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PLA meeting at Putney

The Port of London Authority is holding a public meeting next month at the London Rowing Club on Putney’s Embankment.

The opportunity to hear updates on key developments on the river in London is on Wednesday 16 February at 6.30pm.

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Shepperton accident victims

It is now clear that the boating accident at Shepperton on Sunday night has resulted in two deaths.

Keith Lowde, who was at the tiller of the boat, died in the accident. There is a continuing search for the body of Cambridge University Lecturer Dr Rex Walford.

The wives of the lost men who were in the boat were rescued along with two other passengers.

Mr Lowde was a music producer and a resident on the island. His friend Dr Walford was for  a time senior tutor at downstream Maria Grey College on the Twickenham bank.

Pharaoh’s Island, which has 23 homes, is said to have been used by Admiral Lord Nelson and received its name after the Battle of the Nile.

See page 72.

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Shepperton accident

Walkers on the Thames path this morning may see much activity between Staines and Walton-on-Thames as the search continues for two men missing following an accident on the water.

Reports say that six passengers were being taken by ferry from Pharaoh’s Island to the Shepperton bank at about 7.30pm last night when the boat capsized.  Only four, three women and a man, are accounted for.

As always on these occasions one remembers that the Thames can be a dangerous place.

See page 72.

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Wallingford Bridge closed

Wallingford Bridge is closed following problems with a burst water main caused by the cold weather.

The bridge structure is being checked.

The Thames Path does not cross the bridge but the closure is affecting Thames Travel Buses.

See page 146.

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Walton Bridge work starts in 2011

It sounds like  a re-announcement but it was confirmed this week that work starts in January on the new Walton Bridge.

A new bridge has been about to be built for years but the government now claims that the new crossing can open in 2013.

It will be built immediately upstream so the existing bridge, really two temporary bridges, can remain throughout the work.

See page 70.

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Henley towpath closure proposed for summer

Henley Town Council has voted to back the closure of the towpath for ten days in July for the Royal Regatta.

The problem here is that the closure gets longer every year. Diverting a national trail for an event is unusual.

The final decision will be taken by Wokingham District Council in February.

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Visit Kelmscott House invitation

The curator of Kelmscott House in London would like us to visit.
The December issue of South East Walker has a plea from the curator inviting walkers to drop in to William Morris’s house at Hammersmith on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday afternoon 2-5pm. There is no admission charge.
Kelmscott House was William Morris’s London home. Several days upstream is his country home Kelmscott Manor.
Although the Thames Path is officially on both banks in central London it is the south side which is most used as this is where the towpath is.
However, if you want to see Morris’s London house you can cross Hammersmith Bridge and take the north bank. After calling in continue upstream to cross back at Barnes Bridge.
Pages 52 and 189.
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Jubilee Greenway markers on Thames Path

Jubilee Greenway Jubilee Greenway markers are appearing in the ground on the first twenty miles of the Thames Path.

Indeed they start a little downstream of the Thames Barrier at Woolwich Ferry.

People were talking about them at Southwark Cathedral last weekend having seen one outside.

The Jubilee Greenway is inspired by the Silver Jubilee Walkway so the markers are decorated with a version of the 1977 Jubilee logo. The route leads to and from the Olympic Park where the original Greenway running along the top of  a sewage pipe is found.

There is much excitement about new markers in Rotherhithe where the new trail (and Thames Path) at King’s Stairs would be obliterated if Thames Water’s plans for a workstation are approved.

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Countryfile on the Thames at Pangbourne

Sunday night’s Countryfile on BBC1 had some film of Matt Baker canoeing on the river at Pangbourne.

It included some brief of upstream Child Beale Wildlife Park which walkers miss as the Thames Path makes a rare detour up a hill and through Hartslock Wood.

The programme always breaks up its reports so we had to wait to see the film of Matt at “the only working flour mill on the Thames” at Mapledurham before he boarded the African Queen floating hotel.

See pages 131-133.

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William and Kate’s family weddings along the Thames

It’s interesting to learn that Kate Middleton’s parents Carole and Michael were married at Dorney Church. The reception was at Dorney Court which since has doubled for Syon in the film Lady Jane.

Prince William’s great, great grandparents were married in 1881 at tiny Petersham Church near Richmond.

This would be perfect for Kate and William if they could get away with a quiet wedding. But it looks as if they will marry at Westminster Abbey which once stood on Thorney Island surrounded by the tidal Thames.

See pages 60 and 94.