Neil2 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Descending the Lapworth flight earlier today we were asked by the volunteer lockie to wait after exiting lock 7 (IIRC), leave the lock empty and wait for a boat coming up. Fair enough we thought and put the kettle on. A few minutes later a woman appears at the lock we had just left and starts to fill it, shouting at us for leaving the gates open. I returned to the lock and explained why we had left the gates open and that the lockie had asked us to wait. She carried on regardless with a "Oh he's just a volunteer" The woman then proceeded to fill the lock below us as well, and at this point I asked if they were thinking of taking the lock in front of us. "You can go ahead if you like" she replied, to which I explained, again, that we had been asked to wait. "Look it's only because he doesn't want boats meeting in the short pound - he's only a volunteer," she repeated. By this time their boat was already halfway in the next lock. Then the lockie arrived. There was a heated exchange during which this woman told the lockie to "bugger off" and away they went. Now, I have to admit had we not been asked to wait we would have carried on, the boat coming up the flight was maybe two locks away. But we felt obliged to comply with the lockie's "instructions" regardless and there's surely no excuse for being rude. But I wondered afterwards if there is more general anarchy towards CRT volunteers. The lockie concerned said it was hardly an isolated incident, and that a certain percentage of boaters "just don't like to see volunteers working locks". What do other members think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven wilkinson Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) Biddie rage - all too common in the older female! Edited June 21, 2015 by steven wilkinson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingswood Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 double deep locks yes please gives the mrs a break Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Yes I've been ranted and raved at by old biddies far more often than old gits too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB Lola Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I find that Volunteer lockies at areas where delays occur are, to me, generally welcome. I've not experienced lockie rage. Fradley is our most regular meet with volunteers and they are polite, helpful and useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Marshall Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I don't know the Lapworth flight (at least I don't think I do) but if the other boat was two locks away and boats following you down it might have been more logical to meet in the next pound along. I suppose it depends on the water levels, which the lockie probably knew more about than you or he boater following. Me, I would have done what I was asked, but then I'm never in a hurry. But perhaps the lockie should have gone up and told the next boat up as well as you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0atman Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 With the Atherton rage that makes 2 on here . I think that the volunteer should report the woman to CRT as she was not to know whether there had been an incident . There is no excuse for bad mouthing a volunteer in this case . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 It does seem the worst place possible to ask you to wait, if i am counting currectly lock 7 is where the towpath changes sides,and the pound below that is really bad to pass in due to the alignment with the lock below. Yes the next few down are short, but they are on a straigher alignment. So I think I would have been questioning the decision to plan to pass there. Certainly not condoning the womans behaviour though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 With the Atherton rage that makes 2 on here . I think that the volunteer should report the woman to CRT as she was not to know whether there had been an incident . There is no excuse for bad mouthing a volunteer in this case . I've got mixed feelings on this. There's no excuse for abusing the CRT volunteer - they are there to help On the other hand, they are there to help, not to run the flight or take responsibility for my boat or actions I like to be helped by volunteers Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bod Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Biddie rage - all too common in the older female! Wonderful!! Bod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta9 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I think that the volunteer should report the woman to CRT as she was not to know whether there had been an incident . Report her for what exactly? Not following the instructions (passed on to her second hand) of someone that doesn't have any authority? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I am always grateful to see a blue jumper in the distance as I'm approaching a lock. Some people seem to have a real issue with them which is strange. Some of the stories i hear about the stick they get makes me embarrassed to be a boater sometimes. They are people, mostly non-boaters, who give up their free time unpaid to come and do their best to help folk like you and me. Yes i appreciate there might be the odd bad apple around the system, but personally I've never found them to be anything other than keen and helpful. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotswoldsman Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) I've got mixed feelings on this. There's no excuse for abusing the CRT volunteer - they are there to help On the other hand, they are there to help, not to run the flight or take responsibility for my boat or actions I like to be helped by volunteers Richard I agree with that. At the Bratch for example they ask a simple question "would you like some help" so a simple yes or no thank you. Now me I will always take the help Edited June 21, 2015 by cotswoldsman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0atman Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Its a no win situation for them they are doing locks where in the past we did them ourselves, but CRT mistakenly think it is good PR. Maybe if instead of doing Locks they offer to assist but primarily educate the Gongoozlers about boating the history and future aims handing out info leaflets that may mention Friends of, but not chugging. However if some one is asked to wait then surely we should respect that . Report her for what exactly? Not following the instructions (passed on to her second hand) of someone that doesn't have any authority?Road accident ahead around bend policeman stops car asks driver to stop any cars what would you do ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterboat Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I am always grateful to see a blue jumper in the distance as I'm approaching a lock. Some people seem to have a real issue with them which is strange. Some of the stories i hear about the stick they get makes me embarrassed to be a boater sometimes. They are people, mostly non-boaters, who give up their free time unpaid to come and do their best to help folk like you and me. Yes i appreciate there might be the odd bad apple around the system, but personally I've never found them to be anything other than keen and helpful. I agree with that. At the Bratch for example they ask a simple question "would you like some help" so a simple yes or no thank you. Now me I will always take the help I agree with both these comments Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta9 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) . Road accident ahead around bend policeman stops car asks driver to stop any cars what would you do ? Hardly comparable. Policeman has authority to stop traffic, vollocky doesn't. Edited June 21, 2015 by Delta9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven wilkinson Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) the scenario mentioned is the cop asking for your help. until his cavalry mates turn up Edited June 21, 2015 by steven wilkinson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Vectis Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) I'm wondering if the OP means Lock 6 (the one with the steel balance beams) rather than Lock 7? It would make sense to be asked to wait here if there was a boat coming up round the corner as passing on the straight pound between Locks 6 & 7 is a lot easier than passing on the bend between 7 & 8. Having said that I have passed a full length boat here but by means of going 'wrong side' and reversing into the side pound. I've no problem with the volokkies at Lapworth, help is always welcome. 'Red Wharf' lives at Kingswood Basin so we use the flight a lot. Edited June 21, 2015 by Victor Vectis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta9 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 the scenario mentioned is the cop asking for your help. until his cavalry mates turn up Which is why it is not comparable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Its a no win situation for them they are doing locks where in the past we did them ourselves, but CRT mistakenly think it is good PR. Maybe if instead of doing Locks they offer to assist but primarily educate the Gongoozlers about boating the history and future aims handing out info leaflets that may mention Friends of, but not chugging. However if some one is asked to wait then surely we should respect that . Road accident ahead around bend policeman stops car asks driver to stop any cars what would you do ? And then you get the posting," I was coming up the flight and he just stood there chatting to people, he didn't lift a finger to help me" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted June 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I'm wondering if the OP means Lock 6 (the one with the steel balance beams) rather than Lock 7? It would make sense to be asked to wait here if there was a boat coming up round the corner as passing on the straight pound between Locks 6 & 7 is a lot easier than passing on the bend between 7 & 8. Having said that I have passed a full length boat here but by means of going 'wrong side' and reversing into the side pound. I've no problem with the volokkies at Lapworth, help is always welcome. 'Red Wharf' lives at Kingswood Basin so we use the flight a lot. You're probably right, I was guessing at the lock number but what you describe is what the lockie was trying to avoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0atman Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Hardly comparable. Policeman has authority to stop traffic, vollocky doesn't.Policeman is dealing with incident and has asked driver of car from that direction and also one driver from other direction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 I must say, I much prefer the volockies to 'just stand there, chatting'. As a single hander I am fully accustomed to doing the locks myself. When someone interferes helps I find it puts me right off my stride and I'm far more inclined to make mistakes, CRT volunteer or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davis Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 the scenario mentioned is the cop asking for your help. until his cavalry mates turn up Been there. Worn the hi-vis. But then I have been trained to do so through another volunteer group I'm a member of. And when they do ignore me and then meet the Police at the incident they get both barrels from the Police!! Any member of the public abusing a volunteer in whatever job they do is unnecessary and should be reported. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0atman Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 well said Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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