The Magazine of the & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

Issue No. 89 - Autumn 2016

The autumnal colours of a Spindle tree brighten the ubiquitous Hawthorn hedge beside the towpath through Borrowcop Locks Canal Park 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, , 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

As autumn weather begins to spread its cold tentacles after the long sunny days of September, one can reflect on the lively buzz which has permeated our activities ay Wha over recent months. Work has continued apace at our two main sites, at Tamworth eth rf Road in Lichfield and along the Summerhill section near Muckley Corner. Our own re L volunteers, including newcomers who’ve joined the loyal old hands, have been t td helped by more groups than ever from elsewhere. The “Wergies” of the IWA (Inland S Waterways Association) Waterway Recovery Group have been back after a gap of . several years. They were accommodated in the Lichfield Cruising Club premises at Huddlesford Junction, where we’re told they’ll be welcome again; we’re very grateful to the Club for their hospitality. More and more commercial companies are encouraging staff to spend a day helping out in the community, and some of those who offered us their services have enjoyed themselves so much that, as word has spread, colleagues based far from the Midlands have asked to come as well. And they all work hard, obviously enjoying the break from their laptops. We’ve had several groups of young people too. It is good to see increasing lengths looking like canals, as we tame the heaps of earth and muddy ditches. People are walking past in increasing numbers, often with their dogs; we try to explain what we’re up to, which always creates interest. Talking of dogs, we’ve even had an organised dog walk for charity. Whatever next? Will dogs soon be climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for good causes? As well as the construction teams, we have what we call the “green team” who make our route more attractive by removing vegetation we don’t want and introducing flora we do, even if enthusiasm for planting things sometimes has to be tempered by discouraging it on soil soon to be removed by those engineers! Their efforts have been recognised by awards from Lichfield in Bloom and Heart of England in Bloom. And we arranged a fishing day for young people as part of a national initiative; as with any fishermen it’s discourteous to enquire too closely as to what they actually caught.... With the same purpose of involving more people, we set up stall as we do each year at events across the Midlands. The Crick and Braunston canal shows are always good for spreading the word, as are other happenings away from the water. This year there was an IWA–sponsored festival at Pelsall on the Wyrley & Essington Canal, between the junctions off it for the Hatherton and Lichfield Canals. Several of us took boats there; it was sobering that what takes three days’ cruising with over 30 locks could be done by car in half an hour. But of course, that’s just why we are working to restore the direct route, thus reducing the distance to what it once was! At all these events our excellent marketing team make useful money selling canal and other items, plus the annual raffle tickets; one volunteer has an awesome reputation for not letting anyone past until they buy one, as he strives to beat his personal best of £500 in one day! The other great opportunity at such events is to spread the word of who we are and what we’re up to; we thus attract a steady flow of new members, some of whom become volunteers themselves. Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 3 Chairman’s Column

Amidst all this activity we mustn’t forget the “foot soldiers”, the many members who support us year-in, year-out with their membership fees, often supplemented by top- up donations; they swell our coffers and our political clout. Our membership total, not far short of 2,000, demonstrates the wide support we have in the community. In recent years the Canal & River Trust have participated in canal events in a way their predecessors British Waterways rarely did: both Chief Executive Richard Parry and Manager Ian Lane were in attendance at Pelsall. Our friends in the IWA were there too, in force. Over 100 boats turned up on what is usually a quiet bit of canal; many were decorated, and some floodlit for a night-time cavalcade – an awesome sight. (Some sections of these canals north of Birmingham are so little used that struggling through ever-rampant weed can remind boaters of Humphrey Bogart on the African Queen – but less so this year!) All this activity is good for the Trust; and, thanks to those who get reports of it into papers and magazines, websites, Facebook and Twitter, news of it is being spread far and wide. The more people know of us and what we’re doing, the more support we enjoy in the local community. Local people will be the main beneficiaries when our canals reopen, and before then, when our new walking routes along the line of the canals are open. As we keep up the good work, our volunteers and members are in good heart! David Dixon, (Chairman)

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

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.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 4 Presents its Autumn Show: DRAGONHEAD FOLK WITH DAVE FRY

Traditional folk and Cajun music delivered to you with humour and verve from husband and wife duo John and Anne known to us all as ‘Dragonhead’

…plus Anecdotes to bring laughter or possibly a tear to the eye coupled with some of that wonderful country and folk sounds of the 50’s and 60’s from our compere and performer Dave Fry

Whittington Village Hall, Whittington WS14 9NH Friday 18th November 2016 Doors open 6.30pm Limited free on site Car parking Use only our * free * bar which serves from 6.30pm

Supper (from Alrewas Fryer) served at 7.00pm and show starts at 8.00pm

Our Prize Draw will take place in the interval.

* The bar is free but donations would be welcomed! Tickets £15 inclusive of supper and show.

Booking is essential - There will be no ticket sales on the night.

For tickets contact:

Natasha Egerton - or - John Bryan Meal Choice: ● Fish and chips 1, Meadow View ● Steak & kidney pie and chips Mobile 07921 174378 WS7 0HL ● Chicken & mushroom pie and chips Email: [email protected] Mobile 07974 758687 ● Beef & onion pie and chips Email: [email protected] ● Chicken and chips Vegetarian options ● Vegetable spring rolls and chips ...or…or bookbook online at at www.lhcrt.org.uk/nov_show.htmwww.lhcrt.org.uk/nov_show.htm ● Cheese and onion pasty and chips

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 5 Donations to the Trust

We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st July to 30th September 2016.

Tunnel Vision Name ( in order of receipt ) Trust & Marketing Appeal

Mr D A Stanistreet 200.00 Mr D L Moore 20.00 100.00 anonymous 5,000.00 7th Lichfield St Chads Guides 25.00 anonymous 10,000.00 Mr J Alsop (Brick Fund) 100.00 Mr I. Campbell (with sub.) 85.00 Whittington Charity Challenge Marathon 1,000.00 16th July 2016 team support Mr H Eyles, B’ham Walkers Group walk 45.00 Mr A Harding, USA (with sub.) 50.00 Mrs A M Scott (with sub.) 24.00 Mrs E Tunbridge re late husband 350.00 Easyfundraising 63.95 Mr & Mrs R Griffiths-Jones 100.00 Dr J R Massy 250.00 Miss D Skilbeck MBE 100.00 anonymous 500.00 Horse & Jockey, Lichfield; collection 42.16 Mr M Cripps (with sub.) 40.00 Mrs K A Bird (with sub.) 24.00 Mr M J Ferguson (with sub.) 24.00 Mr D A Gittins (with sub.) 50.00 Mr N J Harris (with sub.) 25.00 Mr R W Lloyd-Hart (with sub.) 24.00 Mr J N March (with sub.) 30.00 Mr I D Bateson (with sub.) 85.00 Mr H Eyles, B’ham Ramblers Group walk 50.00

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 6 Donations to the Trust

We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st July to 30th September 2016.

Tunnel Vision Name ( in order of receipt ) Trust & Marketing Appeal

Mr H Eyles 50.00 Mr J Lamming (with sub.) 35.00 Stone U3A Ind. Arch. Group walk 30.00 Mr I A Jackson 200.00 Russell Newbery Register Ltd, collection 200.00 Oscar Pet Foods Ltd, Charity dog walk 180.00 E-Bay sale of donated items 183.00 Mr R E Gibson (with sub.) 50.00 Mr R T Willis (private talk fees) 45.00 Mr & Mrs D Gray 90.00 PayPal Giving Fund 109.99 Mr D A Stanistreet 120.00 Mr J Moody (returned property rent) 300.00 Mr R O Williams (part ret’d expenses) 961.00 Regular donors to appeals and amounts 2,357.89 308.50 up to £20.00, plus Gift Aid. We also thank the following for their generous support:- WCL Cranebrook Quarries Ltd, site occupational support. Jack Moody Landscaping Ltd, site assistance. Beautiful Gardens Ltd: site materials J & J Properties, land management The Foresters Scout Group (Yoxall) Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd, use of site plant “Oddfellows in the Boat” restaurant, Muckley Corner, volunteer support Oscar Pet Foods Ltd; Charity dog walk funds and raising awareness BT Group volunteer teams on two site work visits. Amey Group, volunteer team on two site work visits. Waterway Recovery Group, London & North West volunteer teams for a week-end work visit. Queen’s Croft High School volunteers.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 7 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. My details are: Godfrey Eland, 18 Furnival Crescent, Lichfield, WS13 6DD Email:- [email protected] Do you get it? If you are not receiving our regular newsletter Towpath Times it means that either we don’t have your email address, or we have an incorrect one. If you wish to receive copies (one single page and sent to you as a “blind copy”) please send an e-mail headed “Towpath Times” and containing your membership number or the first line of your address to: [email protected] I’m afraid that my request in the last Cut Both Ways for members’ reminiscences of our two canals in earlier years fell on deaf ears. If you are able to contribute any such memories, however brief, they are sure to be of interest to others and may well remind some people of their own memories. Have a think! Many thanks and kind regards, Godfrey Eland, (Membership Secretary)

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). To join please see our website www.lhcrt.org.uk or email [email protected]

Membership Total at 30th September :- 1852 (Comprising 338 Adult, 900 Family, 188 Life, 398 Retired, 28 Other.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 8 Membership Matters

********************************************************************************************* New Members 1st July to 30th September 2016 Mr F Barnett, Burntwood Mr A Turner, Wolverhampton Mr & Mrs A Fearne, Lichfield Mr W J Acres, Studley Mr & Mrs T Barrett, Lichfield Mr D Cakebread, Sleaford Mrs H Barrett, Lichfield Mrs M Cakebread, Sleaford Mr & Mrs D Mellar, Ms B P Jones, Burntwood Mr R Renold, Lichfield Mrs S Myers, Stafford Mr J Mee, Burntwood Mr B McGowan, Walsall Mr S Richards, Burton upon Trent Mr A Millward, Burntwood Mrs W Richards, Burton upon Trent Rev B Williams, Lichfield Mr G Macro, Sutton Coldfield Mr W M McKie, Walsall Mr J Hill, Swadlincote Mr S Ayres, Birmingham Mr & Mrs D Duval, Lichfield

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

Mr J V Ellis, Pelsall, Walsall died 23rd June 2016. Mrs E E Brown, Longdon, Staffs, died August 2016. Mrs E Morrison, formerly of Norton Canes, died 17th August 2016. Mr R Pritchard, Lichfield, died December 2015

******************************************************************************************** David Hoskison 6th April 1938 – 25th March 2016 We were sorry to learn of the sudden passing of David who besides being a long-time boater was significantly involved with Historic and Edwardian cars, competition Motor Cycles and Steam engines (especially the Ffestiniog Railway). A `doer` rather than a committee man, David was a life member of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust where his connection with the Lichfield Cruising Club enabled him to help facilitate the Fosseway to Huddlesford “Walk the line of the canal” on 21st April 2002. The walk was actually his idea and was enjoyed by over 2000 walkers drawn from many areas which greatly helped to raise awareness for the restoration. His Model T Ford was used to transport the Bower Queen, Deputy Queen, and consort at the “Huddlesford Heritage Gathering” in 2013. We send our condolences to his wife Dendra and family. John & Jan Horton

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 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.

Once again there has been little change in the number of subscriptions to the ‘500 Club’ since the last draw. We currently have 245 active subscriptions.

Please spread the word; anyone can join the Club, you don’t have to be an LHCRT member. A rise in the number of ‘500 Club’ members means an increase in the contribution to the Capital Fund and also the amount of prize money available.

The Trust would like to thank all the subscribers for their continuing support. So please spread the word.

The winners of the September 2016 draw are: First prize £ 191.10 No 292 Robert Draper, Uckfield, East Sussex Second prize £ 124.95 No 186 Paul Smith, Studley, Warwickshire Third prize £ 51.45 No 18 CJ Bird, Kidderminster, Worcs

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, or write to Mavis Moore, 88 Spring Lane, Whittington, Lichfield WS14 9NA.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 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 Autumn 2016 11 Work Party Report July to September 2016

It really is starting to look as though our ambition to get pound 27 into water this year is achievable. What is there to prevent it? Well there’s still the consent we require from the Environmental Agency for what is called an Impounding Licence. And that is due any day now according to the inspections that were carried out by them mid May. But then again remember how long it took to get them to agree to our taking out of the ‘big pipe’. So don’t hold your breath. There is still the completion of the clay platform at the bottom of the towpath wall. Work on this task is fairly laborious and depends a lot on how wet or how dry the clay is, and that depends on the amount of rainfall we get. The third thing that could thwart us is the installation of the penstock. Readers of my blog September 14th to September 25th will know that this job is progressing nicely, however we are still awaiting several key parts to be made and delivered before it can be completed and concreted in. To get us to this stage, over the last three months a fantastic amount of work has been carried out by our volunteers. We have completed the canal concrete base. Accepted delivery of hundreds of tons of puddling clay and moved it all into the winding hole. And with the loan of a larger excavator from Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd. laid and puddled all this clay.

Fitted and clay filled the stop planks in the narrows by Tamworth Road. Concreted up the side of the Concrete Canvas lined batter to the left hand bank of the canal. Fitted Geomesh above this concreting, and secured the top edge with dry mix concrete sandbags. We have cut up some of the ‘big pipes’ for use over in Darnford Park by the visiting Waterway Recovery Group in September.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 12 Work Party Report July to September 2016

We have assisted the Fishing Taster Weekend by removing copious amounts of blanket weed. (Which seems to grow to fill spaces almost overnight). Fishing Pegs along the left hand canal bank are now being constructed. These are specifically for use by disabled anglers. (A fishing peg is a platform where an angler sits/stands whilst fishing).

And if that’s not enough we have made a start on reinforcing the canal side earth bank of the towpath beyond the narrows using bits from the redundant ‘big pipe’. Not forgetting that the grass and hedges continue to grow at an alarming rate and need frequent attention. So, thank you volunteers for another successful season, and here’s to the next three months.

Our volunteers are the life blood of this restoration.

Hugh Millington, Work Parties (Lichfield) Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 13 Volunteer Training

The Plant Training Day on 15th. October at Darnford Park was a great success! Instructors Paul Shaw and Adrian Sturgess did a great job working through our volunteer team throughout the day and remarked on the excellence of our volunteers. Our sincere thanks to both Paul and Adrian who travelled far to be with us and donated their time to support the theory for the Trust. Our thanks also to Bob and Tony C who put so much effort into arranging all our excavators and dumpers and the Clarkes 13t CAT Excavator to be transferred to Darnford for site work. A special thanks also to Clarke Construction Services Ltd. for the loan of the big Cat 13t Excavator which allowed us to train volunteers on the larger excavator. We have some more work to do at Darnford to continue the excavation of the upper basin and the forming of the central mound base. Congratulations to all those who passed and now have tickets to operate our machines.

Assessor Paul Shaw with volunteer Lawrence Whittaker

Brian Williams – dumpers and small excavators. Stella Wynn – dumpers and small excavators. A selfie by Stella Wynn Daniel Holford – dumpers and small excavators. Tony Cadwallader – dumpers and small excavators. Roland Curtis – dumpers and large excavators. Lawrence Whittaker – dumpers and small excavators. Tony Gardner – Large excavators, (in addition to dumpers and small excavators already certified).

Peter Buck, (Engineering)

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 14 Blooming Marvellous Award For Lichfield Canal

Lichfield’s Canal Trust has been presented with the Heart of England in Bloom’s special Environmental Award. Announcing the award at the presentation ceremony held at Parish Church Hall on Thursday September 15, Heart of England in Bloom chairman Roger Bache said “Undertaking any restoration project is never easy but to do it purely through volunteers makes it a monumental task. “Lichfield Canal volunteers have literally moved heaven and earth to restore the first section of the former canal, digging it out where it’s been filled and rebuilding walls and locks, with salvaged bricks and stone whenever possible. “As if this feat of engineering wasn’t enough, they have restored the towpath and provided landscaping and seating to allow people to access and enjoy the fruits of their labours – a truly amazing piece of voluntary graft. “Here’s to the next section!”

Hilary Smith, who accepted the award on behalf of Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust from Les Goodman, president of Heart of England in Bloom, said: “The award is official recognition for all the hours of hard work, over many years, undertaken by the environmental and maintenance teams of the Trust during the ongoing restoration of the Lichfield Canal.” The canal project was also praised for its part in helping Blooming Lichfield win a silver gilt award in the Small City category, with the judges saying: “It is truly amazing the scale of what the canal volunteers have achieved.” ● Heart of England in Bloom is one of 17 voluntary groups that organise the regional entries for the RHS Britain in Bloom campaign which encourages participants to transform neighbourhoods and bring economic, environmental and social improvements to local communities. Tom Reid, (Publicity Officer) Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 15 BLOOMING MARVELLOUS AWARD FOR LICHFIELD CANAL

A view along the Tamworth Road section of the Lichfield Canal, which has been awarded a special Environmental Award by Heart of England in Bloom

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 16 BLOOMING MARVELLOUS AWARD FOR LICHFIELD CANAL

A view along the Tamworth Road section of the Lichfield Canal, which has been awarded a special Environmental Award by Heart of England in Bloom

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 17 Social media – Audience Research

For over fifteen years the Trust has used a website to inform the public ofour ambitions and progress in realising them. It is useful for us to know if anybody is listening to our message. In the early days most websites, including our own, had a ‘hits’ counter which showed how many people had visited our website but nowadays we can tell rather more. For instance, in June this year Google reported that 1,467 different users visited our website 2,649 times and viewed 11,067 pages, spending on average 2 mins 40 secs per visit.

No personal information is collected but we can tell that 12% of our audience is in London, 9% in Birmingham, 9% in Lichfield, 7% in Walsall and 4% in Cannock. 31% are using a mobile phone or tablet, with the iPad being the most popular of those (34%). This is a challenge for the web designer as we try to make our pages look acceptable on both the mobile phone and on the desktop at home. The graph shows the average number of sessions on our website each month for the last two years. In that time a total of 228,960 pages were viewed. The biggest peak is at the time of The Huddlesford Gathering in 2015 showing just how popular the event was. Perhaps not surprisingly our most popular pages are the working party blogs written by Hugh Millington. (www.lhcrt.org.uk/wpblog.htm ) These are updated every two weeks and report on the activities of our engineering team. In June these pages were visited 1132 times and regularly top 1000 visits per month. Special news reports, such as the report on David Suchet’s visit (342 times) or ‘The Big Pipe Can Go’ (480 times), naturally peak in the current month but can pick up some more views later on. What was once news rapidly becomes history so the website is importantly an archive of Trust history and information. It is encouraging to see that our maps section, the canal overview and the articles on restoration generally have well over 100 page views each month. It is also useful to see which pages are not being viewed. At the bottom is the Pets Club with only 1 view! It may not be widely known that all copies of Cut Both Ways from 2009 onwards, except the current issue, can be viewed online. You can even search the magazine online. Figures suggest this resource is not used as often as it might be. Someone did recently search for “when will it be finished?” but there is no answer to that at present! So, if you haven’t seen our website www.lhcrt.org.uk then do give it try, and dig down beyond the home page to find a wealth of interesting information. Every visit counts! If you have any questions or comments you can contact our webmaster Paul Marshall [email protected]. Paul Marshall, (Webmaster) Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 18 Social media – How are we doing?

The last couple of years have seen us developing our online presence. We have 862 people following our Facebook page and 1,392 people following us on Twitter and these figures are growing well each month. Facebook continues to be very popular in September an average of 660 people saw what we’re talking about each day and lots of people commenting on what we’re doing. If you don’t follow us, you’re probably wondering what it’s all about. Well, you can read Hugh’s fortnightly blog about how the Tamworth Road work party are getting on and see regular photos of them and their progress, as well the other sites, and the work the green team do to improve the environment and ecology of the area. You can keep track of all our events, see the photos and videos too. We’ve got a growing number of videos, they’re a great way of seeing how we’re getting on, especially if you’re not local to the canals. One of our latest videos, about our progress at Summerhill, has been watched 993 times. Facebook is always evolving and they’ve recently added a shop feature, so we’ve now got some of our merchandise listed on the page too. All of this is kept up to date, so you can see the photos soon after the event, usually within 24 hours. Here’s a little taster of one of our posts. It’s one about David Suchet’s visit earlier this year, you can also see the stats we can see about it. Over 1,100 people saw this and 66 people likes or commented on it. Think social media is just for the young? Think again. The biggest group of our facebook followers are aged 45 to 54 and we’ve got a large group of men aged over 65 who follow us. So, don’t forget to “like” us on facebook or follow us on Twitter and if you’re not a social media person… why not join? You can find the links to all our social media accounts (we’re on Instagram and Google+ too) on our website: http://lhcrt.org.uk/contact.htm Christine Howles, (Communications) Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 19 What is an accident and who has them?

Those might seem really obvious questions but thinking about them helps an organisation develop a successful Health and Safety Policy. The RIDDOR (Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) says: an accident is a separate, identifiable, unintended incident, which causes physical injury. When we evaluate an accident we need to identify the immediate cause and also the underlying cause of the accident. The immediate cause of an accident might be a machine operator becoming entangled with a piece of equipment for example. But the underlying, or root, cause might be poor instruction, poor supervision or poorly maintained equipment for example, all of which ultimately are about poor management. Researchers have studied many accidents and found that a mere 2% are caused by so called “acts of god”, which might be, for example, adverse weather conditions or earthquakes. A further 10% of accidents are caused by unsafe conditions but the vast majority of accidents, 88%, are caused by unsafe acts. Other studies show that for every death caused by an accident there are dozens of serious injuries, hundreds of minor injuries and probably thousands of near misses. In 2015/16 144 workers were killed while at work. That translates into perhaps half a million near misses each year. If we could investigate those near misses we could hopefully reduce the numbers of deaths. Next let’s consider who has accidents. There are probably no surprises here. Individuals in their first six months in a job are at higher risk of an accident at work and young people generally have more accidents than their older experienced co-workers. Now we can consider what this means to LHCRT. While it is essential to ensure that unsafe conditions are made safe, for example clearly marking out the edge of a drop and segregating vehicles and pedestrians we need to do much more to deal with the 88% of accidents caused by unsafe acts.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 20 What is an accident and who has them?

There are a number of things we can do to reduce the number of unsafe acts. Firstly it is essential that the Chairman and his board of trustees demonstrate a clear commitment to the health and safety of our volunteers and the members of the public we come into contact with. The Trust has already taken steps to appoint a qualified health and safety director with an experienced advisor to support them. The health and safety director presents a report to the board each month which is the first substantial item in the agenda at each meeting. The directors will take more steps in the next few months. Secondly because we need to influence how people behave we need to create a culture in which people understand the need for the processes in place and “buy into” those processes. This will be best achieved by consultation with everyone and mutual respect rather than using a top down set of instructions. Finally we need a blame free culture where people feel able to report near misses so that we can learn and prevent the problem happening again. Lastly what can we do to protect the young people who work with us and those in their early weeks and months of volunteering with us? Our biggest and best protection is to ensure that young and new volunteers are closely supervised by experienced staff who can teach them safe ways of working and highlight potential dangers. There are other steps that we need to take to supplement and support this supervision. These include induction programmes, toolbox talks and records of training that a volunteer is gaining with us. Dora Hancock, (Director responsible for Health & Safety)

Safety must always come first!

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 Autumn 2016 21 MONEY MATTERS

Tunnel Vision In August, Trust Directors met County Council and Persimmon Homes to explore aspects arising from proposed housing and roadway developments at the St John’s site in Lichfield. Their management have been seeking a fuller understanding of all the costs and interaction with surroundings, including the safeguarded route of the canal, to submit recommendations to Council in December. Changes in local circumstances since Persimmon gained Outline Planning Permission about three years ago could have a considerable impact on the nature and timing of developing the housing estate. Extending the Lichfield Southern Bypass through the railway embankment past the proposed housing estate, and thereby the adjacent canal tunnel are largely governed by Network Rail’s permitted possession of the railway track, set for Christmas 2019, to avoid deferment for many years. Therefore, it is imperative that the canal tunnel be installed by then which means that funding up to £1 million must be evident by Easter 2019. The David Suchet Appeal has already attracted a substantial sum but is now being elevated to a major national campaign with a two-year target to prevent the canal being “stopped in its tracks”! Donations can be made through our website at www.lhcrt.org.uk/donations.htm Lottery Funding “Have you tried asking the Lottery for funds?”, they all say, to which I usually answer “Have you tried?” It may be a common misconception that Lottery funds are there for anything you like, just by asking. In reality, the National Heritage Lottery is highly organised and regularly launches new themes which are targeted at specific outcomes. There are complex regulations to follow, and of course severe competition from a multitude of bidders. Amounts up to a few £’000 have a simpler approach, but the high value projects require a team of experts to develop a raft of supporting documentation and clearly defined outputs and outcomes that satisfy the criteria for that particular theme. Typically, restoring canals is not enough: there has to be a range of other benefits which might be social, environmental, historical, etc. If you have experience of bid-writing, or would like to join a small group of “fund-fishers”, please step forward as there is a growing need to hit the high targets to get the job done. Call me at 01543 671427 or email at [email protected] Bob Williams, Director (Finance) **************************************************************************************

Our sincere thanks to the member who donated two tapestry kits, which were sold for £74, and a set of Land Rover roof bars which sold for £100. Those donations went directly into the Trusts restoration fund.

************************************************************************************** Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 22 CHARITY EVENT SUPPORTS LOCAL CAUSES

The new Whittington Charity Challenge Marathon 2016 inspired by Bob Wood, son of the Trust’s President Eric Wood, took place on Saturday 16 July 2016. Based at Bit End Field in Whittington near Lichfield, participants chose varying distances of a Full Marathon, Half Marathon or a Marathon Relay event where a team of 4 runners completed 1 lap each. Over 125 entered this grueling off-road course, and the majority completed their chosen distance with a few exceptions due to injury or illness. A notable accomplishment was from team “Wolf Pack” who completed their Marathon relay in a time of 3 hours 2 minutes & 3 seconds, winning not only medals, but also a very generous prize by a major sponsor. The specialist Ski holiday firm “Ski4less” donated 1 week’s accommodation for 4 in Val Thorens to be taken in either December 2016 or January 2017. The organisers would like to thank not only all the volunteer marshals, who eagerly assisted with car parking and their encouraging support with route signing and refreshments but the many generous sponsors of the event; Ski4Less specialist ski holidays, Downes & Daughters estate agents, Ben Edwards Paving, Running Form Sports of Burton and Alpha Sports of Lichfield to name but a few. It proved to be a very good day on a very testing 4-lap Marathon course, all helping to raise in excess of £2,500 for local charitable causes. One major benefactor was the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust who were presented with a cheque for £1,000 towards the cost of brining the local canal back to life. l-r: Bob Williams (L&H finance), David Dixon (L&H Chairman), Bill Howes (WCCM organiser), Eric Wood (L&H President) with £1,000 from event proceeds.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 23 Wagging tails along the towpath trail

More than 100 people, along with their four-legged friends descended on Darnford Park one Sunday afternoon in September for the charity dog walk along the Heritage Towpath Trail. Jane Adams from Oscar Pet Foods, Lichfield, organised the event to celebrate five years as the Lichfield Oscar pet food nutritional advisor and chose the Trust as one of the three charities to benefit from the money raised, along with Staffordshire Search and Rescue and the Teenage Cancer Trust. The walk started in Darnford Park and followed the towpath trail all the way to the signal box at Fosseway Lane and back, with shorter routes available for anyone who didn’t want to walk the full route. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon, including Jane Sutton, who was there representing Stephen’s Story ahead of her Kilimanjaro fund- raising walk in memory of her son Stephen Sutton for the Teenage Cancer Trust. For some people it was the first time they had seen our work along Tamworth Road and it was lovely to hear so many positive comments about our progress, we also had people sign up to join us as volunteers. The event raised £540, which will be split equally between the three charities. Many thanks to Jane Adams for organising the walk, can’t wait for the next one. Christine Howles, (Communications)

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 24 Visiting volunteers

Amey plc A team from Amey plc came to join us for a day at Summerhill. They helped with getting the shuttering in place ready for the concrete along a key section of the canal wall. This is the part which will link up to the aqueduct over the M6 Toll. BT A team of BT managers assembled at Cranebook Culvert at Summerhill and spent the morning making shuttering panels for the in situ concrete waterproof wall to the towpath canal channel wall over the culvert. With deteriorating weather the reinforcing mesh was brought to the site, cut and fixed in place and the shuttering panels were lifted into place and secured for concrete to be placed on another day. BT News must have spread back at BT HQ as a second team soon joined us. A team of three came along, a small group but what a team! They had travelled from Yorkshire and Cambridge to be with us and got stuck in to the construction of the timber edging and placing recycled stone to a 60 metre section of the Heritage Towpath Trail opposite the WCL weigh bridge office. With Bob W and Peter to help the hard working BT team, a significant section of the footpath was completed and stoned. The photos show the BT volunteers getting down to the task of placing the footpath edging. Amey plc Volunteers from Amey plc keep returning to help us. The latest group helped out at Summerhill with a concrete pour and carrying on with the work our BT group started on the towpath.

We thank all of the volunteers for attending and putting so much hard work during the days they spend with us and helping us to restore a key section of the Lichfield Canal. Peter Buck, (Engineering)

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 25 Pelsall Festival Of Water, 27 – 29th August 2016

Events Listing For 2016

Event Ref Event Description Event Date No/Year All Entries Are Yet To Be Approved & Start Time

Show time - Venue Whittington Village Hall Friday 18th 30/16 Dragonhead folk with Dave Fry November

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 26 All Correspondence should be addressed to :- Trust Secretary, Godfrey Eland,18 Furnival Crescent, Lichfield, Staffordshire. WS13 6DD

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.

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

Would you like to receive a colour copy of Cut Both Ways in an electronic PDF format instead of a paper copy? Please email the editor ([email protected]) and request a copy.

Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 27 Business Connect

David Suchet addresses the Business Connect group hosted by Lichfield Rugby Club

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Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 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 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 David Dixon 01543 258512 [email protected] Company Secretary Godfrey Eland 01543 251754 [email protected] Finance, Funding Bob Williams 01543 671427 [email protected] Membership Godfrey Eland 01543 251754 [email protected] Engineering Peter Buck 01543 268041 [email protected] Marketing John Bryan 01543 683586 [email protected] Health & Safety Dora Hancock 01543 264158 [email protected] Communications Christine Howles 07852 190855 [email protected] Magazine Editor Stefan Szulc 01543 677156 [email protected] OFFICERS Press Officer Tom Reid 07840 300178 [email protected] Webmaster Paul Marshall 01543 410646 [email protected] Planning Luke Walker 07979 862195 [email protected] Land Officer Gill Bellenie 07815 285856 [email protected] Land Officer Jeff March 01543 255949 [email protected] Volunteering Christine Howles 01543 264158 [email protected] Events Steve Fitzgerald 07904 101583 [email protected] Work Parties(Lichfield) Hugh Millington 01543 251747 [email protected] Work Parties(Hatherton) Denis Cooper 01543 374370 Green Team Chris Bull 01283 790322 [email protected]

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks. HP5 1WA 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 Autumn 2016 30 Cut Both Ways Autumn 2016 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]