Well, we had hoped to move into our own home, Oldbury Pumphouse on the 12th January, however the contractors are still waiting to connect the gas and we have yet to sign the lease with British Waterways. It is now hoped that this can all be completed by the 26th January when we can start to make use of the facilities and plan for its future events. We have a few plans for new activities, some of which are detailed elsewhere in this issue of Boundary Post. Our social meetings will now transfer to the pumphouse and hopefully many of you will be able to enjoy the facilities that we have aquired.

I am also happy to say that Kevin Field who has been involved in recent times leading the scouts use of Phoenix, and assists us in youth matters, will be taking the tenancy of the flat at the top of the pumphouse.

The lease of the pumphouse will be a big step in our history and our involvement has meant that a derelicy BCN building with no long term future has been transformed thanks to British Waterways investment and our long term commitment to the project.

Dealing with the pumphouse lease has proved to be most time consuming, so we have yet to reach approval from the Charity Commissioners regarding the incorperation of the society. However a shell company has been formed.

But what else has been going on with the BCNS? Following the AGM there have been no major changes within the management committee. As had been mentioned previously Barry Whitehouse our Sales Officer stood down, after a number of years servise. Chris Smith also indicated that due to pressure from other commitments that he wished to give up his role as work party co-ordinator. I would like to record my thanks to both Barry and Chris for the work that they have carried out on our behalf. Unfortunately no one has come forward to fill these roles. Both are key to the success of the BCNS. If anyone is interested in these vacancies, please contact me.

Also at the AGM we were able to mark the long years of service to BCNS of Eric Foakes by making him our third Vice-President. Whilst it is purely an honorary post it goes some way to thanking Eric for all that he has done for us, and continues to do. My thanks to you Eric for all oyur help and advice!

Last year's Bonfire Rally proved to be one of the most successful so far. We altered the format of the event to focus activities into the late afternoon and this seemed to work very well. We were also able to use the new marquee cover, which was much admired and will prove very useful. My thanks to the team involved in making it all happen.

On the work party front we have made some changes to our plans for this year's BCN cleanup. IWA/WRG offered to join us, also our friends on the Lapal Canal had planned a scrub bash on the 23rd March, so we now have a two day event, givn the additional support from WRG and the date will be the 16th and 17th March, still based on the BW yard at Ocker Hill.

Martin O'Keefe