Issue 108 Winter 2020 / 2021

The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club

AUDLEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT CAUGHT ON CAMERA! MEMORIES H2O AND SOME 2021 RALLY - OR WHAT?

www.rnregister.org.uk WHO’S WHO CONTENTS

Front cover: Breach at Audlem bridge 80 [Dave Martin]

Back cover: Swan Park, Whittington [Steve Whetnall]

3 FROM THE EDITOR RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTD Vice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs, Allister Denyer, Graham Pearson, Eleanor Phillips 4 CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER Web site: www.rnregister.org.uk The Russell Newbery Register is a non profit 5 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS distributing company limited by guarantee. Founded: 1994 Registered in No: 346943 THANK YOU Officers: Chairman: Bob Scott m: 07812 028415 [email protected] 6 BRAUNSTON RALLY PLANS Secretary: Kevin McNiff m: 07866 424988 [email protected] 8 BOOK REVIEW: JOHN KNILL’S Director & Administrator (membership, finance): Andy Todd t: 01923 264962 m: 07973 326888 NAVY [email protected] Director: Jim Comerford m: 07887 591905 9 CAUGHT ON CAMERA! [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] AUTUMN GATHERING UPDATE Newsletter Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580 Administration (merchandise): Neil Mason 10 FITTING IN AN E t: 01306 889073 [email protected] Rally Organisers: Bob Scott and Andrew Laycock [email protected] 12 AUDLEM: THE HOLE STORY Webmaster: Andrew Laycock [email protected] 14 AQR WATER PROJECT RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTD A non profit distributing company limited by guarantee 16 A NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE Founded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384 Directors: Bob Ainsworth, Dave Martin, Bob Scott, Andy Todd. 17 MEMORIES

Unless otherwise noted,© Russell Newbery Register, 2021 Important Notice Deadline for receipt of Braunston Rally booking forms is RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANY th Proprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) Saturday 29 May. Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132) Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661 Please book as soon as possible. Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak Way North, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ Bookings refunded if COVID-19 Email: [email protected] measures prevent attendance. Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 Richard Milligan m: 07973 826260 Next edition

All contributions for the Spring edition will be gratefully received. Do not worry about format — in true RN fashion the editorial team can cope with [almost] anything!

Please supply photographs as separate JPEG or GIF files.

Copy deadline 31st May 2021

2 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 The winter edition is finally out! We felt that it was better to delay printing for a month to see what, if any changes, are likely with lockdown during the pandemic. There is now a roadmap for England that gives hope that, if everything falls into place, there will be a “near normal” Rally in July. Andrew will give an update in the following pages.

But sadly, we have had to postpone the Away day to Ironbridge for this year again but I’m sure that Chris Halliwell will get his outing next year. Hang in there!

The waterways continue to provide challenges for boating and the Shroppie is no exception. Our on-site newshound’s report provides more detail, thank you Dave [and dogs!]. It’s a worry that so much reactive work is needed to fix long term [and known about] problems.

Thanks once again to our contributors; journeys, engines, reminiscences, and scientific progress are some of the features this time.

As we all return to meeting family and friends, I hope to meet up with the usual suspects. Or if you just want to get out and away on your own, have a great season.

The RN E series of engines were not a common choice for boat propulsion. Fitting one in a narrowboat is a challenge, as Ian Richardson describes in this issue. He chose an E3, the E4 illustrated here would have meant an even longer engine room extension. [RN Archives]

Full range of of RN Spares and service items available from stock together with engines on display at Hillmorton. Full range of Boatyard Services including Engine servicing and repairs, Boat blacking, Full boat repainting service, Boat building and repairs, Plumbing & electrics, Weld repairs.

GBBS Hillmorton Ltd. & Russell Newbery Marine Diesel Engines 01788 578 661 mobile 07812 039110 email. [email protected]

RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 3 Chairman’s Chatter Well, I’ll say one thing, living next to a summer but, after river is rarely dull. As I write this the Avon having had my jab, just outside is up 3.25m from its normal I’m feeling more level – another half a metre and I’ll have optimistic. I know water in my garage to a depth of a few that Andrew has inches. Luckily, I’ve now completed a drawn up a list of whole load of new shelving which has alternatives which enabled me to get everything up off the I am sure will be floor. The river will now have to go up revealed – quite another metre or thereabouts before stuff possibly elsewhere in this very gets wet. Unfortunately, the car is very newsletter. much on the floor and I’ve got to work out Whilst the boat was in the marina in what I’m going to do with that if the water November and December, having its does come up much further. bottom blacked properly for the first time If you’ve been waiting for this newsletter (a long story which I’m happy to tell if with bated breath then accept my asked but allow plenty of time) I hit upon apologies. It is all down to me. Kevin has the idea of having the expansion tank for been very patient, especially as I was the engine coolant turned into a swirl given a deadline well in advance and tank as per Allister’s recommendation in have totally failed to comply with it. You’d an article written for a much earlier think that in a period of lockdown I’d have newsletter. As part of my research I was plenty of time to write an article but the surprised to find that the Jabsco pump, truth is I can’t remember the last time I that has been an integral part of the have been this busy. Goodness knows engine ever since Lothlorien was built, is how I ever managed to find time to work not designed to pump hot water and was, full-time. Organising a house move for in fact, supposed to pump raw water aged parents from a place they have through the engine rather than circulate occupied for 38 years is full of surprises – water through a closed system. I know and they don’t actually move until April! that a few people have replaced their Jabscos with electric pumps. I always As I’m writing this section the river has thought 60 degrees was a little on the low now returned to its normal level and side for the operating temperature of a everything is looking much calmer with diesel engine and now it is all starting to the exception of the Canada Geese who make sense. In the interests of congregate just outside around about generating some discussion and dawn – as each one flies in he says good enlightenment (you never know), are we morning to all his mates and they all, very better off with an electric pump (12v, 24v politely, say good morning back to him or 240v) that can handle hotter coolant and everyone else, again. After the 100th and run the engine at, say, 80 degrees? I goose comes in to land it is very easy to look forward to lots of replies on this one. become slightly agitated. I just know that there are going to be as Will there be a rally this year? I certainly many opinions as there are members hope so, although whether we’ll be able to and there will be lots to read in the next do anything before the end of the summer newsletter. is very much open to doubt. To be fair it may also be doubtful after the end of 4 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 Membership Matters Greetings and best wishes for the New Year. It’s somehow getting harder to find positive things to write about after so much inactivity but it’s amazing how things come out of the blue to raise the interest levels. I recently had an email from a chap in British Columbia, Canada saying he had owned a single cylinder RN engine for forty years (probably originally a generator) but had no idea about who or what Russell Newbery was. He was really pleased to be sent the history of RN and its engines and I hope he is going to send us some pictures when he is allowed to travel to where the engine is stored (sounds familiar!). So, I may need to pick the brains of our single cylinder group (there are 14 of you) if I get more. I’m pleased to say that we’ve had three new members join since the last newsletter. A very warm RN welcome Photo: Andrew Laycock to: Stuart Tait, Ifield nb Smoking Otter Darren Clark, Stoke-on-Trent nb Aitch Lester & Lynette Coates, Horsham nb Gower

Thank You Julie Cains has asked us to pass on her thanks to the Register for the lovely flowers and kind supportive messages in remembrance of her Mum and Dad, who both died within 6 days of contracting COVID-19 in January. Julie also contracted the virus but is now recovering.

So has Brian Jarrett taken the pledge?? Really!!

Photo: Kevin McNiff, Huddlesford 2020

RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 5 2021 Braunston Rally plans As usual with the Winter edition of the ● Display any signs of the COVID-19 Newsletter, Register members will find symptoms (high temperature, new enclosed a Rally booking form. However, and persistent cough, lack of this may not turn out to be a usual Rally, taste/smell or insomnia) or, like last year, it might not take place at ● Receipt of a positive COVID-19 test all. result in the past 28 days ● Requirement to isolate / quarantine Publication of this edition was delayed so because of recent contact with a that we might obtain some more COVID-19 positive person whether certainty. With infection rates falling in notified by official bodies such as the February and the vaccination programme Test & Trace system or not. going very well we are more optimistic. ● Requirement to quarantine because The English Lockdown stepped exit plan of travel within the last 14 days to which the UK Government announced on nd countries on HMG red list for 22 February increased that optimism. England, whether or not you display However, the dates in that plan are signs of COVID-19. aspirations, and the ‘near normality’ step ● You reside outside of England (either 4 might only materialise ten days before in another part of the United the start of the Rally. If that does happen, Kingdom, a separate jurisdiction of we will have an almost normal Rally, but the British Isles or another country) might still have to abided by regulations where any COVID-19 restrictions on physical distancing* and wearing of prevent travel to England. face coverings indoors. Braunston Marina plan on holding the Historic Narrowboat We have had to add additional conditions rally as long as step 4 takes place before for Rally booking. One of these is to 25th June. agree to any COVID-19 mitigation measures introduced by the Register or If only step 3 has taken place - then we by Braunston Marina. will go ahead with some restrictions. Outdoor activities will be a maximum of Despite what I said in the last edition, it 30 people; indoor activities a maximum of now looks like the final Go/No Go 6 people. The Rally bar will have to be decision on the 2021 Rally will now be table service and customers seated. Plus around the middle of May. with the Historic Narrowboat Rally not taking place, some facilities in the Marina Usually at this time of year I have a fairly will be restricted. complete programme of activities, but not this year. One activity that is confirmed is If step 3 has not taken place, then the a basket making session led by Paul Rally will not take place. We will refund Weir, a Yeoman member of the any bookings. Similarly we will refund any Worshipful Company of Basketmakers. bookings where subsequently you This takes place on Saturday morning become unable to attend because of any and early afternoon; there is a small extra COVID-19 restriction. We have to remind charge for this to cover the materials. you not to attend the Rally if any of the You will be weaving a basket from centre following apply to you or to other cane with a solid base. The other craft members of your household or support sessions are a crochet class led by bubble:

6 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 Barbara Judd and a knot display board items regarding COVID-19 at the Rally manufacture run by Mick Judd. and to monitor that the rest of the Rally Organising team are complying with all On the technical side we hope to arrange COVID-19 related items stated in the a visit to the RN Diesel Engine company Rally Event Safety/Emergency Plan. So works at Royal Oak, Daventry, just up the you can boss the Rally Organiser! road. The Register and Property Company AGMs will take place on the I have slightly redesigned the Rally Sunday afternoon, with the traditional booking form in a attempt to make the technical forum on Sunday morning. entrance fees crystal clear. These are There will be plenty of time for socialising £25 per boat; £10 per adult, £6 per child. and patronising the businesses located at So it there is one of you coming on a boat the Marina. the fee is £35 (25 + 10). You may have noticed that I have not Looking forward to meeting you all again, mentioned the headline entertainment. or for the first time, at our main event of This is still subject to confirmation, as the the year. group involved are yet to finalise their COVID-19 secure arrangements. You may need to make a separate chargeable [email protected] booking with the entertainers to comply * The use of the term ‘social distancing’ is with these arrangements. Watch the banned at the Rally. This is a social event, Rally page on the Register web site or encouraging social closeness, not distance! the Rally Twitter feed. As usual at Rallies, we are running a raffle. All proceeds from this go to a local waterways charity. Please bring any suitable prizes, but make sure they are in good condition; any food and drink items must be in unopened containers. Further offers to run activities, particularly technical sessions, at the Rally are most welcome. So too is any offer of help. One Part of the Rally site is on one of the old loops of role that we must find a volunteer to fill is the Canal. Further north the loop at that of Rally COVID-19 contact. This Newbold-on-Avon is worth exploring. With care you can find the bricked up North portal of the old person’s roles are to be the first point of Newbold tunnel. contact for all attendees in respect of any [Andrew Laycock] Spring Away Days Regretfully we are having to cancel the the actual castings on the Wednesday. Spring Awaydays visit to Ironbridge again We will use our best endeavours to this year. We had arranged with the rearrange this at a later date. foundry at Blists Hill for them to demonstrate making an RN plaque mould for us on the Tuesday and then showing us the pouring of the molten iron to make

RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 7 Book review: John Knill’s Navy Softback ISBN 978-1-9160125-2-3 £16.95 For me the most interesting canal books are the first hand accounts of boatmen and women from the commercial carrying era. Understandably, those dealing with the pre World War 2 era are few and far between. There are many more for the period following this, commencing with those written by the women WW2 ‘trainees’. Until recently there was one big omission on my bookshelf, John Knill’s Navy. First published by John himself in 1998, the print run was very limited and good quality second hand copies command a premium price. Now, Audlem Mill have reprinted the book as a second edition in paperback at a reasonable price. This includes many more illustrations and some textual corrections. Observant readers will notice some remaining turned out to be a disaster, frequently geographical and other inaccuracies. As stalling when idling in lock flights. Petters’ John points out, the book was written of Staines came up trumps with a 30hp mainly from memory at least 40 years three-cylinder – “a beautiful looking after he sold his canal carrying business, engine, with enough copper piping to so these are forgivable. satisfy any boatman’s hearts”, according to John. Unlike Bolinder, Petter’s John recalls how in 1948 he purchased provided engineers to help with the former GUCC motor boat Columba installation, commissioning and trials. and butty Uranus to establish a carrying John’s other motor, Kenelm (formerly business on the canals. Later he Epsom) also received a similar Petter purchased additional boats and even had Engine. a new wooden butty, Lucy, built. However, the maximum operational fleet Amongst John’s first loads was salt from size never exceeded two pairs. Declining Middlewich for the laundry at Newbury. trade and the deteriorating condition of This trip, including the flooded Thames the canals ultimately defeated the and the almost derelict Kennett & Avon venture. Canal, is one of the epics of the inland waterways history. Reading the first hand There is plenty of interest for engine account is riveting. John mentions enthusiasts. On purchase Columba was passing on the K&A John Gould’s pair of fitted with a National 2DM, but this was boats; the motor Colin “was a good boat well worn. When this developed with a good engine (a Russell Newbery)”. problems, John sought a replacement. He contacted RN but they were unable to John was also very involved with the supply. Eventually he fitted a Bolinder, Inland Waterways Association in it’s early not the large semi-diesel type, but a later years. He served on the IWA Council and more compact design requiring both blow the Small Boaters’ Committee, this aimed lamp and compressed air to start. This to support the remaining independent 8 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 canal carriers. The first IWA rally at account of these five years, and the Market Harborough in 1951 included an economic and social background of the award for the best carrying pair. As John times. had suggested this and provided the trophy, the Columba Cup, his own boats Removing the National engines from were barred from entering. The Columba and Kenelm was not the end of references to the personality crisis in the the RN association. Butty Uranus early IWA are interesting, and agree with eventually was converted to a motor boat other published sources. by Malcom Braine at Norton Canes, the removed stern portion forming the fore- Whilst John’s carrying venture lasted only end of new RN powered boat Hineroa. five years, it certainly helped commercial Uranus is now owned by RN Register narrowboat carrying to continue for a few members who are planning on a repaint more years. His boats were sold to into the distinctive bright Ayres red John Samuel Barlow Coal Company who kept Knill livery. on their crews. The book is fascinating Caught on TV!

While watching a BBC WM news a house near Swan Park when into shot broadcast in September last year, [just came Ansty Rose with Brian Farrant after a nice weekend in Huddlesford!] “getting noticed” with a cheery wave. So about a young lad in Whittington who was just 5 seconds of fame this time! doing good works to help out during the pandemic. It was filmed on the balcony of Autumn Gathering 10th - 12th September at Stafford Boat Club We are anticipating this event will go boating season approaches. The last ahead as planned. time we were there, we drank all of their beer! No pressure then! For those new to the Register, this is a very informal meet up as the end of the RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 9 An ‘E’ Series Marine Engine and nb Amaryllis The original conception of this wild idea was between Allister Denyer and I back in the ‘good old days’, before he left for Canada. It was mooted at the time as things were coming to an end that we should look into one of the E series engines in my narrowboat. At this time we had an enormous amount of spare parts at the works and I had also collected 2 EM3s and bought an E4 from Allister, and finally purchased all the remaining E3 parts to include pistons, crank shaft, bearings, valve gear, gaskets and so on. This gave us a solid starting point where we would not alignment onto the original engine have to scratch around for bits and bearers. We then revised the prop shaft pieces to produce a decent engine. line, using the original solid shaft, attached to a short cardan shaft onto the The engine is now in the boat, which was original 24” x 20” Crowther propeller. cut in half by a local magician (fabricator) named Steve Grainger, who worked his The whole electrical system on board is magic on the boat making enough room currently(!) being upgraded to 24v as the to: add 1 metre to the overall length, cut engine has dictated that we need the enough room in the engine bay, and at extra starter motor power. The system is the same time cut the roof panel to 2 Varta 230amp lead acid batteries and accommodate the larger engine’s the domestic side is NiCad nickel cad additional access. This also meant there batteries also 24v and 230amps, here was enough room to fit out a short again we were very lucky in finding these boatman’s cabin, with an original ex-MOD, almost new batteries, which Guidwife stove of 1900 period. This was have an outstanding life of up to 25 one of those finds which only comes years. along once in a lifetime, as it was in almost unused condition, even including We are at present fitting and panelling the the original zebra black lead and brushes. cabin area using part of the original oak It was this kind of lucky find which made frames and panels to match the rest of the project seem all the more worthwhile. the boat. In keeping with the current trend We have since also found an original of this build, it is taking a little longer than drop-down table out of an ex-working expected as it is a large learning curve! boat, which should fit nicely in our build. For your information, Steve is based at It is fitted with a twin disc 507 gearbox the Ashwood marina wharf and has done attached to a Newage drop box, the final an amazing job on the boat, we would overall ratio is 1.5:1. Quite a large highly recommend him to anyone wanting amount of work has been involved in a similar job at a fantastic price! matching the transmission with all of its We start from the front of the engine associated components and final where we machined up the oversize drive 10 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 Oversize pulley and mechanical rev counter Lubrication system and Aeroquip fittings pulley for the engine and domestic am” car, maybe this will add an extra alternators. We also removed the front 5mph to the boat river speed?! cover while under engine overhaul and machined a small drive bearing assembly The next task was the alignment of the onto the exhaust cam. This was for a twin disc 507 gearbox with the flywheel. tooth belt drive for a mechanical rev This incorporated the removal of the counter. Also at the front of the engine at flywheel (VERY heavy) to machine for the oil pan there are two take-offs, one is the cush drive coupling. Following on, to for the conventional oil pump pick up and build the bell housing frame (see photos). we have used the other one for a pre- This was then aligned with the bed frame, lube electric pump. The reason for this is shimmed, and bolted down (can be seen so many of canal boat engines stand for in pictures) The last item on the long periods and the oil drains away from transmission was the Newage drop box bearings and so on; this is a major saving which we completely rebuilt, boring out on engine wear. So the pre-lube the casing and fitting upsized bearings. pressurises and feeds oil to the whole Once it was fitted, we upgraded the drive system without the engine running. You couplings and then a separate frame will also note on pictures that the whole made up to fit inside the main bearers. lubrication system has been updated with The final part of the drive was to improve an extra primary oil filter and the the stability of the main propshaft with an pipework is in Aeroquip which I had left extra plummer block, and then followed over from the days when I was circuit to complete with a short Carden shaft to racing my AC cobra and Mclaren “can alleviate any thrust on the drop box. For reference, the original DM2 engine is roughly 28” long and 28” tall, as opposed to the EM3 being 48” long by 48” high. The weight of the DM2 is approx. ¾ ton and the EM3 is approx. 1½ ton.

Who provided all the photos

RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 11 A strange coincidence, or a (b)-leak story Read on for a different take on that old joke: There’s a hole in the ground and the [insert as required] are looking into it! At some point in early summer 2020 at the end of the first lockdown I was dogging (as we call it in Audlem) with Lizzie on the Shroppie towpath near Overwater Marina. I came across a boating pal, a retired Cornish coal merchant - but that’s irrelevant, who’d moored near Bridge 80: Bennett’s Bridge as it’s known locally. He pointed out a most strange phenomenon. Overnight, a largish sinkhole (three feet square and two feet deep) had appeared between the towpath and the hedge. CRT were informed, and true to form, hazard netting was placed around the hole, to be replaced by a substantial wooden fence. Clearly whatever the problem was, there pushing a camera up it (a culvert- was no plan to fix it soon, and the hole oscopy?), and declared that the patient was put on a regular inspection routine by was poorly, but not terminally ill. Any CRT. catastrophic failure of the culvert and It was known that there was a stream consequent water loss would obviously culvert under the canal at this point, and cause immense problems for the marina, the stream was clearly visible. Seemingly but to be fair, CRT did keep them CRT did investigate the culvert by informed of the situation. The coincidence appears… Fast forward to January 2021, when the towpaths were exceedingly grim from what felt like two weeks of continuous rain. I was again dogging with Lizzie at the same spot, and unsurprisingly there was no-one about, and the fenced-off hole was forlornly full of water. As I approached it, I could hear a loud gurgling sound: there in the middle of the canal was a large whirlpool. The poorly patient had clearly prolapsed! Probably due to heavy rain causing high flows through the culvert and washing away some of the lining. A bit of déjà vu here: a few years ago, the same thing happened just north of Adderley locks. But that culvert was under an embankment, and the embankment then breached, emptying 12 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 still humming pumping water two miles of canal into neighbouring around the farms. It became an Audlem tourist site of the attraction for several months. hole, and white-van Anyway, CRT was contacted, photos men are still were taken, the cavalry arrived in a fleet sitting in of vans. Eventually stop planks were their vans. inserted, a dam built, and pumps and floodlights installed. The hole was I tell a lie, revealed, but it was rather unexciting… something has But it did become a visitor attraction for happened: the weekend, with a pop-up snack bar a giant rubbish skip has appeared on site, appearing. Enterprising lot in Audlem! so if the pop-up snack bar appears again, It never rains but it pours: literally in this spectators can keep the site tidy. case, and that caused the next problem. One of your previous correspondents The Shroppie takes huge amount of run- reported that there is a warning of guard off water from fields on its way from dogs being about. Indeed, a guard dog Wolverhampton, so the recent rain meant was spotted hanging around as you can that the pumps could not carry enough see from the photo, having failed to water past the hole site, resulting in the scrounge biscuits from the white-van men. water level in the marina rising significantly. The planks and dam were We now await the culvert-ectomy, and the removed until levels could be stabilized, by-pass operation with a concrete pipe as the gurgling continued, and the hole site replacement. CRT hope to open the canal was eventually isolated again. by Easter (2021!). Now a month later, there is a large floodlit site compound in the field, but contrary to Who provided all the photos local rumours, no guard dogs! The towpath has been diverted with a shiny With time on his hands in lockdown, our new set of steps built up onto Bennett’s intrepid newshound has clearly been Bridge, and a land bridge built across the studying for a medical degree. Thanks, canal for heavy plant to access the hole Dr. Dave. Ed! site. But that’s it, other than the pumps are RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 13 AQR A totally new take on obtaining clean drinking quality water from almost anywhere. While the project is still confidential [if I say any more, they may have to kill me!] the outcome is exciting and deliverable around the world. contract with a major water Peter Kukla and Rayne Longhurst are company…but we’re now in trouble working closely on testing in progress because we can’t travel and where we with Scottish Water which has evolved need to go is 420 miles into the Scottish from a concept Peter first invented in Highlands to collect test water. 1998. This is what they say: Rob Dickinson, not one to shy away from Firstly, we'd like to thank the RN family a challenge, suggested we talk to his for their warm welcome and friendship local canal marina (Overwater Marina, during the short time we’ve been near Audlem) who were perfectly happy members. for us to pick up a few hundred litres Kevin has been asking us for a while to canal water every couple of weeks, to put together an article about our work, but allow us to start our exciting new project. we thought nobody would be interested To cut a long story short, we did some because the water treatment sector is not testing and this was the result. exactly the most interesting. Kevin Maybe its time now to take a step back persisted, as any good editor would, and and introduce you to our research so here we go: company, Air Quality Research Ltd., ‘Water water everywhere, and nor a drop ‘AQR’ for short. For over 27 years I've to drink!’ been what is termed a Diesel Emissions Research Engineer and developed a I’m sure you’re all familiar with this line, Diesel emissions reduction device for the taken from the poem: Rime of the Ancient Low Emission Zone [LEZ] in , Mariner, written by Samuel Taylor hence my interest in RNs (another story). Coleridge in 1797. Canal water is I was invited to the University of probably one source of water you would Manchester School of Engineering in all agree is not a good choice for drinking! 1999 and subjected to a rigorous panel of But wait until you read this… academics who basically challenged me: Cast your minds back to that fateful day "You want to use DC High Voltage to in March, when we heard the word charge Post combustion Diesel ‘lockdown’ - it put everyone’s lives onto a Particulate within the exhaust gas different plane in an instant. Owning a stream? Impossible, can’t be done.” small research company always has its “Why?”, I said; "Because carbon will ups and downs, we’ve had ‘feast or attach to the insulating part of the famine’ times – too many to mention. But, electrode and simply kill the high just as lockdown was announced, we voltage.” “But”, I said, "if a function of the were fortunate enough to win a significant 14 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 electrode was to clean itself, why would it not work?” I worked in the University of Manchester (without any support other than use of their facilities) and took the business from zero to £1.7m sales in under 7 months in late 2007 only to be battered to death in 2008 as part of the financial meltdown. I started again, establishing Air Quality Research Ltd. About now some of you will be asking what this has to do with Water?! Well a lot really because when you start any diesel engine (newer ones more so delighted about. Since writing this article, than older ones), we had to cope with a we’re now in Lockdown-3 and once again lot of condensation (water) in the travel is severely restricted (not only due exhaust. So I knew the technology could to Covid but also recently due to potentially work in water as well as gas significant snowfall!) However, I’m environments. We’ve since spent 7 years pleased to say the Trial Rig is happily developing it, won a number of running on automatic control with us Government grants to support our work being able to see and control it from our and confidence in the technology has base in Shropshire. grown through building independent technical data. It is a low energy We'd like to dedicate this article to Rob disinfection process that uses no added and Trish Dickinson who have been chemicals, which we’ve registered as constant friends throughout our journey. It AQR Safe Water®. Its all about was 2007 (maybe 2008?), somewhere up generating Hydroxyl radicals - Nature's the Llangollen canal, while I was waiting most effective disinfection agent, but how for a lock with 4 boats queued ahead and could we prove it? We worked with the suddenly from nowhere this Lady's voice National Measurement Laboratory shouts, "Wow you do have a big one!", to (hosted by LGC, formerly the Laboratory which I said “What?!” That lady (Trish) of the Government Chemist) who verified momentarily realized what she had said, our process. spluttered and pointed, "Your Exhaust!" We’ve been friends from that moment Thankfully, since July we have been able onwards. That said exhaust to travel and reverted to working with the stack/chimney is now fitted to Rob's boat. Scottish Highland raw surface water we were meant to be testing. The help from We send our love to you all and look Overwater Marina helped us immensely forward to catching up with you in the to allow us to continue working early in hopefully not too distant future. Stay safe. the project. We started our pilot trial on 1st December 2020 which runs for 6 months, following which we hope to be in a position to sell our novel AQR SafeWater® systems for disinfection of raw surface water in properties on private water supplies. Initial data meets the Water Quality Regulations standards, which we’re RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 15 A “National” Pilgrimage - by JP3! Our Spring/Summer cruise of 2019 took factory or any remains thereof. Of course, us to Yorkshire via Manchester, travelling if we had referred to clever-clogs Google as far as the connected waters allow, i.e. we would have found out immediately Ripon. We headed back via the Calder that the factory did indeed exist and that and Hebble and the Huddersfield Narrow, the building was still in use, so locating it which was the highlight of the trip, with a was pretty straightforward. The rear of spooky passage through the Standedge the premises still has "National Gas and Tunnel. The lowlight of the trip was the Oil Engine co" painted on the brickwork,

Rochdale canal between Manchester and while the front has been painted in a Rochdale, what with the grim rather fetching dark grey and yellow (see surroundings, the rubbish in the water photo) and has been split up into various and the almost unbelievably dilapidated units. I'd read somewhere that there was state of the waterway. a plaque commemorating the company, but I was unable to find it. People I spoke At the end of the Huddersfield at Fairfield to had no idea what I was talking about. Junction, we decided, rather than go back to Manchester, to wait 2-3 days for It was quite a pleasant little discovery; the Marple locks to re-open having been should anyone want to undertake a closed for some time for major works. similar nerd pilgrimage without spending weeks getting there, the factory is very The mooring at Ashton-under-Lyne was close to, and visible from, Ashton West excellent, but what to do in Ashton? tram stop. Failing to find a decent pint of ale or an eatery we fancied, John was reduced to polishing brass and changing the engine oil. Then a thought occurred to us - the National factory was in Ashton, wasn't it? A project presented itself - locate the 16 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 Memories Norman Woolley is the Register’s ‘elder My late wife, Julie, and I travelled nearly statesman’ and arguably its most all the navigable canal system in hire travelled around the inland waterways as boats before getting Bruin build by Les well as out at sea. Allen and Sons in 1988, so that was generally where we initially learnt from It’s been a while since I contributed an the many boating mistakes novices article to our RN Newsletter, so as the make, and even now despite boating for years advance, with my 85th birthday in a some 46 years I’m still learning. The week's time as I write this, one is mindful great benefit of hiring was that you could of what has filled your earlier life, mostly start from anywhere on the network for the good and happy moments, as some the time you had available, whilst still of the less happy and sad ones often trying to earn a living, and if anything don’t bear thinking about, and may be went wrong with the boat, the hire best forgotten, but sometimes it‘s hard to company fixed it, which brings to mind a erase them from your memory. Anyway few instances arising from mishaps. enough of that, let‘s get on with what I wanted to write about; just a question of Two which initially spring to mind are on where to start, particularly as I have the Staffordshire Worcester Canal when already written some 26 articles for the going up the Botterham staircase locks RN Newsletter. we acquired a massive lump of plastic sheeting around the propellor completely The best option which came to mind is a seizing the propeller, as we entered the selection from various ‘happenings’ I top chamber. This location was probably have been privileged to enjoy over the miles from any nearby civilisation, so no years, during my very varied ‘existence’; sign of any other persons around, apart voyages on HMS Richmond, a class 23 from some BW personnel who were Frigate, deep sea diving from my many doubtless engaged in maintenance work. SCUBA diving episodes and expeditions, Fortunately they came over to us, seeing arising from my time at school when I that something was obviously wrong, and was in the school swimming team, which gave us a helping hand, which involved is going back many decades, and even pulling us back into the top lock chamber taking flying lessons at one stage. So in which were attempting to leave, closing effect I have swum in the water, dived the top gates, and draining down the top beneath the water, flown over the water, chamber so that the boat was sitting on and now canal boating on the water. No the bottom of the top lock chamber, they wonder my late wife reckoned that in a then climbed down into the chamber and previous existence I was probably a removed endless yards of plastic from Dolphin. Perhaps recounting some around the propellor, much to our great moments from my long-distance walks relief. Somehow from the empty over the years, with 6 National Trails surrounding countryside quite a crowd of under my belt, could maybe feature for people had gathered out of nowhere to another time, so let’s indulge in a variety watch, quite incredible. of recollections associated with my many Canal Boating experiences, on both hire Two other hire boat instances took place boats and our own boat, Bruin. on the Huddersfield Broad Canal, when in one lock it appeared that someone

RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 17 rewiring their property reckoned the best whilst trying to turn round to sail back place to get rid of the old wiring was in down river. Fortunately, a farmer came the lock, where we obligingly collected it along in his tractor, and somewhat around our prop, involving major hesitantly offered to pull me off, asking if I contortions down the weed hatch to had enough rope on board so that he remove it. On that same voyage I wouldn’t get pulled into the river, as managed to remove the tiller bar when it apparently happened on an earlier caught under the overhanging platform occasion. I told him that I had enough for winding the paddle gear as the lock rope to pull us off, even if he was trying to was filling. I don’t think the hire company do so from Stratford on Avon itself. All engineer was over happy about having to was achieved satisfactorily. recover it and weld it back on. One of my great passions was to explore many My lovely wife Julie was not at all backwaters, one in question was the weir impressed with my antics, particularly as I stream behind Sonning lock where on our didn’t seem to learn lessons from past hire boat we managed to get nearly up to mishaps. A rather more amusing ‘buffers’ the base of the weir, and guess what, we incident was at the end of the Wendover got stuck on a gravel bank. I tried every Arm, that was before it was extended to way to get all the weight down to the its current terminus, namely in the old stern to raise the bow off the gravel bank stop lock chamber. I decided to sit on the securing us, all to no avail. I managed to bow, with my legs dangling over the side persuade the nearby fishermen to contact where Bruin’s name was painted, and the lock keeper who brought along a very Julie was filming me, and as doing so long line which I secured to the stern of started to laugh, saying that my leg was the boat, the lock keeper to an over the ‘B’ in Bruin, and it spelt Ruin, appropriate tree, and using a slip knot which I said to her seemed quite arrangement with the assistance of the appropriate, concerning the expenditure fishermen succeeded in pulling us off. associated with ownership of a canal Another preoccupation was getting to the boat. You would have thought that these ‘buffers’, as I called the end of rivers or mishaps would have taught me a lesson navigations. or two, but it seems like I’m a slow learner, as going round the back of This was when we had Bruin, and it was islands on the Thames is another ‘hobby’, up on the River Avon above Stratford, one in particular being Monkey Island just where again I got stuck on a shingle bank below Bray Lock. I have transited that many times, but on the last occasion managed to get Bruin stuck over a fallen tree trunk in the back water, only getting off, with some difficulty, by the aid of a tug from the nearby Marina. I have now become somewhat more cautious as my years have advanced, even more so since my beloved Julie passed away and I have been boating Not Bruin, but another boat at the ‘buffer’ on the generally on my own for the last seven Warwickshire Avon at Alveston Weir. Norman years. That hasn’t prevented me from relates a tractor rescue from here. rather more successful ventures onto [Nick Oliver] 18 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 restored canals, such as the Huddersfield their annual rallies on the Thames aboard Narrow as far as Marsden, and the Bruin, including one at South Dock, Rochdale Canal, with the assistance of where Bruin represented our City Livery my long-term boating pal, Vince Locatelli. Yacht Club. The South Dock lock I’ve been across the Mersey with arrangement is like the ‘newer’ the RN Register contingent to Liverpool, Limehouse Radial Gated Lock, except so it was narrow boat across the Mersey, that they have retained the original ship rather than ‘Ferry across the Mersey’. lock chamber width, whilst incorporating Other estuary escapades over the years the narrower Radial Gates at either end, have been up the Severn Estuary, again so a greater area for the transit of boats. with Vince, and the longest estuary trip being with the St. Pancras Cruising Club They made a grave error in rebuilding the down to the Medway, involving a 62-mile old Ship Lock at Limehouse, as the width sea passage. It’s not often you see canal can only accommodate 3½ canal boat narrow boats off the end of Southend widths; actually I’ve never seen a half Pier! width canal boat! [There is one about on the system. Ed.] Julie was always with My Julie never accompanied me on these me on these Rallies, but the last one we more dramatic adventures, as she had a attended held in the old Victoria docks on greater sense of self-preservation than the Isle of Dogs, it got so rough on the myself, so for the Severn Estuary she way down the from , took the train once we got to Worcester, that those boats following us were where Vince returned home, and for the admiring the polished quality of my prop Medway one she came by train to as it came out of the water due to the , to join in the celebration party. excessive swell. In fact whilst waiting to She asked one of the ladies who had get into the lock, moored alongside a been on the trip, “How was it?” The lady Dutch Barge, we had a large blue ball like replied, “Ohhh, it was a white-knuckle inflatable fender to protect us, which burst job!” It certainly became very lumpy for due to the swell we encountered, the final quite a long way, as we tackled a force 5 straw as far as Julie was concerned in gale, not canal boat weather, where you terms of her joining me on any future don’t really want more than force 3. In Thames Estuary transits. fact on the video I took of that adventurous cruise, one of the organisers Having said that, Bruin has covered most was heard to say, “It was right on the of all the inland connected waterways edge.” Julie and I explored the full and navigable rivers in England and navigable length of the Medway up to just Wales, the longest trip Julie and I beyond Tonbridge Castle, before I undertook being to the earlier terminus of returned home with a boating friend, Julie the Ripon Canal, all the way from our going home from Maidstone by train home mooring on the beforehand. Navigation in , a round trip of 1,048 miles. It took us 3½ months to get to The Yacht Club to which I belong, [and as Ripon, and 3 months to get back, being a past Commodore, used to call myself quicker on the way back, as of course it ‘The Commode’ as when the proverbial was downhill. [!] hit the fan, it generally came your way], is a member of The Association of Thames Yacht Clubs. Julie and I attended many of

RNR Newsletter : Winter 2020 / 2021 19 meet up again?!

When we can all

meet up again?!

When we can all