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French connections
Canal enthusiasts from the Canal du Nivernais — the K&A Canal’s twinned French waterway visited the K&A Canal for the last weekend in September.
On Saturday they met members of the Kennet & Avon Canal twinning group in the cafe at Crofton Pumping Station before being
taken on a guided tour of the Pumping Station by K&A Canal Trust Crofton Branch Chairman, Harry Willis.
On Sunday they visited Claverton Pumping station and saw the water powered pump
in action — then on Monday their busy schedule took them on to Ireland for the re-opening
of the Royal Canal.
Alan Henham explains the working of the Claverton Pump to Door Mass
Jo Parfitt, left, from the Nivernais talks to Tony Jordan about a Coventry
Climax petrol powered water pump — and right, the visitors admire the woodworking skills of the volunteers who
have rebuilt the Burbage Wharf crane.
The visitors with Alan Henham, centre, from left, Door Mass, Jo Parfitt, Robert
Whitaker and Wendy Fillery gather round the Canal du Nivernais lock gate
opening mechanism presented to Claverton Pumping Station during a visit by Les
Amis du Canal du Nivernais in September 1998.
A Canal du Nivernais lock gate being opened.
