The Magazine of the & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

Issue No. 82 - Winter 2014/15

BREAKING NEWS! - SEE INSIDE

Peering out through the vegetation, a glimpse of the David Suchet Aqueduct; our ultimate goal on the Summerhill Section, 1-Jan-15 (see pages 14-17) hay Whar eet f L tr Lichfield td S Heart of the .

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V.A.T No. 133609427 Chairman’s Column BREAKING NEWS! ay Wha There is a great deal happening at the moment. The pace of progress is ratcheting eth rf up with some dramatic activity about to happen. As ever, everything depends on e Lt finding funding for specific projects and we have had many disappointments over the tr d years. Yet another occurred last summer when the prospect of an SIB Community . Group grant for work on the towpath trail was dashed (see Money Matters in this S issue). Then, last October this suddenly became active again and the same funding, of £336,000 was made available. This is a wonderful opportunity but it came with several stings in the tail. All the funds have to be spent by March and there are VAT commitments which are difficult to handle. However, we have seized the opportunity and our directors and officers are working flat out to get everything in place in time. We will publish all the details in the next CBW but in the meantime, the focus of activity will be on the section of the Lichfield Canal between the Boat Inn and Barracks Lane just west of the aqueduct near Brownhlls. There is land to be purchased, a demolished culvert at Crane Brook to be reinstated and contractors to be found to build the towpath trail over this whole section. There is much to be done here and a rapid transformation can be expected. There are exciting plans to establish the Heritage Towpath Trail over this whole section. It will mean that we could start major works in addition to those at Tamworth Road and finally show that our aqueduct does have relevance and was not a wasted effort. We recognise that only by opening up our canals to the general public can we demonstrate what a valuable asset they can be to everyone. More people will be able to see at first hand where the canal actually is and what it can do for everyone and not just for a few privileged boaters. An exciting prospect indeed. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS I frequently and rightly, often pay tribute to our directors and officers who do so much work for the Trust, most of it out of the public eye. To obtain funding, to get planning permission or just keep the routine work going is infinitely more complex than it was even five years ago and we are often made to feel that swimming through shark- infested treacle must be easier. My mind ran briefly to the annual bog-schnorkeling contests held annually in Mid-Wales. However, progress is being made on several fronts. We are now holding detailed discussions with HS2 Ltd on the engineering

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.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 3 Chairman’s Column requirements to construct a navigable route for the Lichfield Canal from to Lock 30 where the deviation has been forced on us. So far these have gone well but vigilance is essential as well as attention to detail. We are grateful for the support we are receiving from CRT and from IWA. That said, I must again draw attention to the tremendous work done by Terry Brown and his team at Tamworth Road. This project has turned into an extended slog which has required great dedication for all those who have turned out in all weathers to aim at early completion. A new machine has greatly aided the puddling of the clay but it is physical labour which is at the heart of the progress made. Things are not helped when the thieves break into our works compound yet again. Work has also gone forward on refurbishing Lock 26 where there is much underpinning and void- filling to be done. We recognise that the locks are 200 years old, were neglected for years and then infilled. However, it is clear that construction standards were not as high as one might have expected and that foundations were, to say the least, skimped. However, we are on course to get Lock 26 ready to be our first restored and fully functioning one. We are fortunate to have a team of volunteers which is so dedicated and has so many practical skills. FUTURE PROSPECTS We hope that when this work will come to fruition we can really “bring the boats back to Lichfield” as we have been promising for a quarter of a century. We are in the early stages of making a bid to hold the annual IWA Trailboat Festival in 2018 or 2019. This would be a very demanding undertaking but would greatly raise the profile of L&H. If the building of HS2 goes ahead the disruption at Huddlesford is bound to be very considerable and to last over many months if not years. For some time now we, with Lichfield Cruising Club have held a major biennial event at the Junction. This could well prove to be impracticable during the building of the new railway. Our team could well be redeployed to a trailboat festival and draw in help from further afield. As always, we try to look for an opportunity even when it is effectively disguised as a threat. As we are now announcing, we, with Lichfield Cruising Club, will be holding another Heritage Gathering of Boats at Huddlesford for three days from Friday 18th September, open to the public over that week-end. The operating group has had several meetings and we hope to build on the strong foundations laid in recent years. We look forward to another great event. Please put it in your diaries. TEAMWORK With so much work going on it is reassuring to see that we are slowly attracting new “activists” to our team. With so many sad losses from our supporters in recent months we need to top up our team if we are to maintain momentum. I sometimes feel that by maintaining an “upbeat” tone to my column I give the impression that we are “ok as we are”. While we achieve a great deal we are really punching above our weight. We need a steady supply of new people who can bring their own skills

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 4 Chairman’s Column

to our work. In future, we intend to be fair to our new arrivals and discuss with them exactly what we mutually agree they can best do. We must not allow volunteers to drift away and must nurture them and make them feel valued. I write this on a cold January afternoon. I have removed the Christmas tree and taken down the cards. It can be a low time of the year but at L&H we have so many reasons to be positive. We have achieved great things over the years, often against heavy odds but the challenges currently before us give us the opportunity to achieve even more. After so many years of steady, even slow progress I sense that there is a head of steam building up. I am sure that by the end of 2015 we will be amazed by how much has been done. It is a new year but an old project which will need all the energy we can pump into it. My thanks to everyone for all that has been done in the past 12 months. Northern Canals Association Three Directors attended the autumn meeting of like- minded canal restoration enthusiasts across the north half of the country which was hosted by the Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust at nearby Chinley, High Peak on 12th October 2014. A stimulating keynote presentation was given by Richard Parry, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust who compared CRT progress so far with the way forward. Professional Archivist Heather Roberts gave an interesting sight into “Practical archiving for waterway restoration groups”. The main message seemed to be to put a date on everything you hold! Following the usual round- up of reports from Trusts and Societies, a visit to the site of Bugsworth Basin showed the Trust’s amazing achievement in bringing the former major industrial site back from dereliction to a new life for all to enjoy. Brian Kingshott(chairman) Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 5 Donations to the Trust

We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st October to 31st December 2014. Suchet, Trust & Restoration Feet of Clay Name ( in order of receipt ) Marketing and Land Fund Appeals Mr M W Adlington (with sub.) 24.00 IWA North and South 80.00 Cheshire Branch presentation Mr J W Farren (with sub.) 45.00 Mrs L K N Whitfield, 500.00 legacy by the late Dr G T Whitfield Mr A D Brookes 90.00 Mr H Eyles, walking group 40.75 Staffs. Ind. & Archaeological Soc. (talk) 25.00 Mrs J Wadham (500 Club prize) 100.00 Feathers Inn, Lichfield, furniture sale 70.00 Mrs P Fletcher 30.00 Mr S Ayres (sale of goods) 50.00 Sutton Coldfield Civic Society (talk) 60.00 Mr C D Gibson 100.00 Mr R T Willis (private talk fees) 115.00 Dr I M Thompson 50.00 Lichfield Twinning Assoc; Quiz Night 25.00 Lloyds Bank Foundation grant 2,000.00 Mr R H Jennings (with sub.) 100.00 Mr J Derrick, BT Give As You Earn 387.90 Easyfundraising 88.41 Mr J Denton (with sub.) 21.00 Dr P F Cann (with sub.) 55.00 Mr L M Garner (with sub.) 90.00 Mr M H Smith 100.00

Mr M Beacroft, in memory of the late 250.00 Sydney & Margaret Beacroft

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 6 Donations to the Trust

We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st October to 31st December 2014. Suchet, Trust & Restoration Feet of Clay Name ( in order of receipt ) Marketing and Land Fund Appeals Mr S P Judge (with sub.) 25.00 Rev A J Cooper 25.00 Mrs D Rastall 30.00 Mr & Mrs D E Cooper (with sub.) 25.00 Mr D Parry 30.00 Mr & Mrs D Gray 90.00 Mr David Stanistreet 120.00 Mr J Moody (returned property rent) 300.00 Mr R O Williams (returned expenses) 120.15 Regular donors to appeals and 644.57 863.00 259.50 aggregated amounts up to £20.00.

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 address page).

********************************************************************************************* We are very grateful to the donors:- Jack Moody Ltd, . Barnes Skips, Lichfield for waste disposal. *********************************************************************************************

Back Copies of Cut Both Ways available at £1.00 Each Copies of issues 1 to 81 are available from Bob Williams Norfolk House, 29 Hall Lane, Hammerwich, WS7 0JP Cheques made payable to LHCRT Ltd.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 7 Membership Matters

Those who have been members of the Trust for a number of years will know that the annual membership fees have remained unchanged at a relatively low level for some considerable time, despite increases in postage and other admin costs. It has been possible to do this largely because of the number of members who add an additional donation when they renew their subscription. The Directors would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for these valuable donations over the years and would ask that other members consider doing likewise, if they feel able to do so. Thank you all again for your generosity. Incidentally to all members: If we don’t have your email address, or if you have changed it recently, it would be good if you could let me know so that we can move towards contacting as many members as possible by email. My details are: Godfrey Eland, 18 Furnival Crescent, Lichfield, WS13 6DD [email protected] Many thanks and kind regards, Godfrey Eland, Membership Secretary ********************************************************************************************* New Members 1st October to 31st December 2014 Mr R Knight, Littleover, Derbyshire. Mr K Brown, Great Barr, Birmingham. Mr P Faulks, Tutbury, Staffordshire. Mr M Ward, Telford, Shropshire. Mrs C Howles, Lichfield. ********************************************************************************************* Membership Total:- 1856 (Comprising 378 Adult, 864 Family, 160 Life, 423 Retired, 12 Business, 31 Other (incl. outstanding renewals).

Owing to the ever increasing cost of postage, the Trust Council has decided to discontinue sending “ Courtesy Reminders “ to those members who pay by Bankers Order. Consequently, it would be more economical for the Trust if those who pay by cheque could change to a Bankers Order, using the form available on our website, or call 01543 671427 to have one sent to you.

ANNOUNCEMENT We regret to announce the loss of the following members:-

Mr B T Johnson, Matlock, Derbyshire, died October 2014

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 8 The Great L&H Clearout

Our Marketing Team had a large problem, namely our store at . We had accumulated over the last ten years a large amount of unsaleable jumble which would have been very expensive to the Trust to dispose of. It was arranged that six stalwarts of the Team should roll up their sleeves and get skipping. Next big problem, where to find a skip. We approached Sarah at A.E. Barnes Skip Hire who came to our rescue and supplied totally free of charge not one but 2 skips. We are extremely grateful to Barnes Skip Hire for their generosity and help. It took a whole day of dedicated sorting out at the store and we now have a lot more space for new saleable jumble.

Many thanks to the Marketing Team members who braved their all amid the rubbish !!.

Salvage Hunters with Skip

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 9 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.

December saw the last of the four draws for 2014. The number of subscriptions eligible for the draw was 235, compared with 230 active subscriptions at the beginning of the year. A rise in this number will mean an increase in the contribution to the Capital Fund and also the amount of prize money to be won. Anyone can subscribe, you don’t have to be a LHCRT member.

During 2014 the ‘500 Club’ has paid out a total of £1,384-50 in prize money. This means that £1,384-50 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 December 2014 draw are: First prize £ 183.30 No 58 Ms B. Smith, Lichfield, Staffs Second prize £ 119.85 No 9 Mrs J. Newman, Burntwood, Staffs Third prize £ 49.35 No 14 Miss DM Skilbeck, Bebington, Wirral

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 approximatley 26% income 2nd Prize £250 approximatley 17% income 3rd Prize £100 approximatley 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, or write to Mavis Moore, 88 Spring Lane, Whittington, Lichfield WS14 9NA.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 10 (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, London 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)

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 11 Lichfield Canal Work Report

Another year has flown by and we can now look forward to lengthening days and, hopefully, drier conditions. The weather is the most telling factor in our activities, so despite our determination to carry on, there comes a point where we have to call a halt. So, to everyone who hoped to see Pound 27 in water by now, I’m sorry and disappointed that we were unable to achieve our great aim for the year: we tried our utmost, but the wet weather defeated us. Nonetheless we can still look back on 2014 with great pride and satisfaction at two really significant projects.

The wheelchair-friendly section of the Heritage Towpath Trail not only looks good but is a great and much-appreciated asset to the wider community; it’s a pleasure to see it increasingly well-used. Most people take it for granted, but it was only completed on time thanks to a huge effort from all the gang. The other great achievement has been the construction of the winding hole walls, a major and complex task even for a civil engineering company, but one carried through with great patience and skill by all involved. The finished product is of a very high standard and although it’s perhaps unfair to others, I think credit for the final appearance should go to our brickies, Barry, Rick and Tony. Higher upstream we’ve made great steps in the renovation of Lock 26, which now has a new concrete base and extended apron, as well as reinforced wing-wall foundations. Higher still, Mike Battison has been working away steadily to restore the old bywash tunnel of Lock 24. Although redundant, this is a heritage feature well worth preserving. Away from Tamworth Road, “The Staffords” continue to wage war on brambles, nettles and miscellaneous “Triffids” at Darnford Heath, Fosseway Lane and Muckley Common. These sites are all beneficial to the community and are becoming more popular with walkers as they’re made more accessible, particularly Fosseway, which has been transformed.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 12 Lichfield Canal Work Report

What will the new year bring? We must press ahead with Pound 27 as soon as conditions allow. We’re all very keen to get on with the job and know that once we get into a routine we’ll soon make progress, but that can only happen when the site’s dried up a lot. As you will have read in this issue, the Trust has been awarded a major grant to restore the section of canal from “The Boat” pub up to the Toll Road aqueduct. Currently badly overgrown, it’s still recognisable as a canal; a couple of months’ work will make a huge difference and will provide another link in the Heritage Towpath Trail from Brownhills to Lichfield. These jobs will stretch our volunteer resources to the limit, so we’re very lucky that our numbers have been supplemented by a steady flow of Duke of Edinburgh lads, a couple of whom hope to stay with us after completing their courses. Their enthusiasm has rubbed off on their friends, so perhaps we’re laying the foundation for a new generation, which would be great news for the Trust. We can never have enough volunteers, especially as we gather momentum and credibility, so please, if you can spare a few hours a month, come and join us At least give it a try! Finally, my thanks to everyone for their sterling efforts throughout the year, for their support, good humour, friendship and encouragement, all the things that keep me going. Let’s make sure that this year is even more productive than last; a tough task, I know, but we must keep aiming high or we’ll get nowhere. Terry Brown (Lichfield Site Manager)

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Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 13 Lichfield Canal, Summerhill Project

announces the Chairman in his opening report with an BREAKING NEWS! outline of a major grant, and there is further commentary on page 25, but what does it all mean? The Social Investment Business Limited (SIB) manages the Community Ownership and Management of Assets fund on behalf of the Department of Communities and Local Government. Grants are specifically aimed at community organisations which can demonstrate scale, ambition and innovation in providing “evidence of use of asset acquisition to achieve transformative community-led service delivery or to showcase pioneering community-led planning outcomes”. In our case, the privately-owned sections of derelict canal straddling the M6Toll motorway between Barracks Lane and Road have been a missing link in the Lichfield Canal Heritage Towpath Trail which can benefit the residents of Brownhills, as shown overleaf but the canal will not be in water at this stage. A strict condition of the grant is that the funds must be spent in the Government’s financial year by March 2015 so what might have been an original project timescale of seven months dwindled through procedure to only having seven weeks left to spend £336,000! The project entails bidding for two areas of land, constructing an expensive new culvert over Crane Brook demolished during motorway construction in 2001-3, removing 60 years of natural growth and laying down a public footpath which connects across the aqueduct. You can well imagine that it has been a feverish few weeks so far with land deals, access and supply arrangements, contract specifications, planning regulations, ecology survey, financial projections, volunteer management and so much more. However, we can call on excellent relationships established over many years with those who matter in being able to move very, very quickly to getting things done. Pictures here indicate the extent of work to be done, but also give a glimpse of what is to come as a restored section of the Lichfield Canal.

Behind the Boat Inn

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 14

Lichfield Canal, Summerhill Project

Struggling across Crane Brook

Typical natural growth along the channel

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 15 The New Summerhill Section of the Lichfield Canal

Access into Brownhills via Staffordshire Gold Barracks Lane & Lichfield Road Hoard Find Site

Brownhills /

West Midlands A

Existing Secured HTT Link to Brownhills

M6 Toll Motorway

Missing Heritage Towpath Trail Link on Reclaimed Derelict land marked areas A, B over new Crane Brook culvert marked C.

Boat Inn

Boat Lane Access to A461 Walsall Road Muckley Common

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 16 The New Summerhill Section of the Lichfield Canal

Staffordshire Gold Hoard Find Site

Lichfield Canal Aqueduct & Towpath Link over A

A5 Watling Street C

Missing Heritage Towpath Trail B Link on Reclaimed Derelict land marked areas A, B over new Crane Brook culvert marked C.

Lichfield Canal Trust Heritage Towpath Trail Missing Link on Reclaimed Derelict Land

A461 Walsall Road

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 17 New Year’s Day Walk

Having obtained the land between The Boat and the Aqueduct, with a grant to put in a footpath by the end of March something urgent had to be done. The rallying call went out “Bring your secateurs on a New Year’s Day walk”. Stefan and I, with our daughter Joanne, turned up to find Bob and his son Richard; Peter, his wife and dog; Terry; Luke and Mike Battison all prepared with machetes and loppers. Terry led off as if he were Indiana Jones in the jungle, slicing his way through the undergrowth, secretly enjoying himself. The weather was chilly but we were wrapped up well. The start was quite easy but the further we got in the more overgrown it became. The path we made was not a simple straight line but meandered between trees and up and down the bank. No-one was moaning about being there but enjoying working and chatting, even the dog looked as if it was her normal walk–perhaps it is!! We finally reached the steep slope down to the brook, where Bob took some more photographs. Then onward down to the brook and up the other side heading for the aqueduct. It was a feeling of satisfaction, after two and a half hours , to reach our goal overlooking the Toll Road, next to the aqueduct. We know now that the task in hand is enormous but not beyond our combined talents. On the way back we met the man who farms the land next to ours. Peter was able to get from him the names of all the people who own the surrounding fields, which is a great help. We were lucky as it was beginning to rain and the light was fading. On our return to The Boat we chatted to the landlady, who said that many customers ask about the canal perhaps it is with her help we can promote it more. It was a really enjoyable afternoon and we know that anyone working on that site will be warmly welcomed at The Boat. Ruth Szulc

Summerhill Section Inaugural New Years Day Trek

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 18 From Here and There

M6 to M54 The faint hope that the proposed link between the M54 and the M6 north would provide some kind of window of opportunity to get a navigable culvert for the Hatherton at Calf Heath has been dashed. There are three possible routes for this new road, all based on M6 Junction 11. None of the proposed works would extend as far north as the Straight Mile near Junction 12. Erasmus Brindley Your Chairman adopted this nom-de-plume for his tongue in cheek account of a cruise along the restored Lichfield Canal in the 2020s. He described how his boat left Huddlesford Junction and cruised the old line, under Cappers Bridge and then on through Lock 30. Subsequent developments with HS2 have shown how dangerous prophesying can be. This whole section needs rewriting to describe a wholly new diversionary route to get under the new railway. However, since nothing is yet certain this rewrite will be much delayed. Meanwhile, any thought of an imaginary cruise along the Hatherton has been put very much on the back burner. Lichfield Cruising Club The involvement of the Cruising Club has always been essential to the reopening of the canal. There could be a debate about a section at at the top end but, the LCC moorings are the only section remaining in active use. The Club has nurtured and maintained the section it controls and is rightly concerned about the possible impact of reopening to through traffic and, more recently, of the construction of HS2. L&H has worked with Club to put on a series of very successful boat gatherings at Huddlesford and a good working partnership has evolved. The next joint enterprise will be the Heritage Gathering in September this year. Partnership The Trust is on the point of agreeing a partnership with Council and Lichfield City Council. This confirms a working arrangement which has been in place for many years We hope to draw other interested bodies into this agreement. IWA and CRT are obvious future partners. Also in the wings will be the Environment Agency. AGM Please make a note of the AGM and come along and support us. Friday, 5th June – 7pm for 7.15 at the Park View Centre, Brownhills. We are fortunate to have David Penny from the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Trust as our guest speaker. It should be an interesting evening. Brian Kingshott(chairman)

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Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 19 Marketing and Promotion

November Show Last year the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Trust presented its November show to a full house. This year the plan is to bring a new and different show for ‘another evening of joy, laughter and music’. Last year’s sell-out November show was an evening of fun and was by common consent a most joyful evening, indeed it was one of those occasions that will stay with us for some time to come. The show was staged by the ever popular A Full House awaits the show local amateur group called “Just Us”. The cabaret style evening of music and “Just Us” as “ABBA” laughter consisted of storytelling, sketches, monologues, music and song. The evening included a fine two- course supper which was topped by a healthy diet of fun and laughter and washed down by a measured intake of alcohol from the evening’s bar. The 2014 show will take some beating but we have set a course to do just that. The 114 tickets will go on sale at the end of September or early October and we have every expectation that we will again have a wonderful evening of entertainment with a full house audience. Whittington Village Hall will be the venue with its adequate car parking and modern hall, lighting and sound system, supper will again be included. The hall is booked for Saturday 21st November 2015 but is your diary date booked for the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Trust November Show? John Bryan (Commercial Manager)

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 20 Marketing and Promotion

General Knowledge with Trust Quizmaster Bob Williams at Boley Park Community Hall 7 Ryknild Street, Lichfield WS14 9XU (next to the Co-op Store - plenty of free parking) Date: Saturday 21st February 2014 starts at 7:30 pm prompt Bring your own drinks and glasses. Non-Members Welcome. Tickets £8.50 INCLUDING HOT SUPPER Available from Bob Williams on 01543 671427 Or book online at www.lhcrt.org.uk ****** MUST BOOK BY 16TH FEBRUARY ******

All Correspondence should be addressed to :- Trust Secretary, Mrs D Hancock, 2 Elias Close, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9TX

1998 DATA PROTECTION ACT The Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Ltd will hold your details for marketing purposes in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act. If you do not wish to receive updates from the Trust or any third party with whom we co-operate then please advise the Trust through Director Bob Williams on 01543 671427.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 21 SalesMarketin and Pgromotions and Promotion Report Grand Prize Draw–2014 The response to our Draw last year was again very encouraging with 4,794 tickets sold, plus donations making a gross income of £5,284.25. As before, the Draw was made by members of the audience at our Social Evening at Whittington Village Hall on Saturday, 22nd November 2014. The lucky winners were:-

1. 00723 £500 cheque, Mr. Robert Taylor, Coven, .

2. 09447 £150 cheque “towards your holiday”, Mr. Neil Wright, Liverpool.

3. 05639 £50 Marks & Spencer voucher sponsored by a Trust member, Mr. HJY Pringle, Southampton.

4. 13452 New “Scrabble” set, Ms Becky Moult, Hereford.

5. 11526 New Spherical Jig-Saw Puzzle, Ms. Diane Riley, Essington, Wolverhampton.

6. 07887 Quality decorated plate, Mr. Jeremy Moses, Saffron Walden, Essex.

7. 12609 1,000 Recipes Cook Book, Mr. Ian Prentice, Lichfield.

8. 10528 Wildlife Trust Birdwatching Book, Mrs. Penny Smith, Lichfield.

9. 00153 Decorative tea set, Mrs. Hughes, Lichfield.

Gross proceeds from ticket sales £4,794 + donations & tax £490.25 = £5,284.25 – £815 costs = net proceeds £4,469.25. We thank all our members and the public who supported this fund-raising activity, also our willing volunteers who sold the tickets, and to those who donated some interesting prizes. Grand Prize Draw – 2015 We invite sponsors to support this valuable annual fund-raising activity with cash or prizes in time for tickets to go on sale by March. Please email offers to bob.williams@ lhcrt.org.uk or phone 01543 671427.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 22 Marketing and Promotion Forthcoming Events So let’s look forward to some of this year’s events which we will be attending:-

21st. February Quiz Night - See Page 22 March L.D.T.A. Swap shop 14th. March Table Top Sale - (see page 18). April St. Georges Day Walk, Hatherton (Provisional) Doreen And Eric Wood’s Coffee Morning. 4th April (Saturday at 6, Swan Cottage, Burton Road, Whittington) 10.00 to 4.00 19th. April Canal Route Walk Early May Meet The Auctioneers (Provisional) 23rd. - 25th. May Crick Boat Show. 25th. May Lichfield Greenhill Bower, Beacon Park, Lichfield. June Brownhills Canal Festival (Provisional) 5th. June Annual General Meeting, Brownhills. Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and 27th., 28th. June Canal Festival, Northamptonshire. 4th., 5th. July Cars in the Park, Lichfield. (Provisional) August Make Mine Music! New Event (Details to be announced) Lupin Farm Gathering Of Vintage & Classic Cars 15th. August 10.00-4.00 pm September Lichfield 10K Road Race 5th. September Whittington Country Fair 19th., 20th. September Huddlesford Heritage Gathering Show time at Whittington Village Hall. 21st. November Details of the show to be announced.

We would welcome any assistance you give us at these events to promote the Trust and help to raise more funds for this year’s restoration programme.

John Bryan (Commercial Manager)

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 23

& Lichfield Branch

Registered Charity No. 702429

Quality saleable goods, cakes and help needed for our annual fund-raising JUMBLE SALE from 10am on Saturday 14th March 2015 at the PEACE MEMORIAL HALL Pinfold Lane, REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE

Call 01543 683586 for more details and to pledge your help. Please do not use this event just to dump rubbish!

Proceeds to be used for the conservation, use, preservation and development of our inland waterways, and the restoration of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 24 Money Matters

Lloyds Bank Community Fund Grant Again, we thank all those who supported the Trust in the public vote to compete for an award. The result announced in November was a grant of £2,000 which goes towards the cost of developing a further section of the Heritage Towpath Trail along the Lichfield Canal.

Ecology Building Society Charitable Foundation Grant Despite enquiries, there has been no response to our application for £2,000 towards the cost of fittings needed to make our first lock operational again. Social Investment Business Group [SIB] Community Asset and Services Grant Programme Our resurrected bid which led to the Grant Executive’s visit last October to assess the development potential for a derelict land site worked its way through the assessment process. With an ever-decreasing number of days to defray all the expenditure by March, SIB delivered their full award of £336,000 just in time for Christmas! What a gift !! In anticipation of success, our formalities were given a lot of attention in December, ready to swing into action on New Year’s Day when key persons teamed up to tackle preliminary work on site (see page 18). Land dealings, contract specifications, ordering supplies, access arrangements, plant, welfare, insurance, volunteer engagement, etc. etc. must be accounted for up-front to release tranches of grant funds through January and February, although work on the ground can continue after that. The good thing is that we have a highly professional team at work in the Trust, excellent connections in trade circles, and local friends who can rise to the occasion. Now everybody, please pray for good weather this winter as there is SO MUCH to do in such a short time. Trust members might like to help in any way, so please call us on 01543 671427.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 25 Money Matters

The Inland Waterways Association [IWA] An application has been submitted to the IWA to seek funding towards new signage to be placed in prominent locations to identify the route of the Lichfield Canal. We await their decision soon. Wildlife Trusts Our Environment Our Future Meanwhile, we found time, again at very short notice, to submit a detailed Expression of Interest to the Big Lottery’s new £30 million programme run by a consortium of environmental agencies led by the Wildlife Trusts. This could entail a grant of up to £1,000,000 spread over five years to each of up to 25 projects to engage 11-24 year olds in a whole range of learning experiences which could involve every aspect of canal restoration. We shall know by February if we can proceed to the award stage in March which could attracts those with educational skills to help the Trust in a different way. Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd [WREN] Biodiversity Action Fund Land Purchasing Programme As mentioned in the last issue, we could not let this opportunity pass us by, however busy we might be. With hardly time to breathe, a thoroughly professional application was submitted at very short notice for a potential award of £80,000 to purchase a certain area of derelict canal land which is ideal for biodiversity development. Enquiries for more detail gave us hope that this could go ahead, but we shall not know till later in January if we are successful. If so, there is EVEN MORE to do, so local help is becoming even more necessary in 2015 towards restoring the Lichfield Canal with added benefits.

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 26 Money Matters

Staffordshire Waterways Group [SWG] Representatives of the active canal Groups in Staffordshire are working on a Strategy Document that integrates their respective objectives to make more and extended use of the canals in, and reaching beyond the County. Whilst serving to present an amalgam of many diverse interests, a more intensive purpose is to advance a cohesive proposal to the Local Enterprise Partnership [LEP] for substantial funding that would contribute significantly to economic growth and employment prospects across the County. “Feet of Clay” Report Work on lining the bed of Pound 27 with clay got under way in November, the volunteer team mastering new techniques, but the wet autumn made progress very difficult so the fund remains in hand to continue the work in 2015. As grants are only available to achieve specific outcomes, the Trust still has to maintain its existing commitments. Retaining and growing our membership is vital, as is the upkeep to existing funds and operating costs. If you can’t help on the ground, donations would be welcome. Payments can be made by cheque payable to LHCRT Ltd, and sent to LHCRT Ltd, 29 Hall Lane, Hammerwich, Burntwood, Staffs WS7 0JP. Alternatively, donate online by bank card through PayPal in the donations section of our website at http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/donations.htm. If you are a taxpayer, a Gift Aid declaration would add 25% from tax. Apart from that, we have not done much … yet ! Bob Williams, Director (Finance) 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

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 27 Business Connect

Typical monthly breakfast meeting of the successful Business Connect group hosted by Lichfield Rugby Club.

The complete property maintenance company

Commercial and domestic FREE QUOTES T: 01543 444888 W: robertsandgwilt.co.uk 8 Barlow Drive, Fradley, Staffordshire. WS13 8TL

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

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 28 Selling individually vetted, 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

Unrivalled 4-page detailed colour brochure with photos and layout drawing 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

The views expressed in Cut Both Ways do not necessarily represent those of Cut Both Ways 15 01.inddthe Trust1 or the Editor. They are however published as being 5/1/15 16:12:36 of interest to our readership. Recycle, Benefit your Environment Raise Funds for our Charity `Please donate your unwanted Gold, Silver, Costume Jewellery and Watches Parcel up your jewellery and post free of charge to:

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Ltd, FREEPOST, CENTRAL, RECYCLING If you can, please ask your family, friends and colleagues to participate in this Jewellery Recycling Collection. Thank you very much for your support

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 29 LICHFIELD & HATHERTON CANALS RESTORATION TRUST LimiTeD. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks. HP5 1WA 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 Essington Canal from Ogley Junction to Huddlesford Junction (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 Chairman Vice-Chairman & Land Officer Finance Brian Kingshott David Dixon Bob Williams 01547 530457 - Tel/Fax 01543 258512 – Home 01543 671427 07831 572642 - Mobile 07807 258957 – Mobile 07973 293834 - Mobile [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Environment & Fundraising Funding Dora Hancock Dora Hancock [email protected] 01543 264158 - Home

IWA Nominee Environment Commerce Vaughan Welch Mike Battisson John Bryan 0121 477 9782 – Home 01543 300090 01543 683586 07971 202406 – Mobile 07984 437284 - Mobile [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Health & Safety Engineering Lichfield Sites Manager Bob Mullarkey (& Lichfield Cruising Club rep) Terry Brown 01543 251408 – Home Peter Buck 01889 576574 - Home 01543 426811 – Work 01543 268041 - Home 07855 810568 – Mobile 07973 719215 – Mobile 07966 123239 - Mobile [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Other Officers Magazine Editor Website Publicity Officer Stefan Szulc Paul Marshall Tom Reid 01543 677156 01543 410646 01543 319754 - Home [email protected] [email protected] 07840 300178 - Mobile [email protected] [email protected] Hatherton Work Party Membership Denis Cooper Godfrey Eland 01543 374370 – Work [email protected] COULD THIS BE YOU?

LICHFIELD & HATHERTON CANALS RETAIL TRADING Limited. Company No 3686837 - Chairman: John Bryan; Secretary: Rob Davies; Finance: Bob Williams web site: www.lhcrt.org.uk

Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 30 Cut Both Ways Winter 2014/15 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]