Issue 98 Summer 2018

The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club

PLAINPLAIN SAILINGSAILING TOTO MANCHESTERMANCHESTER REMEMBERREMEMBER SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER RALLYRALLY PHOTOPHOTO CALLCALL THE THE END?END? 500500 UPUP

www.rnregister.org.uk WHO’S WHO CONTENTS Front cover: The Three Manchester Musketeers moored by the BBC at Media City UK - No. 9 Dock, Salford Quays [Ian Fletcher] Back cover: Meg Bartlett’s Ukulele Band [Andrew Laycock]

RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTD 3 CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER President: Dr Ian McKim Thompson FROM THE EDITOR Vice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs, Allister Denyer, Graham Pearson, Eleanor Phillips 4 MEMBERSHIP NEWS Web site: www.rnregister.org.uk The Russell Newbery Register is a non profit distributing company limited by guarantee. 5 THE END? Founded: 1994 Registered in England No: 346943 Officers: 6 500 UP FOR HALCYON Chairman: Bob Scott m: 07812 028415 [email protected] Secretary: Kevin McNiff m: 07866 424988 8 REMEMBER SEPTEMBER! [email protected] Director & Administrator (membership, finance): Andy 9 SPRING AWAY DAY Todd t: 01923 264962 m: 07973 326888 [email protected] Director: Jim Comerford m: 07887 591905 10 RALLY PHOTO CALL [email protected] Director: Norman C Mitchell m: 07831 118008 12 MORE PHOTOS & RALLY REPORTS Newsletter Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] Newsletter Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580 15 PLAIN SAILING TO MANCHESTER Administration (merchandise): Neil Mason t: 01306 889073 [email protected] Rally Organisers: Bob Scott and Andrew Laycock 18 CONSTITUTION UPDATE [email protected] Webmaster: Andrew Laycock 19 UP THE AVON WITHOUT A? [email protected] Unless otherwise noted,© Russell Newbery Register, 2018 RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTD A non profit distributing company limited by guarantee Founded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384 Directors: Bob Ainsworth, Dave Martin, Bob Scott, Andy Todd.

LAST CALL For the Autumn Gathering August 24th RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANY Proprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132) Details on page 8 Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661 Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak Way North, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ Email: [email protected] Web site: www.russellnewbery.com Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 Richard Milligan m: 07973 826260 Next edition

All contributions for the Autumn 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 15th October 2018 2 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 New Chairman’s Chatter

Well, there we go then. Goodbye Norman, hello Bob. Quite what I’ve done to deserve becoming Chairman of the RNR I have absolutely no idea. Quite what you have all done to deserve me as Chairman I have no idea either. One of life’s mysteries.

First off, thanks to Norman for the brilliant job he has done for the last 7 years, it is going to be a difficult act to follow. All the the way to Ellesmere Port and most of best, Norman, enjoy the additional free the way back again without a visit down time, thanks to Pauline as well for all the the weed hatch, but the Birmingham and support she has given, enabling you to Fazeley reminded me in no uncertain fulfill your many roles. terms. I spent a frustrating 2 hours at Camp Hill top lock trying to clear the prop When our illustrious editor, Kevin McNiff, and then a really frustrating 3 hours left me a voicemail to remind me that I travelling the 6 miles to Catherine de had to write a few words for the Barnes. Is it me or are the canals round Newsletter there was a disturbing note of Birmingham too shallow? glee in his words and I’m now beginning to understand what I’ve let myself in for. Mind you, before long CRT will get their I’ll do my best. wish, and everyone will be able to run, walk, fish or cycle anywhere on the BCN, I hope everyone managed to get away not just on the towpath. safely after the rally, that you all managed to get to wherever you were And another thing……. . heading for without incident and that you are all enjoying the weather while it lasts. After the Rally I headed for Stratford- upon-Avon for the River Festival. I hadn’t realised how lucky I was to have gone all

A very warm welcome to this [really]summer edition and especially to our new Chairman Bob. Thank you, Norman, for your tenancy and wisdom through your term of office.

From the Beast of the East to a re-run of the summer of ’76, enjoy this full colour issue!

RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 3 Membership Matters

Hello everyone. Another great rally and what weather we have now. I’m determined not to complain about the heat but there were times on the way back when you could have fried the full English breakfast on our hatch, never mind just an egg! I wonder if it will last until the Autumn Gathering.

For those who couldn’t make it to the AGM, there was an announcement made concerning the annual subscription. Although our finances are very healthy, we do need the basic membership subscription to cover our everyday running costs which, at the moment, is marginal. We have therefore decided that with effect from 1 January 2019, the annual subscription will increase to £15. However, one area where we spend extra money (not to mention a lot of my time) is in chasing up renewals paid by cheque rather than standing order. We will therefore reflect this difference by giving a discount for paying by standing order and, for next year, this will be 20%. For those not mathematically minded, this means the subscription by standing order will remain at £12. A standing order form is available by contacting me.

If you haven’t received any emails from me over the last year, perhaps you need to update me with your email address ([email protected]).

I’m pleased to say that we have had five new members join since the last newsletter. A very warm RN welcome to:

Lloyd Hampshire, Godalming nb Oscar Nick Cliff-Atkins, Sarasota, Florida Helen & Andy Turner, Leeds nb Georgian Star Jim Scott nb Hirondelle Rob Ruutel, Bistol nb Faith

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 www.russellnewbery.com email. [email protected] 4 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 Where will it end? It started with the Middlewich breach, The 10-mile pound across from Camp Hill which has been blamed on either to Knowle was closed for a time due to a structural failure or vandalism leaving all pump failure and though it is now open paddles up on Stanthorne lock. This again, deep draughted boats are dragging meant the long way round to Ellesmere through the silt and dead leaves. Port or the option of the Weaver and . Comparisons are being made with this summer and that of 1976 but I do Then on 2nd June, the Daniel Adamson remember that the preceding 3 years tug crashed the top gates of Weston before that summer had very reduced Marsh Lock, the Anderton Lift was closed rainfall amount throughout the period. for a time and low water levels on the Reservoir levels as published by CRT for Weaver have brought in restrictions. July show the dramatic change in some While Andrew and Bob went via the Ship areas over 3 months. But is the drop on Canal through Pomona lock onto the the Leeds & Liverpool group due to Bridgewater and then the T&M, I believe “drawdown” by boats and evaporation? that this route is now under review due to More down to serious leakage I think. water shortages. The Leeds and Liverpool is closed and the breach towards These closures cannot all be blamed on Liverpool has left boats stuck in the docks weather, and the Weaver lock was and others’ plans to visit via the link in certainly a boating error [one of several tatters. The Rochdale and Huddersfield that this tug has been involved in]. The Narrow are also shut; along with the Peak lack of preventative maintenance on locks Forest and Macclesfield [from mid- is clear but CRT are more focused on August], the only possible option still open their PR image while the channels run [for now] is the Caldon. dry. With such a backlog of work and dwindling cash resources, although perhaps an over-reaction, is this the end of boating as we know it? We may all rely on “Wellbeing” - the new mantra!

What do you think? Let me know and we’ll publish your views in the autumn edition.

RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 5 500 up! Not the England cricket score [never!] but Russ and Wendy Burrows' membership number on the Register. Here is their account of year 1 aboard Halcyon. We live in Stockton, a small village in Warwickshire near to the Grand Union canal. Our local pub is called "The Boat" and the food is very delicious. We recommend the steak as it is so tender and cooked just right but the chef is very good at all meals. [I agree! Ed]. It's a dog friendly pub and has entertainment from time to time in the garden area which has also been recently revamped. Russ and Halcyon

After searching for what seemed like ages reverse layout is not the be all and end all for the right one, we finally bought our first and having a vintage engine makes our boat Halcyon from ABNB boats at Crick. boat unique. So, having thought and We have never met Godfrey the previous bought outside the box was perfect for us. owner, but he has been so helpful with any teething problems we may have had As I said, we could not find a boat for and ‘spoken’ to us via email. Halcyon was ages, so we booked a cruise to the built in 2003 and from the history and Norwegian Fjords. Then typically we did lovingly kept records she was designed find the boat, and everything happened at around the engine with no expense once. After a lovely cruise, the day we got spared. A great deal of thought was put off the massive ship we drove home, had into her construction. It is so helpful to 40 minutes for a cuppa and pack a have the records of what is where and rucksack then we drove to Crick to collect who supplied this and that. The boat Halcyon as she needed moving out of the came with several spares, some paint, marina for the Crick Boat Show. I must diesel bug solution, polish and a host of admit we were more excited about the other useful items. Halcyon has a G W narrowboat that the cruise. Reeves hull, which we later found out that our Son in Law is friends with the son of All the same it is a bit unnerving being Reeves and remembers building that hull. handed the keys to your own boat and The fit out was by Stowe Boat Builders. waved good bye. For those of you that She is moored at Calcutt Marina, know, Crick the first thing you hit is the Stockton. tunnel. Panic ensued as we tried to find the lights and debag the main light on the We had a tick list of what we required in a front of the boat. However, after a few boat, after reading numerous boating minutes of all the lights being put on and magazines, attending the Crick boat show torches in hand, we entered the tunnel and reading up on the Internet. 57', with excitement. It was okay and very reverse layout, dinette, Semi trad all the exhilarating, and we came out into the usual requirements these days. In fact, daylight feeling quite elated at our great Halcyon only ticked about half of them but adventure. It was lovely to hear the there was just something about her that engine beating as we went through it we loved, and we have never looked back made you feel safe that we had our good or regretted our purchase. To be honest, old engine to rely on. We had not 6 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 expected what happened next. When we world go by. Wendy's brother Dean looked at each other, we had black faces recommended some self-focusing from the soot on the tunnel roof and our binoculars. They are great for wildlife and boat roof was spotted in soot too. After looking ahead to locks. They really do laughing at each other and a face wipe self-focus, not sure how they work but we we motored on. I can't tell you how both wear glasses for reading and these exciting it was and how finally after all are amazing. In September we went from those years of longing for our own boat, Stockton to Stoke Bruerne. This took us we were actually doing just that. through Braunston tunnel and then Blisworth tunnel just before Stoke Bruerne itself. The museum there is fabulous and well worth a visit, however when we got there it was the first day it closed during the week! All that way and it was closed. When we got home we went in the car which took us about 45 minutes. 5 days to get there 5 days to get back in the boat but that is just the fun of boating. Again, we had good weather.

On both trips we took our dog Podge he is a rescue Labradoodle. In June we lost him in Fenny Compton. We were locking Halcyon and Wendy up the boat to go to the pub and could Our boat was part of our retirement plan. not find him anywhere. After searching I retired at Christmas, Russ plans to retire for about half an hour, he was returned to in a couple of years. Russ loves tinkering us by the landlady who said he had been with his engine and treats it with respect. in the bar, he had a drink and a few I love to see him in the engine room snacks and had caused some where he looks relaxed and happy. We entertainment in the restaurant. Podge had the engine serviced recently by loves to swim in the canal and although "Black Hands Dave" who did a wonderful we try to avoid this activity he did job and remembered Halcyon from manage to escape with a dive off the previous services. It is great to have him back several times. In the end we gave just a few miles down the road at Hillmorton.

Last year we did several mini trips as and when the weather was kind. In June we went from Stockton to Oxford and back. We had very hot weather and this was a great way to start our boating experience. Wendy did a lot on the helm as it is good to get a feel for the boat and to know that in an emergency she could get the boat home. Another thing learnt, you drink lots of tea as it is great fun making a drink and just sitting, sipping watching the Podge RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 7 up and after a good swim pulled him on reasonable price just in case a leak board to shake all over us. On one happens again. Halcyon has had a spring occasion he did this in front of several clean and polish and the cratch cover has people and I heard a young child say been scrubbed too. We polish the brass "look Mummy the doggy has gone for a inside the boat and outside, but the swim", Mummy, replied "ahhhh how outside is just so dull. We have asked sweet". Under her breath Wendy was several other boaters what the secret of saying I'll give him sweet! Our final trip of shiny brass is? It appears to be just that, 2017 was New Year's Eve when we went a great secret. I did have "Twinkle" just a short trip down the canal to our recommended which I purchased on the local pub "The Boat" for a bit of a do. We Internet from America but alas this did moored right outside the pub and had a not work. I do wonder if our brass is fantastic night of good food; dancing and tarnished beyond repair? some alcohol was consumed too. What a great way to start the new year followed We have just registered for the Autumn by a trip home the next morning after a Gathering. Please forgive us if we arrive hearty breakfast. with dull brass but rest assured our paintwork will sparkle. We are really So far this year we have done a couple of looking forward to meeting other member day trips. We've had our bottom blacked at the event. and our water pump leaked so this has also been replaced. A couple of water alarms have been purchased for a

Autumn Gathering Reminder If you are intending to come to the special event is planned for Saturday Autumn Gathering [September 14th – afternoon at 2.30pm, the unveiling of a 16th] at Huddlesford Junction, but have commemorative seat in Swan Park, not yet let me know, you have until 24th Whittington, donated by the Register to August. Email me at remember Rob Davies. The village is [email protected] or call 01306 only 15-20 minutes’ walk from 889073. I need numbers to plan ordering Huddlesford Junction and it is hoped that food [breakfast Saturday/Sunday and Lawrence Williams from Alvecote will be Saturday evening meal]. Also let me bringing an ex-working boat [Kangaroo or know if you’re coming by boat or car. Lynx] to set the scene from the canal.

The weekend is low-key compared to the I have 17 boat bookings to date, a good Rally, with plenty of time to catch up with start! friends before we go our separate ways for the end of the boating season. One

8 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 Spring Away Day 2018 ~ JCB Our original planned journey to the Llandudno Transport Festival was cancelled by the train operator as they had no crews available to run the steam trip as advertised. Instead, we visited the JCB factory near Uttoxeter.

It was a really interesting visit, and we were given the Triumphal arch VIP treatment by the well-versed tour guides. The first JCB was a tipping trailer built using a £1 welding set! It sold for £45 at a local market. Since then it has become a major business throughout the world, employing 7,000 people in 4 continents around the world. Not bad for a man called Joseph Cyril Bamford whose first factory measured 3.66 x 4.57 metres – sort of bedroom sized! They even have their own jet and helicopter based at East Midlands airport. Early JCB products The “digger” everyone knows well is really called a Backhoe Loader and was first produced in 1953. In fact, JCB manufacture 279 machines at present, even boasting the fasted drag racing, 110mph JCB GT and the JCB Dieselmax which set, and still holds to this day, the world land speed record for a diesel car at 350mph!

After an introductory video were taken through the museum and then onto the Backhoe production line, quite a sight to see! To round off our visit, we sat down Never dug a thing! But used to to an excellent 2 course lunch and then made our fundraise for Help For Heroes separate ways home.

A surreal JCB!

The RNR Crew after lunch Lunch RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 9 2018 Rally at Ellesmere Port

First of all - breakfast Crochet anyone? Jim & Val ready for bookings

Concentration at the papercraft session Almost everybody safely moored for the weekend

And at the basket weave workshop too! Not such an easy task in the windy conditions in the upper basin!

10 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 2018 Rally at Ellesmere Port

Jim & Val ready for bookings Pretty? That’s me Climbing the walls in Chester

Almost everybody safely moored for the weekend Refreshment area at the bar

A rare static moment at the Saturday night ceilidh

Not such an easy task in the windy conditions in the upper basin!

RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 11 Rally reports and photo extra

The Anson Engine Museum “Black Hand Gang” receive their Rally plaque [L] while [R] a set of reprinted workshop manuals for future reference Once again, the efforts of Andrew and his especially at the “Mass Engine Start” on team brought us together for our 21st Rally, Sunday. and fourth at Ellesmere Port, along with an historical walk around the walls of Chester to Outside of our control, the damage caused by kick things off. “The Danny” to Weston Marsh lock scuppered the planned visit to her in Liverpool and, more The strong wind, along with much silt and importantly for me, the post rally trip on the weed in the upper basin, made for some hairy Ship Canal to the Weaver and then onto the moments as boats were positioned stern on T&M. Instead we all had to return via the with a great deal of pulling on long lines from Chester canal’s wide locks -ugh! Well done precarious positions! A lot of weed was Andrew and Bob for making the long trip to removed from hatches and left to dry on the Salford Quays [Rally anyone?!] and the quayside! Exiting the basin on Sunday was Bridgewater. executed without much use of “Russell” [or JP3!] until well clear of the stuff. Overall, a good time was had by all, the bar was drained before the end of Sunday night A comprehensive programme of events had and despite the lower than expected numbers been organised with breakfast at the attending, the Rally turned a modest surplus for Waterside café getting things under way. For the funds. Thanks to Meg’s charm offensive on the staff, it was a steep learning curve as we our wallets, the raffle raised £480! all tumbled in! Although the covered areas had been made over, the lack of floating Next year? All will be revealed by Andrew due exhibits was disappointing, and we certainly course! (Some clues in the next article!) provided a visual experience for the public, n

Inspiring the younger generation Chill out time in the upper basin 12 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 Thirty-two boats belonging to Register included more than any guide book. For members finally arrived at Ellesmere Port for example, there is a connection with the SS the rally this year. All the crews and their Great Eastern. We could have spent more than visitors thoroughly enjoyed the rally. This was the two and half hours for the circuit. the fourth rally held at Ellesmere Port - as of all the rally sites used over the past 20 years, Three of the talks neatly dovetailed. Cath those of the Waterways Museum conference Turpin of the Waterways Museum Society centre can not be bettered. Ideally we would (formerly the Boat Museum Society) outlined love to transplant the Tom Rolt Conference the history of the canals and the docks, up to centre to a more central location. the formation of the museum in 1971. Tony Hirst, covered the formation of the museum and Unfortunately, external events caused some it's development in the early years. Tony was significant changes to the programme. As the first director of the museum. Margaret Daniel Adamson was not able to return to Harrison, from the CRT's Museums service Liverpool, our visit to her as part of the Rally tacked the subject of future management of the Away-day had to be cancelled. The other boat collection. She explained the official cancellation was the visit to the off-site Boat differences between preservation, restoration, Store where the collection of not on display maintaining in operational condition and the boats are held. We hope to be able to current status of the out of water vessels. Only rearrange both of these, but as non-rally a few fall into the category of de-accession, that activities. is transfer to another body. Two other talks featured boats which visited Ellesmere Port The first event was the guided tour of Chester many times in the their working careers. The city walls on Wednesday morning. Our guide, Shropshire Union fly-boat Saturn was the Steve Howe, really made the history of the subject of Tony Lewery's talk. The restoration walls and city come alive. He certainly to near original condition is an epic story, and

Accrington Pals play by The Boaty Theatre The 1950s Porters’ Row cottage with 405 line TV Company at EP and 3 flying ducks!

John & Hazel Sarkanen, Treasure Hunt winners Weed Anyone? RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 13 its continued operation is a credit to the SU ran another bath bomb manufacturing Fly-boat Restoration Society. Stuart Wood session. and colleagues fro the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society presented a through One of the highlights was the Saturday account of the history of The Danny, and her evening entertainment. The was a four piece two escapes from the scrapman. For many Ceilidh band - The Devils Chair Ceilidh Band. years, Danny was resident at the Museum in They also provided a couple of dance leaders the Lower Basin. - and with excellent calling from Hillary Harrison we managed several dances. I think A well attended presentation was from Julie everyone took part in at least one dance, and Sharman, Chief Operating Officer for CRT. many in all of them, including some very Julie is an engineer by profession - she energetic sets. outlined some of her previous projects before joining CRT. She also presented the story A break with tradition on the bar this year as behind the current CRT re-branding, and the we featured some non-local beers. Dave new logo. Needless to say this results in Stubbins brought with him two beers from the considerable discussion from the audience - Unsworth's Yard brewery at Cartmel in the so much that we had to call time on it. Lake District. On the Friday morning, our friends from the All in all, this was a rally thoroughly enjoyed Anson Engine Museum brought their restored by all those who attended. We appreciated D2 engine. This was one of a pair that the efforts of the museum staff who made us provided the power for Poynton Cinema. They very welcome and ensured all the facilities ran told the story of its recovery and restoration, smoothly. Charlotte Anderton and Christopher this was followed by a demonstration run of Done in particular were key staff. After four the engine. It was very interesting to see the rally visits to Ellesmere Port, we will rest it as differences between a D and DM. a location, for a few years at least. On the craft side we had three sessions. So, the big question, where is the rally next Caroline Gregson from the Basketmakers year? Continuing with our Midlands-South- Association lead a session constructing giant Midlands-North progression, it will be in the willow insects - butterflies and dragonflies Midlands. Bob and I have identified two, very were popular. Paperwork was the theme of different, potential sites. To help us decide the session run by Jane Miles. Participants which we should use, we would like some produced a variety of items, just by cutting feedback from the membership. Please let us and folding paper. Finally, Caroline Laycock know what activities you would like to see at our rallies; what attractions and places you would like featured on the rally away-day; whether you prefer June or a date later in the summer; and anything other comment. We are particularly interested to hear from those of you who have not attended a recent rally - and from those of you volunteering to run a rally activity.

This photo shows how the museum used our presence. If it were not for our boats on the site, there was a lack of floating exhibits since the upper basin has been cleared of many boats and two of their usual suspects were away at the Lymm festival on the Bridgewater.

[Rally photos: Kevin McNiff and Andrew Laycock] 14 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 Plain sailing to Manchester I expect that many boaters will remember the summer of 2018 for two reasons. Firstly, the spell of dry, hot weather in June and July. Secondly, the amount of cruise re-planning caused by the Middlewhich breach and other unplanned waterway stoppages - particularly in the North West. I certainly welcomed the first. During my month long cruise to the rally and back, there were only two occasions when waterproofs were required. The second was not so welcome, as we had to contact crews about pick-up and drop-off places. The plan for the post rally cruise along the Manchester Ship Canal to Weston Marsh and then on to the was in place before the Middlewhich breach occurred. Following The three Manchester Musketeers in Latchford that, arrangements for some boats to make a Lock. [Brian Harrison, MSC lock keeper] return trip were formulated. All was progressing well until Saturday 2nd June, when we became Peel Ports to make a transit to or from aware of the incident at Weston Marsh involving Manchester. This included Saturn and some the Daniel Adamson. The CRT stoppage notice museum boats travelling to the Lymm festivals; included the ominous wording "serious damage and the hotel pair Duke and Dutchess. The later has been caused to the lock gates due to a large managing a Manchester to Chester voyage on vessel running into them." Over the next few Wednesday 13th. Peel Ports were amenable to days, there was plenty of communication a convoy of up to 10 boats from Ellesmere Port between Kevin McNiff, myself, Mike Carter on the Monday after the rally. However to fit in (surveyor), CRT Northwhich and Peel Ports. At with opening times of the swing bridge by the one point, our hopes were raised that the lock Holiday Inn at Ellesmere Port and Pomona Lock, could be made passable just using one top gate. we would spend a night at Salford Quays. Plus, Alas, this was not to be, as a detailed inspection of course, the standard charge for a pleasure by CRT revealed that both top gates required boat transit between Ellesmere Port and new cross beams and one a new heel post. On Manchester of £170. Monday 11th June, CRT issued the 'closed until further notice' stoppage. For various reasons, the final convoy was three boats. Lothlorien (Bob Scott), Antares (myself), Other boats with passages booked between and API Wanderer (Ian Fletcher). Ian was our Ellesmere Port and Weston Marsh arranged with guest at the rally, having earlier requested joining our convoy cruise as a way of escaping Ellesmere Port without retracing the route back to Autherley Junction. So on Wednesday evening, Mike Carter arrived at the museum to perform a seaworthiness inspection of the three boats. Essentially, this involved checking presence of anchor, fire extinguishers and life jackets. Plus a practical stability test. Usefully, Mike also explained how to check self-inflating life jackets - fortunately I have never deployed mine in anger. Bob collected all the paperwork and delivered it in person to Peel Ports head office in Liverpool on Thursday. On Friday, the three of us received email confirmations from Peel's Manager of Marine Operations saying we Antares and API Wanderer leaving Ellesmere Port. were good to go - and attaching a receipt for the [Steve Whetnall] transit charge collected by credit/debit card. RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 15 The instructions were to call Eastham Port time on the pair we manned both tillers, just Control at least 24 hours before departure; to lashing one or other when the steerer popped moor by the Holiday Inn at Salford Quays on inside. As there was no other traffic we kept to Monday and to be at Pomona Lock at 08:00 mid-channel. Nearly two hours after leaving Tuesday. Ellesmere Port we passed Weaver Mouth and the tail of Weston Marsh lock. A final contact Monday morning dawned overcast and breezy with Eastham Control on the radio confirmed but dry. Peel Ports prefer narrowboats to be that Latchford locks would be ready - and that breasted in pairs for the transit, but not in there still was no other traffic on the move. threes. So we agreed Lothlorien would proceed From Weaver Mouth the channel narrows, but solo first, with Bob making radio contact with until Old Quay swing-bridge (east of the Eastham Port Control. API Wanderer and bridges) the canal is separated from the Mersey Antares to follow breasted - this suited Ian who estuary only by a wall, so the impression is of was a little concerned about over heating his greater width. On the other side, only a few engine (not an RN!) with long periods of full yards separate the Weston Cut of the Weaver - throttle. Steve Whetnall joined Bob for the trip more on that later. The Runcorn Gap road bridge as far as Salford; Tony Millat from my crew also (opened 1961) was partly covered in scaffolding travelled on Lothlorien. As I had two other crew as part of its major refurbishment; all traffic now (brother Philip and his wife Lorraine) and Ian using the Mersey Gateway suspension bridge to was on his own; this made a good balance with the east. This opened in October last year; three on the lead boat and four on the following however the official opening by HM The Queen pair. The procedure at each of the four Ship was 4 days previous to our trip. Between Old Canal locks was for Lothlorien to enter first and Quay and the Gateway Bridge, we passed MV secure with the long lines hauled up by the lock Loach, moored at Wiggs Wharf. This grain barge keeper; then for API Wanderer and Antares to has recently been restored following a sinking at come along side securing against Lothlorien. the wharf in March last year. Once all secure, the keepers raised the slices and up we went - very smoothly! In fact these were amongst the smoothest locks I have encountered - no forward or backward movement at all, even though in all cases we were near the head of the lock. On exit our pair went first with Lothlorien following and soon overtaking. At one point near Stanlow I did have to radio Bob to slow down - he was disappearing into the distance! After a short delay waiting for the Ellesmere Port swing bridge to be unlocked, we locked down the wide lock into the holding basin. Not an easy task picking up the lock workers - it would be a very long walk for them otherwise. Eastham Control informed us that there was no other Leaving Barton Locks with the High Level and traffic on the move and that we could proceed, Lifting bridges in the distance [Steve Whetnall] make contact when clearing Stanlow refinery. (One of the conditions is to ensure no naked The section between Runcorn and Latchford is flames until past Stanlow - so even water heater the most iconic of the Ship Canal. It is mainly in a pilot lights turned off). The time was 09:20 and tree lined cutting, spanned by high level skew the sun was out, the breeze had lessened and railway bridges and road swing-bridges. At all we were underway. Exciting, exhilarating and a the locks on the Ship Canal it is now only the little tedious at the same time! large chamber that is used - these can accommodate vessels 600 feet long by 65½ feet We passed two moored gas tankers at Stanlow, beam (or 72 full length narrowboats). We and the Furuholmen in the dock at Stanlow arrived at Latchford locks just after 14:00 - so Point. No need to slow down when passing ending a continuous run of 4 hours 40 minutes. moored boats in the MSC! Ian's GPS showed Above Latchford, the banks are lower making that our speed was just under 5mph - at a the canal feel more like a large river. In fact it comfortable revs for my DM2. For most of the 16 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 had a small repair job on Antares, the all day running at above normal cruising revs had blown a hole in the exhaust. Temporary repair was made with an old Brasso tin and a wire coat hanger. Bob meanwhile explored the area on foot, discovering alongside No. 8 dock a Holiday Inn Express. This is where we should have moored - it has proper mooring rings, water point and gates locked with a CRT key. [We will know next time!]. Tuesday morning dawned bright and sunny. We set off in good time to explore No 8. dock before our rendezvous with the staff at Pomona lock. This is at the head of what was Gnome Island - formerly Trafford Railway bridge. No. 4 dock on the Manchester side of the canal. [Philip Laycock] On the way we passed the site of the Trafford Railway Swing Bridge - the centre pivot island is really is a canalised river, the Mersey from now Gnome Island. The bridge itself is now the Rixton to Irlam and the Irwell above there. At pedestrian Detroit Bridge across the far end of Irlam wharf we passed the RMS Veritas, now No. 9 dock. [By the way, unlike previous RN one of the most frequent ships visiting the canal explorers we did not discover any un-charted upstream of Stanlow. She makes regular trips to islands on the Ship Canal.] Pomona Lock is Dublin and Seaforth carrying containers. We had essentially just a normal 14 foot wide canal lock, arrived at Irlam locks around 16:00, slightly with a rise of around 10 foot. It does however ahead of our expected time so had to wait a few have restricted access, from below it is a ladder minutes below whilst the lock was prepared. No up the lock side; and from above it is behind bridges span the next pound, to Barton Locks, locked gates on the offside of the Bridgewater the shortest on the canal. This took just under Canal. an hour to traverse. Above Barton there are bridges a plenty! First is the M60 High Level After ascending Pomona Lock, Ian headed off to Bridge, followed by the new (opened last year) Worsley Crusing Club to moor API Wanderer for lifting bridge built to provide relief road access a week. Bob headed into Manchester to take on to the Trafford Centre. A little further along are water and then immediately headed back south the historic Barton Road Swing Bridge and the to reach the Stratford River Festival at the end of unique Swing Aqueduct. Unfortunately, no boats the month. My original plan had been to were passing overhead as we passed continue east, through Manchester to visit the underneath. Finally is Centenary Bridge, Peak Forest Canal. However, another epic of a connecting Eccles to Trafford Park. This is so stoppage at Marple locks precluded that. So on named as it was opened in 1994, one hundred to plan N, but I may have lost track! After a years after the opening of the Ship Canal. The distinctive outline of the Imperial War Museum North and the tower blocks of Media City UK heralded the last Ship Canal lock at Mode Wheel. Our instructions were to moor by the Holiday Inn. So when on departing Mode Wheel, we spotted a Holiday Inn behind the BBC building on No. 9 dock, we headed there and moored by the tram stop. Access to the bank was possible by climbing over one of the gates in the waterside railings. The time was 18:20, so our transit from Ellesmere Port had taken 9 hours. Later, Ian took API Wanderer upstream passing the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal entrance. He turned back just past the currently Lothlorien in Pomona Dock No. 4. waiting to enter closed Mark Addy pub, as 'the water ran out'. I Pomona Lock. [Philip Laycock] RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 17 morning replenishing food stocks in continued past Weston Marsh and along the Manchester, we headed west along the Weston cut. Hence we were a few feet higher Bridgewater. We made the short diversion at and a few yards east of our track on the Ship Stretford to cross the Barton Swing Aqueduct, Canal four days previously. Weston Point docks needless to say there was nothing passing are not operational; hence we turned where underneath on the Ship Canal! Later at the disused Runcorn and Weston Canal joins Broadheath Bridge, the adjacent Halfords was just before the low swing bridge at Post Office very useful in supplying some exhaust bandage, Lane. This is less than 3 furlongs from the enabling an improvement to my temporary Mariner's church at Weston Point. So we had repair. nearly completed a ring! A call to CRT on Wednesday confirmed that the The cruise along the Ship Canal certainly was Anderton Lift was in full working order, there very worthwhile and interesting. Without any was a short stoppage there the previous week. big ships on the move it was not the most So, another change of plan took us down on to challenging from a navigational point of view. the Weaver on Thursday. We headed upstream, However, it probably is the most expensive in but a scheduled stoppage at Vale Royal cost per mile of the UK navigations. prevented us reaching Winsford. On Friday we headed down stream; passing the Daniel Adamson moored at Acton Bridge. We (Left) Daniel Adamson at Acton Bridge, stuck on the Weaver! [Andrew Laycock]

(Right) Just a few feet from the Ship Canal, turning at Weston Point dock entrance on Weston Cut. [Andrew Laycock]

Weston Marsh lock from the Ship Canal… … and from the River Weaver Weston cut. [Tony Millatt] [Andrew Laycock] AGM CONSTITUTION UPDATE The draft constitution published in the Spring Thompson. [Added to paragraph 2], ‘to newsletter was adopted unanimously at the promote the merits of Russell Newbery meeting in Ellesmere Port, following a minor Engines’. amendment proposed by Ian McKim

18 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 Up the Avon without a …...... In the winter of 2016 – 17, we changed our had a tiny, coracle-like boat with a 4HP much-loved North Star, with smoky old outboard, one oar and a sea magnet which he National engine for a brand new 15 yr old lent us to return to the lock and try our luck. Moocher, with –shock, horror- a Lister JP3 We zigzagged back to the lock, found the thumper. This was to give us more confidence magnet rope too short, so emptied the lock and on rivers after various heart-stopping incidents. spent the next ½ hr wobbling round the lock So, come spring 2017, off down the River with the one oar trying to locate the tiller. We Severn we went. probably did locate it but the magnet wasn't strong enough to lift it so, fed up, we returned After visiting Sharpness and spending a to the yard. Chris was involved in another issue splendid evening with our [erstwhile] former but came back to us at 7pm (this was a Chairman and his esteemed wife in Gloucester, Saturday) announcing he was going to have a we headed back up river to Tewkesbury where go. Hazel suggested longer ropes and a we turned onto the Avon. This was not our first grappling hook and, after much ferreting visit to the Avon and we noted that the around in a railway carriage, grappling hooks walkways across the lower lock gates were on and ropes materialised. Chris and John headed the inside of the locks, so care was going to back to the lock and quickly located the tiller have to be taken as we were travelling upriver with the magnet and dragged it to the surface. and there was the risk of the boat being caught It was heavy! Two biggish men and a tiller made as the lock filled. the return journey with a few heart-stopping moments, but we are still here! Although well into the boating season, we came across very few boats on the move and didn't Chris, not unreasonably (!), didn't want to start share a lock with another boat until we reached work at that hour, saying he was addicted to Welford. There, a family with little boating Casualty and would return in the morning. True experience shared the lock. They had borrowed to his word, Sunday morning saw him return the boat for a trip to Stratford and this was to with welding kit and a long lead. He announced be their first lock. So, it was tuition time, with himself as an amateur welder and were we OK Hazel showing the children how to use the with that? Of course, we were! An hour late, windlasses safely and so on, while John, holding job done and for a ridiculously low price. The the boat on the centre line, was doing the tiller is still very much attached with a important stuff – talking to the other steerer. somewhat lumpy weld, but we're not No-one was concentrating on the stern. complaining! There was no noise and no movement, but What were the chances.....? suddenly there was a "Splerdoosh" and hey presto, no tiller! "Blimey" said our new friend. John said something stronger. "What are you going to do?" Asked the friend. What indeed. The guide book showed a boatyard – Welford Marina – about a mile upriver, so we suggested My own experience of the tiller coming off in my lashing Moocher to their boat and being taken hands was on the Ashby in 1978 when turning to the yard. They readily agreed and shortly for a bend, the very flimsy weld gave way. In afterwards arrived at the Marina. The boatyard those days, no mobile phones so off to a was jammed with old boats, cars, caravans, farmhouse to get help. An Oxy Acetylene set railway carriages and so on, which said here was perched on the bridge with the pipes and was someone who might be prepared to have a lance on the counter and a welder doing the go. fixing – with boats waiting either side! Happy days!! Ed. On the bank, sitting on a quadbike, was a gentleman called Chris, the owner of the yard, who, over the next few hours, metamorphosed from a somewhat hippy-ish character into a superhero. He said he might be able to fashion something out of scaffolding tubes, but the best bet was to try and retrieve the tiller. He RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 19