Issue 144 Spring 2003 · 1. By renumbering regulation 4 as regulation 4(1) 2. By adding after regulation 4(1) the following regulation to be number 4(2) viz:-The Council of Management

LinkLinkMembers Quarterly Journal - Issue 147 - Winter 2003Members Quarterly Journal - Issue 147 - Winter 2003

PenninePennine

239 Mossley Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, OL6 6LNTel: 0161 339 1332 Fax: 0161 343 2262EMail: [email protected] Website: www.hcanals.demon.co.uk

Administrator - Bob Gough

Huddersfield Canal Society Ltd

HCS Council Members

Neville Kenyon HCS Ltd, 239 Mossley Road, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancs., OL6 6LNChairman Tel: 0161 339 1332

Trevor Ellis 20 Batley Avenue, Marsh, Huddersfield, HD1 4NAVice-Chairman Tel: 01484 534666

Steve Picot HCS Ltd, 239 Mossley Road, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancs., OL6 6LNTreasurer Tel: 0161 339 1332

John Fryer Ramsdens, Freeman & Co., 18 Lewisham Road, Slaithwaite,Company Secretary Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD7 5AL

Jack Carr 19 Sycamore Avenue, Euxton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 6JRWest Side Social Chairman Tel: 01257 265786

Brian Minor 45 Gorton Street, Peel Green, Eccles, Manchester, M30 7LZEditor, Pennine Link Tel: 0161 288 5324 [email protected]

David Finnis Fall Bottom, Oliver Lane, Marsden, Huddersfield, HD7 6BZPress Officer Tel: 01484 847016

Vince Willey 45 Egmont Street, Mossley, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancs., OL5 9NBBoats Officer Tel: 0161 339 1332Allan Knott 64 High Street, Godley, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 2PU

W.Side Boats Co-ordinator Tel: 0161 343 6400David Stubbs 4 Hollowgate, Thurstonland, Huddersfield, HD4 6XY

E.Side Boats Co-ordinator Tel: 01484 667135Alwyn Ogborn 14 Stanhope Street, Mossley, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancs., OL5 9LX

Special Events Co-ordinator Tel: 01457 833329Ken Wright Bridge House, Dobcross, Oldham, Lancashire, OL3 5NL

Minutes Secretary Tel: 01457 873599Keith Gibson Syke Cottage, Scholes Moor Road, Holmfirth, HD9 1SJ

Tel: 01484 681245Keith Noble The Dene, Triangle, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 3EA

Tel: 01422 823562Alec Ramsden 16 Edgemoor Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD7 2HP

Tel: 01484 662246David Sumner 4 Whiteoak Close, Marple, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 6NT

Tel: 0161 449 9084

2 - Pennine Link - Winter 2003

The views expressed in Pennine Link are not necessarily those of Huddersfield Canal Society Ltd

Winter 2003 - Pennine Link - 3

PennineWinter 2003 Issue 147

Link

Editorial 4Chairman’s Report 5Keith’s Disconnected Jottings 7HCS Council News 10HCS Crews News 12The Horseboating Society 29Notice of an EGM 30Canal Crossword - 42 31The Boathorse ‘Tanner’ 37HNC Christmas Prize Quiz 40What the Papers Said 41Obituary - Lincoln Porter 43A Grand Get-Together 44New Membership Card 45‘Canal Mania’ at Museum 46

Front Cover: Julian Morgan’s Highly Commended entryto the 2003 Photographic Competition. Guildford

Boathouse - Wey and Arun Navigation

J M

org

an

Saddleworth Viaduct in Autumn

2003 Photographic Competition 14The Winners, Runners-up and Commendeds arefeatured in our competition results, again providingsome stunning views of the waterways.

The Hollinwood Branch 28Ed Mortimer is heartened by the outline planningpermission at Fairfield Junction, Droylsden,preserving the line of the canal.

The Aelling Trophy 32Society members Keith and Margaret Sykes accountof their adventures in travelling to the 2003 IWANational at Beale Park and winning a trophy!

Standedge Trail Re-launched 38Administrator Bob Gough volunteers for a bit morethan a casual canal-side saunter when he takes aguided walk over Standedge Moor.


EditorialThe news thatNeil Goodier hasstopped runningStaley Rose fromStalybridge is notsurprising, eventhough it is a

sorry event with all the joy that arestored canal has brought.This has been caused by the activities of abunch of local thugs who have made Neil’slife a misery and the job a potential risk tothe public. All of the members who havemanned our trip boats have at one time oranother suffered verbal abuse at best andactual physical attack at the worst. KenWright and I attended the BW Usersmeeting a few weeks ago in the ’businessusers’ part of the meeting. At that meetingJohn Lund, who runs the trip boat atUppermill, was complaining aboutvandalism in that very desirable place (and iftruth be told, John is a big lad - I certainlywouldn’t want to upset him!) and sayingthat some yobs had damaged his boat.

It does seem that on all the local waterwaysthere is this idiot minority who aredetermined to ruin things for everyone else.BW, however, did not seem to recognise theproblem. I apologise in advance if Imisunderstood the answers given to severalconcerned trip operators, but it seemed tome that this potential for anarchy does notseem to be a priority with the Board.(Documents circulated by BW after the UserGroup meeting paraphrased the Questionand Answer session. “Q11 What are BW’splans on preventing the antisocialbehaviour currently on the canal network?And is there an overall strategy in placefor anti social behaviour with localauthorities? BW reply: BW are currentlylooking at resolving issues with community

police officers - a long term plan is currentlyin place, local warden schemes are currentlybeing implemented, BW are also involvedwith local councils with regards to placingCCTV in problem areas. All incidents shouldbe logged with the police and with BW, thiswill build up a record of incidents in aparticular problem area.”)

Afterwards I did hear the comment, fromanother operator, that it isn’t just canals thatare the problem, it is the whole of society.It does seem that mindless idiots areallowed to cause havoc in society all overthe Manchester area and never seem to gettheir just deserts.

We sent 40,000 rugby fans to Australia; theygot drunk and had a marvellous timewithout any reports of damage or violence.So idiocy doesn’t necessarily follow from theconsumption of a few beers. I think thecreation of the thought that ‘little Johnnyneeds a good talking to’ rather than a swiftclip over the ear is leading to the creation ofthis aimless society. A need for discipline inschools and in the home is vital. I realisethat this is all preaching to the converted.As members of the Canal Society, I imagineall our children and grandchildren will havebeen brought up to recognise the linebetween boisterousness and vandalism, buthow do we educate the wayward minorityoutside?

Congratulations to my supposed ‘assistant’Bob Gough who has single handed got thisissue of Plink to bed. I have had a franticfew weeks, working in Leeds for part of theweek, then in Manchester and finally havinga couple of days as guest of the NHS atHope Hospital. (Where they were not ableto prove insanity!!) As a result Bob has hadto sort out all the problems as well asremodel the centre pages (we had acomment that they had been showing thesame pictures for too long).

cont’d on page 6


Chairman’s ReportSince our water-way was restoredto reasonablenavigable status,there has been ageneral feelingthat we should

find canal-side accommodation forour offices.

Our present location near the centre ofAshton under Lyne was ideal during therestoration days when we needed thelarge yard, storage facilities and officespace for half a dozen people or more.We now need simply a small office withsome room for archives and small meet-ings. Council has therefore agreed that weseek a buyer for the offices and land andthis is being currently undertaken.Any member who might wish to investi-gate the possibility of buying this propertyshould contact our Administrator, BobGough who will put interested people intouch with our Agent.

Members will no doubt be interested toread in this and other recent issues ofPennine Link about some of the initiativesbeing introduced by your Society particu-larly those aimed at increasing our mem-bership. We are delighted that Alan Knotthas arranged for a Meet the Council socialevening to be held at Delph on theevening of Thursday 22nd January 2004.This will be a convivial evening wheremembers have the opportunity to meetone another and air their views informallyto members of the Board.

Prior to the social aspects of the eveningthere will be an Extraordinary GeneralMeeting of members to vote on one

resolution.

“That the Articles of Association of theCompany be altered as follows:-

1. By renumbering regulation 4 asregulation 4(1)

2. By adding after regulation 4(1) thefollowing regulation to be number 4(2)viz:-

The Council of Management may fromtime to time appoint any person who intheir opinion has rendered outstandingservices to the Company to be President ofthe Company. The President shall not byvirtue of his office be deemed a memberof the Council of Management or beentitled to any remuneration. Neverthe-less, by invitation of the Council of Man-agement he may attend meetings of theCouncil of Management for the purpose ofgiving advice.”

Many members have felt since his resigna-tion as Chairman, that David Sumnershould be encouraged to continue hisinvolvement with the Society. All agreethat his many years of assiduous cam-paigning in his role as Chairman werelargely responsible for the restorationactually happening. It is thought fitting byCouncil that David should be offered thetitle of President as an acknowledgementof the debt of gratitude that the Societyowes to him.

The position of President will be honoraryand will have no voting rights on Council.The post will be agreed by Council forratification by a general meeting and willbe for a period of three years. The holderof the post may be re-elected at the endof this period.

cont’d over


Because we have never had a Presidentbefore, as there has not previously been acase for appointing one, our Articles ofAssociation have needed to be changedso that we can take this action. This iswhat the EGM is called for – simply toendorse the inclusion in our Articles ofthis new office of President. There will beno other business discussed at the EGMand although we would, as a Council, askfor all members to support the resolution,any dissenters will be given the opportu-nity to express their views.

After the closing of the EGM, it is hopedthat David will be welcomed as our firstSociety President and will be persuadedto say a few words!

Our Society remains in a healthy financialposition and our administration continuesto be handled efficiently by Bob Gough.He is always keen to sign up new mem-bers and has been pleased with theresponse to our latest campaign. The bestsource of new members, however, is byword of mouth from our existing mem-bers. It is down to each one of us topromote membership of the HCS at everyopportunity so that we can ensure thatour work continues for future generations.

On behalf of your Council, I wish all ourreaders a Happy Christmas and a success-ful New Year. I look forward to meeting asmany of you as possible at Delph inJanuary!

Neville Kenyon

I like the picture from the competition onthe cover – even though it is not of ‘our’canal it is a wonderfully atmosphericpicture, bringing back memories of earlystarts on the canal and images graduallytaking shape through morning mist – Great!Bob has also gone over to Sheffield to give atalk over there, has been archiving our slidesincluding putting all the ones I use on a CDas well as doing his ‘day‘ job. Thanks Bob –you can have my salary for this issue as well!

As this is our Xmas issue, can I wish all thesocieties members a very, very happyChristmas and a healthy and prosperousNew Year, trouble free sailing to all the boatcrews, perfect painting to the maintenancegangs, sunny weather for any festivals andvirus free PC’s for all our contributors!

Brian Minor

As a postscript, I would like to pass on thisseasonal advice to all of you who are theheads of at least two generations!

Seasonal Advice toGrandparents

If you can’t be with your grandchildrenat Christmas - you might just have had alucky break.

Try to ignore the urge to put selfaddressed envelopes in the presents foryour grandchildren.

Don’t agonise over presents for teenagedgrandchildren - they only want money.

If you want to buy a present for yourgrandchild that will be appreciated,ignore anything their mother says.

Grandchild’s law:- Grandpa’s not toreason why, Grandpa is to buy and buy.

All parents are amateurs, it’s thegrandparents who are professionals.

Grandfather clocks are so called becausethey are large, dependable and creak alot if you try to move them.

Always pass good advice on to theyounger generation - after all you’re notusing it.

cont’d from page 4


Keith’s Disconnected JottingsA member, light-heartedly I hope,suggests that thiscolumn shouldbe re-titled‘Aimless Jottings’;another member

says that it is ‘essential reading’.Perhaps the first one is right; certainly Irarely try to pull the various paragraphstogether or draw conclusions, and there hasbeen a great deal of news, resulting ininexcusably long articles. But what are theyall about? Let me put my side of the story.Then, maybe you can let the Editor know ifthis is what you want in Pennine Link.

HCS was first and foremost a waterwayrestoration society, and my involvement ina voluntary capacity with the Society was,initially, as Projects Officer and, finally, aschairman of the Society’s restorationcompany which (don’t ever forget it!)restored 27 locks, dredged 6 miles of canal,rebuilt washwalls, repaired 11 miles oftowpaths and carried out the award-winning restoration of the TranshipmentWarehouse.

For many years I have chaired the NorthernCanals Association, where representativesof canal societies and others involved inwaterway restoration in England and Walesnorth of Birmingham meet three times ayear to look at a restoration project anddiscuss issues of mutual interest.

We should not forget our roots as arestoration society and the key role thatHCS played in creating the partnership thateventually saw the Huddersfield NarrowCanal completely re-opened. That is notlooking back nostalgically, but bearing inmind that the Society has the ability to have

a continuing role as a key partner in seeingthat the Pennine Ring of canals is eventuallybrought up to the standard of the Midlandscanal network, both physically and in termsof the facilities for users. Maybe we are notproving to be as effective in that role so faras we were in achieving restoration andthat is a matter of concern, but we will getthere in the end.

To me, however, it is almost equallyimportant that we continue to help otherwaterway restoration societies by freelygiving advice on the basis of our successfulexperience. To do that we need to keep aneye on the restoration picture nationally –hence the format of ‘DisconnectedJottings’, in which my long-standing reportson restoration of ‘our canal’ are replaced byreports on restoration of other waterways.

Maybe readers will let the Editor know ifthis is what they want to see in PennineLink. Do you agree with my thoughts onsome of the Society’s new roles now thatthe canal is open? Do you agree thatinformation about other restorations isrelevant to Pennine Link? Do you want tosee changes – maybe with these items ofnews set out as a series of bullet points like,for instance, similar items in theChesterfield Canals Trust’s journal? Whatdo you want?

‘What do you want?’ brings me to a secondpoint: the plight of the waterways museumsat Stoke Bruerne, Ellesmere Port andGloucester. Taken under the wing of TheWaterways Trust a year or two back, theyhave lost or made redundant key staff, andare struggling to make ends meet. It’s aproblem faced by all special interestmuseums where people involved in thatinterest (you and me included) rarely pay tosee what they know about anyway, thepaying public are increasingly fickle in their


interests and schools arrange fewer visitsexcept those very obviously central to theNational Curriculum.

Digressing (but bear with me, it is relevant),I have been in correspondence with HughPotter, the editor of Waterways World,about what he calls ‘Real Canal Histories’.

There is little money in writing waterwaysbooks; I certainly could not make my livingfrom the royalties from Pennine Dreams,or those I hope to receive from a secondwaterways book that I am writing. Luckily,my main purpose in writing the book wasnot to make money, but to place on recordan accurate version of how theHuddersfield Narrow Canal was restored.

As I extended that aim to telling the story ofthe canal from its inception to the re-opening, it was apparent that there weremajor limitations on what I could includebecause I could not justify the expenseinvolved in carrying out the research. Anopportunity that might be a partial solutionto the two dilemmas – the difficulties ofpaying for the waterways museums andtheir staff, and the cost of carrying outdetailed research on individual waterways –would be for The Waterways Trust to bringtogether important archival material such asthe various waterways Acts of Parliamentand the Minutes of Canal Companies andmake that material available to researchersover the Internet.

Surely the Heritage Lottery Fund could bepersuaded to support the creation andoperation of such an archive that would beof immeasurable help to researchers, andwould help to justify government supportto the waterways museums as centres ofnational archival importance.

More immediately, you too can do your bitto help potential waterways writers toproduce Hugh Potter’s ‘Real CanalHistories’ by buying those that are written!

If you don’t, even committed andenthusiastic publishers like Tempus willlook for more profitable projects;publishing is not a charitable occupation.An unashamed plug for Pennine Dreamswhich, to be fair, is apparently selling wellfor a waterways title. But, no more than10% of HCS members have ordered a copyvia the Society. Have the rest of youbought a copy from your local bookshop,or are you not interested in how you andyour fellow members achieved the miracleof restoring the canal?

Sorry, this is getting unbalanced & definitelyan ‘aimless ramble’; it just niggles me, andother people who write on environmentalsubjects, when the buying public are willingto spend hard-earned cash on books byroyal butlers or books about so-calledcelebrities that sell several hundred timesmore copies than Pennine Dreams in onlya matter of weeks.

There is a serious point to this moan aboutthe iniquities of book sales: unless thoseinvolved in or interested in waterwaysinvest in waterways books, just like thewaterways museums, the future ofwaterways publications will be threatenedand (I may be making the point in amuddled way because I haven’t sorted outmy thoughts on this) the two problems aresomehow related, and, quite likely, linkedto that issue facing all voluntary societiessuch as HCS: where are the thirty and fortyyear olds that once formed the backbone ofour active membership?

Enough of this special pleading. Whatnews is there? Well, this time, you mightnot be surprised that now that the impetusof the Millennium schemes has died down,and the various likely successors in theBritish Waterways’ cannon of approvedprojects have begun the process towardsgaining funds towards restoration, there islittle to actually report.


First and foremost, on 10 October, theLichfield & Hatherton Canals Trustcelebrated the completion of the aqueducton the Lichfield Canal over the new M6Toll motorway – an important first in theannals of waterway restoration byvolunteers in raising the huge sumsrequired for this project and the associatedcrossings by the Hatherton Canal under themotorway at Churchbridge. This is anamazing achievement by volunteers thatreminds me of the zeal displayed by HCS inan earlier period.

The Trust are building on the success andhave been offered over €€m Europeanmoney towards reinstating a bridge atCappers Lane, that being the first blockageon the Lichfield Canal up from HuddlesfordJunction where the derelict canal connectsto the Coventry Canal. Don’t look for theLichfield Canal on your waterways map bythe way; it’s the name used by the Trust forwhat was the Wyrley & Essington Canal, nodoubt for very good reasons of publicisingtheir aims of restoration.

Secondly, the Cotswold Canals partnershipis submitting a bid to the Heritage LotteryFund to restore the 7 miles of theStroudwater Navigation and the first twomiles of the Thames & Severn Canal fromStroud to Brimscombe Port, with a likelytotal cost of around €40m. Stroud DistrictCouncil has set the funding ball rolling byoffering up to €2.25m, and The WaterwaysTrust has launched a public appeal to raise€750,000 of matching funding to supportthe bid. (Write to The Waterways Trust,FREEPOST NWW8200A, Ellesmere Port).

Further east on the Thames & Severn, bythe time you read this, the new canalbridge carrying the Western Spine Road ofthe Cotswold Water Park over the canalshould be finished.

Finally, progress continues to be made inbuilding the case for restoration of ourneighbour waterway, the Manchester,Bolton & Bury Canal, where BritishWaterways have spent €500,000, of which€350,000 came from the North WestDevelopment Agency on feasibility studiesof restoring the canal. More interesting still,these show that restoration of the canal willcost about €36m, and will be likely to resultin the creation of as many as 10,000 newjobs – which British Waterways compares tothe 6,000 likely from restoration of theRochdale Canal and 2,000 likely from therestoration of the Huddersfield NarrowCanal. The figure for the HuddersfieldNarrow roughly compares to the numbersthat Coopers & Lybrand predicted in theirreport for HCS back in 1994, but I’m notclear where the figures from the RochdaleCanal come from. They do, however,demonstrate how waterway restoration isbeing funded today.

The benefits that justify big public spendingare not those that waterways enthusiastsmay consider to be reasons for restoration,but benefits of a different kind altogether.We have long said that restoring derelictwaterways would be a huge benefit to theirriparian communities; the truth of that isslowly emerging, and should benefit manymore waterways eventually.

Our friends in the Chesterfield Canal Trustand the Barnsley, Dearne and Dove CanalsTrust could benefit if only Yorkshire Forwardwould follow the lead set by the NorthWest Development Agency on theManchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (and alsoon the Northern Reaches of the LancasterCanal), or by Advantage West Midlands infunding the restoration of the DroitwichCanals.

Keith Gibson


HCS Council NewsSince the last issue of Pennine Link thenew ‘management system’ has been goingthrough its teething stages and is now upand running. ‘Boats‘ and ‘Management’groups are in full swing, ‘Promotions’ isgetting to grips with quite a list of ideasand ‘Volunteers’ are waiting to pick upspeed following the national re-organisa-tion of British Waterways (BW). We areset fair for a lot more years of canalactivity.

17th September 2003

British Waterways have now taken overthe running of the Transhipment Ware-house at Dobcross. The only regular usersnow are two art classes. BW are to restrict“one-off” bookings to ‘community’events. The Society retains free use of thebuilding for meetings. Recent develop-ments suggest that BW are reviewing theposition on all their canalside property.The future of the Warehouse will bedebated, though the Society will beinvolved through my presence at theirmeetings.

We continue to give ‘talks’ to outsidegroups. The poor state of existing projec-tion equipment was discussed and it wasagreed to investigate (with an approvedbudget) the replacement by computerisedequipment which will also enable us tostart producing proper archives from ourslide collection. A CD of canal imagescould be a spin-off.

The volunteer award scheme was dis-cussed and led to a possible “meet theChairman and Council” informal eveningbeing investigated.

The Chairman presented the new, fullcolour membership leaflet to Council withits acrylic dispenser. Locations for displaywere suggested.

Membership fees to remain unchanged.

We have two main activities; running thetrip boats and maintaining the canal andwe still need a ‘mission statement’.

There was a discussion on the future ofthe Society’s office building in relation toproposed residential development on thederelict mill site next door. Some possibili-ties were emerging – hopefully for thenext meeting.

The Society’s financial situation remainshealthy although, like everywhere, thevalue of investments has fallen somewhat.We are not over-committed on expendi-ture – for instance there is no longer arequirement for a new trip boat atMarsden. We must guard against profli-gacy jeopardising the Society’s long-termfuture.

The Volunteer Group have met with BW’sWest Side supervisor and agreed an initialwork schedule. A longer term one ispromised. Still no contact with the newBW regime on the East Side. No detailsfor bridge plate fixing although consider-able numbers now in stock.

Requests for sponsorship would betreated on their merits. Society to under-write prize money for the Pennine LinkPhotographic Competition as entry feesdo not cover the costs.

Brian Minor reported on our attendanceat IWA National Festival. Good publicrelations exercise. We need new publicitymaterial and to give thought to how far


we need go now to keep HNC in thenational picture.

We have asked BW (again) for urgentdredging on the Ashton and Peak Forestcanals (for our trip boat). Not much hopeof an early solution. (See Allan Knott’scorrespondence on page 12).

Our dredger is out of the water in Mossleyand apparently not considered worthrestoring. Situation to be investigated.

22nd October, 2003

Awaiting final quotes for new digitalpresentation equipment. A slide scannerand digital projector have been sourcedand an initial scan of some 80 slidescompleted. These are currently beingassembled into a presentation by BrianMinor who has given a number of talksrecently.

Dredger apparently excellent hull butengine too noisy. Didn’t seem to justifyscrapping it. Dredger with tug and mudhopper (as a work boat) essential for ourwork on maintenance. More investigationrequired.

The Promotions Group was urged tomake progress with the list of items ontheir agenda.

No final news on the position regardingthe Ashton office. Hoped to be resolvedby December. Council has agreed that weseek a buyer for the offices and land andthis is being currently undertaken - see theChairman’s Report for details.

Our financial situation remains healthy,although our Treasurer recommended thesale and re-investment of certain fundswhich were under-performing.

Our ‘car boot sale’ via Pennine Link hasresulted in the TV and video and coffeemachine being sold quickly. Land Roverstill on offer. The Land Rover was sold onthe 31st October, one of the four sealedbids exceeding the reserve price.

Agreed new printers for Pennine Linkfollowing some difficulties with currentcompany.

Volunteers still lock painting. All locks onWest Side with conventional paint systemnow done. Some confusion over bridgeplates – there are some MillenniumCommission plates to fix as well. Meetingnew East Side supervisor soon. Teams tobe enlarged – by advertisement in Pen-nine Link – when work programmes areto hand. Weekday teams for retiredworkers to be considered.

Boats Group had an excellent season andwere able to produce a financial state-ment for the first time. The ‘Chairmanand Council’ gathering mentioned at thelast meeting was set for Thursday 22nd

January, 2004 at the Delph Band Club,Saddleworth. Hopefully we will see ournew presentation equipment in full flight.Council gave Allan Knott and the BoatGroup a special vote of thanks for anexcellent year’s work.

The first BW User Group under the newmanagement team was to be on 13th

November. Split into afternoon (businessusers) and evening (general users). Wehave special permission to attend bothsessions as we come into both categories.

It was reported that otters have been seenin the canal in the Mossley andSlaithwaite areas.

Ken Wright


HCS Crews NewsIn the last editionof Pennine Link,we published apicture (below) ofdebris which hadbeen collectedaround the propel-ler of trip boat StillWaters. As we

have had to have the tug craned out noless than seven times this year, when ithas been impossible to clear the ‘prop’through the weed hatch, I felt it was timeto write to BW about the state of thewaterway. Here is a copy of the corre-spondence, which is self-explanatory.

Mr Mike MarshallSouth Pennine RingBritish Waterways

19th September 2003

Dear Mr Marshall

ASHTON & PEAK FOREST CANALS -DREDGING

I write as Boat Crew Co-ordinator (WestSide) of the public tripboat ‘Still Waters’,moored and operatedfrom Portland Basin.The boat is owned bythe Tameside CanalsBoat Trust and crewedby volunteer membersof the HuddersfieldCanal Society.

The boat has now beenoperating at Ashton-under-Lyne for 2 years,during which time wehave experienced

serious fouling-up problems around thepropeller, due to silting up and rubbishbeing dumped into the canal, particularlyat bridge holes.

Last winter, work was done to reduce thedraught, but it still draws 3 feet of waterand literally scrapes the bottom of virtuallyevery bridge hole of the Lower Peak ForestCanal and the Ashton Canal within theboundaries of Ashton.

On a number of occasions this year, thepropeller has seized completely due topicking up bicycles, tyres, mattresses andthe more common plastic bags and wire.When this has occurred, the boat has hadto be bow-hauled back to Portland BasinMarina where a lift-out could be arrangedfor the propeller to be freed.

As most of our volunteer crew are be-tween 50 - 70 years, it is with consider-able difficulty that the 25 tonne boat isreturned to base with many aches andpains being suffered by the crew, not tomention the public embarrassment beforeall the passengers.

Alla

n K

nott


Whilst as members of HCS our mainconcern is with the Huddersfield NarrowCanal, the Ashton and Lower Peak Forestcanals are nevertheless the gateway to theHuddersfield Narrow Canal and as you areaware, Portland Basin is a real focal pointof canals in the Tameside area.

I therefore request on behalf of the Trustand HCS that urgent and serious consid-eration be given to the dredging of canalsmentioned so that we can truly help thewider public to appreciate the beauty andtranquillity that canals offer. At present,our boat cannot even cruise further thanHyde due to serious silting up betweenManchester Road and Captain Clarkesbridge at Woodend Lane. We are there-fore severely restricted as to the length oftrips we can offer.

We are grateful for the work that BritishWaterways is doing to constantly improvethe waterways but ask that this problembe addressed at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Allan C KnottHCS Director and Trustee of TCBT

..and in reply ..

3rd October 2003

Dear Mr Knott,

Thank you for your letter dated 19th

September 2003 regarding the dredging ofthe Ashton and Peak Forest Canals.

I can confirm that a depth survey has nowbeen completed along the Lower PeakForest and Ashton Canals to clearlyestablish the problem areas.

We are aware of the importance of theroutes to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal,but it is clear that major investment will berequired to carry out any dredging worksin these areas. This work therefore willneed to be considered against our otherpriorities at this time.

Yours faithfully,

Jane ThomsonCustomer Operations Manager

We shall wait and see if 2004’s cruisingseason is a less bumpy ride!

Allan Knott

Many Canal Society members who knewhim will be saddened to learn of thedeath of Roger Anderson, Tameside’sAssistant Chief Executive (StrategicProjects). He passed away peacefully onOctober 11th at Willow Wood Hospiceafter a tenacious battle against cancer.

As Acting Project Director for theMillenium restoration project he played acrucial part in securing the funds requiredfor the final push for through restoration.I took over from him as the Project

Director for the fledgling HuddersfieldCanal Company in Summer 1997 andwas immediately impressed by his graspof the organizational needs of the partner-ship and his astute handling of the politi-cal issues.

Right up to the end Roger was in the thickof the action working on behalf of theNorth West Regional Assembly to developthe Northern European Trade Accesscorridor from Ireland across the Penninesto Hull, Poland and beyond. All of us atTameside have lost a valued colleagueand an inspiration.

Alan Stopher

Obituary - Roger Anderson


2003 Photographic Competition - ResultsThe number of entries this year has been a bitdisappointing: 82 photographs from 13members compared with 95 and 18 last year –and only one single entry in the JuniorSection. If we are doing something wrong, letus know!

Judge Geoff Hope says:- “Once more I havethe pleasure of looking at the picturesproduced by the members and as usual I haveto report that the quality of the entries is, asever, getting better every year.

However in this age when Photography is moreaccessible and cheaper than ever before it is apity that only 13 members submitted theirphotographs for other members to enjoy.

If ever there was another hobby to link to ourmutual love of the canals and the countrysidethey pass through, then surely it isphotography.

Added to this only one Junior sent in an entry.Surely you all don’t want to become DavidBeckham or be a member of a girl Group, andyou all know there is more to life than sittinglooking at a PC screen. Get out there and showus what you can do.

As usual I have added a comment on all the 82entries and in each case I have tried to beconstructive if I think it will help you in makingbetter future pictures, although I am happy toadmit to wishing I had taken some of theseoutstanding photographs myself.

I will be happy to discuss any photographicquery or programme with any of our readers; ifthis is your wish, just contact the office or KenWright.”

RESULTS

CATEGORY ‘A’ – HNC Senior

WINNERDenis M. Broadbent, Huddersfield“Tunnel End with train”

RUNNER-UP

Alan Crosby, Ashton-u-Lyne“A Centre View”, Tunnel End

Commended: Julian Morgan

CATEGORY ‘B’ – HNC – Junior

WINNER

Richard Jones (10), Huddersfield“Standedge Visitor Centre”

CATEGORY ‘C’ – Other Waterways – Senior

WINNER, OVERALL WINNER,CHALLENGE SHIELD WINNER:

Julian Morgan, Guildford“Strepy – Thieu canal lift, Belgium”

RUNNER-UP

Alan Crosby, Ashton-u-Lyne“A Sunny Morn”, High Peak Canal

Highly Commended: Julian Morgan

Commended: Anita Crosby, Chris Nugent

Overall winner, Life Member Julian Morgan,has won for the second year in succession. Hewill receive the Challenge Shield for one year,a replica to keep, a signed certificate and thebinoculars kindly donated by memberAnthony Carter of Arcade Photo Services,Imperial Arcade, Huddersfield. The otherwinners will receive a cash prize of €30 andthe runners-up a cash prize of €20, and all willalso get, along with the “commendeds”, asigned certificate. Richard Jones, the bestJunior, will also receive a Boots Token for€10, the Judges’ Prize, awarded by judgeGeoff Hope.

Once again my thanks to all of you who tookthe trouble to enter this year. For the rest ofyou, bear in mind Geoff’s comments aboutphotography being cheaper than ever beforeand get those digits clicking those digitals!

Ken Wright

Winter 2

00

3 - P

ennine Link - 15

Denis Broadbent - Winner - Category AA superb ‘Tunnel End’ picture that says it all. Waiting for the train gives this shot an extra bonus. Very good attempt.


Richard Jones - Winner - Category BA very good picture of Tunnel End with plenty of interest. The viewers eyes are taken straight to the building which is perfectlyplaced in the frame. The colours and reflections are very realistic. Very good effort.


Julian Morgan - Winner - Category C and Overall WinnerA very dramatic picture of this super construction. Your composition is excellent; the towpath on the left contrasts in colour tothe lift and at the same time leads the viewer up to this imposing feature. The exposure is perfect and the pin-sharp resultsuggests it would enlarge forever. First class work.


Alan Crosby - Runner up - Category AA well seen and taken shot. Using the window pane to ‘frame’ the picture is clever and effective. A 2cm trim around the borderof your picture improves it still more as it concentrates the viewer’s eye on the main subject.

Winter 2

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3 - P

ennine Link - 19

Alan Crosby - Runner up - Category CAnother super picture. The almost ethereal lighting is magic. That famous old French photographer Cartier Bressonsaid there was a decisive ‘moment’ when to take a picture and you certainly have - I wish I had taken it!


...and the Commendeds

Above: Julian Morgan - Diggle Portal, October 2003Above Facing: Anita Crosby - Great Expectations, Rochdale CanalBelow facing: Chris Nugent - A whole new meaning to a butty! Staffs & Worcester Canal


The Huddersfield Narrow Canal

The new video, ‘The ImpossibleDream’, is available from theSociety offices, price €10.99 plus€1.95 p+p.

This video, commissioned by theHuddersfield Canal Company, tellsthe story of the completerestoration of the HuddersfieldNarrow Canal, from an idea byenthusiasts in the early 1970’s,through to the official re-openingby HRH the Prince of Wales, inSeptember 2001.

Running time: 56 mins

The original 1992video commisionedby the Canal Society.Copies are availablefrom the Societyoffices, price €10.99plus €1.95 p+p.Please make cheques payable to ‘Loxvend Ltd’

HCS Videos


Tameside Festival 1999

The Hollinwood BranchFor those of you wondering what is thenews on the Hollinwood Branch, here isthe latest from our Society member, EdMortimer.

The idea of re-opening the HollinwoodBranch and building a new link to theRochdale Canal continues to have a life ofits own. Various versions of the originalarticle first printed in Pennine Link (Spring2003) have now, with permission, ap-peared elsewhere. This has included‘Navvies’ and ‘Canal Boat and InlandWaterways’ magazines.

All this exposure in the various canalmagazines has generated a lot of positiveinterest and letters. Whether it would getthe same positive response in the localDroylsden press could be another matter.I imagine you could get ‘the canal isdangerous, breeds rats, and children anddogs can drown in it’ response as well aspositive comments.

However, what next? Partnerships,particularly within the local councils andcommunities, I feel will be very impor-tant. There seems little point in trying tofight against Oldhan Council if, forexample, they were opposed to restoringthe canal in Daisy Nook.

Anyway, as Pennine Link seems to be readin all the right places, even OldhamCountryside Service are aware of the idea,

and having spoken with them, theyactually sounded interested in thescheme.

If there is positive support - and maybeeven the possibility of something morefrom Oldham Council - I feel it will be thetime for a formal group to be set up. Andthen, who knows, 28 years later even theHollinwood Branch might be re-opened.

And on another positive note, at FairfieldJunction in Droylsden, outline planningpermission has been approved whichincludes keeping the line of the canal.The canal will probably be re-openedfrom the Junction up to the existingAshton New Road Bridge and used formoorings and a small marina. I believewe have British Waterways to thank inpart for recommending the route shouldbe retained in their submission to thisplanning application.

The biggest single cost of re-opening theHollinwood Branch is likely to be buyingtwo aqueducts to cross the M60 motor-way. So it was encouraging to see howthe Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restora-tion Trust has just managed to be thecatalyst to raise the funds for buying theone they need.

One day, I would love to send an order toRowecord Engineering for “two morecanal aqueducts, please!”

Ed Mortimer

Jan

ette

Hor

ton

Installing the new aqueductfor the Lichfield Canal overthe M6 Toll motorway


The Horseboating SocietyFounder Sue Day, reflects on the origins ofthe Society and their travels on the networksince formation.

The Horseboating Society (HBS) was formedin 2001 after my horsedrawn journey fromManchester to London in the Millenniumyear. It now has about 120 members,mostly individuals, but including variousorganisations. The HBS owns neither horsesor boats. It aims to promote the activity ofhorseboating by the existing six horsedrawnpassenger tripboats and by members whoundertake longer journeys with boats kindlylent to us for that purpose. Horsepower isusually provided by myself, Sue Day, anHCS member.

Most of our journeys so far have involvedthe horseboat ‘Maria’, Britain’s oldestsurviving wooden narrowboat, built in 1845.She became the first boat to navigate theHuddersfield Narrow Canal after it was re-opened in 2001. Keith Gibson credits thisin his book ‘Pennine Dreams’ butunfortunately states that the boat belongedto the Wooden Canal Boat Society (WCBS).This, however, is not correct. The boat isowned by the Ashton Packet Boat Companywhich restored her in 1977-8, then ran heras a horsedrawn passengerboat for 21 yearsuntil 1999. She was kindly loaned to me formy 310 mile journey to London in 2000.Since then, the HBS has undertaken areturn passage of the Huddersfield NarrowCanal with ‘Maria’ each year, horsedrawnby Bonny or Queenie. In her 150th year wehope for much celebrations in 2004.

I shall againapply forpermission forthe HBS to leg‘Maria’ throughStandedgeTunnel.

Other projects haveinvolved different boats. Less successfuljourneys in 2001 were the attempts to get‘Olive’, owned by Ed Mortimer ofStalybridge, and ‘Lilith’, owned by theWCBS, to Huddersfield. ‘Olive’ stuck inLock 22W, and ‘Lilith’ completed theStandedge Tunnel passage quite easily, onlyto get stuck repeatedly on the Marsdenflight (42E, 41E) finally failing to come out ofLock 32E. Although a horseboat, ‘Lilith’ isusually paired with the motor ‘Forget MeNot’, also owned by the WCBS.

Fortunately in 2002, we made a successfuljourney around the South Pennine Ring with‘Elland’, a 60’ iron narrowboat built circa1840, owned by David & Margaret Poole ofScarborough. ‘Elland’ and ‘Maria’ attendedthe Aquafest festival in Manchester byboating through the Commonwealth Gamessite, then went on to the IWA NationalFestival on the Huddersfield Broad.

Many of you kindly ask about myboathorses. Bonny (brown/bay) andQueenie (black) are both well. They havepulled ‘Sarah Siddons’, the horsedrawntripboat on the Rochdale Canal at HebdenBridge, giving thousands of passengers muchdelight this summer of 2003. Also they took‘Maria’ from Ashton to Huddersfield andreturn. However, sadly, I have to report theloss of Tanner (white/grey) at the old age of28, on November 10, 2003. A separatearticle remembers his links to the

Huddersfield Canal Society (see page 37).

Sue Day


Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting

Huddersfield Canal Society Limited

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting ofthe above Company will be held at Delph Band Club, Lawton Square,Delph, Oldham, Lancashire at 7.30pm on the 22nd day of January,2004 for the purpose of considering and (if thought fit) passing thefollowing Resolution which will be proposed as a Special ResolutionViz:-

“That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered as follows:-

1. By renumbering regulation 4 as regulation 4(1)

2. By adding after regulation 4(1) the following regulation to benumber 4(2) viz:- The Council of Management may from time to timeappoint any person who in their opinion has rendered outstandingservices to the Company to be President of the Company. The Presi-dent shall not by virtue of his office be deemed a member of the Coun-cil of Management or be entitiled to any remuneration. Nevertheless,by invitation of the Council of Management he may attend meetings ofthe Council of Management for the purpose of giving advice.”

DATED the 30th day of October, 2003

By Order of the Board

Secretary

Note:

Any Member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at the above Meeting mayappoint a proxy to attend and vote in his or her place. A proxy must be a member ofthe Company. A proxy form is enclosed.


Canal Crossword - 42

Across4 Dried grass available in great weightbelow Retford on the Chesterfield canal(6)9 Basin at the head of the Erewash canal- with a mill (7)10 In short a partner of Lee - fluviallyspeaking (5)11 Irish River which gave it’s name to afamous battle (5)12 First flight of locks on the GU leavingBrentford (7)13 Take grain here for preparation on theRiver Stort near Harlow? (7,4)18 Village alongside the Ouse aboveSelby (7)20 At a flash lock it is essential to trim ‘erright (5)

22 A link might be the clue tothis essential extra to ananchor (5)23 Fluvial element to theCaldon canal (7)24 District of Leicester wherethe Wreake joins the Soar (6)

Down1 Mill on an Isle by aboatyard on the Soar (6)2 Lock on the Thames with anosey keeper! (5)3 Rewardingly lost a yard onthe Mon & Brec canal (7)5 Ann so regretted the closureof a branch of the formerBentley canal (5)6 M1 Service area built above

the Nottingham canal (7)7 Towpath weed with a sting? (6)8 Where the Trent & Mersey leaves theRiver Trent (7,4)14 Acts on a hunch to visit a district ofManchester? (7)15 First opportunity for a rise aboveWrenbury on the Llangollen (7)16 Essential building blocks (6)17 Unique set of locks on the Staffs &Worcs (6)19 Unfashionably lost a basinful of waterat a south Oxford canal bridge, wharf andlock (5)21 Famous Telford bridge - many milesfrom Maine (5)

Solution on Page 40


The Aelling Trophy

And here is Keith & Margaret’s accountand photos of their Trophy winningadventures:

It all started with our helping with theHCS trip boat “Marsden Shuttle” at the2002 IWA Festival in Huddersfield, forwhilst we had been occasional day visitorsby car to such events in the past we nowrealised that there was more to them thanthe day visitor sees.

Also at Huddersfield we came upon theIWA London branch stall that was pro-moting the “Three Mills Rally” in the eastend of London at the end of July 2003.

It had been our intention to go to Londonand the Thames again in 2003 and whilst

previously we had gone straight downfrom Birmingham to London and ven-tured no further east than Little Venice wedecided to book ourselves in for both therally and festival at Beale Park on theThames.

We didn’t know what adventures it wouldproduce, all memorable for one reason oranother and with no intention at the timeof putting our names forward for anytrophy.

The 5th July saw us leaving Braunston andafter five days, on reaching the summit ofthe Grand Union at Marsworth, wedecided to venture down the first 1 mileof the Wendover Arm, where efforts arebeing made for its whole length to be

IWA National Festival - Beale Park 2003, Winners of the Aelling Trophy:HCS members Keith and Margaret Sykes, nb “Morning Mist”

The Aelling Trophy – Awarded to the skipper attending a national Festival for the first timemaking the most enterprising and meritorious journey to the Festival during the qualifying period(any continuous 28 day period from 1st July to the Festival opening day)

R G

ough


restored through to Wendoveritself. A nice morning experi-ence for an hour or so feelingwe were doing our bit to keepwhat had been restored open.

A few days later, on what wasnow becoming one of thehottest days of the year, foundus at Uxbridge, and notwanting to arrive in centralLondon during the late after-noon we had a full day tocomplete 2 locks and 6 miles to BullsBridge. The Slough arm beckoned anddespite hearing tales of it being full ofrubbish we decided to venture forth.

The guide books show it being more orless a straight line for 5 miles throughurban London, however we found it adelightful green corridor with water liliesgrowing either side of a clear narrowchannel, a warm welcome as we passedwhat must have been half a mile ofdouble berthed narrowboats to end up ina basin surrounded by the yard of abuilders merchants in a quiet part ofSlough. We found shade under a tree,had a long lunch and returned fromwhence we came, Cowley Peacheyjunction. Despite all the dire tales wepicked up only one piece of rubbish aswe turned in the end basin.

On then early Monday morning into LittleVenice and the next day our adventureson new waters took us along the RegentsCanal past Camden and down throughthe real East End to Limehouse basin andthe new “Docklands”.

Over the next two weeks we completedthe Lee and Stort Navigations. The Leenorth of Waltham Abbey, one day fromLimehouse, becomes a wildlife paradisewith its reclaimed gravel pits now water

filled and declared a nature reserve thatgoes on for at least 10 miles. Access isprovided for all, some pits used for watersports, others for fishing and some just leftto nature – all with interconnecting cycleand pathways.

We then found ourselves back in the EastEnd at Bromley by Bow (that of Bow Bellsfame) for the Three Mills Rally, and this iswhere the “meritorious bit” comes in forwhat we hadn’t earlier realised was thatthis is a campaigning rally where wefound on offer: Saturday trips up theChannelsea River, along the Bow BackRivers and on the Sunday down BowCreek and onto the tidal Thames to goaround the Isle of Dogs, up past Green-wich and back into the safety of thecanals at Limehouse.

Emerging from the Wendover Arm

The Slough Arm - among the greenery at the Slough Basin


When a say a trip I don’t meanon a trip boat but in convoy inone’s own narrowboat. Wesigned up for all.

The Saturday was a verysedate affair; in the morninggoing out through Bow Locksand turning upstream for aventure on the tidalChannelsea River and finishingwith a twirl at high tide in theThree Mills Basin for thedelight of the visitors to theRally (and ourselves) beforereturning to the Lee.

The afternoon had us seeking,again in convoy, the Bow BackRivers, under low bridges,along high walls till we re-emerged an hour later on tothe Lee Navigation below OldFord Locks.

Sunday was to turn out to be avery different experience. Itstarted with a safety briefing byRoger Squires, chairman of theIWA London Region. Therewere to be three convoys of 4or 5 boats each and we werein the last convoy through BowLocks following Roger on thefirst of our boats out of thelock. As we emerged the firstproblem arose. We cameacross a boat from the previ-ous convoy scooping weedfrom around their prop. As thetide was coming in Roger tookthem in tow and we foundourselves now leading ourconvoy out onto the Thames.

Channelsea River with views old and new

Twirling in the Tidal Three Mills Basin

Entering Bow Back River


We had his map showingwhich side to pass the buoys,moored boats and otherobstacles to watch out for.Advice had been given aboutturning into the wash ofpassing boats and how togenerally conduct ourselves onthe river, but when in the leadit’s difficult to follow theexample of others. We hadbeen told to proceed at canalspeed so with the throttle setat 1200 revs, our normal canal3 mph, with the tide slightly inour favour as it was nownearing high tide, we passedGreenwich.

Still in the lead we reachedCanary Wharf but by now thewind was directly against usmaking waves and with thenumber of trip and speedboatsincreasing making uncomfort-able wash. With theLimehouse lock now in sight adecision was made to “go forit”, throttle up to 2,000 revs (6mph on rivers) we set off forthe basin entrance a mile away.Just before we got there thefinal “coup de grace” as twohigh speed gin palaces werenoticed coming quickly upfrom behind making waves tomatch their size. We turnedinto their wake, rode it out andthen made an even quickerdash for the entrance basin.

By now it was high tide, waterwas sloshing about, the lockwas open (aren’t mobile phones wonder-ful) and we made it without touching thesides and waited, relieved at our safe

deliverance, for the rest of our convoy toarrive.

View of the Dome from Bow Creek

Approaching Greenwich Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark

Choppy sea for ‘Celia’ behind us


A boater’s dream or claustrophobe’s nightmare?

We had some friends on boardwho had stayed in the frontwell throughout and theircomment was “what a marvel-lous experience” and with nota drop of water splashing intothe well deck! It hadn’tseemed so from the back.

The next day with thosefriends we took Morning Mistback for a well deserved rest atLittle Venice with RogerSquires’ words ringing in ourears “You’ll never get it anyrougher than that.”

Two weeks later we returnedto Limehouse, met up withRoger and ventured yet againonto the Thames. At 9am on aSunday morning, before thetrip boats were about, and thistime turning right, second inthe convey we went calmly upunder Tower Bridge to theIWA festival at Beale Park.

Keith and Margaret Sykes

Approaching safety at Limehouse

All safely in at Limehouse Lock


Boathorse ‘Tanner’Sue Day remembers her recently deceasedboathorse ‘Tanner’.

It was my horse Tanner who came to therescue of the Huddersfield Canal Society on afew occasions when the motorboat BenjaminOutram broke down. The most important ofthese was in 1989. Tanner and the boat madethe inaugural public journey down the newlyrestored section between Lock 42E atMarsden and Lock 29E at West Slaithwaite.This was the first legal, public passagefollowing the 1988 ‘Paving Bill’ which reversedthe 1944 Closure Act. To quote from the July1989 Waterways World Magazine, “to thedelight of the (Kingdom Tours) study courseparticipants, diesel engine malfunctionnecessitated a change in plans with emergencyalternative power being provided by Sue Day’shorse Tanner.”

Tanner, for many years, featured in the videoshown at the Tunnel End Canal andCountryside Centre, Marsden. The video‘Pennine Passage’ produced by the MikronTheatre Company showed Tanner pulling aboat, then following Boat Lane, the horseboatroute over the top of Standedge. TV filmingincluded ‘The First of the Summer Wine’ (not‘The Last …’) where he pulled a boat out ofLock 39 at Warehouse Hill about eight timesfor various ‘takes’ (trains or chimney smoke

etc spoilt some takes).

He worked on the Rochdale Canal pulling‘Sarah Siddons’, the horsedrawn passengerboat at Hebden Bridge, from 1987. In thisfirst season, much publicity was generated onTV and radio as well as newspapers andmagazines. He pulled the boat as far as theplying limits then allowed - to Brearley and toTodmorden - before the cruises were limitedto the popular Wallileys Clog Factory or CallisMill destinations.

Tanner’s last pull of a boat was in 2000, whenhe started ‘Maria’ on her journey fromManchester to London. He then let theyounger horses take over, but he continued toattend canal events where he could pose as amuch loved star. He attended IWA Nationalsat Castlefield (1989), Chester (1985) andHuddersfield (2002). He is sorely missed,above all else, for his gentle, kind nature.

Jet, my dog, who walked well over a thousandmiles with me and the boathorses, also diedthis year on May 8th. His funeral was shownon TV, as Tanner pulled him for his last ride ona horsedrawn dray at Rossendale PetCrematorium.

Two wonderful friends are gone. I wish theylasted as long as boats!

Sue Day

Fran

k S

mit

h

To the rescue ... Tanner pulling the ‘Benjamin Outram’ whenthe engine failed. Kingdom Tours cruise - 30th April 1989


The Standedge Trail - Re-launchedAs mentioned in the last Issue, the newlyre-launched Standedge Trail leaflet was putthrough its paces on Sunday 2nd

November with a 10 milecircular walk. Your intrepidAdministrator felt he shouldshow willing and give someimpressions for Pennine Link.

Sunday morningdawned somewhatinauspiciouslywith heavy cloudand light rain.Driving throughStandedge Cuttingand over the moorsto Marsden, (the start of the walk)low cloud hung like fog. I wonderedif this was such a good idea. Ourgroup of nine assembled at the revisedstart, St Bartholomew’s Church,Towngate; the clouds parted, sun shonethrough, I was loaned a more suitablewalking jacket and my spirits lifted.

Malcolm and his wife, Margaret, from theKirklees Countryside Volunteers, led thewalk and we set off up Old Mount Road.This initial climb certainly got theheart going, though occasionalhalts gave time to recover

and localpoints of interest

were elucidated. As weclimbed further toward the top of themoors, the rain began to fall and the windblew steadily, head on. Margaret assuredus that this was nothing compared to theoriginal launch of the Trail in the mid 80’swhen they walked in ice, snow and gales!

It was amazing how quickly the brooksand streams leapt into life.And how quickly the pathsbecame water-logged. Unfor-tunately, much of the scenicsplendour was lost in a combi-nation of poor visibility andgenerally keeping your headdown against the wind andrain, and concentrating onwhere you were walking.

Pausing in a small cutting atCabe Whams, Malcolmsuggested heading for acottage under renovation, just

Images: R Gough

Old Mount Road


beyond Clough Reservoir, asbetter shelter and a break forrefreshment. Typically, thewind dropped and rainstopped just as we reached thecottage!

We descended to Diggle alongBoat Lane and reached DigglePortal where the Narrow canalenters Standedge Tunnel. Ourroute back on to StandedgeMoor followed other Rights ofWay, rather than the Trail’ssuggestion (the advantage ofknowledgeable guides) andwas generally more direct.Rejoining the Trail, the route passed theimpressive Redbrook Engine House,restored by the Society’s Restorationsubsidiary in 1994, and the ventilationshafts on Pule Hill. The route, continuingparallel to the present day A62, makes fora more pleasant walk and though the Trailsuggests using Dark Lane to reach WatersLane and Marsden, we used the A62 towalk along Ainsley Lane and thence toTunnel End. The canal towpath toMarsden Station was in serene contrast toour previous exertions and after almost sixhours walking, we returned to StBartholomew’s.

This walk was part of ‘Wild about Kirklees- Countryside Walks and Activities’program and was described as ‘Hard’. Inthe program, ‘Hard’ is defined as ‘Quitestrenuous. May be long or fairly short butwill involve hills, perhaps steep, and the

The Standedge Trail is an excellent guide to walking some of the early transportroutes across Standedge Moor. Opening out to A2 size, the detailed map is backedby a stage by stage text-based guide with detailed historical information at keypoints along the route. The Trail is available at a cost of €1.30 from the MarsdenInformation Point, 20-26 Peel Street, Marsden (01484 845595).

paths may be challenging. Suitable forstrong walkers.’ This is very usefulinformation. Since moving to the NorthWest from Surrey, some twenty six yearsago, I have never ceased to be amazed athow easy it is to get out to some truly wildcountryside, and also how easy it couldbe to get into difficulties. The Trail isdefinitely not for the inexperienced orcasual walker and I was glad to be part ofan organised walk, especially withMalcolm’s authoritative guiding.

I did find the walk pretty hard going and abit bleak for my tastes. Naturally theweather, and the fact my boots leaked,didn’t help, but the scenery was spectacu-lar, the company enjoyable and theAutumn sun on the dead brackenpositively set the hills aglow.

Bob Gough

Standedge Moor


HNC Christmas Quiz

Solution to Canal Crossword 42

Here’s your chance to win a copy ofKeith Gibson’s definitive book ‘Pen-nine Dreams’, worth €16.99!

Society member Ed Mortimer has devisedthe following Narrow Canal teasers.Simply name the thirteen places orstructures on the Huddersfield Narrowreferred to by the clues.

Send your answers by post to the SocietyOffices by Friday 30th January 2004,marking the envelope Christmas Quiz.The first correct entry drawn ‘from thehat’ will win a copy of Keith’s book.

The competition is open to all Societymembers, bar Mr E Mortimer and theAdministrator, who struggled with the firstclue! The result will be published in theSpring 2004 edition of Pennine Link.

Best of Luck to everyone!

THE CLUES

1. Bridge sounds like Christmas

2. Fishy Lock

3. Some say you’re looking Thinner

4. First of Four

5. Home for a Planet

6. Not new and Flat

7. Gentleman’s Quay

8. Older Cub

9. Bridge liked by Mathematicians

10. Hand-reared river Crossing

11. Black and white Dog Lock

12. Pooh’s Crossing

13. Soft Highway

Quiz Prize:Keith Gibson’s

definitive account


What the Papers SaidHuddersfield Daily Examiner

The Standedge Visitor Centre is hoping forrecord attendance this year as a result ofthe ‘Wild Over Waterways’ initiativebeing highlighted on the Internet. Theinitiative features the history of theHuddersfield Narrow Canal and links inwith the National Curriculum for 7-11year olds. (6/9/03)

Turnbridge Locomotion Bridge at QuayStreet, Huddersfield on the HuddersfieldBroad Canal, made the shortlist for anEnglish Heritage Award. Unfortunately, itwas not a winner, but achieved a runner-up position. (16/9/03)

Marsden and Slaithwaite are to be desig-nated ‘Market Towns’ which will allow theregion’s regeneration agency, YorkshireForward, to consider them for grants torevive their economies. (26/9/03) Notsure how the traders of Milnsbridge willreact considering their view that the townwas the ‘lost city’ of the Colne Valley.

The Colne Valley Society has asked BritishWaterways to explain why water levels onthe Huddersfield Narrow Canal havebeen so low - passing on complaints fromboaters who have found themselvesstranded. The Society pointed out thatthe reservoirs built to serve the Canalwere well filled. British Waterways saidtheir engineers were working hard to finda solution. (18/10/03)

Tameside Advertiser

Another stranded boat, but this time aclear case of a ground paddle being leftopen which caused the pound to drain.The pound was re-filled as quickly aspossible and the boat owner treated theevent with good humour. (18/9/03)

Tameside Citizen

Our new Chairman, Neville Kenyon, wasprofiled as a ‘Tameside Citizen’ having“taken over the hot seat as the head ofthe Huddersfield Canal Society.” Nevillestressed the value of our membership insecuring a viable future for the Society.(9/03) Portland Basin past and present isfeatured with a 1960’s photo from theLocal Studies Archive. The article statesthat today wooden narrow boats at theBasin are used for boat trips; not so I’mafraid, only the Tameside Canal BoatTrust’s ‘Still Waters’ performs that func-tion, skippered and crewed by CanalSociety volunteers. (11/03)

Reporter and Chronicle

Our colleague Neil Goodier, who oper-ates the Staley Rose restaurant trip boat inStalybridge, has decided to cease operat-ing. A depressing catalogue of offensivebehaviour from gangs of youths in thetown centre has forced him to call it aday. Town Centre Manager Rick Malonewas more upbeat, confident things wouldimprove following meetings with thepolice. He was also considering CCTV forthe area. (30/10/03)

In a survey of Guardian readers, PortlandBasin Museum was voted one of the top20 family friendly venues in the country!(6/11/03)

Oldham Advetiser

Damage to a lock on the newly re-opened Rochdale Canal at Failsworthcaused flooding in nearby elderly people’sflats. Vandals, oblivious to the conse-quences of their actions, seemed deter-mined to cause criminal damage having


used crowbars on the lock structure.(11/09/03)

Just to prove there is life after HCSRestoration Ltd., our ex-stonemason,Andy Sharp, is pictured with the Rev. HSmith outside St Thomas Church,Leesfield. Andy, who has worked for S & JWhiteheads since his leaving the Society’ssubsidiary in 1999, has been involved inthe Church’s €1m restoration. (11/9/03)

On November 8th, the SaddleworthMuseum will open its ‘Canal Mania’exhibition featuring the history andwildlife of the Huddersfield NarrowCanal. (02/10/03) And Uppermill’sMillyard Gallery had an exhibition featur-ing images of the Narrow Canal,Saddleworth Beer Walk and MorrisDancers. (30/10/03)

Despite certain residents’ objections, asmall electricity sub-station will be built atGreenfield’s Royal George Mills site. Itwill be located behind the Canal towpathwall and sympathetically constructed instone with a slate roof. (30/10/03)

A British Waterways official suggested toan Advertiser reporter that if she wantedto see the future of Failsworth, she shouldvisit Stalybridge. Major developmentsadjacent to the Rochdale Canal for thenew Failsworth District Centre have muchin common and the article was decidedlyupbeat indicating a new vibrant heart forFailsworth. (06/11/03) Considering otheritems in this selection from the Press, let’shope the consequences are all positive.

Brownhill Countryside Park, Uppermill,which incorporates a stretch of theNarrow Canal, has been awarded theprestigious Green Flag Award in recogni-tion of high standards of management andcontribution to quality of life for the localresidents. (13/11/03)

A much needed canal marina is to beincluded in the mixed development atFrenches Wharf, Greenfield, currentlyseeking planning permission. Part of thedevelopment includes a major supermar-ket and there is some concern over itseffect on local shops and the character ofthe village. (13/11/03) And talking ofsupermarkets ... Tesco are in discussionswith Oldham Council about plans to builda new store, canalside, at the newFailsworth District Centre currently underdevelopment. Parallels are drawn withStalybridge, where the new TescoSuperstore has been very successful.(13/11/03) I wonder if a certain SocietyPatron with associations might arrive byboat and perform the official opening!

Oldham Chronicle

A major regeneration study for the re-opened Rochdale Canal was launched inOctober. Commissioned by Oldham andRochdale Councils and British Waterways,the proposals include canalside develop-ments, visitor attractions and publicrecreational amenities. The developmentfollowing the re-opening of the Hudders-field Narrow Canal was cited as a blue-print for success. (22/10/03)

An excellent suggestion of installingwastebins along the Canal in Saddleworthhas been proposed by Counc. JohnCaddick of the Saddleworth Finance andGeneral Purposes Committee. (28/10/03)

The Chronicle repeats a number ofarticles in the Advertiser (or vice versa)particularly the new marina at Greenfield,Saddleworth Museum exhibition and theproposed Tesco store for Failsworth.

Cuttings collected by Dave Finnis, KeithSykes & Ken Wright.Compiled by Bob Gough


Obituary - Lincoln PorterThe Society is greatly saddened by thesudden death of member Lincoln Porter.Boat Crew Co-ordinator Allan Knott writes:

Lincoln was a regular volunteer boat crewmember of HCS for the last 12 years, actingboth as skipper and cabin crew. He was areal ‘people person’ and always made timeto talk to any passengers who wanted tochat. As a full time carer at Park DeanSpecial School, he was of particular help toboat crews when we purchased the newramps for Still Waters. His expertise indealing with wheelchair passengers wasinvaluable. In passing on his knowledge, itenabled the rest of the crew to safely assistsuch passengers on and off the boat, weekin, week out, without mishap. He took hisschool pupils down to Portland Basin fortrips on a number of occasions, fulfilling therole of cabin crew, chaperon and much-respected carer of the young people.

Lincoln also volunteered to work on thegates at the Tameside Canals Festival andone year turned up with an inflatabledinghy to ferry people across the Basin fromthe Museum to the Festival site!

Lincoln could be described as a real‘character’ who always had a story to telland who, on occasions when boating,would produce a harmonica no bigger than2” long and entertain passengers with quitea collection of tunes! He worked the tripboats on both sides of the Pennines andmade many friends as a result. He oftenput himself out by offering to crew at shortnotice; when someone had reported sick orwe were just desperately short of crew.

The funeral took place on the 20thNovember and in attendance were BarryEdwards, Peter Ruffley, Bob Gough andmyself; representing the Canal Society andthe Tameside Canal Boat Trust. The Societyand Trust provided an elegant wreath ofyellow roses and white chyrsanthemums.

The Society is very grateful for hisloyalty, commitment and

enthusiastic service.He will be sadlymissed.

Allan Knott

Lincoln with pupils from ParkDean Special School

Alla

n K

nott


A Grand Get-TogetherDear Member,

You are cordially invited to an informalgathering of the Canal Society onThursday the 22nd January 2004 at7.30pm at the Delph Band Club,Lawton Square, Delph. You will noticethat this coincides with the Extraordi-nary General Meeting notified on page30, but this formality will be very briefas the evening is intended to be muchmore of a social event.

Members of Council will be in attend-ance and after some special presenta-tions and an entertaining ‘slide show’,there will be an open ‘question andanswer’ session whereby members canput their questions directly to Councilon all aspects of the Society’s activities.All this, and, on production of yourmembership card, a FREE steak andonion sandwich! I hope to see youthere.

Neville KenyonChairman


New Membership CardLife members of the Society andthose who have renewed theirmembership or joined the Societyrecently, will have noticed that wehave introduced a new stylemembership card.

The card, which follows the system usedby many large organisations such as theIWA and the RSPB, is an integral part ofthe renewal letter and has been madepossible by advances in plasticstechnology.

Laser printers, which are anessential part of an office’scomputerised administrationsystem, use a high temperatureprocess to bond the black (orcolour) toner powder to the pagewhen printing. The temperature ofthe bonding system is typically 200Cand normal plastics, such as theacetate sheet used for overheadprojectors, simply melt in the so-called‘fusing unit’. I can personallyvouch for this!

The new laminating plastic usedon the membership card notonly resists the high temperature,but accepts the black toner, soeach card can be personalised atthe time of printing the renewalletter.

This process has greatly simpli-fied the renewal procedure andis now part of the day to dayadministration of the Society’soffice, without the need for anamed Membership Secretary.

As members renew their membership, theold style, hand-written cards, which arestill valid, will be progressively replacedand by October next year, every membershould have the new style card.

Bob Gough

Printing the renewal letters with integral membership card


‘Canal Mania’ at Saddleworth Museum‘Canal Mania!’ is a children’s exhibition

inspired by research undertaken by WOW -Wild over Waterways.

According to WOW research 1 in 10 children in theNorth West of England think that canals were built to

provide homes for ducks.

One in 8 seven to fourteen year olds believe canals werebuilt to catch rainwater, and nearly half of the childrenquestioned did not know that canals were man made.

Through a series of simple interactives, dressing up andchildren’s activities (pictured courtesy of the Saddleworth

Museum), ‘Canal Mania!’ hopes to explain the history andwildlife of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to children.

The exhibition was made possible by a €500 donationfrom the Huddersfield Canal Society.

Open Monday-Sunday 1-4pm until Easter 2004

Admission: Adults €2; Concessions €1; Family ticket €4;Children under 5 Free

THE SOCIETY WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS:

ADVERTISING RATESPer Issue Per Year

Quarter €9.38 €37.50

Half €18.75 €75.00

Full €37.50 €150.00

PENNINE LINK BACK NUMBERS:PENNINE LINK BACK NUMBERS:PENNINE LINK BACK NUMBERS:PENNINE LINK BACK NUMBERS:PENNINE LINK BACK NUMBERS:

The following back issues are availablefree, to Society members, from theSociety Offices. Please send an A5stamped, addressed envelope (46p) orA4 sized envelope (80p) for joint issue81/82 and issues 91 & 100.

17, 22, 25, 35, 45, 47, 50, 53, 54, 56,58, 59, 60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 71, 72,77, 79 to 83, 85 to 89, 91 to 101, 103to 143, 145, 146

These are the only back issues available,please do not request issues which arenot on this list.


MEMBERSHIP RATES

Individual €9.00Family €11.00Life €90.00Associate €15.00Corporate €150.00

COPY DATE

Articles, letters and commentsfor Issue 148 of Pennine Link

should reach the Editor at45 Gorton Street, Peel Green,Eccles, Manchester, M30 7LZ

by 30th January 2004

PENNINE DREAMS by Keith Gibson

“This is the story of a canal. Not just any canal, but a ratherspecial canal … built in the British Isles at Standedge underthe Pennines … by people who dreamt an impossible dream -that they might profit from a canal taking a collision coursewith the backbone of England!”

“Pennine Dreams” is published by Tempus Publishing Ltd. andis available from the Society office at €16.99 (p&p free tomembers, €1.50 to non-members) or from your local book-seller. ISBN 0 7524 2751 Z.

Please make all cheques payable to ‘Loxvend Ltd’

2678 Mr & Mrs Mulcahy, 2679 Miss Burton, 2680 Mr & Mrs Dawson, 2681 Ms Owen, 2682 Mrs Houghton, 2683 Mr Houghton,