LORD MAYOR'S SHOW FLOTILLA 2010: 13 NOVEMBER

Getting ready at St Katherine's Dock the Company barge in the foreground.  Tower Bridge framing the scene nicely. Photograph by Janice Thomson. 



 

Not quite heading upstream, a tricky manoeuvre to get back on station.  Left to right Gill Durdal, John Borradaile, Andrew Finlay -as the Wiffler at the bow - Robin Blandy, Alastair Ross and Andrew Oborne. Richard Norton's hat just visible at bottom of picture.  Photograph by Janice Thomson.

 

Things probably not best to wear on the Thames.  I am wearing the Master's fetching hat and gown over a life jacket and some warm clothing.  Rosemary is much more elegantly dressed.  Photograph by Janice Thomson

For the first time in many years the Lord Mayor had asked for a flotilla to row upstream from St Katherine's Dock just beyond Tower Bridge to Waterloo Bridge.  He would acknowledge the flotilla and it would arrive shortly before his fireworks display.

Originally the Lord Mayor's procession had been based on the Thames and had only moved on land in the mid-nineteenth century.  The reasons for this are a matter of some debate.  Two favourite themes emerge.  The first that the whole enterprise had become a chaotic shambles and second the extremely unsanitary conditions of the Thames, it was in effect an open sewer serving a rapidly growing city, were so unpleasant that no-one wanted to take part in or observe the event.  Probably it was the combination of both.

Whatever the true story a hundred and fifty years later we were re-creating history.  Twenty rowing boats of various types took part and we set off from St Katherine's Dock at 3.40pm into a steadily darkening late autumn evening. The Royal Thamesis, the Company's barge (see more details on an earlier post of  29 September), was crewed by stalwarts of the Company including:  Andrew Thomson, Cox and Bargemaster, Andrew Finlay, Wiffler - at the bow, John Borradaile, Robin Blandy, Richard Norton, Gilll Dirdal, Andrew Oborne, and Alastair Ross. Rosemary and I along with our daughter Grace, Janice Thomson and Sue Borradaile sat in relative luxury under the awning.

From the outset it was clear that the tide was moving faster than anticipated and we made rapid progress.  But very early on the plans for a tightly marshalled flotilla failed to be achieved although our admirable Whiffler, Andrew Finlay, kept station with the Jubilant - the vessel at the centre of the flotilla, as well he could.  There was an exciting moment when we crossed over a very substantial rope linking two buoys that suddenly appeared in our path.  A following craft, not so expertly handled, got stuck trying to do the same manoeuvre.

There was good turnout along the Embankment and a vociferous crowd of Drapers had come down from the Hall to cheer us on.

 Almost as dusk was falling we passed the Lord Mayor.  I precariously stood up and doffed my cap but I have severe doubts as to whether anyone more than a few yards away saw me.

Our task completed we tied up.  It was a great experience.  It was clear to me that the significant difficulties of organising and maintaining any form of order with a river based display makes a land-based option much more attractive.  This must have been a principal reason for the transfer of the Lord Mayor's Show to the land.

I thank the Drapers' barge team for a really great experience.  I have no doubt that the Lord Mayor's Flotilla will again become a permanent feature of the Lord Mayor's Show in future years.

We than stood on the Victoria Embankment and watched the spectacular fireworks display that concluded the day.

The firework display in its full glory.  St Pauls is lit up in the left distance and the OXO Tower a bit closer on the right.  Photograph BBC News.

COMPANY BARGE SEPTEMBER EVENTS



Royal Thamesis on a visit to Venice.  Venice is one of the few places where similar craft are still in existence but the Venetians customarily row standing

The Company is owner of Royal Thamesis, a six seat shallop sometimes described  as the 'limousine of the eighteenth centuryThames.' It is operated by City Barge which brings together enthusiasts for the very particular watermanship skills to operate this type of vessel.  The City Barge website http://www.city-barge.org/ provides fascinating background detail on the subject and describes the current activities of the club.


An eighteenth century Drapers' Company Barge, considerably larger than the Royal Thamesis. The rowers were forward and the canopied section for the Court and guests occupies midships.

The livery companies, until the early nineteenth century, had splendid barges that were used for great ceremonial occasions. They required up to thirty oarsman and a bargemaster who directed both the rowers and a marvelously named 'whiffler' in a dinghy to steer the vessel. Meanwhile members of the Company were seated in splendour under a canopy where they were serenaded by a band - the ultimate in eighteenth century on-board sound systems. Handel's Water Music was composed for such an event during the reign of George II.

The Royal Thamesis is a scale replica of these barges. It was purchased by the Company in 2003, not only to sustain the tradition of barge rowing, but also to provide a facility for children, especially from the inner city, to use. Two events this month have done just that.

Children enjoying a ride on the Royal Thamesis

Regatta for the Disabled, Phyllis Court,
Henley 4 September http://www.regattaforthedisabled.org/

My thanks to Liveryman Andrew Finlay for this report. The Drapers’ Barge, Royal Thamesis, recently took part in the first ever ‘Regatta for the Disabled’. Henley has more than its fair share of regattas, but this is the first one organised as a fun(draising) event. The charities organising the day were: Building for the Future - http://www.bftf.org.uk/ , Headway Thames Valley - http://www.headwaythamesvalley.org.uk/ and Rivertime Boat Trust - http://www.rivertimeboattrust.org.uk/

Building for the Future and Headway Thames Valley both support local disabled people. Rivertime Boat Trust runs an adapted river cruiser which takes disabled people and their carers out on the Thames.

Phyllis Court Club soon heard about the idea of a boating event and wanted to lend a hand, as did the Henley Rowing Club. Liveryman Andrew Finlay is both a Henley resident and Phyllis Court Club member as well as being on the Drapers’ Company Barge Committee. He found hiimself unable to resist such an event on his doorstep.


The Royal Thamesis at Henley for the Regatta for the Disabled
photograph thanks to Andrew Finlay

On the 4th September, the Bargemaster, Andrew Thomson and his wife, Andrew Finlay and several other liverymen were on duty on the banks of the Thames. In the course of the day Royal Thamesis gave river trips to at least 50 disabled people – and some more able-bodied ones such as local MP, John Howell, and Henley Mayor, Jeni Woods - in huge hat as usual!

The regatta organising committee were effusive in their thanks to the Drapers' Company, and we and they look forward to repeating the event in 2011.

Countryside Live: Country Fair for Schoolchildren, Lee Valley Park, 22/23 September http://www.countrysidelive.org.uk/

Countryside Live organises an annual country fair for city children in the Lee Valley Park where a whole range of country activities are made available for children to have a go.  The barge is a popular part of this event and was present both days giving rides to visitors.

Bargemaster Andrew Thomson led the team supported by Liverymen Gil Dirdal, Secretary, John Borradaile, Stephen Heron, Bruce Hopking and Richard Norton who was the lead in reviving the barge idea a decade ago.  Spouses also helped and Alastair Ross, the Clerk, came along on the second day.

On the final afternoon the barge had to be repositioned on the tidal Thames, about four miles away for the Great River Race.  The Clerk admitted, who helped row this distance, admitted to finding it just a trifle tiring.


A fine view of the Royal Thamesis underway