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Semi diesels in Thames Locks, John Liley reported a similar experience in ' Journeys of the Swan' starting the Gardner. In the 60's and 70.s they got a bit more used to them and used to ask hand or electric start? At a lock on the lower end when asked we turned our diesel off as we were eclectic start. The keeper then went talking to the crew of a large white twin engined cruiser. They didn't turn their engines of as I could see their wet exhaust working all the time.. As we left I challenged the Lockie asking if it was our black sides saying I bet that boat had twin bolinders. Happy Days .

Ernest Thomas tug Enterprise had a 5 cylinder Gardner installed when converted to a tug

Longport on the T&M ?

IRC I seem to remember this photo before and there was a thought it was Pisces

I remember going up to Hazelhurst in 1968 bow hauling the last half mile due to the weed. Happy Days on the then remainder waterways

I think by the style and construction there is a link between Jasmine 1 and Clevanda . I have no facts that this is the case to base this theory. I beleive it was John Humphries who owned Clevanda adding a different spelling to the confusion.

Hi Caron, As Max Sinclair wrote I remember a "Jasmine" at the Stourbridge Rally in 1962 that was wooden, did he build the steel boat to replace it?

I am pretty sure Graham Parker was working for Malcolm Braine in 1967. I am not sure of the exact year he started out on his own

I seem to remember that John Stothert had an involvement with Sea Steel at Nassington when he moved out of Norbury

Large Windlass Size which we had never encountered before

One of my families "Amusing, Embarrassing" moments was having cruised from the North West via the Coventry Canal arrived at Braunston Bottom lock to be confronted by G.U. paddle gear !!! Reversing out of the chamber and going back to Blue Line to get GU windlasses must have given the pairs tied below the lock a good laugh!

My Father had a copy of a similar map in 1960 and used it to plan a trip to the Thames in 1961 from the North West.. I cannot confirm edition Number etc . as if it still exists it will be with a set of B.W. Cruising guides in a long unseen corner of the attic. One of my best memories is coming through Hawkesbury in what I assume was the pit holidays and pairs tied both sides out of the stop lock . which seemed to a young boys eyes to go on for ever.

Looks like the Toll End Branch is open om the BCN

Cardiff's canal quarter - how it looked in the past, what's there now and the exciting future - Wales Online No plans to go up the valley

I found the white band useful for spotting moored boats when moving in the dark.

Short You Tube Video of one part that hasn't been built over in the city. A paddle gear has been left

I think I spotted David Hutchings at the beginning of the film so I guess the timing to be early 1960;s.. I went through in 1962 at the time of the Stourbridge Rally,.but this was not the trip. I volunteered to take the boat back through the tunnrl from Park Head so I arrived back at the boat much later than expected happily munching some chips wrapped in newspaper. My Dad who had booked on the trip with me had had to go somewhere else that day, so I went on my own. So I received a bo_____ing from my mum who didn't know where I had been. Happy days

I seem to remember in the very early 60's shuttering ready to have concrete poured. that would back this theory up. As when the project started in 1950's? there was still a fair amount of narrow boat traffic between the North west and the Black Country and the need to protect the bank erosion. This changed to concrete piling early 60's and moved onto steel piling

Probably still with the under funding problem for navigation?

Charles Hadfield was also involved in The IWA Inland Shipping Group and later returned to the IWA Council . Sir Frank Price political skills were honed in the Birmingham City council and definitely worked hard to 'sell; the waterways.in the corridors of power. The Fraenkel Report was under his watch, not forgetting the notorious Tring summit scheme. He was also involved in the fight to prevent the the BWB waterways being fragmented into the Regional Water Authorities by the the then Environment Junior Minister Eldon Griffiths and another treasury ply to get the canals off their accounting books

If I recall correctly there was a report about 1965 that was titled The future of the Inland Waterways signed by Sir Reginald Kerr but largely written by Charles Hadfield (of Historical Books Fame). This highlighted the lack of commercial long term future for transport on the narrow canals. It also went into costings of filling in and disposal, the drainage problems expected by infilling etc. and loss of water sales. Versus the leisure revenue potential long term. I think it was this report that produced the Transport Act 1968 Giving us the commercial , cruiseways and remainder waterways, The volunteer works of the 60's and early 70's on BW waterways was concentrated on the remainder waterways such as the lower Peak Forest and the Ashton, ,and the Nine locks up to Dale Street on the Rochdale.

Anyone remember the Fraenkel Report of the 70's ? Deja Vu with Blisworth Tunnel!

The Director involved in Halmo was a Mr CH Taplin an early enthusiast. He was involved with Lower Avon. I beleive the first hull was built for an Avon trust member in 1966 but have no evidence of an exact date

Whilst looking for something else I came across this in an Austin Vehicle website. http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/23rd-may-1958/41/new-7-tonnei-n-austin-exhibition I had heard talk about this before but mainly as a push tug operation on the BCN involving delivery between two factories. This appears different?

the Stentor was built for the Chaplin family I.R.G.