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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Mort's Riverwatch

An occasional look at the ebb and flow of the Thames

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Charities

The RNLI rescue an average of 22 people every day of the year from around our coasts and on the River Thames.
Charities Events

Support our river heroes

05/09/201329/05/2015Mort SmithComment(0)

I know it’s a bit outside our area but there’s an event happening this weekend that I just had to draw to readers’ attention – the Teddington River Festival and RNLI Station Open Day.

The intrepid crew will be paddling 116 miles along the Thames to raise money for two good causes.
Charities Recent developments

Charity challenge for female rowers

01/08/201326/01/2014Mort SmithComment(0)

I always enjoy turning the spotlight on some of the wonderful things river people undertake for charity – and this week is no exception.

Charities

Day RNLI heroes rescued us at sea

18/10/201219/12/2012Mort SmithComment(0)

The special reason I have for supporting the fourth emergency service

Charities

Tide of support for soldiers

06/10/201226/02/2013Mort SmithComment(0)

A trip along the Thames in the Richmond Venturer a healing tonic for ex-servicemen and women

The Chernobyl mums and their children relax aboard the Richmond Venturer
Charities

Life-affirming project

23/07/201103/12/2012Mort SmithComment(0)

I’ve always had a lot of time for the charity called the River Thames Boat Project, which aims to introduce people to our wonderful river and to give people – particularly youngsters and the disabled – the chance to spend time on the water.

RNLI Lifeboat
Charities

For those in peril…

03/04/201103/12/2012Mort SmithComment(0)

To anyone who spends time messing about in boats of all kinds, the dangers inherent in a life on the water are always there in the background.

Charities

Lucky numbers all round

30/01/201026/02/2013Mort SmithComment(0)

When 74-year-old John Molnar put a £2 charity donation into the bowl on Shepperton-based Bridge Marine’s stand at the London Boat Show, to give himself the chance of winning an outboard motor, he wasn’t terribly hopeful about his chances.

Charities Nature

Derek’s treasure trove

17/01/201026/02/2013Mort SmithComment(0)

Many readers will remember, with great affection, Herald and News columnist Derek Belsey who, for many years, provided us with words and pictures about his favourite obsession – birds.

Charities

Barge on board the Venturer to capture scenes of river life

01/11/200926/02/2013Mort SmithComment(0)

Charities find very diverse ways of raising money for their causes but one of the most original – and effective – has recently been demonstrated by the good people associated with the Thames Boat Project, which was set up to help make the Thames more accessible to a wide range of people.

Charities Recent developments

Old salt lends sea cadets a hand as they struggle to keep HQ shipshape and dry

18/10/200926/02/2013Mort SmithComment(0)

I’m always delighted to hear about the hard work put in by volunteers aimed at helping youngsters make the most of their free time. So it was with a great deal of pleasure that I attended the official unveiling of a new roof for the premises housing Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets on the banks of the Thames next to Shepperton Marina recently.

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Get in touch

To contact Mort, email him at mortsmith32@gmail.com or call him on 01787 226974. He’s always pleased to hear from old friends who provided such a wealth of information and great stories for Riverwatch.

These columns appeared in the Surrey Herald.

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