Historic K&A ice skating picture - more information

This picture of a lone skater on the K&A Canal went online yesterday with a request for more information about the date it was taken. 

Picture by Bob Naylor©

The first response with information is from Tony Adamson the former landlord of the Bridge Inn at Horton who has filled in some of the details:  The skater is Dick Van Klavren who Tony believes still lives in the Devizes area.  

Tony also said, "After BW smashed up his rink in Devizes, Dick was not thwarted and he would skate out on the canal from Devizes to the Bridge Inn at Horton where he would have a chat and glass of lemonade — and then skate back to town."

Tony has also put a name to the crane driver of the crane that went into the canal.  He was Howard Hewitt who was the owner of Devizes Cranes — but Tony isn't sure of the date of the freeze.  So more information and/ or pictures would be welcome.

See previous story: Caen Hill skater
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Ice skating on the K&A Canal - historic picture

I came across this picture of a lone skater on the Kennet & Avon Canal on the pound below Prison Bridge on the Devizes Flight in a box of scrap pictures today.  I remember the story very well ... well up to a point.  The guy skating round the pound was, I am pretty sure, a Dutchman — and a speed skating enthusiast. 

  

Picture by Bob Naylor©

He had been hurtling round the pound practicing for a couple of days before I took pictures of him. The pictures were used in a few newspapers and they must have been brought to the attention of someone at British Waterways who thought it unsafe and must be stopped.  

To stop people going on to the ice BW hired a crane from Devizes Cranes to break up the ice with a huge weight. Unfortunately as the crane was smashing the ice it slid down the bank and into the water - and the driver had to leap to the bank to avoid a soaking in the icy water.  The crane lay in the water on its side for some time until it was safe enough to retrieve it. (I don't have any prints of that - but I am still looking).

Because the picture is out of the scrap box it is not date stamped and has no caption — but there are a few clues that might help a knowledgeable person to identify the approximate date:

It was before the Caen Hill flight was re-opened in 1990 by the Queen.

There are no bottom gates on the locks. 

The top gates have the experimental 'cranked' balance beams — all of those had to be removed to be replaced with the lock gates with straight balance beams that are still in use.  

It was after  1979 — because I had been working in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire before then — where we had real snow in the Peak District. 

Any information to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk

KA Boaters' Bulletin: 11 January 2011

The ice is now cleared on the Kennet & Avon Canal and traffic is  moving normally, subject to the following restrictions:

British Waterways report that because of the boat fire in Reading on January 4th County Lock (106) is still closed until further notice.

Stoppages:

Devizes Flight (22-50)

Until 11 march 2011

The Devizes Flight from Lower Foxhangers (22) to Kennet Lock (50) in Devizes will be closed — along with sections of the towpath — for fitting replacement lock gates on locks: 24, 25, 26, 27, 35, 39 & 43. During this time embankment repairs will also be done at Martinslade. 

Dunmill Lock (75)

Monday 17 January 2011 - Friday 11 March 2011

The start of this stoppage has been delayed a week to allow the completion of the dredging works and the transit of delayed craft from the Wootton Rivers stoppage.

Navigation Restrictions: 

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is now open — but by appointment only. BW staff will operate the lock at 9am and 2.30pm until futher notice. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, call Alistair Ogden on 07711 403471. (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday.)

Between Burghfield Lock (103) and Southcote Lock (104) until Friday 11th February 2011 the water level will be lowered by 250mm (approx 10 inches) so that fenders can be installed on piles set below normal water level. The work is on a river section so levels can be affected by changes in the river flow. Enquiries: 07920 824 310.   

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) on the eastern side of the town there could be delays of up to 30 minutes and occasional drops in the water lever for dredging and bank protection work. 

Boating facilities

• BW report that all of their pump-outs are working.
• There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

Enquiries to BW Devizes Office:  01380 722859

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KA Canal Boaters' update: Friday December 31, 2010

As dawn broke today at Caen Hill, Devizes on the 200th anniversary of the Canal being officially open for commercial traffic the only movement is lock keeper, Robbie Preston, taking the padlocks off of the locks.

200 years ago two coal barges ascended the flight but a third was thwarted by the frosty conditions —  a single stone barge had gone through the flight on the 28th — but the canal was not officially opened to commercial traffic until the 31st. 

It seems very unlikely that there will be any boat movements on this part of the K&A today.  

Lock Keeper, Robbie Preston, unlocks the Caen Hill Flight: Picture by Bob Naylor

Despite the milder conditions today there is still ice up to 6 inches thick on parts of the canal and with a low of 0° forecast for tonight and down to -4° over the weekend the ice looks to be with us for a while longer. 

Caen Hill Opening Times (Locks 28-44)

31st December - Open 8am to 4pm

1st January to 3rd January - Closed.

4th January to 9th January - Open 8am to 4pm

Stoppages:

Wootton Rivers (Locks 51-54): Stoppage extended

closed until Friday 7 January 2011 

Because of sub-zero temperatures tents have been built over the locks so that they can be heated to help the lime morter to set.

Dunmill Lock (75): Delayed by one week 

Monday 17 January 2011 - Friday 11 March 2011

The start of this stoppage has been delayed a week to allow the completion of the dredging works and the transit of delayed craft from the Wootton Rivers stoppage.

Navigation Restrictions: 

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is now open — but by appointment only. BW staff will operate the lock at 9am and 2.30pm until futher notice. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, call Alistair Ogden on 07711 403471. (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday.)

Between Burghfield Lock (103) and Southcote Lock (104) from Tuesday 30th November 2010 to Friday 11th February 2011 the water level will be lowered by 250mm (approx 10 inches) so that fenders can be installed on piles set below normal water level. The work is on a river section so levels be affected by changes in the river flow. Enquiries: 07920 824 310.

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) on the eastern side of the town there could be delays of up to 30 minutes and occasional drops in the water lever for dredging and bank protection work.

Boating facilities

• BW report that all of their pump-outs are working.
• There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

Enquiries to BW Devizes Office:  01380 722859

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line).

Drowned K&A boater named

The man who's body was found in the Kennet & Avon Canal at Caen Hill on the Devizes Flight on Monday afternoon was named today as Stuart Williams, 51.

The British Waterways moorings at the top of Caen Hill on the K&A Canal: Picture by Bob Naylor

Mr Williams had kept his narrowboat, Daylight Monarch, on the BW moorings at Caen Hill for the last 18 months.  It is believed he slipped into the ice covered canal while walking his dog and it was the confused dog pining on the moorings that alerted another boater who looked and spotted Mr Williams in the water.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances and the Coroner has been informed.

Dundas Canalside Carol Service cancelled

CANCELLED: Dundas Carol Service Saturday 4 December 2010


The carol service conducted by Rev Peter Atwill on Dundas Wharf at junction of the Somersetshire Coal Canal and the Kennet & Avon Canal has been cancelled because of the weather that would make access by land very difficult and because few if any boats could make it to the event.  


This is the first time in the 12 years the event has been run that it has had to be called off because of the weather. 

K&A Canal Aldermaston lift Bridge(28) work complete

The repair work to the main bridge bearings on Aldermaston Lift Bridge (28) is now completed —the bridge is now working normally for boat and road traffic. 

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Drowning swan in Newbury rescue

A drowning swan was rescued in the centre of Newbury early yesterday afternoon (Thursday) after it got its head stuck in an underwater hole.

A passer by pulled the  swan out and with the help of a police officer drained the water from the swans lungs and and they then gave  it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The swan revived and was later taken to the Swan Lifeline Centre in Eton with only minor damage to its beak.

Contact The Swan Lifeline Centre on: 01753 859397

Their website is: http://www.swanlifeline.org.uk