We were in Stone as part of the 1990 Stone Festival. It was showery, and as we were moored on a BW wharf previously used for storing puddling clay, it was a muddy day. Andy Flack and family paid us an early visit - and after some delicate negotiations it was arranged that Andy would join us for the trip back to Dudley. It meant that I could travel on 'Vulcan' for the most part, and Alan and I could share the work on 'Vulcan'.

The official part of the day started at 12.30 with a shower (of rain) and a reception with the Mayor of Stone in the Crown Hotel. The historians amongst us will be aware that the first meeting of the company of proprietors of the Trent and Mersey canal was held in The Crown on 10th June 1766. At the meeting James Brindley was appointed surveyor general at a salary of £.200 per annum.

After the reception, the Mayor and party visited the boat, unfortunately accompanied by even more rain.

During the afternoon the wharf was gradually transformed, with marquees, lights, a barbecue, and a bar in the near-derelict cottage. By 7.30 the lights were on, a band was installed in one of the marquees, the mad-cow burgers were sizzling, it cost money to come and visit us, the bar was open, and we had a steady stream of visitors. Martin Cardwell appeared in his bowler hat (unfortunately it received a very positive reception, and we could not persuade him to part with it for the rest of the trip). It was a very pleasant evening, punctuated by occasional brief outbursts from the band, and a colourful but noisy firework display.

Sunday 10th June 1990

’Vulcan’ ran out of water last night. Somebody has been washing too much. We shafted down to Mr Wyatts water point. Signs of the sun. Cleaned up boats; removed most of the wire and rope from 'President's blades. There were many visitors including James Brindley and Josiah Wedgwood in costume.

Departure was timed for 2pm. The Mayors of Stone and Stafford came to see us off. Alan Pease returned from his 'holiday' with 5 minutes to spare, and we set off for Stoke. An easy journey, though Alan had to demonstrate his technique of using 'Vulcan' to push 'President' into the lock at Trentham. The blades on 'Vulcan' bite the water well, and so her JP2 can get a lot of power into the water, whereas in similar circumstances 'President' will cavitate a lot and just produce frothy water.

On the other hand, 'President' will stop a lot more quickly than 'Vulcan'.

We stopped for the night by the former junction with the Newcastle-under-Lyme canal in Stoke-on-Trent - leaving the problems of low bridges etc. until the following morning.

Monday 11th June 1990

The boats had come this way last week, and we knew that neither would pass under bridge 115 on Stoke flight without a lot of difficulty. The cratch, top planks, mast and stands were all dropped on 'President', for the first time giving James a nice view of the canal ahead. He seemed to enjoy the trip up Stoke Locks, but must have been surprised by some of the changes since the canal was built. Even the bottom lock is a new one, built a few years ago when the concrete canyon under the new ring road was constructed.

We arrived at Etruria top lock with 10 minutes to spare, and backed a few yards down the Caldon. The crane however, took another hour, anxiously awaited by the James Brindley Memorial Trust, the sculptor Colin Melbourne, the local paper, and other visitors. With the crane came the problem of where to lift James, but Andy Flack had done it before and arranged the strops to lift him without damage and without any serious loss of dignity. Safely on the back of a lorry, the statue then disappeared from public view until the unveiling in July.

Tony Millatt

Previous episode - next episode