rovingrom
-
Posts
156 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by rovingrom
-
-
I am reliably informed that there is a fair number of Romanian "ladies" around the "Mailbox" and the flats near Gas St, however my informant tells me they are "Rhino" types, ie thick skinned and charge a lot!
That makes sense and they're probably built like Rhino's too? But are they "horny" like Rhino's? I'm fluent in Romanian but I've never tried it with a Brummie accent.....
I understand the Romanian wives are the most expensive!
Too right they are - see my post #128 on page 7 of this thread!
-
I helped Alan with some of the first designs for the EP. Here's one of his early sketches:
Bit of a difference to the previous "Packet" John! I'm a bit concerned about the caption on the plan view: "36 seat saloon" that only contains 10 rows of 3 = 33 seats. Even if you include the 2 loos that still only makes 35.....
So John, do YOU have any news about where Alan G went to from Brum Boats? -
FYI - The Euphrates Packet is still a trip boat in Brum, operating from Sherborne Wharf. It is quite an unusual shape, being around 6'10" at the waterline but 7'6" at the gunwales. This is because it never goes through a lock but has to pass a few narrows, such as at the worcester bar.
RovingRom - you may be interested to know that Anson, Collingwood, Yeoford and Ash are still moored at Gas Street Basin and operated by Graham Wigley of Birmingham Canal Boat Services.
Dave_P : Many thanks for that! When I was there in 1976 the "Packet" was no more than standard 6' 10" wide, but I understand it has been modified since then to get more trippers in or give them more space. As far as I know it was a purpose-built trip boat, never an ex-working boat. I definitely need to re-visit Brum though, after these last 21 years in Romania!
I understand that Graham Wigley is the brother of Malcolm Wigley, one-time steerer of the "Packet" who later emigrated to NZ? So that's somebody else to get round to the Prince of Wales for a few pints...... Anyone else up for that apart from Dave Moore and myself??
“It appears that the condition of morals as well as of hygiene among the canal population is very unsatisfactory. A case was brought before Runcorn magistrates some days ago, when the evidence adduced showed that the marriage law was often ignored, and that the buying and selling of wives occasionally occurred. We have frequently pointed out that, on sanitary and moral grounds, the inhabitants of the floating dens ought to be the subjects of some special legislation.” -The Lancet, 1877.
Anyone know the current price for a canal wife? I might invest in one!
-
You should have gone for something proper.
Exactly Pluto - I did! And your photo is it! This is the 760mm gauge CFF Viseu "Mocanita", in Maramures in the far north of Romania. Twice a year I work there as a volunteer teaching English to the railway staff - especially to the young ladies who run the tourist part of the railway during the summer season. We believe we have the ONLY English language school that takes place actually ON a narrow gauge steam logging railway while the train is running, anywhere in the world - although we stand to be corrected! The engine driver in your photo is Domnul (Mr.) Brandi. Have you been there?
I also translate into English all their brochures and publicity materials, museum displays and website (http://www.cffviseu.ro/content/en/). In return they let me play with their trains and steam locos any time I want to, and when I visit with my tour guests we get special treatment! MUCH better (and much cheaper) than trying to build my own steam railway!
Anyone for a visit?? Apologies for the Canal -
archie57, on 29 Dec 2014 - 11:34 PM, said:
Didn't you say you had some pictures....?
Of Romanian girls?
Doh! I've spent the last 2 hours trying to persuade my low-quality slide scanner to produce half-reasonable scans of my 1970's pics of Gas Street and the BCN, and now you want pics of Romanian girls??!!
I'll post the BCN pics tomorrow - the girlie pics will take a bit longer....
-
Didn't you say you had some pictures....?
Who? Me??
-
Sod the business I'm even older than you! What guage railway 5", 71/4"? I personally have a liking for 'East' european ladies suprised that you cannot find one out in RO.
Sorry to disappoint you Jim, the railway is only SM32 - 32mm gauge. When I moved here my Romanian neighbour wanted to rip down the fence between our two paddocks and dig a fishing lake. When I told him I don't fish but do railways instead, he suggetsed we build a ride-on 15" gauge railway down the paddock and round the lake, but since there is no suitable equipment here in Romania (nothing under 760mm gauge!) it hasn't happened.
Since this is probably a family forum I won't go into details about Romanian ladies, other than to say that in recent years they mostly seem to have become divas who expect to be "kept" by wealthy foreigners. They wouldn't be working locks or steering narrowboats as the high heels and manicured nails wouldn't survive. Even though I'm a foreigner in Romania, I'm not wealthy - so I'm out of the running these days. Actually I've been engaged 3 times here in the last 18 years but I managed to escape with my dignity (what's left of it)! However if you sell me Gazelle, you'll have enough dosh to meet their requirements for a year or two - should I send them your way?? Any Romanian ladies reading this who disapprove of what I've written, please PM me! Otherwise apologies for the
-
Keep it up lads, there's a script for a soap coming out of this . . . .
I only asked a couple of quick questions ...... look where it's taken us! Marvellous stuff - I always had an inkling that Sherborne Street Wharf was the TRUE Centre of The Universe!
I propose a "Brummagem Boats / Sherborne Street / Gas Street Reunion" when I'm back in UK, maybe late Feb. Somebody will have to get Barry Stanton out, and try to track down Alan Green. And we might have to do a whip round to get Malcolm Wigley back from New Zealand..... Are there any good pubs left in the vicinity? The first round is on me!
-
rovingrom, on 28 Dec 2014 - 10:21 PM, said:
The name yes, vaguely. The "Grace" is in the forefront of several of my photos of the Worcester Bar from that period, and I remember sitting in the back cabin of one of those boats drinking tea - or maybe something stronger.... Is there a connection between Tony Miles and said "Stringbean"?
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's a cacophony of bell-ringing going off inside my head, but no it wasn't Tony that introduced me to the canal! I was already well involved by the time I got to Alan Green's town planning department at City of Brum Polytechnic in 1975......
-
So it's you who owns Gazelle? That's one very handsome looking boat - I've been studying the many photos on Ian Kemp's Facebook page! Couldn't interest you in a swap for a small farm and some land in Transylvania could I??
I think not altho I have looked at property in RO and BG along the Danube. I have fancied having another boat built but I am struggling to find anything interesting.
Another name who was also around Gas Street is Phil Babb who did most of the fitout of Gazelle he still lives in his lockhouse on the Tardebigge flight.
Struggling to find something interesting? I'm sure you would find my 1860's Saxon farmhouse in SE Transylvania very interesting! I'll throw in the live steam model railway in the garden AND my travel business if you like?!
-
archie57, on 28 Dec 2014 - 8:47 PM, said:
Various people steered the packet, such as Barry Burgess and Malcolm Wigley
Yes - Malcolm (Wigley) - he was the guy I remember steering the "Packet". I learnt some good stuff from him, mainly (not solely) about canals and the BCN. Any idea if he is still about? I owe him a debt of gratitude..... Well, a couple of pints at least!
I have to say - this Forum is EXCELLENT! I've only been a member for about 48 hours and already most of my questions have been answered. With Archi57's help I have recovered the name of my former trip boat colleague - Malcolm Wigley. A Google search for his name brings me straight back to this Forum with the following:
dave moore Posted 06 November 2011 - 09:30 AM
Hi all
Haven't seen Saltaire for years. I recall that it was Dave Harris who put the bows on. IN the late 80s she was owned by Malcolm Wigley ( brother of Graham Wigly of Birmingham Midland CCC) and I lettered her for him at Brummagem boats at the time. The livery was greys/black I think. Malcolm sold the boat (reluctantly) and emigrated to New Zealand. I've no more recent info, I'm afraid. Cheers, DaveSo whilst it seems unlikely that I might bump into Malcom one day in Hatton locks, that does close one chapter of my enquires, AND has saved me the cost of a couple of pints!
Now all the Forum has to do is to find me my future wife and boat - not necessarily at the same time - and ALL my problems will be solved.
A tall order? Not for this Forum it would seem... !
-
John is still at CRT now. I first came across him when Ian Kemp was building Gazell for me as he was at that time living at Dadfords
So it's you who owns Gazelle? That's one very handsome looking boat - I've been studying the many photos on Ian Kemp's Facebook page! Couldn't interest you in a swap for a small farm and some land in Transylvania could I??
-
There was a "Stringbean" about at one time. Do you remember Tony Miles who lived on the "Grace"?
The name yes, vaguely. The "Grace" is in the forefront of several of my photos of the Worcester Bar from that period, and I remember sitting in the back cabin of one of those boats drinking tea - or maybe something stronger.... Is there a connection between Tony Miles and said "Stringbean"?
-
A nickname? I'm sure I did, but whether I was aware of it is another matter! Probably something to do with my height - "Lanky Git" most likely.
Stringbean ring any bells?
Ha ha - yes, maybe.... Or "Beanpole"?? I've been (sorry, unintended pun) called all of them in my time - and plenty more! Is "Stringbean" from your memory or have you just made it up??
-
There was a short lived firm Planet Fleet Cruisers who hired narrow boats from the bottom of the Aston flight in the 1970s. I recall the boats had bright orange cabin sides, parallelogram-shaped windows, and I think may have had dark blue rather than black hulls.
In 1973-76 ish Charlie and Marge Aldrick's 6 planker was moored on the offside at Gas Street Basin by the Broad Street bridge. ( I say offside, as although there is a towpath both sides, that on the basin side was blocked off at this time). I seem to remember a son too - Steve?
In the early 70's Perch was owned by a guy called Pete Currall.
Eric and Betty's son Eddie worked for BW at this time. I think they later sold Christopher James to BCNS chairman John Phillips.
Brummagem Lad and Brummagem Lass were the first two hire boats. Brummagem Lady followed a little later, but was more or less identical to the other two.
Thanks David - this is all most interesting!
- I have a vague recall of orange and dark blue hire boats on the BCN.
- If it was Charlie Aldrick who steered the PERCH from the Hockley Port Trust, then I'm sure he was living in or near Hockley Port by the time I got involved, in the summer of 1976 (or was it '77....). There's a photo of Charlie, Marge and son Steve in the photo album: "The BCN In Pictures" published by the BCNS in 1973 (re-published 1982). I can scan and post the pic if anybody wants to see it?
- There's quite a lot online about the CHRISTOPHER JAMES and other BCN tugs in the BCNS archives and at: http://inlanding.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/bcn-tugs-series-james-loader/
-
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
A nickname? I'm sure I did, but whether I was aware of it is another matter! Probably something to do with my height - "Lanky Git" most likely. There was some concern that the key stones in the bridges were at risk from frequent collisons with my forehead!
Its probably good that you remember only the female bar staff, but I won't ask you to elaborate - at least not in public! My private e-mail address is ........
Yes - Malcolm (Wigley) - he was the guy I remember steering the "Packet". I learnt some good stuff from him, mainly (not solely) about canals and the BCN. Any idea if he is still about? I owe him a debt of gratitude..... Well, a couple of pints at least!
-
I am sure the only two 'traditional' cabined boats were LORNA and KALLIOPE, so I think it must be the latter you are referring to as KLEIO had a cruiser type 'open' stern deck. I think there may have been a few 'lease' boats in the Brummagem Boats fleet, a practice that was quite popular back then.
Alan Green and Julian Stanton were both still actively involved when I was last based at Sherborne Street Wharf, Alan as a sort of Engineering manager and Julian as General Manager. Brummagem Boats were absorbed into Alvechurch Boat Centre shortly after I left and I have not seen either of them since. I did see Barry Stanton a few years ago at Lapworth where he kept his new boat, and he told me that Julian's wife, Helen, had recently lost her fight with cancer.
From 1979 to 1985 I lived at Sherborne Street Wharf and operated a modern pair of boats (motor and butty) from underneath the old F.M.C. Ltd. bonded warehouse canopy. I was employed by the City of Birmingham Education Department and the boats were used to take kids on adventure holidays - just like camping boats but under hard cabins. If I was not busy I would help Brummagem Boats with their hire cruisers, especially on weekend turnarounds - and I was often employed by them to recover broken down / abandoned / sunken boats.........
Thank you Pete - this is excellent stuff! Yes, you are right again - KALLIOPE was the other "trad" design hire boat. On the several occasions I was allowed to "borrow" a boat for a day (or two) just for the cost of fuel used, it was always KALLIOPE I wanted, though usually I was given one of the others!
I remember too the canopy over that side of the wharf but hadn't realised it was the original FMC warehouse. I seem to recall there were 2 or 3 ex-working boats tied up under it even in 1976.
It was running a few trips with Charlie Aldrick (I think) on NB PERCH from Hockley Port for the youth group I got involved with in Winson Green, that gave me the idea of running boating holidays for the disbled children I was later working with in Kent. During several summers in the mid '80s we hired 70' and 72' 12-berth boats from Middlewich and Willow Wren for this purpose. The best was the OAK (I think) from Middlewich - an old and deep-draughted possibly ex-working boat hull with a very solid timber top and replica boatman's cabin - something of a challenge up the Llangollen with mid-summer water shortages......
Reminiscing is good! I've been running a small travel company in Romania for the last 16 years - surrounded by roses and Transylvanian castles, though sadly none of them on boats. Now approaching 60 I'm thinking about a return to the English canals, an older boat with character, a real engine and a warm stove in a boatman's cabin, while I still can..... Hence the dredging in the memory archives. Many thanks for your help!
-
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!
This is fascinating stuff! So do you by any chance recall an exceptionally lanky (6' 6" plus), bespectacled, town planning student working the bar on the "Fly" on a few occasions during the summer of 1976? I did a few more runs that season on the other Brummagem trip boat (wasn't it the "Euphrates Packet"??) and am trying to remember who her steerer was then?
I recall the "Fly" being somewhat deeper draughted, and the wonderful sensation of her stern rising a foot or so through the shallower bridge holes, before dropping down again the other side. Plus using the shallower bridge holes as the best place to hook old bicycle and pram remains off the blade! Good memories!
-
I recall it as LORNA rather than LAURA, a 40' square sterned Teddesley built hull and fibre glass cabin, powered by a Lister SR2. As you say this boat was on a lease of some sort from Jack Ellison who looked after the company accounts, and the first owner of the Doug Greaves / Ian Kemp built 50' 'Northwich' lookalike SHERBORNE. I also recall it having a flocked interior from the gunwales up, but this may have just been in the sleeping area's.
Other early Brummagem Boats hire cruisers included LAD, LADY and LASS - all about 40' and built by Rugby Boatbuilders, but again with Teddesley fibre glass cabins and Lister SR2 engines. KLEIO was another earlyish hire boat, built by Doug Greaves as an all steel 53' with a Lister SR3 in about 1976. I also remember KNOT - a 35' Hancock & Lane 'Norseman' with a Lister SR2, KALLIOPE - 40' Rugby Boatbuilders with a 'traditional' stern, DART - a 55' Rugby Boatbuilders with a Lister SR3, RIDGEWAY - a 45' Mindon Marine with a Lister SR3.
These were all subsequently replaced by more modern boats in the late 1970's and early 1980's, but most if not all are still knocking about. The first of the modern boats was the 30' all steel BUTTON (or BUCKLE) built in 1978ish, and all subsequent Brummagem Boats hire boats began with the letter 'B'.
Hi Pete, you really are a mine of information - and absolutely right on all counts!
LORNA, yes - not LAURA. I always thought she was shorter and smaller than the 3 original Rugby boats but again I expect you are right here too. For the season (or two) when I worked there (1976/7), there were just 5 hire boats: LORNA the Teddesley, the 3 Rugby boats (LAD, LASS and LADY) all painted Post Office red with green(?) lining, and another "1 off" boat painted a dark plum/maroon, 40'-ish, and again with a "trad" rear cabin. I have a feeling that she too was somebody's private boat used in the hire fleet - maybe Julian Stanton's own boat? So was she the KLEIO?
Somebody must have some old photos somewhere...... And I'd still like to find out what became of Alan Green and Julian Stanton.......
So when you say Pete, you were "based there [sherborne Street Wharf] from 1979 to 1985", may I ask in what capacity? And where were you in 1976/77?
Ian Kemp and Andrew Boucher
Thanks Archie - yes the names I remember but not the faces. I need to scan those slides of Gas Street......
The earlier Brum Boats hire fleet (3 I think) were built by Rugby Boatbuilders from Hillmorton Wharf IIRC. Manager was Bob Turner (Captain Mainwaring!)
Right on the first count certainly, plus the LORNA and the plum coloured "trad" - see above. I don't remember Captain Mainwaring...... but I do recall being ordered about by somebody when I was working on prepping the hire boats between hirers! But then I was only one of Alan Green's students!
So what were you up to at that time (1976/77)?
-
A Brummagem boat I hired.
This boat was the reason I had to get my own boat.
Hi Laurie. Yes, I love the Brum Tug concept - a mobile boatman's cabin with a loo, small galley, long foredeck and cratch - all in a 30ft (give or take) length! I'd love to own one but I know from the research on the Brum Tugs thread (http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=46908&page=1) that there were only 16 built. So is that you sat on the roof, with the big grin, Laurie?
My brief spell at "Brum Boats" in the mid-70's preceded the Brum Tug concept, but they had 3 (I think) faily compact 40ft hire boats and a smaller 30 footer (roughly, maybe 28ft?) called LAURA that IIRC was painted black hull, white gunwhales, and a mustard yellow fibreglass cabin top. She didn't have a boatman's cabin but had a "trad" (i.e. not cruiser) stern deck - unusual for a hire boat at that time. I have the impression she was on lease to Brummagem as she was never painted in their lined red colour scheme. I sort of have the feeling that the LAURA was the precursor to the Brum Tug concept. Not to be confused with a later LAURA owned / built by Brummagem.
Anybody have any details of the earlier Brummagem Boats hire fleet from the 1970's?
-
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
Ah yes - Birmingham and Midland, NOT Midland Canal Carriers - my mistake. Yeoford and Ash I remember. Do you know who was living on them at the time?
-
Although I did not know them very well I recall Charlie and Marge Aldrick living at Hockley Port on an old 'wooden header' motor named RICHARD. I am sure that they had moved on by the mid 1980's.
The PERCH that you have mentioned is the same PERCH that has recently been restored, Hockley Port having sold it in about 1986.
The wooden tug with sloping cabin ends was CHRISTOPHER JAMES, purchased in 1975 by Eric and Betty Foakes (CHRISTOPHER JAMES was the first ex-commercial 'historic' motor narrow boat that I ever steered) and was powered by 3 cylinder Armstrong Siddley air cooled diesel engine.
I would imagine that Brummagem Boats would have employed numerous steerers in the 1970's for their trip boats. A friend of mine, Geoff Munro being a previous steerer of the COROLLA / BRUMMAGEM FLY. Brummagem Boats moved 'around the corner' to Sherborne Street Wharf in about 1977, and I was based there from 1979 to 1985 - and again from 1988 to 1990.
Thank you for that Pete! Yes - Eric and Betty Foakes - I remember them well, a delightful couple. So that was the Christopher James? That's sorted 2 of my questions! And PERCH Makes 3!
When I was there in 1975/6 the Brummagem hire fleet was already at Sherborne Street but, as you say, the trip boats operated from Gas Street. I doubt there would have been room for them at Sherborne St - it was pretty crowded there. But anyway Gas Street was a much better location for the trip boat passengers...
I've found a few colour slides of the area at that time, and of the boats on the bar at Gas Street. But none of Hockley Port or the people. I'll scan and post those I have in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile any information about the whereabouts of the Aldrick family, Alan Green, the Stantons of Brummagem, or other steerers who worked the Brummagem trip boats in the mid-70's, would be MUCH appreciated! Thanks all!
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!)
Sam Minton? Now THAT name rings a bell - did he steer for the Brummagem trip boats in the mid-70's, or was he the Midland Canal Carriers guy? Anything you can add - excepting the unrepeatable - would be much appreciated!
-
Forum member 'Laurie Booth' made an excellent video of this years BCN Challenge. Hawne Basin features heavily as it was the finish point.
Hope this will be of interest to you.
Very nice - thank you! There's a few shots of a nice looking boat called ALBION on the video, with some bloke wearing camouflage and a skin coloured hat standing on the counter..... Would that be yerself Junior??
Ian Kemp is Busy restoring boats at Dadfords shed on the Stourbridge 16. Occasionally he builds a new one off special, ..........
Some superb shots of their work on their FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/ifkemprestorationservices/photos_stream . Looks like First Class workmanship. A few of the shots show a guy with glasses and a "pudding basin" haircut doing most of the work. Would that be Ian K? I don't recognise him (from Gas Street in 1975/6)......
-
I was running Hatchford Brooke Youth Centre in Soloihull in1974, and we hired a 72ft narrowboat from a company in Birmingham. I cannot remember much about the company or the boat, although I am fairly certain the boat was not a converted ex-working boat, and we collected it from somewhere between Gas Street and Aston Flyover.
Somewhere I have a few photos, which i will try to dig out and scan it may be the same company as there were very few hire boat companies back then.
Unless it was a Midland Canal Carriers camping boat from Gas Street Basin, I have no idea here? The photos would be helpful.....
So John, do YOU have any news about where Alan G went to from Brum Boats?
Hire Boats Gas Steet Basin in early 1960's
in History & Heritage
Posted · Edited by rovingrom
Archie that was an exceptionally generous offer! I'll certainly give it some serious thought for when I'm back in the UK - unless you want to package her up well and post her forthwith to Romania?
Unfortunately it seems the "Bearwood Boster" has found out. Being new here I have no idea who or what the Bearwood Boster is, but I assume that he/she/it is a half werewolf / half bogieman creature that covets your other half??