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Editorial Comment ~ Tim Jolly.

I know that this newsletter is supposed to reach you around the beginning of each month but I've only had one item submitted to me so was waiting for others to make it worthwhile. (John Wood has exactly the same problem when it comes to compiling 'Restoration Roundup' for Wey-South so has to resort to some creative thinking!)

None have appeared, although I think that John Empringham thought he'd emailed his bit on the 20th of July. I don't seem to have received it. Unfortunately he's been on holiday for ages so I've been unable to get in touch in order to ask him to resend. Winston Harwood has been very unwell so we can forgive him and I think Eric has relied on Graham Baird. Otherwise the guilty know who they are.

Graham's bit will seem like old hat if it isn't issued soon and it seems a shame to let his efforts go to waste.

Another thing I haven't received is details of volunteers who have been on Working Parties, not just recently but at all! New volunteers are supposed to get copies of WPN - but who are they? - are there any?

Since I've not received any working party dates you'll have to ring the appropriate leader. I believe that work goes on at the Loxwood 'New' Lock every day - get in touch with Eric if you want to be sure.

If this no-information situation continues then there is no point in having WPN.

Three weeks of canal camp at Loxwood Lock ~ Graham Baird.

This was the first occasion that the Trust had arranged three separate week long camps back to back in July, and Kirdford Village Hall was the base for groups from NWPG, KESCRG and WACT non-locals. From sweltering days in temperatures of 30 degrees C to hours spent pumping out the flooded lock, our visiting volunteers certainly had a variety of experiences to look back on.

They took over the lock site with the excavation completed, heavy-duty shoring in place, and the blinding concrete laid. The first task was to fix top and bottom reinforcement for the 600mm thick raft and erect end shutters. As each of three bays was completed, approximately 70 cubic metres of concrete was placed using a lorry mounted concrete pump, and the surface tamped to a level finish.

As soon as two adjacent pours had been completed, work on the 225mm thick facing brickwork could commence, and this formed the permanent shutter for the mass concrete gravity walls. Newbury Group (NWPG) had given us a flying start and it was the turn of Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group (KESCRG) to continue the work.

As a minimum of two bays of brickwork was completed the concrete pump returned to place the concrete backfill. At the same time the 'coffin' shutters were being fabricated to form the two sluice chambers at the top end of the lock. By then it was time for WACT non-locals to take over.

The sluice chambers had to be concreted in stages to prevent them floating. When transporting site-mixed concrete from the mixing area to the far end of the lock you begin to realise just how big this project is! Meanwhile the brickwork and concrete backfill were proceeding apace, with considerable help from regular members of Eric and Winston's teams.

By the end of the camps 260 cubic metres of concrete had been placed in position and the lock walls had reached 900 mm above the base - and there were many tired bodies who could claim to have played a major part in this important project.

Press date for articles for inclusion is the 20^th 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 at Lordings. Site details from Winston Harwood.

WEDNESDAYS Loxwood Link maintenance. Site details from Peter Wilding.

EVERY THURSDAY and SUNDAY Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs mainly construction. Site details from Eric Walker.

John Empringham (Monday Working Party) 01483 562657
Tim Jolly (W P News Editor) 01403 267408 e-mail: tim.jolly@tesco.net
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
WACT office (General Enquiries) 01403 752403
Winston Harwood (Lordings Lock & Aqueduct) 01293 424672
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email:ericwalker@onetel.com
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736
Don Gibson (Midweek Walks) 01903 201375