archie57

- don't forget we are mired in H & S nowadays, it'll take 10 months to do the risk assessments, put up the fencing etc before they even start.........

I'm not suggesting the that the Hunton Bridge change lock only was connected to the steamers, I think all boaters may have referred to it as such when going down the "Three Lengths".........

Talking to lots of boaters, and having asked the question, the lock below Croxley only ever seems to have been known as "Lock 80", I know there have been other names used for that. You're correct about the "Hunton Chain" lock , it's "Change" lock - as in steamer crew, I think Miss Gayford got it wrong.....

A visit to Gloucester is called for.....

No mention of clearing the bridgehole - they seem to think it's bottomless...........

Alf Best's boats Tarporley, Bakewell and Elstree, Mrs Frances Best in charge of the pair. Alf Best had won the prize for the best turned out boats at the 1950 rally I believe, and his boats here were still immaculate! Modern historic boat owners should take note of some of the finer details - eg scrubbed Ash strips, size and position of plaits on the helm etc. Mr Best latterly was at Stocker's lock where you may have met him!

Having referred to the Braunston lock keeper's log book, I think this sequence at Braunston is 6th Sept 1961 - but am awaiting Mr Harrisons response!

Thats why I said largely - There were still Barrel boats, pile boats and cement boats in the SE division, but any long distance GU boats at Braunston after 1963 would have been Willow Wren

- but the BTW carrying fleet (largely) finished in 1963....

But what sort of job have they done - who's going to be the first to take a properly loaded boat through there..........

Richard Dunstons of Thorne?

Why do they need a roadway when there is a dredging tip a few hundred yards along the canal........

I believe the "Birdswood" is electrically powered.......

As a result of this breach the Coventry council boats were left on the bottom in the basin. As there were trip bookings to fulfil they were craned out and taken to Sutton Stop which became our base for a while . As we had the crane already in the basin we attempted to lift out the "Grace" but with the slings then available, together with a lack of a spreader bar this was a non-starter so there it stayed. We did recover no end of coal from the canal bed however!

Sam and Vi Minton lived on the "Edna Grace" before their move onto a Simolda boat "Mavis"