WENDOVER ARM NEWS Newsletter of the Wendover Arm Trust In this issue: + Major Donation + Call for Coupons Trust Funds Boost Smoke if you Must + Restoration Update + Crossword What's Going On? ...With Solution ! + Cooking in the Cut + Time is Money A Barbie in the Bed Restoration Work Valued + BW Partnership + WATAGM Pros and Cons It's That Time Again + Restorative Walk + CLUB 100 Stepping Out for WAT Resu/ts/orYear2 + Festival News + Council Matters Festival Director Writes Council Minutes Summary Issue No.31 Price 50p Autumn 1999 Free to members From the Wendover Arm Trust Articles of Association: 1 o promote the restoration of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal linking the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire to the Grand Union Canal at Bulbourne Hertfordshire (hereinafter called 'The Waterway' which shall include all waterways, buildings, works and structures associated therewith) to good and navigable order and to maintain and improve The Waterway for the use and benefit of the public. 1 o promote the fullest use of The Waterway by all forms of waterborne traffic and for all forms of local amenity, tourist and recreational and water-related activities for the benefit of the public 1 o promote, and educate the public in, the history, use and associated wildlife of canals and inland waterways generally and of The Waterway in particular. 1 o restore, reconstruct, preserve and maintain canals and inland waterways and works and buildings auxiliary thereto generally provided that such objects shall be carried out in a manner beneficial to the public and recognised by the law of England as charitable. Contributions to Wendover Arm News Contributions are welcome on any topic related to the Wendover Arm, its construction, history, wildlife, and of course any aspect of the restoration project Letters or articles can be in any format, and accompanied by photographs or sketches/drawings if possible. All material will be returned if requested. Send any contributions C/0WAT News Editor 467 Bideford Green Linslade, LU7 7TZ Disclaimer Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Wendover Arm Trust Wendover Arm News Autumn 1999 Vice Chairman's Comment Its that time of year again. The long Summer evenings are a distant memory, along with all the activity of the Festival, holidays spent lazing in the sun, and the solar eclipse. Everyone has their own experience of the eclipse, but there was something eerie and certainly unique in seeing the sun being slowly covered. The experience was enhanced by seeing it absolutely clearly (and safely) reflected in the still water of the Grand Union at Marsworth. Yes, the ducks decided it was time to roost, and a passing hire boat even stopped their headlong rush to take it all in ... Seeing the reflection of the eclipse in the Canal is a tip well worth remembering and passing on for the next time ! The AGM is fast approaching (see this issue) and Roger Leishman's update will now be able to concentrate on what has been achieved rather than what is hoped for. Indeed the achievements are clear for all to see. At the date of writing, the blinding (i.e. the 'foundation' work) for the towpath wall is complete on one side of the Arm, on the 'dry' side of Little Tring Bridge, and a start has already been made on the other. Several sections of the towpath wall base are complete, and the towpath wall sections are being cast on a regular basis. Meanwhile, scrub clearance (not so glamorous but just as necessary) continues in the dry section under the leadership of Pete Bowers. All this work attracts well deserved praise, but we shouldn't forget the many and sustained efforts and ongoing support by 'ordinary' members of WAT. The Trust needs that visible support to be maintained, whether in active restoration work or by fundraising, administration, helping with the Festival, or simply by looking for additional members to join WAT. Bob Wheal Membership Status (as at 9th August 1999) Number of Memberships Single 129 'special memberships' Family 167 are for a defined period Corporate 13 for services rendered Honorary 2 (3 family) to the Trust Special* 1 (2 family) Derek Pearson, member since 1989, has decided to move away from Marsworth where he has sold boat fenders for many years. As he will be touring the canal system, and have no 'fixed address', Derek has decided to resign his membership. Autumn 1999 Wendover Arm News Major Donation to Trust Funds Twenty years of fundraising by the presentation was about to take place! Inland Waterways Association (Herts. However, a last-minute decision to Branch), with help from Chiltern hold both the presentation and the Branch, Festival official culminated in a opening in the presentation at Marquee saved the Festival of a the day, and cheque for helped the £21,000. proceedings get The donation was off to a dry start widely reported in $ The donation will the local press, be spent on and the donation restoring the prompted an canal from the article in stop lock to Little Waterways World, Tring Bridge, a effectively giving distance of some an update on the Mike Wright of Herts IWA (Right) 70 yards, and restoration presents the cheque to the WAT. Herts. IWA's project donation will be The weather seemed keen to get recorded on a plaque when the canal started and fill the canal with water, as is re-watered. it rained quite hard just as the Restoration Report Excavation and blinding work for stage To pour one base and one wall section 1 is virtually complete, in fact at the same time takes 6.25 cubic excavation has now been started on metres of ready-mix concrete. The stage 2 (Stage 1 is the North towpath delivery has to be to the nearest 0.5 cu wall on the West side of the Bridge, mtr, so we have two options. stage 2 is the South towpath). We can order 6 cu mtr and make up The reinforced concrete towpath wall the 0.25 cu mtr difference ourselves by in stage 1 is about 20% finished (thafs hand, or order 6.5 cu mtr and use the two wall sections and nine base extra with our own added ballast as sections). blinding. Roger Leishman reports that during This suits the work arrangements for a the building of the first two sections of two-day work party, and work has the the Wall, more than a few lessons already begin on the canal side-wall on were learnt both in setting up the the other (South) side of the canal, formwork and in pouring the concrete. near the future winding hole. fcfc^ Wendover Arm News Autumn 1999 Working At Twilight ? One of the deliveries of ready-mixed would have to be made using the concrete for the towpath base and wall delivery mixer's headlights to light the near Little Tring Bridge was due on scene, as the solar eclipse was due at August 11th at about 11.00am. One of the same time... the working party was heard to speculate whether the concrete pour Cooking in the Cut! About 40 or so members and friends know they have eaten hot sausage, etc. enjoyed an unusual get together earlier at the same spot this year. Our President Sir Roger Cork joined To mark the tenth anniversary of the Roger Leishman, Restoration Director, formation of the Wendover Arm Trust along with many of the Trust a barbecue was held Restoration Team on Sat 26th June. to enjoy their meal The barbecue was surrounded by the like many similar evidence of recent cookouts; everyone work. jostling for position The start time was at the burners to chosen to be swap stories and deliberately early to good-natured allow members with banter. What made children to come, the event unusual Open-air cuisine at the Little and the weather for was the venue. Tring workings once was kind, only To mark the tenth starting a gentle birthday of the Trust, where better to shower to remind us all it was time to hold a barbecue than in the dry bed of go. the Arm, at Little Tring? At the Thanks to Barry Martin and Renee current rate of restoration, this may be Hopkins for organising the event and one of the last chances to do so, as the to Renee for the excellent salad. venue will soon be 4 feet under water! See you next year at the eleven-years- Not many people will be able to see on birthday barbecue? fife> boats turning in the winding hole and More Cooking in the Cut! A special thank you to the wives who worked very hard over the Festival, raising £475 selling cakes and drinks, prepared from a narrow boat in the Stop Lock.. Also thanks to Adrian Bell, John Brice and Douglas Nethercleft of IWA Chiltem Branch who not only sold hundreds of raffle tickets, but also raised £260 in donations on the spot Adrian lost his voice as a result of explaining the restoration work and persuading visitors to part with their cash, but considers the ability to buy 320 bags of cement or 7.5 metres of towpath wall a fair exchange ! Autumn 1999 Wendover Ann News WAT and the BW Partnership In with this issues of Wendover Arm and possibly have greater funds to do News is a leaflet from British so. However, concerns were expressed Waterways asking for your views on over future allocation policies for such the BW 'Partnership with the People' funds, and whether WAT would have proposals.