News - 2007

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NARROW BOAT TRUST LTD WILL TAKE PLACE AT: STOKE BRUERNE VILLAGE HALL AT 2.30PM, SATURDAY DECEMBER 1ST, 2007. ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME, INDEED ENCOURAGED, TO ATTEND!
Do You know your Looby from your Anser Pin? Boat Familiarisation session from 10.30am, Sat December 1st - pop down before the AGM!
November 13th: the boats are at: Stoke Bruerne, being brought from Winkwell over the weekend by Nick Wolfe - thanks for the info Nick!
Congratulations to members Sheena Bourn & Nick Wolfe on their purchase of the working pair, Aldegate & Angel - plenty of work for them to do on them!

October 31st: A message from Chairman Graham Scothern: Nuneaton & Brighton are tied up below Lock 61 on the Grand Union as BW have imposed an emerency stoppage. BW reports: "Stoppage: Lock 60, Winkwell: The canal is closed between Locks 59 and 61 at Winkwell on the Grand Union Canal due to lock gate failure at Lock 60. This closure will be in place for approximately 8 days, commencing Thursday 25 October. The nearest winding holes are below Locks 56 and 61. The nearest waterpoint is on the offside above Lock 53, Kings Road, Berkhamsted.The pound between Locks 60 to 71 will be lowered by approximately one metre on Thurday 30 October for the lock gates to be removed. Water levels will be restored again on that day - the water will be lowered again on Monday 5th November for the gates to be replaced."
Is anybody available to attend the boats on the dates indicated to check the lines and make sure the boats are secure on their moorings? Please contact Graham Scothern or Roger Morgan - Contacts HERE
October 28th: the boats are: below Winkwell. forced to stop on Saturday, due to a stoppage caused by a broken lock gate. They were above Lot Mead on Friday night after a few hours battle with a tyre on the prop at Hanwell. They had to empty the pound to get at the problem, after Colin Edmunson had been in for a dip, to no avail!
October 25th: the boats are at: the top of Hanwell, having gone through Brentford early this afternoon. Thanks to Vicky Morgan for emailing me!
October 23rd: the boats are: below Chertsey Lock. Crew & helpers include Nick Wolfe, Tom Stewart, Alan Cummings, Trevor Winterbottom, Colin Edmunson and David Junkinson. The boats are due to deliver up the River Wey tomorrow and aim to be at Stoke Bruerne by the weekend.
October 22nd: the boats are at: Reading, this evening, having travelled from Farrnmoor , near Eynsham with Nick Wolfe & Crew, including 16-yr old new member, Tom Stewart, making deliveries at Romiley and Benson locks


Brighton, Nuneaton & Petra, Eynsham, Friday 12th October.
(pic: Dave Davies)
October 16th: the boats are at: Farnmoor, near Eynsham. They were loaded with 15 tons at the Black Country Muesum on Friday 5th October by a solitary Dave Davies, transhipped from NB Otley. Keith & Maria Norfolk, Barry Humphries and Dave Davies then took the boats via the BCN mainline, Worcs & Birmingham, N Stratford, Grand Union and Oxford Canals, arriving at Farnmoor on Friday afternoon, where Keith & Maria were able to pick up their Dutch Barge, Petra, from the menders, to take it back to their mooring on the Kennet near Reading.
The next leg of the Autumn Coal Run starts on Monday 22nd, with Nick Wolfe & crew making deliveries down the Thames.

September 16th: the boats are at: The Black Country Living Museum, taken from Windmill End this afternoon by Dave Davies & Andy Belton. They were helped along the way, especially at the 3 Brades Locks by Pete from Saltaire and Nick Hill. The BCLM really is a fantastic place and the gathering there the weekend after next is recommended. We probably need help with trans-shippiong coal from John Jackson for the Autumn Coal Run, and we hope to have Joe Hollinshead demonstrating decorative rope techniques using Brighton (ie Turks Head etc)

Andy Belton & Dave Davies reverse the breasted pair into the museum arrm, Sunday teatime (Pic: Teri Wyncoll.)
September 13th: the boats are at: Tindal Bridge, near the Sea Life Centre, at the top of the Farmers Bridge Flight, arriving around 3pm after an 8.30pm start. Gill & Pete had help from ex-NBT member Pete Harrison & his son Jacob, along with Joyce from BW Heritage Boats. They should be at Windmill End on Friday afternoon, ready for the Black Country Boat Gathering. NBT members are more than welcome at this cracking do - there's plenty of traditional boats, stalls, entertainment, real ale tent etc. We are also holding a Council Meeting at the Bumble Hole & Warrens Hall Local Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, between 4pm and 6pm. The entrance is near to: The Little Dry Dock Public House, Windmill End, DUDLEY, DY2 9HU. Non-Council members need to let the Chairman know they are attending.
September 12th: the boats are at: the top of Curdworth, arriving too late for food at the pub! (a scenerio I'm sure many of us have experienced!) The boat's mobile phone charger is nowhere to be found, but the Clutterbuck's have some help tomorrow, their hardest day so far.
September 11th: the boats are at: Polesworth, with Gill & Pete Clutterbuck having tackled the Atherstone Flight on their own earlier today. I think they would appeciate some lock-wheeling help over the next 2 or 3 days - ring the boat mobile phone on: 07896-916477 - but be patient, because Pete was still looking for the charger at 9.15pm tonight!
September 10th: the boats are: just North of Nuneaton, between bridge 24 & 27, having left Shackerstone at 9am this morning crewed by Pete & Gill Clutterbuck, on their way to the Black Country Boat Gathering at Windmill End, this weekend.If anyone can give them a hand through the Atherstone flight tomorrow (Tuesday 11th Sept), they should be there around 10am. Also help through the Curdworth Locks (probably Wednesday) plus the Aston Flight and Farmers Bridge flight (Thursday?) would be more than welcome. PHONE the boat mobile on: 07896-916477 if you may be able help. It may take you a while to get through!
August 29th: the boats are at: Shackerstone for this weekend's festival.
August 25th: the boats are at: Braunston, having come off the Thames on Wednesday. They are being taken to Shackerstone by Dave Davies, Teri Wyncoll & Roger Hutchinson, starting on Sunday. Reports & photos from the last few weeks when we get back.
August 24th: Dunno - nobody tells me 'owt!
August 21st: the boats are: just above Benson Lock tonight.
August 20th: News at last!! the boats left Brentford on Friday, crewed by Nick Wolfe, Sheena Bourn and Tim & Vicki Morgan, arriving at Ash Island that evening. Coal was unloaded by lunchtime with help from the likes of Graham Scothern, John Fevyer, David Junkinson, Pete Clutterbuck,and Greg Wilson from the yard. There's still a lot of water coming downstream, so going is slow. The boats were apparantly below Penton Hook on Saturday night. The pair finished unloading the delivery at the Flowerpot, near Henley at 4pm today and are heading for a late order of 1/2 ton for Goring tomorrow morning. More news as and when I get it!
August 6th: Crew boss Roger Morgan informs us that after the postponement of the coal run over the last couple of weeks, our new plan is to re-start the run on Friday evening 17th August. This will mean that our major drop at Ash Island will take place on Saturday morning 18th August. Ash Island is accessed by a footbridge above Molesey lock.
Could any members with a few hours to spare on Saturday 18th, please get to Ash Island to give Nick and his crew a hand with the unloading?
Please email Roger Morgan HERE
The new plan should get the boats to Braunston on Saturday 25th, giving us the other 2 days of the bank holiday weekend to get to boats up to Shackerstone.
July 30th: Vickie Morgan reports: After you left Rickmansworth on Monday afternoon, we slowed the pace right down and made Uxbridge Monday night. Left there midday Tuesday and had a horrendous trip down to Brentford. We got to Hanwell with few problems except repeatedly getting stuff around the propellor. Then Osterly lock was full of bits of tree and rubbish, including through the paddles; this took us 2hrs to clear, with the help of BW. It then took us 15hrs to get the 2 miles to Brentford as the canal was so silted up we repeatedly got stemmed up - we were left stuck overnight in the middle of canal with no way off the boats, Pippa (their Jack Russel) was a little desperate after this. BW finally pulled us off at 10am the next morning and towed us to the next lock. (left: stemmed-up overnight - pic Sheena Bourn)
We had been stuck in Brentford since Wednesday lunchtime just doing maintenence, Brentford isn't the most exciting place in the world! Tim went home on Friday as he couldn't stand the thought of being in London any longer! I stayed on hoping that we might get onto the Thames but eventually came home yesterday, when the lock keeper said it was unlikely that we could move before Tuesday. Pippa was a nightmare on the train and the journey took me 5hrs.
July 29th: website updates: the 2007 photo gallery is now up to loading at Braunston on July 13th - including Tring, Stoke Bruerne and Braunston Gatherings. Click HERE
July 25th: the boats are at: Brentford, awaiting the floodwaters to go down. As you can imagine this may take some time! THE COAL RUN IS SERIOULY EFFECTED BY THIS - NEWS AS WE GET IT.......
July15th: the boats are at: the top of Buckby Locks, after transhipping 37 1/2 tons of coal from John Jackson's Roach and David Jones' Starling on Friday 13th. John & Dave got help from Bletchley & Argus' Pete, while NBT's Nick Wolfe & Dave Davies had assistance from Nick's body-builder mate Pete for a couple of hours and new member Sheena busied herself with pumping the bilges and general sorting. The boats were moved that evening to the top of Buckby with lock-wheeling help from Tim & Vicki Morgan.

July 12th: Nuneaton is due to be moved back to Braunston tomorrow, Friday, to be reunited with Brighton and 40 tons of coal transhipped from John Jackson's pair first thing Friday. The Summer Coal Run then starts in earnest on Friday 20th, heading down the GU to Brentford (hopefully) in time for Tuesday morning's tide, before making deliveries along the Thames as far as Iffley Lock. The pair then head as far North up the Oxford Canal as possible by Tuesday 31st July.

July 7th: the boats are at: Well, Brighton's at Braunston, while Nuneaton is at Brinklow Boats on the Stretton Arm, having been taken by Nick Wolfe, Dave Davies & potential new member, Tom, on Friday 4th to have a new slide gear control fitted, an oil presure guage mounted on the roof and holes cut in the back-end beams for the new bilge pump. All or some of these jobs may not happen, due to Steve Priest's wife being ill in hospital.
(Right: Vikki Morgan & Nick Wolfe lock up, Brinklow Boats, Stretton Arm)

June 25th: another wet weekend at the Braunston Working Boat Gathering. Despite the appalling weather, Nuneaton & Brighton took part in the morning boat parades on Saturday and Sunday. Dave Davies & Teri Wyncoll were also filmed and interviewed for National BBC TV program, Countryfile, as part of a Braunston report to be aired at 11am this Sunday.
(left: melange of boats on Saturday's Parade - pic: Dave Davies)

June 20th: After a very wet weekend at Stoke Bruerne, the boats are on their way to Braunston, crewed by David Blagove and Steve Borondy for this weekend's Working Boat Gathering. This year the alternating theme concentrates on FMC boats mostly moored by the old dock. Nuneaton & Brighton will be in the thick of things, with Brighton open for public veiwing and the pair taking part in at at least one parade.
June 12th: Website updates: We now have links to our Merchandise Shop and Members Forum on the Navigation Bar (see left)

June 11th: Website updates: we now have photos from Rickmansworth and Tring HERE
We highly recommend this weekend's Stoke Bruerne Gathering, with entertainment for boaters in the evening and Brighton & Nuneaton invoved throughout the weekend. Other historic boats booked in include: Nutfield & Raymond, Corona, Kingfisher, George & Mary, Jubilee, Towcester,Warbler, Sculptor, Bream, Joe Gilbert & A.N. Other (floating blacksmiths), Columbia, Callisto & Olive.
A workparty on the boats is scheduled from 10am Friday - any help welcome!

Brighton & Roger in Chess Lock, Rickmansworth Waterside Festival, 19th - 20th May 2007 (pic: Andy Belton.)
June 4th: the boats are at: Stoke Bruerne, having been taken from the Wendover Arm by Roger & Steve Morgan, Mike Chivas and Andy De Hutiray in an "uneventful trip", there ready for the Stoke Bruerne Gathering on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th June. Trip Report HERE.

Brighton having new cants fitted by Raven, at Jem Bates' drydock, Bulbourne, Friday 25th May.
May 31st: the boats are at: the current end of the Wendover Arm, after being brought from Ricky in 13 hours last Wednesday by Nick Wolfe, Dave Davies, John Bull & Trevor Winterbottom in high summer-style sunshine. The boats spent a day and a half at Jem Bates' Dry Dock at Bulbourne, having work done on top-planks, cross beams and cants.
In contrast, The Tring Festival was plagued by increasingly appalling wind, torrential rain and cold, with Monday being completely cancelled! At least approximately 60 people visited Brighton on Sunday. Reports and photos for both events soon.
May 29th: good reports from Rickmansworth - Nuneaton, steered by Keith Norfolk came second in the Tug-of-War, beaten by Comet.

May 14th: The boats are at Rickmansworth having been moved over a wet & windy weekend by Andy Belton & Pete Clutterbuck with assistance from Gill Clutterbuck and Fabian Hiscock.
The Rickmansworth Waterside Trust Event this weekend will feature Brighton on display in Chess Lock with the RWT's motor, Roger, (perhaps best known for being paired with the butty Raymond in Blue Line Carriers.) Nuneaton will, no doubt, take place in the Tug of War.

Roger at the 2006 event -
(pic Graham Scothern.)

May 10th: A succesful Canal Cavalcade - Andy Belton has sent some photos that you can see on our 2007 photo gallery, HERE
(left pic: Andy Belton)

The boats will be heading North this weekend to Rickmansworth, for the Rickmansworth Waterside Festival, crewed by Andy Belton & Pete Clutterbuck - they could do with a hand - contact Roger Morgan HERE.
April 30th: the boats are, presumably, at Paddington, in preperation for next weekend's Canal Cavalcade.
A very successful Training Day at Stoke Bruene on Saturday: eleven members took part in a 'knots & ropes's/strings & lines' session in the school-room behind the Museum at Stoke Bruerne, also utilising NB Sculpter for practical boat work. A full report HERE
Circumstances have forced us to change boat movements - see the updated EVENTS page.
Training Day at Stoke Bruerne, Sat 28th April. (Pic: R. Hutchinson)
April 23rd: the boats are at Cowley, having been moved from Cowroast by Gill & Peter Clutterbuck and new member, John Wright, on their leisurely way to the Canal Cavalcade at Little Venice.
April 12th: the boats are at: Cowroast, having been moved at the weekend by Pete & Gill Clutterbuck an Andy Belton on their way to Canal Cavalcade at Little Venice. See Andy's Trip Report HERE

March 27th: the boats are: above Grove Lock, having been moved by Peter & Gill Clutterbuck and new member John White over the last two Saturdays.
The boats are on their leisurely way to our first event of the year, Canal Cavalcade at Little Venice. See updated Events
March 7th: the boats are back on the Leicester Arm, after spending the weekend at the Save Our Waterways blockade at Braunston.
The boats left Norton Junction on Friday evening after exhaustive engine procedures and due to the awful weather and state of the towpath, moored above Braunston Top Lock for the night.
They arrived to moor below the bottom lock and take part in the Blockade and rally on Saturday morning, followed by a productive Council Meeting at the Admiral Nelson in the afternoon.
The boats were returned to the Leicester Arm in pouring rain and howling gales on Sunday afternoon.
(Left: Braunston Save Our Waterways Blockade, Saturday 3rd March 2007 pic: Roger Hutchinson)
February 28th: Nuneaton's engine has been sorted out, thanks to Mark Collins, and the boats are due at Braunston on Friday, to take part in Saturday's Save Our Waterways Campaign. Members are more than welcome, as there are plenty of jobs to do!

February 27th: to set the record straight: recent reports about Nuneaton sinking via emails and on narrowboatworld.com (who seem to delight in other people's misfortunes) are somewhat exagerated. Nick Wolfe arrived at the boats current moorings on the Leicester Arm to find Nuneaton's stern well down in the water with a couple of foot of water in the cabin and engine room.
Saturday saw Roger Hutchinson, Dave Davies, Peter Jones, The Knight Family and Mark Collins rallying round & determined to sort things out. Nuneaton was pumped out and it was discovered that the cabin bilge cock was open - inexplicable! Mark Collins is due to drain sump, change oil & filters etc. and is confident of everything being OK for


Above: Nuneaton's stern well down on arriving at the boats moorings on the Leicester Arm, Saturday 24th February . Photo: Roger Hutchinson
this weekends protest rally at Braunston. - Watch this Space!
February 12th: following our First Aid Course at Stoke Bruerne on Saturday 10th, the boats are now at: Norton Junction, just up the Leicester Arm of the the Grand Union to avoid the BW stoppage at Buckby Locks and therefore attend the SOW Protest at Braunston on Saturday March 3rd.They were moved by Tim & Vicki Morgan and Dave & Rich Davies on an unbelievably warm and sunny Sunday. The Boats are due to travel from their current moorings on Friday March 2nd and return for more maintenance on Sunday March 4th. Workparties will continue on most weekends.


Workparty Sat 20/01/07

January 30th: we desperately need more people for our First Aid Course at Stoke Bruerne on Saturday 10th February. We are a couple of people short of the minimum number required - it's only £15 instead of the normal £40 and part of our essential Training initiatives. If we don't get the required number of people it will put our long-fought for Training in doubt. Contact Nick Wolfe on 01327-843183, email: HERE

January 15th: the boats are at: the bottom of the Buckby Flight, opposite Whilton Marina. Workparties will be held every weekend from now on - mostly on Saturdays but if you would like to stay over on the boats on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights, it's best to let people know through our newsgroup - join HERE. We have some of our projected trips on the EVENTS page - please sign up for crewing or showing the boats ASAP.

January 4th 2007: Happy New Year!
The website has been down over the Christmas period, due to a mysterious server problem but hopefully things are back to normal.
The boats are: opposite Whilton Marina, at the bottom of the Buckby flight. Workparties are most Saturdays from now on - if you are interested in helping, in any capacity whatsoever, it may be best to join our Yahoo newsgroup, by clicking HERE.
Give me a couple of days and I'll have a projected Events program and more photos updated. As always, photos/stories/info/news are more than welcome.


Above: Recent Save Our Waterways protest at Stoke Bruerne, Saturday 25th Nov 2006 (pic: Graham Scothern)


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