Alan James has lived beside the Thames for 10 years and loves the variety of wildlife on show
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Above all, a place to enjoy
More than anything else, our lovely river should be fun for all who have the opportunity to use it. And nowhere is that spirit of fun better reflected than in the annual Shepperton Village Fair raft race, which is sponsored by the Nauticalia marine supplies company based in Ferry Lane and organised by Desborough Sailing Club.
Dunkirk reunion
If you happen to be wandering along beside the river in a couple of week’s time, you may see a wonderful collection of classic boats chugging past as the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) veterans’ cruise winds its stately way from Kingston to Shepperton.
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.