Riverwatch: A fresh look at London

Jul 28 2009 By Mort Smith, Surrey Herald

MANY thanks to my old chum Roger Jolly for taking over the tiller while I toddled off down the Thames on Terra Nova last week.

I've escorted the old boy back to The Laughing Ferret, bought him a pint, given his parrot a handful of grapes and he'll be fine until the next time he's called into action.

It was a wonderful trip with my brother down to the Medway - although there were one or two minor alarms.

Mooring next to a barge just outside South Dock Marina in Greenwich, for example, when we discovered that passing cruise boats and passenger ferries were causing such a wash that it ripped out one of Terra Nova's mooring cleats and scratched a lot of her new paintwork.

Also, the dear old engine over-heated a couple of times and, on one of those occasions, we had to anchor at the mouth of the Medway surrounded by container ships and other heavy traffic and give it some TLC. Which was nice.

But those minor concerns aside, it was a great experience, particularly through the heart of London, passing famous landmarks on both sides and seeing the capital from a new perspective.

The journey also underlined for me what a beautiful part of the Thames we live beside. The lower reaches of the Medway are fairly bleak and industrial (can there really be a demand for so many concrete plants?) and you can't find a decent pub to tie up at for a pint for love nor money.

It's nice to go travelling but it's also very nice to come home.

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A FEW readers have raised the matter of this year's swan-upping ritual starting from Boveney lock, in Eton Wick, instead of the traditional point at Sunbury. Buckingham Palace press office told me the change was a one-off because the Queen was going to take a trip out on the river to watch the proceedings. Next year, I'm assured, the starting point for census will return to Sunbury.

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CONGRATULATIONS to David Wilshire for taking up the case of the vanishing river policeman.

Spelthorne's MP is arranging a meeting with the Chief Constable of Surrey - and two other MPs - to ask him to reconsider the decision to axe the job. The matter is urgent as Iam told thefts and attempted thefts of boats and marine equipment have already increased between Molesey and Egham.

Do you have a river-related story you would like to share? If so, email me at mortsmith@trinitysouth.co.uk or call me on 01932 561 111.