Very early in the year, I had put my name down for some of the Gloucester trip, but for some reason had heard very little on the subject from the Crewing Secretary. In early August we got back from 3 weeks boating and soaking up the sun, and the reason then became apparent - because of the lack of a support boat, my boat was wanted more than I was.

The initial plan was that we would just stock up with provisions for breakfast, using local hostelries for other meals as we went along. There was a training weekend a week before the actual trip, with all the crew attending, including Jenny Thomas. When she discovered my plan, she was apparently concerned for the well-being of her husband on the trip - and soon set about organising enough food and cooking for the trip down and the stay in Gloucester. This duly set the scene, and resulted in us doing meals for virtually the whole trip (but with plenty of advice and guidance along the way).

We assembled at the Museum on the Sunday. I had to get "Myndynawr" from Lapworth to Dudley, and after weeks of hot dry weather, it had rained on the way - good news for the Birmingham Level which had suffered over the Summer. The crew for the trip to Gloucester was Richard Thomas (Captain), Maurice Parker (Driver), Colin Boothroyd, Phil and John Goldrick, and Bob Jervis. David Powell was joining us for the first day; Phil and John Goldrick were alternating every half day - it didn't sound like a recipe that would work, but by some sort of sixth sense, they always managed to find the boat despite our attempts to change the schedule.

We warmed the boiler during the day, giving us enough steam to move the boat out through the bridge in the evening. We then had a conference on the route (Wolverhampton, Stourbridge or Tardebigge?). As it was raining again, we opted for Stourbridge.

Monday 20th August 1990

Fire lit 5.30am. Cloths, top planks and cratch lowered - there are some very low bridges along the Dudley No.1 canal. The rain had gone, it was bright and sunny, and the levels was nicely up. Departure at 7.40am - down Factory Locks, through Netherton and down Delph. Onto the Stourbridge Canal at the bottom of Delph - the pound was on the weir, so what is normally a difficult bit went smoothly. From Wordsley Junction to Stourton it is shallow, and for the first time we used "Myndynawr" to give 'President' a snatch or two. Moored above Stewponey Lock at 18.45pm for tea and cake, Banks's mild, supper, and several visitors. Sent the Chairman home - after today's long and aggressive schedule with a distinct absence of lunch stops etc., we can relax from now on.

Tuesday.21st August

We were soon reminded that the Staffs & Worcester has its shallow patches and throughout the morning we had to resort to the shaft or even the support boat the keep 'President' moving. Lingered at "The Lock" at Wolverley to let a few boats past. At Kidderminster a surprised (and delighted) lady leapt out of a nearby office to confirm that the boat was indeed the one pictured in The Times today - it was - they had reprinted one of their 'classic' pictures of with James Brindley on the Thames.

York Street lock Stourport at 16.30 and after some games in the Basins, out onto the River. "President's" rudder was unshipped in the bottom lock, so she was brought out on a line and we tied up for a few minutes to put things right(6.30pm.). The Chairman's schedule says Worcester tonight (but he is not here and the river locks shut at 7pm). So, after Lincombe Lock, we found comfortable moorings at Hampstall Cider House, The Burf. The river was 8 inches up and running well - it was interesting to watch Richard winding 'President' to moor whilst disappearing rapidly down river. Warm welcome from the landlord - give him a ring if we ever need a reserved mooring!

Wednesday - 22nd August - on the River Severn

A good run down the river, starting on our own and growing into a convoy for Gloucester. First boats of the day through Holt Lock; at Diglis the big lock was full of boats by the time we had waited for the trip boat to go through. Among the boats were Tony Gould's Bolinder powered "Foxglove" and two boats from the Michael Wilkinson organisation. Below the lock, we let "Sir William Stanier" disappear off into the distance and were quite content to make a more leisurely pace and listen to the variety of tunes played by Tony on his Bolinder.

We passed Upton at lunch time, but sandwiches had been made and passed across en route on the river, so we did not stop. A nice warm sunny day - Maurice measured 114F in the engine hole, and lured Colin in there so he could also enjoy it. At Upper Lode Tewkesbury, BW were just bringing a tug and mud-pump up through the lock, and we were soon joined by about 10 other boats, all doing pirouettes above the weir. After an eternity, we got into the lock.

Upper Lode lock is big and held about 20 boats. Gloucester Lock could move 6 to 8 boats at a time. It was thus predictable there would be a few boats waiting at Gloucester. A BW launch was stationed at Upper Parting and they warned us, so we took our time down the much-narrower East Channel. John and Simon Goldrick appeared; then, suddenly, the high wall and about 30 boats waiting. With the river running quite fast, it all looked a bit daunting, but Terry Dellbridge had a band of volunteers on the wall to offer calming advice and take ropes. The boats were all lying at about 45 degrees to the wall tied by a stern rope only. The technique was to spin the boat a bit and back into the wall, so the current then took you broadside into the next boat. Once we were both safely moored, it did not seem too bad.

Simon Goldrick joined the crew - he is one year old and appeared correctly dressed in uniform. He managed the leap down from the wall to the boats, but decided the best way of passing the waiting time was to enjoy a bath on the support boat.

We arrived at the wall at 17.45, and slowly worked our way down towards the lock. It was 8.30 and dusk by the time 'President' was up in the Basin, moored alongside "Northwich" in the Barge Arm. Dinner was a superb rabbit casserole - British Rail rabbits delivered and cooked by the Goldrick family. Very late - a brief relaxation in the hostelry across the road. 3 days from Dudley, and about 30 hours on the move.

Thursday - 23rd August - Gloucester.

We were in Gloucester as guests of Tony Conder and the National Waterways Museum. David McDougall was soon down to welcome us and to inspect the new boiler - his comments were interesting and need careful consideration. The plan for the day was to clean up the boat, and then to load 2 tons of wood at Harcros' timber yard somewhere along the canal. We ran down to Hempsted Bridge - there are several yards along the canal, and we visited them all...

It was a warm (hot) afternoon - the timber was in 11 and 13 foot lengths and was loaded by hand. Cyril Deane, out for a stroll along the towpath, arrived just in time to lend a hand. We also topped up our supply of offcuts for lighting the boiler, with a few sacks left over for Mr McDougall's steam crane. Varnished "President's" cabin side in evening. Visited by Alan and Pauline Pease - always looking after us, Pauline organised a lasagne for Sunday evening.

Friday - 24th August -Saul Junction and the Stroudwater.

The days objective was to help Cotswold Canal Trust launch their initiative to get the Thames & Severn and Stroudwater Canals reopened and so once again link the upper Thames to the Gloucester & Sharpness.

We had a 7 mile journey down to Saul Junction - 'President' liked the deep water and we made good time with the engine doing about 180 rpm. At Saul we were met by Central TV South and Captain Richard Thomas was duly interviewed by Richard Barnet while the rest of the crew endeavoured to look busy loading timber, firing the boiler etc etc. We then made our way off the Gloucester Sharpness and down the navigable 300 yards of the Stroudwater to the first lowered bridge. The stem was put against the bridge and we looked forward to the day when the canal will once more take us to the Thames.

More interviews for local radio and lots of photographers - Cotswold Canal Trust had really wound up the publicity machine and the event was widely reported in the local papers, local radio and television, Waterways World, New Ways etc. It shows what 'President' can do with the right organisation - there was just 'President', Cotswold Canal Trust, sponsors RoyScot Finance and the media.

There is of course no winding hole at the end of the currently navigable section - so Richard now had the challenge of getting back to the junction. It is also fairly wide so the shaft was not much use. No problem though - straight down the middle, round the slight corner, and he then sprung 'President' back out onto the Gloucester Sharpness. Then back to Gloucester - it was a warm afternoon and the engine hole reached 117F.

The barge arm had now filled up - opposite us there were several boats for the handicapped. On the museum side, we had been joined by "Tyseley" and "Sculptor". "Tyseley" is Mikron's boat - being alongside them was interesting, though we had difficulty synchronising our early mornings and relatively early nights to their late nights and late mornings. "Sculptor" had been brought from Stoke Bruerne (it belongs to the museum there) by Brian Collings with a cargo of cheese. Brian's route was 260 miles and he did most of it on his own.

Saturday 25th August - National Waterways Festival Gloucester 1990

Saturday was the first day of the National Waterways Festival. We had decided that we would try and give 'President' an outing each morning, before settling in to the routine of entertaining visitors in the museum. We persuaded Brian to bring "Sculptor" with us and had a trip down the canal past the moored boats. Beyond Hempsted Bridge, we encountered a rowing regatta - not just any one, but one of the biggest in the country and always held here on the Saturday of August Bank Holiday weekend. Once there, it was not so easy to escape as the canal was dedicated to the rowers. We found a friendly umpire, and after some negotiation via his radio, eventually escaped back to Gloucester.

Back at the museum, we were treated to a look inside steam Dredger No.4 which had sunk in June, and only recently been raised. Once up, she was dry-docked, where they cut a hole in the bottom and flushed out much of the mud she had been filled with, but the inside was still well coated with mud which had set a bit like concrete. The boiler still had some pressure on when she sank, but the signs were good and they thought the boiler was still OK. Nevertheless, they have a lot work to do to return her to her former glory.

Some of us spent the afternoon on the wall outside the lock, helping Terry Dellbridge catch the boats as they came down river. It was very interesting and educational - despite explicit instructions in the rally documents, only a few boats had the right (stern) ropes ready and had much idea what to do. Nevertheless, no boats had gone down to the weir - quite an achievement with over 500 visiting boats. Nicest sight during our spell on the wall was the pair "Warbler" and "Carina", well handled and nicely painted in Willow Wren colours.

We had a few more helpers for the weekend - Andy Flack, John Connett, Celia and John Byham, and Jenny Thomas. The boatladies produced a barbecue in the evening in the rally campsite - Jenny and Pauline Pease had also been busy cooking cakes to enter the competition for cakes produced at the rally. Regrettably, neither (quite) won the competition, but we did enjoy the cake on the way home!

Sunday 26th August

Another hot steaming day. This time, we took "Northwich" out for a trip as far as Hempsted Bridge to see the boats. Halfway down the canal, Richard was so concentrating on steering that he ignored the attractive young lady on the back of a passing boat - until he realised it was his daughter. Some careful mid-canal manouevering, and Kate joined us on the back of "Northwich", looking quite a change from the traditional boat dress.
Dave McDougall was just installing a new bottle stove in "Northwich", having got the casting specially made - an example we should follow...

Also visiting the museum was the steam tug "Mayflower" from Bristol Museum. 1861, still coal fired and steam powered, with an engine room big enough to hold a party in. She was moored round the corner from us, on the approach to Llanthony lift bridge, so we found it convenient to moor alongside her while waiting for the bridge. "Mayflower" was doing boat trips down to Quedgeley - they take just 12 passengers at a time.

Sunday was crew change day, Neil Ratcliffe arrived to take over as Captain, Dave Stott as Driver, and Sean Neill to turn his hand to any thing that needed doing.
In the evening we sat on the nicely-warm boiler casing of "Mayflower" and watched the illuminated boat procession.

Monday 27th August

Another trip out for 'President' and "Northwich". This time Tony Conder's Mum (who normally administers tender loving care to "Northwich" etc.) joined us. More visitors, more chatting.

Tuesday 28th August

Departure from the rally is all carefully organised - on arrival on on Wednesday we had got a departure time booked for 11.30 Tuesday, thus preventing our traditional early rising. Jacki and Dave Mack kept us in suspense and we were just making emergency crew arrangements when they arrived at 10. With the crew now up to strength, we reverted to the normal plan for the trip where one of the members of "President's" crew (a volunteer!) joined me on the support boat for the day.

Into the lock - 6 narrow boats and a few small boats, and out onto the river at 12.10.

The river to Upper Parting is fairly narrow, with a good current against us, but then it opens out into broad (but still semi-tidal) reaches. Above the Parting, from our vantage point behind 'President', we were alarmed to see an enormous plume of black something rise over 'President' followed by steam a few seconds later. No, it was not 'President' blowing up - just the Driver proving that despite charging up river close to flat-out, he could still generate more steam than was needed.

Upper Lode lock Tewkesbury at 15.15, past Upton at 16.45, and Diglis Lock, Worcester at 18.55 (it closed at 19.00!). We moored by the racecourse at Worcester for the night.

Wednesday 29th August

Up river to Stourport. Joined a queue of several boats waiting for the narrow locks at Stourport - the queue included the 1914 Josher "Lily", now with a Seffle engine. The lock keeper asked for a pair of boats to use the wide locks, so we nipped round smartly and came up the 2 wide locks instead of the 2 pairs of staircases. The deep York Street lock, and then back to the canal world of the Staffs& Worcs. Below Kidderminster Lock, 'President' was aground on supermarket trolley in middle of canal - given a helping push by BW tug "Orchid".

The rain set in; progress slowed; we were following "Ash" and "Collingword" from Gas Street and we in turn were followed patiently by "Temeraire" and several others. We had a few spells with the support boat towing 'President' - particularly around Debdale Lock. In one particularly heavy downpour "Myndynawr" was already snug inside Cookley Tunnel, while 'President' was firmly stuck outside, the crew struggling with shafts in the rain.

Up Whittington Lock in the dusk - and 'President' then firmly aground on the next corner. Dark and still wet. "Myndynawr" was unable to shift 'President' forward, and she was eventually pulled back by the patient Ian Thompson on "Temeraire". We retreated to an uncomfortable towpath just above the lock for the night.

Thursday 30th August

8.30 departure. We had taken a gamble by not lowering the cratch, and in fact with two (heavy) crew members on the foredeck, we just got under Whittington Horse Bridge. "Temeraire" was let past - they had done their spell of admiring "President's" back end yesterday, but when 'President' was yet again stuck at the entrance to Dunsley Tunnel, they reversed and towed us all the way to Stewponey Lock.

Decided to try Stourbridge again - above Stourton, it was shallow as before. About halfway to Wordsley we gave up the struggle, and used the support boat to tow 'President'. to the bottom of Stourbridge. It is logged that at 1500 the Chairman arrived and 'President' was soon firmly stuck on the approach to Lock 12 on Stourbridge - these two facts are unrelated. After a lot of struggling, with a block and tackle to a bollard and with "Myndynawr" pulling, 'President' was dragged into the lock.

The rest of the flight was uneventful, but at the top, with the pound about 6 inches off, we decided to stop (19.00).

Friday 31st August.

The Chairman took Dave Stott away last night, so I became Driver, with Jacki and Dave Mack taking the support boat. With the pound down, the trip to Black Delph was a struggle, and quite a bit of towing was needed. Thereafter, not so bad.

We lingered at Windmill End to let a couple of boats past and to light the tunnel lamps. The wind was with us through the tunnel - no problem with steam, but by the end the coal fumes were getting quite noticeable. I was going over in my mind, the incident in 1861 with a steamer in Blisworth Tunnel, where two crew members were fatally overcome by fumes - it resulted in the re-opening of the original construction shafts in the tunnel to improve the ventilation.

The final challenge of the trip saw us aground approaching the museum. Eventually made it past the bridge, backed into the arm, cleaned up and closed down boat. The remaining crew (who all want an idyllic cruise to Lapworth on "Myndynawr" tomorrow) fancied a visit to Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory in Tipton but this popular spot was too popular, so we enjoyed a pint of Lumphammer and then resorted to the local Chinese take-away.

The Rally

Those involved with "President's" visits to recent National Rallies have often been disappointed - our moorings have sometimes been obscure and we have felt we did not have enough visitors to justify the effort in getting there. This year was different, and the wide canal made it easy to take 'President' out each day and go past all the assembled boats. We had a lot of visitors, all of whom had to visit the National Waterways Museum to see us. The weather was superb - and the general feeling was that the event had been enjoyable and worthwhile.

Tony Millatt