| December 2003
Diary | Directory
EDITORIAL COMMENT ~
Steve Jones
I note with pleasure that an old friend of WACT whom many of you
will remember was recently awarded the 'Richard Bird Medal' by the
Inland Waterways Association. The medal is awarded to members whose
efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit
to the Association. Ernie has been a member of the IWA since the early
1950's and was a founding member of the London Working Party Group which
went on to become the Waterway Recovery Group. Ernie was also a regular
member of the restoration teams of both the Basingstoke and the Wey &
Arun canal.
Ever Tried Demolition as a Relief from Restoration ~ Brian
Crossley.
By the time this newsletter is distributed, the Monday 'Keeping
up Appearances' Group will have celebrated its fifth anniversary,
appropriately in the Onslow Arms. Sadly, one of our founder members,
Gordon Limbrick will not have been present. We enjoyed his company until
the group was firmly established, and then he rightly moved to using his
unique skills where they were of most value. Even then he was always
ready to lend a hand when we needed special help. He will be sorely
missed.
An exhausting but satisfying winter job was the partial
demolition of the ferro-concrete structure just outside the gates of
Tickners Heath. "What is it and why are we doing what we're doing?"*
enquired one of the workers (in any group there's always one). I
explained that I had been told it was a milk churn stand, circa 1950,
built to placate the new breed of lorry drivers who objected to lifting
heavy weights off the ground. However, it obstructed the sight lines of
traffic leaving the yard. Discussion centred on whether volunteers in
the restoration business should ever be expected to carry out the
destruction of examples of our history. Just supposing the Pontcysyllte
Aqueduct was claimed to obstruct sight lines on the B5091, should we
knock it down?
* Advice to other leaders. Better to ignore this kind of
question and press on!
Our first meeting in December is on Monday the 8th - a days work
squeezed into a morning, (ring me for meeting place) followed by
Christmas Lunch at the Onslow Arms. Advance booking to either Colin
Gibbs or me by December 2 is essential. Our second day will be Monday
the 15th to build up an appetite for Christmas - just ring me in the
week before for details.
On the 'Edge of the Gauging Station Meadow ~ Keith Nichols.
It's opposite the Drungwick Lane slipways near the Aqueduct. Work
started on the hedge on October 23rd. To date we have cleared about 144m
of the fence line in preparation for its removal and about 100m of
bramble etc from the trees/hedge line. The cattle are still in the field
due to the good weather - good enough for shorts unless you're working
on a thorny hedge and don't mind being licked by inquisitive cattle.
I've watched the barn owl quartering the fields most afternoons when
I've been working there; which makes for a pleasant interlude. We have
also started coppicing for stakes and binders. We only need about 800 of
both so I better stop writing and get working instead!
If you feel like trying something different, give me a call on 01403
753882 - I'm generally on the hedge or coppicing Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday afternoons, some Sundays and occasionally other afternoons.
Job (Almost) Done in Sidney Wood ~ Bill Nicholson.
The final NWPG visit to Sidney Wood for the time being saw the
completion of the clay dam above Lock 16 and consequently the removal
and re-profiling of the canal around the new spill weir. Moving the
necessary material and consolidating the dam was finished just in the
nick of time before heavy rain on Sunday morning made conditions
difficult. The compound was cleared, with materials and equipment being
taken back to Tickners Heath and the two piles of planings consolidated
into one. A team of four noble volunteers spent the weekend digging a
trench above a disused culvert. Having dug it on the Saturday and Sunday
morning, the afternoon was spent filling it in again using the old
fashioned but unimproved on art of manual puddling. None of us are
getting any younger! Lets hope we've made some difference.
The remaining tasks are to re-fill the hole in the bank opposite the
container and to surface the towpath from there down to Lock 16. This
will be left for the WACT summer camp. Discussions continue on a Dig
Deep project for next year. Hopefully I can report some positive news
very soon. We've booked the dates anyway in hopeful anticipation!
Lock Around the Clock ~ Eric Walker.
Early in November there had been sufficient rainfall for the Environment
Agency to tell the Trust that pumping from the River Arun could restart.
As you may know the river pump feeds into the Drungewick winding hole
and the lock. The boat group being anxious to maximise the Santa
Cruises, want all the water they can get. However, at Drungewick Lock
our task has been to replace some very badly eroded stone at the base of
the lock wall. This entailed taking a section of wall down fourteen feet
from the top to bottom. By the middle of November the daylight was
getting shorter each time we went there and if one of the pumps faltered
the water started to go into the working area; but by dint of working
well into the gloom, the first course of the rebuild was laid. Taking
down the wall had not been that difficult. In some places the lime
mortar was frankly just sand. The stone was poor quality too. For
instance the last stone to be removed, and it was at invert level, had
two large cracks in it, which could only be seen when the stone above
had been removed. Plainly the poor quality of stone and the original
workmanship may well have account for the bulge that we were repairing.
So now we are working towards the top. Incidentally it was noted that
the wall was four feet thick at the bottom and three foot thick at the
top. So there is a lot of replacement to be done and in the worst part
of the year. Pictures
As you know diesel engines need fuel and air. As we were about to leave
Devils Hole Lock (DHL) our 12 tonnes Yumbo digger got very lethargic.
Fortunately Peter Andrews did his magic and diagnosed the need for 2 new
fuel filters. Once these were fitted the machine sprang into life as
only an old man can. Peter's parting shot was "That air hose should be
repaired, rainwater in a diesel engine can be terminal". John Verral
kindly transported the digger from Devils Hole lock to Drungewick for it
to demonstrate its new lease of life. Taping up the hose and connecting
the air filter must be good! However the engine would not start.
Disconnect the air filter, back on song. Diligent as ever Dave Kersley,
opened the air filter and found a mouse nest inside. Ooops!
The need for a pipe to be installed for the second back pump and two
waterfalls at Drungewick lock means there is lots of work to be done.
For the B2133 crossing, we now have two model makers at work. A
presentation to the Loxwood Society describing the options for the
crossing was well received as it was at the WACT EGM.
The Thursday & Sunday Groups (TSG) meet at 09:30 at the Onslow Arms,
Loxwood. Lots of jobs, mostly construction related. For more details
contact Eric Walker Tel/Fax 023 9246 3025 or email:ericwalker@onetel.net.uk
Working Party Diary for December and early January.
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.
TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS and THURSDAYS afternoons. Hedge laying with Keith
Nicholls.
EVERY THURSDAY and SUNDAY Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of
jobs mainly
construction. Site details from Eric Walker.
MON DEC 8 - 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.
MON DEC 15 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting
time from Brian Crossley.
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
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
WACT office (General Enquiries) 01403 752403
Winston Harwood 01293 424672
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email:ericwalker@onetel.net.uk
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736
Keith Nicholls (Hedge laying)
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