| November 2003
Diary | Directory
EDITORIAL COMMENT ~
Steve Jones
No comment this month to save space for more important reports.
Five Years Hard Labour! ~ Brian Crossley.
The Monday 'Keeping up Appearances' Group wil; be celebrating its fifth anniversary in the Onslow Arms,
1pm on Monday November 24th. All past and present members of the Group together with all supporters of our
endeavours will be welcome - the first round is on the leader.
People crossing Tickners Heath must have noticed the rather unsightly bare patch of earth where clay
had been temporarily deposited for necessary canal work. Last month we reported that we had laid topsoil
and reseeded in the belief that 'the rain must surely come soon'. Even four weeks later, the rains had still not arrived. We were resigned to having another go in the springtime.
On visiting the site in mid-October we found miraculously, that the whole area has become green with
lush new shoots. Maybe, in answer to our prayers, the Clerk of the weather had sent some special
downpours just to Tickners. However it happened, it's nice to know that we've one less job for next year.
A Sad Farewell to Gordon ~ Eric Walker..
Personally, and the members of the Thursday and Sunday Group were shocked and saddened by the tragedy when we
lost our dear friend Gordon Limbrick. He contributed to the smooth running of the group and with his own
magic brought machinery back to life. He was a Good Samaritan to me when my car stopped working in the floods.
Gordon was also the Hon Sec of the Drungewick Club that facilitated over £150,000 towards the Loxwood Link
Extension project. And, it is likely that the boats would not have reached Drungewick last May without him
courageously reversing his car along the towpath, towing a device he had designed and built for scything
the reeds. I know only a part of what he did for this Trust, but there is no doubt he will be sorely missed.
At Devils Hole lock the back pump chamber has been finished, the work of raising the track by the lock has
been done and the fencing between the lock and the track erected to IWA guidelines. Then a piece of luck a
digger driver offered his 12 tonne machine and his time to tidy up the lock and clear the bank from the top
of the lock. Now we have to fit the stop planks before the winter rains come. Why stop planks? Well although
the stop planks were in at Drungewick for 13 years, crossing the B2133 will not take that long.
At Drungewick lock work on the bulge has started. All the structural engineers were telling me that the
wall should be taken down. The exploratory work at the base of the wall revealed that the stone there was
very eroded, cracked or gone and at the back of it was soil or sand, the lime from the mortar having been
washed out. So grasping the nettle, the serious business of removing the wall from top to bottom for the
first 12 feet from the top end quoin, started with a heavy heart. The first thing to do was remove the
concrete placed there in 1990. We have been taking off about a foot per day so at this rate it could be
Christmas before we get the wall down and then flooding and other weather problems may well be upon us.
The need for a second pipe and two waterfalls at Drungewick lock means there is lots of work to be done.
For the B2133 crossing a model maker has started his task and the designer is progressing on the lock design.
In support of this work Bob Knight has been monitoring water levels in the boreholes and has reported some
curious results!
Return to Bonfire Hangar ~ Graham Baird.
Further work has been undertaken by our contractor Richard Julian to improve conditions at various locations
along our leased section of canal. At the outlet from the lakes, which feeds the canal, the spillway has been
extended to repair erosion using surplus revetment blocks from the aqueduct site. Nearby we had experienced
leakage through the towpath bank into an adjacent field, and so this section has undergone 'bank splitting'
in the hope that the rabbit holes will be sealed. At the other end of this section near lock 11, a similar
leakage problem (but through the offside bank) has been dealt with by constructing an agricultural drain to
intercept any water seepage and feed it back into the lakes.
This work was followed up by the MWWP who had an active day burning the last of the tree stumps which had
been left to dry out in the canal bed, and brush cutting the towpath edge.
Dig Deep Almost There in Sidney Wood ~ Bill Nicholson.
Fine autumn weather for our October visit and 12 experienced returnees from the NWPG summer camp
means that the Sidney Wood overflow weir is now complete. Our tasks for the weekend included the installation
of the weir plank channels, casting the concrete beam on which the planks sit, fitting the grill over the top
and cutting and fitting the planks themselves. The tubular handrails around the weir were set in place and
the path around it surfaced.
We don't quite need the rain yet (although I'm sure the ZK people would disagree!) as elsewhere we
started putting in place the new earth dam across the canal. This is above the yet to be cleared section
close top the Lock 16 winding hole and is a time consuming task involving the excavation and shifting of
clay from around the weir to the dam which is about 100 metres around the corner. Each layer of clay (
about 6 x 2 ton dumper loads) has to be tracked over by the digger for proper compaction; which means
that the machine has to move back and forth between sites. Further up the towpath, next to our container,
there is the last unfilled gap in the towpath. This will need a considerable volume of imported clay to plug
and will require double handling from the materials delivery point further up the woods. If it stays dry
enough we hope to complete these tasks during our November weekend. It would be very satisfying to complete
the re-instatement of this section of canal within our target 12 month period.
New Leader for the MWWP ~ Peter Jackman.
At rather short notice I have been 'press-ganged' into taking over as the new leader of the
Mid Week Working Party, (if anybody else would like to be, please step forward). I apologies for
the hiccup over the last venue, the change was beyond my control. I left notes notices, but please
don't think I'm starting paper chase events.
On a serious note, could I please ask for you all to keep your distance from members using brush
cutters or chainsaws; I hate paperwork and I do no want to be completing accident reports forms.
I like to work when out with the team, I do not want to be continuously watching. Please keep your distance!
As a further note of caution when using tirfors, one man at a time please. 2 guys pulling is a
recipe for shear pin replacements; I am repairing a tirfor now. Here endeth the first lesson!
Working Party Diary for November and early December..
Press date for articles for inclusion is the 20th of the month by letter or e-mail.
If you do not attend regularly, please contact the site manager before joining a work party.
MOST TUESDAYS maintenance sessions at Tickners Heath. Check with Colin Gibbs first.
TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS at Lordings. Site details from Winston Harwood.
EVERY THURSDAY and SUNDAY Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs mainly
construction. Site details from Eric Walker.
WED NOV 5 - MWWP. Meet 0930 in Sidney Wood car park. Contact Peter Jackman for more details.
SAT NOV 8/SUN NOV 9 - DIG DEEP with NWPG. WACT members are welcome on any day. Phone
WACT office for site and more details.
MON NOV 10 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley.
MON NOV 24 - MWWP. Meet 0930 in Sidney Wood car park. Contact Peter Jackman for more details.
MON NOV 24 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley.
MON DEC 8 - ALL WEEKDAY VOLUNTEERS. An optional mornings work followed by Xmas lunch
at the Onslow Arms. 1200hrs for 1245. ( Pick up a menu when you next pass the pub). 2 courses £14 or
3 courses £16. You must book with either Colin Gibbs or Brian Crossley by December 2nd if you wish to attend.
Working Party Directory ~
Brian Crossley (Monday Working Party) 01737 843192
Steve Jones (W P News Editor) 01444 811747 e-mail:
steve@stumblemead.fsnet.co.uk
John Ward (General Enquiries) 01483 527124
Winston Harwood 01293 424672
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
Don Gibson (Mid week walks) 01903 201375
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email:ericwalker@onetel.net.uk
WACT office (General Enquiries) 01403 752403
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