Pouring readymix concrete behind shuttering
to strengthen the wall of Lock 25, Tamworth Road, Lichfield
(Photo by Phil Sharpe)

CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN

In March I was greatly honoured, on behalf of the Trust, to be the principle guest at the annual dinner of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Society. This was a beautifully organised and extremely pleasant occasion which truly gave me the sense of being among friends. Of course, nothing in life is truly free, not even honour, and I was invited to address the Society. I was assured that it did not matter if I spoke briefly and that I could choose any topic I wished.

However, I did not really feel that I had a choice. I must speak about the Trust, past present and future. The historian in me took me to our archive of Council minutes to refresh my memory of the very early days in the late 1980s. Like watching a film set almost twenty years ago some changes leap out at you. In the case of films it is the clothes, the cars and the hair styles. We do not notice it happen but so much changes. To the young such a period is as quaint as the 1930s and 1940s are to those of us of a much earlier generation. Our early minutes show the dedication of our early supporters, many of whom had roots in the S&W Canal Society and, of course, IWA. Of the 10 of us who met in Eric Wood's house on 12th February 1988, with Ron Pritchard in the chair, four have since died as have others who joined us later and only I remain as an active member of Council. Denis Cooper is still hard at work on the Hatherton. Significantly, item 3 on the agenda referred to the exchange of letters with the Department of Transport concerning a proposed new motorway passing north of Birmingham. In 2004 that item is still, yes still, on our agenda.

Talking to the committed is to push at an open door. The Hatherton Canal is properly a branch of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and it is not surprising that the S&WCS has always been among our foremost supporters. We now have a membership of over 1400 and that places us high in the premier league of waterways restoration trusts and societies. Thanks to the sterling efforts of our marketing team and to the high profile of our achievements that total continues to grow. We welcome the financial support which this gives us, it is our bread and butter income, but also the negotiating strength which high membership brings. Hitler once asked how many soldiers the Pope had inviting an obvious answer and a clear conclusion. Numbers matter when dealing with big issues. Whether it is discussing possible grants with funding bodies or looking for support from politicians or British Waterways the depth of our support base ensures that important people at least listen to us.

The Trust is now well into the 16th year of its campaigning and restoration. The task we set ourselves in 1988 is as challenging and awesome as ever. We cannot assume that, because we can point to significant achievements, it is all over bar the shouting. That is very far from the case. Like all living organisms the Trust must be continually renewed, reinvigorated and strengthened. Our old supporters are still with us and for that we are eternally grateful but we must bring ever more people on board. So organisations report that the age profile of their membership is rising and that younger people now have busy life-styles and are difficult to recruit. This seems especially true of canal-based organisations and boating is seen as sedate and more for saga louts than lager louts. We must break this mould if we are to survive and prosper.

We once set ourselves the target of 20 years to get our canals open. Even the most optimistic of us can not really believe that boats will be able to move from end to end of our canals by February 2008. That does not mean that we have failed - very far from it. We have much to do but we will succeed. The new generations will continue to come forward. I have no doubt that the Lichfield and Hatherton will go forward in strength and determination until it joins the illustrious ranks of those restoration schemes which have triumphed. It is all there to be done and do it we will.

Brian Kingshott

VICE-CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

CAPPERS BRIDGE We had hoped by now to be reporting real progress with the project to reinstate Cappers Bridge but, despite having the £½million ERDF grant money in the bank, we have been frustrated by delays with the planning application and also with agreeing the access to a nearby property. Lichfield District Council planners did not like the County Highways' initial design for the bridge (as pictured in CBW37) and British Waterways, whilst supporting it in principle, were critical of some aspects of its appearance. We therefore developed a second design with the brick cladding extended higher up and right across the span, with a string course, and with a more attractive style of railings. Although this increased the estimated cost, we thought it was worth it for a less utilitarian and more attractive elevation. We still think this was the best option, but LDC were not satisfied and embarked on a "what if" exercise. What if we substituted a brick parapet above the wingwalls, or brickwork right across the span, or a false arch, or extended and sloping wingwalls - straight, or angled, or curved. Eventually we produced 8 different designs and they were still not sure what they wanted ! We have finally (we hope) settled on a ninth variation that they are prepared to approve, but to say that this has been somewhat frustrating would be a major understatement.

The additions of unnecessary complications to the design has further increased the costs, which had already gone up with the belated admission by NTL that they do after all have a fibre-optic cable under the road which will be expensive to move. We are facing a considerable shortfall on the funding required, although the exact figure will not be known until the job goes out to tender. However, the opportunity for a £½million grant was too good to lose and we have no regrets in taking it; but our supporters may expect another appeal for their help soon. Meanwhile, if anyone can assist with suggestions for new funds to tap, we would be most grateful.

TAMWORTH ROAD
Our enforced evacuation at short notice last September from the Lock 26 site at Lichfield was reported in Working Party News in CBW37. The good news is that we now have access again, and for the present without the previous restrictions on parking there. Although our efforts to purchase parts of the land were unsuccessful, the new owner Jack Moody was known to be sympathetic to our restoration plans for the Hatherton and kindly granted us access across his land at Tamworth Road. We have now been able to resume work on the lock (see the Working Party Report) and, although all our equipment and present plans are currently concentrated around Lock 25, we will now also be able to continue with previously planned work at Lock 26 as resources allow.

GRASS PLOTS
Mike Smith and I recently visited the "Grass Plots" site at Wedges Mills, owned by Severn Trent Water Ltd. This is a former sewage works alongside the Hatherton Canal, now disused, and not publicly accessible. When the filter beds were built after the canal had been closed, the Wyrley Brook was diverted into the canal channel to make more room, and it continues to flow along about 500 metres of the canal and through the chamber of Joveys Lock 5. Our restoration plans for this section will reinstate a parallel channel for the brook, perhaps with environmental meanders, and reclaim the canal's original channel. Investigations into ownership boundaries are continuing.

The canal runs at the back of the industrial estates on the south side of the A5 east of the Longford roundabout, and is partly overshadowed by stacks of containers. However, we were pleased to see that the towpath along this section was still being maintained, even though it does not connect with anything, and that the brick chamber of Joveys Lock is still in reasonably good condition. From the point where the Wyrley Brook enters, the canal channel continues upstream in water to the chamber of Bridgtown Bottom Lock 6, situated at the back of the Motorhouse car park. Above the lock the canal has been filled in and a road built over the other two Bridgtown locks up to Walkmill Lane. Our currently planned, and protected, diversion route would follow the Wyrley Brook round to the south of Motorhouse and the former Gripperrods factory. As the Severn Trent section is not accessible, members may like to see the accompanying photographs taken on this visit.

Phil Sharpe

MARKETING REPORT

Once again we begin the busy round of shows to promote the work of the Trust. This year we are the proud owners of a purpose built show trailer. This should make life a little easier for the marketing team. The trailer was donated to us by the Huddersfield Canal Society and was surplus to their requirements. We had a formal handing over by their Chairman Keith Gibson at the Northern Canals Group Conference hosted by Lichfield & Hatherton, which was held at the Nags Head Inn, Burntwood on Sunday 28th March.

Keith Gibson, Chairman Huddersfield Canal Society,
hands over the keys to the sales trailer to Mike Brown and Brian Kingshott (Photo by Bob Williams)

We welcome three new members to the Marketing group. David and Mavis Moore who already have 30 years experience working with London IWA. Beverley Marshall who has produced the counted cross stitch embroidery kits of the Lichfield Canal also joins us and is now working on a second embroidery kit featuring the Hatherton Canal.

Owner Ships Show 7th & 8th February
Bob and Sue Williams along with other members of the team had a very successful but cold week end at the Owner Ships Show at Braunston Marina

N E C Boat ,Caravan & Outdoor Show Sat 14th to Sun 22nd February
28 new members joined and the overall financial gain from the show was £1600,an excellent result. All volunteers worked very hard and Bob would like to thank everyone who helped in any way. The new team of stand builders did an excellent job and the final result was much admired. The new environmental display was felt to have been very successful. Our vice-president David Suchet and his wife Sheila paid us a visit and spent some time on the stand. David said that just because the M6 Toll was finished he would not be taking a back seat. He would help us in any way he could and would not rest until our canals were finished. The size of the stand and its location were very good and a provisional booking has already been made for the same space next year Bob Williams has already announced his intention not to run the NEC show again. However, Dave Moore has now joined our Marketing Group and brings with him a great deal of experience running the IWA stand at the London Boat Show. Dave has said that he would be happy to take on the NEC show and I gratefully accept his offer.

Phil Sharpe, Eric Wood and David Suchet on the stand at the NEC
(Photo by Sue Williams)

Quiz Night at the Boat Inn March 18th
A most enjoyable social evening was had by all, thanks to our jovial quiz master Tim Burgin and his wife Jill who so efficiently collated the scores. I am sorry the ticket numbers were limited, but this was due to the size of the room. The winner of the quiz was Chris Patterson & his family. Many thanks to the owners of the Boat Inn Ann & Peter and their staff for the excellent hot supper. The evening helped to swell the L&H funds by £200.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

MAY
15th - 16th Ashby Trail Boat Festival at Moira Furnace
29th - 31st Crick Boat Festival
31st Lichfield Greenhill Bower at Beacon Park

JUNE
26th - 27th Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival at Braunston Marina
Sun 27th Brownhills Canal Festival at Tesco Wharf, Brownhills

JULY
Friday 2nd - Sun 4th Saul Junction Festival.
Sat 10th Lichfield Medieval Market.

AUGUST
Sun 1st Forest of Mercia at Chasewater
28th - 30th IWA National Waterways Festival at Burton-on-Trent

Mike Brown
Chairman of Marketing Group

PRESS & PUBLICITY

Our press and publicity report this quarter covers January, February and March 2004.

The Trust is a member of the Lichfield District Tourism Association and the new edition of The Lichfield District Guide 2004 again includes an entry for The Lichfield Canal, illustrated by a picture of the aqueduct and offering special events and guided tours by prior arrangement. The District map also shows the route of the canal under restoration.

The Trust's campaign for crossings of the M6 Toll was featured on television on 26 February in an episode of the 5th series of Carlton TV's 'Waterworld'. Viewers in other ITV regions will, however, have missed our publicity officer Jan Horton ably explaining our aims and what we had achieved. Spectacular pictures of the Lichfield Canal Aqueduct trough being craned into place were set in context with views of Ogley and Huddlesford junctions, Lock 18, etc. and a brief recapitulation of David Suchet's impassioned plea for support at the start of our successful campaign. This was preceeded by a piece on well known local "hobbler" and Trust member Albert Harman prominently wearing his Trust t-shirt throughout !

The Lichfield Canal Aqueduct continues to also attract press attention, being pictured and highlighted as a "Major Achievement" in a Restoration Roundup by Canal Boat & Inland Waterways for February. In the same month Waterways World carried a photo of traffic passing under the completed aqueduct as "M6 Toll motorway opens", and their Annual 2004 used an aqueduct installation picture to illustrate a Restoration report on the "Lichfield & Hatherton Canals". IWA's Waterways for February coupled a picture of the inauguration ceremony with one of the site of our next major project at Cappers Lane, whilst the Staffordshire Environmental Fund's annual report included 2 pictures of the "Cranebrook Aquaduct" (sic) to which they had contributed a vital £25,000.

In other reports, WRG's Navvies for Dec/Jan reported our wildlife award and the resumption of Canal Camps and visiting groups, and in Feb/Mar a picture of traffic under the aqueduct. The Trust's appointment of 3 patrons was taken up by The Mercury in January as "New patrons on board" and in March by The Post as "Canal trust's new patrons" and also by Canal Boat & Inland Waterways as a news item. Finally, the Express & Star publicised our AGM as "Waterways link group meeting".

The Trust is also being publicised by an exhibition display at the Lichfield Heritage Centre, running from March to September. This includes a canal scene with model boats, a continuous video, and historic canal artefacts on loan from the Boat Museum. (See Other Reports)

Phil Sharpe

WORKING PARTIES NEWS & DATES

LICHFIELD CANAL
Good progress has been made this last quarter with help from Peter, Barry & Ann, Bob, Simon, Mick, Dave, Mike, Trevor, Bill, Keith, Peter, Bob, Chris, and Dave plus 9 members of the Newbury Work Party Group in March and 8 from Northwest WRG in early April. At Tamworth Road, on the offside of Lock 25, we have completed the block walls and shuttering and the readymix concrete pours to strengthen the top and bottom gate thrust blocks and ladder recess areas, and also placed manually mixed concrete along the foot of the wall to get a watertight seal over the top of the old brickwork. Scaffolding has been erected for work on the abutment wall below Lock 25 and a good start made on uncovering the offside wall of the pound above the lock. We have also resumed work on Lock 26 where NWPG continued the bricklaying on the section of towpath wall so rudely interrupted last September, and this has since been finished ready for concreting.

Newbury WPG bricklaying on the towpath wall below Lock 26 (Photos by Phil Sharpe)

Dave Simkin's hedgelaying marathon continued with completion of work at Fosseway Lane. Half the length of the hedge from the A38 back towards Lock 26 has been laid and, as a goodwill gesture, we have also done the roadside hedge for Mrs Attwood at Tamworth Road. At Darnford Lane a temporary dam has helped us investigate the cause of the leakage. Future visits from London WRG, BITM and the Canal Camp should help us keep up with our plans, but we could always do with more local help.

The end is in sight of this season's hedging, here by Lock 18, Fosseway Lane (Photo by Bobbie Battisson)

Our regular monthly work parties on the first Sunday are supplemented by an intermediate Saturday, all from 10 am. We may also be meeting on some Wednesday evenings from May to August. Check the latest dates with Peter Matthews on 01543-318933 or Phil Sharpe on 01889 583330 (Email: phil.sharpe@lhcrt.org.uk).

To find our regular work site at Lock 25 on Tamworth Road (Grid ref. SK 130 083) take the A51 out of Lichfield and the site is on the right about 300 metres after Cricket Lane.

Work Party Dates 2004:
May:	Sunday 2, Saturday 15
June:	London WRG Sat/Sun 5/6, Sunday 6, Saturday 19
July:	Sunday 4, Saturday 17
August:	Sunday 1, Saturday 14, WRG Canal Camp Sat 14-21
September:	Sunday 5, Saturday 18, WRG BITM Sat/Sun 18/19

ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own.

HATHERTON CANAL
Our work parties from January to March have all been well attended and thanks are due to Denis, John, Barry, Keith, Dave, Trevor, Bill, Vic, Barry & Ann, and Peter. We have cleared and levelled the lockside at Meadow Lock, cleared and burned all the brash from the contractors hedgelaying towards the M6 (including burning a derelict dinghy!), and done our own hedgelaying above the Roman Way, plus clearing up after a dangerous rotten willow tree had been felled. There are still some more trees and bushes to come out so, if you like bonfires, why not join us ?

The regular dates are the third Sunday of each month, from 10 am, with some occasional extra days as required. Contact Denis Cooper on 01543-374370 (work) or Phil Sharpe on 01889 583330 (Email: phil.sharpe@lhcrt.org.uk) for more details.

Monthly work parties: Sundays: Sunday 16 May, 20 June, 18 July, 15 August, 19 September.