Another photo (left), taken at Fazeley, from Hazel Owen’s scrapbook on her tour to the Thames. Narrowboat Purple Emperor has now caught up with Rum’a’Gin and has been dressed in banners to cruise in convoy to London.

And (below) a flag on the stern of Andy Williams’ boat.

Hazel Owen writes…

“Having not been able to join the November Campaign Cruise on our NB Rum’a’Gin we were determined that we would be on the May Cruise come hell or high water.  The logistics of cruising to the capital in November were just too great, never did we think it would be as difficult to get there for May.

Firstly, Vazon bridge onto the River Trent near Doncaster was closed for repair.  Then the L&L closed due to lock issues.  Fortunately reopened so we could head across the Pennines.  we have now reached Lichfield, but our route is still changing we will be heading from the Coventry Canal onto the Birmingham and Fazeley before hitting the Grand Union.  The usual route would be on the Northern Oxford but that is closed due to a landslip.

Keep up with our progress at https://www.facebook.com/groups/946415890265050

And if you see us on the canal give us a wave or stop for a chat.”

Hazel Owen (AWCC) sent this photo of her boat Rumagin dressed in FBW banners and flags (bow, stern, roof and sides) at Bingley, ready for the 250th anniversary of the Bingley Five Rise Locks on 23rd March.  The photo was taken on the previous day.

Situated on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the Bingley Five Rise opened on 21 March 1774 due to demand from the industrial hubs in the region. At the time it was a major feat of engineering. The Grade I-listed locks are the steepest flight of locks in the UK, with a gradient of about 1:5 (a rise of 18.03m (59ft 2in) over a distance of 98m (320ft)). When the locks, and hence the canal from Gargrave to Thackley, were opened a crowd of 30,000 people turned out to celebrate and the local militia fired their field guns in salute. The first boat to use the locks took just 28 minutes.

Unlike the competing, and earlier, trans-Pennine waterways (Huddersfield Narrow and Rochdale canals), the Leeds & Liverpool has broad locks. This, combined with the heavy industry along its route, ensured that, unlike the other two trans-Pennine canals, it competed successfully with the railways throughout the 19th century and remained open through the 20th century. Ultimately, this means that Bingley Five Rise has continued to serve countless numbers of boats over two and a half centuries.

IWA Lichfield Branch has arranged for this banner to be displayed, until further notice, in a prominent position at Fradley Junction, in time for lots of visitors over Easter and beyond.

[Photo by Neil Barnett]