Bugsworth Tippler

There has been a thread running in the Boat Handling section on this topic here which seems an inappropriate place for it so I've started a new one here. Basically tafkam produced a Harry Beck (London Underground style) map of the canal system which has been available for some time. This was essentially a bitmap file which became pixellated when 'blown up'. Last year, when I was unable to do much boating, I amused myself by re-drawing this using Xara Designer Pro 7 to create a vector file. This means it can be viewed at any magnification and all curves should be smooth, etc. I freely admit that I have taken advantage of all of tafkam's hard work and got in touch with him to ask permission to use my drawing (based on his). I have no intention whatsoever of gaining financially from this and will make copies freely available to anyone. He kindly gave me permission to develop his idea and I then posted on the other thread asking for help in making the map as accurate as possible. I have had some suggestions, all of which will be acted upon, and will implement these when time allows. Distributing the vector file may be problematical but for now I've loaded a pdf file onto my web-site : http://www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/images/misc/Canal%20Map.pdf The image uploaded is clearest when viewed at 200% or above. So now it's up to you good folks to tell me how to make the map as accurate as possible and to make suggestions for improvement - over to you!

Good idea - I'll do just that.

I'm working on the Birmingham Canals and will post another version when they are added. In doing this I am becoming aware of just how much work was done by Tafkam and how much care taken to get it to its present state. All credit to him.

First of all, can I ask how this thread can be moved to a more suitable area. I can't see what it has to do with Boat Handling. Secondly, I would greatly appreciate constructive input into developing this map. Distribution of the vector graphic image is a little problematic but for now I have uploaded a pdf file to my web-site here : http://www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/images/misc/Canal%20Map.pdf Xtra : The image uploaded is clearest when viewed at 200% or above.

I have produced a vector graphics version of Tafkan's map which means it is now fully scaleable to any size without becoming 'fuzzy round the edges'. He is happy for me to develop this further so if I can find some way of posting a pdf (or allowing access to it) I will do so and await a torrent of suggestions for alterations.

I'm not sure what is meant by this comment. I can assure anyone interested that this event, at the NCCC but not run by the NCCC, features an artist of the highest quality and an entirely pleasurable experience is guaranteed.

For anyone on the Macclesfield Canal this coming weekend why not drop into the North Cheshire Cruising Club which is providing the venue (and bar) for a concert by the wonderful Anthony John Clarke (only £8). You'll have a lovely time. The support act will be singing a few canal songs, including 'Voyage of Delight' which is a song about the wonderful Macclesfield Canal! It's on Saturday 17th September at 8.00pm. Tickets available on the door.

The concert featuring Anthony John Clarke and his Band is taking place at the North Cheshire Cruising Club is just over a week away (8pm, Saturday 17th Sept 2011). If you've never heard Anthony John before then visit his website to hear some sound samples http://www.anthonyjohnclarke.co.uk/albums.htm. You can be sure of a warm welcome and a lovely evening in comfortable and friendly surroundings (with bar). The support act will be singing a few canal songs from the Songs of the Inland Waterways website. If you moor on the Macc why not turn up by boat? There are moorings available just outside the club arm. Forgot to say tickets are £8 and can be bought in advance or on the door. It would help with the seating arrangements if you contact me to reserve tickets. Contact details here. Ian

As a member of the club which is receiving some unwarranted criticism I would like to make a few points. First of all, the club per se should not be condemned simply because it has members who cause offense to other boaters. There are many members working within the club to improve its image. Unfortunately their efforts are undermined whenever a member behaves unreasonably. I am not at Bugsworth this weekend but I have been asked to pass on one or two things. First of all, I am informed that the club does have permission to erect their marquee. Do the posters of some of this criticism, moored together at Bugsworth, one a past club member, (they know who they are) have permission to erect their gazebo? Secondly, there are only five club boats now moored in Bugsworth who were there on Wednesday. The most fervent posters of criticism on this thread are still moored at Bugsworth and have been there since Wednesday. I note that a translation of the boat name of one of these posters is 'you are talking nonsense' - enough said! Please do not condemn a boat club with plenty of friendly members on the basis of misinformation and the poor social skills of some of its members.

There are two fundraising concerts taking place in autumn 2011 to raise funds for the 1st High Lane Gathering. The venue is the North Cheshire Cruising Club in High Lane (Macclesfield Canal). They feature the immensely talented Anthony John Clarke and QuickSilver who are presenting their show '100 Years of Comic Songs'. More details can be found at http://www.highlanegathering.co.uk/concerts.htm. Tickets are available in advance via my contact details on the web-site.

I have added all the sleeve notes from the lp 'Straight from the Tunnel's Mouth' by The Boatmen to the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website. There seems to be some ambiguity as regards the traditional nature of the 'Tom Beechy' song. David Blagrove variously describes how it was put together while the record label describes it as 'Trad'. From that I assume that most of the song is traditional with just some minor additions, but it would be useful for the historical record to know for certain. I have never had any success at getting a reply when I have attempted to contact David so if anyone is in contact with him and could ask him how much of this song was handed down orally I would appreciate it. In the debate about whether any traditional canal songs existed and have survived David holds some key information. Ian

David Blagrove reconstructed 'The Ballad of Tom Beechy' from fragments according to the sleeve notes of the lp by The Boatmen 'Straight from the Tunnel's Mouth. The tune was close to one he heard being sung by an elderly man at The Greyhound, Hawkesbury Junction in 1962. He says he 'added a few words to fill in the gaps'. It would be nice to have more details about how much was collected and how much written. Then we could judge if this was indeed a traditional boater's song. Is anyone able to ask David?

Andy Robinson, a canal boat dweller possibly in the Leicester area I believe, contactable via this link, is looking for sponsorship to release Buz's CD. Unfortunately it appears you have to join the reverbnation web-site to contact him (or Facebook or similar). I don't really want to do this so if anyone knows how he can be contacted that would be very helpful.

I have the CD 'Water and Rain' but was unaware of any others by Buz Collins. Does anyone have a copy of them that they could copy/lend/sell me so that the lyrics of any of his canal songs can be preserved? Similarly does anyone have a copy of the Waterworld programme or know when it was broadcast? More information about Buz would be welcome. I know of his parental folk connection but little else. Thanks Ian

I am responsible for the Songs of the Inland Waterways website. All the recordings featuring canal songs (which I know about) can be found in the Reference section. If anyone has any additional information regarding canal songs or recordings I would be very pleased to hear from them.

As the person responsible for the 'Canal Songs' web-site previously mentioned I was delighted to find this thread and to be able to find out more about the Rosemary. I have taken some of the information that I have discovered and added it to the song page Songs of the Inland Waterways - The Rosemary as a foot-note. Hopefully I have got it right but would be pleased to be informed of any errors. Ian

There will be a Folk Weekend and Boat Gathering at High Lane on the Macclesfield Canal on the weekend of July 20-22nd 2012. High quality folk artists have already been booked and planning is well underway. The website www.highlanegathering.co.uk/index.html will be updated regularly as details are confirmed. Why not bookmark it and visit occasionally to see how we are getting on?

I wholeheartedly agree. Surely they could have reached a wider audience with a few well placed posters. This would have cost less. Sorry - forget about juvenile literacy rates.

A couple of years ago when Benny Graham and Johnny Handle performed their show "They're Coming Back to the Water" at the NCCC Benny revealed a 'secret plan' to flood the north-east coal mines and connect to the rest of the waterway system by submarine. Brilliant - they could get a government grant for that!

I was going to post a request seeking help as my Johnson pump has ceased to work properly, only coming on when the pressure gets very low. I take it from the previous posts that removing the pressure switch from the top of the pump is relatively straightforward. Does it need any specialist tools? I have an accumulator and a coarse filter.

If you are the first boat in a convoy going north you may experience a rather strange phenomenon which can be rather scary. You are well into the tunnel going along nicely and your headlight is showing you what's ahead, and fortunately you can see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. Then, all of a sudden there is a thick wall of mist and you can't see anything at all, except for brightly illuminated fog! Panic! But you just have to keep going into the thick pea-souper - what else can you do? After 10 seconds or so things clear and you breathe a sigh of relief. I think this happens when they switch on the fans and all the fumes from the boats previously passing through are suddenly sucked towards you. Spooky!

I have an 3-bladed Ecofan which has some entertainment value and let's me see from the other end of the boat whether the fire has remained on all night. I cannot detect any air movement created by it! A friend uses a 12v computer case fan (with switch) fixed to the wall above his stove. This definitely moved the air and cost a fraction of the Ecofan price. I've just discovered how many different threads there are on this topic - most confusing!