P APRIL 2017 This month’s update from Mike Stone (Chairman) HELPERS NEEDED On Easter Sunday and Monday at the Carpenters' Shop. EASTER Also help with the setting up on GREETINGS Saturday 15th. Cake bakers … your assistance please Easter greetings to all our readers from me and all Society officers. Please contact: 01476 566578 I would like to take this opportunity so that 'jobs' can be allocated. to thank you for your continued All proceeds go towards the restoration of support for our work. Your the Grantham Canal contribution in whatever form it manifests – as volunteer effort, BOAT TRIPS financial donation, support for your DONATION Easter Sunday 16th April partner or as a Society member is B.H. Monday 17th April greatly appreciated. Without it David Lyneham-Brown has received progress would be slower or cease a generous donation on behalf of the 10-30 - 4.00pm altogether. Society from the Donald-Forester Adults £3, Children £2 The Society will continue the work Trust towards the restoration of the that started forty-eight years ago Woolsthorpe flight of locks. The Trust Displays in the Carpenter’s when it was formed by far sighted Shop, next to the Dirty Duck people who thought a community was established in 1986 by asset was better than a linear Gwyneth Forrester in memory of her where Tea, Coffee & Cakes rubbish tip. They were right then and late husband Donald. will be served. experience has shown that they still The Society is most grateful for this are today. and particularly as the Trust is not a NG32 1NY Thank you again and enjoy Easter- local one and is based south of the River Thames. Lock 15 NOTTS & DERBY BRANCH Photographed by Ian Wakefield Public meetings. Non IWA members will be very welcome to attend. Meetings 7.45 pm at the Poppy & Pint, Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford, NG2-5DX Thursday 13th April 2017, 7:45pm This meeting will conclude our indoor programme and will be a visit from Geoff Pursglove who will talk about the Ashby Canal, which has seen some restoration activity in recent years. Further information from: [email protected] Page 1 The GRANTHAM CANAL HERITAGE INITIATIVE Talks and Events Diary If you can help out with any events, please contact Rosemary on [email protected] New work started on the lower off-side or 07971173069 wing wall. The new brick/blockwork 2017 Bookings will be built up to the same height as the lock chamber walls, the void will be Mon 10th Apr 7.30 Rangers’ Meeting, Plough at Stathern back-filled with earth/clay and topped Tues 11th Apr 2.00 Talk: Barkston and off with crushed roadstone which will Syston Cardiac Chat be the base for the quadrant for the Group lock gates…. and repeat on the near- Sat 15th Apr 9.30 Depot preparation for boat trip event side. Sun & Mon 16th & Easter Bank Holiday 17th Apr Boat Trips – volunteers needed for crew, refreshments, trip sales, etc. Wed 19th Apr 2.00 Talk: Sage Cross Ladies Club Sun 23rd Apr Cotgrave Country 11.00-3.00 Park Joint Meet and Greet Day and Reminiscence Day Wed 26th Apr Talk: Harrowby Lane, 10.00 Methodist Church, Grantham Thurs 27th Apr Talk: Grantham The near-side brickwork being tidied up before 10.30 Museum Friday 28th Apr Grantham Canal the new wall for the quadrant is started. 6.30 Heritage Initiative Project update and Many thanks to John Clark social, for these photos & text Woolsthorpe Depot and Dirty Duck Sun & Mon 30th Bank Holiday Boat Apr and 1st May Trips – volunteers needed for crew, refreshments, trip sales, etc. Mon 1st May Denton Street Market, display in church volunteers welcome to man the display and sell guides Wed 3rd May 9.00 School Assemblies Cliffedale Primary School Frid 5th May 10.00 Oral History/Research Group Grantham Library Sat 6th May 5.00 – Information Stand at 8.00 Morrisons, Gamston Sun & Mon 28th & Bank Holiday Boat 29th May Trips – volunteers needed for crew, refreshments, trip sales, etc. Sat & Sun 3rd & 4th Grantham Steam and June County Show Sat 17th June Cotgrave Festival 11.00 – 4.00 Sat 24th June East Bridgford Village The labyrinth of scaffolding inside lock 15 11.00 – 5.00 Show Photo by Ian Wakefield Sun 25th June Short Boat Trip 10.30 – 4.00 Sunday Your comments, news items or photos are always very welcome To contact us please send your email to: [email protected] Page:2 Community and Events LITTER PICK ALL GCS ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS Update An organised litter pick took place on For all of you actively involved in GCS Good turnout for the Events Team the morning of Saturday 11 March Teams we have arranged a communication /social which you are invited to attend. Training day. Thanks for all who along the Grantham Canal from the start of the canal at the River Trent to As one of the means to improve stepped forward. Chris Cobb still communications and feedback in the needs people to commit to helping the vicinity of Morrison Supermarket at Gamston. society I propose to have a meeting every 4 with events, especially able bodies months in the depot followed by a buffet at for setting up and taking down, 25 large black bags of litter were the Dirty Duck. but the odd hour helps too. collected by the participants, mainly The first one will be held on Friday April Contact: [email protected] from the canal and towpath but also 28th. Meet at the depot 18:00 for 18:30 Discovery Day planning team have from the grass verge along Radcliffe and we will be into the Dirty Duck around continued to meet regularly. Road and the rear of Morrison's near 19:30. Updates from GCS, and from CRT the canal. The filled black bags Contact: [email protected] re the lock 15 project followed by Q&A were collected by Streetwise on the session with ideas and offers of help in following Monday. planning, preparation and I want us to celebrate to our progress with commitments to help on Sunday The participants who gave up their the GCHI project, the role/ achievements time comprised two families from the of GCS volunteers and how we can move October 8th. Lady Bay area (including 4 children, forward as a team Education update: Claire Cavendish one aged 5 & 3/4), one family So if you are part of the lock 15 squad, of CRT is now better and catching from Sneinton and another involved with the Three Shires, canal track up with arrangements for Water family from West Bridgford who live maintainers, rangers, social and Safety training in schools. I have near the canal. See attached photo. community eventers, Bridge editor, also been invited to give The event was organised by Charles Discovery Dayers, etc. you are all welcome. assemblies to a local primary Cook, a volunteer Canal Ranger for Several of the society officers will be school to explain why we need the Grantham Canal Society. After a present so you can question them on bricks for the Lock Restoration. If good morning's work by all the issues of your particular interest. Stay as anyone has contacts with schools participants they were treated to a long as you like into the evening. along the canal corridor which well earned snack at Morison's BUT please let us know if you are might welcome this sort of thing. Supermarket. The treat was kindly coming. Reply YES to this email or Let Rosemary know arranged by Morrison's Community email me directly on david.lyneham- communityandevents@granthamcanal. Champion Liz Beddall. [email protected] so I can organise org The Grantham Canal Society extend the eats. Oral History and Research Group: their gratitude to the work done by Look forward to seeing you on the 28th. three of us met at Grantham the team of volunteers who did a Library to look at information and great job in cleaning up the litter, to records they have there, including Morrison's Community Champion Liz To All Society Members a fascinating bank of old photos. Beddall and to Streetwise for Part of our agreement with the Heritage Lottery We were able to amend some of collecting the 25 bags of rubbish. Fund is that we help them assess the their labelling. We’ll meet there effectiveness of our Lock 14/15 project and to this purpose they have asked us to complete a th again on Friday 5 April 10.00. Charles R Cook short survey. Please join us and we can plan Grantham Canal Ranger This includes the volunteer programme and how some more oral history interviews. it has worked. At this stage in the project they Ranger Charles cook has wish to collect baseline information from the negotiated with Morrisons at GCS membership. Gamston to have an information Given the generosity of the HLF could I ask you all to complete the survey – it is only 4 questions display on Saturday 6th May and and our help/ co-operation will stand us in good 29th July. Thanks Charles - stead when we seek funding for future projects. effective efforts beyond the To access the survey click on: towpath. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/THMGQ5H then complete and send. Any problem Rosemary you encounter please let me know on [email protected] [email protected] I hope not to hear from you! 07971 173069 Thanks for your efforts or 01476 978896 David Lyneham-Brown Your comments, news items or photos are always very welcome To contact us please send your email to: [email protected] Page:3 THE WAY IT WAS lift the partially buried or leaning No doubt those of you who walk the ones so borrowed a metal detector Tracks towpaths or cruise the canals will be and set about the marathon task.