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It has been a nice day for polishing today. NC is looking nice and shiny again. Just the antifoul to apply next weekend and we should be good to go back in the water. We have decided that we are going to hang onto Naughty-Cal for a bit longer. We are going to hire a VW van next summer and see if we like it or not before committing to selling the boat.

In the back of "John Knill's Navy": A Poem by Ray White THE BOATMAN’S RETURN HAWKESBURY JUNCTION 1986 It’s back again and home again, and here at Sutton Stop I’ve come to seek familiar things that modern folk’s forgot. It must be sixteen years or more since lorries boating killed, And up and down our waterways the motor boats were stilled. In basins, arms and dockyards, their rusting skeletons lie, Reminders of a way of life that took so long to die. Now, round the bend to Tushes Bridge, the towpath stretches bare, But in my mind those ghostly pairs still wait for orders there. At weekends, or at holiday times, they made a stirring site, Their brasses bright and shining, their cratch-strings dazzling white. Their cabin-sides proclaimed from companies old and new Like ‘Waterway, and ‘Willow Wren’, to name the biggest two. And, further back, come Barlow’s, both ‘Limited’ and ‘S E.’, Then ‘John Knills’,’ Cowpars’, ‘Joshers – The famous ‘FMC’. Now, turning to the Coventry side, where ‘Friendship’, used to tie, The pleasure craft lie stem to stern, where coal trains once went by. Across the cut on wooden bridge – that too has gone to burn – One day, perhaps, the roads will be redundant in their turn. The monstrous concrete cooling towers that stood at ‘Longford Light’, Were blown up several years ago, and weeds now mark the site. Between the ‘Cov’ and Oxford cuts, an office used to stand, From which each morn’ the captains came, their orders in their hands. The building still is there, ’ tis true, but where is Mr. Shaw? Or dear Miss Doreen Edwards, the boatman’s friend of yore? I turn around and face the north, where houses used to be, Across the Coventry stop-place, a wondrous site to see. The pumping-engine chimney, and engine-house still stand. For once they’ve left them standing, restored by caring hand. A pity ‘bout the footbridge, for which many years has stood And now it is ‘unsafe to use’ – it’s only made of wood. Of Fieldings and the ‘Salvo’, there is no trace today, Salvation Army folk were praised along the waterway. And many a boatman’s child new born was christened by them too. And any time trouble struck, they knew just what to do. So now towards the pub I turn, the centre of our lives, The ‘Greyhound’ was a ‘home from home’, for boatmen and their wives. Alas it has been ‘Modernised’, it never had a bar. And boating folk feel strangers now – its patrons come by car. And gone too is the little shop, where boat wives spent their pay, Buying enough of this and that to last ‘till settling day. Our friendly Mrs Nelson, ‘Rowie’ and Nuala too No longer serve the folks beer and crisps – it’s not the pub I knew. I think of dear Joe Skinner, the last of that long crew Of owner-boatmen, Number ones, and of ‘Friendship’ too. Preserved at Ellesmere Port she lies, for modern folk to see. But I do remember meeting her, when bound for Banbury. Joe’s faithful mule called ‘Dolly’, but she took sick and died. So Joe and Rose tied-up their boat along the Coventry side. I think I have seen enough of Sutton Stop today I find it too depressing now the boats have gone away. The boating life held lots of fun – and lots of hard work too. These folk who glamorise it often have no clue Of what it’s like to drive a horse all day in pouring rain Then wake up in the morning – and do it all again. I’ll keep my private memories, and dream of what might have been If England wasn’t so lorry mad – a bright new boating scene.

Is it true that you used to be indecisive but now you are not quite sure. … ?

You do realise that you may eventually end up with very short wine glasses, each with the capacity of a teaspoon dont you? 😂

I bet this crew member was a great deal younger than me. There has been a movement in the last thirty years or so to pronounce Latin as though it were modern Italian, Those taught Latin fifty odd years ago would pronounce the last syllable to rhyme with "days" and the "v" as a "w". So I would say "wool-pays" Incidentally since we are in pedant mode, it should be pointed out that a more usual spelling of Vulpes is Volpes. There are changing fashions in pronouncing classical Greek and Latin. I remember hearing Harold Macmillan reciting Aeschylus with a plummy Edwardian accent which was barely comprensible to later generations. The fact is, it doesn't really matter.

I wasnt blaming anyone, just adding information to anyone who may wish to boat in the area. I think many inexperienced and even experienced boaters look upon sawley cut as a place of safety and refuge which simply is not the case if extreme conditions exist. The moorers including my mate on the cut where instrumental in stopping boats sinking by rope adjusting etc.

Shower begining to come together, nearly ready to sand and finish port plywood for painting / cladding depending on what she who shall be obeyed decides on, can't wait to move from structural to decorative 😁

This photograph was published in Waterways World magazine November 1986 page 43. It is captioned "John Knill talks to Ronald Wilson, captain of his motor boat KENELM, at Braunston Dock in March 1953 just before the boat was taken on engine trials following the fitting of the new engine" - accredited to C.P. Weaver. This article on the activities of John Knill features four more photographs accredited to C.P. Weaver. The 'new engine' fitted into KENELM (exEPSOM) was a Petter 3BM 27hp @ 1500rpm, removed in about 1958 and fitted into the ex'Ovaltine' motor WILLIAM - KENELM then being fitted with a Lister JP2 along with an entirely new cabin as it was recommissioned into the Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd. fleet

Hi Tony Our cabin top, decks etc are all painted in raddle red, a development of the red oxide paint used on working boats. Craftmaster paints offer a wide range of colours if the original colour doesn't appeal. Please bear in mind that this comes from a long term boater, somewhat right of Ghengis Khan where things traditional are concerned and also active in the boat painting business. Feel free to ignore if you have other ideas! Dave

Froghall is far lower than Gosty Hill!