Navvies Centenary Selection by Carol Rowe

CAROL ROWE IS

GBITBIABI SBLBGTIOI

From Harry Arnold - Photography, Press & Publicity

PHOTOGRAPHS BY HARRY ARNOLD & GRAHAM PALMER

Graham Palmer - NAWIES first editor

Having been involved with Navvying and associated ideas for some time, I have learnt not to take the serious side too much to heart. Now when this family are possibly returning to the mud and away from rallies, Navvies, etc., I thought I'd take a nostalgic but amused look at the incidental jottings of the last 99 issues. No.l October 66 Navvies was issued to those in London and the Home Counties we'll soon change that ! ! !!! Who was/is James Street and is he still being helpful ?? No.2 November 66 First Working Party Organiser named - and he didn't sue!! Started attempts to kill off volunteers. Who was the navvy who sat on the willow tree branch and sawed it off behind him? Navvies Notebook was sent to all the relevent Societies, Trusts; etc. No.3 January 67 Stourbridge 16 are very popular­and due to be opened on May 27th! Have the K&A Junior division stopped filling sandbags yet? Peak Forest have just bought some items in a sale : 3 balance beams -estimated cost £300 ; sale price £15. We don't change do we??? Designs wanted for a homemade scoop or grab to reduce the need for the cold baths necessary for removing object from the bottom of cut. Are we getting soft? No.4 March 67 It is suggested that we run a Stamp Bank to pool resources. 4 editions and we're international! Stourbridge were hosts to two volunteers from Australia. The Editor commended 3 volunteers for coming from Norfolk!! * New Idea * polythene sheeting instead of puddling for sealing a stank!!

ii

Stourbridge Canal - Bottom of Lock 17

No.5 June 67 First "Big Dig" - 50 people went

to Stourbridge - before the opening I hope!K&A have a "new " Dredger-­stuck in Hillmorton, wanted in Reading! First official "bank" report

Ciggy coupons 664 Trading Stamps 171/2

pages Had to construct a large board showing information to prop up at digs because people thought we were a professional maintenance crew! They who 16!

are issuing plaques to those have worked on the Stourbridge

We printed our first ever Cartoon.

No.8 December 67 Report on a White Paper. What White Paper ? We are now running an advertising service. We advertised for an IWA film evening, a book, and an underwater weed cutter ! Marple is in the Dailies - don't know what they said, but any publicity is good publicity. Stourbridge DID re-open - before or after the Big Dig in No.5? No.10 March 68 Reading Rally - They let us dig on the river before hand, to clear the moorings!! Foot and Mouth disease restricts activities. Clarification : (a) Cattle get it not Werglies (b) It affected Navvying - the bit other beers cannot reach. BWB banned all farmhands from restoration work. Has the ban been lifted yet? Advert for a BIG DIG '68 - on the Caldon Canal. Will they close the Leafy Mold Locks and cause the isolation of the Nitty Canal ?? No.13 May 68 What is this Avon we're talking about ? Has it anything to do with doorbells? Operation Ashton is emerging in a middle page spread. PFCS are actually allowed on the Rochdale! No.14 July 68 The BCN have formed themselves into a society. we've got spare back copies! Has Mr. Keaveney's headache gone and is Buxton Lane Lift Bridge still in one piece ?

No.15 September 68 Ashton Revelation : Statistics disclosed about all aspects of Dig - nearly all anyway. We used up lOlb of tea. How many pints were drunk I want to know! .. Who pinched the stand pipe ? or the three blankets?? Did we exchange them for the waders, teeshirt,and pullover ?? Who went home cold? In for a penny ........ a Navvies Trans-Pennine Holiday is advertised! ! No.18 May 69 Upper Avon is rearing its head- or at least the holes in it ! Stan Thomas found a hole and broke his thumb trying to block it up Obviously the Dutch know the right way to do it !

Upper Avon Navigation -Clearing an area for a new lock chamber

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No. 19 July 69 We were rumbled as early as this ! ! ! A BWB Area Engineer has hinted that we repair locks with chewing gum and plywood. Who let him close enough to see ?? The same engineer says that at 5 shillings an hour we are expensive. But we come FREE!!!! No. 20 September 69 First hints of Blisworth- there is a 200 and 350 ft. down. spot that??

trouble in rock layer at Why didn't WE

Welshpool have asked us to go and clear their canal. Do they realise what they are doing ???

Navvying in America. arrange transport? How weekend can we have?? No.21 November 69

Do they long a

WRGbank are purchasing equipment :-6 slashers, cooker, 6 bagging hooks, (these names ! ! ! ) 14 shovels, 4 pairs waders, 3 log saws. No.22 January 70 Description of a cheap way of clearing a lock shown. If we haven't got it we'll tell you where to get it as cheaply as possible -- Chapter I of "Plant and Volunteers" is pµblished. How much will they tell ?? No.25 July 70 "Dudley Dig" is advertised. Someone thinks we should have an Emblem. A complete list of Organisers - and no one sued!! No.26 September 70 " Navvies Gear Shop" starts up with Thigh boots, Zipper suits, PVC macs, and Helmets. What WAS Jim running in Woking ?? Also selling 1971 Calendars. No.28 December 70 Navvies to Exhibit at Rallies ! but only in their own stand! Prototype design published for weed rake to remove Pineapple tops- yes we did read correctly. ( We suspect a foreign holiday for GKP ) No.29 January 71 The first blitz on the Southern Stratford.

Under the heading "Way Out" - it was reported that a Prisoner from Gloucester goal got 14 days remission for diving into the Avon. Reason enough in itself, but he did drag out to safety a digger machine driver when the machine toppled in iv

No.30 April 71 A Smalley is first ed at Stratford. Its ours, but where did it come from ?? No.31 June 71 we're selling Badges!!

Many thanks to Harvey Cook for the donation of a 1 ton Thames Pickup to London WRG. What do they know about picking up ??? No.32 August 71 Navvies Exhibit in stand at Northampton. What DOES Jim sell thigh boots for ?? No.33 October 71 " Look Stranger"--and stranger --BBC2 have filmed us on the Upper Avon ! The Americas are blamed for stopping the Bicycle Boat run from B'ham to Ellesmere Port. Jim Woolgar announces that he is exhausted after Northampton. Shouldn't have sold his boots, should he? It may have somthing to do with short zips in his sleeping bags. I didn't write it!! No.34 December 71 T-shirts and car stickers now!! Badges, keyfobs, prints and back copies of Navvies are advertised as "slightly soiled". How? Is soiled the right word??

Dudley Canal

Ashton Canal - Dukinfield during ASHTAC

No.35 February 72 What is ASHTAC and why is it an emergency??

We obviously didn't play a part in the Europa Canal running from Belgium through 13 countries to Rumania . Its already taken 2000 yrs . Jim is now into electronically welded he's selling slashers sorry grapnels! No.36 April 72

coats with seams; and

and grapels

Heading I don't understand - "Buy a loo-- save a canal " Ashtac has been and we're into souvenier books. Will they sell at Lymm?? A "senior reader " has suggested that "Navvies Gear" sells "monkey glands" to help him and others similar. WRG plant grows : one Smalley, 3x3" pumps, 4 dumpers, a pick-up and two vans. Now can we have a volunteer mechanic ? Is that the right word for a reserector of WRG plant??

N0.37 June 72 We seem to be running out of canals. There was a whole page advert for a canal in Belgium!! The spelling in this edition leaves something to be desired : we were advertising for "Fenatic". David Hutchins is only two miles from Stratford. Jim has gone too far :he's getting requests for "one pair ladies .... shiny black finish" No.40 January 73 we've got 4 more dumpers - a new type of rally ? GKP is asking for comments ( and trouble??) - about the "new" off-set litho machine printing. In true WRG tradition we have bought a Smalley and are now appealling for the money to pay for it!! We're advertising "mushroom vents" for sale in brass. I didn't know they needed them.

v

Lobbying Support!

Vi Stratford Canal - Mkll Smalley 360/5 Excavator at work

No.41 March 73 What's a Montgomery ??? WRG's first Transit is bought - and it's all P. King's fault! No.43 July 73 Colin Vanner ( or Colin's van ) has spare capacity if you are frustrated of Chelmsford. Rumour -- WAS BWB's hydraulic paddle gear made in Italy for £200 a set ?? WRGbank is getting ambitious - it is setting us targets now! No.44 September 73 First photos INSIDE Navvies WRG stand made it to Ely (remember the **** Harps??) and to Northampton ... again! No.46 October 73 Expansion is the name of the game.

WRGprint, WRGpress, WRGagency, WRGsales, WRGstores .... What next?? Only Ireland could offer the incentive of a prize for the most unusual item pulled out at a Dig ! ! Droitwich Dig has happened - with the help of 2500pints of bitter + bottled beer, lager, spirits,etc; and why is Stan Thomas specifically mentioned in this paragraph ?? Were the nocturnal clog dancers digging as well ?? Puchased another Smalley without money - again!

No.47 February 74 The present Editor makes his first contribution to the magazine- but obviously means to make an impact by writing TWO articles ! We are now selling colour slides. Is this Jim at it again ?? The Queen Mum is to open the Opper Avon. Has he got to Stratford yet?? No.48 April 74 We have aquired ( I no longer imply the use of money) a large Smalley -if you see what I mean , and even have pictures to prove it! Nigel Stevens implies that the Queen Mum is depending on us! Where or what is the N.E. Midlands Waterway ? We have purchased a 2ton low load trailer for those who have low slung items needing assistance. No.49 June 74 Barford ( Gt. Ouse popular - is it Hiawatha's tea

). is becoming the pub or "

shop and day nursery" ? A new word -some would say bad language - GABIONS. PFCS can see themselves redundant and threaten " across the Pennines " and Huddesfield. ~

as clogs

the

The Queen Mum floats into Stratford - are we all redundant??

Droitwich Canal during the 'Big Dig' Vii

No.SO August 74 Not only the Queen Mum but also Prince Charles! Welshpool lock is opened. Article on the Navvy Wife completely different to the one in No. 2 about "ladies " on digs ! Into workcamps - Barford, Droitwich and Montgomery. Navvies are now apparently "tapped " or " untapped" labour. Droitwich are definitely into education- they now have a full-time Project Manager with an Honours Degree. It didn't say in what. No.51 October 74 BWB are fixing distance markers every lOOmetres --in tunnels. No.52 December 74 A dam stops water, doesn't it? Well it didn't at Barford. Everything floated - including the tool hut and the tea house. No.53 February 75Among " Progress and Projects" next to BCN and Pocklington --AMERICA. Do they arrange transport? Are they running a Summer Camp ? BWB tunnel distance markers- we can see blue and yellow in the dark -so they repaint them black. No more plaques for working parties( No. 5) - silver spades now!! Heidi wants wrappers!! viii

deluging with

Upper Avon opening

No. 54 March 75 Remember the K & A Junior division and the sand bags? ( No.3) they have now moved on to locks - with the help of the Navy and Scouts. John Felix wants Slogans. No.55 May 75 Another Smalley aquired - and paid for thanks to London IWA. Tring again. Didn't it upset people? Small ads - is it significant that only 1/2 pint beer mugs are advertised ? Mikron put us in a play. No.57 September 75 Stratford Blitz coming up. Picture to report on T-shirt slogan competition - but who was the girl ?? No.59 Februaryruary 76Excuses No.l -14 listed for not digging We now have a Priestman Panther and lOOOft of Jubilee track- is it in red white and blue ?? No. 60 May 76 Aquired - one Compressor - with thanks to CompAir. Getting desperate for funds selling 1976 calendars of canal pictures and 45 gallon steel drums!

DIOGENES is

coming 't NO DJ140 ~o /.~ o• ...

~ ,.

. '

• • ...__.... . . .

r' ..i._ - _,;_-;,--·--. ' ' ·-- :__

~'.iJ_;.:~ .. '' t '>.' ''1 :·.,.., \ .. ,i·," ! i t.: ~ No.61 July 76 Diogenes? Dragons? Gnomes are creeping letters page.

into the

Ist stage of Ellesmere Port opens. No.62 October 76 We have ( officially ) 2500 subscribers. Doigenes apparently comes from Droitwich and was invented for T-shirts. Obtained a 15cwt Ford Thames truck­by Worcs & Brum Canal Soc. GKP wanted to check rubbish at the bottom of a ( full) canal - forgot to de-clothe first. Remember the low loader ? ( No. 48) it is now a 4 wheel close coupled unit. Jim is regretting the loss of waders - now into goggles and ear defenders. No.63 December 76 WRG North West is born out of PFCS. Christmas greetings are puzzling but fun. If we sell " genuine rope fenders", what does a like?

non-genuine one look

It is reported that some volunteers object to our using the colour red. How about colour-blind enthusiasts? No.64 March 77 Introducing Super-Action-Navvy, von Felix, and the dreaded Garden Gnome. A free small ad wants 3 girls what next? At least condition is not specified ( No.37) It appears that we shall be in "Reports Action" on the tele in May. No.65 June 77 Encouraging to note that the BCN book is published by "Traffic" publications Reports Action Canal Cleanup Day tele ads now!! Thigh boots are obviously out now -GKP has heard of an electric bra which gives an "intruder " a shock. It's called " No Gropes" and GKP wants Jim to stock it ! WRGbank got over 2500books, but what did we buy?

No.66 August 77 Organisers list now up to 50; WRG people 14. You can go to : Basingstoke, Widmead Lock, Buxworth Basin, Upper Deepcut, Wey and Arun, K&A, Montgomery, Roehdale, Huddesfield Narrow, Pewsey Wharf, Newton Lock, Droitwich, Ridgeacre, Pocklington, Howsham Loock, and Gravesend. Another Big Dig time.

Deepcut this

blamed for stopping Canals are deliveries productivity operates on swing bridge stalwarts are Middle East ! N0.68 December 77

and reducing if your firm

the wrong side of a anyway. No wonder

going out to the

Apparently Deepcut was wet after we'd drained the cut! 600 muddy volunteers ! We got our just desserts - we commented on the running of rallies , their answer was " well run Titford then!!" All involved in Southern Stratford want us to " buy a pile" ; of what I ask ? No.69 March 78 we've bought some radios with WRGbank savings; now they want us to save for dumpers. It'll be a complete canal yet! Thanks to Waterways World we can now address any envelope. Navvies was llyrs old this issue, although GKP must have slept through 5 issues - he thought it was only lOyrs. Which 5 I ask? The Croydon Canal Restoration Group is formed with badges, optimism and high hopes. No.70 June 78 Jim's influence is back; WRGsales & others are selling dirty(and cheap) weekends! Is Titford the centre Universe? "Aquiring equipment" is semi permanent loan" is in. No.71 August 78

of the

out II

Navvies night out is advertised. Or would you be better going to a Croydon dig : green line bus transport, tea and crumpets supplied by the WRVS. No.72 October 78 A winter workcamp? In Wales?

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No.73 Januaryuary 79 WRG Cosmo is born. Navvies from everywhere. Croydon report : branch lines, harbours, staircases, .... and was the tea drugged?? Residential brickies course arranged; what happened to on-the-job training? What is a "grey PVC open ended wrist"? No.74 Mar 79 Croydon continues with grants and promised books. The Irish are getting their own back for the cartoon in No.63 by writing off WRG vans : GKP's story! Aquired a cooker - and not on loan.

1'Young11 Mike Day & Graham Palmer

No.75 August 79 The cover implies that WRGbrass

were once children! We appear to be parting at the seams - requests for lots of brass. But why did we need an unemployed airline pilot ? Or am I missing something about speed limits or hovercrafts on canals ?? No.76 November 79 Advert for Brass Monkey meeting to start Winter Workcamp on the Mont. Croydon CRG AGM . Euro-translations: and what do you know - " lie rams" become "water ooats 11

No.77 May 80 Jim's gone to stock? Mikron now the s

s x

for

pl a pl estorat

Mystery

more

about

cture

No.78 August 80 SODS is formed ( Smalley operators & drivers society ) Discovered by a satellite- a canal in Central America. Before or after JIM?? No.79 November 79 Winter camp moves south to Droitwich. Obviously getting soft. No. 80 February 81 Summer camps advertised in February require imagination! Emergency appeal for the Yorkshire Derwent. 11 We fight them on the banks ..... 11 now into court. Not so small ads : we're selling boat ! Another first - by request of BWB, we go into the unknown field of Duck-ramps. We were supplied with a form: No. QA/K/ER/S2. No.81 January 82 New leaders, new editors and new rewards : no more plaques, shovels etc. this time its medals!! After "Buy a pile" in No.68, they now want us to sponsor a mile post

Organisers are being asked to confer - is this wise? Will they sue together ? The Rally stand justified our request in No.75 for an airline pilot - it took off at Godalming and landed in President's boiler. We have aquired (with money) a JCB6D. No.82 Mar 82 National Trust Southern Sratf ord

don't want the

Why is Jim's successor selling Baseball caps? and what does a re-cycled glove look like? WRG NW are having fun inventing new ways of raising money - waste paper collection, selling sweets and secondhand books, and collecting postage stamps. We're now advertising for doors!! WRGSales are selling extra pockets - what for??

No. 83 June .82 WRG NW's lavatorial aspect on life

is corning out towelling now!

multicoloured

Are WRG NW going under? Will TV pull them through? What's this about Badges??

German

No.84 August 82 WRG NW are introducing Nudes

what is this magazine corning to? we're writing off vans now - the Bedford bites the dust. On WRG plant - when did we "aquire 11

the JCB3C?? We have aquired a Land Rover­-thanks to CornpAir. No.85 November 82 Alan J. gives 6 points necessary for a Big Dig; and then explains that no site fits. Another Winter Camp - advertised for lunatics this time! Middle page spread on memories of a wet rally - Are there any other sort?? Sir Frank Price is writing for us now! WRGStores are selling Bump Caps do bumps really need their own caps?? No.86 January 83 Expansion is in the air again they want us to clear boatyards -for dolphins! International ( but out of date again - Route to Rhodesia?? Not content with Rallies - IWA want a Waterways Fortnight! New members are being listed now -and still no-one sues! We've found it - the Dismal Swamp Canal. At least someone is honest when naming canals! Chauvanistic Editor sulks over adverse comments cartoon drawn by f ernale

No.87 March 83

in shed on sexist subscriber

Digs improve - Franton are to hold a working weekend with boats, plaques and a beer tent! Why do Foxton Incline Plane Trust need a railway wagon?? The Americans are back restoration, but no transport.

wanting of fer of

INBUCON reveal all - in 7 pages! WRGstores are still recycling. Advertising cruises now. Surely the QE2 is wider than 7ft.

No.88 June 83 The Croydon Canal is progressing and offering badges! Stratford was back over winter --but who's is it? WRG NW nude is getting nuder - and now there's a Diary! WRG reach for the sky with astronomical Navvying. No.90 October 83 Winter camp advertised for penguins this time - even the lunatics have given up. WRG NW have defined an Adhoc : was it wise? The New Navvies is out - advertised in No.71. How can you go on a weekend dig and enter the Huddesfield Sponsored Slim? Ethel the Aardvark? No.91 December 83 Blisworth explained - but we explained it in No.20 didn't we? Is there sense south of Watford ? They intend taking a boat up the Thames to Cricklade; but surely you have to restore it before boats can use it ? Pretty pictures of BWB engineers what are we coming to? No. 92 February 84 Why does Chris Griffiths need a dark room? What does Bob Keaveney want to store? Up market Sweatshirts now. Will they sell in red? ( see No.63) No.93 May 84 No Stratford Blitz this year - just a Huge Offens(ive). Did DCT require a chunky wEnch or winch? Anyway Sabrina needs pumping out.Word puzzles now - what next? and the WRG olyrnpics This takes donations a step further First Aid kit from Boots. No.94 August 84 If polystyrene shoes become popular ( with or without a licence) wil we be out of a job? New places to visit : Canal du Berry ( abroad again!) and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum. Carol and Alan : folding Rally folk. Will badges button up? Will the stand fall? Read next installment!

xi

No.97 Mar 85 MSC are all over (the place) Into court again - the Yorkshire Derwent fight on! According to Michael Hanford there are 70-ish navigations waiting for someone with a spade! we're getting nostalgic London WRG review 1984, someone remembers Ashtac, and Auntie J winges of the ~ast. No.98 May 85

remembers

~e expand a ain into sewerage this time - in Cambridge no less! The New Technology has arrived, but stay calm: its only on the envelopes. After buy a pile and sponsor a milepost, we now have "Sponsor a Navvy"; where do we put her/him when we've got her/him ?

More quizs - first aid this time. Are Boots resoonsible? New ideas anoutld - a brick cleaner this time. Are Milton Keynes about Tring? Not £87 OOO to improve RA;JLY as well!! No.99 July 85

feeling guilty only a grant of

the GU, but a

Another winter camp - are there any penguins left? According to Comments , Alan Jervis has ANOTHER JOB other than WRG. Can we carry on like this? Will we cope? Will HE cope?

CONFUSED????? You'll have to look back at the last 99 Issues.

NOW READ ON ••••••••••••••

. . ' And sti II they queue to 1oin us· xii