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Of the latest aquatic escapades of our merry men, Sec Stu writes as follows:
"Dear Members,
A great day out was had by all of those who attended and a list of names of our happy group follows below. Eventually, sixty one managed to make it on the day, with only Brian and Leslie Cushing unable to join us because Brian was called away to a job in the USA.
It was also very nice to see James Hughes-Hallett on the pier, who took time out from his very busy schedule to see our cruise commence, before having to rush off for another engagement. I think he must have seen that we were all very determined to enjoy ourselves on that day……..and we did.
We all gathered around the entrance to Festival Pier on the South Bank of the Thames and commenced boarding the Golden Star around 1215hrs where the bar opened almost immediately.
The boat cast off at around 1230hrs and we headed up river as far as the Houses of Parliament, where Gordon and his crowd were discussing how to increase their benefits etc., and also how to lock up criminal suspects in gaol for 42 days without charge. We didn’t take too much notice of that though as we enjoyed the warm but slightly overcast weather and of course, the well stocked bar on the boat.
At the Houses of Parliament, the Golden Star was turned around and we made our way down river, noting all the old warehouses converted into luxury apartments, as well as the usual tourist sites, such as St Paul’s Cathedral, The Monument which was shrouded in scaffolding, The Globe Theatre, Tower of London and of course, Tower Bridge with HMS Belfast permanently moored on the south side of the river.
There were also modern sites to see, such as City Hall, Tate Modern art gallery with its famous adjacent “wobbly” footbridge across the Thames and the futuristic Gherkin building in the heart of the city. The London skyline is forever changing and I couldn’t help reflecting on the days when I used to work as an apprenticed engineer, along with my brother, on the river tugs, a trade which has sadly passed into history. In those days, 1956 to 1961, the river Thames was a very much different place with many tugs passing by, each towing a stream of six barges to various destinations along the river and beyond. Unfortunately with industry, you get muck and the river was indeed a very mucky place to be in those days and that was borne out by the smell. Today though, it’s all pristine, suitable for the eyes of foreign tourists, and all those buildings that haven’t been torn down to make way for modern development are now fully restored and cleaned up.
Just eastwards, beyond the Millennium Dome at Greenwich and before the Thames Barrier, our cruise boat, the Golden Star, made another turn and headed back up river towards the centre of the city. It was near here that disaster struck when the lager pump behind the bar refused to dispense any more of the amber liquid…..we just had to move onto the wine, poured very expertly by the Australian barman.
A lot of people don’t know this but London was once a shipbuilding river and Brunel’s Great Eastern was built by Messrs Scott Russell & Co. of Millwall and she was eventually launched in 1858 after four years of attempting to get her to slide into the water. This fact used to be painted on the embankment, right on the spot where it took place but I didn’t see it on the occasion of our cruise.
We turned again outside The Houses of Parliament and slowly came alongside at Festival Pier at 1630hrs where some of us left for home but a few hardy members walked across Hungerford Bridge towards Charing Cross where it was known that a watering hole called “Champagne Charlies” was hiding underneath one of the bridge arches in Villiers Street. I must be getting old because I’m afraid I no longer have the capacity to continue to the bitter end but it was really good to be with old friends and to see everyone enjoying themselves so much. At the close of the day, I myself was exhausted.
It was a wonderful day out, with no rain and so good to see everyone looking so healthy. During the course of the cruise, a buffet lunch was served and the food absolutely delicious with plenty of it. Credit must go to Trevor Kay-Russell and his catering friend Trevor whose staff did a superb job.
Regards, Stu Shields"
Here's who showed up for the 2008 Thames Excursion:
David, Jean & Michael Falkner
Ray & Jenny Dodkin
Glen & Wilma Docherty
Paul & Myra Markland
Graeme Drewery & Hazel John
Dudley & Anne Groves
Maurice & John Burbidge
Matt & Val Coyne
Julian Thorogood & Sue Norman
Trevor & Julie Kay-Russell
Michael Jacobson & Kay Javeri
Darell & Jennifer Daish
Bryan Bell & Jeanette Ejansantos
Peter & Lisa Roberts
Geoffrey & Mary Havilland
John & Jayne Kelly
J. (Graham) & Janet Baker
Reiko Walford
Chris Platt
Kelvin Troughton
Barry Thompson
Chris Nugent
James Hughes-Hallett
Jim Conybeare
Norman Adams
Steve Harris
Ian & Helen Goddard W/Tim & Anne Lofts
Chistopher & Tina Coulcher W/Roger & Meredith Draper
Peter & Keiko Clarke W/Marcell Burton & Brian Batchellor
Stuart & Ian Shields W/Charles & Marion Nicholls & Alan Dearlove
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