Boundary Edition 213 Post Summer 2016 Ray Shill & Martin O’Keeffe looking justly proud of the Society’s latest publication “A-Z of the Birmingham Canal Navigations”. The book was launched at the BCNS Titford Rally in May. It was greeted with much enthusiasm and sold quickly during the rally. The Journal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Free to members £1 when sold bcnsociety.com Boundary Post Summer 2016 Boundary Post Summer 2016 Council Members - 2015 - 2016 BCNS Social Meetings President : Martin O’Keeffe held on the first Thursday in the month Vice-Presidents: Ron Cousens, Phil Clayton, Cllr. David Sparks, Rob Starkey, start at 7-30pmTitford Pumphouse Engine Street Oldbury B69 4NL Chairman & web man: Press & Publicity: CHARLEY JOHNSTON 07825816623 KATH O’KEEFFE All Welcome! [email protected] [email protected] August 4th - Walk with Ray Shill Vice Chair & Rally Organiser Press & Publicity Assistant Meet at 7pm at Bumblehole Visitors Centre, DY2 9HS. Park below in a space at BARRIE JOHNSON 0121 422 4373 MARTIN O’KEEFFE the bottom of the steps off Windmill End. [email protected] [email protected] Any queries email [email protected] or phone 07961177553 Treasurer: Sales: September 1st - The Story of English Pub Signs- The history of many of our fa- DAVE DENT REBECCA SMITH -KEARY vourite pub signs and the important role that pubs have played in our history. 38 Greenland Mews, London, SE8 5JW [email protected] 01562 850234 Dorothy Nicolle 020 8691 9190 [email protected] Supporting members to Council October 6th - The Canal at Coombswood-A History of the Dudley No2 Canal Secretary: & Planning Officer IVOR CAPLAN Health & Safety from Coombswood to Hawne Basin incl the tube works. Keith Hodgkins tel: 07778685764 [email protected] Jeffrey Carter Membership Talks and Presentations ALAN VENESS tel: 0121 355 4732 Phil Clayton 07890921413 Martin Brookes 43 Pilkington Ave, Sutton Coldfield, B72 [email protected] 1LA email: [email protected] FOR ALL YOUR MARINE WORK Work Party Administrator On the Stourbridge Canal, between Stourton and Wordsley Junctions Work Party Co-ordinator: Michael Smith-Keary 01562 850234 MIKE ROLFE 07763 171735 [email protected] Coach Painting - Boat Building - Fitting Out - Compliance Work [email protected] BCNS Explorer Cruise New Installation - Engine Servicing - Repairs - Welding Buildings & Heritage Stuart & Marie Sherratt 07510167288 Hull Blacking - Breakdown Call Out Service VACANT POSITION [email protected] Boundary Post Editor BCNS 24 Hour Challenge Diesel Tank cleaning and fuel filtering with minimum need for drilling BRENDA WARD Roy Kenn 01922 428644 or cutting or emptying tank Mobile or at Wharf Service [email protected] 0121 355 6351 John Carrington [email protected] Bookings for Wharf Cranage NOW available Youth/Community Liaison Officer KATE SELF [email protected] Fundraiser: 07929401682 Mike Butler All Work Personally Undertaken Waterways Craft Guild Accredited Archives & Heritage Boats Official Photographer Free no obligation quotation IVOR CHAMBERS tel: 0121 707 1690 Ann Johnson [email protected] Atlas & Malus Manager 07802 444370 or [email protected] Paul Smith: [email protected] Social Secretary The BCN Society, a Company Limited by Guarantee, is a registered charity (1091760) first formed in 1968, which GEOFF WINSLOW 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 Navigations. Boundary Post is the journal of the BCNS and is [email protected] issued quarterly. Readers are invited to submit items of news, general or historical interest to: The Editor, Brenda Ward. 9 Wylde Green Road, Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB 2 31 Boundary Post Summer 2016 Boundary Post Summer 2016 After yet another successful Explorer Cruise Contents Page Letters many positive comments were heard. This Council Details 2 Notes from year there were many new comers to the Editorial 3 to the BCN and this note from Nigel & Margaret Chairman’s notes 4 the Editor Editor Smith explains how many of them felt. LHCRT Boundary Post Unveiling 5 Chances Glass Works 6 Titford Pools Update 7 I’ve probably said it before but this July Hi Brenda With the Poets 8 issue of Boundary Post always causes Just got back from our two week cruise on the BCN. Atlas & Malus Report 9 me the most problem. It’s the time we We just wanted to write to say how much we enjoyed the rally. We knew no- New Memberships 10 take our boat out for a trip & this year Pelsall IWA Festival 11 body as we entered the marquee on Friday evening but as we sat down we was no exception. The trouble is never were included in conversations and made to feel most welcome. April, May & June on the BCN 12 24 Hour Challenge Results 14 finding enough to fill the pages thanks Although the Ashby is our local waterway and society we shall endeavour to to all that happens or has happened on attend future BCNS events whenever we can. Birmingham Quay—Ray Shill 15 Urban Badgers on Dudley No2 17 the BCN and thanks to those of you Best wishes Factory Basin Lift Bridge 18 who take the time to tell me about it. Nigel & Margaret Smith Chillington Plaques 20 Book Reviews 22 The variety is as good as ever with Jack Haddock RIP Forgotten Corners of the BCN 23 reports on the Explorer Cruises - three Jack was an exceptional & interesting man known for cycling all over Cruising Titford Pools 25 this year! The third one in August is the Walsall area with his camera photographing trains, trams, trolley Photo Quiz Results 26 especially for those attending the Phoenix modifications 27 Pelsall Festival of Water organised by buses and canals. He had a wide interest taking thousands of photo- Work Party Report Mike Rolfe 28 graphs which are housed in Walsall Archives. After announcing his the IWA. Sounds good - think we might Explorer Cruise Report 29 just be there!! death I have quite a few comments - Letters to the Editor 30 here are just 2:- Jack Haddock RIP 30 The historical articles always find Social Meetings 31 interest with me and this time it’s the Sorry to hear that Factory Basin Lift Bridge that those of He was a dedicated transport historian. you who have visited the Black Country Ray Shill Industrial Historian Living Museum will have seen and Next Boundary Post Dear Brenda wondered where it had been situated Editor welcomes any interesting originally. The fact that it was just a I have just read about the death of Jack Haddock. In the late '70s relevant information relating to short distance away in Tipton is just I had a boat at Ken Keay’s yard being repaired and frequently a amazing. chap would suddenly turn up, always with a camera, telling us he the BCN in the form of news was photographing as much as he could of the Black Country items, photographs, The next copy of Boundary Post will before it changed out of recognition. I can't really recall his name letters, notes or articles to be sent take me to 12 years as editor. I’ve but it sounds as if it could be Jack, and I could probably recognise him from a photograph. decided that it needs a new editor to by Like all the people we met in the Black Country, he was kindness itself, friendly towards us give it a fresh new look. Phil Clayton 'southern foreigners,' giving us a copper kettle for our boat - which we still have and use - September 1st was editor for 9 years and when I took and another time, a copper curved horn - like a hunting horn - which he had made himself. it on I was sure I wouldn’t manage that Although a long time ago I have never forgotten his open kindness and generosity, even Email: [email protected] long but you have all made it easy for though we barely knew one another, and such people are becoming rarer by the day. Address: 9 Wylde Green Road, me especially the great contributors! Sincerely, Grant Gibson Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB I look forward to telling you who the After seeing his photo, Grant was sure it was Jack—it couldn’t be anyone else! Tel: 01213556351 next editor will be in my final edition. Will it be you? Brenda 30 3 Boundary Post Summer 2016 Boundary Post Summer 2016 Chairman’s This is a result of the generous donations by many members and Future Work Parties Notes supporters, in addition to the insurance from Charley payment. This much larger trailer still August 13th - Titford canal with the "Challenge." 10 am start. requires some upgrading, for which we Johnston have funds. When the upgrade is September 3rd - Tipton Pre-Rally Clean up. finished, we will be able to resume a full service. Thank you to those who helped Coronation Gardens, Tipton. Looking back, we have had a full and with finding, funding and fixing. successful couple of months – a lot of BCNS events that have gone well – Looking forward, a big change looms. Spring cruise, Explorer cruises, Titford Brenda Ward, who has done such an Yet Another Wonderful Explorer Cruise Rally, the Marathon Challenge. Many outstanding job editing and publishing thanks to those who have put in so Boundary Post for the last 12 years has …….. never mind the Weather!! much hard work. decided that the time has come to step down. She will do so at the end of the Even thunder, lightening, torrential rain and rubbish round the prop couldn't detract The BCN work party crew have been year.