A belated Update

Mike, Steve and Rob before
leaving Cosgrove (Photo: Rob)

There's been quite a bit going on which I have been remiss in not adding to the blog.

Mike Gardner has been beavering away at the electrics and is nearly there with his work.  We will be able to run the bilge pump and operate the tunnel light from the steering position shortly.

Sculptor spent the last weekend of June at the Braunston Historic Boats gathering.  Tom, David B and David's grandson (also Tom) took Sculptor through the tunnel to Gayton where the boat spent the evening.  Steve D and Tom took Sculptor to Braunston on the Friday where she joined some 70 or so other historic boats for the weekend.  Richard Parry was a guest on one of the parades that Sculptor took part in.  Steve D and Tom brought Sculptor home in the company of Stanton; to Norton junction on the Sunday night (to avoid widebeams at Braunston tunnel) and then on to Stoke Bruerne the following day.  It is important here to acknowledge the extremely kind and generous donation of £1,000 by Tim Coghlin of Braunston Marina to go towards Sculptor's maintenance in the coming year.  Any suggestions as to how we should spend it.

We ran a trip through the tunnel the following Tuesday to collect the two Blisworth tunnel signs which were at the Gayton BW buildings.  Rob Westlake is kindly going to refurbish them; the one from the north portal in time for the Blisworth Festival and the one from the southern portal in time for the unveiling of the Transport Trust 'Red Wheel' commemorating the engineering excellence of Blisworth Tunnel.  Kathryn and Mike G were on board along with Joe (a work experience pupil from Towcester) together with our volunteer coordinators Miriam and John.

Sculptor was taken to the festival at Cosgrove last Friday (18-July) by Rob and Lorna.  Kathryn and Rob took her on a short trip across the Iron Trunk Aqueduct in the company of Nutfield on the Saturday and that was repeated by Kathryn and Steve D on the Sunday. On Monday last we were mob-handed when Mike, Steve and Rob brought Sculptor safely back to Stoke Bruerne.

Volunteer hours 30 (total 328 to date).

Dry Dock

Sculptor is booked in to Braunston dry dock on 27/28/29-September - we need to have her in Braunston for 25-September as there is a chance we can get her into the dry dock on the Thursday (26-September)

We need help as follows:

Wednesday 24-September
Crew to take Sculptor to Braunston and someone to bring the crew back to Stoke Bruerne
Thursday 25-September
Crew (4 max I should think) just to be available should we be able to get Sculptor into the dry dock
Friday/Saturday/Sunday 26/27/28-September
Crew (4 max again I think) to be available to pressure wash, black the hull and to tidy up the other areas that need attention. Happy with different people on each of the three days
Monday 29-September
Crew to bring Sculptor home to Stoke Bruerne and some to take the crew to Braunston

Braunston Historic Boats Gathering

Sculptor nestled between Barrow and
Chertsey at Braunston

June 26th            

Boat left moorings at 17.20 for Braunston, crewed by Tom Stewart and DB. 25 minutes in tunnel and arrived Gayton Junction 18.20. Dry weather. Engine run 1.5 hours.

June 27th

Crew Tom S and Steve Dean left 07.30 and joined “Stanton” at Bugbrook Fields. 11.40 bottom of Buckby and out of top 13.10. Into Arm at Braunston by 15.30. Engine run 8 hours

June 28th

Joined by Kathryn D and DB for first parade at 10.20. Slow until called into Arm after which it speeded up until after Ladder Bridge. Rain then commenced and continued for rest of the day, causing all thoughts of afternoon parade top be abandoned. Engine run 3 hours

June 27th

Better weather today. Tom took the morning parade with Bob Westlake and Steve D as crew and Tim Coghlan and Richard Parry, CE of CRT, as passengers, DB accompanying aboard his old motor boat Emu. Afternoon parade went quite swiftly and boat awaited Stanton at end of trip in Marina Arm, then left at 15.35. Up locks and tied at top of Buckby by 18.00. Engine run 5 hours

June 28th

Left top lock 07.30 and good run home in better weather. Winded at tunnel end and tied on mooring by 14.40. Engine run 7.5 hours

July 2nd

Mike G returned from holidays and continued with electrics. All cabin work now complete and so the painters can now get on with final rubbing-down and undercoating etc. Measurements taken for boxing-in wiring in engine room and MG departed with materials for making up said casings.