We hope you will join us at our branch AGM on 25^th March 2026; not as boring as it sounds! The formal part of the meeting usually takes 15 to 20 minutes after which there will be our usual complementary Ploughman’s Supper and social evening.

Come to the Meeting and give the Committee your support and views.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Chiltern Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will be on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at The RWT Education Centre, Batchworth Locks, Rickmansworth, starting at 7.30pm

AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence
2. Approval of the minutes of the AGM held on 26th March 2025
3. Matters Arising
4. Report of the Branch Chairman (see below)
5. Report of the Branch Secretary
6. Report of the Branch Hon. Treasurer and presentation of Accounts for year ending 31 December 2025
7. Adoption of Accounts
8. Election of Committee members
9. Any Other Business

Nominations for election to the Chiltern Branch Committee should be sent by 18th March 2026, to Dave Chapman IWA,  dave.chapman(at)waterways.org.uk

Nomination forms must be signed by the proposer, the seconder and the nominee (all of whom must be paid-up IWA members.
(Name)………………………………… is proposed as a committee member of IWA Chiltern Branch for election at the Branch AGM on Wednesday 25th March 2026.  [Note: – Nominations will be accepted at the meeting if nominee, proposer and a seconder are present.]

Report of the Branch Chair

How would you like to build a bridge?

After discussion Clive Johnson, Chair of Wendover Canal Trust, the clear priority for the use of funds held by IWA Chiltern Branch is for a footpath-swing bridge to replace Oliver’s Bridge over the Wendover Canal. Direct benefits would be to create headroom for navigation after restoration but short-term there would be considerable community benefit as the current Oliver’s Bridge is well used but now in quite poor condition. No one seems to know who built the current bridge and ownership is denied by CRT (and previously by British Waterways) and by the local authorities.

You may well be aware there has been little to no restoration on the Wendover Canal for some time now; behind the scenes effort by IWA and WCT
to gain agreement with CRT on how to move forward, is now showing green shoots.

Hopefully, you will have received IWA Bulletin on 3rd March; Charlie refers to how IWA is updating our approach to the management of restoration; please take a look at the links provided to see what is and will be happening. The changes will improve IWA internal processes to provide restoration support to restoration groups and seek a more structured relationship between IWA, CRT and the restoration groups.

So what has this to do with Oliver’s Bridge? We can now plan to liaise with WCT and CRT to build a swing-bridge but we need someone or a small group to lead this project. Chiltern Branch’s aging committee simply does not have the energy to move this forward!  If you are interested please contact me.

However, Chiltern Branch’s most urgent need if someone to work first with and then to take over from Colin Bird, who has now organised our social and talks programme for the past 30+ years and as he will be 93 next birthday, has decide he needs a rest!  Thank you Colin!  If you are interested please  contact me.

Finally, please do not underestimate the value you could bring to Chiltern Branch, to IWA and our waterways if you could just spare some time!

Best regards,

Dave Chapman  ([email protected])
IWA Chiltern Branch Chair and IWA Trustee