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The
First Female Flyboat Run:
What is a flyboat run? In the days when Britain's canals were heavily used as freight carriers, certain cargoes were sufficiently urgent that they were carried in 'fly-boats' that travelled non-stop from loading-point to unloading-point. Some canal carrying companies even built special boats with more streamlined hulls to speed up these services. On 21 April 1998, narrow boat 'Clover' will re-create the tradition of the fly-boats with a non-stop run from Stoke Bruerne, near Northampton, to Gloucester, and then on to Saul Junction. But with one important departure from tradition: an all-female crew! What is the purpose of the run? To promote the principle of the use of waterways as carriers of freight (as proposed in the Government white paper 'Developing an integrated Transport Policy'), and also to support the restoration of the Cotswold Canals: the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal. These formed a through route for boats from the River Severn near Gloucester to the River Thames, but they were abandoned earlier this century and became completely derelict. Cotswold Canals Trust are promoting their restoration to working order and full reopening. See their web site for more details.
Because there's a first time for everything! Is it really the first? As far as we know. Women played an important role in canal carrying, especially on the narrow boats like 'Clover' that were the usual trading craft on the waterways of the Midlands. It was standard practice for a boat or a pair of boats to be operated by a family. In the second World War, the water- borne equivalent of the 'Land Girls' worked some female-crewed boats. But the fly-boat crews were nearly always all-male, although the shortage of available men during the first World War resulted in a few husband and wife crews on fly-boats. Why Stoke Bruerne to Saul Junction? Stoke Bruerne is the base of South Midland Water Transport, a company who still use traditional narrow boats for their original purpose - carrying freight - and who have kindly lent 'Clover' for this run. Saul Junction is where boats once left the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and joined the Stroudwater Canal for the journey through the Cotswolds to the Thames. And where they will do once again, when the Cotswold Canals Trust's aims are realised! Click here to see a map (will open in a new window). When is it happening? 'Clover' will leave Stoke Bruerne on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 April 1998, travel via the Grand Union, Stratford and Worcester & Birmingham canals and the River Severn, and hopefully tie up in Gloucester at around 5pm on Friday 24th April 1998. The following day, Saturday 25th April 1998, 'Clover' will pick up an additional crew member - the Inland Waterways Association 's national chairman Audrey Smith, and carry on along the Gloucester and Sharpness canal to be greeted by Sonia Rolt, former working boatwoman, on arrival at Saul Junction. Below is a table showing what time the crew of 'Clover' hope to be at various points on their journey. Of course this schedule may - and almost certainly will - be affected by various things such as how busy the canals are, whether they have to queue for any locks, how many moored boats they have to slow down for, and how many people waylay them to purchase bags of coal for Cotswold Canals Trust funds. And if this schedule seems fairly relaxed at times compared to what Fellows Morton and Clayton might have achieved in the old days, bear in mind that it is many years since regular cargo carrying boats were a frequent sight on the canals that 'Clover' will travel. The canals are not quite as well-dredged as they were in those days, and it wouldn't be too surprising if a deep-draft loaded boat like 'Clover' were to scrape the bottom occasionally, or even pick up something unpleasant around the propeller.... Once the run gets under way, we'll be keeping you informed of how well 'Clover' is keeping up with the schedule, and the reasons for any delays.
The boat:
'Clover' was built in 1935 by Yarwoods of Northwich for the legendary canal carrying company Fellows, Morton and Clayton, who were one of the biggest operators of fly-boat services: their craft - originally steam-powered, but later diesel- engined - operated non-stop services from the late 19th century until the Second World War, when they were carried munitions from the Midlands to the Thames. 'Clover' is 70ft long by 7ft wide, with iron sides and a wooden bottom, and is powered by a Lister HB2 diesel engine. In its days with Fellows Morton and Clayton, 'Clover' would usually have worked as part of a 'pair', towing an unpowered 'butty' boat, with a total cargo of up to 50 tons. FMC carried a wide variety of different cargoes, including coal, metals, grain, turpentine, sugar, chemicals, bedsteads and tea! The Cargo 'Clover' will start with a full load of coal, which will be available for sale to boaters with solid-fuel stoves, and anyone else along the route who wants to buy it, with the proceeds going towards the Cotswold Canals Trust's funds. In addition, some scaffolding currently at Stoke Bruerne will be delivered to Hanbury Wharf near Droitwich, for use by volunteers who are restoring the derelict Droitwich Barge Canal and Droitwich Junction Canal. So the run will provide funds for one canal restoration scheme, give practical assistance to another one, and demonstrate the usefulness of the canals! The crew... ...are Judi Comber, Jude Moore, Cath Coolican and Claire Lavis. All of them have been involved in volunteer work on the restoration of canals, either with the Cotswold Canals Trust or the Waterway Recovery Group. Sponsorship Wella Haircare, makers of 'Experience' are sponsoring the trip. This not only helps to raise more money for the restoration of the Cotswold Canals, but also ensures that the crew's hair doesn't suffer too badly from exposure to the smoke from the traditional coal-fired cabin stove that they will be doing their cooking on. More info from Judi Comber on 01453 821879 (weekends) or 0585 313 448 (mobile) or e-mail cat_ltd@compuserve.com. So, how did it go? The flyboat run was on (or ahead of) schedule for the first two days. The crew struck problems on Wednesday evening, when there was an emergency stoppage due to a broken lock gate. There was nothing for it but to wait for British Waterways maintenance staff to fix it. As the crew said: "BW were absolutely tops - they worked all night to get it open!" Thursday went well, and by Friday AM 'Clover' was on her way down Tardebigge locks. However, a lot of time had been lost due to shallow pounds and the earlier stoppage. But then - disaster! The flyboat came to a premature end at Worcester at about midday Friday. The River Severn at Worcester was only about 2ft above normal level, but the recent rain means that the level below Tewkesbury is rising again, as a result of water coming in from the Avon, so no boats were being allowed onto the river. Therefore the crew of 'Clover' have had to abandon their attempt to get to Saul Junction for the Cotswold Canals Trust's gathering. All of them are very disappointed but there is really nothing they can do. Of course, if the Cotswold Canals were restored, they wouldn't have had to use the Severn to get there......
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Why
an all-female crew?
