Issue 98 Summer 2018 The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club PLAINPLAIN SAILINGSAILING TOTO MANCHESTERMANCHESTER REMEMBERREMEMBER SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER RALLYRALLY PHOTOPHOTO CALLCALL THETHE END?END? 500500 UPUP www.rnregister.org.uk WHO’S WHO CONTENTS Front cover: The Three Manchester Musketeers moored by the BBC at Media City UK - No. 9 Dock, Salford Quays [Ian Fletcher] Back cover: Meg Bartlett’s Ukulele Band [Andrew Laycock] RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTD 3 CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER President: Dr Ian McKim Thompson FROM THE EDITOR Vice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs, Allister Denyer, Graham Pearson, Eleanor Phillips 4 MEMBERSHIP NEWS Web site: www.rnregister.org.uk The Russell Newbery Register is a non profit distributing company limited by guarantee. 5 THE END? Founded: 1994 Registered in England No: 346943 Officers: 6 500 UP FOR HALCYON Chairman: Bob Scott m: 07812 028415 [email protected] Secretary: Kevin McNiff m: 07866 424988 8 REMEMBER SEPTEMBER! [email protected] Director & Administrator (membership, finance): Andy 9 SPRING AWAY DAY Todd t: 01923 264962 m: 07973 326888 [email protected] Director: Jim Comerford m: 07887 591905 10 RALLY PHOTO CALL [email protected] Director: Norman C Mitchell m: 07831 118008 12 MORE PHOTOS & RALLY REPORTS Newsletter Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] Newsletter Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580 15 PLAIN SAILING TO MANCHESTER Administration (merchandise): Neil Mason t: 01306 889073 [email protected] Rally Organisers: Bob Scott and Andrew Laycock 18 CONSTITUTION UPDATE [email protected] Webmaster: Andrew Laycock 19 UP THE AVON WITHOUT A? [email protected] Unless otherwise noted,© Russell Newbery Register, 2018 RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTD A non profit distributing company limited by guarantee Founded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384 Directors: Bob Ainsworth, Dave Martin, Bob Scott, Andy Todd. LAST CALL For the Autumn Gathering August 24th RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANY Proprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132) Details on page 8 Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661 Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak Way North, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ Email: [email protected] Web site: www.russellnewbery.com Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 Richard Milligan m: 07973 826260 Next edition All contributions for the Autumn edition will be gratefully received. Do not worry about format — in true RN fashion the editorial team can cope with [almost] anything! Please supply photographs as separate JPEG or GIF files. Copy deadline 15th October 2018 2 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 New Chairman’s Chatter Well, there we go then. Goodbye Norman, hello Bob. Quite what I’ve done to deserve becoming Chairman of the RNR I have absolutely no idea. Quite what you have all done to deserve me as Chairman I have no idea either. One of life’s mysteries. First off, thanks to Norman for the brilliant job he has done for the last 7 years, it is going to be a difficult act to follow. All the the way to Ellesmere Port and most of best, Norman, enjoy the additional free the way back again without a visit down time, thanks to Pauline as well for all the the weed hatch, but the Birmingham and support she has given, enabling you to Fazeley reminded me in no uncertain fulfill your many roles. terms. I spent a frustrating 2 hours at Camp Hill top lock trying to clear the prop When our illustrious editor, Kevin McNiff, and then a really frustrating 3 hours left me a voicemail to remind me that I travelling the 6 miles to Catherine de had to write a few words for the Barnes. Is it me or are the canals round Newsletter there was a disturbing note of Birmingham too shallow? glee in his words and I’m now beginning to understand what I’ve let myself in for. Mind you, before long CRT will get their I’ll do my best. wish, and everyone will be able to run, walk, fish or cycle anywhere on the BCN, I hope everyone managed to get away not just on the towpath. safely after the rally, that you all managed to get to wherever you were And another thing……. heading for without incident and that you are all enjoying the weather while it lasts. After the Rally I headed for Stratford- upon-Avon for the River Festival. I hadn’t realised how lucky I was to have gone all A very warm welcome to this [really]summer edition and especially to our new Chairman Bob. Thank you, Norman, for your tenancy and wisdom through your term of office. From the Beast of the East to a re-run of the summer of ’76, enjoy this full colour issue! RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 3 Membership Matters Hello everyone. Another great rally and what weather we have now. I’m determined not to complain about the heat but there were times on the way back when you could have fried the full English breakfast on our hatch, never mind just an egg! I wonder if it will last until the Autumn Gathering. For those who couldn’t make it to the AGM, there was an announcement made concerning the annual subscription. Although our finances are very healthy, we do need the basic membership subscription to cover our everyday running costs which, at the moment, is marginal. We have therefore decided that with effect from 1 January 2019, the annual subscription will increase to £15. However, one area where we spend extra money (not to mention a lot of my time) is in chasing up renewals paid by cheque rather than standing order. We will therefore reflect this difference by giving a discount for paying by standing order and, for next year, this will be 20%. For those not mathematically minded, this means the subscription by standing order will remain at £12. A standing order form is available by contacting me. If you haven’t received any emails from me over the last year, perhaps you need to update me with your email address ([email protected]). I’m pleased to say that we have had five new members join since the last newsletter. A very warm RN welcome to: Lloyd Hampshire, Godalming nb Oscar Nick Cliff-Atkins, Sarasota, Florida Helen & Andy Turner, Leeds nb Georgian Star Jim Scott nb Hirondelle Rob Ruutel, Bistol nb Faith Full range of of RN Spares and service items available from stock together with engines on display at Hillmorton. Full range of Boatyard Services including Engine servicing and repairs, Boat blacking, Full boat repainting service, Boat building and repairs, Plumbing & electrics, Weld repairs. GBBS Hillmorton Ltd. & Russell Newbery Marine Diesel Engines 01788 578 661 mobile 07812 039110 www.russellnewbery.com email. [email protected] 4 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 Where will it end? It started with the Middlewich breach, The 10-mile pound across from Camp Hill which has been blamed on either to Knowle was closed for a time due to a structural failure or vandalism leaving all pump failure and though it is now open paddles up on Stanthorne lock. This again, deep draughted boats are dragging meant the long way round to Ellesmere through the silt and dead leaves. Port or the option of the Weaver and Manchester Ship Canal. Comparisons are being made with this summer and that of 1976 but I do Then on 2nd June, the Daniel Adamson remember that the preceding 3 years tug crashed the top gates of Weston before that summer had very reduced Marsh Lock, the Anderton Lift was closed rainfall amount throughout the period. for a time and low water levels on the Reservoir levels as published by CRT for Weaver have brought in restrictions. July show the dramatic change in some While Andrew and Bob went via the Ship areas over 3 months. But is the drop on Canal through Pomona lock onto the the Leeds & Liverpool group due to Bridgewater and then the T&M, I believe “drawdown” by boats and evaporation? that this route is now under review due to More down to serious leakage I think. water shortages. The Leeds and Liverpool is closed and the breach towards These closures cannot all be blamed on Liverpool has left boats stuck in the docks weather, and the Weaver lock was and others’ plans to visit via the link in certainly a boating error [one of several tatters. The Rochdale and Huddersfield that this tug has been involved in]. The Narrow are also shut; along with the Peak lack of preventative maintenance on locks Forest and Macclesfield [from mid- is clear but CRT are more focused on August], the only possible option still open their PR image while the channels run [for now] is the Caldon. dry. With such a backlog of work and dwindling cash resources, although perhaps an over-reaction, is this the end of boating as we know it? We may all rely on “Wellbeing” - the new mantra! What do you think? Let me know and we’ll publish your views in the autumn edition. RNR Newsletter : Summer 2018 5 500 up! Not the England cricket score [never!] but Russ and Wendy Burrows' membership number on the Register. Here is their account of year 1 aboard Halcyon. We live in Stockton, a small village in Warwickshire near to the Grand Union canal. Our local pub is called "The Boat" and the food is very delicious. We recommend the steak as it is so tender and cooked just right but the chef is very good at all meals.