Editorial - Keith Rogers

The FoP AGM in April signals the start of another boating season, which is a good point to commence this editorial. This years AGM/training weekend, organised by Richard Thomas, was better than excellent. After the formal business, a conference took place at which a wide range of boating and driving topics were discussed and duly noted. All these will enhance, in due course, the boating and driving manuals. There will never be a time when there is not something new to consider. Richard gave an illustrated talk on the boats, updating his historical research. It was great having Malcolm Braine present to add further details.

In the evening we repaired to the Bottle and Glass. What a super ambience with coal fires burning. A traditional Black Country supper, and a cracking good quiz. Several bunked down in Brook Street ready for boat training the next day. It looks very likely we shall have Brook Street as our own FoP accommodation base. This will entail some maintenance and refitting work.

If you did not make this AGM, I am sure you will now be eagerly looking forward to next years. Richard has already started on his plans for it. It's the one time of the year when we can all get together, and the addition of a social aspect to the AGM has been very successful.
At the AGM the committee view was expressed that FoP's subscription could only support one edition of '195' per year if we are to continue with the standard of edition No. 41. Numerically the membership of FoP precludes the advantage of print run-on costs which would bring down significantly the average cost of each copy. '195' will be supported however, with interim 'Steaming Ups' through the season; hopefully we have now got it right.

The last edition of 'Steaming Up' placed real emphasis on what good, skilled and devoted friends, ‘President’ and ‘Kildare’ have. Lots of improvements in the engine room, but this year Bob Crompton's new rudder for ‘Kildare’ must surely take first prize. With such a good engineering / shipwright team the boats can face the future with confidence.

On patting this team on the back the unsung finance heroes must not be forgotten. Without adequate supplies of dosh nothing would happen. 2006 will certainly underline this with major and expensive repairs to Kildare. And after all this, Richard has to organise crews; the 2006 boating programme will be provided in Steaming Up and our website. Maybe in appreciation members will treat the committee to free beer all evening at the Bottle and Glass, at the AGM week-end !.

2005 has seen a vintage boating programme. On a personal note I was sorry to have missed participation in all of it. Well, I did have three days – Royal Leamington Spa to the museum. At the Cape, Warwick, it was observed that even retired jet fighter pilots can still attract the girls.

For me, adventures further away beckoned – I went foreign & in mid September I sailed down the Beaulieu river to Buckler's Hard to see the Steam Boat Association rally. A particularly interesting steam engine was one originally designed for aeronautical use.
Nigel, Malcolm, and I have strange bumps on our heads. This is due to banging them on the side of 'President's' coal bunker in anticipation of boating reports, etc., coming in promptly. Please skippers, spare us further agony. Having said that – you have sent us some great copy for this edition of '195'. Many thanks, too, for the interesting, amusing letters we have received. And now, you can get on with arm-chair boating adventures, and history lessons.

Keith Rogers

Membership renewal time

It’s that time of year again and we hope you will rejoin for another year.
Individuals £15; Family £20; or Corporate £30
Please send payment to Nick Haynes at the address shown on the contacts page. Please consider using a standing order to save FoP admin charges— the form for this is available on the website or from Nick Haines by post.
http://www.nb-president.org.uk/fop/home.htm

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Letters

Dear Keith,
In early may last year I decided to take a few days off to visit Ironbridge and learn something of our Industrial Heritage. It seemed logical to follow this with a day at “The Black Country Museum” while in the locality.

I cannot tell you of my delight at spotting ‘President’ and Kildare. I must confess that I had never before seen a narrow boat at close quarters let alone a steam one!. I enclose pictures of the crew who answered all my questions and were so very kind.

After a faggot lunch ( My wife won’t cook them at home ) I returned to ‘President’ when to my delight I was offered a trip up the canal. I learnt a great deal and can claim my first narrowboat trip powered by steam!.

I wonder if you would kindly pass my greetings and sincere thanks to the crew for a memorable afternoon. Their kindness is well remembered and I am proud to be a friend of President.
Yours sincerely

Michael D Bamber

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Dear Malcolm & Keith,

Congratulations to all of you who collate and edit '195' and 'Steaming Up' - with the modern day 'gizmos', the quality of print and photographs are superb.

I expect that I am one of the few FoP members who know for sure that the photo of Stotty on the front cover of the Spring 2005 edition of 'Steaming Up' is a 100% fake!!! The reason I can claim this is because back in the year of our Lord 1986, on the return trip from the IWA Festival at Brentford, I was one of the steerers (which I now understand is captain), and Stotty was one of the oily rags down in the 'ole (now known as driver). Anyway, one day Stotty came out of the 'ole for his 'allowed' fresh air break of 10 minutes per day, and had the audacity to say that he fancied a go at steering, and could he have a go ?

At that time I was a very naive 20 year old, [ you sure Alan ? - MN. ] and without thinking said 'yes'! Its one of the few bad decisions I've ever made, which has helped to shape my life ever since !! Within minutes, up on the Grand Union near Leighton Buzzard, he performed an amazing feat - ‘President’ shot through a bridge hole at full bore and proceeded to chase sheep across a field - they were petrified !!! Not only that, but Nicholson’s had to be reprinted, showing a new cut, where there used to be a swan necked bend!! At the subsequent disciplinary hearing held at the Admiralty, said Stotty pleaded guilty, but insane, and they believed him!!

The result was a rollicking and a lifetime ban from the tiller.

I would not normally have mentioned this occurrence, but said photograph competition, with 'spot the error' was irresistible. By the way, who had his hand up the glove puppet?? I hope that my answer is with the Editor in time for the draw.

Although Pauline & I are both retired and non-boaters these days, I hope you will let us provide you with a few "what really happened" anecdotes, from time to time.
Good boating to you all (even Stotty).

Pauline & Alan Pease.

PS It was on this trip back from London that we came across a bearded shed erector called Richard who got chatting with us, and somebody happened to mention that it would be a good idea if ‘President’ had a bicycle on board, so locks could be pre set. The very next day this bearded shed erector appeared again and donated his daughters bicycle to ‘President’!! You never know who you'll meet on the towpath.
I wonder what became of the said bearded shed erector?

[ Alan & Pauline were the support boat crew until we got ‘Kildare’ and they looked after the crew in grand style—thanks. ]

Competitions, Edition No. 41

Flagging Interest by Bob Crompton ( P.15 )
Bob reports that by closing date for this competition, end of March 2005, there had been little response. Nevertheless, thank you to Miss Zara Tibbins, granddaughter of Tony Tibbins and to Neil Ratcliffe for your designs. Although it is a little unfair on Zara or Neil the competition is going to be left open until the 2006 AGM.
So, FoP artists, get your sketch pads out during the dark evenings. Don't let Bob down and remember he's got a really super prize for the winner – provided the entries reach a certain number.
It would be nice to have them all displayed at the AGM.
Spot the Mistake ( P. 22 )

The original challenge set by Roger Prior on the dockside at the museum seemed very simple -i.e. There is no shading beneath the top of the letter E in “FELLOWS“
However, correspondence coming in has revealed another possible mistake with the full stop on the company name.

Admiralty steam pinnace, Steam tug 'Challenge'

In 195 edition 41 I said I would include something in this edition on the Admiralty Steam Pinnance which can often be seen in Gosport. Unfortunately, when my camera was stolen last year, the steam pinnance photographs were in it. So start again.

A friend got some super engine room shots when we visited the steam tug 'Challenge', during the Festival of the Sea, at Portsmouth this summer. But with so much good 'President' material for edition 42, the tug has to be left tied up for the time being. Keith Rogers http://www.stportwey.co.uk/photos_challenge.htm