Last Thursday evening saw me heading over to Oldbury to attend a talk presented by Malcolm Braine in the Titford Pump House. This lovely building stands proud adjacent to the top lock of the six that lead off of the Wolverhampton level at Oldbury Junction and is at the highest point of the Birmingham Canals.
Titford Pump House
The evening had been organised by the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS) http://bcnsociety.com/ and was extremely well supported with in excess of 80 people turning out on a rather damp February evening.
Malcolm talked us through an incredible number of photographs from his first experiences on the canals, his introduction to the boatyards that maintained and repaired the boats and to his days spent at Norton Canes on the Cannock Extension Canal where he operated his own successful boatyard (rebuilding and maintaining old boats and building new boats). He begun at 7.30pm and concluded at 10.45pm with a short break in the middle.
Malcolm Braine, October 2013 at Weston.
Pouring canal water over the Cactus, celebrating his 50th year of ownership!
I always enjoy talking to Malcolm, but I must say that I came home on Thursday evening in ore of the experiences that he encountered on a canal system that is somewhat different these days and extremely enthused.
Best regards,
David.
Its so frustrating. I had every intention of attending but couldnt get out of work till 7.00pm!
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