navvies 218

waterway recovery group

NavviesNavvies

No 218Aug - Sep 2006

No 218Aug - Sep 2006

Above: Brewhurst Lock on the Wey & Arun Canal, after completion of demolition but before the start ofthe three weeks of work to rebuild it with its height reduced by 1.7m to fit the canal under the B2133 road.Contrast this with the photo on p24 of the trip-boat passing through just a few weeks earlier. Below:WRG South West take a break from working on Lowdwells Lock on the Grand Western. Cover: Readyto Rolle! Tbe fjrst ever Canal Camp on Lord Rolle�s Canal tackles the entrance lock. (Photo by Alan Lines)

John

Haw

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Nig

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Contributions......are always welcome, whether hand-written,typed, on 3½" floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD or byemail. Photos also welcome: slides or colouror b/w prints. Please state whether you wantyour prints back; I assume that you want slidesreturned. Digital / computer scanned photosalso welcome, either on floppy / CD-ROM / DVDor as email attachments, preferably JPG format.Send them to the editor Martin Ludgate, 35,Silvester Road, London SE22 9PB, or emailto [email protected]. Press date forNo 219: September 1st.

SubscriptionsA year's subscription (6 issues) is available for aminimum of £1.50 (please add a donation if pos-sible) to Sue Watts, 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ. Cheques to"Waterway Recovery Group" please.Visit our web site www.wrg.org.uk for all the latest news of WRG's activities

In this issue:Chairman�s comment 4-5Coming soon National Festival, AutumnCamp, Bonfire Bash... and Christmas! 6-7Camp Reports from the first ever camp on LordRolle�s Canal, the start of work at Abingdon, theWilts & Berks and the Trailboat Festival 8-15Directory of WRG and Canal Societies 16-17Diary Canal Camp and working party dates18-20Progress roundup of the latest news fromrestoration projects around the country 21-27Dig Deep update co-ordinated canalrestoration in the south 28-29WRGBC WRG�s own boat club 30Letters the late great Bill Crockett 31Navvies News do you want to cook for 140? 32Noticeboard 33Infill Everybody�s free to wear a hard hat 34

And next time.......we hope to include lots more camp reportsfrom the rest of this Summer�s Canal Camps -always assuming you get round to writing themand sending them in! Also more information aboutthe Bonfire Bash, Autumn and Winter CanalCamps - and maybe, just maybe, some pics of acompleted Jubilee Junction and Brewhurst Lock!

Contents

Aerial photo of the Abingdon Junction site at the start of work on Camp 0605 (see pages 10-12) with the dotted lineshowing the route of the new canal. We hope to bring you another next time showing a bit more real canal!

page 3

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A canal here by August 30th...A canal here by August 30th...

Chairman...on why you really shouldsubscribe - if you don�t already...

Chairman�s Comment

Hello and a warm welcome to Navvies - themagazine of the waterway recovery group (WRG).

Before any of our regular readers think I have lostmy marbles, or that I am frantically trying to padout my article with excessive friendliness, I shouldexplain that we have decided to print extra copiesof this edition to distribute at events.

So for all those people who have had this thrustinto their hand by someone in a red T-shirt let�sstart again � welcome to Navvies.

There are, of course, lots of magazines out therethat offer to keep you informed about various as-pects of the waterways scene, so why do wethink you should subscribe to this one?

Firstly, it will entertain you, although initially itseems a baffling array of in-jokes and strange-ness, because it contains contributions from allsorts of people there is bound to be something inhere that amuses you.

It will inform you � although this is our officialmagazine it doesn�t necessarily toe the line. Theaim is to get over all the information and opinionsfrom all around the restoration movement.

The magazine covers the whole scene � otherrestoration groups, individual volunteers, officialorganisations (even our parent organisation � TheInland Waterways Association) all get a chanceto have their say. Letters are not censored andyou will also find our replies pull no punches.

So what is actually in Navvies? Well, progressreports on restoration projects, obviously, andregular contributions from our various regionalgroups. But also first time reports from canalcamp volunteers getting their 15 minutes of fame,fascinating articles telling you how to restore avintage crane (and angry letters telling you howNOT to restore a vintage crane !).

We have had articles on best practice, rangingfrom heritage stone-work through to how to re-place village hall windows in a hurry.

Other bits may well be Health & Safety alerts,caption competitions, lots of in-jokes, scathingeditorials on current government policy and ram-pant nostalgia.

Finally, just occasionally, we guarantee that youwill read something that will have you in stitches.

It raises money for us. Well only just becausewe have a deliberate policy of keeping the actualsubscription very low at just £1.50 for a year.Clearly this policy costs us but we want to ensurethat everybody who wants to get involved can.

We also realise that for many people getting in-volved is quite a big step and we want to breakthem in gradually. Fortunately many of our sub-scribers can afford to give an additional donationand it is this that helps funds our activities.

So why should you subscribe? Well hopefullyyou will get a warm feeling just knowing yourmoney is going to a good cause supporting ourefforts. Secondly, it will keep you entertained andinformed about what is going on in the volunteerrestoration scene - recent reports have rangedfrom Houses of Parliament to the MississippiRiver!

Most importantly of all - it might just convince youto one day take the plunge and join us.

This doesn�t have to be a huge step - the bestthing about Navvies is that it will introduce you tothe huge diversity of our efforts � we have lots ofgroups and projects going on, all with their ownstyles and personalities. Navvies will give you aclue as to where you might fit in.

There are many ways to get involved and you willalways be able to find a way of supporting us thatsuits you; be it subscribing to Navvies, helpingout on a publicity stand for your local canal soci-ety, fixing a bit of kit in your shed or getting out inthe open air and working on site.

It�s rewarding, invigorating, challenging and thor-oughly enjoyable. Join us � you won�t regret it.

So how do you subscribe? � well you can runback to the person who thrust this in your handand talk to them, you can fill in the form on theopposite page, or you can subscribe via ourwebsite www.wrg.org.uk.

Finally, if you would rather read this online you willbe glad to know that Navvies is also published onthe web and you can receive electronic copies.

Mike PalmerWRG Chairman

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Coming soon...Autumn and winter CanalCamps and events

IWA National Festival Camp Aug 22 - Sep 1

By the time you receive this issue of Navvies theour main Summer Canal Camps programe willjust be coming to an end - although there�s al-ways a chance that an offer of a couple of dayshelp at the very end of the Wilts & Berks AbingdongJubilee Junction project wouldn�t go amiss.

But as usual, the finale of the camps season is aten-day camp supporting the Inland Waterways

Association�s National Festival, which this yeartakes place on the Thames at Beale Park. You will already have seen an article by camp leader Dave�Moose� Hearnden in issue 217 so I won�t repeat it again - but basically any last minute bookings will bewelcome, so long as you phone Moose on 07961 922153 and warn him you�re coming.

Jubilee Junction opening August 30

Not a work party, but the official opening of the completed (we hope!) IWA Diamond Jubilee Project tocreate a new junction where the Wilts & Berks Canal meets the Thames. Come along and see theculmination of what you�ve been working on this summer.

Grantham Camp October 21-28

This year�s Autumn Canal Camp takes place on the Grantham Canal. Jo �Smudge� Smith and Dave�Taz� Tarrant hope to be your leaders for this week, and will no doubt have some good work lined up.

Book in using the usual Canal Camps booking form, available from the WRG website.

WRG Bonfire Bash Grantham November 4-5

This is the big one - a reunion for everyone from this Summer�s Canal Camps, all the WRG and otherregional working party groups, and anyone else who wants to come. This will be the biggest workingweekend of the year - and the Saturday evening should see the biggest party too!

The site is the Grantham Canal, not far from where we made a major impact at the 2004 Bash, andonce again quite a lot of the work is likely to centre around clearing trees and scrub from the bed of thecanal and burning them on big bonfires. In addition there will be some other jobs involving bank pro-tection, repairing leaks (including some opportunities for digger driving) and installing some pipes.

The accommodation will be in St Hugh�s School in Grantham, and we can cope with anything uo to acouple of hundred volunteers. But as usual, the sooner you get your booking forms in the better - soour organising team led by Mitch Gozna and Dave Bradford will know how much work they need toplan, how many tools to bring and most imporantly how much food and beer to buy!

Full details including directions to the accommodation will be sent to everyone who books, and postedon the WRG website as soon as we have the information.

So please fill in the booking form on the opposite page and send it in as soon as possible!

London WRG and KESCRG Christmas Party Dig Basingstoke December 2-3

With the thermometer hovering around the 35C mark as I write this, it does seem bizarre to be thinking ofChristmas digs already. So I�ll spare you the details until next time - but in the meantime make a note of thedate for this year�s Christmas extravaganza which returns to the Basingstoke Canal. And remember it�sopen to anyone - you don�t have to be a KESCRG or London WRG regular to come.

New Year Camp Chesterfield Canal December 26 - January 1

Once again the leader is Dave �Moose� Hearnden, but this time it�s on a new site. The Chesterfield isa canal we haven�t visited for several years. But all that looks set to change, with a mile of the canalnear Renishaw earmarked for volunteer involvement over the next year or two - starting this New Year.See pages 26-7 of this Navvies for a progress update on the Chesterfield, and book for the camp in thenormal way using a Canal Camps booking fom available on the website or from head office.

More details of all of these events will appear on the WRG website www.wrg.org.uk

I would like to attend the 2006 WRG Bonfire Bash on the Grantham Canal onNovember 4th-5th

Forename: Surname:

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email:

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I require accommodation on Friday night / Saturday night / both nights

I enclose payment of £ (please make cheques payable to �WRG�) for food

(cost is £10 for the whole weekend, based on £2 for each meal.)

How will you be travelling to the Bonfire Bash?

Do you want to work with volunteers from one of this year�s Canal Camps or from one ofthe regional groups? If so, which camp or group?

Do you suffer from any illness, such as epilepsy or diabetes, about which you shouldknow, or are you receiving treatment or under medical supervision for any conditionYES/NO If yes, please attach details on a covering letter.

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Please send this form to:

Bonfire Bash Bookings, WRG, PO Box 114, Rickmansworth WD3 1ZY

waterwayrecoverygroup

WRG Reunion Bonfire Bash 2006

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATING BODYFOR VOLUNTARY LABOUR ON THEINLAND WATERWAYS OF BRITAIN

Camp reports...starting with the first evercamp on Lord Rolle�s Canal...

Camp 0604: Lord Rolle�s Canal, Devon

Saturday

Camp leader Chris Wicks and his trusty sidekickAlice arrived in the shiny new van �EHP�, havingbeen stuck in M5 traffic. (and also having intro-duced the back of EHP to a cliff wall!) Everyonecharged into the holiday cottage that was to beour accommodation for the week and bagged theirbeds, just like a school trip. James Butler arrivedwith van RFB and trailer (thanks James) and thekit was unpacked and counted. Chris then toldeveryone how to be safe (just like a school tripagain!) and the friendly landowner Adrian filled usin on all the local info, followed by a buffet dinnerfrom Mark the chef.

Sunday

Everyone made the mammoth trek (all 100 yardsof it!) to site and spent the day cleaning the stone-work of the sea lock, the rebuilding and re-point-ing of which was our task for the week. Somelucky people even got to play with a giant pres-sure washer! A pleasant evening stroll to the localpub turned into a longish trek to the not so localand not so brilliant pub.

Monday

It rained lots. Work was abandoned for the morn-ing and a magical mystery tour around the localarea was swiftly arranged. The local town ofBideford didn�t look too exciting under the pouringrain so on to Appledore and the excellent Mari-time Museum. The weather cleared up duringlunch back at the ranch so the cleaning of stone-work could be completed.

Phil picked Bobby up from the train station, stop-ping off on the way back to buy beer from the winemerchant and socks from the supermarket! Afteranother delicious meal courtesy of Mark, it wasback to Appledore, this time for a jazz night, a greatrecommendation from local Adrian. The night goteven better when we were introduced to the localbrewer who promised us a keg of his finest ale asa reward for our hard work.

On return to the cottage, we were all introducedto another new arrival Caroline, who had foundthe accommodation via a mile long detour alongthe Tarka Trail cycleway!

Tuesday

The safety talk was enjoyed by both new arrivals,who then joined everyone for a day of pointing. Theevening entertainment was a trip to The Bell inMonkleigh which even had a leather sofa outside:apparently the landlord had failed to check if it wouldfit through the door when he bought it!

Wednesday

More pointing, but this time with an adjusted mixafter Tuesday�s had not quite gone off correctly.

Mark was given a well deserved night off, and fishand chips were enjoyed by all. Local Adrian had of-fered a boat trip along the Torridge Estuary, so threepeople travelled into Bideford in his inflatable andwere met by another three who then made the re-turn journey arriving just in time for a very interest-ing talk by a local historian, Barry.

Thursday

Yet another day of pointing for most, although a track-laying dumper had been kindly lent by a friend ofAdrian, so the land could be cleared and copingstones recovered from the other side of the lock.This was a great opportunity to train new volunteerRicky on the excavator (known locally as a swingshovel), although after a life of working on offshoreoil rigs, a mini digger was no problem. Thursdayalso saw a visit from the waterway press in the formof a lady from one of the canal magazines with cam-era and notebook to record our every move.First job was to pressure-wash the lock wall...

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Camp reports�...glow-worms and a man lookingfor an arrow made of twigs...�

A third batch of three made the trip by boat to Bidefordwhere they met up with most of the rest of us in thecharmingly named pub Crabby Dick�s. Some drinkswere drunk, some pool was played, and the sword-fish that hung from the ceiling - sword downwards -was admired sheepishly from the comfort of a barstool. Mark had assured us that the walk back to thecottage along the Tarka Trail would be a shortishand pleasant one. However it turned out he had notplanned for the glow worms and the lone man look-ing for an arrow made from twigs that would directhim to where his friends were camped!

Friday

The final day of work saw more pointing, on whichwe had been making swift progress all week. Workstopped early so that the site kit could be cleaned,counted and put back in the garage we had beenusing all week to store it. One new item of kit hadto be noted, it is about six foot tall, was made inFrance and answers to the name of Alex. Kit Aitem number 999 is spending eight weeks (!) oncamps to improve his English. Like the responsi-ble adults that we all are, we merged the cleaningof the vans with a water-fight thanks to the im-pressive arsenal of super soakers that suddenlyappeared when Weapons of Mass Destructionby Faithless was played on the stereo.

Spencer arrived to take over the reins for Camp 0606just in time for an impressive barbecued feast laidon by Mark, followed by a humungous Baked Alaska(4 litres of ice cream!) complete with dessert spar-kler. As if we weren�t all already full to bursting, acamp fire was lit and marshmallows were toasted.Whilst shopping for the barbecue food and hisWMD, Mark had also bought a number of presentsfor memorable volunteers including a model red vanfor Chris, complete with a dent to the rear bumper!

Saturday

Apart from cleaning and counting the accommo-dation kit, nothing remained for Saturday morn-ing, so the cottage and site were left in the capa-ble hands of a certain Mr Collins and everybodywent their separate ways.

Alice BaystonBobby Silverwood

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...before re-pointing could begin

By the end of the camp, good progress had been made on rebuilding the lock chamber wall

Camp reports... the start of work on the Wilts &Berks Jubilee Junction project...

The Abingdon Job

�Look happy you stupid bastards, we won didn�t we?�

Actually we didn�t. The first day of Camp 0605 ledby myself and Ed saw England go out of the WorldCup. Not that our volunteers got to see it happenbecause we�d already dragged them down to siteto show them The Field that was to be theirworkplace for the next week. You�ve all seen TheField � it�s that one that�s been in all the photoswith a little sign in it which says �Site of the pro-posed junction of the Wilts & Berks Canal withthe River Thames�. That sign has been there fortwo years with only dog-walkers and fishermento appreciate it� until now�

�Does he really need all this equipment?��He says he does�

By 6pm on Saturday 1st July all our volunteers hadarrived, comprising a healthy mix of regular wrgies,sometime-canal-campers and fresh-facednewbies. One lucky person even got to visit theblack hole that is Ed�s garage to pick up all theextra tat (sorry, Very Important Tools) that hecouldn�t fit in his Land Rover the first time round.The group included a strong LondonWRG contingent, and 3 D-of-E�ers � goodto see that they haven�t vanished fromWRG entirely! Our minibus/van/kit-trailerentourage had already arrived earlier inthe day (many thanks to Just Jen andNigel for driving) followed by Harri T whoarrived with the shopping and proceededto cook up a fantastic lasagne � prettyimpressive considering the oven wassans door.

The rest of the accommodation wassomewhat mobbed with depressed foot-ball fans who had turned up unannouncedto watch the England game, so we leftthem sobbing into their Carling and wentto have a look at the site. We�d got our-selves a fair collection of Big Boys� Toysto play with (although the Girls soon stolethem back) including two dumpers, Bluethe excavator and the skid-steer loaderwhich arrived later in the week.

The Field was already starting to look different,having been stripped of topsoil a couple of weeksearlier, but the site for our camp�s new footpath,fence and ramp was still relatively untouched(mwha ha ha). It made a nice change to beginsomething from scratch, and it was especiallygood to see that all the hard work and negotia-tions on the part of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trusthad finally come to fruition� well� almost. Therewas the teeny tiny problem of them not actuallyhaving been granted planning permission for thework at the time of our arrival, despite frantic at-tempts on the part of project director MartinBuckland and his team to get it sorted. However,we had every assurance that planning permissionwould be granted three days later on Tuesday, sowith some hasty re-shuffling and re-branding ofsome jobs as �enabling works�, we were able tofind enough to keep everyone busy.

�It�s a very difficult job and the only way to getthrough it is we all work together as a team. Andthat means you do everything I say.�

After a rousing motivational speech by the lead-ers and the traditional giggle at the safety videowe were ready to start. Rowena led a team of rut-fillers who worked to improve the access road �a very important and strategic job to keep the fish-ermen smiling. Richard�s team did some qualitywillow pruning at the Thames end of the site, toimprove sight-lines for when the new channel isdug. Everyone else set to work scrub-bashing onthe site of the new footpath. Suzie and I foundtime to tend the bonfire in between gossiping. Tazwas trained on Blue, and Nigel and Richard werealso trained on the skid-steer loader by HarryWatts who�d kindly agreed to help us out for a day.

Stu

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Newbie Matt on the vibrating roller

Sound easy? Well, try throwing NO shade, 33°Ctemperatures, a big fat bonfire and horseflies thesize of bats into the equation. It was SO hot weconsumed in the region of 50 litres of water be-tween 18 of us on site. We also started a warbetween us and the horseflies. I think the horse-flies won. Don�t really remember � I was too de-lirious from lack of blood.

On day two our esteemed editor Mr Ludgate ar-rived to help with some more training. Laura andRowena were both trained on dumpers, and Matt,Mark, Nigel, Rowena and Richard were all trainedon the vibrating roller. Much delusions of omnipo-tence followed, but the biggest grin of the daycame from Laura who took to driving a dumperlike a duck takes to sliced bread.

�Edge back as far as you can go, to cou... to coun-terbalance me. Now...�

Our evening entertainment was a highly civilisedpunt along the Thames through Oxford duringwhich the passengers had good fun rocking theboat, and the punters had good fun trying to moveforward, steer, keep balance, avoid trees, and notshit themselves all at the same time. (or was thatjust me�?) It all got rather competitive as threeboats (steered by me, Matt and Stacey) all arrivedat the same point in the river at the same time,and thought it might be good to race back to thestart. However, the newbies boat crew thought itwould be funny to grab hold of our boat and pushit backwards, which was very annoying, as I�d onlyjust got the hang of going forwards. I had sternwords with them afterwards about how pushingthe leaders� boat backwards was very bad behav-iour, and that it was going to impact upon their Dof E reports, but for some reason they didn�t lookvery scared.

Day 3 saw an early start on site after breakfast at7.30am (with the aim of having a longer lunch-break to cut out the hottest part of the day) Wehad some more bonfire action, during which Mattmanaged to burn his boots - the sweet sicklysmell of melting rubber pervaded the air for sometime before we realised what it was, and Matt sud-denly realised that his steel toecaps were ratherwarmer than they should be.

Sally�s team started work on the ramp, whichwould eventually join our new towpath to the ex-isting footpath that runs along Peep-o-Day lane.Beginning work on the ramp involved a medley oftape-measures and application of Pythagoras�theorem, closely backed up by the industry ap-proved TLAR* method of setting out.

Meanwhile, Ed drove over a lamp-iron, Nigel brokethe seat on the skid-steer, and there was no signof any planning permission. Work progressingwell.

In the evening we all piled into SAD for a trip toUpton Cider Farm. Ed got a hat-trick by stallingthe van an impressive seven times in one 30-minute journey. Much swearing ensued. The ci-der farm proved well worth a visit, with a host whowas very keen to show-off his award-winning ci-der and ensure that we�d all drunk our fill (for free!)before we left. Having done some thorough tastetesting we all spent our pocket money in his farmshop, only to return and find that the beer fridgewas far too full of stuff, and there wasn�t nearlyenough room for cider. All non-essential items(milk, medicine, Bacardi Breezers) were removed.Suggestion from camp 0605 for new item on thekit list � dedicated cider fridge.

�If they planned this jam, they planned a way out.�

Wednesday dawned, bringingwith it a dearth of planning per-mission, and an abundance ofrain. There was a slight pausewhilst we waited for the rainto stop and tried to cover thefact that we had no effing cluewhat to do next. Luckily, somefast negotiations betweenMartin Buckland and Ed fol-lowed, and everyone was onsite by 9.30am with jobs todo. Ramp building continued,a future-proofing pipe was in-stalled under the footpath,and the Skids-related incidentsimply required the replacingof Nigel�s nuts. Oh, and whileI remember it, we had Moroc-can Lamb Balls for dinner.

Row

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Planning permission at last obtained, work begins on path laying

We all adjourned to Oxford�s finest leisure facilityfor cinema and bowling� well, not quite � a sum-mer school had booked out the entire venue sothe bowling contingent amused themselves onarcade games and the Euro-Tunes ElectricDance Machine, at which I understand Matt wasrather adept. No comment.

On Thursday Sally assembled her all-girl bonkingteam (yes, I know�) including Sarah, Rachel, Lauraand Stacey who set to work putting up fence posts.Some guys from the local trust tried to give Sally�steam some advice on the best bonking techniques,but by then they had already devised a successfulmethod and didn�t require� oh I give up. The jokes�the jokes� they just kept coming�

Meanwhile I discovered Nigel, Tazand Ed having an in-depth discus-sion about nipples. Apparently thenipples supplied by Martin Bucklandwere too small. We turned toStacey�s Company Magazine foradvice, but all it gave was detailedinformation on nipple reduction � nothow to make them bigger. I think it�sworth mentioning also that Ed gotanother hat-trick. This time manag-ing to stall the Skids a mere 6times, whilst loading one dumper.Much laughing ensued.

We also began some work to raisethe level of the footpath at a previ-ously low spot, with earthworksexpertly fashioned by Taz in Blue(erm, and then slightly less expertlysquashed a bit by the dumpers).

Oh, by the way � we got planning permission!Hooray! Although the real grin of the day camefrom Stacey who got a go in Blue for a couple ofhours, and ended up looking like she�d found anew calling in life.

�It�s all here. Maps, drawings, plans, everything��

�and on the last day we got to use them! On thefinal day, we�d got planning permission, the foot-path materials were on their way, the correct nip-ples arrived, the sun was shining and we had eve-rything to play for! All we had to do was get theroller out of the mire, and start laying footpath!Which we did � with great gusto and some seri-ous hard work from everyone � quite impressiveat the end of a long, hot week. We managed toget an entire 50 m of footpath laid, rolled andtweaked (with only a slight ravine at one end) plusall the end-of-camp cleaning and faffing that goeson. Sally and Co cleaned and packed most of thekit, whilst the rest of us finished up on site.

The result was a good-looking bit of footpath, anexpertly bonked (and very straight) fence-line, anda whole lot of mud moved from one place to an-other. And most importantly, after an entire weekof trying, Stuart actually managed to make Nigel acup of coffee that he didn�t complain about.

Our end of camp party / BBQ was welcomed byall � Suzie arrived with a large box of Mars Barslices (which survived about as long as an icecube in hell), much cider was consumed and wehad the obligatory cereal box game (followed bymucho groin-strain) and tying together of peoplewith string.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped makethe camp a suc-cess � to MartinBuckland and theother Wilts & Berksstalwarts who put ina lot of hours onsite, to MartinLudgate and HarryWatts for comingalong to train our vol-unteers, to Harri Tfor her usual qualitycooking (congratson her new job inci-dentally!), to Lon-don WRG for lend-ing us some of theirtools and kit, and toall the happy camp-ers who led teams /worked hard / madeus laugh.

The next instalment of The Abingdon Job will con-tinue in August under the leadership of Harry &Corrine, then Nina & Izzy. Until then you�ll just haveto wait with bated breath�

�Hang on a minute, lads� I�ve got a great idea. Er��

Awards:

Biggest Excavator Grin � StaceyBiggest Dumper Grin � LauraJohn Travolta Award for Dancing � MattQuality Dumpering Award � RowenaSore-arsed Skids Driving Award � Nigel, RichardAwards for �Making the Leaders� Life Easier� �Sally, Stuart, KateDriving Award (for stalling pretty much every-thing!) � Dr Ed Walker.

* �That Looks About Right�

Liz Wilson

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Kate on the wacker plate

Camp reports...the Unplanned Camp at SevenLocks, also on the Wilts & Berks...

The alternative (unplanned) CampWilts & Berks 24th June � 1st July 2006

Less than two weeks before 24th June, this wasnot only an unplanned, but a not even consideredcamp. It was all ever so slightly confusing, start-ing with me being informed by several people (andconfirmed by MKP) that at the last WRG meetingit was planned that I would lead the second week�scamp on the Lord Rolle Canal. It was only after I�ddone a site visit and discussed the work with thelandowner (and Di had started making cakes) thatI had a �phone call telling me that the ChichesterCamp due to run concurrent with the first week ofthe Lord Rolle had been cancelled, and the leaderthere had agreed to transfer to the second weekof the Lord Rolle. Knowing that both weeks of thelatter were fully booked (limited accommodation),and thinking that any volunteers booked for Chich-ester might want another camp to transfer to, Iquickly set up arrangements for one on the Wilts& Werks. We always have plenty of work, andextra help is always welcome.

As it turned out, only Dave Wedd transferred, sowe rang round a few more old friends, and re-cruited Luke, Pete, Jeremy and Ray, and an evenolder friend - Di - to do the cooking (I mean I�veknown her longest, honestly!)

The work was shared between Dauntsey andSeven Locks. At a recent �corporate� day, a starthad been made on puddling behind our new stopplanks at the top of Dauntsey Lock, and this wascompleted on the camp. We also finished a disa-bled ramp (sorry, a good ramp for disabledpeople) down to the wharf area.

At Seven Locks, our first job was to re-lo-cate the Elephant (our tool store) to a better-disguised location amongst the trees lead-ing to our brew hut. This involved clearingthe appropriate area, emptying the contentsand sorting through - and finding things wehadn�t seen for years - and then strugglingup the slope with it, with a person at eachcorner. I can�t remember when the returnedcontents looked so neat and methodical. Thiscleared all the offside area of Lock 3 readyfor infllling and landscaping.

We had hired a 7-tonne excavator for theweek, which everyone except Luke is nowlicensed to operate, and all of us can drivedumpers. We continued profiling the towpathside of Lock 4, with the excavated materialbeing transferred to the cleared area of Lock3. This was steadily built up, and is now com-pleted apart from the topsoil. Dredged siltfrom below Lock 4 was spread on the tow-path side of Lock 3, and left to settle.

On the first Sunday, augmented by our regularlocal work party, we moved - with the aid of theexcavator - large coping stones so they could becut and fitted to the upper wing walls of Lock 3.

All except Luke had to go home by Friday evening,just before the arrival of Essex WRG (a depletednumber, due to holidays etc., only two on site),and the work at Seven Locks was continued overthe weekend, which also involved moving all thestone lying around on the site, which was piled onone side to use later for stone-facing the towpathside of the pound, or for coping stones on thelocks. Di and I skived off on the Saturday to manthe Wilts & Berks stall at the Saul Festival, leav-ing Luke in charge.

It shows how much can be achieved with a smallbut experienced team, and the week�s work hasadvanced the progress on our stretch. As ever,Luke and I are very grateful for all the extra help,and it is always nice to see old friends.

Rachael Banyard

Lock 3 at Seven Locks nearing completion

IWA National Trailboat Festival Report

The National Trailboat Festival this year was heldat Easter on the Northern Reaches of the Lan-caster Canal, i.e. the bit that was cut off from therest of the Lancaster Canal when the M6 was built.It was listed in Navvies as a WRG camp, but as itwasn�t centrally booked it turned out in practise tobe WRG NW plus Bungle.

We arrived at the site on Wednesday just beforeEaster, and began the usual preparation for a fes-tival site: setting out the site and the camp site,getting together all the fencing, sheds, tables,chairs and anything else that might be needed,while Malcolm and Bungle started their usual ex-cellent job of getting all the electrics sorted. Someof the IWA festival team were also there, so de-spite some inexperience on the part of local ca-nal trust and IWA branch members who had or-ganised the festival, there were enough old handsaround to ensure that things went fairly smoothly.

As the site for this year�s festival was theshowground for the Westmorland show, most ofthe bits we needed were stored on the site per-manently, and all we had to do was transfer themfrom the farm buildings onto site. The fun bit onthe first day was trying to get the sheds we wantedfor the pay cabin and site offices out of the barn.The sheds were taller than the space at the frontof the barn, so it was impossible to simply get thetelehandler in and lift them out. They needed tobe moved sideways, which we achieved with bruteforce and ignorance (more of the latter, I suspect).We had tried to find something to roll them on,without success, and only after getting them outdid we find a pile of scaffold tubes next to an ad-joining building. We also took the sheds througha very narrow gateway (using the telehandler now),with only a couple of inches each side to spare.This was just before we realised that the fencepanels each side were in sockets, so could eas-ily be lifted out. We live and learn!

Thursday was a bit more of the same, with a fewof the trailboats stating to arrive and marqueesbeing erected, and despite initial misgivings, itstarted to look like everything might actually goaccording to plan. It rained a bit on Thursday, sothe site got a bit slippery, and of course that meantthe usual vehicles getting stuck. Fortunately thesite was reasonably level, so there wasn�t toomuch of this. However, one of the traders de-cided that while he was being towed, he shouldsteer in the opposite direction to normal, and so

get even more stuck inthe mud than he hadbeen. More about the�intelligent� local com-munity later.

The accommodationhadn�t been availableon the Wednesdaynight, so some of theteam had brought cara-vans or made other ar-rangements. The crewfrom a visiting trip boathad intended sharingthe accommodationwith us, although a dif-ferent trip boat had thencome along and thecrew arranged theirown accommodation.All this meant that whenwe did get access tothe local village hall,there were only three ofus using it! It made forvery spacious sleepingarrangements.

page 14

Camp reports...and finally the Lancaster Ca-nal National Trailboat Festival

Friday was quite windy, and there were only thefinal bits to do such as siting the rubbish bins andfire extinguishers, but at least the wind was help-ing dry the site out. That was also the day whenmost of the smaller tents and gazebos were be-ing erected, so we had great fun learning how tomake parachutes out of tents.

Saturday was the first day of the festival, and goodweather brought a good number of visitors. Wewere all prepared for the inevitable major cock-up, but couldn�t believe how well things went. Ifanything, it was all scarily good. We must havedone something wrong! The only major hiccupwas the BBC�s brand new bus which they had onsite, and found that the electrics were all wrong.Bungle came to the rescue, and managed to getthem sorted.

The following two days of the festival saw colderweather, so fewer visitors, which meant that someof the traders started getting a little upset as theirtakings weren�t what they expected. Towards theend of Monday, as it approached closing time,some of them had decided to pack up and leaveearly, despite the rule that no vehicle movementsare allowed on the site itself until all the public hadleft. This led to some heated exchanges betweenstewards and traders, with one trader driving intoa steward � fortunately at very low speed, so noharm done.

page 15

At the end of Mon-day�s session, someof the WRG teamtook a trip on one thetrip boats to theNorthern end of thewatered section ofthe canal, followed bya walk to theHincaster tunnel,which had been thesubject of workingparties/camps in thepast. On return to site,we started the dis-mantling process,which again wentvery smoothly, leav-ing only odd bits to doon Tuesday beforefinishing at lunchtime.This time we usedthe scaffold tubes asrollers, which madethe job a whole loteasier.

At the accommoda-tion, we had workedout on the first night

that it was difficult to lock the door from the in-side, as the lock was loose in the rebate. We�ddecided to fix it for them when we had time, whichturned out to be on Monday morning before leav-ing for site, so had taken �the right tools for the job�with us on Sunday night. On the previous nights,we�d been able to lock the door after a struggle,but for some reason on Sunday we hadn�t lockedit. At about 1.30 am, we were woken by brighttorches shining into our eyes and the shout of�f***ing hellfire�, as three of Lancashire�s finestconstables responded to a report of strange go-ings on (we�re not sure whose snoring that was).I think it�s fair to say that they were more surprisedthan we were. After the usual beatings, stripsearches etc., they accepted that we were therelegitimately and allowed us to get back to sleep.The odd thing is that they said they�d had a simi-lar report the previous night as well. They�re obvi-ously the fast response team. I don�t normallysleep well for the first few days in a strange place,and I think I�d just started catching up on the sleepwhen we were raided. Just what I didn�t need!

I�ve since been assured that both the local beatbobby and the police station had been informedindependently that we would be staying at the hall,so there�s obviously been a breakdown in com-munication somewhere. At least they didn�t getthe helicopter out for us!

Paul Shaw

ASHBY CANAL ASSOCIATIONRod Smith4 Ashby Road, SinopeCoalville LE67 3AYTel: 01530 833307

BARNSLEY, DEARNE & DOVECANAL TRUSTJune Backhouse, 39 Hill St,Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8EN01226 743383www.bddct.org.uk

BIRMINGHAM CANALNAVIGATIONS SOCIETYJeff Barley, 17 SunnysideWalsall WoodW Midlands01543 373284www.bcn-society.org.uk

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCTony Collins18 Skeats WharfPennylandMilton Keynes MK15 8AY01908 604731email:[email protected]

BUGSWORTH BASIN (IWPS)Ian EdgarBrowside Farm, Mudhurst LaneLyme Handley, Whaley BridgeHigh Peak SK23 7BT01663 732493email: [email protected]/iwps/index.htm

CALDON & UTTOXETERCANALS TRUSTJohn Rider1 Dainty CloseLeekST13 5PX01538 386790email: [email protected]

CHESTERFIELD CANAL TRUSTMick Hodgetts31 Pottery LaneChesterfield S41 9BH01246 620695www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk

CHICHESTER SHIP CANALTRUSTLinda Wilkinson,1 Chidham LaneChichester PO18 8TL01243 576701www.chichestercanals.co.uk

COTSWOLD CANALS TRUSTNeil Ritchie, The Chapel HouseSandford Rd, ChurchdownGloucestershire GL3 2HD01452 854057email: [email protected]

DERBY & SANDIACRE CANALSOCIETYDoug Flack23 Thoresby Crescent, DraycottDerby DE72 3PH01332 874239www.derbycanal.org.uk

DIG DEEP INITIATIVEAlan Cavender10 Vicarage RoadMaidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7DS01628 629033email: [email protected]

DORSET & SOMERSET CANALSTUDY GROUPDerrick Hunt, 43 Greenland MillsBradford on Avon, Wilts BA15 1BL01225 863066email: [email protected]

DROITWICH CANALS TRUSTVaughan Welch29 Dice PleckNorthfield, Birmingham B31 3XW0121 477 9782email: [email protected]/dct/home.htm

EAST ANGLIAN WATERWAYSASSOCIATIONDavid Revill, 43 Kings RoadColtishall, Norfolk NR12 7DX01603 738648email: [email protected]

EREWASH CANAL P&DAMick Golds73 Sudbury AvenueLarklands, IlkestonDerbys DE7 5EANotts (0115) 9328042

FOXTON INCLINED PLANE TRUSTc/o Mike BeechFoxton Canal MuseumMiddle Lock, Gumley RoadFoxton, Market HarboroughLeicestershire LE16 7RA0116 279 2657email: [email protected]

GRAND WESTERN CANALTRUSTDenis Dodd, Wharf CottageNynehead, WellingtonSomerset TA21 0BU01823 661653

GRANTHAM CANALRESTORATION SOCIETYColin Bryan113 Hoe View RoadCropwell BishopNottingham NG12 3DJ01159 892248email: [email protected]

HEREFS & GLOUCS CTc/o The Wharf House, OverGloucester GL2 8DB01452 332900www.h-g-canal.org.uk

KENT & EAST SUSSEX CANALRESTORATION GROUPEddie Jones�Altamount�, Coventry RoadFillongleyCoventryCV7 8EQ0845 226 8589email: [email protected]

LAPAL CANAL TRUST26 Loynells Road,RednalBirmingham B45 9NP01785 713862 / 020 8293 9744www.lapal.org

LICHFIELD & HATHERTONCANALS REST'N TRUSTPhil Sharpe34 Old Eaton Road Rugeley, StaffsWS15 2EZ01889 583330email: [email protected]

NEATH & TENNANT CANALSOCIETYIan Milne16 Gower Road,Sketty,Swansea SA2 9BY01792 547902

NWPGGraham Hawkes27 Lawrence Rd,Tilehurst, ReadingBerks RG30 6BH0118 941 0586email:[email protected]

POCKLINGTON CANALAMENITY SOCIETYPaul WaddingtonChurch House, Main St.Hemingborough, SelbyN. Yorks YO8 7QE01757 638027 (eves)01405 763985 (days)www.pocklington.gov.uk/PCAS

SCARS (SANKEY CANAL)Colin Greenall16 Bleak Hill Rd, EcclestonSt. Helens WA10 4RW01744 731746www.scars.org.uk

SHREWSBURY & NEWPORTCANALS TRUSTTam Hazanemail: [email protected]

SHROPSHIRE UNION CSRichard Hall, 35 Tyrley CottagesMarket Drayton TF9 2AH01630 657737email: [email protected]

SLEAFORD NAVIGATIONTRUSTSteve Hayes, 10 Chelmer CloN Hykeham Lincs LN8 8TH01522-689460email: [email protected]

SOMERSET COAL CANAL SOCBob Parnell, 34 Wedgewood RoadTwerton, Bath BA2 1NX01225-428055rtjhomepages.users.btopenworld.com/SCC2.html

RIVER STOUR TRUSTJohn Morris2 Stockton Close HadleighIpswich IP7 5SHemail: [email protected]

STRATFORD ON AVON CANALSOCIETYRoger Hancock, 1 Tyler StreetStratford upon Avon CV37 6TY01789 296096email: [email protected]

SURREY & HANTS CANAL SOCPeter Redway, 1 Redway CottagesSt. John's Lye, Woking GU21 1SL01483 721710email: [email protected]/front.htm

SUSSEX OUSE RESTORATIONTRUSTPaul Morris, FarmcoteNettlesworth Lane, Old Heathfield,Heathfield TN21 9AP01453 863683email: [email protected]

SWANSEA CANAL SOCIETYClive Reed17 Smithfield Road, Pontardawe,Swansea, West Glam. SA8 4LA01792 830782

THAMES & MEDWAY CANALASSOCIATIONJohn Epton, 45 Vinson CloseOrpington Kent, BR6 0EQhomepage.ntlworld.com/john.epton/tmca

page 16

DirectoryPlease help us keep the Direc-tory up to date - see below right

WENDOVER ARM TRUSTRoger Leishman7 Hall Park, BerkhamstedHP4 2NU01442 874536www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk

WEY & ARUN CTThe GranaryFlitchfold FarmLoxwoodBillingshurstWest Sussex RH14 ORH01403 752403email: [email protected]

WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUSTGeorge Eycott36 Grange CourtBoundary RoadNewbury RG14 7PH01635 569449email: [email protected]

WOODEN CANAL BOATSOCIETY5 Oaken Clough TerraceLimehurstAshton under Lyne OL7 9NY0161-330-2315

IWA IPSWICHColin TurnerCornerwaysElm Lane, CopdockIpswich IP8 3ET01473-730586email: [email protected]/iwa

WRG: GENERAL ENQUIRIES,CANAL CAMP BOOKINGS ANDDRIVER AUTHORISATIONPO Box 114,Rickmansworth WD3 1ZY01923 711114email: [email protected]

WRG NORTH WESTMalcolm Bridge3 Heather BankLittleboroughLancashire OL15 0JQ01706 378582email: [email protected]

WRG NW - ENQUIRIES/PAPERCHASESDavid McCarthyWoodstock, 14 Crumpsall LaneManchester. M8 5FB0161-740 2179www.wrgnw.org.uk

WRG BITM & 'NAVVIES' DIARYDavid Wedd7 Ringwood RoadBlackwaterCamberleySurrey GU17 0EY01252 874437email: [email protected]

LONDON WRGTim Lewis5 Herongate Road, WansteadLondon E12 5EJ07802 518094email: [email protected]

LONDON WRG: ENQUIRIESLesley McFadyen(as per Martin Ludgate below)

WRG EAST MIDLANDSJohn Baylis (see below)

ESSEX WRGDave Dobbin130 Ashingdon RoadRochford, EssexSS4 1RR01702-544096email: [email protected]

WRG SOUTH WESTGavin Moor54 Kiln Close, CalvertBuckinghamMK18 2FD07970 [email protected]

IWA/WRG STAMP BANKSteve & Mandy Morley33 Hambleton GroveEmerson valleyMilton Keynes MK4 2JS01908 520090email: [email protected]

CANAL CAMPS MOBILES(A) 07850 422156(B) 07850 422157

'NAVVIES' EDITORMartin Ludgate35 Silvester RdEast DulwichLondon SE22 9PB020 8693 32660777 947 8629 (mobile)email: [email protected]

'WRGWEAR' CLOTHINGHelen GardnerNB 'Sussex'Weaver ShipyardSaxons LaneNorthwich CW8 1LB07989 425346email: [email protected]

WRG FORESTRY TEAMGraham RobinsonSpringwell, Spark BridgeUlverstonCumbria LA12 7ST01229 861317

WRG BOAT CLUBSadie Dean236 Station RdWhittleseyPeterborough PE7 2HA01733 20450507748 186867 (mobile)email [email protected]

WRG DIRECTORS

CHAIRMANMike Palmer3 Finwood RoadRowingtonWarwickshire CV35 7DH01564 785293email: [email protected]

TREASURERRoger Day,5 Merton Road, SloughBerks SL1 1QW

SECRETARYNeil Edwards,c/o IWA, PO Box 114Rickmansworth WD3 1ZYemail: [email protected]

WRG PLANTMalcolm Bridge3 Heather BankLittleboroughLancashire OL15 0JQemail: [email protected] 378582

SITES GROUP & PUBLICITYJudith Moore3 Finwood Road,RowingtonWarwickshire CV35 7DH01564 785293email: [email protected]

WRGPRINTJohn & Tess Hawkins4 Links WayCroxley Grn,Rickmansworth WD3 3RQ01923 448559email: [email protected]

IWA CHAIRMANJohn Fletcherc/o IWA, PO Box 114Rickmansworth WD3 1ZYemail:[email protected]

page 17

TRANSPORT MANAGERPlease contact Mike Palmer (seeabove) until further notice

WRG LOGISTICSJen Leigh45 Glebe RoadSheffield S10 1FBemail: [email protected]

OTHER DIRECTORS

George Eycott (see under Wilts &Berks Canal Trust, left)

Mick Beattie22 Bridgewater AveAnchorsholme, BlackpoolLancs FY5 3NA01253 864034

Adrian Fry89 The Causeway, Quedgeley,Gloucester GL2 4LD07976 640962email: [email protected]

Spencer CollinsThe Boatyard, 5 Hammond WayTrowbridge BA14 8RS07976 084055email: [email protected]

Chris Davey / Helen Davey6 Partridge Ct, Round Close RdAdderburyBanbury OX17 3EP01295 812002email: [email protected]

Jonathan Smith23 Hardings, ChalgroveOxford OX44 7TJ01865 891 370email: [email protected]

John Baylis,215 Clipstone Rd WestForest Town, MansfieldNotts NG19 0HJ01623 633895

Updating this Directory:please help!

The aim of this Directory is to give up-to-date contactdetails for all parts of WRG, plus all other groupsthat are involved in volunteer work on waterways.However it can only be as accurate and up-to-date asthe information that is supplied to us.If you spot anything incorrect, please tell us. Also ifyou are involved in a canal society not listed herethat carries out volunteer work, please give us yourwork party organiser�s details. And if your canalsociety is currently listed but no longer carries outwork-parties please tell us, and we will remove yourentry so that you are not troubled by queries fromwould-be volunteers. A fuller list of canal societycontacts is available in the IWA's WaterwaySocieties Guide, available from IWA Head Officeand on www.waterways.org.uk. Thank You.

Canal Camps cost £42 per week unless otherwise stated.Bookings for WRG Canal Camps (those identified by a campnumber e.g. 'Camp 0619') should go to WRG Canal Camps,PO Box 114, Rickmansworth WD3 1ZY.Tel: 01923 711114. Email: [email protected]

page 18

DiaryAug 22-30 Camp 0619 IWA National Festival Camp at Beale Park: Leader: Dave �Moose� Hearnden

Aug 26-28 KESCRG National Festival with Bahjee Stand

Sep 1 Fri Navvies Press date for issue 219

Sep 9/10 NWPG Mon & Brec Canal: Dig Deep project at Fourteen Locks

Sep 9/10 KESCRG Wilts & Berks Canal: Dig Deep project at Seven Locks. KESCRG AGM. NOTE C

Sep 9/10 London WRG Wey & Arun Canal: Dig Deep project at Brewhurst Lock

Sep 10 Sun WRG Committee & Board Meetings

Sep 16/17 wrgBITM Wey & Arun Canal: Dig Deep project. Leader: Graham Hotham

Sep 16 Sat FCC Cromford Canal

Sep 23/24 wrgSW Hereford & Gloucester Canal: NOTE change of date from Sep 16/17

Sep 24 Sun EAWA North Walsham & Dilham Canal

Sep 30/Oct 1 London WRG To be arranged

Oct 7/8 NWPG Wey & Arun Canal: Dig Deep project at Brewhurst Lock

Oct 7/8 KESCRG Lichfield Canal: Dig Deep project at Tamworth Road

Oct 7/8 wrgNW Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal: (provisional)

Oct 7/8 Essex WRG Foxton Inclined Plane: Nesting boxes and hedging.

Oct 14/15 wrgSW Cotswold Canals

Oct 21/22 London WRG Wey & Arun Canal: Dig Deep project at Brewhurst Lock

Oct 21/22 wrgBITM Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation: Leader: Tony Hinsley

Oct 21-28 Camp 0620 Grantham Canal Camp

Oct 28 Sat wrgNW �Paper Chase� waste paper collection

Nov 1 Wed Navvies Press date for issue 220

Nov 4/5 NWPG Wey & Arun Canal: Dig Deep project at Brewhurst Lock

Nov 4-5 WRG Bonfire Bash, Grantham Canal. See P6-7 for details and booking form

Nov 4/5 KESCRG WRG Bonfire Bash at Grantham

Nov 4/5 wrgNW Bonfire Bash at Grantham

Nov 4/5 London WRG Bonfire Bash at Grantham

Nov 4/5 wrgSW Bonfire Bash at Grantham

Nov 4/5 Essex WRG Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation: Heybridge Basin Bash. Clearing the off-side ban

Nov 4 Sat WRG Committee & Board Meetings: At the Bonfire Bash venue.

Nov 18/19 wrgBITM Chichester Canal: Leader: Graham Hotham

Nov 18/19 London WRG To be arranged

Nov 18/19 wrgNW Hollinwood Canal

Nov 18/19 FCC Cromford Canal

Dec 2/3 KESCRG Joint Christmas Party dig with London WRG on the Basingstoke Canal

Dec 2/3 London WRG Joint Christmas Party dig with KESCRG on the Basingstoke Canal

Dec 2/3 wrgNW Montgomery Canal: Llanymynech

p Please send updates to Diary compiler:

Dave Wedd, 7 Ringwood Rd, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey GU17 0EY.

Tel 01252 874437. email: [email protected].

page 19

[email protected]

Eddie Jones 0845-226-8589 [email protected]

Martin Ludgate 020-8693-3266 [email protected]

Graham Hawkes 0118-941-0586 [email protected]

CHANGE OF DATE Eddie Jones 0845-226-8589 [email protected]

Tim Lewis 07802-518094 [email protected]

Mike Palmer 01564-785293 [email protected]

Dave Wedd 01252-874437 [email protected]

Jean Helliwell 0161-681-3623

Gavin Moor 07970-989245 [email protected]

David Revill 01603-738648 [email protected]




David McCarthy 0161-740-2179 [email protected]

Dave Dobbin 01702-544096 [email protected]




[email protected]

David McCarthy 0161-740-2179

Martin Ludgate 020-8693-3266 [email protected]


[email protected]


Centrally Booked



nk to provide moorings. Dave Dobbin 01702-544096 [email protected]

Mike Palmer 01564-785293 [email protected]




Jean Helliwell 0161-681-3623




DiaryCanal Societies� regular monthly or weeklyworking partiesPlease send any amendments, additions anddeletions to Dave Wedd (address on previous page)3rd Sunday of month BCNS Jeff Barley 01543-3732842nd Sunday & following Thurs BCS Buckingham area Athina Beckett 01908-661217Anytime inc. weekdays BCT Aqueduct section Gerald Fry 01288-353273Every Sunday ChCT Various sites Mick Hodgetts 01246-620695Mon & Wed mornings CCT Cotswolds Dudley Greenslade 01453 825515Every weekend (Sat OR Sun) CCT Cotswolds Neil Ritchie 01452-8540571st Sunday of month CCT Cotswolds: summit Mark Welton 01453-872405Wednesday evenings CCT Cotswolds: East end Keith Harding 01451-860181Every Saturday DCT Droitwich Canal Jon Axe 0121-608 0296Last Sunday of month EAWA N Walsham & Dilham David Revill 01603-7386484th Sunday of month ECPDA Langley Mill Michael Golds 0115-932-8042Second Sun of month FIPT Foxton Inclined PlaneMike Beech 0116-279-26572nd weekend of month GCRS Grantham Canal Colin Bryan 0115-989-22482nd Sat of month GWCT Nynehead Lift Denis Dodd 01823-661653Tuesdays H&GCT Oxenhall Brian Fox 01432 358628Weekends H&GCT Over Wharf House Maggie Jones 01452 618010Wednesdays H&GCT Over Wharf House Wilf Jones 01452 413888Weekends H&GCT Hereford Aylestone Martin Danks 01432 344488Every Sunday if required IWPS Bugsworth Basin Ian Edgar 01663-7324931st Saturday & 3rd Wed. IWA Ipswich Stowmarket Navigtn. Colin Turner 01473-7305862nd weekend of month K&ACT John Rolls 01189-6663162nd Sunday of month LCT Lancaster N. Reaches Will Warburg 01931-7133171st, 2nd, 4th Sun + 3rd Sat LHCRT Lichfield Phil Sharpe 01889-5833303rd Sunday of month LHCRT Hatherton Denis Cooper 01543-3743702nd & last Sundays PCAS Paul Waddington 01757-6380272nd Sunday of month SCARS Sankey Canal Colin Greenall 01744-7317461st Sunday of month SCCS Combe Hay Locks Bob Parnell 01225-428055Most weekends SHCS Basingstoke Peter Redway 01483-7217101st Sunday of month SNT Haverholme Lock Dave Pullen 01673-8622781st weekend of month SUCS Newhouse Lock Mike Friend 01948-8807233rd Sunday of month TMCA David Rouse 01474-362861Every Sunday & Thurs WACT varied construction Eric Walker 023-9246-3025Mondays (2 per month) WACT tidying road crossings John Empringham 01483-562657Tuesdays WACT Tickner's Heath Depot Colin Gibbs 020-8241-7736Wednesdays WACT maintenance work Peter Jackman 01483-772132Wednesdays WACT Loxwood Link Peter Wilding 01483-422519Tues, Thurs & Sats WACT Winston Harwood Grp Laurie Wraight 01903-721404Various dates WACT Hedgelaying (Oct-Mar)Keith Nichols 01403-7538821st w/e of month (Fri-Mon) WAT Drayton Beauchamp Roger Leishman 01442-874536Every weekend WBCT Wilts & Berks Canal Peter Smith 01793-852883Every Sunday W&BCC Dauntsey / Foxham Rachael Banyard 01249-892289

Abbreviations used in DiaryBCNS Birmingham Canal Navigations Soc.BCS Buckingham Canal SocietyBCT Bude Canal TrustChCT Chesterfield Canal TrustCCT Cotswolds Canals TrustDCT Droitwich Canals TrustEAWA East Anglian Waterways AssociationECPDA Erewash Canal Pres. & Devt. Assoc.FIPT Foxton Inclined Plane TrustGCRS Grantham Canal Restoration SocietyGWCT Grand Western Canal TrustH&GCT Hereford & Gloucester Canal TrustIWPS Inland Waterways Protection SocietyK&ACT Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

KESCRG Kent & E Sussex Canal Rest. GroupLCT Lancaster Canal TrustLHCRT Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Rest'n TrustNWPG Newbury Working Party GroupPCAS Pocklington Canal Amenity SocietySCARS Sankey Canal Restoration SocietySCCS Somersetshire Coal Canal SocietySHCS Surrey & Hants Canal SocietySNT Sleaford Navigation TrustSUCS Shropshire Union Canal SocietyTMCA Thames & Medway Canal AssociationWACT Wey & Arun Canal TrustWAT Wendover Arm TrustWBCT Wilts & Berks Canal TrustW&BCC Wilts & Berks Canal Company

Mobile groups' social evenings(please phone to confirm before turning up)London WRG: 7:30pm on Tues 11 days beforeeach dig. Usually at 'Star Tavern', BelgraveMews West, London. Tim Lewis 07802-518094 oremail: [email protected]: 9:00pm on 3rd Tue of month at the'Hope Tap', West end of Friar St. Reading.Graham Hawkes 0118 941 0586

Progress...on the Thames & MedwayCanal in Kent

Thames & Medway Canal

The Thames & Medway Canal Association re-cently celebrated its thirtieth birthday, and held aFun/Activity Day on 7 May � amongst other activi-ties the Cambria Sea Scouts from Greenhithe built(and used!) a rope bridge across the canal.

Earlier, in March, a scrub bashing day took placealong the canal towpath at The Vista, a well knownviewpoint. Twenty members of the Association,plus KESCRG and a Sustrans member (the tow-path is a cycle route) removed brambles and over-hanging branches with the help of a rowing boat,and laid hedges. An old grinder was found, as wellas some original large nails which were used tohold timbers to the towpath when the canal wasin use. The extra help made a great addition tothe work done by the regular weekly work party.

Above left:scrubclearanceby TMCA,KESCRGandSusTransvolunteerson theThames &MedwayCanaltowpath.Above:a view alongthe restoredpart of thecanal.Left:Activity Dayon the canalon May 7th.

Progress...and the Sussex Ouse. andGrand Union Wendover Arm...

Sussex Ouse Navigation

On the weekend of 13/14 May the Sussex OuseRestoration Trust made its first work visit to Isfieldlock. Waist-high stinging nettles were cleared, al-lowing the lock to be seen for the first time fromthe adjacent footpath � passing walkers said theyhadn�t known it was there.

A secure work compound was established en-closed by 6ft high mesh fencing and based arounda tool/trailer unit containing brew up equipment(priority!) with separate toilet etc facilities. By Sun-day we had dug a 5' square drainage sump tostart the draining of the chamber. Probing withdrain rods indicated that the 140 year accumula-tion of silt was 5ft / 1.5m deep to the top of thelower sill instead of the one metre predicted by aprevious survey, thus requiring a deepened sumpand channel.

A smaller workforce the following weekend man-aged in continual rain to dig the sump to a depthof 7ft and, by leaving on Sunday had almostdrained the surface water from the chamber, de-spite a new 3" pump with a mind of its own nothaving given total support.

That night the rains came with a vengeance andthe river rose rapidly to re-fill the chamber andsurrounding area (which are below normal riverlevel), not by overlapping the bank but through awell-intentioned drainage channel constructedsome years ago. The priority now is to fill this chan-nel in and create an earth coffer dam to stop ithappening again. Fortunately the pump has nowseen the error of its ways and we hope to beginthe excavation of the chamber itself soon.

From information supplied by Paul MorrisSussex Ouse Project Manager

Wendover Arm

Footbridge intallation: The work of erecting newfootbridges 4 and 4a was advanced to start onTuesday 25th April and the necessary number ofweekday volunteers were asked to help us overthe three days, Tuesday to Thursday. By the endof the first day, Tuesday, the span of 4A was readyfor lifting in position on the trestles (see picture).

By the end of the second day the main structureof footbridge 4A was completed. This was ourlearning curve: on the third day, the main struc-ture of footbridge 4 was completed in half the time!

On the following days we completed the hand-rails and various fixings but have had to wait tocomplete the steps and decking of both footbridgesuntil they have been routed to take plaques re-cording donations. Many thanks to Ron Pittawayfor organising the routing.

On the Saturday to Monday we were ably assistedby KESCRG who cut and bent steel reinforce-

ment mesh to covermost, if not all, of our re-quirements for this yearand also cleared and lev-elled the remainder of thearea up to our inner en-trance gate for parkingand storage of materials.Many thanks KESCRGfor your assistance.

We must also thank KenGraves who has pro-duced all the drawingsfor the reinforced con-crete wing walls andmooring lengths as wellas fabricating the timberformwork for the 45-de-gree angle sections. Kenhas spent around 70hours at home on thistask!The deck of Footbridge 4a on the Wendover Arm ready for lifting into place

Phase II � Lining and mooring

There has been much debate on the construc-tion method to be used for the lining of the PhaseII length of canal from the current limit of naviga-tion to the A41. The current proposal is to lay Ben-tonite down the banks only extending far enoughinto the level bed for an overlap with Bentonite laidalong the level bed when the banks are completed.The Bentonite on the banks will be anchored us-ing horizontal rods secured by pins at regular in-tervals. Two or three horizontal rows of hollowconcrete blocks will then be bedded on concretehaunching at the bottom of the bank includingconcrete filling of the hollows. Then horizontal rowsof solid concrete blocks will be laid up to�Wendover� water level. Finally the Bentonite willbe covered in spoil to above water level with amesh covering to prevent erosion. When bothbanks are completed, Bentonite will be laid alongthe bed overlapping the Bentonite on the banksand finally covered with 12� (300mm) of spoil.

The intention is to construct bunds at regular in-tervals as work progresses and as each new bundis constructed the previous bund will be breachedto allow water into the canal to keep the Bentonitemoist. Aquatic plants can then be planted on bothsides at (Wendover) water level. When work onPhase II is finally complete, the temporary bundswill be removed by dredging.

During recent work on the footbridges there hasbeen spare excavator and dumper time that hasbeen employed to complete the bulk excavationfor the 50 metre visitor mooring on the off sideimmediately west of Bridge 4. Any further spareresources will be used to excavate the final fewinches for the blinding, place formwork and pourthe blinding with surplus ready-mix concrete fromother works. This mooring is on the offside be-cause the position of Footbridge 4 centrally overthe pipeline does not allow room for a mooringlay-by on the towpath side and there is easy ac-cess from the towpath via the footbridge.

Footbridge 4: The straight reinforced con-crete walls on each side of the narrows,backfill behind the walls, with areas ofweak mix concrete and concrete pads ontop for the main supports and bottom ofthe steps of the footbridge were completedat the March work party.

BW has supplied us with details of the stopplank grooves etc. required at the east endof the narrows after which the 45-degreeend walls will be cast. There will also be45 degree ends to the west end of thewalls but the offside wall will be inset anarrow boat�s width and extended 50 me-tres for the short term visitor mooring.

The opportunity has also been taken to cutdown the scrub, mainly old elder trees,before the nesting season commences inorder to clear the future route of the divertedfootpath from the gate on the BW bound-ary to the bottom of the offside steps.

Footbridge 4A: The straight reinforcedconcrete walls on each side of the nar-rows, backfill behind the walls, with areasof weak mix concrete and concrete padson top for the main supports and bottomof the steps of the footbridge were com-pleted at the April work party. Blinding hasalso been laid ready for the wing walls onthe offside.

Details of restoration work are available onthe Trust�s Restoration web site (managedby Oliver Revel and linked to the main Trustsite) at: http://wendovercanal.org.uk/

Above: Footbridge 4, complete apart from deck and stairtreads which are being prepared for sponsors� plaques.Offside excavation for future short-term moorings in thebackground. Below: Footbridge 4a, also complete apartfrom deck boards and stair treads. The hard-working vol-unteers celebrate on the bridge deck, while excavation forwing walls begins in the foreground.

Progress...the Wey & Arun Canal Trustbuild a horse-bridge...

Wey & Arun Canal

A mile of hedge: If you haven�t visited us yet, dotry to make a trip down to Loxwood at least (al-though there is plenty to see in other parts) to havea look at the new lock being built opposite theOnslow Arms on the B2133. Further south to-wards Drungewick you start to see thehedgelaying along the towpath that started in Oc-tober 2002.

The original hedge was planted about 15 yearsago by the Trust, between Loxwood High Streetand Drungewick Lane. The original number oftrees planted to create the hedge would have beenapproximately 4,000.

Hedgelaying was started in October 2002 with a2-day training course for the team. All laying wasdone in the Sussex style - there are different stylesin different parts of the country, for example theMidland style.

The WACT team continued from 12 November2002, finishing �The Mile� on 7 May 2006. This in-cluded the relaying of 70 metres which was dam-aged by a machine. The work was not only lay-ing, but included coppicing to provide the materialfor laying: 3,520 stakes and 3,520 binders. Thework also included fence removal and re-erec-tion (i.e. 1 mile x 2), strimming, hedge trimmingand re-planting. Four different sections of wood-land have been worked which had not beencoppiced for 30 years, including the Sidney WoodSSSI. Normally, coppiced woodland, if managedcorrectly, would be worked once every 7-12 years.

The total number of �man days� worked (all by vol-unteers) was 465 for laying, coppicing, trimming,fencing and planting. The total number of treesplanted was 832 including 105 metres of newhedge creation.

The team consists of 10 people with occasionalassistance from other teams/members.

The Trust does not just do felling of trees, diggingand construction, it also does active conserva-tion work as in the case of hedgelaying.

The benefits of a layed hedge include: it is morenatural than just a wire fence, rejuvenation of cop-pices, beneficial for insects, small mammals andbirds, allows tow path to dry out faster after periodsof rain, allows people to see more of the countryside,allows more light in which encourages wild flowers.

Tripboat Zachariah Keppel makes its very last public trip through Brewburst Lock before the rebuild begins

Eddie

Jones

If you would like to join the team, please call KeithNicholls, Home: 01403 753882 (e-mail:[email protected])

Donation of tools welcome: The Wey & ArunCanal Trust�s new Maintenance Manager, DavidJessop, has also been busy in making contactwith local companies who can offer �support inkind�. One of these, The Toolbank Group of KingsAvenue, Eastbourne, has generously given theTrust new hand tools worth over £200(www.toolbank.com / 01322 321400).

The Trust�s depot manager, Colin Gibbs, whoselected the tools needed, said �These are ex-citing times for the Trust, with the Loxwoodcrossing project moving into its next phase andnew sections of canal being cleared. All thisactivity has encouraged many more volunteersto come forward. This is great news for theTrust, but more work means we need moretools. Canal restoration is demanding work andwe are most grateful to generous supporterssuch as Toolbank for helping us to keep up themomentum.�

New horsebridge at Loxwood: A new horsebridge is being constructed by the Wey & ArunCanal Trust between the bottom gates and theend of the new lock at Loxwood to provide ac-cess between the towpath and a field on the off-side. This is being built entirely by WACT volun-teers and will be of reinforced concrete, brickfaced construction designed 2 metres wide be-tween the parapets. The bridge will take a weightof 5 tons. The centering seen in the photographis supported with large Acrow props, andthebridge was started about 6 weeks ago.

A new Swedish friend: The Trust has also acquireda new cement mixer which is an ex-Swedish mili-tary batch 315 litre bought from Whittams, nearGrantham. All the signs and instructions with themixer came in Swedish and had to be translated.Fortunately, the Trust�s treasurer, Jim Phillips,hasthe necessary skills. Eric Walker, the B2133 cross-ing project manager said �we were really surprisedto find the French built engine (1974) to be in pris-tine condition just as it had come out of the factory.It had obviously never been used�.

Sally Schupke

Centring in place and scaffolding under construction ready for erection of the Loxwood horsebridge

WA

CT

Progress...and finally the ChesterfieldCanal

Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Terminus: A new �canal quarter� isin prospect for Chesterfield which would see thecurrent anonymous terminus in the River Rotherjust upstream (south) of the St.Helenas floodgate.Demolition of the former Trebor sweet factory andArnold Lavers timberyard has opened up excitingpossibilities for a new terminal basin near the siteof the former second (Great Central) basin. Ches-terfield Borough Council has engaged consultantsto devise a development plan to feature the canaland its towpath as the traffic-free centrepiece ofa mixed use development including offices, flats,bars and cafes together with new public openspaces and informal events areas.

Staveley: The western end of the canal - reo-pened in 2003 - saw a further 100 metre exten-sion in Spring 2005. The canal now continuesthrough the Mill Green Bridge to a new wharf. Afurther 700 metre extension of the western end isdue to be complete by March 2008, as part of workto construct the Markham Vale and Staveley NorthRelief Road.

This project is ex-pected to begin inAugust this year,and for the canalthis will mean thenavigation is ex-tended by severalhundred metresto EckingtonRoad. Works willinclude a naviga-ble crossing ofHall Lane,Staveley.

S t a v e l e y -Renishaw: A �BigLottery� bid, sub-mitted to cover anumber ofprojects in theStaveley area,has unfortunatelyfailed.

The canal element included extension of the navi-gation from Eckington Road to Renishaw, includ-ing a passage under the railway line, and a newaqueduct crossing the River Doe Lea. Othersources of funding are being investigated to en-able parts of the scheme to come forward in thenext 2/3 years anyway.

Renishaw: North East Derbyshire Council haveapproved a planning application to restore 1600metres of canal. The �Renishaw Mile� - stretchingfrom Hague Bridge to Burley Farm Bridge - wouldbe an isolated section of canal on which will com-mence in the next 6-12 months. Trust volunteershave a major project at one end of the site to startnext year (a bridge) and WRG are coming atChristmas to clear the trees from the other end.

Killamarsh: Plans for this area where the canal wasblocked by a new housing in the 1970s are still atthe development stage but a detailed engineeringsolution has been worked out involving a diversion withnew flights of locks. This will take the canal round theback of the Sports Centre and under Sheffield Roadto arrive in Nethermore Lake. The main lock flightwould come down the side of the Sports Centre.

Killamarsh - Kiveton Park: Yorkshire Forward,the Regional Development Agency, has confirmeda grant of £75k to the Chesterfield Canal Partner-ship to fund the engineering study for this sectionwhich includes 2880 yard Norwood Tunnel whichcollapsed in 1907. It will also examine the prob-lems of descending from the western portal of thetunnel into Killamarsh, through the Norwood Flightof 13 staircase locks.

The likely new route for the canal over the top of the collapsed Norwood Tunnel

Above: One of the main problems on the Chesterfield is the collapsed Norwood Tunnel, which is likely tobe partly bypassed by a new canal running at ground level above the tunnel. Below: The derelict NorwoodLocks lead down from the west end of the tunnel to Killamarsh. This one is now part of somebody�s garden

Tim

Lew

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Dig DeepCo-ordinated canal restorationwork

Dig Deep Report July 2006

The Dig Deep initiative is a scheme to co-ordi-nate work by several mobile working party groupsbased mainly in the south of England. The way itworks is that particular restoration jobs areadopted as Dig Deep projects, committing thegroups to giving a certain amount of support tothese projects over a period of time, and therebymaking it easier for the local canal societies whichare leading these projects to commit to the nec-essary funding, materials and equipment to finishthe job within a reasonable timescale.

My last report, something of a minor rant as youreditor quite rightly pointed out, was written in thedepths of a cold January. Now as the tempera-ture rises towards a predicted 31 degrees I prom-ise to remain more chilled. This will hopefully be aprogress report rather than a lecture!

Since January, the Dig Deep Groups, KESCRG,London WRG, NWPG, WRG BITM and EssexWRG have been out around the country support-ing three of our four projects. Why three? � be-cause as until today (1stJuly) we were not due tostart the fourth. You may have read of the progresson some of our sites in the last Navvies � espe-cially with the useful introduction of the revitalised�Progress� column, so I apologise if I repeat any-thing you already know.

There has been a degree of project batching sofar this year. In order to accommodate a pro-gramme of work on the Wey & Arun Canal in thesecond half of the year, we have tended to con-centrate on the other three projects in the first half.On the Wilts & Berks we have been working atSeven Locks near Lyneham. Initially, our main fo-cus has been on completing the lower gate re-cess, return and wing walls of Lock 3. A colderthan usual winter restricted bricklaying on somevisits but with the local team working every week-end, this job is substantially complete. Elsewheretree clearance has taken place at Locks 2 (theone in the middle of the road!) and 1, whilst thebywash channel and compound for Lock 4 wasset up. Work on the demolition of the Lock 4 wallsstarted during the Easter Camp. More weekendvisits are planned for the autumn and it is verylikely that Dig Deep will commit to a further yearon the re-building of Lock 4 when it meets to dis-cuss the programme for 2007 at the end of July.

Moving west to the Mon & Brec, it was originallyplanned that we would start work in March onLocks 19 and 20 of Fourteen Locks, Crumlin Arm,near Risca. However, because of delays in ob-taining the necessary consents to work on thisdesignated Ancient Monument, we have beenasked to divert to Lock 3 closer to Newport.

This is an attractive site owned by Newport CityCouncil in a flight of stone locks that climb towardsthe M4, with a towpath that is much used by theresidents of Newport. We have been asked by theM & B Trust to help them restore this lock prior tofurther work on up the flight. It will be a test bed projectto show (yet again?) what volunteers can do. It isprobably right that we continually do have to proveour worth in order that we maintain our own highstandards. It is intended to provide training in stonelaying and lime mortar which will be passed onfrom the summer camps to the visiting groups.

Both London WRG and NWPGhave worked on the site duringthe early summer months con-centrating on the bywashchannel. Removal of threelarge tree stumps has identifieda need to reconstruct the wholechannel, whereas initially it hadbeen hoped that it could just berepaired. This will keep the threeweeks of summer camps busy,along with rebuilding the top sec-tion of the nearside chamberwall. Subject to permissions andfunding there is work on this sec-tion of canal to keep Dig Deepand everyone else busy formany years.

Mar

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Dig Deep on the Wilts & Berks: LWRG put the finishing touches on Lock 3

The difficulty for some groups, and I certainlyspeak for NWPG here, will be to persuade volun-teers to make the journey. Those who have, havenot been disappointed in the work available, theattractiveness of the site and area and the qualityof the accommodation (and pub!). The latter willbe changing later this year and into 2007 as andwhen the purpose-built volunteer accommodationin the expanded Canal Centre at the top of Four-teen Locks is completed.

From Wales over to the Lichfield Canal whereDig Deep teams have continued to support thework at Tamworth Road, Locks 24 to 26. It wasalso the site of the other Easter Camp reportedon in Navvies 217. Our work has concentrated onthe lengths of canal bank wall between locks, inparticular the towpath wall above Lock 26 (frontcover of the last Navvies) and the roadside wallabove Lock 25.

Both these sections are now substantially com-plete with work moving on to the repair of thechamber walls of Lock 24. This will essentially bea part re-build as it is likely that the level of thecanal will ultimately be dropped to enable passageunder Cricketers Lane about 250 yards above it.Elsewhere, there is the offside wall between Locks25 and 26 to build and the major task of removingthe storm drain running though the whole lengthof this section of canal. Provided that the Trustcan raise enough funds to keep the work goingthen there is work for a further year on this site forDig Deep visiting groups.

So back to where I started - the Wey & Arun.Graham Baird and your Editor in his Camp pre-view set out fully our plans for the next six monthsat Brewhurst Lock. The program and funding arein place and, as I write, KESCRG should be start-ing the access and site compound ready for the

three weeks of summercamp to start in the mid-dle of July. Camp reportsno doubt in the next Nav-vies. The target is to com-plete the job by Christmasand there are five DigDeep weekends duringthe autumn to assist this.Due to the need to con-centrate funds on the lastpart of the project, thebridge under the B2133,Dip Deep is likely to betaking a rest from the W& A in 2007. However vis-iting groups will be still bewelcome to assist withother tasks on the canal.As with all of our projectsthere is no shortage ofsuitable projects, just themoney to fund them.

If your society or trustthinks that you may havea project which could ben-efit from Dig Deep sup-port, please give AlanCavender, Dig Deep Co-ordinator a call. His phonenumber is 01628 629033� other details in the direc-tory. To volunteer to helpon any of the currentprojects please check theNavvies Diary and con-tact the Dig Deep grouporganiser.

Bill NicholsonDig Deep on the Wey & Arun: KESCRG install the access track ready for thisSummer�s major job: to rebuild Brewhurst Lock with its height reduced by 1.7m.

Davi

d M

iller

Boat ClubWRG BC gets its own club-house... of sorts...

wrg bc news

What a good time we had at the Saul Festival!There were lots of boat club members there andwe used the clubhouse for the first time! It�s apagoda belonging to two club members, we deco-rated it with club burgees and put chairs and acouple of tables in it. It was good to have a focalpoint for members to meet, chat or just chill out.

There is an �Officer In Charge� for the club housenow. Should anyone ask �Where is your club-house?�, it can be found on �Pinvin�, when not inuse by the club. Please be nice to the owners, aswe hope to be using it again at The National!

As four of the club officers were present clubmatters discussed were:

. Membership: as such an exclusive (or is itinclusive?) club; memberhip is open to anyboat owner who is, or has been, actively in-volved with wrg, and still supports what wrgdoes. We are aware that not all support involves�playing in the mud�!

. Money: as the treasurer was there we sortedcheques for the donation to Peterborough IWAtowards their bridge raising fund and donationto Broxbourne Cruising Club�s appeal. Will anywrg groups, or individuals, let us know of anyrestoration projects which the club can con-sider for a bit of financial help.

. Notice board: please let me have photos ofwhere you have been �flying the flag�. Photosof our burgee on your boat at interesting, out ofthe way and unusual locations.

. Banner: Sue agreed to try to get us a bannerat our favourite price (free).

. Problems posed by Claire�s proposed moveto Crete. We think she will use this as an ex-cuse not to be our club contact and not to at-tend meetings on our behalf! We decided totry to share the duties, and Sue agreed to helpout if needed. I emphasized the need for re-ports after meetings so we all know what wenton!

Which leads neatly to this report from Claire...

Report from the Association of WaterwaysCruising Clubs regional meeting held at Staf-ford Boat Club on 17th June

The chairman reported the Region Rally 2006 hadbeen a great success making a profit for the se-lected charities of £1,900. Looking ahead for avenue for next year it was suggested we might trythe Chairman�s club or see where we might beinvited, subject to the space for mooringsetc.....watch this space !

I have a copy of the National Executive�s sum-mary of the steering committee�s deliberations,as it is rather long for this report I suggest youtake a look at the web site.

The Midland region is going to have its own webpage so all club activities, photos, places of inter-est etc etc please send to the webmaster. Wewant our region to lead the way!

There is too much emphasis on the South so aforum based website is to be set up on a trial ba-sis. Some reps feel that many club members arenot too sure about the ethos of the AWCC so edi-tors of club magazines are to receive a synopsisof AWCC objectives.

The following points came from user groupmeetings at the AWCC Region AGM

Fire safety laws coming into force in October,doing away with the need for safety certificates(www.odpm.gov.uk ) for details. Speed cameraswill be in operation on the Thames this summer.Strictly 5 MPH. All you Speedy Gonzales watchout on your way to the National!

Unspecified delays at Armitage and Huddlesfordon the railway bridges, Network Rail would not giveBW any clear information re delays or workschedules. Sandwell Coal chutes on the BCNOld Main Line have now been demolished so themain line is open.

Water levels are poor in the South but all mid-land recervoirs are full. There is a suggestion wesend some water south to our poor relations butno info as yet.

The work scheduled for Diglis Basin in Worces-ter is going to cause some disruption and next yearthe work at Stourport will disrupt boating. Anothermillion pounds is going to spent on the ShebdenEmbankment on the Shropshire Union.

Avian Flu: BW still want to be informed of anydead birds found.

As BW are now �hot desking� in their offices weare reminded that all complaints need to be inwriting to the managers and it will be followed upin so many days (I think the number is 20)

Napton is having two new marinas and as thereis plenty of water a third may be in the offing.

Just a reminder that freefone calls to FreefoneCanals are not free from mobiles.

Tixall Wide has been denuded of trees becauseof the danger to boats BW are mindfull of treesfalling across boats as happened last year.

Licence evasion is getting better and better it isnow less than 3% according to BW. (I think shemeans they�re cutting down on evasion!)

There is a great deal of concern re Asian funer-als (no not coconuts again!). There is a deco-rated boat being used on the Soar, from a localhirer, well loaded with mourners, and the de-ceased�s ashes wrapped in silk bundles to be low-ered out overboard. The EA are not concerned ifthere is no pollution,but local residents are veryconcerned as some of the bundles are beingwashed into the side of the river and as this boatruns several times a week it makes for a lot of silkbundles. No boater has so far reported anythingon their prop.

I hope this has given you all the relevant pointsfrom the meeting.

A GIANT bottle of whisky won by one of our nondrinking reps at the rally is going to be raffled atour AGM on March 10th at Wolverhampton BC.Other dates for the meetings are October 21st(Coventry CC) January 13th (Soar BC).

Another web site worth a look iswww.canalworld.net.

Love and stuff, Claire xxx

Many thanks to Claire and we hope all is going wellwith her plans, we will keep members informed.

It was good to see so many members at Sauland I look forward to seeing even more at BealePark. What National Festival awards haven�t got�wrg bc� on them yet? If you can enter for any ofthem, or think of a suitable load for us to carry inLynx so we have a chance to win �that darnchicken� (a.k.a. The Alfred Ritchie Cockerel awardfor the best turned-out working boat) please gofor it, and let us know.

Notice of AGM: As is usual the AGM of WRG BoatClub will be held at the �National�, this year at BealePark. It will be on Saturday 26th of August, exacttime and venue to be announced once we are there.Should you want anything in particular discussed,to offer help or apologies (shame on you), pleasecontact me on Tel: 07748186867 or email:[email protected].

xxx Sadie Dean

Dear Martin

My thanks to Roger in Navvies 217 for re-minding me of the late, great Bill Crockett.

My very first camp and there were some fa-mous names, new to me at the time, butdestined to be indelibly printed in my memory- Sue and Roger Burchett, �Mucky� MickBeattie and Bill Crockett. I still don�t know whyI didn�t simply turn the car round and drivehome again!

I�m glad I didn�t because I would have lostthe opportunity to meet the sort of people whomade WRG what it is. Bill was one of thosepeople you meet and never forget. Rogermentions the litre and a half of whisky - I havea strong suspicion that Roger helped Bill todrain the bottle!

Bill was, of course, a legend when it came totoasters. I�m not convinced that he really diddestroy all those toasters on his own, but itmakes a good story.

Bill would try his hand at anything and hisage was no handicap. An all round nice bloke- he�ll be missed.

Spencer Greystrong

Letters

Navvies newsThe GKP stone, signing-in... and theeditor wants your camp reports!

The Graham Palmer Stone

A harder-wearing replacement for the memorialstone to our founder Graham Palmer (which hadsuffered from vandalism and weathering) is to beinstalled at the same site by Aston Locks on theMontgomery Canal during the weekend of Sep-tember 9th - 10th. The date is subject to confir-mation - please check with Mike Palmer.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the ap-peal for contributions in support of the memorial.

Camp reports

As you will see elsewhere in this issue, we havealready received camp reports from the first cou-ple of Canal Camps on the main summer pro-gramme. But there that leaves three weeks onthe Wey & Arun, three on the Mon & Brec, an-other four on the Wilts & Berks, the National Fes-tival and another on Lord Rolle�s Canal still to reachthe pages of Navvies.

So I hope that by the time you receive this issuethose of you who have been on the rest of theSummer camps will have been scribbling away -or more likely bashing away at your laptops - turn-ing another few weeks of navvying into witty andoriginal contributions for the next issue.

So let�s have them in as soon as possible, please:the press date is September 1st.

And speaking of �original� it�s a long time since wehad a really unusual contribution... like the campreport written entirely in verse... or the one thattook the form of a series of �Roobarb and Cus-tard� cartoons... or the one supposedly written bythe tools, rather than by the volunteers...

And remember to send me your photos too.

Signing-in: is it necessary?

I thought I was going to manage a whole navvieswithout a health and safety reminder but at thelast minute both the HSE and our insurers pro-duced a reminder on the subject of site registers,signing on for work, etc.

I have been asked a few questions on this overthe years so here�s a bit of general info...

There are some times when a rigid signing in/outprocedure is mandatory (such as confinedspaces etc.) However on a more normal site it isless clear as to the rules, particularly as somegroups feature the same people every month -whereas others have different people every day.Equally some sites have their own registration ar-rangements whereas other are rather lacking.

Now there are three reasons why knowing who ison your site is important. Firstly, you do need toknow their details* should the worst happen.

Secondly, it is really important to keep a good recordof your efforts for the matched funding � in man-agement terms this is the upside to paperwork �a chance to claim cash for filling the forms in!

Thirdly, our insurers remind us that they will needto know who was there in the event of the worsthappening. Although you may say that it is obviouswho is on site should the worst happen, our insur-ers remind us that, these days, it is often manymonths before any one realises that the worst hashappened. And how good is your memory?

So it is necessary to be able to say who is onyour event � as mentioned before, the huge di-versity within volunteer groups means mean wecan�t really set any guidelines. You could have arigid signing in procedure but then again perhapsjust a habit of taking a group photograph everyweekend and keeping it in a central place. Onlyyou know what is suitable for your group.

Anyway, lecture over � you know the requirements� how you do it is up to you.

Mike Palmer

*The WRG standard signing on form is availableon the website www.wrg.org.uk and this has prettymuch all the info we have found to be needed.

And finally...

I was very impressed by a huge pack of stuff thatfell through my letter box yesterday from thosefine chaps at Land and Water � dredger special-ists. Huge pictures of exciting machines (withGPS bucket data, no less!) and great write ups ofmajor projects. To quote: �led by contractor andno consultants involved�. They sound like our sortof people. Then I remembered, they are our peo-ple! In case any further proof were needed thepackage included their new magazine, giving allthe details of work down at the water face. Thetitle? BANKSIDE! Hmmm.

MKP

Directors of WRG:

Rick Barnes, JohnBaylis, Mick Beattie,Malcolm Bridge, SpencerCollins, ChristopherDavey, Helen Davey,Roger Day, NeilEdwards, George Eycott,John Fletcher, AdrianFry, John Hawkins,Jennifer Leigh, JudithMoore, Michael Palmer,Jonathan Smith.

Secretary: Neil Edwards

VAT reg. no : 788 9425 54

© 2006 WRGISSN 0953-6655

Nothing printed may be con-strued as policy or an officialannouncement unless sostated - otherwise WRG andIWA accept no liability for anymatter in this magazine.

Waterway Recovery Groupis a division of Inland Water-ways Enterprises Ltd., a sub-sidiary of the Inland Water-ways Association (a regis-tered charity).

Inland Waterways Enter-prises Registered office:3 Norfolk Court, Norfolk Rd.Rickmansworth WD3 1LT

Tel : 01923 711114Registered no 4305322

Navvies ProductionNavvies is published by Wa-terway Recovery Group, POBox 114, RickmansworthWD3 1ZY and is availableto all interested in promot-ing the restoration and con-servation of inland water-ways by voluntary effort inGreat Britain. Articles maybe reproduced in alliedmagazines provided thatthe source is acknowl-edged. WRG may notagree with opinions ex-pressed in this magazine,but encourages publicationas a matter of interest.

Editor : Martin Ludgate35 Silvester RoadEast DulwichLondon SE22 9PB020-8693 3266

Subscriptions / circulationSue Watts15 Eleanor RoadChorlton-cum-HardyManchester M21 9FZ

Printing and assembly:John & Tess Hawkins4 Links Way, Croxley GrnRickmansworth, HertsWD3 3RQ 01923 [email protected]

NoticeboardContacting the chairman:Mike Palmer, 3 Finwood Rd,Rowington, Warwickshire CV35 7DH

Tel: 01564 785293

email: [email protected]

page 33

Congratulations...to Eddie Jones and Jenni Copeland

on your engagement

And Felicitations on your forthcomingNuptials to Taz & Smudge

and also toDizzy & Mark

Stampswanted

Send used postagestamps, petrol coupons,old phone cards, emptycomputer printer ink car-tridges to IWA/WRGStamp Bank, 33 Ham-bleton Grove, MiltonKeynes MK4 2JS. All pro-ceeds to canal restoration.

Online Navvies subscriptionsDon�t forget:

You can now take out or renew Navvies subsonline at www.waterways.org.uk/restora-tion/index.htm or at www.iwashop.com/

ecommerce/products.asp?cat=126

Moving houseWen, James and Frances Carrington havemoved to: Westway, Camden Road, Carshalton,Surrey SM5 2NS. 020 8669 2759.

Mitch Gozna�s address in a previous issue con-tained an error. It should be 3 Queenscote,Portishead, N Somerset BS20 7LR. She now hasa phone number: 01275 399020.

If you move house, don�t forget to tell Navvies tochange your subscription details.

Camper van for sale

1990 Autohome Camelot based on a FiatDucatto. Diesel 1.9, 92000 miles. £7000ono

Sleeps two plus two children - but not Roger!(hence reason for sale) Contact Sue Burchettby email to [email protected]

Dial-a-camp

To contact anyWRG Canal

Camp:

07850 422156(Kit �A� camps)07850 422157(Kit �B� camps)

Thank youTo the generous sponsor of the colour cover. It will be agreat help to the WRG Publicity team to have an eye-

catching magazine to hand out at the National Festival.Also thanks to Chris Griffiths for printing the colour

cover. (and congratulations Chris and Elaine on yourforthcoming wedding!)

Sponsors welcome for future colour covers

uu

Infill

page 34

Caption suggestions......to the pictures in the last issue:

Firstly Claire and thehat-bin:

�I forgot to pack anyclothes - again!� - Bungle

�Moose will never findme in here!� - Nigel Lee

�The success of thenew recipe 'Pot Bungleinstant volunteer' hasnow led to other varie-ties being tried at camp.... �Just add boiling water� ."- Andy Carter

...and secondly Liz, the tea-mug and the sheep:

�What are ewelooking at?�- Liz Wilson

�The audiencefor Liz's dem-onstrat ion of�camp tea mak-ing� appearedto be losing int e r e s t . . . �- Andy Carter

More suggestions - and pictures - please!

Everybody�s Free to Wear a Hard HatIf I could offer you only one tip for the future, hard hatswould be it. The long-term benefits of hard hats havebeen proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my ad-vice has no basis more reliable than my own meanderingexperience. I will dispense this advice now.Enjoy the power and beauty of your Transit van. Oh,never mind. You will not understand the power and beautyof your van until the paint has faded. But trust me, in 20years, you�ll look back at photos of D16EHP and recallin a way you can�t grasp now how much possibility layin the back of the van, and how fabulous it really looked.It is not as rusty as you imagine.Don�t worry about the future. Or worry, but know thatworrying is as effective as trying to lead a canal campfrom the cab of an excavator. The real troubles in yourlife are apt to be things that never came up in the riskassessment, the kind that blindside you at 12.01pm onSaturday just after the hire-shop closes until Monday.Do one thing every day that scares you. (Except you,Bungle)Sing. (Not �American Pie� please, Martin)Don�t be reckless with other people�s hearts. Don�t putup with people who are reckless with yours. (And yes,this includes you, MKP!)Grease.Don�t waste your time on bailing. Sometimes you�reahead, sometimes you�re behind. The race is long and,in the end, it�s only with the leaks.Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults.If you succeed in doing this, congratulations: you�re thenext WRG Chairman.Keep your old copies of Navvies. Throw away your oldCanalway Cavalcade programs.Drink.Don�t feel guilty about ignoring Mike and Martin�swhinges about getting your bookings in soon. The mostinteresting people I know didn�t know by late May whichCanal Camp they wanted to go on. Some of the mostinteresting ones I know still haven�t sent their bookingforms off now.Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You�ll missthem when they�re gone.Maybe you�ll marry, maybe you won�t. Maybe you�llhave children, maybe you won�t. Maybe you�ll divorceat 40, maybe you�ll dance the funky chicken on your75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, you�ll stillbe brick-cleaning. Your choices are half-bricks. So areeverybody else�s.Enjoy your Tirfor winch. Use it every way you can.Don�t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.It�s the greatest pulling aid you�ll ever ownDig, even if you have nowhere to do it but your garden.Read the Practical Restoration Handbook, even if youignore it.Do not read waterways magazines. They will only makeyou feel bored

Get to know your underpants. You never know whenthey�ll be gone for good. Be nice to your socks. They�reyour best link to your last canal camp, and they�re mostlikely to stick to you in the future.Understand that volunteers come and go, but with a pre-cious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge thegaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older youget, the more you need the people who still think thatcar-parking at the National is an interesting job.Go on a Mick Beattie camp but leave before it makesyou hard. Go on a Gavin Moor camp but leave before itmakes you soft.Accept certain inalienable truths: Beer Prices will rise.The Chairman will philander. You, too, will get old. Andwhen you do, you�ll fantasize that when you were young,beer prices were reasonable, the Chairman was nobleand D of E�ers respected old hands.Respect old Hands.Don�t expect scaffolding to support you. Maybe youhave some diagonal bracing. Maybe you have a goodinsurance policy. But you never know when either onemight give way.Don�t mess too much with your bonfire or by tea breaktime it will have gone out.Be careful whose beer you buy, but be patient with thosewho supply it. Drinking is a form of nostalgia. Gettingpissed is a way of wiping the past from your memory,re-inventing it, painting over the ugly parts and recy-cling it for more than it�s worth.But trust me on the hard hats.- from contributions by Richard Cool, the editor andvarious people in London WRG and the WRGie Wordsforum. If you haven�t a clue what this is about, seewww.lyricscrawler.com/song/3953 for the original lyrics.

A couple of sites that we�re likely to be seeing a bit more of... Above: WRG NorthWest and Essex getsome stump-pulling practice in on the Grantham ahead of this year�s Bonfire Bash. (Sent your form ofyet? If not, see p6-7) Below: Work starts on the first restoration project on the Sussex Ouse Navigation- initial clearance gets under way at Isfield Lock. Back cover photos were all taken on this year�s first fiveCanal Camps, by photographers too numerous to mention. Let�s hope the pictures from the rest of theSummer�s camps are as good... and let�s hope somebody remembers to send them to Navvies...

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Documents

canal societies

real canal

new canal

aeroplanea canal

lordrolles canal

diary canal camp

lord rolles canal

wey arun canal