Well we attended again this year with the new boat.
Phoenix and the new butty travelled up to Sneyd for the 2006 BCN Cleanup over two days, day one stopping at Ocker Hill and then on the Thursday before the clean up from Ocker to Sneyd. A small amount of rubbish was collected on the way up but we had plenty of room for the rubbish that was pulled out by the volunteers who attacked the Sneyd to Birchills Junction section.
Photographs sorry of new butty again and not of the many poeple who attended, first one of her at Sneyd ready for the off on Saturday, the second of her being emptied by mechanical bucket near Birchill Top lock.

Two other BW boats attended along with Bittell, all boats emptying thier loads at a site just short of the Top lock at Birchills. Phoenix and butty where filled twice during the day a journey back to Sneyd collecting the second load making sure no rubbish was left out over night. Sunday came and Phoenix again went to Birchills and was unloaded prior to again picking up two boat loads on the way back.
Sorry yet more photos of butty at Sneyd full of rubbish on the Saturday night. Note addition of hand rails to aid movement between boats.
Did'nt get any photos of rest of clean up as the camera packed up will try harder next year, and I promise I won't take any more shots of butty.

The 2005 National clean-up took place on the Walsall Canal again centred around the old BW site at Ocker hill. Phoenix attended as usual this year pushing a small punt type butty that was rachet strapped onto the front. This arrangement gave us more space to load rubbish into the two boats being less than 70ft so fewer lock operations required than with a full sized butty. The tug Bittel attended towing the boat loaned to us by Ian Braine, the boat know being found to have all the fittings in her hull of a spoon dredger. The hope being that she will be restored to this role in time, as no other BCN spoon dredger is known off on the BCN.

The rubbish was removed in the usual and traditional way by volunteers throwing grapple hooks lines and pulling hard when finding something heavy. Many of the volunteers where transported to the relevant area by WRG's Transits to give the maximum time at the worst area's.
BW brought the working boat Auriga so unlike 2004 operating with Bittell and Phoenix all of the rubbish was collected in day boats over the week end. The clean up took place on both the Saturday and the Sunday. On both days a good number of volunters from all over the country attended and the areas from Ocker hill all along the Walsall canal to just short of the old Anson Junction was attacked. Attacked being the right word as numerous boat loads including B.W 's boat "Auriga" where filled and taken back to Ocker Hill to be emptied into large skip containers. On the Sunday the locks at Ryders Green were tackled with a good number of shopping trolleys again being found in the bottom pound next to the Super market. A total of 37 tons of rubbish were removed from all of the sections over the weekend.

The 2003 National clean-up took place on the edge of the BCN at Salford Junction. A clean up in 2004 is proposed around the Horseley Fields Junction and into the Wyrley & Essington to clear this important section finally up to the Brownhills area over the next few years. Many volunteers arrived for the 2003 bash from all over the UK and our members with Phoenix were present. The event centered around Cuckoo Wharf just off Salford and below the bottom lock of the Aston locks. Volunteers spanned out from this location along the Warwick section of the Grand Union and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the short section of the Tame Valley Canal up to the bottom lock. At the bottom lock BW were in attendence with cranes and all the transport to move large amounts of rubbish.
In 2004 the clean-up went from Horseley Fields to Lane Head Bridge, a large amount of rubbish was removed but with only Phoenix operating on the Sunday much had to be left for BW to remove by boat over the following week. For 2005 we require more motor boats.

The clean up took place on both the Saturday and the Sunday. On the Sunday the line of people pulling out rubbish with grapples extended way along the Fazeley section. Phoenix from the BCNS and Bittal from the Dudley Canal Trust along with a Bantum tug from BW were all engaged pulling both empty and full day and mud boats up and down to the unloading area.

One piece of debris from the past. On the section just beneath the motorway and near to Salford junction a large amount of steel work was pulled out of the canal, much of it scaffolding poles. This area was directly opposite to where the Spencer Abbott boat dock used to be in days gone by. One grapple brought up the wooden kelson of a working boat, complete with mast sockets. It can be seen in this photograph along with just some of the metal pulled from this section. Phoenix and Bittal are also in attendence.

Phoenix loaded to the gunwhales with steel and other heavy rubbish. This shot is of Phoenix after the Walsall clean up in 2002, following a very heavy day of cleaning between Ocker Hill and the Moxley area of Walsall. The area has had a lot of modern industrail units, built next to the canal over the last few years hence the heavy nature of the rubbish.
Phoenix also takes part in the BCN 24hr cruises, does'nt try to win the event but always arrives at the finish full of rubbish.

Smethwick Toll House

The toll house at the top of the Smethwick Locks, Galton is a replicia of a typical hexagonal toll house on the BCN. Built in 2001/2 by the Sandwell skill center from monies raised from various sources, the idea being proposed years ago by the BCNS/IWA but without the success of funding. It is leased to the Society who have undertaken to look after the structure. Built so as to be hopefully vandel proof it is just a very small building inside, being just used to depict a building from the past. The building has been left mostly alone by the vandels but a small amount of graffiti has been sprayed on to the outside. Seen here society members removing the graffiti just prior to adding a coating of anti spray solution to prevent further problems. Has been used recently Christmas 2004,as Santa's Grotto the destination for a boat trip run by the Galton Heritage Centre for local children. Historical point:- on this spot between the locks did stand a building but it was a rectanglar shape. A hexagonal building stood with other building between the Old and Main Lines. The Smethwick locks used to have a second set of locks next to the existing set, serving a third level of canal.

Gauging Station: Main Line Smethwick.

The society undertook to clean and explore the gauging station on the Main Line in the Galton Valley. The area consists usually of a large island very over grown. It was in fact two islands with a channel of water down the middle, with locks gates each end and a building that straddled the center channel.In this structure were steam driven cranes that used to load boats with known weights so that a guaging line could be placed on the boat to allow an accurate toll to be charged.
As can be seen from the photographs the center channel was filled in probably with the rubble from the building when it was demolished. Both of the existing channels should be navigable but often due to over hanging trees one becomes impassable. Numerous work parties have cut back the trees and tidied the area but it is an never ending job. It is hoped in future to clear the whole area, pave and place history boards on the islands. Represent the central channel and gates along with the foot print of the building in low maintenence materails, as the re-instating of the full channel is impractiable.
The possible construction of a second tow path that used to run on the offside of the islands would solve the over growing problem. This would also create a short secton off offside moorings that would provided safe over night moorings for boats passing along the Main Line. Twin tow paths were a feature of the BCN in this area and BW have restored this feature from Birmingham to just beyond Smethwick junction. The society cleared the islands in 2003 and then invited a local historical Group to survey the site with a view to making an accurate record of the site so that any future plans can be based on the historical facts. The society again attended the area in August 2005, as yet again the off side channel was being threatened by the under growth on the offside. Photographs of the scene before and after our visit.

The first Rally at the Pump house was the opening in July 2002. The Pump house was officailly opened by Graham Fisher MBE and was attended by many members who arrived by road, bus, train and a good number of boats. BW attended with a stall and a number of the historical boat fleet, as did a number of other owners with tugs and day boats. Aaron Manby Sandwells trip boat brought the VIP's and then made a number of trips full of visitors up the Titford Canal.So successful was the venue and rally that it was decided to make the weekend an annual summer rally.

In July 2003 the Society hosted two Rallies at the Pumphouse. The first rally was the Societies own summer rally that will be held each year at this time. A week later a second event was held, a rally for the owners of Allen boats a group associated to the society "The Allens Register". Both events took advantage of the society marquee being erected on the island in front of the pump house and attached to the meeting room. This gave a large and airy area that was a great success and will be the layout for future rallies at the site.

The meeting room of the pumphouse was turned into a bar with all the fittings made by the societies own carpenter Eric Foakes. ie the boatmans cabin and the wheeled counters and storage units made by Eric, being arranged to creat the effect. In this shot mine host Tony Jones stands in an un guarded moment, behind the bar named the "Sign Post Bar" for the event.

Outside during the day time at the first rally the steam paddle boat "Phoenix" ran trips for the public during the weekend. This was very popular, the trip going up the Titford canal turning at the coal wharf by Uncles Ben Bridge. Another attraction was Steve Bingham's Fair ground organ and vintage lorry that were set up in the car park. Steve is a member of the Dudley Canal Trust with just one of his many interests being looking after the tug "Bittal".

The rally was used to try and bring together a number of BCN historical boats. To that end ex BCN tugs "Bittall" and "Helen" attended along with a number of open day and station boats. These boats being equally as important historically, as representing what the BCN was all about. It had been hoped that "Nansen" the BW tug would also attend to complete the picture but she was elsewhere.

In the event as the photographs depicts the occasion was used to relive the towing of a string off open boats by a tug. Above

In June and July 2005 the Titford site again hosted two rallies back to back. The last weekend in June saw a gathering of Allen boats from the Allens Register. The next weekend the society hosted its annual summer boat gathering. On both occasions the marquee was put up on the grass in front of the engine house containing both entertainment in the evening and stalls in the day time. Boats attending moored along the main canal for both rallies. Trip boats gave visitors a look at the canal from the water. The bar and stalls kept all refreshed and entertained, both rallies being very successful. Full report on Allens gathering in Allens Register section. The trip boat 'Rocket' came from BW the boat having been built from sponsership money supplied by one of our nieghbours at the Pumphouse the ''Group

The occasion was again an excuse for our friends at the Dudley Canal Trust with the tug Bittell to tow a string of day boats upto and around the pools. Steve Bingham can be seen apparently pulling the BW trip boat 'Rocket' until the plot becomes clear in the following photographs. The second boat being the day boat that was once a spoon dredger and hopefully will be returned to this role and kept at the musuem. The third boat being Francis Stapleton's restored boat No 15.

This Summer Gathering happens every year in July: The above re-presents the event so we will not be contining the yearly reports.
Please see the Events section for details of the latest forthcoming rally.

The weather this year was kinder than last year with the rain holding off but the Grey skies did threaten.
The public visited the site on both days being entertianed by the stalls in the tents and boat trips along the canal. Phoenix took small parties along the moored boats pasted the old Showells Brewery, winding at the old coal yard wharf.

By the Pumphouse on the Tatbank Branch a number of historical boats where on display. Bittal and her sister tug Pacific again took the excuse of being on the Titford canal tow a number of open boats up the canal to the pools to bring back the sight and sounds of yesteryear. Both of these tugs being joined by Tug 'Alantic' and for the first time the restored tug 'Coventry'.

The Bonfire Rally, was first started in the late 1980's mainly to save and promote use of the Engine Arm and the Galton Valley area. At this time the Arm was under threat of closure and was no more than a liquid rubbish dump rarely visited except by the more adventurous boater. In the early days the Arm near to the Aqueduct was blessed with the Galton Valley community centre run by Sandwell, that was used to house all the activities and act as the focal point for the rally. The first rallies were really old fashion campaigning affairs with the main efforts devoted into getting as many boats on and up to the end of the Engine Arm, the bonfire and fireworks being secondary. Over the years the campaigning efforts have dwindled as BW and others realised the value of the Arm, finally resulting in an amentity block and long term moorings with winding hole being established at the end of the Arm. The rally is still held with the local community being more involved, the fireworks have become more and more the main attraction with the society and Sandwell adopting the event as a community event. With the ever increasing risk factors and legalistation the cost of the event has spiralled, with many of the operations to do with the fireworks being contracted out to speacilised firms. Funding for all of this has to be raised each year and whilst we succeed in doing this the event will take place, but the society alone could know not support the event and the ever increasing bureaucrary that an event like this now attracts sometimes makes us think if the effort is today worthwhile.

The early days have been sadly not recorded in photographs etc, and the evening event of the bonfire and fireworks likewise not recorded, those attempts at photopgraphy resulting in lovely black views. In 2004 a number of photographs taken that record the many jobs that have to be done by the BCNS to hold the event. This event has lost its campaigning element but the event know underlines the value of the canal to the local community and involves many who otherwise would not visit the area.

Like any other event the work starts weeks before the gatherings. Many meetings, telephone calls to arrange the attendance of other groups, and further meetings with funding groups fill the weeks between rallies. At the same time all the equipment we have gathered around us over the years has to be repaired, checked and cleaned. The site at Galton know an industrail working site and has to be visited to obtain all of the support/permission from the occupants of the site. A weekend before the gathering a work party is held on the site and the area cleaned up. The canal wharf and towpath area was laid out a few years ago and is generally in good order but does tend to try every year to revert back to nature with plants springing up everywhere. The society cuts back the under growth on the towpaths, both in the arm and on the two main canals, as well as tidying up the wharf and car park area. In the interests of safety the aqueduct and general area is lit during the event, (The towpath across the aqueduct was never designed for people to cross in modern times in the dark). This simple statement requiries us to run cables hundreds of feet across the car park and aqueduct, suspended in the air by tempory steel posts that are usually erected on the work party weekend. Three photographs of members clearing the wharf area.

Members erect our marquee on the car park (The old Community centre is now a skill centre) the centre still supplies us with power etc but the rest of the equipment has to be brought to site by the society. Our tents, mobile bar, sound equipment, seats, tables etc, are transported by both vehicle and wherever possible by boat to the site. Erected over two or three days but knocked down in just one after the event. The fuel for the bonfire is collected from local industry in the form of pallets, and again boats are used along with vehicles to build the bonfire between the two canals and near to the Top Lock of the Smethwick Locks. The fireworks are controlled by "Fire Magic" a company specialising in such displays. The event is a boat gathering with the rest open to the public. Boaters (not open to the public) are entertained on both Friday and Saturday nights in the marquee (With a licensed bar) by local groups or a disco. On the Saturday the marquee is full of stalls and other displays all of which is open to the public, finishing in the bonfire and firework display in the evening. The event which always takes place on the weekend nearest to the 5th November is always the last boaters gathering in the area. The event has in the past clashed with B.W 's stoppages but we have to date always been able to get them put back to allow some boats from a far to reach their home moorings. A form for stalls or boaters wishing to attend can be found in the events section, the public just turn up all are welcome.

More photographs of the rally this time from 2005. They show the marque in position on the car park, with the caravan containing the bar attached, the two yellow tents are the refreshment tents. We nearly lost the tent on a couple of occasions during erection as the wind was gusting to quite violent proportions, but we survived. Again the bonfire was built on the saturday morning in its normal position between the two canals adjacent to the top lock. All of the wood is moved to the site by Phoenix and our own truck that is pictured having just moved yet more pallets from the storage point in the car park to the site. The area of land on the same level as the fire but beyond the fire is from where the firework display team set of the display.

The next two photographs are one of the Old Line with the Tug Bittel and the Day boat No 15. Both moored on the canal at the bridge that leds into the Engine Arm. The rest of the boats moored on this level the 'Wolverhampton level' can be seen in the back ground. Steve Bingham from Bittal is moving around the tug fixing lights onto the cabin and hull so as to light the boat for the bonfire. The other photograph is of the Aaron Manby moored on the aqueduct having just brought the Mayor of Sandwell and other VIP's from the Galton Pumphouse along the new Main Line up the Smethwick Locks escorted by a marching band the Tividale Tigers up the locks to the bonfire site. The Mayor officially opened the event then toured the stalls and boat area.

At 7.30pm on Saturday the bonfire is lit with the gathered crowd standing safely behind fencing some distance away. The bonfire is constructed by a society team that have been approved by local council, the fire being built to a design that safely falls in on its self as it burns, and the fire is started without the aid of any accelerants. This year the wind was gushing quite strong and the fire when it took hold, very quickly driven by the wind threw large flames into the sky. This was quite alarming but proved that the safety features built into the construction really do work and all was well. The fire very quickly after this sudden burst settled down and by 8pm allowed the crowd to see the area beyond the fire from where the firework display was to take place from

Back in the area of the marque and Arm the Tug 'Bittel' and the full working boat 'Lynx' owned by Fred Heritage, an ex BW boatman born on a boat had been decked out by thier owners with lights. Bittel was decked out with flashing multi coloured lights, with an illuminated shoppong trolley full of rubbish on her fore deck. 'Lynx' similarly decked out in flashing lights with the letters BCNS flashing red at its center. Poeple making thier way to the bonfire area had to walk past this colourful scene, thanks Steve and Fred.

The display that started at around 8pm lasted for about twenty minutes ending in a rather impressive multi launched rocket display that lit up the night sky (You will of guessed that I missed that shot).

Yet more of my bad photography of the fire work display.

Well as they say after the party comes the washing up. The complete site as previously stated is knocked down in one morning on the Sunday after the event. All the gear packed away into trailers, a small unit in the Entreprise Centre loaned to us for about a week after the event by Sandwell is filled and then emptied over the following week, or on the Sunday onto the society truck and taken to the Hawne basin or the Pumphouse store rooms.