| February 2004
Diary | Directory
EDITORIAL COMMENT ~
Steve Jones
This month I make my annual plea for someone or group to sponsor Working Party News for the next 12 editions. Our annual costs are around £130.00. If you would like to do this, would you kindly send a cheque to our Honorary Treasurer with a note to say what the cheque is for and please notify me if you wish to have your name or groups name in the heading. Of course you can help with the Trusts costs either with a small donation or by sending me a subscription or SAE's if you do not already do so.
WACT has justly I believe, been awarded the Kenneth Goodwin Trophy by the Inland Waterways Association. The award is for achieving the most significant progress in objectives over the past year. The trophy is likely to be presented at the slipway opening sometime in May.
Mid Week Working Party or The Wandering Navvie ~ Peter Jackman.
With no article last month, you may well have thought the MWWP had given up; no way. Having hopped about from one venue to another we are now working on the Devils Hole to Southlands section; which will keep us busy for a few weeks.
Our brief is to remove and dispose of the vast number of tree stumps/roots; which were pulled out by a digger and deposited below, but alongside the towpath, and to clear the ox-bow below the lock. So a working party, working in groups of 4/5 using tirfor winches and mattocks to separate earth from roots, will then pile the roots for burning. No noisy brushcutters (yet), the occasional chain saw, some cracking fires and enormous satisfaction at the end of the day.
We will be on 'detachment' to Colin Gibbs in the near future for hedge planting, Date(s) not known but will be in addition to our own, it will be an advised date by phone from Colin.
Drungewick Lock Repairs put on a Spurt ~ Eric Walker.
At Drungewick Lock, the extra effort of the volunteers and not too icy weather conditions, have enabled the major task of rebuilding the non towpath wall (by the top gates) to be completed. At the back of the wall, behind the quoin, there was just clay instead of masonry. Generally the original building of this lock was of a poor standard as compared with what we have seen whilst restoring other locks. Also at Drungewick Lock one stone was cracked (this time on the towpath side) out of which water spurted when the top gates were in use. After removing the stone, we found a tree root had grown through it. Between the stone and the quoin was a hole; it should have been full of mortar. These two observations explained where the water came from and how it came out at the front of the wall. The next priority jobs at Drungewick Lock are installing the lock ladder and the wooden bumper. These, and pointing the lock walls, pipes for the back pumps and building two waterfalls, mean there is still lots of work to be done before the boat can come through again.
With the gate now installed at Drungewick Lane it is a pleasant, if sometimes a muddy, walk to the lock. If you do come, you should look out for the heron, there are two on that stretch., and if you are very observant you may see the kingfishers, the little owl or the deer that live in these parts, too.
The Thursday & Sunday Groups (TSG) meet at 09:30 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs, mostly construction related.
Picture
For more details contact Eric Walker Tel/Fax 023 9246 3025 or email:ericwalker@onetel.net.uk
'Edging Slowly Towards Drungewick Aqueduct ~ Keith Nichols.
Since my last scribble things have moved a little slower than I had hoped. This has been due to a little too much rain - swans swimming in the meadow with just a narrow strip of land showing ie towpath and hedge. No plagues though?
We started on Tuesday 9th December, and to date have layed approximately 80m of hedge, coppiced and transferred about 400 stakes and binders, felled three medium sized trees and removed almost all of the fence for the 250m towards the lane. Also the bramble and dog rose cuttings from the hedge clearance have been burnt by the Monday Group pre their Christmas lunch (to build up a good appetite no doubt). Thanks to Bob, Roger, Con, Rod, Tony, Dave and Bob and the Monday Group for their help so far.
I hope to see more of you all between now and the end of March and please lets have no more Rain Dances! Weather permitting and no more punctures, I expect to be there most Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday afternoons and occasionally other times.
'Mrs Bucket Prepares for the New Season ~ Brian Crossley.
The group spent a useful day helping to clear the small trees, scrub and bracken from the route of a possible cut-and-cover tunnel route through Sidney Wood, to permit an accurate survey to be carried out. Next we shall be installing a bench seat and levelling the ground at Devils Hole Lock in readiness for grass seeding when the weather becomes warmer.
Our two meetings in February are on Mondays 2 and 16 - just ring me during the week before for details of the meeting place and jobs to be tackled.
Working Party Diary for February early March.
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. 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 FEB 2 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley.
WED FEB 4 MWWP. Meet 0930 in the WACT car park at the Onslow Arms. Contact Peter Jackman or Brian Crossley for
more details.
MON FEB 16 MWWP and MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group).. Meet 0930 in the WACT car park at the Onslow Arms. Contact Peter Jackman for
more details.
WED MAR 3 MWWP. Meet 0930 in the WACT car park at the Onslow Arms. Contact Peter Jackman for
more details.
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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