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A century on from probably the only strike by boatmen... or at least, the only one that seems to have made the history books. I am currently researching this for a new play to be premiered at the Historic Boat Rally at Braunston in June (and for a new show to be performed by Years 4,5,& 6 at Braunston Primary). It is part of a bigger village/canal community theatre project part funded by the Arts Council. Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina is also supporting and we will be crowdfunding as well. Do you, or your boat, have any links to the strike? Do you know of an FMC boat that was there? I haven't found a definitive list, just one photo of Australia. I would love to hear from you and be able to include your contribution - which will be acknowledged in the programme, website etc. I have found various resources online and identified some long standing Braunston residents who come from boating stock and whose parents or grandparents took part. But I'm sure there is more out there about the strike. But I'm sure there are more stories and recollections (albeit passed on - I doubt there is anyone living who can remember back that far!) that would both contribute to telling the story but also add to our knowledge of boating heritage. A little more about the project can be found here: https://alarumproductions.org.uk/portfolios/braunston-1920s2020s/ By way of background: Alarum Productions focusses on telling the stories of the waterways - until now, mostly the stories of women - in ways that are thoroughly researched and carefully presented to be both accurate and entertaining. We have performed Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways; Acts of Abandon and I Dig Canals at the historic show and toured widely. Not as widely as Mikron, but there are only two of us and we aren't quite as young as them! The current Towpath Talk has a nice piece by Tim C about Arts Council support for arts on the waterways (us and Mikron). And I don't why it loaded sideways...

With my Alarum Productions hat on... since 2019 we've recorded oral histories with around 25 women who campaigned, boated through all manner of rubbish, spent their weekends and holidays on working parties - often falling love in the course of them - all to restore dank, rubbish filled ditches to navigable waterways. We now have a show I Dig Canals telling some of those stories that we will be touring on the Grand Union this year (and assorted other places) so hope to perhaps meet some of you at one of those, but you can also hear the voices of the women via two series of podcasts on Soundcloud. The first covers stories of the Black Country - Dudley and Netherton tunnels, the Stourbridge 16, the Staffs & Worcs... the second, which we are currently adding to each week focuses on Birmingham - Gas St basin, Farmers Locks, Icknield Port Loop and the Mainline in the 1970s. And you can find it all here:

Hi all, Had a nice day in Driffield on Sunday with the Driffield Navigation Amenities Association: Cheers, Mike

Hello there! I am a friendly masters student doing a study of the boat communities on Regent's Canal in London. I'm interested in people's experiences living on boats and their opinion on the maintenance of the canal these days. This research will NOT be published and participants' names will not be used in the report. Please comment here/PM if you are interested in participating or share the post if you know someone mooring in the areas stated above Many thanks, Mandy

Oxford Canal Heritage Open Day Saturday 3 May 11.30am – 5pm Old Fire Station, George St Oxford PROGRAMME 11.00am Canal Day refreshments at the Old Fire Station 11.30am Welcome to the Oxford Canal Heritage Day Deputy Mayor of Oxford, Jericho Living Heritage Trust and Canal and River Trust representatives open the day’s programme. 12.00pm Celebrating Oxford’s Canal The project’s work and new resources including information available from the new Oxford Canal Heritage website, Maria Parsons, Project Manager. 12.20pm Memories of the Oxford Canal Film: Jack and Rose Skinner talking about their lives on the working boats & an interview with Colin Dick, Oxford Canal painter. 1.30pm Performing the Oxford Canal Led by creative facilitators Charlie Henry and Kate Saffin, children from Wolvercote, St Barnabas, Cutteslowe and Phil and Jim schools show how they have interpreted the canal 2.30pm Canal Characters: an illustrated insight into some of the individuals who were instrumental to creation and success of the Oxford Canal. Local historians and authors Mark Davies and Hugh Compton reflect on the fascinating story of the canal’s construction and development. 4.00pm Inspired by the Canal Sir Christopher Ball and Katherine Shock present canal poetry and painting, Wilf Rouse (14) muses about growing up on a boat, Kate Saffin showcases her one woman show,’ Ramblin’ Rose’ about Rose Skinner, Catherine Robinson talks about saving the Trap Grounds and canal wildlife, Charlie Bell get the audience involved in canal poetry whilst Benji Fry, a boater asks us to gather round for a Ghost Story about the canal. 5.00pm End of Day’s Programme 11am – 4pm Stalls and books, exhibition of prize winners & entrants to the Oxford Canal Art competition, children’s boat making activities and canal quiz prize draw. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8pm-10.30 pm Oxford Canal Celebration Concert of music, poetry and song. Bar and raffle. Tickets £8 (£5 concessions) from www.ticketsoxford.com For further details go to www.oxfordcanalheritage.org