Riverwatch: A summer of contrasts

Oct 6 2009 With Roger Jolly, Surrey Herald

HEAVE ho and avast behind, it's your old shipmate here again, standing in for that gadabout Mort Smith, who's got a bit of shore leave amid the bright lights and temptations of Lower Sunbury.

Before he set off down the gangplank clutching his enormous kit bag, I gave him a few well-chosen words of warning, from one old salt to another, about those cheeky, well-rigged young doxies who inhabit the taverns in that part of the world.

To my surprise, instead of being overcome with a sense of propriety, he suddenly had a new-found spring in his step and a sparkle in his eye - and almost bowled me clean over as he bounded ashore.

If you see Mort in one of those aforementioned hostelries, buy the old sea dog a drink. He deserves it for managing to fill his column with river-related tales every week.

So, while he enjoys himself with a few pints of Screeching Parrot, it's down to me to entertain you with a few Thamesbased observations.

Despite the summer's far-from-lovely weather, I managed to pull on a sou'wester, get the old vessel out of dry dock a few times and pootle up and down the river, waving a cheery

greeting to those on the riverbank and getting various responses, including some far-from-pleasant gestures from a few of the unsavoury ruffians who seem attracted to the riverside on fine days and holidays.

I do recommend taking to the water if you can. It gives you a whole new perspective on our area and makes you appreciate how lucky we are to have one of the world's most famous rivers flowing past our doorsteps (hopefully not literally this winter).

Our locks have looked particularly lovely this year, awash with summer flowers, thanks, I believe, to the generosity of those kindly folk who run Squire's garden emporiums.

I managed to moor up and attend quite a few of our local Thames events this year.

My favourite? Without a doubt it was the sight of all those Dunkirk 'Little Ships' slowly making their way upstream with many old soldiers who had been rescued from the beaches, in pride of place on board.

The sight of the waiting guard-of-honour snapping to attention and the haunting drone of a lone bagpiper was enough to bring a tear to the eyes of all the many onlookers.

The previous week I had enjoyed some good old-fashioned fun at Weybridge Mariners' Club open day. Two such contrasting events at the same location.