Capt Col

Ants and Gennys??? We had moored for a couple of days south of Cowley tunnel on the shroppie the other week. Put the genny box on the grass covered tow path and ran the genny for a few hours for a couple of days. When loading it back on the boat found a very active ant's nest under it. Same thing happened at Radford bank on the S and W last week, don't thing it was the same ants:-). anyone else noticed this?

Hi Did a search through the topics, to see if there was a dedicated one to report boats adrift? didn't seem to be one? Just we dealt with this one this morning and just thought some one may know the owner? Any one know the owner of Blue narrow boat "Eliza Penelope" from Macclesfield reg no 516367, moored near Autherley jct at the bottom of the shroppie? It was adrift this morning so chained it up as best we could, but needs sorting, Capt Col on The Wool Boat.

Whilst Viktoria and Ambush are still owned by Derek, who we agree is a top guy, the society has been formed to help restore Viktoria and Ambush. Ambush is as you say still on a regular coal and diesel run on the west end of the L and L. Viktoria is currently moored in Burscough, outside the old stables where Derek and the society have opened a fledgling chandlery to provide a service to local and passing boaters and raise money for the restoration work.

Go on then give us a clue?

Barging about on a Bank holiday Over the forthcoming bank holiday weekend, the 23rd to 25th August everyone is invited to visit The Old Stables in Mill Lane on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool canal in Burscough to discover pieces of Burscough’s unique history that has recently retuned to the village. The H and R Ainscoughs Barge society are holding open days to allow the public to view the two unique old working barges that where used to carry imported grain to Burscough and Parbold Mills. The society has recently established a base in the old stables and over the weekend will be offering people the chance to find out about the work needed to restore “Ambush” and “Victoria” to there former glory, along with displays of local heritage and historical photo’s from Michael Dawson, and the Burscough Heritage group, along with a display of canal art by Trish Moran. “Ambush” and “Viktoria” are the last locally owned boats from a fleet that are the largest craft that can be seen today on the inland non tidal waterways of the country being 72ft long and 14ft wide. All welcome to drop into this free event which runs from 10.30 to 4.30 each day. Colin, H and R Ainscough's Barge Society press person

Not many boats on the mooring at the top of the Rufford Branch at the moment, quite a few seemed to have moved off, but are they being relet? May be ring CaRT at Wigan and ask to speak to Lenna Pendlebury, the local mooring manager?

If you havent seen the other thread just a heads up for channel 4 at 8 in the evening on sat 8th feb. Last October Sir Tony Robinson filmed a episope of Walking Through History when he walked form Liverpool to Wigan. Quite a bit of filming around Burscough including a chat with Carole from The Wool Boat about kniting boatmens Ganseys.

It was filmed last October and should include quite a bit about the Leeds and Liverpool long boat "Ambush" and short boat "Ribble" as well as my other half talking to Sir Tony about boatmans Ganseys.

Hi all, If anyone is about the Burscough area on Monday evening, 13th January we have the Ist history meeting of the Burscough Heritage Group of the new year. We are welcoming the speaker, Bill Huyton from the Ormskirk and district Family History society who have done a lot of work on recording family history of Burscough boatmen. All welcome to the Ring o Bells pub from 8pm, and we'll be asking for a donation of £2 from none members. (We've put the start time back a bit so we can use a bigger down stairs room).

Quick response by CaRT I sent this by e-mail to CaRT in Wigan on Thursday 28th Nov We've just moored on the 24hr visitor mooring outside The Slipway near bridge no 32 on the L and L and there is a deep hole in the grass bank behind the concrete wash wall that my leg went down it up to the knee! I think it could do with filling in before some one falls down it good style.. By Friday 29th Nov the holed had been filled in, no need for orange plastic fencing and “BW are aware” tape as it used to be, Well done Mark and his team. Capt Col nb Emma Maye

Hi all sorry for mix up, Philips meeting is on thw 11th Nov, and the Ainscoughs barge meeting is on the 22nd Nov, both at the Ring o bells 7 for the 11th and 7.30 for the 22nd Capt Col

Following the twice sucsefull September meeting of The Burscough Heritage groups talks on the life of a working boatman, the Novemeber meeting is a pictoral talk about the L and L and The Douglas Navigation by our local historian Philip Watkinson. All welcome at The Ring o bells near bridge 34 of the L and L, for 7pm start. Capt Col

Hi There is a society that has just been set up with the aim of restoring "Viktoria" and "Ambush", still in it's early stages, but there is a facebook page here with pictures of both of the boats. "Viki" and "Ambush" are currently in the ownership of Derek Bent who uses Ambush to provide a coal and diesel service to boaters on the west end on the L and L. They are both moored at Crooke. The aim is to bring both of the boats back to a mooring in Burscough, where the mill they where built to serve is currently being turned into flats. The next meeting of the society is at The Ring'o'bells pub on Friday 22nd Nov from 7.30. Col who has got the job of publicity for the society....

look forward to some handy recycling places... Capt Col nb Emma Maye