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As we bid farewell to the warmth of summer, the recent heavy rains have certainly reminded us that autumn is settling in. The changing seasons bring their own beauty, from golden leaves to misty mornings. Although rainfall impacts our enjoyment of the river and our boating plans ultimately we embrace all seasons of the year and indeed of life.
As the skies have opened with what feels like a cascade of 'tears from heaven' mourning the end of summer, our Pure Boating boat hire locations are deluged in Wallingford as well as at The Swan at Streatley, and we suspect that the Swan's delightful lobster bar will have to close soon as well, as flood waters are still rising.
What a glorious scene greeted us as we stepped down into the buzzing scene created by the team at St Katharine Docks with the help of many classic boaters. The weather was positively Mediterranean and the mood was buoyant.
There were a few new faces, including 'Quisisana', which has been beautifully finished with exquisite detailing by Malcolm and Chris with the owner Phil sourcing many great little touches including the leather covered porthole covers and the disappearing tap in the galley.
After the St Kats extravaganza a Windsor outing followed featuring knights of the realm alongside young servicemen and women.
It's a non-stop whirlwind of events if you own a Dunkirk Little Ship.
If you fancy being part of the exclusive club of Dunkirk Little Ships custodiansthen there are still opportunities, currently on our books, available for the May 2025 Return.
The venerable 'Lady Isabelle' is a Dunkirk Little Ship eagerly awaiting a return to the UK. Built in 1930 and currently based in California, this 30ft classic has a rich history of bravery and celebration, including participation in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Well-maintained with a powerful 6-cylinder Gray engine, she is ready for future commemorations.
Built in 1925 by J.S. White, 'Mary Scott' started her life as an RNLI lifeboat and later earned distinction as a Dunkirk Little Ship, participating in the historic WWII evacuation. After decades of service, including numerous rescues, she was sold in 1953 and transformed into a private vessel, adventuring from the UK to the coasts of France and beyond.
Now moored back in Southwold, where her journey began this 46ft long vessel, with a Lister diesel engine and a ketch rig, seeks a new owner to appreciate her rich history and continue her legacy of exploration and endurance.
We will be listing a couple more Dunkirk Little Ships on our brokerage in October, so keep an eye on our website.
If you would like to support the 85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo Return to Dunkirk 2025 crossing, please don't hesitate to contact Royal Temple Yacht Club event coordinator Chris Cox ([email protected]) and you can find more information about the event on the Royal Temple Yacht Club website.
The support group will not be travelling with the Dunkirk Little Ships; it will be a separate flotilla on a different day, but there is already a huge interest in joining this group.
A fortnight ago when the sun still shone bright, we jumped on a train at King’s Cross heading north, almost to the border! We jumped off at Durham where Steve was looking forward to a university college reunion. I was simply keen to experience this wonderful, compact and impressive world heritage site, and I was not disappointed.
The weather was on point, the views amazing, and my only regret is that we didn’t get to take a rowing boat out on the River Wear.
One of my favourite moments was the discovery of a carved mermaid in a Norman column within the Chapel at Durham Castle.
She is apparently the first known image of a mermaid anywhere in the world. The Norman Chapel, built in 1080, is the oldest surviving building in Durham city. For many years the Chapel was concealed, and only recently has it been excavated and revealed.
The sculptures, including the mermaid, are the work of 11th-century sculptures.
It was quite a contrast when we ventured into Newcastle on the Sunday and walked along the mighty Tyne. One can imagine, but only with some difficulty and a lively imagination, that this river was once teeming with life.
A few large and important buildings still grace the quayside, such as the Baltic Flour Mill which is now the Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art.
On the opposite bank, Malmaison has rather successfully turned the co-operative society building into a hotel.
However I didn’t love The Glasshouseas a building unfortunately, finding it a little slug-like, although had we had time to attend a concert there I may have come away with a different perspective.
The Henley-on-Thames Illuminated Parade, held on September 14th, was a truly magical event. The Thames sparkled as boats of all shapes and sizes, adorned with vibrant lights, cruised through the evening waters. It was super well-attended by locals and visitors alike and a very jolly atmosphere prevailed.
Selling classics is all about history and heritage. Sometimes this has true historic resonance, as with Dunkirk survivors; at other times the story is one of loving family and decades of waterborne adventures.
I recently listed ‘Samanda’ whose wooden interior speaks volumes about adventures ‘en famille’ the length and breadth of the UK. She may not be worthy of a six-figure sum but she has meant much more to her owners, who now reluctantly part with her as age creeps on. Hopefully we will find another family to enjoy her.
Leisurely lobster lunches could be the name of the game going forward for yours truly. Many of you may have been too polite to mention that my 7th decade is rushing towards me at the speed of a cross-channel ferry, and whilst I have loved almost every minute of the past 32 years of HSC, it is time for me to spend a little more time lunching rather than launching. Hence, at the end of this month, HSC will be passing into extremely capable and much younger hands than mine.
As users of our various services, you will see little change as today's protagonists remain in post for now. We have the inimitable Regine on keyboard, the extraordinary Andrew on band saw, aided and abetted by the lovely Alex and the indispensable and enigmatic Eric, and while the conductor will be a livelier version of my good self, I will be involved albeit as second fiddle.
Since my passion for all things boaty is undimmed and HSC's new owners are keen for me to continue with my epistolary musings, I shall be writing the monthly newsletters as I know they are music to your ears. Please, therefore keep sending me your snippets and photos to the usual email address.
Rest assured I shall not be bored! I enjoy singing with my choir in Dorchester Abbey and will be happily ensconced with the sopranos on the bleachers at the nave end for a fabulous concert on Saturday November 23rd. The music is uplifting as is the environment.
If Handel and Mozart are two of your favourite composers, too, tickets can be purchased online from the Benson Choral Society website.
Another one of my future (slightly longer term) projects is linked to my rather interesting heritage, which may result in my ability to possess a European passport.
I have been known to lament the limitations on UK passport holders in terms of travel since the sad result of the referendum in June 2017, but I may have a way to circumvent the restrictions by obtaining Italian nationality.
My first port of call will therefore be Livorno, where I hope to unearth the birth certificates of two of my foreign-born grandparents. Livorno being a port, I shall no doubt bring interesting stories related to boating activity there and in other Italian cities in a future newsletter.
You might even see me rowing “Voga alla Veneta” style in the Venetian Regata Storica one day! 😉
Or perhaps taking a leisurely cruise on an Italian lake like the owner of 'Blighty' this summer, who towed her all the way to Lake Iseo.
Arrivaderci,
Gillian
