BCNS Work Party

07/08/2004 by Mark.Whalley.

7 August 2004

Having experienced Black Country Hippos at first hand - many of which would become entangled on the propeller along with other flotsam and jetsam - I had wanted to lend a helping hand with what is a never ending task of keeping the canal system clean and navigable. Having their headquarters at the Titford Pumphouse (the home of Tastoma for three years), the Birmingham Canal Navigation Society (BCNS) used Phoenix (their work boat) for a number of work parties throughout the year. Unfortunately, these were typically held at weekends - when I would be at home in Swansea. Although I was unable to help out on these weekend work parties, during the lighter evenings of summer and early autumn, I managed to do a number of “one-man work parties” in the evenings after work until night fall. With only a few hours to contribute on my solo work parties, I would typically take Phoenix to one of the bridges along the Titford canal and spend the evening hauling out bicycles, shopping trolleys, road signs, road works cones, fencing etc. On returning to the Pumphouse I would then unload Phoenix into the skip that would be located in the car park. Other times, when Phoenix had been used for a work party at a weekend and the ‘crew’ were too tired (or it was too late) to empty the haul, I would empty and clean Phoenix during a weekday evening after work.

In August 2004, with a lot of refit work to be done on the boat, I had decided to spend a weekend on the boat rather than travel home. The Saturday would be spent doing DIY, the Sunday I would spend with the BCNS on one of their work parties.

As can be seen in the photos, the weather was superb - shorts and T-shirts were called for - although we did end up spending most of our time in the cooler shadow of the M5!

 

Leaving Titford Pumphouse for a day of fun!

 

Kevin Field closing gate of No. 2 lock on the Titford Canal

 

John Edmonds (BCNS Work Party Coordinator - left), Kevin Field (white T shirt - right) and ‘others’ (apologies, can’t remember other’s names - if it’s YOU, let me know and I will add your details!)

 

ditto

 

ditto

 

Now if we pull REALLY hard, the plug will come out and that boat will disappear down the drain!

(John Edmonds and Mark on Birmingham Old Line under M5 - turn to Titford Canal just before footbridge)

 

… nearly got it

 

A typical haul of shopping trolleys, road signs, tyres etc

 

 

Returning ‘home’

 

ditto

 

Turning into Titford canal

 

ditto

 

Kevin Field (white(ish) T shirt, John Edmonds (right) - again, if you know who the others are, PLEASE let me know.

 

ditto

 

Bottom Lock of Titford Six

 

 

ditto

 

 

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