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Wednesday, January 07, 2026

Mort's Riverwatch

An occasional look at the ebb and flow of the Thames

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Month: March 2014

Recent developments

Who will toil for Belle?

27/03/201421/12/2025Mort SmithComment(0)

Firstly, thanks for all the kind messages regarding my impending move to the East Coast. It’s much appreciated and I’m delighted that so many people enjoy Riverwatch – I hope I’ll be able to keep it going.

Terra Nova

Casting off off for pastures new – Mort’s on the move

20/03/201429/05/2015Mort SmithComment(0)

What a beautiful weekend we’ve just enjoyed. Temperatures up into the high teens, wall-to-wall sunshine and memories of that abysmal winter rapidly vanishing into a distant haze.

History

For whom the Belle tolls

13/03/201429/05/2015Mort SmithComment(0)

I’ve always had a real soft spot for historic ships and boats. Vessels that hark back to an era when Britain really did rule the waves and when craftsmanship was something to be proud of rather than regarded as old-fashioned.

Local people

Owners floored by mooring fees

06/03/201429/05/2015Mort SmithComment(0)

Most of us who own and use pleasure craft on the Thames have complained over the years about the steep increases in the cost of launch licences levied by the Environment Agency and its forebears.

Archives

Get in touch

To contact Mort, email him at mortsmith32@gmail.com or call him on 01787 226974. He’s always pleased to hear from old friends who provided such a wealth of information and great stories for Riverwatch.

These columns appeared in the Surrey Herald.

Tags

Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Beaulieu boat jumble birds boats book review Canal and River Trust crab Desborough Island Desborough Sailing Club Doug Myers Dunkirk D’Oyly Carte Island Environment Agency fish fishing Floods historic boats Jenny Beagle lock keepers London International Boat Show paintings Project Kraken Queen Mary Sailing Club Richmond Venturer River Thames Boat Project river users groups rowing Royal Yachting Association safety sailing Second World War Shepperton Shepperton Marina Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society Surrey Police swimming Terra Nova Thames21 Thames islands Walton Bridge Walton Yacht Company Weather Weybridge Ladies Rowing Club Weybridge Sailing Club wildlife
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