Download - 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.
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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.
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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
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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)
(Continued on page 11)
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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.
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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
(Continued from page 6)
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!
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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
(Continued on page 9)
Pendle Canal Festival
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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
(Continued from page 8)
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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
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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.
(Continued from page 5)
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
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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
(Continued on page 14)
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
(Continued from page 13)
(Continued on page 15)
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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
(Continued from page 14)
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
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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
(Continued on page 17)
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
(Continued from page 16)
Change Bridge
Inside a Packet Boat
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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
(Continued on page 19)
“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
(Continued from page 18)
(Continued on page 20)
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.
(Continued from page 19)
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
(Continued on page 25)
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
(Continued on page 27)
Working
Party Report
27
(Continued from page 26)
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
(Continued on page 28)
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.
(Continued from page 27)
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
(Continued on page 30)
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!
(Continued from page 29)
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
David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599
Working Party Organiser
David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599
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
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
36