AWCC

The Bridgewater Canal Trust asked the public in March of this year to nominate local heroes to be represented on a portrait bench to be installed on the Sale to Stretford branch of the canal.  Bill Bleasdale, a founder member of the Watch House Cruising club, who passed away in 2008, will be one of the local heroes recognised on the bench. The cutting below, from the Trafford Metro News of Friday 21st May, explains the project.

Regretfully another AWCC North West and National stalwart has died. Terry Tomlinson became National Quartermaster in the 1980s when we had bills for £15 and £12 in the kitty. Through Terry’s drive we had various fund raising events and are here today because of his efforts.

Terry led some adventures. As Commodore of Sale C.C. the Club crossed the weir at Chester and went up the Dee. Easter cruises would see SCC boats on the River Douglas and the Ribble. In fact Terry led the first hair-raising cruise into Preston Dock from Tarleton as the start of the campaign by the NorthWest Region to build the Ribble Link.

Other fun trips to remember include MERSEYMAGIC when the Region took over the “Royal Iris” and entertained the newly appointed BW Chairman Sir Leslie Young and his wife. The previous chair, Sir Frank Price (our Patron) used to call Terry, Harold Stanley and I, the three b****ds off the Bridgewater”

Terry will be missed – they don’t make them like that anymore!

Keith Noble

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[Webmasters Note - 15/02/2010] Funeral Arrangements – Monday 22nd March, 10.30 am Altringham Crematorium, afterwards at Lymn Cruising Club. Family flowers only please – donations to St Marys Hospice.

The minutes of this meeting are attached as a PDF file

Minutes Nov 09

The minutes of this meeting are attached as a PDF file

Minutes Sep 09

Boat crews from Worsley to Runcorn all made their way to the heart of Lymm  village to celebrate the 46th annual rally of the Federation of Bridgewater Cruising Clubs. Over 220 boats attended for a weekend of fun, meeting old friends and with non -stop entertainment for all of the weekend. This year the rally was hosted by Lymm Cruising Club and took twelve months in the planning. Boat crews dressed themselves and their boats in the theme of the ‘circus’ this meant lots of clowns walking around and with the big marquee decorated to match and it proved to be a very colourful weekend.

The Saturday weather held out as everyone watched the dog show, the Commodore’s games (not for the faint hearted as this meant getting soaked with water) and listened to Lymm Samba Band, and the Chadderton Brass Band. After live entertainment in the evening the boaters watched illuminated boats compete for the Coupe de Lumiere Trophy when they sailed through Lymm Village all ablaze with thousands of lights giving a fantastic display to all that watched.

Sunday being the highlight of the weekend started with a church service in the marquee followed by an Official Sail-past including the Mayor of Warrington and the Mayoress, Mr. Mike Webb and his wife, from the Bridgewater Canal Co., also representatives from British Waterways, the Inland Waterways Association, the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs, the Officials of the Federation of Bridgewater Cruising Clubs and Canal Watch.  Over the years the Federation have been very active on the issues which affect boating on the Bridgewater Canal they are involved with Canal Watch, Bridgewater Canal Users Group, the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs and the Inland Waterways Association.

You can see more of their rally pictures on www.flickr.com/photos/fbcc

All photos © Duggie Wildman 2009

Whilst we now have many Restored Canals on our waterways nationally, proud to say we another brand new canal has opened in the AWCC North West Region, the Liverpool Link. Read the rest of this entry »

Elaine Knight writes:

In 2008 we lost a very good family friend to cancer, my Uncle Malc. For those of you who knew Malcolm Jones, you will know what a fabulous person he was. He did so much for various charities and associations – along with huge support from his wife Brenda. He is greatly missed by our family. Read the rest of this entry »

The Federation was formed in 1963 to link the six Bridgewater Boat Clubs, socially, on Bridgewater Canal affairs, and in their dealings with Peel Holdings, the Authority who control the Bridgewater Canal. The six Clubs, all AWCC members, who all give a warm, northern type welcome to visitors, are, from east to west:

Worsley C.C. situated on the Leigh branch of the Bridgewater, which runs north, from its junction with the Main line at Waters Meet, to join the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Wigan . Nearby are the famous but closed underground canal workings which serviced coal mines. Quite an historic area.

Watch House C.C. in the Stretford Area, with handy adjacent shopping, and easy access to Manchester Centre. An atmospheric club house, part of which is an old stable block.

Sale C.C. Long established, active, friendly club, good facilities. Access to fast Metrolink tram service into City Centre.

Lymm C.C. next, situated near the picturesque Cheshire Village of Lymm, a village well worth a visit. with good walks in the surrounding areas. Again another active, friendly club.

Preston Brook Boat Owners Association is situated near to the Junction of the Bridgewater Canal, Trent and Mersey Canal, and the Runcorn Branch Canal.

Bridgewater Motor Boat Club is at the end of the Runcorn Branch, well worth a trip, not only for the welcome you will receive at their club house, but you can walk down and visit the site of the Runcorn Locks, at the bottom of which is the Manchester Ship Canal.

There is now a society working to restore the Runcorn Locks, which will add more adventures in the NW. Down the locks onto the Ship Canal, west towards the Weaver River at Marsh Lock, or further down to the River Mersey, or East up to Salford Quays, then up the Pomona Lock back onto the Bridgwater Canal.

Roland Dotchin
NW Region AWCC

Members from Bridgewater Motor Boat Club sailed their illuminated boats to ‘Top Locks’ and the Waterloo Hotel, Runcorn where the landlady was hosting a children’s Christmas Party in aid of the charity ‘Dreams Come True’

The commodore handed over a donation from the committee along with the cash raised from a raffle at the boat club. On handing over the money the commodore Mr Ken Bromley said that he would like to make this an annual event.

Communications Officer, Bridgewater Motor Boat Club

Sadly, Malcolm Jones passed away on Saturday, 25th October. Malcolm will be missed by great number of people, and remembered by all with a smile for all the great moments we had in his company.

Malcolm Jones spent nearly 40 years working with waterways bodies to improve our waterways, and his, and his good friend Bill Bleasedale’s legacy will be the Waterways we now enjoy.

Malcolm joined the Lancaster Boat Club in 1969, and always enjoyed his time on the Lancaster, his cut. He served as Commodore in 1972, as President, and was an Honorary member. With Bill Bleasedale and Jack Culliford, he was a founder member of the AWCC North West Region in 1973, and rarely missed a meeting in the following 35 years, serving 7 years as NW Chair, from 1995 until 2002. Malcolm was a member of the Ribble Link Trust, and worked with the Trust in its success in opening the Ribble Link. Malcolm joined the Sale Cruising Club in 1998, where he already had many friends, and was involved with the Federation of Bridgwater Boat Clubs.

By Malcolm’s side during all these years was his wife Brenda, always supportive, not only to Malcolm but to everyone she met, and whose support, wisdom, and friendship we all appreciate.

We all have SORROW at Malcolm’s passing, and PRIDE in having known Malcolm.

Roland Dotchin, Chair, AWCC North West.