CUTCUT BOTHBOTH WAYSWAYS Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust LHCRT director Peter Buck, kitted out as a Victorian engineer, and his wife Jeanne, in traditional boatwomen’s dress, with Rose Willow, a floral recreation of a 70ft narrowboat, waiting for the judges to arrive (26th July 2018) Issue No. 97 Autumn 2018 ay Wha eeth rf L tr Lichfield td S Heart of the Coventry Canal . TEL:01543 414808 MOBILE:0782 4848444 FAX:01543 414770 www.streethaywharf.co.uk 7-DAY CALL OUT SERVICE GEN SETS FITTED DIESEL AND SOLID FUEL STOVES FITTED BOTTOM BLACKING REPAINTING AND SIGNWRITING NEW BOATS FULL & PART FIT-OUT SUPPLIED ALL MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL WORK FULL CHANDLERY STRETCHING AND REBOTTOMING GAS SAFE. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ALL STEEL WORK AND TANKS Support the boat yard on the “Lichfield Ring” Boat Transport, England, Europe Cranage Arranged Site Surveys Complete Service for DIY Repairs Boat Hire Boat Fitting Diesel Pump Out Mooring Boat Sales Laundry Trent & Mersey Canal V.A.T No. 133609427 Chairman’s Column What a summer! The heat wave continued, but our intrepid volunteers continued to change the landscape at Fosseway, and how! It is now clear where the restored ay Wha canal will be and where the three walking, jogging and cycling routes will be and eth rf Hugh’s Huge Hill, aka Millington’s Mound is nearing completion. All these stupendous re L achievements have been aided by visiting volunteers from companies, IWA’s t td Waterway Recovery Group, National Citizen Service, our D of E volunteers and S Scout Groups. Maybe we should have a competition “Guess how many sandbags . in Millington’s Mound”! We are delighted to welcome back, now for a third year, our valuable Queen’s Croft High School youngsters and to welcome a second Scout Group (7th Lichfield) to holding occasional sessions with us, as Foresters Scouts have done for a several years. The Trust’s contribution to Lichfield’s entry into Heart of England in Bloom has contributed greatly to the recent news of a second Gold Award, and has also considerably raised our profile with the very visible mock-up narrow boat on Tamworth Road. We now have the worry of what we can do next year to maintain the standard set by the boat and Gallows Wharf Garden of Reflection! All that profile raising is vitally important, and our superb website and social media significantly contribute to it. But fund raising is an ever present pressure, especially as Spring 2019 and “See It Through” target date for that £1m is fast approaching. Our regular Marketing and Events people have been out at Canwell Show and a Craft Fair at Grasmere Garden Centre and there have been various walks and our own events as reported elsewhere in this edition. In addition to the PR value of these events they facilitate sales of our promotional material, bric a brac and raffle tickets (especially when Chris Aston’s got them!). Coinciding with our BBQ at Gallows Wharf was the Lichfield 10K: huge thanks to the guys who ran for us and raised over £1000. Behind the scenes work by Officers and Directors keeps us all scratching our heads and occasionally despairing of the bureaucratic obstacles we have to deal with ....... but the Trust has come so far in its 30 years that optimism returns, we grit our teeth and plough on. In so doing we are reassured by the overwhelming praise we receive for our work to create wonderful green spaces for residents, visitors and wildlife. Chris Bull, (Chairperson) Our Vision To reinstate the historic Lichfield Canal and Hatherton Canal for the benefit of the community. The natural wildlife corridor from Huddlesford to Hatherton will provide a valuable amenity for walkers, cyclists, boaters and visitors to use and will bring prosperity to the area. This project will also provide an opportunity for young people to learn about our history, our heritage and our environment. Autumn 2018 Page 3 Donations to the Trust Donations to the Trust: 1st July to 30th September 2018 Donations during this period from individuals and groups, plus ancillary items, totalled £36,580 including those to the Tunnel Vision Appeal plus Gift Aid tax claims for UK taxpayers who completed the required formalities. Other assistance • Amey (by SCC Highways) visiting volunteer team work at Fosseway Heath. • Jaguar Land Rover, multiple visiting volunteer teams at Fosseway Heath. • Lang Murphy visiting volunteer teams at Fosseway Heath. • National Citizens Service youth volunteer teams. • Queens’ Croft School, Lichfield, regular volunteer teams. • TSB, Lichfield Branch, staff fund-raising activities. • Waterway Recovery Group, summer camp volunteer team. • Norton Canes Boatbuilders for the repair of our digger bucket. All such donations, however large or small, are most gratefully received by the Trust to help us with our restoration work. We recognise that all our supporters give what they are able, reflecting the value they put on our work for the community. Because of this, and the wish of some to remain anonymous, we no longer publish names of individual donors and amounts. Our sincere thanks to all. ANNOUNCEMENT We regret to announce the loss of the following members:- Mr W. H. Cole, Sutton Coldfield, died 20th July 2018, aged c.90. “Bill Cole” was one of the earliest members of the Trust, frequently joining work parties over many years and still kept up his boating into old age. Mr Brian W Davis, Great Barr, Birmingham, died 6th August 2018, aged 83 As a professional bricklayer and able draughtsman, Brian added a new dimension in managing reconstruction of the Lichfield Canal around Lock 25 by Tamworth Road between 2005 – 2010. Mr K A Richmond, Lichfield, died September 2018. Mr A H Cross, Coventry, died September 2018. Autumn 2018 Page 4 Membership Matters Thanks Once again we would like to thank all those members who add an extra donation to their membership fee when they renew. We regard this as a better solution than increasing membership fees, which would take no account of individual members’ ability to pay and furthermore would involve around 600 members being asked to change their bank standing orders. Thank you again for your generosity. In short – we need you. Please stay with the Trust and please pay when you receive your reminder. Unfortunately our Membership Secretary has resigned for personal reasons, so if there is any member who would like to volunteer to take up the post please contact Christine Bull (details on page 30). In the short term all membership matters should be referred to Bob Williams (details on page 30). Welcome to New Members – 1st July to 30th September 2018 Mr G Pearson, Stockton on Tees Mr N Holland, Lichfield Mr D Jones, Lichfield Ms F Reeves, Lichfield Ms J Bremner, Bristol Mr G Glover, Kings Bromley Mr & Mrs D Edwards, Stratford upon Avon Marina, Lichfield Mr & Mrs R Mobberley, Lichfield Mrs G Glover, Kings Bromley Mr A Littleton, Penkridge Marina, Lichfield The Hon Mrs J Perceval, Freeford, Lichfield Mr P Clark, Hopwas, Tamworth Mr R Smith, Lichfield Mr & Mrs G J Arblaster, Lichfield Mr P Pagett, Hednesford, Cannock Mrs S Elliott, Whittington, Lichfield Mr C Harris, Burntwood Mr S Haywood, Lichfield Mrs J H Roberts, Burntwood Mr O Hannaford-Day, Lichfield Mr I L Faultless, Heath Hayes, Cannock Mr A H Brown, Lichfield Mrs E Tyler, Chorley, Lichfield Mr N Cowley, Lichfield Mr C J Fozard, Lichfield Mr & Mrs M C Babb, Cheslyn Mr P Booth, Lichfield Hay,Walsall Dr S Lewis, Guildford Mr C Line, Lichfield Mr M Murphy, Walsall Membership Total at 30th September :- 1849 (Comprising 320 Adult, 932 Family, 206 Life, 386 Retired, 5 Other) Membership rates are: Adult £10; Family £15; Junior (under 18), Student, Retired or Unemployed £6; Group (Clubs & Societies) £25; Small Business £100, Large Corporate £200; Life Membership £200, Family Life Membership £300 (includes children up to age 18). To join, please contact the Membership Secretary (see above), view our website www.lhcrt.org.uk or email [email protected] Autumn 2018 Page 5 Our 500 Club gives members a chance to win prizes of up to £400 every three months! 50% of the 500 Club income will be retained for capital expenditure essential for restoration of our two canals… and 50% paid in prizes to its members. The number of subscriptions eligible for the September draw was 239. A rise in numbers will mean an increase in the contribution to the Capital Fund and the amount of prize money to be won. Anyone can subscribe, you don’t have to be a LHCRT member. During 2017 the ‘500 Club’ has paid out a total of £1,443 in prize money. This means that £1,443 has also been added to our Capital Fund. The Trust would like to thank all the subscribers for their continuing support. So please spread the word. The winners of the September 2018 draw are: First prize £ 187.98 No 200 Mr J Buckley, Nottinghamshire Second prize £ 122.91 No 267 Mr D Shipman, Cheshire Third prize £ 50.61 No 151 Mr K Major, Sussex The “500 Club” Capital Fund has been established to raise funds for capital expenditure on land purchase and rebuilding structures on the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals. For an annual subscription of £12 Club Members are allocated 1 chance in each of 4 successive quarterly draws. Based on a membership of 500, the maximum prizes will be: 1st Prize £400 approximately 26% income 2nd Prize £250 approximately 17% income 3rd Prize £100 approximately 7% income If there are more or less than 500 members, the prizes will be proportionally increased or decreased.