Posted by Jock on June 10, 2007 at 19:15:11 from 86.151.127.109 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: The Folding Boat Question now swimming posted by Owen Roberts on June 10, 2007 at 00:21:42:
The Conservancy seem to rely a lot on unpaid, unofficial lock helpers on the Thames. [my emphasis added]
I think the past tense would be more appropriate here. The Thames Conservancy was abolished in 1973 and the Thames was transferred in turn to: Thames Water, the National Rivers Authority and now the Environmental Agency. Thames locksides have become 'no go' areas for kids and the public footpath which wound its way across Teddington Lock is no more.
Returning now to the Grand Union, in the days that I helped out at Clitheroes the morning traffic could be anything up to 6 laden lighters towed by narrow tractors which ran along the towpath. The tractor driver continued towing the lighter at full speed until 1/3 was in the lock. The lock keeper positioned himself by the bottom gate ready to shut it just as soon as the lighter was clear. My job was to raise the ground paddle at just the right time - too early and the pressure of water would stop the lighter in its tracks before it had cleared the bottom gates, too late and the lighter would crash into the sill by the top gates. Falling in the lock just wasn't an option!