This popular and very successful event has been missing from the BCN Calendar for the last number of years. Originally organised and run by Helen and Chris Davey for over ten years it introduced many a new boater to the BCN.
The BCNS has ever since its demise wished to bring it back in one form or another.
The event will start again over the weekend of the 30th/31st May 2009. The rules and running of the event have been revamped by Roy Kenn and Graham Whorton in an effort to simplify the declaring of a winner. Indeed the winner will be announced at the BCNS Rally in June.
Details to enter etc can be obtained from Roy Kenn. full address on Events page. Jan 2009

It has been the view of the Society for a number of years indeed if not from the very start of the Society to preserve boats from the working past as well as the BCN itself. Numerous schemes had been tried always resulting in an old boat being found and then saved but always by other parties. Our main use for a boat was one of collecting rubbish that was finally solved by the purchase and adaption of "Crow", so we moved on from the first idea.
However the thought lingered and with the passage of time and the changing priorities of BW a new venture was proposed.
The fleet of BW historical boats had become a side issue for BW especially with the impact over the cuts in their budget after the DEFRA affair.
This caused a re think into looking for suitable new custodians for the boats. Step forward the Society along with our friends at Coombeswood Canal Trust who together have been asked to take over the running of the day to day maintenance and use of the pair Atlas and Malus.
Atlas the motor and Malus the butty where handed over to the new consortium on Friday 5th December 2008. The brief ceremony and press call were held at Cambian Wharf when the boats were handed over by BW to Graham Whorton of the BCNS.
The boats were then cruised to Hawne Basin as both boats require a full inspection by surveyors before final insurance and other legal matters can be achieved.
The boats will be kept at Hawne Basin that has all the facilities to look after them. A group of interested persons drawn from both groups, who will run the boats is being formed, the group will report to both governing councils.
It is envisaged that the boats will attend local rallies etc promoting both groups.
Hoped to collate a number of photo's etc of hand over and cruise to Hawne, along with report on Surveyors findings in due cause in Work Boat Section of this site.
Update
Both boats have now been surveyed, Malus is in excellent condition, whilst Atlas requiries some work to her hold knees some of which have sheared. But overall her condition is in good order.
Both boats remain at Hawne awaiting better weather, and the setting up of a more focused and specific group to run the pair, to that end a meeting at Hawne is scheduled on the 18th January 2009.
Dec 2008.
Update Jan 2009

It was commented on in the Allens Register Section(back in June of this year)that a rumour was circulating that the Wharf Arms at Valencia Wharf the home at one time of the Les Allen marque of narrowboats where to be filled in. The owner of the land the arms stand on Hollaways Transport it was reported wished to pack up and sell the site. The Arms are private water and anyone who has moored at the site will concurr that whilst in the arms no BW licence was required. So it would seem that the owners have a legal right to fill in the Arms.
It now appears that the present boats moored at the site have been given notice to quit, many boats moved out onto the main line and work has started to fill in the Arms. We wonder what requirements have been made with BW as to the quality of the stank dam with the main line i.e we hope BW have been consulted?
If right yet one more part of the History of the BCN is to be lost.
Update
Site visited 6th November 2008, plenty of boats still moored in both arms. Only boats on main line are ones that are normally moored there.
From general interest and many E mails circulating about this matter it would appear that BW have made contact with Hollaways and the situation to date is that local planning permission would be required before filling in could start and without this a breach of regulations would occur. No such application has been made to infill, just permission the park lorries in a section to date not used for this purpose.
BW have no say about the matter as the arms are private but have recorded there objections with Sandwell Local Authority. A number of other groups have been contacted and it it proposed to record many objections under both historical/heritage loss and the need for BCN moorings.
Will keep up to date on developments. Photo's of site as of November 2008 posted in Gallery section under Old Main Line in Views around BCN. Nov 2008

British Waterways Engineers have now completed a full investigation of the Stourbridge breach site. Early indications suggest that the surges in water levels caused by the River Stour flooding in the area of the Stourbridge Town Arm terminus, and due to the extreme weather conditions experienced up to and over the weekend of 6-7 September 2008, resulted in the breach taking place.
Plans are coming together for a proposal to re-instate the canal at the earliest opportunity. Whilst the construction aspects of this have been identified and are relatively straightforward, access and site dynamics are still being assessed, therefore the full costs of re-instatement are not yet available. Until we have clear costs it is not possible to advise when the work might be undertaken.
The lock flight above Wordsley Junction is fully reinstated giving navigational options to all in the Stourbridge Town Arm, however, the navigation between Wordsley Junction and Stourton locks remains closed.
South of the breach, a dam is now in place close to Middle Bridge. Re-watering this section will be through extraction from the River Stour, for which the necessary licence has already been obtained from the Environment Agency. This will also bring back into commission Black Country Narrowboats and the one cruising craft grounded south of the breach. Re-watering will start on Monday 22 September and is hoped to be completed during that week.
Assessment is still being undertaken into the integrity of the embankment and condition of the towpath to the north of the breach (south of Wordsley Junction). If, everything is identified as being in an acceptable condition, a dam will be installed just north of the breach itself.
This section will then be re-watered and will allow the only remaining craft isolated by the breach to float. This work, if feasible, could take 3-4 weeks, although every effort will be made to do this earlier if possible.
A number of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area have taken place, especially towards boats that have been left stranded by the breach. British Waterways is in consultation with the local police regarding this unacceptable behaviour, to ensure that all reasonable measures are taken to minimise the risk to person or property.
British Waterways would like offer a note of thanks to its customers for their continued patience and co-operation, during this challenging time.
Customers requiring further information should contact British Waterways West Midlands on: 01827 252000.
If you would like more information please contact Annabel Smith, Communications Executive on Tel: 01827 252 036 or Mob: 07823 531418 or contact:
Nicky Lister, Marketing and Communications Manager on Tel: 01827 252059 or Mob: 07710 175118
Notes to Editors
1. British Waterways cares for and maintains the nation's 2,200 mile network of canals and inland waterways, working in partnership with private companies, local authorities, voluntary groups and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.
2. For more information about all aspects of UK waterways, www.waterscape.com

The area covers Factory Locks, Malthouse Stables, Boatmans Mission and the Gauging Station, with three bridges over the canal. Much of the surrounding area has since been thought to be worthy of inclusion so Sandwell Council have therefore considered that the existing Factory Locks Conservation Area should be extended to take in the complete circle of canals around the town centre ( inclusive of the infilled section of the former Tipton Green Locks). Stretching as far as Pitchfork Bridge on the Old Line, the Birmingham New Road bridge on the Dudley Canal and Watery Lane Bridge on the New Line.
These linear routes have sufficient charactor and historic fabric to warrant designation, containing as hey do a further three listed buildings and no fewer than 23 structures which warrant local listing. In addition, this enlarged Conservation Area would link several important pockets of public open space.
For further details including a map of the area see Sandwell site on:-www.sandwell.gov.uk
May 2008

The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks is set to re-open its doors on 24th May 2008 in time for the Spring Bank Holiday.
The building has re organised its space with new graphics and interpretation boards, interactive and hands on exhibits bring the the story of living, working and moving on the waterways of Britian to life.<
Prices start at £2.75p for children, a family ticket for four will cost £12. Discounts for groups and season tickets are available.
For further information tel no 01452 318200. May 2008

The Dudley Canal Trust plans that formed the bid to the 'Peoples Millions' televised vote have been revamped. Both Dudley Council and the Trust vowed after narrowly mising out on the last bid to continue with the plan. The plans have been resurrected with plans for a new lottery bids.
The plans will enable the Trusat to build a state of the art visitors centre for its canal trips into the limestone caverns and mines which already attract around 100,000 visitors a year.
The councul is planning a seperate bid to seek funding for a visitors centre at the Wrens Nest nature reserve and the fossil rich limestone beds.
Both bodies will help one another with the bids especilly in the preparatory work. The Trusts Chairman, Vic Smallshire, said "The Trust has completely outgrown its present visitor centre and desperately needs a custom built centre not only to cope with rapid increase in boat trip passenger numbers but to provide a comprehensive interpretation and educational centre" "If the council and the Trust are successful in their schemes, the pressure to complete the project by reopening, the other canals and caverns will be irresistable". May 2008

The Inaugural Meeting of the S.O.W took place at Stafford Boat Club on Thursday 10th April 2008. Earlier this year the campaign stated that it was going to re organise its self into a membership based organisation.
The new organisation been formed with the specific aim of taking the campaign to the 95 per cent of waterways users that are unrepresented by any existing user group. The campaign orginally focused on known supportors, who by definition, normally belong to other user groups. It was felt that many users of our waterways were un represented and that by reaching out to this community led group a new membership could be formed that will carry the SoW forward and enhance the profile of the campaign for securing adequate, long term funding for the nation's inland waterways.
The annual subscription has been set at just five pounds, so that all users of the waterways not just boaters will join.
To Join:
CHEQUE: Make Five Pounds payable to: Save Our Waterways and post to:- Save Our Waterways, 36 Micklehome Drive, Alrewas, Staffordshire DE13 7AT
BANK TRANSFER:
Transfer Five Pounds to: Save Our Waterwayss, The Cooperative Bank, Sort Code- 08 92 99, Acount No - 6522629
ONLINE(Paypal or Card)
If you have access to the Internet, just visit the below web address and follow the instructions:
New Save our Waterways Website www.saveourwaterways.org

The National Waterways Musuems held a conference in March at Ellesmere Port where it was announced that the museums had come to realise that they cannot restore or conserve all the boats in the collection on their own. They had broken down the collection into a number of categories A, B and C. and where exploring ways that the collection could be saved using other agencies and funding streams.
The categories are thus:- A:- Boats which have a long term future, accession in the collection of the Waterways Museum. These are important boats nationally, which tell the story of the history and development of Britains Waterways. sub divided into the following groups:-
A1- Boats whose preservation, restoration and interpretation is proposed to be funded through a single strategic bid to the Hertiage Lottery Fund.
A2- Boats which are not currently in need of major funding and which can be preserved through normal day to day conservation and maintenence.
A3- Other nationally important boats that we need to find other funding/support for - retain in collection.
Boats whose preservation and restoration could be suitable projects for individual sponsorship or other seperate sources of funding.
B- The future preservation of these boats lies in the curatorial assistance from other organistations including loans or, if necessary, tranfers.
C- Boats, or parts of boats, which no longer have a place in the collection, and which wil be carefully recorded and then disposed of.

Article will remain for a while as a record that at least some people cared.
Further to the below facts once again interested parties are trying to save this important canal structure from the wrecks ball.
Lawrence Hogg the well known BCN stalwart has been busy contacting Engilish Heritage about the situation. He has had a reply from EH that they did look at the structure within the last five years and came to a conclusion that without further facts they would not get invovled.
Lawrence has spread the word on various web and other canal based publications for persons/info that could possibly help in presenting a factul historical account as to why the site should be saved. Lawrence is only interested in FACTS NOT OPINIONS to be forward directly to English Heritage on the following E mail address:-deborah.porter@englishheritage.co.uk
Lawrence has asked that any info sent to EH be copied to him at:-LHPVIDEO@YAHOo.co.uk
Have also seen this address written as:-lhpvideo@yahoo.co.uk
If you have any problems with the first address. The matter is URGENT: TIME IS SHORT SO ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY RECIEVED:-
Dated 28th March 2008.
Original Article
The 'Boat Inn' Coseley is going to be demolished according to notices displayed on the building.
It may be already to late to do anything about it but its loss will be a loss to the 'canalscape' of the area.
The pub is to this day entirely original with all of its out buildings intact, access to the towpath being via a brick archway in the rear wall to the yard of the pub. The canal wall has many types of brickwork and stone work in its make up depiciting years of history.
Surely British Waterways pub chain should be in the market of safing and restoring such pubs as a vital part of the canal infer-stucture???
The charactor of the canal area around the Anchor Lane and Biddings Lane will be changed for ever. Once a very busy area with the pub being on the opposite side of the canal to the once busy Matty's Basin, itself full of the yellow painted boats that made up the fleet.
March 2008

The BCNS Bonfire Rally has become, without doubt, one of the most enjoyable events on the BCN. What we sometimes forget is that it is very much a community event for the public as as boaters. It is a free show to anyone who wants to walk through the gates.
BCNS make little or no profit and if it were not for the sponsor money the fireworks would not be possible. The following write up was published in the Sandwell Chronicle on November 8th 2007. Don't be frightened by it- WE WILL HAVE A BONFIRE IN 2008! We will find the funding!

Addressed to you Barry but really meant for all who played a part in this years Bonfire Rally so give whatever distribution you wish. Certainly comm, possibly BP. Too many names to pick individuals, but you bore the overall responsibility, certainly whenever I asked a question the answer invariably was, ask Barry.
What was good to see was the number of younger members giving more than a passing hand, not the younger than Eric, Ron and I but the younger ones like Bevis and Kate and Robert and Kate. Now I've done it, namedcnames and missed someone out!
So well done all helpers and on behalf of the membership, and that's one thing I can do, thank you very much indeed. Myrtle and I like many others had a super day out. We are looking carefully at ways of attending the 40th Birthday Celebrations on July 11th - 13th 2008. Members please put it in your diaries NOW.

Red Diesal is set to stay at waterside locations when the fuel duty derogation is removed in November 2008. So waterside yards etc need not go to the expense of fitting extra tanks to service boaters.
Although boaters should expect an increase in duty from that date for purposes of propulsion when buying red diesal a lower rate of duty will be charged for commercial purposes and for fuel used for domestic and heating purposes.
A HM Revenue & Customs statement said "Private pleasure vessels will continue to be permitted to use marked (red Diesal) but at a rate for heavy oil, repaying the rebated duty via the Registered Dealers in Controlled Oils, who will declare this to HMRC. An allowance for domestic use will be permitted.
So boaters may continue to use red diesal at a lower rate, even though it may go into the same tank used for propulsion. The HMRC decision means that boaters will now have to declare at the point of purchase what proportion of the fuel bought is for domestic use and the vendor will charge and acount for the duty due on the transaction. Although HMRC state that vendors will not be required to verify the validity of declarations made to them by users; they need only retain the declaration in their records to support their own duty return to HMRC.
So while no one can pretend that the duty increase on red diesel is a good thing it appears that HMRC has managed the consultation process well, have listen to the concerns of the marine industry and come up with a system which the British Marine Federation can support. The proposed system spreads the burden between boaters and the industry in a fair way, this should keep the existing infrastucture, boaters will still be able to access fuel in convenient locations.
March 2008

The Droitwich Heritage Project Group recieved a 10,000 pound grant from Awards for All to record the history of the canals as told by the poeple who worked on or lived alongside the waterway.
The memories will be recorded in print and a DVD, capturing those who remember the working boats on the canal through to the years of restoration to the use of the canal today. If you have any memories to share about this canal Tel 01452 318000
March 2008