s

News - 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
19th December: the boats are back at Alvecote, after a spot of ice breaking by Vickie Morgan,Trevor Winterbottom and Dave Davies.
12th December: Keith Norfolk & Fabian Hiscock were working on the boats on Thursday & Friday, joined by Johm Mills & Dave Davies on Friday.
The hull blacking was finished and 3/4 of the hold has been scraped and treated. as well as rust proofing on the dodgy bits of the cabin side & gunnels.
6th December: Today Barry & Steve straightened Nuneaton's swans neck, finished the counter & blacking the other side of the hull - another coat of blacking (at least) is needed on both boats Trevor Winterbottom is at the dock from 11.30am on Monday - We need members to help take advantage of a week at the Dock - painting, scraping, hull blacking etc
5th December: A very pleasing survey on Friday found that only a 2' x 7' plate needs welding under Nuneaton's cabin, plus a couple of small jobs needed to pass the Safety Certificate.
Trevor Winterbottom, Barry Adams, Steve Smith & Dave Davies were at the dock on Saturday and managed to apply one coat of blacking to Jaguar and one side of Nuneaton, while Steve Smith prepared the counter for painting. (Right: work begins at the dock. photo: Trevor Winterbottom.)

4th December: the boats were moved a few miles south yesterday to Grendon Dry Dock, ready for Friday's hull inspection.

(left: the pair at Grendon dry dock, Thursday 3rd December. Photo: Dave Davies.)
We then have a week at the Dock and need members to help take advantage of this - painting, scraping, hull blacking etc from this Saturday onwards.

30th November: Saturday saw the first of the many winter work parties needed this year. Nuneaton's hold was cleared of shuts, ballast barrels, coal and assorted crud ready for docking next week.

(Right: Steve Smith & Dave Davies share a joke, while Trevor Winterbottom & Vickie Morgan look on. Photo: Mouse)

24th November: the boats are at their new winter moorings at Alvecote Marina.

(Left: Nuneaton & Brighton breasted to South Midland Carriers Kangaroo & Australia, conveniently moored outside the Samuel Barlow pub, Alvecote Marina. Photo: Mouse)

19th November:tthe boats are leaving Stoke Bruerne on Saturday morning for winter moorings and maintenance at Alvecote. Crew is Dave Davies, Keith Norfolk, John Stevens and Kirk Martin, with help expected from Vickie Morgan & John Bull.
There will be a work party on Saturday 28th November from 10am-5pm.
Members are asked to turn-up as we need to sort Nuneaton out for the hull survey. This is a lot of work! please contact Trevor Winterbottom HERE

16th November: members have pointed out to me that our Shop link was broken - it turns out our merchandise suppliers, Clearedge have relocated and not fully sorted ther website yet, In the meantime, you can click on the Shop link on navigation bar to the left of the page to download an order form with product details.
8th November: A very positive and succesful AGM on Saturday, with new Council members and roles, See The Trust and Contacts.onday 9th November:
THE AGM OF THE NARROW BOAT TRUST LTD WILL BE HELD AT STOKE BRUERNE VILLAGE HALL ON SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER AT 2.30PM.
Friday 30th October: the boats are due at Stoke Bruerne this weekend, having been brought from Brentford by David Blagrove & crew.
Friday 23rd October: the boats are at: Brentford, after fun & games with the stern gland and plumber block..... It all got sorted at Eel Pie Island, so many thanks to them for their excellent work and more than fair dealings!!! and, of course Trevor Winterbottom & Mouse for sterling efforts beyond the call of duty!

Tuesday 20th October: the boats are at: The New Inn at Send, tonight - "an early start tomorrow", says Trevor Winterbottom.....
Monday 19th October: the boats are at: Shepperton, tonight, ready for Nuneaton to head up thr River Wey tomorrow.
Sunday 18 th October: the boats are at: Maidenhead, "after a busy but enjoyable day".
Saturday 17th October: the boats are at: Henley, with Trevor Winterbottom & Mouse.
Sunday 11th October: the boats are at:Burfileld on the River Kennet, having been left in the safe hands of Keith Norfolk (his mooring) by Barry Adams, John Stevens, Lawrie Atkinson and Roger Orchard.
8th October: the boats are at: The Rock of Gibralter.
7th October: the boats are at: Banbury.

6th October: the boats are at: The Wharf Inn, Fenny Compton. Stephanie Goodacre & Dave Davies left the boats this morning at Napton, while Fabian Hiscock and Roger Orchard joined the crew of Barry Adams & John Stevens for the trip down to The Thames & Reading.

(Left: the pair moored near Cambrian Wharf, Birmingham, Friday 2nd October. Photo: Dave Davies.)

28th September: the boats were loaded this morning and Sunday afternoon with around 25 tons of various coals, 18 1/2 tons being transhipped from John & Sue Yates' Buckden, and the rest brought up by van by John Jackson on Monday.
Thanks to John & Sue Yates, ex-NBT member David Ray, Mike from BW Heritage Boats, plus members Tom Stewart & Dave Davies for help loading.

(Brighton & Nuneaton loaded with 28 tons of coal. Photo: Dave Davies.)


The pair will leave the BCLM on Friday with a crew of Barry Adams, John Stevens, Stephanie Goodacre & Dave Davies.


At the BCLM Historic Boat Gathering Steve Smith & Dave Davies finished painting Brighton's new top planks, while Teri Wyncoll finished the cabin, cleaning and putting up hanging plates & lace.

(Left: Brighton's back cabin looking a real treat at last, with newly blacked & fitted range, washed re-hung lace & plates. pic:Dave Manley.)

21st September: the boats are at the Black Country Museum, for next weekends Historic Boat Gathering. Nuneaton was taken to Tipton on Friday night by Dave Davies for the Tipton Boat & Community Festival. Brighton remained at the Museum to ensure our spot for next weekend's gathering. A very enjoyable weekend, with lots of interest in the boat.

(Nuneaton, Aldegate & Sickle, Tipton)
13th September: the boats are at the Black Country Museum until next weekend, when they travel 1/2 mile to the Tipton Boat & Community Festival.
11th September: the boats are at Bumblehole, Windmill End, for this week's Black Country Gathering, having been brought from Redhill by Roger & Steve Morgan & crew.
4th September: Brighton's second hand Diamond range had the flue and restraining brackets fitted today by Long Eaton boatbuilder Paul Barber.
1st September: a very succesful National, with loads of visitors , especially on Sunday. Members attending were Lawrie and Maureen Atkinson, Mouse, John Mills, Steve Smith & Jenny Jackson,Dave Davies & Teri Wyncoll.  

22nd August: the boats are at: Redhill for the National Waterways Festival next weekend.
The boats were taken from Braunston last Saturday by Dave Davies, Teri Wyncoll, John Stevens and Lawrie Atkinson, with help from Steve Smith and with King Learie filming through Leicester -(see left) arriving at Redhill this morning after a leisurely jaunt up the Leicester Line & River Soar.
2nd August: the boats have completed the Summer Coal Run and are now tied-up at Braunston. Hopefully we will get the new range fitted in Brighton before the trip to the National.
31st July: "a hard day" reports Vickie Morgan:the pair are tied-up above Claydon Locks.
30th July: the boats are at:Aynho Wharf, and joined by Lawrie Atkinson & grandson Josh.
29th July: the boats are at: above Iffley Lock, near Oxford, after a very wet day.
28th July: the boats are at: Beale Park.
27th July: the boats are: ties up below Marlow Lock. "A nice easy day and off to the Flowerpot tomorrow" says skipper Vickie Morgan.
26th July: The pair delivered 6 tons down the River Wey today and tied up at 8pm above Penton Hook Lock.
25th July: the boats are at Weybridge, after unloading at Ash Island between 9am-2pm. Crew is Vickie Morgan, Kate & Charlie, Peter Andrews, Nick Scrivens & Nick Wolfe. Help unloading came from John Fevyer, John Bull & two mates, Fabian Hiscock, Colin Morgan, Barry Adams & owner of the island, Solomon Akhtar. A big thanks to all of them!

23rd July: the boats are at Brentford, after having loaded & travelled from John Jackson's coal yard at Awbridge on the Staffs & Worcs canal, via Great Haywood, Fradely, Hawkesbury and Braunston Junctions, loaded with 22 tons on the butty & 17 on the motor - that's 186 miles, 39 narrow locks (worked twice) & 100 broad locks in 10 1/2 days. Probably the longest loaded trip the Trust has undertaken in many years! The crew of Dave Davies, John Stevens & Tom Stewart (with help from Steve Smith, Alan Cummins, Trevor Winterbottom & Roger Rowe) had many problems and adventures & described the journey as "blood, sweat & tears!"

(Above:Nuneaton & Brighton, resplendant with washing line, working their way down the Grand Union Canal (Pic: Dave Davies)
Some of the NBT members at the Braunston Historic Gathering over the weekend. (Pic: Dave Davies)
 29th June: A very enjoyable Braunstone Gathering, with something like 86 historic boats attending. NBT members included Teri Wyncoll & Dave Davies, Vickie Morgan, Alan Cummins, Roger Rowe, Tom Stewart, Steve Smith & Jenny Jackson, Barry & John Adams, John Boswell, Graham Scothern, Sheena Bourne, Mike Askin, Nick Wolfe plus Anne & Les Perry.
The boats leave Braunston at the weekend, staying at the BCLM before loading at John Jackson's yard at Awbridge on the Staffs & Worcs canal.

21st June: A Happy Summer Solstice to all! Nuneaton and Brighton are on the way to Braunstone today, crewed by David Blagrove, John Stevens & Roger Rowe, stopping off for some welding on Brighton's back lockers at Norton Junction.

(Right: Nuneaton & Brighton reunited on the Long Pound, Stoke Bruerne last Sunday. Pic: Jo Lodge)
11th June: the boats are at: Stoke Bruerne, with Nuneaton picking up Brighton on Thursday, loading new timber for Brighton's top planks and mooring at Stoke Bruerne for this weekend's Friends of the Canal Museum shindig. Crew was Barry Adams & John Stevens.

7th June: Nuneaton, having been brought up from the Thames by Roger & Steve Morgan. is on the Tring Summit, where Barry Adams & John Stevens will pick up the motor to take her up to Whilton to pick-up Brighton and return to Stoke Bruerne for this weekend's Gathering in support of the Friends of The National Waterways Museum. The pair then travel up to the Braunston Historic Boat's Rally with David Blagrove, John Stevens Roger Rowe & Pete Crister.
(Left: the pair looking as good as they could be, only a year ago, at the Leicester Riverside Festival.)

3rd June: John Bull reports: Nuneaton arrived at Kingston-upon-Thames public moorings at 13.15 today after a relatively uneventful passage from the rally site at Odiham. The boat has been made secure for overnight stay at these moorings prior to being taken over by Roger Morgan and crew tomorrow morning for her continuing trip north.

22nd May: Brighton was bow-hauled from Norton Junction to Whilton Marina this afternoon by Vickie Morgan, Roger Hutchinson, Steve Morgan & Dave Davies.
See King Learie's fantastic video on Vimeo (below) Click the icon at the bottom right of the screen to see in full screen mode.

There is a work-party on Saturday - Trevor Winterbottom & Laurie will be there. At the moment, I would say we won't be at the Tring Festival. Members are still urgently needed to do the necessary jobs on Brighton to enable her to be in 'show' condition. Contact Vickie Morgan HERE- or phone 0797 084 5258.
Meanwhile, Nuneaton arrived at the Brookwood rally site on the Basingstoke Canal at 3.30pm yesterday, crewed by John Fevyer, John Bull & Colin Morgan. Nuneaton travels up to the top of the canal next week for next weekend's (30th - 31st May) campaign rally at Colt Hill, Odiham. Members are, of course, more than welcome.


Thanks to Tony Cox for the video!

17th May: Nuneaton is at the Rickmansworth Waterside Festival, while Brighton is still at Norton Junction. Although she has passed her safety cetificate, she is not ready to crew due to lack of volunteers turning up to do the necessary jobs - scraping and painting the hold with red-oxide, repairing shuts, cutting & treating the new top planks, painting the cabin roof and touching up the cabin sides, cleaning & hinging the plates & decorative lace, cleaning the cabin etc etc etc. These are not skilled jobs! If you can help, please contact Vickie Morgan HERE- or phone 0797 084 5258.

Nuneaton at Rickmansworth on Saturday. Roger Hutchinson's display planels prove a hit with the public once again. (Photo: Roger Rowe)
24th April: Important message to all members from our Chairman, regarding problems with Brighton:
I have spoken to Vickie and Nick and have visited the boats today (to put a new start battery on NUNEATON).The range has been removed from Brighton so that the broken parts can be re-cast. It is unlikely to be returned for a couple of weeks. The gas fitting have still not been repaired. Vickie had a very frustrating day trying to find the correct isolation tap, and the gas fitter going missing for a week! The upshot of this is that BRIGHTON’s Boat Safety Certificate has expired. BRIGHTON is licensed until 30th April but the cabin is not in a fit state to show at events until the range is re-fitted.
Nick has suggested, and I support, that he supervise the rest of the work, repair of shutts etc, and then takes BRIGHTON to Tring on 15th May. Hopefully this will give time for the BSC and licence to be issued.
However, this relies on members attending work parties over the next few weekends. If they can attend please text Nick on 07720 475606 as soon as possible.
Graham
April 19th: Nuneaton is at The Samuel Barlow, Alvecote with Andy Belton and Dave Wedd, taking a leisurely trip back to Norton Junction from Ellesmere Port. Trevor Winterbottom left today and John Mills at the end of last week.

April 18th: we have two new films uploaded by mystery Trust member, King Learie: the first is an edit of videos from the Leicester Kids Afloat community project, which new member Stephanie Goodacre use to run, featuring Brighton when she was part of the Threefellows fleet on the River Soar Gravel Run back in 1986. See left for the Vimeo link.
The second film, 'Paint it Black', is of Brighton's hull being blacked at Braunston earlier this year. Click HERE.
With excellent films being made by members King Learie and Mike Askin, there will soon be a video section on this site, to gather any relevent footage together. In the meantime, you could check both Youtube and Vimeo, and put 'canals' or 'narrow boats' into their Search.

April 15th: firstly, apologies for the lack of updates over recent months, normal service should be now resumed!
Nuneaton is on it's way back from an excellent Easter Ellesmere Port Historic Boat Gathering, taken up there by Dave Davies & Steve Smith and returned to Braunston by Andy Belton, Trevor Winterbottom and John Mills.
There's still loads of work to do on Brighton, anyone who can spare a day or two over the next weekends please contact Vickie Morgan HERE
(Right: HNBOC boats at Ellesmere Port)
(photo: Dave Davies)
February 14th: members are requested to help out with blacking Brighton's hull this weekend, the 21st and 22nd February at Ivybridge Marine, Braunston
(Left: Nick Wolfe signs off some of new member Stephanie's Training Record at a recent boat move/training session.
Pic: Vickie Morgan.)
January 2009: Happy New Year!
The first work party of the year will be on Saturday 24th January at Whilton, bottom of Buckby Locks. We have loads to do including stripping the cabins ready for the repaint.Anybody is welcome, regardless of skills! Contact Vickie Morgan HERE
We now have this year's projected boat movements & events HERE

 

The Narrow Boat Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Cardiff Company No: 01724935

The Registered Office of the Narrow Boat Trust is at:
23 Redway Drive, TWICKENHAM TW2 7NT

The Narrow Boat Trust is a charity registered in England under number: 288243

email: webmaster@narrowboattrust.org.uk