Boundary Edition 204 Post Spring 2014 22nd March 2014 saw a gathering of 30th March canal 1974 saw enthusiasts who almost one had attended the hundred Restoration boats on the Rally 40 years Titford Canal ago. There were to celebrate photos to see the and a boat trip Restoration to the Pools. made This photo possible by shows Mayor Warley Councillor Council, Linda Horton British with Richard Waterways Parry Chief and the Executive of BCNS. CRT and Brenda Ward Chairman of the BCN Society Photo: Waterway Images The Journal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Free to members 50p when sold bcnsociety.com Boundary Post Spring 2014 Edition 204 Boundary Post Spring 2014 Edition 204 Council - 2013 - 2014 President : David Smith Vice-Presidents : Phil Clayton, Ron Cousens, Eric Foakes, Martin O’Keeffe, Cllr. David Sparks, Rob Starkey, Chairman & Boundary Post Editor BRENDA WARD Press & Publicity: [email protected] 0121 355 6351 Kath O’’Keeffe [email protected] Vice Chair & Rally Organiser BARRIE JOHNSON 0121 422 4373 Sales: [email protected] REBECCA SMITH KEARY [email protected] 01562 850234 Treasurer: DAVE DENT Health & Safety 38 Greenland Mews, London, SE8 5JW ARTHUR FARGE tel: 0121 745 4266 020 8691 9190 [email protected] email: [email protected] Secretary: & Planning Officer Supporting members to Council IVOR CAPLAN tel: 07778685764 [email protected] Talks and Presentations PHIL CLAYTON 07890921413 Membership [email protected] ALAN VENESS tel: 0121 355 4732 43 Pilkington Ave, Sutton Coldfield, B72 Work Party Administrator 1LA email: [email protected] Michael Smith-Keary 01562 850234 [email protected] Work Party Co-ordinator: MIKE ROLFE 07763 171735 BCNS Explorer Cruise Stuart & Marie Sherratt 07510167288 Social Secretary: [email protected] CHARLEY JOHNSTON 07825816623 [email protected] BCNS 24 Hour Challenge Roy Kenn 01922 428644 Buildings & Heritage John Carrington BOB BROOMHALL 07531328929 [email protected] [email protected] Fundraiser: Youth Liaison Officer MIKE BUTLER KATE SELF tel: 01299 879923 [email protected] 07929401682 Officicial Photographer Archives & Heritage Boats Kevin Maslin IVOR CHAMBERS tel: 0121 707 1690 [email protected] Press & Publicity Assistant Martin O’Keeffe Member without portfolio PETER BEST 0121 454 8391 2 31 Boundary Post Spring 2014 Edition 204 Boundary Post Spring 2014 Edition 204 Contents BCNS Social Meetings Page are held on the first Thursday in the month start at 7-30pm Council Details 2 Titford Pumphouse Engine Street Oldbury B69 4NL Editorial 3 All Welcome! Chairman’s notes 4 Atlas & Malus 5 MAY 1st Society’s Artefacts 6 You will notice a slight difference in this Martin O’Keeffe Phoenix gets attention 7 copy of Boundary Post as I have had to The BCN – a view of the past SLOW BOAT 8 use a different programme and add to that Broad Street Warehouse 9 I have a new laptop which has Windows Coombswood Colliery Fire 10 8. Such a change is difficult. In addition to Bradely Locks - Andy Tidy 11 Titford Rally this we are going with yet another Printer th th Lichfield Canal Towpath Walk 14 17 & 18 May Wednesbury Old Canal Weed 15 so all in all it has not been an easy time so 40 Year Celebration 16 apologies if there are any obvious JUNE & JULY School Visit—Phil Clayton 20 Mistakes or omissions. No meeting Lapal Update 21 I’m coming up to 10 years editing Book Reviews 22 Boundary Post and wonder if it is time to Dates for your Diary 24 th hand over to someone else. I really have AUGUST 7 - Walk with Ray Shill New Members 25 enjoyed it very much but along with details in next Boundary Post Residential Moorings on BCN 26 Work Party Report 28 being Chairman my time is swallowed up Jack Smith & his horse Nigger Meetings & Events 30 with the BCN Society leaving me with 1950s little time for all the other things in my Future Work Parties Photo Graham Guest life. I would love to hear from anyone with a desire to do this job and will give May 10th - Pre Rally clean-up at the Pumphouse all the support needed. Give me a call if you are interested. 10 am Start Much of the contents this time relate to a th June 7 - Old Main Line, Galton Valley – variety of information from various ring for details - MIKE ROLFE 07763 171735 groups around the BCN. LHCRT have set up their heritage walk which will make July 26th - To be confirmed more people aware of the restoration. Lapal on the other hand have a long wait August 30th - Pre Tipton Rally clean-up until Sainsbury’s work is complete. Bradley Canal restoration is being 10am start in Tipton considered and the Society has shown its interest by contributing to the feasibility study in readiness for the work ahead. The opinions and views expressed in Boundary Post are not necessarily the views of either the Society or its Officials. Hope you enjoy this read. Don’t forget I’d The BCN Society, a Company Limited by Guarantee, is a registered charity (1091760) first formed in 1968, which exists to conserve, improve and encourage a wide range of interests in the 100 mile network of Birmingham & Black Country waterways known as the Birmingham Canal love to hear from you about anything in Navigations. Boundary Post is the journal of the BCNS and is issued quarterly. Readers are invited to submit items of news, general or histori- this copy or an item that has anything to cal interest to: The Editor, Brenda Ward. 9 Wylde Green Road, Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB do with the BCN. Brenda tel: 0121 355 6351 email: [email protected] 30 3 Boundary Post Spring 2014 Edition 204 Boundary Post Spring 2014 Edition 204 a selection of donated artefacts have been Hill lock flights. As usual the clean up put on display in the Pump House for all was attended by BCNS, DCT, IWA, Chairman’s to see. We thought there was little point WRG, and CRT. Boats attending were storing them away so we have created a Phoenix, Crow, Bittel plus butty and a Report mini museum of interesting items from CRT work boat, all based at the former the BCN. There will be a list to tell all Sampson Road depot at the top of what the items are and in some cases what Camp Hill locks. It seems a long time since the last copy of they were used for. Come & see them. The Phoenix crew started Saturday Boundary Post and during that time sev- The work party held on the Wednesbury morning on the Ashtead flight, followed eral things worth a comment have taken Old Canal was a subject of controversy. It by a voyage into Typhoo basin, place. is now not a complete canal but more of accompanied by “Moose” and the We have sent Phoenix for a repair and an arm about half a mile in length but WRGies. All the usual rubbish was service, followed by the Work Party with a good winding hole at the end. As found here including Bikes, Trolleys and group taking it to Hawne Basin for a it’s not used very much there is an abun- Fencing. This was unloaded by Tony bottom blacking and as I write it will be dance of reed mace growing along the and Baz from CRT back at Sampson having a paint job. All these things are bottom half. This reed has taken over the Road. Another CRT person who made costing the Society much well earned full width of the canal in a short length. an appearance was Chief Executive funds with the exception of the painting Can we pull it up to allow navigation? Richard Parry, who gladly helped out Will boats use the canal if we do? Let us and got his clothes dirty. He seems a which is being paid for by a donor who Ackers Trust before winding and know your thoughts and if you would like very friendly and approachable wishes to remain anonymous. grappling the adjacent footbridge to help. person. On Saturday night we were which produced a pile of “Heras” The next item of expense is Atlas. We made welcome in the WRGies camp – fencing. We then left Crow with “Moose” knew when we took ownership of the two The best part of the last few months has and the Ale was very good! Sunday saw and his gang and went to unload another boats along with Coombswood Canal been the celebration of the Titford Canal us heading down the GU towards the full load of scrap metal from Phoenix onto Trust that it would require a new bottom Restoration Rally that took place at the before long. These two boats need much Pump House. I found it interesting the BCNS truck for weighing in – the help to maintain and put into action. They finding the invited guests who had second of the weekend. need taking to events and manning while attended the rally 40 years ago. The re- After final unloading of Crow there to explain how they were used. port starts on page 16. at Sampson Road we locked back up to the Birmingham Please see the notice from Paul Smith May is our busy month with our Summer who has recently taken over from Adrian level and went out for a Rally at Titford Pump House alternating meal – another BCN Clean- Smith. Our thanks go to Adrian for the with the Pelsall Festival. So far we have years and effort he has put into Atlas & up was over.