Individuals have owned boat houses in the High Lane Arm of the
Macclesfield Canal since at least 1910. These individuals came
together in 1943 to form the North Cheshire Cruising Club (NCCC). A
chance discovery whilst clearing a store room revealed an almost
complete set of Club minutes which has allowed the author to piece
together the story of the Club from earliest times to the present
day.
The
club was formed in the middle of the Second World War and it was
therefore an act of great optimism. This optimism continued in the
early years of peace but was soon dashed by the threat of widespread
canal closure. The campaign to save the Macclesfield, Peak Forest
and Ashton Canals was central to the National campaign being mounted
by the fledgling Inland Waterways Association to preserve the right
of navigation on threatened waterways and reinvent the canals as a
leisure facility. This book documents the role played by NCCC in
this fight, describing the early Cruising Queen celebrations,
Macclesfield and Marple rallies and canal clearing activities on the
Ashton Canal, as well as other contributions setting the NCCC’s part
in context.
Concurrently with these nationally important activities the NCCC
worked towards full occupation of the arm and provision of boating
facilities. The most ambitious projects were the conversion of the
stone warehouse and the second slipway. It also catalogues the
regular activities of a thriving cruising club on the Macclesfield
Canal and how they have changed with time.
The book
of 80 pages utilises over 40 photographs from the club archives and
other sources, many not previously published. The author is an
honorary life member of the NCCC and their archivist. He is
therefore uniquely qualified to write this history.
Price per copy is £5
+ £1 p+p and can be ordered from NCCC Ltd, The Wharf, Buxton Rd,
High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 8AA.
For further information:
e mail:
Copies of Club DVDs are available to purchase please email
for more information.
A small clip from the DVD "The Voyages of
'Beyond' - 1971 The Upper River Thames" is shown here:-
In 1971 the wooden cruiser 'Beyond' made the
journey from the North Cheshire Cruising Club to Letchlade - The
Head of Navigation on the River Thames. This DVD which includes
commentary (total length: 33 mins) is a record of that
journey.
Cost £2.50 plus postage & packing.
A small clip from the DVD "The Voyages of
'Beyond' - 1972 To The River Avon" is shown here:-
In 1972 the wooden cruiser 'Beyond' made the
journey from the North Cheshire Cruising Club to Evesham - on the
River Avon via the Trent and Mersey, the Staffs & Worcester and the
River Severn. The return journey is made via the Shroppie, Middlewich
Branch, Trent & Mersey and the Macclesfield Canals. This DVD
which includes commentary (total
length: 44 mins) is a record of that
journey.
Cost £2.50 plus postage & packing.
A small clip from the DVD "The Voyages of H &
E Tetlow, 1961 -1968" is shown here:-
This video opens with the slipping of their first
boat, "Oakhurst" and the NCCC Opening Cruise of 1961 in their boat "Anastina"
(shown in this short clip).
Many other voyages are covered in this DVD
including Southern Stratford (1964), Blackburn Rally (1965), Marple
National Rally (1966), LLangollen (1961 & 62), Trent & Mersey and
Lancaster (1962) along with many others.
Total
length: 1hour 55mins, including commentary - Cost £2.50 plus postage & packing.
There are
still copies of the book "Diamond Reminiscences - Celebrating 60 Years
of NCCC" available - please email
or contact the club with your orders.
