Sometime around the Blisworth Tunnel 200 celebrations (I think), Nigel and Louise announced their intention to tie the knot in Las Vegas in September (or was it late August) and return to FoP as married members. Congratulations offered all round and I didn’t think too much else about it.

The middle of July came around and Dave Powell, Dave Stott and I were going to the Bostin’ Fittle for a meal when DP asked, as Nigel had dropped out for the above reason, whether I was free to join the boats for the trip back to the BCLM, as well as for the trip up, but on the return as Captain!! You could have knocked me over with a Hob Nob !!

After consulting the Oracle (goes by the name of Jenny) who confirmed I was freeish, I said ‘yes’, but with some significant concerns given my relative inexperience compared with most of the other Captains.

Around the same time I was talking to Simon Nuttall about being Driver for the Tardebigge event, including the short trip back to the Museum (prior to taking them on up to the National as Driver) and so it was that I signed onto the boats on the evening of Friday 9th August at Tardebigge and left them on Tuesday 6th September. Apart from a couple of days that I went home over the National Rally period, to stop the milkman taking up permanent residence, ‘Kildare’ was to be home for the thick end of a month.

P&K had been brought up to Tardebigge after the Worcester Rally and had been there around a week when I pitched up on the Friday evening. Dave Speer was already there and Simon arrived later in the evening, with Roy Falder arriving early next morning to complete the crew. A surprise day visit by George Hopkins enlivened proceedings, albeit we had just pushed off for the parade and so he got wet!

A moderately early start raised steam, from cold, in time for the main Rolt/Aickman event. This went well with ‘Aickman’ walking over the fields from Bromsgrove station and meeting with ‘Rolt’ at the top lock, where ‘Kildare’ had been placed, before they proceeded to walk down to ‘Cressy’ (IWA NB Jubilee in fact). After that there was a parade through the tunnel. (Can you have a parade through a tunnel ?? – it felt very like Blisworth) which went OK except when the bow got stuck between two tree trunks while winding in a very tight ‘ole .

A quiet rainy day ensued which had a pleasant end at the pub just two locks down. Unfortunately we pitched out of the pub just too late to take Tony Greenwood up on his offer of a drink on his boat moored in the pound below top lock!! All was dark and quiet in the boat, so we tiptoed by, as best you can in steelies.

Sunday dawned on a Driver’s delight, a warm boiler, and within 1.5 hours steam was up and the challenge was to use it. We left at the head of the Parade again, only this time we just kept on going at the winding hole by the old Dartline hire base. A few hours of boating, with relatively few problems other than the occasional bridge hole and keeping the Weir pump going in Wast Hill tunnel, and Gas Street hove into view. Showers at the excellent BW facilities at Cambrian Wharf, followed by a pizza at Brindley Place completed the day.

During the previous week and over the weekend I had been suffering from a grumbling toothache and on the Sunday I contacted Roger Prior, FoP member and practicing dentist, for some emergency treatment on the Monday. So it was that I left the boats at Sandwell and found my way to Roger’s Aldridge practice for some root canal work to be done before a temporary dressing was applied.

Meanwhile Simon and the crew ( Dave Speer had taken over as Driver – thanks Dave) made the Museum in good time with Roy having to steer K on his first time out for half the Old Main Line.

On arrival around 4 tons of coal were loaded and Roy departed. Pat and Brian Empsall joined the following morning with Roger joining us at the top of Wolverhampton 21.

The rest of the trip to the Weaver is covered in a separate report, so I shall not duplicate it here, except to say that it consisted of some good, long days of boating with some good hostelries along the way. Thanks to Pat Empsall for keeping us fed and watered. A first class mooring at the Floatel in Northwich, from where Malcolm Braine and Nick Bostock had first bought President, was made even better by a free room for showers, free food and drink and a charge for the batteries.

During our trip up to Northwich, Neil Ratcliffe had called to say that he had hurt his back and therefore could not assume the Captaincy up to Preston Brook as planned. After some telephone conversations, it was agreed that yours truly would take the boats up to the National Rally as Captain.

On Saturday, most of the crew departed leaving Dave Speer, myself and Bob Jervis (who lives locally) to make our way up the hill for a curry and a beer or two. After a quiet Sunday fitting an automatic bilge pump to ‘Kildare’ (we had had to pump K every day on the way up) and moving a fairly substantial load of coal aft, we repaired to the Floatel with George Hopkins who had arrived for the trip up. Bob Jervis was immensely useful over the weekend providing wheels to get to the supermarket, B&Q, the launderette etc.etc. – Thanks Bob.

Great excitement towards the end of the day as Malcolm Braine’s FMC motor NB ‘Cactus’ arrived bearing Malcolm and crew. ‘Cactus’ was the 100th FMC motor and is in splendid condition. Dave Speer took a great shot from the Floatel balcony showing three generations of FMC boats – horse (‘Kildare’), steamer (‘President’) and semi diesel motor (‘Cactus’).

Monday dawned with a big event in prospect, Ian Walden was due in town to present a copy of the Dusty Miller print to Malcolm Braine at a buffet lunch laid on by the Floatel. But before that we had the leak on ‘Kildare’ to deal with behind one of the knees. Malcolm arrived with a thin bladed chisel and some hemp, which he promptly tapped up behind the knee to help stem the flow. It did its work admirably until we dry docked a week later.

Together with our own crew, the crew of ‘Cactus’, some visitors and a number of folk from the Floatel, a fair assembly was made by the appointed time. Ian presented the print to Malcolm and then another to the hotel for making us feel so welcome at the “2nd birthplace” of ‘President’.

We then all went for a short cruise up and down the Weaver, the staff from the Floatel only being ever so slightly upset by the black smuts on their white shirts!! Malcolm enjoyed himself and declared he had had a great day.

Some of the crew arrived on the Monday ready for the trip on the Weaver on the Tuesday namely Ron Spencer, Susie Empsall and a pleasant surprise, Babs Parkin. Babs and Dave Speer pretty much took over the engine room for the duration and apparently Babs cleans for England. Even Dave looked a bit spruced up!! Only problem is that when Babs cleans, it is more a transfer process where the muck comes off the item being cleaned and attaches itself to her. That said, in the evenings, she scrubs up well !!

Tuesday morning saw Eddie Oades arrive with his friend from the USA, Lyn. Eddie was making a welcome return to the boats after a significant operation on his jaw involving taking bone from his hip – sounded painful. Good to see him in fine fettle again.

With steam up, we took the boats down the Weaver to Weston Marsh Lock, winded and came back to Acton Bridge. The Weaver is a beautiful river and for much of the way down river, the escarpment on which the T&M runs is very close by. At Acton Bridge, where we were joined by our erstwhile and generous sponsor Tim Coghlan from Braunston Marina. A splendid meal at the Leigh Arms ensued with some slightly wobbly boaters returning to K for cheese and crackers.

All this time Bob Jervis was popping up with his camera and occasionally with provisions, at our request. We apparently just missed a photo opportunity with Princess Elizabeth going over the railway viaduct below Dutton lock with us below.
Wednesday morning saw us all up fairly early for the trip up Saltisford lock and then on to the Anderton Lift for a lunchtime transit. Cameras out in force, together with lots of whistling and posing for the webcam. At the top, we were balked coming out of the entrance channel by a nice (??) gentleman in an oldish narrowboat who insisted on his right of way, despite being signalled to stop by BW personnel. At least the boats were breasted up for the ensuing reversing manoeuvre !!

Winding at the top of the Lift we transited the two shorter tunnels on the T&M and stopped at the road to Acton Bridge for the night, just 50 feet higher up than the previous night. The Leigh Arms again did us proud for an evening meal.

Thursday saw the Festival traffic building, but we got through Preston Brook tunnel OK, after having made our number with Tim Leech at Dutton Dry Dock. By now ‘Kildare’ was solidly booked in for the following Tuesday for an assessment and underwater repairs by Tim.
A trip up to the end of the Runcorn arm where we winded, had alfresco lunch on the towpath and then back to our mooring at the National Rally site. Some of the crew left that afternoon followed by a rather liquid and hilarious night on board by the remaining crew. It was as well that the crew of ‘Fulborne’, alongside, had gone home for the night.

A typical rally preparation day on the Friday with the gazebo to be erected (after a dispute regarding its location) the stock to be transferred and the boats to be cleaned and polished. The same arrangements for visiting dignitaries were made at the back end of ‘President’ as we had made at Braunston by making a large clean(ish) space aft of the back stand. All this for the transport of the Mayor and “Alice in Wonderland” from Daresbury to the opening of the Festival on the Saturday morning. Daresbury was the birthplace of Lewis Carroll hence the Alice connection.

Neil Ratcliffe arrived during the day followed by Dave Stott in the evening and a good night at the beer tent was had by all.
On the Saturday morning Dave Speer and I left by train, at least we did when we could find the station!! I had a couple of days at home and re-joined the boats on the Monday in time for the trip back to the BCLM.

The crew, being Martin Buckland, Vic Fageance, George Hopkins (Driver), Malcolm Nixon, Tony Tibbins and initially Babs Parkin were all assembled by Monday evening so we slipped the moorings about 6pm to ensure we got through Preston Brook tunnel that night.
The dry dock was booked for 09.00 on the Tuesday and by about 09.45 ‘Kildare’ was high and dry, while Tim was approaching with ‘tapping’ hammer in hand. Dave’s Stott and Speer made an appearance and a detailed examination of the old lady was soon in hand. Given the leak that was already evident, it was no surprise to find at least 10 places where remedial work was required. In addition, sample ultrasonic testing indicated that the plate thickness below the lower rubbing strake was marginal.

Tim then wound up the welder, while the crew wire brushed, ground back, made mending plates and generally laboured for him. Tea was provided, in fact anything to assist progress. In the end there was too much work for the one day and Tim kindly agreed to extend our stay until the Tuesday lunchtime.

As we were finishing, Babs highlighted another area, which on examination proved to be very thin. After a few attempts at welding fresh air, Tim decided another patch was required. This was christened ‘Babs Patch’ and she monogrammed it with the welder accordingly.
At lunchtime on the Wednesday the stop planks were lifted and the dock flooded. No leaks were initially evident so ‘Thanks’ were offered to Tim for a couple of very hard days work and off we went to try to make a re-booked transit down the Anderton Lift at around 17.00.

We made it OK, but not without shortening a few of my fingernails and down we went, with a power turn out of the bottom to give Bob Jervis a good picture. Up to the Floatel where we were made welcome again with a shower room and electric hook up.

On the Thursday the crew went off for a short explore of Northwich, which is a nice town and so we set off about 11.30 leaving Babs on the dockside as she had work to do on her own boat - a very sad lady. We had hoped to go up Hunts lock to Vale Royal but in the event the lock keeper had just gone on lunch, so we decided that another trip down river made the best use of our limited time. So down through Saltisford lock as far as Acton Bridge again and then back up to the Lift for our afternoon transit.

Martin Buckland had offered to look after the catering (Thanks Martin !!) and so it was that we had an excellent meal sitting alfresco on the towpath outside the Lion Salt works that night, before retiring to the excellent pub down the road where the ‘Presidents Men’ largely beat the locals hollow at the Bingo and the Prize Quiz.

We just about got out of the pub alive !! Vic was heard to say “don’t let my wife know I was playing Bingo” !!
We were now playing catch up due to the delay at the Dry Dock and while we were not able to get to the Shroppie Fly on the Friday, we did make it to Barbridge and had a convivial night at the pub, after another very good meal courtesy of Martin. At this time, we managed to fix a small leak which had appeared in K after all the banging and hammering at the dry dock. This was almost certainly due to a bit of rust falling off the back of the plate, so we enlarged the hole and put a 6mm bolt through with rubber and penny washers to seal it. The unfortunate thing was that it was between the basin and the shower and was very hard to get to – Thanks again Martin.

On Saturday we made a quick lunchtime shandy stop at the Shroppie Fly at Audlem simply because it’s such an atmospheric place and then made good progress up Audlem and Adderley locks to moor on the embankment at Market Drayton.

Tyrley locks must be some of the prettiest in the country and Sunday saw us up these in good time and then on to Brewood where we moored right by a picnic table, so we ate our tea in relative comfort. Neil Ratcliffe and Roger and Edie Prior made an appearance and a thunderstorm rolled around us while we supped a few at the pub on the bridge.

Most of our days had been early starts and Monday was no exception. A quick run down to the stop lock at Autherley junction and then left onto the BCN and the Wolverhampton 21. The boats were on familiar territory here and the 21 went in under about 3 hours, followed by a short tea stop with Hob Nobs to get our breath back.

A quick run down to Tipton (I had forgotten how tight some of the corners in Wolverhampton are) and we were tied outside the new toilet block at the Museum by mid afternoon. Boats scrubbed down, toilet emptied, bridge up (b****y thing), ash out, engine closed down, polish the brass, hot rolling blow down, pole the boats over, electrics connected and we were home.

Tuesday was going home day, so a last breakfast courtesy of Martin, a quick clean through of ‘Kildare’ and the crew were on their way. I was heading for a dentist appointment to permanently fix the tooth that had gone wrong at the beginning of the trip. so up the M6 and arrive in the surgery decidedly grubby. Ho Hum

Some really good boating, the Weaver and the Shroppie were delightful and some great crews – thanks to one and all.

Bob Crompton