Victor: More awards

I SHOULD imagine the waterways have more awards that any other following, with stars, crowns, anchors and God knows what, topped—in my opinion—by the very suspect Annual Waterways Awards.

But now Waterways World has joined in the fray, with its own awards for just about everything under the waterways sun—boat building, hire companies, marinas, moorings, boatyards, chandleries and loads of others.

But alas, two of its editors as judges! But one wonders what on earth do those two worthies know of all such things—bugger all I should imagine.  Or—dare I mention?—it would depend on the size of the advertising!  There, I've mentioned, what I should imagine many could be thinking.

Of course CaRT has joined in, no doubt seeing one or two—if not six or seven— awards coming its way as these include other things right up its street.

Gave up

Our Thomas gave up publicising the Annual Waterway Awards, after the promoters were urging voters to back one particular award. Then he just could not get the voting scores, try as he might, as they preferred to keep them to themselves—it all obviously being simply used to promote work on the waterways, and little more.

The worst of these various awards even allow self assessment, that to me is most suspect. Anyway, you will not now see any of them reported in narrowboatworld, as our esteemed does not think they are worth publicity, which is a pity really, as there are a few worthy ones, rewarding real achievement.

Give 'em a Nicholson's

Many boaters tell of the many clangers in CaRT's stoppage notices, with names often misspelled, the latest this week being 'Barton' Tunnel that hit the headlines, when all who have cruised the Trent & Mersey Canal know it is Barnton.

And lots of others.  Even getting a Leeds & Liverpool stoppage on the Rochdale. Okay, so the people churning them out do not know the waterways, but surely the manager should have the sense to issue them with a Nicholson's or similar, then it is a moment's work to check...

Oh, but that would take the fun out of it...

Good lad

I rather liked Ralph Freeman's summing-up of the state of the Trent & Mersey Canal in contrast with the official view.  We often use the waterway, and year upon year have seen the same problem, particularly with locks—Colwich Lock and the broad Aston Lock being prime examples, with ner any attention, no matter the complaints.

All those percentages to attempt to prove work is being done is sheer blarney and proved absolutely nothing as Ralph succinctly points out.  For the lack of work is there for all to see.

Victor Swift