Page 10 - police world Edition 1 2013

L ast summer, over 1,000 vessels
participated in a flotilla on the Thames
from Battersea to Tower Bridge. The
weather forecast for the day wasn’t good but we
had decided that the best view of the Pageant
would be with the wheelhouse windows, of
Variatie, our retirement houseboat, folded down.
The food was ready and the drinks chilled.
Bunting and signal flags were hoisted and
properly weighted. We had bells and whistles
and my wife Jude had enough grin for both of us
- as well as a set of union flag deely-boppers!
I bought Variatie in late 2006 with a view to
moving her into the heart of London. As my
favourite city in the world, as well as my
workplace, the aim was to see out my time to
retirement and then enjoy the close proximity of
such a vibrant city. Having got the essential
work done, we finally brought Variatie to the
Upper Pool of the Thames in August 2010, two
weeks after retirement and totally unaware of
the events planned for the Diamond Jubilee.
So what a delight when the Thames Pageant
was announced and it was to take place in my
back yard.
On the big day, the training ship Royalist, which
was part of the Avenue of Sail, was just off our
aft end (toward the rear) and the crew were
going through their drills and being instructed
on proper naval cheering to the call of “hip, pip-
pip”. All the trainees on board had mastered the
requisite circular motion of their headgear whilst
cheering.
My neighbours, either side, were erecting
awnings to protect their guests from the
elements. Each of the athwart
(at right angles) moored
vessels had flags and bunting
aplenty. The garden barges,
Arts Ark and inshore vessels
were similarly resplendent and
showing a cheery face despite
the dull skies and threat of
rain. Every balcony and window
overlooking the Upper Pool
was either adorned with union
flags or bunting and, like all
the walkways and riverside
spaces, were crammed with
people.
The air itself was becoming electric
with the murmur of conversation. The noise
grew with the raised voices of imbibing
spectators, the occasional testing of horns and
bells and whistles that received replies from
several others.
Steve Connor, Immediate Past President, and
his family were among other guests who joined
us aboard. Our last guest arrived just before the
Bell Barge arrived, announcing the arrival of the
flotilla in the Pool and the commencement of
the Pageant.
By chance I’d been fortunate to have seen the
Bell Barge a week before, and in somewhat
better weather. What an amazing idea to have a
barge with a constantly peeling set of bells
aboard it as the herald of the arrival of such a
varied flotilla.
This wonderful sound announced not only the
arrival of the Pageant in the Upper Pool but also
the start of the rain.
Immediately behind
the floating bells, and
at a very stately pace, came Glorianna - a hand-
built, 88-foot rowbarge and delightful
reconstruction of a State barge. She was all
resplendent in gold, looking every inch like a
waterborne state coach.
The rain was now with us in earnest. Although
not heavy, it was constant. “Persisting it down”
one might say. But Jude and our guests were
out on the aft deck cheering and hurrah-ing the
efforts of everyone involved.
I had seen the Spirit of Chartwell on several
occasions over the previous two years but today
she had been given the most prestigious role of
bearing HM Queen Elizabeth II from Chelsea
downstream to us in the Upper Pool. The Spirit
of Chartwell is an elegant, low-level vessel with
an aura of opulence and past-times luxury. For
today, and her most auspicious of roles, she had
been re-fitted and re-styled to ensure she was fit
for a Queen. To mark her royal role for the day,
the bascules of Tower Bridge were raised in
acknowledgement.
10
Phil Foster was overcome with delight as he realised that his home would be smack
bang in the middle of the largest waterborne event on the
Thames for 350 years. Phil recalls the story as he
witnessed the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Article
Shipshape and
Bristol Fashion
Phil and Jude
Police World Vol 58 No.1 2013
The training ship Royalist
A view towards Tower Bridge