Cross currents

[Thamesbank]

Just at a time when our discontent is reflected in the turbulent and muddy waters of the Thames, it comes as a beacon of hope to find a wordsmith's craft among the rubbish on the foreshore.
Here the article I refer to:

Cross currents

 

[byron]

Very interesting even though they put Chris Newens yard when it should be Chas Newens.
I can remember banana boats coming up through Tower Bridge to moor starboard hand almost opposite where the Belfast is today. I can remember coming up on my father's ship to discharge wood we had brought from the Baltic. I remember the strange anomoly of a charity placing fresh sand every Friday on the 'beach' outside of the Tower of London for us kids to play on, yet health policy dictating a stomach pump if you fell in the Thames. We used to play in the moat of the Tower and even today our cricket stumps can still be clearly seen where we painted them on the wall.
Good old days? Naah! however we weren't restricted as today's children and I can't remember anyone getting into difficulty even though the moored barges etc. were our playground.

 

[chuckaduck]

river campaigner Lady Dido Berkeley

Bless !!

met her once and that was once too much

her quote

says river campaigner Lady Dido Berkeley. "Most of these houses are second homes. The river is becoming ecologically and socially sterile. The wildlife is going from the banks. Public space is continually being lost."

your response ??

well mine is that she hasnt a clue

 

[Thamesbank]

A bit harsh Graeme

Dido knows more about the Thames than most will ever know in their lifetimes.

 

[chuckaduck]

Re: A bit harsh Graeme

Byron for example knows more about the Thames than most will ever know in their lifetimes

Dido doesnt thats a fact

 

[byron]

Re: A bit harsh Graeme

There are people I know who make me look like a newcomer. Mike Turk, Chas Newens (both former Masters of Waterman's) then there's people like Johnny Pleece, Tony Hobbs (Queen's Waterman), John Salter, Johnny Fenn (he does the Henley Regatta Course). That's just to name a few but those guys have forgotten more than I could ever hope to know because they work the river as did their families before them. There's another chap called John Weeks who has a depth of knowledge (non-tidal) that is truly amazing and a collection of memorabilia that is breathtaking.

 

[ianc1200]

Re: A bit harsh Graeme

Robin Newlands is another I'd add to the list.

IanC

 

[oldgit]

Tidal foreshore.

One problem down here on the Medway and seems similar on Olde Father Thames is the lack of actual access to the river itself or more properly the foreshore.All new housing developments down here seem to require at the very least a direct abseil down 25ft feet of steel shuttering to access the riverbank.Local to me is about 1km of new steel piling without a single method of getting to the water or more importantly getting yourself out of it?
Can understand if it is wharfage or whatever but this pleasure and leisure .
PS.Still bringing in timber across the way from me at Crown Wharf.
New is the VeeTee Wharf round corner were they bring in rice.