In May a few of us brought the joey boat which the Society has acquired back from Coven. John Edmonds has the full story on page 12 as well as other Work Party news. The highlight of my trip on the joey was when we passed through Rough Hills stop just outside Wolverhampton. Jeff was steering Hawthorn and towing the joey with Andy and me on it. The joey had no rudder and we'd been steering it with help from the long pole. Jeff got Hawthorn and the joey through the narrows without either touching the side. We were all well impreseed !

The Society is involved in several rallies during the latter part of the year starting with the Black Country Boating Festival at Windmill End, Netherton over the weekend of the 18th & 19th September and the Parkhead Rally the following weekend and culminating with our own Bonfire Rally at Galton Valley, Smethwick at the beginning of November. All of these events take a lot of organising and it would be good to see members showing their support of the Society's efforts. Please come along either during the day when there are many activities planned or to the ewvening entertainments. If you feel you could help with the organisation or setting up of these events please contact a Council member.

Members of the Tojo's Bridge Appreciation Society had better sit down before turning to page 16.

A recent trip across the BCN showed the system at its best and worst. Sections of the Wyrley & Essington are lovely, especially through Rough Wood and around Pelsall Common but other parts are thick with duckweed and clogged with rubbish. The Walsall Canal above Ryders Green is like the canal time forgot with industry still in evidence and graffiti dating back to the sixties. The new moorings on the Stourbridge Extension will hopefully encourage more boaters into this intriguing but little visited area though proposals to reopen the railway line could prove interesting as it runs about six feet away from the towpath. Ten minutes before entering the brave new world of Merry Hill Waterfront with its new expensive moorings we rolled over a car in the Dudley No 1.

Although the completion of the restoration of the Lichfield Canal is included in the 18 projects listed by B.W for possible fulfillment by 2025, it does not appear in the first group which is expected to be achieved in the next ten years. This is a pity because the opening up of a through route from the northern BCN would have such a beneficial effect on waterways like the Wyrlwey & Essington which are at present off putting to the majority of boaters.