It’s difficult to believe, but Christmas is fast approaching and thoughts of taking the boat out on the river are probably fading rapidly from most people’s memories.
Year: 2010
Moor and peace
Its been something of a busy year in the Smith household – what with my son starting a new job, my daughter announcing that she is going to get married next February (requiring attendance at wedding shows and help with the planning of receptions etc), the hot water tank in our house deciding to leak copiously all over the place…
Working launch
A few weeks back I asked whether any readers remembered the boatyards which were reputed to have built motor launches, motor torpedo boats and other craft for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
Walrus memories
You folks are amazing at dragging things from your memories! Last week, I asked whether anyone remembered the construction of Walrus amphibious biplanes at Weybridge and several of you have contacted me to say that you did.
MTB production lines
It’s only when you start digging into the history of our little bit of the River Thames that you get some idea of just how much has gone on here over the years.
Salute the little ships
We really are a stubborn bunch on this island, aren’t we? We just never know when we’re beaten and we’re determined not to be pushed around by bullies.
Enjoy Thameside festival
Community events are always worth a mention in this column and there is a particularly good one coming up this weekend in the form of the Weybridge Thameside Festival, which takes place on Saturday.
Judith’s wise investment
“The River Thames is one of Spelthorne borough’s greatest assets – and we simply don’t make enough of that fact.” Those were the words of former major and borough councillor Judith Wood-Dow of Staines as she prepared to board the traditional shallop, Jubilant, at the Thames Lodge hotel a couple of weeks back.
Policing the river now DIY
While a lot of attention is being focused on the Surrey Police initiative called Project Kraken – designed primarily to encourage a kind of neighbourhood watch on the river to spot possible terrorist activity – many local residents are still unhappy with the lack of a permanent dedicated officer on our stretch of the Thames.
Nothing if not ambitious
Last year in this column, I wrote that I thought the authorities should introduce a mandatory test and a licence of competence before anyone was allowed to take a boat out on the water – and several people jumped down my throat, berating me for proposing to introduce more bureaucracy into our leisure time.