Welshpool Week-end (also called Operation Mudsplash) [later known as the Big Dig]
From Winter 1969 Cuttings (issue #8), page 13
Following the report on events leading up to our efforts on the Montgomery canal in Welshpool as published in the last issue of “Cuttings” here is a summary of the event itself as seen from the organising side of the proceedings.
Of the variety of difficulties encountered, the two most awkward to overcome were the refusal of the Borough Council to permit the use of their refuse tip and the insist[e]nce of B.W. that the water level could not be lowered, due to the lack of the necessary water to bring it up again. This latter being directly due to the prolonged dry spell during September and early October.
A chance contact solved the first of those two problems. Local farmer Mr. W. Davies of Buttington saw a paragraph explaining our tipping problem in a local paper and promptly offered a tipping site on his land, which was within a mile of the canal working area.
The second difficulty took a bit more resolving. A meeting on the aqueduct in Welshpool between B.W.’s Ellesmere area Inspector, Jim Howard, his foreman, Edgar Davidson, and the Chairman with David Wain in support, produced the desired effect. We were to lower the water level without losing any, although it involved a lot of additional work and expense.
The scheme suggested and eventually agreed upon, was that we divide the length we wish to clear into two sections. The division being by stop planks, provided by B.W. for us to effect a “stop” at Mill Lane Bridge. B.W. would then tum off the down stream supply, little though it was, above Welshpool, allowing us to pump the 500 yards or so, from the Lock to the stop planks, back “up hill” over the top of the Lock. The length above the Lock was low enough in water to take what we could pump and all we had to do was find sufficient pumping capacity to do the job. This, if done on Friday 17th, would give us an empty length in which to work on the first day of the working party, September 18th [note that this date is an error and should read October 18th].
To enable the second length to be drained we would have to ensure completion of the first length by 5.00.p.m. on Saturday, when we could again pump, up hill, from our stop plank dam, which would fill up the first length after clearing out. This also would lower the level of the second length for us to work in on Sunday. To avoid any “flow back” into the second length, the pipe under the Shrewsbury road was to be temporarily blocked at its down stream end.
Having laid our plans, the next problem was locating pumping equipment that was not too expensive. A contact with the owner of a Market Drayton based boat, Len Seabridge, brought the offer of the loan of two petrol engined Coventry Climax pumps, and the suggestion from another Market Drayton member who lives on a boat, Alan Edmed, that he may be able to borrow a 6″ diesel driven pump for a nominal fee, if we could arrange transport for it to Welshpool from the Potteries. By a chance coincidence, Len Seabridge is a Potteries inhabitant and was promptly requested to transport his two pumps and the 6″ pump for us. He agreed, but only to find that it was too tall to go on his van and although mounted on wheels, they were not suitable to trail it on the road. He promptly suggested the hire of a lowloading equipment trailer and that solved the problem.
To record the event for posterity, the committee authorised Mr. Trant, a Professional Photographer from the Welshpool area, to make a 16mm colour film for us. He offered his services at a nominal amount, if we would provide the films. A quick call to Jack Dean, the Editor of “Cuttings”, and the film was ready for collection in next to no time. A further 8mm film offer from Eddie Frangleton was accepted, Eddie standing the cost of the films.
It was becoming increasingly obvious from the organising side that the tremendous advantage of having local assistance in the form of the Welshpool by-pass action committee, led (or was it driven) by Claude Millington was our trump card. Whatever we requested, and there were some very outlandish requests made, they were all met with enthusiasm and with a high degree of co-operation. As examples, the following facilities were all provided by Welshpool people. Mr. Hughes, offered accom[m]odation overnight of the Astral Rooms and agreed to provide a running buffet at the Smithfield Refreshment Rooms to cope with all the food requirements for those staying the week-end. By-pass action committee, Dilys Evans, agreed to allow us to use the basement of her home which a[d]joins the canal, as a tea room for anyone wanting a quick cuppa. Mr. Ted Ridge who lives on the opposite side of the canal permitted the use of his yard as an equipment store and allowed unrestricted access to his canal frontage. The Vicar offered the use of the Church Hall for family accom[m]odation, so that those bringing their youngsters with them could bed them down without the usual clamour that the main dormitory would have. The local football Club permitted us the use of their showers and all these and many more
facilities were all provided willingly and completely free of charge.
Friday the 17th saw the advance brigade established in Welshpool by mid-day, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the pumps. The first person met was Malcolm Harrington, all the way from Penzance, who was soon hard at it unloading pumps with the others present. With the arrival of Graham Palmer and the starting of the diesel pump things were really on the move. Graham and Malcolm, along with a local group led by George Richards soon had the stop planks in position at Mill Lane Bridge. To ensure a good “stop” George had arrived equipped with several large shovels and a large polythene sheet. Malcolm was soon in his over-trousers and in the water pinning down the sheet while the others piled on earth packing to complete the job. One of the many unusual sights in Welshpool that week-end was Malcolm’s emergence from the canal with a jet of water spurting from the holes in each knee of his ‘Waterproofs”.
Having got the two petrol driven pumps operating at Mill Lane pumping down stream and the diesel pumping up stream over the Lock, it was not long before the water level began to drop, disclosing the rubble that had accumulated during the 30 odd years of disuse. As darkness fell, regular inspections by torch light of the pumps, their intake filters, and the canal bed generally ensured that there was just enough water left to keep the fish alive, until the Severn River Board Fisheries Officer, Horace Jones and his colleagues began netting them on Saturday morning, They then transfer[r]ed them in @ variety of receptacles to the canal above the Lock. An estimated catch of 700 fish were moved, including roach, perch, tench, bream and many more varieties.
The 50 or so people who stayed overnight and the many Saturday morning arrivals signed in at H.Q. in the Smithfield Refreshment Rooms and were allot[t]ed their section, The dumpers, lorries, J.C.B.’s, himac and crane were despatched to their sites and by 10.00.a.m. everything was under-way. Operation Mudsplash had official[l]y begun. It is interesting to note that all that has been written so far, including the article in the lost edition of “Cuttings” is ALL preparation for the big day.
A recorded tum-out of 180 people, plus those locals and others who did not sign in at the H.Q, guaranteed a 200 man working force on the Saturday section, There was also an advance party of “gardeners” tackling the tow-path and hedges on the length below Mill Lane bridge in preparation for Sunday. A flying visit by BW. area engineer, Mr. B. Haskins, during mid morning showed further evidence of the interest in the occasion and allowed us to introduce ourselves to a person with whom we had corresponded and spoken on the telephone. A conducted tour of the site by Harry Arnold quickly put him in the picture and he was most impressed with the number of people there and their obvious enthusiasm. He was equally envious of the earth moving equipment, the himac in particular and expressed the hope that he may one day have such facilities at his disposal. If he does then maybe we may be able to borrow his, or perhaps may not need to in that case.
A short break for a snack at 1,00.p.m. soon had Mrs. Roberts and her ladies in the refreshment room working at full blast, serving the most “mud spattered” customers she’d ever seen. The afternoon soon showed that we were well on schedule and at 5,00.p.m. with everything we had set out to do completed. The pumps were then re-positioned to pump the lower length over the stop planks of Mill Lane and refill what we had cleared. At the same time the diesel pump had been moved to Gallows Tree Bank off the Shrewsbury Road crossing and was pumping down stream. This lowered the level of the water in preparation for Sunday. An inspection after dark showed that the stop planks were not as effective on this length as on the completed one, there being quite a flow-back of water into the length we were attempting to drain. Despite several attempts to improve this situation the flow still continued.
A very full house at the Astral rooms, where about 100 people stayed on Saturday night, received a welcome visit from the Mayor of Welshpool, Mr. Elwyn Davies, accompanied by his sister Mrs. K. Turner, in her role of Mayoress. The Mayor commented that Welshpool was very impressed with the enthusiasm and number of people working on the canal and said that it was a pity that such a fantastic effort was not made 30 years ago when the
canal was official[l]y closed. A barrel of beer was presented on behalf of the by-pass action committee and was dutifully despatched.
The early brigade were out and about at 7.00.a.m. on Sunday morning checking the diesel pump for fuel after its all night pumping session and restarting the two petrol engined units. It was decided to build an earth dam adjacent to the Mill Lane stop planks to try and stem the flow of water. This was soon done, by the first J.C.B. driver to arrive, and the flow stopped. Due to the continual all-night flow-back the length was not completely dry, there being about a foot or so of water still remaining. This and the fact that J.C.B. access was not very good, meant that the removal of reeds etc., was just that much more difficult and consequently slower, than the previous day, however, by mid-afternoon, the work in the canal bed was completed and a massive tidy up was begun.
The arrival of a cruiser on a launching trailer from Market Drayton and its rapid launching into the length completed on the Saturday and now re-watered, meant that we were able to offer the Mayor and Mayoress a distinction of being the first people afloat in a boat of any size on the Montgomery branch of the Shropshire Union Canal for at least 30 years.
As the light began to fade the first few began their long trek home with the comments of “see you next time” even the weather was on our side. After being overcast for the whole week-end the rain began to fall and wash away the inevitable muddy trail that we had left.
Having set ourselves a target and organised things so that success would be
virtually certain, we had silenced the few who said it could not be done and
created a spirit and an impression in Welshpool that will remain for a very
long time. My thanks to all who helped in any way, you did us proud.
Harry Machin.
Two pairs of before & after pictures:
Impressions of a Working Week-end by one of the slaves
From Winter 1969 Cuttings (issue #8), page 20
I now know a little of what it must have felt like to build a pyramid or erect Stonehenge. Being only one of 200 people working with one end in view gave me a feeling of insignificance. But at the same time a sense of importance and achievement was superimposed on this and at the end of the two days when I viewed the results of our combined efforts there was a tremendous feeling of satisfaction in a worthwhile job having been well done.
It quickly became obvious that there were three classes of people on the working party – the semi pro’s, the keen amateurs and the locals. The semi pro’s were obviously dedicated canal workers. Some people climb mountains, some crawl down pot-holes, some work on canals. They have their brightly coloured helmets, like those worn by construction engineers, their thigh length waders and their grappling irons. Distance is no object to this breed of individual, they came in droves from London and the Home Counties, they
came from Nottingham and Birmingham they even came from Yorkshire, Bristol and Penzance – just to grub muck and filth out of a canal – how dedicated can you get ?.
The second class of workers, the amateurs, were mainly members of our Society, or their friends who had been “conned” into a week-end in Wales. But nonetheless keen and enthusiastic – after all it is our avowed intent to open “the Montgomery” if at all possible, and here was a chance to show that we meant business. More power to our communal elbow! Some folk just can’t keep away from canals – it was reported that one of the workers was a Director of the Birmingham & Midland Canal Carrying Company –
talk about a busmans holiday.
Thirdly, the locals. It was very gratifying to see so many Welshpool people tum out to help. They did us proud. They not only lent their labour but also their buildings for canteens, headquarters and accom[m]odation, they lent their help in a thousand and one ways without which “operation Mudsplash” would have been almost impossible. They lent their Doctor, but it is a credit to all concerned that he only had to treat two or three cut fingers and provide pills for one particularly stupid slave (the author) who managed to put a hedging knife into a wasp’s nest. But most pleasing was to see locals who[se] property fronted onto the canal setting-to to clean up their own stretch’ of waterfront.
The car park provided a most interesting study, there were vehicles of every conceivable type. At one time | saw every type of modern car from the humble mini-van to a luxurious Daimler, there were old bangers, a real vintage museum piece, some really sporty “hot-rods”. There were buses, an ambulance, a low loader, several caravans, lorries, a couple of dumpers, a bulldozer and a Hi-mac, cycles and amid all this the stand of the Welshpool
and Llanfair Railway Society, selling books, postcards, memberships and, very practically, chocolates and sweets.
Many memories stay with me of those two days in Welshpool – an attractive girl with a friendly smile who eschewed make-up in favour of a spattering of canal mud, could this be the origin of the mud-pack ? – small boys with exceedingly large spades as happy as pigs in muck, as the saying has it – a young man up to his waist in water, oblivious of the cold, happily gathering up armfuls of weeds – a child’s “potty” found in the mud – a member of the organising committee standing in front of a paddle trying to hide the fact that it was raised, against the regulations, with a B.W. engineer eyeing him suspiciously – a crowd of tired, filthy, raggle taggle workers – knocking back a pint at the bar – several physically unfortunates making themselves useful in whatever manner they were able – and above all a great sense of cam[a]raderie and helpfulness towards each other.
But perhaps my most lasting impression is of a snatch of conversation which I overheard. It was Sunday afternoon, the first section was already refilled, there were two or three small boats already afloat and three local teenage youths were walking along looking longingly at the water. One of the boys was saying “yes, but I think we should start off with something we can afford – how in hell can we buy a power boat ?”, I still shudder at the thought of three youths at the helm of a 125 horsepower monster whipping the Montgomery Canal to a mass of foam.
Author unknown
Memories of 1969 by Pat Wilson
From November-December 1999 Cuttings (issue #170), page 4
It is October 18th and I am sitting in front of a fire with the curtains drawn and not thinking of doing much else tonight except reminiscing of what our family was up to 30 years ago today. By this hour, we had arrived home tired and hungry. Husband Geoff and the two eldest boys – Ian aged 14 and Guy aged 13 were so filthy they had been made to undress down to undies and socks outside the backdoor and make their way to the bathroom. The two youngest – Kay aged 10 and Mark aged 7 – and myself were not quite so dirty but smelt a bit ‘off’ so could wait our turn for the bath. So what had we been up to? And why should I think that you would be interested in knowing? We had been on the first day of the Big Dig in Welshpool, also known as Mudsplash – the very beginning of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal 30 years ago today!
We had bought our first canal cruiser in 1967 and joined the Society soon after. By 1969, Geoff had volunteered me to serve on the committee of the Society and being the obedient wife that I am (?) I did as I was bid. I had no idea then just how this committee job was going to affect my life and that of the whole family right up to the present day. I hadn’t even heard of the Montgomery Canal before my first committee meeting, and I certainly didn’t dream then that by 1972 I would be Chairman of the Society with the Montgomery restoration taking up an enormous part of our spare time.
To go back to 30 years ago today! Four car loads of us set off from Nantwich for Welshpool early in the morning – the other volunteers were Scout Leaders and Scouts from Nantwich Parish Church Group some of whom had previously been on Operation Ashtack with Geoff. In those days there was no age limit so youngsters could help. On arrival at Welshpool we had to report and sign in at Control H.Q. which was in the Smithfield Building. Geoff and the others were allocated the areas in which they had to work – under the supervision of a foreman -between the Town Lock and Mill Lane Bridge. The canal was already partly dewatered (unofficially) showing the accumulation of junk which had been deposited there during the 33 years since the canal was abandoned plus an enormous amount of vegetation which had grown over the years. Since early morning, local people had been doing a fish rescue and putting them into the canal above Town Lock – some of them were huge -the fish I mean.
Everything was organised like a military operation. There were 5 diggers to lift the stuff out of the canal, 8 dumper trucks to cart it away to 6 lorries which in turn were taken to a field for emptying. The job of the volunteers was to get into the slurry and dig out the sedge and solids and where possible to throw it into the area which could be reached by the land based diggers otherwise to barrow it along the canal on boards to the diggers.
Myself and our two youngest were allocated to giving out hot drinks to the volunteers and also to go round with collecting boxes to get donations from the onlookers towards the cost of the operation. The whole operation was being financed by the Society who had nowhere near the £500 in the Bank that was going to be the cost. I had a few members of the public who said it would be better to fill the canal in but the majority were in favour of it being restored and certainly didn’t want the proposed bypass in it’s place. Part way through the morning it was decided that a bonfire was needed to dispose of all the vegetation that was being cut instead of taking it to the tip site. Bonfires are my joy so I volunteered to get one going – but what with? I eventually found some empty crisp packets in a bin and cadged a box of matches. I had a lovely time with a huge bonfire which burnt for several days. It was sometime and several working party bonfires later that I became known as Pyro Pat. The name I got that weekend was B Bossy
B…. when I had forcefully remonstrated with a keen young chap who tried to tip a dumper full of soggy reeds directly onto my embryo bonfire which would have killed it, and I didn’t have any more crisp packets.
It was incredible how much work was done on that first day. About 200 volunteers had come from all parts of the country -London, Birmingham, Bristol, Burton-on-Trent, The Potteries, Rugby – and descended on Welshpool for the weekend. Some were Society members, some were local people others were regular ‘Navvies’ whose ‘boss’ was the late Graham Palmer who was overseeing the whole weekend. The first days work finished at 6pm having started at 10am and was due to start again at 10am on the Sunday. Accom[m]odation for those staying overnight was provided free of charge in the Astral Rooms in Welshpool. Showers were also available. I hope those volunteers staying overnight had brought a change of clothes with them. If not I hate to think how they had managed to get back into the clothes they must have literally peeled off themselves, thick with muck, on the previous evening. My lot set off on the Sunday to travel the 50 miles to Welshpool in clean clothes and by Sunday night the heap outside our back door was enormous and by Monday stank to high heaven – our two cars were no better – it should have put me off from canal restoration for ever!
The work area for Sunday was from Mill Lane Bridge towards Gallowstree Bridge. By mid afternoon the canal through the town was cleared and the water was let back in ready for the Smithfield Market next day. The towpath was thick with black sludge and an estimated 1,000 tons of muck and rubbish had been removed from the canal. The highlight of the day came late in the afternoon when a Dolphin Dayboat owned by Harry Machin -the Society Chairman – was launched over the bank just below Town Lock and Harry escorted the Mayor of Welshpool on a cruise along the section of the canal which the day before was full of rubbish, silt and vegetation with overhanging trees and bushes.
What a weekend! What an achievement! What a great start to the restoration of this beautiful canal!
It had only been 2 years earlier that a letter had been received by the North West Branch of the I.W.A. from the then County Planning Officer for Montgomeryshire asking if they had any views on the future of the canal as there were definite proposals for a town centre by-pass using the route of the canal. Harry Arnold was the Society representative on the IWA committee and he was asked to pass it to SUCS to deal with. SUCS decided that this needed urgent investigation and Harry Machin and Harry Arnold met Merfyn Roberts, the author of the letter just 2 months later and there began a frantic time for SUCS committee members. The canal was surveyed and a booklet was produced by the Society in June 1969 – ‘The Montgomery Canal. A case for restoration’. This coincided with the announcement of the plans for the Welshpool by-pass which would in fact take the route of the canal and make future restoration to and beyond Welshpool impossible. Society committee members had a frantic few weeks in which they contacted everyone who could fight these plans and the Grand Finale was the weekend work party 30 years ago today and tomorrow to demonstrate to all concerned what a gem would be lost if the by-pass took the canal route.
Thirty years is a long time – but a lot has been achieved towards the total restoration of my beloved Montgomery. Some who were very involved at the beginning have for various reasons had to now leave it to others, some have passed on to a higher place, but thank goodness more enthusiasts come along to take their places. I shall be 70 next year and I used to say I was going to cruise the whole of the Montgomery to celebrate that special birthday – that wont happen because we still have bits without water – but I am sure that it will be possible in the future and I promise to write an account of my cruise for ‘Cuttings’ ! Watch this space!
Pat Wilson
Comments from Harry Arnold
From January-February 2000 Cuttings (issue #171)
I was interested to read Pat Wilson’s ‘Memories of 1969’ in the recent issue. However — as I have also had to write to Waterways World — for the sake of historical accuracy and to give ‘credit where credit is due’ I must correct something.
It was not Harry Machin, but John Williams who came with me to the (what turned out to be a most significant) meeting with Merlyn Roberts. John was a fellow committee member and worked with me at Norbury and we later spent two full days `surveying’ the Montgomery for the ‘Case for Restoration’ report; initially submitted to IWAAC. John is now the John Williams of John Williams Boats on the Broads. The mistake was probably entirely due to my memory as I have been asked about this meeting many times.
Again, for the sake of not reinventing canal history, I would like to point out that the Welshpool big dig was never called ‘Mudsplash’ or ‘Operation Mudsplash’. On all the publicity it was simply called ‘Weishpool Weekend’ As part of the organising group I still have my own and also Graham Palmer’s file — including the booking-in sheets for the volunteers. ‘Mudsplash’ appears to be a later invention of someone in Welshpool.
Harry Arnold
