Roger Murray

Hello Martin. Not really having a go. Just that I have a bit of a whimsical mind, some of us do you know! Something went wrong somewhere, possibly my fault, I let go my frustration on this site. Roger

With some of the comments re my licensing problem, for which I came for help on this forum, than the lofty comments of some, and I mean only some, who seem to have very neat and tidy minds and do everything perfectly to the book....We are not all the same! If we were the world would be a dull place. I think it was Oscar Wilde who said beware of the man with a neat and tidy desk! My debit card is RBS and has no sort code is on it. Fact! There was, as far as I could make out, no facility for getting round this on the CART on line licensing facility. No sort code. No licence! As simple as that! I would suspect that its not only me on this forum who is never over sure when the licence runs out, hence running over time. In my case I had to have emergency open heart surgery when out of the country delivering a large sailing vessel, being to an extent incapacitated, not thinking about things like licenses and paperwork etc. Roger

I guess I am not really as organised and as efficient as some of you. I never really know when the insurance, safety certificate or licence runs out. Find same with the car and its things. Although some of you got through on the phone quickly, for some reason I didn't....and for some reason there doesn't seem to be a sort code on my RBS/Visa debit card. They say on bottom left corner, not on mine! Not using it as an excuse, but at 86 on line stuff does get a bit confusing, especially when it keeps on rejecting the facts you key in. Roger

I am out of the country and had a reminder from CART to renew boat licence. Phoned the number given and sat for well over 20 minutes waiting for somebody to answer, running up a costly overseas phone call. I tried again, but still waited and waited, finally giving up! Went on line and could not licence after filling all the info required as wanted my bank branch sort number. Don't know this as no bank paper work with me. Then had to phone the bank. Tried again on line to pay licence and this time it said my debit card number was wrong. I use it every day and it definitely is not wrong! Yes I understand that CART need boat licenses paid, but they should make it easy to pay that licence, especially by answering that phone quickly. They are efficient and quick in telling me that my licence is overdue both by email and phone, also with the threat of a £150 fine for late payment. So now have yet again gone on line and again filled in all the details, they are now quibbling about something else, but you can't speak to anybody, so don't know if the boat is licensed or not. If anybody from CART reads this. The boat name is Kyle and my email address is (... Available by pm ...) They gave me a code number of DC26C4. The money is there, all I ask is for them is to take the money and licence the bloody thing. Roger

Was chatting to Darrell Pickup who has the marina at Saltford on the Avon near Bath. He mentioned that they once had a narrowboat in the marina which had actually crossed the Atlantic. Evidently this chap from Nova Scotia wanted a boat which he could cross the Atlantic in, and navigate the UK and European canals etc, which meant a maximum beam of 7ft. He built a boat on narrowboat lines, only difference as Darrel remembers, a longitudinal girder on underside of baseplate as kind of semi keel and proper screw tight portholes, plus a mast. Think that surpasses Nick Sanders trip with Narrowboat and butty to the Black Sea and back. Roger www.rogermurray.co.uk

I asked about 'The Duchess of Athol,' as years ago we were moored next to her with the steamer Monarch at Little Venice. Lisa,the girl who owned and lived on her, was at the time in charge of moorings. She lives in Bahrain now, and we were reminiscing on Facebook when she asked if I knew where her old boat was now, hence the posting. I have special memories of the boat, because it was one of those situations where you remembered where you were on a special day. i/e For instance when President Kennedy died etc, I was staying on 'The Duchess of Athol one night, and for some reason couldn't sleep, waking up in the early hours and switching the radio on, just in time to hear a news bulletin about a crash in a Paris Tunnel, then about Princess Diana's death. I cried my eyes out, feeling foolishly embarrassed about myself. So the boat does has that special memory. To those out there with lewd thoughts! No I didn't sleep with dear Lisa. Gorgeous as she was, and probably still is! Roger.

Anyone know the whereabouts of tug called 'The Duchess of Athol' She's a small pretty looking wooden tug. Nothing sinister about this enquiry, just that have been going over old memories of when moored next to her with the Steamer Monarch nearly thirty years ago at Little Venice and was chatting to her then owner, and the proverbial question came up. 'I wonder where she is now?' Hence this posting. Roger rogermurray.co.uk

.....and was news to me that Francis Drake had an Epping stove in the back cabin of the Golden Hind!

Just read a brief history of the potato. Contrary to the general belief that Sir Francis Drake brought a shipment back from Virginia in 1586, thus first introducing them to Europe. They originally came from the Andes, Peru in fact, where the Peruvian people have been eating the potatoes for thousands of years, also a valuable food source for the Inca. A civilisation destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors and who first introduced the potato to Europe and the British Isles. Although it was said that Drake did bake jacket potatoes on an Epping stove in the back cabin of the 'Golden Hind.' Liking them so much that he recommended them to Queen Elizabeth, who dedicated them to her great great great great grandson 'King Edward.' Roger. www.rogermurray.co.uk

I too had problems at first cooking with the Epping, sometimes just to keeping the thing alight! This was on an earlier boat...the first experience of a living in a trad back cabin. On first lighting, the Epping would belch out clouds of black smoke from every orifice, with me gasping for air and having to open the back doors and hatch. A knowledgable old hand on these things was disgusted at the dirty condition I kept the stove in, spending a good hour raking out all the sooty gunge blocking up the airways and flu's leading to the chimney, plus the chimney itself. Repeatedly saying that oxygen was just as important as coal! I should have known that, well I did, but had been lazy as far as that particular stove was concerned. It worked wonders after that clean out! In later years with the steamer Monarch, a lot of the cooking was done with a pan on the top of the boiler, with some of the aroma sucked up the funnel. I'm sure providing gastronomic pleasures to some we passed on the towpath. On one occasion, coming up past Rugeley, one of the boiler tubes started leaking. One trick with the old steam men was to bung a dead sheep in the boiler, which always seemed a bit far fetched to me, or a less dramatic cure, a sack of spuds! Thought about the dead sheep idea but opted for the less dramatic. All the way up through Stone and the Potteries, we smelt like a floating fish and chip shop, and I'm sure the smell would have lingered in the Harecastle Tunnel for days. Roger. www.rogermurray.co.uk

Unfortunately Baz, as the 'Right Said Fred' commercials were shot on 35m film they possibly didn't survive. The agency 'Royds' who shot them is no longer in existence, nor the film unit. Seems I'm the only living survivor to tell the tale. Frightening isn't it! Roger

Running short of provisions, so baked a couple of potatoes, (which was all I had) in the oven of the Epping back cabin coal stove. With lots of butter, black pepper and a touch of salt they made the most delicious meal imaginable. Maybe my imagination, but been baked in a old coal fired oven, in the trad back cabin of a boat, on a cold winters evening, made them somehow differently better. Just as was licking the last of the butter from the plate a chug chug chug sound could be heard. Looking out from the back cabin doors a big Woolwich under cloths came into view with the back cabin chimney merrily smoking away. Think it was 'Aldgate' or a name similar. as going dark and couldn't see it properly. Couldn't have been a better finish to the evening. Just as an aside. The evening before had been entertained to dinner in one of those expensive Nouveau Cuisine establishments where art is more important than the meagre messed about portion of food which arrives on the plate. I can tell you...Those two simple spuds were a hundreds times better! Roger. www.rogermurray.co.uk

Yes Dave. Kyle was owned by Brian. It seems to have his name tagged to it as everywhere I go with her, people ask 'Where's Brian?' He was obviously a very well liked character of the cut. Roger.

Last week my daughter Ailsa phoned saying that she was taking her boat to Buggy for Easter. 'There's a big boaty do on! Why don't you bring "Kyle" down?' So that was it, decided on the trip from the Clarence Mill at Bollington, where the boat is moored, along the Macclesfield canal to Marple, then along the Peak Forest to Bugsworth Basin. An easy days canal voyage. I have a special liking for the Peak Forest Canal, which seems to transport the boat into a different world, especially after coming through the blind bridge at the end of the Macclesfield and negotiating that sharp turn right. Suddenly a real open feeling of being up in the hills, with views across vast valleys. Can even see the high outline Kinder Scout, where all those years ago, in the 30s, there was the massive protest march of ramblers from Manchester against the strict laws of trespass. They won the right to roam for the whole nation! The little swing and lift bridges of this particular canal are sometimes almost impossible to lift or swing, but adding that bit of added drama to the voyage. Especially with the likes of Ailsa who was single handing and getting the bow of her boat well stuck under the bridge. A big old mill chimney comes into view and a heady sweet whiff of Midget Gems or whichever sweets they are producing pervades the boat as you pass Swizzles sweet factory. (Bet somebody posts saying they don't make Midget Gems!) Well, they make lots things like that! Then the canal gets really spooky, especially if its going dark. On a long sweeping bend in a bit of a desolated spot, a big sign with red lettering confronts you. 'Beware of Giant Hogweed!" That must be the most scary notice in the whole of Britain, conjuring up thoughts of 'Beware of the Triffids!' I heard that one lady boater was too frightened to proceed beyond that bend. Mind you, have heard that certain boaters have been visited by these Giant Hogweeds in the middle of the night. When we finally got to Bugsworth Basin it was all happening! Flags, bunting, tents, stalls, men in yellow jackets directing things, and lots of boats. At the Navigation pub, in my humble opinion one of the best real pubs on the cut, they were hosting an influx, of what was described on all the notices as 'Wild Campers!' Laura my partner was excitedly expecting to see a hoard of semi naked sexy men in loin cloths camping in teepee's ! She had just been watching a DVD of the 'Game of Thrones.' which I think set her imagination into full 'PanoVision mode.' Disapointingly these 'Wild Campers turned out to be about a dozen or so camper vans which had parked up at the pub car park, who's owners claim the title of Wild Camper, as they don't overnight at organised caravan parks. preferring to overnight 'Wild', possibly on lay-bys and things. They turned out to be quite a genial group of normally dressed people. Then it rained and blew...and did it rain and blow! The place soon turned into a quagmire. A great pity as the organisers at Bugsworth, nearly all volunteers. had worked so hard to make it happen. And a great canal and family event it was. A credit to them all. Apart from the weather, It was still worth the trip and lots of fun. Roger www.rogermurray.co.uk

Over recent years have done a few trips from the River Weaver, down the ship canal to Liverpool and back on the old ex ICI coaster 'James Jackson Grundy.' Sister ship of the 'Wincham' and a number of those little vessels which used to operate out of Northwich. Think the James Jackson Grundy the last of that fleet. Certainly the only one still operable. Until very recently she regularly carried 400 tons of grain from the silo's at Canada Dock up to Runcorn. I think for Warburton's bread. But don't sue me Warburton's if this was not so! Anyway good for your publicity by saving hundreds of road truck loads, helping the environment etc! Well she did carry this grain until just recently, as the old girl was probably beginning to run out of puff bless her. On one of those gallant voyages we made a very shaky amateur film and have now put it on YouTube for posterity. So if you want to see this iconic vintage vessel still working for her living, or if you are contemplating the Mersey crossing from Eastham Locks and would like to see a bit more of that Mersey River, go to YouTube, then to Search, key in Roger Murray. Amongst the stuff which will come up you should find the heading 'James Jackson Grundy.' Fingers crossed, the film should come up. Roger.

Christine, if you are still checking this post, which I hope you are! When I replied to your posting about Keith, I was in a mad rush to meet an appointment, so it really was a quicky. On re-reading, I feel so sorry for not asking how you are and coping. You must have gone through a most awful and sad time, leading up to and losing such a lovely man. If you would like to keep in touch, my number is 07736949474. Kind wishes Roger.

How lovely to hear from you and thank you for that Christine. So glad you remembered that dark winters night canal-side meeting of so long ago. I am not ashamed to admit that your piece brought a tear. Roger xx

Thanks for that Bekaybe. Will give Dave, that intrepid seafarer a bell. As you know, Dave Keenan got pissed off with the Liverpool maritime museum for not helping fund a repair to his historic Mersey Flat, the 'Oakdale,' which at the time he kept afloat in the Albert Dock. I greatly sympathised with him as the 'Oakdale' is the only surviving Mersey flat afloat, except for one in a sorry state of repair and certainly not afloat, at the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port. Why the Liverpool Museum turned their nose up at his request for help is a mystery, possibly because in their eyes it was just a lowly barge, yet the Mersey Flat was so important to the port and its maritime history. Only a few years back when Liverpool was a thriving port, there were literally hundreds of them in and around the Mersey, entirely responsible for the transhipment of cargo from the ships to the various ports in the area. Just as important historically to Liverpool as the Thames lighter and spritsail barge is to London. Dave, a caretaker at a local school and without much money, and keenly interested in Liverpool's maritime past, saved the Oakdale from certain oblivion by literally digging her out of the mud, then over the following years to painstakingly restore her. All painted up and in her original colours she was a worthy asset to the Albert Dock and the Maritime Museum, certainly a living and floating exhibit and an important part of the Ports heritage. The 'Oakdale' needed some urgent repairs to her bottom planks, so after the refusal of help from the museum, a well pissed off Dave decided to sail her up to Scotland where he was offered help together with a place to beach her. So with a little propulsion help from a small two cylinder Lister he had installed, I think an HA2. Hardly adequate to move such a large bulk of a Mersey Flat, together with a small sail, he set off one night out into the Irish Sea north bound, with the crew of a friend and a dog. They got into a full North Westerly gale off Morecambe Bay, running with the wind back down the treacherous Lancashire coast and luckily managing to get into the River Ribble in the pitch black, finally coming to rest on the beach at Lytham. Now the inhabitants of Lytham were not over enthusiastic about this big black hulk suddenly appearing on their beach, often with a string of washing on a line, so after a few weeks he was asked to move. I believe politely, as one would expect at Lytham. So off he set again, this time with an innocent bystander who happened to be on the beach at the time and unwittingly said he would accompany him. Another gale off the Cumberland coast blowing them into the Duddon estuary where 'Oakdale' finally came to rest on the sands at Millom. Dave, probably deciding he was having enough of this seafaring and quite liking the area, decided to stay and do the repairs there, but with the dangerous incoming tides, decided to move across the estuary to Askham, where he is to this day. I understand now a fixture and part of the community. A great character, I think worthy of being regaled on these pages. I called to see him some time ago when he was on the sands at Millom, stupidly leaving it a bit late on leaving the barge, only minutes I might add! That tide comes in bloody fast, having to wade virtually up to the waist to get across an innocent looking rivulet which only minutes before was only inches deep. Frightening stuff! Roger www.rogermurray.co.uk

Thanks for that Bekaybe. Forgive me but not really sure who you are! Not seen Dave on Oakdale for a number of years, but believe he is now permanently moored in the Duddon Estuary at Askham,now part of the community. If you go to Google maps and enlarge, you will see the outline of Oakdale up on the sands at Askham. Sorry to hear about Bill Richards, I knew he heartbroken over the death of his wife, hope this wasn't a contributory factor. Re my posting about the sad death of Keith Ball. I apologise to this group for posting what apparently was old news. With not being conversant with the workings of 'Canal World,' did not realise there are various headings for different postings. Having read through the General Boating heading and seeing no mention of Keith thought would be worthy of mention. Again apologies. Roger www.rogermurray.co.uk

I thought it important to record the recent sad death of Keith Ball on this site. Many of you will know of Keith who had the yard at Stretton on the Shropshire Union, and who was responsible for the saving, restoration, and high quality rebuilding of many of the original old working boats. I think I can say that I owe it to Keith for my own interest in canals. On a cold and dark winters night in the seventies, I was driving down to London, stopping for a short break near a canal. To this day I can never remember where or which one it was, but have a hunch it was near Stone. In the distance was a tumpt tumpt tumpt kind of sound, which seemed to be getting nearer, then out of the gloom appeared a flickering light as a boat came round the canal bend with its chimney merrily smoking away. Soon to moor up. That boat was like a self sufficient farm yard afloat, as there were goats, chickens, a nonchalant cat, Keith Ball and his delightful wife. We got chatting and I was soon invited aboard for a cup of tea. Sitting in front of the glowing stove on that cold night in the magical and whimsical atmosphere of that boat, was for me like entering the pages of a fairy story. So far removed from the frenetic life I had only minutes before left in that car and busy main road. From that time on I was canal hooked! Soon to get the first boat 'Toad Hall.' Over the following years Keith and I became great friends, later to buy the restored ex fish class motor 'Bream' from him. No trip up, or down the Shroppie would be without mooring up at his yard for a long yarn and a walk round the various remains of interesting named old working boats under restoration. In later years when I had the ex FMC steamer Monarch, I should add...Still in steam! We used to steam her up and down the canal as he wanted to know what it was like on a steamer, having the rusting remains of the ex steamer 'Sultan' in his yard, which was going to be one of his main future projects. I remember once taking him to look at a massive ex-Admiralty sea going tug, as he had visions of going to sea, saying it could be low loaded to his yard for a future restoration. Oddly enough his son Barney is now an ocean going tug skipper. Keith did eventually get a purposeful looking steel built sea going boat which I think is still in his yard, but alas the sea was never to be as he got a rare form of cancer which he bravely battled with for years, still refusing to stop working on those beloved boats. Sadly he recently lost that battle. The canal world, just like Steve Hudson before him has lost one of its great names. Roger. www.rogermurray.co.uk

As needs must, had to move the boat from Orchard Marina near Northwich to Bollington last week. A distance of no more than about fifteen miles as a crow flies......but by canal, a three day voyage, not forgetting the grind up Heartbreak Hill and the Bosley fight on the Macclesfield. We couldn't have picked a worse time weather wise, setting off on Tuesday the third of Feb with a forecast of North Westerly winds up to force nine with hail, snow and freezing conditions. It really was bloody freezing! Nick Sanders the motorbike adventurer, joined us, having once taken motor and butty across the channel and through Europe to Constanza in Russia on the Black Sea....and back! Probably the longest canal boat journey ever made. In the next few weeks he is about to motorbike right up the South American continent making a film using a drone to fly above him taking pics etc. Nick had brought this drone him with the intention of making a film of our winter voyage, a kind of try out. He was standing on the foredeck facing aft flying the thing above us, when I noticed a big tree looming up behind him. I pointed up as a kind of warning which he took to mean fly the thing higher. Up it went into the branches, with a sickening clattering sound, then to plunge into the canal. Gone! Stripping off, into the icy water went Nick. In there for nearly ten mins before finally locating and retrieving it. He was purple with cold. Luckily we had the good old Morso glowing red hot below and with a hot coffee he soon recovered. What about the drone? It had been on the bottom of the canal for a good ten mins and according to technical Pete Neville who was with us, it was more than likely a gonner. Over a thousand quids worth, just like that, not forgetting the GoPro camera and gimbal. High tech stuff that certainly doesn't take kindly to water! We dried it out near to the stove and Pete soon had it in pieces. The latest report is that it is flying again and will soon be taking to the blue skies over the Andes, thanks to Pete's technical perseverance. What about the trip? Although bitterly cold with snow, hail and anything nature could throw at us, it was a great three days, only passed one boat.certainly the best time to go boating. The canals and countryside covered white with snow looked magical and even the pubs seemed cosier. Roger