IISSUESSUE 24 - J24 - JANUANUARYARY 20142014

Helicopter escortsnarrowboat as RAFtakes to waterThe high-flying staff at

RAF Shawbury, whichtrains helicopter pilots for allthree of the armed services,have come down to earth –or more accurately down towater – for team buildingexercises.Not only have they landed, butthey have also stepped back intime from the high-tech flyingequipment which is part of theireveryday lives to a transportsystem that was state of the artmore than two centuries ago.Instead of high-speed militaryhardware their transport ofchoice was the 70ft narrow-boat The Shropshire Star,Norbury Wharf's trip boatwhich has now been charteredtwice for team building exercis-es with RAF Shawbury. The first took them to Gnosallwhere they disembarked to visitthe Navigation Inn for a mealwhilst the boat winded at HighOnn and collected them on theway back. Also in attendancewas one of the helicopters fromthe base which escorted TheShropshire Star from the air –an exercise in extremely slowflying.It wasn't all fun as they had ameeting with a difference onboth the outward and return legof the journey; albeit in thecomfort of the boat whilstenjoying the scenery. The second cruise began fromThe Wharf Tavern at Goldstoneand took the RAF team downthe five locks at Tyrley, turningat Market Drayton and return-

ing to The Wharf. This was a team building exer-cise and the passengers weretaught about working locks andhad a go at steering the boat! It obviously gave the RAF teama taste for the water – asopposed to the air – as in thedepths of December they hireda day-boat from Norbury sothey could have a go at steer-ing and navigating a boat.RAF Shawbury, nearShrewsbury, has been a train-ing base since World War 1when it trained pilots for theRoyal Flying Corps.These days the station providestraining for helicopter pilots forall three of the UK's armedservices, as home to theDefence Helicopter FlyingSchool as well as three helicop-ter squadrons and the RAF AirTraffic Control School.Norbury Manager David Raysaid: “The 42-seater boat isbecoming popular with variouscompanies and organisationsfor business meetings with adifference as well as a trainingvenue which offers somethingunique. It is a side of the busi-ness we hope to grow evenmore as we begin the secondseason of our new trip boat.”The RAF won't be able to usethe trip boat in January as it isundergoing a a repaint for thenew season. There are plansfor Valentine Cruises inFebruary (details on theNorbury website) and the verypopular Friday night Fish andChip cruises will resume inMarch.

High Flying toSlow Boating

Is the future good for canals? Page 2Save a third or more on day boats Page 3Wide range of boats for sale Page 4

RAF Shawbury from the

cockpit of a helicopter

The Shropshire Star

passing through Gnosall

Norbury News 2

More youngboaters areneeded now

BargainsBargains

DIESELDIESEL- Our fuel is- Our fuel isthe cheapthe cheap--est at aest at acommercialcommercialboatyardboatyardon theon thewaterways -waterways -and FAMEand FAMEfree. It canfree. It canchange on achange on aweeklyweeklybasis but itbasis but itis now at: is now at:

BATTERIESBATTERIES- - 110amphr110amphrbatteriesbatteriesJUST JUST

each wheneach whenyou buy fouryou buy fouror more inor more inthe samethe sametransaction.transaction.£69.00 each£69.00 eachif soldif soldsingly.singly.ECOFANSThe originalThe originaland best fanand best fanfor yourfor yourstove just stove just

79.9p

£64.95

£99.99

BOATING on the water-ways of Britain is domi-

nated by older people, oftenretired, with both the fundsand time to enjoy travellingleisurely from place toplace.Yet the future of our waterwaysdepends on younger genera-tions taking an interest andbecoming enthusiastic aboutboating. The alternative is thatthe number of boaters, now atclose to record levels, will fallslowly, but inexorably, as theyears take their toll.Everyone, from commercialoperators to the big waterwayscharities, recognises the risksbut is enough being done toprotect the future?David Ray, Manager at NorburyWharf Ltd is one of a handful ofyoung people working at a sen-ior level on the waterways andhe is concerned that there maynot be enough youngsters com-ing through to sustain the sys-tem.“I have been involved withboats since I was a very youngchild, thanks to my parents, andI know fewer than 100 peoplenow in their 20s or 30s, who arededicated to the waterways andthe boats on them. “When I look at the numbers ofteenagers and younger childrenwho regularly spend time boat-ing, there seem to be evenfewer. That makes me think weneed to work even harder atgetting youngsters involved.”It is a fear shared by many. The

Canal and River Trust hasrecruited education volunteersto help children discover the

magic of the waterways throughsomething it calls Canal & RiverExplorers, with its own websitefor children.

Volunteers lead sessions for pri-mary schools, cub scouts andbrownie groups both in theirclassrooms and out and abouton the canals. They share theirenthusiasm whether they areshowing children how a lockworks, explaining how a drag-onfly larva hunts its prey, point-ing out the rope marks under abridge or just allowing the chil-dren time to watch a coot feedits young. Through these visitsthe idea is to introduce a newgeneration of children to thewaterways, inspiring the enthu-siasts of tomorrow. For some years now the InlandWaterways Association hasbeen running a Wild onWaterways (WoW) programmeof activities for children.They offer kits to their branch-es for use at local waterwaysevents, or wherever else youngpeople might like to learn moreabout our inland waterways andtheir history.Aimed at younger children thepacks include activities such asLace Plate making using paperplates and ribbon; BrassRubbing using commemorativebrass plaques from waterwaysevents and even making DuckHats and Dragonfly knottying.Both programmes havepotential to inspire an earlyinterest in the youngest childrenbut what then?Some lucky youngsters will goboating with their family, usuallyon a hire boat, although thathas become expensive inrecent years.

Continued on Page 3

YYoungsters enjoying historicoungsters enjoying historic

boats and fish and chips at theboats and fish and chips at the

Black Country Living MuseumBlack Country Living Museum

Old-fashionedOld-fashioned

way to attractway to attract

youngstersyoungsters

David Ray steering Clover atDavid Ray steering Clover at

Braunston - skills that needBraunston - skills that need

passing onpassing on

Norbury News 3

Norbury Wharf's David Ray,with the backing of ManagingDirector Simon Jenkins, is try-ing to build on the tradition offamily hire boat holidays.“We believe very strongly thatthe young families who hirewith us are also our future, sowe aim to keep a selection ofreally affordable boats in ourhire fleet so ordinary familiescan enjoy the waterways incomfort at a reasonable cost,”said David.

Hire Costs Held“This year we have held ourhire charges again and our holi-days remain fuel inclusive.”There will still be many forwhom cost is a barrier, ofcourse, but community boatingcharities not only provide boat-ing experiences for both dis-abled and disadvantaged peo-ple, they also recruit and trainyoung volunteers in boatingskills.Other charitable groups operat-ing historic boats will alsoencourage and train young

members and over the pastcouple of years an offshoot ofthe Historic Narrow Boat Clubre-invented itself as the YoungWaterways and Boating Societywhich aimed for a more inclu-sive and youth-focusedapproach.It aims to introduce young peo-ple into boating and the water-ways and encourage thedevelopment of their skills andknowledge, as well as build onyoung people'sunderstanding ofhistory surround-ing the water-ways.Led by a group ofyoung boaters, itworks with manyhistoric vesselsand anyone inter-ested can contactDawn Tigwell,Chairperson(dawntigwell@hot-mail.com).David Ray said:“Things are hap-pening and it isencouraging thatplaces like the

waterways museums are nowoffering apprenticeships in tra-ditional boat building skills, butwe must not take our eye offthe ball.“Boats are essential to thefuture of our waterways and wemust find ways of overcomingthe barriers of cost and igno-rance to build new generationsof support for boating.”

Get afloatGet afloatand tryand try

the fun ofthe fun ofboatingboating

Take a tripTake a tripon Victory,on Victory,

Defiant,Defiant,Bounty - ourBounty - ourday boats forday boats for

10 people.10 people.You canYou can

enjoy up toenjoy up to17 miles of17 miles of

the beautifulthe beautifulShropshireShropshireUnion canalUnion canal

with no lockswith no locksand 6 pubs! and 6 pubs!

Or stayOr stayashore inashore inour cosyour cosycottagecottagehomehomefromfromhomehome

Continued

from Page2

David RayDavid Ray,concentrating,concentrating

on steering at age 5on steering at age 5

Affordable boats for family holidays

IT may be January but we are already lookingforward to Spring, and if you are quick you can

plan a day out on the wonderful Shropshire UnionCanal as the countryside re-awakens - and savemore than a third on the price.Norbury Wharf has teamed up with Groupon tooffer day-boats for up to 10 people, cruising thecalm waters of the canal, along a 17-mile stretch,with savings of between 34 and 38 per cent. The 32-foot long, self-drive vessel holds up to tenguests, and features a kitchen galley with hob forself-catering, as well as enclosed seating. Thecanal also has several riverside pubs dottedalong the way for stop-offs during the day, whichruns from 9am to 4.30pm.The cost has been slashed to £75 on weekdays

(38% off) and just £105 on weekends (34% off)Get the deal at www.groupon.co.uk - search forNorbury Wharf.

Save a third on our day boats

YOU did remember towinterise your boat, did-

n't you? We are a bit con-cerned that the mild spellleading up to Christmasmay have lulled some boatowners into a false sense ofsecurity.If you have left your boat withdrinking water in the pipes andpump the odds are you willcome back to a flood, especial-

ly if you haven't turned off thewater supply at the tank.Condensation is also a poten-tial problem so make sure yourfuel tank is full as water in thefuel can cause diesel bug.It's also a good idea to lift anycushions and matresses awayfrom solid surfaces and standthem on end to get some airaround them.

Is your boat ready

for the winter chills?Repairs and maintenance onour lovely canal have all be car-ried out before Christmas.That means the canal is readyfor use for winter breaks.Sometimes those clear, sharpmornings are a real pleasure ifyou are wrapped up warmly.We have some of our hire fleetavailable all through the winterwith solid fuel stoves. Why notgive winter boating a go?

You don't often get discountsmokeless fuel in the depths ofwinter but Norbury Wharf isdifferent and we can now cutthe price on bulk deliveries.Order a tonne or more, foryourself or perhaps a group ofboaters, and we will cut theprice per bag by £1.50. Call01785284292 to place yourorder.

Frosty break?

Cut price coal

Norbury News 4

Boats for saleBoats for sale

Meander 55 foot traditional stern narrowboatREDUCED TO £24,950

Shongalolo - 42ft cruiser stern built in 1987 by W&W boats, 4berths, central heating, cratch cover and rear hood.£19.999

Dream Catcha - a 60 foot semi traditional stern; all steel, narrowboat built in 2004 by Northwich boats. REDUCED TO £32,999

Chatty Dachs 50 foot cruiser stern narrowboat REDUCED TO £23,500

Hekla - 57ft trad stern by Colecraft with Lister engine, recentlyrefitted galley,solid fuel stove + gas central heating REDUCED TO £29,999

10308

REF 10287

REF 10314

ReF 10303

REF: 10315

Life o Reilly 37 foot cruiser stern narrowboatREDUCED TO £21,500

Buffer - 43ft cruiser by Dartline, with a reliable 3 cylinder Listerengine,central heating, blacked,new anodes. £14.950

Silver Mist - 50ft trad all steel narrowboat by Alexander boats,professionally fitted out by River View narrow boats REDUCED TO £29,999

REF 10313

REF: 10312

Mavourmeem - built and fitted in 2006 by Durham steel craft, this50ft cruiser stern narrowboat is powered by a modern Beta 35hp REDUCED TO £39,500

Sunningdale - 36ft unpowered welfare/work boat. Cabin, toiletcompartment and tool store. Large open hold. Hull overplated. £4,999

REF: 10301

REF: 10296

REF: 10306

Jenilka - 50 foot traditional stern narrowboat built by LiverpoolBoats and professionally fitted out by Classic Interiors. £29,950

REF 10310

Tug - This unfinished unique tug was built at Caggys Boat Yard inTipton in 2007. She is powered by a twin cylinder Lister SR2 £19,950

REF 10311