£6,000 award for Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

The Wilts & Berks Canal in Swindon will be a better place for anglers, ramblers, cyclists and boaters thanks to an award of £6,000 from NatWest Community First.

The Wilts & Berks Canal towpath near Kingshill in Swindon: Picture by Bob Naylor©

A fine carp caught at Kingshill in Swindon: Picture by Bob Naylor©

The W&B Canal Trust will use the money to buy materials and hire machines so that Trust volunteers can repair and widen the towpath of the canal between Westlease and Kingshill.

Piling will be used to stabilise the bank and the towpath surface will be repaired and improved… and the depth of the canal will be improves so that the Trust tripboat, Dragonfly, can travel further.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust trip boat on the canal in Swindon: Picture by Bob Naylor©

Santa to visit Swindon aboard W&B Canal Trust boat

Santa will be onboard the festively decorated Wilts & Berks Canal Trust trip boat, Dragonfly, on the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th of December in Swindon.

For more information go to: http://www.wbct.org.uk/boat-trips/santa-trips-on-dragonfly

Jazz Festival beside the Nantes a Brest Canal in Brittany

The beautiful town of Chateauneuf-du-Faou beside the Wilts & Berks Canal's twinned French waterway, the Nantes a Brest Canal, in central Brittany has its seventh annual riverside jazz festival at the end of the month.

On the bill this year are British Blues and boogie pianist, Ben Waters. Les Doigts de l’Homme who bring new life to the music of Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club de France,combining homage to the master of gypsy jazz with a show which is pure entertainment.

New Meeting Quartet a group from Nice represent the popular face of modern and innovative jazz, combining their own compositions with Brazilian rhythms, in a repertoire which also features jazz classics by the likes of Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Michel Petrucciani, Richard Galliano and the Brazilian Hermeto Pascoal. 

Festival website:  Jazz Festival

More than 80 musicians will be taking part:

Programme latest news

Tourist office email: officedutourisme.chateauneufdufaou@wanadoo.fr

28, 29 and 30th July 2011

How to get there

Brittany Ferries have teamed up with the event organisers to offer a special weekend ferry offer that includes reduced entry to the festival on production of your Brittany Ferries travel ticket.

More information: Brittany Ferries website

A coach is being organised to go to the festival from Liverpool via Plymouth — if you are interested in travelling on it contactDennis Harrison: harrison_d18@sky.com for more information.

Brand new homes beside a brand new canal in Swindon

New canalside houses in Swindon. Picture by Bob Naylor

Barratt Homes are holding a BBQ beside the new arm of the Wilts & Berks Canal in Swindon this weekend to promote their range of new one to five bedroom canalside homes.

If you are interested in buying a canalside house – or are just want to see this newly created stretch of canal at Whichelstowe in the area of Swindon known as the town's 'front garden' head along there on Saturday afternoon between 2 and 4pm.

For more information phone: 01793 394186

or visit: Barratt Homes Website
Directions: How to get there

Related Wichelstowe stories:
Wichelstowe canal festival

New Swindon Canal Branch in water

New section of Swindon Canal in water

A brand new section of the Wilts & Berks Canal at the new Swindon expansion area of Wichelstowe is now in water — go to: Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership to see a picture.

The Kennet & Avon Canal — Reflections 40 years on

Ray Denyar: Picture by Bob Naylor

Ray Denyar was involved in the early restoration work on the Kennet & Avon Canal before he turned his attentions to the Wilts & Berks Canal.

He has a huge archive of slides from the early days of the struggle to prevent closure of the canal and then the work by volunteers to restore it.  He will use some of those slides to illustrate his talk, 'The K&A - reflections 40 years on', at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Wootton Basset Branch meeting at the Cross Keys in High Street, Wootton Bassett (SN4 7AY) at 7:30pm on Monday December 6th.

This is an open meeting, so all are welcome, but if you could contact Jenny Stratton to let her know you are coming she can makes sure they make enough mince pies.

Email her at: jenny.stratton@wbct.org.uk or phone: 07818  450651 

New bridge for the Wilts & Berks Canal

The Bailey Bridge had to be moved very carefully
making sure that the fibre-optic cables supported
underneath were not disturbed.

An historic steel bridge that was destined for the scapyard will get a new lease of life thanks to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

Mendip District Council donated the historic Bailey Bridge to the W&BCT because it is being replaced by a new £200,000 bridge that will be opened in January 2011.

The bridge had spanned the river in Frome since 1986 - but it had to be closed to traffic in 2006 for safety reasons.

The bridge has been taken to Semington where it will be renovated by Trust members and the parts will be used to build a slightly shorter-span farm crossing on the new canal link from the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington to the River Avon in Melksham. 

Mike Lee the W&B Canal Trust Director of Engineering said, "I worked with the contractors to make sure the bridge was dismantled very carefully so that all reusable parts were saved for renovation although, unfortunately, all of the decking and the stringers that support it had to be scrapped." He continued, "Although we planned how the bridge was to be removed very carefully it was still nerve-wracking to see the structure being lifted out gently by the crane."

WBCT Chairman, John Laverick said, "The Melksham Link project is a key part of our restoration plans and the bridge will be put to good use.

"Many people who use the canal enjoy the connections with our great industrial heritage so we will include interpretative signs on the towpath to highlight the historic significance of this type of bridge. It is an honour to have this historic structure as part of our waterway." 

For more information about Bailey Bridges got to: Bailey Bridge History
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust website: www.wbct.org.uk

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.)

Wilts & Berks -v- K&A skittles challenge

The annual skittles match between the Melksham, Calne & Chippenham Branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal and the Devizes Branch of the K&A Canal Trust starts at 7pm at the Cross Keys at Rowde on Friday 19 November 2010 at 7.00pm


Places are limited to 44 — so book early — and pay £10 for food (£9 for veggies) in advance. Bookings must be in by Friday 12 November 2010 so please send cheques payable to B Wright with your choice of food to: B. Wright, 9 Ludlow Close, Chippenham, SN15 3UG (with a contact phone number).

The menu options can be seen if you click on the 'SKITTLES MENU' link below and you will need to make your choice before booking.

For more information contact Brian or Sandy on 07778 124716 or e-mail ju0104@btinternet.com 

For the menu go to: skittles menu

New Swindon canal taking shape
The Wilts & Berks Canal in Swindon, that is now navigable from Kings Hill to the new Swindon expansion area of Whichelstowe, will soon link up with a brand new stretch of canal, with a new lock, that will increase the length of this canal section that is in water to more than 4km.


Speaking at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust AGM at East Challow yesterday Wiltshire Council Canals Officer, Ken Oliver, gave a report on work progress so far and of work on the new stretch of canal that will run alongside the M4 motorway towards the former Wilts & Berks Canal water supply reservoir at Coate Water on the eastern side of the town.

Wiltshire Council Canals Officer, Ken Oliver talks about the new canal work in Swindon.  Picture by Bob Naylor

Ken said, "The capping stones on the new stretch of canal are in place now and it is being puddled at the moment — I am told that it will be filled with water in the next few weeks.

     "By the end of this year it will be landscaped and with the houses alongside it will look quite magnificent."
     He continued, "With the lock gates installed this will be the first operational lock of the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal."
  

Links to other W&B Canal Trust stories on this site:

Wilts& Berks Canal Trust AGM

Wilts & Berks Canal Volunteer awards

Swindon celebrates the 200th anniversary of its canal at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Festival 

Canal Trust floats its boat for Swindon Canal Fest

Royal start to Wilts & Berks link to the K&A Canal

Duchess of Cornwall to mark the start of Melksham Link and the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal

Link: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Website

Canal Trust Volunteer of the Year

Volunteer of the year,  Di Smurfwaite: Picture by Bob Naylor

Di Smurthwaite whose hedge laying, dry-stone walling and many other skills are legendry is the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Volunteer of the Year.

She received the Tony Davy Award, for the member making the greatest voluntary effort in the year, from the Trust President, David Fletcher, at the Trust AGM in East Challow yesterday.


The award is presented in memory of Tony Davy who was W&B Chairman from 1996 until his untimely death in 2004

Pick of the Branches

Trust Chairman, John Laverick highlighted the importance of recruitment in his speech at yesterday's AGM  and he called on each Trust member to recruit one new member. This year the award for the 'Pick of the Branches' went to the Melksham, Calne and Chippenham Branch who were the most succesful recruiters last year.

Melksham, Calne amd Chippenham Branch members with the 'Pick' for best recruiting branch. Picture by Bob Naylor 

Links to other W&B Canal Trust stories on this site:

Wilts& Berks Canal Trust AGM

Swindon celebrates the 200th anniversary of its canal at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Festival 

Canal Trust floats its boat for Swindon Canal Fest

Royal start to Wilts & Berks link to the K&A Canal

Duchess of Cornwall to mark the start of Melksham Link and the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal

Link: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Website

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust AGM
East Challow village hall near Wantage was packed yesterday when more than 100 members of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust met for their AGM.
Before lunch and the formal business of the AGM members visited local projects in progress on a 'hop on - hop off' mini-bus service with members of the local East Vale branch on hand to guide and explain the work. In the hall there were exhibitions of projects that other branches are involved with. 

Trust members visited local W&B Canal projects: Pictures by Bob Naylor

In his report to the Trust, Chairman John Laverick looked back over the year ending 31st March 2010 and highlighted significant events:

• The opening of Double Bridge at Pewsham by the Trust patron, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall.
   
• The newly formed Wiltshire Council unitary authority taking on the hosting role of the Wilts & Berks Canal Partnership.
   
• The decision by the newly reorganised Partnership to push ahead with the 'Melksham Link' project with the aim of getting a canal, footpath and cycleway from the link with the K&A Canal at Semington into the centre of Melksham by 2014 — to mark the 100th anniversary of the Act of Abandonment of the Wilts & Berks Canal.

John Laverick
Picture by Bob Naylor

John Laverick also spoke of better links with the new local authority saying, "Wiltshire Council has appointed its first Canal Officer, Ken Oliver — and the arrangement is working very well.
     "Before his appointment it was very difficult to get a meeting with officers at WCC - but now Ken just walks down the corridor and knocks on the doors of his colleagues —and he is very persistent."

Questions from members at the meeting prompted discussions on subjects including:

• The need for maintenance crews to attend to areas already restored to keep them in good order. 
• Should subscription be raised or not? And the balance between membership retention and income generation. 
• Should the focus be primarily on finishing off and joining sections together or starting new projects?

East Challow Village Hall, packed for the W&B Canal TRust AGM on Saturday 17 October 2010: Picture by Bob Naylor

Links to other W&B Canal Trust stories on this site:

Swindon celebrates the 200th anniversary of its canal at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Festival 

Canal Trust floats its boat for Swindon Canal Fest

Royal start to Wilts & Berks link to the K&A Canal

Duchess of Cornwall to mark the start of Melksham Link and the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal

Link: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Website

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust AGM
Tomorrow (Sat)
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust AGM is tomorrow, Saturday 16 October 2010 at East Challow Village Hall.

There is a full programme for the day:

• 10:00 Arrivals and refreshments. Media displays will be presented during the morning
• 10:30 Minibus to view the Restoration in Progress at Challow and elsewhere.
• 12:30 Lunch.
• 14.00 AGM commences at East Challow Village Hall, followed by an open forum.
• 16:00 Close.

The Village Hall is in Main Street, East Challow, Wantage Oxon OX12 9ST. There is free car parking at the village hall.

The Trust says everyone is welcome to come and hear about the exciting developments in the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal.

Links to other W&B Canal Trust stories on this site:

Swindon celebrates the 200th anniversary of its canal at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Festival 

Canal Trust floats its boat for Swindon Canal Fest

Royal start to Wilts & Berks link to the K&A Canal

Duchess of Cornwall to mark the start of Melksham Link and the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal

Link: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Website

Swindon celebrates the 200th anniversary of its canal at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Festival 

It was a chance for the town to see and enjoy the benefits of having a canal — and people flocked to the event held on Sunday at a restored section of the Wilts & Berks Canal at Wichelstowe in south Swindon.

Canal Trust floats its boat for Swindon Canal Fest

'Dragonfly' on the K&A Canal at Semington 

this week before being taken by road to Swindon.

Picture by Bob Naylor

By Bob Naylor


The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust's new trip boat has been craned into a restored section of canal in Swindon in time to be used this weekend to carry passengers at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Canal Fest at Wichelstowe on Sunday.


The 36ft narrowboat was named Dragonfly by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at a ceremony at Semington on the K&A Canal on Wednesday.

The boat was taken by road from the K&A Canal after being used in a ceremony to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal by marking the start point of the planned link from the K&A Canal to the River Avon in Melksham. On the eastern side of Melksham there will be a link from the river to the canal that, when restored, will form a link to the River Thames at Abingdon.

The Wichelstowe Canal Festival is on from 11am to 4pm on Sunday.

There will be a demonstration by local canoe clubs, Swindon Angling Club will be there to teach youngsters how to fish. Children's entertainment will include a bouncy castle, trampolines, hopper races and an inflatable obstacle course.

There will also be face painting, glitter bugs and henna art.

The trust stand will be there to with information about the canal, its industrial heritage and the techniques being used to restore the canal.

For more information visit:  www.wbct.org.uk/canalfest

How to get there

BY CAR

Recommended route,
Redposts Drive
(off Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon)

ON FOOT

Recommended route,
The canal towpath from the rear
of the Esso Garage, Kingshill Road

Or

The footpath from Old Town to Mannington
that crosses the canal then use the towpath south

Royal start to Wilts & Berks link to the K&A canal

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wearing her dragonfly brooch with pride: Picture by Bob Naylor

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Trust celebrated its 200th anniversary in royal style when Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall took part in the ceremony to mark the start of the new link from the K&A Canal at Semington to the River Avon in Melksham.


She arrived at Semington proudly wearing a dragonfly broach — the W&B emblem... and the Duchess who is patron of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust then performed the naming ceremony for the very vessel she arrived on. 

She poured a bottle of Wadworths K&A 200 celebration beer over the bow —and named the boat "Dragonfly".  

After naming the boat she then went on to cut the first 'sod' to mark the official start of the link from the K&A Canal to the Wilts & Berks Canal.