View
215
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The Inland Waterways Association Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch's newsletter, Worcester Bar, Summer 2015 edition7.
Citation preview
The Newsletter of theBirmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch.
Edition No: 7Summer 2015
Page �
IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire BranchWinter Social Programme
Held at Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise,Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AW
Starting at 7.15 for 7.30pm.2015/16
Date Subject Speaker
Oct 19th �015 The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Paul Barnett
Nov 16th �015 Update on CART Operations in our Area Ian Lane CRT Area Manager W.Midlands Waterways.
Subsequent meeting dates and speakers to be notified in the next edition.
Contact:ChrisOsborn [email protected]
Non-membersareverywelcometoattendanyofthesemeetings,whererefreshingbeverages,hot,cold,alcoholicandsoftareavailable.
Page �
ContentsFromtheHelm 3
SevernTrow“Nora” 4
PipelinetoCrossCanal 4
St.Richard’sFestival 4
GasStreet 5
TheWorcestershireForum 5
WildenMarsh6
FortytonnesofRubbish 6
IWAAnnualMember’sMeeting. 7
StrollingAlongTheLeominster 7
ThankstoBecky&Mike 7
SocialMeetingsReport. 8
WorkParties&OtherEvents9
Crossword 10
TheRoundHouse 11
BranchWorkParties 11
AdjoiningIWABranches 11
Obituary 11
From the HelmBusytimeofyearforallwaterwaybasedactivities!inspiteofboat-building,canoeing,walking,meetingsandotheractivitiessomeofusmadeittothismonth’swork-partyatWolverleyCourtlock-tofinishthepaintjobandtostartontheHimalayanBalsambashthatwewillcontinuenextmonthatFallingSands.Also,theinitiativestartedrecentlybyBCNSto‘dosomething’withthedecayingTitfordCanalgotofftoagoodstartacoupleofweeksagowithameetingattheTitfordPump-House.CRT,EA,BCNS,IWA,andlocalconservationconcernsareallinagreementthatdredgingisneededinthepools,someprotectionfromfurthersiltrun-offfromtheM5isrequired,andlocalinitiativestousethepoolsandprotectthewildlifeinthesurroundingsisimportant.AfurthermeetinginAugustshouldbringtolightallinterestedpartiesandmakeastartondecidinghowtogoaboutit.Iliketoseetheenthusiasmoftheseinitiatives-andalsotheseriousknowledgethattheyoungermembersofstafffromtheauthoritieshavetooffer.Thisissometimesincontrasttoalackofexperienceinactualwaterwayapplications-buttheyhavetolearn-andprojectslikethis,ifsuccessfullycontinuedbyco-operationfromeveryoneelse,willensurethattheyareequippedformoredemandingprojectselsewhere.Weareover-confidentinOURexperienceofheritageintheBirminghamarea-itisgoodtorememberthatIWAalsosupportswaterwaydevelopment-e.g.theStaffordLink,theBedfordtoMiltonKeyneslink,andoneortwo
enlargementsonthesystem-aswellaspreservation!Ifyoufindaninterestingschemeinyourtravelsthisyear-pleasethinkaboutwritingitupforus-we’dlovetohearallaboutit.HaveagoodboatingSummer.David
Page �St.Richard’s Festival, DroitwichThefestivalattendancewasgoodandtheweatherkindtous.AmongstmanyothersImetRichardParry,ChiefExecutiveofCRT.PlentyofinterestwasshownintheIWAactivitiesandwemaygetsomemoremembersasaresult.
Sadly,theanticipatedvisitoftheSevern/Wyetrow,theonlyworkingbargeofit’skindtoDiglisandthencetoDroitwichfortheSt.RichardsFestivalhadtobecancelledatshortnoticebecauserothadbeendiscoveredinherkeelson.
YourBranchCommitteeagreedthatthefeeforherattendanceshouldbedonatedtotherepairfund.DWS
Severn Trow “Nora”TheBranchhasrecentlybeengivenamodelofaSevernTrow‘Nora’,byArthurPaggett,whichwasmadebyhisfriendBillWilliamsofBridgwater.TheoriginalNorawasbuiltatBridgwaterin1868byJohnGough.Itwouldhavetradedallaroundtheestuary,andcapableofcominguptheSevernasfarasWorcester,liketheSpry(nowinamuseumatIronbridge)butalastheNorawasgivena‘Vikingfuneral’in1939.Theintentionofthegiftisthatwewillfindasuitablepermanenthomeforit-e.g.amuseum,butbeforethatafewsmallrepairs
areneeded.ItwillbeshowntomembersattheAnnualMembersMeetinginSeptember,andatourfirstsocialmeetingintheAutumn,bywhichtimewewillhavemadearrangementsforit’stransfer.
ArthurPaggettiswellknownontheSevernwithhisvariousboats,includingavoyageupthe‘upperSevern’pastBridgnorthandontoColeportinalargecruiser.Thisjourneywasmuchpublicisedatthetime,whenDavidHutchingswashelpingtheSevernNavigationRestorationTrust.HeisnowlookingforsomeonetotransferhisVHSvideoofthejourney,andtohelphimaddsomecommentary,whichislargelyprepared.AnyoffersofhelporcommentspleasetotheChairman,DavidStruckett01299878461
Pipeline to Cross CanalResidentsofWyreForestDistricthavebeeninterestedinproposalsbySevern-Trenttoinstallanewpipe-linefromTrimpleytoFrankley-aspartofabypasswatersupplysystemtoenablelongtermup-gradingofthehundredyearoldElanValleysupplyforBirmingham.ThenewpipelinewillcrosstheStaffs&Worcs.canaljustnorthofStourport.IhavebeenassuredbySevernTrentthatrightfromthestarttheproposalsintendthepipetopassunder-bytunnellingtoasuitabledepth,andthatnointerferencetothecanalwillresult.Astherehasrecentlybeena(smaller)tunnellingunderthiscanalonlyinthelasttwoyears,successfullytakingdrainagewaterunderthecanaljustsouthofFallingSandsviaduct,weknowthistypeofoperationcanhaveminimaleffectonthecanal.Theplanshaveyettogoforplanningapproval.WiththenewbridgeplannedfortheSugarworkssite,thismakesthreenewcrossingsbetweenStourportandKidderminster;fortunately,noneofthemwillaffecttheWildenMarshprotectedareas.DWS
Page 5Gas StreetA200-metrestretchoftheWorcester&BirminghamCanalincentralBirminghamwasdrainedinFebruarytoinvestigateapotentialleakfollowingreportsofwaterseenescapingintoaserviceroadbeneaththecanal.
WaterwasfoundtobeescapingfromthebottomoftheHolidayStreetAqueduct,originallyconstructedtocarryanowdisusedrailwayunderthecanalandcurrentlyownedbyNetworkRail.
Afterrescuingthefish,initialattemptstodrainthecanalwerehamperedbyafaultyseal,whilethefirstrepairfailedtostoptheleak,resultinginengineersreplacingalargersectionofthecanalbed.Theworkwascompletedandthecanalreopenedseveralweeksaheadofschedule.
Oncedrained,agoodselectionoftheusualitemswasdisplayedonthecanalbed.Somewereremovedbythecontractorsbutplentyremainsforfutureworkparties.
WhenthesephotosweretakenIwasaccostedbyfundraisersworkingonbehalfofCRT.NotwellfurnishedwithliteratureandpoorlybriefedaboutCRTandcanals.Idoubtthattheyhadmuchsuccessinattractingpunters.
Ed.
The Worcestershire Forum Longer-servingmemberswillrememberthatonceuponatimetherewasasimplequarterlymeetingwherethevariouswaterwayusersrepresentativeswereabletosharenewsandviews–includingBritishWaterways,andusuallytherewasanEAandlocalCouncilrepresentatives.ThenBWtoldusthattheywouldholdtheirown‘forums’–assumingthatwouldclosetheregularone.Then,afterafewvociferousargumentsatoneortwo,theBWoneswerestopped,infavourof‘onetoone’consultationsbytheWaterwayManager.Thentheywerestoppedaltogether!
Meanwhile,theWorcestershireWaterwayUsersForum,underthechairmanshipofDaveWright,carriedonwithit’squarterlymeetings–havingsomesuccessinputtingpeopleintouchandsolvingproblems.Swanrescuewereassisted,licenceandtrainingrequirementswerefound,andafeelingofpotentialusefulnessprevailed.However,thesupportwasdwindling,welostasecretary,thingswerenotkeptup-to-date,andthecirculationlistwasun-guided.UnderCRT,theirrenewedforumsvisitotherpartsoftheSWalesandSevernarea–andvisitWorcestershireonceayear.
So,underanewinitiative,promptedbyIWAmembersandotherspresentatthelastthreemeeting,havepromiseda‘newlook’.Fortunatelywehavemoreco-operationnowfromCRT–aswehaveagreedtomeetinthequartersremainingaftertheCRT‘Forum’
inJune,whichwasonlastWednesday–the10th.Atthatmeeting,NickWorthingtonandhisstaffoutlinedtheworkofCRToverthelastyearandproposedworkforthcoming,whichwaswellillustratedandtherewasanopportunitytoaskquestions.
Ofcourse,thisdoesn’tleavemuchtimeforissuesthatinvolverescueservices,localauthorities,rowing,fishing(althoughthefishinginterestwasrepresented),walking,etc,andhowtheyrelatetoriverandcanalmaintenance.That’swherethenextmeetingofWWUFcomesin–thedateisWednesday9thSeptember–tobechairedbyDavidWStruckett–butIhopethat’sonlytemporarywhileI’mchairmanoftheBranch!Wealsoneedanewsecretary,butwehaveaTreasurer(andsomefunds),andsomewillingrepresentativesfromtheCRTPartnership(SW&S),WB&DCS,DW(PM)T,BC(canoeing),SMYC,SYC,CathedralFerryandIWA,andwehavealsoinvitedriversidetownCivicSocietiestoattendthenextonetoensurecoverageof‘heritage’aspects.
So,ifyouhearofWWUF,oranyotherversionofa‘forum’inWorcestershire,that’sbrieflythehistory–andthepossibilitythatitstillcouldbeuseful!(othercountieshavea‘forum’–includingausefuloneinStaffordshiretowhichwearelinkedbecauseoftheStaffs&Worcs.Canal.)DWS
KINGSLYNNBAITEBONNAATTONICTVOOSOONFIRLEARIROOTCANALTNIAFHESOHGVPFROTHNYASUBALRHUMTAYLESBURYPOGRETORHEATKKTCANALGNOOENIDSTARN
ISHARPNESSN
Crossword Solution
Page 6
Forty tonnes of Rubbish Cleared from the Birmingham Canal Navigations!Overtheweekendof18and19April,over100volunteersfromWaterwayRecoveryGroup(WRG),TheInlandWaterwaysAssociation,BirminghamCanalNavigationsSociety,DudleyCanalTrust,CoombeswoodCanalTrustandCanal&RiverTrust(CRT),(includingCRTChiefExecutiveRichardParry),joinedtogethertocarryoutamassivecanalcleanupontheBirminghamCanalNavigations(BCN).
Volunteersspenttheweekendclearingover40tonnesofrubbishalongtheBCNOldMainLineatSmethwickJunctionandsurroundinglocks.Lotsofinteresting‘treasures’werepulledoutofthecanalincludingmotorbikes,afreezer,aHindudeitystatue,ashotgun,severalpartsofacar…andofcourseafewshoppingtrolleys!ItishopedthisannualeffortontheBCNwillhelpkeepthelesswellusedpartsoftheBCN&BlackCountryNetworkfromgettingchokedupwithrubbishandbecomingimpassableforboats.
WRGLeaderChrisMorgansaidThis is the first time we have worked in this area, it was great to be surrounded by so much canal heritage, structures and features. The volunteers certainly enjoyed themselves! Thanks must go to all the societies who supplied the work boats to take
the rubbish away and to the Canal & River Trust staff who worked diligently to empty the boats, we have already started planning the 2016 event.
TheeventwasalsosupportedbyvolunteersfromtheFriendsoftheTiptonCut,IKONGallerySlowBoatproject,BritishTelecomandBlackCountryAdventuresBoatProject.
Wilden Marsh OnJunetheninthIhadaconductedvisittotheupperendoftheWildenMarshes–thatareaofwildernessbetweenKidderminsterandStourportwithrestrictedaccess.
TheareaisjointlyownedbytheWorcestershireWildlifeTrustandAssociatedBritishFoods–thelegacyoftheSugarplantnowlargelydismantled.Dividedintoareasaccordingtodampness,elevationandprevailingspecies,itcontainswoodland,grasslandandmeadow,pools,etc,andisofcourseadjacenttotheRiverStourforit’sentirelength.
IwasimpressedwithwhattheWorcestershireWildlifeTrusthasdoneineffortsrestorearangeofusefulhabitatfromhaymeadowtomarshlandpools–evidenceofagreaterrangeofbirds,grasses,flowers,treesandfaunathathasbeenseenformanyyears.
Fromthecanal,thereisplentyofhistoricreferencealongthisstretch–fromCaldwalllock(thereusedtobeacottage),siteofoverheadelectricdrivefortugs,FallingSands,viaductfortheSVR,lock,andthenPratt’sWharf,disusedlockdowntotheStour,siteofwoodyardsandironfoundries,andviewsoverthemarshtowardsWildenLaneandthesettlementofWilden(oneshop,onepub,onechurch!).
Thesouthernhalfofthemarshismorevisitablefromafootpathrunningacross(usefully,toneartheshop),
andaccesstofields–largelyselfregulatedbybeingkeptverywet,aswellas‘WildenPool’(Fishing!).Two‘rockweirs’havebeenconstructedintheriver,whicheffectivelyraisethewaterlevel(andwater-table)byabouttwometres,fromthepreviouslevels.OneoftheseiseasilyseenjustabovethePratt’sWharflock.Fishcaneasilynavigateupstream,andindeedare
encouragedtodosobythefastflowingandturbulentwater.Otter’sholtscanbefoundinthepoolsandriver,provingthatsomerestorationofhabitatfromthepreviousindustrialwastelandhasbeensuccessful.
SowhenyoucruisealongtheStaffs&Worcs.Canalpasthere,stopawhileandwatchthebuzzards,kingfisher,woodpecker(bothspottedAND‘lesser-spotted’!)andmanyotherbirds–somemigratoryandsomenative,thatinhabitthisarea.Also-wewillbedoingsomeHimalayanBalsampullingalongthecanalandriver-sideatFallingsandsonthe8thofJuly,sowemightseeyouthere?DWS
Page �IWA Annual Member’s Meeting. Assistance RequestBackontheBBC&WBranchpatchagain,theIWAAnnualMember’sMeetingwillbeheldonSaturday26thSeptemberatSalwarpeVillageHall.Branchmembersareaskedtoofferassistancewithgreetingattendees,helpingwithparkingetcforanhourortwo.
Thebranchwillbeputtingonsomeentertainmentforthoseattending,andontheSundaywillbehiringtheDCTtripboat,“PamelaMay”togivethosewhohavestayedovernightatasteoftheDroitwichCanalsbeforetheirreturnjourneys.
WouldanyBranchmemberwillingtoassist,pleasecontactDavidStruckett.
Strolling Along The LeominsterIWAB’ham,BlackCountry&WorcesterConductedWalkonthederelictLeominsterCanalonSaturday,April25th.
MeetingatTheSalwey Arms at Wooferton, 6MembersofourbranchweretakenonaconductedtourofpartthederelictLeominsterCanalledbyMartinHudson&MikeWatkinsfromtheLeominsterCanalSocietywhohadawealthofinformationonthehistoryofthecanalsupportedbytexts&illustrations.
Theweatherwaskindtous&wesawTemeAquaductthathadbeenblownapartduringthe2ndWorldWartorepelpossibleinvaders,thebridgeovertheR.Rea,amortarbase&signsofthenowdisusedrailwaylinethatsupersededtheCanal.
Aworthwhile&mostenjoyablevisit&verygoodpresentationbyMartin&Mike.ChrisOsborne.
Thanks to Becky & MikeFollowingtheresignationofBeckyattherecentAGM,thepositionofBranchSecretaryhasyettobefilled,althoughitishopedthatawillingvolunteermayhavebeenfound.
IwouldliketoputonrecordmythanksandthatoftheCommitteetoBeckyforalltheworkshehasundertakenasSecretaryandforthetimesheandMikehavegiven,andcontinuetodoso,insupportingtheBranchatfestivalsandgatheringsovertheyears.Thankstoo,toMikeforhisworkasMembershipSecretary,arolenowbeingundertakenbyDavePearson.DS
Page �
Social Meetings Report.InFebruaryweheardabouttheworkoftheDerby&SandiacreCanalSocietyfromDougFlack(Archivist/Webmaster)andChrisMadge(Chairman/TrustDirector).TheDerbycanalopenedon30thJune1796andcarriedavarietyofgoodsincludingcoal,charcoal,chert,(flintformlimestone),andmilkforCadbury’s.Itclosedin1946andwasabandonedin1964.
TheSociety,foundedin1993,hascommissionedfeasibility,viabilityandimpactstudiesandgarneredsupportfromthepublic,politiciansandbusinesses.
In2011,restorationplanswereapproved,subjecttofunding,bythefourlocalauthoritiesthroughwhichtheentire12.5milesofcanalrunandtherouteisnowprotected.Councils,developers,MPsandCRTareallinvolved,supportingtheproposalswhichincludeacounterbalancedarmtoliftboatsacrosstheRiverDerwent.MostofthelineisintactalthoughtherehasbeensomebuildingonthelineinDerby.
ThebiggerchallengesarecrossingtheM1andarailway,althoughthereareviableproposalsfordealingwitheach.Twobrickbridgeshavebeenrebuiltandonekilometrehasbeenreinstatedaspartofafloodprotectionplanfortheadjacentrailway.AnumberoflocksrequirecompleterebuildingandinDerbytheRiverDerwentwillbecanalised.Estimatedcostfortheentireproject;£45,000,000.
ForfurtherinformationabouttheSociety,gotohttp://derbycanal.org.uk/
*****Onthe20thApril,VinceWilliamsassisted,byJohnGoodsonspokeaboutthesocalled“IdleWomen”ofWorldWarTwo.
Thegirlswhobecameknownasthe‘IdleWomen’werethegirlsbetween20and40yearsoldwhowerecalledupforvoluntaryNationalServicein1940andchosetobetrainedtocrewontheworkingboatsthatcarriedvitalgoodsduringthewar.Theterm‘IdleWomen’wasassumedtocomefromthe‘I.W’.-InlandWaterways-onthebadgethattheywore.Theytendedtocomefromawelleducatedbackground&probablythoughtitwouldbeafunoutdoorlifeworkingonthecanals.
Theyquicklyfoundthiswasnotso.
Theyweregivenjust6weekstrainingcruisingontheGrandUnionbetweenLondon&Birminghamforwhichtheywerepaid£3perweek.UnliketheLandGirls&LumberJills,theyhadtobuytheirownsuitableclothing.Theylearnedalotofnewterminology&howto‘clothup’&handletheboats.
Theywerethenformedintogroupsof3toworktheboats&buttys,workingverylonghours.Theyhadtoendurewalkingontheplankshighabovetheboat&water&wesawtheausterityofthecabins&smallspacetolivein&sparsetoiletfacilities.Thecargowas
mainlymunitionsthoughallofthepartstobuildtheHurricaneAeroplaneswerecarriedbybarge.
Sculptorwastheboatusedtotrainthewomen&itispreservedatStokeBruerne.Only6womenservedrightthroughthewar&itisbelievedonly2oftheIdleWomenarestillalivetoday.
ThetalkremindedusofthehardshipfacedstoicallybytheIdleWomen&waswellpresentedwithsomehumorousbanterbetweenthespeakers.
*****The18thMaymeetingsawDrRichardChurchleypresentatalkentitled“CarriersBeforeTheRailways”.HisgeographicalareaofinterestisaroundWorcestershireandhismainsourceofinformationthelongestablishedBerrowsWorcesterJournal.
Wagonshavefourwheels,cartstwo.CommonCarrierstransportedlightgoods,whilstHaulierstransportedtimber,coalandotherheavyfreight.Carrierswerevitaltolocaleconomieswithtransportincreasinghugelyduringtheeighteenthcentury.AnActofParliamentenabledtheformationofconsortiaandcreatedTheTurnpikeTrust,initiallyaroundLondon,(there’sasurprise),andthenthroughouttheShiresofWorcester,Warwick,StaffordandtheBlackCountryinaround1710.
Manycarrierswereengagedinothertradessuchasfarming,fruiterersandretailersandtheirtitlesincludedPedlars,Hawkers,Higglers(eggs&dairyproduce),Salters(especiallynearDroitwich),andCrickers,(Crickney-ware,acoarsecommonearthenware).Carriershadregularroutes,local,regionalandnational;manyhadhorsechangingstables.
Carriersdevelopedtheirownregularrouteswiththelongerjourneysprobablyundertakenmonthly.Thevalueofloads,especiallyfabricssuchassilkswouldoftenbe£4-5000.00pandhighwayrobberieswerecommon,especiallyindifficultareassuchasclimbingtheLickeyHills.Accidentstoowerecommon,especiallyatfordsandonbridgeswithdriversoftenbeingundertheinfluenceofalcohol.
Fromaround1700,thetradewassubjecttostatutoryregulation,withtaxesonhorses,dogsandofcourse,Turnpikes.InJuly1752,CarrierswrotetoBerrowsWorcesterJournalcomplainingthatbeinglimitedbyTollstofewerthanfivehorses,theycouldnotclimbBirdlipHill.
TheBroadWheelAct1755,permittedthreeyearstollfreepassagetothosewhofittedthem,makingtraveleasierandrequiredtheCarrier’snametobepaintedonthewagon.
Andthencamethecanals……………………..
JackyOsbornBobFox
Page 9
Work Parties & Other EventsAsalways,thereareplentyofactivitiestogetinvolvedin,whetherforanhourortwoorlonger.Anyandallhelpwillbeverywelcome.InrespectofourBranchWorkParties,eachonewillbenotifiedbyemail,toincludemeetingplaceandlikelyactivities.
2ndWed.ofeachmonthsouthernendofS&W;10thJune;WolverleyCourtLock;8thJuly,FallingSandsLock.(IWABBC&WBranch,DWS,01299878461)
2ndThursdayofeachmonthnearNethertonFromDunnsBridgeatWindmillEnd,usingaboat,nets&rakes,andlitterpicking.(CRT,TerryHodgetts,07810630376)2ndw/eofeachmonth(usually),TardebiggeLimekilns(IWAWB&DCSBranch,BillLambert02476726924)TheFestivalsareasfollows:4/5thJuly,RiverFestival,StratfordonAvon.10/12thJuly,KingsNortonFestival29/31August,NorthamptonFestivalofWater2015.12/13September,BlackCountryBoatingFestival,WindmillEnd.19/20thSeptember,TiptonCanal&CommunityFestival,Tipton.19/20thSeptember,HuddlesfordHeritageGathering,Huddlesford.
Van-Tastic Droitwich Canals Sponsored WalkDate: Saturday19thSeptember Location: DroitwichCanals,Worcester&BirminghamCanal&RiverSevern Distance: 5-7 mile (routetbc) or 22 miles (the Droitwich Ring) Cost: £5perperson(tea&cakesprovidedatfinish!)andunder12sgofreeMore details:www.wrg.org.uk/droitwich_sponsored_walkWRGareorganisingasponsoredwalkalongtheDroitwichCanalsandRingtohelpraisefundsforourVan Appeal. Wewanteveryone,WRGies,IWAmembers,friends&familyandmembersofthepublictogetinvolved!So get your boots on for WRG!Theplanistohave2routes. Route 1 willbea 22-mile walkaroundtheDroitwich Canal Ring andRoute 2willbeafamilyfriendly 5-7 milewanderalongtheDroitwich CanalsonSaturday19thSeptember.Youcanwalkasanindividual,afamily,groupoffriends...oryoucantakepartinourteamevent(moredetailsontheWRGwebsite–addressabove).JoiningusonthewalkwouldbeagreatopportunityforyoutoseetheDroitwichCanalsfullyrestored,particularlyforthoseofyouwhowereinvolvedintherestorationoftheHanburyFlightandtheDroitwichBargeLock,aswellashelpingusraisemoneyfortheWRGVanAppeal.
Fancy dress is encouraged and the theme is the colour red!
For more details and to book on go to:
www.wrg.org.uk/droitwich_sponsored_walk or contact Jen & Amber at WRG Head Office on 01494 783 453 ext 604 / email [email protected]
orsendachequepayableto‘WaterwayRecoveryGroup’,toDroitwichSponsoredWalk,IslandHouse,MoorRoad,Chesham,HP51WA
CrosswordAcross
1 RoyalmistressoratownontheGreat Ouse?5 Atemptingmorselforafish.6 AsmalltowninGermany,accordingtole Carré.8 Agoodmixer.12 Inashorttime.14 Ittakesenergytomakethistreeburstinto flames.15 Thekingofjets?16 Dentaltreatmentforboaters?19 ArenaontheBCN,butnotintheopenair. (1.1.1.)20 Asenseofhumourneededforthisnote –soundslikesomeone’sgettingthe needle!21 Agoodaccompanimenttocoffee?22 Aboatwithnoairdraft?24 Forwhenyoucan’tthinkofaword?25 ABucksarm.30 Goabout,aboutagiant.31 AhillfoundinGlastonburyandTorquay.32 Warmthfoundintheattic?33 Tinandaluminium–a source ofpleasuretoIWAmembers.34 EatbackwardswithMs.Blyton?36 Amountainlake,thanks tothenavy.37 Aclevermonsteratone endofthecanal?
Down
1 WhatAurorawasnot allowedtoforget.(3-3)2 WhatClaraBowand computershave incommon.
1 1 2 3 4 5
5 6 7
8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15
16 17 18
19 23 20
1 21
22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29
30 31 32
33
34 35 36
1 37
3 Notethisboatwell.4 Newbooks?5 ProbablynotthequickestwayfromWoodham toOdiham,butdefinitelythepleasantest.7 Notsouthcurrentweight–siteforthisyear’s festival.9 Frequently,butbriefly.10 Spend,spend,spendwithVivonthiscanal guide.11 Nationalistgroupresponsiblefordisruptingthe politicalprocess.13 Definitelynot!15 Forwhenyoucan’tthinkofaword.17 Cheapcuts?18 ThefirstPrimeMinisterofIndia.23 Awillin’chapfromYarmouth.24 Scavengerswithasenseofhumour?26 Youwerethis,once.27 WhendoweexpecttheBasqueseparatiststo gethere?28 Supporteroffeminists?29 Whennegative,thebloodgroupofaright- handedmonkey?35 Lawrence,initially.36 Eliot,initially.
CompiledbyJohnButler.
Page 10
Page 11
UnwantedCanalBooks&Maps?
Ifyouhaveanypublicationsrelatingtoourcanalswhichareinreasonableorbetterconditionandyounolongerwant,wouldyoukindlydonatethemtoussothattheymaybeusedforbranchfund-raisingactivities.Allofferingswelcome.
Adjoining IWA BranchesAnd other OrganisationsDetails of activities in adjoining Branches and organisations are available below.Warwickshire - [email protected] - [email protected] & Herefordshire - [email protected] & North Wales Branch - [email protected]
Other OrganisationsAvon Navigation Trust - [email protected] & River Trust, West Midlands - [email protected] Waterways (Pamela May) Trust - [email protected] Canal Trust - [email protected] & Worcs CS - http://www.swcanalsociety.co.uk/Worcester, Birmingham & Droitwich CS - http://wbdcs.org.uk/
ObituaryItiswithsadnessthatwelearnofthedeathin2014attheageof90,ofMrsDorisBarker,whoforseveralyearswasthefirstBirmingham,BlackCountryandWorcesterIWABranchSecretarybackinthe1950s.
SheandherlatehusbandBernard,anengineeringsurveyor,boughtanex-workingboat,NbQueensoonafterthewarandsetaboutconvertingitusingwoodfromorangeboxesandbaconboxesforthecabin.TheywerethefirstpleasureboattonavigateCombeswoodTunnelbutindoingso,becamestuckandcouldonlyextricatethemselvesbydemolishingthecabin.Oncebackintheopen,theyrebuiltthecabinandspentmanyyearscruisingthewaterways.IamindebtedtoJeanandRayDobbsforprovidingthesedetails.Ed.
The Round HouseCallforInformationonRoundHouse,BirminghamTheCanal&RiverTrustandtheNationalTrustplantodeveloptheRoundHouse,Birminghamasanactivitycentre.Aspartofthedevelopmenttheyarekeentointerprettheheritageofthebuildinganditscommercialuseasstables.Itishopedthatpartoftheschemewillbeasmalldisplaydepictingthisforvisitors. ToaidinthisinterpretationtheyhaveaskedifanyonewithphotographsorotherinformationabouttheRoundHouse,particularlyincommercialuse,couldgetintouch.Anythingprovidedwouldbecopiedandreturned.IfyouhaveinformationyouwouldliketosharepleaseemailIvorCaplanativor.caplan@waterways.org.uk.
Branch Work PartiesWecontinuetomeetonthesecondWednesdayofeachmonth.Withwinterbehindus,wehaveturnedfrommainlylitter-pickingtocuttingovergrowthfromaroundmooringringsinKinverandbelowWhittingtonandWolverleyLocks.InMaywepaintedWolverleyCourtLock,(pictured),andnowareintoremovingHimalayanBalsam.Dopleasecomeandjoinus.DS
BBC&W Branch Officers & Committee:
Chair: David Struckett [email protected] 0�9�6 ��6��5
Michael Payne Vice Chairman Planning Officer (Birmingham) [email protected]. 0��91 �9��96
John Taplin Vice Chairman, Planning Officer (Worcs) [email protected] 0��60 �96�60
Secretary: Position vacant
Treasurer: Chris Neal [email protected] 0��5� ��5�11 Members:Freddie Cooke Planning Officer (Walsall, Wolverhampton & South Staffs) [email protected] 0��11 �9����Dave Pearson Membership Secretary [email protected] 0�5�� 19����
Bob Fox Planning Officer (Sandwell & Dudley), Newsletter Editor [email protected] 0��55 �1��1�
Chris Osborn Meetings organiser [email protected] 0��15 ��9��5
Jo Smith
Views expressed in Worcester Bar are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent those of the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch or the Inland Waterways Association.
No responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions.
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no, 61���5. Registered as a charity no. �1����
Copy deadline for next edition of Worcester Bar - 22nd August 2015Please submit items for inclusion via e-mail as plain text or in .doc format.
Ptotgraphs in any format but a minimum size of 1Mb