This video shows dredging operations going on on the Basingstoke Canal in Fleet in early 1993, right at the end of the restoration period. Bantam tugs can be seen pulling mud barges to the dredging site (near Pondtail bridge), and the Perseverance dredger filling them. The barges are then taken to Crookham Deeps to be emptied. Some good close-ups of the tugs, and particularly of Perseverance itself.
A chap called John Bull produced the video, and we acknowledge his contribution. This is what it says on the back of the DVD case:
"The Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society's steam dredger "Perseverance" started its operations at Colt Hill, Odiham at the beginning of 1975 and finished at Pondtail, Fleet in March 1993. Over one hundred thousand cubic metres of silt were removed, opening up 10 miles of the canal for navigation, entirely by voluntary effort.
This tape has been compiled from video taken by two visiting groups in February and March 1993, and my own filming of tugs/barges and the dragline in 1993.
Whilst Perseverance is obviously the object of greatest interest to the public at large, it has already been subject of extensive videotape recordings. Consequently, I have tried to focus on the other essential elements of the overall operation, the tugs/barges, the oft-ignored dragline, the restored canal itself, and in particular the volunteers.
I have run the programme as a "day in the life of...." sequence, which has only been possible by shuffling the material chronologically. The intention was to present a picture for the general interest audience as much as for the regular volunteers.
Finally, I would like to thank the organisers and participants over the years for their efforts, cooperation and the enjoyment of their company in this unique venture.
John Bull"
The Canal Society is in the process of putting together an archive of material about the Perseverance. If anybody has any of the videos to which John refers, please let the Society know. Thanks