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 "Psst.. even if we don't make it, we got our picture taken."
Despite having not seen the water for some years except when added to single malt, legendary Swire Marinaters Brian Cushing and Julian Thorogood were gallant enough to row (scull) up the Thames on Friday 25th April, 2008 in support of Richard House Children's Hospice. Jules' youngest Son and Brian's youngest Daughter were in the chase boat acting as personal trainers. After drifting on the tide - sorry, sculling masterfully - under a number of bridges, our brave boys ended up at the White Swan, Twickenham for rehydration, putting paid to Jules' fears that they might well end up in the oxygen tent at the Teddington Royal Infirmary.
The SMA research division did a little research into their chosen vessel...
‘Megan’ – historic Thames camping skiff – built by Turks in 1888 and part of the Turks fleet that was used by Jerome K. Jerome on his historic journey. The skiff is kitted out in full Edwardian camping mode to include canopy, wicker baskets and seats.
This can't be right, of course... you will see from the pictures below that they stripped her down for the trip to make room for a few cases of claret. For those who would like to know full details of how this epic voyage was planned, you can download full information here in PDF format. Splendid stuff!
Stu Shields reminisces about the day:
"Both Julian Thorogood and Brian Cushing got a good send off from St. Catherine's pier with around 30 in attendance.
Dudley, Dave & Jean Falkner and I caught up with them at Kew.....just over the river from where yours truly served my apprenticeship. The island, Brentford Ait, can be seen beyond our intrepid rowers, looking a bit like a jungle and it's hard to believe that there was once a thriving industrial tug repair yard there. I used to pee against that poplar tree when I was just a lad.
Anyway, the four of us sat on the embankment on folding chairs with a small folding table between us, table cloth as well of course, drinking wine and chewing nibbles until our brave heros appeared. It didn't take long, just twenty minutes, with straining backs and the obvious sore bums, they came around the bend in the river to be greeted by the sounds of encouragement and abuse from the embankment. I guess that would have been our team.
After they passed.....puffing and blowing like a couple of whales, we packed up our equipment and drove to Teddington where we parked the car in the pub adjacent to what was Thames Television Studios and since it was a pub, we couldn't leave without having a beer. After the beer we crossed a small foot bridge and walked along the banks of the Thames, past Teddington Lock until we reached the boundry marking stone where the finish line was and lo and behold our men of the Thames arrived at exactly the same time so they were able to sample a better quality of verbal abuse from our team.
We then returned to Dudley's residence....collected his lovely Anne and made our way to the White Swan pub located just off Eel Pie Island. There was a huge reception there....I didn't count but at least sixty friends and family were there where we drank lots more and filled our faces with huge hamburgers.
It was a great day out......for all who couldn't be there, sorry you missed it."
Grace. Form. The last you'll see of it.
Supremely confident, The Pride of the Pool prepare for action.
 "I used to be this big until I discovered rowing."
 "What the Dickens are you doing, Thorogood?" "Limbering up, man, limbering up."
As Cushing runs from the paparazzi and in search of the loo, Thorogood attempts to maximise last-minute sponsorship efforts by selling Cushing's lunch.
 "Oh heck. Now this is getting serious. Which way is west?"
 Fighting the elements, the hardy rowers row hardly.
"You have done this before, haven't you, Brian?"
"It's alright for those Oxbridge wallahs, they've got more paddles."
"What's that bloke yelling? We're supposed to have oars on both sides?"
 "Ah, this is the life.. uh oh, that's your lifevest gone overboard..."
 "I've got to rest my bum. Yeeowch."
 "It's your turn to row." "No it's not." "Yes it is." "No, it's not..."
 "Thank goodness for Spring tides. Cheers!"
 "Think we'll make 'Muscles Monthly' magazine?"
 Markland: "Good show, chaps. I think I might drive that next year."
 Finally, The Rowing Extravaganza's keen and cheerful supporters consider ordering another chip each.
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