Waterwitch Autumn 2009

Autumn 2009 Edition

WATERWITCH MAGAZINE OF THE

LANCASTER CANAL TRUST

Number 141

The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No.24O957

Affiliated to the Inland Waterways Association Ltd.)

http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk/

2

The Westmorland Show at Crooklands took place on a glorious September day

and Trust volunteers had a busy day speaking to the many people who came to

see us at the stand and providing free trip boat rides throughout the day.

3

Front cover picture:

Waterwitch being lifted out at Crooklands Depot ready for a complete

overhaul and repainting.

Contents

Letter from the Editor 3

Chairman's Report 4

Volunteer Awards 6

Pendle Canal Festival 8

School Project Dallas Road School 10

Hello to new members. 11

Torchlight Procession– Kendal 13

Fuelling Stops on the Lanky 15

Paintings & memories of the Lancaster Canal 16

Boat Operation Manager‘s notes 18

―It just came off in my hand‖ 21

Hincaster horsepath—John Gavan 23

Helen‘s Puzzles 24

Working Party report 26

Members Letters 27

BW ‗an irreverent look ‗by John Gavan 29

Heritage Open Day—Lune Aqueduct. 31

Letter from the Editor

Dear Members Autumn Edition 2009

I am sorry this edition is a few weeks late due to my late holiday & my annual

involvement in the Kendal CAMRA Beer Festival. This is a packed edition and I have

had to leave out some articles and précis others. Maybe room for them next time.

At this time of the year there is much to report regarding the proliferation of events

& shows. This has meant that apart from the Chairman’s Report there is little on the

future progression of the Canal Restoration. As David says we will hopefully have

more concrete things to report in the next issue and will therefore devote more

space at that time. It is nice to get a few letters each time and these can often

provoke others to respond. If you have anything you want to say to other members

then please write.

As you may be aware, the Trust, under the expert guidance of Mike & Fran Valiant,

has very recently established an electronic news page available on the internet which

gives up-to-date news and events relating to all things Waterways. We do not see

this as usurping the traditional hardcopy Waterwitch, which it is nice to be able pick

up as and when. Rather the new electronic news page is a very useful tool for

keeping members quickly informed of current events as they happen rather than

waiting for news every three months. However. this Magazine is well established and

long may it reign. I hope you enjoy this edition. Regards and a very happy Christmas

time. David Currington.

4

U nfortunately we didn‟t win

best non-commercial

stand for the second year

running at the IWA National

Festival; the judges felt they

couldn‟t give it to us two years in

succession (you could you

know!). Never mind – we didn‟t

go there to win prizes but to win

hearts and I believe we did that

as I know several of you will be

reading this as new members

from the show. Many thanks to

Paul Shaw who was one of the

many volunteers from Waterway

Recovery Group who set up,

took down and kept the Festival

running smoothly, but who also

took most of our „kit‟ down (and

brought back), saving us a lot of

work. Pat & Gordon‟s new

caravan got its first test as LCT

„HQ‟ – it was nice to be able to

go back to the caravan after the

show had closed for the day and

have a wash with hot water and

the „après show‟ social (we did

get the „barbie‟ to light

eventually!)

Attending this event offers us

the opportunity to promote the

restoration to the wider

audience. I am always amazed

how much interest there is in the

Lancaster elsewhere in the

country, but of course, now that

we have the Ribble Link it is

being visited by increasing

numbers of boats f rom

elsewhere on the system – all

grist to our mill! But it also

provides the opportunity to meet

with and show the movers and

shakers in IWA what we are

about up here in North West and

being able to chat to Vaughan

Welch from IWA Restoration

Committee and Mike Palmer,

Chairman of Waterway Recovery

Group has sown seeds for the

future. The team are looking

forward to next year‟s event on

the Thames at Beale Park (aren‟t

they?).

Only a few days later we were

back at Crooklands for the

Westmorland County Show -

which was manic! Any ideas

about trying to record numbers

visiting the stand were soon

dispelled as the stand was

swamped with visitors, while up

on the canal the trip boaters

were kept busy throughout the

day. Other events we have

attended since the last issue of

this magazine have been the

Preston Riversway Festival and

Pendle Canal Festival and we

have had the „Waterwitch‟s Brew‟

once a month in Levens Park.

There may be reports of these

elsewhere so I won‟t repeat

them here, except to say thank

you to all those who have helped

with not only the stand at the

various shows, but also at

Levens and with the trip boat

this summer. Not that we will be

hibernating this winter – we

have a long list of jobs for the

„dirty weekenders‟ to do (and

(Continued on page 5)

Chairman‟s Remarks

5

hopefully for some dirty

midweekers as well!).

One question we are frequently

asked on the stand and

elsewhere is “When wi l l

restoration start?” Various start

dates have been quoted over the

years, which, with the benefit of

hindsight, were unrealistic, but

no doubt stated in good faith

given the circumstances at the

time. The world has moved on

and much has changed, but

there is no doubt about the

sense of frustration the public,

as well as ourselves, feel over

the apparent lack of movement

in getting stage 1 off the ground.

Our concerns were voiced most

vociferously at the last meeting

of the Lancaster Canal

Restoration Partnership‟s (LCRP)

Executive meeting. The answers

we received satisfied us that the

movers and shakers in the local

authorities are doing what they

can to move the project forward

– but that there are many other

issues which impact on the

regeneration and the rebuild of

the canal in Kendal – and until

these are resolved the project is

log jammed!

The Committee have conducted

the affairs of the Trust on the

basis that stage 1 would move

ahead rapidly. This is unlikely to

happen as quickly as we would

wish. Accordingly the Committee

have decided that, whilst the

work on turning stage 1 into

reality continues, it is time for a

„second front‟. Accordingly the

Committee have committed the

Trust to a project to raise the

water level in the canal to what

it was in the late 40‟s from

Stainton south and to rebuild the

first culvert at Millness, a project

which has the support of the

LCRP.

When you say it quickly it

doesn‟t sound much; but in

reality it is a massive project and

wi l l requ i re eng ineer ing

assessments to establish what

remedial work is required to

make the banks above the

present water level watertight

once again. It will have to be

done in stages and this may

require work to reinstate the

feed from Stainton Beck. Then

there is the question of how the

work is executed: using

contractors, or can it be done by

volunteers? Finally, the cost of it

and how this money can be

found. These questions will be

occupying the minds of the

Committee over the winter.

Along with this the Committee

feel it is time we conducted a

review of how we operate, what

we do and are we using our

funds in the most effective way.

Hopefully, by the time the next

edition comes out, we will have a

blueprint for the future.

I am pleased to say that work

on „LCT HQ‟ is complete.

Pointing, using traditional

materials, of the exterior of the

building has been completed.

Members will recall that earlier in

the yea r we emp loyed

(Continued from page 4)


6

ACHIEVEMENTS OF VOLUNTEERS IN

NORTH WEST CELEBRATED BY BRITISH

WATERWAYS

British Waterways is celebrating the importance of volunteers to North West

canals and rivers by recognising those involved with volunteer projects. The

Lancaster Canal Trust has dramatically benefited the region‟s waterways over

the past 12 months.

Volunteering plays a vital role in British Waterways‟ duty to maintain and

protect the 2,200 miles of inland canals and rivers it cares for. Once a year, it

celebrates the contribution of volunteers by presenting an “acknowledgement”

award to ten projects that have illustrated the successful partnership between

volunteer groups and the waterways.

In the North West the Lancaster Canal Trust was chosen for its work to help

restore the Hincaster Horse Tunnel on the Lancaster Canal and developing the

safety management systems and becoming self sufficient.

LCT Chairman David Slater receives the Award from Vince Moran, BW’s

Finance Director, at the User Group Meeting on 14th October.

7

Vince Moran, BW's Finance Director presented the Trust‟s Chairman David

Slater with their award at the Lancaster Canal and Leeds & Liverpool user

group meeting on 14th October.

Last year British Waterways was involved with volunteer-led projects that

contributed 15,994 volunteer days to the promotion and upkeep of the

waterways worth in excess of £1 million.

Debbie Lumb, comments: “The waterways have a long history of volunteering

and the actions of these groups and individuals are still central to the delivery

of physical works, customer service, research and promotional activities. We

are delighted that people in North West are making the choice to volunteer and

put something back into the community in these tough times. The Lancaster

Canal Trust has done a fantastic job caring for and promoting the waterways

and this deserves to be celebrated. They are a great example of what

volunteering can achieve, and we are proud to be associated with them.”

Statement issued by British Waterway’s press office


I refused to put a caption on this photo sent in by our worthy Chairman other than the

one he gave above. He’ll be in enough trouble when ‘Her indoors’ ‘sees it .

Another of Sheila's amazing talents as she handles a 10 ton steam roller with ease!

8

This year‟s Pendle Canal F e s t i v a l w a s

altogether a much grander affair than on our previous attendance twelve months ago. Lots more stalls, more entertainment attractions, bigger attendance – this event seems to be growing in popularity since it moved to Reedley Marina in September 2008. Amongst the highlights this year were the Leeds&Liverpool short boat floating museum Kennet and „have-a-go-at-canoeing‟, which provoked a num be r o f dodgem s - l i k e

manoeuvres across the basin! Berth holders at the marina had decorated their craft with bunting and there was a distinctly carnival atmosphere.

We were blessed with glorious weather and a good location for our stand and well before the official start time of midday we were talking to visitors and making sales. We had 112 visitors in total to the stall, most of whom were local folk enjoying a day out at the Barden Mill/Reedley Marina


Pendle Canal Festival

9

complex, but we also spoke to a number of boaters who had crossed the Ribble Link or were planning to do so and a sprinkling of walkers and cyclists. The question on everyone‟s lips was “When will we see progress on getting the canal in water back up to Kendal?” We reassured them that it was a question of “when” rather than “if” and hopefully sent them all away feeling more positive about the achievement of our goal. Our colleagues on the adjoining IWA stall, Ruth Symonds and Madeline Dean, were also promoting our cause with their ever-popular tombola and sales tables.

The LCT team of Beryl Bowcott, Mike and Fran Valiant were kept busy right up until the close at 5 pm.

An illuminated boat parade into Burnley town centre was scheduled for later in the evening but in the event only a few stalwarts turned out for this. The festival was part of a wider Heritage Open Days weekend; on the Sunday we went to see the

looms at the Queen Street Mill in operation and this is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Our thanks t o f e s t i v a l o r g a n i s e r Vaughan Jones; we‟re looking forward to an even bigger and better event next year.

FV


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Dallas Road Community Primary

School in Lancaster recently

contacted us via the website asking

for assistance with the project on

the Lancaster Canal being done by

their Year 5 pupils.

The Trust responded by sending

Dave Slater to talk to the teacher

and provide some background

material, followed by Richard

Trevitt who gave a talk to two Year

5 classes, accompanied them on a

canal side walk to the Lune

Aqueduct and went to the

Lancaster Maritime Museum with

them.

At the museum we saw the

permanent canal exhibits and the

newly opened temporary exhibition

‘Water Link - Lancaster Canal, Past,

Present and Future’.

A crocodile on the Lancaster Canal? No, it’s just 60 Year 5 pupils from Dallas Road School on their way to visit the Lune Aqueduct

Dallas Road Community Primary School

11

Hello! The Lancaster Canal Trust extends a very warm welcome to the following

new members and we hope to see you at some of our events:

Mr ST Boddington, Macclesfield

Mr T Berridge, Chesterfield

Ms C Ashcroft, Wigan

Mrs M Noblet, Penwortham

Mrs M Hulme, Penwortham

Dr & Mrs P Wraight, Staveley

Mrs D Penny, High Casterton

Mrs T Briggs, Carnforth

Mr A Jackson, Carlisle

Mr & Mrs D Hannigan, Blackpool

Mr & Mrs T Jones, Lancaster

Mrs D Potts & David North

Sherburn - in - Elmet Mr C Jones, Kendal

Mr & Mrs F Oliver, Brackley

Mr R C Mansley, Kendal

Mr & Mrs P Jones, Kendal

Mrs & Mrs C Jones, Carnforth

Mr & Mrs J Miller, Ulverston

contractors to dredge the canal

up to the wharf wall to provide a

winter mooring for „Waterwitch‟.

Geoff and Richard have installed

mooring rings and on the

completion of the cruising

season, she was brought down

to Millness, then on 1st October

she was lifted out, the first time

in seven years! I have to say

that this is long overdue, not

helped by the protracted

negotiations with BW to gain a

lease on what was in effect, a

derelict building. However, we

have got there and we will have

the hull ultrasonically tested to

assess its integrity.

Finally, although we didn‟t win

an award at the IWA National,

our work has been recognised by

the efforts of Paul, David and

Richard. Details elsewhere.


Towpath Talk Issue 48 (September) carries a long article on the Basingstoke WRG

camp earlier in the year run by Paul Shaw. If you can't pick up a copy it should be available online shortly although they are currently displaying

Issue 47. Go to Page 4.

Paul is extensively quoted such that you could almost believe he knows what he's talking about! Mike Valiant.

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LCT Events Diary

Little seems to be happening in the run up to and in the immediate post Christmas periods. So just a reminder of the Working Party dates

Sunday 13th December 2009 Ivy clearance / prep for WRG visit

Sunday 10th January 2010 Joint party with WRG at Tewitfield

Sunday 14th February 2010 TBA

100 Club Prizes: 1st £25; 2nd £15; 3rd £10. Winning Numbers since last Issue

August 2009 1st Hal Bagot; 2nd Blank; 3rd Blank.

September 2009 1st Blank; 2nd A Seed; 3rd S Henstock October 2009 1st W Stock; 2nd H Thomas; 3rd A Hornby

Friends of Lancaster Maritime Museum have invited LCT

members to join them on their next outing on Sat. 17th July 2010.

They are to visit the Salt Museum at Northwich in the morning and

The Anderton Boat Lift in the afternoon.

Cost is £25 per person to include:

Coach Travel,

Entry to Museum;

Entry to Anderton Lift Exhibition

A sail on the River Weaver

A trip on the Lift

AND morning coffee & afternoon tea

£10 deposit per person or

further information to:

JK Broadhurst, Seatoller,

Vicarage Lane, Burton in Kendal, LA6 1NW

(01524) 781604

13

As a novice at this sort of thing

it was all quite an interesting

experience. There were two entries for

the Lancaster Canal Restoration

Partnersh ip . .

ourselves as the

LCT put in a boat

… yes .. we did

get a boat to the

centre of Kendal ..

courtesy of Neil

McGarry who

kindly brought

along his Caraboat.

H a l B a g o t

contributed his

steam powered

wagon driven by

the redoubtable

"Curious" George -

ably assisted by

S t e v e ( w h o

m i r a c u l o u s l y

produced fish and chips just before the

parade started ..). The Trust was very

capably represented by Ken and Mandy

Aldred, Paul Shaw and myself. South

Lakeland District Cllr Andy Shine also

appeared (quite unsuitably dressed but

willingly donned an LCT sweatshirt) and

mention must be made of Ben McGarry

who was an expert (eventually) on the

illuminations for the Caraboat …so we

had mustered a crew of 8 altogether -

our entries were numbered 89 and 91

respectively.

Assembly time was 6.30 pm and there

was much coming and going with people

in pink fluffy tutus and leggings, purple

glitter and rather large amounts of eye

shadow and mascara…(and some of

these were fellas …). I was informed

that they were probably associated with

the parade and were not the ordinary

citizens of Kendal out for an evening

stroll. By 7 pm the Caraboat was lit up

and the wagon had a good head of steam

going - assisted by the water tender

which had appeared and which was to

follow on behind… the steam engine

gets round about half way and then has

to fill up with water I was told.

So we were all set to go a good half an

hour before the official "off". There was


Kendal

Torchlight

Parade September 11th

2009

14

an inkling that things might not all be well

when we noticed the pink stretch limo

behind us sporting number 144 and

behind that an old omnibus sporting 29.

However, low key was the order of the

evening and the weather forecast was

good - so we were all quite laid back. By

7.30 an awesome parade of tractors

began moving off across the bridge ahead

of us toward the roundabout which was

the start of the parade - and we waited

for our turn … two small steam

locomotives (numbered in the low 80's)

were waiting just before the roundabout

- in readiness .. we then had the nod and

were advised to move forward at about

7.40. Steam engines are such that

stopping and starting is not their natural

function so when advised to go (by the

marshals who had phones glued to their

upper lip) and the police (who had

similar appendages pinned to their lapels)

George let rip and was off across the

roundabout and joined the parade - at

number 89 … Neil followed on

(numbered 91) … closely followed by

the water tender (towed by a very smart

new tractor)..

However, as Neil got to the roundabout

he was stopped by a very efficient police

officer and one of the marshals came up

to advise the they were "just" letting the

horses through - beautiful heavy horses,

some without carriages, but all sporting

wonderful decorations and bells.

Magnificent. Whilst waiting for those to

go through we were told they were

also letting the motor bikes through

… about 30 Harley Davidson’s

exhibiting an unhealthy investment in

metal polish and defying health and

safety with ear splitting 100+ decibels

- but wonderful nonetheless … and

then "just" the cadets …which was

actually a marching band with a

display of the latest models of Jaguar

cars intervening … We were now, of

course at least 400 to 500 yards

behind the steam engine which was

roaring through Kendal as fast as Steve

could stoke up … At last we got the go

ahead but not until there was a large gap

ahead of us. Kept back at walking pace

by the Police and parade marshals we

were not likely to catch up with the

"intervening" exhibits let alone

George and Steve.

Thankfully, the crowds did not

seem to mind ... and there were

thousands of them ... the length of

the walk would have been about 3

miles and along each foot there

were people in huge numbers,

cheering, waving lighted wands,

windmills and other fripperies



15

which were for sale from trolleys pacing

the route (they must have made a

fortune that night. We got back to the

starting point at about 9.15 and

dismantled the lights on the Caraboat ...

no sign of George and Steve who had

gone back to Levens - hopefully

eventually followed by the water tender.

The reckoning was that it had been a

good night ... we had given out thousands

of leaflets advertising the trips on

Waterwitch, the Signpost Trail, the Trust

and the Partnership. There had been

great interest in restoration of the

Northern Reaches and of course with all

the little ones around, trips on the boat

were something to look forward to.

A good effort all round … anyone

interested can look at the parade on

YouTube "40th Torchlight Parade".

There are several views of the steam

wagon and if you look v e r y carefully

Neil's Caraboat appears for about one

jillionth of a second in the middle

somewhere .

So now we can start planning for next

year's entry … perhaps a JCB sporting a

large bucket drawn through on a low

loader with the prominent LCT logo to

advertise that we have started digging

out the Northern Reaches (now

wouldn’t that be good?

Pmb/sept 09


M oving towards the northern end of the

open Canal, I visited the Canal Turn

pub alongside the canal basin in Carnforth.

This is a Punch Taverns inn and the real ales

on offer were Greene King Abbott Ale, Black

Sheep Bitter and Speckled Hen. Sampling a

half pint, the beer was on good form and the

pub does have its Cask Marque award.

Consisting mainly of one long bar area with a

conservatory extension exploiting the views

of the actual basin, the pub serves the usual

comprehensive food we now expect in our

pubs, with a selection to suit all tastes.

There is a quiz held on Tuesday’s at 9.30pm.

More of the pub I cannot say as, regretfully,

on asking to speak to the current landlord to

find some history of the Pub and any other

points of interest, I waited for some time only

to be told, when he did appear, that he could

only find time to speak if I made an

appointment and came back. Not the most

helpful of pub landlords to someone who is

indirectly trying to give the pub free publicity. I

hope this doesn’t reflect on the service one

would normally expect in the pub, as the lady

behind the bar was extremely helpful!

Titus O’Newt

Fuelling Stops on the Lanky

2. Canal Turn, Carnforth

16

W hen the packet boat started from Canal Head it was pulled

by two large heavy ponies in tandem. I have drawn a small coloured sketch to show how the boy or young man drove the front horse sitting astride the one behind. As you can see, this was a

perilous occupation... the horses would travel at about eight miles an hour. It was a risky task to duck under the arches I have tried it, you cannot take your eyes from the stone work for one moment otherwise you will end up with a monstrous great headache. The inside of the packet boat must have been rather crowded and smelly in the

cheaper end but the ‘posh’ end would be slightly better; it must have been a fantastic mode of travel, fast before the trains and smooth.

About thirty years ago the water authorities dredged part of the canal round about the Stainton area to clear

t h e

mud from the bottom & interesting artefacts started to appear: empty shells about four inches long, which I thought must have been thrown out of the barges after they had been eaten, but later on I came across one or two that were alive. They were some sort of fresh water clams. There were also


A few more paintings and memories of Lancaster Canal By Ian Dunn B.A. A.T.D.

17

large blocks of coal about one and a half foot square which must have dropped off the barges going to the gas works or to domestic dealers on the canal side (these lumps of coal soon vanished by the way)....On the banks of the canal at Stainton a pair of swans used to nest, not on the tow path side

but in the r o u g h e r n o r t h bank. The male swan could be q u i t e aggressive if you stood and looked at the nest from the other side

o f

the canal when we were trying to work out how to get an egg, we never did get one.

As the barges approached Canal Head at Kendal the tow path changed from the left of the canal to the right side at the cross over bridge. I have painted a picture to try and give some idea of the way in which the tow rope was not disconnected ,but slid over the parapet of the bridge. This called for some dexterity with perhaps a wayward horse or dealing with any snags onto the bridge This bridge has been consolidated in the last few years and is now in excellent order so that future generations can admire the design and artistry of the nineteenth century. Near this bridge were some coke ovens. They have been obliterated, I think, now.

Ian Dunn


Change Bridge

Inside a Packet Boat

18

A hectic 2009 - lots of change that the boat team have had to

soak up and they have done this well. Next year will, I hope complete most of the changes, making us compliant with the new regulations. I know all the Trust members work hard, but I have to take my hat off to the boat crews and of course the boat operations sub committee. Some of the changes have needed volunteers to behave like paid employees; delivering on time to set

standards. That’s what regulations are about. It is especially difficult when our volunteers are on rota perhaps 5 times per year! How to remember the changes, and how to let people know about changes that have happened since they were on the boat last time

and how to remind them without nagging? Our micro training sessions aim to remind, refresh, update and ‘upskill’ our crews and this happens every week – so when crews assemble, the duty manager selects a micro training module that is essential to the safe running of the boat e.g lifejackets – how many parts are there that you need to know about before putting it on, or when you use it for real? Answer - at the end (don’t look yet).

The recruiting of new boat volunteers is going well – we need more, of course, but we have had 5 newly assessed steerers, one new shore crew, and circa 6 others who are being inducted (without a boat at present). That’s a lot of training to be delivered, by a few

people. So we need more people to volunteer to step up and become approved trainers – contact Frank Chalmers on 07973112046. Being a passenger


“On an even keel” Waterwitch Ops Managers notes.

Ann Sullivan, Alan Mather & Gillian Petfield

19

vessel steerer is a very responsible job and we need serious volunteers to do

this enjoyable work. Training steerers before and after assessment is a teaching job and has the benefits of seeing your colleagues pass their tests to become novice steerers, able to be put on the rota. The boat teams now look like this:- 13 steerers who have several seasons under their belt, 5 newly assessed steerers who qualified in September 2009, and approx 6 to be inducted. Our newly qualified steerers are – Ann Sullivan, Gillian Petfield, Chris Jones, Peter Simmonds and Stephen Hesford – are all most welcome. We should be able to have an early spring group for assessment depending on the experience of new inductees. Captain John Huntington, who could not be assessed in September, should I hope be part of the next assessment group. That would give us a minimum of 19 steerers to begin the 2010 season in the smart new Waterwitch. Don’t forget

– if you have previously been a steerer, before regulation – coming back and learning the new ropes should not be

difficult – some of this year’s new steerers have started from scratch. The boat also has needed TLC and is now receiving a major refit covering; grit blasting the hull inside and out ( b en che s a nd woodwork all out), painting the bare metal with red oxide,

ultrasonic tests by John Murray our very helpful Marine Surveyor (ret.),

many coats of paint to keep the hull safe for years to come,

engine out – part dismantling by Neil McGarry, then reassemble and painted,

new stern gland and any other servicing the boat needs.

Waterwitch was lifted out with seeming ease, arranged by Trish Buzzard, and set down on huge tyres, one on top of the other, four columns – the boat on top some 5 feet above the ground. Once the hull is treated the decorative painting of the cabin will continue with the boat lowered on to just one tyre (these tyres weigh approximately 1 tonne each). The Waterwitch is a well built boat that has years of service left in her. In future, passengers will be enjoying trips



Gillian steering with a motley crew

20

in Waterwitch from Crook lands to Kendal – soon we hope. Waterwitch and I would like to thank Alan Mather, Trish Buzza rd , Ne i l McGarry who have worked their socks off. Apologies to those at home who

have not seen them for some time… Frank Chalmers .Answer – 5 main parts,

the CO2 cylinder, the jerk toggle, the manual inflation

tube, the whistle and

importantly

2 green sa f e t y indicators on the CO2 cylinder. our steerers & crew wear these.


Below: Stephen Hesford Where’s that jetty?

Top: Peter Simmonds steady as she goes Left: Wendy, Alan and Chris Jones looking very pleased with himself!

21

O n the 26th September we were all set

to have our trainees assessed by

Wendy Beamont. She comes all the way

from Oxford and assesses our new steerers

according to the IWA/ MCA criteria. We

assembled at the Memorial Hall near

Crooklands (for the first time), opposite

Trust Member Frank Sanderson’s new Tea

rooms and Wendy acquainted us with the

basics of First Aid, CPR and other sensible

things. The trainees get quite nervous,

thinking about the forthcoming tests on the

boat. After tea at Frank’s, we all went to the

Stables and the first steerer boarded the

Waterwitch.

Prior to this, on Friday, Wendy had assessed

and passed Chris Jones and Peter Simmonds

and was all set to give a longer time to

steerers who were likely to need both

training and assessment.

Gillian Petfield was questioned and she took

the helm. Wendy, Alan and Gillian were out

for more than an hour, and came back, tied

up and she was given approval. Ann’s turn.

Ann set off and probably did the same

things – stern off, hold in midstream,

reverse through a bridge, bank turns, and

other assessed manoeuvres. Then it was

time to return, and just as the boat was near

the jetty – there was the cry “Alan, what

shall I do now”. Ann stood there at the

helm, with the throttle handle in her hand

and the engine in slow reverse.

Steven who was waiting as last assessed

steerer for the day wondered if he was to

be assessed at all. It increased the tension

for him. The boat was hauled back on ropes

and poles and the damage considered.

Boaters are naturally creative, lateral

thinkers with “never say die” resilience.

Tool kits were up ended looking for that bit

of something that was kept “in case it came

in handy” and lo and behold – an old trusty

bicycle tyre lever and a jubilee clip + throttle

handle = boat back in operation.

Steven did his assessment (rather carefully

on the throttle) and Ann watched with

trepidation to see if the handle came off

again. Ann will receive a special certificate

to remind her of the day she broke the boat

(in jest).

Everyone passed the assessment and the

patch mend lasted until the boat was lifted

high out of the water. Thanks to Peter

Simmonds, who now has his tyre lever back

and congratulations to the new steerers –

Ann Sullivan, Peter Simmonds, Gillian

Petfield, Chris Jones, and Steven Hesford.

FC

That’s

Ann

Sullivan’s

story

anyway!

It just came off

in my hand!

22

The things we get up to - Part 2 The Lift out of Waterwitch

We have a cunning plan!

Steady as she goes.

Left & Below Every picture tells a story. So do these two! (Cartoon conveniently found in archives; what was it for then?)

Anon

By Jove we’ve done it!

23

I n the mid 70‟s I was Trust

Secretary and „Waterwitch‟

editor. Whilst walking the Northern

Reaches I was surprised to find

scaffolding had been erected inside

Hincaster Tunnel, for nearly half its

length, allowing me to walk inside

the tunnel well above the dewatered

but very muddy tunnel invert.

Enquiring as to the reason for the

scaffolding suddenly appearing it was

revealed that BW and British Rail

were concerned about the structural

safety of the tunnel. BR were

experimenting with a high speed

tilting train; the APT, on the West

Coast line which as you will know,

runs directly over the tunnel – and

were concerned it might collapse. It

was even suggested the tunnel should

be filled in!

I penned a short article for

„Waterwitch‟ saying that the reason

for the scaffolding was that BW were

anxious for tourists to visit the tunnel

and had erected the scaffolding so

they could look inside. This was

picked up by the „Lancaster

Guardian‟ and „Westmorland

Gazette‟ which reprinted the article as

fact! What BW thought of it I do not

know, but nothing was ever said.

Shortly after this, the Trust had the

offer of assistance on a practical

project from a platoon of Royal

Engineers. They spent a week

cleaning the portals of the tunnel,

staying at the then recently closed

Bela River Prison. The Trust

provided them with a barrel of beer

from one of the two Lancaster

breweries that existed at the time –

both alas, no longer with us, and on

their final night in Westmorland,

myself and David Slater enjoyed their

hospitality at a raucous evening at

one of Milnthorpe‟s hostelries.

On completion of the work we had

t h e t u n n e l p r o f e s s i o n a l l y

photographed, and the pictures sent to

the Environment Agency with a

request that the tunnel be listed.

Unbeknown to us the EA sent an

inspector to look at the tunnel. The

result was that although the tunnel

was not considered worthy of listing,

the portals were. However the biggest

surprise was that the inspector had

decided that the horsepath should

receive Ancient Monument status. – a

most unexpected result! It was

suggested to South Lakeland District

Council that a notice board be

erected, drawing attention to the

Horsepath – but it didn‟t want to

know. Some years later the matter has

been rectified as the Trust arranged

for information panels to be made and

sited at either end of the tunnel. A

plaque was then erected by BW at the

west portal stating, incorrectly, that

the tunnel is an Ancient Monument!

Designating the horsepath as an


Hincaster Horsepath How an ancient monument was created. John Gavan recalls.

24

Helen’s Word Puzzle No.2

20 Fair

30 Good

35 Excellent

40+ Champion

A Y W

T E

A

R S W

All words can be found in the

Collins English dictionary. Answers

the next edition. ED.

There is one 9 letter plural

word in the square.

See how many other words you can find of four or more

letters. All words must use

the central letter (E). Each

letter can only be used as

many times as it is in the

square. Apart from the 9

letter word, which is plural &

canal related, then no proper

names, plurals, adding an "s" to

make the 3rd person singular of

a verb, foreign words or

abbreviations are allowed.

Helen’s Word Puzzle No.1

Answers acer, ache, acne, acre, antic, arch, artic, asthenic, cairn, cane, canister, canst, cant, care,

caret, carnet, cart, case, casein, casern, cash, cashier, cast, caste, caster, cater, chain,

chin, cent, cert, chair, chaise, chant, chanter, chart, chase, chaser, chaste, chasten, chat,

cheat, chert, chest, chit, cire, cist, cistern, cite, cither, cran, crane, crash. Crate, crest,

cretan, cretin, each, enact, enrich, etch, ethic, ethics, ethnic, inch, incase, incest, insect,

itch, nacre, natch, nectar, nice, niche, race, races, rachis, , ranch, reach, react, recant,

resect, rice, rich, sachet, scan, scant, scar, scare, scart, scat, scathe, scena, scent, sear,

search, since, stearic, stench, steric, teach, tech, tench, theca, trace, trice. HINCASTER

All words except Hincaster are to be found in Collins English Dictionary.

We had one list sent in by Mr D Moll of Cockermouth (see letter in letters section)

with 105 words not including 3rd person singular verbs formed by adding a (s) to a

verb. Whilst he missed several from Helen’s list he had another list of his own totalling

another 27 words, so there were in total no fewer than 133 words from the puzzle.

Mr Moll’s additional words were:

ascent, canter, certain, china, chine, nicer, nicest, raciest, racist, recast, retch, richest,

scantier, scent, sect, snatch, snitch, stance, starch, trance, tranche, arsenic, char,

christen, secant, thrice & trench.

25

Ancient Monument didn‟t just cover

the pathway – but every structure on it

as we know from the work that the

Trust have recently carried out. This of

course includes the bridge carrying the

railway over the horsepath. So

although BR had been concerned over

the tunnel, it now faced another

problem – running a high speed train

over an Ancient Monument.

And what has become of the high

speed APT? Today it languishes on a

siding at Crewe Heritage Centre, but it

paved the way for the Pendalinos that

cruise above the tunnel at well over

100mph. And the tunnel hasn‟t

collapsed as BR feared – we could have

told them it wouldn‟t!

JG

....and some of

the work that

awaits our

working

parties this

coming winter

season at the

eastern end of

the horsepath.

26

W


Working

Party Report

27


Dear David RE your photo of the 2003 working Party captioned "Where are they

now?"..... I am still here!.

The man in the green fleece in the foreground is me! Will Warburg

behind me in the hard hat, the two ladies (?) in the trees are Helen

Warburg and Beryl. The chap with

the loppers was a regular back then but I have forgotten his name.

(Camper van man I think ) That was a great working party, we

cleared huge amounts of scrub and overgrowth and it was in preparation

for the famous visit of the Wergie

gang the following year with a summer camp (I think) to do the

stonework on the spillways (Paul Shaw arranged that)

I can’t remember who took the

photos that day but other people there would have been Paul Shaw,

Bev, Ollie, Don, Dave S and a few more I can't recall

I am hoping with the improvements

to my various injuries that I will be back in full swing on the working

parties this winter (Paul and Beryl, you heard it here first!) having been

a patchy attendee last winter.

Regards Ian Treanor

A reminder Ed

.................................

Dear Mr. Trevitt,

As members of L.C.T. we have long planned to walk the canal over its entire length, this we have just completed. It proved very easy to


28

plan and execute, thanks to your excellent guide.

Since we used mainly public transport this information, and mileage was useful. Unlike our experience a couple of years ago when walking the Leeds/Liverpool canal when a good deal of map reading and planning were involved, so thanks indeed!

Also another point, I consider the current edition of 'Waterwitch' to be an excellent production!

Thanks again for your work for the trust. Yours sincerely,

Don Hopkin

........................... Dear Helen,

Thank you for your word puzzle in the

latest issue of Waterwitch. I hope that the

designation "no. 1" implies that it is to be

followed by others.

Although I appreciate that it is just for

fun with no prize offered, please find

enclosed my offering of words. I have

restricted myself to words permitted by

Collins English Dictionary (paperback

edition) even though this eliminates a

small number of words contained in other

dictionaries but not included in Collins. I

use the term "permitted by", having

included words such as "nicer" and

"nicest" which do not actually appear but

are implied by the fact that comparatives

and superlatives are only explicitly given

for adjectives with more than one

syllable.

I look forward to comparing my list with

those published in the next edition of

Waterwitch. Sincerely,

Dave Moll

Dave, thanks for the list. Helen says that

if you feel like sending in some future

word puzzles of your own please do so

and she will turn to other types of puzzle.

Ed.


An old photo of

‘NELLIE’ any ideas?

29

B ritish

Waterways

British Waterways Annual Report 2008 – 09

John Gavan has cast an irreverent eye over it’s pages

I t used to be said of that great

Northern institution, the

‘Manchester Evening News’ that it

was ‘like a friend dropping in.’ The

same could be said of the BW

Annual Report. Each year we would

eagerly await its arrival through the

letterbox. The report would always

contain many useful facts and

figures about Britain’s waterways

network, but not any more – not

even a mention is made of the

Inland Waterways Association or the

work of the Inland Waterways

Amenity Advisory Council.

Copies of a printed version are as

rare as hens’ teeth these days – the

all conquering Internet has seen to

that. However whilst cruising the

north west canals this summer I had

the need to call at the BW office at

Wigan where to my delight I found a

printed version of this document. So

what do its 88 pages tell us? It tells

us the names of the British

Waterways Board; 11 individuals, all

business people. One, Duncan

Sutherland, represents the Scottish

interest. Who represents the

consumer and all those who do so

much to keep the system alive –

nobody! However, you will be

pleased to know that the Chairman,

Tony Hales, received the sum of

£41,858 for just 96 days’ work! Not

bad considering we are constantly

being told that BW has no money for

even basic maintenance! To be fair

though, he did ask that his ‘fees’ for

January and February be donated to

a ‘good waterways cause’. This, it

transpired was the Swinton Lock

Activity Centre, a charity with

premises adjacent to the Sheffield &

South Yorkshire Navigation near

Mexborough. A community based

arts, educational and activity group,

it works with both able bodied and

disabled and provides a wide range

of water based activities such as

fishing, and has its own narrow boat.

It would be churlish to be critical of

a n o th er c h ar i t y , wh i c h i s

undoubtedly doing sterling work in

the community and was chosen to

be the recipient of Mr Hale’s hard

earned fees by BW staff themselves.

However one cannot help but

wonder how many waterways

managers would have liked to have

got their hands on that money to

help pay for some long overdue

repairs – and can this really be

considered to be ‘a good waterways

cause’ when the money was used to

purchase a minibus!

The malaise I had been feeling for

some months, brought on by the

thought of greedy bankers, a

mattress round the prop whilst on

the Bridgewater and the demise of

Newcastle from the premiership,

was not helped in any way as I


30

A new exhibition by Lancashire

Museums

Lancaster Maritime Museum 26 September – 23rd January 2010 For more details and opening times

please visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums

glanced at the pages of this

esteemed journal. In fact I was

feeling positively suicidal! I looked

hard at the murky waters of the

canal. Could these, that had given

me so much pleasure over the

years, now release me from earthly

bonds. As I teetered on the brink of

the abyss, I turned to page 16 and

my heart leaped with joy as I read

the following paragraph;-

“During the year we employed a

national volunteering manager, an

important step in our journey to

better understand existing and

potential volunteering across the

waterways. We also launched

awards that go part way to

recognising the s ign if icant

volunteer contribution made on our

canals and rivers – identifying a

number which, through their

dedication, have made a significant

impact on their local waterway. All

this helped us to double the number

of volunteer days on our waterways

to 16,000, valued at over £1m. We

are looking at how waterways

volunteering can become more

accessible to local communities,

engaging them for mutual benefit –

such as on the Lancaster Canal where

the Canal Trust recently made

important heritage repairs to

structures on the Hincaster Tunnel

Horse Path, a scheduled monument.”

So there we have it. In this most

august of publications, which will be

widely read in the corridors of

power, if not in higher places;

where there is no mention of

esteemed bodies such as IWAAC

and the IWA, we find the Lancaster

Canal Trust. Be proud of your

achievement!


31

T he day formed part of the

national Heritage Open Days

scheme promoted by English

He rit age. B rit ish Wat e rways

organised three free boat cruises to the Lune Aqueduct during the day

including presentations to visitors during the cruise and tours of the

aqueduct explaining its design and

history. The assistance of Lancaster Canal Trust in delivering the event

w a s i n v a l u a b l e i n c l u d i n g

presentations regarding the history of

the canal and aqueduct from David

Slater. The day was originally limited

to 60 visitors, demand vastly

exceeded this with over 90 visitors being accommodated, and even

taking this into account we had to close the tours to further bookings 2

days in advance due to over

subscription . Andrew Tegg Heritage Advisor, North West

British Waterways

Heritage Open Day. Lune Aqueduct Lancaster

Some BW photos of the day’s events. The day also provided the opportunity to showcase the planned improvements to public access to the aqueduct and BW staff handed out details of the intended scheme.

32

CAN YOU HELP?

British Waterways have asked the

Trust to help them to update

their records in two ways

To log, photograph and

describe the state of each of the

remaining milestones on the

Lancaster Canal.

Likewise to log and photograph

each of the Larch tree

formations originally planted

near the canal to provide a

supply of wood in emergencies

If any Trust

member

would like to

undertake

the survey

of a

particular

stretch of

the Canal

please contact our Vice Chairman

Richard Trevitt who is co-

ordinating the project on

(01524) 846303

THE

LANCASTER

CANAL

33

President

C.H.Bagot J.P. F.R.I.C.S.,D.L

Vice - President

John Gavan

Chairman

David Slater 91 Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 9AH. (01772) 746914

Vice - Chairman

Richard Trevitt 2 Fern Bank, Lancaster. LAI 4TT (01524) 846303

Secretary

David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599

Treasurer

Adrian Hughes “Ilex", Keasdale Road, Carr Bank, Milnthorpe LA7 7LH

(01524) 761879

Membership Secretary

Adrian Hughes “Ilex", Keasdale Road, Carr Bank, Milnthorpe LA7 7LH

(01524) 761879

Public Relations Officer

Trisha Buzzard 07802438412

Waterwitch Editor


Working Party Organiser


Grants Officer

Chris Jones16 Kirkbie Green, Kendal LA9 7AJ (01524) 735504

LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Officers and Committee

34

Arlen Hire Boats

Australian Canal Society

Beetham Parish Council

Burton - in - Kendal Parish Council

Bury & District Anglers Association

Catterall Parish Council

C.A.R.P. Ltd

Holme Parish Council Lancaster Canal Boat Club

Kendal Civic Society Natland Parish Council Newton with Clifton Parish Council Preston Patrick Parish Council Ramblers Association (Preston Area) South Lakeland District Council

Westmorland & North Lancashire

Long Distance Walkers Assoc

Waterwitch is copyright 2009, published by

The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No. 240957)

c/o David Currington, 12 Sedbergh Road, Kendal, LA9 6AD

The Lancaster Canal Trust may not agree with the opinions expressed in this magazine

but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed

as policy, or an official announcement, unless so stated - otherwise the Trust accepts

no liability for any matter in the magazine.

The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.

The deadline for contributions to the next edition of

Waterwitch

will be January 31st 2010

Contributions may be e-mailed to

[email protected]

Or by post to

David Currington

12 Sedbergh Road

Kendal, Cumbria

LA9 6AD

Trisha Buzzard

07802438412

Publicity Officer & Trip Boat Committee

Alan Mather

Trip Boat Committee 07730 260003

Geoff Maskell

NR Committee (01539) 724895

Sandra Henstock

(L.C.B.C. Representative) (01253)764171

Pat Clapham

R&P Committee (01524)781489

Fran Valiant

Chairman Recruitment & Promotions

(01943) 430494

Helen Thomas

Northern Reaches & R&P Committees

(01524) 735504

Paul Shaw

Working Party Supervisor 07866 803351

Frank Chalmers

Boat Operations Manager

07973113046

Affiliated Members

Printed by Kent Valley Colour Printers, Kendal. (01539)741344

Visit LCT website at: http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk/

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & OTHER TRUST OFFICERS

35

Coffee

Morning

Saturday 17th

October 2009

Burton in Kendal

Back Cover: Just two of the several photographs sent in by Don & Phylis taken on

their recent trip along the length of the Lancaster Canal.

T he annual coffee morning, held at

Burton in Kendal Memorial Hall, raised

nearly £300 for Trust funds.

It was nice to see so many members supporting

the event, but it was also rewarding that it was

well supported by the local community. Tables

groaned under the weight of home made cakes,

jams, chutneys and jars of sweets, lovingly

produced by Angela Seed, Sheila Slater, Joyce Bye

and Beryl Bowcott. Ruth Symonds and Keith

Midgley came along with the IWA branch sales

stand where, amongst other items, one could

purchase Christmas cards and a must have item,

the 2010 IWA calendar which has two pictures of

the Lancaster Canal taken by Peter Thomas, on

it. Kath Hayhurst came along with her plant stall.

In addition there was a display detailing plans

for restoration and how our members engaged in

practical work spend their time.

Thanks are due to all those members who helped

out running the event and particular to those

who donated produce for sale and prizes for the

raffle.

Next year’s event will be at the Gaskell Hall in

Silverdale – more details later

Waterwitch Autumn 2009

Documents

Transcript of Waterwitch Autumn 2009