The Bonfire Rally was held to great acclaim back in November. Not being particularly technical, it's no use trying to help with lights and stuff like that or I'd probably fuse Smethwick. I ended up as society gopher. "Can you go to the bank and get some change?" "Can you go into Brum and get a spare widget?" "Can you go and change this gas cylinder?" "Can you go and get another jug of water?". It was great fun and during the course of our gophering your Chairman (who is, of course, far too elevated to be described as a gopher) and I discovered an interesting bit of the BCN which has been seen by only a few. But, more of that some other time.... the Rally was a great success as a couple of reports inside inform us.

On the Friday morning of the Rally we were visited by John Spellar MP, Minister of Transport and member for Warley, and Roger Herrington, British Waterways Manager for Birmingham and the Black Country. The Minister was looking at developments on the canals in the area and was able to view the Smethwick toll office reconstruction which was nearing completion and the Oldbury Pump House at Titford. Their commitment to regenerating the network was most encouraging to hear.

Society Conservation Officer Jeff Barley has been doing his own bit of regenerating and has brought the old marquee right up to standard, transforming what was a bit of a liability into a real society asset.

The Society's Annual General Meeting was held before the Rally in November and a range of issues was discussed. Space precludes a full report here but any member wishing to be sent a copy of the proceedings can contact me.

An interesting letter in one of the canal glossies recently described a cruise around part of the BCN. The visitors had, on the whole, enjoyed themselves and had, like many more before, gained a sneaking liking for our curious criss-cross of canals. They did mention one incident when their boat rose up over something soft before settling back down in the water. I thought it only right that I should write to the magazine and reassure them that it would only have been what we call a Black Country Hippo.

Perhaps the latter species will become less common as we continue with our annual clean-ups. On March 16th & 17th this year's clean-up is returning to the same canal as the very first one, back in 1997, and will tackle the other end of the Walsall Canal between Ocker Hill and the bottom of Ryder's Green Locks. As always, Brenda Ward is co-ordinating the event. Looking back over the five previous clean-ups, they have all been great successes and we hope as many members as possible will get down to Ocker Hill at sometime over the weekend.

Phil Clayton