We are back at our desks and looking forward to seeing you soon for special time on the river. We hope that you had a happy Christmas and would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Pippa, Hannah, Glenn and James

The RTBP office will be closed from the end of the day on Monday 19th December for 2 weeks for the Christmas holidays.  Pippa, Hannah and Glenn will be back at work from Wednesday 4^th January 2023. 

We wish everyone a happy Christmas and look forward to more special time on the river in 2023!

Take care

Pippa, Hannah and Glenn

The river is looking beautiful in the January sunshine. We’re looking forward to the restart of our activities! The RTBP team is busy getting Thames Venturer and Thames Discoverer shipshape and ready for education days and cruises.

We have our first education day of 2022 in the calendar for the 28th February and a number of days booked for March. We’re taking bookings for this term and for the Summer term and looking forward to time on the boat and lots of outdoor learning!

Cruises will restart from April and we know that being on our boats will be hugely restorative after the dark winter days and uncertain times.

We’re looking forward to welcoming our groups onboard and lots more special time on the river for 2022!

The RTBP office will be closed from the end of the day on Thursday 16th December for 2 weeks for the Christmas holidays.  Kate, Pippa, Hannah and Gunnar will be back at work from Tuesday 4^th January 2022. 

We wish everyone a happy Christmas and look forward to more special time on the river in 2022!

Take care

Kate, Pippa, Hannah and Gunnar

On 3^rd December the RTBP annual Volunteer (Crew) Supper was held at the wonderful venue of St Mary’s church hall in Twickenham.  In 2020 we had our “get together” over Zoom but this year, as it was  early December, we actually managed to celebrate together in the same room!  The St Mary’s spacious high ceilinged hall is the ideal venue in these current times of needing space and good ventilation!  Thank you to Katie at St Mary’s for providing us with such a warm welcome!

Staff and volunteers enjoyed good company, food and drinks, a raffle and the annual awards. The amazing meal was provided by our wonderful RTBP volunteer Marilyn and the clearing up was done in no time at all with the usual RTBP volunteer enthusiasm!

It’s always a challenge to choose just three individuals for the awards, as so many people give so much to the charity.  This year, we chose three of our newer volunteers:

Awards were made to:
Hazel Hayes: “the light of learning” for her fantastic contribution as a teacher on RTBP education days

Bernie Hewitson: “the bogbrush of brilliance” for helping out across the board: on education days, crewing for cruises, helping at events and even cleaning the carpet on Thames Venturer

Mark Bridger: “the core of commitment” for taking the plunge to move from being a teaching assistant to being a teacher and consistent support on cruises as crew

Of course, RTBP volunteers received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in June this year which celebrates everyone’s contribution.  Thank you to all our volunteers who make RTBP’s work on the river possible.  It is always a pleasure to spend time with you!

The raffle raised a fantastic £306 and raffle prizes included: a short cruise on Thames Discoverer, a hamper of food and drinks goodies, festive bottles of vodka and whisky and a £50 M&S voucher!

It was wonderful to celebrate our return to the river and our activities for the year.  Everyone is looking forward to more special time on the river in 2022!

And finally…..Santa and his sleigh are back! RTBP staff and volunteers joined Santa in Teddington to help collect donations for the Rotary Club of Teddington and the Hamptons, who then in turn support local charities. RTBP volunteers John Frye and John Wilson are also members of the Rotary Club. Music and lights and lots of Ho Ho Hos brought smiles to everyone’s faces! Thank you to everyone for being one of Santa’s helpers!

It’s the 1st November, the clocks have changed and the Autumn colours are beautiful. Things have been busy on the river with the RTBP team.

Over the last few weeks, schools have been enjoying School on the River onboard Thames Venturer at Teddington Lock and we were delighted to have our first days back in East London at Hermitage Community Moorings in Wapping.

Cruises onboard Thames Discoverer have enjoyed clear skies and dodged any rain showers. Time on the river with fresh air, calm surroundings and good company has raised everyone’s spirits and created great memories. Thank you to The People Hive, Blesma, Crossroads Care, Choice Care, Sherwood Grange and Elleray Hall for joining us onboard for some special time on the river.

Fundraising activities have been possible once more, with waterstation action for local running events, Harry Hawkes Half Marathon, the Cabbage Patch 10 mile and the Kingston Half Marathon with our friends from Quicksilver running. The welcome return of the fireworks display at The Lensbury in Teddington meant that RTBP Friends and volunteers enjoyed an evening onboard Thames Venturer with food, drinks, fireworks and the usual camaraderie. Thank you John Frye for the photo!

We’ve even hosted something a little different, with a riverside event at Teddington Lock of foraging, followed by amazing food and drinks and a cruise onboard Thames Discoverer. Gemma Hindi, who was our first Education Manager at RTBP, ran the fantastic day and there will be more dates in the diary for next year with Earthwild.

Please note that the AGM of the River Thames Boat Project will take place at 8pm on Monday 15th November at The Pavilion Health Club, Hurst Lane, East Molesey, KT8 9DX.

Members have received the papers by email.

The General Report and Financial Statements for 2020-21 are available by going to the About Us page of this website and clicking on the More Information link.