NEW SLIPWAYS TO OPEN ON 16 MAY
The Wey & Arun Canal Trust is delighted to confirm that the two new slipways constructed close to
the Drungewick Aqueduct are to be formally opened on Sunday 16 May 2004. One slipway is designed
to allow larger boats, such as tbe Trust's popular tripboat ZACHARIAH KEPPEL, to be hauled out of
the water in order to simplify maintenance and servicing operations, while tbe other will greatly
facilitate the launching and subsequent recovery of smaller craft.
For boats arriving on trailers the slipways are reached along Roger Dimmick Lane, a track leading off
Drungewick Lane, Loxwood, West Sussex which has been upgraded to take tbe anticipated traffic. Tbe
lane has been named after tbe late Roger Dimmick, a former member of the Middlesex Branch
of the Inland Waterways Association, whose generous legacy provided most of the funding necessary
for construction of the slipways. Members of Mr Dimmick's family are expected to attend the brief
ceremony on 16 May. The legacy was conveyed to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust through the
Inland Waterways Association with the balance of the total cost of some £32,000 being
made up from the Trust's own funds. The association was also able to offer technical assistance
with the design and installation of the twin slipways.
The formal opening of the slipways on Sunday 16 May will coincide with the Trust's annual
Small Boat Rally, which should provide plenty of opportunity for the smaller slipway
to be brought into use. For the first time those participating in the Rally will
be able to cruise across Drungewick Aqueduct and down to Drungewick Lock,
transiting this before turning in the winding hole below the lock.
Also on 16 May, Vaughan Welch, Chairman of tbe Restoration Committee of the Inland Waterways
Association, will present to the Wey & Arun Canal Trust's Chairman, Peter Foulger,
the Kenneth Goodwin trophy for 2003. This Trophy is awarded annually in recognition
of progress made on a waterway restoration scheme. Mr Foulger was delighted to
learn of this award commenting that "this is a very heartening recognition of the
incredibly hard work which has gone towards the restoration of 'London's Lost Route to the Sea'".
For general information on the work of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust, please telephone the Trust office on 01403 752403.
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