Mort Smith and his brother, Alan

Such a vital contribution

My articles about the activities of the Upper Thames Patrol during the 1940s seem to have stirred a few of memories with readers.

Des’s painful memories

Des Davidson from Shepperton has contacted me about my column describing the activities of the Upper Thames Patrol, a branch of the Home Guard during the Second World War, who were given the responsibility of defending the locks, weirs and bridges on the river.

River’s graveyard for boats

I dreamed of having my own boat for years before I could finally afford one. And, as my family will attest, after becoming a skipper, I have spent considerable amounts of time and money on pampering the succession of boats I’ve owned over the past 15 years or so.