1957-2007 Coventry Canal Society Magazine 50 years Of caring for canals Visit our website www.covcanalsoc.org.uk AUTUMN 2007 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 25-27 August 2007 Society's Golden Jubilee Celebration Weekend; At-Home Event at Wyken Basin with stalls, games, barbeque, bar, refreshments and evening 'entertainment'; members' boats caval- cade to Coventry Basin [details Tom Conway] 07-09 September 2007 Society Golden Jubilee cruise to visit Tamworth Cruising Club at Kettlebrook and join in their Boaters' Weekend [details Tom Conway] 16 September 2007 Society canal clearance; join at Wyken Basin at 8.45 am or Sutton Stop at 9.45 am; finish 4.00 pm at Sutton Stop; return to Wyken Basin at 5.00 pm [details Brian Pope] 22/23 September 2007 Panther attending Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Boat Rally at Lichfield Cruising Club, Huddlesford, together with exhibition stand to celebrate Society's Golden Jubilee; volunteer crew needed to, from and at the rally [details Tom Conway, Tony Mann] 07 October 2007 Society canal clearance; join at Wyken Basin at 8 am, Sutton Stop at 8.50 am or Swan Lane Wharf at 10.30 am; finish 3.30 pm at Sutton Stop; return to Wyken Basin at 4.30 pm [details Brian Pope] 20/21 October 2007 Workparty day, Wyken Basin; 9.30 am start [details Property Managers] 03 November 2007 Bonfire evening, Wyken Basin; 7.30 pm start; entertainment, bar [details Tom Conway] 04 November 2007 Moorers' meeting at Wyken Basin; 10 am start; open forum to discuss events, issues and plans with members of your Execu- tive Committee 05 November 2007 Copy date for winter edition of magazine 10 November 2007 ? Crane lift of boats out of water, Wyken Basin [date confirma- tion and details Eugene Austin] 25 November 2007 Society canal clearance; join at Wyken Basin at 8.45 am or Sutton Stop at 9.45 am; finish 4 pm at Sutton Stop; return to Wyken Basin at 5 pm [details Brian Pope] 08 December 2007 Christmas Evening at Wyken Basin; games, entertainment, members' postbox, bring food to share, bar [details Tom Con- way] Through the Chair We have achieved fifty years as a society on August Bank holiday weekend, 2007 and I feel we must reflect why and how this has‘come about’. How many dedicated members have given their time and on many occasions their hard earned money to the society, which is continuing today. The committee members, who have, over the years had the foresight and ability to ‘retain and maintain’ the Coventry Canal, create a ‘constitution’ to live by and the develop- ment of the Wyken basin moorings for members which is today ‘second to non’ on the canal system. The many tales told by members who have years of involvement with the society, their travels to help other groups, the queens award, the many rallies attended for fund raising and creating an ‘high awareness’ of the Coventry Canal Society around the country, has been accom- plished, Today we have a very active body of people who will continue in this vein, hopefully for many years to come. The new 20 year lease, the acquisition of ‘Panther’ which is being re- stored, whilst still working and a healthy Balance sheet, all mean that we continue to get stronger with time. We have a ‘happy ship’ at the moment, which is reflected in support, not only for their desig- nated duties, but also in their attendance at social gatherings and ‘in house’ activities. A recent trip to Lichfield cruising club (originally the northern arm of the society) where we were made very welcome and the continuation to Fradley junction was very well received by many of our members. When they have carried out the trip on Easter Monday into the Cov- entry basin, they will qualify for their jubilee year certificate for cruising the full length of the Coventry Canal, and a Bridge 1 certificate depicting the trip. Our canoe section is growing and is extremely well run by its own committee and we con- tinue to enjoy (through this magazine) their exploits. I would like to thank I.W.A. for their involvement in the formation of the Coventry Canal Society in 1957 and their continued support over the years, also A.W.C.C. with whom we are still actively involved and British Waterways who we work very closely with throughout each year. We also have a good working relationship with the Canal Rangers, based in the Coventry Basin. I would like, at this stage, to thank my current committee for their management skills and support over the last six years I have been in office, which I believe have made a major input towards our present strong position. Also a big thank you to our Magazine editor who has changed the whole concept and attitude of articles to improve PR for us. And finally, none of this could have been achieved without the total support of all of our members. Let us keep ‘flying the flag’ It is with regret that I have received the resignation of Eugene, due to the pressure of work, the traveling time and extended hours this entails. He has been in the above position and a member of the Executive committee for five years and has carried out his duties to the benefit of all ‘moorers’ and is regarded as a friend by many. On behalf of the Executive committee and all members of the Coventry Canal Society we wish him and his wife Jane a ‘quieter life’. Allen - Chairman Wharf House Winners “Favourite Boat” at Crick Boat Show 2003 & 2005 Narrowboats Boat Builders and Chandlers The Chandlery range of products stocks which a wewide are constantly expanding. We are boat builders ourselves, and we specialise in advice We specialise in advanced electrical systems for boats Come and see us at Bottom Lock, Dark Lane Braunston NN11 7HJ Tel: 01788 899041 Fax: 01788 891535 www.wharfhouse.co.uk % r 0 t fo s 1 oun ber MEMBERSHIP NEWS disc em S M by Brian Pope CC The new members named below are welcomed to the Society and we look forward to meeting you at ings, working parties or out and about on the waterways: social events, boater's gather- Name(s) Interests/Notes Mark & Jane Cashmore Moorer; 40' nb Simon Collyer Canoe Section member Ciaran Davis Canoe Section member Peter Davis Canoe Section member Worth the Weight Paul Shelvin Canoe Section member Paul Thompson Canoe Section member Paid-up membership for 2007 has now exceeded the 200 level with a total of 207 (family membership being counted as two members). Committee changes. There are a couple of committee changes to report. As many of you will know, Eddie and Caroline Jones have recently sold their boat to take up a live on the open road, (i.e. they have bought a Motorhome). As a consequence, Eddie’s place within the Property Manag- ers has fallen vacant. Never ones to look a gift horse in the mouth when one of our num- ber expressed and interest in filling the post, Rob Townshend was immediately co-opted on to the committee. Following normal practice, Rob will stand for election formally at the AGM in March. Eugene Austin has resigned from the committee and his position as Harbourmaster for personal reasons. If anyone wants to know more about standing for this post, then please make contact with our Chairman, Allen Wilson. There is no doubt that both Eddie and Eugene have worked very hard for the benefit of our members ably supported by Caroline and Jane. Both will be hard acts to follow and we will miss their efforts. We wish Rob well in taking on the role that Eddie filled so effectively. In the meantime if any- one has any issue they would normally have discussed with the Harbourmaster, please contact initially, Allen Wilson. Application of 'Smoke-free' legislation The Society has been advised that the 'Smoke-free' law introduced by the Health Act 2006 applies to enclosed premises occupied by the Society and vehicles including boats carrying out Society business. Consequently from 01 July 2007 smoking has been prohib- ited in all buildings and stores at Wyken Basin, in the Canoe Section premises at Coven- try Basin and in all vehicles and cabins of boats when they are being used for Society purposes. To ensure that all members are aware of the law and its application to the Soci- ety a copy of the Smoke-Free Policy adopted by the Executive Committee is enclosed with this magazine. A sheltered area has been set up a immediately outside the Bert Dunkley building at Wyken Basin for those who wish to smoke when attending functions in the building. Inside Outside Braunston Boat Show June 23rd/24th 2007 By Vivienne Pitts I was lucky enough to be allowed to tag along with Panther on her trip to the Braunston Boat Show. The weather as usual didn’t let us down, we had rain and yet more rain, this continued all over the weekend! Although wet, the weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. Ant, Brian Pope and yours truly all arrived at the same time. It wasn’t long before Brian and me were hard at it building Brian’s stand, and Ant doing what he does best - dishing out the orders. After we had finished our building work, Brian’s stand looked brilliant. It was a shame that we had been allocated a tiny poky corner, which was much overlooked by passers by.