THAMES TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL

Far left: Gloriana’s crew get set; top left: vari- ous uniforms; below, left: Is that Jeremy Irons enjoying a punt? (the actor is a well known gaff rig sailor), and, right, Dunkirk Little Ships. All photos by Rod Tietjen

Lawns, launches, dukws and punts The Thames Trad is back! With a new committee, a new name - it’s now a Festival rather than a Rally – and above all fine weather and a river that behaved itself, the 37-year-old event was bigger and better than ever.

attered by two cancellations in recent years – last year ‘s due to the a packed attendance from interested participating bodies, including the rather than the boat-oriented ‘Rally’. New attractions included opening They joined the traditional attractions provided by the Dunkirk Little catastrophic flooding in the Thames Valley, the volunteer-run Thames Vintage Boat Club, River Thames Society, Thames Traditional Boat selected boats to visitors, so that they could appreciate the interiors and Ships, freshly returned from the 75th anniversary return to Dunkirk, plus Thames Traditional Boat Rally’s finances, and its human resorces Society, Star Craft Association, Rampart Owners Club, the Association of learn something of life on board. Even the beer tent was reinvented as the a drive-past by amphibious vehicles, military and civilian, as well as the were in a parlous condition. Past president Tony Goodhead and Dunkirk Little Ships and others. ‘pop-up pub’, the Golden Ball. elegant Edwardian crusers , varnished Thame slipper launches, rowing skiffs Bchairman Stuart Wilkinson, who had kept the rally going with a dwindling The outcome was over 20 volunteeers to form a new and energetic Boats on display ranged from Gloriana, the Queen’s magnificent row- and punts and the myriad other inland watercraft that make the Thames handful of committee members had warned that its future was a matter of committee with a new president, Lady Judy McAlpine who has the barge, to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1937 water-speed record breaker Bluebird Trad such a fascinating event. Over 170 vessels took part. concern.and this year’s event was, literally, ‘make or break.’ The immediate advantage of being a professional events organizer. Between them they K3 – only her third public appearance, and the first on the water since the The weekend attracted over 10,000 visitors, giving a financial surplus for response was a meeting called at the end of September 2014, which drew relaunched the event – with the emphasis on the visitor-friendly ‘Festival’ completion of her restoration three years ago. next year’s festival when ‘new surprises’ are already being planned.

From left: Entering into the spirit; amphicar; Bluebird K3; a WW2 Dukw; Alaska’s steam whistle; slipper launch and rowing skiff All photos by Rod Tietjen

32 CLASSIC SAILOR CLASSIC SAILOR 33