The Thames 1962
From The Greenhillian, October 1962:-
The Thames, 1962-A Reflection
According to Water Rat "There is absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as messing about in boats". After the experience of the second week of the Easter holidays I am inclined to agree with him. In that one hectic week fifteen members of the Historical Society, including Mr. Bickerstaffe and his wife, on two commandeered launches, "Suntrap" and "Sunflash", left their mark on the Thames Valley between Windsor and Oxford. To chronicle all the events of this week would first of all be imprudent and secondly too long and like a catalogue. Therefore I shall only render little pearls of information.
The Thames itself, for instance, is wet, as one of our number proved thrice. Admittedly the first time he rescued someone and the last time he was immortalised by the movie camera of a day tripper, but three times is overdoing it. Losing this character overboard, however, was not our sole pastime. We did succeed in swamping a small boat (and received a threat of summons in the bargain). Unfortunately the rest of the trip passed peaceably enough. But seriously, many lasting impressions were cast in my mind. I remember the thrill of passing through the first lock, a thrill that hardly diminished every time we passed through a lock, and we just missed negotiating the half century. I am still bewitched by the spell that beautiful city of Oxford cast upon me and my neck still hurts as a result of staring up at the glorious standards hanging above the choir-stall in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
Perhaps the most worthwhile result of such a trip is the spirit which materialises which is something which must be experienced. It is the true spirit of fellowship and equality with none of the "I'm all right Jack" philosophy. It is this alone which would have made the trip worthwhile had we spent it on Bardsley Canal, rather than the Thames.
Our thanks to Mr. Bickerstaffe and his intrepid wife; we all owe them a lot. We regret their leaving, but bearing them no malice we wish them the best of luck, wherever they drift.
J.M.T.S.