CUTCUT BOTHBOTH WAYSWAYS & 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 .

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, , 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 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. • 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, , 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, 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, , Mrs S Elliott, Whittington, Lichfield Mr C Harris, 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, 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,

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. So the more 500 Club members we have, the higher the prizes. Remember, membership of the 500 Club is open to everyone, not just members of Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. So please spread the word. If you want to subscribe, you can download an application form from our website www.lhcrt.org.uk. Pending appointing a new administrator, please contact Bob Williams, Norfolk House, 29 Hall Lane, , Burntwood, WS7 0JP

Autumn 2018 Page 6 (advertisement)

Michael Fabricant MP Member of Parliament for the Constituency of Lichfield. If you live in the Lichfield Parliamentary constituency, and you require assistance and think your MP can help, you can either write to Michael Fabricant at the House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA; or you can email him by using the webform at www.michael.fabricant.mp.co.uk/cont act.html or telephone his office at 01543 419650 where you can also make an appointment to see him at one of his regular surgeries. (advertisement)

Autumn 2018 Page 7 Good News

£1,000,000 David Suchet Tunnel Vision April 2019 £1,000,000 Appeal progress £800,000 ONLY £470,000

£600,000 NEEDED NOW £530,000 Sept 2018 TO SEE IT £400,000 Mar 2018 THROUGH

£200,000 by Easter 2019 May 2017 PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY AS WE CANNOT LET THIS FAIL! County Council‘s plans for the Lichfield Southern Bypass are moving towards defining the construction phase in mid-2019 when L&H is expected to provide £1,000,000 for the canal tunnel. In the last edition, we reported that David Suchet gave the Appeal a further personal boost during the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Festival in June. Take another look at the internet link below to see and hear his earnest appeal to ensure that we can “See It Through”in 2019. Thank you. David Suchet promoting his Please consider contributing now Appeal at the Braunston Show using details on our website at: http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/tunnel-vision.html Bob Williams, Director (Finance) Christine Bull (Chairperson) Autumn 2018 Page 8 Bits & Pieces

Fosseway Guided Walk About 50 people joined us for our Fosseway guided walk, a joint venture with Lichfield Discovered and Lichfield Waterworks Trust. The promised yellow weather warning faded away and the sun actually came out. Beginning at the Sandfields Pumping Station with a short tour by David Moore we were then led by Peter Buck along the original route of the canal up to Fosseway Heath Nature Reserve, then on along to Lock 18, the first part of the canal to be restored. Then it was back along Fosseway Lane to the new route of the canal alongside Falkland Road and down to the point where a tunnel needs to go under the railway in 2019. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. (pictures by Paul Marshall)

Support from TSB Staff at the Lichfield branch of TSB set themselves the challenge of rowing seven miles – the length of the Lichfield Canal – on a rowing machine and raised £50 for the Trust. LHCRT are the current charity partner for TSB. The TSB employees completed the first six miles and three Trust volunteers, chairperson Chris Bull, Aileen Salter and Patsy Wilson, pulled their weight outside the branch to row the last mile. Christine Howles, (Communications) Mystery Item Aileen Salter and I found this at Fosseway. After having a quick look on Internet: seemingly Whitehouse Brothers (and various other Whitehouses) involved in brewing, malting and pubs in Tipton in the 19th century. I think this is the top of a one gallon earthenware flagon of Navigation Ale. It was probably drunk as the canal folk got from Tipton to Lichfield and then dumped empty in the canal. Maybe one of our members might be able to shed more light on this item. Christine Bull (Chairperson) Autumn 2018 Page 9 Lichfield Sites Work Party Blog, July - Sept

There is little doubt that Gallows Wharf was the star achievement during July. As in previous blogs I have reported on the amount of work taking place down at this wharf. All the skills that our volunteer workforce employed to recreate this wharf and now, in July, it is finished. But not before the Green Team and other volunteers had waved their magic wand over the site causing it to bloom into a most spectacular sight. The flower boxes on the replica canal narrowboat were planted with all sorts of plants and flowers and down at the wharf the flower beds and the packing crate were likewise planted up. A spectacular achievement that has received much local praise. The Gallows Wharf project undoubtedly helped Lichfield win a Gold Award in the Heart of England, Britain in Bloom competition. The Wharf also played host to the Trusts 30th year celebration when it was chosen as the venue for a celebratory BBQ event. The event also marked the achievements of our runners in the Lichfield 10K run held earlier on that day. The runners raised in sponsorship over £900.00. (It’s not too late to donate to make it the £1000.00 round sum, please). Back to the Fosseway Site! Work progressed steadily during this quarter. We were blessed with good weather for the most part, enabling the brickies to progress the new towpath wall. Great strides have been made, by many volunteers. We had the Waterways Recovery Group along one week whose members worked doggedly laying bricks. The progress to date brings us just short of Falkland Road where we have uncovered the remains of old Lock 19. This lock is redundant, some of the old brickwork is still insitu and will have to be cleared to make room for the base of the new turning pound. We have also had corporate volunteers from the JLR and Amey companies over the summer. These volunteers have concentrated on constructing the footpath between Falkland Road and Fosseway Lane. This path follows the canal on the opposite side to the towpath and together with the old railway line encloses a nature reserve area, eventually.

Autumn 2018 Page 10 Lichfield Sites Work Party Blog, July - Sept

The ‘Wet Lands’ area is steadily progressing. More clay has been laid up to and around the two mini islands that form part of the boardwalk. An earth bank, covered with a good thickness of clay has been built in front of the boardwalk to retain water in the wetlands.

A lot of earth has been moved within the new turning pound short of Falkland Road. This pound’s shape is now starting to become apparent. The sandbag wall alongside the railway line is now ‘just’ finished to it’s correct height and the wall shows where the pound’s boundary will be. In particular I would like to thank all those who helped fill some 2000 plus sand bags in all weathers, and that includes the NCS youth volunteers. One day I remember a gale was blowing along the canal bed and sand was everywhere. A real Saharan Sand Storm here in Lichfield. I was getting sand out of my ears for days afterwards. However, as I said, the wall is done, next the base of the Pound must be lined with clay to a thickness of about 18” before a concrete layer of about 6” is overlaid. The first layer of clay is already placed. Progress along this part will be the story of future blogs. Well done lads, thanks for your time with us, keep up the good work .

You, our volunteers are the life blood of this restoration. Hugh Millington, Work Parties (Lichfield) Autumn 2018 Page 11 Environment and Grounds / Green Report

I concluded this report in the last edition with “there is not a mention of fires.....”. I have to maintain my reputation as the Trust’s pyromaniac, so we have had a few this summer. As the earth-moving continued apace at Fosseway, ancient gorse bushes were removed (and young ones transplanted wherever possible). The dryness of the heat wave and the long school holidays could easily have caused devastating fires, so we had several successive Saturdays with carefully controlled fires. The Staffords have continued to restore the canal wall and our Queen’s Croft students had their summer break, so progress on Grounds work has been curtailed. With the increasing amount of Grounds to maintain we also find ourselves short of people to help, so even if you can only do the occasional day we would love to hear from you. Despite that, we have started to give the hedges on Tamworth Road something of a crew cut and have been aided in that by the new cohort from Queen’s Croft. The purposes of what might appear to be drastic cutting are to encourage thickening of the base of the hedges, identifying the extent of infilling that is needed and ensuring that the next few years will only require trimming. With hedgerow infilling especially needed on Tamworth Road site and the conclusion this winter of wall building at Fosseway I have applied to the Woodland Trust for another 420 saplings, which if we are successful, will arrive in March. So, watch this space for a plea for help in “mass planting days”! Two were held in March this year, and were very well attended and gave us all a great sense of achievement. Planting at Fosseway Heath, once we know things will not later be disturbed, will need careful planning: we know that the acid, sandy soil is right for lowland heath land but planting of non-heathland flora and of more than the occasional accent tree will inhibit heath land restoration which will be an important “stepping stone” for Staffordshire’s rare lowland heathland.

On the evening of 26 September we had the first session of our new Scout Group, 7th Lichfield. About 15 Cubs and several leaders arrived at Borrowcop Locks, a small group spruced up a bench and the rest tackled the first two beds of wildflowers on

Autumn 2018 Page 12 Environment and Grounds / Green Report

Tamworth Road, and, I hope, learned a little about how to encourage the beds to flourish next year. We ended up walking to Gallows Wharf where I told them and their gathering parents gory tales as the light faded. To prove a point, bats came out in abundance – the youngsters lost all interest in the history of the Herkenrode Glass that had superseded the goriness and gazed upwards pointing and shouting “there’s another”. I think the leaders and parents remained interested! I will have the other Cub Pack from 7th Lichfield in daylight on October 13th. Christine Bull (Grounds / Green Team)

“Is the Trust 30 or 31..? Where did it all start”

It was good to read Phil Sharpe’s account of the meeting held on 13th July 1988. It has prompted me, as the third of the three last men standing, to look again at notes made of my own early involvement with the Trust. In August 1987, during one of Nick Grazebrook’s regular visits for docking ‘The Hilton’, I suggested that protection of the line of the Lichfield Canal should be established quickly before works began on the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road (), as failure to do this might put an end to hope of any future canal restoration. I then went on to contact local authorities and other landowners along the route of each canal. On 24th January 1988, after first spending time at Calf Heath, a meeting continued here at Gorsey Lane Farm. Those present were Eric Hood, Ron Pritchard (accompanied by Pam Pritchard), Stan Salmon and Denis Cooper. Also attending were John Quigley and John Stokes of Operation South Cannock. John Stokes (bless him) had brought with him his small daughter, who doubtless would have preferred her dad to be doing something much more interesting on a Sunday morning than sitting talking for a couple of hours or so. Many more meetings were to follow, at various locations and offices, during evenings at Swan Cottages. Concern over the route of the BNRR continued and much later, on 10th April 1990, Eric and I travelled to Cardiff. There we met up with Ken Goodwin (IWA National Chairman) who had arranged a meeting with Jim Saunders at the offices of structural engineers W S Atkins to discuss the proposals for Churchbridge. Early in 1988 I had declined Ken’s proposal to take on chairmanship of the restoration group as this would have proved incompatible with the day-to-day running of my boatyard business. However, I expressed a willingness to run work parties on both canals which, for me, is how things evolved thirty years ago. Eric, Phil and I should indeed raise a glass this year in remembrance of Ken, Nick, Ron and Brian who are much missed. Denis Cooper Autumn 2018 Page 13 Ramblers Visit Canal Restoration Project

Restoration of the canal at Fosseway Heath provided a pleasant background to two walks organized and led by Jo Trodden of the Lichfield and District Ramblers. Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust are creating a nature reserve and wetlands area at Fosseway Heath, as well as digging out a new canal bed with a completely rebuilt wall and a Heritage Towpath Trail. The first walk on July 10, arranged as part of the Lichfield Festival, included about 20 people, mainly LHCRT engineering director Peter Buck local but some drawn from further greets the Ramblers, afield, with other Ramblers acting with Jo Trodden on the left as marshals. So successful was this walk that John Rushton of the 41 Club (those members of the Rotary Club who ‘retire’ at this age) repeated the experience on August 1st. with members of the club. Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust volunteer Phil Cheesewright gave each walk a quick rundown of the history The 41 Group pause on the of the canal and the works being Heritage Towpath Trail with the undertaken. restoration works in the background The second walk encountered the Waterways Recovery Group in full force rebuilding the towpath wall at Fosseway, and the Trust’s engineering director Peter Buck who welcomed the party. Phil and Jo were rewarded with the unusual wages of a tot of whisky – a welcome tradition of the 41 club.

The Waterways Recovery Group’s camp Philip Cheesewright

Autumn 2018 Page 14 Presents its Autumn Show: The Birmingham Lads and The Light Side

The Birmingham Lads: ... a musical story of the begin- nings of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, their rise to prosperity and their effects on Birmingham and the wider area.

The Light Side: ... a folk-based band with the em- phasis on canal and other watery songs. They encourage participa- tion (well, they're getting on a bit and might need help with the words), and above all, enjoyment.

Whittington Village Hall, Whittington WS14 9NH Friday 16th. November 2018

Our bar serves from 6.30pm. Supper served at 7.00pm and show starts at 8.00pm. The Grand Prize Draw will be made in the interval.

Tickets £15.50 inclusive of supper and show. Limited free on site car parking Booking is essential - There will be no ticket sales on the night. Book online at www.lhcrt.org.uk/nov_show.htm Booking conditions and registration arrangements can be viewed on the website.

Or contact… All main courses come with Bread and Sue Williams Butter, sauce, vinegar and salt. Followed by Fruit Pie with cream. Norfolk House, 29 Hall Lane Hammerwich, Food orders to be booked at the time of Burntwood, Staffs. booking tickets please. WS7 0JP Tel. 01543 671427 or 07968 168728

Email: [email protected] Meal supplied by the Fradley Fryer

Autumn 2018 Page 15 30th Anniversary Celebratory Barbecue

The newly completed Trust representation of “Gallows Wharf” as a “Garden of Reflection” by London Road bridge provided an ideal setting to stage a memorable celebration on 9th September. Over 100 invited guests and Trust volunteers enjoyed an afternoon of shared appreciation of Trust achievements through 30 years. Work on this particular site was part funded by a Staffs County Council Community Fund grant, inspired by local Councillor Colin Greatorex. l–r: Cllr Colin Greatorex, Mrs Awty with Trust Chair, Christine Bull thanked Cllr Bob Awty, District Council Chairman, everyone for their dedicated support and Eric Wood, L&H Founder with Mrs in so many ways. Among those Doreen Wood. present were the three remaining founder members of the Trust, Eric Wood, Denis Cooper and Phil Sharpe, who, in 1988, shared a vision of restoring two sections of the canal network that had been abandoned in the 1950s. They brought to mind how the Trust struggled to become established in overcoming many difficult challenges over the years, finding it hard to believe how their inspiration three decades ago has become such a reality, Eric Wood, L & H Founder and President, cut a specially created ‘canal’ cake for all to share.

Guests at Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s 30th anniversary celebration barbecue watch on as chairperson Christine Bull introduces the three remaining Trust founders, Phil Sharpe, Eric Wood and Denis Cooper.

Autumn 2018 Page 16 Gallows Wharf In Full Bloom For Judges

Lichfield’s canal restoration trust unveiled its stunning contribution to Blooming Lichfield when judging for Heart of England in Bloom took place on Thursday, July 26th. Despite suffering weeks of blistering heat and bouts of brainless vandalism, Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s historic Gallows Wharf site looked a picture on a glorious summer day. The Trust has created a Garden of Reflection at Gallows Wharf, close to the site of the city’s gallows, originally erected in 1532, where on June 1, 1810, the last three men to be hanged in Lichfield met their fate, for uttering forged banknotes. It was also at Gallows Wharf, near the junction of London Road and Tamworth Road, that stained glass windows rescued from a dissolved abbey in Herkenrode, Belgium, were unloaded from canal boats on their way to Lichfield Cathedral in 1803. The Gallows Wharf doors, Herkenrode Glass crate and the A-frame boards, beautifully painted by signwriter Steve Cooper, enhanced the impressive planting. The judges also cast their expert eyes over Rose Willow, a recreation of a 70ft narrowboat, which has been taking shape over the summer next to Tamworth Road, thanks to the efforts of pupils from Queen’s Croft High School and the Foresters Scout Group (see cover picture). Queen’s Croft children were also involved in the painting of Rose Queen, which walkers along the canal can see on the wall under the London Road bridge, while National Citizen Service students learned the art of signwriting from Phil Ball to complete Rose Queen’s artwork. The results of the Heart of England in Bloom competition were announced in September and Lichfield repeated last year’s success when the City was awarded a gold medal. LHCRT engineering director Peter Buck said: “Whatever the result of the judging, we’re winners anyway. We achieved our objective of recreating Gallows Wharf and creating a Garden of Reflection, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the generous response from the community. We’d like to thank our incredible volunteers, everyone who helped with this project and provided the plants.”

TRANSFORMATION... Gallows Wharf at the start of the project earlier in the year, and how the Heart of England in Bloom judges saw it

Autumn 2018 Page 17 Buy a book to support LHCRT!

Simon J. Stephens is a live-a-board boater on NB OPUS, currently travelling around Staffordshire with his dogs. But he’s not just a boater, he’s an author too and has written thrillers based on the canals, as well as a couple of children’s books. His latest book is a black comedy about two families and the life-changing events they experience as they cruise the Four Counties. The locations are real and the experience may be familiar to those who have ventured forth on a canal cruise, but none (we hope) will have endured the life-changing events that unfold in ‘The First Cut’. The plot alone, makes it a good reason to read the book but there’s another reason; Simon is donating all proceeds from sales of the book to us! Simon said: “Whilst there are numerous groups of hardworking, unpaid volunteers working to restore the lost waterways of this nation, a brief glance at any map will show you that restoring both the Lichfield and the Hatherton Canals will create a priceless link between the Staffs and Worcester and the Coventry canals, taking in the wonderful village and making new cruising rings possible. “This no vanity project–this area needs these links for sound commercial reasons and to revitalise these places of such natural beauty. The sooner the canals are restored, the sooner we can all enjoy the benefits, so I am donating all proceeds from the sales of ‘The First Cut” to LHCRT.” All proceeds from the sale of “The First Cut” on Kindle, priced at £1.99 and the royalties of £1 from the paperback version, also available on Amazon for £7.99, will go to the Trust. So please support Simon and us by buying a copy and tell your friends too.

Visit Amazon and search “The First Cut Simon J. Stephens” or visit www.righteouscorrection.com

Autumn 2018 Page 18 “Our 10k Runners Did Us Proud”

Huge thanks to Chris, James, Harry, Scott and Heath who took part in the Lichfield 10k in September to raise money for the Trust’s Tunnel Vision Appeal. Between them, the runners raised over £1000. It’s not too late to show your appreciation; you can visit their fund-raising pages by finding the links on www.lhcrt.org.uk/10k.html If you know someone who’d like to take part next year, or who’d like to fund raise in an other way, please contact Christine Howles on 07852 190855. Christine Howles, (Communications)

How do you like to receive your Cut Both Ways? All members receive a paper copy of Cut Both Ways but we now send you an e-newsletter version too (if you’ve given us consent to send you emails). If you’d like to stop receiving the paper copy, please let us know. Perhaps you’re a boater with no postal address or you just want to save paper. Let us know and we’ll do the honours, just email [email protected].

Autumn 2018 Page 19 Money Matters

David Suchet Tunnel Vision Appeal for the Lichfield Canal Whilst summer distractions may account for the diminished flow of valuable donations from a wide range of supporters throughout the country, at £530,000 the Fund has tipped towards the £1,000,000 target for early 2019. This high level of personal “inward investment” is a vital ingredient in strengthening our chances of attracting substantial institutional funds. “Failure is not an option” applies to this project as it will not be realistically viable to construct the tunnel later when the surrounding areas have been fully developed. Our involvement with planners at Staffordshire County, and City Councils, and property developers is rapidly gathering pace against a shortening time horizon to meet that target. Please give this Appeal serious consideration now before it is too late. Payments can be made via our website at http://lhcrt.org.uk/suchet.htm or post a cheque payable to LHCRT Ltd at 29 Hall Lane, Hammerwich, Burntwood, Staffs. WS7 0JP. Thank you. Postcode Local Trust The generous grant of £18,500 in July 2017 for the first year’s work on the Fosseway Heath Nature Trail project was satisfactorily discharged in time, thanks to intensive unpaid labour by Trust and visiting corporate volunteer teams. That enabling work has been extended to more detailed construction across the site with public paths which are already proving to be very popular. Community Infrastructure Levy C.I.L. may not be very well known in everyday life unless you are familiar with Town Planning. In very simple terms it a development funding charge for local authorities to help deliver infrastructure support in their area. The Trust has submitted a bid for funding some further work in Lichfield, allied to housing development proposals whereby the canal towpath can serve as a safer link between new communities. Heritage Lottery Fund Our tentative Project Enquiry in July for a Large Heritage Lottery grant of £1.9million to fund major works associated with new roadway and housing developments to the south of Lichfield met with a lengthy, explanatory decline. However, helpful guidance was given regarding a new Strategic Funding Framework coming into force in January 2019, inviting us to submit a more focused bid then. And so it goes on! Other income - TSB, Lichfield Branch has adopted our cause for their 2018-19 fund-raising. - Sponsors of runners in the Lichfield 10k event in September raised over £1000. - “Total Giving”, “Just Giving”, “Easyfundraising” and “Recycling for Good Causes” bring in some useful money. Autumn 2018 Page 20 Money Matters

- Send in your Prize Draw tickets for a chance to win on 16th November. - Our revised website shop may help to solve your Christmas gift ideas. - Tax margin permitting, add Gift Aid to your donations for us to claim 25%. Please let us know by letter, email or phone call to the Finance Director if your circumstances have changed such that a Gift Aid Declaration we already hold is no longer valid. … and finally, WILL POWER The Trust has recently benefited from valuable legacies when a will has included a charitable bequest as a helpful way of making that final donation. Ask your solicitor for guidance on how that should be done correctly so that your wish lives on after you. Bob Williams (Finance Director) Community Fire Station Time Capsule

On Friday 13 July, a time capsule was sealed and buried at the new Community Fire Station in Birmingham Road, Lichfield, in front of a gathering of local residents and Fire Service staff. This continues the practice for all new 21st century Fire Stations in Staffordshire, of which Lichfield is the newest and last presently planned. The capsule included Fire Service related information, children’s drawings, and local information, including a ‘What’s On in Lichfield’ brochure and the Spring 2017 edition of ‘Cut Both Ways’. This edition of CBW featured the March placing of the concrete shutters at Darnford, so was quite a contrast to the warm sunshine in which it was sealed and buried. The capsule will be retrieved in 23 years time, 25 years after the Fire Station was officially opened. I wonder if our canals will have been completely restored by then? Gill Bellenie

If you have received this magazine and you are not a member please consider joining the Trust. For more details contact the Membership Secretary (details on Page 5)

Autumn 2018 Page 21 Cub Packs Help at Fosseway Site

On the morning of Saturday, 13 October we had enormous help from the Somers Cub Pack of 7th Lichfield Scout Group. This was the second of the Group’s three Cub Packs to come and help us. Sixteen 8-10.5 year olds, two Scouts and four leaders worked at Fosseway sorting out the original canal wall bricks which had had to be taken down, and stacking them neatly on pallets. They worked so fast that we had to hunt around for more pallets! While getting more pallets from Travis Perkins, they continued backfilling the newly constructed wall with soil and heathland grass. Not only did they work hard they were so cheerful, happy and interested in what LHCRT is doing! The weather wasn’t wonderful, but nothing seemed to put any of them off! We can now fork lift the pallets further along the restoration route ready to be reused as the new canal wall gets built. On the basis of having now had two of their sections, we very much look forward to having the other sections of 7th Lichfield Scout Group come and help us, and also learn something about history and conservation, but we have to wait for lighter evenings next Spring before that will be possible. On the basis of the work done by the two Cub Packs so far we are confident that we have an excellent partnership developing with this very active Scout Group. Christine Bull (Chairperson)

Autumn 2018 Page 22 Congratulations!

Mrs Kathleen Bird celebrated her 100th birthday on 7th September 2018! Born and bred in Lichfield, she has always lived within a short distance of the canal, and remembers it in its active days. Still leading an active life from home, Mrs Bird has been a strong supporter of the Lichfield Canal restoration for twenty years and hopes to see more of it brought back to life as she remembers it. It’s lovely to see a new dedication bench in place at Fosseway for Kathleen’s 100th birthday with the following inscription: “So many memories with still more to come Sit here and enjoy the little things in life because one day you’ll look back and realise they were the big things.”

Huddlesford Heritage Gathering 2019

It’s back! Huddlesford Heritage Gathering will return on 21st and 22nd September 2019, with historic boats, floating traders, private boats and classic vehicles, exhibitors and displays, music, entertainment, food and bar all day. Put the date in your diary and, if you’re a boater, book your place now. Visit: www.heritagegathering.uk

Autumn 2018 Page 23 Marketing And Promotion

New online shop

We’ve launched our new online shop thanks to our webmaster Paul Marshall. Not only does the shop show you all our gifts and show tickets, it has an easy to use checkout process and the postage is calculated according to your purchases. (Our old shop wasn’t clever enough to do that.) So visit www.lhcrt.org.uk/shop or find the link from our homepage, and remember all proceeds from sales help us carry on with our work.

The views expressed in Cut Both Ways do not necessarily represent those of the Trust or the Editor. They are however published as being of interest to our readership.

Autumn 2018 Page 24

Marketing And Promotion

Great reads that celebrate the waterways, written by a boater for all to enjoy.

Immerse yourself in the dark and exciting world of an ordinary husband and father transformed by tragedy into It’s daft, it’s silly, it’s quirky and it’s a reluctant vigilante. Thrillers that span multiple genres, funny. With the navigation out of books one and two of ‘The Kingfisher’ series are action, why not let Frank the Ferret guaranteed to make you look at life on the canals in a take you around the Four new way … who is that person moored next to you? Counties? Release the inner child! Paperback £9.99 each e-books 99p - £2.49 Paperback £6.99

Available now from all good bookshops, or buy signed copies direct from the author. Simon J. Stephens, canal-based author and liveaboard boater. Licensed roving trader. PayPal and card payments accepted. Tel: 07854 854103, e: [email protected] web: www.righteouscorrection.com.

‘Martha is the younger Granddaughter of our Chairperson, who had taken the girls on a camping trip in the summer. Bedtime reading was Simon J Stephens’ “Frank the Ferret”, which both Martha and Chris loved’ Martha, aged 5 said: “It’s a fun story. My Grandma loves canals and now she likes ferrets too”

For the latest pictures, news and on-line ordering of sales items, don’t forget to take a look at the web site. www.lhcrt.org.uk

Autumn 2018 Page 25 Marketing And Promotion

‘Tis the season to be jolly

Join us for a festive sing song with mulled wine, hot chocolate for the kids and mince pies, on Saturday 22nd December at Gallows Wharf Garden of Reflection, from 6pm. (Nearest postcode WS14 9HS) Carol sheets will be available and donations will be gratefully received!

Your events team needs you!

The events for 2018 are drawing to a close with our Autumn Show in November and our Christmas Carol evening in December, but we’re already planning for next year, and particularly for Huddlesford Heritage Gathering in September. You can keep track of all our events on our website: www.lhcrt.org.uk/news/events.html or our Facebook page. Each of these events give us the opportunity to raise awareness of our work or to raise valuable funds. We do need more help, so if you’re local to Lichfield and have some spare time, please get in touch. Call Christine Howles on 07852 190855 or email [email protected]

Copy Date for the next issue is 7th January Grand Prize Draw – 2018 Tickets are now on sale for a new Draw this year which we hope will raise more funds – and please some lucky winners – but think of the benefit you can bring to the Trust. Thank you for supporting our work in this way, with a chance to win even bigger prizes this year! Please email sponsorship to [email protected] or phone 01543 671427.

Autumn 2018 Page 26 Coppers End Guest House Walsall Road, Muckley Corner, Lichfield, Staffs. WS14 0BG. Phone: 01543 372910 Website: www.coppersendguesthouse.co.uk Email: [email protected] from £50 single, £70 double or twin ensuite per night, includes full English Breakfast or vegetarian equivalent. Three miles from Lichfield, six miles from Walsall.

Your Privacy The Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Ltd is committed to protecting your privacy and security in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. We will never sell your personal data, and if we share your personal data, it will only ever be with our partner organisations where necessary to provide services, and only then if we are certain that its privacy and security are guaranteed. For more information about how your data is used and stored please visit www.lhcrt.org.uk/privacy.

All Correspondence should be addressed to :- Trust Secretary, Bob Williams Norfolk House, 29 Hall Lane, Hammerwich, Burntwood, WS7 0JP

Donate by text message You can now donate to us by text, just choose your amount and then text: “LICH20 £___” to 70070. You can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 by text and donate Gift Aid too. It’s a great way of using up any left over credit on your Pay as You Go mobile, instead of losing it at the end of each month.

Autumn 2018 Page 27 Business Connect

If you would like to become a Business Member and display your card here contact Bob Williams Tel 01543 671427 or [email protected]

NC A5 full page advert.pdf 1 05/10/2017 12:30

Autumn 2018 Page 28 Selling individually inspected, well presented boats from own moorings or from our Crick base Browse our website for our listings with full details on all boats, also lots of useful information www.abnb.co.uk Friendly helpful advice from our experienced and knowledgeable team of boaters www.abnb.co.uk • [email protected] • Crick base NN6 7XT Open 9.30 to 5.30 every day Tel: 01788 822 115 or 01788 822 508 Canal Transport Services Boat builders at Norton Canes since 1964

Traditional narrow boats and tugs built to your specification, from one of the oldest & most respected boat builders in the business.

We have our own fully heated paint shop, dry dock and grit blasting facility as well as all the usual boat yard trades at your disposal.

Call Matthew Cooper on 01543 374370

TUKTAWA B&B Uplands Close, , Staffordshire. WS15 4RH Tel–01543 684805–07790 984013 Web – www.Tuktawa.co.uk Email [email protected] £27.50 (single), £49 (double) – Includes breakfast – available 6.30 – 9.00am 10 minutes from /Cannock/Lichfield Town/Bus Station/Train Station See us on Tripadvisor

Autumn 2018 Page 29 LICHFIELD & HATHERTON CANALS RESTORATION TRUST Limited. The Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Limited was established in 1988 as a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee (No. 2456172) and is registered as a Charity (No. 702429). Principal Aims : To promote the restoration of the Wyrley and Canal from to (the “Lichfield Canal”), and the Hatherton Branch of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, and also the construction of a navigable link between the Hatherton Branch and the Birmingham Canal Navigations. President Eric Wood vice-president David Suchet CBE. PATRONS Chris Coburn MBE, Dr David Fletcher CBE, Michael Fabricant MP. DIRECTORS Chairperson Christine Bull 01283 790322 [email protected] Company Secretary Vacant [email protected] Finance, Funding Bob Williams 01543 671427 [email protected] Environment Director Christine Bull 01283 790322 [email protected] Engineering Peter Buck 01543 268041 [email protected] Land and Property Jeff March 01543 255949 [email protected] Marketing Christine Howles 07852 190855 [email protected] Health & Safety Dora Hancock 01543 264158 [email protected] Communications Christine Howles 07852 190855 [email protected] Commercial John Bryan 01543 683586 [email protected] Magazine Editor Stefan Szulc 01543 677156 [email protected] IWA Nominee Luke Walker 07979 862195 [email protected] OFFICERS Press Officer Tom Reid 07840 300178 [email protected] Webmaster Paul Marshall 01543 410646 [email protected] Land Officer Gill Bellenie 07815 285856 [email protected] Membership Vacant [email protected] Volunteering/Events Christine Howles 07852 190855 [email protected] Work Parties:- Hatherton Denis Cooper 01543 374370 Lichfield Hugh Millington 01543 251747 [email protected] Summerhill Phil Cheesewright 01543 301642 [email protected] Grounds Maint. Roger Barnett Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks. HP5 1WA Web Site: www.lhcrt.org.uk LICHFIELD & HATHERTON CANALS RETAIL TRADING Limited. Company No 3686837 – Chairman: John Bryan; Secretary: Christine Howles; Finance: Bob Williams

Autumn 2018 Page 30 Autumn 2018 Page 31 Braunston Marina are proud to BACK the campaign to save the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals. keep digging the ground from under their feet! Braunston Marina The Wharf, Braunston, Nr Daventry, Northamptonshire. NN11 7JH Telephone: 01788 891373 Fax: 01788 891436 web site: www.braunstonmarina.co.uk email: [email protected]