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July is here, and Henley Royal Regatta is now in full swing. Our town is buzzing with rowers and visitors from near and far.
But before we get caught up in summer excitement, we reflect on May and June. It was a busy two months for us, from the usual spring rush of getting boats ready to a heatwave where everyone suddenly appreciated owning a boat.
I found myself on a river delivery one quiet Saturday morning in May when I was struck by the neglect which is so prevalent now up and down the riverbank.
I counted six wrecks either sunk or abandoned with little hope of anyone removing them from their current location, and to add insult to injury I felt thoroughly depressed as I transited through Mapledurham lock where the garden used to be a joy to behold, the public toilet functioned and the cottage was inhabited by a friendly lock keeper. Sadly the toilet now bears a sign saying ‘out of order due to vandalism’ there is a cheap 6-foot fence between the front door of the cottage and the side of the lock, its garden is completely overgrown, and where there used to be marigolds and roses, there are now just weeds.
We need to bear in mind that visitors come from all over the world to our royal river, spending large amounts of money on boating holidays, whilst others, both locals and day-trippers, use the towpath as a place of recreation.
No blame can be attributed to the lock keepers who are struggling themselves with a lack of resources.
I know that some of our readers sit in the House of Lords and I would welcome suggestions as to how we can find a remedy for this sad state of affairs.
On that same morning I was suddenly cheered up as I was approaching the home mooring for the boat I was delivering, by the sight of a glorious 33ft Bates Starcraft by the name of ‘Hippocampus’, to which the current owner judiciously added a flying bridge.
This much-loved vessel has provided over 6 decades of pleasure for its owners and has attended virtually every Thames Traditional Boat Festival over that period.
Her twin 50hp Nanni diesel engines, installed by the renowned Dennetts of Chertsey, provide smooth, powerful and economical cruising with exceptional steering and control response.
She is currently for sale through HSC.
In the meantime Heather (virtually single-handedly) managed the UK fleet of Little Ships returning to Dunkirk for the 85th commemorative return! But she wasn't just coordinating from the shore; she was out there herself aboard her own vessel 'Gay Venture', living the experience first-hand. Here is her personal account of the crossing:
A personal reflection from the deck of 'Gay Venture' – 85 years on
As I stood on the deck of 'Gay Venture', a 1938 Dunkirk Little Ship that has been in my family since the early 1990s and the very reason for my lifelong love of traditional craft, I felt the familiar weight of history and excitement in the pre-dawn air at Ramsgate.
Sometimes, as a nation, we just get things right, and Ramsgate this year was no exception. The town truly pulled out all the stops: spectacular light shows, live music, the Royal Marines Band, air displays overhead, and a quay bursting with community spirit. It was a jubilant atmosphere in the historic royal seaside town.
In the week leading up to our departure on Wednesday, 21st May, against the backdrop of this festival-like celebration, Little Ships of all shapes and sizes gathered, preparing to make the historic crossing once more.
That morning, after hours of deliberation and anxious scanning of forecasts by nearly every boat owner, the Commodore gave the go-ahead over the VHF.
Despite the early hour, just 5. a.m., thousands lined the harbour walls, cheering as the fleet of 62 Dunkirk Little Ships slipped out into the English Channel. There was a profound sense of pride and quiet reverence. Much like in 1940, the Little Ships left the safety of Ramsgate’s harbour, not to rescue an army this time, but to honour them, under the watchful escort of Royal Navy P2000 patrol boats and RNLI lifeboats. This was the Spirit of Dunkirk, living on.
This wasn’t my first trip. I first visited Dunkirk in the early ’90s, and many times since. Back then, four decades ago, the town felt timeworn, its streets carrying an air of post-industrial melancholy.
Today, Dunkirk has changed. It has embraced its history, not as a town torn down by time, but as one reborn with civic pride and purpose. French tricolores fly proudly beside Union Jacks, a symbolic dual-flag display that speaks to solidarity: France’s gratitude for the Allied rescue, and Britain’s recognition of French suffering and resilience. In those moments, national boundaries dissolve into shared remembrance.
Industry and tourism have brought new life to the town. The marina is now bustling with boats connecting to the French canal system, the beaches alive with children building sandcastles where tanks once rolled, and the town centre thriving with places to eat, shop, and explore. Yet amid this growth, the bullet-riddled Church of Saint-Éloi remains untouched, a haunting reminder that some memories are too sacred to smooth over.
Our 5 a.m. departure from Ramsgate was a stirring sight. The cheering crowd seemed to lift us across the Channel on their goodwill alone. 'Gay Venture', like the 62 other Little Ships, bobbed over the waves, her deck filled with purpose. We were custodians of their legacy, travelling at a steady 6 knots together in formation.
We arrived in Dunkirk at 4 PM local time, greeted once more by cheering crowds. Some who had waved us off in Ramsgate had taken faster, modern vessels and beat us to the other side, managing to enjoy a fine French lunch before we had even crossed halfway, but that was never the point. We sail at the speed of our slowest ship, because this voyage is about unity and remembrance.
Initially, we planned to return on Monday, 26th May. But Mother Nature had other plans. Though she granted us a window to cross over, she held us in Dunkirk for five more days. In the past, my visits here had been whirlwind affairs, tight schedules packed with ceremonies, memorials on the beaches, and respectful silence at the Commonwealth War Graves.
This time, with more unstructured days, I was able to see Dunkirk in a light I never had before. Without the clock ticking, I explored its deeper heritage, a town with roots reaching back to the 10th century. Once a fishing and maritime stronghold, Dunkirk’s long nautical past is perhaps most visible in the Mole.
Now famous as the key evacuation point, it was originally constructed as protective jetties when the town was fortified by the French after being sold by Charles II for £320,000. It’s staggering to think that the once bustling port was nearly obliterated in 1940. But from those ashes, the town has risen, remembering, rebuilding, and retelling its story.
As for the Little Ships, they live on, through ownership, both new and old; through boatbuilders and craftsmen who preserve the necessary skills; and through the work of brokers like us at HSC. The story of Dunkirk continues through family retellings and community efforts. Commemorating, educating, and celebrating ... that’s what keeps this remarkable history alive.
Though the veterans are now gone, the last Dunkirk survivor having passed just weeks ago, their legacy endures in these boats and in the hands and hearts of those who keep them afloat.
As we sail back to our home ports, we carry not only our own memories, but also the stories of thousands who never made it home. And that, truly, is the Spirit of Dunkirk.
There is music, BBQ and boat trips on Sunday afternoon from Coppa Club, the delightful village pub named The Bull Inn, the attractive (1775) brick bridge, its beautiful church and grounds, built on the site of an early Saxon minster which in AD 909 was transformed into a cathedral and not forgetting The Mill at Sonning, which has an aptly named comedy "Don't Rock the Boat" coming to the stage from 10th July to 6th September.
According to the pre-show publicity the show is a 'wild ride down the Thames when the tranquil river waters turn into a storm in a teacup'. It might make a fun change from Diana Ross and Jamie Cullum at the Henley Festival.
We have just enjoyed the Summer solstice, which always makes one think of the 24 hours of sunlight for our Scandinavian friends close to the Arctic Circle and it reminds me of the fact that we have several Nordic beauties for sale on the HSC website at the moment, including the splendid electric saloon launch 'King of Hearts', two Storebro Royals ('Marand of Kip' and the aptly named 'Nordic Lady') as well as 'Milja' with its unusual yet practical layout.
If any of these vessels catch your eye, do get in touch with the office. We’d be happy to tell you more or arrange a viewing.
Closer to home, it is not too late to support our local shops offering fine clothing and accessories suitable for Henley's big events, or to order your picnics from Pavilion.
There are still some festival tickets available, and we shall be there in the small boat pool on Sunday evening with 'Spirit' after she finishes her lazy Sunday cruising trips (bookable online via pureboating.co.uk) at The Great House/Coppa in Sonning.
Whoever is putting up posters in South Oxfordshire for the Traditional Boat Festival is doing an amazing job, as they seem to be everywhere. If you don't have your tickets yet, I suggest you go online and bag them right now, as it promises to be a sell-out.
On our stand adjacent to Time for Tea, we will be showcasing 'Cygnet II', 'Blue Ripple', 'Swift', 'Mary B', 'Keuka' and 'Chinese Georgie' whilst in the water we will have 'Rekindled', 'Family', 'Evensong' ('Miss Goodnight'), 'Hippocampus' and 'Milja', with a big surprise for everyone on the main steaming pontoon as STOP PRESS: 'Alaska' has just been listed with HSC on brokerage as an era comes to a close for Thames Steamers Limited.
If you are interested in 'Alaska' either commercially as a going concern, or to own privately, please give Heather a call.
Posters are also appearing for the Illuminated Parade, which will take place on September 20th this year, so you still have time to get your creative juices flowing and to submit your boat for the 2025 extravaganza.
We do hope to see many of you at the festivals and riverside events this summer. Do stop by and say hello! 😊
