Issue 75 Autumn 2012 The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club 16 page Thames Pageant bumper issue Radio Ga Ga! Stratford Festival or not Up the Avon Rally 2013 Spring Away Day Autumn Gathering www.rnregister.org.uk WHO’S WHO CONTENTS Front cover: Autumn sunshine at Alvecote. [Andrew Laycock] Back cover: Stoke Bruerne in the deep mid winter. Will be alive with RNs and Nationals this coming summer. [Andrew Laycock] 3 CHAIRMAN’S CHAT RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTD FROM THE EDITOR President: Dr Ian McKim Thompson 4 MEMBERSHIP Vice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs, David Thirlby, David Kay Phillips, Allister Denyer, Graham RALLY NEWS Pearson Web site: www.rnregister.org.uk 5 RNR “AWAY DAY” The Russell Newbery Register is a non profit distributing Ian McKim Thompson reports on the first non-boating company limited by guarantee. event Founded: 1994 Registered in England No: 346943 Officers: 6 STRATFORD RIVER FESTIVAL Chairman: Norman C Mitchell RNR members help make the news with a splash! t: 01452 415420 [email protected] Secretary: Kevin McNiff 7 UP THE AVON m: 07866 424988 [email protected] Andrew Laycock explores the Avon above Stratford Administration (membership, finance): Rob Davies 55 Noddington Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffs. WS14 8 SECOND AUTUMN GATHERING 9PA At Alvecote — but with sunshine! t/f: 01543 432079 m: 07801 842337 [email protected] 9 WORK PARTY REPORT Newsletter Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] Newsletter Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580 10 THAMES JUBILEE PAGEANT Administration (merchandise): Neil Mason Norman Woolley reports Hillcrest, Chapel Lane, Westhumble, Surrey. RH5 6AH t: 01306 889073 [email protected] 11 A MAMMOTH WALK FOR CANCER Rally Organiser: Kevin McNiff [email protected] Wendy Grattan’s brother tells his story Webmaster: Andrew Laycock [email protected] 12 RADIO RN Rob Davies tells all RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTD 13 RN BLOG BLAH BLAH The Archive — a start A non profit distributing company limited by guarantee Founded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384 14 STRATFORD OR BUST Directors: Stephen Burt, Clive Henderson, Jenny le Blique. David & Jane Brixey explain 15 CHARITABLE DONATIONS Unless otherwise noted, Copyright © Russell Newbery Register, 2012 Stop Press — Rally 2013 The 2013 Rally will be held at Stoke Bruerne RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANY from 6th to 9th June 2013. Proprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132) Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby, Further details and booking form will be in the Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661 Winter Newsletter due out in February. Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak Way North, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ t: 01327 700023 Next edition Email: [email protected] Web site: www.russellnewbery.com Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 All contributions for the Winter Richard Milligan m:07973 826260 2012/2013 edition will be gratefully received. Do not worry about format — in true RN fashion the editorial team can cope with [almost] anything! Copy deadline is 12th January 2013 Corporate Member 2 RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2012 Chairman’s Chat The saga of the Chairman’s cruising continues. We made it back to Great Haywood and stayed for their splendid Hog Roast but the superb food assisted Pauline in diagnosing a gall bladder problem. She had four days in Stafford Hospital and came out on a totally fat free diet! Still we got on our way to Middlewich and across to Barbridge. We worked our way down the Shroppie calling at Wheaton Aston to meet up with John Dudley and Keith Sarsby; they were due down the Gayton Arm back onto the River Nene. We went from Autherley back to Great Haywood and off onto the Coventry along with John and Keith. We made a brief stop at Alvecote to get involved in their gathering of heritage boats and a demonstration of how not to boat by a pair of hotel boats. The working boats were splendid to watch and the illuminated boat parade spectacular, RNR could have a go at that if we could stay up late enough! our flat and I left the boat until it stopped raining at around Ken and Mary Nelson were waiting at Bugbrooke so Ken one pm on the Monday; then I quickly returned to Saul and I lock wheeled them down the Northampton Arm to Marina amidst lousy weather and back to the flat to reflect beat a 1 month stoppage for lime mortar works on some of on the great trip we enjoyed. the locks. Pauline has, since our journey, seen her surgeon and had Following a visit to Stoke Bruerne, the significance of that her gall bladder removed and has recovered from the fruit, name will be evident later, we cruised back to Great chicken and veg. total fat free diet she grew to hate Haywood and set off down the Staffs and Worcs to onboard. I am pleased to report she is recovering rather Stourport. How lucky we were the Severn was down at a well. reasonable level and we locked out on Saturday morning. A good run down found us at Upton-on-Severn for the night Now when is it Kevin wants more rambling for the next so we were up early and off to Gloucester. At the Upper edition? Parting it began to rain and it poured all the way into Gloucester Docks. In fact it soaked us unloading outside From The Editor Welcome to the Autumn Newsletter. They say The really bad weather has caused the first time flies when you’re having fun and I think major headache for CRT near Dutton on the that, despite the wash out year, our members T&M; let’s hope they overcome this in time for seem to have made the best of a bad job. And a next season. That said, I am impressed with 16 page edition is the result! the way they have worked with Peel Ports to assist those stuck to make passage via the It’s been a busy season for sure and diverse in Manchester Ship Canal to get around the so many ways: The Jubilee Pageant, our own breach. Maybe more of this openness and rally at Alvecote, the Historical Gathering at cooperation in the years to come? Braunston, the Stratford River Festival, Northwich, Alvecote Historical Gathering, RNR is also pleased to have been in the “right “Alvecote Revisited” with our second autumn place at the right time” when Rob & Helen gathering; Parkhead and “Stourbridge 50” Davies with became radio stars have all seen RN boats in attendance. Read for a week on Derby local radio! on to see just how prominent some of our members have been in one particular event! As we all bed down for the winter, our thoughts turn to 2013 and maybe a better weather year For me, I also enjoyed the chance of meeting for boating? Stoke Bruerne will be the site for members of the RN family throughout the the 2013 rally. Details in February. In the season and we did have an “unofficial DM3 meantime I wish you all the compliments of rally” at Coole Pilate on the Shroppie where the festive season and a happy New Year. Dave Martin, Norman Mitchell and I Remember that Neil has merchandise for sale – compared the sounds of our respective engines. just for Christmas – so check out the latest They do sound different! offers! RNR Newsletter : Autumn 2012 3 Membership Matters Although we have six new members join since the last Issue, Julian & Lynne Knapp, Stourport on Severn. NB Persia. net growth is slowing down as folk who purchase an existing member’s boat go into ‘roundtoit’ mode when it Keith Sarsby, Norwich. No boat or engine. comes to sending the form to me. Hopefully my patience will be rewarded – sooner or later! Steve Haynes, Caddington, Luton. NB Dacre. A very warm welcome to the RN ‘family’ to: Paul Wilson, Ellesmere Port. No boat just a 1952 D3. Gordon Nutt, Wolverhampton. No boat or engine. Les Harrison, Northampton. No boat, single paraffin engine no: 559. Rally News Firstly, with great reluctance, plans to stage the 2013 at amount to use their venue and there is a limit of only 100 Three Mills [and any other future rallies in London] have people that can be in the building due to fire regulations. now been dropped. The bottom line is simply down to Clearly these numbers are not justifiable. Individual accommodation costs and availability of suitably sized members may need to take out EA Gold Licences, equip rooms. While this is now history, I think members should the boat with VHF radio and lifejackets to venture onto and know why we have arrived at this decision. up the Thames to Teddington or Brentford. For some time now, the success of past rallies has Similar locations in Dockside – West India Dock where the increased the numbers of boats attending. This has in turn pageant boats were assembled and West India Quay, begun to limit the venues that can accommodate an home to the Museum of London also attracted equally average of 50-55 boats and up to 110-120 people in astronomical fees - £1500 or so to use the dock facilities comfort! In the Midlands and North, there are suitable including locking to/from the tideway. The museum didn’t locations that we have used to great effect; been made even send their costs on to us – we must have not looked welcome and in most cases spoilt rotten with facilities at a the part! [well it is Canary Wharf, mate!!] very attractive cost.