December 2003

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our Readers

Looking back to 1998 when we first started excavating and blinding for the reinforced concrete walls at Little Tring for Phase I and then the first of 150 pours of ready-mix concrete on 22nd April 1999 for bases and walls I found it hard to believe that our volunteer force had completed the last pour for this Phase over the weekend 15th/16th November 2003. Not only that, we performed the 'topping out' celebration complete with champagne and wine under a clear blue sky! My grateful thanks to all concerned, not only those who work hard on site but to those who raise and provide funds for the Trust - no funds, no restoration.

Apart from a short length behind the wall just cast, all backfilling is virtually complete; some topping will no doubt be required after the winter rains have settled the spoil down where it has not been consolidated with the whacker plate.

This November weekend was marked by another milestone. Led by Peter Spary, a few volunteers who could be spared from the priority Phase I work have been hard at work, last Winter and this Autumn, clearing more of the dry bed of trees etc. ready for Phase II. Over the weekend twentyeight members of BITM (the Bit In The Middle branch of the Waterway Recovery Group) led by Mark Gribble descended in force on the section between the two footpaths at Whitehouses and completed a massive stumping and burning exercise leaving this section completely clear. There is now only a short length, less than 200 metres, to finish clearing between the second footpath and the County Boundary approaching Drayton Beauchamp. Our grateful thanks to BlTM. It seems almost certain that this will be completely clear by the Spring leaving 1 ¼ miles of cleared bed ready for the Phase II relining - funds permitting. There has been an interesting comment from a lady walker along the towpath. She told us that she feels far safer walking the towpath now that it is opened up than when it was a dark tunnel between the towpath hedge and the jungle in the dry bed.

This winter we will be concentrating on excavation for more lining at Little Tring. In the first instance excavation will be down to top of blinding level so as not to expose the final bed for the Bentonite layer to the winter weather. Eddy Evans is making ready to install a safety barrier along the top of the winding hole wall - we don't want dumpers toppling from the roadway into the winding hole and this will enable us to reach the tip site without crossing the winding hole.

Matthew Rutledge is scouring the BW stocks for some steel walings that BW use along steel piling for us to use as a barrier with angle irons being obtained by Eddy. Eddy has already made a fitment for our hydraulic hammer for dnving in the angle irons and it has already been site tested at our car park. Talking of the car park, we have now broken up and placed under Little Tring Bridge behind the towpath wall the pieces of concrete from the former Little Tring Bridge so as to be able to pave the towpath under the bridge where the grass is unlikely to grow. When an excavator is to spare, the rest of the old tip site from the entrance to the car park is to be bladed level and so, we hope, improve drainage from our temporary roadway.

One of the problems we have with the Bentonite lining is the lack of ready-mix concrete on Saturday afternoons and Sundays when the plants are closed. Ron Pittaway has offered to lead working parties after Easter 2004 on Tuesdays. The plan is to have the Bentonite cut to length in advance with two overlapping pieces for each 5 metre wide piece along the canal and start the day by nail gunning them to the walls ready for unrolling down the slopes and jointing with granules as the ready-mix is delivered during the day. It should be possible to lay up to four 5 metre cross pieces in a day requiring approx 3/4 cubic metre of ready-mix per 1 metre length of canal, i.e some 15 cubic metres allowing for overlaps in the Bentonite. This assumes that ground conditions allow the ready-mix lorry to back right up to the last Bentonite strip.

Priority Jobs

> Complete backfilling the Stages 4 towpath wall and towpath levelling and a paved surface under Little Tring Bridge.

> Excavate the new canal bed, initially down to top of blinding level.

Non-Priority or 'Hospital' Jobs

>Lay hardcore to road behind winding hole wall and erect safety barrier of steel walings fixed horizontally on vertical angle iron supports.

>Level off the old tip from entrance to car park.

>Scrub bashing and temporary road for Phase II between Little Tring and Drayton Beauchamp new sump.

Web Site

The address of the Trust web site managed by Oliver Revel is: http:// www.wendovercanal.plus.com

Trinaford Pumping Station Store Hut

The hut had a major shake up on Thursday 27th November. After storing away all the formwork for the reinforced concrete wall ready for future use, including treating all the steel with a special protective coating and throwing out all the rubbish, old bottles not worthy of sale and surplus materials, the interior of the hut is clean and tidy. One wonders for how long?

Phase II footbridges

There are two footbridges to be built for Phase II, one at the Whitehouses footpath crossing, the Pat Saunders Bridge (former swing bridge No.4), the other where a footpath has been established across the canal since it closed between Whitehouses and the Herts/Bucks Boundary (will be Bridge No.4A). We are very grateful to Graham Hardwick, Rodney Hardwick's son, who is a structural Engineer working for Doyles of Welwyn Garden City for his kind offer to design these two footbridges with possible help with materials from Doyles. Their construction is a priority for Phase II so that plant can run along the canal bed clear of members of the public and avoid the need for safety officers at~these crossings when plant is in use.

Future plans for Phases II & III

The Trust is aiming to complete Phase II by 2010 and also Phase III in the same timescale if funds permit. Work on engineering plans and estimates are currently in hand but the main obstacle at present is the lack of a permanent Fund Raising Officer since the resignation of David Andrew.

Rodney Evans, despite his involvement with the proposed Bedford to Milton Keynes Link, is 'caretaking' this task at present but a dedicated volunteer is badly needed.

General Notes

All volunteers receive and sign for the Trust's Restoration Manual that includes full Health and Safety requirements covering the restoration works.The Manual is the property of the trust; if you leave the district or leave the work parties for any other reason, please return the Manual to either Ray Orth or myself.

Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.One first aid kit is kept in the store; another is kept in the VW transporter for use on site. Also available in the transporter are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when strimming, angle grinders. Concrete breakers and the like.

David Barratt is now our qualified First-Aider. ( And even if he is not on site, lives nearby and can be contacted on 01442 822523 if he is at home.

My mobile phone number at working parties is 07850-170858. It is not always left on continuously but has a message facility that I check from time to time. We normally work from 10am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!) other than times when we are hiring plant or taking delivery of ready-mix concrete early in the morning when some volunteers are asked to start at 9am. There are breaks for morning coffee/tea, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drinks. However, do not feel bound by these times, as half a day is better than no help at all. We have an electric kettle and tea urn at the hut: also there is an outside tap for drinking water.

Numbering of wall sections,with position as at 30th November 2003 is as follows:

OCTOBER 2003

Excavetion for the Phase I reinforced concrete walls commenced at the Trust's Festival in 1998, the first base was poured in April 1999 and work has continued ever since, apart from a stoppage due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and we are now about to complete all 650 metres of these walls over the weekend 15tb/16tb November next.

*** WE ARE GOING TO UNVEIL (REMOVE THE FORMWORK FROM) THE VERY LAST POUR OF PHASE I AT 1O.3Oam ON SUNDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2003 WITH A CELEBRATORY DRINK, TO WHICH ALL TRUST MEMBERS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS ARE INVITED. ***

Work is continuing according to programme. During the six day work party, 2nd to 7th October last, a further 25 metres of Bentomat lining between the lock and the bridge was laid, the last base section & three wall sections poured and backfill to the rest of the Stage 2 offside wall continued. We are very grateful to three members of WRG BITM Phill Cardy, Dave Wedd and Stella Wentworth who all gave up days of annual leave to come and help us at this major exercise.

Peter Spary has pressed on with his programme of scrub clearance and stumping, making great progress between Whitehouses and the Herts/Bucks Boundary. Because of the need to keep to the programme for Phase I at Little Tring, it has not been possible to divert many resources to this work but after completion of the reinforced concrcte.wal!s in November work will be speeded up as will be seen in the Dates for Working Parties. WRG~BITM are sure to make great pr6gress at tlieir weekend visit in November so it is anticipated that a clear road will be available right through to the new sump at Drayton Beauchamp by Spring next year.

During the next few months it is intended to concentrate on excavating the new canal bed at Little Tring in preparation for continuing with the Bentonite lining in the spring when the weather permits.One problem with laying the lining is the need to work on the Monday and Tuesday following a weekend when ready--mix for covering the lining can be delivered (ready-mix plants are closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays).

We are very fortunate in that WRG BITM are planning a whole week with us next year, from Saturday 31st July to Sunday 8tb August 2004 and this may well be the opportunity for a major onslaught on the Bentomat lining, Will our volunteers please keep these dates free if at all possible as it will be an opportunity to keep at least one, if not two, ready-mix lorries fully occupied from the Monday through to the Saturday morning laying the protective coat of concrete to the Bentomat lining.

Phase II footbridges

There are two footbridges to be built for Phase II, one at the Whitehouses footpath crossing, the Pat Saunders Bridge (former swing bridge No.4), the other where a footpath has been established across the canal since it closed between Whitehouses and the Herts/Bucks Boundary (will be Bridge No.4A). Initial thoughts are for brick piers and a steel superstructure. You are invited to submit outline drawings/ideas for these footbridges as their construction is a priority for Phase II so that plant can run along the canal bed clear of members of the public and avoid the need for safety officers at these crossings when plant is in use.

Priority Jobs

Pour wall sections 72 and 73 to complete reinforced concrete walls.

Backfilling to the Stages 4/5 towpath walls up to and under Little Tring Bridge including towpath levelling and a paved surface under Little Tring Bridge.

Excavation to new canal bed, initially down to top of blinding level.

Non-Priority or 'Hospital' Jobs

Backfilling to the Stage 2 offside wall (bridge to old farm crossing)

Lay hardcore to road behind winding hole wall and erect safety barrier of sheet steel piles laid horizontally on vertical supports.

Scrub bashing and temporary road for Phase II between Little Tring and Drayton Beauchamp new sump.

Web Site

The address of the Trust web site managed by Oliver Revel is: http:// www.wendovercanal.plus.com

Aston Clinton by-pass & BW lining through Drayton Beauchamp Bridge .

Wednesday 30 July 2003 was a red-letter day in the history of the Wendover Arm. After just over 100 years, water again flowed under Drayton Beauchamp Bridge from the new by-pass bridge. The problem with water from the new sump at Drayton Beauchamp not reaching Whitehouses has been resolved although BW are still investigating possible water loss along the pipeline.

General Notes

All volunteers receive and sign for the Trust's Restoration Manual that includes full Health and Safety requirements covering the restoration works.The Manual is the property of the trust; if you leave the district or leave the work parties for any other reason, please return the Manual to either Ray Orth or myself.

Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.One first aid kit is kept in the store; another is kept in the VW transporter for use on site. Also available in the transporter are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when strimming, angle grinders. Concrete breakers and the like.

David Barratt is now our qualified First-Aider. ( And even if he is not on site, lives nearby and can be contacted on 01442 822523 if he is at home.

My mobile phone number at working parties is 07850-170858. It is not always left on continuously but has a message facility that I check from time to time. We normally work from 10am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!) other than times when we are hiring plant or taking delivery of ready-mix concrete early in the morning when some volunteers are asked to start at 9am. There are breaks for morning coffee/tea, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drinks. However, do not feel bound by these times, as half a day is better than no help at all. We have an electric kettle and tea urn at the hut: also there is an outside tap for drinking water.

Numbering of wall sections,with position as at 10th October 2003 is as follows:

AUGUST 2003

On August 1st in steady rain, we took delivery of 20 rolls of Bentomat in protective plastic, each weighing about 1½ old tons, 4,000 square metres in total, using a gigantic 15 ton excavator and a 3 ton swivel dumper. The rolls were on a very long articulated lorry that could not negotiate the turn at the top of the cart track entrance so everything had to be unloaded there and then reloaded roll by roll onto the dumper and taken down to the end of our car park for storage. All but the two rolls required for use this year were stacked and secured under large tarpaulins for the winter.

The next four days, that were the start of the present heat wave, were a learning curve as a result of which we now have a defined method of laying the Bentonite. The delivered rolls are cut into approximate lengths required for laying on the storage site and transported to the laying point by dumper using the excavator for loading. Using the swivel dumper the roll is dropped where it is needed and supported with a scaffold tube through the core. The scaffold tube is hand lifted onto a motorists axle stand at each end. The roll can then be slid along the scaffold tube to the exact position for overlap with the last transverse roll already laid and then pulled out to meet the wall on one side. After this the rest of the roll is manually rolled up to the wall on the other side and a pleat formed in the centre of the bed to allow for any future stretching of the Bentonite.

Extra Bentonite granules have been ordered and are used with water to make a putty like mixture that is placed in the right angle between the wall and the blinding concrete with a float to give a triangular fillet. The overlap on the previous roll is covered with Bentonite granules dampened with a watering can to prevent migration down the slope. The Bentomat is pressed on the triangular fillet and fastened to the wall with packaging strip using a nail gun and any surplus mat trimmed off above the fastening.

The sloping sides of the bed are covered in l50mm (6") of C20 concrete with a shovel finish and with expansion joints at intervals. These joints are to cope with temperature extremes during the months before re-watering.

In the event, Harding's, our ready-mix supplier changed matters for us. Despite verbal discussions and the usual confirming letter for deliveries on Monday 4th August, when final confirmation was made the previous week it was found that our driver, Mike, was on leave and his vehicle in for a service. This meant hasty arrangements for volunteers on Tuesday 5 th August as the Bentomat cannot be left uncovered in rain. Eventually we did receive two deliveries on Monday and three more on Tuesday. As there were only five of us and the ready-mix has to be transported from the bridge by dumper and partially hand unloaded to reach the top of the slopes a decision was taken to lay the concrete to half the depth other than at the top of the slope and at joints where we laid the full depth.

The original intention was to have strips of concrete over the Bentonite overlaps in the centre/horizontal bed to avoid any possibility of spoil interfering with the joint and to act as a strut against the sloping concrete sliding downhill. As it was not possible to place the spoil fill in the centre of the canal until the concreting is completed it was decided to lay a minimum of 50mm of concrete over all the horizontal bed to protect the Bentonite where it is covered with a layer of felt to protect it from the spoil and dumpers travelling over it. The current thinking is that this method should be used overall as it gives better protection to the Bentonite and joints before being filled with spoil.

Where the concrete is not to full depth it has been left very rough ready for completion at the October 4th work party. A total of 26 metres along the bed has been completed apart from the top concrete and spoil fill in the centre. The throat of the lock is complete with 150mm concrete over the whole area and lined with Bentofix (the solid blanket of Bentonite) left over from Drayton Beauchamp.

At the end of the newly laid lining, the overlap for the next joint is encased in black polythene with the top edge buried under the concrete cover and a small concrete hump across the centre bed is formed below finished bed level to retain rainwater falling on the finished waterproof lining. The polythene will be cut away when the next piece of Bentonite is laid.

Brian Ing is now busy experimenting with a chute that can be hung on the walls to avoid hand throwing ready-mix from the dumper up the sloping sides.

My very grateful thanks to the volunteers who came to the rescue on Tuesday, including those who rescheduled their commitments to be able to attend.

We were very pleased to see our old friend Torkel Larsen, who is on holiday from Norway, join us for the day on Saturday. Congratulations to Torkel who now has four potential volunteers (sons) for us instead of three when he left us!

Elsewhere progress continues according to plan although the extra two sections of wall at the farm crossing have slightly delayed the completion of all the walls that are required for re-watering. The last section of the Stage 2 offside wall was poured on Saturday 2nd August and only the Stage 4 towpath wall and two wall sections of Stage 5 are outstanding after which the formwork will be a great strain on our storage space in the hut!

You will see from the programme of work that all base sections should be complete by October 3rd and all wall sections complete by November 14th 2003. This does depend on a wall and a base section being poured on Sat 6th/Sun 7th September next. Ron Pittaway has offered to look after this work but he must have a minimum of five persons on the Saturday and eight persons on the Sunday. There is a problem in that several of us will be still bringing our boats back from the National at Beale Park so will you please ring Ron on his mobile(07946 484156)as soon as possible and let him know if you can help on either or both of these days.

Priority Jobs

> Complete the Stages 4/5 towpath wall from the bridge to the Stage 1 towpath wall.

> Continue Bentomat lining from the lock working westwards towards the bridge.

Non-Priority or "Hospital" Jobs

> Lay hardcore to road behind winding hole wall and erect safety barrier of sheet steel piles laid horizontally on vertical supports.

> Complete the backfilling of the Stage 2 wall.

> Scrub bashing and temporary road for Phase II between Little Tring and Drayton Beauchamp.

Tring/Wendover Canal Festival 2003

This was a great success and the latest figure for net profit is a staggering £37,539!

Web Site

The address of the Trust web site managed by Oliver Revel is:

http://www.wendovercanal.plus.com

Torkel tells me this is how he Follows our progess now he is back living in Norway.

Aston Clinton by-pass & BW lining through Drayton Beauchamp Bridge.

Wednesday 30th July 2003 was a red letter day in the history of the Wendover Arm. After just over 100 years, water again flowed under Drayton Beauchamp Bridge from the new bypass bridge. Unfortunately water is not reaching Whitehouses as there is a problem with the pipeline that has not yet been resolved. BW is currently investigating and has found that water is passing through the next manhole 130 metres from the new sump. The problem may lie in the length not already cleared where locating the old manholes is not a very easy job.

General Notes

All volunteers receive and sign for the Trust's Restoration Manual that includes full Health and Safety requirements covering the restoration works.The Manual is the property of the trust; if you leave the district or leave the work parties for any other reason, please return the Manual to either Ray Orth or myself.

Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.One first aid kit is kept in the store; another is kept in the VW transporter for use on site. Also available in the transporter are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when strimming, angle grinders. Concrete breakers and the like.

David Barratt is now our qualified First-Aider. ( And even if he is not on site, lives nearby and can be contacted on 01442 822523 if he is at home.

My mobile phone number at working parties is 07850-170858. It is not always left on continuously but has a message facility that I check from time to time. We normally work from 10am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!) other than times when we are hiring plant or taking delivery of ready-mix concrete early in the morning when some volunteers are asked to start at 9am. There are breaks for morning coffee/tea, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drinks. However, do not feel bound by these times, as half a day is better than no help at all. We have an electric kettle and tea urn at the hut: also there is an outside tap for drinking water.

Numbering of wall sections,with position as at 5th August 2003 is as follows:

JUNE 2003

Progress continues according to plan although the extra two sections of wall at the farm crossing have slightly delayed the completion of all the walls that are required for re-watering Stage I.

The Annual Tring/Wendover Canal Festival was a great success and we are hoping for a profit in the order of £30,000 but the Treasurer cannot give a final figure until all the bills have been paid. The number of visitors. especially to the Restoration site, was overwhelming and at times the queues at the Lock Cafe' were longer than ever before. Margaret tells me that the net profit from the Lock Cafe this year was a record £858.63 making a total of £3,681.74 raised over the seven years. Well done ladies. Adrian Bull raised over £502 at the information tent by the lock including selling, amongst other trophies from the excavations. 10 old 78rpm records that had been buried in canal bed for £2.50 each. We are also pleased to welcome several new volunteers as a result of their visiting the Festival.

Eddy Evans and Oliver Revel made an excellent job of bricking up the gap between the new wall and the old lock wall in blue bricks and copings. They also blocked the (?inlet) pipe on the towpath side by the lock. Nobody yet knows what it was for despite having had 'Hercule Poirot' investigate it for us at the Festival when he inspected the latest progress of Phase I.

In August we are hoping to have our first trials of laying the Bentonite waterproof layer and covering. It will initially be an experiment to find the best way of doing the work and then assessing a programme of work for the coming twelve months.

You will be pleased to hear that I have had e-mail correspondence from Torkel Larsen in Norway. He tells me he keeps in touch with us through the web site and is coming on holiday to England in August and will be visiting us on Saturday 2nd August.

Peter Spary has announced his aim of completing scrub clearance between Little Tring and the new lining at Drayton Beauchamp Bridge at his weekday work parties by March 2004. There are just over 500 metres still to be cut down and about 650 metres to be cleared of stumps. We will be using an excavator for removing stumps at the Whitehouses end but will first have to profile the bed from the footpath crossing for about 120 metres to give a level road where, at present there is a rather deep ditch in the centre of the channel over the pipeline. Some ash from the old tip at Little Tring may be required to give a reasonable road surface during the winter. There is a budget already approved by the Council for this work.

Care will have to be taken at the footpath crossing. the site of former swing bridge No.4 where the intention is to reconstruct the abutments. And at the former Whitehouses Pumping Station site where the intention is to repair the wharf and pumping station outlet culverts.

Priority Jobs

Complete the Stage 2 offside wall to the old farm crossing.

Complete the Stage 4 towpath wall under the bridge linking up with the Stage I towpath wall.

Commence Bentomat lining forn the lock working westwards towards the bridge.

Non-Priority or 'Hospital' Jobs

Lay hardcore to road behind winding hole wall and erect safety barrier of sheet steel piles laid horizontally on vertical supports.

Scrub bashing and temporary road for Phase II between Little Tring and Drayton Beauchamp.

Web Site

The address of the Trust web site managed by Oliver Revel is:

http://www.wendovercanal.plus.com

IWA 2003 National Rallv 22nd to 25th August 2003

Ray Orth has now compiled the roster for the lavatory/shower cleaning and Trust stand at the Festival.

BW Proposed Moorings at New Mill

No further news as yet.

Aston Clinton by-pass

I am very pleased to report that,, following a meeting with the Project Manager of Balfour Beattie followed up by a formal request through BW, a winding hole is being provided at the west end of the Aston Clinton By-pass canal diversion - it is in fact saving the Highway Authority money! In addition Balfour Beattie are giving us first refusal to take away all surplus materials on site at the end of the contract that would otherwise be sent to tip.

BW lining through Drayton Beauchamp Bridge .

This work is now complete including the restoration of the old farm wharf adjacent to Drayton Beauchamp Bridge.

IWA Chiltern Branch Annul Outing.

Many of our volunteers belong to the IWA Chiltern Branch. The Branch organise an annual weekend outing to which all others are welcome this year the outing (by coach) is to the canals of North Wales over the weekend Friday 19th to Sunday 21st September 2003. Friday lunch is at Oswestry followed by a guided tour in the afternoon of restoration sites on the Montgomery Canal. Friday and Saturday nights are spent at the Hand Hotel in Llangollen. On Saturday there is a boat trip with morning coflee, lunch and afternoon tea from Llangollen to the Pontcysyllte and ChirkAqueducts. Sunday morning is a steam railway trip to Carrog, home Sunday afternoon. The cost is £177 per head and for enquiries bookings contact Colin Bird on 01932 248178.

Good news

I had already printed page one of this newsletter when I heard from our Treasurer,John Brooman, that my approximate figure of £30,000 for the Festival profit ought to be £36,000-a superb result!

General Notes

All volunteers receive and sign for the Trust's Restoration Manual that includes full Health and Safety requirements covering the restoration works.The Manual is the property of the trust; if you leave the district or leave the work parties for any other reason, please return the Manual to either Ray Orth or myself.

Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.One first aid kit is kept in the store; another is kept in the VW transporter for use on site. Also available in the transporter are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when strimming, angle grinders. Concrete breakers and the like.

David Barratt is now our qualified First-Aider. ( And even if he is not on site, lives nearby and can be contacted on 01442 822523 if he is at home.

My mobile phone number at working parties is 07850-170858. It is not always left on continuously but has a message facility that I check from time to time. We normally work from 10am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!) other than times when we are hiring plant or taking delivery of ready-mix concrete early in the morning when some volunteers are asked to start at 9am. There are breaks for morning coffee/tea, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drinks. However, do not feel bound by these times, as half a day is better than no help at all. We have an electric kettle and tea urn at the hut: also there is an outside tap for drinking water.

Numbering of wall sections,with position as at 13 June 2003 is as follows:

FEBRUARY 2003

APRIL 2003

I have delayed the publication of this newsletter so that i can report on the April nine-day working party and so determine the work programme ahead.

The April working party was a great success,all the scheduled work was completed,thanks to a superb attendance by volunteers and good weather,apart from a shot hail storm in the middle of the week.We owe particular thanks to Phill Cardy and Mark Gribble of WRG Bit In The Middle (BITM) who gave up a whole weeks leave from work to come and help us.

The backfilling of the towpath wall between the lock and the bridge ( stage5 ) and the offside wall west of the bridge was completed as far as the walls are complete and the excavation from the lock to the bridge ready for lining is complete as far as the bridge narrows ( stage 7 ). Excavation under the bridge for the towpath wall ( stage 4 ) has commenced. Excavation for the offside wall west of the bridge ( stage 2 ) is complete, two wall sections and three base sections were poured assisted by the Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group on the last weekend; KESCRG also blinded the next section and completed laying the screed boards for blinding to the end of the wall.

A conference on site recently amended the design of this offside wall where it was intended to terminate with a 45 degree bend into the bank befor the reed bed to be built alongside the winding hole. It was agreed that this would impinge too much on the public footpath and that it will be best to extend the wall by twosectione 41A & 41B but to keep the total number of sections correct they will be 74 & 75. Note that 75 x 8.8 metres =660 metres of reinforced concrete wall,2/3 kilometre! Quite an achievement for our gang of volunteers.

Joye Smith who turns our daily, not always deciphered, site timesheets into a neat and costed presentation for use in applying for funding has give me the figures up to the end of 2002. Many thanks Joyce.

On the subject of volunteer labour, I have received complaints from some of our volunteers who are very upset by the article on the Wendover Arm in the May Issue of the Canal Boat and Inland Waterways magazine that implies that the Waterway Recovery Group are equal partners in our restoration work. Whilst we have great support from BITM and the Essex Group of WRG for which we are extremely grateful, to put matters in perspective, the WRG input in 2000 amounted to 14% of the total effort. I must add that we are also very grateful to KESCRG, who are not part of WRG, for their valued contribution for one or two weekend visits a year. Still on the subject of volunteers, I am sure that you will all wish to read the following very supportive letter from David Smith of Woking. He has given me permission to publish in this newsletter:

"Dear Roger Leishman,

When we were out and about on sunday 2 march, we came across your happy and friendly work team and saw for ourselves the great job they are making on the concrete trough. The effort, and the immaculate organisation of tools and materials, was extremely impressive - particularly for one of uswho works in Whitehall trying to improve standards in the industry!

We had seen pictures in Navvies and in Waterway World, but had not appreciated the scale or quality of the work being done. It deserves to be even better known.

We were a bit reluctant to leave a donation in the wooden boxes, but we hoped the attached (small) cheque is at least a bit of a contribution towards the work and the well-being of those on site.

With good wishes for continuing achievements

Yours sincerely,

David Smith"

The VW Transporter was back on the road again at a cost of nearly £1,000 in time for the big April working party. What would we have done without it! It now has a new (second hand) engine that Eddy Evans found for £150 and was installed by a firm in Wooburn assisted by Eddy. It has only 30,000 miles on the clock but has no turbo so is a bit underpowered but this is only noticeable uphill on the open road. Not only did the engine require replacing but after the engine was in. Eddy found that the front drive shafts were defective and we are extremely grateful to him for repairing them at what is the busiest time of year in his seasonable business. Many thanks Eddy for all you have done and it must be good work as we now have a newly issued MOT certificate. While we have been very busy at Little Tring with Phase I, Phase II scrub clearance and maintenance has proceeded apace.One of our volunteers, Peter spary has been working very hard attacking the last stretch requiring clearance between Whitehouses and Drayton Beauchamp but has now had to stop because of the bird nesting season. The BITM weekend in the middle of March was also spent on scrub clearance and strimming the stretch at Drayton Beauchamp that has been cleared in previous years. We had two visits of 120 RAF Halton recruits who cleared scrub at Whitehouses and hand 'strimmed' the length from Little Tring to Whitehouse cleared in previous years. Great progress in all and Peter tells me that he is all organised to start scrub clearance at the end of August this year; his aim is to complete the Phase II clearance by Spring of 2004! Good luck Peter.

Priority Jobs

Following the successful nine day work party these are:

Complete the Stage 2 offside wall to the old farm crossing.

Excavate for and continue with the towpath wall under the bridge linking up with the already completed Stage I towpath wall.

Commence Bentomat lining from the lock working westwards towards the bridge. The excavation already completed to a superb profile by Ray Orth on the excavator and hand finished by Ken Graves has exposed a smooth layer of clay. We are awaiting final agreement from British Waterways to our specification for the lining and hope to order the materials as soon as possible.

Non-Priority or 'Hospital' Jobs

Lay blue brick copings to junctions of old and new walls at the stop lock.

Lay hardcore to road behind winding hole wall and erect safety barrier of sheet steel piles laid horizontally on vertical supports.

Web Site

The address of the Trust web site managed by Oliver Revel is:

http://www.wendovercanal.plus.com

IWA 2003 National Rally 22nd to 25 August 2003

Ray Orth has sent all Trust members a request for volunteers to man both the lavatory/shower cleaning and the Trust stand at the Festival. Please help if you can, particularly on the Trust Stand.

BW Proposed Moorings at New Mill

No further news as yet.

Aston Clinton by-pass

Work has recommenced on the new line of the canal and John Kearsey has arranged for me to contact the member of Balfour Beatty's staff responsible for the junction with the old line of the canal at the west end (future winding hole) after Easter.

BW lining through Drayton Beauchamn Bridge

The BW extension to the by-pass diversion lining through Drayton Beauchamp Bridge is now complete and the Trust has taken over all surplus materials and hand tools from Nuttalls for £300! Thank you to BW for providing the transport to Little Tring. John Kearsey arranged a second site visit during February that was very informative to our volunteers. Thank you John.

General Notes

All volunteers receive and sign for the Trust's Restoration Manual that includes full Health and Safety requirements covering the restoration works.The Manual is the property of the trust; if you leave the district or leave the work parties for any other reason, please return the Manual to either Ray Orth or myself.

Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.One first aid kit is kept in the store; another is kept in the VW transporter for use on site. Also available in the transporter are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when strimming, angle grinders. Concrete breakers and the like.

David Barratt is now our qualified First-Aider. ( And even if he is not on site, lives nearby and can be contacted on 01442 822523 if he is at home.

My mobile phone number at working parties is 07850-170858. It is not always left on continuously but has a message facility that I check from time to time. We normally work from 10am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!) other than times when we are hiring plant or taking delivery of ready-mix concrete early in the morning when some volunteers are asked to start at 9am. There are breaks for morning coffee/tea, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drinks. However, do not feel bound by these times, as half a day is better than no help at all. We have an electric kettle and tea urn at the hut: also there is an outside tap for drinking water.

Numbering of wall sections,with position as at 13 April 2003 is as follows:

FEBRUARY 2003

Pat Saunders

It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Pat Saunders at the age of 83 on 1st December 2002. It seems only yesterday that he was wheeling full barrow loads on site. Pat was indeed a character and the only volunteer who literally always wore two hats! We all remember Festival time when he arrived on site in his beloved Ford Model T; he was a member of the Ford Model T Club. Margaret, Ray and myself attended his funeral at Amersham Crematorium at which there was a very good attendance that paid tribute to his popularity. Pat had been on Arctic convoys during the war as a marine engineer, perhaps his naval service encouraged him when he built his own boat in his garden. Only recently he sold this boat and gave the proceeds of something over £2,000 to the Trust. The Trust Council have agreed to 'ring fence' this money for building the "Pat Saunders" footbridge in his memory across the Arm at Whitehouses.

Good news - the Trust Council heard at their January meeting that Dr. David Fletcher CBE, recently retired Chief Executive of British Waterways and a local resident, has agreed to be President of the Trust, filling the vacancy resulting from the death of Sir Roger Cork last year. We look forward to an enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporter of the Trust's Aims and Objectives.

The demolition of the disused badger sett under the public footpath on the offside bank took place on Saturday November 30th 2002 under the supervision of Keith Higby of the Herts and Middlesex Badger Group. We made the most of the plant hire and over the next three weekends completed bulk excavation for the offside wall as far as section 39, leaving us only two sections at the farm crossing, to be removed when the farm crossing is no longer required as a turning point. This work and the atrocious weather churned up the temporary roadway and it had to be cleaned up and hardcore brought down from the tip to widen it across to the offside wall.

This work combined with the weather upset our programme of works in that we have had to delay excavation between the bridge and the lock until better weather. You will see from the work schedule that I am suggesting a major operation of nine days for this work at the beginning of April if we can roster sufficient drivers to keep the plant operational. A session like this is much more economic than odd weekends as far as plant hire costs are concerned. We need two excavator drivers, two dumper drivers and two banksmen on all nine days. Hopefully the weekends will be no problem but the weekdays may be more difficult. Before plant is hired for this work, will you please let me know as soon as possible if you can assist. The more volunteers, the less likely the same people will work too many consecutive days.

Because of the bad weather and road conditions, concrete pours had to be cancelled in December but two of these were recovered in January so we are only one pour behind and concentrating on the offside wall between the bridge and the farm crossing. We could not believe our luck when we had two fine days for pouring and moving formwork just before the end of January snowfall. Even more fortunately I looked at the 3 or more inches of snow in Berkhamsted before the February weekend work party and was considering cancelling the two pours on February 1ST when I spoke to Ron Pittaway on the phone and found that there was no snow at Little Tring. So we had two pours on Saturday 1ST followed by moving formwork on Sunday 2nd both days with good weather, sunny for most of the time. Hopefully this wall will be well advanced before excavation starts in April and this year should see completion of all 695 metres of reinforced concrete wall.

The towpath for Stage 4 was completed in December last and the hedge planted for Stage 1 in December 2001 is growing well.

In October I warned the Trust Council that the VW Transporter, after four years valiant service with us, is getting old (H Registration) and expensive to maintain. There have been faults with the cooling system, starter motor etc. but thanks to the valuable assistance of Bob Fletcher, who works for a VW garage, it has kept going. Alas, in December, as the VW was being moved on site someone observed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle! When .the engine compartment door was opened, flames were seen. The fire extinguisher kept, on board made, '... short work of the fire that we now. understand was caused by an oil leak from the rocker box cover being ignited by the turbocharger. The engine, however is in a poor state and would be very expensive to strip and overhaul. A second hand engine was located but it was found to have modem electric controls incompatible with our vehicle. Extensive searches by Eddy Evans have failed to locate another second hand engine so the purchase of a replacement engine is under Serious consideration. This will probably cost around £2,509; including fitting, a very good price. thanks. to Bob Fletcher’s trade connections. Second hand four-wheel drive vehicles of this kind are difficult to find and are in the £5,000 to £6,000 price range.

Eddy Evans has obtained for us 34 second hand railway sleepers at the, remarkably low price of £200. These are needed for temporary access for ready mix lorries and excavators/dumpers especially over the Bentonite linings when they are laid and we have to place concrete and spoil over the lining. Eddy has already manufactured two lifting tongs for moving the sleepers about the site.

Peter Spary has arranged Wednesday and Friday visits to Whitehouses scrub bashing during February and March and will welcome anyone who would like to join him on any particular day. I would ask you not to give this priority over our normal work but to join Peter only if this is an extra day that you can spare. Thank you Peter for this work, now less than half a mile to clear for Phase II.

As part of his scrub bashing Peter Spary is clearing the bank between the farm crossing and the winding hole wall in preparation for shaping the bank for a shallow underwater shelf that will be planted with water plants and be accessible for small fish and other aquatic life. The shelf will be approximately 2 metres (6" 6") wide and hopefully shaped during the coming month of April.

RAF Halton have about 140 recruits available on Saturday 15th February 2003 and are going to spend the day scrub bashing at Whitehouses and also clear as much as possible of the dry bed back to the cart track entrance. I am away from home on this date so I would be grateful for volunteers to help guide the RAF also to issue and see to the safe return of tools from our store at Tringford Pumping Station. The RAF will not be doing any stumping and it is important that any scrub that is cut is either burnt or stacked neatly for future burning not left in a jumble for the public to see. I will issue detailed notes to any volunteers who can help on the day.

Priority Jobs

Until the weather improves to allow plant over the ternporary road without causing damage and a mud layer press ahead with blinding, base pours and wall pours for the offside wall bridge to farm crossing.

Excavate the new bed of the canal from the lock to the bridge when the new towpath wall is completed form a smooth bed with ash from the old tip and lay the Bentonite lining with concrete on sloping sides and narrows and excavated material on the level as cover. It is intended to use two excavators for this work, one for bulk excavation the other for final grading and trimming. Dumpers will assist them for carting spoil to the tip although spoil will also be used to backfill the towpath wall alongside. It is hoped to complete the excavation during April this year.

When the above excavation is complete continue with the towpath wall under the bridge linking up with the already completed Stage 1 towpath wall.

Commence Bentomat lining from the lock working westwards towards the bridge. This will require excavating to 2" (50mm) below the lining, spreading and rolling a layer of ash from the old rubbish tip to give a smooth bed on which to lay the Bentomat. The sloping sides of the bed will then be covered with 6" (150mm) of concrete. BW has had problems with the joints in laying Bentomat indicating that these must be laid very carefully. To avoid disruption to joints in the level part of the bed when laying loose fill, I am suggesting we lay a 6" (150mm) transverse strip of concrete 2 or 3ft wide to cover the joints that are at approx. 4.5 metre intervals. The 12" (3OOmm) cover of the level bed with suitable excavated spoil will go over these transverse strips. that will prevent disturbance to the joint. Where there is a 15ft narrow channel through Little Tring Bridge, the whole width -will be covered in 6" (150mm) of concrete so the excavation will be 6" (150mm) shallower along this length. As the work is completed it will inevitably hold water (we hope!) so two sandbag dams across the channel will be leapfrogged as work progresses. As the concrete over the Bentornat will be exposed to temperature extremes until Phase I is in water in 2004 it may be prudent to keep the area permanently flooded to a depth of up to 18" (45Omm) as work progresses to prevent excessive expansion and contraction of the concrete cover. It would also give us advance warning of any leaks. It would be possible to install a vandal proof pipe and valve in the bund at the end of the lock to facilitate topping up when rain does not do the work for us.

Non-Priority or ‘Hospital’ Jobs

Continue with Phase II scrub bashing and stumping, Whitehouses to Hens/Bucks boundary, there are 852 yards, under half a mile yet to clear.

Annual strimming at Whitehouses and Drayton Beauchamp.

Lay blue brick copings to junctions of old and new walls at the stop lock.

Lay hardcore to road behind the winding hole wall and erect safety barrier of sheet piles laid horizonally on vertical supports.

WebSite

The address of the Trust web site managed by Oliver Revel is:

http://www.wendovercanal.plus.com

IWA 2003 National Rally 22nd to 25 August 2003

Ray Orth will be sending all members a request for volunteers to man both the lavatory/shower cleaning and the Trust stand at the Festival. The Trust block boat booking for the Rally has been sent in by Ray Orth and we assume it has been received as our cheques have been cleared!

BW Proposed Moorings at NewMill

BW has told the Trust that planning permission has been refused, but is considering an appeal.

Aston Clinton by-pass

Due to the very bad weather work had virtually ceased on the canal diversion. In January, John Kearsey e-mailed me a picture of the newly excavated channel diversion through broken chalk near the by-pass bridge. I was very impressed and sent a message back saying that It looks as if Bentonite really works. John replied to inform me that this is the raw channel without any lining as yet! Either plant traffic has consolidated the bed or the water table has risen.

BW lining through Drayton Beauchamp Bridge

The Bw extension to the by-pass diversion lining through Drayton Beauchamp Bridge is proceeding well despite the bad weather and John Kearsey led members of the work party on a site visit on 17th December 2002 He hopes to arrange another visit in February. Thank you John.

General Notes

All volunteers receive and sign for the Trust's Restoration Manual that includes full Health and Safety requirements covering the restoration works.The Manual is the property of the trust; if you leave the district or leave the work parties for any other reason, please return the Manual to either Ray Orth or myself.

Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.One first aid kit is kept in the store; another is kept in the VW transporter for use on site. Also available in the transporter are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when strimming, angle grinders. Concrete breakers and the like.

David Barratt is now our qualified First-Aider. ( And even if he is not on site, lives nearby and can be contacted on 01442 822523 if he is at home.

My mobile phone number at working parties is 07850-170858. It is not always left on continuously but has a message facility that I check from time to time. We normally work from 10am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!) other than times when we are hiring plant or taking delivery of ready-mix concrete early in the morning when some volunteers are asked to start at 9am. There are breaks for morning coffee/tea, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drinks. However, do not feel bound by these times, as half a day is better than no help at all. We have an electric kettle and tea urn at the hut: also there is an outside tap for drinking water.

Numbering of wall sections,with position as at 31st January 2003 is as follows: