The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Issue No. 76 - Summer 2013 H E L P H E L P H E L P A U S ! E Make our 25th Anniversary Year really special by helping at the Huddlesford Heritage Gathering - see inside for details. HAY WHAR EET F L TR LICHFIELD TD S Heart of the Coventry Canal . TEL:01543 414808 MOBILE:0782 4848444 FAX:01543 414770 www.streethaywharf.co.uk 7-DAY CALL OUT SERVICE GEN SETS FITTED DIESEL AND SOLID FUEL STOVES FITTED BOTTOM BLACKING REPAINTING AND SIGNWRITING NEW BOATS FULL & PART FIT-OUT SUPPLIED ALL MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL WORK FULL CHANDLERY STRETCHING AND REBOTTOMING GAS SAFE. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ALL STEEL WORK AND TANKS Support the boat yard on the “Lichfield Ring” Boat Transport, England, Europe Cranage Arranged Site Surveys Complete Service for DIY Repairs Boat Hire Boat Fitting Diesel Pump Out Mooring Boat Sales Laundry Trent & Mersey Canal V.A.T No. 133609427 Y H ETHA W ARF RE LT ST D. Huddlesford Boaters Gathering 2011 (photo by Paul Marshall) 2013 is an important year for the Trust to mark 25 years of achievement. We have a programme of interesting events spread throughout the year, focusing on promoting the Trust and raising more capital to continue restoration work. Sep 21-22 Boaters Gathering & Classic Cars, Huddlesford Junction. Oct 26 Social Evening, music, supper, Whittington Village Hall. 3 Cut Both Ways Summer 2013 HUDDLESFORD HERITAGE GATHERING – HELPERS What an opportunity to celebrate our 25th Anniversary! In association with the Lichfield Cruising Club this event will run over two days:- Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September, 10:00am – 5:00pm. MAKE A NOTE IN YOU DIARY TO BE THERE! Again we expect an interesting display of canal boats, old and new, a large collection of classic vehicles, plus various traders, exhibitors, entertainment, food and drink – something for all the family. Such events don’t just run themselves. Apart from boat mooring arrangements by two joint harbourmasters in the days leading up to the event, we need lots of helpers to take turns at these main tasks:- Friday, 20th September, from 10:00am team of 10 together to erect marquees and Trust gazebos, place road-side direction signs, collect borrowed tables and benches. Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd September car park attendants, programme sales / collecting donations, BBQ operators - each day, L&H promotional display stand, L&H cakes, goods and brc-a-brac sales. Monday, 23th September from 10:00am team of 10 together to dismantle marquees, return borrowed tables and benches, clean the site, remove road-side direction signs. Others might provide cakes to sell, tombola prizes, run kids games. How can YOU help make this special anniversary event really successful? This is NOT an occasion to leave it all to that elusive “someone else”. To organise manning rotas, please tell us NOW that you can help with any of these tasks by calling Bob Williams at 01543 671427, or e-mail to [email protected] 4 Cut Both Ways Summer 2013 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN There is a danger of a “terrible sameness” straying into columns such as this, especially after being in office for nearly thirteen years. It is vital, but not always easy, to generate freshness and enthusiasm. Inevitably, there are recurring themes which are constantly revisited and which are no less valuable for that. If you belong to other largely voluntary bodies, as many of us do, you will find that it is much the same everywhere. Perhaps the two most underlined issues are the need to recruit volunteers and to find major funding. I have written many times about our financial needs and it is painfully obvious that if we had access to the millions required we could finish the job within a decade and probably sooner. Failing the arrival of an Eddie Stobart truck laden with notes we are thrown back on the ceaseless endeavours of our wonderful volunteers. We are well blessed with members and supporters who turn out in all weathers to work on our major work sites although we can always use more. On the sales and promotions side we continue to staff our stand and displays at an impressive range of shows and exhibitions. On this front our numbers are currently sadly depleted and we need more help as a matter of considerable urgency. At board level, volunteers are coming forward but our average age is straying above 70 and this needs reducing. Meanwhile, we have lost the services of our seemingly tireless Secretary, Sue Williams through a debilitating stroke in May. Sue has been at the at the heart of our operations for very many years. She has been our voice on the phone, our webmaster and a constant presence at shows and events. This only skims the surface of what Sue has done for the Trust. Although she is recovering, Sue has had to stand down from all her activities leaving an enormous gap to be filled. First and foremost we send her our best wishes and hopes for an early return to full health. Now we must find others who can fill the many gaps. At board level, we are already spread very thinly and we need to find some fresh faces in leading roles, according to personal skills which are not necessarily in canal construction! Of course, we will always welcome volunteers whenever they come forward and whatever their skills. We do not expect anyone to take on things beyond their skill sets or outside their interests and comfort zones. Just bring yourself! However, we currently have a list of specific skills which, mostly, do not need to be committee- based posts. 5 Cut Both Ways Summer 2013 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN The three priority areas are; Secretary, Webmaster, Sales and Promotions. There are two parts to the secretarial post which are Company Secretary and Minutes Secretary. These can be either one post or two. The post of Webmaster is self- explanatory and really requires someone who can handle the Trust’s webpage which is vital for spreading the word of what the Trust does and what events and activities are upcoming. Sales and Promotions is a much wider brief which really requires people who like meeting people, selling raffle tickets and generally dealing with the public and selling things. If anyone feels they can contribute to any of these activities please let me know, or any of who are listed in this magazine. If ever there was a time for stepping forward it is now. Meanwhile, we continue in the spirit of cheerful optimism which has characterised what we do for so many years. Our AGM was well-attended and we enjoyed the talk by Dr Geraint Coles on the work to restore the Chesterfield Canal. We always try to get such a speaker for our AGM, both to show what has to be done and to emphasise what can be achieved. We were very well-represented at the Pelsall Festival which, unlike two years ago, was held over two days of good weather. Ivor Caplan and his team deserve great praise for organising a happy event which was attractive to both the waterways community and the general public. Now we look forward to the Huddlesford Heritage Gathering over the weekend of 21st / 22nd September which will be a two day event for the first time. This was very much a Sue Williams event and we are all rallying round to make sure that it will be the success which she envisaged. Our friends at Lichfield Cruising Club are substantially increasing their input and we are grateful to Frank Weetman for chairing our joint group. If anyone wishes to help please step forward as we really do need you. As ever, times of difficulty and challenge are an opportunity to strengthen our resolve. We are poised to achieve major progress, especially at Tamworth Road and in Darnford Park. Difficulties over the planning process concerning our projected water supply from the BCN have been overcome with help from the Lichfield planners, the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency. To have brought these organisations together in harmony has been a great achievement. We are also attending various working groups dealing with the building of the proposed HS2 rail route and you will find details further on in this magazine. The high level route would suit L&H best with the engineering alternatives meaning a major diversion and change for the canal. I started by referring to a “terrible sameness” straying into our project but all that followed has shown that things are frequently changing with a kaleidoscope of All Photos in this issue are by Bob Williams except where credited otherwise. 6 Cut Both Ways Summer 2013 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN variations on old and familiar challenges. Really, it does come down to a “sameness” that we have nearly fifteen miles of canals to restore with limited resources both financial and human. We have survived, grown and matured for a quarter of a century. We can, will and must complete what we started. Brian Kingshott(chairman) The views expressed in Cut Both Ways do not necessarily represent those of the Trust or the Editor. They are however published as being of interest to our readership. To restore the Lichfield Canal and the Hatherton Canal to re-open waterway links between Staffordshire and the West Midlands, for the benefit of the environment, amenity and prosperity of the people of the region and to enhance the nation’s inland waterway system. 7 Cut Both Ways Summer 2013 MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS REPORT It’s been a busy summer so far with a full programme of events and show attendances:- May 4 The Morriston Orpheus Choir in Lichfield Cathedral was a memorable event planned by Terry Brown, bringing his personal fund-raising target with his April Sponsored Walk close to £3,000.