ABOUT US

How was the 4Cs formed?

The 4Cs was formed by several boaters from around Saul Junction after a unique and ground-breaking cruise that was undertaken by the group in 2011 to help to bring to public notice the restoration work on The Stroudwater canal.

The history of the Stroudwater:

In 1911, the last loaded working boat (The Gem) passed onto the Stroudwater Canal, then onwards to the Thames and Severn Canal. This was the through route from the River Severn and Stroud to the Thames. The 36 mile waterway was completed in the late 18th century but was abandoned in 1954. Fortunately for all who support the restoration of this once vital link, work is now progressing and the waterway once again has a bright future.

A century after that last commercial passage, the event was marked by a commemorative cruise undertaken in 2011, by a number of narrowboats. Since the route Gem took is currently under restoration, the cruise to Inglesham had to be via one of the two routes currently available. Some boats took the northerly route via Stratford on Avon, others took the southerly route via the Severn Estuary and Bristol.

The campaigning cruise was a great success for those involved and a suggestion was made to form a canal cruising club based on the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club was formed. It became affiliated to the Cotswolds Canal Trust (CCT) which is working hard to raise funds, awareness and provide voluntary help alongside the professionals in the full restoration of the Stroudwater and the Thames & Severn canals. For information on the impressive progress of the CCT, visit their website: www.cotswoldcanals.com

In 2012, despite atrocious weather, a cruise was made by members of the fledgling 4Cs to visit the Droitwich Canals. By the start of 2013 the roll call consisted of the founding members who, between them owned 14 narrowboats.

The membership is not limited to those in the Cotswolds, our members now come from far and wide, right across the country.

For 2013 an ambitious plan was hatched to consist of no less than three interlinking cruises. Part 1 was to the River Weaver in Cheshire. Part 2 was to attend the Inland Waterways Association Festival in Watford, and Part 3 was to cruise the Tidal Thames, visiting the Thames Barrier and then inbound via London’s Tideway to Teddington. An extension to this section was to cruise again onwards up the Thames to Inglesham.

Back at Watford, 7 of the 14 boats managed to attend the IWA Festival and a competition was entered, the winners being those who attended the Festival with the highest number of boats as a percentage of the whole club’s membership.

In only the second year of our existence, The Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club won! We were duly presented with The Offley and Slack Propeller award, another award was won again by our members of nb Unique in 2018.

Members receiving our first award: The Offley & Slack Propellor award

Roger & Lynne Mellors nb “Unique” 2018 receiving the Robert Aickman Trophy and
RCR Cruising Challenge Trophy 

Since its inception, the club has determined each year to offer what might be rightly considered “outstanding cruises” such as the various Estuary and River Thames cruises.

Mindful of the fact that not all our members have unlimited time to cruise, many of the adventurous cruises are supplemented with others that members may join in and drop out of at will. We will always try to offer something out of the ordinary, be it visiting little used waterways like the Chesterfield and the Droitwich Canals or something more adventurous.

Two club narrowboats, “Time Out” ( the blue one ) and “Cormorant 2” ( the green one ) pose in the entrance to the Thames and Severn Canal, having been carefully manoeuvred there to look as if they really had emerged from the canal. We all look forward to the day that this can be enjoyed for real.

When the Thames & Severn Canal is restored to through navigation, this may become a familiar sight:

Junction of the Thames & Severn Canal and the River Thames

 

COTSWOLDS CANAL CRUISING CLUB CONSTITUTION (Revised 2015)

  1. The name of the Club shall be the Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club (hereinafter referred to as The Club)
  2. The aims of The Club shall be:
  • To stimulate interest in and promote the restoration of the Cotswold Canals and other canal restoration schemes country wide.
  • To provide assistance to other waterways users.
  • To have at least one major cruise and one or two shorter cruises per year.
  1. The Club shall be affiliated to:

[a] The Cotswold Canals Trust, which will administer the financial affairs of the Club.

[b] The Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs [AWCC] to which an annual subscription as set by the AWCC will be paid..

  1. The activities of The Club shall be controlled by a committee consisting of: Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and 3 other Committee members.
  2. The primary means of communication of The Club will be via electronic means. Currently (2015) this is electronic mail is limited to The Club membership and the Club website. The use of both is to be described in a “New members welcome pack.” This pack is to be sent to the physical address registered with the membership secretary.Use of Social Websites e.g. Facebook, Twitter etc. is NOT an official method for distribution or dissemination of club information.
  3. In order to allow members who cannot attend the AGM to vote, alternative means will be made available.
  4. Committee members shall be elected to serve for 1 year and shall be subject to election at the Annual General Meeting each year: . In the event that no nominations for election to the committee are forthcoming for any of the club offices (Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and 2 other members) then the current post holder, if they are agreeable, may be permitted to continue to serve in that post but not for any continuous period in excess of 3 years.
    The post of Commodore is to be elected by the Committee at the first meeting following the AGM.
  5. The first AGM shall be held within 6 months of the formation of The Club and subsequent AGMs not more than fifteen months after the holding of the preceding meeting.
  6. The Committee shall determine the time and place of the Annual General Meeting.  At least 30 days notice of the AGM must be given.
  7. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional people from time to time who are able to render special services to The Club.
  8. Only fully paid up members of The Club will be eligible to vote at the AGMs.
  9. Vacancies that may occur between elections can be filled by the invitation of the remaining Committee members.
  10. It shall be the duty of the Committee to manage The Club in accordance with the aims of the The Club and this constitution.
  11. A membership subscription of £6 per head per annum [6th April to 5th April ]  shall be levied. This subscription can only be changed at an Annual General Meeting.
  12. Membership cards shall be issued to all members of the Club.  The cards must be signed by the member and are not transferable to any others. Temporary membership cards shall be issued to occasional additional members of boats crew.
  13. The Committee shall have the right to refuse membership to any individual.
  14. Any resolution to amend the Constitution must be put before an Annual General Meeting. Any resolution for such a change  must be received by the Secretary not less than 30 days before the date of the meeting. No resolution to amend the Constitution shall be carried unless those voting in favour are at least 2/3 of the total vote.
  15. In the event of The Club being dissolved any net assets will be transferred to the Cotswold Canals Trust.

 

 

 

 

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