worcester bar summer 2015, edition 7

The Newsletter of theBirmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch.

Edition No: 7Summer 2015

Page �

IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire BranchWinter Social Programme

Held at Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise,Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AW

Starting at 7.15 for 7.30pm.2015/16

Date Subject Speaker

Oct 19th �015 The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Paul Barnett

Nov 16th �015 Update on CART Operations in our Area Ian Lane CRT Area Manager W.Midlands Waterways.

Subsequent meeting dates and speakers to be notified in the next edition.

Contact:ChrisOsborn 01299832593e-mailjcosborn@btinternet.com

Non-membersareverywelcometoattendanyofthesemeetings,whererefreshingbeverages,hot,cold,alcoholicandsoftareavailable.

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ContentsFromtheHelm 3

SevernTrow“Nora” 4

PipelinetoCrossCanal 4

St.Richard’sFestival 4

GasStreet 5

TheWorcestershireForum 5

WildenMarsh6

FortytonnesofRubbish 6

IWAAnnualMember’sMeeting. 7

StrollingAlongTheLeominster 7

ThankstoBecky&Mike 7

SocialMeetingsReport. 8

WorkParties&OtherEvents9

Crossword 10

TheRoundHouse 11

BranchWorkParties 11

AdjoiningIWABranches 11

Obituary 11

From the HelmBusytimeofyearforallwaterwaybasedactivities!inspiteofboat-building,canoeing,walking,meetingsandotheractivitiessomeofusmadeittothismonth’swork-partyatWolverleyCourtlock-tofinishthepaintjobandtostartontheHimalayanBalsambashthatwewillcontinuenextmonthatFallingSands.Also,theinitiativestartedrecentlybyBCNSto‘dosomething’withthedecayingTitfordCanalgotofftoagoodstartacoupleofweeksagowithameetingattheTitfordPump-House.CRT,EA,BCNS,IWA,andlocalconservationconcernsareallinagreementthatdredgingisneededinthepools,someprotectionfromfurthersiltrun-offfromtheM5isrequired,andlocalinitiativestousethepoolsandprotectthewildlifeinthesurroundingsisimportant.AfurthermeetinginAugustshouldbringtolightallinterestedpartiesandmakeastartondecidinghowtogoaboutit.Iliketoseetheenthusiasmoftheseinitiatives-andalsotheseriousknowledgethattheyoungermembersofstafffromtheauthoritieshavetooffer.Thisissometimesincontrasttoalackofexperienceinactualwaterwayapplications-buttheyhavetolearn-andprojectslikethis,ifsuccessfullycontinuedbyco-operationfromeveryoneelse,willensurethattheyareequippedformoredemandingprojectselsewhere.Weareover-confidentinOURexperienceofheritageintheBirminghamarea-itisgoodtorememberthatIWAalsosupportswaterwaydevelopment-e.g.theStaffordLink,theBedfordtoMiltonKeyneslink,andoneortwo

enlargementsonthesystem-aswellaspreservation!Ifyoufindaninterestingschemeinyourtravelsthisyear-pleasethinkaboutwritingitupforus-we’dlovetohearallaboutit.HaveagoodboatingSummer.David

Page �St.Richard’s Festival, DroitwichThefestivalattendancewasgoodandtheweatherkindtous.AmongstmanyothersImetRichardParry,ChiefExecutiveofCRT.PlentyofinterestwasshownintheIWAactivitiesandwemaygetsomemoremembersasaresult.

Sadly,theanticipatedvisitoftheSevern/Wyetrow,theonlyworkingbargeofit’skindtoDiglisandthencetoDroitwichfortheSt.RichardsFestivalhadtobecancelledatshortnoticebecauserothadbeendiscoveredinherkeelson.

YourBranchCommitteeagreedthatthefeeforherattendanceshouldbedonatedtotherepairfund.DWS

Severn Trow “Nora”TheBranchhasrecentlybeengivenamodelofaSevernTrow‘Nora’,byArthurPaggett,whichwasmadebyhisfriendBillWilliamsofBridgwater.TheoriginalNorawasbuiltatBridgwaterin1868byJohnGough.Itwouldhavetradedallaroundtheestuary,andcapableofcominguptheSevernasfarasWorcester,liketheSpry(nowinamuseumatIronbridge)butalastheNorawasgivena‘Vikingfuneral’in1939.Theintentionofthegiftisthatwewillfindasuitablepermanenthomeforit-e.g.amuseum,butbeforethatafewsmallrepairs

areneeded.ItwillbeshowntomembersattheAnnualMembersMeetinginSeptember,andatourfirstsocialmeetingintheAutumn,bywhichtimewewillhavemadearrangementsforit’stransfer.

ArthurPaggettiswellknownontheSevernwithhisvariousboats,includingavoyageupthe‘upperSevern’pastBridgnorthandontoColeportinalargecruiser.Thisjourneywasmuchpublicisedatthetime,whenDavidHutchingswashelpingtheSevernNavigationRestorationTrust.HeisnowlookingforsomeonetotransferhisVHSvideoofthejourney,andtohelphimaddsomecommentary,whichislargelyprepared.AnyoffersofhelporcommentspleasetotheChairman,DavidStruckett01299878461

Pipeline to Cross CanalResidentsofWyreForestDistricthavebeeninterestedinproposalsbySevern-Trenttoinstallanewpipe-linefromTrimpleytoFrankley-aspartofabypasswatersupplysystemtoenablelongtermup-gradingofthehundredyearoldElanValleysupplyforBirmingham.ThenewpipelinewillcrosstheStaffs&Worcs.canaljustnorthofStourport.IhavebeenassuredbySevernTrentthatrightfromthestarttheproposalsintendthepipetopassunder-bytunnellingtoasuitabledepth,andthatnointerferencetothecanalwillresult.Astherehasrecentlybeena(smaller)tunnellingunderthiscanalonlyinthelasttwoyears,successfullytakingdrainagewaterunderthecanaljustsouthofFallingSandsviaduct,weknowthistypeofoperationcanhaveminimaleffectonthecanal.Theplanshaveyettogoforplanningapproval.WiththenewbridgeplannedfortheSugarworkssite,thismakesthreenewcrossingsbetweenStourportandKidderminster;fortunately,noneofthemwillaffecttheWildenMarshprotectedareas.DWS

Page 5Gas StreetA200-metrestretchoftheWorcester&BirminghamCanalincentralBirminghamwasdrainedinFebruarytoinvestigateapotentialleakfollowingreportsofwaterseenescapingintoaserviceroadbeneaththecanal.

WaterwasfoundtobeescapingfromthebottomoftheHolidayStreetAqueduct,originallyconstructedtocarryanowdisusedrailwayunderthecanalandcurrentlyownedbyNetworkRail.

Afterrescuingthefish,initialattemptstodrainthecanalwerehamperedbyafaultyseal,whilethefirstrepairfailedtostoptheleak,resultinginengineersreplacingalargersectionofthecanalbed.Theworkwascompletedandthecanalreopenedseveralweeksaheadofschedule.

Oncedrained,agoodselectionoftheusualitemswasdisplayedonthecanalbed.Somewereremovedbythecontractorsbutplentyremainsforfutureworkparties.

WhenthesephotosweretakenIwasaccostedbyfundraisersworkingonbehalfofCRT.NotwellfurnishedwithliteratureandpoorlybriefedaboutCRTandcanals.Idoubtthattheyhadmuchsuccessinattractingpunters.

Ed.

The Worcestershire Forum Longer-servingmemberswillrememberthatonceuponatimetherewasasimplequarterlymeetingwherethevariouswaterwayusersrepresentativeswereabletosharenewsandviews–includingBritishWaterways,andusuallytherewasanEAandlocalCouncilrepresentatives.ThenBWtoldusthattheywouldholdtheirown‘forums’–assumingthatwouldclosetheregularone.Then,afterafewvociferousargumentsatoneortwo,theBWoneswerestopped,infavourof‘onetoone’consultationsbytheWaterwayManager.Thentheywerestoppedaltogether!

Meanwhile,theWorcestershireWaterwayUsersForum,underthechairmanshipofDaveWright,carriedonwithit’squarterlymeetings–havingsomesuccessinputtingpeopleintouchandsolvingproblems.Swanrescuewereassisted,licenceandtrainingrequirementswerefound,andafeelingofpotentialusefulnessprevailed.However,thesupportwasdwindling,welostasecretary,thingswerenotkeptup-to-date,andthecirculationlistwasun-guided.UnderCRT,theirrenewedforumsvisitotherpartsoftheSWalesandSevernarea–andvisitWorcestershireonceayear.

So,underanewinitiative,promptedbyIWAmembersandotherspresentatthelastthreemeeting,havepromiseda‘newlook’.Fortunatelywehavemoreco-operationnowfromCRT–aswehaveagreedtomeetinthequartersremainingaftertheCRT‘Forum’

inJune,whichwasonlastWednesday–the10th.Atthatmeeting,NickWorthingtonandhisstaffoutlinedtheworkofCRToverthelastyearandproposedworkforthcoming,whichwaswellillustratedandtherewasanopportunitytoaskquestions.

Ofcourse,thisdoesn’tleavemuchtimeforissuesthatinvolverescueservices,localauthorities,rowing,fishing(althoughthefishinginterestwasrepresented),walking,etc,andhowtheyrelatetoriverandcanalmaintenance.That’swherethenextmeetingofWWUFcomesin–thedateisWednesday9thSeptember–tobechairedbyDavidWStruckett–butIhopethat’sonlytemporarywhileI’mchairmanoftheBranch!Wealsoneedanewsecretary,butwehaveaTreasurer(andsomefunds),andsomewillingrepresentativesfromtheCRTPartnership(SW&S),WB&DCS,DW(PM)T,BC(canoeing),SMYC,SYC,CathedralFerryandIWA,andwehavealsoinvitedriversidetownCivicSocietiestoattendthenextonetoensurecoverageof‘heritage’aspects.

So,ifyouhearofWWUF,oranyotherversionofa‘forum’inWorcestershire,that’sbrieflythehistory–andthepossibilitythatitstillcouldbeuseful!(othercountieshavea‘forum’–includingausefuloneinStaffordshiretowhichwearelinkedbecauseoftheStaffs&Worcs.Canal.)DWS

KINGSLYNNBAITEBONNAATTONICTVOOSOONFIRLEARIROOTCANALTNIAFHESOHGVPFROTHNYASUBALRHUMTAYLESBURYPOGRETORHEATKKTCANALGNOOENIDSTARN

ISHARPNESSN

Crossword Solution

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Forty tonnes of Rubbish Cleared from the Birmingham Canal Navigations!Overtheweekendof18and19April,over100volunteersfromWaterwayRecoveryGroup(WRG),TheInlandWaterwaysAssociation,BirminghamCanalNavigationsSociety,DudleyCanalTrust,CoombeswoodCanalTrustandCanal&RiverTrust(CRT),(includingCRTChiefExecutiveRichardParry),joinedtogethertocarryoutamassivecanalcleanupontheBirminghamCanalNavigations(BCN).

Volunteersspenttheweekendclearingover40tonnesofrubbishalongtheBCNOldMainLineatSmethwickJunctionandsurroundinglocks.Lotsofinteresting‘treasures’werepulledoutofthecanalincludingmotorbikes,afreezer,aHindudeitystatue,ashotgun,severalpartsofacar…andofcourseafewshoppingtrolleys!ItishopedthisannualeffortontheBCNwillhelpkeepthelesswellusedpartsoftheBCN&BlackCountryNetworkfromgettingchokedupwithrubbishandbecomingimpassableforboats.

WRGLeaderChrisMorgansaidThis is the first time we have worked in this area, it was great to be surrounded by so much canal heritage, structures and features. The volunteers certainly enjoyed themselves! Thanks must go to all the societies who supplied the work boats to take

the rubbish away and to the Canal & River Trust staff who worked diligently to empty the boats, we have already started planning the 2016 event.

TheeventwasalsosupportedbyvolunteersfromtheFriendsoftheTiptonCut,IKONGallerySlowBoatproject,BritishTelecomandBlackCountryAdventuresBoatProject.

Wilden Marsh OnJunetheninthIhadaconductedvisittotheupperendoftheWildenMarshes–thatareaofwildernessbetweenKidderminsterandStourportwithrestrictedaccess.

TheareaisjointlyownedbytheWorcestershireWildlifeTrustandAssociatedBritishFoods–thelegacyoftheSugarplantnowlargelydismantled.Dividedintoareasaccordingtodampness,elevationandprevailingspecies,itcontainswoodland,grasslandandmeadow,pools,etc,andisofcourseadjacenttotheRiverStourforit’sentirelength.

IwasimpressedwithwhattheWorcestershireWildlifeTrusthasdoneineffortsrestorearangeofusefulhabitatfromhaymeadowtomarshlandpools–evidenceofagreaterrangeofbirds,grasses,flowers,treesandfaunathathasbeenseenformanyyears.

Fromthecanal,thereisplentyofhistoricreferencealongthisstretch–fromCaldwalllock(thereusedtobeacottage),siteofoverheadelectricdrivefortugs,FallingSands,viaductfortheSVR,lock,andthenPratt’sWharf,disusedlockdowntotheStour,siteofwoodyardsandironfoundries,andviewsoverthemarshtowardsWildenLaneandthesettlementofWilden(oneshop,onepub,onechurch!).

Thesouthernhalfofthemarshismorevisitablefromafootpathrunningacross(usefully,toneartheshop),

andaccesstofields–largelyselfregulatedbybeingkeptverywet,aswellas‘WildenPool’(Fishing!).Two‘rockweirs’havebeenconstructedintheriver,whicheffectivelyraisethewaterlevel(andwater-table)byabouttwometres,fromthepreviouslevels.OneoftheseiseasilyseenjustabovethePratt’sWharflock.Fishcaneasilynavigateupstream,andindeedare

encouragedtodosobythefastflowingandturbulentwater.Otter’sholtscanbefoundinthepoolsandriver,provingthatsomerestorationofhabitatfromthepreviousindustrialwastelandhasbeensuccessful.

SowhenyoucruisealongtheStaffs&Worcs.Canalpasthere,stopawhileandwatchthebuzzards,kingfisher,woodpecker(bothspottedAND‘lesser-spotted’!)andmanyotherbirds–somemigratoryandsomenative,thatinhabitthisarea.Also-wewillbedoingsomeHimalayanBalsampullingalongthecanalandriver-sideatFallingsandsonthe8thofJuly,sowemightseeyouthere?DWS

Page �IWA Annual Member’s Meeting. Assistance RequestBackontheBBC&WBranchpatchagain,theIWAAnnualMember’sMeetingwillbeheldonSaturday26thSeptemberatSalwarpeVillageHall.Branchmembersareaskedtoofferassistancewithgreetingattendees,helpingwithparkingetcforanhourortwo.

Thebranchwillbeputtingonsomeentertainmentforthoseattending,andontheSundaywillbehiringtheDCTtripboat,“PamelaMay”togivethosewhohavestayedovernightatasteoftheDroitwichCanalsbeforetheirreturnjourneys.

WouldanyBranchmemberwillingtoassist,pleasecontactDavidStruckett.

Strolling Along The LeominsterIWAB’ham,BlackCountry&WorcesterConductedWalkonthederelictLeominsterCanalonSaturday,April25th.

MeetingatTheSalwey Arms at Wooferton, 6MembersofourbranchweretakenonaconductedtourofpartthederelictLeominsterCanalledbyMartinHudson&MikeWatkinsfromtheLeominsterCanalSocietywhohadawealthofinformationonthehistoryofthecanalsupportedbytexts&illustrations.

Theweatherwaskindtous&wesawTemeAquaductthathadbeenblownapartduringthe2ndWorldWartorepelpossibleinvaders,thebridgeovertheR.Rea,amortarbase&signsofthenowdisusedrailwaylinethatsupersededtheCanal.

Aworthwhile&mostenjoyablevisit&verygoodpresentationbyMartin&Mike.ChrisOsborne.

Thanks to Becky & MikeFollowingtheresignationofBeckyattherecentAGM,thepositionofBranchSecretaryhasyettobefilled,althoughitishopedthatawillingvolunteermayhavebeenfound.

IwouldliketoputonrecordmythanksandthatoftheCommitteetoBeckyforalltheworkshehasundertakenasSecretaryandforthetimesheandMikehavegiven,andcontinuetodoso,insupportingtheBranchatfestivalsandgatheringsovertheyears.Thankstoo,toMikeforhisworkasMembershipSecretary,arolenowbeingundertakenbyDavePearson.DS

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Social Meetings Report.InFebruaryweheardabouttheworkoftheDerby&SandiacreCanalSocietyfromDougFlack(Archivist/Webmaster)andChrisMadge(Chairman/TrustDirector).TheDerbycanalopenedon30thJune1796andcarriedavarietyofgoodsincludingcoal,charcoal,chert,(flintformlimestone),andmilkforCadbury’s.Itclosedin1946andwasabandonedin1964.

TheSociety,foundedin1993,hascommissionedfeasibility,viabilityandimpactstudiesandgarneredsupportfromthepublic,politiciansandbusinesses.

In2011,restorationplanswereapproved,subjecttofunding,bythefourlocalauthoritiesthroughwhichtheentire12.5milesofcanalrunandtherouteisnowprotected.Councils,developers,MPsandCRTareallinvolved,supportingtheproposalswhichincludeacounterbalancedarmtoliftboatsacrosstheRiverDerwent.MostofthelineisintactalthoughtherehasbeensomebuildingonthelineinDerby.

ThebiggerchallengesarecrossingtheM1andarailway,althoughthereareviableproposalsfordealingwitheach.Twobrickbridgeshavebeenrebuiltandonekilometrehasbeenreinstatedaspartofafloodprotectionplanfortheadjacentrailway.AnumberoflocksrequirecompleterebuildingandinDerbytheRiverDerwentwillbecanalised.Estimatedcostfortheentireproject;£45,000,000.

ForfurtherinformationabouttheSociety,gotohttp://derbycanal.org.uk/

*****Onthe20thApril,VinceWilliamsassisted,byJohnGoodsonspokeaboutthesocalled“IdleWomen”ofWorldWarTwo.

Thegirlswhobecameknownasthe‘IdleWomen’werethegirlsbetween20and40yearsoldwhowerecalledupforvoluntaryNationalServicein1940andchosetobetrainedtocrewontheworkingboatsthatcarriedvitalgoodsduringthewar.Theterm‘IdleWomen’wasassumedtocomefromthe‘I.W’.-InlandWaterways-onthebadgethattheywore.Theytendedtocomefromawelleducatedbackground&probablythoughtitwouldbeafunoutdoorlifeworkingonthecanals.

Theyquicklyfoundthiswasnotso.

Theyweregivenjust6weekstrainingcruisingontheGrandUnionbetweenLondon&Birminghamforwhichtheywerepaid£3perweek.UnliketheLandGirls&LumberJills,theyhadtobuytheirownsuitableclothing.Theylearnedalotofnewterminology&howto‘clothup’&handletheboats.

Theywerethenformedintogroupsof3toworktheboats&buttys,workingverylonghours.Theyhadtoendurewalkingontheplankshighabovetheboat&water&wesawtheausterityofthecabins&smallspacetolivein&sparsetoiletfacilities.Thecargowas

mainlymunitionsthoughallofthepartstobuildtheHurricaneAeroplaneswerecarriedbybarge.

Sculptorwastheboatusedtotrainthewomen&itispreservedatStokeBruerne.Only6womenservedrightthroughthewar&itisbelievedonly2oftheIdleWomenarestillalivetoday.

ThetalkremindedusofthehardshipfacedstoicallybytheIdleWomen&waswellpresentedwithsomehumorousbanterbetweenthespeakers.

*****The18thMaymeetingsawDrRichardChurchleypresentatalkentitled“CarriersBeforeTheRailways”.HisgeographicalareaofinterestisaroundWorcestershireandhismainsourceofinformationthelongestablishedBerrowsWorcesterJournal.

Wagonshavefourwheels,cartstwo.CommonCarrierstransportedlightgoods,whilstHaulierstransportedtimber,coalandotherheavyfreight.Carrierswerevitaltolocaleconomieswithtransportincreasinghugelyduringtheeighteenthcentury.AnActofParliamentenabledtheformationofconsortiaandcreatedTheTurnpikeTrust,initiallyaroundLondon,(there’sasurprise),andthenthroughouttheShiresofWorcester,Warwick,StaffordandtheBlackCountryinaround1710.

Manycarrierswereengagedinothertradessuchasfarming,fruiterersandretailersandtheirtitlesincludedPedlars,Hawkers,Higglers(eggs&dairyproduce),Salters(especiallynearDroitwich),andCrickers,(Crickney-ware,acoarsecommonearthenware).Carriershadregularroutes,local,regionalandnational;manyhadhorsechangingstables.

Carriersdevelopedtheirownregularrouteswiththelongerjourneysprobablyundertakenmonthly.Thevalueofloads,especiallyfabricssuchassilkswouldoftenbe£4-5000.00pandhighwayrobberieswerecommon,especiallyindifficultareassuchasclimbingtheLickeyHills.Accidentstoowerecommon,especiallyatfordsandonbridgeswithdriversoftenbeingundertheinfluenceofalcohol.

Fromaround1700,thetradewassubjecttostatutoryregulation,withtaxesonhorses,dogsandofcourse,Turnpikes.InJuly1752,CarrierswrotetoBerrowsWorcesterJournalcomplainingthatbeinglimitedbyTollstofewerthanfivehorses,theycouldnotclimbBirdlipHill.

TheBroadWheelAct1755,permittedthreeyearstollfreepassagetothosewhofittedthem,makingtraveleasierandrequiredtheCarrier’snametobepaintedonthewagon.

Andthencamethecanals……………………..

JackyOsbornBobFox

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Work Parties & Other EventsAsalways,thereareplentyofactivitiestogetinvolvedin,whetherforanhourortwoorlonger.Anyandallhelpwillbeverywelcome.InrespectofourBranchWorkParties,eachonewillbenotifiedbyemail,toincludemeetingplaceandlikelyactivities.

2ndWed.ofeachmonthsouthernendofS&W;10thJune;WolverleyCourtLock;8thJuly,FallingSandsLock.(IWABBC&WBranch,DWS,01299878461)

2ndThursdayofeachmonthnearNethertonFromDunnsBridgeatWindmillEnd,usingaboat,nets&rakes,andlitterpicking.(CRT,TerryHodgetts,07810630376)2ndw/eofeachmonth(usually),TardebiggeLimekilns(IWAWB&DCSBranch,BillLambert02476726924)TheFestivalsareasfollows:4/5thJuly,RiverFestival,StratfordonAvon.10/12thJuly,KingsNortonFestival29/31August,NorthamptonFestivalofWater2015.12/13September,BlackCountryBoatingFestival,WindmillEnd.19/20thSeptember,TiptonCanal&CommunityFestival,Tipton.19/20thSeptember,HuddlesfordHeritageGathering,Huddlesford.

Van-Tastic Droitwich Canals Sponsored WalkDate: Saturday19thSeptember Location: DroitwichCanals,Worcester&BirminghamCanal&RiverSevern Distance: 5-7 mile (routetbc) or 22 miles (the Droitwich Ring) Cost: £5perperson(tea&cakesprovidedatfinish!)andunder12sgofreeMore details:www.wrg.org.uk/droitwich_sponsored_walkWRGareorganisingasponsoredwalkalongtheDroitwichCanalsandRingtohelpraisefundsforourVan Appeal. Wewanteveryone,WRGies,IWAmembers,friends&familyandmembersofthepublictogetinvolved!So get your boots on for WRG!Theplanistohave2routes. Route 1 willbea 22-mile walkaroundtheDroitwich Canal Ring andRoute 2willbeafamilyfriendly 5-7 milewanderalongtheDroitwich CanalsonSaturday19thSeptember.Youcanwalkasanindividual,afamily,groupoffriends...oryoucantakepartinourteamevent(moredetailsontheWRGwebsite–addressabove).JoiningusonthewalkwouldbeagreatopportunityforyoutoseetheDroitwichCanalsfullyrestored,particularlyforthoseofyouwhowereinvolvedintherestorationoftheHanburyFlightandtheDroitwichBargeLock,aswellashelpingusraisemoneyfortheWRGVanAppeal.

Fancy dress is encouraged and the theme is the colour red!

For more details and to book on go to:

www.wrg.org.uk/droitwich_sponsored_walk or contact Jen & Amber at WRG Head Office on 01494 783 453 ext 604 / email enquiries@wrg.org.uk

orsendachequepayableto‘WaterwayRecoveryGroup’,toDroitwichSponsoredWalk,IslandHouse,MoorRoad,Chesham,HP51WA

CrosswordAcross

1 RoyalmistressoratownontheGreat Ouse?5 Atemptingmorselforafish.6 AsmalltowninGermany,accordingtole Carré.8 Agoodmixer.12 Inashorttime.14 Ittakesenergytomakethistreeburstinto flames.15 Thekingofjets?16 Dentaltreatmentforboaters?19 ArenaontheBCN,butnotintheopenair. (1.1.1.)20 Asenseofhumourneededforthisnote –soundslikesomeone’sgettingthe needle!21 Agoodaccompanimenttocoffee?22 Aboatwithnoairdraft?24 Forwhenyoucan’tthinkofaword?25 ABucksarm.30 Goabout,aboutagiant.31 AhillfoundinGlastonburyandTorquay.32 Warmthfoundintheattic?33 Tinandaluminium–a source ofpleasuretoIWAmembers.34 EatbackwardswithMs.Blyton?36 Amountainlake,thanks tothenavy.37 Aclevermonsteratone endofthecanal?

Down

1 WhatAurorawasnot allowedtoforget.(3-3)2 WhatClaraBowand computershave incommon.

1 1 2 3 4 5

5 6 7

8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15

16 17 18

19 23 20

1 21

22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29

30 31 32

33

34 35 36

1 37

3 Notethisboatwell.4 Newbooks?5 ProbablynotthequickestwayfromWoodham toOdiham,butdefinitelythepleasantest.7 Notsouthcurrentweight–siteforthisyear’s festival.9 Frequently,butbriefly.10 Spend,spend,spendwithVivonthiscanal guide.11 Nationalistgroupresponsiblefordisruptingthe politicalprocess.13 Definitelynot!15 Forwhenyoucan’tthinkofaword.17 Cheapcuts?18 ThefirstPrimeMinisterofIndia.23 Awillin’chapfromYarmouth.24 Scavengerswithasenseofhumour?26 Youwerethis,once.27 WhendoweexpecttheBasqueseparatiststo gethere?28 Supporteroffeminists?29 Whennegative,thebloodgroupofaright- handedmonkey?35 Lawrence,initially.36 Eliot,initially.

CompiledbyJohnButler.

Page 10

Page 11

UnwantedCanalBooks&Maps?

Ifyouhaveanypublicationsrelatingtoourcanalswhichareinreasonableorbetterconditionandyounolongerwant,wouldyoukindlydonatethemtoussothattheymaybeusedforbranchfund-raisingactivities.Allofferingswelcome.

Adjoining IWA BranchesAnd other OrganisationsDetails of activities in adjoining Branches and organisations are available below.Warwickshire - Info.warwickshire@waterways.org.ukLichfield - lichfield@waterways.org.ukGloucestershire & Herefordshire - martin.turner@waterways.org.ukShrewsbury & North Wales Branch - alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Other OrganisationsAvon Navigation Trust - office@avonnavigationtrust.orgCanal & River Trust, West Midlands - enquiries.westmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.ukDroitwich Waterways (Pamela May) Trust - alan.davey@r-pad.orgLapal Canal Trust - membership@lapal.orgStaffs & Worcs CS - http://www.swcanalsociety.co.uk/Worcester, Birmingham & Droitwich CS - http://wbdcs.org.uk/

ObituaryItiswithsadnessthatwelearnofthedeathin2014attheageof90,ofMrsDorisBarker,whoforseveralyearswasthefirstBirmingham,BlackCountryandWorcesterIWABranchSecretarybackinthe1950s.

SheandherlatehusbandBernard,anengineeringsurveyor,boughtanex-workingboat,NbQueensoonafterthewarandsetaboutconvertingitusingwoodfromorangeboxesandbaconboxesforthecabin.TheywerethefirstpleasureboattonavigateCombeswoodTunnelbutindoingso,becamestuckandcouldonlyextricatethemselvesbydemolishingthecabin.Oncebackintheopen,theyrebuiltthecabinandspentmanyyearscruisingthewaterways.IamindebtedtoJeanandRayDobbsforprovidingthesedetails.Ed.

The Round HouseCallforInformationonRoundHouse,BirminghamTheCanal&RiverTrustandtheNationalTrustplantodeveloptheRoundHouse,Birminghamasanactivitycentre.Aspartofthedevelopmenttheyarekeentointerprettheheritageofthebuildinganditscommercialuseasstables.Itishopedthatpartoftheschemewillbeasmalldisplaydepictingthisforvisitors. ToaidinthisinterpretationtheyhaveaskedifanyonewithphotographsorotherinformationabouttheRoundHouse,particularlyincommercialuse,couldgetintouch.Anythingprovidedwouldbecopiedandreturned.IfyouhaveinformationyouwouldliketosharepleaseemailIvorCaplanativor.caplan@waterways.org.uk.

Branch Work PartiesWecontinuetomeetonthesecondWednesdayofeachmonth.Withwinterbehindus,wehaveturnedfrommainlylitter-pickingtocuttingovergrowthfromaroundmooringringsinKinverandbelowWhittingtonandWolverleyLocks.InMaywepaintedWolverleyCourtLock,(pictured),andnowareintoremovingHimalayanBalsam.Dopleasecomeandjoinus.DS

BBC&W Branch Officers & Committee:

Chair: David Struckett dstruckett@aol.com 0�9�6 ��6��5

Michael Payne Vice Chairman Planning Officer (Birmingham) michael@payne.name. 0��91 �9��96

John Taplin Vice Chairman, Planning Officer (Worcs) johnwtaplin@btinternet.com 0��60 �96�60

Secretary: Position vacant

Treasurer: Chris Neal cptjneal@yahoo.co.uk 0��5� ��5�11 Members:Freddie Cooke Planning Officer (Walsall, Wolverhampton & South Staffs) freddiecooke@googlemail.com 0��11 �9����Dave Pearson Membership Secretary dave@daveapearson.com 0�5�� 19����

Bob Fox Planning Officer (Sandwell & Dudley), Newsletter Editor bob@bobfox.demon.co.uk 0��55 �1��1�

Chris Osborn Meetings organiser jcosborn@btinternet.com 0��15 ��9��5

Jo Smith

Views expressed in Worcester Bar are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent those of the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch or the Inland Waterways Association.

No responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions.

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no, 61���5. Registered as a charity no. �1����

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