B.C.N.S
The 'XXX9' years
As we turn into a new year I am aware that any year with a '9' on the end is a tenth anniversary of the opening of the canal into Birmingham from Wednesbury. Maybe in November 2009 a cruise trying to follow the original line might be considered. The BCNS did just that in 1969 - the 200th anniversary.
What an event that was.
The week before I took
Christopher James with a joey, that could have been Keith Eley's, and with the help from Alan Ledbury, we decided to clear the road of any large obstacles.
The first two loops were not too bad. Caggy Stevens had a rubbish boat on the Oozell Street Loop so that was quite clear. Round at Sherbourne Street we encountered a barrel. I always marvelled at Alan's ingenuity. Not only did he locate the barrel but actually managed to get it out of the canal and into the butty. All we had was a plank, my boat hook and some rope. Half way through this task a man appeared on the wharf enquiring what we were doing. Alan tried to explain. But was told in no uncertain terms that removing items from the canal was an offence.
Oh dear, Mr Jobsworth. We paid no attention but carried on removing the barrel.
Mr Jobsworth continued. "Look here I'm from British Waterways and you are committing an offence".
"Well, if you had a label round your neck we would have able to see that." was Alan's reply.
Alan turned to me and said in a voice that could be heard on the bank, "Let's go and take this barrel and all this other rubbish round to that new place over at Cambrian Wharf".
Mr Jobsworth disappeared. We thought, rightly or wrongly, that if the passage of a boat was impeded, either Waterways should remove it or we could move it out of the way ourselves. Which is what we were doing. We always put the rubbish back somewhere else where it didn't block the channel.
We proceeded on to the Hockley Port Loop. Surprisingly, the water was quite clear there so that we could actually see the obstacles.
'Look at this! A motorbike! Wow!' We were quickly on the butty sorting out the plank, rope and grappling hook. It was much more difficult than we anticipated. The handle bars kept turning round and catching. Suddenly, were aware of an audience. Standing over us on a turnover bridge were two policeman.
'What do you think you are doing?' Without hesitation Alan pipes up, "Ah Officer, you are just the person. We were cruising down this canal and spotted a motorcycle. We are retrieving it as stolen or lost property. We are going to take it to the police station. If you come and give us a hand, you can take it away with you and save us a trip."
There was silence for a moment while the situation sunk in. One of the policemen took out his walkie talkie and gave out the message "No trouble here, Sarge. Just a couple of kids taking rubbish out of the canal." With that they disappeared. Mr Jobsworth had called the local police out on a 999 call!
No more fun that particular day but Hockley was about as far as we got. The actual cruise was a lot more fun.
8 or 9 boats assembled in Gas Street. The actual line of the canal ended in a long since closed coal wharf that had gates into Paradise Street. This location was described by Charles Dickens in the
Old Curiosity Shop where little Nell was taken from Coventry on a canal boat and disembarked at the coal wharf in Birmingham. After this literary and historic outburst, back to the story. We then set off around the 'Old Turn' and into Oozell Street Loop. Caggy's boat was still tied up but Caggy was coming round the corner with his horse, Mack.
After the usual salutation of "Wier yo'm goen?" We left a rather puzzled Caggy. No profit in going on a cruise. At Sherbourne Street there was no sign of Mr Jobsworth and all went well until we arrived at the main line. Line astern the little flotilla sedately went at 3 miles an hour down the main line. Look out! Here comes Mack! It was Saturday morning and Mack was heading towards Oldbury and his stable. Caggy was sitting on the back of the Joey with a fire bucket on the cabin roof and was letting Mack 'backer away'. He was galloping down the tow path. Our little flotilla went all over the canal to get out of the way. Nobody had told Mack about a speed limit on the canal or rules about passing or overtaking.
For some reason, Spon Lane Locks were closed and so we had to miss out on the Smeaton and Brindley locks at Smethwick. We pulled into the Smethwick Stop to look at the locks and the Telford Aqueduct carrying the Engine Branch over the Main Line. All very historical.
Taking this opportunity of being out of Gas Street on Trent 5, Bob McDougal took the opportunity of emptying his Elsan. He intended to dig a hole somewhere on the bank and dispose of the Elsan contents in what could nowadays be called a eco friendly manner. Armed with a spade in one hand and the Elsan in the other, Bob tried to negotiate the steep bank up to the Old Main Line. His foot slipped and he slithered down the bank. The Elsan was upended and Bob got covered in , well you know what.
The air turned blue (excuse the pun) as well as Bob. He disappeared to get washed and changed and re-appeared some 15 minutes later to rejoin the cruise. He was clean but did he pong? Bob,we never laughed, I promise you, but the look on your face was something to behold.
We all made it round to the Ridgeacre Branch, where there was just time for a photo opportunity and a cup of coffee before we all set off in our different directions. I ended up with Charlie Aldrick on 'Richard' on the Gower Branch telling canal ghost stories at the end of another 'day on the cut'.
Maybe 2009 will be remembered; 1769 was with a party and in a small way so too was 1969 remembered. As for the motorbike you will need to ask Charlie Aldrick about that which is probably another story for another time.
Dr Colin Sidaway
