River Thames to come to life with 1000-boat pageant
by Sail-World Cruising on 8 Apr 2012
River Thames coming to life SW
Whether your boat is powered by sail, oars, steam or petrol, if you're British-based and boat-minded, on 3rd June, 2012, the River Thames is the place to be. You'll be joining 999 other boats taking their places in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the great river and it will be led by the Queen's barge.
The organisers tell us that rowed boats, working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Flags, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs. The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services will be afloat and there will be an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note.
The flotilla will be bolstered with passenger boats carrying up to 30,000 flag-waving members of the public placed centre stage (or rather mid-river) in this floating celebration. The spectacle will be further enhanced with music barges and boats spouting geysers. Moreover, there will be specially constructed elements such as a floating belfry, its chiming bells answered by those from riverbank churches.
...and if you are lucky enough to be just visiting, you'll want to find a good vantage point to see this British display of exuberance.
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant is being held to celebrate the sixty years of service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, one of the most respected monarchs of her time.
Contact for Flotilla participants is a.johnson@thamesdiamondjubileefestival.org
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