Transformer Discharged at Sharpness,
Dec 2003
On 3 December, the Italian registered heavy-lift
ship Tina Med arrived at Sharpness from Rotterdam carrying
a transformer. The ship had a pair of derricks that worked in tandem
to lift the transformer on to a special lorry which took the transformer
to a sub-station near Gloucester.
Missing Milepost Recovered, Nov 2003
A team of local divers has recovered a milepost that had slipped
into the canal many years ago due to erosion of the bank. Members
of the Gloster Divers Club found the post during an underwater search
along a length of the canal one mile from Gloucester, and they succeeded
in dragging it up on to the canal bank, from where it was taken
to the National Waterways Museum. (Photos)
Work Starts on Reynolds and Vinings Warehouses,
Nov 2003
Work has started on converting Double Reynolds
and Vinings Warehouses to provide 70 one and two bedroom apartments
with a new restaurant on the north side of Vinings Warehouse. Contractors
Barnwood Construction have fenced off the area around the two warehouses
and scaffolding is being erected. The work is expected to take ten
months.
Russian Timber Discharged at Sharpness, Oct 2003
For the first time in nearly 18 years, a cargo of Russian timber
has arrived at Sharpness, and discharge commenced on 23 Oct 2003.
The Russian-owned MV Megra brought 2700 cubic metres of sawn
timber from Archangel, the shipment being arranged by North Sea
Lumber (Sales) Ltd on behalf of a number of customers.
Topsail Schooner Arrives for Overhaul, Oct 2003
The topsail schooner Johanna Lucretia arrived at Gloucester
on 13 October for an overhaul, but she was unable to moor where
intended because of an accumulation of silt. She was found a temporary
mooring until the silt was cleared.
New Boat for the Willow Trust, Sep 2003
A new boat for the Willow Trust was officially launched at Saul
Junction on 27 September. Built by R.W.Davis & Son of Saul,
the boat was named Leonard Matchan after the charitable trust
that made a major donation towards the cost. The boat is specially
designed to carry groups of infirm and disabled people who do not
have to pay anything as all costs are covered by donations. The
naming ceremony was carried out by Cmdr Cree, captain of HMS Gloucester,
and the boat was blessed by the Ven. Hedley Ringrose, archdeacon
of Cheltenham. (Photo)
Government Approves New GLOSCAT Campus at Llanthony,
Sep 2003
A new further education campus near Llanthony Priory
has been approved in principle by the Learning and Skills Council,
which is responsible for funding and planning education for over
16-year-olds. The project will form part of the Gloucester Quays
development of the docks. It is expected to cost about £38
million, some of which will come from the sale of the college's
current sites in Brunswick Rd. (Citizen 20 Sep 2003)
Cyclists Explore New Route, Sep 2003
A colourful team
of cyclists rode down the canal towpath on Saturday 13 September,
trying out a route from Gloucester to Salisbury. The planned National Cycle
Network Route 45 will make use of the towpath for several miles
and continue via Avebury and Stonehenge. The riders were due to
spend two days on the journey, camping overnight at Chiseldon.
Car Winched from Canal, Sep 2003
The
British Waterways floating crane was used to raise a stolen car
from the canal beside Bakers Quay on 5 September. The gold Nissan
Micra had been taken from nearby Llanthony Road a week earlier,
and it was only discovered after a vigilant passer-by spotted broken
glass on the side of a boat moored next to Llanthony Bridge. There
was no one in the car. (Citizen 6 Sep 2003)
Transformer Loaded at Sharpness, Sep 2003
A 180 tonne transformer from Oldbury Power Station was loaded on
to the coaster Ardent at Sharpness Dock to be taken to Ellesmere
Port. The unit was on its way to Stafford for repairs and needed
to go part-way by sea because of its weight and the size of the
rig needed to move it. (Gazette 5 Sep 2003)
Vindy Boys Monument Unveiled, August 2003
About a thousand former merchant seamen gathered at Sharpness
on Saturday 9 August to witness the unveiling of a monument to all
those boys who passed through the Sea School on the training ship
Vindicatrix while moored in the Old Arm between 1939 and
1966. Designed by John Ashcroft, the monument depicts a modern concept
of a sailing ship, and the granite plinth carries brief details
of the former Sea School. The monument was unveiled by Capt. Warwick,
former master of the QE2. (Photo)
Reed Boat Voyage Down the Canal, August 2003
A small
boat made from reeds and powered by an outboard motor passed down
the canal on Saturday 9 August on a voyage from Bewdley to Bristol.
On board were veteran adventurers Jerry and Jimmy Masters, who had
travelled on much larger such craft on the rivers of South America
while trying to establish how the Incas moved their boats down to
the sea. They broke their journey at Purton, where they made contact
with their land support team.
New Facility at Saul Junction Opened, August
2003
A new Heritage Centre and service station for boaters at
Saul Junction was formally opened by George Greener, Chairman of
British Waterways, on 14 August. The Heritage Centre contains information
on the history and restoration of the Stroudwater and Thames &
Severn Canals. The service station includes public toilets, showers
and pumpout facilities for boaters.
Albert Warehouse Ready for Occupation, July 2003
Owners
of the new apartments at the Albert Warehouse have picked up their
keys. All of the apartments have been sold except one penthouse,
which is currently on the market for £250,000. (Citizen
29 Jul 2003)
Crowds at Gloucester on Water Event, July 2003
Thousands
of people flocked to the docks on Sunday 27 July to see a wide range
of activities organised by British Waterways and Gloucester City
Council. The central attraction was a trapeze artist performing
graceful movements while suspended from a helium filled balloon.
Meanwhile, around the quays were many entertainers, displays and
special activities for children. The day culminated in a spectacular
fire and laser show in the evening.
Man Drowned Near Sellars Bridge, July 2003
Fire engines,
police and ambulances converged on Sellars Bridge following reports
of a man falling overboard from his boat. The bridge keeper had
jumped into the canal and swam to where the man had gone in, but
the victim had disappeared beneath the water. Police divers later
recovered the body of John Pavitt of Gloucester. It is thought he
was manoeuvring his cabin cruiser Sonnet across the canal
when the accident happened. (Citizen 15, 16 Jul 2003)
Docks Flats Approved, July 2003
Gloucester City planners
have approved two projects for new flats in Gloucester Docks. Laing
Homes and British Waterways will build two new blocks of 25 flats
each and three shops on the west side of the Main Basin. The scheme
will cost £8m, and contractors aim to start work on site by
October. On the other side of the Main Basin, Crest Nicholson will
convert the Double Reynolds and Vinings Warehouses to provide 67
apartments, shops and workshops for crafts people. Open land beside
Vinings Warehouse is earmarked for a new restaurant of steel and
glass construction. The scheme will cost £15m, with work planned
to start in August and to be completed in 15 months. (Citizen
3, 11 Jul 2003)
Saul Canal Festival Broke All Records, July 2003
This
year's Canal Festival at Saul Junction on 5 & 6 July, organised
by volunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust, attracted 11,000 people,
232 boats and 237 camping units. Visitors enjoyed seeing boats of
all shapes and sizes, traders and craftsmen selling a wide range
of goods, children's games, model boats and musical entertainment
from folk and jazz groups. The event raised £14,000 towards
restoring the Stroudwater and Thames & Severn Canals.
Medals Presented to Museum, June 2003
A Victoria Cross
and a DSO awarded to Lieut. Col. Dan Burges have been donated to
the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. This means that four of
the eight VCs awarded to the Gloucestershire Regiment are now on
display in Gloucester. (Citizen 1 Jul 2003)
Docks Masterplan Published, May 2003
Planners employed
by the South West Regional Development Agency have published a masterplan
for Gloucester Docks. This establishes a framework within which
developers of individual sites around the docks can work out their
detailed proposals. It is intended that old and new buildings will
generally have shops, cafes and business units on the ground floor
and residential accommodation above. Car parks will be provided
around the periphery, leaving the central area traffic-free except
for service vehicles. It is proposed to have high quality surfacing,
street furniture and visual arts features. |