Volunteer Awards - recognise anyone from YOUR lock?

[boatone]

Picked up from Twitter this morning - apparently at Henley yesterday

"EA Chairman calls volunteers "River Thames Makers" as Richard Benyon MP awards gold pin badges for over 60 days service"

 

[TrueBlue]

Picked up from Twitter this morning - apparently at Henley yesterday

"EA Chairman calls volunteers "River Thames Makers" as Richard Benyon MP awards gold pin badges for over 60 days service"

Gosh, things must be coming to a head if they have to give badges for two months' service.

Just show you, folks just can't stick at anything nowadays.........

BTW - who are all these people?

 

[Wavey]

BTW - who are all these people?

Presumably the ones who stuck it for more than 60 days!

River Thames Makers

Anyone else cringe when they read that. No disrespect to the volunteers but for God sake.

 

[boatone]

Play nicely, peoples !

In both pictures the gentleman on the left is Richard Benyon MP , the Waterways Minister. The gentleman on the right in the first picture wearing an overcoat is Lord Chris Smith who is the Chairman of the Environment Agency.

Initially, I was quite sceptical about the effectiveness of volunteers but have to say those I have met have impressed me with their commitment and enthusiasm. Their presence has undoubtedly resulted in us receiving much better assisted lock passage than would otherwise have been the case.
Giving up 6O days or more to work lockside, without pay, to help boaters is, in my view, deserving of recognition and I am pleased to see that the Agency has chosen to do something to register that.

 

[dash300]

Presumbably they will get a Bar next year.

 

[No Regrets]

Looks like the World Gurning championships

 

[bumperdump]

more richards style grinning at the camera...........................

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/shaughan-dolan/richard-benyons-bad-scien_b_2006062.html?view=print

 

[Cashbuyer]

Do we get a gold badge for working Cookham Lock ourselves for over 60 days this summer?

 

[TrueBlue]

Do we get a gold badge for working Cookham Lock ourselves for over 60 days this summer?

C'mon, Cookham's a pussy cat of a lock - easy approach, easy and fast to run.

If there had to be shortages on that stretch, I'd rather it was to be Cookham than either Boulters or Marlow.

Sorry, not wanting to knock your post, but as things tighten "we" can expect reductions in services. I't strange 'cos I would have thought Cookham would be popular with volunteers.

 

[Cashbuyer]

A light-hearted comment meant to highlight the fact that Cookham lock never seems to be manned and is frequently showing 'self service' boards. In two years on the river I think I've seen the lock keeper twice. It is a lovely lock and would no doubt be pleased that you speak so highly of it.

 

[Riverleak]

Could it be that you use the lock out of the lock keepers working hours?

 

[sailorman]

Its strange how these former MPs get cushty jobs.

 

[boatone]

Its strange how these former MPs get cushty jobs.

To whom are you referring?

Richard Benyon, the Waterways minister is a sitting MP and Lord Chris Smith is a member of the House of Lords.

 

[boatone]

Could it be that you use the lock out of the lock keepers working hours?

I must admit that I have not found Cookham to be unmanned on many occasions, in fact generally one of the better ones - although there was a particular Friday early this year when it was devoid of lock keeping presence.

 

[sailorman]

To whom are you referring?

Richard Benyon, the Waterways minister is a sitting MP and Lord Chris Smith is a member of the House of Lords.

Smith