THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR~EMBERS AND FRIENDS W O R ~ ~ G TO RESTORE THE

?~ .. -~ B* *= CGFSWOLD CANALS +.

AUTUMN

Contents SPRIN6.......30th JANUARY RoyScot Finance hwrp 2 SUWRER.........30th APRIL Thames End Wmh AUTUIN..........30th JULY

4 llestern banch 5

YINTER.......30th OCTOBER Branching Out 6 Field Mficwes Report 7

THE VIEWS & OPINIONS I N lTECmSYOUlCAllKS 8

T H I S MAGAZINE DO NOT knJte llap 9 NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE

Structures Almg The Canal 10

VIEWS a OPINIONS OF THE sate News 12

COTSWOLD CANALS TRUST Let ters to the Editor 16 Am Notice 17 BOO^ Revier 19

P u b l i s h e d b y t h e Cotswold C a n a l s T r u s t Compilation and Layout by David Jorett

P r i n t e d by A l a n Mayo, L e w i s t o n M i l l , Br imscoobe. S t r o u d , G los . ,

RoyScot Finance Group

R q m t cmp i led by the TRUST WUlCIL

On Wednesday 11th July a t a reception for both press and dignitaries, the sponsorship of the Cotswold Canals Trust by RoyScot Finance was announced.

Cheltenham employer RoyScot Finance Group p l c i s backing restorat ion o f the Thames 8 Severn Canal and Stroudwater Navigation t o the tune o f f30.000. One o f the f i r s t benefits t o local people w i l l be newly created amenity areas and canal walks around Stroud.

Royswt Finance Group i s par t o f The Royal Bank of Scotland Group and one o f Br i tain 's largest finance companies, employing 1200 people o f whom 400 work i n t he i r Cheltenham administrative offices.

Annwncino the soonsorshio. RovScot Finance Grouo Chief Executive Bob Riding, who i s a l i o a sa i i fng and transport enthusiast, said, "1 see t h i s investment as get t ing the b a l l ro l l ing, and we hope t o put i n further sum during the years ahead. I am par t icu lar ly excited about the restoration because. it w i l l be oDening up one of the Cotswold's most beautiful areas fo r the benefit o f the local people".

The area adjacent t o the Stroudwater Navigation a t Newtom. Blunder and Pike Locks w i l l be landscaped t o form the Cotswold Canals Trai l . This arnenity area w i l l be o f major importance t o both Stroud and the Cotswold Canals and w i l l a t t r ac t tou r i s ts t rave l l ing up and down the H5 mtoway t o stop and take a r e s t or picnic. RoyScot w i l l be paying for display boards costing Z2.000 each t o nark the s i t e and t e l l v i s i t o r s about the history o f the canals and nearby picturesque walks, plants and wi ldl i fe. Eventually s i x boards w i l l be erected along the Cotswold Canals marking interest ing I places a t Saul Junction. Eastington. Uallbridge and Sapperton Tunnel.

RovScot Finance i s the f i r s t commercial soonsor o f the restoration. To helo t h i Trust a t t r ac t further v i t a l l y needed conmercial sponsorship, .Roy~cot have used some o f t h e i r sponsorship t o pay f o r a professional publ ic i ty campaign by Insight Associates o f Bristol. The superb resul ts o f t he i r work can be seen i n t he new ooerational name o f the Trust and logo and i n the design o f distinctive.and at t ract ive display boards.

I n response Richard Attwood, k p u t y Chairman, paid t r i bu te t o the public sector funding provided by Stroud D i s t r i c t Council t o restore and gate the Eastington F1 i g h t and tha t provided by Gloucestershire County Council, v ia the Stroud Valleys Project. t o restore. Upuer Yal l bridae Lock i n the centre o f Stroud. He aiso announced tha t he was'confident t6a t soonsors both from the public and pr ivate sectors would very soon provide many more o f the d is t inc t ive and a t t rac t i ve display boards i n addit ion t o those provided by RoyScot Finance.

Richard Attwood went on t o out l ine the forthcoming ac t i v i t y , i n August, on the Eastington R i g h t when Newtown Lock w i l l be gated and Pike Lock excavated. He also talked about the two engineering surveys t o be made a t the ends of the Cotswold Canals and the very pos i t ive in terest shown i n recent discussions with Cotswold D i s t r i c t Council.

In conclusion Richard said of t h e sponsorship "The RoyScot donation, together with similar generous sums from Stroud Dis t r i c t Council and 6loucestershire County Council, puts us much nearer our medium term aim of restoring navigation t o Stroud, and several steps nearer t o rea l i s ing our ultimate aim t o r e s to re a l l 33 miles of t h e Cotswold canals t o fu l l navigation from the River Severn through t o t h e River Thames.'

". 4-

Thames End Branch

Report by BILL KEAR 6 DERYCK MATKINSIN

The regular work party crew has continued with t h e i r slow but sure progress in the construction and manufacture of ground paddle gear and the associated work i n t h e paddle holes. I t i s hoped t h a t shor t ly we shall be able t o announce t h a t t h e paddle gear replacenent/refurbishment i s complete.

Recent v i s i to r s t o the lock will have noticed t h a t i n addition t o our swnking new gates, Cerney Wick Lock now boasts a gleaming new c i l l , cas t in to position with renewable timber faces.

We fu l ly expect t h a t when the monsoon season opens l a t e r i n t h e year, torrents of water will cascade playfully through t h e holes i n t h e gates, which should a c t a s a dam t o keep t h e water level a s high a s possible for as long as possible.

Other jobs have included much overdue maintenance of towpath i n t h e direction of of Latton and work on the wing walls a t t h e Coates entrance t o Sapperton Tunnel.

The Branch turned out i n strength a t t h e recent public meeting i n Cirencester held with the purpose, m n g other things, of a t t rac t ing support f o r the Trust 's plans from people actually l iv ing around the Cirencester area. A gratifying number of people turned up and i t seems highly l ike ly t h a t our p ro f i l e in the v ic in i ty of Cirencester i s about t o undergo a welcome l i f t .

P -

1 The new Cernev Wick aa te s with work on t h e c i l l i n Drwress.

Western Branch Report by KEN BAILEY

The past few months a t the Western End have seen a varied selection of tasks completed. F i rs t l y , one of the Trust's two mud barges, which was gently rest ing on the bottom a t the Skew Bridge (near Stonehouse), was refloated. The barge had been moored there since the end o f the MSC scheme and had f i l l e d wi th water. I n order t o pump it out, our Sykes 4" pump was moved on the back o f the tug boat frm Ryeford road bridge t o the barge. Unfortunate1 y, our i n i ti a1 investigation d id not reveal a moorhen's nest amongst the reeds i n the hold. Only when nwst o f the water was removed did we hear the complaints of "Mum" . A rescue was mounted and the nest complete with s i x chicks was removed and f loated on a board amongst the reeds along the edge of the canal. Within an hour o r so, "mum" was qu i te happily back on her mobile home!

At Ryeford, p i l i n g was put i n above the swing bridge and the remains o f the collapsing bank reinforcement has now been removed. The p i l i n g proved quite d i f f i c u l t i n places as a large quantity o f rubble had been pushed i n t o the canal, which, even using a pneumatic d r i l l as a hamer presents considerable resistance.

Unfortunately the new lock gates a t Nertown were not f i t t e d as we hoped due t o a delay by Stroud D i s t r i c t Council i n approving payments. This meant that our gate bui lder took on other work and ours took second place. However, on the 4th June the top gates were delivered and have since been placed i n the head o f the lock f o r storage u n t i l the bottom gates ar* delivered and both sets are f i t ted.

During the next few months we have the IWA National Rally, the gates t o be f i t t ed i n Newtown Lock (I hope t h i s t i n e l ) and contractors excavating and rebricking Pike Lock. On the volunteer f ron t we w i l l be draining the pound between Pike Lock and Blunder and digging out the s i l t from Blunder Lock (29-30 September). We also w i l l be digging out a slipway j u s t above Pike Lock and moving the contents of the ex is t ing compound t o a new location.

, Appnnrcd Rsprr.COnm

JOHN E. GRIFHTHS Freesia

Meadow View W Tettenhall Road

Wolwrhamptm W6 OJT e PREMRlM UFE

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R) S. Tcs. cAn?& TRUST Prm06 (Please mention this advert1

Branching Out TRUST COUNCIL REPORT

On Tuesday 10th July t h e Thames End Branch, which fo r many years has represented t h e in t e res t s of menbers i n the eastern region, was enlarged t o form the Sumnit and Thames End Branch a t a public meeting a t t h e Niccol Centre in Cirencester.

The increasing number of members along t h e length of t h e C o t ~ o l d Canals part icularly i n the Stroud and Cirencester areas has allowed t h e canals t o ba divided in to th ree sections fo r membership purposes. However, the number of members i n t h e T h a m End area will not be suff ic ient t o form a separate branch f o r a year o r so.

The Yestern Branch covers t h e area from Saul Junction t o Whitehall Bridge, i n the Golden Valley. Whitehall Bridge i s of h i s t o r i c significance because i t marks the l i m i t of navigation i n 1927 when t h e Thames 8 Severn Canal was abandoned from Lechlade.

The S u m i t Branch extends t o Claymeadow Farm, on t h e Siddington - South Cerney Road.

The Thams End Branch covers the remaining length of canal t o inglesham.

The public meeting was attended by some f i f t y ,persons? half of whom were Trust members. A t the meeting Trust Deputy Chairman, Richard Attwood, took t h e audience on a visual meander along t h e Cotswold Canals by means of a s l ide show.

A "Question and Answer" session was followed by an appeal fo r people t o form the enlarged branch committee with t h e exis t ing raenbers of the Thames End Branch. Twelve people stepped forward.

A t the close of t h e evening, following great ac t iv i ty around the Trust Sales display, many more than half the persons attending were Trust members !

Details of the new branch will be published i n t h e next edit ion of t h e Trow. ~ ~

QLbe &Iotbier$ arm$ I Boa0 . gtroub . @louadtetdJire

ae5ibmt proprietor5

Zuriano & aline Bagalotti I

Field Officer's Report

Field Officer KEN BUR6IN

HlilcROY REPORT

The T r u s t has now received orooosals from S i r Yilliam Halcrow and Partners ..~. ~~... ~~ ~. ~~ ~~

Ltd. f o r a s t u d y covering t h e eastern par t of the Thames & Severn Canal from t h e Thames a t Inglesham t o t h e Cotswold Water Park i n the South Cerney area. The document is impressive, includes colour p ic tures and is designed t o help r a i se the funds necessary t o c m i s s i o n t h e study. I t is not possible t o go i n t o much deta i l here but t h e main points t o be covered are:

1. Engineering Feas ib i l i ty , Water Supply and Cast. 2. Benefit Study and Economic Analysis. 3. Funding. 4. Environmental Impact Analysis.

The cos t of t h e survev will be 530.000 + VAT but we hooe t h a t t h e studv will form a firm foundition f o r t h e i-estoration of t h e whole of t h e eastern .. . ~~ .-. . ~. .. .. ~~

par t of t h e canal. The aim is t o t r e a t t h i s par t of t h e cdnal as one l a rge coherent project ra ther than working on i t i n a piecemeal fashion. - Part of the funding f o r t h e study has already been ident i f ied but fur ther sponsors a re required

COYGRWM BRIDE

An estimate fo r the repai r of Cowground Bridge near Siddington has put the cos ts of fu l l res tora t ion of t h i s once a t t r ac t ive accmoda t ion bridge a t f17,OOO. The bridge was condemned as unsafe and t h e towpath re-routed around ra ther than under i t oendina reoairs. The Trust has found one potential source of funding for: t h i s j r o ~ e c t s o f a r but we wouid s t i l l l i k e to hear from other potential sponsors.

urn BYPASS

The task of designing Latton Bypass has been given t o Frank draham & Partners. The Trust is already i n contact regarding our need f o r a navigation culver t under t h e new road. The A419 crossing was identif ied as t h e single most expensive item eas t of Sapperton Tunnel i n the 1976 Freeman, Fox Braine & Partners report.

If any members see a cable or pipe being l a i d and it i s heading towards t h e canal (or canal route) whether i n the road o r not, contact me as soon as possible. Vast sums of money can be saved i f provision fo r t h e fu ture restoration of t h e canal is made during construction as well as avoiding inconvenience t o t h e fu ture users of t h a t service.

Negotiations t o move the MOO o i l pipeline which runs north-south, west of the A38 a re continuing. The pipe crosses t h e canal j u s t above t h e waterline. Apparently the H00 don't want t o pay t o move i t under t h e canal bed when t h e pipeline i s shut down next year f o r repairs. I would have thought i t would make an ideal job fo r the Royal Engineers as an exercise1

7

THE COTSWOLD CANALS For the benefit of newer members or i f you hgve picked up t h i s magazine from the IWA National Rally in Gloucester, here i s a br ief introduction t o the Canal Trust. Readers may a l so find t h e map useful.

The "Canal" i s actually two separate navigations. The Stroudwacer Navigation l e f t t h e River Severn a t Framilode, south of Gloucester and met the Thames & Severn Canal end-on a t Hallbridge i n Stroud. This canal i n t u r n climbed out of t h e Stroud Valleys t o t h e s m i t level and the famous Sapperton Tunnel before a more gradual descent t o t h e Thames near Lechlade.

On 12th Hay 1972, as a r e su l t of a meeting held i n Stroud Subscription Roans, a committee was formed t o investigate t h e f eas ib i l i t y of restoring navigation on t h e Stroudwater Canal, from i ts junction with the Gloucester/Sharpness Canal t o Wallbridge, Stroud. Thus the Stroudwater Canal Society was born.

A t an early stage i t was rea l i sed t h a t t h e study was only par t of a more important concept dealing with the poss tb i l i t i e s of rejoining two of the oldest r ive r navigations i n t h e country - the Thames and the Severn.

The r e s u l t was t h a t on 16th April 1975, t h e Stroudwater, T h m s & Severn Canal Trust was formed a s a "Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital". The newly formed company was a l so registered w f t h the Charity Commissioners (Reg. No. 269721). In July t h i s year the Trust mnounced that i t was t o adopt a new name - t h e "Cotswold Canals Trust"

The aims of t h e Cotswold Canals Trust are:-

I. The preservation of t h e l i n e of the Cotswold Canals (Stroudwater and Thames & Severn) and prmotion of t h e i r use f o r recreation.

2. Prmotion of the towpath a s a long distance Right of Way.

3. Pronotion of t h e restoration of t h e Stroudwater Navigation and t h e Thames & Severn Canal from Saul Junction t o t h e t a i l of Hope Mill Lock.

4. Promotion of ttle res tora t ion of the Thames & Severn Canal from the River Thames a t Inglesham t o t h e area of the Cotswold Water Park.

5. Ultimate restoration of these Cotswold Canals t o navigation between Saul Junction and the RI ver Thames.

The restoration of t h e waterway l ink t o Stroud and eventually through the Cotswolds t o the River Thames will provide a s igni f icant boost t o Stroud a s a t o u r i s t centre. Development of Gloucester Docks and t h e s i t i ng of t h e National Waterways Museum there will considerably increase the number of pleasure boats i n t h e Stroudwater area. Potential tienefits t o Stroud from t h e spending power of v i s i to r s , marina and boat-hire charges will increase local prosperi ty.

I f you are not yet a member of the Trust you will f ind the membership address a t the back of t h i s magazine. Why not join us!?

The Route of the Canals

Cirencester

Structures Along the Cotswold Canals I I

I ABOVE: The Stroudwater Navigation passes St. Cyrs Church near Stonehouse BELOW: Nutshell Bridge, adjoined by an unusual cluster of buildings

RBOVE: Jubilee Bridge c lose t o Griffin Mill Lock near Thrupp BELOU: Chalford Roundhouse can be found c lose t o the M19 road

Gate News R e p o r t by KEN BAILEY

The 23rd June saw t h e appearance of another lock gate, t h i s time bui l t by Trust mernber John Band some 15 years ago. The gate had been lying in storage on t h e bed of the canal above Griffin Mill Lock just t o t h e eas t of Stroud. Dennis Sheen and Chris Jones (our Sales Manaser) both donned wet suits f o r t h e ooeration and carried out t h e work of aef t ina rooes round the ~ . . ~- - - r - -. -~ ~~- ~.~ - ~ - . . ~" . .-~. . gate i n 4 f ee t of murky water. Al'though a l l timber with only a few small steel f i t t i n g s , t h e gate had become very waterlogged and required t en f i v e gallon drums i n order t o f loa t . Once par t ly raised and hanging beneath t h e drums, i t was possible t o tow t h e gate through t h e weed up t o Jubilee Bridge. I t was a t t h i s point when we were able t o gain vehicle access t o the canal t h a t we received an unexpected bonus. Mr Stevens, t h e land owner, brought h i s t r a c t o r and t r a i l e r along f o r us t o winch t h e gate onto and take out along h i s f ield. John Bond was on t h e scene t o see t h e reappearance of an "old fr iend" from below t h e surface.

Once the gate was loaded and moved to t h e farmyard a t tent ion was turned t o the balance beam which had been s i t t i n g on t h e lock side. Once excavated the beam was f i t t e d with f lo ta t ion drums and winched in to t h e canal t o be towed t o Jubilee Bridge where it was hitched t o t h e back of my Land Rover and dragged out along t o t h e farmyard.

On Sunday, t h e gate was transferred from t h e farm t r a i l e r t o the Trust's own t r a i l e r and towed down through Stroud t o Eastington. The gate was lowered in to the head of Blunder Lock where i t wil l remain unti l we f i t i t , probably towards Christmas. Some s l igh t modifications are required t o i t and a lso t h e top mitre and pivots before f i t t i n g . I f time and finance permit we hope t o obtain t h e remaining timber which i s required t o complete the other gate and f i t t h a t a t the same time.

Paper Round

Report by BILL WILL

In recent years the Trust has been in the business of recycling paper. This has involved quite a few of our volunteers who have manned the paper skip in Stroud, collected from other areas and also had a store a t Blunder Lock.

Unfortunately the price of paper has now slipped t o around S4 a ton resulting in costs which outweigh income. I t i s therefore w i t h regret that we have decided to cease the service. Volunteers will now be free t o become involved in activities which will produce more benefits for the Trust such as operating the t r ip boats.

A t the time of writing i t i s hoped that Stroud District Council will find alternative volunteers t o man the skip. The Trust will s t i l l be recycling high grade computer paper which has a far greater scrap value. Please r ing me early evenings on Stroud 766631 should you have significant quantities for collection.

Finally, thanks to all those people who have helped over the l a s t two years. Although I d o n ' t like to single out people, I must give special thanks t o Tim Ingham who spent most Saturdays on the skip. Thanks Tim!

Very Well Appointed

I

Membership Matters k d m s h i p Secretary RIWARD AlTYDOO

This quarter we are pleased to welcome the following new members:-

Mrs T Leyden. Stroud The Von Nida Family, Stroud M & Mrs D Trollope, Stonehouse Mr CA Burnett, Northleach Mr DM Johnson, Torquay M W Parker. Stroud M r NF Green. Wotton-under-Edae Kr D ~ones,'~eading

"

Mr RM Hollick, Saul, Glos Miss S Beadsmoore, Cirencester Mr P Me1 l or, Ci rencester Mr HNG Allen. Cirencester Mr R Dixon, ~irencester Mrs J Carroll, London Mr CR Clarke. South Cerney

Mr & Mrs NM Bird, Cheltenham B & J Boss, Stroud

Mr DJ Fielden, Todmorden Lancs Mr WK Harding, Northleach

Miss AC Ruckert, Stroud l st Highworth Scouts, Highworth

Mr PD Grant, Lougfield Kent D€ Carr, 6ristol

Mr D Mason, Stroud Mrs J Mellor, Cirencester Mrs ME Allen, Cirencester

Mrs J Atkinson Malmesburv Wilts Mr J Nixon cirenmster

Mr & Mrs McCutcheon, Swindon

The total number of members now stands a t 5M. This i s a , most pleasing and further steadv increase during the oast auarter.

To:- -ship Secretary. FREEPOST (lL65) P.O. BOX 71. strolid. 610s. 6L6 7BR

PLEWE WML IE M A -ER OF THE C0TSWI.D UlULS TRUST. I enclose the f irst par's subscription.

NAME I N FULL..............................................BU)CK

......................................... ADDBESS....... CAPITALS

TEL NO.......................... SIGNED.......................

OCCUPATION......................

........ AGE ( i f under IS)....... DATED........................

l

l BATES:Adulta f8. Family f10. Penaioner f5. Youth under 18 E2 A f f i l i a t i o n (Schools, Clubs, e t c ) f10. L i f e EZOO.

THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS

GLOUCESTER '90

WHOLE FAMILY

Letters to the Editor Dear Sir ,

My wife and I are fanatical canal explorers and t h e local canal takes some beating f o r in teres t ing features. For example, Wallbridge Upper Lock on t h e Thames 8 Severn i s i n the throes of being restored by the Stroud Valleys Project. The loek i s si tuated next door t o Butts the builders merchant, and has f o r many years been an eyesore. The lock chamber has been used as a dumping ground fo r rubbish but now t h e chamber has been cleared of s i l t and the walls have been repaired. Go down t o Wallbridge and have a look f o r yourself.

From the lock, you can walk eastwards down t h e towpath t o explore t h e s t re tch of canal up t o t h e EastIWest Bypass. The canal used t o pass under Capels viaduct through t h e span which now bridges t h e new road. However. you will see t h a t a new bridge has been incorporated t o provide for future navigation. I f you study t h e viaduet i n more deta i l you will f ind t h a t i t a l so carr ies t h e railway over the River Frome.

I have enclosed a photograph of t h e work on Wallbridge Lock and hope you can pr in t i t .

TERRY WILLIAMSON Dursley, Gloucestershire.

A G M

1. To receive the minutes of the 14th Annual General Meeting. 2. To receive the report o f the Trust Council. 3. To receive the Accounts and Auditors report. 4, To agree the renumeration o f the Auditors. 5. Discussion o f fu ture Trust act iv i t ies. 6. To e lect members t o the Trust Council. 7. Any other business.

The Trust Sales Stand w i l l be present together with a display of the Trusts l achievements.

1. Notices of intending proposals for membership o f the Trust Council must be lodged wi th the Secretary, i n wri t ing, not less than 14 clear days before the AGM, ie. t o ar r ive by the l a t es t post Friday 9th November 1990 together with the w i t t e n agreement o f the person proposed. Proposals must be sent t o the Honorary Secretary, Cotswold Canals Trust., 10 mun t Pleasant, Bisley Old Road, Stroud, Glos. GL5 1NA.

2. Voting Rights - A l l classes of membership, except for Youth members, are en t i t l ed t o one vote each member, whether co l lec t ive o r individual. Youth members have no voting r igh ts since such members cannot be held responsible i n law.

3. Any members en t i t l ed t o be present and t o vote a t the meeting may appoint a proxy who must be a voting member o f the Trust. The instrument, a l ega l l y correct proxy form, appointing a proxy i s obtainable from the Honorary Secretary not less than f o r t y eight hours before the time of the meeting.

4. Copies o f the accounts w i l l be available a t the Annual General Meeting. Msmbers who require f u l l copies o f t he accounts, t o be distr ibuted a t the s t a r t o f the AGM should apply, i n writ ing, no t less than 14 days before the date of the meeting. Requests for accounts should be sent t o the Treasurer, Cotswold Canals Trust, FREEPOST (GL 65). PO Box 71, Stroud, Glos. GL6 7BR

Sales

Sales Manager CHRIS J W S

So f a r t h i s year, the Sales Roadshow has t ravel led to : Ebley Mill; Staverton; Hebden Bridge, Whiteshill, Calne, Stroud College, Cirencester, Stroud and Bath. We were there, Where were you1 However, i f you were one of the ones t h a t should have done but didn' t , a l l i s not los t . The best i s y e t t o come. The IWA National Rally has arrived a t Gloucester Docks. As i f you didn ' t know the dates a r e Saturday 25th t o Monday 27th August. Not only is i t the nearest t h a t t h i s No. I Waterways Show will ever come t o our canals ( for t h e present!), but i t wlll be t h e l a rges t ever Canal Trust display. I f you thought t h a t Canal Trust Sales was a l l about a couple of t r e s t l e tables and a p la s t i c sheet, then we a re about t o disappoint you. This will be BIG i n Sales. Displays and a l l 12 Trust Council members will be there t o answer your questions. Come and join us t o share i n t h e success of our ever growing Canal Trust.

Around the Cotswold Canals - Ten Circular Walks* f 2.00 The Flower of Gloster (E. Temple Thurston) f 6.95 Restoring the Cotswold Canals* Strategy Document*

SOP f 2.00

S.T&S Canals in Old Photographs (Edwin Cuss & Stanley Gardiner) f 6.95 S.T&S Canals Towpath Guide (Michael Handford & David Viner) f 7.50 Thames & Severn Canal (Humphrey Household) f 6.95 Thaws & Severn Canal (D. J. Viner) f 3.80 The TROW (All issues available)* Working Life on Severn & Canal (Hugh Conway-Jones)

3 0 ~ f 7.9e

UOTHW

Acrylic Sweater with new embroidered logo (Bott le Green) f14.00 Baseball Hat with printed logo (Green and Uhite) f 3.75 CottonIAcryl i c Sweat Sh i r t with new embroidered logo (Grey) f13.00 CottonIAcryl i c Sweat Sh i r t with pri nted logo (Green) MO.00 Cotton TennisISports Sh i r t with new embroidered logo (Jade) f12.00 Tie with embroidered logo (Navy Blw) f 6.50 T-shirt with printed logo (Green) f 4.5&

THIIBLES - a l l Hand-painted

Round House $3.00 Buckby Can f3.00 Cotswold Canals Trust* f 1.50

PrmERY*

Standard Mug f3.30 Half p in t Tankard £4.00 P i n t Tankard f 6.20

* Denotes items specially prepared for the Trust All items a re available by post from: CHRIS JONES, SALES MANAGER, THE GC%WS, 27 WTolr ROAD, CLEVEDON, AVON, BS21 6AE. (Tel. 0272 875714) Postage E Packing UK - 50p per order OVERSEAS - £5.00 per order Cheques & Postal Orders should be made payable t o "Cotswold Canals Trust"

Book Review

A TOYPATH WIN DY Steven Parker and Richard Chester-Browne of the WORSTER. BOLm & BLlRI W SOCIETY.

Canal restoration is an old man's game but members o f the Manchester Bolton 8 Bury Canal Society are en t f t l ed t o dispute t h i s out-dated statement. I t rnay surprise many t h a t Steven Parker, the prime maver behind the formation of t h e Society, was only 17 when t h e first meeting was held i n July 1987

Together w i t h Richard Chester-Brorne he has produced a very readable bwkle t on t h e whole route of t h e North-Western waterway. although t h e walker could follow the advice of the authors by taking t h e t e n sections one a t a time. In t h e introduction t o t h e guide, Trust Chairman, Margaret f le tcher says, "The combined t a l en t s of Steven and Richard have created a book which a s well a s belng a very useful guide f o r anyone intending t o walk the canal, is both enjoyable and informative t o read, even f o r those unable (or unwillingl) t o walk t h e whole routen. F rm my posit ion some one hundred and f i f t y miles away, I would def in i te ly agree.

This guide is available frm Chris Jones. Trust Sales f o r f2.00 t 40p Pap.

I 1 The Sales Rogdshow h i t s Hebden Bridge (The one below t h e clitnneyl)

Dates for your Diary W/E 25/27 Aug I W A Nat. R a l l y , G l o u c e s t e r ( S a l e s B D i s p l a y ) W/E 25/26 Aug Thames End Branch Working Weekend

W/E 1/2 Sep Mon 3 Sep W/E 8 /9 Sep Tue 11 Sep Tue 18 Sep Sat 15 Sep W/E 29/30 Sep W/E 29/30 Sep

Mon 1 Dct Sun 7 Oct Tue 9 Oct F r i 19 Oct W/E 27/28 Oct W/E 27/28 Oct Tue 30 o c t

Annual I n s p e c t i o n o f Canals on f o o t Western Branch Mee t ing Stonehouse T r a c t i o n Engine R a l l y (Sa les Stand) Thames End Branch Mee t ing I W A Event - see be low C h a l f o r d H i l l F e t e ( S a l e s S t a n d ) Thames End Branch Working Weekend S p e c i a l Work P a r t y - B lunder Lock E x c a v a t i o n

Western Branch Mee t ing T r u s t Open Day a t B lunder Lock Thames End Branch Mee t ing I W A Event - see be low Thames End ranch-working Weekend S p e c i a l Work P a r t y - S l i pway near B lunder Lock Copy d a t e f o r Win te r TROW

Mon 5 Nov Western Branch Mee t ing Tue 13 Nov Thames End Branch M e e t i n g W/E 17/18 Nov Thames End Branch Working Weekend Thu 22 Nov I W A Event - see be low Sat 24 Nov TRUST A.G.M. ( N i c h o l Cent re , C i r e n c e s t e r )

Mon 3 Dec Western Branch Mee t ing Tue 11 Dec Thames End Branch Mee t ing Tue l 8 Dec IWA Event - see be low Wed 26 Oec! WRG Win te r Camp (Sapper ton - u n t i l 31 Dec)

I W A I FRIENDS OF (Nat . Waterways Mus. Schoo ls Room, THE WUSEUR EVENTS G l o u c e s t e r a t 7.30pm)

Tue 18 Sep HOY YE SAVED THE BARW - V i d n o l S l i d e t a l k by D a v i d McDougall

F r i 19 O C t RESTORATION OF THE ROCHDALE CANAL - T a l k by B r i a n Holden, Sec. Rochdale Canal Soc.

Thu 22 Nov THE TAME VALLEY CANAL - T a l k / S l i d e s by John F o l ey

Tue 18 Dec CHRISTMAS SOCIAL - B r i n g some re f reshments1

FRONT COVER PHOTO: Bob Riding (Chief Executive of RoyScot Finance) receives a plaque frm Richard Attwood (Deputy Chairman, Cotswold Canals Trust) and Richard O l l i n ( t k i e f Enecutive of Stroud D i s t r i c t Council i n recognit ion o f t h e i r 530,000 sponsorship of the res tora t ion scheme. (L t o R, Richard Ol l in, Bob Riding, Richard Attwood)

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DEPARTlEWrS

MEMBERSHIP FREEPOST (GL65) P.O. Box 71. Stroud, Glos., GL6 7BR

PRESS & BERNARD DONOVAN 10 Mount Pleasant, Bi sley Old Road, Stroud PUBLICITY Glos., GL5 I N A (Stroud 0453 757541 )

SALES CHRIS JONES The Courts. 27 Walton Road, Clevedon, Avon, MANAGER BS21 6AE (Clevedon 0272 875714)

S M I T 6 M S END B W H

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY New de ta i l s t o be announced i n the next TROW TREASURER

KSTERN B M U I

CHAIRMAN BOB SOMMER 45 Thoresbury Avenue, Tuff ley, Gloucester, GL4 OTD (Gloucester D452 507283)

SECRETARY DAVID BAYLISS Avonlea, 50 Stanley View, Dudbridge, Stroud, Glos. (Stroud 0453 753847)

TREASURER GEORGINA BAYLISS Avonlea, 50 Stanley View, Dudbridge, Stroud, Glos. (Stroud 0453 753847)

EVENTS JEFFERY SHAW The Cleeves, Nailsworth, Glos., GL6 OPA ORGANISER (Nailsworth D45383 3373)

UORKIW PARTIES

WESTERN DOUG BLAKE 19 Strat ton Road, Gloucester. BRANCH (G1 oucester. 0452 41 5843)

THAMES END NICHOLAS MELCHIOR 28 Grove Iiili, Highworth, Swindon, BRANCH Wilts., SN6 7JN (Swindon 0793 762510)

THE TROY

EDITOR OAYIO JOWETT 11 Upper Leazes, Stroud, 610s.