Andrew Denny

Yes, It takes about 10 years for a marina to 'take root'. I went past at the end of 2006 in the dusk, and they had dug the basic pit but hadn't quite built the entrance. I seem to recall a stilling test in mid-2007, so they must have opened up shortly after. I recall visiting a year or two later and they were still running a diesel generator 24/7 to provide shoreline power - despite having an electricity pylon towering overhead. Somewhere I have a pic of the main building foundation marked out. The next time I went, in 2014, it was a council of war being held by Paul Lillie with the moorers about his dispute with CRT. Physically the marina was all in place but still felt to me that it needed a bit of 'bedding in'. In the 5 years since, three moorers told me the atmosphere had got a lot more pleasant - I don't know if that was related to his moving on. I went back last year to interview a moorer for an article for Waterways World, and see the Baldwin Trust. Pillings Lock has 'bedded in' very well.

It was excavated in 2006, filled in the summer of 2007. I believe it began to take moorers in 2008.

Can anyone point me towards a primer on the different types and brands of coal available? Starting from first principles - what is the difference between different types of coat, e.g. 'house coal', anthracite, etc, and the different brands available, and ways of buying/using them. It would be much appreciated. I'm a drip-feed diesel stove guy, and I need to get up to speed on coal. Many thanks

Paul, many thanks.

Ah, thanks.

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.