I’m always delighted when readers get in touch to share their memories of the River Thames – and I owe a major debt of gratitude to Brian Griffiths of Burgoyne Road, Sunbury who was clearing out his loft and found a number of books about the river which he very kindly brought into the Herald office thinking they might be of interest.

Let's face it we’re a seafaring nation. The greatest part of Britain’s history has been spent dominating the seas and protecting our island from unwelcome visitors and whether we like to admit it or not, most Britons fancy themselves as natural seafarers – it’s in the genes, isn’t it?

One of the most frustrating things about planning a day out on the river (or the sea for that matter) is that you can arrange everything to your liking with one notable exception – the weather.