Andrew Denny

nb Kilsby is on its way to Tooley's for repair, as per this news story. https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18084663.narrowboat-journey-2020-canal-fest/ I was curious about its origins. The name doesn't feature on the HNBC or National Historic Ships websites, but it looks pretty old.

Many thanks. Many thanks. I'm writing about the Strawberry Island Boat Club , and Olive functioned as its first moored boat and first clubhouse. I was interested in what happened to it subsequently.

Gosh! You have eyes like a hawk and an elephantine memory.

Does anyone know the whereabouts or fate of a Sheffield keel called Olive? Back in about 1970 it was moored on the Don at Sprotborough, and in private ownership. It became the first clubhouse of the Strawberry Island Boat Club, before being replaced some time in the 1970s by a new temporary 'portakabin-style' clubhouse. I heard it went down south somewhere, but perhaps it has been broken up?

Going past moored boats make it harder, because they narrow the channel and you have to slow down for them, and on bends it is even harder. Occasionally it's nice to see a moored boat and not be alone. But when it's a long, long line of moored boats, and the boat on the move is crawling all the time, and the other boats haven't tied up properly and their lines are loose, and they are scowling out of the window at you because their idea of slow is different from the passing boater, and the boat on the move can't find a mooring himself because there are too many moored, and the towpath is tatty with their rubbish because they have no room on their boat, then, yes, it can life harder and it is everyone's business.

AKA "It's the fastest way to slow down". Point of pedantry: It's Latin, so it doesn't need the accent.

Is an EoG mooring allowed to be sublet?

That's 5 hours - assuming you travelled at a steady 4mph, including through locks and past moored boats....

Alan, many thanks, those are the ones! I should have bookmarked. Cheers Andrew

I seem to recall one or more specialist dealers who would buy or sell old narrowboat wrecks and very cheap boats. Someone has asked me about this, and I'm embarrassed at my forgetfulness - can someone remind me? Many thanks Andrew

Ladywood Junction doesn't allow a 60ft boat to turn either. I think a 50ft can.

Trevor Pavitt says you can still buy the book (paper version) on this link: http://www.lulu.com/shop/trevor-pavitt/living-the-dream/paperback/product-1574836.html That's the wonder of self-publishing - it never goes out of print!

I just found an old email of his in my archived mail and emailed him. I was delighted to get a reply from him almost immediately. Sadly he lost his wife 18 months ago, but is himself still around, I'm glad to say.

I was looking at the 'Water's Meeting' listed in Canalplan, but they do seem to list two such places.

Did the T&M really meet the Bridgwater at the Preston Brook Tunnel? Or was it at the (appropriately named) Waters Meeting?

I remember a lovely travelogue from 2007, Living the Dream by Trevor Pavitt. He had the boat Lady Elgar, sold it c.2011 I think. I wondered what happened to him - is he still around? And where is Lady Elgar? Thanks Andrew

I've been impressed recently with the efforts of Richard of Bedazzled to meet customer demand with new products. Maybe give him a ring 01327 843811 https://bedazzledledlighting.co.uk/

I have just spoken to Montgomery Canal people who live canalside there; they say it's not serious from a restoration point of view. The half-mile from Pools Quay to Crowther Lock drained into a culvert, but there was no flooding or substantial breach. The biggest issue is an environmental one; it's a SSSI and needs to be restored for the water flow, but it shouldn't be difficult.

My point was not the use the put the building to, but the local history. Most spoons honour local history.

One thing I won't accuse Wetherspoons of is neglecting tradition. They make a huge effort to research local history. Indeed, I wonder what Rolt would have made of Tim Martin taking over that pub, when you compare it with the average bigscreen TV sports bar.

In Narrow Boat Tom Rolt mentioned a huge pub by the canal on the Grand Union Leicester Line, south of Leicester and in the Blaby/Glen Parva/Wigston area. He hated it, the sort of place that people came to by motor car, and he made it sound like a proto-Wetherspoons. This would have been in the summer of 1939. Does anyone know where this pub was, and if the building still exists? Thanks Andrew

I've been approached by a gentleman saying that his mother was born on an FMC boat, nb Spade in 1933, at Broad Street, Wolverhampton, and her family worked the Shropshire Union. His mum is still alive, and for her 86th birthday this year he was hoping he could get a chance to take her to see Spade again. The boat isn't listed on the HNBC website, but they say she still exists and has been extensively modernised as a full liveaboard, and they last heard of her in 2015 at Sharpness. HNBC says it was originally a Midlands & Coast boat, sold to FMC in 1938. Anyone know how to get in contact with the current owner? He/she obviously is keen on the history of the boat, because the 2015 picture of it now shows a Midlands & Coast livery. Thanks

By Dukes Lock, do you mean above Lock 92? I'm a bit nervous of leaving it unattended on the towpath, is that a popular mooring?

Thanks, dmr, but I'll be short of time when I arrive on Sunday and need to leave the boat and catch a train back, so I was hoping I could stay my allotted 7 Bridgewater days there rather than race up the Rochdale. Also, are the locks closed after dark, or is that just the towpath?

Thanks. I'll be arriving there on Sunday from the T&M on my CRT licence (7 days on the Bridgewater Canal gratis), and rather hoped I could leave the boat there a few days, instead of having to tackle the Rochdale 9 and Ashton straight away, hence my question. Unfortunately the Bridgewater office isn't open to call until 2-4pm and I'm in meetings this afternoon, hence my question.