Preface

A "fly run" is a trip run non-stop overnight to move valuable and / or perishable goods long distances, changing crews at regular points along the cut.

After President was bought by the Black Country Living Museum in 1983, and operated by Friends of President - the subject of fly runs popped up several times in discussions and minutes of meetings. But the feeling was that it couldn't be done for all sorts of reasons. But in 1990 the then committee thought that times had changed and it would be possible. President had successfully completed a run to London and the long journey up Brindley's canals to Etruria with the statue of James Brindley. So planning commenced for the first fly run since being rebuilt by Malcolm Braine.

The story of this first replica fly run is to be found below, but in all the restored President has done five "fly runs":

1. 23^rd to 25^th May 1991 - London to Braunston

2. 27^th to 30^th May 1993  - London to Gas Street Birmingham

3. 23^rd to 25^th May 1996  - London to Braunston

4. 27^th to 28^th May 1999 - Birmingham to Braunston - & BBC Songs of Praise - trip report

5. 16^th to 18^th June 2005 - London to Stoke Bruerne - detailed report here
   

---

Fly Run 1991

In 1991 President was taken down the Grand Union to London in early May, staying at Stoke Bruerne for a week on the way. We didn't have Kildare until 1992, and so we were still relying upon friends to provide a crew boat, and Vulcan - a former FMC steamer too, travelled up to Stoke to meet up with President and the rest of the crew, and they set off together on 19^th May.

Down to London by David Powell
Sunday 19^th May 1991

It was from many parts of the country that crew members converged on Stoke Bruerne to join President for the trip to London for the "Fly Run". The idea was to get used to working together so that things would gel on Thursday. The crew consisted of Dave Stott, Tony Millatt, Keith Rogers, Malcolm Nixon and myself. Peter Chalk and Malcolm had brought "Vulcan" to Stoke ready for the trip south. Tony had the boat ready to go by the time the rest of us had assembled and we left on time at 2.30. The plan was to run through until well after dark to see if there were any unforeseen problems when running at night. The only one we found was that it was dark. We had an enjoyable afternoon and finally moored after midnight in the Black Jack pound above Soulbury Three, a mere 22 miles and 13 locks later.

Monday 20^th May

A good start this morning as the boiler not having had time to cool with such a short night. After stemming up a couple of times we were through Leighton Lock and off up the Fields. Out with the bike and some well needed exercise for yours truly from Grove to Marsworth, the boats just behind. It was on this stretch that we met the Student Games Flame which was due to join us on Saturday, they found it hard to believe that we would go to London and be in Braunston on time [ we did as well ]. After a short stop at the Waterway office at Marsworth, made longer than expected because of the mooring outside the office is very shallow, we had a good run over the summit and down to the Fisheries for the night. The pub was very poor with loud music and has turned its back on the cut.

22 miles and 37 locks today. We are now k…d [ fairly tired ].

Tuesday 21^st May

Tuesday morning saw an early start, and the driver even let the safety valve lift before 8 a.m. which woke up the late sleepers of Hemel Hempstead. A lot of interest from people walking by with promises of sponsorship. We had a great run down through Hertfordshire past those great cut side landmarks like Dickinsons, Ovaltine and many others. Lunch was had in Cassiobury Park with the boats sat in a lock slowing sinking, at least leaking gates save lifting the paddles. The mooring for the night was just below Cowley Lock where we were joined by Ian Walden. A good evening in the Shovel rounded off the day. 21 miles and 28 locks.

Wednesday 22^nd May

After a gentle start we were off just after nine, President leaving Vulcan to top up with water. Ian's first day in the engine room went very well and he certainly soon seemed to be part of the crew. We waited for Vulcan outside Sainsbury's in Kensal Green and Stotty bought up the stocks of doughnuts. Peter did a big shop ready for the next few days and then we moved on down to City Road Basin. The local youth centre made us very welcome letting us use showers and facilities. They all got excited and I am sure we could have taken at least 20 of them on the Fly Run. We were now only 24 hours away from the big thing and so early to bed was the order of the day.

18 miles and 5 locks today

Thursday 23^rd May and City Road Basin by Jennifer Thomas

This large basin in Islington was, in the turn of the century, home for numerous canal based companies - including Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd. We had a dispensation from the Borough of Islington to moor in the basin - definitely a sign of the times!. BW have leased the entire basin to the Borough who use it as a boating / water activity centre. Windsurfing, dinghies, canoes and a slalom course prevail with a Neighbourhood Park ensuite.

On the towpath side, there is the requisite "developed" apartments and the London Electricity Board - who did sponsor a lock on the fly run. Nevertheless - we couldn't moor exactly at the FMC wharf at the far end of the basin, but we moored just inside the basin at Hope Wharf. We were reminded that it was a steamer that lead a train of barges out of the basin at 3.0 a.m. on Friday 2^nd October 1874 en-route for the quarries in Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately, one of the barges was carrying 5 tons of gunpowder which exploded at 4.55 a.m. destroying Macclesfield Road Bridge on the Regents Canal. You will know to this day the bridge is called "Blow - up Bridge but did you know that as a consequence, a rule was introduced which has not been repealed yet?. Any boat carrying explosives must use Blisworth Tunnel only at night and boats must be legged through. Now you know why the unused maroons from the send off were transported to Braunston by the Boat-women.

---

 The Fly Run 1991 - by David Powell

Date: 23rd - 25th May 1991

Crew A: David Powell (Capt.), David Stott (Driver), Ian Walden (Driver), Malcolm Nixon

Crew B: Tony Millatt (Capt.), Maurice Parker (Driver), Keith Rogers(Driver), Richard Thomas

Vulcan's crew: Peter Chalk (Captain), Jenny Chalk, ( part time steerers: Tony Millatt & Malcolm Nixon )

Journey: London City Road Basin to Braunston – Non stop

Thursday 23^rd May

The big day had arrived, all that preparation and we were at last there. The morning started with a chat about what we needed to do to get ready. Dave Stott wanted to check something on the engine so the fire was lit about nine. The rest of us cleaned the boats and we got things ready. Crew members were despatched to buy last minute articles like bicycle tyres and inner tubes. By lunch time we seemed to be as ready as were going to be, Maurice Parker had joined us so he took charge and the rest of us went off to do various things; Dave Stott and myself spending a couple of hours in the local launderette with everyone's shirts. During the late afternoon we moved the boats to the starting point; Richard Thomas, the last remaining crew to arrive. Jenny Chalk had come earlier to help Dad on "Vulcan" The boat women were there organising the send off with the trip boat "Jenny Wren" in attendance for the hospitality.

 We had split the crew into two and planned to change at set points along the route. The "A team" Dave Powell, Malcolm Nixon, Dave Stott, Ian Walden were to start, the "B team" Richard Thomas, Tony Millatt, Keith Rogers and Maurice Parker were to take over at Greenford Road Bridge. Peter and Jenny Chalk were to run "Vulcan" with help from Tony and Malcolm when needed.

By 6:30 a fair sized crowd had gathered, speeches were made, nibbles were eaten and spot on 7.00 p.m. we cast off as the steamers had done in their heyday. With a great deal of whistle blowing and camera clicking we moved round to City road Lock.

The "Fly Run" had started, mixed feelings from all the crew, excitement, fear of the unknown and a little pride. The send-off party followed us round to the lock and to the entrance to Islington Tunnel. Many photographs were taken and a man who was to become a very regular feature Harley Crossley, with his video camera. A good number of our members were about and some were to follow us well into the night and on to Braunston now 50 hours away. The next lock saw the home of the St. Pancras Cruising Club who presented a giant cheque to cover the sponsorship of the lock. We continued through the locks with a good number of followers all the way, they thinned out after Camden but some made it all the way to Little Venice where we had a good crowd to wave us on our way. We then had a long stretch to the first change over point at Greenford Road; the canal here is good and wide and has plenty of water so we made good time handing over to the B crew only a few minutes behind time.

3.45 a.m. and we the A crew were back on duty at Uxbridge Lock ready to start the next section. Dawn came just after Denham Deep at 5.20. The pound above the lock is straight and deep and President went along a treat. Pride comes before a fall and in the next pound we picked up some thick rope onto the blades which took 45 minutes to get off putting us behind our schedule. The rest of the morning went well and we handed over to the B team in Cassiobury Park a little late, we had every confidence they would be able to pick up the time. As everywhere we had someone with us all the way, dedicated gongoozlers.

Fishery Lock saw the next change and great - they had picked up our lost time and we changed over spot on schedule at 1 p.m. Another great thing had happened - the boat women had found some spare inner tubes and the bike was back in action so we could lock wheel again. It was our aim to do this ourselves which I think we did in the main, certainly a lot of lock gates were closed after we had gone but we had to make the onlookers do something. The run up to Cowroast went very well with the exception of the pound above lock 56 which was very low and President had to have a short pull from Vulcan into lock 57. Cowroast was the next crew change which we made 3 minutes late at 5.33 p.m.

All of both crews were about for the Marsworth flight and the A crew joined the large crowd on the bank as the boats went down the locks. We were welcomed at the top by Caroline Clark the local waterways manager, who wished us well. Clearing the bottom lock we tried to sleep, but what with the engine and the noise going in and out locks not many of us had much.

It was soon time to be back on President for our next stint which was to take us through the night from Slapton Lock to Talbots. The night was quite cold and fairly thick mist hung to the cut through Leighton and along the Black Jack Pound. Ian and Dave were in the engine room, I was on the back and Malcolm was in charge of Vulcan. I stemmed up President on those nasty bends along there but it didn't hold us up much. Soulbury Three were a welcome sight at 1.45 a.m. - as one of my regular lunch time spots it was really good to be going through in the dark for the second time in a week. The change over came at 2.30 at the next lock. The next section through Milton Keynes was much better for sleep and we had a couple of hours at least.

The next change was due at 6 a.m. and the B team handed over at the appointed time - but we were a little surprised when 30 minutes later we went past the appointed place! We didn't hold it against them much but we were not going to let them forget either. As the day had already started we had plenty of our supporters on the route, lots more photos and Harley was to be seen videoing our every move. The rest of the bottom pound was soon navigated and after crossing the Wolverton aqueduct we went through Cosgrave at 8.20 a.m. A very pleasant morning was spent on the pound between here and Stoke Bruerne. I got off the boat just before the bottom lock and biked up to get it set. We were now running a little behind schedule so both crews worked the boats up the locks in just 70 minutes, the B team taking over at the top for their next turn.

The A team took over at the bottom of Buckby and we felt we were well behind on time, the traffic on the last stretch had been very heavy and this had slowed us down. There were about 100 people to welcome us at Buckby which was a fantastic sight. Harry Arnold came to take some crew pictures of us at the next lock, which is the one where all the old photos were taken. "President's" picture had not been found up to this point, so we were keen to reproduce the scene. Photographs taken, we worked up the locks, arriving at the top to find them locked for the night. Communications had failed it seemed, however the lock keeper soon appeared and we were clear of the locks at 5.40 p.m. The trip along the summit went much faster than we expected and we had a short stop before Braunston Tunnel. Vulcan preceded President into the tunnel as before - we had not gone far when it was very clear that the light was not working on the front of President, I was sure I had turned it on. None of us felt happy going down the top plank to see what was wrong, but no worries we had a spare in the hold, NO it must be in the fore hatch. After a few blasts on the whistle, Peter backed Vulcan up to us and got the spare lamp out and all was saved.

Vulcan went through the tunnel first and it seemed an age before President emerged at 12.25.

We arrived at Braunston top lock to be given two messages, firstly to take our time, we were not expected until 9.45 ( fireworks need the dark), and there was a lady in the Nelson who had some old photos of 'President'. The lady turned out to be Mrs Sarah Poole, the daughter of James Woodfield, "President's" first Captain, and one of the photographs was the missing commissioning picture taken at Buckby. It was a terrific uplifter for the tired crew and really made our day.

After a short stop with the Woodfields we moved slowly to the bottom lock where we were joined by the Student Games Flame for the last few hundred yards. What happened was just fantastic for us, 'President' and "Vulcan". The bank was lined with people, hundreds of flashes from the cameras and when we got to the Marina entrance the Town Crier welcomed us and then we were treated to the best firework display I have ever seen together with the 1812 over the p.a. system and Braunston Church Bells ringing up on the hill.

What a great welcome!. After mooring up the bubbly was opened, then we all hit the sack for a good night's sleep.

Well it was all over, we had made it, the boats were great, the company as always on 'President' was perfect, the support on the way was overwhelming. Some said it could not be done, well we had proved them wrong, we did it.

The thanks of the crew go to all those people who supported us on the way, special thanks to those members of F.O.P who seemed to be there no matter what time of day or night it was. They got the nick-name of Flashing Members as the nights went on.

David Powell