NABOThe Magazine of the National NewsAssociation of Boat Owners Issue 6 December 2014 FAQ NARROWBOATS K&A MOORING TRIAL UPDATE TOWPATH WINTER MOORING PERMITS NABO News The magazine of the National Association of Boat Owners Issue 6 December 2014 Table of contents Cover photo 5 Editor's Column This month’s 6 Chairman’s Column—Report to AGM cover photo 10 Flies on the Walls is an evoca- 11 A tribute to Sonia Rolt tive image of 12 News: L&L Restoration, HS2 winter moor- 13 Aylesbury Facilities ing from Gillie 14 Bridge and Aqueduct Repairs Rhodes 15 CRT Snippets flickr.com/ 17 Boating: Bugsworth Memories photos/loves- 18 FAQ Narrowboats truck 22 Talking Points: Towpath Winter Mooring Win a year’s Permit Debate free member- 23 Rented Boats, Thefts and Cyclists ship by having 24 K&A Mooring Trial Update your photo se- 26 Crick Poem by Jo Bell lected for the front cover of NABO News. Please 27 Crossword, I Name this Boat email photos as JPEG attachments, ideally por- 28 Rewind—Past NABO News trait format with a file size of 2MB or larger. 29 Winter Quiz 30 Letters NABO calendar 2015 Dates for Council Meetings in 2015: 24th Contributions January, 14th March, 25th April, 13th June, 25th July (if required), 5th September, 17th October, Articles, letters, cartoons and photos are most 14th November (AGM). welcome. Images and photos in JPEG format Council meetings are held at boat clubs in the please. Midlands area. The venue for the January meet- Contributions to [email protected] ing will be the Wolverhampton Boat Club - see Next NABO News copy date the website for details. Remember that members are welcome to attend meetings – please just Please email or post your contributions by let the Secretary or Chairman know in advance 31st January, 2015 (contact details p4) NABO News is published by the National Association of Boat Owners PO Box 104, Leyland PR25 9AN Editor: Peter Fellows Production: Chris Pink Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the contents of this newsletter are factually correct, we accept no liability for any direct or consequential loss arising from any action taken by anyone as a result of reading anything contained in this publication. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Association. The products and services advertised in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the Association. CRT Emergency No: 0800 4799947 EA Emergency No: 0800 807060 4 The NABO Council Regional Representatives: Chairman NW Waterways Mike Rodd Richard Carpenter (details left) 16 The Garlings, Aldbourne, North East, Yorkshire and Humber Marlborough,Wiltshire SN8 2DT Share Owners’ Representative 07831 860199 Howard Anguish [email protected] 2 Broadley Croft, Welton, Brough, East Yorks Vice Chair and Mooring HU15 1TD 01482 669 876 Mark Tizard [email protected], [email protected] 0203 4639806 London Waterways [email protected] Simon Robbins Treasurer Nb Centurion, Kensal Green Moorings, Ladbroke Stephen Peters Grove W10 4SR 0208 9644 516 325 Alcester Road, Birmingham B47 6JG [email protected] 01564 824927 South East [email protected] Geoff Wood Legal Affairs 07968 491118 [email protected] Geoffrey Rogerson Southern Waterways 51 High Path Road, Guildford, GU1 2QQ Andy Colyer 07768 736593 [email protected] [email protected] Rivers News Editor Stephen Peters (details left) Peter Fellows Midlands Waterways 19 High Street, Bonsall, Derbyshire, DE4 2AS David S. Fletcher (details left) 01629 825267 [email protected] East Midlands Waterways Webmaster, NAG (operations) and BSS Rep. Joan Jamieson David S. Fletcher 60 Waddington Drive, Wilford Hill, Nottingham 35 Williamson Drive, Nantwich CW5 5GJ NG2 7GX, 0115 981 2047 07719 276659 [email protected] [email protected] Technical, BSS and MCA Representative Anglian Waterways Trevor Rogers vacant 12 Greenham Mill, Newbury, Berks RG14 5QW [email protected] 01635 550891 or 07990 594221 Welsh Waterways [email protected] Mike Rodd (details left) Continuous Cruising The Thames Phil Goulding Louis Jankel 24 St Brannocks Park Road, Ilfracombe, EX34 07831 197171 [email protected] 8HX. 01271 865340 Graham Paterson [email protected] 0118 986 3959 [email protected] Dennis Hill General Sec, Promotion and Recruitment 07973 638866 [email protected] Richard Carpenter Additional Contacts Mill House End Farm, Leyland, Lancashire PR26 9HB 07989 441674 or 01772 600886 Assistant For The Disabled [email protected] vacant [email protected] NABO Online Administration Sue Burchett facebook.com/master.nabo Richard Carpenter [email protected] Bookkeeping Twitter @NABO_Official Helen Hutt John Slee 07831 682092 [email protected] NABO News Issue 6 December 2014 5 The Editor’s Column Let’s end the year on a high Editor Peter Fellows in ebuliant mood t’s nice to end the year on several is summarised by Mark Tizard. So positive notes: I’m pleased that £2 altogether, plenty to get your teeth Imillion has been earmarked to re- into during the coming cold winter store the historic Mile Wharf on the evenings. Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Burnley. NABO News was favourably We cruised past it in the summer commented on by members at the and commented then on the dis- AGM and, in this last issue of the graceful state it’s in. year, I would like to thank the team Although there are some big im- of proof-readers who correct my provements taking place in Burnley, wayward grammar, Chris Pink for there is plenty more to do so this is working his design magic, and of welcome news. There was other pos- course all the members who send itive news at the AGM last month, me photos, letters and articles— with Mike Rodd giving a summary without these contributions it would of the year’s achievements, reported be a much poorer newsletter. Until in this issue. Dean Davies gave us his the next issue in February, have an Don't try this at home; RCR views on how CRT can improve its enjoyable Christmas and best wishes rescue during last winter's customer service in an engaging and from all the Council members for floods refreshingly candid way. 2015. Photo: RCR River Canal Rescue’s Charlotte Perry and J Forman gave a very good presentation to the AGM on their work and answered some very tech- nical questions from the members who were present—it’s a pity there weren’t more attending. I was famil- iar with RCR’s breakdown service, but not with its technical courses and online chandlery. NABO has ne- gotiated a reduced membership fee for our members and this discount applies to parts bought in the chan- dlery too—more details in the next issue. Further positive news in this is- sue: the HS2 diversion away from Fradley; new facilities for visiting boaters in Aylesbury; and a round- up of developments at CRT. Louis Jankel has written the first of an occasional series of articles on frequently-asked questions about narrowboats, and there are updates on the K&A mooring trial from Geoffrey Rogerson. The debate over towpath winter mooring permits NABO News Issue 6 December 2014 6 The Chairman’s Column Chairman’s report to the AGM Chairman Mike Rodd's reflections on the NABO year past and future aving admired the work of the unique, vibrant places of historic NABO ever since we bought importance that now offer a unique Hour first boat some 16 years environment for living and relaxa- ago, I was delighted to be invited tion. As a boat owner and active trip to join the Council. I didn’t quite boat operator, I had truly felt alien- tumble to what David had in mind, ated by BW’s senior management, though, when I soon discovered that although I was always able to work he was planning to stand down after well with their excellent local staff. five years as the Chairman! His are This attitude at the top of the or- huge boots to step into, but what a ganisation badly needed to change pleasure and huge privilege it has if CRT was to succeed, and I believe proved to be, being able to work we are being instrumental in work- with such an amazing bunch of to- ing towards bringing this about. tally committed and highly profes- sional boaters! I must start by thank- Focus of NABO’s work ing David for his wonderful support NABO has established itself as a and for always being there—not only well-respected organisation, fierce- to give sage advice but to continue ly independent but always basing to participate in everything we do. I its activities on the input of many will refer to this further as we look at committed and knowledgeable boat activities through the year. owners. As members, you will know that we have invested heavily in re- NABO’s relationship with CRT cent years in obtaining the best pos- Being perfectly frank, having been sible legal advice on matters to do involved in establishing the very first with licensing requirements. We trial CRT Waterways Partnership, have been almost alone in this, and it I realised right from the start that has put us into a strong, and indeed my major contribution should be leadership, position in countering to try to ensure that NABO was many of BW’s excesses. fully engaged with, and respected With the change from BW to by, CRT and its senior staff. I real- CRT, we, as your Council, felt that it ised this was potentially dangerous would be appropriate to make much as we might well sometimes be seen of our legal advice publicly available, as having become CRT’s puppets.