|
|
|
|
ENews 2008-7 |
| Issue Date: Mar 09 2008 |
Hello and welcome to ENews 2008-7.
The objective of ENews is to advise, inform and update. And maybe even to amuse from time to time.
I have not got a Post Office in every village, so feel free to send any newsworthy items you would like to be considered for inclusion to postmaster@cctmembers-newsletter.co.uk
Any and all feedback is more than welcome.
I do not have any news on the "Restoration post BW" situation yet but do know that there's a heck of a lot going on behind the bullrushes.
Rest assured that as soon as some news floats by then you will be amongst the first to know.
oOo
I WANNA GET YOU......ON A SLOW BOAT TO SA - UL
Last year that well-known RYA Inland Waters Helmsman's Certificates issuer Wendy Beamont organised a cruise from Fenny Compton to Saul Festival, you may remember her crew call in ENews 24, the first issue in 2007.
She reports that her appeal worked a dream last year, but then as we all know the weather got in the way. She says:
"If anyone would like a week or two weeks holiday cruise on a 70ft narrowboat I am looking for crew to help take my boat from Fenny Compton Marina, on the Oxford Canal, to the Saul Festival.
I aim to leave on Sat. 28 June; the only condition is that you are registered to help as a member of the Festival Support Staff team!
(Full volunteering details can be found at http://www.junctionevents.org.uk - follow the Support Staff tab at the top of the page...Ed.)
You are welcome to come for the first or second week......or indeed both. I have 6 berths available in 3 cabins. All expenses to be shared by crew - it usually works out at about £80 per week per head.
Contact Wendy Beamont telephone 01235 764172 or email wildcat@rya-online.net for further details."
Sounds great fun, I expect it will work on a first come first served basis. Go on, get that Support Staff registration form in ASAP and get in touch with Wendy.
oOo
A TOKEN 50% UPDATE
In the Trow winter edition, numismatist & CCT member Dave Jones wrote a fascinating piece about Thames & Severn tokens. He now tells me:
"Almost immediately after my article was published the number of known tokens with striped sails increased by 50% - to 3.
The latest one was auctioned at the end of January and I went along with every intention of buying it as to me it was the equivalent of the Holy Grail! Bidding was brisk and the price was soon out of my reach at over £1,000.
At the last minute a friend of mine William McKivor, a well known token dealer and CCT member, stepped in with a bid of £1,300 and won the auction. This one was slightly better than the one he already had, which is now on its way to me at a lower price than the auction piece.
Out of the 3 known striped sail tokens in existence this now means that 2 of them are owned by Trust members."
So there you have it. If you can increase the number still further then it looks as if you could be sitting on a nice little earner!
oOo
WHERE ARE THE OTHER 99?
Amongst his many & varied responsibilities Richard Attwood has a couple that he's looking to pass over to younger shoulders.
Firstly - he controls 'Club 100'. (Now I bet a golf bag big enough to keep it and the other 99 in needs controlling............... but it's not that at all apparently.) Subscribers to the Club pay into it on a regular basis and then, once a quarter, a random draw is made with 3 or 4 lucky punters receiving a nice cheque.
As administrator Richard uses an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of Club Members, who has paid what and when. Sometimes the job involves chasing members who have stopped paying for whatever reason and deleting them from the list when necessary. The spreadsheet is also used when the quarterly draw is made, usually at a Western Branch meeting.
COMPLIMENTS OF THE QUARTER
The other important role he undertakes is management of the complimentary 'Trow' list. Around 400 copies of the magazine are sent to local councillors, riparian landowners and other "useful" people each quarter. (In case you are wondering, that's one to each of them, not 400 to each one...)
More opportunities to use an Excel spreadsheet; details are kept on one and updated from time to time - especially after local elections for example. Each quarter this mailing list is printed off onto sheets of labels in readiness for an infamous stuffing session at Saul Heritage Centre.
For further information on either of these duties please contact Richard; 01453 792021 or by email to richard@raash31.co.uk
oOo
PIN NUMBERS
A new CCT pin badge, about the size of a 5p piece, is currently in production. There's a (not very good - I took it) picture of the design on the Volunteer website's Photo Gallery, to view - you don't even need to login - just go to http://www.cct.teamconnect.org.uk/display_photo_gallery.php
(Whilst you're there, though, and if you are not already a Registered Volunteer then why not follow the "Register Me Now" link to put this right?)
The badge will retail at around £1.50 and will be available at Saul Heritage Centre, the Roadshow when it's out and about and at Lechlade when 'Inglesham' is running. We may be able to send it out by post as well, especially if there is enough interest......let me know!
oOo
CAN YOU AMBLE?
Sunday 27th April is the date set for Canamble 2008!
The format of what looks like becoming our annual sponsored walk will be the same as last year and this year's event will take in the whole towpath from the Ocean, Stonehouse to beyond Brimscombe Port. The walk will begin at Ebley Mill, Stroud and will be in two sections.
The first short stretch will take Canamblers west to the Ocean and provide the opportunity to explore the back roads of Stonehouse. The second and longer part will go east to beyond Brimscombe Port returning via Thrupp and the former Nailsworth and Stroud Railway track, now the cycle trail. As last year there will be the "Last Man" team who will walk the route following the other walkers to remove signs and litter.
We need your help please:-
- To walk and raise money to further the restoration (Minimum sponsorship will be £5).
- To make a donation to the "Last Man" team if you are unable to take part in the Canamble. (Kindly forward a cheque to Cotswold Canals Trust, 44 Black Jack Street, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 2AA. Please write "Last Canambler" and your name and address on the back of your cheque.)
- To help on the day providing refreshments along the route, manning a checkpoint or helping at the start / finish.
- To be part of the "Last Man" team (Sponsorship is optional).
Sponsor forms can be downloaded from http://www.cotswoldcanals.com , by emailing canamble@raash31.co.uk or by phoning 07811529230 and leaving your name and address.
oOo
DIARY DATES
Further information about most of these items appears on the 'Activities' page of the volunteer website at http://www.cct.teamconnect.org.uk
15th March: Roadshow at Stroud Farmers Market. The roster is complete already for this one, like a bus there'll be another one along soon however. (On the 12th April in fact - at both Cirencester AND Stroud on the same day......whoops a daisy)
18th/20th March inc: Boat handling training days at Lechlade in preparation for the summer season with 'Inglesham'. It should be possible to arrange alternative dates if those proposed are inconvenient; contact Wendy Beamont wildcat@rya-online.net or phone 01235 764172 to discuss
19th March: Eastern Branch monthly meeting at the Trout Inn, Lechlade. On the north bank of the Thames by the A417 bridge. 7:30pm start, everybody welcome
21st March: Summer trip boat season starts on the Thames at Lechlade
22nd March: Summer trip boat season starts on the Gloucester - Sharpness Canal at Saul
(Details of both operations - crew needs, charter opportunities etc - can be found on the 'Connect' website)
23rd March: Work Party at Coates Portal end of tunnel, contact Mark Welton at mark.welton@virgin.net for more information
6th April: Boat Jumble at Gloucester Docks, appropriate items sought.
These can be dropped off at the Western Depot, Eastington on Monday & Wednesday mornings - contact Roger Wells 01453 544490 or email ForWells@jodarolo.freeserve.co.uk for more information
7th April: Western Branch monthly meeting at Fromebridge Mill, on A38 roundabout west of M5 junction 13. 7:30pm start, everybody welcome
12th April: Roadshow at Stroud Farmers Market. The Roster is up & waiting to be populated - http://www.cct.teamconnect.org.uk , go to Activities page and 'Stroud Farmers Market 2' roster
12th April: Roadshow at Cirencester Farmers Market for the first time ever. Again there's a Roster waiting to be populated; if you are one of the 4/500 or so members living in the Cirencester area then why not lend a hand? Mike Slade will be delighted to hear from you if you can, 01179 693270 after 6pm or mrmike.slade@googlemail.com
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.
oOo
Bye for now - please keep me posted!
David Pagett
Postmaster
