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Been chatting with a neighbour and mentioned my Dorman 3LB before installation in my boat in '83 had been the standby generator at the laundry of the John Ratcliffe Hospital, Oxford. He tells me his JP3 was a generator on an army truck used for powering searchlights. I expect most of the marinised engines have had a previous life. Did yours? Just wondering.👍

Hi I'm trying to find historical photos / video clips of Longwood Junction to use in a video accompanying a song about Longwood Junction. Specifically working horses, canal art (cabin doors / kettles etc.) and wildlife are of particular interest. Clips/photos of other parts of the canal network would be acceptable. Thanks, Brian Williams

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

Hello there everyone, I have just become the new owner of narrowboat Kerbau, recently returned from 6 years in Ireland.. I have seen her mentioned on these forums before (I had a little search when I became interested in her) and it seems that at least one member has owned her previously. Well im doing that thing many of us like to do, as in scrape around for any history regarding our new (but aged) aquisitions.. So I thought I would put this post up to see if any of you fine folk have and knowledge about Kerbau's history, stories of her or even photographs perhaps? I am hoping to get to know her better (although the journey solo from sharpness to Liverpool is doing that pretty well too!).. Here is what I know from the previous owner (mark).. originaly built around 1900 (maybe 1898) and in the 1950s was chopped into a 40ft (kerbau) and a 30 ft (enigma) in the 50s (by who i would love to know, the harris brothers was suggested to me the other day) with a wooden roof, oak beams and pine boards with masonite on top.. mark bought it in 1987, re plated the bottom and reskinned the top plus canvas and paint. 5mm steel top added in 2002 i think, which now makes it very top heavy and rolly.. then a new beta marine engine a few years ago. Mark himself was cruising the uk system for 20 years so im sure there are some stories there but, again, if anyone knows anything of her history please give me a shout, id love to put it all together.. thanks!! here she is now.. im heading up the shropshire union and then the bridgewater.. to liverpool

Hello! I'm currently researching a project collecting oral histories from people who worked, lived or know about Harland and Woolfs Woolwich site. I was just wondering if anyone knows anything of any interest or could help at all? All the information I can find is very vague and mainly focus' on Belfast. Feel free to reply to this post any information is better than none! Thanks in advance, Georgia

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

We know nothing about the history of our canal boat except it is a Harborough from the 80s. We desperately want to try and find blueprints which might help us. We think we have water under the cabin but trying to find a place to make inspection holes has resulted in us finding steel just below the floorboards stopping any further inroads The steel makes no sense to us though nor to a few people we’ve spoken to. Any ideas what it is and where we could try to drill a new hole? also half way down the boat in the cabin we have a steel ‘wedge’ either side under the gunnels directly opposite each other, is this normal? Is it an indication of the boat having been lengthened in the past?

I may have missed previous threads about this programme, but anyway. I thought it was good,quite well researched and informative, what do others think? The presenter seemed intelligent and well informed too.

My grandparents owned a narrowboat, and I have recently been thinking about buying one. I have become really interested in seeing if I can trace their ole boat! Even just to see where she ended up, sentimental reasons really. Here's the details: Grandparent names: Cyril and Alice Cousins Bought in 1984 from Cowroast Marina near Tring, she was called "Snoopy" at the time. Re-named her "Cyralice" Serial number is 79826 (there's a slim chance it's 79026 as the photo is fuzzy - attached) She was first moored in Willowbridge Marina and then Gayton Marina in Northampton, on the Grand Union canal. I checked on http://canalplan.org.uk/boats/ but she's not listed. It was sold in the late 90's I think through the brokerage at Gayton Marina (part of Alvechurch group I think) Thanks! Rainey

Hello I was wondering if you ever read this book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Voyage-Bowler-Hat-Hugh-Malet/dp/094771202X Its voyage in a bowler hat by hugh mallet. Its a great read and very enjoyable. It was a great feat to travel Ireland and England on a small boat. My quest is really to find out what happened to his boat, The Mary anne. A dory with a converted cabin The canal museum has certain artefacts but maintains that the boat is gone.......... anybody have any info , that would be great. he died in 2005 or there abouts. thanks Ciaran.