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About the Branch

IWA Chiltern Branch takes in most of South Buckinghamshire and extends across into West Hertfordshire.  IWA Chiltern Branch is an active branch with plenty of talks, walks and social events to become involved in. The branch is also an active supporter of the Wendover Arm Trust, which is engaged in the restoration of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal.

Dates for your diary – IWA Chiltern talks at the Batchworth Education Centre, Rickmansworth, WD3 1JJ

Please note our start time will now be 7.30pm – finishing by 9.30pm

25/09/24: Dick Pilkinton: ‘The Hudson River’

23/10/24: Richard Thomas: ‘The Story of Panama: Columbus to the Present Day’

27/11/24: Tom Kitching: ‘The Spey Story – the Story of a Narrow Boat’

11/12/24: Christmas Party for members and guests – details here

22/01/25: Tim Lewis: ‘London Canals’

19/02/25: Jeremy Batch: ‘Swinging, Spinning and wobbling’

26/03/25: AGM

23/04/25: Chris Leworthy: ‘The Battle of Britain’

Chiltern Branch Supports the Westminster Campaign

Fund Britain’s Waterways

On a very soggy afternoon, we arrived at Westminster Bridge – where were the campaigners?  Oh! About eight stood huddled under umbrellas awaiting the boats.  At this point it was mentioned that on the narrow boats making their way upstream it would not be a too comfortable journey either.

We donned our Chiltern high viz and joined the group, steadily this increased as participants from IWA groups, Royal Yachting Association, National Association of Boat Owner, Canal & River Trust volunteers, and local authorities arrived.

At about 2 pm, the boats could be seen approaching under the bridges.  A police boat had meanwhile been hovering around the parliament balcony.  The campaign cruise obviously needed surveillance.

 

 

As ten boats adorned with posters came from beneath the bridge a large cheer went up.  Much flag waving followed and on the dot of 10 minutes past 2, the various boat horns sounded. These were accompanied by the deeper growl of the commercial working boats who had joined the flotilla. The boats slowly made their way past the Houses of Parliament and turned to retrace their steps back to their moorings in the West India Docks.

Sue O’Hare one of the organisers of the Westminster Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign collected the high viz tabards and thanked everyone for attending.

Amazingly, the sun was now shining.

At IWA Chiltern Branch’s well attended October meeting, we were shown an alternative waterway method of a journey from Oxford to Cambridge.  To many of the attendees this proved very interesting, and to some it bought back memories of past cruises.

On Wednesday 22nd of November we have an update from John Farrow on progress on the Wilts & Berks Canal

Why not join us at Batchworth Education Centre WD3 1JJ at 8pm.

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