#The dig was a last minute replacement for one on the Grand Western Canal we were supposed to be on. Luckily the H & G Trust had just obtained access to a new site in Newent.
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The site was Newent railway station which was built on the original course of the canal and the intention is to reinstate it as the canal. Here Richard Worthington is excavating the platform edge which, when raised, will form the edge of 'Newent Wharf'
Our leader for the weekend was Nat, here in the familiar organisers pose with a very clean jacket.
One of the jobs for the weekend was to fence the site using 'reclaimed' fencing, here David Penny concretes in a post.
Tea break
More tea break, Andi with new girlie Jean
We were staying at Oxenhall Parish Hall, Saturday evening was BBQ time ...
... but not before Jenny had been to fetch essential supplies !
Luckily the London WRG BBQ weather curse was not invoked and we ate outside.
The meal was followed by a walk to the local hostelry via the nearly complete Oxenhall lock. It transpired that they were still breaking in new local policemen so they had to kick us out at closing time ...
... so back to the hall it was to continue the merriment, here Sally has a difficult decision to make, beer or chocolate ?
The hall was 'comfortable' but it did have a shower even if Andi had to explode it to get it to work
One of Sundays jobs was to fetch fenceposts from the Trusts yard, unfortunately one of them was still concreted in!
We had the use of the WRG beavertail for the weekend, the winch on which made loading the posts easier.
The other main job for the weekend was to scrub bash the 'platform' area
Andi hard at work (where did she get those trousers?)
Richard admires his excavated platform edge ...
... whilst the girlies get on with the hard work.
Meanwhile the fencing gang were progressing...
... but not without the obligitory tea breaks.
Martin spent all day clearing the fence line of tree stumps.
Marcus had been told to dig a hole and get in it
Jean mixes the concrete ...
... for the new gate post (it takes five people to make sure it is upright)
At the end of the weekend the site was clear ...
... the fencing secured with cable ties ...
.... so that nobody could get out,
not even this lot.
Back at the accommodation we managed to snarl up down town Oxenhall with the WRG fleet.
Just to see what the site may look like one day we stopped off at Over to see the maturing basin ...
... and the new Wharf House.
Photos by Tim, Alan and whoever happened to pick up Eds camera.
Read Nat's report on the London WRG web site