The club's AGM was conducted by Zoom software on Saturday 13 March 2021.

Members submitted a series of questions in advance to guest speaker Stuart Mills, the Chief Investment Officer of the Canal and River Trust. Stuart addressed the questions that fell within his remit during his presentation. Answers and comments on the remaining questions were provided afterwards by other Trust staff and can be found here (HNBC member's pages, you will need to log in to see them).

The government published its response on 3 March 2021 to its consultation on the use of red diesel. The good news for boaters in mainland UK waters is contained in paragraphs 4.6 and 4.7, different rules apply for Northern Ireland:

4.6 Following consultation, the government has decided to maintain the entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022 for all commercial boat operating industries, including but not limited to the fishing and inland water freight industries. 

Canal & River Trust has confirmed in a notice dated 11 February 2021 that wide beamed boats may only use parts of the north Oxford canal if they are booked to do so.

"The north Oxford Canal between Braunston Junction and Hillmorton Locks is a narrow canal, not suitable for wide-beam craft. 

Access to the marinas on the north Oxford is permitted but only at pre-agreed times and must be done in a single journey (i.e. not stopping between the marina and the destination)."

It is really important that owners of historic narrow boats register them with National Historic Ships.

Registration criteria are here: https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/page/nhs/registration-criteria

To register, complete the form on this page: https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/the-registers/register-your-vessel

From Kathryn Dodington, club Secretary:

All HNBC members are invited to join our 2021 Annual General Meeting, which will be held using Zoom webinar software.

There was a special surprise for the club's retired Editor, Val Roberts, at our virtual Annual General Meeting on Saturday 14 November 2020. Unbeknownst to her, Mike Harrison had smuggled in a plaque that the committee had commissioned from Dan and Vikki Cauldwell of the Cromford Canal Co Ltd, Langley Mill, and presented it to her during the meeting. In a fitting tribute to her long years of service in the post, David Daines, the club' Awards Officer said:

From Kathryn Dodington, club Secretary:

All HNBC members are invited to join our Annual General Meeting, which was postponed from March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the club is not a charity, we understand that the Charity Commission has issued guidance to charities that AGMs may be held by phone/video or other electronic means, so we are following a similar pattern.

Statement from Phil Prettyman, HNBC Chairman

Dear HNBC Member

Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel this Saturday’s AGM in light of the Coronavirus outbreak. 

Are you a private boater or a C&RT volunteer? You should soon receive an email inviting you to vote for a representative to sit on C&RT's Council. HNBC has no allocated seat on the Council, so we urge you to cast your vote for a club member:

If you've wondered how to make a really good looking Rag Mop for your boat, have a read of this article from 2002 in our club newsletter, penned by Beryl McDowall.

There's an important consultation that individual boaters need to respond to, closing date 9 September 2019. How the directive is implemented will affect all of us - from how much we pay for fuel for our boats to whether (and how) we are obliged to flush our existing fuel tanks. PLEASE, PLEASE COMPLETE THE CONSULTATION - this is a numbers game, we ALL need to respond.

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) has launched a public consultation proposing BSS requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on boats. The proposals promote checks to be introduced for suitable CO alarms in good condition and in suitable locations on all classes of boat with accommodation spaces. The proposed mandatory new BSS Requirements are intended to come into effect from January 2019 and be implemented as BSS Checks on 1 April 2019. 

If the breach at Middlewich has changed your route planning, have you considered the West Cheshire Ring instead?

There's useful information from CRT on how to go about booking a passage on the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Weaver on this link.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/middlewich-alternative-route

If the breach at Middlewich has changed your route planning, have you considered the West Cheshire Ring instead?

There's useful information from CRT on how to go about booking a passage on the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Weaver on this link.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/middlewich-alternative-route

A flotilla of boats from Chester will launch the start of the weekend and boats will have the opportunity to moor in the recently opened upper basin.  The lively long weekend will include a fine folk programme combined with inspirational workshops, family and boat activities for all ages.  There will be the opportunity to have “Behind the Scenes” explorations of the boat store in Rossfield Road where the vessels raised from the top basin are being stored and worked on.

Here's a great little video showing the safe way to use lock paddles - only just over 6 minutes long but well worth a watch.

Click here, sit back and enjoy!

Here's a great little video showing the safe way to use lock paddles - only just over 6 minutes long but well worth a watch.

Click here, sit back and enjoy!

Iain MacTavish, the Club's North Wales and Border area rep, has devised a schematic reporting grid that you can download here and mark where on the brickwork your boat sticks.  Please send reports to him on nwbrep@hnbc.org.uk. Thank you!

Iain MacTavish, the Club's North Wales and Border area rep, has devised a schematic reporting grid that you can download here and mark where on the brickwork your boat sticks.  Please send reports to him on nwbrep@hnbc.org.uk. Thank you!

Have you spotted a winding hole that's been chained off, or now has boats permanently moored in it, or where the width's been reduced? Please let us know so we can lobby navigation authorities to try to get these vital areas improved or reinstated. HNBC carried out a joint survey with the Inland Waterways Association because both organisations are concerned about the gradual loss of these turning points.  The survey results are now being studied, but if you spot anything new, please let us know anyway by emailing navigation@hnbc.org.uk.