The death has been announced of former MP Sir Anthony Durant at the age of 88.
Sir Anthony was President of the River Thames Society and a supporter of inland waterways. He was a regular attender at the RTS annual meeting in Henley.
Having just failed to be selected for the parliamentary seat of Kingston-upon-Thames he appropriately became MP for upstream Reading.
A barge blocking navigation immediately upstream of Osney Bridge has been removed.
The narrowboat appears to have broken away from its mooring whilst there was strong current on Thursday afternoon. A forecast of heavy rain caused the Environment Agency to attempt early action.
When this proved difficult a slipway was built on the right bank and eventually the boat was hauled on to the bank more than 24 hours after the accident.
The Oxford Mail has pictures and the River Thames News has an updated report.
The Daily Telegraph has a ’53 free things to do around the world’ feature.
Walking the Thames Path makes it although only just being at number 53.
But at least it is there along with sitting on Rome’s Spanish Steps, wandering around Burano in Venice and seeing the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
Number 1 is a ride on New York’s Staten Island Ferry.
A Lottery grant of £1.77m towards conserving and reopening Reading Abbey means that the site is recognised as being one the most important on the Thames.
Reading Borough Council is adding £1.38m worth of funding .
The plan is for the Abbey ruins to be be fully open to the public in 2018.
Cllr Paul Gittings, lead member for culture, said: “This award is the culmination of years of planning on the part of the Council and allows vital conservation works to take place which will preserve the ruins for generations of people to explore and enjoy.”
Deputy Council leader Tony Page said: “Reading’s heritage deserves to be celebrated, as does a site of such historical significance in the heart of Reading. By opening it up to residents and visitors the Council hopes many more people will have the opportunity to appreciate the Abbey and its history.”
This comes at a time when plans are in hand to find the grave of Henry I who was buried in the Abbey.
The Cat’s Back is now displaying its Joe Goodwin plaque outside where there is a long seat.
The fine Harvey’s pub is in Point Pleasant, between the River Wandle and Wandsworth Park, and a good stopping point on autumn day.
The only other Harvey’s of Lewis pub in London is the Royal Oak in Southwark, a short walk from the river down Borough High Street and left at St George the Martyr into Tabard Street.
The Thames Path at Purley has been improved.
The walk along the busy main road from the former Roebuck pub to the Skerritt Way residential road has been reduced. Now one can leave the road early and walk through Purley Beeches rather than following the road to a bus stop and walking down a flight of enclosed steps.
The directions will now read:
“Turn right through the gate in the flint wall (right) to follow a woodland path down to Skerritt
Way. Continue ahead along the road.”
This plan has been around since 1982, before the estate was completed. The wood is in the care of Purley Beeches Residents Association which levies a voluntary household fee towards the cost of maintenance.
The Thames Path, west of Southwark Cathedral, runs along Clink Street passing the remains of Winchester Palace’s Great Hall.
With two walls and the floor missing the wine cellar is open to the air. Now the area, which once collected rubbish, has been partly filled with plants.
London SE1 has the full story and history of the building.
The new foot and cycle bridge upstream of Reading Bridge has opened.
The crossing links the towpath with Christchurch Meadows and provides a pleasant walk for those wishing to reach Caversham.
However, it has met with a mixed reception.
Reading cyclists are dismayed that there is not a segregated cycle lane.
Also, the design of the ramp fencing means that walkers on the Thames Path briefly lose a river view.
Meanwhile, although there has been a formal opening by the Mayor of Reading, the bridge has not been given a name.
Suggestions being considered by Reading Council include Meadows Bridge, Christchurch Bridge, Fry’s Bridge (after upstream Fry’s Island) and de Montford Bridge (after Robert de Montford who won a joust on the island against Henry of Essex).
The inflatable Pink Dog floating downstream with the charity Thames Doggy swimmers should reach Richmond at noon this Wednesday 26 August.
The afternoon paddle goes past Kew Gardens and Chiswick to end at Putney, outside The Duke’s Head, at about 4.30pm.
The final day is Wednesday when the Pink Dog and party, probably safely in a boat, will pass under Tower Bridge at 4pm. Look out for the large dog outside All Bar One on Butler’s Wharf from about 4.30pm.
Ten swimmers set out this morning from St John’s Lock near Lechlade hoping to reach Putney by next Wednesday 26 August.
They are sponsored to raise over £200,000 for the Stem Cell Foundation.
The challenge is called the Thames Doggy because all ten are promising to do a doggy paddle rather than the breaststroke or butterfly.
Anyone walking up the Thames and wanting to know if the swimmers are due to appear can register for updates on the Thames Doggy website.
On Wednesday the last leg to Tower Bridge will be by boat with a large inflatable pink dog on board.