor Lady by Les which has incorporated many excellent features to accommodate handicapped people and wheelchair users. I felt for the Humber Keel and Sloop society who had made a considerable effort to get Amy Howson to Thwaite Mills and because they were past the Safe Anchor berth did not get the number of visitors they deserved. If at all possible the free trips should be furthest from the entrance to get visitors to pass all the other attractions. We had booked an evening meal at Mumtaz back at Clarence Dock but with the use of the ultra efficient Amber Taxis we were able to get there and back for the boaters Quiz organized once again by the redoubtable Elaine. The picture quiz of bridges, which had the hand of Peter all over it, proved to be testing to all present.

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Thwaite Mill in itself is well worth visiting being a water powered limestone grinding Mill with most of its machinery in place and a working forge. On Sunday the Boats were augmented by a large gathering of classic cars organized by the local car club. Altogether Thwaite Mill

was an enjoyable weekend, which we would be pleased to visit again if IWA West Riding decides to repeat it next year. It is to be hoped the weather will be better and the river navigation difficulties avoided, leading to more boats attending. Thanks and congratulations to Elaine, Peter and Mike for their hard work and the rest of IWA West Riding for their organization. PS Perhaps it is unfair to describe Elaine as a Bulldozer more an Exocet Missile, you can see her coming but you can’t get out of the way.

IWA Thwaites Mill Boat Gathering

2013

Leeds Waterfront Festival

Saturday/Sunday 29-30 June

More pictures available on the web site

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We went to London to see the Queen … and got a bit wet – a story of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant

At the end of the October meeting, before the last pint, ‘Are we applying for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant?’ . ‘We might as well, we’ve no other boating in early June, secretary can fill in form on line. Who wants another drink?’

As secretary of the group who own the Town Class Large Woolwich narrow boat Fulbourne, I filled in the form and we thought no more about it until January when an email said we had a place. This was the first of many, many megabytes of electronic communication with details of the Pageant and its arrangements. Safety With 1100 boats,it was to be the largest river pageant ever – and became a Guinness World Record. To achieve it, boat skippers would be unusually close to other boats, with danger of colliding; the related danger of someone falling into the river would cause chaos. Every boater needed a lifejacket, every boat had to have a sufficient anchor, firefighting equipment, and be able to bale out if needed. Security Everyone on the boats had to be registered two months in advance, and have their identity checked before being sent our 'Boarding Passes'. It all led to a slow build-up of ... Enthusiasm. There were lots of boating applications rejected by January 2012, and we on Fulbourne realised how keen other boats would be to have our space in the forty-narrowboat convoy. For us the build-up included an April-weekend escape from our closed-for-drought winter-moorings in Aylesbury, then a weekend rehearsal followed by the real event a week later. The three-hour pageant needed two-and-a-half additional days beforehand a day-and-a-half afterwards to put the boat in the correct starting position and then to disperse afterwards.

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Our two leisure activities – narrowboating and Change Ringing - somehow merged together with the idea that a new set of towerbells destined for the church of St James, Garlickhythe, London, should be temporarily mounted on a barge leading the Pageant, and rung while moving by an expert band from the Ancient Society of College Youths.

Was if worth it? The answer has to be a resounding YES. It was great to be part of such an historic event and I will never be able to wave to so many people again. The cold and the rain were badly timed, but overall it was a good boating experience.

Wonderful.

Elaine Scott Nb Fulbourne

Rehearsal of formation boating the weekend before – note the sunshine

Bring Back a Tea towel

Search the back of your kitchen drawers or bring back a

waterways related tea towel and donate it to the Branch. All

(new) tea towels gratefully received.

All donations to Elaine at the usual address or bring them

yourself to Thwaite Mills.

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Embroidered Pictures for Sale

As promised, here are the photos of the crossstich embroideries that will be on the stall at Christmas. They are all framed behind glass.

Offers welcome to elaine.scott@waterways.org.uk We also have three Lockmaster maps framed behind glass at £10 each The Four Counties Ring East Midlands Canals The Avon Ring

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A Message from our Stamp Collectors

Thank you for collecting stamps for us. Although we have not been able

to make our usual delivery to WRG, as there has not been a National

Rally, we will make arrangements this Autumn.

Please keep collecting stamps for us. We do like the unusal ones from

abroad. This summer we have collected our repaired dinghy from Exeter and

then had fun rowing and sailing her on Ullswater.

Ellen and Ailsa

Sayles

To All It is at this time of year that we start putting together talks for the 2013-14 season. We do appreciate ideas, suggestions and contacts for talks Whether you are able or unable to come to the meetings please put some thoughts together and let us know by telephone, letter or email as soon as you can.

Thank you.

Katy and Alastair Sayles 0113 393 4517 32 Pymont Drive, Woodlesford Email: kandal@btinternet.com

PS if you live in the Woodlesford area and are looking for a lift to meetings, we do have a space in our car for the outward trip: we normally leave for home at the coffee break.

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The 2012 IWA National AGM - Chelmsford

Had I entered for my GCSE resit? Well, no, but the videoscreen was still giving school messages not intended for us weekend interlopers at the IWA national AGM in King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford on 29 September. The facilities were excellent, and just under a hundred members attended - reflecting perhaps the location on an outpost of the waterways, even though it was close to IWA's own watrerway, the Chelmer and Blackwater.

Our morning session included a briefing from Alison Smedley, national Branch Support Officer, who has been assisting Branch towingpath projects around the country. These have already interested new people in IWA's work and raised our profile both on the bankside and in the local press. Jo Gilbertson reviewed our 'Who We Are And What We Campaign For' summary, included in the Annual Report and now available as a leaflet. At the AGM, the Annual Report was approved and the 2013 membership fees were agreed.

Gillian Smith was successful in the National Trustee election and joins Clive Henderson and Les Etheridge who were re-elected; 367 members particpated in the election. Clive Henderson had announced in Waterways that this this would be his last AGM as national chairman and Les Etheridge gave the valediction on behalf of the members present. Ian West summarised discussions for a National Festival in Cassiobury Park (Grand Union) probably during July 2013 as part of the celebration of London’s Waterways in 2013 to mark the re-opening of waterways around the Olympics area, highlighted by a boat gathering in the North Olympic Park when it opens to the public on 27 July.

The Cyril Styring Trophy, IWA's premier award was made to Dr Roger Squires above all for his patient diplomacy across 30 years in advancing IWA's causes for the inland waterways, on a national and international scene. A Richard Bird Medal was awarded to Stephen Scholes in recognition of his work with Festivals; Stephen is a member of West Riding Branch and we hope to present his medal at the October meeting.

Clive Henderson National Chairman giving his report

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Directions to South Pennine Boat Club – information from the web site http://www.southpennineboatclub.co.uk/

By Road : Follow the A644 from Junction 25 of the M62 towards Dewsbury and Wakefield. Just before the Pear Tree Inn , turn right over the bridge labelled Battyford Toll bridge. The SPBC is on the left, through the gates before the second Bridge Buses : The 278 from Wakefield, Dewsbury and Mirfield for Brighouse & Halifax, stops outside the Pear Tree Inn. The 278 Bus from Halifax and Brighouse for Mirfield, Dewsbury & Wakefield stops across the road from the Pear Tree Inn. Buses to Leeds & Huddersfield (203) or Bradford (253) run from Mirfield town centre. Trains : Mirfield Station is about 1 mile from the club on the Huddersfield Line. It provides direct connections to Manchester, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Leeds, Dewsbury and Wakefield. By Water : The SPBC is on the Calder & Hebble navigation by Battyeford Lock Taxi : Station Cars Tel 01924 490 444 Mirfield Cars Tel 01924 490 999 Central Cars Tel 01924 490 000

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Programme of Events for 2012- 2013

All meetings take place at 8pm on the second Friday of the month.n the clubhouse of the

South Pennine Boat Club , Wood Lane, Mirfield WF14 0ED.

2012 Friday 12th October Canal science, engineering and the Great Egg

Race part 2 Geoff Auty

Friday 9th November River Foss Society Peter Hopwood and John Millett

Friday 14th December Christmas Social with quiz and members’ pictures

2013

Friday 11th January The Adventures of Fulbourne – part 2

David Mack

Friday 8th February BOCM barge traffic on the Yorkshire Ouse 1937-87 by David Lewis and Laurie Dews

Friday 8th March World War II – boatwomen

Mike Constable

Friday 12th April Branch AGM Followed by members slides

Talks arranged by Alastair and Katy Sayles, 32 Pymont Drive, Woodlesford, Leeds LS26 8WA. Tel: 0113 393 4517 email: kandal@btinternet.com All the meetings organised by the West Riding Branch are Open and everyone is invited. We are delighted to welcome any member of the general public and members are encouraged to bring their friends. To find out more about the waterways or the IWA come and join us at one of our meetings or visit the website http://www.waterways.org.uk