the butty spring 2015
DESCRIPTION
The magazine for members of the Kennet & Avon Canal TrustTRANSCRIPT
The Butty
Issue No. 207Spring 2015
The magazine for members of theKennet and Avon Canal Trust
Branch Contacts
Bath and Bristol John Webb (Chairman)
Bradford on Avon Bryan Baker (Chairman)
Crofton Peter Turvey (Chairman)
Devizes Paul Jakeman (Chairman)
Hungerford Mike Rodd (Chairman)
Newbury Graham Smith (Secretary)
Reading David Copley (Chairman)
.
Kennet and Avon Canal TrustCanal Centre
Devizes WharfWiltshire
SN10 1EB01380 721279
www.katrust.org.uk
PresidentDavid Bruce
Vice PresidentsRichard Benyon MPDonald CollinsonMichael CorfieldSir Anthony DurrantBill FisherMichael GoodenoughTerry KempAdmiral Sir William O’BrienSir Francis PricePrunella ScalesJohn WebbTimothy West
Trust CouncilDavid CopleyRob Dean (Chairman)David InightPauline KingDaisy MundyTerry MundyTony NaresRichard SelvidgePeter Turvey
Enterprise BoardGraham DayRob Dean (Acting Chair)Pauline KingDaisy MundyTony NaresTom NeweyDeborah Robinson
Contacts
Trust Council ChairmanRob Dean [email protected]
Hon. TreasurerTony [email protected]
Company SecretaryDaisy [email protected]
AdministratorJean [email protected]
FinanceHelen [email protected]
MembershipBecky [email protected]
Museum CuratorTerry [email protected]
ArchivistElaine [email protected] The Trust is a registered charity (no CC209206) and a
company limited by guarantee registered inEngland (no 726331)
Inside this edition of the Buttymailed to members, you will find a book of raffle tickets.Last year’s raffle raised over £4000 and we are hoping to beat that this year. Please buythese tickets or sell them to family and friends. The counterfoils and money should besent to the Trust HQ office for inclusion in the draw at the end of September. Extra
tickets can be obtained from branches or the office, and will be on sale on boat trips andat our main canal events throughout the 2015 season. The major prizes include a canalsidecottage holiday, private charters of our trip boats and a Steam Experience day at CroftonBeam Engines. There will be lots of other smaller prizes available, including food, drinkand canal-related art work. As prizes are generously donated and the raffle is run byvolunteer members, 100% of ticket proceeds go to the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.
Please support the Trust by taking part this year -Best wishes -Paul
2015 Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Raffle
Hon AdvisorsChris Churchouse (IT)Simon Loaring (Heritage)
The Butty EditorJane InightExecutive EditorDavid Inight
Trust Directory
Well, here it is, my second attempt as Editor of The Butty.
I am thrilled with the contributions we have had frommembers and hope this trend continues and grows. Thankyou to everyone who took the time and trouble to write apiece. I even have one or two I didn't have room for,hopefully they will be in the next edition. My specialfavourite has to be Bill Fisher's memoirs, I am so lookingforward to reading the next installment. I hope you haveas much pleasure from his childhood recollections as me.
Your thoughts and observations are going to help theButty grow and develop. I do need feedback so pleaseemail or write if you have something to comment on, itdoesn't have to go into print.
Look out for the advertisement for the Photo Competition,photos are always something we are in need of andplease, if you have some special story that you could shareabout the canal, I would love you to put it to paper andsend it in.
You will also find mini autobiographical pieces aboutsome of the Trust's Board of Trustees and Directors,together with a piece by Deborah Robinson about the roleof the 'Enterprise'. A great deal of work, managing thedifferent elements of the organisation and its finances isundertaken on your behalf by these people. It must beright that we get to know a bit more about who they are?
I have two other big thank you's. Alice Boyd and AudreyAgnew who put their heads down to proof read for me.An invaluable job, thank you ladies.
I hope you have a wonderful Spring and Summer, enjoying themany pleasures of the Kennet and Avon Canal.
With best wishes, Jane
An apologyIn the previous edition of The Butty credit for the photo of TheDead Rat Orchestra was omitted. The photographer waspopestatesPhotography, www.popestatesPhotography.com
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What's where in thisedition of the
The ButtyPage 2
Chairman's ReportAvon Vale 100 Club Results
Page 3Volunteering with CRT
Page 4 & 5Devizes in Action
Page 6Exercise Kay Vee
Page 7The Bruce Trust
Page 8 & 9Bill Fisher - Memoirs
Melksham Link update
Page 10 & 11Hungerford and "The Rose"
Page 12 & 13Bath and BristolA Tyre-ing Time
Enterprises
Page 14 & 15Snippets from the Archives
Page 16 & 17Newbury News
Descent into the Depths
Pages 18Crofton at the Ready
Page 19
Notice of AGM
Page 20KACT Charitable Objectives
Chairman’s ReportThis is my favourite time of year. When the days lengthen, the canalstarts to really come alive as blossom and bright green leaves appear.Easter is always an especially colourful time on the Kennet and Avon as600-odd kayakers gather at Devizes to race down to Westminster in one othe world’s toughest canoe challenges. I wish them all a mild and dryEaster this year!
The Trust hasn’t been hibernating over winter, though. Our teams ofvolunteers have been working hard to prepare for the new season. Our 4boats have been undergoing some major work to get them in good orderfor the summer ahead and their crews have been training hard to ensureour trips are safe and enjoyable. The Croftonites have been showingtheir winter maintenance to visitors this year and will be all ready to run the engines in steam atEaster. This year, they have restored the unique header pond at Crofton and I’m looking forward toseeing that in action. I’m also looking forward to seeing the newly landscaped canal entrance at Bath,the result of dedicated work by the volunteers of our Bath and Bristol branch.
2015 marks an important anniversary for the Kennet and Avon. It is 25 years since that sunny day inAugust 1990 when Her Majesty The Queen reopened the canal for navigation all the way from Reading toBristol. The past 25 years have demonstrated the wisdom of those who set out to restore the canal.The Kennet & Avon is now an important part of the landscape and the lives of the people who live in ourregion. It also attracts many visitors from around the world and boosts our local economy.
In our 53rd year, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust is still working hard to look after and improve the canal.In January, Trustees met with our 7 branches to hear about their plans for 2015: to look after the canal,to improve both the canal and its important places such as Crofton, to lobby others to care for it, and tobring visitors and new generations to appreciate what a wonderful place it is. I was strongly impressedby the range of work being carried out by our branches which are truly the strength of the Trust.
In this edition of the Butty, you will find details of our AGM on Saturday 16th May. I’m hoping to see lotsof our members there. It is an opportunity for Trustees to explain how we are managing the Trust andto hear your feedback on what you’d like to see in the future.
Wherever you are along the canal, I very much hope you will take the chance this summer to get outand enjoy what we have achieved. The canal is a very beautiful place and I’m delighted that thevolunteers of today are continuing to look after and improve it.
Rob Dean CMG
Chairman of Trustees
RESULTS FOR AVON VALE 100 CLUB
AUGUST 2014 TO FEBRUARY 2015August 1st Prize - no.3 P. Covell - £43 2nd Prize - no.35 E. Argent - £21.50
September 1st Prize - no.26 G. Evans - £42 2nd Prize - no.31 D. Osborne - £21
October 1st Prize - no.8 G. Evans - £40 2nd Prize - no.3 P. Covell - £20
November 1st Prize - no.18 P. Kelly - £40 2nd Prize - no.29 A. Masem - £21
December 1st Prize - no.31 D. Osborne - £28 2nd Prize - no.18 P. Kelly - £14
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2014 was a great year for volunteering on the K&A. In just 10 months, since the start of April,we have surpassed the previous year’s total of 26,621 volunteer hours and have gained twomore adoptions on the eastern end of the K&A.
It’s not all about figures though. For me the highlights of the year were the interesting projectsthe volunteers were involved with. The hovel at Bathampton was a great example ofvolunteers taking on a project that otherwise would not have even been started. The standardof restoration work carried out was outstanding and will remain a credit to their efforts formany years to come.
We are starting to build good solid foundations for practical volunteering. At a number oflocations we now have Lead Volunteers who help organise work parties .Their efforts havebeen invaluable in welcoming new volunteers, mentoring them and promoting the Canal andRiver Trust as a great place to volunteer.
Now this is all coming together we can focus on the new challenges that 2015 will bring. CRTwent through a restructure towards the end of 2014. The delivery of volunteering will now bewithin the Customer Operation Team headed by Dale Marshall. Part of this team’s work is todeliver the planned preventative maintenance and repair defect notifications e.g. potholes inthe towpath.
Bringing the volunteers under the Customer Operations umbrella will give this team greaterresources, give volunteers the opportunity to combine their skills and work alongside CRToperatives at the forefront of canal maintenance on the K&A.
Lastly but not least, I would like to thank all the volunteers from every organisation that helpedmaintain and improvethe K&A last year and Ilook forward to meetingas many of you aspossible in 2015.
Steve Manzi
Volunteers Give Their Skilland Dedication to CRT
John Webb andDavid Viner finishingoff the roof at theBathampton Hovel
In 1972 my wife Jan and I came across a workpartyclearing the towpath and decided to join them. Frequent
foliage burning led to us becoming part of the Bulls Lock volunteer restoration group in 1975/6.Shortly afterwards I joined Trust Council to help promote volunteer work. I joined Reading BranchCommittee in the mid-1970s and, since retiring from paid work as a planner of public bus and railservices 7 years ago, I have been Reading Branch Chairman. The east end of the canal faces regularthreats from inappropriate development plans and we remain keen to protect, enhance and promotethe K&A as an attractive green corridor for a variety of quiet leisure uses.
We have never owned a boat but have explored many waterways in Britain, Europe, Asia and NorthAmerica by foot, road, rail and trip boats over many years.
David Copley - Trustee
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Kenavon Venture will soonbe better than ever after herrefit, giving hundreds ofpeople a taste of the canaland dozens of volunteer crewan enjoyable and worthwhileinterest.
Promoting the canal is animportant focus for Devizesbranch and, while the boat is amajor part of this, other eventsalso bring the canal to people’snotice, often also giving theopportunity to raise funds for theTrust.
Pre-season activities includedour post-Christmas party, amembers’ dinner with a talkfrom Elaine Kirby, the Trust’sArchives Administrator, and askittles match against the localbranch of the Wilts and BerksTrust. During the early summerthere will also be our AnnualMeeting, held on the boat andfollowed by a cheese and winecruise for members who haveattended the meeting. There’s thepossibility of a controversialdecision to be made at themeeting – look out for the dateand come along!
We try to ensure the Branch hasa presence at events in Devizesand our stand will be at the LionsMay Fair (Bank HolidayMonday, May 4th), the town’smain charity event of the year,and at the Christmas Festival inNovember.
Devizes Wharf is our maincentre of activity. There will be anumber of events at which thebranch will contribute anythingfrom technical expertise withlighting and sound systems, tothe provision of a beer tent – asuccessful fundraising side-linebased on Kenavon Venture’s bar.On the programme this year is
the Alzheimer’s Support fair onSunday May 24th, and theDevizes Beer Festival (SaturdayJuly 4th). We are also hoping forsome public performances on thewharf – another event with the
Dead Rat Orchestra and a visitfrom the intriguingly namedFloating Cinema. In addition, apresence at the Reading andNewbury water festivals, theCrofton SteamGala and the Wilts& Berks’Melksham RiverFestival willensure the Trust’s2015 raffle will bea major focus forfundraising.Members are alsoinvolved ineducationalactivities on thewharf, often inpartnership withCRT, involvingboat trips and themuseum.
Many people inDevizes don’tknow that there isa canal. Yes,seriously! Webelieve thatanything that
attracts people to the wharfincreases the engagement of thetown with the canal – building abridge, if you like, between theMarket Place and the Wharf.Our major shore-based event of
the year is the Friday eveningof Carnival week, Carnival onthe Canal (Friday September4th). This is an evening ofmusic and dance, with foodand drink outlets and stalls anddisplays from a wide range ofcanal-related organisations –charitable, commercial andartistic – definitely a date foryour diary.
Devizes members get a regularnewsletter by e-mail – at leastthose whose up to date detailswe hold. If you are not gettingthe newsletter, you’ll also be
missing out on the e-Butty, soplease make sure you let theoffice know your current e-mailaddress!
Paul Jakeman
AnExcitingSeason
Ahead forDevizes
The Great KenavonVenture Re-fit
January to March 2015.
Phase One: January 2nd 2025.
The day after New Year, celebrations werewell and truly over it was time tocommence phase one of the KV re-fit.
Like a hoard of locusts, well severalanyway, people turned up to assist in thecomplete stripping out of the KV. Frombow to stern, port to starboard anything thatcould be taken out was!!
As well as all the chairs and tables, theentire galley and toilet was stripped out.Several chaps with various degrees of skilland lots of relevant and not so relevant
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tools took on this particular task. It was a pleasureto watch, with lots of instructions flying betweenthem sometimes punctuated with a fair amount offlowery language!
The radiator and water systems were drained out,everything from floorboards to curtain hooks wereunscrewed and packed away in our various shedson the wharf. Finally - and much more quicklythan expected - the KV was stripped down to herbarnacles.
Just one more major job and that was to removethe “poo” tank. This turned into a three daymarathon but perseverance prevailed and a ton orso of scrap metal headed off for recycling. KVwas finally ready for phase two.
Phase two: To the marina.
On Jan 18th ,KV wastaken very carefully toDevizes Marina. Onthe 19th she was hauledup out of the water sowork could commenceon the scraping,cleaning andrepainting ofeverything above andbelow the waterline.Inside every part ofexposed ironwork wasred-leaded. The screw,rudder and prop shaftwere dismantled andrefurbished to a highstandard.
Several coats each ofgreen, red, yellow, bitumen and ‘twopack’ (whatever that is!!) were lovingly applied,rubbed down or off and reapplied to achieve thebest finish possible. In spite of the bitter weatherlots of volunteers turned up every day to get thejob done. Two brave souls undertook the oneroustask of scraping and repainting KV’s underside…hats off to them.
During all this hive of activity KV passed both herultrasound and MCA inspection with flyingcolours, a great credit indeed to those whose
sterling efforts have maintained those highstandards.
On one of the working days, we were joined onthe slip by our newest recruit, Alan, a seasonedand experienced narrow boat owner of some 34years standing.
Alan has always been interested in joining theTrust and getting involved. Until June 2014 thishadn’t been possible as he lived in Poole and hisboat was at Aldermaston. However since movingto Devizes his boat is now at Ladybridge, on theKennet and Avon, and he lives 15 minutes’ walkaway from the wharf at Devizes. He is eager tostart EST and other training and eventually wouldlike to be a boatmaster. With his vast experiencethis dizzy height should not take him too long,especially as he admitted being very good atmissing glass fibre boats on the Thames!!
On the coldest day of the year so far and after 10very busy and productive days, the KV finallyreturned to Devizes wharf, gliding along like askater on ice instead of a snow plough through thewater (thanks to her new shiny bottom).
(Press date loomed before all the work wascompleted. I will finish the story in our nextedition)
To Be Continued…
Sharmaine Washbourne
Dealing with the waste tank isn't alwaysthe most popular job!
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Anyone strolling along the Kennet & Avon Canal inthe vicinity of Horton (near Devizes), on the morningof Sunday 12th October 2014 might have thought theyhad stumbled upon a real disaster in the making: -smoke billowing out of a passenger trip boat, fireengines and fire crew in attendance and frightenedpassengers being evacuated from a blazing inferno.
In reality, what they were witnessing was a veryrealistic emergency training exercise being undertakenby Kennet & Avon Canal Trust volunteers andmembers of Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service. Theexercise was code-named KayVee and events on theday followed months of discussion and planning.
So it was that early on the morning of Sunday 12th
October, Chris Sibley, Boat Manager for KenavonVenture, and a volunteer boat crew from Devizesboarded the KV and sailed her to Horton. I went toDevizes fire station and joined Darren Nixon (StationManager, FRS) for a briefing. In order to maintain theelement of surprise and allow this to be atrue test of capability. Darren’s briefing wasshort – simply that an emergency call couldbe expected at about 10am and theemergency services should respond.
When I arrived at the chosen site, I foundabout 50 people (comprising Trustvolunteers, media people and CRT staff) allgathered – some to be passengers on theboat and others to be observers watchingfrom the bank. A quick briefing; a group offiremen installed a smoke generator in theboat, the “passengers” boarded for apleasant trip and then we were off.
Shortly after departure, there was a major explosionand fire. I was badly injured and knocked unconscious,crew members subsequently checked my conditionduring the remainder of the exercise despite all thepressing calls on their time. Fortunately, I made a fullrecovery at the end!
This was a major exercise for us and the emergencyservices. Our training for the new season will reflectthe lessons learned, all the Boat Managers and theircommittees are now thinking about how to translatespecific aspects into their own boat operations.
I would like to say a huge thank you to all ourvolunteers who took part. It says much about thestrength of our organisation that so many people werewilling to give up a Sunday in October to support thisemergency training exercise. I hope you all found ituseful and enjoyable. There is a short video made byWiltshire FRS which is available on the Trust websitevia the following link:
http://info.katrust.org.uk/Operation%20Kayvee%20-%20Wiltshire%20FRS.mp4
Exercise KayVee
Graham Day - Director of BoatsMy wife Valerie and I joined the Trust early 2010 when we read an article in our localnewspaper about a new trip boat activity at Devizes Wharf being organised by TheTrust. . I trained as a member of crew, became a helmsman, and then qualified as aBoatmaster.I was appointed Director of Boats in December 2011. The boats are a fantasticallysuccessful part of the Trust – thanks entirely to our many volunteers who give up time
and effort to train, operate, maintain and service the boats under the direction of their local Boat Manager.As Enterprise Director, I oversee all this, deal with overall policy and strategy development, and lead ourrelationship with the MCA.
I try and visit all the boats as often as possible, but still continue as a volunteer on Kenavon Venture.
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“My involvement with the commercial arm of the KACT,Enterprise, began in 2011 when I was asked to advise on certainaspects of the commercial operations and in particular, the way weworked with commercial partners in our cafes and tea rooms alongthe K & A. I am also proud to continue my connection with thisfabulous resource we have available by being a Trustee of TheBruce Trust, providing canal boat holidays for disabled,disadvantaged or elderly people along the K & A.”
Tom Newey - Director - Retail
The Bruce TrustA Very Special
HolidayThe Bruce Trust wascreated in 1988 by Louiseand David Bruce, followingthe sale of Bruce's Breweryand the Firkin Pubs inLondon. Being keen toplough back some of theproceeds into a projectwhich would benefit thecommunity, they becameintrigued with the possibilityof offering to disabled,disadvantaged or elderlypeople the opportunity toenjoy self-steer, self-cateringholidays, cruising on the Kennet &Avon Canal.Having carried out considerableresearch into the existing facilitiesfor people with special needs onBritain's other inland waterways,the Bruces invested over £80,000into building The Rebecca. Thisspecially-designed, purpose-built,wide-beam canal boat offersholidays or day trips in the highestquality accommodation and theultimate flexibility for up to twelvepeople. With lifts to facilitate gettingon and moving around on board, ahospital bed and wet room facilities,disabled, disadvantaged or elderlypeople along with their families,
friends and carers are now able toenjoy the relaxation and sights ofthe Kennet and Avon Canal. TheTrust was born and the Rebeccahas now been joined by her sisters
Diana, Hannah and Rachel andoperates from Great Bedwyn Wharfand Lower Foxhanger in Devizes.
The boats are a home-from-homefor any disabled or elderly person,who often might have been unableto access holidays like this before.Hirers are able to take mostmedical kit with the enhancedelectrics on board, enabling them tobe cared for as they would athome, and all the boats have beeninternally fitted out with wheelchairusers in mind. The Trust is proudthat to date they have not had toturn any disabled person away andalways do what they can tofacilitate every need.
The boats are let out for the fullseason March – October. As is thecase with many charities, the Trustcould not exist without the fantasticband of volunteers who come
together to help turn theboats round and servicethem. Over the years theirnumbers have grown toover 80 without whose helpthe Trust would be unable tooffer the holidays and daytrips it does.
As we look forward to a verybusy summer, our 26th
season, we are keen toincrease the help availablefor our Lower Foxhanger
base near Devizes. If you feel youmight be able to offer help on anoccasional Saturday morning from9.30am – 12 noon as a teamleader, engineer or cleaner wewould love to hear from you. Noprevious experience is necessary,just a keen pair of hands and awillingness to help. In return youget to see the excitement on thefaces of our holiday makers withspecial needs as they set off ontheir once in a lifetime holiday.
If you think you might have a fewhours to spare we would love tohear from you, please drop us aline at [email protected]
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Before the CanalClosed and On
by Bill Fisher
I first discovered the Kennet & Avon Canal whenI was seven years old. Guyers Lock, the first lockwest of Newbury, is a ten minute walk from thehouse where I was born. Unbeknown to myparents, this became my playground. Itsappearance was that of a village pond and to me,I suppose that is what it was. Thick weedstretched from bank to bank, moorhen, dabchick
and water volesscampered across the topfrom bank to bank, waterwas hardly visible apartfrom the occasional holein the weed where a
fisherman hadraked out theweed to create afishing place,rather like an Eskimo fishing through a hole in theice. This was the perfect play ground for any smallboy, my friends and I swam, fished and exploredour summer holidays away.
A year to two later this was soon to change.Cycling the towpath between Guyers and Higgs,the next lock west, with my fishing rod strappedto the crossbar of my bike, something happenedthat has influenced my life from that day to this.The bottom gates of Higgs Lock opened withmuch heaving and pushing and a boat camethrashing out of the Lock. This was no ordinary
boat, this was a Paddle boat. So, I have justdiscovered that my long narrow weed infestedpond was a canal, a navigation. I turned my bikeround, fishing rod, bait tin and all and cycled backdown the towpath, keeping abreast of the paddleboat which was going at a good pace through andover the weed, the paddles throwing weed andspray into the air creating a rainbow in thesunlight. We soon arrived at Guyers Lock, thecrew of three leapt off and began to fill the lock.“This was something new to me”. Soon thecavernous space of the lock chamber was filled tothe brim with muddy water. I helped to open thevery stiff top gates and the paddle boat, that I nowdiscovered had a name, Wayfarer, entered thelock. Soon the lock was empty and I was given thehonour of opening one bottom gate alone andWayfarer splashed her way towards Newburywith me alongside on my bike. Having made theacquaintance of Wayfarer's crew at the lock, wewere now on chatting terms across the water. Avery stilted conversation took place. The engineof the Wayfarer was mounted on her stern deckand air cooled, very noisy and probably startedlife in a motor bike, I heard them but they had greatdifficulty in hearing me. However I did learn thatthey were taking Wayfarer to Newbury. AtNorthcroft, where the canal joins the RiverKennet I had to retrace my steps, mealtimes weresacrosanct in the Fisher household.
Later that day I rode into Newbury then on to thetowpath to Newbury Lock. Here I found PaddleBoat Wayfarer moored on the offside above thelock without her crew. I crossed the lock gates tosee more of this strange vessel. I had hardly setfoot on the offside of the lock when I becameaware of somebody behind me, a voice said, “Youreally should not be here young man. This side ofthe lock is private if you are not with a boat.” Thiswas my first meeting with the now legendary JohnGould. I said I was sorry and just wanted to lookat this boat, explaining I had followed it down thecanal and had been allowed to help with the locks.
Editors note : For many of you, the name Bill Fisher is synonymous with the K&A. Quite rightly, Bill issomeone who can proudly be called a "Founder Member". Without him, John Gould and others who put insuch hard work and dedication in those early years, we would not now be enjoying the many benefits of ourbeautiful canal.
Bill's lifelong association with the canal and then the Trust, brings with it a wealth of stories and experiences,some of which he has been persuaded to share with us over the next few editions of The Butty. I am sure, likeme, you will enjoy this entertaining and touching autobiographical account of a man and a canal.
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“Oh I see.” said John. I asked why theboat had the strange paddle wheels“Horses for courses,” said John “Horsesfor courses, the weed is so thick aboveNewbury, no propeller driven boatwould get through it”. This was the startof a wonderful friendship that continueduntil John’s death in March 1999. No 4Rockingham Road, home to John, hiswonderful, long suffering wife Wyn andtheir five children, became my secondhome.
Soon after this Higgs Lock went out ofaction, also several locks and swingbridges on the River Kennet betweenNewbury and Reading closed throughlack of maintenance, so closing thenavigation. Newbury was no longeraccessible by river and canal. John andhis then sleeping partner in John Gould Waterways,Ronald Shepherd, ever the optimists, bought a 40ftslipper stern launch from Salters of Oxford. Her nameat the time was ‘Little Stoke’ named after the Thamesside village where she was kept by her previous ownerLord Baldwin. John renamed her ‘Limpley Stoke’ afterthe village and Aqueduct on the K&A. This was anobvious choice as most of John’s boats were named
after places on the K&A Canal. The short section ofnavigable canal in Newbury became John Gould’sempire. Us lads, who assisted and hindered John on aregular basis, became known as John Gould’s Navy.
Part 2 – The Isolation Years.
Copyright Bill Fisher 2015 – extracts from “My Lifeon the Kennet & Avon and other Waterways”
Melksham LinkUpdateIt must be 6 months since I wrote to explain theMelksham Link project and I think I said then wewere hopeful of planning consent by the end of 2014.
Well, you have to be an optimist to be a canalvolunteer and I accept the label. We did complete allthe wildlife studies on time, but other issues havecome to the surface which we are now working on.
The first was the belated request from the CountyArchaeologist for a full geophysical survey of thenew cut. In 2013, we had commissioned anarchaeological desk study to look at old maps andaerial photographs and this hadn’t turned up anythingof great interest. So we were surprised to get therequest for more work (and more expense !) morethan a year later. A geophysical survey, I now know,uses ‘ground radar’ equipment to detect smallmagnetic anomalies which may indicate undergroundfeatures. The survey has now been
completed and we await the report.
The other issues relate to water resources (estimatingthe likely water requirement of the new link), waterquality predictions arising from the linking of theK&A to the river Avon, and an assessment of thelikely effect of the river changes on the fishpopulation.
We have all this work in hand but it has necessitatedfurther fundraising activities and pushed ourprogramme back by 6 months.
Aside from the planning issues, we are looking at‘bigger picture’ developments to help finance thebuilding of the scheme through visitor attractionswith outdoor and wildlife themes. We are alsoplanning to build on last year’s successful MelkshamRiver Festival, by working with the Town Council toput on a Food and River Festival on 5th & 6th
September 2015 at King George V playing field.
Paul Lenaerts
Project Manager, Melksham Link, Wilts & BerksCanal Trust
John Gould steering Wayfarer on the then isolated sectionabove Newbury Wharf, Bill Steering Limpley Stoke.
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Mention the HungerfordBranch of the Trust, and theimmediate image that springs tomind is the “Rose ofHungerford”. Members comeand go, but the “Rose” has beenaround since 1983, when herpublic trips began – initiallytravelling only westwards fromHungerford because of the poorstate of the canal to the East.
Since then, the far-sightednessof her first chairman, PeterBuck (supported by secretaryTony Bond and boat managerBob Maslin) and the then-hugeoutlay of £20,000 tocommission and pay for herhave paid dividends in terms ofboth publicity and revenue forthe Trust, epitomised by theiconic image of the Queentravelling on her to the official
re-opening of the canal in 1990.
The public trips were soonsupplemented by privatecharters, boosting both therevenue stream and the publicvisibility. The first “SantaCruises” started in about 1989and are now an established partof the Hungerford scene; in2014, 24 trips took 800passengers to meet Santa, witheach child receiving anindividually named andwrapped gift. Andrew Sawyerredefined the role of Vicar ofHungerford in the early 90’s,taking over as chairman.
Now, more than 30 years afterthose earliest trips, some of thepersonnel are changing again.Andrew and Janet Sawyer havestepped down, as has long-time
treasurer Sarah Fradgley. MikeRodd has now taken over aschairman, with some additionalcommittee members tosupplement the sterling workdone for so long by RichardSnook, Diana Wheatley, ChrisHopkins and Maureen Burlow.Three new Boatmasters are intraining, and the new training/social events manager, JeanCarter, supported by volunteermanager Tony Hill, areorganising lots of social eventsto bring branch memberstogether. We closed the yearwith a lunch at the Bear andopened the new one with a poshdinner at Littlecote. These werefollowed by a two-day trip forall volunteers to Crofton, givingan excellent opportunity foradditional crew training and
The New Team
The Rose of HungerfordIn Safe Hands
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getting to know each other
The “venerable old lady” herselfhas recently undergonesomething of a face-lift inaddition to the usual closed-season maintenance,masterminded by boat managerChris Hopkins and maintenancemanager John Carter. The shoparea has been updated and someextensive painting in the cabinhas helped make it all lookbrighter and lighter, also givingmuch-needed extra space. The“Rose” now also boasts a new“duck path” – our splendidconcreted access path is, as ithappens, much frequented bymasses of ducks, but has alsomade a huge difference to the
convenience and ease of access,especially for wheelchairs. Thiswas almost entirely funded byHungerford Town Council, forwhich we thank them.
Additionally, on the principle ofturning the worst into the best,we are turning our attention tothe local (in)Sanitary Station,which is so essential to us forpump-outs (and as a refuge forlurking Santas!). We arelobbying CRT to do somethingabout its currently disgustingcondition, and hope to persuadethem to reinstate a rubbishdisposal facility. With theincreasing number ofliveaboards on our section of thecanal, this is a desperately
needed resource.
So the “Rose” is ingood heart to start thenew season andcontinue her role as amajor financialcontributor to thework of the KACT.In 2014, she carriedsome 4500passengers anddelivered profits ofabout £30K to theTrust, includingnearly £3000 given asvoluntary donations
in lieu of “tips” in appreciationof the sterling work done by thecrews in providing a wonderfulall-round passenger experience!
Our Treasurer, Sara Fricker, isnow producing simplifiedmonthly accounts, so that all ourvolunteers can see how verysuccessful their efforts are.
The Hungerford Branch AGMwill be held on Friday May 15that 7.00 pm on board the “Rose”;Hungerford Branch membersand all our volunteers arecordially invited.
Mike Rodd Chairman
In Bradford on Avon, the former Stables on the Wharf now serves as a Visitor Welcome Station, offeringinformation about the Canal and the local amenities. It also acts as a recruitment centre for KACT
Membership and CRT Friends. It is hoped that with the right team of volunteers this could also be thesales point for tickets for trips on the MV Barbara McLellan.
In Bath, volunteers are busy refurbishing the old Toll House at Dundas Wharf to provide a similarservice . As the refurbishment started, volunteers were amazed to find that there was an existing power
supply to the building which CRT have now re-connected. Happily, CRT are going to install electricty tothe Bradford on Avon Stables.
Whilst existing volunteers are helping to staff these centres, there is a need for a new group of dedicated‘Welcome Station Volunteers’ and someone to organise rotas, recruit volunteers and generally manage
the projects. It might be that one volunteer organiser could cover both welcome stations.
If you are interested contact the local Branch Chairman ( contact details on inside front cover)
NewWelcome Stations Need Volunteers
11
Life goes on “out west” with our focus on both ourvarious volunteer initiatives as well as our“campaign issues”.
Whilst we may struggle a little with volunteernumbers, we do still manage to think up goodreasons for a get together and some food and drink.We had a very successful end of season Bar-B Qhosted by Ian and Alice Herve in early Octoberand, as three months had elapsed, we thought it agood idea to start our first Thursday work partywith Coffee at Lenny’s Café in Widcombe, so as toexplain to the team what we had planned for thecoming year and to get their own ideas and input.As it was chucking it down with rain at our normalstart time, the cosy back room was an attractiveproposition for the dozen volunteers who werethere. This proved very useful and some goodideas were forthcoming. This included painting thetwo swing bridges that we have on our stretch of the
canal which for some reason we had previouslyoverlooked. In case people are concerned that wespend too much time socialising and not enoughworking, we did actually do a tidy up andvegetation cut back in the area below Lock 7 whenthe rain stopped late morning.
Our two major projects for the year are to completethe River//Canal Upgrade project in Bath which weplan for Easter and to tackle the Dundas Wharf TollOffice to form a Welcome Station. We are pleasedto report that CRT have now also resurrected theircommitment to getting Dundas Wharf its “RedWheel” status so other works, which we have longbeen advocating as being needed, it shouldhopefully now get done.
On the campaigning front, we continue to do battleon the Moorings problem and the need toregenerate Bath’s neglected river. We wouldwelcome readers views on both these fronts. Bothissues have got to a critical stage so please let mehave your views.
John Webb.
Bath and Bristol BranchSmall But Strong
Having read Peter Balkwill’s tale of woeregarding Barbara Mac’s unfortunateencounter with a car tyre, I thought my similarexperiences and possible solution may be ofinterest to readers.
We Brits are possibly the only country in Europe that does not have some ruling on boat fenders.Needless to say, this varies between countries despite the EU, but what countries all agree on is thatany fender, that is not an integral part of the vessel must FLOAT (I think integrated means boltedon). I am told it is acceptable to use car tyres BUT with a partially inflated inner tube within thewalls, thus giving buoyancy. Personally I think any tyre on a boat spoils the boats appearance.French ruling requires that car tyres, if used, must be suspended with two ropes.
Most of my boating inthe last 35years has beenon the continent with theoccasional trip homeacross the Channel, upthe Thames and K&Aback to Newbury formaintenance. This hasgiven me the opportunityto learn a little of howothers do their boating,including fenders. One
very successful but fairly expensive fender is purpose made from recycled plastic which, because ofthe construction, has plenty of ‘give’ cushioning which does not cause the boat to bounce when inuse (“see photos”).
Tyre-ing Time -a Reply
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I use these in conjunction with heavy homemade rope fenders. Therope is of the plaited type, the thickness and length will varyaccording to the boat's size. I always use second-hand; I usually obtainsuch rope from Beaulieu Boat Jumble or any south coast or west coastfishing port. A spot of bartering is often required; constructionmethod is self-explanatory from photo.
I think a weed hatch is what the name suggests for the removal ofweed. My boat does not have a weed hatch so all debris clearing hasto be done from the shore or dingy. For this I can recommend apruning saw blade with a pull action (available from DIY Gardencentres etc.) This should be bolted to a pole minimum of 2 metres (notAsh, ideal, but it is far too heavy).
The ‘plastic’ fenders are I believe available from The Dutch BargeAssociation.
I hope this is of some help.
Bill Fisher
Why do we need Enterprises?I hear this question quite a lot when I am volunteering on the Canal.Most UK charities have a “trading subsidiary” – and the Canal Trust isno different. Tax and charity laws impose restrictions on how and whencharities can charge for activities, even when the funds raised are for thebenefit of the charity.
As the Canal Trust charges for the trip boats and runs cafés, it needs tohave a trading subsidiary, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise)Limited or “Enterprises”. The objective of the company is to raise fundsfor the Canal, adding to the income earned from membership andentrance fees. Any profit made by Enterprises is donated to the CanalTrust for use for its charitable objects.
So how is Enterprises run? The Board of Enterprises meets every coupleof months. We are all volunteers and bring a variety of different skillsand perspectives to the Board, from retail and engineering to finance andlegal. Some of the Board are also trustees of the Canal Trust, others arejust involved in Enterprises. We review the finances of the boats, cafésand shops to make sure that they are trading profitably. Once a year welook at and agree the budget. That way we can plan ahead. During theyear, we monitor the finances to make sure everything is on track andmake decisions about any unexpected requests for funds. We also lookto see if there is any way of increasing income or reducing costs, so thatthere is more money left to donate to the Canal Trust at the end of theyear.
If you are interested in learning more about the role or activities ofEnterprises, any of the Enterprises directors would be happy to answeryour questions – just get in touch!
Deborah Robinson
Living in Bradford-on-Avon, I am a regularvisitor to the Canal. In2011, I startedvolunteering on theBarbara McLellan, butwondered if I could helpout in any other way. SoI joined the board of TheKennet & Avon CanalTrust (Enterprise)Limited. As a lawyer forone of the largest UKcharities, I hope that Ican bring some of thatexperience to help theCanal Trust.
Deborah Robinson
Enterprise Board
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Bath –
Members noticed a 6 inch drop in water level duringOctober; this was due to a water main bursting onDundas aqueduct, mending it caused the drop. Thewater level in the Avon at Bath was practically zerowhile demolition men cleared the remains of the OldBridge. The ‘Charlotte Dundas’ escorted by Mr FredBlampied’s ‘Kenavon Venture’, both paddle boats,took a party of members and friends for an end ofseason cruise from Bath to Claverton & Millbrook.Claverton Pump – It was learnt that the broken beamsupporting the housing over the waterwheel is to beshored up with scaffolding to prevent further damage.
Newbury
A new 100ft overflow weir on the poundabove Heales Lock replaces the smallwaste sluice near Cranwell Swing-bridge.
Query - is the bargealongside Dundas wharf‘Unity’ built by Robbins
Lane & Pinnigar atHoneystreet?
Answer – no ‘Unity’ washauled out and cut up atHoneystreet about ten
years ago
Bath
Mr Don Collinson and MrFred Blampied gave talkson the building of theirboats, in their backgardens, ‘Aphrodite’ and‘Kenavon Venture’. BritishWaterways closedKeynsham Lock so noboats could reach the BathFestival.
Repairs to Bulls lock swing-bridge.The waste weir below Dreweats lockhave been completed and material fornew upstream gates at Ham lock wasavailable.
Mr Bob Alderman (member of theNewbury Branch Committee) andMiss Gloria Seymour were married atSt Marys Church, Speen, reports hadreached the editor that there was ablockage of a weir below Newbury,apparently caused by confetti thrownat the couple as they left the wharf bycanoe for their honeymoon in Bath.
Wilts
Captain Robinson appealed for amore imaginative approach to theTrust stand after his stint at the boatshow. It was proposed by thechairman that the branch start totackle the restoration in their area asit would be some time before therestoration from either end of thecanal reached them.
At the end of an article about the boatshow stand and surely not exactly pcthese days – "Volunteers for ‘Miss
Butty 1966’ should presentthemselves in person to theeditor in his flat – in theirBikinis!"
The cover picture was of someyoung ladies in their Bikinis,how things have changed!
This attitude carried on later inthis edition. No one really tookoffence, at that time it was justignored, but not today.
Snippetsfrom theArchivesApril 1965
Elaine Kirby
Archivist
Meetings held todiscuss theredevelopment ofNewbury wharf, it wasagreed thatrepresentatives of theBorough, BritishWaterways and theTrust form a smalltechnical committee toassist theredevelopment.
The wedding of MrNicholas Hammond(map maker to the K &A) and Miss JenniferNunn is reported.
14
3 Stores Company R.A.O.C. (TA)
20 members hired 4 boats from John Gould at Newbury. 12 mencrewed, the remainder formed the shore party. Here are someextracts
– power launch spluttered to a halt so crews unshipped oars andflailed upstream in the dark to camp and visit to a local inn.NOTE - Canal clear for navigation to this point, beer good, andnatives friendly-they even pushed our reluctant transport or didthey want to get rid of us! Off to Kintbury and then Hungerford,then Little and Great Bedwyn to Crofton. Corporal Ledger andPrivate Priest performed an expert slow motion back flip out ofa tilting boat into the water emerging like a surfacing canalmonster, weed bedecked and dripping, decidedly unpleased,much merriment in camp then onto another inn. NOTE – On thissection locks closed and bricked up, boats carried around locks,weed very thick in places, water shallow, beer nice and cool anddisappeared in large quantities, natives amiable and landownersvery helpful. Through the stygian low roofed darkness of theSavernake (Bruce) tunnel broken only by the white dot of lightat each end but weed free. At this point the towpath monitorMajor Fairay ran out of path and had to entrust himself to one ofthe boats, he emerged none the worse from his experience.Refreshments at Wootton Rivers then Bristol or bust was thecry. Further along the waterway, after much chaffing badinagewith the landlubber fishermen, the canal was so silted that evenwith only one galley slave progress was impossible. So at NewMill the boats were loaded onto a vehicle and drove to lunch atPewsey wharf and back to Reading by road. Conclusion adifficult tiring trip, natives amusedly tolerant of such madness,23 miles of mostly un-navigable waterway, carried boats around29 locks, 2 casualties one corporal and one private and a verygood time was had by all.
ALSO FOUND IN THEAPRIL 1965 EDITION
A wonderful article by FredBlampied about the buildingof his sternwheeler ‘Kenavon
Venture’
A profile of Phillip Ogden,Honorary Consulting Engineerto the Trust, who sadly passed
away in 2014.
Mr H A C Langford writes anarticle about punting through
the Bruce Tunnel. He found thepunt at the tunnel and used it
without knowing who itbelonged to, but did return it.
Information on three boats gauged at Bradford on Avon.
The Barge ‘Unity’ – July 3rd 1896 – 67ft 8ins long by 13ft 9ins wide.
The Barge ‘Barnstable’ – May 5th 1906 – 77ft long including rudder –14ft 2ins wide.
The Trow ‘Emma’ – November 12 1888 – 67ft long – 13ft 4in wide.
Included on board ‘Unity’ amongst other things on board whilst beingweighed were, 3 gang planks, 2 canal lines, 1 anchor, 1 brush, 1 mop, 1windlass, 2 stoves and 1 tiller.Does anyone remember any of the boats mentioned in this article also‘24D’ owned by the Tidy family a sternwheeler, or ‘Blue Angel’,another sternwheeler.
At a council meeting ofthe Trust Lord Methuenproposed that GeneralSir Hugh Stockwell beinvited to join thecouncil. Since hisretirement as DeputySupreme AlliedCommander, Europe in1964 he has taken agreat interest in thecanal.Robert Aickman founderof the IWA retires asvice President but willstay on the council.Captain Lionel Munkchairman of the K & ATrust council becomeschairman of the IWA.April - Notification ofthe go ahead to rebuildSulhampstead Lock.
If you have any pictures, the Archive would appreciate loans orcopies as we are putting together a talk about boats on the K & A
15
The first few months of 2015 were busy for Newbury Branch and, by the time you read this, we will have alreadyattended the West Berkshire Volunteer Fair to recruit Jubilee crew. The maintenance work on Jubilee to get herready for the new season will be just about finished and we will be training new crew and updating training forexisting crew. As well as enjoying a crewget together awe will have finished ourseason of illustrated talks at the StoneBuilding and had our AGM on 25th March.
Jubilee starts public trips on Easter Monday6th April. This year we have added aThursday trip at 2.30pm to our public trips,commencing 7th May. Saturdays andSundays at 12 noon and 2pm remain thesame. Don’t forget Jubilee is also availablefor private charter – the perfect summer boatfor your get-together. Looking ahead, ourever popular Pirate Trips, for children youngand old, will run during the school summerholidays on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at2.30pm from 28th July to 26th August.
We are now well into the preparation for the Newbury Waterways Festival to be held on 26th July. Our theme thisyear is ‘Flower Power’ to reflect the flora of the canal but also gives boats plenty of scope for decorating up!Who can beat Terry on ‘Cloud 9’, last year’s winner as the best dressed boat? Please email Julie for a boatbooking form at [email protected]. Boats will start arriving on Friday 24th July and there will be theBoaters party in the form of an American supper in Victoria Park on the Saturday evening, this is also open tomembers, friends and family. Tickets are £5 and our entertainment for the evening is by the The Kevin O'ReganBand, described as ‘a heady cocktail of folk with a hint of blues, a dash of country, a splash of rock washed downwith a large measure exuberance’! More information and tickets call Julie (07795 116221) Don’t miss it.
Sunday 26th is our main festival day where Victoria Park will be transformed with stall of all kinds popping up,the boats will be looking fabulous, the Kevin O’Regan Band will be playing during the day, and of course,Jubilee will be running extra boat trips all over the Festival weekend. Do come and join us for this importantevent in the Trust calendar.Julie Dean
Newbury News
How many people can you get into the bottom of a lock chamber? CRT were not sure whatthe response would be when they held an Open Day at Aldermaston Lock on the last dayof January but you may be surprised by the answer.
Many of the locks on the Kennet Navigation qualify as unique and Aldermaston certainlydoes. Opened in 1723 as a turf sided lock it received unusual scalloped brick work up tojust above low water level around 1760 but thereafter remained in a similar state untilnavigation ceased in the 1950s. Restoration eventually came in the mid 1980s as part ofa Berkshire County Council Job Creation Scheme. Instead of a turf- side, the scallopedwalls were extended upwards to above full water height and the lock received a concretefloor. 2015 maintenance maintains this form but has included repair and re-hanging of thebottom gates which had attracted a growing number of uncomplimentary adjectives.
DESCENTintothe
DEPTHS
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By 31 January, the lock had been drained as part ofongoing maintenance work, originally scheduledfor 2014 but put back due to that year’s floods. Thetowpath was closed but a walkway was in place toallow public access through the worksite, past acouple of CRT gazebos, one of which featuredchildren’s activities, to a sturdy flight of metalsteps leading down into the lock chamber. Theweather was cold. A sprinkling of overnight snow
was melting and light rain was expected during themorning. Volunteers from CRT plus a few fromKACT were in place ready to guide people aroundand answer questions. But nobody could guesshow many people would come.
Even before the official opening time of 10am thetowpath was busy with people splashing alongtowards the lock. This could have just been anopening rush but people kept on coming.Individuals, couples, families with small children– all were keen to go down into the lock chamberwhere they would be over 10 feet below full lockwater level. Many were residents of the newhousing nearby, others from places within a 10mile radius, including Reading and Newbury andthere were also people from further away includingSouthampton and Devizes. Our small table wasalso there, under the steps to reduce the impact ofthe morning rain, showing some pictures of thelock in the past, 1980s rebuild and current. Publicinterest was huge with almost no break in peopleasking why the lock sides were scallop shaped,trying to work out which parts of the structure wereoriginal and many other thoughtful questions.
Members of the local CRT workforce wereanswering enquiries about their work. RichardParry, the CRT Chief Executive, was on site formost of the day and we also had a visit from localM.P. and KACT Vice-President Richard Benyon.
So what is the answer?. How many got into thebottom of Aldermaston on January 13st?. Theofficial visitor count was 1,066, although that
excludes the 30 pluswearing yellow jackets. Itmight have been even moreif the staff of theAldermaston Visitor CentreTea Room had not been sobusy serving food andrefreshments that theycould not get away fromtheir kitchen. Will there beanother one?. Maybe, butprobably not atAldermaston.
Congratulations to CRTfor an unusual andinformative day.
David Copley
Looking east (downstream)towards Reading
Is this a first?Derrick Hunt sent in this interesting photo.
Artist Doug Clark built it as a test piece, using thechanging depth of lock, to see how well the idea
would work.
The final art installation will go to Denmark. placedwhere the tide will uncover and cover the words
used so many times by Lloyds of London for shipslost at sea
17
Mr Paul Gallagher DevizesMs R Ainsworth Bath and BristolMr M Benians NewburyMrs M Keywood DevizesMr & Mrs L&J Lovelace & Amore DevizesMr and Mrs P & S Genever DevizesMr Terry Roberts DevizesMr and Mrs James and Sarah King Devizes
Why did I join The Trust?
In the war years I attended school in the village ofChilton Foliat. Hungerford's volume of traffic wasnot as today, we would cover many miles incomfort by bicycle. Water pollution was nevermentioned so swimming opportunities were taken.I remember, in that period, canal water levels werelow and some places dried out.
Following my university days and first jobs, Ireturned to Newbury and became a member of alocal business club where guest speakers wereinvited to give lectures. One of them was the wellknown Mr.John Gould MBE who you will knowwas very active campaigning to restore the canalto its past glory. He impressed me so much that Iwould often take walks along the canal watchingdevelopments. My active involvement was notpossible due to business commitments however,visiting colleagues, who stayed over week-ends inthe summer and taken to visit Crafton PumpingStation were always impressed.
Following a visit to Marlborough last September, Ihad the idea of motoring back to Newbury with avisitor, calling into Crofton en route. What luck! Itwas the last open weekend and everyone wasenjoying not only the pumping station but music, awonderful atmosphere and warm friendlyconversation.
I decided it's now or never, so I am now a happymember.
Terry Roberts
AWarmWelcome toNewMembers
Over the winter, the Crofton team has beencarrying out maintenance to prepare the PumpingStation and Cafe for the 2015 season. A big loss
over the winter has been our Warden, RogerEdwards, Café Manager Jo Edwards and AssistantCafé Manger Dianne Edwards who have moved on
to pastures new. We are working to recruitreplacements.
During training days for the Devizes toWestminster Canoe race, we will be opening thecafe for the training days on Sundays 8th & 22ndMarch and the first day of the actual race itself on
Friday 3rd April (the day before our EasterSteaming).
We have also been exploring joint publicity withother local heritage attractions, and working with
the newly-formed Pewsey Vale TourismPartnership and developing a joint informationleaflet with Wilton Windmill and the Pewsey
Heritage Centre.
On Steaming Saturdays during summer, we willbe offering pre-booked guided tours of nearby
Wilton Windmill, built to replace local water millslost due to building our canal and normally only
open on summer Sunday afternoons.
We have also loaned one of our largest spanners tothe Wiltshire Museum at Devizes for their
forthcoming touring exhibition, "The Story ofWiltshire in 100 objects".
Our series of occasional free admission winterworks open days are proving successful, attracting
a steady stream of visitors, at least one newvolunteer and some welcome donations.
Finally, following on from our Heritage LotteryFund bid pre-application advice to look at smallerseparately funded projects, we are continuing to
develop a range of initiatives for the site, rangingfrom restoration and conservation of Crofton’s
historic buildings, to improving access for all ouraudiences.
Peter Turvey
CROFTONREADY TO ATTRACTTHE CROWDS
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The objects of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust are, for the public benefit, to:
promote, facilitate, and assist in the conservation, protection and improvement of theKennet and Avon Canal and its associated watercourses, towpaths, structures and buildings;
promote and facilitate awareness and understanding of the significance of the Kennet &Avon Canal and its associated structures;
protect and conserve objects, sites and buildings of archaeological, architectural,engineering or historic interest on, in the vicinity of, or otherwise associated with theKennet & Avon Canal;
promote and facilitate recreational use of the Kennet and Avon Canal by a wide section ofthe community in order to improve conditions of life for the public;
promote and facilitate volunteer and community involvement in supporting the charitablepurposes of the Trust;
further any purpose which is exclusively charitable under the law of England and Walesconnected with the Kennet & Avon canal.
The navigable waterways now commonly referred to as the Kennet and Avon Canalcomprise:
The River Avon Navigation between Hanham Lock in Bristol and Poultney weir in Bath;
The Kennet and Avon Canal between Bath and Newbury;
The River Kennet Navigation between Newbury and Crane Wharf, Reading;
The River Kennet between Crane Wharf, Reading and the junction of the Kennet with theThames;
These navigable waterways are supplemented by sections of the Rivers Avon and Kennetwhich are either non-navigable or capable of only limited navigation and by a variety ofsmaller rivers, streams and related watercourses which contribute to the water flow of thenavigable sections;
All of the above, together with their associated towpaths, footpaths, buildings, and pumpingstations are regarded as integral to the environmental amenity and public appreciation ofthe areas through which the Kennet and Avon Canal passes and hence within scope of thework of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.
KACT Charitable Objects - revised 2 Jan 2015.
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The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust
Notice of Annual General Meeting
The 53rd Annual General Meeting of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust will be held at WestLavington Village Hall, Sandfield, West Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 4HL onSaturday, 16th May 2015, commencing at 10.30 am, to conduct the following business.
Ordinary Resolutions (See note i below):
To receive and adopt the Council’s Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st
December 2014.
To elect Members to be Trustees:
Daisy Mundy and Tony Nares retire in accordance with Articles 50 and 51 of the Trust'sArticles of Association. They, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. (Note: Theabove persons make up the number of annual retirees required by Article 50 of the Trust’sArticles of Association.)
David Copley retires in accordance with Article 39 of the Trust’s Articles of Association. He,being eligible, offers himself for re-election.
Nominations for election to Trust Council have been received for Mr Will Job.
To resolve to adopt the revised “Objects” of the Trust as published and notified tomembers in April 2015.
To approve the adoption of the revised Articles of Association of the Kennet and AvonCanal Trust as published and notified to members in April 2014.
A copy of the draft minutes for the AGM 2014 and the agenda for the AGM 2015 areavailable on the Trust website.
By Order of the Board of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust
Daisy Mundy Company Secretary
10 February 2015
Notes:
i. A member entitled to attend and vote may appoint a proxy to attend and vote inhis/her stead. Proxy forms are available from the Trust Administator.
ii. The Board of Trustees is currently seeking individuals specifically with skills infundraising, marketing and volunteer management.
iii. Notes for guidance together with nomination forms are available from theSecretary by e-mailing [email protected] or in writing to The Secretary, K&ATrust, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB. Closing date for receipt of validnominations is noon on 24th April 2015.
Registered in England and Wales: No 726331. Registered Charity: No CC20920620
Stay safe when out on the waterWiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is urging local boaters to make vital checks that could save a life.In November, Jason ‘Badger’ Phillips was killed when fire swept through his boat moored on the K&A
Canal in Hilperton.Boat fires are less common than fires on land but can still be devastating, particularly when boats are inremote locations with difficult access, as this can delay the firefighting response.
Boaters are reminded to:∑ Fit smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector.∑ Make a fire action plan.∑ Take extreme care when refuelling with petrol or changing gas cylinders.∑ Avoid using portable gas equipment on board, where possible, and store all gas canisters in
special gas lockers or open places where any leaks will flow overboard.∑ Check items such as battery terminals and fuse box connections routinely for damaged
strands or signs of overheating.∑ Take care when doing repairs, and keep interiors well ventilated when using adhesives,
paints and spirit based products.∑ Always keep an eye on a solid fuel stove when it's lit and try to avoid leaving the boat with
the stove running.∑ Never keep fabrics, soft furnishings or piles of paper next to a woodburning stove.∑ Make sure you always know your location so that, in the event of any emergency, the fire &
rescue service can get there as quickly as possible.∑ Carbon monoxide is most likely to be caused by the exhaust emissions of portable
generators or problems with solid fuel stoves, including flue pipes, so regular maintenance ofthese appliances is essential.
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service offers free boat fire safety checks – to arrange a visit, call 0800 389 7849 orgo to www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/boatsafety
A Message from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
This is your chance to have your photograph as the cover page of The Butty and
win a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) for any of our 4 boats, your choice.
Entries can be emailed to [email protected] send hard copies to The Editor, The Butty, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes. SN10 1EB
Photographs should show at least one KACT volunteer "working" for The Trust and be submitted with a brief explanation of who they are, what they
are doing and where they are. Portrait photos please
The New Rose of Hungerford Arrives!Easter 1983