Wendover Arm News Newsletter of the Wendover Arm Trust Issue 2012/3 Price £1 where sold Autumn 2012 Free to members A Huge Thank you to the Waterways Recovery Group for their hard work on Whitehouses during their annual camp in July Still a great deal of work to be done but what a start! A truly worthwhile project that will pro- vide so much of interest to everyone Page 2 In This Issue The pictures opposite show mem- minute runs and I recon the whole bers of the Waterway Recovery length will take about an hour—so Group (WRG) hard at work on still on track. I had my gait ana- the Whitehouses site repairing the lysed at the local running shop wall in readiness for the coping “Up and Running” in Aylesbury stones to be replaced and prepar- and found that I had a serious ing the settling tank for use. The over pronation problem. For those AGM looms and this edition car- who are not familiar with running ries the official notification to speak it is about the way your foot members as well as directions turns as you complete a stride and a map to get you to the new and if left unsupported can cause venue which is not all that easy to many injuries to tendons, knees find. Walk an Arm’s Length is and hips. I am now using the cor- close now so last minute entries rect type of shoe and enjoying my and fund raising are a must, if you training so much more with the can’t join the walk you can still benefit of staying injury free. contribute—see page 6. There is The long awaited announcement an article on the RYA Helmsman that British Waterways (BW) no certificate and one on the canal longer exists and the new Canal boat family as it was. and Rivers Trust (CRT) has In recent issues I promised to re- taken over is now official and the port back on my progress to fit- Wendover Arm Trust has been ness from retirement. Well it’s not notified by post. been easy but I am now up to 40 Restoration News It’s been hard going on the resto- before the August camp. ration recently with all the heavy rain. There’s been more pumping Once again a big thank you to than working! The hardy souls WRG for their efforts at White- who have been turning out have houses, it’s shaping up to be a managed to continue lining work- fascinating project. Look out for ing towards the mooring bay in an article by Prof Timothy Peters Stage 2 but we would all have on the people who lived at White- liked to be further on that we are houses coming soon. General enquiries number is 07547181857 Page 3 Membership News As of July 21 st , the Trust has 674 signed up for email. To register members spread across 447 for email or if your email address households. We welcome the fol- has changed, please contact lowing new members: Katherine. Mr E Blackmore Northampton Mr I Gosling Wendover Club 100 Results Mr & Mrs I Petticrew Tring The summer draw was made on Miss E Carter & family T o l l e s - July 18 th , there were 137 sub- bury, Essex scribers in the draw. Gift Aid The winners were: The total Gift Aid claimable so far is £914.20 which is for all pay- 1st Mrs Beryl Martin, Newbury ments / donations from April 6 th to £164.40 July 21 st 2nd Mr David Ager, High Wy- Standing Order combe £68.50 To pay your membership or club 100 subs by standing order di- 3rd Mrs Pam Blackaller, Kings rectly from your bank to ours, Langley £27.40 contact Katherine for more de- tails, member- [email protected] Each lucky number is £15 per or 01442 246523. year, which covers 4 prize draws. To join club 100 contact Kathe- Email 290 membership households are rine. Help us to Save Money on Postage Many thanks to all of you who re- If you opt for this format you will sponded to the plea in the last not only save the Trust money on edition to get your Wendover Arm both postage and printing you will News by email instead of by post get your copy more quickly and it despite the typo in the email ad- will be in full colour. Remember dress. every penny saved is a penny go- ing towards restoration of the The address is... Arm. [email protected] Page 4 Water Vole Sighting When Jo and I started boating feeding by the side of the top lock many years ago it was quite com- of the Watford Flight on the mon to see Water Voles along the Leicester Branch of the Grand canal, either on the bank or swim- Union Canal. It remained, quite ming across the cut. However, as happily munching on the clover, the years went by the sight of one whist the lockkeeper and I took its of these delightful creatures going picture so that the sighting could about their busy little lives be- be reported to British Waterways, come more and more a thing of or Canal and River Trust as it is the past. In fact it has been so now. A very detailed survey is be- long since we last saw one that I ing carried out to determine the can’t even remember where or numbers and distribution of Water how long ago it was. There are Voles remaining and we are all many reasons for this but by far asked to report any such sight- the main culprit is the invasion of ings. If by chance you are lucky the Mink on our waterways which enough to see a Water Vole on has reduced the numbers of Wa- your travels, can I ask therefore ter Voles to a critical level, in fact that you help protect these lovely you are far more likely to see a little animals by reporting it, giving Mink than ever see a Water Vole. details of when and where it was You can imagine our delight seen to the C&RT. when, during our cruise in June of Good luck this year, we came across this little lad (or maybe lass) happily Ray Orth General enquiries number is 07547181857 Page 5 So you can't join the walk? We are not all fortunate enough to The funny website address shown have the mobility, time, enthusi- against the walker's name below asm or stamina to join a crowd of takes you direct to that person's others and pace out nearly seven 'page' so you can see their rea- miles in support of charity (even if son for walking, and make a con- that charity is the Wendover Arm tribution if you wish. Trust!). The RAF is providing a team who How can we still show our support will be the 'last man walking' to for the most important event in collect any stragglers and check the Trust's calendar? the route is clear, etc. They have Many of the people (and at least the Team Name 'Tail End Heroes' one dog!) taking part in the walk and they also have their own on Sept 2nd are actively looking sponsorship page (5). for sponsorship for their efforts. There are those who can't do the Some have been collecting spon- walk because they are giving their sorship for weeks, and have al- time on the day and beforehand ready collected hundreds of to help with running the event; pounds. Others have just started, you can still sponsor them. and will be looking for those im- Graeme Lockhart is running the portant first donations. tripboats (6), Ray Orth will be do- Each of the fundraisers has their ing restoration work together with own 'page' on BT MYDonate, the many other volunteers at Drayton charity sponsorship website we Beauchamp (7), and last but by are using to collect and organise no means least Katherine Deaney donations. Amongst others we (chief organiser of the walk) (8). have Jenny Brice who is going to Of course, if you don't have ready walk the Arm twice in both direc- access to a computer (lucky you!) tions! (1), Johanna who is walking you can just as easily make a do- in a traditional boatwoman's cos- nation by steam-driven postal ser- tume (2), and Daisy the dog who vice, sending your donation to is taking her owner John for the 'Walk', c/o 467 Bideford Green, stroll (3). We also have Jon who Linslade, LU7 2TZ, not forgetting isn't actually walking, but intends to state which walker you are to run the route - let's hope he sponsoring, and give your name starts before everyone else! (4). and address if you want the Trust Not sure about promoting the run- to benefit from Gift Aid on your ning, as we state in the terms and sponsorship. Cheques should be conditions that it is a walk not run- made payable to 'Wendover Arm ning or cycling. Trust'. Page 6 Of course, thank you if you have Finally, let's not forget the old already sponsored one of our fashioned method of getting spon- walkers. sorship promises on a sheet of Have you thought maybe you paper. You can download the could collect your own sponsor- sheet using this address (9), or I ship for the Trust? If you want me can send you one in the post.