Basingstoke Canal Bulletins

The Basingstoke Canal Bulletin is a freely available newsletter about the Canal and the Society, published usually every month or two.

To have future editions emailed to you, as well as other occasional circulations of interest, please click the fill in the form below with your details and click subscribe.

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To find out what personal data the Society holds about you and how we use it, please refer to our Privacy Notice. The Society will never sell your personal data, nor share it with another company or charity for marketing purposes.

About the Bulletin

The editorial team of the Bulletin are Ken Sankey and Phil Graham. Recipients of the Bulletin become Friends of the Canal, a community of people and an information hub for all those who enjoy the Canal and want to safeguard its future.  The Bulletin is available on-line and is free to all.

The first edition was first published in late 2010. There are currently around 2000 subscribers/Friends, mostly from the UK, but a small proportion are spread worldwide.

Subscription management and email distribution are now handled by a package called Mailchimp.

Previous Edition Archive

Back numbers of the Basingstoke Canal Bulletin can be found below.

2023

No. 64: October 2023: Canal is underfunded by £100,000, Trip Boat Summer Success, Kitty Fundraising Success, Calendar 2024.

No. 63: May 2023: Coronation Weekend events, Dates for the Diary, 2023 Photo Competition.

No. 62: March 2023: Canal Authority Update, Oil Spill on the Canal, Graffiti Removal.

2022

No. 61: December 2022: Finding Volunteers, Replacing Kitty, Boater’s Viewpoint, Canal Authority Update, Gift Ideas, 2023 Calendar.

No. 60: October 2022: Canal Authority Update, Volunteering, Canal Study, 2023 Calendar, Santa, Events Round-up, Tilley Award, Bridges on the Canal.

No. 59: August 2022: Information boards, Merlin Entertainments Volunteers, Kitty/Kitty 2 Update, Odiham Raft Race, Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, Events Round-up, Mikron Theatre, Midsummer Morn Cruise.

No. 58: May 2022: Volunteering, urgent help needed, Work behind the scenes, Mayor gives Kitty vote of approval, Raft Race Returns, Jubilee Celebrations, Boat Rally, AGM & Social Event, 2023 Calendar Competition, Canoe Club Racing, New Information Boards, The Last Five Miles (Pt 2).

No. 57: March 2022: Storm Eunice, The Canal on Canvas, Society Website Update, Society Events Update, Canal Authority Update, Ornithologists Corner, Articles of Association.

No. 56: January 2022: Canal Navigation Update, The Last 5 Miles, Weekend Work Party, Litter Picking, Maintenance Work Completed, Replace Kitty Fundraising, Information Boards, Fishing on the Canal, Leave a Legacy.

2021

No. 55: November 2021: Canal Website, Volunteering, Fleet to Fleet Street Bike Ride, Replacing Kitty, New Information Boards, 2022 Calendar, 2022 Charter Trips, Canal Watch Update.

No 54: August 2021: 2022 Calendar Competition, Activity Update, Canal Projects Update, From Fleet to the Olympics, News from the BCA, Basingstoke Canal Paddleboarding, Canal Boat Magazine.

No 53: June 2021: BCA Update, Activity Update, Call for Volunteers, History Corner, Health & Wellbeing, Rambling, Projects Update.

No 52: April 2021: Projects Update, BCA Update, Local Report – Surrey Heath, Boat Trips, Wildlife Focus – Kingfishers, History Corner – Barge Building, BCS Survey Findings, Volunteering, Society Links.

No 51: February 2021: A Strong Start, Society Survey, Next Projects, Echoes of the Past, Works Update.

2020

No 50: December 2020: Thank You!, Winter Works update, Making Connections, St John’s – defending England, From competition to Calendar 2021, Going Greener?
No 49a: November 2020:
Donate to The Basingstoke Canal Society for free with Amazon Smile.
No 49: October 2020: Appeal for Support – 2020 Canal Improvement Project, Canal Authority Update, Tackling non-native invasive species, Last 5 miles, Fancy a Coffee?, Fantastic Fundraising from Clara and Emilia, Live theatre back in Odiham, Adventures on the Canal, Your Canal needs you.
No 48: August 2020: Welcome, Update from the BCA, Philip Riley: Reflections on changing times, John Pinkerton II rated Covid-secure, Our volunteers fantastic work, Accessible Boating wins Queen’s Award, History Corner, Lengthsman profile, Live theatre is back, Photo competition.
No 47: June 2020: Welcome, Update from the BCA, Help us to Keep The Canal Alive, Perseverance Dredger, Wharves and Cranes, Top Six Canal virtual Walks, Blast from the Past, Ian Smith, Call for Volunteers.
No 46: May 2020: Welcome, Support the Canal and win up to £25000!, Samuel Cody’s tie-up with the Canal, Stop Thief!, Virtual Tour of the Canal, Canals on Film, Denise Smith MBE, Call for Volunteers.
No 45: April 2020: Welcome, Call for Volunteers, New Membership Brochure, Young Canal Volunteer finds the right path, Surprising historical links with the Canal, Volunteer “walks the plank”, Safety First for our volunteers.
No 44: January 2020: Ambitious target to raise money, New season’s boat trips, Photographing the darker side of the canal, Winter works, Rubbish clearance, Volunteer roles.

2019

No 43: November 2019: Keeping the Canal alive, Leaving a gift in your will, New children’s book ready for Christmas, Our intrepid volunteer in Bangladesh, Fun with the Kitty crew, 2020 Calendars, Have fun volunteering
No 42: September 2019: Your support needed for the Canal, Ash Embankment recent works, Lengthsmen and the Patrol Boat, Woking Mayor aboard Kitty, Annual Odiham Raft Race, Canal inspires New Children’s Story, The ‘Berks and Hants canal’
No 41: July 2019: Welcome, Visit to Old Kiln Light Railway, Mikron theatre visit, Odiham Raft race, New planning policy guidance document,
Opening of the new Woking Town Wharf, Visit from Children from Chernobyl, Councillors explore our wonderful amenity, Volunteering on the Canal
No 40: May 2019: Welcome Back, 2019 Raft Race, Mikron Theatre visit, Guided walks around the Canal, Enjoy a Canal cruise, Join our volunteer team, Wondering whether volunteering would suit you?,Forging links with local schools, Remote monitoring of water levels, A great working relationship with a local council, Anything you want to get off your chest?
No 39: March 2019: David Horwood, Spring on the cut, Bringing an old wharf back to life, Water – where to find it, A bit of history, Volunteer spotlight.
No 38: January 2019: New Year’s Resolutions?, Crookham Wharf refurbishment, Have you booked your boat trip yet?, Health and Wellbeing, A Day in the life of a lengthsman, Water Strategy team request, Birds on the Basingstoke, How the Canal Restoration Started.

2018

No 37: November 2018: Queen’s Award of Voluntary Service Presentation to the Society, The Future of the Canal and of the Society, Water Sources and Losses on the Basingstoke, Society Trip Boat Vouchers, Canal Trees – the Good, The Bad and the Wildlife, Dry Dock on the Canal, Christmas Cards available
No 36: September 2018: Photo competition and Canal Calendar for sale, Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service celebrations, Inaugural Odiham Raft Race, Our and About, Focus On: GoodGym Woking, More on Invasive Species, A Bit of History – King John’s Castle, And Finally….
No 35: July 2018: Get out on the Basingstoke Canal, Society honoured with Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, Where you can help, Have you booked your Boat trip yet?, Things don’t always go to plan, Born in the Basingstoke Canal – Consumed in France!, Where does the water come from?, Bats in the Greywell Tunnel, Odiham Raft Race
No 34: May 2018: Photo Competition and Friends Initiative, Boats on the Canal at Odiham, Keeping the Canal Going, Have Fun Volunteering, Focus On: Hart Road Runners, Focus On: Fleet Cycling, A Bit of History: Up Nately Brickworks
No 33: March 2018:  Friends Initiative, Book Your Boat Trips, Keeping the Canal Open and Working, Society QAVS Nomination, Volunteers Required, Basingstoke Canal Canoe Club, Canal War Defences, And Finally….
No 32: January 2018:Love It, Share It, Support It, Boats, Walking, Maintenance, Trees, Volunteers, Some History, Going Forward

2017

No 31: November 2017: “New Look” Bulletin launched, under new editorial team
No 30: May 2017:Kitty Trip Boat Operation Launches; Kitty trips announced and on-line booking available; More about Kitty; Work Party activity.

2016

No 29: May-July 2016:New Trip boat Kitty Gets John Pinkerton Colours. Count-down to Woking Canal Festival, Much Festival Activity Going On in the background, Society Members “Birthday Party” – RSVP Please
No 28: Jan-Apr 2016: Society Acquires Another Trip Boat, Major Repairs In Woking and Ash Embankment completed, More on nb Egremont, A New Name Needed,  2016 Celebrations,  Work Party Activities, Chobham Meetings – Changes Afoot, 200 Club – New Custodian needed, Forthcoming events

2015

No 27: Nov-Dec 2015: A Christmas Thank You from the BCA, 2016 John Pinkerton trips announced and on-line booking now available, John Pinkerton Cruise vouchers, Woking Canal Festival, Society members’ trips on the JP, Forthcoming events
No 26: May-Oct 2015: Society gears up for 50th anniversary, Capital works continue, Celebratory Woking Canal Festival 2016, Consideration of other towpath users, Work party activities, Water supply and canal closures, John Pinkerton news, Other news, Forthcoming events
No 25: Dec 2014-April 2015: New Panels for JP2, Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Celebration Boat Rally, Bit More Progress at Dogmersfield Landslip, BCA’s “Share The Space” campaign, Work Party Activity, John Pinkerton News, Ash Embankment, Society’s AGM

2014

No 24: Aug-Nov 2014: Monitoring Water the Hi-tech way, Work Party Activities, Dogmersfield Landslip works commenced, Duckweed in Woking, John Pinkerton news, other news, forthcoming events.
No 23: May/June/July 2014: A New Addition…, Busy on the Basingstoke, Progress with Canal Centre Redevelopment, Some progress with Dogmersfield Landslip, Canal management changes, Work Party Activity, John Pinkerton News, Forthcoming events.
No 22: Feb/Mar/April 2014: Not Bikes and Shopping Trolleys but.., Extended Lock Opening Times, Major Woking Canal Development Shelved  for Now, Society and Visiting Work Party activities, John Pinkerton News, and more…
No 21: Nov 2013/Jan 2014: Centenary of last attempted trip by boat to Basingstoke, More storms more disruption, Workparty activities, BCA weedcutter returned to service, Capital works update, Latest on Dogmersfield slip, John Pinkerton news

2013

No 20: Sept/Oct 2013: Visiting boaters express their approval, Canal closures, John Pinkerton news, Work party activities, Mychett Lake Embankment Works, Water Strategy Group progress, JP1 Trip Boat for sale
No 19: June/July/Aug 2013: Basingstoke back to full navigation, New Websites launched, John Pinkerton news, Work party news, Dogmersfield Landslip Latest, Mychett Lake Embankment Works, Revised Canal opening times
No 18: Mar/Apr/May 2013: Deepcut Flight Now Open!, Dogmersfield Landslip, Margurite Redway, JP II Has Arrived, JP II Naming Ceremony announcement, Reflections on the Easter Cruise.
No 17: Jan/Feb 2013: Tribute to the Redway family, Further cash pledged for the canal, Canal looks set to be open fully by Easter, Easter boat trip, Society Lengsthman Scheme

2012

No 16: Nov/Dec 2012: New Name and New Image for the Society, Society purchases Colt Hill Barn and Mooring, New JP2 begins to take shape!, JP2 Virtual Tour
No 15: Aug/Sep/Oct 2012: Contract signed for the new John Pinkerton, Deepcut in water again!, Appointment of a new Canal Manager: Fiona Shipp, Water Strategy Group activities, Update on the JP2, New boat company chairman: Dick King
No 14: Jun/Jul 2012: Canal Jubilee Event, Appointment of Canal Manager, Society and visiting work parties, John Pinkerton News, Canal and River Trust Launch
No 13: May 2012: BW Chairman Visit, Water Situation Again, All Change at the BCA, Canal Questionaire, Society Work Party and other News
No 12: Feb/Mar/Apr 2012: Canalside Jubilee 2012, Water Situation, Volunteer Work Party News, Canal “Open Access”, BCA and other News
No 11: Dec 2011/Jan 2012: Recently photographed near Deepcut, Activity on the Canal, Model Engineering help required, Canalside developments, BCA and other News

2011

No 10: Nov 2011: Lock 17 work complete, Activity on the Canal, Request for Volunteers, Proposed Change to the Society’s Name, BCA and other News
No 9: Sep/Oct 2011: Peter Redway Memorial visit by Waterway Recovery Group, Term Contractor Starts Work, “Situations Vacant”, Brewery Road Bridge
No 8: Aug 2011: Volunteers working Lock 17, Progress with Term Contract agreement, Work on the Canal, Future navigation on the Canal
No 7: June/July 2011: Runway’s End Landing completed, Basingstoke Canal – as it used to be, News from JMC, Volunteering News
No 6: May 2011: Woking Canal Festival, Society AGM invitation, New Waterways Charity, Structural Repairs, Volunteering News
No 5: Mar/Apr 2011: Woking Canal Festival, BCA News, Volunteering News, John Pinkerton News
No 4: Feb 2011: Peter Redway, Structural repairs, Volunteering News, John Pinkerton News
No 3: Jan 2011: Alan Flight workboat, Roger Cansdale on BBC Radio Surrey

2010

No 2: Dec 2010: Structural repairs, Volunteering News, Illuminated Boat Procession
No 1: Nov 2010: Structural repairs, Volunteering News, John Pinkerton News, About the Bulletin.

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