Leeds Waterfront Festival

Recently, I had accepted an invitation to the Inland Waterways Association boat gathering as part of the Leeds Waterfront Festival. Merlot was already moored at Thwaite Mills so I drove over. The site was abuzz with activity as I opened up Merlot and started to soak up the atmosphere.

I was promoting the N.C.B.A. and had a range of conversations with different people who were interested and supportive of our aims. It was very easy to demonstrate the value of community boating with colleagues from Safe Anchor Trust providing free boat trips over the weekend.

 
I had taken the opportunity to invite my fellow director over but it is very difficult to hold a meeting when I kept disappearing to photograph the celidah band singing shanty songs on the rear of Amy Hudson. A beautiful atmospheric setting with the wind blowing in the rigging.

Canal Connections is developing a relationship with our neighbours at T.S. Ark Royal and it was interesting to see the many different facets that the Cadets were helping with. Traffic control over the bridge, safety boat on the river, general support and supervision throughout the site.

I took a trip on Safe Anchors new boat and was impressed by the attitude of the Cadets as they took control of mooring. They were rewarded by a boat trip and I was able to see at first hand how they very quickly adapted their seamanship skills into crewing on the narrowboat.

As I walked around the site I again saw Cadets learning new skills as Chris supported them in making a fender – the older generation (!) passing on their skills. I spoke with Elaine who had organised the event. She was giving brass rubbing demonstrations but our discussion generated thought for next year in teaching young people how to learn and pass on these skills at next years festival.

I continued wandering and found the display of classic cars, a healistic reader using an old Romany caravan, and a display of creative arts which had been made over the weekend.

 

As I returned to Merlot the navigation was filled with Sobriety, a Humber barge, passing the Humber Keel. 2 similar boats providing access, education and conservation to support future generations but in different ways.

 

Heritage is about caring for the future as much as remembering the past and there were so many examples over the weekend that reinforced the ethos of Canal Connections – it’s not just a boat.

Conference Update: NCBA AGM (March 2012)

This is the third year of holding a conference in the capital as it was felt important to position the organisation as a key stakeholder within the Waterways and be accessable to other major stakeholders and political allies.

The setting of the Union Jack club put us within striking distance of Westminster and the River Thames and its magnificent interior evoked images of a bygone age of British spirit. The photographs and models reminding me of the sacrifice of our countrymen but the group coming through the door showing that sacrifice was still being met by our current generation.

The day was filled with a range of speakers with projects speaking of how they were meeting current needs of the community –“respite care for Armed Services” to “Partnership working” to the key topic of “sustainability”. These presentations were complemented by Alun Michael M.P. (Chair of the All Parliamentary Waterways Group) and John Bridgeman (Vice chair of British Waterways Board and transitional trustee of Canal and River Trust). We were able to demonstrate how the work of Community Boat Organisations bring so much value and benefit to individuals but should be a valuable and valued partner to the emerging Trust.

It raised  questions of “are we remote from the membership?’  - “you are doing so much but you don’t  tell members” but brought an enthusaiasm from the floor for individual projects to work closer together, share knowledge and resources.

I spoke later with John who commented “ You are doing a fantastic job – its not about the boat it’s what you do with that boat. It’s about people.”

At the End of the Conference Day London NCBA

Merlot - Part 1

I first became introduced to the Merlot via an e-mail I received, which had been sent to all NCBA members. A lady called Maeve wanted to loan her boat to a community boat project. Intrigued I sent an e-mail to the address in the message, expressing an interest. It transpired that Maeve used to live on the canal in her boat and it was a wonderful life. She had now moved to America and was unable to use it. She didn’t want to sell it in case her 1 yr old son wanted to use it when he grew up.

A trip to Hayling Island revealed Merlot a 45’ narrow. It had been taken out of the water, was totally out of place, crammed between sea going craft and perched precariously on top of empty oil drums. Enquires of a ‘neighbour’ revealed it had been there for 9 years, the engine was full of water and you could not get inside for debris of gas bottles, paint tins etc.

No time for a survey I took a risk and told her that we would look after it for her. Arrangements were made and it was brought by low loader to Dewsbury to get it ready for her new role. She was lowered into the water at Dewsbury Basin in order to go across the cut to use the slipway. Would she sink? She certainly would not start! – No problem – on the slip way the work started.

On entering the cabin it was like stepping into a time capsule. Everything was as Maeve had left it all that time ago. Clothes had been ruined by damp but it was obvious that she had been involved in the creative industry in some way.

Brought back to life by a team of enthusiastic volunteers she was ready to move onto Shipley Wharf where her ‘rehabilitation’ continued.

Image courtesy of Yvonne Roberts, Artist in Residence