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Summer Reunion 2018 |
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Sunday
24th June 2018 |
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Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre |
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The Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre was the venue
chosen by our current President, Andrew Campbell, as the
location for this year’s Summer Reunion held on Sunday
24th. June on a beautiful and hot summer’s day where
around 20 O.C.A.’s and partners joined together, some
having travelled a consider distance to be present, for
an enjoyable few hours in the West Sussex countryside.
The Museum has grown a good deal over the past few
years and there are numerous exhibits in place, enough
for all of us to find much of interest. The day
coincided with the Emergency Services weekend with
vehicles from the fire, ambulance and police services
which helped to boost the general attendance. Coffee and
lunch were both taken in the café on site which gave us
an opportunity to have a natter with old friends which
is always a pleasant part of the day. The Museum
is largely run by volunteers and if any of you reading
might like to help out there why not have a look at
their website,
www.amberleymuseum.co.uk, for more information.
I think I can say that all those present on the day
had an entertaining time, making their way home from
around 4.00 p.m. and I must apologise if I didn’t say
cheerio to some of you and thank you for coming – I
think I was probably looking over the old Southdown
buses that are on display, some even older than me.
For our location in 2019 ‘watch this space.’ Derek Sturt
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Summer Reunion 2017 |
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Sunday 11th June 2017 |
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Wey & Arun Canal |
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I am clearly biased, but as the current OCA President I have
to say that the whole day was excellent. Great company,
superb weather and a very pleasant Sunday lunch to finish.
Everyone was able to arrive on time at the canal centre
in Loxwood for our 2 hour canal trip, a good start. It was
great to see Brian Adams sporting his old school cap! I
had booked the Zachariah Keppel which is suitable for a
maximum of 27 people! Derek Sturt kindly managed the booking
activity, even on his holiday abroad, and after some
fortunate late adjustments to the bookings we filled the
boat exactly!
Our trip took us along the early
established part of the canal, arguably the more picturesque
section. We passed, through Brewhurst Lock (which shows the
change in canal water level required to accommodate the
Loxwood road bridge), under Brewhurst Lane bridge, through
Baldwin’s Knob Lock then under Barnsill bridge to our
turning point at the slipway at Roger Dimmick Lane.
Longer trips can continue over the Drungewick Aqueduct.
The trip was incident free, but we were all relaxed anyway
as our OCA members included an Ex-Royal Naval Commodore,
Paul Herington!
During the return journey the crew
kindly gave us a talk about the history of the canal, at
Baldwin’s Knob Lock. They also took a picture for us. This
lock is a recently memorable place for me , more of that
later! On return, we drove up the road through Loxwood to
the Sir Roger Tichborne pub at Alfold Bars. They had kindly
laid out two long tables for us and most enjoyed the Sunday
Roasts on offer. All in all, a very agreeable day.
On another occasion a canal trip in the opposite
direction under the Loxwood road might be interesting,
showing some more recent lock completions and the famous
Devil’s Hole Lock. This lock was officially opened by
Colonel Paul Rutherford of the Canadian Army on account of
the fact that during their time at Dunsfold Aerodrome in WW2
they had used the original lock for demolition practise!!!
Now back to Baldwin’s Knob Lock. I suspect what I am
about to tell you represents an unexpected devotion to duty
by any OCA president!!
The Tuesday before the trip
was a very windy day and on the Wednesday I turned up as
usual for my volunteering activities with the Mid Week
Working Party (MWWP) at Dunsfold. On arrival I was diverted
to Loxwood, as it had been reported there was a tree in the
canal. One of the more interesting challenges for MWWP
volunteers.
No one was sure where this tree was, but
a dog walker, seeing me with my saw and loppers in hand,
directed me to Baldwin’s Knob Lock. The tree was blocking
the canal just before the lock. Fortunately, a little later,
two more colleagues followed with a chain saw and winch. I
had cleared the tow path and we cleared the canal by midday,
but because of the precarious nature of another part of the
tree we were obliged to fell that into the canal and start
all over again. We got it all cleared by about 4.00pm. I
left that afternoon hoping there would be no further
problems between then and our planned Sunday trip!!
David Picknell, President OCA.
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