Ray T

The National Horse Brass Society - Home Occasionally boaters would parade their horses, complete with brasses, at horse fairs.

Previous years I have always blacked our water tank. Like Cuthound, as age creeps on I can get in small places but getting out is another story! We are having the tank blacked by a boatyard this year.

Dave, just for you, not at Braunston but at Sutton Stop. Also when retired on Poacher. I went Saturday morning but sadly no longer am I able to bring "my historic NarrowBoat Captain." Mike back row, second from left.

This is good, innit! "Oxford Canal (north) - narrow canal." "Widebeam access to........." So much for having to book a passage. Sign at Braunston.

This is how a onetime CWDF member cured the problem a long while ago now. However, I would NOT recommend this approach. I am unaware if this was altered after any BSC examination. Not my photo, copied from this forum.

I think the photo is courtesy of "Magnetman."

Saturday morning all being well.

When as a "Youth in training" with the G.P.O. I had to do time in various telephone exchanges, most were post 2000 type equipment but one, "Gibbet Hill," (I think the 1141 code was GTL) was pre 2000 selectors. On my 18th birthday I had been out to lunch with some of the other Youths and arrived back at the exchange somewhat worse for wear. The TO in charge, one Ray White, was not amused at all. My "punishment" was manual bank cleaning of the 2 motion selectors for the next 2 weeks, was I bored! I always disliked working in a telephone exchange, much preferred the "external side" of the business. Sorry, off topic!

Was that pre 2000 Strowger telephone exchanges? 😁 A opps B opps C...... cannot remember the rest

Often when some of the boaters were having a "session" in The Greyhound at Suttons "last orders" would be called. Water cans were produced, filled with beer and the "session" carried on outside. On the way back to their boats one or two would fall in the cut. Photo's, back of The Greyhound from the DVD "Boating in the 50's."

When under power sailing yachts tend to have a white light approx. half way up the mast facing forward as a "steaming light," a white light on the pushpit at the stern and a red / green light on the pulpit at the bow. When under sail a tri colour light atop the mast. The boat length can have be a variation factor on the above.

I have my navigation lights as per photo. Often told it is pointless having them thus. As I never intend to venture onto a commercial waterway after dark does it matter? Used when in tunnels and when cruising on the cut after dark. Yes I know there is no "masthead" light.

Mike and his dad were in a pub when a brawl broke out. One man smashed a bottle into another man's head and the police were called. William offered to be a witness; the police ordered William not to move his boats until further notice, when the incident was sorted out. William says to Mike "Next time I sees nothing."

Now there's a thought. How about installing stop locks, tolls and toll keepers and give them a cottage to live in! 😁

Mike H told me a tale when he and his dad, William were coming through Stoke Bruerne top lock. Jack James had fished a male body out of the cut and was going through the pockets of the deceased male. William "What are you doing Jack." Jack, "looking for money, uh, only 13/4d, 'E don't need it now do 'E, at least I can get a pint." He then proceeded to push the body back in the cut. From the Museum at "The Port." Death and accidents Life on the boats was hard and dangerous. The most common death was by drowning, but accidents could be caused by a windlass when it flew off the paddle spindle at speed and broke the operators arm or struck them on the head. The rack and pinion gear of paddles could injure or maim by trapping fingers as the paddles were dropped. Ropes and lines, used to control the boats, could also be hazardous, entangling limbs, fingers and feet as the ropes tightened. Horses and mules could kick of bite without warning; some animals wore muzzles to prevent this. The boats carried heavy cargoes which could crush if they shifted and it was possible to be crushed by the boat if it swung suddenly leaving a lock. The greatest hazard was the water in the canal, incidences of death by drowning seem high and travelling at night and in winter was hazardous. Although a boatman would stop to rescue a drowning person, he would pass a “dead-un” although there was a small fee for reporting and recovery of a body A corpse is beyond help and if he stopped to recover the body, he might be called to give evidence at the inquest which meant his boat would be tied up and not earning. When they died a boat person was always brought home, the coffin placed just back of the mast of their own boat. The boat was worked “fly”, which meant that every boat on the canal gave way as a token of respect and to speed the journey of the dead person. No matter how arduous their life had been, boatpeople always had a good road home.

At Hinksford Wharf when owned by Dr. Thompson, August 2013.

When I sailed offshore learning the horn signals were an obligatory part of the RYA exams to obtain a "Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence." For what it is worth I use them when applicable when out on the cut. If I get any remarks, rude or otherwise I have a stack of these I hand out:

I cannot remember who, but a Victorian commentator referred to canal boat children "Climbing all over the boats like little monkeys."

Same weekend as Braunston. Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and Festival 2023 - Dates, Reviews and Info (canalriverhub.co.uk)

I've always known this action as "Breasting up."

With regards to a "Monkey Boat" see here:

I did hear through the grape vine Mr. Coughlan had expressed an interest but has decided to back out.

When I was a nipper and we visited my grandmother in Wick we always used to visit the "Causeymire" Road on the border of Sutherland and Caithness to enjoy the solitude and listen to the silence. A few years ago I took Mrs. T there and found this. A beautiful desolate place ruined.

From MJG, "I remember the food being ridiculously overpriced but the times we went there was a good friendly atmosphere which we enjoyed. Once we bought our boat we didn't feel any real need to return." As of 2023: Hot dog £8.00, cup of coffee £6.00! Glad I didn't go.