A great day out. Staring at Hampton Court the Stela (a slice of old wooden water pipe) is handed over by the Custodian of the Royal Palace with great ceremony. Then it is rowed by the King’s Barge master and crew of the Jubilant to Richmond. After being re-energised with refreshments the Jubilant is escorted by Livery Company cutters down to the Tower of London. The climax of the day is the handing over of the Stela to the Governor of the Tower for safe keeping for the year. We then all retire for refreshments.
You are invited to watch the event at three separate locations:
- 10:00 to 11:00hrs – Hampton Court Palace. Approach the side entrance to the Palace Garden from the Public footpath immediately next to the Riverbank by the bridge, and walk down to the boat pier, to the door in the wall leading into a garden within the Palace Walls. Watch the Ceremony, involving the Masters’ of the Water Conservators and the Watermen and Lightermen, and the Crew of the Royal Barge ‘Jubilant’. The Barge (with the Stela on board) will depart Hampton Court at 11:00hrs, and head downriver via Teddington Lock to Richmond Bridge Boat Club.
- 12:30 to 13:30hrs – Richmond Bridge Boat Club. Join the crews for a bacon buttie & coffee, as they receive their briefing for the main rowing event: The ‘Jubilant’ with our Master , Prof Carolyn Roberts, and Master Waterman Sean Collins, will be joined by the WCWC Cutter and other Traditional Thames craft, to row to The Tower of London. Depart Richmond 13:30hrs.
- 16:00 to 16:45hrs – Tower Bridge Quay. Join WCWC Clerk (Chris Millett) and Watermen’s Clerk (Julie Lithgow OBE) at Tower Bridge Quay (next to Tower Bridge) to welcome the flotilla, and process into The Tower of London for the ceremony of the Stela. There will be celebratory photos and drinks afterwards. Alternatively enjoy a visit to the Tower of London and join the welcome inside the Tower.