In the short time I have been repairing or putting up signposts for the Society, a number of parts of existing signs have come into my possession. A finial from Farmers Bridge, this being the first post erected, put up on the island in Birmingham that now bears the sign “Old Turn Junction”. The name was changed when it was realised that Farmers Bridge Junction is the arm near to the top lock of that flight. Some will say that even Old Turn is not right and that it should be Deep Cutting Junction – letters to the editor, please, not me

When the Black Country Spine Road was being built and BW’s offices at Ocker Hill were being built, the sign at Tame Valley Junction was taken down by a contractor for safe keeping. When all was complete could they find all of the sign? Yes, you’ve guessed, two of the arms were missing. They were replaced, one pointing to Ryders Green Junction and the other to Birchills Junction. Later both of the lost arms turned up in a Birmingham Auction Room as a job lot! The arms were returned to the Society by the auctioneer via BW. And on the subject of the Tame Valley, where is Doe Bank Junction? Letters to the editor, not me.

A third arm was won when we upgraded the Pelsall Junction sign. The Cannock Extension arm being replaced to mark the efforts of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Society.

Now all of these bits of sign post have been in my garage for some time gathering dust and constantly in the way. A new home was required so when we took over the Pump house I looked hopefully at the store room to solve my problem. Then suddenly it struck me, reading Phil’s humorous editorial in BP about whether we should have copyright on our signs as they featured in so many publications, that the signs represent so much of what the BCNS stands for. Visitors to the Pump house should be made aware that we put up signs and maintain them and to achieve this, the spare parts should be put together as a permanent exhibit. So an extra sign on the BCN has been created and hangs on the wall in the meeting room – but please don’t try to find it on any map of follow its directions! If anybody else has any ideas of placing fixed canal orientated exhibits in the Pump house to increase the interest for anyone visiting the building, please come forward.

The Pump house and its visitor moorings and facilities are becoming known as a safe place and boats are beginning to moor overnight. We should be taking advantage of these visitors and spreading the gospel as many are newcomers to the BCN.

As previously reported, the signpost at Oldbury Locks was damaged by contractors repairing the elevated section of the M5 twelve months ago. And what a lot has happened in that year – the Pump house at the top of the locks is now our home and it was only right that the Oldbury Locks Junction signpost should reflect this. So, although the damaged arm arm (the one pointing up the Crow) has been replaced, cost being borne by the contractor Tilbury / Douglas, there was no reference to the Pump house on the replacement. This has finally been sign written (sorry painted) onto the arm after numerous failed attempts. Further delay was caused by the fact that my predecessors had so securely fitted the signs onto the post, by Aralditing all the threads to prevent theft. This, coupled with the effect of corrosion over ten or more years, had resulted in the saw being the only method of removing the damaged arm. Thread had to be sawn off the top of the pole between the finial and the top arm to allow removal but this meant that a new method had to be found to fix the new arms to the pole. This was finally achieved and a number of fixing kits produced so this should not be such a problem in the future.

The signpost at Oldbury Locks Junction was replaced on the morning of Friday 7th June 2002 by Kevin Field and myself and we were home in time to watch England beat Argentina in the World Cup. (By the time you read this that fact will be ancient history but it seems very important as I write this report.)

Phoenix was used and the inverter fitted providing a 240 volt supply made the job that much easier. Phoenix really is a useful piece of kit and I do wish more people would use her.

Anyway, my attention now moves to the next sign post, at Horseley Fields. All the parts are nearly together, the site needs to be surveyed and the relevant authorities contacted to see if any developments mentioned for the area have changed the site plans.

After Horseley Fields I have not forgotten Bordesley Junction as some kind members sent donations to start a fund for this project. Many Thanks. I will get there but it does take time.