Past AGMs are listed “most recent first”
(Note that clicking on a small picture will show that picture larger)
Saturday 11th May 2024 – Our AGM at Apedale Heritage Centre was attended by around 20 people. After the AGM and lunch there was also an organised (but optional) tour of the drift mine. The site also has a narrow-gauge railway which offered short rides by 2 foot gauge steam trains.
Saturday 3rd June 2023 – Our AGM at Westport Lake Visitor Centre was attended by around 20 people. As well as the AGM, we also discussed our future and, in particular, how to celebrate the 50th anniversary of out founding on 2nd February 1974. (Photos: David Clegg)
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| The Meeting Room | Chairman and Secretary |
After the meeting there was an optional walk around Westport Lake.
Saturday 7th May 2022 – Our AGM at Canalside Conference Centre, Middlewich. This was our first AGM for 3 years, but we still managed to clear all the business side within an hour.
After the meeting we were taken on a guided tour of Murgatroyd’s Brine Pump. (Photos: Roger Evans)
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| Murgatroyds Stone | Mike Walton explains the history |
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| Inside the pumphouse | One of the Borehole Pumps |
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| Kerry explains the Transfer Pumps | Barrow + Murgatroyds Sign |
2021 – This AGM was postponed because of Covid-19.
Saturday 2nd May 2020 – This AGM (and the tour of Murgatoyd’s Brine Pump) was postponed because of Covid-19.
Saturday 11th May 2019 – Our AGM at Etruria Industrial Museum. The Wedgwood Trophy was presented to Val & Peter Sibley for their “Towpath Reflections” articles which were published for many years in Grand Trunk.
After the meeting we were taken on a guided tour of Shirley’s Bone and Flint Mill. (Photos: David Clegg)
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| Presenting the Trophy | Giant Cogwheels |
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| The Boiler | Massive Flywheel |
Saturday 12th May 2018 – Our AGM at the Water & Wheels Museum in Stone.
The museum isn’t open to the public yet, but Roger & Martin Fuller delighted in showing us around and even giving us rides on their train afterwards. (Photos: Roger Evans)
Roger Fuller driving
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| Excited Passengers | Museum Entrance |
Saturday 6th May 2017 – Our AGM at the Bluebell Inn, Kidsgrove.
After the AGM Jon Honeysett took us on a very interesting guided walk to see both Harecastle Tunnel entrances and the railway station. (Photos: Roger Evans [except group at Tunnel: Sarah Honeysett] )
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| Brindley Plaque | Telford Plaque |
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| Brindley Tunnel | Telford Tunnel |
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| Turnover Bridge between 2 Towpaths | Group at Tunnel Mouth |
Saturday 14th May 2016 – Our AGM at Stone Station. The building was completed in 1849 by The North Staffordshire Railway Company (previous owners of our canal) and is a grade II listed building. It was refurbished for community use in 2003. (Photos: Roger Evans [except inside: David Clegg])
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| Stone station now | As it was in the days of steam (from a painting in the main hall) |
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| Committee Table | Audience |
The meeting began with a short talk about Stone by David Dumbelton. Stone’s two major industries were brewing and shoe-making. The most famous brewery was Joules (pronounced Jowls). The town is attractive, socially active with beer and food festivals, and very much a canal town.
The Report on 2015 was then discussed. Highlights included :-
- Milepost cleaning and painting continues in the North.
- The Cheshire Locks painting project (joint with IWA North Staffs and South Cheshire) is going well, if slowly.
- Our website is now totally maintained by ourselves. It is frequently updated (especially the news and events section) and can be found at www.trentandmerseycanalsociety.org.uk . This is a new address reflecting the fact that we haven’t been a limited company for some years, but the old .co.uk address still works (being invisibly redirected).
- Publicity and sales, now in the able hands of Paula Jackson and Eddie Kingswell, is very vibrant. The society stall can be found at all the main events in the North of our region. Paula hopes to arrange press releases for future events after an offer of help by Harry Arnold.
- This season’s talks all went well and were very enjoyable. The Society now has its own talk on the Trent & Mersey Canal from Preston Brook to Armitage Tunnel delivered by Gillian Watson. This means we can give reciprocal talks to other societies.
After the formal business (and an excellent buffet lunch) David Dumbelton led a guided walk along the towpath. For one member (John Tackley) this involved an emotional reunion with the cabin section of butty “Rebekah”, used as a flower display below Star Lock. This was originally the stern of John’s butty “Axe” which was discarded after the boat was sold and converted to power. (Photos: David Clegg [except Rebekah/Axe: Roger Evans])
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| Examining Milepost and Plaque | View of Fuller’s Wharf |
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| “Rebekah”, used as a flower display | John explaining about “Axe” |
Saturday 9th May 2015 – Our AGM at Lion Salt Works. (Photos: Roger Evans)
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| The AGM | Play area and old Pan through Window |
After the formal business over 30 members had a tour of the site (even though it wasn’t yet open to the public). This tour was excellent, especially for those of us who remember the works in its last working days. Our two guides were apologetic that it was their very first tour, but they worked hard to explain everything to us, and to answer our questions. Afterwards we had an excellent buffet lunch to round off a very interesting day.
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| Old Pump | Old Salt Wagon |
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| Old Pan with holes | Display Pan |
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| Workers moving Salt Lumps | Packing the Salt |
Saturday 17th May 2014 – Our AGM at Middleport Pottery.
After the formal business all 17 members had a tour of the site by Visitor Manager Teresa Fox-Wells which was very interesting, especially the inside of the bottle kiln. We were particularly impressed by the way the site had been kept looking “old and weathered” rather than too much new work being done. The site formally opens on July 1st, so do visit it yourselves. A buffet lunch followed (our thanks to Cynthia Dumbelton), then a visit to the factory shop. (Photos: David Clegg [except Bottle Kiln: Bob Luscombe])
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| Presentation about Burslem Port | Wedgwood Trophy presentation to Gillian |
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| Lunch | Examining Ceramic Model of the Site |
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| By the Trent & Mersey Canal Wharf | Outside of Bottle Kiln |
Finally David Dumbelton and Roger Savage led us on a walk along the line of the Burslem Arm, explaining their proposals and answering all our question. The weather co-operated, so we had a really enjoyable walk. (Photos: David Clegg)
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| David explains the Burslem Arm Route | Down steps to canal line |
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| A narrow bit ! | At the Junction with the Trent & Mersey |