Christmas is great – it’s lovely to spend time with family and friends and just relax for a day or two – but for me, the New Year is always a very special time.
Events
Family-orientated club
We are so lucky in the Herald and News area to be served by so many great facilities on our wonderful river – none more so than Desborough Sailing Club in Shepperton.
Still time to get in a cruise or two…
The nights may be drawing in and the leaves may be turning, but the year isn’t over just yet and there’s still plenty of fun to be had out on the water
A summer favourite
It’s one of my favourite weekends on the river this Saturday and Sunday when Sunbury stages its annual regatta – always guaranteed to be a great fun day almost regardless of what the weather throws up.
Ashes remembered
Whenever Staines regatta comes around, it’s always a bit of a poignant time and this Saturday the event is being staged as a tribute to the memory of the crew of the Ashes eight, three of whom – David Firman, Alan Wickens and Alan Choules – died in a tragic accident at Penton Hook in April 1971.
Sea legs in the genes
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?
Walk yourself better
News of a couple of riverside walks taking place in the near future is top of the agenda this week.
Smells like happiness
When Lt Colonel Bill Kilgore, the character played by the wonderful Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now, tried to express his feelings for the Vietnam War he said he loved the smell of napalm in the morning – it smelt like victory.
Maggie’s blaze of glory
Whilst I’ve been busy exploring the wartime exploits of people in our area, I’ve omitted to mention a couple of important up-to-date events involving locals – including a stunning performance in this year’s Great River Race which was won by a crew from Weybridge Sailing Club.
Thames 2 Piddle 0
During the 1950s, the River Thames was officially branded a biologically ‘dead’ river. It suffered from all kinds of pollution – both from industrial waste and from sewage – that was being pumped into it. Little could survive in the water and anyone falling into it risked major infection.