Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Wendy Andrews.

Despite the arrival of the autumn rain October has been a busy month with lots of exciting developments. The list of things to do is growing fast too so if you know of anyone who might be persuaded to join a working party please encourage him or her to contact the leader of the group that appeals the most.

Thank you to all the contributors for their input to this month's edition. Keith took me literally and delivered his on the back of three fag packets neatly folded inside a fourth. I feared it was a letter bomb coming through the post box!

Please get in touch if you have any queries or suggestion for future editions.

You can leave a message for me any time at the WACT office (01403 752 403) or e-mail me at wendy_andrews@weyandarun.co.uk

Christmas Lunch ~ (Colin Gibbs)

A reminder that this year's Christmas Lunch is planned for Monday 4th December at the Three Compasses from 12.00 for 13.00. At time of writing there were 8 places remaining. Please contact Colin before 22nd November if you are thinking of coming. He will be informing you of the menu shortly.

Maintenance at Tickner's Heath Depot ~ (Colin Gibbs)

Stuart Savage joined the team at Tickners, bringing skills that our old engines, pumps etc are going to appreciate. With a little encouragement and the odd new part, they will soon be as good as new. New members are always welcome, we meet on Tuesday mornings, basically keeping WACT's plant and equipment in good working order.

WTS Group (formerly TSG Group) ~ Eric Walker

Recently the group has been finishing the parapet walls at the New Lock and starting to make the copings. After two prototypes, a final design was agreed. With two inches of rain on 23/24 October, the lock filled about 4ft over the normal depth, so there will have to be some pumping. Just as well Callis Mill have been delayed into November so we have a chance of clearing the top sill for them. We also need the lock pumped down for a number of other jobs such as the bottom gate quoins and the finishing the submersible pump lock chamber. The electricity customer kiosk and the similar one for our equipment have now been installed. The connection trench has yet to be dug out. The eight bollards have been concreted in.

Eventually Burras arrived on site to be met by a lot of water as the River Lox flooded, overwhelmed the sewer authorities pumping station at the Onslow Arms and put a lot of water into the Onslow pound. The vertical shaft above the sewer that Burras was to connect to was found to be cracked and not being a standard size was impossible to replace. Furthermore it was too small in diameter to meet current safety standards. The sewer authority, Southern Water, decided it would be best to replace the whole inspection chamber. Yet more delay, but a very sensible way forward.

With the topsoil in place at the lock, efforts on Sundays turned to the reinstatement of bridleway 805 to Brewhurst lock. A contractor has been retained to grass the bank opposite the BW805, which they did on Oct 30.

Before Christmas this year there is so much work to be done the boat group have been advised to get a contingency plan for their Santa Cruises starting them below Brewhurst.

Winston Harwood's Group ~ Lawrie Wraight

The first two weeks were devoted to tidying up as much as possible at Lordings, before the winter weather prevented us from tackling leaks etc. The rest of the month has seen us assisting in the reconstruction of Brewhurst Lock, where progress was made casting concrete stonework and concrete steps, plus the installation of metal safety rails.

Keith Nichols' Group ~ Keith Nichols

Coppicing commenced in Devils Hole (not Sidney Wood as originally planned) on October 11th. It didn't rain - HoHo!! We soggily struggled on as river water passed us, poured over the offside of Devils Hole Lock and filled the New Lock, we could have boated back to the High Street. Approximately 100 stakes and 225 binders were cut. The following Wednesday all was tidied up by the MWWP in the dry.

Laying at Brewhurst hasn't started yet due to flooding, lack of personnel and inability to move cut material from Devils Hole to Brewhurst. I hope to start on Sunday 5th November with preparation and laying on Monday 6th, Sunday 12th and Tuesday 14th. Then I plan to be in Sidney Wood with the MWWP on Wednesday 22nd for more coppicing as I need approximately 650 stakes and 650 binders for this season's intended work. Following dates look like being Sunday 26th, Thursday 30th and possibly Sunday 10th and Monday 18th December. Please call to check before turning up.

Mid Week Working Party ~ (Peter Jackman)

The group has been busy clearing the offside bank between Compasses and Fastbridge and has now reached Farnhurst Bridge. This continues to be our main venue. However, we go where we are needed most - we spent a very wet October day at Devils Hole coppicing with Keith's team and more coppicing is planned for November 22nd, this time in Sidney Wood. November 8th will see us tidying up around Brewhurst, November 1st saw some of us clearing fallen trees after a mini-tornado at Drungewick. The team is growing, we extend a warm welcome to our latest additions, Julian, Betty and Fred. There's always plenty to do, newcomers are ever welcome but please call before turning up.

Maintenance Manager ~ (David Jessop)

A small sub-section of the MWWP has been completing the new fence northwards from Lee Farm lock towards Haybarn. The next task is to plant a hedge. We need lots of people to help because it is a long hedge. The job is to be carried out over the weekends of December 2nd/3rd and 9th/10th . (I told you it was a long hedge!). We will start at 9.30 am and finish about 4.00 pm - or when we've had enough. We need to form teams of four to get the job done efficiently and as quickly as possible. They need to make a planting hole, put in the plant, firm the soil, insert a cane and wrap protective tubing round it. No experience is necessary although if you have done this type of job before you are likely to be made a team leader - at no extra pay. We need several teams so everyone interested will be welcomed. I hope you will join us. If you can please phone to give your contact details: WACT Office on 01403 752 403 weekdays between 09.00 and 13.00 or David Jessop on 01403 269 384 (answerphone) or e-mail to david_jessop@weyandarun.co.uk

It is planned to clear more of the site at Tannery Lane Bridge, Bramley on Saturday 11th November. This is only a small site and we have to be careful not to stray beyond its boundaries. One of the reasons is that there is a nearby Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) which we must not damage.

There is a wide ranging list of maintenance tasks the length of the canal for the coming year and to carry them out we need more volunteers or the same volunteers working more days. If you have the opportunity, please encourage others to come along for a 'sample' day with a working party. Skilled or not, male or female, young or not so young will be welcome. Naturally, a phone call beforehand to the leader or to me would be a good idea.

Loxwood Link Maintenance Unit ~ (Peter Wilding)

October was too wet to mow or to work. We had 6"of rain making it the wettest month since November 2003. Pumping water out of our work boat, the May Upton, proved to be a routine task! The group meets every Wednesday with the objective of keeping the navigable section of the canal operational for public trips, charters and special events. The work is very varied, usually on land, but can involve working from the boat. New members are always welcome.

Monday Working Party ~ (John Empringham)

We were disappointed to miss the first issue of the new WPN as I was away on a six week holiday. Many thanks to Barry Woodroffe for standing in and organising things so effectively, (next time we will make sure the WPN ed knows where to come!)

Looking back we have been busy, both at our regular sites and also in taking on some additional work. In particular we cleared the towpath side of Three Compasses stretch end to end prior to the small boat event. This was impassable in parts and the access gates were completely overgrown, we also cleared around Farnhurst Bridge and a length of bank to allow the canoes to be launched. We spent some time clearing undergrowth at the Oxbow site near Devils Hole lock where the new winding hole will be constructed. We've also been visiting Winston's garden on a regular basis to keep this under control. Let's hope this is soon resolved!

Looking forwards, our next work day is on Monday 6th November when we plan the final maintenance visit to all of our regular sites. On Monday 20th November we start our winter programme. On Monday 4th December we will be out for a few hours clearance work prior to the Christmas lunch and, as in past years, anyone fancying a chance to build up an appetite prior to the hearty meal is very welcome to join us.

Visiting Groups ~ (Bill Nicholson)

The weather remains warm but the rain has arrived! However the work goes on to ensure that ZK can reach the Onslow by December.

Two October weekends to report on. The first was a combined NWPG/WACT Summer Camp re-union early in the month. With 20 volunteers on site each day we completed most and more of our allocated tasks. The critical area of work was (and remains) the casting of the concrete coping slabs over the upper paddle holes and surrounds. This needs to be finished by the end of the 3 day NWPG weekend in early November as the day after, the team from Callis Mill arrive to re-fit the top gates and paddle gearing. During the weekend we completed three of the six slabs needed. We had hoped for four but we had to start the weekend by completing the concrete back filling of the nearside - delayed because the ready mix couldn't reach the lock - that rain again. Elsewhere good progress was made. The lock tail footbridge was moved right to the end of the lock and re-fixed - this combined with the shortening of the balance beams will enable access to the other side of the lock when the gates are open. The ladder recesses are finished (thanks to Phil Cardy and his brother), the back pump pipe was laid and connected in its trench (thanks to Rob Taylor for digging it), the lower gates have been strengthened with plates and the first of the overflow slots cut (thanks to Steve and the team who moved the scaffold - again!). Completion of the concrete sloping beams from the lower gate platforms means that construction of the steps can begin.

The second weekend was a LWRG visit. Although I've not had a full report, I understand that a further paddle coping was cast (the nearside one with the hole for the paddle rod in it) and the shuttering for the two copings around the tops of the quoins substantially prepared ready for pouring. Again these would have been done had it not poured with rain all day on the Sunday. Work progressed on the steps.

There are five more planned working days before December. We need to caste as many of the copings as possible over the 3 day November dig. We are making contingency plans to take account of possible wet weather so that we can cast and finish the copings under cover. I will let you know how successful we have been next month.

If you do not attend regularly, please contact the site manager before joining a work party.

Most Mondays
Mrs Bucket' - Keeping Up Appearances Details from John Empringham

Most Tuesday mornings
Maintenance sessions at Tickner's Heath Depot Check with Colin Gibbs

Every Wednesday
Mid-Week Working Party Ring Peter Jackman for site details

Every Wednesday
Loxwood Link maintenance Contact Peter Wilding

Every Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday
Mainly construction work. Meet at the Onslow Arms, 09.30. Contact Eric Walker for details

Every Thursday
Winston Harwood Group, usually Lordings but elsewhere this quarter Contact Lawrie Wraight for details

Variable
Keith Nichols Group Contact Keith for dates and sites

Monday 4th December
Working Party Christmas Lunch, Compasses Inn, 12.00 for 13.00 Contact Colin Gibbs to book

Weekends December 2/3 and 9/10
Hedge planting at Lee Farm Contact David Jessop

WACT Office, General enquiries, 01403 752 403 email: office@weyandarun.co.uk
Wendy Andrews, W P News Editor, 01403 752 170 email: wendy_andrews@weyandarun.co.uk
Turlough Bamber, Restoration Manager, 01483 421 305 email: restoration@weyandarun.co.uk
David Jessop, Maintenance Manager, 01403 269 384 email: david_jessop@weyandarun.co.uk
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email: ericwalker@onetel.com
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
John Empringham, Keeping Up Appearances, 01483 562657, email: john@empringham.com
Dave Junkison (Lordings Lock & Aqueduct) 020 8941 0685
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519, email: peter_wilding@weyandarun.co.uk
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736 email: colin-gibbs@blueyonder.co.uk
Don Gibson (Midweek Walks) 01903 201375
Lawrie Wraight (The Winston Harwood Working Group) 01903 721404
Bill Nicholson, Visiting Groups, 01844 343 369, email: bandsnicholson@tiscali.co.uk
Graham Baird, Brewhurst Lock Reconfiguration, 01403 262 515, email: graham@gbaird.plus.com