Ray T

The late Dereck Guyler.

CRT Press Release 28th September 2022 Canal & River Trust publishes its 2021/22 Annual Report The Canal & River Trust has today (28 September 2022) published its 2021/22 Annual Report & Accounts, the second year to be severely affected by Covid-19. The Report documents a continued rise in use of the towpath with nearly 800 million individual visits across the year and a record summer for boating once the waterways were able to re-open in May 2021 for unrestricted navigation. Accounting for variances relating to the pandemic, income for the year remained broadly stable and the Trust was able to increase the amount spent on core maintenance and repair works to keep the network open, safe and navigable. In a year that saw both drought and further winter storm damage, once again bringing additional unplanned and costly works, the Report highlights the increasing impacts of climate change and how, with continued support and funding, the Trust’s 250-year-old network is helping to address the national crises in public health, biodiversity and the climate emergency. Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, comments: “In a year severely affected by the pandemic, the Trust has demonstrated its resilience to the challenges faced and continued to provide opportunities for the nine million people who have waterways on their doorstep, to experience the wellbeing benefits they offer. “With the threat of climate change, we must continue to focus funding and resources on increasing the resilience of the canal network and our core purpose of keeping the waterways safe, attractive, accessible and available, for boating and the wide range of other users. In doing so, we can help Britain mitigate the effects of a changing climate, from helping to cool cities in summer, to providing low-carbon energy to heat homes in winter and as sustainable transport traffic-free routes through our towns and cities.” Over 160 large-scale works were completed across the year, including repairing masonry and brickwork, fixing leaks, updating and installing hydraulics and electrics, and fitting 132 lock gate leaves handcrafted at the Trust’s specialist workshops. However, the Trust’s largest spend on infrastructure in 2021/22 was again on its high-risk reservoirs, the oldest in the country, continuing a programme of additional works over the decade to minimise any threat to public safety and to safeguard the vital canal water supply that the reservoirs provide. The Report also looks ahead to the review of the Government grant, due to complete in 2022/23, for the period beyond 2027 when the current Grant Agreement comes to an end. Richard Parry continues: “Our waterways provide accessible and attractive space for millions of people, often in some of the most deprived communities, supporting government policy to enhance health, wellbeing and prosperity. No other UK charity brings so much free blue and green space to the doorsteps of so many. “As the cost of looking after our ageing network continues to rise, the sustainable long-term future of our waterways depends on building broad support and maintaining our partnership with Government, to secure the funding that is essential to address their long-term resilience and avert their decline. With our grant declining significantly in real terms over the next few years, the current Government review of our future funding provides the opportunity to demonstrate the substantial benefits that waterways bring, as well as the wider public risks associated with our ageing and vulnerable network.” Volunteering, an integral part of the Trust’s resource which was largely curtailed during the pandemic, recovered well following the easing of government lockdown restrictions and this continues. The work of volunteers and partner organisations is central to the Trust’s community engagement initiatives, biodiversity improvements and the further attainment of Green Flag Awards which now cover over a quarter of the network. Richard concludes: “As the charity that believes in making life better by water, we work with communities to transform their local waterways. The ongoing support we’ve received has enabled us to increase this work and to encourage participation in our activities. We appreciate all the effort and dedication through the past year, without which we could not have delivered on the scale that has been achieved.” To view the Trust’s 2021/22 Annual Report & Accounts visit: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/annual-report-and-accounts. This year the Trust’s Annual Public Meeting will be hosted online on 12 October at 12 noon with people able to view and submit questions. Further details are available on the Trust’s website. ENDS For further information, please contact: Jonathan Ludford, Canal & River Trust m 07747 897783 e jonathan.ludford@canalrivertrust.org.uk

I have this too.

CRT Press Release: 27th September 2022 AWARDS CELEBRATE WATERWAYS VOLUNTEERS IN YORKSHIRE & THE NORTH EAST Waterways and wellbeing charity Canal & River Trust, together with Marsh Charitable Trust, has recognised volunteers in Yorkshire and the North East at its annual volunteer awards. The awards celebrate volunteer excellence and are given to teams and individuals across the country who volunteer for the charity, reflecting the fantastic range of volunteering that takes place on its waterways. This year, Canal & River Trust celebrates its tenth anniversary of protecting and preserving 2,000 miles of historic waterways across England and Wales - including 317 miles across the Yorkshire and North East region. So, to mark a decade of charitable care, an extra category has been added to the awards to recognise those who have been volunteering with the charity since its inception. Volunteers were invited to a ceremony at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, where the regional awards were presented. And all those in the region who have volunteered for ten years or more were recognised with a special plaque to mark their service to the canal charity. The individual award recipient was David Wadsworth, who was recognised for ‘demonstrating enormous generosity in the sharing of his array of excellent heritage skills and knowledge.’ Meanwhile, the team recipients were the Tuel Lane Lock volunteer lock keepers, who were nominated for ‘always providing safe passage through the lock for boaters.’ Sean McGinley, regional director, Canal & River Trust, said: “Our volunteers make a tremendous contribution to the region’s waterways, bringing their skills, enthusiasm and experience to a vast array of activities and tasks and enabling us to keep the canals open and available for people to use and enjoy. These awards showcase the range of their talents and celebrate their enthusiasm, passion and sheer hard work. They are an inspiration and I offer my congratulations to them all.” Christine Mellor, head of volunteering at Canal & River Trust, said: “In the decade since the Trust’s launch, we have seen an incredible change in the number of people volunteering on the canals and the impact that they have. This summer, volunteers donated their five millionth hour to Canal & River Trust since our launch ten years ago. These awards reflect how much we value and appreciate our volunteers who, working together with colleagues across the Trust, have enabled us to tend our beautiful green and blue spaces for future generations. “Volunteers enable us to make significant changes that benefit all those who visit. On a day-to-day basis we see the impact that our volunteers have, leading and advising in how the Trust works; talking to and supporting customers; carrying out research; enabling our waterways to thrive by connecting our communities, conservation, improving biodiversity and protecting wildlife, to name a few. It means we can reach out to achieve so much more. Our volunteers bring experiences and insight from the local community, some of them joining us for a day, some for many years. “These awards recognise just some of our volunteers who have made such a significant contribution in maintaining the beauty of our waterways. I'd encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering for the Trust to come along and get involved.” Brian Marsh OBE, chair at the Marsh Charitable Trust, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with Canal & River Trust and to deliver these awards in their tenth year. The awards recognise some very special people who give their time to volunteer on our nation’s waterways and support the wellbeing of those that use them.” Award ceremonies will be taking place in each of Canal & River Trust’s six regions in the coming weeks. For more information about the work of Canal & River Trust, including how you can volunteer or donate, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk -ends- For further media requests please contact: Naomi Roberts (Mon-Wed) on 07557 256482 or email naomi.roberts@canalrivertrust.org.uk Natalya Catton (Thu-Fri) on 07776 664714 or email natalya.catton@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Any good?

CRT Press release 26th September 2022 WATERWAYS’ WINTER WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2022-23 ANNOUNCED The Canal & River Trust has announced its winter works programme 2022-23, providing details of the major repairs and canal improvements the charity will be carrying out between November and March. 48 waterways will benefit from 172 large-scale works to repair masonry and brickwork, fix leaks, update and install hydraulics and electrics at mechanised structures, as well as replacing seals, stop plank grooves, lock ladders and lock gates. The Trust’s specialist workshops are handcrafting 120 lock leaves for the works, to be installed at 52 locks across the network. As usual, the Trust is carrying out the works in winter to minimise disruption to boaters over the busier summer cruising months and will be aiming to avoid the Christmas period when more boats take to the water. 72 stoppages are due to take place before Christmas, with 93 scheduled for the new year, and a small number spanning the festive season. Works aimed at improving navigation for boaters will be taking place across the network. On the Kennet & Avon Canal, there is a suite of lock gate replacements between locks 52 and 65, including works at Crofton Pumping Station. The Queen Elizabeth Lock at Caen Hill will also be re-grouted to reduce leakage. Lock 3 at Hillmorton will see its gates replaced and a number of lift bridges on the Oxford Canal will have their hydraulics renovated. There are lock gate replacements at Tardebigge Flight on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, gate repairs and replacements at Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal, and on the Hanwell Flight on the Grand Union Canal in London. In the north of the country, which has been battling difficult drought conditions this summer, the Trust will continue its programme of water-saving repair works, after utilising the unscheduled canal closures to complete some repairs early. One such project was at Bosley Lock Flight on the Macclesfield Canal, where dozens of essential tasks, including the relining or replacement of lock gates and work on cills, paddles, mitres, spindles and quadrants were brought-forward, alongside mortar repairs, painting, re-pointing and the creation of a new boater landing stage. Canals including the Leeds & Liverpool, Rochdale, Peak Forest, Macclesfield, and Huddersfield Narrow will see gate replacements and repairs, grouting, relining, masonry works to washwalls and other improvements over the winter. This is on top of the Trust’s major investment to future-proof its reservoirs, which are vital to the network’s boating demands, which will continue over the winter. This includes the ongoing work at Toddbrook and Barrowford reservoirs in the North West. Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “As boaters know, we work year-round to maintain navigations but the work we carry out over the winter is at the heart of it. While there are some familiar names on this year’s list of work locations, the majority of the winter works are the ongoing repairs we need to undertake every year to keep the waterways navigable and safe: replacing older lock gates, repairing bridges, locks and aqueducts, and fixing defects. “We’re also continuing our programme of the works needed to strengthen the resilience of our 250-year-old infrastructure, with climate change – both heavy rain and drought – presenting significant and costly challenges to assets which were built when industrial civil engineering was first being developed. “Navigation depends on having a resilient network, while safe and accessible waterways help improve the lives of millions of people in waterside communities and act as green corridors that bring huge benefits for nature recovery. It’s more important than ever that these historic waterways are properly funded so we can preserve them for boaters, neighbours, and all those who spend time by them.” The full winter stoppage programme can be viewed on the Notices & Stoppages page of the Trust’s website: canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices Ends For further media requests please contact: Jonathan Ludford, Canal & River Trust m 07747 897783 e jonathan.ludford@canalrivertrust.org.uk

The pooch is a Jack Russel Border Terrier cross named Belle. She is a rescue dog, we got her when she was two. We kept the name the previous owner had given her.

Out of interest, who were your grandparents please?

As here:

As a slight variation, pigoen box decoration. Not my picture but painting by Dave Moore. The origin of the plume terret? Horse tack.

From the series of photo's by David Scherman of AudreyEvelynAnn for Life Magazine.

In my offshore days knowing the sound signals was course "De Rigueur, " in fact the RYA examinations required any budding skipper to know them. Also when commercial boats were using them in the Solent or Southampton Water, for example, it was handy to know what was going on. I do use them when out on our boat but often have to resort waving my arms about.

More here:

According to a copy I have of the gauging record of S. E. Barlows Motor "Franklin" the maximum was 35 Tons at 0.23 inches dry side. A more sensible load - 30 Tons at 4.68 inches dry side. (1936 gauging) Horse drawn boat "Clara" 35 tons at 2.07 inches dry side or 30 tons at 6.92 inches dry side. (1931 gauging) Both these boats plied the Coventry and Oxford Canals.

In addition, I find cotton buds soaked in turps, handy for tiny mistakes. I use these when building model narrow boats.

CRT Press release 2nd September 2022 CANAL CHARITY BRINGS FORWARD MACCLESFIELD CANAL REPAIRS The Canal & River Trust charity has created a small silver lining from this summer’s drought conditions by bringing forward a £200,000 major winter works repair project scheduled on the Macclesfield Canal, Bosley Lock Flight, in Cheshire. The impressive flight of 12 locks was due to close for several weeks in November while the Trust carried out essential repairs to the lock chambers, but with the locks on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals currently closed this summer due to a lack of water, the Trust has jumped on the opportunity to complete the project now, to minimise the inconvenience to boaters. Its national engineering construction team has joined forces with regional staff and volunteers in a massive team effort to complete dozens of essential tasks, including the relining or replacement of lock gates and work on cills, paddles, mitres, spindles and quadrants. This has been combined with mortar repairs, painting, re-pointing and the creation of a new boater landing stage between locks four and five, including new towpath surface and mooring bollards. The waterways and wellbeing charity, which cares for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales, has been careful to protect wildlife by rescuing and rehoming fish during the works each time a lock chamber has been drained. Steve Ballard, North West operations manager with the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s wonderful that we have been able to create a positive outcome from a negative situation during this challenging time when some of our canals have had to be closed to navigation due to lack of rainfall. “Bringing forward the repair project means that as soon as we have enough water to reopen the canal, boaters won’t then be inconvenienced again by a winter works closure. “And even though the Macclesfield and some other canals are not open for navigation, most of them are still in water and available for angling and paddle sports, and the towpaths still provide a great place to enjoy walking, jogging and cycling.” Opened in 1831, the 26 mile Macclesfield Canal connects the Peak Forest Canal with the Trent & Mersey Canal and is part of the popular Cheshire Ring. In 2015, the work of the Trust and its volunteers saw it became the first canal in the country to be awarded Keep Britain Tidy’s coveted Green Flag – the mark of a quality green space. For more information about volunteering, donating or visiting the Macclesfield Canal, check out the Canal & River Trust website, www.canalrivertrust.org.uk - ends- For further media requests please contact: Lynn Pegler m 07783 686246 e lynn.pegler@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Coventry / Birmingham Fazeley Canals?

CRT Press Release 1st September 2022 Going with the flow: study shows the blend of blue and green space at former industrial canals helps boost your mood · Time spent by canals and rivers is associated with better mental wellbeing and this association is stronger compared to environments that have greenspaces alone · National canal charity says modern-day canals offer wellbeing for millions of people in our towns and cities · The powerful mix of blue, green and wildlife-rich space shows that although built for industry, repurposed canals are amongst our most important places for health and wellbeing in our towns and cities. The results of a real time study, the first of its type, carried out by King’s College London, Nomad Projects and J & L Gibbons in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, shows that spending time by canals and rivers is linked to feeling happy and healthy. Researchers report that the combination of blue and green space with wildlife, has a greater impact on wellbeing than spending time in an environment that is characterised by only green space. The researchers used Urban Mind, a smartphone-based app, to collect thousands of real time audits about participants’ location and mental wellbeing. Results showed positive associations between visits to canals and rivers and mental wellbeing, as well as a positive experience for feelings of safety and social inclusion relative to all other types of environments (such as indoors, or outside in an urban environment, or near green spaces). Andrea Mechelli, Professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health, King’s College London, commented: “Canals and rivers contain not only water but also an abundance of trees and plants, which means their capacity to improve mental wellbeing is likely to be due to the multiple benefits associated with both green and blue spaces. Canals and rivers also provide homes to a range of wildlife, and we know from other research that there is a positive association between encountering wildlife and mental wellbeing. Taken collectively, these findings provide an evidence base for what we thought about water and wellbeing and support the proposal that visits to canals and rivers could become part of social prescribing schemes, playing a role in supporting mental health.” The study found that visiting canals and rivers was associated with a greater improvement in mental wellbeing, and this relationship was still present when accounting for individual variation due to age, gender, education, ethnicity, and a diagnosis of a mental health condition. People also reported continued improvements in their mental wellbeing for up to 24 hours after the visit had taken place. Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, responded: “Once the arteries of the Industrial Revolution, canals are today playing an equally important role in society as green corridors that bring nature into cities, improving community wellbeing and tackling health inequalities, as well as supporting jobs and local economies. “The powerful mix of blue, green and wildlife-rich space shows that although initially built for industry, repurposed canals are today amongst our most important places for health and wellbeing in our towns and cities. “With the 250-year-old canal network vulnerable to climate change, keeping them safe and attractive requires significant ongoing expenditure and – to retain these benefits – it is vital that the necessary funding to maintain their condition is secured.” Dr Amir Khan, Canal & River Trust Ambassador stated: “As a GP and nature lover, it’s great to see that scientific studies have confirmed what many of us intuitively knew: that spending time by water, and canals in particular, is good for your wellbeing. “An astonishing nine million people live within 1km of a canal and whether you’re looking for a free alternative to the gym, a car-free commute to work or the shops, or perhaps just somewhere to hang out with family or friends, I really do urge everyone to find their #HappyPlaceByWater this summer.” For further information on how you can find, and enjoy your local canal, including information on the fantastic places to visit, go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/happyplacebywater. -ends-

Pub demolished in 1950.

Which pub and wharf was here? (Location should be fairly simple) Bonus for 10. Which well known boater was born here?

Going tomorrow, Saturday, no longer got my "Historic Captain" to bring. ☹️

CRT Press Release. 24th August 2022 LEEDS WATERFRONT FESTIVAL 2022 TO GO OUT ON A SPLASH! CANAL CHARITY HOSTS CLOSING EVENT THIS BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND Leeds Waterfront Festival 2022 is set to go out with a splash this August bank holiday weekend. The Canal & River Trust is inviting people to join in with free, family-friendly fun this Saturday, 27 August, from 10am until 4pm at Granary Wharf, at the start of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. There’s no need to splash the cash, with free activities on and off the water, including canoeing, paddleboarding and kayaking sessions. For land lovers there will be a rock-climbing wall, face painting and arts and crafts activities. Festival-goers are invited to join the unmissable African drumming workshop led by Unbeatable Energy, taking place between 10am and 2pm. All activities can be booked on the day, based on a first come first served basis. For those wanting to get involved with the city’s waterways beyond the festival, there will also be opportunities to talk to the Canal & River Trust’s team to find out more about how to get involved in supporting the charity from volunteering and raising funds. The north’s largest waterfront festival showcases the best of the city’s waterways and has already attracted almost 10,000 visitors this summer. The annual celebration is organised by Canal & River Trust alongside Leeds City Council, Leeds Dock, The Tetley, Citu, The Royal Armouries, and Granary Wharf. Located behind Leeds train station, Granary Wharf marks the start of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the UK’s longest single canal. This popular waterside hub offers a variety of places to eat and drink and is connected to Leeds Dock by Leeds water taxi. For the first time Granary Wharf is part of Leeds Jurassic Trail, supported by the Trust and visitors can also enjoy experiencing a life-size replica Spinosaurus in the water. Sean McGinley, director Yorkshire and North East for Canal and River Trust, said: “With 1.1 million people in Yorkshire and the North East living within 1km of a canal, the festival is a great opportunity for communities to discover the city’s waterways, the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. “Leeds Waterfront Festival offers people of all ages an affordable and memorable way to find their happy place by water this bank holiday weekend. It’s great to see this event grow year on year and with 2022 marking our charity’s 10th anniversary, we’ve really put together a bumper programme for the festival.” More information including a full event programme can be found on the Leeds Waterfront Festival website at leedswf@co.uk or on social media on Facebook @leedswaterfrontfestival on Twitter @leeds_wf or on Instagram @leeds_wf Ends For further media requests please contact: Lizzie Dealey, Canal & River Trust (Wed-Fri) - lizzie.dealey@canalrivertrust.org.uk / 07789 934871 George Baines, Canal & River Trust (Sat) – george.baines@canalrivertrust.org.uk / 07918 827262

CRT Press Release 15th August 2022 CANAL & RIVER TRUST PROVIDES UPDATE AS DROUGHT DECLARED As a drought is declared by the National Drought Group across much of the canal network, the Canal & River Trust is encouraging boaters to check their routes before they cruise and to follow water-saving best practice wherever possible. As at 15 August, the charity has introduced water saving measures at various locations, with more than 80% of the network open and fully navigable, and towpaths open throughout. A map of the affected areas can be found here: canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water/drought/water-savings-restrictions The Trust is reviewing water levels daily and is introducing water saving restrictions to navigation where necessary, and removing or lessening restrictions as soon as sufficient rainfall allows. Boaters are encouraged to check the Trust’s Stoppage Notices for real-time updates, and to sign up for advice notices which give information on waterways at risk of closure or restrictions via their MyTrust accounts. A combination of a dry spring that has continued into a hot, dry summer, coupled with essential reservoir repairs, have meant water supplies in the north are at historically low levels. While navigation closures currently mostly affect northern waterways, the nationwide drought means that restricted opening times are now being introduced in some parts of the south, on the Grand Union Leicester Line, the north and south Oxford and Coventry canals. To enable navigation on the canals for as long as possible, the Trust introduced restricted use of several lock flights at the start of April, and volunteer lock keepers have been helping to manage boat traffic at lock flights to ensure water supplies are used as sparingly as possible. The Trust is continuing ongoing water saving repair works to increase all available water flows into the canal network. The towpaths remain open and boaters will still be able to cruise the stretches between the closed locks, provided there are no localised issues with maintaining enough water supply for safe navigation. Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “The drought declared across many parts of the country, coupled with essential maintenance works, means that we are experiencing shortages of water supplies on a number of canals. The restrictions on other canals, which limit the times lock flights are open, will help to save water meaning that the water available will last longer in the boating season. We will be carefully watching reservoir levels and will open the locks as soon as there’s been enough rain to do so. “We’ve been carrying out a significant amount of water saving maintenance work over the past few years. In the longer term, once the considerable investment in our reservoirs is complete, it will help to improve the resilience of the network. This is more important than ever as extreme weather events are becoming more common. “While navigation closures are currently predominantly affecting our northern waterways, the low rainfall is hitting hardest in the south of the country, and we’re asking all boaters, with the help of volunteer lock keepers, to be even more careful than usual to conserve water. Boaters can help by sharing locks where possible and making sure paddles are fully closed after use. “We appreciate what an impact this has on boaters and boating businesses and we are sorry that this will affect cruising plans this summer.” To find out more about stoppages and water levels affecting navigation, please visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices. The Trust’s drought pages provide information on the current situation: canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water/drought -ends- For further media requests please contact: Fran Read, Canal & River Trust m 07796 610 427 e fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Yes, Alan you have a pm.