Aegre November 2022

Aegre

Aegre is published © 2022 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association for members of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branches.

Chairman DavidPullen, 43HowellRoad,Heckington,Sleaford. LincsNG349RX Tel:01529460547

Vice-Chairman

Leicestershire AndrewShephard,41RomanRoad,Birstall,Leicester, BranchChairman LE44BB.E:andrewshephard1946@gmail.com

Lincolnshire ContactDavidPullen(asabove). BranchChairman

Nottinghamshire ContactDavidPullen(asabove). &Derbyshire BranchChairman

Editor for Aegre: Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth LN11 0GQ E-mail: aegre.editor@waterways.org.uk

Printing: Colour Image Loudwater. Despatch: Branch Volunteers. Picture credits: Front cover; see page 5. Others; see page 24

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342. Tel: 01494 783453. Website: http://www.waterways.org.uk

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers.

The inclusion of any advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the IWA East Midlands Region or any of its Branches. Dates and times of events may change and should be checked before travelling.

Any chart fragments or related information on canal or river features will be out-of-date when published and should not be used for navigation.

Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region

Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society

Erewash Canal P & D Association

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust

Chris Madge, c/o 62 Broadway, Duffield, Derby DE56 4BU Tel: 07827 946444 www.derbycanal.org.uk

Norman Cornwell, 38 Millfield Road, Kimberley, Notts. NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 8544155 Mobile 07854 451183

www.ecpda.org.uk (note the change)

Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk

Friends of Charnwood Forest Canal

Mike Handford, 1 Sheepy Close, Hinckley, LE10 1JL Tel: 01455 611508 mahandford@gmail.com

Friends of the Cromford Canal Richard Handley, richard.handley@cromfordcanal.org www.cromfordcanal.org

Grantham Canal Society

Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375 www.granthamcanal.com

Louth Navigation Trust

Melton & Oakham Waterways Society

Old Union Canals Society

Paula Hunt, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 605496 www.louthcanal.org.uk

Michael Clowes, tel: 01509 414140, e-mail: lindandmick@btinternet.com www.meltonwaterways.org.uk

Jean Bourne, 2 Nithsdale Crescent, Market Harborough, LE16 9HA tel: 01858 461483 https://www.old-union-canals.org/events-news

Sleaford Navigation Trust

Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N. Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk

Stamford Canal Society

Ken Otter, The Meadows, Church Lane, Tallington, Stamford PE9 4RU Tel: 07761 452030 www.StamfordCanal.org

Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Margaret English, 10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0BL. Tel: 01606 834471 www.tamcs.org.uk

Our last edition appeared at the beginning of July, and at that time we had just heard of the death of John Baylis.

John had been a Region Committee member and the WRG representative for many years, but sadly we only had time to put a “stop press” notice in Aegre then.

Since, there have been many appreciations, from the IWA Waterways and many other journals and publications, of his wide support and practical work for canals and waterways in many roles.

So rather than repeat what has already been said countless times, we are paying tribute to John by using his own words on the WRG, with a few additional comments from Jon Reeve, who knew him for years through the IWA Navigation Committee, and an introductory note from Neil Edwards.

The pictures are mostly from JB himself; some we have used before. The only change is that we have now recovered the colour. See page 16.

Looking forward rather than back on past achievements, your Region Chair has been looking at the possibility of re-arranging the make-up of the Branches, as some of it doesn’ t seem to work too well at the moment. Please read it carefully, and let David know your views.

A second topic needing comment is the Anglian Water proposal for a new reservoir in South Lincolnshire. This is really long term, but for a first phase of consultation they are asking for comments by December 21.

It is always good to note real progress being made with canal restoration and maintenance work, and with supporting events. Shardlow went well; Cromford now have an essential planning permission (page 23); Derby have their trip boat in commission with a place to board for the public (page 10); and Grantham have their new slipway formally opened and in commission (page 12), while Louth had a very successful September Water Festival (page 25). See our separate articles later.

As always, looking forward ever hopefully.

Peter

The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam

From the Region Chair

It is great to see the very appropriate “hands on” picture of the late John Baylis on the cover of this Aegre edition. I particularly like the “impact technology” approach by John, which was typical of his pragmatic solution to most problems. At least the impact was with a rubber mallet, thus safeguarding what looks like a piece of heritage lock furniture!

Waterways for Today

I hope all IWA members, and in particular members of restoration groups, will recognise the huge importance of this new report which was officially launched at the national AGM in September. The 12 specific benefits of active and vibrant waterways is powerful ammunition for lobbying politicians, funders and partners to support waterways and restoration projects. Here is the link to the full report: https://waterways.org.uk/campaigns/waterways-for-today/waterwaysfor-today-report-request. Hard copies can be requested from the IWA office at Chesham. I have already been able to use the report to support the Boston to Peterborough (B2P) Wetland Corridor case.

B2P and the South Lincs and Fens Reservoirs

The B2P partnership are pushing for the waterway connecting the proposed reservoir to the Black Sluice Navigation (or South Forty Foot Drain) to be made navigable so that boaters, cyclists and walkers can visit the reservoir. See the sketch plan on page 14/15. We are also pushing for the reservoir to be developed from the very start as a “destination” rather than the slightly piecemeal development which occurred at both Rutland Water and Grafham Water.

On other good news, the jointly launched Fens Reservoir (Anglian Water/Cambridge Water) includes restoration of the Welches Dam to Horseway Lock channel which has always been a fundamental part of the original Fens Waterways Link.

IWA Region Structure

This review, in June 2022, is intended as the basis for a discussion of the organisation of East Midlands branches with a view to recommending changes to IWA Trustees.

Changes are required due to significantly reduced membership support in some branches and willingness (or ability) of members to travel long distances in these changing times.

Current Situation: Lincolnshire Branch - Has 148 members. The branch committee is quorate and meets approximately 4 times year to review local issues and take action as appropriate.

The branch is too large geographically to organise IWA social events or IWA-led volunteer working parties.

Occasional visits/walks can be successful by aiming at a local facility and by joint organisation with other local waterway organisations such as Sleaford Navigation Trust working parties. Some IWA members residing within Lincolnshire are assigned, either by choice or postcode, to Peterborough Branch (PE postcodes) or Notts. & Derbys. Branch through NG31 codes in the Grantham area.

Leicestershire Branch – Has 219 members. The branch committee is quorate and, whilst the adverse conditions during the Covid pandemic have prevented recent committee meetings, social meetings or the Annual General Meeting, the branch is usually well supported by members and

intends to fully resume their activities from Autumn 2022.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch – Has 379 members. After many years being run solely by 3 committee members, the branch committee has now been inquorate for over 3 years. There is nominally one committee member. The last branch event (an AGM and social meeting organised and chaired by David Pullen as Region Chairman) only attracted 6 members despite there being over 350 members in the branch.

Proposals

Apart from Leicestershire Branch, where no changes are proposed, these proposals seek to focus IWA group activities on specific waterways or projects.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that branches or groups which focus on easily identifiable projects, and activities centred on specific waterways have more success in motivating volunteers and active members compared to the existing, mainly geographically organised, branch structure. Groups would not have any specific governance requirements such as a quorate committee, a chairman or treasurer, but would instead be organised informally, principally

through social media groups focusing on specific activities of a local navigation or waterway specific project.

Lincolnshire Branch

This branch would continue as currently organised, comprising members in central and north Lincolnshire

South Lincolnshire

South Lincolnshire members with PE postcodes to be invited to join a new group with a view to eventually forming a new Branch. This new group would form the main driving force of IWA members willing to support the Boston to Peterborough (B2P) Wetland Corridor Project and possibly the Grantham Canal restoration project.

Depending on the future of the Peterborough Branch a new group might join with existing Peterborough Branch members as the branch is currently inquorate. Before proceeding, this proposal would be discussed in principle with the last incumbent Branch Chairman.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch

Nottinghamshire members with all the remaining NG postcodes will be automatically included in a new area group called Nottinghamshire-Trent group. This will

be a default (do nothing) designation but these members will be informed that, as now, they are free to transfer to any other IWA branch or group of their choosing. This group would focus on River Trent projects and facilities, e.g. Trent Mooring Group.

Subject to agreement with the acting Chairman for IWA Yorkshire and North East Region, members from the North Nottinghamshire area (Dukeries part of South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch (SY&D)) would be invited to join the Nottinghamshire- Trent group. SY&D branch is currently inquorate.

Members with Derby (DE) postcodes will, by default, remain within IWA East Midlands “family” and continue to receive Aegre, the regional newsletter. Derbyshire members may also choose to form a waterway or specific project group, or join an alternative IWA Branch of their choosing.

Summary

These proposals would see IWA East Midlands structured as: Leicestershire Branch; Lincolnshire Branch; NottinghamshireTrent Group; South Lincolnshire Group.

David Pullen, Chairman, IWA East Midlands Region

Sleaford Navigation Trust

The navigation has been severely limited this season by the ongoing drought. Since early July only small boats and canoes have been able to navigate beyond Taylor’s Lock (or “Bottom Lock”). There has been zero flow over the gauging weir at Leasingham Mill Lock for a number of days this autumn.

At Haverholme Lock plans for construction of a spillway, and subsequent weir on the by-pass channel have been provided to North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) who own this site. NKDC have budgeted to repair and restore as it is in a dangerous condition. SNT are hoping to engage IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) to carry out this work in partnership with SNT.

River Witham

The perennial weed problems on the River Witham, principally at Bardney and Boston, have been more severe than ever in 2022, possibly worse than ever before with substantial damage to wild-

life and fish. A crisis meeting called by Boston Rowing Club, (who had been forced to cancel the annual Lincoln-Boston rowing marathon in September), heard how it has taken a year of legal wrangling with Environment Agency (EA) to allow CRT to operate the flood sluices at Boston to enable the weed to be flushed out into the Haven. Despite invitations to 8 different EA officers none were able to attend!

Pennywort has now come to the Witham! In addition to the ongoing problems with Azolla weed, Duckweed and Cott (Filamentous Algae - aka “blanket weed”), it was reported that EA and the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust have treated over 600 separate instances of Pennywort on the Fosdyke and Witham waterway.

IWA has not previously been aware that Pennywort was prevalent in Lincolnshire. All river users should immediately report any sightings of this pernicious and invasive non-native species (INNS) to the EA.

Derby River Boat Service

The Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust have launched their river boat service on the river Derwent, initially for able bodied passengers only, boarding opposite the historic Silk Mill. The river boat is named Outram after Benjamin Outram, the engineer who built the Derby Canal which was completed in 1796. The first fee paying passengers were on board on 21st August following a press weekend launch the previous Sunday. The Trust was pleased to demonstrate the offering to the Chief Executive at Derby City Council, who has been very supportive and was delighted that a new activity for Derby residents and visitors has been delivered. Planning permission for a floating pontoon, which will make the service accessible to all, is expected soon.

The service began on Sunday afternoons only but as it quickly sold out up to the end of September, the schedule was extended to Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons up to the end of October. The 45 minute trips will resume next year at a date to be decided. Tickets are bookable through DerbyLive. https://www.derbylive.co.uk/your-visit/how-book/

We are looking forward to visitors using the canal in 2023 and beyond for boat trips,canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing and patronising the café.

Peter Warmingham

Derby and Sandiacre Canal

Derby trip boat and the Silk Mill

See also page 3

Boat Rally 2023 reminder

Members are still busy planning the details of the next Rally on 27th - 29th May 2023. It will be based at Langley Mill (NG16 4AA) as before, and the range of attractions will try to out-do the previous efforts. Book the date now.

Shardlow Festival

Pentland was taken to the Shardlow Festival , and gave a good impression of the work at Erewash. New members were signed up and useful donations received.

Maintenance work.

This has been busy this year, with Pentland needing attention and lock fender boards being replaced on several locks. Dave Turner spoke to Richard Parry of CRT about getting a WRG work party camp on towpath maintenance, possibly between Anchor Bridge and Langley Bridge Lock. There was a favourable reaction.

Events at Sandiacre Lock Cottage

For queries on any meetings at the Cottage, contact Glyn Stenson on 07809 251441. Normally (not

November) there is a monthly meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm. All welcome. Over December there will be a celebration of a Victorian Christmas on Sundays 4th, 11th and 18th from 10:30 to 3:30.

This amazing Summer has certainly been a gift to the Sandiacre Lock Cottages and visitors have embraced basking in the sunshine whilst enjoying refreshments.

The large number of visitors has listened to live music and participated in traditional crafts, both inside and outside the cottages. The healthy amount of donations has certainly reflected our visitors’ enjoyment and the welcome they receive at the cottages. Photo from Glyn Stenson.

Grantham Canal Society

Sunny skies greeted the official opening of the new slipway and to pay tribute to one of our stalwart volunteers, George Gee, as well as a BBQ to thank our volunteers for their amazing work throughout this year. It was a pleasure to see over 80 members at our canal depot on Sunday 9th October, for this celebration.

Chairman of the Grantham Canal Society, Mike Stone, thanked those present and all our supporters for making the slipway construction possible through generous donations. This now means we can maintain our small but growing fleet of boats without having to pay significant sums for craning them out of the water.

This will represent a huge saving year on year.

With the ribbon expertly cut, the slipway was declared open!

George's expertise in operating Mudlark, our dredger, is legendary. He was a man who could turn his hand to almost anything. He's sorely missed. We couldn't let George's valuable contribution to the restoration of the Canal go without paying tribute. It was decided to mark this with inscribed plaques affixed on either side of Mudlark

.

Welcoming Beverly, Tina and Denise, George's daughters, along with other members of the family,

the plaques were unveiled. Tony Osbond, General Manager, had us chuckling while relating some of George's escapades and our eyes welling up at other times with the poignancy of his words.

Official duties dispensed with, the Chairman proceeded to serve alcoholic beverage to those who wished it. The catering team provided excellent fare, and the BBQ boys were kept busy throughout.

It was heart warming to meet and chat with so many members. This support keeps us working for the good of the Grantham Canal. Much of the food and liquid refreshment was supplied by our volunteers, so with meagre expenses we were able to bank £530 from donations received.

Thank you! Text and pictures courtesy of Mike Stone for GCS.

proposal

https://www.lincsreservoir.co.uk/

Legend for map: Pink, water area; grey, associated land intake.

The grey “arm” to the SE is believed to be a water channel and existing drain leading to the South Forty Foot Drain at about TF176367,

in between the railway bridge

and the A52 at Donington High Bridge (at the former Sloop Inn). To see more details, and to make comments (by Dec 21!), visit the web site shown at the bottom right of the sketch map.https://www.lincsreservoir.co.uk/

John Baylis BEM

From Neil Edwards. John Baylis, who has died aged 82 on 7th July, was possibly the most influential character in the East Midlands waterways over a period spanning near half a century. He was an IWA trustee for thirty years, a deputy national chairman, and one of the most hardworking committee chairmen in IWA’s history during his eleven year stint as chairman of IWA’s Navigation, Technical and Amenity Committee. The hand of John Baylis was behind the early days of virtually every waterway restoration scheme in the East Midlands. He was one of Graham Palmer’s trusted friends from the early days of WRG. He served as a director on WRG’s board for forty years, and was WRG deputy chairman for most of that period. John was born in Mansfield in 1940 and educated at Brunts Grammar School.

From John himself (2011). Mike Briggs and I joined the IWA in 1969, and that winter with our wives attended the Annual Dinner of the then Sheffield Branch. From memory the speaker could well have been Robert Aickman. John Booth, the Chairman, spied our new faces and asked if we

would join his struggling committee. This we did, Mike becoming Working Party Organiser while I took over Sales. Mike really got the working party off the ground with away trips to the Peak Forest, Ashton and Caldon canals and to the river Avon and Yorkshire Derwent. In addition he managed to get large groups for the “Big Digs” on the Ashton and Droitwich canals.

Following IWA re-organisation in 1974, Mike became Chairman of the new East Midlands Region and a member of Council. Also on Council at that time was Graham Palmer, the founder of Navvies. Interest in canal restoration was growing and Navvies became the Waterway Recovery Group, looking at all canal restorations and providing user-operable plant. Following the completion of the Ashton and Peak Forest canals the Manchester volunteers changed to a mobile operation as WRG North West and Mike talked to Graham about forming WRG East Midlands.

In those days the Erewash, Grantham and Cromford canals had restoration societies, but Mike saw the need to get a winding hole on the Chesterfield Canal above Worksop; the most obvious way being the re-building of

Morse Lock and winding in the Lady Lea Arm. As a member of IWA and the Retford and Worksop Boat Club I formed the Morse Lock Action Group and started negotiations with British Waterways. Mike Oxley donated a Benford belt-drive dumper and we received support from the local landowner. And from that time WRG East Midlands was formed as a somewhat loose organisation of interested workers from other groups. However, BW was not looking at restoring Morse Lock and was not prepared to talk. I took the dumper to Ironville to work with Mick Golds and the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association on the Cromford Canal locks, which were threatened by the proposed BW work on Codnor Park Reservoir, under the 1975 Reservoir Act. I worked at Boots in Nottingham at that time,

and one of my colleagues, the late Dr. John Marshall, received an occasional legacy which had to be spent on charitable aims. John purchased an old JCB 3C for work on the Cromford and then hopefully on the Grantham Canal.

Soon after, John also bought us a Ruston Bucyrus 3RB tracked excavator which was based for convenience at Langley Mill and worked on the building of Jubilee Dry Dock. IWA planned the 1977 Campaign Rally at Worksop to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Chesterfield Canal. I called a meeting in Worksop in 1976, the outcome of which was the formation of the Chesterfield Canal Society. BW built the new piled winding hole below Morse Lock. The work at Ironville petered out due to the lack of active support from Derbyshire County Council. The JCB suffered

from engine trouble and spent some time having the engine rebuilt by Mike Harrison and any work was at Langley Mill, where I helped the Langley Mill Boat Company on building the Jubilee Dry Dock. The 3RB was moved to Trowell for a few months to work for John Marshall’s colleague Clive Gerrard and the Nottingham Canal Society on culverting a collapsed embankment section of the canal by the M1 motorway.

I continued to go with Mark Tiddy and the Sheffield IWA working parties, some of which were on the Montgomery Canal. After a poorly organised weekend, where Mick Golds and the ECP&DA were short of brick-laying materials and the correct preparation, Graham Palmer asked me to look after the Frankton Locks restoration until he could find a suitable local person. I organised preparation work by WRG North West and Sheffield IWA and re-building by the ECP&DA on some locks, and with Pat Osborne and the Trent and Mersey Canal Society on patching and other re-building works. What originally started as a short term project lasted for seven years until the completion of Frankton Locks in 1987.

There had never been many volunteers directly in WRG East

Midlands. It was largely co-ordination and some visiting work by Mick Golds’ and Mark Tiddy’s groups. We had a weekend at Deep Cut Dig on the Basingstoke. I worked at the Stratford Blitzes, and after Frankton we went to work on Aston Locks at Queen’s Head on the Montgomery, and Mick Golds organised works on the Slea Navigation. The Ruston 3RB continued to find work at Langley Mill and for a few months went to the Fellows, Morton and Clayton Arm in Nottingham to do some dredging for the Grantham Canal Restoration Society. This was the closest the 3RB got to the Grantham Canal, despite John Marshall’s hopes, and the JCB 3C was retired to the scrap heap.

After the work at Ironville in 1976 the Benford dumper was left in Jack Brown’s transport yard for nearly three years when Mick Golds decided we should have it at

the Erewash Canal Bicentenary Rally in 1979. We managed to move the dumper on a trailer to the rally at Ilkeston but found that the engine was seized up. However a boater who was early to the rally offered to try and get it going. After removing the cylinder head he managed to move the piston by the judicious use of a sledge hammer and a block of wood, and following polishing of the bore with emery paper the engine ran again. It was moved back to Langley Mill and was used regularly for 26 years until Mick decided to do up the somewhat tired engine and rebuild the dumper in 2006.

After the initial re-opening of Langley Bridge Lock in 1973 and the Dry Dock in 1977, Mick Golds was looking at consolidating the area around the Great Northern Basin. The ECP&DA purchased from Vic Hallam the derelict building which had reputedly been a mortuary and/or a pig sty.

The walls were rebuilt, the roof replaced with vintage tiles and electricity installed. This became the joint ECP&DA/WRG EM Workshop. I still worked at Boots, and during times of change in its engineering departments acquired some machine tools such as a large electric hacksaw, a pillar drill and a hydraulic bending press. These, along with other tools and welding equipment, became the mainstay of the workshop tools.

In these early years Waterway Recovery Group had to become WRG Ltd., a subsidiary part of IWA, to satisfy the accountants and the Charity Commission. I ran the WRG EM accounts along with the late Fred Webster from Nottingham Branch. Much of the early WRG work was for Frankton or Aston, and included making a cement grouting pump which is currently on the Grantham Canal, and the oak buffers for the head of the locks below the top gates. We also had a Transit van for a short time and I purchased two air compressors, both of which are still in use on the Derby Canal and at Langley Mill. I also bought several compressed air drills and equipment for Frankton, most of which is still in occasional use.

With the demise of the Sheffield (later South Yorks and Dukeries) Branch working parties, and a growing personal aversion to sleeping on hall floors over the weekend, I started looking at engineering work which we could do cheaper than buying professionally. The ECP&DA had already made a good start by the use of ex National Coal Board welders to re-build the swing bridge and other work on moving north along the Cromford Canal. With Ken George, I was involved in designing and making security gear for the ECP&DA Lock Cottage at Sandiacre, and we rebuilt the old cast-iron range in the cottage kitchen. We also built the steel work used in the shuttering and piling on the extension of the Cromford Canal at Langley Mill. Then later when Ernie Boddy retired from BW and came to do the welding, he re-sheathed the five foot dredging bucket for the

Ruston Bucyrus 3RB excavator with a 10mm thick steel scroll.

Some early WRG work was making mooring rings and fitting them, but I soon found that it was cheaper and more profitable to buy them ready made and galvanised and only charge for fitting. WRG EM has fixed nearly a hundred mooring rings on the Embankment in front of County Hall for Nottingham City Council;

sold some to British Waterways and canal societies; and also fitted rings in Boston on the Witham Navigable Drains. Whilst at Boston we also offered the Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board a better fender solution for the guillotine gate at Cowbridge Lock. However they preferred to do the actual work themselves, but to our design. A regular item of production is grappling hooks, which we have made for both BW and WRG nationally amongst others.

Since I took over as Quartermaster for IWA Festivals, looking after the Tardis, the forty foot trailer in which the equipment is stored, we have made steel stillages for timber posts; modified the back ramp and fitted handrails; and made under-floor panniers for railway sleepers and scaffolding tubes.

About four years ago, when BW said they were going to re-gate Langley Bridge Lock, I designed and, with the help of ECP&DA members, made the new 3:1 reduction Grand Union type ground paddles and spring paddle

locks. Since then BW have used my design for Custom Engineering to make spring loaded locks for the Erewash Canal. These are currently being fitted on the Erewash, and Leicester section of the Grand Union.

Over the last year the ECP&DA has fitted three phase electricity in the workshop so that we can now use a larger, and more reliable, welder; and built a new, separate wood working workshop. Last year Alan Woodhouse made the stand for the Tom Rolt Centenary Cruise, and this year has made a stand for the ECP&DA dinghy at the Burton-on-Trent Waterways Festival. Recently we have started to make some piling tieback fittings for the IWA Inglesham Lock restoration.

Without the help and support of Mick Golds and the ECP&DA working parties the work we have done would not have been possible. I helped Mick write the Method Statements and Risk Assessments for BW, so that the ECP&DA is now a “self-supervising” group, which works every Friday on maintenance at Langley Mill or manufacture of items for other canal societies.

From John Reeve, Recollections.

Our first meeting was at Frankton Locks on the morning following the opening of the restored locks. As spectators, we were invited to board one of the boats for a descent of the locks. Later I saw a lone figure in a red WRG shirt dismantling the temporary platform just above top lock. I offered to help. I recognised him as the Skipper of the lead boat down the locks. After introductions I helped dismantle and stack the poles and planks. We chatted about our IWA activities before going our separate ways.

Several years later I was Chair of Northumbria Branch and later Region Chairman. As such, I was invited to the Head Office, in London, to attend a series of monthly National Committee meetings. The Secretary invited me to join “Navigation Technical and Amenity” committee as an observer, and John was in the chair, and invited me to join the Committee. After a lunch in a nearby café, I joined John and others at the Council Meeting. There I was welcomed by National Chairman Ken Goodwin. The proceedings were a bit confusing as I had no prior knowledge of the agenda. However I did realise I was confirmed as a Regional member and my membership of NTA approved.

Eventually I joined the WRG joiner team for Festivals while John had become the quartermaster based in the Tardis, the “carry-everything” trailer. As well as running the store in the Tardis, there was the fuel run for the generators and diesel plant. Then there were sales of LPG to boaters and those attending in a caravan. Plus the large bottles for the WRG field kitchen. Could I help ease the load next time?

So began our close association as Joint Quartermaster. He did the fuelling and delivering gas bottles and heavy supplies. I sold the gas and spent the most we shared time on Tardis duty. We both had hosting duty at the opening ceremony and lunch. It worked well and we became a team.

A change in the IWA Constitution came into force. The new rule was, a term was to be 3 years and one person could only serve 2 consecutive terms without a significant break. I had served 23 years and John nearly as many. So we both stood down from the Board. and so our long collaboration ended.

Meetings have resumed at the Ironville Church Hall, NG16 9NN at 7.30 on the third Monday of the month, All are welcome and there is a tea/coffee break and raffle and hopefully a bar. Admission is normally £2.50.

On November 21 Mick Golds will talk about various restoration projects in which he has been involved, including of course Erewash and Cromford. The AGM will be on April 17th 2023.

After a wait of almost a year and a half, Planning Permission has finally been granted for the extension of the navigable canal north from Langley Mill, through a staircase pair of locks, under the A610 and through to its original course at Stoney Lane, Brinsley.

FCC work parties are normally held every Wednesday and cover sections along the entire 14.5 mile length of the Canal from Langley Mill on the Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire border to Cromford Wharf at Cromford.

Sections of the canal are under the control of Derbyshire County Council Countryside Services and other sections are owned by the Canal & River Trust.

The Derbyshire sections are the five miles from Cromford Wharf

through High Peak Junction, Whatstandwell to Ambergate and at Pinxton Wharf on the half mile section known as the Pinxton Arm. Casson Street on the Pinxton Arm at Ironville and Golden Valley at the Eastern Portal of the Butterley tunnel are also DCC owned.

The Canal & River Trust (C&RT) sections that the FCC have adopted are at Ironville up to Codnor Park Reservoir and along the abandoned section towards Golden Valley, where it meets the DCC section.

The quarter mile at Lower Hartshay from the A610 embankment to the Hartshay Hill road bridge, where it joins the recently gifted half mile section, now managed by the FCC.

Other sections we work include at Sawmills assisting the Bullbridge & Sawmills Area Civic Society in clearing vegetation and removing rubbish in the gauging narrows and assisting the WRG in creating a diversionary footpath away from a section to be reworked.

At Lower Hartshay, on the FCC managed section, clearing the channel of reeds and trees, trimming the overgrown hedging and providing views over the water meadow for bird watchers.

Friends of the Cromford Canal

Leicestershire IWA Branch

The Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 19th October 2022. The guest speaker was the current National Chairman Les Etheridge, who spoke to us about the new and very impressive ‘Waterways for Today’ report, and the continuing role of the IWA.

The meeting was attended by our six committee members, and our East Midlands Region Chairman David Pullen. Of our 214 branch members, only one member attended, the ever committed ex-National Chairman David Stevenson. The meeting also welcomed non-IWA member Mary Matts, from Foxton Boat Services.

This turnout was pretty disappointing to say the least, and must now raise questions about the future of the Branch.

Andrew Shephard , Chairman, Leicestershire Branch

Picture Credits

We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance this edition of Aegre: Andrew Shephard; Chris Madge; Michelle Hill; Eddie Case; Archie Roberts; Dave Carnell; David Collin; Robert Aspey; Rod Auton; Phil May; Mel and Sue Sowerby; David Pullen; Jane Pollard; Mick Clowes; Alan Leather; David Pit; Malcolm Fielding; Keith Bown; Steve Kitt; Paula Hunt, and as noted for specific articles. For the South Forty Foot, photos are by Donnylad, under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 from Geograph.

Louth Navigation Trust

Successful water festival

For some time the LNT had been planning a Festival in September, to run in parallel to the many events marking the National Heritage Weekend.

Then, on the Tuesday prior, the heavens opened and added much more water to that kept back by the special stoplogs. About 90mm in one day. Some low-lying parts of the town were flooded, and thought was given to cancellation. Optimism prevailed, and the water went down sufficiently.

A working party had cleared the mud and rubbish from the slipway so the model boats had a clean area to display their wonderful craft, and the paddle-boarders and kayaks could launch (picture next page).

The entertainments started on time,

Planned events for late 2022 include: Christmas Market. 27 November. See www.louthcanal.org.uk for details. Work parties continue at various sites along the canal, normally on the second Monday of the month.

and Stuart Sizer’s heritage walk around the Riverhead area was well supported (below).

IWA’s new Volunteer Manager, Jenny Hodson, came on the Sunday to see how things were organised. Her participation included having a go at paddle boarding and consequent closer acquaintance with the water of the canal.

Old Union Canals Society

The Old Union Canals Society have their monthly open meetings at Great Bowden Village Hall (LE16 7EU, near Market Harborough) at 7.30 on the last Friday of the month. November 25th’s meeting is Film Night, when we have a selection of canal and waterway-related films. Visitors are welcome, and a £2 donation is requested. There is tea, coffee and cake.

No meeting in December; January is the AGM, with additional content. Details from Mary Matts on 0116 2792188.

CRT are planning a stargazing event at Foxton Locks in November, provisionally the 9th. Details from CRT.

Journals Received

We are very pleased to acknowledge copies of journals, sometimes in PDF format, from various canal and river societies and trusts. They include “The Portal” from Friends of the Cromford Canal; “The Packet” from the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society; “The Cuckoo”, from the Chesterfield Canal Trust; “Sleaford Navigation Trust” journal; the “Melton and Oakham Newsletter”; “The Wharfinger” from Louth Navigation Trust; “The Bridge” from Grantham Canal Society; “Grand Trunk” from the Trent and Mersey Canal Society; and “Union” from the Old Union Canal Society.

Anyone interested in receiving a copy of one of these journals should contact the relevant address given on page 4. For “The Cuckoo” contact the editor at 22 Works Road, Hollingwood, Chesterfield S43 2PF.