Ditchcrawler - January 2015

The Magazine of the North Cheshire Cruising Club

CELEBRATIONS FOR

JANUARY

BIRTHDAYS

9th Eric Roberts - Cindy

10th Gail Fosbrook – Evenstar

10th Kevin Gregory - Quietly

12th Craig Jones

17th Jenny Budworth – Jenny Wren

18th John Fenton - Petralee

21st Adrian Palmer

24th Val Buckland

31st Marie Lamb - Moonfleet

Commodore's Letter

A happy New Year to you all.

I hope you enjoyed the Christmas events and that those of you

who have been ill are fully recovered.

We were extremely lucky with the weather for the Boxing day

cruise.

In the afternoon we had to travel to Wales and on the way we

encountered Rain, Sleet, Snow.

Thank you all for all the help you gave me at the New Years eve

party.

I am unable to plan a coach trip at present as Eric is waiting for

an operation.

We are struggling to staff the Kitchen for Sunday Lunches. if

anyone can spare a hour or two to help us out it will be greatly

appreciated.

Thank you

Edna

Friday Jan 23rd Film Night

Friday Feb 6th Guest Quiz Night

Friday Feb 13th Pancake Night

Friday Feb 20th New Members Night

Saturday March 14th Fitting Out Supper

Sat and Sun March 21st & 22nd Opening Cruise to Disley

Friday April 3rd to 6th Easter Cruise Bugsworth

Friday May 2nd to 4th May Day Weekend to be arranged

Friday May 22nd to Sat 30th Spring Bank Cruise to Chester

Friday July 24th Summer Cruise Strafford on Avon [ River Avon &

River Severn ] Aprox 4 weeks

Friday August 28th to 31st Bank Holiday To be arranged

SUNDAY LUNCH and BAR

Why not come along for lunch on Sundays, 12.00 – 1.30.

The bar is also open 12.00 – 2.00.

PUB CLOSURE

Hi Bernie, Trust you had a good Christmas a bit of local cut news for you, The

popular canal side pub The Miners arms at Adlington has gone into receivership

and is now closed.

Greeting from a very sunny Spain.

Chris.& Mair Potter Fleur Deau

WORKING DAY SATURDAY 10 JANUARY

I started Saturday work party with Brian sorting out jobs for the people who

turned up to work.

Then Brian and myself got the dredger started to start work on clearing the

silt out of the ex boat house knocked down in the corner of the turning

circle, it took the full day but we took a lot of silt out.

I then cleaned myself up to go out for a meal as a Birthday treat with John

and Pam.

Got back to the boat for the night when John rang me up to ask me if I

could help him behind the bar for 5 minutes while he waited for Bill to

arrive.

When I walked in to the club room there was a crowd of club members sat

there, how Edna kept it from me is a complete mystery.

But I must say it was a great night thank you all for coming. Eric

CHANGE OF DETAILS

If any members have changed their address or phone number please could you

let me know.

Pam Russell

THANK YOU I would like to say thank you to everyone who sent cards,phone calls and well wishes to me during the time I had my broken wrist. Thank You to you all Pam. Russell NEW MEMBERS NIGHT Hi Bernie Please could you include in the next Ditchcrawler New Members Night will be on the 20th Feb at 8pm. This will be a cheese and wine evening. All are welcome. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY The new club Membereship Directory. Is now ready for you to pick up fro the club on a club night. at the moment it is one per couple. I would like to say a big thank you to Ian Bruce for producing the book for us Pam Russell. Membership Director THANK YOU I would like to thank you for all the cards and flowers whilst recovering from

an operation after a stroke.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year

Glenys and Dave Critchlow

Change of Lock Code for Gates to Club Entrance.

In our continuing effort to improve club security, a new code will be required to enter the club site. The new code will become operational on Sunday 1st March and will be circulated by email seperately:--

It is the intention to change the code at least once per year, usually around the beginning of March so the current code will be valid until then. As well as using the code to enter the site you will also need to use it to exit the site – there are keypads on both sides of the lock! This means an intruder climbing over the fence or gaining entry by some other means cannot simply open the gates from the inside without knowing the code.

Please make a note of the code as you will not be able to gain entry after 1st March without it. Also, please close the gate after you.

The workshop will also be fitted with a new lock and will use the same code.

Garry Dockerty. Chairman.

New limit of £50 for cash payments.

In an effort to reduce the amount of cash club officers have to store at home until

it is banked and also to reduce bank charges to the club, the board has decided a

new cash limit of £50 will be applied to any single transaction for services

provided by the club. This includes payments for moorings, membership, social

events, diesel and Calor etc. but not for bar transactions. Beyond that limit all

transactions will have to be either by cheque or online banking whichever is more

convenient.

The new cash limit will come into force from 1st February so please be prepared

and if necessary, bring your cheque book along.

Members have been able to pay for club services such as moorings and

membership by online banking since November 2014.

The club’s bank account details are shown below:-

Bank: Santander

Sort Code: 09-01-28

Account No: 66308303

Account Name: North Cheshire Cruising Club Ltd.

and supersedes any previous club bank details you may have used. If you intend

to use this facility then please double check you have copied the above details

correctly and not made any mistakes.

Please use your boat name as reference for moorings and initials & surname for

membership.

If you do not wish to use online banking then payment by cheque is required for

all transactions above £50.

Please note: The club does not have the facility to accept card payments.

Garry Dockerty Chairman

at

on

at

Members are invited to come along and express and discuss their

opinions with the board members and each other

As new members of the North Cheshire Cruising Club (NCCC) we would like to

take this opportunity to say how helpful and friendly we have found the club .We

joined two years ago before we bought our boat, having only previously owned

sea boats, to seek advice and learn from other peoples experiences in order to

help us avoid common pitfalls when fitting out our boat. In particular, Brian and

Hazel Bowker have helped us no end with their vast amount of experience and

were very helpful and welcoming from the start.

Once we had purchased our sail away boat we were in search of a welder and

came across Chris Pennington. Chris has helped us in all aspect of welding in

particular re-designing and fabricating new gas lockers, enclosing the back deck

and designing two gates so that our dog would be kept secure. He also pointed

out the rough welding along both gunnels and was able to rectify this problem, If

we had spoken to Chris before buying our boat we would have avoided this,

saving us both time and money. We have found Chris to be an excellent welder,

with a wealth of knowledge and a real expert in his field. If Chris can’t weld it,

then it can’t be welded! We would highly recommend him to anyone.

Once again we would like to thank all that NCCC who made us feel so welcome

and we hope to be members for many years to come!

Tom & Sue Sutton

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If any one who receives a copy of Ditchcrawler either on club night or by post

would like a larger print copy (A4) please let the editor know.

We hope to be able to supply these commencing with the January 2015 edition.

To Bill and Gill on their recent marriage. All their friends at NCCC wish

them many more happy years together .

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Can anyone requiring the use of the slipway during 2015 please liaise

with Brian Bowker. Many thanks

In Memory Of -

Dear Members,

I have just learnt of the sad death of club member Derek Houghton who died suddenly last

night at home.

Derek and his wife Shirley are long standing club members and Derek was club commodore in

1980-81. I know everyone will join me in offering Shirley our sincere condolences at this sad

time.

I will forward details of funeral arrangements as soon as I have them.

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MARGARET JOY STANTON.

We lost a very special lady and friend on the 4th December 2014.

Margaret had been a member of North Cheshire Cruising Club for more than 20

years and had cruised extensively during that time despite her various ailments.

Barry lovingly made many adaptions to their boat to make life a little easier for

her.

I`m sure we all have special memories of Margaret. The trip to Ireland boating on

the locks and canal, the River Thames, a trip to Chester when it was so hot we all

ran out of Gin near Middlewich and had to send for emergency supplies, or just a

silly weekends at Whitley Green where we could chill out enjoying B.B.Q’s and a

drink.

We spent lots of really good times with Margaret, who was kind, caring and a

generous hostess who never complained and had a wicked sense of humour.

What more could one ask of a friend?

We`ll miss you Margaret

Bob and Sheila Barlow

Boats attending the cruise were: Cindy - Hydra - All Js - Sarah - Petra Lee - Quantum - Lazy Days - Hakuna Matata –

Montana, Horny Toad,

Attention All Moorers in the Club Arm

Please not that it is one of the conditions of mooring in the arm (which

everybody signs) that you must purchase your ‘Canal & River Trust’ licence

through the club. Failure to do this is in breach of your mooring conditions and

will put your mooring in jeopardy. The club as you are aware are given a 5%

commission on these licences and therefore are losing revenue. The board has

decided that as it is a condition of mooring in the arm, that, the amount of lost

revenue will be recouped from the offending moorers and a bill will be issued for

the relevant amount i.e. 5% of your licence fee.

NB This only applies to moorers in the arm who have not bought their licence

through the club.

Pam Russell

Pics from Eric’s surprise birthday party

MV FULMAR By Bryan & Babs Roberts

This is the account of a trip from York to Derby Boat Club after buying a motor cruiser at

Naburn Marina York a distance of approximately 140miles.

On a late September day 1999 we took possession of MV Fulmar a 32ft Princess. The

plan was to sail the boat from York to Derby via the Ouse to the Trent we did give it

a thought we might go the full length of the Ouse via Trent Falls but this was counted out due to

tide and having to find somewhere to moor overnight and not knowing the

river this was discounted. The other alternative was taking the boat off the river at

Selby lock and going through the canal system to join the Stainforth & Keadby Navigation and

then on to Keadby lock and on to the Trent.

On a bright sunny morning after passing through Naburn Lock we were met with a

great deal of rubbish floating down the river, calling up Cawood Swing Bridge on the

VHF they had the bridge open for our passage, the bridge was negotiated without any

problems the next obstacle was the two swing bridges at Selby, for those who have not sailed

this part of the river Ouse it narrow between the two bridges and on a double bend. We called

up the bridge keeper and asked for the bridge to be opened as it would be impossible to stop with

the river running fast and it being narrow going round the last bend. We saw the bridges open

for us and we made a swift exit through. Within a short distance approximately half a mile is

Selby lock on the right hand side the water running fast we slowed right down this was going to

be rather difficult to turn against the flow of the river so de decided to turn after the lock and

head back into the flow which we did and after a little manoeuvring we did eventually get into

the lock and was glad when the gates closed behind us. After having a break for lunch in Selby

marina we headed off through various locks which we had to open and close ourselves we

arrived at our overnight stop at Bank Dole

(by the Tar Works) and after a Chinese take away stayed for the night.

After breakfast we moved on again through locks and swing bridgeswe made our

way onto the Stainforth & Keadby Canal and passing through marinas we arrived at the rail

swing bridge over the canal. After calling on the radio to the bridge keeper

we asked if he was able to swing the rail bridge we had to waite as this line is very busy. We

had to wait until he had a clear slot to open the bridge so we moored up and had lunch eventually

the bridge opened and we made a quick passage through, this

was the final obstacle before reaching Keady lock, we stayed overnight another boat narrow

beam cruiser joined us for tomorrows passage up the Trent and on to TorkseyLock.

Archive Corner January 2015

High Lane Arm, then and now.

Records suggested that what we regard as the NCCC Arm in its present day form was constructed along

with the Macclesfield Canal, appearing on historic maps published in 1831. However, during 1837 an

extension canal was constructed to offer access to Middlewood Pit, part of the Norbury Colliery complex

operated by the firm of Clayton & Brooke under lease from Thomas Legh of Lyme Park. The extension

canal commenced at a point on the south side of the bend in the Arm, where tree clearance is currently in

progress. Near to our boundary fence the extension canal tapered to a narrow section to enable stop

planks to be inserted. From the narrows, it extended south for around 120 yards, whereupon it turned

south westward for a further 55 yards, terminating at a wharf complete with a loading platform, see plan

below.

Buxton Road A6 To Marple

Bridge 11

Bulls Head

NCCC H.Q.

Slipway

Existing Club Arm

Limekiln

Bridge 12

Existing Club Arm 1908 Mine

‘Clayton & Brooke’ Arm

progressively infilled

by 1912

To Macclesfield

New Mine

Loading Platform

Tramway from Middlewood Pit Canal Pit

A plan of the canal branches serving High lane in 1872

During the late nineteenth century the canal arm complex serving High Lane must have been a busy

place employing miners, surface workers, boatmen, together with administration and supervisory staff.

The terminus of the Clayton & Brooke Arm could accommodate six narrow boats at any instant whilst a

Limekiln was in use located near the ‘corner’ of the Arm. Bearing in mind the workers need to indulge in

some form of recreation, it is understood that the yard at the rear of the Bulls Head public house was

used as a venue for prize-fighting.

In 1874 with the coming of the railways to this area, the tramway linking Middlewood Pit to the Clayton &

Brooke Arm was replaced by a standard gauge railway offering connections with the Manchester –

Buxton and the Macclesfield – Marple lines.

When the Norbury Colliery lease expired in 1892, the bulk of the coal reserves were exhausted,

consequently the colliery was closed and the assets were dismantled and sold off. However, in 1907

Joseph Wright, the former Clayton & Brooke company secretary applied to the Great Central Railway

Company to drive a heading into the cutting side of the Macclesfield Canal near High Lane with a view to

extracting coal near to the surface, whereupon it would be transferred to High Lane Arm by boat.

Subsequently, it was agreed that the heading should be driven into the side of the High Lane Arm

instead. It is understood that this mine operated until 1917 when Wright retired on the grounds of ill

health. The remains of the mine entrance may still be seen adjacent to the Cricket Ground, see below.

The entrance to the 1908 Mine viewed from the towpath between the Club Arm and

High Lane Cricket Club

Prior to his retirement from boating our 1945-1948 Commodore Mr. H.W.Downes wrote a series of

articles chronicling his long involvement with High Lane Arm both before and after the NCCC was

formed. Upon arrival at the Arm around 1925, Mr Downes joined an intrepid band of pioneering boaters

who sought solace in the simple pleasures on offer. It would appear that Mr Downes was welcomed by

Albert Ridgeway who had commenced pleasure boating around 1910. Albert, a master carpenter had

converted a one-time ships lifeboat ‘Swan’ for canal use, employing an Austin seven petrol engine

adapted to suit. Sadly, Albert passed away just prior to the NCCC being formed in 1943. Albert’s son, one

of our founder members Mr Ernest Ridgway, who boated from High Lane Arm for the whole of his life

(1910-1974), operating Swan from a boathouse close to the entrance of the 1908 Mine, recalled a

tramway running along the towpath. This would no doubt be used in the transportation of coal from the

mine entrance, together with the spoil which was used to infill the Clayton and Brooke Arm.

The point where the Clayton & Brooke Arm commenced, the infilled section being infested with

trees.

The infilled arm is now overgrown with silver birch trees, bushes and weeds to the extent that it is barely

discernible. The only sure evidence of its course is the strip of level ground alongside the access road to

the Cricket Club from the South.

If you have time on your hands and a stout pair of boots this makes for an interesting walk which may

reveal evidence of the activities of bygone days. I bid any interested parties ‘good luck’ and would be

interested to hear of any of their findings!

The trees in this picture have grown in the bed of the infilled Clayton & Brooke Arm

Allegedly, in modern times, whilst tending the playing surface the Cricket Club ground staff left a heavy

duty roller out overnight, only to find it had disappeared down a sizeable hole come the following

morning! It would appear that proposals to use the land to the South of the Cricket Ground for equestrian

events have been dissuaded on the grounds of safety. Clearly the effects of mining have made the

immediate area very unstable.

Land prone to mining subsidence is widespread locally, the nature of the bridges on the Macclesfield

Canal Main Line bear testimony to this. Bridges 13 to 17 inclusive employ stone abutments with a timber

span, thus permitting the effects of subsidence to be dealt with inexpensively. Sadly, the off side of the

arch of the first standard masonry Bridge south of the High Lane cutting (Bridge 18) near to the Miners

Arms has subsided, making for navigational difficulties. Many years ago there was a wharf located where

the current winding hole is positioned, with a ‘spoil heap’ close by. One has to be ‘philosophical’ however,

without the coal, hence the subsidence, it is unlikely we would have the canal!

John Suggitt, ‘Evenlode’

Wigan still without Pier, but now gains a

‘Quarter’!

Wigan has not had a ‘Pier’ for nearly a hundred years, but the historic canalside area that bears the name is going to

become ‘Wigan Pier Quarter’ and aim to breathe new life into the Lancashire town.

A major transformation of one

of the North West’s most iconic destinations has moved a step closer after Wigan Council signed a deal with

developers to deliver a new “Wigan Pier Quarter”. A ten year master plan to redesign and redevelop the area around

the world famous Wigan Pier has been agreed between the council, the Canal & River Trust and developer H20

Urban.

The plans will transform the land around the historic Leeds & Liverpool Canal basin close to Wigan town centre

and include construction of a major performance venue, new canal moorings plus new homes and shops. It will be

overseen by H20 Urban, who specialise in regenerating canal side locations. They’ve previously worked on

successful schemes across the UK including in Northwich, Lancaster and London.

Councillor David Molyneux, deputy leader of Wigan Council, said: “There’s been a lot of talk in

Westminster political circles about Wigan Pier and the country going back to the 1930s. Well the reality

here in Wigan is we’re looking to the future not the past.

“We’ve come up with an exciting new vision for a Wigan Pier Quarter and signed a deal with a proven

developer to deliver this. It will bring prosperity and opportunity to the whole town. The regeneration

of the Wigan Pier area is an important priority for the council and the local community and I’m

delighted to see some real progress. The partnership agreement we’ve secured with the Canal and River

Trust and H20 Urban is an important step in creating the Wigan Pier Quarter. It will provide the

mechanism for attracting investment and development in this area and make sure it has a bright future

Mexican sausage and bean chilli with rice

This chilli con carne recipe uses sausages instead of beef mince and makes a mouthwatering

alternative to the classic version.

Ready in35 minutes

Cooking time25-30 minutes

Prep time5 minutes

Serves4

Ingredients

½ x 600g pack reduced fat pork sausages

1 tbsp olive oil

200g frozen chopped onion

2 tsp frozen chopped garlic

250g frozen mixed peppers

420g tin mixed beans in chilli sauce

390g carton Italian chopped tomatoes

2 tbsp spicy chipotle chilli paste (optional)

100g frozen sweetcorn

3 x 200g bags frozen microwaveable white rice

20g lighter British mature Cheddar grated

Method

1. Preheat the grill to medium and grill the sausages to pack instructions for 15-20 minutes,

turning frequently until golden and cooked through. Remove and slice on the diagonal.

2 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion

and garlic, turn up the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes until the onions

are turning golden and the liquid has evaporated. Add the peppers and cook for 2 minutes.

3 Add the mixed beans in chilli sauce, chopped tomatoes, chipotle paste (if using) and

sweetcorn to the onions in the frying pan, bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

4 Meanwhile, cook the rice bags to pack instructions; on high for 8 minutes.

5 Just before serving, stir the cooked sausages through the spicy sauce. Serve the chilli with

the rice and a sprinkling of the grated cheese if you wish

NCCC Board of Directors 2014 / 2015

The Board

Chairman Garry Dockerty 01663 767810 [email protected]

Company Secretary Pam Suggitt 0161 427 9906 [email protected]

Finance Director Bill Jewsbury 07812 368887 [email protected]

Bar Director John Fenton 0161 998 0391 [email protected]

Land & Water Space Director

Eric Roberts 01457 855929 [email protected]

Membership Services Director

Pam Russell 0161 998 0391 [email protected]

Premises Director Brian Bowker 01663 763595 [email protected]

Director without Portfolio Geoff Lamb 0161 483 7943 [email protected]

Commodore

Edna Roberts 01457 855929 [email protected]

Company Officials

Archivist John Suggitt 0161 427 9906 [email protected]

Assn of Waterways Cruising Clubs Rep

John Suggitt 0161 427 9906 [email protected]

Ditchcrawler Editor Bernie Budworth 01925 764377 [email protected]

Food Safety Officer Janet Tattersall 01457 861085 [email protected]

Fundraising Co-ordinator Sheila Barlow 01663 765731 [email protected]

Health & Safety Officer George Griffin 0161 355 6830 [email protected]

Kitchen Supervisor Pam Russell 0161 998 0391 [email protected]

Licensing Agent Jen Budworth 01925 764377 [email protected]

Membership Secretary Pam Suggitt 0161 427 9906 [email protected]

Moorings Officer Bob Barlow 01663 765731 [email protected]

Quartermaster Vacant

Web Master Garry Dockerty 01663 767810 [email protected]

Wharf Supdt. Brian Bowker 01663 763595 [email protected]