AGM Sunday 18th April 2010. Sunday 18 April saw the officers and a party of members of the Association take to the train, as a prelude to the annual meeting which, this year, was held based on the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford Station, off the A.1 road north of Peterborough. Whilst the river Nene is alongside the railway here, sadly there was no possibility of a trip boat being available. Instead members boarded the 11.50am train and after a short delay to hitch on a steam locomotive to the rear of the carriages, a diesel engine towed the train westwards through a tunnel to Yarwood Junction. The diesel was detached and the steam engine now took over and we returned eastwards through the tunnel first to Wansford and then along the line to Ferry Meadows, Orton Mere and Peterborough NVR stations. This takeover drill was necessary as the railway is not allowed to push the carriages but must always tow them from the front.

At Peterborough the steam engine No 73050 appropriately named "City of Peterborough" ran around to the front of the train and hauled us back to Wansford in time for a preordered lunch served aboard a railway coach positioned alongside the main station building. After the meal everyone repaired to an upstairs room for the formal AGM, which was accompanied by an illustrated account of the work on the North Walsham and Dilham Canal. During the proceedings we were delighted that both Michael Lyons, a long standing member of the Middle Level Watermen's Club, and Christopher Black, one of the leaders of the NW work parties, were elected as new directors of the Association. At the same time we were sorry to have to announce that Leslie Heaton has given up his directorship having served for over 40 years, firstly on the committee of the original unincorporated association, and subsequently as a director of the present company. The business of the AGM over, we moved on to a meeting of the Council to which everyone was invited to stay. Whilst discussing the Fens Waterways Link, Ivan Cane gave an illustrated presentation showing some of the problems that need to be overcome to create the link between the South Forty Foot River and the river Glen and reporting on his recent trip on the Glen. And the need to safeguard the course of the route to the east of Peterborough through to the river Nene was highlighted and included the logic of using Car Dyke as part of the route.

The work party on Sunday Nov 15th 2009 is to be at a new venue - Royston Wharf. It is the highest we have ever worked on the canal. The building there, as well as a warehouse - also incorporated the Wherry Inn, and the present lady who lives there is the daughter of the publican from way back.

AGM, APRIL 2009 - AGENDA East Anglian Waterways Association AGM 2009 Anton’s Gowt — Sunday April 19th 2009 2009 celebrates 5 years of achievement for the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. Under the helm of Mary Powell the LWP has attracted some £16m of funding, which has been spent on waterway related schemes, from angling improvements (REEL Project), the Water Rail Way - a multi-user path stretching 33 miles from Lincoln to Boston, with its related "artworks"; help to waterway related businesses and clubs (e.g. Lincoln Rowing Club); and improvements to navigational facilities from moorings to bridges. Their brief has also been County wide with projects on the Ancholme, Grantham Canal, South Forty Foot, Kyme Eau, Sleaford Canal, Glen, Welland, Fossdyke and Witham. From our aspect, the jewels in the crown have been the extension of the navigable waters of Lincolnshire by the raising of the Four Mile Bridge on the Welland; the botton lock refurbishment on the Slea; the fantastic lift footbridge at Sleaford itself and the new slipways on the Welland and Glen that are attracting more people of all ages to use the waterways. However, the largest jewel is the opening of the first 18 miles of the Fens Link, with the opening of the Black Sluice Lock this month allowing boats access to the South Forty Foot for the first time for decades. Funding has also been found to scope the next link through to the Glen and Welland. So. for this year’ s AGM venue,.we are going to share in the celebrations of this inspired County by looking some of its successes. The day will start at 11.30 at the Black Sluice Lock itself where the Project Manager, Andrew Usbourne, will give us a guided tour of the lock and cottages, and tell us of the trials and tribulations of the 15 months it has taken to restore a 150 year old lock — as well as deal with the tidal river outfall.. The short journey to the lunch venue will give us chance to travel by the Grand Sluice and then alongside the Maud Foster and Frith Bank Drains - passing Cowbridge Lock en route. Lunch (£7 two course carvery payable to landlord) will be held at the Malcolm Arms at Anton’s Gowt, where a lock joins the Wltham Drains with the main riverI itself — and an area that has received a boost from LWP funding. Following ·lunch Mary Powell will give us an illustrated talk on the remarkable achievements of the first five years of the LWP, and the hopes for the next five. The AGM itself w1ll follow; this will include an illustrated report by David Revill on the work part1es’ achievements over the year. Those with time to spare in the area may also like to take the opportunity to further explore the complex junctions of the Stonebridge, Cowbridge, East and West Fen Drains with its working and derelict locks and aqueduct. Then add a Visit the new lifting footbridge at Sleaford around 30 minutes away. Following the AGM there will be a meeting of the Council of the Association to which Members are welcome to attend. Again please indicate below your intention to join us or not. The cost of the day, to cover expenses, is £3. Detailed information and maps will be e-mailed to participants nearer to the date - otherwise please send stamped (large) s.a.e. The Council is desperately looking for "new blood" to join them. Meetings are held but 3 to 4 times a year at a central location, and we need new ideas and experiences to help to to enhance the waterways of the East. Please contact Alan Faulkner or Ivan Cane if you wish to nominate or be nominated to join the Council — or would like further infomation.

50TH ANNIVERSARY CRUISE On Sunday twenty-eight members gathered punctually at 10am at The Plough Inn, Fen Ditton to board the trip boat ROSIE for a cruise on the river Cam, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Association. After a short trip upstream to turn round the boat, we cruised leisurely down to Baits Bite Lock, which we shared with another narrow boat. Then it was down past Horningsea, the Cam Conservators Depot, the Cambridge Motor Boat Club and the Cam Sailing Club to tie up just above Bottisham Lock. Here members had a chance to stretch their legs and walk the short distance to the bridge across the entrance to Bottisham Lode and to debate why the Environment Agency appears to deny access into the lode, albeit the navigation rights are extant. Admittedly most craft would only be able to navigate some 5/8ths of a mile up to the site of Bottisham Staunch as this used to hold up a head of water to enable boats to reach Lode village, but today only canoes could use this stretch. And then it was back to the boat for the return cruise back to The Plough. Our hard-working secretary Ivan Cane had gone to great pains to organise the lunchtime arrangements and everyone had made their preference before boarding the boat, and these had been passed on to the pub so as to be ready for 2pm. We arrived back at the pub punctually to find it very busy and the staff had provided only some of the tables needed for our party. By 2.40pm, the management was apologising for the non appearance of our orders and were offering free drinks compensation, but even then it was not until 3.25pm that the first meals began to appear. Remonstrations led to the bill being waived, but the episode put a damper on proceedings, with one couple being forced to leave without being fed. Back on the boat the cruise continued up river through Chesterton and past many moored boats and the college boathouses. ROSIE then turned just below Jesus Green Lock and wended her way back to Fen Ditton. Thanks are due to Ivan as it was no fault of his the meal arrangements fell though and to Liz Sheehan of CamBoats who told us much about the river and who served coffee and biscuits en route. "Camboats is a family run business located in the heart of Cambridge and has been established since 2004. Camboats offer a fantastic service for people of all ages to explore the river Cam and Great Ouse. "The trips take part on a 50ft, open sided narrow boat called Rosie. On the trip you will see kingfishers, swans, grebes, geese and herons and experience life along the riverbank."

Spalding Flower Parade Trip on the River Welland, over the May Bank Holiday Trailboats make use of the new slipway at Crowland on the River Welland, May 2008 Over the 2008 May Bank Holiday weekend, two of our members joined several other trailboaters to make use of the new slipway at Crowland to gain access to the River Welland, in order to attend the Spalding Flower Parade. Boats waiting to launch at the Crowland Slipway River Welland Four Wilderness Boats joined another trailboat and a Spalding Water Taxi, For the parade day itself they were all dressed overall to fit the occasion, and cruised the river to Fulney Lock and back - receiving many friendly waves from the banks. They then gathered at the EA mooring in Spalding for the duration of the parade itself. Boats dressed overall at Spalding EA Moorings That evening the boats moored at the Yacht club - then on the Sunday several boated down the Coronation Channel to take advantage of mooring by the Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre for some retail therapy. Also over the weekend most boats tackled the trip upstream to Peakirk Pumping Station, this side cut was surprisingly deep and clear, however, when the boats tried to continue upstream past the Peakirk Junction, a combination of shoals (see Google Map for a clear illustration of these) and the current from the Maxey Cut prevented navigation to the Deeping Railway Bridge and beyond, which was a disappointment. Junction to Peakirk Pumping station Several attempts were made by different routes - but all to no avail. Resorting to shank's pony two members walked the river to the remains of Low locks in Deeping St James - the start of the Stamford Canal - and felt that a Wilderness boat may have managed voyage thus far. The EA moorings at Crowland were also used to visit the Abbey at Croyland and the village, plus the hospitality of Ye Olde Bridge Inn. On the Monday at least two other boats were using the slipway and their families enjoying the river. Over this one weekend the new slipway enabled visiting boats access to Welland adding to the economy of the area, as well as reminding the community of their local boating amenities and opportunities. The event was very successfully organised by our member Richard Fairman, who is always willing to help any members wishing to visit or cruise the Welland or Glen rivers. Our website www.eawa.co.uk has a virtual tour of the Stamford Canal by our member Steve Machin. Report from: Ivan Cane, Darren Cooke (NAVI).

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CHARTED NEW WATERS