John Brightley

See the thread here: https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/68363-higher-avon-navigation-whats-the-story/ The only thing I can add is that if the river were made navigable, this would have a major impact on the setting of Charlecote Park, a National Trust house, so the NT was opposed to the scheme. It may be possible to devise a a scheme to avoid the park completely, but this would require a substantial new canal cut.

I don't think there is a slipway at Stratford Boat Club but there is one at the small marina on the north side of Clopton Bridge which looks from Streetview to be quite wide and gently sloping.

No link has ever been started, and the chance of it happening is quite remote in my opinion, as there have been many influential people in the past opposed to such a link. But if you want a taste of it you can hire row boats or canoes on the rivers at both Warwick and Leamington. I also saw a Broads-style cruiser on the river at Warwick once (in the 1970's) though there is nothing like that there now. A friend of a friend also has a small boat on the river at Barford (he also has his own island in the river there!)

Thanks. It's a pleasure. You might also note that Birmingham Airport has its own mainline rail station, so if you wish you can get a direct train to Wolverhampton (near Autherley) or Rugby (for Napton area)

I'd recommend the Four Counties. If you do start from Autherley, I would recommend that you fly in to Birmingham Airport. So much easier than using Heathrow. We have relatives in NZ and they always fly over using Emirates to Birmingham via Dubai. Even if you do start from Napton or another base in that area, it's still easier to get there from Birmingham Airport than Heathrow, so if you have to book your flights now, Birmingham would give you more flexibility.

In pre-Covid times, the easiest way to get from Heathrow to south and mid- Warwickshire by public transport was by the National Express direct coach service 210 from Heathrow to Banbury or Warwick Parkway Railway Station. I believe that service isn't running at the moment, but it is likely that it will be reinstated when Covid restrictions are lifted. The service is approximately every two hours. The journey time is about 1 and a half hours to Banbury or two hours to Warwick. Then get a taxi from either stop to Napton (about 30 mins journey ) So, yes it is easy with the times you've suggested, and this is the way I'd recommend you get there.

Thank you Nigel. I'm glad that you are not offended by people's personal opinions !. For what it's worth, I think your original photos are excellent and don't need to be manipulated to win a competition !

This page : https://www.rwbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RWBC-History-CC_A4.pdf confirms that it was the Nelson of the 'Nancy and Nelson' pair that was taken to Retford and Worksop Boat Club. It was already a very leaky boat in 1963, apparently !

Someone may be interested in this: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99721661#/ One of the longest canal frontages in Warwick -about 100ft I think- though I think the bankside itself and about 2m back from it is owned by CRT.

I work for a developer and that generally isn't how viabilities work. It is normal for councils to ask the developer to pay for extra items during the planning negotiation process. If the council were to insist on a 4.5m wide channel, the developer's viability would be adjusted to suit, and all that would change is the amount paid for the land purchase to the current landowner. Besides, the extra cost of creating a 4.5m channel rather than a 3m one would be very small compared to the overall budget for the scheme. Has anyone tried just talking to the developer ? It is possible that they will agree to increase the width of the channel without argument as a good public relations exercise. I must admit I'm surprised that the MB&BCS hasn't objected. Other canal societies would have - for example the Lichfield and Hatherton guys have had some notable successes in similar situations.

https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/house-boats-narrowboat/652009 Interesting boat - I think it's a stylish conversion, in its own way. Used to be moored by the Dog and Doublet on the Birmingham and Fazeley. Named 'Polly' but does anyone know what it was converted from ? Its Buckby cans are also for sale on eBay at the moment -https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Pair-of-Beautiful-Barge-Ware-Canal-Ware-Buckby-Cans-C-1960s/283863549222?hash=item4217960526:g:vkYAAOSwPzNehKm~

I've now bought the I gallon Dave Moore can from Sarah, but there are still a few cans to choose from !

Including at least 3 items painted by our very own Dave Moore. Quite a lot of the items are being sold by one seller, Sarah from Tamworth, would that be Sarah Edgson ?

This should help: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9040000/9040719.stm

Tolladine built quite a lot of boats in the '70's and early '80's, and hired them out as well. They were mid-market boats at the time, though as David Mack points out above this will be less relevant now because of the age of the boat. When Tolladine closed, some of their old boats were operated by Black Prince for a while.

Ah, interesting. He must have been the joint author of the legendary 'Dunham and Manion' BCN red guide with Ken Dunham. I seem to recall Mr Dunham being still around in the '80's, but I hadn't heard of Mr Manion before.

I agree. No rivets showing, for a start. Here's the best photo of the bows.

I'm sure that Ray will be along shortly to confirm, but I would guess that it is returning to its base at the Black Country Museum backwards up the flight after attending an event at the Science Museum (which at the time was just a few locks down the flight at Newhall Street). It would have been slightly easier to do this rather than take the boat all the way down the flight to turn and return in the opposite direction. The photo dates from before 1986 when the new buildings on the site on the left of the photo were built, so I guess it must be in the early '80's.

We can narrow the date down a bit more than that. I'm 99% certain Brummagem Lady (the boat on the left of the photo) was built in 1973/4.

Here's the picture

Here's an old post which has a photo of a 'Coventry Diesel Godiva'. This looks the same as the photo that John Hayden posted. Subtly different to the KF4.

Here's a photo of a KF4 presently for sale on ebay - looks similar: Whatever it is, I would venture to say that it's a rare survivor in marine form.

This appears to be the shorter pair (formerly Rose of Brecon and Abergavenny Castle) which would make sense as they were transferred on to the Llangollen run after being on the Mon & Brec.

The Coventry Victor company (1911-1971) was a different company to Coventry Climax (1919-1985). To confuse matters, Coventry Climax had originally been known as Coventry Simplex !

Hi Dave. This film https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-05051967-gas-street-basin from 1967 features Peter and Calstock - it's not the same as the boat on the right of the photo above, though it is approximately the same mooring. I wonder what happened to Calstock ? Edit: the green and red painted boat at the bottom of the photo above is KUBINA - identified by the distinctive overhang to the front cabin roof.