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Northampton Arm
BW192/3/2/2/13/5/19
Associated Canal Carriers Limited narrowboats 'George' and 'Mary' on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal
Description
Black and white photograph taken from beside the canal, the motor 'George' is in the foreground towing the butty 'Mary' behind it. There is a boatman visible at the tiller of 'George'.
Date
1929
Reference code
BW192/3/2/2/13/5/19
Administrative / Biographical history
My Grandfather died in 1963 when I was 4 years old and Grandmother 3 years later. All I remember of him was he had hands like buckets and wore a great big spiderweb belt. He was also very generous. My late brother was 7 years older than me and said his friends loved coming to his house in Cardigan Street Small Heath as he used to insist that he bought them sweets. His philosophy was if he earned 15s he would spend 15s no more no less. He died penniless but owing no one a penny either.
Both sides of my family were Boatmen and worked on the Canals. My maternal side were called Bevington and worked a narrowboat called the "Middlesex" which was a butty of the boat "Sultan". I enclose a photograph of them (Thomas & Hannah)outside the Six Bells Brentford in 1909 which my mother donated to a book by someone called Norman Harrison.
My Great Great Grandfather's George Bavington, Michael Jones & Javed Russon all worked the canals in the early 1800's my Great Grandfathers' William Bavington ( Thomas father) Daniel Boswell (Hannah father) John Russon(Albert father) & Walter Chatten (Emma's father) worked the canals as Boatmen in the 1850's
My Grandfathers Albert Russon Thomas Bavington (became Bevington) worked the Canal through the early century
My father Samuel Russon worked the canal from the age of 14 until his death in 1970 at 54. worked for Fellowes Moreton & Clayton and British Waterways except for 2 years 1948-50. British Waterways never even went to his funeral. It may be my father with his back to Albert and Emma in the photo you sent but all Albert's children (Albert jnr, Ernie Walter Samuel) worked as boatmen for British Waterways so it could have been any of them. His Best man was Tommy Callow who was his mate on the boat - he is the father of Vic Callow the famous Football Referee
Extent & medium
1 photograph
