Inland Waterways Association Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
IWA award for 60 years at the London Boat Show
John Fevyer (left) of the Middlesex Branch receives, on behalf of the IWA, a special 60th anniversary award from Peter Gordon, Chairman National Boat Shows, in recognition of IWA exhibiting at every boat show since the first show in 1954. Photo: onEdition
Middlesex Branch Newsletter email: [email protected]
No. 32 Spring 2014
Inland Waterways Association 2 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Diary Dates 2014 Branch social evenings
11 February Branch social evening
Talk by Ray Orth, Wendover Arm Trust.
11 March AGM plus Branch social evening
Rickmansworth Canal Trust:
Mark Saxon on the work of the Trust
Fabian Hiscock - historic boat ‘Roger’
David Montague - the Rickmansworth
Festival.
8 April Branch social evening
Roger Squires - The Droitwich Ring.
13 May Branch social evening
Tony Brooks - Boat Electrics.
10 June Branch social evening
James Taylor/Fiona Shipp - Basingstoke Canal Trust.
9 September Branch social evening
Richard Thomas - River Lee to the Thames.
14 October Branch social evening
Alan Scott-Davies – Haunted Canals
based on his book, Shadow on the Waters.
11 November Branch social evening
Tony Brooks - getting the boat ready for
winter.
Middlesex Branch social evenings are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge.
Social meetings are not held in July, August or December.
For more information contact the Social Secretary Lucy Smith on,
[email protected] or 07947 451376.
Entrance is free and all are welcome including non members.
Festivals and events 3-5 May IWA Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice, London.
Nearest tube stations Warwick Rd and Paddington.
11 May Ruislip Woods Festival - 12pm - 4 30 pm free entry. At the Willow Lawn between
the Lido's railway station and the Water's Edge pub. HA4 7TY.
17-18 May Rickmansworth Canal Festival , GU Canal between Batchworth and Stockers Locks,
and Ricmansworth Aquadrome. Not far from Rickmansworth Metropolitan Line stn.
24-26 May Crick Boat Show.Crick Marina, West Haddon Rd, Crick, Northants, NN6 7SQ.
4-6 July Ware Boat Festival – River Lea - Riverside at Ware.
5-6 July Stratford River Festival – Stratford upon Avon.
12 July Hayes Carnival, Barra Hall Park, Hayes, Middlesex. (TBC)
13-14 September Slough Canal Festival - Bloom Park, Slough. (TBC)
20-21 September Hanwell Locks guided tour – London Open House weekend.
Inland Waterways Association 3 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Chairman’s Column
I would like to take
this opportunity to
wish all our
members a belated
happy and
prosperous new
year.
This is a special
year for the branch
as we celebrate our
20th anniversary. The branch was formed in
September 1994.
Although we are still in the early stages of
planning it has been suggested that we could
hold some sort of event at the Slough Canal
Festival which takes place on the second
weekend in September.
If we do it would be great to see as many of
our members at the Slough festival as
possible, to help us celebrate.
It is rumoured that Land and Water has
been taking silt samples on the Slough Arm,
does this mean that we might see movement
on the long awaited dredging we have been
promised for so long? I hope so, but certainly
will not be holding my breath.
The Slough Arm also features in The
London Waterway Partnership's Strategic
Waterway plan. One of the proposals is to
"create a link to the Thames via the Slough
Arm"
Well what is being suggested is that work
starts on collating and reviewing earlier
proposals for the link, defining the potential
merits of the connection and exploring the
feasibility. There is a very long way to go and
only a slim chance that this may happen but at
least there is a start.
It looks as if 2014 will be a busy year for
the branch. On the second Tuesday of each
month, from January through to November
(excluding July and August) we have our
monthly social meetings which are open to all
members and their guests. For this year we
have a full programme of talks with speakers
booked for every meeting.
The branch sales stand also has a busy
schedule with a number of outings throughout
the spring / summer months. However we
really could do with more volunteers to help
us run this stand. Please contact me, or any of
the committee members, if you are able to
help. The dates and venues are set out on
page 14.
One problem that we do face is a reducing
membership and therefore the branch will be
having a major recruitment drive, visiting the
various marinas in our area seeking people
who would like to join.
This is an activity where all members can
help. If you know someone who is interested
in the canals be that as a boater, fisherman,
walker, cyclist or even just a feeder of ducks,
talk to them and see if they would like to join
us in campaigning to keep the canals the
vibrant and enjoyable facility that they are.
Finally I would like to take this opportunity
to thank the Hillingdon Canal Club for the use
of their premises for our monthly social
meetings and committee meetings. The socials
would not happen without the use of these
facilities.
Keith Clayton
Chairman – IWA Middlesex Branch
Inland Waterways Association 4 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Annual General Meeting of the
Inland Waterways Association
Middlesex Branch AGM
will be held at the
Hillingdon Canal Club
UXBRIDGE WHARF
WATERLOO ROAD
UXBRIDGE UB8 2QX
Tuesday 11 March 2014 at 8pm - Bar open from 7.30
Nominations for election to the Branch Committee must be received by the Secretary
by 11 March 2014.
Secretary:- Robin Bishop, 11 Lichfield Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 2RE.
email:- [email protected]
Twenty years of Middlesex Branch donations
As Keith mentioned on the previous page, this year will be the 20th (china)
anniversary of the formation of the Middlesex Branch. During this period (since
1995) we have made many donations to waterways related causes and currently the
figure stands close to £12,000.
Over the last 10 years, the branch has donated £6,860 to many waterways related
causes (most of them within or local to the Middlesex Branch). If you would like to
nominate a waterways based organisation or an individual with a specific need for a
donation, please get in touch with any of the committee.
The donations the branch committee make comes in part from our branch members’
subscription fees and also from money donated to the branch. This includes proceeds
from the branch sales stand thanks to our secretary Robin.
The Committee are always willing to consider donating to any waterways related
cause, if you know of any group that might benefit, please let us know and we’ll see
what can be do.
Inland Waterways Association 5 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Rain and floods cause problems
The heavy rains in recent months have made the ground very soft and the grass
verges of the towpath can be too soft for the reliable use of mooring pins. These
two boats, paird up, were moored using one pin at each end in saturated grass. The
movement from passing boats appears to have pulled the stern pin out.
Tragic death in floods
A 47 year old man on a mobility scooter is thought to have inadvertently driven
into a flooded lock on the Thames, being unable to see the towpath.
The accident happened at the Osney Lock, Oxford on Saturday 4th January.
Gabriel Stocks from Wheatley, had been trying to pass floods when he went into the
water.He was pulled from the lock by emergency crews but died at the scene.
Recent floods along the Thames have covered many of the river's pathways with
muddy flood water making it impossible to judge between the river and the path.The
tragedy happened in the dark at around 6.30pm.
Inland Waterways Association 6 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Hillingdon Canal Club
Hillingdon Canal Club, on the Grand Union
main line in Uxbridge was formed in 1989 from the
Uxbridge Cruising Club. It was created by members of the cruising club who banded together to make the
HCC into the club it is now - voluntarily run by the
members for the members.
Cruises are arranged throughout the year and members are encouraged to attend local canal festivals and ad-hoc cruises when the sun decides to shine. The annual ‘icicle cruise’ in January is a great
(although somewhat chilly) outing to
Rickmansworth!
Members look after the premises by joining regular club work-parties which utilise members
skills - from general maintenance and cleaning of the
clubhouse and communal areas to plumbing and electrical work. Members who participate in these
work parties find it a rewarding activity which brings
the members together as a team.
Hillingdon Canal Club currently has approximately 90 members consisting of both full
and associate members. Full members benefit from a
water point, Elsan disposal and refuse bins. There is secure onsite car parking too. All members can use
the fully licensed clubhouse with plenty of seating
and a new TV, free pool table and darts. There is a sound system too.
The clubhouse is currently open three nights a week
and the bar is run by club volunteers.
The clubhouse holds social nights for its members
and as it is affiliated to the IWA and AWCC, all associated members are welcome.
Neighbouring is Uxbridge
Boat Centre, which has a
chandlery and dry dock facility.
The club has both ‘finger mooring’ and linear moorings
within its facility and currently
there are several linear moorings available for
narrowboats. These secure
moorings are non-residential and for leisure use only. All
linear moorings have electric
hook-up and access is restricted to moorers only by use of
security keys.
If you are interested in learning about our club or are
interested in more information
regarding our mooring facilities,
please contact the Club
Secretary.
email: [email protected].
Hillingdon Canal Club
Uxbridge Wharf Waterloo Road
Uxbridge UB8 2QX
Inland Waterways Association 7 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
P
hoto
: K
Sto
kes
Flooded Thames
Boats only, it would seem as the
rising Thames causes floods on
adjacent flood plains.
Although it looks spectacular the
rise doesn’t need to be more than
two or three feet to cause these
problems. Not much fun for those
affected, though.
Inland Waterways Association 8 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
The new Thames bridge at Walton on Thames gets christened by the floods. Photos T.Liddle
Inland Waterways Association 9 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Visitors to Camden Lock on the Regent’s Canal get up close to the new gates
Photos: Tim Lewis
Inland Waterways Association 10 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Branch meeting dates for 2014
Social meetings The social meetings are a way of spending a pleasent evening at the Hillingdon Canal Club,
what’s more the entrance is free and all are welcome including non members.
The evenings consists of speakers who give illustrated presentations on many topics, usually
associated with waterways. The topics are many and various, both informative and entertaining.
We’ve had speakers showing us their trips along the Grand Canal in China, the Mississippi from
Baton Rouge to Chicago, the wonders of the canal system, C&RT fisheries management and
loads more.
Branch social meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
They are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.
Meetings are not held in July, August or December.
For more information contact the Social Secretary Lucy Smith on,
[email protected] or 07947 451376.
Committee meetings Branch committee meetings are usually held on the 4th Tuesday of every second month.
They are also held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.
Members are welcome to attend.
Committee meetings
28 January
25 March
3 June
29 July
23 September
25 November
Social meetings
14 January
11 February
11 March
8 April
13 May
10 June
9 September
14 October
11 November
Inland Waterways Association 11 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
London Region
Social evenings programme 2014
18 Feb 19.30 Olympic Park Legacy and restoration of Carpenters Road Lock – Canal and River Trust
18 March 19.30 North and East London Branch AGM
20.00 Waterways of Up State New York – Roger Squires
15 April Regional Round-up – a chance to hear from all the branches in our region about
the work going on in our area including restoration of the Wendover Arm, London canals, the Chelmer and Blackwater, and the River Thames.
20 May 19.30 Current Restoration Projects
17 June 19.30 Manchester Ship canal - Richard Thomas
Venue –
Paddington Central
Management suite.
1a Sheldon Square,
LondonW2 6PY
Chiswick Pier Trust
Spring programme of events 2014
18 Feb 7.30pm One Thames or Two? A talk on the archaeologies of London River by Jon Cotton, archaeological consultant and former Museum of London curator.
18 March 7.30pm From Hills to High-Water; The Thames as a Wildlife Corridor. A talk by Brenna Boyle, a zoologist, wildlife guide, and creator of Wild Capital.
30 March Mothering Day Cruise.
5 April 2pm Boat Race Blue Badge Walk, meeting at Ravenscourt Park tube and walking to Chiswick Pier.
6 April Oxford and Cambridge Race starts at 6pm. Refreshments served and a terrific view at Chiswick Pier.
16 April 10am to 12 TET River Dipping - Booking essential, please contact the office.
10 May 9.30am Bird Walk - Booking essential, please contact the office.
28 May Half term family cruise.
29 May 10am to 12 TET River Dipping - Booking essential, please contact the office.
Talks are free to members or £3 to non-members.
www.chiswickpier.org.uk or Twitter @ChiswickPier.
Chiswick Pier Trust, The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, London W4 2UG
Inland Waterways Association 12 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Annual General Meetings of the
Inland Waterways Association
South London Branch AGM
followed by the
London Region AGM will be held at the
The Primary Room The United Reform Church Hall
Addiscombe Road Croydon CR0 5LP
Wednesday 12 March 2014 at 8pm Nominations for election to the Branch Committee and/or the Region Committee
must be received by the Secretary by 12 March 2014.
Secretary:- London Region
Robin Bishop, 11 Lichfield Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 2RE.
email:- [email protected]
Secretary:- South London Branch
Lesley Pryde, 2 Hepworth Road, Streatham, London SW16 5DQ
email:- [email protected]
London Region Middlesex South London N & E London
Chairman Paul Strudwick
40 Fifth Avenue
Chelmsford Essex CM1 4HD
Keith Clayton
7 De Salis Road
Hillingdon UB10 0SP
Libby Bradshaw
Ground Floor Flat
61 West Sude Wandsworth Common
London SW18 2ED
Tim Lewis
5Heronsgate Road
Wanstead London E12 5EJ
Secretary Robin Bishop 11 Lichfield Road,
Cricklewood
London NW2 2RE
Robin Bishop 11 Lichfield Road,
Cricklewood
London NW2 2RE
Lesley Pryde 2 Hepworth Road
Streatham
London SW16 5DQ
Roger Squires 46 Elephant Lane
Rotherhithe
London SE16 4JD
Inland Waterways Association 13 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
MIDDLESEX MUSINGS
Big plans afoot for Old Oak
I see that Queens Park Rangers FC have unveiled plans for a new
40,000-seat stadium in Old Oak that will replace the club's current
Loftus Road ground in Shepherds Bush, some 2½ miles away. The new
stadium will be part of the regeneration of the area, which is
provisionally called New Queens Park, although I’m not sure if that refers
solely to the stadium.
QPR chairman said they are talking to a
number of world-class architects to design
iconic tall buildings as well as improving and
incorporating the waterside environment of
the Grand Union Canal.
The whole area of Old Oak is up for
redevelopment as part of the HS2 project
with costs in the order of a massive £10bn.
Anything that improves the Old Oak
Common area of west London and includes
the canal must be welcome.
Pressure for more moorings
There is mounting pressure to do some-
thing about the increasing demand for live-
aboard boats and moorings in the London
area. The Canal & River Trust have said in
some popular areas, this style of living is on
the increase and the Trust is concerned
that the newcomers may not be aware of or
fully understand the requirement for bona
fide navigation and may believe it is
sufficient simply to move around within a
small area. Some therefore get a shock
when they find that they are in breach of
the rules, while C&RT are forced to embark
on a time-consuming and costly enforcement
process.
Stuck between a rock & a hard place
The Canal & River Trust recently served a
Section 8 notice (eviction and seizure of
boat) on a woman, making her homeless. This
has the boating fraternity in a tiz.
On one hand there are numerous
complaints received from boaters with
regard to unlicenced boats, with C&RT
accused of ‘doing nothing'. Then on the
other hand there are a few boater’s, some
of whom may be mentally ill, who refuse to
licence their boats. I think that C&RT are
stuck between a ‘rock and a hard place'.
Complaint about issue 31
I have been informed by our chairman,
Keith, that he received a complaint from a
member of the Hillingdon Canal Club. The
complaint regarding a joke that included a
reference to the Hillingdon Canal Club.
Whilst there was never any intention to
offend anyone at the club, the use of the
club name in jokes over several recent
editions was intended to promote the club
name in the minds of our readers. Therefore
I feel I must apologise to anybody who was
offended by that particular item. In future,
to avoid any misunderstandings, there will be
no more jokes that include references to
Hillingdon Canal Club.
Terry Liddle
Editor.
Inland Waterways Association 14 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
Middlesex Branch Sales Stand events 2014
Robin will be out and about again thie year with the
branch sales stand visiting some of the festivals and
events in and around the Middlesex area.
3 - 5 May Canalway Cavalcade -
Little Venice, London
11 May Ruislip Woods Festival
5 – 6 July Ware Boat Festival -
River Lea
13 - 14 Sept Slough Canal Festival -
Bloom Park
20 - 21 Sept Hanwell Locks -
Open House weekend
If you’re at one of these events and you see the
sales stand why not introduce yourself to Robin and
have a chat or even spend some time helping, you’ll be
most welcome.
Old Oak redevelopment plans
Plans are being drawn for the development of Old Oak, the area in west London of mainly
industrial and railway land in between Old Oak Common Lane, Wormwood Scrubs, Scrubs Lane
and Willesden Junction. Part of the development is the site of a proposed new hub station for
the HS2 rail line north, which will also incorporate the trans-London Crossrail project. Figures
for an estimate of costs are in the region of £10bn.
The Grand Union Canal in the Middlesex branch area passes right through the centre on Old
Oak Common and will be included in all the development plans for that area. Exciting times
ahead.
Inland Waterways Association have published a response to the Consultation on HS2 Phase 1
Draft Environmental Statement produced by the Department for Transport. The response is
available on the IWA’s wesite at: www.waterways.org.uk.
Inland Waterways Association 15 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association
or of its London Region or of its Middlesex Branch. They are however published as being of interest
to our members and readers
© IWA Middlesex Branch 2014
The Inland Waterways Association is a charity campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance,
restoration and development of the inland waterways and is a non profit distributing company limited
by guarantee registered in England number 612245 registered as a charity number 212342 whose registered office is at:
Island House, Moor Road, Chesham. HP5 1WA.
Tel. 01494 783453
http://www.waterways.org.uk
AND FINALLY
Dates for committee meetings for 2014 are given below. Members are welcome to attend. Meetings start at 8.00pm at the Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.
28 January 25 March 3 June 29 July 23 Sep 25 Nov
YOUR BRANCH COMMITTEE
Chairman Keith Clayton 020 8573 0883 [email protected] Vice Chairman Michael Phillips [email protected] Secretary Robin Bishop 020 8452 2632 [email protected] Treasurer Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Panning/Navigation Raymond Gill 07785886255 [email protected] Michael Phillips [email protected] Membership Keith Clayton 020 8573 0883 [email protected] Sales Robin Bishop 020 8452 2632 [email protected] Social meetings Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Newsletter Terry Liddle 020 8863 2551 [email protected] Publicity Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Events Lucy Smith 07947451376 [email protected] Other members Stephen Bray
The newsletter welcomes communications from readers. If you have a point to make, a question to ask, or an interesting picture or article worthy of publication send it to us at
Middlesex Matters, 39 Hillview Gardens, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 6HJ
Email to: [email protected]. NEWSLETTER EDITOR Terry Liddle Middlesex Matters is produced using MS Word 2007. Printed by Colour Image Printers, Loudwater, High Wycombe. The next publication will be the summer 2014 edition, issue number 33
Inland Waterways Association 16 Middlesex Matters Spring 2014 https://www.waterways.org.uk/middlesex/middlesex
What can you say...any suggestions...?
Did you know?
Chinese sailors eat junk food.
A leak in the back of a boat is a stern warning.
Sunglasses for sailors don't stay seeworthy for long.
The boatyard had a sale advertising 'Ketch of the day'.
A young sailor thought all of the waves were just swell.
There’s a boater down our local yacht club, he's not a slow
skipper, he's not a fast skipper. He's more a half fast
skipper.
The stewards on Cunard cruise ships have had to undergo
compulsory crew cuts.
A lady was walking down the gangplank with a parrot on
her shoulder.
A sailor on the shore asked ‘Where did you get that?
The parrot replied ‘We met on the internet!’