archie57

This is Bert Wallington again, with the "Asterope" and "Dubhe" - as confirmed by the man himself

Haven't come across it - a shame, as it's very impressive! - but I'll keep a look out for it

I would agree it's Bert Wallington, especially as his boats "Tarpoley" and "Bodmin" are pictured in the background! - from well known set of photos frozen in at Suttons 1962/3 - "Saltaire" and "Bakewell" to left, "Banstead" and "Bellerophon" in distance

Don't think Welshpool and Llanfair railway are too impressed with their Resita no. 19!

Yes, beyond the "Trent" and "Achilles"

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?app=galleryℑ=7414 "Grace" in Tony Miles' ownership. "Ash" to left, "Tow" then "Cassiopeia" to right

She's a beast not to be tangled with! (as is the other half........)

You could have mine (- but don't tell The Bearwood Boster!) - she's always going spare!

Didn't you say you had some pictures....?

I never had anything to do with the "Pisgah" but Mr Ryle once offered me the job of running it in France which of course I never took up - I've kicked myself many times since!

I remember the later one. Do you recall Mr Ryle, a true gentleman who lived on the converted "Cassiopeia"? If you wanted a drink with him, you had to be early doors in the "Crown" as he went home for his supper about 7 without fail - trouble was, someone else you knew would always turn up and you ended up staying for the duration ( I couldn't do it now!)

Sam and Vi lived on the Edna Grace, an old severner I believe. their son John had the wooden motor "Victoria", ex- John Greens and Wyvern shipping

Talking of Malcolm Wigley reminds me of a party we once attended on the "Grace" being towed by the "Banstead". We were travelling along near Edgbaston Tunnel and Malcolm was chatting up a voluptuous blonde while standing on the motor's gunnels. One thing led to another (so I am told) and instead of holding on to the handrail they were holding on to each other - the inevitable happened and the next we knew they were thrashing around in the canal behind us!

No connection. Tony was the centre of the social scene at that time. He had a senior position at a school in Handsworth, and introduced many of his colleagues to the canal.

There was a "Stringbean" about at one time. Do you remember Tony Miles who lived on the "Grace"?

Are you getting the Perch mixed up with the Kestrel? Stringbean ring any bells?

Did you have a nickname then? - I must confess I remember the female bar staff better...... Various people steered the packet, such as Barry Burgess and Malcolm Wigley

By 1976 I was steering the "Brummagem Fly" aka "Corolla" for Brummagem Trip Boats, a subsidiary of Brummagem Boats, which Bob Turner set up that year. Had to struggle a bit with low water levels at times, but at least it was easy to trim the boat if you got fast in a bridgehole!

The earlier Brum Boats hire fleet (3 I think) were built by Rugby Boatbuilders from Hillmorton Wharf IIRC. Manager was Bob Turner (Captain Mainwaring!)

Ian Kemp and Andrew Boucher

Sam and Vi Minton lived on a small boat called the "Mavis" but they didn't work on the boats. I don't recall Midland canal Carriers in Gas St at that time, the camping boats were leased from Birmingham and Midland for the summer in 1974-6, and during the winter the steerers did their own thing. The "Yeoford" and "Ash" were at that time painted blue and yellow and lettered "Associated Carriers" http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw197.2.24.41

Gas St. basin, and its fleets of camping, carrying, trip and hire boats was very busy in the early 70s. There were many characters there, such as "Mark the Dark", "Nick the window", "Reg the dredge" and also others such as Sam and Vi Minton and their son John (tragically killed in a road accident) and Harry and Flo. I could reminisce for hours about the goings-on there ( but some are unrepeatable!)

Jim Collins worked for Barlows before Blue Line

Thinking again, I think it is the Tarporley, Alf Best had at one time the Tarpoley, Badsey (two motors) and Bakewell

Possibly Alf Best's boats, motor Coleshill