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MWWP - THE FIRST 10 YEARS - Colin Gibbs
The Midweek Working Party
My apologies to current active members of the MWWP as we are now affectionately known, and to the Restoration Group, as they have already seen most of what’s written here. I had a phone call from John Ward at the end of August asking what plans I had in mind for the MWWP this winter. My answer was somewhat vague as I had not given it a great deal of thought, other than "We really should tidy up that section" and “We’ve not been there for 5 years, or is it 6?”
As a result, I’ve arrived at a list of sites that desperately require attention, somewhat ashamedly, especially when I checked to find the date of our last visit. Many of the sites have taken a back seat since November 1998, because of the “jungle bashing” at Bonfire Hanger, Sidney Wood and the Southlands pound.
The list has a reasonable order of preference, but will be altered as and when necessary. I’ve attached the list in the hope that it might encourage some of the newer members to share our enjoyment in restoring the W & A, and also provide the opportunity for all members, both old and new, to visit sites they’ve not seen because they are normally off limits.
Trying to estimate how long each site will take to tidy up is almost impossible. In doing this, one has to consider the following criteria: - how many volunteers will turn up on any given day; how many of these are willing and able to use a brush cutter (strimmer); how many brush-cutters are in working order; will they keep working all day (volunteers and machines); what’s the weather forecast; how’s the water level in the canal; will we have had enough by 3.00pm or will we go on until 4.15pm. Need I say more! Having attempted this estimation, we should complete the work in March 2007- that’s if we work to rule!
When the MWWP began in January 1993 it was agreed we would work on the 15th of each month (the Friday before if the 15th fell on a Saturday or Sunday). By March 1993 it became clear one day a month was not going to be enough. We met 3 times that month, in the rush to clear the section between Birch Copse and Brewhurst Lock.
The 15th of January 2003 sees the 10th anniversary of the MWWP, so what better way to mark the occasion than to work at the same site we first visited. This was during the latter stages of the initial clearance south of Compasses Bridge, on the British Aerospace section at Dunsfold Airfield.
On that occasion 9 volunteers arrived for work. Roy Broadhead had very kindly agreed to pass on the fruits of his vast WACT experience, and what’s more, was able to use a chain-saw! I am sure those who turned out that day will not mind me mentioning them by name - Brian Tanner, Jim Phillips, Pat Arman, Peter Sterling, David Robertson, Keith Ellis and Bill Manning, who sadly is no longer with us, plus Roy and myself.
Please make a note in your diaries. Wednesday 15th January 2003, Dunsfold Airfield main gate 930am. We’d love to see you all again, even if it’s only for lunch. Jim and David are still regulars, whilst Peter, who recently retired from active work, is our number one supporter. Don’t forget, the Three Compasses is on tap, and of course we recently obtained a lease on this section.
During the past 10 years no less than 131 volunteers have turned out with the MWWP. Many of these have also worked, and are still working with one of WACT’s other Working Parties. Indeed we have been honoured on many occasions with such well-known names as Brian Crossley, Winston Harwood, Gordon Limbrick, Eric Walker and Peter Wilding - the Gaffers of the other Working Parties no less. I must not forget John Ward, the Gaffer's Gaffer, of course. This could be one of the reasons why the Trust has made so much progress during the past 10 years or so. Everyone is prepared to help out when emergencies and important jobs require quick action. The MWWP will have met on 265 occasions (approx.) by the middle of January (not bad for once a month). As far as I can remember, we’ve only had to cancel one meeting, and that was because of a heavy fall of snow.
Some of our achievements have to be worth recalling, especially when you understand how limited our skills were at the outset. We have been responsible for clearing 3.4 miles of virgin canal (jungle bashing after 130 years of disuse) and 14.75 miles of scrub, brambles, stinging nettles etc., mostly on the towpaths and towpath banks. Some of these will have been cleared more than once. By January 2003, this distance will hopefully have increased to about 16.5 miles (see list). What of our other achievements? Well, a bit of one-upmanship here. We have actually provided the Trust with two Secretaries, Iris and Geoff, plus a Treasurer, Jim, and I’m delighted to say, all three are still very active within the group, despite their very heavy workload on the Admin. side.
Our skills have improved over the years and become more varied - I believe they call it experience! We have erected no less than 1.5 miles of fencing to keep rabbits, cattle, sheep and sometimes humans away from towpaths, houses and private property. Planted 1.4 miles of hedge and in the process using approximately 7,000 hedging plants. Puddled clay at Drungewick Lane and near Harsfold Bridge where two breaches were repaired and painted sheds, caravans, lock gates, bridge formers (twice) and a swing bridge (Leeds & Liverpool Canal). I have to admit there were fewer volunteers present when we painted the formers the second time round. They were last used in the construction of Brewhurst Bridge in 1994.
Much of our time has been spent working along the Loxwood Link, even before it received that title. Apart from the initial jungle bashing, we helped with the clearance of Brewhurst Lock before the rebuilding and the general tidy up once it was built. Removed reeds, upgraded the towpath, erected a fence, planted a hedge and removed scrub from the towpath bank all the way between the ‘Onslow’ and the Aqueduct. We did more towpath improvements north of Devil’s Hole, totalling 0.8 miles in all. Our largest turnout occurred when we carried out a variety ofjobs prior to the opening of the Link (23 Volunteers).
Throughout the last 10 years the group has operated with a nucleus of 30/35. For the first few years we averaged about 14 per session, whereas recently this has dropped to 10/11. The latest string to our bow became apparent, when three of the group said they would take responsibility for laying 50 yards of hedge - and doesn’t it look good at Tickners Heath?
Life out in the countryside has become far gentler for our ageing group, following the purchase and gift of two brush-cutters and more people being able to use chain saws. Long gone are the days when we broke many backs, and wills, using tools called "slashers". We also have the backup of a tractor and flail which cuts down the time involved even more.
Unfortunately the towpath on practically all the sites listed below will not accommodate the overall width of the machinery. Despite going upmarket with the use of various machines, there’s still plenty of work for common-or-garden bow saws, loppers, rakes, pitch forks, newspapers and matches. However, if you can assist with the brush cutting, with your own machine or the Trust’s machines, it would be very much appreciated.
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