It was interesting to see Bob Tough’s obituary in The Daily Telegraph on the eve of the Jubilee weekend.
His boatyard at Teddington, now largely built over, was where the Havengore and Royal Nore vessels were built. He helped to design them and both took part in the Thames Pageant.
The obituary reminds us that he was a sixth generation boatbuilder.
The Bablock Hythe ferry which is said to be over a thousand years old may run again soon.
It had several revivals in the 20th century including 1981 and again briefly in 1992.
It has long been operated by the pub which has had at least three names in living memory. Today the landlord of the Ferryman Inn is Peter Kelland.
He has been asked by Oxfordshire County Council if he will start it up again. The council has even revived the much opposed idea of a bridge in its Local Transport Plan. But the missing link could be part of Sustrans cycle route 57 which would provide an income stream.
The planned ticket price is 50p and the ferry could be running again this year.
Indeed if the ferry is reliable then most Thames path walkers would probably prefer to stay on the towpath and use the ancient crossing. Today’s official alternative is to cross upstream at Pinkhill Lock and have a long walk inland.
Peter is appealing for help in raising the £9,000 needed to restore the boat damaged in the 2007 floods.
The Ferry Inn also offers bed and breakfast (01865 880028).
Plans to allow walkers to cross Deptford Creek nearer to the Thames than the main road bridge are now available for consultation.
There is the big Diamond Jubilee event on the Thames in central London this Sunday 3 June 2012.
Upstream the Jubilee is being celebrated at Abingdon with an old custom at 6pm.
Buns will be thrown from the roof of County Hall in a custom dating back to at least 1761 when George III’s coronation was marked in this manner.
Last year it took just over 20 minutes for the Mayor of Abingdon and councillors to throw 4000 buns on Prince William’s wedding day.
Next Sunday there are even more buns – 6,000 or 100 for every year of the Queen’s reign.
The Throwing Buns cafe in Market Place is named after the tradition and is a good place to end or start a walk.
Thanks to old friend and Thames expert Dieter Jebens I have been enjoying a new book about the Thames Path.
Novelist Beverley Hansford has written an account of walking the Thames Path end to end. The name is a pseudonym which is confusing because the author, real name Gordon, walked with his wife Joanna who gets an occasional mention.
They walk downstream and constantly express amazement at how many walkers are going the other way.
I have always thought that the Thames was so famous that it is best to walk from London, which we all know, to find out where the river comes from.
But it is interesting to read Gordon’s reaction to places and their experiences of doing the walk in stages using public transport to and from home each time -no overnight stays.
In London he chooses, rightly in my view, the south bank as the better route. The north side alternative was a last minute idea of the Countryside Commission. The south side, or right bank, has fewer roads with heavy traffic and of course the towpath west of Putney. He agrees that it is rural route well into the capital.
Beverley Hansford’s Thames book is With Rucksack and Bus Pass.
The novel, which I have yet to read, is called Julie.
We are often warned about the danger of jumping off Magdalen Bridge into the Cherwell on May Day.
The Thames can be just as dangerous in Oxford as the news of a death last night reminds us.
The Oxford Mail report includes some good advice from the police.
There are more pictures here.
Walkers are finding notices upstream of Windsor about diversions caused by the Olympic Games.
This is due to the proximity of the Olympic rowing course.
Until the end of November there is a diversion between Boveney Church and the turning to Dorney Court.
The present diversion along the north side of the rowing course is required because a temporary bridge is being built from Windsor Racecourse.
However, during the Olympic period there will be an even longer diversion yet to be announced.
After the Olympics the towpath will remain closed whilst the bridge is dismantled but the shorter diversion will come back into operation.
I do of course always recommend the OS Pathfinder map at the end of each section.
It is not vital to have a map, there are OS maps in the guide, but some like to have the large scale map with them.
I must say that I am finding the new Harvey’s Thames Path map (£12.95) extremely satisfying. All the route is on one lightweight waterproof map.
Key pubs are marked and the locks which are a walker’s stages are prominent.
It’s a pleasure just to read at home when contemplating either the full trail or just an outing.
The garden of the Manor House at Sutton Courtenay is open on Saturday afternoon 9 June.
The house was once home of David Astor who is buried behind George Orwell in the churchyard.
The garden was modelled by Norah Lindsey who lived at the house from during the first half of the 20th century and further improved by Brenda Colvin.
The garden opening, part of the National Gardens Scheme charity (the yellow book gardens), is 2-6pm; admission £5; child free.
Much special activity to be seen in Staines today as the town officially becomes Staines-upon-Thames.