RNRN72 Winter A2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Issue 72 Winter 2011/2012 The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club Rally News Offshore RNs Ban the Bug! Railway Away Day www.rnregister.org.uk WHO’S WHO CONTENTS Front cover: nb Kyle on the Severn Estuary [photo Bob Ainsworth] Back cover: Alvecote Marina Traditional Gathering 2011 [photo © Waterways Images] 3 CHAIRMAN’S CHAT FROM THE EDITOR RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTD President: Dr Ian McKim Thompson 4 OBITUARY Judith Dudley Vice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs, David Thirlby, David Kay Phillips, Allister Denyer, Graham 5 BITS & PIECES FROM THE OFFICE Pearson Web site: www.rnregister.org.uk TIMBER! Chris Pearce has a scare The Russell Newbery Register is a non profit distributing company limited by guarantee. 6 OFFSHORE RNs Part 1 Founded: 1994 Registered in England No: 346943 Norman Woolley heads for the Medway Officers: Chairman: Norman C Mitchell t: 01452 415420 [email protected] 7 OFFSHORE RNs Part 2 Secretary: Kevin McNiff Brian Jarrett and Bob Ainsworth head for Bristol m: 07866 424988 [email protected] Administration (membership, finance): Rob Davies 8 DEALING WITH THE BUG 55 Noddington Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffs. WS14 John Adams adds “fuel” to the ongoing debate 9PA t/f: 01543 432079 m: 07801 842337 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] 10 OH WHAT SITES Newsletter Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580 The search for the 2012 Rally venue Administration (merchandise): Neil Mason Hillcrest, Chapel Lane, Westhumble, Surrey. RH5 6AH 11 RALLY 2012 ANNOUNCEMENTS t: 01306 889073 [email protected] Rally Organiser: Kevin McNiff [email protected] RAILWAY AWAY DAY UPDATE Webmaster: Andrew Laycock [email protected] Unless otherwise noted, Copyright © Russell Newbery Register, 2012 RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTD For Sale A non profit distributing company limited by guarantee Green leather reclining swivel chair in good condition Founded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384 plus matching foot stool. Natural wood plinths. Directors: Stephen Burt, Clive Henderson, Rob Davies £100 or near offer. Buyer to collect from Birmingham Contact Brian Jarrett on 07766 216819 PRM Gearbox Modifications available Brian Jarrett and Ian Oliver have ordered the 1.5:1 gears for the PRM 160/260. Four spare sets are available now, the cost of a full set consisting 2 pinions and 1 output gear will be £390.00 per set. However it is RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANY important to stress that they are only suitable for Proprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) PRM 160D or 260D and cannot be used on the 160VR. Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132) Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661 Contact Ian on 07734 080990 Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak Way North, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ t: 01327 Next edition 700023 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.russellnewbery.com All contributions for the Spring 2012 edition will Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 Richard Milligan m:07973 826260 be gratefully received. Do not worry about format — in true RN fashion the editorial team can cope with [almost] anything! Copy deadline is 6th April 2012 Corporate Member Send to [email protected] 2 RNR Newsletter : Winter 2011/2012 Chairman’s Chat Happy New Year to everyone. It only seems like last month I was preparing a few words for the last newsletter; doesn’t time fly? Well we seem to have avoided a repeat of last year’s pre Christmas weather but winterising the boat just in case has been sensible. Christmas this year has been spent afloat. Pauline and I, along with friends, tried a cruise on a ship as opposed to a boat but 21ft waves and 50 mph winds made some of the trip less enjoyable! Had we been cruising the canals at least there would have been a bank to tie to and a pub in easy reach but not on the Atlantic! We will stick to boats in the future. This spring we shall all be in the CaRT with the new Trust taking over which will be a new experience (we hope). An RNR member trustee would be a feather in our cap would it not? Perhaps the new local teams will be able to address Sadly we will not have Pauline’s No 1 raffle helper with us. some of the real problems such as dredging; assuming The death of Judith Dudley dampened our Christmas and sufficient funds are made available. the cruise prevented us attending her funeral. Let’s make this year a tribute to Judith; John has assured us he will As you read into this newsletter you will find details of the attend the Rally. We all look forward to seeing him. 2012 RNR rally. I look forward to seeing many members at the rally so please get your applications back as soon as possible; perhaps we will have an Olympic turnout! From The Editor What a difference in winter weather! There is For those who knew Judith Dudley, her still a long way yet to go before spring however, untimely death following a brain tumour in and Britain can always be relied upon to keep June leaves us with only memories of what a the worst till last so it isn’t over yet. “good egg” she was. At her funeral on 28th December, so many spoke about the good A big concern is that, as we go to press, the works she was involved in beyond those with Grand Union Canal has been closed on the Russell Newbery. Her good friend Pauline Tring summit due to water shortage “until Mitchell has written her obituary. further notice”. A quick look at the BW reservoir watch web site shows that reserves are Finally, as we approach the change in around 25% full despite reasonable rainfall stewardship of our waterways to the Canal over the last few weeks. Had we succeeded in and River Trust in April, is anyone convinced securing a southern rally site on the GU, I’d be that this will lead to the kind of change we a little worried right now. And just how much need to ensure the future of the inland of the network will be navigable this year; how waterways? BW are remaining in another set will boats get to and from Crick? of clothes and the IWA want to secure all 4 boater representative posts on the Trust. So as We have a superb site for this year’s rally at the French say, “ Alvecote Marina. Initial contact with the Hoping you all have a good owners suggest that we will not be road in 2012 and maybe see some of you at the disappointed .Read more in the article later Rally. along with the journey to find the right venue. As the rally becomes more popular we will have to major on those sites that can accommodate Shortage of space in this issue means holding over the RN us rather than a rotation around the country. blog from David & Deborah at Hillmorton & Daventry. Instead an extended blog next time, with a progress report Offshore journeys are a feature of this on the construction of the new RN powered hire boat. Also newsletter and it just goes to show how the latest instalment is available on the company website. resilient and practical a Russell Newbery engine can be in the right conditions. Brian Jarrett and Norman Woolley supply the stories. RNR Newsletter : Winter 2011/2012 3 Obituary: Judith Dudley Many of you will be aware that Judith died on and she was fantastic, laughing and being so brave, then December 14th 2011 at the young age of 62. we saw her again at Hillmorton, when I truly believed she was going to be okay. Judith was one of the kindest people I first met Judith at the Banbury RNR Rally, as she walked I have ever been fortunate enough to meet; big hearted up and down the towpath to the workshops with her blue and always with her wonderful smile. Judith helped me a sun hat on. Judith told me later she had to go to the great deal with the rallies, the ship canal trip she organised workshops to get to meet people and join in, although for us, assisting me with the raffles, which you all gave to some times she had trouble with the subject of the class. so generously. Judith was in Banking so she was excellent Then she found the ukulele; what a great time she had with with money, and also audited the Register's books. that. Mary Nelson and I even bought her a better one for her birthday as she was getting so proficient (I just played If ever I got into a panic, which was frequently, she was C, nails are too long). there to help and calm me down. I miss her so very much. So from the Banbury rally onwards we spent a lot of time together cruising, always laughing and having a good time. As some of you know, every year at the Rally we had code The funeral was attended by the Register’s President, Dr. words for getting together for a little refreshment! Ian McKim Thompson and members Mary & Ken Nelson, Fortunately for Judith and I, John and Norman got on well Helen and Rob Davies and Sadie & Fred Heritage. Mary so we did our own thing whilst the men sorted out whatever paid tribute to Judith during the service. men sort out. “Judith touched everyone she met - she invented kindness”.