Make sure you watch the new film of our wonderful barge, Thames Venturer. Filmed during September 2017 by “That’s Surrey TV”, staring Skipper, Peter Oldham.
See the Thames Venturer in action and listen to the crew and clients talking about their experiences of therapeutic cruising with us.
Running time 2 mins 30 sec.
Click HERE
We need you to vote for us.
We have been selected as one of Chelsea FC Foundation’s Match Day Bucket Collection Community Charities.
Football Fans (and anyone who clicks on the link below) have the opportunity to vote on which charities they would like to see collecting at Stamford Bridge on match days. This is an opportunity to raise both money and awareness for the River Thames Boat Project and we need your vote!
To vote, click on the link below and select the Community Tab, then select The River Thames Boat Project in the dropdown list, (about the 5th one down).
http://www.chelseafc.com/the-club/foundation/foundation-fundraising/match-day-collections.html
You will be asked to register with your name, DoB and email – which means only one vote each. You can Opt Out of any further contact.
Please, please, get all of your friends and family to vote!
If we win, we will need about 8-10 people to hold buckets for us at the match day. Dates will be announced in due course by Chelsea FC.
A Curry Evening on board, the Thames Venturer, in Kingston, on Monday 2nd October organised by the Friends of RTBP. A fantastic chance to have fun, a lovely meal and raise money for our charity.
Starting from 6pm on deck or in the enclosed wheelhouse to watch or photograph the sunset and passing boats. Followed by dinner in the large, warm saloon at about 7pm. Food will be provided from a local Indian Restaurant.
We would like people from the local community to come and experience and enjoy our 29m Dutch Barge with all its facilities to raise extra funds for the Charity. For those with mobility issues, or using a wheelchair, the boat is fully wheelchair accessible, with a suitable gangway, lift and toilets. We have comfortable seating for 20, although we might be able to squeeze a few more in if there is enough demand.
The donation requested will be £20 including soft drinks, or £25 with a glass of wine/ beer (further wine and beer available for an additional donation). And it’s all for charity!
If you are interested please contact Martha on info@rtbpfriends.org
We have four last minute cancellations on Thursday 28th September on our Linking People Afloat trip.
The cruise is from 10am – 4pm, departing and returning to Kingston, with a pleasant trip along the River Thames, enjoying the scenery, with the attention of a great volunteer crew to make your day unique and enjoyable. The day costs just £36 per person and includes a homemade lunch, plus tea and coffees throughout the day.
We provide binoculars, blankets and other river related information if requested. You can be inside or outside, depending on the weather and your preference. Full access for wheelchairs, with an accessible wide gangway, lift and toilets. The boat is 29m long and very stable.
There are four spaces available, which are suitable for anyone who is elderly, or any age with a disability, mobility issues, mental health issues, brain injury, stroke recovery, MS, Parkinson’s, vision impairment, hearing impairment individuals and other issues and conditions.
Come on your own or bring a spouse, carer, friend, personal assistant or companion.
Phone Pippa on 020 8940 3509 to find out more, or to book your place or to be placed on a reservation list for future trips. Alternatively, please email info@thamesboatproject.org
Please spread the word about these trips to anyone who might enjoy a day on the River either this year or next.
New website page: https://thamesboatproject.org/merchandise/
Our thanks go to Dave Burwood, Numatic International Ltd, for their kind donation of a Henry Vacuum for use on the Thames Venturer.
The crew are delighted and the boat will now be spotless.
Thank you.
The Thames Venturer will be moored at Walton on Thames again this year for the National Heritage Day. Please note that the event is being held in a new location, which is Cowey Sale.
The Thames Venturer will be there between 12 and 4pm, so come on board and have a look around. Free entry.
Find out about our therapeutic cruises, educational programs, including Eco-Venturers, School on the River and volunteering.
History
The Thames Venturer was built in 1908 in Lekkerkirk, Holland and originally powered by sail. She is 26m long, with a 5m beam and a 1.2m draft. Originally she probably carried cargo in the Netherlands, however we are not sure as her ship’s papers were lost during World War 2.
Due to some evidence of structural modifications made to her hull, it is thought that she was probably one of 2,000 vessels commandeered during WW2 for Operation Sea Lion, which was Germany’s plan to invade the UK.
Her original name was De Tyd Zal’t Leeren, (“Time Will Tell”). In 1957 her name was changed to Vereenigining III (“Society III”) then in 1971 it changed to Corry II and by 1988 it changed to Gerja, in 1990 it changed to Richmond Venturer and finally in 2013 to Thames Venturer.
In 1988 she was brought to the UK where Alan Borough, a Thames philanthropist, purchased the vessel and sold her to The River Thames Boat Project for £1.00.
In early 1990, BBC Television’s “Challenge Anneka” programme was approached for help to convert the former cargo boat into a community boat. The programme-makers agreed, and the Trustees of the Boat Project appointed a design team composed of Derek Plummer (Architect), Simon Harris (Marine Engineer) and Miranda Jaggers (RTBP Project Manager).
The team had only five months in which to design the conversion and fit out the boat. It had to include a large multi-purpose saloon, sleeping accommodation and disabled access to enable the widest sections of the community to make use of the boat. Major structural steel work had to be completed before filming could start, so the original steel cargo hatches were replaced by the new upper deck, the hatch combings were raised for added head room, fresh water tanks and holding tanks were fitted, and the main companionway and handrails were built.
In October 1990 the “Challenge” itself started – three days of filming during which the saloon and galley were fitted out, the lift installed, the hull and topsides painted and finally Anneka Rice chose the new name for the boat – Richmond Venturer.
In January 2013, the name was changed to “Thames Venturer”.
Click here for location details and details about the Walton Heritage Day.
River Thames Boat Project 