AWCC

David and Sue Botham accepting the prize from the AWCC Free Prize Draw, held at the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) National Waterways Festival (NWF) 2009, held this year at Redhill on the River Soar.

David and Sue from Chesterfield, members of Sea Otter Owners Club and Boaters Christian Fellowship (BCF), both AWCC Clubs, seen here in their boat “Amethyst” about to set off for a BCF gathering at Wolsey bridge.

The AWCC Free Prize Draw held at this years NWF as part of the AWCC exhibition stand drew many people to take part, the prize a “Dream Pot” thermal cooker (a modern version of the hay box of times past) was sponsored by the supplier Cobb Barbeques.

David and Sue will now be able to test their “Dream Pot” while cruising up the Trent & Mersey Canal.

TB.

Lock 7 on the Caldon Canal.

I assume that a risk assessment prior to work starting, identified the bollards as a trip hazard. They have subsequently been highlighted with traffic cones.

Photos courtesy of Graham Myatt

A Meeting of the Midlands Region was held at Coventry Canal Society on Saturday 11th October 2008

The minutes are available here as a PDF document

The Mayor cuts the cake

Normanton on Soar based Soar Boating Club celebrated its 55th birthday along with local villagers recently.

Ian Baker, the Club Commodore welcomed the Mayor of Rushcliffe, Barrie Cooper and the Mayoress Jean Cooper as honoured guests. Ian said “This is another important milestone in the growth of the Soar Boating Club.  We are delighted that so many villagers have joined us to celebrate the occasion.”  A flotilla of Narrow Boats and a Steel Cruiser made an impressive spectacle carrying the guests of honour, the boat clubs Flag Officers and President along with the Vicar Steve Osman, the church choir and Boat Club members to St. James church in the village.

Following a thought provoking church service which has come to be a traditional part of the anniversary festivities, the boats took their guests along with some villagers for a short cruise to the outskirts of Loughborough before returning to the Boating Club for a celebratory lunch.  Other members of the Club and local villagers made a less aquatic entrance by walking to the church and back.  With the clubhouse bursting at the seams with over 100 people, many from the village attending the event, the Mayor kindly proposed a toast to the Club on its birthday and cut the cake.

The Boat Club was formed in 1953 at The White House in Kegworth, to promote and encourage boating on the River Soar.  It later moved to its present location in Normanton and has in excess of 250 members and is still growing.  Membership is open to all with an interest in boating.

The Soar Boating Club is unique in its location with beautiful grounds and surrounding country side and has impressive facilities and welcomes visiting boats.   For more information visit our web site at www.soarboatingclub.co.uk

Ivor Lucas on his appointment as Mayor of Cheadle

Stoke on Trent Boat Club member, Ivor Lucas, has been appointed Mayor of Cheadle in Staffordshire.  His Deputy is Mike Maryon, also a member of SOTBC.

Mike’s wife, Karen, has just completed a year as Chairman of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.  Although these are prestigious appointments, they do have a down-side, when their official duties interfere with boating!

From Erica Martin at  Stoke-on-Trent BC

Quiet period with no regional meeting. Hopefully everyone cruising and njoying the warm, dry weather.

Numbers up, standards down Around the system it is very noticeable and often
commented on, that congestion is increasing and maintenance is decreasing. Some of the congestion is no doubt due to rivers liable to flooding being avoided. The latest breach at Stourbridge will not improve the maintenance level.

What a Bollard Fiasco!

The other main talking point has been the ‘3 bollards per narrow lock’ fiasco. The square wooden posts in the Midlands rightly coming in for most criticism. Simon Salem now admits they were a mistake. (A £1.75m mistake). Hopefully the new Customer Service Standards Advisory Panel can stop this sort of
action. I shall be doing my best.

Meeting the Chief

I managed to get invited to two of the Robin Evans (BW Chief Exec.) meetings. Quite an advantage as I had chance to find some holes in his answers from the first and ask supplementary questions at the second.

Enthusiasm and Tenacity

Finally congratulations to ECP&DA on receiving one of the BW “acknowledgement awards” for their work on the Erewash & Cromford canals. The following is a quote from a letter Stoke-on-Trent BC sent to ECP&DA following their visit to Langley Mill in May -

Graham Myatt

Attending

Graham Myatt Chairman & Treasurer

Margaret Smith Secretary

Terence Balchin QM & Derby MBC

Alan Heeley Ash Tree BC

Howard & Sheila Smith ECP&DA

Trevor Orton Swarkestone BC

Alan Spriggs Swarkestone BC

Alan Griffiths Fradley Junction CC

John Wilkinson Soar BC

Randal & Janine Heard Norbury CC

Roger & Pam McLellan Lichfield CC & BCF

Tony & Barbara Collins Coventry CS

Tom & Mick Griffin Hinckley BC

Val Myatt Stoke-on-Trent BC

Margaret Darmody Mid Warks YC

Roni and Norman Solomons Sea Otter

Peter Hart – Guest
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• Nigel Grant, who pioneered the Boat Fire Safety scheme while employed by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, gave a short update on the scheme from his now retired viewpoint. He promoted the National Boat Fire Safety Week 26-31 May 2008and asked that people, Please engage with your local Fire and Rescue Service to ask for a Boat Fire Safety check or Home Safety Check.

To find your local contact go to your nearest Fire Station or www.fire.gov.uk

Please ensure you have fitted new batteries to your smoke and CO detectors.

Do no leave exits locked without quick access to keys once you are on board.

Keep the Boat Fire Safety initiative alive.

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Graham Myatt gave a presentation to Howard Smith, Retiring Chairman of the AWCC Midland Region.

Howard became Chairman of the Midland Region, after attending a Region meeting on behalf of someone else. Howard stepped in when the Midland Region was struggling and has been Chairman for ten years. His meetings have been topical and efficiently run. Howard has represented the Region at numerous forums and BW meetings both local and National. At AWCC EXEC meetings he has kept our Southern colleagues on their toes with a bit of good North Country straight talking.
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Attending.

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