Towing Path Topics

The newsletter of the Lancashire and Cumbria Branch

of the Inland Waterways Association

January 2016

January 2016

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Towing Path Topics are not necessarily

those of The Inland Waterways Association or of its North West Region or of the Lancs and Cumbria Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgment.

Cover Illustration: 'Our Bridge'

The bridge to which North Lancs & Cumbria Branch (as it was then) contributed spans the Ribble Link at its junction with the Lancaster Canal. Line drawing by Celia Lockley from a photograph taken by David M Smith.

Photograph acknowledgements: Pages 22, 23 Madeline’s medal - Tony Dunning Pages14, 15 L&L plaques - David Smith Pages 17, 18, 32 Lancaster Canal - Frank Sanderson Pages 19, 20 Lancaster dinghy rally – David Faulkner The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.

Editor: David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk

Copy date for next edition 12th April 2016

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Contents

Page

5 Branch Chairman’s report

6 Region Chairman’s report

8 Branch activities in 2015

9 Branch social activities

11 Leeds & Liverpool Bicentenary

13 L&LCS Calendar

14 L&L plaques

17 Lancaster Canal Clean up

18 Lancaster Canal dinghy rally

20 Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

22 Medal for Madeline

25 Notice of 2016 AGM inc previous minutes & accounts

30 Branch Committee

32 Branch social programme

Summary of upcoming events January 2016

28th Branch meeting in Preston

February 25th Branch meeting and AGM in Colne

March

31st Branch meeting in Preston

April

16th -17th Saltaire World Heritage Weekend 28th Joint meeting with L&LCS, part of 200th anniversary 30th – 2nd May Skipton Canal Festival

June

26th Dinghy Rally, Holme on Lancaster Canal 3

Welcome to the first ‘Towing Path Topics’ of 2016 (Oh boy! Can it really be 2016 already? It doesn’t seem long since we are worrying about the Millennium Bug.) I hope you had a good Christmas and that you have a happy and healthy year ahead. First, I must apologise for a clanger in the last edition - I did not give the times of the monthly meetings. The programme starts at 7.30pm but tea and coffee are available from 7.00 so come early for a chat. Our new social secretary Wendy has put together a very good programme of talks, it is a pity that more of you do not come to listen. You will see later that Wendy Humphreys is wearing several important hats at the moment. She cannot continue doing so much; we hope that one or more branch members will come forward to assist; even just joining the committee will help. This edition of TPT is the one where we give formal notice of the AGM due in February. We would like to see plenty of branch members there to show your support for the committee. Don’t worry, you won’t get press-ganged into anything you don’t want. 2016 is a very significant year because it marks the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. We and other IWA branches will be working with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, the Canal and River Trust and others to publicise this anniversary in order to remind people of the important heritage, leisure and wildlife treasure that they have in their midst. We will not forget the Lancaster Canal of course. There is a dinghy rally planned for June to remind people of another treasure in their midst. The long term aim is to restore the canal to Kendal. Do not think it is an impossible dream - when I first started to attend branch meetings 40 years ago we had talks about restoration of both the Rochdale and the Huddersfield Canals. It seemed an impossible task but now you can boat the full length of both of them. Fortunately, due to the IWA and others, we have not had to restore the L&L Canal! We will keep you informed by email of new events planned, if we haven’t got your email address please let us know. Otherwise look in the next TPT due out in May. 4 David Faulkner

Report of the Branch Chairman

Firstly let me explain why this report is coming from me, Wendy Humphreys and not Alan Davies. Alan has resigned as chairman as he has too many other commitments related to his voluntary work with a Housing Association, this is a great loss to the committee although Alan will continue to attend meetings when he can and I have offered to be the chairman until the AGM in February. As you will know I have been the branch treasurer for 20 years but the rules of the IWA will not allow me to continue to be both chairman and treasurer so maybe someone else will volunteer to step into one of those roles, or two people to do both!

Perhaps this is a good time to say how much we rely on the committee to keep our branch running and make a plea for anyone who is interested in helping out on the committee to make yourselves known to us, we meet every two months and there is always lunch first.

During this year we were fortunate to have two new members join our committee or perhaps I should say old ones returning! These are David Faulkner who used to be our secretary many years ago and who has volunteered to be our magazine editor and is doing really well with that, thanks to David for this. We were also joined by Audrey Smith who most of you will know, so the branch committee is a little stronger but we still would welcome new members. We still need a press officer to spread the word about what the branch is doing and a sales officer to attend events with a sales stand to help raise funds for the branch.

This has been an eventful year for the Lancs and Cumbria branch of the IWA, we have had an active social programme although some of our meetings have not been as well attended as we would have liked. However all the meetings have been really interesting and those who have attended have enjoyed the opportunity to meet friends and like-minded people, to chat and to listen to the speakers. For those members who do not attend the meetings I would urge you to give it a try, you never know you might enjoy it. Until April our meetings were organised by Tony Dunning and my thanks go to him for all the hard work he carried out in organising these meetings.

We have had a Balsam Bash which contributed to IWA nationally winning a Living Waterways Award, thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this.

In June we had the IWA National Trail Boat Festival in our area, the festival was organised by the Lancaster Canal Trust but some of our members helped both before and after the event and the event itself was a huge success. 5

One of our members and our past chair was nominated by the branch for a Richard Bird medal and we were very pleased to hear that she had received the medal, well done to Madeline Dean for all the support you have given to IWA over the years.

We donated £500 to WRG for their van appeal and received a letter of thanks from them. I would like to thank all the people who work hard at branch events to help us raise funds so that we can continue to make these kinds of donations.

We have a new Region Chair, our former chair Alan Platt resigned after serving for three years, my thanks to him for all the help, advice and support he has provided to us over those three years. Alan has been replaced by Mike Carter and we all look forward to working with Mike in the future.

Next year will be an equally busy and interesting year, it is the bicentenary of the opening of the Leeds Liverpool Canal and there will be lots of activities and events relating to that, not organised by us but we will help when we can. There is also the prospect of the Dinghy Rally on the remainder length of the Lancaster Canal; plenty to keep us busy.

Next year we will continue to work with other canal societies and with the Canal and River Trust where we can.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the committee and all of the people who support them; I would like to thank those people who turn up to meetings and events, especially those who turn up to help, thanks for your support, without you we couldn’t carry on.

I am looking forward to the AGM and hope to see as many people there as possible.

Wendy Humphreys

Report from the Region Chairman Firstly I would like to thank my predecessor Alan Platt for all his work and dedication over the last 6 years as IWA North West Regional Chairman. I hope to emulate the high standards he has set for the role. Please do bear with me if I get things wrong in the early days. I don't want to bore you with a complicated autobiography. So I hope you will be content with my wife's description that I am canal mad, spending much more time volunteering on the canals and working on the boat than I should, with a tendency to go on and on enthusing about waterways and canal boats. 6

So let’s get started. I have taken on the role of Regional Chairman with a few primary aims, one of which is to promote communications between IWA 'officers' and you the membership, so please don't hesitate to collar me or your local branch committee, send emails, letters, whatever media you prefer to tell us your views. Here are a few things that, I hope you will agree, we should be talking about:

Increasing the profile of IWA and promoting our aims and objectives. Not only to attract new members and supporters but to make the public aware of the simple facts. IWA was primarily responsible for 'saving' the canals and waterways for the benefit of the nation and we continue to campaign for improvements, restorations and heritage conservation. No matter how you caveat this, it’s true.... This needs to be a message we carry around with us as we talk to people about the great joy that our waterways bring to everyone.

Involving and educating local communities. Promoting the benefits of their canals and waterways. I have spent many hours working with schools and local community volunteers who now view their local canal as a highly valued place, worth taking time to look after. Specifically in the more urban areas we are starting to see communities taking ownership and getting so much more from their waterway experiences.

Getting more value from our Navigation Authorities and Local Councils. It’s not acceptable for the Navigation Authorities and Local Councils to work in isolation. Local Authorities must commit resources to maintain their local waterway communities and environment as part of their development plans. We can see many areas where waterways have provided the catalyst for urban regeneration however we must continue to be vigilant and campaign to ensure that such developments are not only compatible with the local waterway heritage but also contribute to the communities in the area so that waterway users and boaters are considered.

Your committee must be commended on doing an excellent job and you must continue to help them to ensure this success continues by supporting all the exciting events and work parties planned for the area which are listed elsewhere in this newsletter.

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I hope that you had a good Christmas and my best wishes for the New Year. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your thoughts on how we can make our waterways special places for everyone. Mike Carter IWA North West Region Chairman mike.carter@waterways.org.uk

Branch Activities in 2015

On the social side, the year started with the January meeting in Preston when Graham Holland, CRT’s National Asset Strategy Manager gave a very interesting talk on Assets and Dredging.

The February meeting held in Colne was the AGM followed by a talk by Martyn Clapham and some fascinating slides, “Updates to Edmund Barstow’s Photographic Slides”, comparing old and new.

In March it was Ivor Caplan, in Preston talking about RBOA (Residential Boat Owners Association) and Living Aboard with the Current Challenges.

The meeting in April was back in Colne and was Peter Scott, talking about Sir Peter Scott, CH, CBE, DSC*, FRS, FZS, artist, conservationist, Olympic yachtsman, wild fowler and much more. A man of many talents and a very interesting talk by his namesake.

We had the usual break during the summer months and the new season started with a new Social Secretary. The topics of the meetings were The Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal - Through Time (September); Lancaster Canal Past and Present (October) and in November the Canal du Midi.

It wasn’t all a summer break as we had a Balsam Bash in July on the Lancaster Canal at Haslam Park where a team of volunteers managed to clear several bags of Balsam from the Canal towing path.

Then there was the IWA National Trailboat Festival held in June at the Westmoreland Showground, this was organised by the Lancaster Canal Trust but IWA members helped and a lot of members attended.

During 2015 we also held our bi monthly committee meetings preceded by lunch and a chance to catch up on news.

We commented on various planning applications relevant to the canals in our area.

We gave advice and support to members about issues affecting them relating to the Inland Waterways.

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We attended many Canal and River Trust meetings to gain information and put forward the views of our members.

We received a new member to our committee, David Faulkner who offered to produce Towing Path Topics and we produced 3 copies during the year, these help to keep our members in touch with what we are doing.

We also had Audrey Smith, past National Chairman and IWA Trustee attending our committee meetings and at the last one offering to be co-opted to the committee.

Sadly one of our long standing members, David Smith became too ill to continue to attend our meetings.

Alan Davies resigned as chairman due to other commitments although he will remain on the committee. Wendy Humphreys offered to act as chair until the AGM in February.

Some of our members helped with Kennet, the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society’s boat and we joined them in planning activities for the bicentenary year 2016 and offered to help them when we can. Our past secretary Gillian Smith attended one of our meetings to talk about the bicentenary and has offered to be the North West IWA link with the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society to help in coordinating the bicentenary year.

We donated £500 the Waterways Recovery Group Van appeal.

We continued to administer the Leeds Liverpool Plaques for those travelling the Canal from end to end.

We are working with CRT to provide mooring rings near Chorley using money from a bequest.

A group is organising a Dinghy Rally on the Lancaster for next year and we will be heading up that group.

We have continued meeting with the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership although progress is very slow.

Our past chairman, Madeline Dean won a Richard Bird medal after a nomination from the Branch.

Branch social activities

The social meeting event in September was held at the Peter Birtwistle Community Centre in Colne, it included, a raffle, an update of what is happening in the IWA locally, an opportunity to chat with fellow members and of course the highlight of the evening was a talk by Dr. Paul Hindle, Chairman of the Manchester Bolton Bury Canal Society. 9

The talk was entitled “The Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal - Through Time” and Paul accompanied his talk with fascinating slides showing various places on the canal and how they have changed over the years. Paul also gave us an update on progress on the canal and the efforts of the working parties currently working on the canal plus some slides of the famous Meccano Bridge and Meccano benches and tables. I would highly recommend a visit to the viewing area if you haven’t seen it already. In October our social meeting was held in Preston at St Andrews Church Hall. This was a joint meeting with the Lancaster Canal Trust and attracted so many people that we had to move from our usual room into the much larger hall and we ran out of biscuits! The speaker was Richard Trevitt, past chairman of the Lancaster Canal Trust. He gave an interesting talk on the Lancaster Canal and showed us a selection of slides from the Trust’s vast collection. There was also a good discussion at the end of the talk. Then there was the raffle and the usual opportunity to chat with fellow canal enthusiasts as well as an opportunity to purchase IWA Christmas cards from the sales stand ably manned by one of my grandsons. In November we were back in Colne with a replenished supply of biscuits. This time the talk was given by Gillian Bolt secretary of Chester and Merseyside branch of the IWA and we were very grateful to her and her husband Peter for travelling all the way from Chester on a not particularly good evening to talk to us. This time the subject was not related to British Canals but was about the Canal du Midi where Gillian, Peter and another couple had hired a boat for what looked like a very enjoyable and fun holiday. The talk was really informative about the canal and the engineer who built it, Pierre Paul Riquet. I think I wasn’t the only one to be surprised at the age of the canal. They even found that there is a plaque from the IWA placed at the summit feeder level in 1981 celebrating the 300th anniversary of the canal, although unfortunately they didn’t know about it when they sailed past, but they were able to show us a picture. Peter and Gillian had to head off on the long journey home after a question and answer session so they missed the raffle and the IWA news update but they got home safely. Our next talk is on January 28th and I hope you will be able to come along, listen to an interesting speaker, find out what is happening locally with the IWA, enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit, chat to fellow canal enthusiasts and maybe even win a raffle prize. We look forward to seeing you. 10 Wendy Humphreys

LEEDS & LIVERPOOL CANAL BICENTENARY CELEBRATIONS (1816-2016) The following is based on a CRT press release, only brief mention that its predecessors wanted to close the canal 50 years ago but were thwarted by the IWA and others.

Canal enthusiasts across the country start a year of celebrations this month to mark the bicentenary of the completion of Britain’s longest single man-made waterway, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, on 22 October 1816. A heritage mile marker project, a new choral symphony, the pioneering Desmond Family Coast to Coast Canoe Trail, the Super Slow Way arts project and dozens of festivals and events will mark the special 200th anniversary year along the canal’s 127 mile route. The celebrations will be led by the Canal & River Trust, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, the Inland Waterways Association and the 12 boroughs through which it travels. These will culminate in October 2016, with the awarding-winning, heritage education boat, Kennet, run by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, re-creating the first complete trans-Pennine journey along the canal by the merchants of Yorkshire and Lancashire 200 years ago. The original five day journey in 1816 represented a triumph of grit and determination for getting the job done. There were numerous debates about the exact route of the canal. Construction began in 1770 at either end and by 1777 the canal was open from Leeds to Gargrave and from Liverpool to Parbold. At this stage the money ran out and worked stopped until 1790. The route was then altered to take in the growing industrial towns of East Lancashire but it was not until 1816 that the last section between Wigan and Johnson’s Hillock, near Chorley, was finished, finally creating a trans-Pennine link between the two great cities. In its heyday, the canal carried cotton, coal, wool, limestone, sugar and other vital commodities through the rapidly expanding industrial communities of Lancashire and Yorkshire. From the Second World War onwards, it suffered declining cargo traffic and narrowly escaped closure in the 1970s. Two hundred years on, the canal is still cherished but now as an oasis for wildlife, a thriving centre for tourism, recreation and leisure and a catalyst for regeneration.

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To leave a lasting legacy, we are launching a major project EveryMileCounts to replace the missing or severely damaged mile markers which have been lost from the canalside over the last two centuries. We are very excited to work with local communities who want to be involved with refurbishing or replacing mile markers, and are looking for sponsors who would give £200, in our 200th year, to help with this important legacy project.” Mike Clarke, Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society president and canal historian, is publishing an updated version of his book “The History of The Leeds & Liverpool Canal” and will be giving several illustrated talks during the year. He said: “It was the opening of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal which encouraged the development of the textile industries in Lancashire and West Yorkshire. For many years, they were the mainstay of Britain's economic development so the Leeds & Liverpool can rightly be said to be the most historically significant canal in the country. In 2016 we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the canal's completion and reflect upon its importance to both the towns and cities it connects, and to the country as a whole. Today there are fewer industries along its banks, but the canal still gives many benefits to communities along its route. Today there are opportunities for leisure where once hard labour prevailed, and the towpath is open to all.” Any organisation or volunteer who would like to get involved in the bicentenary celebrations, should contact Canal & River Trust project manager Sarah Knight, email sarah.knight@canalrivertrust.org.uk

More details Events:

April 16&17 Saltaire World Heritage Weekend April 30-May 2 Skipton Canal Festival June 10-12 Eldonian Village Canal Festival, Liverpool June 18&19 Burscough Heritage Weekend July 23&24 Blackburn Canal Festival August 27-29 Burnley Canal Festival October 16 World premiere of the Super Slow Way Symphony performed in Blackburn October 15-23 Kennet recreates inaugural voyage along the full length of the canal.

Milestones: The CRT is looking for groups and individuals to get involved with the ‘200 for 200’ project to restore all the milestones along the canal. Suggestions include 200 hours of voluntary work, fundraise £200, collect 200 bags of towpath litter, or just donate £200. The best projects will be able to apply for the Bicentenary awards held in October 2016. Extract from a letter to CRT from IWA Region Chairman ‘We welcome the opportunity to support the Canal & River Trust Heritage Lottery bid for Leeds & Liverpool Canal Milestones project. This milestones restoration project will be a major contribution, using both heritage and conservation measures, to help and enthuse the communities that live and use the canal along its 127 mile journey linking Liverpool to Leeds. The restoration of the mileposts, originally installed some 200 years ago, will not only reinstate a valuable heritage asset but will provide this trans Pennine waterway with a unique visual indicator binding the communities along the way, reminding all of the important role this canal played in the establishment of trade and prosperity in the area.’

Super Slow Way

This is an Arts Council project focused in Pennine Lancs. A 3 part choral piece has been commissioned to be performed during October 2016 in Leeds, Liverpool and Blackburn.

2016 Leeds & Liverpool Canal Calendar The L&LCS have told us that their calendar to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Canal is now available. It is a desktop calendar containing the winning pictures from their photographic competition at the very reasonable price of £2.50p. If it is impractical for them to be collected or delivered by hand they will post them to you. Please send your order by email or post as follows:- By email to leeds.liverpool.canal.soc@gmail.com with 2016 Calendar Order in the Subject. Please enclose your contact details for delivery and confirmation that the appropriate payment has been paid by Bank Transfer into the Society's Account (Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, sort code: 08-92-99, account number 65567481) with the word "CAL along with your INITIAL & SURNAME" as the Reference. 13

By post to L&LCS Calendar, c/o 2 Cross Lane Mill, Bradley, Keighley, BD20 9QB. Please enclose your contact information for delivery. A cheque for the appropriate payment made out to Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society to be enclosed with the order.

Kennet wins award Congratulations to the L&L Canal Society for gaining the CRT’s Living Waterways Award for Education and Learning for their work with their boat ‘Kennet’. It recognises many years of hard work preparing the boat and its exhibitions by a dedicated band of volunteers. Help is always needed of course, even if only for a couple of hours on exhibition days.

Promoting our local waterway Way back in 1998 your branch committee decided something should be done to encourage more boaters to cross the summit of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and to that end they commissioned a plaque which could be purchased by any boater who had travelled the entire length of the canal in a 12 month period. This meant travelling from Office Lock, Leeds to the Eldonian Village, Liverpool or vice-versa.

British Waterways were persuaded to support this initiative financially - in return for their logo being on the plaque alongside the IWA’s logo. 100 plaques were duly designed and produced at a cost of £350. Branch member, Graham Eastwood volunteered to administer the scheme and this he did for many years.

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By 2009 the stock of plaques was low and your committee agreed to re-order. Sadly, British Waterways were unwilling to support us financially and so the design had to be amended so that only the IWA’s logo was used. Once this was done a further 100 plaques were ordered with the first of this new edition being available in March 2010. With the opening of the Liverpool Link in April 2009 there came requests from boaters for a plaque to commemorate passage of the Link and so heads were scratched and sketches were produced until a new design was agreed incorporating the Liver Bird – what else?

So it was that in January 2010 a modest number [50] of the Liverpool Link plaque were ordered with British Waterways publicising the plaque in the Boaters’ Pack issued to all who booked passage.

The first batch went quickly and a further 100 were ordered in January 2011. By mid-summer 2014 only a few Liverpool Link plaques remained under David’s desk so I arranged for the production of a further 100. David took over the administration of both plaques in 2011 and, despite being a computer novice, produced a spread sheet recording all plaques issued since then. His records show the following take-up:

Year Liv Link Trans Pennine

2011 46 11

2012 21 4

2013 12 2

2014 17 9

2015 (to 30/11) 37 16

Clearly we need to market our product more effectively! Plaques have been posted to local boaters and to those who live many miles from our Branch area. Here are a few examples – Yaxham, Norfolk; Perranport, Cornwall and Anglesey. It is fascinating to look at the addresses and wonder how far some of these crews have travelled, which route they have taken and then I find myself wondering “Where exactly do they keep their boat?” 2016 sees the Bi-centenary of the completion of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and along with other IWA branches, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society and CRT North West we shall be celebrating the survival of the country’s longest single canal throughout the year. Do come and help us – we need you! Meanwhile - I think I need to order some more Trans-Pennine plaques! Audrey Smith

Branch Donates £500 to the WRG Van Appeal The Waterway Recover Group has launched an appeal to raise £120,000 for the purchase of 4 new vans. The current vans are in good condition but are reaching a “tipping point” where maintenance costs will start to escalate. The vans have been a vital part of WRG’s operations since the beginning. Without them the right materials and the right people wouldn’t be able to get to where they are most needed across the country. WRG have lots of ideas for fundraising, you can visit www.wrg.org.uk/wrgvanappeal to find out more. A substantial amount has already been raised, you can check the IWA website for an up to date amount. Lancs and Cumbria branch committee decided on behalf of our members to donate £500 from branch funds towards the appeal and WRG have asked that their thanks be passed to all members of the branch, they are very grateful for every donation which helps them reach their target. So on behalf of WRG many thanks to each and every branch member. 16

Hincaster Tunnel clean up on Lancaster Canal Between the 23rd and 31st October the Lancaster Canal Trust and Waterway Recovery Group carried out a major clean up in the vicinity of Hincaster tunnel. The work was essential to enable the eventual rewatering of this section of canal.

Overgrown and dense stands of larch trees were trimmed and felled. Larch trees are subject to die back, and after an extensive survey by English Nature and the Environment Agency, the Canal & River Trust, owners of this section, had marked certain trees for felling due to age and possible future problems. Larch was planted as a cash crop by the early canal builders and had all manner of canal side uses. Lock gates, stop planks, even canal side furniture and fencing. As commercial use of the canal diminished, vegetation was not managed. Many trees have come to the end of their life, and are becoming dangerous.

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All good timber was set aside for use by local firms and the brash, small branches etc., fed into a giant chipper and returned to the environment. The work will leave the popular horse path walk, designated as an ancient monument, open to sunlight, allowing native species, oak, hawthorn, blackthorn bushes that provide food for birds, and wild flowers to grow in profusion.

Frank Sanderson

Dinghy Rally on the Lancaster Canal IWA Lancs & Cumbria are heading up a team which is planning a Dinghy Rally on the 26th June 2016, make sure you put the date in your diaries. It is many years since a Dinghy Rally was held on the Lancaster and you won’t want to miss this one! Other members of the team are from the Lancaster Canal Trust, the Owd Lanky Boaters Group and the local Council and we are at the beginning of planning the event. So far we have a venue which is by bridge 151 on the remainder stretch of the Lancaster Canal at Holme near Carnforth, a date which is Sunday 26th June and a time which will be from 10am to 5 or 6pm. We need to do a lot more but are all working hard at organising the event.

I am writing this in December but by the time you are reading this we will have a website where you will be able to find out a lot more information about what will be there and also find a booking form. I haven’t got the address yet but just search Holmedinghyrally and I am sure you will find it. We hope to attract as many as 30 dinghies and non powered craft to the event. There will be competitions, a parade and many other fun activities. The week before Colin Ogden will be towing his boat Whimbrel along the route of the canal to Kendal to publicise the event. Let’s not forget the purpose of the dinghy rally is to have fun but it is also more importantly to draw attention to the remainder length of the Lancaster Canal and to promote interest in the restoration and reopening of the canal. Don’t forget to put the date in your diaries and if you want to help and/or have any stories about previous dinghy rallies please let us know.

Wendy Humphreys

(Well, Wendy since you asked, here are a couple of photos from the Northern Reaches dinghy rally held in April 1989, Ed)

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Lancaster

Canal

Regeneration

Partnership

The restoration of the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal has been considered for many years. Since the 1960s the Lancaster Canal Trust and the Inland Waterways Association, recognising the value of inland waterways, have lobbied for the restoration of this stretch to navigable standard.

Efforts to see the canal restored were strengthened in the 1990s, by the formation of the Northern Reaches Restoration Group, now renamed the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership, (LCRP), a partnership which now includes South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council, Kendal Town Council, Canal and River Trust, the Inland Waterways Association, Lancaster County Council, Lancaster City Council and other interested groups.

The LCRP is currently chaired by Hal Bagot and its vision is to have a fully restored and well maintained navigable canal running from Preston to Kendal.

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The waterway corridor will provide boating opportunities for the community, a canal that is ecologically rich with plants and wildlife, a historical asset, a quality walking and cycling canal trail, and a well-supported fishing resource. It will contribute positively to the health and well-being of the community and to the local economy by providing jobs based on tourism. The vision statement will be available on the Lancaster Canal Trust web site in the near future.

Items currently considered by the partnership include the employment of a project worker whose aim is to develop a multi-use trail along the Northern Reaches of the canal; making local MP’s aware of the restoration project; considering local plans and how they might impact on restoration; sharing ideas on how the partnership can best promote the restoration of the Northern Reaches.

The partnership is currently looking for a new Chairman as after 18 years in the role, Hal Bagot wants to pass the job on to someone else and have a well-deserved rest.

The Inland Waterways Association is represented at the partnership, nationally by Audrey Smith, OBE, Vice President of IWA, and locally by Wendy Humphreys from IWA Lancs& Cumbria Branch who recently replaced David Smith who had represented the local IWA branch on the partnership for many years.

Water Water everywhere. We are constantly being warned that global warming will result in extreme weather and floods, and if that is correct, we need to plan for it. Which includes dredging. Serious flooding took place in Cumbria and flood defences were built based on a 100 year storm prediction. But if global warming accelerates this, that prediction was out of date. So, 6 years later, the December 2015 floods prove the point. Because the Pennines are a vast watershed and all western rivers have to pass under the Lancaster canal in the many aqueducts. Water engineers of the Lancaster canal were working against the clock, taking water from upstream and passing it down the canal in an effort to help the flood situation upstream. If the canal was still a water conduit from Kendal, this would have helped the flooding by a significant margin.

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It is imperative that we rebuild our canals. The government state that, for every £1 spent, they expect £8 back in environmental and social gain. £30 million was spent on the Kennet and Avon and it now generates almost £100 million per year, and is a constant delight to everyone. Plus being able to be used in any emergency. It only takes common sense to see the advantages, so why are we waiting? Frank Sanderson

Medal for Madeline At the September AGM our very own Madeline Dean was presented with a Richard Bird medal

The medal is awarded to members whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period of time. Madeline was our branch sales officer for 17 years and also served as chairman and vice chairman. Since 1980 there was hardly a branch activity at which Madeline was not present in some capacity. The medal also recognises her work nationally, contributing significantly to Trailboat and Campaign festivals held on the Lancaster canal.

Many moons ago, when I was editor of 'Towing Path Topics' (writes Janet Dunning), Madeline sent me what she thought was her last report as

Branch Sales Officer (little did she know that she'd take up the role again one day). Not surprisingly, my spell checker didn't recognise the word 'Madeline' and offered me 'medallion' as an alternative. At the time I commented that perhaps my computer thought Madeline should be given a medal as she had been our Sales Officer for something like 17 years. 22

Now Madeline has been presented with a Richard Bird Medal for her services to IWA. Those of us who know Madeline are aware that she prefers to work quietly in the background and not star in the limelight. Therefore it was quite in character that she spent the morning of the National AGM in the kitchen as one of the team of volunteers who provided an excellent lunch for those who attended the meeting. Her moment of glory came during the awards ceremony after lunch when our National Chairman, Les Etheridge, presented her with her medal. Then I suspect, she retreated to the kitchen and the task of clearing up after the meal!

Fundraising Opportunity Following the introduction of the 5p plastic bag tax in England on 5th October, a fundraising opportunity has been identified for IWA to benefit from this new levy. The profit from the bags has to be given by the retailers to charitable causes. Some retailers will decide where the proceeds go on a national basis whilst others have confirmed that local charities will have the opportunity to put themselves forward to be recipients of the profit from the plastic bags. In Wales this tax was introduced several years ago, and retailers are operating a similar scheme. Where many IWA branches have the edge over other local charities is by holding litter picks and clean ups, to help clean up the plastic bags, amongst all the other rubbish, that are currently littering the waterways. 23

This branch has organised litter picks in the past, the last one at Brierfield on the Leeds & Liverpool. Your committee will no doubt be considering whether we can raise some money from those awful bags.

New Members Welcome to the following new members to the Branch. Mrs P Cairns, Kendal Mr E & Rev Dr J Nelson, Keswick Mr A & Mrs C F Brinklow, Rufford

If you have joined recently you will be included in our next edition.

Darrel Helliwell We have learned with regret that Darrel Helliwell died on 11 December. Darrel was a branch member and a former NW Region Chairman and IWA council member in the 80s and early 90s. He lived in Lytham but moved to Dacre, near Harrogate, some years ago.

Do not Walk on the Water There was not space to include the third episode of John Hewerdine’s account of purchasing a boat and moving to a canalside home. We should be able to include it in the next edition.

IWA LANCASHIRE & CUMBRIA BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Lancashire & Cumbria Branch

of the Inland Waterways Association will be held at the Peter Birtwistle Community Centre, 14 Keighley Road, Colne, BB8 0JL

on Thursday 25th February 2016 starting at 7:30pm.

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the AGM held on 26th February 2015

3. Matters arising from the minutes.

4. Chairman’s Report.

5. Treasurers Report and Presentation of the Accounts.

6. Election to the Committee

Under the three year rule Wendy Humphreys retires from the committee

and is willing and eligible for re-election. David Faulkner was co-opted to the committee during the year and is willing and eligible for re-election.

*****************

Nomination Form – Lancashire & Cumbria Branch

Volunteer / Nominee _________________________________Please print Signed Date Address Telephone Numbers Home Mobile E-mail Volunteers/Nominees must be an IWA member of this branch in good standing. Please return this form before Monday 22

nd February 2016 to:

Les Fragle, Brock Cottage, 6 Thistleton Road, Thistleton, Preston, PR4 3XA or by e-mail to lancsandcumbria@waterways.org.uk or presented to the above at the start of the AGM. Under the byelaws volunteering / nominations can be accepted from the floor at the AGM.

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IWA Lancashire and Cumbria Branch

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at 7-30 pm on

Thursday 26th February 2015 in Peter Birtwistle Community Centre, 14 Keighley Road, Colne, BB8 0JL

Branch Members Present: Martyn Clapham, Alan Davies,

Janet Dunning, Tony Dunning, David Faulkner, Les Fragle, Dorothy Hewerdine, John Hewerdine, Derek Humphreys, Wendy Humphreys, Audrey Smith

Apologies for Absence: Gordon Clapham, Pat Clapham, Anne Clark,

John Clark, Sharon Davies, Prof, John Farrington, Carol Hannigan, Dave Hannigan, Robert Irvine (on behalf of Forth & Clyde Society) Alan Platt (Region Chairman), Janet Ramsey, Peter Rivet, Brenda Rockall, Peter Simmonds, Gillian Smith, David Smith

Minutes of the 2014 AGM held on 27th February 2014 in St Andrew’s

Church Hall, Preston were before everyone present and acceptance was proposed by Martyn Clapham and Seconded by Les Fragle and agreed without dissent.

Matters arising: None.

Chairman's Report (Alan Davies): This report for the last couple of years

has mainly been about the changes from BW to CRT and how it has affected us in the North West. Mostly, I might add for the better. Relationships and cooperation have improved well.

Not everyone agrees with that view and we have lost one member who thinks entirely the opposite. He considers that the IWA nationally is too close to the CRT. I don't believe that you gain very much from shouting at people; persuasion is a better way to achieve your goals.

This year I want to concentrate on the Lancashire and Cumbria branch. We are heading for something of a melt down!

Our stalwart secretary and social secretary has had to take on far more work in producing the village newspaper where lives, following the death of the previous editor. He will not be able to devote the time and energy that he has done to maintaining our records and arranging our meetings. We need someone to fill his boots. Not necessarily both jobs but someone taking on either would be a massive help.

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David Smith has been our representative on the Lancaster Canal Restoration Partnership but is unable to continue following his recent illness. This does not meet that often but needs someone who knows the canal and can push hard to ensure that progress is maintained. At the moment the Lancaster Canal Trust seems to be doing all the work in that area and the other partners are using local government pressures as an excuse to defer everything.

I have already informed the committee that my work with Housing Associations is increasing and I intend to stand down as Chairman as soon as a replacement can be found. I will stay on the committee and do all that I can to assist my successor.

Other posts that require filling are Press Officer, (probably the least onerous of all the jobs) Environment Officer (keeping an eye out for planning applications that affects the waterways), Sales Officer (ensuring we have goods to sell at fêtes and festivals) and a Newsletter Editor (someone with a little computer knowledge to put together our branch newsletter two or three times a year).

For those of you who prefer to get out on the banks, the branch has signed up to adopt a length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The length is from the southern portal of Foulridge tunnel to lock 49. This is in partnership with a local building company so we should have plenty of support and a ready supply of materials from them or CRT. A schedule of work will be drawn up in the next few weeks and days arranged where everyone who is interested can come along and do as much or as little as they like. We are talking about planting shrubs and painting lock gates, perhaps cutting back over-growing vegetation and, of course, keeping the length clean and tidy. Manchester branch are very successful at this with twice monthly work parties and attracting 15 to 20 people to each.

I am sorry to harangue you all like this but, really, needs must. If we are unable to get more people to join us then the activities of the branch will have to be curtailed significantly. This would be a great shame for a branch that was once one of the strongest in the North-West.

The January edition of our magazine Towing Path Topics, has an excellent article about the various activities the branch has been involved in over the past year so I won't repeat them all here.

Finally, it falls to me to thank Tony Dunning for all that he has done over the years and wish him well in his new role with the magazine in Egremont. Wendy Humphreys for once again keeping our finances in apple pie order and all the current committee members for their contributions to debate and their efforts. 27

Treasurer's Report (Wendy Humphreys): See next page

The Treasurer presented the accounts and reported on the details of the Income and Expenditure shown for the year ending 2014. An opportunity was given to those attending to put questions to the Treasurer.

The acceptance of the accounts was proposed by Alan Davies, seconded by Tony Dunning and agreed without dissent.

Statement of Committee Size: The Committee consists of a minimum of

three elected members and the Region Chairman. There is no upper limit.

Election of Committee Members: Sharon Davies and David Smith retire

under the 3-year rule but are not seeking re-election. Alan Davies, Tony Dunning, Les Fragle retire under the 3-year rule and are willing to stand for re-election. Martyn Clapham was co-opted during 2014 for the year and is willing to stand for re-election. There were no other nominations. These nominations were proposed by Wendy Humphreys, seconded by David Faulkner and agreed without dissent.

There being no further business of the meeting closed at 8-20 p.m.

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IWA Lancs & Cumbria Branch Abbreviated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2014

2013 2014

£4,732.87 Total Income £3,555.18

£875.41 Total Expenditure £1,830.95

£3,857.46 Surplus £1,724.23

General Accumulated Funds

£7,129.44 Balance as at 1 January 2014 £10,986.90

£3.857.46 Surplus £1,724.23

£10,986.90 Balance at 31 December 2014 £12,711.13

Funds committed to specific causes

£5,644.45 Northern Reaches Fund £6,644.45

£5,342.45 Branch Funds £6,066.68

£10,986.90 Totals £12,711.13

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L&C Branch Committee 2015

Chairman (Temporary)

Wendy Humphreys Darwen

07763 561572 01254 703553

Vice Chairman Vacant

Secretary Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston

07946 702274 01995 672230

Treasurer Wendy Humphreys Darwen

07763 561572 01254 703553

Membership Secretary Les Fragle Thistleton, Preston

07946 702274 01995 672230

Environment and Planning

Shared by Secretary and Chairman

Publicity Vacant

Sales Vacant

Social Secretary See Treasurer

Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership

See Treasurer

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Wendy Humphreys

Lancaster Canal Trust Helen Thomas Carnforth

01524 735504

Region Chairman (ex officio)

Mike Carter

Wild over Water Vacant

Web Master Martyn Clapham Nelson

07710 468303

Editor – Towing Path Topics

David Faulkner Blackburn

07912 249265 01254 249265

Without portfolio Tony Dunning Egremont

07730 113894 01946 820875

30

NB

Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk We no longer publish addresses. If you want to write to us please use the editor’s address (page 2).

Venues for branch meetings

Preston

St Andrew's Church Hall, Tulketh Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, PR2

1ES (off Blackpool Road)

Bus services from Preston Bus Station: - 68 (Stagecoach) to Tulketh Road,

St Andrew's School (drops you opposite); 31 or 61 (Preston Bus) to

Newton Road off Blackpool Road (walk on to next road [100 yards], turn

left, hall on left)

By road: From M6 Junction 32, turn onto A6 south towards Preston, take

next left onto B6241 Eastway, turn next left to pass under A6, then turn

right to continue on B6241 Eastway / Lightfoot Lane / Tom Benson Way.

At next roundabout take second exit (of five) B5411 Tag Lane /

Woodplumpton Road to next mini-roundabout. Take second exit (of two)

B5411 Woodplumpton Road until traffic lights are reached, then turn right

onto A5085 Blackpool Road. At traffic lights turn left onto A5072 Tulketh

Road; the Church Hall is the first entrance on the left. There is reasonable

off-road parking for up to 20 vehicles.

Colne

Peter Birtwistle Community Centre, 14 Keighley Road, Colne, BB8 0JL

From the roundabout at the end of the M65 in Colne turn left onto the

A6068 (Vivary Way) towards Skipton and Keighley. Go through the first

roundabout (N Valley Road) and traffic lights (Windsor Street) until the

second roundabout, turn right onto the A56 (Skipton Road, Town Centre)

away from Skipton, and at traffic lights turn left into the B6250 (Keighley

Road). The Community Centre is on the right within 200 yards, beside the

junction for Peter Birtwistle Close.

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Branch programme Meetings start at 7.30pm, refreshments from 7.00.

Date Venue Speaker Subject

Thursday 28/1/16

Preston Matt Taylor CRT The work of CRT volunteers

Thursday 25/2/16

Colne AGM Alan Platt

Talk on the Montgomery Canal

Thursday 31/3/16

Preston Audrey Smith OBE 50 years on the Cut

Thursday 28/4/16

The venue for this meeting

will be announced

later, we are looking for somewhere

special!

Mike Clarke Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society

Celebrating 200 years of the Leeds Liverpool Canal This will be a major joint meeting with the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society as part of the bi-centenary

Stop Press

Recent flood damage to the

Stainton Aqueduct on the

Lancaster

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