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Boundary Edition 205 Post Summer 2014 Kevin Maslin Held a Photographic Work- What has the Society been doing in May 2014? shop on the weekend of the BCN Challenge. For those of you who missed it he will be See inside and on back page for more details. planning another one soon. Mike Anson poling his butty at the top of Titford Locks on the 24 Hour Challenge. He & his wife Jo along with Mike Rolfe towed the butty behind the tug Joanna for the entire 24 hours. Darren Matthews & family on his cruiser entering the BCN Challenge for the first time - enjoyed it so much he says he will be back next year. The crew on Dove got dressed for the The Explorer Cruisers get down to a bit John Dodwell’s tug Helen went along with about 15 boats BCN Challenge of socialising on the Walsall Canal to get into Titford Pools. Pete Sherwood, pictured on the Watching the boats arrive into Hawne left, is area supervisor for this area he was amazed that Basin at the end of the Challenge access to the Pools was possible and The Journal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society promised to help to improve it if he could. Free to members 50p when sold Boundary Post Summer 2014 Edition 205 Boundary Post Summer 2014 Edition 205 Council - 2013 - 2014 President : David Smith Vice-Presidents : Martin O’Keeffe, Ron Cousens, Phil Clayton, Cllr. David Sparks, Rob Starkey, Chairman & Boundary Post Editor BRENDA WARD Press & Publicity: [email protected] 0121 355 6351 Kath O’’Keeffe [email protected] Vice Chair & Rally Organiser BARRIE JOHNSON 0121 422 4373 Sales: [email protected] REBECCA SMITH KEARY [email protected] 01562 850234 Treasurer: DAVE DENT Health & Safety 38 Greenland Mews, London, SE8 5JW ARTHUR FARGE tel: 0121 745 4266 020 8691 9190 [email protected] email: [email protected] Secretary: & Planning Officer Supporting members to Council IVOR CAPLAN tel: 07778685764 [email protected] Talks and Presentations PHIL CLAYTON 07890921413 Membership [email protected] ALAN VENESS tel: 0121 355 4732 43 Pilkington Ave, Sutton Coldfield, B72 Work Party Administrator 1LA email: [email protected] Michael Smith-Keary 01562 850234 [email protected] Work Party Co-ordinator: MIKE ROLFE 07763 171735 BCNS Explorer Cruise Stuart & Marie Sherratt 07510167288 Social Secretary: [email protected] CHARLEY JOHNSTON 07825816623 [email protected] BCNS 24 Hour Challenge Roy Kenn 01922 428644 Buildings & Heritage John Carrington BOB BROOMHALL 07531328929 [email protected] [email protected] Fundraiser: Youth Liaison Officer MIKE BUTLER KATE SELF tel: 01299 879923 [email protected] 07929401682 Officicial Photographer Archives & Heritage Boats Kevin Maslin IVOR CHAMBERS tel: 0121 707 1690 [email protected] Press & Publicity Assistant Martin O’Keeffe Member without portfolio PETER BEST 0121 454 8391 2 31 Boundary Post Summer 2014 Edition 205 Boundary Post Summer 2014 Edition 205 Contents Page Council Details 2 Editorial 3 Chairman’s notes 4 Atlas & Malus 5 Bradley Locks Memories 6 Well what a month May was and we Letters to Editor 7 agreed to a bit of colour to celebrate. I Society’s Artefacts 8 have tried to include a bit of everything Richard Parry BCN Challenge 9 but if I have missed out something that Netherton Tunnel Poem 10 I should have included then let me Forgotten BCN - Andy Tidy 11 know & I’ll get it in next time. CRT Report 13 Wednesbury Old Canal Weed 14 As usual thank you to all who have Society Events in May 15 sent items for inclusion. There have Photo Work Shop 18 been far more than usual this time Old Member Returns & HS2 19 which is very encouraging but I’m so Daw End Canal Dredging 20 very sorry I have not been able to get BCN Challenge Report 20 everything in. There were some Book Reviews 22 SLOW BOAT 23 superb write ups from David & Heather Eric Foakes tribute 24 Gray on NB It’s 5 o’clock and Tony New Members 26 and Carol Gamble on nb Chance. I’m Work Party Report 28 afraid there was no room to print them Social Meetings 29 this time but perhaps in the future to attract boaters to go on one of the Sherratt’s pleasurable Explorer Cruises will be appropriate. Next Boundary There were two references made to the Post Wednesbury Old Canal reed Editor welcomes any clearance. One from Richard Chester interesting and Browne a long time member of “The relevant information relating to Other 60 Miles” fame and Tom Murkin the BCN in the form of news a more recent member. The Society Council will arrange a time during the items, winter months to deal with it. photographs, letters, notes or articles to be sent by There is definitely something missing September 1st from this edition - Ray Shill’s usual arti- The opinions and views expressed in Boundary Post are not necessarily the views of either the Society or its Officials. cle. He has been very busy lately with a variety of things but I’m sure we will The BCN Society, a Company Limited by Guarantee, is a registered charity (1091760) first formed in 1968, which exists to conserve, improve Email: [email protected] and encourage a wide range of interests in the 100 mile network of Birmingham & Black Country waterways known as the Birmingham Canal see him return next time but we will see Navigations. Boundary Post is the journal of the BCNS and is issued quarterly. Readers are invited to submit items of news, general or histori- Address: 9 Wylde Green Road, him on his walk in August see page 29 cal interest to: The Editor, Brenda Ward. 9 Wylde Green Road, Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB for details. tel: 0121 355 6351 email: [email protected] Brenda 30 3 Boundary Post Summer 2014 Edition 205 Boundary Post Summer 2014 Edition 205 Other 60 Miles”. He intends calling it On Saturday morning Phoenix was These should eventually grow up around "Exploring the other 60 miles" thus taken back up to the Smethwick Pump the piling creating a better view. It rained Chairman’s maintaining some continuity with House by Stuart Sherratt and me, heavily again as we worked and the drain Richard Chester Browne’s original. If where we met up with Steve Lambert soon began to run with storm water. Tea Report you don’t have a copy of TO60M the from CRT and some of the Friends of was then taken in the Pumphouse with Society do still have some copies at Galton Valley group. After a briefing the friends. £5 each available from our sales from Steve, we moved on towards stand or email Becci our Sales Lady Summit tunnel where there is a storm The bridge just beyond the tunnel was Summer has arrived and with it then grappled and some litter picking holidays and a bit of cruising which and she will sort you a copy. drain leading into the canal. This out flow is surrounded by steel piling, and done. Stuart and I then returned Phoenix doesn’t leave me with much time to Atlas & Malus must have a mention to the Titford Pumphouse, before going put this Boundary Post together. I to this we attached the Coir rolls and as we now have a new manager for secured them with wire. for a meal in Oldbury. always fine it difficult to get my head the boats as you can see from the round BCN Society happenings when report opposite. Coombeswood Canal thinking of Summer Holidays. We’ve Trust with whom we share ownership Future Work Parties just come back from a touring holiday of the boats have received funding for of Scotland where we saw the Falkirk a youth officer and will be working July 26th. Titford Pumphouse. Various jobs around the site. 10am start. Wheel - they wouldn’t let us on the with Paul to make more use of the trip boat with our dog (although very boats and of course encouraging August 30th. Pre Rally Clean up in Tipton. 10am start. tiny) so we just watched & walked up much needed youth to the canals. I to the staircase locks - more hope to report favourable happenings interesting I thought. Shame they next time. If you are prepared to help BCNS Social Meetings can’t spend that sort of money to or know of a youth group that would are held on the first Thursday in the month start at 7-30pm restore the Lichfield Canal! be interested please get in touch I Titford Pumphouse Engine Street Oldbury B69 4NL What has happened since the last would love to hear from you. All Welcome! edition? Well I suppose the Society Now the other boats in the Society, events in May have been well Phoenix & Crow - Phoenix has just August 7th — Walk with Ray Shill—meet at the lock house at lock 12 on covered in this issue. Though I must been painted and the next job is the the Perry Barr flight at the end of Deykin Avenue. Ray will take the walk say how hard everyone involved in sign writing. We decided to keep the down to Salford Junction and up part of the Aston flight. Walkers may catch these events has worked. There is of colour the same but the style of a train back to Witton or walk back. course the controversial HS2 that writing has not yet been decided. If threatens parts of the canal in and you would like your say then please September 4th - David Lowe - around Birmingham.