SECRETARY'S COLUMN - Julian Morgan

"You should probably just sit and listen to CoM meetings for the first 6 months before volunteering for anything." Wasn't that how the sales pitch went, Mr Hon Treasurer (and Fund-Raising Manager)? So how exactly was it that, soon after my first meeting, I found I was Mr Hon Secretary myself? Well, there's nothing like plunging in at the deep end. Talking of plunging in, some of those at the brilliant Lording's event in late May might have seen me taking my duties a little too seriously and conducting an in-depth inspection of the restored canal section; to be precise, standing in about 3 feet of lukewarm water. I did eventually manage to recover the canoe and explore the stretch properly, along with the mysterious winding River Arun.

Just as a very quick introduction, I have been a waterways enthusiast since my school days in the 1970s when I explored the Itchen Navigation between Southampton and Winchester. Obscure corners have been a speciality ever since and soon after moving to Guildford in 1979 I walked the towpath of the Wey & Arun as far as possible. Other interests came into the foreground for a while, until at the very end of 2000 we were intrigued enough to undertake a stomp through the snow to inspect the site of Drungewick aqueduct. Since then I have again followed the towpath on foot and bicycle and been immensely impressed with the Trust's progress. I have been inspired by the Huddersfield Canal Society, who overcame seemingly impossible obstacles to reopen the dramatic route across and through the Pennines.

"On-the-job training" seems to have been the motto this year so far, on and off the water, and I do thank the patient trainers, especially Geoff Perks who briefed me very thoroughly on the Secretary's job - and no, I won't be doing as much as Geoff did because I have a day job as well.

I feel privileged to be in at the start of more exciting times, with the Onslow Arms crossing about to become reality. If we want to see the canal fully restored in any of our lifetimes, we have to raise our game so that we can tackle one or more of these major projects every year. To do that, we have to achieve a big increase in our membership, make more noise about the great work we are doing and appear as professional as dedicated amateurs can possibly be.

Julian Morgan

[Newer members of the Trust, such as I was this time last year, may like some reassurance that an "extraordinary" meeting does not herald a crisis in our affairs, such as it might do at, say, Marks & Spencer. No, it's just that we like to hold two meetings a year, rather than just the annual meeting each April. So, it's a routine entry in our calendar, but nonetheless promises to be exciting, rewarding and informative. After the formal business and a tea break, there is a more relaxed session such as a film show or presentation. This year, at the time of writing, the focus will be on work at Lording's.]

NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING - 2004

An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust Limited will be held on Friday 29 October 2004, at the North Hall, Loxwood, West Sussex, starting at 7.30pm. The meeting is an opportunity for members to hear the latest reports on the canal's restoration and WACT's financial position. Also, the two Poddle Cups will be presented to the 2004 winners and Dusty Miller will report on WAEL's recent activities.

AGENDA
1.Apologies for absence.
2.To confirm the Minutes of the 31st Annual General Meeting held on 30 April 2004. Copies will be available at the meeting.
3.Chairman's Report
Peter Foulger will update members on the Trust's activities during the last six months.
4.Hon. Treasurer's Report
Jim Phillips will speak about the current financial position.
5.To present the Poddle Cups.
6.W&A Enterprises Ltd. - Dusty Miller to report on the Company's recent activities.
7.Next Meeting
To confirm that the 32nd Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 29 April 2005.
8.Any Other Business

Julian Morgan (Honorary Secretary, WACT)

M O N E Y

Funding the B2133 Crossing

The Trust and your Treasurer have been much encouraged by the financial support that we are getting for the B2133 Crossing at Loxwood. £1.2m is a lot to those of us who haven't recently won the Lottery and I am grateful to those who were not overawed by it, but gave generously to the appeal in the last Wey-South. WAEL has chipped in £10,000 as an advance payment for their 2004 operations. Add in the PODDLE proceeds, which should be in the region of £12,500 after expenses (see below).

We are therefore coming up to the £¼m mark which I find very promising. Anthony Woolhouse has been doing great work in getting a bid together for a Flagship Award from Biffa plc; this is in connection with the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. There is only one Flagship Award every year in each Development Area (we are in SEEDA's patch). It needs a deal of careful writing to get the application as punchy as possible and some strong support from individuals and organisations in the area who have been asked to write to Biffa plc to support our work.

Getting the Flagship Award - and we haven't got it yet, so I must not run ahead of the script - would get us to what used to be called 'a critical mass' but is now called, I believe, 'the tip-over point'. You may prefer to call it 'half-way'. The point is that it is easier to pull in money when you are in the second half of the endeavour. I sometimes think of donors as penguins standing on the edge of the ice: the first to jump in may be seized, and lost, but once a few have ventured in, then many more follow. No one wants to throw their tuppence-worth into a nearly empty barrel: it's much more encouraging when the money is clearly within sight of the brim.

I have mentioned before that part of the sewer diversion works means that we have to put up a £75,000 bond with Southern Water, equivalent to the cost of the contractor, in case he goes bust. He is Southern Water's preferred contractor, so it's 'heads I win, tails you lose'. We get the money back once the work is completed but it is additional cash which we have to find for about a year. Members have kindly lent us over £21,000 for this purpose, and I would be grateful for further offers of help. The money is lent interest-free to the Trust and will be re-paid to lenders as soon as Southern Water pays back our bond. If you have money under your mattress, could I borrow it for a year? Not necessarily now: a pledge would be fine at this stage. An e-mail to me at jim@jphillips.org or a brief note by mail would be fine.

It was an excellent PODDLE, blessed with a brilliant day for weather. Thanks to the organisers and all the 55 helpers on the day, as well, of course, to the 238 walkers (202 walkers in 2003) and their sponsors who helped raise such a large sum for the canal's restoration. As I write there is one Group and only 10 individuals who haven't settled up. 12 June 2005 is the PODDLE date for next year: I hope to see many of the walkers again then.

Jim Phillips

Treasurer & Fundraising Manager

News from the Granary

"Time flies when you are enjoying yourself" ?.. and there's also something about it speeding up the older one gets! The summer seems to have flown by and autumn is rapidly approaching. Perhaps with its advent we can expect to see some more rain since, at the time of writing this in the middle of August, the water levels in the canal are very low. Our longer public trips and charters are having to be curtailed but with Peter Wilding and Peter Foulger's water management skills we have got through the majority of the season with only a few cancellations having to be made.

Bookings for private charters on the Zachariah Keppel have already exceeded last year's total of 77. We have had 84 confirmed bookings so far, and 20 for the John Smallpeice. We are continuing to receive bookings for both, albeit at a slower rate, and we are already entering charters in the diary for 2005. The number of hirings of the Pete Wynn has also increased, from 11 last year to 16, and we look forward to hearing from many more members who might like to take the opportunity to enjoy the peace and quiet of the canal on board the Trust's electric day boat.

Interest in the 'Enthusiast Trips' (which go down to Drungewick Lock) on Saturday afternoons remains high with many bookings taken over the last few weeks, presumably because of the recent good weather.

We hardly dare say it but our thoughts have already turned to Christmas and the Santa Cruises, the organisation of which has already swung into action! We anticipate that they will be as popular and successful as ever; we have 1,050 tickets to sell but would still recommend that members book their seats early as they have always sold out well in advance in previous years. Please see the separate feature on page 15 for dates and information. We would be very grateful for offers to make (or supply) mince pies. Please let us know if you can help, or call Lyn Nash (01403 752046) who is co-ordinating the cruises again this year.

Jackie, Bridget & Susan
01403 752403 (Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 1.00pm)

Timeline for Canal Completion

Progress from the Canal Completion Strategy Steering Group (CCSSG)

As a result of the early meetings of this group, which is sponsored by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and includes representatives from the Environment Agency and many of the local authorities, we were actioned to outline a time scale for the project and its components. The following was produced and approved by the CoM at its May 2004 meeting. It has been called a "Timeline" to indicate that it is speculative at this stage and is likely to be modified and expanded in detail as the Strategy is developed.

The intention is that this will focus our efforts to achieve the overall objective, but it does not rule out taking advantage of specific opportunities, which offer to advance restoration anywhere on the canal.

Timeline for Canal Completion

Short Term (0 to 5 years)
Extend the existing Loxwood section northwards by crossing the B2133 thus providing additional cruising routes for trip boats from the current operating base at the "Onslow Arms" and demonstrating WACT's ability to effect such a major road crossing;
Seek to establish a navigable section on the Summit Pound at Dunsfold which could enable Wey & Arun Enterprises Ltd (WAEL) to set up another boat operation;
In order to gain the benefit of planning protection;
continue to seek out alternative routes for the canal where the original route is unavailable.

Medium Term (6 to 10 years)
Extend southwards from Drungewick towards Newbridge as and when possible with a view to establishing further boating opportunities;
Seek to join the extended Loxwood section with the Summit at Dunsfold;
Commence work on the Bramley and Wonersh section with a view to establishing a trip boat operation in this area as quickly as possible;
Consider the provision of a Canal Information Centre.

Long term (over 10 years)
Complete the link from the River Wey to Dunsfold via Bramley and Wonersh;
Complete the link to the River Arun from Newbridge to Pallingham.