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The East Vale branch have had two guided walks over the Autumn/Winter both of which have been very well attended.
The first one in November was a walk along the Grove Lock flight out and back to Nevilles Lift Bridge. We started at Grove Common Lock with the tailbridge we rebuilt many years ago, along the towpath which we have been working on this year, pausing at Small Marsh Lock (now quite infilled) but I remember going down there on a school outing in the 60s (primary school before you ask!) and seeing the lock virtually; Cow Common bridge has been rebuilt by the landowners fairly recently as a fixed culvert; from there we walked along to Spirit Lock (just about discernable in the undergrowth from the path). At this point the canal re-appears and is extant along to Grove Bottom Lock including the remains of another lift bridge. Grove Bottom Lock is in a reasonable state although the cill has partly collapsed (as with all these old structures care should be exercised and you should not go very close to the sides for your own safety).
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This year, after a gap of a few years the Canal Trust had a stand at the annual Uffington Show held on the Sunday and Monday of the Bank Holiday weekend. The weather for the most part stayed kind, although we did worry about the wind on the Sunday evening!
There were lots of activities going on including, in the air, wing walking on biplanes ( hair-raising!) and the highlight of the day the restored Vulcan bomber doing a circuit. On the ground there were otters to look at, horserides, sporting activities, dressage displays, trade stands aplenty and a beer tent!
We had one of the Trusts marquees ( the other was at the IWA National and also used Mike's gazebo as store tent and a place to put a table for Wild on Waterways activities for the children. The canal display brought forth much comment from people who remembered the canal in their childhood especially in Swindon as well as offers of assistance and useful information. We are in the planning stages of restoring a footpath bridge at West Challow and is was highly fortuitous that we were visited by someone who remembered the bridge before it was demolished and culverted in 1948. As a result we now know that we are restoring a flat bridge ( originally a lift bridge) rather than an arch bridge.
Thanks to the team for manning the stand ie Phil Logue, Mike Matthews, Chris Naish and Martin Buckland ( and also for transporting the displays and equipment)" |
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East Vale 
