1100 years ago King Athelstan was crowned King of a newly unified England at Kingston on the River Thames. In the 900’s the river marked the divide between Wessex and Mercia.
As part of the celebrations the Water Conservators and our cutter Water Forget-me-not joined with other Livery cutters and many other vessels in a flotilla down the river through the Royal Borough of Kingston with a salute to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. The flotilla included a replica long boat and Anglo Saxon ship.
 
We had a great turn out of Company members and friends to row the cutter, join the Master as a passenger or cheer everyone on. One team took the cutter downstream where we stopped for a convivial riverside pub lunch. Another team rowed the cutter back up river, against the wind, and almost avoiding the large number of sailing dinghies which had filled the river.
Some of us were also able to support Price Edward at the official “tree planting” ( it was already planted) on the embankment to mark the occasion.
It was a glorious day; thanks to everyone. We are very grateful to Stuart and Pippa for bringing the cutter and trailer up from Dartford, coaching and directing the rowing teams, and then returning the cutter and trailer to Dartford.
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