Hello,
and a warm welcome to ENews 2008-1.
To
all ENews subscribers and readers - Happy New Year!
oOo
SANTA
CREWS SEE SUN
But
only on a couple of afternoons - out of a total of 8 operational days.
Despite
enduring all sorts of weather the season went pretty smoothly. Overall numbers
carried were up on last year, but the extra operating day obviously helped.
Expenses were held at their 2007 levels and this meant that the amount raised
exceeded last year's total.
PRAISE
WHERE IT'S DUE ...... One of several comments we received said "Thank
you for all you did for Ellie's magical party today. Everyone who came today had
a wonderful time... My phone hasn't stopped ringing since we arrived home. It's
totally down to your end that the children had such a magical time. Once again,
thank you so much."
And
when our Chairman Liz Payne found out about the sum raised she said "That
is absolutely magnificent, even more so when the dreadful weather is taken into
consideration, my thanks and gratitude to all those who made this such a
success.
Well done everybody."
Well
done indeed to the 57 volunteers who, between them, filled a total of 247 roles.
oOo
WELCOME
ABOARD MINNIE STRATER!
I
am pleased to be able to report that Karen Grainger has been appointed as the
new Cotswold Canals Trust Administrator, and she will be taking up her duties on
the 15th January.
She
has worked for the RSPCA amongst others - and in a similar role - so she is well
placed to become a valued member of the Trust Management Team.
Karen's
official hours in the Trust's Cirencester Office will be 09:00 - 14:00 Tuesdays
to Fridays.
oOo
PLANNING
PROGRESSING
Edward
Moss, Community and Special Projects Coordinator for the BW Regeneration Team,
reports:
"As
the restoration of
The
transfer of the
Further
planning applications are dependent upon the Environmental Impact Assessment and
this is close to completion. BW and Stroud District Council Planners are
discussing the possibility of submitting a single planning application for Phase
1a in the Spring.
This
would exclude the County Council's proposed road works at Merrywalks (A46) -
proposed start date this Autumn - and the work at
oOo
SOMETHING
FOR THE WEEKEND (2)
ENews
62 trailed the possibility of involving CCT Volunteers in training weekends
organised by our good friends in the Waterway Recovery Group. Well, one such
weekend has come to light already and will be on the 10th & 11th May at BW
Maintenance Yard, Hatton, Warwicks.
CCT
Member & WRG-accredited Volunteer Harry Edwards writes:
"A 'must-do' event for volunteers who want to acquire training for that all
important ticket to use the sort of plant & equipment needed to restore our
canals. WRG also provide skills training on a range of other stuff like
scaffolding, bricklaying, use of lime-mortar, survey levels and so on. They
provide all the equipment & trainers - organisers will allocate you to the
courses you want to do on the days you can be there.
WRG are professional, well organised, & have lots of experience they want to
share - they also like to make training fun! It's hugely enjoyable, satisfying,
& will cost you only your time, travel & a packed lunch. And I speak
from personal experience, having been able to turn this training into practical
use on the
There's more information at www.wrg.org.uk.
If yo want to get a feel for what happens on these occasions have a look at
'events reports' from the dropdown menu.
WRG
will tailor training to suit group needs, last year's courses covered the
following activities
Dumpers
Loading and securing
Small excavators
First aid
Piling
Scaffolding
Trailers
Vans
To
express an interest in any of these activities email postmaster@cctmembers-newsletter.co.uk
& we'll liaise with WRG if there is a need for special training.
Booking details will follow in a future edition of ENews."
oOo
DIGEST
WITH DIGANCE
Would
you like to join in the celebrations to mark 35 years of the Cotswold Canals
Trust?
In
special recognition of the 'The Bruce Hall Years' - he spent an incredible 22
years at the helm would you believe - we are holding a Gala Dinner & Cabaret
Evening with raconteur & singer songwriter Richard Digance on Saturday 8th
March 2008. (Don't worry, Bruce will be there too.)
The
evening comprises a 3-course dinner, casting off at 19:30 hours sharp. The sun
will have been over the yardarm since 18:45 hours. There will be some speeches,
I for one can't wait to hear Bruce in full flight again, and Richard D will then
entertain us in his own inimitable & brilliant fashion.
All
this for just £28 per person!
IF
YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CCT you will receive comprehensive details and an
invitation/booking form through the post in the next 7/10 days.
IF
YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF THE CCT and would like to come along to join in the
celebrations then please email me - postmaster@cctmembers-newsletter.co.uk
- and I will email a copy of the invite/booking form to you once the Members'
invites have been dispatched.
Whilst
there's room for about 200 at the venue, demand is bound to outstrip supply;
first come first served therefore, so don't dilly-dally over Digance.....
oOo
ANOTHER
TWO COURSES TO DIGEST
In
conjunction with Richard Harrison at BW we are looking at running a series of
training sessions covering a variety of activities.
For
example on Wednesday 30th January at Gough's Orchard there will be some fencing
training taking place; from personal experience this is not always as easy as it
sounds, so it will be good to find out how it should be done. There will be
space for 10/12 swordsmen......
Provisionally
arranged for Wednesday 27th February is the first of a possible series of
brushcutter & strimmer training courses, location TBA. Space for 6 at a
time, so there are 5 spaces left on this first one!
To
get your name down contact Richard at Richard.Harrison@britishwaterways.co.uk
or
phone 01452 318501
oOo
DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
13th
January: Work Party in the Chalford area. Contact Steve Pickover for further
details, stevepickover@tiscali.co.uk
14th
January: Roadshow Meeting at Fromebridge Mill, Whitminster, 7.15pm start. To
discuss 2007 and recommend events to be attended during 2008 to the Trading Co
Directors.
15th
January: Works Action Group meeting at the Heritage Centre, Saul, 7.30pm. The
place to be for news on the restoration, work parties and so on.
16th
January: Eastern Branch Meeting at the Trout Inn, Lechlade, 7.30pm start. All
welcome
19th
January: Eastern Branch New Year's Dinner at the Trout; details from Liz Payne, cctchair@aol.com
20th January: Work Party in Summit/Tunnel area. Contact Mark Welton for further
details, mark.welton@virgin.net
oOo
For
updates on restoration progress at Oil Mills - with pictures - have a look at
the Cotswold Canals Partnership's website, http://community.stroud.gov.uk/general.asp?pid=2&pgid=1071.
The rest of the website is well worth a visit too.
The
objective of ENews is to advise, inform and update. And maybe even to amuse from
time to time.
I
have not got a single malt in every glass, so feel free to send any newsworthy
items you would like to be considered for inclusion to postmaster@cctmembers-newsletter.co.uk.
Bye
for now - please keep me posted!
David
Pagett
Postmaster
The Cotswold Canals Trust is a registered charity, number 269721.
Copyright @2007 Richard Attwood and the Cotswold Canals Trust
The CCT may be contacted at mail@cotswoldcanals.com
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