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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...

I'm trying to track down an old working boat that I was born on in 1974 (well we were in Leamington Spa when mum had to dash off to the hospital to give birth) I'm not a boater now but I was born onto the canals and spent my earliest years between Rickmansworth and the Midlands, and living at Braunston for a short time. My dad, Kim McGavin, ran coal up and down the GU on boats Grace (Originally no.88 of the Samual Barlow fleet), then Avon (?), then the boat I lived on, Sirius (Built in 1934 by Walker's of Rickmansworth), which is the boat I'm trying to track down if it's still afloat. He then switched to group tours on Hawksbury (which I believe is still around). The photo attached here was a postcard made without mum's knowledge or permission (Braunston 1975) and was found much later by accident in a shop (surprise!) but it's where the information comes from, leading me to the Historic Narrow Boat club website. https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/sirius So any information or leads on Sirius would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joe

Hi All, Away for 7 nights from Friday, departing Clifton Cruises Rugby( still undecided on the route to take ??‍♂️, but not Warwickshire Ring (another time with a bigger crew)) Any current information on how busy the Canals around the routes from Rugby are ? How long waiting times for locks ? Any other info from My upcoming trip gratefully received. Thanks

We have been based at Wigrmas Turn for a couple of seasons now so have done a brief Pros / Cons list to give people an idea. Other moorers there please feel free to add to the list, I am happy that at present there are more in te PROS list then the CONS! PROS Good location, junction of North / South Oxford Canal, Grand Union with easy route to Sutton Stop for the Coventry and beyound as well as Norton Junction for leicster branch and Southern GU Services Berth (Fuel / Gas / Pumpout / elsan) Very good Shore Bathrooms inc showers Moorings lounge area Good WiFi / Phone connection Good parking Good field to walk the four legged crew members away from the cut Easy walk to Napton Villiage for good pub and stores. EAsy drive to local supermarkets for bigger shops if needed CONS Tricky Entrance with cross winds (only marina where I have thought that a Bow Thrust might make sense....) Long thin jettys for the berths with 3 or 4 boats moored each side. These jettys are only just wider than a cart used to take your kit from the car to the boat.... Usually a strong Westerly wind blowing accross the wide marina which can make manouvering on to your berth "a challenge".

Something else to worry about https://www.braunston.org.uk/variable/organisation/29/attachments/BVN April 2018.pdf

Damn, I have known about the winter stoppages, but just checked the map again, I thought the braunston stoppage was number 27 only, but inside the purple dot is the number 7, I'e starting tomorrow for over a month, I thought I had till the twentieth , I'e number27. Why is that not incorporated ,Is it just me or is it hidden. Now have to completely change plans. I am 6 hours away from locks and have been sat here three days oblivious thinking I had a couple of weeks. Why have they hidden it in that way.All the others are not hidden.damn damn damn damn.maybe it's just me damn.cant believe it.