TVBC CLUB NEWS

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THE CLUB'S RALLIES 2009

The Boveney Lock Rally (August 1st and 2nd 2009)

This was not a great success this year due to appalling weather! However our stalwarts Colin Patrick (Miss Coquette) and David Driver (D'River), both in open boats, turned up to join us (Moira and I came in Deux Poissons). Robin, John, Jeanine, Margaret, Shirley and others came by road. The new gazebos were a great success, and the barbecue was good. We had a very social time in spite of the pouring rain outside! I took no photos, but as this was a very successful event last year I will leave those photos up!

The Cookham Lock Island Rally (August 29th to 30th 2009 - Bank holiday)

This year’s TVBC rally at Cookham Lock Island was a great success with a large turnout, and good weather. If you didn’t come, you missed something very good, and should make a note in your diary for next year! This rally is a very longstanding tradition of the Club. I have been going for well over twenty years, and it was going long before that.

Moira and I had a leisurely cruise in “Deux Poissons” up from Wraysbury on the Friday (laden with gazebos, tables, barbecue units and a ballast of bags of charcoal!), to arrive about 3 pm. Ian and Karina joined us in “Papillon”, and shortly after Robin arrived in “Gena”, followed by Patrick in “Miss Coquette”.

 

Saturday was hot and sunny – true summer weather. David and Margaret arrived in “D’River”, and David started doing his admirable ferrying service to and from the Ferry Pub just across the water, for club members coming by road to Cookham Village. Lyndon and Harriet arrived in “Steam Piper”, Carol and Martin Reed in “Arcadia”, Carol and Martin Steggles in “Sabrina”, Jim, Christine and Chester the dog in “Pourquoi Pas”, Simon in “Hilfranor”, and later on “Lady Lucy” came to visit with Henry Tapper and crew.

A very welcome arrival was Robert Field and his wife in “Gay Lady”. Robert has been unwell and has had trouble with his balance, so we were delighted to see he had ventured out in his very smart little cruiser. Among the folks arriving “by land” were John and Jeanine Llewellyn and a surprise visit by Mervyn Loynes.

Around midday Rob our van driver arrived by road, and delivered some barbecue units and a load of firewood – thanks to Grant who organised that. We then put up the two new gazebos, wired up the lighting and generator, laid out the barbecue units and built a large and impressive bonfire.

The barbecues were lit in the evening, and we all ate and drank our fill as the sun set, at which point the bonfire was lit, the lighting switched on and we settled down for a delightful social evening.



Sunday dawned with similar weather, and Peter arrived in “Lucy Ann” to join the throng. The day followed a similar pattern, with more members and their guests arriving by road, and we managed to find enough wood for another spectacular bonfire that night.

Bank Holiday Monday we lazed in the sun until it was time to “strike camp” and prepare for the arrival of Rob in the van to collect all the club equipment later in the afternoon. Various folk said how much they enjoyed the weekend, and we hope to see everyone again next year, plus some more of you who might like to come along.

Mike Phillips (Hon Sec)  mike@phillipsweb.co.uk (Photos by me)

A warm welcome is extended to the following New Members:

1)      Terry Blake of Windsor who has bought “Brave Molly”, the ARC Marine Cruiser

2)      Paul Hodley with “HMS Nuthatch”, a 45ft Medium Speed Naval Picket Boat

3)      Philip Rolph & Family who now own “Venture III”  

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Some Interesting Facts about "Father Thames" that perhaps you never knew: 

DID YOU KNOW...

Mapledurham corn mill, from the 15th century, is the only water mill still working on the Thames.

A medicinal spring, reputedly good for "corns, ulcers and sore eyes", flows at Goring. 

A drop of rain falling into the Thames at its source (in the Cotswolds) will have been drunk by 8 people before it reaches the sea.

One inch of rain on the Thames catchment is enough water to make five rivers as big as the Thames is at Henley

Suffragettes burned down the church at Wargrave in 1914 because the vicar refused to remove the word "obey" from the marriage service.

St Mary's Abbey in the sleepy village of Medmenham in Buckinghamshire, is reputed to be one of the homes of the orgiastic Hell Fire Club in the late18th century. 

Dorney Court at Dorney Reach, just past Bray, was where the first pineapple was grown in Britain and presented to King Charles II.St. John's Lock at Lechlade, is the highest on the Thames, 250 feet above sea level.

Radcot Bridge, north of Faringdon, is a triple arched 12th century bridge, which has foundations that may date back to Saxon times. It is the oldest surviving bridge across the Thames.

Swan Upping takes place in the 3rd week of July, the responsibility of the Queen's Swan Marker, David Barber of Cookham, whose father held the position for 41 years. All the swans are the property of the Queen, or one of two livery companies - the Dyers or the Vintners. The swan uppers identify and tag the new generation of cygnets; those belonging to the livery companies are tagged - the Queen's are unmarked. 

It is reputed that Richard the Lionheart first introduced the swans to the Thames from Cyprus.

Maidenhead, originally Maidenhythe, is famous for its two bridges, the road bridge built of Portland stone and Brunel's brick railway bridge, also known as the "Sounding Arch" for its amazing echo. The railway bridge has the widest brick-built spans in the world.

Bray Film Studio, just past Bray Marina, is where the Hammer House of Horror films were made.

Across the river at Runnymede is a US Air Forces Memorial and the John F Kennedy Memorial set in an acre of England given to the American people.

(From an article found on the internet from an unknown source) 

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To submit something for this page, email me: mike@phillipsweb.co.uk

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