Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Wendy Andrews.

Despite it being the wettest June since records began the weather was kind to us for the Small Boat Rally at Lordings and for the Poddle, both events were most enjoyable and as successful as ever. However, the weather was not so kind for the Midsummer Soiree; nonetheless the evening was greatly enjoyed by all and hopefully it was the first of many more similar events to look forward to - thank you to the WAEL team who made it happen.

Administration ~ Wendy Andrews

A reminder from Colin Gibbs to group leaders that attendance records for April to June are due in please.

Educational Project Infoposts? ~ Don Gibson

Brian Crossley has been in touch and is recovering from his soggy Garden Party, which was a great success. He and I have arranged to start installing Infoposts? from the 9th July 2007 at Drungewick Lock and re-installing that at Brewhurst Lock. If our strength and will holds out, perhaps another two! On Monday 18th June I went down to inspect the Northlands Lift Bridge leaflet dispenser, carrying tools and a spare dispenser, along with leaflets, only to find the dispenser un-damaged and no leaflets taken. Still not counting chickens, no vandalism to report, I'll inspect again in another fortnight!

On my walk on Thursday 21st June from Wisborough Green I had seven walkers, two of whom were first timers with me, who very kindly volunteered to be leaflet monitors. Foolishly, I did not take their names and telephone numbers, so if they see this please will they get in touch so that I can give them the low down on what to do. My next walk is on Thursday 26th July at 09.45h, departing 10.00 from the Limeburners Inn, Lordings Road near junction with A272 map ref TQ072254, to go down to Harsfold Bridge.

Conservation Officer ~ Michael Joseph

The wet weather in June enabled me to plant out about 30 pond edge plugs that I had grown at home as an experiment to see why the seeds sown directly on the canal site had not germinated. Wash from the trip boats is one possibility. I am now looking for volunteers to do likewise using the seed which I will supply. They just need sowing into trays of moist soil and then pricking out into pots until they are large enough to be transferred to the Onslow Pound. There are 16 species, all with wonderful names, like Sneezewort, Fleabane, Purple Loosestrife, Hemp Agrimony, Ragged Robin and Scullcap. We have to be absolutely certain we do not introduce any non-native or cultivated garden species. So if you would like to have a go, please ring me or drop me an email.

It was nice to see the new wildlife identification boards by the Onslow Arms being used. Some young children took great delight when they quite correctly spotted some male Banded Demoiselles.

Mid Week Working Party ~ Peter Jackman

Most of June has been spent dismantling the causeway at Utworth, with blessing from the management and residents of Elmbridge village. We expect to continue to be working there for most of July. There is limited access via Alfold Lane - please get in touch before turning up.

WTS Group (formerly TSG Group) ~ Eric Walker

Early in June it became apparent that work for the Wednesday working party would be limited so it is temporarily discontinued.

During the month Colin Durbridge connected up a float switch to the back pump so now the rain may fall but the water in the new lock will be controlled. Again having put down turf at the lock it rained and the grass grew so well you would not believe how short a time it is since it was put down. The fencing towards the road was completed as far as it will be before the road bridge is built.

In the Onslow Arms car park the ramps were removed and the steps that were removed at the beginning of the work were reinstated. At Brewhurst Lock the deflective ground paddle 'jack head' was removed and sent back to the suppliers, Callis Mill. A new one has been supplied and seems to work well, though further assessments will have to be done.

Peter Foulger brought some wood from Tickners to be fitted at the head of the new lock and enough to do the same at Devils Hole lock; well that's looking into the future somewhat. He also brought some shuttering and it is in the Onslow car park where it will be used as a base to make the coping 'stones' for the retaining wall behind the Onslow and the training walls of the new lock.

Finally, at Drungewick, the stone recovered from the final dismantling of the original aqueduct has started to be pulled out of the bushes where it was put in 2000 to be prepared and erected on the new aqueduct, if you like 'in memoriam' of the former structure.

For the future - mostly seems to be heavy jobs like the copings for the aqueduct stone, the wood for the lock, but there are also a number of lighter jobs like painting and erecting the shelving in the new cabin.

Winston Harwood's Group ~ Lawrie Wraight

A major clearance operation took place to clear the weed and reed cuttings from the canal before the rally. Our workload was made much easier by the assistance of volunteers from other working parties. We thank you. Tony Clear's newly acquired waders were put to good use and will become essential equipment for future canal work. The fencing alongside the canal is continuing to be updated and the waterwheel is being refurbished to make it more efficient.

Another bench has been installed on a concrete base, close to the lock. Surplus materials are still being moved to Tickners.

Monday Working Party ~ Nick Wood for John Empringham

The Group regrets to report that our esteemed leader, John E, has broken his ankle in the best traditions of boaters by jumping off his boat somewhere on the Southern Oxford canal. We all wish him a speedy recovery and will endeavour to manage ourselves for a few weeks.

Having been a little short handed in May due to holidays etc and with the heavy rain and wind, the grass and weeds had been growing like there was no tomorrow, with the result that a considerable backlog of work had built up by the end of the month. Consequently our two June meetings involved a lot of hard work to bring our eight sites back to the standard we expect to maintain. But that is why we joined, isn't it! At Run Common a large tree has partly blown over so we have had to make that safe for the users of the bridle path. A thick bough of a tree had also come down into the canal between the Jack Pocock restored bridge and the A281 at Fastbridge. This took considerable effort to remove and cut up. In addition we are now looking after the three small grassed areas at the rear of the Onslow Arms and the newly laid turf on both sides of Loxwood New Lock. Despite all this, two of our number managed to render assistance to the Winston Harwood Group on weed clearance in preparation for the small boat rally at Lordings.

We meet next on the 2nd and 16th of July.

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

First & third Mondays of the month
'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, Check with Peter Jackman or Alison Saville for confirmation

Every Wednesday
Loxwood Link maintenance, Contact Peter Wilding

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

Every Thursday
Winston Harwood Group. Contact Lawrie Wraight for details.

Some Saturdays Conservation and Maintenance Get in touch with David Jessop

July 14th Mikron Theatre Contact WACT office

July 26th Guided Walk from Limeburners to Harsfold Contact Don Gibson

September 8th/9th Heritage Open Days at Brewhurst Mill Contact WACT office

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: eric_walker@weyandarun.co.uk
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
John Empringham, (Mrs Bucket) 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
Conservation Manager 01403 783 485 email: michael_joseph@weyandarun.co.uk
Don Gibson Educational Projects 01903 201375 email: doncanalgibson@hotmail.com