Muriel Gooding – Micki to her friends – has lived beside the Thames just off Chertsey Lane in Staines for 44 years and in that time, she’s experienced quite a lot.
Year: 2012
‘Wonder’ product that is just that
I usually ignore all television advertising – I haven’t believed a single claim manufacturers make about their ‘wonder’ products – commercials are simply an annoying interruption to whichever programme I happen to be watching as far as I’m concerned.
Jumble so much fun for boating enthusiasts
At any time of year there are few prettier places in the UK than the New Forest – but for boat owners there’s a special reason to head south on Sunday, April 29 because that’s when the country’s biggest boat jumble takes place at Beaulieu.
Testing times in floods of 1947
As I sit to write this column, it’s pouring with rain – but don’t let that detract from the fact that we’ve just come through one of the driest winters on record – and hosepipe bans are now in force across most of the southern United Kingdom.
Key to unlocking lock dilemma
As regular readers of this column will be aware, I’ve often expressed doubts about the Environment Agency’s decision not to replace resident lock keepers on the Thames and to rent out their empty houses to the public.
I found a zoo
My readers never cease to amaze me with their enthusiastic responses to this column. Last week, I wrote about the diversity of wildlife on our stretch of the Thames and ever since the paper came out, I’ve been bombarded with people telling me their stories about their encounters with wildlife.
Sunbury’s old lock next for new look
But lock-keeper’s house to be included in Environment Agency’s renting experiment
Chertsey Lock has had a makeover
Boat owners can make the most of Environment Agency’s £600,000 refurb
It’s well worth a little dip into the UK’s waterways
Authors have written books about rivers for hundreds of years – and that’s simply because waterways are fascinating subjects, having played a major role in the development of our towns and cities, agriculture, industry, trade and, in more recent decades, leisure and relaxation.
Royal appointment worthy of a salute
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee later this year, celebrating Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne, will present all kinds of opportunities for celebration and fun – and the River Thames will play a central role in the event.