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After seeing and reading Bob May's article "From the Archives" in our last edition, John Phillips sent in this amusing and memorable account of his experiences on this IWA cruise 40 years ago. Space will not allow for it all so look for part 2 next time
It is not likely that a tale could be told of the Birmingham Canal Navigations forty years ago which did not mention The Inland Waterways Association, under whose protective umbrella our own Birmingham Canal Navigations Society was born and nurtured, as indeed were many other waterway societies. At that time almost all of the commercial traffic was gone, but it was long before pleasure boats were often to be seen on the B.C.N, or indeed anywhere, except on the Broads, the Thames, with a few on the Seven, and on the Oxford and Welsh canals.
Thus, the phrase on the lips of the enthusiast was, "Use it or lose it". For if no boat were to be seen, why should not Authority close the canal, for ever? Some had already gone: to building land, to open cast mining, for road improvements, or perhaps on grounds of economy or public safety.
Few people then saw a future for canals, and those few gathered together as members of the Inland Waterways Association, for mutual support, and to breed ideas for putting traffic, any traffic, back on the canals, and quickly, before yet another invaluable link was destroyed. One of these ideas was The Silver Sword Award.
Some-one, knowing that most boat owners, then, as now, treat their boats as if they are rivetted to the bank, sought to persuade them to cruise. I've known many splendid people whose boats were effectively mobile country cottages, and many others to whom the boat was really a garden shed, and still others who were always about to set out on a truly stupendous cruise. They just had to finish the varnishing, or tune the engine, or whatever. They still have not actually cast off, but they will, quite soon. I have no wish to be rude to anyone. The Silver Sword Award was aimed at all such boat owners. It missed, but it did persuade a lot of people who would have cruised anyway, to go to a lot of places which they might not otherwise have gone.
When first introduced the award said that within one year winners must accumulate one hundred points. The points were awarded for cruising anywhere, but the least cruised waterways carried the most points with double points for winter cruising and bonuses for cruising those remote arms and difficult places where boats were but rarely seen. To gain an award proof of your exploits had to be provided to the judges in the form of photographs or log books signed by independant witnesses. Claimants were required to submit their proofs with a small fee, then back it all came complete with a silver painted sword which you could screw onto your boat as proof of your prowess. At that time, Midlands I.W.A. covered all the midland counties. No East and West, or groups in each town, just all of the midlands
In that area there was someone familiar with the ways of those who write rules. He read the rules and made an interesting discovery. He claimed, that by following a particular route around the B.C.N and visiting at least one place, which carried bonus points, and doing this in winter, he could, within one day, that is twenty-four hours, win a Silver Sword Award. A number of others, some of whom expressed doubts, nonetheless agreed that an attempt should be made, and like trout in May, rose to the bait. 'Just make it interesting', we were told, the cruise will last for twenty-four hours, day and night. In a moment of mental aberration I volunteered myself, and plastic boat, on condition that a volunteer crewman could be supplied.
The event was scheduled for he last weekend in March, the outer limit of the winter within the rules. My 'crew', being one young man, made contact by telephone. I thanked him and said, "Meet me at Longwood", gave him a time and the name of the boat, Cirrus V, and forgot the whole thing until my diary reminded me, on a Friday, that we were due to cast off, and cruise until Sunday.
On the appointed day I arrived, late as usual, but still in broad daylight, and started to load the supplies. Food, cans of petrol, sleeping bags, water, more petrol, all went on board. I checked the outboard engine. Dusk is imminent. Where is the crew? We have to reach Wolverhampton tonight to join the cruise. Longwood is deserted. I can hardly attempt this alone. A figure wanders along the towpath, bearing a backpack. Bespectacled, studious looking. Could this be the crew?
'O.K.' I said, "Come on, start the motor, cast off. At least there is some daylight left". Off we go. Ignoring the temptations of the lights of the Manor House public house, we press on past the lights of the factories before Aldridge Public Wharf. All is going well, so I sought to hand over the steering to the crew now that the canal is getting easier after Walsall Wood.
"No thank you." he says "Why not?" I ask in surprise. "I'm night blind" You're what? "Night blind". It's going to be a long night. Little did I know how long. The crew retired to the cabin with instructions to prepare food and hot drinks, as the skipper is now very conscious of having eaten nothing since a light breakfast, and getting pretty chilly outside. Oddly enough the crew refused to either prepare or share my hot food, and seemed to live on a diet of chocolate. Instead of dinner, as we pressed on towards Catshill Junction, I received a diatribe listing the many failures of my boat, which, to my eye, had hitherto, appeared to be slightly better than perfect. Obviously the poor man had been lead to expect something better. A narrow boat, perhaps, at least seventy feet long, complete with butler, chef, and a stateroom for guests. I wonder if my response to his advice that I should sell the boat and get something decent was slightly acid. The crew disappeared, and I was left to steer on into a moonless night, hungry, tired and ill tempered.
I put the headlamp on for the narrows at Catshill, turned left, and on we went. Headlamp off now, although there was still no moon, and no street lamps either at that point in those days, as Brownhills Market and supermarket which now run down to the canal were then an open area of open land. Then disaster. There is, just after the supermarket, a big left hand bend, with a storm wier. You should steer wide to avoid the scour. I did not. Up we went, onto the scour. I got out the torch, found out where we were, and pulled off stern first using the motor. On we went. I thought to myself that if only I could get to Wednesfield, or even Willenhall, and I'm not to tired, I can get something hot to eat and drink, and still get a few hours sleep before we have to set off to meet the other boats at Wolverhampton Top Lock.......